Victory in Virginia

The Virginia Values Act is also an historic breakthrough for Southern US states. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has signed vital LGBT+ protections into law, in an historic breakthrough for the South.

It makes Virginia the 21st state, plus Washington DC, to provide comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBT+ people. But it is the first in the South. When the new law comes into force on 1 July, it will mark the end of a long battle in the state.

Similar legislation passed through the Virginia Senate several times in recent years. But anti-equality lawmakers in the House of Delegates blocked the moves. However, in the 2019 election, voters elected pro-equality majorities to both houses of the General Assembly, making the new law possible.

On 6 February this year the House of Delegates passed the bill with a vote of 59 yes to 35 no. Meanwhile the Senate’s version of the bill passed 30 yes to nine no. Since then, lawmakers have reconciled the bills to prepare them for Governor Northam’s signature.

Source: GayStarNews

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