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McAuliffe: School boards should make ‘own decisions’ on trans students policy

Former Va. governor debated Republican challenger on Thursday

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Terry McAuliffe, gay news, Washington Blade
(Washington Blade photo by Lee Whitman)

Terry McAuliffe on Thursday hotly debated Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin at the Appalachian School of Law in southwestern Virginia on a variety of issues that include vaccine mandates, economic development, abortion access and policing. The former Virginia governor’s support for a law that protects transgender students, however, seemed less clear.

When the moderator asked if local school boards should be allowed to reject Virginia Department of Education ā€œmodel policiesā€ developed as part of a state law passed last year to protect trans and non-binary students from discrimination, McAuliffe said school boards ā€œshould be making their own decisions.ā€

This soft support for the law that Gov. Ralph Northam signed is in contrast to the Human Rights Campaign’s endorsement this week for his work as governor that includes signing an executive order prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ state employees and vetoing anti-LGBTQ bills. Ā 

HRC called out Youngkin, a former business executive and vocal Trump supporter, for ā€œanti-LGBTQ and transphobic languageā€ during his campaign. (HRC in 2019 named the Carlyle Group, the private equity company that Youngkin previously ran, as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” in its annual Corporate Equality Index.)

Younkin has supported Tanner Cross, a Loudoun County elementary school teacher who was suspended in June after he spoke against the Virginia Department of Education policy known as Policy 8040. The Virginia Supreme Court last month supported Cross’ reinstatement on First Amendment grounds.

ā€œAs governor, I will stand up for teachers like Tanner Cross,ā€ the Republican candidate tweeted.

Youngkin also told Fox News the school board was trying to ā€œcancelā€ Cross ā€œsimply for expressing his views that are in the best interests of the children and expressing his faith.ā€

But state Del. Danica Roem (D-Prince William County), one of the billā€™s co-sponsors, told the Washington Blade in an earlier interview that the 2020 law passed with bipartisan support and most school boards are acting in accordance with the nondiscrimination law.

ā€œLoudoun is catching headlines, but look at all of the other school districts who have adopted this without controversy,ā€ said Roem, who in 2018 became the first openly trans person seated in a state legislature in the U.S. ā€œThey are acting in compliance with Department of Education best practices for how to humanely treat transgender kids in schools.ā€

McAuliffe, after stating that decisions regarding implementing trans student protections should be left to local school boards, said he hated seeing all of the ā€œdivisivenessā€ and ā€œchildren being demonized.ā€ He then pivoted to his talking points about increasing both teacher pay and broadband access for students.

Early in-person voting in Virginia is underway and lasts until Oct. 30. Election day is Nov. 2.

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District of Columbia

Billy Porter, Keke Palmer, Ava Max to perform at Capital Pride

Concert to be held at annual festival on June 9

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Billy Porter (Photo courtesy of Republic Records)

The Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes D.C.ā€™s annual LGBTQ Pride events, announced this week the lineup of performers for the Sunday, June 9, Capital Pride Concert to be held during the Capital Pride Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. near the U.S. Capitol.

Among the performers will be nationally acclaimed singers and recording artists Billy Porter and Keke Palmer, who will also serve as grand marshals for the Capital Pride Parade set to take place one day earlier on Saturday, June 8. 

The Capital Price announcement says the other lead performers will be Ava Max, Sapphira Cristal, and the pop female trio ExposƩ.

ā€œThe beloved pop icons will captivate audiences with upbeat performances coupled with their fierce advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, echoing the vibrant spirit of this yearā€™s theme, ā€˜Totally Radical,ā€™ā€ according to a statement released by Capital Pride Alliance.

ā€œWith Billy Porter and Keke Palmer leading the parade as Grand Marshals, weā€™re not only honoring their incredible contributions to the LGBTQ+ community but also amplifying their voices as fierce advocates for equality and acceptance,ā€ Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos said in the statement.

ā€œThe concert and festival serve as a platform to showcase the diverse array of LGBTQ+ talent, from the chart-topping hits of Ava Max to the iconic sounds of ExposĆ© and the electrifying performances of Sapphira Cristal,ā€ Bos said in the statement. ā€œCapital Pride 2024 promises to be a celebration like no other.ā€  

The concert will take place from 12-10 p.m. on the main stage and other stages across the four-block long festival site on Pennsylvania Avenue.  

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Arts & Entertainment

Washington Bladeā€™s Pride on the Pier and fireworks show returning June 8

The annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation will take place on Saturday, June 8 at 9 p.m.

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Pride on the Pier (Photo Courtesy The Wharf)

The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, is excited to announce the 5th annual Pride on the Pier and fireworks show during D.C. Pride weekend on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 2-10 p.m.

The event will include the annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation at 9 p.m. 

Pride on the Pier (Photo Courtesy The Wharf)

Pride on the Pier extends the cityā€™s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. Local DJā€™s Heat, Eletrox and Honey will perform throughout the event.

3 p.m. – Capital Pride Parade on the Big Screen

3:30 p.m. – Drag Show hosted by Cake Pop!

9 p.m. – Fireworks Show Presented by Leonard-Litz Foundation

Pride on the Pier (Photo Courtesy of The Wharf)

The event is free and open to the public. The Dockmasters Building will be home to a VIP experience. To learn more and to purchase tickets go to www.prideonthepier.com/vip. VIP tickets are limited.

Event sponsors include Absolut, Buying Time, Capital Pride, DC Brau, DC Fray, Burney Wealth Management,Ā Infinate Legacy, Leonard-Litz Foundation,Ā Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, MISTR, NBC4, The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePier.com

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Maryland

Trone discusses transgender niece

Blade interviewed Md. congressman, Angela Alsobrooks last week

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U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) (Photo public domain)

Editor’s note: The Washington Blade last week interviewed both U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. The full interviews with both Democratic candidates for retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)’s seat will be on the Blade’s website later this week.

Maryland Congressman David Trone last week discussed his transgender niece during an interview with the Washington Blade about his U.S. Senate campaign.

Trone, who is running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), on May 1 told the Blade during a telephone interview that his niece transitioned when she was in her early 20s. Trone also noted she attended Furman University, a small, liberal arts university in Greenville, S.C.

“I was concerned about how she would be able to transition there,” said Trone.

Trone, who founded Total Wine & More, attended Furman University as an undergrad and is on the school’s board of trustees. Trone told the Blade he donated $10 million to the university to “build out their mental health capacity, which I felt was a way that she could have the best mental health care possible when she worked her way through (her) transition.”

Trone’s niece graduated from the university after she spent five years there.

“She had a great relationship with Furman,” said Trone.

Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are the leading Democrats running to succeed Cardin. The winner of the May 14 Democratic primary will face former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in November.

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