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D.C. Council committee approves 2 LGBT bills

Takes action on surrogacy parenting

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10 years ago

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surrogacy parenting, gay news, Washington Blade

‘It is long past time that the District joins the vast majority of states in allowing surrogacy agreements,’ said D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The D.C. Council’s Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve two LGBT supportive bills related to surrogacy parenting and the appropriate identification of the gender identity of a D.C. resident on their death certificate.

The first bill, the Collaborative Reproduction Amendment Act of 2016, calls for repealing what activists call an archaic city law that criminalizes surrogacy parenting agreements. Such agreements, which are legal in nearly all other states, usually consist of an arrangement in which one or more persons, typically a married infertile couple, contract with a woman to gestate the child for them and to relinquish the child to them after birth.

Gay male couples seeking to have children have also entered into surrogacy parenting arrangements in other states and, due to D.C.’s existing law, cannot do so.

The bill approved by the committee on Wednesday, in addition to repealing the existing law, establishes a new set of standards and requirements facilitating surrogacy agreements in the District.

“It is long past time that the District joins the vast majority of states in allowing surrogacy agreements,” said D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie, chair of the Judiciary Committee. “The bill adopts best practices and model provisions from other states to anticipate many of the issues that could arise during surrogacy, including strong legal protections for both surrogates and parents,” he said.

The second bill, the Death Certificate Gender Identity Recognition Amendment Act of 2016, “allows an individual’s gender identity to be properly reflected on their death certificate,” according to a statement released by McDuffie’s office.

“The current process records an individual’s ‘sex’ as it is reported to the Vital Records Division of the Department of Health, but there is no procedure to alert officials that the individual’s gender identity differs from what was reported,” the statement says.

Transgender activists, who support the bill, have said it is needed to prevent hostile relatives or uninformed friends from misidentifying a transgender person’s chosen gender identity at the time of death.

“In case of conflicting information from sources, the death certificate shall be based on documentation that memorializes the decedent’s gender transition,” the bill states. “If documentation is not available, it shall be based on information from individuals most familiar with the decedent’s gender identity at the time of death,” the bill says.

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District of Columbia

Blade welcomes fall intern

Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida

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21 hours ago

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September 2, 2026

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Alexis McLean (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

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.

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Rehoboth Beach

SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer

Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance

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1 day ago

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September 1, 2026

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David Archuleta headlines this year’s SUNFESTIVAL on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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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Maryland

Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names

Conservative groups challenged system’s policy

Published

1 day ago

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September 1, 2026

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Anne Arundel County Public Schools has issued new internal guidance for students who ask to be addressed by gender-affirming names and pronouns. (Photo by Eric Thompson for the Baltimore Banner)

By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.

Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”

Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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