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Mendelsohn, Lovitz honored for LGBT contributions

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Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn, 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].

Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn, gay news, Washington Blade

Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn (Photo courtesy of Mendelsohn)

Congratulations to Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn who was selected to be the state and national recipient of the Face of Diversity Award and was recognized amongst her peers at the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference in D.C., and in Sacramento at the CRA Restaurant Day (Lobby Day). The National Restaurant Association and PepsiCo Foodservice created the Faces of Diversity award to promote the importance of diversity and inclusion.

She is currently the CEO of Pollo West Corp, one of the largest franchises for El Pollo Loco restaurants in the Western Region of the United States. A groundbreaking business leader, Mendelsohn passionately advocates for trans women in the workplace through her work with the California Restaurant Association, and she is the founder of the California Trans Work Project (CTWP), which creates models for trans-positive workplaces in California and across the country. It’s the first organization of its kind and was recently awarded a large grant by the state of California.

Previously, Mendelsohn was named one of GO! Magazine’s “100 Women We Love,” alongside Ellen DeGeneres and Rachel Maddow. She is a transgender activist, professional speaker and corporate CEO with more than 40 years of entrepreneurial leadership experience.

She has worked as a consultant to Jenji Kohan in developing Laverne Cox’s character on “Orange is the New Black,” and she was the first transgender contestant to compete in the Ms. Senior California Pageant.

Congratulations also to Jonathan D. Lovitz, recently named an ‘Outstanding Young Alumni’ by the University of Florida from which he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Lovitz is a senior vice president at the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). In addition to leading public affairs, media relations, supplier diversity, and political advocacy efforts, he regularly speaks to conferences and the media about LGBT economic empowerment and the vital role business plays in creating equity for the LGBT community. He is a regular commentator on MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR among others, and has often spoken and raised money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Trevor Project, GLSEN, the Democratic Party, and more.

Lovitz previously served as director of communications and operations for StartOut, a national nonprofit empowering LGBT entrepreneurs; and as a respected stage and television actor and news anchor for Logo TV and other networks. He regularly speaks to colleges and universities encouraging young people to get involved in public service and use the Internet to make a difference for their communities. While business and LGBT youth causes are his primary focus, Lovitz looks for any chance to serve a community in need of a voice, including serving on multiple nonprofit boards.

This year, he was also named one of the top “40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40” by Business Equality Magazine.

Jonathan Lovitz, gay news, Washington Blade

Jonathan Lovitz (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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World Pride 2025

Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference

Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde. (Screen capture via PBS NewsHour/YouTube)

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.

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World Pride 2025

Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride

Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

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Pabllo Vittar (Screen capture via Pabllo Vittar/YouTube)

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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District of Columbia

$3.7 billion RFK stadium proposal draws support from Team DC

Washington Commanders ‘proud’ to champion LGBTQ community

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The long-suffering RFK Stadium will be razed to make way for a new domed facility that could one day host the Super Bowl. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Miguel Ayala, president of the D.C. LGBTQ sports organization Team D.C., has expressed support for the $3.7 billion deal reached between Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Washington Commanders football team to bring the team back to D.C. in a redeveloped site on the grounds of the city’s long shuttered RFK stadium.

With the deal calling for the city to provide $1 billion in taxpayer funds for infrastructure related costs for the massive redevelopment project — and with the Commanders to provide the remaining $2.7 billion — as of this week the deal did not have majority support on the D.C. Council, which must vote to approve it.

Ayala’s support for the project on behalf of Team D.C. raises the question of whether members of the city’s influential LGBTQ community might play some role in urging the D.C. Council to approve the project.

The proposal comes at a time when the Washington Commanders team includes a message of support for the LGBTQ community on its website. The message follows its hosting last October of its 4th annual LGBTQ Pride Night Out at the Commanders game against the Cleveland Browns.

“The Washington Commanders are proud to champion the LGBTQ+ community and its allies,” the team states on its website. “Through the unifying power of sports, we aim to create a culture where all feel welcome and celebrated.”

In a statement released to the Washington Blade, Ayala points out that the Commanders are among every D.C.-based professional sports team that hosts a Pride Night Out event, which Team DC helps to organize.

“Each year, our events have grown stronger, with vibrant tailgates, on-field celebrations, and powerful moments that shine a spotlight on our community,” Ayala said. “We can’t wait to kick off our first Night Out at the Commanders Stadium in 2030.”

He was referring to plans by the Commanders organization and the D.C. mayor’s office to have the stadium deal approved by the D.C. Council in July, with construction of the new stadium to begin then, and with a planned completion in time for the 2030 professional football season.

Ayala also points out that the RFK stadium grounds currently serve as home to LGBTQ-related sports activity, including the D.C. Gay Flag Football League and the D.C. Front Runners group. He added that the RFK grounds will serve as the playing fields for this year’s WorldPride Capital Cup sports competition, where LGBTQ rugby and soccer teams from around the world will compete.

“This new stadium will be more than just a field – it will be a powerful new addition to the vibrant, diverse, and proud communities we champion every day,” he said in his statement.

At an April 28 news conference, Bowser, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris and other city officials provided details of the stadium project, noting that it includes a massive development of the new stadium and the surrounding 180 acres of land.

In addition to the 65,000-seat domed stadium, officials said the project would include 5,000 to 6,000 residential housing units, with 30 percent designated as “affordable” for low- and moderate-income residents. They said the project would also include parks and recreation areas, hotels, restaurants, retail, and neighborhood amenities.

“As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7,” Bowser said in a statement

Opponents of the project, including D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large), have said they don’t believe the city should use its own funds for a stadium and the related development. 

So far, just four Council members have expressed support for the project. Mendelson and two other Council members have expressed opposition, and the remaining five have not yet said whether they would vote for or against it. The project needs seven of the current 12-member Council for it to be approved.

Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), the Council’s only gay member, who initially had not taken a position on the proposal, this week said he was looking at the project more favorably, according to news media reports. 

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