Local
Stein Club endorses Pannell in school board race
Forum addresses LGBT issues, bullying
'I'm honored and humbled,' Phil Pannell said following the endorsement vote. 'This is an endorsement that I really wanted and that I really need.' (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club Tuesday night endorsed gay rights and Ward 8 civic activist Phil Pannell for a seat on the D.C. State Board of Education for Ward 8 in the city’s April 26 special election.
The club made the endorsement following a forum in which candidates running for the Ward 8 and Ward 4 school board seats spoke to club members on a wide range of issues, including issues related to LGBT youth.
“I’m honored and humbled,” Pannell said following the endorsement vote. “This is an endorsement that I really wanted and that I really need. And I think it’s important for people to know in this city that there are those of us in the LGBT community who put public education at the top of our agendas.”
Pannell, a longtime member of the Stein Club, received 62.5 percent of the votes cast, bringing him over the 60 percent vote threshold required for an endorsement under the club’s rules. His closest rival was D.C. civic activist and LGBT rights supporter Eugene Kinlow, who received 34 percent of the vote.
Ward 8 candidate Sandra Williams received 3 percent and the remaining three Ward 8 candidates attending the forum – Tijwanna Phillips, Larry Pretlow II, and Cardell Shelton – did not receive any votes.
Three other candidates running in the nine-candidate Ward 8 race – Trayon White, R. Joyce Scott, and Anthony Muhammad – did not attend the forum.
In the Ward 4 race, none of the four candidates participating in the Stein Club forum received 60 percent of the vote, preventing the club from making an endorsement in that contest. Ward 4 educator An Almquist came close, capturing 54.5 percent of the vote in a second ballot runoff against Ward 4 activist D. Kamili Anderson, who received 39.3 percent of the vote. The other two Ward 4 candidates who participated in the forum were Andrew Moss and Bill Quirk.
Adam Tenner, executive director of the local group Metro Teen AIDS, served as moderator for the forum. Among the questions he asked was how the candidates would address the D.C. public school system’s high drop-out rate, which Tenner said was believed to be high among LGBT students. He also asked about HIV prevention programs, including condom distribution in the schools.
Pannell said school bullying and harassment of LGBT students was a contributing factor in students’ decision to drop out of school. He said many students, including LGBT students, regularly fail to attend school, contributing to what he called an unacceptably high truancy rate in the school system.
“So many of our LGBTQ students find that the school experience isn’t working for them,” he said.
In addition to improving programs aimed at curtailing bullying, Pannell said he would push for allowing students to form LGBT-related student organizations and for encouraging them to serve as volunteers for LGBT-related organizations in the city such as the Whitman-Walker Clinic and Us Helping Us.
Each of the other candidates participating in the forum also promised to provide support in varying ways to LGBT students in the city’s schools.
Pannell and the other candidates expressed support for age appropriate HIV prevention and sex education programs. All of the candidates said they would restrict condom distribution in the schools to parental consent.
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
Rehoboth Beach
SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer
Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance
Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.
Thursday (9/3)
Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.
After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Friday (9/4)
The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Saturday (9/5)
The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.
Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.
Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.
Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.
Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.
Sunday (9/6)
Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.
Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.
John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Monday (9/7)
The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.
Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.
Maryland
Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names
Conservative groups challenged system’s policy
By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.
Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”
Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Blade welcomes fall intern
PHOTOS: Miss Gay Old Bay
SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer
Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names
Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead
San Francisco, long a queer safe haven, remains competitive for homebuyers
Calendar: August 28-September 3
‘Teenage Sex and Death’ has never been more entertaining
Actor Tim Curry dies at 80
