Sarah McBride announces run for Congress in Delaware After months of speculation and anticipation, Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride has announced her run for Congress. If elected, she would be the first and only transgender person in Congress. No other trans people have announced their run for Congress, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. “Blocking out the noise and focusing on what actually matters isn’t easy. That part takes more than coffee,” McBride said in her announcement video she posted to Twitter. “It takes guts and a backbone.” Despite possibly cracking the glass ceiling for trans people in Congress very soon, McBride did not emphasize — or even mention — her gender identity in the two-minute video. She instead focused on her role in passing paid medical and family leave in Delaware, which takes effect in 2026. She mentioned her gender identity only briefly in a string of tweets under her announcement video. McBride told the New York Times that her identity is not particularly important to voters. “What comes up is that we need creative and courageous leadership that will meet this moment with meaningful action for people’s lives,” she said in a 2020 interview. Nevertheless, McBride is no stranger to cracking glass ceilings. She was the first openly trans person to work at the White House, where she was an intern during President Barack Obama’s administration, and became the first openly trans state senator in the country in 2020.
Del. state Sen. SARAH MCBRIDE (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Accolades and support quickly poured in from LGBTQ advocacy organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund, and fellow politicians. Half of Delaware’s state senators and 10 out of 41 Delaware state representatives have endorsed McBride, according to her website. “Her trailblazing campaign is both a sign of hope for the LGBTQ+ community and a rallying cry,” said Victory Fund President Annise Parker in a press release. “We must continue organizing, continue running for office and continue voting. Our rights depend on it.” David Mariner, the executive director of Sussex Pride, said he’s “very excited” that she is running.
“I’ve known Sarah for years and she has always been passionate about Delaware and supporting Delaware’s residents, and I think she will do an excellent job,” he said, emphasizing that Sussex Pride cannot endorse candidates. “Sarah has got to speak up for the transgender community,” added Sussex Pride board member Kathy Carpenter, who is a trans woman. “Sarah is not familiar with the downstate experience. In southern Delaware, we don’t even have gender affirming care.” PFLAG Rehoboth did not immediately respond to a voicemail. CAMP Rehoboth Vice President Leslie Ledogar praised McBride. “Especially in light of the increasing disparagement of our transgender community members, I personally have a lot of respect for Sen. McBride, especially in light of the current negative climate particular surrounding transgender members of our communities,” Ledogar told the Washington Blade. If elected, McBride would take over Delaware’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Lisa Blunt Rochester. Blunt Rochester announced her run for U.S. Senate after seven years representing Delaware in the House, where, if elected she would be the first Black person and first woman from Delaware. McBride said she wants to build on her success as a state legislator, propelling policies like paid family leave, gun regulations and reproductive rights in Congress. JOEL LEV-TOV
Delaware library forced to take down Pride flag A Delaware library was forced to take down its Pride flag last Friday, causing outrage from some. “I was super proud of my library (where I work) for putting a pride flag outside this month,” Milton, Del., library employee Jillian Brenneman wrote in a now-deleted post on Facebook. She did not respond to a Facebook message asking for comment. “That is until Sussex County Government decided they needed to be homophobic and force us to take it down.” Reached by phone Monday, Sussex County Department of Libraries Director Rachel Lynch said the flag’s removal was a county decision. The county only allows American flags, Delaware flags, and Sussex County flags to be flown outside of the building. A Sussex County spokesperson confirmed that in a short interview and said that flying the three flags is not a written policy. Rath-
er, Chip Guy said, it is a custom. The decision to take down the Pride flag left Fred Munzert, who runs the Milton Theatre, disappointed. “I know our staff was really excited to see the library put the Pride flag up. It made them feel comfortable,” he said in an interview. “It made them feel good about the town that they lived in and worked in.” Munzert has led a campaign to “paint the town rainbow” since 2019, where the theater gives out Pride flags to people and businesses. He’s seen more and more Pride flags around town since his campaign. The display, though, doesn’t come without its opponents in the town of about 3,500 residents. He said Milton Theatre staff have received plenty of emails and phone calls about the flags – one told him that he must display the American flag alongside it and even gave him an
American flag to hang up. “I’m just always surprised, like, just do your thing. I’ll do my thing,” he said. “Nobody’s bothering anybody.” Hanging the flag was Milton Public Library Director Jill DiPaolo’s idea, Munzert said. Before the county removed the flag, he said DiPaolo emailed him to apologize and said it was a decision from higher up. DiPaolo was unavailable to comment and did not immediately return a voicemail. Since the flag’s removal, some staff members haven’t felt accepted by the county anymore, Munzert said. Guy, the Sussex County communications director, said the county was just enforcing county norms. “The county is not sending a message or a symbol,” he emphasized. JOEL LEV-TOV
Rehoboth prepares to celebrate Independence Day Here’s what’s going on in the Rehoboth area for Independence Day, from music to fireworks. FIREWORKS: Rehoboth’s annual fireworks display will be held along the beach and boardwalk on Sunday, July 2 at around 9:30 p.m. Fireworks are launched from south of Rehoboth Avenue and are visible up and down the beach and boardwalk. Entertainment at the bandstand starts at 8 p.m. Free. FIREWORKS ON A BOAT: If you want to make the weekend even more memorable, consider going on a cruise a little north of Rehoboth aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. It advertises music, food, and drinks with musical guests Bachman & Polk as well as John
King. The ferry leaves Lewes at 6:45 p.m. on Monday for a roughly four hour cruise. $35 for children, $55 for adults. MUSIC: Various bands are performing at the bandstand on Sunday and Monday, from the Fabulous Greaseband to Sam Grow. All free. The United States Navy Band is performing from 8-9:30 p.m. on Friday The Faboulous Greaseband is performing Sunday from 2-6 p.m Jim Long is performing from Sunday 3-7 p.m at the Paradise Grill, 30 minutes away from the beach Garden State Radio is hosting from 7-11 p.m back at
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the beach on Sunday On Monday, Sam Grow is performing from 6-10 p.m. at the beach NIGHTLIFE: Diego’s Bar & Nightclub is offering a host of events, including splash parties, DJ Mags spinning July 2 and 4 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Ada Vox performs July 5 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Pamala Stanley performs at Freddie’s on Saturday, July 1, 8-11 p.m. and Sunday, July 2 for a pre-fireworks T-Dance from 6-8 p.m. DJ Chord spins at Aqua Grill on July 1 at 9 p.m. Pianist Nate Buccieri is back at the Blue Moon, Sundays-Thursdays 6-8:30 p.m. JOEL LEV-TOV