2013 Virginia gubernatorial debates: on Civil Rights


Ken Cuccinelli: Traditional marriage ought to be protected

Asked about gay marriage, McAuliffe said he supported equality and would sign a bill giving gays the right to marry in Virginia if it ever got to his desk. Then he pivoted on Cuccinelli, saying the attorney general had "continually attacked gay Virginians," referencing the attorney general's remarks on gay lifestyle, and his letter to colleges and universities instructing them to remove sexual orientation from their anti-discrimination language. "There are consequences to mean-spirited, hateful comments," McAuliffe said, after suggesting that Cuccinelli's position on gay issues and abortion nearly jeopardized Northrop Grumman from locating its corporate headquarters in the state.

Cuccinelli said his views on homosexuality or gay marriage had not changed, but he was ready for the attack. "The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception ... there are lots of Virginians who share my sincerely held beliefs."

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2013 Virginia governor debates Jul 21, 2013

Ken Cuccinelli: Homosexuality is against nature and harmful to society

On gay marriage, McAuliffe said he would sign a bill overturning Virginia's ban on such unions if it reached his desk. Cuccinelli was asked whether he stood by comments he made several years ago, that homosexuality was "against nature and harmful to society."

Cuccinelli said that his beliefs about "the personal challenge of homosexuality" had not changed but that as governor, he would strive to make Virginia a place where everyone has equal opportunity.

Source: Washington Post on 2013 Virginia governor debates Jul 21, 2013

Terry McAuliffe: Supports marriage equality for gays

Asked about gay marriage, McAuliffe said he supported equality and would sign a bill giving gays the right to marry in Virginia if it ever got to his desk. Then he pivoted on Cuccinelli, saying the attorney general had "continually attacked gay Virginians," referencing the attorney general's remarks on gay lifestyle, and his letter to colleges and universities instructing them to remove sexual orientation from their anti-discrimination language. "There are consequences to mean-spirited, hateful comments," McAuliffe said, after suggesting that Cuccinelli's position on gay issues and abortion nearly jeopardized Northrop Grumman from locating its corporate headquarters in the state.

Cuccinelli said his views on homosexuality or gay marriage had not changed, but he was ready for the attack. "The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception ... there are lots of Virginians who share my sincerely held beliefs."

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2013 Virginia governor debates Jul 21, 2013

  • The above quotations are from 2013 Virginia governor debates.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Terry McAuliffe on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for more quotes by Ken Cuccinelli on Civil Rights.
Candidates and political leaders on Civil Rights:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 05, 2018