On Saturday, March 28, Equality Virginia will recognize the 2020 class of OUTstanding Virginians – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied individuals and organizations taking the lead on moving equality forward in the Commonwealth – at the 17th Annual Commonwealth Dinner at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Included in this year’s class is John Osterhout, educator and former president of Hampton Roads Pride.
“OUTstanding Virginians are chosen based on their dedication to increasing equality in our state,” said Vee Lamneck, executive director of Equality Virginia. “We’re proud to work alongside so many committed individuals and organizations and look forward to celebrating the honorees at the Commonwealth Dinner.”
More than 1,000 people attend the Commonwealth Dinner every year, which features a silent auction and raffle to support Equality Virginia, the state’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organization.
The 2020 OUTstanding Virginians include:
- John Osterhout is the former vice president and president of Hampton Roads Pride where he skillfully navigated the organization into a new era of success. He previously served as secretary and treasurer for the Virginia Education Association’s Sexual Minority committee, now the LGBT Caucus. He also works with the Virginia Education Association’s LGBTQ+ Work Group to develop and provide training on how to create local school systems that are more inclusive of LGBTQ students, teachers, and faculty. He remains an active volunteer in the Hampton Roads community.
Other honorees include:
- Michael Sutphin is Vice Mayor of Blacksburg and a member of the Blacksburg Town Council.
- Crystal Suber owns Crystal Clear Financial Solutions, an insurance and financial services firm in Richmond.
- Afton Bradley spent three years as the Transgender Services Program Manager at Health Brigade, formerly the Fan Free Clinic, before implementing the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood’s first Transgender Health Care Program in late 2016.
- Bianca Rey is currently the Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Specialist at Kaiser Permanente in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Elizabeth Fogarty is a longtime organizer for People of Faith for Equality in Virginia – Northern Virginia Network.
- The Virginia Equality Bar Association (VEBA) is a statewide organization of legal professionals working to secure equality for the LGBTQ community.
Equality Virginia has recognized OUTstanding Virginians at its Commonwealth Dinner since 2009. Past honorees from Hampton Roads include Michael Berlucchi, Robert Roman and Jay Corprew, among others.
For more information and tickets to the Commonwealth Dinner, visit equalityvirginia.org.
