Local

Election of former gay official challenged in Ward 6

Richardson received highest vote count in race for Dem chair

Published

13 years ago

October 10, 2013

Lou Chibbaro Jr.

Jeffrey Richardson is the city’s former GLBT liaison to the mayor. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The former director of the D.C. Office of GLBT Affairs and current head of Mayor Vincent Gray’s Office on Volunteerism is facing a challenge to his election on Oct. 1 as chair of the Ward 6 Democratic Committee.

Jeffrey Richardson beat challenger Deleon Ware by a vote of 35-22, but two Ward 6 Democratic activists filed a complaint with the D.C. Democratic State Committee contesting the fairness of the balloting. The State Committee was expected to issue an opinion on the complaint Thursday, Oct. 10.

One of the two Democrats filing the complaint, gay ANC Commissioner Alexander Padro, charged that he and others were denied the right to vote in the election because the Ward 6 Democratic leaders released an announcement misleading people about the time the Oct. 1 voting would take place.

Padro noted that several notices issued in advance of the election said voting would take place during a special election meeting scheduled to be held between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at a D.C. public library branch next to the Eastern Market Metro station on Capitol Hill.

According to Padro, when he and others arrived to cast their ballots about 7:40 p.m. they were told the voting had ended minutes earlier under a series of “Special Rules” that the Ward 6 Democratic Committee approved less than an hour earlier at the same meeting.

“It was a very shabby procedure,” Padro told the Blade. “According to all the information I saw the voting was supposed to take place between 6:30 and 8.”

Charles Allen, who served as chair of Ward 6 Democrats up until the completion of the election, said he was troubled that a few people missed the window allocated for voting. But he said the procedures adopted for holding the election fully conform to the Ward 6 Democrats’ by-laws. He said the Ward 6 Democrats also submitted an advance copy of the proposed procedures and rules for the election to a subcommittee of the D.C. Democratic State Committee that oversees ward committee elections and that no one raised any objections to the procedures.

According to Allen, former chief of staff for Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), more than 50 Ward 6 Democrats attending the meeting voted unanimously to approve the rules. He said as far as he could tell, just three people arrived at the meeting too late to be allowed to vote.

Allen is expected to announce his candidacy for the Ward 6 Council seat next week. Wells is giving up the Council seat to run for mayor.

According to people familiar with the Democratic State Committee’s by-laws, the State Committee could refuse to seat Richardson as a full State Committee member if it decides the Ward 6 Democrats’ election was conducted improperly. But the State Committee doesn’t have authority to invalidate the election and require that another election be held, State Committee observers said.

Richardson is a former president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the city’s largest LGBT political organization. He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

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District of Columbia

Blade welcomes fall intern

Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida

Published

6 hours ago

September 2, 2026

Staff reports

Alexis McLean (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.

Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.

“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”

Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.

Rehoboth Beach

SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer

Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance

Published

20 hours ago

September 1, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

David Archuleta headlines this year’s SUNFESTIVAL on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.

Thursday (9/3)

Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.

After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Friday (9/4)

The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Saturday (9/5)

The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.

Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.

Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.

Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.

The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.

Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.

Sunday (9/6)

Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.

On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.

Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.

John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.

Monday (9/7)

The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.

Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.

Maryland

Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names

Conservative groups challenged system’s policy

Published

20 hours ago

September 1, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has issued new internal guidance for students who ask to be addressed by gender-affirming names and pronouns. (Photo by Eric Thompson for the Baltimore Banner)

By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.

Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”

Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.