Yes Virginia: there is a boycott

[dreamer_easy]

I remember reading a great report from Harlan Ellison on how he refused to spend any money while visiting a US state which had failed to ratify the ERA - IIRC not as much as buying a chocolate bar.

Now, with a visit to the US state of Virginia coming up later this year, where it's legal to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in housing, banking, and employment, I'm thinking about following Ellison's example. This could be a bit of a nuisance for family and friends, so I don't want to go too over the top, but I wonder how many shopping trips, meals out, etc, I can move over the border into Maryland. I must of course accompany this behaviour with some letters to relevant politicans and perhaps newspapers too.

At the very least Jon and I should go and break the state's "crimes against nature" law a little.

Comments

[tencrush]

Will you be taking pictures of the crimes against nature bit? I am intrigued as to what they may be. And a wee bit turned on.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[sheramil.livejournal.com]

> I must of course accompany this behaviour
> with some letters to relevant politicans and perhaps newspapers too.

you'll have to do that out of state too, unless you want to boost the Virginian stamp industry. i think a better pointy stick would be for everyone to send letters to whoever the relevant authority is, stating "we were going to holiday in Virginny this year. but no."

[redrose999.livejournal.com]

I would. It's funny stuff like this and the law allowing Doctors, hospitals and insurance companies to discriminate against gays in Michigan are never seen in the news. It really bothers me.

Thank you for posting it. I'm sort of passing it along.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigjobbies_/]

on Ellison - I think the boycott was while attending a con - and to avoid letting the state get any $$ he stayed over the border in a neighbouring state, and commuted each day...

[thegameiam.livejournal.com]

You would probably find DC's laws to be more to your taste - our laws are sort of "Liberal and Liberaler."

When are y'all coming to the area?

[lordalius.livejournal.com]

Alas, since I live in Virginia, it would be a little hard for me to do that. (They get funny when you don't pay taxes, for example.) But I'll be happy to support you in this in any way I can when you come -- I was horrified when that thing got ratified.

As for the "crimes against nature"... Well, I'll look the other way. ('Cause, you know, that's polite.)

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

What an excellent story about Harlan Ellison, particularly after his recent bad press.

Yes, Virginia...

[stevencaldwell.livejournal.com]

So, I guess this means that, given that you are a consistent kinda gal, that you will transfer this legal discrimination to your time in Australia. So no more dining at Chez Steven with his partner eating his divine mushroom lasagne? And the talk about Captain Jack's semen is right out of the question...

[emma-in-oz.livejournal.com]

Jesus!

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest you spend as much of your time as possible in DC and Maryland, and use the DC Metro system to get around. There are many fine restaurants, hotels, and shopping areas quite near the various Metro stations.

Personally, I'd suggest you stop at Dupont Circle, eat a really good meal, and go window-shopping. Get an all-day pass and travel all over (the postal museum right at Union Station is quite fun and cute) after 9:30 am on weekdays.

If the relatives really want to go out, a trip into DC for dinner is entirely reasonable.