OCTOBER 03 2014 VOLUME 45 ISSUE 40 • CELEBRATING 45 YEARS AS AMERICA’S GAY NEWS SOURCE • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM Holder leaves signifi cant LGBT rights legacy after stepping down as attorney general By CHRIS JOHNSON [email protected] After serving for more than six years as U.S. attorney general, Eric Holder leaves a signifi cant imprint on the record of the Obama administration — and at the forefront of that legacy is his role in advancing LGBT rights. At an event last week in the State Dining Room of the White House announcing his departure, President Obama said Holder made revitalizing the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department a priority because he believes it’s “the conscience of the building.” “And several years ago, he recommended that our government stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act — a decision that was vindicated by the Supreme Court, and opened the door to federal recognition of same-sex marriage, and federal benefi ts for same-sex couples,” Obama said. “It’s a pretty good track record.” The sense that LGBT rights had signifi cantly advanced during the administration was echoed by Holder in remarks that followed Obama’s. “We have begun to realize the promise of equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters and their families,” Holder said. ‘We have begun to realize the promise of equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters and their CONTINUES ON PAGE 12 families,’ said ERIC HOLDER. Human relations commission into whether LGBT students at Cape Henlopen High discussion on the role that the State Human Relations investigating anti-LGBT discrimination School in the city of Lewes have been subjected to Commission can play in promoting amicable relations,” discrimination. according to the commission’s June meeting minutes. Information about the commission’s action became “Additionally, the school will be contacted to look into By LOU CHIBBARO JR. part of the public record on Sept. 11 when the the issue concerning wearing of stoles at graduation [email protected] commission approved the minutes of the June 12 that occurred,” the minutes state. meeting after returning from its summer recess. Maihoff introduced her resolution one week after In a little-noticed development, the Delaware “Commissioner [Nancy] Maihoff made a motion to the publication of a June 5 Washington Blade story Human Relations Commission voted unanimously contact the Cape Henlopen School District to request at its June 12, 2014 meeting to open an investigation a meeting regarding the recent hate issue and a CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 INDICTED NEW APPROACH PIONEER Harrisburg treasurer After partner’s cancer Rev. Robert Wood, at 91, resigns after being battle, Kate Clinton says refl ects on WWII and his charged with theft. less pink and more punk. lifetime of advocacy. PAGE 6 PAGE 20 PAGE 23 02 • OCTOBER 03, 2014 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM COMMUNITY CLUBHOUSES | FITNESS FACILITY | SWIMMING POOL | NEAR SHOPPING AND DINING WALKING DISTANCE TO THE MUIRKIRK MARC STATION | JUST MINUTES FROM I-95, THE ICC & ROUTE 1 URBAN SOPHISTICATION. UNBEATABLE LOCATION. 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See Community Sales Manager for community specific details as they may not be available on all homes. MHBR No. 7265 and 7285 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM 04 • OCTOBER 03, 2014 LOCAL NEWS to pushing for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and hate crimes protections legislation. But Clinton also in 1993 signed into law “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” billing the law as a compromise measure that would allow gay people to serve in the military as long as they kept quiet about their sexual orientation. Clinton also signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 under pressure from a Republican Congress. Following his presidency, Clinton came out in opposition to those laws. CHRIS JOHNSON Bob Witeck, Bob Connelly Jr. wed Bob Witeck, a longtime LGBT rights advocate and president of Witeck Communications, and Bob Connelly Jr., a senior researcher for the National Geographic Channel and an adjunct professor at American University, were married on Wednesday in Washington. U.S. Tax Court Judge Joseph Gale, a friend of the couple, performed the marriage About 50 supporters attended a vigil on Saturday. ceremony in his chambers on the 20th anniversary of the date when Witeck and Connelly fi rst met at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Washington. WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY “We had our honeymoon in Europe in August,” said Witeck, where he and Connelly took a cruise from Amsterdam to Prague. The honeymoon came at a time when Connelly was free from his teaching duties prior to the start of the fall semester at A.U., where he Trans activists hold vigil teaches a course on LGBT issues. “My husband and I had 10 days together in Europe. That was very special,” Witeck outside Black Caucus meeting said. “When you’ve lived together for 20 years your honeymoon is whenever you can make it.” About 50 transgender activists and their supporters held a prayer vigil outside Witeck and Connelly have lived in Arlington since the time they became a couple. Both D.C.’s Walter Washington Convention Center on Sept. 27, the fi nal day that the work in D.C. Although they regret they could not marry in their home state, Witeck said Congressional Black Caucus held its annual legislative conference there. the two are hopeful that pending court cases challenging Virginia’s same-sex marriage Organizers said the event was part of a newly launched campaign called Black ban will result in the ban being overturned in the near future. Trans Women’s Lives Matter and was intended to honor black and Latina trans “I hope I get my marriage recognized soon,” said Witeck. “Every night when I leave women who were murdered this year, some of whom were victims of hate crimes. my offi ce in the nation’s capital I cross the bridge where my marriage is no longer Lead organizer Ashley Love, a black and Latina woman who identifi es as a recognized.” transsexual and intersex advocate and journalist from New York, said the LOU CHIBBARO JR. event was also aimed at sending a message to black lawmakers attending the conference that the mainstream black social justice movement often ignores the Chris Abell, popular DJ, dies at 56 plight of trans women of color.