Local
Ex-employee sues Whitman-Walker
Alleges discrimination, hazardous workplace
Omar Mendez Rivas had been working at the organization’s Elizabeth Taylor Building at 14th and R Streets, N.W. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
A former employee has accused Whitman-Walker Health in a lawsuit filed on Jan. 15 of illegally firing him in retaliation for his complaint that he was subjected to a hazardous workplace “contaminated with paint fumes and other toxic materials.”
Omar Mendez Rivas, who was hired by Whitman-Walker in April 2015 as a staff accountant/grant biller, charges in his lawsuit that the organization terminated his employment on the same day he informed supervisors he had filed a complaint against Whitman-Walker with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The lawsuit, which seeks $200,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, also charges Whitman-Walker with violating the D.C. Human Rights Act by discriminating against him in the firing based on his race, national origin and gender.
“One week prior to termination, Plaintiff filed a complaint with OSHA in regards to building violations and uses of toxic paint in a confined space during working hours, without warning or without protection against harmful fumes and materials used – this resulted in Plaintiff getting severely ill with headaches, dizziness, nausea and respiratory difficulties,” the lawsuit charges.
In a Jan. 22 motion calling for the U.S. District Court for D.C. to dismiss the case, Whitman-Walker argues that each of Rivas’s allegations “fail as a matter of law” because they fail to “state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
The motion also says that Rivas was “terminated at the conclusion of his three-month introductory period,” and under D.C. rules related to employment “an at-will employee may be discharged at any time and for any reason, or for no reason at all.”
Whitman-Walker spokesperson Shawn Jain told the Blade Rivas had been working at the organization’s Elizabeth Taylor Building at 14th and R Streets, N.W. He said Whitman-Walker has a policy of not commenting on the reason why employees leave the organization.
“We continue to dispute the claims made by Omar Mendez-Rivas,” said Jain, who added that OSHA conducted its own investigation and has not issued any safety violations based on Rivas’s claims regarding paint fumes.
A page on the OSHA website for a case listed as “Whitman-Walker Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center – Inspection Information” says the case was opened on July 31, 2015 and closed on Sept. 10, 2015. No findings of a violation in OSHA regulations are listed on the page.
OSHA spokesperson Leni Fortson said the fact that no violations are listed indicates none were found by OSHA inspectors who visited the building in response to the complaint.
Jonathan Dailey, the attorney representing Rivas, said he was told by OSHA while preparing the lawsuit that the case was ongoing. But he said he won’t dispute what OSHA is now saying and will correct the lawsuit’s assertion that the probe was continuing.
He said the lawsuit was never dependent on an OSHA finding of a violation. “This is a wrongful termination case,” he said. “This is based on common law a wrongful discharge public policy exception, which is recognized under D.C. law as a cause of action.”
The lawsuit says Whitman-Walker has responded by saying the termination was not due to Rivas’s OSHA complaint but it has refused to give a reason for the termination.
“At no point after his hire and prior to his termination did defendant complain about his work performance, other than praise,” the lawsuit says.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton.
Maryland
Md. Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs released updated student recommendations
LGBTQ students report higher rates of bullying, suicide
The Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs has released updated recommendations on how the state’s schools can support LGBTQ students.
The updated 16-page document outlines eight “actionable recommendations” for Maryland schools, supplemented with data and links to additional resources. The recommendations are:
- Developing and passing a uniform statewide and comprehensive policy aimed at protecting “transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive students” against discrimination. The recommendation lists minimum requirements for the policy to address: name, pronoun usage, and restroom access.
- Requiring all educators to receive training about the specific needs of LGBTQ students, by trained facilitators. The training’s “core competencies” include instruction on terminology, data, and support for students.
- Implementing LGBTQ-inclusive curricula and preventing book bans. The report highlights a “comprehensive sexual education curriculum” as specifically important in the overall education curriculum. It also states the curriculum will “provide all students with life-saving information about how to protect themselves and others in sexual and romantic situations.”
- Establishing Gender Sexuality Alliances “at all schools and in all grade levels.” This recommendation includes measures on how to adequately establish effective GSAs, such as campaign advertising, and official state resources that outline how to establish and maintain a GSA.
- Providing resources to students’ family members and supporters. This recommendation proposes partnering with local education agencies to provide “culturally responsive, LGBTQIA+ affirming family engagement initiatives.”
- Collecting statewide data on LGBTQ youth. The data on Maryland’s LGBTQ youth population is sparse and non-exhaustive, and this recommendation seeks to collect information to inform policy and programming across the state for LGBTQ youth.
- Hiring a full-time team at the Maryland Department of Education that focuses on LGBTQ student achievement. These employees would have specific duties that include “advising on local and state, and federal policy” as well as developing the LGBTQ curriculum, and organizing the data and family resources.
- Promoting and ensuring awareness of the 2024 guidelines to support LGBTQ students.
The commission has 21 members, with elections every year, and open volunteer positions. It was created in 2021 and amended in 2023 to add more members.
The Governor’s Office of Communication says the commission’s goal is “to serve LGBTQIA+ Marylanders by galvanizing community voices, researching and addressing challenges, and advocating for policies to advance equity and inclusion.”
The commission is tasked with coming up with yearly recommendations. This year’s aim “to ensure that every child can learn in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.”
The Human Rights Campaign’s most recent report on LGBTQ youth revealed that 46.1 percent of LGBTQ youth felt unsafe in some school settings. Those numbers are higher for transgender students, with 54.9 percent of them saying they feel unsafe in school.
Maryland’s High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals a disparity in mental health issues and concerns among students who identify as LGBTQ, compared to those who are heterosexual. LGBTQ students report higher rates of bullying, feelings of hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Nearly 36 percent of LGBTQ students report they have a suicide plan, and 26.7 percent of respondents say they have attempted to die by suicide.
The commission’s recommendations seek to combat the mental health crisis among the state’s LGBTQ students. They are also a call for local and state governments to work towards implementing them.
Virginia
Va. lawmakers consider partial restoration of Ryan White funds
State Department of Health in 2025 cut $20 million from Part B program
The Virginia General Assembly is considering the partial restoration of HIV funding that the state’s Department of Health cut last year.
The Department of Health in 2025 cut $20 million — or 67 percent of total funding — from the Ryan White Part B program.
The funding cuts started with the Trump-Vance administration passing budget cuts to federal HIV screening and protection programs. Rebate issues between the Virginia Department of Health and the company that provides HIV medications began.
Advocates say the funding cuts have disproportionately impacted lower-income people.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal program started in 1990, provides medical services, public education, and essential services. Part B offers 21 services, seven of which remained funded after the budget cuts.
Equality Virginia notes “in 2025, a 67 percent reduction severely destabilized HIV services across the commonwealth.”
Virginia lawmakers have approved two bills — House Bill 30 and Senate Bill 30 — that would partially restore the funding. The Ryan White cuts remain a concern among community members.
Both chambers of the General Assembly must review their proposed changes before lawmakers can adopt the bills.
“While these amendments aren’t a full restoration of what community-based organizations lost, this marks a critical step toward stabilizing care for thousands of Virginians living with HIV,” said Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman. “Equality Virginia plans to continue their contact with lawmakers and delegates through the conference and up until the passing of the budget.”
“We appreciate lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who recognized the urgency of this moment and will work to ensure funding remains in the final version signed by the governor,” added Rahaman.
District of Columbia
D.C. Black Pride theme, performers announced at ‘Speakeasy’
Durand Bernarr to headline 2026 programming
The Center for Black Equity held its 2026 DC Black Pride Theme Reveal event at Union Stage on Monday. The evening, a “Speakeasy Happy Hour,” was hosted by Anthony Oakes and featured performances by Lolita Leopard and Keith Angelo. The Center for Black Equity organizes DC Black Pride.
Kenya Hutton, Center for Black Equity president and CEO, spoke following the performances by Leopard and Angelo. Hutton announced this year’s theme for DC Black Pride: “New Black Renaissance.”
Performers for 2026 DC Black Pride were announced to be Bang Garcon, Be Steadwell, Jay Columbus, Bennu Byrd, Rue Pratt and Akeem Woods.
Singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr was announced as the headliner for the 2026 festivities. Bernerr gave brief remarks through a video played on the screen at the stage.
DC Black Pride is scheduled for May 22-25. For more information on DC Black Pride, visit dcblackpride.org.
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