Local
Md. marriage referendum supporters submit 40,000 new signatures
Gov. O’Malley, Baltimore mayor raising money to preserve law
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.
District of Columbia
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade
WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.
The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.
Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.
Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.
Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”
“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”
“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.
The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.
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)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
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.
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 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.
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