Almost three weeks ago, an openly gay man won a Democratic primary for a House of Delegates seat in a district that covers parts of Alexandria and Arlington and Fairfax counties. Adam P. Ebbin is unopposed in the general election and almost assuredly will become the state's first openly gay legislator.

He said that protecting gays under hate crime legislation would be a "starting point" and that he would move cautiously on other issues, such as gay marriage. Ebbin sought to reassure critics of the gay rights movement that it is "not something sinister or something to be feared."

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax) said he would fight any extension of gay rights. He added that "homosexuality is wrong." Cuccinelli said gay rights will be an immediate campaign issue. All 140 seats in the General Assembly are on the ballot Nov. 4. Cuccinelli predicted that candidates will use the issue to let voters know where their values lie, much as they do with the issue of abortion.