Endless Summer of Pride!

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Published: Thursday, May 25 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Plant Pioneers

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Published: Thursday, May 25 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Diversity Thrift Assistant Manager Michael Weeks and Donation Processor Josie Bryant recently put their green thumbs to work in our new garden. We're planting tomatoes, daisies, peppers, lupins, sunflowers, watermelon, zucchini, sweet peas, squash, morning glory, and various herbs. We'll be adding more beds over the summer. Be sure to check out our progress when you come to shop and follow our garden on facebook.

Diversity Thrift partners with Sierra Club

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Published: Thursday, May 25 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Falls of the James Sierra Club contacted Diversity Thrift to coordinate a donation pickup of gently used furniture University of Richmond students left behind after move out. This furniture, too big for the school's annual Big Yard Sale, would have gone into dumpsters. Pictured below are a few of the items we rescued. There's more in the store!

Iridian Gallery call for exhibit proposals

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Published: Wednesday, May 24 2023

Written by Diversity Richmond

The Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond is now accepting proposals for work in all media for our 2024 exhibition calendar. As the only LGBTQ gallery in the south and one of the few in the nation we strive to serve the queer community and amplify the voices of its artists. While preference will be given to LGBTQ+ artists, work by allies that speak to the experiences of our community will also be considered. Iridian is especially dedicated to presenting work by artists who intersectionally identify with other underrepresented groups. We encourage artists of diverse races, nationalities, ethnicities, beliefs, genders, ages, and abilities to apply.

You may apply for a solo show, with a group of artists, or propose an exhibition that you would like to curate. We may also choose to group selected artists when deemed appropriate. Evaluation of proposals and curatorial decisions will be made by representatives of the Iridian Gallery committee made up of local artists, arts educators and leaders, and community members.

Our proposal deadline for Calendar Year 2024 is August 11, 2023, and applicants should be notified by the end of September. Please share or tag your artist friends. Any proposals received after the August 11 date will be saved for the next year. 

Please send all proposals and questions by email to:   

Submission Guidelines:

The Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond is committed to fostering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ artists and their community by exhibiting their art as well as work that relates to their experience.

Format Requirements:

All proposals will be submitted by email only and must be in the formats described below.

1. 1. Include up to 10 images of your best work. The submission should ideally include images of work you would include in your exhibition. If this is not possible, the images should represent works that are comparable to those that will be featured in the exhibition.

These images should be JPGS no larger than 1024 x 768, 72dpi, preferably under 1MB.

They MUST be named in this format:

01YourFirstName_LastName.jpg

02YourFirstName_LastName.jpg

03YourFirstName_LastName.jpg

2. 2. If applicable, send videos of specific works which will be included in the exhibition. Videos should be shared via web link, Dropbox or other ftp service. Please do not email videos.

3. 3. Prepare a one-page statement describing the concept of the exhibition. The file should be a PDF, RTF, or Word document.

4. 4. Supply an image list providing an inventory of the images submitted. Include number, artist name, title, year, medium, and dimensions. This must be a PDF, RTF, or Word document.

5. 5. Your resume and the resumes of any prospective collaborators.

Proposals that are incomplete or fail to meet the above requirements may not be reviewed by the jury.

After the August 11, 2023 deadline, Iridian Gallery continues to have an open submission policy for art exhibitions. We accept proposals via email at all times.

Queer Prom clothing drive May 12th through 31st

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Published: Saturday, May 13 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Help Side by Side’s LGBTQ+ youth get glammed up for Queer Prom 2023! Donate your gently used prom or formal attire for this event. Diversity Thrift will be collecting these suits, ties, dresses and more from May 12th to May 31st. When dropping off, let our donation associates know it’s for Side by Side. Youth in need of Queer Prom attire can visit us from May 31st to June 2nd between 4pm and 6pm! During this time Side by Side volunteers will be available to assist in finding you the best “fit” for this event. So be sure to stop by!” Note: Diversity Thrift will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th. For more information this event, visit sidebysideva.org

Celebrating Being Stronger Together

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Published: Monday, April 24 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

April is the time we welcome warmer weather and celebrate the return of springtime. Around Diversity it is also a time of celebration as we mark the two year anniversary of the merger between Diversity Richmond and Virginia Pride. We linked arms to become stronger together as one unified organization. Watch this video where James and Lacette talk about the exciting things that have happened since the merger and what we have to look forward to. 

Diversity Thrift is hiring an Assistant Store Manager - Front End

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Published: Friday, March 31 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Diversity Thrift is seeking a full-time assistant store manager to manage the thrift store front-end operations. This position will be responsible for opening and closing the store, providing guidance to cashiers, and filling in on the cash register as needed. Duties include ensuring that the customers questions are answered as well as trouble shooting any problems that may arise while the store is open. This position will also assist with answering any customer questions, scheduling donation pickups and coordinating thrift store volunteers and community service workers. The ideal candidate must have excellent communication skills, the ability to problem-solve as well as the ability to be flexible to the needs of the store throughout the day. Previous store management experience and customer service experience is needed as well, previous supervisory experience is desired. Starting pay is $17 per hour. Email your resume to .

Equal Opportunity Employer

Diversity Thrift is hiring a Weekend Assistant Manager

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Published: Friday, March 31 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Diversity Thrift is seeking a part-time assistant store manager to manage the thrift store on the weekend. This position will be responsible for opening and closing the store, providing guidance to staff in warehouse as well as cashiers as needed. Duties include ensuring that the customers questions are answered as well as trouble shooting any problems that may arise while the store is open. This position will also assist with processing donations, pricing items, filling in on the cash register as needed.  The ideal candidate must have excellent communication skills, the ability to problem-solve as well as the ability to be flexible to the needs of the store throughout the day. Previous store management experience and customer service experience is needed as well, previous supervisory experience is desired. Starting pay is $17 per hour. Email your resume to .

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cristo Rey High School partnership

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Published: Thursday, March 23 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

Diversity Richmond has partnered with Cristo Rey High School for their work study program. Ten freshmen students volunteer at the store on Mondays helping organize merchandise and tidy up the store. Cristo Rey Relationship Supervisor, Willnette Pegram (pictured right) is on site while they work.

Diversity Thrift Has An Opening For A Cashier

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Published: Thursday, March 09 2023

Written by Diversity Richmond

Part-Time Cashier/$15 Per Hour

Come work for Richmond's best thrift store, Diversity Thrift! We are a local Richmond retail store looking for candidates to fill a part-time cashier position in our store's front end. Requirements: 2+ years cash handling experience. Lift 20-30 pounds. Excellent customer service skills in person and on the phone. Must be able to stand and walk for 8+ hours a day. Thrive in a fast-paced environment. Must be willing and eager to work collaboratively with a diverse team of staff and volunteers and work in an inclusive setting for people of all walks of life, all genders, orientations, and gender expressions. Some ASL ability a huge plus! More details will be discussed at interview. Please email your resume to  to apply, or drop off a resume at Diversity Thrift, 1407 Sherwood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220.

COVID-19 considerations: All staff must be vaccinated and wear masks while working. EOE. Diversity Richmond is an equal opportunity employer.

Black and Bold Reunion

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Published: Wednesday, March 01 2023

Written by Diversity Richmond

• 47 individuals
• 5 organizations
• 2 posthumous honorees. 

Two solo shows open March 10th at Iridian

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Published: Tuesday, February 28 2023

Written by Robyn Bentley

The Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond is pleased to announce the opening of Omnium-Gatherum, a solo exhibit from painter Melissa Wilkinson. This show will run concurrently with Goodbar, a solo exhibit from New York artist Dan Halm on March 10 with a reception from 7-9 pm. Join us for this event to meet the artists and our gallery team. Light refreshments will be served with a cash bar. The shows will be open to the public March 10-April 22.

In Melissa Wilkinson’s paintings, she appropriates from existing images of Hollywood’s golden era, late 70’s/ early 80’s tomboys and heartthrobs, disco, and private Tumblr accounts. These personas have informed her identity and personal sense of self. By creating a type of reassembled painting, these queered images challenge gender and propose the absurdity of traditional presentations as both limited and binary. Her images become coveted objects, holding hours of considerate and loving application through a painterly meditation. Wilkinson explores micro-expressions, gender play, and her coming of age as a queer person. Influenced heavily by collage and digital intervention, these meticulous watercolor and ink wash paintings investigate what it means to labor on an object in the 21st century. Water media on paper creates a vulnerable object through the tender presence of her touch.

Dan Halm’s Goodbar series tackles the anonymous fictions created online by men looking for love, sex and/or companionship. The men featured in the series, a nod to the 1977 Judith Rossner’s novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar, as well as his hunt for the perfect mate were all downloaded from profile photos off the dating app Scruff. With the advent of digital apps replacing bars and clubs as viable options of meeting other men, the nuances of cruising and the art of the flirt seem secondary or non-existent. These grids of digital men, a never-ending candy store of options (bears, queers, muscle boys, twinks, daddies, jocks, etc.), encourage the user to scroll, engage or ignore; and often reduce the men on the other side of the phone to their perceived avatars.