Virginia Governor Fails To Grant Protections To GL Staff
by Paul Johnson
365Gay.com International News Editor in Washington

(January 17, Washington)  Virginia Governor Mark Warner has failed to keep a campaign pledge to include gay and lesbian government workers in the state's non-discrimination policy.

Warner, in an Executive Order, the first of his term as Governor, did not include sexual orientation in the list of protected groups.

A Democrat, Warner courted gay and lesbian voters in last fall's election.

His actions have now turned the nation's largest GLBT Democratic organization against him.

“Assuming that there was not a clerical oversight in drafting it, NSD considers Executive Order 1 to be simply unacceptable and contrary to the Governor’s campaign promises,” said Chad Johnson, National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director.

  “While gay and lesbian Virginians were right to work with Warner to defeat a ferociously anti-gay Republican, we will be disappointed if this action indicates the direction of this administration.”

The omission did not go unnoticed by gay Republicans.

In a statement, Log Cabin Republicans said the Democratic party is no longer the party that acts for minorities.

The Republican gay group said that Warner's lack of action comes "on the heels of a December speech by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) in Nevada where he said that the 'best way' for gay people to advance what he called 'the gay agenda' is 'to be an active Democrat' and support Democratic candidates.