Virginia Thrown Into Equality Wrangle After Rejection Of Openly Gay Judge

Tracy Thorne-Beglan is seen in a Dec. 28, 2005 photo. The Virginia House of Delegates voted early Tuesday, May 15, against Thorne-Begland’s appointment to a General District Court judgeship. The 31 votes against his appointment came from Republicans. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy pilot who was honorably discharged after publicly disclosing his sexual orientation, was one of only two candidates among scores of judicial nominees not to be approved during a `round-the-clock marathon that lingered from 1 p.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday. (AP Photo, Alexa Welch-Edlund/Richmond Times-Dispatch)