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Queery: Trevor Ankeny

The Baltimore Pride co-chair answers 20 gay questions

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Trevor Ankeny (Photo courtesy Ankeny)

Trevor Ankeny is in the midst of his busiest time of year — for the third consecutive year, he’s co-chairing Baltimore Pride. It’s a volunteer job. He takes several days off from his day job in property management to make sure the bevy of events goes off smoothly.

“I think this has been a very good year so far,” he says during a late night break Tuesday. “We have a lot of fresh, new entertainment ideas, so with adding those new components, I feel we’re in a good place and have covered all our bases. Hopefully we haven’t forgotten anything.”

Baltimore Pride (baltimorepride.org) is ramping up to its main events this weekend (details on page 24). It’s a production of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore and serves as a fundraiser for that nonprofit. Ankeny co-chairs with Samantha Flottesmesch.

Ankeny grew up in Baltimore in a conservative Jehovah’s Witness family. He tried to go the straight and narrow way (“I did what I thought was right”) for years, getting married to a woman and starting a family, but after five years of that, he knew it wasn’t the right fit.

Now out and single with a 14-year-old daughter, Rhiannon, Ankeny lives in Bel Air, Md., and enjoys volunteering for Pride.

“I’ve always been a big proponent of the LGBT community working together,” he says. “We have so many resources, it’s really the time we all come together and see each other and you realize, wow, there’s this huge and vast sea of resources right here in our own ranks … it’s the one time of year we can really see our numbers and how important we are as citizens.”

Ankeny enjoys theme parks, skiing, swimming and going to the beach in his free time. (Photos courtesy Ankeny)

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?   

Since 2001. My wife at the time.

Who’s your LGBT hero?            

I have to say I am very proud of Ellen DeGeneres. Especially in how she handled the JC Penney issue.

What’s Baltimore’s best nightspot, past or present?       

Wednesday night gay bingo at the Hippo. The host, Roger Dimick, is hilarious.

Describe your dream wedding.                 

I am not marrying again.

What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?         

Caring for our environment.

What historical outcome would you change?                   

9-11

What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?       

Death of each of the deceased “Golden Girls.” Wait? Is that pop culture?

On what do you insist?                       

Follow through

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?                     

“Pre-pride party at Mixers”

If your life were a book, what would the title be?                

“Slow Down Boy!”

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?                            

Still be gay. It’s more fun than being straight.

What do you believe in beyond the physical world?                     

Space

What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?                   

In our quest for rights we should not forget those that suffer every day with the least amount of rights. They are so often left to fend for themselves.

What would you walk across hot coals for?   

A good man

What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?

All of them. I really dislike stereotypes.

What’s your favorite LGBT movie?                     

“Girls Will Be Girls.” I laugh out loud every time.

What’s the most overrated social custom?     

Christmas

What trophy or prize do you most covet?           

Mega Millions

What do you wish you’d known at 18?                       

That I was gay.

 

Why Baltimore?                       

As quirky as it is, it’s home.

 

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PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards

Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

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Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.

A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.

The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride

Schuyler Bailar gives keynote address

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D.C. Trans Pride 2025 was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on May 17. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)

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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C

Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement

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Gay Pride Day 1976 (Washington Blade archive photo)

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.

D.C.’s Different Drummers march in the 2006 Capital Pride Parade. (Washington Blade archive photo by Adam Cuthbert)

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 1995 Lesbian and Gay Freedom Festival was held on Freedom Plaza on June 18. (Washington Blade archive photo by Clint Steib)

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.

The D.C. Black Gay Men & Women’s Community Conference table at Gay Pride Day in 1978. (Washington Blade archive photo by Jim Marks)
A scene from 1985 Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
A scene from the 1988 Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
A scene from the Capital Pride Block Party in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)
Keke Palmer performs at the 2024 Capital Pride Festival. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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