Local
New Maryland LGBT foundation debuts
Aims to promote culture, well-being of LGBT community
Matt Thorn is one of three co-founders of the newly launched Pride Foundation of Maryland. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Coinciding with the 47th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and to honor the victims of the Orlando massacre on June 12, a new tax-exempt, Internet-based, all-volunteer organization was launched June 28 called the Pride Foundation of Maryland.
It was formed to promote the culture, history, and well-being of Maryland’s LGBT community, according to the group’s press release announcing its formation.
Three individuals who previously had ties to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB) founded the organization. Brian Gaither, Matt Newcomer and Matt Thorn are all former board members of the GLCCB. They have managed the basic financial, operational and regulatory obligations since June 2014 when the foundation was chartered.
Unique to many LGBT organizations, the foundation is designed to be managed entirely by volunteers. It employs social media and will use the talents of LGBT people “to create and promote programs that celebrate our lives and uplift us as individuals,” the statement notes.
“I’ve worked with a number of LGBT organizations. Some need staff. But the model for the Pride Foundation only works if it’s committed to the principle of being a volunteer-run organization,” says Thorn, who was the GLCCB’s executive director from 2013-2014.
The foundation is a shared resource of Maryland’s LGBT community, which will provide fundraising tools, targeted outreach and other support to those working to fulfill the foundation’s mission.
“Through its digital infrastructure, the foundation can support all programming conceived by and directed toward the multiple points of intersectionality in the diverse LGBT community,” says the statement. “Programming may include a speaker’s series, coordinated exhibits with Maryland institutions, festivals for our families or professional networking. Ultimately, the scale and scope of our programming will be determined by those who step forward to work through the foundation.”
For example, an LGBT family may want to organize an LGBT family fair. The foundation can help connect with existing organizations to plan the event. It can offer support in developing a fundraising page on the website, and it can send emails to other members of the foundation to publicize the event.
The foundation will not be housed in an office, and since it is all-volunteer organization, overhead costs are expected to be minimal. The founders expect to draw from volunteers throughout the community to carry out programs and events to reach every part of the community.
“Over time, the capacity of the Foundation will be enhanced by a broader base of supporters,” says the statement. “Our volunteers will become more efficient organizers, and our lists will become better qualified to connect individuals with programming that his most relevant to them.”
The founders say that there is no reason why the foundation could not be used to support the efforts of existing groups such as the Frederick Center, Baltimore’s GLCCB, and others.
“The financial woes that have plagued LGBT organizations are not going away,” Gaither told the Blade. “Unfortunately, we’re stuck in a place where we can’t afford to maintain them, but at the same time the community can’t afford to be without them. Shifting the model in the way that the foundation has been designed to do means we can be connected and organized without constantly shuffling for resources just to keep the lights on.”
To connect with the foundation, and to learn more, visit pridemd.org or email [email protected].
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party set for May 15 with Ashley Biden
The Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 15 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has joined the list of speakers, the Blade announced. She will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau Biden for his LGBTQ advocacy work as Delaware attorney general. (Her appearance was rescheduled from last year.)
The event, to be held this year at Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave. Ext.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient will be introduced at the event.
The event will also feature remarks from state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. New CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Diego’s.
A suggested donation of $25 is partially tax deductible and includes a drink ticket and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
District of Columbia
Curve magazine honors Washington Blade publisher
Lynne Brown named to 2026 Power List
Washington Blade Publisher Lynne Brown has been named to the 2026 Curve Power List celebrating LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields.
“From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve Foundation/Curve magazine said in announcing this year’s list, which includes ABC newscaster Robin Roberts, comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder, and singer/actress Renee Rapp, among others.
Brown has worked for the Washington Blade for nearly 40 years. She was named publisher in 2007 before becoming a co-owner in 2010.
“I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said. “Receiving this Curve honor is twofold. I was an early subscriber to Curve. I enjoy the product and know its history. Its journalism, layout and humorous features have inspired me.
“As an owner/publisher, receiving recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate. Franco Stevens, the publisher of Curve, is a business person of duration, experience, and purpose. The fact that they are in the media business, and honoring me and my publication makes it a tiny bit sweeter.”
Nominations for the Curve Power List come from the community: peers, mentors, fans, and employers.
Curve explained the significance of the list in its announcement: “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors. Such a list also fosters encouragement and solidarity, and elevates voices and achievements—from high-profile roles to under appreciated areas of life.”
Rehoboth Beach
Auction of Rehoboth’s Blue Moon canceled
Details on sale of iconic bar, restaurant not disclosed
The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has been an iconic presence in the local LGBTQ community for four decades but its status remains murky after a sheriff’s auction of the property was abruptly called off on Tuesday.
The property was listed for sale in December. At that time, owner Tim Ragan told the Blade that he is committed to preserving its legacy as a gay-friendly space.
“We had no idea the interest this would create,” Ragan said in December. “I guess I was a little naive about that.”
Ragan explained that he and longtime partner Randy Haney were separating the real estate from the business. The two buildings associated with the sale were listed by Carrie Lingo at 35 Baltimore Ave., and include an apartment, the front restaurant (6,600 square feet with three floors and a basement), and a secondary building (roughly 1,800 square feet on two floors). They were listed for $4.5 million.
The bar and restaurant business is being sold separately; the price was not publicly disclosed.
But then, earlier this year, the Blue Moon real estate listing turned up on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office auction site. The auction was slated for Tuesday, April 21 but hours before the sale, the listing changed to “active under contract” indicating that a buyer has been found but the sale is not yet final. As of Wednesday morning, the listing has been removed from the sheriff’s auction site.
Ragan didn’t respond to Blade inquiries about the auction. Back in December, he told the Blade, “It’s time to look for the next people who can continue the history of the Moon and cultivate the next chapter,” noting that he turns 70 this year. “We’re not panicked; we separated the building from the business. Some buyers can’t afford both.”
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, nor was the sale price.
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