Temperature rising as deadline approaches for anti-civil union legislation
Augusta Free Press
June 25, 2004
By Chris Graham
The gay and lesbian community in the Central Shenandoah Valley has been and is to this day eerily quiet.
It’s not hard to figure out why.
“There’s still a fear there that there might be repercussions for gays and lesbians who decide to come out of the closet in terms of their jobs and their status in the community. The only way to get over that fear, in my view, is though being open and honest with yourself about who you are,” said Linda Czyzyk, one of the organizers of a town-hall forum being held at Staunton City Hall on Wednesday night that is focused on educating the community at-large on gay and lesbian issues.
Czyzyk and others across the state holding similar forums and rallies on June 30 just wish they weren’t doing so because of what is taking place the next day.