A Virginia lawmaker today attempted to force a floor vote on a measure barring discrimination in public employment against gays and lesbians. The House voted against consideration of the measure 55-42, the Washington Post reports:
"Del. Ken Plum, a Democrat from Reston, moved to revive the gay-rights bill that had languished in a House subcommittee, saying the legislature must respond to Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's recent advice to the state's public colleges and universities that they had no legal ability to add sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination policies. Cuccinelli has recommended that such statements be rescinded.
'It's particularly timely at this time because the eyes of the nation are upon us,' Plum said.
Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria) also rose to address the House, recalling his parents and grandparents' stories of anti-Semitic discrimination by employers. Englin said the state must act to protect Virginia's reputation as a desirable place to do business because some companies might see the state as intolerant.
'Let there be no mistake - Ken Cuccinelli wants to hang a sign in front of the public colleges and universities of this Commonwealth that reads 'Gays need not apply,'' Englin said."
A motion by Del. Robert Marshall asserting that gays need no special protections "buried" the measure.
Posted Mar. 9,2010 at 6:26 PM EST by
"[t]he state must act to protect Virginia's reputation as a desirable place to do business because some companies might see the state as intolerant."
TOO LATE
Posted by: Willig | Mar 9, 2010 6:44:47 PM
I wanted to tell you about some genius new web sites: http://www.gayorhomeschooled.com, http://www.gayorevengelical.com, and http://www.gayormormon.com. Someone should have thought of this before. I seriously cannot get better than 50% correct. What do you think?"
Posted by: jones4dean | Mar 9, 2010 7:04:24 PM
Plum is my hero of the day.
Posted by: candideinnc | Mar 9, 2010 7:48:27 PM
Well, Virginia is in a bidding war with Maryland and DC at the moment to entice Northrop Grumman to move it's corporate headquarters to the state. Just 300 employees are expected to move, but it is thought that many companies that seek to do business with the company will also relocate, so this is expected to be a big plum in terms of economic development. The question Virginia needs to ask itself is, would a company relocating from LA be comforaable with the social climate that they put forward?
Northrop Grumman is not shy about publicizing their top rating from HRC on LGBT rights.
Posted by: Charlie | Mar 10, 2010 12:03:21 AM
Let's get all the top rated HRC companies to move OUT of Virginia and to more civilized locations, wherever those might be, certainly not Texas or Florida. And tell Virginia to stick it where the sun don't shine....I won't set foot in that god-forsaken place.
Posted by: bgiguere | Mar 10, 2010 12:41:59 AM
This is not intended as a glib comment, but rather a question. Isn't the protection for "sexual orientation"? I know the intent is to protect LGBTs from job discrimination, but sexual orientation should also include heterosexual orientation. If Virginia decides to go down this path, I'd love the irony of every gay person in employing position to fire every straight employee and make clear that it is their orientation that ended their employment. It's not something I advocate in practice, but I'd love to see gays put some teeth into their response and say, "We can play this game too, if that's the path you really want to go down.".
And with all that said, I'll make clear that I think discrimination is wrong no matter which way it flows.
Posted by: Mrroboto | Mar 10, 2010 3:55:27 AM
Robert Marshall (with his "special" protections bullsh*t) is a class-1 douchebag.
Posted by: Perry | Mar 10, 2010 7:40:25 AM
This entire episode and the drama that will ensue is a result of liberal fair minded people disengaging from the political process. The Governor and Virginia AG were elected because voters in Blue Northern Virginia were not motivated to come out and vote like they did when they gave the state to Obama. The same thing happened to Ted Kennedy's seat. Northern Virginia is heavily democratic and is the largest population center in the state. Bad things happen when good people do nothing.
Posted by: Ted | Mar 10, 2010 11:31:11 AM
Time for Northern Virginia to secede.
Posted by: JC | Mar 10, 2010 12:24:35 PM
Virginia is for Lovers? What Lovers is Virginia talking about? Since they passed this discrimination at the State University & Colleges against the L.G.B.T. Community, one does not BUY From RETAIL STORES, WEB SITES, VACATION in the State of Virginia or SUPPORT ANY CORPORATIONS in VIRGINIA! To have in the State of Virginia a Homophobic Bigot Hatred Governor & State Attorney General is all one has to realize, Virginia is not on the list of STATES to donate 1 Cent for anything! You do not send your children to Virginia to go to their University's or Colleges or Private Academy Schools. You do not buy from Web Sites located in Virginia. You do not buy from Corporations located in the State of Virginia. One does not go to any Hospitals or Doctors or Nursing Homes in Virginia. One does not support the Federal Parks nor Non-Profit Groups in Virginia. Virginia is on Permenent Boycot until the Homophobic Bigoted Hatred Laws are Changed.
Posted by: Democracy Ruled As A True Republic | Mar 10, 2010 1:31:12 PM