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Del. Norton, Capital Pride disagree over why she missed parade

Delegate claims no invite, but organizers say that is customary

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Norton at Pride, gay news, Washington Blade

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) marching in the 2016 Capital Pride Parade. Norton and Capital Pride are sparring over her absence from the parade this year. (Washington Blade file photo by Blake Bergen)

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is attributing her absence from this weekend’s Capital Pride parade to the lack of an invitation to the event and a requirement that she pay to take part, although organizers dispute her account and say the fee is customary.

Benjamin Fritsch, a Norton spokesperson, said in a statement shared with the Washington Blade and other media outlets the delegate “assumed she would go to the Capital Pride Parade” — which he said she has done each year even before her nearly 26 years in Congress — but this year never received an invite.

“She has always received a letter of invitation from the parade organizers, but this year did not receive one, so her staff reached out to them well in time for her to participate,” Fritsch said. “The organizers said they would put her on a waitlist. They also said that the congresswoman would have to pay more than $600, and an additional smaller fee to be put on the waitlist. Therefore, she decided not to participate.”

Although Norton was absent from the parade, other officials who took part included D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large), D.C. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), D.C. Council member and former D.C. Mayor Vince Gray (D-Ward 7).

Bernie Delia, president of Capital Pride Alliance, responded to Norton by saying organizers have never extended invitations to elected officials to participate in the event at least the past nine years.

“Months in advance of the parade we inform prior parade entrants that the registration is open,” Delia said. “In this case we did what we have always done – hold a spot in the line-up for D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton for when she showed up, as she has done for every previous Capital Pride Parade.”

Delia said a Norton staffer called late last week seeking to register. Although the staffer was told that would result in an automated system generating an email indicating Norton was on a wait list, Capital Pride organizers explained they would manually override that and place the delegate’s contingent in the parade, Delia said.

The $600 fee, Delia said, is standard for participation in the parade and the same amount charged to all political contingents in the past. Delia acknowledged Capital Pride charges a $10 fee for being on the wait list, but said Norton was never really on it and that $10 “is credited to the account balance for the entry fee.”

“We regret the confusion and look forward to Del. Norton’s participation in future Capital Pride Parades,” Delia concluded.

Delia’s assertion that all political entrants must pay a $600 fee is consistent with Capital Pride’s website, which says “all politicians/individuals with a legislative agenda that are or will be running for political office” are considered “Tier 2” non-profits and must pay a $600 fee for participation in the parade.

The kerfuffle between Norton and Capital Pride organizers came as No Justice No Pride protesters disrupted the parade and forced it to be rerouted over objections to involvement of police and corporate sponsors in the event as well as insufficient diversity on the Capital Pride board.

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Australia

Australian prime minister re-elected

Anthony Albanese marched in 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Screen capture via ABC News Australia/YouTube)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday won re-election.

Albanese’s Labor Party defeated the Liberal Party that Peter Dutton led.

Dutton, who lost his seat in parliament, quickly conceded to Albanese, who is the first Australian prime minister to win re-election in 21 years. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, a lesbian who represents South Australia in the Australian Senate, on Saturday introduced Albanese at his victory party.

“Today the Australian people have voted for Australian values; for fairness, aspiration, and opportunity for all, for the strength to show courage in adversity, and kindness to those in need,” said Albanese. “Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values.”

(9News Australia)

Albanese has been prime minister since 2022. In 2023 he became the first Australian prime minister to march in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.

Voters re-elected Albanese less than a week after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal Party won the country’s federal election. The Trump-Vance administration’s global tariffs are among the issues that factored into both country’s votes.

“Congratulations to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his victory in Australia’s federal election,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X. “Australia is a valued U.S. friend and a close partner.”

“We look forward to continuing to promote freedom and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world,” he added.

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Virginia

Va. LG opposed marriage equality affirmation bill in handwritten note

Winsome Earle-Sears constitutionally required to sign HB 174 as Senate president

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Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears speaks at CPAC in 2023. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears last year in a handwritten note indicated her opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples when she signed a bill that affirmed marriage equality in the state.

Brandon Jarvis of Virginia Scope on May 1 published Earle-Sears’s note on House Bill 174, which state Del. Rozia Henson, a Prince William County Democrat who is gay, introduced.

The Virginia Senate passed HB 174 by a 22-17 vote margin, and the state constitution required Earle-Sears to sign it as the chamber’s president. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the measure into law after it received bipartisan support.

“As the lieutenant governor, I recognize and respect my constitutional obligation to adhere to procedures set out in the constitution of Virginia,” wrote Earle-Sears in her note. “However, I remain morally opposed to the content of HB 174 as passed by the General Assembly.”

Earle-Sears, a former U.S. Marine who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2004, in 2021 became the first woman elected Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Activists have criticized her for her opposition to LGBTQ rights in Virginia.

She sparked controversy last year when she misgendered state Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas), who is transgender, on the Senate floor. Earle-Sears has also spoken at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Earle-Sears is running to succeed Youngkin as governor once his term ends in January 2026. She will likely face former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who previously represented Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.

John Reid, a conservative talk show host who is openly gay, last month secured the Republican nomination to succeed Earle-Sears as lieutenant governor. Youngkin has called for Reid to end his campaign amid reports that he posted “pornographic content” on social media.

Reid has strongly denied the reports.

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World Pride 2025

D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride

Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

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Venus Valhalla performs at Pitchers. Liquor-serving establishments in D.C. will be able to remain open for 24 hours during WorldPride. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.

In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.

Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.

According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.

The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.

Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.

At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.

It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.

Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

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