Local
Gray names 2 gays to gov’t posts
Head of GLBT Affairs Office said to be next
Eric Richardson
D.C. Mayor-elect Vincent Gray announced on Friday that he is retaining gay television producer Eric Richardson, a Fenty administration appointee, as director of the city’s Office of Cable Television.
At a news conference at his mayoral transition team offices, Gray also announced he was naming gay attorney Ronald Collins as director of the city’s Office of Boards and Commissions, a post that Collins held during the administration of former Mayor Anthony Williams.
Richardson and Collins were among seven high-level appointments that Gray announced at the news conference. Others included the heads of the city’s Department of Public Works, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, and Office of Planning.
“I am absolutely delighted to appoint these seven District government employees,” Gray said. “Residents can rest assured they will work with my administration to bring new and innovative ideas, projects, programs and improvements to respond to the needs of those who live, work and do business in the District of Columbia.”
Gray said he expects to announce his appointee for the post of director of the Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs next week.
Richardson had served as chair of the city’s Black Pride festival, an LGBT event, prior to Mayor Adrian Fenty’s decision to name him director of the Office of Cable Television in 2007.
“Richardson has helped to make OCT an award-winning government agency,” Gray said, noting that the office regulates all cable TV providers in the city and manages the city’s two municipal government TV stations — Channels 13 and 16.
Richardson also directs OCT’s production department, which produces “human interest, history, science, health, lifestyle, and news and public affairs programming,” Gray said.
During the past four years, Collins has served as assistant secretary of the D.C. City Council as a Gray appointee during Gray’s tenure as Council Chair.
He has served as a city government official for more than 20 years, working, among other places, as senior policy officer in the area of contracting and procurement in the Departments of Health, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Human Services, and Libraries and Recreation, according to information released by Gray’s transition team.
Gray noted that many of the boards and commissions, which perform important city regulatory functions, currently have vacancies that need immediate attention.
“Mr. Collins’ extensive experience working for the District government, demonstrated involvement in community service, and his understanding of the important role that appointed commissioners play, make him well-qualified to assist me in seating the right people on city boards and commissions,” he said.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party set for May 15 with Ashley Biden
The Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 15 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has joined the list of speakers, the Blade announced. She will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau Biden for his LGBTQ advocacy work as Delaware attorney general. (Her appearance was rescheduled from last year.)
The event, to be held this year at Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave. Ext.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient will be introduced at the event.
The event will also feature remarks from state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. New CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Diego’s.
A suggested donation of $25 is partially tax deductible and includes a drink ticket and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
District of Columbia
Curve magazine honors Washington Blade publisher
Lynne Brown named to 2026 Power List
Washington Blade Publisher Lynne Brown has been named to the 2026 Curve Power List celebrating LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields.
“From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve Foundation/Curve magazine said in announcing this year’s list, which includes ABC newscaster Robin Roberts, comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder, and singer/actress Renee Rapp, among others.
Brown has worked for the Washington Blade for nearly 40 years. She was named publisher in 2007 before becoming a co-owner in 2010.
“I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said. “Receiving this Curve honor is twofold. I was an early subscriber to Curve. I enjoy the product and know its history. Its journalism, layout and humorous features have inspired me.
“As an owner/publisher, receiving recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate. Franco Stevens, the publisher of Curve, is a business person of duration, experience, and purpose. The fact that they are in the media business, and honoring me and my publication makes it a tiny bit sweeter.”
Nominations for the Curve Power List come from the community: peers, mentors, fans, and employers.
Curve explained the significance of the list in its announcement: “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors. Such a list also fosters encouragement and solidarity, and elevates voices and achievements—from high-profile roles to under appreciated areas of life.”
Rehoboth Beach
Auction of Rehoboth’s Blue Moon canceled
Details on sale of iconic bar, restaurant not disclosed
The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has been an iconic presence in the local LGBTQ community for four decades but its status remains murky after a sheriff’s auction of the property was abruptly called off on Tuesday.
The property was listed for sale in December. At that time, owner Tim Ragan told the Blade that he is committed to preserving its legacy as a gay-friendly space.
“We had no idea the interest this would create,” Ragan said in December. “I guess I was a little naive about that.”
Ragan explained that he and longtime partner Randy Haney were separating the real estate from the business. The two buildings associated with the sale were listed by Carrie Lingo at 35 Baltimore Ave., and include an apartment, the front restaurant (6,600 square feet with three floors and a basement), and a secondary building (roughly 1,800 square feet on two floors). They were listed for $4.5 million.
The bar and restaurant business is being sold separately; the price was not publicly disclosed.
But then, earlier this year, the Blue Moon real estate listing turned up on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office auction site. The auction was slated for Tuesday, April 21 but hours before the sale, the listing changed to “active under contract” indicating that a buyer has been found but the sale is not yet final. As of Wednesday morning, the listing has been removed from the sheriff’s auction site.
Ragan didn’t respond to Blade inquiries about the auction. Back in December, he told the Blade, “It’s time to look for the next people who can continue the history of the Moon and cultivate the next chapter,” noting that he turns 70 this year. “We’re not panicked; we separated the building from the business. Some buyers can’t afford both.”
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, nor was the sale price.
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