Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) has become synonymous
with bigoted rhetoric[1],
and his latest lambast of Gov. Bob McDonnell on Friday over the governor’s
support for the appointment of Tracy Thorne-Begland as Richmond District Court
judge was no different.[2]
Begland became a General District Court judge on Thursday after
the Richmond Circuit Court appointed him as Virginia’s first openly gay judge.[3]
When Begland’s nomination was in the Virginia House of
Delegates, Del. Marshall was the leading opponent of Begland’s appointment, labeling
the former Richmond attorney a “homosexual activist”[4].
In an email sent to Gov. McDonnell and released to the news
media on Friday however, Marshall sounded a different note. Marshall wrote, “Your
support of this judicial appointment by circuit judges means you hold the
appointed judiciary to be a branch of Virginia’s government superior to the
branch elected by the people, the General Assembly.”
While McDonnell has already made his distaste for the democratic
process known by previous actions[5],
Marshall’s email attempts to mask the real reasons why he so ardently opposes
Begland’s appointment to the bench, a reason which Marshall already noted
himself during the regular session of the General Assembly. That is, Marshall’s
fundamental reason for opposing Begland’s appointment is because he is openly
homosexual.
Furthermore, it does not follow that an openly gay judge
will be a “homosexual activist” judge anymore than it follows that a Virginia politician
will uphold the best interests of all Virginians.
Individuals and politicians alike who think like Del.
Marshall need to take a look at their calendars and recognize what year this
is. It’s a year of tolerance and compassion, not intolerance and bigotry.
Begland’s appointment hopefully marks a new chapter in the
history of Virginia, one of tolerance and openness to different ways of living.
When I look at Virginia’s history, I see more negatives than positives.
But we
can turn a new corner for the better now, and with Begland’s appointment, maybe
the first step has been taken in this direction.
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