Headlines
March 10, 2014
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Allows Virginia Marriage Cases to be Considered Together
Richmond, VA -- Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted the motion to intervene in Bostic v. Rainey that had been filed by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on behalf of a class of all Virginia's same-sex couples. The class is simultaneously challenging the state's marriage ban in its own case, Harris v. Rainey. read more »
March 07, 2014
ACLU of Virginia Urges Gov. McAuliffe to Veto Senate Bill 555
The ACLU of Virginia has sent a letter urging Governor Terry McAuliffe to veto Senate Bill 555. The bill severely undermines the religious freedom of rank and file National Guard members by permitting military chaplains, acting as government agents, to push their personal religious beliefs during official National Guard events. read more »
March 06, 2014
2014 Virginia Legislative Session Provides Mixed Results for Civil Liberties
The 2014 Session of the Virginia General Assembly left the ACLU of Virginia and its 10,000 members and supporters with little reason to cheer and significant reason to worry about the state of civil liberties in the Commonwealth when the General Assembly adjourns sine die read more »
February 26, 2014
ACLU and Lambda Legal Seek to Intervene in Federal Marriage Case in Virginia
Richmond, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Virginia, and Lambda Legal filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to intervene on behalf of all Virginia’s same-sex couples and their families in Bostic v. Rainey. The groups are simultaneously challenging the state’s marriage ban in their own case, Harris v. Rainey. read more »
February 18, 2014
ACLU of Virginia Applauds Formation of Legislative Caucus to Protect Privacy and Safety of Virginians
Richmond, VA -- The ACLU of Virginia welcomed the announcement this week by Delegate Richard Anderson (R Woodbridge) and Senator Chap Peterson (D Fairfax) of the formation of a legislative caucus committed to protecting the privacy and safety of all Virginians. read more »
February 14, 2014
Virginia Court Legalizes Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
Richmond, VA -- A federal court in Virginia has ruled that same-sex couples in the state will be allowed to marry and all same-sex couples legally married elsewhere will have their marriages recognized. However, marriages cannot yet take place since the ruling was suspended in anticipation of an appeal read more »
Blog
Legalized Discrimination Stops Here!
(03/10/2014) It was all over the news. Just a few weeks ago, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed legislation that would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay and lesbian customers. The legislation rightly received national attention – it conjured up memories of a time when people were refused service at hotels and lunch counters because of the color of their skin or the God they worship. read more »
A (Possible) First Step Toward Justice for Virginia’s Forced Sterilization Victims
(03/09/2014) During Virginia’s shameful eugenics program, from 1927 to 1979, the Commonwealth sterilized between 7,200 and 8,300 people without their consent. The rationale? Unbelievably, the Commonwealth deemed these individuals “unfit” to procreate (read more about this program here). It is a shameful chapter of Virginia’s history. read more »
Denying Funding for Abortion for Low-Income Women Is Not Fair
(03/08/2014) Receiving a diagnosis that your fetus has an incapacitating physical or mental anomaly can be heart wrenching for a woman and her family. It’s something no woman should ever have to go through, but if, in consultation with her doctor, a woman decides to have an abortion, we should ensure that the woman’s ability to exercise this constitutional right is not contingent on the size of her bank account. read more »
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