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Harris Butler was recently quoted in The Roanoke Times concerning Virginia Governor McDonnell's recent "Executive Directive" which stated that state employees should not be discriminated against for any reason, including sexual orientation or parental status, and directing Virginia executive branch employees to base job decisions on qualification, merit and performance and to not discriminate in hiring, promotion, compensation, treatment, discipline, and termination of state employees. The Executive Directive follows the revocation of the Executive Order under the Kaine administration which forbid such discrimination but also provided legal protections that Gov. McDonnell's "Directive" omits.

Mr. Butler additionally states, "While this 'directive' establishes policy, it does not carry the force of law or protections that the Warner/Kaine Executive Orders carried. Gov. McDonnell eliminated the state employee grievance right when he rescinded Gov. Kaine's Executive Order. It is replaced with, as I read it, only and 'opportunity to advise' the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) for their follow-up and action, if any. Critically, it does not reinstate the grievance right which would allow presentation of evidence, neutral decision maker, etc as would be anticipated with a grievance. It looks nice but has no teeth."

See Mr. Butler's quote to the Roanoke Times here.