Washington Blade - May 20, 2016 by RP MEDIA ARCHIVE

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Senate conﬁrms Fanning to post after long delay By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com

‘I’m honored by today’s Senate conﬁrmation and thrilled to return to lead the total Army team,’ said ERIC FANNING.

After a delay of nearly eight months, the U.S. Senate confirmed on Tuesday Eric Fanning as the first-ever openly gay Army secretary. The chamber approved the nomination, announced by President Obama in September, by voice vote with little fanfare on the Senate floor. “I’m honored by today’s Senate confirmation and thrilled to return to lead the total Army team,” Fanning said in a statement. “I am looking forward to getting back to work with [Army Chief of Staff] Gen. [Mark] Milley, and sincerely appreciative of Patrick Murphy’s work as acting Secretary over the past several months.” Never before has the U.S. Senate confirmed an openly gay person as the civilian head of one of the military

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY DAMIEN SALAS

New priorities emerge after long marriage focus By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com The Obama administration is taking monumental strides in favor of transgender rights that may seem unprecedented, but trans advocates have diﬀering takes on whether these developments represent a change since the start of President Obama’s tenure in

the White House. The new initiatives, unveiled last week, began with a lawsuit ﬁled by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch against North Carolina’s House Bill 2, which prohibits transgender people in the state from using public restrooms in schools and government buildings consistent with their gender identity. In widely praised remarks announcing the lawsuit, Lynch compared the law to Jim Crow laws, calling House Bill 2 “statesponsored discrimination.” At the end of the week, the Departments of Education and Justice issued joint guidance informing

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schools discrimination against transgender students, including in bathroom use, constitutes a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which could result in a loss of federal funds for the state. Finally, the Department of Health & Human Services announced it had made ﬁnal a rule prohibiting antitrans discrimination in health care and insurance. The rule requires insurance plans to cover transitionrelated medications, gender reassignment surgeries and other treatments for transgender people if these CONTINUES ON PAGE 16

RETURN TO CUBA

BEACH BOUND

FABULOUS!

Island celebrates LGBT progress as Mariela Castro leads march.

Find out what’s new in Rehoboth as the summer season nears.

‘Ab Fab’ is just one highlight of packed summer movie slate.

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WHAT IS GENVOYA®? GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older. It can either be used in people who are starting HIV-1 treatment and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. These include having an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) for 6 months or more on their current HIV-1 treatment. GENVOYA combines 4 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day with food. GENVOYA is a complete HIV-1 treatment and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking GENVOYA. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA? GENVOYA may cause serious side effects: • Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Serious liver problems. The liver may become large and fatty. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored bowel movements (stools), loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach pain. • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking GENVOYA for a long time. In some cases, lactic acidosis and serious liver problems have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking GENVOYA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health. Who should not take GENVOYA? Do not take GENVOYA if you take: • Certain prescription medicines for other conditions.

W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

It is important to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. • The herbal supplement St. John’s wort.

• Any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection.

What are the other possible side effects of GENVOYA? Serious side effects of GENVOYA may also include:

• Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines. • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to ﬁght infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking GENVOYA. • Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA. • Bone problems, such as bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking GENVOYA?

• All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. • All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take GENVOYA with all of your other medicines. • If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take GENVOYA. • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about GENVOYA including important warnings on the following page.

Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you, and visit GENVOYA.com to learn more.

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GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

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Take care of what matters most—you. GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day complete HIV-1 treatment for people who are either new to treatment or people whose healthcare provider determines they can replace their current HIV-1 medicines with GENVOYA.

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IMPORTANT FACTS This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(jen-VOY-uh) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GENVOYA

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF GENVOYA

Genvoya® may cause serious side effects, including:

GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including:

• Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical

emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored bowel movements (stools), loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach pain.

• Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV.

If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking GENVOYA. Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking GENVOYA for a long time.

ABOUT GENVOYA

• GENVOYA is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age

and older who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. GENVOYA can also be used to replace current HIV-1 medicines for some people who have an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL of virus in their blood), and have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months and have never failed HIV-1 treatment, and whose healthcare provider determines that they meet certain other requirements.

• GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.

Do NOT take GENVOYA if you:

• Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), carbamazepine (Carbatrol®,

Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®), cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®), methylergonovine (Ergotrate®, Methergine®), midazolam (when taken by mouth), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®), pimozide (Orap®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®), sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®), or triazolam (Halcion®).

• Take the herbal supplement St. John’s wort. • Take any other HIV-1 medicines at the same time.

• Those in the “Most Important Information About GENVOYA” section. • Changes in body fat. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Bone problems. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. These are not all the possible side effects of GENVOYA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking GENVOYA. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with GENVOYA. BEFORE TAKING GENVOYA Tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical condition. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

• Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA.

HOW TO TAKE GENVOYA

• GENVOYA is a complete one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine. • Take GENVOYA with food. GET MORE INFORMATION

• This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

• Go to GENVOYA.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit GENVOYA.com for program information. GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. Version date: November 2015 © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0026 04/16

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Capital Pride announces 2016 award recipients Cuban LGBT group honors Blade CIENFUEGOS, Cuba — The Cuban Foundation for LGBTI Rights on Wednesday recognized the Washington Blade for its ongoing coverage of LGBT-specific issues on the Communist island. International News Editor Michael Lavers spoke on behalf of the Blade during a visit to the organization’s headquarters in the Cuban city of Cienfuegos. “The Blade is honored to receive this recognition from the Cuban Foundation for LGBTI Rights,” said Lavers. “The Blade remains pleased to be able to share the stories of Cuban LGBT rights advocates and their efforts with our readers.” “We’d like to thank the LGBT people of Cuba for sharing their stories with us and the Cuban Foundation for LGBTI Rights for this honor,” said Blade editor Kevin Naff. “This award is a reflection of the Blade’s commitment to covering the plight of LGBT people around the world.” Lavers is currently in Cuba to report on the country’s LGBT rights movement. He also traveled to the island in May 2015. STAFF REPORTS

7 gay candidates seek Clinton delegate seats At least seven gay men are among the 60 candidates running to become delegates to the Democratic National Convention pledged to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at D.C.’s Democratic presidential caucus on Saturday, May 21. But a modest to strong showing by Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders in D.C.’s June 14 presidential primary could eliminate most if not all of the gay candidates, who are competing in Saturday’s caucus against 53 other would-be Clinton delegates for just 13 delegate seats. Under the D.C. Democratic Party’s proportional voting system in presidential primaries, the city’s 13 elected delegates and one elected alternate delegate seats are allocated to competing presidential candidates by the proportion of the vote they receive in the primary. No known LGBT people are among the 12 candidates running in the May 21 caucus who are pledged to Sanders. Clinton is considered the strong favorite to win the June 14 D.C. primary. But local political observers say the city’s historically progressive electorate makes it likely that Sanders will receive a significant percentage of the vote. The known gay candidates running for Clinton delegate positions, according to a list released by the D.C. Democratic Party, are gay Democratic activists John Fanning, Richard Lum, David Meadows, Gregg Moreland, Peter Rosenstein, Mark Spengler and James Brexley Wyatt. Moreland and Wyatt are partners. All city residents who are registered Democrats are eligible to vote at the caucus, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 9-10:30 p.m. at the city’s Walter Washington Convention Center. Under Democratic Party rules, city residents can register as a Democrat at the site of the caucus if they bring proof of residency. Spengler is the former LGBT outreach director at the Democratic National Committee. Rosenstein is a Blade columnist and Fanning is chair of the Logan Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Lum served as a member of the Platform Committee at the 2012 Democratic Convention. Many of the other candidates running for the Clinton delegate seats are longtime community activists with significant name recognition. Party activists have long said that the key to winning delegate seats at the D.C. Democratic Caucus is to be able to bring or attract large numbers of supporters to the caucus. The Democratic Party has allocated a total of 45 delegates from D.C. to the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia this summer. Most are automatic or “super” delegate seats assigned to party leaders and elected officials. Seven are selected by the D.C. Democratic State Committee after the caucus. Under a non-binding affirmative action “goal” established by the D.C. Democratic Party, at least 5 out of the 45-member delegation should be members of the LGBT community. In past presidential election years, the party has appointed LGBT people as delegates to meet that goal. LOU CHIBBARO JR.

HIV/AIDS activist and local entertainment show host Rayceen Pendarvis, journalist and former TV news anchor Kathleen Matthews, and veteran transgender rights advocate Jeri Hughes are among those named as 2016 recipients of the Capital Pride Alliance’s annual LGBT rights awards. The organization’s Capital Pride Heroes Award, the Engendered Spirits recognition, and its Bill Miles Award, named for the group’s late founding board member, draw attention this year to eight individuals that have distinguished themselves as extraordinary advocates and allies of the LGBT community, Capital Pride officials said in a statement. The awards will be presented at the Capital Pride Heroes Gala, which takes place at 7 p.m. on June 1 at the Carnegie Library, 901 K St., N.W. “The Capital Pride Alliance is extraordinarily fortunate to have a RAYCEEN PENDARVIS is among this community with so many individuals, year’s Capital Pride honorees. leaders, and activists dedicated WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY to fighting for and successfully advancing LGBTA rights for all of us,” said Capital Pride board president Bernie Delia. “This year was a particularly difficult selection process, with so many outstanding individuals from whom to choose,” Delia said. “We are truly grateful and honored to announce and celebrate these individuals.” The Capital Pride Alliance, among other things, produces D.C.’s annual Capital Pride Parade and Street Festival. The Capital Pride Heroes designation was given to these individuals, whose backgrounds and accomplishments are taken from a Capital Pride pamphlet: • Bishop Allyson Abrams — presiding bishop of the LGBT supportive Pneuma Christian Fellowship, founder of the Empowerment Liberation Cathedral and social justice advocate. • Kathleen Matthews — LGBT advocate, human rights activist, journalist, TV news anchor, vice president for Global Communications at Marriott International Corporation, and former Maryland congressional candidate. • Rayceen Pendarvis — HIV/AIDS activist, host of “The Ask Rayceen Show,” emcee of multiple D.C. Black Pride festivals and events, volunteer, equality advocate, and gay Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. • Peter Rosenstein — LGBT rights activist, racial justice champion, CEO of national healthcare and education related associations, member of multiple nonprofit boards, and co-coordinator of a group advocating for marriage equality in D.C. He also serves as a Washington Blade columnist. Engendered Spirits honorees recognized for having made significant contributions to the transgender community: • Julius Agers — “Two-spirited, transgender activist, volunteer for numerous nonprofit organizations and political campaigns, staff member at the D.C. Fire and EMS Department.” • Jeri Hughes — “Human rights advocate, volunteer, marriage equality and ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal activist,” longtime advocate for banning employment discrimination against transgender people, and LGBT rights activist. Bill Miles Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service: • Chelsea Bland — “Labor union and LGBTQ rights activist, volunteer coproducer at Capital Pride for Volunteers, LGBT committee chair for the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2, and freelance photographer.” • Michael Creason — “Volunteer sign language interpreter for Capital Pride and multiple LGBT organizations, nationally certified sign language interpreter, and producer at Capital Pride for Accessibility.” LOU CHIBBARO JR.

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Comings & Goings Probable cause found in Honor for Corado; new post for Nosanchuk By PETER ROSENSTEIN The Comings and Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

Congratulations to Roosevelt University student Dan Flave-Novak, for winning a prestigious fellowship. “Dan’s groundbreaking PsyD dissertation looks at body image in the gay community. He will have the rare honor of becoming one of only nine U.S. Veterans Administration post-doctoral fellows to be trained beginning later this year in helping veterans with LGBTQ mental health issues,” according to a press release. “I’m very excited to be a part of this new initiative DAN FLAVE-NOVAK which will allow me to make a difference in the lives of PHOTO COURTESY OF FLAVE-NOVAK veterans who have recently begun to identify as LGBTQ in the VA system,” Flave-Novak said. “I believe it will be a great opportunity for me to have influence and an impact on how the VA system works with LGBTQ veterans now and in the future.” Dan will be spending his year as a postdoctoral fellow at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. Flave-Novak has been a doctoral student since 2011 in Roosevelt’s nationally recognized PsyD program. He trained in several psychology and counseling MATT NOSANCHUK departments, including Chicago’s Howard Brown PHOTO COURTESY OF NOSANCHUK Center, one of the largest LGTBQ health organizations in the nation. He worked for many years for Ohio Rep. Sherrod Brown in Washington, assisting in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Congratulations also to Matt Nosanchuk who joined the State Department as Senior Advisor in the Office of Religion and Global Affairs in the Office of the Secretary. Nosanchuk has served President Obama in several positions prior to starting at the State Department. Most RUBY CORADO recently he was the President’s Liaison to the American WB FILE PHOTO Jewish community in the Office of Public Engagement and also served as Director for Outreach on the National Security Council. During the first three years of the administration, Nosanchuk was Senior Counselor in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, where he was the point person on LGBT issues and worked on challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act that led to the Supreme Court’s historic decision in United States v. Windsor. Nosanchuk was born in Windsor, Canada, grew up in the Detroit area and went to college and law school at Stanford. Since moving to Washington, he has worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, including on Capitol Hill on the House Judiciary Committee Minority Staff, and as Counsel for Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida. In 2013, he received the American Bar Association’s inaugural Stonewall Award in recognition of his professional contributions to advancing LGBT civil rights and the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his work on the Defense of Marriage Act litigation. Congratulations also to Ruby Corado, who will be honored along with the LGBTQ women of the Obama administration at the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice 2016 Fueling the Frontlines dinner. Born in El Salvador, Corado fled to the United States at age 16 when the Salvadoran Civil War erupted. She eventually moved to Washington, D.C. Selfidentifying as a “D.C. Humanist-Transgender woman” Corado has spent more than 20 years advocating for the inclusion of transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in mainstream society. In 2004, she founded Casa Ruby in D.C. Last year, Corado told NPR, “Most of the people who come to Casa Ruby don’t have a family that accepts them, or that loves them for the most part. So we have a family here, and it is the concept of a chosen family.” Casa Ruby now has three homes, which include housing for homeless youth and adults, food service, job training, and medical and employment advocates.

D.C. Starbucks bias case Manager accused of assault, shouting anti-gay slurs By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com The D.C. Office of Human Rights has found probable cause that the Starbucks coffee shop at Dupont Circle discriminated against a gay male couple based on their sexual orientation and based on the Hispanic race of one of the two men. The action by the OHR, which is considered a civil version of an indictment, is based on a complaint filed by Michael Campbell, 31, and Angel Rivera, 23, that Starbucks manager Christian Lokossou subjected them to a harrowing confrontation during their visit to the Starbucks at Connecticut Avenue and R Street, N.W. on May 18, 2014. Separate complaints filed by each of the two men charge that Lokossou started a verbal confrontation with Campbell possibly after seeing him and Rivera kiss one another as they placed their order with another employee. Minutes later, both complaints state, Lokossou chased after them as they left the store, shouting anti-gay slurs at them before bumping into Campbell with his shoulder and chest as startled customers seated in an outdoor patio looked on. “You are fucking with the wrong one and I will break your neck you little fag, and I will break your spic boyfriend’s neck as well,” the two complaints quote Lokossou as saying. In a 15-page Letter of Determination of probable cause in Campbell’s complaint, OHR Director Monica Palacio says an OHR investigation that included interviews with several witnesses considered to be impartial found that Campbell established a “prima facie” case that discrimination occurred. “OHR finds probable cause to believe that Respondent discriminated against Complainant on the basis of his sexual orientation on May 18, 2014 when Respondent’s Manager ordered Complainant to leave the establishment, called Complainant a ‘faggot,’ and threatened to harm him,” the letter of determination states. “OHR [also] finds probable cause to believe that Respondent retaliated against Complainant by banning him from Respondent’s store after he filed a complaint with OHR alleging that Respondent was discriminated on the

MICHAEL CAMPBELL and ANGEL RIVERA accuse a Starbucks manager of anti-gay harassment. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

basis of his sexual orientation on May 18, 2014,” the letter states. In a separate 10-page Letter of Determination in Rivera’s complaint, Palacios states, “OHR finds probable cause that Respondent discriminated against Complainant on the basis of his race (Hispanic) and sexual orientation (homosexual).” Palacio’s letter adds, “The record, including disinterested witness statements, indicate that Respondent’s manager called Complainant a ‘spic’ and a ‘fag,’ while threatening Complainant and his partner with physical violence, which resulted in Complainant receiving services in a markedly hostile manner while he was patronizing Respondent’s store on May 18, 2014.” At the time Campbell and Rivera filed their complaints, a Starbucks spokesperson told the Washington Blade the company was investigating the claims made by the two gay men but it has a longstanding policy of never commenting on pending litigation. But the spokesperson, Laurel Harper, added, “At Starbucks we want all of our customers to have a positive experience. We have zero tolerance for discrimination and take this type of accusation seriously.” According to a summary of Starbucks’ position on the case stated in Palacio’s finding of probable cause, Campbell acted in a hostile way toward Lokossou during a January 2011 incident in which Lokossou claims Campbell shouted obscenities at him when he closed the Starbucks store earlier than the normal closing time due to a snowstorm. With that as a backdrop, Starbucks claims that Campbell was the aggressor in the 2014 incident, Palacio states in her probable cause finding. � CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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Santa Fe’s gay mayor advances progressive agenda Gonzales enacted gender-neutral bathroom ordinance By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com Family is important to gay Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales. He grew up in what he described to the Washington Blade during a telephone interview on May 11 as a traditional family in which the “idea of relationships was men and women.” Gonzales proudly pointed out that he has two “beautiful” daughters with his ex-wife, but he said there was something missing. “I struggled,” he said. Gonzales in 2014 became the ﬁrst openly gay person elected mayor of New Mexico’s capital city. The New Mexico native, who is the ﬁrst member of his family to graduate from college, previously served two terms on the Santa Fe County Commission. He was also a member of the New Mexico State and New Mexico Highlands Universities Board of Regents. Gonzales’ most recent position was vice

JAVIER GONZALES is the ﬁrst openly gay person elected mayor of Santa Fe, N.M. PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT ROSS

president of corporate responsibility and sustainability for Rosemont Realty, which promotes energy eﬃcient oﬃce buildings. “To say it’s special doesn’t give it an adequate word or enough to say how I feel about it,” Gonzales told the Blade, referring to his historic election. “It was really incredibly personal.” Gonzales noted his parents were “always very, very good about showing respect and not talking ill of anyone who was gay.” He also told the Blade that two

of his cousins passed away from HIV. Gonzales came out to his family between 2010 and 2012, joking it was “a very long coming out process.” His partner, who has four children of his own, also “came out very late in life.” Gonzales didn’t fully come out as gay until he decided to run for mayor. “It wasn’t until I made the decision to run that I came out to the community and to the state,” he said. One of the first things that Gonzales proposed upon taking office was a gender-neutral bathroom ordinance. The measure has subsequently gone into effect, but Gonzales conceded that it sparked a backlash among some Santa Fe residents. He noted he received comments that included the ordinance was able to pass because voters had elected a gay mayor. “They were nasty,” said Gonzales. “They were brutal.” Gonzales has also spoken extensively about income inequality, child hunger and climate change since taking office. He told the Blade that longer drought cycles have had an adverse impact on the forests that surround Santa Fe. “There’s a recipe for disaster when drought cycles go on longer and you

have timber up in our watershed,” said Gonzales, referring to the increased risk of wildfires. Gonzales spoke with the Blade two days after the Justice Department filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against North Carolina over House Bill 2 that bans transgender people from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity and prohibits municipalities from enacting LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances. The state’s governor, Pat McCrory, earlier that day sued the Justice Department over its deadline to stop enforcing the controversial law. “As far as we’ve come as a country when it comes to equality for gays and lesbians, we are nowhere near when it comes to the transgender community,” said Gonzales. “I get it. I understand when people don’t know something they tend to instantly move toward fear.” “The Republican Party stokes that fear by telling flat out lies,” he added. “It becomes very conflicting for people.” Gonzales is up for re-election in 2018. He told the Blade that he has not made any decisions about whether to run for another term. Gonzales added, however, that he loves “being mayor of my city.” “There’s an enormous opportunity to develop policy for all our citizens,” he said.

White House defends review of trans military ban Earnest says ‘higher stakes’ due to national security By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest defended on Monday the ongoing review of the ban on transgender military service, citing “higher stakes” for implementing transgender access to the armed forces as a result of national security reasons. Earnest made the remarks in response to a question from the Washington Blade on why the administration shouldn’t apply the same standards to the military for transgender access that it has done for health care, education and bathroom use through milestone pro-trans initiatives last week. “I think that we have long acknowledged even on LGBT issues that relevant to the LGBT community that ensuring the eﬀective implementation of policies at the Department of Defense has higher stakes than it may in other government agencies,” Earnest said. “We’re talking about our basic national security.” Earnest recalled Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has declared support for allowing

capable people to serve in the military regardless of transgender status and President Obama has echoed that sentiment through the White House. “But smooth and effective implementation of this policy is not insignificant,” Earnest said. “And what Secretary Carter and the other services are conscientiously moving forward to do is to figure out the best way to settle on a policy and implement it effectively and as expeditiously as possible, and that’s what they continued to work on.” The Pentagon review of the 1980s-era ban on transgender military service, ordered by Carter in July, has apparently stalled out, leading to frustration among transgender advocates. Last week, Carter said at the Air Force Academy the implementation of trans service is “complicated,” although the goal to allow openly transgender troops to serve remains in place. The Washington Post over the weekend reported the delay in implementing openly trans service is the result of disagreements among officials. Among the reported issues is how long the Pentagon should require transgender people to wait after transitioning their sex before being allowed to join the military. Acting Pentagon personnel chief

Defense Secretary ASHTON CARTER has declared support for allowing capable people to serve in the military regardless of transgender status. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

Peter Levine is quoted in the article as estimating it will take “months, but not a large number of months” to address remaining details for implementing openly trans service. In defense of the joint guidance from the Departments of Education and Justice last week assuring transgender students access to restrooms in schools, Earnest said Obama was “regularly updated” on the process of creating the document. Earnest said he wouldn’t go into details

about conversations Obama has with Carter, but added on the trans military ban “it’s fair for you to assume that in those conversations the president is kept appraised, as necessary, of the progress of this review.” Asked if Obama would call on Carter to move forward with the completion of the trans military review during an upcoming meeting scheduled Monday at the White House, Earnest gave a categorical “no.” “Again, I’m not going to walk through the agenda for their meeting, but the president continues to have confidence that the Department of Defense is handling this review as conscientiously as they should,” Earnest added. Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the working group Secretary Carter set up to examine transgender military service “continues to meet and deliberate.” “This is a very complicated issue with health care, individual and Service readiness, and cost implications,” Pahon said. “All must be taken into account before a final decision is made.” Pahon said when the working group completes the review, policy recommendations will be staffed within the Pentagon and presented to the defense secretary for a decision.

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White House objects to anti-LGBT defense bill Earnest calls effort undermining Obama’s EO ‘perverse’ By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com Ahead of an expected vote in the U.S. House on major defense spending legislation, the White House is making clear it “strongly objects” to a provision in the bill that would undermine President Obama’s executive order against antiLGBT workplace discrimination among federal contractors. The White House Office of Management & Budget unveiled this week its Statement of Administration Policy, a formal document outlining the administration’s position on legislation pending before Congress, on the fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill, which could come to a vote on the House floor as soon as Wednesday. The 17-page document signals President Obama would veto the bill. The administration objects to numerous provisions in the $583 billion package, including an amendment inserted by Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.) last month during committee markup that would undercut Obama’s executive order against anti-LGBT discrimination.

White House Press Secretary JOSH EARNEST conveyed opposition to the anti-LGBT amendment in the House defense bill. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

“The bill also continues unwarranted restrictions regarding detainees at Guantanamo Bay, would prevent the United States from fulﬁlling its obligations under a treaty, and includes non-germane policy riders, such as those undermining the Endangered Species Act as well as public land management statutes, and those that would make it easier to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, which have nothing to do with national defense,” the statement says. Under a heading titled, “Exemptions to Civil Rights Laws,” the statement elaborates on the White House opposition to the provision, known as Section 1094, and says the administration “strongly objects” to it.

“This Administration is committed to promoting equal employment opportunities for all Americans regardless of who they are or who they love while at the same time preserving longstanding safeguards in the law for religious liberty, including the religious exemption codiﬁed in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” the statement says. “In authorizing certain Federal awardees to discriminate in Government-funded jobs, section 1094 represents a step in the wrong direction for our country that will keep qualiﬁed American workers from being able to hold jobs funded by the American people.” Under questioning from Washington Blade on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest declined to say explicitly whether Obama would veto the defense authorization bill over the antiLGBT language alone, but hinted that was the case, calling the provision seeking to enable discrimination “perverse.” “The president has on a number of occasions protected his ability to use that executive authority in his negotiations with Congress because we know that there are some in Congress, who for reasons that seem rather perverse to me, believe that the president shouldn’t be taking actions to prevent discrimination,” Earnest said. Earnest said predicting whether Congress will ultimately remove the

provision before sending the bill to Obama’s desk is difficult, but added the onus is on the Republican-controlled Congress to take that action. “After all, this is their responsibility, right?” Earnest said. “Republicans have a strong majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans have a strong majority in the United States Senate. So, ultimately, it’s Republicans who need to carry the weight of figuring out how to ensure that our national security professionals, and our men and women in uniform have the authority and funding that they need to protect the country.” The amendment would require the federal government when contracting with religious organizations to afford them exemptions consistent with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since neither of those laws prohibit anti-LGBT bias, the amendment would enable religious organizations doing business with the U.S. government to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Because the measure would have the force of law, it would overrule the executive order signed by President Obama in 2014 prohibiting contractors doing more than $10,000 a year in business with the U.S. government from engaging in anti-LGBT discrimination against employees.

Victory Fund honors LGBT lawmakers at brunch ‘Seat at table’ called important force against anti-LGBT laws By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com Leaders of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund told several hundred people gathered in Washington for the group’s National Champagne Brunch on May 15 that electing openly LGBT candidates to public office is an important means of stopping dozens of anti-LGBT bills pending in state legislatures across the country. The annual brunch, which serves as a fundraiser, marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Victory Fund. Officials noted that the group was created to advance the cause of LGBT equality by recruiting, training and raising money to help elect LGBT people to public office on the local, state and national levels. Aisha Moodie-Mills, who was named president and CEO of the Victory Fund a little over a year ago, told the gathering at the Omni Shoreham Hotel that she had

hoped this year’s brunch would continue the celebration of the Supreme Court’s decision last June legalizing same-sex marriage throughout the country. “So here we are, on the eve of celebrating the year anniversary of marriage equality next month,” Moodie-Mills said. “But are we partying like we thought we’d be?” she asked. “No – the LGBT movement isn’t giving high fives right now.” Added Moodie-Mills, “Because, as we say where I’m from in Jersey, we are literally ‘guarding our grills and knuckling up’ to fight off the 200 anti-LGBT bills that are being introduced in states all around the country.” She noted that most of the so-called “bathroom bills” introduced in state legislatures this year are targeting transgender people in what she called “hate-filled attacks designed to derail the basic rights we just secured less than a year ago, as well as attempts to dehumanize transgender people in some of the most ridiculous ways possible.” Moodie-Mills and other speakers at the Victory Fund event noted that states where openly LGBT people have been

elected to their respective legislatures are less likely to pass anti-LGBT laws, including the so-called “bathroom” measures requiring trans people to use public bathrooms that match their gender at birth. “We will achieve victory for all by electing people in the pockets of this country where equality has been slow to arrive – regions like the South, the Rust Belt and the Midwest,” said Moodie-Mills. “And we won’t declare victory until LGBT people are fully represented in every run of our government – from the school board, to the statehouse, to one day even the White House.” There are currently more than 450 “out and proud” LGBT elected officials in offices ranging from city and town councils, state legislatures, the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. Senator – Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), according to information released by the Victory Fund. Baldwin, who spoke to the May 15 brunch through a video recording, said she was hopeful that many more out LGBT candidates would win election to public office this year.

So far this year, the group has endorsed about 65 out LGBT candidates, including one – Jim Gray of Kentucky – who’s running for the U.S. Senate, and another four running for U.S. House seats. Victory Fund officials note that there are currently five openly gay members of the U.S. House and one bisexual woman, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), one of the gay House members, drew loud cheers when he told the Victory Fund brunch gathering on Sunday that if just one more LGBT person wins election to the House in November “we will be the gayest Congress in history – that we know of.” Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Obama, wasn’t on the official list of speakers at the event. She drew loud applause when she was introduced and walked to the podium. Citing what she called Obama’s strong record of support for LGBT rights during his nearly eight years in office, Jarrett said she was especially proud of the president’s directive requiring states to comply with court rulings holding that anti-transgender discrimination violates existing federal law.

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Cuba marks global day against homophobia Mariela Castro marches with supporters in Matanzas By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com EDITOR’S NOTE: Blade reporter Michael Lavers is in Cuba all week covering events related to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. For more stories and photos, visit washingtonblade.com.

MATANZAS, Cuba — Hundreds of people on Tuesday took part in a march in the Cuban city of Matanzas that commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Raúl Castro who directs the country’s National Center for Sexual Education, and Wilfredo Labiosa, an American LGBT rights advocate who lives in Puerto Rico, were among those who took part in the march that began near Matanzas’ waterfront and ended in Parque de la Libertad in the center of the city. Tico Almeida, the Cuban American president of Freedom to Work who has family in Matanzas, also participated with some of his relatives. March participants carried large Cuban and rainbow flags, banners in support of Mariela Castro and handwritten signs in support of LGBT-specific issues and against the U.S. embargo against Cuba as they slowly made their way to Parque de la Libertad. They also chanted “socialism yes, homophobia no” and other slogans that included “down with homophobia” and “down with transphobia.” Mariela Castro said to those who gathered in Parque de la Libertad after the march that all forms of discrimination “against exploited human beings are the same.” She highlighted efforts to combat homophobia and transphobia on the Communist island before leading the crowd in a chant of “long live the (Cuban) revolution.” Mariela Castro was holding a sign that read, “I am included! No to the U.S. embargo!” as she spoke. Many of those who took part in the march were also holding the same signs against the U.S. embargo. Frank Zamora, a 40-year-old gay man from Matanzas, carried a hand-written poster that read “revolution and socialism is diversity” while holding a small rainbow flag. He told the Washington Blade before the march began that it was important for him to take part “to demonstrate to those people who don’t accept social diversity for one reason or another that we are all the same.” “We have the same rights,” said Zamora. “The Cuban constitution pertains to all of us.” Yusleidy, who did not provide the Blade

A march to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia took place in Matanzas, Cuba, on May 17. WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS

with her last name, described the march as “beautiful” and “historic” as it passed by her apartment building. She watched it from her balcony with her aunt, her cousin’s young son and a baby. “It is very important,” Yusleidy told the Blade. “This event shows that the Cuban people are very united.” Tuesday’s march was among the hundreds of events around the world that marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which commemorates the World Health Organization’s decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. Trans actress Candis Cayne was among those who took part in an International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia march on Saturday in Havana that the National Center for Sexual Education organized. Mariela Castro’s uncle, Fidel Castro, sent thousands of gay men and others deemed unﬁt for military service to labor camps known as Military Units to Aid Production in the years after the 1959 revolution. The Communist country’s government also forcibly quarantined people living with HIV/AIDS in state-run sanitaria until 1993. Cuba decriminalized consensual samesex sexual relations in 1979. Fidel Castro more than three decades later apologized for sending gay men to labor camps — which were known by the Spanish acronym UMAP — during an interview with a Mexican newspaper. Mariela Castro’s supporters credit her with championing LGBT-speciﬁc issues in

JHONNY SANTOMÉ, the ﬁrst trans Cuban to legally change gender, takes part in events in Matanzas, Cuba, that commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS

the country. Mariela Castro, who is a member of the Cuban Parliament, voted against a gayinclusive workplace discrimination bill in 2013 because it did not include gender identity. She has also publicly spoken in support of nuptials for gays and lesbians, although the Cuban constitution still deﬁnes marriage as between a man and a woman. “She has demonstrated to the whole world that Cuban society is changing,” Zamora told the Blade. Jhonny Santopé in 2011 became the ﬁrst trans person to legally change their gender in Cuba. He told the Blade after the march that Mariela Castro and the National Center for Sexual Education, which is known by the Spanish acronym CENESEX, allowed him to receive free sex-reassignment surgery through the country’s national health care system.

“This is very important because I did not have any resources, I did not have a way to do it,” said Santopé. Independent Cuban LGBT rights advocates have questioned this policy, noting only a few dozen people have been able to receive sex-reassignment surgeries since they became available in 2008. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), a Cuban-born Florida Republican with a trans son, is among Mariela Castro’s most prominent and vocal critics. Independent Cuban LGBT rights advocates have also criticized Mariela Castro over a host of issues that include her lack of response to a petition campaign in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples on the Communist island. Mariela Castro made no mention of the marriage campaign during Tuesday’s march or in her remarks afterwards.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Fanning conﬁrmed as ﬁrst openly gay Army secretary

Sen. JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.) praised Eric Fanning as eminently qualiﬁed to lead the Army.

Matthew Thorn, executive director of the LGBT military group OutServe-SLDN, said the Senate conﬁrmation of Fanning was “long overdue” because the nominee was more than qualiﬁed to become Army secretary. “Eric’s sexual orientation has absolutely no bearing on his ability to do this job; nor was it the reason for his nomination,” Thorn said. “But this milestone of having an openly gay individual in this highlevel position within the Department of Defense will help to continue to set a tone of understanding and respect for the

LGBT community throughout the armed services.” Thorn said the Fanning confirmation is “not the last stand for the LGBT military community,” but a significant milestone because it represents progress for LGBT people. “As we approach the fifth anniversary of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Secretary Fanning now becomes the highest-ranking LGBT official in the administration,” Thorn said. “That is a testament to President Obama and this administration’s priorities and vision.”

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

services. Fanning has under the Obama administration served on the civilian side of each of the military services at the Pentagon and was chief of staff to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. LGBT advocates have said the confirmation makes Fanning the highestranking openly gay person in the U.S. government. Other appointees who may hold claim to that distinction are Fred Hochberg, chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, or U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith. Prior to the vote, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) had held up the confirmation by placing a hold on the nominee. The lawmaker, who has a long anti-LGBT voting record in the Senate, said he based his hold on Obama’s plan to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, citing concern detainees would be relocated to Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas. In a statement on his website, Roberts said he lifted his hold on the nomination based on assurances he received from the Obama administration and Congress, and insisted his action wasn’t based on Fanning’s character. “I look forward to voting for Mr. Fanning who has always had my support for this position,” Roberts said. “My hold was never about his courage, character or capability, but rather about our nation’s security if the detainees were moved to Ft. Leavenworth. I believe Eric Fanning will be a tremendous leader for the Army, including those who serve at Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Riley in my state.” Roberts said he received assurances from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work on May 10 Obama won’t send detainees to Ft. Leavenworth, although the plan to close the detention facility remains in place. “I take Deputy Secretary Work at his word,” Roberts said. “He understands the significant and costly changes that would need to be made at Ft. Leavenworth to change the post’s mission. He

understands the myriad of challenges that Ft. Leavenworth poses after reviewing earlier analyses. Most importantly, he understands the legal restrictions on funding to move the detainees to Ft. Leavenworth by January 20, 2017.” Roberts also cited in pending major defense spending legislation language prohibiting the closure of Guantanamo Bay without a plan approved by Congress. “Looking at the task before the administration, it is increasingly improbable that they can jeopardize our national security by bringing highvalue terrorists and their associated risks to an American community like Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas,” Roberts said. A similar situation regarding Obama’s choice of Army secretary has occurred before. In 2009, Roberts and then-U.S. Sam Brownback placed a hold on the nomination of John McHugh for Army secretary over concerns about closing Guantanamo Bay. The White House gave assurances it wouldn’t relocate terrorist detainees to Ft. Leavenworth and the senators lifted their hold, allowing the Senate to confirm McHugh. Among those pushing for Senate confirmation of Fanning was Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain (R-Ariz.), who sought to initiate a vote on the nomination last month, but was blocked by Roberts. On the Senate floor, Roberts indicated the 2009 assurances are no longer satisfactory, citing concerns about having “no statute of limitations.” A source familiar with the Fanning nomination said McCain sought to compel Roberts to lift his hold on the Fanning nomination, which led to his vote for confirmation. McCain also initially objected to moving forward with the Fanning nomination, citing concerns the nominee’s role as acting Army secretary contravened the Vacancies Act. After Fanning stepped aside from the position, McCain allowed a committee hearing and vote on the nomination to take place.

Clinton calls for end to HIV/AIDS ‘once and for all’ Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called for an end to the HIV/ AIDS epidemic “once and for all” in remarks before a meeting with a group of HIV/AIDS activists last week. According to the Clinton campaign, the candidate met with a diverse group representing more than 70 leaders and organizations in the HIV/AIDS community at the Hillary for America headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y. Among the discussion topics HILLARY CLINTON called for an end were tackling the epidemic in the U.S. and to the HIV/AIDS epidemic last week. globally, fighting discrimination against WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY HIV/AIDS and working together with HIV and AIDS experts and advocates to achieve an “AIDS-free generation.” In public remarks before the meeting took place, Clinton called for additional resources to confront HIV/AIDS both within the United States and overseas. “We do have the tools to end this epidemic once and for all, but we need to rededicate ourselves to fighting HIV and AIDS, and leaving no one behind,” Clinton said. “That means continuing to increase research and expanding the use of medications like PrEP. It means capping out-of-pockets expenses and drug costs, and building on President Obama’s National HIV and AIDS Strategy to increase the number of people on HIV treatment worldwide.” Clinton also called for the reform of state HIV criminalization laws, which continue in various forms to criminalize perceived exposure to HIV in 32 states regardless of the actual risk of transmission. Activists said in a statement 20 representatives took part in the meeting and presented Clinton a policy document that, among other recommendations, seeks to increase U.S. funding in the global AIDS response by $2 billion by 2020. According to activists, that would double the number of people on treatment directly supported by the United States to more than 30 million people by 2020. According to the statement from HIV/AIDS activists, Clinton didn’t commit to this target, but agreed to make public treatment and funding targets for the global AIDS program. Activists have asked the candidate to release these targets within 30 days. Hilary McQuie, who attended the meeting as director of U.S. policy and grassroots mobilization for the HIV/AIDS group Health GAP, said the next president must increase the momentum in the global AIDS effort by increasing funding. “We are at a crossroads in the AIDS response,” McQuie said. “If we scale up access to treatment and prevention programs within the next five years, we will curb the spread of HIV and see the end of the pandemic as we know it by 2030. If we choose to continue business as usual, we will see rising infection rates and millions more preventable deaths in the coming decades.” CHRIS JOHNSON

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NATIONAL NEWS

Obama delivers major wins for trans rights CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

plans cover similar services to nontransgender people with other medical conditions. The trans focus of these initiatives stands in contrast to more gaycentric progress earlier in the Obama administration, such as efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and ensure marriage rights for same-sex couples nationwide. Support for trans rights was often done in the context of initiatives in favor of LGBT community writ-large, such as Obama’s support at the start of his administration for a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and hate crimes protections legislation. Much like Obama’s “evolution” before he announced in 2012 he supports samesex marriage, observers might assume a similar evolution in support of trans rights. Jillian Weiss, a transgender advocate and law professor at Ramapo College, said of the Obama administration “there has been a change in emphasis on trans rights” that has become manifest in the new initiatives. “While there have been some milestones on federal trans rights the past seven years, trans rights have generally taken a backseat to other LGB issues and marriage equality.” Weiss said. “The current initiative regarding HB2 and the Title IX guidance represent a sea change in the level of endorsement of transgender rights. Certainly the extensive statement given by Attorney General Lynch regarding the administration’s level of commitment to trans people is unprecedented. Trans rights are now front and center in a national way that has never before occurred.” Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, nonetheless said pro-trans initiatives like the ones seen last week have been happening all along and counted 100 victories since the start of the Obama administration. “I guess it’s a little bit of evolving in one sense,” Keisling said. “At first, early in the administration, we were nervous about being too public about stuff, and the Obama administration was certainly nervous about being too public about stuff, and nobody is all uptight about that anymore. So they were doing the really good work, but none of us were willing to have a public fight about it on Fox News.” As evidence of earlier initiatives on trans rights, Keisling pointed to the State Department decision allowing transgender people to change the gender marker on their passports and the Department of Housing & Urban Development’s rule prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination in government-sponsored

Trans advocates have diﬀering views on whether PRESIDENT OBAMA has evolved on trans rights. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

housing. In 2011, the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” warning schools about discriminating against students that was similar to the guidance last week. Keisling recalled in 2009, trans advocates were upset Obama’s memorandum on LGBT rights called on federal agencies to implement benefits for same-sex couples without mentioning transgender people, but added that concern ended up being unfounded. “We were all kind of worked up about it,” Keisling said. “It turned out to be one of the most important things that happened because the agencies did go back and analyze it and start doing stuff. And just the president saying, ‘I support doing stuff for LGBT people turned out to be a huge, huge deal.’ And that was both sexual orientation and gender identity early on.’” Any sort of change may be the result of majority support in the American public for transgender rights. A recent CNN/ORC poll found 57 percent of Americans oppose restrictions on transgender bathroom use, compared to the 38 percent who support them. A broader 75 percent were in of favor laws assuring equal protection for transgender people in employment, housing and public accommodations. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday he wouldn’t describe the new pro-trans efforts as either reflecting society or an administrative decision, but more of a response to Republicans enacting state anti-LGBT laws. “From conservatives, you basically have seen the suggestion that they haven’t really put forward a specific suggestion for how they believe that the rules should be applied,” Earnest said. “The best

MARA KEISLING said pro-trans initiatives like the ones seen last week have been happening since the start of the Obama administration. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

that they seem to have come up with is suggesting that birth certificates should be examined before anyone can enter a public bathroom. So that doesn’t make sense. That certainly is an indication that they are much more interested in politics than they are in actually trying to solve the problem.” Earnest also denied the efforts on transgender rights are a way for the administration to make up on the perceived slow progress on LGBT rights because of Obama’s 2012 endorsement of same-sex marriage. “I think that at every stage, it’s this administration that fought for and successfully ended ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Earnest said. “It’s this administration that declined to continue defending the Defense of Marriage Act as litigation contesting that law wound its way through the courts. So, again, I think as it relates to this issue, it is clear that it’s Republicans who are seeking a political advantage and an administration that is seeking to offer tangible, practical advice to school administrators who are seeking to protect the safety and dignity of every student at their school.” A Wall Street Journal op-ed this week had another take on the pro-trans initiatives, saying the joint guidance for schools amounts to President Obama seeking to ignite a “culture war” ahead of the 2016 presidential election. “The Obama administration’s preoccupation with sex, whether in the sophomore year or the fourth grade, raises questions about whether the federal bureaucracies know at all what they are doing on anything resembling the merits,” the Journal writes. Earnest slammed the Wall Street Journal for its criticism of the guidance, saying he doesn’t think the piece “stands up to a lot of scrutiny.”

“I don’t make a habit of reading the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal I think for obvious reasons, but I did happen to take a look at it today, and I noticed that the editorial also noted that somehow Democrats appeared to be obsessed with sex, which I thought was a rather amusing observation on their part because it’s Republicans who have, for example, passed this HB2 law in North Carolina,” Earnest said. Even with the pro-trans initiatives unveiled last week, trans advocates have more on their agenda they want to see from the Obama administration, such as the finalization of a proposed rule from the Department of Housing & Urban Development making clear antitrans discrimination is prohibited and ending immigration detention for trans undocumented immigrants, who face either solitary confinement or harassment and assault while in detention. One high-profile item that remains is lifting the 1980s-era ban prohibiting transgender people from serving openly in the armed forces. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced last year the Pentagon would conduct a review of the policy, but that effort has seemingly stalled out, leaving questions about whether the ban will remain in place at the end of the Obama administration. Sue Fulton, president of the LGBT military group SPARTA, said the time has come for the Obama administration to pull the trigger and implement openly trans service. “I think if transgender service members in places like North Carolina and Mississippi and Texas were able to be open, that would change the dynamic in those states,” Fulton said. “I don’t know what the hold up is in getting transgender military service. We’ve answered every question they’ve asked, and we’re just waiting.”

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18 • M A Y 20, 2016

BA LT I MO RE N E W S

‘House Father’ in ballroom community murdered Antonio Buckson, 38, was found dead by Baltimore Police early morning on May 8. He was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. The shooting took place at the 600 block of N. Decker Avenue, according to a Baltimore Police statement. Sources told the Blade that Buckson was also known as Tony Karan, the one-time “father” of the Baltimore chapter of the House of Karan, a longstanding house in the ballroom community. Houses, also called “families,” are LGBTQ groups that band together under a “house mother” or “house father.” People “walk” or compete for prizes and trophies at events known as balls. “The entire house and ballroom community is an indigenous ANTONIO BUCKSON, 38, was found community’s response 40 years ago dead on May 8. to African-American families putting PHOTO COURTESY OF BALTIMORE POLICE their kids out because they were gay,” said Mark McLaurin, a long-time friend of Buckson. “They formed families of their own and call them houses and they named them after fashion designers. They travel all around the country competing against each other at these events called balls.” McLaurin spoke fondly of Buckson. “Tony was a prominent and well-known and much beloved ﬁgure in the house and ballroom and young black LGBT community.” Community activist Merrick Moses hopes that Buckson’s death will shed light on the fact that black gay people are not immune to street violence in Baltimore. “Sometimes our LGBT communities forget that black queer and trans folk are in these communities struggling,” Moses told the Blade. Investigators believe Buckson was outside in the block when he was shot by an unknown suspect. Homicide detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

Frederick Pride festival set An expected crowd of 5,000 and more than 100 organizations will be participating in the ﬁfth annual Frederick Pride festival. The event takes place on Saturday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Carroll Creek Linear Park in historic downtown Frederick. Bands, drag, DJ, dancing and more live acts will take place at the amphitheater as well as at the Market Street venue. Organized youth sports and craft activities compliments of The Frederick Center Youth Group will be available. “We are thrilled to be celebrating our ﬁfth anniversary of Frederick Pride,” Kristopher Fair, the recently elected board chair of The Frederick Center, told the Blade. “Planners are hard at work with huge surprises organized this year. Be sure not to miss this pivotal event for the region and state.” Admission is free, and families and allies are welcome. For more information, visit thefrederickcenter.org/frederick-pride.

New Wave Singers spring concert on tap

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The New Wave Singers of Baltimore will conclude its 30th season with two performances of the spring concert, “A Tapestry of Song.” Founded in 1985, New Wave is a mixed chorus that performs around Maryland and the nearby region. The ﬁrst performance of “A Tapestry of Song” will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1900 St. Paul St. in Baltimore. The second performance will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church, 5407 N. Charles St. Tickets are $20, and available at newwavesingers. org, from members of the chorus or at the door. STEVE CHARING

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Gay Southern men hit hardest by HIV NEW YORK — In several Southern U.S. cities, more than 25 percent of men who have sex with men have been diagnosed with HIV according to a report from Emory University researchers presented this week, ABC News reports. Gay and bi men in Columbia, S.C.; El Paso, Texas; and Jackson, Miss.; have the highest infection rates and the South is home to 21 of the 25 metro areas with the highest MSM HIV rates, ABC News reports. “This is really the ﬁrst time we’ve been able to examine the HIV infection burden ... at such ﬁne levels of geography,” Eli Rosenberg, assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, said during a news conference according to the ABC article. The analysis provides “new evidence” of a growing disparity between the HIV epidemic in the South relative to the rest of the U.S., but it’s unclear whether this says more about rising transmission rates in the South, or public health successes in other regions. Overall, gay and bisexual men are more than 57 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than other men in the U.S., the study authors said according to the ABC article. “Where HIV is most a problem are places that are failing gay men,” said George Ayala, executive director of the Global Forum on MSM and HIV, a leading advocacy group that was not involved in the report, ABC reports. Where health systems fail, according to Ayala, is in the process of identifying people who have HIV and immediately linking them with care. Gay and bisexual men may be more likely to face additional barriers such as poverty and stigma, he said according to ABC.

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Sexual fluidity more common in women: study LONDON — Women’s sexuality is far more fluid than that of men, perhaps a result of evolutionary design, according to a new theory, London’s Daily Mail reports. Evolutionary psychologist Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa proposes that sexual fluidity arose in women as a mechanism for “reducing conflict and tension among co-wives in polygamous marriages.” Being sexually fluid would have allowed women to have sex with their co-wives while still successfully reproducing with their husband, the theory suggests, and thus has reproductive benefits, the Daily Mail reports. In the new proposal, published to Biological Reviews, Kanazawa explains that sexuality differs between men and women. People of both genders have been known to be sexually fluid, but studies have found that this is more common in women. The researcher from London School of Economics and Political Science analyzed the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to determine the differences between sexual fluidity in men and women. The study measured sexual orientation of American youths in four “waves,” following them for more than 10 years. In the third wave, when respondents were between 18 and 28, they measured selfidentified sexual feelings, among a given set of labels – 100 percent straight, mostly straight, bisexual, mostly gay, 100 percent gay. In Wave IV, when respondents were between 25 and 34, they were asked to describe sexual identity, the Daily Mail article said. With this information, the researcher was able to construct measures of “adult sexual attraction.” The analysis revealed that women are more fluid in all of the proposed facets. The study also confirmed his predictions, including one which proposed that women who experience increased levels of sexual fluidity have a larger number of children and that women who experience marriage or parenthood early in adult life also experience increased levels of sexual fluidity. The researcher says this suggests that women’s sexual fluidity may have been PROOF #1 evolutionarily selected as one method for facilitating polygynous marriages, in which a husband can have more than one wife, according to the Daily Mail article.

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Senate reached agreement last week on a bill to ban gay “conversion” therapy on minors after a debate over religious freedom nearly derailed the effort, NECN, an NBC affiliate, reports. Both the Senate and House have now approved a bill barring licensed counselors from engaging in the practice with anyone under age 18. The chambers passed bills including slightly different language, which means they’ll need to reach agreement before sending the legislation to Gov. Maggie Hassan’s desk, NECN reports. Hassan, a Democrat, praised the Senate’s passage of the bill, saying it sends an important message to young people that they can be whom they are. The bill passed on a voice vote after a key amendment cleared with support of all 10 Democrats and six Republicans, the NECN article said.

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Miss Alternate Universe Pageant An election-year ﬂight from reason and reality

RICHARD J. ROSENDALL is a writer and activist. Reach him at rrosendall@starpower.net.

Positions of authority have a way of inflating people’s sense of their own power. For example, Donald Rumsfeld might have been a great defense secretary if his refusal to hear bad news were an effective war strategy. Lacking the magic power to alter reality by ignoring it, the best he could hope for was to be far enough from his and his cohorts’ gratuitous carnage and havoc to fondle his Presidential Medal of Freedom in safety. Hillary Clinton benefits from greater willingness to acknowledge past mistakes. “I got it wrong,” as she writes of her 2002 Senate vote authorizing military action in Iraq, is not something you hear from Dick Cheney. People like him consider it unmanly to admit a mistake. How ironic, then, for the GOP to suffer a hostile takeover by someone consumed with his manhood. After years of peddling obstructionist nonsense on matters from climate to healthcare to transportation, Republicans are outfoxed by someone better attuned to the mob they nurtured. It is, after all, not just politicians who

have fought reality and, as they imagine, ﬁnally won out over it. A phenomenon like Donald Trump is impossible without susceptible voters. “It’ll be great, believe me,” is not a serious statement of your intentions except maybe to an ambitious reality show contestant. The presidency, as Barack Obama points out, is not a reality show. Trump is unfazed, defending his foreign aﬀairs cred by citing a beauty pageant he held in Russia. Meanwhile, red state governors like Pat McCrory of North Carolina exploit the moment with their own demagoguery. Thus the spate of rash laws that baselessly treat transgender people as predators. Republicans are as cavalier about other people’s lives as if they were dropping an anvil in a cartoon. (They’re not bad. They’re just drawn that way.) The stakes in this election were powerfully illustrated last week by the federal Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services, which took a series of landmark actions to defend the rights of transgender people. DOJ notably invoked the science of gender identity in its May 9 civil rights lawsuit against North Carolina’s notorious House Bill #2. Contempt for science has become a cornerstone of Republican policy on a wide array of issues. It is as if ritual incantation will make America’s religious and ethnic diversity vanish, gay folk stop doing the thing that makes Jesus puke (in the words of Sister Mary Ignatius), and the rules of international banking change to accommodate Trump’s reckless promise of a deal to reduce America’s debt. But reality does not seek our approval. Stoking intolerance will not reverse demographic trends. Trampling the Estab-

lishment Clause will not erase religious diversity. Medical quackery will not turn gay people straight or trans people cisgendered. Toying with the world financial system will not make us more secure. These actions can, however, do great harm. Fittingly enough in this era of contempt for experts, Trump turns out to have posed as his own publicist in 1991 to boast to reporters of his popularity with women. This same fraud now poses as a champion of the disaffected working class despite his voters having a median household income higher than Clinton’s voters. The opportunist will not be defeated by an army of snipers hiding behind computer screens. To halt the flight from reason, we must convince people to seize the opportunities of change instead of clinging to phantoms. We are part of a multigenerational struggle rooted in the belief that embracing our diversity is ultimately more powerful than fearing it. If we demand instant perfection, we neglect our work in favor of fantasies. We need triedand-true habits of perseverance and cooperation, not magical thinking. Keeping her head while all about her are losing theirs and blaming it on her, Secretary Clinton gradually emerges as the grownup in the room, showing her grasp of policy and her willingness to listen last week in a meeting with HIV activists. Her toughness is held against her by sexists like the SiriusXM Progress caller on May 13 who accused her of 50 felonies without naming one. Quit the race so we can win, the losers demand of her. Time for a reality check. Copyright © 2016 by Richard J. Rosendall. All rights reserved.

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‘Grace and Frankie’ sexy and engaging Netﬂix show hits its stride in season two

KATHI WOLFE, a writer and poet, is a regular contributor to the Blade.

“I can’t believe you’re that old,” a college student told me recently at a poetry reading, “and girls hook up in your poems!” Ouch! As a card-carrying Baby Boomer lesbian, I like to think I’m forever young and ready to hook up (in poetry, if not real life). Yet, as my youthful fan’s astonishment conveyed, I’m older, and, to our youth-obsessed culture, past the age of sex and romance. I thought of this exchange, as I bingewatched season two of “Grace and Frankie,” just out on Netﬂix. If a few lines in a poem about girls kissing astounded the student,

this series, starring Lily Tomlin, 76, Jane Fonda, 78, Martin Sheen, 75, and Sam Waterston, 75, would totally freak her out. “Grace and Frankie,” which features spot-on comedy along with moving drama, more than most TV series or movies, shows older people as they truly are: having sex, falling in love, hanging with their grandkids, working, looking for work, getting married, divorced, recovering from heart surgery, drinking too much, having dementia, caring for sick spouses. Did I mention talking about lubricants? Yams, lubricants – vibrators! This show has it all – up close and personal – by turns, laugh-out-loud funny or cry-your-eyes-out sad (from paintings of vaginas to scenes of a husband caring for his wife with Alzheimer’s disease). When the series debuted last year, Grace (Fonda) had been married to Robert (Sheen) and Frankie (Tomlin) had been Sol’s (Waterston) wife for 40 years. Until, four decades later when same-sex marriage became legal in California, Robert and Sol, lawyers who were business partners, had some news: They’d been lovers for 20 years, they were leaving their wives and marrying each other. That was a sucker-punch to Grace

and Frankie. Frenemies, at best, they were now forced by circumstances to live together (as roommates). By now, despite their initial antipathy, Grace and Frankie have become BFFs. Part of the fun of watching the show is seeing the two hetero women with vastly different personalities share laughter, sadness, irritation and tips about everything from the bathroom being filthy to dementia to death to religion. Like many relationships, maintaining their friendship isn’t always easy for Grace and Frankie. Grace is a perfectly coiffed, retired executive who drinks a few too many martinis and relates in a business-like way to her male God. “If you still love me, despite my drinking,” she prays, “I need your help. I’m about to do something really hard. Thank you for your time.” Frankie is a hippie-type artist, who speaks of “the goddess” and wonders why Grace would believe in a “misogynistic,” “hellfire and brimstone” male God. While Grace is more tied to convention, Frankie has no problem driving for three years with an expired driver’s license.

I’ve loved “Grace and Frankie” since it began. Yet at times in season one, the characters from Grace and Frankie to Robert and Sol to their families and friends weren’t entirely believable. Sometimes, they were onedimensional caricatures with “first-world” problems: whether to move to a beach house or attend a gathering with wealthy, “liberal” friends. Happily, in season two, the show has hit its stride. “It’s grown into the actors,” my 20-something friend Seth, who enjoys the show, told me over lunch. “You can tell from the writing and acting how the characters have developed.” Though Grace and Frankie are the focus of the show, there’s now substance in Robert and Sol’s relationship. Robert and Sol deal with infidelity, a health scare and finding their way in queer life after coming out at 70. Along with dating and drinking, Grace and Frankie help a friend with an end-of-life decision and fight against being invisible in a youth-worshipping world. “Grace and Frankie” shows that while hard, being old can be sexy and engaging. Check it out.

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9 reasons D.C. is best city for gays From kickball to black-tie galas, we have it all

BROCK THOMPSON is a D.C.-based freelance writer. He writes regularly for the Blade.

New York? Yawn. San Francisco? It’s been overrun by tech junkies. Chicago? Might as well be Shreveport. The jury is oﬃcially in, via my Facebook page, and Washington, D.C., has been declared the best city to be gay. But what makes our nation’s capital the ideal urban fruitopia for the LGBT community? Succinctly, today’s Washington is the perfect coming together of vibrant neighborhoods, good restaurants, nightlife, events and cute guys. Gay sports leagues, happy hours, a growing theater scene — all of this gives D.C. a certain gay camaraderie that other cities seem to lack. Plus, this city makes brunching an Olympic sport. Here are nine reasons of why you shouldn’t waste your time with any other

city. #9 There Are More of Us Here. There’s no denying that. Even though we aren’t a state, yet, D.C. has the largest percentage of gays and lesbians in the United States. Bringing up the rear, so to speak, North Dakota. #8 Stonewall Sports. Darts, billiards, kickball, dodgeball — practically anything you were never picked for the ﬁrst time around is out there now to be reclaimed and played along with your gay brethren. And if you are new to town and are even moderately outgoing you can make friends quite easily. And though the sight of a roving bunch of sleeveless, tipsy kickball bandits rolling down 17th Street on any given Sunday might stoke fear in the hearts of some, hope in the hearts of others, Stonewall Sports is rightfully credited with strengthening the bonds of community in the District. So much so that the model is being replicated in cities across the country. #7 City Beautiful. And it’s not just the architecture of the federal government, though if you ever tire of seeing the Washington Monument illuminated at night you should probably move away. Aside from the grandeur of the National Mall, the city is undeniably beautiful. Brookland, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Lincoln Park, Bloomingdale — the city is home to distinct neighborhoods, and now gays and lesbians can be seen walking down the streets proudly hold-

ing hands with their partners in practically every one of them. The city is compact and walkable. Not as sprawling as our neighboring cities, you can trick anywhere in the city in 15 minutes or so. Faster if you do Capital Bikeshare. #6 Even Your Dimmest Friends Are Some of the Brightest in the World. So much so that no one would look down on you for showing up at a trick’s house using Bikeshare. In fact, you’d probably be lauded for being environmentally conscious. D.C. boasts the most educated populace anywhere in the United States. There is no real small talk among gays at the club, bar, or the kickball ﬁelds. Don’t get me wrong, this town delights in gossip, but the art of conversation among gays is highly regarded in D.C. People do interesting things for a living, have been to interesting places, and have met interesting people. #5 Smarty Pants and Fit People. I’ve always found it interesting that as gay kids we did everything we could to get out of gym, but now as gay adults we seem to ﬂock to them. Washingtonians love to gym. Discussing the latest PEN/Faulkner winner goes a long way at a party, doing so while looking good in a tank top presents the whole package. #4 Progressive Dinner, Miss Adams Morgan Pageant, the Victory Fund Brunch. A little party never hurt nobody,

right? And this city throws the best parties for the best reasons, and sometimes that reason is no reason at all. Charities brunches, galas, balls and drag pageants dot the District’s social calendar. Yes, we drink like champions. But it’s often for a good cause. Probably. #3 In the Thick of It. Last June, during Decision Day, I cheered as the decision was handed down outside the Supreme Court, then clanked glasses at JR.’s with what seemed like the entire city. We rounded out the night outside the White House illuminated in the colors of pride. You can’t help but love being in the center of it all. #2 Capital Pride. It’s sort of the Nation’s Pride. You really haven’t lived until you’ve seen Wilson Phillips belt out their beloved ballads with the United States Capitol building as a backdrop. #1 You get the L the G the B and the T. You gotta love a giant, liberal urban bubble. Though there is of course a real danger of being around only those that agree with you and hearing no other point of view, the big gay village we’ve constructed is actually quite diverse in terms of age, race, religion, educational background and life experience — all of this helping to shape a well-rounded queer world view. These are just handful of reason as to why our city is the best. What are yours?

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9:30 pm Anne returns to the Blue Moon with her brand new show “The Mixtape of My Life” Experience small town Indiana in the 1980s - imagine lots of big hair and big dreams. Certainly she wasn’t the ONLY person that wanted to be a cross between Molly Ringwald and Madonna! Anne is joined by her musical director, Nate Buccieri. $25 per person

June 20 TELLY LEUNG

9:30 pm Telly Leung (TV's Glee; Broadway's Godspell, Rent) returns to the Blue Moon after his "star turn" (NBC-NY) in Broadway's Allegiance. He takes a day-off from The Shakespeare Theater's production of The Taming Of The Shrew in DC, and is back with his "lovely tenor" (Variety) for an eclectic night of music from the world of Broadway, pop, rock, and jazz. Musical direction by Gary Adler (Alterboyz). $25 per person

June 27 AN EVENING WITH DIXIE LONGATE

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July 11 SHERRY VINE & JOEY ARIAS

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July 18 MISS CONCEPTION

9:30 pm The world renowned Delusionist Miss Conception brings her New show “The Wonderful World Of Miss Conception” to the Blue Moon. An all live singing show with your favorite story book characters with a twist. $25 per person

July 25 LINDA CLIFFORD

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9:30 pm The Wigstock founder and Dean of Drag, is bringing her blend of raucous, irreverent comedy to the Blue Moon again for her 9th year. Dusty Springfield-meets-Don-Rickles potty-mouthed humor brings southern charm, zany "Laugh-In" skits, X-rated parodies. $25 per person

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RESTAURANTS, PARTIES AND MORE AS SUMMER ARRIVES By KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com The Washington Blade hosts its 10th annual summer kickoff party in Rehoboth Beach, Del., this Friday from 5-7 p.m. at the Blue Moon, an event the staff looks forward to all winter. And although the weather is so far not delivering summer temperatures, the town is ready for the season’s crowds. As always, there’s plenty to do at the beach when you’re not relaxing on the sand. Rehoboth’s restaurant scene continues to draw crowds and attention. Among the changes this year, Blackwall Hitch, which has outposts in Annapolis and Alexandria, is opening soon at 52 Rehoboth Ave. and promises live entertainment in a setting more refined than surrounding T-shirt shops and pizza joints. The long-popular Nage (19730 Coastal Highway) has been reinvented as Fork + Flask at Nage and features a remodeled interior with much larger bar area. There’s a new menu, too, with more affordable options. Just a few doors down, is the new Jimmy’s Grille opening soon next to Outlet Liquors. Down the highway in Dewey, the iconic Starboard has spun off a new joint, Starboard Raw (2000 Coastal Highway) a 48-seat raw bar that is now open. Chesapeake and Maine (316 Rehoboth Ave.) is a new high-end seafood restaurant and bar from the team behind Dogfish Head. The slick new bar is already drawing crowds as construction begins on the revamped Dogfish Head next door. A couple of longtime favorites have closed in the off-season — the Seafood Shack on Baltimore Avenue is shuttered and was acquired by the folks who run the Blue Moon across the street. No word yet on when it will reopen or what the new concept will be. And just up the street, Ginger Breneman’s popular Mixx has closed. Two watering holes frequented by gay and lesbian visitors are under new ownership. The Rehoboth Ale House on Wilmington Avenue is now being operated by Kyle McLaughlin and Adam Newman of Dewey Beach, according to the all-knowing Rehoboth Foodie. Meanwhile, the Double L Bar reopens May 20 under new ownership but will retain its appeal to the leather crowd — and the popular Man Dance event on Saturdays. It will host a “Bear Bust”

The summer season is about to kick oﬀ in Rehoboth Beach. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

party from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, followed by Man Dance at 9 p.m. Coastal Living magazine just ranked Rehoboth as its No. 2 “happiest seaside

town.” A good bit of the credit for that distinction goes to the longtime business owners — many of them gay — who have helped earn Rehoboth such a welcoming

reputation. The Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.) is open seven days a week, serving some of the best food in town on one side of the building, and some of the best live entertainment on the other. The “Queen of Rehoboth” Pamala Stanley continues her residency, performing SundaysThursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday’s “Legends Show” drag performance continues starting at 9:30 p.m. Purple Parrot’s Biergarten is now open, offering food and drinks in a beachy setting with plenty of happy hour specials. Inside, the gay-owned Parrot (134 Rehoboth Ave.) hosts karaoke Thursday-Saturday 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and the Tara Austin & the Birdcage Badgirls show Sundays at 10 p.m. The gay-owned Dos Locos (208 Rehoboth Ave.) continues to offer some of the best fajitas and margaritas in town in a festive atmosphere. Its happy hour is among the best in town with $6 martinis and $5 house margaritas. CAMP Rehoboth, the local LGBT community center, has a full season of events on tap. June 24-26 brings Family Pride CAMP, featuring kid-friendly activities all weekend. Visit camprehoboth. com for more information. The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand’s 53rd annual summer concert series kicks off May 28 and promises entertainment for all ages every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening starting at 8 p.m. Don’t miss the Neil Diamond tribute band Real Diamond on Aug. 6. Visit rehobothbandstand.com for a full schedule. Looking for a ride to Rehoboth? BestBus service from D.C. to Rehoboth begins Memorial Day Weekend with two pick-up locations in the city — Union Station and Dupont Circle. One-way fare is $40. There’s a VIP membership program allowing regular riders to earn reward points. Visit bestbus.com for details. And don’t forget your stylish accessories for the beach. Check out Beach Essentials (33 Baltimore Ave.) for its impressive swimwear selection and don’t miss the nearby Shademakers (33c Baltimore Ave.) for the season’s most stylish sunglasses and eyewear.

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Q U E E RY : 2 0 G A Y Q U E ST I O N S F O R LO RI KLI N E

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell? Since about the age of 22. I have been fortunate. My parents were probably the most diﬃcult to come out to, but they supported me 100 percent! Who’s your LGBT hero? All the people way ahead of me to make my life easier to be out. Harvey Milk for sure.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KLINE

The Lori’s Oy Vey Cafe owner answers 20 gay questions By JOEY DiGULIELMO joeyd@washblade.com Who doesn’t dream of opening a business at the beach and living by the ocean? Lori Kline made it happen. As she gears up for another busy summer season, Kline recently celebrated her 50th birthday and the 20th anniversary of Lori’s Oy Vey Cafe at 39 Baltimore Ave. in Rehoboth Beach, Del. She serves a variety of fresh, creative sandwiches, desserts and specialty drinks in the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard. Beach lunches are available to go. Visit her online at lorisoyveycafe.com. Kline grew up in Rockville, Md., and taught special education before opening her business. She lives three miles from the cafe and loves being close by. “I’m very fortunate,” she says. “I don’t have to hit any traﬃc.” Kline lives with her partner, Ani Moyer. Kline enjoys poker, working out and reading in her free time. “I relax by playing lots of cards in the oﬀ season,” she says. “As well as walking or just chilling on the beach.”

What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present? Tracks in Southeast D.C. was THE PLACE back in the late ’80s and early ’90s! I had a blast there — dancing, playing volleyball, hanging out in the outdoor courtyard. I also hung out a lot at Hill Haven. Describe your dream wedding. Gotta say, never really big on ever getting married. However, if I did, it would be extremely small followed by a huge party. What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about? Having compassion for people with disabilities. I have a nephew with autism, and I used to teach special education. I enjoy seeing events and things through the eyes of children. I think there is a lot to be learned. I also have a couple of special needs customers who are very important to me. What historical outcome would you change? That slavery and the Holocaust never existed. What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime? Love disco music and still do. Loved the Bee Gees, Donna Summer and Martha Wash. “It’s Raining Men” was one of my favorites. On what do you insist? Treating everyone with respect no matter their age, race or religion. People should treat others as they want to be treated. I feel no one is better than anyone else. What was your last Facebook post or Tweet? My last Facebook post was a picture taken of my whole staﬀ over the past 20 seasons. I just celebrated a “70 years of

fun” party, which combined 50 years of life with 20 seasons in business. It was a great celebration that included staﬀ, family, customers and friends.

If your life were a book, what would the title be? “My Friends Have Made the Story of My Life” If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do? I wouldn’t change a thing about myself.

What do you believe in beyond the physical world? I believe there is deﬁnitely something else out there when we pass away. I don’t think we are put here for so many years and that’s it. I am a ﬁrm believer that something happens and you meet back up with friends and family. What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders? Keep positive and keep rocking it. We have come a long way. Stay away from negativity and violence. What would you walk across hot coals for? For any friend or family member who needed me. What LGBT stereotype annoys you most? That all gay women look alike! Rrrrr! What’s your favorite LGBT movie? “Bound” What’s the most overrated social custom? All the hype around the holidays. What trophy or prize do you most covet? I am very proud of all my awards. Best of Delaware for our chicken salad, one of the best places to eat in 2016 and a few others. What do you wish you’d known at 18? I wish I had more patience and knew that nothing is that important to panic about! Life is short — enjoy the ride. Why Rehoboth? I love it here! It’s friendly, great community and open minded. One of the best decisions I have ever made.

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CO MME N T A RY

Rehoboth Beach prepares for summer 2016 Younger visitors must remember to obey liquor laws By PETER ROSENSTEIN

SECO SHOWND ADDE 9PMD!

Memorial Day is nearly upon us and that means thoughts go to vacations and for many that means the beach. For me, the beach of choice is Rehoboth Beach, Del. As a homeowner there for many years it also means traﬃc congestion, parking woes and dealing with the daytrippers who swarm the place. Depending on your point of view this summer season portends to be worse than ever because of a good economy, new stores and outlets on Route 1 and parking problems in town; or better than ever because of some of the same things. I look forward to another great summer. As a gay man who has been going to Rehoboth for more than 30 years, it’s wonderful the town has gained a well-earned reputation for being LGBT friendly. There are many gay-owned and operated restaurants and businesses and every business is gay friendly. You can walk down the street holding hands with your partner and generally feel really comfortable doing it. There were some reports last year about young men being harassed and arrested on the beach because they were gay. Turns out these young men were breaking the law. You can’t drink alcohol on the beach and you can’t urinate in the dunes and then claim you were only called out for it because you are gay. It will be important for Rehoboth to continue to attract a younger crowd and it makes the scene on the beach and in the bars all the better for old codgers like me. But laws are laws and they have to be obeyed. The truth is because of all the work of CAMP Rehoboth, the gay and lesbian community center, Rehoboth has come a long way over the past 30 years. The center of gay life in Rehoboth is Baltimore Avenue. The venerable Blue Moon Restaurant and Bar and Aqua Grill with its hot bar staﬀ and reasonably priced food host hundreds of happy beach goers every night. Eat at Hobos on one end of Baltimore Avenue or at Eden or Jam at the other end, with Lori’s Café in the CAMP courtyard in the middle and you know you are dining at an LGBT-owned

restaurant. Buy some incredible jewelry or home furnishings at Elegant Slumming and you shopped at a gay-owned business. Feel totally comfortable at Café Azafran with the wonderful chanteuse Holly Lane serving you at the bar, or the much anticipated new restaurant owned by the Blue Moon that will replace the Seafood Shack. I don’t know what it will be named but some suggestions have been “The Other Moon,” “The Half Moon,” or the “Lesser Moon.” Whatever the name it can’t help but be good with Blue Moon Chef Lion Gardner overseeing the menu. Other gay-owned and operated businesses on Rehoboth Avenue include the fun Gidgets’s Gadgets and the always busy and fun Purple Parrot with its great breakfast, lunch and dinner menu and Biergarten. The food and staff are great and the prices are even better. Now if the town Commission could get its act together all could be fine. First they tried to ban the use of swimming pools by summer renters and they are still banning some pools in new houses. There are continuous fights over the size and scope of a house you can build. The issue is consistency and that is what has been lacking in the decision-making process. In January they dealt with a projected $2 million budget shortfall for the new City Hall. A project many considered unnecessary in the first place. They worked this out through creative accounting, not always the best way to do things. According to City Manager Sharon Lynn, “The project will not contain a number of additional items originally planned, including new flooring for the city’s convention center and equipment for the city’s information technology department, which totaled $999,000.” Mayor Sam Cooper admitted, “We’re not saving money, but we’re taking it out of the borrowing and putting into being funded with the city’s operating budget over the next two years.” So the question is whether in the long run property taxes will go up or every fee under the sun will be raised. Despite the Commission’s problems, all governments have them, Rehoboth Beach is still a best bet for a fantastic summer vacation or a permanent home. It’s an East Coast destination no one should miss. PETER ROSENSTEIN is a longtime LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

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JOANNA LUMLEY and JENNIFER SAUNDERS in ‘Absolutely Fabulous: the Movie.’

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KARPEL GROUP

SCREENS READY TO SIZZLE WITH BLOCKBUSTERS, FRANCHISES, DOCS, FESTIVALS AND MORE By BRIAN T. CARNEY

The 2016 summer movie season gets off to an explosive start this weekend with “The Angry Birds Movie.” The wildly popular video game gets turned into a 3-D animated comedy featuring the voices of Jason Sudeikis, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad. Following in the wake of the furious fowls are an exciting mix of blockbusters and independent releases, along with films large and small that may have special appeal to LGBT audiences. The summer schedule is, of course, full of franchise movies and actionfilled blockbusters. The anticipated line-up includes “X Men: Apocalypse” (May 27); “Alice Through The LookingGlass” a follow-up to Tim Burton’s 2010 spectacular retelling of the beloved Lewis Carroll tale, now under the direction of James Bobin, but with returning stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman (in his final screen performance); Megan Fox and friends in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of The Shadows” (June 3); “Independence Day Resurgence” (June 24); the allfemale remake of “Ghostbusters” (July 15); and out actor Zachary Quinto as Spock in “Star Trek Beyond” (July 22). Some summer mainstream releases will

be of special interest to LGBT audiences. In a surprise move, actor Dave Franco (brother of polymath artist James) and director Nicholas Stoller of “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” (opening Friday, May 20) revealed that the “homoerotic tendencies” displayed by the character Pete in the ﬁrst movie will lead to a samesex marriage proposal in the sequel. America’s favorite lesbian Ellen DeGeneres returns to the big screen on June 17 as the voice of the title character, a blue tang with memory issues, in Disney-Pixar’s “Finding Dory.” Accompanied by other members of the cast of the popular BBC sitcom, aging party girls Edina Monsoon (series co-creator Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) stumble onto the big screen in “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” on July 22. And on Aug. 12, Meryl Streep massacres the world of grand opera as “Florence Foster Jenkins,” a would-be opera diva with lots of money and enthusiasm, but no talent. With signiﬁcantly less fanfare, some notable independent features will be blooming in D.C. cinemas this summer. Opening on Friday, May 20 is “Love & Friendship” starring Kate Beckinsale with stellar support from Chloё Sevigny, Jemma Redgrave and Stephen Fry. Best

known for his explorations of American upper-class ennui, director Whit Stillman offers a fresh and funny take on an early and relatively unknown Jane Austen comic novella. Also opening this weekend, creating the opportunity for a wonderful double feature, are “The Lobster,” a sci-fi thriller starring Colin Farrell about a society that outlaws single people (both gay and straight); and “Sunset Song” a sweeping saga about Scottish farmers during World War I by gay filmmaker Terence Davies (“The House of Mirth” and “The Deep Blue Sea”). Opening Friday May 27 is “Maggie’s Plan,” a delightful modern-day comedy of manners starring Greta Gerwig and featuring a very funny Julianne Moore. Despite the inevitable giggles about the title, the independent movie tone turns more serious in “Weiner,” a documentary about disgraced politician Anthony Weiner’s ill-advised 2013 campaign to become mayor of New York City (May 27). On June 3, the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market will present “Art Bastard,” a documentary about controversial artist Robert Cenedella who has been described as “the anti-Warhol.” The screen will glitter with star power (and Oscar buzz will ignite) when the

highly anticipated “Genius,” which opens June 10. Written by Academy Awardnominated screenwriter John Logan (“Gladiator,” “The Aviator,” “Hugo” and “Skyfall”) and directed by openly gay Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage (from London’s acclaimed Donmar Warehouse theater), the drama explores the complex relationship between editor Maxwell Perkins (Colin Firth) and writer Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law). The A-list cast also includes Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce and Dominic West. The Reel Affirmations monthly XTRA film series (reelaffirmations.org) continues with “Wilhemina’s War,” a moving and thought-provoking documentary that profiles Wilhemina Dixon, a 62-yearold black woman in South Carolina who is caring for her daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are HIVpositive. Filmmaker June Cross captures both Wilhemina’s daily struggles against AIDS stigma and the larger social issues of poverty, racism and sexism, women’s health care and the ongoing spread of HIV in the South. “Wilhemina’s War” will be screened on Friday, June 17. The weekend-long Reel Affirmations Film CONTINUES ON PAGE 44

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O U T & A BO U T

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

Rev. CATHY ALEXANDER and Rev. DWAYNE JOHNSON at Metropolitan Community Church of Washington. The church is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year

MCC-DC marks milestone with year-long celebration

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Attract Millennials! Keep longtime parishioners engaged! Embrace technology! But don’t alienate traditionalists! Demands on clergy in any church these days are demanding, but for traditionally LGBT churches, there are additional factors. “We’re human, we have ups and downs and highs and lows just like everybody else,” says Rev. Cathy Alexander, associate pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, the city’s oldest and largest mostly LGBT church which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year with a series of events. “I try to make sure I minister from a place of abundance and overﬂowing rather than need. For me, it’s super encouraging when I see spiritual light in somebody’s eyes.” The year-long celebration culminates this weekend with a dinner and dance Saturday night at the National Press Club in which senior pastor Rev. Dwayne Johnson says members are “planning to eat and dance the night away.” On Sunday, May 22, Rev. Candace Shultis, who was on staﬀ at MCC-D.C. from 19832007, will return to preach at the 9 and 11 a.m. services. Long-time member Cecelia Hayden Smith coordinated a history project in which over the last 45 days, people from the church’s past have shared their testimonies at mccdc.com and in daily e-blasts to the congregation. Known colloquially as MCC-D.C., the church is part of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, a large denomination with a special ministry to LGBT believers. The D.C. churches roots go back to 1970 when a group started meeting as Community Church of Washington. The church was chartered as an MCC church on May 11, 1971.

Membership peaked around the turn of the millennium when it wasn’t uncommon for 500 or more people to come through the doors on an average Sunday. But with most mainline protestant denominations in Washington now welcoming gays, attendance at MCCD.C. has waned with average Sunday attendance hovering around 210. Johnson says this is not necessarily a bad thing. “Part of our early mission was to change society, to transform the world and ourselves and MCC accomplished that on many levels,” Johnson says. “Yes, more churches are welcoming now but that’s not a loss for us. That speaks to the power of our message and the work we’ve done. We applaud other churches who make it possible for more people to find love and God, so all of that is good. But yes, it does make our job a different challenge.” Other challenges range from MCCspecific matters such as parking issues, street closings for major city events and marathons often held on Sunday mornings, a maturing membership base and more to issues common to churches of all kinds — engaging Millennials and influencing visitors who approach church membership with a consumer mentality. In 2010-2012 as same-sex marriage became increasingly available, Johnson says there were more weddings than he could humanly conduct without neglecting other aspects of ministry. There were often 50-60 a year held at the church then. It’s now tapered off to a more manageable 15-20 annually. � CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MCC-DC 45TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER/DANCE Saturday, May 21 National Press Club 529 14th St., N.W. 6:30-10:30 p.m. $70 Sunday worship 474 Ridge St., N.W. 9 and 11 a.m. mccdc.com

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M US I C

M A Y 20, 2016 • 33

ROYAL SWEDISH BALLET Johannes Öhman, Artistic Director

Mats Ek’s

CYNDI LAUPER goes country on her new album ‘Detours.’

Lauper covers vintage country classics on new album By CHRIS GERARD As a proud child of the MTV generation, if you had told me back when “She Bop” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” were ruling the airwaves that this lady with the wild orange hair and chirpy voice would some day record a country album, I’d have thought you’d overdosed on pop rocks. But over a long and impressive career that stretches well beyond just those early pop hits, Cyndi Lauper has explored a wide musical range and on “Detours,” she plants her colorful flag firmly in stylistic territory that seems a world away from the songs for which she’s best known. Her first country album, “Detours” is clearly a labor of love for the singer, who has said in interviews that she grew up listening to country divas like Wanda Jackson, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. She also makes the connection with early country to the blues and R&B melting pot that ultimately led to rock and roll. Lauper and producer Tony Brown (who’s worked with a veritable Hall of Fame roster of country legends) decide to go for a very crisp and polished sound throughout the album, hurling these decades-old songs into the present. Recorded in Nashville (of course), Lauper and Brown bring in a mix of younger players and veterans of the genre and take on a dozen covers, most of which will be very familiar (well — to those of us past a certain age). Lauper’s voice is as versatile and strong as always, and suits the mixture of upbeat barnburners and torch-song ballads that she’s chosen. She opens with a jaunty take on Wanda Jackson’s classic 1961 single “Funnel of Love,” which Lauper uses from the very beginning to illustrate the kinship between classic country and melodic pop. “Detours” keeps the upbeat tone going, a swing number made popular in 1945 by

Jimmy Walker. Lauper’s take, with harmony vocals by Emmylou Harris, is endearing. There are no shortage of classic country ballads to choose from, and Lauper picked some great ones for “Detours.” Her expressive voice shines on “Misty Blue,” a versatile standard that’s been a hit at various times for artists in pop, R&B and country. Lauper’s take on Skeeter Davis’ classic country waltz “The End of the World” is reverent and heartfelt, showing — as she does throughout the album — her respect for this material. Willie Nelson duets with Lauper on another country slow-dance, “Night Life,” a bluesy gem that he wrote and originally recorded 56 years ago. Marty Robbins’ old-west 1963 ballad “Begging to You” sounds like it was written for Lauper, who steers her voice directly into the country idiom with genuine feeling and authenticity. She sounds as much at home singing alongside sweet ﬁddles as she did 30 years ago surrounded by spritely synthesizers. The two Patsy Cline numbers, “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces,” seem almost too-obvious of choices, but Lauper handles the venerable material with grace and ease, delivering lovely vocals over crisp and breezy accompaniments. Less successful is Lauper’s collaboration with Jewel, “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” Listening to Jewel’s yodeling is like someone jamming a screwdriver in your ears while chugging curdled milk. Not pleasant, but the gods invented the “Are you sure you want to delete this?” prompt for occasions just such as this. Press yes. She makes up for the album’s one blight with the beautifully solemn ﬁnalé “A Hard Candy Christmas.” Lauper harmonizes with the great Alison Krauss on the iconic holiday gem from “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and creates a recording destined to make holiday playlists many years into the future. “Detours” is not a novelty album or a cynical marketing ploy. It’s charming and nostalgic, but with a fresh vibe that will hopefully bring these decades-old songs to a new round of listeners.

Juliet and Romeo Choreography by Mats Ek Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, adapted and arranged by Anders Högstedt Scenography and costume design by Magdalena Åberg Lighting design by Linus Fellbom

“Fluid and thrilling… danced with passion and panache” — The Telegraph

FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY!

June 1–4 | Opera House with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra FREE Explore the Arts Post-Performance Discussion with Mats Ek Thursday, June 2 Support for Ballet at the Kennedy Center is generously provided by Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG (202) 467-4600 Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400.

Mariko Kida as Juliet and Anthony Lomuljo as Romeo, photo by Gert Weigelt

PHOTO BY CHAPMAN BAEHLER

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UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

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COMMANDER CODY BAND W/ MIKE MARLIN

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AN EVENING WITH CHAISE

LOUNGE PHOTO COURTESY OF MOSAIC THEATRE IMAGE COURTESY OF ARTINSIGHTS GALLERY

Mosaic presents trans-themed play THEHAMILTONDC.COM

Mosaic Theater Company presents the opening night of “When January Feels Like Summer” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) on Sunday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. The romantic comedy, written by Liberian-American playwright Cori Thomas, tells the story of a man, Indira, who transitions into a woman, Ishan. Shravan Amin stars as Indira/Ishan. Serge Seiden directs. Production runs through June 12. Tickets range from $40-60. For more information, visit mosaictheater.org.

Trans Pride Saturday; Black Pride next weekend Capital Trans Pride and D.C. Black Pride both hold celebrations in the coming days. Capital Trans Pride is at the Reeves Municipal building (2000 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be panel discussions and workshops on topics such as “Being a Supportive and Successful Trans Ally,” “Resume Testing for Employment Discrimination,” “Name and Gender Change” and more. There will also be live performing arts and visual arts. Lunch is provided. There will be a happy hour at Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) from 4-7 p.m. Free tickets will be available at the door. Ticket includes food and one complimentary drink ticket. For more information on Capital Trans Pride, visit capitalpride.org/events/capital-trans-pride. D.C. Black Pride will have workshops, gay parties and lesbian parties May 2730 at locations throughout D.C. Events include a HIV/AIDS Town Hall Luncheon on Friday, May 27 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., LGBTQ speed-dating from 8:30-10:30 p.m. and a Writer’s Forum from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. These events will take place at the Hyatt Regency Washington (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.). Wet Dreamz Reloaded and the Dream will host gay dance parties all weekend long. Dem Boyz from Social Life Entertainment and the A-List Boyz will host the oﬃcial D.C. Black Pride After Hours party at 12 Stop Lounge (4707 Raleigh Rd., Temple Hills, Md.) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from 3-7 a.m. Onyx Entertainment, A 2 Zee Events and MIMSOL Entertainment will host Unleashed D.C., a lesbian party weekend, throughout the District. Unleashed D.C. kicks oﬀ with its Welcome D.C. rooftop happy hour at Dirty Bar (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 7 p.m.-midnight. Adotnet and DJ Stackz will spin. Admission is free before 8 p.m. and $7 after. For a complete list of events and parties, visit dcblackpride.org.

Drag art from Tennessee Drag performer and contemporary artist Tennessee Loveless will make an appearance at his portrait collection display “The Art Outsiders” at ArtInsights Gallery (11921 Freedom Dr., Reston, Va.) on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 from 2-4 p.m. each day. Loveless created portraits of people considered outsiders in their ﬁelds of work spanning science, music, art, writing, fashion and more. Subjects include Vincent van Gogh, Divine, Coco Chanel, Andy Warhol and Judy Garland. The collection, with pieces available for purchase, will be on display as more portraits are added and as sales allow. For more details, visit artoutsiders.net.

‘Rubber Meets the Road’ D.C. Leather Pride celebrates the addition of its Mid-Atlantic Rubber Committee with “Rubber Meets the Road,” a party at the D.C Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.), on Friday, May 20 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. The party, co-hosted with the Spartan MC, will be for the leather and rubber community. Jell-o shooters will be served. There will be raﬄe drawings throughout the evening. The Mid-Atlantic Rubber Committee (formerly the Mid-Atlantic Rubber Collective) are now under the D.C. Leather Pride umbrella. Matt Hawk has been added as a board member to Leather Pride in April. Several leather and rubber events are planned for Pride in June. For more information, visit facebook. com/midatlanticrubbercollective.

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LIVE

MA Y 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 • 3 5

LOVE

LAUGH

LEARN

CAPITALTRANSPRIDE A Free, Family-friendly Day of Networking, Education and Celebration

SATURDAY, MAY 21 10:00AM TO 4:00PM Reeves Center Municipal Building 2000 14th ST NW at U ST WORKSHOP AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS INCLUDE: •BEING A SUPPORTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL TRANS ALLY •RESUME TESTING FOR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: DC Office of Human Rights •PREP 101: YOUR GUIDE TO HIV PREVENTION: Whitman-Walker Health •SEX ON OUR OWN TERMS: Sexual Liberation for Trans/Genderqueer Bodies with PFLAG •KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: TRANS & QUEER YOUTH POWER: SMYAL •GENDERQUEER 101 PANEL DISCUSSION •NAME & GENDER CHANGE, INSURANCE, & IMMIGRATION: Whitman-Walker Legal LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE JOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR 4PM TO 7PM STUDIO THEATRE 1501 14TH ST NW AT P ST PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

Casa Ruby, Alternative Health Associates, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C., La Clinica Del Pueblo-Empoderate Center, SMYAL

SILVER SPONSORS

Booz Allen Hamilton DC Center HIV Working Group · Nova Transyouth

For more information visit the website at www.capitaltranspride.org, or contact TransPride@CapitalPride.org

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

36 • M A Y 20, 2015

F I LM

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES

AGYNESS DEYN as Chris Guthrie in ‘Sunset Song.’

our e try ony Com matrim mix n a frozegarita— ignature r s a r nd m n ou e angria aita! e w t be zen s argar fro inal m orig

Director Davies ﬁnds inspiration in strong women characters By BRIAN T. CARNEY

At Guapo’s, It’s All About Family! Stop by and visit our Express Location! Dine in or pick up to go. And enjoy our great margaritas just like at all our locations! We also cater! 411 N. Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg MD 20878 240-912-9031

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Openly gay British filmmaker Terence Davies describes his latest film “Sunset Song” as, “an intimate epic about the nature of love and forgiveness.” It opens Friday, May 20 at Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema. Based on the beloved 1932 novel by the Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon and adapted by Davies himself, the movie follows the joys and sorrows (mostly sorrows) of Chris Guthrie (Agyness Deyn), the daughter of a Scottish farmer in the early 1900s who feels an almost mystical connection to the land. Davies has been interested in the material since he saw a television adaptation of the novel on BBC Scotland. “In 1971,” he says, “when I was still a teenager, the BBC did a dramatization of the novel and I waited for every single episode to come out. You couldn’t record things in those days. After that I read the books. It’s one of those great stories you never forget.” At the time, Davies never planned to do his own adaptation of the book. In fact, he admits he became a filmmaker “by accident,” when after many rejections, the BFI Production Board offered him a

chance to direct what would become the first part of an eponymous trilogy. His love of movies was developed at a young age. His sisters — he’s the youngest of 10 — started taking him to the movies when he was 7. His first film was “Singin’ In The Rain,” which is still his favorite movie. He was also enraptured by “all the lovely musicals with Doris Day: ‘Young at Heart,’ ‘The Pajama Game’ and ‘Love Me or Leave Me.’ I think the American musical was one of the greatest cultural gifts to the world.” The young Davies was also drawn to the great melodramas of the 1940s and 1950s — films like “All That Heaven Allows,” “Magnificent Obsession” and “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing.” He credits their vibrant color schemes as informing his own “instinctive” visual style, despite the harsh circumstances that surround Chris Guthrie in “Sunset Song.” Davies says he’s drawn to material where women are central characters. In his next film, “A Quiet Passion,” Davies explores the life of Emily Dickinson. The movie, which will be released in the fall, stars Cynthia Nixon as the reclusive American poet. But what Davies really wants to do is direct a musical and he has his eyes on Stephen Sondheim’s spectacular “Follies.” Davies even met with the composer to discuss the project, but was told the rights were not available. “I think it’s a great score,” Davies says. “What a genius he is. It was a joy to meet him.”

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A D V I CE

M A Y 20, 2016 • 37

Use discovery as springboard to discussion

MICHAEL RADKOWSKY, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with gay individuals and couples in D.C. He can be found online at personalgrowthzone.com. All identifying information has been changed for reasons of conﬁdentiality. Have a question? Send it to Michael@personalgrowthzone.com.

MICHAEL, I found a box of BDSM toys that my husband Bob had hidden in the back of his closet. I haven’t said anything to him and don’t know what to do. I wasn’t suspicious or snooping. I was just putting together a Goodwill donation. We’re a stereotypical picket fence couple, together for 16 years, two kids. We’re very active in their school and our neighborhood association. I thought we had a nice, vanilla sex life. Suddenly I feel like I don’t know who Bob is. How could he be so different from the guy I thought I knew? If he’s really turned on by BDSM, we’re on totally different planets. This stuff just seems really weird to me and unsettling. I’m not even sure what you do with some of the things I found, and others seem like they must be painful. What does this say about his interest in the sex we’re having? And who is he using this stuff with? I thought we were monogamous. I don’t know how to bring this up with him. I’m afraid of what I’ll hear from him, and I’m afraid he’ll be angry with me for snooping. But I can’t ignore this. I can’t stop thinking about it. MICHAEL REPLIES: If Bob is keeping a box of BDSM toys hidden in a closet of the house he shares with his husband and two children, he has to expect that someone is going to find it at some point. And that they’re going to have questions. Be grateful that you found it before the kids did (I hope), and consider that box of toys a huge invitation to break the ice. Right now it seems like the two of you would prefer to see and be seen by

each other just as nice guys. Neither of you wants to risk going out of the vanilla zone, with Bob keeping silent about his preferred style of sexuality and you being too wimpy to bring up what you know. This has kept your marriage feeling “safe,” because the two of you are holding each other and important issues at arm’s length. You might think that it’s only Bob who is hiding messy things from you, but you are in a similar position. You don’t want to talk about messy things with him, either. It makes sense that you’re both scared to acknowledge the non-picket fence stuff. There’s always the risk of being rejected when we open up to someone else about things they might not like, and might rather not know, hear or talk about. Who is eager to be vulnerable in that way? But doing so also allows for the possibility of a more genuine relationship, and in your situation, a more genuine sex life. If you don’t tell Bob what you found, you’re putting more distance between the two of you, and putting yourself in the same boat as Bob: Having a secret that you’re unwilling to reveal. If you do decide to speak with him, first do some work to shift your mindset. The more judgmental you are, the more likely Bob is to feel your disdain and shut down. Did you ever have any idea that Bob wanted more? If so, how did you decide to put aside that knowledge and shut down any exploration in that direction? Have you been satisfied with your sex life? If not, what’s been stopping you from talking about this with Bob? Do you want to expand sex beyond vanilla even if it’s not in the direction of BDSM? Do you know where your own negative views of BDSM come from? Sharing your thinking about these questions with Bob may invite him to open up to you. Some questions you could ask Bob: Has he ever considered telling you about his interest in BDSM? How did he decide not to? Does he have any interest in broadening the parameters of the sex he has with you? If not, what’s making him say no? I wonder what other important topics don’t get talked about between you and Bob and how you each make your choices about what is off limits. Beyond sex, there’s a great opportunity here for the two of you to talk about secret keeping, how much either of you is willing to be seen and known by your husband and the price you are paying for your silence.

Wednesday, May 25 & Friday, May 27 Mercuric Tidings / Polaris / Esplanade**

Thursday, May 26 & Saturday, May 28 Arden Court** / Beloved Renegade / Promethean Fire** Free Explore the Arts Post-Performance Discussion on Wednesday, May 25 **Live music

May 25–28 Eisenhower Theater TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG (202) 467-4600 Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400.

Parisa Khobdeh, Michael Trusnovec and Company in Polaris. Photo by Paul B. Goode

with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

38 • MAY 20, 2016

A RT S & CU LT U RE

HOT HITSFROM&CULTURECAPITAL.COM HIDDEN JEWELS

Paul Taylor Dance Company May 25-May 28. The Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. kennedy-center.org.

The world-renowned choreographer returns with his company for two programs featuring six masterworks from his six-decade career, including Esplanade, Arden Court, Promethean Fire, and more.

District Merchants May 31-Jul 3. Folger Theatre. 202-544-7077. folger.edu.

A variation on William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Set among the Black and Jewish populations of an imagined time and place—simultaneously Shakespearean, post-Civil War Washington, DC, and today—District Merchants is a remarkable tale of money, merchandise, and mercy brought to the stage by Aaron Posner.

Malpaso Dance Company May 21-May 22. Dance Place. 202-269-1600. danceplace.org.

Based in Havana, Cuba, Malpaso Dance Company brings Cuban contemporary dance into the 21st Century by collaborating with top international choreographers and nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. This concert features DC premieres by Artistic Director Osnel Delgado, as well as Why You Follow by Ronald K. Brown and Bad Winter by Trey McIntyre.

EnterState: Sensing the Natural World May 21-Jul 9. Washington Project for the Arts. 202-234-7103. wpadc.org.

The artists in EnterState: Sensing the Natural World explore connectivity, biology, nature, and ecology. Their varied practices emerge from a place of curiosity, experimentation, and whimsy, asking us to enter into a place of wonder in order to sense, touch, and hear the natural world more intimately. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY CENTER

Buy Discount Tickets

THEATRE Ireland 100: All That Fall (Pan Pan Theatre). Thru May 21. The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly (Theatre Lovett). May 20-May 22. Tiny Plays for Ireland and America (Fishamble: The New Play Company). May 24-May 25. Olwen Fouéré’s riverrun. May 25-May 26. Shear Madness. Ongoing. The Kennedy Center. 800-444-1324. kennedy-center.org. Bakersﬁeld Mist. Thru Jun 12. Olney Theatre. 301-924-3400. olneytheatre.org. The Object Lesson. May 20-Jun 5. Hedda Gabler. Thru Jun 19. Studio Theatre. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org. The Welders: Transmission by Gwydion Suilebhan. Thru May 28. Atlas. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org. The Body Of An American. Thru May 22. Theater J. 202-518-9400. theaterj.org. Titanic: The Musical. Thru May 21. Theatre Lab. 202-824-0449. theatrelab.org. The Taming of the Shrew. Thru Jun 26. Shakespeare Theatre Company. Sidney Harman Hall. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org. An American Daughter. Thru May 28. Keegan Theatre. 202-265-3767. keegantheatre.com. One Destiny. Thru May 20. Ford’s Theatre. 202-347-4833. fords.org. Happy Hour. Thru Jun 5. Goethe-Institut at Spooky Action Theater. 202-847-4700. goethe.de. Catch Me: A Magic Duel. Thru Dec 17. Thin Air Productions. Mayﬂower Hotel. catchmeshow.com.

DANCE Out of Time by Colin Dunne. May 20May 21. Untitled Duet by Jean Butler & Neil Martin. May 26-May 27. The Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. kennedy-center.org. Nootana: Looking Glass. May 21. Joe’s Movement Emporium. 301-699-1819. joesmovement.org. Eames Armstrong: Spell. May 20. Torpedo Factory. 703-838-4565. torpedofactory.org.

MUSIC Nate Foley. May 20. Kimberly Kong. Thru May 25. MCYO of Strathmore’s Platinum Celebration. May 25. Strathmore. 301-581-5100. strathmore.org. The Eric Felten Septet. May 20. The Dustbowl Revival. May 26. AMP. 301-581-5100. ampbystrathmore.com. NSO Pops: Boyz II Men. May 20-May 21. WNO: Ring Cycle: Siegfried. Thru May 20. Twilight of the Gods. Thru May 22. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists in Concert. May 21. Camerata Ireland. May 21. Camille O’Sullivan. May 22. Tara Erraught and Anthony Kearns.

May 23. Kennedy Center. 800-444-1324. kennedy-center.org. Jenny Scheinman’s Kannapolis: A Moving Portrait. May 22. National Gallery of Art. 202-737-4215. nga.gov. Simone Dinnerstein, piano. May 22. WPA at Strathmore. 202-785-9727. washingtonperformingarts.org. Shenson Chamber Music Concert: Francis Poulenc: The Story of Babar. May 25. National Museum of Women in the Arts. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org. 10,000 Maniacs. May 20. BlackRock. 240-912-1058. blackrockcenter.org. Rhythm Café: Helen Sung Trio. May 21. Smithsonian Anacostia Museum. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. May 21. Schlesinger Concert Hall. 703-642-8051. schlesingercenter.com. Emerson String Quartet. May 22. Smithsonian Associates. Baird Auditorium. 202-633-3030. smithsonianassociates.org.

MUSEUMS Folger Shakespeare Library. America’s Shakespeare. Thru Jul 24. folger.edu. National Archives. Amending America. Thru Sep 4. 202-357-5000. archivesfoundation.org. National Gallery of Art. American Prints from the National Gallery of Art. Thru Jul 24. In Celebration of Paul Mellon. Thru Sep 18. 202-737-4215. nga.gov. National Museum of Women in the Arts. She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World. Thru Jul 31. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org. Smithsonian Anacostia Museum. Twelve Years That Shook And Shaped Washington: 1963-1975. Thru Oct 23. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. National Portrait Gallery. Eye Pop: The Celebrity Gaze. Thru Jul 10. 202-6338300. npg.si.edu.

GALLERIES Strathmore. Atmosphere Mixed Media Work by Shelley Lee Marie. Thru Jun 4. Kaleidoscopes: 200 Years. Thru Jun 4. 301-581-5100. strathmore.org. The Art League Gallery. Nancy McIntyre. Thru Jun 5. 703-683-1780. theartleague.org. Foundry Gallery. Kathryn Wiley. Thru May 29. 202-232-0203. foundrygallery.org. Glen Echo Park. Carol Trawick’s Private Collection. Thru Jun 12. 301-634-2222. glenechopark.org. Arts Club of Washington. Sandra Gobar. Thru May 28. 202-331-7282. artsclubofwashington.org. District Architecture Center. Hybrid Realities. Thru Jul 30. 202-347-9403. aiadac.com. Target Gallery. Lisa Kellner. Thru May 29. 703-838-4565. torpedofactory.org.

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

40 • M A Y 20, 2015

AUTOS

JAGUAR XF-S

Go Beetle basic or drown in Jag luxury By JOE PHILLIPS There are metrosexuals — hot! And then there’s the Metro, which is not. At least not lately, thanks to unreliable service and crowds of cranky straphangers. It’s no wonder a majority of us still motor to work. For gay and lesbian commuters, here are three rides worth the drive. DUNE BEETLE $20,000 Mpg: 25 city/34 highway 0-to-60 mph: 7.4 seconds It’s the’60s all over again. At least it feels that way in the Dune Beetle, a cross between a cool-cat dune buggy and the iconic Baja Bug. It’s wider than the standard model, with special wheels, raised suspension, large rear spoiler and metallic gold paint — a far-out color that carries over into the interior. Ride and handling also are groovy, with plenty of grit in the engine’s performance and plenty of grip in the tires and brakes. Yet there’s no manual transmission, a real bummer. Hop into the bolstered driver’s seat and check out the hip, user-friendly dash with two gloveboxes and a primo telematics system that enables Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink. Six trim levels mean lots of fab features, including premium Fender stereo, ambient interior lighting and a tilt and slide sunroof. Overall, this ﬂower-power fastback helps VW distance itself from that dieselscandal downer. Another plus: a droptop arrives later this year. NISSAN LEAF $32,000 Range: 126 city/101 highway 0-to-60 mph: 10.2 seconds While

the

Beetle

was

counterculture symbol of the ‘60s, the Nissan Leaf plays a similar role in today’s world of traditional gas engines. Electric cars, hybrids and the like make up just three percent of U.S. vehicle sales, but the Leaf remains a top contender in this “alt-fuel” niche. This year it gets a bigger battery pack and almost 30 percent more range (except for the base model, which remains at 84 miles). That extra distance helps to override range anxiety, where drivers worry they will run out of power before the car can be recharged. And like the Beetle, this compact is nimble and fairly peppy, though the only drag racing it will win is the high-heel race on 17th Street. Inside, the Leaf feels roomier than it looks, is super quiet and comes with various options: heated seats, mirrors and steering wheel, as well as a 360-degree parking camera. True greenies can even opt for a solar panel on the rear spoiler. JAGUAR XF S $63,000 Mpg: 15 city/23 highway 0-to-60 mph: 5.2 seconds Looking for something twice as nice and twice as fast as a Nissan Leaf? There’s the updated Jaguar XF S, which is also twice the price and then some. Yet it’s easy to see how this chariot of ﬁre would top any driver’s bucket list. There’s the stately Jag silhouette, a self-leveling suspension for better traction, and sculpted seats with massage function (yes, it’s like having your own personal masseuse). Cabin materials are ﬁrst-rate, as are all the high-end options, such as heated windshield, four-zone climate control and 17-speaker surround-sound stereo. Yet it’s curious that certain safety gear isn’t here: automatic braking, lanedeparture warning and head-up display. Still, it’s hard to resist being swathed in so much luxury, and harder still with a supercharged V8 that helps channel your inner Danica Patrick or Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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S P O RTI N ’ I N D. C.

M A Y 20, 2016 • 41

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITTINGTON

JESSICA WHITTINGTON showing oﬀ her yoga prowess.

New LGBT yoga group to meet on Saturdays By KEVIN MAJOROS Are you looking to increase your flexibility? Ever wondered what you would look like with a yoga booty? LGBT-based Stonewall Sports is launching a new offering this month with a nod to its original concept of something new, in a comfortable space, with a sense of community. Stonewall Yoga will be its first attempt at a non-competitive league with registration for the first season running now through Wednesday, May 25. The yoga league is the brainchild of Craig Cassey, who found he was leaning on yoga to heal his body and relieve stress after sustaining an injury while training for track & field. “I have been a practitioner since 2012 in D.C. and was meeting a lot of LGBTQ yogis,” Cassey says. “They were all existing in their own space and there wasn’t a lot of overlap.” The model for the first season will be 12 sessions from June 3-Aug. 27 with a new yogi showcasing his or her talents each week. The yogis will be a diverse representation of the community and will range from queer men, people of color, transgender and women. The group will meet on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. at Town Danceboutique and all skill levels are welcome. The methods will vary weekly and will include vinyasa flow, jivamukti, yin and rocket yoga. The league will follow the Stonewall model of donating all proceeds to a local charity selected by members. Yoga practices will be given to members to use at home and each session will be followed by a social on the Town patio. “When someone pitches an idea, we want to support them, because Stonewall Sports is about building community,” says Stonewall Board Member Melvin Thomas. “It’s time for us to get a little uncomfortable and try something new.” Both Cassey and Thomas say the

structure is very intentional and thought out as to what their goals are for the audience — building connections for people with common interests. “What I have been surprised by so far is how open the D.C. yoga community has been to this offering,” Thomas says. “The best instructors in the area have already stepped up to offer their talents.” One of those talents is Eric Schwarz, who won D.C.’s Best Yoga Instructor 2016 in Washington City Paper. Schwarz was working for the federal government and experiencing “micro aggressions” for being gay, so he left that work behind to teach yoga full-time. “Being comfortable is a tremendous confidence builder,” Schwarz says. “The intersection of the yoga community and the LGBT community has become a huge narrative for my life.” In the U.S., most yoga enthusiasts are white women. This group hopes to exemplify diversity. “Yoga is a completely subjective expression in a communal space. Everyone’s pose is going to be different and that’s the point,” Schwarz says. “The difference in individuals is part of the process and it lends to the experience.” The diversity of instructors is further represented by yogi Jessica Whittington, a trans woman. She points to the venture as a safe space that speaks to the community at large. “The trans community is used to a certain amount of animosity and we can sense when a situation is not welcoming,” Whittington says. “It is important to practice yoga in a space where you won’t be judged.” Yoga is known to stimulate certain parts of the sensory motor cortex and scientific research has indicated that the stimulation leads to increased absorption of hormones. There are findings that this can lead to better results from hormone replacement therapy medications. “Yoga really helped me keep things stabilized during the critical time of my transition,” Whittington says. “I am looking forward to the opportunity of practicing within my own community.”

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

42 • MAY 20, 2016

CA LE N D A R

E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade. com two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so priority is given to LGBT-speciﬁc events or those with LGBT participants. Recurring events must be re-submitted each time.

TODAY Gay District meets at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 8:309:30 p.m. The facilitated group discussion covers building understanding of gay culture and personal identity and awareness of community events for LGBT men between the ages of 18 and 35 in the D.C. area. For more details, visit thedccenter.org or gaydistrict.org. A LGB support group meets today from 10-11:30 a.m. at 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Gaithersburg, Md., for individuals in Montgomery County. The group will discuss coming out of marriage, homophobia, parenting issues, ﬁnding intimate relationships, LGB resources in the suburbs and more. For more information, visit thedccenter.org. Washington Blade hosts its 10th annual Rehoboth Summer Kickoﬀ Party at the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) tonight from 5-7 p.m. Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, Speaker of the Delaware House, will appear at the event and address the crowd. There is a suggested $10 donation for the Washington Blade Foundation. Guests will receive a drink wristband and entry into a drawing for special prizes. For more details, visit facebook.com/ WashingtonBlade. Number Nine (1435 P St., N.W.) hosts a happy hour today from 5-9 p.m. All drinks are half price. Admission is free. For more information, visit numberninedc.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 21 Muslims for Progressive Values and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation presents “Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love” at Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. The play explores the experiences of people juggling their queer identity and their Islamic faith. Following the performance, there will be a panel discussion and Q&A with the audience moderated by Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz. Panelists include Ani Zonneveld, Wazina Zondon and Terna Hamida Jahnjeh TilleyGyado. General admission tickets are $25 and student tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, visit ComingOutDC.EventBrite.com. “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons 2016 Extravaganza Tour” stops by 9:30 Club (815 V St, N.W.) for a sold-out performance tonight at 8 p.m. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fan favorites such as Adore Delano, Alaska Thunderfuck, Courtney Act, Phi Phi O’Hara and more will perform. Michelle Visage hosts the night and Pearl will spin a DJ set. For more information, visit rupaulbots.com/#tour.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY CENTER

ERAN BUGGE and MICHAEL TRUSNOVEC of the Paul Taylor Dance Company perform ‘Esplanade.’

EyeCandy Promotional Models, a men’s modeling company for young men, hosts its launch party at Sugar (2121 K St. N.W.) today at 4 p.m. Come meet the promotional models and possibly hire them for an event. DJ MoMoney plays tracks. There will be hors d’oeuvres, dessert and giveaways. For more details, visit facebook.com/EyeCandyMenDC. Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance (AGLA) hosts a brunch at Freddie’s Beach Bar (555 23rd St., Arlington, Va.) today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be a breakfast buffet with made-to-order omelets and Belgian waffles. Coffee, soda and juice will also be available. Cost is $9.99 for the buffet. Anyone is welcome and guests do not have to be members of AGLA to attend. For more details, visit agla.org. Whitman-Walker Health holds free and confidential HIV testing during Capital Trans Pride at the Reeves Municipal Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) today from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information visit Whitman-walker.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 22 Perry’s (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts its weekly Sunday Drag Brunch today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95 for an all-you-can-eat buffet. For more details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com. Nellies Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts a drag brunch today with shows at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Brunch buffet is $26 and the first mimosa or Bloody Mary is free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nelliesdragbrunch. eventbrite.com.

Wherethegirlsgo hosts OverEasy Tea Dance, a queer daytime dance party, is at Dodge City (917 U St., N.W.) today from 3-8 p.m. DJ Vanniety Kills, Deejay India and Kwasi will spin. For details, visit facebook.com/wherethegirlsgo.

SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts a transgender and non-binary support group today from 5-7 p.m. For more details, visit smyal.org.

MONDAY, MAY 23

The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, call 301-345-1571. The Kennedy Center (2700 F St N.W) presents two programs featuring six works by the Paul Taylor Dance Company tonight at 7:30 p.m. Works performed will include “Esplanade,” “Arden Court, “Promethean Fire” and more by choreographer Paul Taylor. The performance runs through Saturday, May 28. Tickets range from $39-79. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.

The 32nd annual Helen Hayes Awards is at Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony honors professional theater achievements in the Washington area. Tickets range from $150-$275. Doors open at 6 p.m. After the awards ceremony, there will be a dance party at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.). For more details, visit theatrewashington.org. The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W..) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org. Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave., N.W.) holds a support group for gay black men to discuss topics that affect them, share perspectives and have meaningful conversations. For details, visit uhupil.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 24 Genderqueer D.C. holds a discussion group at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St. N.W.) at 7 p.m. tonight. The group is for anyone who identiﬁes outside of the gender binary as bigender, agender, genderﬂuid or any label outside of cisgender. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

THURSDAY, MAY 26 Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) holds a happy hour today from 5-7:30 p.m. All drinks are half price. There will be pool, video gaming systems and cards. Admission is $5 after 9 p.m. DJ Bling, DJ Freaky and DJ Tim-Nice will play music for the night. For more information, visit bachelorsmill.com. SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts Fight 4 Yr Rights Activist Night today from 5-7 p.m. The group will discuss historical activism and help youth organize for an issue that’s important to them. For more details, visit smyal.org.

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

44 • MAY 20, 2016

A RT S & E N T E RT A I N ME N T

‘AbFab,’ Streep among summer ﬁlm highlights CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

Festival will return in October. As part of its year-round film programming, the Washington Jewish Film Festival (wjff.org) will present “Those People,” (June 21) a moving story about love and art on Manhattan’s glitzy Upper East Side. From June 22-26, AFI Docs (afi.com/ afidocs), the American Film Institute’s magnificent annual celebration of the documentary, will bring 94 new documentaries to the region. Under the direction of openly gay director Michael Lumpkin, AFI screeners selected these films from hundreds of submissions to highlight the amazing range of techniques and topics in contemporary documentary filmmaking. The opening night gala will feature “Zero Days” by Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney. After provocative documentaries about Enron, WikiLeaks, Steve Jobs and Scientology, Gibney’s latest film exposes the dangerous new world of cyber warfare. The closing night gala features “Norman Lear: Just

Take Metrobus and Metrorail to the...

Another Version of You,” a portrait of the man who changed television history with shows like “All in the Family” and “Maude,” and who changed the national political dialogue by founding People for the American Way. Both galas will be held at the Newseum. On Friday, June 24, the AFI Guggenheim Symposium will honor legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog. The symposium will include clips from Herzog’s documentaries, a panel discussion and the East Coast premiere of Herzog’s latest film, “Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World.” On Saturday, June 24, AFI Docs offers a screening of “Check It” by Toby Oppenheimer and local filmmaker Dana Flor. The film profiles a fascinating group of LGBT D.C. youth who form a gang to protect themselves against violent attacks. They then decide to turn their efforts in a more positive direction, trying to break the brutal cycles of violence, poverty and prostitution by forming their own clothing label. AFI Docs will screen at the AFI Silver in downtown Silver Spring, the Landmark

E Street Cinema in downtown D.C. and other venues throughout the area. In addition to serving as a venue for AFI Docs, AFI Silver (afi.com/silver) has a slate of innovative programming this summer. AFI shows both the latest independent releases along with lovingly curated celebrations of Hollywood and international cinema. Its summer programming kicks off with the inaugural “Washington, D.C. Fantastic Film Festival,” a showcase of the best (and worst) of genre cinema. Highlights include “Batman: the Movie,” the campy precursor to today’s superhero blockbusters, and “Trekoff: the Movie,” a cinematic version of the raunchy podcast that bills itself as “the funniest, dirtiest ‘Star Trek’ podcast you’ve ever heard.” Other AFI summer programming includes “The Festival of New Spanish Cinema” (June 16-19), celebrations of distinguished actor Gregory Peck and radical screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, the “Best Of” showcase from D.C.’s remarkable 48 Hour Film Project (May 26), and the return of the beloved “Internet Cat Video Festival” from June 25-26.

HBO and Logo will also present new documentaries to mark Gay Pride month. On Monday, June 13, Logo will air “Out of Iraq,” which chronicles the love story between an Iraqi soldier and an Iraqi translator, both working with the U.S. military, that unfolds in a war-torn country where homosexuality is banned. HBO will air “Suited,” a fascinating movie about a London bespoke tailor who specializes in creating fashions that fit the specific needs of the gender non-conforming clients, and “Mariela Castro’s March” about the fight for LGBT rights in Cuba. Finally, the ultimate summer date movie is slated to open on Aug. 26. “Southside with You” recounts the first date between two young Chicago lawyers named Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) and Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter). The worldchanging daylong event included a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, a screening of Spike Lee’s controversial “Do The Right Thing,” and their first kiss outside an ice cream parlor. “Southside with You” should be the perfect transition from the heat of D.C. summer to the heated passions of the fall election season.

EVENTS DC PRESENTS:

DCJAZZFESTATTHEYARDS 3rd & Water Street SE on the Capitol Riverfront Music til 10 PM Visit Ticketmaster.com Enjoy an outdoor festival experience featuring Grammy-award winning performers, food/beverage vendors and a marketplace friday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM – FREE

JUNE

GRRLS RULE! Cissa Paz, Introducing Sharel Cassity & Elektra, and Akua Allrich & The Tribe

saturday 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Ticketed

JUNE

Cécile McLorin Salvant, The Chuck Brown Band, Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet, DCJAZZPRIX FINALISTS: New Century Jazz Quintet, Mark G Meadows and The Movement, Cowboys and Frenchmen.

sunday 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Ticketed

JUNE

For artists and complete schedule, visit DCJAZZFEST.ORG The DC Jazz Festival®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization, is sponsored in part with major grants from the Government of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, Mayor; and, in part, by major grants from from the National Endowment for the Arts and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; and by the City Fund, administered by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. ©2016 DC Jazz Festival. All rights reserved.

Kamasi Washington, Igmar Thomas & The Revive Big Band w/Bilal, Talib Kweli, and Ravi Coltrane, Fred Foss Tribute to NEA Jazz Master Jackie McLean, Introducing E.J. Strickland & Transient Beings

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Stonewall Kickball held its championship game at Stead Park on Sunday, May 15. Resting Pitch Face beat out Kick Tease 5-3 for the win.

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REALESTATE

Investing in your future Research implications of buying rental property By VALERIE M. BLAKE I didn’t start out wanting to be a landlord. In fact, my real estate investment portfolio began with a house in Detroit that I purchased in 1979 and was unable to sell during the ensuing 20 years because of a depressed market. Since then, I have owned condominiums, houses, apartment complexes and land. I have flipped and flopped, learned and earned and morphed into a combination of Tim the Tool Man and Julia Sugarbaker. In the early to mid-2000s, when D.C. housing prices were rising as much as 5 percent per month, the focus on a home as personal sanctuary and place of selfexpression changed to a new one: a home as a way to make a quick buck. Buyers were more enthusiastic about how quickly they could build equity than the home’s qualities and functionality. Investors sought out homes to renovate and flip quickly (and at times not particularly well, as many people found out too late).

Now when a buyer begins the search for his first home, while the subject of its value as an investment may come up and the desire for the ubiquitous English basement rental unit is still strong, it’s no longer the overriding theme of the discussion. Still, once you’ve been bitten by the homeowner bug, it may be wise to consider what impact other investments in real estate may have on your overall financial plan. Consider the parents who purchased a small condo for their son to live in while attending Georgetown law school. Several years later their daughter resided in it while attending medical school there as well. At the conclusion of their education, the parents sold the property and used the equity to pay off years of student loans, allowing their offspring to begin prominent careers debt-free. Another example is the couple that bought an investment property in their preferred retirement location. After 15 years of having their mortgage paid by various tenants, they were able to retire early and, with a reverse mortgage, live well without making mortgage payments while on a fixed income. So how does a novice real estate

investor establish a rental portfolio? First, turn off HGTV and forget everything you’ve heard there about house flipping. Second, ignore the late-night infomercials about buying homes with no money down. Third, consult with a financial planner to establish your short and long-term goals and with a mortgage lender to determine your purchasing power. Buying investment property is nearly always more expensive than buying a personal residence. Several conventional financing options, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Veteran’s Administration (VA) allow for down payments as low as 0-5 percent on a personal residence, whereas an investor loan could require 25-30 percent down. Because of the greater risk involved, you will find that interest rates will likely be higher for investor loans as well, so it may be more beneficial to purchase a new residence first and plan to lease out the property you currently own, with your mortgage professional weighing in on how to best accomplish this. If you love where you live, however, and have the money to invest elsewhere, work with your real estate agent to find a suitable property to buy where the

rent will cover or exceed your monthly payment. Seek your agent’s guidance concerning a basic business license, the Tenant’s Bill of Rights, the Tenant’s Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), rental restrictions within a condominium or cooperative, and other requirements for becoming a landlord in D.C. If your goals include a rentable vacation or future retirement home, visit the area several times to ensure it fits your lifestyle before making a commitment. Obtain a referral from your real estate agent here to one in the new area who will be able to advise you on the ease of renting, local housing regulations and property management. Finally, and equally important, discuss IRS implications of owning investment property with your income tax professional to be sure you are getting maximum benefits and not committing any tax code violations. After all, I don’t want to be making out my rent checks to #8560781 c/o The Big House. Valerie M. Blake can be reached at 202-2468602 or at Valerie@DCHomeQuest.com. Each Keller Williams Realty office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Judy Garland on Having a Doorman: “The moment I saw him smile I knew he was just my style.” VALERIE M. BLAKE, Associate Broker, GRI Discover Park Van Ness, an inspired address for your lifestyle. Overlooking the lush expanse of Rock Creek National Park, these vibrant new apartments are stylish outside and in. 26 inclusionary zoning units available One and two bedrooms Read more: dchousingsearch.org

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Just Listed! 4620 N. 23Rd stReet. Lee HeiGHts Exceptionally spacious and nicely expanded split sited on a fabulous level lot just a few blocks from the wonderful Lee Heights shops and cafe’s. This expanded floor plan offers 2,914 base square feet, a two level addition, 4 finished levels, 5 BR’S, 3 full BA’S, 2 FP’S, an island kitchen w/adjoining breakfast room opening to deck, master with ensuite bath and sitting room, elegant living and dining rooms, a family room plus a billiard sized rec room, mud room, carport and large storage room or potential home gym/office. WOW!

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403 pRINcESS STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314

2181 JAmIESON AVENUE UNIT 2111 ALEXANDRIA VA 22314

Drop dead gorgeous Chatham Square Jefferson Model with custom office builtins. Hardwoods on main level, beautifully maintained, great kitchen with living and dining area. Upper 2 level features bedroom, bathroom, open area and outdoor terrace. 2 car garage parking in OLD TOWN!!!

Exquisite 3 bedroom/3.5 bathroom Penthouse in the west building of the luxurious Carlyle Towers. Chef’s kitchen with beautiful custom cherry cabinets and upscale appliances. Gorgeous cherry flooring where not carpeted or tiled. Office alcove off living room. Lovely paint scheme and moldings. 2 sunroom balconies, 2 excellent parking spaces and 2 storage units. All of the fabulous amenities of the Carlyle Towers come with this delightful unit. Situated between 2 metros and close to public transportation, restaurants, shopping and all that Old Town Alexandria has to offer!

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Extraordinary renovation/transformation of this unique home. Over $400,000 in structural and designer renovations on two levels. All new Italian made Pendini kitchen with custom teak cabinetry -Top-ofthe-line Miele microwave, oven, built-in espresso maker, dishwasher as well as a Subzero refrigerator. All new master bath with top-of-the-line German made fixtures. Custom 100 year old reclaimed Indonesian teak bed and headboard. The list goes on and on.

Gorgeous courtyard side 2 bedroom two bath Condo at the revitalized Henry Condominium. New Stranded Bamboo flooring throughout (except baths). New light fixtures. Fresh paint. Custom Closets. New Stackable LG Washer and Dryer. 2 convenient garage parking spaces. Restaurants and metro almost at your door. Owner/Agent.

$930,000

$285,000

$640,000

Spacious 1334 sf 2BR/2BA condo at the Plaza. Unit is in close proximity to pool, tennis courts, its own huge parking space and large storage bin. Master bedroom features a large walk-in closet, en-suite bath, and has its own balcony. The second good sized bedroom has a large closet as well with the bath just across the hall. Public transportation, hospital, shopping and restaurants nearby.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to own this much desired home in the Petworth area. This spacious home includes sunroom off kitchen and third bedroom, wood floors throughout main level, Six panel doors, double hung windows, recessed lighting throughout, 42~ kitchen cabinet with a center island, stainless steel appliances, open floor layout great for entertaining. Parking pad in rear for 6 cars!

BRIAN S HONG 703.929.5764 Brian.Hong@LNF.com OLD TOWN HISTORIC 400 KING STREET ALEXANDRIA VA 22314 703.683.0400

$1,200,000

$585,000

JERY D BEAMER 703.929.5763 Jery.Beamer@LNF.com GEORGETOWN SALES 1680 WISCONSIN AVENUE NW WASHINGTON DC 20007 202.944.8400

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Custom landscape design Patios, walkways, pool decks Outdoor fireplaces and kitchens Planting and water features Landscape lighting and irrigation

DEADLINES

SUMMER IN REHOBOTH? GET YOUR SHARE LINED UP! SHARE ADS ARE FREE. Place your housing to share ad online at washingtonblade.com and the ad prints free in the paper and online.*

All Classified Ads - Including Regular & Adult Must Be Received By Mondays at 5PM So They Can Be Included in That Week’s Edition of Washington Blade and washingtonblade.com

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EMPLOYMENT SALES POSITIONS for the Washington Blade the Nation’s Premier LGBT weekly publication in Washington DC. We are seeking dynamic individuals to join our advertising sales team. If you are a motivated, organized individual who can work with minimal supervision to recruit and develop new business contacts, achieve sales goals and meet deadlines. You should contact us. This is a sales position not an account management position. We are looking for self starting producers who know how to provide excellent customer service in order to develop long term relationships with their accounts. You can expect a casual work environment and a great deal of freedom to bring your creative solutions and ideas to your role. Experience is preferred but is not required. Email: lbrown@washblade.com.

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DEADLINES

All Classified Ads - Including Regular & Adult Must Be Received By Mondays at 5PM washingtonblade.com

MASSAGE / CERTIFIED ROSSLYN. Certified massage therapist available in Arlington Sun-Tues. DC apps available Wed, Fri, Sat. Call or text Gary at 301704-1158 or visit http:// www.mymassagebygary. com/. Thank you. BEST MASSAGE by male certified therapist. Soothing Swedish; deeptissue; stress & pain release. Safe Atmosphere in Annandale, VA, almost right off I-395. Days/Eve/ Wkend. In/Out calls. Hotels welcome. Call Marval (703) 568-6348.

START FRESH MASSAGE - deep tissue massage will help you feel like a new person! Stretching, Swedish & Sports massage. Athletes, swimmers, cyclists & runners. Dupont. $10 OFF 90 mins. Marcio (202) 271-9440.

IN MEMORIAM RALPH D. BLACK, aka “Alaska”, died 5/4/16 while recuperating at the Nursing Home. Please join us at his Memorial Service, Sat, May 21, 10:30 AM at John T. Rhines Funeral Home, 3005 12 St NE. Washington, DC 20017.

BODY & SOUL GET YOUR MIND IN SHAPE & your body will follow. Stop smoking? Weight loss? Addictions? Fears & phobias. Changing your behavior can be difficult. Hypnosis changes your behavior at a subconscious level. Call American Wellness Institute for a free consultation 202-544-5688.

SHARE ADS ARE FREE

LGBTQ AFFIRMING THERAPY at Dupont Circle Individuals, couples, families, adolescents. Over 15 years serving the community. Mike Giordano, LICSW. 202/460-6384 mike.giordano.msw@gmail.com. www.WhatIHearYouSaying.com. COUNSELING FOR GAY MEN. Individual/couple counseling w/ volunteer peer counselor. Gay Men’s Counseling Community since 1973. 202-580-8861. gaymenscounseling. org. No fees, donation requested. LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy Downtown Silver Spring. Group, couples & individual. Warm, supportive & interactive. Blue Cross PPO/Out-of-Network/Sliding Fee Scale. Jonathan Lebolt, PhD, DCSW, CGP, Therapy@Doctor-Jon.com, www. Doctor-Jon.com, 240-507-7696.

EMPLOYMENT RELAX, REGENERATE, REJUVENATE The 3 Rs to Health. Experienced Certified Massage Therapist helps you w/ the 3 Rs: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Reiki, Energetics. Call Bruce (202) 491-8306. MT 0697.

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Opening Soon! RPM Italian seeks AM/PM baristas, bartenders, bussers, cooks, dishwashers, hosts, runners & servers. Weekend avail req. Bartenders: exp req. Benefits. 202-427-9293 to schedule interview or stop by M-F 12 noon – 5 PM, 601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC (hiring office entrance on K Street). EOE. E-Verify. www.rpmitalian.com. LOCKER ROOM ATTENDANTS NEEDED! The Crew Club, a gay men’s naturist gym & sauna, is now hiring Locker Room Attendants. We all scrub toilets & do heavy cleaning. You must be physically able to handle the work & have a great attitude doing it. No drunks/druggies need apply. Please call Richard at (202) 319-1333. from 9-5pm, to schedule an interview.

LEGAL SERVICES ADOPTION & ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE Law Attorney Jennifer Fairfax represents clients in DC, MD & VA. interested in adoption or ART matters. 301-221-9651, JFairfax@ jenniferfairfax.com.

Place your housing to share ad online at washingtonblade.com and the ad prints free in the paper and online.* *25 words or less prints free - anything more is $1/word.

FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM Representing the GLBT community for over 35 years. Family adoptions, estate planning, immigration, employment. (301) 891-2200. Silber, Perlman, Sigman & Tilev, P.A. www. SP-Law. com.

LIMOUSINES / DRIVERS KASPER’S LIVERY SERVICE BMW 2016 750XI Luxury Sedan Service; Hourly, Point to Point & Special Airport Transfer Rates! Gay & Veteran Owned! http://www.KasperLivery.com Phone 202-554-2471.

PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE O’TOOLE PHOTOGRAPHY Fine Art Photographer for Portraits & Weddings. Check out my new website - www. steveotoolephotography. com. Specializing in Bears & Big men. Steve 703-861-4422.

CLEANING TOO NEAT GUYS INC. Residential & Commercial cleaning in DC & Northern VA. Over 20 years experience, gay owned, licensed, bonded & insured. Email: tooneat@ comcast.net, (703) 622-5983. FERNANDO’S CLEANING: Residential & Commercial Cleaning, Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates, Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/Move-Out. (202) 234-7050, 202-486-6183. MAID TO CLEAN Gay owned, awesome, trustworthy & reliable! Serving the DC/VA area. Mention this ad for $50 off. Maidtoclean.com. (703) 299-0101.

HOME IMPROVEMENT DECORATIVE COATINGS REFINISHING Co. Don’t Replace it, Renew it. Bathtubs. Shower Enclosures. Vanities. Countertops. Ceramic tile. Wall & Shower tile Grouting. www.decorative-coatings. com. Call (571) 235-1682.

MOVERS OUR GUYS AROUND TOWN MOVERS. Professional Moving & Storage. Let ‘Our Guys’ Do The Heavy Lifting. Mention the ‘Blade’ for 10% off of our regular rates. Call today 202.734.3080. www. ourguysatmovers.com.

PAINTERS FINESSE INTERIOR/ EXTERIOR PAINTING. Chalkboard & Dry Erase paint. Wood Staining. Plaster Repairs. Pressure Cleaning. Free Estimates. Elmer 240-462-3760.

TREE SERVICE BRANCHES TREE EXPERT Company. Full service certified arborists, pruning, insect & disease diagnosis, treatment & removal. 301-589-6181. www.BranchesTreeExperts.com. Angie’s List Award Winner ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ’12.

SHARE / DC Un-Furnished Room for Rent - $750/mth. H St/Capitol Hill/ Galluadet. Large, bright BR with big closet. Available 5/3. See & reply to my ad online. ROOM FOR RENT $580 / month + utilities + 1 month deposit. Looking for quiet, clean, male roommate to share bath, kitchen. 1400 F St NE. Call 202-397-7132.

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MORTGAGES VA VIRGINIA HOME LOANS Conventional, V.A., FHA, or USDA. Purchase or refinance, 24 years exp. Jeff Smith, NMLS#420824 Mortgage Lenders of America, (913) 7174533, jsmith@mloausa.com.

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WOMEN’S PERSONALS

3426 16th St, NW, 1 BR condo, Building with roof deck, parking first come, first served. Rent $1600/month + Util. 202-294-1782.

GWF, SOFT BUTCH, attractive, blue eyes, brown hair. I walk three miles every day. I like movies, music, playing cards, tv & pizza. ISO GWF attractive, feminine, for friendship & a long term relationship. If you are interested, call Debbie 703-368-3618.

SALE / WV

TRANS PERSONALS

RENT / DC

PLACE YOUR FREE AD ONLINE WASHINGTONBLADE.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

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SWEDISH/DEEP TISSUE/SENSUAL

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BODYWORK FEEL THE TOUCH

5’ 9”, 170 lbs, Offering full body relaxing, release on my professional table, in a private atmosphere. In/out. Parking Available, hotels welcome, DC/MD/VA, 24/7. Call Lucas, 240-4628669, email: fromlucas@yahoo.com. MASSAGE SILVER SPRING est 2004. Where some of the nicest guys in town come for one of the best massages in around...sensuous erotic. Days/Evenings $70/one hour.. parking/metro pick-up. Joe 301-580 -2716.

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOM BODYWORK! Deep tissue & sensual bodywork for total stress relief in private studio on the Hill or in my new Dupont location. Call Erik 202-544-5688. No texts. In calls only. Intro Special $99.00. EROTIC SWEDISH MASSAGE - healthy clean cut guy, 6’1”, 160 lbs, Dupont Circle, massage table, noon to 1:00 a.m., indulge your body. $70 for 1 hour. Bill 202-728-0238. No text messages.

NEW HOT WHITE GUY In Town Hot guy in town visiting. Great massage & great time. In/Out, parking available. 5”8, Black, Blue, 145 & Hung. For more info visit, http:// rentmen.com/VisitingNick or call 202-577-6949. Good sane normal educated guy here. Text preferred.

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