Local
Alleged anti-gay slur looms over Chris Brown trial
Geragos denies R&B star made comment
Chris Brown (Photo by Eva Rinaldi; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
A 20-year-old Beltsville, Md., man was expected to testify in D.C. Superior Court this week that controversial R&B singer Chris Brown punched him in the face outside D.C.’s W Hotel last October after making a derogatory comment about gays.
Parker Adams, who pressed assault charges against Brown, was expected to appear as the lead prosecution witness at Brown’s trial, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
Brown’s trial was set to take place less than a week after Superior Court Judge Patricia Wynn found Brown’s bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, guilty of simple assault stemming from the same altercation in which Brown allegedly assaulted Adams.
D.C. police charged Hollosy with assault for allegedly punching Adams in the face seconds after Brown allegedly struck Adams. Hollosy, who didn’t testify at his trial, has said he attempted to prevent Adams from entering a vehicle where Brown was about to enter after leaving the hotel.
Adams was also the lead witness at Hollosy’s trial. He testified that he and his girlfriend, Howard University student Jaylan Garrison, 18, and another female friend arrived at the W Hotel after attending homecoming events at Howard.
He said that when the three saw Brown standing outside the hotel on the sidewalk Garrison and her female friend asked Brown if he would let them pose for a picture with Brown, and Brown agreed.
Adams said he then walked over, introduced himself to Brown with the intent of also posing with Brown in the picture. When Brown ignored him he moved into a position where he would be in the photo, which was being taken by Hollosy, the bodyguard.
That’s when Brown objected and said, “I’m not into that gay shit,” Adams quoted Brown as saying. Seconds later, after the two exchanged words, Brown punched him in the face, Adams testified.
Garrison gave a similar account in her own testimony at Hollosy’s trial. At least one other witness testified that both Brown and Hollosy punched Adams in the face.
With the courtroom packed with friends and fans of Brown’s, and with Los Angeles celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, who is part of Brown’s defense team, sitting in the audience, testimony about Brown’s “gay” comment appeared to be overshadowed by anticipation over Brown’s upcoming trial.
When asked by the Blade outside the courthouse on April 18 whether he thought anti-gay sentiment could have played some role in Brown’s actions, Geragos said, “I don’t think anybody’s even addressed that. I think that comment – frankly I don’t think that comment was ever made.”
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.
Everton Blair makes history as first openly gay congressman from Ga.
Mujer trans salvadoreña es encontrada sin vida
Iceland implements gender-neutral blood donor rules
Blade Foundation to host fundraiser in Rehoboth on Sept. 12
New book examines fashionista Audrey Smaltz’s fabulous life
Gloria Steinem dies at 92
Pentagon expands testosterone screening as trans troops face hormone therapy restrictions
Swiss government backs nationwide conversion therapy ban
Calendar: September 4-10
