Maryland
LGBTQ candidates running for Md. General Assembly, local offices
State Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) expected to win re-election
There is a slate of LGBTQ candidates on the ballot in Maryland who are running for local offices and for seats in the General Assembly.
State Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) and state Dels. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery County), Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City), Anne Kaiser (D-Montgomery County), Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery County) and Lisa Belcastro (D-Baltimore County) are running for re-election. Kris Fair, who is running to become the first openly gay person from Western Maryland elected to the General Assembly, and Joseph Vogel, who is finishing his master’s in public policy at Harvard University, are running for office.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk Karen Bushell, who is a lesbian, is seeking re-election. Montgomery County Council Vice President Evan Glass is running for an at-large seat.
Krystal Oriadha would be the first openly bisexual person elected to the Prince George’s County Council if she wins her race. Pamela Boozer-Strother, a member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, is also on the ballot.
Howard County Register of Wills Byron Macfarlane ran unopposed in his primary, and will likely win re-election.
April Christina Curley is running for the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Curley would be the first openly genderqueer person elected in the city if she wins on Tuesday.
The general election is on Tuesday. Early voting in Maryland began on Oct. 27.
Maryland
Trone discusses transgender niece
Blade interviewed Md. congressman, Angela Alsobrooks last week
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.
Maryland
What Anne Arundel County school board candidates think about book bans
State lawmakers passed Freedom to Read Act in April
BY ROYALE BONDS | Parents’ efforts to restrict content available to students in school libraries has become a contentious issue in Maryland. Conservative parent groups, such as Moms for Liberty, have been working to get books they believe are inappropriate removed from libraries in Carroll and Howard counties, sparking protests, new policies, and even a state law.
The Freedom to Read Act, passed in April, sets standards that books cannot be removed from public and school libraries due to an author’s background. Library staff that uphold the standard are protected under this act. The law, however, does not prohibit removing books deemed “sexually explicit,” the stated reason local Moms for Liberty chapters challenged school library books.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner website.
Maryland
Christian Siriano to serve as grand marshal of Annapolis Pride Parade
Fashion designer is an Annapolis native
BY JOHN-JOHN WILLIAMS IV | He’s conquered fashion week. His designs have slayed the red carpet during award season. And now Christian Siriano is coming home.
The Annapolis native will serve as grand marshal and keynote speaker June 1 for the annual Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival, which is a major coup as the event enters its fourth year.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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