Gov. Bob McDonnell, former state attorney general, issued a statement today saying discrimination based on sexual orientation violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. constitution and directed all state agencies to "adopt a standard of conduct" consistent with that clause.

This contradicts a letter sent by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to the state's public colleges and universities last week that directed them to rescind such protections from their policies.

The letter, dated March 4, argues that colleges and universities have no authority to protect the rights of gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities without an act of the General Assembly.

The legislature "has on numerous occasions considered and rejected creating a protected class defined by 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity' or 'gender expression,' " stated the letter, circulated widely Friday.