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Local news in brief
Teen pleads in principal murder, Gansler says Md. marriage not imminent and more
Brian Betts was found shot to death in April. (Blade file photo)
Teen pleads guilty to murder of gay principal
A 19-year-old D.C. man pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree felony murder in connection with the April 14 shooting death of gay D.C. middle school principal Brian Betts.
Alante Saunders, one of four teenagers charged in Betts’ murder, agreed to a plea bargain agreement offered by prosecutors that is expected to result in a sentence reduced from life in prison to 40 years. The plea took place during a hearing before a Montgomery County Circuit court judge in Rockville.
Betts was found shot to death April 15 in his Silver Spring, Md. house.
Montgomery County Assistant State’s Attorney Sherri Koch told Judge John Debelius in a hearing that evidence shows that Saunders shot Betts to death in the second floor bedroom of his house after meeting the popular middle school principal through an Internet chat line.
Sources familiar with the case have said the chat line where the two met caters to gay men seeking to meet other men for sex.
In details of the case that had not previously been disclosed, Koch told the court that Betts told Saunders that the door to his house would be unlocked and instructed him to enter and walk upstairs to his bedroom upon his arrival.
Police and prosecutors have said Saunders and three other men, one 19 and two 18, hatched a plan to meet someone on the chat line for the purpose of committing a robbery. Saunders’ lawyer, David Felsen, and Koch agreed that Saunders and the others charged in the case did not intend to kill Betts.
“This was, for want of a better word, a robbery that went bad,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy at a news conference following the guilty plea.
“This case should serve as a reminder to all those in the community who use chat lines that there are dangers,” he said at the news conference.
Neither McCarthy nor Koch, in her courtroom remarks, mentioned that Betts was gay or that the youths charged with his murder met him through a gay sex chat line.
Court observers believe the State’s Attorney’s office is negotiating with attorneys representing the other defendants over possible plea bargain agreements that would avoid the need for a trial. The others charged in the case are Joel Johnson, 19; Sharif Tau Lancaster and Deontra Gray, both 18. Each is charged with murder, even though authorities believe they may not have been in Betts’ house at the time of the shooting.
Police have said some or all of the other three men entered the house at some point after the shooting to help Saunders steal Betts’ belongings, including credit cards and his car.
Saunders is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 23.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Md. attorney gen’l: No marriage bill in 2011
Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler told a gay business group this week that he doesn’t expect lawmakers to pass a same-sex marriage bill next year.
“We won’t get marriage equality in the legislative session this year,” Gansler told the Maryland Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “It will happen through the courts.” He cited a coalition of Republicans, Catholics and certain older black lawmakers who oppose same-sex marriage as the reason for the lack of movement.
A marriage bill is among Equality Maryland’s top legislative priorities and hopes for progress were high after three gay and lesbian candidates joined four openly gay incumbents in winning last week’s elections. Maryland now has seven openly gay and lesbian state lawmakers.
“Attorney General Gansler stated that a marriage equality bill is unlikely to advance in the General Assembly due to lack of support from certain constituencies,” said Charles Butler, Equality Maryland’s board chair, in a statement to the Blade. “We appreciate the AG’s unequivocal support for marriage equality, but respectfully disagree with him on his recent statement. Maryland voters just embraced two important pro-marriage candidates in re-electing Gov. O’Malley and the AG. … With this kind of support for equality, we believe the Legislature will do the right thing, honor the trust that the electorate has placed in its members, and enact marriage equality legislation during the upcoming session.”
KEVIN NAFF
Gay bar Mova files for bankruptcy in Florida
The owner of the D.C. gay bar Mova filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 20 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Miami, Fla., according to court documents.
Mova owner Babak Movahedi filed the bankruptcy documents through Logan Circle Spectrum, LLC, the company that owns Mova bars in both Washington and Miami Beach. Movahedi is the sole shareholder of the company, according to bankruptcy documents.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows companies unable to pay creditors to reorganize and make arrangements to pay off the debt over an extended time period without going out of business. Movahedi has said he intends to keep his Mova bars open.
The bankruptcy filing shows that Logan Circle Spectrum, which is headquartered in South Miami Beach, has liabilities totaling $874,817 and assets totaling $72,507. The largest single creditor is PNC Bank, which is owed more than $560,000, according to the filing.
Gay D.C. businessman and drag performer David Lett and Lett’s company, Harlet Enterprises, Inc., holds the primary lease to the building in which Mova D.C. is located at 1435 P St., N.W. The bankruptcy filing records show that Mova owes Harlet, Mova’s landlord, $77,745.
It says the money owed to Lett and Harlet Enterprises is for “leases, permits, agreements, personal property, furniture, fixtures, equipment and all other assets located in or upon the premise or used in connection with the business conducted in the premises.”
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
LGBT program at Univ. of Md. wins award
The University of Maryland’s One Project won the 2010 National Orientation Directors Association’s Innovative Program Award.
The One Project is the First-Year Experience program for LGBT and ally students at the university developed by Dian Squire, assistant director of orientation. It is a joint effort by the Office of LGBT Equity (lgbt.umd.edu) and the Orientation Office (orientation.umd.edu).
“We’re just really looking to connect students to other students … and the community at large,” Squire said.
The award gives the program a professional stamp of approval because it comes from an association that specializes in these types of programs, he said.
“The criteria for the award is, one, it’s innovative, and two, that the NODA board sees that the program can be taken and used anywhere in the nation,” Squire said.
The program is meant to help students make a smooth transition to college and “represents a hope that the LGBTQA community can come together in an intellectual, social and civically minded way to support each other through the first year of college.”
“I went to Luke Jensen [director of the Office of LGBT Equity] and asked if there was something I could do,” Squire said as to why he developed the One Project. “He said ‘Why don’t we start a first year program?’ and I took that small seed and ran with it.”
The award will be presented at the association’s annual conference, Nov. 6-9 in St. Louis.
For more information on the One Project or NODA, visit their respective websites, theoneprojectumd.com and nodaweb.org.
JULIETTE EBNER
a&e features
Pride season has begun
LGBTQ parades, festivals to be held throughout region in coming months
LGBTQ Pride festivals, parades and other events have been scheduled in large cities and small towns throughout the region. Pride events around the world culminate in June, but organizers in some municipalities have elected to hold celebrations in other months.
Pride in the region has already begun with last weekend’s Mr., Miss, and Mx. Capital Pride Pageant held at Penn Social as well as Roanoke Pride Festival held in Elmwood Park in Roanoke, Va.
Below is a list of Pride events coming to the region.
MAY
Capital Trans Pride is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St., N.W.). The website for the event advertises workshops, panel discussions, a keynote address, a resource fair and more. transpridewashingtondc.org
Equality Prince William Pride is scheduled for 12-4 p.m. on May 18 at the Harris Pavilion (9201 Center St.) in historic downtown Manassas, Va. equalityprincewilliam.org
D.C. Black Pride holds events throughout the city May 24-27. Highlights include an opening reception, dance parties and a community festival at Fort Dupont Park. The Westin Washington, DC Downtown (999 9th St., N.W.) is the host hotel, with several events scheduled there. dcblackpride.org
NOVA Pride and Safe Space NOVA will hold NOVA Pride Prom from 7-11 p.m. on May 31 at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Va. The event is open to all high school students throughout the region, regardless of identity, from rising ninth grade students to graduating seniors. novapride.org
Capital Pride Honors will be held on May 31. The Capital Pride Alliance has announced on its website that nominations are open for awardees. The Honors celebrates excellence in the LGBTQ community and its allies. capitalpride.org
JUNE
Downtown Sykesville Connection is sponsoring Sykesville Pride Day in downtown Sykesville, Md. on June 1 from 12-4 p.m. downtownsykesville.com
Reston Pride will be held at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, Va. on June 1 from 12-6 p.m. restonpride.org
Fairfax Pride, hosted by the City of Fairfax and George Mason University, will be held at Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive, Fairfax, Va.) on June 1 from 5-7 p.m. The event will include children’s activities and more. fairfaxva.gov
OEC Pride celebrates Pride with “art, dance, education, and fun” in Old Ellicott City. The OEC Pride Festival is held along Main Street in Ellicott City, Md. on June 1 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. visitoldellicottcity.com
Annapolis Pride has consistently drawn a giant crowd for a parade and festival in the quaint downtown of the Maryland capital. “The Voice” star L. Rodgers has been announced to headline the 2024 festival. The parade and festival will be held on June 1. annapolispride.org
The Alexandria LGBTQ+ Task Force Alexandria Pride is scheduled to be held at Alexandria City Hall from 3 – 6 p.m. on June 1 in Alexandria, Va. alexandriava.gov
The Portsmouth Pride Fest will be held at Festival Park adjacent to the Atlantic-Union Bank Pavilion in Portsmouth, Va. on June 1 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. portsmouthprideva.com
The Delaware Pride Festival is a free event scheduled for June 1 at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.The event is billed as family friendly and open to people of all ages and sexual orientations. delawarepride.org
The City of Rockville is hosting Rockville Pride at Rockville Town Square (131 Gibbs St., Rockville, Md.) from 2-5 p.m. on June 2. The free event features live performances, information booths, and children’s activities. rockvillemd.gov
Equality Loudoun is hosting the ticketed Loudoun Pride Festival from 1-7 p.m. on June 2 at Claude Moore Park in Sterling, Va. The event features three stages, a “#Dragstravaganza,” a kid’s zone, an alcohol pavilion, a food hall and more. Tickets $5. eqloco.com
Culpepper Pride is slated to be held at Mountain Run Winery in Culpepper, Va. from 12-6 p.m. on June 2. The theme this year is “True Colors.” culpeperpride.org
The Southwest Virginia Pride Cookout Community Social is planned for 2 p.m. at the Charles R. Hill Senior Center in Vinton, Va. on June 2. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Capital Pride kicks off with the RIOT! Opening Party at Echostage starting at 9 p.m. on June 7. Tickets run from $27-$50 and can be purchased on the Capital Pride website. The event is set to feature Sapphire Cristál. capitalpride.org
Pride events continue over the weekend of June 8-9 in the nation’s capital with the Capital Pride Block Party featuring performers and a beverage garden, the massive Capital Pride Parade, Flashback: A totally Radical Tea Dance to be held at the end of the parade route, and the Capital Pride Festival and Concert. Visit capitalpride.org for more information. Other Pride events planned for the weekend in D.C. include a number of parties and the unforgettable (and free) Pride on the Pier & Fireworks Show at the Wharf sponsored by the Washington Blade from 2-10 p.m. prideonthepierdc.com
Pride in the ‘Peake will be held at Summit Pointe (580 Belaire Ave.) in Chesapeake, Va. on June 9 from 12-5 p.m. The family-focused Pride event does not serve alcohol, but will feature community organizations, food trucks and more in a street festival. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Celebrate with a drag show, dancing and a lot of wine at Two Twisted Posts Winery in Purcellville, Va. for a Pride Party from 2-5 p.m. on June 15. twotwistedposts.com
Baltimore Pride holds one of the largest Pride parades in the region on June 15 in Baltimore. (2418 Saint Paul St.). The parade concludes with a block party and festival. Pride events are scheduled from June 14-16. baltimorepride.org
The fourth annual Catonsville Pride Fest will be held at the Catonsville Presbyterian Church (1400 Frederick Rd.) in Catonsville, Md. on June 15 from 3-6 p.m. The event features a High Heel Race, pony rides, face painting, local cuisine and more. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
The Ghent Business District Palace Shops have announced a Ghent Pride event from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on June 17 at the Palace Shops and Station (301 W 21st Street) in Norfolk, Va. ghentnorfolk.org
An event dedicated to celebrating the elders in the LGBTQ community, Silver Pride is scheduled for June 20 at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Location and more information to be announced soon. capitalpride.org
Visit the Hampton Roads PrideFest and Boat Parade for a truly unique Pride experience along the Elizabeth River. The full day of entertainment, education and celebration will be held on June 22 from 12-7 p.m. at Town Point Park (113 Waterside Dr.) in Norfolk, Va. hamptonroadspride.org
Frederick, Md. will hold its annual Frederick Pride Festival at Carroll Creek Linear Park on June 22 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Entertainers include CoCo Montrese of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” frederickpride.org
The fourth annual Pride at the Beach is scheduled for 2-10 p.m. on June 23 at Neptune’s Park (3001 Atlantic Ave.) in Virginia Beach, Va. The event features entertainment, community vendors, beachside DJ sets, food trucks and offers a “perfect conclusion to an unforgettable Pride weekend.” hamptonroadspride.org
Winchester Pride will hold its Mx. Winchester Pride Pageant at 15 N. Loudoun St. in Winchester, Va. on June 23 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door. winchesterpride.com
The organizers of last year’s inaugural Ocean City Pride with a “parade” along the boardwalk in Ocean City, Md. have announced that they will be organizing a return this year with events from June 28-30. instagram.com
The third annual Arlington Pride Festival will be held at Long Bridge Park at National Landing (475 Long Bridge Dr.) in Arlington, Va. on June 29 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. arlvapride.com
FXBG Pride is holding its annual community Fredericksburg Pride March on June 29 from 10-11 a.m. at Riverfront Park (705 Sophia St.) in Fredericksburg, Va. Speeches begin at 10 a.m. and the procession starts at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Salisbury Pride “90’s Edition” is scheduled for 3 – 7 p.m. on June 29 in Downtown Salisbury, Md. Magnolia Applebottom is listed as the headliner and grand marshal. salisburyprideparade.com
The 2024 Suffolk Pride Festival is scheduled for Bennett’s Creek Park in Suffolk, Va. on June 30 from 12-7 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.
Expect music, entertainment and drag performances in the picturesque mountain town of Cumberland, Md. at the Cumberland Pride Festival on June 30 from 12-4 p.m. at Canal Place. cumberlandpride.org
Montgomery County’s annual Pride in the Plaza will be held on June 30 from 12-8 p.m. at Veterans Plaza (1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, Md. liveinyourtruth.org
JULY
The sixth annual Westminster Pride Festival is scheduled for downtown Westminster, Md. on July 13 from 12-6 p.m. westminsterpride.org
Hagerstown Hopes is holding its annual Hagerstown Pride Festival in Doubs Woods Park (1307 Maryland Ave.) in Hagerstown, Md. on July 13 at 11 a.m. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.
The Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will be held on July 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with other Sussex Pride events scheduled throughout the weekend of July 18-21. sussexpride.org
Us Giving Us Richmond hosts Black Pride RVA in Richmond, Va. with events on July 19-21. ugrcrva.org
Photos
PHOTOS: On assignment in Hungary, Poland, and Germany
International News Editor Michael K. Lavers traveled to Eastern Europe this month
BERLIN — The Washington Blade was on assignment in Hungary, Poland, and Germany from April 2-16.
The Blade interviewed LGBTQ activists, government officials, and refugees from Ukraine who have resettled in Berlin and in Warsaw, the Polish capital. The Blade also visited Auschwitz in Oświęcim, Poland.
Drag queens entertain patrons of La Pose, a gay bar in Warsaw, Poland, on April 8, 2024, during a broadcast of an episode of “Czas na Show” or “Drag Me Out,” a reality show that features male Polish celebrities performing in drag with drag queens. (Washington Blade video by Michael K. Lavers)
Performers at SchwuZ on April 14, 2024. (Washington Blade video by Michael K. Lavers)
The 32nd annual Roanoke Pride Festival was held at Elmwood Park in Roanoke, Va. on Sunday, April 29.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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University students have a right to protest
Former CAMP Rehoboth official sentenced to nine months in prison
Christian Siriano to serve as grand marshal of Annapolis Pride Parade
Md. governor signs Freedom to Read Act
HHS reverses Trump-era anti-LGBTQ rule
4th Circuit rules gender identity is a protected characteristic
PHOTOS: Capital Pride Pageant
