VA Gov McDonnell: No Bias Against Gays, Protections Unnecessary

Only weeks after issuing an unenforceable and useless "directive" that Virginia's state agencies should not discriminate based on sexual orientation, far right wing Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell says a law protecting gays and lesbians isn't necessary because anti-gay bias just doesn't happen very often, reports the Washington Post.

"Breaking with the practice of his Democratic predecessors, McDonnell did not include sexual orientation in an executive order he issued barring discrimination in the state workforce shortly after taking office. He argued that he could not include protections for gays without authority from the General Assembly, which has repeatedly declined to adopt a law on the issue. But in past interviews, McDonnell has never been clear about whether he supported the General Assembly taking action. He told Post columnist Bob McCartney that he might, in fact, sign such a law if passed. But asked today on the 'Ask the Governor' program at Richmond's WRVA radio whether he would sign such legislation, he said, 'I don't know that we need it based on the numbers that I've seen.' He added: 'There really isn't any rampant discrimination on any basis in Virginia. If you're going to have a law, it needs to actually address a real problem.' "

One of McDonnell's first actions in office was to strip gay and lesbian state workers of job protections. Shortly afterward, birther and tea bag poster boy Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli advised the Commonwealth's public colleges and universities to abolish policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity

At least 27 times since 1997 and as recently as two weeks ago, the Virginia General Assembly has rejected bills to add the words "sexual orientation" to nondiscrimination statutes.

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Comments

[Nathan James]

Gov. McDonnell's comments remind me of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said "we don't have any such thing as homosexuality in Iran." Of course not...every time a gay or lesbian person is found in Iran, they are KILLED. McDonnell's asasertion that anti-gay discrimination "doesn't happen very often" is both ignorant and frightening.

Woe betide gays and lesbians living in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where the elected leaders are so blatantly against the LGBT community!

[Sike]

"Anti-gay bias doesn't happen very often."
Really? Did anyone bother to point out the obvious?
HIS FIRST ACTIONS AS GOVERNOR WERE ANTI-GAY!!!

And then this gem: He added: 'There really isn't any rampant discrimination on any basis in Virginia. If you're going to have a law, it needs to actually address a real problem.' "

No discrimination, no racism in VA. YEAH RIGHT.

[Black and White Mage]

Goodness, I cannot wait to leave this state once I graduate from this public Virginia institution that I attend. I second what Sike stated...