A bill that would have protected gay
and lesbian state workers died in the Virginia House of Delegates
Tuesday.
The action comes a day after Democratic senators,
with the aid of one Republican, Senator Fred Quayle, approved a
similar measure for the first time.
The bill, sponsored by Delegate Adam
Ebbin, a Democrat from Arlington, would have added sexual orientation
and gender identity to the list of state nondiscrimination employment
classifications.
House Bill 1116 died in a General Laws
subcommittee chaired by Republican Delegate John Cosgrove. In a 5 to
3 vote, members voted down the bill.
In killing the bill, Republicans said
they were unconvinced such discrimination was currently taking place.
Delegate Todd Gilbert, a Republican from Page County, said the bill
“goes way too far.”
Citing the House's overwhelming
Republican majority, most Capitol watchers had predicted defeat for
the bill in the lower chamber.
The subcommittee also did away with a
bill sponsored by Delegate Kenneth R. Plum that would have outlawed
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for
all Virginians in the areas of employment and public accommodations.