Photo: Tristan Williams
Since its May 31 opening, the Rivanna Area Queer Center, or RAQC (pronounced “rack”), has been a welcome hub for the Charlottesville-area LGBTQ+ community.
While the idea of a LGBTQ+ community center was a longtime goal for local organizers, the project was expedited after the 2024 election. The volunteer team behind RAQC selected and designed the space at 501 W. Main St. to be highly visible, centrally located, and adaptable—creating a multifunctional gathering spot that meets as many community needs as possible.
A list of wants and needs was collated from a series of visioning sessions prior to opening, including BIPOC- and disability-specific events. Making RAQC accessible to as many people as possible was one of the driving principles behind the community center, according to organizers.
“Physical spaces possess a gravity that media simply cannot duplicate. They provide an existential foothold from which to build our understanding of the world,” says Blake Walker, RAQC’s interim design committee chair. “Virtual and social connections can more readily be missed—especially if you’re new to the area.”
In its first weeks, RAQC hosted events ranging from mental-health skill groups to a Queer pride print-making class. Area businesses have also collaborated with the center, including Ethos Wine & Tea, Wednesday’s Whimsies (a Shenandoah Valley artist collective), Lucky T. Thrift, and ReadyKids.
Organizers hope that RAQC can serve as both a gathering place and a go-to for knowledge and resources.
“Our landmarks and history are actively being erased by government mandates,” says Walker. “It is essential we create new places we control to remain visible to the broader public.”
Ellie Picard, who co-founded The Beautiful Idea (a Queer makers’ market on the Downtown Mall) with former C-VILLE contributor Senlin Means in 2023, also emphasizes the importance of having a space like RAQC in Charlottesville.
“The space is the mission in a lot of ways, and that’s our priority … making sure that there is a safe and accessible open space for all the Queer folks in town to use,” says Picard. “There’s a lot more power in unity and cooperation and connection, and with all of the threats and the challenges that we are facing as Queer people, we need as much Queer people power as we can muster.”
