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Va. state delegate comes out, becomes second openly gay state lawmaker

Va. state delegate comes out, becomes second openly gay state lawmaker

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia delegate from Fairfax has become the second openly gay member of the state legislature.

Mark D. Sickles
Mark D. Sickles

Del. Mark D. Sickles announced that he is gay in a Washington Post opinion column on Friday.

The Democrat is among those vying for the nomination to run for the Northern Virginia congressional seat of retiring Rep. Jim Moran.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the state’s other openly gay legislator, state Sen. Adam Ebbin of Alexandria also is vying for the nomination for Moran’s seat.

In a column titled “A marriage ruling that counts me in” Sickles cited the Feb. 13 decision by a federal judge in Norfolk who ruled Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Sickles also said recent comments by some House Republicans contributed to the timing of his announcement.

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