Va. Senate panel votes to protect gays from job discrimination

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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.