Commentary
Mystery of Wone killing endures
Conspiracy trial of three gay men to begin next month
On May 10, D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz will gavel in the conspiracy trial of three gay men linked to the murder of D.C. attorney Robert Wone. His stabbing in a Dupont Circle-area townhome is nearly four years old, and still maddeningly cloaked in mystery and speculation.
Four years is too long to wait for some measure of justice; and while the trial will, we hope, bring a verdict, it’s doubtful to move the community much closer to understanding what happened that night of Aug. 2, 2006.
Short of actually solving the crime of who murdered Robert Wone, his killing offers important lessons moving forward for all who live and socialize in the District. They are lessons that carry responsibilities not yet fully met.
No doubt many readers have at least passing memory of the murder. Certainly my longtime friends Michael Kremin, David Greer, Craig Brownstein and myself recall first hearing of the strange Swann Street stabbing of Wone in the home of prominent gay couple Joe Price and Victor Zaborsky. Then came the slow trickle of fact and rumor.
Facts such as domestic partners Price and Zaborsky sharing their home with Dylan Ward, and rumors about the details of their private living arrangements. Facts like the three housemates’ claims of complete lack of knowledge of what happened, and rumors about the intruder theory. Facts of the housemates’ very public work on LGBT equality issues, and rumors about Woneās sexual orientation. (For the record, we are convinced that Robert Wone was straight.)
Years passed, and with it local media and community attention ebbed. But while the MPD, news organizations and the gay community appeared to lose interest, we did not. We four took as our task doing what we could to re-awaken awareness of the case, and in so doing perhaps assist in solving the mystery. The web site whomurderedrobertwone.com was born. (None of us personally knew Robert or the three Swann Street housemates and no one has been charged with the murder itself.)
So what have we learned? First, a police force is only as good as its community support and oversight. Crime investigations are necessarily messy, and as in this case, errors will be made. It’s not enough for citizens to merely complain after the fact; we must make sure the MPD has the resources it needs and demand the organization make improvements where it must. A good first step would be un-freezing hires into the MPD’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit.
Second, news organizations are responsible for keeping attention on cases like this, but they cannot do it alone. In these days of increasing pressures on newsrooms and dwindling revenue, it’s understandable how important issues and developments can be missed. We have learned that ordinary residents have at hand the tools necessary to help shoulder some of that burden. All it takes is a keyboard, curiosity and commitment.
And lastly, all of us in the LGBT community bear some responsibility to help assist solving cases where we are not just the victims, but perhaps the perpetrators as well. Gays and lesbians have admirably stepped up to keep attention on the murder of Tony Hunter, the assault of Mitch Graffeo and his friend Jaime, and other hate-related crimes. We must do likewise especially in cases that may be unsettling, and that don’t conform to the āgays as victimsā meme.
Although we never knew Robert during his lifetime, we know our city is poorer for his absence, and the absence of far too many others. But we can make a difference, if we pay attention to the lessons this tragedy offers. Lessons that can make our community safer for all who live here.
It’s a tribute we think Robert Wone would have appreciated.
Doug Johnson is one of four editors of the web site whomurderedrobertwone.com. Reach them at [email protected].
Commentary
Fly the Rainbow Flag in honor of Laura Ann Carleton, an LGBTQ ally
Murder in Cedar Glen, Calif., has sparked outrage around the country

The Gilbert Baker Foundation mourns the Aug. 18 murder of Laura Ann Carleton, a gift shop owner in Cedar Glen, Calif. A longtime LGBTQ+ ally, Lauri was shot dead by a man who complained about the Pride flag displayed at her store. Carleton leaves behind a husband and nine children.
The world has reacted with anger to this shocking hate crime. But people should not be surprised. This is the inevitable conclusion of mounting Republican Party and conservative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. They label us as groomers, they lie that we are recruiting children. They ban our books, halt trans care, censor our school curricula. And all this hatred creates more hatred. Now it has led to the brutal and senseless murder of a straight woman whose only crime was to support her LGBTQ+ friends by flying a Pride flag.
The blood of Lauri Carleton is on the hands of every conservative politician who makes verbal and legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. Make no mistake; this horrendous crime is no isolated incident. Across the country the Rainbow Flag has been banned in 40 cities. Right-wing legislators have also tried to ban the flag nationally ā over 30 members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted for such a proposal earlier this year. This wave of censorship and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment has created a climate ripe for hate crimes, and now a brutal murder in Cedar Glen.
The Gilbert Baker Foundation unequivocally condemns the rhetoric of hatred promoted by conservative and homophobic politicians. Words have consequences. Words of hate have even greater consequences. In memory of Lauri Carleton, the foundation asks every American to display a Rainbow Flag ā at their homes, at their businesses ā to let the haters across America.
Charles Beal is the president of the Gilbert Baker Foundation.
Commentary
Legal registration of NGOs is vital for advancing human rights of LGBTQ, intersex rights in Africa
Kenya and Eswatini groups have won legal victories this year

By MULESA LUMINA, KAAJAL RAMJATHAN-KEOGH AND TANYA LALLMON | Upholding the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, other gender diverse and intersex (LGBTQI+) people remains a pivotal human rights concern across Africa. In recent years, despite significant but sporadic victories in several African courts affirming the human rights of individual members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to uphold LGBTQI+ rights, including their membersā right to freedom of association, many obstacles hinder such organizations’ ability to register with appropriate authorities in order to operate legally.
As unpacked in a webinar organized by the International Commission of Jurists, such obstacles include bureaucratic red tape, a dearth of domestic laws explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and the existence of criminal laws targeting and perpetuating discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals. The severe anti-LGBTQI+ backlash from community and religious groups exacerbates the situation and compounds these obstacles, further undermining advocacy efforts.
The Kenyan Supreme Court in February 2023 ordered that the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission be allowed to register because the authoritiesā initial decision to refuse registration was discriminatory and unconstitutional, violating the right to freedom of association solely because of the sexual orientation of the organizationās members. In June this year, the Supreme Court of Eswatini became the latest African apex court to rule in favor of registering a LGBTQI+ human rights NGO, directing the minister responsible for registering companies to reconsider his initial refusal because, procedurally, it violated the Constitution. While the Swazi Supreme Courtās ruling in the case did not necessarily rely on a clear statement upholding the human rights of LGBTQI+ people in Eswatini, this remains a welcome decision. Seven years prior, the Botswana Court of Appeal ordered the Registrar of Societies to register Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) on the grounds that the refusal to register LEGABIBO as an organization was unlawful and a violation of the right to freely associate.
Still, across Africa, civil society organizations continue to oppose the denial of registration and seek redress for violations of the right to freedom of association of their members. Nyasa Rainbow Alliance (NRA), for instance, is one such organization with a pending decision in their legal quest for registration. NRAās case is still awaiting hearing and determination by three judges of the Malawian Constitutional Court.
The right to freedom of association is a fundamental foundation of any democratic society. Exercising this right by forming and legally registering NGOs is essential for enhanced advocacy since it allows organizations to apply for funding, operate bank accounts that hold these funds, employ staff, work with international partners, and access global and regional human rights mechanisms and fora.
As noted by the African Commission on Human and Peopleās Rights (African Commission) in its Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa, the rights to freedom of association and assembly under the African Charter āare inextricably intertwined with other rightsā. Further, in the matter mentioned above the Supreme Court of Kenya also emphatically stated, ā[g]iven that the right to freedom of association is a human right, vital to the functioning of any democratic society as well as an essential prerequisite [for the] enjoyment of other fundamental rights and freedoms, we hold that this is inherent in everyone irrespective of whether the views they are seeking to promote are popular or not.ā
It goes without saying that human rights NGOs play a critical role in upholding democratic principles and safeguarding human rights by mobilizing collective action, holding governments accountable, offering direct assistance to victims of human rights violations, challenging discriminatory laws and policies and more. The Triangle Project, for example, is a South African NGO that has been instrumental in amplifying awareness of anti-LGTBQI+ hate crimes, influencing policy change and supporting victims.
NGOs advocating for the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons, in particular, empower and protect these oft-marginalized individuals by offering awareness-raising platforms, connecting them with key stakeholders, and providing access to resources and services that might otherwise be denied to them.Ā During the COVID-19 lockdowns,Ā many LGBTQI+ Africans were abruptly cut off from the NGOs that were theirĀ safe havens and sources of social and economic support.Ā Additionally, amid increasing hostility towards LGBTQI+ persons in many African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, NGOs likeĀ the Initiative for Equal RightsĀ (TIERs) andĀ LGBT+ Rights GhanaĀ provide crucial protective spaces.Ā
Having legal status is also a prerequisite for holding observer status and participation in the sessions of bodies like the African Commission on Human and Peoplesā Rights. However, the withdrawal of the Coalition of African Lesbiansā observer status by the African Commission and recent denials of such status to Alternative CĆ“te dāIvoire, Human Rights First Rwanda, and SynergĆa – Initiatives for Human Rights undermine the right to freedom of association and represent missed opportunities to ensure that the human rights of marginalized groups, including LGBTQI+ persons, are placed on the African human rights agenda.
Registration of LGBTQI+ human rights organizations in Africa is more than a matter of legal formality. It can be a significant step towards bolstering advocacy and promoting human rights for all. It is truly unconscionable that, in 2023, LGBTQI+ people continue to endure violence, persecution, discrimination and bigotry amid the reignited backlash against their human rights in multiple African countries. It is essential for governments to protect the right to freedom of association by dismantling barriers to registration and working closely with these groups to realize the human rights of all people. Only through collective efforts can we build an inclusive society that is able to guarantee the right to dignity of all persons and offer protection and non-discrimination to all.
Mulesa Lumina is the Legal and Communications Associate Officer for the International Commission of Juristsā (ICJās) Africa Regional Program, Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh is ICJ Africaās Director and Tanya Lallmon is a former ICJ Africa intern.
Commentary
Queer parenthood explored: A transparent dive into surrogacy and hope
Matthew Schueller hosts ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’ podcast with husband

This is a guest commentary by Matthew Schueller for News is Out.
I feel extraordinarily lucky. As a kid, I never imagined my life could look like this. Growing up in the closet in the mid-Willamette Valley of Oregon, an area many consider to be the conservative Bible Belt of the Pacific Northwest, I didn’t think it was possible for me to find love, let alone get married. Itās humbling to see now that Iāve proved myself wrong. It is truly contrary to what I thought my life would be like 10 years ago, so to be here now in the process of starting a family is absolutely ridiculous to me. It already feels like a miracle, so the fact that we can even attempt to bring life into this world as a gay couple blows my mind.
I’ve always wanted to have kids, but I didn’t start seriously considering the possibility of surrogacy until I met Michael and our relationship became more serious. As I learned more about it and started looking into it more, I realized that it was the best path for us at the time. We started looking for an egg donor and surrogate mother at the beginning of 2021 when we officially made the decision to start the process.
That being said, we know itās still not that easy. While itās been around for a while, surrogacy is still riddled with mystery, inaccessibility, and unpredictability. What we quickly realized when we started to look at our options was that we didnāt know the first thing about starting a family as a queer couple, and neither did most of our friends and family! When we started researching online, we found a ton of different information (often conflicting) from a variety of sources. We didnāt even know where to start, so we began calling up IVF clinics and surrogacy agencies.
We spent months researching the process and figuring out what exactly this might look like for us, how much it would cost, and how we should mentally prepare. I think thatās what inspired us to start sharing. We saw a lot of couples online sharing their stories after the fact ā after the babies had arrived and everything looked fantastic ā but we didnāt see many couples sharing their stories as it was happening. To us, the process of surrogacy looked like a mysterious black curtain where most of the details were not quite clear.
Our goal is to share the process of having kids as a gay couple as itās happening, the good and the difficult. We believe alternative paths to parenthood should be accessible to all queer couples, and we think that starts with shedding light on how these processes actually work. With knowledge, thereās power. And since many of us in the LGBTQ+ community donāt know the options available for family planning, we donāt know where to start to enact change.
Many paths to parenthood are largely considered to only be attainable by the extremely privileged and wealthy ā but we know that gender, sexuality, and income level should not determine whether or not someone can have a family, so why is that not considered true for queer couples? There are a lot of big questions that have come up, so my husband, Michael, actually encouraged me to start a podcast with him to interview individuals whoāve experienced alternative paths to parenthood and experts who can provide insight and education. Thus, the birth of the āWhoās Your Daddy?ā podcast.

Over the last 19 months, weāve found our egg donor, created embryos and actively sought our gestational carrier. While there have been many ups and downs, we are really excited for the next steps in hopefully finding our surrogate soon. The first difficult decision was trying to figure out where we would undergo the process. We interviewed quite a few surrogacy agencies and IVF clinics, and we connected well with a doctor in Texas. We just had a good feeling about it, so we went with our gut. At the time, we didnāt think much of where our egg donor or surrogate could be located: We thought it didnāt really matter if they were far away from us. We were under the impression that pursuing surrogacy in Texas might be significantly cheaper than on the West Coast, and perhaps lead to a quicker matching time since there are just way more people in the Dallas area than in the entire state of Oregon.
Our minds changed. As the clinic progressed through egg donation and embryo creation, we started to feel the distance weighing on us. Not only did the importance of being physically close to where our surrogate would be located but also we began reflecting on how the state laws could impact us. Just over the last year, Texas has taken sweeping action against access to abortion. So what does that mean for all those in the state considering being a surrogate? If pregnancy complications were to occur, how difficult would it be for a surrogate to access the needed medical care? Itās unclear. Itās understandable that the change in state law could cause concern for many considering becoming a gestational carrier and therefore limit the pool of people willing to carry in the state.
Legal implications aside, we want to be there for the ultrasounds, doctorās appointments and of course the childbirth. Being far away from where our surrogate lives makes that difficult. Now, we recommend those considering surrogacy to look into your local laws, determine how those might impact you and then consider the closest reputable IVF clinics in your area before searching far away.
Our embryos were created last December. While 30 eggs were harvested, only five embryos made it to viability. Iām the genetic half of four of the embryos, while Michael is the genetic half to one. It was a difficult experience. On one hand, we were incredibly happy that we were able to produce five viable embryos. On the other hand, weāre extremely nervous. Our goal starting out was to have twins, each of us the genetic father of one. With only having one embryo on Michaelās side, that means thereās just one chance at a transfer. If it were to fail, weāre just not sure itās financially feasible to repeat the IVF process and try for more embryos. So, weāre hopeful. Optimism can be powerful here, so we look at this as having five embryosāfive wonderful chances to have a baby. We might not end up with twins like we first sought to do, but if weāve learned one thing from this entire journey, itās that we cannot control what we cannot control. Surrogacy and IVF are seriously unpredictable processes, and weāre just hopeful to see what miracle biology will bring.

Matthew Schueller is a content creator and registered nurse. He hosts the āWhoās Your Daddyā podcast along with his husband, Dr. Michael Lindsay. You can follow @MichaelandMatt onĀ Instagram,Ā TikTok andĀ YouTube.Ā
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