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Marylanders for Marriage Equality raises $250K at Chevy Chase fundraiser

Gay Democratic lobbyist asked to host D.C. fundraiser with O’Malley in September

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Martin O'Malley, gay news, gay politics dc

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The group defending Maryland’s same-sex marriage law raised $250,000 at a Chevy Chase fundraiser on Wednesday.

Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, gay state Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County), state Del. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery County) and Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin were among the roughly 70 people who attended the Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser at long-time Democratic activists Susie and Michael Gelman’s home. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin and Andrew Barnett, executive director of the Sexual Minority Youth Action League, also attended the fundraiser.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of those who attended the Wednesday event,” said Marylanders for Marriage Equality spokesperson Kevin Nix.

The Chevy Chase event comes less than a month after O’Malley and House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Anne Arundel County) co-hosted a Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser in Ocean City. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and gay Howard County Register of Wills Byron Macfarlane co-hosted a July 13 fundraiser for Marylanders for Marriage Equality in Ellicott City. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was among those who attended another event in the Charm City that raised roughly $20,000 for the group.

Chevy Chase residents Tony Varona and John Gill on July 15 hosted an Equality Maryland fundraiser in support of the campaign to defend the state’s same-sex marriage law. Madaleno, state Sens. Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery County,) Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s County), and Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery County) as well as state Dels. Susan Lee (D-Montgomery County), Aruna Miller (D-Montgomery County) in addition to Chevy Chase Mayor Pat Burda were among those who attended.

Josh Levin, campaign director of Marylanders for Marriage Equality, told the Blade last month he remains confident his group can successfully defend marriage rights for gays and lesbians in the state with between $5 and $7 million. The campaign has yet to publicly disclose the amount of money it has raised, but some activists have said that Marylanders for Marriage Equality will need up to $12 million to defend the law in the November referendum.

Meanwhile, the Blade has learned that O’Malley has asked gay Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf to host a D.C. fundraiser in September.

“We are working on dates,” said Elmendorf.

O’Malley’s office did not immediately return the Blade’s request for comment, while Nix did not provide further details.

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PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards

Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

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Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.

A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.

The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals

Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade

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Deacon Maccubbin attends the 2024 Capital Pride Parade. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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.

Laverne Cox (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

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.

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PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride

Schuyler Bailar gives keynote address

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D.C. Trans Pride 2025 was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on May 17. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)

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