VA Dems Condemn Cuccinelli for Letter on Discrimination, Call on McDonnell to Reign in his AG
- Cranwell: 'This is Big Government at its Worst'

From the Office of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus

March 5, 2010

CONTACT: Leigh Anne Collier, 804-644-1966 x225 RICHMOND -- Virginia Democrats condemned Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli Friday for using the taxpayer-funded Attorney General's office to actively promote discriminatory policies, and called on Governor Bob McDonnell to encourage his Attorney General to focus on doing the people's business.

Cuccinelli sent a letter to state colleges and universities, calling on them to rescind policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, according to a letter obtained Friday by the Washington Post.

"This is big government at its worst from a candidate who ran on small government," said C. Richard Cranwell, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. "Our colleges and universities are more than capable of setting policies that work for them without meddling from Ken Cuccinelli. I think Governor McDonnell would be wise to reign in his Attorney General and get him back to doing the work of the people."

Cuccinelli's letter comes on Governor Bob McDonnell's decision last month to strip protections for sexual orientation of state workers from his nondiscrimination policy. Earlier this week the Governor sat by as the House of Delegates killed legislation to protect state workers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

"Our Attorney General is telling countless numbers of Virginia's students, professors and their families that it is acceptable for them to be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation," said State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. "Our colleges and universities should be a welcoming place to all students who want a world class education and all faculty who can deliver it."

In February, the Virginia Senate, led by 22 Democratic Senators, approved legislation that would have put protection for GLBT state workers into law. The bill was killed by five Republican members of a House of Delegates subcommittee. The Governor's Office testified that they had "no opinion" on the bill.

"There are plenty of challenges facing the Commonwealth, and I don't think our elected leaders should be spending their time looking for ways to allow discrimination," said State Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) who sponsored SB66 to protect state workers from discrimination. "First the Governor refused to protect gay state workers, then he sat silent while the House of Delegates killed legislation that would have protected his state work force, and now his Attorney General tells schools they can't protect their gay students and employees."

"It is unfortunate that when Virginia is attempting to attract new jobs and top flight employers like Northrop Grumman that one of our statewide elected officials would present the Commonwealth as being intolerant," said Delegate Ken Plum (D-Reston), chair of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus.

###