Crossdressers-Forum.com

[Kimberly Kael]

Now is definitely the time to take a stand for your rights. It's scary to see what's going on (link) and there is definitely something you can do about it.
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~ Kimberly

“To escape criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." - Elbert Hubbard

[Michelle Miller]

I knew crap like this was coming, when McDumbass wouldn't draft his own executive order outlawing government workplace discrimination for us GBLT's like the last three governors have.

Honestly, &%#$ing government endorsed discrimination from these assholes, I don't know what's sadder, that the myopic hatemongers are doing it, or that I'm not the least bit surprised. This crap with Reverend Attorney General amounts to not much more than open season on GBLT's on virginia school campuses.

&%$# the Communistwealth.
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-Michelle-
"Inside me, there's a thin girl, screaming to get out, but cookies & ice cream usually shut her right up."

[DonnaT]

There's nothing that can be done, actually, since the governor is of the same opinion as the AG.

This is a narrowly interpreted Dillion Rule state, and any non-discrimination policies for government funded agencies is up to the General Assembly, or by an executive order from the governor. Neither of which will lend us a helping hand these days.
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DonnaT

[Virginia]

Unfortunately, what sister Donna said!

Virginia
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First star to the right, then straight on 'till mornin!

[DonnaT]

First, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell issued an executive order relating to ''Equal Opportunity.'' The Feb. 5 order noted that ''[t]his order is in furtherance of the stated policy enacted by the General Assembly, and specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.''

The order did not include sexual orientation or gender identity, which was included in the previous executive order on the matter, issued by former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine in 2006.

Then, with the Republican-led General Assembly unwilling to move on nondiscrimination legislation, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) issued the ''opinion of the Office of the Attorney General'' that the ''law and public policy'' of Virginia ''prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification, as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy, absent specific authorization from the General Assembly.''

When college and university students, faculty and administrators made clear that they had a problem with Cuccinelli's letter, McDonnell was quick to make a move distancing himself from the attorney general.

Except, not really.

On Wednesday, March 10, Gov. McDonnell issued an ''Executive Directive'' regarding the ''Standard of Conduct'' for state supervisors and employees ''Concerning Employment Discrimination.''

In it, he suggests a pronouncement on the state's position on sexual orientation nondiscrimination. The set-up looks like an attempt to create some space between Cuccinelli's move as attorney general and his own administration. But it does no such thing. To the extent it mentions sexual orientation, it is simply a basic restatement of federal constitutional law. It fails to mention gender identity or expression at all.

''The Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits discrimination without a rational basis against any class of persons,'' McDonnell writes. ''Discrimination based on factors such as one's sexual orientation or parental status violates the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.

''Therefore, discrimination against enumerated classes of persons set forth in the Virginia Human Rights Act or discrimination against any class of persons without a rational basis is prohibited.''

The law, by the governor's own words, is the same on March 11 as it was on March 9. There is no protection provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia or Gov. McDonnell to LGBT people other than the slight protection already provided to them by the U.S. Constitution. And McDonnell has taken no action to ask the legislature to do more.

I think we all know where the Constitution sits on this, otherwise ENDA or GENDA would not be making the rounds in congress.
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DonnaT