Local
Gay official enters race for College Park mayor
Wojahn vows to make ‘great city even better’
‘I am an advocate for the residents of College Park,’ said Patrick Wojahn. (Photo courtesy Facebook)
Attorney and LGBT rights advocate Patrick Wojahn, one of two gay members of the College Park, Md., City Council, has announced his candidacy for mayor, saying he’s committed to serving the needs of long-term residents as well as the city’s largest institutional resident – the University of Maryland.
“I am an advocate for the residents of College Park,” Wojahn said in a statement on his campaign website. “I have served north College Park on the City Council for the past eight years. In that time, I have made our city safer, greener, and an overall better place to live.”
Wojahn was scheduled to officially launch his campaign on Saturday, Aug. 1, at a gathering at the home where he and his husband, Dave Kolesar, live on Lackawanna Street.
The gathering was to take place less than two weeks after Wojahn suffered a broken left ankle and fractured right foot when an SUV slammed into the back of his car as it was parked next to the car of a friend whose car broke down on the side of a road at night.
Wojahn had arrived on the scene to help his friend Jeff Chelsky. The force of the impact shoved Wojahn’s car into his and Chelsky’s path, knocking both men over a guardrail. Chelsky, who received only bruises and scrapes, said in a Facebook posting that had Wojahn not come to his aide he would have stayed inside his disabled car and would likely have been thrown through the windshield and killed by the impact of the out-of-control SUV.
Friends and supporters have since pledged to redouble their efforts to help Wojahn with campaign legwork that he won’t be able to do for at least two months as his ankle heals with the aid of a cast-like boot.
Wojahn received his law degree from Georgetown University School of Law in 2002. He began his law practice with organizations advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. He currently works as director of government relations at Rails to Trails Conservancy, a national nonprofit organization that helps convert unused rail corridors into public parks and recreational spaces.
He has been credited with playing a lead role in pushing through policies on the City Council to improve overall city services, public safety, transportation, and rental housing for students.
Among other things, he introduced and helped shepherd through the Council two LGBT rights measures in 2014. One is an ordinance that requires companies that do work for the city to adopt non-discrimination policies that include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as same-sex partner benefits, for their employees as a condition for being approved for city contracts. The measure passed by a vote of 7-0, with one abstention.
The other was an amendment to the city charter that calls for a policy declaring that the city opposes discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations for a wide range of categories, including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. The amendment passed by a vote of 6-2.
“I started my professional career and my family in College Park,” Wojahn said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “I love our city, and so, with the support of family and friends, I have decided to run for mayor. I want to continue to make this great city an even better place to live for all our residents.”
Wojahn has been endorsed by the current mayor, Andrew Fellow, who is not seeking re-election, and fellow Council members Stephanie Stullich and P.J. Brennan.
Council member Denise Mitchell, who voted against the charter amendment calling for non-discrimination polices for LGBT people, has emerged as the only other candidate running for mayor so far. The deadline for filing petition signatures to run for the mayoral position is Sept. 18. The election will be held Nov. 3.
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].
The Comings & Goings column also invites LGBTQ+ college students to share their successes with us. If you have been elected to a student government position, landed an exciting internship, or are graduating and beginning your career with a new job, let us know so we can share your success.
Congratulations to Jaime Christopher Pierce on their appointment to serve as a member of the Virginia Governor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Pierce was sworn in on Sept. 3 by Greg Parks, clerk of the Alexandria Circuit Court.
Pierce currently serves as vice chair of the Alexandria City LGBTQIA+ Task Force and as a member of the Alexandria Pride planning committee. They previously served on the board of directors of Equality Virginia.
Upon being sworn in, Pierce said, “Public service has been a central part of my life for more than 30 years, and this appointment gives me an opportunity to serve the Commonwealth in a different and very personal way. My career has allowed me to work with people and communities throughout Virginia, and I hope to bring that experience, along with my own lived experience and my involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, to the work of the Board.” They added, “Having Greg administer the oath makes the occasion even more meaningful because of his own historic role as Virginia’s first openly gay elected circuit court clerk.”
Pierce also serves as Circuit Court Services Manager for the Department of Judicial Services, at the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. They began their career in Virginia’s judiciary in 1994 as a deputy clerk with the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and have since held several professional and leadership positions within the court system. Pierce is a member of the National Association for Court Management (NACM) and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management. At the national level, Pierce participated in the workgroup that developed the National Association for Court Management’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guide, a resource designed to help court professionals advance inclusive practices and strengthen access, fairness and belonging within the justice system.
Pierce earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University, and a certificate in Paralegal Studies from Norfolk State University.
Maryland
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Pride Center of Maryland among recipients
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy are awarding a total of $10 million in grants in the 2027 fiscal year to nonprofit organizations that work to prevent hate crimes in the state.
The funds will be used to support those who feel targeted or discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
The Pride Center of Maryland is among the recipients. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and LGBTQ organizations are all eligible to receive grants
“The safety and security of all Marylanders is my top priority, so we are drawing a hard line because we have no tolerance for hate,” said Moore, according to media reports. “We are committed to protecting and ensuring safe and sacred spaces stay that way by investing in non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and community centers to protect and honor every community that makes our state so diverse and special.”
“Protection Against Hate Crime funding has strengthened the Pride Center of Maryland’s ability to protect, educate, and support the communities we serve … at a time of heightened concern associated with the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ/SGL (same-gender-loving) policies and pressures,” Pride Center of Maryland CEO Cleo Manago said. “PAHC funding helps us do more than improve physical security — it strengthens our community’s knowledge, preparedness, connection to resources, and ability to respond to hate with greater awareness and support.”
Maryland’s hate crimes law includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. The state’s nondiscrimination statute is also LGBTQ-inclusive.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
‘Thelma and Louise’ remains landmark of unspoken queer rebellion
Comings & Goings
LGBTQ Military Happy Hour set for Sept. 15
Calendar: September 11-17
Multi-billion-dollar 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to continue until 2090
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Nominate your favorites for the Blade’s 25th annual Best Of LGBTQ DC Awards
Gloria Steinem’s life of substance and consequence
PHOTOS: SUNFESTIVAL
