It was their day. DC drag star “Ella Fitzgerald” and veteran Washington Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. were each honored with an official Mayoral Proclamation from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declaring May 29^th Lou Chibbaro, Jr. and Donnell Robison (“Ella Fitzgerald”) Day in the District of Columbia. Japer Bowles, Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, formally presented the proclamations to Chibbaro and Robinson at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library during the world premiere of the new documentary Lou’s Legacy:  A Reporter’s Life at the Washington Blade. Produced by the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC and directed by Emmy-nominated DC documentary filmmaker Patrick Sammon (CURED, 2020), the documentary will be broadcast by WETA PBS and Maryland Public Television (MPT) during this year’s PRIDE celebrations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

     The Mayoral Proclamations said, “Whereas Donnell Robinson is a force to be reckoned with and his drag persona “Ella Fitzgerald” is an iconic and beloved figure in Washington, D.C.’s storied drag community….” And “Whereas Lou Chibbaro, Jr. …is the de facto dean of the DC LGBTQIA+  press corps…”.

     “The audience cheered to see these two ‘old-school’ community icons so honored”, said Charles Francis, President of the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC. “Lou has covered the LGBTQ equality movement in Washington for nearly five decades, and Robinson – in his drag persona as “Ella Fitzgerald” – emceed the hugely popular drag shows at Ziegfeld’s for 40 years,” Francis said. Among those applauding Lou and Donnell in the packed auditorium were Paul Kuntzler, campaign manager for Frank Kameny’s 1971 campaign for Congress; Washington attorney Zona Hostetler, a founding member of the National Capital Area Civil Liberties Union who represented the original Mattachine Society in 1963 when it came under fire from Texas Congressman John Dowdy; attorney Paul Smith, who argued (and won) the Lawrence v. Texas sodomy case (2003) before the U.S. Supreme Court; former DC City Council Member Carol Schwartz (1985-1989; 1997-2009); Rick Rosendall, secretary of the original Mattachine Society of Washington, DC; and producer/director Bennett Singer (Brother Outsider: the Life and Work of Bayard Rustin, 2003). 

     WETA PBS will broadcast Lou’s Legacy on Saturday, June 21^st at 8 PM and Monday June 23^rd at 9:30 PM.  Maryland Public Television will present the documentary on Sunday, June 28^th at 10:00 PM. The film will be streaming on PBS.org starting June 21^st.