Local
Comings & Goings
News from mayoral appointee, new schools official and Penn alumnus
The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.
This column highlights the accomplishments of D.C.-area LGBT professionals. To share your good news with the community, email us at [email protected].
Brian T. Carney
Brian T. Carney shared exciting news with us. Carney, a Blade freelance writer, was recently elected to a two-year term on the Steering Committee for PennGALA (the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania). PennGALA connects and represents LGBT Penn alumni and supports the needs of students.
Carney graduated cum laude in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in economics from The Wharton School, with a concentration in management and a bachelor’s in urban studies from the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a produced playwright and published author and holds an MFA in theatre from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carney has held senior leadership positions at a number of Washington non-profits, including the Washington Project for the Arts, the Advocacy Institute, the World Resources Institute and, most recently, AIDS United. He serves as a judge for the Mentor Capital Network Annual Business Plan Collaboration. He and his husband Brian K. Long, a senior internal auditor for the State Department Federal Credit Union, live in Wheaton, Md., with their cats.
David Franco
David Franco has been nominated to the D.C. Zoning Commission by Mayor Bowser. Franco is a native Washingtonian and successful LGBT businessman and developer. Recently Jack Evans, Ward 2 Council member, asked Council Chair Phil Mendelson to hold a confirmation hearing for Franco. Mendelson has so far declined to do so, citing concerns with Franco’s work as a developer. But Mendelson has previously voted for developers to serve on the commission, raising questions about whether he is holding up the nomination for other reasons, including a dispute with the mayor. Franco is more than qualified to serve and Mendelson should schedule a hearing as soon as possible on his nomination.
Travis Wright
Travis Wright was recently appointed deputy chief of early childhood education by Chancellor Kaya Henderson at D.C. Public Schools. Travis graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor’s in College Scholars- Summa Cum Laude in 1998. I met him in 1999 where he worked for a year as a teacher at the Gage-Eckington Elementary School. We had long conversations about how difficult it was for a first-year teacher in a class with many special education students and no support from the administration. Travis committed himself to making things better here in D.C. for all children. He attended Harvard and earned his master’s of education emphasizing human development and psychology and went on to earn his doctorate of education there in June 2006. His dissertation was titled, “Making It vs. Satisfaction: Well-Being and the Lives of Women Raising Young Children in Poverty.”
Travis took a leave from his position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he is assistant professor of Early Childhood Education. DCPS, our children and their parents, are lucky to have Travis Wright back in D.C.
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.
Rehoboth Beach
SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer
Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance
Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.
Thursday (9/3)
Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.
After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Friday (9/4)
The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Saturday (9/5)
The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.
Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.
Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.
Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.
Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.
Sunday (9/6)
Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.
Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.
John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Monday (9/7)
The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.
Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.
Maryland
Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names
Conservative groups challenged system’s policy
By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.
Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”
Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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