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This year’s VA PrideFest, held on Brown’s Island in Richmond, eclipsed previous years’ 35+K attendance by thousands more, over the family-friendly pride weekend held Sept 23-24, 2017.

At VA PrideFest, our newest partner and client, Virginia Tourism, launched their LGBTQ tourism initiative, @VisitGayVA.  A companion to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Virginia.org/LGBT website, both provide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender visitors 24/7 access to statewide lodging, dining, events, travel deals, itineraries and more. All VA experiences self-designated as LGBT friendly, and welcoming to all visitors. The Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe, stopped by the booth to put in his 2-cents!

In addition, Terry McAuliffe received the Firework Award, given annually by Virginia Pride to leaders who help fight for LGBTQ equality in Virginia. In his speech, he reminded the audience of the incredible progress the state has made in LGBTQ rights, as well as basic human rights. “Everybody deserves to live life with zero discrimination.”

In 2014, his first year in office, he became the first sitting Virginia governor to attend VA PrideFest, as well as proclaimed June LGBTQ Pride Month across the state, another first for a Virginia governor. He has since returned every June to release a similar proclamation and every September to take the PrideFest stage.

You can check out some of the scenes from VA PrideFest 2017 by following the Twitter feeds at www.twitter.com/ILoveGayVA, and get daily LGBT-friendly trip ideas to Virginia via Virginia.org/LGBT and www.twitter.com/VisitGayVA