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Black Lives Matter Street Mural Cancelled

RVA Staff | October 1, 2020

Topics: black lives matter, Election 2020, Mike Dickinson, murals, planned parenthood, Roger Stone, Venture Richmond

In August, Venture Richmond received approval to paint a “Black Lives Matter” street mural on East Grace St. But in September, they chose to withdraw their application. What happened?

Since the nationwide protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of the Minneapolis police began back in May, cities around the country have taken visible steps to recognize the movement that has spearheaded these protests. In some of these cities, that recognition has taken the form of a mural spelling out the message “Black Lives Matter” on city streets.

Richmond was supposed to get its own “Black Lives Matter” street mural. On August 17, Venture Richmond obtained permission from Richmond’s Public Arts Commission and City Planning Commission to create just such a mural on East Grace St. But last week, they withdrew their proposal. What happened?

The mural’s initial approval came as the culmination of two months’ work by Venture Richmond, artists Hamilton Glass and Ed Trask, and various community groups. At the time, Venture Richmond deputy executive director Anedra Bourne said in a press release that the group hoped to create a unique mural and not just mimic the solid yellow murals in other communities.

The project received vocal support from business leaders, artists, and other community members in the city, including Councilwoman Ellen Robertson, Reverend Benjamin Campbell, Carmina Drummond of the Martin Agency, Moses Foster of the West Cary Group and the Downtown Neighborhood Association. Bourne said Venture Richmond had plans to involve community members and artists in the creation of the mural.

However, the plan to install the mural changed after conservative City Council candidate Mike Dickinson learned of Venture Richmond’s application. Following their lead, Dickinson applied for permission to place a “Baby Lives Matter” mural in front of the Planned Parenthood offices on North Hamilton Street. 

Dickinson’s application, filed on September 1, led the Richmond Planning Commission to hold a closed session with their attorneys. The result of that meeting was an announcement that the Planning Commission would reconsider their approval of the “Black Lives Matter” mural at an upcoming meeting. With that announcement, Venture Richmond chose to withdraw their application.

As far as Dickinson was concerned, he had made his point.

“I think it’s best if government just stays out of making roadways and other public areas political art displays, because then you pick and choose, and government shouldn’t be doing that,” he told Virginia Public Media. 

City Council candidate Mike Dickinson. Photo via Mike Dickinson/Facebook

Dickinson claimed that his had just been the first of several public campaigns around Richmond to push for murals featuring more conservative messages.

“It wasn’t just me. Some people I talked to wanted ‘Dancer Lives Matter’ on Midlothian in front of Paper Moon, some wanted Blue Lives Matter, and you can’t really stop it,” he told VPM. “I think the City Attorney told [the Planning Commission] basically, ‘If you do this, you are opening a can of worms.’”

Dickinson took credit for stopping the “Black Lives Matter” mural with a post on his campaign Facebook account, one that made clear his position on abortion, Planned Parenthood, and the Black Lives Matter movement. 

“While we will not be able to paint Baby Lives Matter and remember the thousands of innocent babies killed by Planned Parenthood daily, I take great pride in knowing that we stopped the city from painting anything that commemorates a Marxist organization and movement like Black Lives Matter,” he wrote. 

Dickinson’s other social media posts express similar right-wing views. In one post, he said that protesters “are scared of me! Because I will LOCK THEM UP!” In another, he mocked the fact that Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam have been diagnosed with coronavirus, and derided the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Dickinson’s advice on COVID-19, as captured in that post: “Live your life. If you get it you get it.”

Dickinson also praises Donald Trump in multiple posts, and touts his having received an endorsement from Roger Stone, the Republican political consultant and lobbyist who was convicted of multiple felonies during the Mueller investigation and only avoided prison when President Trump commuted his sentence.

Dickinson’s celebratory Facebook post made clear that the purpose of his application for the “Baby Lives Matter” mural was, first and foremost, to block the installation of the “Black Lives Matter” mural. 

“We the people 1, BLM 0,” he wrote.

Written by Greta Timmins and Marilyn Drew Necci. Top Image: Rendering of proposed mural by Venture Richmond.

Racist Anti-Abortion Group Plans In-Person “Straight Pride” Event in a U.S. COVID-19 Hotspot

New Civil Rights Movement | August 4, 2020

Topics: anti-LGBTQ activism, Don Grundmann, MoPride, National Straight Pride Coalition, planned parenthood, Straight Pride Parade

The National Straight Pride Coalition, the California “straight pride parade” group from last year, is back — just what we need in the midst of a pandemic.

The so-called National Straight Pride Coalition (NSPC) is planning an event in Modesto, California for August 29, 2020 — in the middle of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic — even though their 2019 event only drew dozens of attendees and 250 counter-protesters.

NSPC’s organizers told ABC 10 that the second annual Stanislaus County Straight Pride event is meant to be “a celebration of life in all of its aspects: masculinity; femininity; the natural family of man, woman, and children; children born and unborn; Western civilization; Christianity – everything which builds the culture of life.”

But the racist, Islamophobic, and anti-LGBTQ undertones of that rhetoric hides the NSPC’s secondary agenda: hijacking the racial justice movement to oppose access to reproductive healthcare.

Their event will take place in the parking lot of a Planned Parenthood to “to illustrate the horrific reality that it is the greatest mass killer of blacks in the history of our nation,” NSPC’s website says. Because abortions only make up three percent of Planned Parenthood’s services, NSPC is arguing that supporting low-cost reproductive and other health services to women is racism.

The NSPC’s website calls transgender identity “insanity,” a “psychosis,” and a “sexual pathology” and equates the LGBTQ movement with pedophilia and Satanism. The website also specifically cites “Caucasians” and “Christianity” as two of its founding principles, which is telling for a group that purports to stand-up for Black people.

Last year, Don Grundmann, NSPC’s founder, said in a Modesto City Council meeting, “We’re a totally peaceful, racist group.”

MoPride Inc., a local LGBTQ non-profit has already planned a counter-protest almost immediately upon hearing about Grundmann’s event.

“We can’t just ignore it,” the non-profit’s Pride director Zola Hayes said. “They are absolutely representative of an emboldening of far-right groups that use hateful rhetoric to galvanize their base.”

California is currently the U.S. state with the highest number of coronavirus cases.

Written by Daniel Villareal, The New Civil Rights Movement. Top Photo via NCRM

Urgent Progressive Change: Speaking With Richmond Mayoral Candidate Alexsis Rodgers

Carley Welch | June 25, 2020

Topics: alexsis rodgers, black lives matter, BLM, care in action, coronavirus, education, eviction, gentrification, healthcare, housing, housing crisis, Levar Stoney, local politics, local schools, mayor, mayor candidates, mayor race, monument ave, monuments, Navy Hill, new monuments, Pandemic, planned parenthood, politics, protests, richmond apartments, richmond coliseum, richmond healthcare, richmond housing, richmond mayor, richmond public schools, richmond rentals, RPS, stoney, vcu, Virginia politics, virginia young democrats

RVA Magazine sits down with Alexsis Rodgers, a community activist and mayoral candidate for the City of Richmond, to learn more about her policies. 

On June 6, Alexsis Rodgers formally announced her candidacy for Richmond mayor. Rodgers, a VCU graduate, is currently the Virginia state director for Care in Action: the policy and advocacy home for two million women domestic workers. Rodgers is also the former president of the Virginia Young Democrats. Rodgers’ campaign is running on the slogan “Policies Not Apologies.”

Among the policies and reform she’s passionate about are voting rights, economic security, college affordability, and quality health care. Some of her accomplishments include playing a key role in achieving Medicaid expansion, and growing birth control access during her time at Planned Parenthood here in Richmond. 

We sat down with Rodgers to learn more about her policies ahead of the election. 

RVA Magazine: I’ve seen and read that you’ve been in leadership positions such as the president of Virginia Young Democrats, and now you’re the Virginia State Director for Care in Action. Why do you want to run for mayor? Why now?

Alexsis Rodgers: Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen more clearly than ever that the community wants urgent, progressive change. A lot of the demands that we’re hearing from the community are policy demands that they’ve been setting forward for years — whether that be police accountability, a civilian review board with authority to subpoena, or the Marcus Alert. What I’ve seen from our Mayor’s Office is a resistance to listen and be responsive to calls from the community, and this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this dismissal… When you look back at the Navy Hill fight, the Education Compact, and development projects all throughout the city, we’ve seen the Mayor center the interests of corporate elites and special interests more so than people. I think now more than ever, we need someone who’s in touch; who has worked with community activism leaders to fight for progressive change, but who also understands policy and its process. I think I’m that candidate. 

RVA Mag: What do you think is the best solution for the city’s ongoing problems with education, especially for students who are economically disadvantaged and/or from marginalized backgrounds?

AR: Number one: right now, in the middle of this public health crisis, we’re seeing the importance of education and the importance of child care. For too many of Richmond’s families, access to affordable child care, early childhood education, and the right to go to a good quality school has not been a reality. I think we have to start by centering the right values, and the right people, in the process. We’re never going to get the results we want when it comes to educational equity if we don’t start centering the folks that are the most impacted. If we don’t start by engaging and listening to our teachers, faculty, and support staff. If we’re not truly listening to parents. We haven’t seen any true community engagement through this Mayor’s Administration. That’s something we’re going to need to address if we want to fully fund RPS, if we want to get police out of our school systems, and make sure that schools are a safe place for our kids to learn and grow. 

RVA Mag: How do you feel about the issues that have come up in the past year or two regarding de facto segregation of school districts within the city?

AR: There’s a systemic issue when it comes to racial and educational inequity here in Richmond, and right now we’re having a very public conversation about monuments and what they mean to black and brown folks. But we’re not [paying] enough attention right now to the systemic issues of racial injustice and education inequity. I think it has to start by, again, making sure we’re centering the right folks in these conversations. We haven’t always done that. We can’t ignore do-gooders in our community that want to support because they have access to corporate funds for our schools. They’re great community partners who have been helping to support our teachers and staff, but we need to make sure that we’re always putting students first. We know that Navy Hill was not a project that was going to put working-class folks first, and we’ve got to stop putting those corporate elites first when it comes to our policymaking. 

RVA Mag: The process of figuring out what to do with the Richmond Coliseum and its surrounding area, Navy Hill, has been a huge issue in the city over the past few years. How do you think you can most effectively move this discussion forward, and find a solution for the area that works for all Richmonders? 

AR: I think the project was doomed from the start, because it seemed to me that the process was rigged. It started with corporate special interest, and the plan was created, but it was rolled out under the guidelines of “wanting community feedback and input” — when really, they knew what they wanted the plan to be. It was not real engagement and real incorporation of community feedback. As Mayor, my commitment is that I’m not going to start with those special interests in mind first. I want to put the people first, and make sure there is real input from Richmond residents — that their voices are actually heard as we’re developing the city. It’s really important that we’re able to build and grow Richmond — make sure we open up new revenues for the city, so we can fully fund our schools and address housing and healthcare issues. But if we don’t center the right values as we work to secure economic development, we’re never going to do right by Richmond residents. 

RVA Mag: What are your views on what should be done on Monument Ave? 

AR: I think it’s really clear that Richmonders want these monuments down. I told a story when I first launched my campaign about when I was at school at Hanover High School: at track practice while we were practicing, a truck pulled up with a huge confederate flag in the back and started circling the parking lot. My coach went out and told that driver to go home. He knew the message that truck was trying to send to our team, he knew it was wrong, and he went out and called for that person to go.

Right now, what we’re seeing over the last several years, folks have asked for these monuments to be removed. They’ve asked for them to be put in museums, but for them to be put out of our public spaces. For too long, the Mayor has said, “Well we can’t,” or “I’m not sure,” or “We need to have a process.” We had a commission that made recommendations that didn’t go anywhere, and it’s only when this very visible unrest is happening in our city that he’s coming around to the right decision. It shouldn’t require us to put our literal bodies on the line, out here protesting for our rights in the middle of a pandemic, to be heard by our elected officials. We should be able to be valued and seen whether we’re protesting, speaking at a city council meeting, or writing a letter to a City Council member or our Mayor. All of those tactics should be heard and valued. We shouldn’t have to put our lives on the line as part of it. I sit out there marching with everybody else, asking for justice, asking for policy solutions… but also to say these racist symbols should be out of our public spaces, and it’s past time for that to happen. 

Photo via Alexsis Rodgers/Facebook

RVA Mag: What would you like to see done with the street once they’re removed?

AR: When we’re talking about public spaces and putting up monuments to individuals, that should take real community input. That should also honor folks whose history has been forgotten or erased. You know, Richmond is a creative city. We have a lot of artists. We have a lot of historians and researchers. Given the authority and the resources, we can have some real community engagement around [questions like], “What should we name our streets that are formally named after confederate generals?” “What should we put in place of these historically confederate monuments?” I don’t think the city residents haven’t been given that agency. I would love to see us move in that direction — where we’re having thoughtful conversations about race, using this moment where folks are becoming politically aware to move the city forward, and what should be in these public spaces that honor the right values and right cause. 

RVA Mag: Richmond’s eviction numbers saw somewhat of a decline after the city’s high rate of evictions became national news a couple of years ago, but the city has a long way to go before we’re completely past this issue. How do you foresee the city moving forward in a manner that is helpful to those struggling financially, both where evictions are concerned and in the changing face of public housing in Richmond?

AR: For too many people, especially during this public health crisis, they’ve been juggling whether they can put their health at risk and go to work, or put their job and livelihood at risk by staying home. There have been a lot of great activists out there calling for canceling rent, calling for freezing evictions, and [they’ve been] met with a lot of silence from our elected leadership. That’s not okay. It, again, shows how out-of-touch and out-of-alignment the current administration is from the real needs of the community. There were [homeless] folks at the beginning of the pandemic who were sheltering in place at Camp Cathy, and the city came and removed those folks’ homes. Now, I appreciate any effort to help make sure these folks are in a safe and supportive environment — especially during a public health crisis, where they can maintain social distancing and good hygiene — but the city came in and cleared out those folks’ properties. It was just garbage in the streets. I think that shows a lack of understanding of both dignity and their agency as human beings, and that’s not something I want to see our city do ever again. 

When we talk about affordable housing and making sure that folks are able to make ends meet, there’s a lot of layers to that. There’s making sure people have access to a good job, there’s a lot of emphasis on having transit options that connect people to jobs and work, healthcare access to make sure that where you’re going to work, you’re safe, and childcare so you can go to work and not worry about your family. There are a lot of efforts, a lot of smart folks working on housing policies. But it always has to start with centering people’s dignity, and their humanity, the value that every person should be able to live safely, and giving respect to folks. Maybe they are renters, and there are candidates in the race that don’t think renters should have as much of a say when it comes to their government, and that’s not right. Regardless of where you live or who you are, I want to be your Mayor, and I want to represent you in our government. 

RVA Mag: You’ve had a longtime involvement with Virginia League For Planned Parenthood, so are you at all concerned that abortion will become a wedge issue in your campaign? 

AR: I have always been fighting for healthcare access. In this race, I’m going to be a vocal champion for abortion rights. For me, I know that people that are pregnant need access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services — and that means access to good maternal care, birth control. That means access to abortion. Not every person wants to be pregnant, and not every person is able to carry their pregnancy to term. It’s important to me that we continue to champion those rights for those in Richmond. I was really excited to help Planned Parenthood begin their efforts to expand and open up new health centers in Church Hill. That’s going to be huge for this community, which has been historically underserved when it comes to healthcare access. I think that Planned Parenthood and access to reproductive healthcare here in the city is really important, and is actually going to be a way that we unite the city around certain issues — and certainly around expanding access to healthcare. 

RVA Mag: Finally, regarding gentrification in Richmond, what is your stance on this issue? 

AR: When I moved to the city, I moved to an apartment right near Lamplighter on Addison. My next-door neighbor was an older black woman who had lived there for, you know, forever. In the last couple years, she passed away, and her son wanted to tend to the house. He was really struggling. He had grown up in that house, and he didn’t want to leave the house “speechless” and give it over to renters, because this is the community he grew up in. He also didn’t feel like he had the resources to properly take care of it. Long story short, that house was flipped and sold for half a million dollars, and younger, white folks moved into it. It was a picture right in my eyes, here in Randolph, that is a historically-black community. There are a lot of roots there for black folks, and over and over we’re seeing black residents getting pushed out because of gentrification here in the city. I think it’s important for us to look at how we can make sure that families — specifically black families — can build and maintain wealth in their families. We can proceed to support black ownership when it comes to homes, but also black businesses, and generally making sure that our community of color is made strong. As you probably know, Hull Street used to be basically the Black Wall Street, and making sure that we’re continuing to support communities of color is going to be really important for me.

Interview by Carley Welch; top photo via Alexsis Rodgers/Facebook

How Central VA’s LGBTQ Community Is Responding To Coronavirus

Marilyn Drew Necci | April 1, 2020

Topics: Babe's of Carytown, Barcode, Commonwealth Dinner, coronavirus, covid 19, Diversity Richmond, Diversity Thrift, Equality Virginia, Fallout, Godfrey's, health brigade, Iridian Gallery, LGBTQ youth, Nationz Foundation, planned parenthood, Richmond LGBTQ Chamber, Richmond Triangle Players, Side By Side, Triple X Divas, va pride, Virginia League For Planned Parenthood

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

Standing Strong For Women’s Rights

Ash Griffith | January 21, 2020

Topics: National Organization for Women, planned parenthood, Women's March, Women's March on Washington

Freezing temperatures and even hail did nothing to prevent the 2020 Women’s March from making a strong statement for women’s rights in the nation’s capital.

Saturday, January 18th was the kind of cold that required three layers, two pairs of gloves, and three cups of coffee just to stay warm. Nonetheless, Washington, DC’s Pennsylvania Avenue was packed shoulder to shoulder with people from every corner of the country. They’d come from as far away as Los Angeles and as close as an apartment two blocks away, flooding into the nation’s capital to march in support of women’s rights and protest the Trump presidency in what was easily one of the more well-organized protests out there.

Posters ranged from humorous to dead serious. The march brought in groups such as the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood, along with supporters for presidential hopefuls including Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang, Tulsi Gabbard, and, of course, Bernie Sanders. The march began on Pennsylvania Ave before wrapping around 15th St, Constitution Ave, and closing at the return to Freedom Plaza. As it began, it started to hail, but no one went home until the job was done.

Here are some scenes from the 2020 Women’s March.

Photos by Ash Griffith

This Summer, Doing It RVA Wants To Make Sure You Get Tested

Oliver Mendoza | July 18, 2019

Topics: Doing It RVA, health brigade, HIV testing, Nationz Foundation, planned parenthood, Richmond City Health District, STI testing

Doing It RVA is working to ensure that Richmond stays healthy in the sack by providing free HIV and STI testing.

Usually when someone says something is “free,” there’s some sort of stipulation or drawback — but Doing It RVA is the real deal when it comes to free HIV and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing. 

Doing It RVA is a coalition of nonprofit, government, and private sector partners with the same collaborative efforts and goal: to coordinate prevention and treatment of HIV and other STI’s in Richmond. Some of the many partners that make up the coalition are Richmond City Health District, Nationz Foundation, Health Brigade, Minority Health Consortium, and Planned Parenthood. 

Wyatt Johnson, the social network strategies coordinator at Doing It RVA, said the coalition has been around since May 2017. 

“A part of my role was working with the coalition to work in sync, and provide better health outcomes by organizing our efforts together,” Johnson said. “Last year around April, we started diving heavily into social media, and feeling out what our space should look like in Richmond to carve a niche for sexual health education and free testing.” 

According to Johnson, last year was their first National HIV Testing Day event. Planned Parenthood attended and dispensed Narcan, a nasal spray that can help treat or prevent narcotic overdose. 

National HIV Testing Day just passed on June 27, and Doing It RVA had an event on June 28 at multiple locations, conducting tests for several days along with the other nonprofits in the coalition. The organizations handed out free condoms and raffle prizes like Bowtie Cinema movie tickets. 

Doing It RVA isn’t just a one-stop-shop, either — they offer a multitude of different services and resources among the many nonprofits within the coalition. Along with free Narcan, the Richmond City Health District also offered, and continues to offer, information on how to properly use Narcan. 

“Our testing is a segue for a variety of other resources,” Johnson said. “Nationz has a food pantry and works heavily with the LGBT community. As a coalition, if I know Nationz offers these services or they are the closest option for somebody to get there, I can coordinate with Nationz to have them go over there. That’s the power of the coalition.” 

Just because National HIV Testing Day has passed doesn’t mean you can’t still go get tested. Every Tuesday from 5 until 6:30 pm, the coalition offers free STI testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV at the Richmond City Health District building, located at 400 E. Cary St. All you need for the free testing is a photo ID.

Don’t be concerned about the hours listed on Google, either. There is a security guard inside the office that will buzz you inside (and sometimes it takes a few minutes to be buzzed in, so patience is key). 

When you arrive inside the office, you’ll find a small window, just like you’re at your local doctor or dentist. Check your name in with the clerk, and you’ll be given a very brief form to fill out about sexual history as well as personal information. At this point, it’s important to know that if you haven’t seen the signs already, no cellphones are allowed — even if you’re in the lobby waiting for your number to be called. 

The clinic is very cautious about verifying identity, information, and making sure that you, the patient, understand what is going on. Once you’re called, you’ll be seen by a clinic employee in a private room, where they verify most of the information you filled out. Your doctor will ask what testing you’d like to receive, inform you a bit about the methods of testing, and provide suggestions if needed. 

Several of the tests can be done with a simple urinalysis, while others require a throat swab, which is sort of like brushing your teeth too far back on your tongue. Some, however, will require blood to be drawn. 

Don’t fret. You’ll have some time to sit and muster up the courage before you proceed to the room, where you’ll be pricked with a needle and have blood drawn; all in only 2-3 minutes. The employees taking blood are very friendly and gentle, and will confirm your identity to ensure there is no mixup between test tubes. 

When you’re all done, you’ll head back to the initial window where you started, and the clinic will provide you with an important piece of paper: one with both the date your results will be available, and a vital code that you must present to receive your results over the phone. If you wish to head back in person, that’s alright, too — you can swing back by on any other Tuesday to see them in person. 

The brief wait and blood draw are a small price to pay to get ahead of potential health concerns that may help you and/or your partner. Feel free to pick up some free condoms if you need at the front desk, and enjoy the rest of your day knowing you’ve taken the next step in preventing and treating HIV and STI’s. 

Photos: Doing It RVA/via Facebook

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