Local
Poll indicates majority of Delaware voters back gay marriage
A poll commissioned by Equality Delaware shows the majority of Delaware voters support gay marriage
State Rep. Melanie George Smith (D-Bear) sponsored Delaware’s civil unions bill in the state House of Representatives. (Photo courtesy of Delaware House Majority Caucus.)
A new poll released on Monday shows the majority of Delaware voters support marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Fifty-four percent of the 600 registered voters the Global Strategy Group surveyed between Feb. 12-14 said they support nuptials for gays and lesbians, compared to 37 percent of respondents who opposed them.
Sixty percent of those who live in New Castle County, which includes Wilmington, back same-sex marriage.
The poll, which has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent, also found 61 percent of Independents and 65 percent of Democrats support the issue. And 75 percent of Republicans said same-sex marriage in Delaware would not negatively impact their lives.
“This poll is the latest indication that a decisive majority of voters in Delaware believe in treating all loving couples and their families equally under the law,” Mark Purpura, president of the Equality Delaware Foundation, said.
Equality Delaware, which commissioned the poll, released its findings against the backdrop of the anticipated introduction of a bill later this year that would extend marriage to same-sex couples in the First State.
Cathy Rossi, a spokesperson for Gov. Jack Markell who supports nuptials for gays and lesbians, told the Washington Blade over the weekend she expects lawmakers will debate a same-sex marriage bill during the current legislative session that ends on June 30. Legislators will reconvene on March 12, but neither she nor Equality Delaware President Lisa Goodman provided a specific timeline as to when a bill would be formally introduced.
The poll also coincides with the brief onto which Attorney General Beau Biden signed last week that urges the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down California’s Proposition 8 that banned same-sex marriage in the Golden State.
“Should Delaware recognize same-sex marriage, that judgment should be respected by the federal government and other states, and so he [Markell] supports efforts to ensure that can happen,” Rossi told the Blade. “The governor agrees that the Supreme Court should strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and invalidate California Proposition 8 as neither is in keeping with the Constitution’s promise of equal dignity and citizenship for all.”
Delaware is among the handful of states that allow gays and lesbians to enter civil unions.
Neighboring Maryland and eight other states and D.C. permit same-sex marriage. Lawmakers in Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island are poised to consider the issue in the coming days and weeks.
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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