Let’s Talk LGBTQ History and Education
Tune in as Safe Space NOVA Founder and Executive Director Jordan Costen joins a panel discussion about LGBTQ+ History Month.
LGBTQ+ Specific State Assembly Efforts
by Maeve Korengold, Safe Space NOVA Student Ambassador 2020 was a landmark election year for LGBTQ+ representation, both at the state and federal level. According to NBC, over two hundred and twenty LGBTQ+ candidates won their respective elections. Among them are Sarah McBride who won her election in Deleware, becoming the first openly transgender state [...]
Exclusion of LGBTQ+ Education
By Maeve Korengold The majority of high school students can rattle off facts about the lives and legacies of figures like Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Graham Bell, but can’t do the same for Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, or Leslie Feinberg. This is because in today’s school system, the contributions of key LGBTQ+ civil rights [...]
This Pandemic Exposed the Extreme Vulnerability of LGBTQ Youth
By Charles A. Sumpter Jr., Safe Space NOVA Board Member Originally published in The Advocate The emergence of COVID-19 has greatly exposed the fragility of the American economy and social safety nets established to support underserved communities. COVID-19 reveals to many that the United States and the world are severely underprepared when it comes to [...]
Thank YOU for attending the Safe Space NOVA Brunch Fundraiser!
We'd like to send a huge thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and planned the Safe Space NOVA Brunch Fundraiser. Words can't even begin to express how grateful we are to have such a great support system. While a lot of strides have been made, there is still much more work to do. And, [...]
#TellYourStoryTuesday featuring Abdur-Rahim Briggs
August 7, 2018 The Journey of Abdur-Rahim Briggs "Public Service isn't just a job. It's a calling. It's hard work, and it's largely unsung. The work matters to me because it means something to make our community better. In fact, it means everything ." - Abdur-Rahim Briggs It was 21 years ago I learned [...]
What’s in a name?…Everything
June 4, 2018 By Safe Space NOVA Vice Chairman, Jerome R. Hunt, Ph.D. What’s in a name you may ask? Frankly, everything. The name we are given at birth may be that of a relative that we want to honor, be that of one of our parents, or gender specific. It is our identity. A [...]
Not So Fast on the Transgender Ban
May 7, 2018 By Charles Sumpter, Safe Space NOVA Board Member In case you missed it, a U.S. Judge in Seattle ordered President Donald Trump not to ban transgender service members from serving in the military, highlighting the potential unconstitutionality of such a move. On March 23, President Trump once again released a memorandum, allowing [...]
Opinion: Letter to the Editor: Discrimination Plain and Simple
Originally printed in Alexandria Gazette* Thursday, September 21, 2017 President Trump’s July 26th tweet banning transgender service members from serving in the United States military is discriminatory and unpatriotic. As former Vice President Joe Biden stated via Twitter, “Every patriotic American who is qualified to serve in our military should be able to serve. Full [...]
Mental Health in Virginia & LGBT Youth
May 1, 2017 By Safe Space, Inc. Vice Chairman, Jerome R. Hunt, Ph.D. Earlier this year, an article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch revealed some disturbing facts when it comes to mental health and youth in Virginia. According to Mental Health America, Virginia was ranked 38th among states, down from the previous ranking of 27th. A major reason [...]