A bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Virginia’s nondiscrimination law cleared committees in the House of Delegates and Senate this week and appears to be on its way to becoming law in the Old Dominion.
A version of the bill known as the Virginia Values Act was shepherded through the Senate committee by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria). In the House, it was sponsored by Mark Sickles (D-Franconia), where it passed by a 16-6 vote, with all Democrats and three Republicans voting in favor.
The mood among activists was celebratory.
Democrats hold a 55-45 majority in the House of Delegates, and a 21 to 19 majority in the Senate.
Vee Lamneck, the executive director of Equality Virginia, an LGBTQ advocacy group, told MetroWeekly, “We’re confident lawmakers will quickly pass this legislation to protect LGBTQ Virginians.”
CBN News contacted attorneys with two religious liberty law groups—Greg Baylor, senior counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom’s Center for Legislative Advocacy, and Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel—to find out what impact this law may have on religious organizations.
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