Va. Democrats Warn: Cuccinelli and Governor Jeoporadize State

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'Season of Fasting' ends, Church lifts de facto ban on gays

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In Richmond,  Virginia,  several lawmakers said Tuesday on the floor of the House of Delegates that the state's failure to protect gays is a national embarrassment and might have negative consequences for the state's economy.  

Dissenting Delegates and a Rare Legislative Move 

The group of dissenting delegates was comprised of Democrats.  In a rare -  and unsuccessful  -  legislative move Tuesday,  they tried to revive the bill which made discrimination due to sexual orientation illegal for public employees.

Bill SB66,  authored by Richmond Democrat Senator Donald McEachin,  had passed through the Democrat majority Senate in a vote of 23- 17 but when it reached the subcommittee in the Republican controlled House,  the bill died.  

With the statement,  "The eyes of the nation are upon us," Del. Ken Plum of Fairfax County tried to bring the bill to the floor for a full House vote,  but that maneuver failed on a vote of 55-42.   

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's recent letter to state universities which advised that anti-discriminatory policies with regard to gays must be rescinded due to lack of state authorization has been viewed as a crisis by Va. Democrats.  

Economic Warnings 

Some have cautioned that companies might be deterred by the state's stance on the issue.  One such is military contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation,  which is deciding if it might move its headquarters from Los Angeles to Richmond.   As many companies now have adopted anti-discrimination policies involving sexual orientation,  it was pointed out that Virginia may now appear retrograde to national policy.  

Viewed as a Civil Rights Regression and Backlash grows 

Apparently some Virginia students at universities and colleges funded by the state's government are viewing the moves by the Governor and the State's attorney as a regression in civil rights.   Reportedly,  over 3,000 students have joined the Facebook page,  "We Don't Want Discrimination in Our Colleges and Universities".    There have been media reports of a growing backlash against the moves by Virginia's Governor,  State Attorney, and Republican Senate.