Local
Vandals target LGBT-friendly church
Fire extinguisher sprayed on sanctuary, pews, prayer books and hymnals


Vandals broke in and destroyed property inside Immanuel Church of Christ. (Photo courtesy of Immanuel Church of Christ)
LGBT-friendly Immanuel Church of Christ, located in a peaceful, leafy neighborhood in Catonsville, Md., has been vandalized once again.
Last August, a rainbow flag that the church flies outside was stolen after a street signboard was posted that read, “Black lives matter and bullets can’t stop God’s love.” Weeks later, the church’s board read, “Refugees are people, not just a crisis.” Vandals left letters cut from black paper that read, “Have you forgotten 9-11? This church did,” according to WBAL-TV.
In the latest incident, vandals broke in through a first-floor window and sprayed a fire extinguisher on the sanctuary, pews, prayer books and hymnals. Electronic equipment was stolen and church offices were vandalized.
In addition, graffiti scrawled on a dry-erase board in the church music room had such messages as “666,” “Hail Satan,” “WTF Jezus (sic)” and “Death 2 All.”
Baltimore County Police, who believe the church’s acceptance of LGBT people could be a motive, told local media that they are investigating the incident as a possible “bias crime.” Police spokeswoman Elise Armacost later told the Blade that the terms “bias crime” and “hate crime” are “interchangeable.”
“Immanuel United Church of Christ has a profound commitment of support to and solidarity with the LGBTQ community,” Rev. Bev Lewis, the church’s pastor for more than three years, told the Blade. “We firmly believe in the UCC’s belief in extravagant welcome for all of God’s people whoever they are and wherever they are on life’s journey.”
Lewis said the attacks would not deter her or the church’s mission.
“We won’t stop our work of restorative social justice across the U.S. and with our global mission partners. We are going to take this blow and turn it into good. Our rainbow flag isn’t coming down,” she said.
Police believe the vandalism, discovered by the church custodian, occurred between 7:30 p.m. June 29 and 9:40 a.m. June 30. No suspects have been identified. Any information on this case should be reported to Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020.
Lewis estimates the damage to be more than $25,000 with a $5,000 insurance deductible. Furthermore, security equipment must be installed and that hasn’t been priced out yet.
She said that anyone wishing to donate to help with the losses could do so by mailing a check to: Immanuel Church of Christ, 1905 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228.
District of Columbia
Norton reintroduces bill to ban discrimination against LGBTQ jurors in D.C. Superior Court
Congresswoman notes Congress controls local court system

D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) on Friday, June 20, reintroduced her bill to ban discrimination against LGBTQ D.C. residents in the process for selecting people to serve as jurors in D.C. Superior Court.
“The bill would clarify that D.C. residents may not be excluded or disqualified from jury service in the local D.C. trial court, the D.C. Superior Court, based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” Norton said in a statement.
“Specifically, this bill would clarify that the term ‘sex,’ which is a protected class under the nondiscrimination law that applies to jurors in the D.C. Superior Court includes sexual orientation and gender identity,” Norton said.
She points out in her statement that under the D.C. Home Rule Act approved by Congress that created D.C.’s local government, including an elected mayor and City Council, the federal government retained control over the local court system.
“Therefore, until D.C. is given authority to amend Title 11 of the D.C. Code, which one of my bills would do, an act of Congress is required to clarify that LGBTQ+ jurors in the D.C. Superior Court are protected from discrimination,” according to her statement.
A spokesperson for Norton couldn’t immediately be reached to determine whether Norton is aware of specific instances where residents were denied jury service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Online records of congressional action on Norton’s juror nondiscrimination bill show she had introduced it in 2019, 2021, and 2023, when it died in committee each year, except for the 117th Congress in 2022, when it was approved by a committee but died in the full House.
“During Pride month we are reminded of the many contributions of the LGBTQ+ community,” Norton said in her June 20 statement. “Nobody, including D.C. jurors, should be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and D.C. juries should not be deprived of the service of LGBTQ residents,” she added.

The Washington Blade’s second day of Pride on the Pier at The Wharf DC ended with a fireworks show on Saturday, June 7. The fireworks show was presented by the Leonard-Litz LGBTQ Foundation.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

















State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) will face John Reid in the race to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor.
Hashmi won the Democratic primary with 27.49 percent of the vote. She defeated former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), Babur Lateef, Victor Salgado and Alexander Bastani.
“Tonight, Virginians made history,” said Hashmi in a statement. “We didn’t just win a primary, we sent a clear message that we won’t be bullied, broken, or dragged backward by the chaos in Washington.”
Reid, a gay conservative talk show host, in April won the Republican nomination to succeed Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The incumbent governor days after Reid secured the nomination called for him to withdraw his candidacy amid reports that a social media account with his username included “pornographic content.” Reid, who would become the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in Virginia if he wins in November, has strongly denied the reports.
Former state Del. Jay Jones defeated Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor in Democratic attorney general primary. Jones will face Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares in November.
Youngkin cannot run for a second, consecutive term.
Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger will face off against Earle-Sears in November. The winner will make history as the first woman elected governor in the state’s history.