Local
Congress to probe Library of Congress discrimination charge
Schumer promises to see that ‘justice is done’
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who chairs a joint congressional committee that oversees the Library of Congress, said on Tuesday that the committee would look into allegations that the library engaged in discrimination by firing an employee because he’s gay.
“We certainly believe that there should be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” Schumer told the Blade Tuesday following a news conference on an unrelated issue. “So we’re going to look into this specific case and make sure that justice is done.”
Peter TerVeer, 30, former management analyst at the Library of Congress’s Office of the Inspector General, charges in a discrimination complaint that he was fired on April 6 after allegedly being harassed for more than a year by a supervisor who repeatedly cited passages from the Bible condemning homosexuality.
A spokesperson for the library declined to comment on the allegation, saying it never discusses pending personnel matters. The spokesperson, Gayle Osterberg, declined to confirm whether the library still has an internal personnel policy prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The library adopted such a policy in the late 1990s, but it couldn’t be immediately determined whether the policy remains in effect.
“That’s something I’ve stood for my whole career,” said Schumer in referring to policies aimed at barring job discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“I’m head of the committee on the library, and so we will make sure we get to the bottom of this,” he said.
An official congressional directory of committees on the House and Senate websites shows that Schumer is chair of the Joint Committee on the Library, which has jurisdiction over “the affairs and administration of the Library of Congress.”
Other senators on the committee include Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). House members include Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), who serves as vice chair; and Reps. Daniel Lungren (R-Calif.), Robert Brady (D-Pa.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.).
Peter TerVeer (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
TerVeer and his attorney, Thomas Simeone, were scheduled to hold a news conference to discuss the case outside the Library of Congress’s Madison Building where TerVeer worked at 11 a.m. Wed., April 11.
TerVeer charges in a complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that he was elevated from a temporary to permanent position and promoted twice since he was hired in 2008. He said the alleged harassment by his supervisor began immediately after the supervisor discovered he was gay in August 2009 and continued through October 2011, when TerVeer says in his complaint that severe emotional stress caused by the alleged harassment forced him to take disability leave from his job.
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.
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