Virginia Mercury: Sears “responded ‘yes’ [..] she would vote to block same-sex couples from adopting children and oppose workplace protections for gay people, and she indicated that she believed homosexuality is an ‘immoral lifestyle choice.’”
 

VIRGINIA – New reporting from the Virginia Mercury details that Winsome Earle-Sears said in a candidate questionnaire that she would oppose workplace protections for gay people, block same-sex couples from adopting children and that she believes homosexuality is an “immoral lifestyle choice.” The Mercury reported that: 
 
“She [Sears] responded ‘yes’ to questions about whether she would vote to block same-sex couples from adopting children and oppose workplace protections for gay people, and she indicated that she believed homosexuality is an ‘immoral lifestyle choice.’”
 
“Virginians deserve a Governor who will always stand up for their fundamental freedoms. It's clear from Winsome Earle-Sears' long record that she can't be trusted to do that,” said DPVA Spokesperson Maggie Amjad.
 
Virginia Mercury: Survey shows Earle-Sears’ opposition to LGBTQ+ workplace protections, adoptions, marriages

• Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears expressed strong opposition to a series of LGBTQ+ rights in a candidate questionnaire completed when she unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2004. 
• She responded “yes” to questions about whether she would vote to block same-sex couples from adopting children and oppose workplace protections for gay people, and she indicated that she believed homosexuality is an “immoral lifestyle choice.”
• The Mercury reached out to Earle-Sears’ campaign to inquire if any of her stances had evolved in the decades since the survey, formatted for “yes” or “no” responses, or if she would like to elaborate further on her answers to it. Her campaign could not be reached for an interview or statement by the time of this publication.
• Earlier this year in the Virginia legislature, Earle-Sears left a handwritten note on her signature of an anti-discrimination marriage bill that would protect same-sex unions, saying she was “morally opposed” to it. As the current lieutenant governor, she is obligated to sign bills that pass the legislature but chose to add the note. 
• Earle-Sears’ apparent opposition to LGBTQ+ rights also seems ill-matched with one of her running mates’ candidacy and identity.
• Reid, whose campaign did not follow through on an interview request for this story, has spoken publicly about Earle-Sears since launching his campaign and vowed support for her election.
• The backdrop of both their campaigns is an in-progress effort to enshrine marriage protections in the state’s constitution, as now-defunct language inserted in 2006 bans same-sex marriages.

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