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
A gay man was murdered in Petersburg, Va., on March 13.
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, who was also known as Saamel and Mable, was a drag queen who won the Miss Mayflower EOY pageant in 2015. Reports also indicate Sanchez-McCray, 42, was a well-known community activist in Virginia and in North Carolina.
Local media reports indicate police officers found Sanchez-McCray shot to death inside a home in Petersburg.
Sanchez-McCray’s brother, Jamal Mitchell Diamond, in a public statement the Washington Blade received from Equality Virginia and GLAAD, said Sanchez-McCray was not transgender as initial reports indicated.
“Our family has always embraced the fullness of who he was. He used the names Saamel, Shyyell, and Mable interchangeably, and we honor all of them. There is no division within our family regarding how he is being represented — only a shared commitment to preserving his truth with love and respect,” said Diamond.
“He was also deeply committed to community work through Nationz Foundation, where he worked and completed multiple state-certified programs to support marginalized communities,” added Diamond. “That work meant a great deal to him.”
Authorities have not made any arrests.
The Petersburg Bureau of Police has asked anyone with information about Sanchez-McCray’s murder to call Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.
District of Columbia
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Rally on the National Mall scheduled for Saturday
The Christopher Street Project has a number of events planned for the 2026 Trans Day of Visibility, including a rally on the Mall and an “Empowerment Ball” at the Eaton Hotel. Plenaries, panel discussions and meetings with members of Congress are scheduled in the three days of programming.
Announced speakers include N.H. state Rep. Alice Wade; Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Precious Brady-Davis; activist and performer Miss Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”); Lexington, Ky. Councilwoman Emma Curtis; Rabbi Abby Stein; D.C. activist and host Rayceen Pendarvis; Air Force Master Sgt. Logan Ireland; among other leaders, advocates and performers.
Conference programming on Thursday and Friday includes an educational forum and a Capitol Hill policy education day. Registration for the two-day conference has closed.
The “Trans Day of Visibility PAC Reception” is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 7:30-9 p.m. at As You Are (500 8th St., S.E.). Special guests include Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Tickets are available at christopherstreetproject.org starting at $25.
The National Council of Jewish Women and the Christopher Street Project host a “Trans Day of Visibility Shabbat” on Friday, March 27 from 7-8 p.m. at Sixth & I (600 I St., N.W.). The service is to be led by Rabbi Jenna Shaw and Rabbi Abby Stein.
The “Now You See Me: Trans Empowerment Social & Ball” is scheduled for Friday, March 27 from 6-11 p.m. at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K. St., N.W.). The trans-themed drag ball is hosted by the Marsha P. Johnson Institute with support from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Capital Ballroom Council, the Christopher Street Project, the Center for Black Equity, Generation for Common Good, and Parenting is Political. RSVP online at christopherstreetproject.org.
The National Transgender Day of Visibility Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 on the National Mall at 11 a.m. The rally will include speakers and performances. Following the rally, attendees are encouraged to participate in the “No Kings” rally being held at Anacostia Park.
Virginia
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Voters in November will consider repealing marriage amendment
The Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ended on March 14.
Lawmakers have yet to approve a budget, but they did pass a resolution that paves the way for a referendum on whether to repeal the state’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Lawmakers also advanced House Bill 60, which would protect PrEP users from insurance discrimination.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to decide to pass, amend, or veto legislation before it goes back to the House of Delegates on April 22.
Spanberger on Feb. 6 signed the bill that sets the stage for the marriage amendment referendum. Voters will consider whether to “remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?”
Equality Virginia has been working during this legislative cycle to urge lawmakers to allocate funding towards LGBTQ rights. The budget would expand funding for schools, competency training for the 988 suicide hotline, and funding to provide gender affirming care to LGBTQ youth.
“As the budget moves through conference and the Reconvene Session approaches on April 22, Equality Virginia remains focused on ensuring our victories this session translate into durable protections,” Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Progress on marriage equality, nondiscrimination protections, and HIV care funding was essential, but Virginia must do more.”
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Gay man murdered in Va.
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
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‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
Calendar: March 21-26
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