Local
GLCCB elects new board members
Redmond-Palmer takes over as president
Bill Redmond-Palmer (Blade photo by Steve Charing)
The board of directors of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB) elected a new president and re-elected the vice president and treasurer during the annual election meeting on Dec. 8.
Long-time activist and former GLCCB board member William J. “Bill” Redmond-Palmer was elected unanimously to succeed outgoing term-limited President Michael McCarthy. Chris Adkins was re-elected as vice president as was Daniel Moore as treasurer. The board is seeking a secretary to fill a vacancy resulting from the departure of Gilles Stromberg.
During McCarthy’s two years since he was elected in February 2013, there were major changes within the GLCCB. The most important of these developments was the sale of the building on Chase Street, held by the Center for more than three decades, and the eventual move of the headquarters last winter to the third floor of the Waxter Center on nearby Cathedral Street.
In addition, there were several different executive directors running the operations during this period. Previous executive directors Matt Thorn and Kelly Neel resigned; Joel Tinsley-Hall is currently at the helm. There was also a controversial shift of the Pride celebration last June to the Artscape area several blocks north of the familiar Mount Vernon venue for both Pride days.
From these changes, as well as long-standing complaints, the GLCCB was under fire from a portion of the community, which complained about a perceived lack of transparency regarding decision-making and finances as well as a lack of diversity and inclusivity.
Since a turbulent town hall meeting held last July, efforts were undertaken to address these problems, which included public disclosure of financial statements, posting the by-laws online and holding open board meetings.
Redmond-Palmer has worked as an advocate on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS and has written numerous articles for local publications to shine a spotlight on local LGBT organizations. He has worked in leadership and advocacy organizations in the LGBT community for nearly 20 years, including serving on the GLCCB board of directors for six years in the early 1990s.
WorldPride 2025 concluded with the WorldPride Street Festival and Closing Concert held along Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. on Sunday, June 8. Performers on the main stage included Doechii, Khalid, Courtney Act, Parker Matthews, 2AM Ricky, Suzie Toot, MkX and Brooke Eden.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Celebrating the transgender community, Baltimore Safe Haven, an organization committed to empowering LGBTQ individuals in Baltimore City, plans to host their fourth annual Baltimore Trans Pride on Saturday.
Instead of the usual parade and march, this year’s Trans Pride will be a block party on Charles Street and between 21st and 22nd Streets. The event will start at 1 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and last until 10 p.m.
Community members can go on guided tours, enjoy refreshments by local vendors, listen to presenters, and watch performances by special guests.
Sukihana, the event’s headliner, plans to take to the stage to entertain the crowd, along with a variety of local performers, according to Melissa Deveraux, Baltimore Safe Haven’s executive assistant to Executive Director Iya Dammons.
“Some (are) prominently known, some (are) just making a name for themselves,” Deveraux said. Iya is always making sure that community talent is showcased at all of our functions.”
In company with Pride on Saturday, Baltimore Safe Haven will be opening its new building on Friday from 1-4 p.m.
“That is sort of going to be the prelude to pride,” Lau said. “Thanks to Sen. Mary Washington and the Weinberg Foundation, we were able to purchase the building outright, and it’s going to be a community hub of administrative buildings and 12-bedroom apartments.”
Renee Lau, administrative assistant for special projects coordinator for Baltimore Safe Haven, said the planning process for Baltimore Trans Pride began in January, and putting it all together was a collaboration of multiple city agencies and organizations.
“Safe Haven is an LGBT community organization, but we service the entire community, and that’s the message we try to spread,” Lau said. “We’re not just here for the LGBT community. We’re here to spread goodwill and offer harm reduction and housing to the entire community.”
Lau said the organization’s biggest goal for the event is to gain exposure.
“(We want) to let and let people know who we are and what our community is about,” she said. “Right now, because of what’s happening in DC, there’s a lot of bad untruths going on, and the total thing is bringing out the truth.”
Deveraux said having a place of inclusivity, acceptance, and togetherness is important in today’s political climate and the current administration.
“This event will have people seeing the strength and resilience of the transgender community, showing that no matter what we are going through, we still show up,” Deveraux said. “We are here, we will not be erased.”
The 2025 WorldPride Parade was held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 7. Laverne Cox and Renée Rapp were the grand marshals.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key and Robert Rapanut)
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