Dear John,

As we continue to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 and respond to the nationwide call for racial justice, it can be tough to also keep track of the law and policy changes that are impacting LGBTQ people at the federal level and here at home.

Just last month, we celebrated the major Supreme Court decision that expanded employment protections to LGBTQ Americans. We also suffered disappointment as the Trump administration rolled back crucial protections for transgender and non-binary people in housing, education, and healthcare.

You can count on us to continue to track changes at the federal level and fight to make sure that, at the state level, we are protected as much as possible from these rollbacks. Luckily, thanks to the new laws that went into effect on July 1st, LGBTQ Virginians are largely protected from discrimination in housing, education, healthcare settings, and state-regulated health insurance plans.

During this turbulent time, we want you to know that we're here for you. It’s more important than ever for you feel up-to-speed when it comes to understanding the new LGBTQ legal protections that are now in effect. To help you stay informed, we have published information about these new laws in one place. Click here to view the web page.

Check out Virginia's new LGBTQ protections

Read below for an overview of how LGBTQ Virginians are now protected.

Virginia Values Act - LGBTQ Protections in Daily Life: The Virginia Values Act, patroned by Senator Adam Ebbin and Delegate Mark Sickles, protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment, housing, public spaces, and credit. Click here to download our Frequently Asked Questions info sheet.
Non-Discrimination Protections in Virginia's Code: Delegate Mark Levine’s House Bill (HB) 1049 adds non-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity into 70 different places in Virginia’s code, covering many areas of law such as public contracts, auto insurance, apprenticeship programs, and so much more.
Local Non-Discrimination Laws Allowed: Delegate Danica Roem’s HB 696 provides cities and counties the power to pass their own non-discrimination ordinances.
Transgender Student Protections: Senator Jennifer Boysko’s Senate Bill (SB) 161 and Delegate Marcus Simon’s HB 145 require public schools to provide an equal learning environment to transgender and non-binary students.
Conversion Therapy Ban for Minors: Senator Scott Surovell’s SB 245 and Delegate Patrick Hope’s HB 386 ban the practice of conversion therapy on minors by licensed professionals. The law also bans the use of state funds for conducting conversion therapy.
Non-Binary Gender Marker for State IDs and Licenses: Senator Scott Surovell’s SB 246 allows Virginians to select a non-binary gender marker option on DMV licenses and IDs.
Modernized Birth Certificate Update Process: Senator Jennifer Boysko’s SB 657 and Delegate Marcus Simon’s HB 1041 eliminate the requirement for a court order or proof of medical procedure in order to update one’s gender marker on a Virginia birth certificate.
Health Insurance Protections for Trans Virginians: Delegate Danica Roem’s HB 1429 protects transgender and non-binary Virginians from discrimination in state-regulated health insurance plans.
Voting Without a Photo ID: Delegate Joseph Lindsey’s HB 19 will allow voters to cast a ballot without showing an ID containing a photo. Trans and non-binary people have experienced difficulty voting when the photo on their ID no longer matches their gender expression.
Hate Crimes Protections: Delegate Richard Sullivan’s HB 276 and Delegate Kenneth Plum’s HB 618 update Virginia’s hate crimes law to protect LGBTQ people and track data on hate crimes.
Virginia Law Updated to Reflect Marriage Equality: Senator Adam Ebbin’s SB 17 and Delegate Nancy Guy’s HB 1490 repealed the ban on same-sex marriages and unions in Virginia’s legal code.

As we reflect on the impact these laws will have for generations to come, we remember that none of this would have been possible without you and the years of advocacy from LGBTQ Virginians and allies. Because you gave your time, shared your resources, and told your stories - LGBTQ people and their families can feel a little safer here at home, despite the rollbacks happening federally.

We are proud of you and all that you've done to help create true, historic change here in Virginia. We can't wait to roll up our sleeves with you and see what else we're able to accomplish together at the 2021 General Assembly.

Onward together,
All of us at Equality Virginia

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