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COMMUNITY
THE MISSION
Community is what picks us up and keeps us going when we fall down, from the friends we make to the families we unite and build. Through a combination of social support, opportunities to meet others like us, and chances to celebrate what makes us each unique and wonderful, we can find the value in ourselves and our community.
EVENTS
We strive to create community by providing a diverse group of events that help reach all of our LGBTQ+ neighbors and friends. From family-focused events like the Pride Festival to adult-centric parties like Hallo-Queen, we really aim to create inclusive places everywhere we go. As an intersectional community, we know that people come from a diverse range of socioeconomic backgrounds, differing abilities, and a diverse set of experiences- so we aim to ensure proper planning, different cost levels, and accessibility are part of every event's consideration. Some events may not work for some people, but we're sure everyone can find something to enjoy.
Check out our full events calendar...
Queer Lit Book Club- Monthly
The Queer Lit Book Club is a partnership between Birch Tree Bookstore and Equality Loudoun. Borne out of a love of reading and curated by local librarians, teachers, and queer-lit aficionados, you're sure to find your latest page turner. We also purchase a set of books each month to benefit those who cannot otherwise afford the book and to benefit our local book sellers. This club is open to queer book lovers of all stripes. For more information, email us.
LGBTQ+ Awareness Tabling- Monthly
From March until November, you'll find us setting up the Big Purple Tent all over Loudoun County at events to help bring awareness of the Queer Community and our work to address the issues. We strive to go all over with events like SterlingFest, Claude Moore's Apple Fest, the One Loudoun Block Party, and more. Interested in having us table with you? Just email us...
Get Lucky! Drag Bingo- March
Get ready to have some good, not-quite-clean fun for a good cause! Join us for Drag Bingo, some dinner, drinks, and of course performances by your favorite local queens! Did you know Loudoun is the home of several members of Drag Royalty? In 2023, we'll be playing 4 games for a cash prize of $125 each. Each ticket includes everything you need to play, We'll also have a 50-50 raffle, Pride merch, and fun mini-games - so you'll have tons of chances to Get Lucky all night long!
Hallo-Queen - October
The inaugural (2022) Hallo-Queen Scream was the perfect place to let loose and enjoy a night of fun and frivolity! Featuring live music by 90's cover band Crash the Limo, a full drag show featuring Loudoun's Drag Royalty, a Blackout Party Room feat. Repeatable DJ, and so much more! Candy Bars, photo booths, glow in the dark body paint station, a $250 costume contest prize, a $500 minimum 50/50 raffle, and so many more surprises are in store. Plus, all proceeds will go to support the LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts of local non-profit organization Equality Loudoun!
PRIDE
Loudoun Pride Festival- June 4, 2023
The Loudoun Pride Festival is back and bigger than ever for 2023! This year we are ready to welcome nearly 3,000 attendees and over 100 businesses to share in the fun celebrating the Queer community in Loudoun County! With our headliners soon to be announced - we will be hosting incredible music to celebrate to, amazing local food to enjoy, fun activities for all ages, and so much more in store.
Learn more about the Loudoun Pride Festival.
Social Media
Social media plays in important role in being, well, social. At the core of community is being able to form friendships, make connections, and find mentors. Our social media platforms are meant to share awareness on important issues and the steps we can take to take action. They are meant to bring people together using common values and representation. And they keep us informed on important events, needs, and activities going on in Loudoun County.
VOLUNTEER
We simply could not do all that we do each year without incredible teams of volunteers helping us along the way. From tabling to event setup to leadership, there are options for every person, every situation, and every level of engagement. We want to make volunteering with EQLOCO fun, meaningful, and easy. Check out our Volunteer page for information on how to get involved.
