Down In Virginia…

In the state of Virginia where Danica Roem was elected to the House of Delegates a Republican is running an anti-trans campaign.

A Virginia House Candidate Tries to Leverage Transgender Bias
The New York Times
By Stephanie Saul
August 16, 2020


Bob Good, a self-described “biblical conservative” who is the Republican nominee for a House seat in his conservative Central Virginia district, is hoping to rally clergy members with meetings this week attacking a new state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which he characterizes as an assault on religious liberty.

And in at least one of the invitations directed at clergy members and Republican county leaders, which was obtained by The Times, the organizers of the event make clear that they intend to leverage anti-L.G.B.T.Q. sentiment in the district to generate enthusiasm for Mr. Good.

“What happens when a male member of your congregation goes on vacation and returns four weeks later as a female?” the invitation said, adding, “What do your church bylaws state regarding a man dressed as a woman who attends a church function and expects to use the women’s restroom.”
The invitation was designed to stir hate and drive a wedge into the political race.
[…]
Mr. Good’s campaign has scheduled a series of six “Virginia Liberty Summits for Pastors” in three cities to discuss the new law.

Churches are free from government oversight they can say anything that they want… However, most churches are also incorporated as non-profits 501(c)3 they don’t have to but they do and in doing so agree to the conditions of a tax exempt organization and that means staying out of politics.

The Trump administration and the IRS are ignoring the law and with the courts being packed by Trump and the Republicans I doubt that the courts will rule against the churches.

Cameron Webb, the Democratic candidate facing Mr. Good, is a practicing physician who also teaches at the University of Virginia. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, citing Mr. Webb’s performance in the Democratic primary, has pledged assistance to his campaign. If elected, Mr. Webb would become the first Black physician in Congress.