News
White House downplays GOP hopefuls’ power on LGBT rights
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Republican presidential candidates may have threatened to undermine LGBT rights during the night of the first GOP debate, but White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest cautioned Friday against placing too much weight on their ability to make good on undoing progress seen under the Obama administration.
In response to a question from the Washington Blade, Earnest said whether any of the 17 candidates — who uniformly oppose same-sex marriage — can in fact reverse LGBT advancements is a “hard thing to say” because many of the advancements stem from increased public support.
“I think that so much of the progress that has been made is progress that a substantial number of Americans have come around to supporting,” Earnest said. “I think that speaks to not just the critically important political progress that’s been made in this country on some of the issues that you just cited, but in some ways, I think you could make a pretty persuasive argument that at least as important as that is the social progress that’s been made in communities large and small across the country in which discussions of these issues are taking place outside the context any sort of political election or partisan debate.”
Earnest acknowledged some progress wouldn’t have been possible “without some political leadership and that’s why the president is justifiably proud of his record,” but attributed progress ultimately to the public.
“The real power behind this change in the views of so many Americans as we perfect our union is the power of the American people, and the significant change that we’ve seen in a relatively short period of time,” Earnest said.
On Thursday, three candidates — former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — pledged to take unilateral action on behalf of religious liberty as president, which is seen as code for enabling anti-LGBT discrimination. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee objected to the Pentagon’s plan for implementing openly transgender service.
Many candidates pledged to undo Obama’s executive actions they say were acting as job killers, which in their minds may include his order prohibiting federal contractors from engaging in anti-LGBT discrimination.
When the Blade pointed out the president’s executive actions like this order and asked if they’d be in danger under a Republican presidency, Earnest affirmed some change resulted from “political leadership, including political leadership by the President of the United States.”
“And there’s no doubt that we would have liked to have seen Congress take some of the steps that the president has been forced to take on his own to try to make our country a little more just and a little bit more fair, but Congress has resisted,” Earnest added.
In the end, Earnest said LGBT rights supporters would be able to discern the candidate’s positions and make appropriate judgment when they go to the polls on Election Day in 2016.
“Those voters who prioritize these issues I’m confident will look carefully at the views and records of those who are running for president because there’s no denying the kind of authority that they could wield sitting in the Oval Office on these issues,” Earnest said.
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours
D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.
In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.
Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.
According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.
The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.
Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.
At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.
It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.
Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.
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.
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