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RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s new paid family leave law will give domestic violence survivors something many say they have never had before: time, protection, and a pathway to safety.

Starting in December 2028, eligible workers in Virginia will be able to take paid leave not just for family or medical needs, but also for what the law calls “safety services” tied to domestic violence or abuse. That could include attending court hearings, accessing protective orders and creating a safety plan.

Rupa Murthy, CEO of YWCA Richmond, said the new law is a huge step forward for survivors trying to rebuild their lives.

“This is a moment in history that Virginians will never forget,” Murthy said.

“Even on their darkest day, they have this moment, this bright spot to be able to reduce that barrier to ensure that they can stay employed and seek safety,” Murthy said.

The YWCA says financial abuse is one of the most common forms of control survivors experience. Many victims rely on shared bank accounts or fear eviction and homelessness if they leave.

Murthy says she often sees people forced to choose between their paycheck and their safety.

“Many times, survivors are losing their jobs immediately when they leave a domestic violence situation,” Murthy said. “They can’t go to work, they don’t show up for a shift, they lose their job. This law is going to change that.”

While advocates praise the legislation, they say additional resources are still needed to support victims — especially with the YWCA seeing a 25% increase in survivors needing sheltering services this year. The organization is now working alongside local leaders to develop a Family Justice Center in Richmond, designed to help people access legal, medical, and counseling services in one place.

For now, advocates hope the new law sends a clear message to survivors across Virginia.

“They are not alone. This entire state is behind them,” Murthy said.

Although the paid family leave program does not begin until 2028, advocates say education and outreach between now and then will be critical to helping employees and employers understand how the new protections work.

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MONROE, La. (KNOE) – On June 12, 1967 the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that would strike down any ban on interracial marriage. The case was Loving v. Virginia, and the subject was Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act.

Two Virginia residents, Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter, were married in Washington, D.C. in June of 1958 where there was no ban. Richard was white, Mildred was black. They returned to their home state of Virginia and established a home in Caroline County.

That October, a grand jury issued an indictment on the Lovings charging them with violating the Virginia Racial Integrity Act. The couple pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a year in prison. The trial judge suspended their sentence on the condition the Lovings leave Virginia and not return together for 25 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Loving moved to the District of Columbia. On November 6, 1963, they filed a motion in state court saying the judgement had violated their rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. When no decision had been made by October, 1964, they started a class action suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

When the state trial judge refused to throw out their sentences, they continued their appeals until it reached the United States Supreme Court.

On June 12, 1967, the Supreme Court handed down the ruling that the Lovings’ convictions must be reversed. Their unanimous decision included this opinion:

“These statutes also deprive the Lovings of liberty without due process of law in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.”

“The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State.”