Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Virginia GOP (and The Christofascists) Kill Gay Non-Discrimination Bill


While honest and decent people may find grounds to differ on the issue of same sex marriage, polls indicate that some 90% of Virginians believe that employees should not be subject to being fired from their jobs simply because they are gay or lesbian.  Yet once again the Virginia GOP under relentless pressure from the Christofascists at The Family Foundation (an affiliate of the anti-gay hate group, Family Research Council) and the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptist has killed a bill that would have protected STATE employees from being fired based on their sexual orientation.  Private employers would not even have been covered.  But protecting only state employees was too much for these Christofascist organizations who knowingly disseminate lies and untruths about LBGT individuals virtually daily as they also seek to destroy the separation of church and state in Virginia.  How do the Christofascists brow beat the GOP to go against the views of 90% of Virginians?  They threaten spineless GOP elected officials with primary challenges and, given how the Christofascists have taken over the grass roots of the Republican Party of Virginia, these whore like elected officials do the evil bidding of the haters at The Family Foundation.  The added irony is that Virginia desperately needs to attract new progressive businesses and employers to reduce dependence on federal spending.  Yet, by the killing of this non-discrimination bill today and by passing new racist voter ID requirements, the Virginia GOP has sent a strong message that Virginia is closed for business for all except religious extremists and white supremacists.  The Virginian Pilot has details on today's travesty.  Here are highlights:

Every year, they come to the Capitol, and every year they go away disappointed.  A dozen speakers pleaded with a House subcommittee Tuesday to approve legislation that would prohibit discrimination against state employees on the basis of sexual orientation.

At the end, as it does every year, the Republican-dominated panel tabled the Senate-passed measure (SB701), killing its chances of passage this session.  

"This is a bill about fairness," the patron, Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico County, told the panel. "No one in the state workforce should have to worry about discrimination."

David Hanson, vice president for finance at VCU, said the lack of protection against discrimination is discouraging top talent from joining the faculty.  "It is not just about fairness - it's about business," he said.

Opponents, including the conservative Family Foundation and the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists, said there is no evidence that state employees are being discriminated against.  "There is no problem that this bill solves," said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County. "Once again, we've heard from many people about this specter of oppression that really doesn't exist."

That's easy for Gilbert to say as a white man, retorted Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, who is black.  "Most white males can go wherever they desire," she said. "But discrimination is alive and well."

The dishonesty of The Family Foundation is stunning. My former client, Michael Moore, the former coach of the VCU volleyball team and many others who have been fired for being gay or lesbian prove that Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb and her minions to be nothing but deliberate liars.  As I have said many times before, in my opinion, the most tawdry whore has more integrity and honesty that Ms. Cobb.  She is a viper and a blight on Virginia.

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