Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signs contraception bills and appoints LGBT activist to advisory board

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed two statewide bills expanding access to reproductive healthcare in Virginia. The Right to Contraception Act guarantees the right to obtain and use birth control, while the Contraception Equity Act requires health‑insurance plans to cover contraception, including some over‑the‑counter products. The legislation was signed at a ceremony in Occoquan Regional Park and is intended to protect reproductive freedoms and reduce cost barriers.

Separately, Governor Spanberger appointed Kellen MacBeth, a known LGBTQ activist, to the state’s LGBTQ advisory board. MacBeth, former leader of the Equality Arlington nonprofit, has opposed legislation limiting girls’ bathroom protections. The advisory board, created by the prior administration, must have at least 15 of its 21 non‑legislative members identify as LGBTQ+. Critics say the appointment signals a shift toward more progressive policies on gender‑identity issues in Virginia.