Local
Many reeling after list of marriage opponents revealed
“Just found out that our next door neighbors of 10 YEARS signed the Civil Marriage Petition to repeal the change coming in Maryland. A sad day.”
‘Just found out that our next door neighbors of 10 YEARS signed the Civil Marriage Petition to repeal the change coming in Maryland. A sad day,’ Randee posted to his Facebook page.
Randee and Josh, a gay couple living in Columbia and raising two young sons, were taken aback when they had the opportunity to review the names and addresses of people in their neighborhood who signed the petition to force the issue of marriage equality to the ballot in November.
“Just found out that our next door neighbors of 10 YEARS signed the Civil Marriage Petition to repeal the change coming in Maryland. A sad day,” Randee posted to his Facebook page.
The Washington Blade obtained a database of the names last week from the public record and posted them to its website.
Howard County Register of Wills Byron Macfarlane of Woodstock, Md. — the first openly gay office holder in the county — was stunned by the list. “As any of us looks through this list I think we’ll receive a wake-up call to just how much work we have to do to win at the polls this November,” he told the Blade. “It really is disappointing to see so many people we know on this list. Personally, finding that aunts and uncles and my own father had signed was very upsetting. My hope is that over the next few months we’re able to tell our stories and talk to them about love and commitment and win their votes.”
Marriage advocates from around the state who have reviewed the list of more than 113,000 names are discovering similar surprises by noticing family members, neighbors and co-workers have signed the petition. Their reactions have ranged from resignation to sheer anger. People in the heart of traditionally gay neighborhoods, such as Waverly and Charles Village, are included among the petitioners as are a large number of folks from normally progressive areas in Howard and Montgomery counties.
“Apparently a lot of people didn’t realize their signatures would be made public,” noted Bob Ford of Clarksville. “This brings into question the validity of recent polling data.”
Activist Gerry Fisher of Baltimore sees the revelation of the petitioners as an opportunity. “I think it’s worthwhile asking them if they’d be open to sitting down over coffee and chatting about each other’s families,” says Fisher. “If they say yes, then they are ‘in the moveable middle.’ If they say no, move on. The real ‘tragedy’ would be to let this list distract us from having persuasive conversations with those in the moveable middle, because it’s those people who will determine this election.”
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Congratulations to Jaime Christopher Pierce on their appointment to serve as a member of the Virginia Governor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Pierce was sworn in on Sept. 3 by Greg Parks, clerk of the Alexandria Circuit Court.
Pierce currently serves as vice chair of the Alexandria City LGBTQIA+ Task Force and as a member of the Alexandria Pride planning committee. They previously served on the board of directors of Equality Virginia.
Upon being sworn in, Pierce said, “Public service has been a central part of my life for more than 30 years, and this appointment gives me an opportunity to serve the Commonwealth in a different and very personal way. My career has allowed me to work with people and communities throughout Virginia, and I hope to bring that experience, along with my own lived experience and my involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, to the work of the Board.” They added, “Having Greg administer the oath makes the occasion even more meaningful because of his own historic role as Virginia’s first openly gay elected circuit court clerk.”
Pierce also serves as Circuit Court Services Manager for the Department of Judicial Services, at the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. They began their career in Virginia’s judiciary in 1994 as a deputy clerk with the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and have since held several professional and leadership positions within the court system. Pierce is a member of the National Association for Court Management (NACM) and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management. At the national level, Pierce participated in the workgroup that developed the National Association for Court Management’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guide, a resource designed to help court professionals advance inclusive practices and strengthen access, fairness and belonging within the justice system.
Pierce earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University, and a certificate in Paralegal Studies from Norfolk State University.
Maryland
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Pride Center of Maryland among recipients
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy are awarding a total of $10 million in grants in the 2027 fiscal year to nonprofit organizations that work to prevent hate crimes in the state.
The funds will be used to support those who feel targeted or discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
The Pride Center of Maryland is among the recipients. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and LGBTQ organizations are all eligible to receive grants
“The safety and security of all Marylanders is my top priority, so we are drawing a hard line because we have no tolerance for hate,” said Moore, according to media reports. “We are committed to protecting and ensuring safe and sacred spaces stay that way by investing in non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and community centers to protect and honor every community that makes our state so diverse and special.”
“Protection Against Hate Crime funding has strengthened the Pride Center of Maryland’s ability to protect, educate, and support the communities we serve … at a time of heightened concern associated with the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ/SGL (same-gender-loving) policies and pressures,” Pride Center of Maryland CEO Cleo Manago said. “PAHC funding helps us do more than improve physical security — it strengthens our community’s knowledge, preparedness, connection to resources, and ability to respond to hate with greater awareness and support.”
Maryland’s hate crimes law includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. The state’s nondiscrimination statute is also LGBTQ-inclusive.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
‘Thelma and Louise’ remains landmark of unspoken queer rebellion
Comings & Goings
LGBTQ Military Happy Hour set for Sept. 15
Calendar: September 11-17
Multi-billion-dollar 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to continue until 2090
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Nominate your favorites for the Blade’s 25th annual Best Of LGBTQ DC Awards
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