Headlines
May 15, 2013
ACLU of Virginia and Equality Virginia Urge Gov. McDonnell to End Adoption and Foster Care Discrimination
Richmond, VA – This week, the ACLU of Virginia and Equality Virginia asked Governor McDonnell to ensure that the best interests of children inform his “Virginia Adopts” Campaign and that all families are considered and included in his goals to raise awareness about the foster care and adoption process. read more »
May 14, 2013
ACLU of Virginia Expresses Concern about Implementation of New Voter ID Law
Richmond, VA – The ACLU of Virginia today expressed concern about the implementation of Virginia’s new voter ID law, SB 1256, and its impact on voters’ access to the polls. The ACLU provided public comment at this afternoon’s State Board of Elections meeting. read more »
April 12, 2013
Virginia Board of Health Adopts Burdensome New Regulations on Women’s Health Centers
Richmond, VA -- The Virginia Board of Health today approved permanent regulations that impose heavy burdens on women's healthcare centers that provide safe, legal first-trimester abortion, along with vital reproductive health care and family planning services. Contrary to the opinion of a panel of experts convened by the Board early in the regulatory process, the Board refused to "grandfather in" existing women's healthcare centers, so that many of them will have to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on medically unnecessary architectural renovations. read more »
April 01, 2013
Fairfax Judge Strikes Down Law on Licenses to Perform Marriages
Fairfax County, VA – Representatives of religions that do not have ordained ministers must be permitted to perform marriages on the same basis as ministers, priests, rabbis, and other ordained clergy, Chief Judge Dennis J. Smith of the Circuit Court of Fairfax County ruled on Friday. According to the ruling, Virginia laws that impose special requirements on religions that do not have ordained ministers are unconstitutional. read more »
March 27, 2013
Federal Court Says Pittsylvania County Violated Citizen’s Religious Liberty with Meeting-Opening Sectarian Prayers
Danville, VA – Federal District Court Judge Michael Urbanski today ruled that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors violated the First Amendment rights of ACLU of Virginia client Barbara Hudson by opening meetings with prayers that favored one set of religious beliefs over others. read more »
March 26, 2013
Virginia Set to Become First State to Pass Statewide Limitation on Drone Use
Richmond, VA – Governor Bob McDonnell last night proposed limited amendments to legislation that called for a two-year moratorium on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, by law enforcement and regulatory agencies in the Commonwealth thereby assuring that Virginia will become the first state in the nation to enact a statewide restriction on the use of drones. read more »
Blog
A Retrospective of My First Year
It’s been a year since the Board of the ACLU of Virginia offered me the privilege of leading this wonderful organization. read more »
Meet Tamara Mason, ACLU of Virginia’s Newest Team Member
The first of our new team members is Tamara Mason, a Richmond native, coming to us by way of Raleigh, NC. She joins us as our Communications and Development Assistant. read more »
Tell the Governor: Foster Care Initiative Should Include All Families
(05/14/2013) The ACLU of Virginia applauds the Governor's efforts to boost adoption in the state, yet we remain concerned that there are willing prospective parents in Virginia that continue to be denied the opportunity to adopt or foster children. read more »




