Feb 01, 2008  |  By: CHRIS JOHNSON  | COMMENTS     

Despite one key setback, Virginia gay rights advocates celebrated a handful of legislative victories last month.

The state Senate on Jan. 23 approved a bill that would allow local governments to offer health insurance benefits to same-sex couples. It passed 23-17.

Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), would allow any locality that self-funds an employee health insurance program to extend that coverage to a person agreed upon by the locality and the policyholder.

The House version of the bill, House Bill 1415, now waits for approval in that chamber.

Last year, Whipple submitted an almost identical bill that was approved in the Senate but failed in the House.

Whipple did not return calls seeking comment.

A bill that would have barred anti-gay discrimination in state government employment was killed in committee.

Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) sponsored the bill, H.B. 1493, which was defeated Jan. 28 in a Courts of Justice subcommittee. The bill would have prohibited discrimination for a number of categories including sexual orientation, race, religion, gender and veteran status.

The bill was defeated by a 6-3 vote that was largely along party lines with Republicans voting against the bill and Democrats voting for it. However, Del. Joe Johnson (D-Abingdon) also voted against the bill.

Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in state employment. Former Gov. Mark Warner (D) also issued such an executive order in his final year as governor.

Ebbin said the bill was necessary in case future governors decide that an executive order prohibiting discrimination was no longer needed.

Virginia Family Foundation opponents of the bill said the legislation would require potential state employees “to check a box” to state their sexual orientation, Ebbin said.

Ebbin said he would introduce the bill again.

The legislature engaged in activity on these bills as members of Equality Virginia, a bipartisan gay activist group, went to Richmond Jan. 24 to advocate gay-related legislation on the organization’s annual lobby day.

Other gay-related bills met with approval. The Senate Education and Health Committee on Jan. 24 unanimously approved a bill that would give Virginia residents in same-sex relationships more authority in making decisions for their partners in case of medical emergencies.

The legislation, S.B. 290, sponsored by Sen. George Barker (D-Fairfax) would set up a registry for living wills and advanced medical directives. The documents would express an individual’s wishes in advance regarding medical treatment in case the individual was incapacitated. Those in same-sex relationships could designate their partner as the person who would make medical decisions on their behalf.

Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria) is supporting a similar bill in the House.

Both the Virginia House and Senate approved a joint resolution, sponsored by Del. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) and numbered H.J. 144, commemorating the Richmond Gay Community Foundation. The organization donates funds to nonprofits working with gays and educates the community about gay issues, according to an online Virginia charity profile.

The resolution was agreed to by the House Jan. 11 and approved by the Senate Jan. 17 by voice votes.

About 150 gay rights supporters traveled to Richmond for Equality Virginia’s lobby day, where participants met with lawmakers to express their concerns and make cases for gay-related legislation.

Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia, said lobby day was a “fantastic day” for her organization and that participants met with “very close to all of their legislators or their offices.”

Participants met with the senator and delegate from their districts and then formed regional teams to meet with legislators from their region of Virginia.

Tom Osborne, treasurer of the Virginia Partisans, a gay Democratic club, said he encountered no opposition in his meetings with Democrats.

It wasn’t a matter of going there to persuade them to change their minds,” he said. “It was going down there to show our support, to thank them for their support, to offer any help if needed.”

Rebecca Maestri, secretary and membership director of the Virginia Log Cabin Republicans, said she tried to meet with freshman Republicans she hoped would be willing to listen to gay concerns.

“Some members of the caucus … have a more socially moderate leaning — there are others who in all probability will never be able to reach out,” she said.

Kaine and about 40 members of the legislature came for the reception that followed lobby day.

Osborne said Kaine’s appearance at the reception was the “greatest moment of success” for the day.