Category Archives: Community

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)

2023 Transgender Day Of Remembrance – Monday Nov 20


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

Oct 13, 2023 – Second Friday In Person Meeting!

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that Second Friday for October will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, Oct 13th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

We’ll meet at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia (MCC NoVA), 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030. 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.

In these challenging times we will be taking some 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. After the gathering begins, late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call or text for entry.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can open our doors to our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Sept 8, 2023 – Second Friday In Person Meeting!

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that Second Friday for September will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, Sept 8th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

We’ll meet at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia (MCC NoVA), 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030. 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.

In these challenging times we will be taking some 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. After the gathering begins, late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call or text for entry.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can open our doors to our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone!

August 11 – Second Friday In Person Meeting!

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that Second Friday for August will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, Aug 11th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

We’ll meet at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia (MCC NoVA), 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030. 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.

In these challenging times, we will be taking some additional steps. 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.

After the gathering begins, late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call for entry.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can open our doors to our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone!

July 14 – Second Friday In Person Meeting!

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that Second Friday for July will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, July 14th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

We’ll meet at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia (MCC NoVA), 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030. 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.

In these challenging times, we will be taking some additional steps. 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.

After the gathering begins, late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call for entry.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can open our doors to our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Trans Legislation Webinars – June 15 & 22nd

Rev. Lori McPherson and Rev. Emma Lee Chattin will be presenting two webinars — Thu June 15 & June 22 — on the recent flurry of anti-trans* legislation in the states. We’ll be discussing the status of the laws, significant court challenges, and the effect that all of this is having on trans* kids, adults, and families.

This is designed for a general audience and ANYONE can attend. In the first session we’ll cover the political framework for the current moment, drag bans, and bathroom bans; in the second session we will cover Trans* health care bans and next steps.

There is no registration required and no cost to attend. We’ll be hosting this in a Webinar-style format, so there will be no risk to the attendees of zoom-bombing or other abusive behavior.

Please circulate to anyone you think may be interested!!

June 9, 2023 – SECOND FRIDAY IN PERSON MEETING

The Transgender Education Association (TGEA), in coordination with MCC NoVA, are pleased to announce that Second Friday for June will be an in-person monthly meeting format on Friday, June 9th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

We’ll meet at the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia (MCC NoVA), 10383 Democracy Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030. 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.

In these challenging times, we will be taking some additional steps. 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.

After the gathering begins, late arrivals will be provided a phone number to call for entry.

Masks are optional.

We are grateful that we can open our doors to our community once more!
We look forward to seeing everyone on June 9th!

On Saturday June 3rd, we staffed a both at Reston Pride, and another booth at Alexandria Pride, and that evening, Fairfax City hosted its first ever Pride Event! Sometimes PRIDE Looks Like… THIS