LGBTQ+ Facts
Richmond is a metropolitan destination where LGBTQ+ people feel welcomed and included. In this city, there is the publication, GayRVA, which covers LGBTQ+ news and events.
In addition, the business community in Richmond has recognized that it is essential to provide the LGBTQ+ community with equal treatment. That’s why Richmond is home to the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber.
In recent history, the city of Richmond made headlines when it created a campaign to bring LGBTQ+ tourists to the region. The campaign called OutRVA provides a blog and resources for LGBTQ+ people in the area. This publication also provides suggestions for dates and events in Richmond and writes profiles of the local LGBTQ+ community members.
The city also hosts the event PrideFest, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community every September. Plus, Virginia Commonwealth University had been rated four and a half out of five stars on the Campus Pride Index listing of LGBTQ+-friendly college campuses.
Mental Health in Richmond, Virginia
Unfortunately, emergency room doctors in Virginia have stated that ERs have been filled with kids waiting for a stay at psychiatric hospitals. Pediatricians have reported that kids as young as ten years old discuss thoughts of suicide. In addition, a minimum of 90,000 Virginia residents under 18 have experienced at least one major depressive episode.
According to the Virginia Department of Health data, fewer than half of these children receive mental health treatment. With the pandemic, mental health is worsening for the population as a whole, with a need for more care options. In addition, Virginia ranks towards the bottom for providing mental health care, at 41st in the country as indicated in a 2020 report from the State of Mental Health in America.
To find a mental health care provider for children in the Richmond area, be sure to visit our database at LGBTQ and ALL. We have a list of all the psychologists for kids nearby.
Top Features for Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of Virginia and one of the oldest biggest cities in the United States. One attraction is The White House of the Confederacy, home of President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War. Currently, it is a museum in Court End, an area known for its Federal-style mansions.
This city is also known as being a destination for excellent cuisine. The food scene is so good because there are locally-based chefs, sommeliers, and restaurateurs, who are elevating the dining scene in this city.
Facts
- Writer Edgar Allen Poe grew up in Richmond. You can visit the Edgar Allen Poe Museum house in this city, one of the oldest buildings around. It features many of his works and some of his personal belongings.
- The film “My Dinner with Andre” was shot in Richmond at the Jefferson Hotel.
- Speaking of the Jefferson Hotel, this establishment used to have live alligators.
History/Data
What is now known as Richmond used to be a crucial village for the Powhatan Confederacy. It was then briefly settled by English colonists from Jamestown from the years 1609 to 1611. The city of Richmond itself was officially founded in 1737.
One famous moment in Richmond’s history is when Patrick Henry, a U.S. Founding Father, declared the famous statement: “Give me liberty or give me death.” He made this declaration in 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond. This led to the Revolutionary War.
After that, Richmond became the capital of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia in 1780.
Richmond’s population was 232,866 in 2020, making it the fourth largest city in Virginia and the 96th largest city.