Local
Rehoboth Beach braces for Irene
Gay journos face tough trip home from convention; D.C. preps for storm
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — In the run-up to Labor Day Weekend, this popular summer resort town should be teeming with tourists. Instead, Rehoboth Beach is a ghost town, following an evacuation order from Gov. Jack Markell, prompted by Hurricane Irene.
Rehoboth's popular Blue Moon bar and restaurant is boarded up as Hurricane Irene approaches. (Photo by John Bator)
Residents and visitors were ordered to evacuate by 7 a.m. Saturday. As of Friday evening, most shops and restaurants along Rehoboth Avenue were closed or boarded up. A handful of restaurants and bars stayed open Friday night, including the gay-owned Purple Parrot and L Bar. The Blue Moon’s windows and doors were boarded up.
A small group of local gay residents gathered at the Parrot Friday night to swap stories of storm preparation and debate the merits of riding it out.
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Traffic was jammed along Route 1 north throughout the day Friday as visitors and locals heeded the evacuation order. Customers encountered long lines at banks and gas stations on their way out of town.
The town is mostly closed Saturday and Irene is expected to arrive overnight bringing high winds, six or more inches of rain and a potentially destructive storm surge. Bayside residents were bracing for flooding and nearby beach communities of Dewey, Fenwick and Ocean City, Md., were also evacuated.
A 5K race to benefit the CAMP Rehoboth community center scheduled for Sunday was rescheduled to Sunday, Sept. 4; registration will begin at 6 a.m. and the race kicks off at 7:30.
Meanwhile, those gathered at the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association convention in nearby Philadelphia faced an uncertain trip home, as Irene has triggered the cancellation of thousands of flights. Amtrak service is disrupted throughout the busy northeast corridor, Greyhound has cancelled many buses and even subway systems in New York and Philadelphia were closing.
In Washington, the Martin Luther King Memorial dedication and related events scheduled for this weekend were postponed. Mayor Vincent Gray, along with Govs. Martin O’Malley in Maryland and Robert McDonnell in Virginia, declared a state of emergency. Widespread power outages are expected in D.C. in the wake of the storm.
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours
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.
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon
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.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert
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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