What it means for you
Since July 1, 2020, the Virginia Values Act has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in covered jobs, housing, public places, and credit. Virginia was the first Southern state to pass such broad protections.
Who benefits: LGBTQ Virginians applying for or holding covered jobs, seeking housing or credit, or using covered businesses and other public places.
Virginia law prohibits discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity in covered employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations. That includes firing or refusing to hire someone, denying housing or credit, or refusing covered services for either reason. Some employers and private or religious accommodations are exempt under the relevant statutes.
You don’t have to apply for these protections. The rules apply directly to covered employers, housing providers, creditors, and public accommodations. As of 2026, the state employment law generally covers employers with at least five employees and anyone employing a domestic worker.
Sen. Adam Ebbin was chief patron of SB 868. Del. Mark Sickles carried the House companion and offered the House substitute that became the enacted bill. Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Jennifer McClellan were incorporated chief co-patrons. On the final Senate vote, six Republicans joined all 21 Democrats. The House of Delegates passed it 54–46. Gov. Ralph Northam signed it on April 11, 2020, and it took effect that July. It made Virginia the first Southern state with broad statewide LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections.
RightsWork and wagesHousing
Sources
- SB 868, 2020 Session: bill historyVirginia Legislative Information System
- Nondiscrimination in employment; definitions; exceptionsVirginia Legislative Information System, November 11, 2026
- HB 1663, 2020 Session: bill historyVirginia Legislative Information System
- Lawmakers pass 'Virginia Values Act' to prohibit LGBTQ discriminationWHSV, February 6, 2020
How we checked this
Drafted by Claude Opus 5.5 (Anthropic) on November 11, 2026. Checked against its sources by GPT-5.6-sol (OpenAI) on November 11, 2026, which corrected it. Confirmed the law’s scope, enactment dates, current status, and both final roll calls. Added the omitted legislators who carried the House companion or were incorporated chief co-patrons.
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