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Comings & Goings
Leaving D.C. for Tufts University post
From left, Mark Brimhall-Vargas and Joshua Souk (Photos courtesy of the subjects)
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Congratulations are in order for Mark Brimhall-Vargas, Ph.D., who is now the Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Provost (CDO/AP) at Tufts University. He was recruited for the position because of nearly two decades of expertise in campus-wide diversity and equity management and programming, cultural competency and conflict resolution.
As the CDO/AP, Mark is responsible for aligning diversity policy and programming for faculty, staff and students across the three major campuses that comprise Tufts in areas of 1) recruitment, retention and success strategies; 2) cultural competence training and preparation; 3) assessment, metrics and maintaining the diversity dashboard; and 4) messaging, communications and passive education.
Brimhall-Vargas and his partner moved from D.C. where previously he worked for the University of Maryland in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as its Deputy Chief Diversity Officer. In this role, he was responsible for managing diversity grants, undertaking campus-wide initiatives such as the overhaul of the search and selection process, and overseeing the campus’ award-winning intergroup dialogue program.
Brimhall-Vargas earned a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Maryland. His academic expertise includes critically conscious pedagogy, social justice and identity development (particularly religious, spiritual, faith-based identity). He also holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College. He originally hails from Albuquerque, N.M.
Also due congratulations is Joshua Souk, who is now at the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) as a legal intern in the legal department/general counsel. AFA-CWA has nearly 60,000 members at 19 airlines. During his internship he is also doing work for the Government Affairs Department. His work includes research on the congressional intent behind the Fly America Act, assisting the Government Affairs Director in dealing with issues related to the ME3 (Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad) receiving government subsidies in violation of the Open Skies Agreement. The premise here is that by undercutting U.S. airlines these countries threaten the jobs of U.S. workers. The AFA-CWA is working on the Federal Aviation Administration Re-authorization Bill and last week they were successful in having an amendment included mandating a minimum of 10 hours rest for flight attendants, which brings them in line with the pilots’ rest provisions.
Souk is a juris doctor candidate, class of 2016, at the California Western School of Law. While in school he worked as a mediator in North County, San Diego small claims court and mediated cases using a family style mediation model. He also interned at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office, where he worked in a small, specialized office that only dealt with the most serious felony cases and spent an entire semester working on a triple homicide.
Joshua was a flight attendant for many years. When asked why he went to intern at AFA-CWA he told the Blade, “Because it combined my professional experience as a flight attendant with my legal education and gave me the opportunity to advocate on behalf of my colleagues in the airline industry. The work is extremely rewarding and after graduation in April and the bar in July I hope to return to D.C. to work in the labor law sector, specifically in transportation/aviation.”
Virginia
Va. LG opposed marriage equality affirmation bill in handwritten note
Winsome Earle-Sears constitutionally required to sign HB 174 as Senate president
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears last year in a handwritten note indicated her opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples when she signed a bill that affirmed marriage equality in the state.
Brandon Jarvis of Virginia Scope on May 1 published Earle-Sears’s note on House Bill 174, which state Del. Rozia Henson, a Prince William County Democrat who is gay, introduced.
The Virginia Senate passed HB 174 by a 22-17 vote margin, and the state constitution required Earle-Sears to sign it as the chamber’s president. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the measure into law after it received bipartisan support.
“As the lieutenant governor, I recognize and respect my constitutional obligation to adhere to procedures set out in the constitution of Virginia,” wrote Earle-Sears in her note. “However, I remain morally opposed to the content of HB 174 as passed by the General Assembly.”
Earle-Sears, a former U.S. Marine who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2004, in 2021 became the first woman elected Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Activists have criticized her for her opposition to LGBTQ rights in Virginia.
She sparked controversy last year when she misgendered state Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas), who is transgender, on the Senate floor. Earle-Sears has also spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Earle-Sears is running to succeed Youngkin as governor once his term ends in January 2026. She will likely face former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who previously represented Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
John Reid, a conservative talk show host who is openly gay, last month secured the Republican nomination to succeed Earle-Sears as lieutenant governor. Youngkin has called for Reid to end his campaign amid reports that he posted “pornographic content” on social media.
Reid has strongly denied the reports.
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.
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