Equality Virginia Statement on West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox
The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld state laws restricting transgender girls and women from participating on girls’ and women’s school sports teams. Equality Virginia responded by reaffirming our commitment to transgender young people and calling on state leaders to protect transgender students.
Equality Virginia Statement on Final Budget and Ryan White Part B Funding
Equality Virginia welcomed the inclusion of $13.2 million to partially restore Ryan White Part B services in Virginia’s final state budget, calling it an important step toward strengthening the Commonwealth’s HIV care safety net.
Virginia HIV Service Providers Call on General Assembly to Restore Ryan White Part B Funding in Final State Budget
Equality Virginia and HIV service providers across the Commonwealth are urging members of the Virginia General Assembly to include restoration of Ryan White Part B funding in the final state budget and to move quickly to provide certainty for providers, patients, and communities affected by ongoing delays in the budget process.
Equality Virginia Statement on Prescription Drug Affordability Board Veto
Equality Virginia agrees with Governor Spanberger’s decision to veto HB 483 and SB 271. Lowering drug costs and protecting access to essential medications should not be treated as competing goals. Both are possible, but not under the version of the bill the General Assembly sent back to the Governor’s desk for her final consideration.
Equality Virginia Statement on Paid Family & Medical Leave Law
Paid family and medical leave recognizes the realities of modern families across the Commonwealth, including Virginia’s LGBTQ+ families who too often face barriers to economic security and caregiving support.
Virginians’ Protection from Discrimination Still Two-Tiered After Gov. Spanberger Signs Virginia Human Rights Act Without Closing Loophole
“While we are grateful for the meaningful updates to the Virginia Human Rights Act, the failure to include a sovereign immunity waiver is a punch in the gut to LGBTQ+ Virginians,” said Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman.
Joint Statement in Support of Trans Kansans Harmed by SB 244
As leaders of state-based equality organizations from across the country, we stand together in solidarity with and support for the people of Kansas following the passage of SB 244, a dangerous and discriminatory law targeting the rights of transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender diverse Kansans. Our hearts are with you.
Support for HB 60 – Ensuring Equitable Access to Life and Health Insurance
Dear Governor Spanberger, We are writing to express our strong support for HB 60, which prohibits discrimination based on PrEP use, blindness or partial blindness, mental or physical impairments, and domestic violence victim status in the issuance and pricing of life, accident, and sickness insurance. On behalf of Equality Federation and Equality Virginia, we urge you to sign HB 60, we believe that this legislation is a crucial step towards ensuring that all Virginians have access to the healthcare they need, regardless of their health status.
Virginia House & Senate Advance Budgets with Partial Restoration of HIV Funding
“We are pleased that the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate recognize the urgent need to restore funding to Virginia’s community-based organizations that provide Ryan White services to people living with HIV,” said Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia.
Equality Virginia on Governor Signing Marriage Equality Referendum, Sending Measure to 2026 Ballot
RICHMOND, VA — Today, Governor Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 612 (Cohen), which advances a voter referendum to repeal the 2006 Marshall-Newman Amendment banning same-sex marriage and replace it with an affirmative right to marry for all Virginians. Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia, who attended the signing, released the following statement: “Twenty years after banning marriage equality, it’s time for our commonwealth to fully complete our evolution – and finish the job on protecting marriage equality for all…”