Local

Protester accuses Charles Village officials of homophobia

Demonstration follows Eagle liquor license flap

Published

11 years ago

June 1, 2015

Steve Charing

Brian Gaither, gay news, Washington Blade

Brian Gaither protested outside the Charles Village Festival. (Blade photo by Steve Charing)

Brian Gaither of the Baltimore Homophobia Opposition Network (HON) stood on the island on Charles Street just outside the Charles Village Festival’s footprint on May 30 donning a rainbow boa and pink-framed sunglasses, playing Erasure on his boom box and handing out fliers to festival goers.

The flier that was titled “WANTED FOR HOMOPHOBIA” included the photographs of five key individuals who went on record opposing the liquor license transfer requested by the new owners of the Baltimore Eagle—a leather bar located on the corner of Charles and 21st streets—at a key liquor board hearing in March. In April, the board denied the license transfer request. HON is not affiliated with the Baltimore Eagle and was acting independently.

Gaither also carried a bullhorn, which he used to bellow to all within earshot the following:

“The Charles Village Civic Association, despite the excuses they offer, used procedural tools to oppose the opening of a gay business in Charles Village. In so doing the Charles Village Civic Association has made it clear that businesses catering to the LGBT community are not welcome here. Opposing businesses which cater to the LGBT community makes me, a Baltimore citizen, feel less welcome and less safe in Charles Village. Expressing a personal dislike of LGBT people, whether you say it or you use the neighborhood association to do it, is the essence of homophobia. Spending your money at the festival today directly supports the homophobia of the Charles Village Civic Association.”

The protest lasted two hours though it had been scheduled for five hours each of the two days of the festival. Brendan Coyne, a board member of CVCA, approached Gaither and told him that it was not the official position of the association to oppose the bar, Gaither told the Blade. Gaither later aborted the protest.

Gaither told the Blade, “If Sandy Sparks, the president of the CVCA, (one of the five pictured on the flier) was not acting in accordance with the desires of the rest of the board when she appeared before the Liquor Board to oppose the transfer of the license, then CVCA should take corrective actions to remedy the situation and make public their official position on the re-opening of the Eagle.”

He added, “I think of Charles Village as a diverse and inclusive part of Baltimore. So it was disappointing to watch video of the president of the neighborhood association go before the Liquor Board and oppose a gay business.”

Coyne disputed that assessment.

“I know of no one on the CVCA board who is opposed to the Baltimore Eagle on the grounds of it being a gay bar,” Coyne told the Blade in an email. “While there may be opposition in Charles Village and among other organizations on liquor license and land-use grounds, ours is an inclusive neighborhood that has long welcomed members of the LGBTQ community and continues to do so.”

He continued, “Happily, American society at large is finally catching up to where we’ve been for decades and I fervently hope that Mr. Gaither and others fighting the good fight against homophobia will choose better targets in the future.”

Efforts by the Baltimore Eagle’s ownership and supporters are underway to attempt to overturn the liquor board’s decision. More than 1,000 signatures have been gathered from an online petition at TheBaltimoreEagle.com.

CLARIFICATION: This story was updated to add attribution, reflecting that Gaither told the Blade about Coyne’s comments. The Blade has invited Coyne to contribute a quote explaining his position on the Eagle liquor license dispute and has offered op-ed space to CVCA to better explain its position.

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Baltimore

Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death

Ron Singer passed away on July 7

Published

6 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Leon’s Backroom Bar in Mount Vernon. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

Local

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

Published

12 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.

Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

Rehoboth Beach

Celebrate Pride in Rehoboth Beach this weekend

‘A vital space for community, healing, and connection’

Published

3 days ago

July 15, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. (Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new Sussex Pride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the affirmation of queer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives.

End the first night of Pride in Rehoboth at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from DJ MK and Tribe 9 Entertainment.

The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westen h oefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty’s.

Goolee’s Drag Brunch will also take place on Sunday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee’s Grille. This is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and Joanna Blue. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the official Rehoboth Beach Pride Closing Party at Aqua Bar & Grill, celebrating the venue’s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influx of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.