Virginian Pilot: Ban State Agencies from Discriminating Against Gay Employees

So far this legislative session, virtually every gay friendly bill in the Virginia General Assembly to be considered in committee has been killed by straight line party vote with the Republicans - always ready political whores only too happy to prostitute themselves to the Christofascists at The Family Foundation, an organization that thoroughly needs to be certified as an anti-gay hate group.   The sole exception?  A bill that would ban state taxpayer funded agencies from discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation.  That bill barely survived for now based on a tie vote and will be taken up again.  The Virginian Pilot calls upon the General Assembly to do the right thing and pass the bill.  Here are highlights from the main page editorial:

Twenty-one states have passed laws that ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Virginia should be the 22nd.

A proposal to ban public employers from discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation is set to draw a vote as early as today in a Senate committee. Last week, SB785 stalled on a 7-7 vote but was set aside for consideration again by the full General Laws committee because Democratic Sen. Chuck Colgan missed the vote.

The measure survived only because Republican Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel broke ranks with her party, as she did last year on the same proposal, and voted to ban public agencies from discriminating based on sexual orientation.

Lawmakers, however, could end the uncertainty by specifying that employers funded by taxpayer dollars cannot dismiss or refuse to hire qualified employees simply because they are attracted to members of the same sex.

It's a view that private employers have increasingly adopted, demonstrating the power of understanding and compassion to make the workplace and society a more welcoming, more inclusive environment. Nearly every Fortune 500 company has enacted policies prohibiting discrimination based on orientation to ensure that they have access to the best-qualified employees. Virginia government should do the same.

Unfortunately, with the exception of Vogel, Republican lawmakers have largely failed to endorse protections for gay employees in state and local governments. Another bill, which would've extended fair housing protections to include sexual orientation, has already failed.

Sen. Adam Ebbin, the chamber's only openly gay member, has noted the lack of statutory protection for gay and lesbian workers has led some to forgo job opportunities in Virginia or depart for more welcoming states.  That's Virginia's loss.

Sexual orientation has no bearing on an employee's ability to perform any state or municipal job. Workers shouldn't have to worry about whether they'll be fired, or denied opportunities, simply because of whom they love.

[T]he state gains nothing - indeed loses much - by continuing to sanction the firing of employees because of their sexual orientation.

Vogel is one of the few Republicans in Richmond to recognize as much, and she has set a positive example for members of her party. They should follow her lead.

McAuliffe Pledges to Sign Executive Order Banning Discrimination Against LGBT State Employees

Elections do make a difference as evidenced by Terry McAuliffe's pledge to sign an Executive Order banning anti-gay discrimination against LGBT state employees as soon as he is sworn in as Governor of Virginia.  Hopefully, the uncounted provisional ballots will put Mark Herring over the top in the race for Attorney General so that there will not be efforts made by the AG's office to sabotage McAuliffe's order.  The Washington Blade has details.  Here are excerpts:

Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe on Wednesday said his first executive order will be to ban discrimination against LGBT state employees.

The former chair of the Democratic National Committee made the comments during a Richmond press conference at which he announced members of his transition team that state Del. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) will chair. McAuliffe in April expressed support for such an executive order during a speech he gave at Equality Virginia’s annual dinner in Richmond.

“I will make sure that every single individual in the commonwealth of Virginia is treated fair and equal,” McAuliffe said at the time.

McAuliffe also highlighted his support of marriage rights for same-sex couples during the Richmond press conference.

Equality Virginia Executive Director James Parrish earlier on Wednesday categorized McAuliffe and Northam’s election as “a real turning point” for the state.

“The commonwealth has never before had somebody in the governor’s seat who so openly supports equality for all Virginians,” Parrish said. “Equality Virginia is excited to work with these leaders toward a state that is more welcoming for all families.”

Parrish conceded, however, progress on LGBT-specific issues will remain a challenge because a number of anti-gay incumbents won re-election. These include state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) who co-sponsored the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage that voters approved in 2006.

“Unfortunately, the newly elected House of Delegates will continue to be a major road block to achieving equality in Virginia,” Parrish said.

Personally, I am happy to have an opportunity to talk with McAuliffe earlier in the election season and believe he is sincere in his support of LGBT equality:

 

Cuccinelli Wants State Employees to Be Able to Be Fired "At Will"

In yet another example of his extremist positions on virtually everything, Ken Cuccinelli has stated that he wants state employees subjected to "at will" firing.  Meaning that employees could be fired for any reason or no reason.  This would wipe out the current Virginia Act that protects state employees and that provides an appeal process for workers who believe they were improperly fired.  I suspect that under a Cuccinelli regime that workers who do not share his extreme beliefs on gays, women, minorities could find themselves quickly unemployed if this dream were to come to pass.  Here are highlights from the Richmond Times Dispatch:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for governor, has told some labor and business representatives that he believes state employees should serve “at will,” rather than under the protection of the Virginia Personnel Act, according to two people who said they heard the statement.

Dee Esser, who served more than eight years as commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission, told members of the Virginia Governmental Employees Association on Saturday that Cuccinelli made the statement to a group of women business owners. Esser said she was at that meeting as a consultant to one of the business owners.

“He said, ‘I would like to see all state employees be at-will employees,’ ” said Esser, who served as VEC commissioner under Democratic Govs. Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine.

Cuccinelli’s campaign denied the statement Saturday.

But R. Ronald Jordan, executive director of the Virginia Governmental Employees Association, told association members he had “heard it directly from (Cuccinelli) also.”

Jordan said he had intended to address the issue with Cuccinelli when the candidate met with the association’s board of directors to determine if he intended to act on the belief if elected governor. Cuccinelli canceled the meeting, scheduled the day after Labor Day, and it has not been rescheduled.

“At will means you can be dismissed without cause,” said Jordan, who worked 29 years in state government, including 16 years “at will” as an employee of the House Appropriations Committee, then controlled by Democrats, and deputy secretary of public safety under Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Jordan emphasized the association’s nonpartisan philosophy, but he also pushed Saturday for state employees and retirees to make their concerns heard in the Nov. 5 elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and 100 seats in the House of Delegates.

The association represents 110,000 state employees, 30,000 retirees and more than 100,000 dependents of state workers. In an election with low turnout, Jordan said, “we would have a major influence.”