Cuccinelli: Enforcing Discrimination Is My Job

Even though Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell spoke out against discrimination for LGBT Virginians after Attorney General Cuccinelli warned the state’s universities they were breaking the law by adding “sexual orientation” to their anti-discrimination policies, it looks as though he has a job to do and he’s going to do it come hell or high water…that job…enforcing discrimination.

According to The Washington Post:

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II said Friday that it remains his legal advice that the state’s public colleges and universities should remove language dealing with sexual orientation from campus anti-discrimination policies.

Read more here!

Cleaning a Mess or Political Power Play?

The LGBT community in Virginia is applauding the Executive Directive issued late Wednesday by the state’s Governor, Bob McDonnell that bans discrimination in state agencies, schools, and departments based on sexual orientation.

The directive is a down pour of rain on the fire storm of controversy caused by Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s statement that colleges and universities need to rescind portions of non-discrimination policies that include “sexual orientation” because it went against state law to provide such protections to LGBT citizens.

Larry Sabato, the directory of the UVA Center for Politics stated in response:

“The Attorney General made quite a mess and the Governor had to clean it up. The Governor comes across as reasonable and inclusive. The Attorney General comes across as somebody who literally picked an unnecessary fight that didn’t have to be fought.”

And this was a fight that many of the state’s residents thought would turn into an all out battle. Andre Hakes, a Charlottesville attorney stated:

“I had expected we were in for a lengthy and difficult battle, so I’m very happy that this has been resolved so quickly and so sensibly.”

In what appears to be an ironic twist, or perhaps an effort at back-peddling, AG Cuccinelli responded to the Governor’s statement by saying:

“I applaud Governor McDonnell for the tone he is setting for the Commonwealth of Virginia. I will remain in contact with the Governor and continue to work with him on issues important to Virginia. I expect Virginia’s state employees to follow all state and federal anti-discrimination laws and will enforce Virginia’s laws to the fullest extent.”

Now, here’s the greater question. Was this all a set-up? I’m not much of one to quickly buy into conspiracy theories, but with the recent decision in Virginia’s back yard (D.C.) to legalize same-sex marriages, was this an attempt by conservatives in office to put LGBT community of Virginia in their “place”? Was this a power play to demonstrate who holds rule over rights? Was this an attempt to make the state’s Republican Governor appear to be gay-friendly? Was this a way of telling the LGBT community of Virginia, be happy with what you have and don’t ask for more?

The Power: Fair Housing Act

From: The Power:

Have you or someone you know experienced discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on LGBT status?  We need your stories!

Last June, at a press conference convened by The Power to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, promised that his office would begin the process of reviewing the nation’s civil rights laws to include LGBT people.  On Thursday, he fulfills that promise when he chairs a hearing entitled “Protecting the American Dream: A Look into the Fair Housing Act,” the first in a series of hearings to consider the need to amend the Fair Housing Act to include LGBT people.

Expansion of the Fair Housing Act to include LGBT people would be only the second effort (after ENDA) of this congress to include LGBT people in the nation’s civil rights laws.

Share your stories:  The Power is collecting stories of discrimination to deliver to Congressman Nadler for subsequent hearings.  If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing on the basis of LGBT status or relationship, please send your stories to FHAStories@ThePowerOnline.org.  Send a written story, or, if your are able to, record your story as a video, upload it to YouTube, and send us the link.  You can also show your support for amending the Fair Housing Act and the nation’s other civil rights laws, and help organize for their passage in your own congressional district by signing the petition at www.ThePowerOnline.org.

Join the Facebook event page and invite all your friends.

Find more at: The Power!

ENDA Would Ban GLBT Discrimination

Illinois state law has prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for the past five years, under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Practically speaking, that means workers may not be discriminated against because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT).

But while LGBT employees in the Land of Lincoln have the ability to contact an Illinois employment lawyer and file a claim if they’re treated unfairly, US federal law does not provide such protections.

However, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (ENDA) is poised to change all of that.

The bill’s stated purposes are spelled out clearly:

1. To provide a comprehensive Federal prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity;
2. To provide meaningful and effective remedies for employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; and
3. To invoke congressional powers, including the powers to enforce the 14th amendment to the Constitution, and to regulate interstate commerce and provide for the general welfare pursuant to section 8 of article I of the Constitution, in order to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

More at: Chicago Employment Attorney Blog!

Lieberman Introduces Repeal of DADT

Yesterday, Independent congressman Joe Lieberman, along with supporters, introduced historic legislation aimed at repealing the military’s current discriminatory policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell into the U.S. Senate.

Have a look!

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