Local

O’Malley headlines fundraiser for Equality Md.

Governor, elected officials pledge support for 2012 marriage bill

Published

15 years ago

September 15, 2011

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley attended a fundraiser last week for Equality Maryland. He has pledged to introduce a marriage equality bill next year. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, and Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler were among more than a dozen state elected officials and more than 200 people who turned out on Sept. 7 for a fundraiser for Equality Maryland, the statewide LGBT advocacy group.

The event, held in the Chevy Chase, Md., Town Hall, pulled in $35,000 in cash and pledges that were expected to bring the total raised to $72,000, according to Equality Maryland board member Lisa Polyak.

Polyak and Equality Maryland board member Patrick Wojahn said the fundraiser was billed as a celebration to honor the state’s elected officials who support legislation to legalize marriage for state-sex couples.

O’Malley, Brown, Gansler, and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett each reiterated their commitment to work hard for the approval by the Maryland Legislature in 2012 of a same-sex marriage bill, Polyak said.

“They were all waxing enthusiastically about how marriage equality has support in Maryland and how they’re going to put the authority of their respective offices behind it,” she said.

A same-sex marriage bill died in the Maryland Legislature earlier this year after it cleared the Senate but was withdrawn from the House of Delegates when backers determined it lacked the votes needed to pass.

Financial problems and disagreements among the board and staff following the marriage bill fight led to the dismissal of Equality Maryland’s executive director and the layoff of nearly all of the group’s staff. Polyak and Wojahn said on Friday, Sept. 9, that stepped up fundraising, a community outreach effort, and a planned expansion of the board has reinvigorated the organization.

According to Polyak, a new, full-time executive director will be hired in late October or early November following a nationwide search. Wojahn said the names of between 10 and 15 new members of the boards of Equality Maryland and the Equality Maryland Foundation would be announced this week.

In a related development, a coalition of groups working with Equality Maryland for the passage of a same-sex marriage bill announced on Sept. 9 that the Baltimore branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People became the newest member of the steering committee of the coalition, Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

“Having the NAACP on board is a welcome addition to the coalition working to win marriage equality in the Free State,” said Sultan Shakir, the campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

“The NAACP’s long history of working for equality and fairness for all will be instrumental in harnessing the supportive voices in the African-American community and throughout Maryland,” said Shakir, who also serves as a field organizer for the Human Rights Campaign.

“We believe gay and lesbian couples have the same values as everyone else,” said Tessa Hill-Alston, president of the NAACP’s Baltimore branch. “They want to make a lifetime commitment to the person they love and build a loving stable family. So it is only right that committed gay and lesbian couples be given the opportunity to marry as everyone else.”

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District of Columbia

Blade welcomes fall intern

Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida

Published

2 days ago

September 2, 2026

Staff reports

Alexis McLean (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.

Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.

“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”

Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.

Rehoboth Beach

SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer

Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance

Published

3 days ago

September 1, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

David Archuleta headlines this year’s SUNFESTIVAL on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.

Thursday (9/3)

Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.

After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Friday (9/4)

The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Saturday (9/5)

The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.

Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.

Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.

Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.

The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.

Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.

Sunday (9/6)

Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.

On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.

Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.

John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.

Monday (9/7)

The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.

Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.

Maryland

Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names

Conservative groups challenged system’s policy

Published

3 days ago

September 1, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has issued new internal guidance for students who ask to be addressed by gender-affirming names and pronouns. (Photo by Eric Thompson for the Baltimore Banner)

By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.

Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”

Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.

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