Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, Abigail Spanberger, has released a new ad attacking her Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears, who argued in a recent debate that firing someone for being gay or opposing same-sex marriage does not amount to “discrimination.”
The title is “it’s not discriminationThe ad highlights Earl Sears’ long record of opposing LGBTQ rights throughout his 20-year political career.
The article combines clips of Earl Sears’ contentious debate with Spanberger at Norfolk State University and news reports about how Earl Sears expressed his moral opposition to same-sex marriage by writing a handwritten note on a bill he was asked to sign, a procedural obligation of his role as Virginia’s lieutenant governor and president of the Senate.
The narrator claims: [Earle-Sears] It’s an appeal aimed at persuading liberals and moderates who may be dissatisfied with the Democratic Party that Earl Sears’ brand of social conservatism is out of step with most Virginians.
The ad includes debate footage of Mr. Spanberger pressuring Mr. Earl Sears over his opposition to same-sex marriage, leading to the Republican interjecting, “That’s not discrimination!” And when asked about his defense of firing employees based on sexual orientation, Earl Sears reiterated, “That’s not discrimination.”
The voiceover responds, “Yes, Lieutenant Governor. That’s right. And what you said about rights couldn’t be more wrong. Winsome Earl Sears: So far so right, but she’s wrong for Virginia.”
Most recently, in May, Earl Sears I reconfirmed She said she opposes marriage equality and only supports civil unions for same-sex couples.
According to virginia mercuryrecently unearthed candidate research from Earl Sears’ unsuccessful 2004 congressional campaign, found that she described homosexuality as an “immoral lifestyle choice,” promised to support a ban on same-sex adoption, and vowed to oppose any legislation guaranteeing protections for LGBTQ people in the workplace.
In the same year, Earl Sears daily press The Newport News article attacked Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), who opposed the Defense of Marriage Act and voted for a 1996 bill that would have allowed same-sex marriages to take place legally in other states. She lamented that “over the past few decades, society has immeasurably exceeded almost every standard in its treatment of the gay community.”
Although Earle Sears did not specify what those “considerations” were, critics point to increased visibility of the LGBTQ community, the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down state sodomy laws, and the pending legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts as likely triggers for her claims.
Chaz Natticombe, executive director of State Navigator and a Virginia native, said Earl Sears’ comments at the debate were “false,” but he withheld judgment on whether Spanberger’s ads would persuade new voters to support her.
“Let’s wait and see if she adds more college-educated moderates and independents to her column,” Natticombe said. I wrote With X.
Earl Sears has focused much of its campaign on transgender issues, attempting to tie Spanberger to unpopular positions regarding transgender athletes and access to gender-affirming facilities.
However, as transgender journalist Erin Reid observes, transgender issues have received less attention. traction — at least not yet. Poll from September 28-29 by emerson college poll and the hill The survey found that most people in Virginia think transgender issues are “not very important” or “not important at all” in the gubernatorial race.
Notably, the group most likely to rate this issue as “very” or “somewhat” important is Democrats, suggesting that many who find this issue important are also likely to support transgender rights.
Similarly, Wason Center public opinion poll A Christopher Newport University poll conducted from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 found that Virginia voters preferred former U.S. Rep. Sears to Earl Sears on a variety of issues, with Spanberger having a 13-point advantage on his handling of transgender issues.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
