Gay RVA

LOUISA, Va. - A Virginia transgender man on Monday was granted a name change after having it denied earlier this year by a judge who asked for medical documents proving he was transitioning, contrary to state law. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Democratic party's candidates for Virginia's top elected offices had little to offer on Wednesday on the issue of LGBT rights, despite facing a trio of vehemently anti-gay Republican opponents. [ Read more → ]

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell plans to announce a new campaign Friday that aims to adopt 1,000 Virginia children out of foster care, but equality groups around the state are calling foul on the new initiative, which comes one year after McDonnell signed legislation allowing adoption agencies to discriminate against gay parents. [ Read more → ]

A transgender man from Louisa County, Virginia, has been denied a name change by Circuit Judge who, contrary to current Virginia law, said medical documentation was required for legal name changes. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has denied a request by the Virginia Attorney General's office to appeal to a March decision that struck down state sodomy laws. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, challenging a recent court ruling that struck down Virginia's sodomy laws. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- A long-standing “Crimes against Nature” law, which criminalized anal and oral sex in Virgina, has been found unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- About 50 people gathered in front of the John Marshall Court House Building in Richmond, Va. on Thursday for an annual Valentine's Day demonstration to support same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. – A measure to protect Virginia’s LGBT state employees from workplace discrimination, was killed by a state House subcommittee on Tuesday. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- A bill that would allow publicly funded college groups to discriminate in their policies and membership has been approved in the Virginia state Senate. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- Senators and LGBT organizers gathered at the Virginia General Assembly on Thursday to announce and show support for SB701 -- a law that would re-introduce sexual orientation into the list of protected classes for state employees. "LGBT Virginians aren't asking for special... [ Read more → ]

The Sage Smith story (or lack thereof) underlines in many ways the uphill struggle transgender individuals still face, even as gay people and lesbians make welcome strides in terms of equality. ... Moreover, neither the media nor the public seem to be entirely sure how to discuss transgender individuals; a 2008 GLAAD study found that only 1 in 8 respondents reported being acquainted with someone who was transgender. [ Read more → ]

Virginia Commonwealth University has wrapped up its internal investigation into the termination of James Finley, the openly gay Women’s Volleyball Coach, and said their review found no misconduct or discrimination. [ Read more → ]

LGBT advocates in Virginia are rallying around an anti-discrimination bill ahead of the state's 30-day 2013 legislative session that begins on Jan. 9, but Virginia’s history with LGBT rights and the language of the bill has attracted detractors from within the community. [ Read more → ]

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Commonwealth University has found itself the center of a discrimination controversy after a newly hired athletic director fired the schools openly gay women's volleyball coach. [ Read more → ]