Virginia Pride Guide 2019

BETTY WHO

PRIDE VA PRIDEFEST 2019 MAIN STAGE HEADLINER

BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD!

GUIDE 2019

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

ERS OF PARTN SS E P RO G R

The 2019 Nissan Rogue®

In the shared spirit of progress, Nissan proudly supports the LGBTQ community on the road to equality.

NissanUSA.com/Pride Always wear your seat belt, and please don’t drink and drive. © 2019 Nissan North America, Inc. BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD!

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

Love makes a family.

Proud to support PrideFest 2019.

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Diversity makes for a better cocktail party.

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

Celebrating Differences At Altria, we seek and value differences in people to drive our companies' success. That's why we're working to create a culture where diversity is celebrated in our employees, communities and suppliers, and where everyone feels welcome and encouraged to contribute.

Altria salutes Virginia Pride. Because we know that what makes us different can make us all stronger.

Take a closer look at Altria.com. Š

BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! Altria Group, Inc. 2019

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HUMANITY. IT TAKES ALL KINDS.

Visit the Lyft tent at PrideFest on September 28, 2019, or ask a community associate for more details #TwoIsTooFew 8

VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

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Your will can break any barrier.

You have the power to redefine what’s possible and your journey has inspired others. We call that being empowerful. 50 years ago, Stonewall began a movement to push the world forward, and your courage continues to pave a path. As you relentlessly strive for equal access and the opportunity to flourish financially, Wells Fargo walks right beside you helping to make it happen.

You’ve come this far. We can help you go further.

Learn how at:

wellsfargo.com/empowerful

© 2019 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. IHA-25045

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empowerful VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

Drink Sensibly.

JACK DANIEL’S and OLD NO. 7 are registered trademarks. TENNESSEE HONEY and TENNESSEE FIRE are trademarks owned by Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. ©2019 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey 40% Alcohol by Volume (80 proof). Whiskey Specialty, 35% Alcohol by Volume (70 proof). Distilled and Bottled by JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

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PROUD ALLY OF EQUALITY, ACCEPTANCE, & INCLUSION We are proud to support the LGBTQIA+ community and Pride throughout Virginia and beyond.

AllianzRVA.com 12

400006785_071219 VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

Celebrate you. We will, too.

Get a quote. Tell us about yourself.

Pick a car insurance policy that works for you.

How much could you save? geico.com | 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. GEICO is a registered BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2019 GEICO

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Together with our partners we have the power to make a difference. Bank of America is proud to continue our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion by partnering with the Ad Council’s Love Has No Labels campaign to build a more inclusive world for everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality, disability or religion.

To celebrate the diversity in your life, tag @bankofamerica and share a photo or message with #LoveHasNoLabels on Instagram or Twitter. Learn more about the ways we’re supporting diversity and inclusion at bankofamerica.com/inclusion.

What would you like the power to do?® ©2019 Bank of America Corporation. | GMCA-235-AD | ARTPN9C7

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

Your confidence inspires us all.

SunTrust wishes all of Virginia a safe and happy PrideFest 2019!

©2019 SunTrust Banks, Inc. CONFIDENCE STARTS HERE, SUNTRUST and the SunTrust logo are trademarks of SunTrust Banks, Inc. All rights reserved.

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VA PRIDE BOARD LETTER Dear Friends — On behalf of the Board of Directors of Virginia Pride, it is my honor to welcome you to VA Pridefest 2019 presented by Capital One! Our team of volunteers has been hard at work over the last year to plan what we hope will be the biggest and best Pridefest RVA has ever seen!

Our theme this year, “Rise Up!”, is meant to convey both a sense of resilience and of resistance. Our community has made tremendous progress in the fifty years since the Stonewall riots in New York gave much-needed momentum to the fight for LGBTQ equality.

Today, lesbian and gay couples are able to legally marry and our relationships are no longer illegal. Many states now prohibit LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation. These advancements are the result of decades of work by brave people who had the courage to stand up against hate and bigotry, and to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude. But our progress has also been marked with tremendous pain, including the devastation of the AIDS epidemic and waves of violence against transgender people, especially trans women of color. Nevertheless, through it all, we’ve stood strong, banded together and pressed forward.

The work that began all those years ago is not yet finished, as our 2019 Firework Award recipient, Ted Lewis, well-knows. Established in 2015, Virginia Pride’s Firework Award recognizes people or organizations that are catalysts of change for the LGBTQ community.

Ted, personally and professionally, is changing the Richmond-region every day through their leadership of Side by Side and by courageously living their life as openly non-binary.

The impact of Ted’s advocacy can be seen in more LGBTQ-inclusive policies for our schools and in some of our region’s biggest employers. Thanks to Ted’s vision, passion and determination, the Richmond region is becoming safer and more welcoming for LGBTQ people. I encourage you to read more about Ted and their work in this Pride Guide.

2019 also marks the 40th anniversary of the first pride event in Richmond. In 1979, the Lesbian and Gay Pride Day was part of a burgeoning national movement of pride marches and festivals that grew out of the Stonewall riots a decade earlier. Today, our Pridefest is a much different event. It is one of the biggest outdoor festivals in our region, attracting more than 30,000 people and its mood is one of joy and celebration. It is supported by dozens of Richmond’s biggest companies, all of which have policies that support and encourage diversity and inclusivity. While Pridefest is the embodiment of the progress or community has made, let it also be an event at which we all commit ourselves to finish the work that was started all those years ago. We cannot and must not rest until every LGBTQ person is treated equally and fairly, without fear of discrimination or violence.

But today, stand proud of who you are as a person and who we are as a community. Rise up in honor of those who’ve come before us. Rise up in celebration of our hard-won rights and opportunities. Rise up in defiance of those who wish to do us harm. And, rise up and commit to the work that lies ahead. Rise up!

In community,

James R. Millner II President, VA Pride

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019 VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

VIRGINIA PRIDE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT

STEPHANIE BROWN

ROBERT DVORAK

MAUREEN SCOTT

RICH FORRESTER

BRANDON HORTON

LORI NEWS

JON MELVIN

JAMAL BROOKS

JAMES MILLNER

TREASURER

SECRETARY

JAMIE THOMSON BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

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P R I D E VIRGINIA PRIDE GUIDE 2019 WWW.VAPRIDE.ORG/PRIDEFEST JOHN REINHOLD PRESIDENT DREW NECCI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOHN REINHOLD JUSTIN MCCLUNG ACE PATEL ADVERTISING ERIC HAUSE ASH GRIFFITH WYATT GORDON ALLISON TOVEY ALEXANDER RUDENSHIOLD DREW NECCI CONTRIBUTORS SARA WHEELER PHOTOGRAPHY FACEBOOK.COM/VIRGINIAPRIDE TWITTER.COM/@VA_PRIDE INSTAGRAM/VAPRIDE #VAPRIDE #VIRGINIAPRIDE2016 SOCIAL VA PRIDE GUIDE 2019 PRINTED LOCALLY BY CONQUEST GRAPHICS BETTY WHO COVER PHOTO PUBLISHED 2019 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INKWELL VENTURES PUBLISHER OF RVA MAGAZINE & GAYRVA

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VA PRIDE 2019 MAP 26

20 YEARS OF DIVERSITY RICHMOND

BY ASH GRIFFITH 34

THE FREEDOM OF DRAG: ONGINA’S CHARISMATIC EVOLUTION

BY ALLISON TOVEY 42

THE HOUSE OF HASHI: SHABLAMING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

BY WYATT GORDON 50

NO GENRE, NO GENDER: LGBTQ MUSIC IN RICHMOND THRIVES

BY ALEXANDER RUDENSHIOLD 58

VA PRIDE FIREWORK AWARD HONOREE TED LEWIS PROVIDES CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR VA’S LGBTQ YOUTH

BY MARILYN DREW NECCI 60

VIRGINIA IS FOR QUEER LOVERS, TOO!

BY ERIC HAUSE

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST PRIDEFEST 2019 2019 VIRGINIA

BE SAFE, HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE.BELIVE PROUD.

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5TH ST 7TH ST

LYFT DROP-OFF & PICK-UP 7TH & CANAL ST

ENTRANCE

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ENTRANCE

TICKET SALES

SIDE BY SIDE YOUTH PRIDE PAVILION presented by CARMAX

SPONSOR LOUNGE

BY BELLE ISLE MOONSHINE

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ATM

BEER, WINE, & LIQUOR

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

TOILETS

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FOOD

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NISSAN PARTNERS OF PROGRESS MAIN STAGE

INFORMATION

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ENTRANCE

*SPACES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

VENDOR LIST FOOD

ORANGE

- ESPRESSO A GO GO - WESTRAY’S FINEST ICECREAM - GOATOCADO - HAPPY EMPANADA - PINA COLADA PERUMEX - B&B KETTLEKORN - GRADUATE RICHMOND - ASIAN TASTE - NADER’S - MACBRAND FOODS - TRI CITY CONCESSIONS - KING OF POPS

- EMBRACE TREATMENT FOSTER CARE - VEGAN ACTION - UR LGBTQ CAMPUS LIFE - RICHMOND WINDOW - EQUALITY VIRGINIA - TELEPERFORMANCE - RAINBOW LOVE - KATIE BLUE SALON - DOMINION ENERGY GREEN POWER - SAFE HARBOR / YWCA - THE CHANGE PROJECT - HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MADE EQUAL - HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN - GC2B - THE MOROCCAN CRAFT - LGBT DEMOCRATS OF VIRGINIA - PLANNED PARENTHOOD - SUN DAME - BOHO STUDIOS - COMCAST XFINITY - FCKH8 - ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH - FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND - VOCAL - RICHMOND TRIANGLE PLAYERS - PRIME TIMERS OF CENTRAL VA - RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH - LYFT

RED - RAINBOW ISLAND - THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER - MINORITY VETERANS OF AMERICA - ST. JOHN’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST - SHENANDOAH LGBTQ CENTER - VOTE LIKE A GIRL - AMERICAN ATHEISTS / BLACK NONBELIEVERS - INDIA AND DAISY SYES - ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION - LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF VIRGINIA - RICHMOND BLACK WIDOWS - FARMVILLE PRIDE - HENRICO DEPT. SOCIAL SERVICES - KIDSPEACE FOSTER CARE - RICHMOND CITY HEALTH DISTRICT - NATIONZ FOUNDATION RV

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

YELLOW

GREEN

- RICHMOND TRANSFORMERS - RIVER CITY ROLL - NEXTGEN CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE - EMIZART - MOM’S DEMAND ACTION - RICHMOND CITY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE - EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS - AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION - ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH - VIRGINIA BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION - MCKESSON MEDICAL-SURGICAL - KEHILLAH - THE RAW AURA - VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF HISTORY + CULTURE - DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES - VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION - AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - HENRICO COUNTY POLICE DIVISION - STONEWALL SPORTS - JAMES RIVER TRANS SOCIETY - DOMINION ENERGY - DIVERSITY RICHMOND - LATTER-DAY LESBIAN PODCAST - YOUR CBD STORE - ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL - SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - FBI - ELISE’S PIECES - IMPERIAL COURT OF WASHINGTON DC - RICHMOND SHERRIFF DEPARTMENT - VCU RECREATIONAL SPORTS - CLOCKTOWER REALTY GROUP - STEWIE’S GOT PRIDE

- Q94 - RICHMOND CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT - VCU OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS - ACLU OF VIRGINIA - RICHMOND LGBTQ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - TITO’S VODKA - HELPING HANDS VET SURGERY - RICHMOND FRIENDS MEETING - NBC-12 - THE VALENTINE - NATIONZ FOUNDATION - ELEPHANT AUTO - WELLS FARGO - YOUR WHOLE BODY - PFLAG OF RICHMOND - VENTURE RICHMOND - EAB - RICHMOND ARTS DISTRICT - T-MOBILE - JES FOUNDATION REPAIRS - HEALTH BRIGADE - DODSON PROPERTY MANAGEMENT - QUIRK HOTEL - WE THE PEOPLE CLOTHING

YOUTH PRIDE PAVILION - SPARC/SPECTRUM - UNITERIAN UNIVERSALIST COMMUNITY CHURCH - BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS - NAMI / YOUTH MOVE VIRGINIA - PARROTS OF PARADISE - YMCA - SIDE BY SIDE - HE SHE ZE + WE - ART 180 - HENRICO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY - BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF METRO RICHMOND - AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - CARMAX

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BLUE - CAPITAL ONE - MCC RICHMOND - OUTRVA - CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE DEPT. - RICHMOND LESBIAN-FEMINISTS - BREMO PHARMACY - GAY FATHER’S COMMUNITY OF RVA - SUNTRUST - VIRGINIA POLYAMORY - KOLORSPUN PINS PURPLE - JACK DANIELS - CUPCAKE VINEYARDS - NISSAN - GEICO - BANK OF AMERICA - ALLIANZ - ALTRIA - AMTRAK - VCU HEALTH - VMFA - GENWORTH - GAY RVA - RICHMOND MAGAZINE - COSTAR

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Thank You to Our 2019 Sponsors

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

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1999 was a wild year. Britney Spears had a hit song on the charts, Wayne Gretzky retired, Y2K was a real fear, and blue eyeshadow was still okay. But most of all, a very important landmark in Richmond’s history was planted in the earth and cobblestone: Diversity Richmond was established.

had at the time on Arthur Ashe Boulevard.

Since its establishment at the end of the 90s, Diversity Richmond has expanded in many areas -- not just floor space.

Diversity Thrift in particular has long been one of the go-to safe havens for Richmond’s LGBTQ community. It is one of the few thrift stores that donate proceeds to the LGBTQ community, as opposed to the more conservative-leaning organizations like Goodwill or Salvation Army. And when the organization known as the Richmond Gay Community Foundation began to feel that their name presented an outdated and less inclusive idea of their brand, it became an inspiration.

Originally known as The Richmond Gay Community Foundation until a rebranding, Diversity Richmond was the brainchild of a man named Jon Klein. Seeing a desperate need for the LGBTQ community to have a space to come together in Richmond, Klein started with what would become Diversity Thrift. The inspiration came from seeing other LGBTQ stores around the country.

“I read in The Advocate about the ‘Out of the Closet’ thrift stores in Los Angeles that were “The word ‘gay’ is an antiquated term, bringing in over a million dollars a year,” said [and it] is not inclusive,” said Diversity Richmond President and Executive Director Klein. “I thought, ‘We need to do this here.”

Bill Harrison. “We decided to rebrand, so we Klein admitted that not only was the hired two women -- Lisa Cumbey and Kim community response overwhelming, but they Farlow -- [who] orchestrated our rebranding also quickly outgrew the 45-foot space they effort. They presented us with about seven 26 26

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20 YEARS OF

DIVERSITY RICHMOND

BY ASH GRIFFITH

PHOTO BY SARA WHEELER

different names and ‘Diversity Richmond’ was “We always had an art gallery here, but it had unanimously chosen by the board.” been dark for several years so we brought that back as part of the rebranding,” said Harrison.

The list of things that the center has been “It’s the only art gallery in the South -- and one able to accomplish over its 20 years operating of the few in the country -- whose main mission in Richmond is lengthy. Diversity regularly focus is to support LGBTQ artists and allies. offers other non-profits in the area the use of We have a different show about every two their meeting space, and Richmond Triangle months, and that’s been very well-received by Players has also used the space as a rehearsal the community.” hall from time to time.

As a community center, naturally the central “Rarely does a night pass that this building focus is on what can be done to help the is not filled to capacity with different community. Harrison specified that a massive organizations using our rooms for free,” said part of what makes Diversity Richmond so Harrison. successful is being what they call “missiondriven.”

By offering a meeting space for use by other non-profits, Diversity Richmond does a “The way I word it, we grab every opportunity massive service to other community groups by we can to help,” said Harrison. “Nonprofits helping them with the most terrifying piece of have to be careful to stay on mission, because most puzzles -- the bills. Keeping the lights on when you try to become everything to and offering space for meetings and storage everybody, it’s easy to go out of business.” saves these groups a lot of money, which they otherwise would have had to spend on basic While Diversity has been through and utilities. accomplished a lot, one recent accomplishment that Harrison is particularly proud of is a Another thing at hand that Diversity holds simpler and more TLC-based step: Diversity close to its heart is the beautiful Iridian Thrift was able to receive a much-needed Gallery. One of the only LGBTQ art galleries facelift. in the American South, this gallery has played host to a variety of artists and creators, “The thrift store has a completely new look, including Richmond illustrator Mattie Hinkley, [including] new flooring,” Harrison said. “It Savannah-based artist Ben Tollefson, a looks better than it’s ever looked, and that’s posthumous retrospective featuring the work something I’m very proud of.” of Richmond legend J. Alan Cumbey, and a queer quilting bee by Invasive Queer Kudzu.

It is undeniable that Richmond is much different and better off than it would have been if we BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

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process, but we’re getting there,” said Harrison. “One of our main focuses, starting last year, is addressing racism in the LGBT community. We have had several community conversations on that. Recently, we have received a grant from The Laughing Gull Foundation to do intentional work on racism, and the first step is training for our board of In 2016, after the Pulse Nightclub massacre, directors and our senior directors. there was a community outcry to hold a vigil for those lost. Diversity was able to put We started that at our August board meeting, together a candlelight vigil for the community where we are taking a look in the mirror, and our first workshop was on unintentional in just two days. prejudice -- things white people can do, not “People started immediately calling Diversity realizing how offensive they can be to people Richmond, saying that [we needed to have] of color.” some kind of vigil in [our] event hall,” said Harrison. “We organized that in about 48 While Diversity has accomplished much, hours, and we had about two thousand there is still a long way to go, especially for people here. That was a signal to me that we communities of color. LGBTQ spaces still are heading in the right direction, because I have a tendency to remain very white spaces, do believe that people look toward Diversity andDiversity Richmond wants to turn that around, starting right here in Richmond.

Richmond for leadership. did not have Diversity Richmond. Over the past two decades, it has become a landmark in the city for the LGBTQ community, and its leadership and influence is seen everywhere you go. But regardless of the status it has earned locally, it remains consistent in its call to action.

That’s a privilege and a major responsibility, “I want to hear from the community what we are not doing well,” said Harrison. “You’re not and we take it quite seriously.” going to hurt my feelings, I’m not going to be Living in the heart of the Confederacy is mad. We need to hear that. What is it that something that Harrison and Diversity you are not receiving that you would like to Richmond are very cognizant of; they are receive? I think we’re on the right path, but I constantly thinking about what they can do to think that the community does look to us for leadership.” grow and get better.

As of this year, Diversity Richmond has existed in the Richmond community for 20 years, and what kind of anniversary would it be without a party? On November 21, they will throw an anniversary party for the entire community They’ve done this by pulling in grants, from -- founder Jon Klein will of course be in attendance, and no one could be more excited organizations such as North Carolina-based non-profit The Laughing Gull Foundation, to than him. Humbly, what he is most excited for fund diversity training for its staff and board is seeing old friends. of directors, and workshops to help train the staff and the community. One of the first “I’m looking forward to coming back to things they had to learn was to be aware of Richmond and meeting friends, and hanging your own privilege -- which Harrison admitted out with old friends,” said Klein. “I have a number of old friends I miss rather dearly.” was especially important as a white man.

Diversity Richmond has been a friend to “We have worked very hard on creating a Richmond’s LGBTQ community for the past diverse board of directors, and it is a slow 20 years. Here’s to 20 more!

Being LGBTQ by no means makes people and organizations immune to ignorance or racism, and Diversity is trying its best to stay on track not just to do better, but to be better.

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TH E M ART I N AG E N CY

At The Martin Agency, everyone deserves to be seen.

We’re honored to be a sponsor of Virginia Pride, and an ally to our Richmond LGBTQ+ community.

BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVESAFE, FREE.BE LIVE PROUD.

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EVERYONE BELONGS HERE 30

VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

THERE’S ENERGY IN DIVERSITY. With a talented workforce of over 21,000, we’ve found that bringing all kinds of people together makes us smarter and more innovative. Diversity and inclusion provide an opportunity to strengthen our team and hire from the communities we serve every day.

DominionEnergy.com/Diversity

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costargroup.com

The CoStar Group is a proud sponsor of VA Pridefest. We believe in a workplace where diversity, collaboration, and inclusion are the norm, and where unique perspectives inspire innovation and growth.

RIDE WITH PRIDE.

Amtrak is proud to support Virginia’s Pridefest.

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THE FREEDOM OF DRAG: ONGINA’S CHARISMATIC EVOLUTION

BY ALLISON TOVEY

Small in stature and bursting with star power, RuPaul’s Drag Race standout Ongina will take the stage with pride at the 2019 VA PrideFest.

Ongina, the stage name of Ryan Ong Palao, appeared on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2009, skyrocketing her career and solidifying her status as a bona fide drag legend.

She instantly set herself apart with her inventive, avant-garde fashion and the resilient positivity that she has come to symbolize.

“Ongina is very inspired by fashion and art,” said Ongina. “I normally use my bald head as a canvas for headpieces.

Sometimes I’ll wear wigs, but no hair at all is kind of my trademark as a drag queen.”

Ongina’s resistance towards boxing herself into a specific style of drag is what keeps her moving forward, unbeholden to branding or expectation. Every look she turns out aims to surprise and inspire, and even after decades in the drag spotlight, she never fails to impress.

“Now I’ve evolved to more of a fullfledged drag queen,” Ongina said. “But I’m always trying not to lose too much of my originality; where I’ve come from, how I’ve grown, and what my life has seen, traveled through, and become.”

The evolution of Ongina is evident; she is constantly moving forward, managing a drag career for over a decade without ever stagnating or losing the excitement that originally drew her to drag.

“I always try to challenge myself to elevate my drag and my persona by constantly trying different things and not being afraid of the risks I want to take,” she said. “I always want to do something different, to think outside the box.”

Ongina radiates charisma and stage presence, but making a career out of performing was never something she aspired to until she was launched into the public eye after her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race .

Ongina began experimenting with drag in 2001 by creating genderbending club-kid looks inspired by her immersion in raver culture while growing up in Seattle. It wasn’t until 2005, after she had moved to New York City and was working at the drag queen cabaret restaurant Lucky Cheng’s that she began doing female illusion.

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“I had a really successful career as a visual merchandiser, creating visual aesthetics in retail spaces. Then, I wanted to be an interior designer,” she said. “Drag was something I always did alongside those other things and now, it has evolved into something bigger and more of a business.”

While it has become her career in recent years, Ongina has never lost sight of the joy that brought her to drag in the first place.

“It’s something that I do truly enjoy doing, so it hasn’t felt like a responsibility to stay alive and pay my bills. I find it to still be artistic and fun,” she said. “Drag, for me, is an evolution of inspirations in my head that come from fashion, art, and pop culture. I’m able to translate that into my drag persona in a visual way, and that’s what’s so exciting to me. Drag can be anything; it changes and challenges. I love every aspect of that because I get to create, and creating is what I love to do.”

loves you back. If I love my fans and if they love me back, that means I’m doing something right for them.”

Now, she is bringing drag into the forefront of her life, choosing to focus on drag as a full-time job. Turning a passion into a business can be tricky; it leaves space for stagnation and detachment.

But Ongina takes these challenges on, headpieces first, by always keeping her eye on what’s next. She cites her love of performing to the newest radio hits as one of the ways she focuses on staying on trend... but with a twist that keeps true to her individualism.

“I try to stay relevant by reimagining some of the visual aspects of what I present on social media and in my life,” Ongina said.

“Top 40’s gives me so much inspiration for my drag, to keep it new, fresh, and culturally relevant. I love Top 40’s, anything super fun and high energy. I like to believe I can dance, that I have rhythm. I know I’ll never be a pop princess, so that’s what I emulate on stage.”

Each look Ongina crafts is bursting with innovation and artistry. Pulling from haute couture, visual art, and even interior design, the blending of inspiration and reference points ensure that Ongina’s drag is always new and individual.

Given the breakneck speed of the social media world, relevance is everything. Drag is quickly moving from the underground into the mainstream, and with Drag Race ’s ever-growing audience, queens have more opportunities and bigger fan bases “Being such a visual person and loving than ever before. fashion was my first inspiration, it’s what drew me to drag. And second was “Drag used to be taboo, and it used to be the freedom I feel when I’m in drag and something people didn’t fully understand performing,” she said. “It’s an incredible or accept,” Ongina said. “Now that it’s at the forefront of pop culture and social feeling. It’s such an outlet.” media, the audience is so much bigger, Her performance style, like her personality, and they’re starting to understand more is equal parts bubbly and edgy, effortlessly of what drag is.” dancing through energetic choreography and flirtatiously sauntering across the As drag, and Drag Race , grows in stage, smiling at the cheering crowd. “I get popularity, she works in equal measure nervous. I get excited. I get a rush. I get to grow her audience and appeal to those new to the world of drag, while still exhausted. I get fulfilled,” she said. keeping true to herself and the aesthetic “Performing is one of the best feelings, that propelled her career when she first when you are on stage and the audience appeared on the show.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered on February 2, 2009, marking Ongina’s television debut. Though only appearing in five competitive episodes of the season, she quickly became a fan favorite for her avant-garde runway looks and strong performances in weekly challenges.

“Competing in season one of RuPaul’s Drag Race definitely opened my eyes to what my drag career could become,” said Ongina. “Coming into the competition and seeing the likes of Shannel, Nina Flowers, Tammy Brown -- it gave the perspective for me that drag is truly so multidimensional. It’s not one thing or the other.”

“That really helped in creating Ongina now,” she continued. “I’m able to adopt that mentality andshow people my versatility and the dimensions of drag that I can offer.”

It’s that adaptability and welcoming of change that has made Ongina so exciting to watch. On Drag Race , she demonstrated that she was ready to rise to any occasion and exceed all expectations while doing it. Experimental and endlessly watchable, her time on the show was enough to cement her drag legacy forever.

A defining moment from season one was Ongina speaking out about being HIV positive. In episode four, the queens filmed commercials for Mac Viva Glam, a makeup line that collaborated with RuPaul to create a campaign giving all of the lipstick’s proceeds to funds helping those living with HIV and AIDS. After winning the episode with a whimsical and uplifting commercial, Ongina tearfully revealed her HIV positive status, making for one of the most memorable and emotional points in the history of the show.

Her message of celebrating life spoke to viewers around the world and launched her into a role of advocacy for HIV awareness.

BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

“Coming out as being HIV positive has given me an amazing platform to be somewhat of an accidental activist for HIV and AIDS,” said Ongina. “It’s something I took on and am proud of doing.”

Taking on a more active role in HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy was something she found much easier once she had come out about her own status.

“Because of what happened on my season and coming out, it has helped me to be more open and talk more about the virus,” she said. “At that time in my life, in 2008, there wasn’t a lot of exposure and conversation surrounding HIV and AIDS. Being that I was given this platform, I’m happy to speak on it so I can continue to inspire people. Life truly is a celebration, no matter what unfortunate circumstances come into your life. I think that’s the message I convey in my drag... immersing yourself in what is good in your life, and really celebrating that.”

The joy that Ongina emanates and encourages is palpable. That joy is in her outfits, where artistry and boundlessness create looks full of excitement and love of the craft. That joy is in her smile mid-performance as she shares herself on stage. That joy is in each audience member, new or years-long, invited to join in on the celebration of life that Ongina embodies. Future-focused as ever, Ongina has no plans of slowing down. She has so much more to give, to design, to say, and to explore.

“Now that I am somewhat of a TV personality and working as a drag queen, I aspire to continue working until someone tells me it’s over,” Ongina said. “I’m going to continue working, continue evolving and learning, and challenge myself, so I can showcase the best of me and what I want to give. That’s the goal -- to continue to do what I love. And hopefully the audience loves it as much as I do.”

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HASHI THE HOUSE OF

SHABLAMING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

BY WYATT GORDON

Seldom does the Byrd Theatre witness a standing ovation, but this past Pride Month, the House of Hashi had a 400-person crowd roaring with applause. On the fourth night of queer film series MonGays, Health Brigade sponsored a screening of Paris is Burning .

People from every corner of Central Virginia turned out to see the cult classic on the silver screen for the first time.

However, few knew that VA Pride board member Jamal Brooks had a surprise waiting in the wings.

When Wynter, Ken Ken, Gio, and Chloe strutted down the aisle to the front of the theater, a hush descended over the audience.

As soon as the voguing began, however, everyone was on their feet, staring in awe as each performer brought to life the movement and dance that defined Madonna’s career and electrified a generation. The precision and athleticism of twirls, poses, and death drops can be taken for granted at a ball, where top-notch performers face off with such moves for hours on end -- but for the Byrd Theatre audience, the show was a stunning treat.

This performance birthed the House of Hashi, and marked a rare moment in Virginia in which black, queer, and trans bodies took center stage at one of the city’s most prominent venues.

The importance of taking up space inside a Richmond landmark was not lost on the house’s four members, nor their manager; for them, MonGays was the perfect launching pad to become ambassadors for the Commonwealth’s underground ballroom scene.

Immediately after, Black Pride RVA booked the House of Hashi to perform at both their BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

Youth Dance and Day of Purpose in July. Not long later, the group received an invitation to perform at the 2019 VA PrideFest with headliner Betty Who. But as the bookings pour in, the House of Hashi has not forgotten who they are performing for and why.

Much like Paris is Burning and Pose before them, the shows across the Commonwealth have the ability to use creativity and dance to break down barriers within the LGBTQ community, as well as between queer and straight worlds. By adhering to the intricate customs and rules of the ballroom community during their performances, they have the power to draw audiences into a space where they’d never normally set foot.

Ball culture arose out queer people’s frustration from being constantly shut out of straight spaces. The drag balls of the midtwentieth century, like much else at the time, eventually split in two due to the ubiquitous cultures of racism and transphobia. Black, brown, and trans performers would only sit on the sidelines and get left out of trophy ceremonies for so long. If they wanted to win, they knew they’d have to create their own underground scene.

Ball culture in Richmond goes back, as far as Gio can remember, to at least the late 1990s. None of the performers of the House of Hashi are old enough to know exactly when queer people first began putting on their finest clothes to meet in our capital’s auditoriums, hotel conference rooms, churches, and parking lots. The prejudice of the times and the often-secretive nature of the events precluded their thorough documentation. What everyone can agree on is that some of their best memories were made at Skateland, between the hours of two and seven in the morning.

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From the outside looking in, one may assume that ballroom is little more than improvised dance, flamboyant outfits, and spontaneous bravado; however, that presumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Ball culture is governed by a strict set of customs, rules, and hierarchies, that often feel closer to the royal courts of Victorian England than to modern-day America.

Each ball features an elaborate -- and often ostentatious -- theme, which may range from the Marvel Universe to Gods and Goddesses, or from the patriotism of the Fourth of July to Cartoon Network. Large balls may only take place once a year, while smaller pageants, known as “miniballs,” happen as often as organizers can pull them together.

Each ball begins with an acronym: LSS is the portion of the night when Legends, Statements, and Stars of the scene are called to give a quick preview of their talents, and let the audience know to expect a show.

A ball performer only achieves legendary status, which can never be revoked, after consistently winning in their categories for at least a decade. In the old days, performers often retired after becoming legendary, but in today’s ballroom, Legends increasingly continue to walk and create memorable moments.

The only group above them are Icons -people who made their life as legends while also giving back to their community. Icons are often advocates who fight for equal rights and the health of all queer people, acting as the mothers and fathers of houses and guiding their children to legendary status. “As an Icon, you’re not just walking to win, you’re walking for a purpose,” explains Gio. Below the Legends reign the Statements; ball performers who have a proven record of winning for at least five years. Gio and Wynter othe House of Hashi fall within this category. Having only competed for a couple years, Chloe and Ken Ken sit among the Stars. This final group onsists of competitors who are relatively new to ballroom, but have already made a name for themselves on the circuit. Flagging someone as a Star notifies the community to watch their rise as they compete their way towards becoming a Statement, Legend, or perhaps even an Icon.

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The key to rising through the complex hierarchy of ballroom is to compete in categories. The only thing that remains constant about categories is that there are normally 12 per ball. Beyond that, anything goes. A typical list of categories may include any of the following and more: Female Figure Performance, Face, Schoolboy Realness, Runway, Best Dressed, Labels, Sneaker Versus Sneaker, Sex Siren, Body, Urban Streetwear, Twister, Butch Queen Vogue Fem, and Legendary Performance. Many of the categories are even broken down further to make room for all gender identities.

While it may seem paradoxical that participants choose to receive this intense scrutiny and judgement from their peers -in a world already critical of their existence -- for many performers, success, trophies, and the lavish praise they earn may be the only substantial affirmation they receive for their identity and skills. Before Gio was open with his sexuality, he would sneak off to balls to feel like he fit in. “The ballroom scene was the one place where I could be completely gay and face no judgement, even though I was being judged.”

When Gio first entered the ballroom scene, competitors made all of their own “effects” for signature looks by hand, using sequins, glue guns, and whatever materials they could scrape together. Perhaps due to the increasing popularity of ball culture, today’s outfits are often about showing off the amount of money invested into each effect.

Wowing the crowd is half the battle, and with prizes ranging from $50 to well over $1,000, it makes sense for ballroom professionals to invest in their craft.

“Ballroom requires a lot of free time and money,” Gio explains. “It requires you to be able to travel and have a full team that supports you. It looks so fun, but it really can be a full-time job.

Some people will go to balls counting on winning their categories just so that they can pay their rent for the month. Professional ballroom is a lifestyle.”

Gio (formerly of House Revlon) got brought into ball culture at the age 21, and was groomed for his voguing talents to walk Butch Queen Vogue Fem as well as Realness With A Twist. His natural athleticism and rhythm shine in his work as a dancer, personal trainer, and fitness instructor. A jack of all trades, Gio also gigs as a stylist, designer, and bartender when he’s not VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019 VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

advocating for better access to testing of the group, for Pose fans). Urged on by her and treatment as a Greater Than Aids friends’ high estimation of her wit, Wynter spontaneously competed in Commentator ambassador.

Versus Commentator at a ball in Alabama “Self-expression is key to me,” he said. and took home the grand prize.

“Whatever you want to let out artistically, do it. Whether it’s cooking, sewing, or Combined with her winnings from a voguing acting, you just have to express yourself, category, her haul for the night was a solid because someone out there is going to feel grand. what you’re putting out there and respond Her natural talent for female figure to it. You’re always going to influence performance are clear from her work as a somebody by being yourself.” dancer and hairstylist. She saw her first clip Chloe of House Lanvin started off in the of ballroom performance when she was in world of pageants, and even used to be middle school and was instantly transfixed. the duchess of Nationz. She wanted to do As the current Princess of the DMV region something different to change her brand for the House of Gabana, Wynter isn’t from frilly dresses to “Face” -- the category afraid of responsibility, but the crowd size in which every follicle and pore is inspected expected at VA PrideFest will be a new level to assess perfection. “I walk in Runway and for her.

Face because those categories reflect the things about myself I take pride in,” she “I’m very, very excited to perform this year,” said. “Those two allow me to showcase my she said. “This is so surreal for me. I never would’ve believed I’d one day make it to beauty, hair, skin, and makeup all in one.” such a big stage when I was just voguing Her success in the balls comes from the in my friends’ bedrooms. Ballroom gives expertise she has gained in her business, everybody a chance to express yourself Chloe’s Customs & Cosmetics. Under this and be a part of something, and I want us brand she has built her career as a modeling to be a bridge from the ballroom scene to coach, fashion designer, and makeup artist, mainstream society. I want to continue to let all in one. While her friends consider her people know we’re here.” most famous for her delectable banana pudding, the ballroom scene appreciates the While most house names are derived from fashion names and labels like Balenciaga, full range of her talents.

Misrahi, and Chanel, the group of Gio, Chloe, Ken Ken, also of House Lanvin, cut his teeth Wynter, and Ken Ken chose to call their in the world of performance as the first collective of ballroom ambassadors “Hashi.” male cheerleader at Huguenot High School. It’s a word they came up with equating to “To be the first and only male cheerleader confidence, and banishing all self-doubt. “If required confidence,” he said. “I had just you’re hashi, you are who you are, and you moved here from North Carolina and wanted won’t allow anyone to take that away from you,” explained Wynter. “You know what to make history.” you stand for and where you want to go in His charisma and self-belief serve him well life.” when he competes in Realness, Schoolboy Realness, and Realness with a Twist -- The House of Hashi knows their mission: all variations on a theme of trying not to they want to continue to make ball culture appear too feminine or gay, a skill which to known to people who would never otherwise this day can mean the difference between a get the chance to experience it. “We want safe trip home and being jumped. Outside to help educate people on ballroom,” said of ballroom, Ken Ken lets his creativity Ken Ken. In this aim, their mission bears flow acting at Grace Street Theater, editing a message of inclusivity and acceptance. videos, singing, choreographing, and writing The House of Hashi hopes to grow over poetry. Whatever he does, he does it with the coming months and years to showcase all his heart, declaring, “In ballroom you’re the full diversity of ballroom. Anyone is going to have ten people tell you ‘no,’ so you welcome to audition -- as long as they have better be ready to walk that eleventh time!” the hashi to walk the runway.

Sabrina Wynter Gabana Prodigy serves as the House of Hashi’s commentator, the person who announces, makes beats for, and remarks upon performers (the Pray Tell BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

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HATE has NO BUSINESS HERE. BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD!

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GENRE GENDER

LGBTQ MUSIC IN RICHMOND THRIVES

BY ALEXANDER RUDENSHIOLD

It’s no secret that Richmond is experiencing a musical renaissance right now. Everywhere you look, there’s something happening in every genre: from metalcore to emo, and experimental hip hop to techno. It’s all happening, it’s all connected, and it’s all LGBTQ. While many of the musicians deemed “culturally relevant” at large are the same cookiecutter, cisgender, straight white people that they have always been, Richmond’s 50 50

underground music scene -- like so many others across the United States -- is run and populated by LGBTQ people.

Perhaps the most prominent recent success from the Richmond LGBTQ community is six-piece metalcore collective .Gif From God, who recently signed to Prosthetic Records: an internationally-distributed metal label known for putting out such titans as VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST PRIDEFEST 2019 2019 VIRGINIA

Lamb of God, Gojira, and Animals as Leaders. The band has become notable online not just for their punishing riffs, but also for the reactionary homophobic and transphobic rhetoric they’ve received in response to their music. The band exists in an intersection between different communities of LGBTQ people in Richmond, sharing members between scenes -- most notably vocalist Mitchie Shue, known widely for their post-metal project Truman, and bassist Sofia Lakis, who also regularly DJs techno music.

“I believe the identities I hold directly shape the way I perceive and experience the world,” said Shue. “Most of what I write about in .Gif is in reference to mistakes I’ve made, frustrations I’ve felt, and a deep feeling of intense hopelessness, BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

surrounding the circumstances of my existence and the people I care about.”

Both Shue and Lakis also play guitar in the six-piece “revenge” band Listless, which has recently made appearances at DIY festivals up and down the East Coast.

Shue elaborates that much of the content in both of these bands is focused around holding individuals accountable, and that “actions have consequences, and the ways in which we carry ourselves through the world hold weight and meaning.”

“I feel like these identities have shaped my perspective and experiences in both obvious and imperceptible ways, but at the end of the day, I make music to please my own palette,” said Lakis, an out bisexual trans woman. “I draw inspiration from my environment and my experience of it, and 51 51

that experience is affected by my gender The shows also give back to the local and sexual identity to varying degrees in community, by donating a portion of the proceeds from each show to organizations any given situation.” working towards positive change, like the As a guitarist in Listless, Lakis said that Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project most of her inspiration comes from and the Richmond Doula Project. sources of anger. “A lot is derived from my identity rubbing against the grain Ice Cream Support Group is a collective of my environment, or a self-loathing of electronic artists organized by Angel somberness and resentment stemming Flowers (a.k.a. DJ Archangel), who from dysphoria, disillusionment, and regularly throw dance parties called “Ice trauma.” With .Gif however, she thinks of Cream Socials” as fundraisers for some things as a bit “cheekier,” specifically with of the same organizations supported by regards to the genre typing of the band as Great Dismal. The Socials serve as an important springboard for DJs like Lakis, “sasscore.” a place for them to experiment and find “Sasscore is hard to define in strict their sound. These groups represent a musical terms, but there is a sort of queer- community which, while differing in some connotation to it,” she said. “That goes interests, comes together through the along with certain sounds and tropes that principles of what Shue calls “valuesbasically serve as the hardcore/metal based organizing and mutual aid” -equivalent of ‘camp,’ referring to the coming together around common goals more ‘effeminate’ qualities of some emo/ and, despite their differences, supporting screamo, mixed with a kind of off-kilter one another when they’re able. ‘lol, I’m so random’ humor trafficked by Another vibrant new group on the scene is myspace-era scene kid memes.”

Space Litter Records, a community space On top of all this, Lakis also books a run by Ana Davis and Sawyer Camden, series of electronic music showcases both members of emo band Warrington. under the name “Formula,” aimed at Since starting in February of this year, bringing together the many dance scenes Space Litter has become a hub for DIY in Richmond. She directly credits the organizers across Richmond.

LGBTQ community with the success of these events. “LGBT+ artists were at the They lend their space and time seemingly forefront of this party because we were without limit and book their own shows, the ones facilitating it,” she said. “And to specifically with the intention to highlight a large degree, LGBT+ artists are the ones marginalized voices. Davis explains that leading the charge in the Richmond dance her identity affects the way she books shows, and that she specifically looks to music scene.” book groups which aren’t entirely straight Shue and Lakis find themselves at the and white. “It feels good to see people intersection of two of Richmond’s most performing who might not have had their prominent LGBTQ music communities, parents pay for their instruments and the Great Dismal collective and Ice lessons,” she said. “[People] who make Cream Support Group. Shue, through DIY look and feel different for once.”

Great Dismal, is responsible for many of the most notable offbeat metal and punk On top of affecting Space Litter’s booking shows happening in Richmond booking practices, Camden, a trans man, said that prominent bands like The HIRS Collective his identity affects his songwriting as well (even if indirectly). “I honestly only and Soul Glo. have one song that’s actually about my 52 52

VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019 VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

trans identity, and dealing with that as a human,” he said. “But my identity shapes my whole life, and I sing mostly about my depression and anxieties, with very few songs about love and relationships.

Oftentimes that stems from my ‘gay/trans lifestyle.’”

the music industry is a challenge. “It’s still cis, straight, and white-dominated, and I’m just not around many people like that anymore -- but that’s who’s calling the shots in the music industry, that’s who I have to get the attention of and impress.

It’s discouraging sometimes, for sure.”

Critically, Richmond’s underground hiphop and rap scene is also making major moves, particularly since LGBTQ rapper Alfred. released their latest album LIKE YOU!! on the notable indie label Topshelf Records, in conjunction with the joint Richmond-Brooklyn operation Citrus City Records. They, along with producer/rapper Ty Sorrell and noise rap duo BLVCKPUNX (of which DJ Archangel is a member) are leading a new wave of hip hop artists in Richmond exploring gender and sexuality through classic and experimental forms.

Despite setbacks like policing of DIY venues and closures of venues like Strange Matter, Richmond’s LGBTQ music scene has persisted and thrived, particularly in the past year. There’s a pervading sense of positivity that enmeshes its members, a sense of community that’s uniquely entwined seemingly-disparate genres into one giant web of support.

“I see [Great Dismal and Space Litter] making an effort to make connections across different genres, and bringing people together by simply providing spaces where marginalized people can feel safe and welcomed.” said Judy Hong. “[They] have been so gracious to me by booking and supporting me during my time in Richmond.” Hong, a nonbinary/agender Korean-American and frontperson of indie rock band Baby Grill, and the mastermind behind longstanding label Quiet Year Records, also spoke to the hardships of being a QPOC (queer person of color) in music. “Whether it’s while playing shows, recording, or working with music journalists, the relationships I have with the people around me have largely shaped my experiences.”

They stress that there are a great number of practical issues which limit the access for many marginalized people to participate in this type of music. “Who has the PA, the recording studios, the booking calendars, the online platforms?” they ask. “Who will take me seriously and show they can respect me as a person?” For them, finding ways to connect with people higher up in BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

“Moving to Richmond from Columbia, SC -- four, going on five years ago -- was one of the best things I ever did for myself,” said Lakis, who credits the community here in Richmond with empowering her transition. “The resources provided by local organizations like Health Brigade are what brought me here, seeking residency and a chance to begin some form of medical transition. Along with those resources, I found a community full of the most supportive and generous people I’ve ever met, and I’ve made more friends than I could’ve imagined in a relatively short amount of time.”

Hong’s feelings echo Lakis’s. “I have a lot of love for the queer and trans people of color in Richmond,” they say. “While there’s still a lot of violence against LGBTQ people here (and everywhere), there’s pockets of joy and solidarity that make being here worth everything.”

“Being a queer POC in Richmond is actually sick because there are so many of us around,” said Davis. “It’s nice not to feel like such a freak in a town full of them.”

“Also,” adds Lakis, “it’s a pretty good place for a girl to find a date.”

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VA PRIDE FIREWORK AWARD HONOREE

TED LEWIS PROVIDES CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR VA’S LGBTQ YOUTH

BY MARILYN DREW NECCI

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019 VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

You might know this year’s VA Pride Firework Award honoree, Ted Lewis, from their work as Executive Director for Side

By Side: Richmond’s long-running center for Virginia’s LGBTQ youth. You might know them from their work establishing the LGBTQ Campus Life program at the University of Richmond, or for their locally-focused activism on a variety of issues at the intersection of race, gender, and identity.

But for Lewis, their connection to advocacy goes back much further than that, all the way to their childhood. “I grew up in a family where we talked about identity, politics, race, and difference on a daily basis at the dinner table,” they said. “It definitely informed my activism and my understanding of the world.”

Coming from a multiracial family -- Lewis’s stepfather, who raised them, is AfricanAmerican -- made a huge difference in how they grew up. But their discovery of the field of women’s and gender studies in college was just as important.

“I identify as non-binary and genderqueer, and didn’t really learn about those terms until I started studying feminist and womanist scholars,” said Lewis, who uses they/them pronouns. “I finally felt like there was language to define what I was, that I had never known existed until I was in college.”

Lewis arrived in Richmond in 2012, when they accepted a position as University of Richmond’s Associate Director for LGBTQ Campus Life -- a position they were the first person to hold. But this wasn’t their first time inaugurating an LGBTQ-specific role at a university. “I came to UR from UNCCharlotte, where I was the first Assistant Director For Sexual/Gender Diversity,” BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

they said. “So I had experience being the first person to hold a position.”

And fortunately, they found a strong LGBTQ community waiting for them when they arrived. “At UR, there was a large number of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and administrators who had already been doing LGBTQ work,” they said. “So really, it was stepping in to help coordinate those efforts and give them a little more support and direction. To be quite honest, at UR it didn’t feel like I was the first, because there had been so much work done over the years prior to me ever stepping foot on campus. While I was in a leadership position, none of the progress that I’ve ever been a part of has been solely because of me. There were tons of people working on this.”

This is the sort of fact that many Richmond residents might be surprised to learn about University of Richmond, which has a long history of holding itself somewhat separate from the city around it. “It has a rather conservative history as an institution,” Lewis agreed. “It was Catholic-affiliated for a long time, and still has a chaplain on campus. So that made it sometimes difficult to push the university to change. On the flipside of that, it was a private institution, so change could move significantly quicker; it’s not as if I had to get approval from the General Assembly or the Governors’ office.”

Lewis is proud of the progress UR has made as an LGBTQ-inclusive campus over the past seven years, both under their own leadership and under that of Lee Dyer, who succeeded Lewis in the position in 2017. “What I was most excited about was, in particular, the way 59 59

the institution has shifted, and continues to shift,” they said. “Particularly for transgender and non-binary students. UR has a coordinate college system, which means they have a men’s college and a women’s college under the University of Richmond banner. I was there when the first student who started in the women’s college graduated in the men’s college, was able to transition on campus, be accepted, and get a diploma with his chosen name, before it had been legally changed -- things that I think a lot of times cisgender students don’t think about, because they never have to navigate.”

Side By Side has grown in many ways since Lewis’s arrival three years ago. “We have doubled our operating budget; we have more than doubled the staff,” they said.

“Last fiscal year, we served nearly 450 unique youth with support groups, so we’re seeing a really tremendous growth.”

However, growth alone was not Lewis’s goal when they arrived at Side By Side; they wanted to make sure that the group’s efforts were as effective as possible. “One of my hopes when I came into the role was to evaluate how we serve LGBTQ youth in our community that are in the most need,” they said. “In order to do that, we needed They pointed out that, even years after to start looking intersectionally.” they left, UR still continues to make positive changes, the roots of which Under Lewis’s direction, Intersectionality trace back to their time at the campus. -- an approach to social justice that “The institution as a whole is still trying evaluates the ways in which various to get out of the UR bubble, and be more types of discrimination overlap, and invested and involved in the city,” they can contribute to greater oppression in said. “So it’s really powerful for me to certain groups -- became a core aspect see that this year, UR is hosting Equality of Side By Side’s work. “When I started Virginia’s Transgender Information and at Side by Side, there was only one staff Empowerment Summit (TIES). Even member who was a person of color,” though that hosting is happening long Lewis said. “Not that the organization had after I left, it’s astounding to think about never engaged in race conversations, but I how, when I [arrived] in 2012, that [might don’t think there was an intention around looking at the needs of youth of color, and not] have been able to happen.” specifically black LGBTQ youth.”

After four years at UR, Lewis accepted the position of Executive Director for Side By This realization led Side By Side to seek Side in 2016 -- at a time when the LGBTQ out partnerships not only with LGBTQ youth support and advocacy organization organizations led by people of color, such was still known by its original name, as Nationz Foundation, Virginia AntiROSMY. However, the name change was Violence Project, and Black Pride, but already in the works when Lewis arrived. also with organizations that focused on “My first meeting with board is when they work in minority communities, but weren’t told me they had already selected the new specifically LGBTQ, including Art 180 and identity, and were asking me to shepherd RISE For Youth. “We’ve been intentional about trying to be more intersectional, the change,” Lewis said. specifically around race,” said Lewis.

“This is Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy. This is the South. You 60 60

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can’t, in my opinion, do intersectional work without centering race in that conversation. While other identities are certainly important, race trumps a lot of that in the South.”

Side By Side has also focused on diversity training for various organizations and businesses that work with LGBTQ youth.

Beginning the program with local public school districts, they have taken it in a variety of directions, both geographically and demographically. “We’ve been working primarily in schools, not just in Central Virginia -- we’re in Stafford County, training their leadership as they’ve been in the news, in particular, with some issues with transgender students,” said Lewis.

They explain that Side By Side has also worked with over 400 mental and behavioral health providers around the state, and have given diversity training programs for corporations like Capital One and Altria, as well as local restaurants and a variety of businesses in the hospitality industry. The training programs are in high demand, said Lewis. “We continue to get more and more requests, everyone from local roller derby teams to the hospital to the county government, on how they can be more inclusive of the community.”

The next step for Side By Side, according to Lewis, is a move toward advocacy for change in policies on local and state levels. Their work was instrumental in getting Richmond Public Schools to adopt an LGBTQ-inclusive student code of responsibility earlier this year, and they hope to leverage that progress into more LGBTQ inclusiveness in schools throughout the state.

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“Our hope is to work with RPS this school year to develop inclusive policies that can get passed by the school board, that we can take across Virginia to other districts and other counties,” said Lewis, “and try to make schools more accepting.”

At this point, Lewis just hopes they can keep up with the progress they’ve been making. “We’ve been very busy,” they said. “My hope, for both myself and Side

by Side, is that we can continue to keep pace with our tremendous growth. We are trying to take some bigger swings, if you will, to affect the lives of more young people, not just the ones that are able to make it into the doors of Side By Side.”

In light of all this, it’s no surprise that VA Pride selected Lewis for this year’s Firework Award.

“The award is given to people who are catalysts for change in this community, and we could think of no other person that has done more to change the community for the better, especially for LGBTQ youth,” said VA Pride President James Millner. “Ted is a tremendous role model for so many youths in this community, and we couldn’t be happier that we have the opportunity to recognize them for what they do.”

“I’m really honored by this recognition, and the fellow Firework Award winners are folks that I really admire, so I’m grateful,” said Lewis. “[I] view the award as a recognition of the work that I’ve done, but I also view it as a recognition of the work of Side By Side, and the whole team that we have. So I’m grateful for the community that is willing to step up and work together, in really beautiful ways.”

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VIRGINIA IS FOR QUEER LOVERS, TOO!

BY ERIC HAUSE PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

Fifty years ago, a $100-a-week advertising copywriter named Robin McLaughlin at Richmond’s Martin & Woltz Inc. came up with a new travel advertising concept for a client. The client was the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the concept became the slogan “Virginia is for Lovers.” That slogan is now so iconic that it was voted one of the top ten tourism marketing campaigns of all time

by Forbes Magazine.

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That sort of heady success, however, hasn’t diminished the power of its message of love over those 50 years, and in 2016, our purple-ish state stepped into the modern age by adding a new component to that message: “Virginia is for LGBT Lovers.”

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That year, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s LGBT Tourism Task Force and the Virginia Tourism Corporation publicly acknowledged the economic impact of LGBTQ travelers, and welcomed us to experience the Commonwealth.

There was some kind of kismet at work here. After all, in 1969 -- the same year that Robin Mclaughlin came up with the Virginia slogan -- the Stonewall Riots launched the Gay Rights movement. Back in those days, the LGBTQ community was still on the fringes of society.

While Virginia’s queer population could gather safely at a smattering of bars and other gay-owned businesses, the Commonwealth, to say the least, was not known as a welcoming destination.

That’s all changed. Today’s queer road warriors can find hundreds of self-designated LGBTQ-friendly travel businesses and events in all corners of the Commonwealth. Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Director of Business Development, Wirt Confroy, is the man tasked with putting all the pieces together. He’s worked tirelessly with Tourism’s IT department, businesses, destinations, and event planners to catalogue and present them on the State’s tourism website (Virginia.org/ lgbt).

When asked about what the program means to him, Confroy said, “It’s simple.

LGBT visitors to Virginia now have access to queer-friendlyplaces and experiences.

They have a resource that helps them find the destinations, events, tractions and services that welcome them the most.”

So it is with the progressive efforts of many in mind that we present you with our Fall Queer Travel Guide to the Commonwealth. With Virginia Tourism’s help, we’ve carefully curated travel itineraries built around special events this autumn in three destinations: the Shenandoah Valley, the Eastern Shore, and Richmond. All you need do is gas up the automobile, get a few friends together, and hit the road for your big queer fall vacation in Virginia!

BE SAFE, HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE.BELIVE PROUD.

HEAD FOR THE HILLS: A MOUNTAIN GETAWAY When you think of autumn travel in Virginia, one of the first destinations that comes to mind is Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Valley.

No doubt, leaf-peeping on a crystal clear brisk Blue Ridge day is a timeless exercise. As an extra bonus for queer folk, the Shenandoah is home to many friendly and exciting attractions, events, restaurants, and lodging.

Plan this year’s mountain getaway around the Page County Heritage Festival, the weekend of October 12- 13 in Luray (visitluraypage.com). This year marks the 50 th anniversary of the Festival, and it’s a true slice of small-town farm life with a big-city progressive attitude. Highlights include live entertainment, Shenandoah Valley craftsmen and artisans, a delightful antique farm equipment show, and food. Oh, the food!

After the festival, head into the town of Luray for some exploring. Roadsnacks. com ranked the town as the 8th Gayest Place in Virginia for 2019 based on the percentage of same-sex households, so you’re bound to make some new friends.

The town itself is centered around a beautiful Historic District, but the famous Luray Caverns (luraycaverns. com) are the area’s top visitor attraction.

This U.S. Natural Landmark holds the largest and most popular caverns in Eastern America. From well-lighted paved walkways, explore cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10 stories high, filled with towering stone columns and crystal-clear pools.

If you’re more of a car warrior, take a ride on the nearby Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop (discovershenandoah.com), a compact wine-tasting route that winds through the Northern Shenandoah valley.

Recommended by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, the Loop features seven wineries, a whiskey distillery, antiques, dining, and the gorgeous natural scenery of the Shenandoah National Park.

You can hop off the Loop and onto Skyline Drive (visitskylinedrive.org) at several spots, and it’s worth the detour. MidOctober is prime leaf season, and the 67

parkway has many overlooks with as many eye-popping photo ops as you can stand along its 105-mile length.

WHERE TO STAY: For LGBTQ-friendly lodging in Luray, check out Piney Hill Bed & Breakfast and Cottages (pineyhillbandb.com). Comprised of two private cottages and three guest rooms in the main house (a renovated 1800s farm house), the B&B is gayowned and operated since 2000. It is also consistently ranked as the top inn in Luray each year.

The nearby Shadow Mountain Escape (shadowmountainescape.com) is billed as a romantic couple’s escape, and features modern and authentic European timber cottages adjacent to the Shenandoah National Park. Shadow Mountain is recommended as a Best Place To Stay by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and both properties are located on the Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop.

TAKE A SHORE BREAK: A Seaside Escape If autumn by the sea is more your style, turn your attention east to Virginia’s Eastern Shore (visitesva.com).

It’s probably not the first destination that springs to mind when you think of LGBTQ-friendly travel, but Governor Northam’s home base is a surprisingly progressive place with a thriving queer population, and many LGBTQ-owned and allied businesses. Plus, you can drive the entire length of the Virginia Eastern Shore in about two hours. It’s perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway with great dining, eclectic antiquing and shopping, and exhilarating activities.

For seafood (and all food) lovers, start your visit at Chincoteague’s 47 th Annual Oyster Festival (chincoteagueoysterfestival.com) on October 12. Founded to mark the hallowed arrival of oyster season, the event draws visitors from all over the mid-Atlantic. You don’t have to be an oyster lover to find something good to eat! Come enjoy clam fritters, clam WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK: While chowder, shrimp, hot dogs, hush puppies, exploring Skyline Drive, satisfy your appetite at Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room Boardwalk fries, and a cold beer. (goshenandoah.com). Located right Get your hands dirty on a boat tour of off Skyline Drive near Luray, Pollock’s specializes in Blue Ridge specialties made the waters surrounding Chincoteague with Captain Barry’s Back Bay Cruises with farm-to-fork ingredients and served Expeditions (captainbarry.net). But be with incredible views of the Shenandoah prepared to get wet. On this cruise, you’ll Valley. dig for clams, pull crab pots, and haul in a trawler net to see what delights King In the mood for a true special-occasion Neptune has to offer. dining experience? Make a reservation at the Inn at Little Washington Run with the wild horses and take a tour (theinnatlittlewashington.com). The with Assateague Explorer’s Pony Express 2019 Michelin Guide awarded The Inn (assateagueexplorer.com) nature tours. three stars, the only restaurant in the You’ll be assured at least a glimpse Northern Virginia region to receive the of the famous equestrian population honor.

-- or choose to be the captain of your own ship, and drift away on one of Just a few miles away, you’ll find a Southeast Expeditions’ kayak tours completely different dining experience (southeastexpeditions.com). at The Edinburgh Mill Restaurant (edinburgmillrestaurant.com). Located in an 1848 Virginia Historical Landmark, the If the ocean isn’t for you, you can also be the pilot of your own spacecraft with establishment specializes in rustic a visit to the NASA facility at Wallops American style cuisine. And if you’re Island (nasa.gov). Check their website lucky, you’ll catch them on a day when for a schedule of rocket launches, and some kickass local live music is on the time your visit for a truly unforgettable calendar.

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experience. Shop ‘til you drop at the hundreds of unique retail opportunities on the Shore (visitesva.com).

You can spend an entire day exploring the small towns and antique stores, flea markets, farmer’s and fish markets, art galleries, and specialty boutiques located on or just off the main highway.

WHERE TO STAY: The charming Garden and Sea Inn (gardenandseainn.com) is just a few miles from Chincoteague.

Transgender-owned and operated, the Inn is actually comprised of one modern home and two historic farmhouses that date back to the 1800s. The Inn is petfriendly and sits on five gated acres of land, so there’s plenty of room to walk the dog.

If the sound of gentle waves luring you to sleep each night is your groove, Key West Cottages (chincoteaguekeywestcottages. com) in Chincoteague is your spot. This charming row of modern pastel-hued cottages line the waterfront in the heart of downtown. Each cottage has a full kitchen and waterfront views, and all are within walking distance of the town’s restaurants, shopping, and attractions.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK: When visiting the ocean, you want a taste of the ocean, and the Eastern Shore’s dining scene does not disappoint. The Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague (theislandhouserestaurant.com) has it all: fresh local seafood, award-winning Eastern Shore crab cakes, and a gorgeous view of Virginia’s barrier islands. Bring your boat!

Slips and fuel are available.

Experience dockside dining a la the Keys at Mallards at the Wharf in Onancock (mallardsvamd.com). Johnny Mo, the musical chef, serves up his “all crab” crab cakes, famous jalapeño mussels, and mouthwatering filet mignon. You might even catch him strumming his guitar for guests!

BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

Or head south to Cape Charles for a bayfront fine dining experience at Oyster Farm at Kings Creek (theoysterfarmatkingscreek.com), a casual oyster/raw bar and cocktail lounge.

Flip flops and shorts allowed. Astounding sunsets are always on schedule.

MAKE IT A CAPITAL AFFAIR: Fall Fun in Richmond So the rural thing isn’t your cup of iced tea? Head to the Capital City for a totally urban experience. Richmond sometimes takes it on the chin for lacking in the diversity department, but we disagree. For example, in October 2019, two fantastic events celebrate the city’s distinct rainbow hue.

On October 5, come explore your inner Latin diva at the Viva RVA! Hispanic Music Festival (diversityrichmond.org).

This exciting celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month honors Virginia’s Latinx LGBTQ community. Viva RVA! is a free family-friendly event at Diversity Richmond, and features authentic Hispanic music, food, dancing, and live music.

The Richmond Folk Festival (richmondfolkfestival.org) on downtown Richmond’s waterfront is the following weekend, on October 11-13. The festival presents the very finest traditional musical artists from across the nation, with 25 performances ranging from bluegrass and Cajun to Indian and African music. Don’t forget to head over to the Festival Marketplace, and shop authentic crafts from over 20 international artisans.

Festivals aren’t the only way to taste the Richmond rainbow. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (virginiahistory. org) does a great job of cataloguing America’s diverse past by interpreting the unparalleled story of Virginia. In fact, their signature exhibition The Story of Virginia recently added an LGBTQ chapter to the 16,000 years of Virginia history it covers.

While we’re on the museum tour, a visit to the nearby Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (vmfa.museum) is a must. But be prepared: there’s a lot to see, and you’ll 69 69

want to see it all. In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently declared the Museum a two-day affair. With over 5,000 years of art from around the world, take your time to explore exhibitions ranging from Fabergé and Russian Decorative Arts to their most recent addition, Edward Hopper and the American Hotel.

If you still have the strength, head over to Carytown (carytownrva.com) for some of the most eclectic shopping and dining in RVA. The heart of Richmond’s gayborhood is only one street long, but you’ll be surprised at the variety of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and food stores in this nine-block shopping area. Don’t forget to check the schedule at the Byrd Theatre (byrdtheatre.org). In the past, the Byrd has presented LGBTQ programming with icons such as John Waters and their popular MonGays Movie Festival during Pride month.

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WHERE TO STAY: The Quirk Hotel (destinationhotels.com) in downtown Richmond lives up to its name. With its original artwork, eclectic design sensibility, and location in the middle of downtown Richmond’s Arts District, it is indeed out of the ordinary. Voted by US News and World Report as one of the country’s top hotels for 2019, Quirk is an experience that will please even the most jaded traveler.

For a more traditional Richmond experience, stay at the Linden Row Inn (lindenrowinn.com). This National Register hotel is comprised of seven row houses, built in the mid-1800s and meticulously restored. Guest rooms are furnished with antiques from the middle and late 1800s.

Trivia alert: Edgar Allan Poe spent his childhood playing in the hotel’s garden courtyard.

VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019 VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK: We have one word for you, and it’s French: L’Opossum (lopossum.com). Chef David Shannon will tell you that his definition is “tongue-in-cheek faux French presented as delightful whimsy on the menu, but seriously delicious cuisine on the plate.”

Gay-owned and operated, L’Opossum was named the Southern Living Magazine’s 2018 Best Restaurant. In the whole South.

If Southern home cooking makes your stomach growl, take a seat at Weezie’s Kitchen (weezieskitchen.com) in Carytown. This is lip-smacking fare at its most fattening and delicious.

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, a meal at Weezie’s is a culinary experience of its own. Scott’s Addition Foodie and Arts District is the newest and hippest food and drink destination in town, and this National Historic District has become the brewing center of Richmond. Within walking distance, you’ll find breweries and cideries interspersed with hip lofts and eclectic restaurants.

BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD! LIVE FREE. LIVE PROUD.

If you’re looking for a superb drag brunch, Godfrey’s (godfreysva.com) is the queen. It’s home to Richmond’s most famous drag brunch, with two seatings on Saturday and Sunday. Godfrey’s also doubles as a mixed bar in the evenings and hosts special events most nights.

And if you’re craving a little socializing with your people, Babes of Carytown (facebook.com/babesofcarytown) and Barcode (barcoderva.com) are two of the best queer nightlife spots in town.

Visit VIRGINIA.ORG/LGBT for a comprehensive list of Virginia’s LGBTfriendly travel destinations, businesses, and events.

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BE SAFE, BE HAPPY, BE PROUD!

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Applications for teens interested in the 2019-2020 program are now available at

sparcrichmond.org/spectrum

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From icons to unknowns, pride lives here.

“I think everybody should like everybody.” Andy Warhol

OPEN 365 V I R G I N I A M U S E U M O F F I N E A R T S | 2 0 0 N . A r t h u r A s h e B o u l e v a r d | w w w. V M FA . m u s e u m From the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts permanent collection, Warhol’s Triple Elvis, 1963, silkscreen ink, silver paint, and spray paint on linen, 82 ³⁄8 in. high. Gift of Sydney and Frances Lewis.

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VIRGINIA PRIDEFEST 2019

COME SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT!

RTP’S 27TH SEASON 2019–2020 WHERE ONCE UPON A TIME IS RIGHT NOW!

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by James Macgruder and Jeff Whitty; songs by The Go-Gos.

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JUNE 17 – JULY 25, 2020

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CABARET SERIES: CHARLES BUSCH

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OCTOBER 11 & 12, 2019

NOVEMBER 13 – DECEMBER 21, 2019 ABOUT LOVE, ACCEPTANCE AND BUTTERCREAM

THE CAKE

by Bekah Brunstetter

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION!

Featuring local award-winning actor, singer and sell-out cabaret artist Scott Wichmann.

DECEMBER 31, 2019

FEBRUARY 12 – MARCH 7, 2020 IS LOVE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SET YOUR TRUE SELF FREE?

SUGAR IN OUR WOUNDS

by Donja Love APRIL 1 – 25, 2020

BARE: A POP OPERA

–The Reunion Concert RTP’s RTCC-winning Best Musical of 2013 returns in a one-night only reunion concert featuring members of its original cast!

APRIL 14, 2020

ABOUT THE HEALING POWER OF ART

A NEW BRAIN

by William Finn and James Lapine MAY 14 – 30, 2020

RICHMOND TRIANGLE PLAYERS AT THE ROBERT B. MOSS THEATRE 1300 ALTAMONT AVENUE, RICHMOND, VA 23230

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GET TICKETS AT RTRIANGLE.ORG OR CALL (804) 346-8113 The 2019-2020 Season Is Supported In Part By Funding From

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Always Free.

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