Local
Former GOP activist says ‘Vice’ omits full story of Mary Cheney
Lesbian daughter joined father’s re-election bid in 2003
The recently released movie about the life and political career of former Vice President Dick Cheney called “Vice” has drawn the attention of LGBT activists for portraying Cheney and his wife Lynne as being accepting and supportive of their lesbian daughter, Mary Cheney.
Film critics have also noted that one of the movie’s most dramatic and emotional scenes captures Mary Cheney’s dismay when she learns that her older sister Liz Cheney came out against same-sex marriage shortly after announcing her candidacy for the U.S. Senate from Wyoming in 2013.
The movie shows Mary Cheney sulking over what she believed was her father and mother’s decision to give Liz Cheney the go-ahead to oppose same-sex marriage to boost her Senate campaign, which Liz later abandoned in 2014.
But Charles Francis, who in 2000 founded the Republican Unity Coalition as a GOP gay-straight alliance to expand the party’s base of support, says “Vice” totally omits the fact that in 2003 Mary Cheney resigned from her position on the group’s board of directors to join her father’s re-election campaign.
Francis notes that her resignation came after President George W. Bush announced his support in 2003 for the Texas sodomy law, which made gay sex illegal a short time before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Texas law and all state sodomy laws in its landmark Lawrence v. Texas decision.
The following year Bush came out in support of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in every state.
“I would not want to rehash all of this were it not that the film places Mary’s ‘betrayal’ by Liz and her Dad at the center of the emotional conclusion,” Francis said. “Mary Cheney is portrayed, finally, as an innocent victim of political/Republican homophobia when Dick and Lynne Cheney give the OK to Liz Cheney to oppose same-sex marriage in her Senate primary.”
Francis points out that Mary Cheney had left the LGBT Republican cause and the Republican Unity Coalition in 2003, long before the conflict with her sister in 2013.
“She had left the community a long time before that when we needed her most before the all-out push for a constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage in 2003-2004,” said Francis.
Mary Cheney resumed support for LGBT issues, including same-sex marriage, after her father left office in 2009. She married her partner since 1992, Heather Poe, in 2012.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
Rehoboth Beach
SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer
Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance
Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.
Thursday (9/3)
Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.
After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Friday (9/4)
The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Saturday (9/5)
The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.
Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.
Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.
Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.
Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.
Sunday (9/6)
Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.
Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.
John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Monday (9/7)
The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.
Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.
Maryland
Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names
Conservative groups challenged system’s policy
By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.
Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”
Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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