Local
Personnel executive, volunteer Patrick Bruyere dies at 62
Served on board of Whitman-Walker’s N. Virginia facility
Patrick Richard Bruyere
Patrick Richard Bruyere, a longtime D.C.-area resident who worked as a high-level human resources official for several prominent organizations and companies and devoted years of volunteer work for LGBT and AIDS related causes, died Dec. 28 of esophageal cancer at a hospice in Arlington, Va. He was 62.
Friends who knew him, including Kate Mattos, who became friends with him during their years at Arlington’s Washington Lee High School, describe him in a write-up about his life as an intellectually engaged individual who embraced life and his friendships to the fullest.
Mattos said the write-up was based on information Bruyere left for his close friends shortly before his death. Among other things, it says he loved and collected art, enjoyed dance and the theater, was an avid runner who completed three marathons and a triathlon, and closely followed the news and current events.
“He delighted in engaging in debates about the wisdom and follies of political leaders,” the write-up says.
Mattos said Bruyere was born and raised in Arlington as an only child. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1977 with a degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations, according to the write-up.
Among the companies and organizations for which he worked after completing college as a personnel and human resources executive included the Columbia, Md.-based W.R. Grace & Company, which manufactured chemical and household products; Westin Hotels; the World Wildlife Fund, and the American Red Cross.
“He was proud that his last position was at the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., where he worked for 15 years before retiring in 2016,” the write-up says.
It says he was proudest of his volunteer work, including his tenure as a board member of the then Northern Virginia facility of the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Among other endeavors, he helped in fundraising efforts for AIDS prevention and assistance programs with Doreen Gentzler of NBC4 and with the CEO of the National Retail Federation through it’s “Shopping for Life” program.
He also became involved in fundraising efforts to acquire art books for children in D.C. as part of a program organized by the D.C. LGBT film festival Reel Affirmations, the write-up says. In addition, it says he helped build homes in D.C. as part of a 2014 project organized by the volunteer home building charity Habitat for Humanity called the Rainbow Build. The D.C. group Capital Pride was among the local LGBT organizations involved in the project, according to a Habitat for Humanity statement.
“Through the years, Patrick battled illnesses, including a rare blood cancer, aggressive squamous cell carcinoma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” the write-up says. “He fought against the odds and survived each one. Even through his final struggle with esophageal cancer, he persisted in doing all he could to maintain his health and ability to love life,” it says. “His will was remarkable.”
His friend Steve Wunder said Bruyere was a longtime HIV survivor.
“I feel he should take pride in his HIV battle, which he won the fight in,” said Wunder.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 3 from 1-3 p.m. at Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C., 2111 Florida Ave., N.W.
“His friends urge that donations in Patrick’s name be given to the charity of your choice,” the write-up concludes.
Delaware
New LGBTQ visitor center slated for Wilmington, Del.
The Collective to feature gift shop, queer museum, more
During Pride month this year, the Delaware Sexuality and Gender Collective (DSGC) announced plans for “The Collective,” the first LGBTQ+ visitor center in Wilmington in nearly 40 years.
“We’ve been talking about the concept of a brick-and-mortar space for a long time,” said Noah Duckett, co-founder of the DSGC.
A licensed clinical social worker, Duckett co-founded DSGC with his mother, Julissa Corianno, in 2018. Established under Sussex Pride, the DSGC serves as a hub for leaders and organizations working directly with LGBTQ+ communities throughout Delaware.
“Our vision for The Collective is a place where our community can come to learn, create, work, and be inspired,” said Corianno.
The Collective will feature a visitor center and gift shop highlighting LGBTQ-owned businesses in Delaware.
“I think that this is something that’s going to benefit our community so much,” said Duckett.
Some of the LGBTQ-owned businesses that DSGC has already partnered with include Stressed Induced Art Attack, Moonbeam Art Collaborative, Voce Coffee, Groovy Gemini Co., Scout Cafe, Macaron Social, and Huxley and Hiro.
“Specifically in Wilmington, we haven’t had an LGBTQ-dedicated space in almost 40 years,” said Duckett.
The last LGBTQ community center in Wilmington was The Griffin Community Center, which was open for only a few years in the 1990s.
“The Griffin was a community space in the ’90s, founded by our friends James and Evo, who are so incredible and have been so supportive throughout this process,” said Duckett.
Duckett said the DSGC hopes to carry on The Griffin’s legacy.
“I think now more than ever, there’s more and more spaces closing their doors. More and more spaces are losing funding, seeing reduced funding and reduced access, especially LGBTQ+ organizations and communities,” said Duckett.
The Collective will also feature Delaware’s first LGBTQ history museum, curated by queer historian Carolanne Deal.
“We don’t have any permanent displays in the state about Delaware’s queer history, and we want people to be able to access that history any day of the year, not just during Pride month,” said Deal.
With a master’s degree in art history for museum professionals, Deal has more than seven years of experience in curatorial work and hands-on collections care.
“It’s mainly going to be a graphic display with photographs, articles, and accessible text that draws people in and creates a story for the community,” said Deal.
Although the museum will not initially have an object collection, Deal said she hopes to add physical archival pieces in the future.
“Delaware has been at the forefront of a lot of queer civil rights, and it’ll be really amazing to have that enshrined in a permanent display that’s not only up for Pride month,” said Deal.
Duckett said DSGC is currently raising funds with the goal of breaking ground this summer and opening by the end of the year.
“We would love to have rent paid for, like, multiple years up front,” said Duckett.
Duckett told the Blade that fundraising efforts have reached just under $29,000 and that the organization is awaiting several major donations from community partner organizations.
However, he said DSGC continues to be denied many grants tied to federal or state funding because of restrictions on those funds being used for LGBTQ-serving organizations.
“Private and corporate donations are absolutely vital,” said Duckett.
Anyone interested in supporting the construction of The Collective can donate online or contact [email protected] for more information.
District of Columbia
D.C.’s Mary’s House For Older Adults names new executive director
Charlene Leach to succeed Imani Woody as leader of LGBTQ-supportive seniors home
The board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, the D.C.-based home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, has announced it has named longtime nonprofit organization leader A. Charlene Leach as its new executive director.
Leach, who is now serving in the executive director’s position, is succeeding Dr. Imani Woody, the Mary’s House founding president and CEO, who announced her retirement from her official leadership role at Mary’s House on July 7.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing the lead role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort DuPont neighborhood.
“With over three decades of nonprofit experience and 15 years serving as an executive director, Charlene brings a wealth of knowledge in organizational leadership, program development, and community engagement,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Her proven track record of building impactful programs and leading mission-driven organizations makes her uniquely suited to guide Mary’s House into its next phase of growth,” the statement continues. “Charlene is deeply aligned with the mission of Mary’s House and is committed to advancing its work to provide safe, inclusive housing and supportive services for LGBTQ+ older adults,” it says. “Under her leadership, the organization will continue to expand its impact while remaining grounded in the values that define our community.”
Leach’s LinkedIn page shows she has most recently served since 2022 as executive director of the African American AIDS Task Force in Minneapolis. Prior to that, it shows she served as executive director of the Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services organization in Fredericksburg, Va., and before that as director of development for the D.C.-Baltimore area Women’s Collective.
Her LinkedIn page says she has been involved with Mary’s House as a volunteer and grant writer since 2016.
The newly built and enlarged Mary’s House, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025 attended by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, includes 15 single-occupancy residential apartments and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
An earlier statement released by the Mary’s House board announcing Woody’s retirement said Woody would continue to be involved with the organization as a member of the board. The earlier statement and board’s more recent statement on July 29 announcing Leach’s appointment as executive director did not say whether the board plans to name someone else as president and CEO, the title that Woody held before her retirement. But the latest statement says Leach will be running Mary’s House’s day-to-day operations as Woody did.
Virginia
Doug Ollivant to face Eugene Vindman in Va. 7th Congressional District
Republican defeated challengers in Tuesday’s primary
Republican Doug Ollivant will face off against incumbent U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
Ollivant defeated his Republican opponents in Tuesday’s primary. Vindman ran unopposed.
Vindman in 2024 ran to succeed then-Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the U.S. House of Representatives after she ran for governor. Spanberger succeeded Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2025.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Tuesday easily won his primary. All other Democratic incumbent members of Congress from Northern Virginia also won their respective primaries.
Todd Blanche’s record on LGBTQ issues comes under scrutiny as he takes over DOJ
Don’t miss summer productions at Clear Space in Rehoboth Beach
New LGBTQ visitor center slated for Wilmington, Del.
PHOTOS: World Pride March
Tens of thousands take part in World Pride March
D.C.’s Mary’s House For Older Adults names new executive director
Calendar: August 7-13
Insured on paper, excluded in practice
Greg Araki still wants your sex
