Take Action: Apply for the LGBTQ Advisory Board

The Governor’s office is seeking Virginians to join the newly established LGBTQ+ Advisory Board! If you would like the opportunity to be help guide our state’s policy priorities and outreach efforts to LGBTQ Virginians, particularly in rural and underserved communities, we invite you to submit an application under "Commonwealth." The citizen-led board will advise the Governor’s office on economic, professional, cultural, educational, and governmental issues as it relates to the LGBTQ community. 

Members will be appointed by the Governor's office after July 1, 2021.

Give OUT Day 2021 

Pride Month is just around the corner and Equality Virginia is getting geared up for Give OUT Day 2021! This month-long fundraising campaign culminates on June 30th, the only national day of giving for the LGBTQ community.

Last year, your generosity earned EV a spot on the top 3 Large Southern Organizations leader board, and qualified us for an additional $3,000 grant to support our programming, advocacy, and outreach work. With your help, we know that we can do it again! Help EV secure a top 3 spot on the leader board for the second year in a row by signing up to create a fundraising campaign page! We will provide all of the tools you need to successfully raise $10 donations from your friends and family throughout the month of June. 

TASB Interest Form 

You can transform the world with your story! EV is looking for storytellers, advocates, and yarn-spinners to join our Transgender Advocacy Speakers Bureau. If you're interested in being the change you want to see in the world, express your interest and submit an application by Sunday, June 6! 

We especially encourage non-binary folks, intersex individuals, bilingual speakers, and Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern and North African people to apply. This is a unique opportunity to share personal stories as a trans or non-binary person with faith communities, nonprofits, businesses, and classrooms in order to build support and understanding for the trans and non-binary community in Virginia. 

Legislative Lunch and Learn

It's been an exciting start to our Legislative Lunch and Learn series this month! Every week, we have been joined by a passionate group of advocates ready to celebrate and learn more about Virginia’s gains for LGBTQ equality. 

Over the last several weeks, we tackled the ban on the LGBTQ "panic defense" and confirmatory or second-parent adoption, and we're eager to highlight the remaining 2021 key issue bills that have been signed into law! Make sure you register and join us for the rest of the series on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00pm, until June 16th. Together, we will discuss how these pro-equality bills came about, what they do, and what comes next, plus there will be plenty of time for Q&A.

Recap: Trans Student Policies Panel 

Dozens of trans-affirming advocates from across the Commonwealth joined us on May 12th, for a Virtual Panel on Transgender Student Policies in Virginia. 

During this important conversation, our panelists took a deep dive into the implementation process of Virginia Department of Education's guidance to create equal learning environments for transgender and non-binary students. This panel discussion helped us explore ways to better support trans and non-binary students, as school boards begin to adopt these policies in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year. If you missed the panel, you can always click here to learn more about advocating for safer schools!