APRIL 01, 2016 VOLUME 47 ISSUE 14 • AMERICA’S GAY NEWS SOURCE • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM Protests, travel bans discrimination. “Georgia is a welcoming state fi lled emerge after rise of with warm, friendly and loving people. anti-LGBT bills Our cities and countryside are populated with people who worship God in a myriad of ways and in very diverse settings,” said By CHRIS JOHNSON Deal during a press conference in Atlanta. [email protected] “Our people work side-by-side without regard to the color of our skin, or the A national backlash emerged this week religion we adhere to. We are working to after several states passed “religious make life better for our families and our freedom” and other bills that enable communities. That is the character of businesses and schools to discriminate Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep against LGBT people. it that way.” Lawsuits, boycotts and travel bans Georgia lawmakers had approved have emerged following passage of such House Bill 757 that would have allowed laws and may have helped persuade at faith-based organizations to deny least one governor to veto a measure. In services “that violate such faith-based Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday organization’s sincerely held religious vetoed a religious freedom bill that critics A new lawsuit has been fi led against the anti-LGBT law in North Carolina. contend would have allowed anti-LGBT CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 SCREEN CAPTURE COURTESY OF WRAL Flier reveals 2009 voyeurism and aimed at discrediting his campaign to become Baltimore’s fi rst out gay member of the City Council. arrest of gay Council candidate Cross is one of seven candidates competing in the city’s April 26 Democratic primary for the 12th District By LOU CHIBBARO JR. Council seat being vacated by longtime incumbent [email protected] Carl Stokes, who is running for mayor. D.C. Superior Court records show that in September A gay attorney and civic activist running for a seat on the 2009 Cross pled guilty as part of a plea bargain Baltimore City Council says he’s being targeted by fl iers agreement with prosecutors to a misdemeanor mailed to residents of his district that mischaracterize charge of voyeurism. The plea came after he admitted the circumstances surrounding his 2009 arrest in D.C. he clandestinely recorded video of a partially nude on a misdemeanor charge of voyeurism. man changing his clothes in the locker room of the Kelly Cross, 38, told the Washington Blade he Washington Sports Club gym at 738 7th St., N.W. KELLY CROSS pled guilty to a charge of voyeurism in D.C. believes the anonymous fl iers, which falsely describe in 2009. him as a “convicted sex off ender,” are homophobic CONTINUES ON PAGE 06 PHOTO COURTESY OF CROSS 02 • APRIL 01, 2016 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM ADVERTISING PROOF PROOF #2 ISSUE DATE: 03.11.16 SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS ([email protected]) REVIEW AD FOR COPY AND DESIGN ACCURACY. Revisions must be submitted within 24 hours of the date of proof. Proof will be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within 24 hours of the date of proof. Revisions will not be accepted after 12:01 pm wednesday, the week of publication.Brown naff pitts omnimedia REVISIONS llc (dba the washington blade) is not responsible for the content and/or design of your ad. Advertiser is responsible REDESIGN for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users can link through the advertisement. 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This includes but is not limited to placement, omnimedia llc, arising out of or related to advertiser’s breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties. payment and insertion schedule. WASHINGTONBLADE.COM APRIL 01, 2016 • 03 The Home You’ll Love in the neighborhood you can’t wait to explore Hurry! Only a few townhomes remain at Chelsea Heights, the EYA neighborhood that’s steps from Silver Spring Metro, Whole Foods, AFI Silver, and some of the area’s best restaurants and entertainment venues. Visit today and discover luxury features and wide open living spaces inside and out. New Townhomes with Rooftop Terraces from the $800s OVER 80% SOLD OUT! Model Homes Open Daily 11am–6pm | 301-565-6700 25 Ellsworth Heights Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910 EYA.com/Blade DIRECTIONS: From the District, travel north on Georgia Avenue toward Silver Spring. Turn right onto Colesville Road. Turn right onto Spring Street. Spring Street becomes Cedar Street. Turn left onto Ellsworth Drive. Turn right on Ellsworth Heights Street. MHBR 7092 PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. EYA MARKETING LLC. WASHINGTONBLADE.COM 04 • APRIL 01, 2016 LOCAL NEWS Department will be vigilant in making sure all insurers comply with the law.” Stewart announced the new regulation nearly three years after Gov. Jack Markell signed a law that bans discrimination in Delaware based on gender identity and expression. “Equality Delaware applauds this life-saving action by the Delaware Department of Insurance,” said Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware, a statewide LGBT advocacy group, in a statement. “Excluding coverage for medically necessary care for transgender individuals remains one of the most frequent examples of anti-LGBT discrimination.” The Maryland Insurance Administration issued a bulletin last month that said insurance plans sold in the state must cover trans-specifi c care. Then-D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray in 2014 announced health insurance companies doing business in the nation’s capital must provide full coverage of sex-reassignment surgery and other treatments that allow trans people to change their gender. MICHAEL K. LAVERS U.S. Senate candidate with lesbian daughter opposes marriage A Republican who is seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) last week said he opposes marriage rights for same-sex couples, even though he has a lesbian daughter. Gay comedian LESLIE JORDAN will perform during Pride weekend in D.C. “I have a lesbian daughter,” said Richard Douglas during a debate on WBFF in PHOTO COURTESY OF JORDAN Baltimore, according to the Washington Post. “I love my daughter, I want no harm to come to her, but our traditions matter and tolerance is a two-way street.” The Washington Post reported that Douglas said he “didn’t celebrate” the extension Leslie Jordan to perform, of marriage rights for same-sex couples in Maryland in 2012. “I didn’t agree with the result,” he said, according to the Washington Post. serve as Pride grand marshal Douglas is running against Chrysovalantis Kefalas, state Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore and Harford Counties) and Anthony Seda in the April 26 Republican primary. The Washington Post reported that Kefalas, who is gay and former Maryland Gov. Emmy Award-winning actor, playwright and activist Leslie Jordan will perform Bob Ehrlich’s legal counsel, said in response to Douglas’ comments that marriage rights a D.C. show, then serve as a grand marshal of the 2016 Capital Pride Parade in for same-sex couples is “an issue of individual liberty, equality and dignity.” June. “This was a divisive issue in the past,” said Szeliga, according to the Washington Post. Jordan’s show, presented by the Washington Blade, is slated for Friday, June “But it’s defi nitely been settled. What Marylanders care about now are taxes, jobs and 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at washingtonblade.com/leslie. the economy.” On Saturday, June 10, he will serve as a grand marshal of the Pride parade, Larry Jacobs, chair of the Equality Maryland board of directors, criticized Douglas. which kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Jordan is also scheduled to attend the “Crack of “I feel for his daughter,” Jacobs told the Blade. “While I agree that traditions matter, Noon” Pride Brunch at noon that day. Those tickets will be released in early April. it is sad that he puts them ahead of the needs of his own family. If he were my father, I He is also scheduled to appear at Team DC’s Nationals Night OUT on Tuesday, would disown him. So should the voters of Maryland.” June 14. MICHAEL K. LAVERS Jordan is best known for his Emmy-winning role on “Will & Grace,” as well as his role in Sordid Lives, the fi lm and the series, among many others. In addition, he also has a long history of LGBT activism. His volunteer work goes back to the Crenshaw named interim head of Alston Foundation early days of the AIDS crisis, when he helped with AIDS Project Los Angeles, and a regional food delivery program. The Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing-related services for homeless “I’ve seen a great deal of pain, and I’ve seen a great deal of progress.