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AIRS celebrates 25th anniversary

AIDS faith group founded to serve those with disease

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AIDS, red ribbon, gay news, AIRS, gay news, Washington Blade
AIDS, red ribbon, gay news, AIRS, gay news, Washington Blade

AIDS Interfaith Residential Services was founded in 1987 by the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council as the faith communityā€™s response to the AIDS epidemic.

AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a fundraising gala at the M&T Pavilion and the Hippodrome Theatre on Saturday. The organization was founded in 1987 (IRS established AIRS as a 501c-3 in 1989) by the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council as the faith communityā€™s response to the AIDS epidemic. The first Don Miller House, which opened in 1988, served four men with end-stage AIDS.

Through strategic planning and community support, during the last 25 years AIRS has expanded its programming to provide vital services to the most vulnerable populations throughout Baltimore City and county. Programs and services include subsidized housing, assistance accessing healthcare, job training and placement and support for disabled individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS and other disabilities.

Included at the gala will be a performance of ā€œWest Side Story.ā€Ā  A cocktail reception and dinner will take place between 5-8 p.m., and the show will be presented at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $200 per person for general admission and can be purchased by calling 410-576-5070, ext. 31 or visiting Airsevents.com. Proceeds will benefit City Steps, an AIRS program that supports projects for homeless at-risk youth.

For more information about AIRS, please visit airshome.org.

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Arts & Entertainment

2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Readers’ Choice Award Finalist Voting

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It is time to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ DC! You nominated and now we have our finalists. Vote for your favorites in our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC categories through September 23rd. Our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC will be announced at the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards Party on October 17th and our special issue will come out on Friday, October 18th.

Thank you to our sponsors: ABSOLUT, Crush, Infinite Legacy & Wild Side Media.

VOTE BELOW OR BY CLICKING HERE!

ARE YOU A BEST OF FINALIST? DOWNLOAD ASSETS HERE!

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Maryland

Defying the odds: First transgender Miss Maryland USA on changing the world

Bailey Anne is state’s first trans woman pageant winner

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Miss Maryland USA Bailey Anne. (Grant Foto)

BY JOHN-JOHN WILLIAMS IV | Bailey Anneā€™s mom was apprehensive when she told her she was going to compete for the Miss Maryland USA pageant.

Her mom thought her transgender daughter might be harassed and ridiculed, and worried about her safety.

ā€œI told her that the world is changing,ā€ recalled Bailey Anne, who doesnā€™t use her last name because her identity has unfortunately also come with threats from people who donā€™t agree with it.

And so she competed this year and became the stateā€™s first trans woman titleholder. She was also Marylandā€™s first Asian American winner and the oldest contestant to represent the state in the Miss USA pageant.

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

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Local

Bernie Delia estate auction set for Sept. 12

Memorial for beloved Capital Pride organizer planned for Sept. 28

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Bernie Delia died June 21. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

A  local auctioneer company has announced a large collection of artwork and other eclectic property from the estate of D.C. LGBTQ rights advocate Bernie Delia will be available for purchase in an auction scheduled for Sept. 12 in Chevy Chase, Md.

Delia, who was a founding member of the Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes most of D.C.ā€™s LGBTQ Pride events, and who served as co-chair of World Pride 2025, which D.C. will be hosting in 2025, died unexpectedly of natural causes on June 21.

Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers says in its announcement that the items to be offered through the auction include ā€œa large and eclectic assortment of fine art and sculpture, silver, English and Continental porcelain and other decorative arts, political memorabilia and entertainment ephemera, and various other antique and vintage items.ā€

The announcement says the items for sale in the Sept. 12 Estate Catalogue Auction will be on display at the Sloans & Kenyon gallery from Saturday, Sept. 7 through Wednesday, Sept. 11. The gallery where the items will be available for viewing and where the auction will be held on Sept. 12 is located at 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite T60, in Chevy Chase, Md.

ā€œThe September auction includes over 200 lots from Bernieā€™s vast collection and is the first of several auctions of property from his estate,ā€ the announcement says. ā€œAbsentee, telephone and internet bids will be accepted for the September 12 Eastgate Catalogue Auction,ā€ it says.

Dignity Washington, the LGBTQ Catholic organization for which Delia served as president, is holding a memorial service for Delia on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Margaretā€™s Episcopal Church near Dupont Circle, according to Dignity member David Lamdin.

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