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LGBT education advocate to speak at MLK rally with Obama

Final event of 50th Anniversary March on Washington set for Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28

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1963 March on Washington, civil rights, gay news, Washington Blade
1963 March on Washington, civil rights, gay news, Washington Blade

GLSEN Executive Director, Eliza Byard, will join the speakers at this weekend’s 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington, where this photo was taken. (Photo by Rowland Scherman for the U.S. Information Agency courtesy of the Still Picture Records Section of the Special Media Archives Services Division)

Eliza Byard, executive director of the New York based Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), will join Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter as a speaker at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28 for the closing rally commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington.

A statement released by GLSEN says Byard was the only leader of an LGBT organization selected to speak at the event, which was to take place exactly 50 years after Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech at the same location.

“I am humbled and honored to represent GLSEN at the anniversary of one of the landmark moments in United States and world history,” Byard said in the GLSEN statement. “Dr. King and March on Washington organizer Bayard Rustin are personal heroes who have inspired me and influenced our work at GLSEN to create a better world for all.”

GLSEN, which has affiliate organizations throughout the country, says its mission is to eliminate anti-LGBT discrimination, including anti-LGBT bullying and harassment, in the nation’s schools from kindergarten through the 12 grade.

President Obama and former Presidents Clinton and Carter were scheduled to be the lead speakers at the Aug. 28 event, the second of two 50th Anniversary March on Washington rallies scheduled to take place at the Lincoln Memorial.

GLSEN partner organizations, mostly in the South, nominated Byard to speak at the Aug. 28 event, the GLSEN statement says. The Atlanta based Martin Luther King Center, which is one of the lead organizers of the event, selected her as a speaker, according to the statement.

At least four other LGBT rights advocates are scheduled to speak at the Lincoln Memorial rally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24. They include Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees Union International. Both are out lesbians.

Also confirmed as out gay speakers at the Saturday event are Rev. MacArthur Flournoy, director of faith partnership and mobilization for the Human Rights Campaign, and Adrian Shanker, president of the statewide LGBT rights organization Equality Pennsylvania.

Other speakers scheduled for the Saturday rally include U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who was a speaker at the 1963 rally at the Lincoln Memorial.

Additionally, Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of Martin Luther King Jr. is expected to take the podium, as is Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the lead organizers of the 50th Anniversary March; and members of the family of Trayvon Martin.

An LGBT continent planning to take part in a “feeder” march heading to the Saturday rally at the Lincoln Memorial is scheduled to assemble 8 a.m. at the site of the D.C. War Memorial, which is located across Independence Avenue from the Martin Luther King Memorial.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton are scheduled to speak at the War Memorial site on the subject of D.C. statehood and congressional voting rights for the District before the gathering — including the LGBT contingent — marches to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally there.

Several LGBT organized events between Friday, Aug. 23, and Wednesday, Aug. 28, are scheduled to be held in connection with the 50th Anniversary March, with each playing some role in commemorating the life and accomplishments of Bayard Rustin, who was gay.

March on Washington LGBT-related events

Friday, Aug. 23


  • Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph & Bayard Rustin 44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference. 
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
 Hyatt Regency Hotel. 
400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.
  • What is the Unfinished Business for the LGBT Community? 
A Conversation and Reception on the Heels of the Anniversary of the March on Washington. 
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
 Rayburn House Office Building
 Foyer
  • Welcoming Reception for LGBT Participants 50th Anniversary March on Washington
. 6–10 p.m. 
Us Helping Us HIV/AIDS services organization. 
3636 Georgia Ave., N.W.

Saturday, Aug. 24

  • LGBT March contingent 
assembles at D.C. Statehood Rally
. D.C. War Memorial (North side of Independence Ave. between World War II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial). 
Mayor Vincent Gray to speak 
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
  • 50th Anniversary March on Washington rally
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.,
Lincoln Memorial

Monday, Aug. 26
A Tribute to Bayard Rustin & the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington. Sponsored by National Black Justice Coalition, American Federation of Teachers, A. Philip Randolph Institute. 
6– 9 p.m., 
Lincoln Theater,
 1215 U St., N.W.

Wednesday, Aug. 28
The Life and Legacy of Bayard Rustin: How an African American gay man became the lead organizer of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington. 
Panel discussion and reception, hosted by the Center for Black Equity 
and sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign,
 7 p.m.
 in the HRC Equality Forum Hall, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.

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District of Columbia

Gay ANC member announces candidacy for Ward 1 D.C. Council seat

Community leader Brian Footer seeking seat held by Brianne Nadeau

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Brian Footer (Photo courtesy of Brian Footer for D.C.)

Gay Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Brian Footer, a community activist who has been involved for many years in local and national government affairs, has announced his candidacy for the Ward 1 D.C. Council seat up for election in 2026.

Footer, a Democrat, will be running in the city’s June 2, 2026, Democratic primary for the Ward 1 Council seat, but it is uncertain whether he will be running against incumbent Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau (D). Nadeau has not yet announced if she plans to run for re-election for a fourth term following her 12 years on the Council.

 Nadeau has been a longtime vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community.  

If Footer were to win the primary and the November 2026 general election, he would become the Council’s second openly gay member. Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker (D) is currently the 13-member Council’s only gay member.

Footer is a three-term ANC commissioner who currently serves as Chair of ANC 1E, which represents the city’s Adams Morgan neighborhood.

“Brian has worked at every level of government — federal, state, and local — building a career rooted in public service, aging policy, and inclusive urban planning,”  a statement on his campaign website says.

“I’m running for Council because too many people in Ward 1 are doing everything right and still feel ignored by the city they call home,” Footer states on his website.

“I’m running because we can do better,” his statement continues. “That means making housing more affordable, addressing homelessness with real solutions, and keeping our neighborhoods safe with smart, community focused strategies.”

When contacted by the Washington Blade for comment, Nadeau said she was not ready at this time to discuss her plans about running again or about Footer’s candidacy.

“The primary is a ways away, and I’m very focused right now on the budget and the stadium deal and all the work that we’re doing at the Council,” she told the Blade. “So, I really haven’t had time to turn to my plans. So, as a result, I’m also not going to be commenting on anybody else who is determined that they’re running at this time.” 

She first won election to the Council in 2014 after she defeated four-term gay Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham in the Democratic primary after Graham became embroiled in an ethics controversy.

In the 2022 Democratic primary Nadeau defeated gay challenger Salah Czapary in a three-candidate race, by a margin of 48.5% of the vote compared to Czapary’s 30.9%.

With the third candidate, Sabel Harris, receiving 20.4%, the outcome showed that the two challengers had a combined total vote count higher than Nadeau.

Further details of Footer’s candidacy can be accessed from his campaign website, brianfooterdc.com.

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District of Columbia

Gay GOP group hosts Ernst, 3 House members — all of whom oppose Equality Act

Log Cabin, congressional guest speakers mum on June 25 event

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Sen. Joni Ernst spoke to D.C.’s Log Cabin group. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and three women Republican members of the U.S. House appeared as guest speakers at the June 25 meeting of Log Cabin Republicans of D.C., the local chapter of the national LGBTQ Republican group with that same name.

The U.S. House members who joined Ernst as guest speakers at the Log Cabin meeting were Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), and Julia Letlow (R-La.).

Neither D.C. Log Cabin Republicans President Andrew Minik nor spokespersons for Ernst or the three congresswomen immediately responded to a request by the Washington Blade for comment on the GOP lawmakers’ appearance at an LGBTQ GOP group’s meeting.

“Please join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate and recognize the bold leadership and accomplishments of Republican women in Congress,” a D.C Log Cabin announcement sent to its members states.

“This month’s meeting will highlight the efforts of the Republican Women’s Caucus and explore key issues such as the Protection of Women and Girls In Sports Act and the broader fight to preserve women’s spaces in society,” the message says.

It was referring to legislation pending in Congress calling for banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports events. 

According to media reports, Ernst and the three congresswomen have expressed opposition to the Equality Act, the longstanding bill pending in Congress calling for prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. 

The Log Cabin announcement says the meeting was scheduled to take place at the Royal Sands Social Club, which is a restaurant and bar at 26 N St., S.E. in the city’s Navy Yard area.    

D.C. Log Cabin member Stuart West, who attended the meeting, confirmed that Ernst and the three congresswomen showed up and spoke at the event.

“It was a good turnout,” he said. “I would definitely say probably 30 or 40 people attended.” West added, “Four women came to talk to a group of mostly gay men. That’s something you don’t see very often.” 

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District of Columbia

D.C. police seek public’s help in July 5 murder of trans woman

Relative disputes initial decision not to list case as hate crime

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Daquane ‘Dream’ Johnson (Photo courtesy of family)

D.C. police are seeking help from the public in their investigation into the murder of a transgender woman who they say was shot to death at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, on the 2000 block of Benning Road, N.E.

But the police announcement of the fatal shooting and a police report obtained by the Washington Blade do not identify the victim, 28-year-old Daquane ‘Dream’ Johnson of Northeast D.C., as transgender. And the police report says the shooting is not currently listed as a suspected hate crime.

It was local transgender activists and one of Johnson’s family members, her aunt, who confirmed she was transgender and said information they obtained indicates the killing could have been a hate crime.

“On Saturday, July 5, at approximately 12:51 a.m., Sixth District officers were flagged down in the 2000 block of Benning Road, Northeast, for an unconscious female,” a July 5 D.C. police statement says. “Upon arrival, officers located an adult female victim suffering from gunshot wounds,” it says.

“D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where after all lifesaving efforts failed and the victim was pronounced dead,” the statement says.

A separate police flyer with a photo of Johnson announces an award of $25,000 was being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder.

The flyer identifies D.C. police Homicide Detective Natasha Kennedy as being the lead investigator in the case and says anyone with information about the case should contact her at 202-380-6198.

Longtime D.C. transgender rights advocate Earline Budd told the Blade that one of the police investigators contacted her about the case and that she also spoke to Detective Kennedy. Budd said police confirmed to her that Johnson was a transgender woman.

(Photo courtesy of family)

One of Johnson’s family members, Vanna Terrell, who identified herself as Johnson’s aunt, told the Blade that Johnson used the first name of Dream and had planned to legally adopt that name instead of Daquane but had not gotten around to doing so.

Terrell said she and other family members learned more about the incident when one of two teenage high school students who knew Johnson’s brother contacted a friend and told the friend that they recognized Johnson as they witnessed the shooting. Terrell said the friend then called her to tell her what the friend learned from the two witnesses.

According to Terrell, the witnesses reportedly saw three men approach Johnson as Johnson walked along Benning Road and one of them called Johnson a derogatory name, leading Terrell to believe the men recognized Johnson as a transgender woman.

Terrell said one of the witnesses told the friend, who spoke to Terrell, that the man who shot Johnson kept shooting her until all of the bullets were fired. Budd, who said she spoke to Terrell, who also told her what the witnesses reported, said she believed the multiple shots fired by the shooter was an “overkill” that appears to have been a hate crime. Terrell said she too believes the murder was a hate crime.

In response to an inquiry from the Blade, Officer Ebony Major, a D.C. police spokesperson, stated in an email, “At this point there is nothing in the investigation that indicates the offense was motivated by hate or bias.”

Terrell said a memorial gathering to honor Johnson’s life was scheduled to be held Saturday, July 12, at River Terrace Park, which is located at 500 36th St., N.E. not far from where the shooting occurred.

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