Virginia refuses to consider anti gay-discrimination proposal

By Annie Rooney, 365gay.com

(Richmond, Va.) A Virginia House panel killed a recent proposal to protect state employees in Virginia from anti-gay discrimination, according to the Washington Post.

Democrats pushed the bill in response to last year’s letter from Attorney Gen. Ken Cuccinelli (R) instructing colleges and universities to exclude sexual orientation language from official non-discrimination policies.

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) clarified the state does not discriminate based on sexual orientation and that those who do can be punished through an executive directive that he issued shortly after the letter.

Virginia universities and state agencies cannot allow employees take any state court action over discrimination based on sexual orientation until there is legislative approval, according to the Washington Post.

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Va. Lawmakers Push for Employment Protections

Adam Ebbin

By Julie Bolcer

Democratic lawmakers in Virginia announced support Tuesday for a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state work force and in the Virginia National Guard.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “Similar legislation has failed in past General Assembly sessions, but lawmakers said there is growing bipartisan support for legislation this time around to give equal protection under the law and in public employment to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians.”

Last year, Gov. Bob McDonnell signed an executive directive, which lacks the force of law to forbid discrimination in the state work force after Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a legal opinion saying that state law did not authorize public colleges and universities to include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policies.

The bill, which will be considered this week, is sponsored in the house by Del. Adam Ebbin, the only openly gay member of the legislature, and in the senate by Sen. A. Donald McEachin.

Also under consideration are bills to strengthen antibullying laws in schools, allow local governments to set their own employee benefits policies, and repeal a 2006 constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriages and civil unions.

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Antigay Rep Heads Education Subcommittee

By Advocate.com Editors

As states and school districts are looking for ways to reduce harassment and bullying in the classroom, a representative who was vehemently opposed to the passage of last year's Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act will head the higher education subcommittee in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, was once a college president and professor at several colleges in her home state, after she earned her Ed.D in higher education/curriculum at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Foxx previously served on the Education and the Workforce Committee from 2005-2008.

Shortly after the House passed the hate-crimes law to bolster local police's abilities to prosecute and investigate hate crimes, Foxx said that while Shepard's death was unfortunate, the idea that it was a hate crime it was a hoax.

“Education is a cornerstone of a prosperous and secure society and if the United States is to remain competitive in the global marketplace quality higher education will be one of keys to maintaining our edge,” Foxx said in a statement Tuesday. “So I’m very honored to chair the subcommittee on higher education and am excited to roll up my sleeves and work towards making our higher education system even better while carefully stewarding taxpayer dollars.”

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