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Crew Club to close in February after 25-year run
Owners say retirement is reason for shutdown of D.C. gym, bathhouse By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com The Crew Club, which has operated as a gym, sauna and bathhouse for gay men in the nation’s capital for 25 years, will close its doors for good at its Logan Circle area location on Feb. 29, according to its founder and co-owner DC Allen. Allen, 63, told the Washington Blade in an interview on Monday that he and his husband, Ken Flick, 70, who bought the Crew Club’s building at 1321 14th Street, N.W. in 2003 after renting it for the club’s first eight years in business, have decided to retire after signing a contract to sell the building in 2016. “I sold it at the height of the 14th Street market,” Allen said. When asked if he was made an offer he couldn’t refuse because of the commercial real estate boom along the city’s gentrifying 14th Street business corridor, Allen said, “Yes, I was — I was.” Although Allen didn’t immediately disclose the sale price, public property records with the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue show the 8,000-square-foot, two-story building was assessed by Crew Club co-owners KEN FLICK and DC ALLEN announced the city at a value of just over $5 million for 2020. The city records plans to close the club in February. Photo courtesy Allen show that Allen and Flick bought the building in 2003 through a company they created called Caldwell Middleton LLC for $2 million. “I sold the building four years ago but it’s closing on April 6,” said Allen. He was referring to a Memorandum of Contract he entered into with the Douglas Development Corporation, one of the city’s largest real estate developers, in June 2016. The contract established intent to sell the building to Douglas Development, which made a $500,000 deposit as part of the deal, city property records show. The Crew Club’s closing in February will bring an end to the city’s last remaining gay bathhouse. The Club Washington, the city’s longtime gay bathhouse located in the gay adult entertainment strip on the unit block of O Street, S.E., was forced to close along with other gay clubs in the area for the construction of the Washington Nationals Stadium. One of the clubs displaced by the stadium that reopened in a new location was the Glorious Health Club, which bills itself as an art gallery and gym with a steam room and shower facilities catering to gay men. Since the time it reopened the Glorious Health Club has operated at 2120 West Virginia Ave., N.E. But in March 2019 the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs ordered the club to close on grounds that its building had multiple building code violations. The club has stated on its website that it plans to reopen and it was hopeful that its “final inspection” by city officials to clear the way for it to reopen would take place Jan. 14 or 15. LGBT activists have praised the Crew Club for its longstanding support for local LGBT organizations and its leadership efforts to provide safer sex materials and information through cooperation with Whitman-Walker Health. “DC and Ken have been the model of enlightened LGBT business owners, supporting many community organizations while deftly navigating controversies in light of the greater good,” said Rick Rosendall, former president of the D.C. Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance. “Their leadership, generosity and level-headed judgment were unmatched, all while maintaining and operating a quality establishment,” Rosendall said. “The Crew Club is a beautiful, well-appointed men’s club and it will be missed,” he said. “But the time comes for all of us to move on, and no one is more deserving of a comfortable retirement than Ken and DC.” Allen said he and Flick considered but decided against reopening the Crew Club at another location after the sale of the building. “We sold the building four years ago at the height of the market and we were trying to work out a lease-back program but it just didn’t seem to be working the way I thought would be a profitable thing to do,” Allen told the Blade. “And the building was worth a lot more than the business,” he said. “So it wasn’t feasible. All that would be left after the building sale is just the name and people don’t want to buy just the name,” Allen said. “And also, my husband is not feeling particularly well and I have had some health problems,” Allen said. “So I thought it was really time for us to retire. And frankly, I’ve had a really good run for 25 years. And I think we have a pretty good name and I want to keep it that way.” Allen said he and Flick are undecided over whether to hold a closing party or another event to mark the end of what he calls an important part of their life. He said an announcement would be made soon on whether there would be such an event.
New Equality Va. leader rallies support for LGBTQ bills Vee Lamneck, Equality Virginia’s new executive director, this week was busy meeting with LGBTQ activists from across the state marshalling support for two bills: One to ban so-called conversion therapy and the other to help transgender Virginians update their birth certificates. Lamneck, who uses singular they pronouns, told the Washington Blade the organization is “working hard to organize folks to be there to testify” in support of the measures. A subcommittee on Tuesday by a 4-3 vote referred state Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax County)’s Senate Bill 245, which would prohibit any health care provider or counselor from engaging in conversion therapy, to the Senate Education and Health Committee in a bipartisan vote. The same subcommittee in a bipartisan vote also advanced state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax County)’s Senate Bill 657 that would streamline the process through which trans people can update their name and sex on their birth certificates. Lamneck succeeds James Parrish, who is now director of the Virginia Values Coalition, which supports a bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s nondiscrimination law. Lamneck previously served as Equality Virginia’s program director and had been deputy director since 2016. Lamneck told the Blade they find bureaucracy a challenge for grassroots organizing. “We often only know a day or two before when a bill will be heard,” they explained, which makes it hard to gather supporters to the hearings to testify. Upcoming Equality Virginia events include the Crowd the Capital Lobby Days for LGBTQ Nondiscrimination scheduled for Jan. 21 and for Feb. 11, 18 and 25. The organization’s annual Day of Action is scheduled to take place on Feb. 4 at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN
06 • WA S HI N GTONB L A D E.CO M • JAN UARY 1 7 , 2 0 2 0 • LO CAL N EW S
Death of trans woman in vacant apartment shrouded in mystery
Family disputes claim victim fired shots at guards; D.C. police mum By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com The mother and sister of a transgender woman who was found shot to death in a vacant apartment building in Southeast D.C. on Dec. 30 strongly dispute speculation by police that a security guard fatally shot her after she allegedly fired a gun at the guard and another guard with him one day earlier in the same building. D.C. police on Jan. 7 publicly identified the person found dead in the vacant threestory apartment building at 4273 Barnaby Road, S.E. as 26-year-old Lamont Penny of no fixed address. In a statement, police said investigators learned that Penny identified as a transgender woman and preferred the name of Mia Penny. The statement identifying Penny as the decedent in the case came over a week after D.C. police announced that armed private security guards on Sunday, Dec. 29, at approximately 10:43 p.m. “came in contact with an armed, adult suspect” in the Barnaby Road apartment building. After ordering the suspect to leave the building the suspect began to fire a handgun at the two guards, prompting one of the guards to fire back, police said in an earlier statement. “Following the exchange of gunfire, the suspect fled from the security guards,” the Jan. 7 statement says. “MPD responded to the scene to secure the building and conduct a search, and were unable to locate the suspect,” according to the statement. D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham told a news conference on Dec. 31 that D.C. police officers used a dog to help in the search for the suspect but were unsuccessful in finding the suspect inside the building. A police report says the exchange of gunfire took place on the third floor of the building “in what would possibly have been apartment 301.” The Jan. 7 statement says that on Monday, Dec. 30, at about 4:51 p.m. D.C. police responded to a call from the same building for an unconscious person who was found to be suffering from gunshot wounds. D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services workers who also responded to the scene determined the person showed no signs of life, the statement says. It says the individual, later identified as Penny, was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The statement, which was released in the
other things, that the seriousness of the gunshot wounds suffered by Mia Penny would have prevented her from running away from the building at the time of the exchange of gunfire. Budd said she too believes that Penny was murdered in the building in an unrelated incident by someone else. However, D.C. police spokesperson Alaina Gertz told the Blade in an email on Tuesday that the case remains under active investigation but it is “still currently classified as a death investigation” rather than a homicide investigation.
Mia Penny, 26, was found shot to death on Dec. 30.
form of a press release, includes a photo of a handgun that police said was found near Penny’s body in the apartment building. Tasha Penny, Mia Penny’s mother, and Emonie Penny, Mia Penny’s sister, told the Washington Blade in a phone interview on Jan. 6 that they don’t believe the gun belonged to Mia Penny. Both said Mia Penny never showed any inclination to have a gun and wouldn’t know how to use or shoot a gun. “He doesn’t even know how to pull a trigger,” said Tasha Penny, who, along with Emonie Penny, refers to Mia Penny as her son Lamont but says she recognized and loved Mia as a transgender person who lived as a woman. “Something isn’t right,” Emonie Penny told the Blade. “The story doesn’t add up. He wasn’t firing at any security guard,” she said. “It’s just a whole bunch of lies that’s not adding up.” In a follow-up interview with the Blade on Jan. 14, Emonie Penny said a police homicide detective has since told the family that police are now viewing the death of Mia Penny as a homicide. She said that supports the belief by the family that it was someone else who exchanged gunfire with the security guard and Mia Penny most likely was killed in an unrelated incident by another person. D.C. transgender activist Earline Budd has expressed the same view, saying, among
LOCA L NE WS • JAN UA RY 17, 2020 • WA SHINGTONB L A DE . COM • 07
Police mum on fingerprints, ballistics tests
D.C. police, meanwhile, have declined to respond to a list of questions from the Blade asking whether fingerprints were found on the handgun recovered near Penny’s body to see whether they match her fingerprints or whether they are from another person. Emonie Penny said police told the family that they initially identified Mia Penny’s body from her fingerprints. Police have also declined to say whether the bullets that struck Mia Penny match the bullets fired from the security guard’s gun or whether they are from another gun. In addition, police have not disclosed whether the vacant building was still hooked up to electric power and whether there was enough light during the nighttime incident for the guards to see what the suspect that fired a gun at them looked like. Did the suspect appear to be Mia Penny or someone else? The Blade asked Assistant D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee about the reluctance of police to disclose this and other information about the Penny case following a Jan. 9 press conference on the unrelated subject of D.C.’s preparedness for a possible terrorist attack related to the U.S. air strike that killed an Iranian general in Iraq. “We give our condolences to the family,” Contee said when told of the Penny family’s dismay over what they believe to be false claims that their loved one fired a gun at security guards.
“This is a very tragic loss and the loss of life is very tragic,” Contee said. “But what I can tell you right now is all of that is part of an investigation. And this case is being investigated by our Internal Affairs Bureau as well as our Homicide Division,” he said. “So those factors – fingerprints on the gun and these other evidentiary issues are part of the investigation and the family will be informed as soon as it’s completed.” Contee said he was unsure whether police would publicly release the findings of the investigation after informing the family of the findings. “The Metropolitan Police Department will definitely get to the bottom of this and provide the family with some answers,” he said. In the Jan. 7 statement, police said the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau was involved in the investigation because of the use of force by private security guards. The Internal Affairs Bureau normally investigates police shootings that result in injury or death to citizens to determine if a shooting was justified based on circumstances surrounding those shootings. Budd, who works for the D.C. sex workers advocacy group HIPS, said she received information from people familiar with the vacant apartment building where Penny was shot that it was sometimes used by sex workers to interact with clients. The building in question is one of seven small apartment buildings that are part of the Belmont Crossing Apartments complex on the 4200 block of Barnaby Road, S.E., that are currently vacant and boarded up. An employee with TM Associates Management, Inc., the company that manages the Belmont Cross buildings, declined to comment and hung up the phone when contacted by the Blade. Olivia Henderson, chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8D, in which Belmont Crossing Apartments are located, said the vacant buildings were supposedly slated for renovation and were to be reopened, but said she didn’t know when the renovation work would be completed. Budd is calling on the LGBTQ community to help the Penny family with expenses for funeral arrangements for Mia Penny through a GoFundMe site created by a family member.
Longtime Baltimore attorney, activist Ed Jeunette dies
From left: STEVE EMMERT, deputy executive director, Us Helping Us; ORRETT THOMPSON, case manager Amerigroup; LINDA ELAM, CEO & plan president, Amerigroup DC; GERRARD DAVIS, case manager, Us Helping Us; CHARMEKIA MARTIN, manager, Medicaid Plan Marketing, Amerigroup DC; DEMARC HICKSON, Ph.D., executive director Us Helping Us, and LATRICIA HALL, business change manager, Amerigroup. Photo by Shevry Lassiter
Us Helping Us receives $15,000 donation for food pantry The leader of health insurance and managed care company Amerigroup D.C. on Jan. 10 presented a check for $15,000 for a food pantry operated by the local LGBT health and HIV services organization Us Helping Us. During a ceremony at the Us Helping Us headquarters at 3636 Georgia Ave., N.W., Amerigroup D.C. CEO and Plan President Linda Elam said her company was honored to provide support for an important community service. “On behalf of Amerigroup District of Columbia it’s my pleasure to present this check to Us helping Us and its food pantry,” Elam said after giving an enlarged version of the check to Us Helping Us Executive Director DeMarc Hickson. Hickson said Us Helping Us created the food pantry for both its clients and anyone else in the surrounding community in need in March 2018 using its own funds. Since its start, the food pantry has provided approximately 200 families or individuals with about 10,000 pounds of food, Hickson told the Washington Blade after the ceremony. The Us Helping Us website says the organization was founded in 1985 as a group of volunteers that provided “holistic health information for people living with AIDS.” Those familiar with the group have said it provided in its early years HIV/AIDS-related services to African-American gay man who often were not getting services they needed through other healthcare providers. “As it exists today, Us Helping Us is an experienced community-based organization with two locations in the greater Washington, D.C. area, including a certified, freestanding mental health clinic, and works tirelessly to achieve health equity for underserved and marginalized populations in the Washington, D.C. area,” the website says. Hickson said after the check-presenting ceremony that the Us Helping Us food pantry provides food for its clients regardless of their HIV status as well as for “anybody that is experiencing food shortages or their family does not have enough food — they can come and access the food pantry.” Elam said Amerigroup D.C. is one of three managed care organizations in D.C. that provides services for people on Medicaid. LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Edward Jeunette, a longtime attorney for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, community activist, and former aide to City Councilwomen Mary Pat Clark when she was President of the City Council, died suddenly on New Year’s Day after developing pneumonia. He was 62 years old and lived in Mount Washington with his spouse and husband of 30 years James “Jeb” King. Jeunette was the son of Edward R. Jeanette, an attorney, and Margaret Clark Jeunette, who died when Ed was 11. Like his father and two brothers, he attended and graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School. He then graduated from Towson State University, and the University of Baltimore School of Law. As soon as he finished law school in 1982, he took over his father’s Hampden-based law practice. He ran the law practice until he began a lifelong career in public service. Jeunette and Jeb met on April 29, 1989. In 2013, the year that gay marriage became legal in Maryland, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Edward Hargadon, now retired, married them on April 29, their anniversary date. Judge Hargadon knew Jeunette from his years as a Judge in Juvenile Court where Jeunette tried many cases and said, “To be asked by Ed to officiate his and Jeb’s wedding was such an honor. When I had lunch with them to plan the ceremony, I could see how much they loved one another. They were so playful and gentle together.” When the two first met, Jeunette was not out to his conservative Catholic family. That all changed when Jeunette was planning to go to a family gathering and asked Jeb if he wanted to come along. Jeb’s answer was an emphatic yes and from then on, they were a couple — to Jeunette’s family and everyone else. Jeb said, “I really believe that was a turning point in Ed’s life because he was not out anywhere up to that point. From that moment on, Ed began living the life that he deserved, wanted and was extremely proud of.” Jeunette spent much of his life volunteering for community organizations. He grew up in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood and remained committed to the community even after he moved away. He was a board member of the Hampden Business Association, served as a marshal in the Mayor’s Christmas Parade, volunteered for the Hampden Family Center, and was a past vice president of the HampdenWoodberry Community Council. He later worked for marriage equality and participated in Pride activities.
EDWARD JEUNETTE, 62, died suddenly on New Year’s Day after developing pneumonia. Photo courtesy Baltimore OutLoud
He was also active in the Democratic Party and in 1987 joined Mary Pat Clarke’s successful citywide campaign for president of the City Council. Following her election, Jeunette joined her as her director of legislation and was involved during her challenging but successful transition as the first woman elected City Council president. He worked on a number of important early legislative initiatives, but Clarke remembers most an incident that showed Jeunette’s thoughtfulness and humor. She said, “[f] or all the support and help Ed brought to the office, I best recall a surprise transformation of my office itself on our first St. Patrick’s Day in office. I began the day chairing the Board of Estimates and when I returned to my office, the red chairs had all been replaced with green chairs. A wonderful sight to behold, which made my day and stands out in my happy memories of those transitional days. Ed never said where those green chairs came from, and I never asked.” In 1990, Jeunette began a 30-year career as an attorney with the Department of Social Services representing the agency in difficult child abuse and neglect cases and trials protecting vulnerable adults. In addition to Jeb, Jeunette is survived by brothers Michael and Clark, sister Patricia Dideriksen, step brother Chuck Thompson, step sister Susan Kohler, nine nieces and nephews, and eight great nieces and nephews. A stepsister Libby Rector died recently. Jeunette’s family, many friends, and colleagues attended a packed memorial celebration of his life on Jan. 8. The family has suggested that donations be made in his honor to the Maryland SPCA. JIM BECKER
08 • WA S HI N GTONB L A D E.CO M • JAN UARY 1 7 , 2 0 2 0 • LO CAL N EWS
Will GOP moderate its anti-LGBTQ platform in 2020? Trump’s marriage views at odds with official document By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com With the start of a new decade and another presidential election at hand, the time has come for the quadrennial event of crafting the platforms for the major U.S. political parties, but 2020 presents a unique situation for Republicans because President Trump’s position on marriage equality is at odds with previous platforms. Starting last year, the White House has repeatedly stated Trump, despite his administration’s anti-LGBTQ record, supports marriage equality. That stands in contrast to every recent iteration of the Republican Party platform, including the 2016 version, which calls for a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage nationwide. If the 2020 platform were to maintain the party’s call for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, the document would defy the position of the Republican standard-bearer in the election, who is also the incumbent U.S. president. That would be a striking contrast. The upcoming drafting process for the 2020 document would be an opportunity for Trump finally to put his money where his mouth is on same-sex marriage and call on the Republican platform committee to drop its opposition. The Log Cabin Republicans, which in 2016 bucked the party to dub the Republican platform the most antiLGBTQ in history, are sensing the possibility for change in 2020. “In 2016, the RNC platform slid backwards on LGBTQ issues and it is not in line with the president’s beliefs or agenda for our community,” said Charles Moran, managing director of Log Cabin Republicans. “The 2020 convention is a time to bring the platform up to speed.” A potential divergence between Trump and the platform wasn’t an issue in 2016, when both he and the party opposed same-sex marriage. Prior to his presidential run, Trump on CNN in 2015 just after the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges said he’s “just for traditional marriage,” a position maintained through his 2016 campaign. In a Fox News interview just before the 2016 Iowa caucuses, he said he’d “strongly consider” appointing justices as president to reverse the decision.
PRESIDENT TRUMP supports marriage equality, according to multiple recent statements from the White House.
Log Cabin, which issued an early endorsement for Trump for re-election in 2020, may now be in a better position to effect change than in 2016, when the organization kept to its tradition of waiting to make an endorsement decision until after the Republican convention. Log Cabin ended up declining to endorse Trump. Key to changing the platform in 2020, Moran said, will be the selection of delegates to the Republican National Convention, which this year will take place in Charlotte, N.C. “Log Cabin will have a presence at the convention and has already started conversations within the party about what the platform needs to look like,” Moran said. “But we’re still early in the process — we need to see what the delegations look like from each state, and that’s our focus now — getting our folks teed up to be selected as delegates. It’s different in every state so lots of moving pieces, but we’ll come up with a strategy once we know what the field of delegates looks like.” Any effort to remove the anti-LGBTQ language in the platform would be a David-and-Goliath effort against antiLGBTQ groups like the Family Research
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Council, which dominate the Republican Party and have a significant hand in influencing the quadrennial platform. In 2016, the Republican platform was peak anti-LGBTQ, condemning both the Obergefell decision and the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling against the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act. One plank sought to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality, either through judicial reconsideration or a constitutional amendment. “In Obergefell, five unelected lawyers robbed 320 million Americans of their legitimate constitutional authority to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” the platform says. “The Court twisted the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment beyond recognition.” The platform also objected to use of federal law to ensure transgender people can use the restroom consistent with their gender identity, indicated support for widely discredited “exgay” conversion therapy and endorsed the First Amendment Defense Act, a religious freedom bill that would enable anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Jennifer Victor, an associate professor of political science at George Mason University and co-author of “Competing for the platform: How organized interests affect party positioning in the United States,” cast serious doubt on any change happening in 2020. “The core groups in the Republican coalition, especially those involved with drafting the party platform, are socially conservative,” Victor said. “It seems likely there will be a strong movement to maintain the party’s explicit position against same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ rights issues.” It’s probably unrealistic to think the Republican platform will endorse samesex marriage, which the Democrats have done in their 2012 and 2016 platforms. Instead, a more achievable goal might be removing the anti-LGBTQ language, including support for a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. The American Unity Fund, a proLGBTQ Republican group supported by GOP philanthropist and donor Paul Singer, undertook a previous effort in
2016 to keep anti-LGBTQ language, including a call to ban same-sex marriage, out of the platform. The effort, however, didn’t succeed in the face of anti-LGBTQ members of the platform committee despite pleas from members like lesbian delegate Rachel Hoff, who called for a platform more accepting of LGBTQ people. The American Unity Fund didn’t respond to repeated requests to comment on whether a similar effort will be underway in 2020. Something big would be needed for a change in the Republican platform in terms of LGBTQ rights. A call from Trump to remove the anti-LGBTQ language, which would be unprecedented for any Republican nominee, would be huge and might just be the ticket. In 2019, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump was the first president to come into office “approving of gay marriage.” The White House has echoed that position in comments that have mostly appeared in articles on the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ record, including the implementation of a transgender military ban and religious freedom regulations allowing anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Trump, however, isn’t known for standing up to base elements of the Republican Party on LGBTQ rights, or any other issue. Neither the White House nor the Trump campaign responded to the Blade’s request to comment on whether Trump would call for removing support for a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage in the 2020 platform. Moreover, skeptics have good reason to take Trump’s alleged support for samesex marriage with a grain of salt — and not just because of his administration’s general anti-LGBTQ record. Breaking records on judicial appointments, Trump has stocked the courts with judicial picks approved by the Federalist Society and the antiLGBTQ Heritage Foundation, which are against interpreting the U.S. Constitution to guarantee marriage rights for samesex marriage as the U.S. Supreme Court found in Obergefell v. Hodges. CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Sen. CORY BOOKER The six Democratic candidates who qualified for the last debate before the Iowa caucuses line up on Tuesday night.
Photo courtesy CNN
Photo courtesy CNN
Sanders, Warren spar amid foreign policy debate
In the aftermath of President Trump’s controversial order to kill Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, foreign policy got a renewed focus Tuesday night in the Democratic presidential primary debate — the last before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3. Out of the gate with a question from moderator Wolf Blitzer on why they’d be the best commander-in-chief, candidates were critical not only of Trump, but also their fellow Democrats. Drawing a contrast between himself and Joseph Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders said he voted “no” on the Iraq war in 2002 and said “it would lead to unprecedented levels of chaos in the region.” “I understood right away, in terms of the war in Iraq, the difference here is that the war in Iraq turned out to be the worst foreign policy blunder in the modern history of this country,” Sanders said. “As Joe well knows, we lost 4,500 brave troops. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died. We have spent trillions of dollars on that endless war, money which should go into health care and education and infrastructure in this country.” Following the death of Soleimani, Sanders warned Trump may be leading the United States into a war “even worse than the war in Iraq.” Biden admitted his vote to authorize the Iraq war was a “mistake,” but pointed out former President Obama chose him to be his running mate in the 2008 election and “turned to me and asked me to end that war.” Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, an Afghanistan war veteran, took the opportunity to criticize Trump for sending more troops to the Middle East when he campaigned on a promise of stopping endless war. “And whenever I see that happen, I think about the day we shipped out and the time that was set aside for saying goodbye to family members,” Buttigieg said. “I remember walking with a friend of mine, another lieutenant I trained with, as we walked away, and his one-and-a-half-year-old boy was toddling after him, not understanding why his father wasn’t turning back to scoop him up. And it took all the strength he had not to turn around and look at his boy one more time.” But the moment that got the most attention came at the end when Sen. Elizabeth Warren appeared to reject a handshake offer from Sanders. The two clashed during the debate over whether Sanders told Warren in a 2018 meeting that a woman could not win the presidency. He denied saying it but Warren insists he did. CHRIS JOHNSON
Booker drops presidential bid Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who had struggled getting his 2020 presidential campaign off the ground from the beginning, announced on Monday he’d drop his pursuit of the White House. With weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3, Booker said in a statement to supporters his campaign lacks the funds to continue. “Our campaign has reached the point where we need more money to scale up and continue building a campaign that can win — money we don’t have, and money that is harder to raise because I won’t be on the next debate stage and because the urgent business of impeachment will rightly be keeping me in Washington,” Booker said, “So I’ve chosen to suspend my campaign now, take care of my wonderful staff, and give you time to consider the other strong choices in the field.” Booker has made LGBTQ rights a major component of his political career and took that approach to his presidential campaign. When many presidential candidates said they opposed President Trump’s transgender military ban, Booker went further and said as president he’d reverse the policy and allow transgender people to serve “right away.” CHRIS JOHNSON
Tenn. advances anti-LGBTQ adoption bill A bill that critics says would enable discrimination against LGBTQ families is on its way to the desk of Gov. Bill Lee, who’s expected to sign it following approval Tuesday by the state Senate. In its first bill of the year, the Tennessee Senate approved HB 836, which would allow adoption agencies to refuse placement into LGBTQ homes on the basis of religious objections. The Senate passed the bill 20-6. Lee’s office didn’t immediately respond to the Blade’s request to comment on the bill. According to the Tennessean, a Lee spokesperson “confirmed that the governor would be signing the bill as soon as it reaches his desk.” The bill, sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose (R-Covington), prohibits requiring private licensing child-placement agencies to participate in child placement “that would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions.” The Tennessee House approved the legislation in April 2019, so the measure now heads to the governor’s desk. Despite the report indicating Lee will sign the legislation, LGBTQ advocacy groups are already calling for a veto. Although nothing in Tennessee state law or federal law as of now is stopping adoption agencies from refusing placement into LGBTQ homes, the measure could compromise municipal ordinances against anti-LGBT ordinances. The legislation is similar to other laws enacted by other the states in recent years allowing taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to decline to place children into LGBTQ homes over religious objections. Other states are Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, North Dakota and South Dakota. CHRIS JOHNSON
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Steyer baffled by his Puerto Rico LGBTQ own comments on activists join LGBTQ asylum earthquake relief Tom Steyer, the businessman-turnedDemocratic presidential candidate, was baffled by his own comments he previously made on protecting the health of LGBTQ asylum seekers when asked to flesh out his plan during a New York Times interview. Steyer was unaware of his own his words — thus unable to provide more detail about his plan — during an interview with the New York Times editorial board that was published late Monday. Asked to elaborate on his comments, which he made during the CNN Democratic Town Hall on LGBTQ issues, Steyer professed to have no knowledge of them, responding “I did?” when told he said them. “Could you remind me what I said?” Steyer added. When told he said he’d increase oversight of health care for LGBTQ asylum seekers, Steyer replied, “I’m not sure I know what that means,” prompting the New York Times to respond, “OK, So then I guess you cannot elaborate on that.” The conditions in immigration detention for asylum seekers, including LGBTQ immigrants seeking to escape persecution based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, have raised the alarm for some time both during the Obama and Trump administrations. Johana “Joa” Medina Leon, a transgender woman from El Salvador, and Roxsana Hernández, a transgender woman from Honduras, were among those who have died after being released from immigration detention. Yariel Valdés González, who’s gay and a contributing writer to the Blade from Cuba, has been kept in various immigration detention facilities in Louisiana for some time. Although a judge granted him asylum in September, ICE has appealed the decision and kept him in a facility as his case reaches the Board of Immigration Appeals. During CNN’s “Equality in America” town hall late last year, Steyer affirmed his administration would put in place stronger measures to protect the health of LGBTQ asylum seekers. “Of course we will. I mean, what we’ve seen from ICE in terms of inhumanity, this is a perfect example, but it’s not the only example,” Steyer said. “I think it’s absolutely critical for the United States of America to treat people in a humane and decent fashion.” CHRIS JOHNSON
LGBTQ activists in Puerto Rico are among those who have joined earthquake relief efforts in the U.S. commonwealth. A group of volunteers with Waves Ahead, a group based in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan, over the weekend traveled to Guayanilla and other municipalities on the island’s southwest coast that suffered extensive damage from a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck on Jan. 7. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the area the day before caused Punta Ventana, a natural rock formation in Guayanilla that was popular among local residents and tourists alike, to collapse into the Caribbean Sea. The Associated Press reported the U.S. Geological Survey has recorded more than 900 earthquakes in Puerto Rico since Dec. 31. Pictures that Waves Ahead sent to the Blade show cracked buildings in Guayanilla and local residents sleeping in tents they have set up in area parks. Buildings in nearby Ponce, which is Puerto Rico’s second largest city, have also been damaged. The earthquakes have caused blackouts across Puerto Rico, and have damaged one of the island’s largest power plants located in Guayanilla. Waves Ahead Executive Director Wilfred Labiosa told the Blade the first assistance that residents of a neighborhood in Guánica, a municipality that is west of Guayanilla, received since the earthquakes began came from members of his organization on Sunday. Waves Ahead also continues to raise money for the relief effort. MICHAEL K. LAVERS
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A scene from Porta dos Fundos’ ‘First Temptation of Christ’ Image courtesy of Netflix
Brazil court tries to censor gay Jesus
SÃO PAULO — A Brazilian court’s efforts to censor a Christmas special that depicts Jesus as gay have failed. A Rio de Janeiro court earlier ordered Netflix to remove “The First Temptation of Christ,” a Christmas special that Porta dos Fundos, a production company, made and all trailers and advertising that promoted it. Netflix appealed the ruling to the Brazilian Supreme Court. The court on Friday ruled in Nexflix’s favor, arguing that censuring the special based on the claim it offended Christian values was inadequate. Dom Bosco, a Catholic organization, sharply criticized the Netflix special. A group on Christmas Eve used bombs to attack Porta dos Fundos’ Rio de Janeiro headquarters. A video showed masked people reading a manifesto while they threw Molotov cocktails against the building. The Popular Nationalist Insurgence, which is part of the Brazilian “integralist” movement, claimed responsibility for the attack. Only one of the attackers, Eduardo Fauzi, was recognizable on security video. The Brazilian police have sought Fauzi since the event, and have offered a 2,000 Brazilian Reais ($488.31) reward for tips that would lead to his capture. They nevertheless believe he has fled to Russia, and Interpol has placed him on its wanted list. Fauzi, for his part, doesn’t seem to be worried because he celebrated the Rio de Janeiro court’s ruling to take down the special in a video he posted to his social media networks. Porta dos Fundos has produced humorous Christmas specials on its YouTube channel since 2013 with huge success. “For those who does not value freedom of speech or have appreciation for other values, there are other channels,” said the group in a message it posted to its official Twitter account. “We will keep publishing our skits every Monday, Thursday and Saturday on our channels. We believe in the Judiciary Power to historically safeguard the Brazilian Constitution and move forward with the certainty that the democratic institutions will be preserved.” Netflix Brasil on its official page wrote it “strongly supported artistic expression and would fight to defend that important principle, which is the heart behind great stories.” Netflix never removed the special, and it remains part of its worldwide catalogue. FELIPE ALFACE
Bad AIDS reporting leads to firing NEW YORK — CBS New York has fired a reporter they say was responsible for pushing insensitive and misleading narratives about HIV/ AIDS in a story that blew up on social media on Dec. 8 and 9, a spokesperson confirmed to Gay City News. The local CBS affiliate in New York published an article and social media posts implying that an HIVpositive man who allegedly spit on a Port Authority police officer was somehow putting the cop at risk for the virus, despite the fact that HIV cannot be transmitted by saliva, Gay City News reports. The reporter described the alleged spitting incident as an “HIV ATTACK” in a tweet, and wrote in the article that the “suspect admitted they spit into an officer’s mouth knowing they had HIV,” Gay City News reports. “This online story should not have been published,” CBS New York wrote to Gay City News in a written statement. “It does not meet our journalistic standards, nor does it reflect our core values. The person who wrote and published the story and social media post failed to review the copy with our news managers. This individual is no longer employed by CBS New York.” A CBS New York spokesperson declined comment when asked, for purposes of transparency, who was fired. The article in question did not have a byline, though the name of one reporter, Tony Aiello, was listed under the “filed under” section of the article and drew attention from some folks on social media who believed he was behind the story. The spokesperson said he was not the reporter who was fired, Gay City News reports.
Hep C screening study promising LONDON — Increasing the frequency of hepatitis C screening in gay and bisexual men taking PrEP in the United Kingdom has the potential to reduce new hepatitis C infections by 2030, especially if the proportion of men taking PrEP increases to 25 percent, AIDSmap reports citing a report in the journal EClinical Medicine. Hepatitis C elimination among gay and bisexual men depends on diagnosing and treating the infection in two populations, HIV-positive and HIV-negative men. Whereas HIV-positive men should receive regular screening according to European or British HIV Association guidelines, screening in HIV-negative gay and bisexual men is not systematic and the optimum interval is not defined, AIDSmap reports. To evaluate the potential impact of various hepatitis C screening strategies in men who have sex with men in the UK, researchers from Bristol University, University of California San Diego, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence constructed a model of hepatitis C and HIV transmission and PrEP use among gay and bisexual men in the UK, AIDSmap reports. The model examined the impact of varying levels of PrEP coverage and screening for hepatitis C every six or 12 months and took account of the impact of a 50 percent reduction in condom use, AIDSmap reports.
Gender-affirmative care deemed necessary in lawsuit TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Two transgender state employees who have been denied medical treatment for gender dysphoria filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Florida Department of Management Services alleging unlawful sex discrimination, the News Service of Florida reports. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Jami Claire and Kathryn Lane by attorneys for Southern Legal Counsel, Inc., and the ACLU Foundation of Florida, seeks compensatory damages and an injunction banning the state from enforcing an exclusion in the state employees’ health-insurance plan for coverage of medically necessary gender-affirming care. The Department of Management Services, which administers the state-employee health insurance program, did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Claire has worked for 32 years at the University of Florida, where she is a senior biological scientist in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Claire has identified as a transgender woman since late 2016. She receives counseling and hormones from the U.S. Veterans Administration But the level of hormones she is taking places her at risk of deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot that forms in the lower body. Due to that risk, her physician recommended an orchiectomy, or surgical removal of the testes, as a medically necessary procedure on Dec. 27, 2018. But, according to the lawsuit, AvMed, an insurer in the state plan, denied the request Jan. 8, 2019, citing the exclusion for gender reassignment or modification services or supplies. She unsuccessfully appealed the denial to AvMed and then to the department’s Division of State Group Insurance.
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Keep your promise to protect each other.
CANNABIS CULTURE S. Dakota legalization measure lands on 2020 ballot
PIERRE, S.D. — A proposed measure legalizing and regulating the adult use and retail sale of marijuana in South Dakota has qualified for the 2020 ballot. South Dakota’s Secretary of State’s Office acknowledged last week that the proposed constitutional amendment will appear on the November ballot. The measure permits individuals 21 and older to possess and to purchase up to an ounce of cannabis and creates a system to license and regulate retail marijuana businesses. Limited home cultivation is also permitted under the measure. The proposal is the second marijuana-specific initiative to be approved by the Secretary of State’s office in recent weeks. Last month, officials similarly certified Measure 26, which legalizes patients’ access to medical cannabis, for the November ballot. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana by adults. In December, New Jersey lawmakers also decided to place an adult-use legalization question on the November 2020 ballot.
Minor pot offenses decriminalized in Hawaii
HONOLULU — Legislation took effect on Jan. 11 decriminalizing minor marijuana possession offenses. The new law, which was passed in July, reduces penalties involving the possession of up to three grams of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor, formerly punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a criminal record, to a non-criminal violation – punishable by a $130 fine. It also provides procedures for the courts to grant an expungement order for those previously convicted of a marijuana possession offense involving no more than three grams. The law was enacted absent the governor’s signature. Some lawmakers are hoping to expand the scope of the law in the coming legislative session. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have either legalized or decriminalized the adult possession and use of marijuana.
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Italy court rules for marijuana cultivation rights
ROME — Italians may grow personal use amounts of cannabis at home without penalty, according to a determination by the nation’s supreme court. Justices opined that “at home, small-scale cultivation activities are to be considered excluded from the application of the penal code.” The defendant in the case was cultivating two marijuana plants. The ruling is similar to a decision made by South Africa’s top court in 2018 when justices concluded that it is not “a criminal offense for an adult to use or be in possession of cannabis in private for his or her personal consumption.” More recently, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that laws criminalizing the private use and cultivation of cannabis by adults are unconstitutional.
Packaging cannabis in vacuum-sealed plastic masks smell
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Subjects are unable to identify cannabis when it is packaged in vacuum-sealed plastic, but can do so when it is packaged in resealable sandwich bags, according ADVERTISIN to data published in the journal Science & Justice. A team of investigators affiliated with Colorado State University evaluated whether untrained PROOF #1 ISSUE DATE: 171208 SALES REPRESENTATIVE: observers could correctly identify dried cannabis flower based solely on smell. They reported, “[O] REVIEW AD FOR COPY AND DESIGN ACCURACY. Revisions must be submitted within 24 hours of the date of proof. Proof will be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within 24 hours of pen and casually packaged cannabis was identified with high accuracy, while material packaged the date of proof. Revisions will not be accepted after 12:01 pm wednesday, the week of publication.Brown naff pitts REVISIONS omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) is not responsible for the content and/or design of your ad. Advertiser is in doubly vacuum-sealed plastic was correctly identified at rates no different fromREDESIGN chance.” responsible for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users can link through the advertisement. Advertiser represents that its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or REVISIONS Authors concluded: “Interpretation of the plain smell doctrine is complicatedTEXT in states where any rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as infringement or misapporpriation of any copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary or propety right, false advertising, unfair IMAGE/LOGO REVISIONS competition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination law or regulation, possession of a small amount of cannabis, or possession by persons with medical marijuana or any other right of any person or entity. Advertiser agrees to idemnify brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the ADVERTISER SIGNATURE NO REVISIONS washington blade) and to hold brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) harmless from any and all By signing this proof you are agreeing to you cards, has been legalized. ... Given the results of the present study, smell-based searches where liability, loss, damages, claims, or causes of action, including reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred washington blade newspaper. This includes b by brown naff pitts omnimedia llc, arising out of or related to advertiser’s breach of any of the foregoing representations payment and insertion schedule. and warranties. the material was vacuum-sealed within one or more layers of plastic may lie beyond the ‘sphere M-TH 11:30AM-10PM • F-SAT 11:30AM-11PM of reliability.’” SUN. BRUNCH 11AM-3PM / DINNER 3-10PM
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Cannabis Culture news in the Blade is provided in partnership with NORML. For more information, visit norml.org.
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PETER ROSENSTEIN
KEVIN NAFF
Free Yariel!
Blade writer seeking asylum suffering inhumane treatment in ICE detention
Yariel Valdés González, a Washington Blade contributing writer from Cuba, is enduring inhumane treatment while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Louisiana. Valdés, a professional journalist who works as a freelancer for the Blade, is seeking asylum based on the very real persecution he has suffered at the hands of the Cuban government. An asylum official who interviewed Valdés at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Center in Tutwiler, Miss., on March 28 determined he had a “credible fear of persecution or torture” in Cuba. His family in Cuba continues to receive death threats from government officials because of his work with “media outlets of the enemy.” Early last year, the Cuban government ramped up its persecution of journalists, even detaining Blade International News Editor Michael Lavers at the airport before denying him entry and sending him back to Miami. The State Department’s Human Rights Report notes Cuba’s persecution of journalists. But those seeking refuge in the United States are finding that under President Trump, they not only won’t be welcomed, they may be imprisoned. In a 2019 cover story for the Blade, Valdés described the horrific conditions of his confinement at the Bossier Parish Medium Security Facility in Plain Dealing, La. Other Cuban asylum seekers at Bossier — some who have been held for nearly a year —greeted him with, “Welcome to hell.” Detainees are treated like prison inmates. And remember: Seeking asylum is not illegal. Valdés has followed the legal process and his claims of persecution and fears of torture back home have already been deemed credible by the government. Yet he describes a harrowing life behind bars in which each day is a struggle to survive. In his own words: “Each day inside of it is a constant struggle for survival that takes a huge toll on my physical, psychological and above all emotional capacities. More than 300 migrants live in four dorms in cramped conditions with intense cold and zero privacy. … My personal space is reduced to a narrow metal bed that is bolted to the floor, a drawer
for my things and a thin mattress that barely manages to keep my spine separated from the metal, which sometimes causes back pain. The most painful thing, however, is the way the officers treat us.” He reports the guards routinely disconnect the microwave, the television and deny detainees ice. When they complain, guards tell them, “This is not your country.” The day begins at 5 a.m. with a lineup followed by breakfast. Meals are insufficient and dinner is at 4 p.m. leading to hunger pains by bedtime. Soup is used as currency among detainees. Medical services are inadequate or non-existent. As one detainee put it, “One who gets sick is put in punishment cells, isolated and alone, which psychologically affects us. People sometimes don’t say they don’t feel well because they are afraid they will be sent to the ‘well.’ In extreme cases they bring you to a hospital with your feet, hands and waist shackled and they keep you tied to the bed, still under guard. I prefer to suffer before being hospitalized like that.” This is what the government is doing in our name and with our tax dollars: treating asylum seekers who are fleeing violence and persecution as criminals. Judge Timothy Cole on Sept. 18 granted asylum to Valdés, but weeks later ICE appealed that decision and kept him in custody. Just last week, ICE transferred him and more than 30 other detainees from Bossier to the River Correctional Center in Ferriday, La. LaSalle Corrections, a private company, operates the facility where Valdés is now held. His case is now before the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is overseen by the Justice Department. It’s now been four months since a judge deemed Valdés worthy of asylum here. The stories of these asylum seekers are harrowing and I urge our audience to read them and to demand reform. There are several LGBTQ and other advocacy groups that could help, including the Human Rights Campaign, Immigration Equality, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association and the Southern Poverty Law Center. I urge them to review this case, add their voices to the fight and assist us and his lawyer in freeing Yariel. In his own words: “I hope that I can continue my career as a journalist from here and continue the fight for a more democratic Cuba for those 11 million Cubans who have resisted and resist this dictatorial regime that has been in power for six decades.”
is a D.C.-based LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.
LGBTQ voters not monolithic, but are funding Mayor Pete Many excited to see out gay man on the stump The LGBTQ+ community has opened its hearts and wallets to the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., Pete Buttigieg. I was a cohost of two fundraisers for him in D.C. and promoting a third on Jan. 22, even though I have yet to endorse a candidate. My reason to help raise money for Mayor Pete is a strong belief an openly gay married man who gains respect from people across the nation is good for the future of the LGBTQ community. Having young boys and girls who are coming to grips with their own sexuality, maybe living in small-town America, see this smart openly gay man out on the stump allows them to think, “Wow I can be anything I want to be.” We know the fight to gain acceptance continues and there are 37 states where you can get married to your same-sex partner on Sunday and fired from your job and lose your home on Monday. We still face discrimination and will be fighting it for many years to come. There are many LGBTQ activists who don’t support Mayor Pete. Some claim he has not been active in the community and never lifted a finger to make things better for our community. Although I wish he had spoken out even before he came out, his running in the Democratic primary as a gay man with his husband at his side is doing a lot for us now. He has been criticized for coming out late in life, but the reality is we all come out when we are ready and that is at different times in our lives. Being ready encompasses so many factors. It could involve overcoming fear of being ostracized by family and friends or being bullied at school or fear of losing a job or never getting one. I didn’t come out till I was 34, one of the reasons being a desire to go into politics and was afraid being openly gay would preclude that. That is clearly one reason Mayor Pete stayed in the closet. Now when he did come out there were many openly gay politicians and ‘out’ role models who weren’t there when I was coming out. Yet I lived in New York and he was going to run in Indiana, very different constituencies. Again each of us live our lives differently and I can respect how he has lived his but also the
views of some activists who were willing to face any backlash, speak out and come out. We have reached a stage in the acceptance of the LGBTQ community that for many the decision of who they will vote for will not be based solely on someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. We also have to recognize for some who don’t accept us their decision on whether to vote for Mayor Pete will be based on his sexual orientation. There are many members of the LGBTQ community who have endorsed Elizabeth Warren who see it as important to finally elect a woman and they believe in her platform. Others want to see a person of color as our nominee. There are members of the community who will not vote for Mayor Pete because they don’t see him as progressive enough and some of them are supporters of Bernie Sanders. Others have endorsed Joe Biden. Many because they believe his extensive experience is valuable and others because they see him as the Democrats’ best hope of beating Trump. What is clear is the LGBTQ+ community is not a monolithic vote in this primary. Even though the Victory Fund endorsed Buttigieg many of their supporters have endorsed other candidates. LPAC announced their support for Warren, Harris and Klobuchar. Despite that and without a commitment to vote for him the LGBTQ community is apparently still committed to helping fund Mayor Pete’s campaign. In three fundraisers held in the D.C. area with Mayor Pete in December; one each in Baltimore, D.C. and Montgomery County, attendees were overwhelmingly LGBTQ (and overwhelmingly white) and all wanted Mayor Pete to have enough money to continue to speak out. Combined those three fundraisers produced approximately $600,000 for his campaign. While I respect everyone’s choice to support who they like in the primary, it is my fervent hope the LGBTQ community will come together and overwhelmingly support whoever is the Democratic nominee. Only if we do that can we ensure the defeat of Donald Trump who has been a disaster not only for our community and our nation but for the world.
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MARK LEE
BRIAN GAITHER
is a long-time entrepreneur and community business advocate. Follow on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.
(@briangaither) is a gay activist and writer who lives in Maryland.
No one beats Trump without D.C. enacts bills with no hope of funding beating Trumpism BY BRIAN GAITHER Since the Great Recession, the world has been abandoning the political consensus built by institutional elites — in government, business, and the media — of the previous generation. The spirit of the present age is populist and progressive, as it was in the Arab Spring and during the height of Occupy Wall Street. It’s an era informed by expanding LGBTQ equality, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the increasing role of women in politics. Where the populists are not progressive, they still organize and vote. Mobs of racists, xenophobes, homophobes, and misogynists have powered the ascendance of demagogues as they did for Brexit and in Bolsonaro’s Brazil. At the moment, conventional wisdom says that Trumpism cannot survive without Trump. It believes all the low, filthy, disgusting things that define his administration will disappear when he himself leaves Washington. Commentators argue that his removal from office, via impeachment or at the polls in November, will immediately begin to restore the “normalcy” of the status quo. For the pundits promoting this thinking, the election of 2020 will be a referendum on Trump’s tone, his corruption, and his incompetence. They note that every Democrat running would make a better president, and they try to persuade us from one day to the next which candidate among the lot has the most up-to-date likelihood of replacing him. The candidates themselves tell us the myriad ways they’re different from him. We hear endlessly that beating Trump is all that matters. But defeating Trumpism will take more than just the ouster of the man. It will require a Democrat who can harness the spirit of the age, leading a coalition both populist and progressive. It is too little for our nominee to be merely smarter, nicer, and more eloquent than the worst president of the past century. Putting such a Democrat in the White House depends on a communal act of electoral faith. Each of us must choose the candidate whose character and agenda fundamentally moves us. We must trust that
when others do likewise our collective mass and momentum — expressed at the ballot — will provide the right champion, armed with a mandate, who can vanquish Trump and Trumpism together. Trump loyalists will fight ruthlessly for him even while voters who condemn his personal style will nonetheless opt to return him to power to thwart Democrats. As long as Trump voters feel safe from his most hateful policies, they’ll vote for him; and as long as they vote for him, he’ll keep them safe from his policies. Conceding early to whichever Democratic candidate appears most “electable” in the eyes of the political consensus that brought us three decades of Bushes and Clintons will cost us the general election. Voters left and right who refuse to see the elites of yesteryear rewarded for having simply outlasted the Trump presidency understand that allowing his re-election will, at the very least, keep the old establishment from resuming its authority and influence. If you’re satisfied to see Blue No Matter Who in the Oval Office, what kind of country have you been hoping for? And if your candidate isn’t one who will work to improve the lives of the poor, people of color, women, youth, members of the LGBTQ community, and others, then how do you expect her, or him, to fight the onslaught of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and misogyny that Trump will unleash in his attempts to keep the White House? We need to each of us pick the Democrat who most conforms to our vision for America and who inspires us to donate whatever money we can, to show up at events, to volunteer, to bicker on social media, to pester our family and friends. It’s a long way from the nominating convention to the general election, but voting for a candidate in the primary who feels “safe” because we’re told they’re “safe” is the shortest way to Trump’s second term. Only a genuinely progressive populist can overcome the demagoguery that fuels Trumpism. Let’s nominate the candidate whose agenda provides a clear, unambiguous path towards a more equitable future for everyone. Then let’s all fight like hell to see her, or him, elected in November.
Maybe it’s the fact that Democratic presidential contenders are proposing gargantuan new government spending that in the case of Bernie Sanders on the extreme end would double the federal budget and increase outlays by a farfetched-to-fathom $6 trillion a year. Or maybe it’s the reality that inclinations to balance national budgets have given way to massive deficits under President Trump as the reckless expenditure free-for-all by both political parties continues unabated. Most local and state jurisdictions are not permitted to operate under the ‘magic money’ fantasy illusion of national politicians. Local legislators must balance budgets and borrow money at least somewhat judiciously under relatively limited debt caps. Opportunities for financial trickery are more limited and the negative economic repercussions more severe. Elected officials in D.C. are strictly and statutorily prohibited from engaging in fiscal foolishness. That’s both the result of past behaviors bankrupting the city and the proscribed protections against it happening again. An increasingly commonplace practice by D.C. Council members, however, continues to confuse and confound local residents. Worse, local legislators infantilize residents by tricking them into thinking they’re approving programs that, in many cases, will never be funded or ever be created. There is a growing reality gap between passing bills and paying for them. In fact, during the last D.C. Council legislative period, a total of 90 bills were passed that were, either in whole or in part, subject to the later appropriation of funds to pay for them. According to a D.C. Council Budget Office report, it was the highest number of unfunded bills passed in Council history, and would result in fully 71 of the 90 measures remaining unfunded following budget deliberations. When queried at an unrelated news conference late last week about specific legislation not having been funded in her budget proposal or subsequently by the Council, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser detailed some startling numbers. Bowser pointed out
that the Council had last year approved bills totaling more than a billion dollars in required funding for which revenues were insufficient to finance. For relative contrast, total annual revenues from all local sources come in at only slightly more than $8.5 billion. In other words, local legislators are enacting laws and approving programs for which they are knowingly aware there will not be available funds to underwrite and implement. It’s a cynical con that leaves residents perplexed when monies are never, or only later if ever, appropriated for approved measures. Further compounding the false expectations of voters are announcements of revenue surpluses originating with higherthan-anticipated tax collections. The D.C. CFO recently indicated that $280 million in surplus monies had been collected, leading some political activists to mistakenly believe there is suddenly, and magically, that much more money to spend. Residents naturally assume that these extra funds are available to be spent on previously unfunded measures or newly advanced proposals when most of the surplus money is already dedicated for affordable housing and other programs. Even if these modest extra dollars represented monies not already committed, the amount would not be sufficient to close the gap necessitated by one-time funding utilized in the last budget that must be replaced to match current expenditures in nearly all prior spending categories. Legislators will struggle starting this spring merely to maintain current spending levels. Gradually declining surpluses due to slowing population and business growth will further restrict the ability to launch new programs or initiatives. Until D.C. politicians stop misleading the public about the fiscal realities and financial limitations of a government already infamous for some of the highest tax rates and most onerous business burdens in the region and the nation, they risk their own credibility and the tolerance of an increasingly wary public. Just don’t bother Bernie about the realities of paying for stuff – D.C. already has more than enough drama on that score.
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MAL goes big for 2020
D.C. tradition expected to draw thousands for queer kinkster fun By PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN
kink and fetish enthusiasts that continues to grow in popularity with scores of packed venues across the district. It began in 1976 when Glenn Pitcher of the Links Motorcycle Club in New York booked a suite at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel and threw an intimate cocktail party for a few friends visiting from the west coast. The Leather Cocktails tradition, still a core feature of the current MAL event, began when one of the members dropped his metal cock ring in the hotel bathroom.
EMERSON ANICETO of Pittsburgh was named Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2019. Blade file photo by Michael Key
The Centaur Motorcycle Club takes over D.C. for its 44th annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend tonight through Sunday into the wee hours from its host venue the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.). This MAL also marks the 50th anniversary of Centaur MC. Patrick Grady, a gay leather enthusiast who has watched his “tribe” grow over the years, is Centaur MC’s chairman for the events. He was introduced to the Centaurs back in the 1990s while he was the director of catering at the Washington Plaza Hotel. That chance encounter with Centaur members was life-changing for the still mild-mannered and soft-spoken gentleman who describes leather as a wearable art that invites others to touch and engage it. “When I came into leather, it awoke some inner feeling,” Grady says. “But you don’t have to own leather to come to MAL. You just go there to have a good time.” MAL is a three-day party for leather,
The sound became a humorous signal opening the festivities. The Centaurs took over Leather Cocktails in 1984 to keep the tradition alive and added the Sunday brunch, a Leather Exhibit hall and the Mr. MAL contest. “It’s great to see everybody and welcome new people,” Grady says, excitement filling his voice. “I’m a Pisces, so, I’m always emotional. People take bets to see how long it takes me to cry at Leather Cocktails.” He says the reason behind MAL and the Centaur’s longevity is despite this year’s expected 3,000-5,000 attendees it still feels like a group of friends getting together for the weekend. “I think it’s a testament to the members themselves,” he says. “We have 31 current, all volunteers. We all enjoy each other. We enjoy hosting MAL for the masses.” Most of the events take place at the host hotel and a schedule is available at leatherweekend.com. However, bars and clubs across the district such as
Uproar, the Green Lantern and the D.C. Eagle will be hosting special MAL edition events as well. “We are honored to be a part of such an exciting weekend,” says Miguel Ayala, marketing manager for the D.C. Eagle. “Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend has grown leaps and bounds over the years thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Centaur MC.” Staff there is anticipating their largest crowds ever and will have additional food trucks on hand as well as a shuttle running from the host hotel to the bar Thursday through Sunday. The Red Bear is relatively new to D.C., with only a few years of experience working MAL weekend. Cameron Raspet, the founder and director of operations, says he and his staff are expecting big crowds throughout D.C. and hope to have a significant turn out at their events which includes a leather-themed drag show. Two groups adding diversity to the festivities this year are the People of Color Kink and Leather Experience (POCKLE) and Sadie V, a PoC leather community. Both groups are hosting MAL queer/transgender people of color kinky queer events tonight and Saturday at the Hampton Inn. Tyesha Best, curator and owner of the POCKLE Project and social media coordinator for International Mr. Leather Inc., is looking forward to this year’s events as well. “I think leather opens doors,” Grady says of the event’s expansion. “Because you find people with a common enjoyment and a common feel. I’ve always felt with leather communities everyone is easy to talk with, approachable, supportive and they look after each other as well.” Each year MAL continues to grow, culminating in last year’s $100,000 donation to D.C. charities including HIPS and Casa Ruby. But Grady says Centaur members hope to maintain the warm feel of a small gathering of friends. “We don’t want to become another IMF,” he says of the larger leather organization MAL supports. “We want everyone to have a good time instead of getting lost in the crowd.” Though Grady currently doesn’t have a partner to share the weekend with, he is looking forward to the arrival of an English friend he met at an Irish event as well as meeting thousands of friends new and old.
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The Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend presented by the Centaur Motorcycle Club kicks off today at 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.). A full-weekend pass for this three-day event is $30. Friday only and Sunday only passes are $15 and passes for Saturday only are $20. Most of the weekend’s official events take place at the Hyatt; however, other events and parties are also held at other venues around the city. Official events include Saturday evening Leather Cocktails, Sunday brunch, a Mr. MAL contest, a Leather Exhibit Hall and the Sunday night closing party. For a complete schedule and other details, visit leatherweekend.com.
TONIGHT The Bear Happy Hour’s Leather Bear Party presented by D.C. Bear Crue is tonight from 5-10 p.m. at Uproar (639 Florida Ave., N.W.). Bears, otters and their furry friends are celebrated at this MAL weekend event. There is no cover charge, select drinks are $5 and free appetizers are handed out all night. Drink specials end at 10 p.m. Visit uproarlounge. com and Facebook events for details. MIR at MAL: A Rubber Meet and Greet hosted by Mr. International Rubber is tonight from 7-10 p.m. at the MAL host hotel, Hyatt Regency (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.). This cocktail party is an opportunity for rubber enthusiasts to meet, socialize and start the weekend off right. Part of the space will be black lit to show off colorized rubber wear. For more information, visit mirubber.com. The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts Rough House: Leather Edition tonight at 9 p.m. This lights off, hands-on dance party features DJS offAxis, Lemz, Sean Morris and The Barber Streisand. Cover is $5 before 10 p.m. and $10 after with a free clothes check. More information is available at greenlanterndc.com. Impact: Sauvage is a Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend kick-off party hosted by The Highwaymen TNT in the MAL host hotel at 10 p.m. TWiN spins the music until 3 a.m. for this MAL opening night event. Visit Facebook events for more information. Pervert: The Pleasure of Darkness is tonight at 10 p.m. at Karma D.C. (2221 Adams Place, N.W.). Tickets are $42 for this party featuring entertainment
by DJ Cindel and Flavio Zarza. Hosts La Fantasy, Hilton Wolman Events and Matinee Group team up for this MAL weekend production. Visit seetickets.us/ pervertdc for more information. Furball D.C. hosted by the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) is tonight at 11:30 p.m. This MAL weekend kick off party offers a bus shuttle all night to the MAL host hotel as well as music by Dan De Leon. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. VIP tickets are $30. For more information, visit furballnyc. ticketleap.com.
Saturday, Jan. 18 Deviant (1348 H St., N.E.) hosts a circuit party and celebration for queer people of color in time for MLK and MAL weekend. This event sets things off tonight at 10 p.m. and features performances by Tryfe with special guest Mr. Maryland Leather 2020 “Sir Oya.” General admission is $30 and tickets are available at deviantevents.eventbrite. com. Spank, a hard-hitting all-night party presented by The Needle Exchange and Sequence, is tonight at 10 p.m. This event celebrates both the D.C. Leather weekend and the third anniversary of the D.C. Women’s March and features sets from DJ Lisa Frank, Juliana, Ash Lauryn and Juana with sounds by Grand Ancestor. The venue location will be sent to ticket holders on the day of the event. Visit bit.ly/SPANKDC for details. Brut takes over the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) tonight at 10 p.m. DJs Dan Darlington and Morabito are set to spin NYC underground house music during this leather weekend party. Tickets start at $30 and are available at tickets.hedonicproductions.com. Find more information on this and other events at dceagle.com.
Sunday, Jan. 19 Harder, a hard tea dance party, is today from 3-9 p.m. at the U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.). This event recreates New York’s gay underground night scene with house music by Keenan Orr and Shaun J. Wright, an intimate space and a hardcore party crowd. Tickets start at $10 on bigneon.com. More information is available at ustreetmusichall.com. Uproar’s (639 Florida Ave.,
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Weekend jam-packed with piggybacking parties Round-the-clock fun planned at Eagle, Green Lantern and more N.W.) Sunday Beer Bust MAL edition kicks off today at 3 p.m. There is no cover for this event which includes a complimentary dinner buffet from 3-6 and the Beer Bust with DJ Mike Babbitt from 4-9. For more information on the venue and on Uproar’s first Daddy Night event, visit uproarlounge.com. Sungay, an outdoor day party with leather aficionados, muscle boys, bears and more, runs today from 4-10 p.m. at Eden D.C. (1716 I St., N.W.). This party takes place at a multilevel nightclub to include three floors and an outdoor space equipped with patio heaters. DJs Jerac and Paulo Fagroso spin the music at this MAL weekend event. Visit seetickets. us for tickets and details. JOX returns to the Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) tonight at 9 p.m. for a special MAL edition. This event features all-night drink specials, a $10 cover, music by DJ UltraPup and performances by the JOX boys. For details visit greenlanterndc.com. Flashy Leather Edition hosted by Flashy Sundays (645 Florida Ave., N.W.) starts tonight at 10 p.m. The cover charge is $30 for this first Flashy event of 2020, celebrating both the MLK holiday and MAL weekend. Doors open at 10 p.m. with an extended bar until 4 a.m. TWiN and DJ Sean Morris will be spinning tunes on the main floor while DJ Mike Babbitt will be running the roof top all night long. Visit facebook.com/flashydc for details. MAL Reaction Dance: The Official Closing Party of MAL is tonight at 8 p.m. at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.). Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. This intimate venue which launched hit makers like Lizzo plays host to the MAL weekend finale. For tickets and information, visit 930.com.
them. They seem dangerous to me.
QUEERY Mike Babbitt
What would the end of the LGBTQ movement look like to you? This is difficult to imagine but I guess it would be a world where we simply didn’t have to make any sacrifices to be totally accepted. What’s the most overrated social custom? Saving face.
Washington Blade photo by Michael Key
QUEERY: Mike Babbitt
The Flashy Leather Edition DJ answers 20 queer questions By JOEY DIGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com
Last month may have been “the most wonderful time of the year” for some, but for others, it’s now — Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) Weekend. “It’s my favorite event every year,” says DJ Mike Babbitt. “I’m lucky to travel to all sorts of gay events and parties and have to say MAL is at the top of my list.” Because? “I have a harness and an embarrassingly large collection of jocks, etc. I’m a big fan of the kink scene and love men who are adventurous and celebrate what gets them excited,” the 53-year-old says. “I’ve always enjoyed the men in the leather scene.” Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend runs all weekend with a full schedule of official events and dozens of piggybacking parties that literally give you roundthe-clock options all weekend. Details at leatherweekend.com.
Mike Babbitt will spin on the rooftop at Flashy Leather Edition Sunday at 10 p.m. at Flashy Sundays (645 Florida Ave., N.W.). Cover is $30 and extended bar runs until 4 a.m. Look for the event on Facebook for details. Babbitt has been spinning for 20 years and travels around the world to spin. He’s at the rooftop beer bust at Uproar every Sunday from 5-9 p.m. This will be Babbitt’s eighth MAL weekend. He says D.C.’s gay leather community is “large, diverse, inclusive and packed with friendly men.” Babbitt grew up moving every two years. After 10 years in D.C., he says it’s home. He works by day as executive producer at Da Capo Music, a record company he co-owns with a friend. He enjoys DJing, teaching fitness classes, video games and attending dance performances in his free time.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell? I’ve been out 25 years. Hardest to tell my mother. Who’s your LGBTQ hero? Harvey Milk What LGBTQ stereotype most annoys you? That we are monolithic as a community. What’s your proudest professional achievement? I composed a ballet score for a small company. The experience and joy over the years has been very rewarding. What terrifies you? I don’t feel terrified much (other than extreme heights or showing up to a DJ gig unprepared) but I do worry sometimes a little too much about what people might think of me or what I’m doing. What’s something trashy or vapid you love? Where do I start?!!! A simple thing would be an obsession I used to have with Honey Boo Boo and her reality show. I also couldn’t get enough of “Toddlers & Tiaras.” On a different subject, I love trashy clubs including sex clubs. What’s your greatest domestic skill? I’m pretty damn good at cooking comfort food. What’s your favorite LGBTQ movie or show? “Brokeback Mountain,” “Call Me By Your Name,” “Hedwig,” “Dead Poets Society”
What was your religion, if any, as a child and what is it today? I was brought up in a strict Mormon household. I went on a Mormon mission and even graduated from Brigham Young University. Today I follow a mashup of things I’ve learned over the years. What’s D.C.’s best hidden gem? For me it’s a restaurant called Pho Viet on 14th Street owned by a couple who lives above the shop. Hands down the most delicious Pho in the city. What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime? There are so many but one of the biggest for me was Donna Summer’s release of her “Bad Girls” album in 1979. What celebrity death hit you hardest? Heath Ledger If you could redo one moment from your past, what would it be? I would go back and be more watchful over a beloved dog that I took to the park and when I wasn’t paying attention she died. This moment haunts me and I desperately wish I had been paying closer attention. This is personal sadness I will carry to the grave. What are your obsessions? Music, music, music whether composing, listening, performing, learning. I love to watch ballet and modern dance. People and relationships. Finish this sentence — It’s about damn time: … we figure out how to ease human suffering across the board. What do you wish you’d known at 18? That I was gay. Why Washington? I moved to Washington to open a record company with a lifelong friend who is a native here.
What’s your social media pet peeve? Everything! I have not been able to find my personal voice or rhythm on any of the platforms and so I mostly avoid
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CALENDAR TONIGHT
Rough House: Leather Edition is tonight at 9 p.m. at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.). This lights off, hands on dance party features DJs offAxis and Lems upstairs with Sean Morris and The Barber Streisand down below. Cover is $5 before 10 p.m. and $10 after with a free clothes check. Visit greenlanterndc. com for details. Hummer at the D.C. Eagle: MAL Weekend is tonight at 10 p.m. at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.). DJs Erik Gruber, Ultra and Phoenix Rise spin tunes on the lower level for this special gear party event. General tickets are $25 on hummer-dc.brownpapertickets.com. Impact Sauvage is the Highwaymen TNT Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend kickoff party at the Hyatt Regency host hotel (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.) at 10 p.m. Cover is $10 and DJ TWiN mixes beats until 3 a.m. For more information, visit leatherweekend.com.
Saturday, Jan. 18 Chanellie’s Drag Brunch is today at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.). Tickets are $41.91. Chanel Deveraux and her team deliver drag entertainment during an allyou-can-eat brunch buffet. Tickets and information are available on Eventbrite and at nelliesportsbar.com. BLQK: A QTPOC-only Play Party hosted by Sadie V and the People of Color Kink and Leather Experience is tonight at 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn Convention Center (901 6th St., N.W.). Tickets start at $5. RSVP is required for this event. For more information, visit Eventbrite and pockle.org. The Bear Cave: #Leather hosted by Bears Can Party is tonight at 9 p.m. at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.). This leather edition features gogo boys Centaurian and Badger while DJ Popperz serves all genres. There is no cover for this 21-and-over event. For details, visit greenlanterndc.com. Goth Night 3: Season of the Bitch is tonight at 10 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.). There is no cover for this 21-andover event which includes shows by Pariah Sinclair, Domingx, Donna Slash, The Barber Streisand and more. More details are available on Facebook events. Peach Pit’s 1990s Dance Party with DJ Matt Bailer is tonight at 10:30 p.m. at DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.). Cover is $5 before midnight and $8 after. Every month’s event includes a new playlist
novel “A Long Petal of the Sea,” which is set during the aftermath of the Spanish Civil war. For tickets and details, visit Eventbrite and politics-prose.com. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures: “Swan Lake” is tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). Tickets start at $29 for this groundbreaking production. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Wednesday, Jan. 22
LIAM MOWER as the Prince in ‘Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake.’ Photo by Johan Persson; courtesy Kennedy Center
of Peach Pit-approved 90’s classics. Visit dc9.club for more information on this and other events.
Sunday, Jan. 19 The D.C. Chamber Musicians present a free concert today at 3 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (301 A St., S.E.). The program includes music from Beethoven, Debussy and Iwazen. Proceeds go to the D.C. Chamber Musicians. Visit dccos.org for more information. Pretty Boi Drag presents #PrettyBoiAnniversary 2020 tonight at 8 p.m. at Union Stage (740 Water St., S.W.). Tickets start at $25. This D.C.based drag king production celebrates its fourth anniversary with a performance from its award-winning team. For more information, visit prettyboydrag.com. The Lambda Bridge Club meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. No reservations are needed, and newcomers are welcome. Phone 202-841-0279 if you need a partner. JOX at Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend is tonight at 9 p.m. at Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.). This MAL edition features DJ UltraPup, drink specials all night and a $10 cover. Details are available at greenlanterndc.com. Flashy Leather Edition hosted by Flashy Sundays (645 Florida Ave., N.W.) is tonight at 10 p.m. Cover is $30 for this MLK and MAL weekend event. TWiN and DJ Sean Morris spin on the main floor until 5 a.m. while DJ Mike Babbitt works
the roof top. Visit facebook.com/flashydc for more information. Reaction the official MAL weekend closing dance is tonight at 7 p.m. at the 9:30 club (815 V St., N.W.). Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. A free shuttle is available from the MAL host hotel with a full weekend ticket purchase and ID. Visit 930.com and leatherweekend.com for details.
Monday, Jan. 20 March with Mayor Muriel Bowser in the 2020 MLK Parade is today at 11 a.m. starting at the US Park Police Headquarters in Anacostia Park (1800 Martin Luther King Jr., Ave., S.W.). Admission is free to participate and support this holiday peace walk and parade. Tickers and information are available on Eventbrite and Facebook events. The Let Freedom Ring Celebration featuring Chaka Khan is tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). This free, ticketed event is a musical tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with special performances by 10-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan and the Let Freedom Ring Choir led by Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. Visit kennedycenter.org for tickets and information.
Tuesday, Jan. 21 International author Isabel Allende is at Politics and Prose (600 I St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss her latest
SMYAL for the New Year 2020 is tonight from 6-8 p.m. at Longview Gallery (1234 9th St., N.W.). Tickets start at $25 and include entry and an open bar. For more information on SMYAL’s services and for tickets to this event, visit app.etapestry.com. Balinese Evening at the Embassy of Indonesia is tonight from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Indonesian Embassy (2020 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). This cultural event includes an Indonesian buffet, open bar, live Balinese dance presentation and more. Tickets are $59 at thingstododc.com. “Existenz” is the free movie at Slash Run (201 Upshur St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Video game designer Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh) goes on the run with a young Jude Law in this realitybending thriller. Visit slashrun.com for this inexpensive date night event.
Thursday, Jan. 23 Drag Queen Story Hour: Taking Pride in Fighting Religious Bigotry hosted by the AHA Center for Education (1821 Jefferson Place N.W.) is tonight at 6:30 p.m. Samantha McGuire, national field director for American Atheists, tells of the battle to host a drag queen story hour in Southern Maryland. Visit Facebook events for details and to reserve a seat to this free discussion. “One Woman, One Vote”: 25th anniversary screening is tonight at 7 p.m. at the National Archives (700 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). This free film documents the 70-year struggle for women’s suffrage and features an introduction by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a panel discussion following the film. For more information, visit archives.gov. Beverly “Miss Chocolate” White will present her queer-themed stand-up comedy show “The Ring Leader” this evening at 6 p.m. at The Ugly Mug (723 8th St., S.E.). Tickets are $15 at Eventbrite.
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“Iconic… as opulent as ever.”
—Toronto Star
This year’s Women’s March on Washington is Jan. 18. Blade file photo by Michael Key
Go Fresh! is Jan. 24
Women’s March returns Women Rising: Women’s March on Washington 2020 is Saturday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Marchers will meet at Freedom Plaza (1455 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) at 10 a.m. and with a march kickoff at 11. The march is preceded by a week of action which includes a community art build on Sunday, Jan. 12 at The Stew (925 Emerson St., N.W.) from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to make posters and other materials; a panel discussion on women and climate change at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K St., N.W.) on Monday, Jan. 13 from 6-8 p.m.; a reproductive rights, health and justice discussion on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Eaton from 6-8 p.m.; an immigration justice discussion at the Eaton on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 6-8 p.m.; and a march press conference at Freedom Plaza on Friday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. On Sunday, Jan. 19 from 10:30 a.m.1 p.m. the Eaton Hotel hosts the Fourth Wave Drag Brunch. Tickets are required to this opportunity to fellowship with women, femmes, allies and Women’s March Board honorees.
League to host Bachata night Queer/Trans Fusion Dance: Amargue Bachata Night is Sunday, Jan. 19 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at A League of Her Own (2319 18th St., N.W.). The workshop is $12, $10 if you RSVP as “going” by Saturday, Jan. 18 at midnight. A $3-5 donation is suggested for Q/T allies. QT Fusion Dance D.C. presents this Dominican-inspired dance event in partnership with Ace and Ciara’s Amargue Fusion Weekender and features guest instructor Tina Cavicchio. From 6:30-8 p.m. is the beginner and intermediate Bachata workshop followed by the open dance and social from 8-10:30. Visit qtfusiondance.wordpress.com for details.
Name Change hearing slated A Group Name Change Hearing Signup hosted by No Justice No Pride is Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the D.C. Superior Court (500 Indiana Ave., N.W.). Transgender D.C. residents needing help or emotional support from people with lived experience with the process are invited to join the group at this event. After signing up for a hearing date, which can be 60-120 days from the event, the court will issue multiple copies of the notification to mail out. There is a $60 application cost and $10-15 for post office fees. For more information, visit nojusticenopride.org/name-change.
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Guillaume Côté and Heather Ogden in The Sleeping Beauty, photo by Bruce Zinger
The Go Fresh! queer dance party hosted by Kicks and Giggles is Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 p.m. at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.). There is no cover for this house music dance party for all races, body types, gender identities and expressions. Clothes check is available, and all are invited to wear anything. Kicks and Giggles is a queer team formed by veteran DJs Ben Norman and Phil Reese who aim for LGBTQ dancers to feel free to express themselves in a safe space. Visit greenlanterndc.com for more information on this and other events.
For more information and to RSVP for week of action events, visit womensmarch.com.
The National Ballet of Canada Forsythe, Kylián & Ratmansky Jan. 28 & 29 | Opera House
The Sleeping Beauty Jan. 30–Feb. 2 | Opera House Kennedy-Center.org (202) 467-4600
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 C. Michael Kojaian. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.
The ‘Ru’-niverse expands ‘AJ and the Queen’ actor Josh Segarra on his new Netflix show with ‘Drag Race’ impresario
By BRIAN T. CARNEY
JOSH SEGARRA and RuPAUL in ‘AJ and the Queen.’ Photo by Beth Dubber; courtesy Netflix
Actor and ally Josh Segarra has been very busy lately. Last Friday (Jan. 10) when this interview took place, his new show “AJ and the Queen” started streaming on Netflix and Segarra and his wife Brace Rice brought their second son Hank home from the hospital. Segarra says the show’s audience will have a fun ride with star RuPaul and a beautiful bevy of queens from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (including guest appearances by Pork Chop, Vanessa Vanjie, Chad Michaels, Trixie Mattel, Valentina and Trinity the Tuck) as well as delicious cameos from Adrienne Barbeau, Marc Singer, Lorraine Bracco, Laura Bell Bundy, Mary Kay Place, Mario Cantone and Bridget Everett. As for the plot, Segarra says, “You’re going to meet Robert Lee, played by RuPaul, who performs as Ruby Red and you’re going to meet AJ who’s played by this awesome young actress named Izzy G. Ruby Red is going to open up a club but finds out pretty early on that all of his money was stolen by his boyfriend Hector Ramirez (played by me) who is really a con man named Damien Sanchez.
You meet Lady Danger, Damien’s partner in crime, played by Tia Carrere in an eyepatch.” He continues, “You travel across the country with Robert and AJ in their RV and you get to watch RuPaul and the queens do some great numbers. It’s a lot of fun.” Segarra had fun hanging out with the drag queens on the set. “There were days where it didn’t feel like I was going to work,” he says. “There were days when I came in for just one little scene, but I’d stay for a couple of hours and watch the queens come and do their thing. I could see how happy they were to come play. I could see their eyes light up when they came on the soundstage. They are larger than life.” Segarra says there’s a line in the script that sums up his attitude toward acting and life: “Nobody is just one thing.” He applied that to his portrayal of Hector/ Damien who is more than just a comic villain (although he is funny). Segarra weaves strands of guilt into the con man’s character and also explores the character’s complicated sexual identity
and complex feelings for Ruby Red. Segarra even says the show may have inspired him to do drag. “I told MPK (Michael Patrick King, cocreator of “AJ” and writer for “Sex and the City”) to get me some heels,” he says. “I’ve got some ideas up my sleeve — maybe I’ll pop a little Gloria Estefan number out.” The actor has a strong connection to the Estefan family. In 2015, he originated the role of Emilio Estefan in the awardwinning Broadway show “On Your Toes.” “It was an honor and a privilege to play Emilio,” Segarra says. “Just getting to know Gloria and Emilio was amazing; I grew up listening to their music. When I was a kid, my parents took a dance class and I still have a vivid memory of them dancing to one of Gloria’s songs, so this was a full circle experience for me.” “I was so proud to represent the immigrant community,” he says. “My parents moved from Puerto Rico the year before I was born. They spoiled my brother and sister and I; they worked their asses off to give us the life that we had. And I grew to respect the work the Estefans have put into their lives; they gave up everything to start their life anew. I tried so hard to tell the story of their life the best I could; I am so grateful to them.” He’s also proud to be an LGBT ally, he says. “When I came to New York City I felt like a lost boy. I was trying to find my footing and you learn that everyone is just trying to find a place to fit in. A lot of the people I hold nearest and dearest to me are in the LGBT community and I’ve seen how hard they had to struggle and I’ve heard their stories about growing up and not fitting in and I realize our stories are similar and different. We all just want to find someone who’ll tell us we’re doing OK.” “I’m there to stand up for the LGBT community,” he says. “I’m so proud that we created this show about love and acceptance.” Besides watching his scene-stealing turn as the well-endowed Staten Island Oli in Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck,” Segarra’s LGBT fans can catch him in two upcoming TV shows. He’ll be appearing in “Katy Keene,” the “Riverdale” spin-off on the CW, and he’ll be reprising his role as aspiring shoe designer Lance on the second season of “The Other Two.” In the meantime, the proud new father is building a swing set and preparing to face the challenges of raising two sons. Segarra says that older brother Gus was fine meeting baby Hank until his wife Brace picked up the baby and Gus started screaming, “No, Mama, no! Put him down.” The boys may be squabbling already, but the well-grounded actor and ally just says, “I am at such peace.”
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Special Valentine’s Day package available!
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT MASON 2019–2020 SEASON GET TICKETS 703-993-2787 OR CFA.GMU.EDU Half price tickets available for youth through grade 12!
Artist-in-Residence
Groundbreaking modern dance
BILL T. JONES/ ARNIE ZANE COMPANY
ALONZO KING LINES BALLET
What Problem?
Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. Join a public town hall discussion with Jones on Jan. 29. Details at cfa.gmu.edu.
Virginia Opera
Rossini’s celebrated comic opera
Figures of Speech
CINDERELLA Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.
NPR’S FROM THE TOP
Hosted by Anderson and Roe Saturday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m.
A live recording of the popular NPR show!
A world premiere featuring Bill T. Jones on stage
JA N UA RY 1 7 , 2020 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.COM • 27
Located on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, six miles west of Beltway exit 54 at the intersection of Braddock Road and Rt. 123.
‘Rare’ treat?
APPLY FOR DISCOUNTS ON YOUR UTILITY BILLS
New Selena Gomez effort catchy but lacking By THOM MURPHY
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Potential savings of $300-475 annually.
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Annual discount on one land line service per household.
for more info call 311 or visit doee.dc.gov/udp To apply for the telephone Lifeline Service (Economy II),call 1-800-837-4966 These discounts are for DC residents only and are subject to income eligibility requirements.
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It’s a bit like taking the temperature of pop music of the new decade. The first major pop release of 2020, Selena Gomez is out with her third studio album entitled “Rare.” It’s a well-leveraged, solid composition. The album contains a number of good songs, even if it fails to take any serious risks. On the pop music scene, Selena Gomez is in good company. Like Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, the former Disney Channel star (which hovers somewhere between a hurdle and an asset) has had a number of hits since the conclusion show “Wizards of Waverly Place” where she played the lead as Alex. With Disney Plus’s entry into the streaming world, Disney Channel stardom is likely to still give childhood celebrities like Gomez a boost. But disentangling oneself from adolescent stardom and finding a more adult demographic is something many young artists struggle with. This is even true for performers performers like Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson from One Direction, who have spent several years seeking after a more adult demographic. But this is a well-worn path for artists like Gomez. Miley Cyrus began transitioning to an older target demographic with her 2009 “The Time of Our Lives,” which featured the endlessly played “Party in the U.S.A.” But it wasn’t until her the following album “Can’t Be Tamed” that the break felt complete. The case of Gomez is slightly different, and she released several albums with her dance-pop band Selena Gomez & the Scene. “Love You Like A Love Song” is perhaps still their most popular. Shortly after the group disbanded in 2012, Gomez’s first solo album, “Stars Dance,” was released in 2013. And it was met by immediate commercial success, landing at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. And her 2015 follow-up album “Revival” quickly followed suit, with singles “Good for You (featuring A$AP Rocky)” and “Same Old Love,” making her something of a pop force to be reckoned with. And her 2016 duet with Charlie Puth “We Don’t Talk Anymore” has remained a fixture of radio play. But “Rare” is the singer’s first full album release in nearly five years. “Rare” is the third and titular single released from the album, cut and balanced with an eye toward radio play. While there is nothing vocally extraordinary going on — Gomez has this in common with Cyrus and Lovato — the production value is high and everything feels very polished. But the heart of an album is so rarely found in the singles, which are more often than not sort of one-offs. Songs like “Dance
SELENA GOMEZ’s new album ‘Rare’ is catchy and well produced but not quite the breakthrough it could have been. Photo courtesy Interscope
Again,” with its snappy baseline and dance rhythm, better capture of the aesthetic of the whole: a somewhat darkly colored, dance pop album with a glossy finish. “Kinda Crazy” pops in a mid-tempo groove and features very tasteful instrumentation: a touch of piano, a jazzy guitar riff that sets the tone and even horns. The singer’s breathy vocals hover just slightly above the mix. It’s one of the most nicely balanced pop songs in recent memory and a testament to the attention to detail that Gomez brings to her music. And it would be remiss not to mention “Cut You Off,” a delightful Saturday morning breakfastbop and relentless earworm. Humorously, the chorus repeats over and over: “So I gotta get/ you out my head now.” The second single, “Look at Her Now,” is more evidence of the masterful production and how far it take one in today’s pop music scene. Artists like Kesha (whose new album drops at the end of the month) were pioneers in this regard. And phenomenal production covers myriad other sins. But “Look at Her Now” is the pop equivalent of a nursery rhyme when you peel back the smooth synth hooks: “Of course she was sad/but now she’s glad she dodged a bullet/took a few years to soak up the tears/but look at her now, watch her go.” And the chorus drones on the annoying “Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm, mmmm,” nearly as bad as Justin Bieber’s latest “Yummy.” That leaves us with the lead single, “Lose You To Love Me,” which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard back in November. It stands apart from the rest of the album as a slower break-up anthem. It’s the only track to really showcase Gomez’s vocal power and it will ultimately make for an easy dance remix (or a dozen). Songs like it have guaranteed the commercial success of “Rare,” and in turn Gomez’s staying power. But I was hoping for a little something more from this album. It is a new decade, after all.
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Everyone is concerned with the cost of health care. At Whitman-Walker Health, we can help you find ways to pay for your care. Whitman-Walker Health has a specialized team to help you get and keep health insurance. We also have a Sliding Fee Schedule of Discounts for those unable to pay. Keep in mind, open enrollment for DC Health Link – individual, family, and small business coverage – runs through January 31, 2020 and Whitman-Walker is an enrollment center. We are here to support you in getting the care you need.
Call us at 202.745.6151 to speak with our insurance navigators. Interested in becoming a patient and want to see if we accept your insurance? Visit whitman-walker.org/accepted-insurance
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JA N UA RY 1 7 , 2020 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.COM • 29
202.745.7000 | whitman-walker.org © 2019 Whitman-Walker Health
Revitalized Detroit Easy proximity to Canada is added bonus of bustling city By BILL MALCOLM
The Charles Wright Museum of African American History is nearby at 315 East Warren. It begins in Africa and into America with the horrors of slavery followed by emancipation. It’s a stunning eye opener. Details at thewright.org. Also nearby is the Detroit History Museum where you can learn about the
Where to stay and eat
A former resident of Royal Oak, I stayed in Troy at the new Towne Place Suites (14 Mile and Stephenson) as well as at the Baymont Inn and Suites by Wyndham (a bargain hunter’s dream). Both are handy to the I-75 Chrysler Freeway and Royal Oak and Ferndale. Nearby is the Powerhouse Gym ($10 daily fee) and next door to it is the new Royal Grill (1467 W. 14 Mile in Madison Heights) which features great Lebanese food. Try the fresh carrot juice. The Marriott Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit has great views. The new Shinola is supposed to be the new boutique hotel and is also downtown as is the fabulous Westin Book Cadillac. Downtown Detroit high rises are mainly from the 1920s and 1930s and have been revitalized to their former glory. Corktown just south of downtown features great restaurants including The Mercury Grille, which is known for its burgers and fries, which are fried in lard.
Travel tips
Drag Bingo at The Five in Detroit. Photo by Bill Malcolm
Grab your passport. Your Detroit weekend getaway may want to also include a trip to Windsor, Ontario (Canada) — just two miles away from downtown Detroit via bridge or tunnel. It’s one of the many amazing things about the Motor City. You might want to take in the shopping (your dollar is worth $1.30), pick up some only-in-Canada treats (like Cadbury candies imported from Britain) and more.
Getting there You can easily fly there including on Southwest Airlines (my favorite) or on Delta (which has a hub in Detroit). You may want a car — after all this is the Motor City. Detroit has a great freeway system and you can go 70 mph even in town.
What to do The museums of Detroit are amazing and all close together in Midtown which is easily accessed from downtown via the new Q Streetcar or from the suburbs on the SMART FAST express bus. The Detroit Institute of Arts (5200 Woodward Ave.) has a special exhibit now, Michigan’s Great Lakes photo exhibit. Also on display are selection of African-American art works (Detroit Collects). Another current exhibit, Humble and Human, features Impressionist-era treasures.
historic city settled by the French in 1734 after being discovered in 1665. Indeed, it was a fur trading hub. The Museum also chronicles the city’s ups and downs including the 1967 riots. The D also has a rich music history which spans from the Motown Sound (the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and more) to Eminem (aka Marshall Mathers). Beautiful Belle Isle State Park in Detroit is on the Detroit River. You can watch the ships go by or visit the Nature Center. Birmingham is a cute suburb full of trendy shops and great restaurants. Like Royal Oak, Ferndale and Midtown Detroit, it’s very walkable.
Nightlife Don’t miss drag queen bingo and drag Sunday brunch at the Five15 (600 S. Washington Ave. in Royal Oak). Next door is Pronto which features a fun bar and restaurant. Down the road in trendy Ferndale (the gay suburb) you will find SoHo (205 9 Mile) which features a fun mixed crowd. The Hayloft Saloon in Detroit is a lot of fun. Located at 8070 Greenfield, it’s a friendly and frisky crowd. Out in Ann Arbor your will find the Aut Bar which is also a restaurant as well as the Necto nightclub. Up in Pontiac you will find the Liberty Bar and Poutinerie which features music videos on Fridays and Saturdays.
Michigan roads don’t generally have left turns. Instead, they make you do a U turn. It’s called the Michigan Left. Soft drink cans are worth 10 cents deposit. You will find great Lebanese food everywhere including food to go at gas stations. The region has a large population of Lebanese. For more information, go to visitdetroit.com for information on The D and to windsoressex.com for Windsor. The LGBTQ publications include Metra Magazine which highlights the nightlife as does OutPost which bills itself as Detroit’s gay guide. Between the Lines is now biweekly and occasionally runs my column (pridesource.com). It’s Michigan’s source for LGBTQ news as well as an informative calendar of upcoming events. The weekly in Detroit is known as Metro Times and has a lot of great entertainment ideas. The D has been totally revitalized and is a must if you have not been there lately. Written off for dead by naysayers, it has zoomed back to be an affordable, interesting, fun destination where you won’t have enough time for all there is to do. It is Midwestern friendly without the attitude of Chicago (or Toronto). You owe yourself a visit to the D.
Bill Malcolm’s syndicated LGBTQ value travel column appears in publications from North Carolina to California. He resides in Indianapolis but has lived in Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle and
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EXPRESS Yourself
A glam rock spectacle serving self-expression realness March 14 | 8PM March 15 | 3PM Lincoln Theatre | 1215 U Street NW Tickets: 877-435-9849 or GMCW.org tickets and groups of 10 or more call 202-293-1548 JA N UA RY 1 7 , 2020 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.COM • 31
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND WA S H I N G T O N , D . C .
Colonel Don Schofield, Commander and Conductor
Dining Week dazzlers
Our picks for brunch, lunch, dinner and more By EVAN CAPLAN
2020 ConcertBand FRE E CO N C E R T!
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
AARON DIEHL
THURSDAY, JAN. 23 AT 7:30 P.M.
SAVE THE DATES! Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. featuring Samantha Massell Thursday, Mar. 19, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. featuring George Curran
FREE tickets: http://usafband.eventbrite.com
Washington didn’t require the blessing of the venerable New York Times to verify what we already knew: the local restaurant scene is superlative. But we’ll take the number one place to travel in 2020 designation if we must. Before the crowds of visitors throng to our town in search of the next big bite, take advantage of Winter Restaurant Week 2020, happening now through Jan. 19 (some restaurants are extending the offer past the official end date). Note that brunch and lunch are a mere $22; dinner is $35. Many restaurants offer wine pairings. Here are five distinct meals to enjoy: Brunch — Iron Gate (1734 N St., N.W.; irongaterestaurantdc.com) The coziest of the cozy, Iron Gate first opened its doors almost 100 years ago. Its dishes are Mediterranean inspired, but its sourcing is all about local. What makes this meal exceptional here, however, is that it’s encourages sharing, and served only for a minimum of two people. Start with seasonal heirloom beet salad or pumpkin-apple bisque; entrees feature crispy catfish and ricotta gnocchi. If the sun is strong, choose a seat on the wisteria-covered garden. Lunch — Maialino Mare (221 Tingey St., S.E.; maialinoare.com) Danny Meyer of Shake Shack fame opened his first full-service restaurant outside of New York right here in D.C. earlier this month to a red-carpet, starstudded opening party. Perhaps not to hit the gas too hard during its first Restaurant Week, this highly anticipated Italian and seafood restaurant is only running lunch. Fear not, the antipasti (burrata, verdure fritti), secondi (peppered chicken, pork Bolognese) and dolci (tiramisu, gelato), are still just as divine midday. Dinner — Bresca (1906 14th St., N.W.; brescadc.com) On the other hand, always-packed, Michelin-starred 14th Street stunner Bresca is serving its Restaurant Week menu only in the evenings. Chef Ryan Ratino’s thoughtful, forward-thinking dishes are on full display even with on the smaller menu this week. Appetizers feature scallops embraced by seasonal veggies and an umami-heavy foie gras terrine alongside breakfasty touches of banana and a mini waffle. Entrees include a short rib “butterball” and the veggiecentirc carrot pansotti (ravioli). Dessert includes a dish simply titled “Ambrosia.”
The cocktails are just as colorful and creative — the menu includes house cocktails as well as the “classique-ish” list, longstanding favorites touched up by Bresca’s creative mixologists. Dessert — Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th St NW; ebbitt.com) Cheesecake. Key lime pie. Crème brulee. Straightforward, classic, timeless. The oldest dining destination in the city, Old Ebbitt has been dishing robust American favorites since illustrious President Franklin Pierce was in office. Even after 150 years, however, the classics haven’t gotten stale. The busy, handsome interiors remain warm and inviting to tourists traipsing around the Mall as well as to locals who appreciate the restaurant’s oyster happy hour. The restaurant is offering brunch, lunch and dinner: just make sure to leave room for your all-American cheesecake. Wine and cheese — Supra (1205 11th St., N.W.; supradc.com) Sure, Supra serves excellent full meals. But we all know why we dine there: the cheese boat and the wine. Order the fine, sprightly beet-fennel salad to start, but then feast the eyes on the khachapuri — the elegant, buttery carb canoes bubbling over with creamy cheese upon which reigns an organic runny egg. Supra is offering three kinds: the traditional boat-shaped, another laden with mushrooms and a third with pork and beef. To pair, order a glass or two of some famed Georgian wine, a country that’s been fermenting grapes for eight millennia.
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All about ‘Eve’
New memoir relays strictures of ultra-orthodox Jewish upbringing By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Who are you? There are many possibilities. You can answer with ethnicity, gender, social strata or surname, mention your species, family origins, religion or hobbies. So many things and yet, as in the new book “Becoming Eve” by Abby Chava Stein, only one answer really matters. Yisroel Avrom Ben Menachem Mendel was born on the 24th of Tishrei in the year 5752 — or, for those who are not UltraOrthodox Jews, the first of October, 1991. The sixth child and firstborn son, Yisroel’s birth was the cause of great jubilation: one main forebear was Baal Shem Tov, a holy leader and the founder of Hasidism. In their Brooklyn community, that made Yisroel a member of royalty. Almost from the moment of birth, the future was set: Yisroel would follow the same path laid out for the males of the family, starting with ritual circumcision and religious observances, then yeshiva to study the Torah and Jewish law, marriage at age 18 and hope for sons to continue the line. There was no alternative. The entire family lived like this, like “18th-century Eastern Europeans,” and had done so for centuries. The exception came when then-4-yearold Yisroel insisted on having always been a girl. Later, though other childish things were forgotten, those thoughts never were. They were constant, remembered, boxed up, ignored or excused. Even when theological questions roared, when religious texts seemed to confirm Yisroel’s suspicions of girlhood, when sex — a subject no UltraOrthodox Jew was supposed to know about until days before marriage — made an all-boy yeshiva more bearable, questions of gender were suppressed. At 18, “matched” with and married to a woman who was nearly a stranger, Yisroel burned with envy that wearing a bridal gown would forever be denied. Naming their firstborn son was devastating. “Oh, and gender?” says author Abby Chava Stein today. “It started punching me in the face.” Without a doubt, “Becoming Eve” may be one of the most fascinating books you’ll read this winter. Certainly, it’ll be one of the most unusual. Set in a community that is meant only for adherents, author Stein’s story is told in rich detail that lets readers imagine everyday life with restrictions most of us would chafe under, and without internet, blue jeans, fast food or English. These day-to-day details are relayed in a matter-of-fact tone that makes the severity
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703.237.5000 of the “laws” seem even more astounding because of the seeming scarcity of emotion associated in their telling. Stein’s lifelong question of gender almost seems secondary to those astonishments, but as the tale progresses, her demand for answers grows quietly in a way you almost won’t notice until it pounces on you. Whoosh, it’s a relief you never knew you were waiting for. And yet, relief is fleeting: Stein leaves readers hanging by not including an up-todate which could be frustrating in any other story, but this unusual book’s end still feels just right. For that, “Becoming Eve” is a most satisfyingly unsatisfying book, and you’ll love it no matter who you are.
‘Becoming Eve: My Journey from UltraOrthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman’ By Abby Chava Stein Seal Press $28 272 pages
JA N UA RY 17, 2020 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.COM • 33
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Test Drive the All-New
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New ‘20s autos Sleek models full of oomph By JOE PHILLIPS It’s show time! Auto show time, that is, when gearheads swoon, paparazzi swarm and cars are unveiled like movie stars at a premiere. Look for these and other top rides when they roll into town for the Washington Auto Show next week (Jan. 24-Feb. 2). COMPACT CAR: NISSAN VERSA $16,000 MPG: 32 city/40 highway Zero-60 mph: 9.2 seconds
“
Some think I should dress more like a woman. Some think I should dress more like a man.
I may not fit some ideas about gender, and I am a proud part of DC.
With all the hullabaloo about Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan honcho who skipped bail to flee Japan for Lebanon last month, it’s easy to forget the automaker offers really decent rides. This includes the redesigned Versa sedan, long the cheapest new car in America at $13,335. While the updated 2020 model is a bit more expensive, it’s still a heckuva bargain. After all, the average price of a new car today is $36,718. What’s more, this slightly larger Versa is very versatile: it’s a subcompact, but now with the cargo capacity of a compact car and the overall feel of a mid-sizer. Acceleration is a bit chug-a-lug, but steering and braking are better than the previous model. Another plus: This is one of the few vehicles that still offers a manual transmission. Front-end styling is reminiscent of a zippy Nissan Z roadster, while the rear borrows liberally from a VW Jetta. Sadly, back-seat legroom and headroom are tight, thanks to the sloped roofline. But inside, even the base model has plenty of standard features, including seven-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth. SPORT SEDAN: BMW M340i xDRIVE $54,000 MPG: 24 city/34 highway Zero-60 mph: 4.2 seconds Last year, the BMW 3 Series got a
ISSUE DATE:
SIONS GO REVISIONS NS
A D V E R T complete I S I N G makeover, P R O Oincluding F a larger chassis
and better performance. But the only engine available was a four-cylinder turbo in the 330i base model. For 2020, there’s the new M340i with a mighty six-cylinder. Alas, there’s no manual transmission, but at least the exquisite Discrimination based on gender identity and ADVERTISER SIGNATURE expression is illegal in the District of Columbia. eight-speed automatic By signing this proof you are agreeing to your contract obligations with the with launch control washington blade newspaper. This includes but is not limited to placement, payment and insertion schedule. makes for a thrilling ride. I loved mashing the If you think you’ve been the target of discrimination, visit www.ohr.dc.gov accelerator when driving on the Beltway to or call (202) 727-4559. see just how much giddy-up was under the hood. Plenty, as it turns out. Despite BMW’s typically firm suspension, this Bimmer felt easygoing and composed. And the optional GLBT AFFAIRS all-wheel drive came in handy during dicey weather. There are tons of safety gizmos, though some are pricey add-ons. And the list of amenities includes automated self-
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parking, semi-automated steering system, wifi hotspot, 16-speaker stereo and more. The gesture-control function for the infotainment system is especially cool. Just as impressive is the tasteful cabin, with brushed aluminum trim, widescreen infotainment system and a thick-rimmed steering wheel that makes you feel like an Indy contender. CROSSOVER: KIA TELLURIDE SX $42,000 MPG: 20 city/26 highway Zero-60 mph: 7 seconds The folks at Kia must have a “Star Wars” fetish. After all, why else create an all-new crossover that’s as imposing as Darth Vader? There’s the menacing grille. Gigantic black alloys. And — yikes! — those sinister-looking headlights. I even started humming “The Imperial March” when I first got behind the wheel. But hey, being a bad ass is what makes the Telluride so good. This hauler is larger than the popular Sorento (more akin to a Ford Explorer or Honda Pilot) with space for eight passengers and tons of cargo capacity. For even more room, you can switch out the second-row bench seat for two captain’s chairs. Four trim levels, but the top-of-the-line SX is worth the extra 10 grand over the base model. Along with dual sunroofs, the Telluride comes with 12-way driver’s seat, automatic high beams and 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo. The latest safety gear is standard and you can add in a head-up display, heated steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers. Despite the hulking design, I found the handling smooth and responsive. Four drive modes helped, each with plenty of kick. And high ground clearance and a ginormous windshield made for excellent driver visibility. While there is no Jedi mind trick feature, there is Driver Talk, which amplifies the driver’s voice in the rear speakers.
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Thinking about buying in 2020? It’s time to get moving ‘Spring’ market in the DMV has already begun. By VALERIE M. BLAKE Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday was last Wednesday; he would have been 91 had he not been assassinated in the prime of his life. The annual tribute to his life and his work will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. at the National Cathedral. Like many people, when I think of Dr. King, I recall the “I Have a Dream” speech he gave on Aug. 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Dr. King longed for a country where there are educational and occupational opportunities that allow all people to achieve their aspirations and goals. In my American Dream, those goals often include buying a home and becoming part of a community. So how do you choose a community that best suits you? Think about your lifestyle. Do you want a high-energy area with lots of nightlife? Maybe you prefer a sleepy suburb with easy access to shopping. Perhaps you long to be a gentleman/woman farmer in the country, tending to your fruits and vegetables. Visit some likely areas at different times of day, night, and on the weekend. Use Google or Walk Score to see what activities and creature comforts may be nearby. Go to open houses to see what you get for your money in
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different areas. If you commute to work, then the length of the commute and the type of transportation will be an important factor to consider. If you work from home, a quiet neighborhood might be more important. As a parent, you’ll want to check out the local schools. Meet with the school superintendent and chat with neighbors about their experiences. Look for children playing in parks and playgrounds nearby so
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SHOULDN’T THE FINAL MEMORIES OF A LOVED ONE BE AMONG THE FINEST? times when nothing short ofshort the bestofwill do.best A memorial ThereThere areare times when nothing the will do. A service is service one of them. is a final expression, theaculmination of a lifetime the memorial isItone of them. It is final expression, orchestrated a singular event. What leaves into a lasting culmination of into a lifetime orchestrated a impression? singular event. A ceremony is as unique as the individual. We’ll help youthat plan is as What leaves that a lasting impression? A ceremony and design every detail of your own remarkable send-off. uniqueahead as the individual. We’ll help you plan ahead and design every detail of your own remarkable send-off.
your child will assimilate easier and find new friends. If you are caring for an elderly family member, consider access to doctors, hospitals, and community centers or other places where your relative can meet people with common interests. Once you have a general idea of where you want to be, hire a real estate agent to be your representative. Your agent will refer you to a local lender to determine your purchasing power. If homes in your favorite areas are not affordable, your agent can suggest alternatives. So how do you choose the right home? Think about what home means to you. Do you like the ease of condo/coop living, where you can just lock the door and go on that fabulous trip you have planned without worrying about maintenance? Would you prefer a multi-level townhouse with lots of space or do you have a detached home with a large yard in mind? Maybe you are looking for the unicorn: a D.C. rowhouse with a legally rentable unit to offset your mortgage, allowing you to live in a large, expensive home in your preferred area. Whatever you choose, style and comfort are important. Whether this is your first home, your move-up residence, or your empty nest, the home you choose should reflect your personality and (pardon the Marie Kondo reference) spark joy. A trendy, glass and concrete building may be the sleek, modern style you’re looking for. A Victorian four square with a wrap-around porch may make you feel giddy. An A-frame in the Shenandoah Mountains may steal your heart. You’ll know it when you see it.
We’ve been told over the years that size doesn’t matter. Well, it does in real estate. To one person, a 600-square-foot condominium is great for relaxed, easy living and entertaining. To others, it’s a closet. Think seriously about how much space you need versus what you want. How about the home itself? Open floorplan or traditional rooms? Fancy kitchen to cook in or just for show? Hardwood, carpet, or both? Private outdoor space, fenced yard, or shared roof deck with a view? Whittle down your “must have” list and be prepared to compromise. At some point you may confront a fixerupper with an opportunity to create equity through remodeling. But do you have time or money for a renovation? Do you have any experience in construction or are you just there to pay the contractors? And most importantly, can your relationship withstand doing dishes in the bathtub while the kitchen is torn up? Your new home awaits, so, if you’re thinking about buying in 2020, now is the time to reflect on what you want and where it is to begin the process. The “spring” market in the DMV has already begun.
Valerie M. Blake is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland and Virginia and Director of Education & Mentorship at RLAH Real Estate. Call or text her at 202-2468602, email her via DCHomeQuest. com, or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.
REALTOR®speak Open Floor Plan Translation: Previous owner removed all supporting walls
VALERIE M. BLAKE, Associate Broker, GRI, Director of Education & Mentorship Dupont Circle Office • 202-518-8781 (o) • 202.246.8602 (c) Valerie@DCHomeQuest.com • www.DCHomeQuest.com
There are times when nothing short of the best will do. A memorial JA Nis UA 1 7It,is2020 • WA SHINGTONBLA D E.COM • 37 service one ofRY them. a final expression, the culmination of a lifetime orchestrated into a singular event. What leaves a lasting impression? A ceremony that is as unique as the individual. We’ll help you plan
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EMPLOYMENT DIVERSITY HIRING FAIR at The Potomac School is scheduled for Sat, FeB. 1, 2020. More than 30 independent schools and 130 candidates will attend this fair. Visit: https://www. potomacschool.org/about-us/ employment/diversity-hiring-fair
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PART-TIME LOAN OFFICER / PROCESSOR Howard University Employees Federal Credit Union is searching for a part-time employee to process loans. The ideal candidate will be able to interview members interested in obtaining a loan and have the abilities to work up and complete the application processes from beginning to end. Three to five years of lending experience is required. Credit union lending experience is a plus. You must have a high school diploma or equivalent. College degree is a plus. Interested candidates should email their resumes to info@huefcu.org or fax them to 202-806-4511. WHOLISTIC SERVICES, INC. Seeking Full Time Direct Support Professionals to assist intellectually disabled adults with behavioral health complexities in group homes & day services throughout D.C. Requirements: Valid Driver’s License, able to lift 50-75 lbs., complete training program, become Med Certified within 6 months of hire, pass security background check. (Associates degree preferred) For more information please contact Human Resources @ 301392-2500.
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