Richmond va gay clubs
All too often, queer history is ignored or veiled from us by societal strictures of both the past and present. This map is a petite attempt to remedy that.
It’s our hope to shed some light on Richmond faces and places that haven’t received the attention they deserve. From formative rocker Sister Rosetta Tharpe to the Mulberry Property, the evolution of the local queer press to the formative days of Hollywood’s first openly male lover star, William “Billy” Haines, many here should acquire a higher profile in our collective conscience.
The communication included in the guide is deeply indebted to the work of others, including Beth Marschak and Alex Lorch, The Valentine, Virginia Department of Historic Resources’ Blake McDonald, Yelyzaveta Shevchenko’s “Reconnaissance Survey of LGBTQ Architectural Resources in the City of Richmond” for DHR’s LGBTQ Heritage Working Group, author John Musgrove, and Cindy Bray’s “Rainbow Richmond: LGBTQ History of Richmond, VA, 1625-2010.” Marschak and Lorch’s guide, “Lesbian and Gay Richmond,” should be required reading for every Richmonder.
By formatting this information as a map, we hope to give Richmonders a conduct link to their past. Undoubtedly, we have
LGBTQ Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of Virginia and home to more than 200,000 people. It’s a city with a drawn-out history, and a shiny future, where everyone can find their place and feel at home.
A Glance at Richmond’s History
The history of Richmond is a long one – in fact, Richmond is one of America’s oldest cities. Patrick Henry, a U.S. Founding Father, famously declared “Give me liberty or give me death” in Richmond at St. John's Church in 1775, a proclamation which eventually led to the Revolutionary War. Richmond also played a central role in the Civil War, serving as the capital of the Confederacy, and the location of the Confederate White House, where Confederate President Jefferson Davis resided. Despite its deep roots and Civil War history, however, today, Richmond has grown into a vibrant, diverse, and forward-thinking urban area that is welcoming to all. It’s home to a rich arts and culture scene, many businesses and universities, and plenty to see and perform for all.
Richmond - A Few Fun Facts
- Famed writer, Edgar Allen Poe, grew up in Richmond.
- The state capitol building in Richmond was designed by Thomas Jeffers
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