Category Archives: Local News

July 11 – Second Friday In-Person Meeting

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that this month’s Second Friday Community Building Group Meeting
will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, July 11th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
TGEA & SECOND FRIDAY gathers at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia.
We will feature our open session for Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, Agender +, Significant Others, Friends, Family, Allies.

TGEA & SECOND FRIDAY Gathers at MCC of Northern Virginia
aka
MCC NoVA – the Fairfax City LGBTIQQ+ Community Center
MCC NoVA, 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030.

There will also be three break-out groups:
  * Parents
  * Teens
  * Transmasculine and TransMasc Nonbinary
We will feature our open session for Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, Agender + Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies. We will also provide two separate closed group break-out sessions exclusively for Parents/Guardians and for Teens and Tweens.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can continue to open our doors for our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone!
In these challenging times we take additional steps for your security. The Second Friday facilitators will be monitoring the facility entrance. Prior to the start of the meeting, we will have folks at the entry door. Late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call or text for entry.

Latest Information on Passports from the ACLU

Link to ACLU article

Rev Emma interviewed on Inside Scoop

Rev. Emma Chattin was interviewed by Fairfax City Mayor, Catherine Read, live on Inside Scoop, talking about Pride and TGEA. 🙂
Interview Link Here: Inside Scoop

TGEA Was There!
Rabbit & Chaiya!

Alexandria PRIDE
&
NoVA Safe Space Prom!

TGEA June Events – Second Friday Pride Potluck June 13th

This month, for our June Second Fridays night, we will be having a Pride Potluck. YAY!
We will also be starting earlier at 6:30 PM, and going until our usual closing time at 8:30.
We encourage folks to bring their dish of choice, as well as listing allergens and gluten ingredients for the dietary restrictions of attendees.
Plates, napkins, and utensils will be provided, but please bring any serving utensils for your dish. Come share Nourishment in Community!

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that this month’s Second Friday Community Building Group Meeting
will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, June 13th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
TGEA & SECOND FRIDAY gathers at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia.
We will feature our open session for Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, Agender +, Significant Others, Friends, Family, Allies.

TGEA & SECOND FRIDAY Gathers at MCC of Northern Virginia
aka
MCC NoVA – the Fairfax City LGBTIQQ+ Community Center
MCC NoVA, 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030.

There will also be three break-out groups:
  * Parents
  * Teens
  * Transmasculine and TransMasc Nonbinary
We will feature our open session for Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, Agender + Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies. We will also provide two separate closed group break-out sessions exclusively for Parents/Guardians and for Teens and Tweens.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can continue to open our doors for our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone!
In these challenging times we take additional steps for your security. The Second Friday facilitators will be monitoring the facility entrance. Prior to the start of the meeting, we will have folks at the entry door. Late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call or text for entry.

Local Events – March 25 – 27, 2025 – Community News

Fairfax County Public Schools Pride Unity Rallye Thu Mar 27

At its March 27 meeting, the Fairfax County School Board recognized March 31st as the Transgender Day of Visibility. FCPS Pride held a rally beforehand in the front courtyard, and asked folks to join them afterwards in the auditorium for the proclamation! The rally will be fun, but the school board will only see the attendees and speakers during the meeting at 7 pm. Nearly 100 attendees certainly made our community visible, and declared to our trans community: “We stand with you!”

Rev Emma had been asked to speak beforehand – and she gave an inspiring speech.

And this exception image from the FCPS Pride site showing all the folks assembled for a photo op with the FCPS Board
Click the photo to visit the FCPS Pride website!

MARCH 25 FAIRFAX CITY
TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY PROCLAMATION
On Tues March 25 at 7 PM at the Fairfax City Hall (10445 Armstrong Street)
Fairfax City presented a Proclamation Declaring March 31
Transgender Day of Visibility!
Trans… Significant Others… Allies…
We had a wonderful attendance of supporters and allies there!

Mayor Read Presenting the 2025 Proclamation with 4 dozen supporters

Additional December Community News

FYI – NoVA Prism Center Legal Resource Fair!
Saturday December 14 12:00 – 5:00 PM

TGEA Represented at Supreme Court Rally Dec 4th

Pictured L – R TGEA Board Member Chris McCormick, Jamie, Executive Director Rev. Emma Chattin, Heather James
Rev. Emma spoke at a rally held on the steps of the Supreme Court on December 4.
The rally looked something like THIS
“For we are powerful beings. That’s why so many have denied us, oppressed us, and tried to suppress us. Because we reveal that the most fundamental thing about humanity- the very first thing that is said about us… is subject to change … and change is a frightening concept to some people.”
~ from Rev. Emma’s Speech on the Supreme Court steps.

Rev Emma’s Full Speech is HERE

TGEA Recognized with Equality NoVA’s 2024 Service Award

TGEA was honored to receive the 2024 Service from Equality NoVA at their Annual Holiday Party on December 10.
On hand to receive the honor were TGEA Board Members Chris McCormick, Chaiya Mohanty Ortiz, and Kristen “Rabbit” Remers.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Service – 7PM

Its Monday, November 20th. The 15th Annual NoVA TDOR is 7PM tonight at Unity of Fairfax.
We remember. https://unityoffairfax.org/calendar/2023-11/tdor LiveStream begins at 6:45PM


This will be the 15th year that TGEA has sponsored the Northern Virginia Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance Service, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Church of Northern Virginia (MCC NoVA), and various host communities.

What is The Transgender Day of Remembrance?
This is the day we remember our dead. Last year there were 41 individuals in this country who were killed while living their life as their authentic self. The remembrance service is traditionally held on November 20, 2023 which is a Monday this year, and will be held at 7:00 PM.

This year the service will be hosted at
Unity of Fairfax
2854 Hunter Mill Rd,
Oakton, VA 22124

United Against Hate presentation, Nov 15

Greetings from the Office of Nicholas Durham
Assistant United States Attorney
Civil Rights Coordinator
Eastern District of Virginia

I am writing because my office, along with various partners, is putting together a United Against Hate presentation on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia, and we would like to cordially invite you and members of your community to attend. This event is open to everyone, but will have a special emphasis on the issues and concerns facing the LGBTQIA+ community.

United Against Hate is a U.S. Department of Justice initiative that convenes local forums that connect community groups to federal and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate. Through using hypothetical scenarios and video clips depicting real-life hate crime cases and stories, United Against Hate promotes robust interaction between community members and law enforcement participants. Program topics include defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.

We are fortunate to count on the participation of the FBI, the Arlington County Police Department, and the Arlington County Sheriff’s Department, along with the amazing coordination of Arlington Public Library, to bring this event to fruition.

We hope you and others from the Transgender Education Association might be interested in attending; in suggesting groups or community leaders who we should invite to this event; and/or in disseminating information about this event to your organization’s members.
I have attached a flyer for the event.

Sincerely,
Nicholas Durham

Here is the link to register –

United Against Hate: A Panel Discussion – Events Calendar – Home (libcal.com)

Saying Farewell to a Dear Friend

Sharon Brackett died suddenly at her home in Baltimore Maryland on May 24, 2021. Sharon started attending Second Friday at the very beginning, close to 10 years ago, driving down from Maryland in order to connect with others in the community. Her contributions to the Trans Communities, and the world at large, cannot be understated. She was not simply an activist, she was also a dear friend, and I will miss her. (Rev. Emma Chattin)

Link to Sharon’s Obituary and Photo Here