VA Human Rights Act; public employment, public accommodation, & housing, prohibited discrimination. (HB1005)

Introduced By

Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), Del. Mark Sickles (D-Alexandria), and Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington)

Progress

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

Description

Virginia Human Rights Act; public employment, public accommodation, and housing; prohibited discrimination; sexual orientation. Prohibits discrimination in employment and public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation. 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" does not include any person's attraction toward persons with whom sexual conduct would be illegal due to the age of the parties. The bill also codifies existing prohibited discrimination in public 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 veteran. The bill also adds discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as an unlawful discriminatory housing practice. The bill contains technical amendments. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/13/2016Committee
01/13/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16103839D
01/13/2016Referred to Committee on General Laws
01/25/2016Impact statement from DPB (HB1005)
02/03/2016Assigned to sub: Subcommittee #4
02/03/2016Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4
02/04/2016Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/16/2016Left in General Laws

Comments

Equality Virginia, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Equality Virginia conditionally supports this bill with amended language.

ACLU-VA LGBT Rights, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports this bill with language amendments to ensure inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and remove definitional language. This legislation would prohibit public employers (state and local governments, colleges and schools, and constitutional officers) and certain private employers from discriminating against current or potential employees based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, gender identity or sexual orientation. All Virginians should have the right to a workplace free from discrimination and committed to equality of opportunity. No Virginian should fear losing their job because of discrimination. The fact is that there currently is no provision in the Virginia Code that protects public employees from discrimination under state law although opposition to this legislation has focused exclusively on coverage of LGBT people. It’s past time for Virginia to codify protections against workplace discrimination and make it clear that this basic protection extends to LGBT individuals and to enact provisions that protect against discrimination in pubic accommodations and housing.

ACLU-VA Legislative Agenda, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports this bill with language amendments to ensure inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and remove definitional language. This legislation would prohibit public employers (state and local governments, colleges and schools, and constitutional officers) and certain private employers from discriminating against current or potential employees based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, gender identity or sexual orientation. All Virginians should have the right to a workplace free from discrimination and committed to equality of opportunity. No Virginian should fear losing their job because of discrimination. The fact is that there currently is no provision in the Virginia Code that protects public employees from discrimination under state law although opposition to this legislation has focused exclusively on coverage of LGBT people. It’s past time for Virginia to codify protections against workplace discrimination and make it clear that this basic protection extends to LGBT individuals and to enact provisions that protect against discrimination in pubic accommodations and housing.