Washington Blade, Volume 54, Issue 37, September 15, 2023

• Hip-Hop’s complicated queer history, PAGE 28

• Despite strikes, Hollywood delivers TV, film for fall, PAGE 34

• Local theater, dining scenes busy as ever, PAGES 32 & 42

• John Waters on stage in Baltimore, PAGE 38

• Madonna, Kim Petras headed to D.C., PAGE 40 AND MUCH MORE!

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Mitchell Gold criticizes successor company for shutdown of business

Mitchell Gold, co-founder of the furniture manufacturing and retail company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams that abruptly shut down its operations two weeks ago nine years after Gold and his business partner Bob Williams sold it to The Stephens Group investment firm, says the shutdown was unnecessary and could have been prevented.

“This shutdown did not have to happen,” Gold told the Washington Blade in a statement. “PNC Bank had a dispute with the MGBW owners, The Stephens Group, that turned into adults acting irresponsibly,” he said.

“The Stephens Group issued a statement that this was out of their control, and that simply was and is not accurate,” Gold said. “They own and control the company. They are a family-owned equity investment firm with tons of money from Little Rock, Arkansas,” he said, adding that the firm had the resources to keep the Gold + Williams operation up and running.

A spokesperson for the Stephens Group said the firm would have no comment on Gold’s statement, saying the company stands by the statement it issued last week announcing it had closed the Gold + Williams stores and factories.

“We invested in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (the ‘Com-

pany’) in 2014 in full support of the company’s priorities, solid vision, and unique offerings,” the statement says. “Recently, we invested another $20 million to restructure the Company to support its operations and set the business up for success moving forward,” the statement continues.

“Unfortunately, shortly after this restructuring, the Company’s lender withdrew its support for the Company’s operations, forcing Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams to cease its manufacturing operations and liquidate the business,” it says. “The Stephens Group knows that the Company has done the best it could in a very challenging situation and empathizes with all those who are impacted.” Gold, who identifies the lender as PNC Bank, says in his statement that he believes The Stephens Group was fully capable of arranging for a bridge loan to enable the company to continue operating.

A spokesperson for PNC Bank also declined to comment on Gold’s claim that PNC Bank may also have been responsible for the Gold + Williams company shutdown.

“We do not comment on specific customer accounts or issues,” the spokesperson said in a short statement. “Like most banks, we make lending decisions based on regular reviews of client creditworthiness,” the statement says.

The Gold + Williams company was founded in 1989 initially by Gold and a short time later Williams joined Gold as a partner. Both identify as gay and are longtime LGBTQ rights advocates.

The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams company expanded its operations from a single furniture store in D.C. to the operation of 24 high-end furniture stores across the country and three factories in North Carolina before the two sold the majority controlling shares of the company to The Stephens Group in 2014. Gold said the sale was finalized in 2015.

“They were in control and had oversight of the company as it got into deep financial trouble,” Gold said of The Stephens Group. He said a significant part of the business was with interior designers, who ordered products for their clients after designing space for the clients’ homes.

“Either they or their client paid for the merchandise and now, they very probably might not get it and have to fight to get their money back,” Gold said. “It is just not fair,” he said.

“Although the Stephens Group has already lost many millions, they could at the very least put in place a bridge loan to get the company up and running under the extremely competent leadership of Chris Moye with my support to get it to a place where they can be financed out if that is ultimately their desire,” Gold concludes.

Chris Moye has served as the Gold + Williams CEO for the past several years.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Md. governor praises Baltimore LGBTQ Safe Haven

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the state’s lieutenant governor, Aruna Miller, on Sept. 8 visited Baltimore Safe Haven, a transitional housing and support organization that provides a wide range of services for the LGBTQ community, with a special outreach to the transgender community.

A statement released by Moore’s office says the visit was made in partnership with the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs and provided an opportunity for him and Miller to tour Safe Haven’s housing facilities and learn more about the services it offers.

“In Maryland, we lead with love and inclusion, and nobody should have to justify their own humanity,” Moore said in a statement. “Baltimore Safe Haven pro -

vides help and hope to the people who need it most,” he said. “The only way forward is together, and Baltimore Safe Haven has a partner in the State House.”

Moore added, “We have a lot of work to do, and we must tackle that work in partnership. If we do, we can build a kinder, safer Maryland for all.”

Miller said in the statement that she and the governor fully support Baltimore Safe Haven’s work and mission.

“Baltimore Safe Haven’s services are a critical link in the continuum of care for our LGBTQIA+ community, specifically for Black transgender Marylanders, and our administration is proud to be their partner,” she said.

Iya Dammons, the founder and executive director of

Baltimore Safe Haven who on July 28 officially opened a D.C. Safe Haven facility at 331 H St., N.E., said the visit by Moore and Miller to the Baltimore facility has highlighted the organization’s work to provide support for people in need.

“Baltimore Safe Haven has been at the forefront of this fight, providing a lifeline to those who have been disproportionately affected by homelessness, discrimination, and violence,” she said in a statement. “During their walk-through, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and Governor Wes Moore witnessed firsthand the compassionate and empowering environment created by Baltimore Safe Haven.”

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

D.C. church launches endowment honoring Bishop Robinson

St. Thomas’ Parish, an Episcopal Church located in D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, announced last week that it has launched the Bishop Gene Robinson Endowment for Community Outreach that will provide financial support for Robinson’s charitable and social justice work, including support for LGBTQ refugees in the D.C. area.

The announcement says the endowment honors Robinson on his 50th year as a priest and on his 20th year as a bishop.

Robinson made history in 2003 when he was elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, becoming the first known priest in an openly gay relationship to become a bishop of the Episcopal Church, the announcement says.

Upon his retirement as head of the New Hampshire diocese in 2013, Robinson moved to D.C. to become a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress as well as Bishop in Residence at St. Thomas’ Parish.

“I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Bishop Gene’s

courageous and generous spirit than the Bishop Gene Robinson Endowment for Community Outreach,” said Rev. Lisa Saunders Ahuja, rector of St. Thomas’ Parish, in a statement.

“The Bishop Gene Robinson Endowment for Community Outreach will continue to fulfill St. Thomas’ Parish’s commitment to active care for the oppressed and most vulnerable amongst our neighbors as we model courageous love, compassionate justice, and self-giving sacrifice,” Saunders Ahuja said.

The newly launched Robinson endowment “will support the charity and justice work Bishop Robinson has long championed, including supportive housing for LGBTQ+ refugees in the Washington area,” the church statement says. “Bishop Robinson is famous internationally as a champion for human rights, and as the first priest in an openly gay relationship to be consecrated as a bishop in a major Christian denomination,” according to the statement.

The announcement says contributions to the endowment fund can be made online at Give Now (onrealm.org) or by

MITCHELL GOLD and BOB WILLIAMS (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Bishop GENE ROBINSON (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Local resident, sales manager Malek Zaarour dies at 72 Lebanese American beloved for his support and respect for others

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Malek Sleiman Zaarour, a native of Beirut, Lebanon who immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 to pursue degrees in business administration and accounting in the D.C. area before specializing in kitchen appliance sales, died on Aug. 23 from pancreatic cancer. He was 72.

His domestic partner, Alexei Michalenko, said Zaarour, who spoke Arabic, English, and French, spent his early years living in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, and for a short time in Athens. Michalenko said his partner developed a keen understanding and respect for different cultures that drew the admiration of those he knew and befriended during his more than 20 years living in the D.C. area.

MALEK ZAAROUR

“For me, he was a living example of what all people should be,” said Michalenko. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And that was the greatest thing about his openness,” his partner said.

A write-up on Zaarour prepared by Michalenko says he was the sixth of nine siblings born in Beirut on Sept. 26, 1950. After graduating high school, he joined a government teaching program and earned a bachelor’s degree in math at Beirut Science University, the write-up says.

It says he left Lebanon for Saudi Arabia in 1976

shortly after the start of the Lebanese civil war. In Saudi Arabia he worked as a sales manager for a Lebanese company that specialized in kitchen cabinets and appliances, the write up says.

After 13 years in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Lebanon for one year, according to his partner’s write up. He then spent three months in Athens, before immigrating to the United States in October 1991, the write-up says.

For the next several years, the write up says, Zaarour pursued degrees in business administration and accounting from Strayer University in Northern Virginia while working for the Sears department store chain in the kitchen appliances department.

Under a U.S. immigration policy that considers someone’s sexual orientation as grounds for asylum due to possible persecution and danger if they return to their home country, Zaarour was granted asylum and became a U.S. citizen in October 2014, the write up says.

“Malek met his late partner, Thomas W. Wadlow, in September 1991,” the write up continues. “They formed a love partnership for 20 years, traveling to various places and beaches and entertaining guests

until Thomas’ passing on Oct. 28, 2011,” it says.

“Five years later Malek met his current partner, Alexei Michalenko, with whom he shared seven and a half years of life, fun and travel,” according to the write up. “After selling the house he shared with Thomas in S.E. Washington, Malek moved in with Alexei, sharing an apartment in Alexandria, Va.”

The write up says Zaarour was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2019 for which he was successfully treated. But in October 2022 he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and suffered the “challenging side-effects of chemotherapy, until deciding to cease further treatment and requested hospice palliative care until his death,” the write up says.

Zaarour is survived by his partner, Alexei Michalenko; his sisters, Afaf, Souad, and Mariam; his brothers, Ameen and Khodr (Zeineb); several nephews and nieces among whom he was especially close – Ali (Katrina), Mohamad, and Beleal, Ahmed and another Mohamad; and many friends in the U.S. and abroad.

The write up says final funeral arrangements were carried out through Islamic International Funeral Service, with prayers offered at the Islamic Guidance Center, also known as Ahlul Bayt Mosque, in Brooklyn, N.Y., with a burial held in Forest Green Park Cemetery in Morganville, N.J.

“May Malek’s memory continue to be a blessing to all who knew and loved him and whom he knew and loved,” the write up concludes.

Air Force veteran Charles Albee Riley dies at 75 Known for a passionate drive to succeed

Charles Albee Riley, a U.S. Air Force veteran, passed away at Inova Hospital in Alexandria, Va., on June 12, 2023, with family at his side, according to a statement released by family. He was 75.

Riley was known for his passionate drive to succeed, his family said, which allowed him to excel during his service in the U.S. Air Force. As a gay man he could not serve openly, and ultimately found his true calling as a real estate agent. His success allowed him to provide for his husband and children.

His hard work and personable demeanor proved an invaluable trait for a man who began in the Air Force and progressed to a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer and was able to thrive in his true calling as a Realtor in the Washington, D.C. area, the statement says. He loved being a Realtor. In both endeavors he accumulated numerous accolades and awards.

The youngest of three children, Riley was born Oct. 21, 1947, in Philadelphia, to Helen Arathusa Riley (Albee) and Marion Eugene Riley. He loved art and had a passion for drawing. He attended William B. Evans Grade School and Yeadon High School, both in Yeadon, PA.

According to the statement, his dream was to attend art school, but it was 1966 and his uncle advised him to enlist in the service before he got drafted. He took that advice and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force just a few short weeks before he received the draft notice in the mail. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Riley returned to Philadelphia and on January 5, 1967, he married his first love Charlotte Ann Riley (Doan). She

remained one of his closest friends throughout his life. Soon after they were married, he and Charlotte moved to Minot, N.D. where he worked on the Minuteman Missile. In 1969 they had their first of three sons, Scott Warren Riley.

He was discharged after four years and in 1970 they returned to Philadelphia to reunite with family and embark on a career in banking. This endeavor was short lived and in less than 2 years, they were expecting their second child and the benefits the Air Force provided compelled him to reenlist. In 1972, they welcomed Kyle Patrick Riley. Riley would go on to change career fields and switched to administration and then served in Okinawa, Japan; Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where in 1977 he and Charlotte had their third son Matthew Charles Riley; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; and McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. Riley closed out his career with tours at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., and his last duty location was Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire.

“Our mother, Charlotte, is the epitome of strength and love,” the statement reads. “When dad decided to live his life as a fully integrated gay man, she singlehandedly held the family together.”

Riley met Wayne Edward Schwandt at a Gay Fathers Coalition (GFC) Halloween Party for the children of gay fathers in 1984. “Chuck and Wayne had their first kiss that night, and he became the love of my dad’s life. … Dad came out in a time when it was difficult and taboo to be gay. He would often talk about his and Wayne’s courtship

and how there were no examples of how to be a male/male family with children. The Gay Fathers Coalition was so important to them and was an amazing support network.”

Riley loved the arts, the theater, and “every time we hear Barbra Streisand, a song from Evita, or Cher, we will think of Dad and over time our tears will become smiles. He was a wonderful and thoughtful man. Dad will forever be in our hearts.”

He is predeceased by his husband Rev. Dr. Wayne Edward Schwandt, his brother William “Bill” Riley (Eve), and his daughter-in-law Sherry Riley (married to Scott). Riley is survived by his former wife Charlotte Ann Riley; sister Lynne Leonardo (Joseph) of Aldan, Pennsylvania; sons Scott (grandchildren Brian (Alina and great-grandson Jameson) of Ranson, West Virginia, Kyle (Kathy and grandchildren Samantha, Sean, Shane) of Chesapeake, Virginia; Matthew (Michele and granddaughter Jordan) of Allegany, New York and close friend Dean Daniel of Elkridge, Md.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Immanuel Episcopal Church-on-theHill, 3606 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, Va., at 11 a.m.. In lieu of flowers, Chuck’s family has asked that a donation be made in his name to the Human Rights Campaign.

CHARLES ALBEE RILEY

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Blumenthal defends Kids Online Safety Act

Blackburn comment on ‘trans influence’ raises alarms

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com

Responding to criticism from some in the LGBTQ community about the Kids Online Safety Act, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) defended the legislation and reiterated his strong support for queer youth.

“I would never put my name on any bill that targets or disparages or harms the trans or LGBTQ community,” Blumenthal told the Washington Blade on Friday.

“There have been a lot of eyes” on the Kids Online Safety Act, he said. “A lot of very smart and careful people have reviewed its language, and they and I have worked to make it as rigorous and tight as possible.”

The proposed legislation, introduced by Blumenthal and Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), would address harms experienced by children and their families at the hands of dominant social media and tech platform companies. It enjoys broad bipartisan support in the Senate.

Critics took issue with previous iterations of the bill, however, raising alarms that conservative state attorneys general tasked with enforcing its provisions might treat positive or tonally neutral LGBTQ content as harmful to children under the statute.

A coalition of organizations issued a letter last year warning Congress that “online services would face substantial pressure to over-moderate,” at a time in which “books with LGBTQ+ themes are being banned” and “people providing healthcare to trans children are being falsely accused of ‘grooming.’”

Blumenthal told the Blade changes to the 2023 version in areas including the duty of care, which were made in consultation with a bevy of LGBTQ groups and individual advocates, have changed these organizations’ positions on the legislation.

“We have tightened the statute – tightened and clarified the statute – as much as we can to try to make it as rigorous as possible to avoid both the misuse and potential chilling effect,” the senator said.

He also highlighted some reasons for the urgent need for passage.

“The real devastating harms done to children by the bullying,” along with toxic content promoting eating disorders and suicide, “largely as a result of black-box algorithms, is the kind of evil that I have fought throughout my career,” he said.

The senator has fought for accountability from these companies for decades, combatting child predation on Myspace and Facebook as attorney general of Connecticut in the early aughts and, in Congress, championing antitrust reforms targeting Big Tech that have come to the fore in recent years.

He has also been a staunch pro-equality ally for the

LGBTQ community, earning a perfect 100 on the Congressional Scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group.

“I care deeply about that community as is evidenced by a lifetime of work in this area, as attorney general and now as the U.S. senator,” he said.

“The Kids Online Safety Act is designed to give children and their parents tools to protect themselves,” Blumenthal said, “and also to impose accountability on those companies that are profiteering; achieve more transparency about those algorithms; and give parents reporting mechanisms and other means, in effect, to take back control and [also for] children to take back control.”

The proposed bill would require covered platforms to “take reasonable measures” to “prevent and mitigate” harms to youth such as “anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and suicidal behaviors,” along with “patterns of use that indicate or encourage addiction-like behaviors” and “physical violence, online bullying, and harassment of the minor.”

LGBTQ youth are affected by these challenges and harms, too, and in many cases, disproportionately.

“Take bullying, for example,” Blumenthal told the Blade. No longer relegated to the school yard, this behavior follows victims home, he said, adding, “the addictive quality of social media is so powerful that it can be all consuming.”

During an interview Thursday on the Rated LGBT Radio program, attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett noted how LGBTQ youth will turn to social media platforms searching for affirmation about their sexual orientation or gender identity only to find “this really harmful experience that is causing, in many cases, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts.”

Marquez-Garrett, a litigator who left her law practice in 2020 to join the Social Media Law Center, explained the Kids Online Safety Act includes a carve-out, “added in the last couple months, which says that a covered platform has no duty to prevent or preclude any minor under 17 from deliberately and independently searching for or specifically requesting content.”

Still, concerns persisted after Blackburn noted, in March, efforts toward “protecting minor children from the transgender [sic] in this culture and that influence” before talking about the Kids Online Safety Act.

Her legislative director later clarified that, “KOSA will not — nor was it designed to — target or censor any individual or community.”

Addressing these matters, Blumenthal told the Blade, “whatever anyone including Senator Blackburn may say about their personal beliefs, I know what the bill does and

that’s what’s important here.”

“My goal,” he said, is to remedy the problems caused by social media and online platforms, problems that in too many cases are fatal for young people, while avoiding “any of the unintended consequences” because “it’s not enough to have good motives.”

Blumenthal said that while “my colleagues on the Republican side and I may differ in certain beliefs about a wide variety of issues” and “Senator Blackburn and I vote together a small minority of times, where we’re united, we try to work together.”

“And we’re united on preventing the harms that are so egregiously crippling and killing,” he added.

So, Blumenthal said, “looking at it substantively, putting aside who’s for it and who’s against it, I think on the merits, it holds up. The merits and the substance and the actual words of the proposed statute really refute those arguments that the tech companies have sought to make.”

Asked whether he believes the dominant tech platforms and social media companies might be behind efforts to sow doubt and distrust with respect to the Kids Online Safety Act among LGBTQ and other communities, the senator noted, “they have no compunction about distorting or misrepresenting the facts and trying to twist and deceive about specific provisions of legislation.”

“They resort to any and every means,” he said, “And they will try to exploit communities that may be susceptible to their misrepresentation.”

Additionally, Blumenthal said, the “tech and social media companies have – I don’t know how to put it politely – but they’ve essentially tried to ignore the important changes that we have made” including “the narrowing of the duty of care provisions” and “the broadening of support services.”

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Friday at a meeting of campaign volunteers that she will seek reelection to her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.

The 83-year-old San Francisco Democrat’s congressional career spans three decades, including most notably as speaker of the House.

Pelosi made history as the first female House speaker and has served in Congress since 1987.

The former speaker also posted to X/Twitter: “Now more than ever our city needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery. Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for all. That is why I am

running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote.”

Her announcement put on hold the plans of gay state Sen. Scott Wiener, (D-San Francisco) who had made preliminary plans to run for Pelosi’s seat had the congress member decided to retire.

BRODY LEVESQUE

Pelosi announces re-election bid

Sen. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

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Seven HIV/AIDS activists

arrested

inside McCarthy’s office

Protesters demand House Republicans approve PEPFAR funding

By MICHAEL K. LAVERS | mlavers@washblade.com

U.S. Capitol Police on Monday arrested seven HIV/AIDS activists who refused to leave House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Housing Works CEO Charles King, Housing Works President Matthew Bernardo and Health GAP Executive Director Asia Russell are among the seven people who entered McCarthy’s office shortly after 11 a.m., sat down in the lobby and demanded the California Republican to “pass PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) now.”

Capitol Police officers removed the activists from McCarthy’s office less than 15 minutes after their protest began. They handcuffed them in the hallway and brought them to Capitol Police headquarters.

Officers also arrested Housing Works Community Health Center Medical Director Archie Jao, Housing Works Case Manager Rosalind Casillas, Housing Works client Darnell Smith and Housing Works Human Resources Vice President Jewel Allred. A Capitol Police officer after the protest told reporters the activists would be charged with incommoding or obstructing.

California Congresswoman Maxine Waters is among those who have also criticized McCarthy and House Republicans over their proposed cuts to HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

Waters, a Democrat who represents California’s 43rd Congressional District, in a Sept. 6 speech at the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS in D.C. noted the House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2024 Labor, Health, Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill would cut $767 million from domestic HIV/AIDS programs.

Waters said the measure would cut funds to fight HIV/AIDS among underrepresented groups by 53 percent and “completely eliminates” funding for “Minority AIDS Initiative activities within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.” She also noted the appropriations measure “eliminates funding” for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and community health centers.

Waters further criticized House Republicans for “refusing to authorize” PEPFAR, noting ending the program “would endanger the lives of millions of people around the world who are living with HIV and endanger the lives of millions more who are at risk.”

“Speaker McCarthy is a strategic target because he’s the leader of the Republican Party in the House,” Aly Bancroft, associate director of U.S. policy and advocacy for Health GAP, told reporters after the activists were arrested. “When it comes to both the domestic cuts and the failure thus far to reauthorize PEPFAR in its current form, we’re seeing the issues come from the Republican caucus, so we really need leadership when it comes to both the domestic and the global front because it’s still a really big, significant issue and he needs to get its caucus in order.”

The Blade has reached out to McCarthy’s office for comment on the protest.

HIV/AIDS activists protest inside U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Sept. 11. (Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Despite some progress, trans workers still struggle to find acceptance McKinsey study finds more than half of trans employees not able to be out

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

At one of her first jobs after coming out as transgender, Beatrice Shumway remembers one thing: Her bosses rarely looked her in the eyes.

In her job interview, she’d disclosed that she identifies as trans and uses she/ they pronouns. However, being up front about her identity didn’t dissuade her bosses from dismissing the conversation whenever she brought it up. Shumway was dead named and misgendered throughout her time at that job. And although she had her pronouns emblazoned on pins and her hat, this stressful experience persisted.

“I was told not to make a big deal out of it,” said Shumway, 27. “I was told that it was weirding customers out.”

A 2021 McKinsey study found that more than half of transgender employees are not comfortable being out at work.

“People who identify as transgender feel far less supported in the workplace than their cisgender colleagues do,” said the study. “They report that it’s more difficult to understand workplace culture and benefits, and harder to get promoted. They also feel less supported by their man-

agers.”

This lack of support resulted in Shumway “always” being on the job hunt. She’d rank job opportunities based on their online presence and whether they had positive messaging during Pride month. Because of financial constraints, however, she’d often find herself working for companies with bigoted bosses.

It wasn’t until she scored a job at a Lens Crafters that she found respect and her rights protected. There, whenever customers were nasty to her, her boss protected her.

“When [things] would happen, my boss would say, ‘Go into the back right now, I’m not having you deal with this guy,’” she recalled.

Andrew McCaskill, a career expert at LinkedIn, describes the jobs that trans workers take until they find a more inclusive place as “vehicles not destinations.”

“Everyone doesn’t have the luxury of passing up a job opportunity because of an unsafe environment,” he said.

However, job seekers can find better options when using LinkedIn’s “values matching tool” that shows information about a company’s family formation benefits, queer-inclusive parental leave, gender transition guidelines, queer re-

source groups and where company executives have taken stances on certain topics.

On the part of employers, McCaskill recommended that they provide empathy-based training sessions that make inclusion a personal incentive for both workers and employers. He added that sessions should also focus on the impact and consequences of bigotry in the workplace.

“It’s not about recruiting diverse talent,” he said. “It’s about exiting bad actors.”

What about legislation?

Despite the Supreme Court of the United States in 2020 affirming that the Civil Rights Act protects the LGBTQ community, and President Biden signing an executive order on his first day in office that protects LGBTQ federal workers from discrimination, efforts still persist to curtail LGBTQ workers’ rights.

In June, the Washington Blade reported that a federal judge had struck down a law signed by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that would have banned transgender residents from using Medicaid for gender affirming care.

“It’s very hard to legislate acceptance,” said McCaskill.

For many, taking legal action in the face of discrimination isn’t an option either. Shumway said that she was discouraged by her negative interactions with human resource departments.

“I just don’t see a chance of winning,” she said.

However, she has a message for all employers.

“The trans agenda is not real. We don’t want any special treatment,” she said. “I’m not a trans woman. I’m a fucking human.”

BEATRICE SHUMWAY says she has experienced discrimination in the workplace. (Photo courtesy Shumway)

Lesbian mother from El Salvador has been in ICE custody since 2017

Jessica Patricia Barahona-Martinez has won asylum twice

By MICHAEL K. LAVERS | mlavers@washblade.com

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana on Wednesday asked a federal court to order the release of a lesbian mother from El Salvador who has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since June 2017

The writ for habeas corpus petition the ACLU filed in U.S. District for the Western District of Louisiana in Lafayette, La., on Jessica Patricia Barahona-Martinez’s behalf notes she and her three children entered the U.S. on May 31, 2016, “fleeing persecution she faced in El Salvador as a lesbian, and because the government had falsely identified her as a gang member.”

ICE released her “under conditions of supervision” and she “complied with these conditions for more than a year.”

the Board of Immigration Appeals (‘BIA’ or ‘board’) did not address the merits of her asylum claim,” reads Barahona-Martinez’s petition. “Instead, in a two-to-one decision, over a strong dissent, it held that petitioner was ineligible for asylum under the ‘serious nonpolitical crime’ bar. The majority relied on the then-pending Interpol Red Notice and the Salvadoran warrant to find there were ‘serious reasons’ for believing she had committed such a crime. The dissenting Board member pointed out that petitioner had not only been acquitted of the alleged offense once, but had also submitted credible evidence to back up her claim of innocence.”

Her petition notes she appealed the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., “which granted her a stay of removal pending appeal, reflecting it assessment of the likelihood of her success on the merits of her appeal.” Her petition further indicates the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files, an independent body that oversees whether Interpol properly processes personal data, in April “permanently deleted the Interpol Red Notice that had been lodged against Ms. Barahona-Martinez” after her new lawyer made the request.

“Her pro bono counsel has since filed a motion to reopen proceedings before the BIA on this ground, as it is relevant to the board’s analysis of whether the serious nonpolitical crime bar applies to petitioner’s case and renders her ineligible for asylum,” reads the petition. “The government has agreed to hold her appeal in abeyance in light of the pending motion to reopen, yet ICE continues to detain Ms. Barahona-Martinez as her removal proceedings continue.”

Ngo said Barahona-Martinez works up to five hours a day in the facility’s kitchen. She earns around $3 a day.

Discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity remains commonplace in El Salvador.

A court in San Salvador, the country’s capital, in 2020 sentenced three police officers to 20 years in prison for the murder of Camila Díaz Córdova, a transgender woman.

Díaz asked for asylum in the U.S. because of violence against LGBTQ and intersex Salvadorans. The U.S. deported her in 2017, and her friend reported her missing at the end of January 2019. Díaz died at a San Salvador hospital on Feb. 3, 2019.

Barahona-Martinez is from San Salvador.

President Nayib Bukele in March 2022 declared a state of emergency that allowed his government to crackdown on rampant gang violence.

The Associated Press in July reported Salvadoran authorities have detained upwards of 70,000 people. Human Rights Watch and other groups say arbitrary arrests, torture of detainees and other human rights abuses have taken place since the crackdown began.

“The situation in El Salvador is much worse,” Ngo told the Blade. “It was bad in 2016 when she [Barahona-Martinez] fled, but with the state of emergency that’s in place right now, there’s been a lot of reporting about how much worse conditions are in the prisons against people who are accused of being with the gangs. There’s a lot of arbitrary detentions and killings and abuses.”

ACLU Staff Attorney My Khanh Ngo on Thursday told the Washington Blade during a telephone interview that Barahona-Martinez, 40, was living with her sister and other family members in Woodbridge, Va., when ICE arrested and detained her on June 26, 2017.

“The sole reason for her arrest and detention was an Interpol Red Notice that was based on a Salvadoran warrant related to a charge of aggravated extortion for up to $30 — a charge for which she had initially been acquitted,” reads her petition.

She was at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail in Williamsburg, Va., before ICE transferred her to the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Va., in October 2018. Barahona-Martinez arrived at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, a privately-run detention center the GEO Group, a Florida-based company, operates in Basile, La., in October 2020.

Barahona-Martinez’s petition notes an immigration judge has granted her asylum twice, most recently in November 2019, “on the grounds that she faces persecution on account of her sexual orientation.” The government appealed and the Board of Immigration Appeals, which the Justice Department oversees, ruled in their favor.

“In sustaining the government’s appeal of that grant,

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) in June 2020 told the Blade that detainees at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center did not have access to toilet paper or soap for nine days. The Illinois Democrat also said staff were not required to wear masks and they did not implement social distancing policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Ngo said Barahona-Martinez is at increased risk for COVID-19 because she has asthma.

Ngo said a doctor gave Barahona-Martinez Tylenol when she showed COVID-19 symptoms, “and unsurprisingly she got extremely sick.” Ngo told the Blade that Barahona-Martinez a few weeks ago went to the emergency room because of “excruciating stomach pain.”

“It’s clear that she’s been deteriorating in detention, both physically and mentally,” said Ngo.

Ngo told the Blade that Barahona-Martinez’s asthma has become worse since she arrived in Louisiana, and suffers panic attacks nearly every day. Ngo said the only way that Barahona-Martinez can “get back into a mental state that will keep her going” is by talking with her family.

“The food is rotten. She is afraid because she is gay in detention. She’s been harassed and threatened by both officers and other detainees because of her sexual orientation,” said Ngo. “She doesn’t feel safe there at all. She tries to keep to herself.”

Ngo said Salvadoran authorities tortured Barahona-Martinez after they arrested her. Ngo said her former criminal defense attorney told her that Barahona-Martinez would be “in danger if she were returned” to El Salvador.

“She said, as much as possible, please keep her in the United States,” said Ngo. “She was known as a lesbian back then. It’s clear coming back they would know that she had applied for asylum in the United States and there’s the potential retaliation for that. She’s really risking her life if she’s sent back there.”

Barahona-Martinez’s petition names Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and South Louisiana ICE Processing Center Warden Eleazar Garcia are among those named as defendants.

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not responded to the Blade’s request for comment. Barahona-Martinez, for her part, says she simply wants to be reunited with her children.

“I always think back on that day in 2017 when I was arrested by ICE and taken away from my children. They were so young at that time. I never thought that I would still be in detention six years later. I have missed so many of their birthdays, graduations, and other big life events,” she said in a statement to the ACLU. “Being separated from my children for this long has been so difficult, but I am fighting for a future here with them. All I want is the chance to show a judge why we should be reunited.”

San Salvador, El Salvador, from the slope of El Boqueron, a volcano that overlooks the Salvadoran capital, on July 24, 2021. A lesbian woman from El Salvador who has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since June 2017 has asked a federal court in Louisiana to order her release.

(Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

GUY ANTHONY

is president and CEO of Black, Gifted & Whole.

Did you know that you can recycle paint in the District?

District residents can recycle paint at one of the following events:

RFK Stadium Lot 3 - 2400 E Capitol St NE

Saturday, September 16, 2023 (7am-2pm)

Thursday, September 21, 2023 (10am-2pm)

Thursday, October 12, 2023 (10am-2pm)

Saturday, October 21, 2023 (7am-2pm)

Paint drop-off locations and free pick-up for over 5 gallons are also available year-round.

For more information visit: paintcare.org/dc

In its push to lower the cost of medicine, Congress has focused on giving Medicare the authority to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers. Officials just announced the first 10 medicines up for negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Unfortunately, all of the attention given to that policy lets some of the worst offenders behind high drug prices off the hook: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs — companies that function as powerful drug-industry middlemen.

Acting on behalf of insurers, PBMs use their buying clout to obtain discounts and rebates from drug makers. In theory, these savings should be passed on to patients at the pharmacy counter. But in fact, while PBMs extract billions of dollars in profit for themselves each year, patients see little to no benefit.

It’s time to change this system. Thankfully, lawmakers now have PBMs in their sights in a proposed bipartisan reform bill.

The fundamental problem is that PBMs wield enormous influence over drug prices, with virtually no transparency or accountability. They’re able to wield such power because they control insurance company formularies — those lists that determine which drugs your insurer will cover, and on what terms.

PBMs have drug manufacturers over a barrel because (in a helpless position), in order to make sufficient sales, the manufacturers need their products on formularies on favorable terms. But even though PBMs are charged with obtaining discounts, their interests are not aligned with those of patients. In fact, just the opposite is true.

The PBM revenue model is linked to the list prices of drugs. The higher the list price, the bigger the discount they can obtain. That means that PBMs make more money off more expensive medicines, giving them a perverse incentive to offer better formulary placement to pricier treatments. But that, in turn, pressures drug makers to increase list prices, on the expectation of offering larger discounts.

Meanwhile, the coinsurance obligations that patients pay continue to be calculated based on list prices — not the discounted prices insurers actually pay. By exploiting this difference, PBMs manage to charge two-thirds of patients for the full list price of a drug, even though they’ve negotiated deep discounts from the manufacturer.

Mergers and acquisitions among PBMs and insurers have given them even more power. Currently, just three PBMs make up 80% of the prescription drug market, and the top six control nearly the entirety, 96%. At the same time, the three biggest PBMs either own or are owned by the three biggest insurance companies. They also use their sway to steer patients to fill prescriptions at the pharmacies they likewise own.

Consider how this whole setup affects patients with HIV. While there are more than 30 FDA-approved medicines to treat the virus, a PBM can steer patients toward the most expensive options via their insurance coverage. Then, a patient can be required to pay a percentage of the list price out of pocket, rather than a percentage of the lower price the insurer actually paid.

There’s still more in the PBM-insurer bag of tricks. Drug makers often issue discount coupons to help patients with coinsurance requirements. But PBMs and insurers essentially steal the value of those coupons right back, by refusing to count them toward deductibles and annual caps on out-of-pocket spending.

Insurers and their PBMs are also behind the “utilization management” rules that patients increasingly face when seeking care. So-called “prior authorization” policies, for instance, require doctors to ask insurers’ permission before ordering certain drugs or tests. Such policies have been an obstacle to patients obtaining PrEP drugs, the pre-exposure prophylaxis that prevents

As so many activists and lawmakers have observed, we need to bring down out-of-pocket medication costs. One-third of Americans report not filling a prescription because of price, and we know that when prescription costs increase, patients are less likely to adhere to their medication regimen. Their health suffers as a result, often requiring additional interventions and hospital stays.

But the new IRA plan for drug-price negotiations can’t solve all these problems. Lawmakers also need to rein in PBMs. Specifically, any new legislation should decouple PBM compensation from the list prices of drugs, so that the companies aren’t motivated to steer patients toward the most expensive treatments.

For the sake of patients, myself included, there’s no time to lose.

There’s a good chance you’re overpaying for medication New policy lets worst offenders behind high drug prices off the hook

Gay Prince Eddy, Kind, Caring, Un�it to Murder 20 Million

PETER ROSENSTEIN

(Part 2 in a series) is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

Virginia represents a key test for Democrats

Early voting begins Sept. 22

Time for any Virginian who cares about decency, equality, fairness, quality healthcare, climate change, basic human rights, women’s rights, and the rights of the LGBTQ community to get off their butt and vote. If you care about any of these things, you have only one option in Virginia: Vote for Democrats.

It may be sad to accept, but the Republican Party in Virginia, from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, down the ballot to school board candidates, are part of the Trump cult. Some use prettier words, but they are not better. Youngkin is a Trump in sheep’s clothing. He wants to take away rights from women to control their own bodies and rewrite abortion laws in Virginia so the state has more control. He is in favor of banning books from school libraries, and set up a state hotline for parents to report on teachers. He is for taking away the rights of transgender students and curbing the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Republican school board candidate Harry Jackson sent out a postcard to voters in Fairfax County, where he is pictured on the front. On the flip side are illustrations of sex acts he claims are depicted in some of the books he wants FCPS to remove from schools. He sends these out so young children can see them on an open postcard. He doesn’t acknowledge they couldn’t see them in the schools in books, which would give educational explanations for what they are, for an older child, who could understand. This is your Republican Party in Virginia today.

I have confidence in the people of Virginia. I think the majority are decent people, but it is those decent people who must vote. Virginia voters can start early voting, in-person, on Friday, Sept. 22.

To vote in Virginia you must be 18 years of age and can register online, in person, or by mail. You have until Oct. 16 to register to vote in the Nov. 7, 2023 elections. You can continue to register after that but will have a provisional ballot. All Virginia voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail. There are no special requirements. Voters may request an absentee ballot online or complete a paper absentee ballot request form and return it to their local voter registration office by mail, fax, or email. The deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you is Oct. 27.  Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the local registrar’s office, or an official drop off location, by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If mailed, completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within three days of the election in order to be counted.

Don’t be fooled by slick commercials from Republican candidates like Juan Pablo Segura, running for State Senate. He doesn’t mention he is a Republican in his commercials, and says pretty things. But look behind the pretty words, and you find out he is a MAGA Republican and would vote with, and for, Trump.

Youngkin is putting millions from his PAC, funded by Republican billionaires, into legislative races. Like Youngkin himself, the PAC money comes from Republicans who support a party that will nominate a racist, sexist, misogynist, homophobe as their candidate for president. Like Youngkin, now, they refuse to call out a candidate who tried to stage a coup. They, like him, will accept as a candidate a disgusting man who sets a culture that accepts white supremacists and neo-Nazis. That is the current Republican Party in the nation, and how it is represented in Virginia.

That is clearly not the Virginia my friends who live there claim they want. If every voter in Virginia with any sense of decency — any woman, African American, member of the LGBTQ community, believer in working on climate change — doesn’t come out and vote Democratic, they will have only themselves to blame for the consequences they and their families will suffer. And they will suffer. Any young person who doesn’t vote for Democrats because of a misguided belief it doesn’t matter, only needs to read some history. They will suffer long after the older generation is gone.

Virginians, this is your time to stand up, and lead the nation. You go first! You can show the country the way. Grab onto this opportunity while you have it, and VOTE! Make sure every one of your friends and family who are eligible, goes out and does the same. They say Virginia is for lovers. I say Virginia is for decency and leadership. Now Virginians, go and vote. It’s simple, follow the directions above and prove me right.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a point in time that forever altered the world in a series of events, terrorist attacks, that would linger on politically, spiritually, culturally, and leave an indelible mark on those alive at the time who experienced that day.

A human being born that day celebrates their twenty-second birthday this week, having grown up in a world where security measures — some draconian — dominate and where a certain sense of collective innocence has been lost.

Perhaps the ultimate irony is that lessons of peaceful diplomacy that could have possibly been gained from that day were instead lost to the sense of paranoia and nationalistic ideology and messaging as governments reacted, and in the case of the United States, commencement of a war that became the longest in American history.

The number of American service members who died fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had passed 7,000 at the end of 2021. The ‘War on Terror’ as it was known spanned 20 years, saw the expenditure of $6 trillion, 900,000 lives lost around the globe and at least 38 million people who have been displaced.

9:37:46 AM, The Pentagon in Arlington, Va., just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.: American Airlines Flight 77, which had taken off from Dulles International Airport, struck the southwest side of the building killing 184 people.

This reporter was in the Pentagon that fateful morning, having agreed to substitute for a sick colleague. I witnessed the utter disbelief on the faces of every one of my colleagues as we were clustered around a television set watching the events unfolding in New York City at the World Trade Center and then suddenly it was our turn as the entire building shook as Flight 77 crashed into the southwestern face of the Pentagon.

The next 16 hours are still a vignette of sounds, smells, and sights from that day that have never left me. The events of that day would later define my career and set me on a path of being far more cynical than I was previously as I viewed a changed world.

Here, two decades later, I reflect still on what could have been and yet still remain optimistic even in the face of greater turmoil, widespread authoritarianism, a global climate crisis exacerbated by war, and then too of war itself as evidenced by the illegal incursion into the sovereignty of Ukraine.

The rise of nationalism, especially of the white supremacist variety tied to religious fundamentalism, is the primary danger and the direct linear descendent of the terrorism that was seen on that Tuesday morning 22 years ago. It is not just an American issue, it is a global issue, one that needs to be exposed and then dealt with.

The religious zealotry that fed the extremist ideology that led to the acts of terrorism that bright September morning can be seen again manifesting in the extremist actions of the far right beyond politics. Book bans, the war on trans and queer people, stifling of free speech and ideas, promotion of anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ and racist ideas all contribute to a society that is rapidly becoming very unsafe and a petri dish for the next 9/11.

This is the lingering impact of that long ago day and must be mitigated, before history repeats itself.

The Pentagon in Arlington just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. on the morning of September 11, 2001, approximately 10 minutes after terrorists flew American Airlines flight 77, which had taken off from Dulles International Airport, into the southwest side of the building killing 184 people.

(Screenshot/YouTube Archival news footage)

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Hip-Hop’s complicated history with queer representation

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

I didn’t really start listening to rap until my college years. Like many queer Black children who grow up in the closet, shielded by puritanical Christianity from the beauty of a diverse world, I longed to be myself. But the affirming references I could pull from — in moments of solitude away from the wrath and disdain of family and friends — were in theater and pop music.

The soundtrack to my teenage years was an endless playlist of pop divas like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, whose lyrics encouraged me to sashay my hips anytime I strutted through a long stretch of corridor.

I was also obsessed with the consuming presence of powerful singers like Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, and the hypnosis that was Chaka Khan. My childhood, an extrapolation of Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays spent in church groups, choir practices, and worship services, necessitated that I be a fan of throaty, from-the-stomach singing. But something about the way these artists presented themselves warmed my queer little heart. LaBelle wore avant garde geometric hairdos paired with heavily shoulder-padded blazers. Houston loved an elegant slender gown. And Khan? It was the voluminous red mane that gently caressed her lower back for me.

Listening to rap music in college was a political experience. My sociology classes politicized me and so it was only natural that I listened to rap music that expressed trauma, joy, and hope in the Black experience. However, I felt disconnected from the music because of a dearth of queer representation in the genre.

Nevertheless, groups like Outkast felt nostalgic. While delivering hedonistic lyrics at lightning speed, André 3000 one half of the rap duo — mesmerized with his sleek, shoulder-length silk pressed hair and colorful, flowing shirts and trousers — a style that could be translated as “gender-bending.” Despite the patriarchal presentation rampant in rap and Hip-Hop, André 30000 represented to me, a kind of rebellious self-expression that I so badly wanted to emulate but couldn’t because of the psychological confines of my conservative upbringing.

My discovery of Outkast was also sobering because it was a stark reminder of how queerness is also often used as an aesthetic in Hip-Hop while actual queer people are shunned, rebuked, and mocked. Queer people in Hip-Hop are like backstage wingmen, crucial to the development of the show but never important enough to make a curtain call.

As Hip-Hop celebrates 50 years since its inception in New York City, I am filled with joy because it’s been half a century of Black people owning their narratives and driving the culture. But it’s fair to ask: At whose expense?

A viral 2020 video shows rapper Boosie BadAzz, famed for hits like “Set It Off” and “Wipe Me Down,” rebuking NBA star Dwayne Wade and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union-Wade for publicly supporting their then-12-year-old daughter after she came out as transgender.

“Don’t cut his dick off, bro,” said BadAzz with furrowed eyebrows and a gaze that kept turning away from the camera, revealing his tarnished diamond studs. “Don’t dress him as a woman dawg, he’s 12 years. He’s not up there yet.”

The responses from both Wade and Union-Wade were a mixture of swift, sarcastically light-hearted, and hopeful.

“Sorry Boosie,” Union-Wade said to an audience during a live podcast appearance at Live Talks Los Angeles. “He’s so

preoccupied, it’s almost like, ‘thou doth protest too much, Little Boos.’ You’ve got a lot of dick on your mind.”

Wade also appeared on an episode of podcast, “I AM ATHLETE,” and looked directly into the camera.

“Boosie, all the people who got something to say, J-Boogie who just came out with [something] recently, all the people who got something to say about my kids,” he said. “I thank you because you’re allowing the conversation to keep going forward because you know what? You might not have the answers today, I might not have the answers, but we’re growing from all these conversations.”

This exchange between the Wades and BadAzz highlights the complicated relationship between Black LGBTQ individuals and allies and the greater Hip-Hop and rap genres and communities. While Black queer aesthetics have long informed self-expression in Hip-Hop, rappers have disparaged queerness through song lyrics and in interviews, or online rants like BadAzz, outside the recording studio.

And despite LGBTQ rappers like Queen Latifah, Da Brat, Lil Nas X, and Saucy Santana achieving mainstream success, much work lies ahead to heal the trauma that persists from Hip-Hop’s history of patriarchy and homophobia.

“‘Progression’ will always be relative and subjective based on one’s positionality,” said Dr. Melvin Williams said in an email. Williams is an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University. “Hip-hop has traditionally been in conversation with queer and non-normative sexualities and included LGBTQ+ people in the shaping of its cultural signifiers behind the scenes as choreographers, songwriters, make-up artists, set designers, and other roles stereotypically attributed to queer culture.”

“Although Hip-Hop incorporates queerness in their ethos, ideas, and trends, it does not privilege the prospect of an out LGBTQ+ rapper. Such reservations position LGBTQ+ people as mere labor in Hip-Hop’s behind-the-scenes cultivation, but not as rap performers in its mainstream distribution,” he added.

This is especially true for Queen Latifah and DaBrat who existed in the genre for decades but didn’t publicly come out until 2021. Still, both faced backlash from the Black community for daring to challenge gender roles and expectations.

Lil Nas X also faced backlash for his music video “Montero” with satanic references, including one in which he slides down a pole and gives a character representing the devil a lap dance. Conservatives such as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem accused him of trying to scandalize children.

“You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am,” Nas X said in a note that accompanied “Montero.” The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be.”

Regardless, “Montero” debuted atop the Billboard 100.

In an article published in “Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society,” scholar C. Riley Snorton posited that celebrating queer visibility in mainstream media could be a problem as this kind of praise relies on artists presenting in acceptable forms of gender and sexuality expression and encourages representation that is “read alongside…perceptions of Hip-Hop as a site of Black misogyny and homophobia.”

In the case of Frank Ocean, who came out in 2012 prior to the release of his album “Channel Orange,” his reception was warmer than most queer HipHop artists because his style of music is singing, as opposed to rapping. Because of this, his music was viewed more as R’n’B or pop.

“Frank Ocean ain’t no rapper. He’s a singer. It’s acceptable in the singing world, but in the rap world I don’t know if it will ever be acceptable because rap is so masculine,” rapper Snoop Dogg told the Guardian in 2013. “It’s like a football team. You can’t be in a locker room full of motherfucking tough-ass dudes, then all of a sudden say, ‘Hey, man, I like you.’ You know, that’s going to be tough.”

So what’s the solution for queer people in Hip-Hop? Digital media.

Williams, the Pace University professor, says that being divorced from record labels allows queer artists to be independent and distribute their music globally on their own terms.

“We witnessed this fact with artists such as Azealia Banks, Cakes Da Killa, Fly Young Red, Kevin Abstract, iLoveMakonnen, Lil Nas X, Mykki Blanco, and Saucy Santana, as well as legacy LGBTQ Hip-Hop acts like Big Freeda, DeepDickCollective, and Le1f,” he said. “The music industry has experienced an increasingly mobilized market due to the rise of digital media, social networking platforms, and streaming services.”

“More importantly, Black queer Hip-Hop artists are historicizing LGBTQ+ contributions and perspectives in documentaries, films, news specials, public forums, and podcasts. Ultimately, queer people engaging in Hip-Hop is a revolutionary act, and it remains vital for LGBTQ+ Hip-Hoppers to highlight their cultural contributions and share their histories,” he added.

(Hip-Hop pioneers Public Enemy and Ice-T will headline The National Celebration of Hip-Hop, free concerts at the West Potomac Park on the National Mall in D.C. on Oct. 6 and 7.)

At 50, experts say the genre still doesn’t fully welcome LGBTQ inclusion

Rapper LIL NAS X faced backlash for his music video ‘Montero,’ but it debuted atop the Billboard 100.

QUEEN LATIFAH dodged questions about her sexuality for years before acknowledging her partner and their son in 2021.

Local theater scene prepares for a season to remember

‘Evita,’ a Garland tribute, ‘Night of

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

Mosaic Theater Company has already stepped into the fall season with Psalmayene 24’s “Monumental Travesties” (through Oct. 1), a new D.C.- set comedy that explores race, memory, and disturbing statuary. Mosaic’s out artistic director Reginald L. Douglas directs. Mosaictheatre.org

At Round House Theatre in Bethesda, it’s James Graham’s “Ink” (through Sept. 24). A co-production with Olney Theatre, the smashing joint effort rivetingly rehashes the beginning of the relationship between burgeoning media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (Andrew Rein) and an increasingly ruthless British editor Larry Lamb (Cody Nickell). Olney’s out artistic director Jason Loewith directs. Roundhousetheatre.org

the

Living Dead’ among highlights

Heights company marks the opening of its 48th season with “Baño de luna/Bathing in Moonlight” (through Oct. 1), written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning out playwright Nilo Cruz.

The provocative drama (in Spanish with English surtitles) centers on the illicit romance between a handsome Catholic priest (Raúl Méndez) and talented pianist parishioner (Hannia Guillén). The cast also features Hiram Delgado, Luz Nicolás, and out actors Victor Salinas and Carlos Castillo. Galatheatre.org

Studio Theatre marks its foray into foreign language with “Espejos: Clean” (through Oct. 22), a bilingual play with both Spanish and English supertitles by Christine Quintano. The new work takes a look at isolation and the power of being seen when two women from different worlds cross paths in touristy Cancún, Mexico. Studiotheatre.org

Through Oct. 8, Woolly Mammoth is premiering Sasha Denisova’s “My Mama & The Full-Scale Invasion.” Starring multiple Helen Hayes Award-winning out actor Holly Twyford as Mama, the 90-minute long, three-person piece describes an old Ukrainian woman’s fantastical account of her experiences in the war with Russia. Woollymammoth.net

Ford’s Theatre presents the premiere production of playwright Pearl Cleage “Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard” (Sept. 22 - Oct. 15). The work reflects on Maynard Jackson’s game-changing 1973 election and legacy as Atlanta’s first Black mayor and strong gay ally. The 10-person ensemble cast includes queer actors Billie Krishawn and Tom Story. Seema Sueko directs. Fords.org

And a note to friends of Dorothy. For one night only at the Strathmore in Bethesda, it’s the Liza Minelli-produced “Get Happy! Michael Feinstein Celebrates the Judy Garland Centennial” (Sept. 21). The good-time show features famed out pianist Feinstein performing Garland’s hallmark songs along with big-screen film clips, never-before-seen photos, and rare audio recordings. Strathmore.org

The Edge of the Universe Theater is offering Harold Pinter’s “The Caretaker” (Sept. 29 - Oct. 22) at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda. The absorbing 1960 psychological study involving two brothers and a homeless man was Pinter’s first commercial success. Stephen Jarrett directs. Universalplayers2.org

hind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” (Oct. 13 - Nov. 12), Selina Fillinger’s feminist farce describes a staff of women who keep their dim president and beleaguered country afloat. Directed by Margot Bordelon, the singularly female seven-member cast includes Felicia Curry, Naomi Jacobson, and Natalya Lynette Rathnam. Arenastage.org

Through Nov. 11, Constellation Theatre Company presents Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel “Orlando,” a trans tale of an amorous young nobleman who one night goes to sleep as a man and awakens the following morning as a woman. Nick Martin directs. Constellationtheatre.org

Just in time for Halloween, Rorschach Theatre presents a reimagining of filmmaker George Romero’s 1968 zombie cult classic “Night of the Living Dead” (Oct. 27-Nov. 19) with an “unforgettable theatrical experience with thrills and surprises for both horror fans and those new to the genre.” Lilli Hokama directs. Rorschachtheatre.com

Lauren Yee’s “King of the Yees” is making its D.C. premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington through Oct. 22. It’s not a musical (Signature’s specialty), but a play, more specifically “a vibrant, semi-autobiographical comedy about community, culture and the connection between fathers and daughters.” Out actor Grant Chang plays the playwright’s father Larry Yee.

And then it’s “Ragtime” (Oct. 24 - Jan. 7) directed by Signature’s powerhouse artistic director Matthew Gardiner. With a score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and an adaption of E.L. Doctorow’s novel by extraordinary gay playwright Terrance McNally (who succumbed to COVID complications early in the pandemic), the epic musical intertwines storylines from early 20th century New York including the scandal involving Evelyn Nesbit portrayed on celluloid in “The Girl on the Red Velvet Swing” with Joan Collins as the eponymous showgirl. Sigtheatre.org

Shakespeare Theatre Company rather uncharacteristically kicks off its season with a musical, Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Evita” (through Oct. 15). Produced in cooperation with Boston’s American Repertory Theater and staged by young director Sammi Cannold, the show promises a new take on the rise and fall of Eva Peron (played by Shireen Pimental), Argentina’s iconic first lady, both sainted and despised in equal measure. Shakespearetheatre.org

Following the recent death of GALA Hispanic Theatre’s beloved artistic director Hugo Medrano, the Columbia

On Capitol Hill, Taffety Punk Theatre Company presents Kelsey Mesa’s intriguing new play “La Salpêtrière” (Sept. 28 – Oct. 15), a painful yet heartening exploration of one woman’s experience as an inmate in the dreaded asylum known for its curious and publicly demonstrated methods of “treatment.”

The four-person cast includes Fabiolla da Silva, Yihong Chen, Danny Puente Cackley, and celebrated local actor Kimberly Gilbert. Danielle A. Drakes directs. Taffetypunk.com

At 1st Stage in Tysons Corner, it’s “The Chosen” (Sept. 28 – Oct. 15). Penned by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potak, it’s the story of two Jewish teenage boys navigating friendship, family, and religion in 1940s Brooklyn. Artistic director Alex Levy directs. 1ststage.org

Arena Stage opens its season with “POTUS: or, Be-

Broadway at the National continues with hits from the Great White Way including “Mrs. Doubtfire” (Oct. 10-15). Rob Mclure reprises his Tony Award-nominated performance as an out-of-work actor who poses as a Scottish nanny in a desperate attempt to stay in his kids’ lives followed by “The Wiz” (October 24-29), a gospel/ rock/funk infused take on “The Wizard of Oz” with a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls. Broadwayatthenational.com

Theatre J presents Jenny Rachel Weiner’s “The Chameleon” (Oct. 11- Nov. 5), directed by Ellie Heyman. Rampaging through questions of identity, representation, and the complications of assimilation, Weiner’s new comedy centers on an aspiring actor poised for her big break, or so she hopes. Theatrej.org

Along with promising works, Theatre Week (Sept. 21 – Oct. 8) is ushering in fall with a three-week-long celebration of the launch of the 2023-2024 theater season in the DMV. The festivities begin with Kickoff Fest, a free all-day event at Arena Stage on Saturday Sept. 23.

Throughout Theatre Week, more than 25 area productions will offer discounted tickets at $22, $40, and $60 through todaytix.com. More information is available at theatreweek.org.

Out actor GRANT CHANG plays Larry Yee in ‘King of the Yees’ at Signature Theatre.

Despite Hollywood strikes, a number of queer films, TV shows coming in fall ‘Rustin,’ ‘Nyad’ among season’s highlights

By JOHN PAUL KING

We’re not going to lie: the prospects for our fall entertainment (and beyond) are looking grimmer than usual, thanks to the strikes that have Hollywood’s writers and actors off the job for an indefinite chunk of the future. Sure, there are lots of titles that were in the can and ready to go before the talent walked off the set, but with no certain end date in sight and a union-mandated ban on participation in publicity efforts, much of the readyto-go content remains in release-date limbo, while prospects for new material being produced anytime soon are pretty much nil.

Even so, we’ve managed to put together a solid list of titles that are officially on the slate for this autumn, and we think it will give you more than enough to look forward to while we all wait for the entertainment industry to cobble together some kind of mutually acceptable agreement that will allow it to get back to work.

The list, by release date, is below.

Cassandro, Sept. 15 (Theaters/Sept. 22 Prime Video)

Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, long a queer fan favorite thanks to his roles in films like “Y tu mamá también” and “Bad Education,” stars as the real-life Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso who reinvents himself as the flamboyant title character and rises to international stardom as the “Liberace of Lucha Libre” – turning both the macho wrestling world and his own life upside down in the process. Acquired by Amazon even before its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Festival, this wild-andwooly biopic was directed by Roger Ross Williams, who became the first African-American director to win an Oscar for his 2009 short film “Music by Prudence,” and it has all the earmarks of a “must-see.” Also starring Roberta Colindrez, Perla de la Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, and Raúl Castillo, with special appearances from El Hijo del Santo and Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny, for those who didn’t know).

Sex Education, Season 4, Sept. 21 (Netflix)

The cast of this runaway UK hit has come a long way since the series debuted in 2019, with the imminent debut of breakout star Ncuti Gatwa as the new titular Time Lord of the venerable cult sci-fi series “Dr. Who” and his appearance, alongside co-stars Emma Mackey and Connor Swindells, in Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit “Barbie,” but that’s not enough to keep the whole student body from reuniting for a final season as they join fellow headliners Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson to wrap up the deliciously scandalous storylines that have made this good-natured dramedy about life and sexual discovery in a rural English secondary school a favorite for queer and straight audiences alike. Besides taking us along with its irresistible cast of misfits on a new set of adventures, it features “Schitt’s Creek” star and co-creator Dan Levy in special appearance as a new character – but even without that extra icing on the cake, we would have been ready to click “watch now” the second this one drops. If you’re already a fan, you don’t need our endorsement to bring you on board; if you’re not, we advise you to do a catch-up binge on seasons 1-3 in time to join the rest of us as we enjoy the final batch of episodes from this refreshing, queer-embracing, sex-positive slice of saucy absurdity.

American Horror Story: Delicate, Sept. 21 (FX/Hulu)

The 12th season of Ryan Murphy’s now-venerable and uncompromisingly queer horror anthology series has been, like the preceding installments, shrouded in mystery – though the inclusion of reality star Kim Kardashian in a starring capacity has garnered much publicity, and not a little controversy, due to skepticism about her acting chops. Despite these misgivings, it’s still probably one of the most anticipated entries on this list, the return of a queer fan favorite that – while it may have a reputation for uneven quality, haphazard storytelling, and fizzling out before it reaches the end – continues to draw the kind of audience numbers that has made it a tentpole autumn TV staple for a dozen years and counting. Sure, it’s a guilty pleasure, but we all have our share of those, and when they come in as slick and stylish a package as this elegantly garish and unapologetically campy pulp culture stalwart, who can resist? Also starring series veteran Emma Roberts, with fellow alums Zachary Quinto, Billie Lourd, Denis O’Hare, and Leslie Grossman also coming to the table, as well as Golden Globe winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and newcomer to the Murphy fold Matt Czuchry (“Gilmore Girls,” “The Good Wife”).

Dicks: The Musical, Sept 29 (Theaters)

Comedy legend Larry Charles (“Seinfeld,” “Borat”) directed this outrageously titled and absurdly satirical farce, adapted by screenwriters and co-stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp from a stage production they created as members of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. The pair star as two self-obsessed, conspicuously heterosexual businessmen and very close friends who discover they are also long-lost identical twins, sparking a “riotously funny and depraved” plot to reunite their eccentric divorced parents (Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally). Also starring Megan Thee Stallion and Bowen Yang (as God, no less), and teasing the kind of campy, transgressive vibe that marks all the true classics of underground queer cinema, the press for this one touts it as “a queer, hard-R musical comedy which may very well additionally be a future midnight-movie classic.” Frankly, that’s more than enough to earn it a place on our not-to-be-missed list.

Eismayer, Oct. 6 (Theaters/Oct. 10 Digital)

Fans of queer foreign movies can look forward to this Austrian entry, an award-winner at Venice and other prestigious film festivals, from director David Wagner. Gerhard Liebmann stars in the title role, a legendary real-life drill instructor in the Austrian Armed Forces; renowned for his brutal toughness and his uber-macho image, he leads a double life of anonymous sexual encounters with men behind his wife’s back, but when an openly gay new recruit (Luka Dimić) challenges both his authority and his rigid ideas about masculinity, he finds himself drawn into a relationship that will leave “his closeted existence shaken to the core.” A boot camp drama that challenges toxic traditional conceptions of what it means to “be a man” – especially one that is based on a true story – is always welcome, and this one comes with a substantial amount of praise to recommend it. Also starring Julia Koschitz and Anton Noori, it might not be “feel-good” entertainment, but the buzz says it’s worth seeking out for anyone with a taste for raw and uncompromising cinema.

Can KIM KARDASHIAN act? Find out as she stars in ‘American Horror Story.’

C up

GET HAPPY! MICHAEL FEINSTEIN CELEBRATES THE JUDY GARLAND CENTENNIAL

Thu, Sept 21

Multimedia musical celebration of a legendary entertainer

FATOUMATA DIAWARA

Fri, Sept 29

Modern African music

STRATHMORE & WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS PRESENT ANOUSHKA SHANKAR

Fri, Oct 6

All-star quintet performs Indian neoclassical masterworks

GIPSY KINGS FEATURING NICOLAS REYES

Fri, Oct 13

Fresh pop fusion meets old-world flamenco

HIROMI’S SONICWONDER

Thu, Oct 19

Electrified quartet led by jazz piano virtuoso

BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL

Sat, Oct 21

Tony-winning baritone

PIAF! THE SHOW

Sat, Oct 28

Tribute to the iconic French singer

RANKY TANKY WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST MS. LISA FISCHER

Fri, Nov 3

Music from the Gullah tradition

AIR PLAY WRITTEN AND CREATED BY SETH BLOOM AND CHRISTINA GELSONE

Sat, Nov 11—Two Shows! A circus-style adventure

Air Play by Florence Montmare, Michael Feinstein, Ms. Lisa Fischer by Alex Logaiski, Hiromi by Mitsuru Nishimura, Anoushka Shankar by Laura Lewis, Fatoumata Diawara by Shelby Duncan, Brian Stokes Mitchell, PIAF!, Gipsy Kings by Jenn Five

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

Fall entertainment continued...

The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime, Oct. 9 (ID Discovery)

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of his death, Investigation Discovery premieres a new documentary honoring Matthew Shepard’s life and legacy, featuring interviews from Matthew’s friends and allies, as well as local journalists and community members, and commentary from key celebrity voices deeply affected by Matthew’s tragic story, including Rosie O’Donnell, Andrew Rannells and Adam Lambert. Considered one of the worst anti-LGBTQ hate crimes in American history, Matthew’s shocking murder captured America’s attention and became a turning point in the fight for queer rights, jump-starting a long-overdue conversation about the discrimination, danger, and violence that many LGBTQ Americans face – especially in rural communities – every day, and if we’re being honest, there’s been no shortage of documentaries about it. Even so, this one, which benefits from the perspective granted by time and also casts attention on the progress society has made toward queer acceptance (as well as the work that still need to be done), promises to offer the kind of scope that gives it a relevance beyond simply lamenting the unjust cruelty perpetrated against a young gay man who – like all martyrs – became an unwilling touchstone in the eternal fight against bigotry, bullying, and brutality fueled by hate.

Candela, Oct. 10 (Digital)

Another international offering with a somewhat more exotic premise, this festival-acclaimed thriller co-produced by France and the Dominican Republic is set in the city of Santo Domingo, where the fates of three strangers – a privileged young high society woman, a lonely and alcoholic police lieutenant, and a charismatic cabaret drag performer – are entwined by the death of a young poet and drug dealer on the eve of an advancing hurricane. Directed by Andrés Farías Cintrón and touted as “a Caribbean pop movie,” it’s been noted by advance reviewers for its stunning imagery and visual style, its offbeat and captivating characters, and an “edge-of-your seat” suspenseful plot full of meticulously-crafted twists and turns. Starring Cesar Domínguez, Félix Germán, Sarah Jorge León, Ruth Emeterio, Frank Perozo, Yamile Scheker, and Katherine Montes, you won’t find this one at your local multiplex, but it should be well worth the handful of clicks it takes to queue it up on your VOD platform of choice.

Anatomy of a Fall, Oct. 13 (Theaters)

French filmmaker Justine Triet’s (“Sibyl”) latest film was entered as a competitor for the Queer Palm at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, but it ended up taking the festival’s top prize, the prestigious Palme d’Or. Publicized as “a Hitchcockian procedural,” it centers

on a German writer (Sandra Hüller) accused of murdering her French husband, who must prove her innocence at trial with only the testimony of her blind son – the sole witness – to back up her claims. Hüller’s performance has won raves, and the film was a hit when it went to general release this summer in its native France (only “Barbie” topped it at the box office); as for details about the nature of the movie’s queer relevance, you’ll have to find out the details firsthand, because advance press on this side of the Atlantic has remained scrupulously spoiler-free, though Triet has revealed that she drew inspiration from the case of Amanda Knox, who was notoriously accused of murdering her roommate during a trip to Italy. Our verdict is that it will be worth the effort.

Nyad, Oct. 20 (Theaters/Nov. 5 Netflix)

Billed as “a remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit,” this high-profile biopic stars four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening as marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who, three decades after exchanging the life of a world-class athlete for a prominent career as a sports journalist, becomes obsessed with becoming the first person to complete the 110-mile journey from Cuba to Florida – known as as the “Mount Everest” of swims – without a shark cage. The screenplay by Julia Cox is adapted from Nyad’s own memoir (“Find a Way”), two Oscar-winning documentarians (Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, responsible for the popular and acclaimed “Free Solo”) make their narrative film debut at the helm, and Bening is joined onscreen by two-time Oscar-winner Jodie Foster as her best friend and coach. What else could anyone ask for in a strong, inspirational piece of lesbian-themed filmmaking? Count us in.

Rustin, Nov. 3 (Theaters/Nov. 17 Netflix)

Probably the most high-profile piece of queer filmmaking of the upcoming season is this biopic about the gay Black architect of 1963’s world-changing March on Washington, Bayard Rustin. Starring Emmy-winner Colman Comingo in the title role and helmed by five-time Tony-winning director George C. Wolfe, this ambitious fictionalized portrait of an extraordinary, history-making queer hero shines a long overdue spotlight on a man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dreamed of a better world and inspired a movement by marching. Notably, it also comes from Higher Ground, a production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, and its August premiere at the Telluride Film Festival resulted in a 100% (so far) approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics who were there to see it. Besides the powerfully charismatic Domingo, the film features an all-star cast including Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, and special appearances from Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.

COLMAN DOMINGO stars in ‘Rustin.’

JODIE FOSTER and ANNETTE BENING star in ‘Nyad.’

Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m.

The Tony-, GRAMMY-, and Emmy Award-winning star from the original cast of Hamilton VIRGINIA OPERA

Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.

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GRAMMY Awardwinning jazz bassist

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Fall means Artscape, John Waters, The Wiz, and more in Baltimore

Major concerts, opening of M&T Bank Exchange among highlights

By ED GUNTS

Can Baltimore walk and chew gum at the same time?

The question came up this summer when leaders of several local arts organizations voiced concerns that the fall arts calendar is so full of events that they feared the city wouldn’t be able to handle them all.

The biggest change is that Baltimore’s popular threeday Artscape festival, one of the largest free arts gatherings in the country, is shifting from its usual mid-July date to mid-September for the first time. In the past, it has drawn upwards of 350,000 people over three days.

The dates selected for Artscape this year, Sept. 22-24, coincide with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Sept. 23 fall gala at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where new music director Jonathon Heyward will begin his tenure, and four comedy shows by Nate Bargatze at Lyric Baltimore – all within the relatively compact Mount Royal Cultural District.

How will the city control all the traffic, the doubters asked. Where will everyone park? And what about the Ravens-Colts football game at Camden Yards the same weekend?

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott promised that the city can put on more than one big event at a time.

“We are a major city,” he said last month. “Major cities are going to have multiple events at the same time…Walk and chew gum, as my grandmother would say.”

The concerns about Artscape weekend are a sign of how much Baltimore has rebounded from the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused festivals and other public gatherings to be cancelled for public health reasons. This month’s event will be the first time Artscape has been held since 2019.

But it’s not just one weekend that has so much going on. Artscape is one of many big festivals, shows, and exhibits that are coming to Baltimore this fall, including the launch of a new national touring production of “The Wiz,” Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks appearing at the M&T Bank Stadium; and another packed lineup at the recently refurbished CFG Bank Arena, including Queen + Adam Lambert; the Jonas Brothers; Kiss and Pentatonix. Just about every weekend this fall has multiple big events scheduled, even without factoring in how the Orioles do in the playoffs.

Here are some of the highlights:

Artscape 2023: Artscape celebrates the visual arts, dance, fashion, music, the culinary arts and other creative endeavors. This year’s musical headliners will be: DJ Pee. Wee (the persona of Anderson .Paak) on Friday night; composer, producer, arranger and guitarist Nile Rodgers & Chic on Saturday afternoon; Angelo Moore of Fishbone performing with his band Dr. Madd Vibe on Saturday night; and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Sunday afternoon.

The festival’s footprint has expanded from the Mount Royal cultural district to include part of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District farther north. A complete list of events is available at Artscape.org.

Fell’s Point Fun Festival: Two weeks after Artscape, from Oct. 6-8, the Fell’s Point Fun Festival will draw crowds to Baltimore’s waterfront (fellspointfest.com) This annual showcase for Baltimore’s art, crafts, food and music typically draws 50,000 visitors, while helping raise funds to support the programs and activities of the Preservation Society of Federal Hill and Fell’s Point, a non-profit that works to protect two of the city’s most historic neighborhoods.

Baltimore native and country music star Brittney Spen-

cer will be the headliner Friday night. The eclectic lineup for the three-day event includes: Better Off Dead, a band that celebrates The Grateful Dead; ilyAIMY (i love you And I Miss You); Shelby Blondell; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids; Orquestra Nfuzion from Washington, D. C.; The Cover Up; Old Eastern; DJ Allure; Annapolis’s 8 Ohms Band, Rufus Roundtree & Da B’more Brass Factory; The Trinidad & Tobago Steel Drum Band; Baltimore AllStars; DJ G-Money, and, in honor of Indigenous People’s Day on October 9, Mark Tayac and the Piscataway Nation Singers and Dancers, a group that educates audiences about Native American history and culture as part of their performances.

Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks concert: On Saturday, Oct. 7, Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks will perform at M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St., starting at 7 p.m. It will be one of the only times that the Camden Yards sport complex is used for a major concert this year, after Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band cancelled a Sept. 9 performance at Oriole Park.

More performing arts events:

CFG Bank Arena, 201 West Baltimore St. (cfgbankarena.com): Concerts include: 50 Cent: The Final Lap Tour, September 19; Jonas Brothers: Five Albums. One Night. September 22; SZA – SOS Tour with special guest D4VD, September 28; Queen + Adam Lambert – The Rhapsody Tour, October 4 and 5; Carin Leon – Colmillo De Leche Tour, October 7; Disney on Ice presents Magic in the Stars, October 12-15; John Mayer – Solo, October 20; Lauren Daigle – The Kaleidoscope Tour, Oct 21; Katt Williams, October 27; Baltimore R&B Music Experience: Xscape, Bell Biv DeVoe, 112, October London, Silk, Next, October 28, and Romeo Santos – Formula Vol. 3 Tour, November 2.

Also, The 1975 Still…at their very best, November 8; Bronco – En Vivo y A Todo Color!, November 17; Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth, November 24 to 26; Kiss – The End of the Road Tour, November 29; Old Dominion – No Bad Vibes Tour, December 2; Pentatonix The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year, December 3; Travis Scott Utopia Tour Presents Circus Maximus, December 6; Billy Strings, December 8 and 9, and Andrea Bocelli, December 10.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: The Baltimore Symphony marks the arrival of Jonathon Heyward as its new music director with a gala celebration at Strathmore in North Bethesda on September 22; a gala celebration at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore on September 23 and a free public concert at the Meyer-

hoff during Artscape on September 24. More information about the symphony’s fall schedule at the Meyerhoff, including speakers such as Sonia Sotomayor (September 27); David Sedaris (October 5); Fran Lebowitz (October 6) and Jane Fonda (October 12) is on its website at bsomusic.org.

Hippodrome Theatre, 12 S. Eutaw St., Baltimore.Broadway.com: The fall season starts with an all-new revival of The Wiz, a musical that debuted in Baltimore in 1974, with shows from September 23 to 30. Other shows include: Heilung, October 19; The Rocky Horror Picture Show 48th Anniversary Spectacular Tour with Patricia Quinn, the original Magenta, on October 21; Chris Tucker: The Legend Tour 2023, October 22; Funny Girl, October 24 to 29; the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine Presents Snow White, November 4; ‘Twas the night before…by Cirque du Soleil, November 24 to December 3; Moulin Rouge! The Musical, December 5 to 17, and Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, December 18 and 19. A new performing and events venue next to the Hippodrome, called the M&T Bank Exchange, will have its grand opening on October 11.

Lyric Baltimore, 140 West Mount Royal Avenue, lyricbaltimore.com: Justin Willman: Magic for Humans in Person Tour, September 16; Wild Kratt Live 2.0 Activate Creature Power! Starring the Kratt Brothers, September 22; Nate Bargatze -- The Be Funny Tour, September 23 and 24; Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Tone! Just Me and You Tour, September 26; Trey Kennedy Grow Up Comedy Tour, September 28; Buddy Guy -- Damn Right Farewell, September 29; Ms. Pat: Ya Girl Done Made It Tour, September 30; Casting Crowns: 20th Anniversary Tour, October 1; Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All, October 5; Charm City Blues Festival, October 6; Blippi: The Wonderful World tour, Oct 7, and Stavros Halkias: The Fat Rascal Tour, October 12-14;

Also, Nick Offerman: Live! October 26; Steve Martin & Martin Short, October 28; Encanto: the Sing-Along Film Concert, October 29; Maverick City Music, November 2; The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute, November 3; Nikki Glaser: The Good Girl Tour, November 4; One Night of Queen, November 9; Shane Gillis Live, November 10; The Princess Bride, November 17; Chris D’Elia: Don’t Push Me, November 18; Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour: November 19; Joe Bonamassa, November 25; A Drag Queen Christmas, November 26; Peppa Pig’s Sing-Along Party1, November 30; David Spade: Catch Me Inside, December 1; The Nutcracker, December 14; A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage, December 15, and Mark Normand: Ya Don’t Say Tour!, December 16.

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave., (creativealliance. org): In the main gallery through September 30 is “God Couldn’t be Everywhere…That’s Why He Made Momma,” an exhibit by Salome Sykes and Lendl Tellington. In the Amalie Rothschild Gallery through October 21 “Taking Space,” an exhibit featuring work by Baltimore based Latino artists, including Tito Rosa; Christina Delgado; Jessy DeSantis; Jaz Erenberg and Edgar Reyes. Other events: Tianquiztli, a Latin American Artisan Market and Festival on September 16; the Alejandro Brittes Quartet, September 23; Walters Art Museum he Charm City Burlesque & Variety Festival September 29 to October 1; and Kavita Shah & The Cape Verdean Blues Project, October 4.

JOHN WATERS brings his show ‘A John Waters Christmas: Let’s Blow It Up,’ to the Baltimore Sound Stage on Dec. 21. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

From Monáe to Madonna, fall will rock in D.C.

Local venues hosting array of queer artists in coming months

The D.C. area has many LGBTQ musical acts to look forward to this fall. Starting with pansexual and nonbinary actor and R&B singer Janelle Monáe, performing at the Anthem on Sept. 24-25 with ticket prices ranging from $135 to $301 on StubHub.

Singer Hozier’s “Unreal Unearth Tour” is coming to the Anthem on Sept. 26-27. Tickets are available on StubHub starting at $324.

On Sept. 28 the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore will see lesbian pop artist SZA’s “SOS Tour” with tickets starting at $165 on Ticketmaster.

Queer indie pop singer Ashnikko is coming to the Anthem on Sept. 29 to perform their “Weedkiller Tour.” Tickets available on StubHub range from $49 to $279.

Coming to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., is the All Things Go Festival. Performing are lesbian singers Tegan and Sara, altpop singer Lana Del Rey, pop singer Carly Rae Jepson, and more. The festival will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 1 with two day passes starting at $397 on SeatGeek.

Rock band Queen will perform “The Rhapsody Tour” at the CFG Bank Arena along with Adam Lambert on Oct. 4-5. Tickets are starting at $181 on Ticketmaster.

Pop star and trans woman Kim Petras’ “Feed the Beast World Tour” will reach the Anthem on Oct 12. Tickets range from $72 to $817 on StubHub.

Queer pop singer Kesha is coming to the Anthem on Oct. 29 to support her new album, “Gag Order.” Tickets go from $86 to $261 on Event Ticket Center.

Queer pop rapper Shygirl is co-headlining with bisexual singer Tinashe for the “Nymph” tour at the Anthem on Nov. 5. Tickets range from $45 to $145 on Ticketmaster.

Indie band Men I Trust is performing at Echostage on Nov. 15. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster for $30.

By CAL BENN

MADONNA’S delayed tour is slated to hit D.C. Dec. 18 and 19. (Screenshot/YouTube)

Nonbinary rapper Lil Uzi Vert’s “PINK TAPE TOUR” will be at the Anthem on Nov. 21. Tickets start at $90 on StubHub.

Doja Cat’s “The Scarlett Tour” will reach Capital One Arena on Nov. 27. Tickets start at $100 on Ticketmaster.

Madonna will bring her highly anticipated and delayed “The Celebration Tour” to the Capital One Arena Dec. 18 and 19. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster starting at $110.

JANELLE MONÁE comes to the Anthem later this month. (Screenshot via YouTube)

KIM PETRAS brings the ‘Feed the Beast World Tour’ to the Anthem in October. (Photo by Thom Kerr)

D.C.’s dining scene ready for a busy fall

Restaurant openings, culinary events abound

By EVAN CAPLAN

Fresh off a hot summer of restaurant openings, fall shows no sign of slowing down for bar and restaurant openings and culinary events. Below is a taste of those openings, an exciting dayto-night festival and one fabulous fundraiser taking place this fall and winter.

The Square (1850 K St.). Debuting last week, The Square is D.C.’s newest food market opening within International Square. Although the first phase has just a handful of vendors, when fully operational, the food hall will feature a collection of more than 15 vendors, a full-service restaurant and bar, an expansive bar in the central atrium, and outdoor dining seating and retail. Opening right next door and from the same owner (Ruben Garcia) will be Casa Teresa, a family-style Spanish/Catalan restaurant.

Bistro Du Jour Capitol Hill (20 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) is opening this month. Gay-owned KNEAD Hospitality + Design announced yet another jewel in its growing crown of a restaurant empire with the upcoming Bistro Capitol Hill. Building on their existing ventures in the D.C. market, Bistro Capitol Hill is for locals, Hill staff, and tourists, according to the owners. The upscale restaurant will expand upon the Wharf location of the same name, with a much bigger space featuring 200 seats, a full bar, and the addition of a lounge. It will open for happy hour, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. The upscale bistro will also expand its offerings beyond what they are known for at the Wharf, with a must more expansive menu.

The Atlas Alexandria Brewery & Tap Room (2501 Mandeville Lane) is slated to open later this year in the Carlyle Crossing development. The 6,000-square-foot space will include a brewery with a production capacity of 2,000 barrels. The adjoining tap room has 16 draft lines and a full kitchen facility, plus a huge outdoor patio. The brewery and tap room, not far from the King Street Metro stop, slices up pies from Andy’s Pizza. The brewery’s six core beers include Silent Neighbor, which recently won a gold medal at the 2023 World Beer Cup.

Cleveland Park is getting a flip when big-name restaurateur Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group opens Little Black Bird (3309 Connecticut Ave.), replacing his Indian spot, Bindaas. Located next to Israeli resto Sababa (also by Bajaj), the name Little Black Bird is a nod to the French word for blackbird, merle, which is also related to the wine name, Merlot. This wine list, with 100 wines by the bottle and 12 by the glass, will be global in nature, alongside a big menu wth Mediterranean inspiration.

Restaurateur Stephen Starr, of Le Diplomate fame, opened El Presidente (1255 Union St., N.E.) last week in Union Market. This 6,000-square-foot space “artfully mirrors the essence of Mexico City’s gastronomy,” according to the restaurant. The menu, though, draws from across the country, serving oysters from the

Pacific coast, al pastor tacos, and a handful of guac variations, including one topped with king crab. A raw bar anchors one corner of the vibrantly lit series of dining rooms, pairing well with several mezcal- and tequila-centric cocktails. Not far from Starr’s other property, St. Anselm, El Presidente fits in appropriately alongside nearby La Cosecha, the Latin food hall also in the Union Market district.

On 14th Street, Bar Japonais (1520 14th St., N.W.) slides into the former Estadio space in early 2024. Similar to its sister restaurant Bar Chinois in Mount Vernon Square, Bar Japonais will blend French and Japanese flavors in an energetic atmosphere, much like Bar Chinois. Developed in the izakaya style, the restaurant will have Japanese-leaning food and French-leaning cocktails.

And over in National Landing by HQ2 will be Surreal (2117 Crystal Dr. in Arlington, Va.), from Seven Reasons owner Michelin-starred Venezuelan chef Enrique Limardo and Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger. The Latin-inspired bistro has an eclectic menu, with dishes like queso fundido shakshuka, swordfish carpaccio, and “Flaming Hot Totopos.” The restaurant will have grab-and-go items and bakery for office workers, plus expansive beverage program to drink onsite – and possibly be able to take with them to have the park right outside the restaurant.

After the first Art All Night lit up Shaw in 2011, the 2023 Art All Night is reaching all eight wards, Sept. 29-30. The festival’s activations differ each night, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, literary arts, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and private spaces. This year, Dine All Night is joining the mix, with dozens of restaurants participating to offer special menus Sept.21-Oct. 1.

We would be remiss not to mention a signature fundraising culinary event for LGBTQ rights, Chefs for Equality. After a twoyear hiatus due to the pandemic, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and prominent food writer David Hagedorn are celebrating the return of Chefs for Equality on Monday, October 30, 2023, at the National Building Museum. Now in its 10th year, the evening of food, drink, entertainment, and live and silent auctions, supports the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s nationwide educational work and its fight for LGBTQ+ equality. This year’s theme, Plate of Emergency, calls attention to the state of emergency that the Human Rights Campaign has officially declared because of intensified attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender and non-binary people, says Hagedorn. The expansive event features 55 savory tasting stations and 30 cocktail bars helmed by chefs and mixologists from around the city and the region. There are also 13 personal chef tables serving five-course meals with chefs themselves.

Food selections at The Square, the new food hall on K Street. (Photo by Scott Suchman)

city and the region. There are also 13 personal chef tables serv-

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

THIS FALL AT SIGNATURE

NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 22

Pride Night: October 13

A whirlwind comedy of community, culture and the connection between fathers and daughters.

OCTOBER 24 – JANUARY 7

Pride Night: December 1

The iconic musical epic as you’ve never experienced it before.

Season’s best new books offer something for every taste History,

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

tap

Shorter days, cooler temps, and longer nights can send you skittering inside, right? Don’t forget to bring one of these great books with you when you settle in for the fall.

Releasing in September, look for “Between the Head and the Hands” by James Chaarani, a novel about a young Muslim man whose family turns him away for being gay, and the teacher who takes him in (ECW Press, Sept. 10). Also reach for “Cleat Cute: A Novel,” by Meryl Wilsner (St. Martin’s Griffin, Sept. 19), a fun YA novel of soccer, competition, and playing hard (to get).

You may want something light and fun for now, so find

“The Out Side: Trans and Nonbinary Comics,” compiled

by The Kao, Min Christiansen, and Daniel Daneman (Andrews McMeel Publishing). It’s a collection of comics by nonbinary and trans artists, and you can find it Sept. 26.

The serious romantic will want to find “Daddies of a Different Kind: Sex and Romance Between Older and Younger Gay Men” by Tony Silva (NYU Press), a book about new possibilities in love; it’s available Sept. 12. Historians will want “Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in New York City” by Elyssa Maxx Goodman (Hanover Square Press, Sept. 12); and “Queer Blues: The Hidden Figures of Early Blues Music” by Darryl W. Bullock (Omnibus Press, Sept. 14).

In October, you’ll want to find “Blackouts: A Novel” by Justin Torres (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), a somewhat-fantasy novel about a dying man who passes a powerful book on to his caretaker. Look for it Oct. 10. Also on Oct. 10, grab “Love at 350º” by Lisa Peers (Dial Press Trade Paperback), a novel about love at a chance meeting at a baking-show contest and “The Christmas Swap: A Novel” by Talia Samuels (Alcove Press), a holiday romcom.

You’re just warming up for the fall. Look for “Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date” by Ashley Herring Blake (Berkley, Oct. 24) and “Let Me Out,” a queer horror novel by Emmett Nahil and George Williams (Oni Press, Oct. 3).

Nonfiction lovers will want to find “Dis... Miss Gender?” by Anne Bray (MIT Press, Oct. 24), a wide, long look at gender and fluidity; “Friends of Dorothy: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Icons” by Anthony Uzarowski and Alejandro Mogollo Diez (Imagine, Oct. 10); and “300,000 Kisses: Tales of Queer Love from the Ancient World” by Sean Hewitt and Luke Edward Hall (Clarkson Potter, Oct. 10).

For November, look for “Underburn: A Novel” by Bill Gaythwaite (Delphinium), a layered novel about Hollywood, family, and second chances. It comes out Nov. 14. For something you can really sink your teeth into, find “The Bars are Ours: Histories and Cultures of Gay Bars in America, 1960 and After” by Lucas Hilderbrand (Duke University Press, Nov 21). It’s a huge look at the spaces that played strong roles in LGBTQ history.

And if you’re looking for yourself or for a special gift in December, check out “Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects” by David Evans Frantz, Christina Linden, and Chris E. Vargas. It’s an arty coffee table book from Hirmer Publishers of Munich. You can find it Dec. 20. Also look for “Second Chances in New Port Stephen: A Novel” by T.J. Alexander (Atria / Emily Bestler, Dec. 5) and if all else fails, ask for or give a gift certificate.

Season’s readings!

ROBERT HOULE: RED IS BEAUTIFUL

Open now | National Mall

See a retrospective featuring one of the most renowned Indigenous artists from Canada.

Organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada. Generous support provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and Ameriprise Financial.

Check out the museum’s calendar for the events to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.

AmericanIndian.si.edu

Robert Houle. Red Is Beautiful, 1970. Acrylic on canvas. Canadian Museum of History © Robert Houle

BOMBINO

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

JOE PUG WITH CAMILLE THORNTON

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

KIEFER WITH MAD KEYS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

KIDD G WITH GRAHAM BARHAM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

MEGAN MORONEY

*SOLD OUT*

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

SUPERBLUE: KURT ELLING & CHARLIE HUNTER WITH DEBORAH BOND

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

SAM BARBER, DRAYTON FARLEY, NOLAN TAYLOR

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

MIGHTY POPLAR

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

START MAKING SENSE A TALKING HEADS TRIBUTE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

CELLAR DOOR TRIBUTE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

AUSTIN SNELL

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13

THE WILD FEATHERS WITH JB STRAUSS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

ANDY FALCO & TRAVIS BOOK

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

DELLA MAE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

WHITE FORD BRONCO

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

IAM TONGI

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

SUE FOLEY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1

NELLIE MCKAY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

SAM GRISMAN PROJECT

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

BRENT COBB WITH BEN CHAPMAN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE *SOLD OUT*

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6

EMMALINE

RETRO KIND OF LOVE TOOR, VOL. III

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8

THE LAST WALTZ *TWO NIGHTS!*

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10 &

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

DONNA THE BUFFALO

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18

CHUCK BROWN BAND WITH EU FEATURING SUGARBEAR

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

Fundraisers, block parties, art, wine and more events coming to our area

Enjoy the best of the season’s entertainment

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Temperatures are dropping, leaves are turning orange, and the sun is setting earlier. But life in D.C. is still vibrant with a variety of arts events for the coming months.

Shop Made in DC will host “Wine & Watercolors” on Friday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. at Shop Made in DC’s Georgetown location. Guests will enjoy two complimentary glasses of wine while making watercolor art inspired by one of the shop’s designs. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Artbae will host “Intimate Encounters Art Show: Exploeing the Art of Intimacy & Connection” on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. at Selina Union Market. This event will raise awareness about HIV and sexual health while taking guests on a sensory adventure where they dive into the vulnerability of touch. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Sweet Water Gallery will host “Water in the African Sky” starting Sunday Sept. 17 at 12 p.m. at Wharf Street. This abstract exhibit by Franklin Eze will showcase works by African artists celebrating unique beauty and richness through an abstract scope. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Award-winning, Black LGBTQ comedian Sampson McCormick will perform on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at DC Comedy Loft. McCormick uses humor and nuance to help audiences process life challenges and human differences regarding race, religion, and sexuality. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on DC Comedy Loft’s website.

CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Ensemble will present “Music of the Night,” a series of three concerts starting on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist. The concert program will feature songs “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Moondance,” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on CAMP Rehoboth’s website.

LGBTQ bar Shakers will host “MX Shakers,” a drag competition in which queens will start competing on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The competition will be hosted by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Tatianna. Along with Tatianna, the challenge will feature judges Evry Pleasure, King Molasses and Alexa Shontelle.

The 20th Annual DC Shorts International Film Festival begins on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at JxJ’s Cafritz Hall and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema DC. At least 135 films from 20 countries will be screened. There will also be parties, eight panel discussions, and filmmaker talkback after many of the showcase screenings. For more details, visit the festival’s website.

The Anthem will host Janelle Monaé on Sunday, Sept.

24 at 8 p.m. as part of their “Age of Pleasure” tour. Tickets start at $144 and can be purchased on The Anthem’s website.

The Art League will host “Art on the Rocks” on Friday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Waterfront Park. This event showcases talented local mixologists and chefs competing to create artistic cocktail and appetizer pairings inspired by art. Tickets cost $70 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

9:30 club will host “Gasolina: Reggaeton Party” on Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. Tickets start at $22 and can be purchased on 9:30 Club’s website.

Union Stage will host “Look What You Made Me Do: Taylor Swift Dance Party” on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10:30 p.m. at Howard Theatre. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on Howard Theater’s website.

The Human Rights Campaign hosts its annual National Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the D.C. Convention Center. Tickets are sold out but you can join a waitlist at hrcnationaldinner.org

CAMP Rehoboth hosts its 2023 Block Party on the second block of Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Local

restaurants, entertainers, businesses, and nonprofits will participate. All ages are welcome. Admission is free; donations benefit the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.

Capital Cabaret’s Annual Fall Gala and Raffle will be on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Carlysle Room. The event will feature performances from Broadway star Susan Derry and local D.C. cabaret artists. Tickets cost $150. For more details, email pnolen@capitalcabaret.org.

SMYAL hosts its 26th annual Fall Brunch on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Marriott Marquis. Tickets at smyal.org. The event includes a cocktail reception featuring a silent auction, a three-course brunch, and a chance to hear from some of the community’s most inspiring leaders.

Sweet Honey in the Rock will perform on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s College of Maryland Dodge Performing Arts Center. The group is a performance ensemble rooted in African-American history and culture. It educates, entertains and empowers its audience and community through the dynamic vehicles of a cappella singing and American Sign Language interpretation for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Out comedian SAMPSON MCCORMICK returns for a local engagement Sept. 19. (Photo courtesy Kola for 510 Media)

Photo of Adrian Blake Enscoe, John Gallagher, Jr., Stark Sands, and Wayne Duvall for Swept Away by Crackerfarm.

Standout SUVs: Jeep Compass, Subaru Crosstrek

Americans still prefer larger vehicles to sedans

By JOE PHILLIPS

Last year Americans left many old-school chariots in the dust, buying twice as many SUVs as sedans. But while early pioneers like the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer get props for leading the sport-ute charge, today there are more than 170 models. I recently test drove two newish SUVs that kinda-sorta remind me of my Pride bracelet: They make a statement, but at an affordable price.

JEEP COMPASS

$29,000

MPG: 24 city/32 highway

0 to 60 mph: 7.5 seconds

Cargo room: 27.2 cu. ft.

PROS: lots of amenities, good storage, all-wheel drive

CONS: some pricey options, stiff ride, bit noisy cabin

IN A NUTSHELL: Redesigned last year, the Jeep Compass gets a stronger engine for 2023. More power usually means reduced fuel efficiency, but mileage is up almost 10% from the previous model. Another plus: More stowage space, which had been sorely lacking. And all-wheel drive is now standard, so better traction and handling, especially on slick or gravelly terrain.

Despite having chiseled looks like the midsize Jeep Cherokee, the smaller Compass feels lighter and more limber. But while this compact SUV can handle light off-roading, the short wheelbase makes it hard to ignore potholes or speed bumps. In fact, I often had to slow down to a crawl to not seesaw jarringly over them. In other words, any Barbie or Ken wannabes with perfectly coiffed hair will want to stick to smoother surfaces when driving this vehicle.

The well-built cabin is much improved, with higher quality materials. The dash is covered in soft-touch leather—a nice touch—with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.1-inch touchscreen. Plenty of legroom and headroom in front, but tallish backseat passengers may feel a bit squished.

There are five trim levels, including the top-of-the-line Trailhawk, with more aggressive styling and solid off-road capability. I tested the mid-range Latitude Lux, which costs $5,000 more than the base model but comes with larger wheels, heated seats, and other niceties.

Notable tech features: smartphone integration, Wi-Fi hot spot, Bluetooth, wireless charging, voice recognition, remote start and nine-speaker Alpine stereo.

But it’s the list of safety gear that rally wowed me, such as rearview camera, park assist, lane-departure warning, driver-attention monitoring, rear-seat passenger reminder, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitor, forward collision warning with active braking, and—whew!—so much more.

SUBARU CROSSTREK

$27,000

MPG: 28 city/34 highway

0 to 60 mph: 9.1 seconds

Cargo room: 20 cu. ft.

PROS: decent mileage, comfy seats, user-friendly cabin CONS: poky base engine, so-so storage, plasticky dashboard

IN A NUTSHELL: With so much sport-ute competition these days, automakers seem to be revamping their SUV models each year (not every four to six years, as in the past). This time, the Subaru Crosstrek receives some nifty design flourishes and major cabin upgrades. Compared to the butch Jeep Compass, the curvier Crosstrek looks trés chic. Think boyish Buck versus trendy Eddie on “911.”

Based on the nimble Impreza hatchback, the subcompact Crosstrek feels car-like and agile. Two engine choices, but opt for the more potent powerplant so it doesn’t feel like you’re just treading water. While the Crosstrek is smaller and slower than the Compass, the ride here is smoother and more composed. Higher ground clearance, tighter suspension and quick all-wheel drive system all help, as does a new direct-steering system. Plus, paddle shifters, which I only needed to use once or twice when merging into traffic, provide plenty of extra oomph.

The Crosstrek cabin, which is surprisingly quiet, offers good legroom for passengers in both the front and back. An optional 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen is mounted vertically, similar to those iPad-like displays found in the Ford Mustang Mach-E and various luxury vehicles.

It says something when my biggest beef with the Crosstrek is the placement of the odometer reset button, which is only a smidge above the remote start button. Both buttons are completely obscured behind the steering wheel, so I was constantly reaching around and pressing the wrong one. A minor annoyance, to be sure. But if Subaru could fix this ergonomic annoyance, then I wouldn’t have to listen to my husband claim that the problem is actually my own “user error.”

JEEP COMPASS SUBARU CROSSTREK

Winchester Pride Out mayor welcomes crowd to LGBTQ celebration

The Winchester Pride festival was held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Va. on Saturday, Sept. 9. Openly gay mayor of Winchester, Va. John David Smith, Jr. welcomed the crowd to the LGBTQ celebration.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Let Strathmore set the stage for your special day. With glittering chandeliers, towering Palladian windows, and a sweeping staircase, it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful setting for a wedding.

Dates for 2024 are booking quickly! Schedule a tour to start customizing your perfect wedding today.

A sense of belonging is crucial to our students’ day-to-day happiness, satisfaction, and mental and physical health. We build this understanding into our curriculum and into ongoing e orts to make sure every member of the Barrie community feels they belong.

Come see for yourself!

Admission Open House Saturday, October 21 3 Mos - Grade 5 | 9:00 – 10:15am Grades 6-12 | 11:00 – 12:15pm

Following Open House, please join us from 1 to 4 pm at our Fall Festival.

Free Admission!

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Grades 6-12!

3 Months to Grade 12

Chores for the fall before the chill arrives

Clean gutters, replace smoke detector batteries, and more

By VALERIE M. BLAKE

While it may not feel like fall is in the air yet, it won’t be too long before pumpkin spice will explode everywhere — in food, drinks, candles, and body lotions, to name a few places. If you’re not a fan, you’ll find air freshener plug-ins in scents like Frosted Cranberry, Fresh Fall Morning, and Sweater Weather among the offerings at Bath and Body Works.

Soon after, hordes of December holiday decorations will appear in the stores, often bypassing a smidgen of items for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Except candy. Halloween candy will always figure prominently. But before you hibernate and chow down on mini-Snickers bars, there is work to be done to prepare your home for the winter.

Inside the home.

To ensure your safety, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries or buy new detectors if they are more than 10 years old. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned, and make any necessary repairs, then test your fire extinguishers. Seal doors and windows that might allow drafts to enter with weatherstripping.

Now is the time to take advantage of the discount prices on heating system tune-ups that some HVAC companies are offering. As little as $59 for a check-up will help your equipment function better and extend its life.

A furnace tune-up should include cleaning all components, lubricating motor parts, checking electrical parts for rust or corrosion, making sure your thermostat is working properly, and replacing the filter. You may want to take this opportunity to have your vents cleaned as well.

A heat pump inspection includes cleaning and lubricating the blower and fan motors, inspecting indoor and outdoor coils, flushing the condensate drain, and testing the controls.

If you have a boiler instead of a furnace or heat pump, you can expect your serviceperson to inspect, test and calibrate all gauges and safety mechanisms, measure and record the flame pattern concentration and carbon monoxide, check electrical connections, and more.

Don’t forget to bleed the radiators to release air in the pipes and enhance the circulation of warm water. And if you’re like me, cross your fingers that your 47-year-old boiler will last one more season.

Outside the home.

While the leaves haven’t started falling yet, the recent rain and winds may have blown yard debris into your gutters, so make sure they, and your downspouts, are clear. Position the downspouts so they will take any water away from your foundation and regrade the perimeter of your house, if needed.

Check your roof for lost shingles. Look for missing flashing or bricks in need of tuck-pointing or parging on the exterior of your chimney. Walk around your house and

note any foundation cracks or unsealed openings. Check retaining walls for missing mortar. There is still plenty of time to make these repairs before the cold sets in. Now that 90-degree temperatures have receded a bit, plan the power washing and painting of exterior surfaces that you have been putting off tackling. And since the Labor Day barbecue is now over, it’s time to winterize your gas grill.

In the garden.

Far be it for me to profess to be an expert in the garden. I’m the first one on the phone to a landscaper to seek help. In fact, there is a barrage of weeding going on at my home this week. Nonetheless, here are a few suggestions.

Prune trees and bushes to promote future growth. Water, aerate, and fertilize the lawn. Select any bulbs you want to plant and enjoy next spring and consult a source such as Better Homes and Gardens magazine for tips on how and when to plant them.

Drain garden hoses, detach them, and drain the pipes that run to the hose bibbs as well. If you’re lucky enough to have underground sprinklers (I am not), follow the manufacturer’s instructions for winterizing them, or call a

professional.

Store lawn furniture and cushions in a shed, garage, or basement. Or do as I do - throw away the cushions that are dirty or moldy and buy new ones next spring. And when the leaves fall en masse, rake them, bag them, and recheck your gutters and downspouts to be sure they’re clear.

Finally, head to the hardware store to buy a snow shovel, some windshield de-icer and washer fluid, and a few bags of salt or pet-safe, snow-melting product before the rush. You’ll be glad you did.

And if you happen to live in a condominium or cooperative, when you have completed any relevant interior chores, relax for the rest of the season and enjoy some candy. I stash mine in the cabinet above the refrigerator.

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.

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LEGAL NOTICE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2023 ADM 001047

Name of Decedent:

PETER KRONENBERG, AKA: PETER F. KRONENBERG

Name & Address of Attorney:

Erica F. Gloger, Griffin & Griffin LLP

1320 19th St, NW #800, Washington, DC 20036

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

John “Jay” Kronenberg, aka John F. Kronenberg, whose address is 59 Richland Road, Cranston, RI 02910 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Peter Kronenberg aka Peter F. Kronenberg who died on June 26, 2023 with a will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 03/15/2024. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before 03/15/2024, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of it’s first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: September 15, 2023

Daily Washington Law Reporter, Washington Blade, John “Jay” Kronenberg, Personal Representative, 401-573-5506

A True Test Copy Nicole Stevens, Register of Will

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2023 FEP 000026

Date of Death 10/22/2020

Name of Decedent: MICHAEL LEROY WILLIAMS SR.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Katharyn A Phelps whose address is 103 Graiden Street, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Michael Leroy Williams Sr, deceased, by the Orphan’s Court for Prince George’s County, State of Maryland, on December 30, 2020. Service of process may be made upon David Roberts 1717 N Street NW, Ste 1 Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, DC. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 1900 2nd Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Blade, Daily Washington Law Reporter.

Date of first publication: September 01, 2023

Katharyn A. Phelps, Personal Representative, 240-839-0035

A True Test Copy Nicole Stevens, Register of Wills

MASSAGE REFRESH YOURSELF

Massage for active adults. Private studio near Rosslyn. Fri-Mon, 12-8. text

301-704-1158 or visit www.mymassagebygary. com

BODY & SOUL

POLITICAL SUPPORT

LGBTQ+ ATTACKS ARE WORSE THAN EVER!! FIGHT BACK!

Donate a dollar or more to my campaign. I am John Clayton, an LGBTQ+ candidate, running for county supervisor in Iowa. Please join others to make our voices heard. Thank you!

www.claytonjc.com

Paid for by Climate Crisis Committee for Clayton CLEANING

FERNANDO’S CLEANING

Residential & Commercial

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

JOIN SPA/ SALON TEAM

Booth Rental Available - Seeking hairstylists, nail, lash, and wax technicians –join our Spa/Salon Team –perfect place to showcase your talent – Room rental options from $350/wk –Open 7 days/week – Flex hrs – secure building – 18th St NW near Dupont Circle –Supportive Environment – join a team of passionate professionals and see you career soar! Contact Noble Davis, 202-409-6326

BUY / SELL

THE DC BIG FLEASEPT THE DC BIG FLEA ANTIQUES MARKET returns Sept. 23-24th

Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. Sat.9-6 Sun.11-5, $10 both days

Children 12 & under free, Parking is free

Place your HOUSING TO SHARE ad by emailing: classifieds@washblade.com & the ad prints free in the paper & online.*

*25 words or less prints freeanything more is $1/word. Please be sure to include your contact informtion!

202-234-7050 or 202-486-6183

HANDYMAN

PJM HOME IMPROVEMENT

kitchens, bathrooms, additions, underpin, & finished basements. pjmhomeimprovement.com

240-224-2033

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

MOVERS

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.

HANDYMAN

BRITISH REMODELING

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

Trevor 703-303-8699

PROFESSIONAL MOVING & STORAGE

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

202.734.3080

www.aroundtownmovers.com.

BODYWORK

THE MAGIC TOUCH

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