Local
Comings & Goings
Amaro joins Resource Media; Kendall to Fulcrum
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, an internship if you are in college, new clients for your business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Jorge Amaro (Photo courtesy of Amaro)
Congratulations to Jorge Amaro who recently joined Resource Media, a non-profit communications firm as Senior Program Director. As a non-profit, Resource Media sees its clients dealing in what they call “a noisy world out there, and being heard is only half the battle; the other half is changing hearts and minds.” Resource Media offers communications services to do both.
Most recently, Amaro worked as the Media and Public Relations Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, where he spearheaded media outreach around the organization’s rebranding and on issues such as marriage equality, transgender rights, gun violence, racial justice, reproductive rights, Census data collection and more.
A seasoned communications professional, he has worked with numerous advocacy organizations on raising awareness on issues affecting the environment, women, low-income communities, Latinos and LGBTQ people. Jorge has appeared on CNN, Univision, and Telemundo. He has written editorial pieces for the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, among others. He has also served on the boards of xQsí (Porque Sí) Magazine and the Latino Equality Alliance.
In 2012, he was named as one of the “Top Gay Latino Activists Who Have Broken Boundaries” by Huffington Post. In 2016, he made the Honor 41 list, an annual award that recognizes community leaders for their significant contributions to the LGBTQ Latino community. He graduated from Georgetown University in D.C.
Congratulations also to Ray Bracken who was recently promoted to Director of Events at LRG Inc. Bracken is now responsible for managing the logistics for all meetings and conferences ranging from 50-700 attendees. He is currently working on getting his CMP certification. In addition in his spare time he runs his own company called Planner of Things, which specializes in weddings and other social engagements. He uses his experience in catering to bring any event to fruition focusing on alleviating as much stress from the client as possible.
Bracken’s background includes being an Assistant Account Executive for Occasions caterers and working for the Shakespeare Theater Company where his titles included Special Events Manager where he managed the theater’s annual gala and executive assistant to the Artistic and Managing Director where he worked with the inimitable Michael Kahn. Ray graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in communication studies from James Madison University.
Ray Bracken (Photo courtesy of Bracken)
Finally, congratulations also to Richard Kendall who recently joined Fulcrum Properties Group as a Transaction Manager for the team’s offices in D.C., Arlington, and Tysons in Virginia. Fulcrum is a nationally awarded team associated with Keller Williams Capital Properties and Keller Williams Realty.
Kendall is responsible for the coordination and successful execution of client contracts, from ratification through settlement. Prior to joining Fulcrum, Richard spent 20 years as the administrator for other top-producing teams and brokers in D.C., where he managed both transactions and listings. Prior to that he sold real estate and is licensed in D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Kendall and his partner Robert designed and custom-built their Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired dream home on the Potomac River near Shepherdstown, W.Va. When in town they live in Takoma Park.
Richard Kendall (Photo courtesy Kendall)
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
District of Columbia
D.C. Council member honored by LGBTQ homeless youth group
Doni Crawford receives inaugural Wanda Alston Legacy Award
About 100 people turned out Tuesday evening, April 7, for a presentation by D.C.’s Wanda Alston Foundation of its inaugural Wanda Alston Legacy Award to D.C. Council member Doni Crawford (I-At-Large) for her support for the foundation’s mission to support homeless LGBTQ youth.
Among those who attended the event was Japer Bowles, director of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, who delivered an official proclamation issued by Bowser declaring April 7, 2026 “A Day of Remembrance for Wanda Alston.”
Alston, a beloved women’s and LGBTQ rights activist, served as the city’s first director of the then newly created Office of LGBTQ Affairs under then-Mayor Anthony Williams from 2004 until her death by murder on March 16, 2005.
To the shock and dismay of fellow LGBTQ rights advocates, police and court records reported Alston, 45, was stabbed to death inside her Northeast D.C. house by a man high on crack cocaine who lived nearby and who stole her credit cards and car. The perpetrator, William Martin Parrott, 38, was arrested by D.C. police the next day and later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced in July 2005 to 24 years in prison.
Crawford was among those attending the award event who reflected on Alston’s legacy and outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ and feminist causes.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this inaugural award,” Crawford told the Washington Blade at the conclusion of the event. “I think the world of Wanda Alston. She has set such a great foundation for me and other Council members to build on,” she said.
“Her focus on inclusivity and intersectionality is really important as we approach this work,” Crawford added. “And it’s going to guide my work at the Council every day.”
Crawford was appointed to the D.C. Council in January of this year to replace then Council member Kenyan McDuffie (I-At-Large), who resigned to run for D.C. mayor as a Democrat. She is being challenged by four other independent candidates in a June 16 special election for the Council seat.
Under the city’s Home Rule Charter written and approved by Congress, the seat is one of two D.C. Council at-large seats that cannot be held by a “majority party” candidate, meaning a Democrat.
A statement released by the Alston Foundation last month announcing Crawford’s selection for the Wanda Alston Legacy Award praised Crawford’s record of support for its work on behalf of LGBTQ youth.
“From behind the scenes to now serving as an At-Large Council member, she has fought fearlessly for affordable housing, LGBTQ+ funding priorities, and racial justice,” the statement says. “Council member Crawford’s leadership reflects the same courage and conviction that defined Wanda’s legacy.”
Organizers of the event noted that it was held on what would have been Wanda Alston’s 67th birthday.
“Today’s legacy reception was a smashing success,” said Cesar Toledo, the Alston Foundation’s executive director. “Not only did we come together to celebrate Wanda Alston on her birthday, but we also were able to raise over $10,000 for our homeless LGBTQ youth here in D.C.,” Toledo told the Blade.
“In addition to that, we celebrated and we acknowledged a rising star in our community,” he said. “And that is At-Large Council member Doni Crawford, who we named the inaugural Wanda Alston Legacy Award recipient.”
At the request of D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) the Council voted unanimously on Jan. 20, 2026, to appoint Crawford to the Council seat being vacated by McDuffie.
Council records show she joined McDuffie’s Council staff in 2022 as a policy adviser and later became his legislative director before McDuffie appointed her as staff director for the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development for which McDuffie served as chair.
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Calendar: April 10-16
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
The ‘X’ returns to court
Police mental health struggles gain growing attention
Trump budget would codify expanded global gag rule
Man faces first S.C. ‘hate intimidation’ charge
Cuba under pressure and without answers
