A rally of gay-rights activists held today at the state Capitol, as the legislature returned for its reconvened session, included a man who identifies as transgender and is a former brother-in-law of Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Robyn E. Deane, 55, of Chesterfield County, was once married to one of first lady Maureen McDonnell's sisters. The couple divorced in 1999. Today was apparently the first time Deane publicly mentioned her tie to the state's first family in a political forum.
Gay-rights advocates are pushing for a specific protection against discrimination in the state workforce based on sexual orientation. The governor did not include that provision in the February executive order he issued upon taking office, because as attorney general he had issued an opinion that adding that protection was up to the legislature.
The governor in March did issue an executive directive saying that workplace discrimination, including bias against gays, is prohibited in Virginia.
That pronouncement doesn't make the anti-bias statement law, but it was intended to send a message that as head of the government workforce, he will not tolerate bias on the basis of sexual orientation, and he threatened to fire offenders.
"What do I make of what he is doing?" Deane said today, "I think he's caught in the politics."
But Deane said she believes that the governor can come around on gay-rights issues.
"I believe there's hope there. He's not a stupid man," she said.
J. Tucker Martin, a spokesman for McDonnell, said: "The governor wishes Robyn the very best. This is a personal matter."
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