Hi George!

I'm writing because I've had one of your mailings sitting in my inbox for about a week now, debating whether or not to respond to one of the stories. But, I figure since I haven't erased it up until now, that might be an indicator that I feel the need to comment. The story was about Governor Warner's Executive Order 1.

Although I wasn't surprised that the term "sexual orientation" was excluded from the list of those who are not to be discriminated against, I was saddened. I did vote for Mr. Warner for several reasons, one of them being the hope that he might be a bit more inclusive about issues like sexual orientation. And he may be in the future, we'll just have to wait and see. But for right now, it seems that he did leave out a pretty good-sized community which did support him.

Since I received your email alerting me to this issue, I have had several reactions. The first, coming from my cynical side, said: "Of course he wouldn't include that community! He's a politician and they will always attempt to please the majority (or at least the squeakiest, wealthiest wheel)." Then my sarcastic side chimed in: "Well, I guess sexual orientation doesn't specifically mean homosexual. Apparently you can be discriminated against in a State job if you are a heterosexual, homosexual or any other sexual in between!" But then the human side took over and weighed all these feelings and reactions. I decided that I'm upset because, by not including a certain minority group in his "Equal Opportunity" Executive Order, Governor Warner has given the silent okay to discriminate. And I think discrimination, in any form and against any group, is wrong.

I know this decision will not affect the life that I am creating for myself. I know that no one can determine how I live my life except for me. I am very lucky to be surrounded by a group of people, family, friends, coworkers, who look at me as a whole person and don't just focus on one aspect of who I am. I feel extremely blessed that I have met and fallen in love with a wonderful woman whom I get to spend the rest of my life with. And I know that discrimination will exist, no matter which minority groups are mentioned in an executive order.

There will always be people who will hate and act on that hate. Those are the people that I worry about. It would just be nice to know, that, if I am discriminated against or harmed for any reason, I would be able to turn to my government officials to right that wrong.

Have a great day!

Gretchen Mages (electronic mail, January 23, 2002).