M4M News

You know that sometimes the heavens are listening...

Governor Issues Directive Against Discrimination in State Employment; Much Work Left To Do

... despite his lagging and taking his good time to do so the Governor has finally made good on signing the order of non bias in the work place.  We appreciate the gesture and we will continue to move onward and upward as we work towards an equal Virginia for all.

Just a day ago I was contemplating the very subject of the following post that was forwarded to us here at M4MLIFE.com just an hour ago... read on...

March 11, 2010
The Week That Was

Just one week ago today, Virginia's Attorney General Cuccinelli volunteered his "opinion and advice" that Virginia's public colleges and universities have no authority to enact or enforce formal or informal "policies" protecting GLBT students, faculty and staff. He told college officials that they should take action to revoke such policies.

Reaction to the Attorney General's letter was swift and strong. Simply stated, the reaction was universal outrage and the issue went global. Students and faculty at campuses all over Virginia began organizing and demanding action. More than 1,000 people attended forums at VCU on Tuesday. 1,000 more attended a rally on Wednesday and more than 100 marched to the Capitol where they were recognized from the floor of the House.

Last Saturday, EV CEO, Jon Blair, wrote the Governor asking him to take action in response to the Attorney General's letter and consistent with the Governor's campaign promise of "opportunity" for all. Jon asked the Governor to propose legislation to establish that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is against the policy of the Commonweatlh. Blair said: "Actions always speak louder than words. Virginians expect our leaders to lead. Going forward, your actions in this case, not your words, will determine the credibility of your promise of opportunity."

Governor's Directive

Yesterday, the Governor took action. He issued an "Executive Directive," the first of his administration, citing constitutional law as the foundation for protecting state workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation. At the same time, he made clear that he has no authority to change the Virginia Human Rights Act or adopt an executive order with the force of law.

Last night, EV issued the following statement in response to the Governor's action:

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.

The Path Forward

While the Governor deserves recognition for taking a positive step on the path forward, we cannot let up. We have much left to do.

Despite the Governor's action, it is clear that we still need to change Virginia's law to establish that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is against the public policy of the Commonwealth and to protect GLBT Virginians from discrimination in employment, housing and public accomodations.

The Governor's Executive Directive does not have the force of law, and would not survive his administration.

The Governor's Executive Directive does not include gender identity.

The Governor's Executive Directive does not protect students at Virginia's public colleges and universities.

The Attorney General has not said he will defend either the Governor's Executive Directive or university policies if they are subject to attack in court by outside parties.

This is a fight Equality Virginia has been and is continuing to wage actively through education, legislative advocacy and election of fair minded legislators.

We ask you to join us! It's as simple as registering on our web page.


What Is EV Doing?

Equality Virginia is bringing individuals and organizations from around the state together to plan the next steps in the campaign to codify protections for state workers, change the policy of the Commonwealth, protect college and university policies and end discrimination in the workplace and on college campuses.

Generation Equality will be meeting at the University of Richmond next Friday, March 19, 2010. There's still time to register.


Equality Virginia will be continuing to seek legislative enactment of a policy against discrimination right up until the last hour of the 2010 General Assembly Session. The Senate Finance Committee approved yesterday an amendment to SB 739 offered by Senator Tommy Norment that would add nondiscrimination language to a bill providing economic development incentives designed to attract Northrop Grumman's corporate headquarters. Delegates Adam Ebbin, Ken Plum, Dave Englin and Joe Morrissey have led a number of efforts over the last week aimed at getting SB 66 heard or other nondiscrimination language approved by the House.

Equality Virginia will be continuing to keep these issues before the public for discussion and working to ensure that the leadership of Virginia's public colleges and universities continues to stand together in defense of the GLBT members of their respective university communities.


What Can I Do?


Equality <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Virginia members and allies are urged to take the following actions to help move us further down the path forward:

Contact the Governor and let him know that you appreciate his action yesterday and you want him to work with EV and the rest of the GLBT community to pass legislation that will make it against state policy to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
If you are an alum, student, faculty or staff member of a Virginia public college or university, contact your institution’s president and let him or her know that you appreciate the institution's support of GLBT students, faculty, staff and alumni, and want confirmation that the institution will actively defend its policy publicly and in court.
Go to EV's FaceBook Page: friend us and connect with one of the university groups listed on the notes page. Find out what's happening on your campus, get involved, and urge your campus group to engage actively in EV's efforts to change state law. Ask your college-based organization to adopt a resolution that urges your board and president to support changes to state law that will protect students, faculty and staff from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Sign EV’s online petition in favor of changing the law to provide nondiscrimination protection for all.
Tell us your story if you've experienced discrimination based on your orientation or gender identity or expression. Our opponents keep saying that legislation protecting GLBT Virginians from discrimination is "unnecessary." We need your stories to give "voice" to the need for the law.
Spread the word on FaceBook, Twitter and other social media sites about the need to take action NOW! Link to EV's Campaign to End Workplace Discrimination.
Help EV make a statement about the breadth and depth of support for our work by ensuring that this year’s dinner on May 1st is sold out. Hear Andrew Sullivan dish on politics; think he might have something to say about this? Buy your tickets now. You can still get the early bird rate!
Make a contribution to EV before midnight tomorrow night, Friday, March 12th and we'll send Attorney General Cuccinelli a letter thanking him for your contributions! The more you contribute, the stronger the message we can send!
Thanks for all that you have done and will do to move us forward and keep us from moving backward. Together, we can achieve full equality for all GLBT Virginians!

Va. Gov counters state Atty. Gen. (or does he?)

This news story for what it is worth is a small victory but it is a hollow one, the Governor caving under the pressure of GLBT groups and Democrats is a start but until this state's Governor mans up and signs the long standing order of protection against bias/discrimination for GLBT citizens he is no friend of the community. The simple fact of the matter is until Gov. Bob McDonnell makes it official with a signature on the executive order of protection from discrimination and stops with the lip service and public dismissal of the importance of equal rights for all he has done nothing for our GLBT community.

Va. gov counters state atty. gen.'s advice on gays

Posted using ShareThis

The Governor's stand on GLBT rights and the Govenor's role in the matter... read on and let us know what you think this administration is really saying:

By Julian Walker
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 2, 2010

RICHMOND

Gov. Bob McDonnell on Monday said his opposition to two gay rights-related vestiges of former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s tenure are based on legal theory and aren’t a sign his administration is anti-gay .

One issue is a proposed regulatory change that would have allowed same-sex partners of state employees to share state health benefits. Kaine pushed that concept on his way out of office; McDonnell had it withdrawn from consideration last week.

The other is McDonnell’s failure to issue a non-discrimination order as several previous governors did. On Monday, McDonnell said that Kaine’s executive order on the subject remains in place, save the “sexual orientation” passage he objects to.

He and Kaine jousted on the topic four years ago when McDonnell was attorney general – McDonnell argues that such employment policies are the province of the legislature, not the governor.

And he told reporters Monday his policy will remain what it was when he was the state’s top prosecutor – discrimination won’t be tolerated in the state work force.

“The only thing I care about is will they work hard, will they follow the vision that I’ve outlined for state government, will they have a servant’s heart, do they love Virginia and will they get results,” he said.

Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, of the gay rights group Equality Virginia, argues that Virginia needs anti-discrimination legislation, not just public statements from the governor.

Chris Freund of the socially conservative Family Foundation disagrees.

Codifying the policy is an unnecessary step because “there’s been no evidence about discrimination in the workplace,” he said.

McDonnell hasn’t said whether he would sign into law that kind of bill.

The unapologetically conservative McDonnell faced tough questions about his views during last year’s campaign when his 1989 graduate thesis that contained writings about the harmful social impact  of homosexuals became public.

The governor later said his views had changed in the 20 years since he wrote the paper.

And while the election is over, the subject of gay rights remains a political fault line that is likely to continue to inspire questions about administration policies and critiques from foes.

“People in the  commonwealth want individuals to be judged on performance rendered on the job, not their personal lifestyles,” said House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com

ACLU Files Lawsuit When School Cancels Prom After Lesbian's Request - ABC News

ACLU Files Lawsuit When School Cancels Prom After Lesbian's Request - ABC News.

Gay groups reach out to Ashburn

Originally Published 03/11/2010in the Bay Area Reporter

by Dan Aiello

d_aiello@sbcglobal.net

Gay rights groups this week reached out to state Senator Roy Ashburn, after the conservative lawmaker acknowledged he is gay following his arrest last week on drunken driving charges.

Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol at around 2 a.m. on March 3 in downtown Sacramento. Sources have told media outlets that Ashburn had just left a gay bar in the area.

While in office, Ashburn has compiled a solidly anti-gay voting record. He told a Kern County radio station Monday that he has no regrets about the votes he has cast against gay rights legislation.

"I am gay," Ashburn told radio host Inga Barks. "And so, those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long. It is something that is personal, and I don't believe I felt with my heart that being gay would affect how I do my job."

In response to the senator's admission, organizations advocating equal rights for gay and lesbian Californians at both ends of the political spectrum have publicly offered to meet with the embattled legislator.

"He's not only been a strong opponent of gay rights, he's gone out of his way to be an anti-gay legislator," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, the statewide LGBT lobbying organization.

"And we don't believe the people of Bakersfield support discrimination, that they believe anyone should be denied a place to live, should be fired from their job, should be denied public accommodations or should be harassed in schools because they're gay," added Kors.

"But he voted against each of those rights," said Kors, referring to Ashburn's votes on Equality California-sponsored legislation over the last three years.

In fact, Ashburn received "basically a zero percent" rating on the advocacy group's legislative scorecard, according to EQCA spokeswoman Vaishalee Raja.

"He even went on tour with the Reverend Lou Sheldon to advocate repeal of California's existing domestic partnership laws," said Kors, who pointed out that there are other legislators representing the same area who have supported equal rights, "and won by large margins."

Charles Moran, the spokesman for the California chapter of Log Cabin Republicans, said Ashburn's story is about the legislator's personal internal struggle, not his political party affiliation.

"It has little to do with party, it has everything to do with Roy Ashburn," Moran told the Bay Area Reporter . "Politics is still an extremely conservative industry, both on the Democrat and Republican side. Roy Ashburn made the comment that his is a very conservative district and I think that's right, and he voted on behalf of his district. That is the starting point for talking about Roy Ashburn."  

During the radio interview, Ashburn said he felt he was representing his constituents with his anti-gay votes.

"I felt my duty, and I still feel this way, is to represent my constituents," he said.

Moran said that closeted gay politicians often have anti-gay voting records.

"Yes, it does frustrate us," said Moran of the embarrassment Ashburn has caused with the events of last week. "The problem is people who live in the closet think that if they vote anti-gay it will help them to continue to preserve that image. One of the ways people in the closet protect their secret is by voting against any legislation" supported by the LGBT community.

That, said Moran, is why Ashburn's statement that being gay did not affect his ability to do his job is false.

Kors said that living in the closet is tough to do.

"I won't speak to what [Ashburn] went through," said Kors. "Living a life in the closet is very difficult and everyone goes through a journey in coming out."

He also said EQCA hopes to meet with the senator, who is termed out of office this year.

"We hope to meet with the senator and work with him," Kors said. "We hope he will use what he's learned from this journey and we hope that we can work together to educate people about the need to support equal rights for everyone."

Moran said that Log Cabin also hopes to meet with Ashburn.

"I've seen where people are expressing outrage that EQCA is calling for working with Ashburn," said Moran. "We will definitely extend the olive branch to him. I know people in our community are angry. I know that people are calling this hypocrisy. But if there is nothing positive that comes out of this, then we've done a disservice to our community. If we don't use this as an opportunity to educate, then it becomes a negative for the coming out process and for the community. And that's an area that [EQCA's Geoff Kors] and I are in complete agreement on."

Moran told the B.A.R. that over the last several days he's been overwhelmed with media inquiries and calls from Republican candidates, including "one of the candidates for governor," seeking a way to respond to the Ashburn incident. He did not name the gubernatorial candidate.

"His coming out was clearly rushed and if there's anything that Log Cabin Republicans can do, we'd like to help to make this an education experience, rather than an episode of shame," said Moran. "There's a lot of room for redemption for Roy and I hope he accepts the offer from the community to understand and educate him to who his constituents are."

 

Gay rights enter debate over Northrop Grumman's HQ pick

By Julian Walker
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 2, 2010

RICHMOND

Virginia’s lack of protection for gay and lesbian state workers sends an unwelcoming signal to individual citizens and potential corporate ones, according to advocates who want such policy written into the law.   

As evidence, gay-rights group Equality Virginia on Monday produced a Feb. 25 letter from a Maryland senator asking Northrop Grumman Corp.’s chief executive to locate the company’s corporate headquarters in Maryland rather than Virginia.

The missive, penned by openly gay Maryland state Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr., contrasted his state’s “tolerant” policies with what he said were recent actions in Virginia “dismantling the few protections” afforded to gays and lesbians. Northrop Grumman has been praised by gay-rights supporters for its treatment of employees.

Copies of the letter were distributed Monday at a news conference held in support of Virginia Sen. Donald McEachin’s legislation, which would codify a nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation as a protected class.

“It’s the right thing to do and the right time to do it,” McEachin said. The bill, SB66,  has passed the Senate and is scheduled to be heard in a House subcommittee today.  Earlier this session, the House killed similar legislation.

This skirmish is the latest in a continuing battle over social politics and policy in Virginia, a state  that in 2006  amended its constitution to restrict marriage to heterosexuals.

Two previous Democratic governors – Mark Warner and Timothy M. Kaine – each included sexual orientation language in nondiscrimination orders they issued.

Kaine’s order was an early flash point between  him and then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who argued that the legislature, not the governor, has the legal authority to add language to state employment policy.

Eleven states and Washington, D.C., had worker protection policies that addressed sexual orientation, according to a 2007 analysis done by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“Discrimination is wrong and Virginia needs to say so,” said Viola Baskerville, a former legislator who served as secretary of administration under Kaine.

Officials with The Family Foundation have labeled the policy unnecessary because they say there isn’t any proof of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.   

Since taking office this year,  McDonnell has issued an  equal opportunity  executive order that excludes mention of  sexual orientation.

On the advice of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli,  McDonnell also withdrew from consideration a regulatory change Kaine proposed that would have allowed gay and lesbian state workers to  buy health insurance through the state for their partners.

In his letter, Madaleno  claimed that Cuccinelli is seeking to have Virginia universities rescind policies banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Citing attorney-client privilege, a spokesman for Cuccinelli said he does not discuss advice given to state agencies.

McDonnell has said his views on those issues are shaped by the law, not personal feelings.

Furthermore, his office “hires and promotes solely on the basis of merit and skill, nothing else,” said McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin.

On Monday, McEachin challenged McDonnell to articulate his views on the proposal.

The governor has “no position” on McEachin’s bill, Martin said.

NCAA yanks Focus on the Family ad amid concerns

NCAA yanks Focus on the Family ad amid concerns

By The Associated Press
02.24.2010 6:53pm EST

(Denver) Weeks after scoring a publicity coup with a 30-second Super Bowl ad featuring Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, conservative Christian group Focus on the Family is at the center of another marketing tug-of-war – this time involving the major governing body of college sports.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association removed a Focus on the Family banner ad from one of its Web sites this week, NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said Wednesday.

The NCAA made the decision after some of its members – including faculty and athletic directors – expressed concern that the evangelical group’s stance against gay and lesbian relationships conflicted with the NCAA’s policy of inclusion regardless of sexual orientation, Williams said.

The ad in question was not about sexuality. It featured a father holding his son and the words, “All I want for my son is for him to grow up knowing how to do the right thing.” Like the Tebow ad, it included the address of Focus on the Family’s Web site and the slogan, “Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life.”

Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger said that if such material were “all of a sudden labeled hate speech, we have deeper problems in our country than we even know.”

Williams said the decision to pull the ad was based not on the message but on the messenger.

Advertisers “should be generally supportive of NCAA values and attributes and/or not be in conflict with the NCAA’s mission and fundamental principles,” according to NCAA standards. The NCAA may exclude ads or advertisers “that do not appear to be in the best interests of higher education and student athletes.”

The NCAA Web site is maintained by CBS Sports, and the ad was part of Focus on the Family’s Super Bowl contract with CBS, Schneeberger said. CBS sells ads to support the NCAA.com site – which features information about NCAA championships – and the NCAA reviews the ads, Williams said.

He said the ad was reviewed and the content did not raise any red flags. Williams said he was sure there was some discussion of Focus on the Family, as well, but he did not know the details.

Schneeberger said there is nothing political, controversial or hateful about the ad, saying it’s meant to urge people enduring life challenges to check out Focus on the Family as a resource.

But Pat Griffin, a retired University of Massachusetts Amherst professor who is a consultant to the NCAA on gay and lesbian issues, said it’s not a generic feel-good message.

She said the slogan’s “life” reference is anti-abortion, and celebrating families does not extend to all families but “a very specific kind of family – heterosexual married families. A large part of their energy goes to preventing other kinds of families of having recognition.”

Griffin said it’s one thing for CBS to accept such an ad, but it’s different for the NCAA.

“It’s not the right image or role for the NCAA to be endorsing an organization that has such an extreme right-wing Christian political mission,” said Griffin, who used her blog to protest the ad.

Schneeberger said Focus on the Family spends 90 percent of its budget on providing parenting and marriage resources and 10 percent on advocacy on issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

The Tebow Super Bowl ad – featuring the football player and his mother – attracted protests even before it aired from women’s groups that suspected it would feature an explicit anti-abortion message.

The ad featured Tebow’s mother talking about how she nearly lost her son during pregnancy and ended with Tebow tackling his mother and the pair joking they have to be “tough” to endure their trials.

Blacks play key role in D.C. marriage equality

Blacks play key role in D.C. marriage equality

Posted using ShareThis