Local
Beau Biden: Same-sex marriage momentum is ‘on our side’
Delaware attorney general appears in latest Equality Delaware video
Beau Biden (Photo courtesy Biden)
WILMINGTON, Del.—Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden on Saturday said support for marriage rights for same-sex couples continues to grow ahead of the expected introduction of a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to tie the knot in his state.
“I know that momentum is on our side on this,” he told the Washington Blade.
Biden, who had been scheduled to attend an Equality Delaware fundraiser in Wilmington on Friday but was unable because he was on duty with the Delaware Army National Guard, spoke with the Blade less than a week after the organization released a video in which he speaks in support of nuptials for gays and lesbians.
Equality Delaware on March 4 released a poll that shows 54 percent of the state’s voters back marriage rights for same-sex couples.
“I wanted to do whatever I could to lend a voice to an important message on marriage equality,” he said. “I’m happy to work with [Equality Delaware President] Lisa [Goodman] and the folks here in Delaware who are fighting the fight that is a very important one.”
Biden did not provide a specific timeline as to when a same-sex marriage bill would be introduced in the General Assembly.
The legislative session ends on June 30, but he said one of the challenges remains ensuring there is enough time for lawmakers to debate the measure with a gun control bill and other proposals on the table.
“One of the issues is how busy the General Assembly is,” Biden said. “That’s why I’m anxious to make sure that something is put in the General Assembly sooner than later so we don’t run up against the clock.”
He also remains optimistic the measure will gain Republican support once it is formally introduced.
“I’m hopeful that Democrats and Republicans recognize this is a fundamental civil rights issue and everyone should have the same rights under the law,” Biden said. “Right now it’s just not the case. Something needs to be fixed, so I’m hopeful that there will be Republicans on board.”
Biden is among the 14 state attorneys general who filed two amicus briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court that argue California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act are unconstitutional. The justices will hear oral arguments in both cases on March 26-27 respectively.
“I’m confident that David Boies and Ted Olson, two of the great advocates of our era, will be forceful advocates for our position before the Supreme Court,” Biden said. “I’m hopeful the Supreme Court will come down on our side on this.”
Delaware is among the handful of states that currently allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. Neighboring Maryland and eight other states and D.C. have extended marriage rights to gays and lesbians.
A Rhode Island Senate committee on March 21 will hold a hearing on a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the Ocean State. Lawmakers in Illinois and other states are expected to debate the issue in the coming days and weeks.
Biden also applauded his father, Vice President Biden, for speaking in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples during a pre-taped interview with David Gregory of NBC’s “Meet the Press” in May 2012.
“I was incredibly proud of my father for speaking from his heart, but also speaking from his head,” Biden said, noting he watched it with his parents after they attended Mass. “He knew from both places that this is about love and to not stand in the way of the ability for anybody to love and to be in a committed relationship and marriage with whomever they choose. And so it’s pretty straight forward and simple for my dad I think. That’s why he answered the question so much from the heart.”
Biden said he feels momentum in support of the issue has only grown since his father and President Obama spoke publicly in support of it. He noted U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and others are “coming along and joining this civil rights fight it seems on a daily basis.”
“I feel the momentum,” Biden said. “I’m hopeful that that will carry through with the General Assembly enacting this important law.”
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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