On Saturday May 16, hundreds rallied at the Virginia Capitol and then took to the streets of Richmond for the kickoff campaign for the November election for reproductive freedom. "This amendment will be on the ballot on November 3rd and every day until then we...
Mayor Danny Avula is at a defining moment. The same for the 2004 Elected Mayor law. Here’s why. Then a win-win-win. The 16-year era of the race-baiting politics of former Mayors Dwight Jones and Levar Stoney needs to come to an end. They and their cronies have used race to enrich too many, for far too long, with contracts they don’t deserve, jobs...
The world is a tough place, no doubt about it. There’s plenty to rage against, plenty of sorrow to drink deep from. We’ll get to all that soon enough. But today, let’s set that aside and revel in something pure, strange, and undeniably joyful. Richmond’s got itself a new baby pygmy hippo, born just before Christmas at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Now,...
Felipe Rose, an original member of the Village People and former Richmond resident, shared his perspective on the enduring debate over “Y.M.C.A.” and its place as a cultural anthem. Speaking candidly, Rose offered a nuanced take, embracing both the song’s origins in the 1970s gay culture and its broader appeal as a universal celebration of joy,...
Richmond, Virginia, is poised to become a pivotal location for understanding the history of slavery in America with The Shockoe Project, a large-scale initiative dedicated to memorializing the city's role in the transatlantic slave trade and honoring the experiences of enslaved and free Africans. With the unveiling of a life-size replica of the...
“We need a little good trouble, don’t we?” Alan would say, his tall frame casting a shadow and that familiar twinkle in his eye. Farid Alan Schintzius passed away last Thursday, and I’ve been reflecting on the loss of someone I deeply admired. A true master of “good trouble,” he pulled me into plenty over the years, and I’m better for it. Despite...
As winter grips Richmond, the city faces a stark moral and political dilemma. Recent events—the approval of a $2 million animal adoption center, the city deciding to no longer support overflow shelters for the homeless, and the vandalism of a community fridge—lay bare a troubling pattern: Richmond’s policies prioritize visibility and convenience...
Sub Rosa Bakery, a cornerstone of Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, is closed indefinitely after a fire early last Sunday morning caused severe roof damage. The community has quickly mobilized to support the bakery’s recovery. A GoFundMe campaign launched shortly after the fire has already raised over $40,000 toward its $50,000 goal. Siblings...
For over half a century, Health Brigade—formerly the Fan Free Clinic—has been Richmond’s quiet, unshakable healthcare safety net. No glitz, no glamour, no trophies on the wall. Just care for anyone who walks through their doors, no questions asked. But now, they’re reaching out. An email landed in our inbox the other day—direct, urgent, and...
Richmond has achieved a perfect score of 100 on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), a comprehensive assessment of LGBTQ+ inclusion in municipal policies, services, and laws. Released annually by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), this year’s MEI evaluated 11 cities and towns in Virginia, with Richmond standing proudly alongside nine...
