2 fails and a success (sort of...)

OK, North Carolina and its ability to negate the fact that it is a Southern state with fools at the wheel leading it future, FAIL!  FYI, same-sex unionships were already banned at a state-level in North Carolina prior to this referendum.  It is interesting that the majority of people would be willing to vote for an amendment that would essentially strip even common law heterosexual couples of recognition, domestic partnership benefits, and domestic violence protections.  North Carolina is a state of dichotomy with very socially progressive urban areas, but staunch socially conservative (and very regressive) rural areas.  It is very dubious mentality for a place that wants to the most competitive state of the New South (against Georgia, Virginia, Florida, and Maryland).  It seems at the moment, Maryland has the last laugh on this front, but theirs is up for the ballot as well.

Oh yeah, let me not forget President Obama affirming support for "marriage equality" for all including same-sex couples, which is a win, sort of...  The catch is he still believes it should be up to the individual states to decide for themselves whether or not they will be marriage equality for both heterosexual and homosexual relationships.  Interestingly, the perspective of likely the most prudent compromise of supporting same-sex unionships, i.e., "same-sex marriages", but remaining pragmatic which allows those whom use the guise of states' rights as a reason to non the measures.

To be more interesting, former Congressman, Artur Davis decided to blog about the President's announcement.  He attempted legitimized the opposition that exists amongst so many black Americans.  He has the tried and true argument that has been used by so many older black Americans about the disarray of stable coupling of younger generations of adults.  Yeah, I would agree that there needs to be more stability of relationships of black adults in general, but the scapegoating of same-sex couples as an additional threat is ludicrous.  This all goes back to the notion there aren't good male role models for black male youths to display to these impressible minds that responsibility of be a good father (and stop fucking every thing that walks without a condom).  It is quite faulty for Davis to use this as a justification of banning the extension of basic rights afforded to most in other Westernized nations to all their monogamous and committed couples of all combinations (male-female, male-male, female-female).  This is one situation where I don't agree with Davis attempt to be pragmatic when you are simply giving validity to myopia, FAIL!

It's official!

Washington, D.C. is now the first city in the South that allows full-fledged same-sex unionships within its jurisdiction. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case by Fauntroy and the other haters, so the case went back to the District Superior Court, where the justices there also refused.  It's a turning of a page for an area that has been plagued with so much controversy surrounding this one issue from the Archdioceses of Washington, D.C. removing its spousal benefits from all employees to the ending of foster care services within the District itself, but leaving it in suburban Montgomery County in Maryland.  The trifecta of fuckery with the Northrop Grumman involving Equality Virginia and Maryland officials badmouthing Virginia because of the acts of Governor McDonnell. 

Congrats, DC!

Now what does this solve?

Once again, selfishness, idiocy, and stupidity strikes!  This time in the DC Metro aka "The DMV" over the relocation of the corporate headquarters of Northrop Grumman from Los Angeles to the region.  The recent inauguration of the socially-conservative Republican Virginia Governor Bob McConnell and his executive order that removed LGBT from the state's discrimination ordinance for employment.  He also blocked the passage of a legislation that would extend health benefits to the same sex partners of state employees.  This was at the recommendation of also recently elected Republican Virginia State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli about LGBT issues.

The Sunday edition of the Washington Post covered the foolishness being perpetuated by openly gay Maryland State Senator Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery County) and Equality Virginia to discourage Northrop Grumman from relocating to the Northern Virginia side of the DMV because of the executive order. 

Here's an exert from the letter from the Washington Post:

"Here in Maryland, we value our gay and lesbian citizens as part of a diverse population that makes the state strong," Madaleno wrote. "Virginia is doing the opposite and letting its LGBT citizens -- and those considering whether to move and work there -- know that they and their families are unwelcome second-class citizens. And they are counting on corporations like yours not to care."

Also Madaleno said that "Virginia is turning back the clock" in the letter.  However, Equality Virginia takes the cake by penning a similar to the Northrop Grumman CEO Wesley Bush also discouraging the corporation from locating in Northern Virginia.  Northrop Grumman has received a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for its protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees.  Also known for its diversity and productivity involving its employee.

Now, my thing is last time I remember this is apart of the private sector and can make its own policies for its employees.  I would expect that Madaleno because he is vying for a new economic development opportunity for his state and district by playing up their more progressive issues and the recent decision by the Maryland Attorney General saying they would recognize same-sex unions from other jurisdictions.

The Commonwealth of Virginia isn't off the hook because like most former Jim Crow-law states, i.e., Southern states, they have right-to-work laws, which means you can be fired for anything.  Which is very detrimental to black, Latinos, LGBTs, etc. and working in states where employers can use this policy to terminate you.

However, the scorched earth ideology of Equality Virginia is dumb ass hell, and insures that they will likely not have any if not many working-class voters come next time a pivotal issue involving LGBTs.  Equality Virginia is saying to those who might want to get a decent job at the headquarters, screw you, because they didn't get their way.  Hell, as much I can't stand the current mayor of Birmingham, I'm not shitting on Birmingham even on this blog because of that.  My advice to Equality Virginia is with that type of strategy they are taking you are going to make more enemies than friends with that foolishness you are doing to your own state.  If you want enact change to the policy then push for the Virginia General Assembly to pass a legislative amendment that will change state employment laws permanently rather than burning crucial bridges with potential allies on progressive and working-class voter issue.  This stunt by Equality Virginia is exactly why there is such a disconnect between most progressive-leaning groups and LGBT-rights advocacy groups because a majority of time the latter will act extremely selfishly more than the former....