Local
Trans activist’s murder trial postponed
Delay in processing DNA evidence


Gigi Thomas is accused of first-degree murder. (Photo courtesy Facebook)
The murder trial of D.C. transgender activist Gigi Thomas, which was scheduled to begin Sept. 13 in Prince George’s County Circuit Court, has been postponed until Feb. 27, 2017 at the request of prosecutors.
Court records show that Circuit Court Judge DaNeeka Cotton approved a “joint motion for continuance” of the trial filed on Sept. 2 on grounds that DNA evaluation of evidence submitted by prosecutors had not been completed.
John Irzon, a spokesperson for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, confirmed that a delay in processing DNA evidence was the reason for postponement of the trial.
Prince George’s County police on Oct. 16, 2015 charged Thomas, 46, with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing to death 47-year-old Devale Lamont Avery inside her residence in Temple Hills, Md.
A police statement of probable cause says police were called to the residence about 7:50 p.m. on Oct. 16 and found Avery unconscious and suffering from multiple stab wounds to the upper body. It says he was pronounced dead on the scene.
The statement says Thomas waived her Miranda rights after being taken to a police facility for questioning and “admitted” her involvement in the murder of Avery. A separate statement released by police says it “appears an argument between the suspect and victim escalated into the fatal stabbing.” She has been held in custody without bond since the time of her arrest.
Thomas’s attorney, David Simpson, has not responded to requests by the Washington Blade for comment.
Friends and associates of Thomas say they believe she has been unfairly charged with first-degree murder and that Thomas stabbed Avery, an estranged friend, after he attempted to rob and assault her. One of her friends, who spoke on condition of not being identified, said Thomas was fearful of being killed in the incident similar to the fate of large numbers of trans women who have been murdered in recent years throughout the country.
Irzon of the State’s Attorney’s office said he didn’t know the cause of the delay in the processing of the DNA evidence. Court records show that prosecutors outsourced the DNA samples in early February to BODE Technology, a Lorton, Va.-based laboratory that specializes in DNA testing.
The testing was originally expected to be completed by May, when an earlier trial date had been set. But prosecutors requested and obtained approval by the judge to postpone the trial until Sept. 13 upon learning the DNA analysis would not be completed in time for a May trial.
The new trial date set for Feb. 27 means the DNA analysis by the Virginia lab is not expected to be completed for more than a year after it was first submitted for analysis.
Thomas, who has a master’s degree in social work from Howard University, has worked for several local organizations that provide services to the transgender community. Those who know her expressed shock over her arrest on a murder charge, saying she worked for years as a community activist and mentor to help people in need.

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) will face John Reid in the race to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor.
Hashmi won the Democratic primary with 27.49 percent of the vote. She defeated former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), Babur Lateef, Victor Salgado and Alexander Bastani.
“Tonight, Virginians made history,” said Hashmi in a statement. “We didn’t just win a primary, we sent a clear message that we won’t be bullied, broken, or dragged backward by the chaos in Washington.”
Reid, a gay conservative talk show host, in April won the Republican nomination to succeed Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The incumbent governor days after Reid secured the nomination called for him to withdraw his candidacy amid reports that a social media account with his username included “pornographic content.” Reid, who would become the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in Virginia if he wins in November, has strongly denied the reports.
Former state Del. Jay Jones defeated Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor in Democratic attorney general primary. Jones will face Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares in November.
Youngkin cannot run for a second, consecutive term.
Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger will face off against Earle-Sears in November. The winner will make history as the first woman elected governor in the state’s history.
Baltimore
More than 15K people attend Baltimore Trans Pride
Baltimore Safe Haven organized annual event

More than 15,000 people attended Baltimore Safe Haven’s annual Trans Pride on Saturday.
“Last year we had maybe 2,500, and the year before that, we had 5,000,” Renee Lau, administrative assistant for special projects coordinator for Baltimore Safe Haven, said. “In today’s political climate, it’s absolutely amazing.”
Lau said allies and other groups “went into hiding” for about a month or two after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, but then all at once, different organizations started to reach out.
“The community has really come together to support us,” Lau said. “It was a fun, exciting day.”
Baltimore Safe Haven Executive Director Iya Dammons in a press release said the “historic turnout” showed the transgender community’s strength, as well as their unity to fight for justice and equality for all LGBTQ people.
At the event, attendees were seen waving flags and shouting “Trans Lives Matter,” showing their support for the community.
On Friday, before Trans Pride, Baltimore Safe Haven opened their new building to the public, gathering notable attendees like the Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohan, Council Member Antonio Glover, and representatives from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
“(It) was historic in itself because … we’re the only direct service providers for people in the LGBT community,” Lau said.
Providing housing for 18- to 24-year-olds, Lau said the new building also serves as a community hub and has office spaces for workers.
With only a few hiccups of arguments between attendees and fixing street blockades during Trans Pride, Lau said the event showed what the community can do.
“It was amazing that so many people came out and had that much fun. We were all giddy by Sunday morning,” Lau said. “(It gave) Safe Haven exposure and continuity. We are not just an LGBT organization, we are an organization that supports the entire community.”
District of Columbia
Juvenile arrested for anti-gay assault in D.C.
Police say suspect targeted victim in house with Pride flags

D.C. police announced on June 16 that they have arrested a 13-year-old juvenile male on a charge of Assault With Significant Bodily Injury for allegedly throwing a rock through the window of a house in Northeast D.C. and “striking the victim in the face.”
In a statement announcing the arrest, police said the incident took place on Friday, June 6, and “LGBTQ+ flags were displayed at the front of the home.”
A separate D.C. police incident report obtained by the Washington Blade states, “Victim 1 reports he was sitting in his living room at the listed location watching television when a rock came through the front window and struck him about his left eye. Victim 1 suffered a laceration under his left eye.”
The report adds, “Victim 1 states he observed Suspect 1 running away.”
According to the June 16 statement issued by police, “On Sunday, June 15, 2025, officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest. [A] 13-year-old juvenile male of Northeast D.C., was charged with Assault With Significant Bodily Injury (Hate/Bias).”
The statement says the house where the incident occurred is located on the 400 block of 20th Street, N.E.
Similar to statements D.C. police have issued regarding LGBTQ bias-related cases in the past, the statement announcing this case says that while the case is being investigated as being potentially motivated by hate or bias, that designation could be changed at any time during the investigation.
It adds that a hate crime designation by D.C. police may not be prosecuted as a hate crime by prosecutors. Under D.C. law, juvenile cases are prosecuted by the Office of the D.C. Attorney General.
Since court records for cases involving juveniles are sealed from public access, the Blade could not immediately determine whether prosecutors designated the case as a hate crime.
It also could not immediately be determined if the juvenile charged in the case was being held in detention while awaiting trial at juvenile court or whether he was released to a parent or guardian and whether a judge set any conditions for release.
The police statement concludes by saying that the department’s Special Liaison Branch, which includes the LGBT Liaison Unit, is assisting with the investigation.
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