- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Public opinion in Virginia appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 5 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Virginia.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
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, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Sep 1, 2020
Legal, no restrictions
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.
Gender-affirming care in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Legal
Adults and Minors are able to get gender affirming care freely in Virginia, there are no laws restricting it or supporting it. Minors are freely able to get gender affirming care with parental consent.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Virginia is recognized.
Current status
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
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
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)."
Intersex infant surgery in Virginia is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Since Feb 26, 2021
Legal under federal United States law
President Biden removed former President Trumps ban on transgender people serving in the military, transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2024.
A year after the ban was lifted, Admiral Levine was sworn into being an Admiral, becoming the first transgender woman to hold a high rank in the Navy and in Cabinet.
A year after the ban was lifted, Admiral Levine was sworn into being an Admiral, becoming the first transgender woman to hold a high rank in the Navy and in Cabinet.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
New policy goes into effect barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria."
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Blood donations by MSMs in Virginia is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal under federal United States law
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 (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.
Equal age of consent in Virginia is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
United States Equality Rank
#148
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
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Virginia LGBT Organizations
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