News & Commentary

So, during Pride month, I hope you will join me in celebrating all we have accomplished and remembering the activists who got us here. We must also recognize that we are still fighting for the most basic of human rights for LGBTQ+ people.

Before you bust out the weed thinking that marijuana is fully legal, you should know your rights. We’ve got a rundown of what you can – and can’t – do under Virginia’s new laws.

When the General Assembly approved the final amendments to the marijuana bills on Wednesday and put legalization over the finish line, we celebrated. But we are keenly aware of the faults in these bills and know that our work is far from over.

We condemn white supremacy, those who perpetrate it, and those who are complicit–including the outgoing president, who has consistently sought to undermine the will of the people and subvert the peaceful transfer of power.

This op-ed was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Dec. 19, 2020. Ashna Khanna is the ACLU-VA's legislative director. Chelsea Higgs Wise is the executive director of Marijuana Justice.

Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, is an opportunity to deepen a culture of philanthropy in our communities. The spirit of Giving Tuesday goes beyond the number of donations made. It’s about each and every one of us chipping in and throwing our support behind a worthy cause. It’s an attitude, a resolution and a groundswell of hope that together, we will be able to go far and build a more equitable society for all.

The special session – which ran longer than regular sessions – is finally ending. The session was convened for two purposes:

Americans have exercised their right to vote, the votes were counted, and it appears that Joe Biden has won the presidential election.

The goal of any democratic election is to represent the will of the people, and to achieve that goal, we must count every single vote. Every Virginia voter’s voice deserves to be heard. Let’s prepare for an extended election process to make sure that happens.