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News & Views
Open Letter from Mary Margaret Whipple
Posted 03.11.10 at 2:33PM
in Arts & Entertainment
Senator Whipple
GayRVA just received this letter via e-mail from one of our contacts at a state advocacy organization. The letter regarding the Governor’s Executive Directive and the killing of SB66.
I wanted to update you on a critical issue currently before the General Assembly. But before I begin, I want to assure you that the Senate Democrats are fully engaged in resolving the budget negotiation with the House of Delegates in a way that protects jobs, K-12 education, public safety and our most vulnerable citizens. More on this later, but now…
…If you’ve seen any news out of Richmond lately you’ve probably read about Virginia’s non-discrimination policy towards gay state workers and college students. Eight weeks ago I never would have expected this topic to garner so much publicity so I want to take just a minute to discuss what has happened.
The Democratic-led Senate is the only body in Richmond to have passed legal protections for Virginia’s gay state workers. Senate Democrats voted unanimously to pass SB66 which would have given gay Virginians the same legal protections from workplace discrimination that every other state worker receives.
The Republican-led House of Delegates killed our bill while Governor Bob McDonnell sat silently and Attorney General Cuccinelli urged colleges to weaken their anti-discrimination policies. After these actions received national attention Governor McDonald signed a symbolic “Executive Directive” outlining his position against discrimination.
What you should take away from all these reports is this: Nothing has changed. Gay state workers and students still do not have the same rights as everyone else under the law and the Senate Democrats are the only entity in Richmond to have done something about it.
To see floor debates on this issue and keep up with our efforts to promote equality for all Virginians, please sign up at our website www.vasenatedems.com. Thank you.
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
Chair of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus
On Not Saying Please or Thank you to Republicans
Posted 03.10.10 at 6:51PM
in Arts & Entertainment
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Jason Guard. Guard works in adult literacy and GED services. He serves on the board of the Virginia Organizing Project, although his views are completely his own. He goes by @RVAfoodie on Twitter and writes a blog at http://www.RVAfoodie.com.
A sign from today's VCU Rally.
Virginia has taken another two steps backward under the leadership of Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli. But we shouldn’t act surprised. We knew their anti-gay executive orders and letters to the universities were coming. For many Republicans, bigotry is the bread and butter of electoral politics. Fanning the flames of homophobia is how they turn out their core voters and make a name for themselves as bold figureheads. Unfortunately, after baby-steps forward under Kaine and Warner before him, we’ve been lulled into a false sense of security that our state was making progress on social issues. Our brief affair with blue-statehood as we went big for Obama seems to have faded like it was all just a dream now that Republicans have reasserted their power over Virginia’s people and further stalled our state’s efforts at long term progressive change.
What are gays and straight allies to do? I’m not gay, but I am a lifelong friend and ally to LGBTs, and I won’t stand by and watch people take further abuse at the hands of opportunistic social conservatives. I can’t tell gay people how to respond to Republicans’ constant encroachment on their rights. I’ve got my own emotional response to deal with as a witness to our state’s mistreatment of its people. But, whatever the course of action, gays should not be alone in fighting oppression. Straight allies need to stand up and speak up. And if that’s too much to ask, then we need to examine our allegiance to a system that continues to discriminate against and marginalize LGBTs into second class citizenship.
The system I’m talking about isn’t “the man” or “the government” or some abstraction you can rebuke with a bumper sticker. I’m talking about our social circles, our Twitter networks, and Facebook friends. If you think challenging the “family values” of social conservatives is risky or uncouth, than not only are you part of the problem, but you need to imagine you were the target of Republican politicians’ discrimination. If we are silent on gay rights, we send a message through our civic relationships and personal connections that we will tolerate routine discrimination. Perhaps the polite civility that Richmonders enjoy is part of the reason we’ve arrived at this point to begin with. But we can’t continue to be all smiles pretending the cheerleaders for conservative rule mean no harm to any of us personally. Friend or foe? They can’t have it both ways.
McDonnell Signs Executive Directive #1, EV Says Work Continues
Posted 03.10.10 at 6:00PM
in Arts & Entertainment
Click above to read Executive Directive #1
A statement released today from Equality Virginia CEO Jon Blair:
Equality Virginia is gratified that the Governor has responded positively to our call for action. The Governor took a major positive step forward today toward assuring that gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender workers will not be subject to discrimination in state employment. Equality Virginia applauds his implementation of a “standard of conduct” that recognizes that discrimination based on sexual orientation is unconstitutional and establishes a strict prohibition against such discrimination in the state workforce. At the same time, however, the directive is silent regarding discrimination based on gender identity, and does not afford any protection to students at our state colleges and universities, so it is clear that there is much work still to be done.
Accordingly, Equality Virginia will continue to urge the Governor and the legislature to work together with us to codify workplace protections for all gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender state employees and to support future legislation that protects Virginians from all discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Equality Virginia sincerely hopes that the Attorney General agrees that the Governor’s action today is within his authority and that he will defend the Governor’s enforcement of Executive Directive #1.
Read the full text here.
VCU Rallies For Equality
Posted 03.10.10 at 2:51PM
in Arts & Entertainment
Students, faculty, and staff from VCU gathered with supporters today in support of the University maintaining an inclusive non-discrimination policy. A series of speakers shared their stories of being out members of the VCU community. Photographer Eric Russell captured today’s event that led to a march to the Capitol.
See all photos below the fold.
