VCC Spring 2021

V irginia C apitol C onnections , S pring 2021 26 The two-day agenda includes information on community and statewide services and programs, career planning, entrepreneurship, mentoring, financial stewardship, employment opportunities, personal health and wellness and more. Gathering women veterans together has been a tremendous boost to Virginia’s efforts to raise awareness for their issues. At the national level, the signing of the Deborah Sampson Act in January 2021 will improve outreach to women veterans. The act will help ensure that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be better able to address the unique needs faced by the women who serve our country in uniform, including with employment. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), unemployment rates among Women Veterans from April 2020 through March of 2021 was 6.8%. Although women veterans make up 10% of veterans nation-wide, they have been traditionally underrepresented in research, according to the DOL. For more information about the Virginia Women Veterans Program, the 2021 Virginia Women Veterans Virtual Summit, and other state services and programs for veterans, please visit www.dvs. virginia.gov. Delegate Kathleen Murphy, a McLean resident, represents Virginia’s 34th House District, which includes portions of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. She may be reached at DelKMurphy@ house.virginia.gov. Navy veteran Lyla Kohistany is the President and Co-founder of Global SOF, a nonprofit focused on mentorship and leadership development for women in Special Operations. She may be reached at lyla@promoteleadership.org. Both serve on the Virginia Board of Veterans Services. Virginia Leads the Way in Services For Women Veterans from page 23 Virginia is for ALL Lovers By Rose Minor and Salinna Lor Governor Ralph S. Northam signed legislation establishing a Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board on March 19, 2020. This bill, sponsored by Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington and Fairfax Counties) marks the first executive level LGBTQ+ Advisory Board in the South. The Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board will also join four other advisory boards in the Commonwealth—the Virginia African American Advisory Board (established in 2019), Virginia Asian Advisory Board (established in 2001), the Virginia Latino Advisory Board (established in 2005), and the Virginia Council on Women (established in 1970). The purpose of the Commonwealth’s advisory boards is to advise the Governor on issues concerning the economic, professional, cultural, educational, and governmental issues that pertain to their constituency groups. The Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board will be responsible for undertaking studies, sponsoring symposiums, conducting research, and preparing factual reports in order to gather information to format and present recommendations to the Governor that relate to issues of concern and importance to the LGBTQ+ community. The board will also submit an annual report to the Virginia General Assembly for publication. In addition to establishing the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, Governor Northam and his administration have worked with the Virginia General Assembly and Equality Virginia to enact laws like the Virginia Values Act, transgender student protections, a ban on conversion therapy for minors, and a ban on the Gay Panic Defense. These are important and vital steps in protecting the rights and interests of LGBTQ+ Virginians. Since the historic 2015 United States Supreme Court ruling granting marriage equality to same-sex couples, there have been increased discussions on the socioeconomic status of members of the LBGTQ+ community. Topics concerning the LGBTQ+ youth population experiencing homelessness, the treatment of transgender and gender non-confirming individuals—particularly black and brown individuals, healthcare, and employment discrimination have been at the forefront of conversations. It is vital to use an intersectional approach when addressing LGBTQ+ concerns and in recognizing the various identities that exist in the LGBTQ+ community. The members of the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory board will encompass the rich diversity that exists throughout theCommonwealth of Virginia. Board appointees will not only be diverse in sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and ethnicity, but in thought, geography, and profession. The board will also work closely with the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, designated ex- officio members, including the Secretaries of Commerce and Trade, Education, Health and Human Resources, and Public Safety and Homeland Security, and various state agencies. Governor Northam and his administration believe that the Commonwealth of Virginia should be a place where everyone has equitable access to opportunities, resources, and representation. As a formal liaison between the Governor’s administration and LGBTQ+ community, this board will ultimately bring us one step closer to a more inclusive and welcoming Commonwealth. Individuals, who are interested in serving on this new LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, or any other state boards and commissions, can find more information and submit an application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/boards Rose Minor serves as Special Assistant for Community Engagement and Director of LGBTQ+ Outreach for Governor Northam’s office. Salinna Lor serves as Special Assistant for Constituent Services and Community Engagement and social media manager/photographer for the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office under Kelly Thomasson, Secretary of the Commonwealth, in the Governor’s Office of Constituent Services and Community Engagement. lor minor B ENNETT F UNERAL H OME Charles D. Morehead, Sr. Funeral Director & General Manager 3215 Cutshaw Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23221 (804) 359-4481 V V