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Latino LGBT community center celebrates first anniversary

Casa Ruby opened in Columbia Heights in June 2012

Published

13 years ago

on

Ruby Corado, Casa Ruby, gay news, Washington Blade
Rub

Ruby Corado, founder of Latino LGBT community center Casa Ruby. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray was among those who gathered at Casa Ruby in Northwest Washington on Thursday to celebrate the first anniversary of the Latino LGBT community center.

Casa Ruby, which opened in a three-story brownstone at 2822 Georgia Ave., N.W., in Colombia Heights last June, offers a variety of social services and other programs to LGBT Latinos in D.C. area in both Spanish and English. These include job placement programs, referrals to immigration lawyers, HIV testing and a food pantry.

Casa Ruby CEO Ruby Corado told the Washington Blade her organization has provided services to more than 700 people since it opened its doors.

“It’s been an amazing year,” she said, noting the center is a multicultural space that is open to everyone. “It’s been like a dream come true and I feel accomplished because this past year, what I had in mind did happen.”

Casa Ruby has expanded into the third floor of the brownstone to accommodate the clients it now serves.

Corado said the center’s operating budget is currently $5,500 a month, with $4,500 a month in rent and another $1,000 in expenses for utilities and printing supplies. Corado contributes $2,000 – or more than a third of Casa Ruby’s monthly operating budget – each month from her personal savings.

She said a handful of major donors have contributed between $500 and $1,000. A benefit that took place at Black Cat Backstage on 14th Street in Northwest D.C. on June 3 raised $427, but the vast majority of contributions to Casa Ruby come from what Corado described as around 200 “community donors” who donate $10 or $20.

Gray announced during a Blade town hall last Friday at the John A. Wilson Building that LGBT organizations that provide community services could become eligible to receive grants for as much as $100,000 under a new city program.

Corado said she hopes to receive city grants and other funding, but she stressed her most pressing concern is paying Casa Ruby’s rent.

She paid the organization’s landlord $4,000 last week, but she still owes him $7,000.

“The only thing I worry about is the rent,” Corado said.

Client: Life “has changed completely”

Camila Munayki Quiroz had just begun her transition when Casa Ruby opened in June 2012. The D.C. resident who is originally from Perú had been an undocumented immigrant for eight years after her student visa expired, but the lawyer with whom Corado connected her won her immigration case.

“Now I have legal documents in this country, which has opened many opportunities for me,” Quiroz said. “My life has changed completely.”

D.C. resident Marquette, who did not give his last name, has attended job training classes and received an HIV test at Casa Ruby since he became a client two months ago. He told the Blade he feels the organization provides him and others “a lot of opportunities.”

“I’m really trying to do something with my life right now,” Marquette said. “This space is helping me.”

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District of Columbia

Blade welcomes fall intern

Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida

Published

23 hours ago

on

September 2, 2026

By

Alexis McLean (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

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.

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Rehoboth Beach

SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer

Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance

Published

2 days ago

on

September 1, 2026

By

David Archuleta headlines this year’s SUNFESTIVAL on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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.

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Maryland

Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names

Conservative groups challenged system’s policy

Published

2 days ago

on

September 1, 2026

By

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has issued new internal guidance for students who ask to be addressed by gender-affirming names and pronouns. (Photo by Eric Thompson for the Baltimore Banner)

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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