Local
Gray, councilmembers march in D.C. Pride parade
Annual event wound its way through Dupont and Logan Circles.
Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) are among those who joined grand marshals Lynda Carter and Brigadier Gen. Tammy S. Smith of the U.S. Army Reserve, who became the first openly gay and lesbian flag officer to serve in the military, and others as the parade wound its way from 22nd and P Streets, N.W., to Whitman-Walker Health at 14th and R Streets, N.W.
āThe Pride parade is a great celebration of diversity in the District of Columbia,ā Mendelson told the Washington Blade as he lined up with supporters along 22nd Street, N.W.
āThereās a lot of ground left to cover, but it sure feels different from the earlier Prides,ā D.C. Councilman Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) added. āThereās so much more of a sense of acceptance and tolerance.ā
First held in 1981, the annual parade has grown to include dozens of LGBT organizations and other groups.
SMYAL, D.C. Frontrunners, the D.C. Center, Whitman-Walker Health and the Trevor Project are among the groups that marched in this yearās parade.
āItās always thrilling,ā former D.C. Councilwoman Carol Schwartz, who attended the parade with PFLAG, told the Blade shortly after it began in Dupont Circle. āItās especially thrilling now that we have same-sex marriage and that weāve seen so many advancements.ā
Tens of thousands of people also attended the 17th annual Capital Pride Street Festival that took place on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets, N.W., on Sunday. Emeli SandƩ, Icona Pop and Cher Lloyd will headline the main stage.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beachās iconic Purple Parrot is sold
Popular restaurant/bar purchased by local entrepreneurs
After 25 years of success, owners Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts recently sold Rehoboth Beachās Purple Parrot restaurant and bar.
During those 25 years, they built it into an iconic establishment in Rehoboth Beach, Del., popular with locals and tourists alike.
āI think you know that this has basically been my entire adult life,ā Fuller said. āSelling wasn’t something I was even contemplating until my health took a turn after contracting COVID, which took a toll on my everyday health. I went from working almost every day to barely going in.ā
Fuller added that when local entrepreneurs Tyler Townsend and his partner Drew Mitchell reached out, he knew it was time to sell.
āWe knew we made the right decision going with some young blood that knew the staff, the restaurant, and us,ā Fuller said. āWe know that our baby is in good hands and will breathe for another 25+ years with them at the helm. I plan to take some time and bring my mom back to her hometown in Germany to visit her family, which she hasn’t seen in over 30 years.ā
Roberts added, āIt is bittersweet selling a business you created, nurtured, and ran for 25 years. It is much easier knowing who is going to love it next. More importantly, we really wanted our staff to be OK and again picking the right guys offering that security to them was a major plus. Iāve learned so much being in the restaurant business for 30+ years. You meet so many great people, so many loyal customers, amazing locals, and even better staff. It truly does become a family situation. I will always be grateful to every single one of them past and present. I cannot wait to see what the next chapter of the Purple Parrot Grill has in-store.ā
The new owners, Townsend and Mitchell, are already a big part of the Rehoboth scene. Townsend is a successful restaurateur, part of the Second Block Hospitality Group, which owns The Pines, Drift, and Bodhi Kitchen. Townsend is also one of the owners of Aqua Bar and Grill. Townsend and the other three partners in Second Block Hospitality, were named restaurateurs of the year by the Delaware Restaurant Association earlier this year. Mitchell has a company that does corporate branding, but is no newcomer to hospitality. He is the owner of the Fathom Gallery on 14th Street in D.C., a popular event space.
Townsend told the Blade he and Mitchell are not planning any big changes for the Parrot. The staff will remain the same and the food and drinks will continue as they are now. They will continue to be open on Thanksgiving and Christmas, as a home for those looking to have a great place to spend the holidays with old, and new friends. While the Parrot is independent of Townsendās other businesses, he believes there can be some synergy among them, and if the time and event are right, there will be collaboration.
Reaction to the news from locals has been overwhelmingly positive.
Christopher Chandler, who has worked as a bartender and manager at the Parrot for years, is well respected in the community and has been voted best bartender in Rehoboth Beach a number of times by Blade readers. Chandler said, āHugh and Troy were, and are, like family to me. They treated me and the staff of the Parrot as part of theirs. Iām sad they are gone but if anyone is capable of continuing their legacy it is Tyler and Drew.
āIn the short time since their purchase of the Purple Parrot they have continued on that tradition. Iām excited about continuing into the future what the Parrot has been to the community, and to the employees, just with new owners.ā
Bob Suppies, who is a partner with Townsend in Second Block Hospitality said, āI couldnāt be more excited for Tyler and Drew having purchased The Purple Parrot. When Tyler, Kevin McDuffie and I bought Aqua Bar & Grill from the famed Bill Shields, it was important for us to honor the brand and legacy of a great Rehoboth Beach institution. I know Tyler and Drew will do an outstanding job protecting what Hugh and Troy have built and given to our community.ā
Steve Fallon, owner of local retail store Gidgetās Gadgets, said, āThe Purple Parrot is a monumental institution produced by the hard work of Hugh, Troy, Cathy, and their loyal staff. We will be sad not to yell “Hey Hugh!” across the street. But I also know that Tyler and Drew will carry on the history of the Parrot with a fresh approach and always keep the customers happy. I wouldn’t fear that they would do as others have done and try changing a functioning landscape into a horror show.ā
Maryland
Hate crime charges dropped against most Salisbury students in off-campus attack
Suspects allegedly used Grindr to target victim
BY MIKE HELLGRIN, CHRISTIAN OLANIRAN, AND ELLIE WOLFE | Prosecutors in Wicomico County are dropping felony assault and hate crime charges against at least 12 of the 15 Salisbury University students charged in an off-campus attack in October.
Misdemeanor false imprisonment and second-degree assault charges remain for most of the defendants, and many trials are set for late January.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Bannerās website.
District of Columbia
D.C. Mayorās Office of LGBTQ Affairs moving to new location
LGBTQ community center also set to leave Reeves Center
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowserās Office of LGBTQ Affairs, which is currently located at the cityās Reeves Center municipal building at 14th and U Street, N.W., was scheduled to move during the week of Dec. 9 to a new location at 899 North Capitol St., N.E., according to Japer Bowles, the officeās director.
Bowles said the LGBTQ Affairs office will be located on the seventh floor of the privately owned office building in which the city has rented space for several other city agencies, including the D.C. Department of Health.
The move comes about amid longstanding plans to demolish the Reeves Center and replace it with a redevelopment project that will include a mix of housing, office space, a hotel, and retail stores along with a public plaza and a 200-seat amphitheater.
The D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center, which has been located in the Reeves Center for about 10 years, also expects to be moving out of the building in the spring of 2025, said Kimberley Bush, the LGBTQ centerās executive director.
Bush said the LGBTQ center looks forward to moving into its new, larger space in a building at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. in the cityās Shaw neighborhood, which is located one block away from the Shaw-Howard University Metro station.
The LGBTQ center entered a joint lease to rent space in the Wiltberger Street building with the Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes most of D.C.ās LGBTQ Pride events, including the upcoming World Pride 2025 events set to take place in D.C. May 17-June 8.
In response to a request by Bowser, the D.C. Council earlier this year approved $1 million in funding for fiscal year 2025 to support the build-out and construction of the LGBTQ Centerās space in the Wiltberger Streetās converted warehouse building.
But shortly after the Council approved that funding, the D.C. Center and Capital Pride Alliance announced the launch of a fundraising campaign called āWelcome Home ā Building Together, Thriving Togetherā to raise an additional $1.5 million needed to complete the renovation of the new building.
āThis endeavor is more than just the construction of a building; it represents a commitment to carve out a generous 7,000 square feet of space devoted to nurturing unity, empowerment, and support across the LGBTQ+ spectrum,ā a statement announcing the fundraising campaign says.
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