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A stranger invited me to her Christmas Day dinner.

Two days later she was killed.

Baltimore-area trans activist gunned down; suspect released

By CLARA LONGO DE FREITAS | BALTIMORE BANNER

Days before Christmas, I was sitting in a nearly empty newsroom looking for a story. I scrolled somewhat erratically through social media until I came across a post by Meghan Lewis.

Lewis had bright blond hair and wore big red glasses.

She was inviting people who are queer — in a phone interview with The Baltimore Banner, she called them “queer babies” — for a meal, a night of games and fun at her little condo in Bel Air for Christmas Day. “Why: it makes me happy, and I like offering a stressfree option for some of my fellow queers who need to be fed and loved,” the post read. Then came a long menu: turkey, roast beef, mashed potatoes, so many casseroles, mac & cheese, pies, cookies. She was a “queer gen x mama to older teens”; her housemate is a grandmother — their “kitchen game is not weak,” she promised.

She hosted strangers, friends and neighbors that night, after spending a week meal prepping and cleaning. They talked activism, queer rights and her past in the military, all while listening to Christmas music. Two days later, Lewis was fatally shot in front of her home.

Bel Air police responded to reports of a shooting Dec. 27 and arrested 47-year-old Brian Delen of Bel Air, who was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

Court documents say that Delen was delivering food and that led to a confrontation, WBAL reported. Delen had asked, “Are you waiting for food delivery, sir?” and Lewis believed he was misgendering her. The court documents say Delen drove away and Lewis walked up to him in the parking lot of her condominium building. The dispute escalated, and Delen got out of his car and fired at Lewis, hitting her in the left abdomen. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Delen has since been released, and his court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25.

Dozens of friends who knew Lewis in childhood, who met her through her activism, and strangers who knew her through her social media presence posted on Face-

book speaking of her “generosity” and “light.” They shared messages that they had exchanged with her — a poem by Mary Oliver, her plans for the next year.

Lewis told me she worked for over two decades in the enterprise technology space, rising to the position of vice president of strategic alliances at OpenText, an information management software company. She traveled a lot for her job and constantly worked overtime. It all started to make less sense to her, simmering with the loss of two family members in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What am I doing with my life?” she asked herself.

“I had this big dream, finally being in the right body, what I would do with it — I’d go see places, I would go do things,” she added.

So, in November of last year, Lewis told her co-workers she was going on a sabbatical: “I’m gonna walk my dogs, and I’m gonna go walk trails and go to the dog parks.

And I’m gonna go save little queer babies and get in little adventures.”

She wanted to do more regular dinners, said her friend Iya Dammons, executive director of Baltimore Safe Haven. Like Sunday family dinners, make it “pasta Sundays” or “barbecue Sundays.” She told Dammons she wanted to find a bigger place where she could host people.

“I like meeting people and making them feel loved,” Lewis told Dammons.

And Dammons felt loved. She has known Lewis for years, when Dammons had just founded her nonprofit organization. Lewis supported her from the beginning.

She became a steady donor; she sent food baskets for Thanksgiving and cooked dinner for her. She talked to Dammons about her transition and gender-affirming surgery.

“She breathed life into me to be this incredible woman that I am today,” Dammons said. “She gave me pointers and told me what I should be doing and how I should be doing, just keeping me afloat.”

MEGHAN LEWIS was reportedly shot and killed after being misgendered.

“I just want the world to know that hatred like this will not be tolerated. We stand in solidarity with community members,” she added. Dammons said she wants to host a vigil for Lewis.

When I talked to Lewis a few days before Christmas, she told me that her nana’s kitchen in the United Kingdom, where Lewis’ mother was from, was her happy, safe space as a child.

“Because I got to wear an apron,” she laughed softly, almost giggly. “As a young trans kid who hadn’t come out yet — are you kidding me?

“That was a home run,” she added.

She changed her mind over having a reporter over, though she stressed that I was welcome as “Clara, the Latina Terp.” She told me she could try to make farofa and arroz natalino, staple Brazilian dishes in any Christmas party. I had told her that this would be the first Christmas I would be spending alone, away from my family in Brazil.

Whether I decided or not to come, she told me: Stay sparkly.

D.C. Council member Gray won’t seek re-election LGBTQ activists have said D.C. Council member Vincent Gray, who emerged as a strong Gray (D-Ward 7), a longtime LGBTQ community ally since he supporter of LGBTQ rights, rewas first elected to the Council leased a statement just before in 2004, played a lead role as Christmas announcing he will Council Chair in 2009 in helping not run for re-election in 2024. to pass D.C.’s historic law legalGray, 81, a former one-term izing same-sex marriage in the D.C. mayor, issued his annation’s capital. nouncement a little over two He continued as a strong years after he had a stroke in supporter of other LGBTQ legDecember 2021 that has limited islation and policies in subsehis mobility, but he says he will D.C. Council member VINCENT GRAY marches in quent years. Political observers remain fully engaged during the the Capital Pride Parade. (Blade file photo by Michael Key) have credited Gray with playing remainder of his current term, an important role in expanding which ends in January 2025. educational opportunities, health care, and economic “Much work remains to be done, as does the task of development in sections of the city east of the Anacostia ensuring continued progress on many fronts,” Gray said River in Wards 7 and 8. in his statement. “My final year in office will be no different Gray won election as mayor in 2010 after defeating than any other; every day I will put my shoulders to the then incumbent mayor and LGBTQ rights supporter Adristone and serve the people who sent me here,” he said.

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an Fenty in the Democratic primary. LGBTQ District residents were placed in the position of having to choose between two political supporters. A similar choice among LGBTQ city residents between two friends emerged four years later when then Ward 4 D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser challenged Gray in the 2014 Democratic primary for mayor.

Bowser won the primary and general election and has held the position as mayor since that time. But Gray made a political comeback two years later in 2016 when he ran again and won in the race for the Ward 7 Council seat.

“Our mission will never be complete,” Gray said in his statement announcing he will not be running for re-election. “Our shared desire to make the District a better place each and every day is enduring,” he said. “I will continue to be an advocate for our city and our people who call it home, but the time has come for me to pursue that as a private citizen. Therefore, I will not seek re-election in 2024.”

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D.C. continues to have largest percentage of LGBT residents: report Williams Institute shows 14.5% of locals are LGBT, greater than all 50 states

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

A report released last month by the Williams Institute, an LGBT think tank affiliated with the University of California Law School in Los Angeles, shows that LGBT adults make up 14.5 percent of the adult population in the District of Columbia, a figure nearly twice as large as the 7.8 percent of LGBT adults in Oregon, which the report says has the second highest percentage of LGBT adults after D.C. The report shows that Delaware came in third place, with 7.5 percent of its adult population found to be LGBT. According to the report, Virginia has an adult LGBT population of 5.9 percent and Maryland’s LGBT adult population is 5.4 percent.

It says the estimated total percentage of LGBT adults in the United States is 5.5 percent, which comes to a total number of 13,942,200.

The 16-page report, entitled Adult LGBT Population in the United States, says it bases its LGBT population figures on data gathered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey for the combined years of 2020 and 2021, the most recent data available from that survey.

It points out that the CDC conducts its annual surveillance survey that gathers a wide range of health-related and demographic data, including sexual orientation and gender identity, by telephone “with representative samples of non-institutionalized adults” who live in each state, D.C., and three U.S. territories. Respondents to the survey remain anonymous, the report says.

“LGBT people reside in all regions of the U.S.,” the report says. “Consistent with the overall population in the United States, more LGBT adults live in the South than in any other region,” it says, comprising 35.9 percent of the southern states. It says LGBT adults make up 24.5 percent

Mayor MURIEL BOWSER has described D.C. as ‘the gayest city in the world’ and a new study shows she’s right.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

of the population in the Western U.S., 21.1 percent in the Midwest, and 18.5 percent in the Northeast region.

As expected, the report says the actual number of LGBT adults is highest in the larger states compared to D.C., which the report says has an adult LGBT population of 81,400. California has the highest number of LGBT adult residents at 1,549,600, according to the report. The next highest is Texas, with 1,071,300, followed by Florida, with 898,000, New York, with 853,600, and Pennsylvania, with 586,500.

The report shows Virginia has an adult LGBT population of 390,700, with Maryland’s LGBT adult population at 252,700, and Delaware’s at 56,600.

“In terms of the number of LGBT adults, the top states with the largest number of LGBT adults are also the states with the largest overall populations, except for Washington, which is 13th in terms of overall adult population and

10th in terms of the adult LGBT population,” the report states.

Among the report’s findings is young people at the age of 18 to 24 are much more likely to self-identify as LGBT compared to those at an older age. It shows that 15.2 percent of people ages 18-25, or 4,659,600 people, identify as LGBT in the surveys. According to the report, the 9.1 percent of people ages 25-34 identify as LGBT, 4.1 percent of those 35-49 identify as LGBT adults, and 2.7 percent of those 50 to 64 identify as LGBT adults.

Only 1.8 percent identify as LGBT among people 65 years of age or older, the report says.

USA Today reports that the Williams Institute report, which was released on Dec. 6, reconfirms earlier LGBT population surveys that also found the highest percentage of LGBT adults live in the South, with D.C. found to have the highest percentage of LGBT adults in previous surveys.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has often mentioned D.C.’s status as the U.S. jurisdiction with the highest percentage LGBT residents in her appearances before LGBT audiences.

“As the mayor says, ‘We are the gayest city in the world’ and we are proud to be home to the largest percentage of LGBTQIA+ folks in the nation,” said Japer Bowles, director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs. “We don’t take this lightly,” said Bowles, adding that this distinction “comes from the resources and community that we continually support and empower.”

Added Bowles, “D.C. will continue to be a leader for LGBTQIA+ rights and resources and we welcome all, no matter your identity or who you love to live, work, and play in D.C.” The full report can be accessed via ucla.edu.

Prominent LGBTQ rights attorney Mauro Montoya dies at 65 Former D.C. resident was legal director at Whitman-Walker in 1980s

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

Mauro Walden-Montoya, a prominent LGBTQ rights attorney in D.C. who was among the first to represent people with HIV facing discrimination before he moved to New Mexico and became active in LGBTQ rights endeavors and operated several small businesses, died Dec. 18 from complications associated with cancer. He was 65.

People from D.C. and AlbuquerMAURO WALDENMONTOYA died que, N.M., where Montoya lived and Dec. 18. worked since the late 1990s, describe him as a selfless advocate and supporter of the LGBTQ and HIV communities for decades.

Amy Nelson, an official with D.C.’s Whitman-Walker Health, said Montoya became Whitman-Walker’s first director of legal services in 1986 as a gay man living with HIV. Nelson said Montoya for at least two years assisted Whitman-Walker patients “who were facing unspeakable mistreatment and discrimination as they battled AIDS.” Montoya was born and raised in Albuquerque. He graduated in 1976 from Albuquerque’s Highland High School and received a bachelor’s degree in 1980 from New Mexico State University. He received his law degree from D.C.’s George Washington University School of Law in 1984.

He began work as Whitman-Walker’s legal director in

1986. Nelson said he worked with a network of dedicated volunteer attorneys to provide legal support for people with HIV facing discrimination that drew local and national news media attention. Nelson pointed to a 2016 event that Montoya attended in 2016 where he “recounted the clients he assisted and befriended in the 1980s, their prolonged legal battles in that time of uncertainty and missing legal protections, and the many funerals he attended as well.”

According to Nelson, Montoya shared that he was “too shaken” to continue in that role after two years but remained committed to serving the LGBTQ and AIDS communities in other ways in D.C. before returning to his home city of Albuquerque. Before returning to Albuquerque, Montoya served as president of D.C.’s Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, an LGBTQ group, from 1990 to 1991, according to former Stein Club President Kurt Vorndran.

In 1994, Montoya was the keynote speaker for the federal government’s World AIDS Day events in D.C., where President Bill Clinton introduced him, a biographical writeup by the LGBTQ Victory Fund says.

Among his endeavors in Albuquerque, Montoya became co-owner of the real estate management companies ABQSEQ Partners and Barbary Lane. He also became owner of a classic vehicle restoration shop called Madness Motors, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund’s writeup, which came out at the time Montoya became a candidate in 2021 for a seat on the Albuquerque City Council.

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Montoya lost that race in the November 2021 election, but supporters said he raised important issues as a candidate and drew attention as the first out LGBTQ and Latino candidate with HIV to run for a seat on the Council.

The Victory Fund biography says in July 2013, Montoya became a minister in the Universal Life Church and performed marriages for more than 100 same-sex couples in New Mexico, California, Texas, and Washington State.

Upon his retirement as an attorney, Montoya became a professional volunteer, the Victory Fund writeup says.

Among other things, he became the LGBTQ Liaison for the Albuquerque Trolley Company, he served as president of the Albuquerque LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and sat on several boards, including Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and the Wheels Museum.

Montoya is survived by his husband of 15 years, Andy Walden-Montoya. Walden-Montoya couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but he expressed his thoughts about his late husband in a post on Facebook.

“He was a good man, with a passionate heart and deep soul,” Walden-Montoya wrote. “I am a better person because of the 15 years we had together,” he stated, adding, “For all of those who knew him, I hope feelings of contentment, happiness, and joy grow to replace loss and sorrow.

Our world is safer and happier because of the life he lived.

I miss him immeasurably. I am a better person because of Mauro.”

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Early polls show Biden, Democrats face uphill fight President losing support among Latino, Black, young voters

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com

With the holidays behind us and the Iowa caucuses less than two weeks away, the nation’s attention is turning toward this year’s presidential election as new polls suggest President Biden and the Democrats face uphill battles to victory.

On the heels of the new numbers, top Biden-Harris reelection campaign officials hosted a press call on Tuesday to preview some steps they will take as part of what Campaign Manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez called an “aggressive push in early 2024 to mobilize the winning coalition that will reelect” the president and vice president.

According to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll released Monday, the president is, as Fox News wrote, “hemorrhaging support from Black, Hispanic and young voters.” Among those first two groups, compared with data from 2020 captured by Pew Research, the poll showed Biden’s support down a respective 29 and 25 percentage points.

Among voters younger than 35, meanwhile, the data showed him trailing former President Donald Trump by four points. The younger demographic was instrumental in delivering him the White House in 2020.

Ominous new polls show PRESIDENT BIDEN losing support among key demographics that delivered his victory in 2020.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The findings come with important caveats. For example, to the extent that support for Biden has eroded, the numbers suggest a greater embrace of third-party candidates rather than movement in the direction of Trump.

However, 44 percent of Trump voters ranked their enthusiasm for his candidacy at a 10 out of 10, versus just 18 percent of Biden supporters.

A survey released by Gallup at the end of December found Biden’s approval rating hovering around 39 percent.

Gallup notes that former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump had slightly higher ratings heading into the year they sought reelection, 43 and 45 percent, respectively, while all of the other past seven presidents were above 50 percent at this point in their tenures.

Another survey, which was released on Monday by The Washington Post/University of Maryland, found that one-third of U.S. adults believe that Biden was not

legitimately elected president of the United States in 2020.

The survey was meant to explore evolving views about the deadly ransacking of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. On that topic, opinion is moving “in a more sympathetic direction to Trump and those who stormed the Capitol” according to the Post.

At the same time, the paper wrote, “most Americans have not bought into that revised version of events” and Jan. 6 remains a political liability for the former president heading into 2024. For example, most Republicans said they believe punishments for those who breached the Capitol were either “fair” (37 percent) or “not harsh enough” (17 percent).

As they gear up for the months ahead, it looks like the Biden campaign is betting that Jan. 6 will be a sticking point for voters, and an illustration of the contrast between the candidates’ visions for America.

FOCUSING ON THE CONTRAST

“On election day in 2020, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by more than 7 million votes and got more votes than any presidential candidate in history,” Chávez Rodriguez said. “On Jan. 6 2021, we witnessed a very different vision of America — one defined by revenge, retribution, and a rebuke of our very democracy.”

“When Joe Biden ran for president four years ago, he said we are in the battle for the soul of America,” she said. “And as we look towards November 2024, we still are. The threat Donald Trump posed in 2020 to American democracy has only grown more dire in the years since. There’s less than two weeks until GOP primary voters began casting ballots in Iowa and former President Donald Trump’s extreme and dangerous MAGA agenda continues to define the Republican Party.”

“The choice for voters next year will not simply be between competing philosophies of governing,” Chávez Rodriguez said. “The choice for the American people in November 2024 will be about protecting our democracy and every American’s fundamental freedoms.”

The campaign’s Communications Director Michael Tyler later told reporters, “If reelected, Donald Trump will use all of his power to systematically dismantle and destroy our democracy.”

“He wants to end free and fair elections altogether, is promising to rule as a dictator and use the government to exact retribution on his political enemies, all while he and his MAGA supporters encourage and applaud political violence across the country,” Tyler said.

He noted the Post’s poll about Jan. 6, highlighting that respondents said the insurrection was an attack on democracy that should never be forgotten, and an event for which Trump bore responsibility.

BIDEN TEAM OUTLINES EARLY 2024 PLANS

“The threat that Donald Trump posed in 2020 to American democracy has grown even more dangerous than it was when President Biden ran last time,” Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks said during the call. “That’s why we’re hitting the ground

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early. We’re running hard this year to bring the message directly to voters who will decide this election.”

This will begin, Fulks said, with an address by Biden on Saturday, Jan. 6 near Valley Forge, Pa., a historic site with important ties to the American Revolution. “There, the president will make the case directly that democracy and freedom — two powerful ideas that united the 13 colonies and that generations throughout our nation’s history have fought and died for, a stone’s throw from where he’ll be on Saturday — remains central to the fight we’re in today.”

Biden will then head to South Carolina on Jan. 8, for a visit to Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, Fulks said, the site where a white supremacist murdered nine Black churchgoers in 2015.

He said Vice President Kamala Harris will also be in Charleston on Saturday for an appearance at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Women’s Missionary Society annual retreat to discuss the attacks on freedoms in states across the country.

Vice President KAMALA HARRIS plans to campaign on abortion on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade later this month.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

“And on the anniversary of Roe v Wade later this month on Jan. 22, Vice President Harris will kick off her official reproductive freedoms tour in Wisconsin,” Fulks said, “where she’ll highlight the chaos and cruelty created by Trump all across the country when it comes to women’s health care.”

Harris will be joined “in full force,” he said, by “the entirety of our campaign” on that anniversary.

“The rest of 2024 will be no different as we will continue scaling up our operation and taking our message to the American people,” Fulks said. “We’re entering the election year with significant resources thanks to a historic 2023 fundraising operation, including a strong Q4 powered by consistent and stronger than expected grassroots support.”

Fulks said this will mean expanding programs across states, hiring leadership teams “in every battleground state,” and dedicating thousands of staff to “talking to our voters early and often” while implementing new organizing efforts.

Finally, he said, “we’re going to continue to scale up our paid media program including a new paid media investment we will announce ahead of the president’s speech near Valley Forge on Saturday.”

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Ohio governor vetoes trans youth healthcare ban

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine last week took the extraordinary step of vetoing a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Ohio.

His move will be remembered alongside famous vetoes by Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah, who opposed anti-transgender measures proposed by Republican legislatures in their states.

Due to DeWine’s veto, the bill must now return to the Ohio legislature, where a three-fifths vote is required to override the veto and pass the bill over the governor’s objections.

“Parents have looked me in the eye and told me that but for this treatment, their child would be dead,” DeWine said to reporters in a press briefing. “And youth who are transgender have told me they are thriving today because of their transition.”

Ohio Gov. MIKE DEWINE briefs reporters on his decision to veto a gender-affirming care ban bill. (YouTube screenshot)

He then spoke about his individual discussions with those parents: “What so many of these young people and their families have also told me was that nothing they’ve ever faced in their life could prepare them for this tough journey. Parents are making decisions for the most precious thing in their life: their child. These are gut wrenching decisions that should be made by parents, and should be informed by teams of doctors that are advising them.”

He then reiterated the importance parents’ rights, “While the parents doctors inform those decisions, it is the parents who know their child best … Were Ohio to pass HB 68, Ohio would be saying that the state knows what is better, what is medically best for the child, than

the two people who love that child the most: The parents.”

When asked what was the biggest influence on his decision, he cited his conversation with parents as well as testimony from directors and doctors of Ohio’s Children’s Hospitals, which rank #1 in the U.S. He closed, “I cannot sign this bill as it is currently written. Just a few minutes ago, I vetoed this bill.”

The bill, House Bill 68, sponsored by Rep. Gary Click, a right-wing pastor, combines both a gender affirming care ban and a sports ban. Click has acknowledged practicing conversion therapy.

Under the proposed law, gender-affirming care for trans youth would be prohibited, and trans individuals would be excluded from a wide range of sports, from dance to darts, in both high schools and colleges. If Ohio enacts this bill, it will become the 22nd state to explicitly outlaw gender-affirming care for minors. Notably, all these states have seen such legislation driven by Republican supermajorities.

The legislation received swift and strong opposition in the state. Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, a Democratic senator sitting on the committee that passed the bill, noted that there were 525 opponents to only 43 proponents that submitted testimony.

Most of the proponents of the legislation came from out of state and included high profile right-wing figures like Riley Gaines and Chloe Cole. Testifying against the bill, however, were leading representatives from most major medical organizations in the U.S. and Ohio, including the Ohio Children’s Hospitals.

Others who testified included parents of trans youth in the state, the trans kids themselves, business leaders, therapists and local activists. Significantly, even many detransitioners — individuals who previously identified as trans but have since returned to a cisgender identity — spoke out against the bill. This fact is particularly noteworthy considering the right wing’s use of detransition narratives as a tool to target trans individuals, despite detransitioning being a relatively rare occurrence among trans people.

Despite widespread opposition, Republicans gave attention to conservative supporters of the bill who argued that rejecting trans individuals was the appropriate approach. “Partners for Ethical Care,” an organization comprising parents who oppose their trans children’s gender

identities, likened being trans to an addiction that needs treatment.

Furthermore, the Alliance Defending Freedom, known for its involvement in drafting and defending such bills, also advocated in favor of the legislation. This stance aligns with the organization’s history of association with the “ex-gay” movement and its ongoing defense of conversion therapy for both gay and trans individuals This veto is crucial as it grants trans youth in Ohio additional time to access medical care and provides families the opportunity to exert further pressure on Republican legislators. Some may interpret DeWine’s veto as an indication to reassess the bill. DeWine, a popular governor with a 57 percent approval rating in Ohio, wields significant influence within the state’s Republican Party. His position could signal that the bill may not enjoy the level of popularity its Republican sponsors have claimed.

Gender affirming care, the kind banned by this bill, saves lives. There is extraordinary amounts of evidence backing that up: some studies have reported up to 73 percent decreases in suicidality among trans youth who are allowed to obtain it.

These findings were replicated as early two weeks ago, when a journal article was published in the prestigious Journal of Adolescent Health, puberty blockers were associated with a significant reduction in depression and anxiety. The endorsement of gender affirming care is supported by a collection of over 50 journal articles compiled by Cornell University, all of which underscore its beneficial effects.

The veto statement included some caveats. DeWine announced his intention to use administrative processes to prohibit surgeries in the state and to gather data on trans care for both youth and adults. However, the most concerning aspect of DeWine’s announcement was the potential for increased scrutiny of trans adults in Ohio.

The specifics of these administrative processes and rules are yet to be determined.

Now, the bill returns to the legislature, offering a temporary reprieve for families and parents of trans youth.

Meanwhile, Republicans face a pivotal decision: Prioritize the welfare of Ohio families and adhere to best medical practices, or yield to conservative influencers who advocate for policies detrimental to trans youth for political gain.

ERIN REED

LGBTQ books are banned the most: report

An analysis of 872 challenges to 444 books in 29 states conducted by the Washington Post revealed books featuring “LGBTQ characters, themes and stories” are banned the most, while nearly half of all books that were challenged were eventually returned to library shelves.

The study included challenges from the 2021 to 2022 school year in more than 100 school districts.

Compared with all targeted titles, those “about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer lives were 30 percent more likely to be yanked,” while those “by and about people of color, or those about race and racism” were 20

percent likelier to survive challenges, the Post found.

Librarians who spoke to the newspaper were heartened, in many cases, by the high rate of return of challenged books to their shelves, but they also detailed how much time and effort was required to defend them.

Martha Hickson, a librarian who fought off efforts to ban books with LGBTQ themes, said this involved working nights and weekends — while facing down “allegations that she was a pornographer and a pedophile, shouted by parents at school board meetings and written into the book challenges, which named her personally.”

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Moms for Liberty, a powerful anti-LGBTQ organization deemed an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is behind many of the efforts to pull books from library shelves — disproportionately targeting titles with LGBTQ content, or those by and about people of color or race and racism.

Last month, school board candidates backed by Moms for Liberty suffered major losses in closely watched offyear elections, with NPR reporting the results showed the group is facing increased opposition at the local level.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

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Man convicted of murdering nonbinary lesbian in Kenya gets 30 years

SHEILA LUMUMBA (Photo via Instagram)

A Kenyan court has sentenced a man convicted of murdering a nonbinary lesbian person to 30 years in prison.

The Washington Blade previously reported authorities on April 17, 2022, found

Sheila Lumumba’s body in their home in Karatina, a town in Nyeri County. Authorities said Lumumba had been raped before their murder.

The Nyeri High Court on Dec. 19 sentenced Billington Wambui Mwathi in connection with Lumumba’s murder.

Three Kenyan advocacy groups — the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, galck+ and the Initiative for Equality and Non Discrimination — in a statement criticized the sentence.

“We express profound disappointment as the sen-

Israeli Supreme Court rules LGBTQ couples can adopt children

Six years after the state pledged to change adoption law so that discrimination against same-sex couples would be eliminated, the Israeli Supreme Court last week unanimously ruled that existing law allows LGBTQ couples to adopt.

The judges issued their decision as part of a discussion of the petition that two LGBTQ couples submitted in 2021 with the Reform Center, the Aguda, Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance and the Proud Fathers Association.

The petition dealt with the adoption law that states “there is no adoption except by a man and his wife together,” thus discriminating against LGBTQ couples who can only adopt children in which heterosexual couples are not interested. These are usually older children or children with special needs, and it is required that the term “man and his wife” in the adoption law be interpreted to include spouses of the same sex.

The Israeli Supreme Court

(Photo by the Israeli Supreme Court; public domain)

“Six decades have passed since the box ‘man and his wife together’ was written in the adoption law,” wrote the judges in their decision, “Since then, we have learned to know that a stable and loving family unit, which can form a solid foundation for raising a healthy child, can be a family unit of a man and a woman, of a woman and a woman and of each person — provided that the best interests of the child are preserved. This insight is the focus of the interpretation given by us today to the provision of Section 3 of the law. In this interpretive ruling, which brings same-sex couples through the ‘main door’ of non-adoption, we are walking in a groove that has already been plowed in rulings in the field of family law and in other areas, which over the years have recognized the existence of same-sex relationships, the parenting of same-sex couples and their right for equality. Our ruling even continues an existing interpretive axis that refers to

the adoption law, an axis that expands the range of potential efforts beyond the limits of the traditional family model of ‘man and woman,’ in order to fulfill the purpose of the law. This interpretation is therefore required by the changes of the times, the principle of the best interests of the child, human dignity and the principle of equality.”

The issue of discrimination in the adoption law was raised for the first time in front of the Supreme Court in the first petition submitted in 2016. The State then sought to amend the adoption law within a year and a half so that discrimination against LGBTQ couples would be eliminated. In 2019, a legal memorandum was published on the subject, but it was not published.

After the previous government stated there was no political possibility to amend legislation but they had no objection to the petition being scheduled for hearing before the High Court of Justice, a hearing on the petition was scheduled for the summer of 2022, but it was canceled in light of the fall of the government and the elections held at the end of 2022.

The first hearing on the petition was held in August.

According to the State’s position submitted in advance of the hearing, the best way is to wait for the amendment of legislation, but because the justice minister believes that there is no political feasibility to amend legislation and due to the welfare minister’s opposition, who claimed that this “adds complexities and difficulties to the child” contrary to the positions of the professionals in his office, there is a legal anchor that will make it possible to receive the expansive interpretation that the petitioners request. The State, as well as the petitioners in this case, insists that this is also required due to the principle of the best interests of the child — to provide a home for the child regardless of the sexual orientation of his parents.

“This is a ray of light in a dark time,” said petitioners Shahar Gloverman and Shay Gortler. “For more than eight years we have been waiting in line for adoption. The High Court of Justice will no longer give us back these years or the consequences of the long wait, but we are happy that the door of adoption has been opened for the next LGBT couples.”

“During the difficult times we are in, we welcome small moments of kindness that inspire hope that we will rise from the ruins for a better, more just and united future,” added petitioners Tzafir Gideon and Ido Ziv, “We thank the court for its ruling that put an end to the discriminatory distinction between us as parents, which has no understanding And between the welfare of the child, one thing and another. Just as there are no second-class children, there are also no second-class parents. Love is love is love.”

“For over seven years we have been fighting for LGBTQ couples so that they can realize their dream of becoming

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tence falls tragically short of the justice Sheila deserves and the severity of the crimes committed,” it reads. “Sheila Lumumba’s murder on April 17, 2022, represented not only a heinous act of violence against an individual, but also an attack on the dignity and safety of the LGBTIQ+ community.”

“The leniency of this sentence sends a disconcerting message regarding the value placed on the lives of LGBTIQ+ individuals in our society,” adds the statement.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Estonia’s marriage equality law takes effect

The Estonian Parliament (Photo by Griash Bruev/Bigstock)

A law that extends marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples in Estonia took effect on Monday.

Lawmakers last July approved the marriage equality bill by a 55-34 vote margin. Estonia is the first Baltic country and the first former Soviet republic to allow same-sex couples to legally marry.

“It’s an important moment that shows Estonia is a part of northern Europe,” Baltic Pride Project Manager Keio Soomelt told the Guardian newspaper. “For the LGBT+ community, it is a very important message from the government that says, finally, we are as equal as other couples; that we are valuable and entitled to the same services and have the same options.”

The country’s civil partnership law has been in place since 2013.

The Guardian reported same-sex couples could begin to apply for marriage licenses on Monday. Authorities are expected to process the first applications by Feb. 2.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

a family through adoption,” said attorney Ricky Shapira Rosenberg of the Reform Center for Religion and State who represented the petitioners. “We welcome the verdict, which accepted the position The petitioners that there should be no discrimination between same-sex couples and other couples for the purpose of adoption.

The court ruled that the law stating that ‘there is no adoption except by a man and a woman’ should be interpreted as applying to couples of the same sex since the purpose of the adoption law is to ensure the welfare of the child, and in this regard there is no difference between LGBT families and heterosexual families. Once again it has been proven that the one who protects human rights in general and of the Lahtav community in particular is the Supreme Court.”

ANITA GOULD/WDG

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HAYDEN GISE

is an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner representing parts of Woodley Park.

D.C.’s trans commissioner on role of hope in fights ahead LGBTQ movement stands at a critical crossroads

As we begin 2024, the LGBTQ rights movement stands at a critical crossroads. Now, more than ever, it’s essential to understand our history and legacy, to recognize our organizing strategies and demands, and to revitalize our hope.

My name is Hayden Gise and I am the only transgender elected official in a state renowned for its LGBTQ community and acceptance. I represent parts of Woodley Park, a vibrant neighborhood in D.C. as its Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. At my late-early 20s, my identity as a lesbian, Jewish, Democratic Socialist, and union organizer brings a fresh perspective to my role.

One year into office, I’ve focused on tangible community improvements – clearing storm debris, increasing bike parking, and advocating for district-wide initiatives like a Green New Deal for Social Housing and full implementation of ballot Initiative 82. These efforts might not be Earth shattering, but they’re significant steps in building trust and effecting change.

My election brought messages of hope and humor from constituents who found meaning in my identity as a transgender individual. However, it’s not just my neighborhood I represent. Trans people from beyond my district reach out, seeking support against discrimination. While I can’t single-handedly combat transphobia, my position allows me to liaise with authorities like the Office of Human Rights, ensuring action is taken. The few trans elected officials are voices for our community whether we want to be or not.

I had been out for years before being elected to public office, but historically, coming out for queer elders was fraught with social costs. Today, while these challenges persist, they often represent reactionary backslides rather than predominant norms. The hopeful narrative of ‘it gets better’ from the 2010s now grapples with the reality of anti-trans legislation, dimming the light of optimism for queer youth.

The conservative wave of transphobia, often cloaked as ‘common sense’, increasingly appears as an unfounded obsession disconnected from mainstream views. My interactions with cisgender constituents are primarily focused on neighborhood concerns – speed bumps, leaf collection, and the functions of a Neighborhood Commissioner.

These discussions rarely delve into pronouns or surgery.

Even my critics focus more on my policies than my gender identity. In the eyes of the media and my constituents, I am Commissioner Gise or I am Hayden, not defined by my trans identity. The disconnect between an over-hyped culture war and a tolerant public, underlines the necessity for our community to reignite the flames of hope and fight back with resilience, as our predecessors did.

Our path forward requires a deep understanding of our present circumstances, a connection with our history, and a clear vision of the future we aim to create. Our actions today will shape the legacy for the next generation, emphasizing the importance of progress and inclusiveness.

Hope is our strongest ally in this journey. It fuels our struggle for equality and unites us in our quest for liberation. Our solidarity across diverse queer identities is pivotal, empowering us to overcome the hurdles on our path to justice. Optimism must guide our ongoing struggle. We draw strength from our past victories, inspired by the wins of those who came before us. Their legacy gives us the courage to confront today’s uncertainties, united in the belief of a brighter future for all.

We don’t have to be heroes to change the conditions around us; we don’t have to be perfect to be impactful. What’s required is passion, dedication, empathy, and the understanding that we can be agents of change. Our ordinary humanity is our strength, not our weakness, and our individual and collective imperfections don’t hinder us but connect us to each other and to the ongoing journey toward justice and equality.

Trans people are integral parts of society, living ordinary lives – socializing, loving, working. We’re not just a label or a cause; we are individuals contributing to the richness of our communities and believing in a future where everyone’s basic needs are met, where dignity is universal, and where neighborly respect is the norm. I’m driven by the vision of a society that treats everyone as my neighbors treat me – with acceptance and respect for who they are.

The path forward for our community is as resonant and clear as Harvey Milk said in 1978, “Come out. Once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions.

For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared.”

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PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

Some hopes and dreams as we enter 2024 Biden’s re-election, peace in the Middle East, and more

As we move into 2024, a presidential election year, it is my hope the country, and the world, will end up in a better place than we did at the end of 2023.

I don’t expect miracles. My hope is some people in our country come back to their senses and understand progress will only be made when people talk to, and listen to, each other, and be willing to compromise to find solutions to our problems. I don’t expect we will see the old Republican Party reappear. Trump will still control the party until he is defeated in November. But let’s hope that when Congress comes back in January there will be a deal on the border issues, allowing Congress to pass a bill funding Ukraine and Israel aid, on which our national security depends. Then they must fund the government through the rest of the year.

It is my hope Trump will see some of his trials begin in 2024. Despite this, he will be the Republican candidate against Biden. Conventions will be held in the summer, and the campaign will hit its final stride. I believe when it’s a decision between Biden and Trump, young people won’t vote against their own best interests. They will come out and vote for Biden based on an improving economy, their improving job options, the chance to have their student loans forgiven and to move the nation forward in the fight for equality for women, African Americans, and other minorities, including the LGBTQ community. They will vote for Biden to ameliorate the disasters caused by climate change.

Then we must pray early in the year the Israel/Hamas war will end. Hamas will be defeated at least to the extent Israel will feel comfortable with a ceasefire. Then the world must work to see the people of Gaza have the food they need, medical facilities rebuilt, and there is a way forward for the Palestinian people to live freely, and have their children grow up free, safely, and with the same options the children of Israel, and all children around the world, must have. Perhaps after this tragic war Hamas began, the dream of moving toward a two-state solution, can become reality.

We must curb the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia everywhere, particularly on our college campuses. Students must be educated on the history of the Middle East, and the land called Palestine, allowing for discussion in a collegial way so students can share their opinions, their passions, and learn from each other. Isn’t that what we hope will happen at universities where too often passion, not reason, tends to rule?

Then in 2024 if Democrats win, we can move the nation forward on restoring the rights of women to control their bodies, and their healthcare choices. We can see the LGBTQ community granted full equality, finally passing the Equality Act and move away from the hate and vitriol Trump and his acolytes spew. We can work to rid the nation of structural racism so African Americans, and all minorities, are treated fairly and have full equality, and economic opportunity.

I want to see the crime emergency in D.C. end, guns taken off our streets, and our children educated to settle their disputes without guns. To see an end to homelessness.

Maybe we can see a truce declared between the D.C. mayor, the attorney general, and the City Council, and see them work together to solve issues. I remind some of our Council members they will be judged on what they accomplish, not on the press releases they churn out in the next two and a half years, when they try to run for mayor in 2026.

It is my wish in 2024 all my friends will see only health and happiness. For myself I expect to continue to travel and have two cruises planned — one in February to the Galapagos, and another transatlantic the end of October. I also anticipate my memoir, which will include my coming out story, being published in April. I hope to continue writing for the Blade on politics and my Comings & Goings column and to do some work to impact the elections. I hope to help to elect a Democratic Congress and see Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win a second term.

This can be a momentous year, one we will be able to look back on one day with positive thoughts and memories. A year that will see the nation less divided, and a world more at peace. I ask you join me in praying for that, but also making a commitment to do what you can to see it happen.

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Subjects matter: an interview with author Martin Duberman New book ‘The Line of Dissent’ debuts Jan. 8

By GREGG SHAPIRO Gay writer and historian Martin Duberman is the very BLADE: In many ways, “Gay & Lesbian Review” fills a definition of a living legend. At the age of 93, with nearvoid left by the loss of “Christopher Street,” as well as ly 40 books to his credit, Duberman shows no signs of the death of several regional LGBTQ newspapers. What slowing down. His latest book, “The Line of Dissent: Gay does it mean to you that a publication such as “Gay & Outsiders and the Shaping of History” (G&LR Books, Lesbian Review” exists?

2023), out Jan. 8, compiles a dozen essays (many of DUBERMAN: I think the role “Gay & Lesbian Review” which were previously published in “Gay & Lesbian Replays in the community is significant. No other publicaview Worldwide”), along with a pair of codas. Some of tion reaches an educated, but not academic, audience. the names, including W.H. Auden, Alfred Kinsey, and Sylvia Rivera, will be familiar to many readers, while othBLADE: 2023 turned out to be a year in which hisers are sure to be revelations. Duberman was gracious torically significant LGBTQ people — including Bayard enough to make time for an interview in advance of the Rustin, Diana Nyad, and Leonard Bernstein — are the book’s publication. subjects of high-profile biopics. Are there one or two people about whom you wrote in “The Line of Dissent” BLADE: In the introduction to “The Line of Dissent,” that you think would make a good subject for a movie? you write that the book is “opinionated” and “contains DUBERMAN: Lord, yes! Offhand, I couldn’t name even no demolition jobs,” and you note “appraisals are mostone who wouldn’t qualify for a film, and who wouldn’t ly appreciative.” Is this in response to something you’d find an audience. Every one of their lives was dramatic seen other historians doing? and rich. As were dozens of other LGBTQ+ people not MARTIN DUBERMAN: Historians, being human, in the book. Check out the lists in “Outwords” (theouthave a wide range of responses to the individuals they wordsarchive.org) as one source for candidates. It’s an choose to write about. In my earlier books (“Charles invaluable resource for candidates to write about and Francis Adams, 1807-1886” and “James Russell Lowell”), to honor.

I felt personally more distant from the subjects. But my recent work follows the trajectory of my politics — that is, BLADE: Essay subjects Essex Hemphill, Andrew moving steadily leftward.

Dworkin, and Lincoln Kirstein are people about whom you also wrote the full-length books “Hold Tight Gently,” BLADE: Most of the essays in “The Line of Dissent” “The Feminist as Revolutionary,” and “The Worlds of Linpreviously appeared in “Gay & Lesbian Review Worldcoln Kirstein,” respectively. What makes a person a faswide.” Was the idea to compile the essays into a book cinating subject worthy of a book-length project to you? your idea or G&LR publisher Richard Schneider’s?

DUBERMAN: Using “drama” as a guideline, I’d say DUBERMAN: The idea for the book was mine though that Sylvia Rivera’s life was especially full of vivid and Richard was immediately enthusiastic. sometimes hair-raising episodes. Ditto Essex Hemphill and Andrea Dworkin. A film on Andrea was recently BLADE: Were there any essays of yours from “Gay & completed, but I haven’t seen any release date for it.

Lesbian Review Worldwide” that didn’t make the cut for the book?

BLADE: When you write a revelatory essay such as DUBERMAN: There are 12 essays in the book, and “Edward Sagarin: ‘Father’ of the Homophile Movement,” I’ve probably written some 20 (my memory’s a little are you as excited about sharing your knowledge and/ shaky here), which, if accurate, would mean some seven or the results of your research as you hope the reader to eight didn’t make the cut. David McReynolds would will be when they receive the information? be one example.

1 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 05, 2 0 2 4

DUBERMAN: My level of excitement varies with the subject. The three you cite are among the most important. In a semi-conscious way, I tend to respond to “second rank” figures — that is, people who in their own day made a substantial political contribution but the general public has forgotten.

BLADE: “The Line of Dissent” opens with the dedication: “To the current generation of queer radicals. Please hurry!” I live in South Florida, which is suffering greatly under anti-LGBTQ Gov. DeSantis and his cronies. However, we are seeing young LGBTQ people in the state taking action and becoming activists in response. That’s not just happening in Florida, but in other places, as well. Does that give you a sense of hope for the future?

DUBERMAN: Yes! I see lots of evidence of activity emerging from the latest generation. Alas, I also see Young Republicans who are equally outspoken. It could come down to a dogfight, with damn near everything at stake. For now, I’m still sticking with my optimistic prediction.

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By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Friday, January 05

Tuesday, January 09

Center Aging Friday Tea Time will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. For more details, email adam@thedccenter.org.

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social” at 7 p.m. at The Commentary. This event is ideal for meeting new people and making new friends in a casual, facilitated environment. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer-facilitated group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook page.

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

Saturday, January 06 LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. For more details, visit thedccenter. org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Sunday, January 07 AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Coffee” at 12 p.m. at As You Are. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy an evening of Italian-style dining and conversation with other LGBTQ folk on the enclosed front patio. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, January 10 Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email centercareers@thedccenter.org or visit www.thedccenter.org/ careers.

Thursday, January 11 The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org or call 202682-2245.

“A Baltimore Queer Mixer” will be at 7 p.m. at Aliceanna Social Club. This will be an exclusive evening of dancing, networking, and fun. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

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

“The One Dyke Comedy Show” will be at 7 p.m. at Not Just Crab - Randallstown. This event celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and the power of laughter, and promises to be a hilarious evening filled with witty jokes, hilarious anecdotes, and side-splitting performances. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

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

MAL Weekend kicks off next week.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

OUT & ABOUT MAL kicks off Jan. 11 with Bootcamp

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend arrives next week with a kickoff event Thursday, Jan. 11 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Bunker. Organizers at Kinetic promise a surprise drill sergeant who will whip you into shape. Joshua Ruiz DJs the event. This event is for VIP pass holders only; visit kineticpresents.com for details.

Learn more about scams and seniors The DC Center for the LGBT Community and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living will team up for “Scams & Fraud: A Conversation with Tzedek DC” on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. on Zoom.

This webinar will teach guests how to avoid becoming a victim of a scam, highlight common scams that target seniors, and offer tips on how to protect themselves. The event will be led by Courtney Wilkes, staff attorney with the Economic Exploitation & Fraud Prevention Project at Tzedek DC, and will include a Q&A portion.

For more details and to RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website.

Looking to start 2024 on a positive note?

“New Year, New You: Setting Intentions Workshop” will be on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. at a D.C. location to be announced soon.

This event will allow guests to immerse themselves in the art of intention setting through journaling, finding solace in guided meditations, awakening the spirit with breath work, and harmonizing with the melodies of sound healing.

Crafting a vision board becomes a poetic expression of dreams. This gathering is more than an event; it’s a transformative experience, an opportunity to step into the new year with a clear vision, enriched spirit, and the warm embrace of a loving community.

Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

JA NUA RY 0 5 , 2 0 2 4 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 1

FILM

Emma Stone shines in ‘Poor Things’ New film less far-fetched fantasy than it is social satire

By JOHN PAUL KING

If you’re not familiar with the work of filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, you might not be fully prepared for the level of oddness you’ll encounter in “Poor Things,” the Greek director’s latest work and winner of the Golden Lion Award at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. Known for the unsettling and vaguely grotesque absurdities of his mise en scène in movies like “The Lobster” or “The Favourite” the material he’s chosen this time allows his droll-but-disturbing imagination to run wild.

Adapted by Tony McNamara from Scots writer Alasdair Gray’s 1992 faux-Victorian sci-fi novel of the same name, it’s the strange and Odyssean tale of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman whose past is shrouded in mystery after her experimental reanimation by a brilliant-but-controversial doctor (Willem Dafoe, sporting elaborately disfiguring facial prosthetics) following an attempted suicide. With whatever old life she may have had erased from her memory and no exposure to the outside world, she sets out to gain knowledge and experience before settling down into an arranged marriage with a young research assistant (Ramy Youssef), embarking with a debauched lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) for an extended sea cruise, an adventure that shapes her rapidly developing sense of self even as setbacks along the way – along with the shadow of her forgotten former life – threaten to derail her journey to autonomy and force her forever back into the gilded cage of isolation with which women of her era were expected to content themselves.

Ambitious, sprawling, and unapologetically allegorical, Lanthimos’ immersive film makes very little effort to disguise its true identity as a high-concept parable, even as it painstakingly builds the fantastical world in which it takes place; though its setting may look like a palpably authentic version of 19th century London (and later, beyond), it’s as much derived from familiar tropes of literature and cinema as it is from period detail, and it leans into the faux-Victorian sci-fi trappings of its Penny Dreadful-ish mad scientist plotline to transform that ostensibly real-world landscape into a dream-like reality that shifts ever deeper into a sort of steampunk-flavored metaverse as Bella’s quest for full personhood takes her further from the social constructs of the “polite society” for which she has been groomed. To that end, the production design from Shona Heath and James Price,

captured by the luminous cinematography – which shifts throughout among varying degrees of black-and-white and color – of Robbie Ryan, creates just the right blend of magical realism and macabre whimsy to make us accept it without question. More crucially, it evokes the kind of not-so-subtle surrealism that helps us understand we’re in an esoteric world of dreams, myths, and fables, no matter how much it might look like the real one.

That’s a key element in making “Poor Things” hit home, because despite the genre trappings in which it is wrapped, it’s a movie that is less far-fetched fantasy than it is social satire. In Lanthimos’ vision, the story’s thematic observations about the conflict between personal freedom and cultural conditioning – particularly when it comes to women – become central. Reborn as a blank slate, Bella is free from the constructs that dictate her proscribed role in society, and she acts according to her true nature – putting her in direct conflict with those she encounters (particularly the men) on her travels. Like a feminist version of Voltaire’s Candide, her episodic adventure exposes her to different aspects of the civilization around her, charting an evolution from naïve bumpkin to self-actualized wise woman that confronts her with a menu of ideological perspectives – mostly advanced, again, by men, all of whom seek to control her for reasons ranging from the protective to the predatory. Seeing it take place in a reality that seems to evolve along with her into an ever more idealized iteration of itself drives home the point that, regardless of when it takes place, it’s a story about simply being a real human in the here and now, no matter where or when that might be.

Underscoring this sense of the universal are the inherent echoes in its narrative of mythic figures, from Prometheus and Pygmalion to Faust and Frankenstein, all of whom remind us of the dangers we face when we defy “the gods” – or nature itself – in our quest to subvert their dominion over us and exert control over our own fate.

Re-imagined in a tale about a woman attempting to define her own existence in a world that wants to deny her that power, these classic cautionary tales of self-defeating hubris take on a new aspect; instead of reinforcing those traditional morals about knowing our place in the universe, it challenges us to question them instead. Add to that a dedication to the notion of empiricism as the means to true enlightenment – as opposed to blind de-

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

WILLEM DAFOE and EMMA STONE in ‘Poor Things.’

(Image courtesy Searchlight Pictures)

votion to a time-honored construct that no longer works – and you have a movie that feels pointedly apropos for our current reality, despite its period setting.

Yet despite all the brainy-sounding conceptual ideas it invites us to contemplate, Lanthimos’ movie doesn’t feel as cerebral as it is; thanks to his admittedly black sense of humor – more directly comedic here, perhaps, than in his earlier, drier films – it keeps us in a perpetual state of bemused curiosity, which lets us absorb its philosophical explorations without feeling like we’re attending a college lecture. On the contrary, it’s a highly entertaining, near-hypnotic treat for the eyes, ears, and imagination as well as the mind, replete with quirky details that make it sometimes feel like the cinematic equivalent of a Bosch painting. Much of that is due to the tone of Lanthimos’ finely tuned direction and McNamara’s devilishly clever, understated screenplay, not to mention the above-mentioned visual artistry and a loopily ethereal score by first-time film composer Jerskin Fendrix.

But as well crafted as “Poor Things” is, it would be nothing without its star. Stone’s Bella is one of those instantly iconic film characters, larger than life but drawn with such layered authenticity by the performer that she becomes unforgettably human. Tasked with taking her role from pre-verbal simplicity to worldly sophisticate with stops at all points in between, she executes a complicated character arc with the precision of an Olympic athlete; it’s a career-defining accomplishment, worth the price of a ticket by itself – and as a bonus, Dafoe and Ruffalo also deliver memorable, pitch-perfect performances, with out queer comedian/actor Jerrod Carmichael shining as a cynical traveling companion that Bella meets along the way.

It should be noted that, for some viewers, “Poor Things” might push some boundaries; part of Bella’s explorations involve sex, and the movie doesn’t hold back in showing it. It’s also fallen under some criticism for depicting sex work as a means of empowerment for women, though we suspect there are quite a few sex workers out there who would dispute that point.

With that small warning out of the way, we have no qualms about urging you to see “Poor Things” – preferably on a big screen, to fully appreciate its visual style – as soon as possible. Yes, it’s strange – but its strangeness is where its beauty becomes most visible.

JA NUA RY 0 5 , 2 0 2 4 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 3

BOOKS

lood isters a lesbian thriller not to miss

ster ensues when a female s ull is found in the croo of a tree

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER It’s the truth. Scout’s honor.

Pin swear. pit on our palms or pric our fin ers and sha e hands. s a child ou had man wa s to show that ou intended to eep a promise when ou made it and our word was our bond but ou ve rown up. oda ou cross our heart but as in the new novel lood isters b anessa il lie ou hope no one has to die. he wasn t loo in for s eletal remains. or ureau of ndian ffairs archaeolo ist d al er such a find was ver unusual but not un nown. dd thin s happen durin eolo ical surve s on tribal lands ever where. till the ruesome recover in hode sland wasn t top on d s mind. he d otten a call that her sister mma ou was missin in lahoma. ain. ifteen ears before as d mma ou and una whom the d considered a sister were chillin in una s famil s trailer a roup of men bro e in. earin mas s the devils illed una and her parents and the small town of Picher was never the same. either were mma ou or d. s a member of the hero ee ation of lahoma d was well aware of the problems near her hometown the is sues ative mericans had there with the and her own ancestors efforts to survive on land that was iven and then snatched bac . he also new the fact that she had a wife at home in hode sland set her apart since she d left. nd

dru s too man people on tribal allotments were ettin dru s too easil . ut someone wanted d to come home a female s ull was found in the croo of a tree with her old wor bad e in its mouth. espite nowin that d had ed lahoma on purpose her new boss at the pulled strin s to arran e the trip and assi ned her the case. ears a o d had promised to protect una and mma ou. ne of them was alread dead. he other was missin . as the s ull a threat or a warnin ere is the best advice ou re oin to et when ou rab lood isters pa close attention to the minutiae. ithout bein a spoiler little thin s mean a lot. nless ou watch carefull ou ll be cruisin alon at 2 miles an hour in a screamin run throu h pa es and pa es of barel bearable e citement when suddenl our brain will ma e that scratch sound li e a stopped record. t s there where author anessa illie drops three tons of ri ht toward the almost end of her stor and whoa ell . f ou re not pa in attention ou ma have to read the chapter multiple times to cut our hat the.... down to a mana eable level. eah this is that ind of boo the ind that s written with authenticit an insider s feel and hei htened tension that ll eep ou awa e. he ind that ou thin ou now how it ll end and ou re wron . or m ster lovers or thriller fans lood isters is the ind of boo ou should scout out.

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JA NUA RY 0 5 , 2 0 2 4 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 2 5

TRAVEL

Ft. Lauderdale beckons as winter sets in

Check out what to do in Wilton Manors and beyond

By BILL MALCOLM Consider a winter getaway to Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors (The Island City that is surrounded by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The weather is usually perfect with highs in the low 80s and rain free. There is so much to do and if you stay right in Wilton Manors, you will not need a car.

WHAT TO DO

Besides hanging out at Sebastian Beach, there are lots of other things to do.

Hike the boardwalk and enjoy the red mangrove swamp in Colohatchee Park Wilton Manors. I took the electric shuttle there for just $2 known as the Circuit Rideshare service. Download the app and book your ride. It’s like Uber but you share a ride using a cute multi-passenger vehicle. The drivers work for tips so be sure to give them one. Details at ridecircuit.com/fortlauderdale.

Join the Frontrunners for a walk or run. They meet Sundays at 5 p.m. at the Pride Center in Equality Park in Wilton Manors (and also Wednesdays in Holiday Park and Saturday mornings). Details at FRWFL.org.

Pick up some sexy underwear at the Pride Factory clothing store (2282 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors).

See the shark exhibit at the Frost Science Museum.

Walk along the Riverwalk in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

The new Seminole Hardrock Hotel and Casino in nearby Hollywood features live sports betting and games such as craps and roulette. It features restaurants and a guitar shaped hotel.

The Wilton Manors Library has shared computers and is perfect for teleworkers working out of their Wilton Manors office.

Download the Seek App and get to know the flora and fauna. Green iguanas are a startling site as are the colorful ducks that walk around the neighborhoods. The various kinds of palms are interesting. With a subtropical climate, you will find flowers not seen elsewhere in the U.S. Take the Brightline Train to Miami. The super-fast train gets you there in just 30 minutes. You can even buy a snack on board. The train also goes north to Orlando Airport. There is nothing else like it in the U.S.

NIGHTLIFE

Most of the bars are close to each other on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Hunters is my first stop. There is something going on every night. (Yes, the same owner as the one in Palm Springs.)

The LIT was just voted the best bar for lesbians. You will find them at 2440 Wilton Drive.

You will find the leather crowd at the Eagle in Wilton

It’s the time of year for many LGBTQ people on the East Coast to flock to Ft. Lauderdale and Wilton Manors.

Manors.

Georgie’s Alibi and the Monkey Bar (of Ptown fame) at 2232 is a lot of fun.

Johnson’s has dancers and a happy hour from 5 - 8 p.m.

The new NoManors Bar is a lot of fun.

There must be 15 bars within steps of each other on both sides of Wilton Manors Drive. Check them out while in town.

WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT

Enjoy a burger at Rosie’s Bar and Grill (2449 Wilton Drive). Pub on the Drive also has great food and a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. You will find them at 2271 Wilton Manor Dr. Since I travel by myself, I prefer to get food to go at grocery stores. The Publix Market (Florida’s iconic grocery store) can be found at 2633 N. Dixie Highway. Try the hot food bar, which features southern classics. Pick up some Jaymar brand super sweet Florida strawberries for breakfast or a snack. Get cash at their Presto!

ATM, which features no surcharge for many users with accounts at a credit union.

The new Sprouts Market is another option. They too have made-to-order sandwiches and other items.

WHERE TO STAY

The new Wilton River Suites is right on the river and walkable to the bars in Wilton Manors. Check out a bike or kayak during your stay. You get your own apartment, some of which have two bathrooms. They also feature an onsite gym and pool Book your room at wiltonsuites. com.

Men will like the even closer in Calypso Inn, which

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features a small pool. The tropical outdoor gardens are impressive, and it is just two blocks to the bars in Wilton Manors. Tell the owner Wes, I sent you.

I have also stayed at the Home2Suites in the Flagler Arts Village District. The newer hotel is handy to the Riverwalk and downtown.

GETTING THERE

I took Southwest without incident to and from FLL. Then you can Uber your way to the hotel or take the #1 Bus to the #50 Bus to get to Wilton Manors. Details at Broward County Transit. The Tri Rail also runs from the airport to the city. Tri Rail also runs from Miami International as well. Skip the traffic and parking headaches and UBER or take transit. And if you stay in Wilton Manors, you can walk everywhere.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

OUT SFL is a newspaper and a magazine. Pick up a copy of either or find them at OUTSFL.com.

HOTSpots! Florida is another gay tabloid and also a reliable source of current goings on. You can read them on line at HOTSpotsMagazine.com.

The monthly OutClique Magazine also has lots of ideas of what to do while in town.

Special recognition to Richard Gray for his travel tips.

Richard is the Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility for Visit Lauderdale who single handedly transformed Fort Lauderdale into the most welcoming LGBTQ+ city on the planet.

“Everyone Under the Sun” is their motto. Fort Lauderdale wrote the book on how to promote your city.

(Bill Malcolm’s syndicated LGBTQ travel country is carried by LGBTQ publications throughout North America.)

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LEFT PAGE

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REAL ESTATE

Predictions for 2024 D.C. real estate market Declining interest rates and low inventory likely

By JUSTIN NOBLE

number of remote workers. While some of us have returned to our offices and water As we head into 2024 with hopes of our weight dropping, one thing we are seeing, cooler chit chat, a large number of employers are still riding high on the lack of office that is actually happening, is mortgage rates are dropping. space and tighter margins. As such, many buyers are looking at markets outside of metFor obvious reasons it is hard to predict what 2024 holds for mortgage rates and marro areas that are a bit more affordable. Serhant predicts that in 2024 this trend will conket stability. I prefer to collect a few top-notch professionals and then sprinkle in some tinue and while there won’t be a huge mass exodus from metro areas, there will be an inBravo. For this article, we will take a look at predictions from Fannie Mae, one of the large crease in those markets with some tumbleweeds. He also predicts, similarly, that suburbs players in the mortgage industry. Next we will take a look at what the National Associawill see a large increase in interest as city dwellers want yards and a garage and some tion of Realtors has to say (NAR) and finally…we will mix in some of Ryan Serhants two more space to stretch out. One powerful take away from Serhant is this quote: “Rememcents. I enjoy Ryan mainly because he has gray hair like I do. ber, markets shouldn’t dictate Fannie Mae and Freddie your outcomes. They should Mac are the two largest playonly dictate your strategy.” ers in the mortgage industry To take a few paragraphs and as such, I always like to and summarize them while take a look at their projeccurating for our D.C. metro tions as they trend toward market I would say the foltruth. Fannie Mae predicts lowing predictions should be that the average rate will heavily weighted. In 2024, we be right around 6.7% with will see an increase in home a strong belief that they will sales across the D.C. area with not fall below six percent. focus on more suburban and Obviously that is not the 3% rural areas where buyers get we were seeing during the a little more space for their pandemic, but we were seedollars as well as a longer ing a lot during the pandemic term investment. Think Gaiththat most of us don’t want to ersburg, Upper Marlboro and see again. More importantly Bowie, and smaller towns Fannie Mae predicts that the near Middleburg. We will see housing market will remain mortgage rates steady out compressed as the low invenaround the mid 6% range, tory levels remain in full efwhich will make home buyfect. On the flip side, they do ing more affordable for lots project that home prices will of folks. Unfortunately we increase by 2.4% compared will also see inventory levels to last year and this is likeremain lower than average ly the perfect storm combo with new inventory slower to of lower, more manageable launch on the market. When rates, combined with consislooking at the simple undertently low inventory. Simple Experts predict that inventory of homes for sale in the D.C. market will remain low in 2024 as interest rates decline. standing of supply and desupply and demand will raise mand, we have lower interest home prices. This is an interrates, which means more buyers will return to the market that had previously left due esting take away because most buyers believe that the market is returning to pre-panto being priced out, combining that with the consistent low inventory will likely cause demic prices but projections tell us that is not the case. a greater demand that we saw in 2023 in our market which will result in a stable and The next heavy hitter we are going to take a look at is the National Association of strong real estate for 2024.

Realtors. Aside from all of their bad press as of late – we are simply looking at their proOne surefire way to make sure you are geared up and ready for the real estate market jections for 2024 as these are historically pretty spot on. For starters, NAR is predicting is to work alongside a real estate agent that has their pulse on the local market you wish that the number of national home sales will increase by nearly 14% compared to 2023, to transact in as well as an understanding of current economic times. I also have a list of which is a massive increase when taking a look at the interest rates. NAR believes that great personal trainers if you want to work on that other 2024 resolution. the national average home price will pretty much stay the same, however with the lowered interest rate when looking at last year, this will indeed help with home ownership affordability for this year. Similarly to Fannie Mae, NAR believes the mortgage rate to be lowest at 6.3% while that is not what they believe to be the average rate. is a Realtor with Sotheby’s international Realty licensed in D.C., Maryland, Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Ryan Serhant from ‘Million Dollar Listing N.Y.’ and Delaware for your DMV and Delaware Beach needs. Specializing in For starters, Ryan relies heavily on the reminder that not long ago we were in the unfirst-time homebuyers, development and new construction as well as charted times of COVID. Much of our lives, industries, and the world have been changed estate sales, Justin is a well-versed agent, highly regarded, and provides and while some things have returned to normal, we truly won’t see the correction for white glove service at every price point. Reach him at 202-503-4243, other things happening for quite some time, if ever. One of those markets being the real Justin.Noble@SothebysRealty.com or BurnsandNoble.com. estate market, which likely won’t correct for some time. One of the reasons is the high

JUSTIN NOBLE

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Further, newspapers display notices in the context of other news and information that people in the community read. Newspapers and their associated websites are the appropriate forums for notices that affect citizens and the general public. Ask the court to publish yours here!

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