Virginia

Youngkin hosts Pride month reception at governor’s mansion

Equality Virginia accuses governor of ‘hypocrisy’

Published

3 years ago

June 22, 2023

Staff reports

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks at a CNN Town Hall on March 9, 2023. (Screen capture via CNN)

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday hosted a Pride month reception at the Executive Mansion.

The governor’s public schedule noted Youngkin hosted members of the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and Log Cabin Republicans at the reception that began at 5:30 p.m. Youngkin hosted a similar reception last June in the Capitol Rotonda.

Equality Virginia in a press release accused Youngkin of “hypocrisy” by “hosting an LGBTQ+ community reception today at the Governor’s Mansion as his administration continues to support anti-LGBTQ+ bills and push anti-LGBTQ+ administrative policies.”

“Governor Glenn Youngkin doesn’t appear concerned about the actual lived experiences of LGBTQ+ Virginians, but this reception shows he has no problem expanding his circle of potential donors — even as he continues to throw our community under the bus,” said Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman. “The governor won’t even call this event a ‘Pride’ event, despite doing so last year. It’s likely no coincidence, given the national campaign from anti-LGBTQ+ extremists that has targeted Pride events and companies supportive of LGBTQ+ rights and representation. This is yet another example of the governor only listening to those who agree with him, rather than doing any real outreach to LGBTQ+ Virginians. We know his record, and closed-door events with hand-picked voices certainly won’t change it. As the leading organization for LGBTQ+ Virginians, our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.”

Youngkin’s public schedule described the event as an “LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, Log Cabin Republicans and community reception.”

Log Cabin Republicans President Charles Moran on Thursday told the Blade he knows “a few of our people from our chapters there (in Va.) were in attendance based on social media posts I happened to see.” Moran also dismissed Equality Virginia’s criticisms of the event.

“I’m not surprised to see them come out against legislation that reinforces parental rights and common-sense protections for biological women,” Moran told the Blade. “Radical gender theory has no place in our schools and society, and Virginians are not going to tolerate an extreme agenda continuing to be promulgated through their education system.”

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Virginia

McPike wins special election for Va. House of Delegates

Gay Alexandria City Council member becomes 8th LGBTQ member of legislature

Published

2 days ago

February 12, 2026

Lou Chibbaro Jr.

Alexandria City Council member Kirk McPike. (Photo courtesy Alexandria City Council)

Gay Alexandria City Council member Kirk McPike emerged as the decisive winner in a Feb. 10 special election for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Alexandria.

McPike, a Democrat, received 81.5 percent of the vote in his race against Republican Mason Butler, according to the local publication ALX Now.

He first won election to the Alexandria Council in 2021. He will be filling the House of Delegates seat being vacated by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-Alexandria), who won in another Feb. 10 special election for the Virginia State Senate seat being vacated by gay Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria).

Ebbin is resigning from his Senate next week to take a position with Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

Upon taking his 5^th District seat in the House of Delegate, McPike will become the eighth out LGBTQ member of the Virginia General Assembly. Among those he will be joining is Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas), who became the Virginia Legislature’s first transgender member when she won election to the House of Delegates in 2017 before being elected to the Senate in 2023.

“I look forward to continuing to work to address our housing crisis, the challenge of climate change, and the damaging impacts of the Trump administration on the immigrant families, LGBTQ+ Virginians, and federal employees who call Alexandria home,” McPike said in a statement after winning the Democratic nomination for the seat in a special primary held on Jan. 20.

McPike, a longtime LGBTQ rights advocate, has served for the past 13 years as chief of staff for gay U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and has remained in that position during his tenure on the Alexandria Council. He said he will resign from that position before taking office in the House of Delegates.

Virginia

Spanberger signs bill that paves way for marriage amendment repeal referendum

Proposal passed in two successive General Assembly sessions

Published

1 week ago

February 6, 2026

Staff reports

(Bigstock photo)

Virginians this year will vote on whether to repeal a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday signed state Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D-Fairfax County)’s House Bill 612, which finalized the referendum’s language.

The ballot question that voters will consider on Election Day is below:

Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to: (i) remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?

Voters in 2006 approved the Marshall-Newman Amendment.

Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Virginia since 2014. Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is a Republican, in 2024 signed a bill that codified marriage equality in state law.

Two successive legislatures must approve a proposed constitutional amendment before it can go to the ballot.

A resolution to repeal the Marshall-Newman Amendment passed in the General Assembly in 2025. Lawmakers once again approved it last month.

“20 years after Virginia added a ban on same-sex marriage to our Constitution, we finally have the chance to right that wrong,” wrote Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman on Friday in a message to her group’s supporters.

Virginians this year will also consider proposed constitutional amendments that would guarantee reproductive rights and restore voting rights to convicted felons who have completed their sentences.

Virginia

Hashmi speaks at Equality Virginia Lobby Day

Lt. gov. is a vocal LGBTQ ally

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2026

Sam Epner

Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi (YouTube screenshot)

Lieutenant Gov. Ghazala Hashmi on Monday opened Equality Virginia’s annual Lobby Day in Richmond.

The Lobby Day was held at Virginia’s Capitol and was open to the public by RSVP. The annual event is one of the ways that Equality Virginia urges its supporters to get involved. It also offers informational sessions and calls to action through social media.

Hashmi, a former state senator, has been open about her support for the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups. Her current advisor is Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman, and the group endorsed her for lieutenant governor.

Hashmi historically opposes anti-transgender legislation.

She opposed a 2022 bill that sought to take away opportunities from trans athletes.

One of the focuses of this year’s Lobby Day was protecting LGBTQ students. Another was protecting trans youth’s access to gender-affirming care.

Advocates spent their day in meetings and dialogues with state legislators and lawmakers about legislative priorities and concerns.