Washington Blade, Volume 56, Issue 02, December 10, 2025

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Charges dropped against soldiers arrested for stealing Pride flags from couple’s house

Arlington prosecutors say suspects completed ‘restorative justice’ program

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

| lchibbaro@washblade.com

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County, which prosecutes crimes, confirmed last month that charges were dropped against two U.S. Army soldiers arrested in February 2024 for allegedly stealing Pride flags from the home of a lesbian couple on five separate days between September 2023 and January 2024.

According to Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghni-Tafti, the charges against the two men — Specialist Matthew Henshaw, 21, and Private First Class Joseph DiGregorio, 23, — were dismissed after they successfully completed a recently initiated program called the Heart of Safety Restorative Justice Conferencing Program.

Under the program, the two men attended counseling sessions with facilitators associated with the program over a period of six months before meeting with the two women whose Pride flags they allegedly stole — Michelle Logan and Jenna Burnett.

In statements released to the news media, Logan and Burnett said the two soldiers appeared to have expressed

remorse for their actions of repeatedly pulling down and stealing the couple’s Pride flags. Following their face-to-face conversations with Henshaw and Gregorio, the two women said the men also appear to have gained an understanding of the issues and concerns of the LGBTQ community and the need for ending anti-LGBTQ bias and discrimination.

“We believed they could potentially be amenable to change and also felt that simply putting charges on their records didn’t necessarily feel like enough,” Logan told the online news publication ARL Now. “We wanted them to try to educate themselves and understand why stealing a Pride flag isn’t just a felony but a hate crime against two people who had to live through it,” she told ARL Now.

At the time of their arrest, Henshaw and Digregorio were members of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as the Old Guard, an elite ceremonial unit that participates in burials at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dehghni-Tafti told media outlets, including the Washington Blade, that the objective of the restorative justice conferencing program is to provide an alternative to incarceration for people charged with a crime if they voluntarily participate in the program and if the victim of the crime also agrees to participate in the program.

“It really requires people to think about what they did to the victim and explain to the victim, face to face often, why

they did it and make a promise to the victim that they are going to be different and not do it again,” Dehghni-Tafti told the Blade.

According to Dehghni-Tafti, admission into the program also requires a person charged with a crime to admit to having committed the crime.

She said the program has a preference, but not a requirement, that people charged with a crime who are accepted into the program are between the age of 16 and 26. She said people charged with certain violent crimes, such as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and murder are not eligible for admission to the program.

Also, at the time of their arrest, Arlington police said the two soldiers were stationed at the Army’s Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington. One of the base’s entrances is located about two blocks from the 200 block of South Courthouse Road, where police said the two women’s house is located and where their Pride flags had been displayed.

According to court records, Henshaw, who was 20 at the time of his arrest, was charged with three counts of Unlawful Entry — Bias Motivated — and three counts of Petit Larceny for the flag thefts that police said occurred Sept. 16, Sept. 30, and Jan. 27. The records show that DiGregorio was charged with one count of Petit Larceny for the flag theft that occurred Jan. 21.

Longtime D.C. librarian, LGBTQ rights advocate Turner Freeman dies at 64

‘Voracious reader’ pushed for inclusive programming at DCPL

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

| lchibbaro@washblade.com

Sheldon ‘Turner’ Freeman, a gay librarian who worked for 39 years at the D.C. Public Library system and is credited with initiating a Black History Month film series and LGBTQ inclusive programming at the library system, died Dec. 23, at his home in Steelton, Pa. He was 64.

The D.C.-based LGBTQ advocacy and event planning group Team Rayceen Productions, which has held events at D.C.’s main Martin Luther King Library branch with support from Freeman, said the cause of death was a heart attack.

A write-up prepared by Freeman’s family members and published by Major H. Windfield Funeral Home in Steelton, says Freeman’s passing came just over a year after he retired from his position as librarian in November 2023 and moved back to his hometown of Steelton.

“Turner was known as a brilliant, proud Black man, who loved life and lived it to the fullest,” the write-up says. “He was a voracious reader and a music aficionado,” the write-up continues, adding that his other passions included dancing, Black

history, collecting Black art, books, music and movies, “and watching his Eagles, Lakers and the Ohio State Buckeyes.”

It says he was a 1978 graduate of Steelton-Highspire High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. He earned his master’s degree in Library Science from the University of the District of Columbia, according to the write-up.

A statement from the D.C. Public Library system to Team Rayceen Productions says Turner’s title at the time of his retirement was Adult Services Librarian.

“As an avid film buff, Turner was one of the first staff members of DCPL’s audiovisual department in the 1980s, now a city-wide collection of DVDs and other media as well as a plethora of online streaming resources,” the statement says.

“His weekly movie screenings have been running for more than two decades and are a beloved staple of MLK Library programming that has carried on past his retirement,” according to the statement. “His Black History Month film series is a particularly beloved annual event.”

The statement adds that Freeman’s voice was frequently heard on the MLK Library’s public address system and he “literally became ‘the voice’ of MLK Library’s 50th anniversary celebration, recording audio narration for library programming and citywide promotions.”

The Team Rayceen Productions statement says Freeman was a co-founder of a group called Book Reading Uplifts His Spirit, known as BRUHS, which focused on issues of interest to Black gay and bisexual men. Some of the group’s events,

which were held at the MLK Library, included talks by authors, film screenings, and reading of plays.

The statement notes that in 2021, Freeman moderated an online Facebook discussion with James Earl Hardy, the author of the B-Boy Blues book series, a collection of six novels that tell the stories of Black gay men. It also points out that Freeman was on the committee that organized D.C.’s first Black Pride celebration.

A statement sent by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to the Freeman family expresses her condolences over his passing and points to his numerous accomplishments as a librarian and community advocate.

“He was a caring friend and colleague whose impactful legacy, vibrancy, and kindness leaves behind an indelible mark on the hearts of many,” the mayor says in her message. “Turner was a role model, mentor, sports fan, and unwavering confidant, but above all there was no role more precious to him than that of a family man,” Bowser wrote.

“Turner’s love for his family was unparalleled, and his presence brought immense joy to his loved ones and to all those who knew him.”

A celebration of life for Freeman was held Jan. 4, at the Chapel of the Major H. Winfield Funeral Home in Steelton, Pa. The funeral home write-up says Freeman was predeceased by his parents, Bucky and Cookie Freeman, and is survived by his son, Freeman Dane Swan; his sisters Stephanie Freeman, Stacey Freeman-McKamey, and Sage Freeman; and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

JOSEPH DIGREGORIO

(Public domain photo courtesy of the Arlington County Government)

SHELDON ‘TURNER’ FREEMAN

Pope names LGBTQ supportive Cardinal as head of Archdiocese of Washington

McElroy praised as ‘brilliant theologian and astute political analyst’

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

| lchibbaro@washblade.com

Pope Francis on Jan. 6, named Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego, who has a record of support for the LGBTQ community, as the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C.

At the time he is officially installed at a ceremony scheduled for March 11 at D.C.’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, he will replace retiring Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who has served as Archbishop of Washington since 2019 and who also has been supportive of the LGBTQ community.

As Archbishop of Washington, McElroy will serve as leader of the Archdiocese of Washington, which includes Catholic churches and other Catholic facilities in all of D.C. and five Maryland counties – Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s.

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the Mt. Ranier, Md., based LGBTQ Catholic organization New Ways Ministry, released a statement praising McElroy’s appointment.

“New Ways Ministry is delighted that Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy as the next Archbishop of Washington, D.C.,” DeBernardo said in his statement. “Cardinal McElroy, a brilliant theologian and astute political analyst, is the perfect person to lead this important archdiocese into the future,” he said.

DeBernardo added, “Of course, the most exciting feature about this appointment for New Ways Ministry is the cardinal’s strong positive statements regarding LGBTQ+ issues. His particular angle in this area is one often overlooked by other church leaders: He constantly calls on members of the church to examine their negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people.”

Among other things, DeBernardo pointed to a statement by McElroy in 2024 criticizing church leaders in the U.S. who objected to Pope Francis’s Vatican directive allowing the

church to bless people in same-sex relationships while not endorsing same-sex marriage.

“He stated that opposition to such blessings reveals ‘an enduring animus among far too many toward LGBT persons,’” DeBernardo quoted McElroy’s statement as saying.

DeBernardo cited these additional statements or actions by McElroy in support of the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ Catholics:

• In a 2023 essay, McElroy objected to what he called the “profound and visceral animus” toward LGBTQ people reflected among some in the Catholic Church, referring to the anti-LGBTQ animus as a “demonic mystery of the human soul.”

• In 2018, he publicly criticized the way he said gay priests were being scapegoated by some for the clergy sexual abuse crisis, saying such abuse was a matter of power, not sexual orientation.

• Also in 2018, McElroy expressed support for a gay pastoral worker at a church in his San Diego Archdiocese, Aaron Bianco, who was subjected to threats and harassment from some fellow church members because he was married to another man.

• In 2016, McElory was one of the first Catholic Church leaders to offer condolences to the LGBTQ community after the Pulse gay nightclub mass shooting, in which a lone gunman killed 49 mostly LGBTQ people and wounded 53 others at the Orlando, Fla., nightclub.

DeBernardo pointed to what he called the importance of Cardinal McElroy’s assuming a high-level church leadership position in the nation’s capital at a time when the incoming U.S. president, Donald Trump, and incoming Congress were not expected to be supportive of LGBTQ rights.

Comings & Goings

Jim Litzelman joins Essentrics

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

Congratulations to James (Jim) Litzelman, DMA, NCTM, on the beginning of a new career working with Essentrics, founded by Miranda and Sahra Esmonde-White. The goal of the Essentrics Workout is to create a balanced body such that the strength in your muscles doesn’t inhibit your movement, and your mobility is enhanced by your strength. His background in music intrigued Miranda when they met. Litzelman is a successful pianist, teacher, and lecturer, having performed in the U.S., Russia, Europe, China, and Mexico, and regularly presenting at state and national music conferences. Jim is a published writer, with numerous articles appearing in musical journals. He served as chair of the editorial committee of the American Music Teacher magazine from 2011-2023. Litzelman was adjunct professor at Catholic University of America in Washington, from 19932023, directing the graduate piano pedagogy program,

“We are confident that Cardinal McElroy can provide a strong Catholic voice affirming the human dignity of LGBTQ+ people and the need for laws that will protect them,” DeBernardo said in his statement.

“New Ways Ministry is grateful to Cardinal Wilton Gregory for his leadership in Washington over the past decade,” the statement says. “Cardinal Gregory, too, has shown great concern for the dignity and rights of LGBTQ+ people. His legacy as a prophetic leader will endure.”

Vince Rodriguez, president of the local LGBTQ Catholic organization Dignity Washington, shares DeBernardo’s view that McElroy will have a positive impact on the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ Catholics.

“I’m delighted, absolutely delighted about this appointment that the Pope has made,” Rodriquez told the Washington Blade. “I think it’s a pretty timely decision given the incoming administration and some of the pushback that we’ve seen on LGBT rights and what may be coming,” he said in referring to the incoming Trump administration.

“So, I think it will be good to have a voice here in Washington to hopefully challenge some of that,” Rodriguez said.

many local, state, and national competitions.

and taught applied piano and courses in piano pedagogy and musicians’ wellness. He was guest professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, teaching doctoral seminars in the music of Franz Liszt and piano pedagogy. Jim maintains an active independent studio at his home in Arlington, Virginia, where his students have been prizewinners in

For 30 years, Litzelman has been living with focal dystonia, a neuromuscular disorder that afflicts classical pianists and guitarists in a disproportionate number, and an affliction for which there is no cure. Through researching the cause of focal dystonia, he developed a retraining strategy that has focused primarily on using symmetrical inversion (mirror image playing on the keyboard). This is a treatment modality in which he has been a pioneer, and this technique has given hope to many pianists suffering from focal dystonia.

Litzelman got to know Miranda through his own use of the Essentrics program. He has seen noticeable improvement in his focal dystonia from using the program for the last 10 years. What Miranda and Jim will now do is introduce Essentrics to the musical world. The intersection of music, movement, emotion, and imagery as a vehicle for healing and general wellness is endlessly fascinating to Litzelman. Miranda has recognized what Jim can bring to her program, and has asked him to teach her instructors how to listen to music better. In doing so they can create stretching routines that are more healing. In this way they are connecting emotionally-charged music with emotionally-charged movement.

Litzelman and Miranda have conducted one workshop on the Power of Music and will do another on Memorial Day Weekend, at the Omega Institute of Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, N.Y., titled “Music, Movement, Emotion and Healing.”

Cardinal ROBERT MCELROY (Photo courtesy the Vatican)

JIM LITZELMAN

Big

night for ‘Emilia Perez,’ Jodie Foster at Golden Globes

Trans star Karla Sofia Gascón talks meaning of orange dress

By SUSAN HORNIK

One thing you can count on with “Emilia Perez” star Karla Sofia Gascón is she is going to speak her mind. Such was the case last night at the Golden Globes when the fantastic Spanish-language musical, which is directed by Jacques Audiard, won for Best Picture.

Speaking about her orange dress, Gascón said, “I chose these colors tonight — the Buddhist colors — because I have a message for you. The light always wins over darkness. You can put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you can never take away our soul or our resistance or our identity. I want to say to you, raise your voice and say that I won, I am who I am, not who you want [me to be].”

“Emilia Pérez” was the most-nominated film of the evening and was honored with four Golden Globe awards for Best Film – Musical or Comedy, Supporting Female Actor (Zoe Saldaña), Original Song, and Film not in the English Language.

Jodie Foster, who won a Golden Globe for HBO‘s “True Detective: Night Country,” was equally free spirited in her comments onstage and to journalists backstage in the pressroom.

“The great thing about being this age and being in this time, is having a community of all these people… our ‘True Detective’ team, we love you so much. We’re really here for only one reason, and that is the wonderful, beautiful Issa

Lopez, our showrunner, writer, director, I’m so grateful to you and your talents and your friendship,” Foster said.

can coexist, and there are different ways of telling stories.” Foster also won an Emmy for the show last year and calls this a “golden age” for older women in Hollywood, who are increasingly being honored for their performances after spending decades being ignored.

“I think something happens, there’s like an organism that gets released in your bloodstream — I’m not a doctor, so don’t follow me on that one — but it just feels like there’s a hormone that happens where suddenly you go, ‘Oh, I don’t really care about all the stupid things anymore, and I’m not going to compete with myself.’”

President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal last week to LGBTQ advocates Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, and Mary Bonauto, senior director of civil rights and legal strategies at GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD Law).

They, along with 18 other awardees, were honored in the East Room of the White House with a ceremony celebrating their exemplary deeds of service to their country or fellow citizens.

In a statement, the White House said that, “By leading the marriage equality movement, Evan Wolfson helped millions of people in all 50 states win the fundamental right to love, marry, and be themselves,” while Bonauto, an attorney

Gay U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) will chair the LGBTQ Congressional Equality Caucus in the newly seated 119th Congress, he told Axios on Friday.

“Over the next several years, we will see a constant barrage of attacks on the rights and dignity of the queer community — especially against our transgender siblings,” Takano said. “I will lead our coalition of openly-LGBTQI+ members and our allies in the fight to both defend the

When asked what excited her more, film or television projects, she said: “Honestly, I think the most exciting narrative filmmaking right now is being done on streaming. That’s where I really go to see performances and to see characters build over time,” she said.

“Although I have to say the features this year are amazing, for me as a feature person, it’s great to see that both

Biden honors two LGBTQ advocates with Presidential Citizens Medal

who argued the Obergefell case that made same-sex marriage the law of the land in 2015, “made millions of families whole and forged a more perfect union.”

“Together, you embody the central truth: We’re a great nation because we’re a good people,” the president said. “Our democracy begins and ends with the duties of citizenship. That’s our work for the ages, and it’s what all of you embody.”

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) and Democratic U.S. Rep. Benny Thompson (Miss.) were honored on Thursday for their work leading the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Rep. Takano to lead Congressional

She continued: “I’m excited about what’s left of my life and who I become, and the wisdom that I can bring to the table. So for me, this is the most contented moment of my career, and I never would have known that. I just never would have known that. But something happened the day I turned 60, and it all just came to pass.”

Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” star, Jessica Gunning received the award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role On Television.

Delighted to win for her first nomination, she said, “I realized this moment has been a kind of soundtrack for my life for this last year. I cannot believe any of this has happened to me … this has changed my life in ways that I can’t even explain.”

Equality Caucus

queer community and push equality forward, including by reintroducing the Equality Act.”

The caucus was founded in 2008 by then-U.S. Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the latter going on to represent the Badger State in the U.S. Senate since 2013, when she became the first LGBTQ member to serve in the upper chamber.

Led in the last Congress by U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), the caucus’s chair and eight co-chairs are out and LGBTQ. There are a couple dozen vice chairs and more than 160 other members, all Democrats.

In recent battles over must-pass appropriations bills, the caucus opposed House Republicans’ insistence on including anti-LGBTQ “poison pill” policy riders, meticulously chronicling their efforts to politicize government funding.

The caucus has also fought against and documented

legislation proposed by House GOP members that takes aim at LGBTQ and especially transgender rights.

Takano’s tenure as chair will begin just as Republicans plan to push forward a bill that would prohibit trans women and girls from competing on women and girls’ sports teams, and just after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) enacted a new policy that would ban transgender people from bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol building.

“Our community will have a strong defender against Republicans’ incoming attacks with Representative Takano as our chair,” Pocan said.

First elected in 2013, the California congressman is the first gay Asian member to serve in either chamber. He is also the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

‘Emilia Perez’ star KARLA SOFIA GASCÓN

(Screen capture via Golden Globes YouTube)

President JOE BIDEN (Blade photo by Michael Key)

U.S. Rep. MARK TAKANO (D-Calif.) (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Pentagon settles with LGBTQ veterans unfairly discharged

The Defense Department has reached a settlement with veterans who were discharged under discriminatory policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” potentially allowing more than 30,000 to receive benefits.

Pending approval by a federal judge, the settlement agreement will update discharge papers for LGBTQ veterans who were separated from the military, removing references to their sexual orientation, while allowing those who were denied honorable discharges the right to seek an immediate review.

The agreement stems from federal civil rights litigation, Farrell v. Department of Defense, filed in August 2023 by a group of LGBTQ veterans.

“Coming from a family with a long history of military service, I was beyond proud to enlist in 1985 to contribute to my country,” said Sherrill Farrell, a U.S. Navy veteran who was the lead plaintiff in the case.

“When I was discharged because of my sexual orientation, I felt that my country was telling me that my service was not valuable — that I was ‘less than’ because of who I loved,” she said. “Today, I am once again proud to have served my country by standing up for veterans like myself, and ensuring our honor is recognized.”

The lawsuit came as the Pentagon under the Biden-Harris administration worked to streamline the process by which veterans harmed by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — and anti-LGBTQ discriminatory policies that came before — can seek redress.

This summer, President Joe Biden issued pardons to thousands of service members convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s former Article 125, which criminalized sodomy, and was rewritten in 2013 to proscribe only forcible acts.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

As Jimmy Carter is eulogized, his daughter wears a Pride pin

Amy Carter, the youngest child of former President Jimmy Carter, wore a pin with the rainbow LGBTQ Pride flag during the lying-in-state ceremony for her father at the U.S. Capitol building on Tuesday.

Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) each delivered remarks and laid wreaths during the service.

Distinguished guests also included U.S. Supreme Court justices, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dozens of other members of the Carter family, and members of the Biden Cabinet and former Carter administration.

President Joe Biden will eulogize the 39th president during the funeral on Thursday at the Washington Na-

tional Cathedral with President-elect Donald Trump and former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama also in attendance.

Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100, supported LGBTQ rights at a time when the community’s struggle for social, political, and legal equality was in its infancy, promising during his 1976 presidential campaign to support a gay civil rights bill because “I don’t think it’s right to single out homosexuals for abuse or special harassment.”

Two months after his inauguration the following year, the White House hosted a first-of-its- kind meeting at the White House with 14 gay rights leaders.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

McDonald’s is latest major company to roll back DEI

McDonald’s on Monday became the latest company to roll back certain diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, announcing plans to sunset “aspirational representation goals” and DEI requirements for suppliers while “pausing” participation in external surveys like the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

In an email, leadership said the changes come amid “the shifting legal landscape” following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the 2023 affirmative action case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and after benchmarking with “other companies who are also re-evaluating their own programs.”

Among these are Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, Molson Coors, Lowe’s, and Tractor Supply, each announcing plans within the last year to curb investments in DEI programs, including those focused on LGBTQ employees and communities.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has claimed credit for these decisions, though the nature and extent of the influence exerted by his campaigns targeting individual

corporations’ DEI activities is not clear.

HRC’s Corporate Equality Index is a national benchmarking tool used to assess “corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees,” according to six major metrics: “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in U.S. Nondiscrimination Policy,” “Spousal and Domestic Partner Benefits,” “Transgender-Inclusive Benefits,” “Transgender Workplace Best Practices,” “Outreach and Engagement to the LGBTQ Community,” and “Corporate Social Responsibility.”

Releasing the 2025 CEI report on Tuesday, HRC said that “Despite anti-LGBTQ+ attacks on businesses, 72 companies joined the CEI for the first time – up almost five percent over last year,” totaling 1,449 businesses.

The organization notes that 765 earned a perfect score of 100 this year, with businesses demonstrating “substantial increases in inclusive practices and access to equitable benefits for all LGTBQ+ employees.”

“At its core, the work of the CEI is about making businesses stronger. Since the start of this work 22 years ago, we’ve seen drastic shifts in corporate America toward more equitable and inclusive working conditions, family formation and healthcare benefits, and non-discrimination protections,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a press release.

“At times, progress meets backlash, but companies continue to dedicate the time and resources to reinforcing workplace inclusion,” she said. “As a result, they are more

competitive and more creative while attracting and retaining top talent and widening their consumer base. Our door is open for companies looking to learn more about supporting every single employee so they can bring their best to work.”

As Republicans take control of both chambers of Congress along with the White House, right-wing opposition to corporate DEI, including LGBTQ inclusive policies and programs, is expected to accelerate well beyond the calls for boycotts and online pressure campaigns seen in recent years.

Last month, Reuters reported that after he takes office, President-elect Donald Trump plans to use the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to challenge DEI programs at companies and universities.

The news agency noted that the division’s mandate in Trump’s second term would mean enforcers will be tasked with investigating policies that are designed to benefit the very same groups, like Black and other marginalized communities, that the division was established to protect with Congress’s passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Per OCR’s website, the division “works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all persons in the United States, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society” enforcing “federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, religion, familial status, national origin, and citizenship status.”

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN (Public domain photo)

AMY CARTER, youngest child of the late former President Jimmy Carter, at the lying in state ceremony at the U.S. Capitol (Screen capture via PBS News/YouTube)

McDonald’s Chairman and CEO

CHRIS KEMPCZINSKI (Screen capture via CNBC/YouTube)

KATHI WOLFE

a writer and poet, was a regular contributor to the Blade. She wrote this tribute just before she passed away in June 2024.

• 15 individual units for single occupancy in communal

• 5,300 square feet of shared communal space

• Fully-equipped kitchen with separate dining area

• ADA adaptable units (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Reflecting on interactions with President Jimmy Carter

An LGBTQ ally and devout Christian who adored his wife of 77 years

It’s September 1998, and I’m at lunch with several other journalists and a grandmother. As I sip my Coke, I hear a friendly male voice. You can tell he’s smiling. “Time to shake hands now,” he says.

We’re at the Carter Center in Atlanta for a few days. The other reporters and I have received Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. The grandma sitting with us is former first lady Rosalynn Carter, and the man with the warm smile is former President Jimmy Carter. “As soon as we get on a plane,” Mrs. Carter says, “Jimmy walks down the aisles and shakes hands with everybody. He knows they want to say hi to him.”

Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29 in hospice care in Georgia. President Biden declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning and Carter’s funeral will take place at Washington National Cathedral that day. After the funeral, Carter and his family will return to Plains, Ga. to Maranatha Baptist Church for a private funeral and then to Carter’s private residence for interment.

Twenty-five years ago, we journos were at the Carter Center to meet with experts in mental health so we could report accurately on the issue.

The fellowship program was founded in 1996 by Rosalynn Carter. Mrs. Carter, who died in 2023 at age 96, was no mere figurehead. She knew every detail about our fellowship projects. Heaven help us, if she’d caught us asleep at the switch.

It takes nothing away from Mrs. Carter to note how essential her personal and professional partnership with her husband Jimmy Carter was to her and her work.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were married in 1946. The first thing that hit you when you saw them together was how deeply they loved each other. There was nothing sappy about how they were with each other.

One morning, President Carter ambled into the conference room before our session on stigma and mental health was about to begin. Kenneth W. Starr had just delivered his report on (then) President Bill Clinton’s alleged abuses and affair with Monica Lewinsky. Naturally, we, the reporters in the room, asked Jimmy Carter how he felt about Bill Clinton. We were committed to mental health journalism. But, a former president was there – standing by the wall.

President Carter didn’t seem to want to hold back. He said he didn’t think that highly of Bill Clinton. But, before he could go on to say more, Mrs. Carter gave him a look. The look you give your spouse after decades of loving togetherness. Especially, if you’re a political couple and your mate’s being grilled by scribes eager to make news. “I know,” Jimmy Carter said, smiling, to Rosalynn Carter, his most ardent supporter and astute critic, “I’m talking too much, darlin’. I’m leaving now.” You could tell how proud President Carter was of Mrs. Carter. At lunch or dinner, you’d see him nodding approvingly at her when she spoke of her work. You could see it in how he teased her. “Rosalynn talks about mental health all the time,” Jimmy Carter said, with a laugh, one night, as he saw Mrs. Carter chatting with us about how the media reported on mental health.

What I most recall about Jimmy Carter is his generosity of spirit. “I beat Jerry Ford,” President Carter said, “but Rosalyn and I are good friends with the Fords now.”

He wasn’t using the word “friends” in the way politicos often do. The Carters and the Fords were friends who worked together on mental health and other issues.

I hadn’t yet come out as a lesbian when I was at the Carter Center. But I didn’t feel I had to remain closeted or silent about my (then) partner. Carter was, what today likely would be an oxymoron: a born-again Christian, who welcomed everyone.

The Carter Center, which the Carters founded after his presidency, is like a theme park, where, instead of standing in line for attractions, people work to resolve conflicts and eradicate diseases.

Thank you, President Carter for your work, humanity and being an LGBTQ ally. R.I.P., Jimmy Carter.

Will any

PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

GOP senators oppose Trump’s unqualified nominees?

Serious questions loom as confirmation hearings set to begin

As we move toward Jan. 20, when Donald Trump and his acolytes complete their takeover of the government, we really have no idea what will happen. Trump and his co-president, Elon Musk, lie with impunity. It’s hard to tell if they believe their own lies.

For Trump, a decision is often based on who whispered in his ear last. He is easily riled, and when it comes to Musk, it was fun to see him feel he had to respond when Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) called Musk, President Musk. In a Phoenix rally Trump felt obliged to explain Musk couldn’t be president as he wasn’t born here. We know Trump is losing it, often mixing up where he is, names, and dates. Will the media report on that the way they did with Biden? It is getting more apparent the media is being cowed by Trump. Recently the New York Times reported, “Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist for The Washington Post, said on Friday evening that she was resigning after the newspaper’s opinions section rejected a cartoon depicting The Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos, (and other media moguls) genuflecting toward a statue of President-elect Donald J. Trump.” The first test of how the Republican Senate will respond to Trump will begin shortly as they start the hearings on his Cabinet nominees. We will soon know if even the few rational Republican senators left keep their lips firmly glued to Trump’s ass, or will at least four of them find their balls? While most of Trump’s nominees will sail through, no matter how bad they are, there are a few we need to watch closely. Those are Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary; Kash Patel for FBI Director; RFK Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services; and Tulsi Gabbard, for Director of National Intelligence. These nominations are an abomination and dangerous.

Hegseth’s hearings will be conducted by the Armed Services Committee with Chairman Roger Wicker, (R-Miss), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will first need to get through the Senate Finance Committee; Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) chair, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking member. Patel will go to the Senate Judiciary Committee with Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) as chair, and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as ranking member. Tulsi Gabbard will go to the Senate Intelligence Committee with Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) as chair, and Mark Warner (D-Va.), as ranking member.

I am not holding my breath that any Republicans will ask the tough questions. But we can hope Democrats will. It will be interesting to see what they focus on. Will they ask RFK Jr. the important questions on children’s vaccines? We know he opposes them but will he take away the mandate for insurance to pay for them? Will he try to get school systems to abandon their requirement that children be vaccinated before coming to school? Will he oppose continuing to have NIH do the research to develop a vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS? What will he do about the polio vaccine and ensuring it is paid for all children? Will he recommend we withdraw from the World Health Organization?

Then will they ask Gabbard about her meeting with deposed Syrian dictator Assad, her relations with Vladimir Putin, and the war in Ukraine? How she would handle classified documents and what did she think about how Trump handled them? What are the changes she wants to make in the agencies reporting to the Director of National Intelligence? Does she even know what each of them does? How does her background qualify her for this important and sensitive job?

Then there is Hegseth. What will they ask him? What does he see as his qualifications for the job? Does he understand what the job is, and his relationship to the Joint Chiefs of Staff? What are Patel’s qualifications to lead the FBI? Will he go after an enemies list based on all his previous statements?

I would assume Democrats on the committees will be prepped with a long list of questions to ask each nominee, and will work together to try to make the American people understand how each is totally unqualified to head the agency they are being nominated to lead. Then we will have to look at how the media report on all these hearings.

One of the things the American people need to understand is whether or not they believe in Trump’s version of ‘America First,’ each of these nominees will impact how we deal with the world, and whether we are ever trusted again.

Mx. RACHEL GREEN

is a plaintiffs’ sexual harassment attorney at Katz Banks Kumin LLP and advocated before the D.C. Council for many of these changes to the law.

D.C.’s sexual harassment laws will better protect LGBTQ people

Leading the nation in enacting robust policies for workers

In recent weeks, the D.C. Council passed the Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act. Provided that this bill is signed by Mayor Bowser and not objected to by Congress, it will correct some of the loopholes in the District’s sexual harassment laws that were overlooked when the Council passed the latest iteration of the D.C. Human Rights Act in 2022.

In this dangerous moment for women, transgender, and non-binary people, when it appears that incoming federal leaders are hostile to protecting the rights of these vulnerable groups, more robust local protection is a needed step in the right direction. This new D.C. law, when it goes into effect, means that more people who have been harassed because of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression will be able to escape unfair arbitration clauses and file, publicly, in court. Historically, mandatory arbitration operates as a tool for companies to keep sexual harassment and assault accusations a secret.

While the D.C. Human Rights Act is, in my view, one of the better human rights acts in the country, it is encouraging to see that the D.C. Council is also willing to expand it to make sure more folks can make use of it to protect themselves. This legislation provides a series of fixes that significantly change the landscape of sexual harassment claims in D.C. First – the act provides a more expansive definition of sexual harassment. This may appear insignificant—but it’s not! Right now, the narrow definition under D.C. law says that sexual harassment is limited to “conduct of a sexual nature.” This covers the most egregious and brazen types of sexual harassment, the kind of behavior that often leads to news articles, like sending a colleague unsolicited sexual messages or photographs; using sexually degrading language or slurs; or asking intrusive questions about someone’s sexual preferences. It doesn’t include, however, the wide spectrum of sexual harassment that I see in working with clients every day: harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

This can take a lot of forms, like calling someone sex-based, but not sexual, slurs in the workplace; penalizing someone if they do not dress feminine or masculine “enough”; or spreading rumors about someone because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Mind you, the D.C. Human Rights Act already banned harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression before this new act; but this new act now includes all of those forms of harassment as under the umbrella of sexual harassment.

Why is it important? Federal law prohibits forced arbitration of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases nationwide, because it is an unfair forum for survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Under federal law, courts have recognized that sex-based conduct may create a hostile work environment constituting sexual harassment, whether or not the conduct is “sexual in nature.” But the D.C. Human Rights Act, until this latest expansion, limited sexual harassment to conduct that is sexual in nature. As a result, harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity could be forced to go to unfair arbitration in D.C. – which this new law fixes. Provided this is signed into law and Congress does not object, those who have been harassed on these bases will be able to publicly pursue these claims against their employers in court.

In addition to this meaningful expansion of the definition of sexual harassment, this new law also increases the statute of limitations of when claims can be brought from one year to two years. This extends the time a person who experiences harassment has to file a claim.

Many of these changes demonstrate the District’s commitment to leading the nation in enacting robust protections for workers and in resisting sexual harassment in all of its forms. I’m grateful to the D.C. Council for their work to make these changes a reality.

COASTAL MODERN LUXURY MEETS

MAINTAINED!

D.C. gets leathered up Your guide to Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend

By JOE REBERKENNY

Half a mile from the Capitol building on New Jersey Avenue, the Hyatt Regency Washington is getting ready for one of the city’s biggest, gayest, and kinkiest weekends of the year — the annual Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) Weekend.

The weekend, which has a long and fabled history that spans two different hosting Motorcycle Clubs (MC), multiple host cities, thousands of LGBTQ people dressed head to toe in leather, and as the Centaur MC website explains, all began with an hour of cocktails and a cock ring.

In 1976, members of the Links MC gathered in a room at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel to mingle and discuss shared interests (including leather and various sexual proclivities), when one of the party’s guests accidentally dropped his cock ring on the bathroom floor. The loud clang of a cock ring against the tile floor made everyone in attendance laugh. At the next party the Links MC hosted, another member intentionally dropped his cock ring on the floor too, calling back to the prior party’s fun and a tradition was established.

The event grew in popularity among LGBTQ leather lovers, moving to various East Coast cities before finding a permanent home with the Centaur MC in Washington in 1984. Since then, the city has hosted the Leather Cocktail party each year and has expanded to include an exhibitor hall, where leather makers and other kink product creators showcase their wares, the prestigious Mr. MAL Contest, and multiple high energy (and clothing optional) dance parties.

MCs comprised exclusively of queer members have been documented since at least the mid1950s, with the Satyrs Motorcycle Club of Los Angeles being one of the earliest known examples. During the McCarthy era, when LGBTQ individuals were subjected to brutal discrimination due to unfounded fears that being queer was synonymous with being un-American or even suggested Communist leanings, the groups provided an essential refuge. While such fears were baseless, the formation of these clubs offered a vital safe space for queer people to express themselves in an environment where their identities were not just stigmatized but often criminalized. These MCs became much more than places for sexual expression — they were havens of protection and solidarity, offering a sense of community that would have been nearly impossible to find in the hostile, post-WWII social climate.

This year’s MAL is set to be the biggest year yet with four days of kinky queer fun. It all begins on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Washington (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.) with the Full Package/Three

The annual MAL Weekend kicks off this week with dance parties, an exhibit hall, and much more. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Day Pass Pick-Up from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Here guests who have purchased a Full Weekend Package can collect their wristbands.

On Thursday from 9 p.m.-3 a.m., the MAL kick-off Kinetic BOOTCAMP dance party will whip you into shape as international DJs Alex Lo and Dan Slater start off the weekend right. The venue has not been named yet, but Kinetic Events, which oversees this year’s official MAL dance parties have said the space will soon be announced and will “be complete with play zone designed for maximum seduction.”

After beginning MAL weekend on the dance floor, Friday is full of events to keep the kinky vibes going. From 3-10 p.m., guests who have not picked up their Full Package Pass on Thursday can continue to collect them in Capital Room A on the lobby level (located behind the north tower elevators) of the Hyatt Regency Washington. If you haven’t purchased a pass, no worries, both day and weekend passes for MAL hotel events are available for purchase online or at the hotel’s entrance from 3-10 p.m.

The passes vary in price depending on what day(s) you attend. The 3-day pass is $45 plus processing fees and provides access to the Hotel and Exhibitor Hall for the entire weekend, as well as the Mr. MAL Contest on Sunday. The Single Day Pass is $20 plus processing fees and allows access to the Hotel and Exhibitor Hall on either Friday or Saturday. The Sunday Day Pass is $30 plus processing fees and includes access to the Hotel and Exhibitor Hall on Sunday, along with entry to the Mr. MAL Contest. To purchase your pass online visit at sickening.events/e/ mal-weekend-2025/tickets or at the hotel’s entrance.

To get in an elevator up to a hotel room a staff member will check for a hotel room wristband. Non-registered guests can only access host hotel rooms if they are escorted by a registered guest with a valid wristband. Registered guests are permitted to escort only one non-registered guest at a time. Non-registered guests with a wristband who are already in the hotel before 10 p.m. may remain until midnight. However, non-registered guests without a wristband will not be admitted after registration closes.

The Exhibit Hall is located on the ballroom level below the lobby. This year is slated to have 29 exhibitors selling leather and kink goods that range from harnesses to jockstraps and everything in between. The Exhibit Hall will be open on Friday from 4-10 p.m., on Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Back by popular demand, DC Health is partnering with Nasty Pig to provide preventative health services including MPox vaccines, Doxy PEP, HIV Testing, Narcan kits, and Fentanyl test strips. Their booth with these services will be available on Friday from 3-10 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Capital Room B (located behind the north tower elevators next to Room A).

Also on Friday, the Centaur MC is holding its Welcome

Reception from 6-8 p.m. on the ballroom floor. After the Centaur’s Welcome Reception, there will be an International Mister Rubber (IMR) Social from 8-11 p.m. in Congressional Room A.

Friday night’s dance party KINETIC UNCUT XL will be at REPUBLIQ Hall (2122 24th Place, N.E.) and has been billed as “largest and most debaucherous MAL event yet” with a “labyrinth of play zones” and two dance floors. DJ and adult film creator James Anthony kicks off the night and then allows for you to choose where to dance — either in room 1 with DJ Alex Ramos playing tribal beats or room 2 with DJ and adult creator Boomer Banks playing a tech house set. The dance party goes from 10-4 a.m. so make sure those boots are shined and ready to move.

On Saturday MAL will host its annual Puppy Mosh in Regency Ballroom C from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. During the Mosh, pups and their handlers can enjoy a playful puppy playdate while immersing themselves in pup culture. There are strict rules surrounding the Puppy Mosh. The Mosh Monitor has final say and has the right to eject anyone from the Puppy Park for violating the rules. For the full set of Puppy Mosh rules visit leatherweekend.com/puppypark-rules/.

Immediately following the Puppy Mosh the Super Hero Meet-Up will be held in Capital Room A from 1:30- 3 p.m., where cosplayers and comic book enthusiasts can gather for an erotic meetup celebrating a rendezvous of capes, curves, and vibrant spandex.

From 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, the Onyx Fashion Show will take place in Congressional Rooms A & B for people of color to highlight Black brilliance in leather.

The Leather Cocktail Party that started it all will be held 7-10 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom. Only those with the Full Package Pass can attend and are encouraged to show off their leather and kink fantasy.

The Leather Cocktail Party isn’t the only cocktail party happening on Saturday; from 9-11 p.m., the MAL Cocktail Party will be in Congressional Room B for other MAL attendees to mingle and get a drink.

The last event of Saturday is the KINETIC and Matinée Group’s PERVERT XXL dance party. Beginning at 10 p.m., this will mark the first time that a dance party on MAL Weekend’s Saturday night is an official MAL event. The dance is at A.I. Warehouse in Northeast (address TBA) and has a slew of talent for the celebration. Gigi Goode from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will “whip the crowd into submission” as DJs from around the world, including Erik Vilar (Brazil), Eliad Cohen (Israel), and Paulo (Los Angeles) play nonstop beats all night long (or at least until 4 a.m. when the party ends). In addition to drag royalty and internationally acclaimed DJs, the dance is held in a multi-level warehouse in Northeast D.C. complete with immersive lights, lasers, and play zones.

On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Mr. MAL Contest will be held in

the Regency Ballroom. This highly sought after title gives one man the power to become the Mid-Atlantic Leather man of the year. The sash and title come with some requirements though: 1. You must be male, 2. You must be a resident of North America, 3. Must be at least 21 years of age, and 4. You must self-identify as gay. Additionally, if you enter, you must be prepared to represent the title as a contestant in the International Mr. Leather (IML) Contest in Chicago on Memorial Day Weekend 2025. Currently the list of applicants has hit its limit but if you are interested and can meet the criteria you can email contest@leatherweekend.com to be put on a standby list.

From 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday, MAL will hold its Game Night in Capital Rooms A & B.

Last, but certainly not least, the final event and dance party of the weekend is the KINETIC LUST party, the perfectly sensual and sexy way to end MAL 2025. The party goes from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. as Grammy-nominated Abel and DJ Sam Blacky will end your weekend right with “dark, sexy beats and pulse-pounding rhythms” as erotic porn star performances and exclusive play zones are explored. Each day of MAL a Recovery Meeting will be held in the Yosemite Room (located on the conference level/ second floor) from 10-11 p.m. with an additional session on Saturday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. to provide a safe space for anyone who is struggling with addiction or for anyone who needs to take a sober step away from the weekend’s events.

All weekend there will also be a Bootblack station where MAL attendees can get any leather goods cleaned and polished. The money donated to the Bootblacks for their work helps raise money for a local charity (that changes each year) and to cover the Mr. MAL travel fund. Don’t forget to tip.

Even though the weekend is called the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, leather is not required. There are some rules regarding outfits though. All expressions of kink are encouraged. Attendees in years past have worn everything from leather to rubber, to furries and even regular street clothes. Just make sure that they abide by the hotel’s dress code rules — in publicly accessible spaces (lobby, hallways, ballrooms, exhibit halls), nudity is not allowed. Men may walk around the hotel shirtless, in a jock, or in chaps with a jock. Women are not permitted to be shirtless or have their nipples exposed. If you are dining, your buttocks must be covered, and at least a vest must be worn.

Please note that all events are 21+ and require an ID check, including every day of events at the Hyatt Regency host hotel. Please make sure you bring your photo ID. Also note that all MAL “Full Weekend Package” pass holders have access to the LUST Sunday Closing Party.

For any additional information on official MAL weekend events and policies, please visit leatherweekend.com or kineticpresents.com.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

CALENDAR |

Friday, January 10

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email adam@thedccenter.org.

Women in their Twenties and Thirties will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area. For more details, join their closed Facebook Group.

GoGayDC will host “ First Friday LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Puro Gusto. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 11

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

Ms. Capital Pride will host “MAL Weekend Drag Brunch” at 12 p.m. at Baby Shank. Guests will enjoy a lively gathering full of joy, laughter, and connection. They will also indulge in food and drinks while enjoying dazzling performances and entertainment. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

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

Sunday, January 12

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Dinner” at 6:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy an evening of Italian-style dining and conversation with other LGBTQ folk. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

DC9 Nightclub will host “Dance Club” at 8 p.m. at 1940 9th St., N.W. At this event, Jacq Jill and Flotussin will join Dance Club for the Sunday night closing party of MAL Weekend at DC9. The Baltimore staples will be joined by Dance Club resident DJs Baronhawk Poitier, Joyce Lim & Tommy C, plus Artemis on lights, to close out a jam-packed MAL 2025. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Monday, January 13

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.

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit www.genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.

Tuesday, January 14

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.

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

Wednesday, January 15

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

Thursday, January 16

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

OUT & ABOUT

Gay Men’s Chorus starting the year with a cabaret

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. will perform “Postcards,” a cabaret, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth Elkins-Archibald Atrium in Rehoboth Beach, Del.

In this performance, the choir will share hilarious and heart-warming stories and songs about the travel adventures they’ve had and hope to have. Songs include “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Streets of Dublin,” “Magic To Do,” “Home,” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on CAMP Rehoboth’s website.

Delaware offi cials to take questions at CAMP Rehoboth

CAMP Rehoboth will host a community conversation with elected offi cials on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.

Panelists include Mike Brickner, executive director of ACLU of Delaware; Sen. Russ Huxtable of the 6th Senate district of Delaware; and Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall of the 14th district of Delaware.

“CAMP Rehoboth looks forward to safeguarding protections of the LGBTQ+ community by bringing awareness to initiatives in place, and partnering with agencies and elected offi cials to listen to our challenges and concerns. We hope you will join us,” said Kim Leisey, Ph.D., executive director of CAMP Rehoboth.

Advance registration is required and can be accessed on CAMP Rehoboth’s website.

Newly elected state Rep. CLAIRE SNYDER-HALL, a lesbian, will join a panel discussion in Rehoboth Beach on Jan. 16.

Two queer artists ready to debut new operas at Kennedy Center

Works by JL

Marlor,

Omar Namji part of American Opera Initiative

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

For those who find traditional opera off-putting or mired in the past, there’s the American Opera Initiative (AOI). Now in its 12th season, the Washington National Opera’s well-known program pairs composers and librettists who under mentorship spend months collaborating on new work, culminating with the premiere of three 20-minute operas.

Included in this year’s exciting group are queer artists JL Marlor and Omar Namji. While these multi-taskers lend their composition talents to AOI, they are also performers and arts administrators. Marlor’s bio includes electric guitarist, and performer (she fronts the celebrated indie rock band Tenderheart Bitches), and Namji divides most of his time writing music and performing as an operatic tenor.

Marlor and librettist Claire Fuyuko Bierman’s “Cry, Wolf” is a short yet probing opera about three males (a late teen and two college age) who are navigating some dark internet ideologies. The work explores how the red-pilled manosphere pipeline serves as spaces of community for some people.

“To me it’s a very timely piece inspired by an outlook that has consequences in the real world.” She adds, “We’ve heard a lot about how angry incels [involuntary celibates] think about women. I want to hear what incels think about themselves.”

While Marlor tends to gravitate toward more serious opera pieces, Fuyuko Bierman, whose background includes standup, tends toward humor.

“I think this work brought out the best in both of us. The libretto feels like a comedy until suddenly it doesn’t.”

Marlor was introduced to opera through osmosis. At her gay uncles’ house there was always music – usually Maria Callas or Beverly Sills. She appreciated grand opera but not with the same ardor of true buffs. But her relationship with opera changed dramatically while attending Smith College.

post-apocalyptic, climate-affected world, it’s the story of a mother, daughter, and the daughter’s child Poly, created from toxic detritus, trying to navigate relationships.

“Most people go into opera without having had a ton of exposure. Often through musical theater or choir,” says Najmi, 37. In his case, he was pursuing a BFA in musical theater at Ithica College. After an unanticipated internal transfer to the School of Music, where he transitioned from baritone to young gifted tenor, his interest veered toward opera.

While enjoying a performance career, he wrote his first opera on a whim. “And now,” he says “composition is my creative passion. Singing is more like a trade or sport. I love the action of doing it and practicing.”

In one of his recent operas, “Jo Dooba So Paar,” Namji, who is half Pakistani American, draws specifically from personal experience, exploring how queer and Muslim don’t necessarily need to be conflicting identities. And while he grew up in liberal Boston in a secular environment, he still had insights into what it means to exist in two worlds. It’s a story he wanted to tell.

On a broader level, he says coming of age in the 1990s and aughts, on the cusp of homosexuality becoming normalized and accepted, created certain angsts. Today, his artist’s voice is drawn to the sentimentality that comes with unrequited longing.

What’s more, Namji collaborates with his husband Brendon Shapiro In 2022, the Boston-based couple co-founded Catalyst New Music, an organization dedicated to fostering, developing, and producing new works.

AOI’s three 20-minute operas will be led by conductor George Manahan and performed by Cafritz Young Artists on Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

“I was lucky enough to have Kate Soper as my first composition teacher and saw her opera ‘Here Be Sirens’ as my first piece of modern opera. I was totally hooked.”

Originally from picturesque Beverly, Mass., Marlor now lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their very senior dog. For Marlor, coming out at 25 in 2017 wasn’t entirely smooth, but finding support among the many queer women in the world of classical music helped. And more recently, AOI has bolstered her confidence in continuing a career in the arts, she says.

Namji and librettist Christine Evans’ opera is titled “Mud Girl.” Set against a

Following their world premiere at the Kennedy Center, the three operas will travel to New York City in a co-presentation with the Kaufman Music Center. The Jan. 23 performance will mark AOI’s first appearance in New York City.

American Opera Initiative

Kennedy Center Terrace Theater | Jan. 18, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

$25.00 – $39.00 | Kennedy-center.org

JL MARLOR (Photo by Sy Chounchaisit)

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+ TWO Resort-style saltwater pools with cabanas

+ TWO Rooftop bars with lounge seating

+ TWO Clubrooms with billiards

+ TWO Conference and co-working spaces

+ TWO Fitness centers

+ Pet-friendly and pet-free living options

+ Garage parking available for all residents

+ 1.5 blocks to New Carrollton Metro andAmtrak

+ Monthly social resident events

Awards favorite ‘The Brutalist’ worthy of the acclaim

Brody’s performance a master class in understated emotional expression

By JOHN PAUL KING

If there’s anything Hollywood loves – during “Awards Season” at least – it’s a good old-fashioned epic.

From “Gone With the Wind” to “Ben-Hur” to “The Godfather” and beyond, the film industry has always favored “big” movies when it comes to doling out its annual accolades, in part because awards equate to more public interest (and therefore more revenue) for films that might not otherwise grab enough attention to earn back their massive budgets. Yet, profit motive aside, such movies exude the kind of monumental grandeur that has come to be seen as the pinnacle of filmmaking craft, a perfect blend of art and entertainment that represents Hollywood at its finest and most iconic. It only makes sense that the people whose life is devoted to making movies would want to celebrate something that lives up to that ideal, especially when it also seems to reflect the cultural climate of its time.

That’s good news for “The Brutalist,” which has been buzzed – for months now – as the front-runner for all the Best Picture awards and seems to have proven its inevitability with its win of the Best Motion Picture Drama prize at this week’s Golden Globes. It meets all the requirements for an epic prestige picture: a sweeping plot, containing a nebula of currently relevant thematic ideas, but with an iconic historical period as its backdrop; monumental settings, spectacular locations, and impeccably designed costumes; an acclaimed actor giving a tour-de-force performance at the head of a proverbial “cast of thousands” and a runtime long enough to necessitate an intermission. Add the fact that it comes with an array of already-bestowed prizes from some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, not to mention high placement on most of the year’s prominent “10 best” lists, and its predicted victory charge through the rest of the awards gauntlet looks likely to be a sure bet.

That assessment might seem glib, even cynical, but it’s no reflection on the movie. On the contrary, “The Brutalist” stands out above the rest of the crop not because of the hype, but because of its cinematic excellence, and that is precisely what has made it such an attractive awards candidate.

Spanning several decades across the mid-20th century, it’s the saga of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian Jewish refugee – once a young rising star on the European architecture scene – who seeks a new life in America after being liberated

from a Nazi concentration camp. Reuniting with his already-Americanized cousin (Alessandro Nivola), who now owns a furniture business in New York, he offers his Bauhaus-educated expertise in exchange for a place to stay, leading to a fortuitous connection with a wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) who becomes enamored with his work. The resulting commission not only allows him to design and begin construction on a spectacular new masterpiece, but to facilitate the emigration of his beloved wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) – from whom he had been separated during the war – and his orphaned niece Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy).

Things are never easy for an immigrant, however, and unanticipated setbacks on an ambitious project for his mercurial new patron – possibly connected to a “functional” heroin habit that has grown increasingly difficult to balance with his professional life – soon lead to one reversal of fortune after another. It will take years before László is finally given the chance to complete his dream project, but even then the volatile affections of Van Buren threaten to thwart his ambitions before they can reach fruition.

It’s difficult to offer a synopsis that effectively sums up the powers of this film’s singular combination of pseudo-historical gravitas (the “pseudo” in this case means “fictionalized,” not “untruthful”) and coldly aloof observational commentary about the truth behind the so-called “American Dream”; director Brady Corbet unfolds his boldly countercultural narrative, in which the wealth and power of a privileged class that holds sway over the destiny of immigrants and outsiders is allegorically portrayed through the relationship between a visionary artist and the oligarch who ultimately wants nothing more than to exploit him. It’s an unmistakably political perspective that shines through that lens, and one that feels eerily apt in a time when even the greatest expressions of our humanity are granted value only so far as they serve the interests – and feed the egos – of the ruling power elite, and marginalized outsiders are “tolerated” only as long as they are useful.

In the intricately woven screenplay by Corbet and writing partner Mona Fastvold, these ideas run throughout the story of László’s American experience like the streaks of color in a slab of fine marble, turning “The Brutalist” into an anti-fascist parable through the personal stories of its characters. The portrait it paints of American classism, racism, anti-Semitism and sexism – all perhaps most boldly personified by Van Buren’s arrogantly boorish son (Joe Alwyn) – is not an attractive one; and though it grants us historical distance to make its observations, it is impossible not to see both the ominous connections that can be made to our current era and the true character of an American history in which “greatness” only existed for those with the money to buy it. The result is an eloquent piece of filmmaking that manages to “speak truth to power” through the details of its narrative without lofty speeches (mostly) or other contrivances to highlight its arguments – though admittedly, the broad strokes with which it crafts some of its more unpleasant characters occasionally feel like not-so-subtle Hollywood-style manipulation.

Ultimately, of course, what gives Corbet’s movie its real power is its size. Like the architectural style embraced by its title character, “The Brutalist” is monumental, a construction of high ceilings and ornate furnishings that is somehow streamlined into a minimalist, functional whole. Superbly shot by cinematographer Lol Crawley in a nostalgic VistaVision screen ratio that demands viewing on the big screen, it boasts a bold visual aesthetic rarely attempted by modern films, further suiting the scale of the statement it makes.

Finally, though, it’s Brody’s outstanding performance that drives the film, a master class in understated emotional expression that reveals a complex landscape of pain and passion through nuance rather than bombast. Jones is also superb as his wife, every bit his intellectual equal and exuding strength despite being wheelchair bound, and Pearce delivers a career-highlight turn as Van Buren, capturing both his confident charisma and terrifying rage while still giving glimpses of the hidden passions that lurk below them – though to say more about that might constitute a spoiler.

There’s no denying that “The Brutalist” is a superb movie, and one that feels as capable of standing the test of time as one of its protagonist’s structures. Make no mistake, though, it’s no crowd-pleaser; non-cinema buffs may be daunted by its combination of extreme length and leisurely pace, and while it has its moments of uplift, it can also be grim and melancholy. For those with the stamina for it, however, it’s a movie that enfolds you completely, and holds your interest for each of its 200 minutes.

ADRIEN BRODY and FELICITY JONES in ‘The Brutalist.’ (Image courtesy of A24)

‘Hello Stranger’ unpacks the possibilities of flirting Manuel Betancourt’s

Two strangers lock eyes across a bar. Or maybe they reach for the same book on a shelf in a bookstore. Or maybe they’re a model and artist, exchanging nervous smiles as the artist tries to capture a piece of the model’s soul on canvas or film.

In a Hollywood film, we’d be led to believe that these moments are laden with momentous importance – a flicker of sexual charge and desire, a chemical reaction that leads inexorably to life-altering romance and happily ever after.

But in his new book of essays “Hello Stranger: Musings on Modern Intimacies,” queer Colombian film and culture critic Manuel Betancourt unpacks the notion that flirting needs to be anything more, suggesting that flirtation can be a worthwhile endeavor in itself.

“One of the things that if you read any kind of love story or watch any kind of rom-com, you’re constantly encouraged to think that flirtation is sort of like preamble to something else,” Betancourt tells me over cookies outside of Levain bakery in Larchmont.

“Actually, flirtation doesn’t need to do that. You can flirt just for the act of flirting, and that can be fun, and that can be great. What is it that you find instead in that moment of possibility, at that moment when anything can happen? Just what happens when you’re trying to be the best person you could be? It’s almost more exciting when you know, there’s nothing else on the horizon.”

But “Hello Stranger”isn’t a how-to guide to flirting. It’s more like a cross between cultural criticism and memoir.

Over a series of essays that alternate between examinations of flirting scenes in movies, books, and art, and anecdotes from his own personal life, Betancourt traces the ways that we use flirting to create different kinds of intimacies.

“This is not a how-to, because I don’t think gay men need help with that,” Betancourt says. “But I also know that I’m a gay man in Los Angeles whereas I know there are young folks in Ohio that may not think of it this way because they’ve been conditioned, and actually we now have such a breadth of gay literature and a culture that’s continually teaching us we need to find the one.”

new book contains musings on modern intimacy

By ROB SALERNO

‘Hello Stranger: Musings on Modern Intimacies’

Published by Catapult

Available Jan. 14 | Hardcover $27

The book is a deeply personal one for Betancourt, who recently got divorced from his husband and joined a polyamorous relationship as he began writing it.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about different intimacies with strangers, with friends, with lovers, things that fell outside of what we understand as traditional. And so it felt like an easy way to turn all of these things that I was dealing with on a personal level into a more cohesive and coherent project,” he says.

“I wanted to think through where the joy in flirtation lies. Like, why are we so

drawn to it? Why was I so drawn to it? Why do I enjoy it so much? And of course, being the kind of literary academic that I was, I was willing to find other people must have thought about this, other people must have depicted it on screen and books,” he says. “Other people can teach me about this.”

The book starts with examinations of the fleeting, flirtatious intimacies seen in films like “Closer” and “Before Sunrise,” before diving into more complicated (and queer) relationships in the books

“The Sexual Outlaw” and “A Little Life” and the portraiture of photographer Peter Hujar, using them as springboards to examine Betancourt’s own relationships to cruising, dating, nudity, and relationships both monogamous and otherwise.

“I wanted to begin with those straight, very common, understandable ways of thinking about these things, and then the book slowly gets clearer and we end in polyamory and conceptual monogamy, and these very different ways of thinking.

“What else I wanted to do for those gay readers that are maybe looking to find something here, is show that none of this is new. I think a lot of us try to think, like, ‘This is modern and polyamory is so 2024,’ but what I wanted to do is give a cultural history of that.”

Though it’s not an instruction manual, Betancourt says he did improve his own flirtation skills while researching the book, as evidenced in a spicy anecdote he recounts in the book about cruising a man in a hotel bar, where he was actually working on writing “Hello Stranger.”

“You just have to pay attention, open yourself up, which is also what Hollinghurst, writes in ‘The Swimming-Pool Library.’ His protagonist is able to like cruise and hook up anywhere he wants to in London, because he’s always looking, like literally looking. He’s constantly out seeing the world as if it’s a cruising playground and that is all apparently you need to do.

“If you’re crossing paths and you see someone who you’re attracted to and you lock eyes, that is the moment to make something happen and it’s about being open to the possibility and then also letting the other person know that you are.”

Nurturing that openness was difficult at first for Betancourt, due to his upbringing in Bogota, Colombia.

“For me it was a very different cultural thing because of the kind of culture of violence, the culture of unsafety in Colombia. You’re sort of encouraged to not really trust anyone,” he says. “It takes almost locking that away because you can’t approach any of those situations with fear.”

“This is about, like, teaching myself because I’m not great at it either. So, it’s about reminding myself, oh yeah, be open and more attentive.”

Crush

Patrons enjoyed a night out on Saturday (Washington

Revelers enjoyed an evening out at Crush Dance Bar (2007 14th Street, N.W.) on Saturday.

Blade photos by Michael Key)

Snatching your dream home in D.C. this winter

A good time to get a deal during slower season

By JUSTIN NOBLE

If you’re thinking about planting roots in the DC Metro, then the winter months are a time when you can get a good deal during a slower time in the market. D.C. isn’t just for politicians and monuments; it’s a city brimming with diverse neighborhoods, chic eateries, and more rainbow flags than you can shake a stiletto at. But before you slip into those house-hunting boots, let’s make sure you’re well equipped for the real estate game in our nation’s capital.

1. Credit Check. Before you even start ogling those gorgeous row houses in Capitol Hill or swooning over condos in Logan Circle, make sure your credit score is ready. Lenders love to see a credit score that’s as high as my hair. If it’s looking a little low, then pay down those cards and keep your balances low.

2. Budget Realness. We all love a little splurge now and then (those D.C. brunches aren’t cheap), but buying a home is no time for financial fantasy. Work out your budget and know what you can afford monthly. Factor in those hidden costs like HOA fees and property taxes. Stay within your budget so you can keep rocking those designer threads without a sweat.

3. Location, Location, Location! D.C. is all about neighborhoods with character. Are you more of a Dupont Circle fan or perhaps Petworth? Maybe you fancy the historic vibes of Georgetown or the up-and-coming cool of Navy Yard. Each neighborhood has its own vibe and price tag, so do your homework and figure out where you fit in. Pro tip: Visit at different times of day to really feel the neighborhood’s pulse.

4. Find a Real Estate Agent. Find yourself a real estate agent who not only knows the market but also gets you — someone who can dish out honest advice and help you avoid any missteps. The right agent will be your guide, confidante, and maybe even your future brunch buddy. Remember, you’re in this together, so choose someone who’s as excited about finding your dream home as you are.

5. Mortgage Pre-Approval – The Golden Ticket. Nothing says “I’m serious” like a pre-approval letter from your lender. It’s the ultimate accessory to your house-hunting outfit, giving sellers that warm, fuzzy feeling that you’re not just window shopping. Plus, it helps you know exactly how much home you can afford,

so you’re not falling head over heels for something out of reach.

6. House Hunting: The Fun Part! Time to put on your walking shoes and start touring. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take notes, and envision yourself hosting fabulous dinner parties in these spaces. But be prepared to act fast. D.C.’s real estate market moves quicker than a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” elimination round, so if you find “the one,” don’t hesitate to make an offer.

7. Inspection, Baby. Once you’ve got an offer accepted, it’s time for the home inspection. Think of it as the all-important makeover montage. You want to uncover any issues before they become your problems. Trust your inspector and get those deets — everything from the roof to the basement needs a thorough once-over.

8. Closing Day – You’ve made it. The grand finale! You’ve done the work, and now it’s time to close the deal. Gather your paperwork, bring your ID, and maybe wear something that screams “I’m a homeowner!” After the signatures and happy tears, the keys are yours. Pop the Champagne and toast to your new fabulous life in D.C.

Final Thought: Love is Love, and Home is Home. Remember, your home should be a place where you feel comfortable, safe, and fabulous. Whether you’re single, partnered, or part of a chosen family, the D.C. Metro offers a vibrant, inclusive community that’s ready to welcome you with open arms. So go out there and claim your slice of this iconic city — you’ve got this.

JUSTIN NOBLE

is a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty licensed in D.C., Maryland, and Delaware for your DMV and Delaware beach needs. Specializing in first-time homebuyers, development and new construction as well as estate sales, Justin provides white glove service at every price point. Reach him at 202-503-4243, BurnsandNoble.com or Justin.Noble@SothebysRealty.com.

Dreaming of a D.C. home? Winter is a great time to buy.

MASSAGE MASSAGE FOR MEN

Private studio near Rosslyn/Courthouse, weekends (Fri-Mon), 12-9. Text Gary @ 301-704-1158 or visit www.mymassagebygary.com

EMPLOYMENT

HIRING FAIR

THE POTOMAC SCHOOL, in partnership with AISGW and EastEd, invites all teachers, administrators and those interested in careers in independent schools to the: 13th annual Diversity Hiring Fair: Saturday, February 1, 2025

The Potomac School, 1301 Potomac School Rd, McLean, VA 22101

Registration is free and bag lunches will be provided. For more information, visit: potomacschool.org/dhf

CLEANING

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COUNSELING COUNSELING FOR LGBTQ

People. Individual/Couples counseling with a volunteer peer counselor. GMCC, serving our community since 1973. 202-580-8661

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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.

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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@ModernFamily Formation.com

THE WASHINGTON BLADE PUBLISHES LEGAL NOTICES including probate, small estates & foreign estates. Ask the court to publish yours in the Blade. The courts will take care of the set-up process. Another way you can support your LGBTQ+ newspaper

LIMOUSINES

KASPER’S LIVERY SERVICE

Since 1987.Gay & Veteran Owner/ Operator. Lincoln Nautilus! Proper DC License & Livery Insured. www.KasperLivery.com 202-554-2471

MOVERS

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