Arts & Entertainment
Nicholas Sparks accused of trying to ban LGBTQ club at Christian school
‘The Notebook’ author is accused of homophobia and racism
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Nicholas Sparks. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
Author Nicholas Sparks, known for penning bestselling romance novels such as “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember,” has been accused of trying to ban an LGBTQ club at a Christian school he co-founded in New Bern, North Carolina.
Sparks has been embroiled in an ongoing legal battle with Epiphany School of Global Studies’ former headmaster, Saul Benjamin.
Benjamin filed a lawsuit against Sparks and the school’s Board of Trustees in 2014 forādiscrimination, breach of contract, emotional distress, and defamation.ā
Benjamin claims that Sparks āunapologetically marginalized, bullied, and harassed members of the School community whose religious views and/or identities did not conform to their religiously driven, bigoted preconceptions.ā
In email correspondence between Benjamin and Sparks obtained by the Daily Beast, at least some of Benjamin’s claims appear to be backed up.
One complaint in Benjamin’s lawsuit was that Sparks sided with a group of students who were bullying LGBTQ students. Benjamins says Sparks called a club for LGBTQ students āthe Gay Club.ā Sparks also allegedly threatened to terminate two bisexual teachers who tried to stand up for the LGBTQ students.
In an email Sparks tells Benjamin he āchose to rock this boat early and hard ā¦ with what some perceive as an agenda that strives to make homosexuality open and accepted. ā¦ As for the āClub,ā there obviously canāt be one now.ā
Benjamin also claims Sparks made racist remarks about minority students. In 2013, there were allegedly only two black students enrolled at the school. Benjamin tried to add more diversity to the student population but Sparks wasn’t interested.
“Weāve spent way, way too much time ā¦ talking about ātolerance, diversity, non-discrimination, and LGBTā in these first twelve weeks,” Sparks wrote in an email to Benjamin.
Benjamin says Sparks told him āblack students are too poor and canāt do the academic workā and in an email, Sparks tells Benjamin that the reason there is a lack of student diversity āhas nothing to do with racismā but is about “moneyā and āculture.”
Sparks has denied these allegations and slammed the Daily Beast story as āfalse allegations and claims.ā
“I am pleased that the Court has dismissed nearly every claim against me, my Foundation and Epiphany,ā Sparksā statement reads. āVery importantly, the Court has dismissed all claims of discrimination or harassment against me. While there will be a trial on a few remaining issues, I am confident that a jury will evaluate these claims fairly and decide those claims in our favor as well.ā
ā Nicholas Sparks (@NicholasSparks) June 13, 2019
The emails come at a pivotal time for Sparks’ whose book “The Notebook,” which was also a hit film, is prepping for a Broadway debut. Vanessa Hudgens has been tapped to star in the musical. Some people questioned the choice of supporting the musical after the anti-LGBTQ fallout.
I wonder how @VanessaHudgens feels about this, as she begins rehearsals for the NOTEBOOK musical? https://t.co/SyuVEKpzYv https://t.co/0qOCQJ15Sj
ā PFLAG National (@PFLAG) June 14, 2019
Hey, Broadway: Stand with the LGBTQ+ community and #cancelTheNotebook musical. @BroadwayWorld @playbill @theatermania https://t.co/AyJ1i4nb52 via @AV_Newswire
ā Justin Gregory Lopez (@JGregoryLopez) June 14, 2019
So glad I never spent a dime on any Nicholas Sparks books or movies. I canāt imagine the Broadway community moving forward with the Notebook play knowing itās author is a homophobe POS. https://t.co/jVYKRfE0eK
ā Talent (@Talentiest) June 13, 2019
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The 2024 New York City Pride Parade wound through the streets of Manhattan and past the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday, June 30.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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The fourth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held at Riverfront Park in Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 29. The event began with a march around downtown Fredericksburg beginning and ending in the park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Covering Fredericksburg Pride for @WashBlade . City Council member @WillMackintosh speaking: pic.twitter.com/tDdVD2IVsM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 29, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Goodwin Living Pride
Senior living and healthcare organization holds fourth annual march at Falls Church campus
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The senior living and healthcare organization Goodwin Living held its fourth annual community Pride march around its Bailey’s Crossroads campus in Falls Church, Va. with residents, friends and supporters on Tuesday, June 25. Following the march, a drag brunch was held with performances by drag artists of SADBrunch: Crimsyn, Sapphire Dupree and Evon Dior Michelle.
(Photos courtesy of Goodwin Living)
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