Local
Poll: Majority of Va. residents support same-sex marriage
55 percent of Virginians back gay nuptials in new survey
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin (Washington Blade file photo by Blake Bergen)
55 percent of respondents who took part in the poll that Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Target Point Consulting conducted between June 26-30 said they back nuptials for gays and lesbians. 71 percent of Virginians under the age of 30, and 58 percent of African Americans who live in the commonwealth also indicated they back same-sex marriage.
The survey found 68 percent of Northern Virginia residents back marriage rights for same-sex couples, compared to 53 percent of those who live in Central Virginia and 51 percent who live in Eastern Virginia.
A third of Republican respondents also back nuptials for gays and lesbians.
The survey also found 74 percent of adults — 71 percent of African Americans and 62 percent of Republicans — in Virginia support a bill that would ban anti-LGBT employment discrimination in the commonwealth.
“The future of equality is bright in Virginia,” HRC President Chad Griffin said during a press conference in Richmond. “As we’ve seen nationally, a decisive majority of people think it’s just common sense to ensure that no one should ever lose their job simply because of who they are or who they love.”
HRC unveiled the poll results two days after the American Civil Liberties Union announced it plans to challenge Virginia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
State Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) referenced scripture as he noted in a statement that HRC unveiled the poll 15 days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.
“We will not stop fighting until ALL Virginians are treated equally under the law,” he said.
HRC endorses McAuliffe, Northam and Herring
Griffin on Thursday also announced his organization’s endorsements of former Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe and state Sens. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) and Mark Herring (D-Loudoun) for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The three men will square off against Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, E.W. Jackson and state Sen. Mark Obenshein (R-Harrisonburg) respectively in November.
“Virginians have a choice to make in November. One option — Ken Cuccinelli and Bishop E.W. Jackson — represents harmful beliefs that are not indicative of the mainstream values of either party, Republican or Democrat,” Griffin said. “But Virginians can reject that radical fringe, and instead elect candidates who support fairness, freedom, and dignity for all.”
“Virginia businesses need access to the best and the brightest workforce, teachers, professors, innovators, job creators, and that includes the LGBT community,” Northam added. “That is why we need to turn the ‘open for business’ light on across the commonwealth by making Virginia a welcoming and inclusive place for all our families.”
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The Comings & Goings column also invites LGBTQ college students to share their successes with us. If you have been elected to a student government position, gotten an exciting internship, or are graduating and beginning your career with a great job, let us know so we can share your success.
Congratulations to Yadiel Meléndez, on their new role as Community Associate, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Meléndez is piloting a new role as a Community Associate at the Wanda Alston Foundation, where they support queer and trans young people in finding their footing, building independence, and experiencing a housing community where they are seen, valued, and affirmed. They are coming into this role with more than a decade of experience as a community organizer and operations specialist, supporting diverse communities through service, advocacy, and program coordination.
Previously they worked for Right Proper Brewing Shaw as a server and bartender and at Sephora, Washington, DC, and at FreshFarm, DC, in bilingual food access. They also worked freelance to build foundational structures for local queer BIPOC performance art coalitions, producing variety shows to curate space for marginalized performance artists in the community. They were a production manager for Haus of Hart Productions, a BIPOC centric performance art production. They also worked as field staff with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Stafford, Va.
Meléndez is bilingual, Spanish and English. Their work is guided by a commitment to dignity, safety, and trauma-informed engagement, particularly within LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.
Congratulations also to Ben Rosen LICSW, on his new role as program director, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Rosen previously worked with Fountain House’s OnRamps program, helping to build a new, innovative outreach program for individuals considered chronically homeless, and living with serious mental illness, in the Times Square area of New York. Rosen is a Psychotherapist, having worked with SG Psychotherapy, and as the psychotherapist with the Nest Community Health Center (URAM).
Rosen has a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre, Minor in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Malloy University Conservatory; and his M.S.W. in Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, from The Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, N.Y. He is independently licensed in New York and Washington, D.C.
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
Comings & Goings
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Calendar: April 10-16
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Police mental health struggles gain growing attention
Man faces first S.C. ‘hate intimidation’ charge
Trump budget would codify expanded global gag rule
Cuba under pressure and without answers
