Local

Gay marriage opponent is consultant for Orange

Mathis-Lloyd says Orange continues to support marriage equality, despite hiring Robert King

Published

15 years ago

February 8, 2012

Pro-LGBT council member Vincent Orange has hired marriage foe Robert King as a consultant. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

One of the leading advocates for overturning D.C.’s same-sex marriage law through a voter referendum has served as a paid campaign consultant for At-Large City Council member Vincent Orange’s re-election campaign, according to records filed with the Office of Campaign Finance.

Estell Mathis-Lloyd, chief of staff for Orange’s Council office, said the decision by the Orange campaign to retain Ward 5 ANC Commissioner Robert King as a consultant is “absolutely not” a signal that Orange may be backing away from his support for the marriage equality law, which the Council passed in 2009.

“He does continue to support marriage equality,” Mathis-Lloyd said of Orange.

OCF records show that the Orange campaign paid King $750 as a consulting fee on Dec. 11, 2011.

Orange, a former Ward 5 Council member, came out against same-sex marriage when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2006. He said he changed his position shortly before he ran for the at-large Council seat in a special election in 2011 and now strongly supports the city law that legalized same-sex marriage. He says he has been a longtime supporter of other LGBT issues.

Through his consulting firm King & Associates, King received more than $60,000 in 2010 from the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage to organize a campaign to overturn the city’s same-sex marriage law through a referendum. When the city’s board of elections and the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that such a referendum could not be held because it would violate the city’s Human Rights Law, King joined anti-gay minister Harry Jackson in appealing the court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court upheld the appeals court decision, ending efforts to kill the gay marriage law through a referendum.

Mathis-Lloyd said the Orange campaign retained King as a consultant because of his knowledge of Ward 5 issues.

Orange, a Democrat, is running in the April 3 D.C. Democratic primary for a full, four-year term for a Council seat he won last year in a special election. The seat became vacant after the 2010 election, in which Council member Kwame Brown, who held the seat, won election to the post of Council chair.

Orange is being challenged in the primary by Democrat Sekou Biddle, who ran against him in 2010; D.C. political newcomer Peter Shapiro, a former Prince George’s County Council member; and community activist E. Gail Anderson Holness.

According to the Jan. 31 filing with the Office of Campaign Finance, Orange was ahead in campaign funds raised, with $145,220. OCF records show Shapiro was in second place in money raised, with $90,291, followed by Biddle, who raised $45,686; and Holness, who raised $2,944 as of Jan. 31. OCF records show that $50,000 in the total amount raised by Shapiro came from loans.

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District of Columbia

Blade welcomes fall intern

Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida

Published

1 day 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

2 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

2 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.