BOS Again Votes Down Civil Rights Resolutions

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors refused to pass a resolution recognizing Sept. 14 as Pride Festival Day, J. Reynolds Hutchins reports for the Progress, intended to coincide with the annual gay rights festival held in Charlottesville. It failed in a 3–3 vote, with Ken Boyd, Rodney Thomas, and Petie Craddock voting against it. Board members told the Progress that they didn’t vote against it because they’re against the event or even against gay rights, but rather they’re against issuing proclamations in support of every little thing, and they’re simply drawing a line. This comes on the heels of the BOS likewise refusing to recognize Women’s Equality Day last month, and last October refusing to vote in support of the General Assembly ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, which has been reliably passed by the board for years.

Here is a list of some the things that the Board of Supervisors has publicly recognized in the past five months, via proclamations, resolutions, and certificates of appreciation, all of which passed without debate:

• Alan Collier for service on the Equalization Board
• David Cooke for service on the Equalization Board
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and April 21, 2013, as
  “Power Talk 21 Day”
• Monticello District Boy Scouts of America
• May 2013 as Fair Housing Month
• FTC Robotics Team #5903–”Defying Gravity”
• Paul Wright for service on the Architectural Review Board
• May 5-11, 2013 as Municipal Clerks Week
• May 6-10, 2013 as Public Service Recognition Week
• Business Appreciation Week 2013, specifically recognizing Susan Stimart, Barbara Kessler (Piedmont Workforce Network), Elizabeth Bouldin-Clopton (Workforce Center Manager), Clay Wimberlery (Wimberley
  Photography), Kelly Louk (ibid), and Daniel Flippin (Heritage Inn)
• Albemarle County Police Department, for their support of the National Guard and the National Reserve

These are item number six on the template for the report issued by county staff after each meeting: “Recognitions.” That is, these recognitions occur so frequently that it’s noted when there aren’t any (“there were none”).

Boyd and Thomas apparently regard their newfound opposition to resolutions as an utter coincidence, having nothing at all to do with their positions on civil rights. Municipal Clerks Week and Paul Wright were weighty matters, but gay rights and women’s rights? Just too trivial. (Apologies to municipal clerks and Paul.)