A jury convicted Franklin Siate on hate crime charges for threatening two gay men and a female bouncer at the 9:30 Club.
The 42-year-old was convicted on December 11 of two misdemeanor charges of attempted threats to do bodily harm, with each charge carrying a bias-related hate crime enhancement for assault.
Assault charges do not require a person to contact another person or injure them physically, but rather only threaten to harm them.
According to prosecutors, on August 3, Siate approached a line of patrons waiting to enter the 9:30 Club for a Taylor Swift-themed dance party and began yelling at them. When a woman who was working security for the club intervened, he threatened to "rape and murder" her.
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The gay community in D.C. has been all abuzz ever since Uproar, an LGBTQ bar that has become a major hub for the District’s bear community -- as well as the adjacent “daddy” and leather scenes – launched a campaign earlier this month to help the bar keep up with its rent payments and utility bills.
Tammy Truong, the owner of Uproar, posted an appeal asking for financial help in response to “unexpected costs” in a message on the bar’s website, and on GoFundMe, where supporters can donate to the cause. Thus far, the campaign, which seeks to raise $100,000 by February 6, has raised slightly over $7,400.
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