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The Loudoun Pride Festival is coming back and we're upping the stakes in 2024! This year we are ready to welcome nearly 5,000 attendees and over 100 businesses to share in the fun celebrating the Queer community in Loudoun County!
Make sure to subscribe to our announcements to find out our artists, vendors, sponsors, activities, and so much more!
2024
THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE SPONSORS!
Training Options
Comprehensive Trainings
For many, it is necessary to have information and education on specific topics. Our training program is one of the most important tools to provide vital learning to businesses, agencies, organizations, and groups. We work with a variety of experts including members of the LGBTQ+ community, librarians, doctors, lawyers. scientists, and parents to ensure we include myriad perspectives as we develop our comprehensive offerings. Our training is available for a reasonable fee and can be delivered virtually or in-person.
Pricing: Comprehensive Trainings are scheduled for 45 minutes each plus a 15 minute question and answer session. Each training comes complete with 2 of our certified trainers. Our program offers virtual or in-person services complete with all equipment necessary to host your training (projection not included). Our base rate is $150 for a virtual training and $200 for an in-person training.
Customized Trainings
Your workplace, organization, or community may have needs that go beyond what we offer, which is why we have a staff of professional training developers who have worked for years to create customized trainings tailored to your needs. Using a mixture of the most up-to-date research, best practices, and personal experience, we can craft anything to help you in your pursuit of knowledge.
Pricing: Customized Trainings can be scheduled for any length of time to fit your needs. We offer in-person or virtual trainings that can include slide-based instruction, interactive modules, small-group and large-group activities, panel discussions, question and answer sessions, and more. We include a minimum of 2 trainers and all equipment necessary to host your training (projection not included). The pricing rate will be determined based on your needs, the scope, and the time required to develop your customized training.
Training Library
All of our trainings are updated frequently to ensure we present the most accurate, up-to-date information.
LGBTQ+ 101
Ideal for: Family, Educators, General Public
This introduction to the world of LGBTQ+ terminology, inclusive practices, and understanding is ideal for anyone feeling confused by all the flags and words that they may be unfamiliar with. Our team works to explain the difference between gender identity, gender expression, sexual attraction, romantic attraction, and biological sex. We will walk together through all the letters represented in LGBTQIA+ and beyond. And we'll cover basics of pronoun usage, FAQS, and understanding the perspective of your queer peers and family.
Creating Inclusive Environments
Ideal for: Businesses, Organizations, Places of Worship, Non-Profits
Do you want to optimize the diversity and inclusivity of your business or organization? The reality is the LGBTQ+ community has a lot to offer and it's reflected in all the research on productivity, profits, and partnerships. Being a queer-affirming business can help improve your retention, widen your recruit base, and create more harmony within your existing organization. This series focuses on the key ways to understand the impacts that bias and discrimination affect organizations and a myriad of ways you can create a more affirming and accepting place for you and your employees, volunteers, stakeholder, and customers.
Hot Topics: LGBTQ+ Issues for Constituents
Ideal for: Advocates, Political Candidates, Legislators, Policy Experts
Elections are right around the corner in the Commonwealth and LGBTQ+ issues have been at the forefront of kitchen tables and political campaigns. While most Americans polled agree that the current push against queer rights are too much, too far, and too-heavily focused compared to important issues like gun control, inflation, and economic inequality- the conversation seems to rage on! Learn the latest on these concerted efforts, the truth behind messaging, and important counter-points.
Understanding Trans & Non-Binary Identities
Ideal for: Advocates, Families, Crisis/Support Managers, Allies, Police & Security
The topic of the day is trans rights, but misinformation is more prevalent and terrifying for our TQ+ siblings than ever before. If you feel lost on the issues of sports, bathrooms, identities, or gender fluidity, this is the right training to cut through the noise and bigotry to find the truth about real people with real concerns. This training will cover basic terminology, separating the ideas of identity and orientation, differentiating between sex and gender, and getting into the science behind the statistics that claim a massive rise in trans identities as well as the hot-button issues that are swirling in today's media environment.
OUR MISSION
MISSION
Equality Loudoun is a non-profit organization that advocates, educates, defends, and builds community to support LGBTQ+ equality in Loudoun County.
VISION
Equality Loudoun envisions an inclusive community where LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups are fully embraced by active allies and can live safely and openly.
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PRINCIPLES
Advocacy: Through the work of our Equality Allies program, we are creating supporting networks of places, people, and institutions that commit to active allyship, the promotion of individual well-being, and meeting community needs. Advocacy focuses on prevention of discrimination, promoting physical and emotional health, and diversity practices.
Education: The Queer Training Program focuses on using a combination of research, best practices, and first-hand perspective to generate DEIA and LGBTQ+ focused training seminars and research used to empower local businesses, organizations, agencies, schools, families, and individuals to create equitable practices that benefit the LGBTQ+ community, reduce harmful outcomes, and promote equity.
Community: Inclusivity is the greatest methodology for reducing harmful outcomes by creating positive and accepting spaces. We develop relationships with local businesses and partners to host events focuses on individuals, youth, families, and creating community.
Defense: The core facet of Equality Loudoun is achieving what we call 'true equality.' Laws protecting individuals from discrimination, grant programs that support initiatives, and enforcement of policies that are in place to provide support are failing for the LGBTQ+ community. We utilize existing laws, relationships with legislative advocacy partners, local leaders, and legal experts to strengthen protections, seek funding, and enforce existing laws until our queer community is truly equal.
OUTCOMES
Mental Health: There is no greater issue faced by our community than disparate mental health outcomes- including higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation- caused by discriminatory practices, lack of safe and inclusive places, and stigmatization. Our programs help reduce these outcomes by creating more inclusive and successful communities that support an individual's emotional, physical, and social well-being.
Intersectionality: Our community is comprised of every marginalized and non-marginalized group in the United States- including racial, religious, gender, age, and disability minorities. Especially within marginalized communities, the prevalence of violence, homelessness, discrimination, and sexual assault continue to disproportionately impact the LGBTQ+ community. Our programs aim to support each community and provide education and awareness that reduces stigma and promotes better outcomes.
Are you looking for ways to help?
The best way is to be an active ally who speaks out against hate-whenever and whenever- and showing support in the community. Whether that is through the support of individuals who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or person with disabilities, or through support of the principles of diversity, equity, equality, accessibility, and inclusion, or through a life of service focused on government, military, environmental, or other important challenges.
To help support our mission, consider one of the following:
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Consider a leadership or volunteer position with Equality Loudoun.
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Learn more about the LGBTQ+ community.
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Join one of our bias, DEIA, or LGBTQ+ focused training seminars.
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Make a tax-deductible contribution to support our mission.
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Join the Equality Allies program if you own a business, place of worship, medical provider, non-profit, or other organization.
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Partner with us to create affirming community events.
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Subscribe to receive our emails on important issues.
ANYWHERE YOU SEE THIS, YOU'RE SAFE!
Equality Allies is a community partnership program that has worked to build more than just passive allies, they want our community to have voices of support in the places they do business, worship, receive care, and more. The program is open to any business, organization, local group. non-profit, place of worship, medical or mental health provider, and support provider. They go through our rigorous process to affirm their allyship in a real and meaningful way. Just look for the Equality Allies sticker on the front door!
Select an option to see our allies...
JOINING
Requirements
Answer 6 basic questions about your current LGBTQ+ practices.
Make a one-time tax deductible donation to support LGBTQ+ advocacy work.
Answer a 6-10 question survey specific to your industry.
Our staff will review your info and perform some basic research.
That's it! If approved, you'll be added to our site and get all the included benefits.
Lifetime Membership Costs
Public or Private Business or For-Profit Organization - $250.00
Faith-Based Organization or Place of Worship- $100.00
Medical Provider or Office- $100.00
Mental Health Provider or Office- $100.00
Non-profits- Including Groups, Orgs, and Providers- $1.00
Benefits
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Added to our online directory
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Front door sticker to attract business
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Included in newsletters and social media posts
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Tens of thousands of impressions per year
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We source our supplies, vendors, and partners from you first
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On-site event advertising at select events
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Access to our online Learning Library
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Access to our customized DEIA Training Sessions
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Discounted event Pride sponsorship rates.
Want to partner for an event?
Just email us at community@eqloco.com! Priority for scheduling will be given to Equality Allies and all requests must have at least a 60 day notice. Please note, we tend to get really busy around June so availability is extremely limited May-July.
EVENTS
MONTHLY EVENTS
Second Sunday | 3 PM
Avid readers unite! In partnership with Birch Tree Book Store, find LGBTQ+ literature you're gonna love!
First Tuesday | 7 PM
Brews and brain teasers are the perfect way to liven up the weeknight. So grab your friends and get ready to win prizes...on a Tuesday!
Fourth Thursday | 7 PM
A support group for LGBTQ+ adults, parents, allies, and youth ages 12-17. We meet in different groups to share, to find strength, and to make new friends!
