Senate Candidate White-Boyd Rejects Transphobia Claim After Roanoke Brewery Cancels Event

A Roanoke brewery last week canceled a scheduled event with state Senate candidate Trish-White Boyd over what it said were accusations of transphobia.

Golden Cactus Brewing announced last Wednesday that it would no longer host a meet-and-greet with White-Boyd, a Democrat and member of Roanoke City Council, after “a number of brewery regulars, employees, and friends” expressed concerns, General Manager Alexa True said in an email.

“While we want to support holding open spaces for community discussion, we will not hold such space for anyone espousing transphobic sentiments,” the brewery said in a social media post Wednesday that is no longer visible. “In light of what our community has expressed regarding Trish White-Boyd, we have decided to cancel this event and will not be rescheduling.”

The brewery did not cite any specific evidence of transphobia, declining to comment further, and White-Boyd’s campaign rejected the notion she holds any such views.

“To be clear, Trish is and always will be an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community,” said a statement posted to social media from Peter Volosin, the campaign’s political director and a fellow member of Council. “Trish supports the LGBTQ+ community. I know this because I myself am part of that community and actively fight for LGBTQ+ rights. … During this campaign, I have heard Trish loudly stand up for LGBTQ+ rights, and know she will do that in the Virginia Senate.”

White-Boyd is running against Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, for a district that leans Republican and encompasses the city, Salem and parts of Roanoke and Montgomery counties.