This is an election year of great importance. While we don't have Hillary or Donald joining us, through the leadership of local activist, Roland Winston, we do have the majority of candidates running for local offices coming to our candidate forums.

While marriage equality is now the norm, that does not mean that our work is done. Far from it. We must hold all elected officials accountable for their votes that affect our community. And we must work to elect people who stand with us.

A major issue that all candidates need to address is the treatment of transgender students. Attorney General Mark Herring has told localities that they have the authority to protect transgender students, but Richmond has not revised their policies. Plus, we are a community with concerns that are not specifically LGBT. As they say, "All politics is local."

Richmond City Council
September 20, Richmond City Council candidates will discuss the issues;

Congress
September 27, candidates for Congress will talk politics;

Richmond Mayor
October 4, all eight mayoral aspirants will be here

Richmond City School Board
October 11, Richmond City School Board hopefuls will discuss local education challenges.

The forums will run each night from 6:00 P.M.

Thank you to the following organizations for making the forums possible: A Philip Randolph Institute, Advocates for Equality in Schools, Alliance for A Progressive Virginia, Brown Virginia, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Latinos and Amigos, Mothers and Others of Va., Senior Center of Greater Richmond, Sierra Club-Fall of the James, Virginia Organizing and Women-Matter.org.

The meetings are free and open to the public. More information will follow soon.