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Many members have expressed concern over Governor McAuliffe's nominee to chair the Democratic Party of Virginia and his positions on equality. The executive, policy and public affairs team have considered the issue and drafted a PRIVATE letter to the Governor and members of the Steering and Central Committees calling for the next and all future chairs of DPVA to support equality including marriage equality and employment non-discrimination.
We've drafted a letter and it's open for signature. It is not an official statement from VAYD. Gonzi has made his and our organization's position clear on the matter. However, this is another measure by young Party leaders to make a clear point to the Governor and members of the Central and Steering Committees.
Please DO NOT share this letter on social media but you may share it amongst your executive officers/caucus officers. It is meant to be private to address concerns about publicly attacking other Democrats and/or an elected official.
However, I would personally encourage ALL of you to add you name and voice to this issue!
Over the last few weeks, there has been significant discussion about the chairmanship of the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) and the nominees positions on equality for all American and Virginia regardless of how they love.
In this PRIVATE letter, we are asking the young leadership of DPVA and leadership with VAYD and its chapters to express this position to Governor McAuliffe and the members of the DPVA Steering & Central Committees.
When the letter is close for signatures, it will be conveyed, directly, to the Governor and members of the Steering and Central Committees without fanfare.
LETTER TEXT -
To Governor McAuliffe and the Members of the Democratic Party of Virginia Steering and Central Committee -
Firstly, let us thank you for your continued, dedicated and ongoing service to the Democratic Party and its ideals.
In the last two years, our Party has experienced significant victories including delivering Virginia’s electoral votes for President Obama, electing Senator Tim Kaine, sweeping all three statewide offices and winning two special elections to control the State Senate.
As a Party, we have achieved much because we have achieved it together. As an organization, the Party’s chairman serves as a rallying point for all Party members within our “big tent.”
Therefore, as an organization, we must ensure that our Party chairman is a representative of the vast diversity within our Party leadership and all Virginians that call themselves Democrats.
The strength of being a “big tent” Party is many groups working in one direction for the greater good but the negative is often very different opinions under the same “tent” or umbrella.
In the vast majority of cases, those differences of opinion can be managed internally so the Party can speak with one, united voice. This has been the case with the most pressing civil rights issue of our time: equality for all Virginians and Americans, regardless of who they love.
The Democratic Party platform includes a commitment to pursuing equality as does the platforms of the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Virginia Young Democrats.
We, the undersigned current young leaders and future leaders, of our Party ask you to ensure that the next and all future chairs support equality for all Virginians and Americans, regardless of who they love. This sentiment includes but is not limited to support for marriage equality and employment non-discrimination legislation.
Our President supports it; our U.S. Senators support it; our Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General support it; the vast majority of American and Virginians support it and the chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia should support it.
Thank you again for your commitment to our Party and if you have questions, please address them to Mr. Gonzalo Aida, the President of the Virginia Young Democrats and member of the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Steering and Central Committees. We remain:
Democratically Yours
PRIVATE LETTER REGARDING DPVA CHAIRMAN