The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A bill that would have protected gay and lesbian state workers from discrimination died in a House subcommittee Tuesday, a day after the state Senate passed a similar bill for the first time.
Del. Adam Ebbin 's bill would define a state nondiscrimination employment policy that includes the category of sexual orientation, along with race, religion, gender, disabilities and other classifications.
But the definition of sexual orientation, which includes real or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression, "goes way too far," said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Page County, before it was voted down. Opponents also said those speaking in favor of the bills hadn't shown that there was any discrimination currently taking place.
The bill would put into state code what several governors, including Mark Warner and Timothy M. Kaine, have established as state policy in the past with executive orders, Ebbin said.
This is the third time he's tried to pass a similar measure; he said he became interested in it four years ago, when then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell clashed with Kaine over his order, saying the state's discrimination policy should be defined by the legislature.
McDonnell has not issued his own non discrimination order. He recently said he considers Kaine's policy still in effect, minus the sexual orientation piece.
The Senate passed a similar measure Monday on a near party-line vote, with only Sen. Fred Quayle, R-Suffolk, voting with Democrats in favor of the bill.
The subcommittee also voted down a measure on Tuesday that would have banned discrimination against all Virginians based on sexual orientation, not just state employees.
Alicia Wittmeyer, (804) 697-1561, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com
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Just curious...
Just curious, so please enlighten me and others who may have missed this statistic.
What is the statistic/number of employee’s of the Commonwealth that have been fired or a potential employee’s from being hired because of sexual orientation?
Please, I want only the hard facts, not some off the wall I heard it from a friend statistic or a bias website.
As one who is involved with interviewing potential employee’s, the questions about sexual orientation, marital status, and for women, plans for pregnancy do not come up in the interview. Employment decisions are solely based on merit. What are your qualifications and what can you do to help the company. That’s what I care about.
I do not care for or in anyway support the alternative lifestyle, but I have worked with homosexuals in the past and there was never a problem. I didn’t run around telling them they were wrong and they didn’t try to convert anyone. They just did what was expected of them.
Va's record
The marriage of mixed races in Va was viewed as a sexual perversion at one time, until struck down by the Supreme court. The way I see it, the acceptance of a person's right to be free of discrimination due to sexual difference is not forcing people to adopt that lifestyle in their own life. Bigotry is the refusal to accept the fact that people are different, and the uncontrollable urge to suppress them.
Discrimination is Discrimination Regardless of Why or Who
To say that a law prohibiting discrimination against state workers is not necessary because there are no current cases is like saying there is no need for a fire department since there are no fires right now. You need this law just like you need the fire department in case these events do occur. Since McDonnell will not issue an executive order and the house killed the bill, gay state workers have no protection in the event they are discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. What are the opponents afraid of?
Pat Roberston McDonnell is a bigot
Pat Robertson McDonnell is a bigot pure and simple. Prejudice against gay people is no different than prejudice against African Americans, women, or Jews. It's pathetic that Virginia still lives in the Dark Ages.
Illegitimate
The homosexual agenda to twist their sexual perversion cause into important issues such as civil rights is illegitimate and inconsiderate. The civil rights movement for African Americans was not about sexual deviation. It was about receiving equal rights as human beings. The rights for women were to receive equal rights as men and be able to vote. Not sure your reference to Jews. Although they are constantly attacked by Islamic fundamentalists and other groups that seek their demise, not to mention being on guard from comments made by Democrats such as Rev Al " Hymie Town" Sharpton.
Virginia is one of the last states where people are not accepting a forced conversion to the homosexual lifestyle that demands special rights for sexual perversions.
Please show us, in some
Please show us, in some legitimate research/human behavior publication, where homosexuality is listed as sexual perversion? Gay people can no more become straight than white people can become black. Just because it is easier for a gay person to pretend to be straight than for black man to pretend to be white doesn't make that conversion possible. The gay man is still gay, the white man is still white and the black man is still black. So it is about all people, as fellow human beings, being able to enjoy the same rights and privileges as anyone else.
What agenda? Please tell me
What agenda? Please tell me what the agenda is? What nefarious plan to the gays have? Get rid of mullets and change your window treatments? This is what the LGBT community wants...let us have the same rights you do and then leave us the hell alone! We will leave you alone with your bigotry and your religion and what ever you want...just leave us alone!
Homosexuals are people too unless you have no idea what a human is. It confuses me that you you would not see the argument about African Americans, women and jews as the same thing. People compared those same people to animals and such...just like you are. Do you not listen to your own words? NO ONE wants you to be gay, your children to be gay...they just want to make sure they : cannot get fired because of bigotry, be able to have health insurance, be able to adopt children (and give them a home which most just age out of the system and develop serious problems...but conservatives are ok with that), be able to be with our loved ones in hospital when dying, ect...everything you are given because you just happen to be born heterosexual. *SHRUGS*
I don't see a nefarious thing happening here at all.
Cut to the Chase
Lifestyle? Agenda? You mean like being who you are and having equal rights? Let's drop the buzzwords and just admit you prejudice.
The "gay agenda" is one of
The "gay agenda" is one of the talking points laid out in the religious right's wedge document. It doesn't mean anything outside of that bigoted community. The haters just made it up. Ask our Governor aboiut it.
If a gay business owner were
If a gay business owner were to fire or fail to hire people because they were heterosexual, you'd see the heterosexuals screaming all the way to the courts. Funny part is, that would set the precedent that would work backwards to ultimately protect the gay people. My advice, if you are gay and own a business, fire all your straight workers, let them sue, and then precedent will be set. You will have done a great service to the community in stamping out discrimation by turning the tables.