Equality Virginia, an LGBTQ advocacy group, raised $250,000 at its 16th annual Commonwealth Dinner in Richmond on Saturday night.
Del. Danica Roem (D-13), the first openly transgender in the state’s legislature, attended the event, as did U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va) and 28 other lawmakers.
Roem spoke out against President Trump’s transgender military ban and other issues affecting the local LGBTQ community. She even introduced two trans students who had experienced discrimination and highlighted their stories as examples of why coming out is still so difficult and why the work of groups like Equality Virginia is so critical.
The fundraiser comes less than three months after Virginia Republicans, led by Speaker Kirk Cox (R-66), blocked two bills that would have prevented discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
Equality Virginia advocated for both bills, which would have prevented discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in housing and public employment.
Equality Virginia’s Executive Director James Parrish told the Washington Blade that had it not been for Cox and his fellow Republicans, the event also would have celebrated Virginia being the first state in the South to pass LGBTQ proteciton bills.
Equality Virginia is likely to get involved in Virginia’s elections this year, when every seat in the House of Delegates and the Senate are up for grabs. Should control of the General Assembly flip to Democrats, the group will make another push to pass the anti-discrimination bills.
If they do, you can be sure that it’ll be celebrated at next year’s dinner.
Politics
Youngkin, Democrats to start over on budget talks
The Republican governor stood with Democratic leaders in the General Assembly on Wednesday in a bid to ease tensions over their budget debate....
VIDEO: Domestic abuse victims speak out against the gun law bills Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed
Senate Bill 47 and House Bill 46 aim to close the loophole that allows offenders to transfer their firearms to someone else instead of relinquishing...
Local News
Virginia verses: Celebrating 5 poetic icons for National Poetry Month
There’s no shortage of great writers when it comes to our commonwealth. From the haunting verses of Edgar Allan Poe, who found solace in Richmond's...
Join the fun: Recapping Family Literacy Night’s storybook adventures
When’s the last time you read a book aloud with a loved one? If it’s difficult to answer that question, then maybe it’s time to dust off that TBR...