Commonwealth Dinner

Join us in April for our 2021 Commonwealth Dinner

Get Tickets & Learn More

LGBTQ Legal Protections in 2020

Learn more about the historic and life-changing laws in place for LGBTQ Virginians

Learn More

Join Equality Virginia at our upcoming events

Stay on top of all of the latest news about Equality in the Commonwealth

Sign Up For Our Mailing List

Latest News

External News

Biden Repeals Trump-era ban on Transgender Troops

January 26, 2021

External News

Biden HHS pick Dr. Rachel Levine possibly first openly transgender Senate-confirmed federal official

January 21, 2021

External News

Biden signs EO implementing Supreme Court ruling for LGBTQ rights

January 20, 2021

External News

Transgender Student Policy Public Comment Guide

January 12, 2021

External News

Richmond City Council passes trans-affirming shelter policies

January 11, 2021

External News

2021 General Assembly Session Kickoff

January 11, 2021

External News

Black Trans Woman Chae’Meshia Simms Killed in Virginia

January 10, 2021

External News

Governor’s budget would ensure Medicaid covers transition-related care

January 4, 2021

External News

Rainbow Wave 2020: LGBTQ+ Candidates Who Won on Election Night

January 10, 2021

Follow us @equalityvirginia

Some great news coming out of the General Assembly

Some great news coming out of the General Assembly this week! Yesterday, Senator Jennifer B. Boysko's SB 1321 passed the House of Delegates with a 80-20 vote, and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.

Once the Governor signs the bill, Virginia will join the many states that allow confirmatory or second-parent adoptions. This means that a legal pathway to parenthood will be established for unmarried LGBTQ couples, affirming so many of Virginia’s families.

Thank you to all the delegates and senators who supported this bill, and thank you to our partners at Family Equality and Locke & Quinn whose advocacy and expertise helped carry us over the finish line!

URGENT Take Action! Contact your delegate and ask

URGENT Take Action! Contact your delegate and ask them to support SB 1138 WITHOUT a felony penalty: http://bit.ly/ISupportSB1138

On Friday, the House passed an amended version of Senator Mamie Locke and Senator Jennifer McClellan's SB 1138, which unfortunately includes a felony penalty. This bill is not done and cannot become law in its current form.

If the bill stays this way, LGBTQ Virginians - especially Black transgender women - will continue to be disproportionately impacted. We need your help to encourage lawmakers in the House of Delegates to remove the felony penalty and reduce it to a misdemeanor.

By dropping the charge to a misdemeanor, we still have the tools to prosecute the intention to transmit, while ensuring that Virginians living with HIV can safely access healthcare and prevention services.

There are only a few days left of the 2021 special session, so we need as many Virginians as possible to take action and contact lawmakers today: http://bit.ly/ISupportSB1138

HIV is not a crime. Take action and urge your dele

HIV is not a crime. Take action and urge your delegate to SUPPORT Senate Bill (SB) 1138 tomorrow on the House Floor: http://bit.ly/SupportSB1138

Current HIV law undermines public health, creates a disincentive to testing, and exacerbates social stigma. Senator Mamie Locke and Senator Jennifer McClellan's SB 1138 is vital to building a healthier, more equitable Virginia. It recognizes the inherent dignity and autonomy of people living with HIV, encourages people to get tested, and builds public trust in health care institutions.

We need your help to encourage as many delegates as possible to vote YES on SB 1138!

The time has come to officially announce the names

The time has come to officially announce the names of our 2021 OUTstanding Virginians!

We couldn’t be more excited to share with you this year’s recipients who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied individuals or organizations taking the lead in moving equality forward across our state. These six, incredible honorees will be recognized at our 18th annual Commonwealth Dinner, hosted virtually, on Thursday, April 22.

Please join us in congratulating Adam Trimmer, Nyonna Byer, Charley Burton, Evelyn BruMar, Emily Sproul, and Alpha Omega Kappa! Thank you OUTstanding Virginians for your unwavering dedication to equality.

Learn more about our honorees here: http://bit.ly/OUTVA2021 and be sure to reserve your tickets for a celebration unlike any other: http://bit.ly/EVDinner2021