Local
Anti-gay graffiti reappears on Silver Spring building
Vandal strikes again at office building


A vandal has again scrawled the words ‘no gay’ along a white cement wall surrounding a downtown Silver Spring office. (Washington Blade photo by Lou Chibbaro Jr.)
An unidentified vandal has once again scrawled the words “no gay” dozens of times along a white cement wall surrounding a downtown Silver Spring office building, prompting the building’s property manager to call on the public to help police identify the person responsible.
“It’s the same wording, the same marker, the same handwriting — it’s the same person obviously,” said Tony Eastridge, who manages maintenance operations at 1100 Wayne Ave., an upscale high-rise office building less than a block from Silver Spring’s recently opened Metro Transit Center.
“The first thing tomorrow we’ll be out painting over it,” Eastridge said on Tuesday. He noted that rainy weather on Monday and Tuesday prevented his maintenance staff from covering up the graffiti sooner. “It’s frustrating,” he said.
In September, the person or persons responsible for the graffiti scrawled repeatedly the same “no gay” message on a similar decorative wall surrounding an adjacent office building at 1010 Wayne Ave., which is owned by the same company that owns the other building, Brandywine Realty Trust.
Thomas Petry, a gay Silver Spring resident who walks past the two buildings on route to the Metro Transit Center on his way to work, said he has observed the anti-gay graffiti appear on the wall surrounding the two buildings every few months for more than a year.
Eastridge said the latest flurry of graffiti appeared behind a bus shelter, which he said appears to be the location where the unidentified vandal often writes his message along the top of the wall at 1100 Wayne Ave.
Lt. Jennifer McNeal, deputy commander for the Montgomery County Police Department’s Third District in Silver Spring, said police opened an investigation into the graffiti incident at the two buildings in September and classified the incident as a form of vandalism.
McNeal said that anyone with information that could help police identify the person responsible for the graffiti should call the police non-emergency dispatcher’s office at 301-279-8000.
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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