Arts & Entertainment
Demi Lovato helps Shane Bitney Crone and Rayvon Owen get engaged
the couple made their relationship public in 2016
Demi Lovato, Rayvon Owen and Shane Bitney Crone (Screenshot courtesy of Instagram)
Demi Lovato helped her friends Shane Bitney Crone and Rayvon Owen get engaged on stage during the Los Angeles stop of her “Tell Me You Love Me” tour on Friday.
Lovato invites Owen, 26, and Crone, 32, on stage with her but Owen finds himself standing alone next to Lovato. While Owen tries to find where his boyfriend went Crone pops on stage through a trap door.
Owen appears shocked as Crone proposes and Owen says yes.
“Something you don’t know is that these are two of my really close friends. I’ve gotten to watch Shane go through so much and come out on the other side. Such a strong person who has now found the love of his life,” Lovato tells the crowd. “Now I’m going to sing you a song while I cry.”
She then proceeds to sing her song “Yes” as a video montage of the couple’s love story plays behind her.
Crone, who is an LGBT activist, chronicled the legal challenges he faced after his partner Tom Bridegroom’s sudden death in the documentary “Bridegroom.” Owen, who was a finalist on season 14 of “American Idol” came out as gay in his music video “Can’t Fight It,” which starred Crone as his love interest, in 2016.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, and I am beyond thrilled to officially call you my fiancé! You’ve made me a better man and I’ll forever be grateful to you for loving me unconditionally. I know with all of my heart that Tom would be so happy for us, and I thank you for honoring and respecting the fact that he will always be a part of my life,” Crone captioned photos and video of the special moment.
Owen posted his own memory of the night with photos and video of the proposal and Lovato’s performance.
“I said yes…hands down the happiest night of my entire life. @shanebitneycrone, i am beyond excited and honored to spend the rest of my life with you. thank you @ddlovato for making this a moment that i will absolutely never ever forget,” Owen writes.
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Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
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(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
