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Md. marriage referendum supporters submit 40,000 new signatures

Gov. O’Malley, Baltimore mayor raising money to preserve law

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Martin O'Malley, gay news, gay politics

Governor Martin O'Malley signed Maryland's same-sex marriage law in March (Blade photo by Pete Exis)

Opponents of Maryland’s same-sex marriage law on Monday submitted additional signatures needed to prompt a November referendum on the issue.

The Maryland Marriage Alliance submitted 39,743 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office in Annapolis—these are on top of the 113,000 signatures in support of the referendum that the organization submitted late last month. Opponents of the law that Gov. Martin O’Malley signed in March needed to collect 55,736 signatures by Saturday to prompt the vote.

An unofficial count posted to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website on Friday showed that officials have validated 109,313 of the 113,000 signatures.

“As we expected, our opponents met the legal signature threshold and the Civil Marriage Protection Act will be on the ballot this fall,” conceded Josh Levin, campaign director for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, in a press release shortly after the Maryland Marriage Alliance submitted the additional signatures. “Since all Maryland families deserve the dignity and respect that marriage brings, we’re focused on building a smart, strategic campaign to amplify and mobilize the 57 percent of Maryland voters who support the new same-sex marriage law. Committed, loving gay and lesbian couples should be treated fairly under the law.”

The Maryland Marriage Alliance pointed out in a statement to the Blade that it has submitted a total of 162,241 signatures in support of the referendum.

“In spite of what our opponents will say, these incredible numbers clearly show that Marylanders strongly reject the idea of redefining marriage,” said the organization. “The Maryland Marriage Alliance and our diverse coalition of partners are confident that this momentum will continue. In November this issue will be settled in our state and the definition of marriage will remain a union between one man and one woman.”

O’Malley spokesperson Raquel Guillory stressed to the Blade that these additional signatures are “not unexpected.”

“The majority of Marylanders support marriage equality,” she said, referring to the same poll that Public Policy Polling released last month to which Levin pointed. The PPP poll also found that 55 percent of black Marylanders support marriage rights for same-sex couples. “There is still more work to do as we head towards November and we are not taking anything for granted.”

President Obama and Benjamin Jealous, president of the Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, are among those who have urged Marylanders to support nuptials for gays and lesbians in the expected November referendum.

The additional signatures come a day before O’Malley and House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Anne Arundel County) will co-host a Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser in Ocean City. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake attended a marriage equality fundraiser on Sunday at a private home in Baltimore that raised about $20,000 for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

“We have been planning for a long time for a referendum and are well along in our efforts to secure a victory for fairness and equality at the polls in November,” gay state Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County) told the Blade. “However, this should be another wake up call for our community and allies to come forward to support the campaign with time and money.  We will win this effort only with the active support of the gay community.”

Freedom to Marry President Evan Wolfson agreed.

“With the freedom to marry on the November ballot, it’s very important that people all across the state join with Marylanders for Marriage Equality to engage in conversations, raise money for the campaign, and turn out voters to defend the law and secure for loving and committed couples the chance to share in the joys and security marriage brings to families and the community,” he said.

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World Pride 2025

Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference

Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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(Screenshot courtesy of WorldPride's website)

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.

Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)

A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.

The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.

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World Pride 2025

Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride

Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

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Pabllo Vittar (Screen capture via Pabllo Vittar/YouTube)

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.

The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.

Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.

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District of Columbia

$3.7 billion RFK stadium proposal draws support from Team DC

Washington Commanders ‘proud’ to champion LGBTQ community

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The long-suffering RFK Stadium will be razed to make way for a new domed facility that could one day host the Super Bowl. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Miguel Ayala, president of the D.C. LGBTQ sports organization Team D.C., has expressed support for the $3.7 billion deal reached between Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Washington Commanders football team to bring the team back to D.C. in a redeveloped site on the grounds of the city’s long shuttered RFK stadium.

With the deal calling for the city to provide $1 billion in taxpayer funds for infrastructure related costs for the massive redevelopment project — and with the Commanders to provide the remaining $2.7 billion — as of this week the deal did not have majority support on the D.C. Council, which must vote to approve it.

Ayala’s support for the project on behalf of Team D.C. raises the question of whether members of the city’s influential LGBTQ community might play some role in urging the D.C. Council to approve the project.

The proposal comes at a time when the Washington Commanders team includes a message of support for the LGBTQ community on its website. The message follows its hosting last October of its 4th annual LGBTQ Pride Night Out at the Commanders game against the Cleveland Browns.

“The Washington Commanders are proud to champion the LGBTQ+ community and its allies,” the team states on its website. “Through the unifying power of sports, we aim to create a culture where all feel welcome and celebrated.”

In a statement released to the Washington Blade, Ayala points out that the Commanders are among every D.C.-based professional sports team that hosts a Pride Night Out event, which Team DC helps to organize.

“Each year, our events have grown stronger, with vibrant tailgates, on-field celebrations, and powerful moments that shine a spotlight on our community,” Ayala said. “We can’t wait to kick off our first Night Out at the Commanders Stadium in 2030.”

He was referring to plans by the Commanders organization and the D.C. mayor’s office to have the stadium deal approved by the D.C. Council in July, with construction of the new stadium to begin then, and with a planned completion in time for the 2030 professional football season.

Ayala also points out that the RFK stadium grounds currently serve as home to LGBTQ-related sports activity, including the D.C. Gay Flag Football League and the D.C. Front Runners group. He added that the RFK grounds will serve as the playing fields for this year’s WorldPride Capital Cup sports competition, where LGBTQ rugby and soccer teams from around the world will compete.

“This new stadium will be more than just a field – it will be a powerful new addition to the vibrant, diverse, and proud communities we champion every day,” he said in his statement.

At an April 28 news conference, Bowser, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris and other city officials provided details of the stadium project, noting that it includes a massive development of the new stadium and the surrounding 180 acres of land.

In addition to the 65,000-seat domed stadium, officials said the project would include 5,000 to 6,000 residential housing units, with 30 percent designated as “affordable” for low- and moderate-income residents. They said the project would also include parks and recreation areas, hotels, restaurants, retail, and neighborhood amenities.

“As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7,” Bowser said in a statement

Opponents of the project, including D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large), have said they don’t believe the city should use its own funds for a stadium and the related development. 

So far, just four Council members have expressed support for the project. Mendelson and two other Council members have expressed opposition, and the remaining five have not yet said whether they would vote for or against it. The project needs seven of the current 12-member Council for it to be approved.

Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), the Council’s only gay member, who initially had not taken a position on the proposal, this week said he was looking at the project more favorably, according to news media reports. 

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