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Judge rejects request for stay on D.C. marriage law

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A D.C. Superior Court judge Friday denied a Maryland minister’s request for a temporary injunction to prevent the city’s same-sex marriage law from taking effect March 3.

Following a hearing, Judge Brian Holeman issued a preliminary ruling from the bench saying he did not have authority to block a law approved by the city government and cleared by Congress through the normal congressional review process.

Holeman also said he didn’t believe a lawsuit filed by Bishop Harry Jackson seeking to force the city to hold a voter referendum to overturn the marriage law was likely to succeed on the merits. Holeman noted that a key requirement for a court injunction is that the people seeking it can demonstrate a likelihood of winning an underlying case.

“Everyone knows the chances of their winning on the merits are very slim,” said gay rights attorney Mark Levine, who attended the court hearing.

Jackson filed the lawsuit earlier this year after the city’s election board rejected his proposed referendum on grounds that it would violate the D.C. Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In Friday’s hearing, Holeman told attorneys for Jackson and for the city, who argued against the injunction, that he would issue a final, written decision on the injunction request Monday.

“I understood this to mean that his written opinion would be the same as his ruling today — to deny the injunction,” Levine said.

He said Jackson’s lawyers indicated they would quickly take their request for an injunction to the D.C. Court of Appeals, possibly as soon as Friday afternoon or Monday. He noted that most court observers believe the appeals court will uphold Holeman’s ruling against an injunction to block the marriage law.

Holeman denied yet another request by Austin Nimocks, one of Jackson’s attorneys, asking him to rule Friday on both the injunction request and on the merits of the case. Instead, Holeman scheduled a separate hearing on the merits of Jackson’s case seeking a voter referendum for Friday, Feb. 27.

“It’s a hearing I think is very likely to be cancelled,” said Levine.

He was referring to the rapidly approaching deadline that Jackson and his supporters face to pull together the numerous requirements of a voter referendum, including petition signatures from voters across the city.

Under the city’s election law, these requirements must be met between the time the D.C. government passes a law that opponents seek to kill through a referendum and the time Congress completes its 30 legislative day review of such a law. Congress is expected to complete its review on the same-sex marriage measure March 3.

Legal observers have said Jackson has a better — although unlikely — chance of killing the marriage law through a separate process he began earlier this year for a voter initiative. Unlike a referendum, the city’s election law gives up to six months for completing the necessary petition and administrative requirements of placing an initiative on the ballot. However, there is no time limit for Jackson to continue his court appeal seeking to overturn the city and the lower court rulings disqualifying the marriage initiative on grounds that it violates the city’s human rights law.

Similar to their decision on Jackson’s referendum proposal, the D.C. Board of Elections & Ethics and a Superior Court judge have ruled that an initiative seeking to ban same-sex marriage cannot be held because it would violate the city’s Human Rights Act.

Jackson has appealed the board and a Superior Court judge’s rulings disqualifying his initiative proposal to the D.C. Court of Appeals. That court is expected to issue a ruling on the case later this year — after the same-sex marriage law has gone into effect and after gay and lesbian couples beginning marrying.

Nimocks and other attorneys working on Jackson case could not immediately be reached.

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World Pride 2025

D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride

Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

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Sasha Colby performs at Pitchers in 2023. Liquor-serving establishments in D.C. will be able to remain open for 24 hours during WorldPride. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.

In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.

Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.

According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.

The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.

Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.

At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.

It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.

Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

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World Pride 2025

Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference

Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde. (Screen capture via PBS NewsHour/YouTube)

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.

Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)

A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.

The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.

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World Pride 2025

Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride

Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

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Pabllo Vittar (Screen capture via Pabllo Vittar/YouTube)

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.

The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.

Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.

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