The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Virginia’s lack of protection for gay and lesbian state workers sends an unwelcoming signal to individual citizens and potential corporate ones, according to advocates who want such policy written into the law.
Gay-rights group Equality Virginia on Monday produced a Feb. 25 letter asking Northrop Grumman Corp.’s chief executive to locate the company’s corporate headquarters in Maryland rather than Virginia.
The missive, penned by openly gay Maryland state Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr., contrasted his state’s “tolerant” policies with what he said were recent actions in Virginia “dismantling the few protections” afforded to gays and lesbians. Northrop Grumman has been praised by gay-rights supporters for its treatment of employees.
Copies of the letter were distributed Monday at news conference held in support of Virginia Sen. Donald McEachin’s legislation, which would codify a non discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation as a protected class.
“It’s the right thing to do and the right time to do it,” McEachin said. The bill, SB 66, has passed the Senate and is scheduled to be heard in a House subcommittee today. Earlier this session, the House killed similar legislation.
This skirmish is the latest in a continuing battle over social politics and policy in Virginia, a state that in recent years amended its constitution to restrict marriage to heterosexuals.
Two previous Democratic governors – Mark Warner and Timothy M. Kaine – each included sexual orientation language in non discrimination orders they issued.
Kaine’s order was an early flash point between him and then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who argued that the legislature, not the governor, has the legal authority to add language to state employment policy.
Eleven states and Washington, D.C., had worker protection policies that addressed sexual orientation, according to a 2007 analysis done by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“Discrimination is wrong and Virginia needs to say so,” said Viola Baskerville, a former legislator who served as Secretary of Administration under Kaine.
Officials with The Family Foundation have labeled the policy unnecessary because they say there isn’t any proof of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Since taking office this year, Gov. McDonnell has issued an equal opportunity executive order that excludes mention of sexual orientation.
On the advice of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, McDonnell also withdrew from consideration a regulatory change Kaine proposed that would have allowed gay and lesbian state workers to purchase health insurance through the state for their partners.
In his letter, Madaleno also claimed that Cuccinelli is seeking to have Virginia universities rescind policies banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Citing attorney-client privilege, a spokesman for Cuccinelli said he does not discuss advice given to state agencies.
McDonnell has said his views on those issues are shaped by the law, not personal feelings.
Furthermore, his office “hires and promotes solely on the basis of merit and skill, nothing else,” said McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin,
On Monday, McEachin challenged McDonnell to articulate his views on the proposal.
The governor has “no position” on McEachin’s bill, Martin said.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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IMO
My experience, from working with thousands of small businesses nationwide, is that "protections" such as these actually decrease the possibility of the "protected" individuals being hired in the first place.
Employers have to weigh the potential risks of being sued when they have to terminate or lay off an employee. This is not to say that these employers are sexist, racist, or homophobic, they are covering their bases from a liability stand-point.
The possibility of a false law suit (which still requires hiring a lawyer and fighting the suit which costs astronomical amounts of money) is much higher from the employer's perspective and therefore must be taken into account when making hiring decisions.
I believe women and minorities have suffered in hiring and advancement practices for these "protections".
I Agree
But they have that base covered too. EEO hiring laws set quotas for certain 'groups' if a company is over a certain size. The gays getting included in anti-discrimination protection is the first step to that ultimate goal. Hiring quotas for gays. Or has that already happened yet? Hard to tell with the liberal onslaught of the last couple of decades.
Soon, companies will be utterly crippled by all these hiring laws. Actually some already are. What percentage of Northrup Grumman's overhead is attributable to having to hiring a massive HR infrastructure (to make sure they don't mess up and hire too many white guys)?
Why can't they just hire the best qualified candidate? Oh I remember, because there are still a few racist, sexist bigots out there. We should punish everybody for that, not just the bigots.
The future: Every 'special' group will have set-asides and protections to make sure everything is 'fair'. Everybody except white males, it's payback time.
Just like us
Why is it that every minority group wants to be treated "just like everyone else" but all they ever do is point out how different they are? I mean really, if the country and humanity as a whole is going to move past prejudicial and bigoted BS then don't we need to stop focusing on the differences and start focusing on the similarities.
I personally do not agree with homosexuality, because in my interpretation of the scriptures neither does God. That doesn't mean I think homosexuals are bad people or that I can't be friends with them. It means I think that what they do at night in their bedrooms is immoral, and IMO gross but that's besides the point. But I'm not married and I get laid all the time, which I also think is immoral. So in that respect there's not that big of a difference.
Would I not hire someone because they are a gay or a lesbian? No. Do I think they should be able to get married..... idk. Legally its up to each state because all powers not specified in the constitution are left to the states.
"jobs" governor
my mother always told me
"actions speak louder than words"
Bob and Ken's actions speak loudly
they're more interested in ideology than jobs.
then again bobby mac may have been counting
the "snow jobs" he's pulled on the citizens---
"how's that jobs thing workin for ya?"
two months in, not so good
hmmm
how about no discrimination of people with curly hair
or people with big feet
or people with green eyes
or people with extra fingers
or people with short legs
or people with large noses
or people with freckles
or people with small ears
or how about just stopping pitting one group of people against another
Very clear who the hateful,
Very clear who the hateful, intolerant people are.
This gay lobby does not represent gays. They represent only their own radical agenda, which they use fear and guilt to achieve.
This is the sort of entitlement we have fostered. This is the sort of world progressivism leads to.
Time to stop giving it audience.
Time to stop this manipulation.
Call them what they really are.
Misguided and evil.
What goes around...
comes around.
Really? Are you kidding?
According to the gay rights advocates, not only should Northrop Grumman not locate here in Virginia, but ALL companies and businesses should not be located in Virginia because these businesses' priorities do not revolve around catering to expanding the gay lifestyle agenda. So get out of Virginia all you businesses located in Virginia and leave the gay rights activists to scratch their heads and wonder how they can blame the economic collapse on George Bush, the military, and the Christians.
All corporations leave...???
Foxrecon19d...
Do you really think through what you write beforehand?? Your solution hurts YOUR state, Dude! It will not hurt the GLBT position! They will still be in your state, probably stronger than they are now, and you and your friends will be sitting jobless, the State will have an eroded tax base, cut services (like the Bunning lemming in KY, who has blocked the government from addressing the jobless situation and no paychecks), and it will spiral out of control... because you don't like GLBT people?? I think that's paying a pretty high price for bigotry and personal arrogance. But then, again.... Unnnnnngh!
Utterly Ridiculous
I have seen some stupid crap in my life, (I mean we do live in PETA's headquarters) but this may take the cake. I certainly hope that Grumman does not cave into this blackmail. Regardless of how you feel on Gay rights (or as some see it as special rights) if ANY Virginian, gay or straight would support this attempt by another state to steal our jobs then I would very much doubt their compassion for anybody. This company would hire qualified people regardless of their sexual orientation. WE NEED jobs people. Quit being so self centered. This is merely an attempt by Maryland to steal away a company that has decided on our state. Sometimes zealots can be so self absorbed and selfish.