And then there were 11 (Iowa and Oregon pass laws protecting gender identity)

[seldom]

Two more states passed anti-discrimination laws protecting gender identity: Iowa and Oregon. 

Iowa and Oregon join California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Hawii, New York, Massachuessetts, New Jersey and DC as states with legal protections regarding gender identity. 

[Jillieann Rose]

That's great. I wish my state "Michigan" would do that.
Jillieann

[Renae.Lupini]

You have a better chance in MI than we do in VA to have any kind of protective measures passed.

[seldom]

You have a better chance in MI than we do in VA to have any kind of protective measures passed.

Michigan is on the list of states that are "likely" to pass a law this year.

VA may very well pass a law in the next five to ten years...Northern VA is shifting the state to the left.  Not saying it will happen, but I have seen it happen in other places, and all the signs are there that make it likely (increasingly liberal suburban voters, areas urbanizing quickly (Arlington/Alexandria), increasing ethnic diversity).  It happened in other states, Illinois and California were not always as deep blue as they once were, in fact Illinois was pretty republican until Clinton and the Republican party went to the far right.  I know VA still has those far right elements, but Northern VA is pushing it to the left.  It may be years...but the state is changing.

[Renae.Lupini]

What sways the votes in VA is once you get away from the northern third of the state it is all rural god-fearing folk who don't like all this gay rights and what have you. Those are the people that are going to keep this state in the dark ages for a long time. Once northern VA and south-eastern VA meet. then some radical change will take place. Or when I get voted in as a Senator
lol

[Melissa]

I told ya

Yeah, there's some nice laws going into effect lately here in the northwest.  Look out for some new ones in Oregon.

Don't forget to include Washington in your list of existing states with gender identity laws.

[seldom]

What sways the votes in VA is once you get away from the northern third of the state it is all rural god-fearing folk who don't like all this gay rights and what have you. Those are the people that are going to keep this state in the dark ages for a long time. Once northern VA and south-eastern VA meet. then some radical change will take place. Or when I get voted in as a Senator
lol

Taking how many condo and apartment buildings are going up in Arlington, Falls Church and Alexandria the population in this area is set to double in the next five to ten years, maybe even triple.  It is almost impossible to drive a mile without seeing a high rise apartment or condo building go up.  I will tell you right now, most of the people moving into these places are not conservatives, in fact the population skews heavily to the left.  Columbia Pike alone is set for major high rise expansion along the entire cooridor, and there is thinking that Arlington may end up surpassing DC in terms of population because there is more room to build (upwards). 
The old southern conservative part of Virginia is not growing, especially not this fast. 

This part of the state has already pushed Webb into office.  I would not be surprised if this is the start of a trend. 

Oh Add Vermont to the list!  Not surprising move from the civil unions state!

[Renae.Lupini]

I live almost in Stafford county so I will get to deal with a lot of the backward redneck views of some. PWC still has a long way to come before we are in tune with the rest of northern VA.

[seldom]

Add Conn. to the list!

This is the biggest year by far for anti-discrimination legislation.
Thank NTCE, Lambda and Equality!  As well as the support of SEIU and AFSCME (two progressive unions, both of which have been vocal supporters). 
Without them, we would not be making these huge leaps!