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Comings & Goings
Penchina joins Voices for Progress
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].
Daniel Penchina
Congratulations to Daniel Penchina, who has been named president of Voices for Progress and Voices for Progress Education Fund. Voices for Progress is a unique organization made up of influential people advocating for the public interest. Voices for Progress Education Fund (V4PEF), and its sister organization, Voices for Progress (V4P), are progressive national advocacy organizations building a counterweight to the campaign contributors and corporations that seek policies serving their own narrow financial self-interest. A 501(c)(3) project of the Tides Center, V4PEF, and V4P, a 501(c)(4) project of The Advocacy Fund, have enlisted hundreds of philanthropists, political donors and business leaders nationwide as members. Members and staff advocate to elected officials to fight against climate change and economic inequality; to strengthen democracy through campaign finance reform and voting protections; and on other social justice issues
Penchina has 15 years of experience navigating the intersection of policymaking and politics. He was a principal at The Raben Group, a progressive public affairs firm based in D.C. where he designed and managed issue and advocacy campaigns — including developing legislative strategy, communications plans, coalitions and tools for grassroots organizing — for dozens of national nonprofits, foundations, and companies. Prior to that, he worked as a senior adviser and strategist for several members of Congress, including as legislative director to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). He has served as a member of the board of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, and of SMYAL. Penchina is a past president of Q Street, an association of LGBT lobbyists and advocates. He has a BFA with honors in cinema studies from New York University.
Congratulations also to Jordan Schwartz, who was promoted to National Development Associate at A Wider Bridge (AWB). Schwartz previously served as Regional Development Associate for the Mid Atlantic. He will now assist with AWB’s national fundraising efforts.
A Wider Bridge was founded by Arthur Slepian in 2010 to provide opportunities for LGBTQ people in North America to build meaningful relationships with Israel and LGBTQ Israelis. From its outset, AWB has provided LGBTQ people with the opportunity to engage with Israel in ways that matter to them personally, and to demonstrate they have a stake in Israel and its future. In seven years, it has sponsored dozens of Israeli LGBTQ delegations to North America. It has also given more than 200 North American LGBTQ leaders the opportunity to visit Israel and engage with LGBTQ Israeli leaders and NGOs on the ground.
Prior to working with AWB, Schwartz founded Tappan Street Productions, Brookline, MA where he produced a 15-minute documentary that screened in the Boston area for Joe Kennedy for Congress. He is also the youngest tutor hired by Advantage Testing trained in and certified to teach LSAT, GRE, GMAT, and numerous academic subjects. Jordan has a bachelor’s in political science with a minor in business from Brandeis University.
Jordan Schwartz
Congratulations also to those elected to the board of Brother, Help Thyself. Jim Slattery was re-elected to his fifth term as president of BHT. He is joined by Andrew McCarty as vice president, Mark Clark as the board’s treasurer and Mike Lentz as assistant treasurer. In addition, elected to the board of directors were Mario Ward, Jose Gutierrez and Julius Agers. Brother, Help Thyself Inc. is a community-based organization providing financial and other support to non-profit organizations serving the GLBTQ and HIV/AIDS community in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. metro area.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Summer Kickoff Party set for May 15 with Ashley Biden
The Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 15 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has joined the list of speakers, the Blade announced. She will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau Biden for his LGBTQ advocacy work as Delaware attorney general. (Her appearance was rescheduled from last year.)
The event, to be held this year at Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave. Ext.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient will be introduced at the event.
The event will also feature remarks from state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. New CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Diego’s.
A suggested donation of $25 is partially tax deductible and includes a drink ticket and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
District of Columbia
Curve magazine honors Washington Blade publisher
Lynne Brown named to 2026 Power List
Washington Blade Publisher Lynne Brown has been named to the 2026 Curve Power List celebrating LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields.
“From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve Foundation/Curve magazine said in announcing this year’s list, which includes ABC newscaster Robin Roberts, comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder, and singer/actress Renee Rapp, among others.
Brown has worked for the Washington Blade for nearly 40 years. She was named publisher in 2007 before becoming a co-owner in 2010.
“I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said. “Receiving this Curve honor is twofold. I was an early subscriber to Curve. I enjoy the product and know its history. Its journalism, layout and humorous features have inspired me.
“As an owner/publisher, receiving recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate. Franco Stevens, the publisher of Curve, is a business person of duration, experience, and purpose. The fact that they are in the media business, and honoring me and my publication makes it a tiny bit sweeter.”
Nominations for the Curve Power List come from the community: peers, mentors, fans, and employers.
Curve explained the significance of the list in its announcement: “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors. Such a list also fosters encouragement and solidarity, and elevates voices and achievements—from high-profile roles to under appreciated areas of life.”
Rehoboth Beach
Auction of Rehoboth’s Blue Moon canceled
Details on sale of iconic bar, restaurant not disclosed
The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has been an iconic presence in the local LGBTQ community for four decades but its status remains murky after a sheriff’s auction of the property was abruptly called off on Tuesday.
The property was listed for sale in December. At that time, owner Tim Ragan told the Blade that he is committed to preserving its legacy as a gay-friendly space.
“We had no idea the interest this would create,” Ragan said in December. “I guess I was a little naive about that.”
Ragan explained that he and longtime partner Randy Haney were separating the real estate from the business. The two buildings associated with the sale were listed by Carrie Lingo at 35 Baltimore Ave., and include an apartment, the front restaurant (6,600 square feet with three floors and a basement), and a secondary building (roughly 1,800 square feet on two floors). They were listed for $4.5 million.
The bar and restaurant business is being sold separately; the price was not publicly disclosed.
But then, earlier this year, the Blue Moon real estate listing turned up on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office auction site. The auction was slated for Tuesday, April 21 but hours before the sale, the listing changed to “active under contract” indicating that a buyer has been found but the sale is not yet final. As of Wednesday morning, the listing has been removed from the sheriff’s auction site.
Ragan didn’t respond to Blade inquiries about the auction. Back in December, he told the Blade, “It’s time to look for the next people who can continue the history of the Moon and cultivate the next chapter,” noting that he turns 70 this year. “We’re not panicked; we separated the building from the business. Some buyers can’t afford both.”
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, nor was the sale price.
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