Connect with us

News

Sciortino loses bid for Congress

Gay lawmaker married partner last week

Published

on

Carl Sciortino, Democratic Party, Massachusetts, Middlesex, gay news, Washington Blade
Carl Sciortino, Democratic Party, Massachusetts, Middlesex, gay news, Washington Blade

Gay Massachusetts State Rep. Carl Sciortino lost his bid to represent Massachusetts in Congress. (Photo by Seth Rau)

A gay congressional candidate lost his bid on Tuesday to claim the Democratic nomination to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. House.

Massachusetts State Rep. Carl Sciortino, who was running to fill the seat Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) vacated in Massachusetts’ 5th congressional district, came in third in a crowded Democratic primary contest.

In a message via Twitter, Sciortino congratulated State Sen. Katherine Clark on her victory in addition to thanking the team that helped his campaign.

According to a tally from the Associated Press, Clark came in first with 32 percent of the vote, followed by Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian with 22 percent of the vote, then Sciortino with 16 percent. Clark is favored in the general election in the heavily Democratic district.

Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Sciortino emphasized his progressive values in his bid for Congress. A web campaign video of him “coming out” as a progressive to his Tea Party father went viral and garnered national attention for his campaign.

As a state lawmaker, Sciortino is credited with helping beat back a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and guiding a transgender civil rights law toward passage.

Last week, Sciortino married his partner of more than five years, Pem Brown, in a ceremony in Boston at the Old South Meeting House, where people came to celebrate in 2003 following the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.

Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry, praised Sciortino’s campaign.

“Carl had a strong showing in a race that was an uphill battle from the get-go,” Solomon said. “Even though he didn’t win, he inspired people all across the state and the country with his passion for liberal ideals and his decency and goodness. He has a great future in front of him as a leader advancing equality for the LGBT community and justice for us all.”

It’s possible that Clark’s victory could open a new opportunity for Sciortino. As Daily Kos pointed out, the district he represents in the state House, which consists of parts of Malden and Medford, lies within the district she represents in the state Senate. Sciortino could seek to run for the office she’s vacating. His campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on his future plans.

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Hungary

New Hungarian prime minister takes office

Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month

Published

on

Péter Magyar votes in Budapest, Hungary on April 12, 2026. He has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister. (Screen capture via APT/YouTube)

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.

Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.

The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.

The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.

Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.

Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.

“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.

“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”

“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”

Continue Reading

Local

Comings & Goings

Whitman-Walker honors Rep. Sarah McBride

Published

on

U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected]

Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”  

McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”

Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.” 

On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Wes Drummond

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman. 

Continue Reading

Virginia

Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan

Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month

Published

on

Virginia Supreme Court (Photo by sainaniritu/Bigstock)

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.

Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.

The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.

Continue Reading

Popular