Local
Anti-gay Maryland lawmaker to retire
Del. Burns says legislature ‘too liberal for me’
Maryland state Del. Emmett C. Burns, Jr. (Photo public domain)
Longtime anti-gay state Del. Emmett C Burns, Jr. announced on July 8 he will not seek re-election in 2014. Burns, 72, has represented his Baltimore County district in the House of Delegates since 1995, and some have speculated that his decision was a result of redistricting whereby he could lose a re-election bid. He explained, however, “The legislature has become too liberal for me. I don’t need the headache anymore.”
Indeed, following the passage of the bill that legalized same-sex marriage in Maryland, Burns told the Baltimore Sun, “It’s taken a big chunk out of my belief in what is right. If we keep going the way we’re going, we’re going to end up on a slippery slope that we’ll never get out of.”
Burns was a persistent opponent of the bill, which was ultimately signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley in March of 2012. During the campaign later that year to overturn the law by referendum, Burns was a powerful leader in that movement.
He made national news in September 2012 when he tried to get the Baltimore Ravens to prevent linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, a proponent of marriage equality, from speaking out on the matter.
“I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player, “Burns wrote in his letter. “Many of my constituents and your football supporters are appalled and aghast that a member of the Ravens Football Team would step into this controversial divide and try to sway public opinion one way or the other.”
The Ravens refused his request stating that Ayanbadejo had the right to express himself. “We support Brendon’s right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment,” team president Dick Cass said. Burns was later disciplined by the House of Delegates for using official letterhead in his request to the team’s owner Steve Bisciotti. Burns later acknowledged that Ayanbadejo had a right to his opinion.
Following that action by the House, Burns said, “I am unalterably opposed to same-sex marriage, and I have been very aggressive in my opposition to same-sex marriage.”
Similar to his colleague Del. Donald Dwyer (R-Anne Arundel), Burns characterized his tenure in the House by not only his stance against same-sex marriage but gay rights in general. He opposed any legislation that prevented discrimination against LGBT students or gay employees on the job.
He bristles when the battle to achieve LGBT rights is compared to civil rights. In 2007, Burns, a pastor of Rising Sun First Baptist Church in Woodlawn and a civil rights activist for many years, said, “I get really bent out of shape when you talk about gay and lesbian rights as a civil rights issue. Whites can hide their gayness; I cannot hide my blackness.”
Back in 1996 when Maryland was considering benefits for gay and lesbian couples, Burns said in an interview, “I’m not homophobic. I have no animosity toward them. I would say go forward and make love — in private. But don’t go down to the courthouse and ask for a license for public approval of your relationship.”
At the time he took office, most of the voters agreed with his position. Over time, other elected officials and the public at large shifted their views.
Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland from 2003 to 2008, did not mince words upon learning of Burns’ retirement.
“Del. Burns long represented one of the loudest, most vicious voices of intolerance in the Maryland General Assembly, going so far as to tell the Washington Post that he couldn’t stand the thought of a gay couple moving next door and having their children play with his children,” Furmansky said. “For many in our community, his words have been like poison seeping into our veins. His retirement is a cause for celebration, and also a time for vigilance to ensure no one dons his bigot’s cloak and takes his place.”
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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