Local
Comings & Goings
McCabe’s new PR shop; Washington lands consulting gig
The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.
The Comings and 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 to Patrick McCabe on opening his new public relations agency, McCabe Message Partners. Its focus is health and the issues that affect it. McCabe, an expert in healthcare communications, co-founded GYMR Public Relations, which closed May 31 after 18 years.
Patrick McCabe (Photo courtesy McCabe)
When announcing the new firm, he reported all of his more than three-dozen clients from GYMR have signed on with the new agency and his entire team of 20 joined him in launching the new venture. McCabe said, “We help clients talk about health—plain and simple—whether it’s how policies affect it, how care is provided and paid for, or how the health of people and communities can be improved.”
McCabe Message Partners provides a wide range of communications services including media relations, message development and testing, strategic communications planning, tailored outreach to influential policymaker and stakeholder communities, orchestrating meetings and events, and other services.
The team helps lead communications for the award-winning Choosing Wisely campaign, in which more than 70 healthcare provider organizations identified common medical tests and procedures they say are overused and should be questioned. The team also leads communications for a series of more than 100 influential health policy briefs developed by researchers at The Urban Institute and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
For nearly three decades, McCabe has designed successful, affordable strategies that reach policymakers, consumers, healthcare providers, educators and minority populations. His work on the importance of affordable, accessible health insurance, for example, resulted in coverage in all of the nation’s top 100 newspapers and every network news program. He has been published numerous times on topics including crisis management, user-tested message development, strategic communications planning, media relations and training, increasing communications capacity for nonprofits and others.
Prior to co-founding GYMR Public Relations, he was a vice president at Fleishman Hillard; a lobbyist and spokesperson for a health-related trade association; and journalist in metropolitan Washington, D.C. McCabe graduated with high honors from the University of Notre Dame.
Congratulations also to Sterling Washington who added another consulting position to his resume. His new role is as a consultant and personal stylist for J. Hilburn Custom Menswear. The company was started by two young Wall Street executives, who said, “We studied the men’s luxury market and saw that nobody was delivering quality custom clothing and personal service at a price that didn’t break the bank. So we set our vision, and J.Hilburn was born.”
Sterling Washington
Washington is currently doing consulting in several different areas. He is an editor and writer. Many in D.C. know him from when he served as Mayor Vincent Gray’s director of the Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs. While there, his accomplishments included: training more than 40 percent of District government employees in LGBT cultural competency as well as numerous federal government employees and staff at several local long-term care facilities; and coordinating a multi-agency working group that successfully barred discrimination by health insurance companies on the basis of gender identity and expression.
Washington’s background includes serving as resource and grant development manager for the Center for Black Equity; working on grants, newsletters and community relations at US Helping US; serving as a presidential appointee in the White House during the Clinton administration first as Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Administration and later as the Information Technology Management Team Coordinator. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in music history from Howard University where he also led the Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay Organization of Students at Howard.
Maryland
Md. groups receive state grants to fight hate crimes
Pride Center of Maryland among recipients
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy are awarding a total of $10 million in grants in the 2027 fiscal year to nonprofit organizations that work to prevent hate crimes in the state.
The funds will be used to support those who feel targeted or discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
The Pride Center of Maryland is among the recipients. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and LGBTQ organizations are all eligible to receive grants
“The safety and security of all Marylanders is my top priority, so we are drawing a hard line because we have no tolerance for hate,” said Moore, according to media reports. “We are committed to protecting and ensuring safe and sacred spaces stay that way by investing in non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and community centers to protect and honor every community that makes our state so diverse and special.”
“Protection Against Hate Crime funding has strengthened the Pride Center of Maryland’s ability to protect, educate, and support the communities we serve … at a time of heightened concern associated with the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ/SGL (same-gender-loving) policies and pressures,” Pride Center of Maryland CEO Cleo Manago said. “PAHC funding helps us do more than improve physical security — it strengthens our community’s knowledge, preparedness, connection to resources, and ability to respond to hate with greater awareness and support.”
Maryland’s hate crimes law includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. The state’s nondiscrimination statute is also LGBTQ-inclusive.
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.
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