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Message from the Board

To Our Beloved Community,

We, the Board of Directors of Southwest Virginia Pride, Inc., want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Without the unwavering support of our local community and allies from beyond, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Your dedication, love, and involvement have made it possible for us to continue our mission of promoting equality, acceptance, and celebration for the LGBTQ+ community in our region.

Thanks to your contributions and participation, we’ve been able to expand our programming and initiatives, creating safe spaces for individuals to express their true selves. Through educational programs, outreach events, and partnerships with local organizations, we strive to ensure that our community thrives and that everyone feels included and valued.

This year’s Pride Fest promises to be our best yet, featuring live entertainment, engaging activities, vendors, and an inclusive atmosphere where people from all walks of life can come together in celebration of diversity and unity.

And for those who want to keep the energy going, we are excited to present **Pride After Dark**, our official after-party following the festival. Pride After Dark will be the perfect way to cap off an incredible day of celebration, with music, dancing, and some spooky fun!

Your continued support ensures that we can create these spaces and moments of joy, visibility, and connection. We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you in 2025, and we look forward to the positive impact we will continue to make together. Thank you again for standing with us.

With Pride and Gratitude, The Southwest Virginia Pride, Inc. Board of Directors

STAGE SCHEDULE

AJ Quin West

AJ Quin West is a Latina drag artist originally from Puerto Rico residing in Columbus Ohio. She is co-creator, co-director, co-producer and co-host of the LipsyncMania competition and The Drag Master that gives upcoming drag artist the opportunity to express and evolve their art. AJ is also a recording artist releasing her singles “Path To Independence” and “I Don’t Give A F” which have received over 12,000 streams on musical platforms.

We are an all female identifying and all lesbian rock band from Lynchburg covering a mix of music from classic rock all the way through our twist on rock inspired more modern selections. Our group features a Nashville singer songwriter, former Ft Worth Sound touring musician, and a former professional drummer from Chicago. Our prior performances have drawn crowds close to capacity in our hometown bars and have headlined Lynchburg Festivals to a crowd of over 1400. We are branching out throughout all of central Virginia and can’t wait to share the Pride stage!

Danyel Vasquez is an entertainer and trans woman born in Akron , Ohio , now residing in Canton, Ohio. Danyel has performed at hundreds of venues over the last 29 years, and currently hosts shows at two nightclubs in her hometown.

Known for her amazing and elaborate costumes, big hair , mixes stage presence, and dramatics Danyel dazzles her audiences with every number; be it dance, comedy, glamour, or whatever. The versatile vixen tag was given to her while performing a residency at The Palace in Miami, FL pre Covid where she was hired as an MC and cast member.

Danyel is also the founder of Danyel Vasquez Remixes, which is known for music mixes for entertainers, and have been featured in local, state, and national pageants and DV DESIGNS, custom costumes and gowns for entertainers all over the USA.

Danyel Vasquez

Jackson B. Nite

As a classically trained dancer, actor, model, costume designer, and pageant coach, Jackson’s unique combination of on-stage talents is paralleled by his longstanding dedication to promoting the art of drag from behind the scenes. In addition to his current role as a state promoter for the Gay United States pageantry system and work with the Pride of Pittsburgh pageantry system, he has served as a former co-producer for the National TransPride Showcase, Boy Box Drag, and numerous Pride events during his tenure as an entertainer.

Malayia Chanel Iman

Miss Gay United States 2024

Malayia has been in the art form of female impersonation for 16 years. Malayia has won over 100 titles, including Miss Triad Pride, Miss Roanoke Pride, Miss Western Carolina Pride, Miss NC EOY FI, Mundo Latina Plus, Miss NC US of A At-large, Miss Legends, Miss Unlimited At-large and is the current Miss Gay United States. Malayia has performed in many clubs around the world, including Mexico and cruise ships.

Malayia is the matriarch of the Chanel Iman family where she has 21 lovely children. Her mothers are Mo’nique Chanel and Dorae Saunders and fathers are Mykel Knight Addams and Dr. Ryan. Malayia is a part of the Guilford Green Foundation, Drag Queen Story hour, as well as one of the promoters for NC EOY. She is an advocate for cancer awareness. A key thought that Malayia would love to leave you with: “your reign is what you make it so make it great!”

SPIKEY VAN DYKEY

**SpikeyVanDykey**isatrailblazingdragking knownforhiselectrifyingperformances,sharpwit, andcharismaticstagepresence.Withoveradecade inthedragscene,Spikeyhasbecomealeading figure,captivatingaudienceswithhisdynamicblend ofmasculinityandartistry.Hisperformances,often characterizedbyintricatechoreography,bold costumes,andarebelliousspirit,challenge traditionalgendernormsandcelebratethefluidity ofidentity.

Startinghisjourneyintheearly2000s,Spikey quicklygainedrecognitionforhisuniquestyleand dedicationtothecraft,earninghimaloyalfollowing andnumerousaccoladeswithintheLGBTQ+ community.Beyondthestage,Spikeyisapassionate advocateforinclusivityandrepresentation,using hisplatformtoupliftotherartistsandpromote acceptanceandloveforallexpressionsofidentity.

Whetherheadliningmajordragshows,mentoring upcomingperformers,orspeakingonpanelsabout genderdiversity,SpikeyVanDykeycontinuesto pushboundariesandinspireotherswithhis unapologeticauthenticityandcreativity.