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Rehoboth Beach Museum hosts LGBTQ series

A look at the past, present and future of the community

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Rehoboth Beach Museum, Joe Maggio Realty, gay news, Washington Blade

Rehoboth Beach has a long and complicated history when it comes to welcoming LGBT visitors. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

The Rehoboth Beach Museum is hosting a listening and discussion series on the past, present and future of the LGBTQ community in Rehoboth Beach this month. The event is free and is split into three sessions.

The first session was held on July 9 and was titled “Our Roots: LGBTQ History in Rehoboth.” This part of the series discussed how the LGBTQ community came to Rehoboth, the initial pushback and how the community came together during a difficult period in Rehoboth history. The second session will be held on July 16 at 6 p.m. and is titled “The Current State of Affairs: LGBTQ Rehoboth as We Know It.” This part of the series will allow attendees to share their opinions on what the current climate of Rehoboth is as well as how Rehoboth is one of the most accepting towns in the Mid-Atlantic. The final session will be held on July 23 at 6 p.m. and is titled, “Where are We Going? The Future of the LGBTQ Community in Rehoboth.” This part of the series will discuss what the future of the LGBTQ community will look like along with what goals there are for the future.

“We chose to host this series because we needed to keep our audience engaged while the museum is closed for renovations this summer,” said Casey McClintick-Sink, an intern for the museum this summer. “With guidance from Paula, we decided that I would conduct research on the LGBTQ community here in Rehoboth because I am a part of that community.”

McClintick-Sink conducted research by listening to oral histories, conducting interviews, reading news articles and ensured that a lot of different perspectives on the Rehoboth LGBTQ community were heard. Paula Roberts is McClintick-Sink’s intern coordinator.

“As you know, Rehoboth Beach has a history of struggling with and largely overcoming anti-gay prejudice. We have a vibrant LGBTQ community anchored by CAMP Rehoboth,” Roberts said. “However, not many of the current residents (gay or straight) know that history and what it took to get where we are. One of the functions of a local history museum is to document and share that history so we can all participate and safeguard our gains.”

Roberts stated that the museum made the decision to include the history of the LGBTQ community in every phase of their presentation because a separate presentation would imply that LGBTQ folks are ‘other’ rather than an integral part of the community. She mentioned that the museum collection had very little about the LGBTQ community and that the museum needed to do a major outreach to the LGBTQ community to let them know that they wanted to include them in the telling of Rehoboth Beach’s story.

Roberts did some initial research to outline what the museum knew and didn’t know. McClintick-Sink then took that research and developed it into a three-part presentation for the series. They decided to host the presentation at the Anna Hazzard House, as it will allow them to keep the group small to better foster conversation and let them learn from the participants, as well as encourage participants to donate artifacts so the museum can educate the public.

“Casey is fabulous. She is bright and curious and works really hard,” Roberts said. “We did not know when she contacted us about doing an internship this summer that she was a lesbian and was raised by two mothers. When we learned this, it seemed a perfect fit to have her work on the project. She both knows the issues and brings the perspective of a young person to the subject matter.”

Roberts said that having a young person’s perspective is important because young people must know the history and share it with their peers in order to hold onto the gains made and make more towns gay friendly.

“I wanted to find out how Rehoboth became such a gay-friendly town, and where we might see the community going in the future,” said McClintick-Sink. “This is a really significant story to be told right now as we face the possibility of LGBTQ rights, along with the rights of other minorities, being taken away.”

The Anna Hazzard House is located at 17 Christian St. For additional information and to RSVP, call the Rehoboth Beach Museum at 302-227-7310.

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Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Pride festival to take place July 19

LGBTQ-friendly resort town welcomes third year of celebrations

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Rehoboth Beach celebrates Pride next weekend. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

Rehoboth Beach Pride is back for a day of summer celebration next Saturday. 

The Delaware beach town will host its Pride festival at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on July 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., followed by an after-party at Freddie’s Beach Bar and a ticketed event in the evening with a film screening, comedian, and musician. 

“It will be a day of community engagement, fun, celebration and learning, all sorts of things rolled into one,” David Mariner, executive director of Sussex Pride, told the Washington Blade. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be together, to support each other.”

Pride is organized by Sussex Pride and Gay Women of Rehoboth. The festival will include a free, family-friendly event with vendors offering information and resources, health screenings, and other activities. 

Drag queen Roxy Overbrooke will host the festival, with performances throughout the day by Ivy Blu Austin, Goldstar, the cast of Clear Space Theatre, JC Pizzaz, and Kadet Kelly. 

Mariner said Rehoboth Pride has not seen a decrease in corporate support this year, as some Pride celebrations have. Last year, the vendor spots were capped at 50 but increased to 60 this year. 

“The main thing that’s different this year is what’s happening in the world and what’s happening in the country so it changes the tone,” Mariner said. “I go into this with strength and determination and an awareness and appreciation for the rights that we have here in Delaware. I go into this … knowing there are people in our community feeling under attack. There are a lot of things happening at the national level that impact us from healthcare to education that affect our lives in various ways.”

Funds raised from a raffle will be used to support unhoused LGBTQ youth in Delaware. Last year, the raffle raised $1,000, which was donated to the Safeguards Housing Committee, a program of PFLAG Wilmington. 

In response to LGBTQ youth “increasingly targeted by harmful rhetoric and policies,” the festival will hold various workshops with topics such as supporting the LGBTQ Latinx community, suicide prevention, and an ACLU activist training.  

Mariner referenced a Dan Savage quote from the AIDS epidemic that he loves. He said it reflects Pride festivals and the celebration of pride in the LGBTQ community. 

“During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for,” the quote reads. 

Mariner said having an event like this that combines education, advocacy, and celebration is reflective of “who we are as queer people.” He said it’s important to learn and recommit to the work that needs to be done and that he is looking forward to every piece of the day. 

“I would just like to see everyone leave the convention center feeling loved and connected and supported and with a renewed sense of strength and determination to face whatever challenges may come,” Mariner said. 

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District of Columbia

Gay ANC member announces candidacy for Ward 1 D.C. Council seat

Community leader Brian Footer seeking seat held by Brianne Nadeau

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Brian Footer (Photo courtesy of Brian Footer for D.C.)

Gay Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Brian Footer, a community activist who has been involved for many years in local and national government affairs, has announced his candidacy for the Ward 1 D.C. Council seat up for election in 2026.

Footer, a Democrat, will be running in the city’s June 2, 2026, Democratic primary for the Ward 1 Council seat, but it is uncertain whether he will be running against incumbent Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau (D). Nadeau has not yet announced if she plans to run for re-election for a fourth term following her 12 years on the Council.

 Nadeau has been a longtime vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community.  

If Footer were to win the primary and the November 2026 general election, he would become the Council’s second openly gay member. Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker (D) is currently the 13-member Council’s only gay member.

Footer is a three-term ANC commissioner who currently serves as Chair of ANC 1E, which represents the city’s Adams Morgan neighborhood.

“Brian has worked at every level of government — federal, state, and local — building a career rooted in public service, aging policy, and inclusive urban planning,”  a statement on his campaign website says.

“I’m running for Council because too many people in Ward 1 are doing everything right and still feel ignored by the city they call home,” Footer states on his website.

“I’m running because we can do better,” his statement continues. “That means making housing more affordable, addressing homelessness with real solutions, and keeping our neighborhoods safe with smart, community focused strategies.”

When contacted by the Washington Blade for comment, Nadeau said she was not ready at this time to discuss her plans about running again or about Footer’s candidacy.

“The primary is a ways away, and I’m very focused right now on the budget and the stadium deal and all the work that we’re doing at the Council,” she told the Blade. “So, I really haven’t had time to turn to my plans. So, as a result, I’m also not going to be commenting on anybody else who is determined that they’re running at this time.” 

She first won election to the Council in 2014 after she defeated four-term gay Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham in the Democratic primary after Graham became embroiled in an ethics controversy.

In the 2022 Democratic primary Nadeau defeated gay challenger Salah Czapary in a three-candidate race, by a margin of 48.5% of the vote compared to Czapary’s 30.9%.

With the third candidate, Sabel Harris, receiving 20.4%, the outcome showed that the two challengers had a combined total vote count higher than Nadeau.

Further details of Footer’s candidacy can be accessed from his campaign website, brianfooterdc.com.

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District of Columbia

Gay GOP group hosts Ernst, 3 House members — all of whom oppose Equality Act

Log Cabin, congressional guest speakers mum on June 25 event

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Sen. Joni Ernst spoke to D.C.’s Log Cabin group. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and three women Republican members of the U.S. House appeared as guest speakers at the June 25 meeting of Log Cabin Republicans of D.C., the local chapter of the national LGBTQ Republican group with that same name.

The U.S. House members who joined Ernst as guest speakers at the Log Cabin meeting were Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), and Julia Letlow (R-La.).

Neither D.C. Log Cabin Republicans President Andrew Minik nor spokespersons for Ernst or the three congresswomen immediately responded to a request by the Washington Blade for comment on the GOP lawmakers’ appearance at an LGBTQ GOP group’s meeting.

“Please join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate and recognize the bold leadership and accomplishments of Republican women in Congress,” a D.C Log Cabin announcement sent to its members states.

“This month’s meeting will highlight the efforts of the Republican Women’s Caucus and explore key issues such as the Protection of Women and Girls In Sports Act and the broader fight to preserve women’s spaces in society,” the message says.

It was referring to legislation pending in Congress calling for banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports events. 

According to media reports, Ernst and the three congresswomen have expressed opposition to the Equality Act, the longstanding bill pending in Congress calling for prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. 

The Log Cabin announcement says the meeting was scheduled to take place at the Royal Sands Social Club, which is a restaurant and bar at 26 N St., S.E. in the city’s Navy Yard area.    

D.C. Log Cabin member Stuart West, who attended the meeting, confirmed that Ernst and the three congresswomen showed up and spoke at the event.

“It was a good turnout,” he said. “I would definitely say probably 30 or 40 people attended.” West added, “Four women came to talk to a group of mostly gay men. That’s something you don’t see very often.” 

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