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Comings & Goings

Bobbitt to CDISC; Williams lands at NAGE

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David Bobbitt, 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].

David Bobbitt, gay news, Washington Blade

David Bobbitt

Congratulations to David Bobbitt, named the new CEO of The Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC). CDISC is a global, non-profit organization that develops data standards to foster smarter research and enable connections to healthcare.

In accepting the appointment, Bobbitt said, “CDISC is at an inflection point. I feel privileged to begin this new chapter. As we enter the next stage of CDISC, our organizational strength through collaboration, inquiry and innovation will provide the fertile substrate from which an even-stronger CDISC will grow.”

Prior to joining CDISC, Bobbitt served for the last three years as president of the SCORE Foundation in D.C., where he led the organization in significant growth while maintaining high-quality services to America’s entrepreneurs. Previously, he served in a senior executive role at the New York Genome Center. He also built the largest private sector fundraising program for kidney disease services and research in the U.S. He founded and ran a successful revenue consulting firm focused on the nonprofit biomedical research sector.

Bobbitt holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar and Lawn Resident; a graduate engineering degree from Northeastern University; and an MBA from Darden Graduate School of Business at UVA where he graduated with the Faculty Award for Academic Excellence.

Congratulations also to Lateefah Williams, who joined the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) as an Assistant General Counsel. The Assistant General Counsel position among other duties assists and represents federal, municipal and private sector employees at arbitration, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and various state, federal and municipal administrative forums.

Prior to joining NAGE, Williams served as the Community Engagement Specialist in the D.C. Office of Attorney General Karl Racine. She previously served as Political and Legislative Director for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, Counsel to the Prince George’s County State Senate Delegation, and Nonprofit Speech Rights Policy Analyst for OMB Watch.

Williams is also a community activist in the District. She is currently a board member of the Wanda Alston Foundation, and periodic contributor to the Washington Blade. She held executive positions in several local organizations, including president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, second vice president of the Metropolitan Women’s Democratic Club, recording secretary of the Ward 5 Democrats, and National Committeewoman for the DC Young Democrats.

Lateefah Williams

Finally, congratulations also to Timothy Merritt who after a decade of experience in federal politics, recently joined progressive entrepreneur Joseph Sanberg’s team as chief of staff. Sanberg is an entrepreneur and investor and co-founder of Aspiration.com, an online financial firm that delivers banking and investing services. He is a founding investor in Blue Apron, the leading provider of home-delivered, ready-to-prepare meals for individuals and families.

Previously, Merritt was a member of the Los Angeles-based fundraising team for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. He has also worked for Ambassadors Susan Rice and Samantha Power at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York City, and on first lady Michelle Obama’s team during President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. He began his political career working in the U.S. Congress for Rep. Gene Green and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Timothy Merritt

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World Pride 2025

Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference

Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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(Screenshot courtesy of WorldPride's website)

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.

Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)

A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.

The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.

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World Pride 2025

Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride

Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

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Pabllo Vittar (Screen capture via Pabllo Vittar/YouTube)

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.

The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.

Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.

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District of Columbia

$3.7 billion RFK stadium proposal draws support from Team DC

Washington Commanders ‘proud’ to champion LGBTQ community

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The long-suffering RFK Stadium will be razed to make way for a new domed facility that could one day host the Super Bowl. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Miguel Ayala, president of the D.C. LGBTQ sports organization Team D.C., has expressed support for the $3.7 billion deal reached between Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Washington Commanders football team to bring the team back to D.C. in a redeveloped site on the grounds of the city’s long shuttered RFK stadium.

With the deal calling for the city to provide $1 billion in taxpayer funds for infrastructure related costs for the massive redevelopment project — and with the Commanders to provide the remaining $2.7 billion — as of this week the deal did not have majority support on the D.C. Council, which must vote to approve it.

Ayala’s support for the project on behalf of Team D.C. raises the question of whether members of the city’s influential LGBTQ community might play some role in urging the D.C. Council to approve the project.

The proposal comes at a time when the Washington Commanders team includes a message of support for the LGBTQ community on its website. The message follows its hosting last October of its 4th annual LGBTQ Pride Night Out at the Commanders game against the Cleveland Browns.

“The Washington Commanders are proud to champion the LGBTQ+ community and its allies,” the team states on its website. “Through the unifying power of sports, we aim to create a culture where all feel welcome and celebrated.”

In a statement released to the Washington Blade, Ayala points out that the Commanders are among every D.C.-based professional sports team that hosts a Pride Night Out event, which Team DC helps to organize.

“Each year, our events have grown stronger, with vibrant tailgates, on-field celebrations, and powerful moments that shine a spotlight on our community,” Ayala said. “We can’t wait to kick off our first Night Out at the Commanders Stadium in 2030.”

He was referring to plans by the Commanders organization and the D.C. mayor’s office to have the stadium deal approved by the D.C. Council in July, with construction of the new stadium to begin then, and with a planned completion in time for the 2030 professional football season.

Ayala also points out that the RFK stadium grounds currently serve as home to LGBTQ-related sports activity, including the D.C. Gay Flag Football League and the D.C. Front Runners group. He added that the RFK grounds will serve as the playing fields for this year’s WorldPride Capital Cup sports competition, where LGBTQ rugby and soccer teams from around the world will compete.

“This new stadium will be more than just a field – it will be a powerful new addition to the vibrant, diverse, and proud communities we champion every day,” he said in his statement.

At an April 28 news conference, Bowser, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris and other city officials provided details of the stadium project, noting that it includes a massive development of the new stadium and the surrounding 180 acres of land.

In addition to the 65,000-seat domed stadium, officials said the project would include 5,000 to 6,000 residential housing units, with 30 percent designated as “affordable” for low- and moderate-income residents. They said the project would also include parks and recreation areas, hotels, restaurants, retail, and neighborhood amenities.

“As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7,” Bowser said in a statement

Opponents of the project, including D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large), have said they don’t believe the city should use its own funds for a stadium and the related development. 

So far, just four Council members have expressed support for the project. Mendelson and two other Council members have expressed opposition, and the remaining five have not yet said whether they would vote for or against it. The project needs seven of the current 12-member Council for it to be approved.

Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), the Council’s only gay member, who initially had not taken a position on the proposal, this week said he was looking at the project more favorably, according to news media reports. 

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