Virginia: The CROWN Act (HB1514)
Adopted: March 2020 Bill Number: HB1514 Governor: Ralph Northam Status: Enacted
Virginia became the first Southern state to enact CROWN Act protections when Governor Ralph Northam signed HB1514 in March 2020. The bill amends the Virginia Human Rights Act to include hair texture and protective hairstyles as characteristics protected from discrimination.
Key Provisions
Virginia Human Rights Act amendment. HB1514 expands the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, specifically hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locs, and twists.
Employment and public accommodation. The amendment covers employment decisions, housing, public accommodation, and educational settings within Virginia.
Enforcement. The Virginia Division of Human Rights and the Office of Civil Rights gained jurisdiction over hair-related discrimination complaints.
Virginia Context
Virginia’s adoption was particularly significant as the first enactment in a Southern state. With approximately 1.6 million Black residents, Virginia has a deep history of racial discrimination and civil rights struggle. The state’s adoption of hair discrimination protections represents a continuation of its evolution on civil rights issues.
Northern Virginia’s position as a major employment centre for the federal government and defence contractors made the legislation relevant to a large workforce with formal grooming standards. Virginia’s military-adjacent culture, where strict grooming requirements have historically disadvantaged individuals with textured hair, added particular urgency.
The adoption in a politically moderate Southern state demonstrated that the CROWN Act movement was not limited to traditionally progressive coastal jurisdictions. This geographic expansion was critical for establishing the movement’s national character and building toward the broader adoption seen in the timeline.
For analysis of the data that informed these legislative decisions across states, see Data Behind the CROWN Act.
For detailed legal analysis of Virginia’s CROWN Act provisions, contact contact@crown.ngo.