Miscellaneous
Queery: Dave Peterson
The local T-shirt artist answers 20 gay questions
Dave Peterson with his designs. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Artist Dave Peterson was ready to branch out on his own. After 15 years working for Be As You Are in Georgetown, he started his own design company in September 2007.
“I really wanted to be on my own and have control over my work,” the 43-year-old Rockville, Md., native says.
Now he sells his T-shirts and screen prints in local shops such as Caramel on U Street and Trohv in Takoma Park and Baltimore. An exhibit of his work just opened this week at Buzz Bakery & Lounge in Alexandria, Va. (901 Slaters Lane). It will be up through the end of January. Or looks for his whimsical, pun-heavy drawings and quips at branddave.com.
Peterson says his simple, purposefully crudely drawn figures are intentional.
“They’re supposed to just be simple and funny,” he says.
But that doesn’t mean they’re slapped together — quality control is important, he says. It’s the reason he’s gradually getting into other formats like keychains or mugs. He launched a line of greeting cards in September. The screen prints, especially, take care to execute. Roughly 36 by 24 inches in size, Peterson scans his drawings — many of the same ones he uses on his T-shirts — and prints them out on wood at the Corcoran in Georgetown. He says the results, which form a sort of stencil on the wood, works well for his band of art. Peterson also dabbles in photography and does some freelance design work on the side.
He’s lived in the Dupont/Logan area since ’93 and still has family in Rockville. He and boyfriend Hex Talastas have been together four years and co-habitate at Logan and 14th with their dog, Remi, a Lab.
Peterson enjoys movies, hiking, baking and going for walks with Remi at Rock Creek Park in his free time. (Blade photos by Michael Key)
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I came out in ’93. I told most everybody close to me in the span of a week. Once the door was open, I just wanted to fly. It was such a high and a relief, I wanted to share my joy with everybody. My life took a sudden u-turn, and I just felt so great and happy and free. I never regretted it, and still feel joy thinking about it. Hardest to tell were my parents. I told them while driving them home from National Airport. My mother’s famous first words from the backseat were: “Are ya, honey?”
Who’s your LGBT hero?
Pedro Zamora. He was such an inspiration on “Real World.” I was (and still am) a big fan of the show and his persona had such a big impact on me — a representation of a gay man that I could relate to and be inspired by. So much of what I thought it meant to be gay at the time was negative and scary. He was the exact opposite of that. Confident and sexy and proud. That had a big influence on me and how I could imagine myself living. That is how I wanted to be if I ever was courageous enough to come out myself.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
I don’t go out much anymore, but I always LOVED Tracks — most especially the Madonnarama nights. I remember in high school Tracks had such this mystique. It was the place to go if you wanted to be rebellious. You would shop at Commander Salamander and dance at Tracks. Of course I never had the courage to go until I was in college.
Describe your dream wedding.
Small and casual. Close friends and lots of laughter.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
Freedom of any and every kind.
What historical outcome would you change?
9-11 is the first thing that comes to mind.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
Madonna’s “Virgin Tour.” It was my first concert and I went with my close high school friends Kristin, Cheryl, Michelle, Julie and Ken. We were 16, and so excited.
On what do you insist?
Self deprecation and a great sense of humor. Honesty is always important too.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
“I just saw a big ol’ raccoon on our sidewalk! Crazy, never seen that in dc!”
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“HaHa”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Nothing. I’m perfectly happy as a gay man and have no reason to change.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
I grew up Presbyterian, so that has pretty much shaped my spiritual beliefs.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
Keep forging ahead, you’re on the right track!
What would you walk across hot coals for?
My boyfriend Hex and dog Remi.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
Gays aren’t capable of long-lasting, loving relationships.
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
“Jossi & Jeager” — a movie with small moments and an amazing ending. It will inspire me forever.
What’s the most overrated social custom?
Lifeguards wearing suits. They are usually so sexy, they should work naked.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
Meeting and working with photographer Bruce Weber. I think I would die of excitement. I discovered his work when I was 14 and it’s had an enormous influence on me ever since. To meet him and work with him would be my ultimate dream.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
That coming out would be great. That it would all work out well and that life is really exciting and fun as a gay man.
Why Washington?
I grew up close by in Bethesda so it was only natural that I would move into the city as an adult. I love living in a gay neighborhood. The whole vibe is just perfect.
Miscellaneous
SMYAL receives $25,000 award for ‘courageous acts’
D.C. group provides support services for LGBTQ youth
The D.C.-based organization SMYAL, which provides services for LGBTQ youth in the D.C. metro area, including housing for homeless LGBTQ youth, announced on June 30 that it received a $25,000 award for its “courageous acts” in support of the community it serves.
The award was a monetary grant from The Courage Project, which describes itself as a “national initiative investing in acts of courage and compassion that strengthens our communities and democracy.”
A statement on its website says it was launched in May 2025 and is funded and backed by leading national foundations in the U.S.
“At SMYAL, we are deeply grateful to receive support from The Courage Project and are inspired by their bold investment in LGBTQ+ youth at such a critical moment,” SMYAL CEO Erin Whelan said in a statement. “For queer and trans young people, simply showing up as themselves each day requires immense courage, and that courage is strengthened when organizations like The Courage Project stand behind them loudly, proudly, and without hesitation,” Whelan said.
In its statement announcing the award SMYAL says The Courage Project will recognize SMYAL and other awardees and their work on July 3 at the Washington National Cathedral as part of a special interfaith service marking the U.S. 250th anniversary.
“The Courage Project is a bold initiative honoring everyday acts of bravery – the quiet, often unseen acts of heroism that reflect the best of the American spirit and strengthen democracy at the community level,” the project states on its website.
Miscellaneous
LA-based TransLatin@ Coalition leads in time of attacks
Members of Congress ‘calling us a radical organization’
As ICE raids intensify across Southern California and anti-immigrant sentiment resurfaces in Orange County, transgender and immigrant communities are once again being targeted. These crackdowns go beyond enforcement — they’re designed to instill fear. At the same time, a coordinated right-wing smear campaign is attempting to discredit the very organizations working to keep these communities safe.
Last month, the TransLatin@ Coalition, a cornerstone in the fight for trans, queer, and immigrant rights in Los Angeles, was publicly named by members of Congress. But this was no recognition. It was a calculated attack.
“They’re calling us a radical organization,” said Bamby Salcedo, president and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition. “They’re spreading lies, saying we’re using government funding to abolish ICE and the police and to provide abortion access. We do believe in those things, but the funding we receive is used to serve our people.”
Now, that funding is being stripped away.
In the face of state violence, political backlash, and economic sabotage, TLC is responding the way it always has: by organizing, celebrating, and building a better world. Because when our communities are under attack, we show up — stronger, louder, and more united than ever.
Salcedo, herself a proud trans Latina immigrant, has spent decades fighting for those living at the margins. “I always say I am an intersection walking,” she said with a smile. “Our organization is made up of the people most impacted — and we are the ones leading the work.”
In Los Angeles County, roughly one-third of residents are immigrants, the majority of whom are Latino. Unsurprisingly, trans Latinas represent the largest segment within the local trans community.
Yet even within immigrant justice spaces, trans people are often sidelined.
“It’s a very hetero-centric space,” Salcedo said. “Most of the time, they don’t even consider the lives and experiences of trans and queer immigrants.”
The TransLatin@ Coalition is actively changing that. As a key member of a broad alliance of more than 100 immigrant-serving organizations across Los Angeles, including CHIRLA and the Filipino Workers Center, the TransLatin@ Coalition helped secure over $160 million in American Rescue Plan funds for immigrant housing, internet access, and legal services.
They also co-created the groundbreaking TGIE (Transgender, Gender-Nonconforming, Intersex Empowerment) initiative, which allocates $7 million in Los Angeles County’s annual budget to support trans-led service providers.
“We don’t just want symbolic policies,” said Salcedo. “We fight for resources. We analyze the budget. We make it real.”
Despite these victories, the TransLatin@ Coalition is now confronting devastating federal cuts.
“Our work has been defunded,” Salcedo said bluntly. “Multiple programs are gone. And we’re not alone — trans-led organizations across the country, especially in the South, are facing the same.”
She pointed to a broader backlash against anything associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). “The private sector is pulling back. Philanthropy is scared. Even the same corporations that fund us during Pride are investing in our opposition the rest of the year. It’s hypocrisy.”
Rather than retreat, the TransLatin@ Coalition is calling for bold, collective action.
“Now’s the time for people to step up,” said Salcedo. “We have the strategy. We’re doing the work. But we need resources — and we need real solidarity, not just statements.”
To respond to the crisis and raise urgently needed funds, the TransLatin@ Coalition is organizing its Walk for Humanity on Saturday, Aug. 24. The event will begin at 9 a.m. in Silver Lake and march to Sunset and Western, featuring live performances, a resource fair, and a unified call for justice.
And yes — it will be joyful.
“This is a call for all people to stand in solidarity with one another,” said Salcedo. “We want to bring together 1,000 people, each raising $1,000. It’s going to be a beautiful day of community and resistance.”
In a surprise announcement, Salcedo also revealed she will debut her first single — a cumbia track inspired by the movement. “It’s about movement in both senses: our political movement, and moving our bodies,” she laughed. “We can’t let them take away our joy. Joy is how we survive.”
When asked what more local leaders can do, Salcedo didn’t hesitate. “Elected officials are public servants. That means serving all people,” she said. “We may be a small population, but we are deeply impacted — and we contribute so much to this city.”
She pointed to data from LA’s most recent homelessness count, which identified over 2,000 trans and gender-expansive people experiencing homelessness. That number exists thanks in large part to years of advocacy demanding the city count and name trans lives. “We have the data now. There’s no excuse not to invest in our people.”
She also uplifted allies like Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and newly appointed City Council member Isabel Urado, the first openly LGBTQ person to hold her seat. “They’ve seen our work and are fighting to invest in it,” Salcedo said. “We’re hopeful we’ll see another $10 million in city funding. But we need the community behind us.”
At the end of our conversation, I asked Salcedo what she would say to undocumented, queer, and trans Angelenos who are feeling afraid right now.
Her answer was clear, powerful, and full of love:
“You are a divine creation. You deserve to exist in this world. Walk your path with dignity, love, and respect — for yourself and for others. You belong. You are part of me. You are part of us.”
If standing with trans immigrants, resisting federal rollbacks, and dancing in the streets sounds like your kind of solidarity, join the TransLatin@ Coalition on Aug. 24. Because when we show up together, we protect each other. And when we dance together — we win.
Watch the full interview with Salcedo:
Miscellaneous
LGBTQ cruise ship rescues 11 migrants between Cuba and Mexico
Rescue took place in Yucatán Channel on Wednesday
A cruise ship chartered by an LGBTQ travel company on Wednesday rescued 11 Cubans from a boat that was adrift between their country and Mexico.
Vacaya in a press release said the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, which had left from New Orleans, discovered the migrants’ boat in the Yucatán Channel, a strait between Mexico and Cuba that connects the Gulf of Mexico (the Trump-Vance administration now refers to the body of water as the Gulf of America) and the Caribbean Sea.
A video that Vacaya provided shows the migrants’ boat before the rescue. Other videos show the rescue taking place.
MTV’s Downtown Julie Brown, who was performing on the ship, described the rescue in a video she posted to social media.
“We are in the middle of a live rescue operation right now,” she said. “The captain of the ship, while we were hauling so fast the other way, thought he saw a boat in distress. So, we looped around … and it was indeed a boat in distress.”
“Nothing speaks more to VACAYA’s values than providing comfort in a moment of need,” said Vacaya CEO Randle Roper in the press release. “I’m so happy we were able to bring these 11 refugees onboard safely and provide medical care, dry clothes, food, and, most importantly, water.”
“It’s sad that some people have to put themselves through such trauma in hopes of finding a better life, but that’s where we are today,” added Roper. “I’m so proud of our LGBT+ guests rallying to collect clothes for these fellow humans in need.”
The ship is scheduled to return to New Orleans on Saturday.
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