Local
Gay man shot to death in Baltimore
Second victim in coma; police have no suspects
Alex Ulrich (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Police Department)
Baltimore police continue to investigate a shooting early Friday morning that left a gay aspiring photographer dead and a popular Mount Vernon community activist in critical condition.
Officials said that Joseph Alexander “Alex” Ulrich, Jr., 40, and Lawrence R. Peterson, 56, were standing on the front steps of a building near the Belvedere Hotel on East Chase Street just before 4 a.m. on Aug. 10 when shots rang out. Both victims were taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital where Ulrich died several hours later.
Peterson, who purchased Empire House, the historic 1874 brownstone that had once been Gov. William Pinkney Whyte’s private residence, in 1996 and converted it into a bed and breakfast, remains in a coma.
Police took the unusual step of releasing the victims’ photographs in hopes of generating additional leads — investigators have yet to identify any potential suspects, but Det. Jeremy Silbert of the Baltimore Police Department described one of the assailants to the Blade as a black male of average height with a medium build who was wearing dark clothes and a black baseball cap. He described the second person as a short, heavy-set black female who was wearing dark clothing and a skull cap.
Anthony Giuglielmi of the Baltimore Police Department added on Tuesday that it appears the victims’ sexual orientation did not play a role in the shooting.
“There’s no evidence thus far that it has anything to do with a hate crime,” he told the Blade.
Ulrich, who grew up in Smithsburg near Hagerstown in Washington County, attended Salisbury State University on the Eastern Shore where he was active in the school’s theater community. He had been an actor and worked with children with special needs in Gettysburg, Pa., before moving to Baltimore in the spring to start his photography career. He lived on the 900 block of North Calvert Street in Mount Vernon, the heart of the city’s gay community, with best friend Glenn Bennett.
“Knowing him was just like being inside of joy,” Bennett, who met Ulrich 20 years ago when he began studying at Salisbury State, told the Blade. “He was just the most friendly person, so very sweet and kind. He knew how to have a good time and he enjoyed a good laugh. We honestly have spent 20 years laughing hysterically together, which has been quite wonderful.”
Bennett said that a Pennsylvania art gallery had exhibited four of Ulrich’s photographs just before he died.
“He, for a very long time, had been wanting to just be a full-fledged photographer and had started working toward that,” he said. “He had been dreaming for years and years and years of moving to Baltimore and was finally able to do it and actually started to have all those things happen for him. It makes it that much more bittersweet for all of us.”
Ian Finkenbinder, who met Ulrich through Bennett, echoed these sentiments.
“Alex was an amazing funny, spirited individual who enriched and brightened the lives of everyone around him,” he said. “We are all devastated and left poorer for his absence in our lives.”
A vigil for Ulrich and Peterson is scheduled to take place tonight in West Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore at 7 p.m. A second memorial will take place in Smithsburg on Wednesday night.
Ulrich’s wake is scheduled to take place at the Rest Haven Cemetery in Hagerstown on Thursday from 6 – 9 p.m. His funeral is scheduled to take place at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Hagerstown on Friday at 11 a.m.
Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call homicide detectives at (410) 396-2100. All callers will remain anonymous. Metro Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment in this case. Call 1 866-7LOCKUP with any information.
Steve Charing contributed to this report.
District of Columbia
Campaign launched to elect more LGBTQ candidates to ANC seats
Capital Stonewall Democrats behind Queering ANCs effort
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, announced on July 7 it has launched a campaign to help elect large numbers of LGBTQ candidates to the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
The D.C. local government is believed to be unique among U.S. cities in currently having 46 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions consisting of 345 single-member districts in neighborhoods throughout the city in which unpaid Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are elected for two-year terms.
The commissions are charged with considering a wide range of policies and programs impacting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and D.C.’s annual budget, according to the ANC website.
Although the ANCs do not have authority to set or reject policies or proposals, such as applications for liquor licenses, city agencies are required to give “great weight” to ANC recommendations, according to the law creating the ANCs.
Kent Boese, a gay former ANC commissioner, currently serves as executive director of the D.C. Office of ANCs.
“We are launching the most ambitious hyperlocal LGBTQ+ candidate pipeline initiative in the country,” said Stevie McCarty, the Capital Stonewall Democrats president, in a July 7 statement that announced the Queering ANCs campaign.
“As an ANC member, I know firsthand how these seats shape our neighborhoods, from housing and public safety to sanitation,” McCarty says in the statement. “I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure more LGBTQ+ Washingtonians see themselves as leaders in their communities,” he said.
The ANC Rainbow Caucus, which was created by LGBTQ ANC members, shows on its website that there are currently 38 caucus members consisting of elected LGBTQ ANC commissioners serving in the current 2025-2026 two-year term.
The website shows there are LGBTQ commissioners who are caucus members in each of the city’s eight wards, with six in Ward 1, eight in Ward 2, one in Ward 3, six in Ward 4, five in Ward 5, three in Ward 6, eight in Ward 7, and one in Ward 8.
The Washington Blade couldn’t immediately determine how many of them will be running for re-election in D.C.’s general election in November. But McCarty said Capital Stonewall Democrats hopes to recruit many more LGBTQ candidates to run for ANC seats.
The D.C. Board of Elections website shows the deadline for filing 25 required petition signatures to be placed on the ballot is Aug. 5.
A Queering ANCs website launched this week by Capital Stonewall Democrats provides details on how to run for an ANC seat and offers help for those interested in running.
“Think of someone in your building, neighborhood, friend group, community organization, or professional network who cares deeply about D.C. and would make a strong leader,” McCarty says in his statement. “Send them QueeringANCs.org and personally ask them to consider running,” he said.
The website can be accessed at QueeringANCs.org.
Baltimore
Ron Singer, owner of popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s, dies
66-year-old’s funeral to take place Friday
By CAYLA HARRIS | Ron Singer, the owner of Baltimore’s popular gay bar Leon’s Backroom, died Tuesday, the venue announced in a social media post. He was 66.
“For more than 20 years, Ron made Leon’s a place so many people were proud to call home,” the post reads. “He will be deeply missed.”
The Mount Vernon bar, typically open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, is still open Thursday, but doors will close at midnight so staff can attend his funeral Friday morning. Services are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
Mary’s House founder, CEO retires
Dr. Imani Woody played leading role in opening DC’s first home for LGBTQ seniors
The board of directors for Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC’s first official home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, announced on July 7 that its founding president and CEO, Dr. Imani Woody, has retired.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing a leading role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort Dupont neighborhood.
The house, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025, includes 15 single-occupancy residential units and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
“It is with profound gratitude and hearts full of celebration that the board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC (MHFOA) announces the retirement of our visionary founder, Dr. Imani Woody, from her role as president and CEO,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Dr. Woody’s journey with Mary’s House began with her vision and a kitchen table gathering of women with a bold, urgent, and loving vision: to create safe, affirming, affordable housing for LGBTQ/SGL older adults in Washington, DC,” the statement says.
It adds, “What started as a dream has grown into DC’s first affordable LGBTQ+/SGL affirming communal living space for adults 60 and over, a 15-room community residence at 401 Anacostia Road in Southeast Washington.”
The statement says Woody will continue to serve on Mary’s House board.
“The board will be sharing information about the leadership transition process in the coming weeks,” the statement continues. “We are committed to honoring Dr. Woody’s legacy by ensuring Mary’s House continues to thrive and grow in faithful service to LGBTQ/SGL elders experiencing housing insecurity and isolation.”
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