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Dear Friend,
Last night Gov. Youngkin took action on a range of legislation including a bill that would affirm the right to marry in the Commonwealth. We are glad to see that he signed HB 174, a bipartisan bill that will update Virginia's laws to ensure that every couple – including same-sex couples and interracial couples – cannot be denied marriage licenses.
This change to the Code is a positive step forward, and shows how effectively LGBTQ+ couples, interracial couples, and our neighbors have been in sharing their stories and experiences relating to marriage in Virginia. Thank you to those who shared their story and took action this important bill. Over the past several days, Equality Virginia drove almost 800 emails to Gov. Youngkin urging him to sign HB 174. We know that our voices make a difference in our fight for full equality!
Looking forward, the 2025 session will kick-off our continued effort to remove the ban on same-sex marriage that still exists in the Virginia constitution. Virginia’s constitution still contains language that prohibits same-sex marriage, which is why legislative efforts to amend the constitution and remove that language are crucial. By amending the state constitution, a choice that would be in front of voters on the 2026 ballot, Virginia would align our laws with federal rulings and safeguard these rights against any future changes in federal policy.
The road to true marriage equality in Virginia is not a short one or a straightforward one, and it won't be an easy one. But i'm confident that our work this year is setting us up for future, collective success.
Although the governor's action on the right to marry is a step forward, we recognize that his administration has continually attacked the most marginalized in our community – transgender and nonbinary youth and their right to exist in safe, affirming learning environments. The 2023 Model Policies, pushed by the Youngkin administration and his Department of Education, have created hostile school environments for our youth. We know that anti-LGBTQ+ school policies increase risk of bullying and suicide, and put our youth at risk for harm and violence. We'll continue to hold his administration accountable and do everything in our power to push back on his model policies until they're rescinded.
In the coming days, we hope Governor Youngkin will show leadership by taking positive action on House Bill 224 and House bill 536, bipartisan bills that would require mental health awareness training for educators and strengthen anti-bullying school policy, respectively. As soon as those bills hit his desk, the governor will have 30 days to take action and we'll be the first to let you know how you can take action, too.
Now more than ever, our mission continues as we work to build a Virginia where ALL of us have the safety we need, and deserve, to thrive. I hope you'll take a moment to support our work to ensure our constitution recognizes every relationship, and to fight for LGBTQ+ youth in every corner of our commonwealth. Donate now and let's get this done, together.
With gratitude,
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