Friends, colleagues gather to remember life of Jax Gratton after Denver hairstylist found dead
Amidst tears and warm embraces, Jax Gratton's presence was felt in Denver on Monday morning.
"The reach has gone all the way internationally," Brandy Carey, a friend of hers, told CBS Colorado. "That's what she does."
The Denver hairstylist, who identified as a transgender woman and was a prominent member of the city's LGBTQ+ community, had been missing for over two months. After a long search, Lakewood police announced on Saturday afternoon that they had found a body that could be Gratton. While the Jefferson County Coroner's Office has yet to identify the body, her family believes it to be her.
On Monday afternoon, an impromptu celebration of life and newspress conference was called outside the City and County of Denver Building. In attendance were various community groups and leaders, as well as those who knew Gratton from a variety of places, be it the salon where she worked, the clubs she frequented, or the activist organizations she was a part of.
"I think she's still doing that now," Carey said of her friend's ability to connect people. "She's brought so many of us together that didn't know each other."
Brandy Carey remembers her friend Jax Gratton at a news conference and memorial in Denver on Monday, June 9, 2025.
CBS
Along with tearful testimonials of how Gratton impacted their lives, many speakers included a call to action: to fight for and advocate for marginalized communities the way she did.
"That's the power of a personality like that," said Z. Williams, who met Gratton through activist circles, "bringing people in to finding their voice."
While Williams told CBS News Colorado that much of her social circle is in those places, Gratton had a rare talent for existing in any social setting and making friends everywhere. Her death has galvanized many to take up her causes, as opposed to just focusing on the nature of her passing.
"That's not martyrdom or anything like that," Williams explained. "That's just continuing the things that Jax started and ignited in many people."
Z. Williams speaks about the community that her late friend Jax Gratton helped cultivate in their activist circles.
CBS
Statements were read on behalf of Gratton's siblings and parents, while friends and colleagues remembered the joyful moments and memories.
"There's so many different funny stories to remember about Jax," said Carey. "So many candid things. And I'll always keep that with me."
While the investigation, including the identification of the body in the Coroner's Office and the cause of death, is still underway, the LGBTQ+ community in Denver is taking a moment to remember one of their own. Regardless of how Gratton passed, they say, the lifelong mission of advocating for uplifting marginalized communities in the area lives on in each of them.
A memorial for Jax Gratton sits in front of the City and County of Denver building on Monday, June 9, 2025 as friends and colleagues gather at a news conference and memorial for the Denver hairstylist.
CBS
"Our communities are supposed to gather and come together to make lives better and that's what Jax wanted," Carey said.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.
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CBS News
32 minutes ago
- CBS News
Downtown L.A. curfew goes into effect after California Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses ICE protests
California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a statewide address on Tuesday in the wake of immigration operations that sparked days of protest in Los Angeles and the deployment of hundreds of National Guard and U.S. Marines troops to the area by President Trump. "Trump, without consulting California leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state's National Guard members to deploy on our streets illegally and for no reason," Newsom said. "This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president enflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and even our National Guard at risk." The speech came on the heels of Mayor Karen Bass' decision to implement a curfew in downtown Los Angeles after five nights of unrest in the city center, and an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order filed by the state in its lawsuit to block further deployment of troops. That curfew resulted in dozens of arrests on Tuesday, with law enforcement swarming the impacted area as soon as it went into effect. Sporadic arrests followed. It was unclear how many were made in all. Since Friday, when the first operations took place in several downtown locations, protesters have taken to the streets to denounce the arrest of dozens of people. In some instances, protests have escalated into violent clashes that left an aftermath of destruction, including graffiti, looting, vandalism and debris. The next night, Mr. Trump declared that the National Guard would be deployed to Los Angeles to help quell the turmoil, despite opposition from California politicians who said it was largely unnecessary. That order was then followed by the deployment of 2,000 more National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to the area as the protests continued, something Newsom called "fanning the flames even harder." "The President, he did it on purpose. As the news spread throughout L.A., anxiety for family and friends ramped up and protests started again. By night, several dozen lawbreakers became violent and destructive, they vandalized property, they tried to assault police officers," Newsom said. "This situation was winding down and was concentrated in just a few square blocks downtown. But that, that's not what Donald Trump wanted." "What we're witnessing is not law enforcement — it's authoritarianism. What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence, to be complicit in this moment," Newsom said. "Do not give into him." Los Angeles police and protestors face off in Downtown L.A. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. Jason Armond Curfew issued During an evening press conference, Bass said that since demonstrations have continued to escalate into violence, resulting in dozens of arrests and more than 20 businesses looted, she would impose a curfew. "The curfew will be in place tonight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.," she said. "We certainly expect for it to last for several days." It runs for one-square mile in the downtown area from the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway and from the 10 Freeway to where the 110 Freeway and 5 Freeway merge. "The city of Los Angeles is a massive area, 502 square miles," Bass said. "The area of downtown, where the curfew will take place, is one square mile ... Some of the imagery of the protest, of the violence gives the appearance as though this is a citywide crisis and it is not." Protesters gather in front of California National Guard soldiers and LAPD officers guarding the Edward R. Roybal Federal building as protests continue in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. / Getty Images Demonstrations continue Tuesday Dozens gathered once again Tuesday, but police were quick to close in on the growing crowd near the Metropolitan Detention Center. With the CBS Los Angeles helicopter overhead, multiple people were seen being detained and loaded onto buses by officers. At around 4 p.m. a small crowd moved towards the 101 Freeway, briefly entering southbound lanes before they were met by the California Highway Patrol. Some officers stopped traffic as others formed a skirmish line to prevent the pedestrians from moving further into the road. Despite law enforcement blocking offramps and onramps for the thoroughfare, the crowd was able to gain entry through a hole that had been cut in a chainlink fence. On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators flooded the same stretch of freeway, where they clashed with CHP officers. At around 7:30 p.m. CBS News Los Angeles reporters said that tensions again escalated outside of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, where people in the crowd began hurling projectiles towards a line of National Guard troops stationed out front. When the curfew went active 30 minutes later, dozens of LAPD officers arrived outside of the building, which prompted much of the crowd to begin leaving the area. Still, dozens of people attempted to hang around, resulting in their arrests. It's unclear exactly how many people were taken into custody. With the CBS News helicopter overhead, a group of dozens were seen still moving through the area, some stopping to tag the side of buildings and Metro buses. By 11 p.m. most of the people who had previously gathered downtown appeared to have left the area. A crowd of protesters outside of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on June 10, 2025. KCAL News How it started The protests began Friday night after several immigration raids took place in the Westlake District, downtown and South LA. The CBS News Los Angeles helicopter flew over the locations where crowds quickly formed, and protesters attempted to prevent federal agents from placing individuals into vans. One of the 45 people arrested that day was local union leader David Huerta. The protests that took place over the weekend were declared unlawful assemblies and people were ordered to disperse and clear the area. In each case there were small pockets of the demonstrations that turned chaotic, which included hundreds of people converging on the 101 Freeway to block traffic on Sunday afternoon. That same day, several Waymo vehicles were torched to the ground by one group of people. The day prior, hundreds of demonstrators clashed with law enforcement in Paramount and Compton. Reporters on the ground saw as law enforcement and troops dressed in riot gear attempted to clear crowds by using tear gas, beanbag rounds and flash bangs into crowds to try and disperse people. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X that people who "lay a hand" on law enforcement officers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. So far, nearly 400 people have been arrested in the series of demonstrations, Newsom said on Tuesday. Protesters gathered in downtown Los Angeles on June 10, 2025, marking the fifth consecutive day of anti-ICE protests. KCAL News National Guard and military in Los Angeles The Marines began arriving in the LA area on Tuesday morning, a defense official said, joining the thousands of National Guard troops already in the area to respond to the protests. Acting Defense Department comptroller Bryn MacDonnell testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and said the deployment of the National Guard will cost about $134 million. On Tuesday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta asked a federal judge to provide a temporary restraining order to stop Mr. Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the U.S. Department of Defense from using the military and the National Guard to patrol the region and protect federal officers and facilities. The day before Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing the orders are unlawful and exceed the federal government's authority under the Tenth Amendment. "President Trump's order calling federalized National Guard troops into Los Angeles — over the objections of the Governor and local law enforcement — is unnecessary and counterproductive. It's also deeply unfair to the members of the National Guard who are hard at work every day protecting our state, preparing for and responding to emergencies, and training so that, if called, they can fight our nation's wars," Bonta said. Bass blamed the unrest in LA on the federal government's involvement, saying that before immigration enforcement actions last week, the city was "peaceful." During a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday, Mr. Trump called the protests "a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and a national sovereignty. He said that if it weren't for his calling in the National Guard, L.A. would be "burning to the ground right now" and that the majority of the demonstrations were allegedly "carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags with the aim of continuing a foreign invasion of our country" and that he would "liberate" L.A. Democratic California Sen. Alex Padilla spoke with CBS News' Major Garrett on Tuesday regarding the actions of immigration enforcement and the several days of protests. He said that while the majority of the demonstrations have been peaceful, "the folks that show up after dark and are involved with the looting and the vandalism ... we denounce that." He called the ongoing situation a "crisis of Donald Trump's making." "The increasingly aggressive and cruel tactics of the immigration enforcement is what's prompting the response of people who are passionate about speaking up for our fundamental rights and due process, because the enforcement operations have gone far beyond just the violent criminals or the dangerous criminals that Donald Trump has promised," Padilla said. "It's raking in people who are otherwise innocent, hardworking women and men, children." He also denounced the deployment of military troops to the area. "The National Guard, to your point, it's not only not necessary here, it's counterproductive. Their presence is what's causing people to feel a little bit more on edge," he said. "As things have been quieting down a little bit more each day, now he's capturing that, not with a deescalation, but now potentially sending the Marines. Donald Trump is escalating the situation." Padilla, who grew up in the Pacoima area, served as president of the Los Angeles City Council and represented the San Fernando Valley in the state Senatre, says that the matter is "personal to me." "Los Angeles is my home. I am the proud son of immigrants from Mexico who worked so hard, who sacrificed so much to live their American dream. That's what the immigrant community is fighting for," he said. Protests take place across California Demonstrations have also taken place in cities across California in response to the events in Los Angeles. On Monday, a crowd of over 100 people gathered in Santa Ana outside the complex of federal buildings in the downtown area, some of which threw fireworks towards law enforcement officials who used crowd dispersal methods like smoke-filled canisters and pepper balls in return. The situation was much more peaceful on Tuesday, with a smaller group of people protesting in the same area without incident. "When a peaceful demonstration escalates into rocks, bottles, mortars, and fireworks being used against public service personnel, and property is destroyed, it is no longer a lawful assembly. It is a violation of the law," said a statement from Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez. "We will not stand by while our City is put at risk. Santa Ana Police officers, along with our mutual aid partners, are actively working to restore order. We urge everyone to go home." Tensions grew in San Francisco Monday night when police said two small groups of individuals committed vandalism and other criminal acts. Police said multiple people were arrested and detained after refusing to comply.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Diddy's alleged 'sexual deviant' behavior distracts from government's case: expert
Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-girlfriend provided the jury more insight into the rapper's life outside his music mogul status when she returned to the witness stand Tuesday for cross-examination in his federal trial for sex crimes. Using a pseudonym, "Jane" testified that she broached the subject of rehab for the "Last Night" rapper after allegedly witnessing him "overdoing the partying." She claimed he would offer her ecstasy before engaging in role play and that Diddy liked to use the words "voyeurism" and "escapism" to describe his fantasies of watching her participate in sexual encounters with male escorts. Attorney David Seltzer told Fox News Digital that while Jane's testimony was compelling, her claims did little to aid in the prosecution's case to convict Diddy of the five charges he's facing. "The testimony from the latest witness, Jane, continues to show the world that Mr. Combs is a sexual deviant," Seltzer said. "Someone who thought he was untouchable and above the law. Still, while there is no doubt Mr. Combs broke multiple laws. The charges he is facing in federal court are not laws he has broken. "Jane's testimony, voice notes and all, while chilling and demonstrate Mr. Combs' controlling behavior, does not, in my opinion, prove the government's case. Rather, it further depicts Mr. Combs as morally reprehensible and as such someone the jury should convict." Former federal prosecutor Neahma Rahmani told Fox News Digital that this case "comes down to coercion versus consent." "Combs' lawyers cross-examined victim Jane the entire day and suggested that Jane chose to participate in the hotel nights. For the first time, we heard the defense's theory of their case," Rahmani said. "The testimony from the latest witness, Jane, continues to show the world that Mr. Combs is a sexual deviant." "Combs' lawyers also suggested that he was a drug addict and taking antidepressants, likely to play the sympathy card for the jury." During cross-examination, Jane said in 2022 she was trying to figure out her relationship with Diddy and came upon the term "cuckold," a word for a man turned on watching his woman have sex with another man. According to Jane, she wanted to know what was driving the rapper and to find an understanding of his alleged fantasies. She said she found multiple reasons, including that a "cuckold" derives pleasure from seeing his woman receive pleasure from another man. Jane testified that "cucks" could also have a curiosity that they were too ashamed to experience themselves, so they used a woman. Jane claimed Diddy liked to use voyeurism and escapism. "I would use the work 'cuck' for him," she told his defense lawyers. She also testified that Diddy was upfront with her about dating multiple women at the start of their relationship in 2021. She explained the rapper was "polyamorous" and she was OK with that at the time. She testified at first she didn't mind because she was just getting to know Diddy. According to Jane, she was forced to participate in "hotel nights." During these sessions, which could last from 24 hours to multiple days, she was allegedly expected to have sex with other men while Diddy watched. "Jane's testimony, voice notes and all, while chilling and demonstrate Mr. Combs' controlling behavior, does not, in my opinion, prove the government's case. Rather, it further depicts Mr. Combs as morally reprehensible and as such someone the jury should convict." While on the stand, Jane told defense lawyer Teny Geragos that she had been texting Diddy about him buying purses for another woman. Geragos commented that Jane received a bag of her own. "No, I only got trauma … after three-and-a-half years, I really don't think I garnered anything," Jane told the court. Geragos pressed, "How much do Bottega bags cost?" to which Jane replied, "How much does my body cost?" before asking the court for a break from testimony. When court resumed, Jane apologized to Geragos. "She claimed to be righteous and was going to walk away from Mr. Combs after her ask of '3 months' of continued financial support, but here we are over a year later and Mr. Combs is still paying her rent and legal fees as she testified against him," Seltzer said. "Is that the testimony of a victim? Is that the face of fear? I think Jane is primed to really help boost the defense case when all these points are honed in on." In a federal indictment unsealed on Sept. 17, Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison. He has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, in which witnesses have testified to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking. The trial is expected to wrap by July 4.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Tradition or vandalism? Loomis cracks down on high school senior graffiti
LOOMIS – Each year, graduating seniors from Del Oro High School leave their mark on a Loomis intersection, spray-painting messages of celebration across the pavement at Taylor and King Roads. But what some see as an annual tradition, others consider it vandalism. A large "2025" currently sprawled across the intersection has sparked debate in the community. While supporters say the graffiti is harmless and nostalgic, town officials and nearby residents say this year's display crossed a line. "It's just gotten out of hand, and it's too bad because it's ruining it for everyone," one resident said. The tradition, which has existed for decades, has generally been tolerated as the paint fades over time. But this year, city officials say the spray-painting included vulgar language and inappropriate images. Cheryl Benson, a Loomis resident, says the activity has evolved from innocent fun into a safety hazard and an act of property damage. "It was a good thing and people enjoyed it, but it's gotten carried away and now they're painting with paint," Benson said. "It surprises me that people don't see this as against the law." Officials say the graffiti is now covering key road markings like crosswalks, increasing the risk to pedestrians and drivers. In a statement, the town of Loomis said, "This year, the seniors' graffiti was excessive with written foul language and inappropriate drawings." The town also confirmed meetings with the Del Oro principal and the Placer County Sheriff's Office to devise a strategy to prevent similar acts in the future. "It's time to deal with it and say no, you can't do this," Benson added. The cost of resurfacing the damaged intersection is estimated between $12,000 and $15,000. "I think that could be better allocated into education instead of worrying about some artwork on the street," said Del Oro parent Makay Butz. The town of Loomis says it won't tolerate it any longer. The town and school district will meet again to discuss this in September.
