Local
Family, friends celebrate birthday of slain gay man
Mickens-Murrey found stabbed to death on May 30


Matthew Mickens-Murrey would have turned 27 on Nov. 9.
Nine members of the family, including the mother and sister, of a 26-year-old gay man who was found stabbed to death in his Hyattsville, Md., apartment on May 30 traveled from Pennsylvania to D.C. on Nov. 9 to celebrate what would have been Matthew Mickens-Murrey’s 27th birthday.
Mickens-Murrey’s family members joined more than a dozen of his friends and supporters in the upstairs lounge of Nellie’s Sports Bar at a gathering organized by Impulse D.C., an entertainment and advocacy group that provides HIV and education related services for black gay men.
With at least three local TV news camera crews looking on, the family members and friends, led by Impulse D.C. President Devin Barrington-Ward, called on Prince George’s County police to step up the investigation into the unsolved murder. Petitions were circulated calling on police and local political leaders to “put more effort into ensuring Justice for Matt.”
Barrington-Ward said in a statement that the event was aimed at celebrating the life of the well-liked guy they knew as Matt, raising awareness, and “re-engaging the public in the cold case murder” of Mickens-Murrey.
“Matt, who publicly identified as a Black gay man, frequented Nellie’s Sports Bar, an LGBTQ establishment, and one of the last places he was seen alive,” the statement says.
It says Impulse D.C. and Mickens-Murrey’s friends and family members were also calling on D.C. police to more aggressively investigate the unsolved murders of two other black gay men in D.C.
A model and rapper named Demencio Lewis, 23, was shot to death in a hail of gunfire on March 13, 2014, on a street in Southeast D.C., according to police. A little over a year later, D.C. police found Stephon Marquis Perkins, 21, lying unconscious on a street in Southeast D.C. suffering from a gunshot wound to the head on June 25, 2015. Police said he was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Neither Prince George’s County police nor D.C. police responded to a request by the Washington Blade last week for an update on the status of the investigations into the three murders.
Melody Murrey, Mickens-Murrey’s mother, told the Blade at the gathering at Nellie’s last week that a P.G. County police investigator said her son was stabbed multiple times. She said the investigator also said there were no signs of a forced entry into the apartment, leading police to believe Mickens-Murrey knew his attacker and invited him into the apartment.
“They said they found DNA but they were still waiting for it to be tested by the FBI,” Melody Murrey said. “We just don’t know why it’s taking so long.”
Melody Murrey and her daughter Naja Murrey said Mickens-Murrey was out to his family and was loved “for who he was.”
“What message does it send to the community when they constantly see other black LGBTQ people being murdered over a short span of time and those victims, their families, friends, and community never receive justice?” said Barrington-Ward. “This is about accountability as well as public safety for black LGBTQ people,” he said. “Black Lives Matter and that includes Black LGBTQ people too.”
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

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.
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.
Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)
A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.
The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.
Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.
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