The GLBT Beat

What do Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, California, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Nevada, Maryland, New York, and New Mexico (plus the District of Columbia) have in common? They have all passed statewide laws banning discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation.

Put another way, in 36 states it is perfectly legal for someone to be FIRED from their job-at any time-purely because his or her employer finds out that he or she is gay. He or she would have absolutely no legal recourse---under state or federal law, in each of those places.

Virginia, our great land of progressivism and inclusion, is of course one of those 36 states. Efforts to change this have stalled in the Virginia State Legislature.

If you are one of the estimated 10% of Virginians who are gay or lesbian, this should concern you. But, even if you are 100% heterosexual, this law presents a big problem.

Here in our Commonwealth, it is perfectly legal for an employee to be fired because he or she SEEMS gay. Wear a colorful necktie. You're fired. Wrong tinted shirt? Sorry, we have to let you go. Women with short hair? Must be lesbians, so they're terminated.

In this age of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Metrosexuals," many men are embracing body hygiene, cultural sophistication, and even moisturizer. Under our current law, the mere act of careful grooming could be the basis of suspicion and termination.

Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, to many heterosexual Virginians is that even the most "straight-acting" of straight people could fall victim. It is perfectly legal for an employer to fire a worker... simply for being heterosexual. What sort of message is Virginia sending to its citizens telling them that they are not entitled to any privacy and could be fired at any time purely for NOT being gay?

Straight or gay, the law provides no legal means of restitution.

Unfortunately, for many gay sand lesbian people across Virginia, this lack of protection is a serious problem. It means they live in fear. Virginia was late in coming to the table on racial equality. How about we not be the last of those 36 to pass an employment non-discrimination law.

Josh Israel is President of the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club. www.vapartisans.org president@vapartisans.org