In 2020, sexual orientation and gender identity became two new protected classes covered by Virginia fair housing laws. Members of the LGBT+ population are now protected from housing discrimination.

Sexual Orientation: It is illegal to discriminate against a person for their actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality. This includes discrimination due to someone’s physical appearance, mannerisms, the partner they are with, or any self-identifying symbols or flags.

Gender identity: It is illegal to discriminate against someone for their gender-related identity, appearance, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth. This includes discrimination due to someone’s gender non-conforming appearance, their apparent gender not matching their legal identification (drivers license), or any self-identifying symbols or flags.

Examples of discrimination include:

• A landlord starts charging different fees or making rules and conditions for a transgender tenant after they transition.
• Differential treatment, such as a property manager offering appointment times and rent specials to heterosexual couples, then avoiding giving specific information to same-gender couples.
• Using homophobic or transphobic slurs to refer to an applicant or tenant.
• Other tenants harass and intimidate a neighbor because their same-gender partner moves in with them.
• Refusing to accept same-gender spouses as tenants in senior housing communities.
• Harassing a tenant by not using their correct pronouns or chosen name on purpose.