Virginia Republican Party Nominates Anti-LGBTQ Candidates For Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General

by Wyatt Ronan •

Richmond, Va. — Today, the Virginia Republican Party announced Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears, and Jason Miyares as the winners of this weekend’s nominating convention for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General respectively. Virginia’s new Republican ticket has a long history of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and actions.

Gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin used anti-LGBTQ and transphobic language while campaigning for the nomination. In her previous runs for office, Lieutenant Governor Nominee Winsome Sears ran on her staunch opposition to LGBTQ rights, including marriage equality, and was endorsed by James Dobson, who founded two of the most notorious anti-equality organizations in the nation: Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, which has since been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In the legislature, Attorney General Nominee Jason Miyares has repeatedly opposed non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Virginians. Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David issued the following statement in reaction to today’s news:

Virginia Republicans have nominated three statewide candidates who have made their anti-LGBTQ views clear through both their words and actions. These candidates would take Virginia backwards and threaten the progress the state has made toward LGBTQ equality. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, Virginia voters spoke loudly and clearly in support of a pro-equality agenda that advances the promise of equality for all, and we have no doubt that will continue this November when Virginians head to the polls. Virginia is not going backwards.

Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President

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