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Gay Va. man missing after attending Capital Pride

Minnoe was last seen at Ziegfeld’s/Secrets

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Police are asking for help in finding a 31-year-old gay man who was reported missing Monday when he failed to return to his home near Fredericksburg, Va. after attending Capital Pride festivities.

A spokesperson for the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia said Edward Roland Minnoe IV was last seen by his roommates and friends late June 13 at Ziegfeld’s/Secrets nightclub at 1824 Half St., S.W., in D.C.

“He was seen speaking with an unknown race male inside the club, and that is the last time he was seen by witnesses,” says a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.

“He has not shown up for work as a manager at Petco in the Fredericksburg, Va. area, which is very unusual,” says the statement. “Mr. Minnoe was last [seen] wearing a white tank top, plaid brown and blue shorts and flip flops.”

The statement says Minnoe’s right ear is pierced with a diamond stud, his left ear is pierced twice and had a gold stud earring and a gold hoop earring. It says he was also wearing a silver “rainbow” ring on one of his fingers.

D.C. police, including the department’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, are assisting in the investigation.

Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Capt. Liz Scott said Minnoe’s roommates told authorities that he chose to remain at the club rather than drive home with them when the roommates wanted to leave. Scott said the roommates told a Sheriff’s Office investigator that Minnoe was with a man he met at the club at the time the roommates left to drive home.

She said Ziegfeld’s/Secrets has cooperatied with her office and D.C. police in efforts to find Minnoe and that the club has made available to authorities surveillance video from its security system, which captured images of Minnoe and possibly the man he met there.

Authorities have not released a description of the man Minnoe is said to have met at the club other than to say the unidentified man is of an “unknown race.”

The Sheriff’s Office describes Minnoe as a white man, 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 135 pounds. It says he has a tattoo of the name “Luke” on his right leg, a tattoo of a tribal band on his right arm and possibly a tattoo of an Asian dragon on his left upper arm.

Anyone with information about Minnoe’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office at 540-507-7111.

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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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