Letter: Garvey Attack on Krupicka Misfires, Insults Gays

In front of a mostly gay audience at the Alexandria Gay and Lesbian Community Association candidate forum on Aug. 9, Libby Garvey delivered a pre-planned attack on Rob Krupicka in which she declared that the third candidate in the race, Adam Ebbin “is gay, can’t have kids in schools.”

Her point was that Krupicka’s frequent and proud references to being the parent of children in public schools was somehow a coded message of homophobia. As followers of this race know, both education and Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender equality are among the central themes of Krupicka’s campaign.

Garvey’s attack misfires on three levels:

1) Rob Krupicka is an ardent support of LGBT equality, including full marriage and adoption rights. As a politically astute lesbian, I am supporting him precisely because I believe he will be a vocal, tireless and effective advocate for equality. Accusing Rob of homophobia, coded or otherwise, is ridiculous.

2) Garvey’s unauthorized use of Adam Ebbin’s sexual orientation in an effort to score points for her flailing campaign is downright shameful.

3) Suggesting that gay people can’t have kids in schools is ignorant, insulting to gay people, and unbecoming of a candidate whose primary public service has been on a school board.

The use of sexual orientation as a wedge issue is a divisive tactic we’ve come to expect from Republicans. It has no place in a Democratic primary, certainly not in progressive Northern Virginia. I question the political skills of a candidate who cannot make their case without insulting the very folks whose vote they are courting.  

Karen Gautney, Alexandria resident

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