Loudoun County’s nondiscrimination policy expanded to protect gays

By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to expand the county’s nondiscrimination policy to prohibit bias on the basis of sexual orientation.

The policy change, proposed by Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles District), passed the board 6 to 2, with one abstention. The change applies only to public employment by the county.

Current rules protect employees from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age and disability. Miller and gay rights advocates in Loudoun said the change was necessary because of Republican Gov.-elect Robert F. McDonnell’s record on gay rights issues.

McDonnell clashed with outgoing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) on gay rights in 2006 when McDonnell, then the state attorney general, advised Kaine that he had overstepped his constitutional authority when he outlawed bias against gays in state hiring.

McDonnell said during his gubernatorial campaign that he would not issue a similar executive order if he were elected but that he would not discriminate against any employees.

Supervisor Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) argued against the policy change, specifically because of language in the measure that sought to expand protection for transgender and transsexual people. Delgaudio said the language made the county employment code into the “cross-dressing, transgendered employment act.”

He said: “This is freaky. This is bizarre.”

Scott K. York, chairman of the supervisors board, said discrimination wasn’t a problem in county employment. He abstained from the vote.

“It was not needed and a waste of 20 minutes,” he said.

Lori Waters (R-Broad Run), who also voted against the new policy, questioned whether the board had the legal authority to make the change without approval from the Virginia attorney general.

“I will not vote to spend Loudoun County dollars to defend a lawsuit,” she said.