Local
Gay congressmen thank supporters at Stein Club inaugural reception
Takano, Pocan join LGBT Democrats in toast to Obama victory
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.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party set for May 15 with Ashley Biden
The Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 15 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has joined the list of speakers, the Blade announced. She will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau Biden for his LGBTQ advocacy work as Delaware attorney general. (Her appearance was rescheduled from last year.)
The event, to be held this year at Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave. Ext.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient will be introduced at the event.
The event will also feature remarks from state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. New CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Diego’s.
A suggested donation of $25 is partially tax deductible and includes a drink ticket and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
District of Columbia
Curve magazine honors Washington Blade publisher
Lynne Brown named to 2026 Power List
Washington Blade Publisher Lynne Brown has been named to the 2026 Curve Power List celebrating LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields.
“From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve Foundation/Curve magazine said in announcing this year’s list, which includes ABC newscaster Robin Roberts, comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder, and singer/actress Renee Rapp, among others.
Brown has worked for the Washington Blade for nearly 40 years. She was named publisher in 2007 before becoming a co-owner in 2010.
“I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said. “Receiving this Curve honor is twofold. I was an early subscriber to Curve. I enjoy the product and know its history. Its journalism, layout and humorous features have inspired me.
“As an owner/publisher, receiving recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate. Franco Stevens, the publisher of Curve, is a business person of duration, experience, and purpose. The fact that they are in the media business, and honoring me and my publication makes it a tiny bit sweeter.”
Nominations for the Curve Power List come from the community: peers, mentors, fans, and employers.
Curve explained the significance of the list in its announcement: “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors. Such a list also fosters encouragement and solidarity, and elevates voices and achievements—from high-profile roles to under appreciated areas of life.”
Rehoboth Beach
Auction of Rehoboth’s Blue Moon canceled
Details on sale of iconic bar, restaurant not disclosed
The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has been an iconic presence in the local LGBTQ community for four decades but its status remains murky after a sheriff’s auction of the property was abruptly called off on Tuesday.
The property was listed for sale in December. At that time, owner Tim Ragan told the Blade that he is committed to preserving its legacy as a gay-friendly space.
“We had no idea the interest this would create,” Ragan said in December. “I guess I was a little naive about that.”
Ragan explained that he and longtime partner Randy Haney were separating the real estate from the business. The two buildings associated with the sale were listed by Carrie Lingo at 35 Baltimore Ave., and include an apartment, the front restaurant (6,600 square feet with three floors and a basement), and a secondary building (roughly 1,800 square feet on two floors). They were listed for $4.5 million.
The bar and restaurant business is being sold separately; the price was not publicly disclosed.
But then, earlier this year, the Blue Moon real estate listing turned up on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office auction site. The auction was slated for Tuesday, April 21 but hours before the sale, the listing changed to “active under contract” indicating that a buyer has been found but the sale is not yet final. As of Wednesday morning, the listing has been removed from the sheriff’s auction site.
Ragan didn’t respond to Blade inquiries about the auction. Back in December, he told the Blade, “It’s time to look for the next people who can continue the history of the Moon and cultivate the next chapter,” noting that he turns 70 this year. “We’re not panicked; we separated the building from the business. Some buyers can’t afford both.”
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, nor was the sale price.
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