Orange Pride believes that LGBTQIA2+ people deserve to be treated with dignity and to thrive as integral members of the Orange community. We believe that queer joy and freedom of expression are central to pride, and encourage opportunities for creativity and celebration.

We believe that there is no pride without protest, and that LGBTQIA2+ individuals and allies must be ready at all times to take a vocal stand against tyranny and hate. We believe that silence is complicity. 

We know that the struggles of all marginalized and vulnerable groups are tied to one another, including women, BIPOC, those with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, and the poor. We believe in listening to the voices of those facing intersecting forms of oppression and standing with them in solidarity. We believe that together, marginalized community members can accomplish more than we ever could on our own.

We believe Orange has always been a hub of innovation to overcome hate — particularly in the case of the Black community’s fight against Massive Resistance policies during the civil rights era — and that if we can educate ourselves on the historical context in which we live, we can learn from those examples and implement strategies that have proven to be successful.

Let’s be clear: Through every part of Orange’s history, LGBTQIA2+ people have been a part of this community. However, recent rollbacks on hard-won human rights victories, both locally and at the national level, are a bleak reminder that rights too loosely held are bound to be snatched from our hands. In order to restore what has been lost and create a brighter future, we must be an active, visible presence within our Orange community. This means advocating boldly and unwaveringly for institutional changes which protect LQBTQIA2+ dignity and better our quality of life.

Orange Pride hosts events and provides educational opportunities for LGBTQIA2+ residents of central Virginia, with a focus on community building and civic participation. We provide safe spaces for LGBTQIA2+ neighbors to meet one another, organize and celebrate. We welcome partnerships with likeminded community organizations and strive to support them in their own efforts.