News
Carney fires back at Boehner over ENDA
Despite resistance in House, Carney says enough votes to pass LGBT anti-bias bill
White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney says the votes are present in the House to pass ENDA (Washington Blade file photo by Damien Salas).
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney fired back Friday at House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for comments he made against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but maintained that President Obama will continue the legislative track for non-discrimination protections for LGBT workers as opposed to an executive order.
Under questioning from the Washington Blade on whether President Obama would reconsider the heavily sought directive in the wake of Boehner’s comments, Carney said the speaker’s comments in opposition to ENDA of course, are “of course, disappointing.”
“I think that those who oppose this legislation are taking the wrong position, and they’re taking a position that, I think, history will prove to be wrong as has been the case in seminal civil rights legislation throughout our history in this country,” Carney said. “Basic equality is fundamental to who we are as a nation, and our history is, in part, a story of efforts and struggles to reach that ideal where equality is not only an aspiration, but a fact. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is a piece of that story, and it ought to be passed by Congress, passed by the House as it was by the Senate because this president will it into law.”
Carney was responding to remarks that Boehner gave during his weekly news conference in which he said he sees “no basis or no need” for ENDA, which would bar employers from discriminating against LGBT employees, when by the Blade if he would allow a floor vote on the bill.
Additionally, Carney also said the White House is among the supporters of ENDA who think that the legislation would pass on the House floor if Republican leadership bring it up for a vote.
“We are not at all yet to ready to believe that the fight is over in the House because it is the president’s strong conviction that this is right thing to do, and that the arguments against it do not hold up to scrutiny or the test of history, so we’re going to keep fighting for the House to take it up and urging the House to take it up,” Carney said. “We believe that if it were given a vote on the floor that it would pass, and that Democrats and Republicans would vote ‘yes’ and the president would sign it into law, and we believe, as you and I have discussed over these past many months and years, that that is the best solution here, and we’re continue to fight for it.”
By saying the White House believes ENDA has the votes to pass if he reached the House floor, Carney positions himself with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and the Human Rights Campaign.
Asked by the Blade whether Obama would at least threaten to issue the executive order if House Republican leadership continues to hold up ENDA, Carney maintained the focus of the White House is on legislation.
“I think that we’re focused on getting this legislation passed right now, Chris, and for the reasons I just discussed, we believe that resistance to it will eventually fall away because the rightness of it will prevail,” Carney said.
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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
