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Comings & Goings

Fanning to lead aerospace association

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Eric Fanning, gay news, Washington Blade
Jorge Amaro, Comings & Goings, gay news, Washington Blade

The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us atĀ [email protected]. We also invite LGBTQ+ college students to share their successes with us.

Eric Fanning (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Congratulations to Eric Fanning who will start his position as president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) on Jan. 1, 2018. According to the AIA website, ā€œThe AIA, founded in 1919, only a few years after the birth of flight, is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the U.S. aerospace and defense industry on Capitol Hill, within the administration and internationally. As the voice of American aerospace and defense, AIA’s strong advocacy is essential to protecting the interests of our nation and our industry.ā€Ā  Upon announcing Eric’s appointment, AIA Chair Dennis Muilenburg said, ā€œEric is an accomplished, respected leader whose broad government and national security experience will serve AIA and its member companies well.ā€

On accepting the position, Fanning said, ā€œThe aerospace and defense industry represents more than 2.4 million proud workers, representing over 13 percent of the nation’s manufacturing force from all 50 states, who passionately understand the gravity of their contribution to our economy and national security. …This is an exciting time, and I am proud to lead AIA in its role as the voice of American aerospace and defense.ā€

Fanning is well known in Washington, D.C. He served as the 22nd Secretary of the Army providing leadership and oversight of our nation’s largest military service. He previously served as chief of staff of the Secretary of Defense, Acting Secretary of the Air Force and Under Secretary of the Air Force, and Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Navy. He is the only person to have held senior appointments in all three military departments and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. During his more than 25 years of distinguished government service, Fanning also worked on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, and was a special assistant to the Secretary of Defense and associate director of political affairs at the White House.

Congratulations also to Chip Wheeler, who has been appointed to the position of Associate Director for Volunteer Recruitment and Selection at the Peace Corps. Creating the Peace Corps was one of the signature achievements of President John F. Kennedy. For more than five decades, Peace Corps volunteers in 140 countries have demonstrated ingenuity, creativity, and grit to solve critical challenges alongside community leaders.

Prior to assuming this position with the Peace Corps, Wheeler served for the past 10 years as national director, community investments, in the Office of Corporate Responsibility at Voya Financial. He also led the Voya Foundation supporting children’s education, financial literacy and diversity. Before joining Voya Financial, he served for 10 years as vice president for private sector initiatives at America’s Promise Alliance, which was founded by General Colin L. Powell.

In addition, he has served in leadership positions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Council; as a Trustee of America’s Promise Alliance; on the board of the Association of Corporate Contribution Professionals; and on the corporate advisory board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Wheeler is a native of St. Louis and a graduate of Texas Christian University.

Chip Wheeler

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Maryland

A Baltimore theater educator lost jobs at Johns Hopkins and the Kennedy Center

Tavish Forsyth concluded they could not work for Trump

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Tavish Forsyth, a queer artist and educator, posted a nude video on YouTube in protest of the Trump administration’s takeover of the Kennedy Center earlier this year. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

BY WESLEY CASE | Tavish Forsyth had come to a conclusion: They could not work for President Donald Trump.

So the 32-year-old Baltimore resident stripped down, turned on their camera, and lit their career on fire.

ā€œF—— Donald Trump and f—— the Kennedy Center,ā€ a naked Forsyth, an associate artistic lead at the Washington National Opera’s Opera Institute, which is run by the Kennedy Center, said in a video that went viral. The board of the nation’s leading cultural institution had elected Trump just weeks prior as its chairman after he gutted the board of members appointed by his predecessor, President Joe Biden.

The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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District of Columbia

Little Gay Pub to host April 25 celebration of life for Patrick Shaw

School teacher, D.C. resident praised for ā€˜warmth, humor, kindness’

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Patrick Shaw (Photo via GoFundMe)

Co-workers and friends will hold a celebration of life for highly acclaimed schoolteacher and D.C. resident Patrick Shaw beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 25 at The Little Gay Pub 1100 P St., N.W.

Little Gay Pub co-owner and Shaw’s friend, Dusty Martinez, said Shaw passed away unexpectedly on April 19 from a heart related ailment at the age of 60.

ā€œPatrick touched so many lives with his warmth, humor, kindness, and unmistakable spark,ā€ Martinez said. ā€œHe was a truly special soul – funny, vibrant, sassy, and full of life and we are heartbroken by his loss.ā€

In an Instagram posting, Shaw’s colleagues said Shaw was a second-grade special education teacher at the J.F. Cook campus of D.C.’s Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School.

ā€œPatrick brought warmth, joy, and deep commitment to Mundo Verde,ā€ his colleagues said in their posting. ā€œHis daily Broadway sing-alongs, vibrant outfits, and genuine love for his students filled our community with energy and laughter.ā€

The posted message adds, ā€œPatrick was more than a teacher; he was a light in our school, inspiring us all to show up with heart, humor, and kindness every day. His spirit will be deeply missed.ā€

The Washington Blade is preparing a full obituary on Patrick Shaw to be published soon. 

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District of Columbia

D.C. police seek help in identifying suspect in anti-gay threats case

Victim threatened with assault, called ā€˜faggot’ as he left Capitals game

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D.C. police are seeking help from the public in identifying a male suspect whose image was captured by a video surveillance camera.

D.C. police are seeking help from the public in identifying a male suspect whose image was captured by a video surveillance camera after he allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs and threatened to assault a man at 6th and H Streets, N.W. on March 20 at about 9:54 p.m.

A police report says the victim told police the incident took place shortly after he exited the nearby Capital One Arena where he had attended a Washington Capitals hockey game.

The police report says the incident began when the victim saw the suspect yell a racist slur at a person behind the victim and started to berate a valet operator.

ā€œSuspect 1 then turned his attention to Victim 1 and called him a ā€˜faggot’ among other homophobic slurs,ā€ the report says. It says the victim then used his phone to record the suspect, prompting the suspect to walk away before returning and ā€œsnatchingā€ the phone from the victim’s hand.

ā€œSuspect 1 walked several feet as Victim 1 followed, requesting his phone back,ā€ the report continues. ā€œSuspect 1 stopped and turned to Victim 1 and while yelling other obscenities exclaimed ā€˜if you keep recording, I’m going to kick your ass.ā€™ā€ The report concludes by saying the victim was able to recover his phone.

It lists the incident as a ā€œThreats To Do Bodily Harmā€ offense that is a suspected hate crime.

ā€œAnyone who can identify this suspect or has knowledge of this incident should take no action but call police at 202-727-9099, or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411,ā€ according to a separate police statement released April 23.

The statement says police currently offer an award of up to $1,000 to anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in D.C.

D.C. police spokesperson Tom Lynch said the case has been under investigation since the incident occurred on March 20. He said the video image of the suspect, most likely obtained from a security camera from a nearby business, was released to the public as soon as it was obtained and processed through the investigation.

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