( From DCist contributor Terrance Heath)
Living in the relatively "gay friendly" metropolis that is D.C., it's easy to forget the the political leanings of surrounding areas. Case in point, Virginia.

The latest comes from Fairfax County, where a school board member sent a letter to school principals urging them to invite "ex-gays" into schools to speak to students. Board member Stephen M. Hunt (his bio can be found here) sent his letter -- written on his own stationary but signed by Hunt as a member of the school board -- to 24 Washington, D.C., area high schools. In his letter, Hunt (at left) called homosexuality "a very destructive lifestyle choice," and said that students should see a "balanced" representation of homosexuality.

Hunt's fellow board members were not amused, and they didn't take long in showing it. No sooner had the story of Hunt's letter broke than we received news that Hunt has been censured by the school board. The community registered its reaction, according to board members, in with e-mails and phone calls condemning Hunt's letter. After a two-hour meeting, the board issued a statement disavowing any connection with Hunt's letter. For his own part, following his reprimand, Hunt issued an apology to "those of the homosexual community that may have been given the impression that I do not respect their rights."

So, the D.C. area can be counted among the "blue," but when it touches "red," they both become a little purple at the edges.