Va. Senate panel votes to protect gays from job discrimination

[mahatmakanejeeves]

This is not LBN, because "Measures similar to both bills have cleared the Senate in the past but were killed in the House of Delegates."

Va. Senate panel votes to protect gays from job discrimination

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 by Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A Virginia Senate committee voted Monday to prohibit discrimination in public employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The measure proposed by Sen. Donald McEachin, a Henrico County Democrat, was approved by the Republican-controlled General Laws and Technology Committee on an 8-7 vote. Republican Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel of Fauquier County joined minority Democrats in support of the bill.

Vogel also cast the key vote on another measure to prohibit state agencies from including on employment applications a question asking whether the applicant has ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime. The so-called "ban the box" bill was approved on an identical 8-7 vote.

Measures similar to both bills have cleared the Senate in the past but were killed in the House of Delegates.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Virginia Senate votes to ban job discrimination against gays

The bill moved from a Senate committee to a vote by the entire Senate.

Virginia Senate votes to ban job discrimination against gays

Posted: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 2:31 pm

By Jim Nolan | Richmond Times-Dispatch

RICHMOND -- With the tie-breaking vote of Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, the Virginia Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would make it illegal to discriminate in state hiring based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The vote on SB 785 was 19-19, with two moderate Republicans, Sens. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, and Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier County, siding with 17 Democrats.

It now heads to the Republican-dominated House of Delegates, where it is expected to face an uphill battle.

Northam, a former state senator from Norfolk who was elected lieutenant governor in November 2013, cast his first significant tie-breaking vote this session. In the Senate, Republicans hold a 21-19 advantage and illness has kept two Democrats from attending recent sessions.