A North Carolina man has been charged in connection with an assault on two transgender women at Legends Nightclub in Raleigh.
The News & Observer reported that Derron Corbitt, 43, of Jacksonville, faces charges of misdemeanor sexual battery and misdemeanor simple affray after two trans women said they were attacked at the downtown club on August 17. The women, asked to be known by their drag names Poison and Lotus Lolita, shared their experiences on social media and said they were attacked inside the venue.
Poison said Corbitt made repeated advances toward them, including grabbing her hand, making “clearly predatory sexual” remarks, and acting aggressively. After he slapped her friend, she told him his behavior was unacceptable.
“He threw his beer at us, which then escalated the situation,” Poison told WRAL. “Things got physical at that point, which led to being struck or him striking me with the bottle.” The incident escalated into punches and slaps by both parties, according to arrest warrants.
Lotus Lolita spoke about the broader impact, saying transgender people should not have to experience violence to be treated with dignity. “Trans women, trans people, period, shouldn’t have to be beat and shouldn’t have to be assaulted,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to have any type of hardship for you to show us love and show us affection. Because at the end of the day, we’re humans…We are worthy of love. We are worthy of care. And we are worthy of basic human rights and interactions.”
Poison has also been charged with simple affray, which the News & Observer noted is typically defined as a fight between two or more people in a public place that causes fear in others. The newspaper said it is referring to the women by their stage names at their request and because it does not normally publish the names of people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
In a separate incident, Corbitt was taken into custody in Onslow County and charged with driving while impaired, driving with a revoked license for impaired driving, reckless driving, simple assault, resisting an officer, assault on a government official, and failing to maintain lane control. According to arrest documents, he was observed weaving across lanes and became combative when officers attempted to place him in a patrol car. He is also accused of spitting on a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper during the encounter. Officers noted that he appeared unsteady, had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, and refused to submit to a breathalyzer test. Court records indicate it was his second impaired driving charge in less than a year. Corbitt was later released on a $5,000 secured bond.
As the case moves forward, Poison emphasized the importance of speaking out against harassment and violence. “When you see something happening to a person who is trans, a person of color, anyone…say something,” she said. “Speak up and say something.”