Blade Blog
Feedback: Sept. 24
The following was submitted as a letter to the editor. Go here to join the discussion.
Re: “Activists hail Gray’s stunning win over Fenty” (Sept. 15) What in the world happened to this energetic Ward 4 Council member who lost his bid for a second term? It was only four years ago that this defeated one-term mayor won not only all eight city wards but an unheard of rout of winning every precinct. He even beat his prime competitor Linda Cropp then Chair of the City Council in her own precinct. Today we can easily invoke the words in the Second Book of Samuel talking about Jonathan, “How the mighty have fallen.” Tear away his successes, failures and promises forgotten or made anew. He defeated himself by actually believing that our capital city of Washington, D.C. can be managed like he was a big city mayor. After his victory four years ago, he became best friends with the mayor of New York City. Residents of New York are used to being bullied by their mayors and secretly love it. They count on their local City Council Mandarins to voice their displeasure yet expect them also to yield to his political power. Adrian Fenty set up a mini-Bloomberg Wilson Building after his trip to New York where he was told to rule and reign by sheer will power. Second, Fenty more than likely thought that the President of the United States from Chicago would enjoy living in a city like one in which Mayor Daley ruled by a superbly well oiled political machine for years combined with that of his father’s methods. Adrian Fenty forgot that the District of Columbia has no similar political machine, although Council members Marion Barry of Ward 8 and Harry Thomas of Ward 5 believe they do — at least on their home turfs. No, Adrian Fenty forgot that this is not a city with millions of people. He forgot that this is a city where a racial divide unfortunately still exists. This is a city of 600,000 people, many of whom either deal with local politics as a parlor game or simply do not give a damn so long as the trash is picked up, the police show up within 10 seconds when called and the snow gets removed before the last flake falls. He forgot that southern manners still matter in this city. You need to respect your elders whatever your own age. Fenty’s disrespecting the late Dorothy Height was a fatal error and woke people up among the most feared voting block in the District of Columbia — African-American women. Fenty should never forget that he was elected and then rejected by the same people he swore to serve and not reign over. Despite satisfaction with the city’s direction, like Jonathan, once thought of as mighty, Adrian Fenty was brought down by his own pride. —John Klenert, Washington |
Blade Blog
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Certifies Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc

Washington, D.C. — Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc, the parent company of the Washington Blade and Azer Creative, announced today it has been certified by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as an LGBT Business Enterprise. The NGLCC supports and advocates for diversity and inclusion for LGBT-owned businesses. With this certification the Blade’s parent company joins more than 510 business and 134 corporate partners of the NGLCC.
Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. owns and operates the Washington Blade, the oldest and most acclaimed LGBT newspaper in the country. In 2012, the company launched Azer Creative, a full-service design firm. The company employs more than a dozen full-time LGBT staff.
“We are excited to become one of the 500 LGBT businesses across the country certified by NGLCC,” said Lynne Brown, the Blade’s publisher and a co-owner of the company. “The LGBT community has been part of our company from the beginning and we look forward to continue that for many years to come.”
The Washington Blade was founded in 1969 and is known as the “newspaper of record” for the LGBT community both locally and nationally. Visit washingtonblade.com for more information. Azer Creative is a full-service graphic design firm based in Washington, D.C. Visit azercreative.com for more information.
Blade Blog
Vote now for the 2013 Best of Gay DC!
Choose in dozens of categories among hundreds of nominees, and make your voice heard!
Blade Blog
Nominate the ‘Best of Gay D.C.’ now!
Dozens of categories cover all the best for LGBT Washington. Who deserves the prize this year?
-
South America6 days ago
Upwards of 4 million people attend São Paulo Pride parade
-
Theater6 days ago
‘Atemporal’ explores intersection of misdiagnosis, identity
-
South America7 days ago
Former Bogotá mayor elected Colombia’s first leftist president
-
The White House4 days ago
U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein ceremonially sworn in
-
News4 days ago
Gay doctor elected AMA president-elect
-
Arts & Entertainment5 days ago
Elon Musk’s trans daughter files for name change to cut ties with him
-
Europe5 days ago
Istanbul once again bans Pride march
-
Politics6 days ago
Caitlyn Jenner celebrates FINA ban on Trans swimmers on Twitter