Local
Catholic University LGBTQ student group remains unrecognized
CUAllies formed in 2009

The only on-campus queer student organization at the Catholic University of America, CUAllies, is still fighting for official recognition.
Despite operating āunderground,ā the club’s roughly 10 members meet regularly to talk about issues facing LGBTQ college students, to create friendships and to connect LGBTQ students and allies with one another. Since the formation of CUAllies in 2009, the administration at Catholic University, most notably President John Garvey, has denied the club official recognition multiple times.
āJust the act of having the university recognize us would be a huge step because it would make people feel way more welcome,ā said CUAllies President Ash Samuels. āThe nature of having a club that operates under the radar makes you feel like they have to operate under the radar and so just being recognized would make people feel a lot more welcome.ā
Additionally, without recognition CUAllies does not have access to the same resources as official student organizations. For example, they cannot rent rooms on campus for meetings, receive funding for events, and are prohibited from advertising club meetings or events on fliers on campus. According to Samuels, the club uses space at the Center for Cultural Engagement, where Director Javier Bustamante allows the club to meet and advertise events.
According to Samuels, CUAllies has been advised by the Deanās Office to wait until next year to reapply when a new university president will replace Garvey. Until then, Samuels said the group still plans to hold meetings in-person, and he hopes to bring in speakers to talk to members about mental health and issues facing LGBTQ college students.
The last attempt by CUAllies to gain recognition was in March 2021, when the Catholic Universityās Student Government Association passed a resolution after hours of public comment from students to support a resolution for the club to request official status. The request, however, was denied by Garvey.
āIt was an interesting SGA meeting,ā said Samuels. āA lot of people came to public comment and spoke their minds. There was a lot of homophobia.ā
Catholic University is one of the 180 campuses deemed unsafe for LGBTQ youth on Campus Prideās āWorst List.ā Campus Pride, an organization that advocates for safe and inclusive college campuses for LGBTQ students, stated on their website that āCatholic University of America has qualified for the Worst Life because it has an extensive and well-documented history of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.ā
In addition to repeatedly depriving LGBTQ students of the right to have an official student club, the university has also displayed its homophobic ideology by filing an amicus brief in the 2019 U.S. Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County. In the brief, the university argued that the campuses should be allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
āThis campus has repeatedly proven that they do not support LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ equality,ā said Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer.
A 2021 survey by the Religious Exemption Accountability Project, an organization that promotes equity for LGBTQ college students at Christian colleges, said that students at Christian colleges are 15 times more likely to report that their gender or sexual identity has prevented them from being accepted by others on campus compared to LGBTQ students at non-Christian colleges.Ā
The pandemic has increased this sense of isolation, as students were forced to attend classes online and did not have access to the same social networks that were once offered in person on many campuses. Although mental health struggles have increased overall for college students overall throughout the pandemic, research has shown that LGBTQ individuals were more likely to have struggled with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts than people identifying as straight.
Attending a university that already has limited resources for its LGBTQ student population, combined with the isolating effects of the pandemic, makes the Catholic University increasingly worrisome for LGBTQ students from a mental health perspective.
āIt is a pretty awful environment from the standpoint of mental health if your campus did not have inclusion or had limited inclusion for LGBTQ policies, programs, or practices before the pandemic, the pandemic has only worsened that because of the isolation that these students feel,ā said Windmeyer.
Samuels said that CUAllies has served as an important place for students at the Catholic University to meet other queer students, with many members making their first contact with other LGBTQ students through the club. However, Samuels said that operating remotely during the pandemic made it difficult to feel the same level of connection, despite the fact that the group was still meeting routinely over Zoom.
āThe feeling of isolation is amplified for LGBTQ students, especially on this campus,ā said Samuels. āYou might not have friends who you are out to or you might not have friends at all. If you donāt have [club meetings] in person in order to make those connections, and you are already isolated, it makes it a lot harder.ā
Despite not having an officially recognized LGBTQ student organization, the Catholic University offers groups orientated towards LGBTQ students through its Counseling Center and Campus Ministry.
The Counseling Center runs a weekly therapy group called MOSAIC, which āprovides an environment where LGBT-identified and straight students can come together to learn about available resources, discuss various topics related to personal wellness, and build a supportive network with other students,ā according to the Counseling Centerās webpage.
Samuels, who is an active participant in MOSAIC, said that both the therapy group and the Counseling Center are āvery LGBTQ+ friendly.ā Samuels said he routinely encourages members of CUAllies to get connected with the Counseling Center during club meetings.
According to Samuels, therapists at the Counseling Center have told him that they often get students who identify as LGBTQ, but are hesitant to join CUAllies because they are perceived as being ātoo liberal or not Catholic enoughā despite the organization not having any political or religious affiliation and being welcoming to people of all backgrounds.
Additionally, Catholic Universityās Campus Ministry offers a faith group called āBeyond the Labelsā which defines itself as a ministry for LGBTQ students āto support each other in their Catholic Christian life by forming holistic friendships,ā according to Campus Ministryās website.Ā
The group was formed last fall by Father Jude DeAngelo, director of Campus Ministry.
āBecause we are a Catholic school I think there is a population of students who are trying to integrate their faith with all the different labels that they have either chosen or that people put on them,ā said DeAngelo to the Washington Blade. āI just want to have a place where students can come and they can be themselves and they can talk about their faith and their struggles to be Catholic Christians.ā
On āBeyond the Labels,ā Samuels said, āI think [DeAngelo] has the right intentions, but it still has that risk that people could turn it into a negative thing or misconstrued his words.ā
Samuels said that leadership at CUAllies has expressed their concerns to the Counseling Center that āBeyond the Labelsā could be potentially harmful towards LGBTQ students. Samuels said that he encourages people who are in need to seek out the Counseling Center first.
DeAngelo did not offer a comment to the Blade on whether he believed CUAllies should be officially recognized by the university, however, according to Samuels, DeAngelo has been an advocate for CUAllies to be officially recognized by the university.
Windmeyer said what the Catholic University has done with its ministry has been replicated at other campuses with harmful policies against LGBTQ students as a push to better their public image.
He said that these colleges try to, ācreate a narrative that shows that [they] are compassionate, that [they] recognize, underneath our ministry, our LGBTQ group, but [they] are not going to recognize them as student organizations, they have to do it through the ministry. That in itself is just telling me that they are just doing enough to pacify their students, they do not see Catholicism as giving LGBTQ people the human dignity and worth that they deserve.ā
Windmeyer noted that other Catholic Universities, such as the University of Notre Dame ā which has an official LGBTQ student organization ā have made improvements throughout the years to be more inclusive of their LGBTQ student population.
The Catholic Churchās stance on LGBTQ-related issues has improved as well. Last year Pope Francis stated that he endorsed civil unions. However, despite these advancements, activists in conversation with the Blade have remarked church teachings on homosexuality and gender identity remain largely unchanged.
Samuels said that he hopes that the LGBTQ faith group run by DeAngelo will be a step to help the university advocate for CUAllies to become recognized. DeAngelo expressed that he is interested in getting more members of CUAllies involved with āBeyond the Labels,ā specifically, he said wants to create joint day-retreat programs with the club.
In the past, āBeyond the Labelsā partnered with CUAllies on a day retreat focused on forgiveness. Samuels, who was not a member of CUAllies during the forgiveness retreat, said that he would be more interested in partnering on a team-building retreat instead of focusing on forgiveness because many of CUAllies members are not Catholic.
āI am hopeful that it will lead him to be a larger advocate for us to be a club in the future, but I do also worry that they will just say āoh look we already have this program we donāt need you guys,āā said Samuels.
Catholic University did not return the Bladeās request for comment for this story.
Maryland
As Md. advances bill to fund gender-affirming care, LGBTQ advocates stress it will save lives
Trans Health Equity Act would impact state Medicaid

By John-John Williams IV | Shaylie Elliette wishes the Trans Health Equity Act that appears headed for final passage in the Maryland General Assembly would have been around seven years ago, when she turned 18. She believes that transitioning earlier in life would have eliminated years of torment, abuse and discrimination all linked to transphobia.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner website.
District of Columbia
Whitman-Walker announces leadership change
CEO Ryan Moran to become Deputy Secretary of Health in Maryland

Dr. Ryan Moran, who has served since 2021 as CEO of the Whitman-Walker Health System, an arm of D.C.ās longtime LGBTQ and HIV health services provider Whitman-Walker Health, will be leaving his position next month after being named as Deputy Secretary of Health and Healthcare Finance and Medicaid Director for the State of Maryland.
According to a March 21 statement released by Whitman-Walker, Moran will begin his new job as a member of the Maryland Department of Healthās senior leadership team effective April 12.
The statement says Cindy Lewin, an official with nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years and who previously served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the AARP, will serve as interim CEO at Whitman-Walker Health System beginning April 10.
Around that time, the statement says, Whitman-Walker will begin a nationwide executive search āto secure a permanent CEOā for the top position at Whitman-Walker Health System.
The statement points out that Naseema Shafi will continue in her role as CEO of Whitman-Walker Health, the other component of Whitman-Walker that directly provides and oversees medical and health care services to patients and clients, including those from the LGBTQ community.
Whitman-Walker Health System, among other things, advances the mission of Whitman-Walker through expanding its financial and fundraising capacity through the Whitman-Walker Foundation, the Whitman-Walker Institute, and the Whitman-Walker Health System Real Property Holdings, the statement says.
āWhitman-Walker Health System is grateful for Ryanās visionary leadership, which has advantageously positioned us for our once in a generation expansion of research and health services with our move to the Saint Elizabeth campus this year,ā said Dr. Ann Bonham, the Whitman-Walker Health System Board Chair.
āWhile the organization will miss Ryan, his enthusiasm and passion for the work and his commitment to the mission of Whitman-Walker, I am sure he will be a transformative leader in his new role,ā Bonham said.
āI am deeply grateful to Whitman-Walker for the opportunity to steward our mission-driven organization as a regional and national leader in LGBTQ+ care, advocacy, research, and education,ā Moran said in the statement.
āI am honored to have contributed to this organizationās rich history, and I am proud of the work Naseema Shafi and I have accomplished together and of the exceptional board senior leadership team, and staff for their collaboration in building a strong foundation for Whitman-Walkerās future success,ā he said.
The statement announcing the Whitman-Walker leadership change notes that Moran played an important role in continuing the organizationās previously started plans for opening its new Max Robinson Center at the cityās St. Elizabethās campus in Southeast D.C. According to the statement, the new center will provide services and programs to more than 15,000 people each year, a 300 percent increase from the existing Max Robinson Center located in Anacostia.
Local
Comings & Goings
InouyeĀ named Deputy Assistant Secretary in communications at Dept. of Education

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 Shin Inouye on his appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education. He said, āIām honored to join the Biden-Harris administration and the amazing team under Secretary Cardona. Working with my outstanding colleagues, I am confident we will meet our goal to raise the bar and promote academic excellence in America.ā
Previously, Inouye served as Executive Vice President of Communications, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Human Rights, The Leadership Conference Education Fund. He also held a number of high-level positions in the Obama administration, including Press Secretary and Acting Senior Adviser for Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Adviser for Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Executive Office of the President; White House Office of Communications: Director of Specialty Media; and as an authorized spokesperson for the Obama Inaugural Committee, with a focus on specialty media outlets.
Inouye has received many honors, including being named one of 25 āLGBTI next generation leaders to watchā by Out in National Security and the Atlantic Council; and one of ā40 Asian American Pacific Islander National Security & Foreign Policy Next Generation Leadersā by New America and the Diversity in National Security Network.
Congratulations also to Tristan Fitzpatrick, on his promotion to Senior Communications Consultant at APCO Worldwide. Fitzpatrick said, āI am thrilled to start this new position and look forward to the start of a new chapter advising clients on how to best achieve their communications and public affairs goals.”Ā Tristan has worked with APCO for the past year and a half. They are the fifth largest independentlyĀ owned PR firm in the United States.Ā Prior to that, Fitzpatrick was a Digital Media Specialist with the National Public Pension Coalition in D.C. He worked as a Communications and Digital Adviser, to the Biden for President campaign. He advised the campaignās Out for Biden Coalition on communications and digital best practices for turning out 11 million LGBTQ and 57 million pro-equality voters. Tristan has also been a Communications Manager and Digital Outreach Coordinator, Cancer Support Community, Washington, DC.Ā Ā

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