Equality Fairfax

Join Equality Fairfax for an evening of community –a Sunday evening of friends and food.   A chance to socialize with old friends, meet new people and enjoy some tasty food.

This will be our 6th Annual Potluck at the Greenbriar, a wonderful community center with a fireplace.

Bring your friends and family and your favorite dish to share with others.  We’ll provide sodas and waters.  Alcohol is allowed for those who like to bring wine or beer.

The Greenbriar can be easily missed as the entrance is not well marked — if you are going north on Stringfellow Road, the entrance is on the left just past Melville Road — about 100 yards.

Greenbriar Community Center
4615 Stringfellow Road
Chantilly VA

Join us for another great Equality Fairfax event Thursday October 29th.

We’re meeting Brion’s Grill in Fairfax, close to George Mason University at 6pm.

It’ll be a great time for people to mix, mingle, and catch up. At a recent HH at Costal Flats in Fairfax, about 25 folks came out — we are looking forward to another good turnout.

Bring your friends, neighbors, and of course yourself and join us at the bar for a relaxing time! Look for peole wearing the EF stickers. Look forward to seeing you all there!

This is an interview with the incumbent candidate for the 53rd district, Delegate Jim Scott. His opponent is Christopher Merola.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:51 — 3.9MB)

This is an interview with district 53 candidate Mark Keam. This is an open seat vacated by Delegate Steve Shannon. Mr Keam’s opponent, James Hyland, declined our request for an interview.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:25 — 4.4MB)

This is an interview with the incumbent 37th district candidate, David Bulova. Mr. Bulova does not have a major party opponent.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:59 — 5.8MB)

UPDATED INFORMATION – The March route is finalized.  Equality Fairfax along with Arlington GL Alliance, Equality Prince William and other NoVA equality groups are meeting downtown at 15th and K Streets, NW between 11:15 and 11:30 outside of Cosi Restaurant.  This is right near where the March kicks off.  Join in the NoVA group to make the VA presence known!!  Look for EF and AGLA signs outside of Cosi.  Also, we will be metro-pooling at 10:30am from Vienna metro if you want to join us there.  Feel free to leave a comment to let us know you are coming.

A huge march on Washington is happening on October 11th.

Tens (hopefully hundreds) of thousands will take to the streets in DC with one simple demand: equal protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.  Now.

The march is organized by National Equality March and is the beginning of efforts to organize and empower people to fight for LGBT equality all across the nation.  Check out the March’s Facebook page.

Join the Equality Fairfax contingent for the march.  The exact route hasn’t been announced yet, but will end up at the Capitol.  There will be some folks meeting at the Vienna metro at 10:30am.  We’ll pick a place to meet on the mall once the route is determined.  If you’d like to march with us, leave a comment on this page.   Also, check out our Facebook page where will have information too — you can RSVP on the wall.

We hope to see you on the 11th!

Spend a leisurely Sunday morning eating and socializing with other EF folks over brunch at First Watch Cafe.  A great way to start your Sunday!

First Watch is located in Fair City Mall, in the center section across the parking lot from Ross.  Check out their menu to to see more of their delicious offerings – their blueberry pancakes are  pictured to the right.

Let us know that you are coming so we can reserve the right amount of space by RSVPing to info@equalityfairfax.org

Enjoy an afternoon of bowling and help a great community organization.  Be a part of the Equality Fairfax team.

The Spare R Families Bowl-A-Thon is a fundraising event in support of Metro DC PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).  A non-profit organization, serving Northern Virginia, D.C. and Suburban Maryland, Metro DC PFLAG is dedicated to “Preserving Our Families and Protecting Our Kids”.

This event will bring people together from throughout the community for a fun filled afternoon of bowling and prizes, while raising money for Metro DC PFLAG’s many programs.

Bowlers will receive three games of bowling and bowling shoes, and the chance to win exciting door prizes donated by local businesses.  Each bowler is asked to raise a minimum of $50 in donations.  Donations are tax deductible.  Awards will be presented to the individuals and teams raising the most money for Metro DC PFLAG so ask your family, friends and colleagues to help.

Join the Equality Fairfax team by emailing info@equalityfairfax.org, or leaving a comment on this post.  Or if you want to have your own team of five bowlers, get a team registration form from PFLAG by contacting Lindy at lindy@pflagdc.org

Event Location:
Bowl America-Shirley
6450 Edsall Road
Alexandria, VA 22312

Join EF for a hike in the woods. It’s a lovely walk along the Occoquan River. We’ll meet at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park near Clifton and then hike down a hillside to the river and then walk along the trail with beautiful views of the river. The hike is about 1 1/2 hours, mainly flat but is hilly at the start and finish.  A great way to walk off your Thanksgiving feast.

After the hike we can enjoy some cold sodas and snacks in the picnic pavilion (and anything other folks want to bring along).

Dogs are very welcome! (the park requires dogs to be leashed). Lots of spots off the river for dogs for swimming.

We’ll meet at the education center right off the parking lot at 12pm. Look for the EF sign. RSVPs to info@equalityfairfax.org appreciated so we know to look for you.

Hemlock Overlook Regional Park
Clifton, VA

Below is an excerpt from the Reston Connection newspaper from Delegate Ken Plum.  It’s nice to see elected politicians standing up for our rights.

Column: Time for Equality
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

There is now a national consensus behind recognizing same-sex relationships,” according to Third Way, the self-described “leading think tank of the moderate wing of the progressive movement.” (www.thirdway.org) According to polling conducted for Third Way, “76 percent of the country favors some form of legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples.” At the same time that Virginia and most recently California have passed measures defining marriage as being between a man and a woman, there is a quickly developing understanding that there needs to be a legal recognition of same-sex relationships. The conversation needs to begin in Virginia on the subject. Squeamish politicians can take comfort in knowing that in the four states where marriage equality has been debated the legislators voting for equality have all been re-elected. While some will not be able to resist attempting to use the issue for political gain, such bigotry is proving less successful.

Part of the shift in public opinion is coming about as a result of an understanding that the recognition of same-sex relationships does not change traditional marriage. In fact, the polling cited above found that 83 percent of the persons in the middle on the issue think that the institution of marriage is facing problems with half labeling the problems as major. The Third Way research found an important subtlety: “When people felt that legal recognition for same-sex couples would change the definition of marriage, they were almost universally opposed. When they felt it allowed gay people to join in the institution, they were almost universally supportive.”

In addition to recognizing same-sex relationships, the laws in Virginia and other states related to insurance benefits and property rights need to change. Bills that would give partners access to medical insurance have been defeated in Virginia several times. My bill that would give the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission authority to investigate complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation has been defeated in a subcommittee at least five times. The hate crimes bill I got passed years ago needs to be strengthened. And bills that prevent employment discrimination based on sexual orientation need to be passed.

As the most recent poll results indicate, public opinion is ahead of the politicians on equality issues for gay and lesbian Americans. It is time for politicians to catch up!

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
State Delegate (D-36)