VA Universities Defy LGBT Discrimination

A policy banning discrimination based on sexual orientation remains in effect at Virginia Tech, at least for now, despite a directive from the state attorney general that public colleges and universities remove such protections.

Tech received the letter from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli by e-mail either Thursday evening or Friday morning, university spokesman Mark Owczarski said.

Cuccinelli’s letter argues that colleges and universities have no authority to protect the rights of gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities without an act of the General Assembly.

Gov. Bob McDonnell recently reversed an executive order barring discrimination against LGBTQ state workers that had been in effect for eight years. A bill that would have extended such protection to LGBTQ state workers passed gained Senate approval but died in a House committee earlier this week.

More at: Roanoke Times!

VA AG Ask Colleges to Rescind Discrimination Policies

From the Washington Post:

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has asked the state’s public colleges and universities to rescind policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, arguing in a letter sent to each school Thursday that their boards of visitors have no legal authority to adopt such statements.

In the letter, Cuccinelli (R) wrote that only the General Assembly can extend legal protections to gay state employees — a move the legislature has repeatedly declined to take, including as recently as this week.

“It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth 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,” he wrote.

Read more here!

Florida Legislators Hear Testimony on Domestic Partnership Bill

From Palm Beach Human Rights Council:

Florida legislators were urged this afternoon to enact pro-family legislation creating a statewide domestic partnership registry. Once enacted, the legislation would provide unmarried couples many of the benefits provided by the state to married couples.

Palm Beach County Human Rights Council President Rand Hoch addressed local legislators at their final public hearing prior to the opening of the Florida legislature on March 2.

“Many couples choose not to marry so that they may preserve their social security, pension, and veterans benefits,” said Rand Hoch, President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. “However marriage is not an option for gay and lesbian Floridians in committed relationships.”

Nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted comprehensive laws recognizing gay and lesbians relationships. Four states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont) and the District of Columbia provide full marriage equality. New Jersey recognized civil unions. Four additional states (California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington) have domestic partnership legislation.

While marriage equality for gay men and lesbians is denied by Florida’s laws and state constitution, gay couples may register their domestic partnerships in some parts of Florida.

“Thanks to the efforts of local organizations such as Save-Dade, the Human Rights Council of North Central Florida, and the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, gay couples may register as domestic partners throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, as well as in the city of Gainesville,” said Hoch.

“Regardless of where our families make our homes, we should be accorded the same rights and benefits that other families take for granted,” Hoch told legislators.

“Once the law is enacted statewide, domestic partners will be allowed to visit their partners in a hospital with the same authority as spouses with regard to health care decisions,” said Hoch. “Domestic partners will be notified as family members in the event of an accident, and in the event of a partner’s death, they will be empowered to make funeral decisions.”

With legislators wary of the Florida’s multi-billion dollar deficit, Hoch informed legislators that the legislation requires no expenditure of state funds for office space or personnel, since the paperwork will be done by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts who are charged with processing marriage licenses.

“Since fees are assessed to register and terminate domestic partnerships, the legislation will actually generate income for the state,” said Hoch.

The domestic partnership legislation was co-introduced by state senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hallandale) and state representative Richard Steinberg (D-Miami Beach).

Rhode Island Overrides Gay Rights Veto

From San Diego Gay & Lesbian News:

Yesterday lawmakers and members of the General Assembly in the state of Rhode Island overrode a veto by Governor Don Carcieri and passed into law legislation that allows domestic partners the right to make funeral arrangements for their deceased partners.

Although Rhode Island opposes same-sex marriage, many legislators and activists see this as a vital step towards equality.

In November of 2009, Governor Carcieri vetoed the bill although it was overwhelming approved by the House in a vote of 67-3 and in the Senate by 31-3.

“This bill represents a disturbing trend over the past few years of the incremental erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage, which is not the preferred way to approach this issue. If the General Assembly believes it would like to address the issue of domestic partnership, it should place the issue on the ballot and let the people of the State of Rhode Island decide,” said Gov. Carcieri.

Many legislators and community activists who were appalled by Gov. Carcieri’s veto are today praising the decision to override his choice.

More here!

Baldwin Optomistic About Gay Legislation

Saturday, Tammy Baldwin, the openly lesbian U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, told attendees at the 2009 International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in San Francisco, California that she is holding on to optimistic expectations the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (DPBO), which Baldwin sponsored, will reach the House floor this year. If enacted, the bill would provide benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. Baldwin also stated she expects The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will be passed as well.

In regards to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the military’s ban on servicemembers serving as openly gay, she expects that will reach the house sometime next fall, and feels it will be attached to the military’s 2011 spending bill.

All three pieces of legislation is expected to gain the approval of the House of Representatives, which is considered more liberal than the Senate, but it’s also expected the bills will face tougher obstacles in the Senate, where Democrats hold a small majority.

Baldwin stated at the conference:

“I’m hopeful we will see those three pieces of legislation make it all the way, or damn close.”

The Leadership Conference was sponsored by The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that promotes the election of openly gay men and women into public offices.

Next Page »