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Comings & Goings

Beeker joins Church in Bethesda; Fyala takes over at GMCW

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Comings & Goings, gay news, Washington Blade
Comings & Goings, gay news, Washington Blade

The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.

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 to Rev. Jefferson C. Beeker who has begun his new ministry at Church in Bethesda. According to Beeker, ā€œthe church stands as a beacon of light for new hope and possibility that through Christ’s welcoming, unconditional and inclusive embrace we can all experience a deep and meaningful relationship with Spirit/God, as well as with one another. An open and affirming congregation, all are welcomeĀ to join in this amazing ministry.ā€

Jefferson C. Beeker, Justin Fyala

Rev. Jefferson C. Beeker

Beeker was born and raised in D.C., growing up with a keen interest in theater, government and a passion for American history. Prior to going into the ministry he worked in theĀ entertainment industry in D.C., New York and Los Angeles. Growing up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) his family members have been part of the denomination for six generations.

Beeker received his masterā€™s in divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in Pasadena.

ā€œI am gay, single and excited to be living again in Washington, D.C.,ā€ he said.Ā ā€œTo me, it is one of the most thrilling cities I have ever lived in. Growing up gay I never thought a life in ministry would be possible.ā€

Congratulations to Justin Fyala, who was named the new executive director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. (GMCW) effective Aug. 15.Ā Fyala joins the Chorus with more than 12 years of nonprofit management experience. He spent the past five years leading the Windy City Gay Chorus and Treble Quire, The Youth Choral Theater of Chicago, and Bella Voce, focusing on fundraising and organizational growth. Rob Hall, chair of the GMCW board said, “We are delighted to have found someone with such a full complement of talents. Justin’s work in Chicago with a great LGBTQ chorus, an impressive youth group and other choirs impressed the selection committee and board leaders.”

Justin Fyala

Justin Fyala

“Choral singing has been a part of my life every day since I was 10 years old,ā€ Fyala said. ā€œMy voice changed early and my teacher didn’t know what to do with me, so she made me the narrator. Instead of being ruffled by the experience, I began to devour recordings and books to learn all I could about this magical art form. I am deeply honored to bring my experiences to the GMCW family and to work with some of the most inspiring choral artists in the nation.ā€

Fyala holds a masterā€™s in arts management from Carnegie Mellon University, studied voice at the University of North Texas, and has a bachelorā€™s in choral music education from the Pennsylvania State University.

And finally, congratulations are also due to Joseph Poduslo, who was recently promoted to senior vice president at TTR Sothebyā€™s International Realty. Poduslo has earned a reputation as a leader with a genuinely caring and personal approach and has more than 12 years of experience in the D.C. Metro real estate market. Poduslo is also a 10-time top producer and is ranked one of the top real estate professionals nationwide.

When Poduslo is not working, you might find him at one of the many charities he is involved with. He enjoys golf, tennis, sailing and music.

Joseph Poduslo

Joseph Poduslo

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District of Columbia

Sentencing for Ruby Corado postponed for second time

Former Casa Ruby director pleaded guilty to wire fraud

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Ruby Coradoā€™s sentencing is now scheduled for April 29. (Washington Blade file photo by Ernesto Valle)

The sentencing in D.C. federal court for Ruby Corado, the founder and executive director of the now-defunct LGBTQ community services organization Casa Ruby on a charge of wire fraud, has been postponed for the second time, from March 28 to April 29.

A spokesperson for U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden, who is presiding over the case, said it was the judge who postponed the sentencing due to a scheduling conflict. The earlier postponement, from Jan. 10 to March 28, came at the request of Coradoā€™s attorney and was not opposed by prosecutors with the Office of the U.S. Attorney for D.C.

Corado pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024, to a single charge of wire fraud as part of a plea bargain deal offered by prosecutors. The charge to which she pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for D.C. says she allegedly diverted at least $150,000 ā€œin taxpayer backed emergency COVID relief funds to private offshore bank accounts for her personal use,ā€ according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneyā€™s office.

Under the federal wire fraud law, for which Corado is being prosecuted, she could be subjected to a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution requiring her to repay the funds she allegedly stole.

Court observers, however, have said that due to Coradoā€™s decision to waive her right to a trial and plead guilty to the lesser charge, prosecutors will likely ask the judge to hand down a lesser sentence than the maximum sentence.

An earlier criminal complaint filed against Corado, which has been replaced by the single charge to which she has pleaded guilty, came at the time the FBI arrested her on March 5, 2024, at a hotel in Laurel, Md., shortly after she returned to the U.S. from El Salvador.

At the request of her attorney and against the wishes of prosecutors, another judge at that time agreed to release Corado into custody of her niece in Rockville, Md., under a home detention order. The release order came seven days after Corado had been held in jail at the time of her March 5 arrest.

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Virginia

Pride Liberation Project announces additional Va. school board protests

Student-led group challenging Trump-Vance administrationā€™s anti-LGBTQ policies

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LGBTQ students demonstrate at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Va., in June 2023. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Following their recent protests at school board meetings in Virginia to challenge the Trump-Vance administrationā€™s anti-LGBTQ policies, a student-led rights group on Wednesday outlined plans to continue their actions.

The Pride Liberation Project released a statement in early March announcing their ā€œMarch Month of Actionā€ after their first round of protests. The Pride Liberation Project on Wednesday issued another press release that provided additional details.

ā€œQueer students will rally at local school board meetings across Virginia, as they call for education leaders to reject the Trump-Muskā€™s administration escalating attacks against queer people.ā€ said Conifer Selintung on behalf of the Pride Liberation Project. ā€œSince taking office, the Trump-Musk administration has ignored the real issues facing our schools ā€” like declining reading scores and the mental health crisis ā€” and tried to bully queer students into the closet. Alongside other hateful attacks, theyā€™ve attacked nondiscrimination protections, banned gender-affirming care, and whitewashed history.ā€

The Pride Liberation Project press release also included a statement from Moth, an LGBTQ student at McLean High School.

ā€œI want to be able to go to school as myself, just like any other student,ā€ said Moth. ā€œTo do that, I need my school board to stand up to bullies.ā€

The Pride Liberation Project has also released a schedule of rallies it plans to hold this month.

The first rally took place at the Prince William County School Board meeting in Manassas on Wednesday. A second event took place at the Roanoke County School Board meeting on Thursday.

Additional rallies are scheduled to take place in Rockingham and York Counties on March 24, Loudoun County on March 25, and Fairfax County on March 27.

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District of Columbia

Harvey Fierstein says he was banned from Kennedy Center

Gay icon called out President Donald Trump

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Harvey Fierstein (Photo courtesy of Knopf)

Gay icon and film legend Harvey Fierstein, 72, announced in an Instagram post on Tuesday that he was banned from the Kennedy Center as a result of President Donald Trumpā€™s sweeping anti-LGBTQ measures in the performing space.Ā 

Fierstein, who is a longtime fixture of queer storytelling both on screen and on stage, took to social media to criticize Trump for his recent decisions to take control of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and to hide ā€” if not erase ā€” LGBTQ art, and sounds the alarm for the future of the United States.Ā 

In the picture posted on Instagram, Fierstein alongside LGBTQ rights activist Marsha P. Johnson is walking in the Christopher Street Liberation Day parade in 1979, with the caption beginning with ā€œI have been banned from THE KENNEDY CENTER.ā€

The multiple Tony Award-winning artist, who may be best known for “Torch Song Trilogy,” “La Cage aux Folles,” and “Kinky Boots,” to name a few, went on to explain his thoughts on Trumpā€™s very public takeover of the national cultural center.

ā€œA few folks have written to ask how I feel about Trump’s takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel? The shows I’ve written are now banned from being performed in our premier American theater. Those shows, most of which have been performed there in the past, include, KINKY BOOTS. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, TORCH SONG TRILOGY, HAIRSPRAY, SAFE SEX, CASA VALENTINA, SPOOKHOUSE, A CATERED AFFAIR, THE SISSY DUCKLING, BELLA BELLA and more.ā€

ā€œI have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn’t care less,ā€ the post continued. ā€œHe does this stuff only to placate the religious right so they’ll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification. He attacks free speech. He attacks the free press. He attacks America’s allies. His only allegiance is to himself – the golden calf.ā€

Fierstein then issued a warning for Americans, remarking that removing works that donā€™t align with Trumpā€™s personal agenda represents a slippery slope that can lead to the erosion of democracy and emergence into fascism.Ā Ā 

ā€œMy fellow Americans I warn you – this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS!ā€

He finished the post with a call to action for Americans to recognize and confront Trumpā€™s injustice. 

ā€œTrump may have declared ‘woke’ as dead in America. We must prove him wrong. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!ā€

The post seemingly also pushes back on the Trump administrationā€™s choice to remove any mention of transgender people from the Stonewall National Monumentā€™s website by including Marsha P. Johnson in his post. 

Since its upload on Tuesday, the post has gained more than 14,000 likes and 300 comments supporting Fierstein.Ā Ā 

Trumpā€™s reported banning of Fierstein from the Kennedy Center comes amid the presidentā€™s drastic overhaul of the cultural venue after calling out ā€œwokeā€ programming on its stages, including a drag show. His actions signal a broader effort to reshape the nation’s artistic landscape to align with his administrationā€™s ideology.

The Kennedy Center couldn’t immediately be reached to confirm Fierstein’s claims. This post will be updated.

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