Local
Ebbin backs gay candidate’s opponent in Va. delegate race
Levine running for 45th District seat
Mark Levine (Photo courtesy of Mark Levine)
State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), one of two openly gay members of the Virginia Legislature, has endorsed one of four candidates challenging gay rights attorney and talk show host Mark Levine, who’s running for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Levine, who served as legislative counsel to gay former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), is running for the 45th District seat in the House of Delegates, which includes parts of Alexandria and smaller sections of Arlington and Fairfax counties.
Ebbin said he decided to endorse Alexandria government official Craig Fifer in the June 9 Democratic primary because “he has the skills and experience to make a difference for LGBT people and all voters in the 45th District.”
The winner of the primary is expected to easily win in the November general election in the solidly Democratic district.
Levine has said during campaign appearances that his legislative experience in Congress working for Frank on a wide range of issues and his long record of support and advocacy for progressive causes makes him the best-qualified candidate for the seat.
“I respect Adam,” Levine told the Blade on Wednesday. “But I don’t think anyone could doubt that I have done far more for the LGBT community than anyone else in this race.”
Levine points to his work in representing groups pushing for marriage equality legislation in several states and jurisdictions, including California and D.C. Among other things, Levine represented D.C.’s Gertrude Stein Democratic Club in filing a court brief opposing an effort to place D.C.’s same-sex marriage law on the ballot in a voter referendum in 2010.
The 45th District seat became open earlier this year when incumbent Del. Rob Krupicka (D) announced he would not seek re-election. None of the five candidates running for the seat have widespread name recognition. Levine’s role as a talk show host on radio and cable TV and his unsuccessful run last year for a U.S. House seat in Northern Virginia gives him more name recognition most of his opponents, according to political observers.
The other candidates, in addition to Levine and Fifer, are considered progressive Democrats who support LGBT rights. They include Larry Altenburg, Julie Jakopic, and Clarence Tong. No Republican candidate had entered the race for the GOP nomination as of this week.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party set for May 15 with Ashley Biden
The Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 15 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has joined the list of speakers, the Blade announced. She will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau Biden for his LGBTQ advocacy work as Delaware attorney general. (Her appearance was rescheduled from last year.)
The event, to be held this year at Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave. Ext.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient will be introduced at the event.
The event will also feature remarks from state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. New CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Diego’s.
A suggested donation of $25 is partially tax deductible and includes a drink ticket and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
District of Columbia
Curve magazine honors Washington Blade publisher
Lynne Brown named to 2026 Power List
Washington Blade Publisher Lynne Brown has been named to the 2026 Curve Power List celebrating LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields.
“From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve Foundation/Curve magazine said in announcing this year’s list, which includes ABC newscaster Robin Roberts, comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder, and singer/actress Renee Rapp, among others.
Brown has worked for the Washington Blade for nearly 40 years. She was named publisher in 2007 before becoming a co-owner in 2010.
“I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said. “Receiving this Curve honor is twofold. I was an early subscriber to Curve. I enjoy the product and know its history. Its journalism, layout and humorous features have inspired me.
“As an owner/publisher, receiving recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate. Franco Stevens, the publisher of Curve, is a business person of duration, experience, and purpose. The fact that they are in the media business, and honoring me and my publication makes it a tiny bit sweeter.”
Nominations for the Curve Power List come from the community: peers, mentors, fans, and employers.
Curve explained the significance of the list in its announcement: “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors. Such a list also fosters encouragement and solidarity, and elevates voices and achievements—from high-profile roles to under appreciated areas of life.”
Rehoboth Beach
Auction of Rehoboth’s Blue Moon canceled
Details on sale of iconic bar, restaurant not disclosed
The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has been an iconic presence in the local LGBTQ community for four decades but its status remains murky after a sheriff’s auction of the property was abruptly called off on Tuesday.
The property was listed for sale in December. At that time, owner Tim Ragan told the Blade that he is committed to preserving its legacy as a gay-friendly space.
“We had no idea the interest this would create,” Ragan said in December. “I guess I was a little naive about that.”
Ragan explained that he and longtime partner Randy Haney were separating the real estate from the business. The two buildings associated with the sale were listed by Carrie Lingo at 35 Baltimore Ave., and include an apartment, the front restaurant (6,600 square feet with three floors and a basement), and a secondary building (roughly 1,800 square feet on two floors). They were listed for $4.5 million.
The bar and restaurant business is being sold separately; the price was not publicly disclosed.
But then, earlier this year, the Blue Moon real estate listing turned up on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office auction site. The auction was slated for Tuesday, April 21 but hours before the sale, the listing changed to “active under contract” indicating that a buyer has been found but the sale is not yet final. As of Wednesday morning, the listing has been removed from the sheriff’s auction site.
Ragan didn’t respond to Blade inquiries about the auction. Back in December, he told the Blade, “It’s time to look for the next people who can continue the history of the Moon and cultivate the next chapter,” noting that he turns 70 this year. “We’re not panicked; we separated the building from the business. Some buyers can’t afford both.”
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, nor was the sale price.
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