Local

Whitman-Walker plans ‘tentative’ march on White House

Group will protest if Trump issues ‘religious freedom’ order

Published

9 years ago

February 8, 2017

Sean Spicer, gay news, Washington Blade, protest march

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said there are no immediate plans for an executive order on ‘religious freedom,’ but if one emerges, Whitman-Walker is ready to march in protest. (Screen capture via C-Span)

D.C.’s Whitman-Walker Health announced in an email on Tuesday to about 25,000 people that it will organize a protest march to the White House if President Donald Trump issues a “religious liberties” executive order that activists say would curtail LGBT rights.

“We are closely monitoring the new administration and its executive orders,” the Whitman-Walker announcement says. “One such order may permit religious choice to supersede other laws that protect against discrimination. This order would offer a blank check for individuals and organizations to discriminate on the basis of one’s convictions.”

LGBT advocacy groups that received a draft copy of a religious liberties order leaked from the White House say it would have a devastating impact on LGBT rights protections and would negate an Obama executive order protecting LGBT employees of federal contractors.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer has said President Trump decided not to rescind the Obama executive order and has no immediate plans to issue and sign a religious liberties order.

“We have not received any insider or additional information about the religious freedom executive order,” said Whitman-Walker spokesperson Abby Fenton. “However, we feel strongly that if an order of this nature comes out, we will respond with a march.”

Added Fenton: “We sent this preemptively because we know if an order comes out we will need to act quickly.”

She said Whitman-Walker would decide on the route to the White House that such a march would take if and when a religious liberties executive order is issued.

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Virginia

VIDEO: LGBTQ groups march in Va. inaugural parade

Abigail Spanberger took office on Saturday

Published

10 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Michael Key

Diversity Richmond and the Virginia Pride project of Diversity Richmond march in the 2026 Inauguration Parade on the grounds of the state capitol in Richmond, Va. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The inaugural ceremonies for Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger were held in Richmond, Va. on Saturday. Among the groups marching in the parade were Diversity Richmond and the Virginia Pride project of Diversity Richmond.

View on Threads

*The LGBTQ contingent in the inaugural parade in Richmond, Va. pass by the review stand on Jan. 17, 2026. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)*

Virginia

Va. Senate approves referendum to repeal marriage amendment

Outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin introduced SJ3

Published

18 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Staff reports

(Bigstock photo)

The Virginia Senate on Friday by a 26-13 vote margin approved a resolution that seeks to repeal a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) introduced SJ3. The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on Wednesday approved it by a 10-4 vote margin.

Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Virginia since 2014. Outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2024 signed a bill that codified marriage equality in state law.

A resolution that seeks to repeal the Marshall-Newman Amendment passed in the General Assembly in 2021. The resolution passed again in 2025.

Two successive legislatures must approve the resolution before it can go to the ballot. Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates have said the resolution’s passage is among their 2026 legislative priorities.

“It’s time for Virginia’s Constitution to reflect the law of the land and the values of today,” said Ebbin after Friday’s vote. “This amendment, if approved by voters, would affirm the dignity of all committed couples and protects marriage equality for future generations.”

Maryland

Layoffs and confusion at Pride Center of Maryland after federal grants cut, reinstated

Trump administration move panicked addiction and mental health programs

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Merrick Moses, a violence prevention coordinator, works at the Pride Center of Maryland in Baltimore. (Photo by Ulysses Muñoz for the Baltimore Banner)

By ALISSA ZHU | After learning it had abruptly lost $2 million in federal funding, the Pride Center of Maryland moved to lay off a dozen employees, or about a third of its workforce, the Baltimore nonprofit’s leader said Thursday.

The group is one of thousands nationwide that reportedly received letters late Tuesday from the Trump administration. Their mental health and addiction grants had been terminated, effective immediately, the letters said.

By Wednesday night, federal officials moved to reverse the funding cuts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, estimated to total $2 billion, according to national media reports. But the Pride Center of Maryland’s CEO Cleo Manago said as of Thursday morning he had not heard anything from the federal government confirming those reports.

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