Virginia’s tourism industry – lodging, culinary, beverage, retail, art, performing arts, theatre, sports, music, history, events, outdoors and attractions – includes warm, hospitable and OUT LGBTQ+ and Ally business owners. Supporting our industry are many Queer-focused community and pride organizations, including media outlets. When engaged in community development and marketing efforts, consider these organizations as allies in business. They are key partners in creating safe and welcoming experiences for LGBTQ+ visitors to your business, community and events in Virginia. * Let us know if you have a new organization or resource to share
LGBTQ+ DMOs (Destination Management/Marketing Organizations)
- LGBTQ Friendly Alexandria
- OUT in Arlington
- Charlottesville / Albemarle County
- LGBTQ Norfolk
- OutRVA –Richmond
- Virginia is for Lovers LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ Organizations & Chambers
- Richmond LGBTQ Chamber
- Hampton Roads Business OutReach (HRBOR) –Norfolk
- EQUALITY NoVa
- LGBTQ+ History | Virginia Museum of History & Culture
- Equality Virginia –Richmond
Pride Festival & Event Organizations
- Black Pride RVA –Richmond
- Charlottesville Pride Community Network
- Farmville Pride
- Floyd Pride
- Fredericksburg Pride
- Hampton Roads Pride
- Love is Love Williamsburg
- Northern VA Pride – Richmond
- OUTWork LGBTQ+ Career Expo –Norfolk
- Reston Pride
- Shenandoah Valley Pride –Harrisonburg
- Staunton Pride
- Suffolk Pride
- VA Queer Film Festival –Norfolk
- Virginia Pride –Richmond
- Winchester Pride
LGBTQ+ Community Organizations
- Appalachian Community Connectors –Marion
- Appomattox Equality
- Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance (AGLA)
- Charlottesville Pride Community Network
- Collidescope DVA –Danville
- Diversity Richmond
- Equality Loudoun
- He She Ze We –Richmond
- LGBT Lake Anna
- LGBT Life Center –Norfolk
- LGBT Tech –Staunton
- Nationz | Access to Wellness & Testing –Richmond
- Northern VA Pride –McLean
- Roanoke Diversity Center –Roanoke
- Side By Side –Richmond
- UGRC/Us Giving RVA Connection –Richmond
LGBTQ+ History & Heritage
- Southwest Virginia LGBTQ History Project – Salem
- Tidewater Queer History Project – Norfolk
- LGBTQ Heritage in Virginia | Virginia Department of Historic Resources – Richmond
- LGBTQ History | Virginia Museum of History & Culture – Richmond
* Articles * - Lesbian and Gay Richmond (Images of America: Virginia) – 7/7/2008 by Beth Marschak & Alex Lorch
- LGBT Hampton Roads – 3/7/2016 by Charles H Ford & Jeffrey L Littlejohn
- ‘Like chasing shadows’: Uncovering Colonial Williamsburg’s LGBTQ history – by Samantha Schmidt 11/16/2019 @washingtonpost
- A Brief LGBTQ+ History of Roanoke – City of Roanoke
Queer Media + Marketing Organizations
- OutLife757 – Norfolk
LGBTQ+ Entertainment, Attractions & Nightlife
- Babes of Carytown – Richmond
- Barcode – Richmond
- Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant – Arlington
- Glen Burnie House & Gardens | Museum of the Shenandoah Valley – Winchester
- Godfreys – Richmond
- Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond
- MJ’s Tavern – Norfolk
- Papi’s RVA – Richmond
- The Park Dance Club – Roanoke
- The Rainbow Cactus – Virginia Beach
- Richmond Triangle Players – Richmond
- Stonewall Sports Norfolk – Norfolk
- Stonewall Sports Richmond – Richmond
- The Wave – Norfolk
LGBTQ+ College & University Organizations
* Students and faculty are great resources for local LGBTQ+ experiences and partners
- George Mason University| LGBTQ+ Student Orgs – Fairfax
- Hampton University | MOSAIC – Hampton
- James Madison University | SOGIE – Harrisonburg
- Longwood University | Gamma Rho Lambda – Farmville
- Lynchburg College | Gay-Straight Alliance – Lynchburg
- Mary Baldwin University | LGBTQAI+ Community & Resources – Staunton
- Norfolk State University | Spectrum – Norfolk
- Old Dominion University | LGBTQIA+ Initiatives – Norfolk
- The College of William & Mary | Lambda Alliance – Williamsburg
- University of Mary Washington | PRISM – Fredericksburg
- University of Richmond | LGBTQ Campus Life – Richmond
- University of Virginia | Queer Student Union – Charlottesville
- UVA Wise | LGBTA Society – Wise
- Virginia Commonwealth University | PRISM – Richmond
- Virginia State University | Rainbow Soul – Petersburg
- Virginia Tech | HOKIE Pride – Blacksburg
- Virginia Tech | Queer and Trans People of Color – Blacksburg
LGBT Research + Marketing Partners
- Community Marketing, Inc.
- Witeck Communications, Inc – Alexandria
National Organizations