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How Central VA’s LGBTQ Community Is Responding To Coronavirus

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Plans are changing. Alternate arrangements are being made. Around Richmond and central Virginia, LGBTQ organizations are adjusting to the restrictions required by coronavirus. Here’s what you need to know.

From the tediousness of sheltering in place to the terrifying implications of lost income to the frustrating experience that shopping for basic necessities has become, COVID-19, aka the novel coronavirus, is messing all of us up. Not only are members of the LGBTQ community at higher risk for infection by COVID-19, LGBTQ people are more likely to be on the lower end of the economic spectrum, and therefore to face unpleasant consequences of the current economic slowdown more quickly than most.

With all of this going on, we felt it was important to let everyone know what’s happening with the many LGBTQ advocacy and support organizations around Richmond, as well as all of our favorite LGBTQ-centered night spots and entertainment venues. Here’s what we know right now.

Richmond LGBTQ Chamber

In light of the need for social distancing, the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber (formerly known as Richmond Business Alliance) has cancelled all scheduled events for at least eight weeks. The upcoming volunteer meeting has been moved to a conference call. “In these difficult times it is imperative that we support one another,” said Richmond LGBTQ Chamber President Natasha Crosby in a statement. “We pride ourselves on the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber being YOUR chamber of commerce and want you to know that we are here to support you during this time.” The Chamber has created a relief fund for members of the Chamber experiencing financial hardship, and will be giving micro-grants starting mid-April. To apply for assistance, email [email protected] The relief fund is also currently accepting donations at Richmond LGBTQ Chamber’s website.

Diversity Richmond

All aspects of Diversity Richmond, including Diversity Thrift and Iridian Gallery, are closed for the next two weeks. Scheduled events are on hold, and Diversity will be monitoring the situation between now and the end of the month in order to decide on any further action. “Stay safe and help take care of your friends,” the organization said in a statement.

Richmond Triangle Players

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, Richmond Triangle Players have postponed the opening of their next production, Sugar In Our Wounds, until mid-May. However, gift certificates are available for purchase at RTP’s website, and are a great way to support the theater as it gets back on its feet. “As always, we are grateful for your ongoing support and hope to see you at the Theatre soon,” said RTP Executive Director Philip Crosby in a statement. “Stay safe. Stay home as much as possible. And wash those hands!

Equality Virginia

The first year of Democratic control in the General Assembly brought a slew of legislative victories for Virginia’s LGBTQ community, but unfortunately, coronavirus has prevented Equality Virginia’s celebration. The annual Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28, has been cancelled. If you bought a ticket, information on obtaining a refund is available at EV’s website. “We deeply empathize and share the disappointment our community will feel regarding this decision, especially our OUTstanding Virginians whose unique contributions to LGBTQ equality would have been celebrated at the Commonwealth Dinner,” the group said in a statement. “We honor their passion, dedication, and accomplishments which together help to build a stronger, more vibrant LGBTQ community in the Commonwealth.”

Side By Side

Virginia’s advocates for LGBTQ youth have made extensive changes in order to accomodate the ongoing situation where coronavirus is concerned. The organization’s office is closed for the foreseeable future, and all drop-in hours have been cancelled. All support groups for Richmond and Charlottesville have moved to online virtual groups using Zoom. New youth can still join — more information on joining support groups and on additional support available, including G-chat, individual counseling, youth support lines, and much more is available at sidebysideva.org/covid19.

Additionally, Side By Side is looking for volunteers to help show LGBTQ youth stuck at home with potentially unsupportive families some online love. “

“We are calling on our LGBTQ+ community and amazing allies to post a video showing your pride or your love for LGBTQ+ youth with #PrideAtHome and tag Side by Side to show your support,” the group said in a statement. “Let’s remind our youth that they are fabulous and loved and that being proud of who you are can happen anywhere!”

Health Brigade

Health Brigade has moved to remote operations. All events on-site have been cancelled until further notice. If you have an appointment for the medical clinic, staff will be in touch with you about alternate arrangements. New patients are not being accepted at this time. Individual therapy sessions are being held by phone; all groups have been suspended until further notice. Transgender Health Services is operating remotely, and is not accepting new clients, but is available for contact 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday. STI/HIV testing, comprehensive harm reduction/needle exchange, starting new patients on PrEP, Transgender Health Services intakes, and Ryan White Part B Intakes have all been suspended until further notice. More information on Health Brigade services during this time can be found at healthbrigade.org/covid19update/.

“We have been receiving heart-warming inquires from our funders and the community at large. In a time of such uncertainty, people want to help their neighbors most in need,” Health Brigade Executive Director Karen A. Legato said in a statement. “The best way to help us is to DONATE. As a private, non-profit clinic, we do NOT receive federal funding. If you can give, we promise, we will put your gift into providing patient/client/community care.” That link to donate is here; many of the most vulnerable members of our community rely on Health Brigade for health care; if you’re in a position to help, we highly recommend that you do so.

Planned Parenthood

As of right now, Planned Parenthood is remaining open. They ask that if you have a fever, are experiencing symptoms that might be connected to COVID-19, or have traveled recently, that you call before any appointment and consult with staff on next steps. They also ask that clients come alone to appointments, in order to minimize risk to staff and other patients. But they are making a point to be as available as possible.

“One of the reasons you have chosen Planned Parenthood as your health care provider is because of one simple standard: our doors stay open,” said Virginia League for Planned Parenthood Medical Director Dr. Shanthi Ramesh in a statement. “We care. No matter what. We are open. We are here for you. We know that health care is a critical piece of your life and your community and that there are many things that are uncertain about the days and weeks ahead. We are open for services such as abortion care, urinary tract infections, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and urgent primary care concerns.”

“Just know that we are doing everything we can to make your life easier and get you the information and care you need. Whether we provide services online, by phone, in person or chat/text, we’re here with you.”

Nationz Foundation

Nationz Foundation’s current office hours are 10am – 5pm, by appointment only. They are continuing to provide HIV and STI testing during these hours, but are not accepting walk-ins in order to protect staff and clients. Appointments can be made by calling (804)716-7597. “We will continue to Aim to Inspire during these difficult times and encourage our community to as well!” Nationz said in a statement.

Babes of Carytown

Babes remained open for carryout and delivery throughout March, but as of April 1, have decided to close until further notice.

Godfrey’s

Godfrey’s has been doing Virtual Drag Brunches from 11am-2pm on Sundays, so you’re not entirely deprived of your drag brunch goodness — it just comes through Facebook and Instagram now. They’ve also been hosting Virtual Drag Shows on Wednesday evenings at 8pm; tonight’s will feature raffles for gift certificates to drag brunch when all this mess is over. So tune in and get your Paypal or CashApp ready to send in those tips!

Barcode

Barcode are offering their full menu for takeout orders, and have delivery available through Grubhub. To place an order, call Barcode at (804)648-2040. “We are practicing safety and caution for our staff and clients,” Barcode said in a statement. “Thanks again for your continued support.”

Fallout

Fallout is currently open from 6pm to 12am for takeout. Their full menu is available, and staff can meet you with food curbside by request. To-go orders can be placed by calling (804)343-3688. All events have been cancelled until further notice, including the regular Wicked Wednesday drag night. Fallout merchandise is available online for purchase, as are gift cards, and a portion of the purchase price for both will be reserved for employees.

“We are working out a way to support the staff as much as possible if a mandated shutdown/shift loss becomes a reality,” Fallout management said in a statement. “Please also consider supporting local artists, performers, sex workers. There are several orgs forming to give mutual aid, especially in the queer community, keep an eye out for those and donate where you can.”

VA Pride

While VA Pride hasn’t had to cancel any events as yet, they are currently working with The Holli Fund on a Virtual Happy Hour, to be held Friday, March 20 from noon to 7pm. The goal of the online event is to raise money for those from the food industry whose incomes have taken a hit due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. More information on that event, and how you can donate, can be found here.

“VA Pride is currently reaching out to local and state officials and is working with local relief efforts to see how we can best leverage our resources, networks and connections to help,” said VA Pride President James R. Millner II in a statement. “We will keep you informed of our efforts and will ask you to join us when the time is right. We are also going to be sharing information on relief efforts already underway so you can access them if you need to and support them if you are able. We are committed to do all we can to ensure the safety, health and well-being of not just our LGBTQ family, but of our entire RVA community.”

Would you like your organization included on this list? Does information on this list need to be updated? If so, please send an email to [email protected] We will be updating this list with new information as we receive it.

Top Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Jumping Off The Tightrope

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Artists Mahari Chabwera and Micah David Scott tackle the question of evolution through art with their new exhibition, Evolution Of The Sacred Self, which opens Friday at Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond.

Diversity Richmond’s Iridian Gallery premieres its first new exhibition of the year (and the decade, depending on how you count it) tomorrow night, with the opening of Evolution Of The Sacred Self. The show features work from two painters, Mahari Chabwera and Micah David Scott, both of whom are 20-something painters from Virginia who identify somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum.

The central question asked by Evolution Of The Sacred Self is: “How do we navigate society, self, and sexuality? Is it like walking a tightrope? Or is it something else?” As co-curators Lora Beldon and Dr. Lauranett Lee point out in a statement, our modern society is hypersexualized, in a manner that has strong influence on who we are. This is a particularly pointed situation for LGBTQ people of color like Chabwera and Scott; in particular, Chabwera has had art pulled from public view even as she received a public art grant. However, what mainstream society can’t handle will be displayed fearlessly at Iridian Gallery.

“This show is important to me both personally and professionally,” Dr. Lee, a public historian, explains. “I, too, was born in Virginia. I teach in the academy and I serve in the community. As a public historian I am invested in exploring our past through history and our lived experiences, connecting past and present. The art of Chabwera and Scott offers an opportunity to free fall as we each consider our own evolution of the sacred self.”

Mahari Chabwera. Photo courtesy Iridian Gallery

While both artists are still young, both have seen the effects of personal evolution in the art they create. “When I first started making art I did not want to see myself in my subject matter. I wanted to make art to help me understand the world outside of me. I wanted to understand and experience things that I didn’t see on a regular basis,” Scott said in a statement. “Now I see myself in my art repeatedly. I often use myself as a reference in my art because I am the most readily available model for my subject matter. Whereas before I did anything I could to avoid being in my artwork, now I do not mind seeing myself appear in my work. I now create art that helps me understand myself and people like me.”

Chadwera’s work has also evolved. She states that when she began work on her current series, she wasn’t thinking about her identity. However, her work has become much more intentional as she has felt a responsibility to speak about her history. “I’m using my life’s practice as an act of creating a cosmology ingrained in remembering our spirits innermost connectivity and potential; which is, the possibility of total spiritual and bodily freedom,” Chadwera said in a statement. “An existence without compressions.”

For Beldon, Iridian Gallery’s liaison, who is co-curating the exhibition with Dr. Lee, Evolution Of The Sacred Self reflects exactly the kind of art that Iridian Gallery hopes to share with the world. “Iridian seeks to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ artists,” she said in a statement. “Both Ms. Chabwera and Mr. Scott are very much in touch with their evolution. We as the viewer need to ask ourselves the questions, how did you see yourself in the past? How do you see yourself now? Have you changed? Then, think about the artists you are viewing.”

Micah David Scott. Photo courtesy Iridian Gallery.

There will be abundant opportunity to reflect on all of these questions at the opening for Exhibition Of The Sacred Self, taking place on Friday, January 10 from 7 to 9 PM at Iridian Gallery. The event is free and open to the public. For more info, click here. If you can’t make it, artwork will be on display until Saturday, February 22 during Iridian Gallery’s normal business hours. Iridian Gallery is located within the Diversity Richmond complex at 1407 Sherwood Ave.

Top Image: Mahari Chabwera’s Under Maya’s Bloom We Had Known Power; It’s The Fire Next Time (left), Micah David Scott’s Introvert (right). Images courtesy Iridian Gallery

Richmond’s Queer Artistic Radiance

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Iridian Gallery’s last show of 2019 presents a variety of local LGBTQ artists and allies in a community-focused juried exhibition entitled Radiance.

Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond will cap off their 2019 with a group art show you do not want to miss. Radiance, a group show featuring dozens of local artists, opens tomorrow night, December 13, with a reception that will feature drinks by Belle Isle Moonshine and a raffle to win artwork by Iridian Gallery Vice Chair Michael-Birch Pierce.

Billed as a “community-centric art show and sale,” Radiance features work by both up-and-coming and established Richmond artists, all of whom are members or allies of the LGBTQ community, and all of whom promote queer-positive messages. The show was curated by jurors Amber Esseiva, assistant curator at Richmond’s Institute For Contemporary Art, and Stan McCulloch, co-owner of Mongrel, and will be a benefit for Diversity Richmond.

All art on display will be for sale for prices of $500 or less, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to purchase great holiday gifts for the art lovers in your life. Sales will support both artists and Diversity Richmond.

Artists with work on display include Aída Bogado, Alex Foster, Alice Anne Ellis, Blythe King, Chris Morris, Dakota Summer Becker, Damian Elio Massie, Dan Mouer, Elliot Scaparo, Emmanuelle Garcia, Eric May, Janet Scagnelli, Jeanne Schlesinger, Jennifer Woehrle, Johannah Willsey, Jonathan Lee, Jorge Ariel Escobar, Kim Sandara, Lev Keatts, Natasha Kovacs, Lindsay Parnell, Mary Vivo, Michael A. Pierce, Michael-Birch Pierce, Miriam Cooper, Nava Levenson, Rob Ryder, Sara Ferguson, and Sarah Midkiff. That’s a total of 29 artists, so there’ll be a lot to see!

Head to Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond, located at 1407 Sherwood Ave, on Friday, December 13 beginning at 6 PM for the Radiance opening reception featuring Belle Isle Moonshine and a raffle for artwork by Michael-Birch Pierce. And if you can’t make it Friday night, don’t worry — the exhibit will remain on display until January 5, 2020. Whether you’re in need of some holiday gift ideas or just want to see the best of what the Richmond LGBTQ arts have to offer, this is one show you need to see. For more information, click here.

Happy Birthday, Diversity Richmond

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Our 2019 Fall Pride Guide, in collaboration with VA Pride, is out now! In this article from the magazine, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Diversity Richmond and their continued commitment to support and advocate for the river city’s LGBTQ community.

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.

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 bringing in over a million dollars a year,” said Klein. “I thought, ‘We need to do this here.’”

Klein admitted that not only was the community response overwhelming, but they also quickly outgrew the 45-foot space they 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.

“The word ‘gay’ is an antiquated term, [and it] is not inclusive,” said Diversity Richmond President and Executive Director Bill Harrison. “We decided to rebrand, so we hired two women — Lisa Cumbey and Kim Farlow — [who] orchestrated our rebranding effort. They presented us with about seven different names and ‘Diversity Richmond’ was unanimously chosen by the board.”

The list of things that the center has been able to accomplish over its 20 years operating in Richmond is lengthy. Diversity regularly offers other non-profits in the area the use of their meeting space, and Richmond Triangle Players has also used the space as a rehearsal hall from time to time.

“Rarely does a night pass that this building is not filled to capacity with different organizations using our rooms for free,” said Harrison.

By offering a meeting space for use by other non-profits, Diversity Richmond does a massive service to other community groups by helping them with the most terrifying piece of most puzzles — the bills. Keeping the lights on and offering space for meetings and storage saves these groups a lot of money, which they otherwise would have had to spend on basic utilities.

Another thing at hand that Diversity holds close to its heart is the beautiful Iridian Gallery. One of the only LGBTQ art galleries in the American South, this gallery has played host to a variety of artists and creators, including Richmond illustrator Mattie Hinkley, Savannah-based artist Ben Tollefson, a posthumous retrospective featuring the work of Richmond legend J. Alan Cumbey, and a queer quilting bee by Invasive Queer Kudzu.

“We always had an art gallery here, but it had been dark for several years so we brought that back as part of the rebranding,” said Harrison. “It’s the only art gallery in the South — and one of the few in the country — whose main mission focus is to support LGBTQ artists and allies. We have a different show about every two months, and that’s been very well-received by the community.”

As a community center, naturally the central focus is on what can be done to help the community. Harrison specified that a massive part of what makes Diversity Richmond so successful is being what they call “mission-driven.”

“The way I word it, we grab every opportunity we can to help,” said Harrison. “Nonprofits have to be careful to stay on mission, because when you try to become everything to everybody, it’s easy to go out of business.”

While Diversity has been through and accomplished a lot, one recent accomplishment that Harrison is particularly proud of is a simpler and more TLC-based step: Diversity Thrift was able to receive a much-needed facelift.

“The thrift store has a completely new look, [including] new flooring,” Harrison said. “It looks better than it’s ever looked, and that’s something I’m very proud of.”

It is undeniable that Richmond is much different and better off than it would have been if we 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.

In 2016, after the Pulse Nightclub massacre, there was a community outcry to hold a vigil for those lost. Diversity was able to put together a candlelight vigil for the community in just two days.

“People started immediately calling Diversity Richmond, saying that [we needed to have] some kind of vigil in [our] event hall,” said Harrison. “We organized that in about 48 hours, and we had about two thousand people here. That was a signal to me that we are heading in the right direction, because I do believe that people look toward Diversity Richmond for leadership. That’s a privilege and a major responsibility, and we take it quite seriously.”

Living in the heart of the Confederacy is something that Harrison and Diversity Richmond are very cognizant of; they are constantly thinking about what they can do to grow and get better. 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.

They’ve done this by pulling in grants, from organizations such as North Carolina-based non-profit The Laughing Gull Foundation, to fund diversity training for its staff and board of directors, and workshops to help train the staff and the community. One of the first things they had to learn was to be aware of your own privilege — which Harrison admitted was especially important as a white man.

“We have worked very hard on creating a diverse board of directors, and it is a slow 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 directors and our senior directors. We started that at our August board meeting, where we are taking a look in the mirror, and our first workshop was on unintentional prejudice — things white people can do, not realizing how offensive they can be to people of color.”

While Diversity has accomplished much, there is still a long way to go, especially for communities of color. LGBTQ spaces still have a tendency to remain very white spaces, and Diversity Richmond wants to turn that around, starting right here in Richmond.

“I want to hear from the community what we are not doing well,” said Harrison. “You’re not going to hurt my feelings, I’m not going to be mad. We need to hear that. What is it that you are not receiving that you would like to receive? I think we’re on the right path, but I think that the community does look to us for leadership.”

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 — founder Jon Klein will of course be in attendance, and no one could be more excited than him. Humbly, what he is most excited for is seeing old friends.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Richmond and meeting friends, and hanging out with old friends,” said Klein. “I have a number of old friends I miss rather dearly.”

Diversity Richmond has been a friend to Richmond’s LGBTQ community for the past 20 years. Here’s to 20 more!

Top Photo by Sara Wheeler, other photos courtesy Diversity Richmond

Celebrate Community Unity With Diversity Richmond This Friday Night

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Diversity Richmond’s third annual All-Americans Block Party is the perfect way to wrap up your week and celebrate Richmond’s LGBTQ community.

This weekend, it’s time for the community to come together, as Diversity Richmond throws their third annual All-Americans Block Party. This indoor event is the perfect way to beat the heat and come together with the city’s LGBTQ community as Diversity makes it a point to celebrate ALL Americans!

As in past years, the karaoke contest is the star attraction for this one, with five $100 prizes and one $500 grand prize up for grabs. Audience votes will select the winner, so come prepared to make a memorable impression! Your Mistress of Ceremonies is none other than Zakia Jemaceye, whose performances have been acclaimed around Richmond and around the entire nation.

Diversity’s Iridian Gallery will also be running a community art show and art sale in the event hall, featuring all sorts of local artists. There will also be three cash bars, and food will be provided as well. Sponsors for the event include Artisan Hill Apartment Community, Treehouse Reality, State Farm Insurance, and Mongrel, and all proceeds from the event will go to benefit Diversity Richmond in their efforts to support the greater Richmond LGBTQ community. Help them help us all!

Diversity Richmond’s All Americans Block Party will take place on Friday, July 26 (that’s tomorrow!) from 5:30 til 8 PM at Diversity Richmond’s event hall, located at 1407 Sherwood Ave. Admission is free, so come cool off and enjoy an evening of singing, dancing, and appreciating our community! For more info on this event, click here.