Local
Town hall addresses Pride, financial concerns
Celebration slated for July 23-24 despite declining revenue
GLCCB board president Jabari Lyles addresses the town hall meeting. (Washington Blade photo by Steve Charing)
Under pressure from members of the community to account for the income and expenditures incurred during Pride 2015, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB), held a town hall meeting on Nov. 10 at the Chase Brexton Mount Vernon Center. The gathering allowed new board president Jabari Lyles to address Pride-related issues, offer an overview of the organization and to welcome community input.
Lyles described the GLCCB’s structure and the financial data from the most recent Pride to a crowd of about 60. Pride, which is the GLCCB’s principal source of revenue, made a profit of $49,400 this year. In 2014, Pride netted $64,000.
Some in the community raised concerns about the absence of accounting for the outlays and questioned specific expenditures. These issues, coupled with the sudden resignation of Pride coordinator and deputy executive director Paul Liller, motivated GLCCB’s leadership to hold the town hall.
Lyles and others charged that Liller used bad judgment in procuring the amount of T-shirts for Pride, for example, as well as creating a fundraising Halloween event called OutRageous without authorization. OutRageous was cancelled because of a lack of sales and ultimately cost the GLCCB $9,000 with nearly half of that amount to be used as a credit for a future event involving the same caterer.
Liller, who was not present at the meeting, rejected the criticisms. “Regarding allegations of mismanagement for both OutRageous and Pride T-Shirts, I will say that during my time at the GLCCB, all my decisions were either run through the former executive director Joel Tinsley-Hall or the board of directors,” he told the Blade via email. “Accurate financials were provided monthly during board meetings (which strangely there are no minutes for). The GLCCB board was involved in decisions made as they chose to be at the time.”
Lyles stated that tighter financial controls have already been put in place including the hiring of a bookkeeper. Moreover, he announced that the next Pride celebration would take place July 23-24, 2016.
He also unveiled an updated strategic plan that was developed in 2012 but had largely been relegated to the back burner due to an ongoing turnover in leadership. Indeed, since the last town hall took place in July 2014, there have been four different board presidents and four different individuals in the role of executive director.
Nonetheless, Lyles who has been the board president since July and is acting as the interim executive director since Liller’s departure last month, promised a better accounting of funds, greater transparency, a stronger effort to make the board more inclusive and to expand services and programs.
He also announced the resurrection of the GLCCB Advisory Council and that the organization is actively pursuing new office space. The GLCCB has been housed on the third floor of the Waxter Center on Cathedral Street in Mount Vernon since February 2014.
While not nearly as contentious as the last GLCCB town hall meeting 15 months ago, this meeting also afforded community members an opportunity to sound off on matters of concern. Many of those who participated in the “open mic” portion of the program focused on the GLCCB’s mission and the need for diversity on the board.
Some members advocated for more youth programs while others support elder programs to cope with the aging LGBTQ population. A few offered to assist in partnering with other LGBT organizations and allies while some volunteered to help with fundraising. More involvement with faith-based groups and activities was also urged.
Overall, Lyles was pleased with the nearly three-hour meeting. “It’s refreshing to see the community willing to help us and be dedicated to our mission,” he told the Blade. He promised another town hall in March and that they will take place biannually.
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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