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May. 3rd, 2004 12:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rootofnewtVirginia Is For Haters is recommending a boycott of Virginia-based businesses, especially J. Crew, due to the recent HB 75, limiting the rights of non-heterosexual couples.
Now, I know I haven't written on this, while many people I know who live out of state are shocked and outraged. Well, I'm not surprised or shocked. I live in a state full of conservatives--many are of the scary sort. I know this. It's one reason I referred to Virginia as The Evil Dominion for years before I moved here. I live in a moderately liberal enclave. My delegates didn't vote for the bill and, for that, I'm quite thankful. I'm a little surprised that something representing such a huge government intrusion was actually passed--I know a lot of conservative Christians who really hate laws that limit *anything*, simply because they see it as big government. Apparently, they're so afraid of hot gay sex they'll stand for hateful acts by the Assembly.
This is a conservative state. This is what happens when people who believe religious law is not separate from civil law. I'm a bit surprised by the shock... after all, this state had some of the most vicious eugenics programs during the last century... not to mention the huge problems with desegregation. Hell, this state doesn't even have real strip clubs. When the Supreme Court ruled on the Texas sodomy case (Lawrence and Garner v Texas), some of our delegates tried to figure out a way to officially say, "No matter what the Supreme Court says, we still think sodomy laws are a good thing because sodomy (defined in VA as just about anything BUT married, heterosexual PiV sex) is a bad, bad thing."
I don't buy anything from J. Crew, anyhow. Heck, the fact that the CEO supports Kerry might be enough for me to go buy some socks there. Some folks have mentioned an AOL boycott--I don't use their products, either, save for a sporadic ICQ session. I don't pay for the use of ICQ, though I have friends who work at AOL and I'd rather they not lose their jobs due to sudden cuts. I'm not going to boycott Virginia businesses. I try to buy from local businesses whenever I can. Part of my beliefs center on supporting the local economy. That's not going to change.
I don't think a boycott of my state is in order. I think a huge influx of very visible queer culture is in order. I think the rest of the state should be dotted with rainbow flags the way Charlottesville is. I think "Hate is not a family value" bumperstickers should be plastered on cars in a guerilla campaign. I want to see queer families vacationing here with their kids, strolling down the boardwalk of VA Beach or taking in Civil and Revolutionary War Battlefield sites all over the state. Don't leave us in the dark. We need light more than anything right now.
Now, I know I haven't written on this, while many people I know who live out of state are shocked and outraged. Well, I'm not surprised or shocked. I live in a state full of conservatives--many are of the scary sort. I know this. It's one reason I referred to Virginia as The Evil Dominion for years before I moved here. I live in a moderately liberal enclave. My delegates didn't vote for the bill and, for that, I'm quite thankful. I'm a little surprised that something representing such a huge government intrusion was actually passed--I know a lot of conservative Christians who really hate laws that limit *anything*, simply because they see it as big government. Apparently, they're so afraid of hot gay sex they'll stand for hateful acts by the Assembly.
This is a conservative state. This is what happens when people who believe religious law is not separate from civil law. I'm a bit surprised by the shock... after all, this state had some of the most vicious eugenics programs during the last century... not to mention the huge problems with desegregation. Hell, this state doesn't even have real strip clubs. When the Supreme Court ruled on the Texas sodomy case (Lawrence and Garner v Texas), some of our delegates tried to figure out a way to officially say, "No matter what the Supreme Court says, we still think sodomy laws are a good thing because sodomy (defined in VA as just about anything BUT married, heterosexual PiV sex) is a bad, bad thing."
I don't buy anything from J. Crew, anyhow. Heck, the fact that the CEO supports Kerry might be enough for me to go buy some socks there. Some folks have mentioned an AOL boycott--I don't use their products, either, save for a sporadic ICQ session. I don't pay for the use of ICQ, though I have friends who work at AOL and I'd rather they not lose their jobs due to sudden cuts. I'm not going to boycott Virginia businesses. I try to buy from local businesses whenever I can. Part of my beliefs center on supporting the local economy. That's not going to change.
I don't think a boycott of my state is in order. I think a huge influx of very visible queer culture is in order. I think the rest of the state should be dotted with rainbow flags the way Charlottesville is. I think "Hate is not a family value" bumperstickers should be plastered on cars in a guerilla campaign. I want to see queer families vacationing here with their kids, strolling down the boardwalk of VA Beach or taking in Civil and Revolutionary War Battlefield sites all over the state. Don't leave us in the dark. We need light more than anything right now.
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Date: 2004-05-03 10:44 am (UTC)ps - Hi there from PA. I'll be back soon!