Local
Lawmakers weigh in on Md. marriage bill
Clippinger, one of eight openly gay or lesbian members of the Maryland Legislature, is optimistic the marriage bill will pass
Openly gay Md. lawmaker Luke Clippinger is optimistic. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Just as the 2012 Maryland General Assembly got underway, Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch—both Democrats—appeared on the Marc Steiner radio show to discuss the chances of marriage equality passing during the session. Busch, who represents Anne Arundel County, sees same-sex marriage as inevitable. But he said, “You will have to convince about 10 people” who ostensibly favor civil unions but not marriage to change their position from last year.
For his part, Miller, who represents Calvert County, opposes same-sex marriage, calling himself a “traditionalist.” He would not stand in the way of a vote nor would he try to influence the outcome, he said. Miller conceded the 25-21 vote in the Senate last year to advance the measure would likely hold up again this time. However, he warned that if the legislation passes both houses and is signed into law it will likely be overturned through a referendum.
Miller predicted that “a coming together of Evangelicals, Catholics, African Americans” will oppose the measure. “If it goes to polls, the other side is more motivated, and I think they will get their voters out, and I think it goes down to defeat.”
Luke Clippinger, one of eight openly gay or lesbian members of the Maryland Legislature—the highest total of any state in the U.S.—is optimistic the marriage bill will pass.
“The establishment of Marylanders for Marriage Equality is a big step forward as we move forward on marriage equality legislation in the 2012 session,” Clippinger said. “The work that is being done now is laying down the foundation for defending the bill at referendum, if the legislation actually goes to referendum. The coalition has field organizers in key districts. The coalition also has the benefit of polling, of media advisers, of people with statewide political experience, and of a finance committee that has already raised a considerable amount of money. All of these things—field, polling, media, experience, finance—are essential parts of a successful campaign and they are already in place.” He added, “We are only hampered by those people who do nothing other than doubt that we can do this.”
Clippinger, an assistant state’s attorney from Anne Arundel County, is in his second year as a delegate. He represents the 46th District that encompasses such southeastern Baltimore neighborhoods as Canton, Little Italy, Federal Hill, Fells Point, Patterson Park and Locust Point.
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Congratulations to Yadiel Meléndez, on their new role as Community Associate, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Meléndez is piloting a new role as a Community Associate at the Wanda Alston Foundation, where they support queer and trans young people in finding their footing, building independence, and experiencing a housing community where they are seen, valued, and affirmed. They are coming into this role with more than a decade of experience as a community organizer and operations specialist, supporting diverse communities through service, advocacy, and program coordination.
Previously they worked for Right Proper Brewing Shaw as a server and bartender and at Sephora, Washington, DC, and at FreshFarm, DC, in bilingual food access. They also worked freelance to build foundational structures for local queer BIPOC performance art coalitions, producing variety shows to curate space for marginalized performance artists in the community. They were a production manager for Haus of Hart Productions, a BIPOC centric performance art production. They also worked as field staff with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Stafford, Va.
Meléndez is bilingual, Spanish and English. Their work is guided by a commitment to dignity, safety, and trauma-informed engagement, particularly within LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.
Congratulations also to Ben Rosen LICSW, on his new role as program director, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Rosen previously worked with Fountain House’s OnRamps program, helping to build a new, innovative outreach program for individuals considered chronically homeless, and living with serious mental illness, in the Times Square area of New York. Rosen is a Psychotherapist, having worked with SG Psychotherapy, and as the psychotherapist with the Nest Community Health Center (URAM).
Rosen has a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre, Minor in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Malloy University Conservatory; and his M.S.W. in Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, from The Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, N.Y. He is independently licensed in New York and Washington, D.C.
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
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