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Comings & Goings
Lovitz joins LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance board
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 Jonathan Lovitz on his appointment to the board of directors of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. On his appointment, he said, “My life’s work has been dedicated to helping the American Dream be in reach of every American from every community. I am honored to continue that work as member of the board of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, helping make home ownership and safe communities a vital part of the economic empowerment we strive for in our communities. I look forward to bringing my years of public policy experience to advance the Alliance’s important work, and fight for their stakeholders as I continue my journey to the Pennsylvania State House this year.” For more information, visit LovitzforPA.com.
Prior to starting his campaign, Lovitz was senior vice president of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves the Chamber as a public policy consultant. Lovitz is the co-creator, with Jason Evans, of PhillyVoting.org, an organization that recognizes traditional, in-person methods of promoting voter registration and polling information are difficult during COVID-19. He has served as New York director of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce; Director of Communications and Acting Executive Director, StartOut; and Media & Communications Director and senior producer and news anchor with Network Global Communications, Inc. Lovitz is a regular guest on MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, and Bloomberg, among others, and has served as a keynote speaker for the U.S. Dept. of Defense, U.S. Dept. of Treasury, the United Nations, The Trevor Project, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Lovitz earned has his bachelor’s degree in performance (Summa Cum Laude) at the University of Florida.
Congratulations also to Mark Rupp, who was named Adaptation Program Director at the Georgetown Climate Center. Rupp will lead GCC’s adaptation team, providing strategic direction for its work in support of resilience, equity, and community-based solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. GCC Executive Director Kate Zyla said, “Mark brings a wealth of experience working across levels of government on policies that protect people, communities, and ecosystems. Representing Washington State, Mark served on the initial advisory board of state officials that informed GCC’s founding in 2009 to elevate state voices in the development of federal climate and energy policy and legislation.”
On accepting the position, Rupp said, “Even as we work to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, it is crucial to address the increasingly severe climate impacts that communities ‒ particularly underserved and frontline communities ‒ are facing today. GCC has a phenomenal record supporting states and communities as they face these challenges. I’m excited to join such an accomplished team to continue to provide policymakers at every level of government with the tools they need to build resilience into the fabric of communities across the country.”
Prior to joining GCC, Rupp was director of State-Federal Policy & Affairs with the Environmental Defense Fund. Before that he had a distinguished career in public service including: Deputy Associate Administrator for Intergovernmental Relations, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and director, D.C. Office of former Washington Gov. Gregoire. He was legislative counsel to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).
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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