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Late Wednesday afternoon, amidst growing tensions on college campuses, Governor Bob McDonnell issued a “Governor’s Directive,” ordering those in the executive branch not to discriminate in their hiring practices (see here). His directive specifically referenced “sexual orientation.”

Governor McDonnell issued his directive in an apparent effort to ease the hostile atmosphere on our campuses and in the General Assembly. Four years ago, then-Attorney General McDonnell challenged Governor Tim Kaine’s executive order that added sexual orientation to the anti-discrimination policy, saying he didn’t have the authority to do so. It is still unclear exactly what legal weight, if any, a directive has, but media reports indicate that it does not have the same force of law of an executive order.

Much of the anger among college students has been generated by those who are supposed to be in authority at those schools — college presidents and administrators — who have criticized the advisory letter Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent them last week. The letter stated that public colleges and universities with anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation are in conflict with state law. Instead of providing leadership, the college presidents and administrators have provoked anger and outrage with inflamed rhetoric.

A media backlash also was fed by heated and often mean-spirited rhetoric by a handful of General Assembly members, including Senator Donald McEachin (D-9, Henrico) who, in a floor speech earlier this week, referenced Governor McDonnell’s graduate school thesis, yelling on the Senate floor, “We are being governed by the thesis!” Joining in the daily diatribes were Delegate David Englin (D-45, Alexandria) and Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-74, Henrico). It was often insinuated that anyone who disagrees with adding sexual orientation to the non-discrimination policy is hateful and bigoted. But truth has been difficult to find in this debate.

In addition, some legislators made the outrageous claim that, without a non-discrimination policy that included sexual orientation, Virginia is not “business friendly” and would not be able to attract new jobs. But several publications and organizations currently recognize Virginia as the best state in America to do business without having this policy.

Nonetheless, yesterday morning, Senator Tommy Norment (R-3, Williamsburg), in a clear conflict of interest as an employee of the College of William and Mary, one of the colleges expressing outrage over the AG’s letter, amended an economic development bill introduced by the Governor with: “The Commonwealth of Virginia maintains an ecumenical atmosphere in its sexual orientation hiring policies in the private and public workforce.”

Besides being a bizarre statement, it is a frightening overreach into the private workplace, which would include religious-based ministries and churches. Fortunately, on the floor of the Senate — because of the Governor’s directive — Senator Norment removed his amendment from the bill.

The Family Foundation has and continues to maintain that there is no need for special protections for homosexuals. As the issue was thoroughly debated and voted on multiple times throughout this year’s General Assembly, no evidence of discrimination was presented.

We absolutely agree with one statement in Governor McDonnell’s directive — that state employment should be based on “qualifications, merit and performance,” regardless of one’s immutable or unimmutable characteristics.

Over the next several days, we will consult with experts to determine the legal ramifications of this directive, but we are concerned when the Governor’s action is being heralded as a step forward by the ACLU and the state’s largest homosexual lobby, Equality Virginia (Pilot on Politics).

In a statement, Kent Willis of the ACLU said, “We hope this is only the beginning, and that the Governor’s example will inspire legislators to finally pass a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in both private and public sector employment.”

Any thought that the groups and organizations behind this effort will stop at public employment is naive. It is very clear that they want to force private businesses — including churches — to abide by their morality.

This morning on Richmond’s Morning News With Jimmy Barrett on WRVA-AM, Family Foundation Vice-President for Policy and Communications Chris Freund was interviewed about the legal opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and the reaction to it. It wasn’t a real debate, but immediately prior to Chris’ appearance, Barrett’s guest was Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, the lead lobbyist for Equality Virginia. Notice that she avoided Barrett’s first question and, shall we say, gave an intriguing spin on the entire matter at hand. In fact, you can detect the skepticism in Barrett’s voice and questions. Chris sets the record straight his turn at bat.

Click here to listen to the back-to-back interviews (9:24).

Winning elections is one thing. But the real work is the constant vigil to ensure that those who got elected follow through on their promises and platforms. With a sweep of pro-family statewide officials and a wider majority in the House of Delegates after November’s election, it would be easy to sit back and watch.

However, late last week Governor Tim Kaine (contact), already intent on creating mischief  for the incoming administration by proposing tax increases in the new budget he will introduce before he exits office, lobbed a grenade into the room when he announced his intention to expand health care benefits for state employees to include not only same-sex partners, but anyone living in a house with a state worker. A peculiar legacy indeed, but he’s leaving office as he came in — promoting tax increases and special rights for homosexuals just as he did in his first week in office, despite campaigning to the contrary. Already, the state’s largest homosexual “rights” lobby, Equality Virginia, is actively promoting the change.

While expanding benefits to same-sex relationships is a clear violation of the Marriage Amendment passed by Virginia voters just three years ago, it is obvious that Governor Kaine has no intention to abide by it. Currently, only spouses and children are eligible for state health care benefits. Because these types of benefits have traditionally been “benefits of marriage,” expanding beyond marriage violates both the spirit and the language of the Marriage Amendment. Health benefits have been tied to marriage for decades because the state understands it has a compelling interest in benefitting and encouraging marriage —ultimately because children benefit the most from marriage. As the vast majority understood in 2006 when 2.1 million of us voted in favor of the Marriage Amendment, we need to protect and elevate traditional marriage for our children’s sake.

Attempts at expanding this beyond marriage makes any and all relationships equal to marriage, thereby undermining that foundational institution. Interestingly, the “Notice of Intended Regulatory Action Agency Background Document” that announces the regulation change makes several astonishing claims, such as saying the proposal “should have little impact on the family or family stability.”

Really? By allowing non-married couples the identical benefits as those who are married, does that not make marriage less necessary? The notice also claims that the only “alternative” to the proposal is nationalized health care, such as the current Congressional proposals.

Kaine’s plan, as proposed, borders on the ludicrous. It would seemingly allow a recent college graduate who gets a job with the state to add any and all of his or her housemates to his or her health insurance.

One of the most influential proponents of this type of domestic partner benefits has been the presidents of Virginia’s taxpayer funded colleges and universities, claiming that they can’t bring qualified professors to our college campuses because other states offer such benefits. Yet, only 16 other states currently offer such benefits.

While the proposed benefit expansion will ultimately be decided upon by Governor-elect Bob McDonnell, who expressed reservations about it due to possible costs, proponents of the policy claim that there will be no cost to the state. However, such an expansion of benefits, certainly will increase the cost of health insurance for the state and consequently, Virginia taxpayers.

But don’t think you can’t do anything about this: There is a public comment period until midnight December 23, where the Department of Human Resources Management is seeking your opinion.

Please contact the Department of Human Resources Management by clicking here. 

Once on the site, click “Enter a comment” and express your opposition to Governor Kaine’s proposal.

Annotations & Elucidations

“Stylistic” Election Coverage

The Communications Department didn’t come up with much from conventional news sources today, but I dug around and found, in of all places, in-depth election coverage and post mortems from Richmond’s too-old-to-be-hip-anymore weekly freebie, Style Weekly, which now delves into the business of the serious. It’s done a decent job, too. Of particular interest are the hat-tips to Republicans by Democrat guru-strategist Paul Goldman and the whining of Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, Equality Virginia’s lobbyist. University of Richmond Professor Daniel Palazzolo harangues Governor Tim Kaine and Scott Bass gets about half of it right. It’s funny when liberals try to manipulate conservative mandates by telling us what they want the results to mean is fact, and then fratricidally turn on themselves (a sure sign that their interpretation of the results is a disingenuous attempt to water down the victory).

Elsewhere, Republican Ron Villanueva was declared the winner in the closest House of Delegates race, but it’s only one step toward resolution, and will go on still longer, for sure. Attorney General Bill Mims is doing what all former attorneys general do (especially those who fill out a term of an elected one), and that is sign on with a big bucks power law law firm, while Senator Edd Houck (D-17, Spottsylvania) makes the news for the second day on the trot, describing a dour picture of state funding to localities. Nationally, the Washington Post reports that pro-abortion activists are trying to muzzle the free speech rights of pro-life clinics and information centers.

News:

Misaligned: How Virginia Democrats overestimated the power of Obama and underestimated the importance of independent voters. (Style Weekly)

Villanueva declared winner in 21st District race (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Houck paints dire budget picture to city and Spotsy (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Attorney General to join Hunton and Williams (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Kaine Takes a Hike (Style Weekly)

National News:

Disclaimer proposed for anti-abortion clinics (Washington Post)

Analysis:

McDonnell, Picture Perfect (Paul Goldman/Style Weekly)

Presumptive Politics (Paul Goldman/Style Weekly)

McDonnell’s Power Surge (Scott Bass/Style Weekly)

Democratic Downers (Margaret Edds/Style Weekly)

Commentary:

Shilling For Bob (Claire Guthrie Gastañaga/Style Weekly)

Losing Legacy (Daniel Palazzolo/Style Weekly)

Editorial Comics:

“For Whom the Bell Tolls” (Glenn Foden/Townhall.com)

“A Year Later . . .” (Scott Stantis/Townhall.com)

By the way, it never ceases to amaze me that the homosexual lobby thinks same-sex marriage and its other agenda items are necessary for a thriving economy. See the first bullet point in the Equality Virginia news release announcing its endorsement of Democrat Creigh Deeds for governor, where EV’s Jon Blair says:

To attract the best public and private employees, Virginia must be welcoming of diversity and avoid discriminatory practices. Anything else hurts employers and employees, stifles economic growth, and limits Virginia’s competitiveness.

Let’s see. Virginia has maintained one of the best economies in the country for decades without capitulating to the radical homosexual agenda, and somehow our economy has suffered? Well, then, take it to they guys who’ve been in charge recently, who say they are on your side — Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (not to mention Jerry Baliles), the men Deeds says he wants to tailor himself after (tax increases and all).

Not exactly a news flash, but the commonwealth’s leading homosexual lobby, Equality Virginia, yesterday announced its endorsement of Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds. Here’s the link to its Web site’s media page, where its only media is its own news release endorsing Deeds. The release also is below. We can’t say we can feel the momentum swinging to Senator Deeds over this, so don’t expect its endorsement to be a game changer. To the contrary, proudly accepting it pretty much blows off what little cover Senator Deeds of a “moderate” image.   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 15, 2009

Equality Virginia PAC Endorses Deeds for Governor

RICHMOND – Equality Virginia PAC announced today its support for Creigh Deeds for Governor. “There is no question that for the GLBT community and Virginians who believe in equality for all, there is only one sensible choice for Governor, and that choice is Creigh Deeds,” stated Jon Blair, Equality Virginia PAC’s CEO. “While no candidate is perfect, including Senator Deeds, Virginians must support the one candidate who truly understands that discrimination hurts our economy and our families.”

Blair drew the following contrasts in explaining EV PAC’s decision to support Deeds:

• Deeds co-patroned legislation to ensure that all public employees will be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and pledges that he will sign an executive order to that effect; as Attorney General, McDonnell ruled that such an executive order would be illegal, stated he would not sign one as governor, and has refused to support a change in the law to ban discrimination. To attract the best public and private employees, Virginia must be welcoming of diversity and avoid discriminatory practices. Anything else hurts employers and employees, stifles economic growth, and limits Virginia’s competitiveness.

• Deeds ultimately opposed the Marshall-Newman marriage amendment; his opponent, Bob McDonnell wholeheartedly endorsed it.

• Deeds says he will support opening up state health benefits to otherwise qualified adults living in the same household as GLBT employees; McDonnell says that’s for the legislature to decide.

“The number one job of the next governor will be to restore confidence in our economy and keep Virginia the best managed state in the country. I plan to make sure that every citizen of the commonwealth can contribute to the economy and to government to the fullest extent possible without fear of discrimination. I’ve had a lifetime of working against discrimination in the workplace and I’ll continue that work when I’m Governor,” Deeds responded in his acceptance of Equality Virginia’s endorsement.

After reading my colleague Chris’ excellent post on Democrat candidate for Lt. Governor Jody Wagner, I remembered something: We actually have a bit of where she stands on certain family values issues and posted it in April (click here). On that post, you will see, she basically committed herself to the entire Equality Virginia agenda.

But I strenuously disagree with Chris on one thing: Regarding Ms. Wagner’s budget and revenue forecast acumen, I don’t think she’s a blank slate. In fact, there’s plenty on that slate. It’s just a confused slate, with plenty of figures, numbers, charts and graphs. But the numbers never, ever add up, and the arrows on the charts are always going in the wrong direction.

Yesterday we provided video and commentary of the three Democrat gubernatorial candidates’ views on same-sex marriage and on issues dear to the homosexual lobby. Now, we hear from the front-runner for the Democrat nomination for lieutenant governor, Jody Wagner, who sounds as if she’s in complete lock-step with the Equality Virginia agenda. Among other things, she told the homosexual-oriented Michael-In-Norfolk blog (read the whole report here) that she:

. . . supports adding “sexual orientation” to the Virginia Fair Housing Law covering all rental and sales transactions. Moreover, she reminded me that she served on the Virginia Housing Development Authority when the VHDA Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to remove the so-called “family rule” that required those borrowing money from the agency to purchase a home to be related by blood, marriage or adoption. The Family Foundation and extreme Christianist groups went beserk over the vote, but the policy change was upheld.

Oh, cool. A gratuitous slap at us! Looks like we’ve made it, after all. By the way, “Christianist“? Who’s using the pejoratives, who’s stereotyping, who’s staking the claim to righteousness? Not only did this blog take a slap at us Sunday, it attacked Family Foundation President Victoria Cobb.

First, it was Planned Parenthood which agreed with us on a bill, then later, even Equality Virginia on another bill. Yesterday, I was shocked when our admin page notified me of a link to a favorable comment from yet another organization not considered our best friend: The Richmond Times-Dispatch — specifically, editorial writer and op-ed columnist Bart Hinkle. The day after my February 11 post (see here) on Senator Ralph Northam’s (D-6, Norfolk) automobile smoking ban bill, he agreed with us on his blog, Barticles, in a post he wrote entitled:

“When They’re Right, They’re Right.”

Don’t believe it? We did a double take ourselves. Click on the link above to read it yourself. All kidding of Bart, aside, we’re flattered he reads our blog.

The Washington Post reported late last week that Joe Price, an attorney and former chairman of the board of Equality Virginia, was indicted on obstruction of justice charges surrounding a murder that took place in Price’s home in 2006. (Read The Post’s account of the indictment, by clicking here.) 

What makes this information relevant to all Virginians is that Price is currently the Virginia attorney representing Janet Jenkins who is seeking full custody of Isabella Miller, the small child caught in the custody dispute between Jenkins and her former partner Lisa Miller. The case has extraordinary implications not only for little Isabella, but for Virginia’s marriage amendment and the future of family law.

Not surprisingly, The Post makes no mention in its article of Price’s longtime affiliation with the commonwealth’s largest homosexual rights group, or his involvement with one of the most important legal cases regarding family law in the nation.

The Family Foundation first heard rumors of Price’s involvement in the August 2006 crime during the marriage amendment campaign that fall. Because there were no mainstream media stories that verified the situation we decided that raising awareness of the case during the amendment campaign would have detracted from the effort to pass the amendment.

It will be interesting to see if Price continues to represent Jenkins in the high profile custody case while he is under indictment, or if anyone in the mainstream media will ever report all the facts about the Price situation.