                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS; HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE (§ 15.2-853)

A county may enact an ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing, real
estate transactions, employment, public accommodations, credit, and education on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related
medical conditions, national origin, military status, age, marital status,
sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The board may enact an
ordinance establishing a local commission on human rights that shall have the
following powers and duties:

1. To promote policies to ensure that all persons be afforded equal opportunity;

2. To serve as an agency for receiving, investigating, holding hearings,
processing, and assisting in the voluntary resolution of complaints regarding
discriminatory practices occurring within the county;

3. With the approval of the county attorney, to seek, through appropriate
enforcement authorities, prevention of or relief from a violation of any
ordinance prohibiting discrimination; and

4. To exercise such other powers and duties as provided in this article.
However, the commission shall have no power itself to issue subpoenas, award
damages, or grant injunctive relief.
			For the purposes of this article, unless the context requires otherwise:
			&#8220;Military status&#8221; means status as (i) a member of the uniformed
forces, as defined in 10 U.S.C. &#xA7; 101(a)(5), of the United States or a
reserve component thereof named under 10 U.S.C. &#xA7; 10101, (ii) a veteran as
defined in 38 U.S.C. &#xA7; 101(2), or (iii) a dependent as defined in 50 U.S.C.
&#xA7; 3911(4) except that the support provided by the service member to the
individual shall have been provided 180 days immediately preceding an alleged
action that if proven true would constitute unlawful discrimination under this
section instead of 180 days immediately preceding an application for relief
under 50 U.S.C. Chapter 50.
			&#8220;Person&#8221; means one or more individuals, labor unions,
partnerships, corporations, associations, legal representatives, mutual
companies, joint-stock companies, trusts, or unincorporated organizations.
			&#8220;Religion&#8221; includes any outward expression of religious faith,
including adherence to religious dressing and grooming practices and the
carrying or display of religious items or symbols.

HISTORY: 1986, c. 495, § 15.1-783.1; 1989, c. 355; 1997, cc. 404, 587; 2020,
cc. 1137, 1140; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 477, 478; 2022, c. 799.