Local
McDonnell workplace order lacks gay protections
Virginia LGBT rights supporters are hoping pending legislation will address a hole in the recent workplace protections order issued by Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell — although they aren’t optimistic about the bill’s prospects.
On Feb. 5, McDonnell issued an executive order barring bias against state workers on the basis of “race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.” The order also protects veterans.
But one glaring omission from the order is sexual orientation. Former Democratic Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine included protections for gays as part of similar executive orders they issued during their tenures in the governor’s mansion.
McDonnell’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on why protections for gay workers were omitted from the order.
The lack of protections based on sexual orientation in McDonnell’s order didn’t come as a surprise to many gay Virginians. During his campaign, McDonnell said he wouldn’t renew the protections because he believed they were unconstitutional. He cited the Virginia General Assembly’s failure to pass legislation that would have made the protections permanent as part of his rationale for the omission.
McDonnell said during his campaign that he doesn’t believe the government should discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, but he never specified how he would protect gay state workers from such bias.
David Lampo, vice president of the Virginia Log Cabin Republicans, said “we can only assume” that McDonnell didn’t include gays in his order because “it’s a sincere belief” that such protections are unconstitutional.
But Lampo said if McDonnell is committed to non-discrimination against gays, as he stated during his campaign, the governor should push for legislation that would provide protections in lieu of administrative action.
“[Senate Bill] 66 was passed by the Senate and has come over to the House, and will be voted on in the House at some point of the next week or two,” he said. “So what we want him to do is either to endorse that bill or say that he’ll sign it if comes before him.”
Terry Mansberger, president of the Virginia Partisans, a LGBT Democratic group, also said McDonnell’s failure to include the protections as part of his order means the governor should push for passage of legislation.
“If you won’t put it in there because you believe it should be in the code, well then, step up and make it part of Virginia law like most of the other states have done and bring Virginia into modern times,” Mansberger said.
The legislation passed earlier this month by the Virginia Senate and sponsored by Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Richmond) is pending in the House. A similar version of the legislation introduced by Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), the only openly gay lawmaker in the Virginia General Assembly, was killed earlier this month in subcommittee.
Although the bill passed in the Democratic-controlled Senate, Ebbin said he’s not optimistic about the bill’s chances in the Republican-controlled House.
“It’s a great challenge since my version has failed, but never say never,” he said. “I’m not optimistic that it’ll pass, but the fact it’s passed the full Senate is notable.”
Ebbin said he envisions passage of the legislation as a multi-year effort and that advocates need to press ahead toward the goal despite setbacks to succeed.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)


























District of Columbia
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade

WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.
The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.

Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.
Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.
Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”
“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”
“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.
The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.

2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)










