Reflections on Pride and Pridefest
Reflections on Pride and Pridefest
by James Millner, VA Pride Director
As we prepare to celebrate VA Pridefest 2024, presented by OutRVA, there's a familiar buzz of excitement in the air. Like a drag queen powdering her nose, we are putting the final touches on what promises to be the most amazing Pridefest ever! This year, we're thrilled to be welcoming our community and allies to our new home at the Bon Secours Training Center, now re-named Midtown Green. After years of hosting Pridefest on Brown’s Island, we recognized that we had outgrown that beautiful space that had helped the event become one of the largest outdoor festivals in Richmond and the largest celebration of the LGBTQ community in Virginia. It is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for us and for Richmond.
For me personally, this year's Pridefest holds special significance. It marks a decade of my involvement with Virginia Pride and in leading and organizing pride events in Richmond, a role that has been—and remains--both an honor and a profound responsibility. Over these ten years, I have witnessed the incredible progress our community has made towards making Richmond a more vibrant, welcoming and inclusive city where everyone is seen and celebrated for who they are. Being entrusted with the opportunity to contribute to this progress has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.
But I have played only a small role in this work. Nothing Virginia Pride does would be possible without the incredible efforts of our volunteer committee and the support of Diversity Richmond. Likewise, we walk a path that was paved for us by hundreds of advocates, activists and allies that came before us. We truly stand on their shoulders.
As we head into a busy and festive Pride Weekend, it is important to recognize that pride events have always been more than just a day of festivities—they are a powerful acknowledgement of our history and a call for us to commit to the work that lies ahead. The very first Pride marches were born out of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, an event that propelled a burgeoning gay rights movement forward and that has evolved into our modern-day fight for justice and equality for an ever-diverse LGBTQ+ community. Here in Richmond, we carry forward that legacy with every rainbow flag raised, every voice lifted, and every step taken toward a more just and equitable future.
VA Pridefest 2024 is not just an event—it's a testament to our resilience, our courage, and our unwavering belief in a world where everyone can shine. I can't wait to celebrate with all of you at Midtown Green, our new home, and to continue this incredible journey together.
With Pride,
James R. Millner II
VA Pride Director
