Local
Democrat introduces anti-gay bill in Md.
A bill to block Maryland from recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere has been introduced in anticipation of Attorney General Douglas Gansler releasing an opinion on the issue.
House Bill 90, from Del. Emmett Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore County), also declares marriages between individuals of the same-sex against state policy, but stops short of amending the constitution.
The proposed measure comes as state Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery County) prepares to re-introduce later this month a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland.
“We’ll have more co-sponsors this year than we did last year and we’ll continue to make the argument to people who are open to it that we need to do it,” Madaleno said.
Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County), who wed her spouse, Deborah, in California when such marriages were legal in the Golden State, said same-sex marriage supporters have won the issue in the Maryland House and need only secure enough votes in the Senate to pass the marriage bill.
“We have in the General Assembly stepped up and done a lot of things just short of marriage equality in the last few several years to get us more relationship recognition,” Mizeur said.
“Del. Burns’ bill is a step backwards that I think the General Assembly will flatly reject. I predict his bill won’t even get out of the Judiciary Committee because the votes aren’t there. We have the votes in the House, in the judiciary Committee, to pass full marriage equality, but we’re a vote shy in the Judicial Proceedings Committee in the Senate.
“It’s important for us to advance full marriage equality in the legislature even if we’re short on a few votes because we’re heading into an election year and some folks are making their decision on whether to support a candidate based on key votes like this.”
Burns could not be reached for comment. Last week, his office told DC Agenda that he would not have time to respond to questions about his bill.
Burns’ official biography notes that he served in the Air Force, is a member of the National Baptist Convention, and serves as vice-chair of the National Black Caucus of State Legislator’s civil rights committee since 2000.
Madaleno said he doubted his Democratic colleague could be moved on LGBT civil rights issues, but noted such was true for some members of both parties.
“Neither party is monolithic on this issue,” he said. “When you look at the vote in 2001 on [the] anti-discrimination act which added sexual orientation to the state’s non-discrimination law in housing, employment and public accommodations, Emmett Burns was the only African-American in either chamber to oppose the bill.”
Burns previously sought to ban same-sex marriage by constitutional amendment, but his latest bill appeared to focus on preventing Gansler’s office from recognizing out-of-state and foreign same-sex marriages. Madaleno asked the attorney general to look into the issue in May 2009 and LGBT activists have encouraged Gansler to recognize such unions.
Equality Maryland Executive Director Morgan Meneses-Sheets said the attorney general’s decision is to be legally grounded — and Maryland has a precedent of honoring marriages from other states that could not legally be performed in the state.
Gansler’s office said this week there was no timeframe by which the opinion will be finalized. His office also declined to comment when asked for its reaction to Burns’ bill.
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Congratulations to Yadiel Meléndez, on their new role as Community Associate, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Meléndez is piloting a new role as a Community Associate at the Wanda Alston Foundation, where they support queer and trans young people in finding their footing, building independence, and experiencing a housing community where they are seen, valued, and affirmed. They are coming into this role with more than a decade of experience as a community organizer and operations specialist, supporting diverse communities through service, advocacy, and program coordination.
Previously they worked for Right Proper Brewing Shaw as a server and bartender and at Sephora, Washington, DC, and at FreshFarm, DC, in bilingual food access. They also worked freelance to build foundational structures for local queer BIPOC performance art coalitions, producing variety shows to curate space for marginalized performance artists in the community. They were a production manager for Haus of Hart Productions, a BIPOC centric performance art production. They also worked as field staff with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Stafford, Va.
Meléndez is bilingual, Spanish and English. Their work is guided by a commitment to dignity, safety, and trauma-informed engagement, particularly within LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.
Congratulations also to Ben Rosen LICSW, on his new role as program director, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Rosen previously worked with Fountain House’s OnRamps program, helping to build a new, innovative outreach program for individuals considered chronically homeless, and living with serious mental illness, in the Times Square area of New York. Rosen is a Psychotherapist, having worked with SG Psychotherapy, and as the psychotherapist with the Nest Community Health Center (URAM).
Rosen has a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre, Minor in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Malloy University Conservatory; and his M.S.W. in Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, from The Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, N.Y. He is independently licensed in New York and Washington, D.C.
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
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