VA Gov. Affirms Commitment to Non-Discrimination

Apparently Virginia governor Bob McDonnell blinked—somewhat. After several days of outrage over state attorney general Ken Cuccinelli's letter stipulating that public colleges and universities couldn't include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policies, here comes the following executive directive—McDonnell's first. In it, he affirms his and the state's commitment to employment nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by citing both the Virginia Human Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. While the governor doesn't invoke gender identity or expression—nor discrimination pertaining to students—Equality Virginia is hailing the directive as a "major positive step forward." I have to agree.