Washingtonblade.com, Volume 51, Issue 45, November 6, 2020

(Washington Blade photo by Parker Purifoy)

A NATION DIVIDED

Democrats underperform in another close election, PAGE 10

NOVEMBER 06, 2020 • VOLUME 51 • ISSUE 45 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

READY TO LIVE AT NATIONAL HARBOR? The Monument Series at Potomac Overlook Luxury Townhomes starting in mid $600’s

VA LOANS WITH $0 DOWN AND ALL CLOSING COSTS PAID*

TOM GAFFNEYSENIOR LOAN OFFICER NMLS ID #182206 703.307.5877 tgaffney@fhmtg.com www.GaffneyLoans.com

CURRENT INCENTIVES **

$40K in Closing Costs* *with use of preferred Lender and Title **not valid on previous contracts and must settle on or before 11/30/20.

FIRST HERITAGE MORTGAGE, LLC 3201 JERMANTOWN ROAD, SUITE 800 FAIRFAX, VA 22030 First Heritage Mortgage, LLC | Company NMLS ID #86548 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) This is an advertisement and not a guarantee of lending. Terms and conditions apply.

All approvals subject to underwriting guidelines. Prepared: 09/05/2018. *Closing costs paid when using First Heritage Mortgage and does not include pre-paids.

Pricing and terms may change, please speak with Loan Officer.

0 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0

8463

POTOMAC OVERLOOK BROWNSTONES FROM THE $600’S 503 HALLIARD LANE, NATIONAL HARBOR, MD 20745 SALES@INTEGRITYHMW.COM | (703) 223-6286

FREE STD & HIV TESTING. GetCheckedDC.org GetCheckedDC.org

walk -in

athome

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 3

Thank you to our sponsors and partners of the Washington Blade.

Style Guide v.1 | February 2018

FULL LOGO (Preferred)

WASHINGTON DC

Text Only Stack

Text Only Inline

VOLUME 51 ISSUE 45 ADDRESS PO Box 53352 Washington DC 20009 PHONE 202-747-2077 E-MAIL news@washblade.com INTERNET washingtonblade.com PUBLISHED BY Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. PUBLISHER LYNNE J. BROWN lbrown@washblade.com ext. 8075 EDITORIAL EDITOR KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com ext. 8088 SR. NEWS REPORTER LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com ext. 8079 NEWS REPORTER CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com ext. 8083 REPORTER & INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITOR MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com POP CULTURE REPORTER JOHN PAUL KING PHOTO EDITOR MICHAEL KEY mkey@washblade.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PARKER PURIFOY, PETER ROSENSTEIN, MARK LEE, LATEEFAH WILLIAMS, KATE CLINTON, KATHI WOLFE, ERNESTO VALLE, FELIPE ALFACE, YARIEL VALDÉS GONZÁLEZ, LYNARE ROBBINS, RACHAEL ESPINET, PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN, ALEX COOPER, KATLEGO K. KOL-KES, VICTOR MAUNG CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION AZERCREATIVE.COM SALES & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING STEPHEN RUTGERS srutgers@washblade.com ext. 8077 SR. ACCT. EXECUTIVE BRIAN PITTS bpitts@washblade.com ext. 8089 ACCT. EXECUTIVE JOE HICKLING jhickling@washblade.com ext. 8094 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH prockstroh@washblade.com ext. 8092 NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA 212-242-6863; sales@rivendellmedia.com For distribution, contact Lynne Brown ext. 8075. Distributed by MediaPoint, LLC

Community Partners

For more information on getting involved contact Stephen Rutgers at srutgers@washblade.com 0 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0

at

202-747-2077,

All material in the Washington Blade is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Washington Blade. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. Although the Washington Blade is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by the Washington Blade, but the paper cannot take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. A single copy of the Washington Blade is available from authorized distribution points, to any individual within a 50-mile radius of Washington, D.C. Multiple copies are available from the Washington Blade office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to get to a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 52-week mailed subscription for $195 per year or $5.00 per single issue.

Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Phil Rockstroh at prockstroh@ washblade.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Washington Blade, PO BOX 53352 Washington, DC 20009. The Washington Blade is published weekly, on Friday, by Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. Individual Subscriptions are $195 per year for 52 issues (only $3.75 per issue mailed to you USPS). Rates for businesses/institutions are $450 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices. Editorial positions of the Washington Blade are expressed in editorials and in editors’ notes as determined by the paper’s editors. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Washington Blade or its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words; commentaries should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Send submissions by e-mail to knaff@washblade.com.

©2020 BROWN NAFF PITTS OMNIMEDIA, INC.

Making pinkies spontaneously extend on Capitol Hill.

Condos from the $800’s | Townhomes from $1.1m Steps to Metro & Eastern Market | liveatwatkins.com NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 5

Pope’s civil unions support not a surprise to gay friend ‘A seismic movement within the church’ |

By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com

A gay friend of Pope Francis who lives in D.C. last week said the pontiff’s public endorsement of civil unions for same-sex couples was not a surprise.

“I was not surprised at all,” Yayo Grassi told the Blade during an exclusive interview. “To me it was like a natural consequence of the things that he’s done.”

Francis spoke about civil unions in “Francesco,” a documentary about his life. It debuted on Oct. 21 at the Rome Film Festival.

Grassi told the Blade that Francis’ comments represent a “seismic movement within the church, but it also started with a very gentle wave” in 2013 when he said gay men and lesbians should not be judged or marginalized.

“Several years ago, something like that was almost seen like a tsunami,” said Grassi. “Now we see that it really was just a gentle wave, that the tsunamis are coming little by little, that every wave that he sends out makes this movement much, much greater and difficult to walk back.”

Francis was Grassi’s teacher at a Roman Catholic high school in the Argentine city of Santa Fe in the mid-1960s. Francis—then known as Jorge Bergoglio—in 1998 became the archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Grassi and his partner in 2015 met with Francis when he was in D.C. Grassi told the Blade that he had another meeting with Francis at his office in Buenos Aires in 2008, two years before Argentine lawmakers approved a law that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Grassi said he asked Francis about it.

“He said it is not a religious law that is being debated, it is a civil law so therefore the church has nothing to do with it,” Grassi told the Blade.

“That was when he told me that you’re coming here and I know you,” he added. “We have been friends for so long. Who am I to judge you? Why would I judge you?”

Esteban Paulón, an activist in Argentina who has sharply criticized Francis over LGBTQ issues, last week told the Blade the pope “in private expressed his support” for civil unions

YAYO GRASSI and his partner met with Pope Francis in 2015 in D.C. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

for same-sex couples during the country’s marriage equality debate. Grassi said Francis told him in a 2010 letter that he did not make inflammatory comments about the marriage bill that Argentine media reports attributed to him.

“When I talked about the war of God, you know it was taken out of context,” wrote Francis, according to Grassi. “Those are words from the Bible when Moses said to the people, let’s not fight this war.

This is the war of God. It’s like you know God is going to fight for us. It wasn’t so.”

Grassi told the Blade that Francis at the end of his letter told him he “can be absolutely sure that in my diocese there is no place for homophobia.”

Francis’ support of civil unions is the latest indication of the Vatican’s more moderate tone toward LGBTQ-specific issues under his papacy.

Church teachings on homosexuality and gender identity have nevertheless not changed.

“It is very difficult to change an institution that is

over 2,000 years old,” said Grassi.

Grassi said Francis’ comments were nevertheless “an affirmation of everything that I know about him.” Grassi also acknowledged that some of his friends said they were “not enough” and Francis “is somehow cementing the fact that, OK, unions are fine. Marriage is not.”

“Obviously he can’t say that,” said Grassi. “It is impossible for the pope … it’s (not) like the pope will go out and say I support abortion or I support the death penalty. Those are things that are so extreme (within) the church that it is going to be difficult for him to say it.”

“I don’t think he would ever say it,” he added.

Grassi told the Blade that Francis with his civil union comments gave countries “permission to oppose gay marriage with this statement.” Grassi added marriage equality efforts in the U.S., Argentina and other countries began with civil unions for same-sex couples.

“If a country takes his words and decides to establish civil unions … we know that sooner or later that is going to change,” he said.

High Heel Race goes virtual D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs on Oct. 27 released a 38-minute video on its Facebook page that showcases highlights of the annual 17th Street High Heel Race in which thousands of spectators have turned out to watch as many as 100 or more drag queens compete in a three-block race to celebrate the spirit of Halloween.

The video, entitled “Best of the High Heel Race Retrospective,” was produced by the mayor’s office to commemorate the race’s 33-year tradition at a time when it had to be cancelled this year due to public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The High Heel Race is an incredibly unique expression of LGBTQ culture for the District and celebrates our diversity and creativity,” said LGBTQ Affairs Office Director Sheila Alexander Reid in the video’s opening scene. “While we cannot gather in person this year, I wish you all a really fabulous Halloween and a glamorous rest of the year. Give your ankles a rest and be assured that Mayor Bowser and I will gather again and run with you soon.”

The race was first organized in 1986 by a group of drag queens who were customers of the just opened 17th Street gay bar JR.’s. David Perruzza, the former JR.’s manager who

currently owns the gay bar Pitchers in Adams Morgan, said the race was initially held on Halloween night. Over the years, it grew in popularity and was recently taken over by the mayor’s office.

The video released by the mayor’s office, which is available for viewing on the Office of LGBTQ Affairs Facebook page, includes interviews with some of the leading participants over the years, including drag performer Shi-Queeta Lee. Others interviewed had helped in various ways to support the event. Among them are gay Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Randy Downs, whose ANC district includes the 17th Street business strip where the race is held; gay activist and nearby resident Peter Rosenstein; and LGBTQ activist and talk show host Rayceen Pendarvis.

The video includes many photos taken of the colorfully dressed race participants and spectators taken from news media coverage of the event, including photos from the Washington Blade.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Chase Brexton gala raises $215,000 Chase Brexton Health Care’s virtual gala raised $215,000 to support LGBTQ patients and other programs, the organization said last week.

The gala, “An Evening at the Moulin Rouge,” was held digitally on Oct. 24 and attended by almost 700 people. The money raised goes to the company’s Hope Lives Here Fund, which works to ensure that LGBTQ patients have access to healthcare not covered by health insurance, and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Chase Brexton is a Baltimore-based healthcare provider known for its inclusive care of LGBTQ patients. Chase Brexton serves a diverse community through facilities located in 0 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • LO CA L NE WS

Baltimore, Columbia and other locations throughout Maryland.

The gala featured a silent auction, cabaret performance and the presentation of several awards.

“This year has proved challenging,” Chase Brexton President and CEO Patrick Mutch said in a statement. “With the pandemic, we have all had to adjust to a new normal. As the world and our local communities continue to reinvent what it means to come together, we are overjoyed that so many could be with us for such an unforgettable evening.”

PARKER PURIFOY

* TAKE 45% OFF Special Order or In-Stock Merchandise

VETERANS DAY event

Choose Your Stye. Choose your size. Choose your leather or fabric.

Customize, don’t Compromise.

CHANTILLY 703.766.8000

FALLS CHURCH 703.820.8000

ROCKVILLE 301.881.3900

HamiltonsSofaGallery.com

* Off MSRP and cannot be combined with other promotions. Does not apply to Stressless® or BDI® products.

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 7

Five of six gay candidates lose bid for D.C. Council, school board Pinto beats challenger Downs by wide margin in Ward 2 race

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

| lchibbaro@washblade.com

home rule government in 1974.

Gay education advocate Allister Chang has won his race for a seat on the D.C. State Board Two other gay candidates who entered a record 23-candidate race for two at-large D.C. of Education for Ward 2, becoming the only one of six openly gay candidates running in Council seats up for election this year also lost their races. Joe Bishop-Henchman, who Tuesday’s D.C. election to emerge as a winner for seats on the nonpartisan school board serves as chair of the D.C. Libertarian Party and ran as a Libertarian, finished in 15th place and the D.C. Council. with 3,087 votes or 0.91 percent of the vote.

According to preliminary returns by the D.C. Board of Election, Chang received 48 Gay Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner percent of the vote in a four candidate race, beating Alexander “Alex” Padro, who ran as an independent, challengers Sarah Mehrotra, who received 33.6 finished in 18th place with 2,254 votes or 0.66 percent, James Harnett, who received 11.9 percent, BROOKE PINTO won big over gay challenger Randy Downs in Ward 2.

(Photo courtesy Pinto campaign) percent of the vote, according to the Board of and Christopher Etesse, who received 5.1 percent Elections returns released at midnight. of the vote.

Incumbent Council member Robert White, Chang will replace incumbent gay Board of the Democratic nominee, came in first place with Education member Jack Jacobson, who chose not 84,884 votes or 25 percent of the vote. Former to run for re-election and who endorsed Chang.

Council staff member Christina Henderson, who In what some political observers considered ran as an independent, finished in second place to a hotly contested race, incumbent D.C. Council capture the second of the two at-large seats up for member Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) defeated election, with 50,239 votes or 14.8 percent. gay Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Both White and Henderson have been strong, Commissioner Randy Downs by a margin of 68.5 longtime supporters of LGBTQ rights. Henderson percent to 20.5 percent in a four candidate race worked with LGBTQ activists on various issues for the Ward 2 Council seat, according to returns while working for Council member David Grosso released by the election board shortly after (I-At-Large), who chose not to run for re-election to midnight. Downs ran as an independent. the seat that Henderson will fill in January.

The other two candidates, independent Martin The other two unsuccessful gay candidates ran Miguel Fernandez and Statehood Green Party for an at-large seat on the State Board of Education candidate Peter Bolton received 7.1 percent and in a six-candidate race. Gay former teacher and 2.8 percent respectively. longtime education advocate Mysiki Valentine Pinto, who has expressed strong support for finished in third place with 30,757 votes or 18.6 LGBTQ issues, is a political newcomer to D.C. and percent of the vote. Gay Howard University Political won the Democratic primary in June by less than Science Department Chairman Ravi K. Perry finished 100 votes in a multi-candidate race. Downs, who in fifth place with 17,552 votes or 10.6 percent. has been active in Ward 2 affairs for at least 10 years, Both Valentine and Perry received more votes received support from a wide range of community than President Donald Trump received in the D.C. activists and small businesses, including a number presidential election contest against former Vice of the restaurants and bars in the Dupont Circle President Joe Biden. Trump received 12,112 votes, area. He raised over $168,000 since entering the or 5.7 percent in D.C. as of the release of the midnight returns by the D.C. Board of Elections.

Ward 2 race in July, surpassing the amount Pinto raised for that four-month period.

Biden received 196,505 votes or 92 percent in D.C. Pinto entered the race in February and also received a number of prominent The winner in the race for the at-large school board seat, Jacque Patterson, received endorsements, including from some LGBTQ activists and from the Washington Post.

52,847 votes or 31.9 percent. Patterson has expressed support for LGBTQ issues and like Although many observers considered the 2020 election to be different from past city Valentine and Perry has promised to be an advocate for policies that address the needs of elections, Pinto’s victory continues the longstanding trend in which the Democratic Party LGBTQ students in the city’s public school system. nominee for the Ward 2 Council seat has won in every general election since D.C. began its

Harris defeats trans challenger in Md. Mia Mason on Tuesday lost her race to unseat U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) in Maryland’s 1st congressional district.

The Associated Press called the race for Harris around 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday with under 40 percent of the vote counted. Harris led Mason by more than 50,000 votes.

Mason, a transgender veteran, would have been the first openly trans person elected to Congress.

Mason lost in a district that includes the Eastern Shore and portions of northern Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties. The district leaned heavily Republican in 2016, with 60 percent of voters casting ballots for President Trump.

“We knew all along that we were running an incredibly hard, uphill battle,” Mason told the Washington Blade in a statement. “We are going to see how well we were able to match or beat past matches as we did all of this during a pandemic while being out-raised at $1.5 million to $60,000. I’m incredibly proud of my staff and promise that I’m not going anywhere.”

Harris remains the only Republican member of Maryland’s congressional delegation. The Human Rights Campaign labeled him as one of the most “anti-equality” House members, saying he has “gone out of his way” to support anti-LGBTQ legislation. Harris in 2020 received a zero out of 100 rating on HRC’s congressional scorecard. He has also voted in line with Trump’s position in 92 percent of House votes through his career, making him one of the president’s most loyal members in Congress.

PARKER PURIFOY 0 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • LO CA L NE WS

MIA MASON

(Photo courtesy of the Mason campaign)

Does your CHECKING

$

PAY YOU

DOCFCU DOCFCU.org

annually*?

You can join DOCFCU, and join 16,000+ households who bank remotely, worldwide. Call us or email Sevice@DOCFCU.org!

202.808.3600 Outside D.C., call us toll-free, 888.626.984

Branch Locations Herbert C. Hoover Bldg, Rm B0038-A, Washington, DC 20230 1325 East West Hwy, Metro II Bldg, Silver Spring, MD 20910 1724 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20505

*$402 earned based on an average monthly balance of $20,000 at 2.01% APY (Annual Percentage Yield) SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE, restrictions apply.

TOO MUCH MONEY IS LOST TO HEALTH CARE FRAUD. Treat your health care dollars like real money!

Because it is real money!

+ Largest LGBT owned title company + Billions of dollars in transactions closed annually + 6 in house attorneys + Residential and commercial transactions + In home and in office refinance settlements + Licensed in DC, DE, MD, NJ, VA & WV

REPORT HEALTH CARE FRAUD! If you have or someone you know has…..

• Been double billed (billed twice) • Been billed for products or services not received • Been offered free services • Had personal information misused Call 202-434-2099 (all calls are confidential) or email LCESMP@aarp.org

Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an affiliate of AARP.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0042 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 9

The race between President Trump and Joe Biden was still too close to call at Blade press time on Wednesday.

Presidential election results too close to call Biden appears slightly ahead in battleground states

By MICHAEL K. LAVERS | mlavers@washblade.com

The results of the presidential election as of Wednesday afternoon remained up in the air.

The New York Times reports Joe Biden as of 11:30 a.m. was ahead of President Trump in the Electoral College by a 227-213 margin. The final vote counts in the battleground states of Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania have not been officially announced.

Trump was ahead of Biden in Georgia by a 50.3-48.5 percent margin with 93 percent of votes reporting. The remaining vote tallies from the counties around Atlanta, which is a Democratic stronghold, have yet to be counted.

The New York Times reports Trump was ahead of Biden in North Carolina by a 50.1-48.7 percent margin with an estimated 95 percent of votes counted. The Tarheel State accepts mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day up to Nov. 12.

Biden as of the Blade’s print deadline was ahead of Trump in the popular vote by a 50.248.1 percent margin. The president early Wednesday incorrectly declared himself the winner, even though millions of ballots from battleground states had yet to be counted.

Election Day took place against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic that continues to rage throughout the country. A record number of absentee and mail-in ballots that needed to be counted delayed election results in many states.

Annise Parker, the former mayor of Houston who is the president of the LGBTQ Victory

Fund, is among the activists who have said all votes should be counted before a winner is declared. The Transgender Law Center, the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and more than 60 other transgender-led advocacy groups echoed this call.

“This year saw more absentee, mail-in and early voting than any previous election, and as such, will require additional time to guarantee that each ballot cast will be counted by election officials,” said the groups in a press release. “Though President Trump is falsely declaring victory and denying the legitimacy of ballots legally received or counted after election day, every vote needs to be counted.”

Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith echoed this message.

“The presidential election wasn’t decided last night, and until it is, Equality Florida joins the national demand that every ballot be counted,” she told the Blade on Wednesday.

Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson echoed this message.

“Democracy means ensuring every eligible voter has the right to have their voice heard and their vote counted,” he said in an email to his organization’s supporters. “Counting every vote may take longer this year because of an increase in voting by mail—and that is OK.” “This time-tested process is a sign our democracy is working,” added Johnson. “So, we urge patience by Americans as the votes are counted and verified. In this way, your voices will be heard loud and clear across Illinois and America.”

New Congress to have nine LGBTQ members Democrats have gained at least two seats in the U.S. Senate with former Colorado Gov. John Hickerlooper’s victory over U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.)’s loss to Mark Kelly. Republican Tommy Tuberville defeated U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.).

The races between U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon and U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Jon Ossoff had not been declared as of deadline. Democrat Raphael Warnock will face off against U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) in a Jan. 5 runoff.

It was not immediately clear as of deadline whether Democrats would regain control of the Senate. Democrats maintained control of the U.S. House of Representatives, even though U.S. Reps. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) are among the Democratic incumbents who lost their seats.

The seven openly LGBTQ members of Congress—U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.)—all won re-election.

New York City Council member Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones, who is also from New York State, made history as the first openly gay candidates of color elected to Congress.

Gina Ortiz Jones and former National Stonewall Democrats President Jon Hoadley lost their respective races in Texas and Michigan.

“Growing up poor, Black and gay, I never imagined someone like me could run for Congress and win,” said Jones in a press release the Human Rights Campaign issued on

Wednesday.

A second press release that HRC released on Tuesday night cited “early” exit polls from Edison Research that indicate LGBTQ voter turnout was a “historic high” at 7 percent of the entire electorate, compared with 6 percent of the electorate in 2018 mid-term election and 5 percent in the 2016 presidential election.

«Over the last weeks, millions of LGBTQ people and Equality Voters in all 50 states and DC had the chance to cast their ballots,” said HRC in its press release. “And LGBTQ people turned out in droves. LGBTQ voters turned out in numbers nearly double their proportion of the population.

Parker in a statement to the Blade noted “LGBTQ candidates made historic inroads in state legislatures across the country, winning in states and chambers where we never have before.” They include Delaware state Sen.-elect Sarah McBride, who is the first openly transgender person elected to a state senate in the U.S. Vermont state Rep.-elect Taylor Small is the first openly trans person elected to her state’s legislature. Oklahoma state Rep.-elect Mauree Turner is the first non-binary person elected to a state legislature in the U.S. Florida state Rep. Shevrin Jones is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Florida Senate. Jabari Brisport, who is a gay Black man, won his race for the New York State Senate.

“These down-ballot victories reflect where America stands on the inclusion of LGBTQ people in our nation’s politics and each one represents an important step forward on the march towards equality,” said Parker.

1 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 1

N.Y. candidates become first openly gay Black men elected to Congress

It’s official: Voters in New York gave final approval Tuesday night to U.S. House candidates Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres, making them the first openly gay Black candidates elected to Congress.

Jones was elected in New York’s 15th congressional district in the Bronx and Torres prevailed in New York’s 17th congressional district upstate. The LGBTQ Victory Fund, which seeks to elect LGBTQ candidates to public office, called the races in favor of Jones and Torres after polls closed in New York at 9 p.m.

Both candidates were running in among the most “blue” districts in the United States, so their wins against Republican challengers were expected. The major hurdle for them was winning their Democratic primaries, which they did in June. (However, it took state officials in NY-17 six weeks to count the unprecedented number of mail-in ballots and officially declare Torres the winner.)

Torres won a crowded primary in which his main opponent was New York City Council member Ruben Diaz Sr., who’s one of the few remaining anti-LGBTQ Democrats and once said the council is “controlled by the homosexual community.” After his defeat, Diaz announced he’d retire from politics.

In an interview with the Blade in September, Torres said he wants to pursue big changes in the style of President Franklin Roosevelt to lift the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have a once in a century opportunity to make a massive investment in the United States, on the scale of the New Deal,” Torres said. “We have a once in a century opportunity to fight catastrophic climate change, create the next generation of jobs, enable our economy and society to recover from COVID-19 and build a comprehensive safety net that catches all of us when we fall and fight systemic racism, which has been centuries old. We are living in the makings of an FDR moment.”

In addition to being one of the first openly gay Black candidates elected to Congress, Torres would also be the first out Afro-Latino elected to Congress.

Jones, who won his primary in NY-15 by riding an insurgent wave against Democratic

MONDAIRE JONES and New York City Council member RITCHIE TORRES (D-District 15) are the first openly gay Black men elected to Congress. (Photo of Jones courtesy campaign; photo of Torres public domain)

incumbents, said in an interview with the New York Times in July his primary win demonstrates voters have embraced progressive values on combating climate change and racial injustice.

“Growing up poor, Black, and gay, I never imagined someone like me could run for Congress, let alone win,” Jones is quoted as saying. “Indeed, in the 244-year history of the United States, there has never been an openly gay, Black member of Congress. That changes this year.”

Annise Parker, CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, said in a statement Jones and Torres “shattered a rainbow ceiling and will bring unique perspectives based on lived experiences never before represented in the U.S. Congress.”

CHRIS JOHNSON

McBride becomes first out trans state senator Sarah McBride, who once made history at the Democratic National Convention in 2016, achieved another milestone Tuesday night by winning an election in Delaware to become the highest-ranking openly transgender state legislator in the United States.

“I’m so thankful to the hundreds of volunteers who made calls, sent texts, and talked to voters to bring our neighbors together,” McBride said in a statement. “I’m humbled by the support of neighbors and ready to work every day to make a difference in the lives of all the residents of the First Senate District. I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too.”

McBride, who was running for a seat in the Delaware State Senate was expected to win the heavily “blue” First Senate District, which includes parts of Wilmington. The LGBTQ Victory Fund, which seeks to elect LGBTQ people to political office, declared the race for McBride shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m.

Previously, McBride worked as national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign.

When she addressed the Democratic National Convention in 2016, she became the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention in the United States.

Annise Parker, CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, said in a statement McBride’s win “is a

SARAH MCBRIDE becomes the highest-ranking openly transgender legislator in the United States.

(Blade file photo by Michael Key)

powerful testament to the growing influence of transgender leaders in our politics and gives hope to countless trans people looking toward a brighter future.”

Currently, there are four openly transgender state legislators: Virginia State Del. Danica Roem (D-Va.), the first out trans person to win and serve in a state legislature, as well as Colorado State Rep. Brianna Titone and New Hampshire State Reps. Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon.

In Pennsylvania, Rachel Levin is secretary of health and has the distinction of being the highest-ranking openly transgender official in the United States.

McBride was one of a handful of transgender candidates expected to make history Tuesday night by winning milestone elections.

In Vermont, Taylor Small won election to a seat in the Vermont State House, the first openly transgender person ever elected to the Vermont Legislature.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Byers was expected to become the first openly transgender state legislator in Kansas and the first out transgender person of color elected to a state legislature in the United States.

CHRIS JOHNSON

Pappas wins re-election in N.H.; Hoadley loses in Mich.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) on Tuesday won re-election.

The Associated Press declared the gay Democrat the winner of his race against Republican Matt Mowers in New Hampshire’s 1st congressional district at 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Jon Hoadley lost his bid for Congress to U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.).

1 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

The Associated Press declared Upton the winner early Wednesday morning.

Hoadley, the former president of the now-defunct National Stonewall Democrats, is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. Hoadley would have been the first openly LGBTQ person to represent the Wolverine State in Congress.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

BMW of Fairfax | DC Metro’s #1 Center 8427 Lee Highway | Fairfax VA 22031 (855) 527-9457

To reserve your offer or check availability,

please call 855-527-9457!

BMW of Fairfax | DC Metro’s #1 Center

Thank You to all our current and former members of the Armed Services from BMW of Fairfax.

We would love the chance to earn your business and show our appreciation.

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 3

A tale of two gays: Buttigieg vs. Grenell on campaign trail

High-profile surrogates courted LGBTQ vote for Biden, Trump

By CHRIS JOHNSON | cjohnson@washblade.com

Two gay campaign surrogates — Richard Grenell and Pete Buttigieg — made waves in the media highlighting LGBTQ support in the presidential election on opposing sides in making the case for which candidate was the better choice.

Buttigieg appeared at Joe Biden rallies and hit the media circuit to stump for Biden. Meanwhile, Grenell drew crowds at Trump Pride events in competitive states — along with Tiffany Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle — as the face of LGBTQ outreach for President Trump’s campaign to win re-election.

Grenell, during an appearance on Fox News on Saturday, predicted gays would form an increased component of a voting bloc re-electing Trump on Election Day along with other communities.

“When you look at the coalition that has come together for President Trump, it’s working class, it’s more Blacks, more Hispanics, more gays, more working class than ever before,” Grenell said. “I think that Donald Trump is set to win this bigger than he won in 2016 just because of the coalition and the excitement.”

(At press time, the result of the election remained undetermined; visit washingtonblade.com for updates.)

Grenell’s prediction, however, would be a remarkable change from the LGBTQ community’s history of overwhelmingly siding with the Democratic nominee in presidential contests. That’s likely to continue given the anti-LGBTQ record Trump has established, including a transgender military ban and excluding LGBTQ people from enforcement of civil rights law.

Additionally, Grenell’s view isn’t consistent with the best available polling.

A GLAAD poll last month found 76 percent of LGBTQ people back Biden, compared to 17 percent who support Trump.

Buttigieg, who made history as an openly gay presidential candidate in the From left, former Acting Director of National Intelligence RICHARD GRENELL and former Mayor of Democratic primary, stumped for Biden, even appearing on Fox News to South Bend, Ind. PETE BUTTIGIEG stump on opposing sides on campaign trail.

(Photo of Grenell public domain; Blade photo of Buttigieg by Michael Key) dismantle conservative attacks on the Democratic nominee.

During an appearance on Fox News on Oct. 22, Buttigieg shot down questions Buttigieg, therefore, are positioning themselves as prime candidates for high-level jobs in about Hunter Biden’s alleged emails by redirecting the issue to Trump having a bank the upcoming administration, depending on whether or not the person they’re backing account in China as reported by the New York Times. succeeds.

“That’s not like, you know, something somebody said that used to work with somebody For Grenell, an appointment to the Trump administration would be a return for him after related to the president. That’s a matter of documented fact. And they won’t even tell us serving as U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence. Grenell what bank it’s with,” Buttigieg continued. “Does that bother Americans? I’m pretty sure it appears to have his eyes on a high-level job in foreign policy, either as national security bothers Americans a lot more than what they’re trying to whip up for the last 12 days of this adviser or secretary of state. election season.”

In an essay posted Oct. 28 for Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for International During prep for the vice presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence, Relations and Politics, Grenell laid out a foreign policy vision consistent with Trump’s Buttigieg was a stand-in for Pence — ironically taking on the role of a notoriously anti-LGBTQ “America First” approach, which would seek new bilateral relations with Russia to ramp up politician as a gay man — during practice sessions for Harris. competition with China.

Buttigieg made a reference to that role during a Florida rally on Oct. 28 on the campaign “If one thread connected my time as US Ambassador to Germany, it was the effort to trail for Biden as well as his appearance on Fox News. convince America’s European allies that their current position is untenable,” Grenell writes.

“I have told the Biden-Harris campaign I would go anywhere to support the cause,” “I spent much of my time in Berlin helping coordinate responses to Chinese and Russian Buttigieg said. “I didn’t know that would mean going into the mind of Mike Pence for a while espionage, technology theft, political interference, violations of sovereignty, threats to to help with debate prep. I didn’t know it would mean going on Fox News quite as often as freedom of speech, and attempts to purge historical facts. It is clear that the Kremlin and it has.” the Chinese Communist Party will not eventually converge with the values and interests of It was the same rally where Buttigieg shot down a pro-Trump heckler, asking him if he’d Western Europe.” denounce white supremacy. When the heckler in the “Make America Great Again” hat Buttigieg would be coming to the federal government for the first time — and several apparently responded in the affirmative, Buttigieg replied he agrees, adding “That’s a possible appointments would be viable for him given his background as former South Bend beginning. Now see if you can get your president to do the same thing.” mayor, Afghanistan war veteran, Rhodes scholar and McKinsey consultant.

With both surrogates presenting a tale of two gays in the presidential election, an observer Elliot Imse, a spokesperson for the LGBTQ Victory Institute, said Buttigieg set himself might think they’ve opened up the first page of Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” and up for an important post in the Biden administration by helping on the campaign trail and essentially hearing, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” endorsing Biden early in the Democratic primary.

In one recent incident, there’s been crossover between Grenell and Buttigieg. For “Disunity among Democrats contributed to the disaster that put Trump in office and much suggesting the Biden campaign would instate lockdowns to contain the coronavirus of Pete’s decision making is built around avoiding that in 2020,” Imse said. “Pete left the pandemic, Grenell on Sunday took Buttigieg to task, mocking the Biden surrogate for primary race before Super Tuesday to promote unity in the party and now he is working to saying “everything is on the table.” ensure those he inspired get out and vote for Joe Biden. That he has been such an effective “Yikes! Mayor Pete says a total lockdown across the country is being considered by Joe surrogate will certainly put him on the short list for jobs in the new administration.”

Biden,” Grenell tweeted.

Imse identified numerous jobs that would be suitable for Buttigieg in a Biden A fuller look at Buttigieg’s comments in response to Jake Tapper’s question on CNN’s administration, adding the LGBTQ Victory Institute would assist him through its Presidential “State of the Union” on whether another lockdown should be on the table reveal Buttigieg Appointments Project initiative. wasn’t quite as definitive.

“His appointment as secretary of state or ambassador to the United Nations would send “Well, hopefully it doesn’t come to that because we will see swift action coordinating a strong signal that America is recommitting itself to LGBTQ equality at home and abroad,” with and supporting public health authorities, telling what we can do as citizens without Imse said, “His appointment to lead Veterans Affairs just 10 years after the repeal of ‘Don’t requiring any kind of mandates, but everything has to be on the table in order to keep Ask, Don’t Tell’ would also be historic. Pete proved himself a competent administrator Americans safe,” Buttigieg said. and strong communicator both as a mayor and as a presidential candidate and those are In both situations, Trump or Biden would owe a debt of gratitude to these surrogates qualities any president would look for in building a team.” for motivating voters if their respective campaigns prevail in the election. Grenell and 1 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

Supreme Court appears to side with foster care agency against gay couples

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Fulton vs. City of Philadelphia on Wednesday.

(Blade file photo by Michael Key)

‘Cutting off homes to spite the Catholic Church’

By CHRIS JOHNSON | cjohnson@washblade.com

With a new 6-3 majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, conservative justices appeared to side Wednesday with a religious-affiliated agency seeking a First Amendment right to reject LGBTQ couples in foster care services.

In the case of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Catholic Social Services argues a First Amendment right to refuse to place children with same-sex couples even though it signed a contract with Philadelphia agreeing not to engage in antiLGBTQ discrimination through its taxpayer-funded activities.

During oral arguments, conservative justices — displaying open animosity toward non-discrimination rules for religious institutions — seemed poised to rule to allow Catholic Social Services to reject LGBTQ couples in foster care services.

In the case of U.S. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, the animus wasn’t just directed at LGBTQ non-discrimination principles, but the very idea LGBTQ couples would be suitable parents at all.

During questioning for Neal Katyal, who was arguing on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, Thomas asked if the municipality has an interest in ensuring children are placed into suitable homes, which implies LGBTQ couples aren’t suitable.

“Don’t you think it’s in the best interest of the the child to also have a pool, that is, that is beneficial to the child?” Thomas asked. “I don’t understand why that isn’t also in the best interest of the child.”

Katyal, rather than starting a fight with Thomas over the premise of his question, said the city “100 percent agree[s],” but shifted the argument to why the non-discrimination requirements are important.

“The city’s point is that when you enable an FCA to discriminate on the basis of orientation that will stigmatize the youth, that is a compelling interest,” Katyal said. “LGBT kids are an outsize number of people in the foster care population, and it’ll undermine the ability of the program to operate.”

In a huff, U.S. Associate Justice Samuel Alito sneered that the City of Philadelphia only terminated its contract with Catholic Social Services because of hostility toward religious views against same-sex marriage.

“If we are honest about what’s really going on here, it’s not about ensuring that same-sex couples in Philadelphia have the opportunity to be foster parents,” Alito said. “It’s the fact that the city can’t stand the message that Catholic Social Services and the archdiocese are sending by continuing to adhere to the old-fashioned view about marriage.”

The case came about in 2018 when the City of Philadelphia found out Catholic Social Services wasn’t abiding by these rules. The city terminated the contract with the foster care agency.

U.S. Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh criticized the City of Philadelphia, saying governments should be trying to find “win-win” solutions to accommodate same-sex marriage and religious objections.

“But when I look at this case, that’s not at all what happened here,” Kavanaugh said. “It seems like Philadelphia created a clash, it seems, and was looking for a fight, and brought that serious controversy all the way to the Supreme Court.”

With a new 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, the views conservative justices expressed would suggest Catholic Social Services is headed for a win.

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, however, kept his cards close to his chest compared to his more conservative colleagues.

Roberts, consistent with his recent practices of siding with

the liberal justices, opened up questioning in oral arguments by suggesting Philadelphia, not the Supreme Court, is best positioned to settle this issue.

“This is a case involving Free Exercise rights, but it’s in tension with another set of rights, those recognized in our decision in Obergefell,” Roberts asked. “And whatever you think, or however you think that tension should be resolved as a matter of government regulation, shouldn’t the city get to strike the balance as it wishes when it comes to setting conditions for participating in what is, after all, its foster program?”

Attorneys arguing before the Supreme Court cited multiple decisions on religious liberty, maintaining on both sides the freedom of religion under the U.S. Constitution benefits their arguments.

Katyal, arguing on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, said the broad ruling sought by Catholic Social Services would open the door to invidious discrimination — not just against LGBTQ couples.

“This case, I think as [the late U.S. Associate] Justice Scalia might say, comes as a wolf,” Katyal said. “Petitioners’ rule would enable an FCA to exclude parents of any religion — from Buddhist to Baptist — and this court — because it can’t second guess the reasonableness of a belief — it opens the door to all sorts of claims…and it radiates far beyond foster care to hold government contracts in all 50 states.”

Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket Law firm, argued on behalf of Catholic Social Services, that the City of Philadelphia is denying the placement of children in foster care into homes because it won’t allow Catholic Social Services to conduct services consistent with its religious views.

“The city has no compelling reason for excluding Catholic Social Services, which has exercised its faith by serving at-risk children in Philadelphia for two centuries, nor does it have any interest in refusing to allow the agency to step aside and provide referrals elsewhere,” Windham said.

Representing the Trump administration in the argument was Hasim Moopan, counselor to the U.S. solicitor general, who maintained the City of Philadelphia was hostile toward Catholic Social Services. (However, that argument suggests the Trump administration is seeking a ruling akin to the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision, which would be limited in nature and not a sweeping First Amendment decision as sought by Becket Law.) “What the city has done is worse than cutting off its nose to spite its face, what it is doing is cutting off homes from the most vulnerable children in the city to spite the Catholic Church,” Moopan said.

A major point of contention was whether the Supreme Court could allow Catholic Social Services to reject LGBTQ families in foster care, but still require them to abide by non-

discrimination laws on the basis of race and, for example, prohibiting discrimination against interracial couples.

In response to a question from the newly confirmed U.S. Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Windham denied that allowing Catholic Social Services to reject LGBTQ families would open the door to another case allowing a foster care agency to discriminate on the basis of race.

“No, your honor,” Windham replied. “If that case were even to get to strict scrutiny, this court has been clear in Loving [v. Virginia] and other cases the government has a compelling interest in ending racial discrimination. It’s a far cry from here, where [Philadelphia Department of Human Services] Commissioner [Kimberly] Ali said that the interest is no stronger or no weaker than enforcing any other policy. It’s hard to imagine the city making that kind of concession in a case involving interracial marriage.”

U.S. Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, one of few liberal justices remaining on the bench, was irate over the idea the Supreme Court would issue a ruling discrimination is permissible, just as long as it isn’t racial discrimination, asking Moopan to clarify whether that is in fact the administration’s position.

“I want to interrupt you right here, because the two of you said this, that we should write an opinion, which says discrimination on the basis of race constitutionally speaking is different than the discrimination on the basis of gender, on the basis of gender, on the basis of nationality, on the basis of homosexuality,” Breyer said.

Without explicitly affirming that was the case, Moopan argued the Supreme Court has previously made rulings about “how race is unique in this country’s constitutional history and eradicating that type of racial discrimination presents a particularly unique and compelling interest.”

U.S. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed out the City of Philadelphia has shifted its argument to saying even without the contract Catholic Social Services was violating its nondiscrimination ordinance.

Windham, responding to Gorsuch’s questioning on the matter, called that shift an “important fact.”

“If we’re going to take the city at its word there, what it means is that we’ve stepped out of the contracting context now, and we are firmly in the regulating context,” Windham said. “What the city is saying to Catholic Social Services is that it is illegal for you to do this work in the city of Philadelphia according to your religious exercise, whether you contract with the government or not.”

All eyes during oral arguments were on Barrett given she’s a new justice on the court. Although she wasn’t as harsh as some of her conservative colleagues on the bench, she nonetheless appeared sympathetic to Catholic Social Services.

NAT I O NA L NE WS • NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 5

33 LGBTQ candidates win election to ANC seats across D.C. Gay Trump supporter loses race in Ward 8

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

Gertrude Stein Democratic Club Vice President MONICA NEMETH ran unopposed in her ANC race. ashin ton lade file photo b

WEBLIME.COM

Now Leasing!

Brand New Tax-Credit Community

301-703-2233

1&2-bedroom apartments starting at $1117.

Income restrictions apply. Please visit TrioDcApts.com for more information.

1 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • LO CA L NE WS

ichael e

At least 33 out of 47 known LGBTQ candidates running for Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats in all eight of the city’s wards won races on Tuesday, according to the latest returns available Wednesday afternoon from the D.C. Board of Elections.

Twenty-five of the 47 LGBTQ candidates, most of whom are incumbent commissioners, ran unopposed. Among the 25 who ran in a contested race, 22 appear to have lost and 9 have won. Returns from the Board of Elections, although not listed as the final results, show the losing candidates to be far behind their respective opponents in the latest vote counts.

Among those who have lost their race was gay Republican activist and Trump supporter Isaac Smith, who was in third place in a four-candidate race for ANC 8A06 in the Anacostia neighborhood of Ward 8. Smith, who received news media coverage as a candidate appearing to be at odds with the solidly Democratic constituents in Ward 8, insisted he is a loyal Ward 8 resident committed to fighting for local neighborhood issues.

Lesbian candidate and longtime Ward 8 community activist Aiyi’nah Ford, who was among the other three candidates running for the 8A06 seat, was in second place in the most recent voter returns, with 187 votes or 21.6 percent. Smith had 136 votes at 10.9 percent.

The presumed winner in the race, community activist Robin McKinney, received 432 votes at 49.8 percent. The fourth candidate in the race, Kristina Leszcak, had 95 votes at 10.9 percent.

McKinney, the presumed winner, told the Blade she has a lesbian daughter and considers herself a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community.

“I’m 100 percent supportive,” she said. Among other things, McKinney said she has had interactions with the Anacostia-based LGBTQ youth group Check It Enterprises, which she said produced T-shirts for her campaign as part of the group’s work in producing T-shirts and other clothing related merchandise.

Among the ANC incumbent candidates who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s election was Gertrude Stein Democratic Club Vice President Monica Nemeth, who became the city’s first out transgender elected official when she first won election to her ANC seat in Ward 3.

D.C. gay attorney Kyle Mulhall has emerged as the apparent winner in the hotly contested race for the ANC 2B09 seat in the Dupont East community in his challenge to incumbent Ed Hanlon. The latest available returns show Mulhall had 625 votes at 64.5 percent compared to Hanlon, who had 338 votes at 34.8 percent.

In the nearby Logan Circle area ANC 2F07 district, LGBTQ candidate Rehana Mohammed appears to have beat gay incumbent commissioner Kevin Sylvester by a margin of 62.2 percent (361 votes) to 36.7 percent (213 votes) for Sylvester.

In the adjacent ANC 2F08 district, LGBTQ candidate Alexandra Bailey was ahead of challenger Janice Ferebee by a margin of 54.4 percent (249 votes) to 44.8 percent (205 votes) for Ferebee.

Incumbent gay commissioner John Fanning in 2F04 and gay commissioner John Guggenmos in 2F02, both in the Logan Circle area, won re-election unopposed.

In Ward 5, LGBTQ community activist Raymond Chandler, who goes by the name Rayceen Pendarvis in the role of entertainer and emcee for community events, appears to have finished in second place in a three-candidate race 283 votes at 32.2 percent. Gay candidate Justin Riordan came in third with 221 votes at 25.2 percent. The winner, community activist Darlene Oliver, had 356 votes at 40.6 percent.

For a list of the 47 known LGBTQ ANC candidates and the ANC districts in which they ran and the outcome of their race in the Nov. 3 D.C. election, visit washingtonblade.com.

PETER ROSENSTEIN

Get Covered. Stay Covered.

is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

Take a breath, votes still out for Biden/Harris Campaign conducted amid pandemic comes to surprising end

Take a deep breath and then slowly let it out. Try to release the stress of the last year.

Yes I know if you are a Democrat that isn’t working. You hear Donald Trump declaring victory and calling for voting to stop. Yes he is outrageous and even Vice President Pence and others like Chris Christie said he must wait to count the remaining ballots.

The race is still up in the air and the mail-in ballots are still being counted and it seems like it will take forever. But reality is we will know by Friday who won and that isn’t bad when you consider the millions of ballots that must still be checked and counted. We are waiting for results from Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Whatever the result the people will have spoken. What must happen now is we need to ensure every vote is counted.

It appears Biden will win the popular vote and we are looking at the Electoral College for the answers. That is a sad state of affairs.

I admit I gave up watching the results last night getting scared there would be another 2016 on election night. Back then, I was in the Javits Center in New York when around 10:30 p.m., Debbie Wasserman Shultz told us there weren’t enough votes in Broward County to make up the difference for Hillary in Florida.

This year is different; while we lost Florida again as I write this on Wednesday morning the votes still remaining to be counted in many states will decide the election but it looks like most will go to Biden. What we as Democrats and actually every Republican should be fighting for is to ensure every vote is counted. Let’s show respect for the people who have taken the time to exercise their right to vote.

If Biden wins it is my hope Sen. Mitch McConnell will repeat what he tweeted back in September when he promised a smooth transition. The time has come for us to move on from the Trump presidency and reclaim our democracy. We must say it loud and clear using the hashtags #everyvotecounts and #democracyrising when we speak of this election. We must show respect to all Americans and tell them #countonus.

While we wait for the final result of the presidential election it’s time to celebrate all the amazing local election results. Among others they include the first two gay African-American men going to Congress from New York. It includes Sarah McBride becoming the highest-ranking transgender official in the country, having won a Senate seat in Delaware.

We should congratulate all the voters who turned out in record numbers despite a pandemic, an economic collapse, and so many attempts to stop them.

When Trump declared victory before all the votes were counted it was like calling 2020 an amazing year in February. It could be compared to George W. Bush declaring “Mission Accomplished.” In our democracy, the voters pick our leaders, our leaders don’t get to choose which votes they want to count.

As we move toward the final certified result for the presidential election there is the crucial vote for who controls the Senate and it looks like Democrats will fall short.

If that happens it will make it very difficult for a President Biden to move his agenda forward.

If this campaign has seemed endless it is because it was. It has caused many to feel the type of stress they never felt before. It has been a totally different campaign as it had to be mostly virtual. Whatever the results kudos to the Biden team, which did a yeoman’s job. Most of them working from their homes and never meeting the people working with them around the country in person. Those like finance director Katie Petrelius and her staff who managed to raise more money than any previous campaign had ever done all without the lure of donors getting to meet the candidate.

So once again, take a deep breath while you wait for the final results. When they are in I think Democrats will be able to celebrate.

Join Mayor Muriel Bowser for

HEALTH ROUND-UP 2021 Open Enrollment Kickoff

Saturday, November 7 at 11am @DCHealthLink

DCHealthlink.com/OE2021

A virtual open enrollment kickoff bringing together leading healthcare advocates, local leaders, celebrities, radio personalities and entertainers to promote healthy living and the value of health insurance • Enjoy healthy cooking demos with celebrity chefs • Jam to the sounds of hometown DJs and local artists • Experience the richness of multicultural performances • Get Fit with exercise instructions in Zumba, Yoga, and DC Hand Dancing • Learn about healthy lifestyles • Enroll in quality, affordable health insurance

OPEN ENROLLMENT November 1 – January 31

Visit DCHealthLink.com

V I E WP O I NT • NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 7

KATHI WOLFE

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

Our democracy hinges on decision in Fulton case

Supreme Court must uphold separation of church and state Queer or non-queer, if you value democracy, civil rights and health care, nothing’s as scary as the Supreme Court.

With the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, there’s the reasonable concern that the court (with a 6-3 conservative, Republican majority) might rule in favor of Donald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud.

There’s the (not unreasonable) fear that millions of Americans will lose their health insurance if the court rules in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Then, there’s Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case that hasn’t gotten much attention in the midst of the election and the pandemic. But that case could have a profound, life-changing impact on the LGBTQ community and many other marginalized groups.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Fulton v. City of Philadelphia on Nov. 4. As the Blade has reported, the issue of the case is whether Catholic Social Services (CSS), a taxpayer funded, religious-affiliated foster care agency, can reject same-sex couples who want to be foster parents (because of their sexual orientation).

Nothing stings more than rejection. Especially, if you’re being rejected by the church you love.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics working for LGBTQ equality, remembers the moment when the phone rang.

She and her spouse, who live in Massachusetts, wanted to adopt a child. “We’re Catholic. So we started with Catholic Charities,” Duddy-Burke told me in a telephone interview.

The couple, who celebrated a civil union in Vermont in 2000 and were legally married in Massachusetts in 2004, wondered why they didn’t hear back from the agency. Finally, one day a Catholic Charities social worker called them. “She said she was calling from her own car during her lunch break,” DuddyBurke said. “Because she didn’t want [the agency] to know she was talking to us.”

The agency worker told the couple that Catholic Charities wouldn’t place children with same-sex couples. “She said she disagreed with the policy. But that was the policy,” Duddy-Burke said.

Duddy-Burke’s story has a happy ending: She and her wife (going through a state agency) adopted two daughters. Their older daughter (born drug-addicted, and nine months old when they adopted her) has just started college. Their younger daughter, adopted when she was five, is now a junior in high school.

“Such a rejection was so alienating – dehumanizing,” Duddy-Burke said, “to be rejected – not for our experience or qualifications, but because of who we are!”

If the couple had been a part of an “institutional” church, they might have lost their connection with the church, Duddy-Burke said. But because “we are a part of a small, independent Catholic community that provided love and support,” she said, they maintained their faith.

But, a lot of people don’t have that kind of support, Duddy-Burke added.

The all-too-likely possibility that the Supreme Court will rule that a taxpayer-funded, religious-affiliated foster care agency can reject same-sex couples as foster parents (on the basis of sexual orientation) for religious reasons makes me question my faith in democracy.

Why should we be so concerned about Fulton v. City of Philadelphia? Because allowing agencies that receive taxpayer funding to discriminate against LGBTQ people or any other group for religious reasons violates the separation of church and state.

There are more than 400,000 children in the foster care system who are waiting adoption, according to the U.S. Department of Human Services. These kids, desperately needing parental love and support, are the innocent pawns of homophobia.

In the age of marriage equality, 11 states have banned same-sex adoptions. Yet, ironically, same-sex couples are seven times more likely than opposite-sex couples to raise an adopted or foster child, according to UCLA School of Law Williams Institute.

A majority of Americans (61 percent) support same-sex marriage, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center poll.

If the Supreme Court rules that CSS can forbid same-sex couples from adopting children because of its religious affiliation, the floodgates to discrimination of all types against many groups of people will be opened. Everyone from landlords to employers to hospitals could discriminate, based on their religious beliefs, against not only queers, but Muslims, Black people, atheists – anyone who doesn’t fit the so-called norm.

Let’s hope that justice will prevail – that the court will uphold the separation of church and state. Our life as a democracy depends on it.

1 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • V I E WP O I NT

HANS JOHNSON has advised LGBT organizations and ballot measure campaigns in nearly every state.

A longtime Washingtonian and former Blade columnist, he now lives in Los Angeles.

Cure for a sickening appointment Confronting the grief and havoc of these past four years can yield hope

When a lifetime nomination for the Supreme Court becomes the source of spreading a deadly virus, it should be taken as an omen.

Exactly one month after “Rona” crashed the maskless White House party for Judge Amy Barrett’s appointment, infecting staff, at least two senators and perhaps the feckless president himself, she has gained one of the nine mightiest seats of judgment in this nation.

Even when the reign of terror by the Trump administration ends, Judge Barrett’s addition to the high court is likely to extend its carnage in the lives of millions of LGBTQ Americans. Decades of hard-won progress for anti-discrimination protections and family recognition are now imperiled by the shifting math. This includes grave danger to the precedents for privacy in Roe v. Wade and Casey and even Lawrence in which is anchored the landmark ruling in Obergefell for marriage equality.

If settled laws establishing Social Security and Medicare are back on the table, as Barrett suggested at her Senate hearing, are even the laws to punish hate crimes safe?

Like the utter surrender of all the president’s men to COVID, the calamity of a right-wing, interventionist Supreme Court poised to invalidate even state-based safeguards against bias and hate could inflict vast casualties. The most vulnerable and least protected could pay the highest price.

No wonder LGBTQ people are in revolt, and voting as if our lives depend on it. Paul Monette, the gay writer who died of AIDS a quarter century ago, argued that grief is either a sword or useless. Gloria Anzaldúa, the late lesbian academic, essayist and activist, described darkness and sorrow as laboratories for the most potent rebellion.

Perhaps more than any time since the early 1990s, the LGBTQ community is enraged and engaged in electoral politics, poised to play a key role in transforming all three branches of government, including at the state level. This upsurge comes with the added attention to racial injustice, misogyny and anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim bigotry, which portends more lasting and much larger coalitions for change.

Fighting back begins with casting complete ballots. It must include visibility in the rallies and activism accompanying transitions of power. It requires participation

by LGBTQ leaders in the redistricting process in the states, which draw boundaries that shape representation and how advocates might wield influence for the next decade.

Fighting back also compels that advocates seize the teachable moment on court reform. For more than 30 years, conservatives have been using their legislative authority in the states to expand supreme courts, including recently in the states of Georgia and Arizona. These states are noteworthy for their lack of anti-bias laws covering LGBTQ people and their emerging “swing” status that jeopardizes oneparty Republican control. This specter was an unmistakable motivating factor for so-called “court-packing” by conservatives to cement a kind of veto power against policy gains for LGBTQ people and other long-ignored communities. Call it a trump card, a term with added meaning now at the federal level.

Republican condemnation of increasing the size of the U.S. Supreme Court while conducting such maneuvers at the state level has a familiar ring of hypocrisy.

It builds on Republican senators’ breaking their own professed standard from 2016 about no appointments to the high court in a year of Presidential voting.

Voting alone does not erase the anguish and trauma of such wicked, corrosive hypocrisy. But voting in enormous numbers is one antidote, even more potent if it ushers in diversity of representation as part of pro-LGBTQ majorities. Legislation to reform the high court, a product of changed chemistry in the Congress, could be a lasting cure. It might even inspire similar, complementary reforms in some states. The grief and havoc of these past four years, confronted boldly, can yield an outgrowth of hope.

JENNIFER WILLIAMS

DIEGO GARCIA BLUM

is a LGBTQ advocate and Republican and was the first transgender person to run for the New Jersey State Legislature.

is student body president at Harvard Kennedy School, the Policy Chair for Secret Court 100, and a member of the National Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign.

I’m a trans Republican and I oppose transphobic attacks on Ortiz Jones

Honoring victims of the Harvard Secret Court of 1920

Winning at any cost emboldens those who want to weaken America

Aside from the presidential contest this week, there were other races that made news across America for good reasons — and for bad reasons. Unfortunately, one such race is the congressional one between Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones and my fellow Republican, Tony Gonzales. I say unfortunate, as the forces of bigotry, fear, and opportunism have played a part in this passionate political battle of Texans. (For election results, visit washingtonblade.com.)

As a resident of New Jersey, I can only imagine that many readers are wondering why a woman from the Garden State cares about a congressional race in the Lone Star State? Besides the fact that I have family in Texas, I am transgender and a Republican. I have seen the disturbing news reports of the recent anti-LGBTQ attacks on Ortiz Jones regarding her sexual orientation and support of transgender Americans. These attacks are vile, as well as un-American and un-Republican. They should not be happening and they should not be coming from anyone in my own party. Right is right and wrong is wrong and I cannot idly stand by and say nothing.

Recently, the National Republican Congressional Committee released two ads that target Ortiz Jones for her support of transgender military service and ensuring that transgender service members receive any necessary medical care they may need. It is a position that I hope Gonzales will support if he wins this congressional seat. The NRCC’s claim against Ms. Ortiz Jones is preposterous on its face, let alone that the U.S. Department of Defense hired the Rand Corporation to produce a study on transgender military service and medical care, which found that such service would entail minimal financial costs to the taxpayer. So minimal, in fact, that Rand estimated that the DOD’s costs for transgender medical care would be roughly one-tenth of the Veterans Affairs budget for Viagra prescriptions. Clearly, that isn’t enough money to close a military base and Gonzales and the NRCC would be well served by reading the Rand report before discussing such things further.

In addition to the NRCC ads, Gonzales mentioned on a podcast that Ms. Ortiz Jones, whom I do not know, nor I have never met, has a “transgender agenda.” As an active conservative Republican who has run for office herself on the state level, I can assure everyone that there is no special “transgender agenda.” Instead, many transgender Americans such as myself and allies (including elected officials on both sides of the aisle) work hard on Capitol Hill and in state houses and city halls to make sure our government stays small and treats us the same as any other citizen. No agenda there, just freedom and liberty.

There are a truckload of policies and issues on which I would disagree with Ortiz Jones and I will not try to tell voters in her district which way to lean. However, one should win with honor I am certain that the voters in this district will make an informed choice on who will represent them in Congress without my input. However, they should make their voting choice with the knowledge that transgender people and the full LGBTQ community are of no threat to them. I hope they will agree that no one would consider another American’s sexual orientation or gender identity as a reason to not serve their nation or community.

Our country needs everyone, Republican and Democrat, to extend grace to one another and bring out the best in each of us. Winning at any cost or by stoking a voter’s fear of an already marginalized group of people only emboldens those who want to see America weakened.

Just as I will await the results of our own races here in New Jersey, I will anxiously await the results of Texas Congressional District 23 and hope that transgender folks like me will not be a determining factor in who will represent them in Congress next year.

No matter who wins, my hope and prayer is that I and millions of others like me will be fairly represented in Congress and that our congressional representatives will vote to enshrine our liberty, freedom and equality in law should they come up for a vote. What more can an American ask for?

Overt discrimination persists in our nation’s universities One hundred years after the horrific events of the Harvard Secret Court, the United States still lacks federal discrimination protections that would have prevented this tragedy.

On May 23, 1920, Abbott Lawrence Lowell, then president of Harvard University, convened a clandestine, five-person tribunal that became known as the Harvard Secret Court of 1920. The charge? Eight students, a recent graduate, and an assistant professor were all suspected to be gay. The court destroyed the lives of those it tried. One hundred years after the horrific events of the Harvard Secret Court, the United States still lacks federal discrimination protections that would have prevented this tragedy.

The story of the Harvard Secret Court starts with the tragic suicide of Cyril Wilcox, an undergraduate student at Harvard, who shortly before his death acknowledged his homosexuality to his brother, George. Steeped in grief and blaming Cyril’s homosexuality for his death, George used letters that had been written to Cyril by several of his companions at Harvard to convince Acting Dean Chester Noyes Greenough to investigate homosexuality at the school. Shortly after, the Secret Court was born.

“Have you ever participated in unnatural acts with a man,” asked the court. The students implicated in the affair were called in one by one and accused of participating in homosexual activities before being expelled. Among the victims was Windsor Hosmer, a graduate business student who had interrupted his undergraduate studies at Harvard to serve in the Ambulance Corps with the French Army in World War I; Ernest Roberts, a World War I veteran who hoped to be a doctor; and Eugene Cummings, a gifted dentistry student who took his own life shortly after being expelled.

Stories such as the one of the Harvard Secret Court might seem to belong in a dark history we left behind, but that could not be further from the truth. Earlier this summer, Union University in Tennessee rescinded a student’s admission to the school after administrators learned he was gay. Campus Pride has compiled a list of schools that openly discriminate against LGBTQ people. Some universities, like Liberty University in Virginia, even subject suspected LGBTQ students to the harmful practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation.

According to The Trevor Project’s 2020 National Survey of LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, LGBTQ young people face mental health disparities and significantly high rates of attempting suicide. Discrimination experienced at school contributes to these problems.

The survey found that 61% percent of transgender and nonbinary youth report being prevented or discouraged from using a bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity at their school.

This must change. The Equality Act would prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. After the Act passed the House of Representatives in 2019, President Trump announced that he would not support the bill. It is unconscionable that such protections are still not in place today. The Equality Act must be passed now.

Although the White House states that it opposes LGBTQ discrimination and that it only refuses to sign the Equality Act because it infringes on “parental and conscience rights,” its policies tell a different story. Since he came into power, President Trump has rescinded Department of Education guidance encouraging LGBTQ students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity, has banned transgender people from serving in the military and has even defended people who fired their employees simply for being gay at the Supreme Court. The Trump administration’s empty declaration of standing against LGTBQ discrimination while actively engaging in such discrimination is a perfect example of the Orwellian ways that LGBTQ bigotry hides and thrives today.

We must meet the challenge that history is presenting us and elect a president that will sign the Equality Act, which Joe Biden has promised to do. In the centennial of the Harvard Secret Court of 1920, let us remember the court’s victims, their unjustified pain and suffering, and honor them by casting our votes for leaders who will finally implement policies putting an era of such damaging discrimination behind us.

V I E WP O I NT • NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 9

‘You’re helping humanity’

NBC4 producer joins coronavirus vaccine trial

By PARKER PURIFOY

Tens of thousands of people are participating in vaccine trials to bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic which has killed millions worldwide.

One of these test subjects is Brandon Benavides, a gay, Latino writer and producer for NBC4.

Benavides said he heard that several different trials were looking for more Black and Latino people to participate and he wanted to help out.

After being rejected from two trials, he was accepted into one conducted

by Moderna, a Massachusetts-based biotech firm.

“When I started telling people what I did, my friend told me, ‘Well Brandon, you’re helping humanity.’ And I didn’t think about that until she said it,” he told the Washington Blade during a recent interview. “I didn’t quite think about the impact this could have on the world.”

Moderna’s vaccine, dubbed mRNA-1273, is currently in phase three of its testing process and the company is preparing to distribute up to 20 million doses throughout the country by the end of the year.

Chief Medical Officer Tal Zaks told investors in an Oct. 29 conference call that 37 percent of their 30,000 person testing pool comes from “diverse communities” and two thirds are over the age of 45.

“We’re ready,” Zaks said about distribution. “We expect MRNA-1273 to be distributed within existing infrastructure. There’s nothing new required that hasn’t already been used for years with many other vaccines.”

Benavides said he went through an extensive health screening before receiving his first dose in late September from the Optimal Research Clinic in Rockville, Md., although he isn’t sure whether the injection he received was the experimental vaccine. The trial is a double-blind study, which means neither the subject nor the doctor administering the injection knows if it’s the vaccine or a placebo.

Benavides said he even had to look away so he couldn’t see the labels on the vaccine.

Moderna’s vaccine comes in two installments, 28 days apart. Benavides said he only noticed side effects after the second injection, which he received on Oct. 2. He said his temperature rose by one degree 30 minutes after the shot and when he woke up for his midnight shift at NBC, he experienced cold sweats and a headache, which he said is “not normal” for him.

Slightly concerned, he called the research clinic and received a call back the next day. The clinic told him that fatigue and the cold sweats were normal side effects of the vaccine.

“This is really where I felt like a guinea pig because all I could do was just tell them what was happening to me,” he said. “I don’t know if I have the vaccine or the placebo but I feel like I do have it because I felt that reaction after the second dose.”

2 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • A &E

‘Even though I may have this layer of protection, the vaccine, I’m cognizant of what’s going on,’ said BRANDON BENAVIDES. (Photo courtesy of NBC4 Washington)

Benavides said he has felt fine since that day.

Zaks told investors during last week’s conference call that the most common side effects of the vaccine are headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, and injection site pain, which can be “mild to moderate in severity.”

These symptoms are to be expected, Zaks said, and are caused when the vaccine prompts a response from the body’s immune system.

“Importantly, there were no vaccine-related serious adverse events in this trial and no patterns of concern for any clinical labs,” he said.

After getting the second dose, Benavides said he has started to slowly go out more often. He went to the grocery store for the first time in seven months and has restarted sessions with a personal trainer at the gym.

“Even though I may have this layer of protection, the vaccine, I’m cognizant of what’s going on,” he said. “There’s all these people and they’re all touching all these things and I know I need to keep my distance and take precautions.”

When reflecting on the study, Benavides said he will most likely never participate in a trial like this again.

“I was scared for the whole process. But I prepared myself, I knew what I was getting myself into,” he said. “I do feel like a science experiment but I also feel that this is bigger than me.”

ORDER ONLINE!

Takomawellness.com/dutchie

• 100 ft from the Takoma Metro Station on the Redline • Free On-Site Parking • Wheelchair Accessible

Over 70 STRAINS Over 150 PRODUCTS EXCLUSIVE STRAINS HEMP BLUNTS

$10 OFF PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE EXP 11/30/20 *BLADE - VALID ONE TIME - NO DOUBLE DISCOUNTS

0 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E . CO M • J U N E 1 9 , 2 0 2 0

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 1

CALENDAR

By Parker Purifoy

TODAY

Friday Tea Time is a virtual social gathering at 2 p.m. for older LGBTQ adults via Zoom.

Participants are encouraged to bring their beverage of choice while socializing with friends.

For more information, visit thedccenter.org/events.

Saturday, November 7

The LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will meet at 1 p.m. to provide an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to talk about anything affecting them. For the Zoom link to the meeting, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.

Center Global holds its monthly business meeting today at 12 p.m. To learn more about volunteering, contact Michael Airhart at mairhart@thedccenter.org The Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations is organizing a march on the White House to protest racism within both political parties. The protest will start at Malcolm X Park at 10 a.m. and will be followed the next day by a virtual conference so participants can organize and develop their National Black Political Agenda. For more information and to register for the march and conference, visit the organization’s Facebook page.

Sunday, November 8

The DC Transmasculine Society is holding its monthly support groups today at 5 p.m. There is a support group meeting for transmasculine people and non-binary people who were assigned female at birth. There is also a separate meeting for partners and allies of transmasculine people which will focus on their unique experiences. For more details, go to DCATS.org

Monday, November 9

LGBT Older Adults and friends are invited to join the DC Center at 10 a.m. for a Center Aging Coffee Drop-In. For more information visit thedccenter.org and Center Aging on social media.

Tuesday, November 10

Coming Out Discussion Group will hold a session at 7 p.m. It is a peer-facilitated group designed to create a safe space to share experiences about coming out. For more information go to thedccenter.org/events.

The DC Center is holding its bi-monthly Trans Support Group session today at 7 p.m. The group is intended to create an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity. Visit thedccenter.org/events for more details.

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is hosting a lecture and discussion on portraiture and combating racism at 5 p.m. today. The virtual lecture will be hosted by Steven Nelson, dean of the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art, and will examine portraits of eminent Black Americans painted by Betsy Graves Reyneau and Laura Wheeler Waring. In 1943, Reyneau and Waring were paid by the Harmon Foundation to make 42 portraits of Black Americans that could highlight Black achievement and fight white prejudice. The discussion will look at the intersection of gender, philanthropy, Black history, and African-American art during this time period. The conversation is a part of the Edgar P. Richardson Lecture Series hosted by the Portrait Gallery’s Scholarly Center.

2 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • A &E

Wednesday, November 11 The Human Rights Campaign is partnering with Trans Can Work for “Who’s Hiring! Web Series For Trans Job-seekers.” The bi-weekly web series to connect transgender and non-binary job seekers with opportunities and resources will begin at 3 p.m. For more information, visit HRC.im/WhosHiring

Thursday, November 12 The DC Transmasculine Society is hosting a transmasculine game night starting at 7 p.m.

This month’s game is Among US, a popular online multiplayer game. The game night is primarily for transmasculine and nonbinary people but friends, partners, and allies of any gender are welcome. For more information, go to DCATS.org

OUT&ABOUT

Food & Friends looks to sell 9,000 Thanksgiving pies Food & Friends’ annual Slice of Life fundraiser is underway this year, with the goal to sell 9,000 Thanksgiving pies so they can provide nearly 30,000 meals for people in need. For each pie sold, Food & Friends will provide one full day of meals for adults and children battling cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other illnesses.

According to the organization, demand for this food is up 20 percent this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For sale are apple Food & Friends’ annual Slice of Life crumble, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, and fundraiser is underway. sea salt chocolate chess nine-inch pies. Prices range between $28 and $45 and will be available for sale directly from Food & Friends or through corporate or individual pie sellers until Nov. 19. For a directory of pie sellers, go to foodandfriends.org.

“COVID-19 has made living with a serious illness or health condition even more difficult,” Executive Director of Food & Friends Carrie Stoltzfus said in a statement. “Simply by purchasing a Thanksgiving pie – something many of us already plan to do this season – you can make the days a little easier and the holidays a little warmer for our neighbors who need it the most.”

World War I Museum examines LGBTQ rights The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. is holding a webinar on Nov. 4 to examine the LGBTQ rights movement during and directly after the war. The Zoom webinar “Modern Gay Rights and WWI” will be hosted by Caroline Radesky, visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa, and will focus on how the rhetoric and goals of the LGBTQ rights movement evolved because of the war. The lecture will be followed by a question and answer segment and links to more learning resources will be provided. Participants will receive a professional development certificate.

presents

THE HOLIDAY SHOW STREAMING ONLINE STARTING DECEMBER 5 7PM ET A VIRTUAL HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURING SOME OF OUR BEST HITS ALONG WITH MANY NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES , A HOLIDAY SING-A-LONG, AND MORE!

STREAMING ON DEMAND FROM DECEMBER 5 TO DECEMBER 20 TICKETS: $25 Visit GMCW.org for more information Event will be ASL interpreted

HP ProBook 430 G2 I3 4GB 256GB SSD Win 10

LCD PANELS From $29 DESKTOPS

From

$129

Only $199

HP M402dn / HP M402dne Black and White LaserJet Printer with Toner

Only $149.95 with this Ad!

1Year Hardware Warranty*

4926-D EISENHOWER AVE 22304 703-370-5440 LAMBRO_INC

www.LambroInc.com

Woman Owed Small Business

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 3

A dishy, definitive look at Cary Grant

‘A Brilliant Disguise’ portrays actor as gay, bi, and straight

By KATHI WOLFE

Recently, during the pandemic and election season, I felt down. Until I watched “Bringing Up Baby,” the 1938 screwball comedy. Like millions of other fans, especially queer aficionados, I cracked up when David (Cary Grant) loses his clothes. He’s wearing Susan’s (Katharine Hepburn) bathrobe. A prim, proper dowager comes to the door. “Why are you wearing those clothes,” she asks.

“Because I just went gay all of a sudden!” David (Grant) exclaims.

“Gary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise” by film historian Scott Eyman is a fascinating, comprehensive biography of the screen legend. There have been other biographies of Grant, a queer icon, but Eyman’s is definitive.

Grant, who died in 1986, was born in 1904 as Archibald (Archie) Alexander Leach in Bristol, England. Grant’s childhood was as far removed from the glitz and glam of Tinsel Town as could be imagined. Charles Dickens (whose youth was no picnic) might have put the young Archie in one of his novels.

His father was an alcoholic. Grant was told his

By Scott Eyman mother was dead. (Years later, he learned that she c.2020, Simon & Schuster was alive and residing in a mental institution.) Money $35 / 576 pages was scarce. He found solace by attending vaudeville shows in music halls.

His skills as an acrobat were his ticket out of his impoverished circumstances. He toured with vaudeville acts in England and America. Eventually, he landed in Hollywood. His first big break came when Mae West picked him to star with her in “She Done Him Wrong.” From there, Grant embarked on a decades long career. From the 1930s until “Walk, Don’t Run” in 1966, he made 57 films. An astute businessman, Grant sat on several corporate boards.

Grant married five times. He remained on friendly terms with Betsy Drake, one of his exwives and had a daughter Jennifer with Dyan Cannon, his fourth wife.

Long before it was fashionable to “tune in, drop out,” Grant used LSD to learn about himself.

And, of course, there was Randolph Scott, the actor, with whom Grant lived in Hollywood in the 1930s during his (and Scott’s) bachelor years. A fan magazine photographed the two of them at their home. Jennifer, Grant’s daughter, denied that her father was gay. “Dad somewhat enjoyed being called gay,” she wrote in her memoir. “He said it made women want to prove the assertion wrong.”

Yet, it’s hard not to believe that Grant wasn’t queer. It’s been claimed that before he became famous, Grant had a relationship with the gay costume designer Orry-Kelly. Though there’s no way that Grant or Scott could have been open about being a couple at the time, their relationship seems to have been an open secret. The actress Carole Lombard joked about Grant and Scott, “Randy pays the bills and Cary mails them.”

In “Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise,” Eyman, author of “Hank and Jim: the Fifty-Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart,” deftly illuminates Grant’s sexuality and the other mysterious aspects of the legendary actor’s life.

We adore “Cary Grant,” the polished, charming, suave, witty presence who we see on screen. Yet, Cary Grant, the actor, wasn’t this character. Grant is “the most self-invented man in the movies,” Eyman writes.

“It’s a part I’ve been playing a long time, but no way am I really Cary Grant,” Eyman tells us Grant would say.

Grant wasn’t carefree as he so often appears in his movies. “Underneath Grant’s fascinating, nonpareil facade was a personality of nearly perpetual anxiety,” Eyman writes.

Both gays and straights have wanted to claim Grant as one of their own, writes Eyman, who lives with his wife in West Palm Beach. Grant likely wouldn’t have liked to have been labeled as gay or queer. Yet, Eyman reports that Grant in a conversation with his friend Bill Royce, implied that “he had been basically gay as a young man, later, bisexual, still later straight.”

“Cary Grant” gives us a dishy, informative look at not only Grant but Hollywood in all its delicious machinations. Katharine Hepburn, while a houseguest at Grant’s home, becomes absorbed in reading Sophocles while she’s taking a bath. Mae West, larger-than-life on screen, is tiny in person.

Looking for a glorious read? Check it out.

‘Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise’

2 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • A &E

Fluker joins Woolly Mammoth board ‘A place where I can bring my whole self’

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

In what’s an indisputably challenging time for the arts, Clarence J. Fluker, a public affairs strategist, organizational change leader and equity and inclusion advocate, is upping his profile on the local theater scene. In September, Fluker was voted on to the board of directors at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, a respected D.C. company best known for original productions.

“It’s not the most normal time to be doing this,” he easily concedes, yet Fluker remains undaunted. In fact, he’s thrilled to join Woolly’s diverse, 26-person board.

“It’s a place where I can bring my ‘whole self.’ As a gay, African-American man with background in theater, LGBTQ activism, and wide-ranging experience working with nonprofits and governments, I come with a lot of relationships and ideas,” says Fluker, 41.

Away from Woolly, Fluker is director of community engagement at the Association of American CLARENCE J. FLUKER has joined Medical Colleges. Prior experience the board of directors at Woolly includes public engagement and Mammoth Theatre Company. communications roles in the Obama administration at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Clarence also served as external affairs lead for Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism.

Still, he doesn’t take his nonpaying board position any less seriously.

“As a board member you have a responsibility to an organization to ensure that it’s moving toward its North Star. And that responsibility to keep it moving is fiduciary, moral, and a strong belief in its mission.

“And currently, the responsibility is of a larger scope – it includes the role of art, theater and culture. And to make sure that art is accessible, equitable, and representative of the people. It’s a time of change.”

He’s not the only one who’s excited about the new gig, so is his mother. She loves theater, and he has taken her to plays at Woolly when she visits from Cleveland, Fluker’s home town.

“She introduced me to the arts,” he explains. Fluker began his exploration of theater as a preschooler at Karamu House on the east side of Cleveland, the oldest African-American theater in the United States. He pursued more acting at theater camp and community theater. As an undergrad majoring in speech communication at Morgan State University in Baltimore, he did some acting, and helped with marketing college productions. “I may not be the best actor, but I can write a great press release,” he says.

A longtime resident of D.C.’s Eckington neighborhood, he first came to D.C. in 2001 to pursue a graduate degree in public communication from American University, and remained. Over the years, he’s enjoyed many local productions, but notes that Woolly’s offerings are his favorites: “I can go to Woolly and see things and people that I can relate to, things I won’t see elsewhere. Woolly pushes things to the next level of introspection.”

And before becoming a board member, he was part of Woolly’s Ambassador Program.

As an ambassador, Fluker helped in deepening the company’s ties to local entities including LGBTQ organizations. And on a personal note, he introduced his mentee, a 20-something African-American graduate student to theater. “He’d never been to a play, so three years ago I took him to Woolly’s production of ‘The Arsonists.’ It was a meaningful experience.

Afterward he began taking his girlfriend on theater dates.”

Looking forward to late November, Fluker is eager to see Woolly’s upcoming production of Amir Nizar Zuabi’s “This Is Who I Am,” a new two-hander about a father in Ramallah, West Bank, and his son in New York City hashing out old grudges and even older recipes. The actors will be performing and cooking in real-time via Zoom.

“It’s a play commissioned and written during the pandemic. It’s exciting and different, but you wouldn’t expect less from Woolly,” Fluker adds.

To sit in Barkada is to visit your gay best friend’s living room.

(Photo courtesy of Barkada)

Barkada leans into its friendly name

U Street wine bar offers organic, small batch selections

By EVAN CAPLAN

Opening a new wine bar on U Street might be challenging enough. Doing so against the headwinds of a pandemic makes doing so doubly tough. Fighting off accusations of cultural appropriation in the midst of a nationwide racial and social awakening might represent the proverbial third strike.

Not for Barkada, a wine bar at 12th and U streets featuring a sommelier with an award-winning pedigree and three determined owners (all gay men) behind it.

To sit in Barkada is to visit your gay best friend’s living room. Or, at least your gay friend who has a soft spot for organic skin-contact wine from Slovenia.

Anthony Aligo and business partners Nicholas Guglietta and Nathan Fisher founded this cozy, loungey bar with low-slung banquettes focused on small-batch wines. They tapped Sebastian Zutant as wine consultant (Zutant also owns acclaimed Primrose in Brookland).

Barkada sits in the former Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt location, which Aligo also owned. None of the current owners has a background in food outside of the Menchie’s outpost, but after connecting with Zutant over several bottles of wine, they decided to make the change from fro-yo to rose.

“The concept,” Aligo notes, “is to create an atmosphere where people would want to frequent because it provides a comfortable place for them to visit, make new friends, and have unpretentious wine learning.”

Zutant ensures that Barkada focuses on natural, small-batch wines sourced from “the most interesting things from the farthest reaches of the earth,” says Aligo.

Zutant adds that “the wine program features an eclectic mix of interesting producers from around the world. The wines are all low intervention in practice, showcasing hands-off wine making techniques.” Zutant helped the team to open and “has set us up on a good path,” says Aligo. Zutant has since stepped back from Barkada day-to-day in order to dedicate time to Primrose.

Currently stocking about 15 wines by the glass ($13-$17) and upwards of 50 by the bottle ($45 to $130), the bar splits its offerings into sparkling, red, white, rose, and “extended skin contact,” or orange. A handful of classic cocktails (Aperol spritz, Americanos) are also available.

The bar opened on July 25. It quickly found itself dealing with controversy over its name.

Barkada is a Tagalog slang word meaning a

group of friends, a term the trio used with a gay, former Filipino roommate of Aligo’s to describe themselves. But commenters on social media quickly pointed out that the concept of four white men using a Filipino slang term without context smacked of cultural appropriation.

On July 30, the owners posted an apology on Instagram, stating that “it was never our intention to appropriate or capitalize on Filipino culture…we are actively looking to change our identity and brand.”

Yet soon after, in August the owners began to reach out to members of the Filipino community. The Filipino Food Movement, a group dedicated to the promotion of Filipino cuisine, held a virtual meeting with the owners to discuss the name and what it represents.

The organization expressed its support for the bar, says Aligo, after he explained the rationale behind the name.

Aligo and team pivoted – again. They decided to lean in on the name. A message posted on the bar’s website states that the team “looks forward to hearing more of your thoughts, and how we can better capture the ideals with which we started this project. We will be donating proceeds from our opening to support the Filipino community…. Barkada is a beautiful word with a deep meaning of friendship.”

Barkada now carries not only raw-milk cheeses and imported tinned octopus, but also, in celebration of Filipino-American heritage month, offered rotating features of Filipino dishes. October featured lumpia, or Filipino egg rolls (notably baked and not fried as traditionally prepared, in a nod to the health-conscious patron). The team hopes to continue to highlight similar products.

Aligo also notes that since August, the bar has received overwhelming support from the Filipino community.

“We’re three gay men,” Aligo says, “so we’re sensitive to things.

Our goal has always been to be more inclusive and bring the underrepresented or marginalized to light.”

It’s not just the woman-owned winemakers or the unfiltered, unprocessed, small-vintner Slovenian vintages that the owners want to showcase, but also its dedication to community – whether the gay community, the U Street neighborhood, or the Filipino population.

Barkada must still confront the challenges of operating a wine bar in a pandemic, and months after opening, continue to smooth hiccups in processes and sourcing. Yet Aligo emphasizes that after their soul-searching over the summer, that “we’re not giving up our values, we believe in them, and what the name represents.”

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS M-TH 11:30AM-10PM • F-SAT 11:30AM-11PM SUN. BRUNCH 11AM-3PM / DINNER 3-10PM

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 5

Awards season brings queer cinematic delights ‘Bare,’ ‘Supernova’ among anticipated debuts

By JOHN PAUL KING

This year is anything but normal, but we can always count on the film industry to cling to the tried-and-true, and that means November still marks the beginning of “Oscar season,” which means it’s time for those awards hopefuls to start coming our way.

For LGBTQ+ audiences, it’s always an occasion to start scanning the horizon for contenders representing the community – and one early entry this year certainly fits the bill.

“Supernova,” is the second feature from British writer/director Harry Macqueen, which debuted at the San Sebastian Film Festival in September and is slated for release in the UK later this month. Its early reviews are mostly glowing, with particular praise for stars Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, who portray a longtime gay couple taking a road trip after one of them has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

With all the earmarks of the kind of “art film” that Hollywood loves to embrace at awards time, it seems more than likely that this hearttugging gay romantic drama will be in the running (provided it meets Academy screening requirements in the U.S., of course – no date is currently listed for a U.S. screening before its official release date in January). Certainly, its two stars must be considered as potential frontrunners; Firth is already a proven awards champ, and Tucci is exactly the kind of longtime screen stalwart “Oscar” loves to single out with a late-career nod. Their reputations are such that most anyone would have no doubt, even sight unseen, that their performances here would be worthy of recognition.

Still, inevitably, a long-standing and inevitable controversy has already manifested itself in discussions around the casting of these two actors – both superb, yes, but also both straight – in these two plumb gay roles.

There’s no need to launch into an argument about the appropriateness of such casting in 2020; the pros and cons of each side have been well documented in countless other articles, as they will continue to be as long as homophobia is still as much of a force as it is in the film and entertainment industry. Still, it might help gain some perspective (at least in this instance) to remember that “Supernova” is a UK film. While the British movie industry of the past was certainly just as repressive as Hollywood when it came to even the suggestion of anything “homosexual,” in recent years the sexuality of both the actors and the characters they portray has become undeniably less of a “thing.” Out actors like Ian McKellen or Derek Jacobi have moved freely between gay and straight roles for decades, with a younger generation of players such as Ben Whishaw or Russell Tovey following in their footsteps; and while it’s true that there are still some Brit thespians who remain cagey about identifying themselves publicly, those tend to be the ones with an eye toward the potential of Hollywood stardom.

It must also be said that both Firth and Tucci have proven repeatedly that they are capable of portraying gay characters with sensitivity and empathy; we can at least be relatively sure their performances will be delivered with the dignity, the honor, and the humanity that we have every right to expect.

Whichever side you come down on in the debate, you’re not likely to get a look at “Supernova” soon, but it’s something to keep in mind if early handicapping of the Oscar race is your game.

In the meantime, November offers some authentic queer content to keep viewers occupied – especially if you’re a subscriber to Revry, the global LGBTQ+ virtual network that has been providing a steady stream of it since 2016. The platform has just launched the newest addition to its lineup with OML on Revry, the first 24/7 live TV channel exclusively catering to queer womxn (lesbian, bi, trans female, gender non-binary, queer, etc.).

OML has actually been around since 2009 (formerly as “One More Lesbian”), with the mission to become a hub for lesbian members of 2 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • A &E

‘Bare’ follows a group of dancers as they work on the contemporary dance piece, ‘Anima Ardens,’ which is presented entirely in the nude. (Photo courtesy of DOC NYC)

the LGBTQ+ community seeking visual representation in the media and to allow access to this content on one platform. The channel joins the Revry lineup after having amassed millions of visitors and serving over a half million YouTube subscribers with curated lesbian content, as well as content for a broader queer audience, inclusive of all female and gender-expansive viewers.

OML on Revry features several tentpole attractions for its launch, including both established and brand new original series. One standout offering in the latter category is “Dating ‘In’ Place,” described in publicity as a “socially distant” comedy following two young women who are dating and falling in love during a global pandemic, bringing a femxle-focused comedic spin on the realities of dating in the “new normal” of COVID-era social constructs. Timely and relevant, to say the least, it debuted on Nov. 1, and you can watch the whole thing on demand. If you’re not already a Revry subscriber, it’s a good time to become one.

Lastly, if you’re a fan of male nudity, you won’t find a more intriguing viewing option than “Bare,” a documentary being screened at this month’s DOC NYC festival.

One of the few consolation prizes of 2020 is that such an event, normally out of reach for anyone not able to show up in person, is made accessible to anybody thanks to the necessity of virtual presentation. That’s good news for this fly-on-the-wall, cinema veritéstyle effort from filmmaker Aleksandr M. Vinogradov, which follows a group of dancers as they work with renowned Belgian choreographer Thierry Smit on his contemporary dance piece, “Anima Ardens,” which is presented entirely in the nude.

The film documents the process of auditioning, rehearsing, and performing the piece, which (for obvious reasons) could easily veer into eroticism; instead, “Bare” is as much anthropological study as it is provocative arts documentary, exposing us – literally – to so much visible male genitalia that it becomes commonplace. This opens up the experience to become a meditation on everything from the aesthetic beauty of the naked form to the dynamics of male power to the simple natural beauty that comes in the interactions of these men as they become gradually more at ease with being “bare” – in every sense of the word. The result is a powerful and transcendent film that might, on the surface, seem no more profound than a high-end coffee table book, but that end up having the potential to change your relationship with nudity – both your own and everyone else’s – by the time the final credits role.

Yes, the dancers are fit and attractive, and yes, they are mostly, if not all, gay men. In the end, those things matter, of course, but they are immaterial in the face of the film’s perspective on nakedness – and the body itself – as the “last bastion of personal freedom.”

If that’s something that appeals to you – and why wouldn’t it? – you can get tickets to the Nov. 11 online screening of “Bare” on the DOC NYC website at docnyc.net.

Embracing the beauty and contributions of every individual.

Exploring a Barrie School Education Wednesday, November 11 • 9-10:15 am

Join us to learn more about Barrie’s comprehensive and individualized learning programs. We’ll bring you into the classroom to experience the Barrie difference through teacher demonstrations that show how we inspire students and foster learning that lasts.

This virtual exploration is a great opportunity for you to discover our Montessori program for Age 1 through Grade 5 and our innovative project-based approach to learning for Grades 6-12.

RSVP Today!

Now Enrolling for Fall 2021!

admission@barrie.org or 301.576.2800 A Zoom link will be provided prior to each event to registered attendees.

barrie.org

13500 Layhill Road • Silver Spring, MD Minutes from the ICC & Glenmont Metro Bus Transportation & Extended Day Available NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 7

e of take advantag mains hot, so e. re t ttl ke ba r ar fe m ultiple of The D.C. r winning a m these tips fo

How to win a multiple offer battle when buying a home in D.C. Personal letters, escalation clauses can help

By KHALIL EL-GHOUL

If you are looking for a new home right now, you are more than aware that the market is hot. Most listings are receiving multiple offers within a week of going on the market.

The past few months have been filled with highly competitive offer scenarios for buyers in Washington D.C. As a buyer, you should be prepared to enter a multiple offer scenario and receive a seller’s counter.

If you find yourself in a multiple offer scenario, here are some effective strategies that will give you a competitive edge. We work with buyers every day to succeed in these situations.

The goal is to get the home for the least amount of money as possible, and our agents will help guide you with the specifics on how to get this done.

The first step in the process is for the home buyer to understand the strategy. After reviewing this information, you’ll speak with your agent to confirm how you will move forward.

TIPS FOR WINNING A MULTIPLE OFFER SCENARIO 1. Demonstrate a Strong Financial Position. Be approved with a local lender who can get on the phone and back up your qualification. Out of town lenders with weak lender letters will make your offer unnecessarily weak. Local lenders can also settle quickly.

If you are confident in your financing, consider dropping the financing contingency. The financing contingency only protects you if your lender rejects your financing. If you are confident your loan will not get rejected, this contingency can make your offer unnecessarily weak. Ask your loan officer to have underwriting review your file or issue you an approval prior to making an offer.

Increase your Earnest Money Deposit. A large deposit shows the seller you are serious and are financially stable. You risk losing your deposit if you default.

Consider a general home inspection contingency, which would give you the right to inspect and cancel but without the right to negotiate repairs. From the seller’s perspective they won’t be “nickeled and dimed” over minor issues that may come up and you reserve the right to cancel for any reason.

Pre-Inspection: Have an inspection before a seller sets a deadline. Pre-inspections are often pared down versions where you might not get a written report. If time permits, having a full inspection is possible.

The Appraisal Contingency is often the riskiest contingency for a seller, so having a shorter or no contingency is a huge tool in winning multiple offer scenarios. You can have a partial contingency as well. For example, if the sales price is $600,000, you can stipulate the home must appraise for at least $580,000. If the home appraises for anything between $580-600k, you would proceed with the contract and pay the difference.

2. Appeal to the Seller. Work with agents that are negotiating experts (Like Glass House Real Estate!). A great buyer’s agent will develop a relationship with the listing agent and try to get as much information as possible. They will try to find out how many offers the listing agent expects, what is in those offers, what the seller’s ideal settlement scenario is, and anything else that might be helpful in crafting an offer. Once we get this info, we will move forward with trying to accommodate the seller/listing agent’s needs if they are reasonable.

Write a letter to the seller. The best letters to sellers end with a proposition to the seller that includes a counter if you are not the best offer. Include a picture as well if you can.

Escalation Clause: An escalation clause can be a valuable tool. Your offer would say “I will pay “x” (starting offer) price for this home, but if the seller receives another offer that’s higher than mine, I’m willing to pay “y” (escalator factor) more, up to “z”” (Escalator Ceiling).”

An escalation clause contains an escalating factor, which is how much you are willing to pay over the next best offer. and an escalator ceiling, which caps the top price you are willing to pay for the home.

The escalation also contains an option to retain or waive the appraisal contingency. (Note: If your escalation clause is exercised by the seller, they must provide proof the other offer was valid.)

The Bottom Line. Sometimes it just comes down to price, but oftentimes the seller wants to accept a contract from the party who will most likely close without delay and drama. This is a combination of demonstrating you are well qualified and working with an agent with a track record of closing deals.

If you want to learn more about the strategies Glass House agents use to win multiple offer scenarios and how we help our buyers achieve their real estate goals, contact us today.

Khalil El-Ghoul is principal broker for Glass House Real Estate. Reach him at khalil@glasshousere.com or 571-235-4821.

2 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • B US I NE S S

Just Listed in Jefferson Park!

Charming brick home in the heart of sought after Jefferson Park! The beautifully landscaped yard, expansive screened in porch, gorgeous hardwoods and inviting eat-in kitchen are just a few of the special features of this lovely home.

3 B E D R O O M S | 3 . 5 B AT H R O O M S | O F F - S T R E E T PA R K I N G | O F F E R E D AT $ 9 7 9 , 0 0 0

JOIN ME FOR AN OPEN HOUSE | NOVEMBER 7TH & NOVEMBER 8TH

11:30-12:15 | Live Interactive Tour at

sweethomealexandria & 1:00PM-4:00PM | In-Person Open House*

*Please wear your mask. Gloves will be provided. Be prepared to take off your shoes or wear show covers.

Lisa Groover REALTOR® | LICENSED IN VA NVAR Platinum Top Producer m 703.919.4426 | LGroover@McEnearney.com | LisaGroover.com 2020

109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703.549.9292 | McEnearney.com | Equal Housing Opportunity

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 9

MASSAGE

CLEANING

FERNANDO’S CLEANING: Residential & Commercial Cleaning, Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates, Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/MoveOut. (202) 234-7050, 202-486-6183.

Discrete, private massage studio near Rosslyn. Text Gary 301-704-1158. Days and hours at www.mymassagebygary.com.

BULLETIN BOARD

MEN FOR MEN

WHITE MALE, 45, 6’2�, 200lbs, fairly hairy, 9�. ISO hot, horny, well endowed, submissive jock. Call or text 240-357-8628.

BODYWORK

THE MAGIC TOUCH: Swedish, Massage or Deep Tissue. Appts 202-486-6183, Low Rates, 24/7, In-Calls.

Academy of Hope is advertising two separate opportunities to bid on Executive Search services, and Organization Development Services & Additional speciďŹ cations are outlined in the Requests for Proposals (RFP) & The RFPs may be found on AOH’s website at www.aohdc.org Proposals will be accepted at the above address on Friday, November 13, 2020 no later than 12 noon.

COUNSELING

COUNSELING FOR LGBTQ People. Individual/ couple counseling with a volunteer peer counselor. GMCC, servicing since 1973. 202-580-8661. gaymenscounseling.org. No fees, donation requested.

EMPLOYMENT

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 CertiďŹ ed within 6 months of hire, pass security background check.

(Associates degree preferred) For more information please contact Human Resources @ 301-392-2500.

LEGAL SERVICES

ADOPTION, DONOR, SURROGACY legal services.

Jennifer represents LGBTQ clients in DC, MD & VA interested in adoption or ART matters. 240863- 2441, JFairfax@jenniferfairfax.com.

LIMOUSINES

KASPER’S LIVERY SERVICE Since 1987. Gay & Veteran Owner/Operator. 2016 Luxury BMW 750Li Sedan. Properly Licensed & Livery Insured in DC. www.KasperLivery.com. Phone 202-554-2471.

Place your HOUSING SHARE ad online at washingtonblade.com and the ad prints free in print & online! **25 words or less prints free

**Anything more is $1/word.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

TELL ‘EM YOU saw their ad in the Blade classiďŹ eds!

MOVERS

AROUND TOWN MOVERS. Professional Moving & Storage. Let Our Movers Do The Heavy Lifting.

Mention the ‘Blade’ for 5% off of our regular rates. Call today 202.734.3080. www.aroundtownmovers.com.

HOUSING SHARE / DC

GWM ISO same to share elegant home in SW DC. Utilities, maid & parking are included. W/D, DW, Filtered Water/ice machine, cable & WiFi, garden (but no yard work), outdoor galleries for tanning, cocktails, etc. Friendly, but non- intrusive, housemate/landlord. Please call Bruce (202) 488-4888. rbrucm@aol.com. Thank you!

Serving nothing but flesh

RENT / WVA

SERENITY AND SAFETY IN THE MTNS. Tired of living in an urban covid enviornment working from home, come to the panhandle of beautiful of WV and work among nature and seclusion. Large one bedroom with home ofďŹ ce. All amenities and totally furnished, simply pack your toothbrush. Some services provided. $675.00 per month plus electric and gas.

Phone Ron for details 304-754-3596/202-905-6793.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Results-Oriented • Affordable

Larry Cohen, LICSW

32 years serving the LGBT community

202-244-0903 socialanxietyhelp.com

See website for NPR story on my work

DAVE LLOYD & ASSOCIATES Top 1% Nationwide NVAR Life Member Top Producder

703-593-3204

WWW.DAVELLOYD.NET ENTHUSIASTICALLY SERVING DC & VIRGINIA

3 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • NOVEMBER 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • C LA S S I F I E D S

A

JOIN US FOR A DIGITAL SERIES ON WHERE WE GO FROM HERE NOVEMBER 11 Election recap and the next administration NOVEMBER 18 Meet the LGBTQ Winners NOVEMBER 25 LGBTQ Non-Profits and their next fights DECEMBER 2 The Importance of LGBTQ Media

NOV E M B E R 0 6 , 2 0 2 0 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 3 1