Local
D.C. man found guilty of assault — but not guilty of hate crime
Victim suffered broken nose, loss of teeth after being called anti-gay slurs
A D.C. Superior Court jury on Feb. 27 found a 42-year-old District man charged with a May 2022 assault against a gay man while shouting anti-gay slurs guilty of assault causing significant bodily injury but not guilty of committing a hate crime.
Court charging documents show that Anthony Duncan allegedly punched the male victim in the face and head, breaking the victim’s nose and breaking three of the victim’s teeth, after the two men crossed paths while walking along 15th Street, N.W. at the intersection of V Street at about 4:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
An arrest affidavit filed in court by police and prosecutors says Duncan remained on the scene after the victim called police on his cell phone. It says Duncan attempted to blame the victim for instigating a fight.
The affidavit says Duncan told police officers who arrived on the scene that while he walked past the victim the victim “grabbed his nuts at me,” which police interpreted to mean he accused the victim of making a sexual gesture toward him.
“Defendant 1 stated that when he confronted Victim 1 over ‘grabbing his nuts’ that Victim 1 turned around and swung on him unprovoked but missed. Defendant 1 stated that they then got into a physical dispute resulting in Victim 1’s injuries,” the affidavit says.
It says the victim strongly disputed that assertion, saying he attempted to walk away from Duncan after Duncan began calling him a “faggot” and punched him in the back of his head.
The affidavit says the victim “was wearing a Stonewall Bocce shirt which is a well-known LGBTQ sports league.”
The affidavit and a separate court document filed by prosecutors says Duncan told police he recorded some of the incident with his phone, which police obtained at the time they arrested Duncan at the scene of the incident.
“Defendant 1 can be heard approaching Victim 1 while he was walking away and calling him a ‘fag’ several times while the altercation was taking place,” the affidavit says in describing the video obtained from Duncan’s phone.
In a court motion filed by prosecutors asking the judge to allow the video from Duncan’s phone to be submitted as evidence, the motion further describes what was recorded and observed on the video.
“On the video, you can see the defendant approach [the victim] and start verbally accosting him,” the court motion says. “The defendant then proceeds to punch [the victim] in the face,” it says. “After reviewing the video, the police arrested the defendant,” the prosecutors’ motion says.
Court records show Duncan was charged with Assault With Significant Bodily Injury, which was designated as a bias-related crime based on the victim’s sexual orientation. Court records show Duncan was held without bond until a court appearance on May 26, 2022, when he was released under the court’s high intensity supervision program with a stay away order prohibiting him from coming into contact with the victim.
The court records show that Duncan appears to have complied with the terms of his release and that his trial began on Feb. 21 and continued until Feb. 27 when the jury handed down its verdict of guilty on the assault charge and not guilty on the “Bias Related Crime” charge.
Duncan’s defense attorney, Quo Mieko Judkins, declined a request by the Blade for comment on the case. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the office would consider a request by the Blade for comment on the case.
Court records show that Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz scheduled a sentencing hearing for Duncan on April 28. A statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office says he faces a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Former Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Mike Silverstein, who has monitored the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s handling of crimes targeting LGBTQ people, praised the office for prosecuting the case against Duncan as a hate crime. Silverstein said the U.S. Attorney’s Office has chosen to drop hate crime designations in other cases brought by D.C. police.
Spokespersons for the office in the past have said the charging decisions are based on the strength of the evidence in each individual case.
“One would hope that the judge will take into account the circumstances of this case,” Silverstein told the Blade. “The extreme circumstances of someone actually filming an assault and celebrating it. And that should play a part in her decision on a sentence,” he said. “This is not open season on gays.”
Maryland
Layoffs and confusion at Pride Center of Maryland after federal grants cut, reinstated
Trump administration move panicked addiction and mental health programs
By ALISSA ZHU | After learning it had abruptly lost $2 million in federal funding, the Pride Center of Maryland moved to lay off a dozen employees, or about a third of its workforce, the Baltimore nonprofit’s leader said Thursday.
The group is one of thousands nationwide that reportedly received letters late Tuesday from the Trump administration. Their mental health and addiction grants had been terminated, effective immediately, the letters said.
By Wednesday night, federal officials moved to reverse the funding cuts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, estimated to total $2 billion, according to national media reports. But the Pride Center of Maryland’s CEO Cleo Manago said as of Thursday morning he had not heard anything from the federal government confirming those reports.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Congratulations to Vida Rangel, JD/MPP on her promotion to Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments. Rangel is now the highest-ranking transgender official in the history of District government. On accepting the position Rangel said, “I am proud to step into this leadership role and to continue serving my communities. Our District is full of passionate and knowledgeable people who are committed to public service, and it is an honor to help them explore opportunities to serve their neighbors.”
Rangel has previously served in this office as Director of Operations. Prior to this as Bargaining Committee Chair, Organizing Committee, NCTE United, Nonprofit Professional Employees Union IFTPE Local 70. As Policy Counsel, National Center for Transgender Equality; and Elizabeth Warren for President, lead organizer, Illinois 4th Congressional District. She has worked with, and served on boards of, The Black & Pink National, Federal City Performing Arts Assoc., and LAGBAC.
Rangel earned her bachelor’s in sociology from Sam Houston State University; master’s of Public Policy from Loyola University, Chicago; and Juris Doctor, Loyola University, Chicago.
Congratulations also to James Conlon new PFLAG vice president of Development & Philanthropic Partnerships. Upon his appointment Conlon said, “It is an absolute privilege to join PFLAG National and lead their Development & Philanthropic Partner team into a new era. Right now, LGBTQ+ people and their families are terrified of what the future might bring, and PFLAG must continue to be there. My job is to ensure PFLAG strongly endures and thrives, because never has there been a clearer time for our community to unite in fighting for the dignity and well-being of every LGBTQ+ person.”
Brian Bond, CEO, PFLAG National, said, “At a time when PFLAG National programs and participation in them have grown significantly, even as corporate giving has left a $1.3M gap in our funding, James is a critical new addition to the team. With his vast expertise, James will drive our growth and ensure that PFLAG continues meeting the needs of families and communities across the country.”
Conlon is a seasoned fundraiser who has spent extensive time working with advocates, supporters, and leaders, of the LGBTQ+ movement to understand how to effectively support the community. He began his career as an intern in the Massachusetts State House. He has helped raise more than $60 million for critical causes and candidates. Prior to joining PFLAG James oversaw LGBTQ+ investments and fundraising, with the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Prior to that he served in the same role for Harris-Walz 2024, and additionally served in senior fundraising positions for the Senate Majority PAC, as well as for Representatives Josh Gottheimer, and Conor Lamb.
Conlon earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
District of Columbia
D.C.’s annual MLK Peace Walk and Parade set for Jan. 19
LGBTQ participants expected to join mayor’s contingent
Similar to past years, members of the LGBTQ community were expected to participate in D.C.’s 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Peace Walk and Parade scheduled to take place Monday, Jan. 19.
Organizers announced this year’s Peace Walk, which takes place ahead of the parade, was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at the site of a Peace Rally set to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Firth Sterling Avenue and Sumner Road, S.E., a short distance from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
The Peace Walk and the parade, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the same location, will each travel along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue a little over a half mile to Marion Barry Avenue near the 11th Street Bridge where they will end.
Japer Bowles, director of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, said he and members of his staff would be marching in the parade as part of the mayor’s parade contingent. In past years, LGBTQ community members have also joined the mayor’s parade contingent.
Stuart Anderson, one of the MLK Day parade organizers, said he was not aware of any specific LGBTQ organizations that had signed up as a parade contingent for this year’s parade. LGBTQ group contingents have joined the parade in past years.
Denise Rolark Barnes, one of the lead D.C. MLK Day event organizers, said LGBTQ participants often join parade contingents associated with other organizations.
Barnes said a Health and Wellness Fair was scheduled to take place on the day of the parade along the parade route in a PNC Bank parking lot at 2031 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E.
A statement on the D.C. MLK Day website describes the parade’s history and impact on the community.
“Established to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the parade united residents of Ward 8, the District, and the entire region in the national movement to make Dr. King’s birthday a federal holiday,” the statement says. “Today, the parade not only celebrates its historic roots but also promotes peace and non-violence, spotlights organizations that serve the community, and showcases the talent and pride of school-aged children performing for family, friends, and community members.”
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