How did Mothers and Others of Virginia begin? 

In December 2006, following the passage of the so-called “Marriage Amendment,” two Richmond mothers pledged to create an organization to fight for their children’s rights.  The amendment, approved by the majority of legislators in the General Assembly and ratified by voters in Virginia, denies LGBT citizens inherent rights guaranteed by our country’s Constitution.  

In January 2007, those two Richmond mothers, Joyce Scher and Ellen Shelton, invited supportive friends and family members of LGBT persons to a luncheon discussion to share their plans and invite membership.  A steering committee was formed and began meeting weekly to create Mothers and Others of Virginia (MOVA). 

Today, Mothers and Others of Virginia is a grass roots organization combining the power of motherhood, family, friends and fair-minded people to secure equal rights for our beloved lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning children, relatives, and friends. We promote: 

• Emotionally healthy families by educating people about the need for legal recognition for committed intimate relationships between consenting adults and all other legal institutions that support marriage.
• Equal treatment for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity
• Standing up for justice whenever it is denied because of sexual orientation or gender identity
• Recognition of the overwhelming conclusion by the scientific community that sexual orientation and gender identification are not determined by choice but instead occur naturally in a variety of forms.