Northam Signs LGBT Nondiscrimination Bill into Law

When I first came out, same sex relations could land one with a felony conviction. Thankfully, that situation ended with the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas.  Yet over the intervening years while finally afforded the right to may, LGBT Virginians were fair game for being fired from their jobs of their sexual orientation - something that happened to me - and could be denied housing or even public accommodations. The Virginia elections in 2019 which handed Democrats control of both the General Assembly and the Governor's mansion set the stage for passage of non-discrimination protections - long blocked by Republicans prostituting themselves to Christofascists and hate merchants such as those at The Family Foundation, Virginia's leading hate group to be passed into law.  Yesterday, these protections became a reality as Governor Northam, a good friend, signed the Virginia Values Act into law.  This Act  prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public or private employment, public spaces and credit transactions.  Moreover, it gives LGBT individuals a right to sue those who violate the Act and in some cases, grants the attorney general to prosecute offenders.   The Washington Blade looks at this legislation which will make Virginia a more welcoming state and remove an obstacle to companies recruiting the best talent.  Here are highlights:

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Saturday signed a bill that adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s nondiscrimination law.

“This legislation sends a strong, clear message — Virginia is a place where all people are welcome to live, work, visit, and raise a family,” said Northam in a statement. “We are building an inclusive commonwealth where there is opportunity for everyone, and everyone is treated fairly. No longer will LGBTQ Virginians have to fear being fired, evicted, or denied service in public places because of who they are.”

The General Assembly approved the Virginia Values Act earlier this year. Republicans, who lost control of the General Assembly last November, previously blocked efforts to ban anti-LGBTQ discrimination in Virginia.

“With the governor’s signing of the Virginia Values Act, we have made discrimination against our gay, lesbian and transgender friends, family, neighbors and co-workers in employment, housing and public accommodation illegal in the commonwealth of Virginia,” said House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax County) in the statement Northam’s office issued. “It is now the law of the land [in Virginia] that every Virginian can work hard, earn a living wage, and live their lives without fear of discrimination based on who they are or who they love. A tremendous victory.”

Advocacy groups also applauded Northam. . . . The Virginia Values Act will take effect on July 1, 2020.

Virginia will join 20 other states, D.C. and Puerto Rico that explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Virginia is the first Southern state to enact these protections.

As a piece in the Virginia Pilot notes, Christofascist who use the smoke screen of "religious liberty" to inflict harm on others -typically so they can feel superior - vigorously opposed the legislation and can be expected to act as if the sky is falling.