MARCH 16,
2018
VOLUME 49
ISSUE 11
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AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Pompeo a ‘reckless choice’ at State Trump unceremoniously dumps Tillerson for anti-LGBT CIA chief By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com
CIA Director MIKE POMPEO cultivated an extreme anti-LGBT record as a member of Congress.
President Trump this week announced he has ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and that he plans to nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo as his replacement, raising concern among LGBTQ advocates. Trump, in a tweet that announced the decision, also said he would nominate
Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel to succeed Pompeo. Reports indicate Trump asked Tillerson to resign on Friday. Tillerson returned to D.C. from Africa early Tuesday morning and reportedly learned of his ouster on Twitter. Tillerson on Tuesday told reporters in a statement he read in the State Department’s briefing room that he spoke with Trump shortly after noon EST while he was en route to California. Tillerson also said he will delegate his responsibilities to Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan. “The secretary had every intention CONTINUES ON PAGE 14
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE; COURTESY OF FLICKR
Ready to march LGBT advocates joining next week’s gun protest in D.C. By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com The Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force are among a large number of LGBT advocacy organizations and LGBT activists expected to participate in a March 24 demonstration in the nation’s capital against gun violence. The March For Our Lives, which was initiated by student survivors of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that claimed the lives of 17 people, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the Washington march and at
more than 100 regional marches expected to be held across the country and abroad. “On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington, D.C. to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today,” a statement on the event’s website says. Organizers say a key component of the event will be a call for Congress and state legislatures to strengthen the nation’s gun control laws. Although the event is being billed as a “march,” spokespersons for D.C. police and the National Park Service have said CONTINUES ON PAGE 16
EMMA GONZALEZ of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has become one of the faces of the new gun reform movement. CNN SCREENSHOT
OUCH!
OUR FAMILIES
STILL CRAVING
Auntie Maxine trashes Trump as ‘despicable’ in fiery HRC speech.
A camp guide and more in our annual special section.
Catching up with k.d. lang as she prepares to perform ‘Ingenue’ in area show.
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Comings & Goings LGBT Congressional Staff Association names new board By PETER ROSENSTEIN The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com. Congratulations to Tom Sommers, who was elected chair of Center Global. This is the organization within the DC Center supporting LGBTQ asylum seekers who’ve arrived in the area to start their new lives. Center Global is in its fifth year and provides a safe, stable community along with financial and housing support to help asylum seekers who are legally present as they’re going through the multi-year asylum-application process. The new board of the LGBT Asylum seekers, unlike refugees, receive no Congressional Staff Association. government aid and must rely on friends, PHOTO COURTESY LGBT CSA family and organizations like ours to sustain themselves. Sommers said, “Our goal for 2018 is to continue the great work that Matt Corso and Eric Scharf began five years ago and to increase awareness of our efforts and needs to the larger DMV, LGBTQ community.” Sommers has been involved with the D.C. LGBTQ community for seven years most recently serving on the LGBTQ National Task Force’s initiative to host the 30th Creating Change conference. He is also a past president of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) DC/Metro chapter. He is a principal with Explorations & Insights, an insight-based communication and data-solutions company. Prior to that he was a senior account director with GfK Custom Research, NA; sales director with MarketTools (now MetrixLab); and a communications specialist with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Congratulations also to David Perez on his new position as senior director of Donor Relations at the Hispanic Federation (HF), which provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally with respect to the vital issues of education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement and the environment. HF programs include Proyecto Somos Orlando founded after the Pulse nightclub tragedy to provide bilingual wrap-around services and LGBTQ community education; Immigrants Get the Job Done coalition founded with Lin Manuel Miranda, and the UNIDOS Disaster Relief and Recovery Program, which has raised $30 million to serve the immediate and long-term needs of families and communities in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Previously, Perez served as director of development for the League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Latino civil rights volunteer membership organization in the U.S. He co-founded the annual Unión Hace La Fuerza Latino Institute at the Creating Change Conference, which annually gathers 250 LGBT Latino grassroots activists for a full day of networking and bilingual issue and skill-based training. David currently serves as the chair of the District of Columbia Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee and is on the Community Advisory Board for ¡Empodérate! Youth Center at La Clínica del Pueblo. He has received awards from The DC LGBT Center, Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, Next Generation Leadership Foundation, Capital Pride and Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence. Finally, congratulations also to the new board members of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association, an official, non-partisan congressional staff organization whose mission is to advance the interests of current as well as prospective members and the LGBT community at-large. The LGBT CSA is dedicated to developing the careers of its membership and advocating on behalf of the LGBT community. New board members are; President, Robert Edmonson, Chief of Staff, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); Vice President, Christopher Cunningham, Legislative Assistant & Correspondent, Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT); Communications Director, Pablo A. Sierra-Carmona, Press Assistant, Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA); Professional Development Director, Jayson Schimmenti, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ); Social Events Director, Hector Colón, Legislative Correspondent, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY); Membership Director, Sarah Jackson, Legislative Assistant, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); At-Large Director, Christofer Horta, Policy Assistant, House Democratic Caucus; At-Large Director, Matthew Ramirez, Legislative Correspondent, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
LO CA L N E W S
Capital Pride seeks award nominations
The Capital Pride Alliance, which organizes D.C.’s annual LGBT Pride Parade and Festival in June, is inviting members of the LGBT community and their allies to submit nominations for its 2018 Pride Awards. “Family, friends, colleagues, and allies are encouraged to nominate those who have made exceptional contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and have had a positive ‘We encourage everyone to nominate impact on the lives of others,” Capital a person or organization they believe Pride Alliance said in a statement. deserves recognition,’ said Capital Pride’s RYAN BOS. “Every year we look forward to receiving the award nominations WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY because they show the depth and breadth of experience, talent, and dedication in the LGBTQ+ community in the nation’s capital,” said Capital Pride Executive Director Ryan Bos. “One of the highlights of Pride is honoring amazing individuals who and organizations that have been recommended by members of the community,” Bos said. “We encourage everyone to nominate a person or organization they believe deserves recognition.” The Capital Pride statement says the deadline for submitting nominations for the awards is March 23. It says the criteria for various awards and entry forms for each of the award categories can be obtained at the Capital Pride website, capitalpride.org. Following are the names and categories of the awards and honors: • Capital Pride Hero Awards: These honor individuals who have “furthered the causes important to the LGBTQ+ community in the national capital region.” They have “brought about positive, significant, and lasting changes to our lives and our community.” • Engender Spirits: “Those individuals who have been outstanding advocates, activists, and supporters of the transgender community.” They will be honored at the May 19 Capital Trans Pride event. • Larry Stansbury Award: This honors “individuals who or organizations that provide exemplary contributions to the Pride movement.” • Bill Miles Award: This award “honors an individual for providing outstanding volunteer service with Capital Pride.” • Paving the Way Award: This award “honors those in public life who have shown courage and leadership in helping to advance the cause of LGBTQ+ rights.” LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Va. legislative session proves a mixed bag The Virginia General Assembly’s 2018 legislative session that ended on March 10 proved a mixed bag for the state’s LGBT rights advocates and their supporters. The Virginia Senate in Jan. 26 approved state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)’s Senate Bill 202, which would have banned discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Loudoun County)’s Senate Bill 423, which would have added LGBT-specific protections to Virginia’s Fair Housing Law. A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee on Feb. 8 killed both measures. The same lawmakers also killed state Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria)’s House Bill 401 — which would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, public accommodation, housing, banking, insurance, public contracting and apprenticeships — and state Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church)’s House Bill 1547 that was identical to SB 423. Another House subcommittee last month tabled state Del. Debra Rodman (D-Henrico County)’s bill that would have banned health insurance providers from discriminating against transgender policyholders in Virginia. The Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Feb. 5 killed Ebbin’s Senate Bill 3 that sought to rescind a state law that bans same-sex couples from entering into marriages or civil unions. The Republican-controlled House a few weeks later killed a proposed amendment to the House budget bill that would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to its nondiscrimination provision. MICHAEL K. LAVERS
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D.C. activists show solidarity with ‘Black Pride 4’ About 20 activists affiliated with No Justice No Pride demonstrated in front of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building on Monday. The activists gathered in support of four Columbus, Ohio-based activists who were arrested after disrupting the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and Parade on June 17, 2017. Activists chant ‘queer lives they matter here, trans lives they matter here’ at a demonstration in front of Wriply Bennet, Kendall the U.S. Department of Justice on March 12. Denton, Ashley Braxton, and DeAndre Antonio Miles-Hercules, WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY known now as the ‘Black Pride 4,’ blocked the parade route in Columbus and were subsequently arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, among other charges, a number of outlets reported. The March 12 action in front of the U.S. Department of Justice in downtown D.C. was held in support of the ‘Black Pride 4’ — three of whom faced guilty verdicts that day following a five-day jury trial, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The three were sentenced to two years probation; the fourth protester has yet to stand trial. “Across the country, our people - trans and queer people of color - are being targeted for speaking out against state violence,” said Emmelia Talarico, organizing director of No Justice No Pride. “Activists like Wriply Bennet of the Black Pride 4 and Glo Merriweather of Charlotte Uprising are being forcefully silenced by the state and those who collude with the police. The threat to literally cage them reflects a blatant attempt to erase our resistance and shut down our fight for our freedom.” “Black people are dying at alarming numbers and we live in a country that wages war against us,” continued Talarico. “Protesters and organizers are criminalized as violent agitators, yet police show up in black and brown communities armed and militarized, under the guise of being peacekeepers.” Following speeches and chants, activists wrote letters of support to the ‘Black Pride 4.’ Demonstrators in Columbus, Ohio also marched on Monday in support of the ‘Black Pride 4.’ No Justice No Pride made headlines last year when activists blocked the Capital Pride Parade route, causing major delays to the annual event. No arrests were made following the disruption of the Capital Pride Parade. MICHAEL KEY
D.C. man pleads guilty in double gay murder District resident David Bright, 31, on Feb. 21 pleaded guilty to two counts of seconddegree murder while armed for the February 2016 murder of two housemates that law enforcement sources said were gay men. Police and prosecutors have said Bright’s motive for fatally shooting Clifton David Francis, 51, and David Aumon Watkins Jr., 45, appeared to be a dispute over money and that there was no evidence to indicate the incident was a hate crime based on the victims’ sexual orientation. During a preliminary hearing in April of 2016, D.C. police homicide detective Marvin Washington testified that an eyewitness told police Bright shot Francis and Watkins multiple times inside the rental house the three shared at 509 58th St., N.E. while in a rage and while acting like he was “crazy.” Washington, in response to a question by a defense attorney, testified that the eyewitness had been in a “romantic relationship” with one of the two victims. Law enforcement sources said the eyewitness was a male. The sources said Sgt. Jessica Hawkins, supervisor of the D.C. police LGBT Liaison Unit, and Officer Zunnobia Hakir, a member of the LGBT unit, were called to the scene on the day of the murders. Court records show that D.C. police arrested Bright on a first-degree murder charge on the day following the shootings after talking to the witness and recovering the gun Bright allegedly used to kill the two men inside a car he had been driving. He has been held without bond since the time of his arrest. A plea bargain offer to which Bright agreed recommends that he be sentenced to 33 years in prison. The final decision on the sentence will be up to D.C. Superior Court Judge Ronna L. Beck, who has scheduled a sentencing for May 11. LOU CHIBBARO JR.
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Gay Libertarian to run for D.C. mayor, Council chair Gay Libertarian Party activist Martin Moulton has filed papers with the D.C. Board of Elections to run for both the office of mayor and the office of chairman of the D.C. City Council in the city’s June 19 primary. Under the city’s election law, potential candidates can file for more than one office, but the election board only accepts for placement on the ballot a candidate who submits the required number of petition signatures for just one office. The filing deadline for the June primary is March 21. “Given the turbulent state of the Wilson Building, I have been exploring with Libertarian Party and D.C. party leaders, registered Libertarians and many Democrat voters about which race I should toss my hat into, but I will keep my options open for the next week or so,” Moulton told the Washington Blade in an email. In 2016 Moulton ran as the Libertarian Party nominee for the D.C. congressional delegate seat held by Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton. Although he lost to Norton by a margin of 85 percent to 6 percent, he received 17,272 votes, significantly more than the 11,553 votes that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received in the D.C. presidential race. Moulton also ran way ahead of Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, who received 4,501 votes in D.C. in the 2016 presidential race. LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Smithsonian acquires Academy drag group’s archives
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History announced on Tuesday that it has acquired through a donation the archives of the Academy of Washington, D.C., an LGBT organization that produced nationally recognized extravaganza drag pageants. “The Academy was a leading private organization in the Washington, D.C., metro area presenting, mentoring and championing female and male impersonation in the nation’s capital for 54 years,” a statement released by the history museum says. “The collection of 16 boxes containing photos, program books, newsletters and organizational history will be housed in the museum’s Archives Center,” the statement says. Valeska Hilbig, a spokesperson for the American History Museum, said the museum has no immediate plans for displaying some of the Academy’s archival material in an exhibit. She noted that only 2 percent of the museum’s vast collections are on display at any given time. But she said like all of the museum’s collections, the Academy of Washington, D.C. collection will be available to researchers and authors who may wish to explore its documents and other materials that provide a rich history of one aspect of the LGBT community. “The collection expands the breadth of the museum’s entertainment and LGBT collections and adds another component to how these artifacts document history and experience,” said Bob Horton, chair of the museum’s Archives Center. “The collection includes programs from 54 years of ‘Golden Boy’ awards (formerly known as the Oscars, a take on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), the Miss Gaye Universe (D.C.) and Miss Gaye America (D.C.) pageants, the events of member houses and all of the performance events of the organization, as well as internal newsletters and organizational history,” according to the statement released by the museum. Members of the Academy’s board, which donated the archival material to the history museum, announced in 2015 that the organization was disbanding after having the distinction of being D.C.’s oldest continuously operating LGBT organization with a 54-year history. The announcement that the group was ending its operations came eight months after one of its two co-founders, Carl Rizzi, died at the age of 74. Rizzi, who was known by his drag performance name of Mame Dennis, served as president of the Academy from 1973 until the time of his death in February 2015. As part of its LGBT collections, which date back to the 19th century, the American History Museum currently has on display two exhibits that include protest picket signs prepared by the late D.C. gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny for 1960s-era protests outside the White House. One of the picket signs is on display in the museum’s The American Presidency exhibition and the other is part of its The American Democracy exhibition. LOU CHIBBARO JR.
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LO CA L N E W S
Md. trans student prevails in locker room use case Judge rules policy ‘does not withstand’ legal scrutiny By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com A federal judge in Maryland has issued a decision favorable to a transgender student whose school has barred him from the locker room consistent with his gender identity. In a 40-page decision, U.S. District Judge George Russell III, an Obama appointee, stopped short Tuesday of issuing a preliminary injunction in favor of Max Brennan, identified as M.A.B in the lawsuit, but nonetheless finds St. Michaels Middle High School in Talbot County’s policy “does not withstand” heightened scrutiny and amounts to unlawful sex-stereotyping. “Because defendants contend that they may bar M.A.B. from the boys’ locker room completely — despite the presence of single-use restrooms or stalls — by implication, defendants are arguing that the presence of M.A.B. in the boys’ locker room — itself — is what infringes on the privacy rights of other boys,” Russell writes. “Defendants do not provide any explanation for why completely barring M.A.B. from the boys’ locker room protects the privacy of other boys changing there, while the availability of single-use restrooms or locker room stalls does not. Nor does the Court find any.” The ruling is consistent with decisions from numerous courts throughout the country finding that barring transgender students from the restroom consistent with their gender identity amounts to sex discrimination, which is unlawful under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. In a statement, Brennan said he’s “extremely happy with the court’s decision” and thinks “it is a great step in the right direction.” “I am hopeful that this case will not only help change policy for the better, but help the students who are bound to come after me,” Brennan said. According to the decision, the school initially required Brennan to use designated single-use gender neutral bathrooms, but then allowed him to use boys’ restrooms consistent with his gender identity. Still, the school prohibited Brennan from using the boys’ locker room, instead making him use the gender neutral bathroom whenever he needed to change his clothes. As a result, Russell writes, Brennan has faced “humiliation and embarrassment, as well as alienation from his peers.” The student received “weird looks” from his peers when using the designated restroom, so has tried to use them infrequently, Russell writes. Because the bathrooms are far away
MAX BRENNAN was barred from using the boys’ locker room at St. Michaels Middle High School in Talbot County. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX BRENNAN
from Brennan’s locker, his physical education teacher gave him extra time to change. But when substitute teachers were present, they required him to explain why he was tardy to class, forcing him to out himself as transgender. “The ‘stigma and impracticality’ of changing his clothes in the designated restrooms led M.A.B. to attend physical education class without changing when he thought he would not sweat very much,” Russell adds. “At times, his physical education teacher penalized M.A.B.’s grade for not changing his clothes.” Russell notes precedent exists in the Fourth Circuit on bathroom access for transgender students after the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in favor of transgender student Gavin Grimm. However, Russell writes that “no longer resolves” the situation because it’s based on Obama-era guidance assuring transgender kids access to school restrooms consistent with their gender identity, which was rescinded in the Trump administration. Instead, Russell turns for guidance to Title IX and concludes Brennan is eligible for a claim of unlawful sex-stereotyping, referring to a decision by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Ash Whitaker, another transgender student. “The main difference between the policy in Whitaker and defendants’ policy here is that the school administrators in Whitaker barred the student from the boys’ restrooms, whereas here, defendants barred M.A.B. from the boys’ locker room,” Russell writes. “That difference does not change the court’s Title IX analysis. Like the policy in Whitaker, defendants’ policy of barring M.A.B. from the boys’ locker room requires him to use a facility that ‘does not conform’ with his gender identity.” Further, Russell finds M.A.B. is eligible for relief under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because they both require sex discrimination
and transgender discrimination to be subjected to heightened scrutiny. “The policy clearly implicates the Equal Protection Clause,” Russell writes. “It treats M.A.B. differently from the rest of the High School’s students. While the rest of M.A.B.’s peers may use the locker room that aligns with their gender identity, M.A.B. may not. Instead, Defendants discipline M.A.B. if he uses such a locker room — the boys’ locker room.” As evidence that transgender people are politically powerless, Russell notes “there are very few transgender elected officials” and only two openly transgender people have been elected to state legislatures. “Transgender people have been historically subjected to discrimination, their status bears no relation to their ability to contribute to society, they exhibit immutable and distinguishing characteristics, and they are both a minority and politically powerless,” Russell concludes. Russell also rejects out of hand the argument from the school the policy is lawful because it protects the privacy of other male students in the locker room who may be exposed to M.A.B.’s genitals. “If defendants were concerned that children with different-looking anatomies were changing clothes in the locker room together, ‘then it would seem that separate [locker rooms] also would be appropriate for pre-pubescent and postpubescent children who do not look alike anatomically,’” Russell writes. “But Defendants have not separated locker rooms in that manner.” But Russell denies Brennan’s request for a preliminary injunction in his favor as well as the school’s request for summary judgment to throw out the lawsuit, ordering the parties to confer to come up with a joint proposed scheduling order in time for a hearing on Sept. 4. The judge denies the preliminary injunctions without prejudice on the
basis M.A.B. isn’t in imminent danger under school policy because he’s not currently enrolled in a gym and won’t be until fall 2018. “Of course, it is certain M.A.B. will take physical education class when the following school year begins this September,” Russell writes. “Still, it is ‘speculative’ whether the school year will begin before the Court will issue a decision on the merits.” Sasha Samberg-Champion, a civil rights attorney with the D.C.-based Relman, Dane & Colfax PLLC, said the decision is “ is everything that advocates could want,” even though the court stopped short of issuing a preliminary injunction in Brennan’s favor. “That Judge Russell did not also grant a preliminary injunction — yet — is likely a good thing,” Samberg-Champion said. “A PI would be immediately appealable to the Fourth Circuit, and then potentially to the Supreme Court, which would consider the case at a very preliminary posture with a relatively undeveloped record. Instead, the parties have a few months to potentially resolve the situation without further litigation and, at worst, to better develop the factual record before Judge Russell hears a renewed motion in late summer or early fall.” Arguing “we do better in these cases the more we develop the facts,” SambergChampion predicted the school will be unable to come up with evidence showing its privacy claims are reasonable, which means “the plaintiff’s case for a PI will be even stronger, and will be better suited to be upheld on appeal.” Representing Brennan was FreeState Justice, which initially filed the lawsuit, and the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Maryland, which later on joined as co-counsel. Jennifer Kent, managing attorney with FreeState Justice, said she hopes the decision for Brennan “is a wake-up call for the Talbot County School Board.” “School systems in Maryland should know the law and should be protecting students who are transgender from discrimination, not singling them out for separate and unequal treatment,” Kent said. Joshua Block, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, said the decision is consistent with other court rulings throughout the country. “Courts across the country have recognized that Title IX and the Constitution prohibit schools from singling out transgender students for different and discriminatory treatment,” Block said. “We will continue to fight on behalf of Max and other transgender students to ensure that these stigmatizing and harmful policies are a thing of the past.” Attorneys for Talbot County Public Schools didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request for comment.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Maxine Waters eviscerates Trump at HRC dinner ‘One of the most despicable people ever to hold public office’ By KAREN OCAMB LOS ANGELES — Longtime LGBT ally Rep. Maxine Waters sliced ‘n diced, jabbed, upended and eviscerated Donald Trump at the Human Rights Campaign gala at the JW Marriott on March 10, just as the politically hungry crowd hoped she would, calling the Republican president “one of the most dishonorable, deceitful and despicable people ever to hold public office.” But what really happened at the HRC gala conveyed a broader message than appeared in the headlines about Waters’ impassioned speech. Reactions to bisexual centrist Arizona Democrat Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who is running for the U.S. Senate, and non-political Olympic bronze medal winner Adam Rippon suggest that out-of-power Democrats, keen on the fierce urgency of saving a crumbling democracy, are foregoing any absolutist litmus test to win voter support in the 2018 midterms. Waters, affectionately adopted by millennials as their “Auntie Maxine,” did not disappoint audience expectations, running through a litany of Trump’s crass affronts to human decency—such as pretending he was shooting hoops as he tossed paper towels at desperate Puerto Ricans seeking hurricane relief to supporting reliably accused pedophile Roy Moore in his Alabama Senate race. She also ticked off a list of “hostile overtures” toward the LGBTQ community, including the Trump/Pence proposed ban on open transgender service in the military. Waters also pledged allegiance to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials to interfere with the 2016 election, as well as corruption and attempts by the administration to obstruct justice. “I have so much faith in him. I like the work that he’s doing. I organized most of the Democrats to send a letter of support,” she said, going off teleprompter. “And in the final analysis I think he’s going to get him. And if for some reason he is not able to get him, I’m counting on Stormy to do it.” Waters was referring to porn star Stormy Daniels who is suing Trump over a “hush agreement” about their alleged sexual affair. Daniels has taped an interview with Anderson Cooper for “60 Minutes” that Trump’s lawyers are trying to block. Daniels says she’ll repay the $130,000 in “hush money” to be able to speak freely. New York Times columnist Charles Blow posits that Trump’s wife Melania probably knew about the hook up, which started four months after the
birth of their son, Barron. The affair has made Trump’s character headline news and perhaps just a tad too much sinning for his white female evangelical base. The HRC/LA audience was primed for Waters’ blistering retort to Trump, who on Saturday continued his racist attacks on the African-American congresswoman at a campaign rally for a Pennsylvania special House election. “We have to defeat Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters, a very low I.Q. individual,” Trump said, as the crowd booed. “You ever see her? You ever seen her? You ever see her? ‘We will impeach him! We will impeach the president!’ But he hasn’t done anything wrong. It doesn’t matter, we will impeach him! She’s a low I.Q. individual. You can’t help it. She really is.” Waters has been calling for Trump’s impeachment since Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, saying in a May 2017 tweet that “Donald Trump should follow his FBI Director out the door.” Waters gave one of her most rousing calls for impeachment at the #ResistMarch in West Hollywood last June. “He’s not my president! He’s not your president! He lies. He cheats. He’s a bully. He disrespects us all. If he thinks he can mess with the LGBT community, he better look at what happened right here in West Hollywood! You deny, you disrespect and you will find that there are the people who have the courage to organize and to take back whatever needs to be taken back. We resist this president because he stands for the worst of everything,” Waters said to enthusiastic applause. “I know that people may not quite be ready. I know that some are a little hesitant. I know that some are saying, ‘I’m not so sure, Maxine, what you’re saying is the right thing to say.’ But I’m saying: Impeach 45!” But retaking the House and Senate is required to move beyond rhetorical and nose-thumbing resistance. That means disrupting and protesting harmful actions—and finding ways to compromise, negotiate and move the levers off fullthrottle hatred. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is among those who want Waters to temper her protests and chill on the impeachment talk lest persuadable independents and disgruntled Republican voters are turned off. Enter Kyrsten Sinema who is as fiercely for bipartisan outreach as Waters is for impeachment. Interestingly, while the HRC crowd salivated over Waters’ fire and fury, they were also respectfully quiet, listened carefully and applauded as Sinema, the bisexual “problem solver” running for Senate in the deep red state of Arizona, espoused the virtues of bipartisanship and veered away from anything that could be misconstrued and misused against her. Most politicos know Arizona is a mustwin state if the Democrats want to retake the Senate. But it didn’t hurt that Sinema
Rep. MAXINE WATERS speaks during the Human Rights Campaign 2018 Los Angeles Gala Dinner on March 10. PHOTO BY RICH FURY/GETTY IMAGES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (HRC)
Visibility Award recipient ADAM RIPPON speaks at the HRC Los Angeles Gala Dinner. PHOTO BY RICH FURY/GETTY IMAGES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (HRC)
was introduced by Josh Duhamel, one of the stars of gay director Greg Berlanti’s new film, “Love, Simon.” In a relatively soft-spoken manner, with flashes of humor, Sinema talked about meeting people where they are in life and seeking commonality. For instance, Sinema, the first member of Congress to finish an Ironman triathlon in 2013, said she teaches a bipartisan spin class— “that’s when yelling is appropriate.” But while she says both parties must work together to get something done, Sinema’s also mindful of the importance of character—she says she has not nor will she take campaign money from the NRA. “As opportunities for our LGBTQ brothers and sisters have grown exponentially over the last decade, we know there is still so much left to do,” she told the HRC crowd. “It’s up to us to make certain that being gay, lesbian bisexual or transgender will never again be an impediment to success. These battles will take place on many fronts. Under our new president, that has unfortunately meant
returning to some of the fights we thought we left behind us,” she said to applause, including “that everyone who serves in our military is treated with the respect and dignity that the uniform requires.” After acknowledging the 17th anniversary of federal Prop 8 plaintiffs Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami with whom he previously worked through the American Foundation for Equal Rights, HRC President Chad Griffin brought back the fun of throwing political shade. “We are living in a different world than we were just a couple of years ago,” Griffin said. “Living through this moment can be truly exhausting. Every time we think this president’s behavior can’t get any more erratic, or that this vice president’s attacks on our community can’t get any more repugnant, it’s like clockwork—a news alert lights up our phones to prove us all wrong yet again. “By the way,” Griffin continued, “have you ever wondered why Mike Pence is so obsessed with gay people? Wouldn’t you love to see his brower’s history?”
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In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
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Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi. Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
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• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Chilean activists question impact of new president SANTIAGO, Chile — Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Sunday ended her government and Sebastián Piñera once again took office. It is the second term for the rightwing leader, who was president for the first time between 2010-2014. Unlike his first government’s platform, which included initiatives to protect the LGBTI Activists in Chile have differing opinions of the impact community’s rights, Piñera that new President SEBASTIÁN PIÑERA will have on their issues. returned to power with a more conservative stance. He highlighted his opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples and giving legal rights to transgender children during his campaign. On this last matter, Piñera’s position has changed slightly in recent days after the impact generated by “A Fantastic Woman,” the first Oscar-winning Chilean film about trans people’s reality. A few days before the change of government, Piñera told his ministers the gender identity bill should be quickly approved in Congress, especially after the Chilean Senate approved it before Bachelet left office. This instruction — which was very controversial among members of Piñera’s conservative coalition — raises questions among leaders of Chile’s sexual diversity movement about what position the new president will take towards the LGBTI agenda. Opinions are diverse, ranging between slight optimism to clear pessimism. Óscar Rementería, spokesperson for the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, thinks Piñera is not as conservative as he was during his first term. “Lately, he has shown greater openness towards the LGBTI demands,” said Rementería. The activist added, in any case, Piñera will have to ensure compliance of the friendly agreement the Chilean state signed with the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation around marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples the InterAmerican Commission of Human Rights mediated. “The agreement contains a series of demands that have to be accomplished by the state in order to avoid an international lawsuit against Chile,” explained Rementería. Fundación Iguales President Juan Enrique Pi noted the expectation is to keep the progress made on all LGBTI-specific bills going. “The equal marriage bill is already entered and gender identity is one step away from being law,” he said. “We hope they are not blocked and the new administration will work on their processing. Likewise, we expect Piñera keep the advances in administrative matters and that they will not restricted just to areas of public health or education.” Erika Montecinos of Agrupación Rompiendo el Silencio, a Chilean lesbian advocacy group, is more pessimistic. In spite of the effort of organizations that work beyond political ideologies, she said “there is consensus that there will be a ‘freezing’ of our rights during the next four years.” Montecinos does not have any good expectations and, despite Piñera’s public statements, believes LGBTI-specific bills will not progress properly. “The president’s statement about gender identity is poor,” said Montecinos. “The bill could be a law, but a very weak one.” NICOLAS LEVY
Bisexual Colombia congresswoman elected to Senate BOGOTA, Colombia — A bisexual Colombian congresswoman on Sunday became the first openly LGBT person elected to the country’s Senate. Angélica Lozano of the Green Alliance received 105,299 votes. She received the second highest number of votes of the candidates for her party who ran for the Senate. Lozano, a former member of the Bogotá City Council who was elected to the Colombian House of Representatives in 2014, is among the 14 openly LGBT candidates who ran in the elections. Lozano is the first openly LGBT person elected to the Colombian Congress. Her partner, Sen. Claudia López, was not out when she was elected. Mauricio Toro, an openly gay man who is a member of the Green Alliance, was elected to the House with 19,045 votes. Tatiana Piñeros, a transgender woman who was a Senate candidate with Lista de la Decencia, a coalition of leftist parties, did not win. Sunday’s election is the first to take place in Colombia since President Juan Manuel Santos’
government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The agreement allowed FARC, which is now a political party, to participate in the election. Former President Álvaro Uribe, who founded the center-right Democratic Center party in 2013, is among those who strongly oppose the agreement and FARC’s participation in the country’s political process. Members of the Democratic Center party on Sunday formally chose Iván Duque as their candidate to succeed Santos. Former Inspector General Alejandro Ordóñez, who opposes LGBT rights, received less than 7 percent of the votes from members of his own party. Members of the leftist Progressive Movement on Sunday also chose former Bogotá Mayor Gustavo Petro as their party’s presidential candidate. A lack of ballots for these consultas — which are similar to primaries and caucuses in the U.S. — at polling places in Bogotá, Medellin, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and other cities across the country sparked outrage among voters, party leaders and the candidates themselves. Election officials announced less than four hours before the polls closed that voters could use photocopied ballots to vote in the consultas. Colombia’s presidential elections will take place on May 27. The second round will take place on June 17 is no candidate receives a majority of votes. López is a candidate for vice president with Coalición Colombia, which includes the Green Alliance. MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Colombia LGBT groups launch campaign ahead of elections BOGOTA, Colombia — Advocacy groups in Colombia have launched a campaign ahead of the country’s national elections that seeks to educate voters about candidates’ positions on LGBT-specific issues. Colombia Diversa, Caribe Afirmativo, Santamaría Fundación, EgoCity and Sentiido last month launched the Vote for Equality campaign — Voto por la Igualdad in Spanish — that ranks each candidate on whether they support issues relating to non-discrimination and equality for LGBT Colombians. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the Netherlands Institution for Multiparty Democracy, the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy, the Observatory for Political Participation of LGBTI People in Colombia and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung foundation have provided support to the Colombian advocacy groups that are behind the effort. “The Vote for Equality (campaign) has an objective to promote the free, transparent and informed vote of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people of Colombia, as well as that of allies and people who stand in solidarity to protect the rights of this population in the 2018 elections,” reads a press release the campaign released. Congressional elections will take place on Sunday. Congresswoman Angélica Lozano, a bisexual woman who is the first openly LGBT person elected to the Colombian Congress, is running for the Colombian Senate. Tatiana Piñeros, a trans woman who was a member of former Bogotá Mayor Gustavo Petro’s cabinet, is also running for the Senate. Caribe Afirmativo, which is based in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, notes there are 14 openly LGBT candidates who are running in Sunday’s elections. Senator Claudia López, who is Lozano’s partner, is running for president as a candidate for the centrist Green Alliance. The elections to succeed President Juan Manuel Santos will take place on May 27. A run-off will take place on June 17 if none of the candidates receives a majority of the votes. Colombia is among the Latin American countries in which same-sex couples can legally marry. A 2015 decree to notaries and registrars said trans people could legally change their name and gender on identification cards and other government documents without surgery. The Colombian Congress last year rejected a proposed referendum on whether to rescind adoption rights for same-sex couples. Discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity remains commonplace in Colombia in spite of the aforementioned advances. This year’s elections are also taking place against the ongoing implementation of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that ended a decades-long war. MICHAEL K. LAVERS
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Tillerson out, Pompeo in at State Department CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
of remaining because of the tangible progress made on critical national security issues,” said Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Steve Goldstein in a statement the State Department sent to reporters after Trump’s Twitter announcement. “He established and enjoyed relationships with his counterparts. He will miss his colleagues at the Department of State and enjoyed working together with the Department of Defense in an uncommonly robust relationship.” “The secretary did not speak to the president this morning and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling and not to be regretted,” he added. The White House fired Goldstein a few hours after he issued his statement, reportedly for contradicting the official version of Tillerson’s departure. Tillerson is the former CEO of ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil in 2015 added sexual orientation and gender identity to its nondiscrimination policy. Tillerson was
a member of the Boy Scouts of America’s executive board when it voted to allow openly gay scouts into the organization in 2013. The State Department under Tillerson continued to promote LGBT and intersex rights abroad, even as the Trump administration’s record on LGBT-specific issues in the U.S. sparked outrage among advocates and their supporters. Tillerson publicly acknowledged Pride month and the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The position of the special U.S. envoy for the human rights of LGBT and intersex people remained in place under a State Department overhaul that Tillerson had begun. Tillerson last summer raised the ongoing crackdown against LGBT Chechens in a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The State Department under Tillerson’s tenure also expressed concern over anti-LGBT crackdowns in Azerbaijan, Egypt and other countries. Tillerson and Trump clashed over Russia, North Korea, the Iran nuclear deal and other issues. Tillerson on Monday told reporters that
Russia was likely behind the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in England earlier this month. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier in the day did not specifically mention Russia when reporters asked her about the incident. “While I often disagreed with Secretary Tillerson, I thank him for his service and wish him well in his next endeavor,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in a statement. “It’s disappointing that his departure from the administration comes soon after his condemnation of Russia’s barbaric attack on two individuals in the United Kingdom.” Pompeo represented Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives until Trump tapped him to become CIA director. The Human Rights Campaign on Tuesday noted Pompeo has long opposed LGBT rights. HRC President Chad Griffin in a statement said Pompeo’s “longstanding opposition to LGBTQ equality makes him a reckless choice to lead our nation’s diplomatic efforts.” Pompeo opposes marriage rights for same-sex couples and co-sponsored a bill
in the U.S. House that would have allowed states to refuse to recognize the marriages of gays and lesbians. Pompeo also opposed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Pompeo has longstanding ties to the antiLGBT Family Research Council, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified as a hate group. The Southern Poverty Law Center also notes Pompeo has made statements against Muslims in the U.S. “The decision to nominate antiLGBTQ Mike Pompeo could have serious consequences for the United States and LGBTQ people around the globe,” said Griffin. The State Department has a crucial role to play in advancing human rights — a role which was already rapidly declining under Tillerson. This decision has the potential to make a dire situation even worse. Pompeo does not deserve to be confirmed.” Jessica Stern, executive director of OutRight Action International, on Tuesday noted to the Blade the “situation for LGBTIQ people in many places around the world is deteriorating.” “What we need most is a secretary of state who takes human rights seriously,” she added.
‘Black Pride 4’ get probation for blocking Pride parade in Ohio Sentencing follows conviction by jury on misdemeanor charges
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com
A Franklin County, Ohio, Municipal Court Judge on Tuesday sentenced three LGBT protesters to two years of probation following their conviction by a jury last month on several misdemeanor charges related to their decision to block the path of the Columbus Pride parade in June 2017. A decision by Columbus police to arrest the three activists and a fourth person who joined them, who has yet to go on trial, created an uproar among many in the local LGBT community, who denounced the police action for violating the four activists’ First Amendment right to protest peacefully. The arrested protesters, who have become known as the Black Pride 4, said their intent was to draw attention to violence against transgender women of color, the “marginalization of queer and trans people of color” within the LGBT community, and the fatal double shooting by Columbus police of an African-American male teenager and young African-American adult male in 2016. The two shooting incidents were not LGBT related.
D.C. activists write messages of support for the ‘Black Pride 4’ of Columbus, Ohio this week. WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
The June 17, 2017 arrests of the four LGBT protesters in Columbus took place one week after members of the D.C. area protest group No Justice No Pride blocked the route of D.C.’s Capital Pride Parade. D.C. police, who were on hand at the site of the blocked parade, chose to reroute the parade rather than arrest the protesters. The No Justice No Pride protesters said their decision to block the Capital Pride Parade route was based, among other
things, on Capital Pride leaders’ refusal to agree to their demands that uniformed D.C. police be banned from participating in the parade and that certain corporate sponsors of the Pride festivities be dropped. Columbus police said officers arrived at the site on bicycles where about a dozen protesters were blocking the route of the Pride parade. They said they ordered the protesters to move to allow the parade to continue and all but four complied with the police order.
Police said the four that refused to move were initially charged with disorderly conduct, failure to comply with a police officer’s orders, and resisting arrest, all of which are misdemeanors. The fourth protester, Deandre Miles, who has yet to go on trial, was charged with a felony offense of aggravated robbery for allegedly attempting to grab one of the police officer’s guns. According to the Columbus Dispatch, a Franklin County Municipal Court jury on Feb. 13 handed down these convictions for the three protesters: Wriply Bennet, disorderly conduct, failure to comply with a police officers’ order, and resisting arrest; Ashley Braxton, disorderly conduct and failure to comply; and Kendall Denton, disorderly conduct. At the sentencing on Tuesday, March 13, Judge Cynthia Ebner sentenced Bennet to a $200 fine, 80 hours of community service, and two years of probation. Braxton was sentenced to a $200 fine plus court costs, 60 hours of community service, and two years of probation. Ebner sentenced Denton to a $50 fine plus court costs, 48 hours of community service, and two years of probation. Ebner said each of the three would be eligible to write a letter to the court requesting termination of their probation and the remainder of their community service after they complete half of their community service requirement.
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Large LGBT participation expected for D.C. ‘March For Our Lives’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
organizers of the March For Our Lives have stated in their permit applications that the event will consist of a large rally on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 3rd and 12th streets, N.W. “We are not aware of any plans for a march or a demonstration at the White House, but the organizers would be the best source for that information,” said D.C. police spokesperson Sean Hickman. Hickman was responding to an inquiry from the Washington Blade about unconfirmed rumors that participants of the event planned to march past the White House. The March For Our Lives website doesn’t include a phone number, and the Blade couldn’t immediately reach a representative of the event for comment. Shortly after students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where the school shooting took place announced plans for the Washington march, the nonprofit group Everytown for Gun Safety founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced it would provide financing and logistical support for the event. A representative of the group didn’t immediately respond to a message from the Blade. Among the Stoneman Douglas High students who have emerged as vocal
advocates for strengthened gun control laws is junior Emma Gonzalez, who also serves as president of her school’s Gay Straight Alliance Club. Impassioned pleas by Stoneman Douglas High students for action by Congress and state legislatures for stronger gun control laws prompted a number of Hollywood celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Steven Spielberg, to pledge hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions for the march and efforts by the students for strengthened gun control legislation. Alex Morash, a spokesperson for the D.C.based National LGBTQ Task Force, said the Task Force has endorsed the March For Our Lives and the group’s staff and volunteers will be participating in the event. “The proliferation of gun violence in America is an LGBTQ issue – we saw that so painfully with the loss of 49 queer lives at Pulse Nightclub,” Morash said. “And we are repeatedly horrified by these frequent mass shootings, but we also know that the conversation about America’s gun problem doesn’t end there,” he said. “It’s time to reevaluate the role of guns in America, and we at the National LGBTQ Task Force are cheering on the efforts of the Parkland survivors, and we are with them in support of their efforts to ban
assault weapons and close background check loopholes,” he said. Chris Sgro, communications director for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, said HRC’s annual Equality Convention in Washington had been scheduled months earlier for the weekend of the March For Our Lives. He said as soon as HRC learned about the march it made plans for the more than 100 people expected to attend the Equality Convention to take part in the march. Among other things, he said a group of survivors of the Pulse shooting will be leading an HRC contingent that will march from the HRC headquarters at 17th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. to the site of the March For Our Lives rally on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. “We are incredibly appreciative for the leadership that Parkland students are showing over the long needed battle for gun control,” Sgro said. “And as soon as we learned about this march we knew it was incumbent upon us to find a way to harness our 100 plus folks here and their energy into this critical day of activism,” he said in referring to the HRC Equality Convention. Joanna Cifredo, a spokesperson for the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, which advocates for LGBT youth in the nation’s schools, said GLSEN is pleased that young people are taking the lead in demanding that their elected
officials make school safety and gun law reform a top priority. “We are hopeful that the March For Our Lives will serve as a wakeup call to our nation’s leaders that too many lives have been lost to senseless gun violence, too many children live in fear of going to school, and too many parents have mourned the loss of their young,” Cifredo said. “For nearly three decades now, GLSEN has supported student-led efforts to effect positive change in their school communities,” said. “Make no doubt that on March 24 GLSEN members will be out in droves to make their voices heard.” Among the local D.C. LGBT groups that plan to participate in the March For Our Lives are the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance and the D.C. chapter of Gays Against Guns. John Becker, GLAA’s vice president for political affairs and a member of the D.C. Gays Against Guns, said the two groups support the objectives of the March 24 demonstration. “GLAA stands with the majority of Americans who support common-sense reforms to our nation’s gun laws that would help prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands and get weapons of war out of our schools and off our streets,” Becker said.
Lesbian Democrat to challenge Carper for U.S. Senate in Delaware Air Force veteran calls incumbent ‘career politician’ By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com Lesbian Democrat Kerri Evelyn Harris, a community activist and member of the Delaware Human Relations Commission, announced last month that she will challenge Delaware’s incumbent U.S. Senator and longtime LGBT rights supporter Tom Carper in the Democratic primary in September. In a development not widely reported outside of Delaware, Harris, 38, officially announced her candidacy on Feb. 10, ten days before gay financial services industry executive Eugene Truono, 59, announced he too was running for Carper’s Senate seat as a Republican. The respective announcements by the two candidates represents the first known time an openly gay or lesbian candidate has run for a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware. “I come from a diverse, multicultural family that instilled values of equality, opportunity, and respect for all people, regardless of background,” Harris said in a statement on her campaign website. “My parents were advocates and
organizers who taught us the value of public service,” the statement says. “My family history shaped the person I am today, and instilled these core values that continue to drive me.” Harris told the Delaware News Journal she has been a Delaware resident “on and off” for 15 years. She currently lives in Dover and serves as a community organizer for several progressive advocacy groups, she told newspaper. She told the News Journal she has a seven-year-old daughter. The write-up on her campaign website says she served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and was involved with transporting troops from Dover to military bases in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. The write-up says she works in Wilmington as director of a program run by the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League called Achievement Matters, which helps disadvantaged middle school students. Former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell appointed Harris to the state’s Human Relations Commission in October 2016, according to the commission’s records. The commission, among other things, adjudicates discrimination complaints filed under procedures established by the
state’s comprehensive human rights law that bans discrimination based on a wide range of categories, including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Harris told the News Journal she declines to characterize herself in her race against Carper in the Democratic primary as a left-leaning progressive candidate compared to Carper’s record as a moderate Democrat. But her positions on a wide range of issues posted on her campaign website, including her support for a government run “single payer” plan for universal health insurance, are consistent with the Democrats’ progressive wing. She has called Carper “a disconnected career politician who continues to vote against Delaware’s best interests to the benefit of corporate donors,” according to the News Journal. Carper has disputed such characterizations, saying he has worked diligently for the interests of Delaware’s working class residents on a wide range of issues, including his advocacy for affordable health care. The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT rights organization, has given Carper a rating of 100, its highest rating, on LGBT-related issues. Gay Democratic activist Peter Schott, who has served as president of Stonewall
KERRI EVELYN HARRIS is challenging Tom Carper in the U.S. Senate race in Delaware. PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK
Democrats of Delaware, an LGBT political group, said he is not aware of Harris being involved with that group or other LGBT groups in the state. In her statement on her campaign website Harris says she would be a strong advocate for civil and human rights. “Together, we must work to dismantle structural and institutional discrimination such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism,” her statement says. “Ending discrimination is not a zero-sum game, and as long as some of our neighbors are suffering from bigotry, none of us are truly free.”
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M A R C H 16, 2018 • 19
It’s the small stuff Making little changes but giving them time to stick can yield big health benefits over time Improving your health, losing weight and becoming more fit seem like desirable goals. The advice people usually receive is generally the same: “Exercise, eat better, eat smaller portions.” Sure, these are all valid ways to get results, albeit, quite generic. But DAVID MAGIDA is founder of Elevate Interval Fitwhat if it could be simpler? There ness, a member of the Reebok Spartan Race Pro are other ways to improve your Team and author of “The Essentials of Obstacle Racing: A Beginner’s Guide.” You can catch a class health, even by small increments. I with him at Elevate on 14th Street or at its new call them one percenters. location in the Mosaic District in Fairfax, Va. One percenters are essentially something small that you can change but commit to. That one percenters by itself is a minimal shift in your routine and lifestyle and by itself, it doesn’t achieve a whole lot. But when you start adding new one percenters regularly and stick with them, they start to add up. The sum of their parts, over time, can turn in huge results. These one percenters can be quite simple too. Small changes can have big impacts over time. Start small with your lifestyle PHOTO COURTESY OF BIGSTOCK changes and then consider expanding outward. For example, commit to drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up and before bed. As that becomes habit, try to expand it incrementally until you’re up to eight glasses per day. A one percenters can involve changes in your diet and caloric input. You can opt to cap the amount of calories you eat per day. Or make one meal per day a salad. Or decide to bring your lunch from home rather than going out to eat. You can add rules to your nutritional timing, like not eating after 8 p.m., skipping dessert or replacing it with a protein shake each night. The changes can also be to your physical training routine. For example, you can add 15-30 minutes of running to your routine a couple days per week. Over the course of a year, that adds up to a lot of miles. Or perhaps you opt to take the time to stretch after each workout. Your flexibility will dramatically improve with consistent stretching as part of your routine. You can make a rule for yourself that you’ll work out as soon as you wake up or that you’ll do a set amount of pushups or situps as part of your wakeup routine each day. The changes you make can be changes to your physical routine, your mental preparation, your diet and more. But the critical thing is to stick to those changes. To make them effective, they need to add up over time. You need them for the long haul and you should gradually increase the number of one percenters you incorporate into your life as they become a regular part of your routine. Start by making a list of what potential one percenters could work for you, then start incorporating a new one every week or two. That gives you time to adjust to the changes before adding new ones and it gives you time to continue to expand upon the changes that have become habit. A realistic, sustainable rate of growth is critical to success. But over time, these small changes, even without huge effort, will add up to massive results. Start small and see the changes you’ve been looking for.
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Re-elect Racine as D.C. att’y gen’l Voters should reward a stellar job of defending city residents
PETER ROSENSTEIN is a D.C.-based LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.
Karl Racine kicked of his reelection campaign this week. In 2014, the voters of the District of Columbia elected him as their first independent attorney general. It is now overwhelmingly clear they made the right choice. He is a lifelong District resident. He attended Murch Elementary School, Deal Junior High School, Wilson High School, and graduated from St. Johns College High School. He also played basketball in youth sports leagues across the city. Attorney General Racine has a lifelong commitment to equal justice inspired by his parents, who fled authoritarian rule in Haiti to start a new life in the United States. Racine has done a stellar job as he built an independent Office of Attorney General (OAG) committed to promoting and
defending the interests of all the people of the District. He has taken the lead in fighting for the rights of immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, women and minorities. According to Racine after taking office he saw a number of ways to make an initial impact and laid out three major initiatives for the office. The first was to set up the OAG as a truly independent entity. While the office clearly continues to work with the mayor and the Council, he felt it was crucial to establish the independence of the office if it was to function successfully on behalf of the residents of the District and act in the public interest. The second initiative and one close to his heart was to reform the office’s role with regard to juvenile justice. He took seriously the need to reduce recidivism when it comes to juvenile offenders and help juveniles who get into trouble to turn their lives around. One of the major things he did in this area was to set up a close working relationship with the Alternatives to Court Experience (ACE) program run by the District’s Department of Human Services. Juvenile prosecutors at OAG divert appropriate youth from the justice system to ACE, where program specialists comprehensively assess each child’s needs for services and support. The assessment measures each child’s stress, trauma and behavioral needs. ACE coordinators use this evaluation and provide an individually tailored program E DIT OR IA L C A R T OON
of wraparound services that will help each child achieve success and avoid reoffending. These services include family and individual therapy, mentoring, tutoring, mental health treatment, recreation and school supports. ACE serves children from 8-18. ACE has a record of keeping 82 percent of participants in the program from being rearrested. The third initiative was to set up what has become an incredibly successful Consumer Protection Office within the OAG. This office fights for economic justice for District residents focusing on issues including wage theft. Wage theft is a major issue in the District particularly for lower level employees who often find they aren’t being paid appropriately for all the hours they work. The OAG has taken the initiative to print a Wage and Hour Log Book, which they hand out for free allowing employees to track their own hours. This log can then be used in any dispute with an employer over pay. The OAG also takes on tenants’ rights issues. One of the major elements of this new initiative is a mediation program where consumers can call the OAG if they feel they aren’t getting fair treatment or are being cheated by a store, supplier or other services’ professional they are dealing with. The office will then try to work with them to mediate the dispute. To date the office has recovered more than $7 million for District consumers. D.C. residents with a consumer problem can contact the AG’s office at 202-442-9828 or email them at consumerprotection@dc.gov. As Racine continues to build out the office he has plans to set up an independent Civil Rights Unit and another unit to look specifically at environmental issues. In the short time he has been attorney general, Racine has earned the respect of many of his peers around the nation and is an active member of the National Association of Attorneys General . He has joined or taken the lead with other AGs on some major national issues that have a direct impact on D.C. residents. He participated in the winning suit against Deutshe Bank for fraudulent behavior; the suit against for-profit college Education Management Corp. resulting in loan forgiveness for District students; and the winning suit against General Motors for defective ignition switches. He has joined with Maryland AG Brian Frosh in a suit against President Trump for violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. The voters of D.C. would be wise to elect Karl Racine to a second term.
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The case for Adam Rippon as our highest-ranking gay Olympian loves gay sex and doesn’t care what you think
BROCK THOMPSON is a D.C.-based freelance writer. He writes regularly for the Blade.
Let’s face it, we gay men don’t have a lot of role models out there. I mean nationally, and living, of course. For role models in the arts or anything involving artistic expression we can reach as far back as early antiquity. But currently, do we have anyone to turn to? When you Google ‘famous gay Americans’ and click on images, you’re treated to a smiling Neil Patrick Harris, President James Buchanan, and a whole host of people who aren’t even American like Elton John
and Ian McKellen. So who would lead our Pride parades or speak ‘for the gays’ on a cable news show? Who is our highestranking, most prominent gay in America? A lot can be said for current It-Boy Adam Rippon. He skated his way into America’s hearts last month, earning bronze in figure skating at the Winter Olympics, and therefore becoming the first openly gay athlete to earn a medal. But there is something more remarkable about Adam, perhaps even more so than his skating abilities. He took on Vice President Mike Pence. Pence, with his smug little grin and his own strange fascination with Adam, is inarguably our highest-ranking foe. And Adam would have nothing to do with Pence, despite his position. “I have nothing to say to Mike Pence,” he said numerous times, even as Pence publicly pleaded for a meet up. This is what elevates Adam higher than others, your Anderson Coopers, your Neil Patrick Harrises. Adam saw the game and refused to play it. It’s more or less how the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School students are so effective. They took one look at the rulebook and tossed it aside. And didn’t shy away from calling out some basic BS. Adam is clearly taking a page from Olympian Tom Daley’s handbook by attempting to keep that fame train moving. And who can blame him? He’s got to make a living. He recently threw himself back into the headlines by wearing a harness to the Oscars. But that was more than just silly attention grabbing. Adam was illustrating his own takedown of what television personality Guy Branum called the ‘situational closet.’ Many of our gay representatives play it too straight, living comfortable gay lives, just subbing in gay for straight in the lineup. Adam just reminded us all that he’s sexual, he loves gay sex, and doesn’t care what you think. There are no lines to read between. He loves dick. Being that out and that outright, that’s both admirable and refreshing. That perhaps is our strongest weapon against the Pences out there. And, reminder, before my Twitter
blows up, I’m just talking highest-ranking gay man here. Ellen has retained the top spot in the women’s column, deservedly so, for some time now. And she has worked against the situational closet in her own special and direct way, bringing her queerness into the homes of middle America via her popular talk show. Adam was front and center there just last week. And of course Adam has some work to do, some polishing here and there. Frankly I’m not a fan of his Kardashian-vocal fry speaking style. That and I’m slightly sure that if Adam and I ever met, he’d be a little mean. But I’m willing to give it a try. It is, of course, problematic to confuse ‘highest-ranking’ with ‘current fascination.’ And does Adam have staying power? I hope so. And if this age of Trump has taught us anything, fame and fortune in America can wear several different faces, even at the same time, and take you practically anywhere. Twitter, talk shows, athletics, charm — it’s the current American dream package. I just hope Adam is able to harness it, so to speak, and do some good.
O UR B US I NES S MATTERS
Will Title VII serve to soon resolve the ‘gay agenda’? Winning a broad court victory could reduce role of LGBT political groups
MARK LEE is a long-time entrepreneur and community business advocate. Follow on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.
A series of court cases winding their way toward the U.S. Supreme Court offer the prospect of fundamentally expanding the federal Civil Rights Act to provide definitive statutory inclusion for LGBT Americans. This development portends a clarification that federal protections on the basis of “sex” are to be interpreted as encompassing “sexual orientation” and “gender expression.” The high court’s inevitable review and likely affirmation may not come as expeditiously as desired, but the outcome appears predictable – and by a judicial bench not tilting to the left. While the focus of these cases regards employment protections, the ramifica-
tions of a legal victory would affect all aspects of life, liberty and love in a country that is fully prepared to accept such a ruling. As part of the breathtaking evolutionary embrace of equal treatment at an historic accelerated pace, all sliced-and-diced demographics – whether by age, ethnicity, geography, political affiliation, or other measure – are supportive of civil equality for LGBT citizens. In addition, business and corporate support is both extraordinarily strong and nearly universal. Two weeks ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled 10-3 that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace. The opinion, penned by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann, provided multiple rationales why Title VII – which prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace – protects LGBT employees. The court found that “sexual orientation discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination because sexual orientation is defined by one’s sex in relation to the sex of those to whom one is attracted, making it impossible for an employer to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation without taking sex into account.” The court joined a similar 8-3 ruling last
year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. These decisions also reflect rulings by dozens of lower courts across the country, and align with the position of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission since 2015, including for transgender Americans by prior decision. Due to a countervailing opinion last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the issue is ripe for Supreme Court review. There is good reason and ample indication to believe the high court will be disposed to concur with the dominant federal court stance. The advancement of Title VII as a potential landmark lynchpin on gay rights is viewed as inevitable by many observers. The question is whether such an anticipated inexorable outcome will ultimately resolve to large degree the so-called “gay agenda” – and the fundamental effect it undoubtedly will have on a modified role and revised viability for LGBT political organizations. Will these developments eventually and essentially represent the beginning of the end for full-scale gay rights organizing and the longstanding function of LGBT political groups? It has become commonplace for local LGBT political groups in jurisdictions with robust legal protections and integrated
cultural acceptance to more narrowly define and diminish activities or become inactive and disband, often accompanied by internal assessment there is no longer sufficient purpose or rationale to remain in operation. Some local and, especially, national LGBT organizations have transformed from exclusively focusing on issues of intrinsic and unified community concern. These groups have instead shifted emphasis to include other unrelated and often controversial issues – neither directly related to gay rights nor enjoying universal endorsement or even prevalent community support. There will always be critical contributions on community issues and available avenues of community service these groups can well provide. Becoming an adjunct to a political party, or demanding fealty on non-LGBT political issues over which we may legitimately diverge and disagree, is not sustainable or legitimate. Winning broadened LGBT equality will be worthy of celebration, along with continued diligence in sustaining and protecting those core achievements. Victories on LGBT rights do not justify subsequent coercion of community concurrence on disparate political issues not legitimately a part of that legacy.
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Get moving as a family
PHOTO COURTESY STATEPOINT
There’s no reason you can’t combine family time with fitness time.
5Ks, outdoor hikes provide great opportunities for bonding with kids From StatePoint Is your fitness routine stuck in a rut? Searching for ways to spend more time with your family? Why not combine these goals? There are a variety of ways to lead an active lifestyle that are suitable for the whole family and can include children of all ages. Let these four creative ideas help you turn each day into an opportunity to get fit and have fun as a family, without stepping foot into the gym. As with any workout, it’s important to have the proper gear, and that starts with footwear. So, each exercise below has a suggestion of what to look for when it comes to
choosing the right shoe.
and memories.
• Participate in a charity run/walk: Whether you’re a seasoned runner or have just signed up to run your first 5K, many fundraising races accommodate the entire family. For younger children, look for events that allow jogging strollers or that host a Fun Run. Events that show the importance of communities working together for a larger cause can provide a bonus to the fun.
Shoe to try: Built to go off-roading, ASICS hiking shoes features reversed lugs on the outsole to ensure a dependable grip both uphill and downhill.
Shoe to try: Nike, Adidas and Converse all have a variety of “updated classic” styles available in men, women and children’s sizing, so that every family member can find a pair that reflects their personalities, while also providing necessary support for race day. • Outdoor activities: Heading outdoors to go camping or hiking burns calories, while providing incredible views
• HIIT: High-Intensity interval training is being incorporated into a lot of workouts these days. HIIT workouts alternate a quick, intense period of exercise, such as running or cycling, followed by a short, active recovery. Shoe to try: A lightweight cross training shoes with a stable base, such as a Nike Flex Trainer, are a good selection when it comes to HIIT workouts. • Bodyweight training: The benefits of bodyweight training are seemingly endless. From pushups to squats, these exercises require no additional equipment and can be done anywhere and performed with many modifications.
Get creative with your family by doing a circuit of your favorite bodyweight exercises in the park. Shoe to try: A shoe with a mesh and synthetic upper material is designed to keep feet cool. Find this feature in a style, such as the New Balance, which also have special midsoles to ensure comfort from start to finish. New footwear is a great way for each family member to show his or her style, while getting motivated to meet fitness goals. Once you’ve got the plan in place, get into a fitness routine that works for your family and stick with it. For a onestop-shopping experience, visit the Athletic Shop at Rack Room Shoes in stores or online. To help ensure that everyone meets their fitness goals, consider combining fun family quality time with your workouts.
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Countdown to summer camp! Register now to guarantee a slot in these LGBT-affirming regional spaces By MARIAH COOPER Summer camp sessions kick off in a few months but programs have already opened registration. Local camps offer short-term, long term, day and overnight sessions that can give children a fun summer whatever their comfort level. Whether children want to explore more of a subject they already love or try something different, there is a camp program for every interest. Here’s an overview of some summer camps that are already prepping for the season. The Barrie Montessori Prep School (13500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, Md.) offers Barrie Camp June 18-Aug. 10. Set on 45 acres just outside of Washington, Barrie Camp provides a time-honored camp experience for children ages 4-14. Through hands-on experiences, collaboration and diversity of thought and culture, campers are encouraged to be themselves, try new things, explore, accept challenges and find joy in all activities. Lower, Middle and Upper camps are broken down by age. Specialty Camps combine a half-day concentration in a specific area such as karate, digital video, horseback riding and more. Super Camps offer fun and learning targeting a specific interest and age group. Full details and pricing online at barrie.org. Burgundy Farm Summer Day Camp has two summer camps that provide great options for children excited about learning and playing outdoors. Both camps are accredited by the American Camp Association and offer educational opportunities led by nurturing staff in natural settings. Day Camp at Burgundy Farm takes place on the 26-acre campus of Burgundy Farm Country Day School in Alexandria with divisions grouped by age and interest for kids 3 years, 8 months-12 and 13-16. Older campers can customize their camp day by picking programs each session, which run June, July and August. Nature Camp at Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies is in Capon Bridge, W.Va., on a massive, 500-acre campus. Junior sessions for ages 8-10 last one week; senior sessions (11-15) run two weeks and there’s an adult weekend for ages 21-and-up as well. Full details and prices at burgundysummer.org. Adventure Theatre has a full day
PHOTO COURTESY YMCA
Children and teens in the Washington area have a wide array of summer camping options that are open to rainbow families.
Summer Musical Theater Camp for first through sixth graders in Glen Echo Park for a two-week session. Professionals and teaching artists will train campers in daily rehearsals for dancing, singing and acting. Campers will perform “Circus Circus,” “Pirates,” “100 Year Snooze” and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” There will be a main stage performance for campers’ friends and family at the end of the program. Tuition ranges from $800-850. Campers in sixth-12th grade have two courses of study in Wintergreen Plaza. Contemporary Musical Theater Study lets campers learn from musicals including “Come From Away, “Beautiful,” “Kinky Boots,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “School of Rock.” The program includes a day trip to New York City to see a Broadway show and to participate in a master class with a Broadway performer. Session two will be a student production of “Les Misérables” which allows students to have daily technique training. Tuition ranges from $1,300-2,200. For details, visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org. The Beauvoir School (3500 Woodley Rd., N.W.) gives campers from rising prekindergarten through rising 12th grade the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Fireflies (rising pre-kindergarten) will explore weekly themes such as swimming, games, music, stories and cooking for a half or full day of activities. Bluejays (rising kindergarten) can experience a full day of camp with the Blue Jays Journey, a camp that allows kids to focus on outdoor play; Nature Navigators, which challenges campers to discover nature; and Summer Language Programs, which lets children learn Spanish, Mandarin or French as well as
the culture, traditions, food, art and more of the specific country. Box Turtles (rising first grade) can enjoy full day camps focused on outdoor play, nature and languages. Koalas (rising second and third grade) can participate in full day camp focused on nature and the outdoors and Cathedral Studies Camp where campers will study the Washington National Cathedral. Brown Bears (rising fourth and fifth grade) can participate in the same programs as Koalas and enjoy programs such as a camp out, city-wide excursions and more. Blue Jays, Box Turtles and Koalas can “Make-Your-Own” camp by combing morning and afternoon activities. The CIT Program (rising sixth-12th grade) is for counselors-in-training and includes financial literacy workshop, team cooking challenge and mock interviewing. For prices and more information, visit summer.beauvoirschool.org. Camp RimRock (343 Camp Rim Rock Rd., Yellow Spring, W.Va.) is an overnight camp for girls that offers a variety of activities. General camp (rising second-10th graders) lets girls experience horseback riding, arts and crafts, performing arts, aquatics and sports. Riding camp (rising fourth-10th graders) focuses on ring lessons, stable management, trail rides, swimming with horses and aquatics. Mini camp (rising first-third graders) lets girls try all of the activities except for horseback riding. General camp two-week sessions are $2,850 and four week sessions are $5,150. Rising camp sessions are $1,950 and mini camp sessions are $1,500. For more details, visit camprimrock.com. Circle Yoga (3838 Northampton St., N.W.) offers mindful yoga, relaxation and
traditional camp activities such as camp songs and crafts. Half-day camp is for children ages 4-7. The one-week session is $250. Full day camp is for campers ages 6-12. The session is six weeks for $365 per week. For more details, visit circleyoga.com. Green Acres School (11701 Danville Dr., North Bethesda, Md.) has summer camp for children ages 3-12. Kreative Kangaroos lets pre-kindergarten campers participate in swimming, carpentry, outdoor play and more. Junior camp, for kindergartners through second graders, can enjoy activities such as cooking, drama, music and sports. Senior camp for third-sixth graders offers additional activities like robotics, photography, filmmaking and dance. Senior campers can also attend day and overnight field trips to water parks, ice skating, bowling and more. The camp also offers an instructional swimming program. Three week sessions are $1,610 and sixweek sessions are $2,695. For a complete list of pricing, visit greenacres.org. The Lowell School (1640 Kalmia Rd., N.W.) has summer programs for campers from rising preschool to rising ninth grade. Campers can enjoy basketball, aquatics, horsemanship, gaming, filming and more. Summer Stage, a theater program for rising third through eighth graders, will have two sessions. Gotta Have Glee, the first session, will teach improvisation, costume design, stage managing and more. Session two will put on a production of “Annie Jr.” For a complete list of prices and programs, visit lowellschool.org. Synetic Theatre (1800 S Bell St., Arlington, Va.) lets campers put on a production of “SHA-ZAM!” for five, twoweek sessions. During the two weeks, campers will work alongside senior artistic company members to stage the play with musical numbers and an original score. The program is designed for campers ages 6-14. For tuition and fees, visit synetictheater.org/camps. The YMCA in D.C. offers standard camp programs such as art, theater, dance and sports. The organization also has theme camps including air and space babysitter training, cartooning, creative writing, lego builders and more. For a sleep-away camp option, Camp Letts (4003 Camp Letts Rd., Edgewater, Md.) lets campers ages 6-16 try sports, learn to build a campfire and more. Young campers ages 6-8 can make the transition to sleep-away camp with Overnight Try-Out Camp for a three-day, two-night stay. For a complete list of programs and prices, visit ymcadc. org and campletts.org.
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Out on the job New Out & Equal CEO says LGBT parents face various workplace challenges By DANA RUDOLPH As a mom, Erin Uritus, the new, D.C.based CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, knows first-hand how important it is for companies to support their queer parent employees in starting families and finding work-life balance. Uritus comes to Out & Equal, the leading worldwide nonprofit dedicated to LGBT workplace equality, after senior positions at management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton and the education nonprofit International School Services. She also spent several years in the Middle East, where she supported a major government in restructuring and modernizing during the Arab Spring. Uritus first became involved with Out & Equal as the leader of the LGBT employee resource group at Booz Allen, which sent her to the organization’s annual summit in 2002. She later joined the Out & Equal board, co-founded its chapter in Washington and co-chaired its summit here in 2007. In the Middle East, however, Uritus, who identifies as bisexual, met and married her now ex-husband, and they had two girls. She and the girls moved back to D.C. just a few months before Donald Trump was elected president, a move that brought both concern and joy. As the mother of Arab-American children notes her biography at the Out & Equal site, she stood with them in front of a police barricade at Trump Tower to protest the president’s first attempted Muslim ban, but also found delight in bringing them to the D.C. Pride celebration. Although she shares custody, her exhusband is living and working overseas, “so for all intents and purposes I’m a single mom,” she said in a phone interview shortly after she started as CEO in January. She appreciates connecting with other parents. Her vision for Out & Equal encompasses the idea of community. The organization’s focus, she says, “is all workplace issues and making sure that
PHOTO COURTESY OUT & EQUAL
ERIN URITUS says many factors affect being out as a gay parent in the work place.
individuals in the community and our families are protected. Moving forward, we are really going to plug in to people’s stories and experiences.” That includes the experiences of parents. “More and more LGBTQ people are having families, and I think people don’t often understand what an impact that has, not in theory but on your everyday life,” she says. Uritas has felt the everyday tension of work-family balance herself. In a previous job, she worked from a home office. “I sometimes I felt I had to hide my identity about being a single mom. Depending on who I was talking to, I might not mention that, ‘Oh, I have to run out to pick the kids up from school.’” It’s a “constant struggle,” she says, for both single and partnered parents. Alleviating that struggle, she says, gets back to the idea of telling our stories. “If we find the courage to share our stories, we are going to connect with people who may look different or have different family situations, but where we can find commonality,” she says. This can lead to building community and sharing resources, which can provide not only emotional support, but also “tips and tricks” on managing specific challenges. But Out & Equal’s work goes beyond
networking and storytelling. Just as many corporations led the way in offering benefits to same-sex couples before marriage equality became law, Uritus feels that companies can pick up some of the slack as the current federal administration threatens LGBT progress. “To leverage corporate ties and best practices and supporting companies to do the right thing, that’s really at the heart of what we do. I want change to be sustained over the long haul, so we want to work all the angles.” Among other things, she hopes to showcase the corporate leaders who are helping LGBT parents to “be happy and fulfilled employees as well as parents.” She explained that doing so “incentivizes and recognizes” companies’ actions so that others can follow their example.” And Out & Equal is addressing challenges right at the heart of the federal government as well. After the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in January that it would be forming a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, widely seen as a pathway for LGBT discrimination, Uritus released an open letter to federal agency employees telling them, “We have your back. We understand the important role (employee resource group) leaders
play in federal agencies. You are often the front-line force against efforts to erase our identities, marginalize our contributions and undermine our progress toward equality.” Uritus invited them to take part in her “listening tour” of in-person and virtual meetings and an online survey, offering feedback on how Out & Equal can better assist them. Other initiatives for the organization include expanding support for global diversity leaders, especially young ones, once again connecting people across communities. “Certain political realities and cultural contexts are really different depending on the region and country,” she says, “but sometimes in managing change there are commonalities and best practices that you can draw upon that cross-cut any country.” It’s a big agenda, but Uritus seems undaunted. “I think parenthood and being a cocktail waitress in college is the best preparation for everything. I highly recommend it on both fronts.” DANA RUDOLPH is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.
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K.D. LANG says she enjoyed revisiting her classic album ‘Ingenue’ on tour in Australia last year. PHOTO BY MATT DUBOFF
Revisiting ‘Ingenue’ k.d. lang to sing hit album in its entirety next weekend By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com
k.d. lang does not waste words. She’s delightful. Pleasant. She balks or hems at no question put to her. Yet her economy of language is a bit startling. So, of course, as any regular reader of celebrity profiles realizes, almost never is a Q&A a verbatim transcript of the conversation exactly as it went down. Quite often, in fact, we have to add a disclaimer that says so-and-so’s comments have been “slightly edited for length and clarity.” But not with Miss lang. Aside from a few lines of opening pleasantries, this is the full chat. Verbatim.
She’s touring behind the 25th anniversary edition of her breakthrough album “Ingenue.” She plays the Strathmore on Sunday, March 25. WASHINGTON BLADE: Where are you right now? lang: Calgary, Alberta. BLADE: I read you had moved to Portland a few years back. Do you still live there? lang: Portland and Calgary. Back and forth. BLADE: So “Ingenue” was such a change
of pace for you musically. How much label convincing did that radical a change take? “Shadowlands” had done quite well I understand, so were they pushing for “Shadowlands part two” as they so often do or not? lang: Yeah, uh, no, I was really successful at the time I switched because “Absolute Torch and Twang” won the Grammy Award for best country female vocalist and “Shadowland” I was the highest selling country album of that year and then I made “Ingenue. Um, I don’t remember them having an issue with it. I think they trusted me. I was signed to Sire Records, which was, you know, Madonna,
Talking Heads, the Ramones, Chrissie Hynde. I was kind of from an alternative rock/punk label and I don’t think they had an issue with it. They trusted me and supported me. The issue was me coming out, really. BLADE: Yeah, we’ll get to that. The only bonus material on the 25th anniversary edition for “Ingenue” is just your MTV Unplugged special. Why didn’t you put some b-sides if there were any, alternate vocals, demos, stuff like that on it? lang: I didn’t really have any. CONTINUES ON PAGE 40
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Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R J O MA RT I N E Z
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com Three key loves came swirling together for local artist Jo Martinez in her current exhibition at the DC Center — art, the Tarot and safe, affirming LGBT spaces. Being “a real big fan of volunteering and putting out positive messages in the LGBTQ community,” inspired Martinez to seek out the center upon relocating to the Washington area two-and-a-half years ago. “I hold the DC Center in high regard,” she says. “They are an organization that really shows empathy and respect to all.” Martinez discovered the tarot growing up in an environment that used various tools of divination. Tarot cards, she says, just resonated with her. Now she not only gives readings, she has designed her own tarot card deck called “The Fools Journey,” on display now at the Center Arts Gallery (2000 14th St., N.W., no. 105). Individual cards may be purchased or full decks are available for $65. Details at thedccenter.org. Martinez worked on the deck of 84 cards (most tarot decks feature 78 cards; her additional cards are special “oracle” cards) for about two years applying what she calls her “vibrant and raw art style with a kick” to the usual images used in traditional tarot cards. Two other decks — “Behind Closed Doors Oracle” and “Luscious Lenormand” — are also on display along with other Martinez works. They can be viewed at the Center through the end of March and online at foxx7122.wixsite.com/jo-offduty. Martinez, who also holds an unspecified government job, got interested in art in middle school and “really got into it” in high school. She creates at home with pastels, chalks, acrylics, markers and “anything that can get my hands dirty.” “My art is a different kind of art and I want to attract the LGBTQ community in a positive way,” says the Miami/Brooklyn duel native, who grew up moving a lot with a military family. “My art expresses life experiences that people don’t like to talk about, so if I’m able to create art that says, ‘Hey, I’m just like you,’ … then I’m doing something good.” Martinez identifies as LGBTQ but eschews anything more specific because “labels limit people and put them in boxes.” She’s single and enjoys art, of course, reading, yoga and jogging in her free time.
202.747.2077
JO MARTINEZ
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell? Six years; the hardest person till this day is my mother. Who’s your LGBT hero? That’s easy — RuPaul. Now sashay away! What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present? I’ve been here only two years and have yet to explore more, but I enjoyed Nellie’s Sports Bar, the Dirty Goose and Town Danceboutique. Describe your dream wedding. I’m not “pro” weddings. A partner who loves and respects you will be at your side no matter what and legal documents don’t necessarily reflect that love. What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about? Animal rights and equality. What historical outcome would you change? Segregation in the 1960s within the school system. A governor’s motto in that time was “No, not one,” referring to the number of black children that should be allowed to attend schools alongside white children. I can’t wrap my head around that! Not only because children are our future, but because education are the doors to your future. What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime? The 1980s with Prince in “Purple Rain” and Boy George. On what do you insist? “Give me options, damn it!” Also equality. What was your last Facebook post or Tweet? I try to post daily my different art work and my posts are called “My He/ Art” or art of the day. I don’t have either Facebook or Twitter but I have Instagram (Jooffduty7).
If your life were a book, what would the title be? “She Saw, She Felt, She Died” If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do? I’m all for what makes an individual happy. I’d be fine with it as long as the individual is not doing it to please someone, but doing it for their own well being. What do you believe in beyond the physical world? Spirituality What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders? To not give up the fight. If we made it as far as gay marriage equality, then obviously our voices are being heard. It really takes one person to make a change or impact in this world. What would you walk across hot coals for? Love What LGBT stereotype annoys you most? That if you’re gay (LGBTQ) that you automatically want to hit on a non-queer friend. What’s your favorite LGBT movie? “Blue is the Warmest Color” What’s the most overrated social custom? A hug and kiss on the cheek when you meet a person. I was taught in my culture, certain individuals think you’re trying to sleep with them and that is so not the case! What trophy or prize do you most covet? The Nobel Peace Prize What do you wish you’d known at 18? That I can be in the same career field a man is in. Why Washington?
Why not?
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This Week in the Arts provided by CultureCapital.com workhousearts.org.
DANCE OnStage Korea. Mar 21. Korean Cultural Center DC. Arena Stage. koreaculturedc.org. Moscow Festival Ballet: Swan Lake. Mar 17. Cinderella. Mar 18. GMU Center for the Arts. cfa.gmu.edu. Spilling Ink. Mar 17-Mar 18. Dance Place. danceplace.org.
MUSIC
The Winter’s Tale Thru Apr 22. Folger Theatre. folger.edu.
Transporting us from Sicilia to Bohemia and safely home once more, Shakespeare’s spellbinding tale of jealousy, prophecy, and redemption celebrates the magic of story-telling and the power of forgiveness.
Mark Morris Dance Group and Silk Road Ensemble: Layla and Majnun Mar 22-Mar 24. Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.
Based on an ancient Persian tale as poignant and beautiful as Romeo and Juliet, Layla and Majnun tells a passionate story of tragic love. When a young man’s zealous feelings for his childhood love Layla earn him the nickname Majnun, or “possessed,” his perceived madness turns their would-be union into scandal, misfortune, and eternal longing.
Wu Man & Huayin Puppet Band Mar 16. Washington Performing Arts at GW Lisner Auditorium. washingtonperformingarts.org. One of the world’s foremost masters of the pipa (a Chinese lute), Wu Man is well-known to U.S. audiences for her collaborations with Kronos Quartet and the Silk Road Ensemble. In this joyous multimedia program, she joins China’s Huayin Shadow Puppet Band for an evening of traditional music and shadow puppetry.
Spirited Brahms Mar 17-Mar 18. National Philharmonic at Strathmore. nationalphilharmonic.org.
Sphinx Competition winner Melissa White plays Brahms’ magnificent and virtuosic Violin Concerto, one of the summits of the violin repertoire. The Symphony No. 4, written while Brahms vacationed in a mountain retreat in 1884, is one of the composer’s greatest masterpieces. PHOTO COURTESY OF FOLGER THEATRE
THEATRE Kevin McCaffrey & Robert Dean. Mar 22. AMP. ampbystrathmore.com. Motown: Hitsville U.S.A. Cabaret. Thru Mar 25. Signature Theatre. sigtheatre.org. Broadway Center Stage: In the Heights. Mar 21-Mar 25. Shear Madness. Thru May 7. Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org. The Wheel Theatre Company. Thru Mar 17. Improv Wars. Thru May 21. DC Arts Center. dcartscenter.org. The Wiz. Thru May 12. One Destiny. Mar 19-May 17. Ford’s Theatre. fords.org.
Chicago. Thru Apr 7. Keegan Theatre. keegantheatre.com. Every Brilliant Thing. Thru Mar 25. Olney Theatre. olneytheatre.org. Comedy Showcase Night. Mar 17. Stand-Up Studios. standupstudios.com. The Wolves. Thru Mar 18. Translations. Mar 21-Apr 22. Studio Theatre. studiotheatre.org. The Second City: Look Both Ways Before Talking. Mar 22-Mar 25. Wolf Trap. The Barns. wolftrap.org. Becoming Dr. Ruth. Thru Mar 18. Theater J. theaterj.org. Avenue Q The Musical. Thru Apr 1. Workhouse Arts Center.
Niyaz. Mar 16. Weird Al Yankovic. Mar 20. AIR: Drew Kid. Thru Mar 28. Strathmore. strathmore.org. The National Parks. Mar 16. Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita. Mar 18. Stephen Jay & Jim “Kimo” West. Mar 21. AMP. ampbystrathmore.com. Music at Dumbarton Oaks - Dénes Várjon. Mar 18-Mar 19. Dumbarton Oaks. doaks.org. Celtic Tenors. Mar 17. Dumbarton Concerts. Dumbarton United Methodist Church. dumbartonconcerts.org Stains of a Sunflower. Mar 22. Dupont Underground. dupontunderground.org. Cyro Baptista & Banquet of The Spirits. Mar 16. The Clarice. MilkBoy ArtHouse. theclarice.umd.edu. Boris Berezovsky, piano. Mar 22. Washington Performing Arts. Kennedy Center. washingtonperformingarts.org. NSO: Dancing on the Danube. Thru Mar 18. NSO: Noseda conducts Verdi’s Requiem. Mar 22-Mar 24. WNO: Don Carlo. Thru Mar 17. Renée Fleming VOICES. Mar 16. Philip Glass’s Koyaanisqatsi. Mar 16. Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org. Curtain Up! Mar 17-Mar 18. Congressional Chorus. Church of the Epiphany. congressionalchorus.org. Barry Flanagan of HAPA. Mar 16. SPHINXtravaganza. Mar 18. The Last Bandoleros. Mar 20. Altan. Mar 21. Wolf Trap. wolftrap.org. Cabaret Series: The Spotlight. Mar 17-Mar 18. Workhouse Arts Center. workhousearts.org.
MUSEUMS Folger Shakespeare Library. Beyond Words: Book Illustration in the Age of Shakespeare. Thru Jun 3. folger.edu. National Archives. Remembering Vietnam. Thru Jan 6. archivesfoundation.org. Dumbarton Oaks. Collecting in Paris and London, 1912–1919. Thru Mar 31. doaks.org. Kreeger Museum. Against the Day
by Richard Deutsch. Thru Jan 1. kreegermuseum.org. Library of Congress. Drawn to Purpose. Thru Oct 20. Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I. Thru Jan 1. loc.gov. National Gallery of Art. Jackson Pollock’s ‘Mural’. Thru Oct 28. nga.gov. National Geographic. Day to Night: In the Field With Stephen Wilkes. Thru Apr 22. nglive.org. National Museum of Women in the Arts. Women House. Thru May 28. nmwa.org. National Portrait Gallery. Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image. Thru Apr 15. npg.si.edu.
GALLERIES Strathmore. Jennifer Allevato. Thru Apr 29. Up in the Air. Thru Apr 29. Jennifer Kahn Barlow. Thru Dec 1. strathmore.org. DC Arts Center. Prints by EJ Montgomery. Thru Apr 8. dcartscenter.org. District Architecture Center. Hoachlander Davis: Photographing Spaces. Thru Mar 23. aiadac.com. gallery neptune & brown. Erick Johnson. Thru Apr 14. galleryneptunebrown.com. Gallery Underground. Wind and Sky. Thru Mar 31. arlingtonartistsalliance.org. Glen Echo Park. Sarah O’Donoghue. Thru Mar 24. glenechopark.org. Goethe-Institut. Early UFA Film Posters. Thru Apr 30. goethe.de. Hill Center. Viewfinders: 8 Photographers. Thru Apr 29. hillcenterdc.org. The Art League. Beverly Ryan: Drone Zone. Thru Mar 31. theartleague.org. Waverly Street Gallery. Highlighting the Life I Live. Thru Apr 7. waverlystreetgallery.com. Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House. Needlework Show & Sale. Thru Mar 31. woodlawnpopeleighey.org. Zenith Gallery. Light Up Your HeART. Thru Mar 24. zenithgallery.com.
AND MORE... Goethe-Institut. Insiders - Outsiders: A reading with Philipp Winkler, Nava Ebrahimi and Meral Kureyshi. Mar 21. Austrian Embassy Washington. goethe.de. Hill Center. Kitchen 101: Pizza + Other Flatbreads. Mar 17. Street Food: Dumplings + Tamales. Mar 20. hillcenterdc.org. Environmental Film Festival. Thru Mar 25. Various locations. dceff.org.
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Mark Morris Dance Group Mark Morris, Artistic Director
Silkroad Ensemble Layla and Majnun D.C. premiere (Hajibeyli, arr. by Gandelsman, Jacobsen, and Qasimov/Morris) PHOTO BY BEN ROTHSTEIN
NICK ROBINSON and KATHERINE LANGFORD in ‘Love Simon.’
‘Simon’ easy to love Gay teen rom-com is touching, clever By BRIAN T. CARNEY In the opening moments of the heartwarming new gay rom-com “Love Simon,” the title character says, “I deserve a great love story and I want someone to share it with.” Thanks to director Greg Berlanti and his talented team, Simon gets a great love story and gets to share it with us. Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) is a teenager living in the suburbs of Atlanta. He knows he’s gay, but he’s not ready to come out yet. He knows his family and friends will be supportive. The problem is internal; he’s just not ready to embrace that new image of himself. That’s a refreshing take on the familiar comingout story. Things start to change when Simon forms an online friendship with a fellow closeted classmate who calls himself “Blue.” Unfortunately, the search for his elusive electronic pen pal gets disrupted when their emails are discovered by another classmate who starts to blackmail Simon. Not surprisingly, everything ends well for Simon, but the journey to the
sweet finale is agreeable and inventive. Robinson’s assured performance provides Simon with a goofy charm and a pleasant physicality. At his best, Simon is thoughtful, clever and affable. But being in the closet also brings out his worst traits. As his frustrated mother (Jennifer Garner) notes, he’s frequently been withdrawn and moody, and under the control of his blackmailer, he thoughtlessly manipulates his friends to help the blackmailer get the girl he wants. Berlanti, openly gay writer/director of the iconic gay movie “The Broken Hearts Club” and producer of several LGBT-friendly superhero shows currently running on the CW, directs the teen drama with a light and effective touch. His tight collaboration with cinematographer John Guleserian and composer Rob Simonson keeps things moving at a brisk pace that nicely balances the serious and the comic. Screenwriters Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker bring Becky Albertalli’s book to vivid cinematic life; Simon’s casual voiceovers are an especially effective touch. The supporting cast is strong and interesting, especially Garner and Josh Duhamel as Simon’s parents. Natasha Rothwell nearly steals the show as Ms. Albright, the frustrated director of the school’s dreadful production of “Cabaret.”
“Beautiful! Distills the poetic legend with charm and taste” —The New York Times
March 22–24 | Opera House TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG | (202) 467-4600 Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
The presentation of Layla and Majnun was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Photo by Susana Millman
with Alim Qasimov and Fargana Qasimova
E: 01.13.2017
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32 • MA R C H 16, 2018
O U T & A BO U T
By MARIAH COOPER
BIGSTOCK PHOTO BY JENI FOTO
Top ‘o the mornin’ to ya!
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Numerous venues will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parties throughout D.C. Dirty Bar (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) has a St. Patrick’s Day party on Friday, March 16 from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. DJ Intel will spin tracks. There will be drink specials and bottle service. Dress code is fashionable. For more details, visit facebook. com/dirtybardc. Mission (1606 20th St., N.W.) hosts its fifth annual Shamrock Fiesta on Saturday, March 17 starting at 1 p.m. There will be an open bar from 1-5 p.m. including margaritas, mimosas, beer and mixed drinks. DJ Dimmy will play music. Tickets are $50 and include open bar and a brunch buffet. VIP tickets are $60 and give early entry at noon. For more information, visit facebook.com/ missiondc. Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant (808 7th St., N.W.) hosts an all-day party on Saturday, March 17 from 2 p.m.-2:30 a.m. There will be two live bands and Irish dancers. Cover is $10. For more information, visit facebook.com/fadodc. Lure D.C. hosts Bare: Military Appreciation Night and St. Patrick’s Day at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) on Saturday, March 17 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Rosie and DJ Keenan Orr will spin tracks. The DysRucXion Dancers will perform. Admission is free with military ID, $7 before midnight and $10 after. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
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D.C. gets serious on gun violence
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March for Our Lives takes place on Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. between 3rd Street and 12th Street N.W. on Saturday, March 24 at noon. The march is a call to end gun violence and mass shootings in schools in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. “Stay Amped: a Concert to End Gun Violence” will take place the day prior on Friday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.). Headliners include Fall Out Boy, G-Eazy, Bebe Rexha and Lizzo. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence. Tickets range from $100-175. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit marchforourlives.com and theanthemdc.com.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
CTRL, Peach Pit celebrate milestones CTRL celebrates its six-year anniversary at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) on Saturday, March 24 from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Jeff Prior (pictured above), DJ Adam Koussari-Amin and DJ Devon Trotter will play a mix of electro-pop, bubblegum bass, disco, house and hip-hop. DJ Wess will play music videos upstairs. Drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. Cover is $15 from 10 p.m.-midnight and $12 after midnight. For more details, visit towndc.com. And this weekend, the 100th Peach Pit ‘90s dance party is Saturday, March 17 at 10:30 p.m. at DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.). Admission is $5 before midnight; $8 after. DJ Matt Bailer of Mixtape will spin. It runs from 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. Tickets are available at ticketfly.com or look for the party on Facebook.
Code Red party is AIDS benefit Code Red is at Stanton & Greene (319 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) on Saturday, March 24 from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. The party is an annual fundraising event to support the fight against HIV/ AIDS in the LGBT community, Dress code is red. There will be dancing, drag performances, a gear audition and a Best in Red contest. DJ Kudjo will play music from 7-9 p.m. followed by DJ Suspence at 10 p.m. DJ Theo Storm will spin tracks all night. Tickets range from $15-25. For more information, search “Code Red Annual Fundraiser” on Facebook.
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CA LE N D A R Campaign: a National Call for Moral Revival” at Church of Ascension Sanctuary (633 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring, Md.) tonight at 7 p.m. Abrams will be joined by Maryland Tri chairs Luis Larin, Danielle Blocker and Rabbi Alana Suskin. The meeting aims to tackle issues of discrimination, economic exploitation, war, the economy and more. Look for the event on Facebook for details. The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, call 301-345-1571. Bookmen D.C., an informal gay men’s literature group, discusses “From Macho to Mariposa: Gay Latino Fiction” edited by Charles Rice-Gonzalez and Charlie Vasquez, at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, visit bookmendc. blogspot.com. Prime Timers of D.C., a social group for mature gay and bisexual men, meet at Windows above Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) this evening at 6:30 p.m. For details, call George at 301-3950544 or visit primetimersdc.org.
E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade. com two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so priority is given to LGBT-specific events or those with LGBT participants. Recurring events must be re-submitted each time.
TODAY Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts Rough House, a gay dance party, tonight from 9 p.m.-2:45 a.m. Jane Saw hosts. The Barber Streisand and Lemz will play music. Cover is $5 and includes clothes check. For more details, visit greenlanterndc.com. The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts a transgender and gender queer game night tonight from 7-9 p.m. Card and board games will be provided, but guests are encouraged to bring their own. All are welcome. For more details, visit thedccenter.org. Gay District meets at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 8:309:30 p.m. The facilitated group discussion covers building understanding of gay culture and personal identity and awareness of community events for LGBT men between the ages of 18-35 in the D.C. area. For more details, visit thedccenter. org or gaydistrict.org.
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
SATURDAY, MARCH 17 Gay/Bash: Pageant Night is at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Jane Saw, Jaxknife Complex, Salvadora Dali, Donna Slash and Kristina Kelly will perform. The Barber Streisand will spin tracks. There will be a show at 11:30 p.m. and another show at 1 a.m. No cover. Dress code is sparkly. For more information, visit facebook.com/ tradebardc. Bullying and Suicide Awareness Community Day is at the Boys & Girls Club (1901 Mississippi Ave., S.E.) today from 1-5 p.m. There will be face painting, music, performances, snacks and a panel discussion on bully talk at 2:45 p.m. For more details, visit facebook.com/ bullyingisnotdope. Lynda Carter performs her show “Red, Rock & Blues” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Carter will sing a blend of classic standards, jazz, country, blues and original songs. Tickets range from $55-110. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org. DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.) hosts the 100th Peach Pit party tonight from 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Matt Bailer will spin ‘90s tracks all night. Cover is $5 before midnight and $8 after. For more details, visit dcnine.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 18 The D.C. Center volunteers to provide dinner for Casa Ruby residents at 3530 Georgia Ave., N.W. today from 7-8 p.m.. Any amount of donated food is
PHOTO COURTESY BIG TIME OPERATOR
TRIXIE MATTEL is part of ‘The Shady Tour,’ which comes to Washington Thursday.
appreciated. Store-bought meals are also accepted. For more information, visit thedccenter.org. Perry’s (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts its weekly Sunday drag brunch today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95 for an all-you-can-eat buffet. For more details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com. Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts a drag brunch today with shows at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.com. The Imperial Court of Washington hosts Bling-O at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant (555 23rd St., S Arlington, Va.) tonight from 6-9 p.m. There will be drag performances and bingo with drag jewelry prizes. Miss D.C. Royale 2017 Ophelia Bottoms hosts the game. Cover is $20 and includes five bingo cards. Additional bingo cards can be purchased for $5 each. For more details, visit facebook.com/imperialcourtdc.
Republic (6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park, Md.) hosts Alegre Happy Hour, an LGBT happy hour, this evening from 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit republictakoma.com. The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts its ”FUK!T Packing Party” from 7-9 p.m. tonight. For more details, visit thedccenter.org or greenlanterndc.com.
MONDAY, MARCH 19
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning
Bishop Allyson Abrams co-hosts a town hall meeting of the “Poor People’s
from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org. Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave., N.W.) holds a support group for gay black men to discuss topics that affect them, share perspectives and have meaningful conversations. For details, visit uhupil.org.
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
Pretty Boi Drag presents #AmateurKingNight at the Bier Baron Tavern (1523 22nd St., N.W.) tonight from 9-11 p.m. Amateur drag kings can sign up to perform. Participants will receive $25 and keep any tips at the end of the night. Guests must be 21 and over. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more details, visit amateurkingnight. eventbrite.com. Murray & Peter present “Haters Roast: the Shady Tour” at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. The cast features past “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants including Jinkx Monsoon, Trixie Mattel, Latrice Royale, Trinity Taylor, Thorgy Thor, William and Aja giving their best reads. Ginger Minj is hostess. Tickets range from $35-50. For more information, visit warnertheatredc.com. The D.C. Anti-Violence Project hosts a meeting at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. Project members works to reduce violence against LGBT individuals through community outreach, education and assisting members of anti-LGBT violence. For more details, visit thedccenter.org. Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs host an LGBT Cultural Competence Training and happy hour at Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel (1430 Rhode Island Ave., S.W.) tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is intended for business owners, managers and interested participants to learn how to serve LGBT clients and customers. Training will be from 6:30-7:30 p.m. followed by the happy hour. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/caglcc.
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Glitzy green rides Hybrid and diesel models give you earth-friendly cred with pizzazz By JOE PHILLIPS A plucky Prius? A mod Mercedes hybrid? A dynamic diesel from Jaguar? Yes, it really is possible to find fuel-sipping green rides that mix in plenty of pizzazz.
hybrid. It looks like your typical cocky C Class, with a premium cabin full of highquality aluminum, natural-grain wood and subtle soft-edge plastics. And it drives just as well, too, with frisky acceleration, grabby brakes and impressive maneuvering, especially when battling traffic or navigating nasty roads. This isn’t a high-performance AMG model, but it sure tries to act like one. The heart of this hybrid is the gutsy four-cylinder turbo paired with an efficient electric motor. An air-spring suspension works nicely with the various drive settings: eco, comfort, sport, sport+ and even an individual mode that can be customized. Plenty of amenities, of course, including a power trunk lid, ambient lighting, smartphone integration, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, heated/ ventilated seats, and an air purification system with fragrance enhancer.
TOYOTA PRIUS
TOYOTA PRIUS $24,000 Mpg: 54 city/50 highway Zero-60 mph: 10.5 seconds From butt-ugly to beautiful, the Toyota Prius has blossomed since it first arrived in the United States in 2001. Sure, some drivers may opt for a more conventional look, but kudos to Toyota for pushing the design envelope once again. Today’s fourth-generation model, with its severe karate chops to the sheet metal, was introduced in 2016 and combines origami-like styling with high-tech glitz, especially those elongated, Z-shaped tail lights that look like bolts of lightning. This year, the higher-end models get an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, similar to what you find in a Volvo and other more expensive rides. While this is no Lamborghini, acceleration is peppy around town, just not so much on the highway. And the Prius is quiet, with very supportive seats and despite all the plastic, a nice interior finish. Lots of hightech gizmos are all standard, including keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, lane-keeping assist and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. A big plus: the Prius has exceptional resale value. MERCEDES C 350e $48,000 Mpg: 45 city/61 highway Zero-60 mph: 5.8 seconds For a step up in price and panache, there’s the Mercedes C 350e plug-in
JAGUAR F-PACE DIESEL
JAGUAR F-PACE DIESEL $56,000 Mpg: 26 city/33 highway Zero-60 mph: 8.2 seconds It’s called the Jaguar F-Pace 20d R-Sport. A clunky name, to be sure, but this is one very sophisticated ride. Inspired by the sleek and sexy F-Type sedan, the F-Pace crossover has received rave reviews since it debuted last year. This is the diesel version — the 20d — with almost 20 percent better fuel mileage than the traditional gas model. The engine is so quiet, smooth and clean, you don’t even notice this is a diesel. Standard features include power liftgate, automatic wipers, heated windshield, heated steering wheel, emergency communications system and a panoramic sunroof that seems to stretch forever. The R-Sport trim level adds 20inch wheels, special bumpers, foglights and exceptional, form-fitting front seats. But it’s the handling and pricing that are the real stars here. Few crossovers can corner and glide through traffic as well as the F-Pace, which is priced less than similar offerings from BMW, Land Rover and other trés chic automakers.
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36 • M A R C H 16, 2018
Nederlands Dans Theater
From porn to legit? ‘Adult Entertainment’ offers up-close-andpersonal laughs
Paul Lightfoot, Artistic Director
Shoot the Moon
(Glass/León & Lightfoot)
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
Singulière Odyssée, photo by Rahi Rezvani
The Statement (Belton/Pite) Singulière Odyssée (Richter/León & Lightfoot)
April 4–6 | Opera House with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG | (202) 467-4600
Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts. Additional support is provided by Performing Arts Fund NL.
THEATER
Was that real or a prosthetic? Not your ordinary après theater chitchat, but a flash of male porn star flesh in the Klunch’s production of “Adult Entertainment” stirs up this sort of question and more. Written by comic legend Elaine May, the often-funny play premiered on Broadway in 2002 to mixed reviews. But hey, though it may not be May’s most engaging work, the amusing two-act piece, here performed by a terrific and delightfully brazen cast, definitely has its moments. Set in 1990s New York City, the action centers on Frosty Moons (Paige O’Malley), a ditzy, sometime legit actress who wants to return to porn, but not just any porn. She, along with other disgruntled and seemingly dim pay-for-play stars, Heid the Ho (Ellie Nicoll), Vixen (Zoe Walpole) and Jimbo (Steve Lebens), are striving to do a real film with meaningful dialogue. Unfortunately, their aspirations surpass the abilities of their producer/director Guy (Tony Greenberg), a goodhearted vulgarian with an eye on money shots and the bottom line. Heidi, hostess of a naughty late night public access TV show, finds the solution by recruiting Gerry (Erik Harrison), a young Yale-educated cameraman to write their movie. Heidi’s show is based on Robin Byrd’s real-life porn call-in porn phenomenon. But unlike the raucous gravelly voiced Byrd, Nicoll’s likable Heidi is more breathy and sensitive yet sexy à la Marilyn Monroe. With earnest rigor, Gerry encourages his eager cast to cut back on drugs and explore their roles, encouraging them to delve into the works Flaubert, Dylan Thomas and Arthur Miller. The famously well-endowed and gay Jimbo becomes heavily bogged in the existential angst of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” and increasingly takes financial care of his castmates, particularly young Vixen, a goth girl whose “Born Yesterday” laugh belies her street smarts. And when serious Gerry asks game Frosty to be ‘’at once shy and confident,” the results are hilarious. Joe Banno, a former D.C. resident who now works out of L.A., makes bold directorial choices. But May’s sometimes lumbering script presents a problem. At more than two hours, it could definitely
PHOTO BY RYAN SMITH
ELLIE NICOLL as Heidi the Ho in ‘Adult Entertainment.’
benefit from some cutting. A shorter version would certainly be lighter and a bit more fun. Performed at Caos on F, the smallish gallery space that works as a versatile black box with about 35 seats (configured in the round for this production), the play unfolds just steps away from the audience with bare behinds and other body parts gyrating within close reach. David C. Ghatan’s tight set includes a stripper pole and cityscape seen through a window. The Klunch’s New York-based, out artistic director Ian Allen boasts a yen for all things Elaine May. The company’s first production in 2015, was May’s 2011 “George Is Dead,” a deliciously funny one act about a widow too spoiled to grieve. A self-described fan-boy, Allen says he’s been obsessed with May’s work since his high school drama teacher handed him a copy of her suicide-themed comedy “Not Enough Rope.” His admiration mostly works here. The problems have more to do with the source material than Allen and his cast’s interpretive abilities.
‘ADULT ENTERTAINMENT’ Through March 31 The Klunch Caos on F 923 F St., N.W. $25 Theklunch.com
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New York City Ballet Divertimento No. 15 (Mozart/Balanchine) Zakouski (Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky/Martins) A Kennedy Center premiere by Justin Peck: Pulcinella Variations (Stravinsky/Peck) Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux (Tchaikovsky/Balanchine) Symphony in Three Movements (Stravinsky/Balanchine) PHOTO COURTESY DISNEY
OPRAH WINFREY as Mrs. Which in ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’
Almost good Several effective elements can’t salvage ‘Wrinkle’s’ clunky script By BRIAN T. CARNEY While it’s an entertaining movie, Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of the Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel “A Wrinkle in Time” is not entirely successful. DuVernay and her outstanding design team give the story a dazzling makeover that extends to an excellent multi-racial cast, but the adaptation by Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell is frequently clunky. The opening scene, a prologue that’s not in the book, makes DuVernay’s intent clear. Young Meg Murray (an amazing Storm Reid) is playing with her scientist father Alex (Chris Pine) in his home lab. Her scientist mother Kate (Gugu MbathaRaw) enters and the happy couple tell Meg that her adopted brother will be arriving soon. It’s a touching scene that establishes the deep familial bonds and their mutual love of science. The movie then jumps forward several years. Alex has mysteriously gone missing and Meg has become a sullen problem child with plunging grades and no friends other than her brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe). One stormy night, the fabulous Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) bursts into the scene to tell the Murrys that Alex is alive, but is in grave danger.
With the help of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), as well as Meg’s classmate Calvin (Levi Miller), Meg and Charles Wallace set off to find their missing father. The acting is superb. Reid is simply amazing as the fierce young woman who breaks out of her emotional shell and discovers strength and powers she never knew she had. Witherspoon, Kaling and Winfrey are delightful as the mysterious and powerful beings who help Meg. Zach Galifianakis is wonderful as their friend the Happy Medium. Pine and Raw give rich performances, and Miller and McCabe are fine young performers to watch. DuVernay’s direction is strong, although her use of special effects is uneven. The shimmering space travel scenes look exquisite, but the climactic battle is visually dull and derivative, looking like the finale to a second-rate superhero movie. She’s not helped at all by screenwriters Lee and Stockwell. The dialogue frequently descends into self-help clichés. More importantly, their truncated depiction of the terrible planet where Alex is held captive is flat and dull. This robs the story of its all-too-contemporary horror and diminishes Meg’s heroism. “Love, Simon” (see review on page 31) and “A Wrinkle in Time,” both playing in area theaters currently, are great stories that are both timely and timeless. Unfortunately, DuVernay is held back by an awkward and sententious script.
Robbins Centennial Program: Bernstein, Glass & Verdi (Mar. 30–Apr. 1) Glass Pieces (Glass/Robbins) Fancy Free (Bernstein/Robbins) The Four Seasons (Verdi/Robbins) Part of Leonard Bernstein at 100
March 27–April 1 | Opera House with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG | (202) 467-4600
Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
Support for Ballet at the Kennedy Center is generously provided by Elizabeth and C. Michael Kojaian.
Sara Mearns and Jared Angle in Pulcinella Variations, photo by Paul Kolnik
Balanchine, Martins & Peck (Mar. 27–29)
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A RT S & E N T E RT A I N ME N T
lang says ‘Craving’ was obvious radio single CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27
BLADE: Did you have the master tapes or were they sitting in some label warehouse somewhere all these years? lang: Yeah, the label has them. But I didn’t even think about that and I don’t think we have any alternate takes because we just — I don’t think we have any. We just kept working on it until it was the finished deal. BLADE: Was it a given that “Constant Craving” was going to be the first single? Did you and the label feel it had the most radio potential? lang: Yeah, it was obvious to everyone that it was really the only one on the album that had any chance (chuckles). BLADE: You’re credited with playing harp on “All You Can Eat” and “Watershed.” Is that like the big concert harp and how did you learn it? lang: (chuckles again) I just make noise on the harp and it’s a tiny little one. BLADE: So you never, like, studied the harp or took lessons or anything. lang: No, no, no. BLADE: Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like you did a ton of stuff for the LGBT groups in the ‘90s, like GLAAD, HRC but not so much in recent years. Do you get a lot of requests to make appearances from those kinds of groups anymore? lang: I certainly did a lot back in the day, but no. I kind of, well obviously there’s a lot more people available to do the work now and I think I made my contribution and now I’m really just trying to walk the walk. I think I also wanted after years of being the spokesperson, you know, the poster “dykon,” I wanted the music to kind of come to the forefront again. BLADE: Is it true your manager and label didn’t know you were going to do the Advocate interview when you came out? What was their immediate reaction? lang: Well, they knew I was going to do the interview, but they didn’t know I was going to come out. Obviously people gave me their opinions but they knew I had to follow my heart and do whatever I felt was the right thing. They certainly supported me either way whether I came out or not. I think the obvious concern was that it would affect my career and it did, but in a very positive way. BLADE: But did your manager say, like, “Gee, could you have at least given us a heads up?” or anything like that? lang: No, no. They knew I was doing the interview and then as soon as I did, I let everyone know that I did, in fact, come out. BLADE: So there was a chance you
might have done an Advocate interview and not come out? lang: Yeah, there was that chance but I pretty much knew that was the right place to do it. BLADE: What’s it been like on this tour singing “Ingenue” straight through? It’s such a restrained album and you’ve talked about it almost requiring a classical-type approach. So often records sound great at home on the stereo but making that work live in a room is a whole other thing, especially an album like this I would imagine. lang: Yes, you’re absolutely right and I feel like it’s really my energy and presence and focus that translates to the audience so if I’m bored with it or if I’m doubting myself, I think people pick up on that so it’s really up to me and the musicians to deliver it with absolute truth and integrity. I try to do that anyway, but especially, like you said, when you’re doing a record in sequence, you know, it’s a lot for an audience to digest. But I also think the fact that the audience has had 25 years to develop their own relationship with the record, it creates a space anyway and I never try to superimpose my relationship or my emotions on the song to supersede that of the listeners. I really try to deliver it in a way that everyone can relieve their experiences with the record. BLADE: How did it go when you were touring it in Australia and Canada last fall? lang: Very, very well. It was really for me, a beautiful musical experience. Really wonderful interplay with the band and with the audience and, you know, it’s a pretty quiet, pretty introspective show. It’s not in-your-face entertainment, stars show 101. But it’s pretty musical. BLADE: Besides “Constant Craving,” had you done many of the other “Ingenue” songs much live over the years? lang: Yeah, yeah, I’ve, you know, done “Save Me,” “Mind of Love,” “Wash Me Clean,” “Miss Chatelaine.” There’s always been a handful of songs in the rotation on any tour that I do from “Ingenue.” BLADE: You originally toured that album over a year. How are the live arrangements different, or are they, from how you performed them back in ’92-’93? lang: It’s a mix. Some are straight ahead exactly like the record which it’s also fun to kind of shadow the record, but some are very different so it’s a mix. BLADE: How much of the vocal stuff you do live is improvised in the moment, like holding a certain phrase or using a different inflection on a lyric, or are some those little things the same each night? lang: (pauses) Well, I definitely approach things different vocally. It
K.D. LANG says several factors affect her vocal delivery on any given night. PHOTO BY MATT DUBOFF
depends how I feel, how my throat feels, how the hall sounds and how the audience is. If they’re rambunctious, I sing slightly different than if they’re very quiet. How the band is, what they’re throwing at me harmonically, so there’s a lot of variables. But I also get sort of attached to certain little phrases that I like to do every night, so I would say it’s a mix. BLADE: How long did it take to shoot the famous Vanity Fair cover with Cindy Crawford? Was that an all-day thing or more like snap-snap-snap and you were done in an hour? lang: Uh, no, it was probably like a full day’s work. BLADE: Was it a fun process? lang: Yeah, because we were all friends. I was really close to Herb (Ritts) at the time and Cindy was really close to Herb and I knew Cindy through Herb so it was just, you know, like we were just hanging out taking pictures. It was work, it was very professional, but it was also very easy. BLADE: How did you like Tony Bennett’s album with Lady Gaga? lang: I haven’t heard a lot of it but, um, I don’t — you know, it’s great, it’s awesome. I love those kinds of collaborations. BLADE: I just find it interesting that you and Lady Gaga are the only female artists Tony
Bennett has ever made full albums with. lang: (chuckles) Yeah, we’re just different choices. BLADE: It feels like there was this ‘90s wave of out women singers with you, Melissa Etheridge, the Indigo Girls, then it felt like there was this long, barren stretch before we got to, say, Tegan and Sara. Do you think maybe there was a backlash for a while and maybe female singers were a bit more skittish about coming out after that initial wave? lang: (pauses) I’m afraid I can’t enlighten you on that one at all. I don’t know. BLADE: Are you with anyone now? lang: Yeah, I’m with somebody. I have a very nice home life. BLADE: How long has this relationship been and does she ever tour with you? lang: About four years and yeah, she comes out once in a while. BLADE: OK great, thanks. lang: Thank you, take care. K.D. LANG With the Grigoryan Brothers “Ingenue Redux: 25th Anniversary Concert” Sunday, March 25 Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, Md. Tickets: $48-98 VIP meet-and-greet packages available strathmore.org
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REALESTATE
Make your home your palette 5 tips to selecting the right artwork for your space Courtesy The Modern at Art Place Creatively inspired living is a popular trend in Washington, D.C., with continuous pop-up art spaces, colorful neighborhood street murals and Instagram-worthy destinations around the entire city. A number of residential areas are beginning to incorporate this popular artistic flair into their properties to bring that cool-factor into daily life for residents. One such property is The Modern at Art Place in Fort Totten. There, the walls have been adorned with the work of world class artists, in honor of the Washington Color School. An international art movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, The Washington Color School was a group of Washington D.C. artists that developed a form of abstract art from color field painting. A head-turning chandelier immediately grabs your attention as you enter: the piece, appropriately named “Phoenix” by Susan Chrysler White, symbolizes the revitalization within the Fort Totten community and how The Modern reflects that renewal. Other artists to note are Gene Davis who was the definitive artist of the stripe and the lyrical artist, Sam Gilliam who still lives here in Washington D.C. These pieces from silk screens to prints to photography, bring stunning visual im-
Arlington N.
agery to residents’ lives. The Modern is a community at the forefront of this Washington trend of using artwork to convey a lifestyle or a story throughout a space. Whether you’re a collector of watercolors, a lover of abstracts or just a curator of local pieces, you too can bring this blend of creativity into your home or apartment to reflect your interests and lifestyle. Here are a few tips to help get you started: 1. Buy What You Love. If the artwork you are choosing for your space doesn’t evoke deep emotions or positive feelings for your everyday life, then don’t buy it. Purchasing and displaying quality artwork in your home is a commitment. You are the one that passes by it each day — so don’t be afraid to let your heart guide you. 2. Be Open to Various Mediums. Artists make beautiful works beyond paintings. Just as The Modern displays a variety of mediums, seek out different pieces that bring depth and diversity to your space. Photography, for example, is a fantastic way to make a strong statement and infuse meaning into your décor. 3. Support Local Artists. Whether you find an artist in your region, city or own backyard — there is nothing better than owning a piece made by a local artist. Not only are you supporting your community, but you are bringing locally sourced life and stories into your space. To find artists in your area, be sure to visit local art galleries, search online and ask friends and neighbors about the artwork in their homes.
Metro Convenient Locale!
This seamlessly expanded 2,100 base sqft. Colonial is nestled on a gorgeous level lot chock full of mature plantings in Arlington’s “Metro Convenient” Waverly Hills.The flexible circular floor plan of the home is great for entertaining and offers sizable additions. Enjoy the inviting living room with FP, main level den/potential 3RD bedroom, separate dining room, charming curved archways, hardwood floors, an open concept island kitchen w/adjoining great room & screened porch, 2 generous upper level BR’S, a finished basement and handy carport complete the package. All just steps to the quaint Lee Heights shops, neighborhood park and just over a mile to Ballston Metro. 1918 N. Upton Street.
The walls have been adorned with the work of world class artists at The Modern at Art Place in Fort Totten.
4. Contrast + Complement the Space. Hanging artwork in your space is a talent in its own right and takes thoughtful planning. Just like you would style your outfit, you should also consider how you style your space. Pick pieces that complement and balance each other while also considering where you can add contrast in unique ways. 5. Framing and Location are Important. Purchasing and displaying artwork is a commitment. You don’t have to be an art connoisseur, but when you do purchase a quality piece that will hang in your space for a long time, you should give it the respect it deserves with professional framing. These days, professional framing can be done with a click of a button. There are a ton of outlets online to order custom materials — we recommend checking out
SnapBox or Simply Framed to get started. Remember, your home is a canvas that should reflect who you are, your values and the people and things you love. Take your time with the process, explore all that our diverse area has to offer, get inspired and most of all, have some fun. THE TEAM AT THE MODERN AT ART PLACE The Modern is the residential cornerstone of the Art Place at Fort Totten development. The residential community is being developed by The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and managed by Bozzuto Management and features inspired amenity spaces, and studio, one-, and two-bedroom units within the property. Upon completion, the Art Place development will include more than 300,000 square feet of retail, including the Explore! Children’s Museum, an XSport Fitness center and 170,000 square feet of cultural and art spaces to entertain and educate community residents.
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