WASHINGTON POST: Greenbelt City Council member Brandon “Ric” Gordon, who was reelected for a second term earlier this month, died at age 41 on Sunday, the city of Greenbelt announced in a release.
The Prince George’s County native led efforts to make Greenbelt a more inclusive community for himself and others by starting the Greenbelt Pride festival in 2022 and adding a Pride parade this year. Gordon described himself to The Washington Post earlier this year as a transamorous heterosexual man.
Greenbelt Mayor Emmett V. Jordan in a statement called Gordon’s death “a great loss to the Greenbelt community, Prince George’s County, and the State of Maryland.”
“Ric Gordon was very passionate about Greenbelt, politics, and his important role as a council member. He will be missed tremendously,” Jordan said.
The cause of his death wasn’t released.Most recently, Gordon said he was delighted that Greenbelt voters this month signaled that they were in favor of granting noncitizens ballot access in local elections. It was yet another sign that Greenbelt was hungry for change and ready to be “on the right side of history,” he told The Post. “This shows who we are as a community. … We care for our neighbors, no matter the citizenship status,” he said in an interview. “We have a melting pot here in Greenbelt. We understand each other.”
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) called Gordon a “dedicated public servant.” “We are collectively mourning this deeply felt loss,” she said in a statement. “Councilmember Gordon was not only a valued member of the Greenbelt City Council but also a cherished member of the Prince George’s County community. We will remember him for his commitment to making Greenbelt a better place for all.”
