Gay Activists Urge Boycott of Virginia

[CShine]

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Gay activists are urging a boycott of Virginia because of a new ban on civil unions and other marriage-like arrangements for same-sex couples. VirginiaisforHaters.org urges people not to buy products or services from Virginia-based companies and suggests tourists visit other states. The name is a play on the state tourism motto, "Virginia is for lovers." Another group, Make Love Legal, is developing strategies for boycotting the 400th anniversary celebration of the founding of Jamestown in 2007.

"This whole idea is: Don't spend your money in a place where people hurt you," said Diane Horvath, a Richmond attorney who is spearheading the Jamestown initiative.

The state's Affirmation of Marriage Act, which prohibits gay marriage, was amended this year to also ban civil unions and arrangements "purporting to bestow the privileges of marriage." Gays fear it may interfere with legal contracts, such as powers of attorney, medical directives and wills.

"This is a national issue," said Jay Porter of Seattle, who with his partner created the boycott Web site. "Someone came up with this really punitive legislation and got it through the state legislature and in my mind, that could happen just about anywhere in the U.S."

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VIRGINIA_GAY_BOYCOTT?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[JohnKleeb]

1. how does one boycott one's homestate

[NuttyFluffers]

2. ;) buy from wal-mart?

j/k

honestly that's a tough one. if i were you i'd still support the local businesses, i'm sure most of the owners aren't so set upon such political matters. this political maneuvering probably came from churches - so you may want to avoid their holdings.

[Tabucky]

3. Move to another state!

that's what I would do.

[JohnKleeb]

13. easy for you to say

[AlFrankenFan]

9. lol i know

though i haven't lived there as long as you have, i lived there for seven years - half my life. and my brother was born in Richmond.

[progdonkey]

4. stupid move

I guess these activists' thought process went like this: "They want to kick us out of Virginia? Well, I could get so mad I could just... just.. move out of Virginia!!"

What these activists should be doing is calling for more gays to come to Virginia, both as tourists and as residents. If they really want to do something productive, they should help us Virginia Dems take our state back from the Right. Boycotting the state will just cause those affected to became more antagonistic towards gays, and it won't help us on the left either.

[Sapphocrat]

6. You actually think it's possible...

...for the state of Virginia to become any more antagonistic toward gay men and lesbians?

As much as I hate to quote a Repuke, this one has a point:

"If they don't like the expression of the will of the people of Virginia, they don't have to come here," (the bill's sponsor, Republican Delegate Robert Marshall) said. "This was done by freely elected representatives."

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/163/nation/Activists_urge_boycott_of_Virg:.shtml

He's right. These Neanderthals are the ones the people of Virginia chose to represent them. And unless the people of Virginia lash out at this kind of codified discrimination, then AFAIC, it's the people of Virginia at fault.

I'm sorry Virginia happens to be your state, progdonkey -- and I understand your anger at a boycott targeting your state. I felt the same way when many DUers proposed a boycott of California after Schwarzenegger was elected governor. After my anger died down, I understoond exactly why those DUers felt the way they did: Why should they pour their money into a state where half the populace is so astoundingly out of touch that it would elect a womanizing son of a Nazi as its governor?

Certainly, I felt at the time that lefties like me would be hit unfairly by a California boycott. After all, I worked hard to defeat Schwarzenegger, and to support Cruz Bustamante -- why should I suffer for the stupidity of the majority?

The answer is, simply, "personal sacrifice." I can't have it all -- and if I get hurt, financially or otherwise, by a boycott that otherwise helps a good cause, then that's my personal sacrifice, and a worthy one to me.

So why should I give my money to Virginia? Why should I ever step foot in a place where I once vacationed, and spent plenty of disposable cash? Why would I want to subsidize a place like that?

Why should any of us live in or patronize a place that hates us so overtly -- and so "officially"?

The way it stands, every one of 49 states, with the exception of Massachusetts (and every territory, from Guam to Puerto Rico) makes clear its hatred for us.

Fortunately, some states are less hateful in practice, if not in policy, than others -- which is why I live in California, and not Virginia... or Alabama, or Mississippi, or Utah, or...

The upshot: I live where I feel relatively confident I'm not going to get my ass kicked in my own backyard.

[progdonkey]

7. probably in denial

I admit that I'm probably in a state of denial. I live in Charlottesville, which is like this blue island in a sea of red. Still I like to think of Charlottesville (where Jefferson built Monticello and set up UVA) as being the heart of Virginia, even though the facts point more to Lynchburg. :grr:

[Sapphocrat]

8. I hear you...

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area -- there's no region in the entitre U.S. any more liberal than that... which is why I tend to forget that the "blue" up and down the coast is buffeted by a HUGE mass of "red" in the Central Valley (plus Orange County and San Diego).

The election of Governor Ah-nuld was a huge shock to my system -- I honestly didn't think we had that many idiots in the Golden State!

Sign me,
A fruit, yes, but not a nut

[bhunt70]

10. I think northern virginia

is more the heart :)

[WMliberal]

11. and hampton roads

is the heart of the red. At the end of my street is where Pat Robertson's property starts. Just through those woods is Regent University and the 700 club studio. :puke:

[2Design]

5. this is a good idea...boycotts work...because it affects money in their

pockets.....Having all kinds of people boycott companies in Virginia will draw attention. This will set a trend for other states. To stop the discrimination. Stop breaking the laws of our constitution.

Trying to get more progressives here, might be difficult. Considering we have pat roberston college, other Freeper colleges in the mountains. And what is the guy who is in Blacksburg......This state is a Freeper haven. Boycotting will get the people with the business clout to help work for us instead of against us.....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. It's good as long as it doesn't hurt

gay-friendly businesses. I'm recalling an orchard/pumpkin patch (I believe in the Haymarket area), that flew rainbow banners signaling their support of the GLBT community. A bunch of wingnuts raised a stink and boycotted the place. Virginia needs more businesses like that one...