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Comings and Goings
Victory Fund names new press secretary

The Comings and 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 and 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 Albert Fujii on being named press secretary at the Victory Fund. On his appointment Albert said, “Representation isn’t a passive box to check; it’s an active effort to ensure diverse voices are in the room where lifechanging decisions are being made. I am so excited to join LGBTQ Victory Fund as Press Secretary and support LGBTQ elected officials and candidates during the 2022 midterms and beyond. To reach fair and equitable representation, we still need to elect more than 28,000 out LGBTQ candidates. I’m honored to join that fight.”
Prior to joining the Victory Fund, Albert was a senior associate with the Global Strategy Group, Washington, D.C., and served as a communications assistant with the Fulbright Program for the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST, Washington, D.C.
He has also volunteered as a communications officer with the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, Washington, DC and worked on a number of campaigns including those of Malcolm Kenyatta and Jon Ossoff.
Albert has his BA in International Studies, Minor in Arabic Language, American University, D.C.

Congratulations to TJ Flavell on his appointment to the board of directors of the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community. TJ said, “I’m delighted to serve on the board of directors of the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community. It will allow me to bring more synergy to much of what I’m already doing in the community and help to bring an exciting renewal to a post-pandemic world. The D.C. Center helps sustain the arts and many other exciting programs. I encourage everyone to support The D.C. Center.”
TJ is communications manager with the Center for Excellence in Education, McLean, Va. Prior to that he served as a senior associate for Online Communications, Achieve, Inc., Washington, D.C., and a manager for the Education Technology Network, NSBA., Alexandria, Va.
TJ founded Go Gay DC on the Meetup platform in 2008 as a community booster club fostering friendship, leadership, and service. Go Gay DC has grown and now reaches more than 10,000 local LGBTQ+ folk through email and social media channels. TJ hosts weekly socials at Westin Arlington Gateway, Ven Embassy Row and Moxy hotels and brunches at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. TJ said everyone is welcome to attend. TJ also served as digital communications committee co-chair of Human Rights Campaign and president of the Equality Chamber of Commerce (ECCDC).
TJ has his BA in History, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn.
Congratulations also to the four recipients of the 2022 Victory Congressional Internship. These internships help develop the next generation of “out” public leaders. The 10-week program includes a rigorous in-person and virtual weekly leadership development series and mentorship component. Victory Institute is proud of their continued and growing partnership with the LGBT Equality Caucus, its members and other LGBTQ-friendly members of Congress. The interns are; Evynn Bronson (she/her) Idaho Falls, Idaho, Brigham Young University, Placement: Rep. Adam Schiff; Unique McFerguson (she/her), Fontana, Calif., Howard University, Placement: Rep. Mondaire Jones; Angel Strong (she/they), Lincoln, Neb., Drake University, Placement: Rep. Chris Pappas; and Daria Nastasia (she/her), St. Louis, Mo., George Washington University, Placement: Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.
In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.
Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.
According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.
The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.
Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.
At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.
It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.
Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.
Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)
A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.
The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.
Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.
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