Pastors Fight to Not Protect Gays

[Hazumu]

by Chris Dovi

Richmond VA Style Weekly

"Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia, a leading statewide lobbying organization for gay, lesbian and transgender issues, says the pastors' fears are overstated — and poorly thought out.

The federal hate crimes bill had a religious exemption, Mason says, and the hiring nondiscrimination bill was in line with the will of the people. She cites a recent poll showing 87 percent of respondents favoring an end to workplace discrimination.

"These groups are very ... intimidated by the fact that there's a growing fair-minded majority in Virginia and around the country," she says. "Protecting people based on their gender identity does not threaten their religion. That is a very American value. That's a very religious value. That's a very Virginia value.""

Karen