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Comings & Goings
University of Maryland honors Zeiger
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].
The Comings & Goings column also invites LGBTQ+ college students to share their successes with us. If you have been elected to a student government position, gotten an exciting internship, or are graduating and beginning your career with a great job, let us know so we can share your success.
Congratulations to Robyn Zeiger, Ph.D., who was recently honored with the Gloria S. Friedgen School Spirit Award presented by the University of Maryland. This award is presented to a School of Public Health faculty, staff or student who has demonstrated outstanding performance and consistent dedication, initiative motivation, positive attitude, and customer service to those they support and with whom they interact. In presenting the award Dean Boris Lushniak said, “Robyn has worked tirelessly as a leader and educator at UMD and the state of Maryland to secure equal rights for LGBT individuals and families.” He went on to say, “in all that Dr. Zeigler had done on campus, she brings compassion, understanding and enthusiasm to create an inclusive community. Her lifetime of work has energized SPH and has helped to build an education and work environment that is supportive of all students, faculty and staff rich in diversity.”
Zeiger has also retired as an adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Maryland after 40 years. While she is retiring from teaching she will continue her therapy practice and hopes to grow it. She hopes to continue to see her LGBT patients but also have more time to write and consult with and train other therapists. Another specialty of hers is pet loss counseling and she hopes to facilitate workshops for veterinarians and their staffs to deal with the emotional side of their work. Zeiger is also a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland, D.C. and West Virginia.
As a member of the LGBT community, she has always understood how important it can be to have a therapist who understands you. She said, “You walk into a therapist’s office and you know they are also LGBT so you don’t have to explain anything. You don’t have to teach them. You can just be yourself and you don’t have to justify anything.”
Zeiger received all of her degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has a bachelor’s in Agricultural and Extension Education; a master’s in Agricultural and Extension Education; and earned her Ph.D. in Health Education, specializing in crisis intervention.
Congratulations also to Tristan Fitzpatrick who joins the National Public Pension Coalition as its new Digital Media Specialist. He said, “With many forces attacking the retirement security of public employees across the U.S., it’s a privilege to work on protecting this vital safety net.”
Prior to this, he held a number of positions with the Cancer Support Community, Washington, D.C., including Digital Outreach Coordinator and Communications Manager. He also worked as a journalist and Social Media Coordinator for Science Node, Bloomington, Ind. Fitzpatrick earned his bachelor’s in journalism, specializing in public relations with a minor in history from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. He received Merit Awards for Best Blogs & Social Media, Digital Health Awards and was recognized as one of the Top Ten Cancer Blogs of 2018 and 2019,by Healthline.
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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