Local

Gay congressmen thank supporters at Stein Club inaugural reception

Takano, Pocan join LGBT Democrats in toast to Obama victory

Published

13 years ago

January 21, 2013

Lou Chibbaro Jr.

Mark Takano, United States House, California, gay news, Washington Blade

Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Gay U.S. Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) joined about a hundred LGBT Democratic activists from across the country at an inaugural reception Saturday night hosted by D.C.’s Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.

Takano and Pocan, who won election to their first term in Congress in November, said people attending the event were among the large number of LGBT supporters from across the country that gave money and provided long distance phone banking help to their campaigns.

“Let me just say what’s so gratifying about this election and being the first openly gay member of Congress from the state of California is that you helped me win in a part of the state that was known to be very socially conservative,” Takano told the gathering.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Pocan, who won the seat that lesbian House member Tammy Baldwin gave up to wage her successful race for the U.S. Senate, coasted to victory in November in a strong Democratic district in Madison, Wisc., after winning a hotly contested Democratic primary.

“I really appreciate all of the help that you gave for all of our seven folks who got elected his year because it’s nice to increase our numbers in the House and to have Tammy Baldwin in the Senate,” Pocan said.

He was referring to the all-time high figure of seven openly gay or bisexual members of Congress who either won re-election or election in November.

Gay incumbent Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) won their re-election bids. Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Kyrsten Siema (D-Ariz.), who’s openly bisexual, joined Takano and Pocan in winning their seats as first-term House members.

Stein Club President Martin Garcia led a toast at the gathering in celebration of President Obama’s election to a second term and to what he said was the promise of continued advances in the fight for LGBT equality.

“We have folks from all over the country here with us celebrating the election of President Barack Obama,” Garcia said. “And Mark Takano and Mark Pocan, it was fantastic to have them there.”

Pocan, who introduced his husband, Phil Frank, told of how he and Frank were greeted by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) during a picture-taking session at the time he and other House members were sworn into office.

“He bounced back and forth to take pictures and we get ready and he comes up and I say I want to introduce you to my husband, Phil,” Pocan said. “Oh – he smiled. And he had a look like light bulbs went on in his head.”

Pocan said he expects that he, Baldwin and the other gay House members will continue to educate and enlighten their congressional colleagues and others they interact with.

“So all the hard work that we do to try and fight for real equality, having members at the table and having folks like you working for different organizations and working at the Capitol doing the job that you do – that’s how we’re ultimately going to get things done,” he said.

Takano said it was a testament to his skilled campaign manager, a hardworking campaign staff, and his aggressive outreach to the large number of Latino and African American voters in his district who, in the past, had supported Republican candidates, that he won his race

In what to some was an unexpected turn of events, Takano said, “the first openly gay member of Congress in the state of California was not elected from San Francisco, was not elected from Los Angeles, was not elected from San Diego, but was elected from an area that has not sent a Democrat to Congress in 20 years.”

Among those attending the event was Stein Club co-founder Paul Kuntzler, 72, who said the first presidential inauguration he attended was that of President John F. Kennedy in January 1961. Kuntzler said he was a volunteer in the Kennedy campaign in Michigan in 1960 at the age of 18.

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Baltimore

Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death

Ron Singer passed away on July 7

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Leon’s Backroom Bar in Mount Vernon. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

Local

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.

Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

Rehoboth Beach

Celebrate Pride in Rehoboth Beach this weekend

‘A vital space for community, healing, and connection’

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. (Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new Sussex Pride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the affirmation of queer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives.

End the first night of Pride in Rehoboth at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from DJ MK and Tribe 9 Entertainment.

The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westen h oefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty’s.

Goolee’s Drag Brunch will also take place on Sunday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee’s Grille. This is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and Joanna Blue. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the official Rehoboth Beach Pride Closing Party at Aqua Bar & Grill, celebrating the venue’s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influx of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.