OUTstanding Virginians 2021
OUTstanding Virginians are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied individuals or organizations taking the lead in moving equality forward across the Commonwealth. In light of the importance of being out to the LGBT movement, each year Equality Virginia recognizes leaders who have represented the community with distinction.
Statistics show that knowing someone within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community increases support for LGBT rights. This positive correlation makes coming out a critical component of the LGBT movement’s future progress.
Check out honorees from previous years below!
Sponsored By:
- Crystal Suber
- Elizabeth Fogarty
- Michael Sutphin
- Bianca Rey
- Afton Bradley
- John Osterhout
- Virginia Equality Bar Association (VEBA)
- Arlington Gay &
Lesbian Alliance – Grassroots Community, Nonpartisan Political Education, Community Service - Rev Joe Cobb – Minister, Husband, Vice-Mayor
- Jay Corprew – Husband, Martial Artist, Organizer
- Rev Lacette Cross – Reverand, Community Organizer, Sex Educator
- Ray & Kathy Green – Volunteers, Husband and Wife, Chosen Family
- Bill Harrison – Activist, Local Legend
- Hon Levar Stoney – Progressive, Visionary, Leader
- Jay Timmons – CEO, Advocate, Father
- Amy Adams – Mother, Organizer
- Michael Berlucchi – Museum Strategist, Civic Leader
- Rev. Emma Chattin – Educator, Pastor, Traveler
- Lisa Cumbey – Designer, Chronicler, Sister
- Zakia McKensey – Health Educator, Performer
- Jim O’Connor – Elector, Free Trade Champion
- Richmond Triangle Players – Theater, Community Hub, Thought Provoker
- Charles Britt – Counselor, Mentor
- Dr. Charles Ford – Educator, Historian, Trustee
- Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline – Pastor, Blogger, Activist
- Freddie Lutz – Host, Restaurateur, Designer
- Shannon McKay – Transgender Youth and Family Advocate
- Dr. Christine Robinson – Educator, Researcher, Policy Advocate
- ROSMY – Youth Educators and Advocates
- Keri Abrams – Mechanic and Spokesperson
- Claire Guthrie Gastanaga – Advocate
- William C. Hall, Jr. – Corporate Executive
- Rodney Lofton – Author and Healthcare Advocate
- Paula Prettyman and Kelly Schlageter – Organizers
- Todd Rosenlieb – Choreographer, Educator, Mentor
- Mothers & Others – Allies
- Eboné Bell – Publisher
- Donnie Conner – Therapist
- Allen Groves – Dean
- Greta Harris – Housing Advocate
- Robert Roman – Business Owner
- Jean Segner – Banker
- Dr. Walter Sheppe Jr. – Biologist, Retired
- Jeff Trammell – Public Servant
- Virginia Organizing – Statewide Organization
- Viola Baskerville – Advocate
- Ted Heck – Activist
- Guy M. Kinman, Jr. – Billboard Pioneer
- Congressman Jim Moran – Politician
- Our Own – Publishers
- Charlotte J. Patterson – Researcher
- Gregg Smith – Community Activist & Philanthropist
- Sally Baird – Campaigner
- Nicholas Benton – Newspaperman
- Hugh Copeland – Stage Struck
- Jean Elliott – Connector
- Edward Strickler – Frontiersman
- Gaye Adegbalola– Blues Woman, Griot
- Tom Field – Change Agent
- Mark Lowham – Transplant
- Molly McClintock – Maximalist
- Judd Proctor and Brian Burns – The Rainbow Minute
- Ellen Qualls – Insider
- Mitch Rosa– Man on a Mission
- Kristi VanAudenhove, Ruth Micklem, & Jeanine Beiber – VSDVAA
- Waverly Cole and John Cook – Partners in Philanthropy
- Karen DePauw – Leading Educator
- Michael Gooding – Gay Theater’s Missionary
- Paul Smedberg – Elected Official
- Jim Spivey – AIDS Activist
- Rita Mae Brown – Crozet-based screenwriter and author, most notably of “Rubyfruit Jungle”.
- Clarence Cain – UVA Law School graduate whose life and death from HIV/AIDS inspired the 1993 film “Philadelphia”.
- Meg Christian – Women’s music icon and founder of Olivia Records.
- Marge Connelly – Financial industry executive.
- Adam Ebbin – First openly gay member of Virginia’s General Assembly and founder of Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.
- Jay Fisette – First openly gay elected official in Virginia and Arlington County Board member.
- Billy Haines – First openly gay Hollywood actor, during the silent movie era.
- Claus Ihlemann – Norfolk activist and owner of Decorum Furniture.
- Jon Klein – Founder of Diversity Thrift and Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth (ROSMY).
- Beth Marschak – Richmond activist, author, and historian.
- Lucy Randolph Mason – Labor organizer who helped pass 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Diane Schroer – Winner of landmark transgender workplace discrimination case.
- Tony Segura and Marsh Harris Segura – Tony was the founder of the Mattachine Society and Marsh was a prolific author of gay pulp fiction.
- L.A. “Shep” Shepherd and Norma Hofheimer – Mid-century lesbian activist couple from Richmond.
- Wanda Sykes – Emmy-award winning writer and comedian/actress.
- Tracy Thorne-Begland – Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell activist and Deputy Commonwealth Attorney of Richmond.
- Lawrence Webb – First openly gay black elected official in Virginia and Falls Church City Council member.
- Charles Whitebread – Former UVA law professor and LGBT philanthropist.
- Mel White and Gary Nixon – Founders of Lynchburg-based Soulforce.
- Bob Witeck – Northern Virginia business owner and LGBT media consultant.