In a somewhat stunning surprise, the Virginia Senate today passed legislation that would add sexual orientation to the protected classes of workers protected under state employment non-discrimination. The vote was along party lines with only local senator GOP senator Fred Qualye supporting passage of the bill. Now the fat of the bill goes to the GOP controlled House of Delegates where the GOP typically represents the interests of James Dobson's Virginia affiliate, The Family Foundation, rather than the views of a majority of Virginians who believe employment protections should include gay Virginians/ As the Virginian Pilot has reported, Governor Bob McDonnell - no friend to LGBT Virginians - has said, he wants the Legislature to act on the issue rather than renew the Executive Orders signed by his Democrat predecessors (the effectiveness of Kaine's Executive Order 1 (2006) is currently before the Supreme Court of Virginia awaiting oral argument). Sadly, I am not holding my breath expecting the House of Delegates to pass the bill, but it would be a huge step forward for vitriolically anti-gay Virginia. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:*
On a near party- line vote, Virginia's state Senate passed a measure Monday that would protect gay and lesbian state workers from discrimination. Suffolk Republican Frederick Quayle broke ranks with the GOP and joined the 22 Democrats in the chamber in supporting the bill. "I just thought it was the right thing to do," he said later.
*
If passed into law, the measure would define a state non discrimination employment policy that includes the category of "sexual orientation" along with race, religion, gender and disabilities, among other classifications. Several past governors have signed executive orders establishing that as a state policy; former Govs. Timothy M. Kaine and Mark Warner included the sexual orientation clause in their orders.
*
Current Gov. Bob McDonnell clashed with Kaine four years ago over the inclusion of gay workers in the policy, saying such decisions were the domain of the legislature. McDonnell has not issued his own non discrimination order but recently said he considers Kaine's policy still in effect other than the sexual orientation piece.
*
What is really sad is the nastiness of some of the reader comments left on the article that show bigotry and hate are alive and well within a vocal minority of Virginians who are unable to grasp the concept of separation of Church and State and religious freedom applies to other beside themselves.
On a near party- line vote, Virginia's state Senate passed a measure Monday that would protect gay and lesbian state workers from discrimination. Suffolk Republican Frederick Quayle broke ranks with the GOP and joined the 22 Democrats in the chamber in supporting the bill. "I just thought it was the right thing to do," he said later.
*
If passed into law, the measure would define a state non discrimination employment policy that includes the category of "sexual orientation" along with race, religion, gender and disabilities, among other classifications. Several past governors have signed executive orders establishing that as a state policy; former Govs. Timothy M. Kaine and Mark Warner included the sexual orientation clause in their orders.
*
Current Gov. Bob McDonnell clashed with Kaine four years ago over the inclusion of gay workers in the policy, saying such decisions were the domain of the legislature. McDonnell has not issued his own non discrimination order but recently said he considers Kaine's policy still in effect other than the sexual orientation piece.
*
What is really sad is the nastiness of some of the reader comments left on the article that show bigotry and hate are alive and well within a vocal minority of Virginians who are unable to grasp the concept of separation of Church and State and religious freedom applies to other beside themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment