Local
Norton: Something ‘important happened’ during 2012 election
D.C. congressional delegate spoke during post-election panel at U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
D.C. Congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on Nov. 15. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)
Congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) on Thursday suggested the results of the 2012 elections could prove “a turning point” in American history.
“I’m not sure what we will call it when we look back at history, but it’s certainly clear that something important happened in the election of 2012,” she said during a panel at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center that featured faith leaders and LGBT rights advocates from across the country. “The numbers tell some of it. Now there are 10 states including the District of Columbia who permit marriage equality among all people. No longer can the opponents say marriage has never won when put to the American people because three states answered yes — Maine, Maryland and Washington.”
Norton noted 46 percent of black Marylanders voted for their state’s same-sex marriage law on Election Day. Question 6 passed by a 57-43 percent margin in predominantly black Baltimore City. It lost by slightly more than 4,300 votes in Prince George’s County.
“The fact that it was that close when some believed in Maryland it would be much further apart than 46 to 54 [percent] means African Americans are beginning to see the clear analogies between themselves and the LBGT community,” said Norton.
Norton, who on Nov. 6 easily won re-election after defeating Libertarian Bruce Majors and Natale Lino Stracuzzi of the D.C. Statehood/Green Party, further applauded Minnesota voters who struck down a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman. She also applauded the White House for no longer defending the Defense of Marriage Act, lifting the ban on people with HIV/AIDS from entering the country and supporting other LGBT-specific measures and policies.
Norton further praised both President Obama and Vice President Biden for publicly supporting nuptials for gays and lesbians.
“The president said he evolved; that needs to be respected.” said Norton. “He thought, he probably prayed and he reached his own conclusions. And when the president evolved, you can imagine that there will be a lot of other people thinking whether they should evolve too.”
Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, whose parents were Pentecostal ministers, told the Washington Blade last month he identified with Obama’s evolution on marriage rights for same-sex couples. He said during a second interview outside a Baltimore polling place on Election Day that Biden’s comments on how he would not “subject other people to his feelings” on abortion during last month’s vice presidential debate against Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan factored into his decision to back Question 6 and marriage rights for same-sex couples.
As for the GOP, Norton said nuptials for gays and lesbians is “not an issue” for young Republicans.
“Some of the Republicans appear to be in a reflective — some may even call it a self-pitiful — mood when they saw the new majority of Americans turn from their party in the 2012 elections,” she said. “They will have to think how to reconcile the very good and much needed advocacy of family values.”
Norton further highlighted 70 percent of black children are born to single women.
“We got a marriage problem — not a gay marriage problem,” she said. “There is work to be done on marriage, but I sure don’t see… the gay community as the place to begin at this point. It should not be difficult in my judgment for Republicans to reconcile marriage equality with Republican philosophy.”
Reverends Nancy Wilson of the Metropolitan Community Churches and Yvette Flunder of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries in San Leandro, Calif., Rev. Dennis Wiley of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Southwest Washington and Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, were among those who also sat on the panel.
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
District of Columbia
D.C. Council member honored by LGBTQ homeless youth group
Doni Crawford receives inaugural Wanda Alston Legacy Award
About 100 people turned out Tuesday evening, April 7, for a presentation by D.C.’s Wanda Alston Foundation of its inaugural Wanda Alston Legacy Award to D.C. Council member Doni Crawford (I-At-Large) for her support for the foundation’s mission to support homeless LGBTQ youth.
Among those who attended the event was Japer Bowles, director of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, who delivered an official proclamation issued by Bowser declaring April 7, 2026 “A Day of Remembrance for Wanda Alston.”
Alston, a beloved women’s and LGBTQ rights activist, served as the city’s first director of the then newly created Office of LGBTQ Affairs under then-Mayor Anthony Williams from 2004 until her death by murder on March 16, 2005.
To the shock and dismay of fellow LGBTQ rights advocates, police and court records reported Alston, 45, was stabbed to death inside her Northeast D.C. house by a man high on crack cocaine who lived nearby and who stole her credit cards and car. The perpetrator, William Martin Parrott, 38, was arrested by D.C. police the next day and later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced in July 2005 to 24 years in prison.
Crawford was among those attending the award event who reflected on Alston’s legacy and outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ and feminist causes.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this inaugural award,” Crawford told the Washington Blade at the conclusion of the event. “I think the world of Wanda Alston. She has set such a great foundation for me and other Council members to build on,” she said.
“Her focus on inclusivity and intersectionality is really important as we approach this work,” Crawford added. “And it’s going to guide my work at the Council every day.”
Crawford was appointed to the D.C. Council in January of this year to replace then Council member Kenyan McDuffie (I-At-Large), who resigned to run for D.C. mayor as a Democrat. She is being challenged by four other independent candidates in a June 16 special election for the Council seat.
Under the city’s Home Rule Charter written and approved by Congress, the seat is one of two D.C. Council at-large seats that cannot be held by a “majority party” candidate, meaning a Democrat.
A statement released by the Alston Foundation last month announcing Crawford’s selection for the Wanda Alston Legacy Award praised Crawford’s record of support for its work on behalf of LGBTQ youth.
“From behind the scenes to now serving as an At-Large Council member, she has fought fearlessly for affordable housing, LGBTQ+ funding priorities, and racial justice,” the statement says. “Council member Crawford’s leadership reflects the same courage and conviction that defined Wanda’s legacy.”
Organizers of the event noted that it was held on what would have been Wanda Alston’s 67th birthday.
“Today’s legacy reception was a smashing success,” said Cesar Toledo, the Alston Foundation’s executive director. “Not only did we come together to celebrate Wanda Alston on her birthday, but we also were able to raise over $10,000 for our homeless LGBTQ youth here in D.C.,” Toledo told the Blade.
“In addition to that, we celebrated and we acknowledged a rising star in our community,” he said. “And that is At-Large Council member Doni Crawford, who we named the inaugural Wanda Alston Legacy Award recipient.”
At the request of D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) the Council voted unanimously on Jan. 20, 2026, to appoint Crawford to the Council seat being vacated by McDuffie.
Council records show she joined McDuffie’s Council staff in 2022 as a policy adviser and later became his legislative director before McDuffie appointed her as staff director for the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development for which McDuffie served as chair.
Calendar: April 10-16
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