Local
Election night watch parties planned
HRC, Cobalt, National Press Club, and Galactica at MOVA are among the options


Archive photo of a Human Rights Campaign Fund election watch party in 1990. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
Human Rights Campaign is having what it’s calling “the biggest LGBT election night watch party in D.C.” at Eatonville (2121 14th St., N.W.). Suggested donation is $5-10 and includes a thank-you gift while supplies last.
Online reservations are encouraged at hrc.org/electionwatchdc but that doesn’t reserve you a spot — those who want to attend are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a spot.
HOW ARE LOCAL LGBT POLITICOS SPENDING ELECTION NIGHT?
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) will be screening results on its new TVs in the 30 Degrees (mid-floor) lounge. A Facebook page has been created for the event. RSVP there. Festivities start at 7 p.m.
The gay-friendly 6th and I Synagogue (600 I St., N.W.) has large-screen TVs, all-American food, a cash bar and commentary from Georgetown Law Professor and former Kennedy adviser Peter Edelmen from 7:30-11 p.m. Jeffrey Rosen, legal correspondent for the New Republic and professor of law at George Washington University Law School will also offer comments.
The National Press Club has a ticketed non-partisan watch party planned. Club members can meet in the Truman Lounge. The First Amendment Lounge will be open to the public. Admission is $10 for club members and $15 for non-members. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Visit press.org for tickets.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Special Agent Galactica (AKA Jeffrey Johnson, a winner in this year’s Best of Gay D.C. Blade awards) performs an “Election Night Rock and Roll Show With Special Raffle” at MOVA (2204 14th St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. She has covers planned of songs by some of pop and rock’s biggest acts but will also provide election night coverage. The raffle is for two tickets to Signature Theatre. Details at pinkhairedone.com.
District of Columbia
Norton reintroduces bill to ban discrimination against LGBTQ jurors in D.C. Superior Court
Congresswoman notes Congress controls local court system

D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) on Friday, June 20, reintroduced her bill to ban discrimination against LGBTQ D.C. residents in the process for selecting people to serve as jurors in D.C. Superior Court.
“The bill would clarify that D.C. residents may not be excluded or disqualified from jury service in the local D.C. trial court, the D.C. Superior Court, based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” Norton said in a statement.
“Specifically, this bill would clarify that the term ‘sex,’ which is a protected class under the nondiscrimination law that applies to jurors in the D.C. Superior Court includes sexual orientation and gender identity,” Norton said.
She points out in her statement that under the D.C. Home Rule Act approved by Congress that created D.C.’s local government, including an elected mayor and City Council, the federal government retained control over the local court system.
“Therefore, until D.C. is given authority to amend Title 11 of the D.C. Code, which one of my bills would do, an act of Congress is required to clarify that LGBTQ+ jurors in the D.C. Superior Court are protected from discrimination,” according to her statement.
A spokesperson for Norton couldn’t immediately be reached to determine whether Norton is aware of specific instances where residents were denied jury service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Online records of congressional action on Norton’s juror nondiscrimination bill show she had introduced it in 2019, 2021, and 2023, when it died in committee each year, except for the 117th Congress in 2022, when it was approved by a committee but died in the full House.
“During Pride month we are reminded of the many contributions of the LGBTQ+ community,” Norton said in her June 20 statement. “Nobody, including D.C. jurors, should be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and D.C. juries should not be deprived of the service of LGBTQ residents,” she added.

The Washington Blade’s second day of Pride on the Pier at The Wharf DC ended with a fireworks show on Saturday, June 7. The fireworks show was presented by the Leonard-Litz LGBTQ Foundation.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

















State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) will face John Reid in the race to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor.
Hashmi won the Democratic primary with 27.49 percent of the vote. She defeated former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), Babur Lateef, Victor Salgado and Alexander Bastani.
“Tonight, Virginians made history,” said Hashmi in a statement. “We didn’t just win a primary, we sent a clear message that we won’t be bullied, broken, or dragged backward by the chaos in Washington.”
Reid, a gay conservative talk show host, in April won the Republican nomination to succeed Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The incumbent governor days after Reid secured the nomination called for him to withdraw his candidacy amid reports that a social media account with his username included “pornographic content.” Reid, who would become the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in Virginia if he wins in November, has strongly denied the reports.
Former state Del. Jay Jones defeated Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor in Democratic attorney general primary. Jones will face Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares in November.
Youngkin cannot run for a second, consecutive term.
Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger will face off against Earle-Sears in November. The winner will make history as the first woman elected governor in the state’s history.