Local
Gender Conference East slated for November
Aimed at supporting trans youth
(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
The second annual Gender Conference East, a gathering aimed at supporting children and youth across the gender spectrum as well as their families and the professionals working with them, is scheduled to take place Nov. 13-14 at the Radisson North Baltimore Hotel, 2004 Greenspring Dr. in Lutherville-Timonium.
The conference is co-sponsored by Gender Spectrum, PFLAG-Howard County, the Ackerman Institute’s Gender and Family Project, and is joined this year by FreeState Legal Project and Chase Brexton’s LGBT Health Resource Center (LHRC). It will be divided into two segments: a Professional Day on Friday, Nov. 13 and a Family Day on Saturday, Nov. 14.
The Professional Day activities will include workshops, discussions and networking for education, legal, medical, mental health, and social service professionals to better understand serving transgender youth. The workshops will include: “Schools in Transition” and “Family Acceptance and Rejection Panel.”
In addition, there will be a networking happy hour for professionals who want to linger and discuss their learning and cement new contacts and a meet and greet for families travelling from out of town. In 2014, 150 professionals participated and 250 are expected this year.
The Family and Youth day offers tracks for the kids and workshops for the parents. Workshops include: “Teen-2-Parent/Parent-2-Teen: Opening the Door for Dialogue” and “Bringing Our Whole Selves to the Table: A Panel of Parents and Young Adults.” Last year, 300 participated while this year organizers are anticipating over 400.
“Gender Conference East is the culmination of my dream, seven years ago, when my family finally understood our child to be trans and had to travel to the West Coast for a family-focused conference about gender in our children,” Catherine Hyde, Mid-Atlantic regional director of PFLAG, told the Blade. “Our professional day is aimed at helping increase the number of trained professionals supporting our children and their families. The family day is for the children and their parents and caregivers to find a safe space to learn more and meet other people on a similar journey of raising trans and gender creative children.”
The conference was motivated by studies that indicate transgender children are at high risk of bullying in school, suicide attempts and homelessness. More than 40 percent of trans children will attempt suicide before they are 18.
The deadline for online registration is Nov. 1. To register, visit genderconferenceeast.org/join-us22.html.
For more information, visit GenderConferenceEast.org or email [email protected].
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.
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.
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