News
O’Malley seeks ENDA passage, ban on housing discrimination
Candidate stands at 1 percent among Democratic hopefuls in recent poll
Martin and Katie O’Malley (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on Monday called for the addition of LGBT employment and housing protections in federal law following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality.
“Last week the Supreme Court affirmed that marriage is a human right, and now gay and lesbian couples will be able to marry in every state in our country,” O’Malley said in a statement. “While this is a major step forward, our fight for equality continues. In a majority of states, gay and lesbian employees can still be denied job opportunities or fired solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Twenty-eight states also lack laws banning discrimination in housing.”
O’Malley noted that Maryland law has “long banned” discrimination based on sexual orientation and under his administration last year, he signed into law a measure prohibiting transgender discrimination in the state.
To enshrine into federal law employment protections for LGBT people, O’Malley said Congress should pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The measure hasn’t yet been introduced in 114th Congress, but in years past it has aimed to prohibit employment discrimination in most cases on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to expand these protections at the federal level is a necessary next step,” O’Malley said. “We must continue to improve our laws, to more fully protect the rights of every individual — and more fully realize the vision of an open, respectful and inclusive nation that Friday’s decision aspires us to be.”
The candidate articulates support for ENDA ahead of the expected introduction of a comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination bill in Congress by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). Matt Corridini, an O’Malley spokesperson, said his boss is aware of the legislation and supports it.
O’Malley’s competitors for the Democratic nomination for the White House have taken different approaches to the issue of LGBT non-discrimination.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for a ban on discrimination against LGBT people “so they can live, learn, marry, and work just like everybody else.” Although she’s supported ENDA in years past, she hasn’t articulated in this election cycle the best vehicle to achieve non-discrimination protections for LGBT people.
U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) voted for a version of ENDA in 2013. In an interview with the Washington Blade, Sanders said he’d back amending the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity and anticipates he’ll support the upcoming comprehensive LGBT bill.
O’Malley faces a significant uphill battle in efforts to win the Democratic nomination for president. According to a Fox News poll, Clinton enjoys 61 percent support among likely Democratic voters nationwide. Sanders follows her with 15 percent support, Vice President Joseph Biden has 11 percent, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has 3 percent, former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb has 2 percent and O’Malley has 1 percent.
The Vatican
Executive director of LGBTQ Catholic group to travel to Rome for conclave
Marianne Duddy-Burke met Pope Francis in 2023
The executive director of a group that represents LGBTQ Catholics will travel to Rome next week for the papal conclave that starts on May 7.
DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke on Thursday told the Washington Blade she will arrive in Rome on May 6. Duddy-Burke said she plans to spend time in St. Peter’s Square “and have conversations with people.”
“I will wear Dignity insignia, have rainbow flags,” she said.
Pope Francis died on April 21. His funeral took place five days later.
The Vatican’s tone on LGBTQ and intersex issues softened under the Argentine-born pope’s papacy, even though church teachings on homosexuality did not change.
Francis, among other things, described laws that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations as “unjust” and supported civil unions for gays and lesbians. Transgender people were among those who greeted Francis’s coffin at Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica before his burial on April 26.
Duddy-Burke and two others from the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics met with Francis in October 2023 during a meeting that focused on the Catholic Church’s future. Duddy-Burke noted Francis “invited” her and her colleagues as his “special guests for the audience and then had a conversation with him afterwards.”
“For me the sort of visibility that he (Francis) brought to our community and to our concerns feels irreversible,” said Duddy-Burke. “He empowered so many people and so many new ministries.”
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu — the archbishop of Kinshasa in Congo who has described homosexuality as an “abomination” — is among the cardinals who are reportedly in the running to succeed Francis.
“I really don’t know,” said Duddy-Burke when the Blade asked her who the next pope will be. “Of course, I am hoping and praying hard that it will be someone who will continue to lead the church on responsiveness of human need and greater inclusivity.”
“What happens in that room is such a mystery,” she added.
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.
Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)
A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert
A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.
The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.
Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.
PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch
Executive director of LGBTQ Catholic group to travel to Rome for conclave
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Calendar: May 2-8
Cozy Night In Ideas And Inspiration
Chronicling disastrous effects of ‘conversion therapy’
Second federal lawsuit filed against White House passport policy
We must show up to WorldPride 2025 in D.C.
Ruby Corado sentencing postponed for third time
A room with Pride: D.C.’s LGBTQ history finds a new home at the Eaton
-
Books5 days agoChronicling disastrous effects of ‘conversion therapy’
-
U.S. Federal Courts4 days agoSecond federal lawsuit filed against White House passport policy
-
Opinions4 days agoWe must show up to WorldPride 2025 in D.C.
-
District of Columbia4 days agoRuby Corado sentencing postponed for third time