Local
CAMP Rehoboth urges schools to back nondiscrimination rule
Gov. Carney proposed trans-inclusive measure
Delaware Gov. John Carney proposed a school nondiscrimination policy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)
Three representatives of the Rehoboth Beach, Del., LGBT community center CAMP Rehoboth appeared on Jan. 25 before a meeting of the Cape Henlopen Board of Education to urge the board to support a sweeping school nondiscrimination policy proposed last year by Delaware Gov. John Carney.
The Cape Henlopen School District, which the board oversees, operates public and charter schools in Rehoboth Beach and nearby Lewes, Del. The two beach towns have a large number of LGBT residents and summer visitors.
The CAMP Rehoboth representatives that spoke at the meeting – attorney and LGBT activist Mark Purpura, LGBT rights advocate Beth Cohen, and transgender rights advocate Kathy Carpenter Brown – called on board members to embrace Regulation 225, a comprehensive nondiscrimination policy that Carney has asked the state’s Department of Education to develop with input from the public.
Among other things, the proposal calls for the state’s public and charter schools to allow students to use locker rooms and join sports teams consistent with their gender identity. It would ban school-related discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other categories.
Carney has said he would like local school boards throughout the state to adopt a form of the policy that is appropriate for local communities. He has not said whether the state would make adopting the policy mandatory.
“CAMP Rehoboth supports Regulation 225 and we encourage the school board to support Regulation 225,” Purpura said during a part of the meeting reserved for public comment. “The regulation is a comprehensive and very reasonable nondiscrimination regulation and policy that is inclusive as to various protective characteristics, including characteristics based on gender identity and gender expression.”
Andy Lewis, president of the Cape Henlopen school board, said that because the comments by the CAMP Rehoboth representatives were made during an open public comment period and were not part of the board’s official agenda, the board could not discuss taking action on the issue during that meeting.
CAMP Rehoboth official Sal Seeley, who attended the meeting, said opponents of the proposed school policy spoke against it at the school board’s meeting in December.
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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