VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TERRY MCAULIFFE LAUNCHES LGBT TOURISM TASK FORCE

Virginia has announced the formation of the state’s first LGBT Tourism Task Force, reports Loudon Times.

Made public during the Virginia-1 Tourism Summit in Reston yesterday by Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe, the task force aims to showcase Virginia as a gay-friendly state for both residents and visitors.

According to state tourism officials, the task force is the second of its kind in the nation and the first in the South.

Secretary of Commerce Maurice Jones will head up the panel comprised of “industry stakeholders, LGBT community members and business leaders,” said McAuliffe.

McAuliffe’s address focused on the broad impact the $21.5 billion tourism industry has on state's economy:

“Tourism plays an important role in attaining that goal, building communities, and helping drive the new Virginia economy.” We have an opportunity to build upon the progress Virginia made this year in achieving marriage equality and ensure that visitors across the globe know that the commonwealth is open and welcoming to all.”

Jones added:

“Tourism has consistently proven to be a sound investment for Virginia. It is an instant revenue generator, channeling millions of dollars into the Commonwealth’s coffers and into the revenue stream to local governments.”

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe Secures Equal Benefits for Married Same Sex Couples

Terry McAuliffe (D), Virginia’s recently elected governor, threw his support behind instituting protections for LGBT people in the workplace by issuing an executive order requiring all state agencies disregard the state’s former ban on same sex marriage. In a 2-1 split, a federal appeals court officially declared the ban to be unconstitutional in July of this year.

"The choice of whether and whom to marry is an intensely personal decision that alters the course of an individual's life," the opinion reads. "Denying same-sex couples this choice prohibits them from participating fully in our society, which is precisely the type of segregation that the Fourteenth Amendment cannot countenance."

McAuliffe’s order will ensure that all gay and lesbian state employees whose marriages are now recognized within Virginia will be able to provide their spouses with access to state health programs. The announcement comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear petitions from five states regarding same sex marriage. Within hours the decision triggered an immediate spike in the number of wedding licenses issued to gay couples throughout Virginia.

“After decades of work to change hearts and minds, the freedom to marry is now a reality,” executive director of Equality Virginia James Parrish told The Washington Blade. “This is such an exciting and historic day, and we are thrilled for the thousands of couples whose relationships — and families — will now be recognized by the commonwealth of Virginia.”

McAuliffe becomes Virginia’s first sitting governor to attend LGBT pride

Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Saturday became the first sitting governor of the state to attend Virginia’s annual LGBT Pridefest.

Andy Johnson, for GayRVA.com

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.) at Virginia Pridefest, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014.

“It’ a new day in Virginia, I can tell you that folks,” said McAuliffe, speaking in front of thousands of enthusiastic and LGBT Virginians and allies.

“I feel good things are happening and we’re going to have marriage equality here in the commonwealth of Virginia,” McAuliffe said, praising the two same-sex couples who are plaintiffs in the federal court challenge to the state’s gay marriage ban.

“I was the first elected official in the south to come out to come out for marriage quality,” he said, adding, “It was the right decision.”

Still in his first year in office, McAuliffe has offered a stark contrast on LGBT issues compared his predecessor, Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell took steps to make adoption nearly impossible for same-sex couples, removed work places protections for LGBT state employees, and was recently convicted on a range of corruption charges and faces federal jail time.

McAuliffe, however, spent his first moments in office signing an executive order protecting the state’s LGBT employees from discrimination. And he’s voiced his support for state Attorney General Mark Herring’s refusal to defend the state’s ban on same sex marriage.

McAuliffe was also the first Virginia governor to proclaim June LGBT pride month.

“We need to be open and welcoming to everyone,” said McAuliffe, who has said equal rights for LGBT citizens is key to a making Virginia business friendly. “You can not grown an economy when you put walls up around Virginia… no matter who you love, we want you here in Virginia.”

VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe Bans Discrimination Against LGBT Employees in First Executive Order

Shortly after being sworn in, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order banning discrimination against LGBT state employees. It was McAuliffe's first official act as governor.

Said McAuliffe:

“My administration is committed to keeping Virginia open and welcoming to all who call our Commonwealth home. Executive Order Number 1 sets the tone for an administration that will not accept discrimination in any form, and one that will work tirelessly to ensure all Virginians have equal opportunity in the workplace, no matter their backgrounds, race, religion, or whom they love.”

The order "prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities in Virginia state government."

McAuliffe projected to narrowly win Virginia governor’s race

Democrat Terry McAuliffe has narrowly defeated Republican Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia’s governor’s race, according to NBC News projections.

The Democratic businessman and former political moneyman prevailed in a tight race with the state attorney general with Libertarian Party candidate Robert Sarvis peeling off limited support from both sides.

McAuliffe, who failed to win the Democratic nomination for governor four years ago, maintained a consistent lead in polls this year in part due to Republican infighting that helped the deeply conservative Cuccinelli secure his party's nomination. And the Democrat tapped into the organization that helped President Barack Obama win the state in two consecutive elections as well as the popularity of his good friends – Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Cuccinelli had distinguished himself as a conservative stalwart during eight years as a state senator and most recently as attorney general. The Republican embraced the ascendant Tea Party movement early on, winning accolades from conservatives for his legal challenges to Obamacare, abortion rights laws and climate change research.

That endeared Cuccinelli to conservatives nationally, but turned some voters at home against him. McAuliffe highlighted more strident examples of Cuccinelli's views to swing voters across Virginia, a state which has become friendlier to Democrats in recent elections due to changing demographics in the state. 

Ken Cuccinelli talks about the "clear and contrasting positions" he and Terry McAuliffe have over Obama's health care plan in the state.

Cuccinelli also contended with backlash over the October government shutdown, which affected federal workers who reside in Washington’s Northern Virginia suburbs and throughout the state.