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California man walks across country for LGBT rights

Richard Noble walked 2,700 miles from San Francisco to Jacksonville, Fla.

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Gay News, Washington Blade, LGBT Rights

Richard Noble arrives in Jacksonville, Fla., last month after walking across the country for LGBT rights. (Photo courtesy of Richard Noble)

A California man who walked across the country to raise awareness of LGBT rights stressed on Friday that more needs to be done to protect Americans on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

“The opposition to our equality I think to a large part is dying off,” Richard Noble told the Blade while was in D.C. He visited the U.S. Supreme Court on the day the justices narrowly upheld President Obama’s health care reform law and attended a screening of “Bully” at the Department of Education and a Dupont Circle vigil for a lesbian couple who were shot in a Texas park last month while he was in the nation’s capital. “Those who do oppose [our equality] and fight it need to be given a little more strong arm consequences and pay for suffering. It must be very clear we must not tolerate attacks or discrimination in America. We’re over it. I think we’re all over it.”

Richard Noble in D.C. (Washington Blade photo by Blake Bergen)

Noble began 2,700 mile trek in San Francisco in March 2011, and ended last month in Jacksonville, Fla., with his dog Trinity, which he adopted in Texas. Noble, who made a point to carry the rainbow flag from coast-to-coast, stressed that the spate of LGBT teenager suicides in the fall if 2010 prompted him to walk across the country.

“It just came to me after all the suicides last year on bullying since I lived that,” he said, further stressing that he still has what he described as emotional scars. “We’re at a much different place where we can begin to sort of strengthen our demand for full equality with much more immediacy as we’ve seen with marriage equality in New York and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the passage of [the] Matthew Shepard hate crime bill.”

Noble also used the walk to highlight his support of the American Equality Bill, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to articles of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.“Full equality is what all Americans are born with in this country and are entitled to and those rights have been taken away,” said Noble. “We will always understand that we are all free and equal and the march will go on until that dream is realized.”

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World Pride 2025

D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride

Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

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Sasha Colby performs at Pitchers in 2023. Liquor-serving establishments in D.C. will be able to remain open for 24 hours during WorldPride. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.

In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.

Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.

According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.

The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.

Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.

At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.

It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.

Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

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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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The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde. (Screen capture via PBS NewsHour/YouTube)

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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