Disgusting: Virginia Republican goes all-in on anti-LGBTQ smear campaign in key legislative race
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Virginia Republican Del. Bob Marshall’s berserk homophobia and transphobia aren’t exactly news. His extreme statements and policy stances during his many years in the Virginia House of Delegates reveal his fear and loathing of the LGBTQ community. BuDisgusting: Virginia Republican goes all-in on anti-LGBTQ smear campaign in key legislative race
Virginia Republican Del. Bob Marshall’s berserk homophobia and transphobia aren’t exactly news. His extreme statements and policy stances during his many years in the Virginia House of Delegates reveal his fear and loathing of the LGBTQ community. But Marshall’s Democratic opponent in this year’s contest for House District 13 happens to be a transgender woman, and the GOP incumbent is not taking it well. Marshall, who refuses to refer to Daily Kos endorsee Danica Roem with female pronouns, is avoiding appearing at debates or candidate forums with her out of fear that he’ll get called mean names (“Bigot Bob” is apparently taking off online). Marshall has seems to have developed a fear of reporters, as well. He’s refusing to allow them to accompany him while he knocks on voters’ doors, and he’ll only respond to questions via email, with carefully planned remarks. And now a conservative outside group is trying to ride to Marshall’s rescue, so to speak, in the form of robocalls full of transphobic smears and lies. Voters in the district are receiving calls paid for by the American Principals Project, a ”social welfare organization” that advocates for “the union of one man and one woman as the definition of marriage,” among other typical conservative insults. The robocalls make a series of (false) statements, then asks if they make the listener more or less likely to support Roem or Marshall. These statements include claims that Roem supports: a law that would shut down hospitals if they refused to perform sex reassignment operations; a law that would shut down adoption agencies that prioritize placing children with married mothers and fathers; allowing boys into girls’ shower facilities and locker rooms, policies that allow boys to play on girls’ sports teams and girls’ sports leagues; and requiring business owners to provide services for same-sex weddings or face possible jail time or fines. All of this is transphobic garbage, obviously. The executive director of APP sees this race as part of a larger cultural battle against, as he put it, “a radical agenda to force the transgender identity on children in our schools.” Marshall’s own crusade against the LGBTQ community is long and storied. A few of his greatest hits include: Read more