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1269524_15829 Trim: 5.5x8.5 Bleed: 5.75x8.75 4C
Celebrating community spirit
Altria salutes Virginia Pride. Integrity, trust, and respect define the Altria companies' workplaces. We are proud to support Virginia Pride's dedication to equal opportunity for all.
Friends, family, neighbors and local business owners are the backbone of this community. Our vibrant spirit comes alive at events like these. Little by little we can do a lot. Small is Huge℠
We proudly celebrate VA PrideFest.
Take a closer look at Altria.com
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Altria Group, Inc. 2015 VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
Visit wellsfargo.com/stories to see how big small can be. © 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (1269524_15829) Season of love!
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Welcome to PrideFest 2015!
Welcome to The SEASON OF LOVE! PrideFest2015! Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Virginia Pride, welcome to Pridefest 2015, the Season of Love! We are thrilled to return to Brown’s Island to mark the tremendous progress Virginia’s LGBTQ community has experienced in the last year. Since we last gathered here, marriage equality became the law of the land in our Commonwealth and in every state in the nation. We truly have reason to celebrate! Dear Friends, On of thewe Board Directors of Virginia Pride, welcome Pridefest 2015, the Andbehalf celebrate will!ofWe have worked hard to make thistoyear’s Pridefest theSeason of Love! Weand are best thrilled return to entertainment Brown’s Island toline-up mark the tremendous Virginia’s biggest yet.toOur A-list is like no otherprogress anywhere in the LGBTQ community has experienced the last year. Since recording we last gathered marriage equality country. We are thrilled to haveinplatinum-selling artistshere, Aubrey O’Day and became the law of the land in our Commonwealth and in every state in the nation. We truly have Shannon Bex, formerly of the superstar girl group Danity Kane, as our headlining act. reason to celebrate!
They’ve reconnected as “Dumblonde” and are about to explode on the music scene oncecelebrate again. We are also thrilled to have anmake American IdolPridefest favoritethe andbiggest hometown hero, And we will! We have worked hard to this year’s and best yet. Rayvon Owen, perform. Fresh off the blockbuster American Idol tour, Rayvon will Our A-list entertainment line-up is like no other anywhere in the country. We are thrilled to have knock our socksrecording off withartists his amazing talent.and WeShannon excited Bex, to have some platinum-selling Aubrey O’Day formerly of of the superstar girl Richmond’s best local and act. performers round out what will be anand unforgettable group Danity Kane, as ourbands headlining They’ve reconnected as “Dumblonde” are about to explode on the music scene once again. We are also thrilled to have an American Idol favorite and experience!
hometown hero, Rayvon Owen, perform. Fresh off the blockbuster American Idol tour, Rayvon will knock our socks off with hisfeatures amazingatalent. We excited of to vendors have some of Richmond’s local This year’s Pridefest also record number and exhibitors -best close to bands and performers round out what will be an unforgettable 100 in all. And we have launched our own Pridefest craft beer, “Saison of Love,” through experience!
a unique, exciting partnership with Wild Wolf Brewery and Loveland Distributing Co.
This year’s Pridefest also features a record number of vendors and exhibitors - close to 100 in all.PrideGuidePages.indd Noneweofhave thislaunched would have been possible the support of our many sponsors, And our own Pridefest craftwithout beer, “Saison of Love,” through a unique, exciting including Altria, Amazon, Capital One, Genworth, and Wells Fargo. These partnership with Wild Wolf Brewery and Loveland Distributing Co. None of this would have equality-focused companies really came big waysAltria, to help makeCapital this year’s been possible without the support of our manythrough sponsors,inincluding Amazon, One, Genworth, Wells Fargo. equality-focused companies really through in big to Pridefest aand success. TheyThese are leaders in the fight to make thecame world we live in ways a little help thisall. year’s Pridefest a success. are leaders thethank fight tothem. make the world we live in fairermake for us Please be sure to stopThey by their tents inand a little fairer for us all. Please be sure to stop by their tents and thank them.
Virginia Pride Board of Directors
There is no question that the LGBTQ community here in Virginia and around the nation
8/25/2015 10:12:
James R Millner II & Brian P Reach Co-Presidents
Shannon McKay
There is no question that the LGBTQ community here in Virginia and around the nation has made has made tremendous strides in achieving full equality. But there is much work that tremendous strides in achieving full equality. But there is much work that remains. Attaining remains.equality Attaining equality is journey but a milestone in a long journey ensure marriage is butmarriage a milestone in a long to ensure LGBTQ Americans cantoenjoy the LGBTQ Americans can enjoy the freedom to be and love whomever you wish without freedom to be and love whomever you wish without fear of any discrimination or violence. So, let’s fear of any discrimination or violence. So, let’s today and commit ourselves celebrate today and commit ourselves to continue thecelebrate fight tomorrow!
Vice President
Jamie Thomson
to continue the fight tomorrow!
Treasurer
Enjoy all that today has to offer!
Enjoy all that today has to offer!
Richard Gordon
Be safe. Be proud.
Secretary
Be safe. Be proud.
In community, James R. Millner II & Brian P. Reach In community, Co-Presidents, Virginia Pride
Ashe Cordle Rich Forrester
James R. Millner II and Brian P. Reach Co-Presidents, Virginia Pride 12
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Jared Crist Maureen Scott
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Virginia PrideFest 2015 www.vapride.org/pridefest
Inkwell Ventures PUBLISHER of RVA MAGAZINE & GAYRVA John Reinhold PRESIDENT Brad Kutner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF R. Anthony Harris Creative Director John Reinhold R. Anthony Harris Taylor Womak KAri Grose Alyse Whitcomb Advertising Brad Kutner Wes McQuiilen Julie Clayton tim wellington Ayana Obika CONTRIBUTORS Special Thanks to Virginia Pride and Brian Reach SOCIAL facebook.com/virginiapride twitter.com/@va_pride instagram/vapride #vapride #virginiapride2015 DISTRIBUTION Thank you to our distribution partner BioRide / bioriderva.com VA Pride Guide 2015 is printed locally by Conquest Graphics
CONTENTS 12 VIrginia Pride BOard Of directors 15 letter from governor terry mcauliffe 16 letter from attorney general mark herring 18 letter from senator adam ebbin 24 va pride fest ival map 26 main stage schedule 28 youth pride stage schedule 32 pridefest 2015 vendors 34 Firework Award: Bill Harrison 38 dumblonde 44 THE Virginian trans teen who might change the world. 50 A decade later, Richmond’s Acts of Faith Fest ival proves faith and diversity can coexist 58 queer pinup 64 animal rva 66 journey wedding concierge
cover art by Adam Juresko
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Welcome to Richmond for PrideFest2015! What a year it has been for LGBT Virginians and allies! The fight for marriage equality moved faster than any of us could have imagined, culminating in a historic victory in June at the Supreme Court. Since marriage equality became law in Virginia in October 2014, more than 2,000 couples have married, thousands more have had their marriages recognized, and dozens of children are now living in the security of a two-parent household.
And when I walked into the United States Supreme in late April for the landmark arguments on marriage equality, after spending part of the prior evening with lead plaintiff Jim Obergefell, there was a palpable feeling of history and momentum that we could have scarcely imagined just a year or two before.
The triumph of marriage equality has been a victory for thousands of LGBT Virginians—their families, friends, and loved ones, too—who I give you those numbers to reinforce that this have had the courage to proudly be who they fight wasn’t just legal for thousands of Virgin- are and to demand the equal treatment that our ians. It was personal, and our movement’s vic- Constitution guarantees each of us. We must tory has changed their lives in unimaginable also remember and celebrate the hard work and ways. sacrifices of thousands who did not live to enjoy this victory. As the saying goes, we have stood Our Commonwealth has come to understand on the shoulders of giants. that LGBT Virginians don’t want special rights or special treatment. This fight is simply about Our work is not done. You can still be denied fair and equal access to rights other Virginians housing or services, or even fired from a job beenjoy without question. That’s what our Con- cause of who you are and whom you love. And stitution guarantees all of us, without regard to politicians in Washington and Richmond are age, race, color, national origin, religion, gender, already gearing up to once again and more emgender identity, sexual orientation. phatically legalize discrimination against LGBT Virginians. We must let them know that all VirWhen I took office in January 2014, I had a deci- ginians will be treated with the respect, dignity, sion to make: whether Virginia would continue and equality we deserve. to deny the fundamental rights of certain Virginians, or whether we would show ourselves Please enjoy your time in Richmond, have a and the nation another way forward. I chose to great PrideFest, thank you for all you have done, join the fight, to stand alongside you, and it has and let this be the moment that reenergizes the been one of the highest honors of my career. movement for equality in our Commonwealth and our county. I will never forget the moments along the way where the importance and righteousness of Best wishes, this cause came into focus. When I met Carol Schall, Mary Townley, and their daughter Emily, it drove home just what we were fighting for. When my team and I twice walked into federal court to argue for marriage equality, it Mark Herring struck me how different the scene could have Attorney General of Virginia been if an election had turned out differently. 16
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Welcome Sisters and Brothers to PrideFest2015! However, our fight for full equality is far from over. Discrimination in housing and the workOur incredible journey towards full and mean- place sadly remains legal in Virginia, and deingful recognition continues to make remark- spite the US Supreme Court’s decision invaliable progress. With the support of Attorney dating bans on marriage equality, removing the General Mark Herring and all of our statewide stain from our state constitution won’t be easy. elected officials, marriage equality is now the Republican Delegate Todd Gilbert even claims that our goal is “not to secure rights for gay indilaw of the land. viduals but to tear down religious institutions.” The work of our gay pioneers has paid off and We must counter such hateful dishonesty with the simple truths of our own lives. we have emerged victorious. Let’s not forget that those at Stonewall and people like Richmond’s own Guy Kinman have been at this for Despite these challenges, we can win these more than 40-50 years and we owe them our battles, and I look forward to doing my part. With your continued support, we will celebrate gratitude. even more victories in the years to come. Our straight allies have been invaluable too. With Pride, With great political courage, former Senator Chuck Robb was the only Southern Senator to vote and speak out against the “Defense of Marriage Act.” As Governor, Mark Warner signed the first LGBT-inclusive state employment nondiscrimination executive order. During the 2006 “Marriage Amendment” campaign, Adam P. Ebbin then-Governor Tim Kaine stood on the steps of Member, Virginia Senate the Governor’s Mansion to oppose the amendment. Sisters and Brothers –
I’ve had the honor to serve as the first openly gay member of the General Assembly in 400 years, and we will soon have three openly gay members.
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The community response to a hateful billboard last fall is a great example of how Diversity Richmond brings people together for positive action.
Diversity Richmond
We have distributed more
is a catalyst, a voice,
than $865,000 to area
through sales at
a place and a
non-profits to support
Diversity Thrift (routinely
resource for the
programs that strengthen
voted Richmond’s most
We raise money
LGBTQ+ community.
the LGBTQ+ community.
beloved thrift store).
We champion and
We also collaborate with
You donate your “stuff,”
celebrate our diverse
groups with similar
we sell it, and put those
community, working
aspirations to educate,
proceeds back into your
closely with many other
advocate, support, and
community. We rent out
organizations such as
encourage acceptance.
our Event Hall and other
Virginia Pride,
Our facility allows us to
portions of our building,
to ensure our vision
provide free meeting,
among many other
for a vibrant, inclusive
classroom and storage
fundraising efforts.
society.
space, among many other
Your generosity makes
community benefits.
this happen.
1708 Sherwood Ave. • Richmond, VA 23220 • 804.622.4646 | Learn more at DiversityRichmond.org 20
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MongrelRVA Since 1991, Mongrel has been recognized as Richmond’s best local shop for unique cards and gifts including exclusive Richmond merchandise. 2924 West Cary Street • Richmond, Virginia (804) 342-1272 • M-SAT 10-7 SUN 11-6 www.mongrelrva.com The traveling version of Japanese Tattoo: Perseverance, Art, and Tradition is organized by the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California, and is supported, in part, by Mariko Gordon and Hugh Cosman.
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PrideFest 2015 Map
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YOUTH PRIDE STAGE Asian Taste Chicago Hut Tasties CoCoCrissi Italian Ice Happy Empanada King of Pops Mr. Softee N & A Catering OPA Food Truck Souls Your Roll Tri-City Concession
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$ DRINK TICKETS
FOOD TRUCKS
BEER / SPIRITS
MAIN STAGE VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2015 SPONSORS Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
NOVA Pride is proud to present the second annual
Northern Virginia Pride Festival
at the Bull Run Special Events Center in Centreville, Virginia on Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 12pm-9pm.
Partners
The Northern Virginia Pride Festival provides a uniquely valuable forum for pro-equality businesses, local LGBTQ groups, and organizations in the community at-large to showcase their support for equality, and interface with the largest gathering of LGBTQ Northern Virginians in the region’s history. This event is a celebration of the history, progress, and diversity of Northern Virginia’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community and its straight allies, with live entertainment, a wide variety of food and beverage options, and an abundance of outdoor activities. The event is family-friendly, with field games, picnic tables, a photo booth, karaoke, and prizes. This includes canine family members, offering an off-leash dog park and plenty of open air and grassy fields.
educate. advocate. celebrate.
Contributors
Media Sponsors
The Road Ahead...
Our theme for 2015 is meant to reinvigorate our focus on full equality; we’ve made huge strides over the past year, and we are recommitting our resolve to continue paving the path forward towards our vision of full LGBTQ equality and liberty.
Beverage Sponsors
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Expected participation for the 2015 festival is 5,000 in attendance, 80+ business and community vendors, and 10+ food vendors.
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PRIDEFEST 2015 VENDORS ACLU of Virginia acluva.org Altria altria.com Babe’s of Carytown facebook.com/babesofcarytown Barefoot barefootwine.com Bombshell Beauty Salon ilovebombshell.com Brick City Spa brickcityspa.com C2Adopt c2adopt.com Canine Adventure canineadventure.net Capital One capitalone.com Carytown Merchants Association carytownrva.com Chesterfield County Police Department chesterfieldpd.com Church of the Holy Comforter hoco.org Concieros, INC concieros.com CoreRVA Properties corerva.com Cross Over Healthcare Ministry crossoverministry.org Designing for Us by Jennifer Dame Direct Auto & Life Insurance directgeneral.com Diversity Richmond diversityrichmond.org Edward Jones Investments edwardjones.com EQ Events eqeventsrva.com Equality Virginia equalityvirginia.org 32
EY ey.com Fan Free Clinic fanfreeclinic.org FCKH8 fckh8.com First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond richmonduu.org GayRVA gayrva.com Genworth genworth.com GLSEN Richmond glsen.org/chapters/richmond Helping Hands Vet Services helpinghandsvetva.com Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME) homeofva.org HRC hrc.org James River Trans Society jrts.org James River Warriors, Mankind Project mankindproject.org KMI Insurance kmicoverage.com LGBT Democrats of VA lgbtvadem.org LGBTQIAA and Ally Social Work Group VCU vcu.collegiatelink.net/organization/LGBTQIA
Lucky 13 Tattoo lucky13tattooinc.com MCC Richmond mccrichmond.org Meet the Queens Modern Travel Professionals moderntravelprofessionals.com Murphies murphiesva.com NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia naralva.org VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
PRIDEFEST 2015 VENDORS New Beginnings Christian Church nbccrva.org New Normal Apparel newnormalapparel.com NOVA Pride novapride.org Orange - Local Artisans and Interior Treasures orangerva.com OutRVA richmondisout.com PFLAG of Richmond pflagofrichmond.org Prime Timers Central Virginia primetimerscv.org Quirk Hotel quirkhotel.com Rainbow Connection www.rbc.com Richmond Business Alliance richmondbusinessalliance.com Richmond Police Department richmondgov.com/police Richmond Transformers groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RichmondTransformers
Richmond Triangle Players rtriangle.org Richmond VA Medical Center richmond.va.gov ROSMY rosmy.org RVA Balloons rvaballoons.com RVA NORML virginianorml.org SMI Hotel Group smi-hotelgroup.com St. John’s United Church of Christ stjohnsrichmond.org St. Mark’s Episcopal Church stmarksrva.org Stern Insurance sterninsurance.net Season of love!
Storefront for Community Design storefrontrichmond.org Summit Media summitmediacorp.com SunTrust suntrust.com Taboo RVA taboorva.com The Henna Lady thehennalady.com The Renewal Projects therenewalprojects.com T-Mobile t-mobile.com TreeHug Trading Company treehugtradingco@aol.com Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Glen Allen uuccglenallen.org University of Richmond richmond.edu Virginia Anti-Violence Project virginiaavp.org Virginia Department of Health vdh.virginia.gov Virginia Department of Historic Resources dhr.virginia.gov Virginia Equality Bar Association vaequalitybar.org Virginia League of Planned Parenthood vlpp.org Virginia Sierra Club vasierraclub.org VOCAL vocalvirginia.org Wanda Fears Long & Foster wandafears.com Weddings with Pride weddingswithprideva.com Wells Fargo wellsfargo.com 33
Virginia Pride is proud to announce Bill Harrison, Executive Director and President of Diversity Richmond, as the winner of its inaugural ‘Firework Award”
James Milner, Co-President of Virginia Pride, said Harrison has gone above and beyond with his work with the LGBTQ community.
The new honor aims to recognize individuals, organizations or businesses that have been responsible for affecting positive change for the LGBT community in Richmond and the Commonwealth. In Virginia Pride’s eyes, it’s hard to name someone who’s made as much of an impact as Harrison.
And as for the future of activism in Virginia’s LGBTQ community? Harrison is primed for the next fight and looks forward to ways he can continue to impact all our lives.
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“His success in saving the community center alone would be reason enough,” said Milner about when Diversity faced possible closure until Harrison stepped in and managed the organization out of financial turmoil. “He not only saved it, he rebranded it and has made great strides in turning the organization into something Richmond so desperately needs.” Harrison is also being recognized for his ability to unite the community through his unique ability to bring people and organizations together to address challenges locally and statewide, and help move us all forward. “As I look back to our first festival in 1978 and the crowd of fifty people and compare that to today with 20,000 people present, I am in awe of the progress we have made,” said Harrison comparing his early years of activism to how far the Commonwealth has come. “That progress came about by people simply being honest about who they are, coming out.” “People being honest has been the major factor in our advancements,” he said. “It’s not rocket science.”
Central Virginia's Local Affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce www.RichmondBusinessAlliance.com info@richmondbusinessalliance.com
Connecting ◊ Engaging ◊ Advancing LGBT friendly commerce
“We must continue to battle the enemy of ignorance with the strength of the truth.”
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With a big kitchen and dining room for entertaining friends. We’re not there yet, though. It will take some planning, saving and preparation. So, we’ve been talking to a SunTrust Mortgage loan officer about our financing options. I’m confident that we will move from “if” to “when.” And, we’ve already found the expert that can help us. Find your expert today at suntrust.com/mortgage
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DUMBLONDE by Tim Wellington It’s hard to not see the musical and social impact Danity Kane had in the late 2000’s. Between the reality TV exposure of MTV’s Making the Band and multiple chart topping singles, the all female group will forever hold a position in the lexicon of pop music. But all good things must come to an end, and such was the case last year when the four members finally called it quits. There was drama, a punch was thrown, there were public apologies - but just as time heals all wounds, it also allows for greatness to develop. Enter Dumblonde, the new project of former DK members Shannon Bex and Aubry O’Day. After the very public DK breakup, the two women are at the top of their game with this new project. “We’re in a good place and we’re so happy with where we’re at right now,” said Bex in a phone interview with GayRVA. “DK was a big part of who we were, but all things happen for a reason and I feel like Dumblonde was that reason. It’s been an amazing journey of growth and discovery of our artistry.” Bex said the duo was grateful for the journey they’d been on with DK, and that they learned a lot of about the music business from their time with the band, but Dumblonde is ready to set itself apart visually and musically. Harking back to the visual and sonic cues Lady Gaga got famous for, but incorporating modern EDM elements, Dumblonde has created a powerful new sound. Tackling topics like love and never giving up on your dreams, I found myself surprisingly pleased with early singles from their yet-to-be-released selftitled album, due out Sept. 25th. The hard electro beats are punctuated by powerful vocals from the two sirens as they lead me and my SO through a solid round of pregaming this passed weekend. Is it groundbreaking music? Maybe not, but the creative nature of their videos and the heart and energy these women have put behind the project is staggering and deserves your attention. After the DK break up, O’Day and Bex came home and dwelled on the loss for a few weeks. This was not 38
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the end of the music careers that either performer wanted, and they both refused to go quietly into former-pop stardom. “We didn’t get the chance to be the business women we wanted to be, the artists we wanted to be, the creatives we wanted to be,” O’Day said. “It was devastating what we went through, but we looked at each other and said ‘We don’t have to stop… we don’t have to see this vision of us together come to an end.’” The pair had grown close during production of the last DK album, and they thought they worked well together solving problems and using each other as support systems to get through good and bad days together. “Shannon and I are lucky enough to love working together and having the same work ethic,” said O’Day. That work ethic was key because Dumblonde has been almost exclusively handled by the two of them. They’ve had lots of sleepless nights leading up to this release, but they were both always on board with seeing it through. “We still see a group platform together, and we can still make that dream of what we wanted,” she said. They came up with the name first, then they compared what they loved and what they hated musically and decided to capitalize on those differences, creating two voices in the same band which highlighted their specifics interests. “We want to create the most authentic art possible to Shannon and I,” said O’Day. “When we went in to the studio, we turned off our phones, and we separate and disconnected and we didn’t look at anyone else art… it causes you to stray from your natural artistic place.” They weren’t totally isolated - friends and boyfriends helped along the way, but the musicians hand picked who they wanted to work with. This independence lead to amazing creative freedom, but a hell of a lot of work. The pair found themselves not only involved, but responsible for every part of both music and video production. It would be 3 AM and they’d be calling friends to come help get them prepared for a video to be shot in three hours. Every part of the process was their brainchild, from storyboards to learning how to shoot, and even setting up lighting and framing shots. “We did everything on our own... Everything you could think of and more that goes into being an 40 40
artist. The good and the bad.” said Bex who in the end was grateful for being so hands on with the final product. “It forced us to refine who we were and the vision we had. We were grateful for the chance.”
In love, at home
AND AT WORK.
And that hard work paid off for Dumblonde - they’ve created something they are proud of and should be proud of.
|
Stacey L. & John R. Capital One Associates
“Other artists will never admit this, but everybody has a fuck you element in their art,” O’Day said. “Even when we created Dumblonde the whole things started with us saying no one was gonna take this away from us, no one is going to define us or what our exceptions are - this entire project has been about exceeding those expectations... Then waking up the next day and thinking ‘how can we do better tomorrow.’”
capitalonecareers.com
Before their album releases later this month, Dumblonde has their second-ever live performance here in Richmond as part of Virginia Pridefest, something they had in mind from pretty early on in the groups development. “You travel from city to city and you have a variety of audiences - some are excited and some aren’t but at Pride, there is such a love for everything that is happening in that moment, there aren’t other distractions,” said Bex about why they wanted to start with shows at Pride events. “When you’re at pride, everyone is there for that moment, to enjoy themselves, and maybe find that person you’ve been trailing on Grindr as well - but the energy is different. It’s rowdy and exciting and you get to perform for people who remind you why you perform.” The girls said their live show will take many elements from their music videos - that mix of fashion, pop music, and dance music that makes their studio work so good is sure to translate live on stage well. “We’ve created everything we’ve wanted to see out of a live show,” Bex said. Their support for the LGBTQ community is key to their interest in Pride events too. “After everything that’s happened over the last year, with people questioning something that should never have been a question in the first place,” said O’Day. “We’re just happy to be able to be part of a wonderful time where people are starting to recognize and love each other equally.” Your chance to catch the lovely women of Dumblonde happens Sept. 12 at Brown’s Island. @dumblondeofficial
EEO Employer/Protected Veteran/Disabled VirginiA VirginiAPRIDEFEST PRIDEFEST2015 2015
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Proud brewer of the 1st Va Pride Beer!
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wanted to join the Gay Straight Alliance, back in 6th or 7th grade, I was told to choose between that or a youth group. I chose the youth group… it took my journey of discovering myself, that I had nothing to fear about wondering who I was.” It was about this time he started to learn more about the term “transgender” and how it applied to him. “It had clicked a few times, but I refused to accept the reality,” Grimm said. It was about this time his mother, Deidra Grimm, couldn’t take it anymore. She cornered young Gavin in his room and demanded he admit to her that he was a lesbian. “I couldn’t understand it,” Deidra said, now looking back on the incident with a bit of embarrassment. Gavin agreed with her to get out of the situation - what teenager wants to talk about sex with their mom? And what teenager wants to try and explain what transgender is? And in his defense, Gavin couldn’t really even explain what he was going through at the time.
THE Virginian trans teen who might change the world. by Brad Kutner
I’m going 50 miles per hour down a barely-paved road, looking for the house of Gavin Grimm. My cell service has all but cut out and I’m hoping the last of my GPS will get me to Grimm’s corner of Gloucester County, about an hour west of Richmond. Luckily, I find his house. I knock on the door and Grimm opens, round-faced and excited. He’s been the center of a lot of attention lately - the New York Times, CNN and MTV have all reached out to the 16-year-old in the last few weeks as he made headlines locally and now nationally for his fight against his local school board. Grimm is a transgender man. He knew he was different since about the age of six. Born and raised in Gloucester County, it wasn’t easy, nor did he really have the language to express who he was until he was much older. 44
“I felt a lota of pressure to figure out who I was and I didn’t know being trans was an option,” Grimm said. “I had to put a name to it.” Fortunately for Grimm, he had an “open-minded” circle of friends for support. As he aged, he found support where he could. Though he hadn’t started transitioning, he was noticeably less-feminine than the girls in his class, but it didn’t lead to any issues. At home, his parents raised him with faith. Sadly, his confusion over his gender created a kind of barrier for him and this lead to him struggling to admit who he was. “By fear of the Christian god, I didn’t want to explore any aspect of homosexuality,” he said. “When I was first coming out as not a straight little princess kid, I
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“I’ve always known Gavin was different, his whole life, and I always considered him my eccentric, artsy child,” Deidra said. “I kept thinking he was gay, and I wanted him to talk to me about it…” It didn’t take long for things to come to a head. A few days prior to his 14th birthday, Gavin finally told his mom that he was a boy in a girl’s body, and that the pain he was feeling was unbearable. “I knew nothing about transgender,” Deidra said. “I started my education that day. I didn’t sleep a wink three nights in a row just looking things up on the internet.” Things finally became clear, but there was a birthday party to be thrown. Relived to have told his mom, there was still the need to inform the rest of the Grimm clan. “I can laugh about it now,” said Gavin. “I woke up and didn’t want to get out of bed and I go downstairs and the cake has the wrong name.” The cake had been ordered before he told his mom about his gender identity. Deidra breaks down and tells Gavin’s father. The party is happening either way, and she’s not going to let a bit of gender dysphoria ruin that.
and said ‘this is what’s going on, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to come,” she said. “You don’t have to condone it or like it, but you have to be nice in my house.’” Gavin and Deidra can laugh about it now (with a few tears in the mix) but that dramatic show of support would be just the first in a long series of steps the Grimms would have to take in the coming years. But the change in Gavin’s attitude since coming out has made all the difference. “He used to hide in his room,” Deidra said. “And now he’s the life of the party.” So the Grimms get Gavin’s ducks in order - they change his name, they meet with the administration at Gloucester High School and let them know what’s going on. Gavin himself asked for an alternative restroom, a decision he’s since regretted. “It’s Gloucester, I didn’t know if I was gonna get beat up in the back of school or if no one was gonna say anything,” Gavin said. “As it turns out, I had no reasonable claim to fear for my safety.” He started school entirely under his new male identity and it was the happiest the teenager had ever been. “It was glorious, they just knew me as Gavin, they didn’t have whispered conversations… it wasn’t a problem,” he said. Before long, he even stopped going to the nurse’s bathroom and using the boys room like a normal high school kid. Blend in, not being known as “the trans kid,” made him happiest. “As a parent, I was checking in,” said Deidra who would call the school and ask how things were going. “You worry about that - and there were no issues.” But by November of that year, all of that peace would be shattered. One night Deidra received a Facebook message from a friend who stumbled upon a new resolution being proposed by the Gloucester County School board, one which would require all students to use the restroom aligning with their birth gender, not their gender identity. “I was a little disappointed the principal didn’t tell me,” said Deidra who then only had a day to prep a defense for her child. She spent all night printing out information and making seven booklets for the seven school board members.
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Then the pair went to the school board meeting and it went just about as bad as you could imagine. “I’m not sure, to this day, I’ve suffered a greater injustice,” Gavin said, recalling how he sat through the meeting listening to local parents list reasons why he shouldn’t be allowed to use the boys room. “By grown adults, I was called a freak, a shim, a dog…” After this humiliating display, Gavin’s feelings around the bathroom hit a tipping point. He said he regretted asking to use the nurse’s’ room because it had become the one factor which forced him to out himself in front of his peers. “It’s so painful for me to walk into the nurse’s’ room because of an aspect of myself, a medical condition, that I wish I never had,” he said. “It was humiliating and upsetting.” From there the local media picked up the story. Gavin’s face was front and center in a national debate affecting transgender students around the country, if not the world. The National ACLU office reached out and began working with the Richmond area office to get in contact with the Grimms. “When we saw what was going on, we were anxious to do what we could,” said Rebecca Glennburg, part of Grimm’s ACLU legal team. The legal group first tried to let the school board know the new policy was illegal, specifically in violation of Title IX, a federal school policy which protects students along gender lines. Even the Federal Department of Justice got involved, writing statements and letters supporting Grimm in his fight. “Under Title IX, discrimination based on a person’s gender identity, a person’s transgender status, or a person’s nonconformity to sex stereotypes constitutes discrimination based on sex,” read one statement from the DOJ. “There is a public interest in ensuring that all students, including transgender students, have the opportunity to learn in an environment free of sex discrimination.” The school board ignored the letter and kept the policy in place. The ACLU filed a discrimination complaint citing the statement from the DOJ. But the policy stayed in place. Finally, in June of this year, The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the school board. 46
“The school board’s policy is deeply stigmatizing and needlessly cruel,” said Joshua Block, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV Project, when the lawsuit was announced. “Any student – transgender or not – should be free to use single-stall restrooms if they want extra privacy,” he said. “Instead of protecting the privacy of all students, the school board has chosen to single out transgender students as unfit to use the same restrooms as everyone else.” The school board asked a judge to dismiss Gavin’s suit. The hearing for that dismissal, and the first time Gavin had to go before a judge over this issue, happened in late July. While his case wasn’t dismissed, and he is awaiting another trial date in the next few months, the judge’s reaction to the case was a reminder just how behind-the-times the legal system is when handling such sensitive issues.
One study suggested as much as 18 percent of trans kids have attempted suicide, significantly higher than the 8.5 percent associated with other high school kids. But forcing a child to be set apart from the general population at school by forcing them into a separate but equal restroom is humiliation enough for Gavin to want to fight. “I might as well do what I can with it while I can,” said Gavin. “[To] help as many people as I can. Give it a bit more merit.” As Gavin prepares to return to school, the cat’s out of the bag when it comes to the boy who just wanted to live his life as a normal kid. “I miss that. I miss that a lot,” he said of the days before the first school board meeting, before the ACLU lawyers called him, and before he was forced to talk about his genitals in a room full of strange adults.
“I’ve dreamt of a life of stealth,” he said humbly. “But things happen and you get out of life what you put into it. And if I’m never able to go stealth again, I will just have to make peace with it.” Deidra said she’s proud of her son, something a lot of trans teens don’t get the benefit of. She’s similarly been dragged into the spotlight because of the school board’s policy. “This is just life,” she said. “Life doesn’t always give you children with everyday problems or children with no problems. Actually, life never gives you that. I’ve got five kids and they all have had issues in their life. Gavin’s no different. We love him. All you have to be is part of this family to know he hasn’t chosen this.” It’s going to be a while before Gavin gets his second day in court, and it will be even longer until Gavin is able to use the boy’s bathroom. And that’s all Gavin really wants to do.
“I’m in the public now; it’s this sign on my back.” Federal Judge Robert Doumar, 85, a Norfolk native and a life-long Republican with several failed bids for office under his belt, sat behind the bench spitting out phrases that made every journalist in the room turn their heads in dismay.
I jokingly asked him how he’d respond if his case makes it to the Supreme Court, or if there ends up being a law that protects trans kids from these kinds of policies gets passed and named after him.
At one point, Doumar asked the ACLU if Gavin was mentally unsound because being transgender was listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). (It doesn’t, in fact the term for transgender was changed from “gender identity disorder” to “gender dysphoria” to stop that kind of confusion).
“I didn’t understand the scope of this… it’s still surreal to me now,” he said as we wrapped up our interview. “I have people contacting me saying this has implications that are far reaching and I didn’t recognize that. I did not, in any sense imagine or understand the reach or impact of this... Time will tell what happens with this and how far it can reach.”
Doumar also ranted about marijuana laws, the authority of the Department of Justice and how he was “rather upset with where we’re going in the United States.” It was embarrassing for me in the courtroom, and I couldn’t even imagine how Gavin felt to have to sit through it all. The ACLU told Gavin not to talk about his reactions to the hearing, but watching Deidra’s tears as she sat behind her son explained it all. “I know my child isn’t making a choice,” she said after the hearing. “I’ve watched him live it and I’ve lived it with him. People don’t understand what it’s like to worry about your kid… when they go to bed crying. If they’re going to wake up dead… My son, regardless if he’s trans, is a joy in my life… For 16 years I’ve been lucky to be his mom.” This concern for the rest of the trans youth around the country is what has kept Gavin and Deidra in the fight. While studies specifically on trans youth and suicide rates are considered inadequate for most modern statisticians, those studies that do exist tell a dark story. VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015 VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
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BE PROUD. BE YOURSELF. BE YOUR OWN SUPERHERO.
ROSMY e
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LGBTQ youth IN RICHMOND AND CHARLOTTESVILLE
to learn more or volunteer visit rosmy.org or call 804.644.4800 24 Hour Youth Support Hotline: 888.644.4390 48
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local theatres while encouraging congregations to attend the plays and participate in post-performance discussions on issues of faith. In 2005, the trio of Miller, Gallagher and Moore along with all members of Second Presbyterian Church realized their vision and January through March of 2005 was the inaugural season of this now thriving and beloved festival. From its inception, AOF was intended to be “completely open and completely diverse,” said Miller. “We’ve always viewed transparency and diversity to be plusses. From the very beginning, the theatres have enjoyed the opportunity to partner with congregations . . . once in a while someone will be offended by content or language, but I think that comes with the territory . . .” In order to fully qualify as an AOF entry, a production must have a talkback session after at least one of their shows. These sessions allow the audience to interact with the company and openly discuss the issues presented in the plays. When pressed to name his favorite AOF entry, Miller recalls Virginia Repertory Theatre’s 2007 production of Smoke on the Mountain at Hanover Tavern, which he personally directed and which was a favorite of various congregations.
A decade later, Richmond’s Acts of Faith Festival proves faith and diversity can coexist by Julie Clayton
Faith and diversity have a dysfunctional relationship sometimes which can be particularly visible in the South. And then there’s Richmond, Virginia, a “more-progressive-than-it- wants-to-be” haven which Billy Christopher Maupin, Associate Artistic Director of 5th Wall Theatre, calls “of the South and beyond the South.” Virginia’s capital is a thriving city in its own right with budding restaurateurs, expanding and newly-opened breweries, numerous tourism awards, a vibrant LGBTQ community and some of the region’s finest theatre. Yet in many ways, Richmond (affectionately RVA) has a small town feel with a great deal of community cohesiveness and pride. Nowhere is that community atmosphere more evident than in Richmond’s exciting and cutting-edge theatre community. VirginiA VirginiA PRIDEPRIDEFEST FESTIVAL 2015 50
Other participating theatres have enjoyed the collaboration just as much as Miller and the congregations have. Into that heaven comes The Acts of Faith Festival (AOF), “America’s largest faith-inspired theatre event” occurring annually from January through April. AOF just completed its 11th year and is going strong. Co-founder Bruce Miller, Director of Virginia Repertory Theatre, is delighted that AOF continues to grow and warns that “anyone looking for a narrow perspective on faith should not look to the festival for support. We welcome all perspectives; we seek a community as broad as God’s love.” In 2004, Miller was part of a group of about eight men of faith who met at the crack of dawn to discuss “issues of the day.” Jeff Gallagher, former Managing Director for the Williamsburg Theatre Festival, and Daniel Moore, the then-artistic director for a small, short-lived theatre, broached Miller with the idea of assembling a group of professional companies and multi-faith congregations to establish a festival that would present diverse faith-related works by Season of love!
TheatreLAB has been involved in AOF since 2013. They’ve produced three shows: Riding the Bull (2013), Grace (2014), and Oblivion (2015) – as part of the main stage production. Deejay Gray, TheatreLAB’s Artistic Director, states “this festival is much more about faith than any particular religion or realm of spirituality. To me, this festival transcends all of that because, regardless of who or what we believe, there is nothing more human than our desire to understand the world around us.” His favorite of TheatreLAB’s AOF entries? Riding the Bull, which according to Gray put TheatreLAB on Richmond’s radar. Gray said that AOF is his favorite time of year to be a theatre artist. Philip Cosby, Managing Director of Richmond Triangle Players (RTP), the leading voice in the community’s exploration of equality, identify, affection and family, across sexual orientation and gender spectrums, believes that part of the festival’s popularity is the 51
It was the inaugural production in our wonderful new venue; it was intimate and heartfelt and deeply moving; and the production was simply exquisite.” Cosby believes that the AOF is “one of the biggest gifts a theatre like RTP can get. It enables us to do serious substantive work; it expands our capabilities and expands the world of our audiences; and it can help prove that being LGBTQ and having a faith life are not mutually exclusive, as some conservatives and churches would like to espouse.” Dr. Jan Powell Artistic Director of Quill Theatre is a “huge fan” of the festival. “It’s unique, it’s wonderful, and it gives me bragging rights outside Richmond,” said Powell. ‘ When asked how it could perhaps be changed, Powell suggested perhaps it could be more “incisive about why pieces are included—perhaps we need to be charged to come up with three important questions of faith connected to the production we offer.” Powell’s favorite AOF entry? “Probably the honest answer is the Macbeth I directed for Richmond Shakespeare. . . I was so surprised that the Festival embraced it.” And in an example of the collaborative and collegial nature of the Richmond theatre community, Powell gives her own shout out to 5th Wall Theatre’s Human Terrain which was “such a wrenching question of faith and so relevant to US citizens today – the play raised faith questions that we should be asking ourselves every day.” 5th Wall’s Maupin said The AOF festival is Richmond at its collaborative finest and “working together is much more effective than any one of us is going to be alone.” audience’s desire to “take a deep dive into tackling the hard questions. They want to be challenged in their faith views, discuss them, defend them, wrestle with them.” RTP’s most popular shows for AOF, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (co-produced with then Henley Street Theatre and “Angels in America,” were also the most challenging in terms of content, and length (over three hours each). “I love all the shows we have done for “Acts of Faith”, each for very different reasons,” Cosby said. “Angels in America for its epic scope; The Busy World is Hushed and “Next Fall” because they challenged and almost defied easy answers at every turn; This Beautiful City because of its hard yet objective examination of the rise of the Christian evangelical movement in Colorado Springs; but a special favorite is Facing East. 52
Maupin loves the AOF because it is “beautifully inclusive.” Maupin has had three entries into the festival: Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Maupin’s favorite entry which he directed at Firehouse Theatre Project) a show while “not blatantly religious,” but explores issues of drug abuse, suicide, identity and orientation; and 5th Wall Breast in Show which contains “major faith issues” and the dark comedy The Lyons spoke to identify issues and family dysfunction. So can faith and diversity coexist? Here in awardwinning RVA, it would seem so. Particularly, every January through April when theatre professionals and the faithful gather in meaningful and powerful dialogue in their own act of faith.
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VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE
2015/2016 SEASON SIGNATURE SEASON Peter and the Starcatcher Gypsy Saturday, Sunday, Monday Summer and Smoke Dreamgirls
Some enchanted evening... — an evening at Virginia Rep
THANK YOU RICHMOND! For making us your favorite theater company!
HANOVER SEASON The Fabulous Lipitones This Wonderful Life I Do! I Do! Brighton Beach Memoirs
BIKINI BABES, SURFER HUNKS AND GIDGET GOES NUTS!
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY by Charles Busch JULY 22 – AUGUST 15, 2015
ABOUT THE PRESSURES OF FAME, PERFECTION AND BEING BARBRA
BUYER & CELLAR
CHILDREN’S SEASON
by Jonathan Tolins
The House at Pooh Corner The Velveteen Rabbit I Have a Dream Croaker – The Frog Prince Musical The Little Engine that Could
OCTOBER 7–31, 2015
THE KIDS FROM YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY STORIES — GROWN-UP, AND SERVED WITH A TWIST!
CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS
Conceived by Rob Ruggiero; written by John Cariani, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jacques Lammare, Matthew Lombardo, Theresa Rebeck, Edwin Sanchez & Jonathan Tolins NOVEMBER 18 – DECEMBER 19, 2015
THE JOY AND INEVITABILITY OF LIFE, AMIDST GOOD CHICKEN SOUP AND SOME BRISKET
LAZARUS SYNDROME
CADENCE SEASON
by Bruce Ward; presented as a part of the city-wide Acts of Faith festival FEBRUARY 24 – MARCH 19, 2016
Equus The Mountaintop 4000 Miles
A COMEDY ABOUT EXPLOITATION AND EMPOWERMENT
BODY AWARENESS
by Annie Baker; a co-production with 5th Wall Theatre Project APRIL 20 – MAY 14, 2016
VIRGINIAREP.ORG 804-282-2620
A MUSICAL TRUE STORY, WITH ALL THE GLITTER POSSIBLE
THE BOY FROM OZ
by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright; based on the life and songs of Peter Allen JUNE 8 – JULY 16, 2016
RICHMOND TRIANGLE PLAYERS
1300 ALTAMONT AVENUE, RICHMOND, VA 23230 GET TICKETS AT: RTRIANGLE.ORG RTP HOTLINE: (804) 346-8113
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
The 2015-16 Season Is Supported In Part By Funding From Stacey Cabaj and Branch Fields in South Pacific . Photo by Aaron Sutten
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MEDIA SPONSORS: John MacLellan Photos & Design
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Inclusion & Diversity FedEx Freight
Inclusion–Diversity–You
Property Management company in Richmond, VA, managing The Locks, Miller Lofts, Shockoe Cary, Market Villas, Textile Lofts, New Manchester Flats, Plant Zero, and others
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Shan, 24, trans masculine divo
Brandy, 34 queer
queer pinup I present these as queer pin-ups in both subject and execution - the models all identify that way, but I’m also queering the archetype of the traditional pin-up by featuring strength, racial diversity, and gender nonconformity. It allows me to put some of the amazing fellow queer people I am lucky to know up on a pedestal, empowering them with subversive visibility, and sharing their beauty with them by sharing it with others. Wes McQuillen is a native Virginian and queer transmasculine creative. You can see his commercial work at www.colorfulrichmond.com
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Yaz, 22 loverboi
Walter, 22 QUEER
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o WEDDINGS o AIRPORT o TOURS
o EVENTS
Rebecca, 23 queer stemme
Richmond’s Ally In Wedding & Special Event Transportation Supporting GayRVA & RVA Magazine with pride. WWW.BIORIDERVA.COM 62
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ANIMAL RVA Animal RVA has quickly become one of Richmond’s best alternative dance parties for the local LGBTQ community. Known for taking traditionally straight spaces and injecting them with loud music and flocks of young LGBTQ’s, organizers Joseph Whitfield and Conley Dirt Stash have turned their event into a notto-be-missed series of monthly parties. You can join in the fun TONIGHT when Animal takes over Balliceaux on Lombardy St. tonight at 10:30. Keep up with them on InsTagram @AnimalRVA photos by wes mcquillen
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The Engagement
– A lovely stroll through Art Works Galleries and a question.
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The Reception
– Urban Elegance with an intimate reception in downtown RVA.
The Wedding – A beautiful, eclectic ceremony on the
banks of Wilton House Museum romantically over-looking the water.
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Gratitude Rising Events LLC, featuring All About The Journey Wedding Concierge, is excited to partner with GayRVA.com to produce this first wedding advertorial, featuring vendors who are supporting and affirming in the belief that all couples are deserve to celebrate their most special day in the most sacred, joyful and most beautiful way possible. Please support these wonderful businesses who stand by the belief that LOVE is LOVE! ART WORKS STUDIOS AND GALLERIES Pick Art Works Gallery for that unique, something-different venue. Glenda Kotchish, Co-Owner (804)291-1400 | www.artworksrichmond.com CEREMONIES BY MANDY Mandy Canfield, Officiant Specialize in officiating secular, non-traditional wedding ceremonies for ALL couples. 804-338-8505 | www.ceremoniesbymandy.com CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS OF VA Patrick Hagerich, Director of Bridal Services 804-270-9544 | Patrick@classicpartyrentalsva.com DIGITAL EMPIRE GRAPHIC DESIGN www.digitalempiregraphics.com DUPREE’S PHOTOGRAPHY J. Dupree, Photographer “I Am YOUR Photographer” 804-513-0054 www.dupreesphotography.smugmug.com EVERY LITTLE DETAIL We think of it so you don’t have to... Nica Lewis, Owner and Lead Event Planner Wedding and Event Planning 804:539-2180 | http://everylittledetails.com/ GUARD N FLAGS Committed to creating personalized flags with the intent to re-claim, re-member, and re-present our narratives. www.guardnflags.com https://instagram.com/guardnflags LIANA B. PHOTO CO. Based in RVA but will travel for LOVE Miranda Brown, Owner (804) 404-3897 https://instagram.com/lb_affair/ LINDEN ROW INN Casey Watson, Sales Manager 100 E Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219 www.lindenrowinn.com | 804-783-7000 sales@lindenrowinn.com | 804-225-5841 70
LUCILLE’S BAKERY Gerry Fortin, Pastry Chef/Owner Specializing in a wide variety of wedding cakes, cookies, pastries, breads, biscuits and more! 719 N. Meadow Street, Richmond, VA 23220 804-204-1524 | www.lucillesbakery.com MEN’S WEARHOUSE “We guarantee it” Kelley Hallum, Operations Manager 4680 Commonwealth Centre Parkway Midlothian, VA 23112 | knm13@tmw.com NATHANIEL’S UNIQUE EVENTS Unique rentals for your special occasion. Pam Edwards 1733 Summit Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230 804-833-4818 | www.nathanielsuniqueevents.com
ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY WEDDING CONCIERGE, a division of GRATITUDE RISING EVENTS, believes that important occasions should be celebrated well! That includes making sure that you are provided a safe and affirming environment and are able to have access to vendors who have been thoroughly vetted and will provide the utmost respect, professionalism, creativity and value for your grand celebration.
PANACHE ON PAPER Distinctive Stationery Sharon Givens, Creative Designer (804) 237-2205 | www.panacheonpaper.com
We specialize in event creation and management. We excel in Day of Event and DIY. Let our celebration enthusiasts help you to stress-less on your big day! Contact us at gratituderisingevents@gmail.com or 804-453-0919. SAVE THE DATE for the second edition of the SAY I DO! SOIREE – a beautiful matchmaking event for wedding & event professionals and same-sex couples and allies. Join us on FEBRUARY 7, 2016 when we return to THE RENAISSANCE.
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All About The Journey Wedding Concierge a division of Gratitude Rising Events is excited to announce an amazing opportunity born of a collaboration with R.Kristi Modern Hospitality. We are offering lucky RVA couples the opportunity to have a luxurious, blissed out, blinged out destination wedding in NYC valued at over $90,000 ALL-INCLUSIVE for only $4,988! Yes, you and your beloved and your guests could celebrate your love with the fête of a life-time. This luxurious destination wedding includes:
THE FLOWER GUY BRON Bron Hansboro, Floral Designer 1001 E. Main Street, Suite A Richmond, VA 23219 | (804) 223-2350 Theflowerguybron@gmail.com
WEST MAIN BRIDAL AND COUTURE LLC 505 E. Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 979-5683 pat@sealedwithakissbridal.com WILTON HOUSE MUSEUM Elizabeth Gosack Fleming, Operations/Rental Manager (804)285-5936 | www.wiltonhousemuseum.org
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• Welcome Party! (equivalent to an engagement party or a vow renewal party) • Couples Detox! Coaching and activities sessions with our resident empowerment specialist • Your personal Lady in Waiting as your best friend through entire process • Premium brands and companies included in your celebration • 12 week Virtual Fitness Program, 4 week in person Bridal Fitness Bootcamp • Wedding Invitations, souvenir programs, wedding favors • Personalized Wedding Cake • Designer Wedding Gown and accessories • Luxury Honeymoon Night and so much more.
To find out how this could be YOUR Wedding Package contact Ayana of All About The Journey Wedding Concierge at gratituderisingevents@gmail.com or 804-453-0919. Already married? Want to renew your vows in NYC with a fabulous celebration? Call us, Season ofwe’ve love! got something for you too. 71
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testing makes us
Richmond’s Diamond Broker. Offering the best prices on certified diamonds and custom settings. Call for A Free Consultation. www.cherylfornash.com • diamonds@cherylfornash.com
SunTrust Center • 919 East Main Street • Suite 1603 • Richmond, VA 23219 • 804.615.9819
Your HIV test result expires every time you have risky sex. Stay strong and informed. Get tested. Find free, fast and confidential testing near you: HIVtest.cdc.gov/stronger
Visit the Virginia Department of Health booth for more information! 74
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s p i h s d Frieasnt a lifetime! that l
Prime Timers Central Virginia is an educational/social organization of gay men who are dedicated to building life long friendships through activities and events in our community. For more information on how you can become a member and start making friendships that last a life time, visit our website or call for information.
www.primetimerscv.org (804) 876-0603
Your Wedding is an Historic Event Host all of your special events at the Branch House
Contact: Kathleen Bagenstose, (804) 237-1764 kbagenstose@branchmuseum.org
2501 Monument Ave. | Richmond, VA 23220
The Branch
Museum of Architecture and Design
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Discover a new exhibiধon in our new space
Exhibiধons – 1812 John Wickham House – Valenধne Sculpture Studio – Archives Walking & Bus Tours – Special Events – Valenধne Store – Sally Bell’s Kitchen 84 WWW.TH EVA L EN TI N E.ORG | 1015 E. C L AY S TREET | RI C H MON D, V I RGI N I A | Ӈ804ӈ 649Һ 0711 VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
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y o u r l o v e i s one of a kind yo u r b l i n g s h o u l d b e to o 88
#LOVEWINS VISIT US AT 19 N BELMONT AVENUE
VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
Season of love!
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COME OUT TO RICHMOND’S BEST
NEIGHBORHOOD
RESTAURANTS 1627 W Main St Richmond, VA 23220 Tues-Thu 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm Sun 10:30am-2pm 804.353.4060 H E R I T A G E R VA . C O M
3036 Stony Point Rd Richmond, VA 23235 Tues-Thu 5-9:30pm Fri-Sat 5-10pm Sun 5-9:30pm 804.918.5431 S O U T H B O U N D R V A . C O M
623 N 25th St Richmond, VA 23223 Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm Sun 10:30am-2pm 804.658.1935 R O O S E V E L T R V A . C O M 90
VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
Season of love!
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䘀䔀䄀吀唀刀䤀一䜀 䄀 刀伀吀䄀吀䤀伀一 伀䘀 刀䤀䌀䠀䴀伀一䐀ᤠ匀 吀伀倀 䐀䨀ᤠ匀 䔀嘀䔀刀夀 䘀刀䤀䐀䄀夀 ☀ 匀䄀吀唀刀䐀䄀夀
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VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
Season of love!
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THE 2015-2016 VIRGINIA OPERA SEASON AT THE HISTORIC CARPENTER THEATRE AT RICHMOND CENTERSTAGE
October 9 & 11, 2015
February 19 & 21, 2016
November 20 & 22, 2015
April 15 & 17, 2016
Season Tickets now on sale starting as low as $59 for all 4 productions! For personal assistance contact the Virginia Opera Box Office at
866.673.7282
or purchase online at 94
VAOPERA.ORG VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015
Season of love!
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VirginiA PRIDEFEST 2015