Local
Chris Abell, popular DJ, dies at 56
Accomplished pianist also worked in gay clubs
The funeral Mass for Chris Abell will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Mt. Rainier, MD.
Christopher George Abell, an accomplished church organist and pianist who later became a popular disc jockey at gay clubs in D.C. and up and down the East Coast, died Sept. 24 at George Washington University Hospital from a brain injury caused by a fall. He was 56.
George Strausbough, Abell’s partner of 15 years, said Abell was born in D.C. and raised in suburban Brentwood, Md., and was the second of six children of John and Bernadette Abell.
Strausbough said Abell attended the University of Maryland before transferring to Catholic University, where he studied music on a scholarship. In the late 1970s and early ‘80s Abell’s skills as an organist and pianist landed him in jobs playing at many D.C.-area churches, including the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Strausbough said.
Beginning in the early to middle 1980s through the late 1990s Abell worked as a guest DJ in a number of East Coast clubs. He also worked as a DJ in several D.C. gay bars, including the Lost & Found, Tracks, Badlands, Mr. P’s, and JR.’s. In addition, Strausbough said Abell worked as a bartender at Mr. P’s. He was widely known as “DJ Abell.”
During his DJ days, Abell became an officer with the Mid Atlantic Record Pool, an organization that worked with record companies to arrange for DJs to receive the latest record releases from popular recording artists, according to Strausbough.
After being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS nearly 25 years ago, Abell participated in clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health, the Whitman-Walker Clinic and George Washington University’s Medical Faculty Associates, Strausbough said.
He also helped to organize benefits for AIDS-related causes and groups, including Whitman-Walker, Food and Friends and Brother Help Thyself.
Amid his many activities and job duties, Strausbough said Abell was dedicated to his family, including Strausbough’s family members.
“He and I, between us, had 15 nieces and nephews that were the joy of his life, including mine and his and everybody’s,” said Strausbough. “His family was everything to him. And his family took me in as a son and my family took him in as a son.”
In addition to Strausbough, Abell is survived by his mother, Bernadette Abell; his brothers John Abell Jr. and his partner Nancy Kimball; Tim Abell and his partner Kathy; Lawrence Abell and his wife Cindy Abell; his sister Julia Jones and her husband Jay Jones; his sister Jennifer Addis and her husband Bryan; his beloved nieces and nephews and many longtime friends.
A funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 at St. James Catholic Church, 3628 Rhode Island Ave., in Mt. Rainier, Md.
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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