Local
Casa Ruby leader to take sabbatical
Corado cites health issues


Ruby Corado (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Ruby Corado, founder and executive director of Casa Ruby, a D.C. LGBT community services center with an outreach to the transgender and Latino communities, says she will step down from her job for between one and two years beginning “sometime” in 2016.
Corado initially told the Blade she planned to begin what she described as an extended leave or sabbatical on Jan. 1. But she called back to say she decided to postpone her leave for a short time until a Casa Ruby project to open a new home for homeless LGBT youth was further along in its development.
She cited health issues and a strong desire to engage in more aggressive political advocacy for the transgender community as her reasons for taking the sabbatical.
“As much as I love the community, I have to take care of my health,” she told the Washington Blade in an interview on Monday. “My T-cells have gone down,” she said, noting that she has been dealing with both HIV and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“I told the board that I’ll be gone at least a year or two,” she said in describing a recent conversation with members of the Casa Ruby board of directors. “And the board wants me to come back if I feel better. That’s what they told me – we want you to take care of yourself but we also want you to come back if you feel better.”
Corado said the board has named longtime transgender advocate Lourdes Ashley Hunter, who is currently serving as Casa Ruby’s comptroller, to assume the role of interim executive director at Casa Ruby at the time Corado begins her leave. Hunter holds a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University and was the founder and former development and operations director of the Trans Women of Color Collective, a national advocacy group.
Citing the D.C. government’s recently released HIV report and a groundbreaking needs survey of the D.C. area transgender community conducted by the D.C. Trans Coalition, Corado said these and other studies have shown that the local trans community is faced with alarmingly high rates of unemployment, HIV infection, incarceration and housing and employment discrimination.
“Our community is in crisis and the city and its political leadership is looking the other way,” she said. “I cannot see my community going backwards, but it is. I want to do something. I want to support this community and I want to do it from a different role.”
According to Corado, her new role while on leave from Casa Ruby will include consulting work and community and political advocacy on behalf of the trans community.
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.
-
U.S. Federal Courts5 days ago
Second federal lawsuit filed against White House passport policy
-
Opinions2 days ago
TRAITOR: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has blood on his hands
-
District of Columbia5 days ago
Ruby Corado sentencing postponed for third time
-
The Vatican3 days ago
Potential Pope Francis successor views homosexuality as an ‘abomination’