Virginia's new governor on Wednesday named a new diversity officer and added a unique responsibility to her job description: an advocate for the unborn.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, named Angela Sailor as Virginia's second Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a position that was created in 2019 by former Gov. Ralph Northam.
Youngkin also elevated the role to a cabinet-level position, labeling it the Chief Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion Officer. His office said Sailor would have a "more focused role on promoting ideas, policies, and economic opportunities for disadvantaged Virginians, including Virginians living with disabilities and bringing Virginians of different faiths together."
In an executive order, Youngkin said Sailor would champion several issues at the heart of social conservatism.
Youngkin said Sailor would:
"work to promote ideas, policies, and practices to eliminate disparities in prenatal care, and be an ambassador for unborn children."
"facilitate bringing Virginians of different faiths together in service to their communities and the Commonwealth."
"promote free speech and civil discourse in civic life, including viewpoint diversity in higher education in coordination with the Secretary of Education."
"be responsive to the rights of parents in educational and curricular decision making and ensure … that the teaching of Virginia's and the United States' history is honest, objective, and complete."
"promote ideas, policies, and practices … to expand entrepreneurship and economic opportunities for disadvantaged Virginians, including Virginians living with disabilities."
Sailor formerly worked at The Heritage Foundation and as the public member of the Senior Foreign Service Selection Board for the U.S. State Department.
"The people of Virginia elected the most diverse leadership in the Commonwealth's history. Virginia is big enough for the hopes and dreams of a diverse people," Youngkin said. "Angela Sailor's experience in government, nonprofits and the private sector will guide us as we ensure that the government is working for all Virginians across our diverse Commonwealth, especially when it comes to economic opportunity for all Virginians."
Photo courtesy: Suhyeon Choi/Unsplash
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
