Local
Catania trails Bowser by wide margin in new poll
Post survey shows Gray and Bowser in dead heat, far ahead of others
D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser leads gay Council member David Catania by a large margin for mayor in a new poll.
A poll released by the Washington Post on Tuesday shows D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) ahead of gay Council member David Catania (I-At-Large) by a margin of 56 percent to 23 percent if the two run against each other for mayor in the November general election.
Catania, a 16-year veteran of the Council, entered the race for mayor earlier this month as an independent, becoming the first serious openly gay contender for D.C. mayor.
A poll conducted by the Post in January showed Catania and Mayor Vincent Gray (D) in a statistical tie if the two were to run against each other in the general election.
But Bowser’s lead of more than 30 points over Catania in the latest poll suggests that large numbers of Democratic voters, who might have voted for Catania over Gray, are inclined to line up behind Bowser if she wins the Democratic primary on April 1.
The same poll shows Bowser in a statistical tie with Gray in the primary. Bowser had 30 percent support compared to 27 percent support for Gray, with a margin of error of plus or minus 6.5 percent among likely primary voters.
“This is entirely unsurprising,” said Ben Young, Catania’s campaign manager, when asked about Bowser’s lead over Catania in the Post poll.
“She’s been a full-time candidate for over a year,” he said. “She spent a million dollars within the last several weeks on direct mail and other forms of advertising. Our campaign is two weeks old and we’re just getting started,” he said.
Young noted that it remains unclear who will win the Democratic primary, adding, “We are prepared to run against whomever comes out of the primary.”
According to the poll, conducted March 20-23 through both landline and cell phone calls, Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) was in third place with 14 percent; Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Busboy and Poets restaurant owner and progressive activist Andy Shallal were tied for fourth place with 6 percent; and former State Department official Reta Lewis and Council member Vincent Orange (D-At-Large), each had 3 percent. Businessman Carlos Allen had 1 percent, with 7 percent of respondents saying they had no opinion on the race.
Gay Democratic activist Peter Rosenstein, who’s supporting Gray, said he interprets the poll as showing Catania would most likely lose in the November election against either Bowser or Gray.
“It shows he didn’t gain any ground against the mayor since the first poll in January despite all the negative publicity against Gray,” he said.
Rosenstein was referring to the barrage of news media reports about federal prosecutors linking Gray to an illegal “hidden” campaign conducted on Gray’s behalf by businessman Jeffrey Thompson and others who have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Gray, who has denied any knowledge of the illegal campaign activities, has not been charged in what prosecutors say is an ongoing investigation into the matter.
“It will be very hard for Catania to beat Bowser if she wins the primary,” Rosenstein said. “If Gray wins the primary, he will get support from Democrats who backed the other candidates running in the primary.”
Catania supporters, many of whom are Democrats, have said Catania is perceived by many as a reform candidate with a reputation of shaking up city government agencies to fix longstanding problems. They say his chances of winning against the Democratic nominee are good.
Although he filed papers to run for mayor, Catania would have the option of dropping out of the mayor’s race to run for re-election to his Council seat up until the filing deadline in June for independent candidates.
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Congratulations to Jaime Christopher Pierce on their appointment to serve as a member of the Virginia Governor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Pierce was sworn in on Sept. 3 by Greg Parks, clerk of the Alexandria Circuit Court.
Pierce currently serves as vice chair of the Alexandria City LGBTQIA+ Task Force and as a member of the Alexandria Pride planning committee. They previously served on the board of directors of Equality Virginia.
Upon being sworn in, Pierce said, “Public service has been a central part of my life for more than 30 years, and this appointment gives me an opportunity to serve the Commonwealth in a different and very personal way. My career has allowed me to work with people and communities throughout Virginia, and I hope to bring that experience, along with my own lived experience and my involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, to the work of the Board.” They added, “Having Greg administer the oath makes the occasion even more meaningful because of his own historic role as Virginia’s first openly gay elected circuit court clerk.”
Pierce also serves as Circuit Court Services Manager for the Department of Judicial Services, at the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. They began their career in Virginia’s judiciary in 1994 as a deputy clerk with the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and have since held several professional and leadership positions within the court system. Pierce is a member of the National Association for Court Management (NACM) and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management. At the national level, Pierce participated in the workgroup that developed the National Association for Court Management’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guide, a resource designed to help court professionals advance inclusive practices and strengthen access, fairness and belonging within the justice system.
Pierce earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University, and a certificate in Paralegal Studies from Norfolk State University.
Maryland
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Pride Center of Maryland among recipients
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy are awarding a total of $10 million in grants in the 2027 fiscal year to nonprofit organizations that work to prevent hate crimes in the state.
The funds will be used to support those who feel targeted or discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
The Pride Center of Maryland is among the recipients. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and LGBTQ organizations are all eligible to receive grants
“The safety and security of all Marylanders is my top priority, so we are drawing a hard line because we have no tolerance for hate,” said Moore, according to media reports. “We are committed to protecting and ensuring safe and sacred spaces stay that way by investing in non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and community centers to protect and honor every community that makes our state so diverse and special.”
“Protection Against Hate Crime funding has strengthened the Pride Center of Maryland’s ability to protect, educate, and support the communities we serve … at a time of heightened concern associated with the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ/SGL (same-gender-loving) policies and pressures,” Pride Center of Maryland CEO Cleo Manago said. “PAHC funding helps us do more than improve physical security — it strengthens our community’s knowledge, preparedness, connection to resources, and ability to respond to hate with greater awareness and support.”
Maryland’s hate crimes law includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. The state’s nondiscrimination statute is also LGBTQ-inclusive.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
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.
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