Virginia Pride events kick off in June after three-year hiatus

Satisfaction is again, child. After a three-year hiatus resulting from COVID-19, Virginia Satisfaction says its annual Pridefest is 100% on this 12 months.

Why it issues: “Satisfaction issues as a result of LGBTQ individuals matter,” Virginia Satisfaction’s program director James Millner tells Axios.

• “We have fun the progress we have made in direction of societal acceptance and authorized equality, however it’s additionally a time to commit ourselves to the work that also have to be accomplished to guard that progress,” Millner provides.

What’s taking place: Pridefest is Saturday, Sept. 24, on Brown’s Island. (Reminder: Virginia formally celebrates Satisfaction within the fall in order to not compete with D.C. Satisfaction, which is June 11.)

• However the festivities will kick off on June 1 with what Millner calls “essentially the most coordinated collection of observances of LGBTQ Satisfaction Month the Richmond Area has ever seen.”

Particulars:

• “Infinite Summer time of Satisfaction” begins Wednesday with Mayor Levar Stoney’s annual Progress Satisfaction flag elevating and proclamation.
• Most important Road Station will as soon as once more be illuminated with delight colours. Dozens of different downtown buildings and native companies might be too.
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens will illuminate its conservatory and host Satisfaction occasions all month lengthy.
• GRTC is unveiling a “Satisfaction Bus” — a metropolis bus wrapped in delight colours — someday in June.

Plus: Occasions all summer time embody a movie pageant on the Byrd, blissful hours round city and a Satisfaction night time on the Flying Squirrels recreation on June 23.

• A full listing of occasions and actions might be discovered right here.

Flashback: Richmond’s first Satisfaction pageant was in 1979 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

The underside line: “This would be the queerest summer time ever in Richmond,” Millner says.