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Trump survives assassination attempt, claims GOP nom, PAGES 10-13
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D.C. Public Schools’ LGBTQ+ program helps ensure students feel safe
More than half of queer students experience bullying, harassment
By OMARI FOOTE
According a study from Theirworld of LBGTQ+ Gen-Z youth, students feel unsafe in schools. D.C. Public Schools is trying to combat the problem in the District.
“Research shows that the way schools and families respond to LGBTQ+ youth can affect their physical health, mental health outcomes, academic outcomes, and their decision-making later in life,” said DCPS’ LGBTQ+ Programming Specialist, Adalphie Johnson.
DCPS’ LGBTQ+ Program started in 2011 after a 2009 survey from GLSEN revealed that 9 out of 10 queer students reported in-school harassment.
In response, they have created extensive programming to ensure students feel safe at D.C. Public Schools. In 2015 they created a trans and non-binary policy that included guidance on LGBTQ+ terms, locker room accommodations, gender-neutral dress codes, and more.
In addition, they host an annual conference for queer and trans DCPS students.
“The “Leading With Pride” conference increases networking, and builds the leadership capacity of our students and faculty advisers to implement school-level LGBTQ programming,” Johnson said.
In 2023, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures according to HRC. This year, Theirworld’s survey found that more than half of LGBTQ students experienced bullying and harassment at school.
Johnson said that students feeling safe in school requires creating an environment where all students can
thrive.
“We encourage students to report incidents without fear of retaliation and ensure that reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly,” she said.
Johnson also pointed out that as a result of discrimination, students are more likely to miss school, which can lead to low grades, along with impairing cognitive responses. So, she said, it is best for schools to respond with action swiftly.
However, Johnson and the LGBTQ+ programming team acknowledge that not all students come from supportive backgrounds.
As a part of their trans and gender-nonconforming policy, staff are expected to work closely with students to determine how involved parents are with the transitioning student, before contacting parents.
Johnson gave parents eight steps to ensure the safety of their child, if they are in the LGBTQ community.
8 Steps For Parents
1. Educate Yourself. Learn about LGBTQ+ identities, issues, and terminology. Understanding the basics can help you provide better support and avoid misunderstandings.
2. Listen and Communicate. Create an open and non-judgmental space for your child to express themselves. Listen to their experiences and feelings without interrupting or offering unsolicited advice.
SMYAL for Summer returns July 25
‘Their
hard work, resilience, and identities are valued and celebrated’
By OMARI FOOTE
SMYAL for Summer is back at Franklin Hall on July 25, where the youth services organization will honor the next generation of change makers in the LGBTQ community.
“In a tumultuous year for policy against LGBTQ+ youth, celebrating the achievements of our scholarship winners sends a powerful message that their hard work, resilience, and identities are valued and celebrated,” said Caro Vordndran, SMYAL’s Development Coordinator.
At the event, SMYAL, the D.C. queer and trans youth advocacy organization, will honor recipients of its Youth Leadership Award and the Sophie’s Live Out Loud Scholarship. Plus, the event will feature a drag performance from Mia Vanderbilt.
One of the scholarship recipients, Lion Burney, said that in addition to the scholarship they were most excited for the community they will continue to seek in SMYAL’s safe space.
“The SMYAL community means a lot to me. From found family to open expression to endless support — I am beyond grateful to be a part of this experience,” Burney said.
This is SMYAL’s 12th annual SMYAL for Summer event and the 40th year of creating community for D.C.’s youth.
3. Advocate for Them. Stand up for your child in situations where they may face discrimination or misunderstanding. Become actively involved in the PTA and other parent groups within the school.
4. Seek Support. Lead or organize programming with/ for other parents of LGBTQ+ children can provide valuable insights and emotional support.
5. Respect Their Privacy. Allow your child to determine their own level of outness at school. Don’t share their identity without their permission.
6. Create a Safe Environment. Inform the school of any homophobic or transphobic remarks or behavior from others.
7. Inform school about their needs. Recognize that each LGBTQ+ person’s experience is unique. Ask your child what they need from you and how you can best support them. Communicate those needs to the school. This would be a great opportunity to develop and share a Safety Plan for the student while at school.
8. Promote Inclusivity. Encourage, support and inform inclusive policies and practices in your child’s school community.
Given SMYAL’s history, alumni like Nathan Handberg often come back to keep traditions alive.
Handberg was an awardee in 2019 and served on the selection committee this year. They said they felt great about their continued involvement with SMYAL.
“Being a previous winner really gave me insight that helped with the process of choosing the winners this year and I like that I have the ability to help shape future leaders in our community,” they said.
Tickets for the event range from $10 for students and $20 for general admission, up to $500 for Platinum Supporters. Tickets for the event will contribute to funding for SMYAL’s year-round youth advocacy programming. The event will run from 6-8 p.m.
“They have housing programs for queer youth… they’ve done queer sex education classes filling in critical gaps that are left by our education curriculum,” Handberg said. “Honestly they do so much more, I could write multiple pages on my experiences with SMYAL and all they do.”
The annual SMYAL for Summer will be held July 25. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Judge orders D.C. high school to recognize anti-LGBTQ student group
Ruling overturns claim that Christian group’s policy violates Human Rights Act
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com
A U.S. District Court judge on July 11 issued a preliminary injunction ordering D.C.’s Jackson-Reed High School, the city’s largest public high school, to officially recognize a student group called the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which requires its leaders to support the group’s religious belief that homosexuality is immoral.
The 31-page ruling by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich came in response to a May 7, 2024, lawsuit filed by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ national office against D.C. Public Schools officials and the D.C. government. The lawsuit charges that Jackson-Reed High School violated the Christian student group’s religious rights under the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Religious Freedom Restoration Act by refusing its most recent application for recognition.
The lawsuit says the group applied for and received recognition in 2022, making it eligible for full school benefits, funding, and the right to hold meetings at school facilities. But according to the lawsuit, the school system reversed its decision of recognition in the fall of 2022 after a school athletic coach expressed opposition to the recognition on grounds that Fellowship of Christian Athletes discriminates against the LGBTQ community by its requirement that its leaders oppose homosexuality.
In its court filings in response to the lawsuit, the Office of the D.C. Attorney General says Jackson Reed, in consultation with D.C. Public Schools officials determined that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ requirement that its student leaders must adhere to its position on homosexuality violates the D.C. Human Rights Act and the D.C. school system’s longstanding policy of prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Plaintiffs’ religious rights are not violated by D.C. Public School’s Anti-Discrimination Policy because it is a generally applicable, religiously neutral policy that applies to every student and student organization at DCPS schools,” the AG’s court filing says. “As such, Plaintiffs’ religious freedoms, as guaranteed under the First Amendment, are not infringed,” it says.
The AG’s court filing says D.C. Public Schools made it clear that it would grant full recognition to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at Jackson-Reed High School if it disassociates itself from the national group’s “discriminatory” policy on homosexuality. Students associated with the Jackson-Reed FCA group and the attorneys representing them declined that offer.
Comings & Goings
In addition to the District of Columbia, the lawsuit names as defendants Lewis D. Ferebee, Chancellor and CEO of D.C. Public Schools; and Cinthia L. Ruiz, the D.C. Public Schools’ Chief Integrity Officer.
It says the Jackson-Reed student group that signed onto the lawsuit is part of a national Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization that operates more than 7,000 student chapters called “huddles” that meet at middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country.
In what initially appears to be supportive of the D.C. Attorney General’s position, Judge Friedrich cites the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ statement of faith, which holds that marriage is limited to “a lifelong covenant relationship between a man and a woman.” In her ruling the judge further quotes the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ position prohibiting “sexual relations outside of marriage (whether involving individuals of the same sex or opposite sex)” and “any sexually immoral act … including homosexuality.”
But in her ruling granting the Christian group’s request for a preliminary injunction while the lawsuit itself continues in litigation, Friedrich states that D.C. ‘s defense falls short. As stated in the lawsuit, the judge points out, among other things, D.C. Public Schools has recognized other secular student groups that have restrictions on who can be leaders or members.
The lawsuit argues that at Jackson-Reed High School several student groups are allowed to restrict who their leaders can be, such as the Disabled Student Alliance and the Asian Student Union as well as the Wise Club, which the lawsuit says offers “special space for young women.”
“These limits seem reasonable; they create focused, helpful spaces for involved students,” the lawsuit says. “But by reserving to itself the discretion to allow these clubs to choose their leaders based on beliefs or characteristics, D.C. Public Schools impermissibly singles out Fellowship of Christian Athletes for discriminatory treatment by stripping FCA of its recognized status for doing the same thing,” it says.
“Antidiscrimination laws ‘have done much to secure the civil rights of all Americans,’” Friedrich states in the conclusion section of her ruling. “But anti-discrimination laws, like all other laws, must be applied evenhandedly and not in violation of the Constitution,” she states. “Unfortunately, it appears that this command was not followed at Jack-
Peter Chandler named executive director of Internet Works
By PETER ROSENSTEIN
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at: comingsandgoings@washblade.com.
Congratulations to Peter Chandler on being named executive director of Internet Works. Since 2020, Internet Works has worked to ensure the voice of small and medium-sized online platforms is included in policy discussions typically targeted at the largest companies.
Laura Bisesto, chair of the board, said “We’re thrilled that Peter Chandler has joined as Internet Works’ Executive Director. The tech policy space is constantly changing, especially around intermediary liability, and as we work to ensure
small and medium-sized tech companies are included in the policy debates lawmakers are having around the country, Peter was a natural fit for us.”
Chandler has 30 years of campaign, political, legislative, and advocacy experience at the state and federal levels. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Federal Policy and Government Relations at TechNet. During his time at the association, Peter was named a “Top Lobbyist” by The Hill newspaper. Prior to that he served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine). Chandler has also consulted and trained numerous political and advocacy groups, including the ACLU, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee in 1998. In 2020, he was elected to the board of the National LGBTQ Task Force.
son-Reed High School.”
The judge notes again that Fellowship of Christian Athletes requires its student leaders, “but not its members,” to “affirm their commitment to the group’s beliefs.” She states that among those beliefs is the prohibition on sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman.
“For this, FCA lost its official status at Jackson-Reed,” Friedrich wrote in her ruling. “As a condition for reinstatement, the District forced FCA to choose between official school recognition and its religious principles. Such treatment is at odds with that received by secular groups at Jackson-Reed that limit membership on the basis of other protected characteristics and/or ideological alignment,” the judge concludes.
In support of her ruling, Friedrich cited a decision by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco last September that overturned a similar school ban on a religious student group by San Jose, Calif., public schools. The ruling by the 9th Circuit, which has the reputation of being a liberal appeals court, declared the school system could not withhold recognition of some student affinity groups and not others based on their views or beliefs.
Based on “at least” the possibility that D.C.’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes will prevail in its lawsuit under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution, Friedrich said she granted FCA’s request for a preliminary injunction ordering the D.C. Public Schools to grant recognition of FCA at Jackson-Reed High School. The judge said she declined to approve the group’s request that the injunction be expanded to include all D.C. public schools.
Under court rules, a preliminary injunction remains in effect until the time a lawsuit is resolved in court. The lawsuit filed by Fellowship for Christian Athletes requests a trial by jury. Court records show that no trial date had been scheduled as of July 12.
The D.C. Office of the Attorney General did not immediately respond to news media inquiries for comment on the judge’s ruling and whether it plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.
Jackson-Reed High School, which had the name Woodrow Wilson High School from the time of its opening in 1935 until its name was changed in 2022, is located in the city’s Tenleytown neighborhood in Northwest Washington.
PETER CHANDLER
Anti-LGBTQ GOP Senate hopefuls target immigration in RNC speeches
Sen. Baldwin’s GOP opponent among Tuesday speakers
By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com
(
Editor’s note: The Blade has a reporting team in Milwaukee covering the GOP convention. Visit washingtonblade.com for updated coverage.)
MILWAUKEE — Taking the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday were a handful of anti-LGBTQ GOP Senate candidates whose remarks centered largely around immigration.
“Biden, with his border czar Vice President Harris, opened our Southern border allowing criminals and terrorists to enter our country,” said Eric Hovde, a real estate and banking tycoon who will face off against U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in November.
Like the other speakers, Hovde sought to link President Joe Biden’s immigration policies to the scourge of fentanyl “killing over 100,000 Americans every year” while his own campaign has been marred by accusations of transphobia.
The Human Rights Campaign, for instance, notes that Hovde once said that being transgender is “insanity.”
Appearing on a right-wing talk radio show earlier this year, Hovde said about Baldwin, “She actually earmarked, in the last budget, $400,000 for a transgender-affirming clinic that doesn’t even tell parents that they’re doing that, with their own kids.”
Baldwin’s office said the funds could not be used for that program and instead would go entirely to cover counseling and to provide a social worker for kids experiencing homelessness.
Additionally, former President Donald Trump’s administration gave $350,000 to the same clinic.
Baldwin became the first openly gay member to serve in the Senate in 2012, and she is considered a trailblazer as one of the country’s first out elected leaders dating back to her time in the Wisconsin General Assembly in the 1990s.
“The American dream that I live is under attack with Joe Biden and his enablers in the Senate, like Sherrod Brown who encouraged millions of illegals to invade America,” said Bernie Moreno, a GOP candidate who is challenging the senior senator from Ohio.
(The state’s junior senator, JD Vance, was tapped by Trump to join the 2024 GOP ticket.)
“Joe Biden’s border czar Kamala Harris and a Democrat Senate have put the welfare of illegals ahead of our own citizens,” said Moreno.
LGBTQ issues have loomed large in his race, too.
Leading up to the 2024 Republican primary election, the Associated Press reported that an account linked to Moreno’s email was set up on Adult FriendFinder seeking “men for 1-on-1 sex,” though the candidate’s lawyer said a former intern claimed credit for the “aborted prank.”
Moreno’s companies sponsored Cleveland and Akron’s hosting of the 2014 Gay Games and were on record in support of an LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination law in 2020. The businessman also shared that his eldest son is gay during an interview in 2016.
However, the AP notes, “he began to distance himself from his past activism, professing to be unfamiliar with the anti-discrimination legislation” during his first Senate run in 2021, and “during his current Senate campaign, Moreno has accused advocates for LGBTQ rights of advancing a “radical” agenda of “indoctrination.”
“I have never seen anything like the Biden-Harris open border policy,” said Mike Rogers, who is running for the Senate seat that will be vacated by the retirement of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).
“They are rolling out the red carpet for violent gangs, fentanyl, Chinese spies, [and] individuals on the terrorist
watch list,” he said.
In 2014, Equality Alabama and the Alabama Association of Realtors accused Rogers, who then represented Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, of making homophobic comments.
Equality Alabama Chairman Ben Cooper wrote in an open letter to the congressman, “when you marginalize our community, we will not be silent.”
“You allegedly joked about how nice it was to be called ‘Honey’ and ‘Sweetie’ by a woman at an Alabama restaurant rather than a D.C. men’s room,” Cooper wrote. “And you went on to mock our nation’s capital as a ‘cross between Detroit and San Francisco’ — an obvious reference to Detroit’s racial makeup and San Francisco’s vibrant gay culture. Comments like these are racist, homophobic, and hurtful, and they will not be tolerated.”
Pa. House passes bill to repeal same-sex marriage ban
The Democratic-controlled Pennsylvania House of Representatives on July 2 passed a bill that would repeal the state’s same-sex marriage ban.
The marriage bill passed by a 133-68 vote margin, with all but one Democrat voting for it. Thirty-two Republicans backed the measure.
The bill’s next hurdle is to pass in the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate.
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), a gay man who is running for state auditor, noted to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the bill would eliminate a clause in Pennsylvania’s marriage law that defines marriage as
“between one man and one woman.” The measure would also change the legal definition of marriage in the state to “a civil contract between two individuals.”
Kenyatta did not return the Washington Blade’s requests for comment.
The U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 in Obergefell v. Hodges extended marriage rights to same-sex couples across the country.
Justice Clarence Thomas in the 2022 decision that struck down Roe v. Wade said the Supreme Court should reconsider the Obergefell decision and the Lawrence v. Texas ruling that said laws that criminalize consensual
same-sex sexual relations are unconstitutional. President Joe Biden at the end of that year signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires the federal government and all U.S. states and territories to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages.
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin earlier this year signed a bill that codified marriage rights for samesex couples in state law. Pennsylvania lawmakers say the marriage codification bill is necessary in case the Supreme Court overturns marriage rights for same-sex couples in their state and across the country.
SEAN KOPEREK
Wisconsin Senate candidate ERIC HOVDE (R) at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Trump survives assassination attempt
Authorities are investigating a failed assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Butler, Pa., where a bullet pierced the ear of the Republican presidential nominee.
One attendee was killed, along with the suspected shooter. Two others were critically injured in the attack.
The gunman was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a registered Republican from Bethel Park, Pa., who gave to Democratic donation platform ActBlue in January 2021.
“I want to thank The U.S. Secret Service, and all of law enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump wrote
in a post on Truth Social.
Former first lady Melania Trump wrote on Sunday that “When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change.”
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion — his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,” she wrote.
President Joe Biden left his Rehoboth Beach home and returned to the White House after the shooting where he delivered an address to the nation. The Republican-led House Oversight and Accountability Committee said it would be investigating the assassination attempt and had asked U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify at a hearing on July 22.
“I’ve been thoroughly briefed by all the agencies in the federal government as to the situation, based on what we know now,” Biden said in remarks from Rehoboth Beach, Del., just after the assassination attempt on Saturday night.
“I have tried to get a hold of Donald,” the president said, “He’s with his doctors.” The two would talk later on Saturday.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
“We are shocked by tonight’s apparent assassination attempt on President Trump in Pennsylvania and relieved
that he is safe and in good condition,” Log Cabin Republicans President Charles Moran said on X.
“Our prayers are with President Trump, his family, and our country while we wait to learn further details,” he said. “We are also praying for the family of the innocent bystander who was killed. Our movement will not be deterred.”
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said on X, “Political violence has no place in America. The attack at today’s rally in PA is an affront to our democracy, and our thoughts are with the former president and all those affected. As a nation, we must unite to condemn political violence in all its forms.”
The National LGBTQ Task Force shared a statement on Instagram: “Politically motivated violence is unacceptable and has no place in our democratic process. No matter our differences or disagreements, we must all be of one voice in condemning the use of violence as a political statement as we prepare for the upcoming elections.
“We understand that yesterday – and every day- so many in our communities are targeted and live in fear as the political and cultural climates become ever more hostile.
“The National LGBTQ Task Force will continue to work for the safety of our communities and policies and advocate for legislation that protects us. We hope this will motivate and energize all parties to pass federal gun safety laws.”
Congressional leaders from both parties also issued statements condemning political violence.
CHRISTOPHER KANE
Trump picks anti-LGBTQ JD Vance as running mate
Former President Donald Trump announced anti-LGBTQ U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his 2024 running mate in a Truth Social post on Monday.
A political neophyte who was first elected in 2022 thanks to Trump’s endorsement, Vance once compared the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to Adolf Hitler, also calling him “cultural heroin” and “an opioid of the masses.”
The Ohio senator’s journey from critic to acolyte was cemented over the weekend.
After Trump walked away from an assassination attempt and both of the major candidates said it was time to tone down the rhetoric, Vance went further than many on the right and directly blamed President Joe Biden and his campaign for the gunman’s actions.
“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” he said on X. “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
LGBTQ organizations and advocates issued statements on Monday blasting Trump’s vice president pick.
“Donald Trump has been a bully for years — and his pick of MAGA clone JD Vance is a reminder that nothing has changed. This is anything but a unity ticket,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said.
“We are not simply choosing between two campaigns. We are choosing between two fundamentally different visions of America. One, with Trump and MAGA ‘yes man’ JD Vance at the helm, where our rights
and freedoms are under siege. And the other, with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris leading the way, where we are advancing toward freedom and equality for all,” she said.
“Everything is at stake and the contrast could not be clearer. We must defeat Trump, Vance, and their brand of chaos and division, and send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris back to the White House.”
In a press release, HRC listed some of the ways in which Vance has denigrated LGBTQ people. GLAAD, meanwhile, has a lengthy entry for Vance in the GLAAD Accountability Project. Positions, statements, and ac-
tions by Trump’s running mate that were noted by the two organizations include:
• His endorsement of the “groomer” slur against Democrats for their support of LGBTQ people;
• His statement “strongly disagree[ing]” that LGBTQ people should be protected from discrimination;
• His opposition to the Equality Act, which would federalize and codify LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections;
• His extreme anti-choice views, including opposition to exceptions to abortion restrictions for victims of rape and incest and opposition to IVF;
• His introduction of a bill to charge healthcare providers with a felony for providing medically necessary health care to transgender youth;
• His statement that he would have voted “no” on the Respect for Marriage Act, which codified federal protections for married same-sex couples and was supported by a dozen GOP senators;
• His defense of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for appearing at a white supremacist conference with host Nick Fuentes, who has spread racist, anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theories;
• And his claim, a week before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that Biden was risking war with Russia because President Putin doesn’t believe in trans rights.
CHRISTOPHER KANE
JD VANCE (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Former President DONALD TRUMP is shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. (Screen capture via CNN)
New GOP party platform includes anti-trans attacks
Following the issuance of the Republican Party’s first new policy platform since 2016, U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Charles Moran, president of the conservative LGBTQ group Log Cabin Republicans, shared their reactions this week with the Washington Blade.
Unlike previous iterations, including in 2016 and 2012, the 2024 version contains no mention of same-sex marriage and very little discussion about abortion, issues long championed by the religious right factions of the party.
Still, the document calls for banning transgender girls and women from competing in girls and women’s sports, as well as a proposal to cut federal funding for “any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.”
“We will keep men out of women’s sports, ban taxpayer funding for sex change surgeries, and stop taxpayer-funded schools from promoting gender transition, reverse Biden’s radical rewrite of Title IX education regulations, and restore protections for women and girls,” the platform says.
“Republicans will ensure children are taught fundamentals like reading, history, science, and math, not leftwing propaganda,” according to the document. “We will defund schools that engage in inappropriate political indoctrination of our children using federal taxpayer dollars.”
Garcia, an openly gay co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, told the Blade by phone on Tuesday that the language is of a piece of the party’s efforts across the board to restrict rights, freedoms, and protections from many of America’s most vulnerable.
“The platform is the platform,” he said. “It’s reactionary. It moves us backwards. It does not support diverse communities.”
What is more important, however, than “the Republican platform, Project 2025, all of these ideas and proposals,” Gar-
cia said, is the question of “who’s going to implement these.”
“Look at what Donald Trump is actually saying,” Garcia said. “That should scare us. He’s saying he’s going to deport undocumented people across the country. He’s saying he’s going to empower fossil fuel and oil companies in public. He’s saying that he doesn’t support unions. He’s saying all of these horrible things. I think we should take him for his word.”
“We should already know that he’s going to do what he says. He’s saying he’s going to jail his political opponents,” the congressman added. “This is insane. So, I think that is much more instructive than any party platform or other conversation happening right now.”
Project 2025, the exhaustively detailed governing blueprint for a second Trump term that was published by the right-wing Heritage Foundation think tank, “is finally starting to get more attention,” Garcia said.
Unlike the party platform, the 900-page document reads like a wishlist for the most right-wing conservative Christian flanks of the GOP — with proposals to criminalize all pornography, for instance, and to revoke LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections for federal government employees.
“I wish that over the last two days we were talking about Project 2025,” said Garcia.
House Democrats, who had just returned from the July 4 break, had been inundated with questions about whether President Joe Biden should continue leading the party’s 2024 ticket after a shaky debate performance last month exacerbated concerns about his age.
“Moving forward,” he said, Project 2025 “needs to get more attention, and I’m hopeful that it will.”
Also speaking with the Blade on Tuesday was Moran, who had attended a Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser on Monday that former first lady Melania Trump hosted and netted $1.4 million. The event was the first to be held in the Trump Tower residence since her husband launched his 2024 campaign.
“Project 2025 is like a kid’s Christmas wish list — and it has just as much chance of coming to fruition as Santa Claus coming down that chimney,” he said. “It’s just not reality.”
“On July 5, President Trump posted on Truth Social disavowing Project 2025 and officials on the campaign had been saying the same for months,” Moran added. “Those who continue to conflate that private think-tank manifesto with the official RNC Platform or the President’s own policy portfolio, Agenda 47, are knowingly deceiving voters which
shows a level of desperation leading them to lie rather than dealing with the reality at hand.”
By contrast, the platform has Trump written all over it, Moran said.
“Even though I was not on the platform committee, it was clear those in leadership understood that the process had been commandeered in the past by special interests and those trying to use intimidation and fear to bully their influence into the final document,” he said. “The RNC took steps to ensure a clean, orderly and accessible drafting process.”
As a result of influence peddling by special interest groups, “the platform continued to be an albatross around the necks of common-sense Republicans,” providing opportunities for Democrats to portray their political opponents as anti-gay, for example, since the document historically took a position against same-sex marriage.
“The 2016 platform was crafted under the influence of Ted Cruz’s delegates, veering it in a much more conservative direction on gay issues,” Moran said. “President Trump made it clear that he wasn’t aligned with the 2016 platform, and if the full RNC convention would have been held in 2020, it would have been changed then.”
Moran added that while “the platform process has historically been influenced by paid lobbyists representing special interests trying to game the system for their client’s pet projects and desires,” this year “presented President Trump with his first opportunity to genuinely make the GOP platform represent the modern Republican Party, and make it represent an inclusive, America-First context.”
Moran said the new platform is a reflection of the campaign’s strategy and approach to this election.
“I believe the president knew that the old platform made the GOP uncompetitive in major geographic and critical demographic areas,” he said. “The platform was definitely worth fighting over, because we know that the presidential nominee needs to get the party in the best position possible to appeal to the broadest number of people.”
“This is a platform that is inclusive of many communities, including LGBT Americans,” Moran said. “It promotes the sanctity of marriage, but doesn’t exclude our marriages. It supports IVF, which is the principle way same-sex couples build families.”
“This is a pro-family platform,” he added, “but it provides a place for our families too.”
CHRISTOPHER KANE
HRC endorses Alsobrooks for Senate in Md.
The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).
HRC President Kelley Robinson in a statement that Alsobrooks’s campaign released on Tuesday said Alsobrooks “has always been a champion for equality and freedom, from her support for the state law that legalized same-sex marriage in 2012, to becoming the first Maryland county executive to authorize flying the Progress Pride flag over county buildings, and much more.”
“With everything at stake and democracy itself hanging in the balance, Marylanders deserve that kind of champion,” said Robinson.
Alsobrooks said she is “very honored to earn the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign.”
“In the U.S. Senate, I will always stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans and make sure we have a future where
our freedoms are always protected,” she said.
Alsobrooks in May defeated Congressman David Trone in the Democratic primary for Cardin’s seat. She will face off against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in November.
“Angela is a trailblazer who is poised to defeat Trump-endorsed Republican Larry Hogan and become the first Black woman from Maryland to serve in the U.S. Senate,” said Robinson. “The Human Rights Campaign is excited and proud to put our full support behind Angela Alsobrooks and help rally Maryland’s voters to elect her in November.”
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Angela Alsobrooks supporters march in the Baltimore Pride Parade on June 15. The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed her in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Former President DONALD TRUMP speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee on March 4, 2023. (Screen capture via Vimeo)
CAMILLE CYPHER
is a student at the University of Chicago and an intern with the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Congressional Women’s Softball Game
is a writer based in the D.C. area. With two poetry books out, he writes for the Blade and the Yale Daily News. He is a transgender man and was featured in National Geographic’s ‘Gender Revolution.’ He serves on the board of the LGBT Democrats of Virginia. Contact him at isaac.amend35@gmail.com or on Instagram at: @ literatipapi.
votes on Hill
comes hours after anti-LGBTQ
We must not forget the threats to queer lives that reappear once players leave field
As a lesbian working on the Hill, I was thrilled to hear about the Congressional Women’s Softball Game. Though I’ve never played the sport, I knew the game would be my Super Bowl, the queer political event of the year — never mind the White House Pride Reception taking place the very same night.
So, on June 26, I put on my baseball cap, tightened my overalls, and enjoyed seven innings of congressional softball at Watkins Recreation Center. The ice cream was free. Typo the border collie threw out the first pitch. Everyone, donned in their C-Span hats, was thrilled to watch their representatives dive for first.
Yet, in the face of this intimate, community-based event, I couldn’t brush off the political tension undergirding the entire evening. The game felt more authentic, definitely more queer, and more dedicated to its charities than the Congressional Baseball Game that took place just two weeks earlier, but it was nonetheless plagued by the same sentiment of political escapism, a momentary distraction from the severity of American politics today. I’d come from work, where I’d been reviewing Project 2025 and hearings where homophobic rhetoric was a staple. So the irony of lawmakers—who had voted just hours earlier to pass appropriations bills packed with anti-LGBTQ riders—playing softball was not lost on me. Ultimately, there is a space for comic and communal relief within politics, but such moments like the Congressional Women’s Softball Game cannot distract us from the very real threats to queer lives that culminate once the players leave the field and return to the halls of Congress.
Started in 2009 by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, and Sen. Susan Collins, the annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game sees Republican and Democratic congresswomen face off against their rivals: the Washington, D.C. press corps. The tradition began when Rep. Wasserman Schultz announced her battle with breast cancer and has now raised more than $4 million for the Young Survival Coalition. Though it is young, the game is an annual force of good.
The Congressional Baseball Game, however, is far older. Dating back to 1909, the annual event pits Republicans against Democrats at Nationals Park. This year, the annual game saw the GOP win 31-11, hosted 30,000 fans, and raised $2.2 million for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Nationals Philanthropies, and The Washington Literacy Center.
And though this year’s games felt entirely different—one was an event for charity, the other for Pride—there were still numerous startling similarities. Countless police officers with assault rifles lined the outfield and the rooftops. Corporate sponsors like McDonald’s and Spotify provided snacks and merchandise. A dog caught frisbees between innings (which both sets of fans loved). And, most importantly, there was a tension between the levity of lawmakers diving for fly balls and the political power in their hands. At one point during the game, my girlfriend and I cheered for a representative responsible for a double play, before realizing she was one of many Republicans on the field to have voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. We were further surprised as the Republican outfielder high-fived and laughed with teammate and lesbian Rep. Sharice Davids.
I was reminded that—despite the seeming bipartisanship and strive for a greater good—events like these can and should not distract us from the threats facing queer—and especially trans—people in appropriations bills, upcoming Supreme Court decisions, and the November election. In fact, more anti-LGBTQ bills than ever were introduced this year, each motivated by partisanship and individualistic thinking that one softball game cannot erase. The day after the game at the House’s Pride month special order hour, lesbian Rep. Becca Balint described Republican representatives approaching her in the halls of Congress, saying they “didn’t mean [her]” when they voted in favor of numerous anti-LGBTQ amendments and bills.
In the face of all this, it is difficult to reconcile light-hearted events like the Congressional Softball Game, the Congressional Baseball Game, or even Will on the Hill. Of course, there is a time and place to make light of our political circumstances, to find avenues for queer joy. Without humor and optimism in politics, congressional offices would go unstaffed; it would be impossible to live a sane day under our government. But we must remember that these events are only momentary Hail Mary’s to forget the seemingly downward spiral of our democracy. We must not forget what is at stake, despite the good and bad distractions, whether we are winning or losing the battle for equality.
Trans people still face uphill battle in finding employment
We must
combat transphobia in the workplace
Transgender people face a major crisis and have faced this crisis for a long time: not being able to find meaningful employment. This is nothing new to think about or say. Trans people have historically been unemployed since the beginning of time.
According to the Movement Advancement Project, trans workers experience unemployment at twice the rate of the normal population (14% versus 7%). Moreover, 44% of trans people who are currently working are underemployed. Lastly, according to this project, trans people are about four times more likely than the average population to have a household income of under $10,000. These numbers are alarming and should be studied closely.
There are many reasons why employers hire fewer trans workers. For one, trans people who don’t fully pass as the gender they want — and nonbinary people — don’t fit the traditional mold of someone who companies want in their office. Most companies prefer to have individuals who either look rigidly male or rigidly female, and don’t want workers who look somewhere in between.
Secondly, employers might be conscious of the fact that trans people face mental health challenges, such as a suicide rate of around 50%, and are at risk for greater depression, anxiety, and other issues. Our mental health problems might get in the way of work, or cause us to take more leave than others.
Thirdly, many company recruiters might just straightforwardly be transphobic, and view the trans population as strange, weird, or, at worst ugly — as if we are people to look down upon and not people to uphold. They might not recruit us out of a pure disdain for our identity and willingness to change genders.
Fourthly, recruiters might realize that current employees in their company are transphobic and would not get along with a trans employee. This leads them to avoid recruiting trans people out of the intention of keeping their office space rid of debate and interpersonal conflict.
There are many other reasons why companies don’t hire trans people, too many reasons for me to consider or explore. Maybe companies feel that trans people are historically undereducated, and poor to begin with, and will have a hard time acclimating to prestigious white collar work environments.
Either way, the unemployment crisis in the trans population has been going on for a quite a while, and needs to be addressed.
Luckily, trans people find some outlets for success in certain industries. The nonprofit industry has been relatively kind to trans folk, as have creative communities, like some parts of the music industry, and the visual arts industry. Filmmakers are constantly looking for a new story about trans people. The publishing and education industries are also somewhat kind to us.
Certain Democratic political campaigns will also hire us and other progressive and liberal causes. But there are still many industries that look down upon us, and frown upon our identity. Donald Trump instituted a transgender military ban, and the Army, Navy, and other branches have historically been transphobic places to work and reside in.
Overall, trans people face a steep uphill battle in finding adequate and meaningful employment. This is a crisis that has been going on for decades. I’m not sure how to fix this problem - both states and the federal government can surely implement more legislation that convinces companies to hire trans people just as equally as they would hire anyone else. More provisions need to be put in place to sue companies for firing a trans person just solely based on their gender identity.
Ensuring employment for all gender nonconforming folk will make our lives infinitely better, and ensuring that we don’t face transphobia in the workplace will make them even better as well.
is
He writes
Trump and his MAGA cult just got scarier GOP platform,
selection of Vance reinforce his extremism
It’s hard to imagine Donald Trump and his MAGA cult getting scarier, but they just did with his naming of Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate, and approval of the GOP platform.
When Trump was shot, Vance said, “Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.” In essence, because Biden told the truth, it’s his fault. Vance is a radical MAGA Republican.
Then the platform was passed on the first day of the Republican National Convention. It protects white Christians, attacks transgender people, and says states can make any anti-abortion laws they want. It is an agenda that will hurt everyone who isn’t white, straight, and Christian.
Then, on the same day, the Trump classified documents case was dismissed by MAGA judge Aileen Cannon. The only thing good one can say about Judge Cannon dismissing this case, for a reason all legitimate legal scholars say is nonsense, is she proves beyond a doubt she is in Trump’s pocket. While I am sure this will eventually be overturned, the only way to ensure it gets tried is to defeat Trump, and all his sycophants, at the polls. Between the Republican Supreme Court, and unqualified judges like Cannon, the country must understand what re-electing Trump would do in the long run. It will destroy our democracy, including our judicial system.
The time for decent, democracy-loving people, to stand up is now, before it is too late. I am reminded of history when the German people believed Hitler could be dealt with, and they didn’t believe what he said he would do. Many Jews, and members of the LGBTQ community, believed they could get by and survive him. They were wrong. Here in America Trump has already proven he will go after women, and the LGBTQ community. He brought out troops to shut down Black Lives Matter protests. He has pledged to deport millions of immigrants, and make life intolerable for the young as he denies climate change. He asked to be bribed by oil executives so they can drill for more oil. The only way you could be OK is if you are white and rich. He will give you more tax deductions. He threatens more widespread tariffs, which will increase inflation, falling heavily on the poor and middle class.
His advisers are pledged to enact Project 2025, which among other things, does away with the Federal Deposit Insurance Program, so your bank accounts will no longer be insured. He commits to getting rid of the Department of Education. He doesn’t support relief for any college debt, and will continue the absurdity of not allowing college debt to be included in a bankruptcy, all things that will make life even more difficult for young people. Believe it will happen, just believe what Trump and his acolytes say. Read Project 2025 and believe what you are reading. Believe when Trump says he will be a dictator, and use federal agencies to get back at his enemies. And you are the enemy if you are not white, Christian, and straight. Remember when Trump was president, you woke up every morning afraid of what he dreamt up during the night. Those rantings will now appear on Truth Social, his media company, each morning.
He will feel free to call out the troops to the border, or to stop any demonstration he doesn’t like. He admires Hitler and Putin, and wants to be like them. Does reading this scare you? Good, it should, as it’s the truth. Even if you only think half of what I write is the truth, that should be enough to frighten you away from Trump and Vance. His appointed Supreme Court has now given the president carte blanche to do as he pleases, without worrying about ever being held to account. Know that Trump will use all that power, and make our lives hell.
If you don’t feel attacked now, just remember a poem written by German clergyman, Martin Niemoller. Its idea is appropriate today. It reads: “First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.”
VINCENT SLATT volunteers as the director of archiving at the Rainbow History Project; ELINOR ASPEGREN is a member of RHP. Visit rainbowhistory.org to get involved.
1970-1975: How gay liberation movement grew after Stonewall
Converging with civil rights, women’s liberation, anti-war movements
In conjunction with WorldPride 2025, Rainbow History Project is creating an exhibit on the evolution of Pride: “Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington.” This is the second of 10 articles that will share research themes for the exhibit. In “Gay and Proud,” we discuss the period between 1970-1975 and how the fledgling gay liberation movement burst on the scenes after the Stonewall Riots, converging with the civil rights movement, women’s liberation, and the anti-Vietnam movement.
Inspired by the Black civil rights movement’s affirmation “Black is Beautiful,” the Mattachine Society of Washington coined the phrase “Gay is Good.” From 1965-1969, the Mattachine Society of Washington coordinated some of the first public demonstrations for LGBTQ equality – pickets on Independence Day called the Annual Reminders. The Gay Liberation Front wanted the 1970 Annual Reminder to be held in New York on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Thus, the first Christopher Street Liberation Day March took place in New York City on June 28, 1970. Signs in this first CSLD March read “Gay and Proud,” a motto that would come to label the annual Stonewall celebrations. Gay Pride has evolved into what President Biden just proclaimed “LGBTQI+ Pride Month.”
Members of the Gay Liberation Front at their communal house, 1620 S St. NW, Washington, D.C., circa 1971. From left to right: KASHI RAHMAN, ANDY HUGHES, GUY CHARLES, REGGIE HAYNES, RONNIE, DAVID AIKEN, TIM CORBETT, unknown, SHIMA RAHMAN, unknown, JOSEPH COVERT. David Aiken Collection. (Courtesy Rainbow History Project, Inc.)
Despite the power shift from D.C.’s pickets and Philadelphia’s reminders to New York’s march, Washingtonians remained central to planning the march and its political demands, while also fostering a sense of community among homosexuals, who were starting to call themselves gays. In October of 1969, Nancy Tucker and Lilli Vincenz created The Gay Blade as a newsletter to be distributed in bars. Now called the Washington Blade, Tucker said this about its founding in a 1998 oral history with Rainbow History Project:
“Sometime after that last Fourth of July picket, the people in Mattachine must have begun to talk about how Mattachine could reach out to the gay community, as a whole in Washington, which they had never done before.”
The Gay Liberation Front DC formed in August 1970 with a communal house at 1620 S St., N.W. Its purposes, laid out by David Aiken, were “to establish a sense of community among gay people, build gay self-awareness, and educate the straight community.” GLF-DC and another group, the Gay Activists Alliance, participated in the 1971 May Day protests, which were large-scale anti-Vietnam War civil disobedience actions.
The following year on May 2-7, 1972, to commemorate May Day, GLF-DC coordinated Washington’s first Gay Pride Week. “Across the country these past two years, gay people have been getting it on for a gala spring festival celebrating the fact that we’re gay, we’re proud and we’re together,” its Gay Pride Bulletin No. 1 said. “Parties, shows, rap sessions, platform speakers, gala public picnics — all designed around the theme of GAY TOGETHERNESS — are being staged to show that gay is good and gay is here to stay!”
The goal: “rich, poor, black, white, male, female, in business or in school, in leather or in drag, in ‘the movement’ or in the closet: Gay Pride will be a time when everybody who’s gay in Washington can come to meet on common ground.” Oral history recordings and documents in the Rainbow History Archives show the event was a success, however, it was the only one that GLF-DC planned. Another “Pride” in DC didn’t occur for several years.
Between 1970-1975, countless D.C. gay organizations formed, and they showed up gay and proud in other events: the Black Panthers Revolutionary People’s Constitutional Convention, the American Psychology Association’s annual meeting and the Iwo Jima Memorial. They also disrupted conferences at Catholic University and carried anti-Nixon banners at his second inaugural.
Our WorldPride 2025 exhibit, “Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington,” centers the voices of the event organizers and includes the critics of Pride and the intersection of Pride and other movements for equal rights and liberation. But we need your help to do that: we are looking for images and input, so look around your attic and get involved.
Wh o I s S owi ng D ivi sio n
In the Democratic Party?
NicholasF. Benton
FA LL S CH URCHNEW S-PR ESS
The sayinggoes, “In theland of theblind, theoneeyed man is king.” Anothe r way of putting it is,“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Whoandwhatisbehindthe currentdustupovertheviabilityof PresidentBiden’sreelectioncampaign?Isthereanywaythemass offorceswhocausedournationto lurchsofartowardchaosin2016 byworkingtogettheworst,most
U.S.nationalpoliticseverelected totheWhiteHouse?Isthereany waytheycouldbeinvolvedinthis liketheywerein2020whenthey didalltheycouldtokeepBiden away from theWhite House? Boy, theygot a littlehelp from a less thanperfectperformance by Bidenin the lastdebate,and lookwhatthey’ve done with it!
Then ati on , no tto mentio n theD emoc r atic Party,is in an upro arover it,an d the dr umb eat sare on ly gettin g lou der nowfor Bidento s tep away fro m hi s cam p ai gninfavorof so meone , a ny on e, el se.
Twicenow the New York Times has editorializedasking explicitlyfor nomore Biden The great PR machine of the one percentofthewealthiestAmericans,who areworth as much as ninetypercent of the restofus,is in full mobilization.
Yes, thatmachine counts onthefearsof many tofuelits dastardlyaim, butit isnotthose fears, inand of themselves,that areresponsible for this.No, it isthatmachine, thatphalanx of institutionsownedand run by multibillionaires, includingthe New YorkTimes andothermajor mediaoutlets, that hasseen itschanceinBiden’s less than perfectdebateperformance. Itis
on Bidenfor his agethat was non-stop since four years ago, and now is going infor the kill. That’s eventhough,mind you, itdoesn’t havethemeansto do it,itself, butonly thosewhom
it assaults in afullcourt press of multimedia pressure do
Remember, it wasn’t anybody fromthat realm who allowed for
Itwasan African-Americansenator from SouthCarolina,James Clyburn,who ralliedhisparty to back Biden forwhat has been,todate,tialterms in almosta century.
America’srulingelitesfear Biden for good reason, aswe’ve seen whathe’s done sincebeing in have no hesitationintheirwillingness toback a convicted felon andcontemptiblehumanbeing in order togettheirway. They’re willingtoalignthemselveswith theevilmotivesof Russiato invade and occupy Western Europe, too.They are notunaware that Trump wasrecruitedintothe Russian disinformationmachine as longago as 1987.Theydon’tsonous Russianagentbecause he’s their gravy ticket
So no wonder, New York Times , thatyou’venever called for convicted felon Trump to dropout of anelection,no wonder the Times has theaudacity to say that resultsof pollsof, maybe,1,400Americans are more validthan the 14 million who voted for Biden inthis election cycle’s primaries. No wonder thatpunditsbring forward alltheir misgivings about Biden,whilethemore than threedozenlies that Trump told (accordingtothe factcheckers) inthelast debate went wholly unchallenged. One of the worst pundit remarks(sayit isn’tso, Stephen Colbert) claims the issue is between thegreatergood and an ego. Hardly.
Itis highly ironic that Sen Warner,as chairof the Senate IntelligenceCommittee, isreportedlycallingfor Bidento step aside whileinthe same breath warning of Russiandisinformation spoilingthis election. Inastatement thisweekhehaswarnedthat “our adversariesremain focused on stoking social, racial,and politicaltensions among Americans. Thebest thing Americans can do tohelp safeguard our election is avoid succumbingtonefarious and sow chaos.”
Createdivisionand sow chaos, ey? Soshouldn’tSen. Warner look at this current situation?”
June may be over but Delaware is still celebrating Pride. Rehoboth Beach is hosting its annual Pride celebration weekend from July 18-21.
The celebration has everything you might expect from a Pride weekend — from dance parties to drag, the fourday celebration of LGBTQ identity has something for everyone.
Sussex Pride, the organization behind Rehoboth Beach Pride, is celebrating its second year of organizing the events. Its mission is to “celebrate, strengthen, and support the LGBTQ+ community in Sussex County and the state of Delaware, working through a social justice lens.” This includes sponsoring events to help members of the LGBTQ community find resources, providing a platform for discussions about the future of LGBTQ rights, and hosting events like Rehoboth Beach Pride.
The Blade sat down with David Mariner, the executive director of Sussex Pride, to discuss the weekend’s events and why celebrating Pride — as well as fighting for LGBTQ rights — is still needed in 2024.
“LGBTQ+ equality is very much a focus of Sussex Pride,” Mariner said. “We know here in the state of Delaware, LGBTQ folks are more likely to be living in poverty and less likely to have health insurance, for example, than non-LGBTQ folks. We know that we disproportionately are impacted by substance abuse, by HIV and AIDS, by a variety of health issues.”
Reports from the Williams Institute, an organization that tracks LGBTQ statistics, show that nationwide an estimated 40% of unhoused youth, and 30% of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+.
This gap of support for LGBTQ youth, Mariner ex-
By JOE REBERKENNY
Rehoboth Beach celebrates Pride this weekend Events to raise funds for unhoused youth in Delaware
plained, was one of the reasons that Rehoboth Beach’s Pride Festival will have a raffle to win prizes. All of the money donated through raffle tickets will go to Safeguards Housing Committee, a statewide initiative to support unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.
“All the money from the raffle is going to go to support homeless LGBTQ youth in Delaware,” Mariner told the Blade. “That’s a first for Rehoboth Beach Pride. I’m most looking forward to presenting that check to the Safeguards Housing Committee and supporting young people in Delaware who are kicked out of their house because they’re LGBTQ.”
The advocacy work of Sussex Pride doesn’t stop there. Workshops will be held to help provide resources to LGBTQ members of Sussex County and the state of Delaware as a whole. These workshops include one centering LGBTQ aging with The Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, a workshop on intimate partner violence and domestic violence with What Is Your Voice, an organization that works to help those impacted by domestic abuse and a youth organizing workshop with Network Delaware.
“The advocacy that we’re doing is kind of more nuanced conversations about how we move forward together as a community,” he added. “We’re looking with a lot of our strategic partners to how we engage and move forward in Delaware. A lot of that work is kind of local, a lot of that work is at our state level.”
Mariner added that the support from the community initially shocked him.
“I was surprised there was as much enthusiasm as there was to be honest. We didn’t really know going into it, how people would react but we had 50 Venture slots, and we sold out relatively quickly,” he explained. “The interest has been really high.”
“I think it speaks to us as LGBTQ folks wanting to be everywhere in the state and wanting to be visible everywhere in the state. This is often thought of as a beach town where people come to vacation, but it’s also a place where more and more families live and raise their children and have queer youth and have families. There’s a lot of work to do in this area, not just in the summertime, but year round.”
The money raised and conversations held at the Pride festival, Mariner hopes, will help Rehoboth and Sussex County reach their full queer potential.
“D.C. people in particular have one idea about Rehoboth Beach, which is amazing drag shows and a great supportive community. And that all exists in Rehoboth Beach, and it’s an amazing place, but there are other parts of Sussex County, too.” Mariner said. “And we have to be willing to leave our comfort zone and to reach out to everyone. So I hope with all the events that we do, even with this weekend, that we see LGBTQ youth coming in, that we see diverse folks participating and benefiting
from the event. And we see folks from all over the county participating.”
With this inclusive spirit in mind, the Pride celebrations will commence on Thursday night at Freddie’s Beach Bar (3 S 1st Street, Rehoboth Beach, Del.) at 9 p.m. for the Rehoboth Pride Kickoff Party.
On Friday, Aqua Bar & Grill (57 Baltimore Ave.) hosts a Pride social at 4 p.m. Later at 9 p.m., DJ Chord takes over the music for a Pride Dance Party. Just a few doors down, Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.) hosts a Pride drag show and dancing at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the Pride festivities start with the Rehoboth Pride Festival at the Rehoboth Convention Center ( 229 Rehoboth Ave.) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The festival will include local LGBTQ vendors, health screenings, activities, and resource guides. Local drag queen Regina Cox hosts Goolee’s Grille’s (11 S 1st St.) drag brunch at noon. Tickets are available at Gooleesgrille.com.
From 2-8 p.m., Freddie’s Beach Bar hosts Freddie’s Love Fest happy hour with drink specials and music. Also beginning at 2 p.m., Aqua will hold the post-Pride festival after-party until 5 p.m. with food, drinks, and music to keep the energy going. At 4 p.m. Rigby’s (404 Rehoboth Ave.) hosts Pride karaoke, where guests are encouraged to belt out their favorite Pride anthems from Madonna to Gaga.
At 6 p.m., the Funny Girlz Lisa Koch, Vickie Shaw & Roxanna Ward host this year’s Pride comedy show at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, which will turn into a dance party after the comedy set. Tickets are available at sussexpride.org/rehobothbeach/. At 8:30 p.m. The Pines (56 Baltimore Ave.) has queen Candi Fuentes hosting local drag legend Mona Lotts’s 60th birthday. Tickets are $5 (18+) and can be purchased at thepinesrb.com. To end the night with dancing, Diego’s (37298 Rehoboth Ave Ext) hosts a Pride party from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.
On the last day of Rehoboth Pride, Sunday, The Lion’s Den Candle Company (217 Philadelphia St.) hosts the Mimosas & Yoga event at 11:30 a.m. to help unwind from any hangovers or stretched muscles after a weekend of dancing. Also at 11:30, Goolee’s hosts another drag brunch show, with tickets still available on its website. The Pines will also host a drag brunch at noon and was voted “Best Rehoboth Drag Show” by Washington Blade readers in 2023. $15 tickets are available on The Pines website. At noon, Aqua is holding a Pride Bear Beer Bust with beer specials. After the Beer Bust, Aqua’s Closing Tea Dance starts at 3 p.m. with DJ Biff spinning to end Pride with a dance party.
With a diverse lineup of events, this year’s Rehoboth Pride weekend has something for everyone and allows for the opportunity to help LGBTQ Delawareans.
“Advancing our community together is a big part of the organization, it’s a big part of Sussex Pride, and Rehoboth Beach Pride weekend,” Mariner said.
It’s Pride weekend in Rehoboth Beach. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
CALENDAR |
Friday, July 19
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email adam@thedccenter.org.
GoGayDC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour ” at 7 p.m. at Puro Gusto. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, July 20
GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
“LGBTQ People of Color Support Group” will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. For more details, visit thedccenter. org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, July 21
GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Dinner ” at 6:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy an evening of Italian-style dining and conversation with other LGBTQ+ folk. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Funday Social and Games” at 3 p.m. at Moxy. This event is ideal for making meaningful new connections and informal community building, or just to unwind and enjoy the group happy hour. There will be Monopoly, chess, checkers, Jenga and many other games. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, July 22
Center Aging: Monday Coffee & Conversation will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice. For more details, email justin@thedccenter. org.
“Queer Book Club” will be at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. The club meets on the fourth Monday of the month to discuss queer books by queer authors. This month’s read is yet to be announced. For more details, email supportdesk@ thedccenter.org.
By TINASHE CHINGARANDE
Tuesday, July 23
Pride on the Patio Events will host “LGBTQ Social Mixer” at 5:30 p.m. at Showroom. Dress is casual, fancy, or comfortable. Guests are encouraged to bring their most authentic self to chat, laugh, and get a little crazy. Admission is free and more details are on Eventbrite.
“Coming Out Discussion Group” will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-facilitated discussion group and a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook page.
“Genderqueer DC” will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.
Wednesday, July 24
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email centercareers@thedccenter.org or visit www.thedccenter.org/ careers.
“Asexual and Aromantic Group” will meet at 7 p.m. on Zoom and in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.
Thursday, July 25
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
OUT & ABOUT
DC Center to host Alzheimer’s awareness event
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, the DC Department on Aging and Community Living, and the Alzheimer ’s Association are joining forces to host “Seniors & Cognition with the Alzheimer ’s Association ” on Thursday, July 25 at 2 p.m. on Zoom.
Guest speakers will walk the audience through understanding Alzheimer ’s disease, dementia, their warning signs, healthy brain practices, and more. The lecture series will consist of three 1.5-hour sessions, with the others set to take place in August and September.
To register, visit the DC Center ’s website.
Blade’s Rosenstein to hold book talk in Rehoboth
Longtime Washington Blade contributor Peter Rosenstein will hold an author talk on Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) in conversation with fellow author Fay Jacobs. The pair will discuss Rosenstein ’ s new memoir, “Born This Gay: My Life of Activism, Politics, Travel, and Coming Out.” Register at camprehoboth. org.
Peter Rosenstein’s new book is ‘Born This Gay.’
Actor overcomes car accidents to thrive in ‘Beautiful’
Bobby Smith on the infectious happiness of Olney production
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
As Bobby Smith describes it, “not too long ago, some things tripped me up.”
In late 2023, the celebrated, out actor was involved in two very serious car accidents and suffered severe injuries. And then May brought the unexpected death of his beloved Vizsla hound Mabel, named for the heroine in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance.”
So, for much of 2024, Smith had been spending time healing at his farmhouse in Ellicott City, Md. Until now. Currently, he’s back on the boards at Olney Theatre Center playing record producer Don Kirshner in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” a fun juke box musical about the early career years of singer/songwriter King from her Brooklyn roots to writing hits from an office in Times Square with her lyricist husband Gerry Goffin and on to Los Angeles solo-stardom.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Hey Bobby, you’ve been through a lot since we last spoke.
BOBBY SMITH: It’s been a whole lot. I spent the last seven or eight months either at home or going to doctor visits.
BLADE: How is it being back on stage?
SMITH: To be honest, it’s like learning to walk again.
BLADE: And playing the famously deadpan Don Kirshner?
SMITH: It’s good. I don’t do an imitation. Instead, I’ve created a character who’s not over the top; otherwise, it would become the Don Kirshner show and we don’t want that. But because there’s not a lot of drama with Carole King, she’s a really kind, nice per-
son, Don serves as a sort of catalyst. He pushes the story forward. He prods Carole to write more songs, to try different things. He doesn’t like her boyfriend. Don the character doesn’t sing much but he’s always barking at people.
BLADE: Sometimes you forget just how many familiar songs King wrote: “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “Up On the Roof,” and “Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow” for acts like the Shirelles and The Drifters. And later songs like “It’s Too Late,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman,” and of course “Beautiful.”
SMITH: Yeah, it feels like she wrote every song known to mankind; the show tells you that, and we sing most of them.
BLADE: You experienced a highpoint during the rough times. In May, you won a Helen Hayes Award for playing Bruce, the complicated, manic depressive, closeted father in Studio’s production of Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home.”
SMITH: I did, but unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the ceremony.
Bruce is a sympathetic but difficult character. Ever since being born, people of a certain age, have had to fight our way into the struggle of being gay. It’s not so much a struggle anymore, or I should say not as much as it used to be, but now there are a whole lot more signposts that didn’t exist when I was growing up.
Over the years, people have randomly attacked me for not talking more about my sexuality. I’m not closeted but I don’t feel I have to tell everyone. I don’t share it with my land lady. I don’t need to say “I’m here and I’m queer. Here’s your rent.”
BLADE: You have been in show biz for decades now. What keeps you going?
SMITH: I’m not sure, sometimes I ask myself what was I thinking when I decided to be a professional actor? I feel like I’m making a bigger contribution teaching at Catholic University than I did my entire acting career.
Now that I’ve taken over the tap department, I’m full time at Catholic. I’m also teaching Acting the Text, Directing for Musical Theatre, and in the fall, I’ll add Musical Interpretation.
BLADE: In this summer of so many theatrical choices, why see “Beautiful”?
SMITH: Well, if you don’t already know Natalie Weiss who plays Carole, you should. She’s an amazing compelling, vocalist with one of the healthiest singing voices you’ll ever hear, no straining, perfect placement.
Also, there’s nothing about “Beautiful” that’s going to make you feel bad, or put you in a place where you might think you need to talk to your therapist. That’s not going to happen. And it’s because Carole King is a positive human being; from an actor’s perspective, you feel great by the end of the show, and the audience gets that. The happiness is infectious.
‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Through July 25
Olney Theatre Center | 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832 $31 -101 | Olneytheatre.org
BOBBY SMITH in ‘Beautiful.’ (Photo courtesy Teresa Castracane Photography)
Union Market’s Last Call Bar a welcoming oasis for all Mixologist Britt Weaver expresses her pride and identity every day
Amid the development of the fast-growing Union Market district, spanning dozens of eateries (including a duo of Michelin stars), embracing and inclusive spaces are tough to come by. Last Call Bar is one of those — and head mixologist and proud member of the LGBTQ community Britt Weaver is making sure this divey spot stays that way.
While buzzy restaurants take the spotlight, Weaver and Last Call are embracing the different.
“I’ve made it a personal mission to ensure that the bar continues to be a place where everyone feels welcomed and accepted,” she says. “Being behind the bar, I see a lot of people — I try to make sure every guest feels safe, seen, and cared for when they visit.”
Last Call exudes a laid-back spirit, aiming to fill that neighborhood-style gap that might be missing among prix-fixe tasting menus and shiny boutiques. Eccentric décor that includes painted lockers, old posters hung from the ceiling, artfully peeling paint, and arcade games feeds into the homey spirit. Patrons are welcome to bring in stickers and slap them on the bar, adding even more personality to the space.
Launched in 2019 serving sub-$10 drinks and having survived the pandemic, Last Call still maintains an unconventional vibe that extends to the menu. It’s one of the few bars that serves flavor-changing Jello shots, with the option to add nostalgia-inducing pop rocks; as well as an hour-long “teeny tiny ‘tini hour” for those who want a taste but not an entire glassful of liquor. Keeping things cool: koozies are also for sale. The food menu’s grown since opening, with sandwiches in addi -
By EVAN CAPLAN
tion to bags of chips and shareable dips.
Last Call welcomed Weaver in 2023. While working as a bartender during grad school, Weaver was drawn to the excitement of the bar scene. After COVID, she says, she leaned into her career in the hospitality industry.
In the freewheeling, demanding bartending industry, Weaver has fought to be seen.
“Previous jobs and ownership teams have urged me to conceal my identity, but that is something I refuse to do. It is so incredibly important for me to be able to express my pride and identity every day,” she says.
Last Call has a pedigree from its ally owner Gina Chersevani, who also runs decade-old Buffalo and Bergen stall inside Union Market and a sister Buffalo and Bergen on Capitol Hill. Chersevani is deeply rooted in the D.C. hospitality industry, which Weaver says has a culture that celebrates creativity and expression.
Chersevani ensures that “I’ve been celebrated and encouraged to express my identity,” says Weaver. “She has given me the freedom to cultivate a space that is welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community while also still remaining true to the Last Call spirit.” This year, during
Pride month, Chersevani launched a Pride punch card, in which patrons who visited all of her spots won free drinks.
Weaver further notes that being proud of her identity and committing to it behind the bar and in the fastpaced service industry “opens more space for other LGBTQ+ industry members to feel safe to express their own identities. Visibility is so critical in making safe spaces for the queer community.”
Looking forward, Weaver remains steadfast in her commitment to learning and growing in the space and in D.C. She promises that Last Call Bar has plenty of events and programming, new cocktail menus, and a welcoming community spirit.
To celebrate the summer, Weaver offered a cocktail recipe to have at home with friends: Strawberry Piña Colada.
Ingredients
• 2 ounces silver rum
• 1 ounce strawberry purée
• 1 ounce fresh pineapple juice
• 1 ounce coconut milk
• .5 ounce lime juice
Combine all ingredients, then shake. Serve in a Collins glass, over crushed ice, and garnish as desired.
BRITT WEAVER is head mixologist at Last Call Bar.
Aperol Schlitz (Photo credit: Rey Lopez)
Carbonated Old Fashioned (Photo credit: Pacman)
Bad Hair Day?, AVEDA Lifestyle Salon, Barber, and Spa in beautiful downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE, has available stations on Saturdays and Mondays, and Guests wanting appointments!
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Email: team@badhairday.biz All inquiries confidential.
Stylish ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ entertains despite falling short
Johansson and Tatum lack chemistry in leading roles
By JOHN PAUL KING
Greg Berlanti is known as a pioneer in bringing depictions of queer life to television, having been behind the first male-on-male kiss in an American network show (“Dawson’s Creek”), the first recurring transgender character on prime-time television (“Dirty Sexy Money”), and the first openly gay superhero to headline a series (“Freedom Fighters: The Ray”) – not to mention bringing the first live-action transgender superhero to TV with the casting of Nicole Maines in the show “Supergirl” or his production of last year’s high-profile Amazon adaptation of the gay literary romance “Red, White, and Royal Blue.” His legacy on the small screen, which includes numerous accomplishments beyond those mentioned above, is not just solid, but exemplary.
On the big screen, however — with the exception of 2018’s “Love, Simon” (a major hit, which scored an impressive $66 million at the box office) — his efforts in the theatrical film industry have replicated his success on television.
Yet with “Fly Me to the Moon,” which opened a widespread theatrical release on July 12, he just might have changed that narrative.
Indeed, changing narratives might be what the movie itself is all about. Set in 1969, a year in which divisive politics and an unpopular war had made America a deeply anxious and cynical nation (sound familiar?), the pseudo-historical but entirely fictitious plot takes place during the Cold War “Space Race” in the months leading up to the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. National sentiment for the U.S. space program has waned, thanks to shifting public priorities and tragic setbacks in NASA’s progress. But with a perceived battle between American and Russian ideologies on the line, the U.S. government has decided that the mission is “too important to fail,” and they enlist the services of New York marketing whiz Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) to give the floundering moon mission a boost in popularity.
Bringing all the tricks of her trade to NASA’s Florida headquarters, she is, naturally, met with resistance from mission director Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), a Korean War hero whose no-nonsense military background immediately puts him at odds with her “do whatever it takes” approach to selling the public on his project. Nevertheless, a mutual attraction sparks between them, but when Kelly’s “handler” (Woody Harrelson) instructs her to arrange a faked moon landing that can be sold to the public in case of the mission’s failure, any potential romance is put on hold as she tries to pull it off under Davis’s unsuspecting nose. Needless to say, as the launch date grows closer, the stage is set for a confrontation of ideals – and a comedy of errors — with consequences that
will impact not just their personal lives, but America’s future understanding of its own history, as well.
Ostensibly a “romcom,” Berlanti’s film — built into a screenplay by Rose Gilroy from a story by Bill Kirstein and Keenan Flynn — certainly incorporates that always-popular genre into its slick-and-stylish formula. The match between its two attractive leading characters seems a foregone conclusion before they even meet, and once they do, proceeds through the standard series of tropes toward a presumed happy ending in which they ride (or, in this case, fly) off into the sunset together.
But “Fly Me to the Moon” doesn’t set out to simply be a love story with a historical backdrop; the romantic tension between its leads is really a hook to pull us into a satirical, absurd-ish confrontation between perception and reality — defined, in this case, by the juxtaposition of a historic event and the public image being manipulated around it, which plays into (and pokes a bit of troll-ish fun at) the perplexing popularity of conspiracy theories two generations later, and pitting the “end justifies the means” approach to truth embodied by half of its leading couple against the tight-lipped, old-fashioned idealism embodied by the other.
For fans of classic Hollywood cinema, it’s as much this aspect as the movie’s romcom trappings that will likely resonate. In its first half, it feels more than a bit like an homage to the sly and cynical wit of the great Billy Wilder, whose films from “Double Indemnity” to “Sunset Boulevard” to “The Apartment” looked beyond comfortable morality to cast a grimly humorous spotlight on human corruptibility. As the plot shifts toward its “save the moon mission” denouement, however, a swelling of sentiment fueled by the emotional arc of Johansson’s seemingly amoral huckster transforms the vibe into something more akin to the populist fables of Frank Capra, whose films about underdogs fighting and winning against a corrupt system arguably helped to shape the American sense of self throughout the mid-20th Century. Indeed, one might easily envision James Stewart and Jean Arthur — the stars of Capra’s 1939 classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” — as the two romantic leads here.
Unfortunately, they’re not. While Johansson — for our money, one of the best yet most under appreciated film actresses in the industry — easily wins our attention and our loyalty early on, her chemistry with Tatum never quite ignites into the crackling flame clearly intended by the script. For his part, Tatum is well-cast in his role, but seems to us a little out of his depth when it comes to the finer points of his character growth.
Among the supporting players, there’s a more solid slate of performances. Ray Romano tugs our heartstrings without trying as a schlubbish career rocket scientist, and queer actor/comedian Jim Rash gives a hilarious but completely authentic turn as the “high maintenance” would-be directorial genius hired to orchestrate the phony lunar landing. Rounding out his headlining cast, Woody Harrelson steals his scenes as the shady government operative who serves as Kelly’s “handler,” and the fact that the actor’s father was in real life a CIA agent on the scene at the John Kennedy assassination, adds a layer of fun detail for those who care to look.
On top of its collection of memorable performances, “Fly Me to the Moon” offers a spectacularly genuine period aesthetic, achieved with a seamlessly orchestrated visual design that ranges from perfectly recreated late-sixties fashion to a convincing and magnificent recreation of the real-life moon landing. And though it’s far from being a “thinker,” Berlanti’s movie is layered and compassionate enough to make us drop our reticence over some of its less historical experience.
We won’t mislead you: “Fly Me to the Moon” is a brilliantly insightful comedy, but the chemistry between its leading players fizzles. The cast is stellar, and even if its effort to balance hardboiled social commentary with value-affirming feel-good sentiment doesn’t always feel simpatico, its throwback, classic Hollywood style makes for an oddly satisfying nostalgic romp.
In other words, it’s not what we would call great cinema, but as mainstream, middleof-the road entertainment goes, you could do a lot worse.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON and CHANNING TATUM in ‘Fly Me to the Moon.’ (Image courtesy Apple Studios)
AT MARYLAND HALL
Cool compacts: Ford Maverick Lariat, Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
The summer fireworks continue with two bangin’ rides
By JOE PHILLIPS
While the Fourth of July may be over, other fireworks continue with two bangin’ rides: the Ford Maverick pickup and Subaru Crosstrek SUV. Both are affordable compacts, though neither can be considered barebones and each vehicle offers some fresh surprises.
FORD MAVERICK LARIAT
$35,000
MPG: 22 city/29 highway
0-to-60 mph: 5.9 seconds
Cargo capacity: 33.3 cu. ft.
PROS: Very low price. Peppy. Lotsa storage. CONS: Spartan base model. Bumpy ride. Pricey options.
IN A NUTSHELL: When I wrote a few years ago about the Ford Maverick, which was replacing the long-time Ranger, it was a pleasant surprise to learn this new pickup came standard as a hybrid. Such fuel efficiency—42 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway—is still impressive. But this year Ford switched the Maverick’s powertrain availability, which means the hybrid is now a $1,500 option and the more powerful turbo engine comes standard. That’s a downer for fuel-conscious buyers, but a plus for anyone seeking more oomph under the hood.
Hybrid or no, the starting price of a base-model Maverick is still low: less than $25,000. This makes it the least expensive compact pickup out there. Available only as a four-door crew cab, there’s plenty of passenger and cargo room.The low-slung truck bed—which can carry cargo up to 1,500 pounds—makes loading and unloading easy. And despite its small size, this tough hauler can tow up to 4,000 pounds. Built on the same platform as two popular Ford SUVs—the Escape and Bronco Sport—the Maverick boasts handling more like a sedate sedan than a stiff truck. Well, at least that’s the case on the freeway. In town, the ride is bumpier than expected over potholes and such.
Three trim levels available: XL, XLT and high-end Lariat, which is what I test drove for a week. The XL is basic—with 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seats and a six-speaker stereo— while the XLT adds alloy wheels, power-locking tailgate and a rear armrest with cupholders. But the Lariat offers unexpected amenities, such as keyless entry, push-button start, synthetic leather upholstery, power-sliding rear window, heated seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad and eight-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.
All Mavericks come with forward collision warning that automatically applies braking when necessary. But the Lariat adds adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, blindspot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and evasive steering that kicks in to help avoid collisions.
For all you alphas, there’s a Tremor Off-Road package, which adds rough-and-rugged features like elevated ground clearance, advanced four-wheel drive, skid plates, off-road
suspension, locking rear differential, all-terrain tires, full-size spare, and more aggressive styling and badging.
Alas, such options add up and can bump the sticker price close to $45,000.
SUBARU
CROSSTREK WILDERNESS
$34,000
MPG: 25 city/29 highway
0-to-60 mph: 8.5 seconds
Cargo capacity: 20 cu. ft.
PROS: Off-road capability. Roomy. Comfy seats.
CONS: Plasticky interior. Bit noisy cabin. No speed demon.
IN A NUTSHELL: Subaru has its own maverick in the showroom: the tiny-but-mighty Crosstrek. Redesigned for 2024, the Crosstrek retains much of its quirky styling and adept handling. That’s a good thing, considering how hot this SUV has been the past few years.
There’s also a brand-new trim level: the Wilderness. While I was already a big fan of the Crosstrek, the Wilderness ratchets things up a lot.
Except for the BRZ sports car, all Subarus come standard with all-wheel drive. Yet the off-road prowess of the Crosstrek Wilderness is enhanced by front skid plate, extra drive modes, a tighter suspension and higher ground clearance (9.3 inches versus 8.6 inches on other Crosstreks). No, this is not a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota Land Cruiser, but the Wilderness is no slouch when tackling rutty roads or sandy terrain.
As for looks, the rugged styling includes hexagonal fog lights, 17-inch black alloy wheels with thick treads, black front and rear bumpers, and black cladding on the wheel arches to protect against scrapes. Faux copper accents—especially on the roof rack and steering wheel—signal that this is not your average Crosstrek.
With the back seats down, cargo space in all Crosstreks is 55 cubic feet (an impressive two-and-a-half times the area when the seats are up). As for towing, standard Crosstrek models can haul an impressive 1,500 pounds. But the Wilderness can tow even more—a whopping 3,500 pounds.
Inside, the high roofline makes the cabin feel surprisingly large. The gauges and displays—functional but not glitzy—are the same across the Crosstrek lineup. Notable options include power moonroof, 10-way power driver’s seat and 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio.
The main difference between the Wilderness and other Crosstrek trims are the comfortable, water-resistant seats (made of synthetic leather upholstery) and the rubber floor mats emblazoned with the Wilderness logo.
All in all, this Crosstrek turned out to be a practical urban ride that also brought out my inner Paul Bunyan on weekends.
FORD MAVERICK LARIAT
SUBARU CROSSTREK WILDERNESS
Ultra-equipped, finely appointed, meticulously kept apartment homes available now in Lanham, Maryland’s new Harkins District.
+ Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, featuring open floor plans
+ Gourmet kitchens, including quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances
+ Hardwood-inspired flooring and spa-inspired baths
+ Washer and dryer in each apartment
+ TWO Resort-style saltwater pools with cabanas
+ TWO Rooftop bars with lounge seating
+ TWO Clubrooms with billiards
+ TWO Conference and co-working spaces
+ TWO Fitness centers
+ Pet-friendly and pet-free living options
+ Garage parking available for all residents
+ 1.5 blocks to New Carrollton Metro and Amtrak
+ Monthly social resident events
Hagerstown Pride
Annual LGBTQ celebration held in Maryland city (Washington
The 2024 Hagerstown Pride Festival was held at Doubs Woods Park in Hagerstown, Md. on Saturday, July 13.
Blade photos by Michael Key)
Prepare your rental property for the back-to-school market
Strategic pricing is critical to standing out
As we approach August and September, the rental market in Washington, D.C. undergoes a significant transformation. The supercharged demand earlier in the year resulting from the influx of families wanting to move in before the new school year and higher ed students returning for their studies starts to wane. For landlords, this period is a crucial time to ensure their properties are appealing and priced competitively. A well-prepared rental property can make all the difference in securing a successful lease. Here are some tips to help you get your property ready for the back-toschool season.
Be Wise, Compromise:
Navigating Pricing Strategies
The adage “Be Wise, Compromise” rings especially true as we head into August and September. It’s a period where strategic pricing becomes critical to stand out among a glut of rentals on the market and the tendency to “fire sale.” The rental market demand starts slowing down in August, but it is taking steep hits by September. If your property remains without a lease by the end of August, consider adjusting your rental price to attract tenants.
Lowering your price during August can be a smart move to avoid vacancies, but don’t wait too long. By September, you might face tougher competition as other landlords drop their prices too. Meeting the market demand head-on with a competitive price ensures you don’t miss out on securing a tenant before the academic year begins.
What Renters with School-Age Children Want
Families with school-age children have specific needs and preferences when searching for a rental property. Here are some key features to focus on:
Proximity to Good Schools: If your property is within a highly regarded school district you are ahead of the game. Make sure the rental ad includes correct links and updated public information on school districts but be cautious from sounding like you are searching only for families with small children. That could run afoul of Fair Housing laws.
Functional Space: Families need ample space. If your rental property offers enough bedrooms, storage areas, and a functional layout that accommodates the needs of a family with children you might seriously consider that market segment as a desirable tenant.
Outdoor Areas: An ample yard or nearby parks and play areas are big selling points. Outdoor spaces provide areas for children to play and families to enjoy. Community Amenities: Proximity to community centers, libraries, recreational facilities and splash parks can make your rental more attractive to families than others.
Timing is also critical. Families with school-aged children wish to move in before the school year starts, so aim to have your property ready and listed for rent early. I recommend counting on 6-8 weeks before a move-in date.. This gives you a better chance of finding
By SCOTT BLOOM
those tenants who are planning ahead and interested in signing a lease well before the targeted move-in date, settling in before the first school bell rings.
The D.C. Higher Education Hub
In addition to families with young children heading back to school on Aug. 26, the Washington, D.C., metro area boasts a remarkable concentration of higher education programs. According to a recent discussion on The1A.org, this region is home to an inordinately high number of prestigious educational institutions, including my alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, which has consolidated its graduate programs in D.C. into one location at the old Newseum location on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. All higher education institutions residing here bring a reliable and annual stream of new students in need of housing, particularly before the new academic year approaches.
Attracting Student Tenants: Essential Preparations
With a considerable student population in D.C., attracting this demographic requires understanding their unique needs. Remember to refrain from sounding like you are searching only for students to avoid going against Fair Housing laws.
Affordability: Students are often budget-conscious. Offering flexible lease terms, such as 9-month leases that align with the academic year, can be very appealing.
Proximity to Campuses: If the rental is located particularly close to a school, highlighting it in a list of what is nearby in the community can help those searching for rental housing off campus. The convenience of a short commute is an important factor for students.
Amenities and Furnishings: Students appreciate furnished or partially furnished rental homes, high-speed internet, and study-friendly environments. Ensuring your property has these amenities can give you a competitive edge, particularly if your rental is relatively close to a campus geographically.
Roommate-Friendly Layouts: Properties with multi -
ple bedrooms and shared common areas are ideal for student roommates. If the layout supports a co-living arrangement with a one bedroom to one bathroom ratio, all the better!
Public Transportation Access: Easy access to public transportation is crucial for students who may not have their own vehicles. A short commute on public transportation or by using bike-friendly streets is also very desirable.
Get Ready for Back to School
August is the perfect time to prepare your rental property for the back-to-school season. Here’s a checklist to ensure you’re ready:
Conduct Maintenance Checks: Ensure all appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems are in top condition. Address any repairs or maintenance issues promptly.
Enhance Curb Appeal: First impressions matter. Make sure the exterior of your property is well-maintained, with trimmed lawns, clean walkways, and fresh exterior paint if needed.
Safety Upgrades: Install or upgrade smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and ensure a fire extinguisher is wall-mounted and readily accessible in the kitchen.
Deep Cleaning: A thorough cleaning can make your property shine. Consider hiring professionals to ensure every corner is spotless including windows.
Marketing and Listings: Update your property listings with attractive photos and detailed descriptions.
The Rental Market Dynamics: August and September Understanding the rental market dynamics during August and September can help you strategize effectively. August typically sees a slowdown, but September’s drop in demand means if rental properties have not yet closed the deal on a rental agreement, you will need a sense of urgency to price it right to rent.
Lowering your price slightly or with a stair-step approach every few weeks starting at the end of August can help attract those prospective tenants who are still looking and those making last-minute decisions on their housing needs.
Preparing your rental property for the back-to-school season in Washington, D.C. involves a combination of strategic pricing, understanding tenant needs, and ensuring your property is in top condition. By focusing on strategic pricing you can navigate the market dynamics of August and September successfully. Remember, be wise and compromise where necessary to ensure your property stands out and attracts those tenants who reach the peak of their search in late summer, just in time for the academic year.
( This article was written with some assistance from AI.)
SCOTT BLOOM
is owner and Senior Property Manager at Columbia Property Management. For more information and resources, visit ColumbiaPM.com.
The rental market explodes in August and September as schools return to session.
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