From the Washington Post:
RICHMOND — Circuit Court judges have appointed an openly gay prosecutor to the bench just a month after the General Assembly rejected his nomination.
Tracy Thorne-Begland’s appointment to the city District Court judgeship is temporary, lasting only until the next General Assembly session.
The move by the Circuit Court is likely to revive the emotional debate over gay judges that consumed the legislature on the last day of session. It infuriated Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), who along with the Family Foundation of Virginia helped convince the General Assembly that Thorne-Begland was unfit for the bench.
“I think it’s highly imprudent and arrogant on their part,” said Marshall. “I hope Virginia understands what’s going on here: They’re contesting the authority of the General Assembly here. . . . This is an act of defiance on their part. When appointed officials get in fights with elected officials, they invariably lose.”
It is important to note that this appointment is only until the General Assembly reconvenes next year. Delegates like Side Show Bob Marshall will take serious umbrage to the appointment and will more than likely propose some silly legislation to ban Thorne-Begland once again. I expect the forces will be even greater to not codify blatant discrimination by next year. Hopefully some of the gentleman bigots from Prince William County and nearby will also find other things to do by that time.
Those who try to say their rejection of Thorne-Begland’s appointment isn’t because he is gay are not being truthful. They say it is because he is an activist. So what. Perhaps I see those people as Republican activists. I certainly don’t think that should bar them from the bench.
Martin Luther King was an activist. Perhaps that should bar him from all that we celebrate there. Right. I don’t even think our local guys want to take that project on. People who feel that they have been discriminated against very often are activists. It goes with the territory.
Do you think Tracy Thorne-Begland will ever receive a permanent appointment in Virginia?
While I’m not tracking on MH’s comments I see no issue with Mr. Thorne-Begland being appointed.
Now, the General Assembly may take a dim view of being overruled and use this appointment as a way to re-assert themselves to the Courts (which I think is unfortunate) but I think that’s how it’ll play out in a year.
Do you think Tracy Thorne-Begland will ever receive a permanent appointment in Virginia?
I think that will depend on whether the results of the 2012 elections embolden or shame the Repubs.
I got personal joy at BM being so outraged….the quotes in the WaPo from him just had me laughing.
I enjoyed that also, Ray. I see you have a little evil streak also. 😈
It was interesting to listen to Scott Lingamfelter and Rich Anderson (both retired military officers) give their excuse for not voting for Thorne-Begland. They never mentioned a thing about his sexual orientation–they based their disapproval on his failure to uphold the oath when he joined the service; i.e., “I take this oath freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion”. Thus, the reasoning goes, he was a homosexual at the time he joined but did not make it known, therefore he violated the oath of office. That being the case, how could he ever be trusted as to any other oath he might swear to? Pretty good argument if you believe there is any value to a sworn oath of office. If he has to swear to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth, what he does when faced with a case involving homosexuality will be interesting. Does he recuse himself or does he attempt to legislate from the bench or does he uphold the law? Some interesting choices.
I actually think they are both full of crap.
First of all, gay service men and women have served with great distinction. It is a travesty that who someone chooses to love, as a consenting adult, is anyone’s business. Furthermore, what a load of bullshit to blame your homophobia on a law that should have been outlawed decades ago. There use to be a law that whites couldn’t marry blacks, if someone broke that law will they be forever viewed as unethical and a law breaker? NO, I say, laws are mans creation and they can be changed as social mores progress, THANK G-d!
What laws involve “homosexuality” in the state of VA? Furthermore, are heterosexuals banned from dealing with issues that involve heterosexuality? Are people who are guns rights supporters banned from judging trials where the crime involves a gun? Hooey is what I say.
The very fact that people are willing to have 50 different laws regarding gay rights shows how divided the nation is. Anderson and Lingamfelter are trying to shroud their homophobia in military bullshit for sure. I don’t like the term homophobia. It implies fear. I think they just basically dislike gays. Can I rename that homo-hate?
I reject their disingenuous bullshit and blather they delivered on the floor of the General Assembly. I would like to remind both gentlemen that they represent ALL Virginians–not just those they approve of.
I have reflected back on my years in the military, and back in post-Vietnam days, there were guys you had a hunch were gay, but since they kept a low profile, it never really came as an issue. On in particular I knew was a Staff Sergeant E-6 Army Mess Sergeant, and was a good friend. This was in Heidelberg Germany in 1977 and out one night at one of the German Clubs downtown, and being a young all-American lad at the time, saw this gorgeous blond standing at the bar. Deciding I would try to see if my German was good enough to break the ice, I walked over.
Lo and behold it was the Mess Sergeant! I was floored! Well, floored mainly as he made a good looking woman. Anyway, we laughed, had a drink, I left and after that just everytime I saw him had to chuckle. He left Germany for Fort Carson, CO and it was a couple of months later when I picked up the Army Times and saw his picture in it – first in his dress greens, and then his “lady wear”. Article said he just walked into work one morning dressed up in his finest “lady wear”, and was subsequently discharged. Got a letter later from him telling me he wanted out of the Army, and that was the fastest way he could think of.
Still laugh about it all these years later.
The real living, breathing Klinger?