Washington Blade, Volume 57, Issue 29, July 17, 2026

APARNA RAJ

(Photo courtesy Aparna Raj campaign)

poised to make history Ward 1 queer woman of color expected to win D.C. Council seat,

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Aparna a e pected to become second LGBTQ member of D.C. Council inner of primary would also be rst Asian American to serve on body

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

Ward 1 D.C. Council candidate Aparna Raj, who describes herself on her campaign website as a “renter, union member and queer woman of color,” emerged as the winner in the city’s June 16 Democratic primary. he won in a ve-candidate race with 2 percent of the vote in the fourth round of the vote count under the city s newly implemented ranked choice voting system. n a ward with an overwhelming ma ority of voters registered as Democrats, a , who identi es as bise ual, is e pected to win in the November general election to become the Council’s second LGBTQ member.

She is running against two lesser-known candidates – Republican Jett James Jasper and Statehood Green Party candidate Jude Crannitch.

Her victory would mark the rst time since 201 that the Council has had two LG members. At 2, she would also become the Council s youngest member and its rst Asian-American member. She was born and raised in West Chester, a., in a family that came to the U. . from ndia.

The current gay D.C. Council member, Zachary Parker D- ard , won the une 1 Democratic primary against two lesser-known opponents with . percent of the vote and is e pected to easily win re-election in the November general election.

Gay healthcare leader im Graham, who for many years served as e ecutive director of D.C.s hitman- alker Clinic, served as the ard 1 Council member from 1999 to anuary 201 . Graham lost his re-election bid in 201 to incumbent D.C. Council member rianne Nadeau D- ard 1 , who chose not to run for re-election this year. Graham passed away in une 201 .

Gay attorney David Catania served on the Council from 199 , when he won in a special election as a epublican, until 201 after becoming an independent and giving up his Council seat to run for mayor in 201 . He lost his mayoral bid to incumbent D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. a , who also identi es as a democratic socialist, is among D.C. Democratic mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George and Democratic At-Large D.C. Council candidate Oye Owolewa who are also democratic socialists and who won in the primary and are e pected to win in November. olitical observers have said their primary victories and e pected victories in the general election indicate many D.C. voters are seeking candidates with a perceived liberal, leftist perspective to address concerns, among other things, over the high cost of living, especially housing and rental costs.

Like nearly all candidates running for public of ce in D.C., those identifying as democratic socialists, especially a , have e pressed strong support on LG issues. a currently serves as communications manager for a progressive policy advocacy organi ation called Local rogress, which represents local elected of cials throughout the country ghting for racial and economic ustice, according to its website. n an interview with the ashington lade, a said she believes many LG D.C. residents are facing the same economic hardships as non-LGBTQ residents, and she plans to address those issues if elected.

“You know, we see it in D.C., in New York, in Philly, in Colorado, that it is getting very dif cult for people to live and afford necessities like hosing and childcare,” she told the lade. And over the past two years, where it felt like

establishment Democrats on a national level were unwilling to stand with immigrants or queer and trans people, democratic socialists have been constantly ghting for everybody – for immigrants, for people of color, for queer and trans people, for women, for people who need abortions – things like that, she said.

“I think that D.C. has done a really important and good job of trying to protect LGBTQ+ residents across D.C. in the face of the Trump administration,” Raj added. ut think especially with the upreme Court decision around trans people and with just always the ongoing threat that the Trump administration could start bearing down on, like transgender af rming care and things like that, the ne t Council is going to have a really important task behind it to make sure that we’re trying to protect queer and trans people across D.C. as much as possible – including by making sure the Of ce of Human ights has the support that they need,” she said. a said the economic policies she plans to push for will help small businesses, including LGBTQ-owned businesses such as bars. support making sure that workers have the stability that they need with digni ed wages and with bene ts, she said.

And at the same time nding ways to cut costs for small businesses whether e ploring commercial rent stabili ation, pushing back on costs of utilities, helping raise revenue by bringing back Streeteries and things like that,” she said. he following interview has been edited for length. or the full interview, visit washingtonblade.com.

BLADE As you may know, the LG Victory und, which endorsed you and gay candidate Miguel Deramo in the June 16 primary, issued a statement after the primary saying they are pleased that you will likely become the rst female LGBTQ member of the D.C. Council. But with that as a backdrop, are you aware of any other news media outlet aside from the ashington lade that have identi ed you as an LGBTQ candidate as you self-identify on your campaign website as a ueer woman of color e are not aware of any other media reports on your LG identity.

RAJ: I think – I can’t list them off – but I think other publications have included the fact that m bi and consider myself queer and their outreach about it.

BLADE: With that as a backdrop, where do you see things stand now going forward to the ne t D.C. Council session that you are e pected to be on, where do you see things stand for LGBTQ residents of Ward 1 as well as citywide?

RAJ: I think that D.C. has done a really important and good job of trying to protect LGBTQ+ residents across D.C. in the face of the Trump administration. But I think especially with the recent Supreme Court decision around trans people and with just always the ongoing threat that the Trump administration could start bearing down on, like transgender af rming care and things like that, the ne t Council is going to have a really important task behind it to make sure that we’re trying to protect queer and trans people across D.C as much as possible – including by making sure the Ofce of Human ights has the support that they need. rying to invest in and supporting housing vouchers, especially for LGBTQ+ youth, who are often more faced with homelessness than other youth. And that we are supporting

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Ward 1 D.C. Council candidate APARNA RAJ (Photo courtesy of Raj)

schools and health clinics to make sure that LGBTQ+ students and patients are able to feel safe in good institutions.

BLADE: To go back to the D.C. primary election, a single Republican candidate named Jett Jasper ran unopposed for the Ward 1 Council seat. Do you know anything about him?

RAJ Yeah, ett and have been in a debate back in March with all of the Democratic primary candidates … and he and went around a little bit. o, ve met him.

BLADE: One of the interesting outcomes of the June 16 D.C. Democratic primary is the victories of candidates who like you and mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George — and at least two others — identify as democratic socialists. hat message do you see that as providing the city RAJ: I think it is an important message that I think people see democratic socialist candidates as the candidates who will ght for them in the face of a cost-of-living crisis that is driving people out of D.C. and in the face of the rump administration that’s threatening our community.

BLADE hat response do you have to those, including some in the business community, who have said the policies proposed by democratic socialist candidates would hurt the city’s economy and create budget problems that can harm a lot of people, including the LGBTQ community?

RAJ: I would say that the economic crisis that we’re seeing right now is a result of a combination of conservative, neoliberal economic policies at the local level and of the fascists in of ce at the federal level. You know, we are in tough economic times, not because of democratic socialism but because of rigid capitalism right now.

And think we learned from the 80s and eagan that trickle-down economics doesn’t work. And so, when people are suffering, when people are getting laid off, when people are getting health care funding cut, what we need to do at the local level is invest in people and make sure that our recovery is centered on making sure that people have housing, making sure that people have health care, making sure people have food assistance, instead of ust giving money to the top and hoping that it tickles down.

BLADE he city s chief nancial of cer has said the city may be facing a signi cant budget de cit in the ne t scal year possibly because of congressional action in cutting the city’s budget. What are your thoughts on that?

RAJ: I think there are all these options ahead of us. I think what this past year has shown us is that D.C. needs to have a much more proactive relationship on the Hill. And especially ne t year we will likely be coming into a Democratic Congress. e need to be advocating for ourselves in building those relationships with Congress members, with senators. think we took a very locali ed approach prior to the rump administration.

CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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u anne Goode wants ef cient spending, better infrastructure for Rehoboth Mayoral candidate has clashed with colleagues over city nances

By THOMAS WEAVERLING

(Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a three-part series ro ling the can i ates for ma or of Reho oth each el. ommissioners anne oo e san tewart an raig hier a fo rth can i ate illiam Raa le to oin the race t has not res on e to la e in iries.

Rehoboth Beach City Commissioner Suzanne Goode, a candidate for mayor, told the Blade she’s running on a platform prioriti ing ef cient spending, improving infrastructure, and increasing affordability.

A Maryland native, Goode became a full-time resident of ehoboth each with her husband in 201 . he two have been homeowners in Rehoboth since 2006. Goode became involved with ehoboth politics soon after moving to town full time.

“I started attending meetings back in 2018 right after we moved here full time. feel that the city needs to change desperately. They really are in trouble.” never e pected to get involved, but once saw how dysfunctional everything was, that s what inspired me.

Goode said that her background in economic consulting makes her uali ed to oversee how the city spends ta payer dollars.

“I’m an economist, that’s my background. I present data at some of these meetings, but no one is willing to analyze the data or even respond as to why we aren t doing things differently, said Goode. e have other commissioners who are so unwilling to make the hard decisions and cut spending, said Goode. e have so much wrong with the way money is being spent to defend the bureaucracy and not to give back power to the voters, the ta payers, said Goode.

But the city’s budget numbers contradict Goode’s claims about nancial mismanagement. he city reported that it ended scal year 202 with a 1.21 million surplus. The 2027 budget was adopted in March and pro ects an operating surplus of about 8 ,000.

Elected as a city commissioner in 2024, Goode says she has made an effort to limit spending. She has had multiple public disagreements with fellow commissioners, in particular, Susan Stewart, who is also running for mayor.

In a March 9th commissioner’s meeting, Stewart publicly disclosed a series of Goode’s emails, outlining allegations of

misconduct and harassment, all of which Goode denied and claimed were false. he emails alleged racially and se ually demeaning remarks from Goode about city staff and of cials, including City Manager aylour edder.

Goode has critici ed the citys decision to give edder a 0,000 forgivable home loan and a 2 0,000 salary, which is 90,000 more than the previous city manager.

“Under his stewardship, he has handed out e cessive pay packages, including bene ts to his immediate deputy administrators, all with ta payer money, Goode said.

The Blade has reached out to Tedder for comment.

Goode spoke against the decision to hire City Solicitor Lisa orin Ogden and has made attempts to reduce her 200,000 annual salary.

Goode also disagrees with Tedder’s hiring of consultants for the city: “My goal is to cut the endless stream of consultancies that the city manager contracts, which do not seem to improve the uality of life for the average resident or visitor to Rehoboth Beach.” “ don t believe we need additional advice about how to run things,” said Goode. “ e ust need to improve infrastructure at this point, cut back on some of the e cessive compensation packages, not to the working class among our employees, but to the e ecutives and the administrators, said Goode.

Goode also disapproves of edder s eimagine ehoboth master planning initiative and says that it “would come to an immediate halt if she were elected mayor.

“You have to hope that we make better decisions going forward. t would be a bene t to everyone, to visitors, to homeowners, both second homeowners and full-time residents.”

Goodes platform focuses on e panding and improving the infrastructure throughout Rehoboth. She says she would like to work to “improve infrastructure to include replacement of crumbling and uneven sidewalks. he shared that as a resident, she has e perienced ha ardous conditions when trying to walk or bicycle at night due to what she calls an insuf cient amount of streetlights.

Goode also has her sights set on improving ehoboths wastewater treatment system. “ e have comple issues with wastewater treatment. will continue to advocate against ehoboth each becoming the

destination where treated wastewater is sent from areas outside Rehoboth.”

“I want to fully support the working class, the line people, the sanitation workers, the people on city staff who keep the city running and who are the most important workers in many ways,” said Goode.

Goode also addressed her approval of efforts to construct a venue for Clear Rehoboth Beach City Space Theatre company in Commissioner SUZANNE town, saying, “I think it’s a GOODE is running for mayor. (Photo courtesy of Goode) wonderful use of some cityowned land.”

However, she is cautious about talks to give Clear pace money toward construction of the theater, saying the decision should go to public referendum.

The Blade asked Goode if maintaining Rehoboth’s perfect score on the Human ights Campaigns uality nde would be a priority as mayor. She said that it would be a priority and that she is proud of Rehoboth’s relationship with the LGBTQ+ community. However, she bemoaned the lack of racial diversity among ehoboth homeowners. “ hile we have LG diversity, we have little racial diversity among the property owners with very few African Americans owning homes in ehoboth. hat is, in my view, a bad thing.” “ e want diversity of demographics and race. n order to do that, in order to make ehoboth more affordable to everyone.”

Goode also responded to claims that she opposes the rainbow sidewalks in town by saying that she thinks they are “attractive but is worried that they “necessitate more labor.”

“My priorities are safety and affordability,” said Goode. “Unfortunately, the rainbow crosswalks have potentially reduced the upkeep of the conventional crosswalks. ut the rainbow crosswalks are attractive in and of themselves, and they do add to our recognition of Rehoboth’s longstanding status as a gay-friendly town.”

Goode said that she noticed recently at the intersection of irst treet and altimore Avenue that the two rainbow crosswalks were freshly painted for the spring while the two white crosswalks were “faded and unsafe.”

The election will take place on Aug. 8, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Convention Center.

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

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 organi ations and other achievements. lease share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach. tuart and cott have been active members of the ehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity

for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and ick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Cohos Market, where they discovered rsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and e panded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

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Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

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Celebrate ride in ehoboth each this weekend A vital space for community, healing, and connection

By THOMAS WEAVERLING

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new usse ride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the af rmation of ueer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives. nd the rst night of ride in ehoboth at Diego s ar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from D M and ribe 9 ntertainment.

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. ( a h

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The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LG youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in

HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by lade ditor evin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westenhoefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes ehoboth each omen s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty s.

Goolee s Drag runch will also take place on unday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee s Grille. his is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and oanna lue. ickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the ofcial ehoboth each ride Closing arty at A ua ar & Grill, celebrating the venue s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influ of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.

Christa Tichy hopes to preserve LGBTQ representation in Md. House When longtime Maryland state Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery County) announced she would retire, Christa Tichy immediately saw an opportunity. he ueer Democrat advanced from the une primary and will appear on the November ballot, hoping to succeed one of Maryland s rst openly LG legislators and preserve LGBTQ representation in Annapolis.

“But when Bonnie made that announcement, I knew right away that that s what was supposed to do, ichy told the Washington Blade during a recent interview. She always felt connected to Cullison s background, which she said is very similar to her own.

Some of these shared traits include a background in teaching and a strong connection to Leisure World of Maryland. Cullison has inspired her in the past and feels motivated to take her place. She had always hoped to be her successor.

Besides their shared background, she also understands how important it is under the Trump-Vance administration to advocate for LGBTQ rights, as Cullison had in the past. think there s a lot of fears with the present administration of losing certain rights. And you know, Bonnie was a big advocate for marriage e uality. want to continue that, and you know, make sure that legislation that protects that is in place,” Tichy said. eyond speci c policy priorities, ichy said preserving LGBTQ representation in the General Assembly was e ually important.

“I mean, of all the candidates that ran, I was the only female. […] I thought we needed that voice. We could not just let that voice be forgotten,” Tichy said.

Tichy said she believes serving in the Maryland General Assembly is where she can have the greatest impact on the issues she cares most about; including education, labor, and working families.

“I knew that this was my passion, and I felt this is where I could be most effective on a state level when it came to education, labor, for working with families,” Tichy said.

Throughout the campaign, Tichy said one unexpected source of enthusiasm came from her personal life. She and her now-wife, Jodie Bekman, were married during the campaign, and constituents closely followed their journey.

“A lot of my constituents knew that I was engaged in getting married, and they met my now wife, and our marriage was like part of the campaign,” Tichy said. “So, like our ring, the date, […], Jodie would come along with me just about at every event, so people got to know her and couldn t help but like her.

She believes that openness helped voters connect with her campaign on a personal level.

“I think there was an energy and an excitement to seeing two people that much in love that actually could win.

I think that all contributed to it,” Tichy said.

Tichy also credited support from other LGBTQ elected of cials, including state Del. ris air D- rederick County , who chairs Maryland s LG Caucus, and Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass. She said air was among the rst elected of cials to publicly endorse her campaign.

She also praised the volunteers who helped propel her through the primary election, from canvassing neighborhoods to enduring rainy weather on Election Day. “When I think of how they stood out […] in the rain on election day with raincoats and umbrellas pouring down, holding walk cards that were like just folding over. They were so wet and damp. hat s the type of dedication that we had,” Tichy said.

Outside of politics, Tichy has built a career breaking barriers in the skilled trades. he became Maryland s rst female licensed Master Electrician and now teaches elec-

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CHRISTA TICHY on the campaign trail.

(Photo courtesy of Tichy’s campaign)

trical trade courses, helping students prepare for careers in the eld.

She said many of her students come from underserved communities and that helping them nd stable careers has reinforced her commitment to workforce development.

A lot of her policies focus on workforce development and encouraging more women to oin career trades.

Her experiences in the electrical trade also shaped many of her policy priorities. Tichy said she has advocated for better workplace conditions, including properly tting e uipment for women and paid time off for workers who were often reluctant to take leave.

Working in a male-dominated profession, she said, was not always easy. remember how many times wanted to say, m going to give up. m not going to do this. t s too hard, and always thought m a mom. have, you know, four boys now, but they needed me, and I was all they had, right?”

Tichy said.

Looking ahead to November, Tichy said she hopes to continue the success of her campaign thus far and to keep reaching out to her community for support.

“Our diversity is our greatest strength, and by working together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome,” she said in a statement after winning the Democratic primary.

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ho might replace en. Lindsey Graham after une pected death

A look at the contenders and their LGBTQ records

By JOE REBERKENNY | jreberkenny@washblade.com

Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has died, and what he has left behind is a power vacuum for his U.S. Senate seat — and within the Republican Party.

The South Carolina The late-U.S. Sen. LINDSEY senator had been a major GRAHAM (R-S.C.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) part of Republican politics up until his Saturday death at his home in Washington, reportedly of an aortic dissection related to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Graham has been a ture in government at both the state and federal levels. He began his political career in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1992, representing the Palmetto State’s 2nd District before eventually moving to the federal government.

He moved up to Capitol Hill after his 1994 run for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2003 he stepped across the rotunda to the Senate in 2003 following the retirement of longtime U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond.

He consistently opposed LGBTQ rights.

He voted against the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, saying the decision should be left up to state governments, and the 2013 Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and opposed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

With Graham’s sudden passing, the Republican Party is scrambling to nd a replacement who can advance both its goals and those of the president as Republicans’ supermajority in the federal government begins to shrink.

Among those reportedly in the running is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the highest-ranking openly LGBTQ federal of cial in American history and fth in the presidential line

of succession.

Bessent, a South Carolina native, was formerly a supporter of the Democratic Party and donated to several Democratic presidential candidates before switching parties in 2017 following Trump’s election in 2016. He later donated $1 million to Trump’s 2017 presidential inaugural committee.

On unday, essent was also elding calls from people asking him to run, according to a person familiar with the communications. A person close to Bessent told Politico that he is not interested in the seat, saying he is happy in his role as Treasury secretary, a position he has long wanted.

The Washington Blade reached out to the Treasury Department for comment, but did not receive a response.

One of the most anticipated and widely discussed names for the vacant Senate seat is Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

Evette is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and has gone as far as criticizing Republicans for not supporting the conspiracy theory that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Trump also endorsed her gubernatorial campaign, though she ultimately lost to her now-boss, Gov. Henry McMaster.

McMaster has a long history of opposing LGBTQ rights.

During an October 2022 gubernatorial debate, McMaster said that if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Obergefell v.

Hodges, he would enforce outh Carolinas pree isting law banning same-se marriage. n 2022, he also signed legislation requiring student athletes from elementary school through college to compete on teams corresponding to the se listed on their birth certi cates.

Other names reportedly being considered include U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who has had a contentious relationship with LGBTQ issues during her time in Congress.

She began as a supporter of LGBTQ rights, becoming one of the few Republicans to publicly support the Respect for

Marriage Act, before making a complete about-face as transgender issues became a central part of the Republican Party’s political strategy.

As part of that strategy, Mace introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using female restrooms in the U.S. Capitol, a move she acknowledged was in direct response to the election of U. . ep. arah Mc ride D-Del. , the rst out trans person elected to Congress.

In a November 2024 post on X, Mace wrote: “We support gay marriage, and voted for the Respect for Marriage Act twice. However, if you think protecting women is discrimination, you are the problem. We don’t care if you’re trans, if you have balls we don’t want you in the women’s bathroom.” wo other names being floated are U. . ep. ussell ry, who represents South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who represents the state’s 5th Congressional District.

Trump recommended Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, should serve as the state’s temporary senator in a post on Truth Social on Monday.

“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” Trump wrote on his social network.

The scramble comes as Republicans hold increasingly narrow majorities over Democrats in both the Senate and House, potentially complicating efforts to advance Trump’s agenda. That agenda includes continuing the war in Iran, securing Todd Blanche s con rmation as attorney general, and adding $350 billion in defense spending to the SAVE America Act — a controversial proposal deemed a “Jim Crow 2.0” among voting rights advocates.

McMaster announced Graham’s interim replacement would be Graham’s sister, Darlene Graham Nordone, who will serve out the term until anuary and is not e pected to run to ll the seat.

Gay lorida Democrat denounces rump attacks on civil rights Elijah Manley calls for new leadership in bid for Congress

By JOE REBERKENNY | jreberkenny@washblade.com

Just over two and a half miles from President Donald rumps primary residence lies one of loridas most reliably Democratic congressional districts. There, a 27-year-old progressive is mounting a campaign centered on resisting what he calls the Trump-Vance administration’s attacks on civil rights, immigrants, and LGBTQ Americans.

Elijah Manley, an openly gay Democrat, sat down with the ashington lade to discuss why he is running for loridas 20th Congressional District, why he believes this moment calls for a new generation of leadership, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected to Congress. orn and raised in ort Lauderdale s historic istrunk neighborhood — the city’s oldest African American community — Manley was raised by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet. His family e perienced housing insecurity and, at one point, homelessness, e periences he says continue to shape both his politics and his policy priorities. or Manley, those e periences are precisely what he believes Congress is missing.

“I think now the country is in need of somebody like me, with my story, my lived e perience, the struggles ve been through in my life. We’re going through a really dark time in the country with the Trump administration coming for our civil rights and an economy that is not working for everybody. In a time where we have MAGA fascism, we need progressive leadership, and we need people who are really going to do

the work of ghting back and resisting and obstructing Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans’ agenda in Congress.”

Manley said his campaign is also about ensuring people from marginalized communities — those without wealth, political connections, or institutional backing — have a voice in Congress.

“I think my story sets me aside from everyone else. I’m the only one in this race who has a story to tell voters that lines up with their lived e periences and their struggles. Growing up in poverty and e periencing homelessness was instrumental in developing my worldview and how ght for people, and think that’s something that’s absent on Capitol Hill.”

He argues that lived e perience offers a perspective often missing on Capitol Hill.

“There are too many lawyers and people coming from professional and political backgrounds. Then you have somebody like me who is rooted in the story of this district. That’s what sets me apart from everyone else in this race.”

According to his campaign website, Manley’s interest in public service dates back to childhood. He cites the election of resident arack Obama as a de ning moment that inspired him to pursue politics.

“He was inspired by Barack Obama’s historic election, igniting his passion for public service. He began writing to elected of cials, speaking at school board and city council meetings, and advocating for issues affecting his community,”

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the website states. It goes on to describe his involvement in criminal justice and law magnet programs, Navy JROTC, and hundreds of hours of volunteer service while in high school.

As an openly gay candidate running during Trump’s second administration, Manley said Congress must take a far more aggressive approach to protecting LGBTQ Americans, particularly as Republican-led states continue passing restrictions targeting transgender people.

“I think we need to bring the hammer down on some of these states. I’m not one of these states’ rights people — Congress has the power to preempt laws that states pass through the Supremacy Clause. There’s never been a more important time in our history when we’re seeing fascism, we’re seeing an administration out of control, and we need Congress to act.”

His campaign has also drawn criticism from both Republicans and establishment Democrats for his positions on Gaza, immigration, and his call to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Manley said abolishing ICE does not mean eliminating immigration enforcement altogether.

“I’m not saying there should be no immigration laws. We want laws around immigration, but we want dignity. We don’t need a hyper-militarized, paramilitary group chasing people through the streets, terrorizing communities, churches, schools, and families.”

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Me ico s rst openly gay mayor killed Me ico s rst openly gay mayor was killed last week.

Media reports indicate former resnillo Mayor en am n Medrano was shot to death on uly inside an ice cream store in Guadala ara, the country s second-largest city that is located in alisco state. resnillo is a city in acatecas state.

Medrano, 9, in 201 became Me ico s rst openly gay mayor. He represented acatecas s irst ederal lectoral District in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Me ican Congress, from 201 -2018.

Medrano in 201 was among the elected of cials from across Latin America and the Caribbean who attended a conference in the Dominican epublic that focused on bolstering LG and interse political engagement in the region. he LG Victory nstitute is among the groups that organi ed the gathering.

Medrano after he left of ce faced accusations that he embe led more than 0 million pesos , ,101.20 in public funds when he was president of the acatecas NaDutch Prime Minister ROB JETTEN (Photo courtesy of the Dutch government)

Dutch leader to open orld ride conference Dutch rime Minister ob etten is scheduled to open this year s orld ride Human ights Conference in Amsterdam.

Organi ers in a uly 1 press release said etten will open the conference on Aug. . Amsterdam Mayor emke Halsema outh African Deputy Minister for omen, Youth, and eople with Disabilities teve Letsike former Vene uelan National Assemblywoman amara Adri n and Graeme eid, the independent U.N. e pert on LG and interse issues, are among those who are also e pected to participate in the gathering that will end on Aug. . etten, 9, in ebruary became the Netherlands s rst openly gay prime minister.

His centrist D party won the country s elections last October. Geert ilders s far-right arty for reedom narrowly lost. etten took of ce after he formed a coalition government that includes the center-right Christian Democrats and the center-right eople s arty for reedom and Democracy. orld ride will take place in Amsterdam from uly 2 -Aug. 8.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

BENJAMÍN MEDRANO

(Screen capture via Canalb15fresnillo/YouTube)

tional air s oard of rustees.

La Vo de resnillo, a resnillo newspaper, reported Medrano did not have any identi cation with him when he was shot. A relative identi ed him two days later. tate and federal authorities have not announced a potential motive. hey have also not made any arrests in connection with Medrano s murder.

Anti-LG violence and kidnappings are commonplace in Me ico.

A gay couple from the U. . were among four people found dead in a mass grave outside Me ico City last month.

Members of the alisco New Generation Cartel in ebruary set re to cars and buses in uerto Vallarta, a resort city in alisco state that is a popular destination for LG tourists from the U. ., after Me ican forces killed its powerful leader. uerto Vallarta is roughly 180 miles west of Guadala ara.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

gypt refuses to allow gay cruise to dock in country ormer empe, Ari ., Mayor Neil Giuliano, who is gyptian authorities last week refused to allow a an LG Victory nstitute board member, is among gay cruise to dock in the country. those on the cruise. he carlet Lady, a Virgin Voyages ship that Atlantis ust a few hours before arriving in Ale andria, vents chartered, was to have docked in Ale andria, gypt a city founded by and named for one of the a port city on the Mediterranean ea. he ashingancient world s best-known homose uals governton lade obtained a letter that Atlantis vents resiment authorities rescinded permission for our ship dent ich Campbell sent to passengers last hursday, of 2,000 gay men hours before the to enter gypt, cruise was to have wrote teve May, arrived. who is also on the arly this mornship, on hursday ing, we were inin a acebook formed that carpost. let Lady has been Ale ander the denied entry into Great founded gyptian waters Ale andria in 1 and, as a result, .C. will no longer be As with urkey, able to call in Alwe have been sent e andria today, away not because he wrote. of what we did, know how but because of much this visit (Photo via Bigstock/MaksymKapliuk) who we said we meant to so many are, said May. of you, added am what am is too much liberty for some to bear. o Campbell. e successfully sailed a similar itinerary it was in the United tates as well not long ago, where last year, so we were surprised by this unfortunate deeven ended up as a convicted homose ual after a cision. military trial in 2001 for saying am gay. his is ust a Campbell noted both the Atlantis and Virgin Voyreminder that for all the progress we have made, our ages teams worked tirelessly to make this call in Ale freedom is never secure for any of us, regardless of andria a possibility. who or how we love. ack to urope! his news came as a surprise to all of us, and we re Discrimination and persecution based on se ual ust as disappointed as you are, he said. orientation and gender identity is commonplace in he 10-day cruise left Athens on uly . t is schedgypt. he gyptian ootball Association, along with uled to end in rieste, taly, on uly 1 . the ootball ederation slamic epublic of ran, obhe ship had been scheduled to dock in usadasi, ected to playing in the orld Cup s “ ride Match that a urkish resort town on the Aegean ea, and stanbul took place in eattle on une 2 . earlier this week. urkish authorities refused to allow it MICHAEL K. LAVERS in the country.

1 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JULY 17, 202 6 • I NT E R NAT I O NA L NE WS

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is a writer based in the D.C. area. He is a transgender man and was featured in National Geographic’s “Gender Revolution” documentary. He serves on the board of the LGBT Democrats of Virginia.

Contact him at isaacamendwrites@gmail.com or on Instagram at @literatipapi

Literature is my companion

I’ve lived in Russia, Pakistan, India, but books are always home People often ask where I am from and I never know how to answer.

The factual answer is straightforward enough: I was born in Saudi Arabia, spent parts of my childhood in Pakistan and India, lived in Moscow, and later in Jordan before eventually settling in the United States. The emotional answer is much more complicated. Home kept changing. Languages changed. Schools changed. Friends changed.

The only country I never had to leave was literature.

Some children grow up with a single hometown that anchors their memories. I grew up with departure lounges, embassy compounds, cardboard boxes, and the understanding that permanence was a temporary arrangement. Just when I learned the shape of one place, another place arrived. By the time I reached adulthood, I had become adept at beginning again.

Books offered a different bargain. They asked only that I return.

I was too young in Saudi Arabia to remember much beyond fragments and family stories.

Pakistan arrived as mountains and long drives. We passed through Abbottabad on our way to ski slopes, the landscape unfolding in a way that felt both ancient and immediate. Even as a child, I found comfort in reading during those journeys. A book transformed transit into destination. The hours belonged to a story rather than to geography.

India deepened that relationship. I remember wandering through bookstores near Khan Market in New Delhi, clutching bags of Lay’s chips and searching for something new to carry home. There was a particular joy in rummaging through shelves without any plan, allowing a title or a sentence to nd me rst. Outside our house, cows gra ed peacefully on the grass, untouchable and entirely unconcerned with human schedules. Street vendors sold samosas that remain among the best food I have ever eaten. The world outside was vibrant, crowded, and overwhelming in the best possible way. Reading provided a parallel world—equally rich, but one I could enter and leave on my own terms.

By the time we moved to Moscow, literature had become less of a pastime and more of a companion.

Winters in Russia bring their own emotional architecture. The days contract. Darkness arrives early. At diplomatic receptions in Spaso House, there were blinis, caviar, Christmas cookies, and annual performances of “The Nutcracker.” Yet beyond the formal rituals of diplomacy stood an extraordinary literary inheritance. To live in Moscow is to feel, even faintly, the presence of writers who treated human suffering and longing with unmatched seriousness.

I found myself drawn to Fyodor Dostoevsky and his insistence that contradiction lies at the center of being human. You can hold faith and doubt simultaneously. You can seek love while fearing intimacy. You can desire freedom and still long for belonging. For someone who already felt different from those around him, those lessons mattered. Literature granted permission to be complicated.

Jordan, perhaps more than anywhere else, taught me that books and places can become intertwined. I think of afternoons in Jabal Amman and evenings near Rainbow Street. I think of traveling through adi um, floating in the Dead ea, hiking through adi Mu ib, and standing in etra with the humbling awareness that civili ations outlast individual lives. eading in such places changed the texture of the act itself. The world felt larger, and so did the questions worth asking.

People sometimes imagine literature as an escape from reality. I have never understood it that way.

For me, books did not remove me from the world. They taught me how to inhabit it.

They taught me that loneliness is a universal experience rather than a personal defect. They taught me that identity can be layered and un nished. hey taught me that grief and beauty frequently occupy the same sentence. Most importantly, they taught me that human beings across centuries and continents ask remarkably similar questions: Who am I? What do I owe others? How should I live?

Those questions followed me to college, where literature ceased to be merely a private refuge and became an intellectual vocation. Yet even then, recogni ed that my relationship to books differed from that of many peers. I did not simply love reading. I depended upon it.

Literature had functioned as continuity in a life de ned by movement.

Other people had hometown diners, childhood neighborhoods, and lifelong classmates. had novels, essays, and poems that accompanied every relocation.

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ROSENSTEIN: Vote Susan Stewart for mayor of Rehoboth Beach She says LGBTQ contributions have shaped town’s character

There is really only one clear choice for mayor of Rehoboth Beach, and that is Susan Stewart. She has the experience, knowledge, and clear vision, to successfully lead the city forward. If you want to see in detail what her priorities are, check out her website, www.

Stewart4Mayor.com.

I have been coming to Rehoboth Beach for more than 40 years and love it. I want to see it continue to thrive, and be the place where people will enjoy living, retiring to, and vacationing. All those factors are important to consider when choosing the next mayor.

Susan has said, “I will work to preserve the character of Rehoboth Beach while responsibly investing in the infrastructure, nancial stability, and community partnerships needed for the future.” She understands it is important to manage growth if you are to maintain a great quality of life, and sense of belonging, for those who live there now, and those who will come in the future. In a conversation I had with her, she said something important to me. She said, “As mayor, I will make sure every resident, regardless of who they are or whom they love, feels welcome and represented at City Hall. Rehoboth Beach has long been a place where the LGBTQ community has found belonging, built businesses, and shaped the character of this city. That is not incidental to what makes Rehoboth special.

It is central to it.” She went on to say, “Our city works best when all residents feel heard, respected, and engaged in the decisions that affect their lives. I am committed to bringing people together around shared priorities, and practical solutions.” hen it comes to the city s nancial picture and growth usan said, A town s growth must reflect the community s values, not be imposed upon it. am committed to collaborate with the community to preserve the walkable scale, natural beauty, and neighborhood character, that make Rehoboth Beach irreplaceable.” Susan understands investments in the future must be made in a thoughtful way to guarantee the city continues to thrive. This includes maintaining a great quality of life, with clean streets, safe and attractive structures, accessible beaches, and a vibrant commercial district. Every decision made by the mayor, with the Commission, must ensure that those who live here, feel the city truly belongs to them. usan began her career as an attorney, then transitioned into the nancial services sector. Her early e perience included roles at ma or banks and brokerage rms, where she developed deep expertise in investment strategy, and client advising. In 1996, she founded her own nancial advisory rm where she advised high net worth individuals and families, managing large-cap equity mandates for several state retirement systems and a ortune 00 company. After successfully leading the rm for 1 years, she closed it in 2011 and returned to the brokerage industry. oday, she is a nancial adviser, and senior vice president with The StewartGroup, RBC Wealth Management. Her daughter, Taylor Stewart, is a business partner in their practice. tewart works remotely from her home in ehoboth Beach. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ursinus College; and a Juris Doctor from The Dickinson chool of Law, ennsylvania tate University. he is deeply committed to public service, and currently serves on the City of Rehoboth Beach Commission, and has previously served on the Planning Commission, as well as the Mixed-Use and Stormwater Utility Task Forces. She is also a member of the board of trustees for Ursinus College. ith her strong nancial background people can be assured usan will ensure ehoboth each maintains its strong scal position. Contrary to what one of the commissioners who is also running for mayor has said, ehoboth is in strong scal shape. t is pro ected the city will end the year with a surplus of about $1.5 million, and projections are for surpluses through 20 1. ith her nancial background, usan has the ability to manage taxpayer resources carefully, and has committed to maintaining healthy reserves for the future. She understands any investments must deliver lasting value for residents.

Susan hopes to engage with residents on important questions like deciding which infrastructure projects should be the top priority; how the city should use reserves that exceed its own requirements; what investments will deliver the most value to residents; and how to maintain long-term nancial stability while meeting community needs. believe as an experienced professional, Susan truly believes these are the real policy conversations that should be had, and she will have them.

Where beauty lives.

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Hours: Tues – Sun 10am – 5pm HillwoodMuseum.org 4155 Linnean Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.

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The queer Asian comics building collective joy in D.C. potlighting chaotic ways family, romance, identity take shape in their lives

By CHRISTINA LEE

Kevin Chen’s family tombstone has room for four: him, his parents and his boyfriend. The arrangement might prove to be a little awkward.

“My boyfriend is 100% white, and my parents are 100% disappointed,” Chen confessed.

Jokes about family traditions and the untraditional ways they’re practiced earned a burst of laughs at the bar where Chen was opening for the Pride Comedy Special. The D.C. stand-up event, produced by Comedy Bonfyre last month, spotlighted queer Asian comics who shared the chaotic ways family, romance and identity take shape in their lives.

From candid oral sex takes to top surgery hypotheticals like “Where do the boobs go?”, the night highlighted the loud camaraderie of the queer Asian experience — one that sounds like a cacophony of snorts, cackles and belly laughs. While the comics say they are not quite a community, there’s more than enough shared material to bring them together.

“It was such a magical experience. I loved performing in a queer API lineup. It feels so validating,” Chen said after the show. “I’m wondering, ‘Is this how white men feel all the time?’”

Each performance evoked queer Asian joy through a medium that could use more of its presence.

According to Chen, who is based in D.C., it’s hard to say whether there is a true queer Asian comedy presence in his city. There are only a scattered “handful” of Asian comics, and people of color are underrepresented in ueer comic circles, he said.

When Tarunika Anand, a nonbinary lesbian comic, first entered the mainstream D.C. comedy scene, they mostly encountered straight white men, describing the experience as “a culture shock.”

“I feel like sometimes a lot of queer spaces are really white, and then a lot of Asian spaces are really straight,” Anand said. “I don’t feel like I fit into either.”

But feeling marginalized didn’t stop these comics from honing their craft and creating spaces for others like them. Alex Kim, who headlined the special and is based in Brooklyn, runs the queer Asian comedy group Boba Gays, which began on WhatsApp and has since made its way to Lincoln Center.

Every Wednesday, Anand co-produces a free comedy show called Funny Side Up. The queer-led group focuses on inclusivity and showcasing new talent.

“It’s really beautiful to speak about your experience and your existence in a way that’s uplifting,” Anand said.

Family is a major throughline of their comedic repertoires.

Chen, for instance, shared that he identifies with jokes about having Asian immigrant parents and the e pectations they pass down.

“You see me, you know this part about me, you know this experience intimately, and I can see the truth that you’re trying to wrap a joke around,” he said.

“That hits even harder because that’s my truth too. I think that’s what makes good comedy.”

2 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JULY 17, 202 6

ALEX KIM performs at the Pride Comedy Special in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Christina Lee/VOICES)

Anand had the audience at the special howling when they explained that their parents’ be-more-likethem comparisons didn’t end when they came out. nstead, the e pectations took on a new form.

“Now, my parents want me to be the best gay,” Anand said. “They’re like, ‘Do you know Ellen DeGeneres Kim said he’s been trying to unlearn things from his Christian Korean mom. Yet he described a moment when he was getting ready for the club and realized he looked just like his mother getting ready for church. ve been finding it hard to escape her, im said.

Mutual recognition also radiates through the different ways queer love can take shape. From singlehood to death-do-us-part commitments, the comics cover just about every corner.

Anand is holding out hope for settling down with “a nice, pretty, Indian girl.” They recently went through a breakup and said they felt they dodged a bullet.

“As a person of color, I just don’t think I should be with a wiftie, they said.

Chen, touching on what it’s like to be in a queer interracial relationship, said that meeting his white boyfriend’s baby nephew for the first time felt like he was forced to participate in a diversity, equity and inclusion training.

“The dad was like, ‘Please welcome Kevin. Be curious about his culture, his history, his foods,’” Chen oked.

Laughter is not the only reward for the comics.

To Anand, comedy is a space where they can say whatever they want. t gives me a voice, they said.

Nik Narain, a North Carolina-based trans and nonbinary South Asian comic who performed at the special, said meeting older trans comedians and taking the stage helped him feel reassured in his identity during his transition.

“Stand-up was a really cool way to process that onstage,” he said. “[It] became a way for me to repackage my thoughts.”

Queer Asians are still figuring out their place in the greater D.C. comedy scene. The group is small in numbers and many are still working toward a full-time comedy career. But Narain feels he’s already made it.

Narain is reluctant to pin it all on one moment. He feels that success is already peeking through in milestones — opening for celebrities, traveling to performances and self-producing shows.

“As long as I can keep doing this, I’m super happy,” he said.

This story was produced as part of the AAJA VOICES fellowship program, a student journalism project of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

Celebrating America 250 With Thirty-Eight Years Of Trusted DMV Real Estate Expertise For nearly four decades, Michael Moore has been guiding clients through the complexities of the Washington housing market with a calm hand, sharp negotiation skills, and a refreshing sense of humor.

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Friday, July 17

Thursday, July 23

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on ventbrite.

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center s website.

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk thedccenter.org or call 202- 82-22 .

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Saturday, July 18 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.

The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 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 judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

OUT & ABOUT Rehoboth’s Aqua to celebrate 20th anniversary Sunday

Sunday, July 19 “Nellie’s DC Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar. Come get served like a queen by a queen. Join Sapphire Blue, Deja Diamond and their team of amazing drag performers for the most fun you’ll have all weekend. Tickets are $58.51 and are available on ventbrite.

Monday, July 20 Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch 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 choice.

For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@thedccenter.org).

Tuesday, July 21 Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as bi individuals in a private setting. Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, July 22 Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-con dence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective ob 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. 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. or more details, email supportdesk thedccenter.org.

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Aqua’s KATIE LYELL is the reigning Best Rehoboth Bartender in the Blade’s Best of LGBTQ DC awards competition. (Blade file photo)

Aqua Bar & Grill in Rehoboth Beach will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Sunday, July 19 from 2-7 p.m. DJ Biff will entertain the crowd; there will be complimentary birthday cake and surprise guests.

The event marks the culmination of Pride weekend in Rehoboth Beach, which runs all weekend with panel discussions, parties, and more.

Whitman-Walker to host legal services workshop Whitman Walker Health Center will host a legal services workshop on Tuesday, July 21 at p.m. virtually and in-person at the DC LG Community Center.

Attorneys from WWH will give an overview of the free legal services they offer and discuss recent challenges. WWH meets clients where they are to address the issues they are facing, such as: • Immigration relief based on LGBTQ+/HIV status • ublic bene ts, including ocial ecurity Disability denials • Appealing health insurance denials of Gender Af rming Care • Name changes and ID Document update. To attend virtually, please register online so we can send the Zoom information. To attend in person, no registration is required.

Open House Sunday July 19 from 1 to 4 PM

835 N. Buchanan St. Arlington VA 22203 Offered at $890,000 Tucked away on a cozy cul-de-sac just a stroll to Ballston, this 3 bedroom 2 bath colonial is in pristine move-in condition. Fresh paint, gleaming wood floors on two levels and a lower level bedroom and bath with a separate entry and rental potential. A detached garage and deep driveway too.

Enjoy the flat yard for sports, gardening,or gateringg under the shade of vintage trees along with a great location. Walk the tranquil bike path to Ballston Metro and enjoy the restaurants, parks, and nightlife that Ballston offers.

Move in to this appealing home in an impressive location.

BETSY TWIGG

Associate Broker | Licensed in Virginia 703.967.4391 (CELL) betsy.twigg@corcoranmce.com Corcoran McEnearney. REALTORS 3135 Langston Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 betsytwigg.com Equal Housing Opportunity

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BOOKS

Liza’s book a tale that’s better than most celebrity memoirs ‘Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!’ dishes on marriages, heartbreak

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Twenty feet In front of you, and you can’t see a thing.

Even the closest faces are in shadow – lit, but not quite enough for you to see for sure what the people there are thinking. Still, you can hear them, their gasps, their laughter, and applause. Such is life, on-stage. Now read “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! My Memoir” by Liza Minnelli, as told to Michael Feinstein, and read about it beyond the spotlight.

Almost from the moment she was born, Liza Minnelli was famous.

It was inevitable: her mother was Judy Garland. Her father was director Vincente Minnelli. Her godparents were Hollywood glitterati, her neighbors were famous, her playmates would be famous someday, too.

But her life wasn’t all starlight and happiness.

She made her stage debut as a toddler. She became her “mother’s caretaker” at age 13.

At 16, she had a growing career of her own – one that her mother tried to stop. But, she says, “In her own way, Mama was wonderful to me. Try understanding – she was my mother, not a movie star…. I knew her as the person who loved me and always would.”

At 19, Minnelli was working, happy, and madly in love with the man who d become her rst husband, and life was

wonderful - until she came home one day to nd him in their bed with another man. Before they were divorced, she lost her beloved mother, and became “engaged” to two other men simultaneously, neither of which made it to the altar with her.

She married her second husband, the son of one of her mother’s former co-stars, in 1974 but her love affairs and addictions led to a second divorce.

Her third husband was a stage manager.

She doesn’t have much good to say about her fourth, and last, husband.

Overall, she says, “You gotta play the comedy for all it’s worth and leave ‘em laughing. Even when your heart is breaking.”

Are you expecting bluntness, sass, or attitude here? Good, because that’s what you get inside “Kids, Wait Till You Hear his! t s strong on honesty and don t-give-a-flip. t s wonderfully edited, so it moves fast. It’s eye-opening and funny and a pleasant surprise for a rst, and only so far , memoir. ven better, author Li a Minnelli with best friend, Michael einstein is really uite candid and nicely gossipy, starting from the beginning. There are some Hollywood folks, in fact, who are feeling edgy because of what’s inside this book and

the secrets spilled.

Minnelli and Feinstein seemed to have fun telling her story, and they comfortably lure readers in.

That’s not to say that it’s all a cabaret. Minnelli tells about her addictions and recoveries, her marriages and why she wed ‘Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!

My Memoir’ two gay men, and

By Liza Minnelli, as told to Michael Feinstein the losses she c.2026, Grand Central | $36 | 421 pages endured, including miscarriages, deaths, and broken relationships. The bad balances well with the good for a tale that’s several notches above most celebrity memoirs.

“Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!” is, in fact, a real joy to read, a genuine bright spot.

FILM

30 years on, ‘The Birdcage’ remains a landmark A reminder that the only thing required to make a family is love

By JOHN PAUL KING

In 1996, after the AIDS epidemic had cast its shadow over the gay community for a decade and a half, the breakthrough nally came the success of antiretroviral medication turned a fatal disease into a manageable and survivable condition — and suddenly, “queer joy” began to feel like a possibility again.

The year 1996 also saw the release of “The Birdcage,” a remake of the farcical rench lm comedy La Cage au olles, about a gay couple who attempt to “play it straight” when their son brings his anc e s conservative parents over for dinner, starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane — in one of his rst non-animated lm roles as the couple. t was notable as one of the rare studio lms of the era to center on gay characters, and the fact that it was a certi ed bo of ce hit represented a welcome cultural shift after the years of homophobic stigma fostered by Reagan-era “moral majority” conservatism.

These two landmarks were coincidental, of course, and obviously the signi cance of the rst though it came a few months later was, in the scheme of things, far more monumental. Nevertheless, there’s something about the timing that marked a de nitive moment in the ongoing struggle for queer acceptance. It was a palpable turn of the tide, a moment in time when we could collectively “unclench” — and 30 years later, in the midst of a whole new onslaught of conservative bigotry that threatens to erode the progress of the intervening years, it’s a moment worth celebrating, if for no other reason than to remind ourselves of what is possible when we refuse to hide who we are. hat, after all, is the central conflict in he irdcage, ust as it was in the earlier rench play by ean oiret and lm that inspired it, as well as the hit roadway musical La Cage au olles adapted by ueer writer Harvey ierstein and ueer composer erry Herman that came in between. et in the famously gay Miami neighborhood of South Beach, it centers on a popular queer nightclub owned by longtime partners 2 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JULY 17, 202 6

Armand illiams , who runs the business, and Albert Lane , a flamboyant drag performer known as tarina who serves as the club’s headlining act; as a result of a long-ago one-night stand, Armand is father to Val Dan utterman , whom the couple have raised together, and who has become engaged to arbara Calista lockhart , the daughter of a prominent conservative senator Gene Hackman . earing that knowledge of his parents’ true relationship will prevent the senator from allowing the marriage, Val convinces Armand and Albert to temporarily “straightwash” themselves for a dinner party with the would-be future in-laws. Naturally, things do not go as planned this is a farce, after all , but by the end, the gays “save the day,” as they say, by helping the senator and his wife Dianne iest avoid a scandal, and the kids get to have their wedding, after all.

It’s true that “The Birdcage” has invited criticism from within the community over the years for offering exaggerated stereotypes, especially in its depictions of “femme” characters like Albert and Agador Hank A aria , the couple s Guatemalan housekeeper — and, in more recent times, from younger queer viewers who brand Val as “the real villain” of the movie for his insistence on making his parents pretend to be straight. here s also the uibble that two of the lm s leading gay characters are played by heterose ual actors illiams and A aria and that neither the writer nor director of the lm were ueer themselves. We can’t dispute the validity of such positions, but we can certainly suggest that they might be missing the point.

The director, Mike Nichols, was a man who had transitioned from being a comedian to becoming a celebrated director for both stage and screen, responsible for among many other lms ho s Afraid of Virginia oolf and he Graduate, and the script was by Elaine May, his former comedy partner, known for her witty, sophisticated, and savvy screenwriting.

NATHAN LANE and ROBIN WILLIAMS in ‘The Birdcage.’

Both came with a pedigree that included extensive collaboration with queer performers and creators, and a track record that clearly showed their dedication for humanity and truth over the social constructs they repeatedly undermined with shrewd observational satire.

Williams, known then and now for his manic, over-the-top cartoonishness, plays Armand with complete sincerity, balancing his signature lunacy like the classic osse, osse moment as he directs a new act for the club with a deeply considered emotional solidity that never strikes a false note; and Azaria, whose performance became an instantly iconic fan favorite of outrageous femme-boy camp, is lovable precisely because his iteration of the clich is so completely un-selfconscious, and is still beloved arguably as much for this as for his decades of voice work on “The Simpsons” — not because he is ridiculous he is, and hilariously so but because he is so recognizably real.

As for Lane, Albert’s character is explicitly written as a “diva,” the kind of gay male “show queen” stereotype that never quite offends because we all know someone — or are someone who ts that pro le to a tee underneath it all is a person determined to live life on their own terms, and it makes his emergence as an eleventh-hour hero/heroine all the more satisfying. Let’s face it, when the chips are down, none of us could ask for a better mom than he turns out to be.

CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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merald City ride

Colorful march followed by festival in Greenbelt, Md. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

he fth annual merald City ride was held in Greenbelt, Md. on aturday, uly 11.

Westminster Pride LGBTQ festival held in Maryland city (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

The eighth annual Westminster Pride Festival was held at Westminster City Park in Westminster, Md. on Saturday, July 11.

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AUTOS

Hot hatchbacks: Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza Two fun and functional rides

By JOE PHILLIPS

The latest Honda Civic hatchback and Subaru Impreza are two of the segment’s stars. Both offer sensible pricing, excellent utility and enough personality to avoid feeling like appliances.

The Civic is more polished. The Impreza, more rugged. Luckily, neither is trying to be obno iously flashy.

HONDA CIVIC $28,000 | MPG: 30 city/38 highway 0 to 60 mph: 8.9 seconds Cargo space: 24.5 cu. ft.

PROS: uel ef cient. pacious cargo area. Good resale value.

CONS: No all-wheel drive. Fussy infotainment. Low rear headroom.

WHAT’S NEW: Only minor updates for 2026. The biggest change carries over from last year’s refresh: the addition of the hybrid, which has become a star performer.

The Honda Civic hatchback won’t scream for attention. It won’t arrive wearing sequins and carrying a smoke machine. It’s more like Nomi Marks from “Sense8”: intelligent, sophisticated and impressively capable.

The styling remains handsome and clean.

Long hood. Low roofline. Crisp lines everywhere. Honda resisted the urge to make this vehicle look like a spaceship or an angry robot. That’s refreshing.

Inside, the dashboard is simple and elegant. The honeycomb air-vent treatment

remains one of the coolest interior details in the segment. Materials feel expensive. Controls are easy to understand. And visibility is excellent.

I love how the cargo space is generous, with rear seats that fold flat. A bicycle, several suitcases or enough supplies for an ambitious weekend road trip t without much hassle.

Then there’s the hybrid. The system produces a healthy amount of power while delivering fuel economy that borders on the absurd. Around town, handling feels smooth, quiet and surprisingly quick. You almost glide through traf c. he standard gasoline engine isn’t bad, but the hybrid is stellar.

The Civic also shines on twisty roads.

Steering is precise. Body motions stay controlled. The suspension strikes a sweet balance between comfort and sportiness.

Biggest weakness? No all-wheel drive.

For drivers in snowy climates, that’s not so good.

Still, the Civic’s stellar combination of efciency, uality, and driving en oyment remains incredibly hard to beat.

SUBARU IMPREZA $27,000 | MPG: 27 city/33 highway 0 to 60 mph: 8.5 seconds Cargo space: 20.4 cubic feet PROS: All-wheel drive. User-friendly tech.

Safety cred.

CONS: No hybrid version. Some road noise. Modest cargo room.

WHAT’S NEW: The Impreza receives relatively minor updates for 2026. Subaru continues re ning this hatchback rather than reinventing it.

If the Honda Civic is urbane, the Subaru Impreza is unfussy. There’s a kind of Kristen Stewart energy here. Cool without trying too hard.

The styling isn’t dramatic, but it works.

This hauler appears ready to tackle rain, snow, dirt roads or an impromptu weekend escape.

And all-wheel drive comes standard on every Impreza. (Most competitors only offer front-wheel drive or include all-wheel drive as a pricey option.)

The result: Slippery roads simply don’t create much anxiety. The suspension absorbs bumps nicely. Long trips are comfortable. Visibility is great, thanks to relatively thin roof pillars and large windows.

I like how the cabin is functional rather than fancy. Materials don’t quite match the Civic’s upscale vibe, but everything feels sturdy. A large infotainment screen dominates the dashboard and generally works well, though some drivers may prefer more physical buttons.

Cargo space is respectable, and the design makes loading bulky items easy.

Performance depends heavily on trim. he base engine gets the ob done, but no-

HONDA CIVIC

SUBARU IMPREZA

body will confuse it for a sports car. The RS trim’s larger engine provides more power and makes the ride livelier. But even then, acceleration remains merely adequate.

The Impreza’s real appeal lies elsewhere, with a mix that few rivals can match: hatchback practicality, standard all-wheel drive, strong safety scores and reasonable pricing.

Perhaps that’s the key difference between these two hatchbacks. The Honda Civic impresses immediately. The Subaru Impreza grows on you.

Fortunately, choosing between them is less stressful than deciding who gets the last mimosa at brunch.

REAL ESTATE

When buying a home, it’s decisions, decisions, decisions Keeping notes on the process makes for an informed purchase

By JOSEPH HUDSON

When looking to buy a home, there are lots of details to consider. Many of my clients would come to me and say, “Joe I want to buy a place, but I haven’t decided which neighborhood to buy in.” And the struggle was real. A few clients had everything decided from the color of the hallway walls to the cabinet handles and sometimes which three square blocks they wanted to look at.

But other clients were occasionally looking at properties in areas as distinct as Union Market/NOMA, Brookland, Logan Circle, and then we would even go across the river to look at a property in Shirlington or the Van Dorn areas of Virginia, which all have their own uni ue flavor and characteristics.

Sometimes clients would tell me, “I only want to look in Mount Pleasant or Adams Morgan.” Or, “don’t even show me any properties west of this street or south of

that street. My ob wasn t to convince people where to live. t was to ust take the parameters they set for me and nd as good of a property in that zone as I could, coordinate the showings and, if necessary, offer the strategy.

One can see that buyers often had more

If you’re buying a home, take careful notes throughout the process.

(Photo via Bigstock/Andy Dean Photography)

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decisions to make than a seller. From a seller’s perspective, the house was where it was, and we ust had to make the best of it. But working with a buyer could mean looking at ve different neighborhoods, and then being a “thought partner” to help them gure out which were the top two or three areas they had seen, and then further distilling those down into what was available and weighing those options against each other.

One house could have the dream bathroom but also be located six blocks further from a Metro stop, walkable shopping and dining, and ust too far away from my friends.” Another house could have all the neighborhood options a client was looking for, but was ust not in turnkey condition, and would require an additional $30,000 of upgrades once purchased to make it into the dream home they envisioned.

One activity I often asked buyers to do

was to keep an active list in their heads of the properties they liked, and to keep a running rank of the top three. I often encouraged them to bring a notebook along on the ourney where they could take notes and write down questions they thought of as they looked. It was an important decision, and sometimes the largest purchase of their lives. Why not take it a little seriously, and take notes? This could often help the buyer later when they felt it was time to decide.

The point here is, keeping a notebook handy can sometimes help a person with what feels like an overwhelming process. It provides a space to explore how one feels, ot down important details to remember, and then use that to make an informed decision.

Joseph Hudson is a referral agent with RLAH. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or joemike76@gmail.com.

Charming beach towns just beyond Rehoboth’s boardwalk

REAL ESTATE

The dream of coastal living didn’t disappear — it relocated

By JUSTIN NOBLE

For years, the conventional wisdom about coastal living has been simple: if you want proximity to the beach, you pay premium prices. A home in Rehoboth Beach runs $1.96 million on the median. Nearby Maryland coastal waterfront towns can command similar premiums. And yet, just a short drive away—often only 10-15 minutes—sits a collection of small towns where the charm is genuine, the community is real, and the price tags are dramatically different. hese aren t the towns you ll nd in glossy resort marketing. They’re the places locals know about. The places where neighbors know each other’s names, where Main Streets still matter, and where you can own water oriented property or a substantial home on dry land for a fraction of what beachfront would cost. For buyers in 2026—particularly those priced out of traditional beach towns or simply looking for a lifestyle over a postcode—these overlooked gems are rewriting what coastal living actually means.

Dagsboro, Delaware: Bethany’s step sibling Distance to Beach: 12 minutes to Bethany Beach | Median Price: $300,000 Dagsboro is seldom spoken about but

heavily traveled through in Delaware’s beach hierarchy. Located just 12 miles west of Bethany Beach, this town of fewer than 900 residents has been steadily repositioning itself as a destination for buyers who value authenticity over oceanfront square footage.

The town is anchored by an actual functioning downtown—something increasingly rare. Clayton Theatre, Delaware’s last single-screen movie theater, still screens lms in its original 1948 Art Deco setting. Katie Helm Park sits in the center of town with a picturesque gazebo where locals gather.

Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek just outside of town, and Holts Landing tate ark is minutes away for kayaking, shing, and water access. Restaurants, coffee shops, antiques and shops abound.

What makes Dagsboro compelling isn’t just its charm—it’s the mathematics. The median home price hovers around $300,000, making it roughly 84% less expensive than Rehoboth Beach’s median of $1.96 million. You’re not buying a compromise here.

New construction ranges from $350,000 to $500,000+, and waterfront or water-access properties in communities like Blackwater Village or Seagrass Plantation are genuinely accessible. For $400,000-$450,000, you can

own a modern home with community amenities, possibly even dock access, in a town that still feels like a town rather than a resort.

Milton, Delaware: The Town That’s Become a Secret Distance to Beach: 15 miles to Rehoboth; 20 minutes to beach access | Median Price: $435,000-$515,000 Milton sits right on the Broadkill River, just west of Lewes, and it’s become the darling of Delaware’s emerging coastal communities. The median home price ranges from $435,000 to $515,000 depending on the source—still roughly 75% less expensive than Rehoboth Beach.

Unlike Dagsboro’s small-town quiet, Milton offers walkable downtown energy without the tourist density. The town is home to Dog sh Head rewery, one of the country s most celebrated craft breweries, which has transformed Milton into a destination for visitors. The Milton Theater hosts live performances. Farmers markets operate year-round. The dining scene has grown accordingly—think farm-to-table rather than boardwalk fried.

What’s particularly attractive about Milton is the range of neighborhoods. Historic properties in the town center offer charm

Milton, Del. is a more affordable option near the coast in Delaware. (Blade file photo)

and walkability. River-oriented communities like River Rock Run provide larger lots and more privacy while maintaining proximity to downtown. Broadkill Beach, technically part of Milton, offers bay access and the lifestyle of waterfront living at a radically different price point than Lewes or Rehoboth proper. The community has real draw beyond beach weekends.

Berlin, Maryland: “America’s Coolest Small Town” (And It Actually Is) Distance to Beach: 8-10 miles to Ocean City; Assateague Island nearby | Median Price: $439,000-$475,000 CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM Justin Noble is a Realtor with Monument Sotheby’s International Realty. Reach him at 302-8977499 or Justin.noble@sothebysrealty.com.

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PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

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this circa-1890 stately Grand Dame commands a premier position overlooking life on Logan Circle. With two sides of broad bay windows on 3 levels, bathing the home in natural light--each framing beautiful views of the park--and a coveted fenced and private courtyard, you’ll have a front row seat to this historic neighborhood in downtown DC. 6 bedrooms/3 baths and private entry to lower level living.

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