Local
Comings & Goings
Marriott, Karsting accept new positions
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].
Congratulations to Michael Marriott in his new position as director of Digital Marketing Strategy for The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). In his new role he will focus on the strategic development, coordination and oversight of digital marketing platform enhancements while tracking and reporting on the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
“With this recognition and new responsibility, I’m able to showcase my years of experience,” Marriott said. “In this role, I’m tasked with bridging the gap between data and marketing efforts. But, the most exciting part is that I’ll lead a new digital marketing team. I’m fortunate to have had wonderful mentors in my career, and I’m looking forward to being a mentor to others.”
Prior to being with ICBA Michael was with the Education Writers Association as their Multimedia & Web Manager. He has also worked for the American Academy of Nursing, The American Political Science Association, and the YWCA of Greenville, S.C. He has volunteered with the 2016 Democratic National Convention Committee in the area of digital communications and websites and with the Wheaton Hill Civic Association.
Marriott attended the Greenville Technical College receiving his Associate of Arts with Honors and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Greenville, S.C. He received his bachelor’s in political science with a concentration in public policy from the George Washington University in D.C.
Congratulations also to Phil Karsting in his new role as interim president and CEO of the World Food Program, USA, the nonprofit organization working to generate financial and in-kind resources for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and to develop policies necessary to alleviate global hunger.
“WFP’s work has never been more critical to so many across the globe,” he said. “WFP USA has an incredibly strong team, committed to supporting WFP’s efforts and to making a difference in the fight against hunger. I am honored to call them colleagues and lead them through this important transition.”
Karsting previously served as the administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, as well as in several key positions on Capitol Hill, including chief of staff to Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), then chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies.
Some others who deserve our congratulations are: Michele Zavos for being the recipient of the D.C. Bar’s William J. Brennan Award, which is given every two years to a D.C. lawyer for a lifetime of civil rights work. This is the first time it has been given to someone who has done work in the LGBT community, particularly around family issues. She is a partner with Delaney McKinney LLP.
District of Columbia
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade
WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.
The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.
Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.
Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.
Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”
“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”
“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.
The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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