Connect with us

Local

Bowser to perform gay campaign manager’s wedding

Announcement solicits donations for advocacy group Freedom to Marry

Published

on

Muriel Bowser, gay news, Washington Blade

D.C. Council member and mayoral candidate Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) says she will perform a wedding Saturday for her gay campaign manager and his partner.

“This Saturday, my campaign manager, Bo Shuff, will marry the love of his life, Sean Farrell,” Bowser said in a statement released by her campaign. “A little while ago, Bo and Sean asked me to officiate their wedding. I am honored by their request, and I can’t wait to share in their joy.”

Shuff, who has worked on political campaigns in various parts of the country before moving to D.C., is credited with helping Bowser win the city’s hotly contested Democratic mayoral primary on April 1. He’s continuing as Bowser’s campaign manager for the November general election.

Shuff told the Blade on Thursday that the wedding will take place at a D.C. hotel and is limited to family and friends. He said he and Farrell chose to get married on the occasion of their 12th anniversary as a couple.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and at least two other Council members – Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) have performed same-sex weddings since a recently enacted D.C. law that authorizes the mayor and members of the Council to perform weddings took effect last year.

Council member David Catania (I-At-Large), one of Bowser’s two main rivals in the November mayoral election, was the author and lead sponsor of the 2009 legislation that legalized same-sex marriage in D.C.

In her email message announcing she would be performing Shuff and Farrell’s wedding Bowser called on supporters to make a contribution to the LGBT group Freedom to Marry, which has coordinated efforts on behalf of marriage equality throughout the country.

“I only wish the District had votes in Congress so we could voice our support for marriage equality at the federal level,” Bowser said. “One thing we can do, however, is support organizations like Freedom to Marry who are fighting for marriage equality in courtrooms across our country.”

 

 

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Maryland

Prince George’s County library system launches banned book club

First discussion to take place in Hyattsville on June 14

Published

on

(Bigstock photo)

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System has launched its Rock Banned Book Club.

The club will feature monthly discussions of the 13 top banned books from 2022, most of which focus on LGBTQ-specific themes. 

The club’s first discussion, which will take place at the Hyattsville Branch Library on June 14, will be on “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe. 

Kobabe’s memoir won the 2020 American Library Association Alex Award and recounts Kobabe’s exploration of gender identity and sexuality through adolescence and adulthood. According to the American Library Association, the book faced the most censorship challenges of any novel at 151.

“We’re seeing nationally the highest rate of challenges to books in libraries since the data has been collected by the American Library Association,” Nicholas Brown, acting co-chief executive officer of the library, said. “I think what happens with all of the discourse around book banning is that, oftentimes, not everyone participating in that discourse is actually taking the time to read the full works and discuss them and understand where the author might be coming from and whose stories are being reflected in these books.”

Along with the book club, the library system is hosting a Pride celebration at the Hyattsville branch on Saturday from 12 – 4 p.m. It will feature a panel discussion, vogue and runway workshops, free HIV testing and more. 

The library system will host its second annual Rainbow Festival on June 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bowie Branch Library with family-friendly events like craft stations, story time and a live DJ. In April, the library system won a Top Innovator Award from the Urban Libraries Council for its banned books campaign.

“I think a lot of folks don’t always realize that your local public library is kind of the front line of democracy and we always have been,” Brown said. “Public libraries across the country are very united on this and if the right to read continues to be under threat like it’s been, it is not a good time for the state of our democracy.”

Continue Reading

District of Columbia

Bowser: No credible threats to D.C. Pride events

Mayor spoke with the Blade after flag-raising ceremony at the Wilson Building

Published

on

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at the flag-raising of the Progress Pride flag at the Wilson Building in D.C. on June 1, 2023. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday said authorities have not received any credible threats to upcoming Pride events.

“We don’t have any to report,” she told the Washington Blade.

“MPD is constantly working with all of our agencies to make sure we have safe special events and we’re going to keep going with our planning, like we do every year,” added Bowser. “There’s always a scan for any threats to the District.”

Bowser spoke with the Blade after she joined D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, Council members Anita Bonds, Charles Allen, Kenyon McDuffie and Zachary Parker, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, D.C. Mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs Office Director Japer Bowles and other officials and activists in raising the Progress Pride flag in front of the Wilson Building.

The Blade last month reported D.C. police are investigating a bomb threat a Twitter user made against the annual District Pride concert that will take place at the Lincoln Theater on June 29. Bowles in a May 19 statement said his office reported the tweet, but further stressed that “no credible threat at this time has been made.”

Continue Reading

Maryland

Moore issues Pride month proclamation

Governor on May 3 signed Trans Health Equity Act

Published

on

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (Public domain photo/Twitter)

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday proclaimed June as Pride month in recognition of  “the contributions, resilience, courage and joy of LGBTQIA+ Marylanders,” according to a press release.

“In Maryland, we lead with love and inclusion. I want everyone in our LGBTQIA+ community to know that they deserve to be seen for who they are, and our administration will stand with them in the fight for equality and equity,” Moore said. “We need to elevate the stories, embrace the courage, and celebrate the humanity of our LGBTQIA+ community — and as long as I am governor, we will take the steps forward to protect and celebrate all Marylanders.”

Moore on March 31 became the first governor in Maryland history to recognize the Transgender Day of Visibility and last month he signed into law the Trans Health Equity Act into law, which requires Maryland Medicaid to provide coverage for gender-affirming care beginning next year.

“This month is a celebration of the beauty and uniqueness of the queer community, but it’s also a time to reaffirm our commitment to uplifting LGBTQIA+ Marylanders and continuing to fight against hatred, discrimination, and bigotry,” Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said in the same press release that Moore’s office released. “LGBTQIA+ Marylanders deserve to be who they are, to live their pride — without fear or having to hide. This administration will always stand alongside and protect the rights of all Marylanders.”

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Sign Up for Weekly E-Blast

Follow Us @washblade

Advertisement

Popular