In recognition of Pride Month, Alexandria leaders joined hundreds of visitors in celebrating the city’s annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Fair on Saturday (June 27).
With City Hall in Old Town under renovation, this was the first time that the Pride fair was held at John Carlyle Square (300 John Carlyle Street). Dozens of vendors lined the park for the event, which was hosted by the city, the Del Ray Community Partnership, Inova Pride Clinic, Kindred Tree Healing Center and VEG ER for Pets.
Five months ahead of a statewide referendum to repeal an unenforceable ban on same-sex marriage in Virginia, Alexandria Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) has been named the co-chair of a campaign to amend the Constitution of Virginia.
McPike, who is in a same-sex marriage, helped launch the Virginians for Marriage Equality campaign in Richmond on Monday (June 1) for the first day of Pride Month. McPike told ALXnow that the campaign will be visible and looking for volunteers to sign up at community Pride events this month across the Commonwealth.
Two opposing events will be held in Alexandria this week ahead of the April 21 statewide referendum on redrawing congressional maps.
Virginia Democrats have been pursuing the mid-decade redistricting in response to similar actions in states across the country to gain party control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll shows 52% of likely Virginia voters favoring redistricting. Even if redistricting advances in Alexandria, the city would remain within the 8th Congressional District.
