Virginia House of Delegates Passing License to Discriminate Law

GOP Del Scott Taylor (at left) who voted against discrimination

My February VEER Magazine column - the issue should be at newsstands now - looked at the anti-gay bills introduced by Republican members of the General assembly.   Among the most heinous was  HB 773 - farcically named the "Government Nondiscrimination Act"  -which would allow one's religious belief to trump Virginia's non-discrimination laws and prohibit any government entity from taking any action against a person on the basis that such person believes, speaks, or acts in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman as determined by anatomy and genetics of the individual at the time of birth. Today, on a [partisan vote, the bill passed the House of Delegates.  Among thos voting for passage were GOP Delegates Adams, Albo, Anderson, Austin, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Bloxom, Byron, Campbell, Cline, Cole, Collins, Cox, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Fariss, Fowler, Freitas, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Head, Helsel, Hodges, Hugo, Ingram, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, LaRock, Leftwich, LeMunyon, Lingamfelter, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Miller, Minchew, Morris, O'Bannon, O'Quinn, Orrock, Peace, Pillion, Pogge, Poindexter, Ransone, Robinson, Rush, Ware, Webert, Wilt, and Wright.  Local GOP Delegates Taylor, Stolle and Villanueva had the decency to vote "No."  The Washington Post has these details (note the broad scope of the license to discriminate that would be granted):

The Virginia House passed a bill Tuesday that would prohibit the government from punishing people and businesses who discriminate against same-sex couples, transgender individuals and those who have sex outside marriage.

Supporters say the Government Nondiscrimination Act is needed to protect what they call religious freedom in the face of shifting cultural attitudes toward gay rights and the legalization of gay marriage. Opponents say it’s a “license to discriminate,” with broad-reaching consequences.

The bill passed the Republican-controlled chamber 56 to 41, with seven Republican members voting “no,” two not voting and one absent. Although the vote is a win for the socially conservative wing of the party, the fact that some Republicans voted against it reflects a divide within the Republican Party in Virginia and the nation.

Before the vote, Del. Mark D. Sickles (D-Fairfax), who is openly gay, gave an emotional floor speech urging his colleagues to consider the sweep of history before they cast a vote that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) has said he would veto the measure if it passes the Senate and reaches his desk. But, Sickles said, “Your kids will be looking back at what you do today and how you vote on this bill.”

He went on to read from the program of Equality Virginia’s annual dinner, noting prominent businesses and political donors that support gay rights, including utility giant Dominion, whose ad trumpeted the “power of diversity,” and Lutheran Family Services.  He received a standing ovation from House Democrats.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), defended the bill, which he said would provide reasonable accommodation for deeply held religious beliefs.

Under the bill, an individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust, society or any other legal or commercial entity can cite religious belief in defense of its opposition to gay couples, transgender people or unmarried couples without fear of losing tax benefits, grants, contracts, loans, scholarships, certification, accreditation or jobs. There are exceptions for hospitals making decisions about visitation or emergency medical treatment.

Reflections of EV Day of Action

Part of the Hampton Roads representation for Day of Action

Today was the first time that I participated in Equality Virginia's "Day of Action" - formerly known as Lobby Day - and it was a wonderful experience overall, although the day was cut short by the approaching snow storm that has begun to hit Hampton Roads that caused us to leave Richmond in mid-afternoon.  Hampton Roads had perhaps the highest participation of any region of the state - our group from the chartered bus is shown in the picture above taken at the Library of Virginia which sits across the street from the Senate and House of Delegates office building.   One of the highlights was meeting Attorney General Mark Herring (pictured below with a friend and one of the original board members of HRBOR) and having a brief opportunity to discuss his filing in Bostic v. Rainey. 

Mark Herring this morning with Cindy Cutler

Hampton Roads Business OutReach, Virginia's only affiliate of the NGLCC - a/k/a/ HRBOR - which helped underwrite the cost of the tour bus had a strong participation by its board of directors pictured below.  Unlike the majority of Virginia Republicans, HRBOR recognizes that an anti-gay climate is not good for business and that the lack of LGBT non-discrimination protections and same sex marriage makes Virginia increasingly non-competitive. 

HRBOR Board members at EV Day of Action

While many of the Delegates and Senators we met were very supportive and gracious - Sen. Mamie Locke, Sen. John Miller, and Jeron Ward deserve special mention - I was stunned by the coldness of some of the Republicans, particular exceptions being Del. Ron Villanueva and Sen. Frank Wagner.  What am I talking about?  At the beginning of the Senate session, various senators introduced groups and individuals in the gallery of the Senate Chamber.  At the end of each introduction, all senators politely clapped and showed welcome to the visitors.  Except when Equality Virginia representatives were introduced.  Then at least a third of the Republican senators failed to clap whatsoever.  It may seem like a petty thing to note, but it is indicative of the animus with which many in the Virginia GOP hold towards the LGBT community.  My New Orleans belle grandmother taught me that a proper gentlemen (or lady) always acts politely even if they cannot stand someone.  It's a lesson the Virginia GOP needs to learn. 

View from the Senate gallery - Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam is on the dais at left

GOP's Ron Villanueva Explains Why He Is Sponsoring of a Gay Rights Bbill

I noted in a previous post my pleasant surprise that GOP Del. Ron Villanueva (pictured at left) had introduced a bill in the 2014 Virginia General Assembly that would grant employment non-discrimination protections to gay state employees.  Typically, members of the Virginia GOP are afraid to touch any pro-gay legislation since they will court the wrath of the Christofascists at The Family Foundation if they do.An article in the Virginian Pilot provides a glimpse at Villanueva's reasoning:  He knows what it's like to face discrimination.  Here are highlights:

For years, gay rights has been one of the hot-button social issues that serve as fodder for partisan warfare in the General Assembly, with Democrats favoring gay-friendly measures and Republicans opposing them. But the partisan lines are starting to blur a bit.

This year, several lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit discrimination in state employment based on sexual orientation, and one of them is a Republican: Del. Ron Villanueva of Virginia Beach.

The 43-year-old delegate, who is beginning his third two-year term in the House, said Monday his decision to try to help protect Virginia's gay minority was rooted in his own minority status as a Filipino-American.

"I've experienced discrimination. My family has. My race has," he said. "If I can help move the needle, that's what I'm here to do.... In this day and age, we need to root out discrimination on all levels."

It remains to be seen how many of his fellow Republicans Villanueva will be able to bring along on the issue. Similar measures have passed the closely divided state Senate in recent sessions, only to die in the heavily Republican House.

Obviously, the haters at The Family Foundation will be none to pleased with Villanueva for his introduction of this bill.  But then again, since his not a white right wing Protestant, they probably don't care for him very much anyway.  The article also gives an example of the hypocrisy that is so plentiful at The Family Foundation.  When the GOP pushes anti-gay and anti-woman legislation backed by The family Foundation, it's never described as divisive legislation.   Yet when Democrats introduce non-discrimination bills, suddenly it's "divisive":

Monday's salvos drew pushback from the conservative Family Foundation of Virginia.

"Fewer Americans are working today than at any point since the Carter administration; but instead of focusing on jobs and the economy, liberals in Virginia have introduced nearly 20 bills dealing with sex and abortion," Victoria Cobb, the group's president, said by email. "The left's attacks on marriage, religious liberty and parental rights won't be distracting enough for Virginians to notice they don't have jobs, but they could undermine Governor McAuliffe's claims that he wants to work across party lines and avoid divisive issues."

Funny how the unemployment situation did not stop Ken Cuccinelli, Bob Marshall and, of course, The Family Foundation from pushing reactionary legislation throughout the last four years.  As I have said before, if Victoria Cobb's (she's president of TFF) lips are moving  it's a good bet that she's lying.  The woman and her organization are despicable.