It could be said that Shakespeare invented the rom-com. It could also be said that Jane Austen improved it a couple of centuries later. Between the two of them, meet-cutes, notices of love or rejection arriving at exactly the wrong time, and breathless affirmations of...
A conversation with harpist and transmedia alchemist Eli Owens Having had the great fortune of meeting Eli in 2013 at VCU in the Photo/Film department their film work that year involved a claustrophobic set and an intricate audio soundscape. Reconnecting with them as a musical artist has been exciting to hear and see their work with regard to the...
One of my best friends and fashion-contemplating confidants, Bliss Foster, who operates his eponymous YouTube channel with over 250K subscribers, created a video entitled “The ‘Men in Skirts’ Phenomenon”. He was asked by his Patreon discord group, “Is embracing feminine traits the only way of becoming more fashionable as a man?” His reply was a...
In the heart of Richmond, Virginia, a star shone brightly in the drag queen sky – Dajuan Lamont Gee, known as Millennium C. Snow, a beacon of creativity and resilience. April 17, 1981, marks the birth of a true original whose journey came to a sudden halt on January 6, 2024 at the age of 42, plunging the community into mourning. The Loss of a...
“Once upon a time a little colored girl was born inside a goddess. With a heart made of dreams and a mind made of love, she took her long skinny legs and came into this world, Earth. Oh Lord, yes she did!” This is part of the introduction to the HBO Max documentary, Donyale Luna: Supermodel. It is part of a diary entry of hers, and is one...
Grace Baptist Church in Richmond’s quiet Windsor Farms neighborhood is proud to hold progressive events. On Saturday, the Church teamed up with Diversity Richmond and hosted Christian Drag Queen performer Flamy Grant styled after 90’s Christian rock star Amy Grant but with a way more flamboyant style. Leading up to the concert, Todd Starnes...
Jamie Lockhart serves as the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive healthcare. In this interview, Jamie reminds us how critical it is for us to participate in the Nov. 7th election by detailing what exactly is at stake– and...
This article originally appeared in Virginia Pride Guide 2023. This is a version formatted for RVA Mag. You can read the whole original issue here. In the ever-changing landscape of Shockoe Bottom, a district in Richmond, Virginia, one venue has proven to be a steadfast beacon of inclusivity, diversity, and joy for the city's LGBTQIA...
The only good conspiracy is a fun conspiracy. What if you were a globally famous entertainer with an army of fans from every single country - across all ages, economic strata, gender, and sexual orientation? What if every corner of that fandom wants to connect with you on their own special axis of identity? What if a stand up comedian decided to...
This article originally appeared in Virginia Pride Guide 2023. This is a version formatted for RVA Mag. You can read the whole original issue here. There’s a pulse beneath the pavements of Norfolk, and a lot of it is set to the rhythm of its thriving queer community. Beth Austin, a Virginia photographer whose connection to the area is...
