Connect with us

Local

Comings & Goings

Meet NLGJA’s new intern, DC Vote’s new director

Published

on

Benjamin Jake Lubbehusen, Eric Fanning, 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].

Jeremy Leffler, gay news, Washington Blade

Benjamin Jake Lubbehusen

Congratulations to Benjamin Jake Lubbehusen who is the new membership intern at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

Lubbehusen is a student at the University of Maryland, College Park and is pursuing a double degree in Broadcast Journalism and Government & Politics. He regularly hosts and contributes to an evening news and entertainment show called “Drop the Pop” for WMUC, the university radio station. Lubbehusen is a member of the university’s Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law chapter, various SGA committees and the school’s longest running all-male a capella group, the UMD Generics.

He was born and raised in Howard County, Maryland. He began his college career at Howard Community College where he found his passion for public speaking and communications, through his position as a student ambassador for the college’s Welcome Center.

Upon being notified of the internship Jake said, “It is an honor to intern at an organization that works on behalf of such critical members of the community and I couldn’t be more excited to see where this opportunity with NLGJA takes me.”

Congratulations to Jeremy Leffler, who has a new position as executive director, Policy-Private Markets with Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). He said, “I will be representing the largest consumer-owned insurance company in the country and fourth largest insurer overall, on private market health plan and pharmacy/prescription drug issues.” The position’s responsibilities are diverse. They include policy research, subject matter expertise, legislative and regulatory analysis as well as internal stakeholder discussion on the development of key enterprise policy positions. Jeremy hopes the development and dissemination of those positions will be central to shaping the federal policy landscape. He will be collaborating with key stakeholders and trade associations.

Prior to joining HCSC, he was director of Public Policy for Sanofi-Aventis and COO and head of government affairs for BayBio. He also worked for Eli Lilly & Company as manager of Federal Public Policy. His association experience includes a stint as assistant director of federal affairs with the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Leffler also served as an ANC commissioner in D.C. from 2012-2014.

Jeremy Leffler

Finally, congratulations to Robert “Bo” Shuff who recently began his new position as executive director of DC Vote. He previously was on staff as director of advocacy.

Shuff is a results-oriented professional with experience in campaign and organization management, public and media affairs, development and fundraising and staff recruitment, training, and development. DC Vote is the leading organization in the District of Columbia fighting for statehood.

Shuff is well known in D.C., having served as campaign manager for Muriel Bowser’s successful mayoral campaign. He has worked for Five Corners Strategies, and was National Field Director, Program Manager for FieldWorks Consulting. Prior to that he served as director of education and public policy for Equality Ohio and had worked as associate field director for the Human Rights Campaign. He attended George Washington University.

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Photos

PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards

Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

Published

on

Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.

A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.

The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Continue Reading

District of Columbia

Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals

Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade

Published

on

Deacon Maccubbin attends the 2024 Capital Pride Parade. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.

The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.

Laverne Cox (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.

Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.

Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”

“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”

“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.

The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.

Continue Reading

Photos

PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride

Schuyler Bailar gives keynote address

Published

on

D.C. Trans Pride 2025 was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on May 17. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Continue Reading

Popular