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RICHMOND, VA -
UPDATE: 10:20 p.m.
After Governor McDonnell issued his directive, Attorney General Cuccinelli said in a brief written statement that he applauds McDonnell "for the tone he is setting" and that he expects state employees "to follow all state and federal anti-discrimination laws." Cuccinelli was not available for further comment, a spokesman said.
UPDATE: March 10, 2010 4:45 p.m.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is telling all state agencies discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated, and that includes discrimination against gays. It's a move that overrides advice issued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli last week.
McDonnell issued the directive on the same day students rallied at VCU in protest of the letter sent to state colleges and universities by the attorney general.
In the letter, Cuccinelli said that sexual minorities were not protected by state discrimination policies and the General Assembly would have to get involved to change those protections.
Cuccinelli's letter was denounced by gay rights groups and Democrats.
UPDATE: March 10, 2010 1:55 p.m.
Hundreds of VCU students protested the Cuccinelli opinion this afternoon on-campus.
VCU students who identified themselves as homosexual told CBS 6 crews today that they do feel threatened on campus, and that discrimination has no place in Virginia's colleges.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Cuccinelli told CBS 6 that this issue is simply about Virginia law, not politics.
CBS 6's Catie Beck was at the rally, and will have a full report on CBS 6 News @ 5.
This is an update on the following story:
VCU senior Sarah Prescott says she fears what will happen if her school is forced to rescind its policy that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. "Hostility in the classroom is a very big deal...I'm very happy here but I don't want to see that kind of thing at VCU as fallout," says Prescott.
Several students and faculty on college campuses across Virginia are angry over a recent letter from the Virginia Attorney General arguing state colleges and universities have no legal authority to adopt policies that protect students based on sexual orientation. Several Virginia colleges already have such policies in place.
Ken Cuccinelli argues he's not creating the law, but simply upholding it. Cuccinelli says he's the sixth Attorney General of Virginia to send a letter upholding this law. He says three of those Attorney Generals were democrats. "If folks want sexual orientation treated the same way as race as a protected class, the way for that to happen is the law has to be changed, and as the Attorney General I do not have the power or authority to change the law of Virginia."
Last week, the House General Rules Committee struck down a bill passed by Senate lawmakers that would have created a state code banning such discrimination. Senator Frederick Quayle of Chesapeake was the lone republican to vote for the bill. Quayle says, "I just felt it was the right thing to do. We do not discriminate based on sexual orientation, so why not put it in the code of Virginia."
Some lawmakers argue the code is simply not necessary this day in age. Organizations like Equality Virginia fear Cuccinelli's letter could result in radical actions that puts Virginia at risk of losing both top students and faculty.
Around 1,000 VCU students plan to rally on the campus at noon on Wednesday. Several forums are also planned on the campuses of VCU and Mary Washington University.
After Governor McDonnell issued his directive, Attorney General Cuccinelli said in a brief written statement that he applauds McDonnell "for the tone he is setting" and that he expects state employees "to follow all state and federal anti-discrimination laws." Cuccinelli was not available for further comment, a spokesman said.
UPDATE: March 10, 2010 4:45 p.m.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is telling all state agencies discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated, and that includes discrimination against gays. It's a move that overrides advice issued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli last week.
McDonnell issued the directive on the same day students rallied at VCU in protest of the letter sent to state colleges and universities by the attorney general.
In the letter, Cuccinelli said that sexual minorities were not protected by state discrimination policies and the General Assembly would have to get involved to change those protections.
Cuccinelli's letter was denounced by gay rights groups and Democrats.
UPDATE: March 10, 2010 1:55 p.m.
Hundreds of VCU students protested the Cuccinelli opinion this afternoon on-campus.
VCU students who identified themselves as homosexual told CBS 6 crews today that they do feel threatened on campus, and that discrimination has no place in Virginia's colleges.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Cuccinelli told CBS 6 that this issue is simply about Virginia law, not politics.
CBS 6's Catie Beck was at the rally, and will have a full report on CBS 6 News @ 5.
This is an update on the following story:
VCU senior Sarah Prescott says she fears what will happen if her school is forced to rescind its policy that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. "Hostility in the classroom is a very big deal...I'm very happy here but I don't want to see that kind of thing at VCU as fallout," says Prescott.
Several students and faculty on college campuses across Virginia are angry over a recent letter from the Virginia Attorney General arguing state colleges and universities have no legal authority to adopt policies that protect students based on sexual orientation. Several Virginia colleges already have such policies in place.
Ken Cuccinelli argues he's not creating the law, but simply upholding it. Cuccinelli says he's the sixth Attorney General of Virginia to send a letter upholding this law. He says three of those Attorney Generals were democrats. "If folks want sexual orientation treated the same way as race as a protected class, the way for that to happen is the law has to be changed, and as the Attorney General I do not have the power or authority to change the law of Virginia."
Last week, the House General Rules Committee struck down a bill passed by Senate lawmakers that would have created a state code banning such discrimination. Senator Frederick Quayle of Chesapeake was the lone republican to vote for the bill. Quayle says, "I just felt it was the right thing to do. We do not discriminate based on sexual orientation, so why not put it in the code of Virginia."
Some lawmakers argue the code is simply not necessary this day in age. Organizations like Equality Virginia fear Cuccinelli's letter could result in radical actions that puts Virginia at risk of losing both top students and faculty.
Around 1,000 VCU students plan to rally on the campus at noon on Wednesday. Several forums are also planned on the campuses of VCU and Mary Washington University.
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