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APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 05
Catching up with the asexuals and aromantics of D.C. Exploring
By CJ HIGGINS
identity and finding community
There was enough commotion in the sky at the Blossom Kite Festival that bees might have been pollinating the Washington Monument. I despaired of quickly finding the Asexuals and Aromantics of the Mid-Atlantic—I couldn’t make out a single asexual flag among the kites up above. I thought to myself that if it had been the Homosexuals of the Mid-Atlantic I would’ve had my gaydar to rely on. Was there even such a thing as ace-dar?
As it turned out, the asexual kite the group had meant to fly was a little too pesky to pilot. “Have you ever used a stunt kite?” Bonnie, the event organizer asked me. “I bought one. It looked really cool. But I can’t make it work.” She sighed. “I can’t get the thing six feet off the ground.” The group hardly seemed to care. There was caramel popcorn and cookies, board games and head massages, a game of charades with more than its fair share of Pokémon. The kites up above might as well have been a coincidental sideshow. early two dozen folks filtered in and out of the picnic throughout the course of the day.
But I counted myself lucky that Bonnie picked me out of the crowd. If there’s such a thing as ace-dar, it eludes asexuals too. The online forum for all matters asexual, A E , or the Asexual isibility and Education etwork, is filled with laments: I don’t think it’s possible.” “Dude, I wish I had an ace-dar.” “If it exists, I don’t have it.” “I think this is just like a broken clock is right twice a day type thing.” What seems to be a more common experience is meeting someone you just click with only to find out later that they’re asexual. A few of the folks I met described how close childhood friends of theirs likewise came out in adulthood, a phenomenon that will be familiar to many queer people. But it is all the more astounding for asexuals to find each other this way, given that asexual people constitute 1.7% of sexual minorities in America , and so merely .1% of the population at large.
To help other asexuals identify you out in the world, some folks wear a black ring on their middle finger, much as an earring on the right ear used to signify homosexuality in a less welcoming era. The only problem? The swinger community—with its definite non-asexuality has also adopted the signal. It’s still a thing, said Emily Karp. “So some people wear their ace rings just to the ace meet-ups.” Karp has been the primary coordinator for the Asexuals and Aromantics of the Mid-Atlantic (AAMA) since 2021, and a member of the meet-up for a decade. She clicked with the group immediately. After showing up for a Fourth of July potluck in the mid-afternoon, she ended up staying past midnight. “We played Cards against Humanity, which was a very, very fun thing to do. It’s funny in a way that’s different than if we were playing with people that weren’t ace. Some of the cards are implying, like, the person would be motivated by sex in a way that’s absurd, because we know they aren’t.”
Where so many social organizations withered during the pandemic, the AAMA flourished. Today, it boasts almost , members on meetup.com. arp hypothesized that all the social isolation gave people copious time to reflect on themselves, and that the ease of meeting up online made it convenient as a way for people to explore their sexual identity and find community. Online events continue to make up about a third of the group’s meet-ups. The format allows people to participate who live farther out from D.C. And it allows people to participate at their preferred level of comfort: while many people participate much as they would at an in-person event, some prefer to watch anonymously, video feed off. Others prefer to participate in the chat box, though not in spoken conversation.
A recent online event was organized for a discussion of Rhaina Cohen’s book, “The Other Significant Others, published in February. Cohen’s book discusses friendship as an alternative model for significant others, apart from the romantic model that is presupposed to be both the center and goal of people’s lives. The AAMA group received the book with enthusiasm. “It literally re-wired my brain,” as one person put it. People discussed the importance of friendship to their lives, and their difficulties in a world that de-prioritized friendship. “I can break up with a friend over text, and we don’t owe each other a conversation,” one said. But there was some disagreement when it came to the book’s discussion of romantic relationships. “It relegates ace relationships to the ‘friend’ or ‘platonic’ category, to the normie-reader,” one person wrote in the chat. Our whole ace point is that we can have equivalent life relationships to allo people, simply without sex.” (“Allo” is shorthand for allosexual or alloromantic, people who do experience sexual or romantic attraction.)
The folks of the AAMA do not share a consensus on the importance of romantic relationships to their lives. Some asexuals identify as aromantic, some don’t. And some aromantics don’t identify as asexual, either. The “Aromantic” in the title of the group is a relatively recent addition. In 2017, the group underwent a number of big changes. The group was marching for the first time in .C. Pride, participating in the LGBTQ Creating Change conference, and developing a separate advocacy and activism arm. Moreover, the group had become large enough that discussions were opened up into forming separate chapters for D.C., Central Virginia, and Baltimore. During those discussions, the group leadership realized that aromantic people who also identified as allosexual didn’t really have a space to call their own. We were thinking it would be good to probably change the name of the Meetup group,” Emily said. “But we were not 100% sure. Because [there were] like 1,000 people in the group, and they’re all aces, and it’s like, ‘Do you really want to add a non-ace person?’” The group leadership decided to err on the side of inclusion. “You know, being less gatekeep-y was better. It gave them a place to go — because there was nowhere else to go.”
The DC LGBT Center now sponsors a support group for both asexuals and aromantics, but it was formed just a short while ago, in 2022. The founder of the group originally sought out the center’s bisexual support group, since they didn’t have any resources for ace folks. “The organizer said, you know what, why don’t we just start an ace/aro group? Like, why don’t we just do it?” He laughed. “I was impressed with the turnout, the first call. It’s almost like we tapped into, like, a dam. ou poke a hole in the dam, and the water just rushes out.” The group has a great deal of overlap with the AAMA, but it is often a person’s first point of contact with the asexual and aromantic community in D.C., especially since the group focuses on exploring what it means to be asexual. Someone new shows up at almost every meeting. “And I’m so grateful that I did,” one member said. “I kind of showed up and just trauma dumped, and everyone was really supportive.”
Since the ace and aro community is so small, even within the broader queer community, ace and aro folks often go unrecognized. To the chagrin of many, the White House will write up fact sheets about the LGBTQI+ community, which is odd, given that when the I is added to the acronym, the A is usually added too. O Cupid has 22 genders and 12 orientations on its dating website, but “aromantic” is not one of them — presumably because aromantic people don’t want anything out of dating. And since asexuality and aromanticism are defined by the absence of things, it can seem to others like ace and aro people are missing something.’ One member of the LGBT center support group had an interesting response. The space is filled by whatever else!” they said. “We’re not doing a relationship ‘without that thing.’ We’re doing a full scale relationship — as it makes sense to us.”
CJ Higgins is a postdoctoral fellow with the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
06 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • LOCAL NEWS
Local asexuals and aromantics met recently on the National Mall.
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Three of five LGBTQ candidates win race for C delegate from .C. candidates competed for elected seats in party caucus
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com
Three out of five known LGBTQ candidates running for election as delegates from .C. to the emocratic ational Convention won their races at an April emocratic Party caucus election held at .C.’s Walter Washington Convention Center.
Ward gay emocratic activist ohn Fanning finished in first place with votes and Ward gay emocratic activist avid Meadows finished in second place with votes in a race in which six male candidates committed to supporting President Biden were competing for three male seats in a section of the city designated as Congressional istrict , which included registered emocratic voters in Wards , , , and .
Ward gay emocratic activist immie Williams won his race, finishing in third place with votes in a race in which eight male candidates committed to President Biden competed for four male seats in the Congressional istrict section of the city that included Wards , , , and .
Gay emocratic activist Felipe Afanador lost his race, finishing in sixth place with votes in the Congressional istrict election for male candidates backing Biden. It couldn’t immediately be determined which of the four wards in istrict he is from.
The Washington Blade didn’t learn about Afanador’s status as an LGBTQ candidate until the Capital Stonewall emocrats announced it one day before the April party election in an email statement.
In the Congressional istrict race among female candidates, in which eight candidates competed for three female seats, transgender rights advocate and Ward emocratic
Party activist Monika emeth lost her race, finishing in sixth place with votes.
The five LGBTQ candidates were among candidates competing for just elected delegate positions in .C. .C. will have a total of delegates to the emocratic Convention, but the other include elected officials and party leaders who are considered “automatic or appointed delegates. The emocratic Convention will be held in Chicago Aug. - .
Observers familiar with the April party caucus election said Fanning, Meadows, and Williams had participated in local .C. emocratic Party events and activities for a longer period than emeth and Afanador and appear to have been better known among emocratic voters in their respective wards as well as other wards. Those factors contributed to their receiving significantly more votes than most other candidates, observers have said.
In his candidacy statement posted on the .C. emocratic Party website, Afanador said he worked on the Biden presidential election campaign in Pennsylvania. His LinkedIn page says in he began work in Washington for the Biden administration as an official in the .S. epartment of Agriculture.
emeth is a past president of .C.’s Capital Stonewall emocrats, the city’s largest LGBTQ local political group, and has been an active member of the .C. emocratic State Committee, the local party governing body. She served as a Biden delegate at the emocratic ational Convention.
“It is important for our .C. delegation to have strong
LGBTQ representation, Capital Stonewall emocrats said in its April statement. “There are five LGBQ candidates running to be delegate, and Capital Stonewall emocrats asks that our members support each one, the statement says.
“
nfortunately, they fell short, but they and all queer emocrats are welcome to attend and participate in convention events and activities sponsored by the national and local party, Meadows told the Blade in referring to emeth and Afanador. “Our shared goal is to unite behind the Biden-Harris ticket to protect our LGBTQ rights from being dismantled by onald Trump and the GOP, Meadows said.
“
Running for istrict elegate is one of the most grassroots efforts, Fanning told the Blade. “It’s very beneficial to align yourself on a slate with community leaders that have either previously run for istrict elegate or have developed a constituency in their community from other civic engagements, he said, referring to possible reasons for his, Meadows, and Williams’s election victory.
Aside from the .C. elected LGBTQ delegates, two prominent .C. LGBTQ emocratic leaders will be appointed as delegates to the emocratic ational Convention in their role as members of the emocratic ational Committee from .C. They are Claire Lucas, a highly acclaimed emocratic Party and LGBTQ rights advocate and party fundraiser and Earl Fowlkes, one of the lead organizers of .C.’s annual Black LGBTQ Pride celebration and former president of the Capital Stonewall emocrats. Both are committed to supporting President Biden as the emocratic nominee for re-election.
Taste of Point returns at critical time for queer students
The Point Foundation will kick off May with its annual Taste of Point C event.
The event will be hosted at Room Board on th Street and feature a silent auction, food tastings, a speech from a scholar, and more.
Point’s chief of staff, evin Wright, said that at Taste of Point, the scholars are the star of the show.
People never come to an event to hear Point staff speak, they come to hear from the people most impacted by the
program, he said. At its core Taste of Point is designed to center and highlight our scholars’ voices and experiences.
This year, a Point BIPOC Scholar, atherine Guerrero Rivera will speak at the event.
It is a great opportunity to highlight the scholars out there on the front lines making impacts in almost every sector and job field, Wright said.
Wright pointed out that this year especially is a pivotal time for LGBTQ students.
In , there were states that passed anti-LGBTQ legislation, he said. By this point in we already have more.
Wright said the impacts of those legislative attacks are far reaching and that Point is continuously monitoring the impact they have on students on the ground.
Last month, The Washington Post reported that states with anti-LGBTQ laws in place saw school hate crimes qua-
ew inclusive .C. bar Crush opens
.C.’s newest LGBTQ-inclusive bar called Crush opened for business on Friday, April , in a spacious, two-story building with a dance floor and roof deck at th St., .W. in one of the city’s bustling nightlife areas.
A statement released by co-owners Stephen Rutgers and Mark Rutstein earlier this year says the new bar will provide an atmosphere that blends nostalgia with contemporary nightlife in a building that was home to a popular music store and radio supply shop.
Rutgers said the opening comes one day after Crush received final approval of its liquor license that was transferred from the Owl Room, a bar that operated in the same building before closing ec. of last year.
Rutgers said Crush plans to hold a grand opening event in a few weeks after he, Rutstein and the bar’s employees become settled into their newly opened operations.
Step into a venue where inclusivity isn’t just a promise but a vibrant reality, a statement posted on the Crush website says. Imagine an all-inclusive entertainment haven where diversity isn’t just celebrated, it’s embraced as the very heartbeat of our venue, the statement says.
The website says Crush will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from p.m. to a.m., Thursdays from p.m. to a.m., Fridays from p.m. to a.m., Saturdays from p.m.
druple. This report came a month after a non-binary student, ex Bennedict, died after being attacked at school.
So, we see this as a critical moment to really step up and help students who are facing these challenges on their campus, Wright said. Our mission is to continue to empower our scholars to achieve their full academic and leadership potential.
This year Point awarded nearly LGBTQ students with scholarships. These include the flagship scholarship, community college scholarship and the BIPOC scholarship. When the foundation started in , there were only eight scholarships awarded.
To attend the event on Wednesday, May , purchase tickets at the Point website. If you can’t attend this year’s Taste of Point C event but would like to get involved, you can also donate online.
to a.m., and Sundays from p.m. to a.m. It will be closed on Mondays.
Crush is located less than two blocks from the Street Metro station.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
08 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • LOCAL NEWS
OMARI FOOTE
Crush opened last Friday at 2007 14th St., N.W.
A scene from the 2022 Taste of Point. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 09 REVIEW AD FOR COPY AND DESIGN ACCURACY. Revisions must be submitted within 24 hours of the date of proof. Proof will be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within hours of the date of proof. Revisions will not be accepted after 12:01 pm wednesday, the week of publication.Brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) is not responsible for the content and/or design of your ad. Advertiser is responsible for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users can link through the advertisement. Advertiser represents that its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or any rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as infringement or misapporpriation of any copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary or propety right, false advertising, unfair competition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination law or regulation, or any other right of any person or entity. Advertiser agrees to idemnify brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) and to hold brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) harmless from any and all liability, loss, damages, claims, or causes of action, including reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred by brown naff pitts omnimedia llc, arising out of or related to advertiser’s breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties. ADVERTISING PROOF REVISIONS IMAGE/LOGO REVISIONS REVISIONS ADVERTISER SIGNATURE By signing this proof you are agreeing to your contract obligations with the washington blade newspaper. This includes but is not limited to placement, payment and insertion schedule. ISSUE DATE: 24-03-29 SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS bpitts@washblade.com Keep your promise to protect each other. Wills & Trusts Powers of Attorney • Living Wills Partnership & Prenuptial Agreements Lawrence S. Jacobs/McMillan Metro Faerber (240) 778-2330 • (703) 536-0220 www.PartnerPlanning.com The LGBT voice of experience. Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an a iliate of AARP. WE DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF D.C. SENIORS Legal Counsel for the Elderly provides free legal services to eligible D.C. seniors, 60 and older. We can help with: • Foreclosure • Eviction • Obtaining Social Security, Disability, SNAP, Veterans Benefits, Probate, and more. *Income Eligibility Applies. Call our Legal Hotline at 202-434-2120*
Bowser budget proposal calls for . million for World Pride
AI S office among agencies facing cuts due to revenue shortfall
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com
.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed fiscal year budget includes a request for . million in funding to support the une World Pride celebration, which .C. will host, and which is expected to bring three million or more visitors to the city.
The mayor’s proposed budget, which she presented to the .C. Council for approval earlier this month, also calls for a . percent increase in funding for the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, which amounts to an increase of , and would bring the office’s total funding to . million. The office, among other things, provides grants to local organizations that provide services to the LGBTQ community.
Among the other LGBTQ-related funding requests in the mayor’s proposed budget is a call to continue the annual funding of , to provide workforce development services for transgender and gender non-conforming city residents experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The budget proposal also calls for a separate allocation of , in new funding to support a new Advanced Technical Center at the Whitman-Walker Health’s Max Robinson Center in Ward .
Among the city agencies facing funding cuts under the mayor’s proposed budget is the HI AI S, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted isease, and Tuberculosis Administration, known as HAHSTA, which is an arm of the .C. epartment of Health. LGBTQ and AI S activists have said HAHSTA plays an important role in the city’s HI prevention and support services. Observers familiar with the agency have said it recently lost federal funding, which the city would have to decide whether to replace.
We weren’t able to cover the loss of federal funds for HAHSTA with local funds, aper Bowles, director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, told the Washington Blade. But we are working with partners to identify resources to fill those funding gaps, Bowles said.
The total proposed budget of billion that Bowser submitted to the .C. Council includes about million in proposed cuts in various city programs that the mayor said was needed to offset a projected million loss in revenue due, among other things, to an end in pandemic era federal funding and commercial office
vacancies also brought about by the post pandemic commercial property and office changes.
Bowser’s budget proposal also includes some tax increases limited to sales and business-related taxes, including an additional fee on hotel bookings to offset the expected revenue losses. The mayor said she chose not to propose an increase in income tax or property taxes.
Earlier this year, the .C. LGBTQ Budget Coalition, which consists of several local LGBTQ advocacy organizations, submitted its own fiscal year budget proposal to both Bowser and the .C. Council. In a -page letter the coalition outlined in detail a wide range of funding proposals, including housing support for LGBTQ youth and LGBTQ seniors support for LGBTQ youth homeless services workforce and employment services for transgender and gender non-conforming residents and harm reduction centers to address the rise in drug overdose deaths.
Another one of the coalition’s proposals is . million in city funding for the completion of the .C. Center for the LGBTQ Community’s new building, a former warehouse building in the city’s Shaw neighborhood that is undergoing a build out and renovation to accommodate the LGBTQ Center’s plans to move in later this year. The coalition’s budget proposal also calls for an additional , in recurring city funding for the LGBTQ Center in subsequent years to support ongoing operational costs and programmatic initiatives.
Bowles noted that Bowser authorized and approved a million grant for the LGBTQ Center’s new building last year but was unable to provide additional funding requested by the budget coalition for the LGBTQ Center for fiscal year .
We’re still in this with them, Bowles said. We’re still looking and working with them to identify funding.
The total amount of funding that the LGBTQ Budget Coalition listed in its letter to the mayor and Council associated with its requests for specific LGBTQ programs comes to . million.
Heidi Ellis, who serves as coordinator of the coalition, said the coalition succeeded in getting some of its proposals included in the mayor’s budget but couldn’t immediately provide specific amounts.
There are a couple of areas I would argue we had wins, Ellis told the Blade. We were able to maintain funding across different housing services, specifically around youth services that affect folks like SM AL and Wanda Alston. She was referring to the LGBTQ youth services group SM AL and the LGBTQ organization Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing for homeless LGBTQ youth.
We were also able to secure funding for the transgender, gender non-conforming workforce program, she said. We also had funding for migrant services that we’ve been advocating for and some wins on language access, said Ellis, referring to programs assisting LGBTQ people and others who are immigrants and aren’t fluent in speaking English.
Ellis said that although the coalition’s letter sent to the mayor and Council had funding proposals that totaled . million, she said the coalition used those numbers
as examples for programs and policies that it believes would be highly beneficial to those in the LGBTQ community in need.
I would say to distill it down to just we ask for million or whatever, that’s not an accurate picture of what we’re asking for, she said. We’re asking for major investments around a few areas housing, healthcare, language access. And for capital investments to make sure the .C. Center can open, she said. It’s not like a narrative about the dollar amounts. It’s more like where we’re trying to go.”
The Blade couldn’t’ immediately determine how much of the coalition’s funding proposals are included in the Bowser budget. The mayor’s press secretary, aniel Gleick, told the Blade in an email that those funding levels may not have been determined by city agencies.
As for specific funding levels for programs that may impact the LGBTQ community, such as individual health programs through the epartment of Health, it is too soon in the budget process to determine potential adjustments on individual programs run though city agencies, Gleick said.
But Bowles said several of the programs funded in the mayor’s budget proposal that are not LGBTQ specific will be supportive of LGBTQ programs. Among them, he said, is the budget’s proposal for an increase of , in funding for senior villages operated by local nonprofit organizations that help support seniors. Asked if that type of program could help LGBTQ seniors, Bowles said, Absolutely that’s definitely a vehicle for LGBTQ senior services.
He said among the programs the increased funding for the mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs office will support is its ongoing cultural competency training for .C. government employees. He said he and other office staff members conduct the trainings about LGBTQ-related issues at city departments and agencies.
Bowser herself suggested during an April press conference that local businesses, including LGBTQ businesses and organizations, could benefit from a newly launched city Pop- p Permit Program that greatly shortens the time it takes to open a business in vacant storefront buildings in the downtown area.
Bowser and ina Albert, .C. eputy Mayor for Planning and Economic evelopment, suggested the new expedited city program for approving permits to open shops and small businesses in vacant storefront spaces could come into play next year when .C. hosts World Pride, one of the word’s largest LGBTQ events.
While we know that all special events are important, there is an especially big one coming to Washington, .C. next year, Bowser said at the press conference. And to that point, we proposed a . million investment to support World Pride , she said, adding, It’s going to be pretty great. And so, we’re already thinking about how we can include .C. entrepreneurs, how we’re going to include artists, how we’re going to celebrate across all eight wards of our city as well, she said.
Among those attending the press conference were officials of .C.’s Capital Pride Alliance, which will play a lead role in organizing World Pride events.
10 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • LOCAL NEWS
D.C. Mayor MURIEL BOWSER’s proposed 2025 budget includes a request for $5.25 million in funding to support the 2025 World Pride celebration. ashington lade file photo by arker urifoy
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Praise for Biden administration’s final Title I regulations
The Biden-Harris administration’s revised Title IX policy “protects LGBTQ+ students from discrimination and other abuse,” Lambda Legal said in a statement praising the .S. epartment of Education’s issuance of the final rule last Friday.
Slated to take effect on Aug. 1, the new regulations constitute an expansion of the 1972 Title IX civil rights law, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding.
Pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the landmark 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County case, the department’s revised policy clarifies that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity constitutes sex-based discrimination as defined under the law.
“These regulations make it crystal clear that everyone can access schools that are safe, welcoming and that respect their rights,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said during a call with reporters on Thursday.
While the new rule does not provide guidance on whether schools must allow transgender students to play on sports teams corresponding with their gender identi-
ty to comply with Title IX, the question is addressed in a separate rule proposed by the agency in April.
The administration’s new policy also reverses some Trump-era Title IX rules governing how schools must respond to reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault,
which were widely seen as imbalanced in favor of the accused.
Jennifer Klein, the director of the White House Gender Policy Council, said during Thursday’s call that the department sought to strike a balance with respect to these issues, reaffirming our longstanding commitment to fundamental fairness.”
“We applaud the Biden administration’s action to rescind the legally unsound, cruel, and dangerous sexual harassment and assault rule of the previous administration,” Lambda Legal Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project Director Sasha Buchert said in the group’s statement on Friday.
“Today’s rule instead appropriately underscores that Title IX’s civil rights protections clearly cover LGBTQ+ students, as well as survivors and pregnant and parenting students across race and gender identity,” she said. “Schools must be places where students can learn and thrive free of harassment, discrimination, and other abuse.”
CHRISTOPHER KANE
Drag queen announces run for mayor of Indiana city
A local drag personality announced last week that he is running for the office of mayor once held by the late Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, who died last month just a few
months into his fifth term.
Henry was recently diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer and experienced an emergency that landed him in hospice care. He died shortly after.
WPTA, a local television station, reported that Fort Wayne resident Branden Blaettne, whose drag name is ella Licious, confirmed he filed paperwork to be one of the candidates seeking to finish out the fifth term of the late mayor.
Blaettner, who is a community organizer, told WPTA he doesn’t want to “get Fort Wayne back on track,” but rather keep the momentum started by Henry going while giving a platform to the disenfranchised groups in the community. Blaettner said he doesn’t think his local fame as a drag queen will hold him back.
“It’s easy to have a platform when you wear platform heels,” Blaettner told WPTA. “ The status quo has left a lot of people out in the cold both figuratively and literally, Blaettner added.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that state Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, who has led the Indiana House Democratic caucus since 2018, has added his name to a growing list of Fort Wayne politicos who want to be the city’s next mayor. A caucus of precinct committee persons will choose the new mayor.
According to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, the deadline for residents to file candidacy was : a.m. on Wednesday. A town hall with the candidates is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday at Franklin School Park. The caucus is set for : a.m. on April at the Lincoln Financial Event Center at Parkview Field.
At least six candidates so far have announced they will run in the caucus. They include Branden Blaettne, GiaQuinta, City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, City Councilwoman Sharon Tucker, former city- and county-council candidate Palermo Galindo, and emocratic primary mayoral candidate Jorge Fernandez.
BRODY LEVESQUE
Smithsonian staff concerned about future of LGBTQ programming
Staff at the Smithsonian Institution are concerned about the future of LGBTQ programming as several events featuring a drag performer were cancelled or postponed following scrutiny by House Republicans, according to emails reviewed by the Washington Post.
In December, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III appeared before a hearing led by GOP members of the Committee on House Administration, who fl agged concerns about the Smithsonian’s involvement in “the Left’s indoctrination of our children.”
Under questioning from U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Bunch said he was “surprised” to learn the Smithsonian had hosted six drag events over the past three years, telling the lawmakers “It’s not appropriate
to expose children” to these performances.
Collaborations with drag artist Pattie Gonia in December, January, and March were subsequently postponed or cancelled, the Post reported on Saturday, adding that a Smithsonian spokesperson blamed “budgetary constraints and other resource issues” and the museums are still developing programming for Pride month in June.
“I, along with all senior leaders, take seriously the concerns expressed by staff and will continue to do so,” Bunch said in a statement to the paper. “As we have reiterated, LGBTQ+ content is welcome at the Smithsonian.”
The secretary sent an email on Friday expressing
plans to meet with leaders of the Smithsonian Pride Alliance, one of the two groups that detailed their concerns to him following December’s hearing.
Bunch told the Pride Alliance in January that with his response to Bice’s question, his intention was to “immediately stress that the Smithsonian does not expose children to inappropriate content.”
“A hearing setting does not give you ample time to expand,” he said, adding that with more time he would have spoken “more broadly about the merits and goals of our programming and content development and how we equip parents to make choices about what content their children experience.”
CHRISTOPHER KANE
12 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • NATIONAL NEWS
U.S. Secretary of Education MIGUEL CARDONA (Screen capture: AP/YouTube)
BRANDEN BLAETTNER being interviewed by a local television station during last year’s Pride month. (WANE screenshot)
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APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 13
Activists demand EU sanction Uganda over Anti-Homosexuality Act
More than a dozen activists who protested in front of the European Union Delegation to the United States in D.C. last Thursday demanded the EU to sanction Uganda over the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Hillary Innocent Taylor Seguya, a Ugandan LGBTQ activist, and Global Black Gay Men Connect Executive Director Micheal Ighodaro are among those who spoke at the protest. Health GAP Executive Director Asia Russell
also participated in the event that her organization organized along with GBGMC and Convening for Equality Uganda, a Ugandan LGBTQ rights group.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last May signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act that, among other things, contains a death penalty provision for “aggravated homosexuality.”
The country’s Constitutional Court on April 3 refused to “nullify the Anti-Homosexuality Act in its totality.” A group of Ugandan LGBTQ activists have appealed the ruling.
A press release that Health GAP issued ahead of Thursday’s protest notes EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen on March 6 announced more than €200 million ($212.87 million) for Uganda in support of “small business owners, young female entrepreneurs, agribusinesses as well as vital digital infrastructure projects in full Team Europe format with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and several member states.”
“These concrete initiatives will make a difference to aspiring entrepreneurs, Ugandan businesses and create jobs in multiple sectors,” said Urpilainen in a press release that announced the funds. “This is a perfect example of how Global Gateway can make a tangible difference for citizens and businesses and unlock the full potential of a partner country by working together.”
Convening for Equality Uganda on Tuesday in a letter
they sent to Urpilainen asked the EU to review all funding to Uganda and “pause or reprogram any funds that go via government entities.” The protesters on Thursday also demanded European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “to hold Ugandan President Museveni’s government accountable for this attack on human rights.”
Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, in a statement he released after Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act said the law “is contrary to international human rights law and to Uganda’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, including commitments on dignity and nondiscrimination, and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.”
“The Ugandan government has an obligation to protect all of its citizens and uphold their basic rights,” said Borrell. “Failure to do so will undermine relationships with international partners.”
“The European Union will continue to engage with the Ugandan authorities and civil society to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, are treated equally, with dignity and respect,” he added.
Urpilainen last September in a letter to the European Parliament said the EU would not suspend aid to Uganda over the law.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Dominica High Court strikes down sodomy law
Dominica’s High Court of Justice on Monday struck down provisions of a law that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations.
A gay man who remains anonymous in 2019 challenged sections of the country’s Sexual Offenses Act that criminalized anal sex and “gross indecency” with up to 10 years and 12 years in prison respectively. The plaintiff argued the provisions violated his constitutional rights.
The Dominica Equality and Sexual Expression Association and the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality, a group that advocates for LGBTQ and intersex rights in the region, in a press release noted the court
in its ruling affirmed the criminalization of consensual same-sex activity between adults is unconstitutional.” The groups added Justice Kimberly Cenac-Phulgence “declared that the laws commonly known as buggery and gross indecency laws, contravenes the constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica, namely the right to liberty, freedom of expression, and protection of personal privacy.”
“It is long past time that the dignity and dreams of all Dominicans were recognized,” said DESEA Executive Director Sylvester Jno Baptiste in the press release. “We are all God’s children, and he loves us all equally. Laws that
treat some Dominicans as less than others, have no place in a just society.”
Dominica is a former British colony that is located between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles.
Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago in recent years have decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2021 issued a decision that said Jamaica must repeal its colonial-era sodomy law. The country’s Supreme Court last year ruled against a gay man who challenged it.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Daniel Zamudio murderer’s parole request denied
Chile’s Parole Commission on Tuesday rejected a request to allow one of the four men convicted of murdering Daniel Zamudio in 2012 to serve the remainder of his sentence outside of prison.
Raúl López Fuentes earlier this month asked the commission to release him on parole. Zamudio’s family and members of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, a Chilean LGBTQ rights group, had gone to court to block the request.
Among the arguments put forward that influenced the commission’s decision is what Movilh categorized as his “high risk of recidivism, linked to the adherence of an antisocial behavior with a tendency to minimize his acts transgressing social norms.”
The commission pointed out that López has psychopathic traits because he is aware of the damage he did to Zamudio and his family.
“In addition, he maintains a high risk of violence, not being advisable to grant the benefit, the report said. Zamudio was a young Chilean man who became a symbol of the fight against homophobic violence in his country and around the world after López and three other young men with alleged ties to a neo-Nazi group beat him for several hours in Santiago’s San Borja Park on March 2, 2012. Zamudio succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later.
The attack sparked widespread outage in Chile and prompted a debate over homophobia in the country that highlighted the absence of an anti-discrimination law. Lawmakers in the months after Zamudio’s murder passed a law that bears Zamudio’s name.
López in 2013 received a 15-year prison sentence after he was convicted of killing Zamudio. Patricio Ahumada received a life sentence, while Alejandro Angulo Tapia is
serving 15 years in prison. Fabían Mora Mora received a 7-year prison sentence.
Zamudio’s mother, Jacqueline Vera, exclusively told the Washington Blade after the commission rejected López’s request that “we as a family are calmer.”
“Even with my husband we were in a lot of pain at the beginning. It was like a blow of very strong emotions, so we tried to stay calm because we still had to solve the problem,” Vera said. “We had four days to solve it.”
López will have to serve the remaining three years of his sentence before his release.
“I will continue working to improve the Zamudio Law and so that this murderer does not leave prison because he is a danger to society, he does not represent repentance and people like this cannot be free,” she said. “For the same reason, we have to work so that hate crimes have life imprisonment and that is what we will concentrate on.”
ESTEBAN RIOSECO
14 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
HILLARY INNOCENT TAYLOR SEGUYA, an LGBTQ rights activist, speaks at a protest in front of the European Union elegation to the nited tates s offices in . . on pril . (Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)
DANIEL ZAMUDIO
(Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Vera)
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Fact: The next president will be Biden or Trump
One candidate is clearly better for the future of the world
Like it or not, the next president will be either Joe Biden or Donald Trump. In our system, third-party candidates are simply spoilers, they don’t win. The last time a third-party candidate won was 1856. It has been 36 years since a third-party candidate even got more than 5% of the vote. So, it’s time to face reality and choose; for your future, do you want Biden or Trump?
I was prompted to write this column because I see the media interviewing young people about who they want as their president. I have great respect for the young people of today. In many ways, they are smarter than my generation was. But it’s clear, some don’t fully understand the presidential election process. I hear many complain about Biden, and then follow that up and say they will never vote for Trump. Some then say they will vote for a third-party candidate. They need to understand their third-party candidate will not win, but their vote could help elect Trump. I hate to say it, but in 2024, voting for a third-party candidate is the equivalent to flushing your ballot down the toilet.
I am an unabashed Biden supporter. I see the great things he has done, including: getting us through the fallout from the pandemic, passing an infrastructure bill, forgiving billions in student loans, ensuring our economy is the best in the world with more than million jobs created, and increasing wages. He supports unions, being the first president to walk a picket line with the UAW. His administration is working to deal with climate change. He is fighting for a woman’s right to control her own body and healthcare, and supports full equality for the LGBTQ community. In this dangerous world he has kept our troops out of war.
Then there is Trump. To be clear; I see him as a racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, pig. OK, so maybe I don’t have strong feelings about him. Trump has been found liable for sexual assault and has been indicted on 91 counts. He proudly claims credit for having taken away control of their body and healthcare from women, when the justices he appointed ended Roe v. Wade. He supports states making decisions on abortion, and we see what recently happened in Arizona. He is a climate change denier and is opposed to wind and solar power. He wants to give more tax deductions to the rich and to corporations, while opposing any increase in the minimum wage. He opposes equality for the LGBTQ community, refusing to endorse the Equality Act. He opposes student debt relief.
You may see these candidates differently, and that is OK. But if you like one more than the other, fear one more than the other, or just aren’t enamored by either, you must still make a choice and vote for one of them. Staying home is abrogating your civic responsibility, and especially if you would never vote for Trump, understand your staying home helps him.
Young voters, like all voters, should take the time to do the research on both candidates. Then match what you find as close as possible to what you want to see as your future. If you want student loan relief, equality for the LGBTQ community, women having control of their body and healthcare, equal pay for women, efforts to ameliorate the impact of climate change, then clearly Trump is not your candidate.
I hear some young people say they won’t vote for Biden because of his positions on the Israel Hamas war. I, too, have called for Israel to recalibrate how they fight this war. But I ask you to look again at Trump’s history of attachment to Netanyahu, even going so far as relocating the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. If you want a chance for the Palestinian people to live in peace and prosperity, for Israel to remove their settlements from the West Bank, your chance of having that happen is clearly better with Biden than Trump. Don’t let your emotions today, cloud the reality of the future.
Yes, Biden is old, but so is Trump. He apparently can’t even stay awake at his own trial having nodded off two days in a row. So, since one of them will be president, with no third-party candidate having a chance, I urge you to look at them again, in a realistic way. Then make your choice. I think you may come to the same conclusion I have. Though not perfect, and no one is, Biden is the better candidate for your future, and for the future of the world.
18 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • VIEWPOINT
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 19
Successful open relationships take effort
We have options as couples but they all require work
(Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part feature on open relationships. Visit our website for last week’s installment.)
Open relationships are often ridiculed as the easy way out of commitment. After speaking with Scott and Kelsey, however, it’s clear they’re anything but easy. elsey reflected on the ups and downs of being open in the past. ounger me definitely needed it, elsey said. At the same time, drama came with it as well.
While Scott and their partner have been together for nine years, it took four before they decided to open their relationship. “It came from the desire for the two of us to meet boys together, said Scott. Then we had some really terrible threesomes.
Drama. Bad threesomes. Yikes – these aren’t exactly selling points for being open. But their experiences underscore something important: open relationships, like all relationships, are actually quite hard. Couples considering openness shouldn’t trick themselves into thinking it will make things easier. In reality, they take a lot of work.
For Scott, those really terrible threesomes led them to opening up further, but with established boundaries. “We came up with ground rules. Use protection. No spending the night at somebody’s house, etc.
Since Scott and their partner are happy in their relationship, these rules seem to work even if they’ve shifted over time. “Being in an open relationship comes down to being really good at communicating with your partner, they added. “It’s about communicating and checking in to see where your partner is.
Open relationships should be for the right reasons
As open relationships began taking off, observers were skeptical for good reason. “In the past, people were just cheating, said elsey. Another comment from Scott echoed this. “I’ve seen open relationships and it felt like one partner was being taken advantage of by the other.
It turns out there is a fine line between sexual exploration and free passes. While some open relationships walk that line well, others – not so much.
In all fairness, now more than ever it’s difficult to remain monogamous, and one culprit is the rise of accessible hookup culture via social media. Apps like Tinder, Grindr, and dare I say Instagram are facilitating secret sexual connections never seen before. They ushered in a new era of cheating into relationships, alongside a bit of excessive stalking as well.
So, to avoid an atmosphere of mistrust and pain, a natural evolution for couples is to change the rules altogether. Cheating can’t be cheating if it’s allowed, right?
However, once it is allowed, I wondered why these people don’t cut the strings altogether and be single. In response, Chad made an interesting point: people aren’t just afraid of being cheated on – they’re afraid of
the appearance of being single as well. We live in flashy times where our online image means everything. The dream is not necessarily having a partner, but showing the world you have a partner. Without that, you otherwise appear lonely.
So, do open relationships ease the pain of cheating and perceived loneliness? As a proud lone wolf I’m not the best person to assess, but based on my observations I can say this: being open works for some couples, but by no means is it a fast pass to being happy. Understanding why you want one is just as important as discovering how to make one work.
With all this said, the undeniable risk – and perhaps downside – of a monogamous coupling is the higher chance of cheating outright. Unfortunately, that’s something Chad knows all too well.
Preferring monogamy is still OK
Chad had dated someone for two years before they married for five. Then, just over a year into the pandemic, his husband informed him he was dating someone else. They separated a few days later.
For Chad this was painful, as it is for anyone, gay or straight, who’s gone through something similar. But when I asked him if this experience shaped his outlook on what he’s looking for, his response came as a bit of a surprise:
“It has not changed my view for or against open relationships, he said. I learned a lot in my marriage. It takes a lot of love, trust, and communication, which at times can feel like work. It also takes two; one can’t carry the relationship. I want to date someone who wants to be in a relationship with me.
My heart swells hearing that, for even after experiencing the deepest kind of hurt, Chad searches for his one and only. Why? Because for him, the love he’s looking for is worth the wait. It’s a beautiful sentiment that makes socalled hopeless romanticism the raddest feeling in the world sometimes.
More importantly, Chad doesn’t let fear alter his view on love, and to me that’s the most important lesson of this article. Love always comes with risks, and lowering your standards to reduce them never really pans out, does it? The best we can do is to be ourselves.
By the way, this is a lesson I should also apply. My main hesitation toward an open relationship is that I’m a jealous bitch, and I fear that jealousy will never go away. Yet this can be hard to admit when everyone around you is propping up a culture where open is supreme and jealousy is immature.
When I brought this up to Kelsey, she pushed back with a simple question: “Do you think jealousy is a bad thing?
This caught me off guard. I’m not sure, I replied. o you?
ealousy is a natural, human emotion, she said. It’s
JAKE STEWART
is a D.C.-based writer and barback.
what you do with it that matters.
So, maybe my goal is not to suppress my jealousy but rather be upfront about it. If it’s part of me, I should own it, then ideally find someone who loves me regardless.
Changing your mind is OK, too
In gay man speak, I was a top for my first seven years before I embraced bottoming. For some, they’d be shocked to hear it. Yet maybe no one should be surprised, for as we all know sexuality is fluid, and this applies to more than just your orientation. Your sexual preferences can shift over time, too, and this will inevitably affect your relationships.
This was the case for Scott and their partner. “When we first started dating, we did not want to be open, they mentioned, “but as our relationship grew, we decided to reevaluate that. Meanwhile, elsey went the opposite direction – she was open back in the day but chooses to be closed now.
Even Chad remains open to being open. “I’m not opposed to an open relationship, but I feel like it would take more work. I just don’t see myself starting a relationship open. The first few years there is a lot of learning about each other.
In a world of shifting preferences, the best we can do is reflect on what we want and be honest about it. Life is a process of discovering who we are, and damn is it messy. So, perhaps I should cut some slack to the couple trying things out. And perhaps they can cut me slack for not understanding their rules.
For the couples: remember, a solid relationship is not only about meeting the needs of your partner, because your needs matter, too. The best relationships, open or closed, strive to find that balance.
For those still searching: remember that love is more than just that thing, that connection, that spark. In fact, love is so complex that the spark is just one of many factors, alongside timing and how you want to be loved, that come together and form an imprint as unique and special as the person you want to be with.
In this sense, open and closed relationships aren’t diametrically opposed but rather complimentary, a sort of yin and yang where both become better because the other option exists. Today, we have options as couples, and that’s significantly better than abiding by rules because we assume that’s how it must be.
And that feels right. Because regardless of whether you’re more a Chad or a Scott, the truth is: I feel lucky to have both.
(Writer’s note: A big thank you you to Chad, Scott, and Kelsey for allowing me to share their stories.)
20 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • VIEWPOINT
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 21
Eastern Shore chef named ames Beard Finalist
Harley Peet creates inventive food in an inclusive space
By EVAN CAPLAN
In a small Eastern Shore town filled with boutiques, galleries, and the occasional cry of waterfowl from the Chesapeake, Chef Harley Peet is most at home. In his iennese-inflected, Maryland-sourced fine-dining destination Bas Rouge, Peet draws from his orthern Michigan upbringing, Culinary Institute of America education, and identity as a gay man, for inspiration.
And recently, Peet was named a ames Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic - the first Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic finalist representing the Eastern Shore. Peet, after graduation from the Culinary Institute of America, took a position as sous chef at Tilghman Island Inn, not far from Bas Rouge. Falling in love with the Eastern Shore, he continued his passion for racing sailboats, boating, gardening, and fishing, and living his somewhat pastoral life as he opened Bas Rouge in as head chef, a restaurant part of the Bluepoint Hospitality group, which runs more than a dozen concepts in and around Easton, Md.
Coming from a rural area and being gay, Peet knew he had his work cut out for him. He was always aware that the service and hospitality industry can be down and dirty and rough.
ow as a leader in the kitchen, he aims to set a good example, and treat people how I want to be treated. I also want to make sure if you’re at our establishment, I’m the first to stand up and say something.
The Bas Rouge cuisine, he says, is Contemporary European. I’m inspired by old-world techniques of countries like Austria, Germany, and France, but I love putting a new spin on classic dishes and finding innovative ways to incorporate the bounty of local Chesapeake ingredients.
His proudest dish: the humble-yet-elevated Wiener Schnitzel. It is authentic to what one would expect to find in ienna, down to the Lingonberries. From his
in-house bakery, Peet dries and grinds the housemade aiser-Semmel bread to use as the breadcrumbs.
Peet works to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the kitchen. I love that our Bluepoint Hospitality team has created welcoming spaces where our patrons feel comfortable dining at each of our establishments. Our staff have a genuine respect for one another and work together free of judgment.
Representing Bluepoint, Peet has participated in events like Chefs for Equality with the Human Rights Campaign, advocating for LGBTQ rights.
At Bas Rouge, Peet brings together his passion for inclusion steeped in a sustainability ethic. He sees environmental stewardship as a way of life. Peet and his husband have lived and worked on their own organic farm for several years. Through research in Europe, he learned about international marine sourcing. Witnessing the impacts of overfishing, Peet considers his own role in promoting eco-friendly practices at Bas Rouge. To that end, he ensures responsible sourcing commitments through his purveyors, relationships that have helped create significant change in how people dine in Easton.
I have built great relationships in the community and there’s nothing better than one of our long-standing purveyors stopping in with a cooler of fresh fish from the Chesapeake Bay. This goes especially for catching and plating the invasive blue catfish species, which helps control the species’ threat to the local ecosystem.
Through his kitchen exploits, Peet expressed a unique connection to another gay icon in a rural fine-dining restaurant: Patrick O’Connell, of three Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington. In fact, Peet’s husband helped design some of O’Connell’s kitchen spaces. They’ve both been able to navigate treacherous restaurant-industry waters, and have come out triumphant and celebrated. Of O’Connell, Peet says that he sees his restaurants as canvas, all artistry, he sees this as every night is a show. But at the same time, his judgment-free space makes him a role model.
Being in Easton itself is not without challenges. Sourcing is a challenge, having to either fly or ship in ingredients, whereas urban restaurants have the benefit of trucking, he says. The small town is romantic and charming, but logistics are difficult one of the reasons that Peet ensures his team is diverse, building in different viewpoints, and also making things a hell of a lot more fun.
Reflecting on challenges and finding (and creating) space on the Eastern Shore, Peet confirmed how important it was to surround himself with people who set a good example, and if you don’t like the way something is going, fuck them and move on.
22 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024
Chef HARLEY PEET works to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the kitchen.
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 23
CALENDAR |
By TINASHE CHINGARANDE
Friday, April 26
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon with Yoga & Intergenerational Hangout will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Chair yoga will be at noon. Lunch will be provided by the Gay Professional Men of Color at 1 p.m. Guests can bring a beverage of choice. For more information, email adamheller@thedccenter. org.
GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott Dupont Circle. 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.
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, April 27
GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, April 28
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+ Dinner” at 6:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This event is ideal for making meaningful new connections and community building or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, April 29
Center Aging: Monday Coffee & Conversation will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice. For more details, email justin@thedccenter. org.
Tuesday, April 30
Pride on the Patio Events will host “LGBTQ Social Mixer” at 5:30 p.m. at Showroom. Dress is casual, fancy, or comfortable. Guests are encouraged to bring their most
OUT & ABOUT
Rehoboth Women’s Fest is underway
The annual Rehoboth Women’s Fest opens this week with a range of events and performances. Author Fay Jacobs hosts a launch party for her new book, “Big Girls Don’t Fry” on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Convention Center. Lea DeLaria and Chrys Matthews co-headline Friday night’s events with a performance at the Convention Center from 7:30-11 p.m. Visit camprehoboth.com for a full list of events, including a golf tournament, dance parties, author readings, and more.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner set for Saturday
The annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is set for Saturday, April 27 at the Washington Hilton with Colin Jost serving as emcee.
President Biden is scheduled to speak and numerous celebrities are expected around D.C. all weekend for related parties and events.
The Washington Blade is the only LGBTQ outlet that is a member of the Association and is hosting a table of VIPs, including actor Billy Porter and Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).
“We look forward to the Dinner each year to celebrate
authentic self to chat, laugh, and get a little crazy. Admission is free and more details are on Eventbrite.
“5th Tuesdays Open Mic” will be at 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets at 14th Street, N.W. For two hours, audiences can expect a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies, and musicians. The event will be hosted by Charity Blackwell. Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, May 01
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, May 02
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
our press freedoms and to thank a range of allies and supporters for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ movement,” said Blade Editor Kevin Naff.
Drag Underground returns
Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade have teamed up to host “Drag Underground” on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Dupont Underground.
Performers include Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee and Cake Pop.
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Washington Improv Theatre hosts ‘The Queeries’
The Washington Improv Theatre, along with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, will team up to host “The Queeries!” on Friday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre.
The event will celebrate Queer DMV talent and pop culture camp. With a mixture of audience-submitted nominations and blatantly undemocratically declared winners, “The Queeries!” mimics LGBTQ life itself: unfair, but far more fun than the alternative.
The event will be co-hosted by Birdie and Butchie, who have invited some of their favorite bent winos, D.C. “D-listers,” former Senate staffers, and other stars to sashay down the lavender carpet for the selfie-strewn party of the year.
Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased on WITV’s website.
24 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024
Fay Jacobs is back with the sixth book in her ‘Frying’ series.
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 25
Round House explores serious issues related to privilege
‘A Jumping-Off Point’ is absorbing, timely, and funny
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
In Inda Craig-Galván’s new play “A Jumping-Off Point,” protagonist Leslie Wallace, a rising Black dramatist, believes strongly in writing about what you know. Clearly, Craig-Galván, a real-life successful Black playwright and television writer, adheres to the same maxim. Whether further details from the play are drawn from her life, is up for speculation.
Absorbing, timely, and often funny, the current Round House Theatre offering explores some serious issues surrounding privilege and who gets to write about what. Nimbly staged and acted by a pitch perfect cast, the play moves swiftly across what feels like familiar territory without being the least bit predictable.
After a tense wait, Leslie (Nikkole Salter) learns she’s been hired to be showrunner and head writer for a new HBO MAX prestige series. What ought to be a heady time for the ambitious young woman quickly goes sour when a white man bearing accusations shows up at her door.
The uninvited visitor is Andrew (Danny Gavigan), a fellow student from Leslie’s graduate playwriting program. The pair were never friends. In fact, he pressed all of her buttons without even trying. She views him as a lazy, advantaged guy destined to fail up, and finds his choosing to dramatize the African American Mississippi elta experience especially annoying.
Since grad school, Leslie has had a play successfully produced in New York and now she’s on the cusp of making it big in Los Angeles while Andrew is bagging groceries at Ralph’s. (In fact, we’ll discover that he’s a held a series of wide-ranging temporary jobs, picking up a lot of information from each, a habit that will serve him later on, but I digress.)
Their conversation is awkward as Andrew’s demeanor shifts back and forth from stiltedly polite to borderline threatening. Eventually, he makes his point: Andrew claims that Leslie’s current success is entirely built on her having plagiarized his script.
This increasingly uncomfortable set-to is interrupted by Leslie’s wisecracking best friend and roommate Miriam who has a knack for making things worse before making them better. Deliciously played by Cristina Pitter (whose program bio describes them as “a queer multi-spirit Afro-indigenous artist, abolitionist, and alchemist”), Miriam is the perfect third character in Craig-Galván’s deftly balanced three-hander. Cast members’ performances are layered. Salter’s Leslie is all charm, practicality, and controlled ambition, and Gavigan’s Andrew is an organic amalgam of vulnerable, goofy, and menacing. He’s terrific.
The 90-minute dramedy isn’t without some improbable narrative turns, but fortunately they lead to some interesting places where provoking questions are representation, entitlement, what constitutes plagiarism, etc. It’s all discussion-worthy topics, here pleasingly tempered with humor.
New York-based director Jade King Carroll skillfully helms the production. Scenes transition smoothly in large part due to a top-notch design team. Scenic designer Meghan Raham’s revolving set seamlessly goes from Leslie’s attractive apartment to smart cafes to an HBO writers’ room with the requisite long table and essential white board. Adding to the graceful storytelling are sound and lighting design by Michael Keck and Amith Chandrashaker, respectively.
The passage of time and circumstances are perceptively reflected in costume designer Moyenda Kulemeka’s sartorial choices: heels rise higher, baseball caps are doffed and jackets donned.
“A Jumping-Off Point” is the centerpiece of the third National Capital New Play Festival, an annual event celebrating new work by some of the country’s leading playwrights and newer voices.
‘A Jumping-Off Point’
Through May 5 | Round House Theatre
4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Md. | $46-$83 | Roundhousetheatre.org
26 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 THEATER
CRISTINA PITTER (Miriam) and NIKKOLE SALTER (Leslie) in ‘A Jumping-Off Point’ at Round House Theatre. (Photo by Margot Schulman Photography)
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 27
Ed Bailey brings Secret Garden to Project GLOW festival
An LGBTQ-inclusive dance space at RFK this weekend
By EVAN CAPLAN
When does a garden GLOW? When it’s run by famed local gay DJ Ed Bailey.
This weekend, music festival Project GLOW at RFK Festival Grounds will feature Bailey’s brainchild the Secret Garden, a unique space just for the LGBTQ community that he launched in 2023.
While Project GLOW, running April 27-28, is a stage for massive electronic DJ sets in a large outdoor space, Secret Garden is more intimate, though no less adrenaline-forward. He’s bringing the nightclub to the festival. The garden is a dance area that complements the larger stages, but also stands on its own as a draw for festival-goers. Its focus is on DJs that have a presence and following in the LGBTQ audience world.
“The Secret Garden is a showcase for what LGBTQ nightlife, and nightclubs in general, are all about,” he says. “True club DJs playing club music for people that want to dance in a fun environment that is high energy and low stress. It’s the cool party inside the bigger party.”
Project GLOW launched in . Bailey connected with the operators after the first event, and they discussed Bailey curating his own space for 2023. “They were very clear that they wanted me to lean into the vibrant LGBTQ nightlife of D.C. and allow that community to be very visibly a part of this area.”
Last year, club icon Kevin Aviance headlined the Secret Garden. The GLOW festival organizers loved the its energy from last year, and so asked Bailey to bring it back again,
with an entire year to plan.
This year, Bailey says, he is “bringing in more D.C. nightlife legends.” Among those are DJ Sedrick, “a DJ and entertainer legend. He was a pivotal part of Tracks nightclub and is such a dynamic force of entertainment,” says Bailey. “I am excited for a whole new audience to be able to experience his very special brand of DJing!”
Also, this year brings in Illustrious Blacks, a worldwide DJ duo with roots in D.C.; and “house music legends” DJs Derrick Carter and DJ Spen.
Bailey is focusing on D.C.’s local talent, with a lineup including Diyanna Monet, Strikestone!, Dvonne, Baronhawk Poitier, THABLACKGOD, Get Face, Franxx, Baby Weight, and Flower Factory DJs KS, Joann Fabrixx, and PWRPUFF.
Secret Garden also brings in performers who meld music with dance, theater, and audience interactions for a multi-sensory experience.
Bailey is an owner of Trade and Number Nine, and was previously an owner of Town Danceboutique. Over the last 35 years, Bailey owned and operated more than 10 bars and clubs in D.C. He has an impressive resume, too. Since starting in 1987, he’s DJ’d across the world for parties and nightclubs large and intimate. He says that he opened “in concert for Kylie Minogue, DJed with Junior Vasquez, played giant 10,000-person events, and small underground parties.” He’s also held residencies at clubs in Atlanta, Miami, and here in D.C. at Tracks, Nation, and Town.
With Secret Garden, Bailey and GLOW aim to bring queer performers into the space not just for LGBTQ audiences, but for the entire music community to meet, learn about, and enjoy. While they might enjoy fandom among queer nightlife, this Garden is a platform for them to meet the entirety of GLOW festival goers.
Weekend-long Project GLOW brings in headliners and artists from EDM and electronic music, with big names like ILLENIUM, Zedd, and Rezz. In all, more than 50 artists will take the three stages at the third edition of Project GLOW, presented by Insomniac (Electric Daisy Carnival) and Club Glow (Echostage, Soundcheck).
Should I divorce my husband for the hot new guy in our building?
Debating whether to leave or stay after the sex goes cold
By MICHAEL RADKOWSKY
Dear Michael,
I’ve been with my husband for 10 years and the sex is pretty much gone. It stopped being exciting a long time ago and pretty much the only time we ever do it is with the occasional third.
A really hot guy moved into our building about a year ago. We would see each other sometimes in the elevator or at our building’s gym and we started talking and really hit it off. Mark is 15 years younger than I but we seem to have a lot in common. We started hooking up and the sex is amazing.
I haven’t told my husband because it’s breaking our rule about no repeats. I have to say that the secrecy is hot. It’s kind of a thrill to take the elevator upstairs when I say I’m going on an errand. But it’s more than that. I have a connection with Mark that is far more amazing than what I have ever felt with my husband. Not just the sex. We just enjoy being together, talking about anything and everything.
My husband went to visit his family last weekend and I spent the whole time with Mark. Since then I can’t stop thinking that I want to leave my husband and be with Mark.
Part of me thinks this is a crazy mid-life crisis. I mean, this kid’s in a totally different place in life. But we have mind-blowing sex and a fantastic connection. I’d like your thoughts on how to proceed.
Michael replies:
You’ve got a lot to consider.
First: Sex with a long-term partner changes over time. It tends to be less about erotic heat and more about the connection with a person whom you love. In other words, it’s being with the person you’re with that makes the sex mea-
ningful and even great. Having a good sexual relationship with a long-term partner comes far more from a heart connection than from a crotch attachment.
Second: You seem ready to throw your relationship under the bus pretty quickly, without addressing other problems in the relationship besides sex. When you are sneaking around, lying, and rule-breaking , I don’t see how you can look your husband in the eye; and if you can’t look him in the eye, you certainly can’t have even a half-way decent relationship.
Yet another point to consider: Affairs pretty much always seem more exciting than marriage. The partner is new, which almost automatically makes the sex hotter; the secrecy is a thrill; and you don’t have to deal with paying the rent, house chores, and all the petty annoyances of living up-close with someone day-in, day-out.
You are bringing lots of energy to your affair, and everything about it is exciting. You are bringing no energy —
at least no positive energy — to your marriage. You get what you put into a relationship.
Divorce is not something that should be entered into lightly. Be aware that if you leave your husband for Mark, you will no doubt find over time that the sex becomes less exciting and that the connection is not always fantastic. No surprise, 75 percent of marriages that begin with affair partners end in divorce. While I don’t think statistics predict what will happen to any particular couple, believing that you will have a significantly better relationship with your affair partner than you did with your husband sets you up for likely disappointment.
Many gay men focus on “hot sex” as the big draw, pursuing a lot of sex with a lot of men, and/or pursuing an ongoing series of relationships that last until the sex cools. If that’s what you want, that’s fine. But it’s a different path from pursuing a close and loving long-term relationship, which involves knowing someone well and having him know you well; collaborating on getting through the hard stuff life throws at us finding ways to make peace with disappointment; and consistently striving to be someone worth being married to.
How to proceed? While you are the only person who should make that decision, I would suggest that whatever your choice, keep in mind that marriage can be more than what you’ve made of it, so far.
(Michael Radkowsky, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with couples and individuals in D.C. He can be found online at michaelradkowsky.com. All identifying information has been changed for reasons of confidentiality. Have a question? Send it to michael@michaelradkowsky. com.)
28 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 NIGHTLIFE
ED BAILEY’s set at last year’s Project Glow. (Photo courtesy Bailey)
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 29
‘Housekeeping for Beginners’ embraces true meaning
of family
Another triumph from young filmmaker Goran Stolevski
By JOHN PAUL KING
Once upon a time in America, queer people sometimes adopted their lovers as their “children” so that they could be legally bound together as family.
That’s not a revelation, though some queer younglings may be shocked to learn this particular nugget of hidden history, nor is it a call to political awareness in an election year when millions are actively working to roll back our freedoms. We bring it up merely as a sort of context for the world that provides the setting in “Housekeeping for Beginners,” the winner of the Queer Lion prize at 2023’s Venice Film Festival, which opened in limited .S. theaters on April and expanded for a wider release last weekend.
Written and directed by Goran Stolevski a Macedonian-born Australian filmmaker whose two previous films, ou Won’t Be Alone” and “Of An Age,” both released in 2022, each met with critical acclaim – and submitted (unsuccessfully) as the official Oscar entry for International Feature from the Republic of North Macedonia, it’s a movie about what it means to be “family,” which touches on the political while placing its focus on the personal – in other words, on lived experience rather than ideological argument – and, in the process, drives home some very important existential warnings at a time when things could go either way.
Set in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, it centers on a social worker Dita (Anamaria Marinca), a middle-aged lesbian, whose house is a safe haven for a collection of outcasts. First and foremost is her girlfriend Suada (Alina Serban), a single mother of Romani heritage, but the “chosen family” in the household also includes Suada’s daughters, teenaged Vanesa (Mia Mustafi) and precocious -year-old Mia ( ada Selim), Dita’s long-term friend Toni (Vladimir Tintor), a middle-aged gay man who works night shifts at a mental hospital, Toni’s new, much-younger boyfriend Ali (Samson Selim), and Elena (Sara Klimoska), an older and more worldly schoolmate of the other girls who serves as a makeshift big sister.
ing it work something to which ita finds herself growing deeply committed, despite her initial reticence about taking on the role of default matriarch.
Shot in Stolevski’s accustomed milieu - an intimate, cinema verité style built on handheld camerawork and near-exclusive reliance on close-up framing to capture the awkward blend of comfort and claustrophobia that often accompanies life in a crowded household environment – and leaving most of the expository cultural details, such as the impact of ethnic “caste” and the complicated hierarchy of layers involved in negotiating a peaceful coexistence with “normal” Macedonian society when your domestic and familial structures are anything but normal , to be gleaned by context rather than direct explanation. It works, of course; there’s something universally recognizable about the difficulty of blending in that helps us bridge the gap even if we don’t quite understand all the fine points as well as we might if we, like Stolevski, had grown up having to deal with them directly.
It is, unsurprisingly, a chaotic environment, a sea of revolving situations that largely goes on without Dita’s direct involvement, though she occasionally asserts more authority than she either has or cares to wield. That all changes, however, when Suada is diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer, leading her to extract from her lover the promise that she will be mother to her children when she’s gone.
If you want a spoiler-free experience, you should stop reading now; further discussion of “Housekeeping for Beginners” requires us to reveal that Dita is forced to make good on that promise, even though she’s never had the desire to be a mother, and it’s not just a matter of making sure the kids get all their daily meals and show up for school on time. In North Macedonia, where same-sex relationships are not illegal but are neither granted the validation of lawful protections, the adoption of children requires a woman to have a husband, which means entering into a sham marriage with Toni – who is not quite a 100% onboard, himself and listing him as the girls’ father. More difficult, perhaps, is gaining the trust of Suada’s two daughters, neither of whom is exactly receptive to the prospect of exchanging their real mother for a half-willing replacement. It’s this challenge that proves most daunting, triggering a crisis that will put every member of this cobbled-together family group to the test if they are to have any hope of hanging on to each other and mak-
Even so, there are times when a bit of distance might be missed by audiences in need of a wider scope; it’s hard, after all, to get a palpable sense of space and location when most of what we see onscreen are the upper thirds of whichever cast members happen to be featured in each particular scene. But in case that sounds like a criticism, it’s important to point out that this is part of the film’s magic spell - because by making its physical environment essentially synonymous with its emotional one, Stolevski’s movie delivers its human truth without the unnecessary distraction of learning the ins and outs of a foreign cultural dynamic. The things we need to grasp, we do, without question, even if we don’t quite understand the full context, and what we walk away with in the end is a universally recognizable sense of family, carved in stark relief among a group of people who find it among themselves despite the lack of blood ties or common history to bind them to each other. That makes “Household for Beginners” an unequivocal triumph in one way, at least, because by driving home that hard-to-convey understanding, it manages to underscore the injustice and inhumanity of any world in which the validity of a family is subject to the judgment of cultural bias.
That’s not to say that “Housekeeping” is an unrelenting downer of political messaging. On the contrary, it is lifted by a clear imperative to show the joys of being part of such a family; the humor, the snark, the bright spots that arise even in the darkest moments – all these are amply and aptly portrayed, making sure that we never feel like we are being fed a doom-and-gloom scenario. Rather, we’re being reminded that it’s the visceral happiness that comes from being connected with those we love that matters far more than the rules and judgments of outsiders, which makes the hoops Dita and company have to jump through feel all the more absurd.
Though Stolevski, an Aussie citizen unspooling a narrative based in his country of origin, might not have intended it as such, the message of his film strikes a particular chord in 2024 America. The hardships of Dita and her brood as they try to simply stay together are a clear and pointed warning not to take for granted the hard-won freedoms that we have.
Add to that a superb collection of performances (BAFTA-winner Marinca and first-time actor Selim are standouts among the many), and you have another triumph from a young filmmaker whose reputation only gets more stellar with each effort.
30 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 FILM
The cast of ‘Housekeeping for Beginners’
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 31
32 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024
BLUEMOON
WITHSARAHMCBRIDE,LEADING CANDIDATEFORU.S.HOUSE FRIDAY,MAY17,2024@5PM
$20 FORTICKETSGOTOBLADEFOUNDATION.ORG/REHOBOTH 35BALTIMOREAVE,REHOBOTHBEACH,DE19971 &MartyRendon,candidateforDelawareHouse•KimLeisey,executivedirector, CAMPRehoboth•Morespeakerstobeannouncedsoon
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 33
Affordable Seaside Living Wtih Benefits
Just a short ride to Beaches, Dining, Shopping & Fun at Chincoteague Island, Ocean City, Snow Hill, Berlin and other charming Eastern Shore towns.
WATERFRONT
CONTEMPORARY
37403 Bayside Drive, Greenbackville, VA
• 4BR / 3BA
• .21 acres
• 1,792 sq. ft.
$599,000
• Built in 2021
• Open concept
• Sold turn key
CAPTAIN’S COVE BUILDING LOTS WITH COMMUNITY AMENITIES
• Marina & Boat Launch
• Restaurant
• Indoor & Outdoor Swimming pools
• Golf Course
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• Pickleball, Tennis & Basketball
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Lot 1872 Buccaneer Blvd, Greenbackville, VA
.43 acres - $18,000
Lot 2174 Spinnaker Street, Greenbackville, VA
.22 acres - $4,500
1485A Crows Nest Road, Greenbackville, VA
.32 acres - $20,000
Lot 2449 Rudder Court, Greenbackville, VA
.32 acres - $5,500
Lot 241 Smugglers Way, Greenbackville, VA
.23 acres - $2,500
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Lot 52 Dreadnaught Drive, Greenbackville, VA
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Virtual tours and more details on these amazing, waterfront estates at MeghanOliverClarkson.com
Schedule a private showing with Meghan O. Clarkson, Realtor
Call or Text
757.894.0798
34 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
APRIL 26, 2024
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APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 35
The rise of virtual home tours
Adapting to changing consumer preferences in spring real estate
By JEFF HAMMERBERG
In today’s dynamic real estate market, the spring season brings not only blooming fl owers but also a surge of activity as buyers and sellers alike prepare to make their moves. However, in recent years, there’s been a notable shift in how consumers prefer to explore potential homes: the rise of virtual tours.
For the LGBTQ community, these virtual experiences offer more than just convenience; they provide accessibility, safety, and inclusivity in the home buying process.
Gone are the days of spending weekends driving from one open house to another - unless that’s your thing of course, only to fi nd that the property doesn’t quite match expectations. With virtual tours, you can explore every corner of a home from the comfort of your own space - fi nd something interesting? Schedule a showing with any LGBTQ Realtor at GayRealEstate.com.
This is particularly signifi cant for LGBTQ individuals, who may face unique challenges or concerns when attending in-person showings. Whether it’s the ability to discreetly view properties without fear of discrimination or the convenience of touring homes located in LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods across the country, virtual tours offer a sense of empowerment and control in the home buying process.
Moreover, virtual tours cater to the diverse needs of the LGBTQ community. For couples or families with busy schedules or those living in different cities or states, these digital walkthroughs provide a convenient way to view properties together without the need for extensive travel. Additionally, for individuals who may be exploring their gender identity or transitioning, virtual tours offer a low-pressure environment to explore potential living spaces without the added stress of in-person interactions.
At GayRealEstate.com, we understand the importance of adapting to changing consumer preferences and leveraging technology to better serve our community. That’s why our agents offer an extensive selection of virtual tours for LGBTQ individuals and allies alikevisit our website, choose an agent and within minutes you’ll have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) via their website.
From cozy condominiums in bustling urban centers to sprawling estates in picturesque suburbs, virtual tours showcase a wide range of properties tailored to diverse tastes and lifestyles.
In addition to virtual tours, GayRealEstate.com provides comprehensive resources and support to guide LGBTQ buyers and sellers through every step of the real estate journey. Our network of LGBTQ-friendly agents is committed to providing personalized service, advocacy, and representation to ensure that all individuals feel respected, valued, and empowered throughout the process. Plus, we are happy to provide a free relocation kit to any city in the USA or Canada if you are a home buyer.
As we embrace the spring season and all the opportunities it brings in the real estate market, let’s also celebrate the power of virtual tours to revolutionize the way we fi nd and experience our future homes. Whether you’re searching for your fi rst apartment, forever home, or investment property, GayRealEstate. com is here to help you navigate the exciting world of real estate with confidence, pride, and inclusivity.
JEFF HAMMERBERG
is founding CEO of Hammerberg & Associates, Inc. Reach him at jeffhammerberg@gmail.com.
36 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • BUSINESS
Looking for a home? Virtual tours hold special benefits for queer buyers.
REAL ESTATE
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 37
MASSAGE
MASSAGE FOR ACTIVE MEN
Low key private spot near Rosslyn. Fri-Mon, 12-9. text
301-704-1158 or visit www.mymassagebygary.com
BULLETIN BOARD
Academy of Hope
Adult Public Charter School
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE VENDOR
The Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School located in Washington, DC requests proposals for Electronic Signature Vendor. Proposals are due May 10, 2024. You can find the detailed request for proposal and submission information at https://aohdc.org/get-involved/ jobs/
“QUEERING MY RELIGION: BIBLICAL STORIES OF QUEER LOVE IN THE 90’S”, is the award winning new collection of Queer Christian short stories by Rev. Jeff P Crim. This book has been called groundbreaking by Literary Titan and Brilliant by The Prairies Book Review. For a bold Queer take on ancient biblical stories, check out this new collection. Available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover.
https://linktr.ee/ki4tft
CLEANING
FERNANDO’S CLEANING
Residential & Commercial Cleaning, Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates, Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/Move-Out
202-234-7050 or
202-486-6183
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
LEGAL SERVICES
ADOPTION, DONOR, SURROGACY
legal services. Catelyn represents LGBTQ clients in DC, MD & VA interested in adoption or ART matters.
MODERN FAMILY FORMATION
Law Offices, Slattery Law, LLC. 240-245-7765
Catelyn@ModernFamilyFormation.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 AROUND TOWN MOVERS & STORAGE
Local | Long Distance Residential | Commercial Licensed & Insured Packing | Moving | Unpacking
Ask about the Blade discount!
Call Today 202.734.3080
www.AroundTownMovers.com
RENT / DC
SHAW, DC 1 BR APT.
$2100.00 - 1 BR apt (above ground) in a beautiful Victorian townhouse on a nice, safe, quiet street. — Renovated kitchen & bathroom.— High ceilings — Exposed brick throughout unit — Washer/dryer in unit — Street parking with easy access to I-395 and Route 50 — Security deposit is one month’s rent. Utilities included. Ideal for working professionals or graduate school students. (202)256-9385
MEN FOR MEN
ISO SUGAR DADDY!
Employed, South Indian,college graduate, living in Columbia Heights, DC. Contact: Lappa1975@yahoo.com
GWM, HANDSOME, Well educated, HIV+, ISO friends, dates & more. Open to all races. 420 friendly. Serious replies only. Email classifieds@washblade.com.
MEET YOUR DREAMBOAT!
The Blade has many couples that met through our personals. You could meet your dreamboat! Email your ad to classifieds@washblade.com.
BODYWORK
THE MAGIC TOUCH Swedish, Massage or Deep Tissue. Appts. Low Rates, 24/7, In-Calls. 202-486-6183
38 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • APRIL 26, 2024 • CLASSIFIEDS YOUR PROFESSIONAL AD HERE! Email:classifieds@washblade.com NOW TO PLACE YOUR AD PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE AT: WASHINGTONBLADE.COM/CLASSIFIEDS! If you need assistance, please email the text & image for your ad to: classifieds@washblade.com or call 202-747-2077 x 8092 and leave a message. We will be happy to assist you! Email your FREE* personal or housing share ad to us! (*first 25 words are free)
APRIL 26, 2024 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • 39
Lease for $499/mo + $1,000 Lease Loyalty Finance for 3.99% APR + $5,000 Purchase Credit + $1,000 Loan Loyalty PLUS $3,000 Military Incentive
2024 BMW i4
Finance
3.99% APR + $7,500 Purchase Credit PLUS $5,000 Military Incentive
2024 BMW iX
Lease for $749/mo
for
Lease for $699/mo + $1,500 Lease Loyalty Finance for 3.99% APR + $5,000 Purchase Credit + $1,500 Loan Loyalty PLUS $4,000 Military Incentive
2024 BMW i5
Lease for $1,069/mo + $3,000 Lease Loyalty Finance for 3.99% APR + $7,500 Purchase Credit + $3,000 Loan Loyalty PLUS $5,000 Military Incentive See dealer for details on incentive compatibility
2024 BMW i7