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An open letter to the Republican House member we saw on Grindr this weekend

An open letter to the Republican House member we saw on Grindr this weekend
Addressing the Southwestern Virginia GOP lawmaker who cruised Grindr this past snowy weekend:

First- welcome to RVA – I’ve visited your part of the state before and imagine the number of available dudes here in the Richmond area v. the part of Virginia where you call home is exciting!

As a gay man, I’d never shame someone for wanting to explore their sexuality as long as it is done in a safe and healthy way, so I hope you’re getting the chance to enjoy it!

But- while I’m on the topic of support, when you’re ready to come out, I hope you’ll take advantage of some of the resources available here in the Capital – folks like Diversity Richmond are always there for you!

Alright, lets also talk about your role as a legislator and how it impacts and affects LGBTQ people in the rest of the Commonwealth. I’ve looked up your voting record and there’s a number of things you voted against which makes me wonder;

Do you ever want to have kids? You voted to make it harder for same-sex couples to adopt by allowing state funded adoption agencies to deny adoptions to people that violate their moral “conscience.”

Even if you don’t want children some day, you have made it damn near impossible for the people you’re trying to sleep with to do the same here in Virginia.

What college did you go to? (I actually know, I googled you!) Well, other folks still in college, like the young man you hit up on Grindr who alerted me, are now living in a state university & college system which allows select official school clubs to discriminate pretty much at will. Those clubs can also gather to rally around causes which could harm LGBTQ folks.

Is that part of your pick up strategy? State-sanctioned negging? It’s been a while since I’ve been single, but you’re a bit too old to be counting on low self esteem to get you laid.

Speaking of age, you totally lied on your profile – also tacky! (Google is an editor’s best friend.)

I know you’re obviously not out at work here at the General Assembly, but I have to ask why you would vote against a law which would have protected LGBTQ Virginian’s for being fired for who they love.

It’s not often that these bills offering these kinds of protections make it to a full house vote, but you managed to take the opportunity to put your own people down.

Self-hatred is not cute, by the way, and is thoroughly an unattractive character or personality trait.

Speaking of self loathing behaviors, why did you vote against the appointment of an openly gay Judge? That vote was less-than-subtle on why and how it was targeted – with several conservative Senate members walking out rather than voting him in – but again, you sat there quietly and let the broader anti-gay sentiment at the GA take the driver’s seat.

Thankfully the honorable Judge Thorn-Begland was appointed, but no thanks to you.

Trashy, grrl.

On a lighter note, your torso is actually not bad and I shall give you credit for staying in shape.

Now I really wasn’t aiming to embarrass you with this letter, but I just want you to know we’re out there and we aren’t gonna blow you when you blow your chance to do some good for the community.

Coming out is a personal choice, but when you’ve been given the kind of power you now have, it’s pretty disappointing.

I’m sure the personal crisis you go through every time you cruise has got to be pretty intense. I came out at 15, it wasn’t stellar, but I survived. Now you, much older then that, will have to someday deal with these feelings and you can be the man you are right now or you can take the opportunity so few of us have and stand up for what is right.

I hope you make the right choice… and if you decide otherwise, stay off of Grindr cause we’ll be watching.

As long as you continue to support discrimination against your own people, you won’t be getting laid in this town and besides, maybe someone else will recognize you.

Editor’s Note: “Outing” someone is not something to be taken lightly and often comes off as tacky or vengeful. The legislator we’re addressing with this letter has a voting record which would make an openly gay man shake their head in disgust, but he hasn’t been specifically vocal on LGBTQ issues. This is one of the reasons we’re choosing to leave them anonymous, however we hope this message reaches their desk and they’ll consider the words below if and when they have a chance to vote on LGBTQ related bills in the future.

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