Local
Howard County executive to co-host Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser
Ken Ulman and Byron Macfarlane to co-host Ellicott City event
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will co-host Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser at parents’ home (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and gay Howard County Register of Wills Byron Macfarlane on Friday will co-host a fundraiser for the group defending Maryland’s same-sex marriage law.
County Council members Calvin Ball and Courtney Watson and state Del. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard County) are among those expected to attend the Marylanders for Marriage Equality event at Ulman’s parents’ Ellicott City home. Tickets range from $75 to $2,000.
“This is an important issue to me,” Ulman, who backed marriage rights for same-sex couples before voters elected him county executive in 2006, told the Blade. He further stressed that he feels that the fact the fundraiser will take place at his parents’ home sends what he describes as a powerful message about his family’s commitment to the issue. “This is something I feel very strongly about.”
A Public Policy Polling survey in May showed that 57 percent of Maryland voters would support the same-sex marriage law in the referendum. The same survey found that 55 percent of black Marylanders back nuptials for gays and lesbians—Marylanders for Marriage Equality on July 10 released a web advertisement that highlights African Americans who support marriage rights for same-sex couples .
“It is important for us to step up and play a role,” Macfarlane told the Blade. “I want to make sure that Howard County just doesn’t deliver just 51 or even 55 percent of the vote for marriage equality, but that we get at least 60 or 65 percent.”
O’Malley, House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Anne Arundel County) and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake are among the state and local officials who have either hosted or attended fundraisers for Marylanders for Marriage Equality in recent weeks. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin attended a campaign event at a Baltimore restaurant last month.
The campaign to defend Maryland’s same-sex marriage received a boost in May with President Obama’s announcement that he supports nuptials for gays and lesbians – he urged Marylanders to vote for the law during a Baltimore re-election campaign fundraiser last month. The Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Board of Directors passed a same-sex marriage resolution less than three weeks after Obama publicly endorsed the issue.
“We have an all hands on deck approach, whether its raising money or getting people to volunteer,” said Macfarlane when asked about the status of the campaign to defend the same-sex marriage law. “This is a fight we’ve been fighting in Maryland for a long time. We want to win once and for all.”
Ulman conceded he feels “there’s a lot of work to be done” between now and November to ensure same-sex couples will be able to marry in Maryland. He remains optimistic, however, that voters will support the law in the referendum.
“Marylanders have a strong commitment to fairness and equality,” said Ulman. “I feel strongly it will pass. The numbers are trending in the right direction.”
A gay man was murdered in Petersburg, Va., on March 13.
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, who was also known as Saamel and Mable, was a drag queen who won the Miss Mayflower EOY pageant in 2015. Reports also indicate Sanchez-McCray, 42, was a well-known community activist in Virginia and in North Carolina.
Local media reports indicate police officers found Sanchez-McCray shot to death inside a home in Petersburg.
Sanchez-McCray’s brother, Jamal Mitchell Diamond, in a public statement the Washington Blade received from Equality Virginia and GLAAD, said Sanchez-McCray was not transgender as initial reports indicated.
“Our family has always embraced the fullness of who he was. He used the names Saamel, Shyyell, and Mable interchangeably, and we honor all of them. There is no division within our family regarding how he is being represented — only a shared commitment to preserving his truth with love and respect,” said Diamond.
“He was also deeply committed to community work through Nationz Foundation, where he worked and completed multiple state-certified programs to support marginalized communities,” added Diamond. “That work meant a great deal to him.”
Authorities have not made any arrests.
The Petersburg Bureau of Police has asked anyone with information about Sanchez-McCray’s murder to call Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.
District of Columbia
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Rally on the National Mall scheduled for Saturday
The Christopher Street Project has a number of events planned for the 2026 Trans Day of Visibility, including a rally on the Mall and an “Empowerment Ball” at the Eaton Hotel. Plenaries, panel discussions and meetings with members of Congress are scheduled in the three days of programming.
Announced speakers include N.H. state Rep. Alice Wade; Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Precious Brady-Davis; activist and performer Miss Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”); Lexington, Ky. Councilwoman Emma Curtis; Rabbi Abby Stein; D.C. activist and host Rayceen Pendarvis; Air Force Master Sgt. Logan Ireland; among other leaders, advocates and performers.
Conference programming on Thursday and Friday includes an educational forum and a Capitol Hill policy education day. Registration for the two-day conference has closed.
The “Trans Day of Visibility PAC Reception” is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 7:30-9 p.m. at As You Are (500 8th St., S.E.). Special guests include Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Tickets are available at christopherstreetproject.org starting at $25.
The National Council of Jewish Women and the Christopher Street Project host a “Trans Day of Visibility Shabbat” on Friday, March 27 from 7-8 p.m. at Sixth & I (600 I St., N.W.). The service is to be led by Rabbi Jenna Shaw and Rabbi Abby Stein.
The “Now You See Me: Trans Empowerment Social & Ball” is scheduled for Friday, March 27 from 6-11 p.m. at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K. St., N.W.). The trans-themed drag ball is hosted by the Marsha P. Johnson Institute with support from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Capital Ballroom Council, the Christopher Street Project, the Center for Black Equity, Generation for Common Good, and Parenting is Political. RSVP online at christopherstreetproject.org.
The National Transgender Day of Visibility Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 on the National Mall at 11 a.m. The rally will include speakers and performances. Following the rally, attendees are encouraged to participate in the “No Kings” rally being held at Anacostia Park.
Virginia
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Voters in November will consider repealing marriage amendment
The Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ended on March 14.
Lawmakers have yet to approve a budget, but they did pass a resolution that paves the way for a referendum on whether to repeal the state’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Lawmakers also advanced House Bill 60, which would protect PrEP users from insurance discrimination.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to decide to pass, amend, or veto legislation before it goes back to the House of Delegates on April 22.
Spanberger on Feb. 6 signed the bill that sets the stage for the marriage amendment referendum. Voters will consider whether to “remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?”
Equality Virginia has been working during this legislative cycle to urge lawmakers to allocate funding towards LGBTQ rights. The budget would expand funding for schools, competency training for the 988 suicide hotline, and funding to provide gender affirming care to LGBTQ youth.
“As the budget moves through conference and the Reconvene Session approaches on April 22, Equality Virginia remains focused on ensuring our victories this session translate into durable protections,” Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Progress on marriage equality, nondiscrimination protections, and HIV care funding was essential, but Virginia must do more.”
Markwayne Mullin confirmed as next DHS secretary
Gay man murdered in Va.
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Polish court rules country must recognize same-sex marriages from EU states
Queer American in Israel discusses Iran war’s impact
‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
Calendar: March 21-26
Small is beautiful: subcompact SUVs
