Equality Fairfax

I submitted an editorial to the Fairfax Times on the recent controversy over Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli’s actions regarding nondiscrimination policies in Virginia. Thanks to the Fairfax Times for printing it! Let’s keep the pressure on our elected officials to get a real nondiscrimination law here in Virginia!

Most of the readers of this already know that Maine voters repealed Maine’s marriage equality law. This is a major disappointment but there were positives last night. It appears the attempt to repeal Washington state’s domestic partnership law may have been defeated though by the slimmest of margins. Voters in Kalamazoo, Michigan also soundly defeated an attempt to repeal that city’s non-discrimination law.

Though the result in Maine is disappointing, we mustn’t let it discourage us. In any movement there are always setbacks and while California and Maine are major setbacks we must take that disappointment and channel it into positive action.

One of the lessons from Maine is that urban voters supported our cause while rural voters didn’t. Unfortunately, there simply weren’t enough urban voters in Maine. Most states probably don’t have enough big cities to offset the large but more diffuse population outside the urban regions. As a community, we’ve done a pretty good job of educating voters in urban and suburban areas. Most of us live in these regions. It’s probably safe to say that most people who live in rural areas don’t have much contact with openly gay people. Until we can reach that group, we’re always going to be living on the razor’s edge in votes like this.

Here in Virginia, marriage equality still has a long road ahead of it but there is still a great deal of work to do to make Virginia a safer place for us to live. We need to continue to work to get a state law passed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in state hiring. At the federal level we need to continue to work to pass ENDA and repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Progress on those issues will ultimately help move the marriage equality issue forward.

The bottom line of the General Assembly Session that just concluded is this: we have a lot of work to do together between now and the start of the 2010 General Assembly Session if we are to be successful in changing laws and changing lives for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people in Virginia.

The good news is that a bi-partisan majority of the state Senate continues to support common sense measures that enhance the ability of the public and private sector to choose to offer equal benefits to their GLBT employees (e.g., SB 51 (Whipple, Arlington) in 2008 and SB 945 (Howell, Reston) in 2009).

The bad news is that the current leadership of the House of Delegates, and too many Delegates from both parties, continue to obstruct consideration, much less passage, of even the most reasonable legislation that would benefit our community.

This year, we were able for the first time to get a fair hearing in a House of Delegates for our nondiscrimination bill (HB 2385, Ebbin, Alexandria). At the subcommittee hearing, EV, the Virginia Education Association, the Virginia Governmental Employees Association, the Virginia AARP, and the Virginia Department of Human Resources Management all presented strong positive testimony.

Nonetheless, five Delegates first voted to strip from the bill language protecting people from discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Then, four of them voted to table the bill, preventing any further consideration of the bill by their 96 other colleagues.

EV also supported a budget amendment that would have prevented discriminatory discharges of state employees offered by Delegate Adam Ebbin.

We could only get 42 members of the House of Delegates to join 90% of Virginians in supporting the fundamental principle that state employees deserve the basic human right to be free from discrimination in the workplace.

Clearly, we need to make a change in the mindset of current delegates or elect new fair minded delegates, if we are to succeed in passing even the most reasonable legislation that would help change the lives of GLBT Virginians.

This is where you can help!

Between now and June, we’ll be putting plans together to take an active role in the fall elections when all 100 members of the House of Delegates will be up for re-election.

We need to engage in every district across Virginia!

We need to let our friends know that we will stand with them if they stand with us!

We need to work to change the hearts and minds of those legislators who have not been with us, or work hard to elect others who will stand tall for change.

Here’s what you can do:

• Make an appointment now to meet with your Delegate in his or her home office in your district. 
• Tell your Delegate how you feel about the failure of the House to pass legislation protecting GLBT Virginians from discrimination and to even consider a simple bill to give employers and insurers freedom to contract. 
• Ask your Delegate (and his or her opponent) where they stand on our issues and whether they will support GLBT friendly legislation in the future. And, let us know what they say by returning to us by mail, email or fax a report of your visit.
• Identify GLBT-friendly voters in your neighborhood by getting folks to sign a petition in support of our workplace nondiscrimination initiative, and send the signed petitions back to us by mail or fax.

We’ll take the information that you send us and use it to help map out a strategy for making change in the fall elections.

Finally, plan now to work for fair minded legislators or candidates in the fall election cycle.

Only by getting visibly and actively involved can the GLBT community and our allies hope to make the change we need in the House of Delegates that is essential to our success!

Thanks for your commitment to our cause!

Yours for full equality for all,

Jon Blair

Chief Executive Officer

At the start of the 2009 General Assembly Session, Equality Virginia’s legislative agenda included ten bills covering nine different topics — all of which would have a positive impact on gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people in Virginia if enacted.  Two issues, nondiscrimination in public employment and equity in group life insurance, were targeted as key priorities.

This past Tuesday marked “Crossover” day, which is the day when the houses of introduction must complete work on their bills. As of that time, one of the two bills to provide equity in group life insurance had passed the Senate and is pending in the House.  In addition, we are continuing to watch a bill to expand the state’s bullying law, which has been significantly modified since its introduction.  All of the other bills on the legislative agenda failed to pass in their respective houses of introduction and they are “dead” for this session of the legislature.  Additional detail regarding bills and the consideration they received is provided below.

In addition to the bills supported by Equality Virginia, we were able to force a vote on the floor of the House on the issue of discrimination by asking Delegate Adam Ebbin to offer an amendment to the budget that would have prohibited the discriminatory discharge or lay off of public employees based on the employee’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, or status as a veteran.  The budget amendment was narrower than the bill Delegate Ebbin offered in order to avoid procedural challenges to its consideration.  Delegate Ebbin offered introductory remarks regarding the reason for the proposed budget amendment which are set out in an appendix to this memo.  There was no comment or debate on the amendment.  A recorded vote was taken and the results were 42 YES, 55 NO and 3 Not Voting.  You can click the link to get the complete list of who voted how.

 NONDISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT HB 2385 (EBBIN) SUPPORT

Would offer all public employees protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as other factors, such as race, religion and veteran status.

This bill was our number one priority, and a major goal was to get a fair hearing for the bill in the House this year.  The bill was heard thoroughly in the Professions/Occupation/Administrative Process subcommittee of House General Laws.  Delegate Ebbin was afforded an opportunity to present the bill and Equality Virginia testified in favor of it, as did the Director of the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management and Robley Jones from the Virginia Education Association.  In addition, the AARP and the Virginia Governmental Employees Association also were cited as in support of the legislation.   Mr. Jack Knapp, the lobbyist for the Virginia Federation of Independent Baptists, was the only person to speak against the legislation.

After Delegate Gilbert had finished his line of questioning, which included questions posed to the representatives of the VEA and the State Department of Human Resource Management about whether they supported the gender identity provisions of the bill (which they affirmed they did), Delegate Jackson Miller moved to strip the gender identity language from the bill.  The motion passed on a voice vote supported by Delegates Miller, Gilbert, E.T. Scott, Carrico and Cosgrove and opposed passionately and eloquently by Delegate Eisenberg.

Delegate Jackson Miller then moved to report the bill as amended.  Delegate Scott made a substitute motion to table the bill.  Delegates Miller and Eisenberg voted against the motion to table.  Delegates Cosgrove, Carrico, E.T. Scott, and Gilbert voted for the motion to table.  Delegates Ward and Barlow were not present at the meeting. 

 GROUP LIFE INSURANCE HB 1726 (RUST) and SB 945 (HOWELL) SUPPORT

Would allow employers to extend group life insurance policies to any class of persons as agreed to by the employer and its insurer as is now the case with group health insurance.

The Senate passed the Senate version of this bill, SB 945, by a vote of 32-7:

YEAS–Barker, Blevins, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Hurt, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, McDougle, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Norment, Northam, Petersen, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Stuart, Ticer, Vogel, Wampler, Whipple–32.

NAYS–Cuccinelli, Martin, Newman, Obenshain, Puckett, Smith, Wagner–7.

The House version of the bill, HB 1726, failed in a subcommittee of House Commerce and Labor on a tie vote on a motion to report:

YEAS– Saxman, Morgan, Melvin, Sickles–4.

NAYS– Ware, R.L., Nixon, Janis,  Joannou–4.

ABSTENTIONS–0.

NOT VOTING—Hargrove, Ward, Kilgore–3.

Delegates Hargrove and Ward, who we believed would vote favorably on the measure, were absent attending a Virginia War Memorial Commission meeting and a wake, respectively.

 HOUSING DISCRIMINATION HB 1625 (ENGLIN) SUPPORT

Would allow localities to expand groups protected from housing discrimination under state law to include GLBT persons.

This bill would have given localities flexibility to extend protection from housing discrimination to groups not covered by the state housing law.  The bill was tabled in the Housing Subcommittee of House General Laws on an unrecorded voice vote.

 HOUSING DISCRIMINATION HB 2668 (SCOTT) SUPPORT

Would add sexual orientation to the protected classes under the Virginia Fair Housing Law.

This bill would have added “sexual orientation” to the Virginia Fair Housing Law covering all rental and sales transactions.  The bill was tabled without significant discussion in a subcommittee of House General Laws.  The vote was recorded: Delegates Oder, Carrico, Cosgrove, and Fralin voted to table; Delegates Dance and Bulova voted against tabling; Delegates Hull and Jackson Miller were not present.

 FAIRFAX COUNTY NONDISCRIMINATION BILL HB 1933 (PLUM) SUPPORT

Would authorize Fairfax County to add “sexual orientation” to its local nondiscrimination ordinances and policies.

This bill would have allowed Fairfax County, in an exercise of home rule, to amend its local nondiscrimination ordinances to include “sexual orientation.”  Heather Lawson, Vice Chair of the Fairfax Human Rights Commission came to Richmond to testify in favor of the bill. 

The bill died in a subcommittee of the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on an unrecorded voice vote.  Members of the subcommittee voting to table the bill included the chair of the subcommittee, Delegate Crockett-Stark and Delegates Orrock, Iaquinto, Poindexter and Massie.  Delegates Hall, Caputo, Pollard and McQuinn voted against the motion to table.  Delegate Marshall was not present.

 FAIRNESS IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS HB 2375 (ENGLIN) SUPPORT

Would establish that the state can’t consider the income of a person in deciding on the eligibility of a family or household for health and social services if the relationship of that person to the family isn’t recognized by the Commonwealth.

This common sense measure, which was supported by the Family Foundation (“it’s only fair given the passage of the amendment”), sailed through the Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by a vote of 21-0, and was recommended for passage by the health and social services subcommittee of House Appropriations.  Nonetheless, it was not acted upon by the full Appropriations Committee.

 STANDARDS FOR MODEL ANTI-BULLYING POLICY HB 1624 (ENGLIN) SUPPORT

Would establish standards for the State Board of Education to follow in amending its current model student conduct policies addressing bullying. As introduced, the bill would require the model policy to specifically address bullying directed at a student because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

This bill was amended substantially by the patron and the House Education Committee after introduction.  The only new language left in the bill adds “the use of electronic means for purposes of bullying, harassment, and intimidation” to the topics that must be addressed in the model student conduct policy.  As amended, the bill passed the House by a vote of 94-5.

 REPEAL THE MARSHALL-NEWMAN AMENDMENT HJR 657 (ENGLIN) SUPPORT

Would be the first step toward repealing the Marshall-Newman amendment that added to the bill of rights of the Virginia Constitution an amendment denying all relationship recognition to GLBT couples.

This resolution died in the constitutional amendment subcommittee of the House Privileges and Elections Committee on which the following legislators sit:  Janis (Chairman), Putney, Hargrove, Cosgrove, Frederick, Phillips, Alexander, Morrissey

On an unrecorded vote, Janis, Putney, Hargrove, Cosgrove, Frederick, Phillips and Alexander all supported a motion to pass the resolution by indefinitely.  Only Morrissey voted no. 

Arguments against the resolution centered on the fact that Virginians had approved the amendment by a wide margin only two years ago and that there was no compelling evidence to suggest that a majority of Virginians had changed their mind.

OK folks, so here’s what we need you to do over the next few weeks.

 

During the next month we’ll be coordinating efforts to contact all of our county and town elected officials. Shortly after we get started, we’ll also expand to contacting our state delegates and senators about co-sponsoring a statewide non-discrimination bill. Equality Virginia will be working with legislators to introduce a bill in the Virgnia General Assembly in the next session that would make it illegal to discriminate against any public employee based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Local support is crucial to that bill’s success.

 

When we talk to our elected officials, we have three major goals for these contacts and meetings:

 

1. Ask each local elected official to sign a pledge that within their offices and staffs they will not discriminate in their own hiring or employment and promotion practices.
2. Ask each local elected official’s representative body to pass a resolution in support of Equality Virginia’s non-discrimination bill in the legislative package they send down to Richmond. This applies to town and city councils, and to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The constitutional officers for the county and cities should be asked to express support to their respective council or board.
3. Additionally, for Fairfax County officials, to ask them to support the measure to allow the County to add sexual orientation and gender identity to its non-discrimination policies.

Attached to this post is a document with some talking points for you, a few FAQs, a sample resolution to present to your elected officials on town and city councils, as well as to members of the Board of Supervisors. Also in that attached document is a pledge form for every local official to complete and return to Equality Fairfax, as well as a sample letter to the editor in support of a non-discrimination bill.

 

Below are the people that we need to contact. Please take some time in the next few weeks to contact all of those on this list who represent you. Your voice and your concerns matter to your elected officials, and our community and our allies need your chorus of voices to make it clear to our elected officials that they time for action has come.

 

If you are interested in making an appointment with an official, and would like to join others in your visit, please email us at info@equalityfairfax.org, and let us know when and who you’d like to visit, and we will make sure to pair you up with a fellow advocate.

 

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

DIRECTORY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, JULY 2008

 

FAIRFAX COUNTY OFFICIALS

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/

 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/bos/

 

Find Your District Supervisor. Residents have two supervisors — the chairman and a district supervisor. To find the district in which you live, use My Neighborhood to enter your address, click search and then click “My Neighborhood Report.”

 

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gisapps/myneighborhood/

 

CHAIRMAN

Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly (D)

12000 Government Center Parkway

Suite 530

Fairfax, VA 22035-0079

(703) 324-2321

Fax: (703) 324-3955

TTY: (703) 324-2319

E-mail: chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

BRADDOCK DISTRICT

Sharon Bulova (D)

Kings Park Library

9002 Burke Lake Road

Burke, VA 22015

(703) 425-9300

Fax: (703) 503-9583

TTY 711

E-mail: braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

DRANESVILLE DISTRICT

John W. Foust (D)

McLean Governmental Center

1437 Balls Hill Road

McLean, Va. 22101

Phone: 703-356-0551

Fax: (703) 703-821-4275

TTY: 711

Herndon Office

730 Elden Street

Herndon, VA 20170

(703) 471-5076

Fax: (703) 437-3210

E-mail: dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

HUNTER MILL DISTRICT

Catherine M. Hudgins (D)

North County Governmental Center

12000 Bowman Towne Drive

Reston, VA 20190-3307

(703) 478-0283

Fax: (703) 471-6847

TTY: 703-736-4460

E-mail: hntrmill@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

LEE DISTRICT

Jeff McKay (D)

Franconia Governmental Center

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA 22310-2508

(703) 971-6262

Fax: (703) 971-3032

TTY: 711

E-mail: leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

MASON DISTRICT

Penelope A. Gross (D)

Mason District Governmental Center

6507 Columbia Pike

Annandale, VA 22003-2099

(703) 256-7717

Fax: (703) 354-8419

E-mail: mason@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

MOUNT VERNON DISTRICT

Gerald W. Hyland (D)

Mt. Vernon Governmental Center

2511 Parkers Lane, Suite 2

Alexandria, VA 22306-3294

(703) 780-7518

TTY: 711

Fax: (703) 780-1491

E-mail: mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT

Pat S. Herrity (R)

W. Springfield Governmental Center

6140 Rolling Road

Springfield, VA 22152-1579

(703) 451-8873

Fax: (703) 451-3047

Government Center Office

12000 Government Center Pkwy

Suite 233

Fairfax, VA 22035

(703) 324-2500

Fax: (703) 324-3149

E-mail: springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

PROVIDENCE DISTRICT

Linda Q. Smyth (D)

8739 Lee Highway, Suite A

Fairfax, VA 22031-2198

(703) 560-6946

TDD: 703-207-9407

Fax: (703) 207-3541

TTY: 711

E-mail: provdist@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

SULLY DISTRICT

Michael R. Frey (R)

Sully Governmental Center

4900 Stonecroft Boulevard

Chantilly, VA 20151-3808

(703) 814-7100

Fax: (703) 814-7110

TTY: 703-814-7109

E-mail: sully@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES

 

CLERK OF COURT

John T. Frey (R)

4110 Chain Bridge Road

Fairfax, VA 22030-4048

(703) 246-4111

Fax: (703) 352-8934

 

COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Raymond F. Morrogh (D)

4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 123

Fairfax, VA 22030-4047

(703) 246-2776

 

SHERIFF

S. G. Barry (D)

4110 Chain Bridge Road

Fairfax, VA 22030-4041

(703) 246-3227

Fax: (703) 359-4192

 

TOWN ELECTED OFFICIALS

 

TOWN OF CLIFTON

Clifton Town Hall

12641 Chapel Road

Clifton, VA 20124

(703) 802-0847

 

Mayor:

Thomas C. Peterson

 

Town Council:

Michael F. Anton

Wayne H. Nickum

Deborah L. Dillard

C.M. “Chuck” Rusnak, Jr.

Patrick J. Layden

 

Leave a Message(703) 923-3500
Select
#1 Tom Peterson, Mayor
#2 Michael Anton, Vice Mayor
#3 Deborah Dillard
#4 Pat Layden
#6 Chuck Rusnak
#7 Town Clerk

 

 

 

TOWN OF HERNDON

http://www.town.herndon.va.us

Herndon Town Hall

730 Elden Street

Herndon, VA 20170

(703) 435-6804

 

Mayor:

 

Stephen C. DeBenedittis (703) 435-6804

E-mail: Mayor.Steve@Herndon-va.gov

 

Town Council:

 

Richard F. Downer (703) 870-7257

E-mail: Richard.Downer@Herndon-va.gov

 

Dennis D. Husch (703) 709-5404

E-mail: Dennis.Husch@Herndon-va.gov

 

Connie Haines Hutchinson (703) 437-6366

E-mail: Connie.Hutchinson@Herndon-va.gov

 

David A. “Dave” Kirby (703) 481-6198

E-mail: kirbyforherndon@aol.com

 

William B. Tirrell, Sr (703) 709-7586

E-mail: bill.tirrell@verizon.net

 

Charlie D. Waddell (703) 435-2520

E-mail: charliewaddell@verizon.net

 

TOWN OF VIENNA

http://www.viennava.gov/

Vienna Town Hall

127 Center St. South

Vienna, VA 22180

(703) 255-6300

 

Mayor:

 

M. Jane Seeman (703) 255-6311

E-mail: mayor@viennava.gov

 

Town Council:

 

Laurie G. Cole (703) 281-6956

E-mail: lgcole@viennava.gov

 

Edythe F. Kelleher (703) 242-7651

E-mail: ekelleher@viennava.gov

 

George E. Lovelace (703) 938-8729

E-mail: glovelace@viennava.gov

 

Michael J. Polychrones (571) 221-8764

E-mail: mpolychrones@viennava.gov

 

Maud F. Robinson (703) 938-7375

E-mail: mrobinson@viennava.gov

 

Daniel M. Dellinger (703) 255-2918

E-mail: ddellinger@viennava.gov

 

INDEPENDENT CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS

 

FAIRFAX CITY

http://www.fairfaxva.gov/

City Hall
10455 Armstrong St.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

(703) 385-7855

 

Mayor:

 

Robert F. Lederer 703-591-8217

E-mail: rlederer@fairfaxva.gov

 

Council Members:

 

Joan W. Cross 703-273-2930

E-mail: jcross@fairfaxva.gov

 

Daniel F. Drummond 703-268-0541

E-mail: ddrummond@fairfaxva.gov

 

Jeffrey C. Greenfield 703-591-2714

E-mail: jgreenfield@fairfaxva.gov

 

David L. Meyer 703-691-8852

E-mail: dmeyer@fairfaxva.gov

 

Gary J. Rasmussen 703-385-2991

E-mail: grasmussen@fairfaxva.gov

 

Steven C. Stombres 703-279-5187

E-mail: sstombres@fairfaxva.gov

 

Commissioner of the Revenue

 

William Page Johnson II 703-273-6130

E-mail: pjohnson@fairfaxva.gov

 

Treasurer

 

Stephen L. Moloney 703-273-6747

E-mail: smoloney@fairfaxva.gov

 

 

FALLS CHURCH CITY

http://www.fallschurchva.gov/

City Hall
300 Park Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046
TEL: 703-248-5001
TTY: 711
E-mail: city-manager@fallschurchva.gov

 

Mayor

 

Robin S. Gardner (h) 703-534-8644

E-mail: rgardner@fallschurchva.gov

 

Council Members

 

Harold (Hal) Lippman, Ph. D.

Vice Mayor (h) 703-237-9089
E-mail: hlippman@fallschurchva.gov

Nader Baroukh (h) 703-992-9433
E-mail: nbaroukh@fallschurchva.gov

 

Daniel K. Maller (h) 703-731-8433
E-mail: dmaller@fallschurchva.gov

 

David F. Snyder (h) 703-241-0419
E-mail: dsnyder@fallschurchva.gov

 

Daniel X. Sze (h) 703-538-5986
E-mail: dansze@fallschurchva.gov

 

Lawrence Webb (h) 703-532-1043
E-mail: lwebb@fallschurchva.gov

 

Commissioner of the Revenue

Tom Clinton 703-248-5019
E-mail: commissioner@fallschurchva.gov

 

Treasurer

 

Cathy Kaye 703-248-5046
E-mail: treasurer@fallschurchva.gov

 

Sheriff

 

S. Stephen Bittle 703-248-5111
E-mail: sheriff-info@fallschurchva.gov

 

Download Virginia Non-Discrimination Info

Hello Equality Fairfax members and friends! If you have been aware of the recent protests regarding Prop 8 in California, you may be feeling some of the empowerment that our community has displayed in the weeks since the disastrous election result in California. People have taken to the streets by the thousands, including many from right here in Virginia, to demand equality for all.

However, the biggest single legislative goal for the GLBT community in Virginia does not involve marriage, at this point in time. Right now, we have our sights set on a much less controversial and far more obtainable goal: ending the threat of discrimination against straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals in public employment on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Polls for decades have indicated that super-majorities of both Americans and Virginians are adamantly opposed to such discrimination and support laws making it illegal. Chances appear strong that a federal level non-discrimination bill will be passed by Congress in its next session, and of course President-elect Obama is expected to sign such a measure into law.

In Virgnia, however, we do not yet have any such protection in state law for any public or private employees despite the fact that Governor Kaine extended Governor Warner’s executive order that implemented hiring and employment non-discrimination rules in state government. Isn’t it time that all Virginia public employees, from the state agencies and police, all the way down to school teachers and university custodians, have confidence that they will not be judged on anything except their job performance? All public employees must be protected against discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientations and gender identities.

Non-discrimination laws are particularly important to Virginia’s transgender community. As we have seen recently with some high-profile cases involving local folks right here in Fairfax County, job discrimination is a very real concern for many transgender people as employers in workplaces somehow still feel validated by perpetrating such wrongful discrimination. It is absolutely imperative that our laws reflect the extent to which all people deserve to have security against unfair discrimination based on misguided prejudice and bigotry. Non-discrimination laws must be inclusive in nature. Discrimination against people for being who they are is wrong, regardless of the type of discrimination.

People should never have to worry about their civil rights or their right to exist as who they are. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a society that judges all individuals on the content of their character, and not by any other characteristic or quality remains an elusive goal. We, however, can take one small step in that direction here in Virginia just by making a phone calls, writing a few letters, and/or even scheduling a few visits with our elected officials.

Remember that we are the ones who can make change happen.

Isn’t it worth a few hours of your time to contribute to real progress right here in our backyard? See our story on our home page in order to learn how you can contribute to this grassroots effort right here in Fairfax County! You will have the tools and contact information you need to get started.
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Currently, in Virginia, we can be fired for being gay or transgender. We can be fired simply for being perceived as gay or transgender. This puts all of us at risk simply for being who we are and can create an atmosphere of fear. No Virginian should live in fear of losing a job simply because of identity or orientation.

In 2009, Equality Virginia’s major legislative goal is to pass a law prohibiting workplace discrimination in state employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In order to build support for passing this bill in the next General Assembly session, we need to start now.

During the next month we’ll be coordinating efforts to contact all of our county and town elected officials. We have three major goals in these meetings:

• To ask them to sign a pledge that within their offices they will not discriminate in their own hiring
• To ask them to add this bill to the legislative package they send down to Richmond
• Additionally, for Fairfax County officials, to ask them to support the measure to allow the County to add sexual orientation and gender identity to it’s non-discrimination policies.

We also want to meet with all the state delegates and senators that represent us in Richmond and ask them to:

• Sign the non-discrimination pledge for hiring in their own offices (if they haven’t already done so)
• Co-sponsor this bill

We’ll be trying to set up face-to-face meetings with each official, but for those that can’t participate in these meetings, we’ll be writing letters, making phone calls to their offices and sending emails to aid this effort. We want to build as much support within Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Herndon, Vienna and Clifton as we can prior to the General Assembly session.

Finally, we’ll be attending EV’s Lobby Day on January 27th to lobby the entire General Assembly. Don’t worry if you’ve never done this type of grassroots activity before. We’ll be there to assist if needed. 

The details of the campaign will be posted shortly. Let’s make Virginia a safe place for all of us to work!

October 23, 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

Right now you can be fired in Virginia if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. In Virginia, there is no state-wide law to protect people from discrimination on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression in the private or public workplace.  This means that a person can be fired because someone thinks that they are gay or lesbian or because they are not masculine or feminine enough in dress or demeanor.    

You can make Virginia a better place for GLBT people to work. Take two hours from your busy life and learn how.

Equality Fairfax is excited to partner with Equality Virginia to present an advocacy training workshop. 

This fall Equality Virginia is organizing a set of trainings across the state to help the GLBT community and allies get ready for the 2009 General Assembly session and our efforts to stop workplace discrimination in Virginia.

Equality Virginia’s number one legislative priority is the passage of legislation barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public employment (local and state, colleges and schools).  To accomplish that objective, we need your help and the help of hundreds of other Virginians like you working in your communities building support for this goal.

Led by EV staff and regional leaders, these trainings will brief you on our efforts and help you develop your skills to be a strong local advocate for change.  The trainings are free, and no experience is necessary.  

Donate a few hours of your time to make a difference!   Materials and snacks will be provided. 

Sign up at the EV Website.

P.S.  Everyone is welcome at these training sessions. EV’s partners in the effort to stop workplace discrimination include the AARP Virginia, the Virginia Education Association (VEA), the AFL-CIO, the Virginia Organizing Project, the Virginia Governmental Employees Association, the Virginia Association of Human Rights and GLBT organizations across the state.  Please pass this message along to your friends and ask them to join you in learning how to help end discrimination.

Respond to the survey online at

https://online.survey.psu.edu/endtransdiscrim

“This is an absolutely critical national effort. We urge all transgender and gender non-conforming people to take the survey to help guide us in making better laws and policies that will improve the quality of life for all transgender people. We need everyone’s voice in this, everyone’s participation.”

— Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality

 As is being widely reported today, beginning with Tuesday’s Washington Post article, Alexandria resident Diane Schroer, was discriminated against by the Library of Congress after revealing to her future supervisor that she would be transitioning from a man into a woman.  Diane has taken the noble and moral position that she must fight back, and our community should be applauding and supporting Diane every step of the way.

The Fairfax County resident, prior to transition, was Dave Schroer, a former Army Special Forces Commander, and a well-respected international terrorism expert who ran a 120-person classified anti-terrorism operation.  Diane met her future Supervisor at the Library of Congress for lunch and revealed the transition, prompting a somewhat strange and terse reaction from the woman.

The result?  The next day, the offer was rescinded.  This act was outrageous behavior from a respected government institution that one might think should be a bastion of tolerance and understanding–the Library of Congress.  The ACLU is fortunately representing Schroer in her complaint, and certainly will help her argue a strong case.

Reading some of the articles about this case are enough to make one angry.  The future supervisor who had lunch with Diane, Charlotte Preece, apparently delivered the message that the transition would have been a distraction for Diane at work.  Really!?  For whom?  Who would have known?  Does the gender or gender identity of any employee prevent anyone from doing any job?  Boy, would I like to have lunch with her and give her a little talkin’-to!

Even worse, lawyers for Bush’s Justice Department are apparently arguing that the case has no grounds on which to sue, as the sex discrimination provisions in the Civil Rights Act do not “cover gender identity”.  Well, isn’t that special?  Once again, we have a clear-cut case of, first of all, Justice Department lawyers pursuing the opposite of justice.  Secondly, does this remind anyone about the Pentagon’s propensity to dismiss GLBT Arabic linguists in the midst of the worst security crisis in American history when….Arabic linguists….were in short supply and crucial?

Diane Schroer is an anti-terrorism expert, has made significant contributions to keeping us safe already as an Army Commander and head of a secret anti-terror unit, and could reasonable be expected to continue significant contributions as an anti-terrorism research analyst at the Library of Congress.

What on earth.  Barney Frank and HRC, please take note.  Your version isn’t enough.  This is a clear and decisive case that demonstrates that the ENDA must be passed with a trans-inclusive provision.  Transgender people, in fact, are the most vulnerable population who deal with the threat of employment discrimination openly.  Disgusting tripe like this makes it abundantly clear that time is of the essence.  Workplace protections are needed, explicitly, in law.

Regardless of what happens with ENDA, and whether the Bush administration and its cronies now infiltrated throughout the federal government ever become rational humans, Diane Schroer was wronged.  We need to support her.  We need to thank her.  And we need to support all the others out there that we know who are also going through what she is going through.

If Diane Schroer can win this case, she can help all of us live in a more just society.  And I for one am proud to have Diane as a neighbor.  I am not sure what we can do around here to help the ACLU win this case, but I’d welcome any suggestions.