Local
Likely NYC Council candidate attends D.C. fundraiser
Elmendorf hosts event for Corey Johnson who may run to replace Quinn
More than 40 people attended a fundraiser for gay presumptive New York City Council candidate Corey Johnson in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night.
Gay Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) co-chaired the event that took place at gay Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf’s home. Virginia state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and columnist and Democratic strategist Karl Frisch were among those who attended.
“It was a real moving show of support for me from friends and allies down here in the District that I’ve been able to work with over the years,” Johnson, 30, told the Blade on Wednesday.
Elmendorf praised the likely candidate.
“Corey is a close personal friend and I offered to help him because I admire the guts he showed when he first came out as a high school quarterback; the dedication he has shown to the LGBT community and his passion for public service,” he said in an e-mail. “I have met a lot of candidates during my time in politics and government and he is one of the best.”
The former Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation staffer has not officially declared his candidacy, but he launched an exploratory committee in early April. Three of Johnson’s likely challengers in the 2013 Democratic primary—lawyer Yetta Kurland, Manhattan Community Board 2 Chair Brad Hoylman and Andrew Berman—are gay.
He would succeed lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn if elected.
“It says a lot on how far we’ve come,” said Johnson when asked about the fact that all three of his likely opponents are gay. “In many places in this country there aren’t LGBT elected officials. … In New York City things have progressed to such a point that I believe in certain parts of the city, voters no longer look at what a person’s sexual orientation is, they look at their history, their track record, their biography and what their vision is for the district. I believe all of us will be judged on that, so I think it shows tremendous progress that we’ve gotten to that point.”
Johnson, who has chaired Manhattan’s Community Board 4 since last July, attended the D.C. fundraiser three days after Quinn married her long-time partner Kim Catullo.
He acknowledged that he does not always agree with the likely 2013 mayoral candidate, but Johnson said that Quinn and her predecessor, gay New York State Sen. Tom Duane (D-Manhattan) are well known outside the district. He also pointed out that he has publicly disagreed with Mayor Michael Bloomberg over the New York Police Department’s controversial stop and frisk policy, a law that requires contractors that receive at least $1 million in tax breaks and low-interest financing to pay their employees at $10 an hour and a measure that would provide paid sick leave to New Yorkers who don’t already receive it from their employers.
Johnson also described Bloomberg’s decision to appeal a New York State Supreme Court judge’s 2005 decision that struck down a ban on nuptials for gays and lesbians as disappointing. The mayor has subsequently backed marriage rights for same-sex couples.
“I’m always happy to welcome anyone that wants to come to our side and help fight for our rights,” said Johnson. “The mayor has done that most recently and he’s someone that we should use as an ally as we move forward.”
Johnson first rose to prominence in 2000 when the New York Times published a story about him playing on his Massachusetts high school’s football team. He worked as former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green’s political director during his unsuccessful 2006 state attorney general campaign. Johnson has also written for the gay blog Towleroad.
“Since I was 17 years old, I’ve always been engaged and involved in political advocacy and working for non-profits to try to affect real change in the world,” he said.
Johnson said he does not have any higher political aspirations if elected to the City Council.
“My goal is just to be on the City Council,” he said. “My sole focus is to be elected to the City Council and be the best Council member possible in the West Side of Manhattan with all the neighborhoods that encompass this district.”
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party set for May 15 with Ashley Biden
The Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 15 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has joined the list of speakers, the Blade announced. She will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau Biden for his LGBTQ advocacy work as Delaware attorney general. (Her appearance was rescheduled from last year.)
The event, to be held this year at Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave. Ext.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient will be introduced at the event.
The event will also feature remarks from state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. New CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Diego’s.
A suggested donation of $25 is partially tax deductible and includes a drink ticket and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
District of Columbia
Curve magazine honors Washington Blade publisher
Lynne Brown named to 2026 Power List
Washington Blade Publisher Lynne Brown has been named to the 2026 Curve Power List celebrating LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields.
“From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve Foundation/Curve magazine said in announcing this year’s list, which includes ABC newscaster Robin Roberts, comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder, and singer/actress Renee Rapp, among others.
Brown has worked for the Washington Blade for nearly 40 years. She was named publisher in 2007 before becoming a co-owner in 2010.
“I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said. “Receiving this Curve honor is twofold. I was an early subscriber to Curve. I enjoy the product and know its history. Its journalism, layout and humorous features have inspired me.
“As an owner/publisher, receiving recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate. Franco Stevens, the publisher of Curve, is a business person of duration, experience, and purpose. The fact that they are in the media business, and honoring me and my publication makes it a tiny bit sweeter.”
Nominations for the Curve Power List come from the community: peers, mentors, fans, and employers.
Curve explained the significance of the list in its announcement: “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors. Such a list also fosters encouragement and solidarity, and elevates voices and achievements—from high-profile roles to under appreciated areas of life.”
Rehoboth Beach
Auction of Rehoboth’s Blue Moon canceled
Details on sale of iconic bar, restaurant not disclosed
The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has been an iconic presence in the local LGBTQ community for four decades but its status remains murky after a sheriff’s auction of the property was abruptly called off on Tuesday.
The property was listed for sale in December. At that time, owner Tim Ragan told the Blade that he is committed to preserving its legacy as a gay-friendly space.
“We had no idea the interest this would create,” Ragan said in December. “I guess I was a little naive about that.”
Ragan explained that he and longtime partner Randy Haney were separating the real estate from the business. The two buildings associated with the sale were listed by Carrie Lingo at 35 Baltimore Ave., and include an apartment, the front restaurant (6,600 square feet with three floors and a basement), and a secondary building (roughly 1,800 square feet on two floors). They were listed for $4.5 million.
The bar and restaurant business is being sold separately; the price was not publicly disclosed.
But then, earlier this year, the Blue Moon real estate listing turned up on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office auction site. The auction was slated for Tuesday, April 21 but hours before the sale, the listing changed to “active under contract” indicating that a buyer has been found but the sale is not yet final. As of Wednesday morning, the listing has been removed from the sheriff’s auction site.
Ragan didn’t respond to Blade inquiries about the auction. Back in December, he told the Blade, “It’s time to look for the next people who can continue the history of the Moon and cultivate the next chapter,” noting that he turns 70 this year. “We’re not panicked; we separated the building from the business. Some buyers can’t afford both.”
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, nor was the sale price.
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