ABOVE: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on July 23, 2020. Photo courtesy of Northam’s office.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on July 23 ceremonially signed the bill that added sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s nondiscrimination law.
Northam signed the Virginia Values Act in April, but a signing ceremony did not take place because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Virginia Values Act took effect on July 1.
Thursday’s ceremony took place at Diversity Richmond. First lady Pam Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring, state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Equality Virginia Executive Director Vee Lamneck and Virginia Values Coalition Director James Parrish are among those who attended.
“This … is an exciting day for Virginia,” said Northam. “It has been a team effort and together, together we have all come a long way.”
