Washington Blade - September 11, 2015 by RP MEDIA ARCHIVE

SEPTEMBER

2015

VOLUME 46

ISSUE 37

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AMERICA’S GAY NEWS SOURCE

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U . S . C O N F E R E N C E O N A I D S I N D . C . T H I S W E E K E N D , PA G E 4 INSIDE: PROFILES OF D.C.’S AIDS HEROES

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Largest U.S. AIDS conference convenes in D.C. Activists, service providers join policymakers in panels, workshops

deputy director of the AIDS Institute, a national HIV advocacy group, was scheduled to speak on a panel about how Ryan White Care Act programs continue to be needed for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs in cities throughout the nation. According to the conference website, the

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com More than 1,000 people involved in efforts to fight the AIDS epidemic, including leaders of community-based organizations and government officials, are convening in Washington from Sept. 10-13 for the 19th Annual United States Conference on AIDS. A wide range of events associated with the conference, including exhibits, panel sessions and workshops, are scheduled to take place at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Washington and the nearby Walter Washington Convention Center. The conference is organized by the D.C.-based National Minority AIDS Council, or NMAC. “USCA is the largest AIDS-related gathering in the U.S., bringing together thousands of workers from all fronts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic – from case managers and physicians, to public health workers and advocates, and people living with HIV/AIDS to policymakers,” according to a statement released by the chair of the conference’s D.C. Host Committee, Leo Rennie. Rennie said that among other things, the objectives of the annual conference are “to build national support networks, exchange the latest information, and learn cutting-edge tools to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS.” U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and National Institutes of Health official Dr. Anthony Fauci are among a number of congressional and federal government officials scheduled to address various conference sessions. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was scheduled to welcome conference participants at an opening reception sponsored by the Host Committee at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Walter Washington Convention Center. Dr. Laura Cheever, administrator of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s HIV/AIDS Bureau, was to lead a panel on the future of the Ryan White Care Act. Three former directors of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy – Sandy Thurman, Dr. Grant Colfax, and Jeff Crowley – are scheduled to present a “behind the scenes” perspective on federal AIDS policy-making and “what it’s going to take to end the HIV epidemic.” A conference session on the future of HIV prevention in the U.S., including efforts to curtail HIV transmission among men who have sex with men, is to be

registration fee for attending conference sessions is $815 for the general public and $560 for federal government employees. The site says people 25 years old or less are eligible for a 50 percent discount on the registration fee. For more information on the conference, visit 2015usca.org.

U.S. House Minority Leader NANCY PELOSI (D-Calif.) is scheduled to address the U.S. Conference on AIDS. WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

led by Dr. Eugene McCray, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Speakers at other sessions include Timothy Ray Brown, known as the “Berlin Patient” who says HIV has been eﬀectively eliminated from his body through eﬀective drug treatment; Dr. Jeremy Sugarman, an internationally known expert on biomedical ethics; and Peter Staley, a longtime AIDS and gay rights advocate involved with ACT UP New York and later one of the founders of the Treatment Action Group (TAG). “USAC asked Peter to talk about the history of HIV activism to ensure we never forget our past,” a write-up accompanying the conference’s online agenda says. “More importantly, we’ve asked him to put activism into context that is relevant today. What happened to the urgency of our movement and how can we get it back?” Michael Kharfen, Senior Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Administration at the D.C. Department of Health, was scheduled to speak on a panel on how the Obama administration’s National HIV/ AIDS Strategy is impacting D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Shawn Jain, director of communication, and Justin Goforth, director of community relations, for D.C.’s Whitman-Walker Health, were scheduled to speak on panels addressing local communitybased HIV/AIDS programs. Carl Schmid,

The Swell in Rehoboth is popular with local lesbian and gay residents. PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Fire damages Rehoboth gay bar REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — The Swell Tiki Bar and Grill, located on Rehoboth Avenue Extended, suffered fire, smoke and water damage following a fire in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, just before the start of the Labor Day weekend, traditionally one of the busiest of the year in Rehoboth Beach. Located at the entrance of Rehoboth Beach, near where Route One intersects Rehoboth Avenue, the Swell, on the site where Big Sissies used to be, had gained a following among the lesbian crowd but served as well as the Tuesday evening gathering place for many local gay men. The fire, which was confined to the roof, attic and ceiling of the newest LGBT establishment in Rehoboth Beach, was caused by an electrical problem and occurred after it closed its doors for the evening. There were no injuries. According to Helen Fausnaught, owner of the establishment, the State Fire Marshal felt that past track lighting under the insulation and connecting old and new wiring in the past had caused the blaze. The building was constructed in 1978 and the part of the building where The Swell is located has had several incarnations, including operating as two establishments with separate air and heating units and entrances. Although initial estimates were that damage was about $75,000, Fausnaught indicated that because they were preparing for a busy weekend and stored their food in the attic, that number may be low. Fausnaught is hopeful she can get the establishment, which opened on May 11, to reopen within about a month. Fausnaught and others felt that after a slow start the business was becoming more popular and losing a holiday weekend and beyond would be a big blow to its growth. PETER SCHOTT

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The Human Rights Campaign, which contributed more than $166,000 in support of the 2014 campaign, faced criticism for not supporting the pro-Ordinance 5781 eﬀort. “I am really impressed to see our community come together after the divisive 119 ﬁght and pass ordinance 5781,” said Kyle Smith, chair of For Fayetteville, a group that backed the ordinance, in a statement.

New Orleans hosts Southern Decadence NEW ORLEANS — More than 100,000 people turned out for Southern Decadence that takes place every Labor Day weekend in New Orleans. Roughly 100 events took place across the Crescent City to mark the 44th annual event that began in 1972. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the French Quarter on Sept. 6 for the annual Southern Decadence parade. The Associated Press reported the parade included the flag that was flying at the U.S. Supreme Court when the justices announced their ruling in the Obergefell case that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples in Louisiana and across the country. Several of the marchers mocked Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). One man carried a sign in support of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that noted his support of LGBT-specific issues. LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Louisiana Equality Foundation and PFLAG New Orleans Scholarship Fund were named beneficiaries of this year’s event. Rip Naquin, an organizer of this year’s Southern Decadence who was also grand marshal, told the Associated Press that the event raised roughly $30,000 for the three organizations. This year’s Southern Decadence took place less than a week after the 10th anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, which flooded up to 80 percent of the city after levees failed.

Kerry: U.S. ‘working towards’ AIDS-free generation ‘I’m a traditionalist,’ CAITLYN JENNER told Ellen DeGeneres in a discussion about marriage rights. PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC MEDIA VILLAGE

Jenner: Marriage views have ‘changed’ LOS ANGELES — Caitlyn Jenner this week during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” said she once opposed marriage rights for same-sex couples. “I’m a traditionalist,” said Jenner during the interview that aired on Sept. 8 during the talk show’s season premiere. “I kind of like tradition, and it’s always been a man and a woman.” Jenner told DeGeneres that her position on the issue has evolved. “Like a lot of people on this issue, I have really changed my thinking here to, ‘I don’t ever want to stand in front of anybody’s happiness,’” said Jenner. “If that word — marriage — is really, really that important to you, I can go with it.” DeGeneres during an interview with “The Howard Stern Show” on Sirius XM said Jenner “still has a judgment about gay marriage.” “We want the same thing as everybody,” said DeGeneres. Jenner in April came out as trans during an interview with Diane Sawyer that aired on ABC. The former Olympian, who is a Republican, this summer appeared in “I Am Cait,” a reality show on E! that documents her life as a trans woman. The program’s season ﬁnale will air on the network on Sunday.

Arkansas city again approves LGBT ordinance FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Voters in the Arkansas city of Fayetteville on Sept. 8 approved a proposed ordinance that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the local anti-discrimination ordinance. KFSM reported the Uniform Civil Rights Protection Ordinance 5781 passed by a 53-47 percent margin. The Fayetteville City Council last August approved a similar ordinance by a 6-2 vote margin. Voters less than four months later repealed it. Michelle Duggar of “19 Kids and Counting,” a now-cancelled reality show that aired on TLC, recorded a robo call that urged Fayetteville voters to vote against the ordinance.

Secretary of State John Kerry last week during a diplomatic reception at the State Department reiterated the Obama administration’s call for an “AIDS free generation.” “That’s our dream,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been working towards. And unlike some dreams people grow up with or take on in the course of public life, which really just get dashed against the bureaucratic resistance or the indifference of people in various places, this is one where we have really been able to make a difference.” U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Deborah Birx, who oversees the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and gay U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James “Wally” Brewster were among the officials and diplomats who attended the reception that took place in the Treaty Room. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was also in attendance. The reception took place just before the U.S. Conference on AIDS will convene in D.C. on Sept. 10. Kerry during his remarks noted PEPFAR is now providing antiretroviral treatment to 7.7 million men, women and children. He did not specifically mention the epidemic’s continued impact on men who have sex with men, transgender people and other LGBT-specific populations that remain particularly vulnerable to the epidemic. Kerry during his remarks noted that women and girls account for nearly 60 percent of the people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. “We absolutely can achieve this dream of an AIDS-free generation,” said Kerry. “We can and we will defeat this horrible disease.” “I can remember when talking about HIV/AIDS was talking about a death sentence,” he added. “And all of you remember that too. And I remember a lot of friends of mine who kept talking to me about how many funerals they were going to. How different life was in this country.” PEPFAR money funds a number of initiatives around the world that seek to combat the epidemic among LGBT-specific populations. These include the dissemination of information on HIV testing, condom use and other safer-sex practices to men who have sex with men in Central America through the Pan-American Social Marketing Organization. A second PEPFAR-funded program that uses social media to disseminate HIVprevention information reached an estimated 92 percent of gay and bisexual Ghanaian men in 2012. The Center for Integrated Training and Research, an HIV/AIDS service organization based in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, also receives PEPFAR funding. Uganda receives nearly $300 million each year through PEPFAR to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African country. The U.S. last year did not renew a program with the Ugandan Ministry of Health that helps fund Kampala’s response to the virus in response to the Anti-Homosexuality Act that President Yoweri Museveni signed into law. MICHAEL K. LAVERS

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Will Kim Davis inspire Congress to act? Pending bill may allow clerk to continue discrimination By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com Two seemingly unrelated events took place this week that may have overlapping consequences: Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was released from jail after being found in contempt of court for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and Congress gaveled back into session after its August recess. The high-profile nature of the Davis case, which has attracted nationwide attention, raises questions about whether legislative action will follow that would make actions the Kentucky clerk’s permissible under the law. At a rally for Davis on Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee called for further action to protect those who oppose same-sex marriage — although he didn’t specify legislation as the next step. “All of us need to ask: Who’s next? Your pastor? The head of a school? Who’s next?” Huckabee said. “My question as we leave today: Will you be ready to take the stand even at expense to yourself to stand firm for your convictions for the Constitution and for your faith, and will not waiver, nor fall?” Davis had fewer words during the rally, standing with her arms raised and joining hands with Huckabee and her attorney Mat Staver as she thanked supporters. “I just want to give God the glory. His people have rallied and you are a strong people,” she said. Same-sex couples began marrying in Rowan County by way of deputy clerks after Davis was taken into custody by U.S. marshals. Although Davis’ lawyers say the couples’ marriage licenses are void, state law and U.S. District Judge David Bunning — who found Davis in contempt of court — say the licenses are valid because they were issued by a deputy. One possible way Congress could show solidarity with Davis is by passing religious freedom legislation known as the First Amendment Defense Act. On its face, the bill — introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) and in the Senate by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) — would prohibit the federal government from taking action against opponents of same-sex marriage, who are defined broadly in the bill to include non-profit and for-profit organizations. Critics say the measure would enable anti-LGBT discrimination, such as by allowing employers to deny Family & Medical Leave Act care to same-sex couples or by permitting a federal

Former Gov. MIKE HUCKABEE (R-Ark.) and, third from left, clerk KIM DAVIS after her release from prison this week. PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

employee to refuse to file tax and Social Security forms for them. In the aftermath of the Davis situation, Lee’s office is pushing back on the notion the First Amendment Defense Act would enable the clerk to continue withholding marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Conn Carroll, a Lee spokesperson, told the Washington Blade the legislation wouldn’t impact Davis’s situation. “If FADA were law it would not impact Kim Davis in any way,” Carroll said. “This bill would not protect her.” It’s understandable why Lee, who has made passage of the First Amendment Defense Act a personal goal, might say the legislation would have no impact on Davis. After all, a Rasmussen poll conducted while Davis was in jail found just 26 percent of likely voters think an elected official should be able to a ignore a federal court ruling for religious reasons. The poll also found 66 percent of voters think the official should comply with the law as the federal court has interpreted it. But LGBT advocates aren’t so sure Davis’s attorneys wouldn’t at least try to make the case the clerk could continue discriminating against same-sex couples if the First Amendment Defense Act became law. Stephen Peters, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, said the broad language in the measure may enable Davis to claim an exemption to discriminate. “While Sen. Lee may now argue that his sloppily drafted bill would not apply to Kim Davis if it were law, there is no doubt her anti-LGBT lawyers at the Liberty Counsel would use it to bring a claim in federal court,” Peters said. “The plain language of the bill says that

the federal government can’t take ‘any discriminatory action’ based on marriage beliefs and defines ‘discriminatory action’ to be anything that would ‘otherwise discriminate against such person,’ which could be construed incredibly broadly. The federal government should respect everyone’s marriage and not open the door to discrimination against LGBT couples and their families.” Ian Thompson, legislative representative for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the assertion the First Amendment Defense Act wouldn’t apply to Davis is only partially correct. “That is true only in so far as FADA is limited to the federal government,” Thompson said. “At the same time, similar Kim Davis-like examples could play out across the federal government if FADA were ever to become law. FADA would permit federal employees to refuse to (among many other areas) process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks for all married same-sex couples.” Asked to respond to claims the First Amendment Defense Act would impact Davis, Carroll replied, “Her lawyers argued a lot of untrue things. I find it odd that supposed LGBT activists are so willing to lend her arguments credence.” Regardless of whether or not the legislation would directly affect Davis, the Republican-controlled Congress may see fit to move forward with the measure. Neither House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) nor Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would rule out the possibility of votes on the legislation following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality nationwide. Carroll said Lee has pushed the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on

the First Amendment Defense Act “before Kim Davis and he is still pushing for that same hearing.” Other observers said movement on the legislation at this time in Congress would either be unlikely or unwise given the potentially volatile nature of discussion on the bill. Thompson pointed to the media frenzy that erupted in Indiana after Gov. Mike Pence signed into law a religious freedom bill as a reason for Congress to shelve the bill. “I think this situation has shown that a majority of the American public believes strongly that government officials like Kim Davis are not free to impose their religious beliefs onto those they have a duty to serve, denying individuals their constitutional rights in the process,” Thompson said. “The so-called ‘First Amendment Defense Act’ would open the door to unprecedented, taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples. Republican leadership smartly acted to shelve this bill prior to the August recess. To resurrect it now would demonstrate a complete tone-deafness to what unfolded earlier this year in Indiana.” In a piece for Slate, Mark Joseph Stern writes the nature of Davis’s discrimination against same-sex couples may actually serve to derail religious freedom legislation. “In that sense, Davis has done the gay rights movement a huge favor,” Stern writes. “Previously, religious exemption advocates could use weeping, wholesome bakers as mascots for their cause, deflecting questions about animus and bigotry. But Davis lays bare the prejudiced, discriminatory beliefs that fuel the ‘religious liberty’ fire. She is the monster conservatives created. And they will not be able to disown her as easily as they would like.” If Congress doesn’t act, it’s possible religious freedom measures may move at the state level. The majority of religious freedom bills introduced in state legislatures this year failed to become law, but two of the measures that made it to the finish line were crafted directly to help clerks like Davis. In Utah, the state passed legislation that would enable a clerk to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but the “opt out” requires clerks not to facilitate any marriages and someone must be present in their offices to perform the duty. In North Carolina, the state legislature passed over Gov. Pat McCrory’s veto a bill that would enable officials to decline to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, although invoking the “opt out” would prohibit a clerk from facilitating any marriage for a six-month period. Unlike in Utah, the North Carolina measure was opposed by LGBT advocates.

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Anticipation grows ahead of pope’s U.S. visit Vatican has yet to respond to meeting request from LGBT Catholics By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com Anticipation over Pope Francis’ trip to the United States later this month continues to grow among LGBT Catholic groups, despite the Vatican’s opposition to homosexuality and marriage rights for same-sex couples. Frank DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based group that ministers to LGBT Catholics, told the Washington Blade that members of his group are “very excited” by Francis’ visit. “Nobody is dreading this papal visit as they did other ones where they just knew it was going to be bad,” said DeBernardo. “Nobody’s dreading it that way. People are optimistic that Francis is going to say some good things.” Francis is scheduled to travel from Cuba to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sept. 22. The Argentine-born pontiff is scheduled to meet with President Obama at the White House, address Congress, canonize Junipero Serra during a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast D.C. and meet with U.S. bishops in the nation’s capital. Francis is also expected to visit St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington before traveling to New York on Sept. 24. Francis on Sept. 25 is scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly, attend an interfaith religious service at the 9/11 Memorial Museum and hold Mass at Madison Square Garden. The pontiff on Sept. 26 is expected to travel to Philadelphia, which is hosting the World Meeting of Families. Francis is scheduled to meet with organizers of the triennial event, hold two Masses, visit Independence Hall and a local jail before returning to Rome on Sept. 27. Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of Dignity USA, a group for LGBT Catholics, noted to the Blade that Francis’ trip to the U.S. will take place roughly three months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry throughout the country. “It’s an incredibly interesting time for the pope to be coming to the U.S.,” said Duddy-Burke, referring to implementation of the Obergefell decision. “The country is still figuring out how to react to national same-sex marriage...he will have to address LGBT family issues in some way while he’s here.”

POPE FRANCIS is scheduled to arrive in D.C. on Sept. 22. PHOTO BY JEON HAN; COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Duddy-Burke in July wrote a letter in which she, GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis and more than two-dozen other groups urged Francis to meet with LGBT Catholics while in the U.S. The Cuban Foundation for LGBTI Rights, an independent advocacy group on the Communist island, has also asked the pontiﬀ to highlight LGBT-speciﬁc issues while in the country. “Many LGBT people and family members have experienced a resurgence of hope for full acceptance in our church as a result of your words and reports of personal meetings with LGBT people,” reads Duddy-Burke’s letter onto which the Latino GLBT History Project and other groups signed. “We see your visit to the U.S. as an opportunity for you to hear from us how central our faith is to our lives, and to work together towards creating a church where all families know that we are truly loved and welcomed.” The Vatican has yet to respond to the request. “We are still waiting to hear about a response,” Duddy-Burke told the Blade. DeBernardo conceded the excitement surrounding Francis’ visit to the U.S. is “tempered a bit by a wish that he” would speak with LGBT Catholics and their families at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. “You have to encounter people where they really are,” DeBernardo told the Blade.

LGBT Catholics welcome moderate tone New Ways Ministry and other LGBT Catholic groups have welcomed the Vatican’s more moderate tone toward homosexuality and marriage rights for same-sex couples since he became pope in 2013. The Argentine-born pontiﬀ in the

summer of 2013 told reporters that gay men and lesbians should not be judged or marginalized. Francis later told an Italian Jesuit magazine the church has grown “obsessed” with nuptials for gays and lesbians, abortion and contraception. Francis — the former archbishop of Buenos Aires who was then known as Jorge Bergoglio — during his pontiﬁcate has met with several LGBT people. These include a transgender man from Spain who told him in a letter that some of his fellow parishioners rejected him after undergoing sex-reassignment surgery. New Ways Ministry members in February received VIP seats at a general audience with Francis in St. Peter’s Square that coincided with Ash Wednesday. Simón Cazal, executive director of Somosgay, a Paraguayan LGBT advocacy group, in July was among the representatives of 1,600 civil society organizations who met with the pontiﬀ during his trip to the South American country. The Vatican has nevertheless maintained its opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples. Francis in January during his trip to the Philippines repeatedly suggested that same-sex marriage threatens the family, arguing “ideological colonization” seeks to “destroy” it. Catholic bishops next month will vote to ratify a document that, among other things, states there is “no basis whatsoever to assimilate or establish analogies, even remote, between homosexual unions and God’s plan for marriage and the family.” The Vatican earlier this month said that trans people are unable to become godparents. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia in August announced that New Ways Ministry could no longer hold a workshop at a local church that had been scheduled to take place on Sept. 26.

A Methodist congregation has agreed to host the event. “His ministry and his leadership is having a real impact on LGBT people and families,” Duddy-Burke told the Blade, referring to Francis. “He’s going to have to say once and for all that the church teaching that gay people are damaged or inclined to evil is wrong and needs to be reconsidered. It all comes down to that.” LGBT Federation of Argentina President Esteban Paulón, who is a vocal critic of Francis, on Tuesday described the pontiff’s trip to the U.S. and Cuba as “one of the most important geopolitical moments of the year.” The advocate nevertheless told the Blade in an email that he does not think Francis will champion LGBT-specific issues while in the two countries. “There will neither be substantive advances, nor the possibility that the pope will include the issue in his agenda,” said Paulón. Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, a gay Cuban blogger and advocate, was equally pessimistic. He noted in an op-ed that he wrote for Toque, a Dutch website, that Francis in 2010 described efforts to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples in Argentina as “the destructive affront to God’s plan.” Rodríguez, like Paulón, concluded it is unlikely that the pontiff will meet with LGBT rights advocates while in Cuba. “Since the beginning of his pontificate, Bergoglio has attracted attention for his innovative and progressive postures around diverse social and political issues of concern,” wrote Rodríguez. “But full recognition of sexual diversity and all types of families in a way that we as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people should have the same rights as heterosexual people still seems far away.”

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HHS seeks to bar anti-trans bias in health care Trans advocates hail planned changes as major breakthrough By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com The Obama administration made oﬃcial on Thursday that it interprets the gender non-discrimination provisions in the Aﬀordable Care Act to prohibit bias against transgender people in health care. In a 198-page proposed rule, the Department of Health & Human Services broadly seeks to advance health equity and reduce disparities in health care. Among the proposed changes spelled out in Section 1557 of the health care reform law is a prohibition on discrimination based on gender identity. Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a statement the proposed rule seeks to protect individuals “who have often been subject to discrimination in our health care system.” “This is another example of this

MARA KEISLING said the proposed HHS rule has ‘the potential to be life-saving for transgender people.’ WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

administration’s commitment to giving every American access to the health care they deserve,” she said. LGBT advocates hailed the proposed

change as a major breakthrough for transgender health and said it would require plans to cover medications, gender reassignment surgeries and other treatments for transgender people if these plans cover similar services to non-transgender people with other medical conditions. Mara Keisling, executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, said the proposed rule has “the potential to be life-saving for transgender people.” “These rules will help finally make the promise of the Affordable Care Act real for transgender people — that they can find affordable health insurance that covers the essential care they need and doesn’t exclude care simply because of who they are,” Keisling said. According to NCTE, the rule would apply to health insurance plans sold on state or federal health care exchanges, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare, the Indian Health Service and any health care provider accepting federal funds, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices that accept Medicare or Medicaid. Some private health insurance plans outside the Marketplaces may not be covered.

Julie Gonen, policy director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called the proposed rule a “major step” in ensuring transgender people have access to care. “The protections outlined in the proposed regulations would ensure that transgender people — including youth — who are routinely denied this care despite decades of clinical experience and medical literature demonstrating its medical necessity can get the healthcare they need to live full, authentic, and healthy lives,” Gonen said. HHS also announced in the proposed change it supports a prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation. Although the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has interpreted gender protections in civil rights law to bar workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, some courts have taken a diﬀerent view. The proposal requests comment on how a ﬁnal rule can incorporate the most protections against discrimination that would be supported by the courts on an ongoing basis. � CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Court finds trans Mexican immigrant eligible for relief in U.S. Decision creates precedent for those facing persecution By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled a transgender woman who fled Mexico to escape life-long persecution is eligible for relief under laws granting refuge for people who experience torture, establishing a precedent that could aid those fleeing violence based on gender identity in their home countries. A three-judge panel on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals determined Edin Avendano-Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant placed in holding in the process for removal back to Mexico, can obtain relief under Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture. U.S. Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, an Obama appointee, wrote the 20-page decision on behalf of the court. “The unique identities and vulnerabilities of transgender individuals must be considered in evaluating a transgender applicant’s asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT claim,” the decision says. After allegedly enduring harassment, rape and death threats growing up in rural Mexico for her lack of gender conformity, Avenando-Hernandez sought refuge in 2000 by unlawfully entering the United

States and living in Fresno, Calif., where she began taking female hormones and living as a woman. Struggling with alcohol abuse, Avendano-Hernandez was twice convicted of driving under the influence. In 2006, her second offense, which resulted in a collision that injured another person, led to a felony conviction, jail time and removal to Mexico. Back in Mexico, harassment and violence against Avendano-Hernandez continued. One evening, a group of four uniformed officers “beat her, forced her to perform oral sex and raped her,” according to the court decision. That experience prompted her to flee Mexico almost immediately. Attempting to cross the border with a group of migrants a few days later, Avendano-Hernandez’s troubles continued when they encountered Mexican military officers. “Though the leaders of the migrant group had asked Avendano-Hernandez to dress differently to avoid attracting attention at the border, she was still visibly transgender, as she wore her hair in a ponytail and had been taking female hormones for several years,” the decision says. “Calling her a ‘faggot,’ the officers separated Avendano-Hernandez from the rest of her group. One of the officers forced her to perform oral sex on him,

while the rest of the group watched and laughed. The officer then told her to ‘get out of his sight.’” After these trials, she returned to the United States and Fresno in 2008, but was arrested for violating the terms of her probation for the 2006 the felony charge. She was placed in holding and removal proceedings began. An immigration judge denied her application on the basis of withholding from removal and relief under Conventions Against Torture — a decision that was upheld by the Board of Immigrations Appeals. Although the Ninth Circuit upheld the decision to deny withholding from removal, the three-judge panel instructed the agency to grant relief under the Convention Against Torture. The Ninth Circuit determined the immigration judge and BIA was correct in determining Avendano-Hernandez is ineligible for withholding from removal. Her attorney contended her felony wasn’t serious, but it resulted in injury to another person. However, the appeals court determined the harassment and violence she endured constitutes torture, granting her relief under this portion of her claim. “We reject the government’s attempts to characterize these police and military officers as merely rogue or corrupt officials,” the decision says. “The record makes clear that both groups of officers

encountered, and then assaulted, Avendano-Hernandez while on the job and in uniform. Avendano-Hernandez was not required to show acquiescence by a higher level member of the Mexican government because ‘an applicant for CAT relief need not show that the entire foreign government would consent to or acquiesce in [her] torture.’ It is enough for her to show that she was subject to torture at the hands of local officials.” Although the immigration judge denied Avendano-Hernandez relief because of new laws in Mexico against discrimination based on sexual orientation, such the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Ninth Circuit determined these developments don’t affect transgender people, who reportedly experience high rates of harassment and violence in the country. According to Immigration Equality, the immigration judge handling Avendano-Hernandez’s case wrongly referred to her as a gay man instead of a transgender woman. Representing Avendano-Hernandez in her case were the Santa Ana, Calif.-based Public Law Center and the D.C.-based law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Transgender advocates hailed the decision for establishing precedent in the Ninth Circuit that would benefit individuals seeking refuge in the United States after they face discrimination overseas on the basis of gender identity.

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China TV addresses LGBT rights in ‘watershed’ program State-run outlet reportedly delayed broadcast By PW MARCHANT EDITOR’S NOTE: PW Marchant is a freelance reporter in China writing for the Blade.

In any authoritarian country, controlling the flow of information is always key to the survival of the regime. And in a month in which the news agenda in China should have been dominated by the twin disasters that were the deadly Tianjin industrial explosion and the stock market crash, its state media did everything possible to stymie any negative coverage of the events. Yet, amid all this, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) transmitted a half-hour discussion on LGBT rights in China — a topic, which even in quieter months would not have been shown on television since any discussion related to human rights is banned in the country. In a way then, the Aug. 23 edition of ‘Dialogue’ — a regular 30-minute singletopic current affairs show — on CCTV could be regarded as something of a watershed moment in Chinese broadcasting. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it’s worth pointing out that few could actually watch or would have bothered to watch that program here in China. For a start, ‘Dialogue’ is shown on the English-language channel CCTV News, which is unavailable through an aerial in domestic Chinese homes. Formerly known as CCTV English, it’s aimed at an international audience and is part of the Chinese government’s plan to promote its own viewpoint to counter those offered by the Western media. Here in China, it’s usually available only to those sitting in an international hotel room or are privy to an expensive cable subscription that also includes CNN and the BBC. And given the low level of trust in state media by Chinese viewers, even those who have access are unlikely to ever want to watch any of its output online — all unblocked behind the Great Firewall of China, of course. The silver lining here is that this lack of domestic audience does allow the channel to occasionally push the boundaries of censorship. In the case of ‘Dialogue’, one well-informed insider tells us the host, Yang Rui, “is always keen to push the boundaries as far as he can for the sake of his own credibility.” The transmission of the program, however, was initially cancelled then postponed by a few weeks. Billed as a discussion on “Attitudes towards LGBT rights,” this particular edition of ‘Dialogue’ had originally been recorded a month

XIAOGANG WEI appears on ‘Dialogue,’ a current aﬀairs program that airs on the state-run China Central Television. PHOTO COURTESY OF XIAOGANG WEI

earlier and, according to the guests on the show, its original transmission date was pulled from the schedules with a few days’ notice in late July, with producers citing ‘objection and unease’ from higher up in an internal email. Another source close to the program also revealed to the Washington Blade that the program host had initially lobbied hard for the topic in light of the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage, and later objected strongly to management for their decision before finally allowing the show to air in late August. Given the on-going drama behind the scene, international viewers might find the show itself to be rather tame, with human rights being fleetingly discussed at the start before the focus switched to love and respect for the LGBT community. But one of the guests, Xiaogang Wei, founder and director at Queen Comrades — which is China’s only non-profit LGBT webcast — told the Blade how the discussion progressed wasn’t hugely important overall. “It wasn’t a perfect show but it’s better than talking about coming out or how to be gay in Chinese society — the usual ways to talk about our community on Chinese television.” “It was great to use human rights language, to talk about what rights LGBTs want, discrimination…all very important content,” said Wei, who was also fascinated by the tussle to get the show to air. Fellow panelist and activist Adam Robbins, community editor at City Weekend Beijing magazine, was surprised to see human rights being mentioned at the start of the show. “Yang Rui asked the question about homosexuality being a human right in

China at the start in order to cover his own back. He’d probably had to fight to get his show on air because his bosses would’ve shot him down for talking about human rights.” But Robbins also thinks the way the host used love and respect was the most indirect way to tackle human rights without explicitly mentioning it. “Yes, the discussion veered off topic but Yang probably saw this as his way to tackle Chinese family life head on by comparing LGBT rights to what Chinese families experience everyday.” “He did that through everyday emotions such as love — which is a basic right of each individual. And often, people do change their views on certain issues once you speak to their hearts rather than talking about this or that kind of rights,” Robbins concluded. With the show now done, has a precedent been set for future discussions of similar topics on the domestic Chinese channels, with potential audiences of hundreds of millions? A former employee of CCTV News with intimate knowledge on the workings of editorials and decision-making and who prefers to remain anonymous is adamant about the future. “No. The department that controls the media (State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television or SAPPRFT) would never allow a discussion on human rights — in any form.” Chinese journalist and current affairs commentator Xu Qinduo agrees and finds no reason why anyone would push for more of these programs to air in China. “Television reaches almost every household in China. There’s nothing to gain and potentially a lot to lose.”

“One reason is that culturally, Chinese society remains very conservative. The majority of people view the purpose of marriage as, partly at least, producing a child to carry on the family line. In this sense, gay marriage is even more of a remote concept in China.” Robbins disagrees, however, and is hopeful about China for the next generation, “They probably let the show out due to self-interests as maybe there are leaders high up in the Communist Party who are in the closet.” “This edition of ‘Dialogue’ could now give cover to do more shows on CCTV English which could then give more cover for similar shows on the Chinese channels. Perhaps even editorials will come out in favor of LGBT rights.” Wei strikes an even more optimistic note. “At least people can now use this show as a reference and say CCTV talked about LGBT rights and marriage equality so they can’t be accused of never talking about the subject anymore.” Qinduo though sees the potential for the Internet to further such discussions. “No doubt Chinese society is becoming more tolerant toward the gay community. Young people in urban China in particular are increasingly accepting of friends who are gay. So, you see much more of presence of the gay community in social and other forms of Internet-based media than on newspapers and TV.” For now, that may indeed be true. But with scores of human rights activists and lawyers being rounded up, journalists having to toe the line and restrictions on the internet being policed more heavily than ever, it could be an interesting battle ahead for public discussions of LGBT rights — be it on the Internet or on television.

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New president aims to address center’s problems Jabari Lyles, the new president of the board of directors for the Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB), understands he has a challenge to right the center’s ship and restore confidence in the 38-year-old nonprofit. “My No. 1 priority is identifying appropriate, reliable and stable leadership at all levels,” Lyles, who is a teacher and works with GLSEN Baltimore, said in an interview. “Effective leadership will add value and credibility to our organization, has been sorely needed, and will begin ‘It’s time for us to reboot,’ said JABARI LYLES. the process of mending the GLCCB’s PHOTO BY BOB FORD relationship with the community.” Lyles became the fourth board president in the past 10 months, and combined with the fact there have been four executive directors in the past 16 months, there has been a growing concern regarding the GLCCB’s stability. “We need to be much better at setting our leaders up for success so they are best poised to lead,” Lyles said. “I feel the first step is stepping back and clarifying and perhaps recalibrating our mission and purpose. It’s time for us to reboot.” Lyles acknowledges that there is a perception that the GLCCB historically becomes less visible following the completion of the annual Pride events, which are run by the center. He notes that the organization provides myriad services and programs that are not widely known. “We are hoping to expand our programs and outreach strategies to better support the community’s needs and to keep the community better informed,” he said. Addressing the financial problems that have plagued the center for years, Lyles says that a “multifaceted approach” is needed to repair the damage created by the “missteps of many people.” Among the remedies Lyles believes is needed is stronger financial oversight and recordkeeping so that more scrutiny is directed toward how much money is spent and why as well as who is appropriating the funds. As the first African-American to hold this office in decades, Lyles said that he alone cannot improve race relations within the LGBT community. Yet he intends to lead the GLCCB in a direction “that visibly recognizes and works against racism in all its forms, intentionally works to uplift those who are most marginalized, encourages and eventually leads conversations about oppression, intersectionality and authentically serving communities of color.”

GLSEN 2015 Youth Summit on tap The 2015 LGBTQ Youth Summit, sponsored by GLSEN Baltimore, will take place on Sept. 19 at the Student Union Building at Towson University. The daylong event for LGBTQ high school students ages 13-19 and allies throughout Maryland and the surrounding areas will feature numerous activities, educational workshops, an opportunity to meet and network with peers and community resources, free dinner and a dance to end the night. Workshops include: Bisexuality, Coming Out, Racism in the LGBTQ Community, Gender Theory, Trans Perspectives, Starting and Maintaining a GSA, Know your Legal Rights, Voguing, Yoga in Your Toolbox and Craft Making, among others. “Our annual youth summit is easily our most anticipated and well-attended event of the year,” said Jabari Lyles, co-chair and education manager of GLSEN Baltimore. “Since we are simply more connected with more schools statewide, we expect one of the largest turnouts ever for this year’s summit.” This year GLSEN added a special workshop track for teachers, according to Lyles, which includes helpful, reﬂective conversation about being a supportive educator and features a mini-safe space training. There is no charge for the event but reservations need to be made online. STEVE CHARING

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H E A LT H N E W S

PrEP failsafe in study of 657 Calif. residents NEW YORK — The largest private health insurer in San Francisco announced last week that not one of its 657 clients on PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) contracted HIV over a two-year period, the New York Times reports. A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that Bay Area residents on PrEP, almost all of whom were gay men, did use condoms less frequently and contracted other venereal diseases as a result, although none got HIV, the article said. “This is very reassuring data,” said Dr. Jonathan E. Volk, an epidemiologist for the insurer, Kaiser Permanente of San Francisco, and the study’s lead author. “It tells us that PrEP works even in a high-risk population.” Observational studies like this one are not considered as scientiﬁcally rigorous as randomized clinical trials in which some participants receive a placebo. But Volk and his colleagues followed a large number of men engaged in very risky behavior from mid-2012, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a two-drug combination called Truvada for prevention of HIV infection, through February of this year. That amounts to 388 “person years” of observation, the Times reports. The newest study “ﬁlls in a critical gap by showing that PrEP can prevent infections in a real-world public health program,” said Mitchell J. Warren, the executive director of AVAC, an organization lobbying for AIDS prevention. About a third of all San Franciscans with private health insurance use Kaiser Permanente, which has its own hospitals, doctors and pharmacies and tracks all of its patients in one electronic records system, the Times reports. About a third of all San Franciscans on PrEP receive the drug through Kaiser, and its doctors urge all their clients who are at risk to ask if PrEP is right for them, Volk said, according to the Times article. All but four of the 657 participants in the Kaiser study were gay men, and 84 percent of them reported multiple sexual partners. After starting PrEP, half of them became infected with syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia within a year, the New York Times article said. After the participants had six months of PrEP use, Volk’s team surveyed 143 about their sexual behavior. More than 40 percent said that their use of condoms had decreased. The vast majority, 74 percent, said that their number of sexual partners had remained the same.

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

If you didn’t know better, recent news might have you thinking that anyone with a Hispanic accent is an alien; that activists protesting police violence are cop killers; and that a government oﬃcial’s religious freedom entitles her to impose her beliefs on an entire county. Enough of these brazen falsehoods could drive a person crazy. This is called “gaslighting” after Charles Boyer’s eﬀorts in the 1944 movie “Gaslight” to make Ingrid Bergman think she is losing her mind so he can get her out of the way and steal her aunt’s jewels. When Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos challenged Donald Trump’s promise to deport 11 million undocumented workers, he was treated like an undocumented worker himself. Trump has slandered

Mexicans and used one murder to support a media narrative about criminal hordes flooding America that is entirely at odds with the facts. Undocumented immigrants in fact have a lower crime rate. Trump subsequently described Ramos as “raving like a madman.” This is like describing women who assert themselves as hysterical. When Trump contemptuously ordered Ramos removed, the other reporters should have walked out. If tough questions are off-limits, we have a celebrity media availability, not a press conference. These crude tactics appeal to the Trumpen Proletariat (a term coined by conservative writer Jonah Goldberg): the sort of people who vehemently opposed Obamacare but now favor single payer just because Trump is for it. Goodbye, coherent politics. Hello, fearless leader defended by a mob. On the marriage equality front, we learned last week that County Clerk Kim Davis in Rowan County, Kentucky, jailed for contempt after citing God’s authority in refusing to issue marriage licenses, has divorced three times. While married to her first husband she conceived twins by her third, which were adopted by her second. You could get whiplash keeping track of her adulteries, but somehow gay couples are the ones destroying the family. Encouragingly, groups seeking to cash in on her alleged martyrdom have encountered a roadblock, as GoFundMe E DIT OR IA L C A R T OON

prohibits campaigns for anyone “facing formal charges or claims of serious violations of the law.” And Jesus never said, “Blessed are the grifters.” Next we turn to public safety. James Madison warned in 1787, “The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.” Radley Balko observes in “Rise of the Warrior Cop” that today’s police “are driving tanks and armored personnel carriers on American streets, breaking into homes and killing dogs over pot. They’re subjecting homes and businesses to commando raids for white-collar and even regulatory offenses.” Thus the problem goes beyond police killings of unarmed black men. Police are held immune from punishment for actions that would land ordinary citizens in prison. The offending officers may be a minority, but police culture condones and covers up the abuse. Dismissing legitimate reform proposals by crying “All Lives Matter” or “Blue Lives Matter” amounts to telling the abused to shut up and take it, or denying that disparate treatment occurs, or condoning it. Killings of police officers are actually lower than in previous decades. A spike in murders in a few cities does not constitute a national crime wave, much less excuse brutality and lawlessness by public safety officers. Paramilitary policing and over-policing undermine community trust, harming police effectiveness. Change will not occur without public pressure, whether the victims are white families terrorized in midnight drug raids or black motorists dying in police custody after missing a lanechange signal. If we take the bait when Fox News and Ted Cruz blame Black Lives Matter activists for an officer’s murder without evidence, opponents of accountability will divide and conquer, infringing both our safety and our freedom. Allowing ourselves to be gaslighted undermines everything from the evaluation of candidates to the functions of a county clerk to the safety of the public. We are at our best when we refuse to be stampeded into defending the privileged or scorning journalistic scrutiny or devaluing civil liberties. Treating members of a particular class or profession as a rule unto themselves undermines social cohesion and respect for the law. Those who stand up to them remind us that preserving our freedoms requires self-respecting resistance to official misconduct.

PHONE

202-747-2077 E-MAIL news@washblade.com INTERNET www.washingtonblade.com PUBLISHED BY Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. PUBLISHER LYNNE J. BROWN lbrown@washblade.com ext. 8075 EDITORIAL EDITOR KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com ext. 8088 FEATURES EDITOR JOEY DIGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com ext. 8081 SR. NEWS REPORTER LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com ext. 8079 NEWS REPORTER CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com ext. 8083 REPORTER & INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITOR MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com EDITORIAL INTERN MARIAH COOPER PHOTO EDITOR MICHAEL KEY mkey@washblade.com PHOTO INTERN ANTWAN J. THOMPSON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PETER ROSENSTEIN, MARK LEE, LATEEFAH WILLIAMS, KATE CLINTON, KATHI WOLFE, RICHARD J. ROSENDALL CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION AZERCREATIVE.COM SALES & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING STEPHEN RUTGERS srutgers@washblade.com ext. 8077 SR. ACCT. EXECUTIVE BRIAN PITTS bpitts@washblade.com ext. 8089 SR. ACCT. EXECUTIVE JERYL PARADE jparade@washblade.com ext. 8072 ACCT. EXECUTIVE CIAM WALDRON-HOPE iamhope@washblade.com ACCT. EXECUTIVE DOUG PEETS dpeets@washblade.com DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER BROOKE JORDAN bjordan@washblade.com ext. 8094 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH prockstroh@washblade.com ext. 8092 NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA 212-242-6863; sales@rivendellmedia.com For distribution, contact Lynne Brown at 202-747-2077, ext. 8075. Distributed by MediaPoint, LLC All material in the Washington Blade is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Washington Blade. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. Although the Washington Blade is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by the Washington Blade, but the paper cannot take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. A single copy of the Washington Blade is available from authorized distribution points, to any individual within a 50-mile radius of Washington, D.C. Multiple copies are available from the Washington Blade office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to get to a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 52-week mailed subscription for $195 per year or $5.00 per single issue. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Phil Rockstroh at prockstroh@washblade.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Washington Blade, PO BOX 53352 Washington, DC 20009. The Washington Blade is published weekly, on Friday, by Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. Individual Subscriptions are $195 per year for 52 issues (only $3.75 per issue mailed to you USPS). Rates for businesses/institutions are $450 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices. Editorial positions of the Washington Blade are expressed in editorials and in editors’ notes as determined by the paper’s editors. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Washington Blade or its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words; commentaries should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Send submissions by e-mail to knaff@washblade.com.

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Opens Nov. 13, 2015 Explore headline-making FBI cases and learn how the bureau is fighting terrorism and cybercrime in this special update to one of the Newseum’s most popular exhibits.

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The next step in D.C. crime ﬁght Mayor should call citywide meeting to address spree

PETER ROSENSTEIN is a D.C.-based LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

In response to the spike in homicides in the District of Columbia, At-Large Council member Anita Bonds brought together a diverse group of city leaders to begin a discussion on what the community thinks would be appropriate solutions to deal with this crime spree and to focus on strategies to accomplish them. I submitted a number of questions to Bonds’ oﬃce including: Does she think this meeting should have been a citywide meeting called by the mayor? Will she urge the mayor to hold such a meeting? What does she think of the mayor’s response to the crime spree? And does she still have full conﬁdence in Chief Cathy Lanier? I received no

response to those questions. Though there was little advance notice of the meeting according to Bonds’ office there were more than 130 ANC commissioners and civic leaders from every ward in attendance. Also there were members of the mayor’s cabinet and representatives from the MPPD and the attorney general’s office. Participating were DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kevin Donahue, Assistant Chief of Police Diane Groomes, Department of Employment Services Director Deborah Carroll, DC Housing Authority Director Adrian Todman, Commander Robin Hoey, Assistant Attorney General for Public Safety Michael Aniton, and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Associate Director Cedric Hendricks. Bonds opened the meeting saying, “We all have an important role to play in our city’s safety. By working together with elected officials, civic leaders, residents, and business owners and employees, we will have a unified community approach to combat the rise in community violence.” D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson and Council member Elissa Silverman also made remarks. Attendees were asked to break into smaller discussion groups in which ANC commissioners and community leaders shared their ideas with other government officials on a variety

of topics including: Building Positive Youth Behavior; Safe Housing and Community; Job Training, Placement and Mentoring; Law Enforcement Strategies in Neighborhoods; Legislative Initiatives; and Healthy Productive Lifestyles (mental health, substance abuse treatment, nutrition). After the small group meetings each group presented their recommendations. Following the meeting, Bonds said she would be compiling a report on all the recommendations that came out of the meeting. The question we need to ask is: What will happen with that report? Bonds deserves our gratitude for calling this meeting. She has spent many years working on issues of importance to people in D.C. and has turned into an activist Council member. This meeting is a good beginning to getting community input on what they believe needs to be done to ﬁght this crime spree. But one question to which there is no answer yet is why it was left to one Council member to call such a meeting. While I applaud the mayor for her eﬀorts and proposed new initiatives, the time has come for the mayor, attorney general and Council chair to cooperate and invest city funds and the planning needed to hold a citywide town hall to create more synergy in response to the escalation of crime in the District. We have had such citywide meetings at the

Convention Center in the past and thousands have come together to share their thoughts and set an agenda to work on a broad spectrum of issues. The time is right to host such a meeting focusing on setting the community agenda to respond to the current crime spree. The broad range of issues brought up at the Bonds meeting, and others not mentioned there, deserve exploration and surely there are more than 130 people with ideas who can contribute to the discussion. While we can look at statistics and know the huge spike in homicides is focused in certain parts of the District, the answers on how to deal with the root issues of this crime spree must come from every part of the District. We have a collective responsibility to make the lives of every person who lives here better. When someone commits a heinous crime against someone else in our community they are committing it against all of us. When one family mourns the loss of a son, daughter, mother, father, or lover we all mourn with them. After all, though the District is made up of eight wards and countless communities, we are one family and must take responsibility for making life better for each and every individual. We should look to the African proverb “It Takes a Village” and accept for us in the District of Columbia that village is 630,000 strong and encompasses every community and all eight wards. VIEWPOINT

Celebrating the multi-dimensional life of Oliver Sacks Gay author and neurologist wrote about his patients

KATHI WOLFE, a writer and poet, is a regular contributor to the Blade. She was a 1998-1999 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow.

“At worst, one is in motion; and at best/ Reaching no absolute, in which to rest,/ One is always nearer by not keeping still,” the late gay poet Thom Gunn wrote in “On the Move.” No one was more “on the move” than Oliver Sacks, the neurologist and acclaimed author who died at 82 on Aug. 30 from cancer. Sacks, whose passions ranged from the mysteries of the brain to piano playing to motorcycle rides with the Hells Angels to savoring geﬁlte ﬁsh, revealed that he was gay

in his 2015 memoir “On the Move.” Gunn and Sacks were good friends. For his autobiography, Sacks used the title of his friend’s poem. I never knew or met Sacks. Yet, I’d bet that Gunn’s words resonate not only for Sacks’ loved ones and colleagues but for his many readers. It’s hard to think of anyone who was in more motion or kept less still than Sacks. Sacks was renowned not only for seeing his patients as human beings rather than as mere collections of symptoms, but for his elegant, compelling writing of their stories in numerous books from “Awakenings” to “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.” He spoke of these often spellbinding case studies as “neurological novels.” Sacks’ tales of his patients, modeled on the case histories and explorations of 19th doctors and naturalists, were Chekhovian in their drama. The story of Dr. P, who thinks his wife’s head is a hat because his brain keeps him from knowing what he’s seeing, is a page-turner. The case study of Dr. P, “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” was made into a one-act chamber opera of the same name. “Awakenings” is a riveting account of how Sacks in 1969 gave the drug L-dopa — then

a new drug in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease — to patients who’d been catatonic for decades from an atypical form of encephalitis, known as “sleeping sickness.” The book vividly describes how the patients reacted when they emerged after years of being shut out from the world. “Awakenings,” which brought Sacks fame, was made into a 1990 movie starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. Sacks, who was born in London in 1933, grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household where his parents were both doctors. “I was encouraged from the start to interrogate, to investigate,” he wrote in “Uncle Tungsten,” his memoir about how he became interested in science as a child. His bar mitzvah was the end of his “formal Jewish practice,” Sacks wrote in “Sabbath,” an opinion piece he penned for the “New York Times” just a few weeks before his death. “I did not embrace the ritual duties of a Jewish adult ... and I gradually became more indiﬀerent to the beliefs and habits of my parents,” he wrote, “though there was no particular point of rupture until I was 18.” Then, Sacks told his father that he “liked boys.” “‘I haven’t done anything,’ I said, ‘it’s just a

feeling – but don’t tell Ma, she won’t be able to take it,’” he wrote. But his father ignored his instructions and told his mother. After that, Sacks wrote, his mother, “shrieked at me: ‘You are an abomination. I wish you had never been born.’” When Sacks was a child during World War II, he was evacuated from London. He was sent to a boarding school where the headmaster badly beat him. His interest in medicine was partly prompted when one of his brothers developed schizophrenia. In his 20s, Sacks ﬂew to America to escape the oppressive treatment of LGBT people in the U.K. “I had a peculiar feeling of freedom. I was no longer in London, no longer in Europe, this was the New World and – within limits – I could do what I wanted,” Sacks wrote in “On the Move” about his stay at the Y in San Francisco. After several diﬃcult experiences of unrequited love and 35 years of celibacy, Sacks met the love of his life Billy Hayes in 2008. “We have a tranquil, many-dimensional sharing of lives – a great and unexpected gift in old age, after a lifetime of keeping at a distance,” Sacks wrote. Thank you, Dr. Sacks, for your multi-dimensioned life and writing. R.I.P.

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

FALL 2015

STUNNING 1BR/1BA CONDO TREETOP & CATHEDRAL VIEWS!

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An Evening With Bernadette Peters An unforgettable evening of show tunes and showstoppers by “The first lady of musical theater.” (The New York Times) Don’t miss out! $100, $85, $60 This performance is part of Mason’s ARTS by George! benefit.

Virginia Opera Orpheus in the Underworld SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 AT 8 P.M. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 AT 2 P.M. Offenbach’s rollicking, irreverent operetta with its magnificent melodies, risqué humor, and the “Can-Can” music makes for one hell of a party! Sung in English with English supertitles. $98, $80, $48

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Turtle Island Quartet

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Jelly, Rags, & Monk SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 AT 8 P.M. Turtle Island Quartet and jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut explore ragtime music from its beginnings with the music of Jelly Roll Morton and Scott Joplin to the modern genius of Thelonious Monk. $48, $41, $29

Aquila Theatre

Romeo and Juliet SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 AT 7 P.M. William Shakespeare’s immortal tale of the starcrossed lovers falling victim to family hatred. “Beautifully spoken, dramatically revealing, and crystalline in effect.” (The New Yorker) $44, $37, $26

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Peking Dreams FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 AT 8 P.M. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 AT 2 P.M. AND 8 P.M. Chinese circus! Acrobatics! Peking Opera! Traditional Chinese music, elaborate props, brightly colored costumes! A production for all generations!! $50, $43, $30 ff

L.A. Theatre Works Dracula

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 AT 8 P.M. Have a frighteningly fun Halloween evening experiencing the timeless Victorian tale of the aristocratic vampire as he preys upon London’s helpless citizens. LATW brings the chiller to life with creepy sound effects made “the old fashioned way.” $44, $37, $26

Munich Symphony Orchestra with The Romeros

Philippe Entremont, conductor and piano Pepe Romero, guitar

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 AT 8 P.M. Munich Symphony Orchestra is “a joyous whirlwind of sound” (The Washington Post) and The Romeros are “the only classical guitar quartet of real stature in the world today.” (The New York Times) $70, $60, $42

Art of Time Ensemble

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 AT 7 P.M. Enjoy iconic music in wonderful new ways as the Ensemble is joined by Barenaked Ladies’ Steven Page. “The Beatles loved to turn us on, and so does [the Art of Time Ensemble].” (Globe and Mail) $48, $41, $29

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Bollywood Masala Orchestra and Dancers of India The Spirit of India

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 AT 8 P.M. A feast for the senses and the spirit! With traditional and contemporary Indian music, songs from popular Bollywood films, and more, you’ll see why this show has been a hit around the world! $48, $41, $29 ff

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Famous for its lush harmonies and impeccable technique, Chanticleer always presents a glorious performance. Join us for this Thanksgiving weekend “start-the-holidays” tradition. “Luxurious perfection.” (Los Angeles Times) $54, $46, $32

Vienna Boys Choir Christmas in Vienna

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 AT 8 P.M. Experience the season in an idyllic Christmas concert, truly one of the great pleasures of the holidays. “The angelic voices of this most famous vocal group are ageless.” (Salt Lake Tribune) $54, $46, $32 ff

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DANCE HOLIDAY SPeCTaCULaR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 AT 8 P.M. An great evening of bright lights, good cheer, joyous sounds, and dance! Come see one of the great tap dancers of all time in this one-of-akind holiday performance! $54, $46, $32

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Margaret goes ‘psyCHO’ Stand-up legend and LGBT ally to play D.C. Oct. 9

really excited about doing it. It’s a great way to celebrate the marriage equality decision by the Supreme Court so that’s a wonderful thing.

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com

BLADE: Where were you when the decision came? How did you feel? CHO: I was in San Francisco and it was the very beginning of gay Pride weekend and I had done an event that Thursday night. Then on Friday, I was going to leave and right before I was going I saw that and I was so moved. It’s just so moving and really rewarding to see that you can affect change. It takes a long time to make it happen. I’ve been working on marriage equality since 2004, so it’s been a while but it’s a real testament to everybody who got involved and spoke up and made it happen.

Margaret Cho is her usual busy self. She’s prepping a new album of music, her second, for a late 2015 release. She earned laughs for her critique of Miley Cyrus at the VMAs while guesting on a newly retooled “Fashion Police” on E! and opened up in a Billboard interview last week that she was sexually abused and raped repeatedly while growing up in San Francisco. She teased the new album by playing one of her songs called “I Want to Kill My Rapist.” Cho, a long-time LGBT ally and activist, has offered a block of 100 tickets for the Oct. 9 D.C. date of her “psyCHO Tour” to Brother Help Thyself, which she says she is “thrilled” to do. A “Marry Me Margaret” contest is underway in which couples can enter a contest in each city. Cho will marry one set of winners at each stop on her tour. In March, she previewed the tour with a performance at the Gramercy Theatre in New York that will premiere on Showtime on Sept. 25, just before the tour kicks off in Michigan on Oct. 1. We caught up with her by phone from her Los Angeles home.

BLADE: Is the tour going to be pretty much the show you taped in New York or was that something different? CHO: There will be some things the same and some things different. The show is really about current events too and that shifts over time so it winds up being somewhat different each time it’s performed. That’s just part of the kind of work I do. It’s always very live and so there’s a lot of option for turnover. BLADE: Will you be singing on the tour as well? CHO: A little bit, yes. Maybe one or two songs.

WASHINGTON BLADE: How did the marriage contest come about? Is it only open to LGBT couples? MARGARET CHO: I urge LGBT couples to come and be part of this. It’s something I was able to do at City Hall in 2006 when it was legal in San Francisco. I got deputized by Gavin Newsom to do it. It’s a great honor and now I’m able to do it everywhere.

BLADE: How did the taping go back in March? CHO: It was great, really phenomenal. I love performing there and I always love doing these specials too. It’s been a while. I hadn’t done one for a couple of years, so it was really great to get back to it. I have a whole bunch of them now and it’s something I want to keep doing.

BLADE: The contest rules say the entries may not be “profane, offensive, pornographic, defamatory or inappropriate as determined by sponsor.” Hello? In a Margaret Cho contest? CHO: (laughs) I wanted the entries to be brief. If you had all those things, it could get really wordy and long, so I just want people to present a very brief entry about why they think I should marry them and then I’ll pick one couple from each city. I’m

BLADE: Tell me about this painting made from your blood. What’s that about? CHO: I have a friend who was on death row, Damien Echols and through the efforts of myself and many others, he was

CONTINUES ON PAGE 50 MARGARET CHO says she’s ‘thrilled’ a portion of the proceeds from her D.C. show will go to Brother Help Thyself. PHOTO BY AUSTIN YOUNG

QUEERY

James Fondle/Lee Winnike

SEPTEMBER

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Queery

James Fondle/Lee Winnike

PHOTO COURTESY OF WINNIKE

The local ‘boylesque’ performer answers 20 gay questions By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com What does Lee Winnike do? It depends on which day you ask. By day he studies social work at Gallaudet University. He’s also a “boylesque” performer and is co-producing the upcoming show “Basic Instinct” on Oct. 17 at Phase 1 with Pussy Noir to “highlight boylesque, draglesque and other gender expressions through entertainment.” He also organizes an LGBT American Sign Language class at the DC Center. And he’s a sex educator at Lotus Blooms, an adult boutique in Alexandria, Va. The 26-year-old Covington, Ky., native went to college in Dayton, Ohio, then came to Washington four years ago because, as he puts it, “compared to Dayton, Ohio, there’s so many more queers here.” He’s single and lives in Trinidad near the Gallaudet campus. Winnike enjoys Netﬂix, eating and lying in bed in his free time. Follow him as James Fondle on Facebook for details of upcoming performances.

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell? I’ve been out as queer for six years and out as transgender for three years. The hardest people to tell were my grandma and grandpa. I had some wild anxiety dreams before telling them, but they ended up being supportive in their own way. Who’s your LGBT hero? Marsha P. Johnson What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present? Overeasy, Makers Lab Events and my friend is organizing a Gndrf*ck party I’m excited to check out. Describe your dream wedding. Outdoor on a beautiful spring day, full of campy 1950s decorations and props, and of course all of my favorite people dressed to the nines. What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about? I think LGBTQ issues tie into all the issues we face today because of the diversity within the LGBTQ community. What historical outcome would you change? You know in movies when people go back in time, eat a potato chip, and then it alters existence forever? Yeah, I am not sure if I want to touch that one. What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime? I will never forget when t.A.T.u. kissed on stage because I was watching with my mom. Painfully awkward conversations ensued. On what do you insist? Please, for the love of the Goddess, tell me if I have spinach in my teeth.

202.747.2077

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet? “If you missed my Hedwig act, I’m doing

it again tonight at the pinch! Tickets often sell out so get yours in advance if interested” If your life were a book, what would the title be? “Where did my keys go?” If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do? I wouldn’t change a thing. What do you believe in beyond the physical world? I don’t have many firm beliefs, but I wouldn’t necessarily be surprised if Beyoncé had supernatural powers. What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders? Listen to the young change makers from all movements; protect femmes of color. What would you walk across hot coals for? My friends What LGBT stereotype annoys you most? That we all fit easily into one category. I have identified with each of the LGBTQ letters at one point in my life. What’s your favorite LGBT movie? I have to go with the classic, “Paris is Burning” What’s the most overrated social custom? The eight-hour work day. What trophy or prize do you most covet? For the next two years it is any scholarship I can find. What do you wish you’d known at 18? You are not as alone as you think you are. Why Washington? I love my community here.

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fall season

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THE FIX

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN Now through September 20 Pride Night: September 11 #SigFix

Cake Off Only one will be standing when the timer dings.

September 29 – November 22 Pride Nights: October 16 and November 6 #SigCakeOff

girlstar

How far is too far to be a star? October 13 – November 15 Pride Night: November 13 #SigGirlstar

WEST SIDE STORY The greatest musical of all time

December 8 – January 24 Pride Night: January 8 #SigWestSide

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Invitation to dance

STEP AFRIKA! performs at VelocityDC’s Dance Festival in October. PHOTO BY EDWARD C. JONES; COURTESY OF BUCKLESWEET MEDIA

Regional troupes explore culture, collaboration in fall offerings By MARIAH COOPER The fall brings an abundance of dance performances from classical ballet and contemporary dance to cultural dances from India and Latin America. Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater hosts a free Latin America dance party on Sept. 13 at the Catwalk Café at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 6th St., S.W.) following the 7:30 p.m. performance of the play “Destiny of Desire.” Dance instructors will teach the Cha Cha Chá, Rueda de Casino, Afro-Cuban Rumba and more. There will also be cocktails. The dance party is free with a ticket purchase to “Dance of Desire.” For more information, visit arenastage.org. VelocityDC holds its seventh annual Dance Festival at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., N.W.) on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 17 at 2 and 8 p.m. Performers include Step Afrika!, the Washington Ballet’s Studio Company,

Shannon Dunne Dance, Malayaworks Dance Theater, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble and more. Tickets are $18. For more details, visit velocitydc.org Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh holds its 12th annual Fall Festival of Indian Arts at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) this fall. On Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m., C. V. Chandrasekhar gives a dance performance in the Paul Sprenger Theatre. On Oct. 31at 7:30 p.m., Rama Vaidyanathan gives a classical Indian dance performance. On Nov. 1 at 4 p.m., Mallika Sarabhai also performs. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $20 for students. For more information, visit dakshina.org. Dissonance Dance Theatre presents Dance Noir, dance performances accompanied with dark and dramatic classical music scores, at the Joy of Motion Dance Center (5207 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15-18 online and are $25 at the door. For more details, visit ddtdc.org. Dance Place (3225 8th St., N.E.) presents an evening of Cuban dance with dance company D.C. Casineros and Ernesto “Gato” Gatell in tribute to Cuban

guitarist Ernesto Tamayo on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. After the dance performance, Gatell and his band will perform Son, Mambo and Guaracha music for the whole audience to dance along with Yudisleidy Valdez Mena and member of the D.C. Casineros dance company. On Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., Dance Place presents “2 Decades” by Bowen McCauley Dance. The performance will include excerpts from “Lucy’s Playlist” and “Bach Chaconne in D Minor.” The National Chamber Ensemble will also play music as accompaniment to the performances. General admission advanced tickets for the Dance Place performances are are $25. Advanced tickets for Dance Place Members, seniors and artists tickets are $20. Tickets for college students and children under 17 years old are $15. Tickets at the door are $30. For more details, visit danceplace.org. The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) holds many dance performances this fall. Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company presents “Fluency in Four” on Sept. 19-20. The company will perform Burgess’s works “Picasso Dances,” “Mandala,” “Conﬂuence” and his latest

work “We Choose to Go to the Moon,” a collaboration with NASA. Tickets range from $28-45. Sivam Inc. presents “Utsav: Celebrating India’s Maestros of Music and Dance” on Oct. 2-4. The dance performances are on Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. with Bharatanatyam Ballet performing a dance, poetry, music and theater version of the novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel Cervantes. On Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Odissi dancer Madhavi Mudgal and her dancers perform classical Indian dance. Tickets range from $40-50. On Oct. 28-30 Ronald K. Brown/ Evidence and Jason Moran and the Bandwagon perform “Jason+” a mix of dance and jazz. Performances include “Why You Follow,” an Afro-Cuba dance, “One Shot,” a dance interpretation of Charles “Tennie” Harris’s life and more. Tickets range from $29-59. Tony Award-Winning choreographer Twyla Tharp celebrates ﬁve decades of her work on Nov. 11-14. Dancers will perform her choreographed works that span Broadway musicals, Hollywood ﬁlms, television and modern and ballet dance companies.Tickets range from $34-65. For more details, visit kennedy-center.org.

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SPECIAL REMOUNT

BAD JEWS

BY JOSHUA HARMON DIRECTED BY SERGE SEIDEN

6 01 -2 15 20

DEC 3, 2015 - JAN 3, 2016

Joshua Harmon’s savage comedy about family, faith, and legacy follows three cousins and their verbal battle royale over a family heirloom. The best-selling play in Studio’s history returns for a holiday run.

CHIMERICA

An epic thriller that tracks two decades of US-China relations as it considers political change, personal responsibility, and lives forever changed by the crosswinds of politics and history.

NS TIO IP CR BS SU 0 AY $22 PL T E- T A FIV TAR S

NOW PLAYING

SE RI

S a ra h M a r s h a l l

G OR E. TR EA TH IO UD ST

BY LUCY KIRKWOOD DIRECTED BY DAVID MUSE US PREMIERE

THE APPLE FAMILY CYCLE

BY RICHARD NELSON DIRECTED BY SERGE SEIDEN

OCT 28 - DEC 13, 2015 Over meals and through conversation, the Apples grapple with the changes the years have wrought, both for themselves and for America in the final two plays of Nelson’s cycle.

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY A boisterous and unflinching dark comedy about the thorny nature of belonging, family relationships, and what it means to a call a place home. Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize.

BY DEIRDRE KINAHAN DIRECTED BY ETHAN MCSWEENY

MAR 16 - APR 24, 2016 A long-absent son, an ailing mother, and the long-simmering resentments of two sisters collide in this intimate and explosive family drama.

HEDDA GABLER

BY HENRIK IBSEN IN A NEW VERSION BY MARK O’ROWE DIRECTED BY MATT TORNEY

MAY 11 - JUN 19, 2016 Mark O’Rowe’s stunning contemporary adaptation is a mesmerizing study of power, control, and self-deception, offering a nuanced portrait of one of the most fascinating figures in modern drama.

DIRECTED BY DAVID MUSE FEB 10-MAR 6

2016

MOMENT

K a t e E a s t w o o d N o rr i s

JAN 13 - FEB 28, 2016

CONSTELLATIONS

BY STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS DIRECTED BY BRIAN MACDEVITT

BY NICK PAYNE

ANIMAL BY CLARE LIZZIMORE DIRECTED BY GAYE TAYLOR UPCHURCH WORLD PREMIERE

SEP 30-OCT 25

2015

A darkly comic play about the underside of domesticity, the complexity of the brain in chaos, and the thin line between sinking and survival.

Theoretical physicist meets beekeeper, but the story branches off from there. An intimate and imaginative romance that plays out the infinite possibilities of a single relationship.

CONCERTS 30

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Diva trifecta

Kelly, Madonna and Diana kick off fall D.C. concert blitz By CHRIS GERARD The fall concert season gets rolling with a three big-time pop stars spanning three generations all performing within days of each other in September. Vocal powerhouse Kelly Clarkson has back-to-back nights at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Va.) on Sept. 12-13 at 7 p.m. (wolftrap.org) Pop icon Madonna returns to the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) on Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. in support of her “Rebel Heart” album (livenation.com or ticketmaster.com). Then if that isn’t enough diva power, the legendary Diana Ross will be at the Strathmore (10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Md.) on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. (strathmore.org) after a Sept. 13 show at Pier Six Pavilion (piersixpavilion.com) in Baltimore. That’s just the start of what is shaping up to be an exciting concert season in D.C. this fall. Perhaps the biggest event is the Landmark Music Festival at West Potomac Park (West Basin Drive, S.W.), a a two-day event starting Saturday, Sept. 26 at noon and featuring an impressive lineup including Drake, alt-J, The Strokes, CHVRCHES, Chromeo, Ben Howard, Band of Horses, fun. frontman Nate Ruess and the War on Drugs. The full line-up and more information is at landmarkfestiva.org. In addition to Madonna, the Verizon Center has some real heavy hitters. British pop sensation Ed Sheeran will play two nights, Sept. 22-23 at 7:30 p.m. R&B giant R. Kelly headlines on Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. Musical legend Stevie Wonder performs on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m., and will play his landmark album “Songs of the Key of Life” in its entirety. A fantastic rock doublebill goes down on Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m., as recent Hall of Fame inductees Joan Jett and the Blackhearts open for the Who. One of the hottest artists in the country, pop/R&B sensation the Weeknd, takes the

MADONNA brings her ‘Rebel Heart Tour’ to D.C. this weekend. PHOTO BY PASCAL MANNAERTS; COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

stage on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The 9:30 Club (815 V St. N.W.) as usual has a host of top-notch talent slated for fall. The reunited ‘90s shoegaze band Ride will play on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Gay-fronted band Years & Years play there Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Pop vocalist Tove Lo performs on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m., and the always-outrageous Peaches returns on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.. The highlight of the season is the return of alternative-rock legends Garbage, who will perform on Oct. 28-29 at 7 p.m. to celebrate 20th anniversary of their debut album, which they will play in its entirety. Details at 9:30.com. Summer may be winding down, but there are still some big shows upcoming at Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md.). Death Cab for Cutie will take the stage on Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m.. Fresh off a no. 1 album with “Sound & Color,” Alabama Shakes will perform on Sept. 18 at 8 p.m., and Of Monsters and Men play Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. Details at merriweathermusic.com. If country music under the stars is your idea of a perfect evening in September, there are a couple big opportunities you shouldn’t miss at Jiffy Lube Live (7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow, Va.). Jason

Aldean will hit the stage on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. while Brad Paisley will be there Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. Details at jiffylubelive.com. If your thing is dancing, then Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd, N.E.) is the place to be. Their fall line-up is highlighted by British electronic duo Disclosure supporting their new album “Caracal” with shows on Oct. 21 (doors at 8 p.m.) and Oct. 22 (opening at 9 p.m.) Dutch electro/hip-hop star Stromae will perform on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. EDM hero Armin van Buuren will have the place jumping on Sept. 24, with doors opening at 9 p.m. World-renowned DJ Kaskade will do the same when he spins on Oct. 16. at 9 p.m. Details at echostage.com. The Birchmere, (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.), has an impressive lineup of talent on its calendar, highlighted by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell performing together on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and the talented singer-songwriter Patty Grifﬁn on Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The renowned lesbian folk/rock duo Indigo Girls perform on Nov. 2 at 7:30. Details at birchmere.com. The Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.) hosts a CD party for the amazing Lizz

Wright on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Electronic pioneers the Orb appear on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. Lalah Hathaway will be there for two nights on Sept. 26 and 28 at 8 p.m. For more information and additional listings, go to thehowardtheatre.com. At the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University, (730 21st St., N.W), Lucinda Williams will perform on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m., while Mavis Staples and Joan Osborne bring their “Solid Soul” tour on Oct. 31. at 8 p.m. (lisner.gwu.edu) The Fillmore in Silver Spring (8656 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md.) serves up pop heartthrob Nick Jonas on Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Details at fillmoresilverspring.com. Classical outfit Seraphic Fire perform Handel’s “Coronation Anthems” at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (2430 K St., N.W.) on Nov. 10. They’ll return in 2016 for two more concerts there. Details at seraphicfire.org. Loretta Lynn plays Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Other notable shows at the Lincoln include FFS, an outstanding mashup of Sparks and Franz Ferdinand, on Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m., Kacey Musgraves for two nights on Oct. 16-17 at 6:30 p.m., and Marina and the Diamonds on Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Details at thelincolndc.com. In addition to Kelly Clarkson, Wolf Trap will host Broadway favorite Megan Hilty on Oct. 9 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., iconic lesbian vocalist Joan Armatrading for two nights on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m., Madeleine Peyroux on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m, Suzanne Vega with Duncan Sheik on Nov. 18-19 at 8 p.m., and Rickie Lee Jones on Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.. EagleBank Arena (formerly the Patriot Center) will host openly gay latin/pop superstar Ricky Martin on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. and Marc Anthony on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. Details at eaglebankarena.com. And three gay Strathmore dates to put on your calendar for December — Dave Koz returns there on Dec. 4, the gayhelmed Philadelphia Orchestra will perform on Dec. 7 and Michael Feinstein is there Dec. 11. Details at strathmore.org.

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PLUS SAM BUSH 10/15 OCT 9

MEGAN HILTY

FOLK DANCES OF INDIA 10/17 OLD DOMINION 10/22

2 SHOWS!

JONATHAN BISS, PIANO 10/23

CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS

WILLIE NILE 10/29 OCT 14

BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE

CATHERINE RUSSELL 10/30 JOAN ARMATRADING 10/31 + 11/1 MOUNTAIN HEART 11/8 PAUL THORN 11/10

OCT 16

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX

CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO 11/11 DEBBY BOONE 11/12

SETH GLIER

KUOK-WAI LIO, PIANO ZOLTÁN FEJÉRVÁRI, PIANO 11/13

CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS

SISTER SPARROW & THE DIRTY BIRDS

NOV 5

SONNY LANDRETH 11/21 JOHN EATON 11/27

WILD ADRIATIC

OVER THE RHINE 12/4 CALMUS 12/6

CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS

ON SALE NOW!

NOV 18 + 19

SUZANNE VEGA DUNCAN SHEIK

NOV 20

RICKIE LEE JONES

AND MANY MORE!

GALLERIES 32

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‘Layers’ of artistic expression Touchstone multi-medium exhibit among fall highlights By MARIAH COOPER The District receives a breath of fresh air on the art scene with numerous gallery exhibitions opening for fall viewing. Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) presents three exhibits through Sept. 27. “Layers” is featured in Gallery A with photography, paintings, sculptures, hand-pulled prints, collages and drawings focused on layers of color on display. In Gallery B, “Metropolis” by McCain McMurray, a series of art inspired by cityscapes, is presented. “Quarter Sections” by Janet Wheeler, artwork based on oppositions, repetitions and variations and more, is located in Gallery C. The opening reception for these exhibits is on Sept. 11 from 6-8:30 p.m. There will be an encore reception on Sept. 26 from 2-4 p.m. and an artist talk at 3 p.m. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com. Bethesda Gallery B (7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md.) presents a group exhibition of the eight ﬁnalists from the Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards through Sept. 26. Finalists include Selin Balci, Lynn Cazabon, Catherine Day, Jason Hughes, Tim Makepeace, Sebastian Martorana, Jonathan Monaghan and Nara Park. First place prize is for $10,000. The opening reception is Sept. 11 from 6-9 p.m. For more details, visit Bethesda.org/ Bethesda/gallery-b-exhibitions. Adah Rose Gallery (3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, Md.) presents “Scott Hazard: Memory Gardens” from Sept.11-Oct. 31. Hazard’s sculptures are created from torn pieces of paper that are spaced apart and aligned in wood to create a landscape garden of words. This is Hazard’s ﬁrst gallery show with Adah Rose Gallery. For more details, visit adahrosegallery.com. The National Portrait Gallery (8th and F streets, N.W.) presents “Dark Fields of the Republic: Alexander Gardner Photographs 1859-1872” from Sept. 18-March 13. Gardner’s photographs captured the Civil War, post-Civil War, portraits of American Indians and a rare portrait of Abraham Lincoln. For more information, visit npg.si.edu. Studio Gallery (2108 R St., N.W.) presents “Seeing Through the Mind’s Eye” by Deborah Addison Coburn through Sept. 26. The exhibit is a combination of oil and watercolor portraits created with shapes and lines for a geometric take on

‘Belly Button Room Divider Prototype,’ a 1957 ceramic-and-metal rod work. It’s on display at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. PHOTO BY BRENT BROLIN; COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS

faces. An artists’ reception will also be on Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. For more information, visit studiogallerydc.com. Hillwood Museum (4155 Linnean Ave., N.W.) presents “Ingenue to Icon: 70 Years of Fashion from the Collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post” with summer fashions showing through Sept. 27 and fall and winter styles on display starting Oct. 1. The

collection spans Post’s wardrobe from the 20th century and includes ﬂapper dresses from the 1920s and gowns from the 1950s. General admission tickets are $15, senior tickets are $12, student tickets are $10 and children 6-18 years old are $5. Members and children under 6 years old are free. For more information, visit hillwoodmuseum.org. Transformer (1404 P St., N.W.) presents

“The Temporary Art Repair Shop” by Tobias Sternberg from Oct. 3-30. Sternberg will transform the space into a repair shop and sculptor’s studio. The public is invited to drop off their broken or ugly objects and Sternberg will turn these objects into works of art. If Sternberg chooses to use the object, it will be on display until closing day. The opening reception for the exhibit is Oct. 3 from 6-8 p.m. For more details, visit transformerdc.org. The Phillips Collection (1600 21st St., N.W.) presents “Gauguin to Picasso: Masterworks from Switzerland” from Oct. 10-Jan 10. The exhibit pays tribute to Rudolf Staechelin and Karl Im Obersteg both from the city of Basel. They supported Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and School of Paris artists. From their collections, more than 60 paintings from 22 artists will be on display from the mid19th and 20th centuries. Adult tickets are $12; student and senior tickets are $10. Members and children under 18 years old are free. For more information, visit phillipscollection.org. Freer and Sackler Galleries (1050 Independence Ave., S.W.) present “Sōtatsu: Making Waves” from Oct. 24-Jan. 31. The exhibit showcases more than 70 works from 17th century Japanese artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu. Works displayed include “Waves at Matsushima,” “Dragons and Clouds” as well as fans, paintings, hanging scrolls and more. Admission is free. For more details, visit asia.si.edu/exhibitions. The National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave., N.W.) presents “Pathmakers: Women in Art, Craft and Design, Midcentury and Today” from Oct. 30-Feb. 28 featuring multi-media work by Eva Zeisel, Vivianna Torun BulowHube, Rut Bryk, Vivian Beer and many others. Details at nmwa.org. The National Gallery of Art (6th and Constitution Ave., N.W.) has multiple exhibits coming on display this fall. “Woman in Blue Reading a Letter” by Johannes Vermeer, lent from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, is on display from Sept. 19-Dec. 1. “The Serial Impulse at Gemini” will be on display from Oct. 4-Feb. 7. The exhibit showcases 17 artists’ works produced at the Los Angeles print workshop Gemini G.E.L. “Celebrating Photography at the National Gallery of Art: Recent Gifts” will be on display from Nov. 1-March 27. These photographs were all donated to the National Gallery of Art. Admission is free for all exhibits. For more information, visit nga.gov.

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CELEBRATING THE SHOPS, SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS, CLUBS, PARKS, ARTS AND FOLKS OF THE 17TH STREET CORRIDOR

9.12.15

The 17th Street Festival Is Produced By Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets

SPONSORED IN PART BY:

MUSIC 34

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Triumphant returns?

DURAN DURAN returns Sept. 18 with its 14th studio album. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE PISTEL

Janet, Adele, Beiber and others prep fall releases By CHRIS GERARD Leading the pack for highly anticipated new releases this fall is British songstress Adele, who will reportedly release “25” in November. She’s been working with hitmakers Danger Mouse, Max Martin, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Ryan Tedder, so the heavy guns are out to make sure it’s a worthy follow-up to the mega-smash “21.” The other big pop releases this fall are due from Justin Bieber, whose as-yet-untitled album is expected sometime in November, and dance/pop icon Janet Jackson, who will release “Unbreakable,” her ﬁrst new album in more than seven years, on Oct. 2. In addition to these, there are plenty of other new releases on the horizon that should appeal to just about any taste. Animal Collective is issuing a new live album recorded in D.C. earlier this summer, “Live at 9:30,” which is available for digital download or in a limited edition vinyl set. On Sept. 11, piano-rocker Ben Folds is back with “So There” and acclaimed blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr. returns with “The Story of Sonny Boy Slim,” along with new offerings by ‘90s folk-pop staple Jewel and pop vocalist Leona Lewis. Norwegian legends a-ha also returns ﬁve years after announcing their retirement with a comeback album, “Cast in Steel.” Grammy-

winning UK singer/songwriter Jess Glynn is out with her solo debut album “I Cry When I Laugh” also on the 11th. Sept. 18 is a big release date, with British pop legends Duran Duran back with their 14th studio album, “Paper Gods.” The album is produced by Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers, and includes the ﬁrst single “Pressure Off,” featuring a guest appearance by Janelle Monáe. Lana Del Rey returns with her eagerly anticipated third album “Honeymoon,” and Mac Miller is back with “Good A.M.” Also due on the 18th is the latest by new wave revivalists Metric, “Pagans in Vega,” and the latest solo album by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, “Rattle That Lock.” Speaking of legendary guitarists, Keith Richards will hit on the same date with his third solo effort, “Crosseyed Heart.” Sept. 25 is perhaps the biggest day of the fall for big new releases. The British electronic dance duo Disclosure will follow-up its acclaimed debut “Settle” with “Caracal,” and once again they feature talented guest vocalists — this time Sam Smith is joined by Lorde, the Weeknd and Miguel. The Scottish synth-pop group Chvrches release their second album “Every Open Eye.” The outrageous electro-punk pioneer Peaches is back with “Rub.” New Order returns with “Music Complete,” their ﬁrst new studio album in a decade. New albums by Kurt Vile, the Dears, Darkstar, Los Lobos, Silversun Pickups, the Game, the Dead Weather and Widespread Panic

are also expected Sept. 25. EDM superstar Avicii will follow-up his smash 2013 release “Time” with “Stories,” due Oct. 2. Pop vocalist Matt Nathanson also returns on Oct. 2 with “Show Me Your Fangs.” ‘90s rockers Collective Soul hits the same day with “See What You Started by Continuing,” along with British postpunk revivalists Editors, “In Dream” and songwriter John Grant’s latest “Grey Tickles, Black Pressure,” the follow-up to 2013’s acclaimed “Pale Green Ghosts.” Girls Names, Children of Bodom, Autre Ne Veut, Eagles of Death Metal and Wavves also have new releases due on the 2nd. Legendary songstress Tori Amos will release the cast recording to the musical she co-wrote with Samuel Adamson, “The Light Princess,” on Oct. 9. Progressive rockers Coheed and Cambria will release their latest on the same date, “The Color Before the Sun.” Also due that day are new offerings by Toby Keith, Selena Gomez, a live album by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, and the latest by electronic indie-pop group City and Colour, “If I Should Go Before You.” Later in the fall we can expect new albums by Carrie Underwood, “Storyteller,” indie-folk heroine Joanna Newsom, Vanessa Carlton, Rod Stewart, the return of ‘90s R&B combo SWV, the ﬁrst album by New Zealand rockers the Chills in two decades, Puscifer, and Seal. Also expected are big-name titles from Bloc Party, Christina Aguilera, Crystal Castles, Panic! At The Disco, Deftones, PJ Harvey,

Don Henley, Rihanna, Drake, Santigold, Frank Ocean, Gwen Stefani, Incubus, Haim, Tim McGraw, Grimes, Demi Lovato, Gorillaz, Jennifer Nettles, Kanye West (possibly 2016), M.I.A., Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, T-Pain, T.I., Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, TLC, Kings of Leon, GZA, James Blake, Metronomy, and Cee Lo Green, none of which have ofﬁcial release dates yet. Autumn is a great time for archival releases, and this year is no exception. Save up your funds for a couple big ticket items coming in September. On the 25th, British supergroup Queen will issue an 18LP set of all their albums on deluxe colored vinyl called “The Studio Collection,” but be prepared to pay about $450. The same day, David Bowie will unleash the ﬁrst of a series of lavish box sets: “Five Years (1969 to 1973),” which will included remastered versions of all of his album releases during that period as well as a two-disc set of rarities and b-sides. Velvet Underground will release a massive 45th anniversary edition of “Loaded” on Oct. 30. A deluxe two-disc 20th anniversary edition of Alanis Morissette’s iconic “Jagged Little Pill” is set for release on Oct. 30 (yes, it’s been 20 years!). It will include a remastered version of the original album plus a selection of unreleased tracks selected personally by Morissette from her archives. Garbage will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut with a deluxe threeLP edition complete with a bonus disc containing b-sides.

1 Our Heroes 2015 Exhibit on history of AIDS in D.C. on display One of the most important collections related to the history of HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C., will be on display at the U.S. Conference on AIDS, being held from Sept. 9-13. The complete collection of the “Our Heroes” exhibit includes 230 black and white portrait photographs of individuals, places, events and organizations that have made an impact in the war against AIDS in Washington, D.C., over the past 32 years. The installation of the exhibit will be held on Friday, Sept. 11 from 5-7 p.m. at the U.S. Conference on AIDS at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. A gallery opening will be held at the DC Center (2000 14th St., N.W., Suite 105) on Friday, Sept. 25 from 6-8 p.m. and will remain on display from Oct. 1-31.

These portrait photographs and stories will help archive the history of AIDS and its impact on Washington. These stories will also share with the world our journey and heroism in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This collection was displayed at the Wilson Building in 2006 and has grown by an additional 50 entries. It was displayed at the MLK Library from December 2013 until Jan. 5, 2014. After that time, the complete collection was given to the MLK Library. (Local advocates collaborating with the D.C. Department of Health compiled the list of Heroes that follows. The Washington Blade is publishing this compendium of Heroes honorees but is not responsible for its contents and did not write the text.)

2004

and as the first Director of Public Policy for NAPWA. Baker is former president and fundraising chairman of Brother, Help Thyself, the gay community charitable giving campaign of Washington and Baltimore.

Cornelius Baker

Michael Boteler PHOTO BY GARY JONES

Cornelius Baker has been one the AIDS community’s most successful organization builders and an effective advocate on behalf of people with AIDS. He served as Executive Director of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) beginning in 1996; he served previously as WhitmanWalker Clinic’s executive director. Baker has also served as a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services panel on clinical practices in HIV treatment, the U.S. Public Health Service/Infectious Disease Society of America’s Working Group on the Prevention of Opportunistic Infections, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS. Baker has also served as aide to Washington, D.C. Council member Carol Schwartz; as a member of the transition team of President George Bush; as Confidential Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the National AIDS Program Office (NAPO) under the Bush administration;

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The following words are from Michael Boteler: “I saw someone in the early years in need; I did whatever I could to make them feel loved and cared for. “Even before I found out that I had AIDS, I was not feeling well for quite a while and I went to the doctors, he drew blood, had me come back in a week and said to me “You have GRID (AIDS) you better get yourself together. You will probably be dead in about three weeks,” and then he turned around and left the room never to come back. I was devastated by this information, immediately I felt like all of those other expressions on those lonely, fearful faces that I had seen of so many times before. I gathered so much strength from still continuing in the early years with Activism, sitting with those just finding out, helping around the house, taking them to the doctors

or hospitals, and sometimes not bringing them back home with me because they just didn’t have chance. I remember the fear, the isolation, the discrimination, the blame shifting and the hatred that others had for us. “My journey through life has been one that I would never ever wish to give back. AIDS has been a blessing in my life. I have been a caregiver to those with HIV/AIDS in both the hospital and hospice setting. I have helped to arrange funerals for those who have died of AIDS, I have held the hands of their children, consoled their parents who did not know about them being sick and I have also been at memorial services of people who were so very popular and when they passed no one showed up but a handful of people. In my work today I am a coordinator for Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington, as an openly HIVpositive man who is also in recovery. I am the HIV Spiritual Retreat Coordinator and Support Group Facilitator for the Ministry with a caseload of approximately 525 participants; we also do a Burial Assistance Program for those who pass with HIV/AIDS to help the family give the deceased a burial with dignity. The retreats are held 7 times per year and I also continue in my recovery process sharing very often about my status and how important it is to get tested and remain safe. My life is so very full and I am so grateful for the disease of AIDS.” Peace and Blessings, Michael J. Boteler

Bishop K. Rainey Cheeks

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The following is from Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks: “May 1975 was the opening of the Clubhouse, a membership dance club here in Washington, D.C. It was quite unique every Friday and Saturday night between 800 to 1,200 people came each night to dance the night away. I was one of the managers of the club; in the early ‘80s we noticed we many of our members and friends becoming ill — it was the beginning of what we know to be the AIDS pandemic. I was ordained as a minister in 1982; little did I know this would be the start of my ministry. We did not understand what this was; we just knew something was happening that was affecting our community. By 1984 it was devastating how many of our friends were sick and dying from this strange disease. “At first, we did not know what to think or what to do about this because it was hitting every one no one was being left out as much as it was being pushed as a gay white disease. We knew better because it was right in the midst of our community. In the beginning I found myself working with people, trying to find ways to help

from raising money to help other organizations, to pay someone’s rent, buying medication. Everyone involved in the early days did whatever it took. At the Club House we had many entertainers to perform, the Weather Girls, Nona Hendrix, and Sylvester were just a few. After I got them to the club, I would tell them I wanted to use the limousine to go and pick someone up that may be ill to see the show as a way to uplift their spirits. They were more than willing to do this and they would spend a little time to meet them in the dressing room. In those days we would come together to help each other out by cooking dinner, cleaning the home, or just sitting with each other as needed. In one month I hosted over 17 funerals because most churches would not host them or gave little help. Thank God it’s different today. “In 1984, I started a support group for HIV-positive people. I knew Prem Deben was also working as an herbalist and therapist; we then formed a Holistic health support group. In 1985, we officially incorporated Us Helping Us, People Into Living (UHU) as a holistic organization to find ways to improve one’s health. It was a body, mind, and spirit connection that we knew we had to make. There were support groups for men and women. The training was two 12-week sessions to study the use of herbs, vitamins, diet and nutrition and how to make an inner connection to find ways to strengthen our lives. We chose the name Us Helping Us, People Into Living because we truly believed we could live with

2 HIV/AIDS and one day we would be focusing on other health issues. In the beginning we worked totally out of pocket. In 1993, I left UHU to open Inner Light Ministries and Dr. Ron Simmons became the Executive Director. Today, UHU is one Washington, D.C.’s largest HIV/ AIDS service organizations. None of us knew we would be still dealing with the same issues today.”

Alex Compagnet

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Alex E. Compagnet, MA, was born in Chile on May 20, 1949. He came to the United States in 1976 after having spending two years in a concentration camp under the rule of a fascist dictatorship. He learned to speak and write English while studying for an education degree at the National College of Education in Chicago. In 1987, after two years working as a counselor in D.C. General Hospital, he founded SALUD Inc., the first AIDS prevention and education non-profit organization that aimed to serve Latinos in the Washington Metropolitan area. He was also active in helping the first local Latino Gay support organization ENLACE. By 1994, SALUD Inc. had been serving thousands within the Latino community, regardless of HIV status, in the areas of housing, medical services, personal counseling, and HIV/AIDS prevention. It was at this time, at the age of 45, that Alex suffered a severe stroke that initially led to his withdrawal from SALUD. Yet, within two years, he fully recovered. He now lives in Kensington, Maryland with his two daughters Taina and Marcela. He teaches at Montgomery County Community College and is in the process of developing his own business. He also remains a board member of La Clinica del Pubelo, never having failed with his commitment to the Latino community. Alex Compagnet says, “I can’t just see people dying and suffering and not do anything about it. In the future, I want my children to see me as a person who fought against AIDS, one of the worst pandemics of our time. It is not in me to just watch from the outside, but to do my part and help the only I know how, which means to never stop.”

DC CARE Consortium

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The

Comprehensive

AIDS Resources and Education Consortium (DC CARE) was created on June 19, 1991, in response to Title II of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act. Its first task was to provide opportunities for member organizations and the community to exchange ideas and strategies for delivering HIV/ AIDS services. This action was driven by the Consortium’s belief that through community discourse a diverse and changing HIV/AIDS populace can learn from each other and develop methods for working collaboratively. The Consortium, a non-profit organization, provides services to more than 65 HIV/AIDS agencies that are its members. With the support and leadership of the CARE Consortium, these agencies are able to give quality services to people living with HIV/AIDS. These services include: clinical trials – education and recruitment; direct financial assistance (eviction prevention); supply water filters; and transportation support. Since its inception, DC CARE has made numerous accomplishments, including being the first concerted effort in Washington, D.C. to involve HIV/ AIDS service agencies working to target federal funds for programs to serve communities of color. DC CARE is also developing a media campaign targeting under-served populations that supports its outreach efforts to increase participation in testing, treatment, prevention, and safer sex. The Consortium conducts an annual Toy Drive that gives toys to children either living with HIV/AIDS or who are members of families challenged with HIV/ AIDS. In October 199, DC CARE sponsored the Gospel Against AIDS Concert. More than 800 people attended, with representatives from the U.S. Congress, the White House, HIV/AIDS Pharmaceutical Corporations and the Entertainment Industry. Mr. Al Roker of NBC’s “Today” show served as Master of Ceremonies for the concert.

Food & Friends

PHOTO BY GARY JONES

For people living with HIV/ AIDS, cancer and other lifechallenging illnesses, the battle is far from over. Food & Friends makes sure no one has to face it on an empty stomach. Along with nutrition counseling, Food & Friends prepares packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout the Washington, D.C.

metropolitan area. Since 1988, Food & Friends has provided food and companionship to our clients, their loved ones and caregivers. The mission of Food & Friends is to foster a community caring for men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling.

Letitia Gomez

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

“My awareness of the devastation of HIV/AIDS on our community goes back to 1980 when I worked as a medical social worker at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston. The staff was suddenly confronted with patients who had Kaposi’s sarcoma, happened to be gay white men, and were dying. It wasn’t until I came to Washington, D.C., that I was confronted with the death of long time friends with HIV/AIDS. Most were warriors against HIV/AIDS and worked tirelessly to make Latino and African Americans visible in the battle. These losses still hurt today, as does the ignorance and denial that abounds in our community and will mean more unnecessary loss. Unless we continue to tell our stories and remain visible and vocal, THE BATTLE CONTINUES.” Letitia Gomez has worked to support many efforts to combat HIV/AIDS locally and nationally since 1987. She and many other gay and lesbian Latino activists of ENLACE, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Latino Gay and Lesbian organization worked with SALUD, Inc. in the late 1980s to bring attention to the epidemic’s effects on the Latino community. Letitia was one of the founding board members of the D.C. Woman’s Council on AIDS, and LLEGO, the national LATINO/A Lesbian and Gay Organization. Currently she serves on the board of Whitman-Walker Health and the board of AIDS Action Foundation.

Jim Harvey

PHOTO BY GARY JONES

“2006 marked my 20th year of working in the HIV/AIDS field. My background is in Public Health, but something happened to me in the mid 1980s that changed the direction of my career and

my personal interests for all the subsequent years. I found myself standing on the sidelines, watching my closest friends die one after another until one day I counted 38 friends in one year who were now gone. I knew I had to do something and thus began my long journey along the road to HIV prevention and care. In the District I quickly became alarmed at the reality of this disease disproportionately affecting my own people at alarming rates while too few people in the AfricanAmerican community stepped up to the challenge of fighting back. I found a few determined friends and colleagues who felt like I did and together we went to the D.C. Council and pressed them for resources that would support our bringing the fight against HIV/ AIDS to the African American community. Our efforts lead to the birth of Washington, D.C.’s first two African American-lead organizations that to this day are often remembered fondly as the reason so many of us are still in the struggle. I’m glad I have company in this fight.”

Pat Hawkins

CMV, which could leave people blind, paralyzed, and/or demented before it claimed their lives. But most of all, there was fear of dying alone; and it was this fear that galvanized first the gay community, and then others, to come together, to volunteer, to organize, to develop new programs, to design new strategies, and to become empowered activists like Hank Carde. It was this widespread activism that finally led us to more effective treatments, and it is those treatments that now keep so many more people alive, and that have brought us all the hope we all share today…a hope that one day, we will, once again, live in a world without AIDS. We are not there yet…but gay and straight, black and white, men and women, we are on the march, and we will let nothing stand in our way. As for those of us who survived those early days of darkness and despair, we have been forever changed. I know that we will always see life more vividly, hold friends more closely, and keep memories more precious, for we have truly walked with heroes, and I believe they walk with us still.

Charles Hicks

PHOTO BY GARY JONES

I believe that for most of us, joining the fight against AIDS became the defining experience of our lives. I know that it was for me. There was a “pre-AIDS” world, and a “post-AIDS” world – and they were totally, dramatically, and forever separate. In the “pre-AIDS” world, sexual freedom was a gift and a given, and death was distant and rare occurrence coming mostly to those who had “run the course” and had the time to face their own mortality. In the “post-AIDS” world, sex was fraught with guilt and conflict, and death came to young people in the prime of their lives – to our “best and brightest” – leaving so many empty spaces, so many uncompleted tasks, so many unanswered questions, so much promise unfulfilled. Dying became an everyday experience, fear a constant companion. During one two-week period in 1992, I went to 10 funerals or memorial services. That was not uncommon, as we buried our clients, our colleagues, our close friends, and there seemed to be no end to the overwhelming grief and loss. And I remember the pervasive fear – fear of this unknown and unpredictable virus; fear of being “outed” by this disease and the hate and discrimination that followed (a fear shared by PWAs and gay providers alike); fear of dying a sudden death from PCP, or a long and agonizing decline from

PHOTO BY GARY JONES

Charles “Chuck” Hicks is a man actively involved in his community. He is a graduate of Syracuse University were he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He is employed at the Martin Luther King branch of the Washington, D.C. Public Library. He is president of the Local Union 1808, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents librarians and technicians. He has recently stepped down as citywide president of AFSCME DC 20, which represents over 3,000 D.C. government employees. Chuck is considered one of the pioneers of the HIV/AIDS movement for African-Americans in Washington, D.C. He began the first black HIV/AIDS communitybased volunteer organization. His major effort is with Bread-forthe-Soul – an organization that organizes special projects of toys and food baskets for parents and/ or children living with HIV/AIDS for the holidays. Chuck is also a trustee of The Greater New Hope Baptist Church and chair of its historical committee. Charles is founder of the Washington, D.C. Black History celebration committee and he has chaired the Mayor’s HIV/AIDS Advisory Board. Over the years, Chuck has worked with various HIV/AIDS committees and organizations.

3 The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. (MCC-DC) began its ministry in 1971 and to this day serves as a Christian church with a special ministry to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and other spiritually disenfranchised peoples. As an evangelical, biblically based, Christ-centered congregation, MCC-DC has sought to fulfill God’s will by faithfully serving the people of the D.C. Metropolitan area. On May 24, 1985 MCC-DC lost its first member to HIV/AIDS. That member, James Vincent McCann, had served as a deacon at MCCDC, and was very involved in the music ministry of the church. On June 24, 1986 the James Vincent McCann Memorial Fund was established to provide pastoral care ministry to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and to help meet their basic human needs, (i.e. food, shelter, transportation, insurance premiums, utilities, etc.). Since then, MCC-DC has given over one hundred thousand dollars to people outside the congregation in an effort to fulfill the ministry of Jesus Christ by easing the suffering of others in the midst of this pandemic.

Jacquelyn Pace

Coordinator at Damien Ministries where she oversees all activities pertaining to the metropolitan area churches. She is responsible for coordinating the activities of the D.C. Faith-Based AIDS Organizing Initiative. Ms. Pace is credited with implementing the AIDS Ministry at her church, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Washington, DC. She planned and organized healing and prayer services, AIDS Awareness Days, Thanksgiving Dinners and Christmas Gifts for the Needy, as well as solicited donations and participated in the AIDS Walk and Walk for life. Ms. Pace currently serves as Treasurer for the Far NE/SE Ecumenical Outreach Ministry, a spin off from the Balm-In-Gilead, an organization instituted by Pernessa Seele of New York. Balm-In-Gilead is responsible for instituting the well-known “Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.” She has been a Team Leader with Samaritan Ministries Spiritual Retreats since June 1998. She held the position of Chairperson of the DC Catholic AIDS Network from 2000 to 2003. In this capacity she facilitated meetings and workshops for Catholic parishes on HIV/AIDS education. She also served on the National Conference Planning Committee for the National Catholic AIDS Network. She participated in the Eucharistic Congress facilitating workshops to encourage other parishes to establish HIV/AIDS ministries. Jackie continues to deliver immeasurable results as a devoted advocate for HIV/AIDS programs and initiatives.

Kevin Robinson

SPECTRUM – Clifton Allen Robinson and Dwight Clarke

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Ms. Jacquelyn H. Pace is truly a role model for her commitment to the AIDS program. Ms. Pace, affectionately known as Jackie Pace, became involved in the AIDS program after her best friend lost her daughter due to the complications of AIDS. It was Jackie’s fervent belief in her own purpose that allowed her to provide love, hope, and encouragement to her best friend and is what motivates her to do the same for so many others affected by HIV/AIDS. Ms. Pace is a HIV/AIDS certified peer counselor/educator. She has also received training at the US Conference of Mayors and Whitman-Walker Clinic in the Fundamentals of HIV Prevention Counseling and Comprehensive AIDS Training Initiative (CATI) at Howard University. Ms. Pace is the Faith-Based

all of my time at the ‘faze me’ and at ‘the other side’ for the drag shows, and become an activist. I didn’t do it for the recognition, but I have to admit – it is nice to be acknowledged. When my brother Dr. Stan Spector committed suicide in New York City on Oct.14, 1985 due to having AIDS, President Reagan and his band of homophobic conservatives wouldn’t do anything. He couldn’t bear to put our family through what he believed would be a tragic, long, and drawn out death; something inside of me started to burn. I started quietly questioning why a 34-year-old doctor with a stunning future had to die. Where was the government? Where was the medical community? Where was the support for him? No, he shouldn’t be quarantined on an island. After I had time to grieve, I decided I was going to try to make change. On Jan. 10, 1987, at the request of my friend Judy Greenspan, I went to the gay and lesbian community center in Baltimore to attend a regional meeting for the 1987 March on Washington for gay and lesbian rights. The rest is history. The energy, the anger, the electricity and the power of grassroots organizing had me. From the point on I’ve been involved, I decided my brother’s death would never be in vain; I think I’ve made him proud. Whether it was the march in 1987 or 1993, OUT DC, ACTUP, Queer Nation, the Lesbian Avengers, my contributions to the Lesbian Services Board of the Whitman-Walker Clinic or my contributions to the Rainbow History Project or my work with the transgender community, taking pictures or video, I did what I could because I think it is the right thing to do.

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Kevin is a native Washingtonian. He tested HIV-positive in 1999; in 2000, he lost use of his left arm and hand. When you talk to him, you too will find that he refuses to let his status keep him down. Currently he is on meds with a viral load of 700 and a T-cell count of 465. He has high self-esteem and cannot be discouraged. There’s no stopping this D.C. Hero!

Cheryl Spector

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

When I decided to stop spending

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

In 1983, I attended a funeral a week for friends who passed from AIDS-related illnesses. As president of the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, I asked our members to provide the community with HIV/AIDS prevention information because no one was reaching out to people of color, particularly men who had sex with other men. Lawrence Washington, George Bellinger, David Naylor, Thomas Gleaton and myself went out several nights a week to the bars in an attempt to reach people with literature information and condoms, but

the deaths became more frequent. I lost more and more friends and acquaintances. In 1984, we held the first national AIDS in the Black Community Conference at the Washington Convention Center. People flew in from all over the country for a one-day conference. That’s when I found out no one had any more information about behavior modification than we did. The following year, the city awarded the DC Coalition first contract ever issued for HIV prevention outreach to people of color. As National Treasurer, I became the project coordinator of SPECTRUM. I wanted to call it SPECTRUM because of the skin rainbow of people of color. Dwight Clarke came to work for us with little health education, but a keen a sense of how to reach people. He knew there had been little outreach to people of color, but he was willing to try to reach them. Many of his interventions have become national HIV/AIDS prevention tools and models. The sad part is that Dwight Clarke, George Bellinger and I are some of the few people still in the prevention field, or, for that matter, alive to see that we could make a difference in 2004.

For the past 20 years, Sutson has been a driving force in the Best of Washington social club. A founding member of one of the most enduring organizations for black gays in Washington, Sutson has served the club in just about every capacity imaginable, and currently acts as its chairman emeritus. He and some friends started the Best of Washington simply to have something to do. Sutson and his friends began organizing Sunday night tea dances, which allowed black gay men and lesbians to socialize and connect with each other. The group also hosted “All-Night Struts” at various venues on Saturday evenings that would regularly attract hundreds of people. Sutson has also worked extensively with HIV/AIDS populations. After retiring from his first career, as a personnel specialist with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, where he worked for 25 years, he decided he wasn’t ready to settle down just yet, and began working at the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry.

2005

Otis “Buddy” Sutson Marion Barry, Jr.

PHOTO BY GARY JONES

The following text is from an article that previously appeared May 28, 2004 in the Washington Blade. The article was written by Bryan Anderton. “Otis “Buddy” Sutson has dedicated much of his adult life — the last 30 years, in fact — to helping black gays and lesbians in Washington. And in three decades, he says he’s noticed a dramatic change. “It’s grown tremendously, with the increased visibility we’ve received,” Sutson says. “We’re much more vocal as well. We’re more active in politics and in the workings of the city. I think we realized that we had to get involved if we wanted to change it. If we wanted to raise awareness of our issues, we had to get involved.” Sutson, a native Washingtonian, has been active in such organizations as the Best of Washington, a social group for black gays, the D.C. Coalition, a gay political organization, Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day Inc., which was founded 14 years ago in part to help African Americans affected by HIV/AIDS, the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry and Damien Ministries, which provides services to HIVpositive adults and children in Washington.

PHOTO BY LEIGH MOSELEY

Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. served four terms as mayor of Washington, D.C. from 1979 to 1991 and from 1995 to 1999. Since 1971, when he was elected to the first city school board, he has held several other elected offices and late in his career represented Ward 8, which comprises Anacostia and Congress Heights on the Council of the District of Columbia. In the 1960s, he joined the American Civil Rights Movement in an effort to eliminate racial segregation of bus passengers, and was elected the first chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). During his leading SNCC, Barry heavily lobbied against racial segregation and discrimination. During his early days as mayor of Washington, D.C., Marion Barry reached out immediately to the city’s gay and lesbian community. During his second term, the AIDS epidemic began its deadly assault on our city. As a result of his leadership, Washington, D.C. was one of the first cities in the country to publicly fund AIDS prevention activities and, later, services to help those who were sick.

Reginald Blaxton Reggie was born in Washington,

4 PHOTO COMPLIMENTS THE FAMILY

D.C. on Jan. 6, 1953, to Lois and Samuel Blaxton. He attended D.C. public schools and graduated from Western High School in 1970. A gifted music autodidact, he served as organist for the Church of St. Stephen and the Incarnation in Washington during his high school years. In the fall of 1970, Reggie left Washington to attend Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He excelled academically and graduated in 1974 with a degree in philosophy and religion. He the spent the 1972-73 academic year abroad at the Manchester college of Oxford University, where his studies focused on the theology of the Reformation and contemporary Christology. After college, he heeded a call to the ministry and entered Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the fall of 1975. Reggie was ordained to the Diaconate and the Priesthood in the Diocese of Chicago, and he served as urban Associate in the Episcopal Urban Center at St. Barnabas’ Church in Chicago from 1980 to 1981. Upon his return to Washington, Reggie became an assistant pastor at St. George’s Episcopal Church. In 1984, he was appointed Special Assistant to the Mayor for Religious Affairs, acting as official liaison (with cabinet rank) to religious community constituents, organizations and institutions, a position he held until 1991. Among his many significant achievements in this role was his successful development of the first church-based, governmentrun drug treatment center at DC’s First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church. During this period, in the midst of a growing AIDS epidemic, and spurred by his anger and frustration at what he saw as clear failure on the part of the church community to respond adequately to the crisis, Reggie began increasingly to speak out on this issue. His deep-rooted commitment to his faith and his community, his superior intellect and prophetic zeal, and his thorough knowledge of religious institutions in the District all combined to make him a much respected and highly effective advocate for change. In 1988, he became a founding board member of the Washington AIDS Partnership. He was a pioneer in the development of culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS training curricula and methods in religious community settings. Beyond his many professional achievements, Reggie’s family, friends, and colleagues remember him most for his charismatic presence, his unequivocal views,

his warmth and lightning wit, and his genuine love for other people. No one who knew him was left untouched by the extraordinary force of a truly extraordinary personality. Reginald Glenn Blaxton, priest, activist and author, died March 11, 2001 of AIDS-related complications.

Melvin Boozer

PHOTO BY LEIGH MOSELEY

Not much is written about black gay activist Mel Boozer, but he will be fondly remembered for his nomination (and later withdrawal) for Vice President of the United States in 1980. He was also a member of Black and White Men Together, an organization dedicated to harmony between gay men of different ethnic groups. He ran for vice president while serving as president of the Gay Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. Listed below are quotes from his 1980 address to the Democratic National Convention: “…I rise in thankful recognition of the citizens of the District of Columbia who voted for me to come here knowing that I am gay, and who continue to labor and live in a city which has no voice in determining how it shall be taxed and which has no power to effect the decisions which affect the quality of our lives. “And finally, Mr. Chairman and members of the convention, I rise in anguished recognition of more than 20 million Americans who love this country and who long to serve this country in the same freedom that others take for granted, 20 million lesbian and gay Americans whose lives are blighted by a veil of ignorance and misunderstanding… “We come from towns and cities where our friends are jailed and beaten on the slightest pretext. We come from churches, which have been burned to the ground because they admit us to worship. We come from families, which have been torn apart because we have lost our jobs, and we have lost our good names, which have been slandered by false accusations, myths, and lies… “ Would you ask me how I’d dare to compare the civil rights struggle with the struggle for lesbian and gay rights? I can compare, and I do compare them. I know what it means to be called a nigger. I know what it means to be called a faggot. And I can sum up the difference in one word: none. “Bigotry is bigotry. I have been booed before. Discrimination is discrimination. It hurts just as much. It dishonors our way of life just as much, and it betrays a common lack of understanding,

fairness and compassion.”

Brother Help Thyself, Inc. PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

PHOTO COURTESY BHT

Brother Help Thyself, Inc. (BHT) was founded in 1978 and is one of the first organizations in the United States to provide funding for health, cultural, and social services in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) community. Over the past 28 years, BHT has raised over $1.8 million and distributed the funds to more than 250 groups and organizations. BHT disburses direct and matching funds, acts as a clearinghouse for donated goods and services, and serves and an information resource in the GLBTQ community. BHT has also developed programs that help in areas of existing community services including: the BHT hotline that provides information, referrals, and a non-judgmental ear to its callers; Respect/Protect, a programs that distributes AIDS educational information, condoms and lube to patrons of local businesses; and Volunteer Clearinghouse that organizes volunteers to help BHT grantees with their events and provides support when grantees need specialized skills. BHT serves as a safety net for the GLBTQ community. Gay nonprofits sometimes face financial emergencies; for instance, antigay sentiment at the state and federal levels has decreased HIV/ AIDS funding. In such situations, BHT steps into the gap and provides support. During 2005, BHT made enormous strides to keep funding levels high at a time when many organizations were in dire need of our assistance. BHT continues to hold true to its purpose and mission of supporting all segments of the community applying for financial support.

Raymond Carter

Alan Cornelius Cephas, a former professional super-model, departed this life on Jan. 26, 2000 at the Washington Home and Hospice of Washington, D.C. He was 48 years old. Alan was born on April 20, 1951 in Washington, D.C. and lived in Northeast. During his modeling career he also in lived in Philadelphia and New York City. Alan attended the D.C. public schools of Carter G. Woodson Junior High School and McKinley Technical High School. His love for drawing and design intersected with his professional interest in fashion. With a self-developed portfolio, Alan promoted his talents. Affiliation with a Washington, D.C. modeling school and agency led him to a successful career with Wilhelmina Models of New York, a company that continues to launch and manage the careers of top models and superstars. As a “Wilhelmina Man,” the company represented Alan and gave him national international assignments and exposure. Alan became a regular and featured model for Ebony, Ebony Man, Essence, and GQ magazines. Before starting in the fashion industry, he worked in a support staff position at the Federal Reserve Board and a designer for point-of-purchase displays at a local women’s fashion store and a major department store. From designing sketches, store displays to walking down runways, Alan was featured in the former Washington Star newspaper as one of DC’s promising professional models. His career included advertisements, modeling at the annual Congressional Black Caucus dinner and fashion shows, and for several years he modeled for internationally known designer Bill Blass. When he could no longer model, he worked at educating throughout the DC community about HIV and AIDS. Within the last three months of his life, it was Kaposi’s sarcoma that became his greatest challenge. Alan’s fun-loving spirit, debonair style, and unconditional love will always be remembered.

a woman who has been active in the Washington, D.C. black LGBT community since 1980. A resident of Washington, D.C. since 1979, Carlene initially joined several organizations to see exactly who and what comprises the community. She joined the DC Coalition of LGBT persons in 1980 and served as member and leader of the organization for 24 years. In 1983, she became the first African American and woman coordinator of the ‘P Street Beach’ activities that birthed D.C. Capital Pride. The same year, she also co-coordinated the first HIV/AIDS march on Washington, D.C. Moreover, she has also served as a founder, coordinator and later president of Washington, D.C.’s Black Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc. from 1990-94. She has also expressed interest in HIV/AIDS issues as member of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Planning Council. Carlene has also worked diligently to educate the gay community (and the black gay community in particular) on the need to become involved in politics. In recent years, she has served in Mayor Anthony Williams’ office, first as a director of the office of the public advocate, and then was the Mayor’s first special assistant for gay and lesbian affairs. Carlene has received a number of awards for her work in the community since 1983. She has been awarded by Black Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc., the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the Passages Conference, the National Museum for Women in the Arts, and the Uncommon Legacy Foundation. In 1997, she received a Mayoral Proclamation from the Council of the District of Columbia. As of 2004, Carlene is a special assistant for the bureau of program integrity in the mental retardation and developmental disabilities administration in the District’s Department of Human Services. She continues to inspire younger gay people with her spirit, her warming presence, and her charm.

Barbara Ann Chinn

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Carlene Cheatam – “The Queen Mother” PHOTO BY LEIGH MOSELEY

This young man was known for parties and clubs that he organized. He was always willing to give money and support to HIV education.

Alan Cephas

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

A kind and giving person and a passionate leader are just a few ways to describe Carlene Cheatam,

Barbara A. Chinn is director of the Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Health. In addition, Barbara serves as the primary liaison with the community “East of the River” for Whitman-Walker’s HIV/ AIDS education and outreach. She has managed or served as administrator for many of the programs offered by WhitmanWalker including Schwartz Housing Services, Sunny Sherman AIDS Education

5 Services, and the Volunteer Resources Department that coordinates over 2,000 community volunteers in their provision of services to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. As Director of the Max Robinson Center, in addition to administration, she ensures that primary medical care and dental services, case management services, mental health and addictions counseling, nutritional counseling and day treatment services are integrated and responsive to the needs of the clients. Barbara is a native Washingtonian, and attended D.C. Public Schools and Howard University. She has served on numerous boards and committees within WhitmanWalker and throughout the Washington community. She is a former member of the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition Board of Directors, the Glaxo-Wellcome Community Advisory Board, and is presently a member of the Positive Words Editorial Advisory Board. Barbara was most recently appointed to the Mayor’s Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and has been recognized for her work with HIV/ AIDS and the LGBT communities. Of greatest importance to Barbara is the education of the community she is serving and that all understand the impact of HIV disease, its prevention, and its treatment.

Dwayne S. Brown Foundation, Inc. (DBSF)

the treatment gap for those requiring the necessary resources to combat and/or live with HIV/ AIDS; disseminating information and implementing a treatment outcome monitoring system. The concept for family-oriented support services grew out of the increasing need for burial assistance. As late as the 1990s, families in Washington, D.C. were still struggling with the stigma of a loved one succumbing to an AIDS-related illness. Families were not only devastated by losing loved ones to AIDS, but they also encountered barriers when trying to arrange funerals for such loved ones. This coupled with the shame of a disease that would not be openly discussed, economic hardships and funeral directors closing doors in their faces, resulted in families turning to the Foundation for financial support, guidance and understanding. In view of the growing numbers of HIV/AIDS-related cases reported for Washington, D.C., the foundation has broadened its focus to include HIV/AIDS intervention workshops, providing outreach through participation in numerous health fairs, and working with faith-based organizations to educate parents about having gay or lesbian children. These may be the hallmarks of the organization, but like other HIV/AIDS service organizations, the Foundation remains responsive to trends in HIV/AIDS. This includes initiating an analysis of the needs of senior citizens living with HIV/AIDS.

Shurron Farmer

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

In June 1992, William Beale co-founded the Dwayne s. Brown Foundation, Inc. (DBSF) with his son Dwayne S. Brown who died of AIDS-related complications on Dec. 27, 1994. The Foundation is a 501© (3) nonprofit community and family-based organization initially developed to fill gaps in services experience by people living with HIV/AIDS. The mission of the Foundation is to promote effective, efficient and accessible HIV/AIDS intervention and treatment services in Washington, D.C., ensuring the development of a system responsive to emerging HIV/AIDS trends. The Foundation’s primary objectives are providing educational information about intervention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and providing support services to individuals and families of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Issues related to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community are also addressed, including support and promotion of HIV/AIDS education; reducing

My name is Dr. Shurron Farmer, and I am much honored to have been asked by Kevin Yancey Kenner to be a subject of his wonderful art as it relates to the Our Heroes exhibit. Apart from the AIDS quilt, I’d never heard of such an expression of the ramifications of HIV/AIDS through art, music, and poetry. I grew up in Quincy, Fla., a small town 22 miles north of Tallahassee. After completing my bachelor’s degree in mathematics (summa cum laude) at Florida A&M University in 1994, I moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue graduate studies in mathematics at Howard University. I received a master’s degree in 1996 and later the Ph.D. in 2001. I’m currently a mathematics professor and I continue to live in Washington, D.C. Since 1996, I’ve been active in the black gay community through various activities, including volunteer work with Brother to Brother, Us Helping Us, AlSura, and Brothers Reaching Out (B.R.O.), a group that promotes

fellowship through volleyball. During my tenure as chairman of B.R.O., a group of basketball players was also formed. I’ve also tried to exemplify being a Christian black man who is also happy being single, nonheterosexual, and not willing to live a gay lifestyle as opposed to simply living. It’s my belief that while sexuality (as only a part of who I am) has helped to determine my choices in life, sexuality is not my entire lifestyle. Jesus Christ is the head of my life and it’s through Him I recognize my lifestyle as a tapestry of many aspects, including my sexual identity. It is my sincere hope Our Heroes will touch the hearts of the people it reaches. As the fight for a cure for HIV continues, I continue to try to make some contribution of encouragement or impartation of strength to someone who might believe HIV = AIDS = death. We must all remember HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence and that one can live with HIV happily and healthy. As with many friends and colleagues, HIV/AIDS has made a great impact on me personally. Over the years, I’ve lost an uncle, cousins, and close friends to AIDS-related illnesses. HIV’s impact on my life increased in 2001 as I was then diagnosed as HIV-positive. Since that time, I’m even more determined to live a good life of faith and prosperity; I will not allow my condition to deter me from being happy as a Christian gay person and encouraging others, especially my brothers and sisters in the LGBT community, to be happy with who they are. As Kevin Kenner and I became friends in 2001, we’d discuss our mutual love of pictures and photography, often joking about my being an assistant to a professional photographer. Little did I know what began as a joke between friends would evolve into an artistic expression linking friendship, a common hobby, and a condition. Yes, HIV/AIDS should make all of us examine and re-evaluate the true meanings of compassion, sensitivity, pride, choice, circumstance, and faith.

Friends Meeting House

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Organized in 1930, the Friends Meeting of Washington moved into its meeting house at 2111 Florida Ave., N.W., near Dupont Circle in 1931. Fifty years later, the Meeting House recognized a gay and lesbian weekly meeting group. In 1986, the Friends Meeting began its outreach and support to persons with HIV and AIDS by

creating the Ad Hoc Committee on AIDS. The following year, the Meeting House began a weekly coffeehouse for persons with AIDS that continues to the present. The Friends Meeting of Washington offered its premises for regular meetings of Washington, D.C.’s OUT! AIDS activist group which met regularly at the Decatur Street offices adjoining the meeting house. The Friends Meeting has also provided regular meeting space for other LGBT organizations, including a black lesbian group. Friends’ food programs have also been a support for persons with AIDS in the community.

Fred Garnett

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

Fred Garnett of Washington, D.C. was a member of the first Board of Directors of the National Association of People with AIDS. NAPWA advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV/ AIDS. It was incorporated in 1987 through the contributions of Jay Coburn, Paul Kawata and Stephen Beck, its first executive director, to be the voice of people with AIDS at the center of power.

Thomas Gleaton

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

Thomas was widely known throughout the community for his kindness, compassion, understanding, commitment and dedication. He was a lifelong Washington resident and an honors graduate from Cardozo High School. Thomas attended Dillard University in Louisiana and returned to the Washington, D.C. area to pursue a decadelong career in early childhood education at Fillmore Day Care Center. His commitment to improving the quality of life for lesbians and gay men motivated Thomas to become very active in the Black Lesbian and Gay Movement and later propelled him into the forefront of the battle against HIV/AIDS. He provided significant contributions to the Black Lesbian and Gay Community in Washington, D.C. and the nation. Thomas’ professional career included being the Volunteer Coordinator for Whitman-Walker Clinic and the Executive Director of the

Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN). Thomas’ legacy inspired and influenced many. His civic and spiritual accomplishments included being a deacon at Faith Temple, and a member of Inner Light Unity Fellowship Church, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and the Civilian Review Complaint Board. His affiliations in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community included being President of the D.C. Coalition, membership in the Black Male Empowerment Group, Gays and Lesbians Opposed to Violence (GLOV), and the Black Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc. Committee. He also contributed to HIV/AIDS issues as a member of: the Ryan White Planning Council, the HIV Community Coalition, the HIV Prevention Community Planning Committee, the School Condom Distribution Committee, and the Lawrence Washington Memorial Foundation. He also served as a board member with Food and Friends and Joseph’s House, and he was a contributor to the NAMES Project. Finally, Thomas was the recipient of several award and commemorations from organizations throughout the Washington metro area and the nation.

Jim Graham

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Jim Graham has worked in both the public and private sectors to improve and protect those most vulnerable. A graduate of Michigan State University, Jim received a J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School and an L.L.M. from Georgetown University Law Center. In his past tenure as Whitman-Walker Clinic’s longtime executive director, Jim played a key role in the development of the DC metro area’s response to the AIDS epidemic. In consequence, people with AIDS and HIV, their friends, family, and colleagues were well served by one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive community-based systems in the nation. In 1999, Jim left WhitmanWalker to take his seat as the Council member for Ward One. As a Council member, he was an advocate for all the residents of the most diverse ward (Ward One) in Washington, D.C., where no single population group has a majority. As an openly gay man who is an immigrant and naturalized citizen, Jim not only appreciates the diversity of Ward One, he also contributes to it. Jim Graham has been a strong advocate for our diverse interests. The lives and livelihood of Latinos have been enhanced due to his efforts to strengthen the Office of

6 Latino Affairs and expand health insurance coverage for immigrant children. Economic development initiatives throughout the Ward have received much attention, and are finally getting off the ground. He is a friend of labor. While in office, Jim devoted major resources to constituent services. He and his staff made sure basic service needs were met. In addition, Jim made a practice of personally responding to 60 to 80 constituent e-mails each weekday morning “before work.” He took the lead on repairing slum properties without evicting tenants and rehabilitating nuisance buildings. He was a leader in preventing our children from being poisoned by lead. He fought for more police while also strengthening substance abuse programs, and he worked to improve recreational parks.

without receiving his settlement. His estate continues to pursue his case. While living in Washington, James became a Certified Peer Counselor for the Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN). Sabrina Green, AIDS activist and friend to Jim, says, “Jim will be remembered as a fighter who was true to his belief. Jim met the ravages of AIDS with courage and dignity.” “He died the day before he was scheduled to testify and six days after the Judge granted a request by the Bank to remove his attorneys who had pursued the case for over three years on his behalf,” said Dale Edwin Sanders, Mr. Hall’s attorney during the case. James Hall died from AIDSrelated complications Thursday, April 4, 1994 at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

James Michael Layne Hall

Rebecca Helem

PHOTO COURTESY REBECCA HELEM PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

James M.L. Hall was born in Denver on July 10, 1963. He graduated from the University of Denver in 1987 with degrees in political science and economics. He also served with distinction as a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserve, from 1984 to 1992. He was deeply interested in politics as demonstrated by his early involvement in Denver. He was a Close Up Foundation Program Instructor, delegate to the Colorado Democratic Convention (1982-84), and served as a judge for the Denver Elections Commission. He served as Chapter President of Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society and Student Senator at the University of Colorado at Denver from 1985 to 1987. He later changed his political affiliation to the Republican Party and was proud to be one of the few young AfricanAmericans bringing a voice of diversity to the Republican Party. In 1988, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked as a claims examiner at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management until 1989. From December 1989 until June 1991, when he was fired, he was employed by Adams National Bank as a Financial Analyst. Mr. Hall later sued the Bank for disability discrimination. Mr. Hall’s valiant three-year struggle with the Bank was fueled by his determination to see institutions become more responsive and compassionate to the needs of disabled employees coming after him. The case was settled in June 1994; however, the Bank challenged the settlement award based upon unfounded allegations that he and his attorneys leaked the settlement amount to the media. Unfortunately, Mr. Hall died

Rebecca A. Helem is a longtime activist, cultural organizer, poet, program manager, and licensed Social Worker. She is native of Philadelphia and a vibrant daughter of a long line of creative and sagacious women. Rebecca received her MSW in 1996 from the University of Pennsylvania, and has worked for over 20 years in an array of non-profit settings. From the late ‘80s to the late ‘90s, Rebecca dedicated years of her life to the fight against HIV/AIDS. She served as a program manager and innovator in various HIV/AIDS service settings to include local and national community based organizations, a faith-based organization, a high school, jails and prisons, and as a volunteer AIDS buddy. In 1991, she received and Emerging Leader Award from the Philadelphia Gay News for her work, and she has conducted numerous workshops throughout the United States. In 2001, in recognition of her volunteer and paid work in the health and human services field, she received a scholarship to attend a National Training of Trainers Workshop for Human Rights Education from the Stanley foundation and the University of Minnesota Human Rights Resource Center. Ms. Helem is the founder and president of RIVA, the Rights in View Alliance. RIVA’s mission is to foster community building, via spiritual and artistic activities, focusing on the healing and wholeness of African-American women. In 2002, Rebecca received a fellowship to attend a meditation retreat for long-time activists of color at the Vallecitos Mountain Refuge in New Mexico. In 2004 she received her Meditation Teacher

Training Certificate from the Ananda Expanding Light Retreat Center in California. Rebecca brings a wealth of creativity, knowledge, and commitment to justice for our human family.

Robyn Holden

PHOTO COURTESY ROBYN HOLDEN

Robyn Holden has served as a volunteer for DC Black Pride, often co-organizing the Monday festivals in the park at Carter Baron Amphitheatre and Kenilworth Park. Robyn brings decades of broadcast experience, media savvy and an intimate knowledge of the District Government and its players to The ANC and YOU, a weekly 30-minute television program that centers on issues related to the 8 wards and sub-wards in Washington, DC. The ANC and YOU concentrates on providing up to date information on city government, its managers and how it affects the citizens, as well as residents of Washington D.C. As an integral part of the local government, the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are showcased for their grass roots efforts in providing services for the citizens in the District. In addition, The ANC and YOU interviews citizens on location with a cutting edge op-ed commentary at the conclusion of each program.

Greg Hutchings

PHOTO COURTESYGREG HUTCHINGS, SR.

Gregory Carl Hutchings, Sr. began his life on July 30, 1955 as the beloved first son of Irvin and Dolly Phifer Hutchings. As an “Air Force brat,” Greg spent much of his childhood traveling, settling and resettling with his family at military bases around the world. Baptized in Japan in 1969 at the age of 14, Greg graduated from high school two years later and in the top 5% of his class. The following year, Greg matriculated to Howard University in Washington, D.C. as an accounting major and graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After these early achievements, Greg became a loyal and concerned family member, a compassionate and dependable friend, and a committed community activist. A dedicated family man, Greg married his high school sweetheart Shari Howard Thomas in 1972. Together

they became the parents of three children: Ishair, Gregory Jr. and James. Gregory specialized in the fields of HIV/AIDS issues for more than 10 years and in financial management for more than 20 years. He served as the executive director of Lifelink and as the HIV Prevention Coordinator for the District of Columbia. He co-founded the HIV Community Coalition in 1993 and was also a former board member of the Colours Organization in Philadelphia and of the Paul Anthony Dillard, Jr. Memorial Foundation at the Howard University School of Divinity. Greg was also CEO of GCH Management, and the former financial advisor to: Us Helping Us, Safehaven Ministries, D.C. Women’s Council, Joseph’s House and Miriam’s House. An openly HIV-identified person since 1990, Greg was often featured in TV, radio and print media. Greg was granted eternal rest at the age of 44 in 1999. He dedicated his life to supporting the dreams of his friends, family, and community. He completed his life journey triumphantly – a life filled with love and joy.

trying to preserve the history of the African-American community and bridge all the diverse segments together. His endless efforts included involvement in the first Adams Morgan Day Festival, D.C. Black Repertory Company, Maya Gallery, Black Lesbian and Gay Masquerade Gala, publishing the Black Guide, publishing the Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Weekend souvenir program, creation of “Christmas in My Soul” AIDS fundraiser, and countless other promotions of political and civic fundraisers. His life work also included a successful career in printing and event planning. Chauncey will always be remembered as an individual with a strong personality, coupled with a distinct insistence of doing it “his” way. Nonetheless, a permanent contribution has been made by Chauncey to the AfricanAmerican community, instilling the need to network and bridge all individuals toward the common goal of a unified and respected existence. Chauncey H. Lyles, Jr., a lifelong resident of Washington, D.C., ended his courageous battles against AIDS on Friday, June, 21, 1996 at the age of 40.

Kevin Yancey Kenner Sparkle Maharris

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

I’m not hiding my face out of shame or guilt, but because you fear what you don’t understand. But yet I still live a full life in spite of it all. Being a survivor for 17 years, I cover myself in pride and adorn myself with hope.

Chauncey Lyles, Jr.

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

Chauncey H. Lyles, Jr. was born on Oct. 8, 1955 to the late Chauncey H. Lyles, Sr. and Ernestine Lyles. He was educated in the D.C. school system and attended McKinley Tech High School. As a young adult, he moved to Atlanta to pursue his career. After 10 years away, Chauncey returned to Washington, D.C., to become active in the community he loved and remembered so much. Chauncey was a local gay activist and founder of the U Street Festival that celebrates the colorful history of one of the most renowned African-American cultural and arts centers in the country. Chauncey spent his life

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS CHERYL SPECTOR AND DAVID OTTOGALLI

Sparkle Maharris was a popular statuesque African-American drag performer of the 1980s and 1990s who hosted and performed in many clubs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Her popular impersonations were of Patti LaBelle and Millie Jackson. She could always be counted on to lend her talents to various AIDSrelated and other community causes. Unfortunately, Sparkle was violently taken from us in 1999. Below are excerpts from an article posted in The Drag Rag in 1999: “Sparkle Maharris’s unexpected death this past weekend has left the DC drag community in mourning just weeks after losing Dana Terrell. Sparkle Maharris’s amateur night at the Frat House and the Bachelor’s Mill gave many many DC drag artists a start. For Teena Marie Cromwell, who just lost her mother, the death of Sparkle, her drag mother, has been an especially hard blow. “Sparkle was loved and she will be missed,” said Teena who added “Sparkle gave me my start at Rascals. We’ve been through a lot together.” Teens noted the most important thing she had learned from Sparkle was to “just be myself and have fun. She taught me to be real, don’t be fake and put on a front. And don’t sugar coat things… ...JC Van Raine, hostess of

7 Viva Las Vegas at Omega has known Sparkle for eight or nine years since being in Sparkle’s Amateur Night show at Rascals. Ms. Maharris was a key to many a drag career and friendship. JC noted how many many drag queens got their start through Sparkle”. She also remembers how hard it was to understand Sparkle’s voice in the morning. “You had to wait until about 1:00 in the afternoon for her voice to be understandable.” Sparkle had a tiny little dog named Tiffany who would sometimes fall over when she barked… …Lorraine Greco, who counts Sparkle a dear friend for over 17 years, paid Ms. Maharris one of the greatest compliments in describing Sparkle as a true friend. “Once she was your friend, it was for life. No matter what happened. I will always remember her and will never let people forget her!”

singers in enhancing their vocal abilities. A 1981 cum laude graduate of Howard University, Myron was a fervent “Star Trek” fan and enjoyed traveling, reading, viewing movies, gardening, cooking, and listening to a variety of music, particularly classical and show tunes. Skilled in crossstitching, his framed works adorn the homes of family and friends. His room-brightening smile, quirky sense of humor, and willingness to lend a helping hand endeared Myron to many.

W. Myron Maye

Founded in 1988, Metro TeenAIDS has worked to prevent new HIV infections among young people and improve the quality of life for young people living with and affected by HIV. Metro TeenAIDS currently serves young people under the age of 25 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Every day, Metro TeenAIDS works to improve the spread of this deadly disease through outreach and education, as well to identify and improve the lives of those who are already infected. Many of these problems can be addressed by proactive educational outreach coordinated by trained professional and peers. That’s where Metro TeenAIDS helps.

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

June 15, 1956 – July 17, 2003 A renowned musician, Myron was also a flight attendant for 12 years with U.S. Airways and Director of Music for The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. During the ‘80s, he was Director of Music for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in northeast Washington and also directed choral music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Rockville, Md. Born in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 1956, Myron’s vast musical talents included his own compositions that were performed in local concerts and musical productions. He performed with the Nevilla Ottley Singers, the Federal City Performing Arts Association Male, and the Gay Men’s Chorus. In the late 70’s he was a keyboardist and instrumental arranger with Howard University’s Children Theater Workshops. In 1996, he helped found Brother to Brother Sister to Sister United, Inc. Some of his major compositions include: Meditations on Light, Love and Hope, An Advent Cantata, Toda el mundo baile, a chamber suite, Five Songs on Friendship, Suite for Flute in Four Movements, Three Prayers, Behold, This Dreamer Cometh!, Rumple, There’s Always a Rainbow, Black Fairy and The Bad Children. His spirituality and special relationship with God and Jesus Christ is reflected in many of these works. Not only was Myron an accomplished performer and composer, he was a gifted teacher who guided a number of local

Metro TeenAIDS

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Nineteenth Street Baptist Church – Dr. Derrick Harkins, Senior Pastor

as its passion and people as its mission.

Derek Perkins

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

LOVE: An emotional and physical commitment between two people. Which means trust, honesty, and fidelity. Unfortunately, for some that is not the case. HIV/AIDS does not know the meaning of the word love. However, people do. So if you say you love someone, “MEAN IT !!!” “SHOW IT !!!” “PROTECT THEM !!!” Derek Martin Perkins, 2/23/05

The Nineteenth St. Baptist Church has been blessed to be part of the history and life of Washington, D.C. for nearly 200 years. Originally a part of the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, founded in 1802, the church formed as a District congregation in 1839 with Rev. Sampson White as the first pastor. Throughout the years, with varied ministries and organizations, the church has always sought to make its worship of God relevant in its service to others. Today the church continues to seek new ways to proclaim His goodness. The Nineteenth Street Baptist Church is a growing body of believers boldly proclaiming God

Lawrence Washington

Max Robinson

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY PHOTO COURTESY MAX ROBINSON CENTER

Max Robinson was a pioneering African-American journalist and person with AIDS. On April 5, 1993, at the official dedication of Max Robinson Center of the WhitmanWalker Clinic, a friend of Max’s was quoted: “He wanted his death to be the occasion for emphasizing the importance, particularly to the black community, of the education about AIDS and the prevention of AIDS. The other concern was that everyone should emphasize the urgency to develop treatment for AIDS and the humane treatment of people with AIDS.”

Larry Uhrig PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

and bisexual men, Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. (UHU) is a unique organization with an extraordinary history. Incorporated in 1988, when its sole program was to teach small groups of HIV-infected black gay men how to live longer using natural holistic therapies involving the body, mind and spirit, UHU has grown into one of the largest secular, gay-identified black AIDS organizations in the nation serving the black communities of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and northeast West Virginia. The mission of UHU is to reduce HIV infection in the black community. UHU specializes in HIV education and risk reduction interventions for black gay and bisexual men, and transgender persons. UHU provides HIV counseling, testing and referral services to black men and women regardless of sexual orientation.

In June of 1977, the Rev. Larry J. Uhrig was elected pastor of The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. and continued to serve in this position until the time of his death. During his years as pastor, the church grew in its community, visibility, and commitment to service.

Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc.

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Founded in 1985 as a self-help group for HIV-positive black gay

Lawrence A. Washington was born April 28, 1944 as the first child of the late Leroy and Florine L. Washington in Baltimore. Lawrence was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools. In addition, he received a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University in 1969; a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975; and a license for independent clinical social work from the District of Columbia in 1989. Lawrence was baptized in the Holy Temple Church of Truth in Baltimore at the age of 18 and served as a Sunday school teacher until 1969. During that year, he entered the U.S. Army and served in Germany until his discharge in 1972. Upon returning to Baltimore, he became employed as a social worker at City Hospital. In 1979, Lawrence moved to Washington, D.C. and was employed as a medical social worker until the time of his death. During Lawrence’s residence in Washington, he became a community leader involved in various political campaigns and numerous organizations within D.C.’s Gay and Lesbian community. His many affiliations included President and Vice President of the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays; Co-Chairman of the National Coalition for Black Lesbians and Gays; organizer for the first D.C. city-wide conference for Black Gay Men and Lesbians; founding

member of the Langston Hughes-Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club; member of Mel Boozer Leadership Roundtable; member of Friends of D.C.; D.C. Gay and Lesbian Antiviolence Task Force; and the Gay community’s official liaison to the Washington, D.C. Police Department. In the political arena, Lawrence served on Mayor Barry’s budget and finance advisory commission; was the Mayor’s campaign coordinator for Precinct 19 in 1982 and 1986; worked for Harry Thomas’ campaign for city council; and worked on the D.C. campaign for Jesse Jackson in 1984. Lawrence A. Washington departed this life on Tuesday morning, November 21 1989, at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center. He was 45 years old.

2006

1987 March on Washington PWAs and PWArcs were out in force during the October 1987 March on Washington. It was the largest civil rights march since the anti-Vietnam War era.

Academy of Washington

PHOTO BY CHERYL SPECTOR

Established in 1961, The Academy of Washington, Inc. (also known as “the Academy”) is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the country. Its membership includes drag queens, drag kings, male and female impersonators in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area who enjoy entertaining and supporting each other. But the Academy is not just a social organization; it is a highly respected member of the community. The Academy and its members are active in many civic and volunteer organizations. The Washington Academy is on the board of Brother Help Thyself (BHT), and is involved with the Rainbow History Project and Pets DC. In addition to these organizations, Academy members are also associated with ASGRA, the Centaur Motorcycle Club, and other community organizations. Over the years the Academy, through its generosity, has contributed thousands of dollars to AIDS service organizations and AIDS-related charities. During the years, every person associated with the Academy has experienced the far-reaching social gratification of our group. Each person has had their moments of glory, their share of applause and social

8 recognition. The Academy honors its members for contributions to theatre, make-up, design, and the gay community in general. It welcomes individuality and foster self-expression in all forms. The Academy allows people to occasionally make-believe and continues to provide each of us with a touch of glamour and elegance that many would not otherwise experience.

ACT UP ACT UP is a LGBT civil rights organization, with many chapters in cities across the U.S. Always on the front line, ACT UP has participated in numerous efforts including the 1987 March on Washington for gay and lesbian civil rights.

AIDS Quilt Founded in 1987, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world. Each “block” (or section) of The AIDS Memorial Quilt measures approximately 12 feet square, and a typical block consists of eight individual three-foot by six-foot panels sewn together. Virtually every one of the more than 40,000 colorful panels that make up the Quilt memorializes the life of a person lost to AIDS. As the epidemic continues claiming lives around the world and here in the United States, the Quilt continues to grow and to reach more communities with its messages of remembrance, awareness and hope.

Paola Barahona

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Paola Barahona has been the Executive Director of PreventionWorks for over seven years. As Executive Director, Ms. Barahona has guided Washington, D.C.’s needle exchange organization through nine Congressional Appropriations cycles and has risen over $2 million in private grants, contributions, and donations to fund harm reduction and needle exchange in DC. Ms. Barahona’s proven commitment to marginalized communities, including drug users, sex workers, and transgender persons, is evident in her efforts to expand the services provided by PreventionWorks and to form referral networks with organizations that serve these populations. As an expert in HIV/

AIDS, substance abuse, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and reproductive health, Ms. Barahona has ensured that PreventionWorks offers a full menu of services, supplies, and educational materials to address these health issues. Ms. Barahona is an active member of the District of Columbia’s HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG), a member of the CPG Executive Committee, and CoChair of the CPG EpiData/Needs Assessment Subcommittee. She is also a member of the Health Disparities Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association. Ms. Barahona has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan and an Executive Level Program Certificate from the Columbia Business School Institute for Not-for-Profit Management. Ms. Barahona was born in Washington, D.C.: her mother is Australian and her father is Chilean. She is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Christopher Barnhill

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The following are the words of Chris Barnhill: “My name is Chris and I am an HIV/AIDS Youth Advocate and public speaker and I have been HIV-positive for the past 19 years. My story is unique I didn’t know my status for the whole 19 years, I found out at 16 after taking a random HIV test. After finding out, I wasn’t mad nor depressed or angry at the world. Instead I felt inspired to educate my peers on HIV, to let them know that HIV does affect and infect our age population. I am truly blessed to be here alive and apart of the fight to eradicate HIV in D.C.

Inc., conducting a feasibility study on the integration of STD, HIV, and drug abuse services for a proposed national demonstration project. From 1997 through 1998 he served as interim Director of the City of Philadelphia HIV Commission. From 1991 through 1997, Christopher was the Executive Director of the D.C. Comprehensive AIDS Resources and CARE Consortium. The Consortium is an alliance of local organizations and institutions that provide HIV/ AIDS services and education in the District of Columbia. Before 1991, Christopher enjoyed a successful 11 year career as a program director and in various management positions with the District of Columbia government. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Bates has served on numerous national and local boards and commissions. Christopher is a founding member of the DC Primary Care Association. He also served as a member of the Board of the Washington Consortium of Agencies, a sixyear member of the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Ryan White Title Planning Council, a member of the Mayor’s Health Policy Advisory Committee and past chair of the Mayor’s AIDS Advisory Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and earned an MPA from Southeastern University.

Dan Bradley PWA Dan Bradley, former head of the Legal Services division during the Carter administration, getting arrested in front of the White House at the June 1, 1987 demonstration. Dan was the keynote speaker at the rally that preceded the arrests.

Additionally they ride to raise funds for Howard University Parent Support Group for Children with Sickle Cell Disease, the Black Women’s Health Clinic, the Omni Lambda Education Foundation and the Max Robinson Center Toy Drive.

Angela Brown

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Angela Brown has worked in medicine for six years and three years exclusively in HIV/AIDS issues. She received her Medical Assistant/Phlebotomy degree from Applied Career in 2000. Ms. Brown has also attended HIV counseling training with the Washington D.C. HIV/AIDS administration. Ms. Brown is adept at rapid HIV testing and counseling, and she has a proven track record for training and mentoring new HIV prevention and testing specialists. Ms. Brown has facilitated groups for youth and young adults on the adverse effects of alcohol and drugs use in relation to STDs. She has also worked with special populations including inmates, the homeless, persons of color and other minority groups, and economically distressed populations. Ms. Brown has amassed years of experience with outreach in nightclubs, sex clubs, sex worker areas, homeless shelters, and direct street surveillance. She is well known in the HIV community and she prides herself on getting people into medical care. Ms. Brown’s cultural sensitivity, approachability, and warmth are a great asset as she puts her clients at ease throughout the process of testing, counseling, and prevention.

Earline Budd PHOTO COURTESY WALLACE CORBETT

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

In August 2002, Christopher H. Bates was appointed Acting Director for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of HIV/AIDS Policy. He is a Senior Health Program Analyst, who also served as the National Director for a departmental initiative known as the Rapid Assessment Response and Evaluation (RARE). Before joining the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, Christopher worked as a consultant with the John Snow,

Brother to Brother Sister to Sister United

Abdur-Rahim Briggs

Christopher H. Bates

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Entertainment. Abdur-Rahim Briggs served as a member of the 100 Black Men of the Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter where he served on both the Health & Wellness and the Annual Banquet Committees and elected Professional Development/Mentoring CoChair during his tenure at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. In the summer of 1997, Rahim’s identical twin brother disclosed to him his HIV-positive diagnosis. Over the next two years, as HIV infection rates soared among African Americans, Rahim channeled his hurt and pain over his brother into positive energy, waging war against the HIV virus; as a result, Rahim sowed the seeds of the White Attire Affair (WAA). The White Attire Affair began as a series of ‘backyard BBQs’ in the homes of various friends; in 1999, Rahim, Clyde Penn, Alvin King, Garrick Good, and Shaun Jones founded the Ummah Endowment Fund to organize the White Attire Affair (WAA) and launch a new era in social marketing of HIV/ AIDS testing and prevention. In recent years, Ummah reorganized itself as the organization Al Sura. Since 1999, WAA continues its mission to raise awareness and funds to help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the GLBT community. He has a bachelor of arts in Sociology with a Minor in Public Administration from California State University at Bakersfield. Abdur-Rahim’s professional career has led him into the legal industry with various positions at law firms, local government and consulting firms. He currently serves as Manager, Records & Information Management with Oce` Business Services.

Abdur-Rahim Briggs is no stranger to community involvement and non-profit organizations. His love for volunteerism began at The Watts/ Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club in Los Angeles, where he was named “Youth of the Year” in 1986. His volunteer work has continued throughout his life including work with Us Helping Us, Inc. in Washington, D.C., where he received the “Marvin E. Young” Volunteer of the Year award in 2001. In 2005, he was recognized by the Transgender Community with the “Spirit of Light” Award presented by Mascara

Brother to Brother Sister to Sister United (BBSSU) is the largest and only AfricanAmerican cycling team to participate in the AIDS Rides presented by Tanqueray. Founded by Wallace L. Corbett, Jr. an African American gay male, the predominantly heterosexual team has raised nearly $1 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The members of BBSSU have an obligation to educate their families and friends about the disease. “We have to understand what AIDS is doing,” says Corbett, a radiological referral assistant from Washington, D.C. The cycling group started with five people and has grown to more than 400 and has expanded to Illinois, New York, and California.

PHOTO COURTESY EARLINE BUDD

Earline Budd is a transgender woman who makes no secret about HIV status. She is one of the founding members of Transgender Health Empowerment, Inc. (THE), which was founded in 1996 and today serves as one of the premier transgender service providers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and maybe around the country. This program today has two service areas: Supportive Housing and a Prevention program serving transgender, gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. Earline still in her own unofficial

9 capacity works hard with THE in assuring that people know its purpose and meaning. Earline began her work in HIV/ AIDS in 1989 with the Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN) and has never looked back. She is known as a motivational and dynamic speaker nationally and is a dedicated advocate around issues faced by her community while remaining open to help all who call on her. Earline is a native Washingtonian and enjoys dedicating her time to helping others, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and those who are homeless. She serves on several boards in the District of Columbia including, the D.C. Care Consortium, Ryan White Planning Council, HIV Community Planning Group, Superior Court LGBT Special Population Group, Department of Corrections Discharge Planning Group. She extends herself to many others when called upon.

when he chose to care for his life partner who had become ill with AIDS. After his partner’s death, Hank dedicated himself to building and improving AIDS services in Washington, D.C. Despite receiving a diagnosis of full-blown AIDS in 1990, Hank worked for the Whitman-Walker Clinic as the HIV Home Care Coordinator, served a grants and policy advisor, and was later elected to the Clinic’s Board of Directors. He was a founding member of the HIV Community Coalition and served actively and with great enthusiasm on other private and public boards, councils, commissions and advisory groups. Until his death in 1998, Hank maintained a strong sense of community among those in AIDS issues through “A Letter to Friends” which he researched, wrote, published, and distributed at his own cost.

Carl Vogel Center

Burgess Clinic PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TAYLOR

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE BURGESS CLINIC. You don’t know it even though you see us everyday, day in and day out, living a normal life You don’t know it by just looking at our faces, because we wear a smile to mask the pain You don’t know it because our peers wouldn’t understand; they fear what they don’t understand You don’t know it because we choose to suffer all alone, in reality though we are not alone Our families tells us it will be OK, even though some have turned their backs on us I have AIDS…how would you know?

Henry Carde III

PHOTO COURTESY CHERYL SPECTOR

Freeland Henry “Hank” Carde III, a retired U.S. Navy officer and twice awarded Bronze Star veteran of the Vietnam War, was considered one of Washington, D.C.’s most distinguished and effective AIDS activists. During the last 10 years of his life, Hank worked tirelessly as an advocate for persons living with AIDS (PWAs), constantly challenging the system to make it better and championing the empowerment of all PWAs. Hank ended an outstanding naval career

Carl Vogel Center (CVC) is a nonprofit organization that provides multidisciplinary and integrated health care that responds to existing and emerging needs of people with HIV and AIDS (PWA). CVC educates and empowers PWA to become full partners and informed advocates in the management of their care.

Sophia Carrero

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Sophia Reyes, A.K.A Sophia Carrero is a native from Nicaragua. She was crowned the very first Miss Gay Hispanic in 1991 and used her title to carry the message of HIV/AIDS prevention to the Latino Community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. After she relinquished her title she became co-president of the Miss Gay Hispanic system, also called “beauty pageant with a purpose” since the focus was on HIV prevention. She has worked in different community based organizations, including as a bilingual specialist educator for Salud Inc. and Safe Haven Outreach Ministry, Inc., for the HIV 101-102, “Dress for Success,” and for the Transgender Health Empowerment as a transgender outreach worker. She was also an active member of the first Latino transgender group in Washington D.C. Creando Espacio. As an entertainer she uses the stage to

deliver prevention messages and to distribute prevention materials to the audiences. She helped link members of the transgender community to different programs and services available in the community. Other titles she has won include Miss Hippo in 1998 and Miss Maryland in 1999. She is an advocate for the transgender Latino community. Sophia continues entertaining us in Club Fuego and Perry’s Restaurant during Sunday brunches.

David Catania

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

As a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, David Catania was regarded as a resourceful, hardworking and valuable policymaker. First elected as an At-Large Council member in a 1997 special election, Catania was re-elected to full terms on the Council in 1998 and 2002. Catania championed legislative initiatives - now law - that focus on improving healthcare for uninsured and low-income residents, expanding affordable access to prescription drugs, expanding drug treatment options, minimizing property tax burdens, providing incentives for businesses to relocate to the District, offering income tax parity with neighboring jurisdictions, increasing police deployment, and reforming Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. In his role as a board member for WMATA from 1999 to 2004, Catania worked to create a light rail line along the Anacostia River and reverse commuter routes that provide District residents access to employment opportunities in the Dulles Corridor. Mr. Catania became involved in District issues when he chaired the Sheridan-Kalorama Advisory Neighborhood Commission. As a former Senior Counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, he brings a wealth experience to the Council. In the past he also worked as a research assistant for Dr. Madeleine Albright and as an Attorney for the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. A native Missourian, Councilmember Catania earned a B.S. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. In addition to his public service on the D.C. Council and unsuccessful bid for mayor, Mr. Catania dedicates resources to cultural institutions such as the Shakespeare Theatre, Summer Opera Theatre Company, and

Cultural Tourism D.C., as well as community health organizations including the Mautner Project and La Clinica del Pueblo.

The Clubhouse

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

The Clubhouse, at 1296 Upshur St., N.W. in Washington, D.C., reigned as one of the hottest black gay nightclubs on the East Coast from 1975 to 1990. The Clubhouse’s Children’s Hour celebration helped establish Memorial Day weekend as Black Gay Pride Weekend in Washington, D.C. The annual event drew AfricanAmerican GLBT persons from around the country.

The Coffeehouse Washington, D.C.’s first enduring African-American gay political organization, the D.C. Coalition (established in 1978) helped create the ENIKALLEY Coffeehouse at 816 I St., N.E. The Coffeehouse was a crucial performance spot for gay and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that generated a second African-American gay renaissance in the city, 60 years after Georgia Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others created new styles, media and themes in GLBT music and literature.

James “Juicy” Coleman

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

James Coleman is Program Manager in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department of WhitmanWalker Clinic. Popularly know as “Juicy”, he is a nationally recognized advocate for HIV prevention services targeting African-American men who have sex with men (MSM), with over 15 years of experience designing and implementing successful prevention programs. At Whitman-Walker Clinic, he has served in many capacities, including many years as the Associate Director of their Maryland office, and currently oversees one of their most successful projects, Suburban Maryland AIDS Reduction Team (SMART), a CDC funded project

targeting African-American MSM, African-American women, and African-American heterosexual men living in suburban Maryland. For many years, he chaired the Suburban Maryland Ryan White Planning Council’s African American Committee, and currently chairs the Maryland CPG’s suburban Maryland component (RWG) and also chairs the Suburban Maryland HIV Counseling and Testing Coalition. Born in Washington, D.C. and educated at Howard University, he makes HIV prevention his second career path, after working for over 25 years in corporate positions in computer operations, programming and database design. Through consulting opportunities, he also served for many years as Maryland Community Health Specialist for Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc., and most recently served as Program Director for Transgender Health Empowerment. A 2001 graduate of the Centers for Disease Control’s Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership (IHPL), he currently serves as vice president of the IHPL’s Alumni Association. Juicy is also president of The Best of Washington, D.C.’s oldest AA GLBT social organization.

Ronald Collins

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Ronald Collins is director of Office of Boards and Commissions within the Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C. He has served in this capacity since 2001. A lawyer by training, Mr. Collins has extensive experience in municipal public policy as it relates to contracting and procurement, health and human services, and systems management. Mr. Collins received his B.A. degree from the University of Scranton and in 1977 and his Juris Doctor degree from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 1980. He is a native Washingtonian who resides in Southwest Washington. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Collins served as the Senior Policy Officer in the D.C. Office of Contracting and procurement. He has also served as the Agency Chief Contracting Officer for D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, the Chief of Staff and Agency Chief Contracting Office for the D.C. Department of Health, and the acting Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the D.C. Department of Human Services. Before joining the Department of Human Services, Collins was the Staff Director for the D.C. Council

10 Committee on Human Services where he also served as Chief of Staff to former Councilmember H.R. Crawford. Collins has been served in many community organizations including: the D.C. Democratic State Committee, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, the Ward 2 and Ward 6 Democrats, WhitmanWalker Clinic, the D.C. State Health Planning and Development Early Childhood Development Coordinating Committee, and the Ward 2 Redistricting Task Force. Mr. Collins has received several awards for his work, including the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance Community Appreciation Award and the “Outstanding Public Service Recognition Resolution” from the Council of the District of Columbia for over 10 years of public service.

Ruby Corado

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Ruby Corado born in San Savior, El Salvador, and has lived in Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. She has supported and participated in many groups of support with local organizations, such as Whitman-Walker Health and The Clinica del Pueblo. She directed the organization Latin Americans in Action, which sought to fill the needs of the Latin American LGBT community. She has carried a message of tolerance and respect for those of different gender expressions, sexual identities, and those that live with HIV. She has collaborated with many national organizations including LLEGO, the National Gay Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Latino Organization, the organizations GLAAD, NGLTF, and the National Center for Transgender Equality. She currently operates Casa Ruby to house and support LGBT residents of D.C.

Wallace Corbett

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

I believe to follow God’s word, we all must practice our HUMANITIES to each other on a daily bases. To gave and to help anyone is to me GOD speaking though and to its people. I want to give and live each day as though it was my last. I want to travel this journey of life with excitement and adventure. If I can help others on their journey then my day was not in vein. To me, volunteering is not a convenience but a mandatory accountable to GOD. I love LIFE and those that play apart in my journey until the very END. We all should look in a mirror and ask ourselves DO I SEE GOD IN MYSELF? I would rather DIE FIGHTING against HIV/AIDS than to die from it. One thing my mother thought as a child and a MAN was to walk with my head up and chest out where ever I go for I am HER son and a child of GOD. END HIV/AIDS, for it is a part of the body of CHRIST!

Covenant Baptist Church

PHOTO BY KHALID NAJI-ALLAH

Affirming its African heritage, the vision of Covenant Baptist Church is to build an inclusive body of biblical believers who continue to grow in Christ as the love, serve, and fellowship with the community and each other. As stated in the Church Mission Statement, “God calls this church to be a progressive witness for Jesus Christ a creative model of Christian worship, a loving example of Christian fellowship, and a humble servant to our sisters and brothers in the community, the nation, and the world we live. In word and deed, we are committed to continue Jesus’ ministry of spiritual and physical liberation to the disadvantaged, the weak, and the downtrodden. We believe that our role is both priestly and prophetic as we strive to heal personal hurts and pains, as well as challenge social dictates and systems that oppress God’s children from realizing their full potential.”

Billy Cox

The following words are from Wallace Corbett: Who is Wallace Corbett Jr.? Well, he is the son of M. Cabbagestalk (part American Indian) and W. Corbett (grand child of African Slave). I learn early in my life to have pride in myself and those that I surround myself with.

PHOTO COURTESY BILLY COX

Billy Cox has been a volunteer with Whitman-Walker for more than 14 years. He has worked in

the Clinic’s FoodBank, where he had the opportunity to work with clients, many of whom have become friends and he has known for years. Billy also served as chair of the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s board of directors for two years (2004 and 2005), and as vice chair for one year (2003). He was on the board of directors for several years. On World AIDS Day, Billy sees the need for all of us to recommit ourselves to doing our part to help end the AIDS epidemic. The Washington, D.C. area has been hit harder than most metropolitan areas, especially among the African-American and LGBT communities. The increased use of drugs, especially crystal methamphetamine, has led to an increase in HIV among blacks and gay men, and Billy hopes this issue will be addressed through increased funding for programs to help people with addictions problems. Billy is originally from Mississippi and works for the federal government. He is also HIV-positive.

Linda Cropp Linda W. Cropp began her career in public service more than 30 years ago in the classrooms of the District of Columbia. After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Howard University, Linda shared her passion for education as a teacher and guidance counselor. She later went on to become the Ward 4 representative on the Board of Education, where she served as the vice president and president. In 1990, Linda was elected as an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia. She immediately initiated her legislative agenda to improve the quality of life for all District residents. Linda also served as the Council’s representative on the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. In that capacity, she served as Chair of the Budget Committee and played a major role in the expansion of the Metro Rail System. In 1992, Linda was selected to chair the Council’s Committee on Human Services. Under her oversight, the Department of Health was created. The reorganized agency focused on Linda’s priorities, including controlling substance abuse, reducing infant mortality, eradicating tuberculosis, and fighting HIV/AIDS. She continued to chair the Committee after her re-election in 1994. With a desire to encourage self-sufficiency, Linda introduced the Public Assistance Self-Sufficiency Program Amendment Act of 1996. She guided the act through the legislative process and oversaw the beginning of welfare reform in the District. In addition, Linda oversaw the movement toward a

comprehensive health care system that began with the unification of D.C. General Hospital and the public health clinics. In her private life, Linda Cropp is married to Dr. Dwight S. Cropp, Associate Professor of Public Administration at The George Washington University. They have two adult children, Allison and Christopher, and a grandson, Christian Alexander Cropp.

Damien Ministries

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Damien Ministries, Inc. is a nonprofit faith-based organization committed to supporting those abandoned or isolated in their suffering with HIV/AIDS, particularly the poorest of the poor. Damien Ministries fulfills its mission through dedication, commitment to ministry and mutual support. The organization is unique in that it creates community between those in service and those in suffering – in body and spirit – with the effects of HIV/AIDS. Persons receiving services from Damien Ministries are served without reference to religious or denominational affiliation and without subjecting clients to proselytizing efforts. Damien Ministries is committed to furthering its mission by serving all persons regardless of race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation. Damien Ministries was founded on the principles of an incredible story – the history of a man who gave his life to serve a group of people who were quite literally outcasts. Father Damien spent years on the island of Molokai, helping the individuals in the leper colony build homes, schools, hospitals; he taught and cared for the sick, eventually contracting leprosy himself and dying. It was his compassion for others in need that is the founding mission of our organization in dealing with the “modern day leprosy” of HIV/AIDS. Since 1987, the organization has grown from a small, volunteer run endeavor to one of the most respected and well-known organizations in the District of Columbia. All of Damien Ministries’ programs are designed with specific longterm goals in mind: Increased life expectancy, stabilization and increased quality of life, and prevention education.

Lawrence J. D’Angelo Professor Lawrence J. D’Angelo has had a longstanding interest in HIV infection in children and adolescents. For the past 23 years, he has led regional and

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

national efforts to understand the epidemiology and path physiology of HIV infection in adolescents. Dr. D’Angelo has been a D.C. Metro area pioneer in the adolescent HIV field. He founded the Burgess Clinic at Children’s Hospital in 1988, one of the first clinics in the country dedicated to caring for HIV infected and affected adolescents. That same year, he and a group of community leaders founded a community based organization, which ultimately grew into MetroTeen AIDS. The author of over 100 articles and book chapters, Dr. D’Angelo recently co-edited and wrote the first book to address the comprehensive experience of HIV infection in adolescents, “Teenagers and HIV/ AIDS: Insights from Youths Living with the Virus.” Dr. D’Angelo has also been the principal investigator on numerous research studies of HIV infection in teenagers. Under his current direction is one of 15 national Adolescent Trials Network units funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He is the recipient of a special NIAID award recognizing these efforts. Dr. D’Angel owas also the first chair of the Adolescent Scientific Committee of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) of the National Institute of Health and has also chaired two protocol teams for the first two adolescentspecific protocols being conducted in the ACTG. Throughout his career, Dr. D’Angelo has also served as Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Prevention and Community Health and Epidemiology at The George Washington University.

Family and Medical Conseling Service, Inc. – Flora Terrell Hamilton, Founder

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TAYLOR

A founder of Family and Medical Counseling Service, Inc. (FMCS), incorporated in 1976, Dr. Flora Hamilton has been its executive director since 1981. She earned her B.S. degree in psychology and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Social Work from Howard University. With vast experience

11 in social services as a practitioner, administrator and educator, she has successfully managed and led numerous projects. She is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Dr. Hamilton has run HIV prevention and treatment programs, first offender pretrial diversion programs, mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs for adults and youth, and adolescent substance abuse prevention and youth rites projects. Under her direction FMCS’s HIV program evolved into one of Washington, D.C.’s most comprehensive programs with funding with Ryan White Titles I-III, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The current HIV program includes primary medical care, case management, discharge planning, substance abuse treatment, mental health, outreach and prevention education, HIV counseling and testing, nutritional support, food bank, prevention case management, and psychoeducational skills building. Dr. Hamilton serves on the Boards of the District’s Primary Care Association and the DC CARE Consortium since 1996.

Michael Felts

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF CHERYL SPECTOR

Mike Felts was the founder of Deaf AIDS Action and Wayne Turner had the honor of getting arrested with him at the White House in 1993 in a protest demanding a real AIDS Czar. Wayne Turner of ACT-UP (one of our other honorees) spent many hours together in a holding cell at the Park Police headquarters, and despite the obstacles in communicating (since he doesn’t know ASL), they formed a wonderful friendship. Michael helped secure Ryan White funding for ASL translators so that hearing impaired persons with AIDS (PWAs) could communicate with their physicians and caseworkers. Felts was born Aug. 20, 1956 in England where he was stationed with the U.S. Air Force. The family relocated to Vancouver, Washington so that Felts and his sister could attend the Washington School for the Deaf. After high school, Felts came to Washington, D.C. to attend Galludet University. He moved several times, but settled in Dallas, Texas in the mid-1980s. It was there that Felts co-founded one of the nation’s first HIV prevention programs for people who are deaf: the Deaf AIDS Task Force, in conjunction with the Dallas County Health

Department. For his activism, Michael earned special recognition award in 1991 from then Texas Gov. Ann Richards (D). Michael moved back to D.C. in 1993 and in 1995 co-founded Deaf AIDS Action and served as the national organization’s first acting director. He had a passion for theater and performed deaf theater. He was also a member of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington. “He was a person who always wanted to do and be active and help people,” said his mother. “I’m real proud of Michael and I’m glad he was the person he was.” Michael Felts passed away Nov. 16, 1996 at his home due to AIDSrelated complications.

as a staff consultant to the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee from 1988-89 and as an auditor/investigator with the U.S. General Accounting Office from 1983-88. Mr. Fisette and his partner, Bob Rosen, have been residents of the Ashton Heights neighborhood since 1987. Jay has a Master of Arts degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University.

Ella Fitzgerald (Real Name: Donnell Robinson)

Jay Fisette

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF DONNELL ROBINSON

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF CHERYL SPECTOR

Jay Fisette has been a resident of Arlington since 1983. He was elected to the Arlington County Board in November 1997 and re-elected in 2001; he served as chairman in 2001 and 2005. Mr. Fisette has been a leader in expanding Arlington’s e-government capabilities, including initiatives to improve service delivery and bridge the digital divide. Mr. Fisette has worked diligently to refine and implement the vision of Arlington as an urban village. He promotes smart growth principles, such as the importance of linking land use and transportation, sound urban design and open spaces, and pedestrian safety. He is an avid environmentalist as well as a strong voice for human rights and increasing regionalism both within Northern Virginia and the greater Washington region. Mr. Fisette is chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors, serving on that organization’s Metropolitan Development Policy Committee and the Regional Emergency Preparedness Council. He is a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and is vice president of the Executive Committee of the Virginia Municipal League. Mr. Fisette also represents Arlington on the Greater Washington Initiative of the Board of Trade. Mr. Fisette serves on the Board of Directors of Equality Virginia, and the Washington District Council of the Urban Land Institute. He was appointed by Governor Warner as a Commissioner to the Board of the Virginia Housing Development Authority, now serving as the vice chair. He served as the director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia from 1990-98,

Ella Fitzgerald has performed in the nation’s capital for the past 32 years. Starting full time in 1980, she has raised thousands of dollars for the gay community. She has performed in hundreds of shows supporting the gay community and supporting her drag sisters and friends that have passed on. She has also performed in many benefit shows with the Academy of Washington for the past 18 years.

Mickey Fleming

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF WAYNE A. YOUNG

Mickey Fleming is the author of “About Courage,” one of the first African-American accounts of persons living with AIDS. “About Courage” was written in 1988 and published in 1989. Long before the comfort level came to where it is now, Mickey would openly talk about and sell his book at traditional, mainstream black events such as the Black Memorabilia Show. Mickey and his friend Wayne Young would often note how heterosexual people were more comfortable with Mickey’s presence as opposed to people they believed to be “obviously” gay. In addition to telling to the story of his being an orphan and his search for his mother, Mickey also talks in his book about his bisexuality and down low men long before such discussions became popular. Many black publications wrote about him and black bookstores sold his book. He was a trailblazer who helped open discussions that are now more acceptable in society.

Earl Fowlkes

community.

Grandma’s House – Rev. Joan T. McCarley, Co-Founder PHOTO BY KHALID NAJI-ALLAH

In addition to his work with Damien Ministries and D.C. Care Consortium, Earl is a former president of D.C. Black Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc., one of the nation’s earliest and largest celebrations of LGBT/ SGL (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Same Gender Loving) persons of African descent. Earl also helped to establish the International Federation of Black Prides, a coalition of Black Pride organizers formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT/ Prides and community-based organizations.

Corrie Franks

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

Corrie Franks has been advocate, educator, and community liaison, employed with Family and Medical Counseling Services in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Corrie, being HIV-positive since 1990, has coordinated extensive HIV wellness education programs for people living with HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and other life altering situations. Corrie has vast experience as a public speaker in presentations, print media, and television and radio interviews. He has received numerous accolades and award for his continued commitment to community service.

Carla Gorell

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF CHERYL SPECTOR

Reverend Carla Gorrell founded Food & Friends in 1988 when a friend, sick at home with AIDS, needed something to eat. What began as lunch for one became three meals a day, for nearly 1,000 individuals, six days a week. Over the past decade, the organization moved from a cramped church basement to its own state-of-theart kitchen and pantry facility and initiated new programs to meet the changing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

The Reverend Joan T. McCarley is the Executive Director of the Temporary Emergency Residential Resource Institute for Families in Crisis (TERRIFIC), Inc., a private, non-profit housing and human service organization. Rev. McCarley and her sister Rev. Debbie Tate co-founded TERRIFIC, Inc.’s Grandma’s House in 1987. The unique and timely extensive need for a “Grandma’s House” contributed to its immediate notoriety as an internationally acclaimed, first-inthe-nation program prototype that provided nurturing residential care for abused, neglected infants and children under the age of 13 who were living with HIV/ AIDS and other chronic health and bio-psycho-social problems. Today, hundreds of children and their immediate and extended families have found a new lease on life through a Grandma’s House residential and HIV/AIDS support services. Joan McCarley’s early experiences in HIV/AIDS began in New York State in 1983 when health professionals were noticing a peculiar syndrome developing among IV drug users and homosexual men. In 1985, McCarley accepted a position in Prince George’s County Health Department as the first director of the AIDS Services Office. In 1986, District of Columbia Government representatives encouraged McCarley to accept a position in the D.C. Commission of Public Health Department as the first head of a newly developing HIV/AIDS Education Division. During her tenure, McCarley contributed to numerous AIDSrelated committees and councils, including co-founding the D.C. Women’s Council on AIDS and establishing the first HIV/AIDS Education Committee. It was also during this time that Rev. McCarley began to recognize the serious needs of children living with HIV/AIDS and subsequently co-founded Grandma’s House. Grandma’s House has since become an international beacon of care, a diffuser of HIV ignorance and a model for residential care and education. Rev. McCarley’s commitments to humanity and HIV/AIDS causes have earned her numerous professional awards and recognition. She is a member of the Ministerial Staff of the The People’s Community

12 Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has over twentyseven years of professional training and experience planning and developing creative ministries for the community. She is the proud mother of three children and four grandchildren. Joan T. McCarley’s says it’s a privilege to serve others and know that her living is not in vain. Her firm belief is that ultimate measure of one’s life is in the living knowledge that she has commitment to others as her brother and sisters’ keeper.

Greater Washington Urban League

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

The Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) has taken a proactive role in informing the general public and especially minority communities about HIV/ AIDS prevention. Over the years, through its various programs and community exhibits it has shared literature outlining facts and truths, while dispelling myths and unfounded fears. The GWUL is a participant in World AIDS Day activities. For persons living with HIV/AIDS, the GWUL offers the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program TBRA through funding from the D.C. Department of Health, HIV/ AIDS Administration. The TBRA program is designed to assist eligible individuals and families by providing rental assistance payments to a participant’s landlord for an approved property. GWUL also provides Shortterm Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Assistance (STRMU) for eligible HIV/AIDS participants through the D.C. Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Administration. STRMU is an emergency homelessness prevention program intended to assist persons with HIV/AIDS who cannot meet their monthly housing expenses due to unexpected situations related to their HIV/AIDS. This is not continuous assistance, but emergency funds. The GWUL works tirelessly to improve the lives of Washington area residents whether in the health arena, including HIV/AIDS, or in education, employment and training, housing and community development, and aging services. Founded in 1938, the Greater Washington Urban League is a nonprofit social service and civil rights organization. GWUL is one of more than 100 affiliates of the National Urban League and a member agency of the United Way of the National Capital Area.

Jose Gutierrez

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Journalist, poet, and activist Jose Guiterrez was born in Reynosa, Mexico. He is a member of various progressive artist collectives, including La Academia Iberoamericana de Poesia and Triangle Artist Group (TAG) in Washington, D.C. In 1996 the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization (LLEGO) recognized him with the Manuel Sandoval Award for his multiple contributions to the Latino community. He was co-author and presenter International at the 12th AIDS Conference in Geneva, Switzerland in 1998. His service and volunteer activities include the Scarlett Foundation, 12 Days of Christmas, LLEGO, NAPWA, The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, and the Leather Archives and Museum. Jose has been walking the fine line between art and community activism for a long time. In March 2004, he published a bilingual poetry book, “AIDS in my letters – El SIDA de mis letras.” Currently, Jose writes a monthly column for the national Latino GLBT magazine Adelante, and he works for Whitman-Walker Health in Northern Virginia. Mr. Gutierrez has earned several awards for his work, including being selected as a DC Capital Pride Hero and an award from Latinos en Accion. Jose has also served on the D.C. Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Committee.

Essex Hemphill Poet, essayist, activist Essex Hemphill is best known for his appearances in the films Black Is/Black Ain’t and Tongues Untied. His worked has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including OUTWEEK, High Performance, The Advocate, City Lights Review, Ache, Callaloo, Tribe, The James White Review, Essence, In the Life, High Risk, Hometowns, the Road Before Us, and Erotique Noire/ Black Erotica. He edited Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men, and is author of Ceremonies, a collection of verse and commentary. The following are the words of Essex Hemphill from the essay Loyalty: I speak for the thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of men who live and die in the shadows of secrets, unable to speak of the love that helps them endure and contribute to the race… Their kisses of sweet spit and

loyalty are scrubbed away by the propaganda makers of the race, the “Talented Tenth” who would just as soon have us believe Black people can fly, rather than reveal that Black men have been longing to kiss one another, and have done so, for centuries… But these sacred constructions of silence are futile exercises in denial. We are not going away with our issues of sexuality. We are coming home.

Nestor Hernandez

2006, as an official event celebrating Gary’s 100th Anniversary. He was a member and past president of FotoCraft Camera Club, and was the 2001 recipient of the “Photographer of the Year” award, given by the Exposure Group, African American Photographers Association. In 2002, he received the “Outstanding Emerging Artist” award, and in 2003 an Artist Fellowship Grant, both from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. In addition to photography, Hernández had many interests including magic tricks, writing, teaching, traveling and mentoring.

Derrick Hicks PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF WAYNE YOUNG

Nestor Hernandez was a Washington, D.C.-based photographer of Afro-Cuban descent. He was introduced to photography in high school through the Urban Journalism Workshop of the D.C. Public Schools, and was on the staff of the Capital Children’s Museum as photographer-in-residence for fifteen years. Hernández was also staff photographer for the D.C. Public School system for seven years, and is now a freelance documentary photographer. He was a staff photographer and contributed to many publications, including the Current Newspapers, DC City Desk, the Latin Trade Report, El Pregonero, Brookings Review, The Metro Herald, National Jurist Magazine and The International Review of African American Art. His other major photodocumentary project “Cuba Reflections: A Photographic Journey,” was the result of over 18 trips to the island nation since 1978. In 2001 and 2002, his trips to Cuba concentrated on linking US and Cuban photographers through cultural exchange photography projects and exhibitions. In 2003, he directed an extensive collaborative arts project, taking photography and art teachers to the island to work with Cuban children. Hernández exhibited his photos regularly. His images were included in shows throughout Washington, D.C., in Wilmington, Del., Springfield, Mass., Greensboro, N.C., Memphis, Tenn., Havana, Cuba and Accra, Ghana, and his photographs were included in the permanent collections of the Casa de Africa museum and Galería de Arte René Portocarrero in Cuba, Asafo Gallery in Ghana, the Cuban Art Space in New York and the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington, D.C. With Port of Harlem, he developed the “Our Children, Our World” photography exhibit featuring the works of children from Ghana, Cuba, Washington, DC and Gary, Indiana. After a successful run in Washington, DC the exhibit opens in Gary later in

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF JIM HARVEY

Although Derrick A. Hicks was a native of Chicago, Washington, D.C. is all the richer for the nearly 10 years he lived here. He was always the activist who worked to fill voids in our constant struggle for growth, respect, and for a fair and equitable place at the proverbial table. During his years in D.C., Derrick published Diplomat Magazine, a vehicle that excited African-American samegender loving (SGL) people with news that ranged from gossip to the best parties, to politics, and important health news. People went out of their way to find Diplomat. He also co-founded the Hughes-Roosevelt Democratic Club as a means of bridging the gap between politically active black and white gay activists. Derrick was a tireless leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS and even after moving back to Chicago in 1993, he remained deeply involved in his community by co-founding the Greater Chicago Committee along with Jim Harvey. He also became a central figure in prevention planning which lead to the first black SGL men’s organization in Chicago being fully funded for AIDS prevention.

HIPS, Inc.

PHOTO COURTESY HIPS, INC.

The mission of Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS) is to assist female, male, and transgender individuals sex workers in Washington, D.C. in leading healthy lives. Utilizing a harm reduction model, HIPS’ programs strive to address the impact that HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted illnesses,

discrimination, poverty, violence and drug use have on the lives of individuals engaging in sex work. HIPS was formed in 1993 by community and police representatives in response to the recognized need for specialized services for youth engaging in sex for gain in Washington, D.C. HIPS has worked to build positive relationships with sex workers on the street through active listening, consistent outreach and unconditional support. HIPS has also served street sex workers through our counseling and referral program, which provides services ranging from obtaining a legitimate ID card to finding emergency shelter for young people fleeing abusive relationships. HIPS 24-hour hotline provides counseling and referrals to anyone in or affected by prostitution or sex work. Hotline counselors can answer health questions or support parents whose sons or daughters are engaged in sex work. All of our services provide comprehensive, unconditional support, utilizing harm reduction models to assist youth and adults on the street to identify the skills they need or already have to make healthier life choices for themselves.

Theo Hodge

PHOTO BY KHALID NAJI-ALLAH

When Dr. Theo W. Hodge, Jr. graduated from the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine in 1987, he believed he would “take care of the world.” He decided immediately that he would focus on caring for uninsured and underserved patients with HIV or AIDS. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Hospital in 1990 and then served in the Gulf War as a U.S. Army captain. In 1995, he completed a two-year postgraduate fellowship in infectious diseases at the Washington Hospital Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in D.C., where his patients were mostly gay males and male intravenous drug abusers. Since beginning his practice in 1996, Hodge has been trying to realize his ideal of himself as a physician. Many of his selfexpectations have been tempered by the reality that his original ideal did not allow him the ability to maintain himself financially. The experiences of not being able to pay his mortgage, office expenses, and staff salaries because of low or late Medicaid reimbursements have shown him the obstacles to treating the community he most

13 wants to serve.

Inner Light Ministries – Rev. Dr. K. Rainey Cheeks, Pastor

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

Inner Light Ministries (ILM) is a Christ-centered all-inclusive community and its motto is “I see the God in You.” ILM has been involved with HIV/AIDS from its inception in 1993. Inner Light Ministries’ response to HIV/AIDS is from Jesus’ words Matthew 25: 40: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least who are a member of my family, you did to me.” Throughout the 1990s, Inner Light Ministries sponsored a one-day retreat entitled “How I got over” for persons living with AIDS and their caregivers. Reverend Dr. Kwabena “Rainey” Cheeks is a community leader and has been an HIV/AIDS activist for decades. In 1985 he founded Us Helping Us “People into Living,” the oldest black HIV/AIDS service organization in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. He is also a member of Damien Ministries’ Retreat team. He has presented at three World Health Conferences on holistic healing. He does seminars and workshops throughout the country on HIV/AIDS education and prevention. Bishop Cheeks has been HIV positive since 1984, as he loves to say “I have it, it does not have ME!”

Joseph Izzo

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Joseph A. Izzo is a psychotherapist, since August 1991, with Mental Health and Addictions Treatment Services of Whitman-Walker. He started at the Clinic in 1986 after earning his master’s degree in Clinical Social Work at Howard University. He had been a volunteer peer counselor with the Gay Men’s Counseling Collective from 1981 to 1994. Joseph is also certified (via Catholic University) in pastoral counseling. Joseph has been a master trainer in AIDS prevention education for the National Institute on Drug Abuse; for the American Red Cross HIV Prevention Project for the Homeless; and has conducted numerous Training of Trainers for the staffs of many agencies in the Washington Metropolitan Area as well as nationally. His

areas of clinical training include substance abuse treatment, geriatric social work, trauma survival and gender identity and sexual orientation issue. In his private practice, Mr. Izzo offers services for transgender individuals who are in the process of gender transition. As an openly gay man, Joseph is particularly sensitive to the effects of societal oppression of sexual minorities and its impact on self-identity and self-esteem. Additionally, Joe is a certified practitioner of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, receiving his Level II Training in 1999 and in 2000.

Janice Jirau

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF PAT HAWKINS

Janice Jirau was born Nov. 25, 1950 in Washington, D.C. After graduating from high school in 1968, Janice attended Strayer College, the University of the District of Columbia, Southeastern University, and the Washington School for Secretaries. Her education and zest for life led to employment with a number of organizations throughout her life, including the Office of Inspector General, D.C. Department of Human Resources, and Frantz and Company. In 1985, Janice married Jimmy Jirau (deceased); her husband’s diagnosis of being HIV-positive in 1989 devastated her, but Janice grasped hold of her faith, belief, and love for God to move beyond her pain and become an AIDS advocate and educator. She spoke extensively at many venues and institutions on the impact of AIDS on women, their families and minorities. Janice also served with numerous organizations, including: American Red Cross, Ryan White Planning Council, Lifelink, Inc., D.C. office of AIDS Activities, and D.C. Women’s Council on AIDS. She was featured in nationally televised interviews and videos, including Fighting for Our Lives, Women and Children Last, Mental Retardation in HIV, and Women and AIDS in the Black Community. Janice also contributed to The National Commission on AIDS’s Final Report entitled “AIDS: An Expanding Tragedy,” which was published in June 1993. Janice’s heartfelt battles, dedication and loyalty for women and underprivileged persons living with HIV were surpassed only by her determination to make a difference, and she made a difference.

Billy S. Jones Billy S. Jones became involved in HIV/AIDS work in 1984 in

to help ensure the Clinic’s longterm financial strength. His gift is among the largest contributions the clinic has ever received from a single donor, according to clinic officials. PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

San Francisco with the Stop AIDS Project. Upon returning to Washington, D.C. in 1985, in partnership with Gil Gerald, Craig Harris and Walter Dixon, he worked with the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays to convene the first National AIDS in the Black Community conference that was supported by the U.S. Surgeon General and held at the Washington Convention Center. In 1987, Jones became part of AIDS Education Services of Whitman-Walker Clinic. In collaboration with Joseph Izzo and George Swales, Jones was instrumental in creating innovative HIV prevention programs targeting sex workers (male, female and transgender), injecting drug users, and incarcerated populations. Izzo and Jones developed outreach and education programs that were suitable not only for at-risk street populations, but also for persons in shelters, half-way homes, gay bars, St. Elizabeth Hospital, D. C. Jail, Lorton facilities, and penal facilities in Prince George and Montgomery counties. Jones is perhaps best known in Washington for his volunteer work as a trainer of peer counselors for Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN) that was directed by Andrea Scott. Jones developed and facilitated innovative and interactive AIDS 101 classes that produced dozens of peer counselors, many of whom are still involved in HIV/ AIDS work today. In 1989, Jones became the director of Minority Affairs programs of National AIDS Network and began expanding his creativity for developing HIV/AIDS education and service programs on a national and international level. He also served for several years as a national trainer for Project HOPE of the American Psychological Association, training professionals in the mental health profession. Jones joined the staff of ORC Macro International in 1990 to manage a federal multisite demonstration HIV/AIDS project targeting women and their partners at-risk for HIV infection. Jones continues his involvement with HIV/AIDS by managing and evaluating federal contracts and grants that support community and faith-based organizations. He is on the board of Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS).

Joseph’s House The mission of Joseph’s House is to provide a home, nursing services, and community for formerly homeless men and women in metropolitan

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Washington, D.C. who are terminally ill and in the last weeks or months of their illness. While our primary mission is to those with AIDS, as space is available we also welcome men and women with other terminal illnesses. A continuum of care and support is available to each resident. Joseph’s House provides nursing care, emotional support, and spiritual nourishment, including comprehensive case management, 24-hour nursing care, addiction recovery support, personal care services, transitional support for those who regain their health, and end-oflife care for those who progress through the final stages of life. Above all, Joseph’s House offers a caring human presence for men and women who would otherwise face a lonely, isolated death.

Dr. Richard Karpawich

PHOTO COURTESY JAY GANDY

Dr. Richard P. Karpawich was born Nov. 19, 1937 in Worcester, Mass. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1959 and from Georgetown University Medical School in 1963. He served as a medical officer in the Army Reserve, D.C. National Guard from 1964 to 1970. After completing both his medical internship and his residency in radiology at area hospitals, he managed a practice at Capitol Hill Hospital from 1968 to 1981. He then practiced radiology on a consulting basis from 1981 to 1995 and was licensed to practice in nearly 20 states. Karpawich and Jay Gandy, his longtime partner of nearly 30 years of Arlington, owned several homes together in D.C. between 1964 and 1992. Gandy said Karpawich was an avid gardener who loved to have fresh flowers at the dining table and frequently invited friends to his home. “He was a good and decent person, unpretentious and practical, with simple tastes, and once you got to know him he was a funny person,” said friend Jerry Fujimoto of D.C. who says Karpawich will long be remembered for his fabled New Year’s Day feasts. Dr. Karpawich died Nov. 7, 1996 at George Washington University Medical Center in D.C. as a result of throat cancer. He left a $2 million bequest to the WhitmanWalker Clinic for an endowment

La Clinica Del Pueblo

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

La Clinica Del Pubelo has been providing health services to the Latino community and others in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for over 30 years. Founded in 1983 to address the needs of Central American refugees arriving in the region, the clinic began as a one-room health clinic with a single doctor, operating one night per week. Since then, the clinic has grown exponentially in staff, the range of services it provides, and the clients it serves. La Clinica Del Pueblo is one of the very few free, nonprofit health clinics serving the needs of uninsured and underinsured Latino immigrants and others in need. Located at the crossroads of the Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., La Clinica fills many needs in an area that, according to the federal government, has a “physician shortage.” In 2005, La Clinica provided more than 7,500 men, women, and children with free culturally appropriate health services in the areas of clinical services, mental health, interpreter services, HIV/AIDS, community health outreach, and social services.

Lambda Rising

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

The “Lambda Rising” bookstore began serving the gay and lesbian community in 1974 and was quickly recognized as a leader in our literary, political and social world. It offered the finest in LGBT literature and entertainment. At the same time, it supported non-profit groups, promoted performers, celebrated authors, helped youth, encouraged communication, and fought discrimination. Lambda Rising always wore two hats as a responsible business and a dedicated community resource. The store closed in 2010.

Lammas Bookstore

14 The following text is paraphrased and is compliments of RHP: Judy Winsett and Leslie Reeves founded Lammas as a jewelry and craft shop in 1970 in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C. In the final issue of Motive in 1972, Winsett wrote, “We work about fifty hours a week. But it’s not like real work, because we love it and it is fun.” By 1973, Lammas had become the LGBT community’s first bookstore and a lesbian community center, sponsoring and hosting various activities for the lesbian community. In 1986, Lammas opened a second store in Dupont Circle, which offered many of the same services as the Capitol Hill store. Over the years and due to various managers and/or owners, a number of celebrities have passed through Lammas, including Sweet Honey in the Rock, Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade), Alice Walker, Gloria Steinem, and Lily Tomlin. The store also provided space for the Lesbian Avengers meetings and held numerous fundraisers for women’s organizations. Lammas sold books and gifts at every feminist and lesbian conference in DC for years. Seven years later the store moved to its final location at 1607 17th St NW before closing in 2001.The last owner was Sylvia Colon. Lammas was one of the first establishments to carry and distribute safe sex information and books about lesbian safe sex and had always been committed to women’s health issues and lesbian issues in particular.

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

The Leather Rack, a retailer of fetish and casual fashion and novelty, was peerless as a leader among the BDSM and leather community in D.C. The Leather Rack defined healthy sensual and sexual exploration for the greater community and offered select products that were sophisticated and discerning in attitude, sensibility and image. Located north of D.C.’s fashionable Dupont Circle, the Leather Rack occupied two levels of a turn of the century converted row house. An unbelievable collection of adult and specialty films lined the basement level. Owner James McGlade is regarded as a central figure in the leather community. You can always catch a glimpse of Jim as a supporter and sometimes judge in many leather events including International Mr. Leather, International Mr. Drummer, MidAtlantic Leather and Mid-Atlantic Drummer. Jim’s involvement extends beyond the BDSM and leather communities, he participates in many volunteer organizations such as D.C. Metropolitan Area Professionals and Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets.

Lost and Found

Maxwell Lawton Maxwell Lawton painted the first version of “Man of Sorrows: Christ With AIDS,” remembering earlier paintings of a suffering Christ, including a famous portrait of Jesus as a victim of the bubonic plague, according to the Washington Post. “This gave me the merit to continue. I also knew I had to answer the fundamentalists who were saying AIDS was God’s judgment on gay people and drug users,” Lawton wrote on his Web site, http://www.maxwelllawton. com/. Maxwell Lawton, 50, died of metastasis malignant melanoma in 2006 at the Washington Home. As the Post reported, “He was working toward a master’s degree at Wesley Theological Seminary when he exhibited the painting at the seminary’s gallery in 1994. Several months later, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his new ministry, Wola Nani-Embrace, invited Lawton to Cape Town to paint a version for the city’s St. George’s Cathedral.” It has since been seen by millions of visitors.

The Leather Rack

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

The Lost and Found opened in the fall of 1971 and was almost immediately picketed by the newly formed Committee for Open Gay Bars because of alleged racist and sexist carding policies. The original owners were Donn Culver and Bill Bickford. Lost and Found became one of the biggest discos in town. Culver died in a fall from the roof. Replaced by Quorum in 1991, the name was resurrected in 1993 when Quorum changed its name back to Lost and Found. It was later replaced by the Edge. There was a live band Sunday at 3 p.m. for the tea dance, no cover except on Halloween and New Year’s, and reservations were definitely in order for dinner. Men and women had separate bar areas with different atmospheres, but mingling was constant. Free popcorn, old prices Tuesday through Thursday nights and pool tables were some special features.

Juan Carlos Lovelace

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

As the HIV epidemic in the mid 1980s became more apparent to be spreading to individuals who were plagued with substance abuse, Dr. Juan Carlos Lovelace was at the forefront of advocacy and outreach in the District of Columbia for treatment and prevention for those who were then often ignored and dismissed in the area health and mental health service systems. As Executive Director of the National Health Plan, Inc, a multi-site outpatient community health agency in Northwest, Dr. Lovelace began to raise the sensitive issues of access and barriers to HIV treatment patient, stigma and provider bias against addicts needing primary health care, mental health and substance abuse treatment. In 1987 he joined the District of Columbia Government within the Commission on Public Health as Bureau Chief of Drug Treatment Services where he instituted numerous major reforms in the clinical service delivery system for persons living with HIV to educate providers and health care managers about the need to have quality care with dignity and respect for substance abusers. In 1992, Director of the Department of Human Services Vincent C. Gray asked Juan to become the Agency for HIV/AIDS (AHA) first Deputy Director in charge of day-to-day operations. He was a key spokesperson and program developer of the city’s efforts to make the government and the community aware that HIV had become a health emergency in the District of Columbia for a broad range of individuals, gay men of color, substance users, commercial sex workers and youth. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly appointed Dr. Lovelace in 1993 to the Metropolitan Washington HIV Health Services Planning Council where he served for 11 years, the longest tenured member of the Planning Council. There he was the first Chairperson of the Fiscal Oversight Committee monitoring funding over $20 million federal dollars to the Washington EMA under the Ryan White Care Act. Dr. Lovelace also served as Co- Chair of the Planning Council’s Nominations where he and colleagues advocated for more membership diversity and ameliorated the nominations process to the Planning Council. In 2004 Mayor Williams appointed Dr. Lovelace to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on AIDS.

Patsy Lynch Patsy Lynch is a photojournalist who has been documenting the LGBT community for decades. A

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

native Washingtonian, she has covered the changing face of the community including the first and largely forgotten First March on Washington for GLBT rights, where she was one of the four official photographers. She was given the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance 2006 Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to the LGBT community. To view her work, please go to: www.patsylynchphotography.com

Metropolitan Baptist Church

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr., the Senior Servant of Metropolitan Baptist Church, had the vision to establish a ministry to address the spiritual needs of those living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The AIDS Ministry began in 1989 in response to the increasing prevalence of the disease in the community. As with any inner city church, most have experienced or have knowledge of the devastation associated with this disease. For this reason, he felt it was important for the church to respond to the needs of the families as well as those living with the disease with compassion and understanding which is the mandate of Jesus Christ our Lord. The AIDS Ministry outreaches in the community by volunteering monthly at Food & Friends, an organization that provides meals and groceries to go to persons living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the AIDS Ministry and their church’s Union Missionary Council collects can goods on a quarterly basis and distributes them to those families in need who are clients of the Whitman Walker Clinic. The black church has historically played a critical role in addressing social concerns in the African-American community. Recognizing the critical role of the black church in educating the community about HIV/AIDS, the AIDS Ministry participates annually in the “Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS” during the first week of March. This initiative is sponsored by the Balm in Gilead, a national organization dedicated to working with churches to raise their awareness of AIDS by highlighting the role of the

church in addressing this crisis. Also, the ministry takes the lead in organizing walkers from the church to participate annually in “AIDS Walk Washington. Unlike many other institutions in our community dealing with HIV/AIDS, our AIDS Ministry uplifts the words of Jesus by being a faith-based community advocate for those who are either infected or affected with HIV/AIDS. We host quarterly fellowship dinners for our church family and members of the community, which includes persons whose daily lives are impacted by HIV and AIDS. Metropolitan Baptist Church AIDS Ministry is continuing to provide a comprehensive and compassionate ministry of education and services to persons who are either infected or affected with HIV/AIDS in our church and community and support their families with the loving hand of God. The ministry’s purpose is to help others move beyond healing of the body to wholeness in Christ. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. Senior Servant Lafayette K. Smith, President AIDS Ministry Metropolitan Baptist Church

Don Michaels

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

The following text was taken from an article originally appearing June 11, 2004 in the Washington Blade. The article was written by Bryan Anderton. When Don Michaels began working for the Washington Blade in 1977, it was as a volunteer freelance writer. Later that same year, he became the newspaper’s first paid employee, when he was hired as a part-time assistant to answer phones and sort mail. The Pittsburgh native also dabbled in the Blade’s advertising department, and delivered newspapers to make extra money on the side. “Basically, I was doing whatever it took to bring some money in for me and for the Blade,” Michaels says. That dedication paid off in various ways. When the Blade was re-incorporated as a for-profit venture, in 1980, Michaels was named the newspaper’s publisher. Over the course of the next two decades, he helped establish it as one of the largest and most respected gay newspapers in the country. Michaels was honored in 2004 as a Capitol Pride hero. “He had an incredible vision that he made a reality,” says Robert York, director of Capital Pride. “And as a result, I think we all have a very reliable and viable communications

15 source that we wouldn’t have had otherwise without his dedication and leadership over the years.” Lou Chibbaro Jr., who has been writing for the Blade since 1976, echoed York. “He always had a strong commitment to the principles of journalism – the principles of not being an advocacy organization, but to being a fair, impartial, independent newspaper,” said Chibbaro. “Before arriving in Washington, D.C. in 1976, Michaels worked with a number of gay and political organizations in Buffalo, New York, where he attended college and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the State University of New York.

easier to access and more responsive to the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS. In addition, Steve was a founding member of the Stand Up for Democracy in D.C. Coalition, and fought for full democratic rights for all D.C. residents. He organized numerous protests of the Financial Control Board, demanding self-government and full voting representation in Congress for the people of the District of Columbia. Steve died of AIDS-related complications at the Washington Hospital Center on May 25, 1998, at the age of 42.

Greg Mimms

with AIDS by providing a home filled with compassionate care that says to them, you are important. Miriam’s House was awarded the 2003 Washington Post Excellence in Non-profit Management Award. Miriam’s House was chosen as the bestmanaged organization out of 60 D.C. area non-profits competing in the areas of financial management, governance, resource- and people-development, planning, risk management and use of technology.

Sean Mitchell

Steve Michael PHOTO BY KHALID NAJI-ALLAH

Miriam’s House PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF WAYNE TURNER

Steve Michael was a fierce and tireless advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS. His creative and innovative tactics brought AIDS issues to the forefront, when elected officials, policy makers, and the media failed to adequately address the pandemic sweeping the globe. In 1992, Steve and his partner Wayne dogged candidates for president with the ACT UP Presidential Project, demanding they address AIDS, from the New Hampshire primary to Little Rock, Arkansas. Steve challenged President George Bush in the Washington State presidential primary to highlight that administration’s poor performance on AIDS. After moving to Washington, D.C. in 1993, Steve continued to push the Clinton Administration to make good on its campaign promises to fight AIDS, including federal funding for clean needle exchange programs and an all out research effort, a ‘Manhattan Project,’ to find a cure for AIDS. Steve ran for president again in 1996. His explicit and controversial television commercials aired and were subsequently pulled by WMUR, the ABC affiliate in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Steve Michael for President Campaign Committee won a landmark ruling from the Federal Communications Commission protecting political advertising from station censorship. Locally, Steve chaired the Fiscal Oversight Committee of D.C.’s Ryan White Planning Council, and spent many hours working to ensure that federal AIDS funds were spent efficiently. He also worked to reform the AIDS bureaucracy to help make essential services

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Miriam’s House is an affirmation of life. Founded in 1996, Miriam’s House is firmly rooted in the belief that the District of Columbia’s women and children whose lives are affected by AIDS are to be valued and respected. They deserve safe, permanent shelter. They deserve sustenance. They deserve love, respect, and hope. The mission of Miriam’s House is to provide a dynamic residential community for women living with HIV disease that empowers recovery from homelessness, disease and addictions in an environment of compassion, integrity and accountability. Some residents live many years at Miriam’s House, benefiting from the safety and security of a clean and sober home and from the expert care of staff. Some residents enter Miriam’s House as a last home, needing a place to live in comfort and dignity the life that is left to them. The hospicelike care extended to these women makes this possible. Others become healthy and stable, and can move out into independent living, staying connected to the community through the extended family program. For these, the door is always open should they need to return. Miriam’s House provides a home, a community, and a continuum of services for its residents. For the rest of us, it provides a constant reminder of the value of every single life, and of our own humanness. During its existence, Miriam’s House has clearly defined its role in the District of Columbia, filling a special niche for women living

PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF THE FAMILY

Sean Maurice Mitchell was born June 15, 1967 and raised in Tidewater, Va., and Cleveland. Sean always loved and lifted up the name of Jesus. He became saved at an early age, and he rededicated himself to Jesus in 1992. Sean worked very hard as a missionary, blessing many people. He was a very caring person, and he shared all he had with anyone. He was also active in church both Tidewater and in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Sean joined the Job Corp in Laurel, Md., to advance his cooking skills. He remained in the D.C. metro area until his death in 1992. He became a licensed peer counselor and educator with ICAN, the Whitman-Walker Clinic and did volunteer work for other organizations.

Leigh Mosley

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Leigh Mosley has been a Washington, D.C.-based photographer and teacher for 40 years. Her work has been published in numerous periodicals, books, and newspapers including The Washington Post, the Washington Afro-American, the Los Angeles Times newspapers, and Ms. and Essence magazines. She has taught photography and film criticism in D.C. Public Schools at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Digital Art in Montgomery County Public Schools and Photojournalism at American University. She has exhibited her work in group shows at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Kennedy Center and the Anacostia Museum. She is currently working as a cinematographer and DP in Digital Filmmaking. She holds a B.A. in Psychology

from the University of the District of Columbia, and a M.A. in Digital Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Dr. Mahmood Mustafa

tunes, new age, modern rock.... and I am an avid Redskins Fan... just to name a few of my interests.

Patricia Nalls

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The following text is from Mahmood “Moody” Mustafa: I am a physician in private practice, and I specialize in HIV disease and Hematology. I am double-board certified in Internal Medicine and Hematology. I have been in private practice for 17 years and now have one of the largest HIV practices in the area. Those that have been to my office can attest to my claim that it is probably the most interesting, and definitely the coolest doctor’s office anywhere. I feel very fortunate in that I love my work while providing a valuable service for the community. I feel very close to my patients, and I consider most of them my friends. Several years ago, I established the Metropolis Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization which raises funds to support local and national AIDS causes. With the support of hundreds of friends and the efforts of many volunteers, we have contributed over $160,000 to a variety of organizations including Whitman Walker Clinic, Food and Friends, AMFAR, HIV Community Coalition, Northern Virginia AIDS Ministries, Metro Teen AIDS, SMYAL, just to name a few...as well as some non-AIDS organizations such as Big Brothers, The Arthritis Foundation, Children’s Hospital, NGLTF, and The Victory Fund. With regards to my history with photography, I have been seriously taking photos for about 14 years. The majority of my work has been spontaneous rather than posed. I have attempted to illustrate life as it is, while highlighting the more beautiful aspects of our community. As I have often said, there is so much beauty around us which is so easy to overlook because of the many problems and stresses that we regularly encounter. But with only a little bit of effort, it’s easy to stop and take a little bit of time to appreciate some of what is beautiful around us. Not only beautiful things, but also people who are wonderful in so many ways. I have tried to illustrate my philosophy on life through my photography. I enjoy doing all kinds of things. I am basically a pop culture hound. I love all kinds of Movies, and TV shows. I am a true audiophile...I like everything from the most progressive house/dance music (Go Junior) to hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, opera, show

Patricia Nalls is a mother of two children—Alana, age 26 and Shawn, age 22—and a community AIDS activist, locally and nationally, for the rights of women living with HIV/AIDS and their families. She was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, after the death of her husband and three year-old. Patricia has been a long-time activist for women in the Washington, D.C. community. After years of frustration and not finding appropriate support for women, she founded The Women’s Collective, an AIDS service organization (ASO) dedicated to empowering women living with HIV/AIDS, with special emphasis on women of color. The Women’s Collective provides service, support, and most importantly gives women and their families the hope they need to live not to die. Under her leadership what began as a support group in her home is now an organization with a full-time staff of fifteen, and twenty part-time peer educators who currently serve over 600 women living with HIV/AIDS and reaching and educating thousands of other women on HIV/AIDS primary and secondary prevention strategies. The Women’s Collective program model has been shared with women activists from Africa, Ukraine, Guyana, Spain, Canada and Brazil among other countries as well as around the USA. Patricia, over the years, has been an outspoken advocate for women and their families. She served as a consultant on a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) that focused on bringing women living with HIV/AIDS to the policy table where decisions were being made about their very lives. She has organized dozens of community focus groups, speak outs, and information sharing meetings as well as assisted with the publication of various research and policy documents designed to target policy makers to assist them in families at all levels including policy forums and with the Ryan White Title I Planning Council where she has made a difference in breaking down many of the barriers that women face in accessing services. Patricia was the 1999 recipient of the Courage Award from WhitmanWalker Clinic, which recognized her outstanding leadership in the battle against AIDS. Patricia received the 1999 Award of Merit from Solutions 2000 for her organizing

16 work. She is also the recipient of the 2000 Linowes Leadership Award from the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in recognition of her tireless commitment to improving the lives of women living with HIV/AIDS; the Thurlow Evans Tibbs Jr. Award for championing HIV prevention and support services in the AfricanAmerican community; the 2003 Caribbean Peoples International Award for her HIV/AIDS work in the Caribbean-American community. Also in 2003 she received the Washington Free Clinic Community Leadership Award and the WJLA Channel 7 2003 Tribute to Working Women Award for her tireless work to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. In 2004 Pat received the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) Certificate of Recognition of efforts on behalf of women living with HIV/AIDS in DC and the National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council of DC’s Outstanding Leadership Award in Health 2004.

NAPWA The National Association of People with AIDS met in San Francisco in 1986. Shown here, (from upper left, then clockwise) PWA Amy Sloan of Lafayette, Indiana; Billy Burton of Houston, Texas; Joseph Foulon of New York, Bobby Reynolds and San Turner of San Francisco; and Luis Maura of Los Angeles.

National City Christian Church – Dr. Stephen Gentle, Senior Pastor

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The great pillars of our ministry are calling for us to build a greater work on the foundation they provide. We celebrate our ministry and we eagerly await the work that lies ahead. In giving expression to our vision for ministry in the Nation’s Capital, National City Christian Church is: A place of a growing spirituality A place of dedicated service A place of genuine hospitality A place of true diversity A place of outstanding music and the arts.

David Naylor

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

Susan Newman

PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN NEWMAN

The Reverend Dr. Susan Newman is the Director of the Balm in Gilead’s Washington, D.C. office. The Balm in Gilead is a nonprofit, faith-based organization working with churches to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and care services through establishing HIV/AIDS Ministries through education, training, and advocacy. She most recently served the District of Columbia Government as the Senior Advisor to the Mayor for Religious Affairs, and is an Adjunct Minister of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC, an open and affirming congregation. Hailed by Ebony magazine as one of the Top Black Women Preachers in America, she has a 30-year career as a pastor, a community advocate, a teacher, a chaplain, and author. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Dr. Newman has served as the Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church, UCC, in Atlanta, Georgia; the Religious Coordinator for the Children’s Defense Fund; Chaplain and Director of Community Service at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, Adjunct Professor at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she mentored Doctoral students in The Wheeler-Newman Fellows; Dr. Newman received a B.A. in Journalism from George Washington University in Washington, DC, a Master of Divinity from Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC, and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

the summer of 1990 when several members of the local direct action group OUT! attended a workshop on AIDS issues. There, some women from San Francisco discussed distributing safer sex packets at lesbian bars. Some of the women in the direct action group were a little skeptical about doing what seemed like a job for a social service agency, but they realized that nobody else was going to do it. The group’s message is simple: In the age of AIDS, safer sex is something lesbians should think about.

Phillip Pannell

PHOTO COURTESY PATSY LYNCH

Philip Pannell became involved in the AIDS struggle in 1982 and worked with the United Black Fund and the D.C. Coalition to bring information and services to the African-American community. He was arrested in several AIDS demonstrations, was the first to do street outreach east of the Anacostia River, served as a care giver to dozens of PLWAs and was among the first African Americans to appear in the media to discuss the pandemic. He was involved with several HIV/AIDS service organizations, received several certifications as an AIDS educator, served on several boards, and raised funds for organizations and individuals.

Pediatric AIDS Care, Inc.

OUT DC Safer Sex Sirens PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

PHOTO COURTESY CHERYL SPECTOR

The following biography includes text from an article that previously appeared December 14, 1990 in the Washington Blade. Whenever there’s a large group of lesbians gathering, it’s a safe bet that the Safer Sex Sirens will be there, sounding an alarm. Founded in 1990, the Safer Sex Sirens distribute safer sex packets at various women’s events. The group members are armed with packets containing the latest information about safer, as well as some items that could be used for lesbian safer sex: dental dams and brightly colored plastic wrap are provided. The group began in

Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care, Inc. is a not-for-profit community-based organization providing afterschool mental health and support programs for HIV infected and affected children ages 5-18 years old. It offers services to children with no restrictions as to religion, race, ethnicity, HIV status, gender, or ability to pay. Its comprehensive after-school program emphasizes creativity within the modalities of individual and group counseling; art, music, and recreation therapy; as well as a summer youth development camp - all provided by licensed and qualified professionals. Pediatric AIDS’ goal is to provide the children with the life skills and supports necessary to make a successful transition to adulthood, often as someone orphaned by a disease that continues to disproportionately plague low-

income African-American residents.

Jeffrey Pendleton (A.K.A. Odessa O’Hara)

Michael Petrelis reports stories the mainstream media choose to ignore. Michael has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, CNN, ABC News, and National Public Radio. He has been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Raw Story, The Chicago Tribune, The New Republic, and Stars & Stripes.

Danielle Pleasant PHOTO COURTESY CHERYL SPECTOR

The following text is taken from an article originally published in The Washington Blade November 17, 1995. Ubiquitous gay activist and drag advocate Jeffrey Brent Pendleton, whose stage name was Odessa O’Hara, was born May 6, 1967 in Takoma Park, Maryland. He became interested in drag at an early age; by age 17, he hitchhiked to Florida and became increasingly involved in the drag competition circuit while attending cosmetology school. Jeffrey returned to Washington, D.C. in 1989 after a lover died of AIDS-related complications. He soon learned he was HIV-positive and continued his organizing work. He produced many drag shows and competitions, including the 1993 Ms. Stonewall Pride in New York. He also organized and co-organized groups addressing discrimination of female impersonators. In 1991 and 1993, he formed Drags United to protest such discrimination at D.C.’s Capitol Pride, and he was a member of the Mid-Atlantic organizing committee for the 1994 Stonewall 25 March on the United Nations. In 1992 and 1993, Jeffrey organized hundreds of people to raise more than $10,000 for the annual AIDSWALK, sponsored by the Whitman-Walker Clinic. In 1994, he was honored at a White House ceremony by First Lady Hillary Clinton for his volunteer work at the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Jeffrey Pendleton died November 6, 1995 at age 28 of AIDS-related complications. “Jeffrey was a pissy, pushy drag queen and he made a difference,” says Jeffrey’s friend Ralph Hoar. “That was the magic of Jeffrey Pendleton. If people were more concerned about commitment than approval, the world would be a different place. That’s how Jeffrey lived his life.”

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Danielle Pleasant is a single mother of five who has been HIVpositive since December 1992; however, she was not diagnosed until August 1993. Pleasant is an advocate for all people, particularly those living with HIV. She began her advocacy in 1995 advocating for women and children, when her son was diagnosed with AIDS and she herself was pregnant with her fifth child. That year was a hard one, as Ms. Pleasant was not only HIV+ and pregnant, but struggling with the disease of addiction and homelessness. Pleasant is the Community Chair for the Metropolitan Regional Health Services Planning Council, which is where she got her start. She has worked as a consultant and volunteered in several capacities including: Support Groups at Family and Medical Counseling Services, Inc.; Case Manager at Howard University Hospital’s Family Connections Program; Clinical Trials and Treatment Education Program Coordinator at DC CARE Consortium; and Former and current participant of the Ryan White Title I Planning Council and all of its standing committees of which she is Co-Chair of four; Co-Chair of the DC Delegation. She has participated in media outreach campaigns with the following agencies: the US Information Services Agency, the Women’s Collective, KnightRidder, BBC, Washington AIDS Partnership, MEE Productions, the HIV Community Coalition, the New York Times, the Informer, the Afro-American and Black Entertainment Television.

Bruce Rashbaum

Michael Petrelis

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

PHOTO COURTESY PATSY LYNCH

From San Francisco, co-founder of ACT-UP of Washington, D.C. and tireless AIDS activist

The following are the words of Bruce Rashbaum: Being a 27-year survivor, yes, 27 years, is quite a sobering statistic.

17 But I use that all the time when I give talks to others living with HIV. It helps this physician connect to patients when in general most physicians have a difficult time. I can talk the talk because I walk the walk. It wasn’t always easy. I retired from practice in 1995 when I thought the future was looking very grim. I had lost over 1500 patients to HIV and my T cells were 7 and they all had names. My viral load was 2 1/2 million. My partner was sick and dying. I had lost most of my friends and too many patients. It was a very sad time. But the time away from my work (8 months) was just the recharging I needed. I was lucky to be able to take advantage of new drugs that were available in expanded access and to adjust my regimen as newer, easier and safer drugs became available. I can connect to my patients in a way that most clinicians cannot. I know how my patients feel. And, more importantly, I know what it is like to be on the brim of death and to come back and thrive because of the successes of HAART. So, I share my story with anyone who has a medical condition because there is always a bright side to everything and with HIV, the future is here for all of us.

Regional Addiction Prevention (RAP), Inc.

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Founded in 1970, Regional Addiction Prevention (RAP), Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers residential substance abuse treatment using the therapeutic community (TC) modality. In addition we bring services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and conduct prevention/outreach to increase community awareness of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. RAP, Inc. has served the Washington metropolitan area since 1970. We base our treatment approach on cultural values, respecting and supporting all individuals and their communities and recognizing that a client’s culture is an inseparable part of his or her self-image. Teaching from the work of giants such as Malcom X, Frederick Douglass, and Maya Angelou who are models of recovery and overcoming abuse, we motivate clients to embrace the possibilities for their own sobriety. Our mission is… to empower individuals to choose a productive life over addiction; to teach the behavioral skills, attitudes and values necessary to prosper physically, emotionally, and spiritually; and to reconnect clients to loved ones

Omar Reyes has been an advocate and activist for vulnerable communities, especially immigrants in the Latino community, in the fight against HIV/AIDS for more that 16 years. He came to the United States from Nicaragua in 1984 to be reunited with his family, which had moved to the States after the civil war in his country in the mid70s, and to continue his education. In the mid-80s, when the epidemic struck the gay community, Omar lost many of his friends to the disease. Since then, he decided to contribute in the fight against this pandemic. Reyes has held different positions in the HIV field in the Washington Metropolitan area, including: Outreach Coordinator for the Inner City AIDS Network; Outreach worker Specialist for Whitman Walker Clinic, MD; Case Manager for Community Healthcare Inc.; and the HIV Counseling & Testing Coordinator for La Clinica del Pueblo, Inc. He had used his position to promote HIV awareness, link people to the appropriate services and empower them to defend their rights as a human rights activist and advocate for the Latino community. He is the co-founder of the Miss Gay Hispanic pageant, which has as focus on HIV prevention. He is also founder of the first Latina Transgender group in the metropolitan area, Creando Espacio, now called Grupo Mariposa, a program of La Clinica del Pueblo. Omar also created the illusion of Linda Carrero, winning local and national titles, including the Miss Gay America 1999 pageant for female impersonators, and he used HIV prevention as his platform.

who as dynamic ministers/pastors witness through the devastation of funerals, hospital visitation and personal testimonials the incredible need to arrest the raving affect that the HIV/AID pandemic was having in the African American community and especially East of the Anacostia River. RIGHT is recognized as a housing program that attempts to improve the quality of life for persons who are devastated by the spiritual, emotional, and physical damage of HIV and AIDS, and to provide an opportunity to live with dignity and self-determination. This is accomplished by providing housing assistance for persons who are HIV positive and living with AIDS and their families to prevent or minimize homelessness; improving support services to HIV consumers through case management, advocacy and linkage agreements; and gaining participants trust. This means that RIGHT’s staff commits more time in providing quality services, addressing consumer issues, and meeting multiple needs of participants. RIGHT’s mission is to improve the quality of life for persons impacted by the spiritual, emotional and physical challenges stemming from HIV/ AIDS as well as other health and social concerns, and to promote clients’ wellness, dignity and self determination. Additionally, RIGHT Inc. is the first certified local partner of The Balm in Gilead. The HIV/AIDS outreach programs includes the Balm In Gilead Black Church Week of prayer for the Healing of AIDS and the Church Lights the Way HIV Testing Campaign. These outreach programs provide information on the prevention and treatment of HIV disease, AIDS 101 training sessions, advocacy, referrals, and information on other available HIV/AIDS outreach programs in partnership with Damien Ministries, Inc., The Far Northeast/Southeast Ecumenical Outreach Ministry, Prince George’s County Health Department, Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry, DC Balm In Gilead Office and Churches throughout the DC area.

RIGHT, Inc.

Olga Rodriguez

and to their community with a new appreciation of self and social responsibility.

Omar D. Reyes

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Residing In Group Housing Together (RIGHT, Inc.), a faithbased AIDS Service Organization with 14 years of experience serving Washington D.C.’s Anacostia community, was established by a consortium of four churches located in Southeast Washington, DC. The pastors of Allen Chapel A.M.E., Emmanuel Baptist, Faith Tabernacle of Prayer For All People, and Young’s Memorial Church of Christ Holiness Churches were the visionaries for this organization. The advent of the organization was a result of two visionaries

to join the staff as a full-time employee, in the dual capacities of Case Manager and Support Group Coordinator. Rodriguez worked directly with clients to obtain and coordinate a wide array of services on their behalf. To enhance the agency’s services, she used her many contacts with other agencies and pharmaceutical companies to arrange for presenters to come and provide up-to-date information to clients on topics of interest, such as programs and services, new medications, and coping with side effects. After a year at Salud, Inc., Rodriguez was promoted to Case Management Department Supervisor. In her new capacity she supervised three case managers, the food bank coordinator, and the agency’s interpreter, in addition to carrying 35 clients of her own. She held this position for two years, until the agency was forced to close due to funding problems. In 1995, Rodriguez served as Case Manager at La Clinica del Pueblo. During her two-year tenure at the agency, Rodriguez provided many services to her clients, which included setting up medical appointments, coordinating social services, and arranging for mental health services. In order to work with a larger number of clients in a bigger clinical setting, Rodriguez joined Whitman-Walker Clinic. As a case manager, she has served many clients with dual and triple diagnoses. She has helped many clients from the Latino community overcome the language barrier in order to more fully avail of the services offered by the clinic. She has accomplished this by providing direct assistance to clients, serving as contact person at the clinic for Latino clients, and by representing the Latino community on a clinic-wide committee. By informing clinic leaders and decision-makers of the unique issues and challenges faced by her constituents, she has helped to the clinic to minimize gaps in services to its Latino clients.

Olga Rodriguez has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS since 1991. She started volunteering at Salud, Inc., assisting people with HIV/ AIDS in the Latino Community by providing information on the Bilingual AIDS Hotline. After serving three months as a volunteer, she accepted an offer

Hugo Salinas

Michael Sainte-Andress PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

living with HIV and a courageous visionary in his involvement in fighting for human rights and has selflessly allowed his own journey to be an inspiration to those who witness his commitment to our community. Born in Seattle, Washington, Micci grew up in Houston since the age of six. He graduated from Lincoln University in 1972 with degrees in English and Sociology. In his life, Micci has been an educator, a professional ‘triple threat’ entertainer (i.e. he sang, danced and acted), an awardwinning poet and writer, but most importantly, he has been a human being fully committed to making the world a better place. He honorably served in the U.S. Navy and since 1975 has made Washington, D.C. his home. In 1983 he was a poster model in the first promotional HIV ad campaign that targeted AfricanAmerican gay and bisexual men. Ironically, he was diagnosed as HIV-positive three years later. This spurred his advocacy and activism and he became a certified HIV/AIDS Educator, Peer Counselor, and Treatment Education Specialist. He served as a Mayoral appointee for two consecutive three-year terms (1993-99) on the Metropolitan Washington Ryan White HIV Health Services Planning Council. Since 1995 Micci has also served on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for HIV clinical trials of the Wide-Reaching AIDS Program (WRAP) of the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the Veterans Administration Medical Center. As a performance artist, writer and lecturer, he has used skills and talent throughout the country to educate, inform and empower about the challenges of living with HIV disease. He does this with a commitment and sense of purpose that is remarkable. A good description of him is that of a “good soldier.”

Michael “Micci” SainteAndress is truly an asset to the Washington metropolitan area and is highly respected among local government, business, education, HIV/AIDS, community, and faith-based organizations. He has championed such causes as arts education in public schools, adult literacy, voter registration, and LGBT rights. He has also been a tireless advocate for people

Hugo Salinas is an HIV educator with many years of experience providing outreach to the community, particularly the Latino community. He is a sales representative with De Cerca Media Group, Inc. His outreach in HIV/AIDS has allowed him to serve Ace of Hearts Imports, Indochinese Community Center, La Clinica Del Pueblo, GELAAM, and SALUD, Inc. Hugo has volunteered for the Latin American Cultural Space (LACS), the National Association of Persons with AIDS (NAPWA), and the American Red Cross. He has also served on the HIV

18 Community Coalition Board.

Manuel Sandoval PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSE GUTIERREZ

Manuel Sandoval was a Latino Gay activist. He participated in several community service organizations: Alianza, Salud, La Clinica del Pueblo and HCC. He was born in September 7 1959 and He died on March 1, 1995.

Daniel T. Schellhorn

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Born Oct. 29, 1945, Dan was raised in New Jersey; he came to Washington, D.C. in 1963 to attend George Washington University. He started working in printing and Direct Mail the next year and eventually became part owner and General Manager of Swift Mailing Service and co-owner of several business development and investment newsletters. During this period, Dan worked with Steve Endean of Gay Rights National Lobby to start and develop a direct mail campaign and worked with Steve on the initial development of the Human Rights Campaign Fund. He became active in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Washington, D.C. in 1978, joining in 1979. Dan has served on various MCC programs, including the MCC lay Leadership and Clergy Training Leadership programs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Settlement House. After being diagnosed HIVpositive in 1989, he sold his business and went back to school to finish his undergraduate degree, continuing on to get a master’s degree in Adult Education. He manages his real estate investments and is active in MCC ministries, particularly those involving HIV. He looks back on the ‘80s and ‘90s as a time when we as a community learned to care for each other, when both as individuals and as a community we were all heroes for each other. He hopes that MCC and the LGBT community will continue to grow in caring for each member of the community, and will find new ways to strengthen this caring attitude that we began to learn during the first 30 years of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Carol Schwartz In

1988, as

cities such

Washington, D.C. began feeling the effects of the burgeoning epidemic, Council member Carol Schwartz joined the board of the Whitman-Walker Clinic and the fight against AIDS. Reflecting on the events that led her to become involved in helping those affected by HIV/AIDS, Carol said that she was simply responding to an innate need to help. Carol served on the D.C. Council and recently ran unsuccessfully for mayor. She has served on the board of the Hattie M. Strong Foundation, the Community and Friends Board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was the first woman president of the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs. She has also been actively involved on the boards of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, St. John’s Community Services, and the Jewish Council for the Aging, as well as on fundraising committees for organizations such as the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the D.C. Republican Party, the Lombardi Cancer Center and the Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance. In 2002, she received the National Capital Area Leadership Award from the Human Rights Campaign, and in 2004, she received the Whitney M. Young Award for Community Service from the Greater Washington Urban League. She has also been selected multiple times by readers of the Washington Blade as Straight Ally of the Year.

Keith Selden

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

A. Keith Selden has worked tirelessly as an advocate and revolutionary for children, youth and families for the many years. Trained in social work and case management, Keith has worked for the past 15 years specifically with adolescents and young adults infected with HIV. Keith worked exclusively with adults while service as a residential manager at a community release center with the District of Columbia’s Department of Corrections. At that time, he began recognizing many of his residents were being infected with HIV. What surprised him was that an overwhelming majority of those infected African American and female. This trend alarmed him enough that he felt compelled to begin working

to educate and inform others about HIV within the Black community, his community. After working many years with the Department of Corrections, he became frustrated with the rate of recidivism as he saw the revolving door of incarceration for so many. This lent a desire to work with a younger population, where he believed he could have more of a positive influence. Through discussions with a friend, he was made aware of a job opening at Children’s National Medical Center’s Burgess Clinic to case manage young people who were HIV-positive. Keith’s position grew and he managed a program called Youth Connections, where Care Advocates are trained to identify HIV-positive youth and link them into medical care and other social support services that addresses issues all adolescents face: identity, school, friends, pimples, peer pressure, transportation, money, family issues, to name a few. After all, Keith understood that all adolescents face the same issues regardless of HIV status.

Shiloh Baptist Church

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

As the SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH, we are a part of the Family of God - a vital entity in the Shaw community - believing in Jesus Christ, spreading the Good News, worshiping, teaching, growing, caring, sharing, cultivating Christian lifestyles, promoting justice, ministering to the needy, the oppressed and physically challenged and people of all ages and nationalities, locally, and internationally. Shiloh’s overall purpose is to build a village that represents God’s Kingdom. We do that through our discipleship ministries, which pick up on the core purposes of the church. The first core purpose, “Loving God with all our hearts, minds and souls,” is fulfilled through our worship, where we express that love by magnifying and glorifying God. The second purpose, “loving our neighbors as ourselves” is fulfilled through our Outreach Discipleship Group. Through our outreach, we continually express to the world that we are vitally concerned and connected with all of God’s creation. The third purpose is taken from the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20, to “go and make disciples,” which we fulfill through evangelism, spreading the good news about a loving God in every corner of the world. The fourth purpose is to “baptize them,” which we do through the ministry of our

Stewardship Discipleship Group, brining new members lovingly in the fold. Finally, the Great Commission tells us to “teach all nations,” which we accomplish through our Education Discipleship Group, providing training and instruction in the ways that God commands. Shiloh will be the anchor of an urban village that focuses its ministry on body, mind and soul for persons of all cultures and races from the cradle to the grave. It will encompass the geographical dimensions of P Street to Q, 9th to 10th. The ministry offerings for children 6 to 18 will include a day care, after school tutorial and mentoring programs, Saturday movie, entertainment and recreational events and a residential facility for children. Ministry for young adults will include recreation through basketball, gymnastics and racquetball, as well as relationship building through singles and couples interaction and fellowship. Ministry to middle adults will include senior adult day care, child care and need-based support groups such as grief recovery and 12-step programs. Ministry for seniors will include daily fellowship, healthy affordable meals, an extended care living facility and transportation services. Worship and spiritual formation will take place in the recently constructed sanctuary. Recreational and educational events will occur in the completely renovated Family Life Center, which will be retrofitted as a state-of-the-art computer and communications facility. The Village will also be the site of health care and special needs programs. Buildings will be renovated and designed to accommodate the deaf, the blind and those with varieties of intellectual and emotional challenges. Space in these buildings will also be utilized for AIDS education as well as prostate, sickle cell and other health screening programs. Text includes excerpts from http://shilohbaptist.org .

Jane Silver, MPH

AIDS and immunology, human rights and the performing arts. Prior to joining the Fund, Silver served as vice president for Public Policy at the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), and as Associate Director for Programs for the National Commission on AIDS. She worked for the District of Columbia Department of Public Health, where she established and was chief of the District of Columbia’s first AIDS office. Silver was also Senior Program Analyst and Director of the Fellows Program for the Drug Abuse Council, Inc. She has been a member of the American Public Health Association since 1979. Silver has served on the board of directors of The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, the Human Rights Watch HIV/AIDS Program Advisory Committee, DC Developing Families Center Advisory Council, and the New York Choreographic Institute Advisory Council. She also served on the board of directors of Whitman-Walker Clinic and on the National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council. In 1987, she was honored with The Gene Frey Award for Public Service from the WhitmanWalker Clinic.

Michael Singerman

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Michael Singerman was a member of the direct action groups ACT UP and OUT, and the Condom Availability Coalition. The Coalition assures the presence of condoms in Washington, D.C. schools and correctional facilities. He distributed clean needles with the Needle Exchange Coalition on the streets of DC – against DC law. He conceived and brought to fruition a legal, workable effective Needle Exchange Program for Washington, D.C. It authorizes qualified Community Based Organizations to administer Needle Exchange Programs that address the escalating rate of HIV infection among the District’s intravenous drug users.

Paul Smith PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Jane Silver received her master’s degree in Public Health from the Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, and has devoted her career to public health and public policy issues affecting poor and underserved communities. Silver is president of The Irene Diamond Fund, a New York Citybased foundation with interests in medical research relating to HIV/

PHOTO COURTESY PAUL SMITH

Paul M Smith is a retired Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist who maintained a private practice in downtown, Washington, D.C. for more than 18 years. Paul graduated from the

19 National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University in the field of clinical Social Work in 1985. He spent his early years with the Montgomery County (MD), Department of Addictions, Victim and Mental Health Services as a staff therapist serving people, and their families, who were in recovery from substance abuse and addictions. In the mid-‘90s, Paul served as clinical supervisor to HIV+ support group leaders of Northern Virginia, a volunteer service sponsored by the Whitman-Walker Clinic of the Washington Metropolitan area. He also served as contract therapist with Us Helping Us, PIL, Inc., a local HIV/AIDS organization in the African American community in Washington, DC. Paul is currently retired and is now living in Hollywood, Florida. He continues to serve the HIV/AIDS community in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He volunteers as a staff therapist with Sunserve Counseling and Psychotherapy Services, an LGBT mental health program in South Florida working with low income and indigent populations many of which are managing HIV/AIDS complications. Paul’s community service includes membership on the Clinical Advisory Board, Sunserve Inc., Sunshine Social Services. He remains an active member with the Service Members Legal Defense Network, Emeritus Board. He has served on the Diversity Committee of the Broward County (FL) School Board, an oversight function that insures equity and fairness for all students in Broward County, Florida.

Stephen Smith

PHOTO COURTESY CHERYL SPECTOR

The following text is taken from an article originally published in The Washington Blade November 20, 1998. Stephen Smith, founder of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the AIDS protest group ACT UP/DC and Gay direct action group Queer Nation, was born Jan. 15, 1964 in Franklin, Pa. In the mid-1980s he moved to Washington, D.C. and attended the University of Maryland at College Park. In 1989, during the height of the D.C. gay community’s awakening to the AIDS crisis, Smith began organizing the D.C. chapter of ACT UP. He and other members of the organization distributed condoms at public and private high schools; protested the National Institutes of Health over its AIDS research; and called for a

boycott of Philip Morris after the tobacco corporation gave money to U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), known for his votes against legislation that would positively affect Gays and people with AIDS. In 1991, Smith co-founded the Washington, D.C. chapter of Queer Nation. ACT UP worked with Queer Nation and the pre-existing OUT! (Oppression Under Target!) on many actions, including a “Target Bush” project to document that then President George Bush had failed to take sufficient action on AIDS issues, and a “Roast the Real Pig” protest outside the Ronald Reagan Republican Center, where Helms’s re-election campaign was holding its own barbecue. Stephen’s optimistic disposition earned him the nickname “Little Stevie Sunshine.” His friend Cheryl Spector says, “He taught me what it was like to be a tireless, fierce AIDS activist, and he was a survivor.” Smith was also a leader in the medical marijuana and needle exchange movements. “Stephen was a knowledge-keeper in our time,” said former ACT UP/DC and Queer Nation member Tim McCarthy. “He was the first person that taught me to live with this other life form that he lived with…he was my first HIV knowledge keeper.”

SMYAL

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) is the only Washington, D.C. metro area service organization solely dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Founded in 1984, SMYAL is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to promote and support self-confident, healthy, productive lives for LGBTQ youth as they journey from adolescence into adulthood. To fulfill Its mission, SMYAL focuses its commitment and energy on five focus areas: (1) Life Skills & Leadership Development, (2) Counseling & Support, (3) Health & Wellness Education, (4) Safe Social Activities, and (5) Community Outreach and Education.

S.O.M.E.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOME

SOME (So Others Might Eat) is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help

the poor and homeless of our nation’s capital. Started in 1970, SOME meets the immediate daily needs of the people it serves with food, clothing, and health care. SOME helps to break the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. Many individuals infected with HIV or AIDS choose to come to SOME for any of its services, though especially for medical or dental care. Together, the clinics serve an average of 40 high risk patients each day. Many of SOME’s HIV-positive patients prefer the privacy of coming to SOME since it serves a range of clients, regardless of HIV status. Each day, SOME is restoring hope and dignity one person at a time.

A true stylist, Rodney was the 2001 Golden Scissors Award Recipient, Makeup Artist of the Year and an outstanding male stylist. His previous makeup clients included international music icons Sweet Honey in the Rock, restaurant matriarch and lifestyle expert B. Smith and recording artist Rachelle Ferrell. Rodney worked as a makeup artist for BET Studios and NUE-TV (a Quincy Jones Production). Rodney was an active member of Inner Light Unity Fellowship Church and Inner Light Ministries since 1998 where he sang in the church’s Voices of Praise and he founded the Dance Ministry. Rodney made his transition February 15, 2003 from AIDSrelated complications.

Precious Thomas

St. Augustine Catholic Church PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

Saint Augustine Church is the oldest black Catholic church in the nation’s capital. As the Mother Church of Black Catholics, Saint Augustine Church continues in the tradition in which it was founded, as a strong Black Catholic institution, which witnesses in faith to the Living God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Saint Augustine will continue to be a center that recognizes, proclaims and preserves our Black Roman Catholic Heritage. It will expand and improve all activities to advance the education of our children; to continue work in evangelization, liturgy, music, and ecumenism and in efforts toward the achievement of a spiritual, economic and social development of all people.

“My name is Precious Thomas. I am 15 years old and I’m in the 12th grade. I attend the Seed Public Charter School located in Washington, D.C. I am a motivational speaker on the facts about HIV/AIDS. I was also born with HIV. I was adopted when I was 2 weeks old. I have loving and caring family. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. I also have 2 beautiful nieces and 1 handsome little nephew. I have a wonderful best friend and many, many aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love my family very much and they are very supportive. I plan to have many days where I spend plenty of time with my family and friends in the future. I also plan to go to college and live a long, happy, and healthy life.”

Thurlow Tibbs, Jr.

Rodney Taylor

PHOTO COURTESY LOUIS HICKS

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

Rodney David Taylor was born in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 6, 1965. He attended Strayer University and received a bachelor’s in marketing. He graduated from Bennett Beauty Institute of Cosmetology in January 2002 and was salutatorian. Rodney studied dance and performed in many local shows. He studied and performed with the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem. Rodney became well known nationally as a make-up artist and National Trainer for Trish McEvoy, Ltd.

Artist Thurlow Tibbs, Jr. was a prominent African-American member of the art community. In particular, Thurlow was actively interested and involved in the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. His generous gift of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and photographs in May 1996 greatly enriched the permanent collection of American art with outstanding examples by major African-America artists not previously represented in the collection. His wisdom, judgment, and enthusiasm contributed toward the Corcoran Gallery an important center for the

preservation and study of AfricanAmerican art. In recognition of his work, Tibbs received the William Wilson Corcoran Medal in 1996. Tibbs was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about American art, but he dedicated himself to supporting and encouraging the finest creative efforts of his fellow African Americans. Born in 1952, Thurlow Tibbs, Jr. passed away Jan. 16, 1997.

Reed Tuckson Dr. Reed Tuckson joined United Health Group as senior vice president of Consumer Health and Medical Care Advancement, where he worked with all business groups to create new healthcare systems, enhance patientphysician relationships, improve medical care quality, and assist individuals in maximizing their health. Prior to joining United Health Group, Dr. Tuckson served as Senior Vice President of Professional Standards for the American Medical Association (AMA). He also had administrative responsibility for the AMA with the National Patient Safety Foundation, the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education, and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. The former president of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles from 1991 to 1997, Dr. Tuckson also served as Senior Vice Presdient for programs of the March of Dimes Births Defects Foundation from 1990-91. From 1986 to 1990 Dr. Tuckson was the Commissioner of Public Health for the District of Columbia. Dr. Tuckson has been a member of several healthcare-related and academic organizations, including the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, he was recently appointed to the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society and has held a number of federal appointments, including cabinet level advisory committees on health reform, infant mortality, children’s health, violence, and radiation testing.

Wayne Turner

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

Wayne Turner organized numerous demonstrations, marches, and vigils in the fight against AIDS as a member of ACT UP in Washington, D.C. He has been arrested multiple times in non-violent civil disobedience, including protesting the firing of

20 Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, and the lack of an AIDS ‘Czar’ with the power to effectively combat the epidemic. Wayne and his partner Steve were among nine people arrested at the White House when President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. In 1998, Wayne held near constant vigil at the bedside of his partner Steve, who spent three and half weeks in intensive care with multiple HIV-related infections. When Steve’s condition severely deteriorated, Wayne gave the order to disconnect his partner of seven years from life support. Wayne then organized an historic political funeral, as per Steve’s request. Four hundred mourners marched a coffin containing Steve’s remains through the streets of downtown Washington, and held an open casket funeral service on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. Wayne went on to lead the successful Initiative 59 campaign to protect seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana. Although the vote totals were held up by Congress, a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of the National Capital Area won the release of the election ballots, revealing that the measure had passed by 69 percent, winning in all eight D.C. wards, and every voter precinct. Wayne continued the effort to ensure that HIV/AIDS funds are spent are spent effectively, and drafted proposals requiring random audits of AIDS service organizations and addressing conflict of interest in the allocation of federal funds, which were incorporated into the Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization of 2000. His article documenting funding abuses, entitled ‘AIDS Inc.’ was published as the cover story in the April 2000 edition of the Washington Monthly magazine.

Sonia Umanzur

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TALOR

Irma (Sonia) Umanzur was born on Aug. 28, 1957 in Canton Boquin, La Union, El Salvador. She is one of seven children. She lost her father when she was one month of age and her mother had to work to support all the children. Her parents were peasants. Sonia started working when she was seven; she was a good student,responsible, sensible and was always looking out for others. She married and has a wonderful grown daughter who she admires for her determination and commitment to working with the community. She had to leave El Salvador in August 1981 because it was difficult for her to continue living with persecution. After a transition to

the U.S., she moved to Washington, D.C., where she has been residing since about age 20. She started working in maintenance at the church Nuestra Reina de las Americas, a short time after she started volunteering at Carecen with the Health Program and as a result La Clinica del Pueblo started and making Sonia one of the founders of such an important health agency. She worked there for 15 years. She founded the Promotoras de Salud. She developed and taught the first group of participants. She also assisted in founding and promoting the program for HIV/ AIDS. She worked in this program and was very committed to its progress by providing quality care to its participants. She’s also worked at Mary’s Center as a patient advocate. Through her job, she lives the mission of the clinic to build better futures for families taking into consideration health, education and social services. Over the years, Sonia has demonstrated her commitment and leadership in the Latino community and especially in her very own Salvadorian community involving herself with the people and their concerns. Her pleasant disposition and optimism in addition to her modesty makes her a natural born leader.

Ryan White

PHOTO COURTESY THE FAMILY

Ryan White died of AIDS. His story follows. On Dec. 6, 1971, Ryan Wayne White was born. Three days later, doctors told his parents that he was a hemophiliac. That means his blood does not clot the way it is supposed to. Luckily, there was a new product out that contained the clotting agents found in blood. This product was called Factor VIII, and was made from blood. Ryan grew up having many hemorrhages, or bleeds, and would get IV’s of Factor VIII twice a week. While he was battling pneumonia, he had to have surgery on Dec. 17, 1984, to have two inches of his left lung removed. Two hours after the surgery, doctors told his mother that he had contracted AIDS. He was given six months to live. But he was a fighter. He was determined to continue at his school and live life normally. But in 1985, not many people knew the truth about AIDS. Not very much was known about AIDS. Ryan faced a lot of discrimination, mostly based on the unknown. His school tried to keep him from attending and the town in which he lived was not very supportive, to say the least.

After legal battles, Ryan and his mother settled with the school to have separate restrooms and disposable silverware from the cafeteria. But that didn’t stop much. Students vandalized his locker with the word “FAG” and restaurants threw his dishes away after he left. A bullet was even fired into his home. After that, he and his family moved to Cicero, Ind., and were welcomed. People had been educated and Ryan was happy again. He had his learner’s permit. He had friends, his family, and he was turning an incurable disease into a way to educate America. There was a movie made about him, titled “The Ryan White Story,” that aired on ABC. Ryan got to be an actor as he played his friend Chad. Ryan White was making a difference. But on April 8, 1990, the world lost a wonderful person. He knew he was famous, took that, and turned it into something that everyone could learn from. He knew his purpose in life.

Whitman-Walker Health

PHOTO COURTESY WWH

Whitman-Walker Health (formerly Whitman-Walker Clinic) provides comprehensive, compassionate services that address many of the health care needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities and serves as the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Established in 1973, WhitmanWalker Health is a communitybased organization with hundreds of volunteers who provide millions of dollars’ worth of services annually. With compassion and dedication, the staff and volunteers enable the thousands of clients who turn to the clinic each year to receive vital primary medical care and social support services. Earlier this year, Whitman-Walker opened a new, multi-million dollar facility on 14th Street, expanding its services to include a pharmacy, dental care and many other primary care health services for local residents.

Jessica M. Xavier, M.P.H.

PHOTO COURTESY JESSICA XAVIER

Jessica Xavier has worked in the HIV/AIDS epidemic for more than 20 years, and earned

her master’s in Public Health at the University of Maryland. She was the data coordinator for the first HIV clinical research trial conducted in the District, at the George Washington University Medical Center, where she later became the Administrative Manager of the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit. She has also consulted with the Division of AIDS of NIAID, the Health Resources Services Administration, the Leadership Campaign on AIDS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 1998 to 2000, she was Principal Investigator for the bilingual Washington, D.C. Transgender Needs Assessment Survey, one of the largest studies of an urban transgender population conducted in the U.S. She was a contributor to the HIV/AIDS chapter of the Healthy People 2010 Companion Document for LGBT Health, and she also coordinated the first allday institute on HIV/AIDS in transgender people at the 2002 U.S. Conference on AIDS. She also served as the director of Volunteer Resources for WhitmanWalker Clinic for nearly four years and as a co-investigator of the Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Study, a statewide qualitative/quantitative survey of the transgender population of Virginia, implemented by the Community Health Research Initiative of Virginia Commonwealth University for the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia HIV Community Planning Committee.

Frank Yurrita

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Frank Yurrita came to the United States from Guatemala in 1984. He was at the forefront of HIV/AIDS prevention and education movement during the mid-1980s, before treatment of the disease was available and little was known about HIV/AIDS prevention and education in the Latino community. Since the beginning of the epidemic Yurrita worked diligently to provide HIV/AIDS information and treatment to diverse populations. In 1986, Yurrita joined the staff at La Clinica del Pueblo where he started the first HIV/AIDS program for Latinos in the District of Columbia. In 1988, Yurrita moved to Whitman-Walker Clinic and started the Latino Services Division. There Yurrita worked hard to obtain funding from various private and government sources to provide many services and programs to the gay Latino population in D.C. After serving as Interim

Director of the Mayor’s Office on Latino affairs in 1999/2000, Yurrita returned to WhitmanWalker as Associate Executive Director for Health and Wellness. There he served as liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and hosted numerous international delegations seeking information as to how to provide HIV/AIDS services to developing countries. Yurrita has been a strong advocate for culturally competent access to health care for diverse populations and has designed and implemented successful programs for at-risk youth and gangs in the Latino community.

2012 John-Manuel Andriote

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

John-Manuel Andriote began reporting on the HIV epidemic in 1986, while he was working on a master’s degree in journalism at Northwestern University. By then he had already lost two friends to AIDS, both of them in their twenties, like himself. Bill Bailey, a volunteer “buddy” for WhitmanWalker, encouraged Andriote to focus on HIV/AIDS while the two were a couple. Bailey himself tested positive in 1986, and later died from AIDS in 1994. That year, Andriote began to work on the book that became Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed Gay Life in America. Published by the University of Chicago Press in 1999, Victory Deferred chronicled the stories of gay men and their supporters who responded to the epidemic with anger and determination that no one should suffer discrimination because of their HIV status or sexual orientation. Andriote himself was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 2005, and continues to report on the epidemic. In 2011, Andriote updated Victory Deferred in a revised and expanded second edition. The many audiotape interviews Andriote conducted with men and women in gay communities across the country, medical experts, activists, family members and others affected by HIV/AIDS, are now part of the John-Manuel Andriote Victory Deferred Collection curated by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

George Bellinger, Jr. George Bellinger, Jr. has been working in the AIDS industry since 1982 and with LGBT communities before that time. He has served in various capacities from outreach

21 PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

worker and community organizer to Executive Director and consultant. He started his activism and community involvement in Washington, DC with Whitman Walker, when it was just a gay men’s clinic as a buddy, assisting those who were impacted by AIDS and needed human contact and support. Those skills took him to become the Program Coordinator for Spectrum, one of the early organizations dedicated to the Black community. Most recently he provided strategic planning for the Black Gay Leadership Council of Philadelphia and served as a research assistant for Dr. J. Battle at the CUNY Graduate Center on health disparities of communities of color and D. P Wheeler of Hunter College on a multi-site study looking at behavioral and sexual aspects of Black men who have sex with men. He came back to Washington, DC and served as the Associate Executive Director for Policy and Community Development for the AIDS Action Council, and one of the faculty members for the African American HIV University of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Bellinger is an accomplished trainer and facilitator and has worked throughout the United States as well as internationally, focusing on areas of self-awareness, empowerment, love & sex, relationships, identity. A renowned prevention specialist, George is proficient in policy issues, coalition building and addressing the needs of underserved communities. George is often requested as a keynote speaker to address the concerns of people of color who are at-risk and providing strategies and empowerment to those populations. He is currently a management consultant working with non-forprofit agencies developing their boards, programs and productivity. A native New Yorker, he dedicates his work to the people who coming up while honoring those who went before him.

Donald Birch III

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

I wonder if I had not tested HIV+ in August of 1985 at home in Detroit, would I have done as much in the HIV/AIDS world. When I moved to DC in 1986, I don’t know if I would have worked, supported, participated and/or volunteered

with Inner City AIDS Network, Whitman Walker Clinic, IMPACTDC, the DC AIDS Office, LIfelink, NAPWA, Us Helping Us and other groups that I’ve worked for. I’m not even sure if I would have eventually become a social worker. I’d like to think I would have been magnanimous, sacrificial and hard working for the good of others. However, knowing myself as well as I do, I probably wouldn’t have. The truth is also that I’m thankful that I’ve been part of the HIV community, for my sake as well as on the behalf of others. It has given me friends, purpose, life enrichment and fun. And if being HIV positive for more than half my life has made me do this work then I guess I’m kind of thankful for that at well.

AHF Blair Underwood Center

PHOTO BY JULIUS PRINCE

A part of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the AHF Blair Underwood Healthcare Center is located in Washington, D.C. and named after Blair Underwood, a popular and award-winning Hollywood actor whose activism and advocacy on HIV/AIDS blossomed after he visited the hard hit country of South Africa many years ago. He is a founding member of the advocacy group, ‘Artists for a New South Africa,’ and has previously been featured in several AHF media campaigns, most notably AHF’s highlyeffective “Man Up” HIV testing media campaign. The center is a state-of-the-art, full-service HIV/ AIDS treatment clinic as well as an on-site AHF Pharmacy. The facility is known popularly as the AHF Blair Underwood Clinic. AHF Healthcare Centers provide advanced medical care designed specifically for HIVpositive clients. AHF healthcare providers are knowledgeable of up-to-the-minute developments in HIV medical care. In addition, AHF Healthcare Centers are often part of the research teams testing new medications to fight HIV. AHF Healthcare Centers provide clients with access to the additional specialists, medications and services they need to be as healthy as possible. “By locating our clinic inside the District and not far from George Washington University Hospital, where we will admit some of those HIV/AIDS patients who may need hospital care, our AHF Blair Underwood Clinic will be in a unique position to better serve a high-risk, largely minority population,” said Roxanne CoxIyamu, M.D., Medical Director for the AHF Blair Underwood Clinic.

Larry Bryant

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Larry Bryant could have pursued a career in professional football if he’d wanted to, HIV or no HIV. But he decided to take his life in another direction: helping improve the lives of others. A 20-year survivor of HIV, Larry now presses palms for the AIDS advocacy group Housing Works instead of pressing pigskin on the football field. As an activist in Washington, D.C., Larry regularly meets with politicians and political staff members to push for better funding and greater support for HIV-positive people throughout the country. But although he may be rubbing shoulders with some of the country’s most powerful people, Larry always keeps it real: “I will never be as important as the people I work for,” he says.

William Anthony Burns

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

The following are the words of William A. Burns: I thought I would have been dead by now. Friday, July 13, 1990 was when this journey officially began for me. Though I do suspect, it was probably a year or two before then. I have lost so many friends and loved ones to this epidemic. I have come to believe, “that which does not kill us can make us stronger.” God has been so good to me. People have been kind, loving, and supportive of me. That has truly been amazing, given the past and current stigma still attached, to people living with HIV/AIDS. Life is precious. Love is precious. I live my life now on purpose, on purpose with all its challenges and complexities. HIV/AIDS has not killed me, and surprisingly, and gratefully, it has also helped to make me stronger. Live Life on Purpose.

Abby Charles

PHOTO BY JULIUS PRINCE

Jeffrey Crowley Jeffrey S. Distinguished

Crowley Scholar

a and

PHOTO BY TOMMIE ADAMS

Program Director of the National HIV/AIDS Initiative at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law. He is an internationally recognized expert on HIV/AIDS and disability policy, having worked at top levels of government, academia, and advocacy organizations. From 2009 to 2011, he served as the Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy for President Barack Obama. As the President’s chief HIV/AIDS advisor, Mr. Crowley developed the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States, focused on lowering the number of new HIV infections, increasing access to care, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. Mr. Crowley has dedicated his professional career to advancing approaches and solutions to the nation’s most pressing social policy challenges. From 2000 to 2009, he was a Senior Research Scholar at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute and subsequent to its founding he had a concurrent appointment as a Senior Scholar at the University’s O’Neill Institute. His work focused on improving health care for people with disabilities and chronic conditions through improvements to Medicaid and Medicare. Mr. Crowley is a respected leader among people affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, having served in senior positions at the National Association for People with AIDS from 1994 to 2000. He has worked with domestic and international advocates and policymakers to advance more responsive and humane policies regarding HIV treatment, prevention, and research.

Ron Daniels

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

An award-winning public health advocate and addictions counselor, Ronald Daniels has worked on HIV/ AIDS and substance abuse issues in the District of Columbia for 15 years. Throughout those years, Ron has tirelessly worked at the grassroots level to ensure people suffering from HIV and chemical dependency receive the essential continuum of care services they needed to recover from the scourge of addiction and to survive living with HIV/AIDS. Through numerous community based and major health care organizations, Daniels has spread the gospel of harm reduction and shepherded hundreds

of marginalized people into the quality care, treatment and support they deserve. A founder and co-founder of several programs in care advocacy, syringe access, and harm reduction education during his eight-year tenure at Prevention Works, Daniels quickly established himself as the go-to advocate in the District for access to those struggling with the hardened realities of drug addiction and the co-occurring disorders of HIV, mental illness, and Hepatitis C. Through his frontline service for clients who trust him to help them navigate DC’s sprawling health and social service systems, Daniels provides more than the hope of receiving high quality services for indigent populations; he helps make sure it’s delivered. Since leaving Prevention Works in 2008, Daniels’ work has continued unabated. As the Needle Exchange Coordinator for Family and Medical Counseling Services (FMCS), Daniels is helping DC’s leading minority health service provider, in their first foray into comprehensive needle exchange programming for active users through a mobile unit program that takes point-of-entry health care access directly to the people, within their own neighborhoods. Ron Daniels counsels underserved drug-users in how to obtain key supports on their road to recovery. A life-long human rights activist, Daniels continues to partner with marginalized communities in Washington struggling to justifiably receive the quality, competent, and non-judgmental care all human beings deserve.

DC Community Coalition

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The DC Community Coalition (DCC) is a broad cross-section of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS throughout the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, working together to serve as the Local Citizens’ Host Committee for the 19th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) to be held in Washington, DC, July 22-27, 2012. Members of the 2012 DC Community Coalition come from various sectors of the community and are focused on ensuring that the District of Columbia is an effective and powerful host to the AIDS 2012 conference and its global, national, and local stakeholderattendees. The DCC will utilize AIDS 2012 as an opportunity for increased accountability by all DC Metropolitan Area leaders.

22 Geno Dunnington

PHOTO BY PEPO SUBIRANAS

Geno Dunnington is currently the President and CEO of Positive Effects Inc. in Washington, DC, which provides technical assistance to community-based organizations and agencies that serve hard to reach target populations. Since 1977, Geno has specialized in the access of treatment and care for the HIV/ AIDS, Substance Usage, and Mental Health communities. In 2001 he earned his Certified Addictions Counselor Training through the Training Resource Associates at Howard University. He is certified in several strategies and techniques in Harm Reduction. In 2003 through the Department of Mental Health he is a certified Peer Recovery Specialist. In 2007 he completed certification as a Trainer and Group Facilitator to teach mental health recovery skills including Wellness Recovery Action Planning (W.R.A.P.) to people experience psychiatric symptoms, their family members, and health care providers. He has served as board member for DC Care Consortium, a member of the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs, and many other committees including the Metropolitan Washington Regional Health Planning Council and DC PWA (co-chair). Geno Dunnington is the Program Director of the National Media Consortium Inc. which produces the ANC and YOU, Carol’s Corner, Silent View, and One on One with The Congressional Black Caucus; he is also the host of HIV/AIDS the Nation and The World which are broadcasted on Comcast TV in the Washington, DC metropolitan area reaching over one million viewers.

Ruth Eisenberg Ruth is a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg LLP, which is widely recognized as one of the premier boutique firms in the country specializing in representing nonprofit organizations concerned with civil rights, promotion of health, education, elimination of poverty, and other social justice causes. Ruth advises organizations on almost every aspect of employment law, including development, review and implementation of workplace policies; effective hiring procedures; employee relations; wage and hour compliance; counseling and disciplinary actions; compliance with federal and state antidiscrimination laws; family and medical leave act compliance; performance evaluation and

review process; implementation of policies to avoid workplace harassment; investigations resulting from allegations of harassment; executive compensation and employment agreements; and defense of wrongful termination claims. She advises also organizations on corporate governance, federal tax law compliance, contracts, leases and intellectual property, and represents employees in employment discrimination and other employment-related matters. Before joining Harmon, Curran in 1996, Ruth litigated disability rights cases at the National Veterans Legal Services Program and represented people with HIV as Director of Legal Services at the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Ruth has served on the Boards of Directors of Lambda Legal and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Foundation. She is the coauthor of The Rights of People Who are HIV Positi

Mark Fischer

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Mark Fischer is currently serving his third term as a member of the Metropolitan Washington Regional Ryan White Planning Council where he is on the Executive Committee and chairs the Bylaws, Policies and Procedures Committee. He has played a leading role in ensuring that the Planning Council has appropriate policies and procedures to guide its work and that accurate, substantive consumer input from people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is incorporated into the Council’s planning and decision-making. From 2008 to 2012, Mark was senior vice president (pro bono) of Back to the Basics Please (BTTBP), a 501(c)-3 non-profit whose mission is to serve and embrace all communities by assisting individuals in living their most physically healthy and emotionally fulfilling lives. BTTBP strives to create resources and connect individuals in rural or remote areas of the country to services at the same level as those generally found in urban centers. For more than 25 years, Mark held executive management positions in the private sector. Prior to that, he dedicated a decade as a teacher and administrator who developed innovative public education programs to reach students from economically and socially challenged backgrounds. Mark holds B.A. and in English and an M.A. in English Education from Duke University. A native of St. Petersburg, Florida and a resident of the District of Columbia since

1978, Mark is a person living with HIV for over 26 years.

Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick PHOTO BY JULIUS PRINCE

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned a BA/MD, a six-year accelerated program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Masters in Public Health from the University of California-Berkeley School of Public Health. She is a board-certified infectious diseases physician and CDC-trained medical epidemiologist who has made significant contributions in HIV/AIDS nationally and globally. Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Howard University. Dr. Fitzpatrick began her career as a medical epidemiologist at the nation’s premier public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1998. Throughout her tenure at the CDC, Dr. Fitzpatrick held several leadership positions. She served as team leader on landmark HIVrelated epidemiological studies including HIV transmission among black college students and among black women. In 2005, Dr. Fitzpatrick also led a multidisciplinary team to conduct the CDC’s first ever investigation of HIV infection among prison inmates. She established the CDC’s first Minority AIDS Research Initiative which provided opportunities for junior researchers of color to become independent HIV researchers Her personal desire to ensure her expertise and professional experiences would directly benefit underserved communities of color led her to accept her current position at Howard. In addition to her role as clinician and educator at Howard University, Dr. Fitzpatrick is working to establish a two-site community/academic infectious disease research center and has started collaboration between the Howard University Division of Infectious Diseases and the United Medical Center, where she is the Director of HIV/ AIDS services. She also pens health literacy articles for a variety of publications as she believes informed citizens make healthier citizens. As a researcher, clinician, infectious disease expert, and patient advocate, Dr. Fitzpatrick has demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication to improving public health.

Tiffany Chester Gilliard Tiffany Chester Gilliard has more than 20 years of diverse and

extensive experience in strategic planning, direct sales, market positioning, stakeholder relations, and new business development. In her current role as the Head of the Local Secretariat of the landmark XIX International AIDS Conference (a biennial global conference that attracts more than 22,000 delegates including more than 2,000 journalists from up to 200 countries), Ms. Gilliard serves as the primary liaison to the conference secretariat in Geneva, facilitates relationships with national and local government agencies, including the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, National Institutes of Health, Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., and the Department of Health. Prior to her work with the XIX International AIDS Conference, Ms. Gilliard was the Director of Sales for Destination DC, the official convention and visitors’ bureau for Washington, D.C. Throughout her career, Gilliard has also exceled in sales and marketing at some of the nation’s leading companies including Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, the Walt Disney Company, Marriott, and the Convention and Visitors Bureaus of Dallas and Greater Boston. Dedicated to education of tomorrow’s leaders, Tiffany was an adjunct professor in the Hospitality Management Program at Howard University and works with Hospitality High School in Washington, DC. In addition she is an active participant in community affairs through her memberships in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Metropolitan Baptist Church. Ms. Gilliard holds a B.A. in mass communications from Hampton University; a M.B.A. from the University of Maryland—University College; and an International Business Certificate from the University of Antwerpen. A native of Miami, Florida, she has been a long-time resident of Washington, D.C. and resides there with her husband.

D. Paul Gordon

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

D. Paul Gordon was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. He graduated from Hampton University in 1992 with a B.A. in Business Management and a

minor in Accounting. He earned his M.B.A. from Saint Leo College in 1992. In 1997, he earned an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from the John Marshall School of Law. Since his HIV diagnosis in January 1989, Mr. Gordon has work with several HIV/AIDS- related organizations. From 1996 to 2002, he volunteered with AIDS Atlanta; since 2008 he has volunteered for AIDS Walk in Washington, DC. Presently, Mr. Gordon works with the Bayard Rustin Project for the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). D. Paul is very active in the community and knows the importance of telling his story so that others won’t experience the things he has through in life. His motto is Psalms 118:17 – ”I shall not die but live and declare the work of the LORD.”

Mayor Vincent Gray

PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TAYLOR

Vincent C. Gray is serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia and as Councilmember for Ward 7. In the 1990s he also served as director of the DC Department of Human Services. Mayor Gray earned a B.A. in Psychology at George Washington University. Gray began his political career with the D.C. Association for Retarded Citizens, where he successfully advocated for innovative public policy initiatives on behalf of people with mental retardation. In 1991, then Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly appointed Gray to the post of Director of the DC Department of Human Services. Gray became the founding executive director of Covenant House Washington in December 1994. Over a decade, Gray grew the agency from a van outreach program to a multisite agency serving homeless youth in the District’s Southeast and Northeast communities. In 2008, Gray successfully led his Council colleagues in passing the “Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2008”, a program to provide universal prekindergarten to every three- and four-year-old in the District of Columbia by 2014, to increase early intervention and enhancement services for student success.

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church of

God has blessed the ministry Greater Mt. Calvary Holy

23 PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Church through the vision of Archbishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. D.Min., Founder and Pastor. The church was established under his leadership in 1966. Since that time, God has richly added to the ministry. Pastors Archbishop Alfred A. Owens and International First Lady Susie Owens now pastor a flock of almost 8,000 members and because of their faithfulness; thousands of lives have been touched, changed and delivered. Jesus is being lifted up and exalted through messages that teach the people of God three things: to hate sin, to love God and one another, and to understand and appreciate the principle of giving. Souls are being saved as the word of God is preached through God’s anointed man and woman of God. Hands are raised when people come week after week to acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church is a church where everybody is somebody; a church ordained by God where His children gather to worship and to be inspired by the preaching and teaching of His Word. We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God. Our primary goal is to present the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe in prayer, fasting, healing and great deliverances. When you enter the sanctuary, come expecting a miracle. It is with pleasure that we extend to you a cordial invitation to join us in worship services. May the Lord God bless you real good!

Leon Hampton, Jr.

PHOTO COURTESY MCC-DC

A native of Louis, Kentucky, Leon received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Western Kentucky University. He then enrolled in The University of Louisville’s Law School while working under Judge Executives, Marlow Cook and E.P. Sawyer. When drafted into the U.S. Army, Leon reported to Ft. Know, Kentucky, where he would meet and serve along with Louisville’s longest-serving Mayor, Jerry Abramson. After Leon received the ‘American Spirit Honor Award’, he returned to Washington, DC where he worked in the office of Kentucky’s U.S. Senator Marlow Cook and went on to graduate

from American University’s Washington College of Law. During his professional career, Leon worked alongside Diane Sawyer, Dora Jean Lewis Malachi, Raoul Cunningham, as well Kentucky’s U.S. Representative John Yarmuth. He also worked for SBA, Department of Commerce and before retiring from EPA, taught business law class at Howard University. A person of deep and abiding faith since formative years, Leon was an active member of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Washington, DC where he served as a lay leader in many capacities. He also once served as president of the Board of Pensions for MCC, USA. Leon completed work in the USA and in other countries. Leon passed from his earthly labors to his eternal rewards on September 30, 2010.

Veronica Jenkins

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Humanitarianism seems to have been the basis of my life. My parents were everyone’s parents and no one would be sent out of our doors without a kind word, a hug or a great meal. As a result, I began my life’s journey as a teacher and became a doctor to ensure that learning was not hampered by poor health. I learned that the mind and body were intricately connected and that neglect of either was detrimental to the other. The patient’s struggle during the HIV/AIDS epidemic embodies every aspect of our meager attempts to live well and happy. Clients were faced with adversity and either learned to overcome or succumbed to the dregs of the worse medical problem of my life time. Fortunately, the science has allowed us to turn the tide and see the positive outcomes that can be achieved through treatment, adherence, and education. It has been a tumultuous ride but we are coasting, I believe, towards a smooth finish. We must not fail each other. We must continue to support research, social change, equitable medical services and injustices to all people who have been touched by this disease- both infected and affected. “The road of my life has been paved by the harmony of many lives; therefore, I sing a good song of our future and my destiny.”

Venton Jones Venton Jones represents a new generation of national leaders committed to advancing public health and social justice for the

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

African American and GLBT communities. Currently, Mr. Jones resides in Washington, DC as Communications and Education Manager at The National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition (NBGMAC). Prior to joining NBGMAC, Mr. Jones worked with the University of California, San Francisco Center for AIDS Prevention Studies as the Team Leader/ Social Networking Coordinator for United Black Ellument (an HIV prevention intervention adaptation for young Black gay & bi-sexual men) in his hometown of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Jones remains a strong advocate in Dallas, Texas, with an extensive record of leadership, including President/Founder of the non-profit organization, Dallas/Fort Worth Pride Movement. Being in the domestic epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Mr. Jones’ work has lead him to serve as an expert consultant for a number of agencies and government entities in Dallas, the State of Texas and throughout the country, including the White House. Venton Jones is a recipient of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), Positive Leadership Award and National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities (NAESM) Harold Dean Philpot Leadership Award for Excellence in Support for HIV/AIDS and Community Service. He received his B.S. in Community Health from Texas A&M University and his M.S. in Health Care Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington. Using his public health background and work as a community activist, Mr. Jones has committed his career to HIV prevention and awareness in the African American community (particularly youth), advocating for GLBT equality and promoting positive public health and socioeconomic outcomes.

PHOTO BY JULIUS PRINCE

Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina in 1982 and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990. In 1985, he moved to the Washington, DC metro area to accept a position with Prince William Government in Woodbridge, Virginia. Since then, he has worked for Fairfax County Government; he currently works for the U.S. Department of Labor where he’s been for the past 20 years. His community service started in 1990 where hosted a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS. This event became known as his annual “Spring Has Sprung Fundraiser.” For over 22 years this even raised more than $20,000 for various communitybased organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS, Homeless, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Domestic Violence, and Disadvantaged Youth in the Washington, DC metro area. The successes of this fundraiser lead Curtis to begin hosting other fundraisers throughout the year including, “Fall Has Fallen”, “End of Summer”, “Birthday Bash”, Outdoor Movie Night, Fat Tuesday Celebrations, Toy Drives, and Midnight Fish Fries. His dedication to community service is credited to mother who is 93 years of age and taught him at a very early age “it is much better to give than it is to receive… and the more you give the more blessings you will receive.” From Curtis Massey: I am blessed to have friends, associates, and others who have supported my fundraisers for over 22 years and for that I THANK YOU!!!

Mayor’s Host Committee

George Kerr PHOTO BY TOMMIE ADAMS

Rev. Dyan McCray PHOTO BY TOMMIE ADAMS

Curtis T. Massey Curtis was born and raised in Petersburg, Virginia where he graduated from Petersburg High School in 1978. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from North

PHOTO BY TOMMIE ADAMS

Reverend Dyan Abena McCray is the founding pastor of Unity Fellowship Church Washington, DC and lives a life committed

to social justice. She worked tirelessly and ecumenically with her fellow clergy colleagues for marriage equality in Washington, DC, and has also served on the board of directors for: DC Black Gay and Lesbian Pride; Transgender Health Empowerment; and The Mautner Project. Unity Fellowship strives to be a faith-based Congregation that nurtures-proclaims mutual respect and the sacredness of all life. The church works to confidently proclaim, teach, and empower members of the GLBT and heterosexual affirming communities through scriptures and other sacred writings. Through social action, Unity Fellowship will empower, educate and stand for those that have been oppressed and rejected. As Pastor, Rev. McCray introduces to some, affirms to others, and enhances for all the validity of GOD in all life.

Ronald E. Morgan

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

A native Washingtonian, Ronald E. Morgan attended the University of the District of Columbia and has earned certificates from various organizations, including UDC, Us Helping Us, Inc., the Department of Health’s Comprehensive AIDS Training Initiative, Unity Health Care, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since his HIV diagnosis in 1984, Mr. Morgan has gained a better understanding of his condition through various fieldworks in the HIV/AIDS community. His involvement includes the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), AIDS Walk, Whitman Walker Clinic, Akoma Project, Us Helping Us, Inc., and Regional Addiction Prevention (RAP), Inc. Ronald educates the community and Federal and District Government organizations on his life experiences. He speaks of his previous drug addiction and as a result of his diagnosis, his long road of recovery and the daily physical, emotional and mental challenges he faced. Despite his HIV diagnosis and additionally being diagnosed with anal cancer in 2010, Ronald continues to serve and uplift his family friends, and the community. Mr. Morgan believes he has the obligation the moral right to inform and educate the community about HIV/AIDS. He advocates for the rights of those infected with HIV to receive services and believes people with HIV/AIDS can live a long and healthy lifestyle with assistance and knowledge of the community resources available to them.

24 Rayceen Pendarvis

PHOTO BY JULIUS PRINCE

As a native Washingtonian who has been working in the area of activism for over 30 years, in that time I have lent my voice and time to raise awareness in the fight against HIV. I have been given the opportunity to work with various groups such as Capital Pride, DC Black Pride, Transgender Heath Empowerment and Us Helping Us along with so many others. I have been an openly gay elected official as well, allowing my voice to be heard to raise thousands of dollars for those making a difference in the cause. I have always used the stage as a chance to mix humor with a social message; this has opened the door for me to work with a number of celebrity legends. To name a few, they include Grammy award-winning divas such as Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, and Jennifer Holiday. I live by this: the greatest gift from God is to be in service!!!!!!!!!

Bob Ray

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

I attended a fund raiser for the Whitman Walker Clinic in the early 1990s at the home of some close friends. Jim Graham, the Executive Director, approached and asked if I would be interested in joining the Board of the Clinic. Actually, the thought had never occurred to me. I did not see myself as an activist. However, at the time, lots of my friends were getting sick and some were dying. I felt it was time to get off the side lines and get into the battle. I was already seeing patients who were abandoned by other orthodontist because they were HIV positive. I joined the Board and soon after I discovered my friend had AIDS. Less than two years later he was gone. I became Chairman of the Board of Directors. In the next few years more than half of my friends passed away. It was good being in a very supportive environment like the Whitman Walker Clinic during some very difficult times. After thirteen years, I separated from the clinic and became more involved in my profession. Eventually I became Chairman of the DC Board of Dentistry. We updated the regulations to put a dentist’s license to practice in jeopardy if he or she refused to treat HIV positive patients. The

Dental Board tried to encourage dentist to do HIV testing in their dental offices. It is interesting with all the efforts of so many people for so many years here in DC, young gay African American men are still getting infected at a very alarming rate. We cannot let our guard down. We still have a lot of work to do.

Rev. Korlos Saleib

PHOTO BY D. GREG BARTON

The name Kerolos is of Macedonian origin and means “Lord of the People.” (Kero comes from the Greek word Kirie which means Lord and Los means a mass of people.) Though I was born in Egypt, my family moved to Montreal, Canada when I was 3 years old seeking safety from religious persecution. In 2005, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. My university studies included a heavy emphasis on theology. In 2007, I was ordained as a Deacon in Toronto. I continued my service with a strong heart and ambition, knowing that I was getting closer to my calling. As a few years passed by serving as a Deacon, I decided to take my talents and pursue my calling. In September 2010 I went to Nairobi, Kenya as a missionary. After my first two weeks, I was asked to help in a nearby orphanage for street kids and also kids living with HIV. As an individual living with HIV, this was something very dear to my heart. The directors at the moment were very happy to have me join them. Eventually they asked me to take over the orphanage, because they had to return to Canada. I prayed long and hard about this, since it was a big responsibility, and ultimately accepted. God led me to use my talents in ways I never thought of before. I expanded the orphanage and converted it into an informal education and training program that would help the kids not only with their rehabilitation, but to prepare them for college and to sustain themselves financially and expanded the program in Tanzania. In April 2011, some changes were happening and I was asked to return to Canada. I was sad, but knew God didn’t want me to stay there for good; He had another plan for me. During my stay in Africa, I met my husband Jim, who was visiting from Washington, DC, and he asked me to come and stay with him. My family wasn’t and still isn’t accepting of my being gay, so I had no place to stay. However my love

for Jim was the main reason why I wanted to be here. In January 7th, 2012 I was ordained a Priest in the Old Catholic Church, and was made Pastor of Saint Damien of Molokai Parish in DC, under the care of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church of the Americas and his grace Archbishop Julius L. Licata. As a priest, I wanted to use my God given talents and skills to help and address a need here in DC. During my first few months in DC I learned about the stigma on HIV here, especially within the LGBT community. This tore my heart apart and I knew I had to do something about it. That is when I founded and started The Blessed Mother Teresa Center for Hope. A center that provides support to those who have been rejected due to their sexual orientation and/or HIV status, with a special support group for the North African and Middle Eastern Community. The Blessed mother Teresa Center for Hope is mobile. Therefore making it more accessible to people. It allows me to go visit people. I do one- on-one and group spiritual counseling, teaching the importance of what the role of spirituality, prayer and meditation play in the healing process – Physically, mentally and emotionally. This is a center that is open to everyone, all denominations, genders, races, ages and sexual orientation.

Justin B. TerrySmith

the title of Mr. Maryland Leather, a title he used to raise monies for the Elizabeth Glazier Pediatric AIDS Foundation. In 2011 Justin became a published Author of the children’s HIV themed book called, “I Have A Secret”, under the pen name JB. Terry-Smith. Justin also used his book to help with the protest of the Milton Hershey School in Penn., who was denied a student entry because he was HIV positive. In February of 2012 Justin was asked to be an Advice Columnist for A&U America’s AIDS Magazine. Justin’s column is called, “Just*in Time”, it is where people e-mail questions about HIV and Justin answers them back each monthly. Since then he has started his own HIV Campaign in collaboration with thebody.com called, “Write A Letter to HIV Campaign”. This Campaign is one of the most read and e-mailed submissions on thebody.com, which also includes Justin’s husband, Dr. Philip B Terry-Smith’s submission, to whom he has been married to since August 7th, 2009. In 2012 Justin joined the Maryland Defense Force as a 1st Lieutenant. The Maryland Defense Force is a volunteer uniformed state military agency and one of the four components of the Maryland Military Department. Justin B. Terry-Smith has been fighting the good fight since 1999. He’s garnered recognition and awards for his work, but he’s more concerned about looking for new ways to transform society for the better than resting on his laurels. Visit his main Web site at www. justinbsmith.com.

Bobbie Smith PHOTO BY ANDRE M. TAYLOR

Justin B Terry-Smith first started in an activist role when he helped organize the group S.O.B.B. (Student’s Against Brutality in Burma) in 2000. The organization was formed of students that’s one mission was to send students to Burma to take pictures and expose the injustices there. Justin served in the United States Air Force from 1999 to 2003, leaving honorably with awards and decorations, he then moved to Washington DC where you landed a job with Us Helping Us, People Into Living Inc. After discovering his HIV-positive status and began taking medications, Justin probed the internet looking for African American gay men who had documented their lives with HIV; sadly he found none. So in May 2008 Justin founded Justin’s HIV Journal, a blog showing what his life with HIV is actually like. In his blog he shows Doctor’s visits, Medication Specialist visits, and interviews; it gives inspiration and aspiration to many around the world. In November of 2009 Justin won

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

These are words of Bobbie Smith, “I’m a whistle blower.”

Catalina Sol

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Catalina Sol is the Chief Programs Officer at La Clinica del Pueblo, and led La Clinica’s HIV/AIDS Department from 1998 through 2009. La Clinica del Pueblo is a non-for-profit, community clinic serving uninsured and low-income persons in the metropolitan area, targeting immigrant Latinos for quality health care. La Clinica’s HIV/AIDS services include direct services for persons living

with HIV, including primary medical care, case management, mental health services, linguistic services, and support groups. In addition, La Clinica provides a range of peer-based prevention services, including HIV counseling and testing, and comprehensive HIV prevention interventions for at-risk Latino groups. A hallmark of La Clinica’s work in HIV is its commitment to developing programs by and for the communities most affected and vulnerable to the HIV epidemic. Ms. Sol has worked for the past twenty years in health care settings serving immigrant, uninsured Latinos in the Washington Metropolitan. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from John Hopkins University, and is from El Salvador.

Ron Swanda

PHOTO BY TOMMIE ADAMS

Ron Swanda “came out” while served as an Air Force pilot from 1969 to 1980. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Washington, D.C. in 1982. At that time, HIV was a mysterious malady, often called the “gay cancer”, primarily affecting men in New York and San Francisco. In 1986, as a Board member of the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. (MCCDC), working closely with Rev. Larry Uhrig, Ron planned and coordinated the Church’s transition from renting church space at 10th and G St. NW, to buying a town house-style church near 4th and M St. NW. When MCC-DC outgrew that space, Ron organized and led a fund raising campaign that allowed MCC-DC to construct an award-winning building on Ridge St. NW; the first GLBT organization in D.C. to do so. Rev. Uhrig’s vision, combined with Ron’s leadership and organizational skills, helped prepare MCC-DC for a crucial and unique role in the AIDS crisis. From 1984 until 1996, during the height of the AIDS crisis, MCC-DC became a physical and spiritual respite for HIV-infected men. It was often the only venue available for funerals and memorial services for residents who died of AIDS. Additionally, in 1994 Ron founded, organized and led the all-volunteer National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA). One of his primary accomplishments was to help convince the Federal Aviation Administration that HIVinfected pilots could continue to safely fly. Because of Ron and the NGPA, pilots today know they are “not the only one”. After retiring in 2007, Ron realized that many D.C. seniors, especially heterosexuals, did not

25 have ready access to HIV prevention materials or educational programs. Ron helped organize a seniors and HIV workshop, and soon became the “voice of seniors and HIV” in D.C. At Ron’s urging, the D.C. Dept. of Health implemented an innovative HIV prevention program that primarily targeted older heterosexuals of color in D.C. In July, 2011, IONA senior Services recognized Ron for his volunteer activism. He is a member of the AARP-DC advocacy team, an AARP “Ambassador” and serves on D.C.’s HIV Prevention Planning Group. D.C. Mayor Gray named Ron the District’s “HIV Activist” of the year in 2011, and appointed him to the D.C. Commission on Aging, the Ryan White Planning Council and the GLBT Advisory Committee.

David is an entrepreneur right here in Washington, D.C, opening businesses ranging from nightclubs to the very popular Vida Fitness clubs. Contracting HIV in 1988, he has devoted his life to keeping a positive outlook while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Many in the D.C. metro area respect David as a successful businessman as well as a devoted advocate of HIV/AIDS causes. Supporting various causes including but not limited to the Human Rights Campaign and the Ryan White Act, he believes in the equality these initiatives strive for. He spends his days keeping busy via investing in various ways to improve on the D.C metro area healthy lifestyles and night life.

Billie Tyler

Earnest Walker

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Billie Tyler earned her B.S. in Nursing from the Catholic University of America and has has worked with not-for-profit organizations committed to advancing community health, progressive social change, and empowerment for over 12 years. Much of her career has been focusing on HIV/STD prevention and HIV services in vulnerable and underserved populations in Washington, DC. She has a depth of Harm Reduction experience that includes providing frontline care to the DC opioid dependent population, to facilitating Harm Reduction education to needle exchanges. She has taken an active leadership role in the community and enjoys the challenge of working with folks who often fall through the cracks of an imperfect system of care. Currently, she is the Nurse Case Manager at AHS Blair Underwood Healthcare Center. As an HIV/AIDS prevention program advocate, Ms. Tyler’s nursing background coupled with street knowledge enabled her to be the conduit for information between the marginalized sex worker community in Washington, D.C. and the organization. She also served as a member of the crisis intervention team providing health and risk reduction counseling. Prior to this position, Ms. Tyler was the Systems Administrator of Prevention Works! (syringe exchange) in Washington, DC, charged with decreasing the harms associated with intravenous drug use, and increasing access to substance abuse treatment for injection drug users. Her career began as a volunteer for Prevention Works! and as an HIV/AIDS activist despite the federal ban on syringe exchange in the District of Columbia.

David von Storch

PHOTO BY KEVIN AARON BAUM

Marlene M. Walker

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Marlene Walker is presently and for over 17 years the Office Manager of the Max Robinson Center of Whitman Walker (MRC/ WWH). She has worked on many projects during her tenure and has many achievements, but she said that of her greatest were the MRC/WWH Holiday Food Baskets and Toy Drive. Marlene began this initiative in 1997 with the help of staff and volunteers; it provides food and toys to children throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. Additionally, Marlene and her husband have been foster parents to children with special needs for over 16 years. Of greatest importance to Marlene is the education of the community she serves, that all understand the impact, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, High Blood Pressure and Diabetes.

Dr. Douglas Ward

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

I attended a fund raiser for the Whitman Walker Clinic in the early 1990s at the home of some

close friends. Jim Graham, the Executive Director, approached and asked if I would be interested in joining the Board of the Clinic. Actually, the thought had never occurred to me. I did not see myself as an activist. However, at the time, lots of my friends were getting sick and some were dying. I felt it was time to get off the side lines and get into the battle. I was already seeing patients who were abandoned by other orthodontist because they were HIV positive. I joined the Board and soon after I discovered my friend had AIDS. Less than two years later he was gone. I became Chairman of the Board of Directors. In the next few years more than half of my friends passed away. It was good being in a very supportive environment like the Whitman Walker Clinic during some very difficult times. After thirteen years, I separated from the clinic and became more involved in my profession. Eventually I became Chairman of the DC Board of Dentistry. We updated the regulations to put a dentist’s license to practice in jeopardy if he or she refused to treat HIV positive patients. The Dental Board tried to encourage dentist to do HIV testing in their dental offices. It is interesting with all the efforts of so many people for so many years here in DC, young gay African American men are still getting infected at a very alarming rate. We cannot let our guard down. We still have a lot of work to do.

Miranda Ward

PHOTO BY JULIUS PRINCE

Washington Blade

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

The Washington Blade, the oldest and most acclaimed LGBT newspaper in the United States, has covered the HIV/AIDS epidemic since its earliest days. From the first mention of a “gay cancer” in 1981, to countless pages of obituaries chronicling the lives of D.C. residents who succumbed to the disease, to the advent of antiretroviral drugs, to the present day, the Blade has been a consistent source of news, information and even inspiration to local readers. Pictured here is the 2012 Washington Blade staff at the company’s offices on 14th Street. We accept this honor on behalf of the hundreds of Blade employees who came before us, many of

whom were lost to AIDS.

Washington Post’s 1st AIDS-related Article T.J. Ortenzi wrote the text below in a blog on December 1, 2011 regarding the Washington Post’s first mention of the disease: It appeared on page A10 on July 4, 1981, as a digest item in a roundup of other national stories. The Post mentioned the mysterious medical cases at least three more times in 1981. According to archives, the term “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” first appeared in The Post on Friday, Dec. 10, 1982. It was a front page story with the headline, “Immune Disease Linked to Blood in Transfusion.” Cancer Linked to Gays ATLANTA – A rare form of cancer has been found at an unusually high rate among homosexual men in New York and California, the national Centers for Disease Control reports. During the past 30 months, 20 homosexual men in New York City and six in California were found to have Kaposi’s sarcoma, an often fatal form of cancer, the center said. Eight of the victims died within two years of the diagnosis. The nationwide incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma has been estimate by the CDC to be about two cases in every 3 million people annually. The disease in the United States primarily affects men over 50, but the recent cases among homosexuals occurred in younger men, the center said. The cancer has been thought usually to appear first in spots on the legs then progress slowly over about 10 years. In the recent cases, however, the disease first appeared as one or more violet-colored spots or lumps in various locations on the body.

Bryan Watson

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Brian Watson, a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been a vocal and visible activist in the areas of social justice, youth, LGBT issues, and HIV/AIDS. Brian currently serves as the President of the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Men and Women, the oldest Black non-profit in the United States. Since becoming President Brian has worked on the revitalization of the coalition and established a website, and new logo, held numerous community events such as the annual Labor Day picnic, Kwanzaa celebration, town hall meetings, and worked with other agencies to co-sponsor community events. Before

becoming president he was involved with the coalition by organizing the annual Kwanzaa celebration in 2005 and helping with the Million More Movement Unity Weekend. He also is a former board member of Youth Pride Alliance and the DC Center and a member of many other groups such as the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance, the Greater Washington Urban League, as well as former COO of the Black National Pageantry System and a formervolunteer with D.C. Black Pride. Brian continues his community involvement in his employment also at Transgender Health Empowerment where he serves as Director of Programs. In September 2008 he started the Wanda Alston House, the 1st and only GLBTQ youth homeless transitional program in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He also works with many other community organizations as a consultant, volunteer, and speaker.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

PHOTO BY D. MAURICE TAYLOR

Westminster is a community of co-creators with God, seeking to be and build up the Beloved Community. To do that, Westminster must be accepting, caring, and risktaking…open to the message of God in people and places that are too often neglected or ignored. Westminster continues to be a mission-center in Southwest Washington, D.C. where the congregation was started in 1853. The form of the mission has changed. The commitment to the mission has not. What might be possible if you were involved in this mission of co-creators? Come and see. What gifts do you have yet to share with the world? Come and be an inspiration to others. Westminster was started by some risk-taking people back in 1853 and God is continually reinventing our church culture, keeping it open to an always changing community. Westminster understands that “the Church must change or die”. We are committed to being transformed as an institution in order to more authentically and powerfully serve a new world. That’s why we say, “We’re not just a church.”

Tim Westmoreland Mr. Tim Westmoreland is a well-respected figure in the HIV/

26 and advocating for new solutions in HIV prevention, services, and education.

2013 PHOTO COURTESY TIM WESTMORELAND

AIDS community, with his focus concerning public health policy and AIDS advocacy. Currently a professor of public policy and law at Georgetown University, he has an extensive background in the field of medicine, and more specifically, AIDS treatment and policy. In 1999, Mr. Westmoreland was appointed the director of the Medicaid program. For nearly ten years, he has been advocating Medicaid to include those who are in the early stages of the HIV disease. Mr. Westmoreland believes that AIDS care coverage by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance has improved over the last twenty years, but is a long way off from where he believes it should be. He continues to work for a more accepting and inclusive coverage program for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Courtney Williams

PHOTO BY TOMMIE ADAMS

Mr. Williams is currently the community Planner for the DC Office on Aging. Beyond his regular duties at the Office on Aging, he spearheaded efforts to look into and address the growing numbers of older adults and seniors infected/affected by HIV. This has lead him to be more involved in this issue and since the mid-1990s, he’s been active in educating and advocating for HIS programs and services targeting seniors and older adults. Through his efforts, for the first time aging and AIDS organizations began to look at seniors as an underserved population. He has spearheaded several policy and other changes that affected HIV education and services for Older Adults. Through his efforts our senior wellness center and other senior programs now have ongoing HIV sessions. He is currently part of a community workgroup that is working with the DC Department of Health that is developing educational materials along with a citywide campaign targeting older adults. He has served on the National Board of HIV over Fifty, Inc. (all volunteer nonprofit) since its inception and was the national conference chair for the Phoenix Conference in 2004. Courtney has received several awards for his work, including the 1997 Unsung Hero Award, the 2004 Solutions Inc. Award for finding

Guy Anthony

research in Washington, DC.  Aim 2 Promote the development of junior, minority, and new HIV/AIDS investigators in Washington, DC.  Aim 3 Increase connectivity and collaboration among HIV/AIDS investigators in Washington, DC through funding, professional networking, and scientific leadership.

Dr. Ron Simmons PHOTO BY D. SEAN HOWARD

Guy Anthony is a respected HIV/Aids activist, community leader and author. Diagnosed with HIV as a teen, Guy has dedicated his adult life to the pursuit of neutralizing global HIV/Aids related stigmas. He served as a member of Atlanta’s black gay Community Advisory Board (CAB) from 2010-2013 and in 2011 co-created the hit online webseries, “MR.” (http://mrtvseries. blogspot.com/) named in honor of black gay rights activist and filmmaker, Marlon Riggs. His book (POS)+tively Beautiful: A Book of Affirmations, Advocacy & Advice (http://www.pozbeautiful. com/) is a collection of inspiring narratives, raw imagery, and affirming anecdotes released in December 2012. After releasing his book of affirmations for people living with HIV, Guy was selected as a National Spokesperson and Ambassador for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in 2013 and since then has spoken with various MPowerment groups in Atlanta, New York, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Texas. His book was named #10 on MUSED Magazine’s list of books every black gay man should read along with some of the most influential LGBT authors of the 21st century. He now works as a Treatment Adherence Counselor at Us Helping Us, Inc. in Washington, DC. He strongly believes his visibility will help other HIVpositive young men recognize their own beauty and self-worth.

DC D-CFAR The District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR) aims to provide scientific leadership and institutional infrastructure to promote HIV/AIDS research and to develop the next generation of HIV/AIDS investigators in Washington, D.C. Mission The mission of the DC D-CFAR is to provide scientific leadership and institutional infrastructure to promote HIV/AIDS research and to develop the next generation of HIV/AIDS investigators in Washington, DC. The goals of the DC D-CFAR include:  Aim 1 Provide leadership to advance HIV/AIDS

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Ron Simmons, Ph.D., is the President/CEO of Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. (UHU), a nonprofit agency dedicated to reducing HIV infection in the African-American community. UHU specializes in HIV prevention for black gay/bisexual men. UHU began as a self-help group for HIVinfected black gay men who would meet in their living rooms. Under Dr. Simmons leadership, UHU has become one of the largest black AIDS organizations in the country serving gay/bisexual men, heterosexual men and women, transgender persons, and youth. For 11 years, Dr. Simmons was a member of the Washington, D.C. Board of Medicine. His educational accolades include a B.A. in Afro-American Studies, a M.A. in African History, and a M.S. in Educational Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. He received his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Howard University and served on the faculty of the Howard University School of Communications for 12 years. He was selected in December 2010 by POZ magazine as one of the POZ 100 most influential AIDS activists.

2015 Sheila Alexander-Reid

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Sheila Alexander-Reid has been a vital part of the LGBT community for well over 20 years. She started as a party promoter back in the late 80’s/early 90’s with two other friends and called themselves VTR. In 1992, Sheila ventured out on her own and starting throwing women’s parties. Filling up local party venues such as Tracks and Hung Jury to capacity, the popularity of her parties quickly gained momentum in the community. A

stickler for quality and details, Sheila developed a strong following that’s still present to this day. Moved by the death of her close friend and LGBT activist Wanda Alston in 2002, she started a nonprofit organization, the Women in the Life Association. Sheila now wanted to use the same resources and drive she used to pack parties to address social justice issues for Lesbians in DC. She did this with cultural programs such as the popular Open Mic series, empowering movies screenings, and the Wanda’s Will Project, which helped raise awareness about the importance of having a written will, specifically, if you’re in a long-term relationship. Sheila has always worked hard to bring both visibility and awareness to the issues facing the LGBT community including transphobia, the stigma of HIV/ AIDS, the isolation of older LGBT adults, and the impact of youth homelessness. From her printed magazine in the 1990’s, to her position as producer/ host of WPFW’s Inside Out, the only LGBT FM radio show in DC, to her current position as Director of the Mayor’s Muriel Bowser’s Office on LGBTQ Affairs, she’s become a prominent and vocal change agent for our community.

Cedric Alan Burgess

PHOTO COURTESY OF CEDRIC BURGESS

Currently at the age of 63, native Washington Cedric Alan Burgess has spent most of his life volunteering for various HIV/AIDS service organizations, including those organizations disseminating information on being a gay elder, health care, housing, city programs, free events, savings programs and more. Cedric gives comfort and prayer via phone calls or visits ill persons he knows. Cedric first stared in the fight and education of HIV/AIDS in 1989 when he attended a support group for those HIV+ with Group Health. There he learned of the Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN) and took a class to became an educator with the class #4 in 1990. From there, he volunteered for many years with Food and Friends and Whitman Walker Clinic. An HIV survivor for over 30 years, Cedric’s volunteering efforts include: DC Office on Aging, the DC Center, the Equal Rights Center & National AIDS Housing Coalition, Us Helping Us, Inc., SAGE Metro, the DC Rainbow History Project, and the Ombudsman Program of AARP.

Robert Cooke

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Robert Cooke, Jr. is originally from the Hampton Roads, VA area. Before moving to Washington, DC he volunteered for the “Transformation Retreat” in people living with HIV/AIDS, based in Richmond, VA. After moving to Washington, DC he became involved with the Ryan White Planning Council, serving on numerous committees representing the citizens of the District. He currently serves as a member of the Manna Inc. Board and is currently involved in advocating and spreading the word about affordable homeownership.

Dee Curry

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Dee Curry is a passionate social justice and minority health advocate working for and with individuals experiencing the challenges associated with HIV, mental illness, homelessness, trauma, and incarceration. Ms. Curry has recently worked as the Assistant Director of Education and Programming at the First Stop Recovery Resource and Wellness Center where she provides peer advocate training and support. Ms. Curry has been actively engaged in efforts to address and end chronic homelessness in DC through her participation in a featured article with Sojourner’s Magazine and as a guest speaker at the Washington Interfaith Network Inaugural Action Event with Mayor Bowser. She has collaborated extensively with the Ryan White Planning Council to address issues of community health in DC. In her free time, Ms. Curry loves to spend time with friends and is quickly becoming a social butterfly through online media forums.

Amanda Davis The words below are those of Amanda Davis, “My name is Amanda Davis. I am a native New Yorker that relocated to DC to fight the war on HIV/AIDS in 2012. My first experience with the virus was the loss of a cousin when I was younger. It was hard to understand how this could have happened

27 because at the time there were treatments that were available. After I worked in the field for some time and hearing so many stories of survival I know that stigma prevented them from accessing care was very bothersome. My most recent position is as a Woman Services Coordinator for an organization that provides services for those that are HIV positive. Being able to create programs that allow the women to become informed about this virus and how to navigate through the services available to them is very rewarding. I aspire to inspire women to become informed advocates for themselves and other peers that are affected by this virus.”

The DC Center for the LGBT Community

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

The DC LGBT Center empowers, celebrates, and connects the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. To fulfill its mission, the DC Center focuses on four core areas: health and wellness, arts & culture, social & support services, and advocacy and community building. The DC Center envisions communities where LGBT people feel healthy, safe, and affirmed.

D.E.N.I.M.

PHOTO COURTESY DENIM

Developing & Empowering New Images of Men (D.E.N.I.M.) is a community center for 18 to 29-year-old gay, bisexual, and same gender loving men of color. The project serves a mobilizing and empowering function with the community as young men take ownership of the project rather than having the project carried out for them. It is essential to build a community where men support each other about sexual risk reduction and obtaining HIV testing, where the social norms and expectations support HIV prevention, and where men help each other in coping with the stresses of being gay/bisexual. D.E.N.I.M.’s mission is to engage, educate and empower members of the gay community, particularly young gay men of color. The program provides interventions and programing on self-esteem, interpersonal and cultural issues, internalized homophobia, community norms, and many

other factors that influence young men’s risk behavior. Operated by Us Helping Us, People Into Living Inc., D.E.N.I.M. is a youth empowerment center that houses The Mpowerment Project (MP), a community-level HIV/STD prevention intervention funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jamil Fletcher

PHOTO BY DON HARRIS

Jamil A. Fletcher is an entrepreneur, publisher, community activist, and philanthropist. A proud native of Wilmington, Delaware and an even prouder graduate of both Howard University (’86 B.S., Electrical Engineering) and Clark Atlanta University (’95 MBA, Marketing), Jamil has always been active in support of all his communities. He continues to support a number of charities like Us Helping Us, the Black AIDS Institute, and the Dance Institute of Washington as well as his beloved Howard University. Mr. Fletcher has also worked as a fundraiser for organizations such as Children’s National Medical Center, Whitman-Walker Clinic, UNCF, and the National Minority AIDS Council. In 2008, Jamil A. Fletcher launched SWERV Magazine with the design of celebrating the Culture and Community of Black LGBT people everywhere. Since that time SWERV has evolved into the most widely distributed periodical targeting this unique population. Whether through sharing stories of the extraordinary work being done by AIDS Service Organizations around the country, relaying words of wisdom from AIDS activists, or by providing information on the latest medical treatments, and being a media partner for a number of HIV/ AIDS related fundraising events, SWERV maintains committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC Led by Artistic Director Thea Kano, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is now entering its 35th season with a dynamic and socially relevant mission: to delight audiences and champion gay equality with robust artistry, fun and surprise. GMCW has more than 250 singing members, two select vocal ensembles, 100 support volunteers, more than 450 subscribers, 500 donors and an annual audience of more than 10,000 people. Among their numerous local, national,

and international performing credits, GMCW has performed for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and for Vice President Joe Biden. Since 2001, the Chorus has maintained GenOUT, a robust youth outreach program offering on-school-time programs and free tickets to high school students, staff, and parents. Additionally, the Chorus demonstrates its commitment to community outreach by participating in the Whitman Walker Walk to End HIV, holiday caroling at the National Institute of Health, and volunteering at Food & Friends. GMCW is a proud member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) and the Cultural Alliance of Washington.

Justin Goforth Justin Goforth is a registered nurse with a record of over 20 years of treatment and service to the HIV/AIDS community. In 2013, Justin was elected to as community co-chair of the Metropolitan Washington Regional Ryan White Planning Council. During the same year he was named to POZ magazine’s “POZ 100” – a list of HIV-positive individuals making significant contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS. At the Whitman Walker Clinic, Justin has served as director of the Gay Men’s Health and Wellness Clinic, Whitman Walker’s longest running program. He’s also credited with co-creating Whitman Walker’s “Red Carpet” program, giving newly diagnosed HIV patients an opportunity to meet their entire care team during their first visit to Whitman Walker. Justin’s experience, passion, and advocacy has earned a voice on national media, including CNN and PBS. In his 2015 interview with PBS (the interview also featured U.S. Global AIDS coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx) Justin states, “…But getting them (people who test HIV-positive) into care and on treatment actually doesn’t just keep that person healthy and well for a life span; it also prevents them from infecting other individuals. That’s an historic marriage of two — public health prevention and treatment all coming together at the same time. And having a manageable treatment was necessary to get to the point that we could use this as prevention. And so that’s what, I think, is really see — we’re seeing a turnaround in the numbers in all of our urban centers in the United States, but particularly here in D.C., where we used to be seen as the worst of the worst. That’s not the case actually more with our new numbers.”

Dr. Robin HalprinHawkins

PHOTO COURTESY DR. R. HALPRIN-HAWKINS

The words below are by Dr. Robin Halprin-Hawkins: I treated my first patient living with HIV/AIDS (aka GRID, at that time) as a pre-doctoral interne at Crownesville Hospital Center, a (now closed) MD State Psychiatric Hospital, in 1983... the same year I learned that my best friend from high school had died of HIV/AIDS at St. Vincent’s Hospital in NYC. The dread among the general public -- and that of my medical colleagues, who would not eat lunch with me for fear of contagion -- sealed my commitment to make a difference in the lives of PLWHIV/AIDS, the great majority of whom, in those early years of the epidemic, we were” helping to die well.” The early and middle years of the AIDS Epidemic -- prior to the Beltway Bandits and AIDS as an industry -- were the crucible that forged my fervor for social justice, LGBT rights, and universal medical care. How could it have been otherwise? As a clinical psychologist, I subsequently worked as a Volunteer Therapist and Grants Writer at the WhitmanWalker Clinic; designed and presented formal training in the psychosocial issues re: HIV/AIDS for the DC DMH staff; and was appointed by the DMH Director to represent the Department on the Ryan White Planning Council Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee. With my spouse Dr. Patricia Hawkins, I presented the first professional research on “HIV Caregiver Burnout and Prevention” at the APA Annual Convention.

Achim Howard

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Achim Howard is a black transgender man who strongly advocates for the Transgender and HIV communities. In 2006, Achim fell into an unhealthy relationship with domestic violence, which led to depression and homelessness. Living in the N Street Shelter, Achim decided that he had to start living for himself in order to be happy. At that time Achim started his transition and started to put the pieces of his life back together. In 2008 Achim graduated from the Washington Area Women In the Trades program and was accepted to a Local 891 apprentice program as a cement mason, and was the

first trans man to graduate from that program. Achim started working with Capital Paving, and started his transition on the job and is now the first and only transgender employee. He educates others on HIV, Domestic Violence and Trans Issues through his everyday life, social media as well as workshops and groups. Achim serves with various organizations, including Whitman Walker’s Board of Directors, the Name and Gender Legal Clinic and Community Health, and Trans Legal Advocates of Washington (TransLaw). He believes everything happens for a reason. He also believes that his purpose is to speak and fight for those who can’t for themselves; to give courage for those to those who want to speak and live life but can’t. Achim says, “I tell my story not to gain sympathy but in hopes that others will can courage others and to educate those who don’t know and change the minds of those who choose not to know or accept that Transgender are neither crazy nor confused. We are just as normal as the next person. Education is always the key.”

Aisha Jackson

PHOTO BY COURTESY AISHA JACKSON

Twanda M. Jackson, aka AISHA THE ARTIST is a native Washingtonian who jumped out at age 50. Previously, Aisha worked at GSA Furniture Department in Northern VA and at the Navy Annex while in college at the University of the District of Columbia. A mother of one son and is a proud grandmother of six, Aisha founded Positivity Production was founded in the early 1990’s as a way to address HIV/AIDS in particularly the Black Community. Positivity Production’s objective is to provide a forum and movement of networking, and sharing knowledge, experience and ideas of initiatives to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community Diaspora. As a Communications Productions, and Public Relations Company, Positivity Production is an ARTS Movement Organization dedicated to promote creative political and social change through mass media, music, film production and Fine Arts. Its plan is to use these tools, promotions, public relations, communications, marketing and mass media productions to communicate their services.

Dwayne Lawson-Brown A

native

Washingtonian,

28 Dwayne Lawson-Brown is currently the Youth Health Educator for Social Mobilization at Whitman-Walker Health. For over 15 years, Dwayne has been involved in the fight against for comprehensive reproductive health for over 15 years. At 15 years old, he stumbled across Metro TeenAIDS’ Freestyle Youth Center, where he would soon become a peer educator. As a “New School Activist”, Dwayne used his love for spoken word and hip-hop to promote safer sex messages and healthy decision making. With Metro TeenAIDS’ transition into the Whitman-Walker Health family, Dwayne has taken greater responsibility in planning and implementing HIV testing events throughout the Washington DC area while continuing to run a myriad of programs in RealTalkDC Freestyle Peer Educator Center. His work has led to recognition in the forms of awards and press coverage including DC Department of Health’s Outstanding Peer Educator Award, WETA’s Hometown Hero Award, Mayor’s Community Service Award, a feature segment on BBCAmerica’s World News America, a profile by Washington Post Columnist John Kelly, and the Emerging Leader Award from The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Dwayne has served as a spokesperson and model for youth who aspire to transform their communities through service.

MLK Library Staff

of the first narrative fiction web series by an African-American artist screened on the internet. During the early 1990s Sharpe learned that he himself was HIV-positive, triggering even more artistic exploration of the subject. Among his many other plays addressing the issue are: HeartBeats , Auld Lang Syne, Family Business, Prick, Good News/Bad News, Conversations, Chance of a Lifetime and Raw Deal. Beyond HIV/ADS, his work over the decades has explored a wide range of issues including: homophobia, discrimination, self-esteem, aging and ageism, political activism, pornography, serodiscordant (mixed HIV status) relationships, adult and teen suicide, coming out, gay marriage, the sex industry, loneliness, sex abuse, love and romantic relationships, bullying, homophobic harassment, hate crimes and violence, class issues, depression, parenting and family life – all from an AfricanAmerican, LGBTQ, perspective.

Riley Temple The words below are those of Riley Temple, “I was appointed to the Board of Directors of the WhitmanWalker Clinic in 1984, and became its President in 1986 and again in 1989. During that time I was instrumental in the establishment of the Max Robinson Center east of the river. I resigned from the Board in 1991 to accept the Mayoral appointment to Chair the Ryan White Planning Council.”

Kermit Turner

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Alan Sharpe

PHOTO BY DON HARRIS

Alan Sharpe is founding artistic director of African-American Collective Theater (ACT). He began creating LGBTQ-themed projects in 1970 as a freshman film student at Boston University. An on-campus theater company he cofounded there with a close friend, evolved into African-American Collective Theater after his move to Washington, DC in 1976. Since that time, he has written and directed over seventy-five plays and films, all showcasing contemporary Black gay and lesbian life and culture. He also wrote and directed the serial drama, Chump ChangeS -- one

PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Kermit Turner is a Washington, DC Ward 1 resident since 1978. Upon arriving in Washington he embarked on careers in information management and community organization with the American Production & Inventory Control Society (APICS), and the AARP. In 2009, he organized his fellow tenants in his Columbia Heights apartment building to take advantage of the “Tenants’ Right of First Refusal: opportunity, pursuant to the city’s Tenants Option to Purchase Act (TOPA). Kermit also serves on the Executive Board and the Community Advisory Board of Metro Health. Over the years, he has participated in numerous training sessions improving HIV care. His advocacy has earned him profiles in the online magazine Urban Turf and Metro Weekly.

R. Fenner Urquhart

PHOTO COURTESY PAT HAWKINS

R. Fenner Urquhart died on March 10, 2015, of AIDS-related complications. He had been one of the longest-living PWAs in the Washington, DC, area. A devout Catholic, Fenner credited God, working through the hands of his doctors and caregivers, for miraculously sustaining him for 32 years. Fenner was initially diagnosed with AIDS in 1983. Shortly thereafter, he left the practice of law to volunteer with The Whitman-Walker Clinic, where he was eventually employed as Director of the Food Bank. In the mid-1990s, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Schwartz Housing Services, overseeing the Clinic’s Housing and Food Bank programs. He also participated as an early volunteer with Damien Ministries and with Mother Theresa’s “Gift of Peace” hospice. Following his illness-related retirement from The WhitmanWalker Clinic, Fenner led various recovery programs, speaking with conviction on the importance of love and forgiveness in reconciling life’s challenges and disappointments. Although he endured daunting medical challenges, Fenner lived a remarkable life of advocacy and service to others, distinguishing himself with almost superhuman resilience as an ambassador of hope to all those he touched. No one who ever knew Fenner will ever forget the quickness of his intellect, the sparkle in his eyes, the brightness of his smile, and the warmth of his heart.

Robert “Michael” Vanzant

1986, he became the Treasurer of Best Friends of DC, the first HIV/ AIDS persons of color service organization in the District of Columbia. As he grew in ministry at Faith Temple Church, DC’s oldest and continued church with a special ministry to primarily people of color in the LGBT community, his duties grew from just distribution of funds; but also, visitations, and ministry to the infected as well as the affected at whatever their whereabouts. In recent years, Pastor Vanzant has worked with the DC Department of Health in developing information and strategies for servicing “mature adults in HIV/ AIDS. Today, Pastor Vanzant, though “officially” the Treasurer of Bread for the Soul, a grassroots charity to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, is still aware of, attentive to, and available for the many needs of HIV/AIDS care and ministry.

The Wanda Alston House The Wanda Alston House honors the life and work of Wanda Alston, an LGBT activist, mayoral appointee, and dedicated resident of Washington, D.C. whose untimely death in her home in 2005, shortened her mission to empower and strengthen the GLBT community. The Wanda Alston House seeks to carry on her work and empower young people while providing them a safe place to live free from harm and danger. The Wanda Alston House is the first and only housing program in Washington D.C. that is solely dedicated to offering preindependent living services to homeless GLBTQ youth ages 1624. Each young person is assigned a life skills counselor who works each day on issues related to employment/vocational training, housing, and other issues as needed. Each young person is housed in their own room and reside in a house with an advocate with extensive experience with housing and GLBTQ youth issues.

SaVanna Wanzer PHOTO BY KEVIN YANCEY KENNER

Pastor Robert “Michael” Vanzant moved to Washington, DC in July, 1974. Coming from a very loving and giving environment, he soon became known for his kindness and generosity. Because of this knowledge, at the very advent of the AIDS epidemic, he was called upon for the care of those infected by visiting them in their homes, hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. As things progressed, he was further called upon to open up his home to those concerned and/or help with rent and payment of utilities from his personal coffers. I n

PHOTO COURTESY SAVANNA WANZER

The words below are those of SaVanna Wanzer, “For more than 20 years I have volunteered with WhitmanWalker in some kind of way. In the early years of the epidemic a team of us would that friends who needed medical care would be picked up, sat with, and be seen by a Doctor. Our community was hit so hard by our friends passing that sometimes we attend

2 or more funerals services a week. W h i t m a n - Wa l ke r also supervised Capital Pride, I went to ReGina Newkirk the Director of Events if we could have a day that just focused on the Transgender Community and medical care. She approve it I worked with Dave Mallory and in 2007 I founded the first ever Trans Pride. A day that just focused on education, surgery and workshops designed just for our Transgender community. Being older now I just volunteer once a month with the Trans Law Clinic. That helps out with Gender identity legal documents. It has and still is a pleasure to serve my community with LOVE.”

Jannette Williams Longtime LGBT community advocate Jannette Williams, who served nearly 25 years as a volunteer and adviser for Whitman-Walker Health and three years as Chair of the WhitmanWalker Board, passed away June 28, 2015 at the age of 65. Jannette was a lifelong Washingtonian who worked for the U.S. Postal service and later at the Department of Justice, where she retired after 34 years of service. She had strong ties to the Washington, DC lesbian community; the Mautner Project for Lesbian Health, which later became a program of Whitman Walker; and the Whitman Walker’s Black Lesbian Support Group. Among her other community involvements, Williams was a longtime supporter and volunteer for DC Black Pride and Whitman Walker’s annual AIDS Walk. Dan Blanchon, Whitman Walker’s Executive Director credits Williams’ leadership on the Whitman Walker Board to be of particular impact during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a period when fundraising efforts for non-profit organizations were adversely impacted. To quote Blanchon, “She was impactful on people’s lives because she did it relationship to relationship…And she did it one person at a time.”

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ARTS & CULTURE 36

SEPTEMBER

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2015

Hot Hits & Hidden Jewels From CultureCapital.com Your Link to the Arts in Metro DC

Women Laughing Alone With Salad Thru Oct 4. Woolly Mammoth. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net. Award-winning playwright Sheila Callaghan serves up a world premiere on a bed of bawdy language in a gender-bending comedy vinaigrette, inviting everyone to savor this complex recipe of desire and shame. Finding a Line: Skateboarding, Music, and Media Thru Sep 13. Kennedy Center. 800-444-1324. kennedy-center.org. Celebrating an exciting and inﬂuential part of American culture, the festival features daily free Open Skate sessions with live music at the outdoor bowl and ramps created especially for Finding a Line, exhibits on skate art and culture, and two ticketed performances by Jason Moran and The Bandwagon with top skaters. Queer Fiction Sep 17. The Writer’s Center. 301-654-8664. writer.org. This 6-session workshop class will focus on LGBT issues and literature providing a strong community for LGBT writers and allies. Participants in this workshop can expect to learn and reﬁne their storytelling abilities while in an accepting LGBT environment in contrast to traditional heteronormative class settings. The Orb Sep 13. Howard Theatre. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. The Orb is an English electronic music group known for spawning the genre of ambient house. Founded in 1988 by Alex Paterson and KLF member Jimmy Cauty, The Orb began as ambient and dub DJs in London. PHOTO COURTESY OF WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY

Buy Discount Tickets ticketPLAce.org

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THEATRE The Fix. Thru Sep 20. Pride Night. Sep 11. Signature Theatre. 703-820-9771. signature-theatre.org. Chimerica. Thru Oct 18. Studio Theatre. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org. Queens Girl in the World: Women’s Voices Theater Festival. Sep 16-Oct 11. Theater J. 202-518-9400. theaterj.org. Ironbound: Women’s Voices Theater Festival. Thru Oct 4. Round House Theatre. 240-644-1100. roundhousetheatre.org. Hay Fever. Thru Sep 27. Olney Theatre. 301-924-3400. olneytheatre.org. YERMA (Barren). Thru Oct 4. GALA Hispanic Theatre. 202-234-7174. galatheatre.org. Jay Cameron presents The Church Maﬁa. Sep 12. Warner Theatre. 202-783-4000. warnertheatredc.com. Point Break Live! Sep 12. Howard Theatre. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Shear Madness. Ongoing. Kennedy Center. 800-444-1324. shearmadness.com. Dogﬁght. Thru Sep 19. Keegan Theatre. 202-265-3767. keegantheatre.com. Friendship Betrayed. Thru Oct 11. WSC Avant Bard. Gunston Theatre Two. 703-418-4808. wscavantbard.org. The Importance of Being Earnest. Thru Sep 13. SCENA Theatre. Atlas. 202-399-7993. scenatheater.org.

MUSIC Peter & Will Anderson Trio. Sep 17. Strathmore. 301-581-5100. strathmore.org. Troker - Rosslyn Jazz Festival Kickoff Party. Sep 11. Arlington Cultural Affairs. 1812 North Moore Street. 25th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival. Sep 12. Gateway Park. 703-228-1850. arlingtonarts.org. Concert: Kruger Brothers. Sep 13. National Gallery of Art. 202-737-4215. nga.gov. Ethiopian New Year with Mahmoud Ahmed. Sep 11. Benyamin Live in Concert. Sep 12. PAZ - Festival of Inner Peace. Sep 13. GW Lisner Auditorium. 202-994-6800. lisner.gwu.edu. The Nighthawks. Sep 11. Matt Schoﬁeld. Sep 12. AMP. 301-581-5100. ampbystrathmore.com. Lizz Wright. Sep 11. Reverend Horton Heat & The Adicts. Sep 14. Saxon & Armored Saint. Sep 15. Howard Theatre. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Be in Brookland: DC Casineros. Sep 11. Dance Place. 202-269-1600. danceplace.org. Donal Fox: Inventions in Blue. Sep 13. Reston Community Center. CenterStage.

703-476-4500. restoncommunitycenter.com. Jackson Browne. Sep 11. Kelly Clarkson with Pentatonix & Eric Hutchinson. Sep 12-Sep 13. Wolf Trap. 877-965-3872. wolftrap.org. Lana Trotovšek, violin; Anna Shelest, piano. Sep 11. The Embassy Series. Embassy of Slovenia. 202-625-2361. embassyseries.org.

MUSEUMS National Gallery of Art. The Memory of Time. Thru Sep 13. Italian Renaissance Prints: Ideals Made Flesh. Thru Oct 4. Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye. Thru Oct 4. Pleasure and Piety: The Art of Joachim Wtewael (1566–1638). Thru Oct 4. 202-737-4215. nga.gov. National Archives. Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History. Thru Jan 10. 202-357-5000. archivesfoundation.org. Museum of Women in the Arts. Super Natural. Thru Sep 13. Organic Matters. Thru Sep 13. Vanessa Bell’s Hogarth Press Designs. Thru Nov 13. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org. Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. How the Civil War Changed Washington. Thru Nov 15. The Life and Legacy of the Plummer Family. Thru Dec 27. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. National Geographic. Monster Fish. Thru Oct 11. Indiana Jones. Thru Jan 3. 202857-7000. nglive.org. Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center. Patented Ingenuity: The Art of African American Inventors. Thru Sep 12. 301-809-0440. pgaamcc.org. Sandy Spring Museum. Two for One. Thru Oct 25. Weaving Community. Thru Dec 30. 301-774-0022. sandyspringmuseum.org.

GALLERIES Strathmore. Women Chefs: Artists in the Kitchen. Thru Nov 8. 301-581-5100. strathmore.org. BlackRock. Jenny Wu. Thru Sep 12. Susan Feller & Janet Wheeler. Thru Sep 12. 301528-2260. blackrockcenter.org. The Art League Gallery. Wijati Soemantoro. Thru Oct 5. 703-683-1780. theartleague.org. Arts Club of Washington. September Art Exhibition. Thru Sep 26. 202-331-7282. artsclubofwashington.org. District Architecture Center. Nature in the Walkable City. Thru Oct 3. 202-3479403. aiadac.com. WPA. Lobby Project: David Bellard. Thru Nov 27. 202-234-7103. wpadc.org.

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Get Out More!

CultureCapital.com links you to Theatre, Dance and Music performances, Museum and Gallery exhibitions, Classes in Dance, Acting and Art, Book Talks, Foodie Events and so much more! Explore by interest, by date, by location. With nearly 300 Arts Presenters in CultureCapital.com to choose from, we can help you to Get Out More! Washington Performing Arts • National Gallery of Art • Signature Theatre • Howard Theatre • Brentwood Arts Exchange • Strathmore • Capital Fringe • Neptune Fine Art • Writer’s Center • WSC Avant Bard • Arts Club of Washington • Friday Morning Music Club • National Geographic • Washington National Opera • George Mason University’s Center for the Arts • Goethe-Institut Washington • Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital • Washington Project for the Arts • DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities • AMP by Strathmore • Dominion Stage • Woolly Mammoth Theatre • First Draft • Children’s Chorus of Washington (CCW) • Warner Theatre • Taffety Punk Theatre Company • Dance Place • UrbanArias • Cathedral Choral Society • Studio Theatre • Capital City Symphony • Washington Stage Guild • Folger Theatre • Shear Madness • Gallery Neptune & Brown • Teatro de la Luna • Metropolitan Chorus • SCENA Theatre • Educational Theatre Company (ETC) • GALA Hispanic Theatre • Arlington Philharmonic • Carmen de Vicente Spanish Dance Academy • Chamber Dance Project • National Chamber Ensemble • Fisher Art Gallery • Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center • Pen/Faulkner • Washington Balalaika Society • ACW Dances • Reston Community Center • Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center • Indian Dance Educators Association • Adventure Theatre • The Jackson Art Center • Montpelier Mansion • Encore Stage & Studio • Virginia Ballet Company and School • Halau O ‘Aulani • Bangladesh Center for Community Development • IDB Staff Association Art Gallery (ISAAG) • Arlington Cultural Affairs • Synetic Theater • Potomac Harmony Chorus • Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center • Tudor Place Historic House and Garden • Jane Franklin Dance • Spooky Action Theater • Billingsley Historic House Museum •

Mead Theatre Lab: Cultural

DC • Peter’s Alley

Theatre Productions •

Joan Hisaoka Healing

Arts Gallery at Smith Center

• Arlington Arts Center

• Women’s Voices Theater

Festival • District Archi-

tecture Center • Abraham

Hall • Kreeger Museum • Constellation Theatre Company • Montpelier Arts Center • Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum • Oxon Hill Manor • National Philharmonic • Workhouse Arts Center • The Alden • Prelude: The Arlington Youth Orchestral Program • Reston Community Center at Lake Anne • Arlington Artists Academy • The Smithsonian Associates • The Puppet Co. Playhouse • Greenbelt Community Center • Rorschach Theatre • Embassy Series • DC Youth Orchestra Program • Cambodian-American Heritage, Inc. • Folger Theatre • Shear Madness • Gallery Neptune & Brown • Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center • College Park Aviation Museum • Atlas Performing Arts Center • National Cherry Blossom Festival • Olney Theatre Center for the Arts • Glen Echo Park • Pointless Theatre • Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) • Reston Community Players • Robert Brown Gallery • Castleton Festival • Theater J • Ford’s Theatre • Center for Education at Wolf Trap • Gunston Theatre Two • National Archives Experience • Rainbow Theatre Project • National Symphony Orchestra • Folger Shakespeare Library • Target Gallery • National Museum of Women in the Arts • Hylton Performing Arts Center • DC Jazz Festival • Sandy Spring Museum • Bowen McCauley Dance • Source Festival • Surratt House Museum • Arlington Artists Alliance • Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington DC • THEARC • Folger Consort • Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts • Patuxent Rural Life Museums • The Art League • Filmfest DC • Lubber Run • Keegan Theatre • Prince George’s Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts • Flashpoint Gallery: Cultural DC • GW Lisner Auditorium • Kirov Academy of Ballet • Dissonance Dance Theatre • Zenith Gallery • Pan American Symphony Orchestra • Festival Argentino • Capitol Hill Chorale • BalletNova Center for Dance • DCAC-DC Arts Center • Darnall’s Chance House Museum • DC Cabaret Network • Gunston Arts Center • Torpedo Factory Art Center • Joy of Motion • In Series • Arlingtones Barbershop Chorus • Ambassador Theater • Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission • Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts • Old Dominion Cloggers • Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival • Los Quetzales Mexican Dance Ensemble • Signature Theatre • VisArts at Rockville • The Barns at Wolf Trap • Step Afrika! • Riversdale House Museum • Arts/Harmony Hall Regional Center • BlackRock Center for the Arts • Round House Theatre • Choral Arts Society of Washington • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts This is a partial list of CultureCapital.com participants.

BOOKS 38

SEPTEMBER

11,

2015

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Gay lives matter

‘The Gay Revolution’ is a hefty tome that examines in detail gay rights from the ‘50s on. IMAGE COURTESY SIMON & SCHUSTER

The DOMA case, an LGBT history book for kids and plenty of fiction among season’s highlights By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER For the historian, “The Gay Revolution” by Lillian Faderman (Simon & Schuster, out Sept. 8) is a big brick of a book that chronicles the struggle, starting in the 1950s and moving forward to practically yesterday. Faderman doesn’t skip a thing, pulling in history for every spectrum on the LGBT rainbow. This is one of those lastyou-a-long-time books that may also teach you a thing or two. For the reader who craves a little of this and a little of that, look for “QDA: A Queer Disability,” edited by Raymond Luczak. There’s poetry in this book, plus fiction and non-fiction, articles of different lengths and interests, all on being gay and disabled. Look for this book in November. Blade contributor Kathi Wolfe’s poetry is included. Mystery lovers will drool over the latest installment of the Jane Lawless whodunit series. “The Grave Soul” by Ellen Hart (Minotaur, Oct. 6) begins with someone

seeking out Private Eye Lawless because his girlfriend is having strange dreams of murder. That makes no sense to anyone involved, but is it really just a dream? Or is there something else, something more malevolent afoot? Jane will know. Leave it to Lawless to learn. The LGBT teen will love reading “What We Left Behind” by Robin Talley (October, Harlequin Teen), a romance about two girls, high-school sweethearts, who decide to try a longdistance relationship when they head off to different colleges. Of course, things get complicated in this book about growing, learning who you really are, loving and trying to ﬁt the three together. For the romantic who wants more than ﬂuff, look for “Then Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA” by Robbie Kaplan (W.W. Norton, Oct. 5). It’s the story of Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer, two women who’d been together for decades and were married in 2007 in Canada. Two years later, when one of them fell ill, the U.S. government refused to recognize that union. Kaplan is the lawyer who fought for their rights and she includes some of her own personal life inside this historic account. What if the country was in danger from

a machine that’s terrorizing every citizen here — including your crush? In “Willful Machines” by Tim Floreen (Oct. 20, Simon Pulse), that’s what happens to the teenage son of the president, who’s gay but closeted. He may be able to save himself and the boy he likes (a lot!) but it’s not going to be easy. This scienceﬁction-y book is meant for teens, but how can any adult resist? For your niece, your nephew, the kid next door, or for your own children, “Gay and Lesbian History for Kids: The Century-Long Struggle for LGBT Rights” by Jerome Pohlen (October, Chicago Review Press) could be just the right book at the right time. Meant for young readers ages 7 or 8 and up, this book includes 21 hands-on activities to help children understand more about lesbian and gay history, activism and equality. It’s also a sensitive, kid-friendly way to teach and to spark conversations. And ﬁnally, what’s fall without a Bruno Gmünder book, eh? You can’t go any further in life until you’ve paged through “Lap of Luxury,” a book of photos from Mark Henderson (October). Here you get 160 pages of photos and not a lot of words but then, you don’t want words in a book this gorgeous, do you? Really?

Other releases of note: • “Becoming Nicole: the Transformation of an American Family” is the true story of a trans girl, her identical twin brother and a family’s journey to understand her plight. It’s by Amy Ellis Nutt, the Pulitzer-winning Washington Post science reporter. (Oct. 20) • In “A Taste for Brown Bodies: Gay Modernity and Cosmopolitan Desire,” Hiram Perez explores the role of race in the modern gay subject through three archetypes: the sailor, the soldier and the cowboy. He explores how each has been desired for their “heroic masculinity” while also being used to expand U.S. borders and ideals. (Oct. 30) • In “Out of the Firing Line Into the Foyer: My Remarkable Life Story,” war hero Bruce Copp remembers his life as a young gay soldier and how male relationships persisted despite the homophobic climate. (Nov. 1) • A revised edition of “The Gay and Lesbian Literary Heritage” is slated for a fall release with 400 articles from 175 literary scholars. (Nov. 3) • Gay rugby player Garreth Thomas shares his story in “Proud: My Autobiography.” (Dec. 1)

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DC F15- WA Blade Series_Layout 1 9/9/15 10:13 AM Page 1

HIGHLIGHTS FROM O U R FA L L S E A S O N ! — More info and events at natgeolive.org/dc —

Oct 15 WHEN TOUGH MEETS TECH:

Thu • 7:30 PM TALK

EXPLORATION’S NEW FRONTIER

Mike Libecki—one of the world’s most adventurous men—is on a quest to conquer the world’s last unclimbed peaks.

Nov 12-14 TELLURIDE Thu-Sat • 7 PM

FILM + DISCUSSION

Event made possible with support from Dell.

Oct 22 THE DEFENDERS:

Thu • 7:30 PM

TALK

INSIDE THE WILDLIFE TRADE

Get an insider’s look at National Geographic’s new Special Investigations Unit combating the illegal wildlife trade with investigative reporter Bryan Christy.

Nov 4 BUILDING THE PHOTO ARK

Wed • 7:30 PM

TALK + BOOK SIGNING

Photographer Joel Sartore shares endearing encounters, comical mishaps, and personal stories from his work capturing portraits of the world’s species.

Nov 11 IT’S WHAT I DO:

Wed • 7:30 PM

TALK + BOOK SIGNING

Nov 19 PRISTINE SEAS

Thu • 7:30 PM

TALK + BOOK SIGNING

TALK + DVD SIGNING

17th & M Streets Metros: Farragut N & W

Go behind the scenes with renowned climber Jimmy Chin and filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi to experience the thrills and challenges faced in the quest to summit Mount Meru.

Dec 3 THE SCIENCE OF DELICIOUS

Thu • 7:30 PM

TASTING

Savor a deliciously delightful evening celebrating and learning the science—and art—behind what tastes good, what tastes bad, and why we even taste at all.

Dec 8 RHINOS, RICKSHAWS &

Tue • 7:30 PM

TALK

Ticketts star at $25

Travel with Dr. Enric Sala on his journey to save the last untouched places in our oceans.

Dec 1 THE MAKING OF MERU

Tue • 7:30 PM

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S LIFE OF LOVE & WAR

Go on assignment to the world’s most dangerous conflict zones with Pulitzer Prizewinning photojournalist Lynsey Addario.

MOUNTAINFILM

Enjoy a celebration of indomitable spirit seen through the eyes of world-class filmmakers, athletes, changemakers, and visionary artists. Visit natgeolive.org/telluride for a list of films.

202.857.7700

REVOLUTIONS

Travel with Ami Vitale on her personal odyssey through the images and adventures that have made her a celebrated global photojournalist.

| natgeolive.org/dc

KEITH LADZINSKI

@NatGeoLive

facebook.com/natgeolive

THEATER 40

SEPTEMBER

11,

2015

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Something old, something new

From left are NAOMI JACOBSON, AMY MCWILLIAMS, HOLLY TWYFORD, ALYSSA WILMOTH KEEGAN and EMILY TOWNLEY in ‘Bad Dog’ at Olney Theatre. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MUELLER; COURTESY OF OLNEY THEATRE

Contemporary works, classic musicals among season’s offerings By PATRICK FOLLIARD This year, a huge part of D.C.’s fall theater lineup is the much anticipated Women’s Voices Theater Festival (womensvoicestheaterfestival.org). To spotlight the scope of new plays being written by women and the range of professional theater being produced in the area, more than 50 local professional companies are presenting at least one world premiere of a play by a female playwright throughout all of September and October. For the festival, Shakespeare Theatre Company (shakespearetheatre.org) is doing “Salomé” (Oct. 6-Nov. 8), adapted and directed by the internationally acclaimed Yaël Farber. The company’s website says Farber “infuses this raw New Testament tale with evocative sound and physicality, drawing on ancient biblical and pagan texts, as well as Oscar Wilde’s landmark mystery play, to spin a tale as provocative as the Dance of the Seven Veils.” Olney Theatre’s (olneytheatre.org) contribution is “Bad Dog” (Sept. 30-Oct. 25) by out playwright and TV writer (“Nurse Jackie”) Jennifer Hoppe-House. “Bad Dog” is the story of Molly Drexler (played by out actor Holly Twyford) who after 10 years clean and sober drives a Prius through her living room. An intervention ensues. The terriﬁc Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan plays Abby, Molly’s wife.

And at Arena Stage (arenastage.org) it’s “Destiny of Desire” (Sept. 11-Oct. 18), a new telenovela-inspired comedy by Karen Zacarías featuring talented out actor Nicholas Rodriquez who made his Broadway debut playing the title role in Disney’s “Tarzan.” Also as part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, the Highwood Theatre (thehighwoodtheatre.org) in Silver Spring is presenting “The Long Way Around” (Oct. 9-25) by young playwright Julia Starr. This new play explores the sometimes nebulous line between friendship and romance in female relationships. The fall theater season is chockfull of musicals, mostly familiar but some new. Here are a few. On the Southwest Waterfront, out director Molly Smith is staging her 30th production as artistic director of Arena Stage (arenastage.org) with a reimagined production of “Oliver!”(Oct. 30-Jan. 3). This will be a new in-the-round staging infusing a modern edge to the beloved musical based on Dickens’ classic novel, blending the chaotic worlds of 19th-century Victorian London with 2015 London. At Signature Theatre (sigtheatre.org), out artistic director Eric Schaeffer is helming “Girlstar” (Oct. 13-Nov.15), a new musical by Anton Dudley and Brian Feinstein billed as “a fantastical fairytale, brimming with magic, darkness and blinding ambition.” Local actor Donna Migliaccio stars as legendary record producer Daniella Espere who in searching for the next international sensation ﬁnds her long lost niece. Also at Signature out director Matthew

Gardiner is staging the company’s ﬁrst ever stab at “West Side Story” (Dec. 8-Jan. 24), the legendary Broadway musical by gay dream creative team Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). “West Side Story” reimagines Romeo and Juliet set against (what was then) the mean streets of Manhattan with lots of balletic rumbles and a genius score featuring songs like “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “I Feel Pretty” and “America.” Shakespeare will present “Kiss Me, Kate,” (Nov. 17-Jan. 3), that classical musical tribute to the Bard by the late great gay composer Cole Porter. The theater’s out associate artistic director Alan Paul directs. Murder and chaos meet love and virtue when the Young Artists of America Youth Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble (performing alongside professional mentors) present “Jekyll & Hyde” (Nov. 14) in Concert at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at University of Maryland (youngartistsamerica.org). The popular Broadway musical is slated to be performed by some of the most talented high school aged students in our area. For two nights only at Cobalt nightclub, local actor Jeffrey Johnson is reprising his celebrated turn as outrageous “Little Edie” of “Grey Gardens” fame in “Edie Beale Live at Reno Sweeney” (Oct. 6-7). At Studio Theatre (studiotheatre.org) out director Serge Seiden is staging the ﬁnal two plays of Richard Nelson’s quartet about American life, “The Apple Family Cycle” (Oct. 28-Dec.13). The cast includes

local out actor Sarah Marshall. Gala Theatre’s (galatheatre.org) season opener is “Yerma” (though Oct. 4), a contemporary adaptation of gay Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca’s classic tale about a childless Spanish peasant’s rage against the oppression of a loveless marriage and repressive society. Rorschach Theatre (rorschactheatre. com) presents “Truth & Beauty Bombs: A Softer World” (through Oct. 4). A project directed and conceived by Jenny McConnell Frederick based on the popular web series “A Softer World” features scenes by different authors including out playwright Norman Allen. Highbrow meets Hollywood at the Kennedy Center (kennedy-center.org) with movie star Juliette Binoche playing the title role in a contemporary take on Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, “Antigone” (Oct. 22-25). Downtown’s busy and buzzy National Theater (thenationaldc.org) is hosting family friendly fare with the national tour of Broadway’s hit “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s” (Nov. 18-29), a reimagined take on the original with a new book by witty gay playwright Douglas Carter Beane who puts a girl positive twist on the age-old tale. “Beautiful: the Carole King Musical” will be at the Kennedy Center Opera House Oct. 6-25. McDaniel College (2 College Hill, Westminster, Md.) presents “The Laramie Project” Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Details at mcdaniel.edu/theatre. � CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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CLASSIC COMEDY

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ROLLING WORLD PREMIERE

GOLDEN AGE MUSICAL COMEDY

HAY BAD GUYS AND FEVER DOG DOLLS BY NOËL COWARD DIRECTED BY ELEANOR HOLDRIDGE

BY JENNIFER HOPPE-HOUSE DIRECTED BY JEREMY B. COHEN

O L N E Y T H E AT R E C E N T E R

BE PART OF OUR

BOOK BY JO SWERLING AND ABE BURROWS MUSIC AND LYRICS BY FRANK LOESSER CHOREOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BOBBITT DIRECTED BY JERRY WHIDDON

THE NATION’S CAPITAL FALL 2015

For Tickets/Info: CALL 301.924.3400 OR VISIT olneytheatre.org

NOW PLAYING!

SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 25

WE’RE CLOSE BY! Just 10 mins. from the ICC, 30 mins. from DC, 15 mins. from Rockville and Columbia, and 40 mins. from Baltimore!

NOVEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 27

2401 Foxhall Road, NW • Washington, DC 20007 kreegermuseum.org

THE KREEGER MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE Saturday, September 12, 2015 • 10am - 4pm • FREE

WHOLE MAINE LOBSTER

Photo by Erich Keel

Join Us to Celebrate Art, Music, and Nature Live Jazz, Storytelling and Outdoor Art Activities for Children, Drum Circle, Sculpture Garden and Gallery Art Talks. Treat yourself to lunch at food trucks and enjoy beer provided by local breweries. Water donated by DrinkMore Water. CANCELED IN THE EVENT OF RAIN.

19.95

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

www.clydes.com

AVAIL ABLE AT ALL CLYDE’S LO CATIONS, OLD EBBIT T GRILL, THE TOMBS AND THE TOMATO PAL ACE