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Spanberger Appoints Equality Arlington Founder, Sparks Conservative Backlash

6/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed Equality Arlington founder Kellen MacBeth to the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.
The 26-member board must include at least 15 LGBTQ+ members and retains conservatives appointed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Conservatives denounced the appointment while challenger Winsome Earle-Sears aired ads claiming Spanberger backs children changing gender without parental notice.
The ads also misrepresented Spanberger’s vote for the Equality Act, which does not regulate school sports participation.

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Story summary

Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed Equality Arlington founder Kellen MacBeth to the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.
The 26-member board must include at least 15 LGBTQ+ members and retains conservatives appointed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Conservatives denounced the appointment while challenger Winsome Earle-Sears aired ads claiming Spanberger backs children changing gender without parental notice.
The ads also misrepresented Spanberger’s vote for the Equality Act, which does not regulate school sports participation.