Richmond’s LGBT Community Rallies Around Targets of Westboro Baptist Churc
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
February 26, 2010
Gregg Johnson, Director of Development and Marketing
Gay Community Center of Richmond gjohnson@gayrichmond.com
804-622-4646
Richmond’s LGBT Community Rallies Around Targets of Westboro Baptist Church
Representatives of numerous LGBT and faith organizations met Friday at the Gay Community Center of Richmond to plan constructive and effective ways to respond to next week’s planned protests in Richmond by members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church. The church has announced its intention to picket at the Virginia Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Community Center of Richmond, the Jerusalem Connection and Hermitage High School on Tuesday, March 2nd via their website: GodHatesFags.com. Area LGBT groups are determined that Westboro will be met with peaceful but clear resistance.
“Richmond’s LGBT community stands in solidarity with the Jewish community and the students targeted by these protesters,” said Jay Squires, President of the Gay Community Center of Richmond. “Westboro Baptist Church made its name protesting the funerals of gay people including Matthew Sheppard. It’s crucial that LGBT people vocally oppose their hatred and ignorance no matter which groups they target.”
The LBGT and faith groups decided to endorse a rally at VCU organized by VCU Hillel, Queer Action and Men Against Violence in response to the upcoming protests. “The VCU community stands for, and promotes diversity and we thrive on how well we work together’” say the organizers. “This is an opportunity to make a stand against hate and discrimination as one.” The rally will be held at the VCU Commons at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 2nd. This rally was endorsed by the LGBT and faith groups as the most effective way to promote a message of tolerance and inclusion without engaging the Westboro Baptist Church members directly. The rally is being promoted with its own Facebook page: (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=325327553042&ref=mf) (Facebook membership required.) Information will also be updated on GayRichmond.com.
These groups are also lending their support to the Virginia Holocaust Museum in its efforts to counter Westboro’s plans to protest at this solemn memorial to the millions murdered by intolerant bigots. The Virginia Interfaith Center has organized an online “Phelps-a-Thon,” to benefit the museum in which they’re asking supporters to make a donation for every minute the protesters picket outside the museum. The museum plans to send Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church a thank-you note for the amount of money they raise during the protest. (https://secure3.convio.net/faith/site/Donation2?df_id=1500&1500.donation=landing)
The Virginia Holocaust Museum is using its Facebook page to inform supporters about its planned response to the protest. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Virginia-Holocaust-Museum/25263221630?ref=mf&v=wall#!)
“We plan to respect the wishes of the Jewish Community Center, Hermitage High School and the Jerusalem Connection who asked that no counter-protests be staged,” says Squires. “We’re focusing our efforts on creating a positive message of inclusion, respect, and support for any and all groups who are targets of ignorance and religious intolerance.”
The organizations endorsing these peaceful efforts include the Gay Community Center of Richmond, People of Faith for Equality in Virginia, First Unitarian Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of Glen Allen, Metropolitan Community Church -Richmond, Richmond Lesbian Feminists, Mothers & Others, Fan Free Clinic, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), the Rainbow Minute, Queer Action VCU, VCU’s Men Against Violence, the LGBT Caucus of the Virginia Democratic Party, Virginia Pride, Equality Virginia, the $3 Bills, and Richmond Triangle Players.
For more information, please contact Jay Squires at the Gay Community Center of Richmond. He can be reached at 804-622-4646, ext. 20 or at jsquires@GayRichmond.com.
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**MEETING CHANGE DUE TO WINTER WEATHER**
The meeting tomorrow, Feb 7th @ 2pm has been MOVED to 2020 Monument Ave due to the winter weather. Please call 804-467-8633 if you have any problems finding the new location. All are welcome to attend the VA Pride Board Meetings.
VA Pride Festival 2010
January 29, 2010 by Chris
Filed under News, Pride Festival
The VA Pride Board of Directors is please to announce the 2010 VA Pride Festival, being held on
September 25th 2010!
Times and location are still to being finalized.
Sponsors, venders and entertainment groups should mark their calendars NOW!
For more information, email the VA Pride Board and follow updates on GayPrideVirginia.com
Welcome Amy Lockett!
VA Pride is very pleased to welcome Amy Lockett to the VA Pride Board. Find out more about Amy, and all of the VA Pride Board members, at our website.
January Meeting date change
Due to the holidays, the January board meeting has been changed to Jan 10th @ 2pm. As always we will meet in the GCCR Classroom.
Thank you!
Richmond Transgender Day of Remembrance, 2009 - Nov 20
Gay Pride Virginia is a proud Sponsor of the Richmond Transgender Day of Remembrance, 2009 – taking place on Nov. 20th at the Richmond Friends Meeting House (4500 Kensington Ave., Richmond VA 23221) at 7pm.
Annually on Nov. 20, the Transgender Day or Remembrance honors the memory of those whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence. When this effort was first undertaken in 1999, the rate of such deaths was roughly one per month. In recent years, that statistic has nearly doubled, to 20+ per year. The date is significant as the anniversary of the death of Rita Hester, a transgender woman whose life was cut short just weeks following the gay bashing death of Matthew Shepard. Whereas the Shepard case generated national press coverage and an unprecedented outcry against such violence, Ms. Hester was relegated to relative obscurity. To date, her murder remains an unsolved crime.
The Day or Remembrance is an international observance, with events planned in hundreds of cities across five continents. This year’s presentation in Richmond includes speakers who will address issues of violence facing the transgender community and readings by select individuals providing the name and a brief biography of one of the transgender persons murdered since last November 20. It is a time to come together, honor those lost individuals, and address this important issue within our community. Please join us on November 20 at the Richmond Friends Meeting House (4500 Kensington Ave., Richmond VA 23221) at 7pm.
Richmond King of Kings Pageant - 11/19 at Babes
The Richmond King of Kings Pageant is back!
Think you’ve got what it takes to win the title and $300 Grand Prize??
Gay Pride Virginia’s Richmond King of Kings Pageant will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 8:00 pm at Babes of Carytown, at 3166 West Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia.
Prize: Winner: $300.00 Runner Up: $100.00
Completed applications can be returned to Babes of Carytown, Malachi Love or any Gay Pride Virginia board member before close of business on November 8, 2009.
For more information, contact Malachi Love at malachi.love@yahoo.com.
Don’t miss this exciting event, full of surprises and special performances! Funds will benefit Gay Pride VA’s Scholarship Fund. *Students: Don’t forget to apply on our Scholarship page. We are accepting scholarship applications until midnight, 11/27
RICHMOND KING OF KINGS APPLICATION
Your new GPV Pageant Winners …
Gay Pride Virginia welcomes and congratulates our new title holders!
Lance Johnson - Mr. Gay Pride Virginia
Deija Diamond - Miss Capital City Gay Pride
We look forward to working with you and wish you the best during your reign!
GPV Scholarship App - NOW available
Gay Pride Virginia’s board of directors is proud to assist members of the LGBT Community and their family, friends and supporters with the expenses of post high school education. In 2009, three scholarships will be awarded which emphasize service to the community. The scholarship recipients will awarded on Saturday, December 12, 2009 to reimburse expenditures for the fall 2009 semester. There will be one $3,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships awarded.
To apply, please complete the below application.
Once complete, please mail your application to:
Attn: Scholarships
Gay Pride Virginia
PO BOX 17706
Richmond VA 23226-2614.
Applications must be received by midnight on November 27th, 2009.
All questions should be sent, via e-mail, to GPV.Scholarships@yahoo.com
VCU LGBT Events
Here is what is up and coming on VCU’s campus. Come celebrate diversity at VCU!
October 1st 4pm-6pm Shockoe Room
Before Stonewall Film Discussion; Come experience life as LGBT American from the 1920’s to the 1960’s through archival films in this groundbreaking documentary
****Coming Out Week****
October 5th 10am-3pm University Student Commons Show Your Colors Day
Check out the Queer Action tables around the commons and pick up the ribbons that represent you!
7pm-9pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
For the Bible Tells Me So; Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?
October 6th 10am-3pm
Wear Jeans if You’re Queer Day! Check out the Queer Action Tables around the Commons
October 7th 1pm-2pm Harris Hall Lawn
Coming Out Picnic - Join Queer Action for their annual Coming Out Picnic – Look for the rainbow picnic blanket!
October 8th 10am-3pm
Hershey Kiss a Queer Day; Check out the Queer Action Tables around the commons and get Hershey Kissed by a Queer!
5pm-7pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
Coming Out Day Celebration! Join us as we celebrate being out and proud! Food and beverages will be served.
****End of Coming Out Week****
October 20th 12pm-1pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
Brown Bag Discussion: Obama’s LGBT Policies – Has Obama kept his promises to the LGBT community? How has he progressed so far?
October 22nd 9:30am-10:45am Virginia Room A, University Student Commons
Gender and the Body: Transgender Panel Speaks – Come explore life beyond the gender binary as we hear from local transgender advocates about the spectrum between gender and the body.
October 22nd 4pm-6pm Shockoe Room, University Student Commons
After Stonewall Film Discussion – Come witness the struggles and challenges faced by the post LGBT rights movement generation and discuss the efforts still needed
October 26th 7pm-9pm Commonwealth B, University Student Commons
Beth Marschak, co-author of Gay and Lesbian Richmond speaks about her experiences putting together LGBT history in Richmond. Come learn about LGBT History right here in Richmond!
October 28th 3pm-5pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
Almost Normal, Diversity Film Series – What if gays were the majority? Come check out this hilarious comedy about life on the flipside.
October 29th 4pm-6pm Shockoe Room, University Student Commons
Paris is Burning, film discussion – this controversial documentary explores the lives of New York City minority drag queens in the late 1980’s.