LGBT+ Democrats of Virginia Launch Don Davenport Memorial Outreach Fund

by LGBT+ Democrats of Virginia

We would like to announce the creation of the Don Davenport Memorial Outreach Fund to honor our longtime board member who served as Vice Chair for Outreach from June 2010 to when he passed in May 2024.

Don was a crusader for gay and LGBT+ rights. At the age of 16, he was rejected by his parents for being gay and made his way to New York City. On June 27th, 1969 Don was a barback at the Stonewall Inn and witnessed the police raid and the Stonewall Inn riots that followed. He heard the legendary Marsha P. Johnson yell “Oh, hell no!”. He carried that sentiment with him for his whole life fighting for justice and equality in every step. We feel it is especially fitting to announce the Don Davenport Memorial Outreach Fund in Pride Month, as the Stonewall Riots were the catalyst for the creation of Pride.

Don was an instrumental and beloved member of our board. He worked countless Pride events and stood up for gay, lesbian, and transgender rights at every turn. Don was also a member and board member of the Caroline County Democratic Committee for more than two decades. He worked tirelessly at the local and state level for Democratic issues and candidates. He and his husband, Chuck Unger (our Secretary), were fixtures at events in Caroline and around the Commonwealth. They literally were a part of hundreds of events, and often were there early setting up tents, tables and chairs, hanging flags and banners, and prepping to meet every attendee with a smile, and often a hug or a cup of coffee.

Because of Don’s efforts, we are now creating the Don Davenport Memorial Outreach Fund to raise funds to support the outreach work that Don lived while serving our LGBT+ and Democratic communities. We currently have a matching donation promised by several of our Board members and their spouses, so that the donations you make to the fund during June will be multiplied with a double match. These funds will help us do outreach work so we can make sure that Virginia becomes increasingly BLUE and we continue to elect great Democrats to Congress and the White House for years to come.

We are calling on you to help honor and memorialize our beloved Vice Chair for Outreach, Don Davenport. Give today and help us support his legacy and our continued work!