The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand the county's nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation.
The change, proposed by Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles District), was approved Tuesday by a vote of 6 to 2, with one abstention by board chairman Scott York (I-at large). The policy applies to employment by the county and also includes rights for transgender employees.
Current rules protect employees from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age and disability.
Miller and gay rights advocates in Loudoun told the Washington Post the change was necessary because of Republican Gov.-elect Robert F. McDonnell's record on gay rights issues.
According to the Post:
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.
Miller didn't want to rely on McDonnell's words alone. "People need to know that if they can't get help at the highest level, they can get help from their local government," Miller told the Loudoun Times.
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Republican supervisors Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) and Lori Waters (R-Broad Run), who voted against the measure expressed concern over the policy and what it means, particularly the transgender part.
"This is freaky, this is bizarre and this is fruity," Delgaudio told the Times.
Added Waters: "Does that mean that men who are dressing as women will starting going into women's restrooms? It might. I don't know."
