(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Casa Ruby founder steps down
Alexus Blackmon named interim executive director By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Ruby Corado, the founder and executive director of the D.C. LGBTQ community services center Casa Ruby, announced in a Facebook live video message that she had resigned from her position as leader of Casa Ruby effective on Oct. 1. Joining Corado in the Facebook broadcast was Casa Ruby Government Affairs Director Alexis Blackmon, who Corado said would immediately assume the position of interim executive director until the completion of a search for a permanent director. Last year, Corado disclosed she planned to step down as Casa Ruby’s executive director sometime in 2022 to work full time on an LGBTQ-related consulting practice that she said she had begun part-time while continuing her role as Casa Ruby executive director. In her Facebook announcement, Corado said she decided to step down at this time in response to an ongoing dispute with the D.C. government which resulted in a decision last week by the D.C. Department of Human Services to discontinue its $850,000 annual grant that has funded Casa Ruby’s emergency “low barrier” shelter for homeless LGBTQ youth and adults.
homeless shelter. Corado said she also believes the defunding may be in response to her refusal to agree to a DHS request that she move the Casa Ruby homeless facility to a location in Northeast D.C. that Corado believed to be an unsafe neighborhood for her clients, especially those who are trans. DHS declined a request from the Washington Blade for comment on the Casa Ruby complaint, saying it was under investigation. In response to a question from the Blade at an Oct. 4 press conference on an unrelated subject, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she would “make the Department of Human Services available” to address the Blade’s question of why Casa Ruby’s funding was not renewed for its LGBTQ shelter program. “We do business with organizations all the time,” the mayor said. “And sometimes we continue our relationship and other times we don’t. Largely it is based on an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. So, I can say that.” “And I can also say there are opportunities all the time for organizations to work with us,” Bowser continued. “And in some rounds or contract rounds it doesn’t work out and in subsequent rounds it might. And that may be the case with Casa Ruby.” A DHS spokesperson did not respond to a Blade follow-up question this week asking for the reason the agency terminated the Casa Ruby funding. Corado couldn’t immediately be reached earlier this week to determine whether Casa Ruby had raised enough private funds to keep its main shelter open that has operated out of its headquarters building at 7530 Georgia Ave., N.W., In its GoFundMe appeal, Corado said the shelter might be forced to close on Oct. 1.
Covenant House opens shelter for homeless LGBTQ youth
RUBY CORADO
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
DHS has declined to disclose its reason for terminating the Casa Ruby grant, saying only that it will continue its full funding for services for LGBTQ youth who experience homelessness through grants to other organizations. DHS informed Corado of its decision to discontinue the grant less than a week before the end of the fiscal year, with the funding set to stop on Sept. 30. At Corado’s initiative, Casa Ruby launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign that has raised more than $100,000, a development that Corado says highlights the community’s support for Casa Ruby and its numerous programs, many of which support transgender people and LGBTQ immigrants. Corado stated in her Facebook announcement that officials at the DHS, who she did not identify, were attempting to use her as a “distraction” to divert attention from the harm Corado said would come from the city agency’s decision to defund the Casa Ruby homeless services program. Corado previously said she believes the defunding of the Casa Ruby homeless program allegedly came in retaliation for a Casa Ruby complaint filed against the DHS by Casa Ruby earlier this year. The complaint charges that a DHS official had acted in a hostile and abusive way toward Corado and Casa Ruby staffers who were operating the
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Blackmon, an African American trans woman, recently received a degree from Georgetown University in the field of nonprofit management, according to Corado, who called Blackmon a highly committed and knowledgeable Casa Ruby team member “who everybody loves.” Corado also stated in her Facebook broadcast that she will take a three-month sabbatical after which she will return to develop a stepped up private fundraising program for Casa Ruby so that the organization will no longer be dependent on D.C. government funding. On the same day Corado announced her resignation, the local nonprofit homeless services organization Covenant House Greater Washington announced it was opening on Oct. 1 a homeless facility for LGBTQ youth in the city’s Deanwood neighborhood in Ward 7. “Covenant House Greater Washington is pleased to announce SHINE—a new safe space initiative created for LGBTQ+ populations,” the group said in a statement. “The program will provide emergency shelter, crisis stabilization and short-term housing options to young people in the greater Washington region.” The statement says the facility, a three-story building, consists of 24 beds, case management services, and “an array of support from various community-based organizations currently working with LGBTQ+ youth.” The new Covenant House facility adds to the LGBTQ youth homeless facilities currently being operated by Casa Ruby and two other LGBTQ organizations for more than a decade—the Wanda Alston Foundation and SMYAL, the D.C. LGBTQ youth advocacy and services organization. The Washington Post reports that the DHS awarded Covenant House a $648,000 grant to create and operate its new LGBTQ youth homeless facility. In its statement announcing the opening of the new facility, Covenant House said the facility will be led by its newly hired program director, Taylor Chandler Walker, a trans woman who has been involved with local LGBTQ organizations; including Capital Pride Alliance, Us Helping Us, and the LGBT Budget Coalition.
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Comings & Goings
Scott Simpson returns to the Leadership Conference By PETER ROSENSTEIN
protect the rights of all persons in The Comings and Goings the United States. column is about sharing the Scott returns to The Leadership professional successes of our Conference after serving as community. We want to recognize the public advocacy director of those landing new jobs, new Muslim Advocates, a national clients for their business, joining civil rights group for American boards of organizations and Muslims, where he directed rapid other achievements. Please response, policy, campaigns, share your successes with us at: communications and organizing. comingsandgoings@washblade. Prior to his work at Muslim com. Advocates, he served as the The Comings and Goings media and campaigns director for column also invites LGBTQ+ the Leadership Conference and college students to share their the Education Fund; as a faculty successes with us. If you have member at the Howard University been elected to a student School of Communications; as a government position, gotten staffer to former congresswoman an exciting internship, or are and current HUD Secretary Marcia graduating and beginning your L. Fudge; and as an HIV testing, career with a great job, let us needle exchange and outreach know so we can share your worker for several HIV/AIDS success. organizations. Scott has served Congratulations to Scott on the boards of HIPS, Q Street Simpson on his return to the and the LGBT Congressional Leadership Conference as Staff Association. He is the editor managing director of campaigns SCOTT SIMPSON (Photo courtesy of Scott Simpson) of two books, “Unbought and and programs. Wade Henderson, Unbossed: Expanded 40th interim president and CEO of Anniversary Edition” written by Congresswoman Shirley the Leadership Conference and the Education Fund, Chisholm and “From the Closet to the Courts: Expanded said, “We are so fortunate to have Scott Simpson return. 30th Anniversary Edition” written by his great aunt, gay Scott’s depth of experience in advocacy and dedication liberation leader Ruth Simpson. to equity for every individual in this country will be Scott has his Bachelor of Science in marketing from invaluable in our work building an America as good as its Southeastern University, and a master’s in strategic ideals.” The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human public relations from GWU’s Graduate School of Political Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership Management. of more than 220 national organizations to promote and
Two Md. LGBTQ rights bills take effect
So-called panic defense now banned By STAFF REPORTS
Two LGBTQ rights bills became law in Maryland on Oct. 1. House Bill 231 bans the so-called LGBTQ panic defense. House Bill 130 creates the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs in the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. Lawmakers approved both bills earlier this year. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in May announced he would allow them to take effect without his signature. (Photo by Chad Zajdowicz via Flickr)
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D.C. singer turned Broadway star Julia Nixon dies at 66 Beloved cabaret performer brought diverse communities together By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Julia Nixon, a singer, songwriter, and actress who got her start singing at D.C. bars and nightclubs in the 1970s before becoming an internationally recognized vocalist who played the lead role in the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls” in 1983, died Sept. 29 at a hospital in Raleigh, N.C. of complications associated with COVID-19, according to her longtime D.C. friend Craig Henson. She was 66 Henson said that when New York choreographer-director (Photo courtesy of Craig Henson) Michael Bennett selected Nixon to replace “Dreamgirls”’ original lead actress Jennifer Holliday, Nixon assured her loyal D.C. fans that she would return to D.C. after completing her run with “Dreamgirls.” Sure enough, Henson said, Nixon did return to perform at Mr. Henry’s in Adams Morgan, where she got her start, as well as other D.C. nightspots, including Blues Alley in Georgetown and Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill. But during those years in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s and beyond, Nixon also performed as the opening act in shows headlined by some of the nation’s most famous singers and performers; including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner. She also accepted an invitation by the late comedian Richard Pryor to join him on a world tour as his opening act, which brought her to Tokyo, Paris, London, Russia and other international destinations. Among the places she performed in the U.S. included New York’s Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Carnegie Hall. In D.C. she had also performed at the Kennedy Center and the White House and performed several times on the main stage at D.C.’s annual Capital Pride celebration on Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol before throngs of her loyal LGBTQ fans. Henson said he and countless other fans of Nixon faithfully turned out to the D.C. nightspots, where Nixon performed when she returned to D.C. in the mid-80s and early 90s. “Washington was still a somewhat racially divided city back then and it was Julia who brought together both black and white, gay and straight at Mr. Henry’s throughout the 80s and early 90s and where Julia won over her life-long devoted fans,” Henson told the Washington Blade. He said she did this while appearing weekly at the Mr. Henry’s in Adams Morgan before soldout shows, which included two back-to-back shows each weekend evening. “Her racially and sexually diverse audiences came from communities all over D.C., with the mayor and a City Council member in attendance, always ending in a thunderous standing ovation demanding an encore—and sometimes going two or three more,” Henson said. In a June 2006 interview with the Washington Post, Nixon told of her decision to put her performing career on hold around 1995 to raise her then-8-year-old son in her home state of North Carolina. Henson said this took place at the time Nixon and her husband separated and later divorced. “Julia retreated to her home base of Raleigh to raise her son near family,” Henson said. He said that around the early 2000s, her son Nicholas, who goes by the name Nikko, who was around 18 at that time, secretly contacted Dr. Phil McGraw, the popular TV psychologist whose “Dr. Phil”
shows highlighted the lives of people in all walks of life. Henson said Nikko urged “Dr. Phil” to consider doing a show about his mother and her talented career that was at the time on hold, and he agreed to do so. In early 2002 “Dr. Phil” had both Nixon and her son on an episode called, “How Do I Get My Career Back.” “Following ‘Dr. Phil’, Julia had a comeback show recorded live at the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria to a sellout crowd of 500, ending with encore after encore,” Hanson said. “Her magic was back, and in the city where she launched her storied career.” According to Henson, a short time later Black Entertainment Television arranged for Nixon to perform in a series of overseas concerts “representing American jazz music, winning over Russians, Europeans and South Americans with her amazing classically trained five octave voice.” He was referring to Nixon’s studies in voice at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she learned to sing opera. Henson also points out that Nixon’s father was a gospel singer at the family’s church in North Carolina, providing her with a strong background in yet another genre of music. In 2006, Nixon won a Helen Hayes Award for her leading role as the character Caroline Thibodeaux in the Broadway musical “Caroline, or Change.” Henson said recordings, including CDs, were made of some of Nixon’s popular songs, including a 1985 dance record “Breakin’ Down,” which became a hit in the U.K.; and a 2007 album called “Keeping on Track.” A promotional announcement of Nixon’s return appearance at Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill for a Jan. 17, 2016, performance with her longtime piano accompanist Dave Ylvisaker and her son Nikki, who also accompanied her as a drummer, appeared to capture the sentiment of Nixon’s longtime fans as well as those who reviewed her performances. “Upon first hearing Julia Nixon, you notice people sit up a little taller and smiles begin showing up all over the room,” the promotional announcement says. “Julia Nixon’s classically trained voice is as enchanting with a 120-piece orchestra, a jazz trio or singing on a stool unplugged in the crook of a grand piano. You can’t help falling in love with this singer.” Nixon’s last performance in the D.C. area took place July 3 of this year at the Birchmere. Henson said she had plans to return once again to perform at Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill this fall. “As fate would have it, or perhaps even Providence, her beginnings were with Mr. Henry’s as was her end—amongst those who loved her most,” Henson wrote in a statement to the Blade. “Julia was due to start back at Mr. Henry’s when COVID took her life,” he wrote. “She once told me: ‘God gave me a voice to sing, and I’m going to use it until the day I die.’ Julia indeed fulfilled God’s intentions,” Henson wrote. “She will forever live in our hearts and souls. Thank you, Dear Julia, for the music, the love, the joy.” Nixon is survived by her former husband, Chuck Nixon of Hyattsville Md.; her son Nicholas ‘Nikko’ Nixon of Raleigh, N.C.; and six siblings: James E. McGirt of Florence, S.C.; E. Albertina McGirt of Greensboro, N.C.; John E. McGirt of Rowland, N.C.; Gregory A. McGirt of Issaguah, Wash.; Cynthia O. McGirt of Raleigh, N.C.; and Lee E. McGirt also of Raleigh. She is predeceased by her parents, John Neally McGirt and Julia Smith McGirt. Information about funeral or memorial services have not been publicly announced by the family.
Longtime D.C. AIDS activist William Arnold dies at 83 Va. native helped secure funding for AIDS drugs
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. CARE Act, has enabled low-income people who often did not have medical insurance to gain access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs that since the mid-1990s have saved the lives of countless numbers of people infected with HIV. Arnold has also served as the board co-chair and longtime board member of the ADAP Advocacy Association, which advocates for sufficient funding and improved operation of the ADAP program, including improved access to the program for people living with HIV. A native of Northern Virginia, Arnold grew up in a family that traveled extensively overseas to accompany his father who served as a U.S. Foreign Service officer. He received his high school diploma from the Deerfield Academy prep school in Deerfield, Mass. Arnold next received his bachelor’s degree in China Area Studies from Yale University before attending the U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School from which he emerged as a commissioned second lieutenant in the Army, according to Arnold’s LinkedIn page. Driscoll, who worked with Arnold on AIDS related projects beginning in the middle 1990s, said Arnold
William “Bill” Arnold, a founder and leader of several advocacy groups beginning in the mid-1990s that helped secure federal and state funding for life saving drugs for people with HIV/AIDS, died at his D.C. home on Sept. 29 of complications associated with lung cancer, according to his friend and fellow activist Jim Driscoll. He was 83. Driscoll and others who knew Arnold said he emerged as a committed AIDS activist shortly after moving from Westchester County, N.Y., where he operated a small business, to D.C. in the mid-1980s. He was a founding director and served since 1996 as president and CEO of the Community Access National Network (CANN), which advocates for affordable healthcare services and support for people with HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis. Arnold was also the founder and since 1995 served as director of the National ADAP Working Group, which is credited with playing a lead role in persuading Congress to steadily increase funding for the joint federal-state AIDS Drug Assistance Program known as ADAP. ADAP, which operates under the federal Ryan White
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WILLIAM “BILL” ARNOLD
(Photo by Jim Driscoll; used with permission)
played an important role leading the ADAP Working Group’s efforts to persuade conservative members of Congress to increase funding for what they initially viewed as a liberal entitlement. Describing Arnold as a “peace maker and a deal maker,” Driscoll said Arnold, a lifelong Democrat, “neither demonized conservatives nor canonized progressives.” Instead, according to Driscoll, Arnold “kept the focus on the needs of the patients and the value of the treatment for both the patients and for long term public healthcare costs.” CONTINUED AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
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Legal advocates turn attention to SCOTUS abortion cases No major LGBTQ rights issues before court this term By CHRIS JOHNSON
With the new term for the U.S. Supreme Court underway, justices for the first time in years won’t have to consider a major case specifically impacting LGBTQ rights, which legal advocates say will lead to them to focus their attention on high-profile cases that challenge a woman’s right to access abortion. At the top of the watch list for court, which now has 6-3 conservative majority as a result of appointments under former President Trump, is (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which will determine the constitutionality of the Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks and is widely considered a direct challenge to long-standing precedent established by Roe v. Wade guaranteeing a right to abortion. The Texas law banning any abortion after six weeks, which the Supreme Court allowed to take effect as litigation against it proceeds, is still pending in lower courts, but will likely reach the high court soon. For many LGBTQ legal advocates, the abortion cases are important because they say the outcome could directly impact legal precedent underpinning major Supreme Court decisions in favor, including the 2003 decision of Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down state bans on sodomy, and the 2015 decision of Obergefell v. Hodges in favor of samesex marriage nationwide. Camilla Taylor, director of constitutional litigation for Lambda Legal, said the outcome abortion cases is crucial not only because LGBTQ people need access to abortion. “Just as importantly, there are a lot of ways in which the landmark precedents that we obtained that vindicate the rights of LGBT people rely upon a foundation of substantive due process precedent that includes Roe v. Wade, and other cases dealing with reproductive health,” Taylor said. “So, if Roe versus Wade crumbles, then the foundation on which our own cases also crumbles.” As such, a coalition of LGBTQ legal groups—including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Center for Transgender Equality and Equality California—was among those who filed a friend-of-the-court brief in September arguing the Mississippi law is unconstitutional. Key among the arguments is the denial of abortion access is a form of sex discrimination, just as the Supreme Court determined last year in Bostock v. Clayton County that antiLGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, this illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “By the same logic, laws that restrict abortion also facially discriminate based on sex,” the brief says, “Like being LGBTQ, pregnancy is a sex-based characteristic; it is ‘inextricably bound up with’ an individual’s sex. Accordingly, laws that force a pregnant woman to bear a child necessarily discriminate based on sex, as would a law that barred a reproductive medical procedure available only to men.” It’s true that both Roe v. Wade and the Supreme Court’s decision for LGBTQ were based on principals of due process and equal protection under the 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. But not all legal experts agree LGBTQ rights are on the line depending on the outcome of abortion litigation. Dale Carpenter, a conservative law professor at the SMU (Southern Methodist University) Dedman School of Law who’s written in favor of LGBTQ rights, said the Supreme Court is “probably going to write a narrower opinion, if it even overrules Roe,” but won’t issue a radical decision “that reaches out and destroys all unenumerated rights.” “Obergefell relies on the fundamental right to marry,” Carpenter said. “There’s no chance the Supreme Court is going to say there is no right to a fundamental right to marry. The doctrine upon which Obergefell rests is on much more solid footing than abortion
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rights. The basic doctrine underlying Obergefell has never seriously been challenged; abortion rights have been for 50 years.” Other key differences between the right to abortion and same-sex marriage, Carpenter said, are an arguable state interest in protecting fetal life and reliance interests in the case of marriage rights given thousands of same-sex couples have wed in the wake of the Obergefell decision. But what about Lawrence v. Texas, which were both that LGBTQ rights decision and Roe v. Wade decided at least in part on finding an unenumerated right to privacy in the constitution? Carpenter said a Supreme Court decision undoing a right to privacy would mean undoing nearly 60-year precedent that began with the 1965 decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, which overturned a state ban on contraceptives. “There’s not even a single brief in the case, that I know of, on the anti-abortion side that’s supporting that,” Carpenter said. Carpenter concluded with a wry jab: “By the way, the LGBT rights advocates who are now saying that these LGBT rights decisions are in danger will be the same people say after Roe is a overruled that those decisions are not affected.” Indeed, the Supreme Court under its current 6-3 conservative makeup had an opportunity to take up an Indiana birth certificate case, Box v. Henderson, that was a direct challenge to the Obergefell marriage decision, but declined to take up the case. No state is any where close to recriminalizing sexual relations for same-sex couples, which in 2021 would widely be seen as a human rights violation. But legal advocates for the LGBTQ community aren’t limiting the relationship between abortion and LGBTQ rights to legal principles. Additionally, the identify solidarity with another minority group under siege, in this case women seeking access to abortion, and need among certain members of the LGBTQ community—lesbian and bisexual women, transgender men and non-binary people—to have the access to abortion. Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, echoed the sense LGBTQ legal advocates are focused on abortion cases, but cited “overlap between the reproductive rights, and justice movement and the LGBTQ movements.” “What we see is the primary impact of this case on our community is a very direct one,” Minter said. “It’s extremely direct. The ability to obtain abortions is of great importance to women in our community, and also to transgender men and non-binary people as well.” Minter cited data finding upwards of 80 percent of bisexual women will experience pregnancy over their lives and said LGBTQ women “are significantly more likely to have unintended pregnancies as a result of sexual violence, which is very distressing, but that is a reality for our community.” Lesbian young adults and adolescents are at particular risk for unwanted pregnancy, Minter added, because there’s still “so much stigma and discrimination that they tried to sort of hide their sexual orientation, and prove that they’re straight when they’re not, so they actually have high rates of unprotected sex.”
Religious schools funding, gun control, Obamacare on docket
The abortion cases aren’t the only litigation on the radar for LGBTQ legal advocates. Also on the list are cases that will determine whether Maine religious schools have access to public funds, the legality of New York State gun regulations and disparate impact claims under Obamacare. Taylor said the case of CVS Pharmacy v. Doe before the Supreme Court, which was brought by people living with HIV/AIDS, will determine whether disparate impact claims are cognizable in the context of disabilities under the Affordable Care Act. “That’s really important for people living with HIV and other people with disabilities,” Taylor said. “It could do a lot of harm.” The oral arguments in the Dobbs case are set to take place before the Supreme Court on Dec. 1.
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Kevin McCarthy on marriage equality: ‘I support the law of the land’ GOP leader pressed after Liz Cheney reversal By CHRIS JOHNSON
Cheney over same-sex marriage—has a record in opposition to same-sex marriage, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was thrown off on Sept. 30 when having cast votes against it before his comments this week. asked about his position on marriage equality. First seated as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007, McCarthy In the wake of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.)—now ostracized in the Republican Party for missed out on key votes on same-sex marriage, including the Defense of Marriage opposing former President Trump—telling “60 Minutes” she “was wrong” to oppose Act and the Federal Marriage Act. same-sex marriage, McCarthy initially ducked when However, McCarthy as House majority whip in asked by the Washington Blade during his weekly 2011 voted as a member of the congressional news conference whether his views have changed. Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group in favor of “Look, same-sex marriage is the law of the land, defending in court DOMA, which barred federal and it’s what America holds and that’s the law of the recognition of same-sex marriage, after the Obama land,” McCarthy said. administration declined to defend it. The U.S. Pressed by the Blade on whether his views have Supreme Court struck down DOMA in 2013, before changed, McCarthy repeated, “It’s the law of the ruling in favor of marriage equality nationwide in land. I support the law of the land. I don’t see how 2013. that’s different. I don’t see how that’s news.” In a related vote on LGBTQ issues, McCarthy played McCarthy’s response leaves room for a key role in defeating a 2016 amendment proposed interpretation. To support the law of the land is to by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) aimed at support same-sex marriage, but it is not exactly a upholding an executive order against anti-LGBTQ ringing endorsement and would certainly be a discrimination in the workplace among federal different position for McCarthy. contractors. The Washington Examiner reported McCarthy’s The new comments demonstrate radically words in response to Blade questioning as him House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-Calif.) changed views since that time in the American having “effectively endorsed” same-sex marriage. (Photo via Public Domain) public’s support of same-sex marriage. According The Guardian reported McCarthy “stumbled to a Gallup poll in June, support for same-sex through an answer” on the issue. marriage reached a record high of 70 percent this year. The Blade placed a call to the Republican leader’s congressional office seeking For the first time, a majority of Republicans, 55 percent said they supported sameclarification on whether McCarthy intended to signal he supports same-sex marriage sex marriage, the Gallup poll found. As pointed out by the Examiner, that’s nearly with those words. double the support from 10 years ago in 2011. McCarthy—like Cheney, who once had a public spat with her lesbian sister Mary
11th Circuit: Big Tech not liable for role in Pulse nightclub massacre Judges said shooting not ‘international terrorism’ under law By CHRIS JOHNSON
A federal appeals court in Atlanta has upheld a decision finding social media companies aren’t liable in the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre for giving the shooter access to ISIS propaganda that was found to have inspired the attack. In a 31-page decision issued on Sept. 30, a three-judge panel on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the trio of Big Tech companies named in the case—Twitter, Facebook and Google—can’t be sued for their role in the shooting despite arguments that they illegally aided and abetted the shooter under the Anti-Terrorism Act. “We are deeply saddened by the deaths and injuries caused by Mr. Mateen’s rampage, but we agree with the district court that the plaintiffs failed to make out a plausible claim that the Pulse massacre was an act of ‘international terrorism’ as that term is defined in the ATA,” the decision says. “And without such an act of ‘international terrorism,’ the social media companies— no matter what we may think of their alleged conduct— cannot be liable for aiding and abetting under the ATA.” The panel consisted of U.S. Circuit Judge Adalberto Jordan, an Obama appointee; U.S. Circuit Judge Adalberto Jordan, a Trump appointee; and U.S. Circuit Judge Julie Carnes, another Obama appointee. Jordan wrote the decision on behalf of the judges. The mass shooting led to the deaths of 49 people and injured 53 others, mainly Latino because of the Latino theme of the gay nightclub that night. At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. history. (A shooting in Las Vegas the following year claimed 60 lives.) The shooter, Omar Mateen, had declared allegiance
to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and a designated foreign terrorist organization, which later claimed responsibility. Mateen after the attack was found to have used Facebook to write posts and make searches about ISIS—and was even found to have been searching for ISIS content as he was carrying out the assault. The survivors and victims’ families who make up the 62 plaintiffs in the case argued the social media companies
(Photo via Bigstock)
were liable under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which makes it a crime to help carry out a terrorist attack. But, as the 11th Circuit points out, ISIS, despite claiming responsibility for the attack and was never found to have engaged in planning the massacre, or was even aware of his plans, was therefore not liable under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Instead, the court finds Mateen
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was “self-radicalized,” making a distinction between his attack and an act of international terrorism as defined under the law “Mr. Mateen was self-radicalized while living in Florida and committed mass murder there,” the decision says. “A case involving a foreign terrorist who is radicalized overseas, plans his attack there, and then travels to the U.S. (or elsewhere) to commit an act of mass destruction may well fit the § 2332(1)(C) bill. … But this case, given the allegations in the complaint, is not close to that hypothetical.” The plaintiffs had also sought damages from the Big Tech companies under a Florida state law for negligent infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death. The 11th Circuit, however, also rejected that argument on the basis they failed to adequately brief proximate the argument and therefore abandoned the challenge. The 11th Circuit upholds a decision from a federal district court in Florida throwing out the case. Another court, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, made a similar ruling last year in a separate case, finding social media companies weren’t liable for the San Bernardino, Calif., shooting in 2015. Attorneys for the plaintiff victims and survivors didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment on whether or not they would seek review of the decision, either by an “en banc” consideration of the full court or a petition for review to the U.S. Supreme Court. Representatives for social media companies also didn’t immediately respond to the Blade’s request to comment.
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Equality Forum honors Buttigieges for LGBT History Month Icon to be honored each day in October By KAELA ROEDER
LGBTQ leaders and allies joined the Equality Forum in Philadelphia on Oct. 3 to launch LGBT History Month with an award ceremony honoring Pete and Chasten Buttigieg and New York Times columnist Frank Bruni. The Equality Forum, a national LGBTQ civil rights organization, granted the Buttigieges the International Role Model Award, which is a long-standing recognition of activists and allies who have advanced LGBTQ civil rights. Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary and first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the Cabinet, previously served as the first openly gay mayor of his hometown of South Bend, Ind. Chasten Buttigieg is a teacher, LGBTQ rights advocate and author of the best-selling memoir “I Have Something to Tell You,” which is about growing up gay in the Midwest and his life with his husband. The pair became parents to two newborns in September. “When I began my career in public life, I wasn’t sure whether it was even possible to be out and to serve openly at the same time,” said Pete Buttigieg, who joined the event virtually with Chasten. “But my service as mayor, my candidacy for office and my role in public life has shown that now you can be out and serve your country. There’s a long way to go, but the work of groups like the Equality Forum and the history makers who came before I, made this possible.” Previous winners of the award include Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, California Gov. Gavin Newson and activist Judy Shepard. Bruni received the Frank Kameny Award, which is named after the prominent leader of the LGBTQ rights movement. Kameny led efforts to overturn the Eisenhower administration’s Executive Order 10450, which prohibited the employment of LGBTQ people by the federal government. The first openly gay columnist for the Times, Bruni is a Pulitzer Prize nominee who joined the paper in 1995. He later served as a White House correspondent covering George W. Bush. Bruni was named an op-ed writer in 2011, and recently left his post in 2021 to work as the endowed chair in journalism at Duke University. Bruni continues to write for the Times and contributes to CNN. In his virtual acceptance speech, Bruni thanked the late Kameny and other trailblazers for fighting for LGBTQ rights. “You’re all honoring me for the writing I’ve done that argues for our dignity, that illuminates our humanity—or at least that tries to do those things,” Bruni said. “But unlike Frank Kameny, unlike so many of his gay and lesbian contemporaries, unlike so many of you—I didn’t have to be courageous. I didn’t have to be visionary. Others covered that ground before, and for me.” Equality Forum also joined the African American Museum in Philadelphia on Sunday in establishing the Alain Locke Historic Marker in front of the museum. A gay man from Philadelphia, Locke is remembered as the “Father of the Harlem Renaissance.” “African American, women’s and LGBTQ history were invisible. LGBT History Month and the historic markers bring to public attention the LGBTQ community’s important national and international contributions,” said Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin in an emailed statement to the Washington Blade. This is the 10th government-approved, nationally significant LGBTQ historic marker overseen and underwritten by Equality
CHASTEN and PETE BUTTIGIEG speak virtually after they received the Equality Forum International Role Model Award. (Screen capture via Equality Forum)
Forum, Lazin said. Locke was the first African American Rhodes Scholar, earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University and became the chair of Howard University’s Philosophy Department. “As the leader of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, Alain Locke for the first time brought to national attention the diversity and vibrancy of the music, visual arts and literature of African American culture. Those who he mentored and promoted became legendary,” Lazin wrote. Each day in October, the Equality Forum will honor a different LGBTQ “icon.” The 2021 icons include Bruni, members of Congress, entertainers, senior White House staffers, Mary Trump, Chopin and Myanmar’s Miss Universe. The Equality Forum will feature a video, biography, downloadable images and other resources for each Icon. LGBT History Month, an Equality Forum project, has archived 496 icons with resources since it began 16 years ago. It is the largest online educational resource of its type worldwide, Lazin said. In 2019, Lou Chibbaro Jr., the Blade’s senior news reporter, was honored as an icon. “We present the icons alphabetically. Oct. 1 was Susan B. Anthony,” Lazin wrote. “Few LGBTQ Americans know that the nation’s leading suffragette was a lesbian. Like Susan B. Anthony, LGBT History Month provides visibility for LGBTQ icons that have made monumental contributions.” To learn more about the 2021 icons, visit www.lgbthistorymonth.com.
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Mark your calendars for Whitman-Walker’s 35th annual Walk & 5K to End HIV on Saturday, October 23, 2021! Register online at WalktoEndHIV.org
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Taiwan court rules trans woman can change gender without surgery Advocacy group praises ‘landmark judgment’
(Photo public domain)
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
A court in Taiwan has ruled a transgender woman can legally change her gender on her household registration without surgery. The Taipei Times reported the Dasi Household Registration Office in Taoyuan, a city outside of the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, in 2019 denied the woman’s application to change her gender to female. The Taipei High Administrative Court on Sept. 23 ruled in her favor. The Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights, a Taiwanese advocacy group, described the ruling as a “landmark judgment.” “The decision clearly declared that the executive order of the Ministry of the Interior for compulsory surgery was unconstitutional, and positively affirmed that transgender citizens have constitutional autonomy and the right to privacy of information, and under certain conditions, to request a change of gender registration,” said the Taiwan
Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights. “The judgment has correctly pointed out that gender identity and congenital nature are two things, and that compulsory surgery is … unconstitutional.” The Taipei Times reported the Interior Ministry can appeal the ruling.
Gay Brazilian senator confronts Bolsonaro supporter Fabiano Contarato challenged homophobic social media comments By EGERTON NETO
Brazilian Sen. Fabiano Contarato on Sept. 30 won praise across the country when he publicly confronted homophobic social media attacks. In a session of the Senate’s Parliamentary Inquiry Committee that is investigating Brazil’s response to the pandemic, Contarato, the country’s first openly gay senator, made a historic speech. As businessman Otávio Fakhoury testified, Contarato, who was presiding over the hearing, questioned him about a homophobic social media post that personally attacked the senator. Fakhoury, a known supporter of President Jair Bolsonaro, is suspected of funding a fake news scheme during the pandemic. Fakhoury’s post, mocking a spelling error in one of Contarato’s tweets, implied that the senator was flirting in the committee. “You are not a teenager. You are married, you have children.
(Photo courtesy of Agência Senado)
Your family is no better than mine,” Contarato told the businessman. “My family is no worse than yours because the same marriage certificate you have I also have. You talk about the Fatherland, you talk about legality, you talk about morality, but you are the main violator of that legality and morality. You speak of ‘God above all,’ but God is among us,” added Contarato, who became emotional. Fakhoury later said that the comment was a joke with no intention of diminishing him, and apologized. “I respect your family as I respect mine. I have friends from all sides, with preferences, orientations. Therefore, I declare that my comment was not intended to offend you,” he said. “I know I have offended you deeply and I apologize. I’m not a person who discriminates against race, color or sexual orientation.”
52 countries ask U.N. to protect intersex rights U.S. among statement signatories By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Fifty-two countries have signed a statement that urges the U.N. Human Rights Council to protect the rights of intersex people. “We call on all member states to take measures to combat violence and discrimination against intersex persons, develop policies in close consultations with those affected, ensure accountability, reverse discriminatory laws (Photo by sanjitbakshi; courtesy Flickr) and provide victims with access to remedy,” said Amb. Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, Austria’s permanent U.N. representative in Geneva, in a statement she read to the council on Oct. 4. “We also call on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and on the Special Procedures of this Council to
continue addressing and to scale up action against violence and discrimination based on sex characteristics within their mandates and in their work.” The U.S., India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fiji, Brazil, the Marshall Islands, Namibia and Uruguay are among the countries that have signed the statement. “Discrimination, stigmatization, violence, harmful practices in medical settings and several other human rights violations continue to occur around the world for people born with diverse sex characteristics. Actions have to follow those statements,” reads a statement that interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, Intersex Asia Network, Intersex Human Rights Australia, Brújula Intersexual, SIPD Uganda, Organisation Intersex International (OII) Europe, OII Chinese, GATE and ILGA World released. “States need to take strong and urgent action to uphold their obligation to ensure that intersex people live free from all types of violence and harmful practices, including in medical settings,” they added. “Irreversible medical interventions (such as genital surgeries, hormonal interventions and medical procedures intended to modify the sex characteristics of infants and children without their full, prior, and informed consent) continue to be the rule — not the exception — in the majority of U.N. member states.” The U.S. in 2018 withdrew from the council. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in February announced the U.S. will “reengage” with it.
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Visit Montifalco Vineyard in the historic
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USAID seeks to bolster LGBTQ rights in Colombia LGBTQ-inclusive peace agreement took effect in 2016 By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — The director of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Colombia mission says he and his colleagues remain committed to the implementation of the country’s LGBTQ-inclusive peace agreement. “The entire portfolio that we have and all of our work here in Colombia is really to support a durable and an inclusive piece,” Larry Sacks told the Washington Blade on Sept. 21 during an interview in Bogotá, the Colombian capital. “The core principles of what we do are based on equality, inclusion, rights and justice.” The agreement then-President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia Commander Rodrigo “Timochenko” Londoño signed in Cartagena on Sept. 26, 2016, specifically acknowledged LGBTQ Colombians as victims of the decades-long conflict that killed more than 200,000 people. The accord also called for their participation in the country’s political process.
“Peace accords worldwide tend to be made or broken within the first five years of implementation, and Colombia is right at that point,” Sacks told the Blade when asked about Duque’s comments. “There are certain people deep in the territories and others and high governments who are really helping and making sure that it’s successful, and that there’s continuity, and that the gains that have been made are irreversible. And there’s others who may question, but at the end of the day, I think that from our analysis, it’s on pace with what we’ve seen of the implementation of other peace accords worldwide.” “At least from USAID’s perspective, we’re doing everything that we can to help support the implementation on multiple chapters of the peace accord,” he added. USAID specifically supports the implementation of rural development programs through the agreement, efforts to reintegrate former child soldiers into Colombian society and expand the government’s presence into “violenceaffected areas.” USAID also works with the Truth Commission, the Unit for the Search of Disappeared Persons, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, the government’s Victims’ Unit and NGOs that support the conflict’s victims. USAID’s fiscal year 2021 budget for Colombia is $212.9 million. Upwards of $50 million of this money is earmarked for human rights work that specifically focuses on indigenous Colombians and Colombians of African descent, security, access to the country’s justice system and victims of the conflict.
More than 200 LGBTQ Colombians reported murdered in 2020
U.S. Agency for International Development Colombia Mission Director LARRY SACKS (Photo courtesy of USAID)
Wilson Castañeda, director of Caribe Afirmativo, an LGBTQ group in northern Colombia with which USAID works, is one of three activists who participated in the peace talks that took place in Havana. Colombian voters on Oct. 2, 2016, narrowly rejected the agreement in a referendum that took place against the backdrop of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from religious and conservative groups. Santos and Londoño less than two months later signed a second peace agreement—which also contains LGBTQspecific references—in Bogotá. “That was a very progressive move,” said Sacks in describing the inclusion of LGBTQ Colombians in the agreement. President Iván Duque, who campaigned against the agreement ahead of his 2018 election, spoke to the U.N. General Assembly hours before the Blade interviewed Sacks. Duque described it as “fragile.”
Sacks said USAID’s LGBTQ-specific work in Colombia focuses on four specific areas. “The first is really to kind of shine a light on, raise the visibility, raise the profile on issues of discrimination and violence and stigma and all the issues that this population is facing,” he said. Colombia Diversa, a Colombian LGBTQ rights group, on Sept. 15 issued a report that notes 226 LGBTQ people were reported murdered in the country in 2020. This figure is more than twice the number of LGBTQ Colombians—107—who Colombia Diversa said were known to have been killed in 2019. Sacks acknowledged anti-LGBTQ violence is increasing in Colombia. He said the mission works with Ombudsman’s Office of Colombia, an independent agency within the Colombian government that oversees human rights protections in the country, to provide additional support to LGBTQ rights groups. Sacks noted USAID also works with the Interior Ministry to “support the development of their LGBTQI-plus policies” and the country’s attorney general “to hold those accountable.” Sacks told the Blade that USAID also works to provide “technical and legal support to help” LGBTQ Colombians and other vulnerable groups “access public goods, services and justice.”
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USAID-supported groups assist Venezuelan migrants The Colombian government earlier this year said there were more than 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants in the country, although activists and HIV/AIDS service providers with whom the Blade has spoken say this figure is likely much higher. Duque in February announced it would legally recognize Venezuelan migrants who are registered with the country’s government. The Coordination Platform for Migrants and Refugees from Venezuela notes upwards of 5.4 million Venezuelans have left the country as of November 2020 as its economic and political crisis grows worse. The majority of them have sought refuge in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Venezuelan migrants are among the upwards of 570,000 people who have benefitted from a USAID program that provides direct cash assistance—between $49-$95 per family—for six months in order to purchase food and other basic needs. USAID also supports Americares, a Connecticut-based NGO that operates several clinics along the Colombia-Venezuelan border and in northern Colombia that specifically serve Venezuelan migrants with the support of the Colombian Health Ministry. Sacks noted USAID has an “agreement with” Aid for AIDS International, a New York-based group that serves Venezuelans with HIV/AIDS. Aid for AIDS International has used this support to conduct a survey of 300 sex workers in Maicao, Medellín and Cali. USAID is also working with the Health Ministry to provide health care to Venezuelan migrants with HIV/AIDS, among others, who are now legally recognized in Colombia. Caribe Afirmativo has opened three “Casas Afirmativos” in Maicao, Barranquilla and Medellín that provide access to health care and other services to Venezuelan migrants who are LGBTQ and/or living with HIV/AIDS. Medellín officials have also invited Caribe Afirmativo staffers to speak with LGBTQ migrants in the city’s public schools. “Colombia has shown a generosity that you don’t see in many other countries with regard to migrant populations,” Sacks told the Blade. “They really open their borders, their homes, their hearts, to migrants, including the LGBTI community.”
Pride march in Medellín, Colombia
Biden global LGBTQ rights memo is ‘tremendous benefit’ The White House earlier this year released a memorandum that committed the U.S. to promoting LGBTQ rights abroad. State Department spokesperson Ned Price in May told the Blade the protection of LGBTQ migrants and asylum seekers is one of the Biden administration’s priorities on this front. Sacks said the memo “gives us the political framework with which to operate and obviously sends a message from the highest levels of the U.S. government about LGBTQI-plus rights and equality and inclusion.” “So for us, it’s a tremendous benefit,” he told the Blade. USAID Administrator Samantha Power—a vocal champion of LGBTQ rights—has yet to visit Colombia, but Sacks said she has spoken with Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez. “We hope to get her down,” said Sacks.
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2021–2022
PETER ROSENSTEIN
is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.
Democrats don’t screw it up! Biden confident ‘it will get done’
CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS
WU HAN AND FRIENDS
LINDA EDER OCT 14 | 8 PM
LAURA BENANTI OCT 30 | 3 PM + 8 PM
PAT McGEE BAND OCT 22 + 23
HARLEM 100 FEATURING MWENSO & THE SHAKES CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE NOV 4
KAYHAN KALHOR NOV 10
SPANISH INSPIRATIONS CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS
NOV 12
WU HAN, PIANO ARNAUD SUSSMANN, VIOLIN PAUL NEUBAUER, VIOLA DAVID FINCKEL, CELLO
OCT 24 | 3 PM
JOHN LLOYD YOUNG’S BROADWAY! MUSIC DIRECTION BY TOMMY FARAGHER
NOV 11 | 8 PM
CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO TRACE BUNDY NOV 18
AN ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS WITH OVER THE RHINE DEC 2
CHRISTMAS WITH CANTUS LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR OUR TIME
CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS
DEC 3
AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS JAN 26 + 27
AND MANY MORE!
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Democrats could potentially still sabotage their own chances for 2022 and in the process screw with Virginia in 2021. Terry McAuliffe needs Congressional Democrats to act and make a difference for Virginia. President Biden went to the Hill last Friday and spoke with Democrats, asking them to come together. He did it to save his presidency because that is what is at stake here. The two bills in question are the major part of what he promised the American people he would do for them if elected. One problem for Democrats is in the debate over the cost of the bills; they seem to have forgotten to explain to people what is in them. It is possible this column may come out after an agreement is reached, but whether it does or not we must look at how the process is working. It is beyond time for both moderates, represented in the Senate by Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and progressives, represented by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and in the House by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), head of the Progressive Caucus, to get over themselves and reach a compromise and pass both a hard and soft infrastructure bill. After Biden’s visit to the Hill, Sen. Manchin said he is willing to go with a bill up to $1.5 trillion and the president said he is now is looking at a bill in the $2 trillion range. So, let’s stop talking about $3.5 trillion and start talking about what can be done for the people. It will still be the greatest step forward since the New Deal. It will take children out of poverty, provide for childcare, help with college and a host of other services making life better for the middle class. After Biden’s visit Jayapal said, “We’re going to have to come down on our number.” Progressive Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said “there were ways to cut the bill’s price tag while preserving many of the programs Democrats want to include. The sweeping bill was to provide funding for universal preschool for all Americans, affordable housing and making homes more energy efficient.” Raskin added, “Maybe not everything can be funded for 10 years; maybe it’s going to be a lesser period of time. At least we’ll be able to develop these programs and make a commitment to the American people. Then we’ll be able to make a judgment after four years or five years about the programs and whether they are working.” The president has now said he will wait for agreement on the soft infrastructure bill, accepting the bill the Senate passed will wait for a House vote until there is one. He said “whether it takes six minutes, six hours or six weeks. It will get done.” Sanders and House progressives need to come to agreement with moderates on the soft infrastructure bill and then let the House vote yes on the hard infrastructure bill he already voted for in the Senate. Sanders must stop what he has done for 35 years in Congress, not compromising, which is why he has no major accomplishments to his credit. As Democrats now determine what will go into a roughly $2 trillion bill they must ensure the American people understand the programs, not just the dollars. They need to show how they will tax the rich and corporations to pay for this over the years and turn the Republicans into the bad guys for opposing what people by large majorities want. If that is done Democrats have a real chance to keep the Congress and thereby have another chance to pass more of what many believe needs to happen. Hopefully the president’s visit to the Hill changed the dynamic and signals a move to real compromise. If it doesn’t it will continue to look like Democrats are doing what they have done best for years, form a circular firing squad. Joe Biden is the first president since Johnson to have a real understanding of, and experience with, how Congress works. His problem in trying to move forward like FDR and Johnson is he only has a 50/50 Senate. But if he can get these two bills across the finish line in his first year along with ending the war in Afghanistan, Democrats will be able to run in the mid-term elections with a winner. It’s past time to stop the shenanigans and for Democrats in the Congress to grow up, recognize to make progress compromise is necessary, and move on to victory.
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ISAAC AMEND
(he/him/his) is a trans man and young professional in the D.C. area. He was featured on National Geographic’s ‘Gender Revolution’ in 2017 as a student at Yale University. Isaac is also on the board of the LGBT Democrats of Virginia. Find him on Instagram @isaacamend.
U.S.must resettle LGBT refugees Taliban spells disaster for gay, transgender people
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Some think I should dress more like a woman. Some think I should dress more like a man.
I may not fit some ideas about gender, and I am a proud part of DC. Please treat me the same way any person would want to be treated: with courtesy and respect. Discrimination based on gender identity and expression is illegal in the District of Columbia. If you think you’ve been the target of discrimination, visit www.ohr.dc.gov or call (202) 727-4559.
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At the end of August, the last U.S. passenger plane disappeared from Afghanistan’s horizons. The Taliban had finally taken control of the entire country after several days of battles and fire within the capital city. The leaders of the Taliban declared a new state of rule from the presidential palace formerly occupied by President Ashraf Ghani. Soon after the Taliban’s taking of Kabul, Afghan men Two men in Kabul, and women panicked in droves to the airport to flee Afghanistan, in July 2021 oppressive rule. Getting a ticket onto an American-bound (Photo courtesy of Dr. Ahmad Qais Munzahim) plane was like winning the lottery for many Afghans. Canada declared it would help resettle 20,000 Afghans, purposefully including LGBT Afghans among that mix. Canada made its intention to resettle those who would suffer tremendously under Taliban rule: Gay and trans folk, and any other kind of queer person, among a few other marginalized groups. In early August of 2021, when the Afghan crisis was unfolding, a group of Democratic senators urged Biden to prioritize LGBT refugees. This group of senators, including Amy Klobuchar, wrote a letter to the State Department asking them to explain in greater detail a statement that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made regarding LGBT asylum seekers. In February of 2021, President Biden signed a memorandum that instructed U.S. agencies to ensure the rights of LGBT persons around the world. After that memorandum was signed, the State Department under Sec. Blinken said that it would make an enhanced effort to protect LGBT asylum seekers. But the group of senators, in their letter, are still asking what has specifically been done to protect LGBT asylum seekers. What new steps has the Biden administration taken? And specifically, what steps has it taken to protect these LGBT refugees in Afghanistan? It’s time that the United States not only resettle Afghan refugees, but purposefully make it part of its mission statement to resettle LGBT people. Although, since 1994, the U.S. has acknowledged asylum claims based on homosexuality, during the latest Afghan crisis, the Biden administration never made any intentional effort to prioritize LGBT folk as refugees. Biden never came out and aggressively prioritized LGBT Afghans. Under Taliban rule, gay people are killed and thrown off buildings. Under the former Afghan administration, being gay was a punishable crime and LGBT folk who were outed were sent to jail. Taliban rule also spells disaster for trans people: Being trans is not even an option in Afghanistan, where the Taliban would surely kill trans people as well as those who are gay. Article 130 of the Afghan constitution implements Sharia law, which bans homosexuality. In these cases, men who have sex with men or women who have sex with women can be put to death. Moreover, Sections 645 and 646 of the constitution punish intimacy between two women with jail time. Some recent victims of Taliban rule describe how the Taliban is asking LGBT folk to identify others in the LGBT community within the country. They are promising a safe rite of passage to those who identify members of the queer community. Such targeting is inordinately cruel— asking members of the LGBT community to turn on each other. The Biden administration, armed with a liberal agenda, should create an LGBT refugee resettlement initiative. Some details about this kind of initiative have to be ironed out—take, for instance, the issue of metrics. How would the U.S. accurately assess someone’s LGBT status? If you were to argue that this initiative already exists, then I must ask—where is it? Where are these concrete steps that Biden has taken to make the lives of LGBT Afghans safer? Has he given a speech on this topic? Perhaps the administration can start by reaching out to LGBT nonprofits in these uncertain regions—Rainbow Railroad, is, for instance, an organization that helps LGBT people in the Middle East find better lives in safe countries. Other groups in countries such as Jordan help smuggle trans people to safer countries, such as Turkey. Preexisting LGBT citizens who seek help from these nonprofits can be identified by the Biden administration to come to the U.S., seeking a safe rite of passage. Afghanistan serves as an example to help LGBT people who suffer in crisis. It’s high time that the U.S. government not only acknowledge LGBT asylum seekers, but place them on a pedestal, along with other groups who are immune to abuse.
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KATHI WOLFE
a writer and a poet, is a regular contributor to the Blade.
Coming out is a life-long process
Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day
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“Tell me about your coming out,” my 30-something friend Seth recently said to me. “It was more than a day!” I joked. National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is on Oct. 11. The holiday, celebrated yearly on Oct. 11, was first observed on Oct. 11, 1988. That date was the one-year anniversary of the 1987 queer rights march in Washington, D.C. More than half a million people were at the march, which was a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Robert H. Eichberg, a psychologist who died in 1995, and gay rights activist Jean O’Leary, who died in 2005, co-founded NCOD. Things have progressed so far for us queers since then. We can marry and serve in the military. We’re parents, cops, athletes, teachers and preachers. In this era of marriage equality, it’s tempting to wonder: What is all the fuss about coming out? But, a reality check shows that coming out still matters. A quick look through the news headlines reveals why staying in the closet is so hurtful and how unsafe it can still be to come out as LGBTQ+. If you’re of a certain age, you likely cried your eyes out when you watched the Disney movie “Old Yeller.” Who could forget the scene when the young boy Travis (played by Tommy Kirk shoots “Old Yeller” because his dog has rabies? In 2019, the Library of Congress added ”Old Yeller” to the National Film Registry. Kirk died on Sept. 28 at 79 at his Las Vegas home. Despite Kirk’s popularity with fans, Disney didn’t renew his contract because he was gay. “I was caught having sex with a boy at a public pool in Burbank,” Kirk told the gossip columnist Liz Smith. “We were both young, and the boy’s mother went to Walt.” In the 1960s, there was no way that an out actor would have had a chance in Hollywood. I wish I could say that everything’s changed since Disney fired Kirk. But, this isn’t the case. In August, Jamel Myles, a fourth grader in Denver killed himself, the Denver Post reported. His mother told the Post that her son, who’d come out to her as gay, took his own life because he’d been bullied for a year. “We are deeply committed to our students’ well-being,” a Denver Public Schools spokesman said in a statement. Unfortunately, Jamal’s story is far from unique. Nationwide, many LGBTQ+ students in the U.S. have been bullied. Nearly half (43 percent) of transgender youth have been bullied, according to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey. Nearly a third (29 percent) of trans youth, 21 percent of gay and lesbian youth and 22 percent of bisexual youth have attempted suicide, the survey reports. Life is far more dangerous for queer folk in many places worldwide from Hungary to Ghana. You could respond to this grim news by going to bed, staying under the covers—tucked in the closet. But that would let homophobia and transphobia have the right of way. It would deny us the chance to joyfully, proudly, defiantly celebrate who we are. Studies have shown that knowing us can help alleviate prejudice. Family members, friends and colleagues may still feel uncomfortable around us because of our sexual orientation or gender identity. But, it’s hard to hate your non-binary 10-year-old granddaughter on Christmas morning. Or your gay buddy at the gym. One of my fondest memories is when I came out to my Aunt Manci. I worried that she wouldn’t accept my girlfriend. I needed have been anxious. “You’re lucky,” she said, “she loves you.” Coming out is a process that lasts a lifetime—from deciding if you want to be out in the third grade to ensuring that your loved ones won’t erase your queerness from your obituary. Coming out can be arduous. But, it’s liberating! Let the revels begin! Happy National Coming Out Day!
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FALL ARTS PREVIEW
Stupid things not to do when you get old Steven Petrow’s new book on aging is funny yet poignant By KATHI WOLFE
Petrow was born with journalism in his DNA. His Diane Sawyer, the former ABC News anchor, gave father, journalist Richard Petrow, taught journalism award-winning journalist Steven Petrow some advice for decades at New York University. on what he could do to look younger. “Anchors don’t “My Dad was a great teacher,” Petrow said, “He get older, they just get blonder,” she told him. traveled – got to meet people. I wanted to do what For many years, Petrow, who is gay, took Sawyer’s he did.” wisdom to heart. He had his salt and pepper hair In 1984, Petrow was diagnosed with testicular colored. This went well, until a new colorist offered cancer. This experience is one reason why Petrow to use a new “natural” coloring process that would became a health care journalist. “I wanted to focus remove a third of his gray hair. Petrow came away “a on health and medicine to teach people how to honey brash blonde” whose hair “screamed dye job.” negotiate the health care system,” he said. This is one of the many funny, yet poignant, Negative buzz about aging is everywhere in the stories that Petrow with Roseann Foley Henry tells in culture from magazine ads to birthday cards. “We “Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old: A Highly start to become invisible when we’re in our 50s,” Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of Petrow said, “this may be even more true – ageism All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong.” may come earlier for gay men, and separately, more Written by Petrow with Henry, “Stupid Things I true, for women.” Won’t Do When I Get Old” is part memoir and part “Old age ain’t no place for sissies,” Petrow added, manifesto. quoting Bette Davis. Few things are more fraught with fear, anxiety and Research shows that the damage inflicted by ageism than knowing that, if we live long enough, ageism is real, Petrow said. we’ll get old. Whether hetero or LGBTQ, no matter When we associate getting older with negative how much we love our parents, we don’t want to stereotypes about aging, our lives are shortened. become like our folks when we’re elders. “This ageism is as bad as smoking,” he said, “it takes Shortly after he turned 50, Petrow, who writes seven years off our lives.” about aging, health, manners and civility, began to It can be hard for people to find support and confront his ageist beliefs and vowed not to let aging Author STEVEN PETROW’s new book addresses aging issues. friends when they get old. But finding support is limit or diminish his life. (Photo by Bethany Cubino) often more difficult for many in the queer community. As he reached the half-century mark and his There is more isolation among queer people as they parents “entered their sunset years,” Petrow began age, Petrow said. “Many in their 60s lost their circle of friends to make a list of what he called “the stupid things I won’t do during the height of the AIDS epidemic.” when I get old.” Petrow seeks out multigenerational friendships. “I’m open The list, which kept growing longer and longer, “proved to to different perspectives,” he said, “I’ve learned so much from be a highly judgmental, not-quite-mean-spirited-but-close younger people.” accounting of everything I thought my parents were doing Petrow thinks outside the box of generational labels (boomers, wrong,” Petrow, now 64, writes in the book’s introduction. millennials, etc.). He identifies as a “perennial.” Petrow first wrote about his list in a popular New York Times “Perennials are curious, engaged, passionate, and essay “Things I’ll Do Differently When I Get Old.” “Stupid Things compassionate,” he said, “Millennials can be perennials. Boomers I Won’t Do When I Get Old” grew out of the essay. can be perennials. Anyone can choose to be a perennial.” Petrow’s list is, by turns, laugh-out-loud funny and incredibly Petrow, who is often referred to as “Mr. Manners,” became moving. interested in manners on a blind date in the 1990s. He and his He vows not to, as his Mom did, “forgo a walker because it date ended up as good friends. Through this connection, a book wrecked my outfit.” editor asked Petrow to do a book on gay manners. In one chapter, he promises that, “I Won’t Become a Miserable “I’ve always been a bit like the weird person who’s fascinated Malcontent, a Cranky Curmudgeon, or a Surly Sourpuss.” with collecting and reading about arcane rules,” Petrow said. Yet, in other more serious chapters, Petrow says that “I Won’t Wisdom can be found in etiquette books from decades ago, Lie to My Doctor Anymore (Because These Lies Can Kill),” “I Petrow said. One of his favorite finds was in the first edition of Won’t Burden My Family with Taking Care of Me” and “I Won’t a 1922 etiquette book by Emily Post. Just as we should think Forget to Plan My Own Funeral.” before we tweet, “It cautions people,” Petrow said, “not to Petrow, a columnist for the Washington Post and USA Today write love letters that could end up on the front page of the as well as a regular New York Times contributor, talked with the newspaper.” Blade by phone and email. Generally, manners are the same for LGBTQ and hetero Petrow, whose previous books include “Steven Petrow’s people. But there are some etiquette issues that apply Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners,” “The Lost Hamptons” and specifically to queer people. “When Someone You Know has AIDS” (3rd edition), grew up in For example, what is the etiquette around revealing that someone you know – a family New York City. member, friend or co-worker is LGBTQ? “This is for an individual to do for themselves,” In 1978, Petrow graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in history. Petrow said, “not for any of us to do for another.” He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a master’s in history in Civility and manners are important to all of us in the COVID era, he reminds us. 1982. “Throughout the pandemic I’ve been talking about, ‘we, not me,’ which is about A former president of NLGJA (the Association of LGBTQ Journalists), Petrow lives thinking about others before self,” Petrow said, “And that’s really the only way we will in Hillsborough, N.C. His 2019 Ted Talk, “3 Ways to Practice Civility” has been viewed get out of this.” nearly two million times. 3 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 08 , 2 0 2 1
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Dancer and choreographer Paul Taylor to be honored at the Kennedy Center. (Blade file photo)
CALENDAR |
By TINASHE CHINGARANDE
Friday, October 08
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the D.C. area and a great way to make new friends and meet other queer women in a fun and friendly setting. For more information, contact supportdesk@thedccenter.org. Friday Tea Time and social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. Feel free to bring your beverage of choice. For the Zoom link or more information, contact Justin (justin@thedccenter.org).
Saturday, October 09 The Universal Pride Meeting will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, contact the group’s facilitator at andyarias09@gmail.com. 1,000 Men Libra Meatloaf Birthday Bash will be hosted at 4 p.m. at Stadium Club. This event will celebrate all Libras and the official reopening of Stadium Club. Tickets cost between $15 and $100. For more information, visit Eventbrite.
Sunday, October 10 Trauma-sensitive Gentle Yoga will be at 7 p.m. at Eaton DC. This class offers trauma-informed approaches for an alignmentbased, gentle Vinyasa (flow) suitable for all levels. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. “The Wisdom of Guncles” book launch will be hosted at 2 p.m. at Eaton DC. This event will be the official launch of Michael Dumlao’s debut book and the start of his national book tour. There will be special appearances and readings by the Guncles, a “kiki” with artist Kyle Marcus Bryant, and special performances by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s nationally-acclaimed Seasons of Love and iconic drag artist Domingo. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, October 11 The Center Aging Coffee Drop-in will be at 10 a.m. at the DC Center. LGBTQ older adults and friends are invited for friendly conversations and current issues that you might be dealing with. For more information visit Center Aging’s Facebook or Twitter pages. Mimosa Monday will be at 5 p.m. at Harlot DC. This event will feature DJ L Stackz. The event is RSVP only and table reservations cost $10. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, October 12 The Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. both online on Zoom and in-person at the DC Center. This event is a peerfacilitated discussion group and a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the Coming Out Discussion Group’s Facebook page. The Trans Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event intends to provide emotionally and physically safe space for transgender people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more information, contact supportdesk@thedccenter.org.
Wednesday, October 13 The Job Club will be hosted via Zoom at 6 p.m. This event is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking—allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more details, please contact centercareers@thedccenter.org. Cocktails for Change: Support for the Human Trafficking Fight will be at 6 p.m. at the Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va.) This event will give guests an opportunity to learn all about all the progress Love146 and other anti-trafficking groups are making in the battle against this local and worldwide atrocity. There will also be a special guest speaker from Reset 180. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Thursday, October 14 The 33rd SACC-DC OPEN to benefit the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund will be hosted at 10:30 a.m. at the Westfields Golf Club (13940 Balmoral Greens Ave., Clifton, Va.). At this event, you can network with corporate people, build new business relationships, and play with a purpose. For more information, visit Eventbrite. The Ellicott Silly Comedy Festival will be hosting “Chaste Genius” Open Mic at 9 p.m. at Phoenix Upper Main (8308 Main St., Ellicott City, Md.). This free event will be hosted by Beth Haydon. More information about participating is available on Eventbrite. 3 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 08 , 2 0 2 1
OUT & ABOUT Kennedy Center celebrates Paul Taylor’s legacy
The Kennedy Center will be hosting “Let’s Talk Dance: The Life and Legacy of Paul Taylor” on Friday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. to commemorate American dancer and choreographer Paul Taylor. The event will be hosted in the Justice Forum. The event will be hosted in conjunction with Paul Taylor Dance Company’s performances of Company B and Esplanade in the Eisenhower Theater, dance critic and historian Suzanne Carbonneau and scholar Maura Keefe will discuss the life and career of Paul Taylor in advance of the release of Carbonneau’s book on the topic. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased on the Kennedy Center’s website.
Dr. Nikole Hannah-Jones to speak at Md. literary festival Books in Bloom Literary Festival will be hosting an event in conversation with Dr. Nikole Hannah-Jones, a New York Times staff writer and founder of the 1619 Project, on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. at Color Burst Park (6000 Merriweather Dr., Columbia, Md.). The conversation will be moderated by Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallal. The goal of the festival is to continue the tradition of bringing community members, local businesses, and the country’s brightest authors together to celebrate the joy of books and reading with a return to the inperson festival. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.booksinbloommd. com/events.
Team DC to host Washington Spirit Night Out Team DC will be hosting “Washington Spirit Night Out” on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Audi Field. This event will celebrate the LGBTQ community and cheer on the Washington Spirit as they play against Racing Louisville. Seating for this event is located at the exclusive Heineken Rooftop Bar, accessible 60 minutes pregame through the end of match. For more information, contact the Spirit Box Office at tickets@washspirit. com.
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New doc sets the record straight about ‘Fauci’ The good doctor himself in “Fauci” (Photo courtesy of National Geographic)
For those who lived through the AIDS epidemic, the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020 was accompanied by an inescapable air of déjà vu. There were plenty of reasons for this, of course: It was a terrifying new disease, not much was known and even less understood about how it spread, there was no effective treatment or cure available, the government’s response to it sparked a political firestorm, and—most significantly—lots of people were dying. As if all that weren’t enough, right in the middle of the public conversation about it was the same familiar face, none other than Dr. Anthony Fauci himself. For many who worked as activists during the peak years of that earlier epidemic, Fauci was the adversary. Then, as now, he found himself in the crosshairs of a whole angry sector of society, bearing the brunt of the anger that arose from their fear of an uncertain future and becoming, once again, one of the most polarizing public figures in American politics, without even being a politician. Ironically, this time around, instead of being perceived as the face of government inaction and establishment obstructionism, he has been elevated to the status of progressive icon. To understand how that seeming transformation is possible—as well as to look past the surface parallels between cultural response to the two plagues and see the profound differences instead—it’s necessary to look past the broad strokes of the headlines and the two-line bios that make up most of the knowledge most Americans have about AIDS, COVID and Fauci, and get a more detailed knowledge of the history that links them all together. Fortunately, a new National Geographic documentary, which began streaming on Disney Plus on Oct. 6, is here to provide exactly that. The film came about when two filmmakers, Emmy-winners John Hoffman and Janet Tobias, joined forces after being separately inspired to make a film about Fauci, who, for those who have been in an isolation module for the past 40 years, was appointed director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in 1984 and has advised seven presidents on domestic and global health issues during the decades since. Aided by unprecedented access to their subject, who was not only supportive but fully cooperative, along with access to decades of deep archival material and a wide array of prominent public figures eager to participate, the result of their collaboration is an impressive piece of cinematic journalism titled, simply, “Fauci.” Starting out with a humanizing overview of Fauci’s early life, the film offers us a protagonist whose dreams of a private Park Avenue practice gave way to a passion for the study of infectious diseases, and whose enduring marriage to Dr. Christine Grady began with a “meet-cute” that would have been right at home in a Hollywood rom-com. It then tracks his professional career, not just the two epidemics that have bookended his time in public service to date, but details from the intervening years that most people have either forgotten or never known, like his efforts in stemming the threat of Ebola when it began to appear in the U.S., and his role in ensuring global action to the AIDS crisis that was unfolding in Africa and the Caribbean. 3 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 08 , 2 0 2 1
Film offers humanizing overview of hero’s life By JOHN PAUL KING
Still, it’s inevitable that the documentary concentrates most of its attention on his most famous contributions—spearheading the fights against AIDS and COVID in America— and it does so by highlighting the aforementioned parallels between the two epidemics while also giving us a Fauci’s-eye view of how each played out. Throughout, we go back and forth across the decades, with the help of news footage and extensive interviews, to gather insight from the defining moments of each of these historic public health battles; we are reminded that, while Fauci was seen as the opposition by ACT UP and other AIDS activist organizations seeking to speed up the availability of drugs and treatment for HIV. He also listened to their concerns and learned from them. Bucking resistance from his colleagues, he gave activists and community members directly affected by AIDS a seat at the table and opened the door for their participation in designing the clinical trials that would ultimately bring the life-preserving drug cocktails that stopped a positive diagnosis from being a death sentence. While social media feeds over the past two years have been full of anti-Fauci posts reminding us of his early obstructionism in the AIDS fight, few have bothered to include the rest of that story, but “Fauci” sets the record straight. In focusing on this end of history, however, the movie gives us a refresher course— as if one was needed—on the unprecedented level of opposition Fauci faced from the very administration it was his job to serve in the campaign against COVID. It reveals the pressures put on Fauci and his family by the vitriolic hatred of his detractors, the hardships imposed on his life and routine by the security protocols enacted in response to the death threats that come as a natural consequence of being used as a political scapegoat. And it makes quite clear that those who protest his methods this time around are working from a very different motivation than the one that drove the heroes of ACT UP. More important than any of this, perhaps, is the chance “Fauci” gives us to get to know the man himself. The filmmakers position him squarely in his rightful place at the center of their movie, allowing us a look past the professional veneer that has become a fixture on news broadcasts and at press conferences. What we see there is the man we know, amplified by the freedom to let his compassion, his humanity, his intelligence, and yes, his sense of humor show. It’s a winning portrait that never rings false, and the eager participation of a widely varied crowd of interviewees to sing his praises—from George W. Bush to Susan Rice to Peter Staley to Bono—only reinforces its sincerity. Of course, those who dislike Fauci are unlikely to be swayed by the sympathetic portrait offered by Hoffman and Tobias’ film—which, though it, like Fauci himself, is candid in acknowledging his missteps along the way, offers little in the way of negative commentary about its subject—and will doubtless brush it aside as “woke” propaganda. To answer that phenomenon, it might be best to offer a quote from the good doctor about why he is so hated by his critics. “I represent something that is uncomfortable for them. It’s called the truth.”
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Amazon Prime doc tells story of Black, queer civil rights pioneer
RBG quoted Anna Pauline (Pauli) Murray before Supreme Court. By KATHI WOLFE
No one could have imagined the life of Anna Pauline (Pauli) Murray, the Black, queer, gender nonconforming civil rights pioneer who lived from 1910 to 1985. Few people have done as much to make the world more just than Murray. Last year, Murray’s scholarship was used to help the ACLU successfully argue before the Supreme Court that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ+ people from being fired in the workplace because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Yet, many people don’t know who Murray was. “My Name is Pauli Murray,” a new documentary playing in select theaters and streaming on Amazon Prime, tells the story of Murray’s fascinating life. The engrossing film is codirected by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, who directed “RBG,” the popular documentary on Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “RBG” is a good documentary. Yet, the 131-minutes-long “My Name is Pauli Murray” is even better. Conveying the complexity of Murray’s life in a doc of that
ANNA PAULINE (Pauli) MURRAY
short length would fell many mortals. But West and Cohen are up to the task. Using recordings of Murray’s voice; Murray’s letters, footage of everything from Murray with one of her dogs to Harlem in the 1930s along with interviews with Murray’s family and biographers, the film draws you into Murray’s world. To say Murray was a Renaissance woman isn’t trite. Murray was a lawyer, poet, writer, activist and educator. That’s just the tip of the iceberg! For decades, Murray and Eleanor Roosevelt were friends. Murray was a co-founder of the National Organization for Women. Gay writers James Baldwin and Langton Hughes were her writing buddies. Murray and Baldwin were the first Black writers to be invited to the distinguished MacDowell writing colony.
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In her 60s, Murray left her tenured position teaching at Brandeis University to go to seminary. She became the first Black woman to be ordained a priest by the Episcopal Church. It doesn’t stop there! A paper Murray wrote as a Howard Law School student was a key element of Thurgood Marshall’s strategy in overthrowing racial segregation in Brown v. Board of Education. Ruth Bader Ginsburg quoted Murray when she argued against sex discrimination before the Supreme Court. While she was alive, Murray was closeted about much of her personal life. Murray had a decades-long relationship with Irene Barlow. But, because of the times in which she lived, Murray couldn’t be open about their relationship. Murray felt that she was misgendered—like a man in a woman’s body. This, too, Murray kept secret. In “My Name is Pauli Murray,” Murray’s family and biographers refer to Murray with the pronouns “she and her.” A non-binary activist refers to Murray as “they.” Murray is having a muchdeserved moment. In 2016, Yale University named one of its residential colleges after Murray. It was the first time a Yale college was named after a person of color or an (openly) LGBTQ+ person. In 1965, Murray was the first African American to graduate from Yale with a doctorate in judicial science. In 2017, the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior, Murray’s family home in Durham, N.C., as a National Historic Landmark. Watching, “My Name is Pauli Murray,” you’re bowled over by Murray’s resilience and achievements. Fifteen years before Rosa Parks, she protested racial segregation on buses. “I’ve lived to see my lost causes found,” Murray says. It’s hard to humanize an icon. But, the filmmakers don’t place Murray on Mount Olympus. Even as a child, we learn, Murray wanted to wear pants. That was fine during the week, her Aunt Pauline said, but Murray would have to wear a dress to church on Sunday. Though, few understood Murray’s feelings, Aunt Pauline called Murray “my boy girl.” Murray and Barlow never lived together. Yet, you get a sense of their intimacy from the letters they exchanged. They called each other “Linus” and “Charlie Brown” (characters in the Peanuts comic strip) and wrote of longing to “share” listening to Brahms’ Fourth Symphony and the New York Times crossroad puzzle. “My Name is Pauli Murray” will leave you talking about Murray and how to honor her legacy. That would have made Murray happy.
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‘Two Omars’ is uneven, but remarkable memoir Celebrated actor’s gay grandson charts own path By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
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You always wanted to make your mark. There’d be no footstepfollowing in your life. You’d carve your own path, select your own adventures, seize the opportunities that appealed to you, and blaze trails for the sake of others’ journeys. You’d By Omar Sharif Jr. take the best of those c.2021 | Counterpoint Press you knew and loved, and $26.00 | higher in Canada | 224 pages you’d go your own way. As in the new memoir, “A revealing to his father. It helped him land Tale of Two Omars” by a dream job that ultimately became a Omar Sharif Jr. you’ll also make your nightmare. own mistakes. The title of this book—”A Tale of Two Born into a family that had ties on Omars”—is a bit of a misnomer. Judging several continents, Omar Sharif Jr. never by what author Omar Sharif Jr. writes here, had to worry about money or a place there are several Omars: The activist; a to live. On one side of the family—his globe-hopper; a son and grandson; a maternal side—the Holocaust left a mark writer and a grandfather whose life was on his mother’s parents, who’d barely impactful but who has a surprisingly small escaped the concentration camps. On the footprint in this book. other side, Sharif’s paternal grandparents Which is not to say that readers will like were both famous and beloved actors them all. with roots in Egypt. Sharif was close with Indeed, parts of this book may seem his entire family, but particularly with his as though you’ve read them before: grandfather, Omar Sharif. Bullied as a child, fear of coming out, the Sharif recalls many a dinner party, college revelation, the mismatched first listening, while his grandfather held love. Those ubiquitous bits are here, but court at dinner, laughing and telling they pale in comparison to Sharif’s ultrastories. Everyone, everything seemed urbane life and the hair-raising, terrifying so elegant and refined and those meals account of getting and getting out of showed Sharif a life that he could have if what seemed like the ultimate job with he wanted it. As time passed, the lessons a wealthy sheikh, a job that slowly grew he received were paid back: He was one dangerous. That story-within-a-story is so of the few allowed to help his grandfather edgy, so mouth-drying, that you’ll throw as Alzheimer’s took hold at the end of the away the thriller you bought last week. great actor’s life. Then there’s the part about his lifeBut this is not a story of a famous actor threatening activism, a tale that starts and or a grandfather. It’s the story of a man ends this book ... who’s not just half-Jewish and Egyptian. And so, beware at the unevenness He’s also gay, a part of himself that Sharif of this memoir, but understand that the kept hidden until well into adulthood, tedium doesn’t linger. Skip past the hoalthough he says that other children humness of “A Tale of Two Omars” and must’ve sensed it when he was young. the rest is remarkable. It was a part of himself that he feared
‘A Tale of Two Omars’
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‘Broken Fantasies’ showcases LGBTQ actors of color SMYAL-backed production at Atlas Performing Arts Center on Oct. 16 By PATRICK FOLLIARD
In “Broken Fantasies” (a new offering from Breaking Ground), young LGBTQAI+ actors of color perform scenes taken from their actual lives. Issues addressed include racism, homelessness, sexual abuse, substance abuse and coming out. Due to the pandemic, last year Breaking Ground’s annual offering was streamed online, but now a new SMYAL-backed production will be performed live for one night only on Oct. 16 at Atlas Performing Arts Center. Breaking Ground’s out artistic director AJ King, says “Broken Fantasies” uses familiar fairytales (“Three Little Pigs,” “Cinderella,” etc.) to tell powerful, not always easy, stories. In seven to eight vignettes, the tales unfold on a minimal stage, and in addition to dialogue, the seventeen-person cast employs music, poetry and dance to express their experiences. Founded by King in 2014 in response to the need for expression in the arts as a vehicle for social change, Breaking Ground utilizes theater and performing arts to detail the lives, challenges and journeys of LGBTQAI+ of color in the DMV. In 2016, SMYAL became the program’s fiscal partner, and the same year, Breaking Ground received a Champions of Change award from the Obama White House, solidifying their game in the arts community. King, 32, was drawn to theater during middle and high school in Herndon, Va., and later became involved in programs combining social justice and the arts. He wasn’t a trained director when he founded Breaking Ground but after seven years, King says, he’s found his footing “Still, it remains challenging. Each year there’s a different cast with varied energy, stories and personalities.” King explains, the cast writes scripts from interviews with other cast members. Sometimes the stories end happily, sometimes not. But without saccharine resolutions, the scenes offer options for audience members who might identify with the problems presented onstage. “It’s a lot. Cast members have to trust co-actors with their stories and then allow their stories to go onstage,” he adds. Cast member Eli Barton, 24, says, “The process of sharing your story is surreal at first. It takes courage. But you learn to look at yourself and be gentle about your situation. And when the audience relates to the experience, you understand that your story can really help others.” Last year, Barton, who is bisexual, played a trans man. But in “Broken Fantasies,” she plays a straight supportive sister who strives to help her gay brother find his voice after the death of their mother. The vignette also involves women empowerment, a history of sexual abuse, and finding a way to navigate growing up a Christian household. “Acting with other openly LGBTQIA+ is a blessing,” adds Barton. “It’s given me more
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Broken Fantasies’ cast
(Photo courtesy of Breaking Ground)
Broken Fantasies
Oct. 16 exposure to the umbrella of the rainbow Atlas Performing Arts Center and allowed me to meet amazing artists. I feel safe and unguarded with them.” 1333 H Street, NE King encourages all stripes of people $5—$10 | Atlasarts.com to attend: “As an audience member, during the performance you put a mirror up to yourself. There may be something relatable, tangible or abstract, or an opportunity for learning and healing. Following a show, it’s not unusual for audience members to say, ‘That’s exactly what I went through and it was the first time I ever saw it portrayed on stage.’” “And you don’t have to be LGBTQIA+ to relate,” he adds. “The issues covered transcend race, sexuality, gender expression—we deal with things that can be found in every family.” Theater patrons are required to wear masks and present proof of vaccination.
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16698 Kings Highway, Suite A Lewes, DE
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CAREFREE LIVING awaits you in this gorgeous, POND front 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath home in the amenity-rich community of Independence! Featuring a ton of upgrades & high-end finishes, a welcoming great room with fireplace, gourmet kitchen with quartz countertops and walk in pantry. First floor private owner’s suite with en-suite office & luxe bath. Serene backyard with multi-level hardscaped deck, outdoor fireplace and open air pergola - all overlooking a community pond with fountain! The Independence Clubhouse offers tons of events & activities including fitness center, indoor & outdoor pools, tennis, sauna, billiards room, and so much more. All within a short drive to beaches, shopping and dining!
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Help, I’m under contract! They accepted my offer?!
Buyer and seller need to work as a team By JOSEPH HUDSON
JOSEPH HUDSON
is a Realtor at the Rutstein Group of Compass. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or at joseph@dcrealestate.com
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What are the most common questions real estate agents, title companies and lenders get once a client is under contract? Well, luckily on my team we send out a next steps letter to all of our clients once an offer has been accepted and this helps them to know what to do the first week, the second week, and in any subsequent weeks before the settlement. For example, the letter will go out and say, “Make sure to get your EMD check to the title company in the agreed upon amount of time.” The EMD is your earnest money deposit, and most contracts have a buyer write a check for several thousands of dollars that will go the title company as sort of a “security deposit” on a contract that later gets applied to the buyers’ closing costs. The letter will also instruct a buyer to contact their lender and confirm with them that they are under contract and to get the contract over to the lender so they can start preparing the loan and order the appraisal. The letter also states that later in the process the buyer will get the wiring instructions from the title company where settlement will be held for the down payment money. If there is to be a home inspection, we will also get that scheduled, usually in the first week after going under contract also. If selling, the letter is a different one with information about moving companies and getting any staging out of the listing. Both parties will receive instructions on how to change the utilities from the seller to the buyer the week of settlement. The title company will also follow up with the buyers and sellers to get any needed info. They will ask any questions necessary to possibly help the buyer to get any deductions or credits they might qualify for that could lower their closing costs. A good lender will do this also. What each buyer and seller needs is good teamwork to make the dream work whenever a house is changing hands and a large transaction is going to be handled. For more information, you can contact me to attend my next Homebuyer’s Seminar on Oct. 12 in the evening, which will be on Zoom.
EXPECT MORE
Whether you are looking for a vibrant and spirited Independent Living lifestyle, an enriching Assisted Living and Memory Support neighborhood, or the peace of mind and security that comes with a Life Plan Community, Ingleside will exceed your expectations. Discover a rich and diverse community made up of interesting friends and neighbors, living an active and engaging lifestyle.
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INGLESIDE AT ROCK CREEK
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REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL ACADEMY OF HOPE Adult Public Charter School located in Washington, DC, requests proposals from qualified vendors that can furnish classrooms and conference rooms. You can find the full request for proposal and submission instructions at https://aohdc.org/jobs/
ACADEMY OF HOPE
Adult Public Charter School located in Washington, DC, requests Proposals for Student and Staff technology purchases. We are seeking qualified vendors to assist with the purchasing of new computers. You can find the full Request for proposal and submission instructions
https://aohdc.org/jobs/ COUNSELING
COUNSELING FOR LGBTQ People Individual/couple counseling with a volunteer peer counselor. GMCC, serving our community since 1973. 202-580-8661. gaymenscounseling.org. No fees, donation requested.
CLEANING
FERNANDO’S CLEANING: Residential & Commercial Cleaning, Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates, Routine, 1-Time, MoveIn/Move-Out (202) 234-7050, 202-486-6183.
EMPLOYMENT
WHOLISTIC SERVICES INC. is looking for dedicated individuals to work as Direct Support Professionals assisting intellectually disabled adults with behavioral & health complexities in our residential location in the District of Columbia & Maryland. Job Requirements Ability to lift up to 75 lbs. Completion of required trainings prior to hire, Completion of Trained Medication Certifications (TME) and/or CMT (Certified Medication Technician) within 6 months of hire, Cleared DOH background Check prior to hire, Valid Driver’s License, Valid CPR & FIrst Aid, Negative COVID-19 test results prior to start of work (taken within 3 days prior to date of hire). COVID-19 vaccination within 45 days of hire. Contact the Human Resources Department @ 202-832-8787 for information.
HANDYMAN
BRITISH REMODELING HANDYMAN Local licensed company with over 25 years of experience. Specializing in bathrooms, kitchens & all interior/ exterior repairs. Drywall, paint, electric & wallpaper. Trevor 703-303-8699.
LEGAL SERVICES
ADOPTION, DONOR, SURROGACY
legal services. Jennifer represents LGBTQ clients in DC, MD & VA interested in adoption or ART matters. 240-863- 2441, JFairfax@Jenniferfairfax.com.
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ANYTHING BUT COOKIE CUTTER
Inviting 1 br, High ceilings, generous rooms, Chefs Kitchen. Built-ins, great light in premier building that has just undergone a multi-million dollar renovation. Small pets ok, extra storage and parking. Amy Fisher 202 5448762 Realty Group Inc.
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