We wanted to share with you, our supporters, the following alert from your state Family Policy Council. If you have already received this message from them, please simply disregard this. We did, however, want to help make certain that you, your friends, and your neighbors would be aware of this very critical legislative information. We encourage you to join your Family Policy Council in making your voice heard today!
Last week the Senate General Laws committee passed legislation, SB 66, that will add sexual orientation to the state's hiring policy of non-discrimination. If this bill is successful, it would be the first time in Virginia history that sexual orientation would be elevated to a protected class.
The full Senate will vote on this legislation tomorrow! We need you to urge your Senator to vote against this unnecessary legislation.
While no one endorses discrimination of any type, there is absolutely no need for this proposal. In fact, according to the Washington Post, there are "thousands of homosexuals" working in state government. Both previous governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine signed executive orders against discrimination, and Governor Bob McDonnell has said publically that his administration will not discriminate against homosexuals. No evidence of discrimination was presented in committee when the bill was debated.
This is a solution in search of a problem.
In addition, this legislation will open the Commonwealth of Virginia to costly litigation by people who fail to qualify for employment but sue the state based on this proposal. It is also a first step toward adding sexual orientation to private business hiring practice. We have seen in other state's this gradual progression.
The bill is also impractical. To protect themselves against litigation state agencies would have to begin asking job applicants about their sexuality, a clear invasion of privacy. State employment applications would have to be changed to include boxes to check for one's sexual orientation, "actual or perceived," gender identity or expression.
Elevating sexual orientation to a protected class, despite the fact that homosexuality is not immutable, would create an entirely new level of protection -- protection based on one's sexual behavior.
ACTION: Please contact your Senator NOW and urge them to vote no on SB 66, unnecessary legislation that elevates sexual orientation to protected status in Virginia law.
Thank you for joining this collaborative effort to protect and defend Faith, Family, and Freedom in your state!
