Fairfax County, for the first time in nearly a decade, won’t push state lawmakers to write protections for gays into local anti-discrimination laws, supervisors resolved Monday.
Every year since 2001, Fairfax has sent its lobbyists to Richmond with the anti-discrimination legislation among their top priorities. And each time, the bills have died unceremoniously in committee.
The board is now narrowing its initiatives in Richmond to reflect the need to protect its already scant pot of money from the state for core services such as transportation and K-12 education, as well as a handful of other issues.
The county still will support the anti-discrimination legislation when lawmakers go back to work in January, which would prevent bias in housing, employment, credit and other areas based on sexual orientation. But the change will have to be championed by another local government.
“I think it’s time that some others step up to the plate and fight for this issue, and we can certainly support them,” said Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay.
Members of the 10-member board were quick to frame the decision as a prioritization of fiscal issues ahead of a bleak 2010 legislative session, and not a retreat from long-held stances on gay rights.
“We’re not retreating from our commitment to this,” said Chairwoman Sharon Bulova.
The move still rankled Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, who unsuccessfully sought to return the proposal to its earlier top billing.
“We don’t know when it’s going to change, but I don’t think our voices should change on it,” Hudgins said.
Her comments were echoed by Joe Szakos, executive director of the Virginia Organizing Project in Charlottesville, who told The Examiner “it doesn’t matter what else is going on, we shouldn’t be discriminating against anybody.”
Others took a more strategic stance. The board hurts its chances for success in Richmond by pushing bills that have no chance of becoming law, said Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey.
“I think that we lose focus when we start to load up the package with political statements,” Frey said.
The board approved the legislative package 8-2 vote, with Supervisors Pat Herrity and John Cook dissenting.
