Information Alert: VEA, Homosexual Activists Marry

Victoria Cobb, President
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

The courtship has been taking place for years, but the union was finalized recently when the Virginia Education Association (VEA) passed at its most recent convention a resolution supporting adding sexual orientation to non-discrimination policies in Virginia. In its email alert announcing the decision, the VEA trumpeted its joining together with Equality Virginia, the Commonwealth's largest pro-homosexual lobby. In fact, the VEA points its members to use Equality Virginia's web site to lobby legislators.

For years, the VEA, which is the Virginia arm of the ultra-liberal National Education Association, has quietly supported extremist positions on homosexuality and abortion. Its most recent foray into these issues took place when they made repealing the state's ban on civil unions one of their top 10 legislative initiatives in 2005.

The VEA's recent email alert states, "At April's VEA Convention, the delegates passed NBI 31, which read, 'The VEA shall seek and support legislation to add sexual orientation to the Commonwealth's of Virginia non-discrimination statement and employment policies.'"

Clearly, this is an issue that falls well outside the stated mission of the VEA that it is "people voluntarily associated together to improve your child's' success in school and to upgrade the profession of teaching." How promoting homosexuality as being deserving of special treatment equals improving a child's success in school remains a mystery to anyone outside of this liberal organization.

Unfortunately, the VEA has an incredible amount of power and influence in the General Assembly (see increase in public school spending by billions in recent years). Their 44 paid lobbyists stalk legislators year round, and many politicians are more than willing to sell out the family to get this organization's endorsement.

The good news is that professional educators have a choice in Virginia. They do not have to fund the VEA. Because we are a right to work state, the union cannot force people to join. Also, there are alternatives.

One group that provides many of the same benefits to teachers as the VEA, but without the radical political agenda, is the Virginia Professional Educators. You can learn more about this organization at www.virginiaeducators.org. If you are a teacher in Virginia who is growing tired of your VEA dues supporting their extremist political agenda, I urge you to check out VPE.

The arrogance of the VEA is also made clear on its web site, where they state, "If you are fortunate, the VEA is your child's teacher." Implied in that statement is the message that you are unfortunate if you are a child being taught at home by your parents. Or, you are unfortunate if you are being taught in a non-public school by a teacher who isn't part of the VEA. Obviously, in their eyes, no one else is capable of providing a quality education to children.

The Family Foundation is proud to stand against the VEA on the issue of special treatment for homosexuals, and a host of other important issues. We may not have the money they have or the 40 paid lobbyists, but we will continue to fight for your values.