Local
Trans PSA to appear on cable TV
Will feature family of slain woman
A PSA on cable TV will feature the parents of slain transgender woman Deoni JaParker Jones. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
The parents of slain transgender woman Deoni JaParker Jones are collaborating with the D.C. Office of Cable Television Director Eric Richardson in developing public service announcements about discrimination and violence targeting the transgender community.
Richardson told the Blade the OCT was in the “pre-production stage of what we hope will be a half-hour program” with a talk show type format that would be broadcast over the District of Columbia Network (DCN), which was formerly known as the city’s Channel 16 cable station.
Alvin Bethea has said in a series of emails to local community activists that he and his wife, Judean Jones, envision the public service announcements or short programs to include appearances by parents talking about their experiences in losing their transgender children through violence. He has said the aim is to help change the hearts and minds of viewers through first-hand accounts by parents who tell of their love and acceptance of their transgender children and their support of efforts by the LGBT community to end discrimination and anti-trans violence.
“Mr. Bethea introduced himself to me at a recent D.C. Council hearing and I thought it would be ideal to have him in the production,” Richardson said in an email to the Blade. He said the producer of the program was expected in the process of interviewing the participants in the program and an update on the status of the production would be announced soon.
Virginia
VIDEO: LGBTQ groups march in Va. inaugural parade
Abigail Spanberger took office on Saturday
The inaugural ceremonies for Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger were held in Richmond, Va. on Saturday. Among the groups marching in the parade were Diversity Richmond and the Virginia Pride project of Diversity Richmond.
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Virginia
Va. Senate approves referendum to repeal marriage amendment
Outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin introduced SJ3
The Virginia Senate on Friday by a 26-13 vote margin approved a resolution that seeks to repeal a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) introduced SJ3. The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on Wednesday approved it by a 10-4 vote margin.
Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Virginia since 2014. Outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2024 signed a bill that codified marriage equality in state law.
A resolution that seeks to repeal the Marshall-Newman Amendment passed in the General Assembly in 2021. The resolution passed again in 2025.
Two successive legislatures must approve the resolution before it can go to the ballot. Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates have said the resolution’s passage is among their 2026 legislative priorities.
“It’s time for Virginia’s Constitution to reflect the law of the land and the values of today,” said Ebbin after Friday’s vote. “This amendment, if approved by voters, would affirm the dignity of all committed couples and protects marriage equality for future generations.”
Maryland
Layoffs and confusion at Pride Center of Maryland after federal grants cut, reinstated
Trump administration move panicked addiction and mental health programs
By ALISSA ZHU | After learning it had abruptly lost $2 million in federal funding, the Pride Center of Maryland moved to lay off a dozen employees, or about a third of its workforce, the Baltimore nonprofit’s leader said Thursday.
The group is one of thousands nationwide that reportedly received letters late Tuesday from the Trump administration. Their mental health and addiction grants had been terminated, effective immediately, the letters said.
By Wednesday night, federal officials moved to reverse the funding cuts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, estimated to total $2 billion, according to national media reports. But the Pride Center of Maryland’s CEO Cleo Manago said as of Thursday morning he had not heard anything from the federal government confirming those reports.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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