Pride Isn’t Over Yet
Updated July 12, 2025
Although June is over and July is among us, the celebration of Pride is not over yet, especially for us Black queers. The organization Us Giving Richmond Connections (UGRC) is hosting its 8th Annual Black Pride RVA Celebration next week, starting Thursday, July 17th, and it looks like a great time.
Here’s the lineup:
A flyer from the UGRC’s website
I’m definitely attending a couple of these events myself, so if you see don’t be shy. Say hi! I promise I don’t bite. Fun fact: it’ll be my first time really celebrating pride with others. I know! I’ve never gotten a chance to celebrate my queerness or march in a Pride parade, but I think this would be a great start. Surrounded by music, fun, and best of all an awesome Black LGBTQ community.
Update:
I created this blog to express myself and share my views with anyone willing to listen, especially the Black LGBTQ+ community, and share information as it becomes available (i.e. when I figure things out). Black queerness is an integral part of my being, and I hid it for so long because of discrimination and fear. After years of hiding, great friends, and self-work, I no longer hide, and I hope that this blog helps someone out there who may be struggling. At the very least I want folks to be entertained.
I am very new to the LGBTQ+ scene here in Richmond. I’m trying to be a big brave boy and get to know my Black LGBTQ+ community. I want to love on you, protect you, and help in any way I can.
With that said, I was very recently informed about Diversity Thrift and the ongoing issues there. From what I can see on Big Gay Market’s Instagram post and a local I spoke with, a Black woman named Danni has faced sexual harassment and racism while working at Diversity Thrift. It also sounds like she may not have been the only one, but that’s just me guessing. I don’t know many details, but Big Gay Market and nonprofits, such as TransJam RVA, For the Fem In You, MAD RVA, RVA Community Fridges, have more information than I do. I’m sure they are more than willing to share. I’ll be reaching out to them myself to gather more information.
Last but not least, Diversity Thrift is holding a Community Town Hall Listening Session on Tuesday, July 15th at 6 pm to “hear us out.” Diversity Thrift is located at 1407 Sherwood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220.
A flyer I received directly into my inbox from Diversity Thrift.
I’ve mentioned before that I don’t feel like we—Black people—are accepted in the mainstream LGBTQ+ community. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it. Most of my fellow Black queers feel the same way. I am going to this town hall meeting, and I am going to be on the right side of things. The BLACK side! These white people and non-white enablers just let blatant discrimination slide because they don’t have to worry about it; they’re not being affected. Well, guess what?! No more! I really hope something good comes out of this.
My Black people, I love you. Allies, I love you, too. Stay safe and as always, peace, love, and happiness.
