Dear John, On Saturday, August 13th, over 700 LGBTQ+ and allied Virginians gathered together for the first time in 3 years for the 19th Annual Commonwealth Dinner, presented by Altria. If you happen to be one of those guests, we would like to thank you for joining us in celebrating the many victories, learning more about what challenges lie ahead in the coming year, and most importantly honoring our vibrant community. EV's board and staff can still feel the incredible energy buzzing throughout the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The evening would not have been possible without you. | |
Because of you, Equality Virginia raised over $200,000 to support the collective liberation of all LGBTQ+ people. The road doesn't end here, and work we do together is ongoing, but you have proven that it is possible to create long-lasting change across the Commonwealth. | | | |
| |
We reconnected during the Welcome Reception... | | | |
| |
| |
The evening kicked off with hors d'oeuvres, a spin in the 360 degree video booth from Social Party Booth, and many laughs with friends that we haven't seen in so long. This year's Welcome Reception was made possible by the generous support of our longtime partner Williams Mullen. | | | |
We enjoyed exciting opening performances... | | | |
| |
| |
| |
We learned more about what we could do to make schools safer for transgender and nonbinary students… | | | |
| |
EV’s Safe School Coordinator, Kyeligh Hynes, and Hanover County NAACP President, Pat Hunter-Jordan, highlighted the importance of advocating for transgender and nonbinary students in all of Virginia’s 133 school districts. Learn more about the work the Safe Schools Action Network is doing by watching the featured video here. | | We heard from Elected Officials advocating for LGBTQ+ protections… | | | |
| |
Virginia State Senators Ghzala Hashmi and Adam Ebbin shared what they are doing at the General Assembly to advance LGBTQ+ equality and defend our progress. Follow this link to watch and hear what you've helped us accomplish this past General Assembly session. | | | |
We were inspired by the stories of our special keynote speakers… | | | |
| |
TENTS Executive Director, Emmett Schelling, and award-winning writer and producer, Richie Jackson, spoke about their life and journey to advocacy. | | | |
If you attended the Dinner and haven’t submitted feedback, please take a moment to fill out this post-event survey so we can make the celebration next year even better! We would like to thank our Presenting Sponsor Altria, the staff and board of Equality Virginia, and YOU, for making the 19th Annual Commonwealth Dinner an even bigger success than we ever thought it could be. We cannot wait to celebrate with you for our 20 year anniversary next year! Yours for equality, Narissa Rahaman
Executive Director | |
Thank you to our generous sponsors and supporters! | |  | | |
| |
| | ACLU of Virginia Diversity Richmond Equality Chamber of Commerce & Equality Chamber Foundation He She Ze and We HRBOR LGBT Life Center Richmond Triangle Players Side by Side St John's United Church Christ, Richmond Stonewall Sports Richmond Virginia Pride Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVAA) Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Virginia Tech Students for Cultivating Change Virginia Tech University Advancement | | | |
| |
AIDS Response Effort, Inc. (ARE)
Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen
Atlantic Union Bank
Brandermill Woods
Bryan Price
Carl Johansen, Janet Moore, & Michael Berlucchi
Carol Schall & Mary Townley
Catherine Read & Tom Greeson
ChangeServant
Christopher and Joey Pierce
Crystal Suber
Diana Maurer | | | Ed Cassidy and Felix Borges
Haus of Claws
Joe Cobb
John Osterhout & Ronald Newman
Joseph Papa & John-Stuart Fauquet for Hanover Advocates
Mario Guevara
Narissa Rahaman
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
Spanberger for Congress
Tri-Cities Pride
VCU Center for the Study of Tobacco Products | | | |
| |
CONNECT WITH EV
Equality Virginia
PO Box 17860 | Richmond, VA 23226-7860
t. 804.643.4816
[email protected] | | | |
| |
| |
