WASHINGTON — Virginia Republicans introduced at least 12 anti-trans and LGBTQ+ bills in the 2023 legislative session – and Senate Democrats blocked every single one. As reported in the Huffington Post, the Virginia GOP is a textbook example of Republicans championing extreme legislation in state legislatures to impose their radical priorities on our communities. While state Democrats work to protect abortion access and cut costs, Republicans are relentlessly attacking LGBTQ+ equality, trans kids, and our democracy. The stakes in Virginia are sky-high this fall. The DLCC is pulling out all the stops to defend the Senate, take back the House, and hold the GOP accountable for their hateful agenda.
“It’s shameful but not a surprise that the Virginia GOP spent their limited time in session pushing dangerous legislation that threatens our LGBTQ+ neighbors instead of focusing on cutting costs and enshrining abortion access,” said interim DLCC President Heather Williams. “Even after their historic losses last cycle, the Republican Party refuses to say goodbye to their extremist, anti-American agenda that prioritizes hateful bills over real solutions to everyday problems. With LGBTQ+ rights on the ballot in Virginia, the DLCC will fight tooth and nail to defend the Senate majority and take back control of the House.”
From Montana to Virginia to South Carolina, there have been over 350 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures thus far in 2023. Here are a few of the bills introduced by Virginia Republicans:
Legislation Republicans Passed in the Virginia House, But Democrats Blocked In The Senate:
- HB 1387 – A bill to require youth and collegiate sports to be played according to biological sex.
- HB 2432 – A bill to require schools to notify a parent when a student identifies as a different gender.
Legislation Democrats Blocked In The Senate:
- SB 791 – A bill to ban “experimentation” on youth by banning transition procedures for anyone under 18.
- SB 960 – A bill to ban transition procedures for anyone under 18.
- SB 962 – A bill to require youth sports to be played according to biological sex.
- SB 1186 – A bill to require youth and collegiate sports to be played according to biological sex.
The DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures. Last cycle, the committee raised $50 million to elect state Democrats across the country. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and pass the policies that have the biggest impact on Americans’ day-to-day lives. Coming off a successful midterm cycle, the DLCC is headed straight into another election year, focusing on defending our majority in the Virginia Senate and taking back control of the Virginia House.
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