A number of bills that would afford LGBT Virginians protections against discrimination and bullying have been introduced this legislative session. Traditionally, opponents of LGBT equality - indeed even treating LGBT Virginians as fully human - seek to kill bills in committees so that they can be killed outside of public view and often solely on voice votes that allow the prostitute like Republican legislators to kiss the ring of The Family Foundation and similar hate merchants without ever even going on record in a recorded vote. Equality Virginia has disseminated a schedule of the first round of committees that will determine the fate of these bills. I wish I could say that I am optimistic, but given the past track record of the Virginia GOP, a stray dog or feral cat can expect better treatment than what these GOP delegates and senators have given to LGBT Virginians in the past. Here is a summary of the bills in question: *
Employee Benefits Legislation, SB 1121 - Senate Committee on Local Government; Tuesday, 2pm, Senate Room B
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Nondiscrimination Legislation, SB 747 and SB 797 - Senate General Laws Committee; Wednesday, 2pm, Senate Room B
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Anti-Bullying Legislation, HB 1575 - House Education Committee; Subcommittee #2; Thursday, 7:30am, 5th Floor East Conference Room
Marshall-Newman Amendment Repeal, HJR 625 - Rules Committee; Subcommittee #3; Thursday, 4pm. 6th Floor Speaker's Conference Room
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Blue Virginia has coverage of a press release issued by Virginia Democrats. These bills are not radical - especially when compared with protections and rights afforded to LGBT citizens in more progressive states. Here are some highlights:
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Richmond -- Senator A. Donald McEachin, Senator Mark Herring, Delegate Adam Ebbin, Delegate David Englin, Delegate Joe Morrissey and Minority Leader Ward Armstrong spoke about legislation pending in the General Assembly about non-discrimination. They were joined by Captain Anthony Woods, a graduate of West Point and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government who has served this country valiantly in Iraq, James Parrish, Executive Director of Equality Virginia, and Reverend Robin Gorsline, president of People of Faith for Equality and pastor of Metropolitan Community Church.
Delegate Ebbin, who has been, as Senator McEachin said in introducing him, "a rock for this movement" spoke of his legislation, House Bill 2046. "Our state is behind the voters. It is simply the right thing to do." He stressed that it is important for all public employees, including teacher and college professors to receive protections, especially in light of the Attorney General's actions against colleges last spring.
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Senator Herring, who is carrying Senate Bill 1121 with Senator McEachin, explained that their bill would allow local governments to have non-discrimination policies for their employees. "As a former supervisor," he added, "I know how important it is to be competitive with the private sector and this will make a big difference."
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Delegate Morrissey explained that his legislation, House Bill 2345 is in opposition to the proposed ban on LGBT citizens serving in the Virginia National Guard. He explained that he is confident that LGBT Virginians have "the strength, the character, the courage and the conviction" to serve us well.
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Nondiscrimination Legislation, SB 747 and SB 797 - Senate General Laws Committee; Wednesday, 2pm, Senate Room B
*
Anti-Bullying Legislation, HB 1575 - House Education Committee; Subcommittee #2; Thursday, 7:30am, 5th Floor East Conference Room
Marshall-Newman Amendment Repeal, HJR 625 - Rules Committee; Subcommittee #3; Thursday, 4pm. 6th Floor Speaker's Conference Room
*
Blue Virginia has coverage of a press release issued by Virginia Democrats. These bills are not radical - especially when compared with protections and rights afforded to LGBT citizens in more progressive states. Here are some highlights:
*
Richmond -- Senator A. Donald McEachin, Senator Mark Herring, Delegate Adam Ebbin, Delegate David Englin, Delegate Joe Morrissey and Minority Leader Ward Armstrong spoke about legislation pending in the General Assembly about non-discrimination. They were joined by Captain Anthony Woods, a graduate of West Point and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government who has served this country valiantly in Iraq, James Parrish, Executive Director of Equality Virginia, and Reverend Robin Gorsline, president of People of Faith for Equality and pastor of Metropolitan Community Church.
Delegate Ebbin, who has been, as Senator McEachin said in introducing him, "a rock for this movement" spoke of his legislation, House Bill 2046. "Our state is behind the voters. It is simply the right thing to do." He stressed that it is important for all public employees, including teacher and college professors to receive protections, especially in light of the Attorney General's actions against colleges last spring.
*
Senator Herring, who is carrying Senate Bill 1121 with Senator McEachin, explained that their bill would allow local governments to have non-discrimination policies for their employees. "As a former supervisor," he added, "I know how important it is to be competitive with the private sector and this will make a big difference."
*
Delegate Morrissey explained that his legislation, House Bill 2345 is in opposition to the proposed ban on LGBT citizens serving in the Virginia National Guard. He explained that he is confident that LGBT Virginians have "the strength, the character, the courage and the conviction" to serve us well.
*
Delegate Englin mentioned his bill to repeal the Marshall-Newman amendment and said that although it is an uphill battle, he is confident that Virginians want their fellow citizens to be able to live "in dignity" and have civil unions available to them. He also advocated for his anti-bullying bill which would strengthen procedures for school districts to combat bullying. "Sexual orientation and perceived sexual orientation continues to be a problem. The responsibility to fight this bullying is all of ours."
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Be assured that Victoria Cobb and her fellow religious extremists and bigots at The Family Foundation will pull out the stops to kill these bills. Anything that might restrict the ability of such false Christians to malign others and force their religious views on others will be decried as restrictions on "religious freedom" and/or the promoting of homosexuality and sexual deviance. The true deviants, of course, are Cobb and those like her who claim to support the U. S. Constitution while in reality trying to destroy it.
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