Local

GLAA releases primary rankings

D.C. Council incumbents Graham, Mendelson get highest figures

Published

16 years ago

August 28, 2010

Gay Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham and gay ally Phil Mendelson, the straight At-Large Democratic Councilmember, got perfect scores from the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) this week while mayoral hopeful Leo Alexander, a Democrat who didn’t return the group’s questionnaire, got the lowest ranking of -3.

The group, a volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit founded in 1971, ranks candidates from a range of -10 to +10. Members met Tuesday in the National Press Club building for a three hour-plus discussion meeting in which the 17 candidates who returned questionnaires were evaluated along with several who did not. The group says its rankings are not endorsements.

Council Chair and mayoral hopeful Vincent Gray, who’s straight, outranked incumbent Adrian Fenty, also straight, in the group’s rankings. Gray earned +8.5 while Fenty trailed with +4.

In its written explanations (see the full text here), the group said Gray’s score “reflects his agreement with GLAA on all issues and his efforts in leading the Council in support of equal marriage rights, setting a tone and leading hesitant councilmembers by his example.”

The group said it disagrees with Fenty on a number of issues, such as a domestic partnership parenting act, appointments for chief of police and director of the Office of Human Rights and protections for transgender residents. Members did, however, praise Fenty for leading “the exceptional legal fight to keep and defend our marriage rights.”

“For nearly every positive step, we found a negative,” wrote Rick Rosendall and Bob Summersgill, GLAA members who crafted the evaluation prose.

They noted Gray and Fenty both deserve some credit for naming the 1600 block of 17th Street N.W. “Frank Kameny Way.” Kameny, one of GLAA’s founders, was at Tuesday’s ranking discussion meeting.

Alexander’s -3 ranking came for his “explicitly anti-gay and anti-marriage-equality campaign,” members said.

Council chair hopefuls Kwame Brown, Vincent Orange and Dorothy Douglas, all straight, earned positive scores. Brown’s +5.5 came from his agreement with GLAA on nearly every issue though members said he offered limited substance on his questionnaire.

Orange got +4.5 and was cited as “most improved candidate.” The group said it had a thorny relationship with Orange during his previous eight years on Council when he regularly ignored the group’s questionnaire. Douglas, who sits on the board of education, got a +2 but “showed a poor grasp of substance in her questionnaire responses.”

In the At-Large Council race, Mendelson outranked his closest opponents by four points. His perfect score came, members said, because he “is our greatest champion on the Council.” He was praised for writing the marriage recognition bill and other accomplishments the group praised.

Green candidate David Schwartzman got a +6. Clark Ray, who’s gay, got a +5.5. Members said his alliance with Rev. Willie Wilson, a local anti-gay minister, troubles the group.

“Ray agrees with GLAA on most issues but his questionnaire does not demonstrate a solid understanding of the duties and function of the Council,” members said.

All the Ward 1 Council hopefuls earned positive rankings with Graham by far in the lead with a perfect score. Democrat Bryan Weaver and Republican Marc Morgan got +5.5 and +3 respectively.

For the Ward 3 seat, incumbent Mary Cheh got a +7.5 and “has been a strong advocate for LGBT rights,” the group said.

Ward 5 incumbent Harry Thomas got a +6. He was praised for supporting same-sex marriage in D.C. but criticized for opposing a bill that would have helped gay clubs displaced by the Nationals stadium to relocate.

His opponents’ scores ranged from -2 to +2 for having little known record on LGBT issues. Democrat Hunter Delano for his association with the anti-gay group National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

Ward 6 incumbent Tommy Wells earned a solid +8.5 and was praised as a “consistent leader on our issues.” Democrat Kelvin Robinson also received a negative score for his association with NOM.

GLAA members Craig Howell, Ron Swanda, Geri Hughes, Cartwright Moore, Barrett Brick and Miguel Tuason joined Rosendall, Summersgill and Kameny at Tuesday’s ranking meeting.

Rick Rosendall, left, and Bob Summersgill at Tuesday's meeting. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

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Baltimore

Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death

Ron Singer passed away on July 7

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Leon’s Backroom Bar in Mount Vernon. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

Local

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.

Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

Rehoboth Beach

Celebrate Pride in Rehoboth Beach this weekend

‘A vital space for community, healing, and connection’

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. (Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new Sussex Pride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the affirmation of queer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives.

End the first night of Pride in Rehoboth at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from DJ MK and Tribe 9 Entertainment.

The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westen h oefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty’s.

Goolee’s Drag Brunch will also take place on Sunday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee’s Grille. This is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and Joanna Blue. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the official Rehoboth Beach Pride Closing Party at Aqua Bar & Grill, celebrating the venue’s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influx of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.