Visibility Now, Political Clout Later? - Well, my first hint that last evening's big gay protest in Virginia succeeded came while I was still in bed. Listening to NPR's Morning Edition, I heard a Fairfax report as the last item on WAMU's local news "insert." Not surprisingly, it was hard to get a decent 30-second explanation of why outlawing private partnership contracts is a big deal, but I'm more encouraged by what I find in the state's print news this morning.

True, the WaPo only carried a wire report out of Richmond, which seems odd considering the paper actually editorialized against the Virginia law. (The same short AP story ran in the Daily Press, but even the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star had its own report!) According to what may be the best of today's stories (in the Virginian-Pilot), 600 people showed up in Norfolk to denounce the law. The article in the Daily Progress led with quotes at the Charlottesville rally from a Democratic challenger for a nearby congressional seat. Meanwhile in Roanoke, protesters heard from a leading candidate for future statewide office, State Sen. John Edwards. Getting prominent straight allies to speak up always guarantees a broader audience for our message. As the Times-Dispatch reported, Gov. Warner even sent the state's Secretary of Commerce to the Richmond rally to read a statement countering the state's image as regressive.

Though it's still early, I'd have to say the blitz of coverage marks an important success for Virginia gays (after an admittedly disastrous failure when the law originally passed). Nice organizational work, guys. The media definitely cooperated, which could be immensely helpful for future political prospects. As the Pilot quoted Dana Heller, director of Old Dominion University's Humanities Institute, the rallies mark "the dawn of a new era," and gays and lesbians now have "voice and visibility in the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Let's hope we can keep up the media momentum. (A high profile legal case challenging the law should do nicely.)