(What’s happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at editor@presspassq.com)

THE BUCKEYE FLAME, based in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, celebrated its sixth anniversary on June 1, 2026.

LOU CHIBBARO JR, senior reporter for the WASHINGTON BLADE, is the subject of the documentary “Lou’s Legacy: A Reporter’s Life at the Washington Blade,” which has now been nominated for a Capital Emmy in the Documentary-Historical category by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Broadcast last June by WETA PBS in Washington, D.C., and MPT in Maryland, the documentary was directed and produced by Emmy-nominated filmmaker PATRICK SAMMON in association with the MATTACHINE SOCIETY of Washington, D.C.

REV. PETER LELAND DEGROOTE, a trailblazing gay United Methodist pastor who served as news editor of the WASHINGTON BLADE in 1975, passed away on May 9, 2026, after a period of declining health. He was 86. A memorial service was held on June 27, 2026, at Foundry U.M. Church in Washington, D.C.

CALVIN EMERSON announced that he has stepped down from his position of associate editor at SEATTLE GAY NEWS to join the broadcast team at KRNV NEWS 4 in Reno, Nev.

LAVENDER MAGAZINE, based in suburban Minneapolis and founded in 1995, announced that it published its final issue in June 2026.

NLGJA: THE ASSOCIATION OF LGBTQ+ JOURNALISTS announced the recipients of its 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards. Notably, EVAN URQUHART, founder of ASSIGNED MEDIA and a trans journalist whose work has appeared in publications including the ATLANTIC, VANITY FAIR, POLITICO and SLATE, is the recipient of the SARAH PETTIT Memorial Award for LGBTQ+ Journalist of the Year. Other award recipients include MARK S. KING of MYFABULOUSDISEASE.COM for Excellence in Blogging; CYD ZEIGLER and JIM BUZINSKI of OUTSPORTS.COM for Excellence in Digital Video; LOIS SHEARING and OLIVER HAUG of XTRA for Excellence in Bisexual Coverage; SAM DONNDELINGER of UNCLOSETED MEDIA for Excellence in Long Form Journalism; IMOGEN SAYERS and SPENCER MACNAUGHTON of UNCLOSETED MEDIA for Excellence in Business Coverage; EMMA PAIDRA and SPENCER MACNAUGHTON of UNCLOSETED MEDIA for Excellence in Education Coverage; HOPE PISONI of UNCLOSETED MEDIA for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Coverage; and  DAVID CLARKE, ALEX ROSA, BRANDON WOLFE and NORA DAYTON of OutSmart Magazine for Excellence in Packaging (Print or Online). For a full list of winners, go to https://www.nlgja.org/blog/2026/06/eij2026/

OUTSFL, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., named MAY DIAMOND ROJAS, as the second recipient of its MELISSA ST. JOHN College Student Scholarship, an annual award honouring the legacy of the beloved South Florida drag entertainer and LGBTQ advocate. The $1,000 scholarship supports LGBTQ undergraduate and graduate students in Florida who demonstrate strong commitments to community service, leadership and advocacy. Rojas is a Boynton Beach resident and recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where she completed her degree in political science with a minor in Japanese.

QBURGH, based in Pittsburgh, Penn, announced that the online-only publication would launch a monthly print edition starting July 2026.

QUEERING AMERICA 250 is the name of a new glossy magazine from the WASHINGTON BLADE, focused on looking back at the many contributions that LGBTQ people have made to the founding of the country through the present day. It is available in print and online at https://www.washingtonblade.com/america250/

STEPHEN RUTGERS, a longtime employee of the WASHINGTON BLADE, is stepping down after 14 years to focus on other ventures, including his part ownership of the popular Crush Dance Bar. Rutgers was hired by the Blade in 2012 to help plan Pride festivities and was eventually promoted to director of sales and marketing. In addition to his broad set of responsibilities, Rutgers planned the popular annual Pride on the Pier celebration.

JOHN TANZELLA, president and CEO of IGLTA for 20 years, passed away on June 7, 2026, after an extended illness. He was 61. IGLTA VP-Finance TONY WARNER, who has overseen the association’s finances for 16 years, will move into the position of interim CEO.

THOMAS WEAVERLING, a recent graduate of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY with a degree in communications, language and culture, is the recipient of the BLADE FOUNDATION’s 2026 STEVE ELKINS Memorial Fellowship in Journalism. He will cover issues of interest to Delaware’s LGBTQ community for 12 weeks this summer. The fellowship is named for Elkins, a journalist and co-founder of the CAMP Rehoboth LGBTQ community center in Delaware and served as editor of LETTERS FROM CAMP REHOBOTH.

TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES
Volume 28
Issue 5