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AM E RI C A S LGB T NE W S S OURCE

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

In Puerto Rico, relatives

recall loved ones lost in
Orlando massacre
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
mlavers@washblade.com

AIDA VELZQUEZ holds a picture of her son, Frankie Jimmy de Jess, at her home in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on July 7. De Jess was
among the 49 people who died inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Platform lled with attacks

on gays, trans people
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Despite eorts from supportive Republicans to
remove opposition to same-sex marriage from the
2016 party platform, the document contains language
repudiating the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of
marriage equality and is being described as the most
anti-LGBT platform in the partys 162-year history.
Although the document isnt yet publicly available,
reporters covering the platform committee meetings

this week in Cleveland revealed details as they

were being hammered out. According to The New
York Times, the platform rejects the Obergefell
decision and calls for judicial reconsideration or a
constitutional amendment returning control over
marriage to states.
Our laws and our governments regulations should
recognize marriage as the union of one man and
one woman and actively promote married family life
as the basis of a stable and prosperous society, the
platform reportedly says.
Additionally, at a time when use of public restrooms
by transgender people has become a national issue,
the platform denies the ban on sex discrimination
under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico Aida Velzquez

has several large framed photographs of
her only son, Frankie Jimmy De Jess,
scattered throughout the living room of
her small apartment in Caguas, a city that
is roughly 20 miles south of the Puerto
Rican capital of San Juan.
The largest of the photographs was the
one of her with De Jess that was taken
two years ago when she last saw him.
Velzquez also pulled out of a drawer a
picture of her son that was taken when he
was in seventh grade.
He was my blessed son, Velzquez
told the Washington Blade.
De Jess, 50, was the oldest of the 49 people
who died inside Pulse, a gay nightclub, on
June 12 when a gunman opened re during
its Latino night. He is among the 23 LGBT
Puerto Ricans who lost their lives during the
massacre that is the deadliest mass shooting
in modern U.S. history.
De Jess was a window designer for
Forever 21, a chain of clothing stores, at
the time of his death. He had previously
been a bartender at a gay hotel in San
CONTINUES ON PAGE 10

applies to transgender people, according to The New

York Times.
The platform reportedly says interpreting the law
to allow transgender students to use the restroom
consistent with their gender identity seeks to impose a
social and cultural revolution upon the American people.
Their agenda has nothing to do with individual
rights; it has everything to do with power, the draft
platform reportedly says. They are determined to
reshape our schools and our entire society to
t the mold of an ideology alien to Americas history
and traditions. Their edict to the states concerning
restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities is at
CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

0 2 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

0 4 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

LO CA L N E W S

Md. court expands parental rights for gay couples

Ex-partner wins de facto
parentage status
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
In an action expected to impact
thousands of children born into
families headed by same-sex couples,
the Maryland Court of Appeals on July
7 ruled that non-biological and nonadoptive parents who help raise children
are eligible for recognition as de facto
parents with full parental rights.
The unanimous ruling came in
response to a lawsuit led by Washington
County, Md., resident Michael Conover,
who was denied visitation with a child he
helped raise with his same-sex partner
for the rst two years of the childs life.
Following the couples separation,
two lower courts ruled in favor of the
ex-partners refusal to allow Conover to
visit the child on grounds that he had no
parental rights because he was neither the
adoptive nor biological parent of the child.
The Court of Appeals ruling on July
7 overruled the decisions by the lower
courts and overturned its own 2008
decision that established the legal
grounds for not recognizing people like
Conover as a de facto parent.
The appeals court remanded the case
back to the Washington County, Md.,
Circuit Court, which must now rule on
the merits of whether Conover should
be granted visitation rights based on the
best interests of the child.
With the courts decision today,
Maryland family law now recognizes
the lived reality of LGBTQ families, said
Jer Welter, Conovers attorney and the
deputy director and managing attorney
for the Maryland LGBT litigation group
FreeState Justice.
This decision strongly arms that
childrens relationships with their parents
are entitled to legal protection even if
their parents are not parents by blood or
adoption, Welter said in a statement.
Welter told the Washington Blade that
the Court of Appeals agreed to FreeState
Justices request that the case continue as
a same-sex couple matter despite the fact
that Michael Conover had transitioned
from a woman to a transgender man
shortly after the visitation dispute came
before the Washington County Circuit
Court in Hagerstown, Md.
Before his gender transition, Conover
was in a committed same-sex relationship
for nearly a decade with Brittany Eckel, a
statement released by FreeState Justice
says. In 2009, before marriage equality
for same-sex couples was recognized
in Maryland or any nearby jurisdiction,
Conover and Eckel decided to have a child

together by articial insemination, the

statement says.
They chose an anonymous sperm
donor on the basis of physical
resemblance to Conover, and when
Eckel gave birth to their son Jaxon, the
child was given Conovers last name,
says the statement, which adds that the
couple married in Washington, D.C. a few
months later.
They parented Jaxon together for
the rst two years of his life, but later
broke up, the statement says. In their
divorce case, Conover asked the court for
visitation with their son, but Eckel claimed
that they had no children together.
The Washington County Circuit Court,
which conducted a trial over Conovers
petition to obtain visitation rights, ruled
that Conover was a legal stranger to
Jaxon because he lacked a biological
or adoptive relationship to the child.
Marylands intermediate appeals court,
the Court of Special Appeals, upheld the
Circuit Court ruling in August 2015.
The Maryland Court of Appeals decision
on July 7 overruled the two lower courts
and recognized that a person who, like
Conover, has been a de facto parent to a
child who has raised a child together with
the childs other legal parent has standing
under Maryland law to have custody of or
visitation with their child, according to the
FreeState Justice statement.
I havent seen my son in four years
because the state of Maryland didnt
recognize me as a parent, Conover said in
the statement. I am elated that the states
highest court has ruled that people like
me should have our relationships with our
children legally protected. This decision
is a huge milestone for my family and for
Maryland, and it gives me hope that I will
get to see my son again very soon.
R. Martin Palmer Jr., Brittany Eckels
attorney, didnt respond to a request by
the Blade for comment on the appeals
court ruling.
Palmer told the Washington Post that
the appeals court usurped the role of
lawmakers in dening a parent.
Seeking to serve the needs of the LGBT
community has created a bad situation
for traditional families and their children,
the Post quoted him as saying.
Welter said he was hopeful that
Eckels attorney will not attempt to raise
Conovers status as a transgender man as
a factor for denying him visitation rights
to Jaxon.
The Maryland Daily Record, however,
reported in an April 6, 2016 story that
Palmer raised the transgender issue in
a legal brief he led with the Court of
Appeals earlier this year in an attempt to
show that Jaxon would be subjected to
bullying and ridicule by his school mates
for having a transgender father.

case for the words he used in the his brief.

Palmer said he didnt intend to
disparage the man, who changed his
name from Michelle to Michael, but to
express the mothers concern for the
childs welfare in the neighborhood, the
newspaper reported.
We certainly hope and expect that the
opposing side will not try to engage in a
campaign based on prejudice against our
client because of his gender identity,
Welter told the Blade. Whats at issue is
simply the best interest of the child.

Children can be cruel (they are not

politically correct) and on the playground
and on the school bus they are going
to taunt him: Your fathers a ____. Ha
Ha Ha, the newspaper quoted Palmer
saying in his brief.
Theyll sing it with a sing-song ring as
children do, the newspaper quoted the
brief as saying. They will bully him.
According to the Maryland Daily Record,
Palmer, an outspoken anti-abortion
advocate, later apologized to Welter
during one of the court hearings on the

Acclaimed trans activist

Sharmus Outlaw dies

Policy advocate focused on

health, sex worker issues
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
Sharmus Outlaw, a D.C.-based advocate
for transgender and sex worker rights and
people with HIV/AIDS in the United States
and internationally for more than 25 years,
died July 7 at a hospice in Arlington, Va., from
SHARMUS OUTLAW died at age 50
last week.
complications associated with lymphoma.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GENEROSITY.COM
She was 50.
Outlaw most recently served as a national
policy advocate focusing on transgender rights and health care access for the
Best Practices Policy Project, an organization that provides technical, public
policy, and logistical support for other organizations advocating for sex workers.
She also served as the U.S. representative for the Program Advisory Committee
of the Red Umbrella Fund, an Amsterdam-based international fund that assists
sex worker rights organizations.
An internationally known activist, she spoke out against injustice in all
settings, from interactions with police in the streets to meetings with the U.S.
government to high-level U.N. gatherings, a statement released by the Best
Practices Policy Project says.
Sharmus has left us much too soon but she has achieved so much, the
statement says. In 2001 she was a founding member of Dierent Avenues, a
grassroots organization working with people in the street and other informational
economies in the District of Columbia, according to the BPPP statement.
She also worked or volunteered for a number of other D.C.-area organizations,
including the sex worker advocacy group HIPS, the LGBT youth advocacy group
SMYAL, Casa Ruby and Us Helping Us.
The BPPP statement says Outlaw was an integral part of the communitybased research team that collected data on police interactions with people
proled as sex workers in the District of Columbia, which was published as the
seminal report, Move Along: Policing Sex Work in Washington, D.C.
The group says she was co-author of another rst-of-its-kind report that
addressed the issue of public policy related to HIV/AIDS and sex workers.
D.C. transgender activist Darby Hickey said Outlaw spoke at the International
AIDS Conference in 2002 in Barcelona, Spain, and again in 2012 in D.C.
During the 2012 International AIDS Conference, held the Walter Washington
Convention Center, Outlaw was among the leaders of a protest that disrupted a
panel of U.S. public ocials discussing HIV policy. The protesters said their aim
was to highlight what they believed was the U.S. governments harmful position
against sex workers rights.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 0 5

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0 6 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

LO CA L N E W S

Md. police sting operation targeted Grindr

Local man convicted of
soliciting sex from
15-year-old
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
A Montgomery County Circuit Court
judge on June 29 found a 31-year-old man
guilty of soliciting sex from a 15-year-old
ctional boy created by an undercover
police detective who posted messages
on the gay app Grindr under the name
Kinky Twinkie.
The guilty verdict handed down for
Germantown resident Daniel Read followed
a one-day non-jury trial in which information
surfaced that the undercover ocer initially
created a Grindr prole for Kinky Twinkie as
a 17-year-old male high school student.
The legal age of consent in Maryland is 16.
At the time of his arrest in December,
Read served as a Montgomery County
District Court commissioner, a position
that involves performing some of the
duties of a judge, including setting bail for

Maryland police created a prole for a

ctitious 15-year-old boy on Grindr.

prisoners. He was dismissed from his job

shortly after his arrest.
A police charging document led in court
says that under the prole of Dan, Read
began to communicate with the detective
posing as the student through text
messages and private messages on Grindr.
During these messages your aant

advised Dan that he (Kinky Twinky) was

actually 15 years old, the charging document
says. After several additional exchanges of
messages, Dan allegedly asked the student
to send him nude photos of himself.
By utilizing open source libraries,
your aant was able to obtain images to
send to Dan as he requested, says the
charging document, which was prepared
by the arresting ocer, who is identied
on the document as Det. Nick Jerman.
The document says Read eventually told
the ctional student through a text message
that he wanted to have sexual intercourse
with him and agreed to meet him at a
McDonalds restaurant in Germantown.
According to the charging document,
police ocers intercepted Read in his car and
arrested him on a charge of sexual solicitation
of a minor as he approached the McDonalds.
It says Read had given the undercover ocer
posing as the student his cell phone number
during a prior communication.
Police used the number to trace Reads
identity and home address. At some point
before the arrest, police visited the street
where Read lived and saw his car, which
enabled them to recognize the car when

Read drove to the McDonalds.

Yesterdays verdict is clear, said
Ramon Koriono, a spokesperson for the
Montgomery County States Attorneys
Oce, which prosecuted the case. Do
not seek out sex with a minor. Do not use
social media to lure underage boys for a
sexual encounter, Koriono said.
The underage person you may be chatting
with might just be an undercover police
ocer, he said. Daniel Read used poor
judgment and committed a criminal oense.
He will be held accountable for his crime.
Under Maryland law Read faces a sentence
of up to 10 years in prison and possible
placement on a sex oender registry.He is
scheduled to be sentenced by Circuit Court
Judge Sharon Burrell on Aug. 15.
Reads attorney, David Moyse, said
Reads arrest took place 30 days after
he and the undercover ocer began
communicating with each other on
Grindr and after Read developed what
the attorney said was an emotional bond
with what he thought was a confused
young man who he wanted to help.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

July 4 shooting leaves trans woman on life support

Activists concerned incident
wasnt publicly disclosed
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
A 25-year-old D.C. transgender woman
was being kept alive Wednesday on a
breathing machine at Prince Georges
Hospital Center after she was found
unconscious and suering from a gunshot
wound in the neck about 6 a.m. on July 4
in the 200 block of Division Avenue, N.E.,
according to a D.C. police report and
transgender activist Earline Budd.
Budd said police sources informed her
that Donita Dodds was discovered lying
on the ground bleeding by a pedestrian
who immediately called police.
Complainant 1 was found suering
from an apparent gunshot wound to
the neck, the police report says. At the
time of this report there is no suspect
information and or motive, says the
report, which lists the incident as an
assault with the intent to kill.
Budd said she was informed by police
that no witnesses to the shooting have
been found.
Police spokesperson Sean Hickman
told the Washington Blade that
detectives from the Homicide Branch
were investigating the case as part of the

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has said that

police would address transgender crime
victims by the gender to which they identify,
but that policy wasnt followed in two recent
cases.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY STROTHER GAINES

departments normal practice when the

victim of a violent crime suers a lifethreatening injury.
Erika Murray, a spokesperson for Prince
Georges Hospital Center, said federal privacy
rules prevent her from disclosing information
about Dodds medical status other than that
she is in critically stable condition.
Murray would neither conrm nor
deny information from sources familiar
with the case that Dodds was being kept

alive by a breathing machine and was not

expected to survive the gunshot wound.
Although she was alerted to the
incident unocially by police sources
who know her as a longtime transgender
rights advocate, Budd said she is troubled
that as of early this week police ocials
had not issued a statement or press
release disclosing the attack on Dodds
more than a week after it occurred.
Budd noted that police also had
not ocially disclosed that another
transgender woman 22-year-old Lola
Bell was robbed at gunpoint several
blocks from where Dodds had been shot
six days earlier, on June 28, and that
police arrested a suspect in that case.
I know there were a lot of robberies
and other things that happened on the
Fourth of July weekend, Budd said. But
for two transgenders to be in some very
serious incidents and the city put out
absolutely nothing about it. Thats very
concerning to me.
Of particular concern, Budd said, is
that the person who shot Dodds remains
at large. She said the as-yet-unidentied
suspect could be targeting other
transgender women in that area, which is
known as a place where transgender sex
workers congregate.
They need to put out the word to
the community that this happened,
said Budd. Somebody may have seen

something during that early part of the

morning. They may have seen her with
someone, said Budd. Someone may
have heard the shooting.
Sheila Alexander Reid, director of the
Mayors Oce of LGBTQ Aairs, said
police ocials did disclose information
about the shooting case to a police
organized committee of LGBT community
advocates called the Violence Prevention
and Response Team, or VPART.
But VPART members say police ocials
have instructed them not to disclose most
of the information they receive through
email messages and during VPARTs
regular monthly meetings in which
members are briefed by a police ocial.
Sources familiar with VPART have said
each of its members must sign a written
agreement promising to keep information
disclosed to them by police condential.
We are not allowed to speak about
any ongoing investigation, said VPART
member Samantha Shinberg, a sta social
worker with the D.C. LGBT Community
Center who works on the Centers AntiViolence Project.
Rob Hawkins, a spokesperson for Mayor
Muriel Bowser, said concerns about
privacy rights of Dodds played some role
in the initial release of information about
the case.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 0 7

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

0 8 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

NATIONAL NEWS

LGBT rights vs. religious freedom on full display at hearing

Frank, Obergefell testify
against First Amendment
Defense Act
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
The national debate between LGBT rights
and anti-LGBT discrimination in the name
of religious freedom was on full display
Tuesday during a congressional hearing on
the First Amendment Defense Act.
The House Committee on Oversight
& Government Reform held the threeand-a-half hour hearing on the federal
legislation on the one-month anniversary
of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub
in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 people dead
and 53 wounded.
Rep. Jason Chaetz (R-Utah), chair of
the committee, said during his opening
statement he convened the hearing
because free exercise of religion has
been and still is the fundamental part of
the foundation of our nation.
Religion is part of what so many
Americans believe in, that is their choice
to believe in, Chaetz said. It does not
mean I want to hurt or restrict somebody
else of their rights, their pursuit of
happiness.
Introduced by Rep. Raul Labrador
(R-Idaho) in the U.S. House and Sen.
Mike Lee (R-Utah) in the U.S. Senate, the
First Amendment Defense Act would
block federal government action against
individuals and businesses that oppose
same-sex marriage on religious grounds,
but critics contend it would legalize antiLGBT discrimination in the name of
religious freedom.
Opponents of the First Amendment
Defense Act say it would allow businesses
to withhold benets from LGBT
employees, allow companies to deny
time o to an employee to care for a
same-sex spouse and permit housing
discrimination against same-sex couples.
The legislation has undergone changes
since it was rst introduced. Among other
things, it now would prevent federal
government action against individuals
and businesses that oppose same-sex
marriage and sexual relations outside
of marriage as well as action against
individuals who support gay nuptials.
Also now excluded from the religious
protections the bill aords are federal
employees acting within the scope of
government, for-prot federal contractors
acting within the scope of that contract as
well as hospitals and nursing homes for the
purposes of visitation and medical treatment.
Both Labrador and Lee testied in
favor of the bill before the committee,
but didnt stay to take any questions from

Sen. MIKE LEE (R-Utah) and Rep. RAL LABRADOR (R-Idaho) spoke at a hearing for religious
freedom on July 12.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

committee members.
Lee said the First Amendment Defense
Act is necessary as a result of uncertainty
felt by opponents of same-sex marriage in
the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court
decision last year in favor of marriage
equality nationwide.
What an individual or an organization
believes about marriage is not and never
should be any of the governments
business, Lee said. It certainly should
never be part of the governments
eligibility rubric in distributing licenses,
awarding accreditations or issuing grants,
and the First Amendment Defense Act
simply ensures that this will always
remain true in America.
The legislation has 171 co-sponsors
in the House and 37 co-sponsors in the
Senate, but only one, Rep. Dan Lipinski
(D-Ill.), is a Democrat.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), top
Democrat on the committee, said during
his opening statement the hearing marks
a terribly sad day for LGBT people and
the nation because of the one-month
anniversary of the Orlando shooting.
As I sit here now, it is dicult to
imagine a more inappropriate day to hold
this hearing, Cummings said. Even if
you truly believe that being gay is morally
wrong, or that people should be allowed to
discriminate against gay people, why in the
world would you choose today of all days
to hold a hearing on this discriminatory
legislation? To say this hearing is ill-timed
is the understatement of the year.
Cummings asked during his opening
statement for Labrador and Lee to
address what is the dierence between
discriminating against someone for being
gay and being black.
With everything going on in the country
right now these horric shootings of
gay people, black people, police ocers
what we should be doing is coming
together as a nation, not tearing each

other apart, which is exactly what this bill

does, Cummings said.
Responding to Cummings, Labrador
insisted in his testimony our bill does
not take away anyones rights or enable
discrimination against LGBT people.
We have gone through painstaking
time and eort to make sure that this
takes nothing away from any individual,
but in a measured way, we protect the
right enshrined in the Constitution,
Labrador said.
Representing conservative concerns
that inspired the legislation during the
hearing was former Atlanta re chief
Kelvin Cochran, who was suspended
without pay, then terminated last year
after he distributed to subordinates a
book he wrote that expressed a biblical
condemnation of homosexuality.
Only a few paragraphs of the 162page book address teachings, biblical
teachings, on marriage and sexuality,
verses taken directly from the Holy
Scripture, Cochran said. Yet the City of
Atlantas ocials, including Mayor Reed
made it clear that it was those beliefs
that resulted in my suspension, the
investigation and my termination.
Recalling the racial discrimination he
faced at the start of his reghting career,
Cochran said he made a promise that if I
were ever in charge no one would have to
go through the horrors of discrimination
that I endured because I was dierent
from the majority.
Cochran said thats why he created a
doctrine for Atlanta re rescue personnel
that he said protected every member of the
department and the community it serves.
Counterbalancing Cochran among the
minority witnesses was Jim Obergefell,
the lead plainti in the lawsuit that won
same-sex marriage before the Supreme
Court. During the hearing, Obergefell
talked about his story as he cared for his
dying spouse, John Arthur, but was unable

to obtain state recognition of his marriage.

As important that it is that same-sex
couples like John and I have the ability
to obtain a civil marriage license in any
state of the country, it is also critically
important
that
this
constitutional
right is not undermined by proposals
like this legislation that would subject
loving couples like me and John and
other LGBTQ people to discrimination,
Obergefell said.
Former Rep. Barney Frank, whos gay
and in a same-sex marriage, oered
testimony against the legislation that
was characteristically colorful, saying the
measure is very personal because it
singles out a particular religious tenet for
protection under current law.
This is a legislative enactment that
essentially the fact that I live in a loving,
committed marriage with another man
is somehow a threat to other peoples
freedom, and that Congress has to single
that out to act against it, Frank said.
Among other things, Frank condemned
the legislation because it would allow
a non-prot housing organization to
collect taxpayer money, including from
LGBT people, and subsequently deny
that housing to them on the basis of
opposition to same-sex marriage.
Frank also said the legislation would
disadvantage children being raised by gay
couples by allowing agencies receiving
federal grants to deny benets to samesex households and, even though the bill
excludes federal workers, would allow state
workers administering federal programs to
discriminate against LGBT people.
Under questioning, Frank said he
doesnt think Cochran should have
been red and admitted hed support
a bill prohibiting the termination of an
employee from expressing opposition
to same-sex marriage, so long as that
opinion isnt relevant to the position,
but doesnt think the First Amendment
Defense Act accomplishes that.
Katherine Franke, a law professor and
director of Columbia Universitys Center
for Gender & Sexuality Law, testied
against the legislation on the basis that
it creates an absolute immunity for
opponents of same-sex marriage.
Del.
Eleanor
Holmes
Norton
(D-D.C.) said language in the First
Amendment Defense Act dening D.C.
as part of the federal government would
eectivelymake the capital of the nation
a discrimination zone for LGBT people.
On behalf of the people that I represent
in the District of Columbia of every sexual
orientation, Im deeply oended by this
bill because it is not only an attack anour
own LGBTQ communitys rights we have
gone very far in protecting, but it is an
attack on the sovereignty of the District of
Columbia itself, Norton said.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

NATIONAL NEWS

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 0 9

Orlando marks 1-month anniversary of massacre

House Dems renew
call for vote on gun
safety legislation
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS &
CHRIS JOHNSON
Tuesday marked one month since a
gunman killed 49 people inside a gay
nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer unveiled
plans for a permanent memorial to
the victims that will be built at Orlando
Regional Medical Center, which is a few
blocks north of the Pulse nightclub in
which the massacre took place. The 49
wooden crosses that had been placed
outside the hospital were also brought
to the Orange County Regional History
Center in downtown Orlando.
The Central Florida Expressway
Authority honored the massacre victims
by illuminating its Lake Underhill Bridge
in rainbow colors at 2:02 a.m., the exact
moment when the gunman opened re
inside the nightclub.
The Pulse nightclub has not reopened,
but mourners continue to place owers
and other objects outside the fence that
currently surrounds it.
I knew two of the 49 people who died
in the club that morning, Axel Rodrguez,
an Orlando resident who was born in
Puerto Rico, told the Washington Blade
on Tuesday. There is not a day that I
dont think about them and their families.
It is very sad and it will take time for me to
be back to normal.
Pedro Julio Serrano, founder of Puerto
Rico Para Tod@s, a Puerto Rican advocacy
group, has previously noted that 23 of the
49 victims were LGBT Puerto Ricans.
Carmen Yuln Cruz, the mayor of the
Puerto Rican capital of San Juan, on June
26 ocially dedicated the islands rst
LGBT-specic monument that contains
a plaque with the names of those who
died inside the Pulse nightclub. The
LGBTT Community Center of Puerto Rico
and Temptation, a gay club in San Juans
Santurce neighborhood, have also erected
makeshift memorials to the victims.
This has been the most dicult month
for the Puerto Rican LGBT community,
Serrano told the Blade on Tuesday from
San Juan. We still mourn the 23 of us that
are no longer here.
Funds that Equality Florida and the city
of Orlando created in the wake of the
massacre to help the victims families and
survivors have raised nearly $18 million.
Orlando ocials have said that
claims will be reviewed and payments
distributed by Oct. 1. Cecilia La Luz,
founder and executive director of the
LGBTT Community Center of Puerto

A woman with a picture of her friend who

died inside the Pulse nightclub attends a
memorial in Orlando, Fla., on June 13.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Rico, told the Blade last week during an

interview in San Juan that she remains
concerned about the amount of time the
families of the victims will have to wait in
order to receive money from the funds.
Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith
acknowledged to the Blade on Tuesday
during a telephone interview that the process
to distribute the funds has not begun. She
nevertheless said ensuring that the victims
families and those who survived the massacre
receive them remains a top priority.
It has felt like an ongoing, unfolding
tragedy, not something that happened a
month ago, Smith told the Blade.
Meanwhile, in D.C. on Tuesday,
raising 49 placards bearing the faces
of the Orlando shooting victims, House
Democrats held a vigil on the steps of the
U.S. Capitol to observe the one-month
anniversary of the tragedy.
At the event organized by the LGBT
Equality Caucus, the estimated 75
lawmakers called for a House oor vote on
gun safety legislation that would expand
background checks and prohibit terrorists
on the no-y list from buying rearms.
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), whos
gay and a co-chair of the LGBT Equality
Caucus, called the Orlando shooting a
hate crime that devastated so many
families and loved ones.
We come together in an evening of
remembrance and bring the faces of
the victims of this horrible attack to the
Capitol steps, Cicilline said. Regrettably,
since that fateful evening, no action has
been taken by Congress, not even a
resolution condemning the attack.
At this time, House Speaker Paul Ryan
(R-Wis.) seems unlikely to hold a vote on
the legislation before lawmakers adjourn
this week for summer recess.
Each of the ve openly gay co-chairsof
the LGBT Equality Caucus who were

Members of Congress hold photos of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting at the U.S.
Capitol on July 12.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

present at the event Cicilline, Rep.

Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Rep. Mark Takano
(D-Calif.), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.)
read a portion of the names of the victims
of the Orlando shooting until they were all
named. Not seen at the vigilwas bisexual
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer
(D-Md.) said Congress should send a
message that we do not countenance
discrimination against LGBT people in the
aftermath of the Orlando shooting.
Orlando showed us the horrifying
power of a single individual to commit
unspeakable acts of terror and violence,
but Orlando also demonstrated the
extraordinary power of community and
of the American spirit, Hoyer said.
The event echoed the recent House
oor sit-in to call for legislation against
gun violence, an action that recalled

early LGBT grassroots activism seeking

government action on HIV/AIDS and LGBT
rights. Leading the House oor sit-in
wasby Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who was
also present the vigil.
We come here at this moment, at this
time, to honor the lives of 49 Americans
who were killed by more than a man,
Lewis said. They were murdered by the
destructive forces of hate, and a gun.
Hate and a gun.
The vigil took place on the same day
House Republicans held a hearing on the
First Amendment Defense Act, federal
religious freedom legislation that
would enable anti-LGBT discrimination,
and the Republican National Committee
adopted a 2016 platform loaded with
anti-LGBT language, including a plank
calling for a constitutional amendment to
overturn the U.S. Supreme Court decision
in favor of same-sex marriage.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

1 0 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

NATIONAL NEWS

Puerto Rican relatives recall loved ones lost in Orlando

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Juans Condado neighborhood.

De Jess also danced Jbaro, a Puerto
Rican folk dance.
Velzquez told the Blade that her son
liked music and enjoyed writing.
I was very proud of my son for who he
was, she said.
Velzquez said that she last spoke with
her son at 2 p.m. on June 11, roughly 12
hours before the massacre took place.
I am in pain because all of this is much
bigger than I am, Velzquez told the Blade.
De Jess wake took place in Kissimmee,
Fla., before his body was own back to
Puerto Rico.
More than 500 people attended his
funeral that took place in Caguas on June 21.
He was divine, said Velzquez.
Everyone loved him a lot.
She told the Blade that people have told
her that they are who they are because
of her son. A woman wrote on De Jesus
Facebook page that he and his thenpartner helped take care of her three
children after her ex-husband refused to
pay child support.
You guys were my refuge, my source
of motivation, she wrote.
The woman said on De Jess Facebook
page that she has been married to her
best friend for 20 years and that her
three children have graduated from
college and now have their own families.
I love you and I will love you forever,
she wrote. Thank you to your mom for
raising such a spectacular son.

Proud aunt praises nephew

ngel Candelario Padr, 28, grew
up in Gunica, a town on Puerto Ricos
southwestern coast.
His aunt, Leticia Padr, told the Blade
during an emotional interview at her
home in the city of Mayagezs Miradero
neighborhood on July 8 that her nephew
was a second brother to her three children.
Candelario lived in Gunica during the
week, but he spent weekends with Padr
at her home. He also worked in his aunts
store when he was a teenager.
He helped me a lot, said Padr.
Candelario graduated from high school
with high honors. He enrolled at the
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico to
study nursing, but Padr told the Blade that
he was worried his family did not have the
means to help him pay for his education.
I said, No, you keep going because I am
going to help you, she said. My husband
and I supported him in everything. All of
my kids are going to attend college and all
that we do for our kids we did for ngel.
Candelario who was also a member
of the Puerto Rican National Guard
moved to Chicago a couple of years ago

LETICIA PADR, the aunt of ngel Candelario Padr, one of the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre, holds a scrapbook in her home in
Mayagez, Puerto Rico, on July 8, that contains her nephews diplomas and pictures.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS

to pursue his nursing career.

He moved to Orlando in March.
Candelario was a technician at the
Florida Retina Institute, a chain of
ophthalmologist clinics, and a Zumba
instructor. He was to have begun his
doctorate in September.
Padr said her priest held a moment of
silence for the victims of the Pulse nightclub
massacre during Mass on June 12.
She and her family were driving
to a restaurant after they left church
when she had what she described as a
premonition that her nephew might
have been inside the nightclub.
Padrs relatives insisted that she go
to the restaurant and have lunch, despite
her concern. She said they told her that
Candelario had not answered his phone
when they called it once they arrived.
I began to call and call, said Padr.
He did not answer.
Padr said she eventually reached a
friend who was with her nephew at the
Pulse nightclub.
The friend who was shot four times
conrmed that Candelario had also
been shot.
He said that yes, ngel was there, said
Padr.
Padr and her husband arrived in
Orlando at around 1:30 a.m. on June 13.
They received conrmation a few hours
later that Candelario was among those
who died inside the nightclub.
Candelarios boyfriend was also shot,
but he survived.
I felt as though I had lost my son, said
Padr, referring to her nephew.
She and her husband identied
Candelarios body the next day.
It was truly hard, said Padr, speaking
through tears. Its hard because I
thought back to the day he was born, his

development, his adolescence. Until he

graduated magna cum laude from the
university he was with his family: His aunt,
his son and his three cousins. We were his
parents to him and I feel very proud.
Candelario was wearing a stethoscope
and his white Florida Retina Institute
lab coat during his open casket funeral
in Florida that more than 200 people
attended. Members of the Puerto Rican
National Guard lined the streets of
Gunica on June 18 as a horse-drawn
carriage brought his ag-draped casket
to the towns cemetery.
It has been very painful for me and
for my entire family, said Padro. I have
always said that things happen when they
are going to happen and the Lord has a
plan for when he is going to call for us.
I have an angel in heaven, but I am
destroyed, she added.

Life of the party

Marynell Valentn, the sister of Gilberto
Silva Menndez, was quick to tell the
Blade on July 8 during an interview at a
Mayagez mall that her brother was the
life of the party.
The mall, which is adjacent to the
University of Puerto Ricos Mayagez
campus, is located roughly four miles
from Padrs home.
He truly was a personality, joked
Valentn. Everyone wanted to meet him
and be liked by him.
Silva, 25, was born in Manat, a town on
Puerto Ricos northern coast that is roughly
an hour west of San Juan. He had lived with
his mother in Orlando for four years.
Silva, who worked at a Speedway
gas station, began studying health care
management at a local university in 2014.

Valentn said that her brother always

wanted to be famous.
He always said that he wanted to be in
a magazine, that one day he would have
his likeness on a billboard, she said.
Valentn told the Blade that her mother
rst realized that something was wrong
at around 4 a.m. on June 12.
Silva, who liked to dance a lot, was
at the Pulse nightclub with three friends.
Valentn told the Blade that his boyfriend
was not there with him.
She said that her family received
conrmation of her brothers death at 6 a.m.
on June 13. Valentn was on a ight to Orlando
from Puerto Rico at the time, and did not
receive the news until she arrived in Florida.
I boarded with hope that he would be
there when I arrived, she said. When I
landed in Orlando, my cell phone rang and
my mom tells me that [he had died.] This is
a moment that I dont wish upon anyone.
Only one of the three friends who were
with Silva at the Pulse nightclub survived.
He died the way he wanted because
he was there dancing, said Valentn.
A joint funeral for Silva and his best
friend, Peter Ommy Gonzlez Cruz, who
also died inside the Pulse nightclub, took
place in Orlando on June 17. Silva was
buried in Puerto Rico next to his paternal
grandmother and his cousin.
Mom is OK, said Valentn. She cried a
lot for the death of her son, but she has an
inner peace because my brother also lived
the way he wanted: With the full support
of his family, with excellent friendships in
Orlando and here in Puerto Rico.
Valentn said the last time she saw her
brother was in May when she made a
surprise trip to Orlando to visit him.
He is not going to come [to Puerto
Rico] for Christmas, she said. He is not
going to come for my birthday.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

N A T IO NA L NEW S

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 1 1

GOP platform seeks to overturn marriage ruling

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

once illegal, ominous, and ignores privacy

issues. We salute the several states which
have led suits against it.
The
anti-LGBT
language
is
a
component of a broader platform
described as aligning itself with the far
right of the Republican Party. Other parts
of the platform reportedly seek to bar
women from military combat, declare
pornography a public health crisis and
refer to coal as a source of clean energy.
Another plank endorses presumptive
Republican presidential nominee Donald
Trumps plan to build a wall along the
U.S.-Mexico border.
The platform committee, which met in
Cleveland in the week before Republican
National Convention, gave its nal approval
to the draft late Tuesday afternoon. The
next step in the process is ratication by
delegates at the convention on Monday.
According to NBC News, Trump aides
anonymously said the candidate is
pleased with the result and supports
the platform. The campaign didnt
immediately respond Wednesday to the
Blades request to verify Trumps support
for the platform.
The draft platform contains the antiLGBT planks despite a campaign led by
the American Unity Fund, a pro-LGBT
group founded by GOP philanthropist
Paul Singer, to remove anti-LGBT
language seen in years past in the
Republican platforms.
In place of opposition to same-sex
marriage and support for a constitutional
amendment barring gay nuptials, the
American Unity Fund through its Platform
Reform campaign sought to recognize
diverse and sincerely held views on
civil marriage as well as growth in GOP

DONALD TRUMP is reportedly happy with the proposed GOP platform language.

support for same-sex marriage.

Rachel Ho, a defense analyst at the
D.C.-based American Action Forum who
identied herself as the rst openly gay
person credentialed to the Republican
party platform committee, introduced
the amendment during full committee
discussion of the platform. Her eort was
rejected after she made an emotional
plea to change the language.
Im not here asking you today to
endorse my own constitutional rights,
which have been made clear by the recent
Supreme Court decision last year, Ho
said. Im only asking you to recognize
that many of the Republicans that sent us
here to do work this week in shaping our
partys platform agree with me, and we
should not be excluded from our party.
A spokesperson for the American
Unity Fund declined to comment on the
reported anti-LGBT language in the draft
Republican platform earlier in the week,

Sanders endorses Clinton

for president
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday formally endorsed former Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton for president.
Secretary Clinton has won the Democratic nominating process, and I
congratulate her for that, said Sanders during a rally at a high school in
Portsmouth, N.H., as Clinton stood next to him. She will be the Democratic
nominee for president and I intend to do everything I can to make certain she
will be the next president of the United States.
Sanders also criticized presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald
Trump over a host of issues, including potential nominees to the U.S. Supreme
Court and whether they will defend the rights of the LGBT community and
other minority groups.
If you dont believe this election is important, take a moment to think about
the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump will nominate, and what that
means to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country, said Sanders.
CHRIS JOHNSON

Log Cabins GREGORY ANGELO assailed the

Republican Party platform in an email this
week.

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY LEE WHITMAN

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

saying the process for creating it is still

ongoing. The organization didnt respond
to the Blades request for comment
on Wednesday after the committee
approved the platform.
The platform committee also adopted
an amendment from Tony Perkins,
president of the anti-LGBT Family
Research Council, endorsing widely
discredited ex-gay conversion therapy
for LGBT people.
We support the right of parents to
determine the proper treatment or therapy,
for their minor children, the amendment
said, according to Time magazine.
According to Time magazine, Perkins
had to meet with Republican National
Committee Chair Reince Priebus to
introduce the proposal because the
deadline for new amendments had passed.
Additionally, the platform endorses the
First Amendment Defense Act, federal
religious freedom legislation that
would enable anti-LGBT discrimination.
The House Committee on Oversight &
Government Relations held a hearing
on the legislation on the same day the
committee approved the platform.
Other proposals emerged to remove
the plank against same-sex marriage and
soften other anti-LGBT language in the
platform, but those eorts were rejected.
The Republican National Committee
didnt respond to the Washington Blades
request to verify or comment on the
proposed language.
Annie Dickerson, a committee member
from New York and adviser to Singer,
introduced an amendment that would
have stripped the platform of language
supporting the First Amendment Defense
Act on the basis that it was blatant
discrimination against same-sex couples
raising children, but it was defeated.
I just want us to all keep in mind
addition vs. subtraction to start o here,
Dickerson said. So, we really need to
attract more people to the Republican

Party and not cause people to ee in large

numbers, not just gays but people that
love them, millennials who by and large
support non-discrimination and even
marriage equality in larger numbers. This
is only going in one direction.
On consideration of her amendment,
Virginia delegate Tommy Valentine said
she was implying fellow Republicans were
bigots and said its certainly not helping
her cause. Dickerson interrupted and said
she didnt use that language and rejects it.
Valentine responded, I have the oor.
Gregory Angelo, president of Log Cabin
Republicans, attended the platform
committee hearing as a credentialed
guest and afterward issued an email blast
to supporters taking the unusual step of
slammingthe party.
Theres no way to sugar-coat this:
Im mad as hell and I know you are,
too, Angelo said. Moments ago, the
Republican Party passed the most
anti-LGBT Platform in the Partys 162year history. Opposition to marriage
equality, nonsense about bathrooms,
an endorsement of the debunked
psychological practice of pray the gay
away its all in there. This isnt my GOP,
and I know its not yours either.
The email reminds supporters Log Cabin
is credentialed for the upcoming National
Republican Convention and seeks donations
to continue to support the eort.
John Fluharty, whos gay and former
chair of the Delaware Republican Party,
assailed Log Cabin for the mass email,
saying the release of a fundraising
device following their abject failure at the
platform committee is disturbing.
There are millions of LGBTQ Americans
who identify as Republican and who ght
in the trenches every day to bring change
to our party, Fluharty added. Log Cabin
failed these folks. One has to ask why Log
Cabin is ineective in helping the party
understand how the community can be a
valuable part of a willing coalition.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

12 J U L Y 15, 2016

BA LT I MO RE N E W S

Vandals broke in and destroyed property

inside Immanuel Church of Christ.
PHOTO BY COURTESY OF IMMANUEL CHURCH OF CHRIST

Vandals target LGBT-friendly church

Keep your promise to protect each other.

LGBT-friendly Immanuel Church of Christ, located in a peaceful, leafy

neighborhood in Catonsville, Md., has been vandalized once again.
Last August, a rainbow ag that the church ies outside was stolen after a
street signboard was posted that read, Black lives matter and bullets cant stop
Gods love. Weeks later, the churchs board read, Refugees are people, not just
a crisis. Vandals left letters cut from black paper that read, Have you forgotten
9-11? This church did, according to WBAL-TV.
In the latest incident, vandals broke in through a rst-oor window and
sprayed a re extinguisher on the sanctuary, pews, prayer books and hymnals.
Electronic equipment was stolen and church oces were vandalized.
In addition, grati scrawled on a dry-erase board in the church music room
had such messages as 666, Hail Satan, WTF Jezus (sic) and Death 2 All.
Baltimore County Police, who believe the churchs acceptance of LGBT people
could be a motive, told local media that they are investigating the incident as a
possible bias crime. Police spokeswoman Elise Armacost later told the Blade
that the terms bias crime and hate crime are interchangeable.
Immanuel United Church of Christ has a profound commitment of support to
and solidarity with the LGBTQ community, Rev. Bev Lewis, the churchs pastor
for more than three years, told the Blade. We rmly believe in the UCCs belief
in extravagant welcome for all of Gods people whoever they are and wherever
they are on lifes journey.
Lewis said the attacks would not deter her or the churchs mission.
We wont stop our work of restorative social justice across the U.S. and with
our global mission partners. We are going to take this blow and turn it into good.
Our rainbow ag isnt coming down, she said.
Police believe the vandalism, discovered by the church custodian, occurred
between 7:30 p.m. June 29 and 9:40 a.m. June 30. No suspects have been
identied. Any information on this case should be reported to Baltimore County
Police at 410-307-2020.
Lewis estimates the damage to be more than $25,000 with a $5,000 insurance
deductible. Furthermore, security equipment must be installed and that hasnt
been priced out yet.
She said that anyone wishing to donate to help with the losses could
do so by mailing a check to: Immanuel Church of Christ, 1905 Edmondson
Avenue,Catonsville, MD 21228.

Pride event to feature two days of music, arts

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Celebrating Baltimores diverse music and art scene, a two-day artistic Pride
festival will take place July 22-23 at the Crown, 1910 N. Charles St. in Baltimore.
On July 22 beginning at 9 p.m. will be Supa/Bent, a queer, trans and intersex
music event that features black and brown artists.
On July 23 Queerology, an LGBT-friendly dance party and lm series featuring
DJs and live performances, begins at 7 p.m. A drag pre-show will take place from
8-9 p.m. at the Ynot stage, N. Charles St. and E. North Ave. The lm Tangerine
will be screened from 7-9 p.m. at the Red Room of The Crown. A Pride talent
showcase in The Crowns Blue Room will begin at 9 p.m. The after party takes
place in both rooms starting at 9 p.m.
The whole thing just sort of came together perfectly with contributions from
TimelessTease Productions, TT the Artist, Abdu Ali and LEMZ, Josh Aterovis,
the co-producer of the event, told the Blade. We were all planning events that
dovetailed together to highlight the diverse queer art scene in Baltimore this
Pride. Weve got burlesque, drag, DJs, rap, live performances, a talent showcase
of up-and-coming artists.
Tickets are $8 for each event or $15 for the two-day pass. Visit kuntfest2016.
bpt.me to order tickets.
STEVE CHARING

J U L Y 15, 2016 13

AIDS as a fatal disease is over: Aussie officials

SYDNEY, Australia AIDS rates are so low in Australia now that researchers
from two institutes and the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations have
said the age of AIDS as a fatal disease is over, ABC News Australia reports.
AIDS cases have plummeted since the advent of anti-retroviral medications
in the mid-1990s. At its peak in the early 90s, about 1,000 Australians died each
year of AIDS, ABC News Australia reports.
However, Professor Andrew Grulich, head of the HIV Epidemiology and
Prevention Program at the Kirby Institute, said the number was now so low, it
was not even recorded.
These days we dont even monitor it, its a transitory thing for most people;
people have AIDS, then they go on treatment and they dont have AIDS anymore,
he said.
While the ght against HIV is still ongoing, Grulich said the change to the
incidence of AIDS had been nothing short of miraculous.
The only cases we see of AIDS these days are people undiagnosed with HIV
and so they cant be treated, he said, according to ABC News Australia.
Despite the progress, researchers are still quick to point out the end of AIDS
is not the end of HIV.
About 1,000 new cases of HIV are reported in Australia each year, and those
within the sector worry that young people, who did not witness the horrors of the
AIDS epidemic during the 80s and 90s, have become complacent, the article notes.

Meningitis cases lead to vaccination warning

LOS ANGELES Los Angeles County public health ocials and LGBT advocates
are urging gay and bisexual men to get meningitis vaccinations, citing a recent
outbreak of potentially deadly meningococcal disease that is disproportionately
aecting men who have sex with men, the Los Angeles Times reports.
There have been 17 conrmed cases of invasive meningococcal diseasein the
county so far this year, including 12 in the last two months, Jerey Gunzenhauser,
the interim director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said last
week according to the Times.
Eight have been among gay or bisexual men, including seven within the last
two months, he said.
There are an estimated 300,000 self-identied gay or bisexual men among
L.A. Countys more than 10 million residents, Gunzenhauser said. The reason for
the high proportion of cases among men who have sex with men is unknown, he
said, according to the Times.
At least one man with meningococcal disease has died this year in Orange
County, public health ocials announced last month. Five people there have
been diagnosed since the beginning of the year, and two, including the man
who died, withinthe last two months, said Rachel Selleck, a spokeswoman for
the countys health care agency, according to the Times article.No deaths have
been reported in Los Angeles County, ocials said.
The L.A. County health department reported 12 meningococcal disease
diagnoses in 2015, the Los Angeles Times reports.Only one identied as a gay
or bisexual man. A 2014 outbreak led to the deaths of three gay men in their 20s
who contracted meningitis.

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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
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The small study was conned to Los Angeles and fewer than 400
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and
warranties.
million men in 192 countries, according to its developer.
In the United States, young gay black and Hispanic men are the groups most
likely to be infected with HIV and the least likely to be tested for it, because they
FamiLY | eState PLaNNiNG | emPLoYmeNt | immiGratioN
often lack health insurance and fear being rejected by their families. In some
ComPLeX LitiGatioN | CiviL riGHtS | LGBt | adoPtioN | BuSiNeSS
other countries, gay men may be harassed, jailed or even executed.
The study used banner ads on Grindr to oer free test kits. Recipients received
a kit in the mail, a voucher that could be redeemed for a kit at a pharmacy, or a
code that would produce a kit from a vending machine in the parking lot of the
at tor N e YS at L aw d C | m d | va
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The test requires no blood; a swab of the
gums produces results in 20 minutes, the Times article said.
3 0 1 . 8 9 1 . 2 2 0 0 S P - L aw. C o m

Silber, Perlman, Sigman & Tilev, P.A.

6 9 3 0 C a r r o L L av e , S u i t e 6 1 0 ta k o m a Pa r k m d

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

1 4 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

VIEWPOINT

VOLUME

47

ISSUE

29

ADDRESS

What we owe Elie Wiesel

Survivor fought for gay
inclusion in Holocaust Museum
By CRAIG HOWELL
The July 2 death of Elie Wiesel at age 87
occasioned an outpouring of well-deserved
tributes to Americas most treasured Holocaust witness and chronicler. Although he
survived a year in Auschwitz and Buchenwald
as a teenager, he lost both parents and one
of three sisters. Although he stayed silent for
10 years about his unspeakable experiences,
thereafter he dedicated his life to making
the world remember the wholesale slaughter of millions. His rst and most famous
memoir, Night, was published in English in
1960. He continued to produce books, lectures, articles and whatever else he could in
a relentless push to ensure that we would
never forget, raising the most discomting issues and questions in the process.For all this
and much more he was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1986. His citation hailed him
as a messenger to mankind who brought
tidings of peace, atonement and human dignity.
But few elegies mentioned his crucial role
in making sure that the world would remember the thousands of gay men who died as a
direct result of Nazi persecution.
The very existence of these victims was
all but ignored in the postwar era until the
advent of Gay Liberation in the 1960s and
70s. Several historians documented how a

thriving German gay community was brutally

suppressed by the Nazis, especially after the
Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, and
some accounts by gay survivors were published.But these reports were largely ignored
or condemned as frauds by those outside the
LGBT community.
Jimmy Carter named a Presidential Commission on the Holocaust in 1977.This Commission issued its nal ndings and recommendations in October 1979 without saying
one word about the gay victims.
Fortunately, Elie Wiesel continued to chair
what became the 55-member U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Council, established to implement
the recommendations of the Commission.
The Council focused on the Commissions call
for a Holocaust Memorial Museum here in
Washington.
We in what was then known as the Gay
Activists Alliance (GAA, now GLAA) decided to
do everything in our power to get the story of
the gay victims of Nazi persecution included
in the new museum.
In early 1980, we sent a letter to the new
executive director of the Holocaust Council,
Monroe Freedman, who qualied as an old
friend of our community, having worked with
Frank Kameny and the Mattachine Society of
Washington as a volunteer attorney. He told
us in his response that the surest way to win
our case was to produce well-grounded historical evidence that thoroughly detailed just
what had happened.
Thanks to the good oces of Clint HockE DIT OR IA L C A R T OON

enberry, a D.C. activist serving as (among

many other things) the American liaison with
what was then known as the International
Gay Association (IGA, now ILGA), we received
an English translation of a landmark study
on this very subject conducted by Professor
Ruediger Lautmann of the University of Bremen.His ndings were based on exhaustive
research into concentration camp records archived with the International Tracing Service.
We at GAA made copies of Dr. Lautmanns
translated manuscript for every member of
the Holocaust Council and presented them
to Freedman in May 1981.
Nearly two years later, in April 1983, the
Washington Post published an extensive article on a series of actions announced by the
Council.They reported that Council Chair Elie
Wiesel had used his unimpeachable integrity
and prestige to settle two long-standing disputes that had been dividing his colleagues.
The rst argument he settled was whether the museum would focus solely on the
slaughter of the European Jewish community,
or would expand its scope to include remembrance of all victims of Nazi persecution. He
ruled that all victims would be remembered
without equating the genocide against the
Jews with the persecution of other targeted
classes.In his own words: No omission, absolutely not, but no equation.
The other argument he settled was specically whether to include the story of the gay
men persecuted under the Nazi regime.He
ruled that the historical record clearly justied their inclusion.
Since then, all our countrys ocial activities commemorating the Holocaust in the
Holocaust Museum itself, in the annual Day
of Remembrance ceremonies in the Capitol Rotunda, in special exhibitions that tour
throughout the nation, and so forth have
consistently integrated the story of the thousands of gay men arrested, imprisoned, brutalized and all too frequently murdered by
the Nazis. The museums professional sta
have been used to continue research into the
historical record and to locate and interview
gay survivors and witnesses.
Gregory King, who served as communications director for the Human Rights Campaign at the time, has reminded us that HRC
presented Elie Wiesel with its Humanitarian
of the Year Award in 1989. In accepting the
award at HRCs annual banquet, Wiesel remarked: Those who hate you hate me.Bigots do not stop at classes, at races, or at
lesbians and gays.Those who hate, hate everybody.
In Kings words, May his memory always
be a blessing to those who ght to end intolerance, ignorance and injustice.

CRAIG HOWELL has been a member of GLAA

since October 1973.

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I N S I DE LGB T W A S HING TON

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 1 5

Republicans ddle while the nation burns

GOP obsesses over emails
amid latest gun violence

PETER ROSENSTEIN is a D.C.-based LGBT rights

and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly
for the Blade.

The headlines scream, Black men shot by

police in Baton Rouge and the twin cities!
The next day, members of the Dallas police
department are targets of a sniper resulting
in ve killed and seven wounded.
At the same time, the Republican Congress
showed it can act quickly when an emergency occurs. The problem is the emergency it
acted on and held hearings on, and that the
media televised gavel to gavel, has nothing to
do with the real problems facing the nation.
Rather, the emergency the Republican Congress dealt with is Hillary Clintons emails
an emergency hearing to try to discredit FBI

Director James Comey for not coming to the

conclusion they wanted with regard to her
emails. The result was the same as with the
Benghazi hearings they came out looking like partisan hacks and in this case it was
Comey who was shown to be the impartial,
honest government employee and his remarks actually helped Clinton.
Once again, Congress fails to act on the
real issues facing the nation. It held another
moment of silence for those gunned down
and consciously did nothing to deal with the
epidemic of gun violence. And Congress continues to do nothing to provide appropriate
training for the decent and heroic members of
our police departments. Or to recognize that
Black Lives Matter. Or to combat the Zika virus.
Or to tackle the issues of immigration, climate
change, voting rights, and the human and civil
rights of minorities, women and the LGBT community. Because of their lack of action it is easy
to compare the Republicans in Congress to Emperor Nero who ddled while Rome burned.
We are in the middle of one of the most
bizarre presidential elections anyone can remember. Both major candidates have overwhelmingly negative poll numbers. While
Democrats are uniting behind Clinton, the
Republican establishment is apparently nd-

ing it hard to accept their rank-and-le primary voters actually support Donald Trump.
While Clintons negative numbers are high,
they are easy to explain. What is harder for
some to comprehend is how she is doing
so incredibly well after 25 years and a billion
dollars worth of attacks against her by Republicans. The answer is simple: She is still
standing because of her brilliance, her extraordinary record of public service and her
incredible comprehension of the issues facing the American people and her ideas to improve our lives. She has been willing to take
the slings and arrows that have come with
her ght for womens rights, children, universal healthcare and education. In the heat of
the campaign it is easy to forget for 20 years
people have voted her the most admired
woman in the world.
On the other hand, Trumps negative numbers are wholly self-earned. It seems all he has
to do is open his mouth and something bizarre comes out. From attacking every minority, bullying any opponent, spewing lies about
his record and telling us how he admires despots like Vladimir Putin and Saddam Hussein.
Democrats havent had to spend money on
making him look bad because he is doing that
himself along with many Republicans who

agree he is frightening.
Clearly the Republican Party of old, the believers in the party of Lincoln and Eisenhower
and even Ronald Reagan (who wouldnt be
elected by todays Republican primary voters) nd themselves between what could
colloquially be referred to as a rock and
a hard place. At the same time, they try to
understand how this sexist, racist, misogynistic bully became their nominee they are in a
balancing act making every eort to protect
their candidates down ticket.
As a Democrat, it is great to see this might be
a hopeless cause for Republicans. This election
will be about getting out the vote. If Democrats
can get out the huge numbers of women, Latinos, African Americans, the LGBT community
who all say they are overwhelmingly with Clinton, then Democrats could take not only the
White House and the Senate, but take back the
House of Representatives and win some governorships and state legislatures.
That wont be easy, but it is possible, which
makes the next two weeks very important.
People tend to begin to pay more attention to
presidential politics starting with the political
conventions. We tend to know what Clinton
will say but Trump is a wild card. What seems
clear is Republicans will continue to ddle.

V I E W PO I NT

Racially biased policing poisons America

Defending the rainbow is an
LGBT issue

RICHARD J. ROSENDALL is a writer and activist.

Reach him at rrosendall@starpower.net.

From the joy of Election Night 2008, we

have fallen to this. In Baton Rouge, 15-yearold Cameron Sterling sobs for his dead
father Alton, I want my daddy. In Falcon
Heights, Minn., a police ocer screams
justications at Philando Castiles girlfriend
while still pointing his gun into their car with
a 4-year-old in the back seat, and other ofcers comfort their colleague as Castiles life
drains away. In Dallas, the pop-pop-pop of
a high-powered rie scatters the crowd as a
sniper ambushes police on duty at a protest
against police violence.
Our nations stubborn marriage of racial injustice and guns feels like an awful ashback
as a militarized police force in Baton Rouge

tramples the First Amendment at a protest

over the murder of Alton Sterling. The next
day, activist DeRay Mckesson is still wearing his Stay Woke T-shirt as he is released
after being arrested while live-streaming the
protest on Periscope. Chris LeDay, who circulated the video of Sterlings murder, claims
police retaliation when he is arrested.
The deranged killer in Dallas met his own
quick justice at the hands of a bomb robot
after he refused to surrender. By contrast,
there is little expectation of justice for Sterling and Castile because their killers wore
badges. Someone commented on a photo
of Sterling and his family, They kill our fathers then mock us for being fatherless.
Grim irony mixes with outrage.
Extrajudicial killings over minor oenses
like broken taillights and bootleg CD sales
will doubtless continue, because our nation
resents being shown the evidence that black
lives are deemed expendable. There is no
crime wave driving this. The inevitable posthumous slanders against the latest victims
of trigger-happy cops as having gotten what
they deserved are checked only thanks to
the ubiquity of cell phone cameras.
The New York Post ran a reckless, despicable cover on July 8 that screamed
Civil War and implicitly blamed the Dallas
sniper attack on the peaceful demonstra-

tors, whom the Post termed anti-police.

As President Obama stressed a few hours
before the attack, protests against discriminatory policing are entirely consistent with
praising good police ocers who risk their
lives protecting us.
Predictably, however, right-wing voices
blamed Obama. The National Association
of Police Organizations accused Obama of
conducting a war on cops. Former congressman Joe Walsh posted an unhinged
tweet, which was later deleted, saying, 3
Dallas Cops killed, 7 wounded. This is now
war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black
lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you. By Real America he means
White America.
The murdered police ocers had names:
Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, and Lorne Ahrens.
We rightfully mourn them and honor their
service and sacrice. But theirs are not the
only wrongful deaths being mourned. Alton
Sterling was a father of ve. Philando Castile
left behind a school full of broken-hearted
children.
[Side note: kindly do not belittle the Gays
Against Guns group that formed after the
Orlando massacre, as if gun control is not an
LGBT issue. Excuse me, but our movement is
grounded in a demand for full enfranchise-

ment as citizens, not for some object like

a golden chalice. Our community crosses
every demographic category. Having advocated equality, we can hardly dismiss intersectional issues as someone elses problem.
We may dier over the proper response to
gun violence, but calling a widely shared one
illegitimate for being liberal insults our intelligence.]
Police are supposed to protect all of us.
The white supremacist mindset infecting so
many police forces not only degrades and
endangers our neighbors and colleagues
and loved ones of color, it diminishes everyone in our rainbow society. Americans are
not all straight, white, Christian men. There
is no reason why one subset of the population should bully and control everyone else.
If police do not target me for extra scrutiny
in search of a pretext to arrest me, then neither should they target a black or Muslim
neighbor based on legally irrelevant characteristics.
Our national motto, E pluribus unum,
means Out of many, we are one. The disparate treatment of black people by police
in communities across this country makes it
shockingly clear how far we are from putting
that motto into practice.
Copyright 2016 by Richard J. Rosendall.
All rights reserved.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

1 6 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

VIEWPOINT

Help end the cycle of senseless gun violence

Pride Fund working to enact
reform of lax laws
By JASON LINDSAY
Children and teachers in school. Churchgoers mid-prayer. Theater attendees enjoying
a new movie. Students on their college campuses. Friends and families dancing and celebrating Latin Night during Pride. Peaceful protesters and police ocers. And so many more
innocent lives lost to senseless gun violence.
How many lives will be enough?
As we pass the one-month anniversary of
the tragedy in Orlando, waking up to news
of another shooting, another mass murder,
another massacre in someones hometown
is now commonplace. And it has to stop.
Early Sunday morning on June 12, 2016,
our LGBTQ community was targeted. During Pride month, an individual who had
been questioned by the FBI not once, but
twice took a weapon of war into Pulse
nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and murdered
members of our community and our allies.
Forty-nine people lost their lives, 53 others

were injured. A safe space for the LGBTQ

community became anything but, and families, friends, partners, husbands, wives all
lost their loved ones.
Thats why on July 6, 2016, Pride Fund to
End Gun Violence (Pride Fund) announced
its formation as a political action committee
to support federal candidates who will act
on sensible gun policy reforms while championing LGBTQ safety and equality. Pride
Fund is working with other gun reform organizations to mobilize the LGBTQ community and our allies, raise funds to counter the
robust nancial power of the NRA and gun
manufacturers, and elect candidates who
will be champions of those issues.
By building upon our communitys battleafter-battle wins for equality, Pride Fund is
turning the frustration and anger into action by focusing on achieving sensible gun
reforms to make America safer for all. LGBTQ individuals have suered through and
overcome countless obstacles. Not too long
ago, laws across the United States criminalized our intimacy, banned us from marriage, refused to recognize our families, and
barred us from openly serving our country

in the military. At each turn, we successfully

overcame each of those challenges by coming together, and we continue to ght acts
of hatred and intolerance. Most recently,
a hate-lled man armed with a weapon of
war targeted our community with an unprecedented level of violence. In response,
Pride Fund is organizing and mobilizing to
retake our public and private spaces from
the threat of gun violence.
According to an analysis by the FBI, our
community suers more hate crimes than
any other protected group. Supporting
pro-LGBTQ candidates who also believe in
common-sense gun reform is essential to
our safety and our continued march toward
equality. When weapons like the Sig Sauer
MCX, the AR-15, and other deadly semi-automatic ries with high-capacity magazines are
openly sold on the market, we are not safe.
Furthermore, when suspected terrorists who
are prohibited from ying are legally allowed
to purchase weapons of war, we are not safe.
In order to disarm hate, Pride Fund will
serve as the strong, concentrated voice of the
LGBTQ community that ghts for commonsense gun reform. We support federal candi-

dates who champion LGBTQ equality, safety

and are passionate about reforming our gun
laws. We are standing on the shoulders of
past LGBTQ champions to mobilize our community for progress yet again. Pride Fund is
campaigning for candidates to secure victories this November, and future victories, that
help achieve long-lasting, meaningful gun reforms that will protect all Americans.
In the rst two weeks of fundraising, the
organization raised nearly $23,000. Pride
Fund plans to have a strong impact in November and is well on its way to raising its
initial goal of $500,000 for this election cycle.
Join the movement, spread the word and
donate to the cause by visiting PrideFund.
org. Help us end this cycle of senseless gun
violence.
JASON LINDSAY is founder and executive
director of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, a
PAC that will support federal candidates who
will act on sensible gun policy reforms and
champion LGBTQ equality. Lindsay served for
14 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and was
deployed to Iraq in 2003. To get involved,
volunteer, or donate to help enact real gun
reform, visit our website at www.PrideFund.
org.

Rock star experience for your dog without rock star prices
Whole Dogz was born out of an intense love of
dogs. Patrick, the day to day manager and part
owner, has always had a dog in his life and turned
his passion and knowledge into the best doggie
daycare in the area. Because your pets health
is our priority Whole Dogz does not use any
harsh chemicals on the daycare floor. We use the
best air purifiers, natural cleaners and organic
products to protect your pups while they stay
and play with us.
We stock a variety of healthy foods, supplements
and treats to keep your pup healthy and wagging.
Because we know that outdoor time is important
to your dog, we have a wonderful fresh air play
area. And we have an AKC certified trainer
offering classes for the whole dog!
Please come and explore our digs. See our
large play areas, outdoor romping ground and
individually designed and painted sleeping
suites. Shop in our retail store. Visit with our
friendly staff.
Each space has been given the kind of attention
and love that we will provide to your dogs. We
want your dog to have a rock star experience
without the rock star prices.

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J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 1 7

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W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

I am lucky to have this true gem of a shop in my neighborhood!

-Beth L.

ALL-NATURAL & MADE IN THE USA:

Orijen, Acana, Earthborn, Primal, FROMM and more! We are

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my dog was happy and looked great. Thanks Doggy Style! -Kristen V.

DOGGY BAKERY

Custom-made Birthday Cakes, Doggy

treats & MUTT LICKS: Ice Cream for Dogs!

PAMPERED

PETS

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Its easy to have fun with a pet in tow

in the District. Pet-friendly happy hours,
grooming and walking services and even
stylish rainbow ID tags can keep your pet
healthy, happy and feeling fabulous.
Woofstock D.C., a dog-friendly
festival, is at D.C. Pavilion (1399 5th St.,
N.E.) on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 3-7 p.m.
There will be live bands, craft beer, local
food trucks, giveaways and a special
animal adoption event with the recently
merged Washington Humane Society
and Washington Animal Rescue League.
Admission is free, but registration is
required. For more information, visit
thebigbadwoof.com.
Dog Tag Art can give your furry friend
pride and style. Give your dog or cat a
rainbow pet ID tag or an Equality symbol
tag. Other options include Two Mommies
and a Cat, Two Daddies and a Cat and
If you nd me my dad is single & ready
to mingle! Simple rainbow canine ID
tags and rainbow feline ID tags are also
available. Visit dogtagart.com for a list of
options and pricing.
City Dogs (1832 18th St., N.W.) has
various services for your canine friend.
There is a daycare for dogs to socialize
and learn good manners and social skills,
dog training, boarding and grooming
services. For a complete list of oerings,
visit city-dogs.com.
Four-legged friends dont have to stay
home at these establishments where
you can bring your pet with you to enjoy
drinks.
For a little extra help, Strutting Paws
provides dog walking and pet sitting
services. Dog walks are 30 minutes and
pricing varies on size of the dog. Pet
sitting is $55 per night with an additional
$10 per night for a second pet. For more
details, visit struttingpaws.com.

VOLUME

47

ISSUE

29

JULY

Doggy style
REGION OFFERS YAPPY HOURS, OBEDIENCE SCHOOLS, GROOMING AND MORE
By MARIAH COOPER
mcooper@washblade.com

Washington Blade hosts its next Yappy Hour at Town on Tuesday, July 26.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY DAMIEN SALAS

Art and Soul (415 New Jersey Ave.,

N.W.) oers a dog patio for furry friends
and their owners to sit together. While
owners can take advantage of the
restaurant and cocktail lounge, dogs can
indulge in their own special dog menu.
Dogs can feast on the raw deal (frozen
beef bone), gravy train (beef, rice and
gravy), the hungry dawg (grilled and sliced
sirloin) and peanut butter pupsicles.
Dogs can also enjoy a non-alcoholic beer
brew made with chicken broth and malt
extract. Details at artandsouldc.com.
Cantina Marina (600 Water St.,
S.W.) hosts doggie happy hours during

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4140 S Four Mile Run Dr.
Arlington, VA 22206
diY dog wash:
1722 Florida Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009

703.933.1935 www.furgetmenot.com

the summer every Monday from 5-9

p.m. Humans can enjoy corn dogs and
margaritas, while canine companions
receive a dog biscuit buet and water
bowls. Details at cantinamarina.com.
Larrys Lounge (1840 14th St., N.W.)
has a dog-friendly patio with happy hour
specials every day from open until 7 p.m.
Specials include $5 draft pints and $3 rail
drinks. Details at larryslounge-hub.com.
Union Pub (201 Massachusetts Ave.,
N.E.) has dog happy hours on its porch
on Saturdays. Food and drink specials
are included for humans. Dogs are also
provided biscuits and water. Details at

15,

2016

PAGE

19

unionpubdc.com.
Jackson 20 (480 King St., Alexandria,
Va.) hosts Doggy Happy Hour every
Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. Dogs will have
complimentary water bowls and dog
treats. Owners can dig in to the ne
dining menu and extensive cocktail list.
Details at monanco-alexandira.com.
The Big Bad Woof hosts a Yappy
Hour on Sunday, July 31 from 3-5 p.m
at Republic (6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma
Park, Md.). There will be $1 oysters and
drink specials. Republic has Yappy Hour
every last Sunday of the month through
October. Details at thebigbadwoof.com.
Washington Blade hosts a Yappy Hour
at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) on Tuesday,
July 26 from 6-9 p.m. Drink specials
include $4 drinks and $4 beers. There
will be special giveaways from the Alex
Venditti Group. Dogs receive water bowls
and dog treats. Town holds a Yappy Hour
every Tuesday starting at 6 p.m towndc.
com.
The Dairy Godmother (2310 Mt
Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) has sweet
treats for both human and pup. Owners
can have the frozen custard while dogs
can have their own sweet treat. Puppy
pops are sold here in the avors pumpkin
and banana mixed with plain yogurt
and peanut butter. Dogs can also have
a Squirrel, a baked dog treat, made from
spent barley malt, eggs, vegetable and
wheat our. While dog treats are sold
here, dogs are not allowed inside the
store. Details at thedairygodmother.com.
Shake Shack (multiple locations)
has a speciality menu just for pups. The
Poochini combines the ShackBurger dog
biscuit with peanut butter sauce and
vanilla custard. Bag O-Bones includes
ve ShackBurger dog biscuits. Details at
shakeshack.com.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

2 0 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R D A V I D LI E D MA N

DAVID LIEDMAN

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

By JOEY DiGULIELMO
joeyd@washblade.com
Dave Liedman grew up in Chesapeake, Va., and had an internship in Fairfax
during his years at University of Virginia.
I made some good friends here, so I was excited to get a job in the D.C. area
when I graduated, the 37-year-old Logan resident says. I love that D.C. has
all the makings of a big city with a small-town feel. And its beautiful.
Hes the owner and co-founder of City Dogs Rescue (1832 18th St., N.W.) in
Adams Morgan, a no-kill shelter for dogs that nds them homes. City Dogs also
oers day care, boarding, grooming and training classes. Details at city-dogs.com.
Liedman lives with his partner, Darren Binder on Swann Street. Liedman
enjoys following news, movies and watching random silly videos on YouTube
in his free time.

How long have you been out and who

was the hardest person to tell?
I started coming outto close friends in
2001 after graduating from college.I
also started making a lot of gay
friends at bars, clubs and online.Once
I got on Facebook, I didnt hide
anything.Eventually, I started friending
childhood friends onFacebook and just
let them gure it out and nobody ever
had a problem with it.It was hardest
to come out to my parents, who are
evangelical Christians andpolitically
conservative.They said they loved the
sinner, not the sin and didnt want to
meet my partner, Darren.Only recently
did I push the issue and tell them that it

was time we started acting as a family

and that they should nally meet Darren
if they felt the same way.Previous
to that, we had grown apart due to
theirnon-acceptance.Its still evolving,
but it does get better as time progresses.
Whos your LGBT hero?
I absolutely love Rachel Maddow!Shes
so smart, has great insight into politics
and is just fun to watch.

Whats Washingtons best nightspot,

past or present?
I miss Nation.Its unpretentious
atmosphere and fun dance music
seemed to break down the walls

we put up.

Describe your dream wedding.

Getting married to Darren in a beautiful
destination in the country with family
and friends old and new.

What non-LGBT issue are

you most passionate about?
Saving pets from being killed in shelters
due to lack of space.

What historical outcome

would you change?
The assassination of Abraham
Lincoln.We were just starting the
Reconstruction after the Civil Warand
I cant imagine how much better this
country could have been had he not
been killed.

Whats been the most memorable pop

culture moment of your lifetime?
The election of Barack Obama.I think
even George W. Bush was glad to get out
of theWhite House at that point.D.C.
erupted with a spontaneous street party
on U Street.Our rst black president
was a huge moment in history.

On what do you insist?

That people live by the Golden Rule. We
all deserve to be treated with respect
and love.

What was your last

Facebook post or Tweet?
Billionaire Trump would run this
country like a business ... So I guess we
would expect to see a lot more of this
with a picture of Hillary standing in front
of an abandoned Trump Plaza building.

If your life were a book,

what would the title be?
You Can Do It!

If science discovered a way

to change sexual orientation,
what would you do?
I would take all the die-hard opponents
of LGBT equality and change the
orientation ofthem and/or members
of their family.I believe the reason that
our movement has made huge advances
in the last decade is because of all the
ordinary people who cameout to their

friends and family, putting a face and a

story on what it means to be LGBT.

What do you believe in

beyond the physical world?
I believe that God loves people of all
religious views equally.

Whats your advice for LGBT

movement leaders?
We need to branch out and join
forces with other minorities and other
issues.For example, the tragedy
inOrlando brought together gays
and Latinos, along with the issues of
gun violence and terrorism.Weve
accomplished so much and I believe we
canaccomplish much more.

What would you walk across

hot coals for?
To end the senseless killing of animals in
shelters.

What LGBT stereotype

annoys you most?
When I rst came out, I was happy
to see so many guys that werent
stereotypes.Its part of why I was
scared to comeout to myself.I thought
I wasnt like those stereotypes, nor did
I want to be.Now, I think that all of our
characteristics make us interesting and
unique, whetherthey be stereotypes or
not.

Whats your favorite LGBT movie?

I love To Wong Foo.I think its
hysterical.

Whats the most overrated

social custom?
When youre single, I think that New
Years Eve is the worst.

What trophy or prize

do you most covet?
I covet love and success in my life, in
whatever form it may come.

What do you wish youd known at 18?

Not to be scared about coming out.

Why Washington?
Its a beautiful city, with many of the
people that I love, with lots to do and
lots of opportunities.

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 2 1

www.cvcavets.com

Like us on Facebook @cvcavets

Instagram @cvcavets

Twitter @cvcavets

VIRGINIA - Fairfax | Leesburg | Richmond | Springfield | Vienna

MARYLAND - Annapolis | Columbia | Frederick | Gaithersburg | Rockville | Towson

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

22 J U L Y 15, 2016

P A MP E RE D P E T S

With a little planning, you can keep your carpets clean even with pets.
PHOTO BY JAMES NEAL

Happy pets,
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W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 2 3

The other gay beach towns

THERES QUEER LIFE BEYOND REHOBOTH AND PROVINCETOWN
By SELENE SAN FELICE and JOEY DiGUGLIELMO

ARTS

AND

ENTERTAINMENT

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

VOLUME

47

ISSUE

29

We all love Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Fire Island remains a popular and
iconic destination for gay beachgoers,
especially from the New York area.
And Provincetown continues to draw
LGBT crowds for its laid-back vibe and
welcoming atmosphere.
But if youre looking for something
new, there are gay-friendly beach towns
o the beaten path. Here are a few within
driving distance of Washington.

Colonial Beach, Va.

Chris Adcock and Ted Tait were
drawn to Colonial Beach in 2011 for its
reputation as a great boating town. Once
docked, they discovered its gay life.
For those wanting to skip the fastpaced partying and slow-moving trac
of Rehoboth Beach, Del., Tait and Adcock
recommend Virginias second-largest
beach for its quaint, small-town feel and
warm acceptance.
Theyre drastic opposite ends of the
spectrum in a good way, Adcock says.
Rehoboth is the new, modern, clubby
younger scene where as Colonial Beach
is much more sleepy and neighborhoody.
Everybody knows everybody.
Tait and Adcock chose their Craftsmanstyle bungalow in Colonial Beach for
its wraparound porch, perfect for
entertaining. The couple was able to put
their porch to good use much sooner than
expected thanks to welcoming neighbors.
The day after we closed on the house
we had just gotten the keys and invited
friends over for drinks, Tait says. Our
neighbors started coming over to
introduce themselves and next thing we
knew we had a cocktail party for at least
30 people. I know more of my neighbors
in Colonial Beach after living here on
weekends for four-and-a-half years than
after living in Springeld 18 years.
Adcock remembers wanting to put
up his rainbow ag, but hesitantly
asking neighbors if he should. Everyone
encouraged him to do it and the ag
has own for ve years without a hint of
negativity from anyone.
While the LGBT population in Colonial
Beach isnt quite as booming as Rehoboth,
Tait and Adcock say the town is on the
cusp of becoming more popular with
more gay and lesbian couples moving in.

TED TAIT (left) and CHRIS ADCOCK at their home in Colonial Beach. Va.

Theyve welcomed friends into the town

many times over the last ve years for the
same reason they chose Colonial Beach:
aordability and community.
According to Adcock, their bungalow
would be a half-million dollar home in
Rehoboth, but was easily a quarter of that
in Colonial Beach, which is less than a twohour drive (65 miles) from Washington.
I wouldnt have been able to aord a
down payment in Rehoboth, Adcock says.
You get more land and for your money
here, and its not as commercial yet.
Colonial Beach-goers shouldnt expect
nights of partying, but the town still knows
how to come together. Summers are full
of festivals like Potomac River Festival,
High Tides Blues Festival, Sirens of the
Beach Music Festival, Waterfest and Rod
Run to the Beach. October is the time for
Bikefest and the Fathers Day Car Festival,
where motorcycles, old cars and golf carts
can be driven in a loop around the point.
Taits favorite event is the art walk held
on the second Friday of each month,

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUPLE

where guests can enjoy nibbles and wine

while walking from gallery to gallery. He
also recommends the Lighthouse, a Thai
and French restaurant, and Densons
Grocery (a highly regarded restaurant
despite the low-key name) with fresh,
locally sourced seafood.

Ocean Grove &

Asbury Park, N.J.
Shannon Mery moved to Asbury Park,
N.J., almost nine years ago from Tampa,
Fla. In the midst of the housing boom,
his former company was building spec
homes in the region and he needed to be
closer to the projects.
After the bust, he started his own interior
design rm. Denizen Design, his company,
caters to high-end residential clients, many
in New York. Hes close enough he can get
there as often as he needs.
He was drawn to Asbury Park, which
he calls a transitioning community in

JULY

15,

2016

PAGE

24

the states Monmouth County with about

16,000 residents, because it had the only
gay life he knew of on the Jersey shore
outside of Atlantic City. He says the change
in the years hes lived there have been
remarkable. Its about a three-and-a-halfhour drive (206 miles) from Washington.
Its still very gay, but its a little broader
now, Mery, 46, says. There are a lot
of straight people moving in, buying
beach houses. There are also a lot of gay
couples who come down from New York.
Its exciting. Its got a nice little pulse.
Although Ocean Grove and Asbury
Park are less than a mile-and-a-half apart
in New Jerseys Neptune Township, Mery
says they have a dierent feel.
Ocean Grove is a very historic kind of
town with lots of gingerbread railings. Kind
of like a Key West vibe, but in New Jersey.
Its very Victorian. Id say Asbury Park is
a little more urban and I would say more
commercial. Its just a totally dierent vibe.
Mery volunteers at QSpot, an LGBT
community center in Ocean Grove, an
unincorporated community of about
3,300 just south of Asbury Park. He says
there are clusters of gay people who
socialize, have dinner and drinks and
hang out together on the beach.
Tensions have periodically ared
between Ocean Groves gay residents
and the town, founded in 1869 during the
camp meeting religious movement. Long
known as a draw for Methodist groups,
the communitys land is still leased to
homeowners and businesses by the
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
Tensions ared a few years ago when a
retired lesbian schoolteacher wanted to
use a public pavilion to marry her partner.
Real estate prices are comparable in both
towns and not especially reasonable. Be
prepared to spend anywhere from $300,000
to $1 million for a beach house. Condos rent
for $1,500-2,500 a month, Mery says.
So how did Asbury Park end up being the
gayer of the two? Mery says its the same
scenario thats played out in many parts
of the country gays move into the dicier
parts of town and over time, they gentrify.
Back in the day, Asbury Park was not the
best part of town. It was a place to go to
dance, drink and party back in the day, he
says. So the gays who came here then and
made it through the bad period, theyre
enjoying the renaissance now. Its like any
other town. We come in and convert it.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

T HE ATER

A chat with the mastermind

behind latest Cirque du
Soleil show
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
Michel Laprise loves big projects. The
charming and whip-smart out director
served as creative director for Madonnas
2012 Super Bowl halftime show and
directed her MDNA Tour. More recent
credits include writer/director of Cirque
du Soleils latest touring show KURIOS
Cabinet of Curiosities soon to set up its
distinctive Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) in
Tysons Corner, Va.
Inspired by the Victorian eras surge of
invention and creativity and imbued with
a French steam punk aesthetic, Kurios
premieredin Montral in April 2014 and
is Cirque du Soleils 35thproduction. Like
Cirque du Soleils other shows, Kurios
reinvents circus by combining the basics
tent, clowns and acrobats with
sophistication and the artistic elements
of theater.
Recently, Laprise shared thoughts via
phone from Montral where hes based
about Kurios, Cirque du Soleil and
Madonna, whom he calls M.
For a lot of people, Cirque du Soleils
innovative aspects have become
familiar. Is the pressure to remain
cutting edge massive?
Yes, but its a pressure we put on
ourselves. I hear people say, Ive seen
Cirque once. I dont need to see it again.
For us its a mission to constantly reinvent
ourselves. Kurios is dierent from other
shows. The characters are real people in
real clothes. The set itself is a laboratory
that someone inhabits and not the
abstract magical place like in our other
shows.
What led you to staging big
productions? Did it happen
by accident?
Well nothing happens by accident, only
by passion. Im a group person, so the
bigger the project, the more people you
get to play with. Ive never looked at the
obstacles, only the destination, which is
to make people happy and storytelling.
Its like a big surprise party for a lot of
people. When I joined Cirque 15 years
ago to do casting, I styled auditions to
be an intense two-day mini-workshop.
Because most of the acrobats were not
speaking English or French, I used my
intuition to touch their talent and did my
best to bring it out. Over the years, the
artists who were cast encouraged me to

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 2 5

direct. Eventually I told Cirque co-founder

Guy Lalibert that I wanted to direct. Of
course he wasnt yet ready to give me a
$30 million dollar project like Kurios,
but he knew I came from theater and was
a professional director so he made me
special events designer. And eventually
he allowed me to conceive and direct my
show which was a longtime ambition of
mine.
Whats the inspiration
behind Kurios?
My dream was to do a show where a
character accesses a parallel world and
brings poetry and imagination back to
earth. We live in a world where we can
do so much. I can ring Tokyo for free on
Internet right now. Yet its a very complex
time of scarcity for many people. I want
to help people believe that everything is
possible, because I think it is. And I want
them to feel joy. The show is set in the
latter half of the 19th century, a time
of invention and innovation. Lots was
happening the railroad, telegraph,
gramophone,
electricity.
Suddenly
invisible energy was stimulating peoples
imaginations. Not accidentally, it was also
the golden age of magic and illusionists.
Magicians were the rock stars of the era.
Does being gay make you
a better director?
Ive always been gay so I dont know
any other way. But I do believe that
going through the process of coming out
to self and family and friends gives you
a sense of compassion and allows you
to appreciate diversity. And that I think
makes for a better director. Of course Im
generalizing. There are assholes in every
community. Within Cirque, same-sex
couples are respected and celebrated. So
being gay here isnt an issue.
Why especially should LGBT people
come to see Kurios?
Critics and fans say this is Cirques
best touring show in 10 years. Its more
theatrical than most of Cirques other
productions and whats more, theres
a rainbow and disco ball in the show. I
dont want to spoil the surprise of when
they appear. Theres also a lot of love and
inclusiveness in the show. The planets
were well aligned when we created this
show. And of course the acrobats and
what they can do with their bodies is
amazing. To reach their level skill, they
begin training at age 5 and live a strictly
disciplined lifestyle. They eat tiny bites
of food throughout the day. Stretch
a
couple
hours
before
every
performance.

PHOTO BY MARTIN GIRARD; COURTESY OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

MICHEL LAPRISE says KURIOS is unlike any other show Cirque du Soleil has ever done.

Id be doing our readers a disservice

if I didnt ask the next question.
You want to know whether or not Im
single?
No. Id like to hear about
working with Madonna.
Before working with Madonna in 2012,
I presented my ideas to her manager.
He liked them so he took me to her.
She appeared in the room. I told her
my thoughts and she was smiling as I
spoke. Then she asked me to listen to
Give Me All Your Luvin the rst track of
her then-new album MDNA. Ms hands
were shaking a little bit as we listened.
So I thought that if after 30 years shes
still nervous to show new work, then
this is somebody who really cares about
what theyre doing. I knew then that I
wanted to work her. For the rst week of
rehearsals for MDNA, M hurt her ankle
and broke her little nger. I asked to slow
down pace. She said, No Michel. Thats
the job. Its like going to war with her. She

thinks like an acrobat. Her work ethic is

incredible. Shes also very demanding
but its nothing I wouldnt expect from a
woman of that level. She never yelled at
me. The only time she raised her voice
during rehearsal was when the schedule
wasnt allowing her to see her kids.
Despite the pressure on her, she was
calm and focused with brilliant sense of
humor. She teases me about my (French
Canadian) accent which is less strong now
than it was. I dont do a lot of pop music
shows, but Id denitely like to work with
her again. We stay in touch. She sent me
owers on my birthday.
And are you single?
I am. But that might be changing. Some
romance may be in the works, but thats
all Ill say.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
KURIOS Cabinet of Curiosities
July 21-Sept. 18
Lerner Town Square at Tysons II
8025 Galleria Dr., Tysons, Va.
Tickets starting at $39
Cirquedusoleil.com

LIVE

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

26 JU L Y 15, 2016

O U T & A BO U T

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

THEO

CROKER
W/ MARK MEADOWS

THURSDAY JULY

14

the
ROOSEVELTS
and

By SELENE SAN FELICE

SCOTT MILLER

& special guest

BRYN DAVIES
FRIDAY

JULY 15

SAT, JULY 16

WAMUS BLUEGRASS COUNTRY PRESENTS

AN EVENING WITH

DAILEY & VINCENT

WED, JULY 20

C.J. CHENIER &

THE RED HOT LOUISIANA BAND
W/ DIXIE POWER TRIO

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARNETT

THURS, JULY 21

Gay author releases

Dick novel

STEVE FORBERT AND

WILLY PORTER
FRI, JULY 22

LERA LYNN W/ ANDREW COMBS

PHOTO COURTESY OF BANG

THEHAMILTONDC.COM

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Bang hosts Salon-a-Thon

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all four of its D.C. locations (1612 U St. N.W.; 601 F St. N.W.; 1519 15th St. N.W.;
1212 4th St. S.E.). All proceeds will benet Equality Florida in support of the Pulse
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Indra Mustapha
DDS, MS

Indigo Girls take over Rams Head

1221 Mass. ave, nW 202.628.7979 (Free Parking)

703 d street, nW 202.628.1288
lenfant Plaza,sW Promenade #325 202.628.2177

Local author Rich Barnett will sign

copies of his new humorous Rehoboth
Beach-set novel Fun with Dick and James
at a release party on Monday, July 18 at at
Miss Pixies Furnishings & Whatnots (1626
14th St., N.W.).
Attendees can enjoy a glass of wine while
chatting with the author and perusing Miss
Pixies vintage furnishings.The event is free
and open to the public. Copies of Barnetts
book are $14.95. Visit funwithdickandjames.
com for more information.

The Indigo Girls (Emily Saliers and Amy Ray) will bring their 36 years of
performing experience, along with 90s hits Closer to Fine and Galileo, to
Rams Head on Stage (33 West St., Annapolis, Md.) on Monday, July 18 and
Tuesday, July 19.
Chamber rock band Great Caesar will open the show at 8 p.m.
For more information, visit ramsheadonstage.com.

The fth annual Hagerstown Pride

Celebration is Saturday, July 16 from
noon-6 p.m. on S Potomac Street in
Hagerstown, Md. An hour before the
celebration, Veritas (32 N. Mulberry Street,
Suite 113, Hagerstown, Md.) will host the
second annual Interfaith Pride Service.
The afternoon will be full of performances
and drag shows with a keynote speech
from Jim Slattery, president of D.C.based LGBT non-prot Brother, Help
Thyself. For more information, visit
hagerstownhopesmd.org
or
email
contact@hagerstownhopesmd.org.
Baltimore Pride week is July 19-24
and includes a parade and block party
on Saturday, July 23 from 2-10 p.m. on
Charles and Eager streets and a festival
on Sunday, July 24 from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
in Druid Hill Park. For more information,
call 410-777-8145, or email Jabari Lyles at
jlyles@baltimorepride.org.
Shenandoah Valley Pride celebrates
diversity in Court Square (downtown
Harrisonburg, Va.) from 2-8 p.m. on Saturday,
July 23. DJ Jerrbear will spin a variety of retro
60s to current Top 40 pop and dance hits,
house, tribal, electronica, R&B and hiphop music. For more information, visit
shenandoahvalleypride.org.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

M US I C

J U L Y 15, 2016 27

PHOTO BY PHIL SHARPE

Erasure ANDY BELL, left and VINCE CLARKE is one of the most consistently great pop acts
of all time.

Pop duo plans deluxe

reissues of entire catalog
By CHRIS GERARD
Synth-wizard Vince Clarke, a founding
member of Depeche Mode, was an
integral part of the bands hit 1981
debut album Speak and Spell. He wrote
hits like Just Cant Get Enough and
Dreaming of Me for the band, which had
an upbeat and peppy synth-pop sound
very dierent than the darker and more
melancholy vibe Depeche Mode would
develop after Clarkes departure.
He left after one album and formed a
short-lived but successful collaboration
with dynamic vocalist Alison Moyet.
Yazoo (or Yaz in the U.S.) scored with hits
like Only You, Dont Go and Situation
in the brief two-year period they were
together. Moyet left to pursue a long and
fruitful solo career, while Clarke was left
to gure out his next move.
Seems like third time was the charm.
Clarke, whos straight, put out an ad in
Melody Maker magazine for a new singer,
and he was understandably impressed
with the audition of a powerhouse
vocalist named Andy Bell, whos gay.
The two soon formed Erasure and in
1986 emerged with their debut album
Wonderland.
Three decades later, Erasure is still
going strong, having amassed one of
the most impressive and consistently
entertaining catalogs in pop music history.
Theyre celebrating the 30-year mark
with deluxe reissues of all their albums.
Several are out now. Two more will arrive
Aug. 19 and the nal batch arrives Aug.
26. Details at erasure30.com. A three-disc
box set called Always, featuring a bevy
of rareties, is also out.
Theyve scored dozens of hits in the
U.K. and elsewhere, while in America
they were able to breakthrough briey
with a taste of mainstream success in
the 80s while mostly nding success in
the dance clubs thanks in large part to

their ever-enthusiastic gay fanbase. Bell

has never been coy about his sexuality,
which certainly made breaking Erasure
on American airwaves a challenge at a
time when almost nobody openly gay was
hitting the U.S. Top 40.
Its not easy to write a great pop song,
yet Erasure has written dozens of them.
Erasures music is so irresistibly catchy
and memorable, its almost impossible
not to be swept away by their infectious
charm and kinetic electro-pop dynamism.
Their debut Wonderland yielded a trio
of early hits, including Who Needs Love
Like That, which features a wonderfully
campy video with the duo in drag. Their
sound developed in maturity with their
second album, 1987s The Circus and
singles like Sometimes and Victim
of Love. It was their third album, the
1988 pop masterpiece The Innocents,
that brought the duo the apex of their
success. Two classic singles, Chains of
Love and A Little Respect, became Top
20 hits in America and around the world.
They remain popular one way to get a
roomful of gay men to sing along at the
top of their lungs, trying (mostly in vain)
to hit Bells high notes, is to blast A Little
Respect at full volume. Its arguably their
nest moment.
More albums followed in rapid
succession, every single one of them
worthwhile. Wild! (1989) featured the
ebullient Blue Savannah, and 1991s
Chorus scored international hits with the
high-energy title track and the amboyant
disco-avored Love to Hate You. In 1994
they returned to the American charts
with the sublime ballad Always from I
Say, I Say, I Say, which was followed by
their more experimental and ambient
1995 self-titled album. Perhaps the most
underrated album of their career, 1997s
Cowboy includes gems like In My Arms,
Rain and Reach Out. The duo toured
successfully in support of Cowboy,
including a memorable show at American
University in D.C.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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2 8 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

A RT S & CU LT U RE

This Week in the Arts provided by CultureCapital.com

Climate Change Ballet. Thru Jul 17.
Atlas. A Midsummer's Burlesque
Dream. Thru Jul 23. Trinidad Theatre.
capitalfringe.org.
March on Washington Film Festival:
Civil Rights and The Gridiron:
Social Activism in College and Pro
Football. Jul 15. Naval Heritage Center.
marchonwashingtonlmfestival.org.

MUSIC

Hand To God
Thru Aug 7. Studio Theatre.
studiotheatre.org.

In a church basement in a small Texas town, the teens of Christian puppetry

Ministry gather to bring the Word to the Flock. But one puppet takes on a
foul-mouthed, demonic life of its ownunleashing the communitys barely
repressed lust and rage. Like nothing youve seen before, this blasphemous
Broadway hit is a ruthless comedy about sex, sinners, and sock puppets.

Brian McKnight
Jul 16. Strathmore.
strathmore.org.

Arranger, producer, singer-songwriter, and musician: McKnightdoes it all. A

multi-instrumentalist and a belter with a light, lovely tenor, McKnight exceeds
expectations and puts on an incredible show.

Capital Fringe Festival

Thru Jul 31. Capital Fringe.
capitalfringe.org.

20 venues in H Street NE, Trinidad and Downtown featuring 100+ productions

creating a city lled with non-stop theatre, dance, music, visual art and everything
in-between.Highlights this week include: The Real World: Kabul. Thru Jul 22.
Atlas. 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. Thru Jul 24. Atlas. A Romp Around Uranus
with Special Agent Galactica. Thru Jul 24. Logan Fringe Arts Space: Upstairs. See
CultureCapital.com for complete schedule of Fringe events.

Catch Me: A Magic Duel

Jul 16. Thin Air Productions at Mayower Hotel.
catchmeshow.com.

Acclaimed magicians Brian Curry and Mark Phillips battle live, on stage for the
title of Washington DCs Favorite Magician.During the show, the audience
will select various styles of magic the contestants must perform.Audience
members then cast their votes and award the coveted Golden Wand.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDIO THEATRE

THEATRE
The Bridges of Madison County. Thru
Jul 17. Second City's Almost Accurate
Guide to America. Thru Jul 31. The
Phantom of the Opera. Thru Aug 20.
The Kennedy Center.
kennedy-center.org.
Upright Citizens Brigade: We Know
How You Die! Thru Jul 31. Woolly
Mammoth. woollymammoth.net.
Another Way Home. Thru Jul 17.
Theater J. EDCJCC. theaterj.org.
Miss Cuarenta. Jul 15-Jul 16. GALA
Hispanic Theatre. galatheatre.org.
The Hub Theatre - Redder Blood.
Thru Jul 31. JCCNV. jccnv.org.
Next to Normal. Thru Jul 16. Keegan

Theatre. keegantheatre.com.
Evita. Thru Jul 24. The Mikado. Thru
Aug 21. The Pirates of Penzance.
Jul 16-Aug 21. Olney Theatre.
olneytheatre.org.
Jesus Christ Superstar. Jul 21-Jul 23.
Theatre Lab. theatrelab.org.
Gassmann: L'Opera Seria. Jul 15-Jul
23. The Barns. Wait Wait..Don't Tell
Me in association with WAMU 88.5.
Jul 21. Wolf Trap. wolftrap.org.

DANCE
American Ballet Theatre: Romeo
and Juliet. Thru Jul 16. Wolf Trap.
wolftrap.org.
Capital Fringe Festival: GLACIER: A

Evermay Chamber. Jul 15. Free

Concert: The Wild Reeds. Jul 20.
Strathmore. strathmore.org.
The Nighthawks. Jul 15. AMP.
ampbystrathmore.com.
Sizzlin' Summer Nights: Will
Gartshore and Alyssa Wilmoth
Keegan. Thru Jul 15. Shayna Blass. Jul
15. Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich.
Jul 16. The Gay Men's Chorus of
Washington. Jul 19. Claybourne
Elder. Jul 21. Bob McDonald. Jul 20-Jul
22. Signature Theatre.
signature-theatre.org.
Jazz in the Garden: Origem. Jul 15.
National Gallery of Art. nga.gov.
Art on 8th: Denyse Pearson &
Gentlemen of Distinction. Jul 21.
Arts Plaza at Monroe Street Market.
danceplace.org.
Caribbean Celebration at the
Embassy of the Bahamas. Jul
15. Embassy of the Bahamas.
embassyexperiences.com.
The Reex-'80s tribute band. Jul
17. The Alden. McLean Central Park.
mcleancenter.org.
Duke Ellington: Beyond Category.
Jul 21. Smithsonian Associates.
Museum of the American Indian.
smithsonianassociates.org.
Tedeschi Trucks Band & Los Lobos.
Jul 17. Wolf Trap. wolftrap.org.

MUSEUMS
Folger Shakespeare Library.
America's Shakespeare. Thru Jul 24.
folger.edu.
National Archives. Amending
America. Thru Sep 4.
archivesfoundation.org.
National Gallery of Art. In
Celebration of Paul Mellon. Thru Sep
18. Hubert Robert. Thru Oct 2. nga.gov.
National Museum of Women in the
Arts. She Who Tells a Story: Women
Photographers from Iran and the Arab
World. Thru Jul 31. nmwa.org.
Smithsonian Anacostia Museum.
Twelve Years That Shook And Shaped
Washington. Thru Oct 23.
anacostia.si.edu.
National Geographic. A Taste of
Greece. Jul 20. THE GREEKS. Thru Oct
10. nglive.org.

National Portrait Gallery,

Smithsonian. One Life: Babe Ruth.
Thru May 21. npg.si.edu.
Library of Congress. Jazz Singer. Thru
Jul 23. loc.gov.

GALLERIES
The Art League Gallery. Not a Box.
Thru Jul 31. Kathleen Best Gillmann.
Thru Aug 7. theartleague.org.
Arts Club of Washington. Members
Summer Exhibition. Thru Jul 29.
artsclubofwashington.org.
District Architecture Center. Built to
Scale. Thru Aug 27. aiadac.com.
Foundry Gallery. Take It Outside. Thru
Jul 31. foundrygallery.org.
gallery Neptune & Brown. Ladies
First. Thru Jul 16.
galleryneptunebrown.com.
Glen Echo Park. Synesthetica. Thru
Jul 17. Explorations. Thru Jul 17.
glenechopark.org.
Hill Center. Regional Juried Exhibition.
Thru Oct 2. hillcenterdc.org.
ISAAG. Sammy Salamanca. Jul 18-Jul
29. idbstaassociationartgallery.org.
Korean Cultural Center DC.
Kwangyeon Song & Kyungjoo Park.
Thru Aug 1. koreaculturedc.org.
Torpedo Factory. Target Gallery
Presents Please Touch. Thru Jul 17.
torpedofactory.org.
WPA. Broken Scissors, a Ghost, and
Some More Old News. Jul 16-Aug 20.
wpadc.org.
Zenith Gallery. Art for All. Thru Sep 3.
zenithgallery.com.

AND MORE...
Brilliant Beacons: A History of the
American Lighthouse. Jul 19. Shared
Legacies: Honoring the Black-Jewish
Civil Rights Alliance. Jul 21. National
Archives. archivesfoundation.org.
Michael Barnett, The Stars and the
Stripes. Jul 19. Jewish Literary Festival.
EDCJCC. washingtondcjcc.org.
Crossing Borders: Curing Meat and
Fish. Jul 21. Hill Center.
hillcenterdc.org.
Home Canning: Cultural Narratives,
Technological Change, and the
Status of Traditional Knowledge. Jul
19. Library of Congress. loc.gov.
Thursdays at Noon: Portrait
Conversation. Jul 21. National Portrait
Gallery, Smithsonian. npg.si.edu.
Indignation. Jul 19. Washington Jewish
Film Festival. Washington DC Jewish
Community Center. wj.org.
The Beatles: From Liverpool to
LegendA Musical Celebration. Jul 16.
The Greek Experience in Asia Minor.
Jul 16. Smithsonian Associates. Ripley
Center. smithsonianassociates.org.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

A UT O S

J U L Y 15, 2016 29

MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE

Feel super-duper with

these two-door minis
By JOE PHILLIPS
Ah, Mustang Sally or Little Red
Corvette. Theres a reason no one sings
about big ol Lincoln Town Cars or other
fusty four-door sedans. They just arent as
cool as coupes or convertibles. And twodoor rides often cost less, too unless
youre willing to spend some serious cash
on, say, a Rolls-Royce like the one below.
HONDA CIVIC COUPE
$20,000
Mpg: 26 city/38 highway
0-to-60 mph: 7.6 seconds
If you worked hard to look good for
the beach this summer, then Honda
feels your pain. The latest Civic redo has
a punchy new design, with sculpted side
panels and a sleek prole every bit as
sexy as an Audi TT sportster.
Twin, arrow-shaped taillights on either
side of the indented trunk look just like
naughty devils horns on an Andrew
Christian model. And this Civic is lighter
and lower to the ground than the previous
version, which makes it a breeze to handle
when zipping through trac. The quiet cabin
boasts snug seats and an upscale dash, with
LED lights that glow green or white to show
how economically youre driving.
Along with backup camera and lots
of other safety gear, theres a camera
on the passenger-side mirror to show
whats happening in your right-rear blind
spot. Alas, theres now less back-seat
headroom, though a foot-operated switch
behind the front passenger seat makes
it easy to get in and out of that space
especially if youve already slimmed down
for the season.
MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE
$27,000
Mpg: 25 city/34 highway
0-to-60 mph: 10.5 seconds

While the Honda Civic coupe is more

Fast & Furious tuner car, the new Mini
Cooper ragtop is like Finding Dory
a lollygag cruiser. Its now a bit larger,
heavier and peppier, with the same
quirky-but-cute styling. Theres 25 percent
more cargo room in the trunk, making the
space feel less like a glovebox.
And gone are those chunky rollover
bars behind the rear headrests, replaced
by pop-ups that deploy in an emergency.
As with all Minis, this one is fun on
straightaways or twisty roads. Its also
highly customizable, with choice of 11
colors and scads of accessories. The
roof, which can be opened or closed in
18 seconds, is fully electric and can be
operated while the car is being driven at
speeds up to 18 mph. The roof also can be
opened partway like a sunroof and for
true Anglophiles can be embroidered
with the Union Jack ag.
ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH
$305,000
Mpg: 13 city/21 highway
0-to-60 mph: 4.3 seconds
If excess is best, it doesnt get much
better than a Rolls-Royce Wraith. At 5,380
pounds and more than 17 feet long, this
Roller is the epitome of two tons of fun.
Fast and precise with light steering
and monster brakes the Wraith is
powered by a twin turbo V-12 engine,
with a formidable 624-hp. The opulent
cabin features plush seats, ne woods and
machined metal trim. And the rear-hinged
doors Rolls doesnt call them suicide
doors are power operated. With the
doors open, umbrellas (with inlaid RR
logos on the handle) can be accessed from
the front fenders at the push of a button.
For hedonistic options, you can add
a shoe compartment, a plug-in for your
guitar, various holders (for ties, cuinks,
perfumes) and almost any other high-end
amenity. You can even order a starlight
headliner, with ber-optic lighting in the
ceiling to mimic a starry night.

1232 9th St. NW Washington, DC 20001 (202)789-0870

900 M St. SE Washington, DC 20003 (202)629-2765

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E-MAIL steveweinbergdc@aol.com
LICENSED IN DC, MD AND VA

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

3 0 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade.

com two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so priority is given to LGBT-specic events
or those with LGBT participants. Recurring
events must be re-submitted each time.

TODAY
The D.C. Center (16220 South
Frederick Rd., Gaithersburg, Md.) hosts
Group for LGB Adults in Montgomery
County today from 10-11:30 a.m.
The psychotherapy group meets to
discuss issues of identity within the LGB
community. This is a free event. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
The D.C. Transmasculine Society
hosts July Happy Hour from 5:30-9 p.m. at
Vapiano D.C. (1800 M St., N.W.). This is an
18-and-over event. For more information,
visit facebook.com/dcats.
Florian Gassmanns 18th-century opera
LOpera Seria premieres tonight at 7:30
p.m. at the Barnes at Wolf Trap (1635
Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.). The comedic opera
tells the story of an opera premiere gone
awry. Tickets start at $32 and include a free
pre-show talk next door at the Center for
Education at 6:30. For more information
and ticketing, visit wolftrap.org.
Gay District at the D.C. Center (2000
14th St., N.W.) hosts a facilitated group
discussion culture, personal identity,
community events and civil rights for gay,
bi, trans, queer, questioning and intersexed
men between the ages of 18-35 tonight
from 8:30-9:30 p.m. This is a free event. For
more information, visit gaydistrict.org.
Local burlesque performers, GiGi Holliday
and Dimples Divine, will present The Tribute:
A Prince Burlesque Show at Songbyrd
Music House and Record Caf (2477-2475
18th St., N.W.) tonight at 9 p.m. The show
will feature his music and performers from
the D.C. area. Doors open at 8 p.m. and this
is a 21-and-up event. Tickets start at $12. For
ticketing and more information, search for
the event on Facebook.
DJ and music producer Jordan Suckley
will perform tonight at 10 p.m. at L8
Longue (727 15th St., N.W.). Tickets range
from $20-25. For ticketing and more
information, visit l8loungedc.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 16
Brave New Voices International
Youth Poetry Slam Finals is tonight at 6
p.m. at Millennium Stage at the Kennedy
Center (2700 F St., N.W.). This culminating
event will feature the top four teams
from the slam series as well as other
accomplished slam-poets. Daveed Diggs,
the Tony Award-winning star of Hamilton,
will host the event. Free general admission
tickets will be handed out in the Hall of
Nations starting at 4:30 p.m. For more
information, visit kennedy-center.org.
The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel (415
New Jersey Ave., N.W.) hosts its annual
MidSummer
Nights
Dream
Show
presented by Art Soiree tonight at 7

CA LE N D A R
p.m. The event features fantasy body
painting and live performances inspired
by Shakespeares Midsummer Nights
Dream. Tickets are $10 online and
$20 at the door. For ticketing and more
information, visit artsoiree.com.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.)
hosts Kuero D.C., a monthly Latino dance
party, tonight 9 p.m. The event will feature DJ
Lucho and GoGo boys. Tickets are $10 at the
door. For more information, visit dceagle.com.
Kylie Julylie, a drag Kylie Minogue
impersonator, will perform tonight at Town
Danceboutique (2009 8th St., N.W.) at 10:30
p.m. The event will feature music by DJ MAJR
and Aaron Riggins and performances by
Summer Camp and Pu$$y Noir. The cover
charge is $12 and the doors will open at
10. This is a 21-and-over event. For more
information, visit towndc.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 17
The Capital Fringe Festival continues
today with Normal/Magic written by
Sam Mauceri and Natalie Piegari at the
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
(901 G St., N.W.) at 3:30 p.m. The play
follows the lives of young queer women
whose lives are disrupted by animals
who appear where they do not belong.
Tickets are $17. For more information
and ticketing, visit capitalfringe.org.
Bryce: Hydrogen Blonde, continues
tonight as part of the Capital Fringe
Festival at the Trinidad Theatre (1358
Florida Ave., N.E.) today at 4:15 p.m.
Local actor Bryce Sulecki produced, wrote
and stars in the interactive-pop-concert.
Tickets are $17. For more information
and ticketing, visit capitalfringe.org.

MONDAY, JULY 18
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W..) hosts
coee drop-in hours this morning from 10
a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community.
Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy
complimentary coee and conversation
with other community members. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
Busboys and Poets (625 Monroe
St., N.E.) hosts All Women Open Mic
featuring poet, musician and vocalist J.
Scales tonight from 9-11 p.m. The event
is an open mic for all women-identied
performers, but anyone can come watch.
The event begins with a feature of a
local woman artist and continues with
an open mic. For more information, visit
busboysandpoets.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 19
One Mutual Happiness continues
tonight at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Capital
Fringe Festival at Flashpoint: Mead
Theatre Lab (916 G St., N.W.). The play,
written by David S. Kessler and directed
by Jennifer Knight, tells the story of
four marriages after Maryland passed a
marriage equality bill, but before it took
eect. Tickets are $17. For ticketing and

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFFREY JOHNSON

Shes back! SPECIAL AGENT GALACTICA has a new show in this years Capital Fringe Festival.
Shes at Logan Fringe Arts Space on Sunday, July 17 at 10 p.m.; Tuesday, July 19 at 9 p.m.; and
Sunday, July 24 at 6 p.m. Full details at capitalfringe.org.

more information, visit capitalfringe.org.

Trade Bar (1410 14th St., N.W.) hosts a
drag show called, SISSY That *** Tuesday,
tonight at 10:30 p.m. The doors open at
8 and happy hour goes until 10 with $4
beer and wine specials. The event will
feature local drag performer, Pu$$y Noir.
This is a free event. For more information,
visit tradebardc.com.
A Romp Around Uranus with Special
Agent Galactica continues tonight
at 9 p.m. as part of the Capital Fringe
Festival at Logan Fringe Arts Space (1358
Florida Ave., N.E.). The multi-media-dragproduction was written, directed and
stars Jerey Johnson. The play features
award-winning musician and B-52s
frontman, Fred Schneider. Tickets are
$17. For ticketing and more information,
visit capitalfringe.org.
Cake! continues tonight at 9:15 p.m.
as part of the Capital Fringe Festival at
Galludet Universitys Elstad Auditorium
(800 Florida Ave., N.E.). The play tells the
true story of what happens when the
plays creator, burlesque performer, Che
Monique, decides to jump out of a cake
as a 300-pound woman. The story is told
from the perspective of six queer women.
Tickets are $17. For ticketing and more
information, visit capitalfringe.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20
The Real World: Kabul continues
tonight at 6:15 p.m. as part of the Capital
Fringe Festival at Atlas Performing Arts
Center (1333 H St., N.E.). The play tells
the story of three Americans picked to
live in a house in Afghanistan and work
for a media mogul. The performance also
follows the struggles of an openly lesbian
character, who is estranged from her
parents due to her sexual orientation.
Tickets are $17. For more information

and ticketing, visit capitalfringe.org.

The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.)
hosts Bookmen D.C., a literature group for
gay men, tonight at 7:30 p.m. The group will
discuss Blue, Too: More Writing by (for or
about) Working-Class Queers, edited by
Wendell Ricketts. This is a free event and
anyone can attend. For more information,
visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at
7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th
St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. This is a free
event and no reservations are needed.
The club is open to newcomers. For more
information and for partnering if needed,
call 202-841-0279.
Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave.,
Arlington, Va.) continues its series Sizzlin
Summer Cabaret with Broadway star Bob
McDonald in Red, White and Bob From
the Great White Way to the White House
tonight at 8 p.m. McDonald will perform
highlights from his Broadway career and will
be accompanied by pianist John Touchton.
Tickets are $14. For more information and
ticketing, visit sigtheatre.org.

THURSDAY, JULY 21
The DOMA Diaries continues tonight
at 8 p.m. as part of the Capital Fringe Festival
at Flashpoint: Mead Theatre Lab (916 G St.,
N.W.). The play, which charts the negative
eects of the Defense of Marriage Act, is
written and directed by Kevin Michael West.
Tickets are $17. For more information and
ticketing, visit capitalfringe.org.
Play Cupid continues tonight at 8 p.m.
as part of the Capital Fringe Festival at Atlas
Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.).
The interactive play, written and directed by
Brett Steven Ableman, explores audience
choice in theater in the form of a live dating
show. Tickets are $17. For more information
and ticketing, visit capitalfringe.org.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

S P O RTI N I N D. C.

J U L Y 15, 2016 31

PHOTO BY KEVIN MAJOROS

LENI DWORKIS, left, and AMANDA BAUER, members of the D.C. Furies.

The local womens rugby

league welcomes all
By KEVIN MAJOROS
The Blades ongoing series on the
rookies and veterans that make up the
local sports teams takes a look this week
at two LGBT players on the Washington
Womens Rugby Football Club, better
known as the D.C. Furies.
The Furies are one of the longest
running womens rugby clubs in the
nation and compete in the Womens
Premiere League along with elding
a team in Division II of the Capital
Geographic Rugby Union.
Spring and fall league play consists
of 15s (i.e. 15 players) matches locally
and throughout the United States along
with 7s (i.e. seven players) tournaments
during the summer months. A number of
the Furies players are currently members
of the 15s and 7s Womens National Team
selection pools.
The team also hosted its 36th annual
Ruggerfest tournament in April which
drew 34 teams.
Amanda Bauer moved to D.C. on
June 1 and was at her rst practice with
the Furies within the rst week of her
residence here. She has already played
at two tournaments with the B team in
Richmond, Va., and Cape Fear, N.C.
While rookies dont usually integrate
so quickly into the Furies, Bauer had
been playing club rugby right up until she
moved to D.C. Growing up in Apple Valley,
Minn., Bauer played ice hockey through
middle school and competed in tennis and
track and eld in high school. It was during
her years at St Olaf College that she picked
up running and played club rugby.
It was dicult at the rst practice with
the Furies because everyone was already
friends, Bauer says. That quickly faded
away though as everyone really puts out an
eort to get know you. I think that works
both ways when a rookie joins a team.
Since Bauer started toward the

beginning of the summer season, she was

able to benet from drills sessions with the
veterans before segueing into scrimmages
between the two Furies teams.
I have been doing a lot of listening and
watching during the practices, Bauer says.
The on-eld verbal signals are dierent
from my last team and easier to interpret
here. There is strong team chemistry
amongst the players on this team.
Bauers job as an economic research
assistant is a junior position which means
she will be in D.C. for at least two years.
She is hoping to work her way to the
Furies A team in that time.
I love going to practice and being
dedicated to work as hard as I can, Bauer
says. Its nice that both teams practice
together; there is no discrimination
between the two.
Leni Dworkis grew up in Harrington
Park, N.J. competing in gymnastics and
was a member of the cheerleading squad
in high school. After she started at George
Washington University, she switched over
to competitive ballroom dancing until one
of her roommates started pestering her
to give rugby a try.
I was struggling to nd my place
personally, Dworkis says, and once I saw
all the aggression and team camaraderie
in rugby, I was sold.
Dworkis, who works as a research
analyst at the Vera Institute of Justice,
stayed on at G.W. for graduate school
and played a fth year with its club rugby
team. After her eligibility ended, she
joined the Furies in 2013.
She says she had a hard time tting in at
rst because of her shyness. Now a veteran
player on the Furies A team in the wing
position, Dworkis plays all three seasons
and serves as the recruitment chair.
To help with the integration of rookies,
the Furies hold skills clinics, have oneon-one practices and have the veterans
focus on in-practice interaction. Socially,
there are house parties, rookie nights,
dancing and team-building events.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

3 2 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

P H O T O S BY MI CH A E L KE Y

The Eastern Panhandle LGBTQ Alliance of West Virginia held PRIDE in the Park on Saturday, July 9 at Morgans Grove Park in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

A D V I CE

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 3 3

Its futile to force attraction

if its not there

MICHAEL RADKOWSKY, Psy.D. is a licensed

psychologist who works with gay individuals
and couples in D.C. He can be found online
at personalgrowthzone.com. All identifying
information has been changed for reasons
of condentiality. Have a question? Send it to
Michael@personalgrowthzone.com.

MICHAEL,
My new friend Brett is very interested in me.
Hes funny, hes thoughtful, hes smart and
has a fascinating career, all of which make him
great boyfriend material. I really like spending
time with him.
But hes also about 40 pounds overweight
and this is a big turno for me.
Weve been hanging out since spring and
I dont know how to keep fending him o
without insulting him or making him feel bad.

Hes tried to be physical with me but the idea

even of kissing him is not something I want to
think about.
I feel bad about my reaction because I want
to be a nice, open-minded guy, not petty or
shallow. Brett has so many good attributes
that I would like to be open to dating him. But
I would not want to see him naked.
Ive been getting some cover by vaguely
alluding to a long-ish relationship I was in that
ended in January, suggesting that Im not really
ready to date again. But the truth is, I am ready
to date, just not Brett.
Should I tell Brett that if hed lose the pounds
then I would be glad to go out with him? That
seems incredibly crass but its also maybe true.
I know its unrealistic to expect that he would
actually lose the weight or keep it o.
Or is there a way I myself can stop buying
into cultural values that I know are judgmental
and exclusionary? I believe the pressure
among gay men to look a certain way is bad
for everyone, but here I am buying into it!
I wish I could push myself to say yes to
Brett, but I just cant bring myself to do that.
MICHAEL REPLIES:
If you arent attracted to Brett, then
you arent attracted to him. Attraction is

often beyond reason and rationality. It isnt

something we can control or shape.
Its true that people sometimes become
interested in someone they didnt initially
nd attractive after getting to know the
person. And its true that people often
remain interested in their partners for more
than physical reasons as time goes by and
appearances change.
But youre clear from the get-go that you
arent interested in Brett physically. So pushing
yourself to transcend your gut feelings and
actually want to be sexual with Brett doesnt
seem plausible.
As you note, our notion of what is attractive
is likely formed in part by cultural values. But
a lot more goes into determining whom any
of us are attracted to: life experiences, genes,
brain chemistry, mysterious complexities we
cannot fathom and so on. Labeling yourself as
narrow-minded and shallow for having your
particular set of turn-ons and turn-os is only
going to make you feel bad about yourself.
You cannot shame yourself into rewiring your
attraction template.
And if you were Brett, would you want to
be with someone who was straining to be
interested in you physically?
As far as telling Brett to lose weight, dont

bother. He already knows that he doesnt

conform to typical gay male expectations. You
dont know if he has struggled to lose weight
or if he is perfectly happy as he is. In any case,
you should not ask someone to change in
order to date you. You have to be willing to
date the person as he is.
What you can do is be honest with Brett.
Rather than string him along with vague
excuses that he might use to justify hoping
that one day you will say yes, let him know
that you arent interested in dating him.
While this will disappoint him and will likely
be dicult for you to say, it is certainly kinder
than encouraging him in any way to believe
that you are going to change your mind,
when thats not going to happen.
Cultural standards of beauty can be cruel
and exclusionary. But to pretend that you are
attracted to Brett in order to spare his feelings
is to betray yourself and to pity him.
And Brett doesnt need your pity. As you
describe him, he sounds pretty awesome
and self-condent. Given that tastes vary
(including among gay men) its likely hell
nd another great guy who is also physically
attracted to him.
In any case, it is up to Brett to manage
rejection when it comes his way.

Vacation
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lake barcroft 3519 Duff Drive Falls Church, VA 22041

This spectacular California Contemporary inside the Beltway with 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths is a rare find in the Lake Barcroft
community with its 135-acre private lake, magnificent trees, wildlife and community social events. This summer swim, kayak, boat,
fish. Located just across the street from the lake and Beach 4, you will enjoy peace and tranquility all year long.
With its 5,900 square feet of finished living space, you will relish its 23X23 kitchen featuring gas cooking, a gas-log fireplace, island
with breakfast bar and deck looking out at the water. A vaulted ceiling with skylights and walls of glass highlight the 33X18 living
room. The 19X15 master bedroom boasts a gas fireplace, luxury bath with separate shower, double sinks, soaking tub and two walkin closets. On the lower level, you will find the 29X20 family room with built-in bookshelves plus a sliding glass door to the exterior, a
bedroom, two baths, and an exercise room for the enjoyment of family and guests. The over-sized 2-car garage with double driveway
offers plenty of parking space for you and your visitors. $1,490,000. OPEN 1-4PM SUNDAY, JULY 17

BUrMA KLEiN, rEALtOr

BS, MA, PhD

Associate Broker, Certified Residential Specialist
Life Member, NVAR Top Producer Club
Life Member, NVAR Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club
RE/MAX Allegiance, Alexandria, VA 22302
Licensed in VA
Burma@BurmaKlein.com
(703) 642-1924 (Direct)
(866) 515-4334 (Fax)

3 4 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

Premier AnnAPolis ProPerties

HORN POINT Top-drawer renovation of Eastport Townhome with active views of the Severn Rive and offering 3 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Walking distance to Annapolis restaurants,
yacht clubs and shops.

WROXETER ON SEVERN Magnificent waterfront estate on

CHERRYSTONE in ANNAPOLIS Elegant with Southern

Living style and fine finishes. 1st floor master suite w/FP, 10
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Betsy Dunigan, 443-994-1239 | (AA9671955) $949,000

the Severn River with sweeping water views. Stately and private, it has
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Day Weitzman, 410-353-0721 | (AA8591145) $5,395,000

HISTORIC DISTRICT Great in-town location for this

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deck. Rear yard with with Spa Creek Views. Walk to town.

SPA CREEK WATERFRONT Protected deepwater harbor

for your sailboat, fabulous views of Spa Creek & Annapolis
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vaulted ceilings. Detached 2 car garage w/studio. Private pier.

EASTPORT Great walk to town location in Eastport with

1 car garage. Over 3000 SF with open floor plan, Oak floors,
built-ins and top-of-the-line kitchen. Lush landscaping and inviting pergola

Day Weitzman, 410-353-0721 | (AA9629349) $1,049,000

Georgie Berkinshaw, 443-994-4456 | (AA9703315) $2,650,000

Georgie Berkinshaw, 443-994-4456 | (AA9635288) $1,175,000

EASTPORT WATERFRONT Opportunity to build WF

home on the Horn Point peninsula! Living shoreline & stone
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WEST ANNAPOLIS with BOAT SLIP Elevated water

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MURRAY HILL Spa Creek water views and coveted off street

Georgie Berkinshaw, 443-994-4456 | (AA9553827) $1,475,000

Georgie Berkinshaw, 443-994-4456 | (AA9634016) $1,199,000

parking. Home with thoughtful addition and light filled living

spaces. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, spacious deck with water views and
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Day Weitzman, 410-353-0721 | (AA9629353) $1,289,000

WARDOUR Unique opportunity Annapolis community on

the Severn River. Sophisticated custom home with 6BR, 5.5 BA
including beautifully finished au-pair quarters with separate entrance, gas heat/CAC, generator, circular drive and 2-car garage.

ASHLEY in DAVIDSONVILLE Spectacularly appointed

Colonial home offering 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and 3-car garage.
Stunning kitchen and great room with stacked stone fireplace.
Gorgeous pool and hardscape.

AMBERLEY WATERFRONT Stunning contemporary

/colonial offers three levels of living inviting a lifestyle for all
generations. In the sought after community of Amberley, with a
protected deep-water pier within minutes of the Chesapeake Bay.

Florence Calvert, 443-995-6625 | (AA8722908) $1,765,000

Day Weitzman, 410-353-0721 | (AA9646611) $1,029,000

Betsy Dunigan, 443-994-1239 | (AA9677340 ) $1,189,000

Florence Calvert, 443-995-6625 | (AA9633620) $1,795,000

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

OPEN SUNDAY 2-4

4 Church Circle Annapolis, MD | 410.263.8686
Operated by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC

WA SH I N GTO NB LADE.C OM

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 3 5

REALESTATE

Winner and loser zip codes so far in 2016

Median prices rose more
than 3 percent in D.C.
By TED SMITH
The books are closed on June real estate stats, so its a good time to look back
at some neighborhood statistics for the
first half of 2016 compared to the same
period in 2015.
First, lets note that D.C. median sold
prices rose 3.30 percent in the first half
of 2016 vs. the same period last year. The
median sold price for a home in D.C. is
now $537,000. The ratio of average sold
price to original list price did not increase
in D.C. homes are still selling for 98.93
percent of their original list price, which
means there still arent many bargains
out there for buyers.
Looking at median sold prices for particular zip codes and neighborhoods, there
are more winners than losers: Southeast
zip codes continue to lead the way for increased median sold prices, with 20020
(Anacostia/Hillcrest) and 20019 (Benning
Heights/Deanwood) at 27.80 percent and
21.70 percent increases respectively. At
the lower end of winners, zip codes 20002
(Capitol Hill North/H Street district), 20007
(Georgetown/Burleith), 2009 (Dupont/Adams Morgan and 20018 (Brentwood/Lincoln) also increased in median sold prices,
but less than the overall D.C. increase. On
the losing side of median sold prices, one

finds some of the usual suspects where

median prices are historically higher than
D.C. overall, for example zip code 20015
(Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase, D.C.)
where the median sold price of $960,850 is
still the highest in the District. One surprise
might be zip code 20032 (Congress Heights,
D.C.) where the median sold price did not
gain as did other Southeast zip codes.
The ratio of average sold price to median original sold price is an important
indicator of the health of the real estate
market: the closer that ratio is to 100
percent, the more it means that homes
are selling close to their asking prices (or

sometimes above, in the case of 100 percent plus ratios). In the District market,
this ratio has been at 95 percent or above
for the last eight years, with the exception
of two months around 93 percent in the
winter of 2009 (shortly after the economic
decline hit the housing market).
In terms of this ratio for specific zip
codes, about half the residential zip codes
experienced an increase in the ratio of
median sold to average asking price. It is
worth noting here that homes in zip codes
20005 (Logan Circle/Thomas Circle),
20010 (Columbia Heights/Mt.Pleasant),
and 20017 (Brookland/Catholic U) are all

selling for above 100 percent of their asking pricewhich indicates the competition for housing in those neighborhoods.
So what are the implications for sellers? Looking at zip codes for both median sold price and average sold/list price
ratios, we see seven zip codes where
there is an increase in eachclearly a
sellers advantage: 20003 (Capitol Hill
South/Navy Yard), 20005 (Logan Circle/
Thomas Circle), 20010 (Columbia Heights/
Mt.Pleasant), 20016 (Cathedral Heights/
AU Park), 20017 (Brookland/Catholic U),
20019 (Benning Heights/Deanwood), and
20020 (Anacostia/Hillcrest).
And for buyers? Look for just the opposite: zip codes where median sold prices
and the ratio of average sold prices to
original asking prices have fallen since this
time last year: 20032 (Congress Heights,
D.C.), 20036 (Downtown D.C.), and 20037
(West End/Foggy Bottom). Though the
prices in some of these zip codes may be
high, they are still relative bargains compared to what they were last year.
Happy sales to you.

Ted Smith is a licensed Realtor with Real Living

| at Home specializing in mid-city D.C. Reach
him at TedSmithSellsDC@rlathome.com and
follow him at Facebook.com/MidCityDCLife,
YouTube.com/TedSmithSellsDC or @TedSmithSellsDC. You can also join him on monthly tours
of mid-city neighborhood Open Houses, as well
as monthly seminars geared toward first-time
home buyers. Sign up at meetup.com/D.C.MiD.
C.ity1stTimeHomeBuyers/.

SIMPLE
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ENTHUSIASTICALLY
SERVING DC & VIRGINIA

3 6 J ULY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

foR Sale - GeoRGeToWn

foR Sale - GeoRGeToWn

3052 R St. nW
2BR+den $1,599,900

1033 31st St. nW

1BR/1BA/2 half baths $1,599,900

located in the Montrose. Two-levels of living w/

the finest details, Thermador, Waterworks fixtures,
Limestone spa-style bathrooms, Electrolux, and
more. Developer plans 1925 square feet. Each
bedroom has en-suite bathroom.

live upstairs, run your business downstairs! one block to

Georgetown Waterfront. Perfect for a retail store, cafe,
or office. Approxmiately 1,900 square feet. Building
was completely renovated in 2007 leaving only the
facade standing. Now two floors, separate metering.
Previous tenant rented for $8950. Plenty of opportunity
here. Street parking. Zoned C2a.
202.498.1198

202.498.1198

WWW.evananDMaRK.CoM

WWW.evananDMaRK.CoM

unDeR ConTRaCT
loGan CiRCle

foR Sale
WeSley HeiGHTS

Spacious top-floor co-op unit with terrific details:

bay windows, wood floors, high ceilings,
decorative marble mantle, wall of built-ins! Great
light! Extra-large kitchen w/ gas stove, Silestone
counters, pantry. Big bedroom w/2 closets.

Spacious condo features gleaming parquet floors,

extra storage unit, 24-hour front desk, low fees,
lots of natural light. freshly painted and super
clean. Parking available. amazing views from
roof deck.

1300 Mass.Ave. NW #504

$459,500

4200 Cathedral Ave. NW #403

1BR/1BA $239,900

MiCHael STRouD
202.236.3837

Bo BilluPS
202.431.4052

MSTROUD@CBMOVE.COM

BBILLUPS@CBMOVE.COM

The most tools, the most technology, the most leads, the best working environment. Sound interesting?
Call me to discuss the advantages of Coldwell Banker. We offer more so our agents can do more for our clients.

Kevin MCDuffie, GRi, ManaGinG BRoKeR

kmcduffie@cbmove.com cbhomes.com
202.439.2435 (c) 1617 14th Street NW

202-387-6180

Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC

A You
D V Edeserve
R T I S I N MOORE
G P R O O F
PROOF #1

ISSUE DATE: 07.15.16

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A full service
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speciAlizing in home
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MOORE

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By signing this proof you are agreeing to your contract obligations with the
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CONSTRUCTION GROUP

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W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 3 7

open JUST
sunday 7/17,
1-4pm
LiSTed
4748 33rd Street
North,HOUSES
Arlington, VA
22207
OPEN
2-4PM

Just across Chain Bridge from DC,

4315 50th St, NW, Washington, DC 20016

202 . 552 . 5600

Chesapeake horizons. Capitol hill ConvenienCe.

Saturday,
December
continue
on Glebe Road
to R on 33rd 5
St.
Sunday, December 6

harwood, Md

BRAND NEW iN NoRth ARliNgtoN With EAsy AccEss to Dc...

Beautifully
appointed
Craftsman-style
residence
on archways
34 acres near
Chesapeake
BayFormal
was part
of the
Tulip
Hilltoestate
1756
Three finished
levels of
natural light, hardwood
floors,
and high
end finishes.
Dining
room
opens
front built
porchin
and
sideand
yard.
later
by George
Washington.
Rich
history,cookouts
the waterfront
has kitchen
design elements
modernwalk
amenities
Wetvisited
bar walks
out to planted
side yard
forinsummer
and fall farm
fire pitproperty
relaxing.also
Chefs
with loadsand
of cabinets,
in pantry,
breakfast
roomto
is todays
open to homeowners.
family room with
fireplace,
built-ns
and coffered
room/office
andafford
open vistas
to other
that
will appeal
The
all-Viking
gourmet
kitchen ceilings.
delights,Living
high ceilings
andwith
largebuilt-ins
windows
panoramentertaining
rooms.
Four
bedrooms
with
hardwood
floors,
each
with
walk
in
closets
and
en
suite
baths,
and
a
laundry
center
complete
the upic views of bucolic pastures and sparkling waterways. The stacked blue stone fireplaces and custom-milled trim and moldings are
per level. Finished lower level has two car garage with mud room entry into the home, large carpeted area for workout room/ home theater,
exceptional. Indoor and outdoor spaces abound to enjoy nature and entertain large or small groups. Offered at $2.198M.
bedroom #5 and full bath complete the lower level. Just across Chain Bridge from DC, continue on Glebe Road to R on 33rd St.

For more information and video, visit: waterfields.info

Mention this ad and receive 2% off the List Price of $1,679,900. for dual agency
representation on builders contract AND 2.75% Financing for a 20% down 10 Year Arm.

mikebrown

Associate Broker
ChAmBeRliN
ReAl eStAte OF
Licensed in DC, MD and VA

mcenearney Associates, Realtors

202.340.3340
703 646 0278 MikeBrownMoves.com
www.chamberlinRealEstate.com
Mike@MikeBrownMoves.com

This is not intended to solicit the listings of other brokers. All information is deemed
reliable but as it is provided by third parties, cannot be guaranteed.

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FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM
Representing the GLBT community
for over 35 years. Family adoptions,
estate planning, immigration,
employment. (301) 891-2200.Silber,
Perlman, Sigman & Tilev, P.A. www.
SP-Law. com.

LIMOUSINES / DRIVERS
KASPERS LIVERY SERVICE
BMW 2016 750XI Luxury Sedan
Service; Hourly, Point to Point &
Special Airport Transfer Rates!
Gay & Veteran Owned!
http://www.KasperLivery.com
Phone 202-554-2471.

PET CARE

BODY & SOUL

LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy Downtown Silver Spring. Group,

couples & individual. Warm,
supportive & interactive. Blue Cross
PPO/Out-of-Network/Sliding Fee
Scale. Jonathan Lebolt, PhD, DCSW,
CGP, Therapy@Doctor-Jon.com, www.
Doctor-Jon.com, 240-507-7696.

EMPLOYMENT
LOCKER ROOM ATTENDANTS
NEEDED! The Crew Club, a gay mens
naturist gym & sauna, is now hiring
Locker Room Attendants. We all
scrub toilets & do heavy cleaning. You
must be physically able to handle the
work & have a great attitude doing
it. No drunks/druggies need apply.
Please call Richard at (202) 319-1333.
from 9-5pm, to schedule an interview.

CAT CARE & DOG Walking Chucks

Whisker Watchers. Offer cat feeding
& mid day dog walking for Shaw and
Logan Circle. If you live in Dupont, call
and we can discuss options. Multiple
years of cat experience and dog
ownership. Please visit my web site:
www.chuckswhiskerwatchers.com.
Thanks!

PHOTOGRAPHY

SALE / VA

TOO NEAT GUYS INC.

Residential & Commercial
cleaning in DC & Northern
VA. Over 20 years
experience, gay owned,
licensed, bonded &
insured. Email:
tooneat@comcast.net,
(703) 622-5983.

HOME IMPROVEMENT
GIL PAINTING Co. Bonded,
Licensed & Insured. Interior/
Exterior Painting. Plaster & Dry
Wall. Wallpaper Removal, Power
Washing. Carpentry. Roofing &
Remodeling. www.Gilpainting.
Com.Walter (301) 370-9940
Gilpainting@Comcast.Net.

OUR GUYS AROUND TOWN

MOVERS. Professional Moving &
Storage. Let Our Guys Do The
Heavy Lifting. Mention the Blade
for 10% off of our regular rates.
Call today 202.734.3080. www.
ourguysatmovers.com.

PAINTERS
FINESSE INTERIOR/
EXTERIOR PAINTING.
Chalkboard & Dry Erase
paint. Wood Staining.
Plaster Repairs. Pressure
Cleaning. Free Estimates.
Elmer 240-462-3760.

ESCORTS
BEACHFRONT COLONIAL
BEACH VA 4BR/4BA Home
plus 2BR/1BA Guest
House. $729,900 contact
the owner 804-2244151. MLS: WE9600252.
Fantastic water views
from every room! Friendly
eclectic community.

WOMENS PERSONALS
GWF, SOFT BUTCH, attractive,
blue eyes, brown hair. I walk three
miles every day. I like movies, music,
playing cards, tv & pizza. ISO GWF
attractive, feminine, for friendship &
a long term relationship. If you are
interested, call Debbie 703-368-3618.

MENS PERSONALS
RETIRED DAD for Intelligent son.
Tall, good natured dad type. Please
send short bio and a face shot for
same: rmontaign@gmail.com.

BODYWORK
FEEL THE TOUCH

5 9, 170 lbs, Offering full body

relaxing, release on my professional
table, in a private atmosphere. In/out.
Parking Available, hotels welcome,
DC/MD/VA, 24/7. Call Lucas, 240-4628669, email: fromlucas@yahoo.com.

STEVE OTOOLE
PHOTOGRAPHY Fine
Art Photographer
for Portraits &
Weddings.Check out
my new website - www.
steveotoolephotography.
com. Specializing in
Bears & Big men.
Steve 703-861-4422.

BRANCHES TREE EXPERT Company.

Full service certified arborists,
pruning, insect & disease diagnosis,
treatment & removal. 301-589-6181.
www.BranchesTreeExperts.com.
Angies List Award Winner 09, 10,
11, 12.

CLEANING

SHARE / DC

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOM BODYWORK!

Deep tissue & sensual bodywork for
total stress relief in private studio on
the Hill or my Dupont location. Call
Erik 202-544-5688. No texts. In calls
only. Intro Special $99.00.

SW DC WATERFRONT GWM ISO

same to share luxurious home.
Private Bath en Suite with guest
room. Cable, WiFi, Utilities, Maid,
Parking, W/D, DW Included. Beautiful
Garden & Outdoor areas to enjoy.
Call Bruce (202) 488-4888.

EROTIC SWEDISH MASSAGE

- healthy clean cut guy, 61, 160 lbs,
Dupont Circle, massage table, noon
to 1:00 a.m., indulge your body. $70
for 1 hour. Bill 202-728-0238. No text
messages.

FERNANDOS CLEANING:
Residential & Commercial Cleaning,
Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates,
Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/Move-Out.
(202) 234-7050, 202-486-6183.

THE MAGIC TOUCH: Swedish,

Massage or Deep Tissue. Appts 202486-6183, Low Rates, 24/7, In-Calls.
True M4M Massage In/Out,
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sensual, Tantric
overtones & Tantric Anal & Lingam,
Grooming, Shaving, Waxing, plus. www.
mensmassagebymitch.com. Silver Spring,
Appt 301-785-4181, call /text or thru website.

MAID TO CLEAN Gay owned,

awesome, trustworthy & reliable!
Serving the DC/VA area. Mention
this ad for $50 off. Maidtoclean.com.
(703) 299-0101.

MOVERS

COUNSELING

COUNSELING FOR GAY MEN.

Individual/couple counseling w/
volunteer peer counselor. Gay Mens
Counseling Community since 1973.
202-580-8861. gaymenscounseling.
org. No fees, donation requested.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

PATRICKS KITCHEN REMODELING 20

years experience, from top of the line
to affordable. Email pmcnulty2010@
hotmail.com, 202 909-5840.

GET YOUR MIND IN SHAPE &

your body will follow. Stop smoking?
Weight loss? Addictions? Fears &
phobias. Changing your behavior can
be difficult. Hypnosis changes your
behavior at a subconscious level. Call
American Wellness Institute for a free
consultation 202-544-5688.

LGBTQ AFFIRMING THERAPY at

Dupont Circle Individuals, couples,
families, adolescents. Over 15
years serving the community. Mike
Giordano, LICSW. 202/460-6384
mike.giordano.msw@gmail.com.
www.WhatIHearYouSaying.com.

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Washington:

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Arlington:

Baltimore:

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