SASD students take fight to the state

About 30 University of Richmond students from the Student Alliance for Sexual Diversity lobbied the General Assembly on Tuesday for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

In Virginia, people who identify themselves with the LGBT community are not currently protected from workplace discrimination, but a new bill may end that policy. If passed, Virginia's Workplace Non-discrimination Policy will include sexual orientation and gender identity.

"We're pressing a few issues that are just basic rights that we feel we should have received years ago," said Jamaica Akande, a member of the Student Alliance for Sexual Diversity.

The LGBT community is also not protected by Virginia's hate crime statute. Race, religion, disability and age are included, but not sexual orientation. But Akande said she thought making it a hate crime would set a precedent and change behavior in the community.

Akande said the majority of LGBT rights' lobbyists were adults, but this year she had hoped for a great deal of student support. This year, 11 Henrico County Public School students lobbied as well, she said.

"I've noticed in my time lobbying that it just resonates with the senators and delegates more," she said. "We could be in class, right? We could be doing anything, but we're down here fighting for rights and that shows a lot."

If the bills do move forward, the group may or may not lobby again, Akande said.

"It is very hard to get an appointment with delegates and senators on an everyday basis," she said. "We're just hoping to see some progress made."

Contact reporter Kate McDonnell at kate.mcdonnell@richmond.edu