We're thrilled to introduce our new Major Gifts Officer, Salman Zaman!

Salman will work to ensure our organization has what it needs to defend civil rights & liberties in Virginia for years to come.

Welcome, Salman! You can learn more about him here: acluva.org/en/news/salman…

Reasons to vote early:

✅you get to skip the line (cool)
✅get it off of your to-do list (relaxing)
✅be the first of your friends to vote (leadership)
✅sleep in on Election Day (cozy)
✅you still get a sticker (important for insta)

What are you waiting for?! VOTE EARLY!

People who have spoken against the Youngkin admin's proposed policies on trans & nonbinary students:

🔴medical professionals
🟠trans & nonbinary people
🟡educators
🟢counselors
🔵parents

The experts on this issue agree: These policies are harmful & shouldn't be implemented.

THIS SUNDAY 🚨

Join Virginia Collegiate Queer Collective (VCQC) & show Virginia's leaders that the proposed model policies on trans & nonbinary students are NOT supported by Virginians.

Head to the Capitol Bell Tower in RVA at noon for the demonstration, flyer below for more details ⬇️

WATCH: Our Policy Counsel Breanna Diaz (she/they) listed all that is wrong with the 2022 proposed model policies.

Bottom line: These policies are harmful to trans and nonbinary students. They are not evidence-based and must be rescinded. IMMEDIATELY.

Many of the books currently challenged in Spotsylvania County are by LGBTQ+ authors or tell LGBTQ+ stories.

These stories are for everyone. The classroom should be a free & open space to share them.

If you live in Spotsylvania, please tell your school board you oppose this.

Funding police only funnels more people into the prison system without addressing the root causes of crime.

What is Gov. Youngkin doing about:

❓ poverty
❓ substance use disorder
❓ homelessness
❓ school-to-prison pipeline
❓ police misconduct & violence

Thank you to the doctors, faith leaders, educators, students, parents and advocates who showed up to the VBOE meeting in support of trans and non-binary students!

We’re off with this crew to get some waffles, because caring for community is priority! 🧇

#TransYouthBelongVA

This 2022 Virginia Dept. of Education proposed model policy cannot stand & is contrary to law. It must be rescinded.

Transgender & nonbinary students have the right to feel safe & be safe, to thrive in school, & to have their humanity & identity honored & respected.

'When you say parent-first policies you're often saying transgender-child last policies.'

Thank you to Oliver from Virginia Collegiate Queer Collective (VCQC) for courageously stepping up to share his truth and helping the VBOE understand the challenges trans and nonbinary students face.

'These policies are contrary to state law and their adoption will...inflict serious harm on transgender and nonbinary students.'

Our policy counsel Breanna Diaz (she/they) demanded that the VDOE rescind the 2022 proposed policies. We oppose these policies in their entirety.

A speaker read a letter signed by 936 healthcare professionals who take care of VA families & students on the harm the proposed model policies would cause to trans & nonbinary students.

Affirming a student's identity is critical to their health & well-being.

'It [a criminal record] can impact getting a job, housing, family relations, you name it, it impacts your life, and in Virginia, it doesn't go away.'

No one should have to live with the life-long consequences of a conviction, esp. one for simple marijuana possession.

To the Virginia Board of Education: Trans and nonbinary students are here to stay. Their rights are not up for debate.

We are at the VBOE meeting this morning with Equality Virginia He She Ze and We & advocates to testify against the VDOE's proposed model policies.

We’re at this month’s Virginia Board of Education meeting to express our strong opposition to the proposed 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.

You can watch the meeting here: youtu.be/dQK7UJvpC-g

TODAY IS THE DAY!

We hope to see you in #Charlottesville for a FREE screening of InJustice.

No RSVP needed. Screening starts at 6:30 p.m. Bring your friends!

FACT: 1 in 3 families of incarcerated people in the U.S. goes into debt to stay in touch with their loved ones.

Calls from home shouldn't be a privilege. It's time VA lawmakers follow our bipartisan recommendations & make prison phone calls free. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…

CVILLE! Join us ACLU of Virginia Wed. 10/19, 6:30pm at the Violet Crown theater on the Downtown Mall for a free screening of 'InJustice: Hidden Crisis in Virginia's Prisons,' followed by a brief panel discussion—No RSVP needed. You can watch the film trailer at acluva.org/injustice.⁠