State employment; discrimination prohibited. (SB66)

Introduced By

Sen. Don McEachin (D-Richmond)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Nondiscrimination in state employment.  Prohibits discrimination in public employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a special disabled veteran or other veteran covered by the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended. The bill defines "sexual orientation" as a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression. The bill expressly provides that "sexual orientation" shall not include any person's attraction toward persons with whom sexual conduct would be illegal due to the age of the parties. The bill contains technical amendments. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/04/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10101322D
01/04/2010Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/18/2010Impact statement from DPB (SB66)
01/20/2010Passed by for the day in General Laws and Technology
01/27/2010Reported from General Laws and Technology (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
01/29/2010Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2010Read second time and engrossed
02/02/2010Passed by for the day
02/03/2010Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2010Passed by for the day
02/04/2010Read second time
02/04/2010Reading of amendment waived
02/04/2010Amendment by Senator McEachin withdrawn
02/04/2010Engrossed by Senate
02/08/2010Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 17-N) (see vote tally)
02/17/2010Placed on Calendar
02/17/2010Read first time
02/17/2010Referred to Committee on General Laws
02/26/2010Assigned GL sub: #4 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
03/02/2010Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 3-N)
03/09/2010Motion to pass by the Motion to discharge from General Laws agreed to (55-Y 42-N)
03/09/2010VOTE: --- AGREE TO (55-Y 42-N) (see vote tally)
03/14/2010Left in General Laws

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 4 clips in all, totaling 43 minutes.

Comments

VACOLAO, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

VACOLAO supports this nondiscrimination legislation that would, for the first time, codify as statewide policy a prohibition against discrimination based on national orientation (and other protected categories) in state and local workplaces.

Equality Virginia, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Equality Virginia strongly supports this legislation that codifies for the first time a policy against discrimination in employment protecting all state employees (including those at colleges and universities). This policy previously had been set forth in gubernatorial executive orders. Governor Linwood Holton initiated the tradition of Ex Order 1 being focused on equal opportunity in the state workforce. Every Governor after Holton, except McDonnell, followed that tradition, and Governors Warner and Kaine extended the policy beyond race, sex, national origin, age, disability, and religion to include veterans and sexual orientation.

Edward Gray writes:

As a state employee, this is especially important to me. Such discrimination is wrong, and has been codified at the federal level. We should keep Virginia moving forward by enacting this legislation.

Janice Dean writes:

I support this bill as both a citizen who believes strongly in government's responsibility to explicitly protect the rights of its minority citizens and as a state employee who believes that this legislation would make her workplace more attractive to highly qualified candidates. I ask, however, why this bill only extends to public employment, but I strongly support its passage regardless of whether it is extended to apply to employment in the private sector.

Benjamin L. Lewis writes:

Please support measures that seek to end discrimination in employment. In this modern era, it is uncontainable that any employer would insist upon being free to discriminate against individuals for anything else other than their ability to perform their job. That's wrong, and every lawmaker knows it. It's time for our legislators to step up and vote on the right side of history, even if that means confronting your phobias and discomfort, reforming long-held irrational positions, and disappointing some sanctimonious constituents.

David Weintraub writes:

Loudoun County just voted to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the county government's EEOP - because, guess what? They already have a de facto policy of not discriminating on that basis. It's codifying what we already do, and it's not controversial - except to a few sad little ideologues who derive money and power from exploiting fear.

If decency and fairness is blocked at the state level, it will trickle up from the grassroots. Might as well get on board.

god-fearer writes:

The reason(s) why this reasonable policy and legislation - already supported by most businesses. and by a majority of Virginians - is not passed by legislators, is lust for power by politicians, and the deceits, manipulations, and hypocrisies they use to maintain greedy power.

The early Christian writers who knew Jesus tell us:
1John.4.1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1John.4.12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1John.4.20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

For, Cuccinelli, and McDonnell, like so many other queen-come-lately Republicans bludgeon gay people for the sake of votes, in order to distract the public from their own sins, they speak hateful words about others to gain votes. And, Democrats have been guilty, too, for falling into this trap of dishonesty and fear-mongering.

We are especially encouraged/en-heart-ened to see leadership within African-American communities to end this discrimination; since we are well aware that many African-American religious leaders, as have other religious leaders - including we must add, The Virginia Interfaith Center - have been tragically silent, willfully ignorant, or harmfully on the side of discrimination. When, in fact, among the most sadly impacted by this discrimination are lgbt of color.

We see from the Christian scriptures that speaking hate about our neighbors - who they can see - while claiming to love God - who they cannot see -is a ‘test’ that the Christian tell us to employ: speaking gay-hatred show they those politicians, and pastors, and other leaders, are actually false prophets and liars.

Until some leaders are able to step outside this evil circle of hypocrisy, this discrimination may continue. And, this evil circle will expand ... bringing abuse and harm to many innocents.

But that is not the end of the story: since those who perpetuate this evil circle or greed, deceit and fear, must eventually stand before the Judgement Seat of the Holy One.

seriously? writes:

Um...seriously? You need some guidance god-fearer. It is still a sin. Help them out by telling those in that lifestyle to stop choosing to sin so that they might be forgiven.

Justice and Truth writes:

My eyes are focused on the votes of my freshman delegate, Ron Villanueva, who as a Filipino, has enjoyed (and profited) from our country's anti discrimination laws. If Villanueva votes to allow discrimination against the LGBT community, I will vote him out of office. This is a deal breaker.
CAN YOU PICTURE THIS...a person climbing a ladder of success (LIKE VILLANUEVA), then once he "arrives" at success, he pulls the ladder up so that others can not benefit from the same legislation that afforded him his rights(as a Filipino)? Incidentally, State Senator HARRY BLEVINS VOTED FOR DISCRIMINATION, BUT WAS OUTVOTED IN THE SENATE.

Justice and Truth writes:

...and Delegate Ron Villanueva's newsletter sign-up on his web page doesn't even work...