LGBTQ | FFXnow

Published December 10, 2024 at 1:15PM

A LGBTQ pride flag sticks in a woman's hair at a 2023 rally in support of transgender students outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A right-wing group’s lawsuit challenging Fairfax County Public Schools policies designed to be inclusive of transgender and other gender non-conforming students will be allowed to move forward.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Brett A. Kassabian issued an order last Friday (Dec. 6) mostly overruling an attempt by the Fairfax County School Board to dismiss the civil suit, which argues that policies requiring students to be identified and treated based on their gender identity violate the rights of students who don’t want to follow those policies.

News

Man arrested after Vienna pub reports homophobic harassment

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 1, 2024 at 10:30AM | Updated July 1, 2024 at 12:55PM

Hawk & Griffin in Vienna has a rainbow-colored heart on its front door for Pride Month (photo by Amy Woolsey)

A man was arrested last week after reportedly harassing customers and staff at a Vienna pub over its Pride Month displays.

On Friday (June 28) night, a man walked off the street and began accosting patrons in Hawk & Griffin’s outdoor beer garden “because of our flags displayed for pride month,” the pub’s owners said the following day in a Facebook post.

Around Town

Wolf Trap to celebrate Pride Month with second Out & About Festival

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 13, 2024 at 3:15PM

Brandi Carlile performs at the 2023 Out and About Festival at Wolf Trap's Filene Center (courtesy Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts)

The Out & About Festival is returning to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts this month with a new lineup of LGBTQ musicians.

Landing in the middle of Pride Month, the day-long festival will bring performances to all three of the park’s outdoor stages from 10:30 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, along with food trucks, games and vendor booths.

Around Town

Town of Herndon to hold first-ever Pride Month celebration

By Acacia James

Published June 3, 2024 at 10:30AM

A heart decorated with rainbow colors for Pride Month (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Herndon will hold its first-ever Pride event this Saturday (June 8). The family-friendly festival is free and will feature music, crafts, food, drag performers and more.

The event, called HerndonPRIDE, will be hosted by Arts Herndon, an organization focused on artistic and educational opportunities for artists and performers.

Around Town

Reston Pride Festival returns to Lake Anne Plaza this weekend

By James Jarvis

Published May 30, 2024 at 1:30PM

A drag performer at the 2023 Reston Pride Festival (courtesy of Jennifer Heffner Photography)

Lake Anne Plaza is set to host the seventh annual Reston Pride Festival this Saturday (June 1) from noon to 6 p.m.

This year’s theme, “SHINE,” is expected to offer a day of vibrant activities and entertainment, such as a dunk tank, drag artists, and a micro arts and craft fair, according to a press release. Reston-based engineering firm Leidos is sponsoring the event.

Around Town

Volunteers sought for annual Reston Pride Festival, returning in June

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 22, 2024 at 10:15AM

Ophelia Bottoms performs at a previous Reston Pride Festival (Photo courtesy Reston Pride).

The annual Reston Pride Festival will return to Lake Anne Plaza on June 1 from noon to 6 p.m.

This year’s festival will include live music, performances, and vendors. The organization will also choose an LGBTQ+ nonprofit to highlight positive work being done in the community.

Countywide

With FCPS facing lawsuit, students to rally tonight in support of pro-LGBTQ policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2024 at 1:30PM

Students hold trans rights and LGBTQ Pride flag signs at a rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Students are getting organized in response to a lawsuit challenging Fairfax County Public Schools for its LGBTQ-inclusive policies.

The Pride Liberation Project, a student-run group that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in Virginia, will host a rally “against anti-trans hate” outside Luther Jackson Middle School in Merrifield at 6 p.m. today (Thursday). The demonstration will precede the Fairfax County School Board’s meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.

Countywide

Former Trump advisor’s legal group sues FCPS over LGBTQ-inclusive policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated March 7, 2024 at 12:25PM

A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 12:25 a.m.) A right-wing legal group led by Stephen Miller, a former advisor to Donald Trump when he was president, is challenging Fairfax County Public Schools over its policies supporting transgender students.

America First Legal filed a complaint against the Fairfax County School Board on Monday (March 4) arguing that the school system is discriminating on the basis of sex and religion by letting students use the names, pronouns and bathrooms that match their gender identity.

News

LGBTQ resource center opens library and headquarters in Oakton

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 3:30PM

The nonprofit NoVA Prism Center opened its headquarters in Oakton on Nov. 1 (courtesy NoVA Prism Center)

A nonprofit dedicated to providing resources for Northern Virginia’s LGBTQ community has officially chosen Oakton for its headquarters.

After operating as a pop-up for 18 months, NoVA Prism Center opened its first physical offices at 10467 White Granite Drive, Suite 322, on Nov. 1. Open by appointment from noon to 7 p.m. daily, the headquarters hosts a publicly accessible library, a clothing closet and events, along with the organization’s administrative base.

Countywide

Oakton nonprofit launches crisis services to help LGBTQ youth

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 6, 2023 at 11:45AM

The Oakton-based nonprofit PRS is adding specialized crisis services for LGBTQ youth (courtesy PRS CrisisLink)

The Oakton-based nonprofit that runs Northern Virginia’s suicide and crisis hotline is now offering mental health services specifically geared toward young, LGBTQ people.

PRS announced yesterday (Thursday) that it’s hiring 40 new crisis workers who have specialized training and experience to handle calls and texts from LGBTQ individuals who are 25 or younger.