Civil Rights & Building a More Inclusive Virginia

Senator Favola believes that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and that no one should be targeted or made to feel unsafe or unwelcome because of who they are. To help realize this goal, Senator Favola expanded Virginia’s hate crime laws to add protections for violent acts committed based on gender, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Senator Favola is a steadfast supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. She believes that LGBTQ+ individuals should be guaranteed every right and protection afforded to non-LGBTQ+ individuals. She supports a constitutional amendment to remove Virginia’s now-defunct ban on gay marriage. Senator Favola was a strong proponent of the Virginia Values Act, which banned discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in housing, credit attainment, and employment. She was proud to receive the Equality Award from Equality NoVa in 2023, and to be endorsed by the LGBT+ Democrats and the Equality Virginia PAC in her 2023 election.

Senator Favola is a powerful advocate for women’s equality. She was a strong proponent of Virginia’s successful effort to become the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Senator Favola has supported legislation to prohibit gender and pregnancy discrimination, promote equal pay for women, and bar schools from adopting dress codes that have a disparate impact based on gender. She is also a strong advocate for reproductive freedom and women’s health.

Senator Favola is a champion of disability rights and inclusion. She has supported legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, and has pushed for community integration for those with disabilities and other challenges. Senator Favola successfully sponsored legislation to allow those with disabilities and their caretakers to fully participate in public bodies remotely. She also successfully passed legislation that implements major reforms to the delivery of special education services, including the IEP process. Senator Favola serves as vice chair of the Virginia Disability Commission, where she works to develop policies that support Virginians with disabilities.