March Reflections
Every moment, you have the power to make a difference.
The power to truly see someone.
To show an act of kindness.
To hold space for grief or for laughter.
To, in fact, be community.
In these times—when many of us feel the weight of uncertainty, injustice, and attacks on our very existence—let us hold fast to a simple principle: We are Queer. We are here. We are powerful.
You. Me. He. She. Them. We are here not only to be in community, but to create it. And in the act of creating community, we affirm our dignity, our power, and our future.
I don’t need to recount the highs, the lows, and the mind-blowing moments of the past 50ish days. You’ve lived them. You’ve felt them. But I do want to remind you of something:
You have shown up.
You have cheered as a friend took a bold step toward being their most authentic self.
You have danced—maybe at a Pride event, maybe in your kitchen, maybe just because it felt good to move.
You have laughed so hard your stomach ached.
You have witnessed a stranger’s act of kindness and felt the ripple effect of their generosity.
You have cried tears that were held by a friend.
You have sat at dinner, in the park, in your living room, or in church with someone who may not have lived your exact journey, but who understands how you feel.
You have made it through difficult days and celebrated the good ones.
And in doing all of this, you have built and sustained community.
Spring reminds us that renewal is always possible.
What I love about March—aside from the longer days and the first signs of spring—is that it’s Women’s History Month. And the more I reflect on history, the more I recognize how much courage has shaped our movement.
History reminds us that every act of resistance—every rally, every protest, every solidarity statement, every space created for LGBTQ+ people to thrive—was led by those who refused to be erased.
This month, we celebrate the women who have shaped our LGBTQ+ community in Richmond—the women on our board, our Pride committee, and our staff. The women leading organizations, creating safe spaces, advocating in local, state, and federal spaces. The women who have sounded alarms, led rallying cries, hugged, held tears, and shared laughter.
To every woman who has fought to build and sustain this community—thank you.
Because you remind us that one small act of kindness, one moment of bravery, one choice to show up can change the world.
You, too, can be part of changing the world.
In times like these, our ability to show up for one another is everything.
That’s why I’m inviting you to become a monthly donor to Diversity Richmond. Your support—no matter the amount—ensures that we remain a hub of strength, connection, and advocacy for our LGBTQ+ community.
It means that when someone recovering from addiction walks into our thrift store and asks, Can you help me find a suit? I haven’t worn one in years, our staff can say, Yes.
It means they can take the time to listen, to find the perfect fit, and to help that person look in the mirror and say through tears of joy, I haven’t felt like this since before my addiction.
That’s the power of community. That’s the power of your support.
Let’s keep building community—together.
Finally, I want to invite you to our Community Café next Friday, March 21st, from 10 AM – 7 PM.
This inclusive space is whatever you need it to be—a place to drop in, a pop-up co-working hub, a space to simply be with others. But most importantly, it’s a moment to embrace and celebrate that we are still here. And we are creating community together.
And that alone is worthy of our attention.
I’ll be there—will you join me?
Will you share this with others?
Read more on how to sign up in the newsletter below, and I hope to see you there.
In solidarity,
Lacette Cross
she/her/rev