Local
Rehoboth Beach Museum hosts LGBTQ series
A look at the past, present and future of the community
Rehoboth Beach has a long and complicated history when it comes to welcoming LGBT visitors. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)
The Rehoboth Beach Museum is hosting a listening and discussion series on the past, present and future of the LGBTQ community in Rehoboth Beach this month. The event is free and is split into three sessions.
The first session was held on July 9 and was titled “Our Roots: LGBTQ History in Rehoboth.” This part of the series discussed how the LGBTQ community came to Rehoboth, the initial pushback and how the community came together during a difficult period in Rehoboth history. The second session will be held on July 16 at 6 p.m. and is titled “The Current State of Affairs: LGBTQ Rehoboth as We Know It.” This part of the series will allow attendees to share their opinions on what the current climate of Rehoboth is as well as how Rehoboth is one of the most accepting towns in the Mid-Atlantic. The final session will be held on July 23 at 6 p.m. and is titled, “Where are We Going? The Future of the LGBTQ Community in Rehoboth.” This part of the series will discuss what the future of the LGBTQ community will look like along with what goals there are for the future.
“We chose to host this series because we needed to keep our audience engaged while the museum is closed for renovations this summer,” said Casey McClintick-Sink, an intern for the museum this summer. “With guidance from Paula, we decided that I would conduct research on the LGBTQ community here in Rehoboth because I am a part of that community.”
McClintick-Sink conducted research by listening to oral histories, conducting interviews, reading news articles and ensured that a lot of different perspectives on the Rehoboth LGBTQ community were heard. Paula Roberts is McClintick-Sink’s intern coordinator.
“As you know, Rehoboth Beach has a history of struggling with and largely overcoming anti-gay prejudice. We have a vibrant LGBTQ community anchored by CAMP Rehoboth,” Roberts said. “However, not many of the current residents (gay or straight) know that history and what it took to get where we are. One of the functions of a local history museum is to document and share that history so we can all participate and safeguard our gains.”
Roberts stated that the museum made the decision to include the history of the LGBTQ community in every phase of their presentation because a separate presentation would imply that LGBTQ folks are ‘other’ rather than an integral part of the community. She mentioned that the museum collection had very little about the LGBTQ community and that the museum needed to do a major outreach to the LGBTQ community to let them know that they wanted to include them in the telling of Rehoboth Beach’s story.
Roberts did some initial research to outline what the museum knew and didn’t know. McClintick-Sink then took that research and developed it into a three-part presentation for the series. They decided to host the presentation at the Anna Hazzard House, as it will allow them to keep the group small to better foster conversation and let them learn from the participants, as well as encourage participants to donate artifacts so the museum can educate the public.
“Casey is fabulous. She is bright and curious and works really hard,” Roberts said. “We did not know when she contacted us about doing an internship this summer that she was a lesbian and was raised by two mothers. When we learned this, it seemed a perfect fit to have her work on the project. She both knows the issues and brings the perspective of a young person to the subject matter.”
Roberts said that having a young person’s perspective is important because young people must know the history and share it with their peers in order to hold onto the gains made and make more towns gay friendly.
“I wanted to find out how Rehoboth became such a gay-friendly town, and where we might see the community going in the future,” said McClintick-Sink. “This is a really significant story to be told right now as we face the possibility of LGBTQ rights, along with the rights of other minorities, being taken away.”
The Anna Hazzard House is located at 17 Christian St. For additional information and to RSVP, call the Rehoboth Beach Museum at 302-227-7310.
District of Columbia
Campaign launched to elect more LGBTQ candidates to ANC seats
Capital Stonewall Democrats behind Queering ANCs effort
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, announced on July 7 it has launched a campaign to help elect large numbers of LGBTQ candidates to the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
The D.C. local government is believed to be unique among U.S. cities in currently having 46 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions consisting of 345 single-member districts in neighborhoods throughout the city in which unpaid Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are elected for two-year terms.
The commissions are charged with considering a wide range of policies and programs impacting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and D.C.’s annual budget, according to the ANC website.
Although the ANCs do not have authority to set or reject policies or proposals, such as applications for liquor licenses, city agencies are required to give “great weight” to ANC recommendations, according to the law creating the ANCs.
Kent Boese, a gay former ANC commissioner, currently serves as executive director of the D.C. Office of ANCs.
“We are launching the most ambitious hyperlocal LGBTQ+ candidate pipeline initiative in the country,” said Stevie McCarty, the Capital Stonewall Democrats president, in a July 7 statement that announced the Queering ANCs campaign.
“As an ANC member, I know firsthand how these seats shape our neighborhoods, from housing and public safety to sanitation,” McCarty says in the statement. “I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure more LGBTQ+ Washingtonians see themselves as leaders in their communities,” he said.
The ANC Rainbow Caucus, which was created by LGBTQ ANC members, shows on its website that there are currently 38 caucus members consisting of elected LGBTQ ANC commissioners serving in the current 2025-2026 two-year term.
The website shows there are LGBTQ commissioners who are caucus members in each of the city’s eight wards, with six in Ward 1, eight in Ward 2, one in Ward 3, six in Ward 4, five in Ward 5, three in Ward 6, eight in Ward 7, and one in Ward 8.
The Washington Blade couldn’t immediately determine how many of them will be running for re-election in D.C.’s general election in November. But McCarty said Capital Stonewall Democrats hopes to recruit many more LGBTQ candidates to run for ANC seats.
The D.C. Board of Elections website shows the deadline for filing 25 required petition signatures to be placed on the ballot is Aug. 5.
A Queering ANCs website launched this week by Capital Stonewall Democrats provides details on how to run for an ANC seat and offers help for those interested in running.
“Think of someone in your building, neighborhood, friend group, community organization, or professional network who cares deeply about D.C. and would make a strong leader,” McCarty says in his statement. “Send them QueeringANCs.org and personally ask them to consider running,” he said.
The website can be accessed at QueeringANCs.org.
Baltimore
Ron Singer, owner of popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s, dies
66-year-old’s funeral to take place Friday
By CAYLA HARRIS | Ron Singer, the owner of Baltimore’s popular gay bar Leon’s Backroom, died Tuesday, the venue announced in a social media post. He was 66.
“For more than 20 years, Ron made Leon’s a place so many people were proud to call home,” the post reads. “He will be deeply missed.”
The Mount Vernon bar, typically open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, is still open Thursday, but doors will close at midnight so staff can attend his funeral Friday morning. Services are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
Mary’s House founder, CEO retires
Dr. Imani Woody played leading role in opening DC’s first home for LGBTQ seniors
The board of directors for Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC’s first official home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, announced on July 7 that its founding president and CEO, Dr. Imani Woody, has retired.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing a leading role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort Dupont neighborhood.
The house, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025, includes 15 single-occupancy residential units and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
“It is with profound gratitude and hearts full of celebration that the board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC (MHFOA) announces the retirement of our visionary founder, Dr. Imani Woody, from her role as president and CEO,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Dr. Woody’s journey with Mary’s House began with her vision and a kitchen table gathering of women with a bold, urgent, and loving vision: to create safe, affirming, affordable housing for LGBTQ/SGL older adults in Washington, DC,” the statement says.
It adds, “What started as a dream has grown into DC’s first affordable LGBTQ+/SGL affirming communal living space for adults 60 and over, a 15-room community residence at 401 Anacostia Road in Southeast Washington.”
The statement says Woody will continue to serve on Mary’s House board.
“The board will be sharing information about the leadership transition process in the coming weeks,” the statement continues. “We are committed to honoring Dr. Woody’s legacy by ensuring Mary’s House continues to thrive and grow in faithful service to LGBTQ/SGL elders experiencing housing insecurity and isolation.”
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