Adam Ebbin: “It’s horrifying that Sears believes she should be able to strip Virginians of their legal workplace protections”
 

VIRGINIA – In a new column in Inside NOVA, Sen. Adam Ebbin, the first openly gay member of the General Assembly, details Winsome Earle-Sears’ record attacking gay rights and opposing same-sex marriage including a survey where Sears said she supports letting Virginians be fired for being gay. John Reid, Sears’ running mate says Sears is “100% against” gay marriage. 
 
Ebbin writes: 
 
It’s dangerous. It’s outright illegal. And it’s horrifying that Sears believes she should be able to strip Virginians of their legal workplace protections. She wants to go back to a time where Virginians can lose their jobs because of who they are and who they love.
 
We cannot let that happen. This is supposed to be a commonwealth of opportunity. Everybody should have a chance to succeed, regardless of who they are, what they look like, where they live or who they love.
 
Inside NOVA: Guest Column: Earle-Sears Wants to Roll Back Gay Rights  

• As the first openly gay member of the House of Delegates and later the first openly gay state senator, one of my priorities has always been fighting for the rights of all Virginians – no matter who they love.
• Throughout my career, we’ve made significant progress. I went from being the first and only gay legislator to one of many. And members of both sides of the aisle have fought to protect gay rights.
• As we took each step forward, there were people who wanted to push back, and it’s been up to us to protect our progress.
• This November that’s on the line. Winsome Earle-Sears, the GOP candidate for governor, wants to roll back the rights of gay Virginians.
• In an unearthed candidate survey, Sears pledged to support letting Virginians get fired for being gay – meaning she wants employers to be able to fire, demote or deny someone a job because of their sexual orientation.
• It’s dangerous. It’s outright illegal. And it’s horrifying that Sears believes she should be able to strip Virginians of their legal workplace protections. She wants to go back to a time where Virginians can lose their jobs because of who they are and who they love.
• We cannot let that happen. This is supposed to be a commonwealth of opportunity. Everybody should have a chance to succeed, regardless of who they are, what they look like, where they live or who they love.
• In the survey, Sears also said she would block same-sex couples from adopting children. These are decisions made between partners, not politicians. Sears also responded that she believes homosexuality is an “immoral lifestyle choice.”
• She wasn't simply caught saying all of this, she clearly marked her position in a questionnaire from a failed congressional bid.
• And now as she is asking to serve Virginians in every corner of this commonwealth, she refuses to give answers about her record. It’s especially concerning because her silence makes it clear nothing has changed for her.
• When you look at her record, she has consistently attacked Virginians’ fundamental freedoms. She left a handwritten note on a bill protecting marriage equality in Virginia to say she is “morally opposed” to the legislation. I’ve served in the House of Delegates and in the state Senate, and I can tell you it’s unheard of for a lieutenant governor to leave a note like this.
• Earlier this year, when asked whether she was OK with same-sex marriage, she said “civil unions, fine” – but refused to support same-sex marriage.
• Sears is even touting endorsements from people who have shared extremely anti-LGBTQ comments. They have equated homosexuality to pedophilia and said LGBTQ people have “confused minds.”
• And in an uncovered op-ed, Sears wrote that she “emphatically” supported banning same-sex marriage in Virginia and called for a constitutional amendment “preserving the institution of marriage to be between a man and a woman.” She went on to attack the LGBTQ rights movement, saying that “society has gone immeasurably beyond almost all standards in accommodating the homosexual community over the last couple of decades.”
• I believe we must protect the fundamental freedoms of Virginians, no matter who they are or who they love. And every Virginian deserves a governor who will always stand up for them. It’s clear Winsome Earle-Sears will not do that.
• It’s why I’ll be supporting Abigail Spanberger. I know Abigail will listen to Virginians. She’s committed to delivering real and thoughtful solutions and fighting for what the commonwealth needs instead of pushing a dangerous agenda that’s out of step with Virginians.

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