Local
Gray announces bullying ‘action plan’
Mayor hosts screening of documentary film ‘Bully’
‘We must come together — government, nonprofits, advocates, teachers and parents — to eradicate bullying in the District, and promote safe and inclusive schools,’ said D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray announced plans for a citywide anti-bullying initiative Wednesday night at a private screening hosted by the mayor’s office of the documentary film “Bully.”
“This comprehensive plan brings together D.C. government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and educators across the city to find solutions to confront and eradicate bullying across the District,” a statement released by the mayor’s office says.
Gray told the audience of invited guests at the screening, including representatives of the LGBT community, that he was proud to have the city host a showing of a film he called a “powerful” portrayal of how bullying impacts young people across the nation and in the District.
He told reporters at the time he arrived for the screening that his anti-bullying initiative, called the District of Columbia Anti-Bullying Action Plan, is to be led by the city’s Office of Human Rights.
The mayor’s anti-bullying plan comes less than two weeks before a D.C. City Council committee was expected to vote on an anti-bullying bill that has been stalled in the Council for nearly two years. The bill calls for the city’s public and charter schools, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the public library system and the University of the District of Columbia to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies.
A spokesperson for Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), whose committee is expected to vote on the bill, said he was uncertain when the bill would be voted on by the full Council.
The mayor’s proposal calls for the creation of a “multi-stakeholder task force, the commissioning of a research report on bullying, creation of a model anti-bully policy and standards, and a “D.C. Agency and Stakeholder Forum.”
Gray said the task force would consist of the heads of 14 city agencies, including the police chief, chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools, director of the mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs; director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, director of the Department of Health, director of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, director of the Office of Disability Rights, head of the Child and Family Services Administration, and an official with the University of the District of Columbia.
Gustavo Velasquez, director of the Human Rights Office, said the task force would also include representatives of non-profit and advocacy organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the D.C. Alliance of Youth Advocates as well as city teachers and parents.
“The problem of bullying transcends the school yard,” said Velasquez. “It is a fundamental issue of human rights, and requires the entire city to be present to promote solutions,” he said.
“We need to investigate where the bullying occurs in the city and what makes the District different from other cities in incidents of bullying so we can develop and implement solutions to best help our youth,” he said.
Gray said his plan’s “multi-sector approach” would seek to address the bullying problem in a comprehensive way.
“When one in five children are targets of bullying each day, and these events all too often lead to severe social and emotional crises for our youth, we must let our youth know that we hear them,” Gray said. “We must come together – government, nonprofits, advocates, teachers and parents – to eradicate bullying in the District, and promote safe and inclusive schools.”
The screening of the documentary “Bully” took place at the E Street Cinema in downtown D.C. Gray and D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson provided details of the anti-bullying plan to the audience prior to the screening of the film.
Following the screening, Jeffrey Richardson, director of the Office of GLBT Affairs, led a panel discussion on the bullying issue with representatives of the city’s public schools, including two high school students.
Charles Allen, chief of staff for Council member Wells, said one of the reasons the Council’s anti-bullying bill had been stalled was an initial inability to determine where funds could be identified to pay for implementing the legislation.
In talking to the media prior to the film screening, Gray said he strongly supports the bill and would work with Wells and other members of the Council to secure the necessary funding for the bill.
Maryland
Md. Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs released updated student recommendations
LGBTQ students report higher rates of bullying, suicide
The Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs has released updated recommendations on how the state’s schools can support LGBTQ students.
The updated 16-page document outlines eight “actionable recommendations” for Maryland schools, supplemented with data and links to additional resources. The recommendations are:
- Developing and passing a uniform statewide and comprehensive policy aimed at protecting “transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive students” against discrimination. The recommendation lists minimum requirements for the policy to address: name, pronoun usage, and restroom access.
- Requiring all educators to receive training about the specific needs of LGBTQ students, by trained facilitators. The training’s “core competencies” include instruction on terminology, data, and support for students.
- Implementing LGBTQ-inclusive curricula and preventing book bans. The report highlights a “comprehensive sexual education curriculum” as specifically important in the overall education curriculum. It also states the curriculum will “provide all students with life-saving information about how to protect themselves and others in sexual and romantic situations.”
- Establishing Gender Sexuality Alliances “at all schools and in all grade levels.” This recommendation includes measures on how to adequately establish effective GSAs, such as campaign advertising, and official state resources that outline how to establish and maintain a GSA.
- Providing resources to students’ family members and supporters. This recommendation proposes partnering with local education agencies to provide “culturally responsive, LGBTQIA+ affirming family engagement initiatives.”
- Collecting statewide data on LGBTQ youth. The data on Maryland’s LGBTQ youth population is sparse and non-exhaustive, and this recommendation seeks to collect information to inform policy and programming across the state for LGBTQ youth.
- Hiring a full-time team at the Maryland Department of Education that focuses on LGBTQ student achievement. These employees would have specific duties that include “advising on local and state, and federal policy” as well as developing the LGBTQ curriculum, and organizing the data and family resources.
- Promoting and ensuring awareness of the 2024 guidelines to support LGBTQ students.
The commission has 21 members, with elections every year, and open volunteer positions. It was created in 2021 and amended in 2023 to add more members.
The Governor’s Office of Communication says the commission’s goal is “to serve LGBTQIA+ Marylanders by galvanizing community voices, researching and addressing challenges, and advocating for policies to advance equity and inclusion.”
The commission is tasked with coming up with yearly recommendations. This year’s aim “to ensure that every child can learn in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.”
The Human Rights Campaign’s most recent report on LGBTQ youth revealed that 46.1 percent of LGBTQ youth felt unsafe in some school settings. Those numbers are higher for transgender students, with 54.9 percent of them saying they feel unsafe in school.
Maryland’s High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals a disparity in mental health issues and concerns among students who identify as LGBTQ, compared to those who are heterosexual. LGBTQ students report higher rates of bullying, feelings of hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Nearly 36 percent of LGBTQ students report they have a suicide plan, and 26.7 percent of respondents say they have attempted to die by suicide.
The commission’s recommendations seek to combat the mental health crisis among the state’s LGBTQ students. They are also a call for local and state governments to work towards implementing them.
Virginia
Va. lawmakers consider partial restoration of Ryan White funds
State Department of Health in 2025 cut $20 million from Part B program
The Virginia General Assembly is considering the partial restoration of HIV funding that the state’s Department of Health cut last year.
The Department of Health in 2025 cut $20 million — or 67 percent of total funding — from the Ryan White Part B program.
The funding cuts started with the Trump-Vance administration passing budget cuts to federal HIV screening and protection programs. Rebate issues between the Virginia Department of Health and the company that provides HIV medications began.
Advocates say the funding cuts have disproportionately impacted lower-income people.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal program started in 1990, provides medical services, public education, and essential services. Part B offers 21 services, seven of which remained funded after the budget cuts.
Equality Virginia notes “in 2025, a 67 percent reduction severely destabilized HIV services across the commonwealth.”
Virginia lawmakers have approved two bills — House Bill 30 and Senate Bill 30 — that would partially restore the funding. The Ryan White cuts remain a concern among community members.
Both chambers of the General Assembly must review their proposed changes before lawmakers can adopt the bills.
“While these amendments aren’t a full restoration of what community-based organizations lost, this marks a critical step toward stabilizing care for thousands of Virginians living with HIV,” said Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman. “Equality Virginia plans to continue their contact with lawmakers and delegates through the conference and up until the passing of the budget.”
“We appreciate lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who recognized the urgency of this moment and will work to ensure funding remains in the final version signed by the governor,” added Rahaman.
District of Columbia
D.C. Black Pride theme, performers announced at ‘Speakeasy’
Durand Bernarr to headline 2026 programming
The Center for Black Equity held its 2026 DC Black Pride Theme Reveal event at Union Stage on Monday. The evening, a “Speakeasy Happy Hour,” was hosted by Anthony Oakes and featured performances by Lolita Leopard and Keith Angelo. The Center for Black Equity organizes DC Black Pride.
Kenya Hutton, Center for Black Equity president and CEO, spoke following the performances by Leopard and Angelo. Hutton announced this year’s theme for DC Black Pride: “New Black Renaissance.”
Performers for 2026 DC Black Pride were announced to be Bang Garcon, Be Steadwell, Jay Columbus, Bennu Byrd, Rue Pratt and Akeem Woods.
Singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr was announced as the headliner for the 2026 festivities. Bernerr gave brief remarks through a video played on the screen at the stage.
DC Black Pride is scheduled for May 22-25. For more information on DC Black Pride, visit dcblackpride.org.
An undeclared war of distraction by the felon
Talarico beats Crockett in Texas primary
35 years after ‘Truth or Dare,’ Slam is still dancing
Md. Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs released updated student recommendations
