Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund condemned an anti-transgender online ad targeting Virginia Delegate Danica Roem – the first openly trans person to win and serve in a state legislature – and is demanding an apology from Roem’s opponent Kelly McGinn. The ad is paid for by Family Foundation Action, an anti-LGBTQ organization in Virginia with strong ties to McGinn, who spoke at one of their press conferences as recently as January. Danica will become the first openly trans state legislator to win reelection if she defeats McGinn in the election next Tuesday.
The transphobic attack ad, available here, says Roem “sponsored a bill to force all insurance companies to pay for harmful and unnecessary ‘gender transition’ surgeries” and urges voters to reject her “EXTREME social agenda.” It includes a large photo of Roem.
McGinn has a long history of opposing equality for LGBTQ people but has attempted to position herself as more moderate throughout her campaign. She actively worked to block marriage equality in Virginia – signing a letter comparing it to slavery – and opposes non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. She advocated against the Equal Rights Amendment and has called LGBTQ adoption a “social experiment on our children.”
“Throughout this campaign, Kelly McGinn was careful to hide from voters her years of advocacy for anti-LGBTQ and anti-women causes,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “But with desperation kicking in less than a week before Election Day, McGinn is abandoning a debate on how to best serve Virginians and is instead attempting to weaponize bigotry for her own political gain. McGinn is Virginia’s Donald Trump: willing to use divisiveness to create fractures in her community so she can advance her own self-interests. Meanwhile, Danica refused to use personal attacks and is instead running on the issues that will best improve her constituents’ lives. These attacks will backfire.”
_________________
LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.
