Virginia lawmakers passed comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation Thursday that advocates say makes the state the first in the South to enact such protections for LGBTQ people.
Supporters of SB 868 gather for a group photo after a press conference ahead of the floor votes on SB 868, the Virginia Values Act. The event was held in the Jefferson Room of the State Capitol in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020.RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers passed comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation Thursday that advocates said makes the state the first in the South to enact such protections for LGBTQ people.
The measures advanced on bipartisan votes, 59-35 in the House and 30-9 in the Senate as newly empowered Democrats continued to advance bills that Republicans blocked for years. Each chamber still must take up the other’s measure in procedural votes before the legislation can be sent to the governor, who supports it, for final approval.
While opponents have raised concerns about impacts on religious freedom, advocates praised the passage of what they called urgently needed landmark human rights legislation. “It’s important to know that discrimination is still happening in Virginia. It is time to drive it out,” bill sponsor Sen. Adam Ebbin, who is openly gay, said at a press conference ahead of the votes.
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