I will be a speaker at an upcoming event at Old Dominion University on April 12, 2008, with my presentation looking at employment discrimination issues. Unfortunately, in Virginia LGBT individuals basically have NO legal protections and any remedies that may exist are those provided by various employer non-discrimination policies or pursuant to an Executive Order of Governor Kaine in the case of state employees. Sadly, LGBT citizens continue to be routinely fired in Virginia. Just last week I received a call from a women who was fired by a large local auto dealer because her sexual orientation "made some of the other employees fell uncomfortable." While the parent company is based in Maryland where there are non-discrimination laws, the Virginia entity that was her employer is not subject to such laws.
Meanwhile, I am continuing to represent a client fired by the Virginia Museaum of Natural History in Martinsville, Virginia due to his sexual orientaion. Despite Executive Order 1 (2006) signed by Governor Kaine, the museum's executive director - who bears a striking physical resemblence to Boss Hogg from the old Duke's of Hazard television series - apparently believes he can flout the Governor's order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in all Virginia state agencies. We are currently winding our way through the state administrative remedy process which is moving at a snail's pace. Here are the details on the ODU event:
LGBT Standing United: Becoming More Inclusive
Saturday, April 12, 2008
8:30am-3pm@ Old Dominion University: Batten Arts and Letters Building
9:00 AM TO 11:00 AM – “TRANSGENDER 101”
11:00 AM TO 12:30 PM –“EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TRANS, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO ASK”
HEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOPS
12:30 PM TO 1:15 PM –
FREE WORKING LUNCH: EQUALITY VIRGINIA
ADVOCACY IN VIRGINIA AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
1:15 PM TO 2:45 PM
REPEAT “EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TRANS, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO ASK” WORKSHOPS
2:45 PM TO 3:00 PM
CRITIQUE, FINAL QUESTIONS AND ADJOURN
Sponsored by: ACCESS, TACT, Equality Virginia, Hampton Roads Pride, Old Dominion University Women's Center, ODU Multicultural Student Services, TransRights VA
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