Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass (At-Large) announced a series of LGBTQ+ Pride Month events throughout the month of June. Events include a Pride flag raising outside the Executive Office Building in Rockville, Pride Family Day at Glen Echo Park and a Pride youth writing competition.
“I’m excited to host Montgomery County’s fifth annual LGBTQ+ Pride month events,” said Council President Evan Glass. “This is a time for celebration, reflection and unity. Today, the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans are under relentless attack. Members of the LGBTQ+ community — especially people of color and trans people — continue to face discrimination and efforts to undermine their human rights. As we continue our struggle for greater civil rights and liberties, Pride Month is a time to not only reflect on our progress but to focus on the work ahead.”
Here is a list of events scheduled throughout Montgomery County for the month of June:
Per Montgomery County: In preparation for Pride Month in June, the County’s Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Community Partnerships have announced a community-wide call to artists and designers to create the County’s official 2023 Montgomery County Pride decal. The winning design will be printed and distributed for use by businesses, nonprofit organizations, County Government and others to show their public support for LGBTQ+ communities in Montgomery County. The winning design from the youth/young adult category will be printed for use specifically at youth-serving establishments and schools.
All submissions are due by Wednesday, June 1 and should be submitted electronically on the MontgomeryCountyPride.org website. The County’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board will choose up to five final designs to be displayed at County Pride Month events and on social media for public voting.
Submissions will be accepted in two categories:
- Adults (ages 23 and older)
- Youth/Young Adults (under 23)
Creators must be Montgomery County residents at the time of submission. The first 20 creators to submit an eligible design in either category will receive a $50 early submission bonus. Creators may submit up to three designs but will receive only one early submission bonus. Up to five finalists will receive $300 each and youth/young adult and adult category winners will receive $1,500.
Designs should include consideration of the following values and themes:
- Intersectionality: recognition that sexual orientation and gender identity or expression are layers of one’s identity, and that race, ethnicity, ability, national origin, and other characteristics are important as well.
- Inclusion of trans and gender expansive communities
LGBTQ+ residents, especially those who are trans and gender expansive, Black, Indigenous and/or other people of color are encouraged to submit designs. For detailed design guidelines and contest eligibility, visit MontgomeryCountyPride.org.
Per Montgomery County: In honor of Pride Month, Montgomery County will partner with Live in Your Truth Programs, a local LGBTQ+ arts and culture organization, to host its third annual “Pride in the Plaza” event from noon-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Pride in the Plaza is an outdoor LGBTQ+ pride festival at Downtown Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza.
Pride in the Plaza will feature an LGBTQ+ focused resource and vendor fair, a bilingual Drag Story Hour and the championship finale of “Live in Your Truth Program’s Drag Duels” series. The day will conclude with the third annual Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball, a free voguing competition with cash prizes. The mini-ball competition, sponsored in partnership with the Capitol Ballroom Council, will begin at 5 p.m.
Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Place in Silver Spring. Free parking is available in the Ellsworth Drive parking garage adjacent to the plaza. The event is free, and registration is optional. Free tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-in-the-plaza-tickets-612427526217
“Hosting this annual event is one way to reaffirm our commitment to making Montgomery County a welcoming place for everyone,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The current political and social climate around issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community demands that we speak loudly and clearly about the values we live by in our community.”
“We are excited to partner with Live in Your Truth Programs on Pride in the Plaza,” said Melvin Cauthen, administrator for the County’s HIV/STI program, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The HIV/STI program created the festival in 2021 and continues to support the event.
“Through this partnership, our hope is to create a sustainable yearly Pride festival that supports LGBTQ+ community programing throughout the year,” said Mr. Cauthen.
“In a moment of national hostility toward trans communities, drag and other LGBTQ+ artforms, it is especially important to provide safe spaces for members of the community to boldly and joyfully connect and express who they are,” said Philip Alexander Downie, director of Live in Your Truth Programs. “The organization is uniquely positioned to take on programing for Pride in the Plaza because of our longstanding commitment to uplifting LGBTQ+ artists and performers, especially those who identify as trans, gender expansive, Black, Indigenous and other people of color and Montgomery County’s explicit support for our community is more critical now than ever.”
MoCo Pride Center, whose mission is to organize, support, educate and provide outreach to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, is the financial sponsor of Live in Your Truth programs.
Vendors and nonprofits can register for exhibit table opportunities here. Some event tables will be offered on a sliding-scale. More information is here.
Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities for Pride in the Plaza can learn more here.
Organizers are seeking community volunteers to work at the event. Those interested can register here for various shifts.
In honor of National HIV Testing Day (June 27), the County will offer HIV and other health screenings inside the Silver Spring Civic Building during the Pride in the Plaza festival. The HIV/STI program provides free HIV testing and treatment, low-cost PrEP for prevention, STI testing and treatment and free HIV medical care and case management at the Dennis Avenue Health Center. Call 240-777-1760 to make an appointment or visit DoItForYouMC.org for more information.
Per the Olney Theatre: Olney Theatre Center is adding a performance of its hit production of Kinky Boots on Wednesday, March 22 at 8:00 pm and donating proceeds from the evening to two partner organizations. MoCo Pride Center is the latest participant in Olney Theatre’s Community Partners Program, which seeks to deepen the theatre’s connections with local non-profits that are aligned with the theatre’s mission and values. Parasol Patrol was instrumental in the success of Olney Theatre Center’s recent Drag Story Hour event at the Olney branch of the Montgomery County Public Library. More than 100 Parasol Patrol volunteers showed up with rainbow flags and umbrellas to welcome the dozens of families who came to enjoy story hour with Drag Queen D’Manda Martini.
Tickets for the performance are $47-$79 and can be purchased at www.olneytheatre.org or by calling the box office at 301-924-3400. Discounts are available for students, seniors, active military, and first responders. The production is currently running through March 26 in the Mainstage Theatre.
Debbie Ellinghaus, Olney Theatre’s Managing Director said, “The LGBTQ+ community has shown up for Olney Theatre and this production of Kinky Boots and we felt it was important that we give something back to the community. This specially-added performance will be a celebration of all the good this production has achieved and honor the inclusive community we’re dedicated to building.”
About MoCo Pride Center
The MoCo Pride Center is a 501(c)3 organization designed to serve the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community and its allies in Montgomery County, Maryland. We strive to be the leading organization for LGBTQ resources and advocacy in our county. Our mission is to organize, support, educate, and provide outreach to the LGBTQ community and its allies. LIYT (Live In Your Truth) Programs, our program, and fiscal partner, creates local tv and media, affirming spaces, events, and employment opportunities for LGBTQ and BIPOC intersectional underserved communities throughout Montgomery County, MD, and the DMV.
About Parasol Patrol DMV
Parasol Patrol DMV is dedicated to protecting and supporting LGBTQ+ families and children. Formed as an extension of Drag Story Hour DC MD VA, local volunteers create a rainbow walkway to welcome families to events. Pride flags and umbrellas block children’s view of protesters, while upbeat music drowns out hateful chants.
Per MCPD: A Rockville man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 20-year-old woman reported missing on Monday, January 2, 2023. Keylin Yolibeth Chavez-Dominguez’s body was discovered on Saturday, January 28, in the Upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park under the Paint Branch Overpass of MD 200 – Inter County Connector.
Through the course of the investigation, Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes, Homicide Division detectives identified the ex-boyfriend, 30-year-old Francisco Ramon Lara Garcia, as a suspect. Lara Garcia and Chavez-Dominguez were living together at the time of her disappearance.
On Wednesday, February 1, Lara Garcia was located and arrested by U.S. Marshals at a residence in Kirkwood, MO. On February 13, detectives applied for and received an arrest warrant for Lara Garcia, charging him with First Degree Murder. Lara Garcia is being held in St. Louis, MO, where he is awaiting extradition to MD.
Per the City of Rockville: Rockville has scored 100 marks for the city’s commitment to the health, welfare, safety and equality of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community in its sixth year of participating, and the 11th year for the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.
Rockville scored 95 out of 100, plus an additional 10 bonus points, for its nondiscrimination laws, law enforcement, employment and workplace inclusivity, leadership and services to the LGBTQ+ community. Final scores cannot exceed 100.
“LGBTQ+ people everywhere deserve to live in welcoming places that are focused on building equality for all,” said Jodee Winterhof, the Human Rights Campaign’s senior vice president of policy and political affairs. “Since its launch 11 years ago, the main priority of the Municipal Equality Index remains supporting and celebrating the work cities do to serve LGBTQ+ people in the places they call home.”
The 11th annual MEI scorecard, released in November, analyzes and rates 506 municipalities across the country, measuring each for the inclusivity of laws, policies and services for their LGBTQ communities.
Cities rated include the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the U.S., the five largest cities or municipalities in each state, cities home to the state’s two largest public universities, 75 cities and municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples, and 98 cities selected by HRC and Equality Federation state groups’ members and supporters.
Ranked cities include more than 92.6 million people.
Cities are rated across numerous criteria, covering citywide nondiscrimination protections, policies for municipal employees, city services, law enforcement and the city’s leadership on LGBTQ equality.
| Rockville | 100 |
| College Park | 100 |
| Columbia | 100 |
| Frederick | 100 |
| Gaithersburg | 100 |
| Baltimore | 100 |
| Towson | 86 |
| Annapolis | 79 |
| Hagerstown | 68 |
| Bowie | 60 |
UPDATE: Jessica Pearson has been located safe and unharmed.
Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jessica Pearson, a missing 15-year-old from Rockville. Pearson was last seen on Thursday, November 10, 2022, in the 1700 block of Yale Place in Rockville. Pearson is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jessica Pearson is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.
Per Montgomery County: Youth members of the LGBTQ+ community will tell their stories—and share the challenges they have faced—in a virtual town hall meeting sponsored by EveryMind from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The panel members also will talk about support systems that have been helpful to them and offer ideas for improved support.
EveryMind, whose mission is to strengthen communities and empower individuals to reach optimal metal wellness, has structured the event to benefit parents, foster parents, caregivers, guardians, extended family members, mental health professionals and service providers who care for LGBTQ+ youth.
The panel will include Rachel A. Cornwall, a pastor and author of Daring Adventures: Helping Gender Diverse Kids and Their Families Thrive; Daniela Guevara, vice president of MoCo Pride Youth; Cedar Dwyer, president of MoCo Pride Youth; and Liliana Katz-Hollander, youth advocate and sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. The panel moderator will be Sofia Driscoll, an AmeriCorps service member for EveryMind and ServingTogether.
Live Streaming of the event can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnuoqkTMPRU.
To register and ask questions of the panel, go to https://www.every-mind.org/lgbtq-youth-panel/.
Montgomery County Police held a press conference today regarding a hit-and-run that occurred on Sunday, October 23rd at approximately 11 p.m., in the area of Georgia Avenue and Janet Road in Wheaton-Glemont. It was announced that the victim, William Villa Vicencio, 19, had passed away due to his injuries. He was described as a happy young man, the son of a single mom who raised three boys, that was looking forward to his 20th birthday. Assistant Police Chief Marc Yamada and the family’s pastor spoke at the conference.
William was coming home from work on his bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle on Georgia Ave. Police are searching for a dark red or maroon vehicle, possibly a 2003-2007 Honda Accord, that is missing its right side view mirror and has damage to its front bumper. The driver did not remain on scene and detectives are asking anyone in the community with information to contact detectives at 240-773-6620. There were no cameras in the area of the accident. Police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Per Montgomery County:
In honor of Pride Month, Montgomery County will host its second annual Pride in the Plaza, a free, outdoor LGBTQ+ pride festival on Sunday, June 26 from noon to 8p.m. in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.
Pride in the Plaza will feature food, music, an LGBTQ+ focused resource and vendor fair, bilingual Drag Queen Story Hour, and the championship finale of Live in Your Truth Program’s Drag Duels series. The day will conclude with the second annual Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball, a free voguing competition with cash prizes, starting at 5 p.m., in partnership with Capitol Ballroom Council. Local businesses that want to support Pride in the Plaza can visit PrideInThePlaza.com/partners-in-pride.
Pride in the Plaza will showcase a diverse cross-section of local nonprofit organizations, LGBTQ+ owned businesses, artists, and networks tabling to share information about their services for Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ communities. HIV and other health screenings will be provided free of charge, in honor of National HIV Testing Day (June 27).
In the week leading up to the festival, the County is partnering with LGBTQ+ led organizations on a slate of events for residents of all ages, including Pride in the Field, an LGBTQ+ focused field day, Pride in the Parks Movie Night, Pride in Sexual Health Symposium for healthcare providers, Pride on the Page Book Talk with local author Eric Nguyen, and a Pop-up of the Maryland Trans Resilience Conference, organized by Trans Maryland. A full list of events can be found at PrideInThePlaza.com/Events.
“We are thrilled to host Pride in the Plaza again in 2022,” said Melvin Cauthen, administrator for the County’s HIV/STI program and Pride in the Plaza steering committee member. “This year, we have expanded to a whole week of events, and more importantly, we are building partnerships that will continue to connect and support LGBTQ+ communities far beyond Pride Month.”
To encourage residents to attend multiple events, the County has created a “Passport to Pride.” Those who attend and get their passports stamped at three or more Pride in the Plaza events will be entered to win one of 10 grand prizes. The passport can be found online here or picked up at any Pride in the Plaza event. Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring. Free parking is available in the Ellsworth Drive parking garage adjacent to the plaza. Pride in the Plaza is hosted by Montgomery County’s HIV/STI program, which provides free HIV testing and treatment, PrEP for prevention, and STI testing and treatment at the Dennis Avenue Health Center. Call 240-777-1760 to make an appointment or visit DoItForYouMC.org for more information.
Per Montgomery County:
Montgomery County’s celebration of June as Pride Month continues with special events of varying types. The events will include “Pride on the Field” in White Oak on Friday, June 24, and Pride in the Plaza activities on Sunday, June 26, in Silver Spring.
Friday, June 24: Pride on the Field: An LGBTQ+ Field Day.
Montgomery County Recreation Department and Unmatched Athlete will partner for a day of outdoor games and sports from noon-4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at the White Oak Recreation Center. No matter your athletic ability, there will be something fun for everybody. Following Pride on the Field, there will be activities at the recreation center’s new LGBTQ+ Safe Zone from 7-10 p.m. Register here.
Friday, June 24: Pride in the Park: Movie Night
Bring a blanket or lawn chair for a cozy outdoor screening of the film Saturday Church in Jesup Blair Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 24. Bring your own food and drink or purchase refreshments from Silver Branch Brewing and an on-site food vendor. The movie will begin at sundown. Saturday Church takes the viewer through the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a boy who is struggling with his gender identity and faith. Ulysses uses music and fantasy to navigate his life in the inner city, meeting many new friends along the way that help him discover his freedom of expression and passions. No tickets are required for this event. Presented by Montgomery Parks. More information here.
Saturday, June 25: MOCO Pride Youth Picnic
MoCo Pride Youth, the LGBTQ+ student advocacy group of Montgomery County Public Schools, has organized an afternoon of food and socializing for LGBTQ+ youth in Downtown Silver Spring’s Woodside Urban Park from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. All LGBTQ+ teens are welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are MCPS students. Get free tickets.
Saturday, June 25: Pride in the Park: Youth Open Mic
Do you have a notebook full of poetry you want to share with the world, or a song that needs an audience? All LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are invited by MoCo Reconnect to spend some time behind the microphone sharing their poetry, stories, songs, and any other creative musings from 3-5 p.m. at Woodside Urban Park on Saturday, June 25. Woodside Urban Park is located at 8800 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. More information here.
SUNDAY, June 26: Pride in the Plaza Festival!
Come out and show your pride in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring for a fun, all-day, outdoor festival celebrating LGBTQ+ community, health, well-being and joy. The festival is free. Get tickets now.
Festival highlights will include:
- Local LGBTQ+ artists, businesses and supportive nonprofits.
- Free HIV testing.
- Drag Queen Story Hour: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- LGBTQI Pride Show & Drag Duels Finale: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
- Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball: 5-8 p.m
