WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued this statement following Virginia Senate passage of SB701, patroned by Sens. Don McEachin and Adam Ebbin. The Senate adopted SB701 today on a bipartisan 24-16 vote, and the measure now moves to the House of Delegates for consideration:

“In 2006, I was proud to be the first Virginia Governor to protect gay workers at state agencies from discrimination in hiring and promotions. I viewed it as a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining top talent across state government. Today, the principals of equal opportunity and fairness represent official policy for virtually every major employer in Virginia and across the country. I am very, very pleased today to see the Virginia Senate approve this commonsense protection for Virginia’s LGBT workers, making equal opportunity for state and local government employees a permanent part of the Code of Virginia so that it does not have to be renewed every four years through an executive order.”

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