New Gay-rights Battleground: Virginia

Virginia: The Next Gay Marriage Battleground State?
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: Andrea Grill (R) and Lee Ann Hopkins (L), from Alexandria VA. embrace after becoming engaged during a rally outside of the U.S Supreme Court, on March 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is scheduled to hear arguments in California's proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: Andrea Grill (R) and Lee Ann Hopkins (L), from Alexandria VA. embrace after becoming engaged during a rally outside of the U.S Supreme Court, on March 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is scheduled to hear arguments in California's proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Welcome to the gay rights battleground of Virginia.

Yes, you read that right. In the 2013 off-year elections, a state that once leaned solidly to the center-right has become the newest focal point in the national debate over same-sex relationships. A gubernatorial race already defined partly along culture-war lines has grown even more contentious since last weekend, when Virginia Republicans nominated as their lieutenant governor candidate a firebrand minister who has called gays “very sick people psychologically” and suggested a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia.

Remarkably, in a New South battleground where Democrats have traditionally won by carving out independent, non-partisan reputations, it’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe who’s most eager to keep gay rights on the political front burner.

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