BY PAMELA WOOD | Maryland’s lone Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, is the new chair of the right-wing Freedom Caucus.

Harris has replaced prior Freedom Caucus chair U.S. Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, who lost his Republican primary earlier this year.

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

Concord Point Park in Havre de Grace, Md., will transform into the site of the 6th annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5. The free, family-friendly festival will run from 2-6 p.m. and feature live music, drag performances, and vendors. 

About 3,500 people are expected to attend the festival, which is organized by the Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Foundation and will be held at the Chesapeake waterfront. More than 120 artists, vendors, and community organizations will have booths, and a kids’ area will offer activities such as face painting, magician performances, and storytelling. 

Along with drag performances, musical acts will perform throughout the day, spanning genres such as R&B, punk, and queer country. The foundation’s president, Kurt Doan, highlighted Ryan Cassata as a key headliner.  

“Ryan is a trans activist but also makes really vibrant music, so I’m excited to bring that kind of music to Harford County,” Doan said.

Festival goers will be able to choose from a variety of food options, including empanadas, Thai food, burgers, French-style desserts and ice cream. This year, the foundation is extending activities beyond the festival hours, including an after party and happy hour at one of the local breweries, and Sunday yoga session.  

“We’ve got lots of really super supportive queer-friendly businesses in Havre De Grace that are going to be offering different things,” Doan said. 

The inaugural Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival was held in 2019 to celebrate the local LGBTQ community in the rural Harford and Cecil counties. Since then, the foundation has grown in its scope: In addition to hosting the annual festival, it provides scholarships to local colleges and hosts monthly social activities. 

Doan emphasized the role the foundation plays in supporting the rural queer community, noting its impact in creating belonging and visibility.

“I think people can very easily forget that queer people also live in rural areas, and when we talk about being queer in Maryland, it’s often about what’s going on in the outskirts of D.C. or in Baltimore or in Annapolis. But there are thriving queer communities in rural areas, we just don’t often have brick and mortar spots where we can gather,” he said. “I think it’s super important to have an organization like this.”

To support the festival or learn how to become an exhibitor, volunteer, or performer, visit ucbpride.com/2024-pride-festival/.

BY JOHN-JOHN WILLIAMS IV | Bailey Anne’s mom was apprehensive when she told her she was going to compete for the Miss Maryland USA pageant.

Her mom thought her transgender daughter might be harassed and ridiculed, and worried about her safety.

“I told her that the world is changing,” recalled Bailey Anne, who doesn’t use her last name because her identity has unfortunately also come with threats from people who don’t agree with it.

And so she competed this year and became the state’s first trans woman titleholder. She was also Maryland’s first Asian American winner and the oldest contestant to represent the state in the Miss USA pageant.

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