JANUARY

09

2015

volume 46

issue 02

Americas Gay News Source

washingtonblade.com

70 percent of U.S. now enjoys marriage equality as

Supreme Court prepares to act PAGES 8-9

0 2 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2015

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J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 0 3

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January

February

FR 1/9

FR 2/6
SAT 2/14

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SAT 1/10 The Vi-Kings
SUN 1/11 ilyAIMY
SAT 1/17 Redmond, Langosch & Cooley
SUN 1/18 The Soul Serenaders plus
Mark Wenners Blues Warriors
WED 1/21 Darrian Ford in the Cooke Book,
The Music of Sam Cooke
FR 1/23
BeLa Dona
FR 1/30
Dr. Ralph Stanley & Friends
featuring The Clinch Mountain Boys
SAT 1/31 A Dream Discs Triple Header

Buddy Holly Tribute

The Duke Ellington Orchestra
Special Valentines Day Performance
SUN 2/15 The Duke Ellington Orchestra
SAT 2/28 Tom Principato Band

March
SUN 3/8

Midge Ure (Solo Acoustic)

plus Margot MacDonald
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FR 3/27
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

0 4 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2015

LO CA L N E W S

Muriel Bowser sworn

in as D.C. mayor
Activists optimistic over
new leadership, changes
in City Council
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
A large contingent of LGBT people
joined fellow city residents in turning out
on Jan. 2 for the swearing-in ceremony
of Mayor Muriel Bowser and seven
members of the City Council.
Many of the LGBT attendees at the
swearing-in ceremony also attended the
new mayors inaugural ball. Both events
took place at the Walter Washington
Convention Center.
Lets always remember our LGBT
friends, Bowser said in her inaugural
address. While we achieved marriage
equality we still have to ght for fair
housing and employment in the District
of Columbia for all, she said.
Bowsers reference to the LGBT
community came after she pledged to
build on the successes of her predecessor,
Vincent Gray, who LGBT activists have called
the citys most LGBT supportive mayor.
Bowser beat Gray in the Democratic
primary last April before nishing ahead
of gay D.C. Council member David Catania
(I-At-Large) and former Council member
Carol Schwartz, a former Republican who
ran as an independent, in the November
general election.
Two months ago, we came together on
Election Day to re-arm our democratic
values, Bowser said in her inaugural
speech that each of us is equal in the
eyes of God and our government.
She added, That every Washingtonian
deserves a fair shot and a seat at the
table, that every Washingtonian deserves
the opportunity to live in a safe and
aordable home, and that the middle
class is worth protecting and ghting for.
On Jan. 1, one day before taking oce
as mayor, Bowser announced she has
appointed Matt Brown, whos gay, as
director of the Mayors Oce of Budget and
Finance. The announcement of Browns
appointment came less than two weeks
after Bowser named lesbian housing and
homelessness expert Polly Donaldson as
director of the citys Department of Housing
and Community Development. Both jobs
are cabinet-level positions.

Brown brings a wealth of budget and

nance experience from both the private
and public sectors, a statement from
Bowsers transition team says.
The statement notes that Brown has
served as deputy director and most
recently director of the D.C. Department
of Transportation under the Gray
administration. Prior to that he served as
managing director of the D.C. area Metro
transit systems Oce of Management
and Budget Services and before that
oversaw budget and nance matters
in New York City and Milwaukee, the
statement says.
A spokesperson for Bowser said she
was expected to appoint the director of
the Mayors Oce of GLBT Aairs within
the next few weeks.
Although Bowser has been a strong
supporter of LGBT rights during her
tenure on the City Council, most political
observers believe the LGBT vote was
divided evenly between her and Catania
in the general election.
Many LGBT Catania supporters
said they did not doubt that Bowser
was a friend of the LGBT community.
They said they backed Catania, among
other reasons, because he had a more
extensive record on LGBT equality and
other pressing issues in the city during his
longer tenure on Council.
A number of LGBT activists who backed
Gray over both Bowser and Catania have
said they believe Bowser will continue
Grays pro-LGBT policies, including
Grays policies on transgender rights,
which activists have considered to be
groundbreaking.
I have no reason to believe that she
wont continue to be as supportive of
the LGBT community as her predecessor
was, said gay Advisory Neighborhood
Commissioner Alex Padro, whose ANC
district is in the citys Shaw neighborhood.
So hopefully well have another four
years of continued progress in quality of
services and equal rights for everyone
here in the District of Columbia, said
Padro, who attended both the swearingin ceremony and the inaugural ball.
Others attending the swearing-in
ceremony, the inaugural ball or both were
Gertrude Stein Democratic Club President
Earl Fowlkes, Gay and Lesbian Activists
Alliance President Rick Rosendall, gay
Democratic activist Peter Rosenstein, gay

While we achieved marriage equality we still have to ght for fair housing and employment in
the District of Columbia for all, said MAYOR BOWSER in remarks last week.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

businessman David Franco and activists

Khadijah Tribble, Chris Dyer, Mario Acosta
Velez and Paul Frene.
Fowlkes called the inaugural ball a
beautiful mosaic of the citys diverse
population, including many members of
the LGBT community.
There were transgender members of the
community, there were heterosexual, there
were black and there were Latino, and there
were white. It was just a real wonderful
Washington, D.C. mixer, he said.
Muriel Bowsers inauguration really
seemed to portend the Fresh Start she
spoke of, Rosenstein said. She gave a
great speech in which she eloquently
spoke of her continued commitment to
the LGBT community.
Among the Council members taking the
oath of oce were three newly elected
members, including the two who have
replaced gay long-time Council members
Catania and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1).
Catania gave up his Council seat to run
for mayor. Graham lost his re-election
bid in the April Democratic primary to
political newcomer Brianne Nadeau, who
has pledged to be a strong supporter of
the LGBT community.
Democrat-turned-independent Elissa
Silverman won the at-large seat vacated
by Catania in a hotly contested multicandidate race. Among the candidates
Silverman beat was lesbian public
relations executive Courtney Snowden,
who received the endorsement of local
and national LGBT organizations.
Like Nadeau, Silverman has expressed
strong support for LGBT rights. Prior
to running for public oce Silverman
worked for many years as a journalist
and later as an ocial with a non-prot
organization.
Also expressing strong support for the

LGBT community was Democrat Charles

Allen, who won election to the Ward 6
Council seat that incumbent Tommy Wells
gave up in his unsuccessful run for mayor
in the Democratic primary. Allen served
as Wells chief of sta before declaring his
candidacy for the seat.
Another two newcomers will join
the Council in April following a special
election called to ll vacant seats in Wards
4 and 8. The Ward 4 seat, which was
held by Bowser, became vacant on Jan.
2 when she was sworn in as mayor. The
Ward 8 seat became vacant in November
following the death of Council member
and former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry.
The departure of Catania and Graham
has resulted in a D.C. Council without an out
gay member for the rst time since 1997.
In the short term I dont think its going
to be a problem, said Padro. I think there
is an understanding of the importance of
the LGBT community in the city, he said.
And I think our community has plenty of
friends on the Council, even among the
people that have just been elected.
Four incumbent Council members
also took the oath of oce on Friday
following their successful re-election bids
in November. They were Council Chair
Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) and Council
members Anita Bonds (D-At-Large), Mary
Cheh (D-Ward 3), and Kenyan McDue
(D-Ward 5). All four have been strong
supporters of LGBT equality.
Also taking the oath of oce on Friday was
attorney and former law rm partner Karl
Racine, who won his race in November as the
citys rst elected attorney general. During the
fall campaign Racine, along with each of his
four opponents, expressed strong support
for LGBT rights. Among the candidates he
beat was lesbian attorney and former Stein
Club president Lafeefah Williams.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

LO C A L N E W S

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 0 5

Va., Md. gearing up for new legislative sessions

Marriage regulations,
birth certicate bill
to be considered
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
mlavers@washblade.com
Lawmakers in Virginia and Maryland
will consider a number of LGBT-specic
bills once their respective 2015 legislative
sessions begin next week.
State Sens. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)
and Janet Howell (D-Fairfax County) and
state Dels. Rob Krupicka (D-Alexandria)
and Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax County)
have each introduced bills that would
seek a repeal of Virginias constitutional
amendment that denes marriage as
between a man and a woman. Ebbin,
Surovell and state Del. Marcus Simon
(D-Falls Church) have also proposed
measures that would overturn the
commonwealths statutory same-sex
marriage and civil unions bans.
Ebbin in the coming days is expected to
introduce a bill that would change genderspecic references in Virginias marriage
laws and regulations to spouse.
Gays and lesbians have been able to
legally marry in Virginia since October
after the U.S. Supreme Court declined
to hear a case that challenged the
commonwealths marriage ban.
Ebbin told the Washington Blade on
Wednesday the upcoming legislative
session will really be our rst opportunity
to properly address the issue to reect
the realities of 2014 and 2015.
State Sen. A. Donald McEachin
(D-Henrico County) and Simon have
reintroduced bills that would ban
anti-LGBT
discrimination
against
public employees in state and local
governments and in housing. Howell has
put forth a proposal that would extend
second-parent adoption rights to samesex couples.
State Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington
County) has reintroduced a bill that
would ban ex-gay conversion therapy to
minors in Virginia.
We know this is going on in Virginia,
the Arlington County Democrat told the
Blade last month during an interview
about a controversial billboard in support
of ex-gay therapy that appeared along
Interstates 64/95 in Richmond. The role
of government is whenever we know
there is some danger thats inherent, the
government ought to step in.
State Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince
William County) has introduced a bill that
would allow government ocials not to
issue a marriage license or other ocial
document based on their religious beliefs.
The measure specically cites same-sex

Sen. ADAM EBBIN is expected to introduce a bill that would change gender-specic references
in Virginias marriage laws to spouse.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY JEFF SURPRENANT

marriage or homosexual behavior.

This piece of legislation is extremist,
hateful and discriminatory, said James
Parrish, executive director of Equality
Virginia, a statewide LGBT advocacy group,
on Tuesday in a statement. While we are
all entitled to our own religious beliefs, we
cannot use those beliefs to discriminate
against others. Discrimination is wrong
its that simple.
Claire Guthrie Gastaaga, executive
director of the American Civil Liberties Union
of Virginia, also criticized Marshalls bill.
This legislation is nothing more than a
state-sanctioned license to discriminate
against gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender Virginians, including married
same-sex couples, simply because of
who they are, said Gastaaga. The bill
would do nothing more than reignite
the commonwealths historical hostility
toward LGBT Virginians.
Marshall did not respond to the Blades
request for comment.
Parrish told the Blade on Tuesday
during a telephone interview that he is
optimistic McEachins bill will pass in the
state Senate a similar measure the
Henrico County Democrat co-sponsored
with Ebbin in 2013 passed by a 24-16 vote
margin. Parrish said he expects senators
will also approve the second-parent
adoption bill if it gets out of committee.
The House remains a roadblock to
equality in Virginia, he told the Blade.
We dont see that changing, but what
we do see changing is the number of
peoples support.

Hogan prepares
to takes oce
Equality Maryland, the states largest
LGBT advocacy group, on its website
identied three issues as top priorities
during the 2015 legislative session. These

include bills that would allow transgender

Marylanders to legally change their gender
on their birth certicates and require
insurance companies to cover in-vitro
fertilization for married same-sex couples.
A third measure would address child
custody and parental rights.

Neither of the aforementioned bills has

been formally introduced yet.
Carrie Evans, executive director of
Equality Maryland, told the Blade on
Tuesday that she expects each of them
will receive a favorable reception in the
General Assembly. She noted state Sen.
Robert Zirkin (D-Baltimore County) now
chairs the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee, but other committee chairs
with whom Equality Maryland works are
the same.
The leadership has very much stayed
the same, said Evans.
State Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery
County) this year will chair the Senate
Budget and Taxation Committee.
Evans told the Blade she feels the gay
Montgomery County Democrats leadership
position on the committee will prove
valuable to challenge any potential cuts to
social service programs that Hogan may
propose once he takes oce on Jan. 21.
We denitely have a very strong
advocate and watchdog with him
(Madaleno,) said Evans.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Guenther resigns as CAGLCC director

Mark Guenther, executive director of the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce for the past ve years, has resigned from his job, saying,
the time has come for me to look into and explore other avenues.
CAGLCC announced Guenthers resignation in a statement released on
Wednesday at the same time it announced it had postponed indenitely for the
second year in a row its premier annual event known as G.LIFE EXPO, a day-long
exposition in which national and local corporations and businesses display their
products or services, with many catering to an LGBT clientele.
The event had been scheduled for Jan. 24 at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel
in Northwest Washington.
The group also announced the election of a series of new members of the
executive committee of its board of directors.
Between the changing of the guard and the forecast for another tough winter,
the board decided it would be best to postpone G.LIFE, said John Quattlebaum,
the newly elected president of the CAGLCC board.
The statement announcing Guenthers resignation said only that Guenther
stated moving on as appropriate for him at this point in his career. The statement
doesnt indicate whether he would be starting another job, and Guenther didnt
respond to a call from the Blade seeking comment.
I was given an opportunity of a lifetime to be the rst executive director of the
Chamber and I loved my job, Guenther said in the same statement.
The statement says Quattlebaum will oversee the formation of a search
committee to nd a replacement for Guenther.
Guenther became the subject of news media reports in November 2012 when
he was charged by D.C. police with a misdemeanor oense of unlawful entry into
the apartment of a neighbor who lived across the hall from him in an apartment
building in D.C.The charge was dismissed in April 2013 after Guenther successfully
completed community service work as part of a deferred prosecution agreement
reached with prosecutors and a D.C. Superior Court judge.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

0 6 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2014

NATIONAL NEWS

Gov. TERRY MCAULIFFE was expected to attend a Thursday event honoring pro-LGBT
businesses in Virginia.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY LEE WHITMAN

Va. group to honor pro-LGBT businesses

RICHMOND, Va. Equality Virginia on Jan. 8 plans to recognize ve
commonwealth-based Fortune 500 companies for their pro-LGBT policies.
Equality Virginia is scheduled to grant Altria, Capital One, CarMax, Dominion
and Genworth Financial its Virginia Fairness Accreditation during an event at
the Williams Mullen Building in Richmond. Gov. Terry McAulie is among those
expected to attend.
Companies that have policies in place to protect LGBT employees are leading
Virginia forward, said Equality Virginia in a press advisory ahead of the event.
These companies are setting the standard when it comes to promoting inclusivity,
strengthening Virginias ability to recruit and retain a talented workforce, and
ensuring that Virginia is a welcoming place to live, work, and visit.
Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Virginia since October.
The rst executive order that McAulie signed after taking oce last January
bans discrimination against LGBT state employees. Virginias statewide antidiscrimination law does not include sexual orientation and gender identity and
expression.

Atlanta mayor res anti-gay official

ATLANTA Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on Jan. 6 announced he red his citys
re chief after a series of anti-gay comments appeared in a book that he wrote.
The Georgia Voice reported Reed announced Kelvin Cochrans termination
during a press conference.
Reed in late November suspended Cochran from his post after excerpts of his
book became public. They included comparing homosexuality to bestiality and
concluding people who engage in same-sex sexual conduct dele their bodytemple and dishonor God.
The Georgia Voice reported that Reed said he red Cochran because he
violated what the newspaper described as the citys standard of conduct. The
mayor insisted the decision has nothing to do with Cochrans religious beliefs in
spite of his claims to the contrary.
His personal religious beliefs are not the issue at all despite the number of
comments and emails I have been receiving on a daily basis, said Reed, according
to the Georgia Voice. His judgment and ability to manage the department was
the subject of this inquiry.
Georgia Equality Executive Je Graham and gay Atlanta City Councilmember
Alex Wan are among those who welcomed Cochrans termination. Ralph Reed,
former executive director of the Christian Coalition who founded the Faith and
Freedom Coalition criticized Reed over his decision.

Lesbian daughter of Mass. governor engaged

BERKELEY, Calif. The oce of outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on
Jan. 2 announced his lesbian daughter is engaged to her girlfriend.
The Boston Globe reported that Katherine Patrick and her ance, Alisha
Lemieux, live outside of San Francisco. The newspaper said Deval Patrick and
his wife joyfully made the announcement in their statement.
Katherine Patrick came out publicly in 2008 during an interview with Bay
Windows, a Boston-based LGBT newspaper.
Her father is a strong supporter of LGBT rights who most recently signed into
law a bill that expands services to homeless youth in Massachusetts.

The suicide of Leelah Alcorn, 17, has sparked an online outcry.

IMAGE VIA FACEBOOK

Trans teen: My death

needs to mean something
Saturday rally in
D.C. to celebrate life
of Leelah Alcorn
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
mlavers@washblade.com
The suicide of a transgender Ohio
teenager has sparked an online outcry and a
call for action among LGBT rights advocates.
A rally and march are planned for D.C.
on Saturday to remember the life of
Leelah Alcorn, who committed suicide
on Dec. 28. Demonstrators are planning
to gather at Mt. Vernon Square near the
D.C. Convention Center on Saturday at
2 p.m. More information is available via
Facebook event page.
The Cincinnati Inquirer reported a
tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 71 struck
and killed Alcorn, 17, around 2:30 a.m. on
Dec. 28. She posted a note on her Tumblr
page shortly before she took her own life.
If you are reading this, it means that
I have committed suicide and obviously
failed to delete this post from my queue,
wrote Alcorn in a post titled Suicide Note.
Alcorn wrote that she learned what
transgender meant when she was 14
and cried for happiness. She said her
mother reacted extremely negatively
and took her to Christian therapists who
were all very biased.
I never actually got the therapy I
needed to cure my depression, wrote
Alcorn. I only got more Christians telling
me that I was selsh and wrong and that I
should look to God for help.
Alcorn wrote she came out as gay
because she thought it would be less of
a shock to her parents. Alcorn said they
instead pulled her out of school, took

away her laptop and phone and refused

to allow her to see her friends.
They felt like I was attacking their
image, and that I was an embarrassment
to them, she wrote. They wanted me to
be their perfect little straight Christian boy,
and thats obviously not what I wanted.
The Cincinnati Inquirer reported that
Alcorns mother, Carla Wood Alcorn, posted
a message to her Facebook page on Sunday
that was subsequently taken down.
My sweet 16-year-old son, Joshua
Ryan Alcorn, went home to Heaven this
morning, she wrote, according to the
newspaper. He was out for an early
morning walk and was hit by a truck.
Thank you for the messages and kindness
and concern you have sent our way. Please
continue to keep us in your prayers.
Activists and others have taken
to Twitter and other social media to
mourn Alcorns death. The hashtags
#LeelahAlcorn and #RealLifeTransAdult
began trending.
News of Alcorns death broke less
than a month after Andi Woodhouse, a
24-year-old trans man, died after jumping
o a Pittsburgh bridge.
The National Center for Transgender
Equality and the National LGBTQ Task Force
in a 2010 study noted 41 percent of trans
people have attempted suicide. A report
the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights released last month indicates trans
women are among those most likely to lose
their lives to anti-LGBT violence.
My death needs to mean something,
wrote Alcorn on her Tumblr page. My
death needs to be counted in the number
of transgender people who commit
suicide this year. I want someone to look
at that number and say thats fucked up
and x it. Fix society. Please.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

N A T I O NA L NEW S

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 0 7

McConnell assumes control of Senate

Republican obstruction
may doom pro-LGBT bills
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
The 114th Congress ocially kicked
o on Tuesday, marking the rst time
that Republicans have controlled the U.S.
Senate in eight years following the partys
massive gains on Election Day.
The changing of the guard included
brief speeches from new Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.), wholl
now control the oor of the chamber, and
Assistant Minority Leader Richard Durbin
(D-Ill.), who was lling for now Senate
Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as he
recovers from injuries.
Staying true to his stated goal in a
Washington Post interview this week of
making the Republican Party seem less
scary ahead of the presidential election,
McConnell was brief and non-descript
about his plans for the 114th Congress.
We recognize the enormity of the
task before us, we know a lot of hard
work awaits, we know many important
opportunities await as well, McConnell
said. Im really optimistic about what we
can accomplish, but Ill have much more
to say about that tomorrow.
As a result of the election, Republicans
began the 114th Congress with an
additional nine seats in the U.S. Senate,
giving them 54 total in the chamber. In
the House, Republicans expanded their
majority to 246 members, their largest
caucus in the chamber since the Truman
administration. The party lost one vote
when Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.)
resigned after pleading guilty to tax
evasion charges.
In contrast to McConnell, Durbin
oered a more distinct vision for the
114th Congress, wishing the Republican
majority the best and recalling the tenure
of another senator from his state of
Illinois, Sen. Everett Dirksen, a moderate
Republican who served as minority leader
in the 1960s.
He famously said, and I quote, I am
a man of xed and unbending principle,
the rst of which is to be exible at all
times, end of quote, Durbin said. That
may sound comical, even contradictory,
but Sen. Dirksens ability to be exible
in tactics arm what principles helped
produce historic legislation, such as the
Civil Rights of 1964, one of the greatest
achievements in our nations history.
Drawing on the example of Dirksen,
Durbin made a call for working together
in the spirit of compromise on behalf of
the country.
The American people need for us to
work together to solve problems and

create opportunities, and for their sakes,

lets all try to remember that what we are
about is honorable compromise, Durbin
said. The Constitution of the United
States and the Senate itself are the results
of just such a compromise.
Presiding over the chamber was Sen.
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who that day was
elected as Senate president pro tempore,
or the most senior member of the
majority party.
Moments before the speeches, Vice
President Joseph Biden, in his capacity
as president of the Senate, joined for
the swearing in the 33 newly elected or
re-elected senators in groups of four.
Those senators then signed the Oath
Book, which contains the names of all
U.S. senators.
Ian Sams, spokesperson for the
Democratic National Committee, said the
change in leadership within the Senate likely
means an end to progress on LGBT bills.
Under a Democratic majority, the
U.S. Senate made historic gains for LGBT
Americans from repealing Dont Ask
Dont Tell to showing record support for
marriage equality to passing ENDA, an
LGBT hate crimes prevention bill and HIV/
AIDS care legislation, Sams said. We
hope that the new Republican majority will
continue this progress, but if the House
Republican majority of the past few years
is any indicator, we wont hold our breath.
Gregory Angelo, executive director
of the Log Cabin Republicans, said
the change of control in the Senate
represents the loss of one of the greatest
roadblocks to legislative progress with
the departure of Reid as majority leader.
I expect were going to see a lot of vetoes
now that Reid can no longer run defense
for the president and refuse to put the bipartisan legislation passed by the House on
the Senate oor, Angelo said.
The Human Rights Campaign didnt
respond to requests for comment on
Tuesday about the implications of the
change in power in the U.S. Senate.
Any spirit of moving things forward
in an expedited manner in the Senate
was diminished as soon as the initial
speeches ended when Durbin objected
to proceeding with McConnell convening
a Senate panel on Wednesday under
special rules with the goal of approving
the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Nobodys rights would be in any
way impaired by going forward a day
early, McConnell responded. Were
going to pass the committee resolutions
tomorrow. We all know that one of the
things the Senate is best at is not doing
much. I hope we can work this out so we
can get started.
Just moments later, White House Press
Secretary Josh Earnest announced during
his routine brieng that President Obama

MITCH MCCONNELL took over as Senate Majority Leader this week.

would veto the proposed measure on

Keystone XL if it reached his desk, citing
the well-established process underway
at the State Department evaluating
whether to construct the pipeline.
In terms of LGBT issues, it remains to
be seen what impact GOP control will
have on a planned comprehensive LGBT
non-discrimination bill covering the
areas of employment, housing, credit,
public
accommodations,
education
and federal programs. On the same
day the new Congress convened, Rep.
Jerrold Nadler and Sen. Dianne Feinstein
(D-Calif.) reintroduced the Respect for
Marriage Act, which would ensure samesex couples would be eligible for the
federal benets of marriage regardless
of whether or not their state of residence
recognizes their union.
But an impasse could be a boon to
LGBT people if social conservatives move
forward with anti-gay bills or federal
religious liberty legislation to refuse
services to same-sex couples amid
continued wins for marriage equality.
For Angelo, the divided government
and new Republican majorities represent
a challenge and opportunity for the LGBT
movement to broaden its messaging.
From an LGBT perspective, advocates
are going to be forced to think like
conservatives if legislation like ENDA or
similar LGBT civil rights legislation is going
to grow in co-sponsorships, Angelo said.
Liberal messaging and lobbying from the
left or even center-left simply wont work.
For Log Cabin Republicans, this means we
have a tremendous opportunity to not just
be a part of the ght for LGBT equality in

the new Congress, but to lead it.

In the lower chamber of Congress,
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)
made a call to work together in a
bipartisan fashion before taking the
oath of oce to represent Ohios 8th
congressional district in the U.S. House.
Well begin our work on this common
ground, taking up measures to develop
more North American energy; restore
the hours of middle-class workers; and
help small businesses hire more of our
veterans, Boehner said. Then well invite
the president to support and sign these
bipartisan initiatives into law.
Despite plans from a handful of
conservative
Republicans
to
oust
Boehner as speaker, he was re-elected as
presiding ocer by 216 votes, although
25 members of his caucus dissented and
voted for other lawmakers, such as antigay Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Louie
Gohmert (R-Texas).
Je Cook-McCormac, senior adviser for
the pro-LGBT Republican group known as
the American Unity Fund, said a thoughtful
and respectful bipartisan strategy will
be more important with Boehner and
McConnell running the show.
With Republicans in control of both
chambers, it will be critical for Republicans
to play a leadership role in advancing profreedom legislative priorities and they
are poised to do so after every single
pro-marriage and pro-ENDA Republican
legislator running for reelection won on
Election Night, Cook-McCormac said.
With our allies, American Unity Fund will
continue to lead the ght to build more
Republican support for LGBT freedom.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

0 8 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2015

NATIONAL NEWS

A Supreme week for marriage lawsuits

Fifth Circuit, Supreme Court
set to consider gay nuptials
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
The culmination of a week in which gay
nuptials have now become legal in 36
states and D.C. will end with consideration
of same-sex marriage cases before the
U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals and major
news could come down on the same day
ifthe high court takes up a case.
The two events on Friday, which are
happening coincidentally on the same
day, concludea historic week in which the
rst same-sex couples began marryingin
Florida as a result of court decisions in
the state against its prohibition on gay
nuptials. That brings to more than 216
million Americans or 70 percent of the
country now living in a jurisdiction with
marriage equality.
In New Orleans, a three-judge panel
on the Fifth Circuit is set to hear oral
arguments in federal litigation seeking
marriage equality in Texas, Mississippi
and Louisiana. In Washington, the
Supreme Court is set to consider whether
to take up lawsuits seeking marriage
rights for same-sex couples in Michigan,
Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, where
the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
upheld bans on gay nuptials, as well as
the case in Louisiana.
James Esseks, director of the LGBT project
for the American Civil Liberties Union, said
the prospects of the Supreme Court taking
up the marriage issue are huge and could
set the stage for a nationwide decision on
marriage equality this year.
At this point, its not a big jump in terms
of changing the reality on the ground in
a comparatively small percentage of the
U.S. population, Esseks said. I think we
are in endgame in the struggle for the
freedom to marry, and its very likely the
court will grant review in one or more of
these cases this week or next week, and
that they will be scheduling arguments
and decisions this term. That is certainly
my hope, and its my prediction as well.
Before the Fifth Circuit, which
has a reputation for being the most
conservative in the country, the threejudge panel that will hear the marriage
cases before the appellate court
consists of U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick
Higginbotham, a Reagan appointee;
U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith, another
Reagan appointee; and U.S. Circuit Judge
James Graves Jr., an Obama appointee.
In two of the cases coming before
judges the Texas case of DeLeon
v. Perry and the Mississippi case of
Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant

Arguing on behalf of same-sex couples in a Mississippi case Friday will be ROBERTA KAPLAN,
who successfully argued in 2013 before the Supreme Court against the Defense of Marriage Act.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

states are appealing federal district

court rulings overturning bans on samesex marriage. But in the consolidated
Louisiana caseof Robicheaux v. Caldwell,
U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman upheld
the states prohibition on gay nuptials.
Arguing on behalf of the Campaign
for Southern Equality and two samesex couples in the Mississippi case will
be Roberta Kaplan, an attorney at Paul,
Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
who successfully argued in 2013 before
the Supreme Court against the Defense
of Marriage Act.
As with all arguments, were taking
these arguments this upcoming Friday
very seriously, Kaplan said. The team is
hard at work reviewing the various briefs
that were led, the applicable case law,
and preparing to grill the heck out of me
in practice for the court.
Although the Fifth Circuit arguments
are open to the public and the media, the
proceedings in the Supreme Court conference
are condential and results arent known until
subsequent orders are published.
The Supreme Court has docketed ve
marriage cases for its Friday conference.
Two lawsuits DeBoer v. Snyder in
Michigan and Bourke v. Beshear in
Kentucky seek the outright ability for
same-sex couples to marry, but another
two Obergefell v. Hodges in Ohio and
Tanco v. Haslam in Tennessee seek
state recognition of same-sex marriages
performed elsewhere.
In those cases, the U.S. Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals upheld prohibitions
on same-sex marriage, creating a split
after federal appeals courts in the Tenth,
Seventh, Fourth and Ninth circuits struck
down similar laws in those jurisdictions.
Also before the Supreme Court is a
petition for a writ of certiorari before

judgment in the Louisiana case, which

was led by the LGBT group Lambda
Legal even though the Fifth Circuit has yet
to rule on the lawsuit.
Douglas NeJaime, a law professor at
University of California, Irvine, said the
Supreme Court is less likely to take up the
Louisiana lawsuit because it isnt as fully
matured as others.
They care about cases running their
course and this is the decision of one district
court judge, and there is a Fifth Circuit panel
actually reviewing that decision, NeJaime
said. If youre viewing that, for instance,
against a Sixth Circuit decision, the Sixth
Circuit decision seems more likely.
Other petitions led by Idaho Gov.
C.L. Butch Otter and Idaho Attorney
General Lawrence Wasden last week
seeking review of the Ninth Circuit
decision overturning the marriage ban
in Idaho are too new for consideration at
the conference. The onus is on National
Center for Lesbian Rights, which initiated
the lawsuit, to le a response before the
end of the month.
For the pending cases during the
conference, the Supreme Court has three
options: grant a writ of certiorari to take
one or more of the cases (which takes
a vote of at least four justices), deny
certiorari or hold the cases over until the
next conference.
Although orders are often not
published until several days after a
conference takes place (as was the case in
October when the Supreme Court denied
certiorari in ve marriages cases), Esseks
predicted orders from the court may
well come down in this instance on the
same day if certiorari is granted.
At this point in the year, its become
fairly routine that they do issue at least
some grants on the afternoon of the

conference, Esseks said. Theres a

chance well get orders sometime in the
afternoon on the 9th. If we dont get them
then, it may be that the cases have been
put over, relisted for the 16th.
If the court takes the opportunity to
grant certiorari at the conference, the
next steps are brieng, arguments and
rendering a decision. From the day that
certiorari is granted, attorneys for plainti
same-sex couples will have 45 days to le
an opening brief, then the state would have
another 30 days to respond and plaintis
will have timeto respond to that brief. The
expectation is that oral arguments would
take place in April, clearing the way for a
nal decision in June.
But the most likely option is the court
will choose at the conference to simply
hold over the cases for a subsequent
meeting. The courts practice this term
has been generally to take at least two
conferences to consider whether to grant
a case, which may be the case for the
marriage lawsuits. The next conferences
are set for Jan. 16 and Jan. 23.
However, only a short delay in deciding
whether to take up a marriage case could
put o a nationwide decision on the
marriage issue beyond this year. Esseks
said the court should be able to complete
the process this year if certiorari is
granted on Friday, or during the Jan. 16
session, but the situation becomes iy if
a decision isnt made until Jan. 23.
If its the 23rd of later, it starts to look
likely to me that would be something that
would be briefed and argued next term,
not this term, Esseks said.
Although the Supreme Court denied
certiorari for marriage cases in ve states
Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Indiana
and Wisconsin the sense is the court
wont take that same action this time.
For starters, all the circuits were in
agreement at the time that bans on samesex marriage were unconstitutional, by
upholding prohibitions in its jurisdiction,
the Sixth Circuit has created a split the
Supreme Court will likely want to correct.
NeJaime said while there may not
have been votes on the court to seek to
overturn federal appeals court decision in
favor of marriage equality in October, the
situation is reversed now that cases are
before justices in which an appeals court
ruled against same-sex couples.
I think that we have a pretty good
sense that justices like [Ruth Bader]
Ginsburg were voting to deny cert in the
other cases, NeJaime said. I think she
would vote to grant cert in this. I think
those in favor of same-sex marriage are
not going to let stand the Sixth Circuit
ruling, whereas they were happy to let
the other lower court rulings stand.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

N A T I O NA L NEW S

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 0 9

Historic week in Florida as couples wed

Marriage equality arrives
after Miami judge lifts
hold on gay nuptials
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Following a long period of litigation to
win marriage equality in Florida, gay and
lesbian couples began to exchange vows
Monday after a series of court decisions
clearing the way for the weddings.
The initial weddings began in MiamiDade County, the most populous county
in Florida, after Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel
that morning lifted a stay on her decision
against the states ban on same-sex
marriage, known as Amendment 2.
In the big picture, does it really matter
whether or not I lift the stay or leave it
until tomorrow? Zabel said from the
bench after a hearing. Im lifting the stay.
According to the Miami Herald, cheers
erupted in the courthouse after Zabel
announced her decision to lift her stay as
some of the plainti couples cried in joy.
Appearing outside before reporters and
photographers, they held hands and raised
their arms in victory, the Herald reported.
But Zabels order aected only her
jurisdiction. The rest of Florida was
prepared to allow same-sex marriages
starting at midnight when a federal court
decision from U.S. District Judge Robert
Hinkle, who put his ruling on hold until
the end of the day on Jan. 5, was set
to go into eect. Once thatstay is lifted,
Florida will be considered the 36th state
to have marriage equality.
Zabel, who struck down Florida laws
prohibiting same-sex marriage in July,
allowed same-sex couples to be eligible
for marriage licenses beginning at 2 p.m.,
although weddings began at around 1:30
p.m. after the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts
Harvey Ruvin received a signed copy of
the judgestwo-page order, according to
the Miami Herald.
In addition to lifting the stay, Zabel
herself wed two of the six couples
who had sued for the right to marry
Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello of
Coconut Grove, and Je and Todd Delmay
of Hollywood. Pareto and Arguello was the
rst same-sex coupleto wed in the state,
where voters passed a constitutional
amendment banning same-sex marriage
in 2008 with 62 percent of the vote.
Nadine Smith, CEO of the statewide
LGBT group Equality Florida, said the
victory for these couples marks a
monumental day in Floridas history.
Loving same-sex couples have been
waiting months, years, decades for the
right to marry the person they love, Smith
said.And were excited to be able to share

TODD & JEFFREY DELMAY, CATHY PARETO & KARLA ARGUELLO, VANESSA & MELANIE ALENIER, and DON JOHNSTON & JORGE DIAZ were among
the couples to marry in Florida.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EQUALITY FLORIDA

this moment with the brave plainti couples

who plan on getting married today.
Shannon Minter, legal director for the
National Center for Lesbian Rights, help
represent the couples in their lawsuit
and called the judges decision a pivotal
moment not just for Miami but for the
entire country. In the same week as
the legalization of same-sex marriage in
Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court and the
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals were
set to consider lawsuits seeking marriage
equality in other states.
This is an incredibly important week
for marriage equality, and we are so
thrilled that Miami couples are leading
the charge, Minter added.
Tony Lima, executive director of the South
Florida-based LGBT group SAVE, witnessed
the court hearing towards the end when
Zabel announced she would lift her stay.
It was just an incredible scene to be
there with the Miami-Dade County plaintis
relishing in their joy and their victory, Lima
said. As a plainti in the federal case and as
a resident in Miami-Dade County, for me, it
was two-fold because Im very excited that
Miami-Dade County was the rst of Florida
counties to oer marriages.
Lima attributed the success of the
marriage-equality litigation to the close
interaction of LGBT advocates moving
it forward.
I know that the legal team from the
federal case was consulting from the
Miami-Dade County case, the Monroe
case and the Broward case, Lima said. I
was part of the conversation with each of
these teams where people would share
information. I think the unication in
approaching this as a unied front is what
led to marriage equality becoming reality
in a short 18 months.
Same-sex couples were able to begin
marrying in Florida after a long, winding
path of litigation. Hinkle ruled against
Floridas marriage ban in August, but
stayed his decision until 91 days passed
after the appeals were complete in
lawsuits seeking marriage equality in
other states. When the Supreme Court

unexpectedly declined to review rulings

in favor of marriage equality in October,
that positioned Florida to become a
marriage-equality state after Jan. 5.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi,
a Republican whos been defending the
marriage ban in court, attempted to
secure an extended stay on the decision
as the litigation proceeded on appeal, but
the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
and the Supreme Court rebued her
request to halt the weddings.
Still, clerks expressed uncertainty over
whether Hinkles ruling applied to the
entire state, or just thecounty, where the
lawsuit was led.The state association of
court clerks interpreted the order to apply
only to Washington County Clerk Lora
Bell, who led an emergency request for
clarication on whether the ruling applied
to more than just the plaintis in her case.
After Bondi led a legal brief saying the
court may wish to clarify the ruling, Hinkle
issued an order saying all Florida clerks
are able under the U.S. Constitution to
distribute marriage licenses to same-sex
couples and may face legal challenges and
penalties if they dont in eectclearing
the way for same-sex weddings to begin
across the state.
Whitney Ray, a Bondi spokesperson,
was quoted as saying no decision was
made on whether the state will continue
its appeal before the 11th Circuit.
Considering Bondi was previously full
speed ahead with defense of the law, that
comment raises questions about whether
a drop in the appeal is in the works.
The judge has ruled, and we wish
these couples the best, Ray was quoted
as saying.
Those opposed to marriage equality
in Florida arent giving up their ght.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, a
total of 14 counties in Florida have opted
out entirely of marrying couples gay or
straight in the aftermath of the ruling
against Floridas marriage ban.
Several clerks, including Okaloosa
Countys J.D. Peacock II, pointed to
Hinkles decision as playing a major role in

the change in policy, the Times reported.

I do not want to have members of our team
put in a situation which presents a conict
between their personal religious beliefs and
the implementation of a contentious societal
philosophy change, Peacock reportedly
wrote in a memo to his sta.
Opposition didnt stop supporters
of marriage equality from celebrating
the occasion. The nations largest LGBT
group, the Human Rights Campaign,
issued a statement saying that with the
legalization of same-sex marriage in
Florida, more than216 million Americans
or 70 percent of the country nowlive
in a statewith marriage equality.
The overwhelming tidal wave of court
rulings over the last year has put America
on the cusp of nationwide marriage
equality, Warbelow said. Committed and
loving gay and lesbian couples in Florida
are just as deserving of marriagerightsas
anyone else. Its time government ocials
such as Attorney General Bondi and
individuals like her across the country stop
ghting to uphold discrimination. As long
as shameful marriage bans stay in place,
real people and real families are harmed.
Steve Kornell, whos gay and a member
of the City Council in St. Petersburg,
told the Washington Blade its exciting
marriage equality has come to Florida,
which he thinks happened quickly after
the state passed its ban on gay nuptials.
I know a lot of people will laugh at
that, but when the amendment passed
in 2008, I dont think anybody thought six
years later wed be having marriage
and yet, we do, Kornell said.
But Kornell cautioned the LGBT
community not to think the ght is won in
Florida because many issues other than
marriage persist in the state.
We have a lot of kids that are still
suering, we dont have a statewide nondiscrimination law, so theres still some
work to do, Kornell said. I just dont want
everybody to drop out now and feel like
marriage is done, so everything is done.
At the same time, we can have a week of
celebration before we worry about that.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

1 0 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2015

I N T E RN A T I O N A L N E W S

Trans woman elected mayor of Indian city

A sign inside El MarraKech, a gay

bar in Mexico City, reads it does
not discriminate based on sexual
orientation, race, physical ability,
socioeconomic status or
any other reason.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Its okay to be gay in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY The crowd at Marrakech Salon, a popular gay bar in the heart of the Mexican capital, was
boisterous on the night before Halloween as people danced to Gloria Estefan and other Spanish language
pop stars. Many of these revelers eventually made their way to La Pursima, another bar across the street on
Avenida de Repblica de Cuba.
Inexpensive beers and margaritas were on tap on this cool fall evening as LGBT advocates from Mexico,
the U.S., Cuba, Algeria and other countries who were attending the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans
Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference danced. Hundreds of other patrons packed the crowded dance
oor alongside them.
One of the better things about living here is being in the big city, Eli Nassau of Guimel, an LGBT Jewish
group in Mexico City, told the Washington Blade during an Oct. 28 interview at a caf in the citys Roma
neighborhood. Like every other big city like New York or like Los Angeles, you have all sorts of people and
theres so much diversity, which makes it okay to be gay here in the city.
Mexico City remains a refuge for many LGBT Mexicans.
Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in the Mexican capital since 2010.
The Mexican capital in November became the rst city in Latin America to allow transgender people to
legally change their gender without a court order.
Mexico Citys comprehensive anti-discrimination law includes gender identity and expression and
designates trans phobia as a form of discrimination. Those convicted under the statute face up to three years
in prison.
The Mexico City Council to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination known by its Spanish acronym COPRED
enforces the anti-discrimination law and seeks to build support for the citys LGBT residents through public
education campaigns and other initiatives. It also operates a clinic for trans people and those with HIV/AIDS.
Mexico Citys subway system during the ILGA World Conference printed fare tickers with the groups logo
printed on them.
Large signs highlighting the Mexican capitals anti-discrimination law are prominently featured in many
restaurants, bars and other businesses. Young same-sex couples holding hands and even kissing along
Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, one of Mexico Citys main thoroughfares, is not an uncommon sight.
There is equal treatment when we pay attention to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender,
transvestite and intersex population, Adriana Contreras Vera of Mexico Citys Secretariat of Social Development
told the Blade during an Oct. 30 interview at the hotel where the ILGA World Conference took place.
ILGA Co-Secretary General Gloria Careaga Prez noted Mexico Citys pro-LGBT laws and reputation are
among the reasons she said her organization chose to hold its biennial gathering in the Mexican capital.
This is an open city, a gay-friendly city, Careaga told the Blade.
A report from Letra S and other local advocacy groups based on local media reports found that 143 LGBT
people were murdered in Mexico City between 1995-2008. Activists also contend that police routinely subject
LGBT people to abuse while in custody.
More than 80 percent of respondents who took part in a 2013 COPRED survey said discrimination exists
among cross-dressers in Mexico City. Nearly three quarters of those who took part in the poll acknowledged
trans people face discrimination.
COPRED President Jacqueline LHoist Tapia told the Blade that poverty drives discrimination in the
Mexican capital. Nassau agreed, adding conservative religious attitudes and machismo continue to prove
barriers to LGBT people in Mexico City and elsewhere in the country.
Even though we have laws protecting (LGBT people,) the people in general are still a little behind. And
this is Mexico City, he said. In the rest of the country, theyre still celebrating whether gays should be able
to marry or whatever, so theyre farther behind. Society is catching up and getting rid of the ignorance,
misconceptions.
Mexicos anti-discrimination law includes sexual orientation, but not gender identity and expression.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Voters in an Indian city on Sunday elected a transgender

woman as their next mayor.
New Delhi Television reported that Madhu Kinnar, who
ran as an independent, defeated Mahaveer Guruji of the
Bharatiya Janata Party by 4,537 votes in the election that took
place in Raigarh in the state of Chhattisgarh in central India.
People have shown faith in me, said Madhu after her
election, according to New Delhi Television. I consider this
win as love and blessings of people for me. Ill put in my
best eorts to accomplish their dreams.
New Delhi Television reported that Kinnar is a Dalit that are
designated as untouchable under the Indian caste system.
Some observers and politicians have concluded Kinnar
won the election because anger over corruption within
the BJP that Prime Minister Narenda Modi leads prompted
voters to vote against Guruji. Advocates nevertheless
welcomed the results as a step forward for trans Indians.
Its a very good start in the beginning of the year for
the trans community, Simran Shaikh of the India HIV/AIDS
Alliance told the Washington Blade.
Neha Nambier, an LGBT rights advocate in Bangalore,
agreed.
Its quite a stride, she told the Blade.
Kinnars election comes nearly a year after the India
Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling that recognizes
trans people as a third gender.

Trial of men arrested at

Egyptian bathhouse resumes
The trial of 26 Egyptian men who were arrested at a
bathhouse last month resumed on Sunday.
The Associated Press reported some of the men who
face charges of debauchery and perversion covered
their faces with hoodies during the proceedings as they
stood in a small cage inside a Cairo courtroom. The
newswire further noted that two of the defendants wept
in front of journalists.
Lawyers representing the men who were arrested
during the Dec. 7 raid in Cairos Ramses neighborhood said
prosecutors have based their case on the testimony of one
police ocer. The Associated Press reported the attorneys
told the court that 21 of the defendants had undergone socalled anal tests to determine whether they are gay.
The raid took place a few weeks after eight men who
appeared in a gay marriage video on YouTube were
sentenced to three years in prison.
An Egyptian appeals court late last month reduced their
sentences, but advocates with whom the Blade has spoken
in recent weeks say the bathhouse raid is indicative of the
ongoing LGBT crackdown in the country.
We are truly feeling terrorized by our own government,
Ahmed, a 28-year-old Egyptian LGBT rights advocate, told
the Washington Blade after the raid. Most gays feel as
prisoners here, either because they want to leave but
cant due to the lack of job oers abroad, or because they
dont want to leave and fear being themselves and living a
normal healthy life where they can only focus on building
a career.
Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian-born journalist, told the
Blade that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government
has carried out several raids like this latest one, knowing
full well that its humiliation and dehumanization of those
men will be welcomed by many.
The regime also knows that its targeting of the LGBT
community is a welcome distraction from its political and
economic woes, said Eltahawy.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

B A LTI M O RE N E W S

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 1 1

No justice for Baltimore hate crime victim

Charges dropped
against suspect 2 years
after brutal attack
By STEVE CHARING
When Kenni Shaw was brutally attacked
by ve men on Christmas night two years
ago in East Baltimore, he assumed it was a
hate crime and that his attackers would be
brought to justice. But that didnt happen.
Police said the case did not meet the
burden of proof to justify it as a hate
crime, and the decision not to classify it as
such was made in consultation with the
states attorneys oce.
A lot of people say, Well, there wasnt
no words exchanged, so it cant be labeled
as a hate crime, Shaw, who is gay, told
the Baltimore Sun at the time. The way
I dress and look, I live a dierent lifestyle
and I was targeted as weak. Just because
there was no words exchanged doesnt
mean there was just an assault.
Shaw, then 30, was sucker-punched
from behind around 9 p.m. on Dec. 25,

2012, as he left a corner store in the Oliver

neighborhood at East Homan and North
Rose Streets. As the assailants kicked and
punched him, Shaw was bloodied and
sustained bruises to his face and body; his
eyes were swollen almost completely shut.
As bystanders began to gather at the
scene, the assailants ed. Shaw struggled
to get home and called his mother.
Neighbors contacted police who helped
transport him to Johns Hopkins Hospital
for treatment.
He recalled one of the attackers saying,
Youre lucky you dont have money
because we would have robbed you,
suggesting to Shaw that any robbery
would have been a secondary motive
not the primary purpose of the attack.
Indeed, nothing had been stolen. Shaw
asserts that the assault stemmed from
his being perceived as gay.
Just days after the attack, Shaw told the
Blade that seven months prior he heard a
man in the neighborhood commenting, I
dont want no faggots living on this block,
referring to Shaw, a cosmetologist who
had dyed his hair blond. He said that he
believed the attackers roll with the same

crew. Shaw, as well as others in the LGBT

community, maintain it was a hate crime
given his sexual orientation and that
there was no robbery.
Word of the attack sent a chill across
Baltimores LGBT community. The assault
received widespread coverage in the
mainstream and LGBT media and gained
the attention of newly appointed Baltimore
City Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.
A march on Jan. 5, 2013 was held in East
Baltimore, which ended at the liquor store
near the scene of the attack.
Police brass, including Batts, as well as
city ocials and community activists were
among the 50 who participated. Batts
addressed the crowd and announced
that the department would establish an
advisory board to meet regularly with
LGBT people, which it eventually did six
months later.
Not only did police and the states
attorneys oce decline to categorize
the assault as a hate crime, Marcus Troy
Evans, then 26, the only alleged attacker
who was arrested in connection with the
incident, was never punished though he
was charged with rst- and second-degree

assault. He was released the day of the

arrest after posting a $100,000 bond.
After a number of postponements,
the case was eventually dropped by the
prosecutor last April. At the hearing,
defense attorney Alan Cohen argued
that Shaws identication at the police
station of Evans was awed given his
condition during the attack and that
according to Shaw, Cohen claimed the
police steered him into identifying
Evans. Since there were no witnesses
to corroborate Shaws identication
and lacking other evidence, prosecutor
Jennifer Hastings employed a declaration
called nolle prosequi, thereby dropping
the charges against Evans.
Shaw, with scars remaining from
the assault, said tossing the case was
ludicrous. He insists his identication
of Evans was accurate and that he was
indeed the attacker. Im absolutely sure
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

12 J A N U A R Y 09, 2015

H E A LT H N E W S

Advocates push for blood donation study in U.K.

LONDON While controversy continues in the U.S. over blood donation
policies for gay men, the British government is considering a study that would
explore whether gay or bisexual men in monogamous, same-sex relationships
should still have to wait 12 months after having sex to donate blood, Pink News
reports.
In December, Conservative MP Michael Fabricant met with Public Health
Minister Jane Ellison and members of the countrys Scientic Advisory Committee
on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO).
In exchanges with Fabricant, a National Health Service hematologist called the
one-year-abstinence policy a bizarre compromise that is prejudicial, illogical
and reinforces a social stigma that has in other areas been reduced enormously.
At the meeting with the Minister and the SaBTO who advise the Blood
Transfusion Service, it became clear that their decisions are based on
understandable caution but lack authoritative data, Fabricant told Pink News.
No research has been done on the incidence of HIV or Hepatitis infection
amongst gay couples in a monogamous relationship. I am now calling on the
Department of Health to commission this research as a matter of urgency. It is
in the interests of recipients of blood as well as the need to prevent unwarranted
discrimination, as there is a shortage of donors, that this be undertaken without
further delay.
He also said research currently underway, reports from which are expected
in the spring, will be inadequate because they do not account for gay men in
monograms relationships, Pink News reports.
Last month in the U.S., the FDA moved to a 12-month deferral system similar
to those used in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland maintains a
permanent ban on MSM blood donation.

Trans provision in Oregon goes into effect

PORTLAND The Oregon Health Plan will add medical coverage for lowincome transgender people soon that will include gender reassignment surgery,
hormone therapy and puberty suppression, the Oregonian reports.
The state estimates that the utilization rate in the health plan will consist
of about 175 people in any 12-month period. The total cost of adding these
provisions is expected to be less than $150,000 annually, the article said.
Basic Rights Oregon will host a workshop later this month to discuss the
changes. Panelists will teach participants how to access covered services.
In August, the states Health Evidence Review Commission approved the
measures, just now being implemented.
Specic reasons cited for adding the newly covered treatments included
relieving gender dysphoria, reducing depression and anxiety and reducing rates
of suicide and suicide attempts and risky behavior such as intravenous drug
abuse, according to state records, the Oregonian reports.
The move follows a 2012 bulletin from the Oregon Insurance Division, which
forbade private insurers from including any categorical exclusions on the basis
of a policy holders gender identity. Complaints have continued, however, from
those saying they are still being denied covered for those conditions.

Suicide of trans teen draws ire

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. In the wake of the suicide of transgender teen Leelah
Alcorn, some LGBT activists are advocating for criminal charges against parents
who reject trans youth or tell them its just a phase, Take Part, a liberal news
site, reports.
Although some advocates such as attorney Shannan Wilber of the National
Center for Lesbian Rights, say a successful prosecution is unlikely, others,
such as columnist/author Dan Savage have said that if Tyler Clementis college
roommate can be prosecuted, the same should happen to Alcorns parents.
Studies have shown how parents react to gay or trans teens coming out can
have tremendous impact on the persons mental and physical health, Take
Part reports citing studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and other agencies. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality,
statistics show that 41 percent of transgender or gender non-conforming
respondents said theyve attempted suicide, according to a 2011 report.
If any legal action is taken in the aftermath of Alcorns death, it should be
against the real villains in these situations across the country, the religious
leaders and conversion therapists who prey on families in need of guidance,
Wilber told Take Part.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

C O A CH G

J A N U A R Y 09, 2015 13

The company we keep

Two tips to help you stay on
the tness wagon in 2015
All right, all right, we are smack
dab in the middle of resolution
season.
As always weight loss, health and
tness are all at the top of many
of our lists. A Twitter poll released
last week said that for another year
weight loss is the most Tweeted New
GERARD BURLEY is a D.C.-based personal
Years resolution.
trainer. Reach him via @CoachGFit or coachg@
coachgtness.com.
This is all ne and dandy, but as
we all know many of us had this
same resolution last year and the year before that and the year before that. So
what is the elusive key to sticking to your weight loss resolutions and becoming
successful? In my many years of working with people to stop their weight
uctuations and weight yo-yoing, I have two main focal points that I think are
many times overlooked in the battle against the bulge. Follow these mental
techniques and watch your waistline continue to shrink through the spring.
Surround yourself with healthy people. Theres a reason Oprah is friends
with Julia Roberts, the Obamas, Bill Gates and Warren Buet, because you are
who you surround yourself with.
Just as this principle works in the land of business, it is equally important when
it comes to health and tness. So many times I see people trying very hard to
make big strides toward eating healthier, working out more consistently and
thinking more positively, but only to stay around the friends and family who
helped to get them into their current state.
No tea no shade, but your fat friends are not going to help you do anything
but stay fat. If an alcoholic only hung around his or her alcoholic friends while
trying to get sober, we would all realize its not the right environment. Same
holds true for changing your health.
I suggest nding new friends who are t, healthy and have achieved some of
the goals that you would like to achieve. Having a support system really helps
change your mindset of what is the norm. If all your friends work out ve times a
week and eat lots of veggies then guess what, that gradually becomes your new
norm. Lets face it losing weight and getting t is hard for everyone, so you
dont need any extra temptations or bad energy around you. If your partner is
your partner in crime, but not your partner in health, thats what Coach G calls a
toxic relationship. They need to get on the program or get out. Love wants you
to be the best and healthiest you that you can be. Some say you are what you
eat, but I say you are whose company you keep.
Focusing on the little things. I want to lose 30 pounds. I want to t in my
skinny jeans. I want to run a 5k.
These are great goals, but they are all many steps down the road from where
many of us are starting out. Sometimes looking that far down the road can cause
people to feel frustrated when the goals arent achieved when they thought they
would be. This will clearly be evident six weeks from now in early February when
most people will have fallen o the wagon.
People who see progress stay committed. Instead of the last approach, I have
had great success with getting my clients to live by this motto: If you take care
of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves. Focusing on losing
10 pounds or even losing one pound can feel like a big task, but focusing on
eating vegetables with two meals a day or getting in three cardio sessions a
week can feel more doable.
I usually get the response, Oh I can do that, once I break down the small
changes that I want them to focus on for their ultimate success. At the end of
the day, success in weight loss, health and tness is like success in other aspects
of life; its the culmination of doing the small things right. Staying focused and
staying consistent on the smaller pieces of the puzzle can go a long way to
allowing you to stay on track to accomplishing your goal.
Losing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle can be one of the hardest, but
most rewarding, challenges that anyone can undertake. Though the task can
be daunting at times, remember that by surrounding yourself with like-minded
friends and keeping your focus on the smaller parts of the goal, your success
is right around the corner. And if all else fails, hire someone to help you stay
accountable. A nancial tness commitment can do wonders, I know!

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

1 4 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2015

OU R B U S IN E S S MA T T E RS

Bowser, Council face

tough choices ahead
Will declining revenues bring a
restrained era in D.C. politics?

MARK LEE is a long-time entrepreneur

and community business advocate. Follow
on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at
OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.

The most illuminating line in Muriel

Bowsers inauguration speech last Friday
when she was sworn in as the Districts
seventh mayor elected in the four-decade
Home Rule era, and the third in only eight
years, was a simple one.
Im not a pie in the sky politician,
Bowser declared.
While such a self-portrayal would be
well received in much of the rest of the
country, it was a bold assertion to make
in a city long steeped in the art of rhetorical excess and easily seduced by the notion of growing government undertaking

big interventions.
She oered this instead: I will have
grand expectations, and I expect you will
too, like winning the Olympics for Washington, D.C., in 2024. I will have simple
ones too: clear the snow, pick up the trash,
pave the streets, synchronize the lights.
You could almost hear the scraping of
enamel from the friction caused by the
grating teeth of local leftist political types
longing for the predictable pander of a
trendy litany of progressive policy prescriptions.
A dose of reality is called for under the
circumstances currently confronting the
city. As Bowser noted later in her address,
On Day 1, I face a quarter-billion-dollar
budget decit when we walk in the door
that will force us to make tough choices
about our priorities.
In other words, D.C. government
spending must be reduced in response to
revenue receipts less than anticipated. Its
time to make the hard choices.
The looming multi-year decit is largely
due to a steep drop in trac nes that
city leaders predicted would soar to outlandish levels with expansion of speedcatching street camera proliferation. Add
to that a sharply declining rate of popu-

EDITORIAL CARTOON

lation growth that has fallen below even

downwardly revised recent projections.
Plus, the city is near its borrowing cap,
restricting new capital investments, and
the cash that has been stashed away in
reserve is necessary for maintaining a
recently improved credit rating repaired
from the folly of past budgetary excesses.
In addition, the growth and output of
the Districts economy has restricted to a
point of recession. Underneath a glossy
external image and the glassy new developments is declining private sector
productivity now on an inverse trajectory
with the jurisdictions previously envious
of the citys unique economic performance during tough times elsewhere.
In addition, as D.C. Council Chair Phil
Mendelson reminded those assembled
at the top of his remarks when he was
sworn in for another term, city ocials
have pledged a meager measure of long
overdue tax relief from the extraordinary
levies assessed on both residents and
businesses. These promised tax cuts,
which no sensible politician will shirk
from conveying, have a corresponding
modest impact on the governments budget in coming scal years.
The truth is that the D.C. government
has got to learn to live with less and get a
lot smarter about how it spends the discretionary portion of what it collects.
Those hoping that a more radically activist Council will do battle with a more
moderate and measured mayor may
soon be sorely disappointed. Not only will
a non-adversarial relationship between
executive and legislature be required to
navigate the citys nancial challenges,
Council members seem keenly aware of
the dilemma they face.
Politicians dont produce prosperity. An
intelligent citizenry passionate about a
robust economic environment and sensitive to the shared success of all will not
long countenance continued disdain and
disrespect for those who actually enable
those outcomes.
The question then becomes this: Will
Muriel Bowser break out of the box of a
typically cautious posture exhibited during her relatively brief seven-year tenure
as a D.C. Council ward representative to
lead the government in navigating these
objectives? Will she prove eective in
lessening the obstacles that restrict and
constrain the contribution of business
leaders and the private sector in achieving these goals?
With any luck, thats the fresh start
Mayor Bowser has in mind.

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CO MM UNI K A TE

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 1 5

Trolling for comic material in 2014s headlines

From de Blasio to torture, a
torrent of bad news

KATE CLINTON is a humorist who has

entertained LGBT audiences for 30 years. Her
monthly column appears exclusively in the
Blade. Reach her via kateclinton.com.

My grammar school, Sts. Peter and

Paul, had a yearly, school-wide Christmas
talent pageant. Everyone was crazy for
it. In second grade I brought down the
house with my lip-synced interpretation
of Im Gettin Nuttin for Christmas. I
outshirleyed Miss Temple. The lip-syncing
should have been my rst gay clue.
I had rehearsed for months. When I
nailed the line, I put a tack on teachers
chair; somebody snitched on me, I saw

the curvaceous, raven-haired, fourth

grade teacher, Miss Como laugh so hard
she slid o her chair. The juicy pleasure
of bringing the Gina Lollobrigida of lay
teachers to her knees reinforced for me
the necessity of meticulous preparation
for performance.
Even now Miss Como is my coach and
muse when I have January downtime to
write a new show. She helps me guard my
writing time from bouts of SORD, what
my dear wi- hotspot calls SeasonalO-Road-Disorder. After a few weeks of
not performing, I get a little jiggy and/or
whiney.
Then if Im not careful, I expend precious creative energy in random pop-up
performances for unsuspecting delivery
people, Bob Newhartish conversations
with automated phone voices and interviews of small children in woolen dinosaur hats. My dear galpal rolls her eyes
when I do that hysterical thing with the
retractable vacuum cord. Again.
The image of Miss Como pitching and
rolling to the oor keeps me focused on
the task at hand. She is my taskmaster,

my Miss January Dominatrix and this

January, I am writing for my 2015 show:
Hello, Katey! A One Woman Pussy Riot.
Id rather be trying to get the grumpy Fairway cashier to laugh at me and the bit Im
doing with the gnarly claw of ginger.
Its not for lack of material. I can hardly keep up with LGBT news. When I rst
started performing, if something gay happened in the news, I could talk about it
for ve years. Lily Tomlin wore purple.
Discuss. Now two or three states pass
marriage equality rulings in the time it
takes me to y cross-country and that
night after a Seattle show someone tells
me theyre surprised and disappointed I
didnt mention the historic news.
As a recovering Catholic it would be
easy-peasy to do a whole show on Pope
Francis. In his Christmas message to
the Vatican Curia, he did a Top 15 List
of Ailments of the Curia. They were not
amused to be called on their terrorism of
gossip and the spiritual Alzheimers of
forgetting why they became priests. In our
house, we pray the Pope has a food-taster.
But after the LGBT and papal news,

its all downhill. In my business, whats

bad for us is good for me and currently
its meta-bad. So Miss Como has to ride
my ass to look at NYC police turning their
backs on Bill de Blasio. Its a short step
from treating a tall, white mayor with
such insubordinate disrespect, to shooting to kill young black men. Next stop:
the torture report.
Speaking of Guantanano and Cuba,
Miss Como got out the riding crop to spur
me on to write about the hypocrisy of Joyboy Marco Rubio touting the spread of
free-market capitalist democracy in the
world, except of course in Cuba, where it
wont work.
Currently Miss C is yanking my chain
to make a hysterical connection between colonialism and man-spreading,
the problem of men and boys sitting so
spread-legged on public transportation
they occupy two or three seats.
Miss Como, I would much rather be
waiting for a light on the corner of 70th
and Broadway, crouched down, informing an old ladys older dog that Pope Francis said dogs are allowed in heaven.

V I E WPO I NT

2014 was best and worst of times

Year brought trans tipping
point but tragedy in Ferguson

KATHI WOLFE is a writer, poet and regular

contributor to the Blade. She can be reached
through this publication.

I wish you would make up your mind,

Mr. Dickens, an editor says to Charles
Dickens in an iconic New Yorker cartoon,
Was it the best of times or was it the
worst of times?
Last year was the best and the worst of
times.
Writing this, I hear on the news that
same-sex marriage is now legal in Florida,
our countrys third largest state. A couple
that has been together for 40 years talks
about being able, nally, to marry. Now,
same-sex couples can marry in 36 states,
plus Washington, D.C.
President
Obama signed an executive order prohib-

iting federal contractors from engaging in

discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Last year proved once again that coming out still matters in our culture where
homophobia is all too alive and well. Apple CEO Tim Cook became the rst Fortune 500 CEO to come out. Youd have
had to be made of stone not to have been
inspired when Cook said, Im proud to be
gay, and I consider being gay among the
greatest gifts God has given me.
I know nothing about football, but I was
among the many in 2014 who were thrilled
when Michael Sam became the rst openly gay player to be drafted by the National
Football League. A kiss may, as the song
says, be just a kiss. But it was a lot more
than that when Sam kissed his boyfriend
to celebrate his having been drafted by
the St. Louis Rams. The Rams later cut him,
but the kiss will live on forever.
Kudos to Orange is the New Black star
Laverne Cox! It takes a star to make the cover of Time magazine. As Times caption said,
it was The Transgender Tipping Point.
Props to Pope Francis. An institution
like the Catholic Church wont quickly or
easily change its attitudes toward LGBT
people. Yet, the Pope has (partly) opened

the churchs long-closed windows (toward

acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people).
Unfortunately, there was much to
decry in 2014. Who among us will ever
forget Ferguson and the police killings
of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and John
Crawford III and the failure of grand juries to indict the police involved in these
shootings? Like many of us, Im appalled
by these shootings, and I hope that Im
not racist. Yet, an article in the January/
February issue of Mother Jones tells how
research shows that most of us have racial biases that we cannot consciously
control. More than half (51 percent) of
those who take the Implicit Association
Test, an online test that measures unconscious racial prejudices, show moderate
to strong bias, the magazine reports.
Racism is still entrenched in the culture
at large and in the LGBT community. Yet,
theres a glimmer of hope. Research suggests that once we understand the psychological pathways that lead to prejudice, we just might be able to train our
brains to go in the opposite direction,
writes Chris Mooney, author of the Mother Jones piece.
If I could get everyone to read one
book, it would be Charles M. Blows

memoir Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Blow

writes of growing up, black and dirt-poor
in rural Louisiana. Political issues of race,
poverty and sexuality become engagingly
personal in his work.
As the Blade reported in its yearlong
series, poverty is a searing reality for
many from youth to elders in the LGBT
community.
LGBT people still have no federal protection against employment discrimination. We can be red just for being queer
in 29 states.
Creative artists from actors to poets
make art no matter what the year. Highlights from 2014 for me included seeing
the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington,
D.C.s production of Noel Cowards Private
Lives; interviewing poet Venus Thrash for
the Blade; and watching Lily Tomlin receive
a Kennedy Center Honor on TV.
Its tempting, with all the bad news, to
give in to despair. But, in the spirit of the
New Year, lets do what we can. Some
ideas: Volunteer with Food and Friends,
donate to Dierent Drummers, or support Split This Rock the D.C. organization that fosters a national network of
socially engaged poets.
Heres to a better 2015!

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

1 6 J A N UA RY 0 9 , 2015

I N SI D E LG BT W A SH I N G T O N

Death of a liberal icon

Mario Cuomos values and
message resonate today

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

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

Mario Cuomo will be remembered as the

liberal lion of the 80s and 90s. His speech at
the Democratic National Convention in 1984,
A Tale of Two Cities, cemented that legacy.
He fought for the common man. Interestingly
he came to prominence in New York ghting
for people in Queens and in his losing race to
Ed Koch for mayor in 1977 was seen by many
as the more conservative candidate.
I rst met Cuomo and his then teenage
son Andrew during that campaign. In my only
mention on the front page, above-the-fold in
the New York Times, a Sept. 17, 1977 column
by Fred Ferretti said, It was learned that Ms.
Abzugs campaign sta had moved virtually en
masse to the Cuomo headquarters on Times

Square. Those who moved included Peter

Rosenstein, Mrs. Abzugs Deputy Campaign
Manager, now Cuomos director of eld operations and other members of the Abzug
inner circle Maggie Peyton, Harold Holzer
and Kenneth Sunshine. That happened immediately after Bella lost her primary race for
mayor and the run-o was between Cuomo
and Koch. It happened before Bella ocially
endorsed Cuomo and she wasnt happy.
Then came the dance when she did endorse over who would get to the press conference rst, Bella or Mario. The endorsement
nearly fell apart over that. Those of us moving
to the Cuomo team were to work in two losing
elections in quick succession. That was the last
time my name ever got mentioned above that
of my good friend Harold Holzer, the distinguished Lincoln scholar, who was to become
a condant of Cuomo, or Kenneth Sunshine
who was to form a world-renowned public
relations rm and is still a condant of politicians, including current New York City Mayor
Bill de Blasio.
Cuomo ran and lost in 1974 for lieutenant
governor on a ticket with Howard Samuels.
When he lost the mayors race, his mother
Immaculata Cuomo was widely reported as
saying Mario dont you ever win nothin? But
he did go on to win and served three terms as

governor of New York and twice was the leading Democrat being asked to run for president. Each time he decided at the last minute
not to run, which earned him the title Hamlet
on the Hudson. Cuomo is known for the saying Politicians campaign in poetry and govern
in prose something New Yorks current
mayor is now learning.
Two things remembered from that 1977
campaign are that Cuomos stand against the
death penalty hurt him and those placards
that appeared in the conservative areas of the
city saying: Vote for Cuomo, not the homo
in reference to rumors about Kochs sexuality. Cuomo denied responsibility for them but
it was always apparent someone associated
with the campaign was responsible.
Cuomo himself moved beyond that and
with changing circumstances it was his stand
against the death penalty that helped him
beat Koch for governor in 1982. His son Andrew is now the governor and it was with his
strong support that marriage equality became
law in New York State. In politics, nothing stays
the same and people change.
It would be very dicult today in most districts across the nation for a politician to stand
on the progressive platform that Mario Cuomo
enunciated and win. I was reminded in a Facebook post from my friend Joel Lawson of a

great quote from a speech Cuomo gave in 1984

at the University of Notre Dame titled Religious
Belief and Public Morality: A Catholic Governors
Perspective, in which he said, I protect my
right to be a Catholic by preserving your right to
believe as a Jew, a Protestant, or non-believer,
or as anything else you choose. We know that
the price of seeking to force our beliefs on others is that they might someday force theirs on
us. This freedom is the fundamental strength of
our unique experiment in government.
The values derived from religious belief will
not and should not be accepted as part
of the public morality unless they are shared
by the pluralistic community at large, by consensus. That those values happen to be religious values does not deny them acceptability
as a part of this consensus. But it does not require their acceptability, either.
It seems the era in which one could say
those things and win is past. Today we have
politicians who campaign on having their religious beliefs enshrined in law and who quote
the Bible when trying to stop marriage equality. There is a culture of conveniently forgetting
how our Founding Fathers fought to ensure
the separation of church and state. I would
like to think that sooner rather than later our
nation will one day advance to a state in which
a Mario Cuomo could be elected president.
VIEWPOINT

Putting it together in 2015

Like America, the LGBT
community continues to
create itself

RICHARD J. ROSENDALL is a writer and activist.

Reach him at rrosendall@starpower.net.

As we look to the year ahead, notice the concentration of enlarged egos among the political
class. If you could bottle and sell their high opinion of themselves, you could be like the stereotypical occupant of a safe civil service job and
never work another day in your life.
In our blinding brilliance, we sometimes
size people up too quickly, like people in Hawthornes The House of the Seven Gables who
interpreted Hepzibah Pyncheons scowl as an
expression of bitter anger and ill-will. In fact
(or rather ction), her scowl was the innocent
result of her near-sightedness. The author as-

sures us that Hepzibahs heart never frowned.

It was naturally tender. This inspired me as
a young man to treat the scowls I encountered
in my activism as expressions of tender-heartedness; I have been bathed in aection ever
since. Being a change agent requires a thick
skin and a willingness to see potential allies in
unlikely places.
This year promises continued ghts against
right-wing aggressions that include vagina policing and other gender-based discrimination;
attacks on church-state separation; xenophobia; quackery disguised as science; biased proling and excessive force by police; and criminalization of healthcare issues.
None of these will be resolved by the likely
nationwide victory for marriage equality in the
U.S. Supreme Court. Thus, in the words of Ella
Baker, We who believe in freedom cannot
rest. Here are some thoughts for the work
ahead.
Curb the language cops. We will win the
marriage ght even if some use the misleading phrase gay marriage. If people who are
not belligerent use the wrong pronouns or
otherwise display their ignorance, be like my
amazingly patient transgender friends and
politely clue them in. Creating change requires
the politics of addition; we must always seek

new ways to connect with people.

Angry declarations are no strategy. Patronizing potential allies and demanding adherence
to your standards do not advance the conversation but undermine it. Any coalition that is
not an echo chamber will include people who
disagree on some things or otherwise piss
you o. Progress requires dicult conversations; but haranguing the choir cannot change
the minds or hearts of those who dont show
up. Alliances are not zero-sum games where
someone has to win and someone has to lose.
True respect is reciprocal and is strengthened
over time. There are no shortcuts: We have to
do our homework and make our case.
Look for the helpers, as Fred Rogers used
to tell children in crisis. It is more productive to
judge people not by appearance or aliation
but by statements and actions. There is none
among us who doesnt need to listen. We learn
to our benet that it is not always about us.
The suicide of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn reminds us that violence includes mental abuse, and our help is needed to stop it.
On her Tumblr blog, Alcorn exhorted us to
combat trans suicides and their causes. Early
responses have included a renewed focus on
helplines and on eorts to ban conversion
therapy for minors, as the D.C. Council did in

December.
We dont have to be the same to give each
other credit and respect. We dont have to be
bossy to teach. Our dierences challenge us,
but also enrich us. The greatest gift I received
in 2014 was getting to know some persecuted LGBT Ugandans. One of them, nding no
organizational support, assembled his own
underground railroad that included me and
a lesbian couple in Germany. We are awed by
his courage, resilience and grace.
No one can support every worthy cause or
perform every needed task. We need one another. As with our forebears in earlier movements, this leads to conict and control issues.
We wrestle amid unmet needs, unnecessary
suering, structural injustices, violence, fomenting of intolerance, coercion and blindness
to privilege. We struggle together step by step.
Local activists in my hometown of D.C.
face a new mayor, our rst elected attorney
general, ve new D.C. Council members out
of 13, new committee chairs, new sta and
new agency heads. As usual, relationships are
everything. That means approaching new ocials and sta like any good advocate: You are
there to help.
Copyright 2015 by Richard J. Rosendall.
All rights reserved.

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

VISIT US AT CFA.GMU.EDU

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 AT 8 P.M.
A tale of shipwrecks, magic, vengeance, and forgiveness, The
Tempest is widely considered to be one of Shakespeares finest:
his ultimate commentary on life and art. Some scholars think it
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 AT 8 P.M.
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Walnut Street Theatre

A Life in the Theatre
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 AT 8 P.M.
This hilarious work about two actors competing for the spotlight
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mentor and his apprentice. Mr. Mamet has written in gentle
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a love letter to the theater. It is quite a feat, and he has pulled it
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Please note: This performance includes mature language.
$44, $37, $26

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WWS2015Ads_Blade_9.75x5.625_Press.qxp_Layout 1 12/16/14 11:57 PM Page 1

PORTS OF
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Thursday, January 8
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Friday, January 9
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Saturday, January 1o
Appraisals Lecture
Saturday Soire

The Katzen Arts Center at American University

44oo Massachusetts Avenue, nw
Washington, dc

january 911, 2015

45 outstanding dealers guided walks
and dealer talks special events

the 2015 washington winter show benefits

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bishop john t. walker school for boys, thearc, and
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eugene boudin, yacht basin at trouville-deauville (detail), ca. 1895/1896,

courtesy national gallery of art, washington

For tickets & info: washingtonwintershow.org or 2o2.248.7159

ARTS

AND

ENTERTAINMENT

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

VOLUME

46

ISSUE

02

JANUARY

09

2015

PAGE

25

From left are FRANKIE J. ALVAREZ, JONATHAN GROFF and MURRAY BARTLETT, the leads of Looking. The show returns for a second season Sunday night.
PHOTO BY RICHARD FOREMAN; COURTESY OF HBO

Jonathan Gro on
second season of
HBOs hit gay dramedy
By KEITH LORIA
Fans of HBOs Looking were left in a tizzy
when its rst season ended with Patrick
(Jonathan Gro) torn between two lovers
earnest boyfriend Richie (Ral Castillo) and
his hunky boss Kevin (Russell Tovey).
The last episode of the season found
Patrick having sex with Kevin and then
later holding back tears when Richie
asserts his being nearly in love with
him, the guilt obviously weighing on his
conscious. The show ends with Patrick,
alone, lying in bed watching a Golden
Girls rerun as the show fades to black.
I knew the broad strokes going in
before they even started writing it
that there was going to be a relationship
with the boss and a big love triangle
happening, so I knew it was coming down
the pike but wasnt quite sure when or
how it was going to happen, Gro says.
I think no one could really prepare for
how charming and attractive those actors
were in those parts.

Gro also credits the writers for

bringing to life real and full characters,
which allowed the audience to have a
rooting interest on both sides.
To me, the love triangle worked so well
because theyre both really appealing,
the gay actor says. Relationships arent
simple and I think that was captured very
well with what happened to these guys.
When the shows second season
premieres on Sunday at 10 p.m., the
show will pick up where the dramatic
clihanger left o and continue following
the trials and tribulations of three gay
men living in modern-day San Francisco.
Im excited about the season ahead,
Gro says. Ral and Russell are both
coming on the show as series regulars and
Im interested to see how it all plays out.
Without giving away any major plot
points, Gro does say hes looking
forward to spending more screen time
with Frankie Alvarez and Murray Bartlett
(Agustin and Dom), as one of his favorite
things is having the friends together.
Im also looking forward to working
more with Julia Duy, who plays my
mother on the show. I really want to
explore that mother/son dynamic more,
he says. My brother and I were big fans
of Newhart, so I knew Julias work really

well. Shes engaging and awesome and

we hit it o immediately.
One of his favorite scenes from season
one was when Patrick and Dana meet up
at a wedding.
She came in like a rock star and she
blew us all away, Gro says. We had
such a great rapport in that scene and we
talked a lot about personal experiences
and worked hard to get it just right.
As for his lover of choice in the new
season, asking Gro to choose a side is
akin to the tough decision that Patrick
himself has to make.
Its hard to say because I feel the Kevin
story is great, but hes also cheating on his
boyfriend to be with Patrick so that makes
me mistrustful of him, Gro says. Richie
is such an angel, so I feel in a lot of ways
Patrick isnt ready for that yet. Patrick has
a lot of maturing and growing up to do
before he can properly take that in.
Gro was attracted to the Michael Lannan
project initially because of the involvement
of director Andre Haigh, who also wrote ve
of season ones rst eight episodes.
He did a movie called Weekend that
I was blown away by, Gro says. Its
a gay story but it felt so universal and
so specic at the same time. I really
related to it and when I found out he was

helming Looking, I was completely in.

Plus, working with HBO on location in San
Francisco was sort of a no-brainer.
Early response to Looking wasnt
great, but critical acclaim and fan interest
picked up as the show went along.
Its hard with expectations when
theres so much buildup and a lot of
talking about the show before it ever
aired, and so I think what helped
was a combination of people sort of
understanding the tone and what the
stories were and getting invested in the
characters, Gro says. The actors and
writers all sort of found their footing
together about half way through and Im
just thrilled the audience kept growing
week to week, which is huge.
With viewership leveling o around 2
million at seasons end, HBO was happy
to bring it back.
In the season ahead, some of the
shows characters will nd new romantic
entanglements, while Patrick will still be
dealing with the awkwardness lingering
fromhis actions in the rst season.
We have some great things ahead,
Gro says. I think theres plenty to keep
fans interested and the shows really
found its footing. Theres going to be a lot
to talk about.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

2 6 J A N UA RY 0 9 , 2015

Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R RO BE RT J . P RI O RE

How long have you been out and who was

the hardest person to tell?
Ive been out since college. I think
every time youre willing to expose your
individuality its dicult, but I was lucky
to have a very supportive family and very
fortunate that it was an easy process for me.
Whos your LGBT hero?
RuPaul is really opening the door for
the people of the LGBT community and he
is such in an inspiration. He proves that it
doesnt matter what lifestyle you live, the
most important thing is that you have to love
yourself.

Whats Washingtons best nightspot, past

or present?
Nellies will always be the best spot in D.C. I
go there with my friends all the time.
Describe your dream wedding.
Marrying the one person I love surrounded
by the people who love and support me. It
would be amazing to have the wedding on
a tropical beach, but what matters is being
surrounded by the people I love.

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
joeyd@washblade.com
Its a big weekend for Robert J. Priore, a dancer/choreographer whos
possessed, its been said, of an easily identiable and magnetic style.
This weekend, his piece Ascendance, a work featuring CityDance
Conservatory students, CityDance alumni and dancers from several other
companies, will be performed at the CityDance Studio Theater at the
Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.) Saturday at 8 p.m.
and Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $25. Visit citydance.net for more
information.
Priore, a 28-year-old Bualo, N.Y., native, came to Washington four-and-ahalf years ago after stints in New York City; Dayton, Ohio; and Pittsburgh. He
credits his arrival with a need for a change and a great job!
Priore is single and lives in the Chinatown/Metro Center area. He enjoys
cooking, baking, hiking, yoga and biking in his free time.

What non-LGBT issue are you most

passionate about?
I am passionate about art education and
art funding. I think art education is important
because dance and the arts get youth excited
about going to school.
What historical outcome would you
change?
I would go back and make sure that
President Abraham Lincoln wasnt
assassinated because he was a visionary
for his time and I feel like he really thought
outside the box.
Whats been the most memorable pop
culture moment of your lifetime?
The day that Michael Jackson died because
he was such an inspiration to dancers and
myself. He was a legend at such a young age
and I remember thinking, Who I am going to
look up to now?
On what do you insist?
To always be surrounded by the people I
love. My friends and family mean everything
to me and without them I would not be
where I am today.
What was your last Facebook post or
Tweet?
Wow thank you everyone for the birthday
love! 28 is going to be my year. It starts next
weekend with my Onstage Ignite artist show
for CityDance at the CityDance Studio Theater
at Strathmore.
If your life were a book, what would the
title be?
We all know Eat, Pray, Love what about
Dance, Gay, Love?

202.747.2077

If science discovered a way to change

sexual orientation, what would you do?

Nothing
What do you believe in beyond the
physical world?
The sense of reincarnation and connection.
I feel like thats why you nd people you are
so drawn to without explanation.
Whats your advice for LGBT movement
leaders?
We need to nd more unity. A lot of times
there is separation against each other, but we
are all ghting for the same cause.
What would you walk across hot coals
for?
For a lot of things. Hot coals really dont
scare me and there are a lot of things in my
life I wouldnt mind getting a little burned for.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
Masc4masc. Some men really dene their
preference by how masculine someone is
and dene masculinity by what you do for
a living or how you look on the exterior. Just
because you are an artist or if you look a
certain way does not mean that you are not
masculine.
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
Im not sure it actually qualies, but Mean
Girls will always be my No. 1 guilty pleasure.
There was a gay character in the lm, and
lets face it sometimes gay men can be mean
girls, but that movie was very relevant to me
when I was growing up.
Whats the most overrated social custom?
Twitter. We already have Facebook. I dont
think its necessary to share your emotions
every ve minutes online. We are losing the
art of face-to-face communication.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
Up to this point its winning the Viewers
Choice Award for the Dance Gallery Festival
at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York.
Next year I am commissioned to come back
and present a larger work for a more select
concert.
What do you wish youd known at 18?
I wish I had known that sometimes its
more gratifying doing the work you want to
do rather than what other people tell you
that you should be doing.
Why Washington?
Im able to really stand on my own here
and try to make the big splash in local and
international dance. Washington is a smaller
city, so its easier to make connections and
network at a faster rate. I enjoy working with
the youth and professionals and when I tour
internationally, I love bringing back what
Ive learned to D.C. Im an OnStage Ignite
Artist at CityDance in D.C. and I feel lucky
to receive rehearsal space and support in
presenting my work around D.C. I also dance
for local dance troupe Company E. I feel very
connected to the D.C. dance scene.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

T HE ATER

V I C TO R I A C L A R K

J A N U A R Y 09, 2015 27

C O R E Y C OT T

D E E H OT Y

H OWA R D Mc G I L L I N

AND

VA N E S S A H U D G E N S

PHOTO BY NOE TODOROVICH PHOTOGRAPHY

JONATHAN FEUER in The T Party, a new work with a Washington setting.

By PATRICK FOLLIARD
The best parts of Forum Theatres The
T Party are culled from real life.
A cross-dressing man and a transgender
woman meet for drinks at a D.C. bar. They
share divergent lusts, loves and beauty tips.
A blogger describes his journey from married
man to transgender woman to heterosexual
male (for the time being). Performed by an
eight-actor ensemble, these fascinating and
often fun series of short scenes comprise a
wondrous and mind-expanding exploration
of gender issues.
Written and directed by Natsu
Onoda Power, The T Party has been
in development since 2008. It was
workshopped at Forum with a short run in
the summer of 2013. Now the almost twohour play is back at the Silver Spring Black
Box Theater as a premiere production.
Its presented as an immersive
experience. The venues narrow lobby
is festooned with streamers and party
favors. Inside the black box, a mix of
cast and assorted friends and audience
members dressed in street clothes and
tacky evening gowns dance the Electric
Slide beneath an enormous disco ball.
The high energy emcee welcomes all to
the 90s-themed Forum prom.
After about 30 minutes of half-hearted
improvised partying, the prom court is
selected. The queen is BEllana, a middleaged transgender woman. She concedes
that high school has not been easy and
thanks the crowd for allowing her to
be the person she is. Its an undeniably
touching moment.
Then the formal performance begins. The
deftly directed rst scene is an intriguing online
chat between a woman and a straight man
who likes to cross dress. She asks what hes up
to. He describes his La Perla thong. He sends

pics. They verbally punctuate their exchange

with laugh out loud, question mark and
smiley face. In the end, he is left hanging. She
goes o to chat with someone else.
Next up, the show goes animal. An
actor loudly raps about same-sex pairing
in the dolphin population (described
in the studies of biologist Janet Mann,
a professor at Georgetown University
where playwright Power teaches theater
and
performance
studies).
Actors
costumed in gray body suits with their
swimsuits on the outside ll the stage,
displaying how a pod of horny amphibians
play with their same-sex partners. Then,
its o to the Green Lantern, a D.C. gay
club, here presented as a bear sanctuary
with a forest ranger bartender. Forums
producing Artistic Director Michael Dove
makes an endearing cameo as a shy bear
new to the scene (the ranger throws him a
sh). Other patrons include a cub, panda
and a particularly swishy otter.
In an especially well-crafted scene, two
young college women imagine a lesbian
relationship as they slow dance to the
60s soft tempo hit A Man and a Woman
from the same-titled move. They wonder
what would happen if they fell in love.
Certainly, the untrammeled terrain would
be thrilling. It would involve lovemaking,
coming out to friends and the inevitable
visit to the campus LGBTQ Center. But
then they would also encounter a hate
crime, the return to respective boyfriends,
and bad feelings.
At the end of the dance, one of the
women complains about the scenes
music. Its entirely too heteronormative.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
THE T PARTY
Though Jan. 17
Forum Theatre
Silver Spring Black Box Theater
8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
$30-35
1-800-838-3006
Forum-theatre.org

jan. 16-- feb. 12

eisenhower
theater

Photo by Matthew Murphy

The T Party is collage

of diverse scenes

limited engagement
pre-broadway premiere!

Tickets on sale now!

(202) 467-4600 kennedy-center.org

Tickets also available at the Box Office | Groups (202) 416-8400

Musical Theater at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Adrienne Arsht Musical Theater Fund.
Kennedy Center Theater
Season Sponsor

Comedy at the Kennedy Center

Presenting Sponsor

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

28 JAN U A R Y 09, 2015

O U T & A BO U T

CH
OI
R

B
DI Y TA
RE R
CT EL
ED L
BY AL
KE VIN
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PHOTO BY ANGELISA GILLYARD; COURTESY OF THE INSERIES

Classic Bellini opera opens

By MARIAH COOPER

14
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The In Series production of the opera La Sonnambula opens at Source

Theatre (1835 14th St., N.W.) Sunday at 3 p.m. and runs through Jan. 25.
The classic 1831 work by composer Vincenzo Bellini (which translates as The
Sleepwalker) tells of a man who has plans to marry is cancelled after he is
caught sleeping in a strangers room. The show stars CarieAnne Winter, Joseph
Haughton and Brody DelBeccar. This work which incorporates the bel canto
(beautiful singing) style Bellini is known for though somewhat obscure, is
considered a favorite by many opera devotees. Stage director Steven Scott
Mazzola, who wrote the English adaptation to be performed here, is openly gay.
Tickets are $42 for adults, $39 for seniors and $22 for students. For details,
visit inseries.org.

8 gets high school reading

Beyond the Page Theatre Company at
West Potomac High School (6500 Quander
Rd., Alexandria, Va.) presents 8, a play
about the historic Proposition 8 trial, Friday
at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.
The play chronicles both sides of
the trial including highlights such as
Proposition 8-supportive witness David
Blankenhorns testimony. After the
Saturday 7 p.m. performance there will
be a talk-back with one of the plaintis,
Kris Perry, and her son, Spencer. All
proceeds from the show will benet West
Potomacs Gay Straight Alliance.
Tickets are $5. For more information,
visit westpotomactheatre.org.

La-Ti-Do nds new home

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY JOEY DIGUGLIELMO

W.Va. group plans MLK commemoration

The Eastern Panhandle LGBTQ Alliance of West Virginia hosts a commemoration
of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s March in front of Charles Town Library (200 East
Washington St., Charles Town, W.Va.) Sunday at 2 p.m.
Out West Virginia Del. Stephen Skinner will be the keynote speaker for the
event. Bring placards, friends and family.
For details, visit facebook.com/easternpanhandlelgbtqalliance.

La-Ti-Do kicks o its season at a new

regular venue James Hobans Irish Bar
(1 Dupont Circle, N.W.) Monday at 8 p.m.
La-Ti-Do is a cabaret and spoken word
performance group led by co-founders
Don Michael Mendoza and Regie Cabico.
The group formed in 2012 and has
had many performances since then in
Washington and New York. They were
previously based at Black Fox Lounge.
Tickets are $15 general admission at the
door, $10 in advance, $7 for students and
$5 for non-performing La-Ti-Do alumni.
For more details, visit latidodc.wix.com.

washingtonblade.com

F I LM

J A N U A R Y 09, 2015 29

CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC

Invites you to submit for your scope of work for the following project:
IMAGE COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

JAmEs CoRdEN and mERYl sTREEp in Into the Woods.

SQUARE 37 - CBE Subcontracting Employment Opportunities

Your bid is due to us on or before January 26th, 2015 @ 5:00 PM

Into the Woods adaptation

flawed but powerful
By BRIAN T. CARNEY
Stephen
Sondheims
classic
musical Into the Woods is a brilliant
contemporary reexamination of the
timeless fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
Rob Marshalls cinematic adaptation of
the stage musical is not a masterpiece,
but it is not the disaster many LGBT fans
feared. This charming and moving film
captures the essence of the story and
features many fine performances.
Sondheim (who is openly gay) and
collaborator James Lapine anchor their
story in a new tale. A childless Baker (James
Corden) and his Wife (Emily Blunt) have
been put under a curse by the Witch next
door (Meryl Streep). To lift the curse and
have their child, they must go to the woods
and find four objects: the cow as white
as milk (Milky White, owned by Jack of
beanstalk fame), the cape as red as blood
(belonging to Little Red Riding Hood), the
slipper as pure as gold (from Cinderella)
and the hair as yellow as corn (Rapunzel).
Act one focuses on the choices the
characters make as they get their wishes. Act
two focuses on the consequences of those
decisions and the tone darkens as a vengeful
Giant stomps through the kingdom.
Much of the beloved material
arrives onscreen intact (Lapine is given
screenplay credit and Sondheim was
involved in the production). There are,
of course, some cuts and changes.
Cinderellas Father disappears, as does
the Narrator/Mysterious Man. (The Baker
narrates the film, which is a very nice
touch.) The act one finale (Ever After)
and the act two prologue (So Happy/Into
the Woods Reprise) are cut. The Giants
attack now comes rather abruptly during
the wedding of Cinderella and her Prince
(which creates some clunky narrative and
emotional gaps).
The act two finale is not filmed, but
Marshall finds a clever way to include
the glorious final chorale (Children
Will Listen). A few numbers of varying
importance are cut (Our Little World,
the reprise of Agony and No More).
These cuts make for more efficient

ProJect DescriPtion: Redevelop the West End library into a new

11-story building with library, retail and larger condominiums above. A
mix of one-bedroom/den, two-bedroom/den and three-bedroom/den
are planned with an average size of approximately 1,500 sq. ft. with one
garage parking space per unit. Approximately 7,000 sq. ft. of retail is
planned for the street level.

cinematic storytelling, but some of the

minor characters (especially Cinderellas
step-family) are reduced to walk-ons. The
ProJect sPecific requireMents/eMPhasis for the above
Witchs stirring Lament remains, but with
referenceD ProJect: Subcontractors and suppliers will be asked
a change in Rapunzels fate (no spoilers
to furnish labor and/or materials and equipment to accomplish work
here), the number is sadly diluted.
required by the contract documents for the various areas of work
The cuts also dilute the thematic
material. The harsher messages about
listed below.
personal growth and responsibility
Division 2-- siteWorK
Division 3-- concrete
(into the woods youve got to grope)
Division 4-- MasonrY
Division 5-- MetaLs
are displaced by the more sentimental
Division 6-- WooD & PLastics
Division 7-- therMaL & Moisture
(yet still powerful) themes of No One Is
Division 8-- Doors anD WinDoWs Division 9-- finishes
Alone and Children Will Listen.
Division 10-- sPeciaLties
Division 11-- equiPMent
Marshalls
direction
is
uneven.
Division 12-- furnishinGs
Division 13-- sPeciaL construction
Division 14-- conveYinG sYsteMs
Division 15-- eLectricaL
Throughout, the color palate is muted and
Division 16-- MechanicaL
muddy. Some of the numbers (notably It
Takes Two and the final attack on the
DraWinGs anD sPecifications MaY be PurchaseD froM:
Giant) are awkward and hard to follow.
American Reprographics: Ken Karbeling, 301-231-5200
Overall, however, his work is more
controlled than in his previous musical
biD DocuMents can be vieWeD at:
adaptations (Chicago and Nine).
His filming of the difficult prologue (17
The Clark Construction Plan Room,
minutes of screen time) is masterful,
7500 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
with clear cuts, strong pacing, perfect
focus and appealing visuals. Agony, the
Address all correspondence to: Clark Construction Group, LLC,
hilarious duet between the two Princes,
7500 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
and Cinderellas big moment (On the
Steps of the Palace) are imaginatively
Contacts: Matt viLLa, Dustin MccracKin, Josh sLocoMb
staged and beautifully filmed.
What makes this movie soar are the
uniformly excellent performances. Meryl
Streep is simply amazing as the Witch.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
She brings great depth to this complex
We request bids from small, disadvantaged, minority and
character. Anna Kendrick shines as
women owned subcontractors and suppliers.
Cinderella, bringing a keen intelligence,
sharp sense of humor, deep compassion
and silvery voice to the role. Corden and
the amazingly versatile Blunt are wonderful
as the Baker and his Wife. There are also
lively performances from Lilla Crawford
(Red), Daniel Huttlestone (Jack) and Tracy
Ullman (Jacks Mother), among others.
And Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen
give breakthrough performances as the
Princes (for Cinderella and Rapunzel
respectively). Pine, best known for his
action roles, proves that he has great
comic timing and a strong singing
voice. The look of enchantment on his
face as he slides the glass slipper on
A D V
Cinderellas foot will set hearts aflutter,
Peace
of
mind.
PROOF
#1memory of that momentISSUE
SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS bpitts@washblade.com
and the
bringsDATE: 01.02.15
an unexpected poignancy to their final
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

30 JANUARY 09, 2015

HOT HITS & HIDDEN JEWELS

F RO M CULTURECAP I TAL. CO M Y O U R LI N K TO T H E A R T S IN M ET R O D . C .

THE ROAD TO CANTERBURY: MUSIC OF MEDIEVAL ENGLAND

JAN 9-JAN 10.
FOLGER CONSORT AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL.
202-544-7077. FOLGER.EDU.

ARTS & CULTURE

THEATRE
Barbara Cooks Spotlight: Will Chase.
Jan 9. The Illusionists. Thru Jan 11. Shear
Madness. Ongoing. Kennedy Center. 202467-4600. kennedy-center.org.
Diner. Thru Jan 25. Signature Theatre.
703-820-9771. signature-theatre.org.
Bad Jews. Thru Jan 18. Choir Boy. Thru
Feb 22. Studio Theatre. 202-332-3300.
studiotheatre.org.
In Praise of Love. Thru Jan 25.
Washington Stage Guild. Undercroft
Theatre. 240-582-0050. stageguild.org.
Beauty and the Beast. Thru Jan
11. Synetic Theater. 866-811-4111.
synetictheater.org.
Crime and Punishment in America.
Thru Jan 31. American Century
Theater. Gunston. 703-998-4555.
americancentury.org.
The Great American Trailer Park Musical.
Jan 9-Jan 24. Dominion Stage. Gunston. 571377-4697. dominionstage.org.

In this program of medieval music, Folger Consort performs a song mentioned

in Chaucers Canterbury Tales, engaging dances, and ethereal motets, as well as
songs in Middle English and Latin. With medieval ddle, winds, and acclaimed
vocal ensemble Lionheart.

DANCE

IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT

THRU JAN 25.
NO RULES THEATRE COMPANY AT SIGNATURE THEATRE.
703-820-9771. NORULESTHEATRE.ORG.

MUSIC

The worlds of online gaming and in person relationships collide in this up-tothe-minute comedy about straddling the real world and the virtual one.

LA SONNAMBULA
JAN 11-JAN 25. IN SERIES AT SOURCE THEATRE.
202-204-7763. INSERIES.ORG.

A charming story of innocent young love, jealousy, intrigue, and sleepwalking!

Vicenzo Bellinis signature bel canto, in a new English adaption of this rarely
performed Early Romantic gem.

LEVYDANCE (FROM SAN FRANCISCO)

JAN 10-JAN 11. DANCE PLACE.
202-269-1600. DANCEPLACE.ORG.

LEVYdances signature aesthetic is a vibrant landscape of physical action and

reaction. In Soar, the company utilizes dance, theater and lm to conjure a
world beyond reality.
IMAGE COURTESY OF FOLGER CONSORT

QuinTango at the J. Jan 10. JCCNV.

703-537-3000. jccnv.org.

Louis Weeks. Jan 9. Delores King

Williams: I Love Being Here With
You. Jan 10. AIR: Invoke String
Quartet. Jan 14-Jan 28. Strathmore.
301-581-5100. strathmore.org.
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor:
Tzimon Barto, piano, Works by Berlioz
& Dvork. Jan 15-Jan 17. NSO. The
Kennedy Center Chamber Players:
Works by Bartk, Ravel, Bowen,
& Arensky. Jan 11. Kennedy Center.
202-467-4600. Soule Monde. Jan 9.
Jones Family Singers. Jan 10. Kennedy
Center Opera House Orchestra. Jan 11.
Kahulanui. Jan 13. Jungle Funk. Jan 14.
NSO Youth Fellows. Jan 15. Millennium
stage. Kennedy Center. 800-444-1324.
kennedy-center.org.
John Kadlecik & The DC Mystery Cats.
Jan 9. Jon B. Jan 15. Howard Theatre.
202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com.
Schubertiade: Masterworks of 4
Centuries. Jan 10-11. The Smithsonian
Associates. Museum of American History.
202-633-3032. smithsonianassociates.org.
Haydns Surprise Symphony. Jan 10.
National Philharmonic. Strathmore.
301-581-5100. nationalphilharmonic.org.
Concerts at the Alden. Thru Jan 11. The
Alden. 703-790-9223. mcleancenter.org.
The Ying Quartet. Jan 9. Kevin Grin
of Better Than Ezra. Jan 15. Wolf Trap.
877-965-3872. wolftrap.org.
Chamber Music Recital. Jan 15-Mar 19.
FMMC. Old Town Hall, City of Fairfax.
202-333-2075. fmmc.org.
Blue Sky 5. Jan 10. Arts Harmony Hall
Regional Center. 301-203-6070.
arts.pgparks.com.
Arlington Philharmonic Concert.
Jan 11. New BeginningsUnnished

Endings. Jan 11. Arlington Philharmonic.

Washington-Lee High School.
703-910-5161.
arlingtonphilharmonic.org.

MUSEUMS
National Gallery of Art. Degass Little
Dancer. Thru Jan 11. From Neoclassicism
to Futurism: Italian Prints and Drawings,
18001925. Thru Feb 1. Modern
American Prints and Drawings from the
Kainen Collection. Thru Feb 1. El Greco: A
400th Anniversary Celebration. Thru Feb
16. 202-737-4215. nga.gov.
Folger Shakespeare Library. Decoding
the Renaissance. Thru Mar 1. folger.edu.
National Geographic. Food: Our Global
Kitchen. Thru Feb 22. Spinosaurus: Lost
Giant of the Cretaceous. Thru Apr 12. Sea
Monsters 3D & Flying Monsters 3D. Thru
Apr 1. National Geographic.
202-857-7700. nglive.org.
Museum of Women in the Arts.
Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea
- Exhibition. Thru Apr 12. Doris Lee:
American Painter and Illustrator. Thru
May 8. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org.

GALLERIES
DCCAH. Full Spectrum: The Prolic
Master within Los Mailou Jones. Thru Jan
30. 202-724-5613. dcarts.dc.gov.
Strathmore. Whats On Your Mind? The
24th Annual Strathmore Artists Juried
Exhibition. Jan 10-Mar 1. 301-581-5100.
strathmore.org.
WPA at Capitol Skyline Hotel.
Hothouse Video: Fantastic Voyage. Thru
Jan 9. South Capitol Skyscape: Amber
Robles-Gordon. Thru Jan 31. WPA at 1200
First St. NE. Lobby Project: JD Deardour.
Thru Jan 30. 202-234-7103. wpadc.org.
The Art League Gallery. Exhibit: 2015
Solo Artist Preview. Thru Jan 22.
703-683-1780. theartleague.org.
Goethe-Institut. Light and Dark:
Photographs from Germany by Barbara
Klemm. Jan 14-Feb 27. 202-289-1200.
goethe.de.
Torpedo Factory Art Center.
5x5(x5). Thru Jan 18. 703-838-4565.
torpedofactory.org.
JCC of Greater Washington. From
Beyond the Arch. Thru Jan 28.
301-881-0100. jccgw.org.
JCCNV. Synesthetic Landscapes:
Photographs by Andy Ilachinski. Thru Feb
9. 703-323-0880. jccnv.org.
Joan Hisaoka Gallery. Bought & Sold:
Voices of Human Tracking. Jan 9-Mar 7.
202-483-8600. smithcenter.org.
Gallery Underground. The Wonder of
Winter. Thru Jan 31. January Members
Show. Thru Jan 31. 571-483-0652.
arlingtonartistsalliance.org.
Publick Playhouse. Black Artists of DC.
Thru Mar 13. 301-277-1710.
arts.pgparks.com.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

D I N I NG

Local juiciries thrive on

unexpected avor combos
By KRISTEN HARTKE
The last of the holiday petit-fours has
nally met its maker and the days of
sleeping in late are over. And it was so
boring to go to the gym while everybody
else was away on vacation. Hello, January.
As a new year begins, our thoughts
naturally turn to bathing suit season,
just a scant few months away, and we
suddenly begin to regret indulging in
that plate of gingerbread men. In the war
against the holiday bulge, food still has a
part to play, but youll have to substitute
cold-pressed juice for eggnog and kimchi
for cookies. Its time to detox.
Nutritionists will say that theres no such
thing as detoxing your body and theyre
right. You cant just erase impurities from
your body by ushing with liquids or foods,
because thats what your organs are there
for. But that doesnt mean its not a good
idea to provide your body with proper

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 3 1

nutrients that promote good health, from

fresh raw juices to probiotic kimchi.
Theres no better way to get a ton
of fresh produce into your system than
through fresh, raw, organic juice, says
Amir, the founder of South Block Juice Co.,
a micro juicery in Arlington, Va. Three-day
juice cleanses basically, drinking fresh
fruit and vegetable juices three times a
day for three days are a popular option
for some people looking to drop excess
holiday weight, but Amir says, The last
thing you want to do is jump into a cleanse
after a week of partying. He recommends
preparing your body for a cleanse in
advance, adding more fresh juice into your
daily routine before the cleanse and then
slowly reintroducing solids after.
If youre not into the idea of living
on juice alone, Amir suggests hybrid
cleansing with a combination of raw
juices and solids, emphasizing that its
best to drink juice on an empty stomach,
either a couple of hours before or after
food. And the juices themselves are
hardly like your morning glass of Minute
Maid look for combinations such as

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTH BLOCK JUICE CO.

Its best to ease into a juice cleanse rather than going at it suddenly.

carrot, apple, beet and kale; pineapple,

fennel and aloe; and cashews, vanilla,
cinnamon and dates, which is somehow
so decadent and creamy, it could
substitute for dessert.
These days, of course, the buzzword in
culinary health circles is probiotics, foods
that contain live bacteria that can help
balance and maintain the digestive system,
which recent studies also show may even
have a positive eect on anxiety. Of course,
Korean staples like kimchi and kombucha,
which are both catching on in Western

cuisine, are full of probiotics, oering a

healthy boost to the immune system while
still packed with avor.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

South Block Juice Co. is oering a special New

Years discount to Washington Blade readers:
Just enter washblade for $5 o your online
juice order at southblockjuice.com.
KRISTEN HARTKE is managing editor of Edible
DC and writes about cocktails at goodbooze.
wordpress.com. Her elf name is Twinkie.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

3 2 J A N UA RY 0 9 , 2015

CA LE N D A R

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
Women in Their 20s, a social
discussion group for lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and all women interested
in women, meets tonight at the D.C.
Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) from 8-9:30
p.m. All welcome to join. For details, visit
thedccenter.org.
Number Nine (1435 P St., N.W.) hosts a
happy hour today from 5-9 p.m. All drinks
are half price. Admission is free. For more
information, visit numberninedc.com.
Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H St., N.W.)
hosts a Bear Happy Hour this evening
from 6-10 p.m. There is no cover charge.
Drinks are $4 for rail, $3 for pints and $1
o other beer and food. Drink specials
include $6 for a PBR and a shot of rail
whiskey and $7 for 16-ounce frozen
drinks. There will also be food specials with
$6 chicken and wae sandwiches and $1
o other food. For more information, visit
rockandrollhoteldc.com.
D.C. Shorts presents Laughs, a
combination of funny short lms and
live stand-up comedians at the U.S.
Navy Memorial Heritage Center (701
Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) tonight and
Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Comedians
performing include Reggie Melbrough,
Franqi French, Randolph Terrance and
more. Films being screened include Silence
is Golden, Tiebreaker and many more.
Ticket prices range from $20-30. For more
information, visit dcshorts.com/laughs.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.)
provides free and condential HIV
testing today from 4-7 p.m. For more
information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.)
hosts Jox: Green Lanterns Underwear
Party tonight at 9 p.m. There will be a
free clothes check and drink specials all
night. DJ David Merrill will provide music.
Cover is $5. For more information, visit
greenlanterndc.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a
Stop Light Party tonight at 9 p.m. Guests
should wear colors according to their
relationship status. Wear red if you are
taken, yellow if you are on the fence
and green if you are single. Admission is
limited to guests 21 and over. For more
details, visit phase1dc.com.

SUNDAY, JAN. 11
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer
organization, volunteers today for the
Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
at the Potomac Yards PetSmart (3351
Jeerson Davis Hwy., Alexandria, Va.) from
12:15-3:30 p.m. today. You will be paired

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY PETE EXIS

As usual, Nellies is full of activities from the weekly Sunday drag brunch to poker night and more.

with a dog on a leash to walk around and

play with. Wear casual clothes. For more
information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Perrys (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts
its weekly Sunday Drag Brunch today
from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95
for an all-you-can-eat buet. For more
details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
Nellies Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.)
hosts a drag brunch today with shows
at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. For more
information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.

MONDAY, JAN. 12
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.
Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave.,
N.W.) holds a support group for gay black
men to discuss topics that aect them,
share perspectives and have meaningful
conversations. For details, visit uhupil.org.
Nellies Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.)
hosts poker night tonight at 8 p.m. Win
prizes. Free to play. For more information,
visit nelliessportsbar.com.
The Bachelors Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.)

hosts happy hour from 5-7:30 p.m. today.

All drinks are half price. Enjoy pool, video
games, and cards. Admission is free. For
more details, visit bachelorsmill.com.

TUESDAY, JAN. 13
Overeaters Anonymous, an LGBT
group, will meet at St. Georges Episcopal
Church (915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, Va.)
tonight at 7 p.m. Newcomers welcome. For
details, call 703-521-1999 or 703-307-9517.
D.C. Bi Women hosts its monthly
meeting in the upstairs room of Dupont
Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) from
7-9 p.m. tonight. For more details, visit
thedccenter.org.
Bachelors Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.)
oers all drinks half price tonight until 2
a.m. Enjoy pool, video games and cards.
Admission is free. Must be 21 and over.
For more details, visit bachelorsmill.com.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts Rap Group,
an LGBT youth support group, today from
5-6:30 p.m. For details, visit smyal.org.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14
Big Gay Book Group meets tonight
at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., N.W. Suite 200
to discuss How to be Gay by David M.
Halperin. Halperin, a pioneer in LGBT
studies, explores male homosexuality

as a cultural practice. Newcomers

welcome. For more details, email
biggaybookgroup@hotmail.com.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets
tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center
(721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. No
reservations required and new comers
welcome. If you need a partner, call 703407-6540.

THURSDAY, JAN. 15
Rude
Boi
Entertainment
hosts
Tempted 2 Touch, a ladies dance party,
at Fab Lounge (2022 Florida Ave., N.W.)
Doors open at 10 p.m. Drink specials $5
and vodka shots $3 all night. No cover
charge. Admission limited to guests
21 and over. For more details, visit
rudeboientertainment.wordpress.com.
Whitman Walker Health provides free
and condential HIV testing at Miriams
Kitchen (2401 Virginia Ave., N.W.) today
from 4-6 p.m. For more information, visit
whitman-walker.org.
Local author Otis Randolf hosts a book
signing at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St.,
N.W.) for his book Shadows Behind the
Rainbow from 5:30-9 p.m. Randolf will
read excerpts from the book and sign
purchased copies. The event is free and
open to the public. For more details, visit
thedccenter.org.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

BOOKS

Coming-of-age tale features

bite, wit and anger

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER has been reading

since she was 3 years old.She lives in Wisconsin
with two dogs and 12,000 books. Reach her at
bookwormsez@yahoo.com.

Your people understand you.

Thats because you speak the same
language, dance to the same music and
wear the same uniform. You might not
be related by blood or ceremony, but you
belong to them and they to you. Youre
family but, as youll see in the new book
A List of Things That Didnt Kill Me by
Jason Schmidt, they wont always catch
you when you fall.
Killing his father would have been simple.
Jason Schmidt knew he could smother

J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 3 3

his dad or overdose him and nobody

would ever suspect. His father had been
sick awhile anyhow and if he died, nobody
would look twice, although Schmidt
sensed hed regret it.
He didnt need any more regrets in his life.
Born in the early 70s, Schmidt
remembers being a self-sucient child:
his earliest memory was leaving his
mothers house (at age 3) to ride a mile
on his tricycle to his fathers place.
That was just before his parents
battled, his mother left for good, his
father got busted, and Schmidt was
sent to Southern California to temporarily
live with his grandparents, who shipped
him to Oregon when his father got out of
jail. There, Schmidt and his dad lived in a
series of leftover houses with a variety
of ower children, baby boomers and
hippies who taught Schmidt about sex,
drugs and avoiding outsiders.
When he was 7, he and his father
relocated to Seattle, where they moved
in with his dads boyfriend; thus, Schmidt
learned his father was gay. Three years
later, another boyfriend got sick with a

IMAGE COURTESY OF FARRAR, STRAUS & GIROUX

weird fever and then Schmidts father

came down with the same bug. Schmidt
pretended to cry when the diagnosis of
AIDS was conrmed.
By the beginning of his senior year,
Schmidt whose school attendance was
spotty at best had nonetheless caught
up with his peers. He had a girlfriend, an
understanding of welfare fraud, a high
IQ, anger issues and a dying father but
no stability, money or plan for the future.
He was 16, just barely holding things
together, and he couldnt even think of
what would happen when he graduated.
And then a nice old man, an angel with
cleaning supplies, stepped into his life.
A List of Things That Didnt Kill Me
is a large book, and Im not just talking
page count. Beginning with his earliest
memory and moving forward to young

adulthood, author Jason Schmidt shares

a powerful, emotional coming-of-age tale
of an unstable childhood, of the beginning
of AIDS and of people purposely living on
the edge of society with little-to-nothing,
all told in a voice dripping with sarcasm,
irony and anger.
That voice hooked me I laughed. I
got teary. I loved it.
Though this book is meant for teens,
I think its better suited for readers ages
16 and up, due to adult language and
themes. If you can handle that, then A
List of Things that Didnt Kill Me is one
youll be glad you didnt miss.
A LIST OF THINGS THAT DIDNT KILL ME
By Jason Schmidt
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
$18.99
432 pages

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

REALESTATE

2015 real estate resolutions

Good advice for buyers,
sellers alike in New Year
By TIM SAVOY
How many times have we all made New
Years resolutions that we know wont
come to fruition? For some of us, that
promise is to eat healthier; for others, it
is to hit the gym four to five days a week.
This year, instead of making a promise so
arbitrarily for our behaviors, how about
we make promises to the real estate market and set real estate resolutions? For
both buyers and sellers, there are many
things we can do today that will affect our
real estate transactions for 2015.
For buyers, 2015 is a great opportunity
to start from the foundation of your home
purchase. If you plan on buying in 2015
and do not know where to start, take it
from your credit score; that is, build your
credit score as high as you can in order to
obtain the lowest rate that you can find
on a loan for your new home. Nothing is
worse that applying for a loan and finding
out that a credit card or student loan is
past due. Fixing these problems early on
will allow your score to rise until you are
ready to purchase.
Buying property in D.C. certainly presents its options. As with all of my buyers,
I recommend getting to know the city
and keeping an open mind for locations
to buy. While you may currently live in
a particular part of the city dear to your
heart, you never know what may be available just a few short blocks or even a mile
away. For those just starting to browse
the inventory, dont be afraid to check

out of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods as these have some of the best
commercial development happening. For
those that are purchasing in the condo
marketplace, remember that there is
more than just the stereotype of downtown; moreover, single-family homebuyers will be surprised what may be available across the city at every price point.
If you are buying a property in 2015 and
havent already sought guidance from a
real estate agent or loan officer, there is
no time like the present. The typical real
estate transaction is a myth, and each
purchase is emotional with many moving
pieces from offer to closing. Moreover,
dont be afraid to shop services until you
find exactly what you want.
What about sellers and the resolutions
you can make in 2015? First, lets talk
about the inevitable for those homeowners that seem to hold on to everything:
Organization is key to a stress-free sale.
Sure, you may not be considering selling until the spring when the inventory
rises; however, start now with your organizational needs by starting small; tackle
one storage closet a day or begin the decluttering process if you plan to downsize
into a new home by storing bulky items in
a storage unit.
If you intend on selling in 2015, get
educated. Before you sell and set a price
for your home, think about what it may
be worth. Remember, real estate is a
market and the price you believe your
house is worth may be higher or lower
than the current market is willing to pay.
Overpriced listings may very well be the
deciding factor that leads your home to
sit on the market for months at a time,

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Whether youre buying or selling this year, there are steps you can take to get started now.

no matter where you own in the city. As

a rule of thumb, ask your listing agent to
run comparable sales from the past six
months (or even as little as three if you
live in a very healthy real estate neighborhood) to better understand the value of
your home today.
New Years resolutions are certainly
an opportunity to make change in your
life, and real estate resolutions are no
different. Regardless of whether you are

buying or selling a home, 2015 is a great

opportunity to set new goals in your life
and move into the home of your dreams.
Happy New Year lets make 2015 a
time we can cherish forever.

Tim Savoy is a real estate agent with Coldwell

Banker Residential Brokerage, Dupont Circle.
Reach him at 202.400.0534 or timothy.savoy@
cbmove.com.

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J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 3 5

Meet Duplex Diners new owners

Successful Rehoboth
restaurateurs take the
helm at 18th & U mainstay
By MARK LEE
New 18th & U Duplex Diner owners
Je McCracken and Mark Hunker didnt
win the long popular Northwest D.C. bar
and restaurant at a poker table, but thats
where their friendship and eventual hospitality business partnership originated.
We rst met at a poker game 17 years
ago, Hunker recounts, and we immediately became fast friends. They began
hanging out, drove across the country,
vacationed with friends in Key West and
bought a Rehoboth beach house together.
They would later work together at a
Washington-area IT rm specializing in
government contracting. We saw each
other more often than we saw our partners, jokes Hunker, a former presidential
appointments director and OPM chief of
sta during the Clinton administration.
The duo is now betting on utilizing
nearly 10 years of shared Rehoboth restaurant ownership and operational experience, Hunker says, to carry on the tradition of a community and neighborhood
institution in D.C. Hunker, who also lives
in Adams Morgan with his now husband
of four years, Je Shields Hunker, says
both he and McCracken have been Duplex Diner customers since the second
or third day after it opened.
In fact, the couple held their marriage
ceremony there, later celebrating the union
at the Rehoboth restaurants Eden and Jam

arlington n.

Bistro that Hunker co-owns and operates

with McCracken. A Rehoboth resident, Hunker married Shields in D.C. before same-sex
nuptials became legal in Delaware.
McCracken, also a Rehoboth resident
who has a D.C. home in the developing H
Street, N.E., area, similarly splits his time
between locales overseeing operations at
both beach town establishments that he
and Hunker oversee together. McCracken shares his life with Ron Niemann; the
couple has been together for seven years.
A decade ago, McCracken and Hunker jumped at the opportunity to purchase Rehoboth restaurant Eden when
the family owners decided to sell. A favorite dining spot for both, located on
Baltimore Avenue near the beach, they
relied on McCrackens penchant for, and
professional experience in, building rehabilitation and renovation redesign to
transform the space and create a second
level additionally booked for private and
catered events.
It wasnt long afterwards, in 2010, that
they opened the more casual and cafstyle Jam Bistro, adjacent to Eden. Eden
is distinguished by a warmly inviting and
romantic ambience, as well as featuring
extensive wine oerings and noteworthy
ne-dining fare. Both businesses have
become popular and well-respected Rehoboth dining destinations.
Duplex Diner devotees neednt worry
about drastic alterations at the hotspot
straddling Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan at the intersection of namesake 18th
and U streets at Florida Avenue. Opened
by original owner Eric Hirsheld in 1998
and subsequently purchased by former
manager Kevin Lee in 2011, it has re-

walk to metro!

$769,900

Just listed! 11 n. garfield street

Duplex Diners new owners MARK HUNKER and JEFF MCCRACKEN say not to expect drastic
changes at the popular bar and restaurant.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

mained popular, with Thursday nights a

longstanding gay party tradition.
When we were approached about buying, we couldnt imagine it being sold to
someone who hadnt lived it and loved it
as much as we have, Hunker says.
We bought Duplex Diner because it is
a successful business, says McCracken.
We prefer the word evolve in describing our contribution, Hunker is quick to
point out, rather than sudden change.
Expect our inuence in adding an expanded range of wines to the menu, and
a more consistent service approach in the
dining room.

4701 Old Dominion Drive Arlington, VA 22207

703-593-3204 WWW.DAVELOYD.NET

MARK LEE is a long-time entrepreneur and

community business advocate. Follow on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.

Prime Time reALTOr

Totally Turnkey! 3 bedroom, 2 bath Lyon Park Colonial nestled

on a lovely landscaped fenced lot with patio and detached
garage. Enjoy the remodeled open concept granite & stainless
kitchen/dining combo, gleaming hardwoods, living room with
fireplace, a relaxing screened porch, new A/C, bonus 4th level
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ample storage. All close to neighborhood park, Lyon Park Open Sunday 1-4pM
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daVe lloYd & assoCiates

We focus on strategic management and

the customer experience, Hunker explains,
We entered this business as diners.
Duplex Diner has a neighborhood
feel, notes McCracken, as Hunker adds,
with a welcoming sta and a diverse
crowd. We love being part of a place that
is a part of our lives.
Information about the trio of venues is
available online: DuplexDiner.com, EdenRestaurant.com and JamBistro.com.

Valerie M. Blake

The needs of a Modern Family

are numerous and varied.
Everybody needs a
home whether single,
paired, or married.
Dupont Circle Office 202.243.7700 (o)
202.246.8602 (c) Valerie@DCHomeQuest.com

www.DCHomeQuest.com

Associate Broker, GRI

3 6 J A NUA RY 0 9 , 2015

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J A N U A RY 0 9 , 2 0 1 5 3 7

HEATING / COOLING

EMPLOYMENT
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TREE SERVICE
BRANCHES - FULL SERVICE Tree
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Angies List Award Winner 09, 10,
11, 12.

WINDOW
TREATMENTS
CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS
Blinds, shades and more. Free
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Andy at Environmental Concepts
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3 8 J A N UA RY 0 9 , 2015

W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M
BALTIMORE 2 BR, 1 BA $900/MONTH
+, 2nd fl., quiet, with W/D, D/W, A/C,
hdwd., commute to work in DC. $
900.00 mo + utilities. call 443 4678507.

SALE / MD

SHARE / DC
CAPITOL HILL (2-1/2 blocks
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BR share w/ 3 gay friendly men,
$700+utilities. Available immediately.
Pete 202-544-5688.

Baltimore Stunning
renovation $299,900 Classic
Ashburton colonial with all the
original charm. Near 95S for
Washington commuters! 3BR/2.5BA,

ADAMS MORGAN/DUPONT CIRCLE

available now. Non-smoker, semifurnished, own BR. Shared use of
W/D, kitchen. $850/month+$850
security deposit. Carol (202) 2656809.
GWM w/ 2 cats has cozy fully
furnished room available in NE DC.
No Pets, no children, non-smoker
preferred. Metro, Parking, all
amenities. 202-306-0288. Serious
responses only, no texts.

New gourmet kitchen w/42 cabinets,

granite & stainless. Inlaid wood floors.
Formal dining room. Fireplace in living
room. Fabulous Speakeasy bar from
1920s in lower level rec room. Central
air. 2-car detached garage.
Dora Wolfe
Cell (410)733-4686
DORA.WOLFE@longandfoster.com
The Dora Wolfe Team of
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Licensed in MD & PA
Office (410)653-1700

SHARE / VA
Alexandria/ Del Ray Large BR,
w/ good closet space in a 3BR, 2.5BA
TH w/ 2 gay men. Great location walk
to Braddock Rd Metro. $900 utilities
incl. seeks responsible NS, GM. email:
runner206@gmail.com.
WOODBRIDGE,MBR single-family
home between Quantico & Ft. Belvoir.
Beautifully renov. walk-out bsmt. BR
w/ priv. full bath. Singles only. $1000/
month.703-798-3955.

RENT / MD
GERMANTOWN 1BR large
basement apartment. Private
entrance, fenced in yard, full kit.,
laundry room with storage and full
bathroom. $1200 includes utilities.
Please email me: whitencer@aol.com.

Equal Housing Opportunity

MOUNT RAINIER HOMES

REQUEST ONLINE PHOTOS!
$299,000
Totally Renovated!!
2-Car Garage! 2 BR
Cottage!
LARGE Fenced Yard!
$219,995
Lovely double-lot!
Sweet Bungalow,
needs your creativity!
$299,995
Sears Craftsman
Cape Cod!
3- 4 BRs!1 1/2 Baths!
Sauna! Hot Tub! Garage!
LARRY PERRIN REALTOR
(301) 983-0601
LJPerrin@aol.com.

MONTGOMERYVILLAGE
TOWNHOMES
REQUEST ONLINE PHOTOS!
$349,995
Garage!3 BRs!
2 - 1/2 Baths! Terrific
Basement Family Room!
$259,995
3 Level!3 Bedrooms!
2 - 1/2 Baths! Huge
Basement Family Room!
LARRY PERRIN REALTOR
(301) 983-0601
LJPerrin@aol.com.
COLLEGE PARK
REQUESTONLINEPHOTOS!
$277,000
Walk to METRO!
Corner Lot Home!
3 BRs! Full Basement!
Deck!
$192,000
Brick End-Unit
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3 Bedrooms! 2 1/2 Baths!
Party Room Basement!
LARRY PERRIN REALTOR
(301) 983-0601
LJPerrin@aol.com.

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& Masseurs. (Now a
National service) http://
BlackListedJohn.com.

BODYWORK
BLONDE GI 511 165 lbs 32 waist,
8 & cut. Can do in calls & will do out
calls depending where you are. I am
located near 395 & King St. Plenty of
free parking. Call 703-599-2668 ask
for Eli.

MASSAGE SILVER
SPRING...sensuous erotic
naked. Bruno $70 per hr.
301 580-2716.
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.
AFFORDABLE MASSAGE by friendly
& intuitive Latin male, in relaxing,
priv. studio just 15 min from DC
inArlington. Plenty of Parking.Same
day appts, 703-401-9093 or
a2006mx@yahoo.com.
THE MAGIC TOUCH: Swedish,
Massage or Deep Tissue. Appts 202486-6183, Low Rates, 24/7, In-Calls.

WHITE HOUSE ATHLETIC CLUB

masseur (former) Custom bodywork!
Quality massage by a nationally
certified masseur. Exceptional deep
tissue & sensual bodywork for total
stress relief in private studio. 4 Hand
Massage Available. (Shower & parking
available, 2.5 blocks to Metro on
Capitol Hill). Call Erik 202-544-7905
for one of the best. No texts. In
calls only. New Year Special $79.00
SPECIAL Reg. $130.

SPECIAL LATINO
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, fromlucas@yahoo.com.

ESCORTS
M2M SENSUAL MASSAGE BY
LATINO, 44, in-shape, shaved head.
OUT CALLS ONLY! 202-276-9272.

ADULT SERVICES

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