Local

Local trans advocate attends El Salvador conference

Corado returns to home country, finds transphobia

Published

13 years ago

March 28, 2013

Michael K. Lavers

Ruby Corado, Casa Ruby, gay news, Washington Blade

Transgender activist Ruby Corado (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

A transgender activist from D.C. is among those who attended El Salvador’s first LGBT rights conference that took place from March 12-17.

Casa Ruby CEO Ruby Corado, who fled the Central American nation in 1986 during the country’s civil war, spoke at a vigil were advocates read the names of 121 LGBT — mostly trans — murder victims during the first day of the conference that took place at Central American University in San Salvador, the country’s capital.

She also visited several LGBT advocacy groups in the capital — one of the organizations had pictures of the bodies of those who had been killed displayed on the wall.

Corado said she experienced homophobia and transphobia herself when she ate lunch with a group of LGBT advocates during the conference. She said the servers in the university cafeteria where they ate took their orders “in a very mean way.” Others called them “maricones” or “faggots.”

Corado said she also received what she described as “that hateful look” on the days she could not “pass” as a woman.

“I always knew that freedom is something we take for granted here,” she told the Washington Blade. “Being gay and being free is something that is totally, totally taken for granted here. Because these people when they choose to be free, they become part of the 121 people that get killed.”

Salvadorian law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and HIV status, but the U.S. State Department noted in its 2011 Human Rights Report that it remains “widespread.” Anti-trans discrimination and violence in the country remains endemic.

The Salvadorian LGBT rights group Entre Amigos reported to the State Department that police and other public officials continue to engage in “violence and discrimination against sexual minorities.”

Entre Amigos Co-Director William Hernández; Arcoiris Director Mónica Hernández; Dr. Rafael Mazin of the Pan American Health Organization; María Silvia Guillén of the Foundation for the Study of the Application of Law and Cruz Torres of Salvadorian President Mauricio Funes’ cabinet are among those who spoke at the conference the Legal Assistance Office for the Sexual Diversity of El Salvador (ALDES in Spanish) organized.

American University Washington College of Law students Brandon Roman and Arli Christian, who is an intern at Whitman Walker-Health, also attended the gathering.

Aside from participating in the ALDES conference, Corado also visited her father while in El Salvador. She and her two sisters also returned to the home in which she lived and the elementary school she attended.

“I put a lot of closure on that because many of us that come from different countries in a way we are in the perfect situation without persecution,” Corado said as she became emotional about fleeing the country. “You’re just taken away from these places. And all of a sudden you wake up in a different country like I did 27 years ago and you don’t have time to say goodbye.”

Related Topics:Casa Ruby El Salvador Homepage Headlines Ruby Corado State Department transgender

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District of Columbia

Blade welcomes fall intern

Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida

Published

23 hours ago

September 2, 2026

Staff reports

Alexis McLean (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.

Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.

“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”

Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.

Rehoboth Beach

SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer

Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance

Published

2 days ago

September 1, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

David Archuleta headlines this year’s SUNFESTIVAL on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.

Thursday (9/3)

Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.

After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Friday (9/4)

The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Saturday (9/5)

The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.

Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.

Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.

Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.

The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.

Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.

Sunday (9/6)

Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.

On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.

Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.

John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.

Monday (9/7)

The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.

Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.

Maryland

Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names

Conservative groups challenged system’s policy

Published

2 days ago

September 1, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has issued new internal guidance for students who ask to be addressed by gender-affirming names and pronouns. (Photo by Eric Thompson for the Baltimore Banner)

By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.

Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”

Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.

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