VIRGINIA BEACH — Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who ran for workplace final yr as a sunny however deeply conservative tradition warrior, traveled to this gay-friendly metropolis this week to satisfy with Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative LGBTQ group — chatting amicably with them for greater than an hour with out uttering a phrase about LGBTQ rights.
Virginia
Gov. Youngkin, who ran on culture wars, takes cautious approach to Pride
A day earlier, the Republican hosted a personal Delight reception on the Capitol with out inviting any of Virginia’s brazenly homosexual, lesbian or transgender state legislators.
Greater than per week into Delight Month, the brand new governor has not issued a proclamation however has made some deliberate — if extremely cautious — outreach to a neighborhood that he as soon as embraced as a personal fairness govt however hardly courted in final yr’s gubernatorial marketing campaign. Youngkin’s restricted overtures are an extension of the balancing act he pulled off within the marketing campaign — and, at a time when he’s typically talked about as a possible 2024 presidential contender, might set him aside on LGBTQ points from doubtless contenders identified for taking a tougher line.
As co-CEO of the Carlyle Group, Youngkin celebrated on Twitter in 2019 when the Human Rights Marketing campaign lauded the corporate as one of many nation’s “greatest locations to work for LGBTQ equality.” However on his approach to the governor’s mansion, he campaigned towards sure trans-rights measures, reminiscent of opposing the participation of trans women on groups that align with their gender identification. And whereas saying he accepts same-sex marriage as a matter of regulation, he additionally indicated he personally opposes such unions.
Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter stated the governor’s current overtures, such because the Delight reception, are constant together with his promise to be a governor for all Virginians.
“The Governor is dedicated to main on behalf of all Virginians and occasions like this assist strengthen our communities and the spirit of Virginia,” she stated in a written assertion.
Youngkin’s outreach, nevertheless restricted, has shocked some political observers in a state the place LGBTQ rights haven’t been extensively championed by Republican leaders. Simply two years in the past, Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) bought the boot from fellow Republicans after presiding over a same-sex wedding ceremony. Final yr, a candidate for the GOP lieutenant governor’s nomination endured assaults from a minimum of one Republican rival for supporting LGBTQ rights and attending an area Delight occasion. And this yr, a Republican-led state Home subcommittee killed a bipartisan effort to strip a defunct ban on same-sex marriage from the state structure.
Youngkin’s overtures additionally run counter to the tradition fights he has continued since taking workplace — and to the method that two of his potential rivals for the 2024 presidential nomination have taken towards LGBTQ points. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in March signed a regulation that bans dialogue of gender identification and sexual orientation in early elementary grades, whereas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has directed his state companies to research dad and mom for youngster abuse for permitting their trans kids to obtain puberty blockers or gender reassignment surgical procedure.
Simply final month, Youngkin appeared to flirt with a coverage just like DeSantis’s as he sounded the alarm over age-inappropriate educating.
“I believe one of many largest challenges that now we have is that we aren’t permitting our youngsters to, the truth is, be kids,” Youngkin stated at a information convention known as to launch a report on the state’s Ok-12 colleges. “And so they’re being pressured into discussions that, in all candor, they’re not able to be — they’re not able to have, all within the identify of eager to enlighten them.”
Youngkin declined to clarify what he meant on the time and has introduced no coverage on that entrance.
“He’s dancing on the sting of a tightrope, not eager to offend both facet,” stated conservative radio host John Fredericks, who has been supportive of Youngkin however thinks his have-it-both-ways method to the problem “comes off as consultant-driven and swampy.” “If he’s supportive of the Log Cabin Republicans, as I’m, and the LGBT neighborhood, as I’m, then say it. It’s what it’s. However … he doesn’t wish to find yourself as the following Denver Riggleman.”
Youngkin’s current outreach features a personal lunch on the Government Mansion with a bunch of Log Cabin Republicans earlier this month and his look Wednesday earlier than the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board to sentence a hate-fueled disruption at a earlier assembly. His efforts have drawn combined opinions, with extra liberal LGBTQ leaders extremely skeptical of Youngkin’s motives and extra conservative Log Cabin leaders glad for the outreach.
All however one member of the advisory board boycotted his Delight reception regardless of its handy timing and placement. (The occasion kicked off early Wednesday night because the board wrapped up a gathering simply steps from the Capitol.) Some board members warned through the assembly that their attendance would assist the governor “gaslight” the general public on his social views.
Chairwoman Lisa A. Turner additionally stated it was “ridiculous” that some invites had been prolonged with simply two days’ discover and that the state’s 4 LGBTQ legislators — all Democrats — weren’t on the visitor checklist.
“I recognize the Governor’s invitation, however I believe it’s untimely for this administration to rejoice LGBTQ+ equality when it has but to take any significant steps to advance it,” James Millner, director of Virginia Delight, stated in a written assertion issued to the general public.
However Michael Berlucchi, the one advisory board member to attend, stated the occasion allowed him to have interaction with a governor he described as “nonetheless studying about our neighborhood.”
“I accepted his invitation as a result of I perceived it to be a good-faith, sincere try to have interaction all Virginians,” stated Berlucchi, a Republican who’s a member of the Virginia Seaside Metropolis Council. “There’s clearly a spot there. … My attendance doesn’t convey a complete endorsement of the governor’s insurance policies. In fact now we have extra work to do, and that’s why dialogue and studying are important.”
Two years in the past, when Democrats gained full management of state authorities, Virginia handed sweeping LGBTQ-rights laws that bans discrimination in employment, housing and public lodging.
Some activists worry these positive factors could possibly be reversed if Republicans, who flipped the Home on Youngkin’s coattails and can get a shot on the state Senate subsequent yr, win full management of the legislature with a Republican chief govt. Including to their anxiousness is concern that the U.S. Supreme Court docket might reverse itself on same-sex marriage, which might have the impact of reviving Virginia’s defunct constitutional ban.
Holding a Delight reception two months after Home Republicans killed an effort to repeal the state ban and exchange it with an “affirmative proper to marry is the equal of ‘ideas and prayers’ with out motion,” stated Del. Danica A. Roem (D-Prince William), who in 2017 grew to become the primary brazenly transgender particular person to be elected to any U.S. statehouse.
However some Log Cabin Republicans, who solely just lately established their three chapters in Virginia, stated these fears are overblown.
Casey Flores, president of Log Cabin Republicans of Richmond, differs philosophically with some more-left-leaning members of the LGBTQ neighborhood on sure points, together with whether or not a enterprise reminiscent of a wedding-cake bakery needs to be allowed to show away homosexual clients on non secular grounds. (“We don’t need you to need to bake the cake,” he stated.)
However Flores stated he feels assured that sure primary rights, reminiscent of the appropriate to marry and undertake kids, are safe within the commonwealth beneath Youngkin. Flores attended the mansion lunch and stated whereas Youngkin made no coverage statements or guarantees, the governor appeared to hear as some visitors stated they’d proceed to push for the same-sex marriage ban’s repeal.
“I thanked the governor for having the occasion,” Flores stated. “This wouldn’t have been standard amongst Republicans even a decade in the past. … I believe it’s a little bit bit foolish, the response from the left. They lambaste Republicans, fairly often calling them anti-gay, after which as quickly as a Republican takes a step towards the homosexual neighborhood, they go loopy over it.”
Whereas Youngkin took some skewering on Twitter for closing the Capitol reception to the press — “In Virginia we rejoice delight behind closed doorways,” a columnist for the Virginian-Pilot and Day by day Press tweeted — some LGBTQ-rights activists acknowledged that Democratic governors Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe additionally held personal Delight receptions on the Government Mansion.
Youngkin’s look Thursday night in Virginia Seaside was open to the press however was billed on his public schedule in a approach that included no tie to LGBTQ causes: “Governor Glenn Youngkin meets with enterprise and neighborhood leaders.” An advisory issued to reporters just a few hours beforehand famous that the occasion, at City Middle Metropolis Membership, can be hosted by the Log Cabin Republicans of Hampton Roads.
Youngkin opened with a well-practiced spiel about his work to slash taxes, enhance colleges and wrestle the very best funds potential out of a divided Normal Meeting. He threw out stats about greater workforce participation charges and shorter wait instances on the Division of Motor Autos, which he stated averaged 35 minutes when he took workplace in January.
“Right this moment, the common wait time within the Commonwealth of Virginia is 11 minutes,” he stated.
From there, Youngkin opened the ground to questions for 40 minutes — a dangerous proposition for a politician at any public discussion board, particularly one hosted by a bunch whose trigger he has not embraced.
However the crowd of about 60 LGBTQ leaders, enterprise homeowners and members of most of the people, who’d applauded heartily on the notion of 11-minute DMV wait instances, caught to kitchen-table fare. A therapeutic massage therapist wished assist with licensing points. Dwelling builders and a nursing company proprietor sought a repair for scarce expert labor. A few mothers wished extra profession alternatives within the area so their youngsters gained’t transfer away once they’re grown.
Had Phil Kazmierczak, president of Log Cabin Republicans of Hampton Roads, not made a passing reference to his husband, or Virginia Seaside Mayor Robert M. Dyer not referred to “the politics of inclusion” in his “welcoming metropolis,” the occasion would have been unusual Youngkin fare.
Kazmierczak stated Youngkin is discovering frequent floor with LGBTQ conservatives by chatting with points they already agree on — decrease taxes, as an example, or business-friendly insurance policies. He doesn’t anticipate Youngkin to champion LGBTQ rights, but in addition feels assured that the governor is not going to attempt to roll them again.
“He’s not going out of his approach to create a present or a efficiency,” Kazmierczak stated. “That is who he’s. … I’ve had the chance to speak to him in personal. He’s loving, he’s welcoming, he’s tolerant. … He’s not going to attempt to roll [LGBTQ rights] again. … We’re coexisting.”