Virginia measure
to protect gay employees killed

Virginia Republicans have killed a bill that would have strengthened workplace protections for gay and lesbian employees in state and local government, The Washington Post reported Thursday. Virginia Senate Bill 700 would have extended the reach of gay and lesbian workplace protections installed by newly elected Democratic governor Tim Kaine in his first official act as governor.

Kaine's Executive Order 1 prohibited state agencies from discriminating based on sexual orientation. Democratic state senators Mamie Locke and L. Louise Lucas introduced Bill 700 to make those protections permanent and grant them to workers in all state and local government agencies. Instead, a Republican majority of the senate general laws and technology committee rejected the bill.

The move sparked an outcry from national Democrats. "By killing Senate Bill 700 in committee, Virginia Republicans chose to follow Karl Rove's playbook of scapegoating groups of people and dividing Americans to win elections," said Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean. "In electing Tim Kaine, the people of Virginia sent a loud message that this sort of politics is bad for Virginia and bad for America." (Advocate.com)