Local
Human Rights Watch criticizes D.C. police in new report
Report claims police confiscation of condoms places sex workers at higher HIV risk

A new report concludes that the confiscation of condoms from prostitutes and other sex workers during police investigations places them at increased risk of HIV.
Human Rights Watch officially released the 12-page report at a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday that includes interviews with more than 300 current or former sex workers, activists, law enforcement and public health officials in D.C., New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. These include Felicia C., a sex worker in Columbia Heights who said that police officers told her to throw away her condoms last December.
“I told them ‘No I am not throwing them in the garbage,’” she said, as noted in the report. “I don’t want to die!”
Others pointed to what they described to Human Rights Watch as the Metropolitan Police Department’s “3-condom rule.”
“In 2011 they locked me up in the 5th district,” said Nila R. “The cop told me I could have three condoms and threw the others out, I had 10 altogether. Also, an open condom is a charge. I’ve been locked up for it, the cops told me they were locking me up for an open condom.”
Human Rights Watch urges law enforcement and prosecutors in the four cities highlighted in the report to adopt policies that prohibit the use of condom possession as evidence against suspected sex workers. The report further calls upon the MPD, the New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco Police Departments to emphasize the importance of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also urges the D.C. Council and New York and California lawmakers to either repeal or reform broad loitering laws designed to curb prostitution.
“Eliminating HIV infections is a national priority and ensuring the availability of condoms among those at highest risk is critical,” said Megan McLemore, senior health researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Transgender activist Ruby Corado, who is among those who spoke at the National Press Club, told the Blade that this report does not come as a surprise. The Department of Health distributed more than five million male and female condoms in 2011, but she stressed that policing policies outlined in the Human Rights Watch report undermine these programs.
“If you’re going to address HIV and AIDS, you want to make sure you address things that are important,” she said.
Assistant D.C. police chief Peter Newsham told the Blade that the MPD rarely uses condoms as evidence in prostitution-related cases. “It’s a very rare occurrence for us to seize condoms in a prostitution investigation,” he stressed. “The MPD is very much supportive of the city’s efforts to distribute condoms to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.”
The Human Rights Watch report notes that Newsham said that he was “concerned” about reports that MPD officers stopped and searched suspected sex workers during “circumstances that suggested a lack of probable cause.” He told the Blade that those who experienced police harassment should contact the MPD.
Newsham went on to question the report’s accuracy.
“Human Rights Watch uses anecdotal examples that are really uncorroborated and unsupported to make their point,” he said. “That being said, there’s nothing to suggest either that they are true or not true. They could potentially be true; they could potentially be not true.”
Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive is one of the organizations that worked with Human Rights Watch on the report.
Cyndee Clay, the group’s executive director, told the Blade that her agency receives what she described as regular reports from sex workers who claim D.C. police officers have questioned the number of condoms they have in their possession. She urged the MPD to clarify its policy.
“They’re saying this isn’t something that’s happening on a regular basis and this is not something that they’re doing, than we’re asking them to work with us to clarify or do something to state it’s not happening,” said Clay. “Regardless of whether or not this is something that every officer is doing, this is something certain members of the community has experienced; more than one member of the community has experienced and it’s something that even if it happens a couple of times has a chilling effect on everyone else’s capacity and everyone else’s ability to carry condoms.”
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

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.
District of Columbia
$3.7 billion RFK stadium proposal draws support from Team DC
Washington Commanders ‘proud’ to champion LGBTQ community

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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