VA Gov. Bob McDonnell: We Don't Need LGBT Rights Because There Is No Discrimination Against Gays

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell says he sees no need to re-implement his predecessor's ban on discrimination against LGBT state employees. Because there's no evidence that it happens.

Gov. Bob McDonnell said today that Virginia does not need to write protections for gays and lesbians into state statute because he has not seen evidence of discrimination in the state workforce. Breaking with the practice of his Democratic predecessors, McDonnell did not include sexual orientation in an executive order he issued barring discrimination in the state workforce shortly after taking office. He argued that he could not include protections for gays without authority from the General Assembly, which has repeatedly declined to adopt a law on the issue. But in past interviews, McDonnell has never been clear about whether he supported the General Assembly taking action. He told Post columnist Bob McCartney that he might, in fact, sign such a law if passed. But asked today on the "Ask the Governor" program at Richmond's WRVA radio whether he would sign such legislation, he said, "I don't know that we need it based on the numbers that I've seen." He added: "There really isn't any rampant discrimination on any basis in Virginia. If you're going to have a law, it needs to actually address a real problem."

Stand by for the governor's office to be inundated with examples of LGBT state employees who have been discriminated against.

UPDATE: Here's McDonnell discussing his remarks on wingnut radio.

(Tipped by JMG reader Alan)