The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Reflecting the recent switch from Democratic to Republican control of the Virginia Senate, a bill aimed at prohibiting discrimination in state hiring on the basis of sexual orientation was defeated today.
The Senate General Laws and Technology Committee rejected Sen. Adam Ebbin’s bill, SB263, on an 8-7 party-line vote.
A similar measure was passed by the Senate last year when it had a Democratic majority, only to be defeated in the Republican-led House of Delegates. Republicans won effective control of the Senate in the November election.
Ebbin, D-Alexandria, had the support of labor unions, teacher and public-employee associations, and AARP, the over-50 lobby group. The socially conservative Family Foundation and the Virginia Association of Independent Baptists opposed the measure.
Opponents argued that the bill is unneeded because there is no evidence that gays and lesbians face discrimination now.
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What next? Protecting CHRISTIANS?
Gee, next thing you know they'll be trying to shove laws down our throats protecting Christian employees from discrimination even when those Christians come to work flaunting their chosen religious beliefs.
Oh, wait a minute. Christians are ALREADY protected. Never mind.
the more gays are discriminated against
the angrier they get, the more will come out of the closet and the more they will speak up and out for their rights.
What kind of so called christian doesn't understand that we are all God's children, and deserve the same respect?
Gays are fired everyday in Virginia because of their sexual
orientation. I was fired because I am gay. And I personally know quite a few others who were similarly fired. On top of all that, I receive telephone calls virtually every week from people fired by their "godly Christian" employers solely because the employer found out the employee was gay or lesbian. How a majority treats minorities says a lot about a state. In Virginia the picture it reveals is ugly. No doubt the opponents of the bill were the ever truth challenged Christianists from The Family Foundation who control the Virginia GOP.
why not keep your gay status private
Do you feel the need to let your boss know you are gay?
Many people are uncomfortable with gays for their own reasons. I am just saying if you already know it could be a problem why tell? I suspect there may be other reasons such as clients / customers / general public perceptions causing a drop in business, or complaints to the boss / manager / owner , or damage to the business reputation.
People need to use their common sense in public dealings. If I were you I definately would keep the fact that you are gay private. It has no place at work.
You have friends at work, OK?
Oftentimes the people you work with are more than just co-workers, they are also your friends. Sometimes co-workers get together after work for drinks or dinner or a movie. Sometimes co-workers get together socially on weekends. In such a situation lots of personal information about families and relationships is bound to be shared. Gay people no more come to the office "declaring" their sexual orientation, any more than Straight people do, but that kind of personal information often becomes common knowledge.
Then suddenly one of the "higher ups" finds out through the rumour mill that so-and-so is Gay ... NOT that the employee has been performing poorly on the job or behaving inappropriately. THAT'S have Gay people typically get fired.
why not keep your hetero status private?
When you ae foreced to keep your hetero life style private, then people like my adult gay son will keep his gay lifestly status private. Your life has 'no more place at work' then his.
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Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Racial, ethnic, group attack
Why not keep it private
I guess the question must first be answered with a question.
What is private?
As a gay man with a partner, we go shopping together, we watch movies together, and if I was a bit old fashioned like my gramps I would probably keep a picture of him in my wallet. I may even keep a photo of him on my table like every other college in my office does with respect to their straight partners. This would all qualify is normal behavior. If you pick up on it you will likely eventually draw the conclusion that I am gay. You would be right. At no point in this process did I break any rules, I simply behaved just like every other coworker I work with.
If you are suggesting I can't do what I have suggested, shell I also use a different bus, or restaurant?
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Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Personal attack, name calling
Pathetic
That is pathetic and wrong and shouldn't have happened to you or anyone else. But thank you for speaking up, your post is basically all I was asking for, but it was information not included in the original article.