| | Dear John, It's only the first full week of the 2020 General Assembly session, but we're already off to an exciting and promising start. Keep reading to learn more about our recent successes and what you can do to make sure we win big this year! | |  | General Assembly Update Already, three bills important to the LGBTQ community passed out of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and they will now move forward for a vote on the floor of the Senate as early as next week. SB 245 would ban conversion therapy on minors, SB 161 would protect transgender students in public schools, and SB 657 would modernize the process for transgender people updating their gender marker on VA birth certificates. We're also closely watching HB 1051, which would prevent child-placing agencies from receiving state funds if they discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The current conscience clause provision not only allows tax-payer dollars to be used for discrimination, but it also severely limits the number of loving families available to children and youth who need a home. Next week, more bills important to the LGBTQ community will be heard - this is only the beginning! To stay up to date, please follow EV's Facebook page and check out our 2020 General Assembly web page. | | | | | | Crowd the Capitol Earlier this week, our Crowd the Capitol series kicked off with members of the trans community. Raising awareness of the Virginia Values Act, participants lobbied over thirty-five Virginia Senators and Delegates from all corners of the Commonwealth! By connecting personal stories to legislation details, participants were able to engage and inform lawmakers on the importance of nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community. Join us on Tuesday, January 21 at 8:30am for our next Crowd the Capitol event highlighting people of faith! Your voice is crucial to letting the General Assembly know that equal rights are faith values - LGBTQ equality and religious liberty go hand-in-hand. | | | | | | | |
Looking Ahead! Day of Action Our Day of Action is just weeks away! We hope that you will join us in Richmond on Tuesday, February 4th to make your voice heard. This exciting day starts with you networking with other attendees over a light breakfast and coffee. Then, head over to the General Assembly Building to speak with your legislators and personally tell them why you expect this to be the year that Virginia protects the LGBTQ community from discrimination. After lunch, attend a variety of workshops on topics ranging from housing instability to religious liberty. Then, we wrap up the day with a festive Legislative Reception! | | | |  | Field Team: Richmond & Beyond Thank you so much to the dedicated volunteers who came out this week to support our phone bank and volunteer night. Together, we made almost 220 phone calls to supporters of LGBTQ equality, and had some great conversations. Join our Richmond phone bank here! If you've never phone banked before, we hope you'll give it a try. The only requirements are a computer with an internet connection, a phone, and a can-do attitude. Can't make it in person? Sign up here to be part of our remote phone bank team! | | | | |  |
Field Team: Hampton Roads In Chesapeake, our data team spent this past weekend doing important work behind-the-scenes to keep our nondiscrimination campaign running smoothly. We are so grateful to everyone who came out! And, in Newport News and Norfolk, volunteers came together at our advocacy phone banks to call over 700 supporters of LGBTQ equality, mobilizing many of them to take action in support of the Virginia Values Act at this critical time. We're building amazing momentum and we hope that you'll join us -- volunteer with the Hampton Roads team! | | | | | |  | Ask a Trans Person Invite a friend, family member, or coworker to learn more about the trans community! We are hosting our final “Ask a Trans Person” panel discussion of the season in Norfolk at the New Life Metropolitan Community Church on Tuesday, January 28 from 6:30-8:00pm. Join us for a night of fun and community as you deepen your understanding of transgender Virginians’ experiences and learn why trans-inclusive nondiscrimination protections are vital. The event is free but registration is required: https://bit.ly/TransPanelNorfolk | | | | |  | Take Action Now! The Virginia Values Act is a landmark piece of legislation. House Bill 1663, and its companion bill, SB 868, will prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in housing, employment, and public spaces. Virginians value fairness and respect, and recent Mason-Dixon polling shows that a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents support these protections. Ask your legislators to support HB 1663 and SB 868, among the many other bills that we're following, to ensure all Virginians can live, learn, and work without fear of discrimination. NOW is the time for action - let's make 2020 our year. | | | | | | | | | | Welcoming Our New Executive Director The EV Board and staff are delighted to welcome Vee Lamneck as the new Executive Director of Equality Virginia starting this month. EV’s Board Chair, Carl Johansen shared, “I could not be more excited to welcome Vee to the role of Executive Director. They have proven their worth and competence time and again as a dedicated and hardworking employee for over six years. Under their direction, the organization’s programs have flourished and taken on new life. I’m glad to know that Equality Virginia is in good hands during this critical time of transition for the organization and for Virginia. I look forward to seeing their excellent leadership guide the necessary work Equality Virginia does within the state’s LGBTQ community.” | | | | | | | | Equality Virginia
530 E Main St Ste 600 | Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 643-4816 | [email protected] | | | | | | | | | | | |
