The Virginia House has killed the judicial nomination of an openly-gay prosecutor — because he is gay. The nominee, Tracy Thorne-Begland (image, right), a veteran and a Deputy Commonwealth Major Crimes Attorney for the past 12 years for the city of Richmond and his same-sex partner, Michael Thorne-Begland (an attorney at Philip Morris) are raising their young twins in Richmond, which was more than enough reason for Republican social conservatives led by the Family Foundation and their best friend in the Virginia House, Republican Del. Robert G. Marshall, to lead a mob to vote against making Thorne-Begland‘s Virginia’s first openly-gay judge.
Before last night’s vote, WTVR reported:
“I don’t even think it’s proper to put his name forward because of his behavior,†said [Del. Bob] Marshall, who called Thorne-Begland “a homosexual activist,†in a press release.
Thorne-Begland has been nominated to serve as a judge for Richmond’s General District Court, but, Marshall challenges the nomination on the grounds of the prosecutor’s sexual orientation.
“We have a constitution which says marriage is between one man and one woman and if he’s taking an oath, he has to uphold and defend that as a judge,†said Marshall.
“If his lifestyle is exactly contrary to that… I don’t see how he could do that,†he said.
Thorne-Begland lives with a partner and they have two children.
“I don’t know why the folks on the courts committee didn’t catch this before…but they didn’t…but it’s up to us to act as a backstop,†said Marshall.
Note the “gay is a behavior” lie.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch after the vote noted:
“The rejection of Mr. Thorne-Begland shows that discrimination based on sexual orientation is alive and well in Virginia,” Del. Mark D. Sickles, D-Fairfax, said in a statement after the vote in the House of Delegates. “And, it shows that legislators are more concerned about the Family Foundation scorecard than Richmond’s District Court.”
Thorne-Begland was the only one of more than three dozen judicial nominees — including 10 others from the Richmond region — who was not elected to a judgeship following a marathon legislative session dominated by review of amendments to the two-year state budget proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
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Thorne-Begland, a decorated officer and fighter pilot – came out as a gay Naval officer 20 years ago to challenge the military’s now-defunct “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. His announcement resulted in his honorable discharge from the Navy. Between 2002 and 2006, he also served on the board of Equality Virginia, a nonprofit gay rights group.
“More than 20 years ago, he spoke out because he thought it was wrong for soldiers to have to lie about who they are while fighting and dying for their country,” said Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond. “He spoke out because it was right, even in the face of certain retribution for his action.”
Joe.My.God. also adds:
Last summer Marshall claimed it is a felony for a state office to fly the rainbow flag. Marshall has also called on Virginia to issue its own currency, and has claimed that God punishes women who have abortions by giving them deformed children. After the DADT repeal bill passed, Marshall tried to have gays banned from the Virginia National Guard.