Signaling a new day for LGBT equality in Virginia, Democrat Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe said in his first press conference that his first executive order will be to ban discrimination against LGBT state employees.

Last night McAuliffe defeated vehemently anti-LGBT Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia governor’s race. Former governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both issued executive orders prohibiting discrimination in state employment on a number of bases including sexual orientation. Governor McDonnell rescinded the order and issued a generic order, theoretically covering all public employees. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent a letter to the public universities telling them they could not offer more protections than those enumerated under state law.

Today McAuliffe said, “I will make sure that every single individual in the Commonwealth of Virginia is treated fair and equal.”