A policy banning discrimination based on sexual orientation remains in effect for now at Virginia Tech, despite a directive from the state attorney general that public colleges and universities rescind such protections.
Tech officials received a letter Thursday evening or Friday morning from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli by e-mail, university spokesman Mark Owczarski said.
The letter, dated March 4, argues that colleges and universities have no authority to protect the rights of gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities without an act of the General Assembly.
But the letter caused a cascade of criticism from state Democrats. In a hastily organized conference call, party leaders criticized Cuccinelli and Gov. Bob McDonnell for stripping away explicit protections for gay and lesbian state workers and warned that such actions might hinder economic development in the commonwealth.
"This is the ultimate act of big government," Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Dick Cranwell said. "I'm always amazed at these apostles of less government. As soon as they get elected, they want to micromanage the state government."
Cranwell questioned why Republicans are focusing on a wedge issue, rather than the rising cost of tuition and other barriers Virginia families face in sending their children to college.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/238943Where does it say that universities are banned from protecting GLBT people, huh?
The Republican Party and the tea parties should just rename themselves the Totalitarian Party..