VA: Editorial--Inching toward equality

Link: Roanoke.com

Excerpt:

Virginia dealt a tremendous setback to its gay and lesbian citizens a couple of years ago when voters amended the constitution to forbid same-sex marriage. There is a long road to equality now, and lawmakers seem willing to take it only one baby step at a time.

That is better than nothing, but in the meantime, people suffer because a self-appointed moral majority rejects the diversity of human sexuality.

The General Assembly saw a number of bills this session that would have brought gay Virginians closer to equity with their heterosexual neighbors. Under the leadership of Salem's Morgan Griffith, the Republican-controlled House of Delegates killed most of them.

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Only two bills remain in play. SB 51 would allow local governments to extend health insurance to same-sex partners of employees. It would have no effect on private business and would be strictly optional. It passed the Senate and awaits House action.

The other one actually made it out of the House. HB 805 would create a medical registry for living wills and advanced medical directives. Anyone could designate a partner as the person to make medical decisions on her behalf. Married couples get that by default, but it will take legislative action to empower gay couples to look out for each other in emergencies.

Both bills deserve passage. Neither is a major change, but each is an incremental improvement.

Last year, the assembly allowed same-sex partners to set up hospital visitation rights. This year those couples might gain a couple of more rights. At this rate, the commonwealth could offer true equality in another 100 years.

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