Politics & Government

Washington Represents Baltimore in Gay Pride Parade

Del. Mary Washington, D-District 43, is the first openly gay black woman elected to the Maryland General Assembly.

Del. Mary Washington, 49, arrived at Belvedere Square in a collared pink shirt, a purple T-shirt and blue jeans and apologized for being a few minutes late. 

Laughing easily, Washington flashed a brilliant smile and her brown eyes flickered beneath thick-rimmed eyeglasses. At first glance, it's hard to see the Democrat from the 43rd District as a historic figure. But as the first openly lesbian African-American elected to the Maryland General Assembly, she is.

And that's part of the reason why Washington has been selected to be the honorary grand marshal of this weekend’s Gay Pride Parade in Baltimore. 

Find out what's happening in North Baltimorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But Washington said she doesn’t believe she was selected to be the grand marshal solely because she’s a lesbian. She said she believes it has more to do with her representing a wide range of the people from Baltimore.

“I think that they asked me because in the work that I do, and that I’ve always done, that I’ve been a good representative of not just the LGBT community, but as a Baltimorean, African-American and as a woman," she said. “And in me they get to sort of represent a whole lot of different people.”

Find out what's happening in North Baltimorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Washington, who said she often finds herself fighting not to be pigeonholed only as a gay delegate, said the issues she fights for as a legislator, such as health care and jobs, are gay issues too because they impact all Maryland residents.

“When there’s an opportunity I do the ‘and.’ … That I just remind people, not necessarily about me, I try to make it about the issue. So if I’m in a community where we’re really focused on race issues I really often try to be mindful that class and gender issues have to be brought into the discussion," Washington said. 

She said that same message applies to issues that are more generally viewed as LGBT issues.  She said when she was working on gay marriage, she reminded people the issue wasn’t just about the middle class and rich; it’s also about providing legal protection for working-class people who can’t afford an attorney to make sure their partner and children are protected.

“Frankly I think if I was just a single issue [legislator], and seen only as being a part of the gay community, then I wouldn’t be as effective as I am,” Washington said. “So … I think that it's part of the success I’ve had so far is that I try to reach out. But it’s not easy. Some of your supporters, some of your fans get frustrated if I express a view that isn’t the party line.”

But this weekend won’t be all about politics for Washington. She said she’s looking forward to having a good time.

“I actually love the picnic in the park in Druid Hill Park,” Washington said. “Because that’s when—the parade and the party that’s where your younger folks, your party folks come out, people who can stand in the sun for a couple hours—but I think the park provides an opportunity to see the full range of our community.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from North Baltimore