Public employment; prohibits discrimination based on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. (SB785)
Introduced By
Sen. Don McEachin (D-Richmond) with support from co-patron Del. Mark Sickles (D-Alexandria)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Nondiscrimination in public employment. Prohibits discrimination in public employment based on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, as defined in the bill. The bill also codifies for state and local government employment the current prohibitions on discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, or status as a special disabled veteran or other veteran. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 12/31/2014 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15103001D |
| 12/31/2014 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
| 01/26/2015 | Impact statement from DPB (SB785) |
| 01/26/2015 | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/26/2015 | Committee substitute printed 15104375D-S1 |
| 01/27/2015 | Incorporates SB1181 |
| 01/28/2015 | Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/29/2015 | Impact statement from DPB (SB785S1) |
| 01/29/2015 | Read second time |
| 01/29/2015 | Reading of substitute waived |
| 01/29/2015 | Committee substitute agreed to 15104375D-S1 |
| 01/29/2015 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB785S1 |
| 01/30/2015 | Passed by for the day |
| 02/02/2015 | Passed by for the day |
| 02/03/2015 | Read third time and passed Senate (19-Y 19-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/03/2015 | Chair votes yes |
| 02/06/2015 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/06/2015 | Read first time |
| 02/06/2015 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
| 02/11/2015 | Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4 |
| 02/12/2015 | Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
| 02/24/2015 | Left in General Laws |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this legislation that is much broader than the catch line suggests. The bill would, for the first time, codify in the state code protections against discrimination in all state and local employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as veteran. Currently, while state and local employees may file grievances regarding some discrimination on the job, there is no state law prohibiting such discrimination against teachers, college professors and other state and local employees. It is past time for the legislature to enact protections against discrimination for all state and local workers, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. Historically, this legislation has been supported by the VEA, the VGEA, the AARP, Equality Virginia, VACOLAO and a number of other organizations concerned about discrimination in the workplace.
The Secular Coalition of Virginia supports this bill. A person's sexual orientation or gender identity has no bearing on their employment and any discrimination along those lines should be opposed just as strongly as discrimination based on race or religion.
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this legislation that is much broader than the catch line suggests. The bill would, for the first time, codify in the state code protections against discrimination in all state and local employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as veteran. Currently, while state and local employees may file grievances regarding some discrimination on the job, there is no state law prohibiting such discrimination against teachers, college professors and other state and local employees. It is past time for the legislature to enact protections against discrimination for all state and local workers, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. Historically, this legislation has been supported by the VEA, the VGEA, the AARP, Equality Virginia, VACOLAO and a number of other organizations concerned about discrimination in the workplace.