Behind 2010′s Biggest Stories

Kevin Clay
December 29, 2010

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Read More: Bob McDonnell, Gay Community Center of Richmond, Manroulette, Pennies in Protest, Robyn Deane, The National, Tiffany Devereaux

This week, GayRVA.com takes a look back at the most popular stories of 2010.  We started on Monday sharing our most-read posts and continue today as GayRVA’s Editor and Publisher Kevin Clay sharing his behind-the-scenes insight on the biggest stories in LGBT Richmond.

Video: McDonnell’s Transgender Former Brother-in-Law Publicly Speaks Out
April 21, 2010

There was a gut feeling at this March equality rally that something newsworthy was in the air.  All other local news media had left to get their noon reports up when Robyn Deane, Governor Bob McDonnell’s transgender former brother-in-law, first publicly spoke.

As for the video, once we uploaded to YouTube, it made the circuits to national gay blogs like Bilerico and Towleroad.  The story was also picked up by local outlets like CBS6, the Richmond Times Dispatch, and nationally by the Washington Post.

You can hear a soft “wow” from bystanders as Deane tells her story.  Today, Deane serves on the board of the Gay Community Center of Richmond and continues her work as an advocate.

Meet 2010′s Out.Spoken. Richmonder of the Year
June 4, 2010

Westboro Baptist Church’s March visit sparked a fire in four Richmond moms.  They didn’t want to stand back and see their kids and the rest of Richmond exposed to hate mongers and let them get away with it.  The rest is history as they formed Pennies In Protest, a fundraising campaign that raised over $14,000 for the LGBT and Jewish organizations Westboro were protesting.

I have a special place in my heart for moms, so getting the chance to chat last spring with these four inspirational women at Lewis Ginter Botantical Gardens was a privilege.  In their minds, there was no question about coordinating Pennies in Protest – it had to be done.

Last summer, the moms created an online toolkit at their original Pennies in Protest website for other cities to build their own fundraising efforts.

Tiffany Devereaux – The Exit Interview
December 9, 2010

I remember my first trip to Godfrey’s while at VCU.  It was a Wednesday College Hump Night and the first drag queen I ever saw perform was Tiffany.  I told the man behind Tiffany, Robert Friedline, that story and he has heard the same from others several times since announcing his retirement.

I remember the first time seeing Tiffany as Robert.  It was like seeing Santa Claus without the beard, and it’s clear that the two have very separate personalities.

Today, GayRVA is fortunate to have the opportunity to interview a slew of drag queens, but how do you keep it fresh?  This chat with Friedline was different as he spoke candidly about both the highs and lows of entertaining and maintaining a balance in his personal life.

Queer Eye From A Straight Guy – Manroulette
November 17, 2010

If you are fortunate enough to know Chad Brown, you know that he doesn’t hold back.  In his series “Queer Eye From A Straight Guy” he puts himself, a heterosexual male, in very gay situations and the outcome turns into interesting, and often unexpected commentary.

Video chatting rose to a climax in popularity in 2010 with sites like Chatroulette and offspring Manroulette becoming a popular way to umm…meet new people.

Brown’s vivid descriptions and tone are enough to make you blush.

A Mending “Therapy”
November 26, 2010

Richmond can be very set in its ways.  Rarely do businesses and organizations take a big step to right a wrong, but when they do, it speaks loudly.

With controversial reggae artist Buju Banton’s 2009 performance scheduled at the National the same day as Richmond’s Pride celebration, it was an unfortunate coincidence that spiraled.  The show was moved to several venues until finally being cancelled.

Fast forward and the National offered to lend its space for a dance party benefitting the Gay Community Center of Richmond in November.  The venue’s current general manager provides insight on the National’s decision to cancel the show and why they kept quiet back then.  The Gay Community Center hopes to have more events at the National in the coming year.

Kevin Clay is the editor and publisher of GAYRVA.COM. He is a Richmond native, loves the city and knows it's on the edge of greatness. Don't hold back RVA. You can follow Kevin on GAYRVA's Twitter or e-mail him at editor@gayrva.com.