Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Northam signs LGBTQ protections into law

Northam signs LGBTQ protections into law

Virginia Values Act protects against discrimination in housing, employment, public spaces and credit applications.

Published April 11, 2020 by Richard Foster

Virginia Values Act supporters
James Parrish, director of Virginia Values Coalition, speaks at a press conference ahead of the Virginia Values Act passage. (Capital News Service)

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Saturday that he has signed the Virginia Values Act into law, making Virginia the first Southern state to pass sweeping anti-discrimination laws protecting the LGBTQ community.

The act, which passed the Democratic-majority General Assembly in February and goes into effect July 1,  prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, public spaces and credit applications. The legislation also extends protections to Virginians on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability and status as a veteran.

“This legislation sends a strong, clear message — Virginia is a place where all people are welcome to live, work, visit and raise a family,” Northam said in a statement. “We are building an inclusive commonwealth where there is opportunity for everyone and everyone is treated fairly. No longer will LGBTQ Virginians have to fear being fired, evicted, or denied service in public places because of who they are.”
“I am grateful to Gov. Northam for signing the Virginia Values Act, which represents years of dedicated work by activists, legislators and progressive members of our business community to ensure full protection for every Virginian under the law,” said one of the act’s patrons, Sen. Adam Ebbin. “Sadly, during times of crisis like these, discrimination rises and its effects become more apparent. When jobs are scarce and housing unaffordable, the reality of who you are must be an additional hurdle to putting food on the table or providing shelter for your family. This law provides important new protections.”
Other legislation signed into law by Northam on Saturday included legislation granting localities the power to remove, relocate or contextualize Confederate monuments within their communities, as well as legislation that begins the process needed to replace Virginia’s statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection. Each state contributes two statues to the collection and Virginia is represented by statues of Lee and George Washington.
“These monuments tell a particular version of history that doesn’t include everyone,” Northam said. “In Virginia, that version of history has been given prominence and authority for far too long.”

Subscribe to Virginia Business.

Get our daily e-newsletter.

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

State Democrats unveil 2020 legislative agenda

Slate includes Equal Rights Amendment, raising minimum wage, expanding affordable housing

Virginia Business logo

Subcommittee advances bill prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination

Bill would prevent discrimination in housing, lodging, employment and credit applications

Virginia State Capitol. Courtesy Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Could Democratic General Assembly repeal Va.’s right-to-work laws?

Right-to-work backers say repeal would harm Virginia's economic development efforts

Trending

Dollar Tree CEO resigning; former Dollar General CEO to replace him

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Framatome CEO retiring; CFO to be promoted

Manassas company to develop short takeoff, landing aircraft for Air Force

Rocket Lab launches first mission from U.S. soil

Sponsored Stories

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Dollar Tree CEO resigning; former Dollar General CEO to replace him

Norfolk’s MacArthur Center mall listed for sale

Framatome CEO retiring; CFO to be promoted

Manassas company to develop short takeoff, landing aircraft for Air Force

Rocket Lab launches first mission from U.S. soil

Sponsored Stories

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk