Victory! Virginia Protects Trans People From Discrimination

Today, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed the Virginia Values Act, which provides non-discrimination protections in employment, credit, housing and public spaces, into law. Virginia becomes the first Southern state to enact a non-discrimination law protecting all LGBTQ people from discrimination.

As part of the Virginia Values Coalition, NCTE has been working closely with Equality Virginia and other groups across the commonwealth to secure these fundamental protections.

“Today, we see clearly that fighting for what is right matters and that fighting for what is right can make a difference,” said Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “Gov. Northam and the Virginia Legislature have changed the world for the better."

"For more than 50,000 transgender Virginians, today’s actions mean that their state sees them for who they are, respects them and recognizes the challenges they face in their daily lives — and wants to take concrete steps to make things better. Political leaders in Virginia have listened to transgender voices, they have heard our stories and today they have done the right thing.”

By Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen