Two transgender women say they were assaulted inside Legends Nightclub in Raleigh on August 16. Poison and Lotus Lolita, who are also drag performers, said they were attacked after a man repeatedly grabbed them during what began as a casual encounter on the dance floor.
Lolita said the man first engaged them in conversation, then began to touch them without consent. “I don’t know how people have that sense of entitlement to my body and to my autonomy and feel like it’s their right to just touch me and grab at me,” she told the Raleigh News & Observer. “I’ve been very vocal about it. It doesn’t matter if I’m butt naked or if I’m in a parka. My body is not yours. It’s mine. This is my temple. This is something that I’ve worked so hard for, something that I cherish.”
According to the performers, the situation escalated when the man threw his drink at them. Poison described the moment, saying, “He threw his beer at us, which then escalated the situation…Things got physical at that point, which led to being struck or him striking me with the bottle.” Both women said they were left shaken and immediately reported the assault to Raleigh police.
Law enforcement confirmed that the altercation turned into an assault inside the club. The suspect has not been identified, but police said they are continuing to investigate. While police determined that hate crime charges would not be filed, the case remains open as officers work to locate the man involved.
In an unexpected turn, Poison was charged with simple affray in connection with the incident. According to the website for Kurtz and Bloom Attorneys at Law, simple affray is a type of assault and battery charge in North Carolina that is sometimes charged after a fight breaks out in a public venue. This offense is different from a simple assault and battery charge because it could potentially escalate into a larger and more serious danger.
It can also be tacked on because the government wants to punish the defendant for inciting further violence.
On social media, Poison said the charge came because she defended herself when attacked. She explained that she felt she had no choice but to fight back after being struck.
Lotus Lolita has raised concerns about how Legends staff handled the situation. She said she was disappointed that workers did not intervene quickly. “It took Poison yelling at one of the bartenders to actually get them to do something, to get them to move and intervene,” she said. Both performers have emphasized that they do not want others to experience the same lack of support if they are targeted inside a venue that markets itself as an LGBTQ+ safe space.
Legends responded publicly on Instagram after news of the assault spread. “We at Legends know about the incident currently under investigation,” the statement read. “We believe in restorative and transformative justice. Legends has always been, and will always be, a safe place. Trans lives matter, and we stand in full solidarity with our trans and LGBTQ+ community.”
The incident has raised broader concerns about safety and accountability in LGBTQ nightlife. Legends is one of the most visible LGBTQ nightclubs in North Carolina and has long been considered a cornerstone of the community. “When you see something happening to a person who is trans, a person of color, anyone…say something,” Poison said. “Speak up and say something.”
Additional material added by Qnotes Staff.