Blog - Northern VA Pride

• Today is National Give Out Day!
• Major Marriage Equality Advancements in May

Today is National Give Out Day!

Good Morning, and Happy Thursday!

Today is National Give Out Day - a day where we are all encouraged to donate to LGBT charities.  I'd like to encourage you to donate $25 to NOVA Pride today, to help us achieve our mission to empower and support the LGBT community of Northern Virginia.

Since I started NOVA Pride (then Fairfax Pride) a few years ago, we've grown from a group of several hundred friends, to a diverse group of several thousand.  You and the Northern VA Pride board have achieved so much in so little time, and I'm incredibly proud and grateful (though there's still a LOT more to do!); I couldn't possibly list everything, but here are some key achievements to illustrate why our organization deserves your support (which is now officially tax-deductible!):

• We've had hundreds of events that have helped to ease community tensions and provide positive exposure to our community and its allies.  
• We've formed alliances with other Northern VA and DC-based LGBT organizations and businesses, have supported their events and festivals, provided free operational support, and created the cross-communication that the Northern Virginia LGBT community desperately needed.  
• We have provided hundreds of free HIV tests, donated thousands of clothing items to local charities, and prepared tens of thousands of safe-sex kits to be distributed to at-risk communities.  
• We've convinced local town councils to adopt LGBT-inclusive membership policies for community centers, have applied pressure to community leaders and elected officials to support equality issues, and wrote the LGBTQ chapter in the Fairfax Partnership for Youth handbook.  
• We recently worked with the Fairfax County Government to, for the second year in a row, proclaim June 2014 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month!
• Last summer, we finally (after nearly two years into the application process) achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the IRS, meaning that donations to NOVA Pride are now tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law!
• We've applied to about every property/venue in every corner of Northern Virginia, for just about every weekend (for some venues literally every single weekend) in 2014, to hold the first annual Northern Virginia Pride Festival, and are optimistic that we will be able to announce it in the coming months.

Last summer, we hosted an event next to The Supreme Court for their ruling that overturned portions of the Defense of Marriage Act.  This week we witnessed arguments that will likely overturn the Commonwealth's constitutional ban on gay marriage.  Can you imagine, with your support, how different things could be next year?

Let's continue to work together to make the future brighter, safer, happier, healthier, more welcoming, and more secure for ALL LGBTQ Northern Virginians, their families and friends.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of NOVA Pride, I humbly ask for your financial support as we continue to Educate and Advocate on behalf of, and Celebrate with, the LGBT community of Northern VA.  I hope to see you soon!

With Pride,

Brian P Reach

President and Executive Director

Major Marriage Equality Advancements in May

May has been another historic month for marriage equality in the United States:

Last Friday, May 9th, a judge in Arkansas struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, referencing Loving v. Virginia:

On Tuesday, a judge struck down Idaho's ban on gay marriage, and marriages may start taking place this week! This is a pretty big moment, with Idaho being one of the most conservative states in the Nation.

Here in Virginia, also on Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in Bostic v. Schaefer, which overturned the Virginia's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage (commonly referred to as the Marshall-Newman amendment):

 

"Section 15-A. Marriage.

That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.

This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."

This amendment was approved in 2006 in a voter referendum, though support for marriage equality in the Commonwealth has reached a tipping point since, with most now supporting marriage equality for all.  The Marshall-Newman amendment came two years after HB751 (commonly referred to as the "Affirmation of Marriage Act") banned same-sex people from participating in any form of marriage or civil unions, including any and all specific contractual privilege related to marriage:

"HOUSE BILL NO. 751
1. § 20-45.3. Civil unions between persons of same sex.
A civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage is prohibited. Any such civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement entered into by persons of the same sex in another state or jurisdiction shall be void in all respects in Virginia and any contractual rights created thereby shall be void and unenforceable."

I was 20 when HB751 was passed, and personally remember protesting with 20 or so of my friends (strong straight allies)in front of the (then brand-new) Fairfax County Government Center, and distinctly remember the reaction from Sharon Bulova (at that point Sharon was the Supervisor for Braddock District, where I grew up; she is now the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors), who called it one of the worst pieces of legislation in American History.  When Marshall-Newman followed, it was a very dark time for LGBT Virginians.

The three judges that comprised Tuesday's panel had very distinct approaches to the issue, with one indicating strong support for equality, one staying fairly silent, and one seeming to be in strong support of the ban (or at least very concerned about overturning it in the courts).  Check out the Washington Post's live blog from the day of the arguments here. 

Though their decision is not likely to be announced this month, we are watching closely.  We'll be sure to keep you informed as things progress!  Will we see marriage equality in the Commonwealth in 2014?

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