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Grosso discusses first months in office

At-large councilmember said ethics and election reform remain top priorities

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David Grosso, D.C. Council, gay news, Washington Blade
David Grosso, D.C. Council, gay news, Washington Blade

D.C. Council member David Grosso (D-At-Large) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C. Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) reflected upon his first seven months in office during an interview with the Washington Blade on Monday.

ā€œItā€™s been a fairly exciting seven months,ā€ Grosso said while speaking to the Blade in his office in the John A. Wilson Building. ā€œIā€™ve been getting my feet wet, but also getting a well-rounded education on what happens up here.ā€

Grosso, who was an aide for then-D.C. Councilmember Sharon Ambrose from 2001-2006 and D.C. Congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Nortonā€™s legislative director from 2006-2007, defeated then-incumbent D.C. Councilmember Michael A. Brown last November for the at-large D.C. Council seat reserved for a non-Democratic candidate.

Grosso said ethics and election reform remain his top priority.

He and Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) in February introduced a bill ā€“ the Public Financing of Political Campaigns Amendment Act of 2013 ā€“ that would allow candidates to qualify for public financing if they receive contributions of $100 or less from individual donors. Each $100 a political hopeful raises would be matched by $400 under the measure.

ā€œIt gets more individuals engaged in the political process,ā€ Grosso said, noting Connecticut and other states have implemented similar systems. ā€œSomebody who donates $10 or $20 can see themselves as having the same political impact as somebody who donates $1,000. It kind of just opens up the doors of the political system.ā€

Grosso spoke with the Blade less than a week after the D.C. Board of Ethics and Accountability filed Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) $13,600 for accepting gifts from two city contractors.

The Washington Post on July 11 reported that Barry said in a statement he voluntarily disclosed the gifts and his ā€œcharacter and integrity remain intact.ā€ He denied any assertions of an ethics scandal during an interview with MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry two days later.

ā€œI find it extremely disappointing, just in general,ā€ Grosso, who sits on the committee charged with reviewing the allegations against Barry and determining whether the Council should investigate them, said. He also pointed out he recuses himself from votes on city contracts of more than $1 million. ā€œCouncilman Barry has shown time and time again an unwillingness to play by the same rules as everybody else. And for me I think thatā€™s just inexcusable.ā€

Grosso also supports non-partisan local elections and instant run-offs in contests where no candidate wins with a majority of votes.

ā€œThatā€™s a huge problem in our city, especially in special elections,ā€ he said. ā€œYou have people winning with 15, 20, 30 percent of the vote, which is not a representative democracy.ā€

Government has ā€˜obligationā€™ to stop anti-LGBT discrimination

Grosso pointed out LGBT rights issues also remain an important part of his agenda.

The Council last month unanimously approved a bill that Grosso introduced alongside Barry and Councilmembers Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6,) Jack Evans (D-Ward 2,) David Catania (I-At-Large) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) that expands the list of people who can officiate a wedding in D.C. Grosso also co-sponsored a bill his colleagues passed that will allow transgender Washingtonians to change the gender on their birth certificates without having undergone sex reassignment surgery.

Grosso, who received an endorsement from the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance during his campaign, noted the country continues to make ā€œgreat stridesā€ on LGBT-specific issues, but noted it has ā€œa long way to go.ā€

ā€œEvery single day weā€™re going to find a new thing where discrimination was prevalent, and weā€™re going to have to fix it,ā€ he said. ā€œItā€™s our obligation as a government to fix those things.ā€

Councilman blasts AG vote, supports liveable wage bill

Grosso blasted the Councilā€™s late night vote on July 10 to delay next yearā€™s attorney general election that D.C. voters approved in 2010. He specifically criticized Evans and Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) ā€” who are both running for mayor in 2014 ā€” for supporting the postponement of the referendumā€™s implementation.

ā€œThese people are running for mayor and they think they can just snap their fingers and do away with the peoplesā€™ will,ā€ Grosso said. ā€œBut theyā€™re going to turn around in less than a year and ask for the peopleā€™s vote. I ask, when are people going to step up and say no, enough is enough with this kind of stuff.ā€

Grosso, who declined to tell the Blade whether he would support D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray if he were to seek another term in office, has also signed onto a bill that Wells introduced last week that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in the nationā€™s capital. Grosso said he is also working on a separate measure that would legalize the drug in D.C.

Grosso on July 10 also voted for the so-called Wal-Mart bill that would require the company and other large retailers to pay their D.C. employees at least $12.50 an hour ā€“ twice the cityā€™s minimum wage of $8.50 an hour. Gray has yet to publicly say whether he will sign the measure into law.

ā€œWe must balance the interest of attracting large retailers to our less developed Wards 5, 7 and 8, while also attracting quality jobs to support our residents and their families,ā€ Grosso said in a blog post on Wednesday.

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District of Columbia

Two D.C. LGBTQ rights advocates stepping down from jobs

Crenshaw leaving Alston Foundation; Czapary departs mayorā€™s office

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June Crenshaw announced sheā€™s leaving the Wanda Alston Foundation. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Longtime D.C. LGBTQ rights advocate June Crenshaw announced she is stepping down from her position for the past nine years as executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, the local organization that provides housing and support services for homeless LGBTQ youth.

Around the same time, fellow LGBTQ rights advocate Salah Czapary announced he is stepping down from his position for the past two years as director of the D.C. Mayorā€™s Office of Nightlife and Culture.

Meanwhile, a third longtime local LGBTQ rights advocate, David Meadows, was unanimously confirmed on Nov. 1 by the D.C. Council for an appointment by Mayor Muriel Bowser as a member of the cityā€™s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which is responsible for administering, enforcing, and adjudicating the cityā€™s alcoholic beverage and medical marijuana laws.

Neither Crenshaw nor Czapary disclosed in announcing their departure from their jobs what their future career plans are, and the two didnā€™t immediately respond to a question from the Washington Blade asking about career plans going forward.

Crenshaw currently serves as co-chair of the committee organizing D.C. World Pride 2025, the international LGBTQ Pride celebration expected to draw a million or more visitors to the city for a wide range of World Pride events in late May and early June 2025.

ā€œAfter over nine years of unwavering dedication and visionary leadership, our beloved Executive Director, June Crenshaw, has decided to step into her next chapter,ā€ a statement released by the Wanda Alston Foundation board of directors says. ā€œWhile we will miss Juneā€™s daily presence, we are grateful that she will stay on through the transition to ensure a warm, seamless handover as we actively search for our next executive director,ā€ the statement says.

It adds, ā€œHer unwavering commitment to our mission, clients, and team has helped build a foundation of compassion, resilience, and excellence. This transition reflects her readiness to explore new paths and her belief in the bright future of the Wanda Alston Foundation.ā€

In his own statement, Czapary said he appreciated the opportunity his job gave him to serve the city and its residents and visitors.

ā€œOctober marked my last month in the Mayorā€™s Office and Iā€™m grateful to Mayor Bowser for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Districtā€™s Nightlife and Cultural Director, supporting our hospitality sector ā€“ the sector that makes the city a great place to live and visit,ā€ he said.

ā€œIā€™m proud of positioning the office as a responsive entry point for industry and residents to interact with government,ā€ he said in his statement. ā€œThe role deepened my understanding and love for D.C. in ways I couldnā€™t have imagined two years ago.ā€

Czapary added, ā€œAs for me, Iā€™m excited about whatā€™s next.ā€ But he gave no indication of his future career plans.

In the past 20 years or longer D.C. mayors have appointed an LGBTQ member of what used to be called the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board or ABC Board before its role was expanded to include marijuana regulations. It currently still uses the name ABC Board to denote Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board.

LGBTQ rights advocates have called for at least one LGBTQ member of the board to provide representation for the important role that gay bars and other LGBTQĀ  establishments licensed to sell or serve liquor have historically played in the community.

The boardā€™s previous gay member, Edward Grandis, left the board earlier this year. In a statement released at the time of his confirmation by the Council, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the ABC Board on liquor and cannabis related regulations, issued a statement introducing Meadows as its new board member.

ā€œMr. Meadows is a long-time Ward 8 LGBTQIA+ community advocate with 30 years of extensive experience serving in leadership roles in District government and civic organizations,ā€ the statement says. ā€œMost recently, Mr. Meadows ran day-to-day operations in the Office of At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds as her Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser,ā€ the statement continues.

It says Meadows previously has served as executive director of the D.C. Democratic Party and notes he began his career in the hospitality industry, including serving as events manager for the D.C.-based National Democratic Club. His appointment on the ABC Board is for a four-year term.

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Maryland

VIDEO: Salisbury University students attack gay man

Suspects recorded homophobic assault; video posted to TikTok

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(Editorā€™s note: The accompanying video contains graphic violence and homophobic slurs. Viewer discretion is advised.)

The assault of a gay man by a group of Salisbury University students in Maryland has drawn national media attention since last week. 

So far, 12 men ages 18-21 have been arrested in the brutal attack. The students allegedly lured the man to an apartment because of his ā€œsexual preferences,ā€ according to local police. 

The victim, a male in his 40s, allegedly propositioned someone on Grindr who claimed to be 16 years old, an attorney for one of the suspects told the Baltimore Banner. The age of consent in Maryland is 16. 

Once the victim arrived at the apartment, a group of more than 12 suspects emerged from the bedrooms and attacked, punching, kicking, and spitting on the victim while using anti-gay slurs.

The Washington Blade obtained video of the attack apparently recorded by one of the suspects that was posted to TikTok and circulated among students at Salisbury University. In the video, the victim can be seen being struck from behind while seated in a chair, then repeatedly punched as he tries to flee. The Blade is not identifying the victim and not posting the full video in which the manā€™s face is clearly visible.

The suspects are charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and hate crimes. The suspects are: Cameron Guy, 18, of Baltimore; Jacob Howard, 19, of Elkridge; Eric Sinclair, 21, of Mount Airy; Patrick Gutierrez, 19, of Salisbury; Dylan Pietuszka, 20, of Friendship; Zachary Leinemann, 18, of Crofton; Ryder Baker, 20, of Olney; Bennan Aird, 18, of Milton, Del.; Riley Brister, 20, of Davidsonville; Cruz Cespedes, 19, of Jarrettsville; Dylan Earp, 20, of Gambrills; and Elijah Johnson, 19, of Crofton.

The Banner reported that all 12 students have been suspended along with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, to which some of the suspects belonged.

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District of Columbia

D.C. to conduct first-of-its-kind LGBTQ veteransā€™ survey

Forum on trans, gender diverse service members set for Nov. 15

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From left, Mayor's office of LGBTQ Affairs Director Japer Bowles, Department of Defense official Shawn Skelly, Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs Director Charlotte Woodward, Crush Dance Bar co-owner Stephen Rutgers, Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs official Pip Baitinger, and drag performer MacKayla Starr attend the 'Voices of Courage: Reclaiming the Legacy of LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Military' event at Crush Dance Bar on Sept. 20. (Photo courtesy of the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs)

As Veterans Day is celebrated in D.C. and across the nation, Mayor Muriel Bowserā€™s Office of Veterans Affairs announced it has recently drawn up an LGBTQIA+ veteransā€™ survey that it will begin distributing in the next few months.

ā€œThis attempt to survey the LGBTQIA+ veterans population in D.C. will be the first of its kind,ā€ according to Pip Baitinger, who serves as LGBTQIA+ Veterans Outreach and Relation Specialist in the Mayorā€™s Office of Veterans Affairs.

ā€œBarriers have existed in surveying this population due to issues of trust and neglect of the community by institutions in the past,ā€ Baitinger told the Washington Blade. ā€œHowever, this survey will attempt to accurately represent the number of LGBTQIA+ veterans in D.C. and better understand their needs,ā€ she said.

Baitinger pointed out that in addition to working on the survey, the Mayorā€™s Office of Veterans Affairs is hosting a special forum on Nov. 15 called Empowering Voices: Health and Wellness for Transgender and Gender Diverse Veterans.

The forum, which will be held from 1-3:30 p.m. at the D.C. Veterans Administration Medical Center at 50 Irving St., N.W., will include discussion, workshops, and provide resources on topics such as gender affirming care and support from experts, a flyer announcing the event says.

The D.C. LGBTQ veterans survey and the Nov. 15 forum follow a Sept. 20 LGBTQ veterans event hosted jointly by the Mayorā€™s Office of Veterans Affairs and the Mayorā€™s Office of LGBTQ Affairs called ā€œVoices of Courage: Reclaiming the Legacy of LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Military.ā€

The event, which was held at the D.C. LGBTQ Crush Dance Bar, was not open to the press because organizers wanted to ensure that LGBTQ veterans could discuss issues that may be sensitive or private that could impact their ability to obtain certain veteransā€™ benefits.

Baitinger provided the Blade with a summary of the issues discussed and raised at the event and identified some of those who spoke at the event. Among them was U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel And Readiness Shawn G. Skelly, who is the highest-ranking transgender official in the Department of Defense. 

Others participating in the event, Baitinger said, were U.S. Air Force member MaKayla Starr, who performed in drag; Charlette Woodward, an official with the Mayorā€™s Office of Veterans Affairs; Japer Bowles, director of the Mayorā€™s Office of LGBTQ Affairs; and Baitinger herself.

The mayorā€™s office noted at the time that the event was scheduled to take place on the 13th anniversary of the repeal of the ā€˜Donā€™t Ask, Donā€™t Tellā€™ law that banned LGBTQ people from serving openly in the U.S. military. Mayor Bowser issued an official mayoral proclamation declaring the day LGBTQIA+ Veterans Day in the District of Columbia.

ā€œDiscussions during the event included the need for greater LGBTQIA+ representation in the military and the progress that has thus far been achieved,ā€ Baitinger said. 

ā€œOne of the primary areas of concern is that of transgender and nonbinary veterans and service members, who are in vitalĀ need of gender affirming care and resources, such as hormones, surgeries, and just general affirming care from doctors who will use correct pronouns during routine doctor visits,ā€ Baitinger said in describing the issues discussed at the Sept. 20 event.

She said an additional issue deemed important at the event was ongoing efforts to upgrade the discharges of LGBTQ veterans, many of whom received so-called ā€œundesirableā€ discharges under the ā€˜Donā€™t Ask, Donā€™t Tellā€™ law before it was repealed. President Joe Biden earlier this year issued a presidential pardon that enabled veterans discharged under the ā€˜Donā€™t Ask, Donā€™t Tellā€™ law to apply for an upgrade of their discharge to the status of honorable discharge.

A list of resources for LGBTQ veterans offered by the Mayorā€™s Office of Veterans Affairs can be accessed at the departmentā€™s website.

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