Local
McAuliffe speaks at Pride event in Richmond
Urges LGBT residents to vote in November
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe urged LGBT residents to vote during a recent Pride appearance. (Washington Blade file photo by Lee Whitman)
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) urged LGBT Virginians to turn out and vote in the statewide election in November in an appearance on Sept. 23, at the annual Virginia Pride Fest in Richmond.
McAuliffe’s appearance at the LGBT event, which drew more than 30,000 people, marked the third time he attended the event since taking office as governor in 2014.
“The governor was thrilled to speak at the event this weekend and thanked the attendees for standing up for equal rights in our Commonwealth,” McAuliffe’s press secretary, Brian Coy, told the Washington Blade.
“He talked about how important open and inclusive policies are to economic growth in Virginia and he urged attendees to stay engaged with the upcoming elections and vote for candidates who will continue the progress we have made on equal rights and a stronger economy,” Coy said.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who is running as a Democrat to succeed McAuliffe in the November election, did not attend the Virginia Pride Fest event but his campaign workers circulated throughout the festival grounds reminding LGBT voters of Northam’s longstanding support for LGBT rights.
Under Virginia law governors can only serve one four-year term in office. McAuliffe has endorsed Northam, who is being challenged by Republican Ed Gillespie, the former chair of the Republican National Committee.
James Millner, president of Virginia Pride, the group that produces the Pride Fest event, said Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney also appeared and spoke at the Pride event, becoming the first Richmond mayor to appear at a Pride festival.
Millner said this year’s Pride Fest included about 125 vendor booths consisting of nonprofit LGBT and LGBT supportive organizations as well as LGBT supportive businesses and corporate sponsors. He said the number of vendor booths represented an increase from about 85 that participated in last year’s Pride Fest.
“We very consciously sought out vendors and participants and organizations that really demonstrate the diversity of the community, both LGBTQ and our allies, whether they are faith based organizations, whether they are nonprofit advocacy groups, or whether they are for profit businesses that are selling their wares – all of that comes together to create a remarkable experience for people who come to this event,” said Millner, who worked as a communications spokesperson for D.C.’s Whitman-Walker Health before moving to Richmond.
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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