Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices, sexual orientation, etc. (SB67)
Introduced By
Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Leesburg) with support from co-patron Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices; sexual orientation and gender identity. Adds discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity as an unlawful housing practice. The bill also defines sexual orientation and gender identity. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
12/21/2015 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101139D |
12/21/2015 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
01/13/2016 | Impact statement from DPB (SB67) |
01/25/2016 | Reported from General Laws and Technology (10-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
01/27/2016 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/28/2016 | Read second time and engrossed |
01/29/2016 | Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 15-N) (see vote tally) |
02/03/2016 | Placed on Calendar |
02/03/2016 | Read first time |
02/03/2016 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
02/17/2016 | Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4 |
02/18/2016 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
03/08/2016 | Left in General Laws |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill. The legislation would extend the Virginia Fair Housing Law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. All Virginians should have the right to obtain housing free from discrimination and without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity. No Virginian should fear having their housing application rejected because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. But, because there not a clear statewide law to protect people from housing discrimination based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, a person can legally be denied housing because they are LGBT. The current state law already prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, or familial status. It’s past time for Virginia to make it clear that this basic protection extends to LGBT individuals.
Equality Virginia supports this bill.
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill. The legislation would extend the Virginia Fair Housing Law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. All Virginians should have the right to obtain housing free from discrimination and without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity. No Virginian should fear having their housing application rejected because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. But, because there not a clear statewide law to protect people from housing discrimination based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, a person can legally be denied housing because they are LGBT. The current state law already prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, or familial status. It’s past time for Virginia to make it clear that this basic protection extends to LGBT individuals.