On April 11, Governor Ralph Northam announced that he signed the Virginia Values Act (Senate Bill 868), making Virginia the first state in the South to pass extensive protections for the LGBTQ community.
The Bill, which is sponsored by Senator Adam Paul Ebbin, prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in housing, public and private employment, public spaces, and access to credit applications.
Ebbin was the first openly gay person elected to the state office in 2012. He first visited the General Assembly about 30 years ago to lobby for gay rights, and since then, much has changed.
The Senator recalled:
Very few lawmakers came out of their offices to meet with us, and I don’t think it made a difference, at least at that time. Now we have five members of the LGBTQ caucus, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
In addition to counting sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, the legislation also establishes a new framework for those who have been discriminated against to take action against the offending party legally. Race, veteran status, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, and other categories will also apply to such causes of action.
Alphonso David, of the Human Rights Campaign, said;
You’re not free if you’re discriminated against in housing and employment, and this legislation is going to change that so LGBTQ people can be free like everyone else.
The Act also allows the attorney general’s office to pursue civil action against people who “engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance” to the new law.
Ebbin expressed his gratitude:
I am grateful to Governor 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. Sadly, during times of crisis like these, discrimination rises, and its effects become more apparent.
The Senator explained that as jobs become scarce and housing unaffordable, it becomes more challenging to survive the pandemic depending on ‘who’ you are. Unfortunately, people who are discriminated against already, such as LGBTQs, blacks, Hispanics, and others, are more likely to lose their jobs first and will have a difficult time getting support. However, this law provides essential new protections that will help them through these rough times.
With hope, the Virginia Values Act inspires more southern states to protect LGBTQ and other vulnerable communities from being pushed out of society. Seeing as many people in the southern United States praise the ideals of liberty, it should not be the problem people make it out to be. Hats off to Virginia for its patriotic stance toward equality.
