Local
Victory for Rehoboth’s outdoor restaurants
new regulations regarding patio hours
Rehoboth Beach bars with patios may now serve customers outside later. (Blade file photo by Henry Linser)
After about 16 months of discussion, debate and squabbling, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners agreed on Jan. 20, by a vote of 6-0, on new regulations regarding patio hours. Voting for the first time was newly appointed Commissioner Patrick Gossett, who is gay.
Commissioner Stan Mills who initiated the complaints that resulted in a raid of several establishments, including Cloud 9 and Aqua, in September, 2010, recused himself on the recommendation of the Delaware Public Integrity Committee who felt he used his elected status to bring about the raids, which led to the arrest of several bar owners who were cited for infractions.
The vote allows patios to stay open as long as the inside of the establishment remains open. In most cases, this means 1 a.m. Up until a temporary freeze was put in effect in the spring, restaurants with patios could only serve alcohol on their patios until 10 p.m. and patrons had to leave by 11. In addition, it was agreed that there would be an enforcement officer in place who would talk to violators.
Carol Everhart, CEO and president of the local Chamber of Commerce, said, “the experiment of changing the hours of patios, which we wanted worked. Revenues increased because restaurant patios were open.” Everhart and others at the meeting praised the work of the enforcement officer.
Still unresolved is the noise issue, which early on was linked to the patio issue. The commissioners have been trying to determine how best to handle regulations on noise. A number of commissioners felt that use of the phrase “clearly audible” should be sufficient, but others have argued that there should be a clearer definition, such as determining where to measure the noise. However, because there were only five noise violations noted this past summer, the issue is not considered as crucial as in the past.
Earlier in that meeting, Gossett, who previously served as commissioner from 2004-7, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Commission. Gossett becomes the third openly gay person on the seven-member panel. He joins lesbian Pat Colluzzi and recently elected Mark Hunker on the Commission.
Gossett noted that “the fact we not only have three openly gay members of the LGBT community as commissioners, but that we have members of the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments, as well as the head of the local Chamber of Commerce and Rehoboth Main Street, a group which encourages events to attract tourists, shows how accepting Rehoboth is.”
District of Columbia
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade
WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.
The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.
Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.
Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.
Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”
“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”
“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.
The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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