Local
Whitman Walker, Mautner launch LGBT seniors program
People Advocating for LGBT Seniors will connect volunteer visitors with LGBT elders
Leslie Calman of the Mautner Project. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
The D.C.-based Whitman-Walker Health and the Mautner Project, a national lesbian health organization, announced this week that they are launching a joint program called People Advocating for LGBT Seniors (PALS).
“PALS is a free program that connects compassionate, trained volunteer visitors with LGBT elders, 55 and older, who are living at home or in assisted living and nursing facilities,” the two groups said in a statement.
“The program also provides companionship and help, when needed, to access community, health, and government services,” the statement says.
“There are currently few culturally competent, targeted services in the metro D.C. area for the needs of LGBT seniors,” said Mautner Project executive director Leslie Calman. “It makes sense to expand our long-established, professionally led volunteer services for lesbian and bisexual women to embrace these members of our community,” she said. “Working with Whitman-Walker hugely expands the reach of this new program and provides resources well beyond what Mautner Project can offer alone.”
Don Blanchon, executive director of Whitman-Walker Health, said combining the resources of both groups would enable the new project to better serve the needs of LGBT seniors, including both physical and mental health needs.
“Both of us have a long-established base of volunteers of all ages who want to serve the LGBT community,” Blanchon said.
The joint statement says members of the community interested in volunteering or in receiving services should contact PALS at 202-332-5536.
The announcement of the creation of PALS follows the posting of information on the website of the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community earlier this year about a similar LGBT seniors program offered by SAGE Metro D.C., a local LGBT seniors group. A representative of SAGE Metro D.C. couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
D.C. Center Executive Director David Mariner released a statement saying the SAGE program consists of a “team of social workers and volunteers.” He said he was “a little bit disappointed that a similar program is starting” by Whitman-Walker and Mautner, adding, “I question whether duplicating an existing service is really the best use of anyone’s resources.”
Asked to comment on Mariner’s concern, Blanchon said in a statement that a growing population of LGBT seniors in the D.C. area indicates a need for more than one community-based program to fulfill the needs of this population. He said Whitman-Walker would utilize the resources from its staff of 142 employees.
“Our partnership with Mautner reflects the realization that one organization, regardless of its size and program scope, could not realistically meet this growing community need,” Blanchon said.
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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