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.
A gay man was murdered in Petersburg, Va., on March 13.
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, who was also known as Saamel and Mable, was a drag queen who won the Miss Mayflower EOY pageant in 2015. Reports also indicate Sanchez-McCray, 42, was a well-known community activist in Virginia and in North Carolina.
Local media reports indicate police officers found Sanchez-McCray shot to death inside a home in Petersburg.
Sanchez-McCray’s brother, Jamal Mitchell Diamond, in a public statement the Washington Blade received from Equality Virginia and GLAAD, said Sanchez-McCray was not transgender as initial reports indicated.
“Our family has always embraced the fullness of who he was. He used the names Saamel, Shyyell, and Mable interchangeably, and we honor all of them. There is no division within our family regarding how he is being represented — only a shared commitment to preserving his truth with love and respect,” said Diamond.
“He was also deeply committed to community work through Nationz Foundation, where he worked and completed multiple state-certified programs to support marginalized communities,” added Diamond. “That work meant a great deal to him.”
Authorities have not made any arrests.
The Petersburg Bureau of Police has asked anyone with information about Sanchez-McCray’s murder to call Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.
District of Columbia
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Rally on the National Mall scheduled for Saturday
The Christopher Street Project has a number of events planned for the 2026 Trans Day of Visibility, including a rally on the Mall and an “Empowerment Ball” at the Eaton Hotel. Plenaries, panel discussions and meetings with members of Congress are scheduled in the three days of programming.
Announced speakers include N.H. state Rep. Alice Wade; Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Precious Brady-Davis; activist and performer Miss Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”); Lexington, Ky. Councilwoman Emma Curtis; Rabbi Abby Stein; D.C. activist and host Rayceen Pendarvis; Air Force Master Sgt. Logan Ireland; among other leaders, advocates and performers.
Conference programming on Thursday and Friday includes an educational forum and a Capitol Hill policy education day. Registration for the two-day conference has closed.
The “Trans Day of Visibility PAC Reception” is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 7:30-9 p.m. at As You Are (500 8th St., S.E.). Special guests include Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Tickets are available at christopherstreetproject.org starting at $25.
The National Council of Jewish Women and the Christopher Street Project host a “Trans Day of Visibility Shabbat” on Friday, March 27 from 7-8 p.m. at Sixth & I (600 I St., N.W.). The service is to be led by Rabbi Jenna Shaw and Rabbi Abby Stein.
The “Now You See Me: Trans Empowerment Social & Ball” is scheduled for Friday, March 27 from 6-11 p.m. at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K. St., N.W.). The trans-themed drag ball is hosted by the Marsha P. Johnson Institute with support from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Capital Ballroom Council, the Christopher Street Project, the Center for Black Equity, Generation for Common Good, and Parenting is Political. RSVP online at christopherstreetproject.org.
The National Transgender Day of Visibility Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 on the National Mall at 11 a.m. The rally will include speakers and performances. Following the rally, attendees are encouraged to participate in the “No Kings” rally being held at Anacostia Park.
Virginia
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Voters in November will consider repealing marriage amendment
The Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ended on March 14.
Lawmakers have yet to approve a budget, but they did pass a resolution that paves the way for a referendum on whether to repeal the state’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Lawmakers also advanced House Bill 60, which would protect PrEP users from insurance discrimination.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to decide to pass, amend, or veto legislation before it goes back to the House of Delegates on April 22.
Spanberger on Feb. 6 signed the bill that sets the stage for the marriage amendment referendum. Voters will consider whether to “remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?”
Equality Virginia has been working during this legislative cycle to urge lawmakers to allocate funding towards LGBTQ rights. The budget would expand funding for schools, competency training for the 988 suicide hotline, and funding to provide gender affirming care to LGBTQ youth.
“As the budget moves through conference and the Reconvene Session approaches on April 22, Equality Virginia remains focused on ensuring our victories this session translate into durable protections,” Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Progress on marriage equality, nondiscrimination protections, and HIV care funding was essential, but Virginia must do more.”
Gay man murdered in Va.
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Polish court rules country must recognize same-sex marriages from EU states
Capital Stonewall Democrats 50th anniversary gala draws sold out crowd
Protesters say SAVE Act targets voters, transgender youth
Housewives take Capitol Hill by storm
Queer American in Israel discusses Iran war’s impact
‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
