Statewide advocacy organization Equality Virginia issued this alert yesterday. The use of our local newspapers to attack our families and mislead Loudoun residents is a serious matter, and allied organizations are responding accordingly.
Three Loudoun County Papers Print Full Page Homophobic Ad
The Loudoun Easterner, Leesburg Today, and Ashburn Today ran this ad that defames the LGBT community and willingly misrepresents the Matthew Shepard Act which would add sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability to Federal Hate Crimes Legislation.
To read the Full text of H.R. 1592 click here. The Bill makes it clear that a “hate crime” is ONLY a violent act. A hate crime cannot be construed as speech or thought under this act.
Take action today and send a free email to each of these papers!
Let your local papers know that you will not tolerate bigotry and homophobia. Take a stand for equality and encourage them to issue an apology to the LGBT community for running a discriminatory and inaccurate ad that they most certainly would not have printed if it targeted any other minority group.
Please write a letter to the editor of the Loudoun Easterner and the Leesburg Today and Ashburn Today.