Senators Adam Ebbin Donald McEachin Introduce LGBT Employment Non-Discrimination Bill in Virginia Senate

As this blog has noted numerous times in the past, LGBT Virginians currently have no employment non-discrimination protections - even if they are state employees. That's right, zero protections.  And this sad state of affairs can be attributed directly to the Virginia GOP which has slavishly followed the demands of The Family Foundation ("TFF") that LGBT Virginians be kept as less than full citizens in all ways at all times.  As explained in a press release from Equality Virginia, two Virginia senators are trying to change this shameful state of affairs.  At least for state employees.  The rest of us will remain subject to being fired at will by anti-gay bigots unless and until ENDA is enacted by Congress, something unlikely to happen thanks to the GOP controlled House of Representatives.  But back to today's events.  Here are pertinent portions of EV's press release:

When: Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, 9:30 a.m.

Where: House Briefing Room, General Assembly Building, 1000 Bank St., Richmond, VA 23219

Who: Join Senator Adam Ebbin (D-30) and Senator Donald McEachin (D-9) with co-patrons from both chambers of the General Assembly to announce support for Senate Bill 701. Equality Virginia and community leaders in support of protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender state employees will also be available for comment.

More information:

Currently there are no workplace protections at the state or federal level for sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Consistent polling shows that 90% of Virginians believe that LGBT people should have the right to work for the government without discrimination.

In Virginia, most top private employers already extend these protections leaving state government at a competitive disadvantage. Eighty percent of Virginia’s top 25 largest private employers have policies including at least sexual orientation which helps in recruiting and retaining top talent.

Bill Description:

“Nondiscrimination in state employment. Prohibits discrimination in state employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a special disabled veteran or other veteran covered by the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended. The bill defines “sexual orientation” as a person’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression.”

Of course, the big question is whether or not The Family Foundation will sufficiently threaten and intimidate the political whores in the Virginia GOP to have the bill killed.