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T.H.E. no longer providing trans services

‘It’s just heartbreaking to see this happening’

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Earline Budd, T.H.E., Transgender Health Empowerment, gay news, Washington Blade
Earline Budd, transgender health empowerment, transgender activist, Washington DC

‘It’s just heartbreaking to see this happening,’ said Earline Budd of the bankruptcy of Transgender Health Empowerment. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The executive director of Transgender Health Empowerment told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court proceeding on Aug. 8 that the financially struggling group was no longer carrying out its core mission of providing services and advocacy for the D.C. area transgender community.

Anthony Hall said the group, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 7, was devoting all of its limited resources to operating a temporary housing facility for crime victims under a non-LGBT related city grant. Hall and T.H.E. attorney Richard L. Gilman said the crime victims’ grant currently was the group’s only source of income.

Earlier this year, the D.C. Department of Health abruptly discontinued its grants for T.H.E. that funded transgender and LGBT-related programs since 2004. Mayor Vincent Gray said the city terminated the grants after learning that the IRS placed liens on the organization for its failure to pay more than $260,000 in employee withholding taxes over a period of at least three years.

The bankruptcy filing shows that T.H.E. also owes close to $50,000 in unpaid employee withholding and unemployment insurance taxes to D.C. and Maryland. Its total combined debt comes to more than $560,000, the bankruptcy filing shows.

Hall and Gilman answered questions about the organization’s finances and its plan to restructure and pay off its debt from two representatives of the bankruptcy court’s trustees in a proceeding known as a 341 Hearing. The hearing is named for a section of the bankruptcy code that allows both the trustee and creditors to question the person or organization in bankruptcy.

More than a dozen former T.H.E. employees attended the hearing.

In response to questions by veteran transgender advocate Earline Budd, one of the founders and longtime employee of T.H.E., Hall said it’s his strong desire to pay close to two dozen former and current T.H.E. employees’ wages that were unpaid for as long as two months. The bankruptcy filing shows Budd is owned $4,615 in back wages and most of the other employees are owed between $2,000 and $3,000 in back wages.

Hall and Gilman told Budd T.H.E.’s ability to resume its transgender and LGBT related programs would depend on whether the city agrees to reissue the grants it discontinued in April and May due to the IRS liens.

“It’s just heartbreaking to see this happening,” Budd told the Blade after the hearing. She said she is taking steps to help create a new organization to fill what she said was a vacuum in trans related services and advocacy brought about by T.H.E.’s financial collapse.

Hall and members of T.H.E.’s board have declined the Blade’s requests for comment.

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Virginia

Va. LG opposed marriage equality affirmation bill in handwritten note

Winsome Earle-Sears constitutionally required to sign HB 174 as Senate president

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Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears speaks at CPAC in 2023. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears last year in a handwritten note indicated her opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples when she signed a bill that affirmed marriage equality in the state.

Brandon Jarvis of Virginia Scope on May 1 published Earle-Sears’s note on House Bill 174, which state Del. Rozia Henson, a Prince William County Democrat who is gay, introduced.

The Virginia Senate passed HB 174 by a 22-17 vote margin, and the state constitution required Earle-Sears to sign it as the chamber’s president. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the measure into law after it received bipartisan support.

“As the lieutenant governor, I recognize and respect my constitutional obligation to adhere to procedures set out in the constitution of Virginia,” wrote Earle-Sears in her note. “However, I remain morally opposed to the content of HB 174 as passed by the General Assembly.”

Earle-Sears, a former U.S. Marine who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2004, in 2021 became the first woman elected Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Activists have criticized her for her opposition to LGBTQ rights in Virginia.

She sparked controversy last year when she misgendered state Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas), who is transgender, on the Senate floor. Earle-Sears has also spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Earle-Sears is running to succeed Youngkin as governor once his term ends in January 2026. She will likely face former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who previously represented Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.

John Reid, a conservative talk show host who is openly gay, last month secured the Republican nomination to succeed Earle-Sears as lieutenant governor. Youngkin has called for Reid to end his campaign amid reports that he posted “pornographic content” on social media.

Reid has strongly denied the reports.

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World Pride 2025

D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride

Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

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Venus Valhalla performs at Pitchers. Liquor-serving establishments in D.C. will be able to remain open for 24 hours during WorldPride. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.

In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.

Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.

According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.

The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.

Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.

At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.

It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.

Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

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World Pride 2025

Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference

Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde. (Screen capture via PBS NewsHour/YouTube)

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.

Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)

A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.

The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.

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