So you think you can dance?
You’ll have the opportunity to show off those dance moves at the star-studded Memorial Weekend party with DJs Seth Cooper, pictured, and Roland Belmares spinning out the night at the old Club One spot. It’ll be just like old times. The two will deliver the beats, while you boogie on down.
DEETS: 3025 Main St. 10 p.m. PaulKraftProductions.com
Seth Stambaugh, the 23-year-old student teacher booted from an Oregon elementary school in October after answering a student's question about whether he was married (and explaining that legally he couldn't marry another man), and then reinstated after threats of a lawsuit, has settled with Sexton Mountain Elementary School's school district for $ 75,000. Stambaugh, who will graduate from Lewis & Clark College in the summer, says he'll donate at least $ 10k to two youth-oriented local non-profits. The school will also "provide leadership training concerning issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression," according to the settlement details. Looks like Stambaugh's "professional judgment" — originally described by Beaverton School District officials as questionable when they transferred him to another school — was just fine, after all. Well not for Aaron Krikava, the father who originally complained about Stambaugh's in-classroom gayness; Krikava yanked his son out of Stambaugh's class.
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Tagged: Beaverton School District, kids, Marriage, Oregon, School, Seth Stambaugh, Sexton Mountain Elementary
Last week we told you the trial of Seth Winder, who’s charged with first-degree murder in the September 2008 dismemberment of gay Dallas resident Richard Hernandez — was scheduled to go forward this month, on Jan. 24.
We also told you that the Denton County District Attorney’s Office, which is handling the case, was a little skeptical about the trial date because jail records showed that Winder’s defense attorney, Derek Adame, hadn’t visited his client recently.
Well, according to Denton County court records, the trial has now been pushed back until May 23. That’s a delay of four additional months. If Winder’s trial goes forward on May 24, it will have been more than 2 ½ years since Hernandez’s murder. But at this point, we’d say that’s a pretty big “if.”
Neither prosecutors nor Adame could immediately be reached for comment.
We received a message Monday from Karen Winder, the stepmother of Seth Winder, who’s awaiting trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Richard Hernandez, a gay man from Dallas who was brutally dismembered in September 2008.
Karen Winder, who wrote a book about the case, was wondering if we’d heard whether the trial — which has been repeatedly delayed for a variety of reasons — is expected to go forward as scheduled on Jan. 24.
“The prosector has never responded to me and [defense attorney Derek] Adame won’t talk to Rodney [Seth's father] or me and we have tried to contact him by phone and e-mail in the past,” Karen Winder wrote. “I could try to call his office again, but I doubt he will talk to us, though he talks to Seth’s mother.”
In response to Winder’s message, we contacted Jamie Beck, first assistant district attorney for Denton County, where the crime occurred. Here’s what Beck said:
“It is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 24, that week. Voir dire would probably be most of the day Monday, with testimony likely to begin Tuesday the 25th,” Beck said. “We are prepared to have that as an official trial date. However, those are always subject to change, and the reason why I have a little bit of hesitation this time, is because we’re able to access the visitation log at the jail, and his attorney has not been to see him in quite some time. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything — they can communicate in other fashions — but we’re just a little skeptical about his readiness for trial here in just a couple of weeks. But, we’re planning to go. There’s been no motion for a continuance filed at this point in time, and certainly none ruled on. So as of right now, it is a solid trial date. That’s always subject to change, and that’s the best I can give you right now.”
We’ve left a message for Adame and we’ll update once we hear back.
Arne Duncan, the education secretary, is having his minions look into the little matter of California's Tehachapi Unified School District, his office confirms. The move comes after Wendy Walsh, the mother of 13-year-old Seth who hung himself from a tree and left his mother a suicide note fingering his school for ignoring his torment, teamed up with the ACLU to call bullshit on the district's failure to intervene. Seth told his mother in his note that he wanted her to "make the school feel like shit for bringing you this sorrow."
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Tagged: arne duncan, Bullying, California, education department, kids, richard swanson, School, seth walsh, Suicide, wendy walsh
While we’re on the subject of local gay murder victims whose friends want to see justice, we thought we’d let you know about a note we received this morning from one Rudy Araiza.
Araiza was close friends with Richard Hernandez, who was murdered and dismembered at his apartment in Far North Dallas more than two years ago, in September 2008. Seth Lawton Winder is charged with first-degree murder in Hernandez’s slaying and is awaiting a trial that’s been postponed several times. According to the Denton County District Attorney’s Office, Winder’s case is now set for trial in late January.
We aren’t sure whether Araiza, Hernandez’s friend, was inspired by the actions of Lisa Stone’s friends, but he wrote to inquire about obtaining copies of Dallas Voice articles on the murder, because he’s interested in launching a website. Here’s part of what he said:
“I want to start a Richard Hernandez Justice website to keep journals and updates on his delay of Justice! As we leave 2010 and into 2011, we are still in suspense mode waiting to hear, or see ‘Justice’ happen here from delay after delay of Seth Winder. I had a dream the other night, and in my dream Richard was there, in a place where Happiness and Life were the heavens. I was extremely angry with him and told him that he left a lot of people with heavy hearts, he said that everything was going to be okay, and that he was watching over us. It was a typical answer that only Richard would have said to me, which let me know that he was happy and right! It sounds crazy, but I woke up knowing and feeling good inside knowing that Richard for a mere 5 minutes was having a conversation with me. My heart believes that he knows what’s going on, and he knows Justice will come soon.”
The devil never sleeps
Mark-Brian Sonna takes us to Hell again with his latest production, Lucifer Descending. Lucifer is pissed at God so he goes and creates the underworld. Then he sets his sights on abducting Seth, one of the sons of Adam and Eve. Clearly, Lucifer just doesn’t know when to stop.
DEETS: Stone Cottage Theater, 15650 Addison Rd., Through Nov. 6. $18–$25. MBSProductions.net.
By now you've all read about Seth Stambaugh, the Beaverton, Oregon student teacher who lost his job last month after coming out to one of his fourth grade students. Stambaugh got his job back last Thursday and through his lawyer Lake Perriguey, has stated that that he "is joyous beyond belief" to have his fulfiling teaching job back. According to Perriguey, later that same day, Beaverton School Superitendant Jerome Colonna held a public "listening session" with the board of the school district and admitted that the complaint from a parent that resulted in Stambaugh's removal was handled improperly. I caught up with Seth and asked him some questions about his experience over the past six months.
SP: What was your initial reaction when you heard that your job would be reinstated?
SS: Absolute excitement. This is, and always has been, about the students. I am very excited to return to them.
SP: Did you ever receive an official apology form the Beaverton School District?
SS: I have not received any official or unofficial apology from anyone.
SP: Did they ever explain to you why they have now decided to give you back your job?
SS: I have not received any contact regarding my reinstatement, nor the decisions made that enacted it, from the Beaverton School District. I was informed of the decision for reinstatement by my Alma mater, Lewis and Clark Graduate School. From what I understand, the Beaverton School District now recognizes that they erred in judgment, but I have heard no apology nor any news regarding why the decision for reinstatement, which I am thrilled about, was made.
Read more from Seth, AFTER THE JUMP.
SP: You've said that getting your teaching position back is a "great first step" but that "it is only that, a first step." What are the other steps that you would see take place?
SS: I would like to see students thriving in Beaverton and beyond, be they queer or otherwise. Students should know that marginalized people exist, in this instance gay people. This is a great teaching moment where we can send the message that difference does not mean adversity. The diversity between and among all people should be valued as inherent and beautiful.
SP: You said that when you were first dismissed that you felt as if you were being asked to go back into the closet. Have you felt less likely to reveal your sexuality to people since the controversy began?
SS: I came out of the closet when I was 16 in a very supportive family. I was very lucky in that. Their support, along with the support of the communities I have lived in, and that of my attorney, Lake Perriguey, have reaffirmed that queer is okay. We do not exist in a social vacuum, and, as I said earlier, I value the diversity among and between people in terms of our differences as something that we, all as humans, can learn from. Comfortableness about being out varies from person to person, understandably, but I have been out for a long time. At the suggestion that I might have to become more closeted again, I feel absolute terror. I think doing so would be a backwards step, and plan on being honest.
SP: There's been a lot of debate from those who supported your dismissal about what a nine-year-old can and cannot comprehend. How do you feel about a fourth grader's ability to understand homosexuality?
SS: I was never given any indication that my marital status was an issue that could be so controversial. Staff as well as other student-teachers at Sexton Mountain Elementary freely discussed their marital status and displayed pictures of their families…I did not realize that heterosexuality had to be attached to those valuable stories and photographs.
SP: Have you heard from the parent who apparently complained about your appearance and then about the controversial conversation?
SS: I have not heard from the parent in question, and would like to protect his or her confidentiality for the sake of their child.
SP: What has been the response from other parents from the school district?
SS: I have had a vast amount of support from parents in the district. This is a learning moment for all of us, and I value it as such.
SP: Do you plan to pursue a discrimination lawsuit against the school district?
SS: In the words of Bartleby, The Scrivener, I would prefer not to. As an addition, I would also like to express my very sincerest of thanks to Portland Public Schools. They were BEYOND accommodating and supportive during my interim internship. I cannot express to them enough my gratitude, especially to my interim mentor teacher. She is a fine educator, and I have learned so much from P.P.S.'s respect, dignity, support, appreciation for diversity, and guidance. Again, thank you Portland Public Schools.
Seth Stambaugh, the gay student teacher booted of a Portland, Oregon elementary school for revealing he's gay to his fourth graders, will meet with Sexton Mountain Elementary's Principal Don Martin in the coming days to discuss what went down. The meeting was arranged through Stambaugh's attorney Lake Perriguey, so I'm sure the conversation will go something like this: "Hey, Principal Martin? You can either give Seth his job back, and issue a statement revoking your earlier decision to have him banned from the entire school district, or we'll see you in court."
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Tagged: kids, Marriage, Oregon, School, Seth Stambaugh, Sexton Mountain Elementary
Everything ‘Zen’ at this fundraiser
There are those of us who walk long distances and those of us who contribute. If you’re the latter, but still want to help out LifeWalk, head to Gary Floyd’s CD release party. His latest EP, The Gospel of Zen, gets the soiree treatment while also raising funds for AIDS Arms. Plus, with every suggested donation, you get a free CD. But get an autograph if you can.
DEETS: Private residence. 7 p.m. $25. 214-686-7476. Facebook.com/LifeWalkDallas
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Walk this way to Deep Ellum
The Deep Ellum Enrichment Project hosts the Deep Ellum Art Walk with 18 galleries from the area and Exposition Park showing a variety of arts, with music and food along the way. The walk is followed up by an after-party at La Grange on Elm. Sweet.
DEETS: Hosted by DEEP. 6 p.m. Free. Kevin@GreenBandanaGroup.com
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The devil never sleeps
Mark-Brian Sonna takes us to Hell again with his latest production, Lucifer Descending. Lucifer is pissed at God so he goes and creates the underworld. Then he sets his sights on abducting Seth, one of the sons of Adam and Eve. Clearly, Lucifer just doesn’t know when to stop.
DEETS: Stone Cottage Theater, 15650 Addison Rd., Through Nov. 6. $18–$25. MBSProductions.net.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 8, 2010.
