Local

Ray faces new opponent in primary race

D.C. shadow senator declares candidacy in Council race

Published

16 years ago

June 24, 2010

The boost in wards 7 and 8 that gay D.C. City Council candidate Clark Ray may receive from his endorsement by Rev. Willie Wilson could be negated by confusion over the name of the newest candidate to enter race, according to some political observers.

Michael Brown, who was elected D.C. shadow senator two years ago, has declared his candidacy for the at-large Council seat, joining Ray in an effort to unseat incumbent Council member Phil Mendelson. Brown, who is white, has the same name as D.C. Council member Michael Brown (D-At Large), who is black and widely known in the city and enjoys strong support in wards 7 and 8.

When Michael Brown, the shadow senator, beat gay D.C. Democratic activist Phil Pannell for the shadow seat two years ago, Pannell and his supporters expressed concern that many voters throughout the city — but especially voters in wards 7 and 8 — confused the two Browns and believed they were voting for the Council member.

Council member Brown is well known as the son of former Democratic Party Chairman Ron Brown, who also served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton administration. The Council member’s popularity in his own right as well as his association with his father, has created a political premium on that name, political observers have said.

Pannell said this week that unless Ray takes steps to differentiate between the two Browns, shadow senator Brown will likely capture votes that would have gone to Ray and possibly some that would have gone to Mendelson.

Shadow senator Brown told the Blade on Monday that he regrets any confusion that may arise over his name but didn’t know what to do to correct the situation. He called requests that he put his photo on his campaign posters unfair and unacceptable.

“Nobody puts their picture on their sign,” he said, noting that neither Ray nor Mendelson have photos of themselves on their campaign posters. “I don’t see why I should be obligated to actually go out of my way to try to make it as easy as possible for people to run against me.”

Shadow senator Brown, a political campaign consultant and former Democratic National Committee staffer, said he strongly backs LGBT civil rights and strongly supports the city’s same-sex marriage equality law. He’s running on a platform calling for D.C. statehood.

Ray and Mendelson said they aren’t worried about possible confusion over the two Browns’ names.

“I am so focused on getting my message out, and the folks who are going to vote for Clark Ray are not going to vote for Michael Brown,” Ray said.

Ray added that he would likely point out at campaign forums and public events that his opponent Michael Brown is not the Council member.

Ray said his loss to shadow senator Michael Brown in a Ward 3 Democratic Committee straw poll last week was an anomaly due to Brown’s longtime involvement in the Ward 3 Democratic Committee and a voting system weighted by a membership requirement for voting. Mendelson came in first in the Ward 3 poll.

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Baltimore

Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death

Ron Singer passed away on July 7

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Leon’s Backroom Bar in Mount Vernon. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

Local

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.

Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

Rehoboth Beach

Celebrate Pride in Rehoboth Beach this weekend

‘A vital space for community, healing, and connection’

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. (Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new Sussex Pride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the affirmation of queer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives.

End the first night of Pride in Rehoboth at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from DJ MK and Tribe 9 Entertainment.

The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westen h oefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty’s.

Goolee’s Drag Brunch will also take place on Sunday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee’s Grille. This is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and Joanna Blue. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the official Rehoboth Beach Pride Closing Party at Aqua Bar & Grill, celebrating the venue’s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influx of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.