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Hannah gets 100 days in jail on new charges

Served 6 months in 2008 death of gay Md. man

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Robert Hannah

Robert Hannah pleaded guilty on July 14 to possession of marijuana following a drug arrest the previous month and to attempted threats against his girlfriend. (Washington Blade file photo)

Robert Hannah, a 20-year-old D.C. man who served six months in jail for a 2008 assault that led to the death of gay Maryland resident Tony Randolph Hunter, was sentenced on July 19 to 100 days in jail on new charges unrelated to the Hunter case.

In the latest case, Hannah pleaded guilty on July 14 to possession of marijuana following a drug arrest the previous month and to attempted threats against his girlfriend in a separate domestic violence related case in which he was arrested on June 19.

The two new cases came after he completed his sentence in the Hunter case, for which he pleaded guilty to a single count of simple assault. Police and prosecutors initially charged him with manslaughter after an investigation found that Hunter suffered a fatal brain injury in September 2009 as a result of falling to the ground and hitting his head on the pavement after Hannah punched him near a D.C. gay bar.

A grand jury lowered the charge to simple assault after prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s office said they lacked sufficient evidence to support the manslaughter charge. The action by the grand jury triggered expressions of outrage from LGBT activists, who said they believed Hannah targeted Hunter for an anti-gay attack.

At a July 19 sentencing hearing, Superior Court Judge Jose Lopez sentenced Hannah to the maximum 180 days in jail for both the marijuana possession and attempted threats charges. But he suspended all of the jail time in the threats case and all but 100 days of prison time in the marijuana case, requiring Hannah to serve a total of 100 days in jail.

Lopez also ordered that Hannah be placed on two years of supervised probation upon his release and that he undergo drug and alcohol testing and treatment as well as anger management counseling.

The sentence came after the U.S. Attorney’s office submitted a pre-sentencing memorandum asking the judge to sentence Hannah to the maximum 180 days for each of the two charges and to require that he serve the sentences consecutively.

“The defendant stands before this Court with a previous conviction of simple assault, an assault that resulted in the death of Tony Randolph Hunter,” the sentencing memo says. “Unfortunately, the facts of this most recent domestic violence case make abundantly clear that Mr. Hannah learned nothing from the death of Tony Randolph Hunter,” says the government’s memo.

Richard Toth, Hannah’s attorney, declined to comment when contacted by the Blade.

Court papers show that the attempted threat and simple assault charges were classified as a domestic violence incident that D.C. police said involved Hannah allegedly using physical force to pull his girlfriend against her will into a street.

Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV), a D.C. group, and residents of the Shaw neighborhood where Hannah lives said they planned to file community impact statements with the court urging the judge to hand down a stringent sentence.

LGBT and community activists have been following Hannah’s involvement in the criminal justice system since he was released from jail after serving a maximum six-month sentence in connection with the Hunter case.

In a highly controversial action, the U.S. Attorney’s office allowed Hannah to plead guilty to simple assault over an incident in which he admitted punching Hunter in the face after the two crossed paths on the street while Hunter and a friend were walking to a gay bar.

Hunter fell backwards into a fence before falling to the ground and hitting his head on the pavement, resulting in a brain injury that the city’s medical examiner said caused his death.

Hannah told police he hit Hunter in self-defense after Hunter allegedly touched his crotch and buttocks in a sexually suggestive way. Police said a witness backed up Hannah’s story. A friend of Hunter’s, who was also on the scene, told police Hunter never touched Hannah and that the attack against Hunter was unprovoked.

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World Pride 2025

D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride

Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

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Venus Valhalla performs at Pitchers. Liquor-serving establishments in D.C. will be able to remain open for 24 hours during WorldPride. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.

In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.

Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.

According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.

The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.

Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.

At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.

It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.

Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

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World Pride 2025

Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference

Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

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The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde. (Screen capture via PBS NewsHour/YouTube)

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.

Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)

A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.

The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.

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World Pride 2025

Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride

Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

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Pabllo Vittar (Screen capture via Pabllo Vittar/YouTube)

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.

The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.

Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.

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