The Latino GLBT History Project (LHP) will offer its third annual ''Mujeres en el Movimiento'' awards ceremony and networking happy hour Friday, March 28, honoring Latina lesbians in the D.C. area who have made contributions to both the local Latino community and the LGBT community. The event also celebrates National Women's History Month.
This year's event will feature Monica Palacio, the newly appointed director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights, as the guest speaker; and DJ Rat of Maracuyeah and La SalvadoReina as musical performers. It will also feature a digital photo exhibit of the theme – ''Women in the Movement'' in English – with images of lesbian, bisexual and transgender Latina activists.
Lisbeth Melendez-Rivera, a longtime LGBT activist and the national project coordinator for ''A La Familia,'' a program that is part of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith program, will be honored with the Legacy Award. Officer Rosa Roldan Torres, of the Metropolitan Police Department's Latino Liaison Unit, will be honored with the Emerging Leader Award.
''Mujeres en el Movimiento is a place for lesbian Latinas to come together to build a strong and supportive community with other like-minded women,'' Esther Hidalgo, vice president of LHP, said in a statement. ''It's a great opportunity for networking and sharing inspiring stories and achievements. Come out and enjoy drinks, great Latino music, and a historical digital photo exhibition.''
About 100 people are expected to attend the event, which is free of charge, though a $5 donation is suggested to help LHP fund future events and programs.
The Mujeres en el Movimiento event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, at Mova Lounge, 2204 14th St. NW. The event is also sponsored by the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs; Brother, Help Thyself; and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. For more information, visit latinoglbthistory.org.
...moreA D.C. Superior Court judge last week disposed a case against one of two women accused in the June beating a local drag performer in a take-out restaurant following the accused woman's completion court-ordered community service.
Rachel Manna Sahle, of Gaithersburg, Md., was charged with one count of simple assault stemming from an attack against drag performer Heidi Glüm, aka Miles DeNiro, in a Manny & Olga's restaurant on 14th and T Streets NW. Video of the attack, which showed Sahle and Raymone Harding, also of Gaithersburg, hitting DeNiro and dragging him by his hair, was posted to the site WorldStarHipHop.com.
After appearing in court in September, Sahle was offered and accepted a deferred-sentencing agreement, referred to as a ''diversion,'' in which she agreed to avoid contact with DeNiro and complete a community-service requirement, in exchange for having the charge dropped.
On March 19, Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna determined that Sahle had complied with the terms of her release and had completed her community service. According to court records, Sahle volunteered 37 hours at a New York Avenue shelter during the months of September, October and December.
Harding, who was tried separately from Sahle, is due in court April 1 for a diversion hearing. However, unlike Sahle, Harding was given a particular community service assignment. According to court records, she has not completed any community service. The last notation on her record was added in October when a judicial summons was returned as ''undeliverable,'' with no forwarding address.
If Harding does not show up for her April 1 hearing, McKenna could order a bench warrant for her arrest, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia could decide whether it wants to move forward on a charge of simple assault. The U.S. Attorney's Office previously advised McKenna, prior to Sahle's acceptance of the deferred-sentencing agreement, that it was weighing whether to pursue bias enhancements, colloquially known as hate-crime charges, against both women.
DeNiro previously told Metro Weekly that the women were being encouraged to beat him up by several men who were accompanying them. He said that the women continued to loiter outside the restaurant even after the camera was turned off and restaurant employees had separated DeNiro and the women. He also said both women used epithets such as ''faggot'' and ''tranny'' when he exited the restaurant.
...moreA group of about 50 people, led by the pro-LGBT group People of Faith for Equality in Virginia (POFEV), gathered behind the Loudoun County Circuit Courthouse in Leesburg, Va., at noon Thursday, March 20, to demonstrate their support for marriage equality and call for changes to Virginia laws that prohibit any recognition of same-sex relationships.
While Virginia has a statutory ban on same-sex marriages, at issue in recent weeks has been its 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment, known as the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which prohibits legal same-sex marriages from being performed, denies recognition of out-of-state legal same-sex marriages, and prohibits the creation of any ''legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage.'' On Feb. 13, U.S. District Court Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen ruled in the case of Bostic v. Rainey that the amendment was unconstitutional, but granted a stay pending an appeal of her ruling, expected to be heard in May by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
POFEV, which has emerged as one of the chief pro-LGBT groups advocating on behalf of LGBT rights in the commonwealth, previously held 10 similar ''Witness for Love'' demonstrations throughout the state on Valentine's Day, and had planned to do so in Leesburg, but was forced to cancel that rally – as well as 12 others - due to inclement weather.
POFEV released a statement advising that its Loudoun County group had changed the date of the rally to March 20, the first day of spring, because ''they see a massive melting, a spring thaw, of prejudice in Virginia and rapidly growing support for marriage equality.'' Thursday's event brought together local activists, LGBT-supportive clergy, and members of affirming Christian, Jewish and Unitarian congregations.
''This may not be Valentine's Day, but it is a very special day, because you cared enough to show up and raise your witness in the public square,'' the Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline, president and CEO of POFEV, told the crowd gathered at the courthouse. ''There are so many more, a million and more and counting, standing with you, all over Virginia. You are helping us bring true and deep change to Virginia, a transformation from bottom to top.''
The event featured speeches by a rabbi, a Christian minister and a Unitarian minister reflecting on their respective religious traditions and their role in the movement for equality. All three religious leaders, whose denominations allow same-sex marriages, pointed out that Virginia's current law actually infringes on their religious liberty by preventing them from signing marriage licenses for same-sex couples they wish to marry.
The Rev. Phyllis Hubbell, of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun, spoke about the changes in Virginians' attitudes toward LGBT rights and particularly on same-sex marriage over the past 20 years, from the time she first blessed a same-sex union. Hubbell urged the crowd to ''stand on the side of love.''
Also attending and speaking at the rally was state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Loudoun, Fairfax counties), a pro-LGBT ally whose election to the General Assembly in January tipped the balance of power in the Virginia Senate toward Democrats.
In an interview with Metro Weekly following the rally, Gorsline linked the religious leaders' advocacy on behalf of LGBT rights, Wexton's presence at the rally, and POFEV's long-term goal of starting conversations with people of faith all across Virginia to show it's possible to be religious and support LGBT equality. Gorsline added that POFEV will continue various public appearances and events geared at building momentum for next year's General Assembly session, when POFEV hopes legislators will vote on the first of two separate votes required to repeal the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which Gorsline called ''a stain on our state.''
''The Supreme Court cannot remove the amendment,'' Gorsline said. ''The General Assembly has to vote to put it on the ballot, and only then can the people vote to repeal the amendment.''
POFEV is currently focused on carrying out the remaining ''Witness for Love'' rallies that were canceled on Valentine's Day. The group held one March 5 in Charlottesville, and plans to hold the rescheduled Arlington rally April 25.
...moreHobby Lobby and other companies don't want to cover contraceptives for employees â€" could a ruling in their favor mean denial of benefits needed by LGBT workers?
A Harlem pastor believes President Obama released 'homo demons,' and that's just the beginning.
The couple's registration of their New York marriage license doesn't mean Mississippi will recognize their union, but it's part of a push for marriage equality in Southern states.
In case you missed last week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, here is episode number 4 in its entirety. For episode 4 (titled “Shade: The Rusical”, the contestants enter the world of musical theater, perfectly fit for a queen! This episode features guest judges composer Lucian Piane, and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dream Girls). […]
The post Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, Episode 4 here [video] appeared first on GaySocialites.com.
With the days getting warmer we will be wearing less clothes and showing more skin, but don’t get too excited yet. Let’s discuss tanning. We all know that laying out in the sun and using tanning beds is bad for your skin and can even be hazardous to your health. I do want to add […]
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The controversial former leader of the Westboro Church, Fred Phelps Sr., died last week. Â According to his daughter, Margie Phelps, there will be no funeral services held in his memory. Fred Phelps founded the Westboro Church and often used the organization to spread a message of hate for the Lesbian, Gay and Bi-Sexual Community. Phelps […]
The post No funeral for dead Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps [video] appeared first on GaySocialites.com.
There’s much more to Aladdin than its often shirtless male chorus, although that certainly doesn’t hurt. Not that there’s anything incredibly substantial about it â€" this is brisk, lively, even jazzy musical comedy. And, as such, one of the more successful Disney screen-to-stage musical transfers. The setting may be the Middle East, but this version […]
The post Theatre Review: “Aladdin” appeared first on GaySocialites.com.
The duo of John Pizzarelli and Daniel Jobim playing and singing bossa nova are the ultimate in cool. Pizzarelli represents the very height of cabaret’s jazzier side, with profound musical intelligence at work. Jobim is part of a legendary Brazilian musical dynasty: his grandfather was Antonio Carlos Jobim, one of Brazil’s all-time greatest songwriters and […]
The post Cabaret Review: John Pizzarelli (featuring Daniel Jobim) appeared first on GaySocialites.com.
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