Washington Blade, Volume 53, Issue 31, August 05, 2022

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C. files charges against Ruby Corado, PAGE 06

A U G U S T 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • V O LU M E 5 3 • I S S U E 3 1 • W A S H I N GTO N B L A D E . C O M

READY TO LIVE AT NATIONAL HARBOR? The Potomac Overlook Monument Series Luxury Townhomes starting from the $800’s

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

TOM GAFFNEY

SENIOR LOAN OFFICER NMLS ID #182206

703.307.5877 tgaffney@fhmtg.com www.GaffneyLoans.com

CURRENT INCENTIVES **

$20K in Closing Costs* *with use of preferred Lender and Title **not valid on previous contracts and must settle on or before 8/31/22.

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

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

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

0 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

8463

POTOMAC OVERLOOK MONUMENT SERIES FROM THE $800’S 500 TRIGGERFISH DRIVE, NATIONAL HARBOR, MD 20745 SALES@INTEGRITYHMW.COM | (703) 223-6286

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 3

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

FULL LOGO (Preferred)

Text Only Stack

Style Guide v.1 | February 2018

Text Only Inline

Community Partners

ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE READING THIS WILL BE A MEMBER. SUPPORT LGBTQ MEDIA TODAY! WASHINGTONBLADE.COM/MEMBERSHIP 0 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

VOLUME 53 ISSUE 31 ADDRESS PO Box 53352 Washington DC 20009 PHONE 202-747-2077 E-MAIL news@washblade.com INTERNET washingtonblade.com PUBLISHED BY Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. PUBLISHER LYNNE J. BROWN lbrown@washblade.com ext. 8075 EDITORIAL EDITOR KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com ext. 8088 SR. NEWS REPORTER LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com ext. 8079 NEWS REPORTER CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com ext. 8083 REPORTER & INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITOR MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com POP CULTURE REPORTER JOHN PAUL KING PHOTO EDITOR MICHAEL KEY mkey@washblade.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS TINASHE CHINGARANDE, DUNIA ORELLANA, REPORTAR SIN MIEDO, PARKER PURIFOY, PETER ROSENSTEIN, MARK LEE, LATEEFAH WILLIAMS, KATE CLINTON, KATHI WOLFE, ERNESTO VALLE, YARIEL VALDÉS GONZÁLEZ, LYNARE ROBBINS, PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN, KATLEGO K. KOLANYANE-KESUPILE, KAELA ROEDER, TREMENDA NOTA, ALBERTO J. VALENTÍN, MAYKEL GONZÁLEZ VIVERO, ORGULLO LGBT. CO, ESTEBAN GUZMAN CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION AZERCREATIVE.COM SALES & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING STEPHEN RUTGERS srutgers@washblade.com ext. 8077 SR. ACCT. EXECUTIVE BRIAN PITTS bpitts@washblade.com ext. 8089 ACCT. EXECUTIVE JOE HICKLING jhickling@washblade.com ext. 8094 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH prockstroh@washblade.com ext. 8092 NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA 212-242-6863; sales@rivendellmedia.com For distribution, contact Lynne Brown ext. 8075. Distributed by MediaPoint, LLC

at

202-747-2077,

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

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

©2022 BROWN NAFF PITTS OMNIMEDIA, INC.

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY/VACATION RESERVATION TODAY BOARDING • DAYCARE GROOMING

city-dogs.com 202-234-9247 info@city-dogs.com 301 H Street NE

1832 18thh Street S NW

JOIN OUR NEW DAILY NOON FITNESS CLASS (IN PERSON OR ONLINE) GROUP FITNESS • 1 ON 1 PERSONAL TRAINING YOGA • OPEN GYM • COUPLES TRAINING 1310 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. SE • 202.629.4455 • JADEFITNESSDC.COM AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 5

D.C. attorney gen’l files civil charges against Casa Ruby, Ruby Corado

Emergency motion asks court to freeze bank accounts

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

The Office of the D.C. Attorney General on Monday filed an emergency motion in D.C. Superior Court alleging that Casa Ruby and its longtime executive director Ruby Corado have violated the city’s Nonprofit Corporations Act in connection with its financial dealings.

The court motion, among other things, calls on the court to approve a temporary restraining order freezing all of Casa Ruby’s bank accounts and PayPal accounts into which D.C. government funds and private donations have been deposited.

The motion also calls on the court to appoint a receiver or another court-supervised official on a provisional basis to help stabilize Casa Ruby’s management and governance “to maintain and control the funds of Casa Ruby.”

The motion states that the restraining order is needed to prevent “Defendant Ruby Corado from making any withdrawals from any of those accounts, removing Corado’s authorization to control any of those accounts, requiring Corado to keep any funds already withdrawn from those accounts in the United States.”

The motion further states, “This preliminary and emergency relief is needed to prevent the ongoing misuse of Casa Ruby’s charitable funds by Corado, who is the only individual authorized to access Casa Ruby’s accounts, despite purporting to resign from the organization in the Fall of 2021.”

The preliminary relief is warranted, the court motion continues, “because the District is likely to prevail on the merits of its claims given Defendants’ diversion of funds away from their legitimate use by the organization to illegitimate uses.”

It says the illegitimate uses include “the personal benefit of Corado, leaving the organization unable to operate, including it being unable to pay rent on the transitional housing it is designated to provide vulnerable communities and it being unable to pay its employees and vendors for services rendered.”

The motion filed on Monday follows a separate com-

plaint filed by the Attorney General’s office on July 29 against Casa Ruby and Corado in D.C. Superior Court alleging additional violations of the D.C. Nonprofit Corporations Act and common law.

Both the emergency motion for the restraining order and the complaint are the equivalent of a civil lawsuit filed against Casa Ruby and Corado by the D.C. government. They each allege that the Casa Ruby Board of Directors failed to provide required oversight over Corado’s action for as long as the past 10 years.

“In 2020, Casa Ruby reported its Board consisted of eight Directors,” the motion for the injunction says.

“However, from 2012 until late 2020, the board apparently never met, and it generated no records or minutes to document any action,” the motion states. “Defendant Ruby Corado, then the executive director, acted without any Board oversight,” it says.

The court motion and complaint filed by the Attorney General’s office came a little over two weeks after Casa Ruby employees disclosed the organization had shut down all its programs and operations because it no longer had the funds to continue. The employees also reported that they had been unable to contact Corado in recent weeks after she had returned to El Salvador, where she has been spending most of her time for at least the past six months or longer.

The Blade couldn’t immediately reach Corado on Monday or two weeks ago at the time the employees disclosed Casa Ruby had shut down its operations.

NBC Washington reported on Monday that Corado told Telemundo 44 and News 4 Washington that she had never taken money from Casa Ruby that was not authorized by the board to do work in the community.

“Any money that was withdrawn was for work that was authorized, work that is still being done in the community today, and that was authorized by the board, this team of people, because I never did this work alone,” Telemundo quoted her as saying in an interview presumably from El Salvador.

The D.C. attorney general alleges RUBY CORADO violated the city’s Nonprofit Corporations Act in connection with her financial dealings. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Corado told the Blade in an interview earlier this year that she had started a Casa Ruby in El Salvador last year with the full approval of the Casa Ruby board. But the complaint and motion for the restraining order filed by the Attorney General’s office says no documentation could be found to show that the board ever approved the creation of a Casa Ruby in El Salvador or that Corado could divert tens of thousands of dollars from the Casa Ruby in D.C. to the El Salvador operation.

“Casa Ruby’s operations suggest clear patterns of gross mismanagement and poor oversight of its programs and finances,” said D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine in a statement released on Monday. “Instead of fulfilling its important mission of providing transitional housing and support to LGBTQ+ youth, Casa Ruby diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars of District grants and charitable donations from their intended purpose,” Racine said.

“Their Executive Director appears to have fled the country, withdrawn at least tens of thousands of dollars of nonprofit funds, and has failed to pay employees and vendors money they are rightfully owned,” Racine says in his statement.

“Upon learning of the suspicious circumstances surrounding its collapse, our office immediately began investigating and is using our broad authority over District nonprofits to safeguard the organization’s assets and hold its leadership accountable,” Racine said.

Youngkin appoints 3 LGBTQ Advisory Board members Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday announced the appointment of three people to the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.

Youngkin’s office in a press release noted Log Cabin Republicans of Hampton Roads President Phil Kazmierczak, Preston Main of Hanover County, and Thomas N. Turner of Suffolk City have been named to the board.

Virginia Log Cabin Republicans President Casey Flores last month resigned from the board before his tenure began. The resignation came amid growing controversy over a series of anti-LGBTQ and misogynist comments he made against Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), among others.

Youngkin’s spokesperson did not return the Blade’s request for comment on whether the governor asked Flores to resign. Flores said he stepped down because he and his partner are moving to Florida.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Virginia Gov. GLENN YOUNGKIN

0 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • LO CA L NE WS

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Don’t stress.

There’s more than enough Gig to go around.

With everything you’re doing at home, you need supersonic WiFi that can keep up.

When it comes to the best in-home WiFi, Xfinity really does it big—with Gig. You’ll get supersonic WiFi with speeds faster than a Gig to power a houseful of connected devices, even when everyone’s online. So everyone in your home can Internet their heart out.

We’re talking gaming, streaming, video-chatting, all at once! Unbeatable Internet.

Made to do anything so you can do anything.

1-800-xfinity

xfinity.com

Visit a store today

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Gig speed WiFi shareable across devices. Gig-speed WiFi requires Gigabit Internet and compatible xFi Gateway. Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. Many factors affect speed, including equipment performance, interference, congestion, and speeds of visited websites. WiFi speeds affected by additional factors, including distance from Gateway, home configuration, personal device capabilities, and others. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. All devices must be returned when service ends. Call for restrictions and complete details. NPA241252-0013 NED-LGBTQ-Unbeatable Gig-V1

143492_NPA241252-0013 Unbeatable ad 9.5x10.5 V1.indd 1

6/14/22 1:53 PM

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 7

Lesbian couple assails investigation into 2021 firebombing of their Md. home

Probe into possible hate crime ‘riddled with missteps, incompetence’

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

In a little-noticed development, an unidentified suspect or suspects used what investigators believe to be an “improvised incendiary device” to start a fire around 1 a.m. on April 1, 2021, that destroyed the Gaithersburg, Md. home of a lesbian couple and their two young children.

The couple, who along with their children were away on vacation at the time of the fire, say they initially chose not to go public about the incident out of fear for their safety in what they and investigators say could have been an attempt to target their family because of their sexual orientation as a hate crime.

Although the fire was reported by local Montgomery County news publications at the time it occurred, none of the publications reported the home was owned and occupied by a married lesbian couple.

“We’re generally very private people,” Alyson Kozma, one of the two women, told the Washington Blade. “But I think more importantly, we had some significant security concerns,” Kozma said.

Among other things, a bomb squad investigator with the Montgomery County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS), which acts as the local fire department, told the couple the individual or individuals responsible for the fire, if apprehended, would be charged with attempted murder in addition to arson, according to Kozma.

Lt. Francisco Martinez, a spokesperson for the MCFRS, told the Blade the fire in question remains under “active investigation.” He noted that in May of this year, investigators announced they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the Gaithersburg arson incident.

The two-story house at 16 Marquis Dr. was destroyed in a 2021 firebombing that remains unsolved.

Martinez also said investigators with the MCFRS have assessed the damage caused by the fire to the couple’s house at about $550,000, with $350,000 estimated for the structure of the house and $250,000 for the destroyed contents of the house such as furniture and belongings.

He said investigators are appealing to the public for help in identifying a suspect or suspects responsible for the fire. Anyone with information that might be helpful in any way is asked to call the Montgomery County Crime Solvers line for anonymous tips at 1-866-411-8477 or the Montgomery County Arson Tip Line at 240-777-2263.

With their two-story suburban house at 16 Marquis Dr. destroyed beyond repair, Kozma said she and her wife, local attorney Joanna Crandall, and their two kids are living in a rental house the location of which they prefer not to disclose out of concern that they may still be targets of the unknown perpetrator or perpetrators.

Kozma told the Blade that she and Crandall were not aware of anyone in the imme-

0 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • LO CA L NE WS

diate neighborhood who expressed hostility toward them as a same-sex couple and household, and they have no idea who or why someone would want to firebomb their house other than possibly because of anti-gay hatred.

“We have lived in that neighborhood for about seven years,” Kozma said. “We were as far as we knew the only out LGBTQ family in the neighborhood,” she said, adding that the couple was also “very active” in the community.

“So, we were always very out and open, and everyone sort of knew who we were and what we were about,” she said. “And we did not face any, as I said, hostility, nothing overt. But we certainly were different from the rest.”

In a written statement they sent to the Blade, Kozma, who works as a senior adviser for a nonprofit organization involved in women’s rights and human rights issues, and Crandall, an attorney, said they do not believe Montgomery County fire investigators have adequately investigated the fire.

“Although Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services personnel informed us that the arson was being investigated as an attempted murder, they failed to inform Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) of this unprecedented crime,” the statement says. “To date, there are no local police investigating the crime,” their statement says.

“The stalled investigation of this crime has been so riddled with missteps, incompetence, and failures that the lawyers we’ve consulted with have raised the possibility of MCFRS involvement in the arson and/or complicity in covering it up,” the statement continues. “As both victims as well as Montgomery County residents, this possibility is terrifying,” the two women say in their statement. “When we, personally, informed MCPD of this crime, we were advised by leadership to go to the press with this.”

In response to a request by the Blade, Martinez, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, said he would contact MCFRS officials to obtain a response to Kozma and Crandall’s statement alleging that the investigation was stalled and has been “riddled with missteps, incompetence, and failures.”

Charles Bailey, the Division Chief of Operations for the MCFRS, contacted the Blade late Friday in response to Martinez’s inquiry. He said he can confirm that the fire that destroyed the home of the two women remains under active investigation and that Montgomery County police are also involved in the investigation. But he said he cannot comment further on an active, ongoing investigation.

“We are working with the county police on this and I think that’s important to know,” he said. “But now is just not the right time to say anything more than that. And hopefully there will be a right time when we can talk about this whole thing,” he said.

The couple’s statement also says they have been informed that as of early this year, the FBI, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division were all investigating the arson that destroyed their home.

Martinez said he couldn’t immediately confirm whether the three federal agencies were specifically involved but said it wouldn’t surprise him if they were involved.

“I know what I was told was other agencies were involved,” he said. “And obviously the FBI and ATF, they also help generally in cases of arson and explosives and things like that.”

Concerning Kozma and Crandall’s claim that Montgomery County police were not involved in the investigation, Martinez said that, in fact, they are because fire investigators take on the role of sworn police officers.

“Our fire investigators, our fire and explosive investigators are police officers,” he said. “And they go through the police academy, and so they are lieutenants in the service,” he said. “They are a specialty unit, and they have full police authority and police training.”

Martinez said that while he is not directly involved in the investigation, he is certain from speaking with officials on the investigative team that an active investigation is continuing to look into all possible motives for the fire, including a bias-related motive.

“They are still following up on any leads and they are still hoping to get any tips on that arson fire,” he said. “Certainly, fire investigators along with other agencies took all those possibilities seriously and have been following up on any possible motive regardless of what it may be,” he said, referring to a possible hate crime motive based on the couple’s sexual orientation.

PRIVATE, WEEKEND WATERFRONT WEDDINGS.

410-886-2452 blackwalnutpointinn.com

FOR THE PRICE OF 6 HOURS, HAVE A DESTINATION WEEKEND, JUST 2 HOURS FROM D.C. AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 0 9

Trans woman reports harassment on 17th Street near Dupont Circle Police order group to leave but cite insufficient grounds for arrest

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

A transgender woman told the Washington Blade she was subjected to repeated anti-trans name calling by four young men and a young woman on the section of 17th Street, N.W. near Dupont Circle where two gay bars and many LGBTQ-friendly restaurants are located.

Brooklyn Arbona, 39, an Alexandria, Va., resident, said she was taken aback when the woman in the group shouted, “Hi miss and you know that’s not a miss, that’s a man.

What are you doing? That’s a man.”

Arbona, who works as a piano teacher and is one of the female singers associated with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, said the group continued to yell names at her as she walked past Annie’s Paramount Steak House. She said they followed her, prompting her to enter the McDonald’s restaurant out of fear that the group might attempt to assault her.

“They were kind of like walking near me, and it was real harassment,” Arbona said. “They were saying all this stuff and it was real vile stuff. They were harassing me for being a trans woman.”

Arbona said she called 911 for police help when she looked outside the McDonald’s front window and saw that the group was hanging out on the sidewalk possibly waiting for her to leave. She said two D.C. police officers

er people that were there to leave me alone,” she said. “And then the police escorted me back to my car on R Street.”

In response to a request by the Blade for a copy of the police report for the incident, a D.C. police spokesperson said he could find no record of the incident, which suggests that the officers did not believe Arbona’s call for police help merited a written report. Police officials have said that name-calling by itself is not a crime and does not result in an arrest unless someone engaging in name-calling makes a specific threat to commit an act of violence.

Arbona said the individuals calling her anti-trans names did not say anything to indicate they would assault her. “But BROOKLYN ARBONA called police and reported harassment on 17th Street.

(Photo courtesy Arbona) I didn’t know if it would turn into a hate crime,” she said. “That’s why I want people to know they should be careful. Just arrived on the scene within a few minutes. because it’s a gay neighborhood you shouldn’t take your “When the police showed up the guy who was saying safety for granted because it may not be as safe for trans something to me ran down the road and got away,” she people.” told the Blade. “And the police sort of warned the oth-

New D.C. LGBTQ bar concerned over delay in approval of city permit As You Are operating since March with limited occupancy

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

A delay of more than four months by a city regulatory agency in approving a certificate of occupancy for the Capitol Hill LGBTQ bar and café As You Are has raised concern among its owners and customers that one or more D.C. government bureaucrats may be subjecting the bar to biased treatment.

JO MCDANIEL and RACHEL PIKE, the owners of As You Are, said they have submitted all of the required paperwork to obtain a permanent Certificate of Occupancy.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Lesbian activists and businesswomen Jo McDaniel and Rachel Pike, the owners of As You Are, said they and the landlord for the building in which the bar is located at 500 8th St., S.E. have submitted all of the required paperwork to obtain a permanent Certificate of Occupancy needed for the bar to remain open.

They are currently operating under a temporary provisional Certificate of Occupancy, but if a permanent version of the certificate is not approved the bar will be forced to

close under D.C. fire and safety regulations.

According to the two women, one or more officials with the D.C.Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), which must approve the occupancy permit, have repeatedly said the documents submitted were insufficient but did not fully explain why.

McDaniel this week sent the Blade a copy of a July 22 email from DCRA supervisor and structural engineer Semere Hadera saying he was asked to help facilitate the approval process, but he could not find the documents in question and asked As You Are to resend them.

Documents McDaniel provided to the Blade show that the holdup is over two legal documents, an Access Easement Agreement and a Deed of Covenants, which must be approved by the owner of the building in which As You Are is located and the owner of the adjacent building in which the restaurant Trattoria Alberto operates.

The two documents specify that both building owners must agree to allow a door connecting the two buildings on the second floor of each building to remain unlocked so it can be used for the evacuation of the occupants in either building in case of an emergency such as a fire.

McDaniel said the two building owners fully agree, as they had when a straight bar operated in the As You Are building, to keep the door in question unlocked so it may be used for emergency purposes. She said DCRA did not appear to object to the two similarly worded documents used to approve the occupancy permit for District Soul Food & Lounge, which operated at 500 8th St., S.E., before it went out of business last year.

In response to a request for comment by the Blade, DCRA spokesperson Daniel Weaver sent the Blade a statement saying one of the documents sent by As You Are and

1 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • LO CA L NE WS

the building owner was missing needed information. The statement says DCRA did not receive the Access Easement Agreement.

“The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has worked diligently with the owner of As You Are LLC with the permitting process and to issue a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O),” the statement says. It says DCRA issued a conditional C of O to the building’s landlord on March 3, which allows a first-floor occupancy of 100 people and a second-floor occupancy of 49 people.

McDaniel said final approval of the occupancy permit will allow As You Are to have a total occupancy capacity of 180, which she said is needed to allow their business to reach its full potential financially.

“An Access Easement Agreement was submitted by the applicant on April 12, 2022, however, it is not dated or executed by the parties as required,” the DCRA statement says.

“A Deed of Covenants is also required and has not been provided, although DCRA did provide the template for use,” according to the statement, which adds that both documents must be reviewed by the Office of the D.C. Attorney General, which must give final approval of the documents.

“Regarding bias concerns, DCRA’s role is to provide all residents and businesses in the District of Columbia with great customer service in an equitable, transparent manner,” the statement concludes.

McDaniel said it was her understanding that all required documents had been submitted to DCRA. She said she was hopeful that DCRA official Hadera, who just became involved in As You Are’s months-long effort to obtain final approval of the C of O, will be able to quickly secure that approval.

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 1

Trump slams deal to release Brittney Griner

Donald Trump, now under scrutiny for his actions inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, made clear over the weekend he’s unhappy with the deal the Biden administration has proposed to secure the release of Brittney Griner, saying the basketball player is “potentially spoiled” and was “loaded up on drugs” when she went DONALD TRUMP accused Brittney Griner of being ‘loaded up to Russia. with drugs.’

Trump — widely considered to be making the initial moves for another run at the presidency in 2024 — made the comments Friday during an interview on “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show,” a podcast for conservatives, when asked by the hosts whether he would have made that deal.

“She went in there loaded up with drugs into a hostile territory, where they’re very vig-

ilant about drugs — they don’t like drugs — and she got caught and now we’re supposed to get her, and she makes a, you know, a lot of money, I guess,” Trump said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced last week he has proposed a deal with Russia to exchange Russian national Viktor Bout — who’s serving 25 years in prison for selling weapons to terrorists and conspiring to kill Americans — for Griner, a lesbian player for the WBNA who was detained at a Moscow airport in February for entering Russia with vape cartridges of hashish oil, as well as former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

“We’re supposed to get her out for an absolute killer and one of the biggest arms dealers in the world,” Trump said. “Killed many Americans, killed many people, and he’s going to get a free card and we’re going to get her. She knew you don’t go in there loaded up with drugs, and she admitted it.”

Griner’s detention in Russia has been widely condemned as the U.S. government has said she has been “wrongfully detained.” Griner has pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia, which could lead to 10 years in prison.

“I assume she admitted it without too much force because it is what it is and it certainly doesn’t seem like a very good trade, does it?” Trump said. “He’s an absolute one of the worst in the world, and he’s going to be given his freedom because a potentially spoiled person goes into Russia loaded up with drugs.”

Trump has a history of criticizing prisoner swaps made by other administrations.

During the Obama administration, he criticized the deal to exchange Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. Army soldier detained in Afghanistan and Pakistan after he deserted, in exchange for five high-ranking Taliban members, calling him a “traitor.”

CHRIS JOHNSON

Biden names monkeypox response team

underserved LGBTQIA+ communities. He previously oversaw management of infecThe White House announced Tuesday that President Biden has named FEMA’s Robert tious diseases for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, one of Fenton as the White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator and Dr. Demethe largest departments in the nation – including in serving as incident commander for tre Daskalakis as the White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator. the City’s COVID-19 response.

The president’s actions come as the governors of New York, Illinois and California Both the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and the President’s chief medhave declared ‘States of Emergency’ as the case numbers of global cases of infection ical advisor issued statements applauding Biden’s actions. also caused World Health Organization’s Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghe“We look forward to partnering with Bob Fenton and Demetre Dasklalakis as we breyesus to declare the escalating global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emerwork to end the monkeypox outbreak in America,” gency of International Concern. said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Bob’s experiThe White House notes that Fenton and Daskalakis ence in federal and regional response coordination, will lead the Administration’s strategy and operations and Demetre’s vast knowledge of our public health to combat the current monkeypox outbreak, includsystems’ strengths and limits will be instrumental as ing equitably increasing the availability of tests, vacciwe work to stay ahead of the virus and advance a nations and treatments. whole-of-government response.”

Both men have extensive experience in infection “Bob Fenton and Dr. Daskalakis are proven, effecdisease outbreaks and response. The White House tive leaders that will lead a whole of government efstatement laid out their qualifications: fort to implement President Biden’s comprehensive Fenton and Daskalakis combined have over four monkeypox response strategy with the urgency that decades of experience in Federal emergency rethis outbreak warrants,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief sponse and public health leadership, including overMedical Advisor to the President. “From Bob’s work seeing the operations and implementation of key at FEMA leading COVID-19 mass vaccination efforts components of the Biden Administration’s response and getting vaccines to underserved communities to to the COVID-19 pandemic, and leading local and Demetre’s extensive experience and leadership on Federal public health emergency efforts such as inhealth equity and STD and HIV prevention, this team fectious disease control and HIV prevention.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN meets with his national security team will allow the Biden Administration to further accelerBoth played critical roles in making COVID vacon July 1. (Official White House Photo) ate and strengthen its monkeypox response.” cines more accessible for underserved communities The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as and closing the equity gap in adult vaccination rates, of Monday reported that there were 5,811 confirmed cases of the monkeypox virus in through the implementation and execution of FEMA mass vaccination sites in some of the United States. the country’s most underserved communities, and working with trusted members of Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis: local communities to build vaccine confidence.

“The White House appointments today reflect the seriousness of the monkeypox Robert Fenton currently serves as Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 9 in the (MPV) outbreak and should be a call for all appropriate federal and state officials to American West, with nearly 50 million people in his area of responsibility. One of the urgently commit necessary resources to educate the public and counter MPV. We must Nation’s most experienced and effective emergency management leaders, Robert Fenget more vaccines to vulnerable people, especially sexually active gay and bi men, and ton has twice served as Acting Administrator of FEMA and led multiple challenging accelerate all efforts to inform the public to track, test, treat and contain this virus as prevention, response and recovery operations throughout his long and distinguished quickly as possible. Bob Fenton’s experience shows this can be done. Dr. Demetre Dascareer, including for natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and complex humanitarian kalakis is a longtime LGBTQ and HIV health advocate whose work will be critical to enoperations. sure the federal government responds to the needs of the medical community and the Demetre Daskalakis, a leading public health expert, is currently Director of the CDC LGBTQ community in equitable ways.”

Division of HIV Prevention. Widely known as a national expert on health issues affecting BRODY LEVESQUE the LGBGQIA+ communities, his clinical practice has focused on providing care for the 1 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

GET VACCINATED FOR MONKEYPOX IN DC Get monkeypox vaccine updates by signing up at

PreventMonkeypox.dc.gov

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 3

Durbin, Ill. governor condemn anti-LGBTQ extremism Following the escalation of anti-LGBTQ attacks against a bakery northwest of Chicago last weekend, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the majority whip, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker expressed to the Blade their concerns over the rise of hate and extremism in America.

On July 23, a man was arrested and charged with a hate crime after allegedly smashing the windows of UpRising Bakery and Café and spray-painting offensive messages on the building in Lake in the Hills, Ill. After announcing plans to host a family-friendly drag show, the establishment was targeted with a campaign of harassment that, ahead of the vandalism, included an incident where a bag of feces was left outside with a note proclaiming, “pedophiles work here.”

“No one should have to live in fear for being who they are,” Durbin told the Blade. “Yet we continue to see extremists target minority groups, including the LGBTQ community, with threatening, hateful acts.”

More broadly, Durbin said domestic extremism and hate is among the biggest threats facing our country.

“Groups like the Proud Boys are weaponizing violent extremism to target communities, traumatize our country, and leave unimaginable pain and fear in their wake,” he said. “That’s why we must finally pass my Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which would put serious federal resources toward combatting these threats with research, training, and investigations.”

Durbin, who chairs the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, first introduced the Domestic Terrorism Preven-

By CHRISTOPHER KANE

tion Act in 2017 and reintroduced it this year with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). A companion bill sponsored

by U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) passed the House on May 18, but Senate Republicans filibustered the legislation on May 26.

“I am deeply troubled by the empowerment of extremism we’re experiencing at this moment in history,” Pritzker told the Blade. “But Illinois will continue to fight against it at every turn.”

“I welcome every effort by LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations to pursue additional policy at the state and federal level to ensure this nation is safe for all who call it home,” he added.

Pritzker said the “disturbing” attacks against UpRising Bakery are wholly inconsistent with “the Illinois I know.” He pointed to an incident in which a homeowner’s Pride flag was stolen and replaced with an American flag and the entire neighborhood decided to decorate their homes and yards with rainbow flags in a show of solidarity.

The state’s record on human rights came into sharp relief with developments over the border in Indiana, whose legislature convened a special session this week to consider legislation that would outlaw most abortions and permit criminal prosecution of women who lie to terminate their pregnancies.

Asked about these developments, Durbin took the opportunity to draw a stark contrast. Unlike Republican legislatures, he said, which are “hellbent on instituting draconian restrictions at the expense of women and

people who rely on” healthcare including abortion, Illinois — a “safe haven surrounded by states with increasingly restricted access” — plans to hold a special sesIllinois Gov. J.B. PRITZKER (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor of Illinois) sion to “bolster abortion protections.”

At the federal level, Durbin said, “I’m committed to ensuring that our state remains open to those seeking care, which is why I cosponsored the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act.” Durbin was joined by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in introducing the bill, which was defeated by Senate Republicans earlier this month.

“We are a hub for the heartland on reproductive rights,” Pritzker said, “and so long as I’m governor, we always will be. I’m incredibly disturbed by the attacks on healthcare freedoms at our borders, so I’ve directed my administration to do everything in our power to double down on Illinois’ support and protections and I’ve asked that the Biden administration do the same.”

Mich. court rules existing law bans anti-LGBTQ discrimination

In a 5-2 decision late last week, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in Rouch World, LLC v Department of Civil Rights that the state’s 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The case, brought by the Michigan companies Rouch World and Uprooted Electrolysis, sought to challenge the state’s Civil Rights Commission for its interpretation of the law that classified sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. The lawsuit came in the wake of the companies’ refusal to serve transgender customers and those in same-sex relationships, prompting customer complaints that resulted in Civil Rights Commission investigations.

Given the arguments of the case, the court was asked to determine whether the law’s inclusion of the word “sex” as a protected category applied to instances of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.

Republican Justice Elizabeth Clement joined Democratic Justices Richard Bernstein, Megan Cavanagh and Elizabeth Welch — as well as Democratic Chief Justice Bridget McCormack — in the majority opinion.

“Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily constitutes discrimination because of sex,” Clement wrote in the court’s majority opinion. “Accordingly, the denial of ‘the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of a place of public accommodation or public service’ on the basis of sexual orientation constitutes discrimination ‘because of … sex’ and, therefore, constitutes a violation of the [Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act] under MCL 37.2302(a).”

In his dissent alongside fellow Republican Justice David Viviano, Brian Zahra asserted his belief that the court had overreached in its ruling.

“This court’s function is to interpret and apply the laws that the Legislature writes,” Zahra wrote. “That is not what the majority opinion has done.”

While the ruling was not at odds with his own views on the matter, Zahra wrote, the court’s mandate was not observed by its majority in the case.

“Though I take no issue with today’s outcome, because I do not recognize the manner in which it has been achieved by the majority opinion to be faithful to the judicial role, I dissent,” Zahra wrote.

Similar arguments of overreach were made by the plaintiffs in the case who argued that the state legislature, not the Civil Rights Commission, held sole power to expand the law.

“The Legislature has declined to add ‘sexual orientation’ numerous times over the nearly 50 years since the [Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act] was enacted by the Legislature,” the plaintiff companies wrote in their case brief last November. “Further, the Legislature explicitly rejected adding ‘sexual orientation’ to the [Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act]. The unelected [Michigan Civil Rights Commission] is not the Legislature and is not politically accountable to the people.”

Previous, bipartisan efforts have been made by state lawmakers to codify sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the law. Such efforts, however, have failed to gain requisite traction in the state’s Republican-controlled legislature.

In writing the majority opinion, Cavanagh rejected such narratives as pertinent to the duty of the court.

“Should the Legislature disapprove of an application of a statute’s enacted language, the Legislature remains free to amend the statute,” Cavanagh wrote. “This court, however, is bound by the language that the Legislature has enacted, not what the parties or amici believe the

1 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

Legislature should have enacted or what any individual representative believed was enacted.”

Following its announcement Thursday afternoon, LGBTQ advocates in the state heralded the decision as a victory for equality in the state.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who had argued the case before the court in conjunction with entities including the American Civil Liberties Union, released a statement following the ruling.

“Now, more than ever, it is critical that those of us elected to public office work to preserve and protect the rights of all residents,” Nessel said. “Today’s ruling confirms what we have long known — that the protections afforded by the [Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act] cover all Michiganders.”

The decision garnered similar praise from other top state officials, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

“As a mom, a governor, and proud ally of the community, I am so grateful for this ruling,” Whitmer said in a statement. “It will save lives, protect families, and help ensure that every Michigander is treated with dignity and respect by law.”

With the court’s expansion of the law’s protections, members of Michigan’s LGBTQ community are now shielded from discrimination in all areas outlined in the law’s language.

Such includes protection in sectors including employment, housing, education and public accommodations.

“For too long, LGBTQ+ Michiganders had been left out of our state’s civil rights protections,” Whitmer said. “No longer. Because of this ruling, nobody can legally be fired from their job or evicted from their home because of who they love.”

JOSH ALBURTUS

TO SAVE A LIFE

Text LiveLongDC to 888-811 to find naloxone near you.

Naloxone (aka NARCAN®) is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose and can save the life of your friend, your loved one, even yourself.

NO COST. NO PRESCRIPTION. NO IDENTIFICATION.

LIVE

LONG

DC

Saving lives from the opioid epidemic

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 5

Ukrainian president backs civil partnerships for gay couples

The president of Ukraine on Tuesday said he supports a civil partnership law for same-sex couples.

Kyiv Pride backed a marriage equality petition that was submitted to Volodymyr Zelenskky on July 12 with more than 28,000 signatures, which is higher than the legal threshold that requires him to consider it.

Zelenskky in his response to the petition notes his support for marriage equality, but acknowledges the Ukrainian constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman and it cannot be amended while the country is under martial law. Zelenskky on Tuesday nevertheless directed his government to submit a report on whether same-sex couples can enter into civil partnerships through the country’s existing legal framework or a bill that would go through Parliament.

“I appealed to the prime minister of Ukraine with a request to consider the issue raised in the electronic petition and report about the relevant results,” said Zelenskky.

Zelenskyy last year pledged his country would continue to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and

A participant in the Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin on July 23, indicates her support for LGBTQ Ukrainians.

(Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

gender identity after he met with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Anastasiia Baraniuk and Yulia Mulyukina, a lesbian couple who once lived in the Ukrainian city of Dniper, are among the millions of people who have fled the country since Russia began its war on Feb. 24. Baraniuk and Mulyukina last month told the Washington Blade in Berlin the fact that they are unable to legally prove they are in a relationship has prevented them from asking for asylum in the U.S. and Canada because the countries’ immigration systems are based on whether they are married or “common-law partners” respectively.

“Right now we are looking for a way to get the proof that we are a couple,” said Baraniuk. “We don’t want to stay in Berlin.”

Kyiv Pride on Tuesday welcomed Zelenskyy’s announcement.

“Congratulations to the community, the Pride movement,” tweeted Kyiv Pride. “Thank you to the authorities.”

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Blinken, Russian counterpart speak about Griner

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday spoke with his Russian counterpart about efforts to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

The Associated Press reported Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to accept a deal to obtain the release of Griner and Whelan, an American citizen who is serving a 16-year prison sentence after his conviction for spying. American officials have reportedly expressed a willingness to release Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S., as part of a prisoner swap.

Blinken, according to the AP, described the call with Lavrov as a “frank and direct conversation.”

“I urged Foreign Minister Lavrov to move forward with that proposal,” said Blinken. “I can’t give you an assessment of whether that is any more or less likely.”

Officials at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February detained Griner — a Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist who is a lesbian and

Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN

(Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

married to her wife, Cherelle Griner, — after customs inspectors allegedly found hashish oil in her luggage.

The State Department has determined that Russia

“wrongfully detained” her.

Brittney Griner’s trial began in Moscow on July 1.

It continues to take place, even though she had pleaded guilty to charges that she smuggled drugs in Russia. Brittney Griner faces up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted.

Friday’s call took place two days after Blinken for the first time publicly acknowledged the U.S. has offered Russia a deal to secure the release of Brittney Griner and Whelan.

“We are determined to bring her home along with Paul (Whelan) and for that matter, any and every American who is being unjustly detained anywhere in the world,” said Blinken on June 15 during a roundtable with LGBTQ and intersex journalists in which the Washington Blade participated. “It’s something that I am personally focused on, and I want to leave it at that because it is obviously an ongoing issue. But just know that this is a matter of intense focus for us.”

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Grindr user kidnappings spark concern in South Africa

The number of kidnappings linked to popular gay hookup site Grindr are surging in South Africa.

Queer sex workers are the ones who are particularly vulnerable to these kidnappings. They are often robbed and attacked by people who pose as potential clients, but do not report the crimes because they are afraid law enforcement will ridicule them. Queer sex workers who are targeted on Grindr do not report their cases for the same reason.

One such victim is Jake.

He told Exit, an LGBTQ and intersex newspaper, that he was held hostage for six hours and was only released after his kidnappers extorted $600 from him and his family.

According to Jake, which is not his real name, a man on Grindr who posed as a potential client refused to send his picture because he said he had a wife and children. Jake agreed to meet him at his home and upon his arrival, four more men arrived and then then threatened to kill him if he didn’t give him the money.

Jake managed to gather the funds, and was let go unharmed.

“We continue to learn about the worrying trend in kidnappings that have been emanating from Grindr connections in areas around Gauteng province. We view this as a form of conversion in itself,” said Access Chapter 2, a South Africa LGBTQ and intersex rights organization. “Queer people cannot continue to be victimized for seeking and accessing their erotic justice while law enforcement is not reactive. At Access Chapter 2 we support everyone’s right to freely engage, interact and make meaningful connections online, without fear.”

“We will continue to monitor this trend as we engage with survivors and law enforcement to access justice for those dehumanized and victimized,” added Access Chapter 2. “We urge the community to exercise more precaution in screening connections that they may want to meet in person. Remember if you notice anything suspicious report to Grindr and block

1 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • I NT E R NAT I O NA L NE WS

the questionable profile.”

A Grindr spokesperson on Monday told the Washington Blade the site “takes the privacy and safety of our users extremely seriously.”

“Grindr publishes a Holistic Security Guide and Safety Tips available from within the Grindr App and on Grindr’s public website, and we encourage users to be careful when interacting with people they do not know,” said the spokesperson. “We encourage our users to report improper or illegal behavior either within the app or directly via email to help@grindr.com, and to report criminal allegations to local authorities and, in these cases, we work with law enforcement as appropriate.”

Grindr has also shared a safety message with its South Africa users.

“Grindr wants to ensure all dating app users can maintain their personal safety, both online and off,” reads the message.

DANIEL ITAI

Celebrating diversity, supporting the community, and sharing our pride.

At Kaiser Permanente, the region’s leading health system,1 we’ve always supported the LGBTQ+ community. From inclusive, compassionate care provided by physicians knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ health issues to a welcoming and safe environment, you’ll always get care that makes you feel like you belong.

kp.org/pridemedical/mas In the survey Best Health Insurance Companies for 2021 by Insure.com, Kaiser Permanente as a national enterprise is rated #1 overall among 15 companies.

In the NCQA Commercial Health Plan Ratings 2021, our commercial plan is rated 5 out of 5, the highest rating in MD, VA, and DC. The 2019 Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons, granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Kaiser Permanente cancer care program (extended through 2022). The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group is the largest multispecialty medical group in the Washington, DC, and Baltimore areas and exclusively treats Kaiser Permanente members. Permanente doctors are recognized as Top Doctors in Northern Virginia Magazine (2022), Washingtonian magazine (2021), and Baltimore magazine (2021). According to NCQA’s Quality Compass® 2021, we’re rated 5 out of 5 in 29 measures, including: controlling blood pressure (heart disease), blood pressure control (140/90) (diabetes), glucose control, colorectal screening, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, childhood immunizations, prenatal check-ups, and postpartum care. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of the NCQA.

1

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 2101 E. Jefferson St. Rockville, MD 20852 2022BD0702 MAS 6/3/22-12/31/23

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 7

ELIZABETH W. NOOK

, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, is president of the American Institute of Architects Maryland Chapter.

(Bigstock photo)

Gov’t must not limit gender-neutral design choices Building codes can play an important role in shaping public policy

Sometimes the smallest design changes can make a big difference when it comes to inclusion.

Model building codes are developed by non-profit standards development organizations like the International Code Council (ICC), and those codes are adopted into law by states and local governments across the U.S. It’s not necessarily intuitive, but building codes can play an important role in shaping public policy.

Years ago, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), backed by a recommendation from the National Center for Transgender Equality, successfully advanced a change to the International Code Council’s International Plumbing Code (IPC) to ensure that restrooms could be designed for use by all genders where specific conditions are met, such as adequate privacy and safety provisions for restrooms with multiple users. These provisions promote choice, equity, health and safety for transgender, gender non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. They also benefit people who are disabled and families with small children.

First, the good news: the General Services Administration (GSA) — the federal government’s landlord, which owns roughly 1,700 buildings and has an outsized DMV presence— follows the IPC. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also defaults to the IPC when it assists state and local governments with post-disaster reconstruction.

The bad news, however, is that efforts are underway to convince the GSA and FEMA to utilize an alternative plumbing code that prohibits restrooms that are designed for use by multiple gender users.

The switch to this alternative code would unnecessarily restrict design choices that enable private and safe, gender-neutral options, and put the federal government on record as opposing those options, running counter to the Biden administration’s support for the LGBTQ community.

With this community already vulnerable in so many ways, the use of the IPC in restroom design and the inclusion it facilitates is one small victory. DMV architects and AIA national support designs to enhance accessibility and equality.

We call on the Biden administration, GSA, FEMA, and the congressional authorizers and appropriators for those agencies to reaffirm their commitment to the LGBTQ community, the disabled, and families and reject proposals that would limit gender-neutral design choices through federally adopted or endorsed alternative construction codes.

1 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • V I E WP O I NT

PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

Joe Manchin: enigma to some, hated by others New bill proves you can’t always get what you want

The headlines in the New York Times and Washington Post screamed: “Manchin and Majority Leader Schumer agree to compromise on reconciliation bill.”

The bill is a 725-page, $739 billion proposal, called the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” Now they must get every Democrat in the Senate to vote for it with Vice President Harris breaking the anticipated tie, when every Republican will vote no. Then Speaker Pelosi must rally the Democratic votes in the House. If and when this bill passes it’s a huge victory for President Biden, Democrats, and the people.

This bill was negotiated in secret and that in itself is amazing in this day and age. By keeping it secret Democrats were also able to first garner enough Senate Republican votes for the CHIPS-plus bill funding both computer chips and science. The House then passed the $280 billion ‘Chips and Science Act’ that would subsidize domestic semiconductor manufacturing and invest billions in science and technology innovation. It’s now on the president’s desk to sign.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is someone progressives love to hate. He has thwarted numerous efforts to move forward the Democratic agenda. In the last two weeks he has shown not only can he compromise, but is way better than if we had a Republican from West Virginia, which we would have without him. First there was the announcement of an agreement between him and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on a bill to update the 1887 law that governs how Congress counts Electoral College votes. Then the Wednesday announced agreement on the climate bill.

It has been reported that bill does a lot of things Democrats have said they wanted for years. One is allowing Medicare to negotiate some prescription drug prices.

“This could save the federal government some $288 billion over the 10-year budget window. With those savings they could lower costs for seniors on their medications.”

It has been reported the bill also includes a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for older adults buying prescriptions from pharmacies, and free vaccinations. The bill “would invest $369 billion over the decade in climate change-fighting strategies including investments in renewable energy production and tax rebates for consumers to buy new or used electric vehicles.”

Bloomberg reports some of the other details. “The bill includes $4,000 tax credits for lower and middle income buyers to use to purchase used electric vehicles, and up to $7,500 tax credit for new vehicles. The plan has $60 billion of incentives to bring clean energy manufacturing into the U.S. … The plan also includes $9 billion for home energy rebate programs for low-income consumers to make their homes more energy efficient and $1 billion in grants for affordable housing energy upgrades. The plan would also extend to 2025 an expansion in Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that’s currently set to end at year-end. This will lower prices for millions of Americans, according to a summary of the deal.”

All this would be paid for with what some call tax increases, and Manchin calls closing loopholes. “The proposal would raise an estimated $739 billion, with the revenues going to fund climate and health initiatives, as well as to reduce the budget deficit. The Internal Revenue Service would get $80 billion to add auditors, improve customer service and modernize technology. Democrats hope to pull in $124 billion in tax revenue from cracking down on tax cheats and increasing compliance by rebuilding the IRS.” There would also be a minimum 15% tax on corporations with over $1 billion in revenue.

When this bill passes, President Biden will be able to go to voters and tell them he did what he promised — make the rich pay more, cut healthcare costs for all, and make the biggest investments ever in fighting climate change. When I asked a friend who is one of the world’s top environmentalists what she thought of the Manchin/Schumer bill she responded by quoting the Rolling Stones: “No, you can’t always get what you want, You can’t always get what you want, You can’t always get what you want, But if you try sometime you find, You get what you need.”

OUR OUTSIDE BIERGARTEN IS OPEN! *S AFETY

PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE *

OPEN AT 3PM WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY FOR CARRY-OUT, LIMITED INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING. *R ESERVATIONS

REQUIRED *

DINNER: WED-SUN 3PM-10PM LUNCH: FRI 12-3P

V I E WP O I NT • AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 9

MARK S. KING

is an award-winning blogger, author, speaker, and HIV/AIDS activist who has been involved in HIV causes since testing positive in 1985.

Monkeypox is a gay thing — we must say it Will there be stigma, judgments, and homophobia? Of course

The mainstream media and public health officials are being so damn careful not to label monkeypox “a gay disease” that they’re doing a disservice to the gay men who most need important information about the outbreak – while misleading everybody else.

In a July 28 New York Times story of the excruciating symptoms and lack of care available for those with monkeypox in that city, the sexuality of the men profiled isn’t referenced until 11 paragraphs into the story, and even then it refers to them as “men who have sex with men,” which is technically correct but dodgy. Moreover, the article, which supposedly addresses barriers to care, ignores the fact that gay men routinely experience apathy and even judgment from health providers.

Other media stories, and statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have mentioned monkeypox cases in the context of “the LGBT community.”

Really? Should lesbians be lining up for a monkeypox vaccine, whenever the heck they become widely available? This is happening to gay men. Say it.

Journalist Benjamin Ryan, in his excellent Washington Post opinion piece, draws a hard line between attempts not to unnecessarily stigmatize gay men and the importance of telling the truth about monkeypox, writing that “public health officials cannot be expected to police the public’s reactions to epidemiological facts.”

Ryan lays out those facts plainly: Here is what we can discern from data collected about monkeypox so far: This viral outbreak isn’t just mostly occurring among men who have sex with men. The confirmed cases, at least to date, have consistently almost entirely occurred among this demographic, which accounts for 96 percent or more of diagnoses where data are available.

Per capita, the few monkeypox cases in women and children remain minuscule compared with the rate among gay and bisexual men. Of course, substantial transmission could always occur among such other groups. But researchers at the WHO and elsewhere have speculated that the monkeypox reproduction rate will likely remain significantly lower in such demographics — meaning the virus will more likely hit transmission dead ends among them than among gay and bisexual men.

An uncomfortable truth, one documented in peer-reviewed papers, is that sexual behaviors and networks specific to gay and bisexual men have long made them more likely to acquire various sexually transmitted infections compared with heterosexual people. This includes not only HIV, but also syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B and sexually transmitted hepatitis C. Global public health experts agree that skin-to-skin contact in the context of sexual activity between men has been the principal driver of the monkeypox outbreak, at least thus far.

Such experts have also asserted that the risk of monkeypox to the broader population not having multiple sex partners remains low — even “very low.” This is hopeful news, and the wider public deserves to be reassured accordingly. Assuaging fears of contagion will help fight unhelpful hysteria and prevent gay and bisexual men from being subjected to even greater stigma should they be painted as culprits of the spread of virus to others.

Monkeypox didn’t begin with gay men, that much is true. As Yale infectious disease expert Gregg Gonsalves explained to the New York Times, “This is not a gay disease; it has been circulating in West and Central Africa for many years… What likely happened, in this case, is that somebody who had monkeypox had a lesion and showed up at a gay rave in Europe, and it spread to those in that social and sexual network.”

Whatever the origins, we’re now dealing with an outbreak almost entirely limited to gay men in the United States and Europe. And that is worth saying explicitly.

Why? Because identifying those at risk and getting information to them is a basic public health strategy for containing an outbreak. Gay men are getting monkeypox and suffering greatly. When gay men understand the threat, we are more likely to take precautions, get vaccinated, or be informed about treatment.

Will there be stigma and judgements and homophobia? Of course. And we’ll have to deal with that. But that doesn’t mean we bury crucial facts in vague, evasive messaging.

Monkeypox is a gay thing. That’s the truth.

2 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • V I E WP O I NT

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 1

If she was your girl, oh the things Peppermint would do to you Performer talks love of Janet, new music, and political attacks on drag queens

By KEVIN NAFF Peppermint fell in love with Jackson’s music following the release of “Control” in If she was your girl, oh the things she’d do to you. I’m not talking about Janet Jack1986 and says she learned all the dance routines over the years. son — I’m talking about Peppermint.

“There’s something about the way her music and live performance is packaged The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 9 runner-up has parlayed that success into a and presented, it came off as memorable and iconic and forward thinking and prodiversified career in music, theater, LGBTQ advocacy, and more. From her work with gressive and made a big impact early on in high school,” Peppermint said. “I learned RuPaul as the first out trans woman competitor on that hit show to her groundbreakthe moves to ‘If’ immediately and remember every chance I got in high school and in ing role in “Head Over Heels” as the first trans person to originate a starring role summer camp, if you were around me you were on Broadway, to her work as a GLAAD board not safe because you were learning the Janet member, Peppermint is a force in the LGBTQ PEPPERMINT has her makeup done to match Janet Jackson’s on the set of ‘If.’ (Photo courtesy Peppermint) moves, I would force everyone around me to movement. do the routines.”

She’s not shy when asked about recent conPeppermint estimates she spent $30,000 on troversies involving Republican attacks on drag her “If” recreation and paid for it out of pocket. queens, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis anThe video features 10 dancers with about 30 nouncing he would pursue legislation making crew on set. It was filmed in one day and she it illegal for a parent to take a child to a drag says she studied all angles of the original perperformance. In Arizona, the Trump-endorsed formance to match the choreography. It took candidate for governor last month also atthree takes to nail the iconic breakdown dance tacked drag queens. at the end of the song.

“I think the attacks are terrible and dirty,” Angel Ayala created the costume; she handPeppermint told the Blade. “They are trying rolled the bones on the vest (Kim Kardashian and succeeding in distracting us from protectrecently purchased the original costume at ing the most vulnerable of our population — auction for $25,000). Peppermint says she trans children. The drag entertainers are adults studied Janet’s jewelry and replicated it, scourand it’s a fun celebratory scene that is inclusive ing the internet looking for similar pieces and of everyone and certainly not harmful. The only ultimately making some by hand to match the people supporting this are insidious and flat originals perfectly. out lying or have probably never seen drag in “My look in replicating Janet’s look, I wantreal life.” ed it to be as close as possible, which I nailed Peppermint this week announced plans for except for the six-pack abs,” Peppermint said, a November tour of her new show and music. “but I look sexy.”

Specific dates will be announced soon; visit She noted the importance of finding talentpeppermintonline.com for more information. ed dancers since every moment in the video is But the main reason for a recent conversatightly choreographed. tion with the Blade, was Peppermint’s viral “I wanted to update it a bit and make it as video recreation of Janet Jackson’s iconic “If.” inclusive as possible with trans and nonbinary The song was the second release from Jackdancers, queer dancers, people of color, which son’s 1993 “janet.” album, peaking at No. 4 on is similar to the original video with its mostly the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its accompanying Asian cast,” she said. video and choreography have proven timeShe says “If” is, of course, her favorite Janet less, influencing many other artists, including video; while her favorite Janet song is “Throb” Peppermint. Her recent meticulous recreation and her favorite Janet tour is the “Velvet Rope.” of the video won tens of thousands of fans on Peppermint says she’s never met her idol YouTube and even led to a re-Tweet by Janet Janet, but hopes to one day, adding, “I did this herself. for myself, it was a passion project.” Will there Jackson’s video created a stir when it was be another Janet tribute video? Peppermint released, revealing a bold and overtly sexual says yes, sometime next year, but declines to Janet that many fans weren’t expecting. “If” specify which video she plans to recreate next. features intricate choreography that depicted In the meantime, she’s focused on her upJanet grabbing the crotches of male dancers coming fall tour and her own original music who simulated oral sex on her. The original vidabout a breakup titled “Letter to my Lovers,” a trilogy about the beginning, middle, eo was also groundbreaking in its depiction of technologies that weren’t invented in and end of a relationship. “I wanted to do something that’s a love letter to the trans 1993, such as web cams and touchscreens. community and letting people know you’re deserving of love and deserve to hear a “This song, the choreography is so iconic, professional dancers have seen it in trans woman singing about love to some ‘90s R&B throwback.” other pieces over the years and it’s been a blueprint for so many songs and videos And for those who haven’t seen the Hulu rom-com “Fire Island,” Peppermint stars by other artists,” Peppermint said. “Just as people borrowed from Michael Jackson in the film. and ‘Thriller.’”

2 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

6925 Blair Road, NW Washington, D.C. 20012 takomawellness.com 202.465.4260 @takomawellness AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 3

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ world tour stops in D.C. on Aug. 6 ‘WERQ the World’ returns live drag performance to country’s largest stages

By CARIS WHITE BETTY: It’s not just Some of the most queens from one particupopular queens from lar season of “Drag Race” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will — you can see queens perform live at National from as early as season Harbor outside D.C. on 6. We each have our own Aug. 6 as part of the offipersonalities, and that is cial “WERQ THE WORLD” very much reflected in the tour. numbers that we create.

In recent months, drag That’s something I realqueens have received sigly like about WERQ THE nificant media attention, WORLD — we have a huge much of it from right-wing say in what we perform, figures criticizing events what we do and what we like Drag Queen story get to showcase — and ulhours and brunches. Howtimately just get the best ever, the colorful, creative representation of who we performances continue are and what we stand for to be wildly popular, and individually. this year’s “WERQ THE We did Radio City last WORLD” tour marks the night, and I think we alreturn of RuPaul’s live U.S. most sold out Radio City tour after a COVID-enMusic Hall, so just the fact forced hiatus. that that’s a thing right “In this year’s live pronow is insane and super, duction, an experiment super cool. It shows the gone wrong sends audilevel of professionality that not only the queens have, but everyences spiraling through time with no way of returning to 2022,” one — the tech, the crew. We like to say it’s as if drag and a Broadpublicity representative Jeff Dorta said in an email to the Blade. way musical were somehow mashed together. It’s a production, “The queens will whisk fans on a magical journey through iconic it’s more than just your local bar gig.” periods of history in hopes of returning them safely home.”

The Blade spoke with Daya Betty, a Season 14 finalist on BLADE: Have you had a favorite part of the tour so far?

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” and one of the queens who will be perBETTY: I think just being able to be around people again — forming in D.C., who talked about getting started in drag, her being able to see people and being able to connect with people “WERQ THE WORLD” experience so far and how drag perforone-on-one. During the pandemic we did a lot of digital drag, mance unites audiences. but it’s not the same as having a face-to-face performance or a “I’m a Type One diabetic — that’s actually where my name face-to-face conversation. Not to sound too cliché, but really we comes from — and I started out in a small town called Springfield, live off of that live energy that the crowd likes to give us.

Missouri,” Betty said. “There’s not a lot going on there, except for a college and lots of little dive bars, which is actually where I got Although WERQ THE WORLD did a European tour during my start. I didn’t get my start in a gay bar like a lot of other drag summer 2021, this summer is the first time the live tour has perqueens do. I got started in a biker bar, which is pretty fun and formed across the United States since 2019. Daya Betty said that very telling of the Midwest.” stopping at cities throughout the country has made the world “Being in the Midwest and growing up queer, you kind of have feel much smaller, as she notices what their audiences have in to create your own family with your own friends and build your common. own community,” Betty continued. “That’s really where my pas“You think the world is such a big place, but the more you travsion for drag stemmed from and what caused me to audition for el around and meet people, you realize that everybody just likes the show.” to smile and have a good time,” Betty reflected.

BLADE: Drag has gotten a lot of media attention lately — some BLADE: How does drag performance bring people together, of it negative. In your experience, what is the best part of being and what makes it such a beloved space for the LGBTQ commua drag queen? nity?

DAYA BETTY: Being from a small town, I didn’t really see a BETTY: I think it’s just watching people be authentic and be lot of queer people on TV or in magazines, I felt like I was kind true to themselves — people putting themselves out there and of sheltered away from that. So, the fact that drag queens are then being recognized for it and being able to create a career literally being showcased on TV shows, on billboards, in fashion and support themselves financially off it — that’s such a cool thing spreads, they’re walking in fashion week — I think it’s cool to see that we’ve created as a community,” Betty said. “Just like when not only drag in the regular sense but drag in the mainstream you watch a television show, you connect with certain characters and in common things. because you see little parts of yourself in them — I think that’s It’s so true what people say — as long as we are putting ourwhy. selves out there and we’re letting our faces be shown, there’s alIt is so fabulous to be on a huge stage and have this big platways going to be critics and people that that don’t want to look form, but I think at the end of the day, we’re all drag queens; we at us. But I think that in a sense this makes us work harder, and come from the same place, we all started in bars or local clubs. when we do get to be featured in mainstream things, it makes it I think we need to put just as much respect on people that have that much sweeter. been on TV or drag queens that are in mainstream media and on local performers as well, because that’s where we BLADE: What is it like to be part of “WERQ THE WORLD 2022,” all start and that’s where we all learn. and what features make this year’s tour special?

2 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 5

CALENDAR |

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Friday, August 05

Friday Tea Time will be at 2 p.m. in the DC Center in the atrium of the Reeves Center. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. For more information, contact adamheller@thedccenter.org.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social” at 7 p.m. at The Commentary. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. Or just unwind and enjoy the extended happy hour. Tickets are free and can be found on Eventbrite.

Saturday, August 06 Virtual Yoga Class with Charles M. will be at 12 p.m. online. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. You can RSVP for this event on the DC Center’s website.

LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.

Sunday, August 07 Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Coffee & Conversation” at 12 p.m. at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends in the LGBTQ community and some new faces after two years of the pandemic. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

“Sunday Vibes! LGBTQ+ Inclusive Outdoor Event!” will be at 2 p.m. at Dirty Habit. DJs Eletrox and Jai Syncere will be playing top 40, Afrobeats, reggaeton, house remixes, throwbacks and more. Tickets are free and can be accessed on Eventbrite.

Monday, August 08 Center Aging Coffee Drop-In will be at 10 a.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community and online on Zoom. LGBT Older Adults — and friends — are invited to enjoy friendly conversations and to discuss any issues you might be dealing with. For more information, visit the Center Aging’s Facebook or Twitter.

Not Another Drag Show will be at 8 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. Logan Stone will host the event along with a rotating cast of other DMV performers. Tickets are free and can be accessed on Eventbrite.

Tuesday, August 09 Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. in-person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community and on Zoom. This peer-facilitated group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. By sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more information, visit the Coming Out Discussion Group Facebook page.

Trans Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This support group is intended to provide emotionally and physically safe space for trans* people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.

Wednesday, August 10 “Free Bingo Series | Feeling Lucky?” will be at 7 p.m. at As You Are. This event is a happy hour bingo night with a game night host, bingo materials including daubers, and awesome prizes. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Thursday, August 11 The DC Center’s Food Pantry Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245.

“Wasted & Gay Thursdays” will be at 9 p.m. at Wasted Lounge. This event will be hosted by Nelly Nellz and DJ Ro. There will also be good vibes, music, drinks, food and hookah. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

2 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

A fire that destroyed this home in Baltimore is being investigated as a hate crime. This and other community concerns will be addressed at a community event Wednesday in Baltimore. (Photo by Jim Becker)

OUT & ABOUT

Blade, Baltimore Banner explore state of LGBTQ community The Washington Blade and the Baltimore Banner will join forces to host “State of the Community: LGBTQ+ Edition” on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. at Center Stage, The Head Theater, in Baltimore.

The event is a platform for the LGBTQ community to express concerns about recent developments with the Supreme Court, the current political climate, monkeypox, and other issues.

The event will be hosted by John-John Williams IV, DEI reporter for the Baltimore Banner, and feature Andre K. McDaniels, managing editor of the Baltimore Banner and Kevin Naff, editor-in-chief of the Washington Blade.

The event is free but registration is required. Beer and refreshments will be on sale. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

Mayor’s Office to host informational on community grants The Mayor’s Office for LGBTQ Affairs will host “FY23 LGBTQ+ Community Development Grant Pre-Bidders Conference” on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 12 p.m. at Martin Luther King Library.

Mayor Muriel Bowser will discuss her office’s investment in the LGBTQ community through the FY 23 Community Development Grant Application Process.

The focus of the grants are programs that provide direct services to the District’s LGBTQ community that address at least one of the following areas: Education, Jobs & Economic Development, Public Safety, Civic Engagement, Health & Wellness, Youth Engagement, Arts & Creative Economy, and COVID-19 Recovery.

The deadline for electronic grant submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29. More details for this event are available on Eventbrite.

Woodhull hosts sexual freedom summit in Va. The Woodhull Freedom Foundation will host its 12th annual “Sexual Freedom Summit” from Thursday, Aug. 4 to Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel.

The summit features human rights activists, sexuality educators and researchers, professionals from the legal and medical fields, authors, sexual freedom movement leaders, and organizational partners. Some of the speakers include a nursing student who just won $1.7 million in a sex worker discrimination suit, and one of the student plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s “Don’t Say Gay” law.

Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

‘Six’ an empowering musical remix of English history Wives of Henry VIII tell their own stories

By PATRICK FOLLIARD Henry’s victimized teenage wife Katherine Howard (Didi Romero) who was beTypically, the wives of Henry VIII are cast aside as headless footnotes. But in “Six,” headed on Tower Green is drawn from Ariana Grande and Britney Spears; for Cathan empowering and fun musical remix of English history (now playing at National erine Parr (Gabriela Carrillo), an independent thinker and the wife who survived Theatre), they tell their own stories.

Henry, inspiration comes from Alicia Keyes and Emili Sandé.

Conceived by Brits Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the Broadway hit is a fast-paced Sounds like big stilettos to fill? Don’t worry, the cast is more than up for it — its six 85-minute pop rock musical presented as a contest in which Henry’s wives compete talented young women possess pipes, timing, and presence to spare. for diva status by proving who’s been treated the worst by the monarch, and considStaged by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage with choreography by Carrie-Anne ering Henry’s vile track record, the competition is unsurprisingly stiff.

Ingrouille, the proHistory and music duction is intriguing. unfold chronologically At first look, it’s everyas the royal consorts, thing some theaterbacked by “The Ladies goers might not like: in Waiting,” (four mureally loud and very sicians led by Jo Ann Vegas residency, but Daugherty), briefly but as the show opens up trenchantly share their it proves delightfully experiences in a madsmart, substantive, imly entertaining way. peccably researched, After collectively inand succeeds at clevtroducing themselves erly melding the past and their respective and present. fates with “Ex-Wives” The show has a (“Divorced, beheadstrong following – the ed, died! Divorced, kind that feel it’s OK beheaded, survived!”), to sing along with the Henry’s first queen, actors onstage. But Catherine of Aragon it’s also appealing (Khaila Wilcoxon), a to history buffs and devout Catholic and a old-fashioned musical true Spanish princess theater fans alike. “Six” who despite many tries is a crowd pleaser and was unable to provide deservedly so. her philandering husBack to the queen band with a surviving contest. The obvious male heir, steps out of choice for Henry’s the line and states her most consequential case with a power-pop spouse is either Cathsong titled “No Way.” erine of Aragon, the Then one-by-one true queen, or maybe the remaining five — OLIVIA DONALSON as Anna of Cleves (center).

Anne Boleyn, the secfabulously costumed (Photo by Joan Marcus) ond wife for whom he in glittery short-skirted parted with Rome and concert gear with Tuthe mother England’s greatest monarch, Elizabeth I. But the show gives each woman dor flourishes by Gabriella Slade — get their turn in the spotlight. Storm Lever, as her due, and they bare their souls. Whether they were dragged into Henry’s orbit Anne Boleyn, Henry’s beguiling six-fingered second bride, wittily reminds the other because of beauty, ambitious family, or simple accidents of time and place, no one women that she suffered far more than simply divorce and humiliation in “Don’t Lose escaped unscathed. Who suffered the most? That’s something you’ll have to decide Ur Head.” for yourself.

The evening’s liveliest number “Get Down,” replete with a saucy costume reveal, belongs to Anna of Cleves played Olivia Donalson. Thrown over by Henry because her looks didn’t live up to a Holbein portrait sent in advance (a still all-too-common problem), the German princess managed to keep her head and her money, proving Through Sept. 4 you can be Henry’s ex and still have a good time. Her situation was unpleasant, yes, National Theatre but certainly not the worst.

In a clever move, the composers have sought “queenspiration” from contempo1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. rary artists. For instance, Jane Seymour (Jasmine Forsberg), best remembered as $65-$150 “the only one he ever loved” is drawn from Adele and Sia. Forsberg conveys the BroadwayAtTheNational.com story’s sadness with the sorrowful ballad “Heart of Stone.”

‘Six’

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 7

Summer’s not over yet!

Now is the time to Live Your Beach Life.

Trust the #1 Real Estate Sales Team in Coastal DE to make it happen.

2 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

LEFT PAGE

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Aug 6 from 12-2pm

29570 Patrick Henry Circle, Millsboro, DE MLS: DESU2024138

MODEL MATERIAL!

this 3+ bedroom, 3.5 bath home shows like a model in the amenity-rich, 55+ community of Independence! Features include professional grade kitchen, gas fireplace, energy efficient solar panels and more! Situated on a private perimeter lot with an expansive backyard complete with tasteful hardscaping & landscaping that includes irrigation and a beautiful pollinator garden with a waterfall stone pond!

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Aug 6 from 12-2pm

29483 Andrew Jackson Drive, Millsboro, DE MLS: DESU2022094

UPGRADE YOUR LIFE!

with this beautifully kept & energy efficient home in the amenity-rich & maintenance-free 55+ community of Independence! This 4 BR/3BA home features fine finishes & attention to detail throughout including built-in cabinetry & wet-bar!

Situated along a quiet street on a premium lot, the exterior offers well irrigation and a gorgeously hardscaped slate & stone courtyard.

235 2nd Street, Lewes, DE

8 Bay Drive, Lewes, DE

MLS: DESU2024702

MLS: DESU2025108

IDYLLIC LEWES - LOCATION & STYLE!

LIFE ON THE WATER!

Establish your Coastal Delaware lifestyle in this gorgeous, spacious, architectural showstopper! Well-located on a favorite in-town street, this modern 4 BR/3.5 masterpiece blends seamlessly into Historic Lewes life and delivers amazing curb appeal at first sight with impeccable landscaping and an inviting double front porch.

Nothing compares to true waterfront living, and this spacious Joy Beach 5 BR/4 BAproperty delivers. Experience exclusive Rehoboth Bay views and access from this true water and nature-lover’s paradise! Enjoy the perfect summer retreat or year-round home complete with private dock and ground level in-law suite with kitchenette and private deck!

PRICE REDUCTION - NOW $1,875,000

PRICE REDUCTION - NOW $1,395,000

RIGHT PAGE

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 9

Director of ‘They/Them’ on queering the horror genre John Logan puts conversion therapy where it belongs

By JOHN PAUL KING heroic.

Even if you’ve never heard of John Logan, the odds are pretty good you’ve heard his LOGAN: We wanted to take the tropes and subvert them completely. So, we have joywords. ously celebrated things like, “There’s the camp in the woods, and it’s scary, and there’s That’s because the former playwright, now writer and director of the new horror film a masked killer, and the killer uses different weapons,” and all the things I personally “They/Them” (premiering on Peacock Aug. 5), has been bringing his literate sensibilities love about slasher movies – but it’s all in service of the great subversion, which is that to Hollywood screens for more than two decades now, earning three Oscar nominations these kids are not victims. They are not running and hiding, they are fighting for their during a career that has included screenplays for movies ranging from “Gladiator” to identities. They are heroes.

“Sweeney Todd” to “Star Trek: Nemesis,” not to mention a pair of James Bond blockbusters (“Skyfall” and “Spectre”). He’s also the man behind “Penny Dreadful,” Showtime’s BLADE: Speaking of subversion, Victorian horror “mashup” series that the setting isn’t the only “camp” in became a cult sensation during its the movie. There’s a lot of humor in all-too-brief three season run. it, from a certain perspective.

Now Logan has returned to the LOGAN: [Laughs] I would like horror genre he loves to make his to think there’s a “raised eyebrow” debut as a feature film director, and throughout. I mean, we have a singhe’s brought more than just a queer ing and dancing musical number in sensibility. He’s brought a whole it, we have some outrageous humor bloody queer story, as well. in it, as well. It’s meant to be a sort of Diving headlong into classic ‘80s exuberant exploration of the queer slasher movie territory from its very lifestyle in all its forms, from the most first frames, “They/Them” brings toextravagant to the most romantic gether a collection of queer teens to the most erotic – as extreme as at a retreat deep in the woods – the we could possibly get it. But it’s all Whistler Camp, run by third-genplayed very straight, which is a testaeration proprietor and chief counment to the actors, really. selor Owen Whistler (Kevin Bacon) – where their parents have sent them BLADE: That’s another thing that in hopes of making them straight. stands out. You have a terrific cast, Though the staff seems friendly and Theo Germaine is a charismatic and understanding enough at first, lead. it’s not long before the “therapy” LOGAN: Thank God Theo fell into starts to become more aggressive; my lap. The movie begins, essentialto make matters worse, a sinister ly, with Jordan’s face and it ends with outside presence seems to be menJordan’s face, so I knew it was realacing the camp, and the campers, KEVIN BACON introduces his not-so-friendly staff in ‘They/Them.’ ly going to be important to find the led by trans nonbinary rebel Jordan right actor. Theo is so extraordinary, (Theo Germaine), are soon fighting they’re so accessible to the audience. My heart breaks watching that character, because for their lives as well as their identities. they’re emotional, but they’re empowered and strong – and that’s all from Theo.

Apart from the genius of putting conversion therapy into a horror movie where it beAlso, I’m not trans, I’m not nonbinary, and I’m also 60 – so I had to ask Theo to help longs, Logan’s movie scores high points all around for solid LGBTQ representation. Inme understand this character – not just the language around them, but how this young, deed, it’s as much a rousing queer empowerment story as it is a horror tale, and though trans, nonbinary human being moves through the world. And not only Theo, but Quei hardcore horror geeks might find its scares to be relatively tame, it reaches beyond Tann and all the other actors were very generous with their own experiences, which is shock value to turn the genre itself into a vehicle for cinematic queerness – something what, for me, makes them seem very authentic on screen, because they are playing verlong overdue for the countless queer audiences who have always been drawn to horror. sions of themselves that they can believe in.

The Blade talked with Logan about his vision for “They/Them” on the eve of the film’s world premiere at LA’s Outfest. Our conversation is below.

BLADE: That’s the difference authentic representation can make.

LOGAN: Yes, and it also helped that the process of shooting really mirrored the story, BLADE: Queer audiences have always loved horror movies, but horror movies havin a way. None of the actors knew each other, and they were suddenly in Georgia, all en’t loved them back until recently. Is that part of the reason behind this one? slammed together in the middle of nowhere with no phone reception – and gradually, JOHN LOGAN: That was the entire reason behind this one. When I was a kid, it would they built this tribe, this family, going through an experience much like the campers in have meant so much to me to see a gay hero in a horror film. It’s a genre that SHOULD the film go through. It was amazing to watch how they bonded and got together. celebrate queerness, because horror is about the “other” – about the realization that people are not all the same. But queer characters in the ‘70s and ‘80s were mostly nonBLADE: One last thing – for the cinema buffs among our readers, it will be impossible existent, or they were jokes, or victims, or killers. They were never admirable people not to notice shots and references that seem like nods to some of their favorite classics you’d aspire to be. And horror cinema has always had a very complicated relationship of the past. Are those on purpose? with gender and sexual identity, even back to the 1930s and the classic Universal cycle LOGAN: All intentional. I may never direct another movie as long as I live, so I want of horror films – except for “Frankenstein,” made by a queer filmmaker, where the most to tip my hat to all the movies I love. There are shots that are a direct mirror of ‘Psycho,’ sympathetic character is the monster. for example, or ‘Blue Velvet,’ or obscure slasher movies like ‘The Burning’ that nobody When we engage with storytelling in cinema, we want to see ourselves represented would know but me – and I worked really close with my DP, Lynne Moncrief, to find those in some way. I wanted to write the movie that I didn’t get to see when I was 14 or 15 moments. It felt important for us pay homage to the whole continuum of horror movies years old. behind us, because we are building on all those as we try to step gingerly – or bravely – into a future where queer horror is finally the popular mainstream entertainment it BLADE: You mentioned wanting to see a gay hero. One of the things that stands deserves to be. out about your movie is that none of these kids are “scream queens.” They’re all pretty

3 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 3 1

Restaurants have history as places for protest ShutDownDC solicits tips for whereabouts of anti-Roe justices

By EVAN CAPLAN Food is inherently political — including the spaces that serve them. Restaurants, as “third places” in the public arena (outside of home and work), are accessible and open, a convener of society. Politicians in D.C. have traditionally treated restaurants as a halfthird space: a semi-private location outside of the office to conduct business, utilizing restaurants as an extension of their workspace. This public presence, however, implicitly invites the public in — and lawful protesters have taken note.

On July 6, the dimly lit downtown location of Morton’s The Steakhouse chain became a protest stakeout. According to media reports, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was having dinner at the steakhouse when protesters learned of his whereabouts, convening a small demonstration.

Supreme Court Justice BRETT KAVANAUGH was the target of a recent protest at Morton’s Steakhouse. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Court of Appeals of D.C.)

The gathering was put together by an organization called ShutDownDC, which has called for peaceful action against the justices who voted for the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v Wade. Politico reported that Kavanaugh may not have even seen or heard the protests, but he did leave before dessert.

And while the Supreme Court did not release a statement, the restaurant’s management was perturbed. It sent a statement to a Politico reporter noting: “Honorable Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh and all of our other patrons at the

3 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

restaurant were unduly harassed by unruly protestors while eating dinner at our Morton’s restaurant. Politics, regardless of your side or views, should not trample the freedom at play of the right to congregate and eat dinner. There is a time and place for everything. Disturbing the dinner of all of our customers was an act of selfishness and void of decency.”

The response to Morton’s plea was swift and fierce. Commentators noted that protest is enshrined in the Constitution, while the right to eat dinner is not.

Notably, Morton’s The Steakhouse parent company is owned by billionaire Tilman Fertitta, who also owns the Houston Rockets. According to The Counter, Fertitta is one of Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s biggest donors, providing more than $100,000 annually since 2015. His family has given several hundred thousand dollars of donations to other Republican politicians, including President Trump.

After this protest, ShutDownDC stated on Twitter that it will offer up to $250 to industry staff for tips of the whereabouts of justices who voted for Dobbs.

This incident, however, was not the first time that citizens have engaged restaurants as a space for protest. Restaurants, as these third spaces, have offered fertile ground for previous demonstrations – especially during the Trump administration.

Washingtonian noted that one of the most infamous was against former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at Mexican restaurant MXDC in 2018 during a controversy regarding DHS and treatment of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexican border.

Several other expressions of peaceful demonstrations against Trump officials took place during the rest of his term in office. Restaurant owners themselves are not immune to taking political action – during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, many restaurants offered food and other support.

During the tumultuous conclusion to that presidency, restaurants also had to contend with the specter of aggressive action. In preparation for what would turn out to be the Jan. 6 insurrection, many restaurants and other businesses closed their doors and fortified their exterior walls. In comparison to the peaceful restaurant protests, the Jan. 6 actions turned violent, denying restaurants revenue – and leaving many fearing for their safety.

Kavanaugh, meanwhile, was safely ensconced in his steakhouse, without fear of violence. Groups like ShutDownDC will continue to “use strategic direct action to advance justice and hold officials accountable,” according to its website, supporting nonviolent action in public places.

Anthony Aligo, a gay man and owner of wine bar Barkada, noted that, “This isn’t anything new. We believe everyone should be treated with respect and believe in the constitutional right to exercise your first amendment rights.”

This most recent event reinforces that restaurants, especially those known to harbor power lunches, must contend with the possibility of this type of protest. And leaders, when they decide to go out in these public spaces, must be aware that the people they represent also can be present there as well.

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 3 3

Central Pennsylvania Pride

30th annual LGBTQ celebration held in Harrisburg (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

The 30th annual Central Pennsylvania Pride celebration was held in Harrisburg, Pa. on Saturday, July 30.

3 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2

Mister Nice Jewish Boy Pageant

Annual competition hosted by Venus Valhalla at Union Stage (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Four contestants vied for the title of 2022 Mister Nice Jewish Boy Pageant at Union Stage on Sunday, July 31.

Venus Valhalla gave a performance and served as the emcee.

Gorgeous Greek Revival on the Eastern Shore of Maryland!

-206 S 5TH AVENUE, DENTON, MD 21629 US This big and beautiful home sits on an intown 1.44 acre lot. This amazing homes interior features are grand and exciting. The homes features a rare, vintage carriage house.

The home has a pool and scads of details.

Visit the website https://mls.truplace.com/property/1146/113073/ or call Martha Suss @410-310-4856 for a tour of this magnificent gem.

MARTHA WITTE SUSS, ASSOCIATE BROKER

Easton, St. Michaels, Cambridge and Denton, Maryland Come Join us in the Land of Pleasant Living - The Eastern Shore of Maryland Cell: 410-310-4856 | Office: 410-770- 3600

https://www.longandfoster.com/MarthaWitteSuss

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 3 5

5 tips for novice house flippers

Hire an architect, budget for overruns, and more

By VALERIE M. BLAKE

If you still use Facebook, you know that there is a group for everything, from different breeds of dogs and cats to silly games that lead to data mining of your information for business or nefarious purposes, to groups that offer advice on certain medical issues, to everything real estate.

One of the Facebook groups in which I participate allows users to share do-it-yourself home improvement tips. It’s a bit like HGTV or the DIY network, with a dose of reality thrown in.

Simple topics might include improving curb appeal, selecting paint colors, installing flooring, replacing an electrical fixture, or changing a toilet.

Sometimes contractors weigh in on more complicated work and even give an idea of how long a project might take and how much it might cost in a particular area of the country.

It constantly surprises me how little people know about how their home works. I fault the seller’s market over the past years, where inspections are either short or non-existent, for much of that.

It used to be that an inspector would spend several hours with a buyer, going through the condition and operation of a home’s systems and fixtures, providing a written report, and even including a binder that outlined how to fix simple items or when to conduct general maintenance.

The advent of the “walk and talk” inspection, conducted prior to making an offer, shortened that process. A buyer would have to take his own notes while the inspector was talking and pointing things out. Often, the buyer would go home with information in cryptic shorthand that made no sense a few weeks down the road.

Some people still fancy themselves as house flippers, intent on making a massive profit by making a few choice renovations and reselling a home. My Facebook group often brings out those who have the desire but lack the skills or funding.

One person recently posted photographs of a house he was interested in renovating for profit. His first question was whether he could remove all the mold himself or whether he should hire a professional mold remediation company.

I looked at the photos and immediately thought of Tyvec suits, respirators, and those movies where CDC warns of a toxic environment that must be contained and the toxins eradicated — not my idea of a DIY project.

Another unrealistic aspect of this renovation was his cost estimate — $100,000 to cover mold remediation, a new roof, central air conditioning and heating and, of course, new electrical, plumbing, drywall, fixtures, cabinets, and appliances. Even with a price of $175,000 for the house and a potential value of $400,000 after renovations, the professional flippers told him he was living in La-La-Land.

Amateur flippers in the DMV have seen their options dry up in the past five years, as even distressed properties left in disrepair can sell for half a million dollars or more.

Even the professionals are knocking on doors, sending postcards in desired neighborhoods, and calling or texting owners and real estate agents, looking for properties to fix and flip.

Still, if you are inclined to try rehabbing, even for your own home, here are my top five things to consider before diving in.

Do your homework before entering the home flipping market.

• Get to know what permits you will need and the process and timeline for obtaining them, or else you may face the dreaded orange Stop Work Order slapped on the home’s window.

• Find an architect and/or engineer to help with planning the layout. Remember, not every wall can come down to make an open concept floorplan without shoring it up in another approved manner.

• Learn about “hard money.” Unlike traditional home loans that are based on income, assets, and credit, these high-interest, short-term loans rely on the difference between what you pay for the house (“as is” value) and what the “as renovated” value is estimated to be upon resale.

• Consult with a real estate agent about popular features and finishes to help you sell the house quickly and get the highest price. Purchase those items locally to avoid supply chain delays.

• Budget for unexpected cost overruns of 10-15%. Even with an interest-only loan with no payments due until resale, you will still owe taxes and insurance and make periodic payments for materials and labor. Don’t forget to add commissions and closing fees on the purchase and sale.

Your first project may not result in the profit you anticipated, but it will give you a sense of whether it’s worth trying again or leaving renovations to the professionals.

VALERIE M. BLAKE

is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with RLAH Real Estate / @properties. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email her via DCHomeQuest.com, or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.

3 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • B US I NE S S

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 3 7

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

MASSAGE

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.

KICK BACK & RELAX

with a refreshing massage.

Private studio near Courthouse in Arlington, Sun-Wed, 12-9.

Gary@301-704-1158, mymassagebygary.com.

PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE AT

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM/ CLASSIFIEDS

& YOUR AD PRINTS in the PAPER & ONLINE.*

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.

LIMOUSINES KASPER’S LIVERY SERVICE

Since 1987.

Gay & Veteran Owner/Operator.

Lincoln Continental Sedan! Proper DC License & Livery Insured. www.KasperLivery.com.

202-554-2471

TELL ‘EM YOU SAW THEIR AD IN “THE BLADE!”

REAL ESTATE CLEANING

MOVERS

PROFESSIONAL

ROOFING

MOVING & STORAGE

FOR RENT / DC

CONDO SE $1,450/MO 2-Bedroom 2-Full Bath on Blue/Silver Metro Line near Benning Rd. Station Secure building Washer/Dryer in unit 3rd/top floor Central heat/air Call 202-750-0887 or email: lamarudc35@gmail.com

Let Our Movers Do The Heavy Lifting. Mention the Blade for 5% OFF of our regular rates.

Call today 202.734.3080. www.aroundtownmovers.com

PLUMBERS

FOR SALE / VA

FERNANDO’S CLEANING

Residential & Commercial Cleaning, Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates, Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/Move-Out

202-234-7050 / 202-486-6183

HANDYMAN

BODYWORK

THE MAGIC TOUCH

BRITISH REMODELING

HANDYMAN

Local licensed company with over 25 years of experience. Specializing in bathrooms, kitchens & all interior/exterior repairs. Drywall, paint, electrical & wallpaper.

Trevor 703-303-8699

We’re here for you!

Got a tip? email: Newstip@washblade.com.

3 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • AUGUST 05, 2 0 2 2 • C L A S S I F I E D S

Swedish, Massage or Deep Tissue. Appts. Low Rates, 24/7, In-Calls.

202-486-6183

POTOMAC YARD

TOWNHOUSE

Four-level 2,712 sq ft townhouse. Visit 1817 Main LIne Blvd on Realtor.com. Open concept, Two-car garage. Near Metro, gyms, paths.

Carl 703-820-0660

AUG UST 0 5 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 3 9