- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Public Opinion
Public opinion in Virginia appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
History
Homosexual activity in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Virginia is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
No specific lgbt censorship in virginia as of 2022.
Right to change legal gender in Virginia is legal, surgery not required.
Current status
Since Sep 1, 2020
Since Sep 1, 2020
Legal, surgery not required
Since September 1, 2020, Transgender individuals will just need “appropriate clinical treatment” to change sex on a birth certificate - under recently passed and signed laws by both the Virginia General Assembly and the Governor of Virginia cutting red tape.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Virginia is recognized.
Current status
Since Mar 31, 2020
Since Mar 31, 2020
Recognized
There is now an option to have “X” written for the gender mark on your license.
LGBT discrimination in Virginia is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2020
Since Jul 1, 2020
Illegal in some contexts
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law sweeping legislation in most counties that not only protects the rights of lgbtq Virginians in employment and accommodations but also expands the ability of plaintiffs to sue in Virginia state court.
Illegal in some contexts
Full discrimination protection in the city of Charlottesville, Alexandria, Arlington county.
Until Apr 15, 2010
No protections
There is no law offering blanket protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Both are lacking from the Virginia hate crimes law.
LGBT employment discrimination in Virginia is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jul 18, 2020
Since Jul 18, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally under a Supreme Court ruling.
Full discrimination protection in state employment. As well as full discrimination protection in city of Charlottesville. Sexual orientation discrimination protection Only in the Alexandria. As well sexual orientation in the county of Arlington.
Full discrimination protection in state employment. As well as full discrimination protection in city of Charlottesville. Sexual orientation discrimination protection Only in the Alexandria. As well sexual orientation in the county of Arlington.
No protections
In Virginia public-sector jobs, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are made illegal by executive order. There are no state protections for private sector employees, and the attorney general has released an opinion stating that localities that have instituted protective policies are outside of their legislative powers.
LGBT housing discrimination in Virginia is no protections.
Current status
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
Serving openly in military in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Since 2011
Since 2011
Legal
Military policies are under federal jurisdiction in the United States.
Blood donations by MSMs in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Since May 11, 2023
Legal
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Banned (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
Equal age of consent in Virginia is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
US Equality Rank
#148
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
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Virginia LGBT Organizations
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