News
Grenell admonishes Germany on Iran deal in first week as ambassador
U.S. ambassador tells German companies to stop doing business in Iran


U.S. Ambassador Ric Grenell has warned German companies not to do business in Iran.
(Screen capture public domain)
The newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell — also the most high-profile openly gay official in the Trump administration — has issued a warning on Twitter to German businesses that some say is reminiscent of the antagonistic tweets that landed him in hot water during his confirmation process.
Following President Trump’s announcement — widely criticized by Democrats and U.S. allies — that the United States would withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, Grenell took to Twitter to advise Germany, one of the six countries that spearheaded the deal, that its businesses should cease operations in Iran.
As @realDonaldTrump said, US sanctions will target critical sectors of Iran’s economy. German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) May 8, 2018
Grenell’s warning to German businesses comes during the same week he was set to depart for the U.S. embassy in Germany and shortly after his confirmation and swearing in as ambassador by Vice President Mike Pence.
Antagonistic tweets about the appearance of women and hyping the John Podesta email dump on Wikileaks in the 2016 election were the main cited causes of opposition to his confirmation in the Senate.
The warning to German businesses sparked critical reaction from political observers on Twitter who said the comment is consistent with Grenell’s earlier tweets.
On the Senate floor during Grenell’s confirmation, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) warned the chamber Grenell’s history on Twitter may be a harbinger of things to come if he’s confirmed as ambassador to Germany.
“Not only do these tweets show bad judgement, they show us who Mr. Grenell really is and how comfortable he is publicly contributing his own brand of toxic political discourse,” Menendez said. “Will he do such things if he is confirmed and goes to Germany? Will he insult, via his Twitter account, the female Chancellor of Germany? I don’t know. I hope not.”
Here’s a selection of the tweets on Grenell’s warning:
Grenell starts his mission with all the subtle diplomatic skills he demonstrated with his twitter account https://t.co/aNSwasVtya
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) May 8, 2018
I appreciate that Richard Grenell is using Twitter as ambassador to Germany the same way he’s been using it for the last decade. https://t.co/SkXIAmF1ed
— (((JonathanWeisman))) (@jonathanweisman) May 8, 2018
or what? we’ll sanction our allies? Does Grenell even know if that is our policy?
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) May 8, 2018
Bradford Elder, a spokesperson for the Germany embassy in the United States, said the mission does “not have a comment on this at this time” on the Grenell’s tweet.
The Vatican
Executive director of LGBTQ Catholic group to travel to Rome for conclave
Marianne Duddy-Burke met Pope Francis in 2023

The executive director of a group that represents LGBTQ Catholics will travel to Rome next week for the papal conclave that starts on May 7.
DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke on Thursday told the Washington Blade she will arrive in Rome on May 6. Duddy-Burke said she plans to spend time in St. Peter’s Square “and have conversations with people.”
“I will wear Dignity insignia, have rainbow flags,” she said.
Pope Francis died on April 21. His funeral took place five days later.
The Vatican’s tone on LGBTQ and intersex issues softened under the Argentine-born pope’s papacy, even though church teachings on homosexuality did not change.
Francis, among other things, described laws that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations as “unjust” and supported civil unions for gays and lesbians. Transgender people were among those who greeted Francis’s coffin at Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica before his burial on April 26.
Duddy-Burke and two others from the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics met with Francis in October 2023 during a meeting that focused on the Catholic Church’s future. Duddy-Burke noted Francis “invited” her and her colleagues as his “special guests for the audience and then had a conversation with him afterwards.”
“For me the sort of visibility that he (Francis) brought to our community and to our concerns feels irreversible,” said Duddy-Burke. “He empowered so many people and so many new ministries.”
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu — the archbishop of Kinshasa in Congo who has described homosexuality as an “abomination” — is among the cardinals who are reportedly in the running to succeed Francis.
“I really don’t know,” said Duddy-Burke when the Blade asked her who the next pope will be. “Of course, I am hoping and praying hard that it will be someone who will continue to lead the church on responsiveness of human need and greater inclusivity.”
“What happens in that room is such a mystery,” she added.
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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