Local
Mayor Gray’s GLBT liaison steps down
Richardson to take new post in administration
Jeffrey Richardson will leave his position heading the Mayor’s GLTB Affairs office to lead Serve DC, the volunteerism administration. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Jeffrey Richardson, who has served as director of Mayor Vincent Gray’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs since early 2011, will leave that post on Dec. 3 to become director of Serve D.C., which is also known as the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism, according to a spokesperson for the mayor.
“It’s a significant promotion to go from a smaller office, the GLBT office, to the Serve D.C. office,” said Pedro Ribeiro, director of the Mayor’s Office of Communications.
Ribeiro told the Blade the position of director of Serve D.C. recently became vacant when Gray appointed outgoing director Patricia Evans to another city job.
He said the mayor’s office has yet to officially announce the mayor’s decision to appoint Richardson to the Serve D.C. post.
“We were looking for the most qualified person to run that office and Jeffrey fit that bill very well considering the work he’s done for the city and for the community,” Ribeiro said. “We thought he was a fantastic candidate and well deserving.”
Richardson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
According to Ribeiro, Gray is expected to name Richardson’s replacement at the GLBT Affairs Office within a week or two, adding, “We don’t want to leave that office vacant.”
Richardson, who is gay, is a social worker by trade and has worked for non-profit organizations providing social services programs in the District. At the time Gray named him as director of the GLBT Affairs office, shortly after Gray took office as mayor, Richardson was serving his second one-year term as president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the city’s largest LGBT political group.
The GLBT Affairs Office has a staff of three, including the director. Serve D.C. has a staff of 18, according to Reed Baylin, a grant and finance assistant at the office.
The Serve D.C. website describes itself as “the District of Columbia Government agency dedicated to promoting service as an innovative, sustainable solution to the challenges we face as a community and a nation.”
The site says the agency “engages District communities by building partnerships and organizational capacity, serving as the local lead for national volunteer and service initiatives, and providing and promoting meaningful service opportunities throughout the year.”
In addition, Serve D.C. is charged with coordinating volunteer support for the city’s emergency preparedness program and works with the D.C. Commission on National and Community Service to administer a federally funded community service grants program.
“Jeff Richardson did a great job as director of the Office of GLBT Affairs and I congratulate him on his appointment to head Serve D.C.,” said D.C. gay activist Peter Rosenstein. “The mayor has made a great choice in appointing Jeff to this new position.”
Gray names gays to new physical fitness council
In a separate development, Gray on Tuesday announced at a news conference that he has appointed 17 people to serve on his newly created Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Nutrition.
Among the appointees are D.C. Department of Health director Dr. Saul Levin, who is gay and who will serve as chair of the commission. Also named to the commission were Mike Everts, owner of the D.C.-based FIT Personal Training Gym; and Chuck Haney, owner of the Dupont Circle bicycle store The Bike Rack. Both men are gay.
Everts and Haney joined Levin and the other members of the commission in discussing their commitment to help D.C. residents improve their health and physical fitness during a commission meeting on Monday following the mayor’s news conference announcing the appointments.
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.
Rehoboth Beach
SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer
Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance
Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.
Thursday (9/3)
Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.
After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Friday (9/4)
The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Saturday (9/5)
The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.
Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.
Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.
Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.
Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.
Sunday (9/6)
Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.
Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.
John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Monday (9/7)
The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.
Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.
Maryland
Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names
Conservative groups challenged system’s policy
By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.
Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”
Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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