In yet another example of why I cannot in good conscience recommend that any LGBT individual ever consider moving to Virginia, a Virginia Senate committee has killed a bill that would have added employment discrimination based on sexual orientation to unlawful forms of discrimination in state hiring. Yes, I said STATE hiring. We supposedly have freedom of religion in Virginia, yet the Commonwealth itself can fire you if you're gay and don't conform to Christianist religious beliefs. As I have said before, were circumstances different, I'd leave this backward benighted state in a heart beat. How majorities treat minorities says a lot about a state or a nation. Here in Virginia the picture that this kind of legalized bigotry presents is very, very ugly. No doubt the hate merchants and liars at The Family Foundation are patting themselves on the back this morning. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot:Reflecting the recent switch from Democratic to Republican control of the Virginia Senate, a bill aimed at prohibiting discrimination in state hiring on the basis of sexual orientation was defeated today.
The Senate General Laws and Technology Committee rejected Sen. Adam Ebbin’s bill, SB263, on an 8-7 party-line vote. A similar measure was passed by the Senate last year when it had a Democratic majority, only to be defeated in the Republican-led House of Delegates.
Ebbin, D-Alexandria, had the support of labor unions, teacher and public-employee associations, and AARP, the over-50 lobby group. The socially conservative Family Foundation and the Virginia Association of Independent Baptists opposed the measure. Opponents argued that the bill is unneeded because there is no evidence that gays and lesbians face discrimination now.
Excuse me as I go vomit.
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