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Virginia governor strips ‘sexual orientation’ from state’s non-discrimination policy

Virginia governor strips ‘sexual orientation’ from state’s non-discrimination policy
McDonnell

Gay state workers in Virginia are no longer protected from discrimination now that the new Republican governor, Bob McDonnell, has stripped sexual orientation from the state’s policy.

McDonnell quietly signed an executive order on February 5 that prohibits discrimination “on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.”

Like we wouldn’t notice… the new order effectively rescinds the earlier order that previous Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine signed Jan. 14, 2006. Kaine, in promising a “fair and inclusive” administration in his inaugural address, added sexual orientation to the non-discrimination policy as one of his first actions.

The fact that there was already a policy in place, McDonnell’s action can only be seen as to intentionally exclude gays.

Said the HRC: McDonnell’s “message could hardly be clearer: discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is not prohibited.”

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