Local
Equality Maryland board chair dies at 43
Bowling battled several illnesses
M. Scott Bowling (Image courtesy YouTube)
M. Scott Bowling, a longtime LGBT advocate and board chair of the political arm of Equality Maryland, Inc., died at the age of 43 in the Hospice of the Chesapeake in Annapolis on Nov. 19 after battling several life-limiting illnesses, including Crohn’s Disease.
Bowling created a blog, itgutsbetter.org, to raise awareness of those who suffer from the disease and need small bowel transplants and chronicling the struggles they endure physically, mentally and financially.
Bowling was born and raised in Prince George’s County and, according to Equality Maryland’s website, he was an attorney with the Department of Defense and served as president of the Metro Maryland Ostomy Association, Inc. in Silver Spring.
In 2006, Bowling became the first openly gay candidate to run for the State Democratic Central Committee in Anne Arundel County. In 2009, he sought a seat as a Republican on the Annapolis City Council representing Ward 3. He narrowly lost that election in which he alleged that it was tainted by homophobia citing an anonymous and illegal flier circulated around the ward targeting African American voters. Bowling stated that the flier contained specific references to his being “homosexual.” It warned that electing such a person would be dangerous to children.
“I am disappointed that in 2009 there are factions within Annapolis that insist on engaging and bringing this type of racist and hate filled activity into our city elections,” Bowling told Baltimore OUTloud at the time. He filed complaints to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office as well as a Maryland Attorney General’s office as a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Bowling had also been appointed to and served on several public boards and commissions.
While suffering with his health, Bowling, Equality Maryland’s website stated, continued to be an active member of the leadership team at Equality Maryland.
“He had arranged several fundraisers, secured commitment for items for [last Sunday’s] Silent Auction— all from his bed. Prior to entering in-patient hospice care, Scott volunteered at the polls during early voting.”
His efforts earned him the initial M. Scott Bowling Courage Award. The award was presented at the hospice on Nov. 11 by Carrie Evans, executive director of Equality Maryland along with several members of the staff and board members as well as former Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen.
A video of the presentation was shown at Equality Maryland’s Signature Brunch, which honored Gov. Martin O’Malley as well as Bowling. He was able to watch that part of the program, which included a musical performance by Troy Koger and remarks by Bowling’s husband David Miller.
Bowling and Miller married in Washington D.C. in July 2010.
“Anybody that knows Scott knows he lived with chronic illness most of his life and absolutely refused to be defined by that illness,” Miller told the Capital Gazette.
On her Facebook page, Evans posted, “Tonight I lost a dear friend. I am trying to remember that I have only lost his physical presence because I can never lose the presence he has in my heart. Scott leaves me a better person than he found me. He has left me with the lessons of how to fully live your life — every single minute; and what it means to love the life you have and the people in it and to keep on fighting even when, and especially when, you want to stop. My dear Scott, may we always remember all that you gave us.”
Miller told the Blade that donations in Scott’s memory can be made to any of the following: Equality Maryland, the Metro Maryland Ostomy Association, Evolve Chesapeake or Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community. Plans for a celebration of life memorial service have not been finalized.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTgwjUhhzm4
District of Columbia
Juvenile arrested for anti-gay assault in D.C.
Police say suspect targeted victim in house with Pride flags
D.C. police announced on June 16 that they have arrested a 13-year-old juvenile male on a charge of Assault With Significant Bodily Injury for allegedly throwing a rock through the window of a house in Northeast D.C. and “striking the victim in the face.”
In a statement announcing the arrest, police said the incident took place on Friday, June 6, and “LGBTQ+ flags were displayed at the front of the home.”
A separate D.C. police incident report obtained by the Washington Blade states, “Victim 1 reports he was sitting in his living room at the listed location watching television when a rock came through the front window and struck him about his left eye. Victim 1 suffered a laceration under his left eye.”
The report adds, “Victim 1 states he observed Suspect 1 running away.”
According to the June 16 statement issued by police, “On Sunday, June 15, 2025, officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest. [A] 13-year-old juvenile male of Northeast D.C., was charged with Assault With Significant Bodily Injury (Hate/Bias).”
The statement says the house where the incident occurred is located on the 400 block of 20th Street, N.E.
Similar to statements D.C. police have issued regarding LGBTQ bias-related cases in the past, the statement announcing this case says that while the case is being investigated as being potentially motivated by hate or bias, that designation could be changed at any time during the investigation.
It adds that a hate crime designation by D.C. police may not be prosecuted as a hate crime by prosecutors. Under D.C. law, juvenile cases are prosecuted by the Office of the D.C. Attorney General.
Since court records for cases involving juveniles are sealed from public access, the Blade could not immediately determine whether prosecutors designated the case as a hate crime.
It also could not immediately be determined if the juvenile charged in the case was being held in detention while awaiting trial at juvenile court or whether he was released to a parent or guardian and whether a judge set any conditions for release.
The police statement concludes by saying that the department’s Special Liaison Branch, which includes the LGBT Liaison Unit, is assisting with the investigation.
Milton, Del., will host its Pride Fest this Saturday with the theme “Small Town, Big Heart.” The town’s population of just over 3,000 is in its sixth year hosting Pride.
The event is hosted by Sussex Pride and Milton Theatre and will take place from 4-8 p.m. in the area surrounding the theater. Admission is pay-what-you-can and proceeds will support the Milton Theatre’s education wing campaign, an initiative dedicated to expanding arts education and creating spaces for the next generation of performers and artists.
The musical act schedule includes Goldstar at 4 p.m., Magnolia Applebottom and Friends at 5:30 p.m., and Mama’s Blacksheep at 6:45 p.m. There will be vendors, food trucks, and a Kids Fest with an inflatable obstacle course.
“In our little corner of the world, LOVE leads the way! Milton Pride 2025 is a celebration for EVERYONE — neighbors, families, allies, and friends — because acceptance, kindness, and community belong to us all,” Milton Theatre’s website reads. “Whether you’re here to cheer, learn, or simply feel the joy … you’re welcome exactly as you are. Let’s come together and celebrate Milton, a SMALL TOWN … with a BIG HEART!”
District of Columbia
Drive with Pride in D.C.
A new Pride-themed license plate is now available in the District, with proceeds directly benefiting local LGBTQ organizations.
Just in time for Pride month, the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles has partnered with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs to create a special “Pride Lives Here” license plate.
The plate, which was initially unveiled in February, has a one-time $25 application fee and a $20 annual display fee. Both fees will go directly to the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs Fund.
The MOLGBTQA Fund provides $1,000,000 annually to 25,000 residents through its grant program, funding a slew of LGBTQ organizations in the DMV area — including Capital Pride Alliance, Whitman-Walker, the D.C. Center for the LGBTQ Community, and the Washington Blade Foundation.
The license plate features an inclusive rainbow flag wrapping around the license numbers, with silver stars in the background — a tribute to both D.C.’s robust queer community and the resilience the LGBTQ community has shown.
The “Pride Lives Here” plate is one of only 13 specialty plates offered in the District, and the only one whose fees go directly to the LGBTQ community.
To apply for a Pride plate, visit the DC DMV’s website at https://dmv.dc.gov/
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