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Transgender veteran once again running for Congress in Md.

Mia Mason is seeking Congressman David Trone’s seat

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Mia Mason (Photo courtesy of Mia Mason for Congress)

Transgender military veteran Mia Mason announced July 9 that she is running for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District in the 2024 cycle. 

This is her third time running for Congress, as she also ran for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District in 2020 and 2022. Mason, if elected, would be Maryland’s first openly LGBTQ member of Congress and the first trans military veteran in Congress.

Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride, who is also trans, is running for Congress in her state. She and Mason would be the first openly trans women in Congress if they were to win their respective races.

Incumbent Democrat David Trone announced earlier this year that he is running for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat, leaving the Democratic primary open. State Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery County), who also hopes to be Maryland’s first openly LGBTQ member of Congress, is one of the five other candidates who are seeking the Democratic nomination.

“I’m a military service member who has served my country and I’ve had to fight for equity and equality,” Mason told the Washington Blade during a recent interview. “I wish to continue that fight in Congress by becoming the first trans military veteran in Congress.”

Mason said that one of the key issues of her campaign is equal access to health care for Marylanders, especially her fellow veterans. 

“I used to be able to go to D.C. and Walter Reed, I used to be able to go to the Baltimore VA, but unfortunately, I’m having to go to Martinsburg, W. Va., like many of our other military veterans, so we should expand our health care here in Frederick,” Mason said. “I want to make sure that we’re able to take care of everybody and that includes the folks over in Washington County and Allegany County, that they can get to somewhere when they need affordable health care.”

Mason mentioned the importance of expanding the role of being in Congress to making sure that the voices of constituents are heard, and that action is taken to address them. 

“I think speaking about [constituents] personally, hearing their stories and recording that into the House records on the House floor is one of the most impactful things, so that regardless of what happens at the end of the day, their name, their story, their issues are heard and it’s recorded for the Library of Congress that will live longer than all of us,” Mason said. “And it will be on record because I was able to answer their questions and deliver a message and hopefully a passing bill or piece of legislation that will get to the president’s desk that will directly impact that local community.”

Mason also mentioned curbing gun violence in Montgomery County, combatting the effects of climate change in Maryland and expanding green jobs in the state as key parts of her platform as well. 

“We want to make sure that the microgrids and solar power and wind power are available to us and that we actually get the credits that the state is providing and provide the federal subsidies to the state to make sure that we can continue to grow these green jobs for our communities,” Mason said.

Her campaign has launched a unique way for constituents to get to know Mason and her team by providing a phone number for voters to call Mason directly. By calling 410-94-MASON voters can talk to Mason about their concerns and ask her any questions.

“I want to be known as the candidate who answers the phone,” Mason said. “By calling the number, voters can talk to me directly.”

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Maryland

Evan Glass running for Montgomery County executive

Former journalist would be first gay person to hold office

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Montgomery County Councilman Evan Glass. (Photo courtesy of Evan Glass)

Evan Glass is running for Montgomery County executive.

He is currently serving his second term as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.

Glass has been a councilman since 2018; he is the first openly gay person to hold a seat on the council. Glass has also been its president and vice president. He is now running to succeed incumbent County Executive Marc Elrich, who has reached the end of his two-term limit.

Glass on Wednesday announced he is entering the race for county executive, which, if elected, would make him the first openly gay person to lead Montgomery County’s executive office.

In an email to the Washington Blade, Glass outlined key campaign priorities, including standing up to President Donald Trump and his “aspiring oligarchs,” supporting vulnerable members of the Montgomery County community as federal budgets are slashed, and protecting residents’ quality of life by ensuring that “Montgomery County remains a place where people can afford to live, raise their families, and retire with security.”

Glass is holding a campaign launch event on March 22 at 11:30 a.m. at 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville to officially kick off his bid for county executive, outline his campaign platform, and connect with supporters.

Over the past seven years, Glass has served on several key committees within the Montgomery County Council. These include the Transportation and Environment Committee, where he has worked to implement policies benefiting both public transit users and the environment, and the Economic Development Committee, which focuses on fostering and sustaining economic growth in Montgomery County.

In addition to his committee work, Glass spearheaded the creation of the Anti-Hate Task Force, which aims to “prioritize policies that promote safety and combat hate crimes” for marginalized communities, including LGBTQ residents. He also helped organize the county’s first Pride celebrations.

During his tenure, Glass has worked to reduce housing costs in Montgomery County by passing legislation to make it more affordable to build and rent homes, particularly near public transportation. He has also championed policies to address the climate crisis, including securing funding for clean energy initiatives.

Glass has helped pass numerous laws to expand grant opportunities for entrepreneurs, ensure fair wages, and increase oversight, and transparency within Montgomery County Public Schools. He also led efforts to expand the county council from nine to 11 members.

Before entering Montgomery County politics, Glass spent 12 years as a journalist for CNN, covering national politics.

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Maryland

Delivery driver who fatally shot Bel Air trans woman is sentenced to prison

Brian Delen convicted assaulting Meghan Lewis, acquitted of murder

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Meghan Lewis was known her generosity, sense of humor and the catchphrase, ‘Stay sparkly.” (Photo by Heather Diehl for the Baltimore Banner)

BY CLARA LONGO DE FREITAS | A food delivery driver who fatally shot a trans woman in the parking lot of her Bel Air condo community was sentenced on Monday to serve 10 years in prison, five without the possibility of parole, for second-degree assault.

Brian Delen, 49, was convicted last November in Harford County Circuit Court of second-degree assault and use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. He was found not guilty of first- and second-degree murder.

Circuit Court Judge Yolanda L. Curtin also ordered Delen to serve a five-year concurrent sentence on the firearms charge. He will be on supervised probation for five years after release.

Delen’s attorneys argued at trial that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Meghan Lewis, 52, a beloved advocate for LGBTQ rights and avid Grateful Dead fan.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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Maryland

Project 2025 author Kevin Roberts cancels talk at University of Maryland law school

Illness cited as reason for abrupt cancellation

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Activists protest outside of the Heritage Foundation in downtown Washington on Jan. 1, 2024. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

By ELLIE WOLFE | Hours before it was scheduled to take place, Project 2025 author Kevin Roberts canceled his controversial speaking event at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore.

The Monday night visit, organized by the Republican Law Society, was the subject of student outcry, counter-events and even a scheduled protest outside the law school building downtown. Though some students and university officials said the event would reinforce freedom of speech, it drew criticism from those who oppose Roberts’s stances on marriage equality and abortion access.

Roberts canceled his talk due to an illness, according to a spokesperson for the law school, and it’s unclear whether it’ll be rescheduled.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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