To:
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, Majority Leader of the Virginia Senate
As employers, we believe in equal opportunity for all of our team members and customers—not just in the workplace, but in their daily lives. Everyone deserves the opportunity to work, earn a living, own or rent a home, access credit, and contribute to their community. That’s why we and more than two-thirds of Virginians support comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Virginians and visitors in employment, housing, credit, and public spaces.
Consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, in addition to other characteristics—like race, sex, national origin, religion, and veteran status—are essential to ensure that the opportunities Virginia has to offer are open to everyone.
Passing a comprehensive nondiscrimination law isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s crucial to the state economy. Because many LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ workers prefer to live and work in communities with nondiscrimination protections, such a law will give Virginia’s employers tangible advantages in recruitment and retention. An environment with equal opportunities for all will also encourage new investments, attract tourism dollars, and empower all Virginians to realize their full potential.
We are proud of the robust economy, growth, and innovation that Virginia has to offer, and we applaud the bipartisan group of lawmakers who have supported statewide nondiscrimination in recent years. We look forward to being part of the conversation this year to secure this crucial update to Virginia law that is consistent with the core values of hard work, dignity, and equal opportunity.
Sincerely,
Current Signers:
Accenture
Advance Auto Parts
Altria Group, Inc.
Amalgamated Bank
Amazon Inc.
American Airlines
Anheuser Busch
Apple
AT&T
Capital One
Cummins, Inc.
Dell Technologies
Dominion Energy
Dow Inc.
Ernst & Young LLP
HCA Virginia Health System
Hilton
Huntington Ingalls Industries
IBM Corporation
Inova
Marriott International, Inc.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, INC.
Newport News Shipbuilding
Reed Smith LLP
Royal Bank of Canada
Salesforce
Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, including member companies:
Danone North America
Mars, Incorporated
Nestlé USA
Unilever United States
Trillium Asset Management
Verizon
WestRock