                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCES AND COMMISSIONS (§ 15.2-965)

A. Any locality may enact an ordinance, not inconsistent with nor more stringent
than any applicable state law, prohibiting discrimination in housing,
employment, public accommodations, credit, and education on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions,
national origin, military status, age, marital status, sexual orientation,
gender identity, or disability.

B. The locality may enact an ordinance establishing a local commission on human
rights that shall have the powers and duties granted by the Virginia Human
Rights Act (&#xA7; 2.2-3900 et seq.).

C. As used in this section:
			&#8220;Gender identity&#8221; means the gender-related identity, appearance,
or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, without regard to the
individual&#8217;s designated sex at birth.			&#8220;Military status&#8221;
means status as (i) a member of the uniformed forces, as defined in 10 U.S.C.
&#xA7; 101(a)(5), of the United States or a reserve component thereof named
under 10 U.S.C. &#xA7; 10101, (ii) a veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. &#xA7;
101(2), or (iii) a dependent as defined in 50 U.S.C. &#xA7; 3911(4) except that
the support provided by the service member to the individual shall have been
provided 180 days immediately preceding an alleged action that if proven true
would constitute unlawful discrimination under this section instead of 180 days
immediately preceding an application for relief under 50 U.S.C. Chapter
50.			&#8220;Religion&#8221; includes any outward expression of religious faith,
including adherence to religious dressing and grooming practices and the
carrying or display of religious items or symbols.			&#8220;Sexual
orientation&#8221; means a person&#8217;s actual or perceived heterosexuality,
bisexuality, or homosexuality.

HISTORY: 1987, c. 569, § 15.1-37.3:8; 1997, cc. 404, 587; 2020, cc. 131, 1137,
1140; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 477, 478; 2022, c. 799.