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District of Columbia

Former Council member Brown running for D.C. congressional delegate

Says he will be more ‘proactive’ in supporting LGBTQ issues than Holmes Norton

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Michael Brown (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Michael A. Brown, who served as an independent At-Large member of the D.C. Council from 2009 to 2013 and emerged as a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights, says he is running in the city’s June Democratic primary for D.C.’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Brown and five other lesser-known candidates are challenging incumbent Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who has held the seat since 1991 and announced she is running for re-election for her 18th two-year term in office.

Norton has been a longtime outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights, and her supporters say she has done all she could to fight anti-LGBTQ amendments and other hostile initiatives introduced by Republican House members in recent years.

Brown told the Washington Blade in an interview last week he has picked up nominating petitions to begin the process of obtaining a required 2,000 signatures to get on the primary ballot. He said he has no disagreements with Norton on the issues facing D.C. in Congress.

“And I have a great amount of respect for her,” he said. “I just think it’s time for a new voice, a new, more aggressive and proactive voice that wants to get into the fight against people that are trying to harm the LGBT community” and the city, he told the Blade

“So, my respect for her, again, is tremendous,” he said. “I just think it’s time for a new voice. And with the track record I have with the LGBT community, I look forward to that fight. And I look forward to their support.” 

He points out that he was among those who pushed for D.C. Council legislation legalizing same-sex marriage and strengthening the city’s hate crimes law.

Brown, 57, an attorney, currently works as Senior Adviser for the D.C.-based international law firm Potomac International Partners, Inc., which specializes in lobbying on behalf of both nonprofit advocacy organizations and corporations. Prior to his term on the D.C. Council, he worked for three other law firms that engage in lobbying and prior to that he worked as a legislative assistant to former U.S. Rep. Peter Rodino (D-N.J.).

He told the Blade that his longtime experience as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill gives him the inside knowledge of the workings of Congress that he will use for D.C. 

Most D.C. political observers have said Norton is highly regarded among most D.C. voters, who have re-elected her by lopsided margins and she is expected to win another term once again in office. Some observers say that now, those who run against her most likely want to build name recognition for a future race for the non-voting delegate seat after Norton, who is 86 years old, retires.

In response to a request from the Blade for comment on Michael A. Brown’s decision to run against her, Norton released a short statement.

“I’m running again to represent my District of Columbia constituents for Congress,” she said. “I will be using my valuable seniority to continue to bring home benefits and to make progress on D.C. Statehood where it has passed twice in the House of Representatives.”

Among other things, Brown said he would take a more aggressive approach to fighting efforts by far-right Republican House members to introduce amendments to federal spending bills targeting LGBTQ rights, including those targeting transgender-related issues.

“We as a city seem to sit back and we’re always reactionary,” he said. “I would love to be more proactive about these particular issues. So, maybe these amendments never get put in in the first place,” Brown said, adding, “I would continue to work with Sen. Schumer to block these amendments.” He was referring to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who currently serves as Senate Majority Leader.

Brown also acknowledged that his conviction on a federal bribery charge in 2014 after pleading guilty to accepting $55,000 in cash payments from undercover FBI agents posing as officials with a company trying to do business with the D.C. government will surface as an issue in his campaign for the congressional delegate seat. He was sentenced to a 39-month federal prison term before being released in 2017.

The Washington Post has reported Brown’s attorney attributed Brown’s illegal actions to personal financial challenges, including expenses related to a 2011 divorce. At the time of his sentencing Brown apologized for his actions and said he was “caught up in a culture of corruption running rampant in our city,” according to the Post.

“Obviously, people are aware of my history,” Brown told the Blade. “I’ve taken full responsibility for it and paid a price,” he said. “But you know, I’m not perfect. But I’m perfect for this job,” he said, referring to his run for the D.C. congressional delegate seat. 

“And obviously I’m looking forward to really fighting hard for statehood and to keep these amendments from popping up related to the LGBT community,” Brown said.

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District of Columbia

Gay ANC member announces candidacy for Ward 1 D.C. Council seat

Community leader Brian Footer seeking seat held by Brianne Nadeau

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Brian Footer (Photo courtesy of Brian Footer for D.C.)

Gay Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Brian Footer, a community activist who has been involved for many years in local and national government affairs, has announced his candidacy for the Ward 1 D.C. Council seat up for election in 2026.

Footer, a Democrat, will be running in the city’s June 2, 2026, Democratic primary for the Ward 1 Council seat, but it is uncertain whether he will be running against incumbent Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau (D). Nadeau has not yet announced if she plans to run for re-election for a fourth term following her 12 years on the Council.

 Nadeau has been a longtime vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community.  

If Footer were to win the primary and the November 2026 general election, he would become the Council’s second openly gay member. Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker (D) is currently the 13-member Council’s only gay member.

Footer is a three-term ANC commissioner who currently serves as Chair of ANC 1E, which represents the city’s Adams Morgan neighborhood.

“Brian has worked at every level of government — federal, state, and local — building a career rooted in public service, aging policy, and inclusive urban planning,”  a statement on his campaign website says.

“I’m running for Council because too many people in Ward 1 are doing everything right and still feel ignored by the city they call home,” Footer states on his website.

“I’m running because we can do better,” his statement continues. “That means making housing more affordable, addressing homelessness with real solutions, and keeping our neighborhoods safe with smart, community focused strategies.”

When contacted by the Washington Blade for comment, Nadeau said she was not ready at this time to discuss her plans about running again or about Footer’s candidacy.

“The primary is a ways away, and I’m very focused right now on the budget and the stadium deal and all the work that we’re doing at the Council,” she told the Blade. “So, I really haven’t had time to turn to my plans. So, as a result, I’m also not going to be commenting on anybody else who is determined that they’re running at this time.” 

She first won election to the Council in 2014 after she defeated four-term gay Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham in the Democratic primary after Graham became embroiled in an ethics controversy.

In the 2022 Democratic primary Nadeau defeated gay challenger Salah Czapary in a three-candidate race, by a margin of 48.5% of the vote compared to Czapary’s 30.9%.

With the third candidate, Sabel Harris, receiving 20.4%, the outcome showed that the two challengers had a combined total vote count higher than Nadeau.

Further details of Footer’s candidacy can be accessed from his campaign website, brianfooterdc.com.

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District of Columbia

Gay GOP group hosts Ernst, 3 House members — all of whom oppose Equality Act

Log Cabin, congressional guest speakers mum on June 25 event

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Sen. Joni Ernst spoke to D.C.’s Log Cabin group. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and three women Republican members of the U.S. House appeared as guest speakers at the June 25 meeting of Log Cabin Republicans of D.C., the local chapter of the national LGBTQ Republican group with that same name.

The U.S. House members who joined Ernst as guest speakers at the Log Cabin meeting were Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), and Julia Letlow (R-La.).

Neither D.C. Log Cabin Republicans President Andrew Minik nor spokespersons for Ernst or the three congresswomen immediately responded to a request by the Washington Blade for comment on the GOP lawmakers’ appearance at an LGBTQ GOP group’s meeting.

“Please join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate and recognize the bold leadership and accomplishments of Republican women in Congress,” a D.C Log Cabin announcement sent to its members states.

“This month’s meeting will highlight the efforts of the Republican Women’s Caucus and explore key issues such as the Protection of Women and Girls In Sports Act and the broader fight to preserve women’s spaces in society,” the message says.

It was referring to legislation pending in Congress calling for banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports events. 

According to media reports, Ernst and the three congresswomen have expressed opposition to the Equality Act, the longstanding bill pending in Congress calling for prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. 

The Log Cabin announcement says the meeting was scheduled to take place at the Royal Sands Social Club, which is a restaurant and bar at 26 N St., S.E. in the city’s Navy Yard area.    

D.C. Log Cabin member Stuart West, who attended the meeting, confirmed that Ernst and the three congresswomen showed up and spoke at the event.

“It was a good turnout,” he said. “I would definitely say probably 30 or 40 people attended.” West added, “Four women came to talk to a group of mostly gay men. That’s something you don’t see very often.” 

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District of Columbia

D.C. police seek public’s help in July 5 murder of trans woman

Relative disputes initial decision not to list case as hate crime

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Daquane ‘Dream’ Johnson (Photo courtesy of family)

D.C. police are seeking help from the public in their investigation into the murder of a transgender woman who they say was shot to death at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, on the 2000 block of Benning Road, N.E.

But the police announcement of the fatal shooting and a police report obtained by the Washington Blade do not identify the victim, 28-year-old Daquane ‘Dream’ Johnson of Northeast D.C., as transgender. And the police report says the shooting is not currently listed as a suspected hate crime.

It was local transgender activists and one of Johnson’s family members, her aunt, who confirmed she was transgender and said information they obtained indicates the killing could have been a hate crime.

“On Saturday, July 5, at approximately 12:51 a.m., Sixth District officers were flagged down in the 2000 block of Benning Road, Northeast, for an unconscious female,” a July 5 D.C. police statement says. “Upon arrival, officers located an adult female victim suffering from gunshot wounds,” it says.

“D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where after all lifesaving efforts failed and the victim was pronounced dead,” the statement says.

A separate police flyer with a photo of Johnson announces an award of $25,000 was being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder.

The flyer identifies D.C. police Homicide Detective Natasha Kennedy as being the lead investigator in the case and says anyone with information about the case should contact her at 202-380-6198.

Longtime D.C. transgender rights advocate Earline Budd told the Blade that one of the police investigators contacted her about the case and that she also spoke to Detective Kennedy. Budd said police confirmed to her that Johnson was a transgender woman.

(Photo courtesy of family)

One of Johnson’s family members, Vanna Terrell, who identified herself as Johnson’s aunt, told the Blade that Johnson used the first name of Dream and had planned to legally adopt that name instead of Daquane but had not gotten around to doing so.

Terrell said she and other family members learned more about the incident when one of two teenage high school students who knew Johnson’s brother contacted a friend and told the friend that they recognized Johnson as they witnessed the shooting. Terrell said the friend then called her to tell her what the friend learned from the two witnesses.

According to Terrell, the witnesses reportedly saw three men approach Johnson as Johnson walked along Benning Road and one of them called Johnson a derogatory name, leading Terrell to believe the men recognized Johnson as a transgender woman.

Terrell said one of the witnesses told the friend, who spoke to Terrell, that the man who shot Johnson kept shooting her until all of the bullets were fired. Budd, who said she spoke to Terrell, who also told her what the witnesses reported, said she believed the multiple shots fired by the shooter was an “overkill” that appears to have been a hate crime. Terrell said she too believes the murder was a hate crime.

In response to an inquiry from the Blade, Officer Ebony Major, a D.C. police spokesperson, stated in an email, “At this point there is nothing in the investigation that indicates the offense was motivated by hate or bias.”

Terrell said a memorial gathering to honor Johnson’s life was scheduled to be held Saturday, July 12, at River Terrace Park, which is located at 500 36th St., N.E. not far from where the shooting occurred.

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