MARCH 24, 2017 VOLUME 48 ISSUE 12 AMERICAS LGBT NEWS SOURCE WASHINGTONBLADE.

COM

But LGBT advocates object
to nominees record in
Hobby Lobby case
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Amid opposition from LGBT rights supporters
to the conrmation of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S.
Supreme Court, President Trumps nominee
referred to same-sex marriage as settled law,
but was otherwise relatively tight-lipped about his
views during his conrmation hearings.
Grilled by members of the Senate Judiciary
Committee about his judicial philosophy, U.S.
Circuit Judge Gorsuch on Tuesday maintained
equal justice under the law words enshrined
at the top of the Supreme Court building was
a radical idea, but one hed uphold, when asked
about application of the law to LGBT people.
Pressed by Sen. Al Franken about marriage
Judge NEIL GORSUCH described marriage as settled law this
week. equality specically, Gorsuch replied, It is
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY absolutely settled law, but added, theres ongoing
litigation about its impact and its application right
now.
When Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) asked the
nominee about his views on LGBT people, Gorsuch
seemed irritated and responded, What about
them? and as Durbin sought to clarify, the nominee
retorted, Theyre people.
Asked by Durbin to point to a statement or
decision favorable to LGBT people, Gorsuch
oered his judicial philosophy that all individuals
are entitled to equal treatment under the law.
Ive tried to treat each case and each person
as a person, not a this kind of person, not a that
kind of person a person, Gorsuch said. Equal
justice under law is a radical promise in the history
of mankind.
Durbin pressed Gorsuch to clarify whether that
applies to sexual orientation, prompting Gorsuch
to invoke the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision in
favor of same-sex marriage.
The Supreme Court of the United States has
held that single-sex marriage is protected by the
Constitution, Gorsuch said, using single-sex
CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

Democrat questions presidents
commitment to human rights
By KAREN OCAMB
Since Donald Trumps election last November,
more and more U.S. citizens and foreign leaders have
expressed deep concern over what appears to be the
deliberate dissolution of governmental institutions
and constitutional laws, ethics and values, once a
beacon to the world.
Leading the fact-nding resistance into questions
over Russian interference in the election is Rep. Adam
Schi, whose 28th District includes West Hollywood.
A former federal prosecutor, Schi is the ranking
Democratic chair of the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence.
After the March 20 hearing during which Schi
and his colleagues questioned FBI Director James
Comey and Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the director of
the National Security Agency, the New York Times
wrote: As attack dogs go, Representative Adam B.
Schi, Democrat of California, is more labradoodle
than Doberman, his partisanship disguised by a thick
fur of intense preparation, modulated locution and
gentle accusations.
To which Schi replied on Twitter: Prefer to think
of myself as a Churchillian bulldog, but Ill accept
labradoodle from the @nytimes.
Comey might really consider Schi more of a well-
trained pit bull. Schis lawyerly probing got Comey
to admit that the FBI had no evidence to back up
Trumps claim that former President Obama wire-
tapped Trump Tower and that Trumps repeated
CONTINUES ON PAGE 15

HISTORY LESSON INVISIBLE HAPPY 25TH

Gay hostage reects HHS seeks to dump Grand Central marks

on Hana siege of LGBT elders from quarter century serving
D.C. 40 years ago. U.S. health survey. Baltimore community.

PAGE 4 PAGE 10 PAGE 23

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Gay hostage recalls 1977 Hana siege on D.C.
Billy Clamp held in
building now used
as HRC headquarters
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
Billy Pat Clamp is one of 149 people
taken hostage in three buildings in
Washington, D.C. on March 9, 1977, by
a dozen members of a fringe Muslim
group called the Hanas in an incident
that many consider the rst major act of
domestic terrorism in the United States.
Clamp, who was 36 at the time, was
working in his oce as a bookkeeper at
the international Jewish human rights
organization Bnai Briths headquarters
building on Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.,
when members of the Hana group
stormed the building. They were armed
with shotguns and machetes.
They herded Clamp and about 100
other employees into a large room under
construction on the buildings top oor,
tied their hands, and forced them to lie
face down on a concrete oor, according
to accounts by Clamp and others.
Clamp was unable to attend a 40th
anniversary commemoration in D.C. two
weeks ago of what has become known
as the Hana siege. But he spoke to the
Washington Blade last week about his
own harrowing experience when one of
the gunmen determined he was gay after
searching his pockets and discovering a
tube of lipstick.
His latest Blade interview came just
under 40 years after he talked to the
Blade a month following the incident,
which led to a story about his experience
as a gay hostage published in the April
1977 edition of the Blade.
What happened is my hands were
tied behind my back, Clamp said in the
Blade interview last week. And there was
a lady standing there who worked at Bnai
Brith. The womens hands were not tied.
And he asked me what do you have in
your pockets? Clamp recalled one of the
gunmen asking him.
I said money and keys. And he asked
the woman to go into my pockets and she
pulled out money and keys, said Clamp.
Then he said whats in the next pocket?
She was very, very nervous and she pulled
out a tube of lipstick, Clamp recounted.
And he said, Lipstick! He screamed
it out and he said are you a faggot? And
the lady said no Im not, terried that the
gunman was talking to her, Clamp said.
Im not talking to you Im talking to
him, Clamp quoted the gunman as saying.
With everyone else in the room
seeming to turn their heads in horror
to watch what was happening, Clamp
recalled his response came out in an a 24-year-old reporter for WHUR Radio,
almost serene way. Maurice Williams, who covered the D.C.
I thought to myself it went through government beat, seconds after Williams
my mind very quickly that I know who I unknowingly walked into the area where
am, he told the Blade. He cant tell me the gunmen were.
who I am. If Im going to be killed I want Also shot and seriously wounded was
to be who I am. I looked over at him and then-D.C. Council member Marion Barry,
I said, Yes I am. I remember that very who was hit with a shotgun pellet that
well, Clamp recalls. struck one inch from his heart. Barry
The gunman, holding the tube of lipstick, recovered from his gunshot wound and
next asked him, Do you use this? Clamp won election as mayor one year later.
recalls. Yes I do, he remembers saying. At the 40th anniversary
Clamp later told his colleagues he used commemoration held at the building
the lipstick to brighten his cheeks and where Williams, Barry, and the security
never used it on his lips. Conscious about guard were shot, which is now called the
his appearance, he said he liked the idea Wilson Building, then-D.C. Police Chief
of going to work with rosy cheeks. But at Maurice Cullinane told of how he engaged
the time he determined this explanation with the Hana leader in a dialogue by
would have made little or no dierence to phone for close to 40 hours before a
the gunman interrogating him. negotiated agreement was reached.
And then all hell broke loose, Clamp The hostages were released, with most
said. He took me and he threw me up unharmed. Some, like Clamp, had been
against the wall. And my head was against roughed up but not seriously injured.
the wall. My hands were tied behind my Cullinane, former U.S. Attorney for D.C.
back. And he took a rie and hit my legs Earl Silbert, and Assistant U.S. Attorney
so I was on a slant. at the time Mark Touhey recounted the
Meanwhile, within an hour of their motive behind the Hana siege. They
takeover of the Bnai Brith building, noted that the Hana leader, Hamaas
other armed members of the Hana Abdul Khaalis, sought to get revenge for
group seized control of the Islamic Center an incident that took place four years
on Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. along earlier in which members of his family,
Embassy Row, where they took about a including his 9-day-old grandson, were
dozen people hostage. murdered in his home while he was
A third two-man contingent, in what someplace else by members of a rival
authorities now determined was a well sect of U.S. Muslims.
thought out plan, stormed into the Authorities said the murders took
District Building on Pennsylvania Avenue, place a short time after Khaalis began
N.W., where they planned to take hostage speaking out against a leader of the
then-D.C. Mayor Walter Washington. Nation of Islam organization. Cullinane
As they entered the 5th oor of the said several men from Philadelphia were
building they shot a security guard who arrested and convicted for the murders.
had approached to investigate what was But over the next four years, according to
happening. He later died after suering Cullinane, Khaalis became obsessed with
a fatal heart attack while in the hospital. extracting revenge on the men convicted
One of the gunmen next shot to death for the murders, who were then serving
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
LO CA L N E W S
BILLY CLAMP was held hostage in the Bnai
Brith building in 1977.
WASHINGTON BLADE ARCHIVE PHOTO
long prison terms.
In his negotiations with Cullinane,
Khaalis demanded that authorities
deliver the convicted men to him at the
Bnai Brith building and threatened to cut
o the heads of hostages if authorities
failed to comply with his demand.
Cullinane credited help he received
from the ambassadors from Egypt and
Iran, whose citizens were among the
hostages at the Islamic Center. He said
the ambassadors helped him reach a
carefully negotiated agreement in which
Khaalis directed his gunmen to release
all of the hostages in exchange for him to
be allowed to remain free at home while
awaiting trial. He was later convicted
on charges of armed kidnapping and
conspiracy. Cullinane said Khaalis died in
prison in 2003.
Clamp, 76, who now lives in Rehoboth
Beach, told the Blade in the 1977 interview
that the gunman who had been roughing
him up was replaced by another gunman
who untied Clamps hands and allowed
him to use the bathroom. As he was being
untied Clamp said he asked whether the
rst gunman was going to come back and
hurt him.
He wont hurt you, Clamp quoted
the second gunman as saying. Were
only teasing you. Everybodys born to be
dierent and to be what they want to be,
Clamp recalled being told.
In 2002, the Human Rights Campaign,
the nations largest LGBT political
advocacy group, bought the Bnai Brith
building after Bnai Brith moved to
another building nearby. After completing
a renovation project, HRC in 2003 moved
into the building, which became its
national headquarters.
HRC was honored to carry on the civil
rights tradition in Bnai Briths former home,
a statement on the HRC website says.
 T:9.75
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Trans woman murdered in Baltimore As a guest speaker on March 13 at a meeting of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club,
Newsham discussed his rationale for bringing back Parson to the liaison units and
bringing the units under his oce.
A transgender woman, who was not yet identied as the Blade went to press, I thought that was really important for us as a police department to do, to send that
was fatally shot in the 2400 block of Guilford Avenue Wednesday morning. At message, he said. MPD is going to continue to strive to be inclusive and to be diverse
approximately 4:15 a.m., ocers responded to that location for a shooting. and to work with some of our vulnerable and underserved communities.
According to Baltimore Police, upon arrival, ocers located a 38-year-old LOU CHIBBARO JR.
transgender female who was suering from a gunshot wound to the stomach.
The victim was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital where she was pronounced
dead a short time later. Plea deal for Comet Pizza gunman set for Friday
Homicide detectives were notied and are investigating the shooting.
Witnesses reported hearing someone yelling for help and then hearing Details of a plea bargain agreement oered by prosecutors in January to the North
gunshots. Immediately after hearing the shots, witnesses reported seeing two Carolina man arrested in December for entering D.C.s gay-owned Comet Ping Pong
unknown black males running and getting into a dark colored vehicle that drove pizza restaurant with an assault rie are expected to be disclosed at a hearing in U.S.
away at a high rate of speed. District Court on Friday, March 24.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call 410-396-2100, text a tip District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson scheduled the plea hearing for Edgar
to 443-902-4824, or call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP. Maddison Welch, 29, who told D.C. police he stormed into the restaurant on a busy
Visit washingtonblade.com for updates on this story. Sunday afternoon to investigate whether a child sex ring linked to Hillary Clinton had
STEVE CHARING been operating there.
Police said he surrendered peacefully after determining there were no signs of a child
sex ring that he learned about from reading what authorities say were fake news stories
posted online.
According to police, he red his rie at least three times inside the restaurant to break
D.C. launches all gender bathroom pilot program open the lock on a door after frightened customers and employees ed the premises
when they saw him enter with the rie strapped over his shoulder.
He has been charged with multiple federal and D.C. gun-related oenses in connection
The D.C. government on March 16 opened its rst two all gender bathrooms in the with the Comet Pizza case.
Reeves Center municipal building as part of a pilot program to assess the usefulness of Comet Ping Pong, which is owned by gay businessman James Alefantis, became
such bathrooms in city government buildings. the target of harassing phone calls and death threats after the fake stories linking it
According to Sheila Alexander-Reid, director of the Mayors Oce of LGBTQ Aairs, her to a pedophile ring were posted on social media outlets and viewed by hundreds of
oce along with the D.C. Department of General Services, and the D.C. Oce of Human thousands of people across the country.
Rights plan to arrange for additional all gender bathrooms in other city buildings. The Prosecutors announced they had oered Welch a plea deal during a court hearing in
Department of General Services manages and maintains D.C. government buildings. January. But prosecutors and Welchs defense attorney declined at that time to disclose
This is a step toward making sure that all transgender and gender nonconforming the terms of the oer, which was not entered into the public court records.
people have access to a restroom of their choice, Alexander-Reid said. Fridays plea hearing was scheduled to be held at 9:30 a.m. at U.S. District Court in
She said the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community, which is located in the Reeves D.C.
Center at 14th and U Street, N.W., informed her oce that some transgender and LOU CHIBBARO JR.
gender nonconforming people who visit the D.C. Center were uncomfortable using the
existing bathrooms at the Reeves Center.
It is our hope that every D.C. government building with six or more public restrooms Arthur J. Kusinski dies at 76
will go ahead and designate at least one restroom an all-gender restroom, said D.C.
Center Executive Director David Mariner in a statement on the Centers website. Arthur J. Kusinski died at
The D.C. Centers rst oor suite of oces doesnt have its own restroom and its his Washington home on Jan.
employees and visitors must use the public restrooms in the Reeves Center building. 23 from chronic Lymphocytic
Monica Palacio, director of the Oce of Human Rights, has said that under the D.C. leukemia, according to his friend,
Human Rights Act, transgender people are free to use the public restroom of their choice. Donald Mahr. He was 76.
But Alexander-Reid said many gender nonconforming people still feel uncomfortable Kusinski was born July 30, 1940
using a mens or womens restroom and prefer an all gender facility or a gender in Utica, N.Y., and graduated
neutral, single occupancy restroom. from Hamilton College in 1962
LOU CHIBBARO JR. and Columbia Law School in
1965. He was a long-time federal
employee beginning as a lawyer
GLAA backs Newsham for D.C. police chief at the Treasury Department and
retiring as chief ethics ocer at
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance is calling on the D.C. City Council to conrm the Resolution Trust Corporation
Mayor Muriel Bowsers nomination of Peter Newsham as the citys police chief. in 1992.
In remarks prepared to be delivered Friday, March 24, at a conrmation roundtable During the 1980s, Kusinski,
hearing of the Councils Judiciary Committee, GLAAs immediate past president, Rick who was gay, was an active
Rosendall, called Newsham an experienced and level-headed police ocial who has volunteer at the Whitman-Walker
been supportive of the LGBT community. Clinic (now Whitman-Walker
We are pleased to endorse the conrmation of Peter Newsham as Chief of the Health). After retirement, he
Metropolitan Police Department, Rosendall said in a statement. In our experience and traveled extensively visiting six ARTHUR J. KUSINSKI
that of others who have spoken to us, Chief Newsham has been accessible, responsive, continents. For many years he
and forthright in his dealings with members of the LGBTQ community. was a guide at the U.S. Supreme
Bowser named Newsham, an attorney who joined the MPD in 1989, as interim chief Court and the Kennedy Center.
last September after then Police Chief Cathy Lanier resigned to take a job as head of He is survived by a brother, Ronald, and Ronalds wife Melanie, of Palatine, Ill.; two
security for the National Football League. In February, Bowser announced she was nieces, Natasha and Rachel; and a nephew, Gerrett. He had many friends in Washington
nominating Newsham as permanent chief after her oce completed a national search and New York.
for Laniers successor. A memorial service will be held at the Friends Meeting House at 2111 Florida Ave.,
Rosendall and other LGBT activists have praised Newsham for appointing Acting Lt. N.W., on Sunday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may
Brett Parson, the former head of the police LGBT Liaison Unit, to oversee all of the police be made to the Friends Meeting House or Human Rights Campaign.
liaison units, which Newsham transferred into the Executive Oce of the Chief of Police. JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 0 7

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Comings & Goings

Chavez wins Latino GLBT History Project award

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

Congratulations to LGBT Congressional Sta MARK A. PROCOPIO is the new leader of Free State Justice.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROCOPIO
Associations Yesenia Chavez who received
the Latino GLBT History Projects Mujeres en el
Movimiento Award.
The Latino GLBT History Project is a non-prot,
volunteer-led organization whose mission is to FreeState Justice
names new leadership
investigate, collect, preserve and educate the public
about the history, culture, heritage, arts, social and
rich contributions of the Latino GLBT community
in metropolitan Washington, D.C. Mujeres en el
Movimiento is an annual event coordinated by LHPs YESENIA CHAVEZ
Womens committee to recognize and celebrate
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAVEZ
Procopio assumes role Kents work at FreeState Justice began
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Latina activists of executive director on March 20. Her experience includes
who have made signicant contributions to empower litigating complex cases on behalf of
and increase the visibility of LGBT Latinas and Latinos. victims of terrorism and civil rights
Todd Sloves, president of the LGBT Congressional By STEVE CHARING abuses. Kent previously volunteered
Sta Association said, Were so proud of Yesenia for with FreeState Justice and co-authored
this well-deserved recognition. In her time serving FreeState Justice announced an amicus brief on behalf of a national
on our board she has worked hard to expand our new leaders in two key roles at the transgender advocacy organization in
organizations diversity and served as a mentor to organization on March 20. Mark A. the Conover case last year, an appeal
numerous junior LGBT sta of color. Procopio will become the organizations brought by FreeState that led Marylands
On receiving the award, Chavez said, Im grateful RANDY DOWNS executive director and Jennifer L. Kent will highest court to arm the parental rights
to the Latino GLBT History Project for selecting PHOTO COURTESY OF DOWNS lead FreeStates legal and policy advocacy of LGBTQ non-biological parents.
me as a recipient of this distinguished honor. As vice president of the LGBT eorts as managing attorney. Im honored to ght for LGBTQ
Congressional Sta Association and organizer of Latinas in the House, I have They replaced Patrick A. Paschall and Marylanders across the state, said
strived to build a pipeline for queer and women staers on the Hill. I am honored Jer Welter, respectively, who left the Kent in a statement. In the face of the
to work on behalf of my community and to push for space for LGBT people and organization earlier in the year to pursue attacks on the LGBTQ community at the
Latinas on the Hill. other careers. federal level, our team will continue to
Chavez has taken a leading role in organizing events focused on creating a safe Baltimore-based FreeState Justice work tirelessly to ensure that our state
space for women and queer people of color, including an annual Galentines is Marylands statewide legal services protections are enforced and policies
Day breakfast, regular Queer People of Color (QPOC) and womens events, and and policy advocacy organization that are inclusive here in Maryland. I am
various guest speaker events. represents the LGBTQ population. eager to lead those eorts as FreeStates
Chavez currently works in the Oce of Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) as Procopio, whose position is eective Managing Attorney.
a legislative assistant. She has worked for the Harris County Democratic Party March 27, comes to FreeState Justice Jessica P. Weber, president of FreeState
Houston, and for Amigos de las Amricas Perez Zeledn, Costa Rica as Associate from a career in development and Justices board of directors, said, All of
Project Director and Project Supervisor. She holds a bachelors in Political management for local educational us at FreeState Justice are very excited
Science and Liberal Studies from the University of Houston. institutions in Baltimore. Most recently, about the leadership, experience, and
Congratulations also to Randy Downs, on his appointment to the Advisory Procopio served as Interim Director passion these two new leaders bring to
Committee for the Mayors Oce of LGBTQ Aairs. Randy is also an Advisory of Operations for KIPP Baltimore the organization. Marks outstanding
Neighborhood Commissioner on ANC 2B05. where he led fundraising, community experience and track record of success
Downs, a native of rural Missouri, started advocating for social and organizing, advocacy, marketing, and in development and management,
environmental causes at a young age. Through his early work as a community communications for the Baltimore-based combined with his background working
organizer he successfully helped elect progressive candidates across the state charter school network. with Baltimore City youth from low-
and advanced initiatives to strengthen labor standards and campaign nance I am humbled and eager to continue income backgrounds, will be a great asset
rules, improve safety and healthcare, and lift up young and working families. FreeState Justices work in ensuring that to LGBTQ Marylanders as he takes the
He moved to D.C. in 2011 to join the Sierra Club where he is currently a every member of the LGBTQ community in helm of this organization at such a critical
campaign representative. In his role, Downs has trained thousands of community Maryland can live authentically, with safety time in our history.
organizers across the country, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and dignity, Procopio told the Blade. Weber also highlighted the importance
successfully ghting to build grassroots support for policies to combat climate Our priority is to continue to answer of bringing on a seasoned managing
change and protect the health of our communities. Three years ago Randy was the incredible demand for legal services in attorney. Jennifer has spent years
diagnosed with cancer and as he tells it, I fought my way to remission using the the LGBTQ community. We have to listen advocating for individuals who have
same motivation and focus I use in my advocacy. to our clients needs and partner with local suered grave injustices, she said.
Downs lives in Dupont Circle with his longtime partner Dylan and volunteers at organizations to best meet those needs. We are thrilled that she is bringing her
many organizations including Whitman-Walker Health, the Smith Cancer Center With so much uncertainty at present, we great skill and depth of experience to
for Healing and the Arts, and the DC Center for the LGBT Community.He earned must focus on shoring up our local laws to FreeState Justice where she will enhance
his bachelors from Southeast MO State University where he graduated cum laude. insulate from federal policies that target our ability to ght tenaciously on behalf
our community, like those seen against LGBTQ Marylanders most at risk of
transgender students, he said. discrimination.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 0 9

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3 0 1 . 8 9 1 . 2 2 0 0 S P - L aw. C o m Lawrence S. Jacobs/McMillan Metro, PC

6 9 3 0 C a r r o L L av e , S u i t e 6 1 0 ta k o m a Pa r k m d

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HHS seeks to dump LGBT elders from U.S. health survey
Trump administration
questions reliability
of sample
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
LGBT advocacy groups are opposing the
Trump administrations announced plans
to remove questions seeking to identify
gay, lesbian and bisexual elders in a U.S.
health survey, saying the move represents a
systematic plan to undermine LGBT progress.
Services & Advocacy for LGBT Elders
announced Monday the launch of a
campaign to oppose the Department
of Health & Human Services proposed
elimination of the questions from the
National Survey of Older Americans Act
Participants, or NSOAAP. The survey is
intended to evaluate the eectiveness of
programs funded by the Older Americans
Act, such as services for home-delivered
meals, homemaker services and the
National Family Caregiver Support Program.
Michael Adams, CEO of SAGE, said
in a statement the proposed change
jeopardizes assurances LGBT elders will
receive benets under those programs.
Caring about our LGBT elders means
making sure they have access to publicly
funded senior services, which can be literally
life-saving, Adams said. Now, it appears
that the Trump administration wants to
make believe LGBT older people dont
exist, by erasing them from this critically
important survey. We insist that this
decision be reversed and that the federal
government commit to serving all elders in
need, including those who are LGBT.
The Trump administration announced
LGBT juror non-discrimination bill reintroduced
Prohibits rejection of jurors
based on orientation,
gender identity
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
LGBT supportive members of the U.S.
House and Senate last week reintroduced
legislation that would prohibit discrimination
against LGBT people in the process of selecting
jurors for trials in the nations federal courts.
In the House on March 13, Rep. Susan
Davis (D-Calif.) introduced the Juror Non-
Discrimination Act of 2017, which calls
for amending an existing law that bans
discrimination against prospective jurors
on the basis of race and sex to cover
HHS is seeking to eliminate a question for LGBT elders in a health survey.
plans to remove the sexual-orientation
questions from the NSOAAP shortly
after the conrmation of Tom Price as
secretary of health and human services.
As a U.S. lawmaker, Price had an anti-
LGBT record, including support for a U.S.
constitutional amendment banning same-
sex marriage nationwide and opposition to
hate crimes protections legislation, Dont
Ask, Dont Tell repeal and a version of the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In
2013, Price participated in an event call
hosted by Tea Party Unity and said a caller
was absolutely right about potentially
negative health and scal impacts of
measures promoting LGBT rights.
The declaration that HHS was
considering eliminating the notices
was published March 13 in the Federal
Register, the daily journal of the U.S.
sexual orientation and gender identity.
Two days later, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen
(D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine)
jointly introduced the Senate version of
the same bill but which bears a dierent
name, the Jury Access for Capable
Citizens and Equality in Service Selection,
or ACCESS, Act of 2017.
Both bills state that their intent is to
prohibit the exclusion of individuals from
service on a federal jury on account of
sexual orientation or gender identity.
As of early this week, three other
senators signed on as co-sponsors, Sens.
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patty Murray
(D-Wash.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
Sixteen House members 14
Democrats and two Republicans signed
on as co-sponsors of the House version of
the bill as of early this week.
government that includes rule changes.
LGBT elders or questions on U.S.
surveys are nowhere explicitly found in
the notice. Instead, the notice provides
a link to descriptions of previous surveys
and a link to a proposed draft of the
2017 survey, incorrectly saying there will
no change to the new survey. But a
look at the survey reveals a change: The
elimination of a question on whether
respondents identify as lesbian, gay or
bisexual, which had been included in
each annual survey since 2014.
According to the notice, federal
agencies are required under the
Paperwork Reduction Act to allow 60 days
for a public comment period on changes
in the collection of information and those
are due May 12.
Laura Durso, vice president for LGBT
Legal observers have pointed out that
during the jury selection process in trials
attorneys for plaintis in civil cases and
prosecutors in criminal cases as well as
attorneys for defendants have an opportunity
to strike or disqualify a limited number of
potential jurors without providing a reason.
Although the Supreme Court has ruled
that using such challenges to exclude
jurors based on their race or gender is
unconstitutional, the high court ruling
did not apply to sexual orientation or
gender identity. A federal law expanded
the Supreme Court ruling by banning
discrimination in the selection of jurors
based on race, religion, sex, national origin,
and economic status but also did not cover
sexual orientation or gender identity.
Meanwhile, in a development hailed by
LGBT rights attorneys, the U.S. Court of Appeals
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
research and communications at the
Center for American Progress, said in
a statement the proposed roll back
makes it impossible to know whether
the Department of Health and Human
Services is equitably serving LGBT people
in need.
Without the information provided
in these surveys, we cant ensure that
LGBT seniors have equal access to
important government services or that
LGBT people with disabilities have equal
access to independent living services
that empower them to live full and self-
determined lives, Durso said. We cant
ensure that the administration is fullling
its duty to eliminate the barriers that shut
vulnerable LGBT people out of the safety
net. By walking back data collection on
LGBT populations, this administration
is saying that they would rather erase
disparities than end them.
No question in the survey ever
addressed transgender status. Even
during the Obama years, the U.S.
government never included a question
in its surveys seeking to identify the
transgender population in the United
States, citing diculty in asking the
questions and being assured of responses.
The absence of those questions was
a source of frustration at the National
Center for Transgender Equality, which
collected its own information on the
transgender population in its 2015 U.S.
Transgender Survey.
Kelly Mack, an HHS spokesperson, said
in response to the criticism the question
on sexual orientation was included in
previous surveys as part of a trial eort,
but is now being eliminated because it
didnt yield sucient information.
for the 9th Circuit in Northern California ruled
in 2014 that its unconstitutional for a potential
juror to be excluded solely because of his or
her sexual orientation. But that ruling covers
only the seven western states and Hawaii that
are in the 9th Circuit.
Supporters of the Juror Non-
Discrimination Act and the Jury ACCESS
Act say the legislation is needed to extend
the 9th Circuit ruling nationwide.
Aaron Hunter, a spokesperson for
Davis, said Davis and other House
supporters of the legislation are hopeful
that it will gain traction in the current
115th Congress even though it has never
made it out of committee since it was
rst introduced in 2012. The 2017 version
of the legislation has been referred
to the Republican controlled Judiciary
Committees in the House and Senate.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 1

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KENDRA STEFANI JORDANY is a transgender woman from San Pedro Sula, Honduras,
who is running for a seat in the Central American Parliament.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KENDRA STEFANI JORDANY
A trans lawmaker in Honduras?
An activist in Honduras would become the rst openly transgender candidate
elected in the country if she were to win a seat in the Central American Parliament.
Kendra Stefani Jordany, who is a member of the Liberty and Refoundation
(LIBRE) party from the city of San Pedro Sula, nished 18 among the list of 20
candidates for the Central American Parliament who received enough votes in
the March 12 primary to qualify for the general election.
Jordany is the rst openly trans person to ever win a primary election in
Honduras.
Its an immense historical achievement, she told the Blade on March 17
during an interview from San Pedro Sula.
The Central American Parliament, which is part of the System of Central
American Integration, promotes human rights and political stability in the region.
Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican
Republic are members of the Guatemala City-based body.
Honduras general elections are scheduled to take place on Nov. 26. Jordany
told the Blade that she will hopefully be among the Central American Parliament
candidates who remain on the ballot.
Jordany, 28, began her advocacy more than a decade ago when she was 16.
She is currently studying journalism in San Pedro Sula. Jordany is also planning
to travel to the Dominican Republic next week in order to attend a conference
the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute is co-organizing.
Violence and discrimination based on gender identity remain commonplace
in Honduras. San Pedro Sula, which is located in the northwest corner of the
country, ranks as one of the worlds most violent cities that is not in a war zone
because of street gangs and drug trackers and Honduras Military Police that
target them.
Ren Martnez, a prominent San Pedro Sula-based activist who was a member
of President Juan Orlando Hernndezs ruling National Party, was killed in June
2016. A trans activist in San Pedro Sula with whom the Blade spoke last month
said she has survived two assassination attempts over the last year.
Jordany told the Blade she has not received any threats because of her
campaign or activism. She also said she would work on non-LGBT and intersex
issues if elected.
We must build alliances, said Jordany.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
I N T E RN A T I O N A L N E W S
State Dept. defends anti-LGBT activists appointment
The State Department on Monday once again defended the decision to appoint a
representative of an organization that strongly opposes LGBT and intersex rights to the
U.S. delegation to an annual U.N. womens conference.
The United States does seek to include individuals from civil society organizations with
diverse viewpoints and allow them to observe the U.N. in action during the Commission
on the Status of Women, acting spokesperson Mark Toner told the Washington Blade
during his daily press brieng.
The State Department last week announced Center for Family and Human Rights
Executive Vice President Lisa Correnti and Heritage Foundation Associate for Social
Issues at the U.N. Grace Melton is among the members of the U.S. delegation to the
conference that is scheduled to end on March 24.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated C-FAM as a hate group, noting its
strong opposition to LGBT and intersex rights.
The Human Rights Campaign, the Council for Global Equality, Human Rights First and
OutRight Action International have urged Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to rescind the
appointments. C-FAM President Austin Ruse on March 15 described OutRight Action
International as a radical homosexual group that has started a global campaign to
have Lisa (Correnti) removed from the U.S. delegation in a fundraising letter it sent to
its supporters.
This radical group charges that C-FAM is a hate group because we do not accept the
homosexual agenda, wrote Ruse.
OutRight Action International has accused C-FAM of violating federal ethics laws with
its fundraising appeal.
OutRight Action International Executive Director Jessica Stern on March 17 asked
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley to remove Correnti from the delegation and
ban C-FAM from the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women while their fundraising
practices are under investigation.
The question we are asking now is: Is it ethical for a civil society representative to
directly prot from the appointment to a U.S. government delegation, or is this a conict
of interest, asked Stern in her letter to Haley.
To us, this seems very much like a conict of interest, and we urge you, as head
of the delegation and ambassador to the U.N., to please remove C-FAM from the U.S.
delegation to the Commission on Status of Women, added Stern.
Toner on Monday did not specically respond to the Blades question about OutRight
Action Internationals allegation.
He said Correnti and Melton can attend formal commission meetings and side
events.
Theyre not, however, authorized to negotiate or speak on behalf of the United
States, he added.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Trump budget slashes State Dept., USAID
The budget blueprint that President Trump released last week would cut the budgets
of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development by 28
percent.
The proposed budget requests a total of $37.6 billion for the State Department and
USAID.
It seeks $25.6 billion in base funding for the two agencies, which is $10.1 billion less
than they received in scal year 2017. The proposed budget also requests an additional
$12 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations funding for extraordinary costs
associated with wars in countries that include Afghanistan and Iraq.
Trump writes in the blueprints introduction that the $54 billion in proposed cuts in
non-defense spending includes deep cuts to foreign aid. The proposed budget does
not specically say whether the White House plans to cut or eliminate funding of State
Department or USAID initiatives or programs that promote LGBT and intersex rights
abroad.
It is time to prioritize the security and well-being of Americans and to ask the rest of
the world to step up and pay its fair share, says Trump in the blueprints introduction.
The proposed budget provides sucient resources to maintain current commitments
and all current patient levels on HIV/AIDS treatment under the Presidents Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief. It also meets U.S. commitments to the Global Fund for AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The proposed budget would reduce funding for the State Departments Educational
and Cultural Exchange Programs and redirect it to sustaining the agship Fulbright
Program. It also calls for a $650 million reduction in funding to the World Bank and
other international development banks over three years.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 3

1 4 MA RCH 2 4 , 2 017
Gorsuch tight-lipped, but says marriage is settled law
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
marriage terminology commonly citedin
Europe, but rarely in the United States, to
refer to marriage equality.
Durbin brought up LGBT people in the
context of questioning of John Finnis,
whom Gorsuch identied as a mentor
during his time at Oxford University. A
conservative one-time law professor,
Finnis delivered a deposition in the
early 90s in favor of Colorados anti-gay
Amendment 2, a law that prohibited
cities from enacting non-discrimination
ordinances based on sexual orientation.
The Supreme Court struck down the law
in the 1996 Romer v. Evans decision.
Referencing a passage in which Finnis
compared same-sex relationships to
bestiality and said antipathy toward LGBT
people is based not just on religious
reasons, but societal views, Durbin asked
Gorsuch whether he was aware of his
mentors statements.
I know he testied in the Romer case,
Gorsuch said. I cant specically recall the
specics of his testimony or that he gave
a deposition.
When Durbin sought more information
from Gorsuch on the impact Finnis had
on his views, Gorsuch referred to rulings
he made on the bench as a member of
the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
I think the best evidence is what Ive
written, Gorsuch said. Ive written or
joined over 6 million words as a federal
appellate judge. Ive written a couple of
books. Ive been a lawyer and a judge for
25 or 30 years, and I guess Id ask you,
respectfully, to look at my credentials and
my record.
In another exchange with Franken,
Gorsuch conceded the issue of same-
sex marriage is settled law, but
acknowledged subsequent litigation is
ongoing on its impact and kept his cards
close to his vest on his personal views.
Referencing Gorsuchs help with former
President George W. Bushs 2004 re-
election campaign in Ohio as a member
of Lawyers for Bush, Franken noted
that was the year the state had an anti-
gay amendment on the ballot and asked
the nominee whether same-sex marriage
should be subjectedto popular vote.
Senator, I dont recall any involvement
in that issue during that campaign,
Gorsuch said. I remember going to Ohio.
When Franken asked the nominee if he
wasaware of the marriage issue in 2004,
Gorusch replied, Certainly, I was aware
about it.
Pressed further by Franken for his views,
Gorsuch added, Any revelation about my
personal views about this matter would
indicate to people how I might rule as a
judge. Mistakenly, but it might, and I have
to be concerned about that.
When Franken pointed out the U.S.
In an exchange with Sen. AL FRANKEN, Neil
Gorsuch conceded the issue of same-sex
marriage is settled law.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
Supreme Court has ruled in favor of
same-sex marriage nationwide and asked
Gorsuch how his views have changed since
2004, the nominee remain tight-lipped.
My personal views, if were to begin
speaking about my personal views on this
subject, which every American has views
on, would send a misleading signal to the
American people, Gorsuch said.
The Minnesota Democrat sought to
move on to another topic as Gorsuch said
he wanted to nish his thought about not
being able to disclose personal view, but
Franken said, Youve given a version of
this answer before. I understand.
The issue of marriage equality came
up later in the hearing when Sen.
Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) brought it up
when asking Gorsuch about his views
on whether the Constitution protects
intimate and personal choices. Gorsuch
again declined to express his personal
views, but underscored the importance
of the Obergefell decision as precedent.
Obergefell is a precedent of the United
States Supreme Court, Gorsuch said. It
entitles persons to engage in single-sex
marriage. Thats a right that the Supreme
Court has recognized. It is a precedent of
the United States Supreme Court entitled
to all the deference to precedence of the
United States Supreme Court, and thats
quite a lot.
Much of the concern over Gorsuch
concerns his subscription to the judicial
philosophy of originalism in which
jurists seek to determine lawmakers
original intent of enacting statutes before
ruling on them, a practice criticized as
a means to deny justice to minority
groups, including LGBT people. The late
U.S. Associate Justice Antonin Scalia
advocated that judicial viewpoint in his
dissents to major gay rights cases, such
as the U.S. Supreme Court decision in
favor of same-sex marriage.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) sought
clarication from Gorsuch on originalism,
referencing, among other rulings, the
1996 Virginia Military Institute decision,
which determined the states exclusion
of women from the school violated
the right to equal protection under the
14th Amendment. Scalia, in his dissent,
wrote the decision was creating a new
Constitution, not keeping to the original
meaning of the U.S. Constitution.
Asked by Klobuchar whether the ruling
was based on the original meaning of the
Constitution, Gorsuch kept his views to
himself and said, The majority in that case
argued that it was. Gorsuch repeated
his view the concept of equal protection
under the law is quite signicant.
When the Minnesota Democrat asked
Gorsuch whether hed apply that approach
to minority groups, such as women, LGBT
people and racial minorities, Gorsuch
replied, A good judge applies the law
without respect to persons. Thats part of
my judicial oath.
Seemingly unsatised with the response,
Klobuchar pressed Gorsuch further,
prompting him to reply, I dont take
account of the person before me. Everyone
is equal under the eyes of the law.
The reluctance of Gorsuch to oer
his views during the conrmation
process is typical of nominees seeking
conrmation to the Supreme Court. As
other nominees have done in the past,
Gorsuch said disclosure of personal
views or the appropriateness of a
particular decision would suggest a bias
on those issues if they came to him after
winningconrmation.
Other decisions on which Gorsuch had
no comment included the Roe v. Wade
decision, the Heller decision arming the
Second Amendment right to own a rearm
in D.C. and the Citizens United case allowing
unlimited contributions from corporations
and unions to political campaigns.
On rare occasions during the hearing,
Gorsuch was more direct. Referencing
Trumps pledge to appoint only justices
whod overturn a womans right to have
an abortion, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.)
asked Gorsuch if he made any private
commitments to Trump to overturn Roe
v. Wade, but the nominee replied he
didnt and was not asked to do so.
I would have walked out the door,
Gorsuch said. Thats not what judges do.
A group of 21 LGBT organizations led
by Lamdba Legal signed a joint letter to
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
the Senate Judiciary Committee last week
declaring their opposition to the nominee
and urging rigorous questioning during
the conrmation process.
Although Gorsuch has never ruled on the
issue of same-sex marriage, the nominee
wrote a scathing piece in 2005 for the
National Review titled Liberals & Lawsuits
excoriating the progressive movement for
seeking advancements in the courts. Two
years after the Massachusetts Supreme
Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage,
the article identies marriage equality as
an issue that should be settled outside the
judicial system.
When asked by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
to respond to criticism over the op-ed,
the nominee said he believes the courts,
in fact, are a very important place for the
vindication of civil rights, but in many cases
they arent appropriate for change.
I can report to you, having lived longer,
as I did report to you in 2005 that the
problem lies on both sides of the aisle,
that I see lots of people who resort to
the court more quickly than perhaps they
should, Gorsuch said.
Much of the discontent over Gorsuch
is also related to his 11th Circuit decision
in the Hobby Lobby case, when he ruled
the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
aords religious freedom protections
to not just people, but corporations, and
the business chain could refuse health
insurance to female employees that
covered contraception. Gorsuch joined a
similar decision against the Obamacare
contraception mandate in the Little
Sisters of the Poor case.
At a time when many businesses and
individuals are asserting civil rights laws
prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination
unfairly penalize their religious beliefs,
some LGBT rights supporters fearGorsuch
could apply that religious freedom
reasoning in those cases to institute carve-
outs for anti-LGBT discrimination.
Under questioning from Durbin,
Gorsuch walked through his reasoning
in the Hobby Lobby case, maintaining
his ruling is based on the belief the
U.S. government could make other
accommodations for employees seeking
contraception other than employer-
based health coverage.
Does the government have a
compelling interest in the ACA in providing
contraceptive care? The Supreme Court
of the United States said, We assume yes.
We take that as given, Gorsuch said. The
question becomes is it narrow tailored to
require the Green family to provide it. The
answer there the Supreme Court reached
in precedent binding on us now, and we
reached in anticipation, is no, that wasnt
as strictly tailored as it could be because
the government had provided dierent
accommodations to churches and to
other religious entities.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

N A T IO NA L NEW S MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 5

Schiff leading the resistance to Trump in Congress

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

lies about surveillance were damaging

relations with the countrys allies.
Additionally, Comey conceded that, in
addition to the Russian hacking of the
election, the Trump campaigns possible
collusion with Russian ocials is under
federal investigation.
Is it possible that all of these events
and reports are completely unrelated and
nothing more than an entirely unhappy
coincidence? Schi asked. Yes, it is
possible. But it is also possible, maybe
more than possible, that they are not
coincidental, not disconnected and not
unrelated and that the Russians use the
same techniques to corrupt U.S. persons
that they employed in Europe and
elsewhere. We simply dont know, not yet.
And we owe it to the country to nd out.
These are not just rhetorical ourishes
so Schi can get a sound bite on MSNBC
or CNN. Hes the real deal, checking in
with his constituents when no cameras
are around. And he knows many of his
constituents are terried of Trump.
There is an absolute sense of alarm
at how this administration is conducting
itself and whether the president of the
United States, who makes repeated false
statements, can be believed in times
of national crisis. I think its a very deep
concern for members of both parties,
Schi told the Los Angeles Blade in a
phone interview March 17.
Believe me, I understand it and I feel
that acutely, he said. The day after the
election, I went to the LGBT Center in
the district.[H]undreds of people were
deeply worried about what this new
administration would mean. Youve now
seen that Center defaced with hateful
grati. Youre seeing a rise in anti-
Semitism around the country and hate
in many forms. Youre seeing members
of Congress like Steve King express white
nationalist sentiments that would be
unthinkable at other times. And I think its
alarming to millions of Americans.
Schi has also discussed LGBT rights when
he travels to foreign countries, including the
Baltics. He is keenly aware of attempts by the
American religious right to create alliances
with conservative foreign governments
based on anti-LGBT sentiment.
I think this is really part of a
propaganda campaign that has many
centers of gravity, Schi said. But one are also human rights?
of the most prominent is coming out of
Moscow and this is a line that the Kremlin
is pushing as part of its nativist agenda
that the West is decadent, that it doesnt
observe family or conservative values.
This is something the Russians are trying
to use in Eastern Europe and in the Baltics
as a way of developing support for pro-
Russian parties.
When I was in the Baltics a year or two
There is an absolute sense of alarm at how
this administration is conducting itself, said
Rep. ADAM SCHIFF.
ago, he continued, this was an issue I
raised with some parliamentarians who
were pursuing legislation modeled after
bills in the Russian Duma to discriminate
against the LGBT community. So these
eorts are going on. I think the Kremlin
considers it a wedge issue they can use
to wedge people away from the United
States but also cause internal conict
within Eastern European societies in
hopes of weakening them.
While Schi says there must be a
strong pushback, especially among
members of Congress with their
counterparts in Europe, support from the
State Department and the White House is
uncertain.
Two words I have yet to hear in
combination from the president are
human and rights. And if hes not going
to talk about human rights at all and
make it clear to authoritarian and other
governments around the world that
thats not a priority for the United States
any more, Schi said, then what hope
do we have for the White House to be
advocating for a policy that LGBT rights
Still, there is hope. Ive been urging
people to pick one or two issues that
they really care about and to nd out
how they can make a dierence in Rep. Adam Schi has emerged as a leading critic of PRESIDENT TRUMPs administration.
those, Schi said. They can be LGBT
issues or climate change or concerns
over voter disenfranchisement in contribute to resisting the ill-thought- out where each individual can have
minority communities. Figure out how out and discriminatory policies of the the most value. But there are lots of
you can use your skills as a layperson, administration. We each can make a opportunities and the country deeply
as a lawyer, as a teacher, as a writer to dierence and the challenge is to gure needs it right now.
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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any project over $1000 into the city. Given this is the year the Maryland LGBT Chamber is ocially
Ask for details! launched, my company chose the Chamber as our non-prot to showcase.
AdNet is certied by the national Chamber. It opens up the doors for business,
PAINT, FLOORS AND MORE SINCE 1964. Cerulo told the Baltimore Sun. Corporations are now wanting to have as part of
their procurement spend, they want to allot a certain amount of money to LGBT-
We Accept: LGBTQ friendly certied companies. It denitely gives me an added advantage when Im looking
to do business with corporations. That helps me get in the door.
The Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce is being formed in an eort to
empower and promote LGBT business owners and professionals in the Maryland
marketplace. Its goal is to ocially launch on June 14, 2017, aiming to grow to
500 individuals and businesses.
The fundraiser, themed Art, Wine and All That Jazz, will take place between
5:30-8 p.m. at the newly renovated Center Stage, 700 North Calvert St. in Baltimore.
There will be music, food and a silent auction with artwork from local artists.

Iron Crow unveils new season

Iron Crow Theatre, Baltimores only professional queer theater company,
announced its new season line-up on March 19 at a reception at the Motor
House in Baltimores arts and entertainment district.
In addressing a crowd of more than 100, Sean Elias, Iron Crow Theatres Artistic
Director and CEO, touted the growth of the company and the fact the four shows
from the current season garnered 32 award nominations.
For the upcoming season, dubbed the Season of Identity, Iron Crow will
present: The Cradle Will Rock, Rocky Horror Show, The Goodies, Cloud 9,
Corpus Christi, and The Laramie Project. There will also be an educational
tour geared to middle school students called Queer?!
The 17/18 Season of Identity explores who we are as individuals, as people,
and as a nation, revealing the possibility, uidity and oppression we all encounter
in the construction of who I am and who we are, said Elias, in a statement prior
to the event.

Hopkins holds identity-based meet-ups

To create more opportunities for people to share their identities in a safe and
friendly environment, Johns Hopkins University is oering meet-ups for LGBTQ
students. These meet-ups are intended only for people who have that particular
identity. Allies of these communities are encouraged to respect the need to have
a closed event.
Currently, meet-ups have been established for the following: Roots (for LGBTQ
people of color); Transgender and Genderqueer; Asexual Spectrum (including
asexual, demisexual, gray-A, and similar identities); LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual
Violence; LGBTQA People of Faith; and LGBTQ International Students.
If interested in attending any of these meet-ups, emaillgbtq@jhu.edu.
STEVE CHARING
 W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 7

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For a private showing, please contact Betty Mallon at

703-989-8548 or bmallon@mcenearney.com.

Our new column, Comings & Goings, is

the place to share the good news of your
career. Changing jobs? Win an award?
Join a board?

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 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

18 M A R C H 24, 2017 H E A LT H N E W S
Set New Goals for Spring
Lebanon plans LGBT sexual health week

LONDON Lebanon is hosting itsrst-ever LGBT sexual health week and will
focus on the marginalization of the community, Gay Star News, a U.K. outlet, reports.
The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) will run the
health week, which will focus on how the marginalization of the LGBTI community
aects mental health.
In a series of videos the health campaign tackles the myriad of issues LGBT
people face living in Lebanon.
One of the videos features Dr. Fadi (no rst name given), a sexual health specialist.
As a doctor, my mission includes raising awareness and not just treatment.
But Im unable to fulll my duties when it comes to the sexual health of (LGBT)
people and this worries me, he said in the video.
Fadi explained a lot of LGBT people avoid going to doctors for fear of
mistreatment and discrimination.
Although Lebanon is one the most progressive countries in the Middle
East regarding LGBT issues, it is still taboo. Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal
Codeprohibits having sexual relations that are contradicting the laws of nature.
But in January, Lebanon came one step closer to decriminalizing
homosexuality. A judge ruled that, homosexuality is a personal choice, not a
punishable oense.
The ruling referenced Article 183: An act undertaken in exercise of a right
without abuse shall not be regarded as an oense.
Which means if youre exercising your freedoms and not hurting anyone,
Join our Personal Training Program theres no crime, Gay Star News reports.
Where Functionality & Strength Meet Technology
1150 18th Street, NW Calif. strategizes against health care overhaul
Washington, D.C.
benchgym@gmail.com
www.benchgym.com SAN FRANCISCO Health care experts say the prognosis is not good for
California creating a single-payer health care system this year, even as fears grow
over the impact of Republican federal lawmakers plans to gut the Aordable
Care Act, the Bay Area Reporter reports.
Gay state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and lesbian state Sen. Toni Atkins
(D-San Diego) last month introduced their Californians for a Healthy California
Act (Senate Bill 562), which is backed by the California Nurses Association, to
jumpstart the process of creating a universal health care system that would
cover all 39 million Californians, including the estimated 3 million undocumented
immigrants living in the state.
They have yet to release a more detailed plan for how the state would achieve
that goal but have pledged to do so in the weeks ahead, the Reporter article notes.
Access to aordable and quality health care is not only critical, it should be a
right for everyone in California, Atkins said, according to the Bay Area Reporter.
In light of threats to the Aordable Care Act, its important that we look at all
options to maintain and expand access to health care. The Healthy California Act
is an essential part of that conversation.
Past attempts to do so have failed in California, such as when voters rejected a
statewide ballot initiative in 1994. And out former lawmakers have seen opposition
from insurance companies and other special interests sink their past legislation.
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger twice vetoed bills carried by lesbian
former state Senator Sheila Kuehl, now a Los Angeles county supervisor. And
gay former state Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) saw his 2012 bill to establish
ADVERTISIN
aG P R O O F health care system pass out of the Senate only to die in the
single-payer
ISSUE DATE: 02.10.2017 SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS (bpitts@washblade.com) Assembly, the Reporter notes.
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Conversion therapy voted down in Tampa

proof. Proof will be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within 24 hours of
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omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) is not responsible for the content and/or design of your ad. Advertiser is
GN responsible for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users
EVISIONS can link through the advertisement. Advertiser represents that its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or
any rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as infringement or misapporpriation of any
/LOGO REVISIONS copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary or propety right, false advertising, unfair
competition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination law or regulation, TAMPA, Fla. Local LGBT members celebrated a major win Thursday in the
SIONS or any other right of any person or entity. Advertiser agrees to idemnify brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the ADVERTISER SIGNATURE
washington blade) and to hold brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) harmless from any and all
liability, loss, damages, claims, or causes of action, including reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred Tampa City Council, ABC Action News reports.
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Council members unanimously voted to ban mental health professionals
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and warranties.

from using gay conversion therapy.

Supporters of the ban dressed in purple.
Under the ordinance, anyone caught providing conversion therapy to a minor
would be ned up to a $1,000. Repeat oenders would face a ne up to $5,000,
ABC reports.
Dozens shared their stories of personal trauma under the practice. At least
one opponent also spoke before council. Those providing strictly religious
counseling like clergymen are exempt from the ban under the rst amendment.
A second reading of the ordinance takes place next month, ABC Action News reports.
202.319.8541 www.lgbtc.com Se habla espanol
~
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 9

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2 0 MA RCH 2 4 , 2 017
The battle for America
Our vital shared ground is
under brutal assault
RICHARD J. ROSENDALL is a writer and activist.
Reach him at rrosendall@starpower.net.
I feel these days like an unwilling pas-
senger in a speeding car driven by a
drunk. We cannot survive four years of
this breakneck Trumpian recklessness.
Somethings going to blow, says novel-
ist Salman Rushdie. He fears a Kent State,
where an antiwar protester in 1970 was
killed by the Ohio National Guard. I fear
both that and a new war.
But the driver is not drunk. He is crazy.
He is attacking what makes our diverse
population a nation. I am not talking
about mere rhetoric. That framing im-
plies both sides are equally at fault.
When a group of anti-gay ministers a
decade ago fought eorts to enact civil
marriage equality in D.C., they portrayed
themselves as victims. That was false.
They had no right to vote on their neigh-
bors marital choices. We who fought for
marriage equality were not telling them
what to preach or whose wedding to con-
secrate. We were ghting for legal equal-
ity in the secular realm.
Trumpists who treat all Muslims as ter-
rorists (while ignoring acts of domestic
terror by members of groups like Army of
God) are not defending against Shariah
law; they are seeking supremacy for their
own faith. Women ghting for healthcare
choice do not try to control mens bod-
ies as men have done to them, except
as satire. There has been no rash of hate
crimes by gay men and trans women
against straight men.
The current wave of intolerance is by
people ghting against the loss of unmer-
ited privilege. Scan the mainstream news.
Whose churches are torched? Whose
cemeteries are desecrated? Whose
children are bullied? What grati is as
frightening as a swastika? This is not a
zero-sum game of white versus black, gay
versus straight, or Christian versus hea-
then. Those are false binaries. Resisting
Trump is properly a ght for E pluribus
unum: Out of many, we are one.
Conservative Rod Dreher, who thinks
Christianity is under assault by gay peo-
ple and the sexual revolution, proposes
what he dubs the Benedict Option, after
the father of the monastic movement:
creating self-isolated orthodox com-
E DIT OR IA L C A R T OON
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
VIEWPOINT
munities. It sounds almost benign to let
people go o and do their own thing, like
Henry David Thoreau. But what if we re-
place Christianist orthodoxy with Islamist
orthodoxy? Would Christianist bullies
tolerate Shariah-avored Waldens? No.
We cannot expect peace to result from
enclaves of obscurantism springing up
across the country like an American ver-
sion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied
Territory. Imagine seeing a thousand Sci-
entology compounds bloom.
Drehers vision is a short leap from a
real-life version of the social thriller cre-
ated by director Jordan Peele in his witty
lm Get Out.Perhaps its dangers could
be mitigated by apps that warn people
away from certain areas. But America is a
republic. Just as Lincoln said we could not
endure half slave and half free, we cannot
endure as a patchwork quilt where some
places deny secular freedoms. The Bill of
Rights is not optional.
Budgets have consequences. Decimat-
ing the State Department will make dead-
ly miscalculations more likely. Slashing
health funding, like that for the Epidemi-
ology and Laboratory Capacity Program,
will make us more vulnerable to pandem-
ics. Rolling back environmental protec-
tions will poison our air, water and land.
Taking away healthcare, home heating
assistance and Meals on Wheels from the
most vulnerable will kill more Americans
than ISIS ever could. Cutting foreign hu-
manitarian assistance as famine looms
will starve children and destroy goodwill.
Americas Founders concluded the Dec-
laration, [W]e mutually pledge to each
other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sa-
cred Honor. Honor: if we have any left, if
we know what it means, if we see what is
happening, then we must act. It is time to
stop hoping for the best and start ghting
for our country. We must dog every step
of this crass, ignorant, unstable man and
his band of vandals.
The Founders are long gone. It is our
turn to stand and deliver. Americas true
greatness is rooted in the pluralism under
attack. Trumps mayhem will bring a back-
lash. When it comes, we must choose rec-
onciliation over revenge with those he de-
ceived and betrayed. We will have much
rebuilding to do. Our vital shared ground,
our republic, will remain at stake.
Copyright 2017 by Richard J.
Rosendall. All rights reserved.
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 12
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
V I E W PO I N T
Adding Elizabeth Bishop to our LGBT literary team
Recognizing contributions
of lesbian poet
KATHI WOLFE, a writer and poet, is a regular
contributor to the Blade.
Though I love poetry, few poems are al-
ways in my head. Yet, One Art, the witty,
but heartbreakingly sad poem by Eliza-
beth Bishop (with its repeating line the
art of losing isnt hard to master) is part
of my DNA.
Im far from alone. While Bishop was
alive, only 100 of her poems were pub-
lished. Yet few poets, queer or hetero
(Bishop was lesbian) are so beloved or fa-
mous, even outside of poetry circles. Her
work was set to music by composers Ned
Rorem and Elliott Carter. Michael Sledges
2010 novel, The More I Owe You and
the 2013 movie Reaching for the Moon
are about her relationship with her Brazil-
I N S I DE LGB T W A S HING TON
Trump budget will cause suffering, death
The party of Lincoln is
now the party of Bannon
PETER ROSENSTEIN is a D.C.-based LGBT rights
and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly
for the Blade.
Donald Trump is trying to prove what
we already know: If you feed seniors less
you save money; if you let them die you
save money on healthcare; if you cut
funds for education and child nutrition
programs you save money; and if you cut
funding and access to the arts, peoples
souls die but you save money.
In the alternate universe of the Trump
administration we have a president and
a Director of the Oce of Management
and Budget Mick Mulvaney who intend
to double down on these truths produc-
Art is needed in our time as never before. Check
out the new Bishop bio A Miracle for Breakfast
and Bishops dazzling poetry.
ian lover Lota (Maria Carlota de Macedo
Soares). Bishops been on a U.S. postage
stamp. A new biography Elizabeth Bishop:
A Miracle for Breakfast by Megan Mar-
shall sheds new light on the poets life.
Bishop, who lived from 1911 to 1979,
received many awards from a Pulitzer
Prize to a National Book Award. From
1949-1950, she was the consultant in po-
etry to the Library of Congress (the post
is now called poet laureate). Yet, she was
as well known for her love of privacy as
for the many honors bestowed on her. Its
hard to imagine that shed be pleased to
have more of her personal life revealed.
She famously said that she believed in
closets, closets, closets.
If only, I (and the rest of her acionados)
could respect her wishes and not want to
know more about her personal life and
how she went about making art. I dont
hanker after intimate details of Bishops
love life or want to put her in a box as a
lesbian or woman poet. Yet, its the 21st
ing a budget blueprint that will foist these
things on the neediest our young, the
disabled, the poor and the elderly.
When introducing this budget blueprint
and defending it, Mulvaney said, We can
cut Meals on Wheels and after-school
nutrition programs because those pro-
grams arent showing any results. To all
those poor seniors who voted for Trump
or stayed home and didnt vote you now
see the result of your actions and know
instead of paying for a meal for you the
United States might build a new battle-
ship instead. Problem is you may not live
long enough to see it when you consider
Trump is also trying to make your health-
care unaordable.
Mulvaney went on to talk about chil-
drens nutrition programs saying, Theyre
supposed to help kids who dont get fed at
home get fed so they do better in school.
Guess what? Theres no evidence theyre
actually doing that. Theres no evidence
theyre helping results, helping kids do bet-
ter in school, which is what when we took
your money from you to say, were going to
spend them on after-school programs, we
justied it by saying these kids will do bet-
century. Its time to claim Bishop, though
she wasnt open about her sexuality in her
lifetime, as part of our LGBT literary team.
Marshalls bio illuminates both Bishops
story and what it was like to be a queer au-
thor in the mid-century cultural landscape.
Marshall was a student of Bishops at
Harvard in the 1970s. She draws on pre-
viously unknown letters from Bishop
most notably to her psychiatrist and to
Alice Methfessel, her lover during the last
years of her life.
Bishop, who was born in a small Nova
Scotia town, endured many hardships. By
the time she was ve, her father had died
and her mother had been permanently
committed to a mental institution. Bishop
felt like shed been kidnapped, when she scribed as looking like a grandmother.
was sent to live with relatives in Worces-
ter, Mass. After developing asthma, she
went to live with her aunts and her Uncle
George outside Boston. In 1947, Bishop
wrote to her psychiatrist about how her
uncle had abused her. Maybe lots of
ter in school and get jobs. We have no proof
thats helping. So since these programs
show no results according to Mulvaney he
goes on to tell people, we wont spend your
hard-earned tax money on them and that
is about as compassionate as you can get.
Only in Trumps alternate universe would al-
lowing children and seniors to go hungry be
considered compassionate. Even during the
worst of George W. Bushs compassionate
conservatism we didnt see this.
In addition, the proposed cuts to the
Environmental Protection Agency and
Housing and Urban Development make
it harder for cities to ensure aordable
housing for people in need and the popu-
lation as a whole will be breathing dirtier
air and drinking potentially less pure wa-
ter. These cuts will lead to worse health
outcomes for families and a poorer edu-
cation for children.
If the proposed replacement of the ACA,
fully supported by Trump, and currently
working its way through Congress were to
pass, the CBO estimates it will leave 14 mil-
lion more people without health insurance
next year. Added together all these budget
cuts have the makings of an epic crisis.
MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 2 1
people have never known real sadists at
rst hand, she wrote.
Methfessel was some 30 years younger
than Bishop. I hope I die rst, Bishop
wrote to her fearing that the younger
woman would leave the relationship.
Its easy to wonder why Bishops poetry
is so restrained about sexuality or to carp
at her refusal to have her work published
in a womens poetry anthology. But this is
forgetting what it was like to be gay dur-
ing Bishops time. From 1952-1973, the
American Psychiatric Association charac-
terized homosexuality as a mental illness.
LGBT authors were among those target-
ed by McCarthyism in the 1950s. Bishop
contributed regularly to The New Yorker.
But in her day, the magazine didnt pub-
lish poems with a queer perspective.
Yet, Bishop wasnt a wilting lily. She
and Adrienne Rich liked each other. Ive
always considered myself a strong femi-
nist, she told The Paris Review. In her
later years, Bishop chafed at being de-
Theyd never say an older man looked like
a grandfather, she told interviewers.
Art is needed in our time as never be-
fore. Check out the new Bishop bio A
Miracle for Breakfast and Bishops daz-
zling poetry.
The Republican Party is no longer the
Party of Lincoln, Eisenhower or even Ronald
Reagan. It is now the party of Trump, Ban-
non, Ryan, Mulvaney and a host of other
alt-right individuals either elected by the Tea
Party or brought into the White House and
federal agencies by Trump. Their vision for
America is a nation with a withered heart
and faltering global economy. It is a vision
for an America that no longer leads the free
world nor is a haven for those who are dis-
criminated against and persecuted in other
countries around the world. It is no longer
the America where those who arrive by ship
in New York harbor see the Statue of Liberty
for the rst time and read on it the words
of the poem by Emma Lazarus, Give me
your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free, The wretched re-
fuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the
homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!
If we arent vigilant and resist, the
Trump administration will replace those
words with a large sign reading Keep
out! Here we only care about the wealthy
and those white people who can fend for
themselves.
2 2 MA RCH 2 4 , 2 017 W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Grand Central owner
DON DAVIS says
hes overcome many
hurdles to keep the
business running since
it opened 25 years ago.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVIS
BALTIMORE GAY BAR GRAND CENTRAL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF FUN AND COMMUNITY
RJ Ladd recalls the summer of 2001 at
Central Station, the former name of Grand
Central. It was during Tia-Oke when drag
performer, Tia (Chambers), drunk, hosted
karaoke, attempted to walk down the steps
and fell at on her face. We helped her up,
not a hair out of place, and she didnt miss a
beat. She kept going as if it didnt happen.
That amusing anecdote could serve
obliquely as a metaphor for Grand Central
Nightclubs 25-year history. Though the club
never stumbled, it has had to overcome
a number of challenges competition,
property damage, declining interest in gay
bars to remain a vital part of Baltimores
LGBT culture and social life.
To mark 25 years in the community,
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
A Grand Central party in 2014. The club has been a central hub of Baltimore gay life since 1991.
A Grand occasion
By STEVE CHARING
Grand Central, situated at the intersection
of Charles and Eager streets in the Mount
Vernon gayborhood, will host a special
event on Saturday, March 25. There will
be free cover all night and giveaways
every hour as well as other surprises.
Owner Don Davis, a well-known and
outspoken gure in Baltimores LGBT
community, waxes nostalgic about the
era when gay bars were at their zenith.
Prior to owning Grand Central, he and
partner Rick Morgenthaler had opened
the Allegro, also in Mount Vernon, in
November 1986. After a slow start,
they modied the piano bar format by
instituting country and western parties,
mens nights and ladies nights.
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 12
PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAND CENTRAL
Those changes paid o. The place
was hopping and became the place to
be, Davis says. There were a lot of fun
memories back then.
At the time, Davis used to drive down
Eager Street en route to his home in the
Canton neighborhood. He noticed that
a historic row house at 1001 N. Charles
Street was for sale.
I always liked the building and
the location and decided to look at it
throughout, Davis says. I contacted two
of my friends and asked if they would be
interested in being an investor with no
say in the business. They both agreed.
The property was purchased in July
1991. After renovations, the doors
MARCH 24, 2017 PAGE 23
opened on Sept. 12, 1991.
On Feb. 5, 2003, Davis purchased the
adjacent north building at 1003 North
Charles St. where the former Stagecoach
bar existed, and reconstruction was
undertaken, adding a double bar disco
with state-of-the-art dance oor, sound
and lighting systems, and an additional
upstairs lounge and restaurant.
In keeping with the major
improvements and new facilities, the
club was renamed Grand Central and the
expanded complex opened May 29, 2003.
Diagonally across the corner was the
iconic Club Hippo, for years the largest
CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

2 4 M A RCH 2 4 , 2 017 Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R CH A D KO RA T I CH
CHAD KORATICH
How long have you been out and who
was the hardest person to tell?
I came out to myself in the summer of
1992 when I was at Walter Reed as a
nurse cadet. One Saturday afternoon, I
took the Metro into the city, got out at
Dupont Circle and just started walking. I
eventually ended up on 17th Street and
saw a bar with a Pride ag hanging in the
window. It took me about 20 minutes of
pacing back and forth in front of it, but I
nally welled up the courage and walked
into JR.s and ordered a drink. Two years
later, living in suburban Maryland with
Matthew, I did one of the hardest things
in my life and came out to my mother
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
over the phone.
Whos your LGBT hero?
By JOEY DiGULIELMO Hard question, but the many individuals
joeyd@washblade.com I cared for in the era of HAART (highly
active antiretroviral therapy). Words
D.C.s Dierent Drummers celebrates the work of LGBT composers at its cant fully describe the admiration I have
spring concert this weekend. for their strength and perseverance.
Glitter & Be GAY! will be held on Saturday, March 25 at the Church of the
Epiphany (1317 G St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. featuring compositions by Aaron Copland, Whats Washingtons best nightspot,
Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, Julie Giroux, Jennifer Higdon and more. Ruby past or present?
Corado will narrate a piece called Lincoln Portrait, which features excerpts I had the best times in the 90s at
from the Gettysburg Address. Tickets are $20 and are available at dcdd.org. Trumpets and Badlands. I miss those
Chad Koratich is the Drummers saxophone section leader and has been days. Today, Bear Happy Hour at Town is
with the ensemble since 2003. Hes been in the marching band, the Sax in the the place to be.
City sax quartet and also on the Drummers board.
The folks in DCDD are amazing people and we love coming together every Describe your dream wedding.
week with our friends to make wonderful music, says the 45-year-old Rices I had it last June. My husband and I
Landing, Pa., native. got married in the garden in front of
Koratich came to Washington 24 years ago and returned in 1999 after a our home during our annual wine and
three-year stint in the Army. He lives in the U Street/Shaw area with Matthew cheese party surrounded by friends.
Ruest, his husband of nearly a year and partner of 22 years, and their two pit
bull-mix dogs, Roxy and Brandy. What non-LGBT issue are you most
Koratich is retired and enjoys music and cooking in his free time. passionate about?
It incenses me that we still do not have
universal health care coverage in this
country.
What historical outcome would you
change?
Without a doubt, the 2016 election.
Whats been the most memorable pop
culture moment of your lifetime?
Going to New York City and seeing my
rst musical on Broadway, Thoroughly
Modern Millie.
On what do you insist?
Kindness
What was your last Facebook post or
Tweet?
I reposted a video of Trae Crowder,
202.747.2077 the Liberal Redneck, talking about
Trumpcare.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
If your life were a book, what would
the title be?
A Series of Fortunate Events
If science discovered a way to change
sexual orientation, what would you
do?
I would question the validity of the
science.
What do you believe in beyond the
physical world?
Im an atheist. I believe in natures
awesome power and the beauty of this
amazing planet. I also believe we cant
possibly be the only intelligent life in the
universe.
Whats your advice for LGBT
movement leaders?
I would encourage them to be a
recurring presence in the oces of
elected ocials from conservative rural
areas.
What would you walk across hot coals
for?
To protect those I love.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you
most?
It enrages me that there are people
today who still believe being LGBT is
perversion.
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
Id like to have a more profound answer
for this but yeah, Priscilla. It came out
around the same time I was coming out.
Whats the most overrated social
custom?
Saying god bless you when someone
sneezes.
What trophy or prize do you most
covet?
In a dierent life I would be a Tony
Award-winning Broadway performer.
What do you wish youd known at 18?
That I really did possess the courage to
be 100 percent me.
Why Washington?
I rst fell in love with D.C. on vacation
when I was 6 years old and visited
several more times growing up. When
the occasion came to choose my rst
duty assignment in the Army, D.C. was
the obvious choice. One of the best
choices Ive ever made. I love this city.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM
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Featuring famous aria
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TURANDOT
By Giacomo Puccini
SATURDAY, MARCH 25 AT 8 P.M.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26 AT 2 P.M.
Boulder Philharmonic with Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance
North Carolina Symphony
Martinis Rule!
$5-$7-$10 - Happy Hour Cheer
Apps and Drink Selections
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MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 2 5
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SHIFT your spirit.
March 27April 1, 2017
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Boulder Philharmonic
with Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance
North Carolina Symphony
The Knights
with San Francisco Girls Chorus
Concerts only $25!
Plus many FREE events:
pop-up shows, musical hikes, and more!
Learn more at SHIFTfestival.org.
CO-PRESENTED BY
Generous support of the SHIFT Festival is provided through a matching grant from
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, by Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather,
and by Michael F. and Nomi K. Neidorff and The Centene Charitable Foundation.
SHIFT is funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities,
an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional support is provided by Abramson Family Foundation,
Betsy and Robert Feinberg, Morton and Norma Lee Funger, and Daniel R. Lewis.
SHIFT is presented in association with JFKC: A Centennial Celebration of John F. Kennedy.
Support for JFKC: A Centennial Celebration of John F. Kennedy is provided by
Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, Chevron, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and Target.

2 6 M A RCH 2 4 , 2 017
For its oerings this month, Reel
Armations Xtra oers something old and
something new, two bold lms that deal
in moving and thoughtful ways with the
intersection of race, class and sexuality.
Something new is the erotic drama
BWOY by award-winning writer/
director John G. Young. Young describes
the movie as a psychological thriller
about a man dealing with his grief
following the death of his son and how
he spins out of control. It screens tonight
(Friday, March 24) at HRC Headquarters.
The man is Dr. Brad Connor, played by
Anthony Rapp (Rent). In his mourning,
Brad starts cruising men online. He ends
up chatting with Yenny (Jimmy Brooks),
a poor young black man from Jamaica.
Tension mounts as he withdraws from
his wife Marcia (DeAdre Aziza) and starts
making mistakes at work.
Young, whose rst lm Parallel Sons
took the 1995 Sundance Film Festival by
storm, says that the idea for the lm
came from a couple of places. I have a
tendency to get disparate ideas and get
curious about what would happen if they
were combined.
In this case, Young says, I was interested
in the idea that relationships could
form without people actually physically
JOHN G. YOUNG will be in Washington tonight for a screening of his lm, BWOY.
Double header
Mourning dad cruises for gay sex online in BWOY
By BRIAN T. CARNEY
meeting each other, that chatting online
can create intimate connections.
Young says he was also struck by the
idea that people deal with grief in many
dierent ways and that one of the ways
is nding a distraction. If that distraction
is a person, it lls so many voids. It has
excitement, it has newness, its exotic.
For Brad, his virtual connection with
Yenny meets those needs.
Young made the connection with star
Anthony Rapp through social media. One
of the lms producers was a Facebook
friend of Rapps and sent him an IM. Rapp
responded, Young sent him a script, and
the two men were soon discussing the
lm over dinner after a performance of
the musical If/Then.
According to Young, Rapp was very
interested in the unusual role.
He liked the story and knew it would
give him something challenging and very
dierent to do. He was interested in
playing a character that broke from the
expectations audiences have of him. He
plays a darker character who makes some
very bad choices. He doesnt always tell
the truth and becomes a little unhinged
by the end of the lm.
Young reports that the initial reception
for the lm has been strong, but he
PHOTO COURTESY OF BREAKING GLASS PICTURES
admits that the explosive material and
the invasive use of technology can cause
some anxiety for audience members.
Theres a way that the lm makes
people a little uncomfortable, he says.
Thats the tension when you deal with
ethnicity and sexuality and compulsion
and lots of dirty words and you feel like
youre intruding on this very private
conversation.
Luckily, the director and actor Jimmy
Brooks will be on hand to discuss the
lm and address those issues with the
D.C. audience. The screening of BWOY
starts at 7 p.m. and will be followed
by a question-and-answer session and
reception.
Something old is The Watermelon
Woman, Cheryl Dunyes explosive 1996
comedy, the rst feature lm directed by
a black lesbian. Shown in a beautifully
restored print, the movie tracks the
personal and professional challenges
faced by a video store clerk and aspiring
lmmaker (played by Dunye).
Personally, Cheryl is interested
in dating a white woman (played by
lmmaker Guinevere Turner), despite the
disapproval of her best friend, Tamara
(Valerie Walker). Professionally, Cheryl
wants to make a documentary about
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
F I LM
Fae Richards (Lisa Marie Bronson), a
black actress from the 1930s reduced to
playing maids and mammies and billed
only as The Watermelon Woman.
Since the Watermelon Woman never
really existed, much of the lms sly
humor comes from the fake archival
footage shot by Zoe Leonard (and later
released in an exhibition called The Fae
Richards Archive). There are also the
delightful cameo appearances by such
LGBT luminaries as David Rako, Sarah
Shulman, Camille Paglia, Toshi Reagon and
Cheryl Clarke, as well as an appearance
from Dunyes own mother, Irene.
Dunye is currently working on turning
her award-winning 2016 short Black
Is Blue, a powerful exploration of the
discrimination faced by black trans men,
into a full-length lm. Series creator
Ava DuVernay has also announced that
Dunye will be part of the all-female
directing team for season two of Queen
Sugar on OWN.
REEL AFFIRMATIONS XTRA
BWOY/The Watermelon Woman
Friday, March 24
7 p.m.
Human Rights Campaign Headquarters
1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
$12
reelarmations.org
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 2 7

Some musical works are universally loved.

Beethovens Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op 125, is among them.
Also known as the Choral Symphony, Beethovens Ninth is consid-
ered by many to be the greatest symphony ever composed. From
its fragile opening strains to the magnificent finale, Ode to Joy, it is also
timeless: a celebration of universal brotherhood and its triumph
over darkness.

Join us on Sunday, March 26, as Maestro Glenn Quader conducts this

uplifting masterpiece, featuring more than 200 musicians and singers
from the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, The Reston Chorale, American
University Chorus and internationally acclaimed soloists from Maryland
Lyric Opera.
Beethovens Ninth Symphony
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 3 pm - Hylton Performing Arts Center
10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA
www.HyltonCenter.org
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

LIVE
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
28 MA R C H 24, 2017 O U T & A BO U T

LAITH
AL-SAADI
W/ SARAH BORGES By MARIAH COOPER
THURSDAY MARCH 23
LIVE NATION & THE HAMILTON PRESENT

YACHT
ROCK
REVUE
AT THE FILLMORE SILVER SPRING
THURSDAY MARCH 23
FRI, MARCH 24 NIGHT I
RED BARAAT PHOTO COURTESY OF ORIGGAMI ENTERTAINMENT

FESTIVAL OF COLORS
W/ GANAVYA AND SHILPA RAY Bowersox has matinee show at Rams Head
SAT, MARCH 25 NIGHT II
RED BARAAT Crystal Bowersox appears at Rams Head On Stage (33 West St., Annapolis,
FESTIVAL OF COLORS Md.) for a matinee show on Saturday, April 1 at 1 p.m.
W/ DJ AYES COLD AND THE KOMINAS The singer/songwriter was the third runner-up on the ninth season of
American Idol. Since appearing on the show she has released two studio
TUES, MARCH 28 albums, Farmers Daughter in 2010, and All That For This in 2013. Bowersox
CHUCK PROPHET came out as bisexual in 2013. She will be joined by country singer Jack Ingram.
& THE MISSION EXPRESS Tickets are $35. Doors open at noon. For more information, visit
AND THE BOTTLE ROCKETS ramsheadonstage.com. PHOTO COURTESY OF MURRAY & PETER

THURS, MARCH 30
Drag Race alums
AN EVENING WITH BRASS-A-HOLICS
reunite for Shady Tour
FRI, MARCH 31
THE HAMILTON LIVE AND WPA PRESENT Murray & Peter present HatersRoast:
THE KNIGHTS The Shady Tour, featuring RuPauls Drag
& CHRISTINA COURTIN Race alumni, at the Warner Theatre (513
W/ HOLLY BOWLING: 13th St., N.W.) on Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m.
A PART OF THE 2017 SHIFT FESTIVAL Bob the Drag Queen, Ginger Minj, Phi
OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS Phi OHara, Darienne Lake, Alaska, Kim
SAT, APRIL 1
Chi, Jinkx Monsoon and Acid Betty will
make appearances. The queens will roast
RODNEY CROWELL each other in this evening of unscripted
W/ SCOTT MILLER comedy. Tickets range from $20-50.
SUN, APRIL 2 For more information, visit dragfans.com.
THE HILLBENDERS PRESENT
THE WHOS TOMMY: A BLUEGRASS OPRY Cherry Blossom Wine and
THURS, APRIL 6 Beer fest is April 1-2
ELIANE ELIAS
The Cherry Blossom Wine and Beer
FRI, APRIL 7
Festival is at Yards Park (1300 First St.,
MIPSO W/ DAN MILLS S.E.) on April 1-2.
SAT, APRIL 8
There are two sessions on Saturday
from 1-4 p.m. and another from 6-9 p.m.
WILLIE NILE W/ JAMIE McLEAN BAND PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN ARIAS
On Sunday the festival is from 1-4 p.m.
MON, APRIL 10 General admission tickets range from
LAGUNITAS BREWERY PRESENTS $40-49. It includes unlimited pours of
Urban Arias presents Lucy
LOW CUT CONNIE W/ SKRIBE beer, cider and wine spritzers, 10 tokens
for wine, beer and cider tastings and
TUES, APRIL 11 Urban Arias, a local opera company, presents Lucy at the Atlas Performing entry into the rst round of Boozy Bingo.
OMMEGANG BREWERY PRESENTS Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) in the Paul Sprenger Theatre on April 1-2 and April The Wine Lovers Package includes all of
THE FELICE BROTHERS 7-8. the above plus four bottles of wine to
Lucy is a one-man opera about the true story of psychotherapist Maurice take home. There will be food trucks on
Temerlin (seen here) who adopts a chimpanzee named Lucy. Andrew Wilkowske site. DJ Julian Rivera spins tracks for the
stars as Maurice. Robert Wood conducts and Erik Pearson directs. General day and there will be live music from Je
admission tickets are $35. Student and senior tickets are $32. from Accounting.
For a complete list of showtimes and to purchase tickets, visit atlasarts.org. For details, visit cherryblossom
THEHAMILTONDC.COM
beerandwine.com.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
T HE ATE R
YAKIMA RICH and EMILY WHITWORTH in Dry Land.
Teen dramedy Dry Land is
well-acted character study
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
Weve heard a lot about what goes
on in boys locker rooms. But with Ruby
Rae Spiegels remarkable play Dry Land
making its area premiere at Forum
Theatre in Silver Spring, were invited into
the less frequently explored space where
the girls shower and change.
Swim team practice is over, and two
girls still in swimsuits are alone in the
girls locker room at a Florida high school.
Amy (Emily Whitworth) repeatedly orders
teammate Ester (Yakima Rich) to punch
her in the gut. Ester obediently complies.
At rst it seems some bravado or rite
of passage thing, but soon it becomes
clear that Amy is desperate to end an
unwanted pregnancy.
The teams star swimmer, Ester is a
transfer student from another school
where she had an intensely emotional
relationship with a hideously tough
coach. Shes guarded, sensitive and a little
nave. Outgoing Amy enlists friendless
Ester precisely to help with her problem,
but as they explore various methods of
self-induced abortion, a close friendship
develops. They share laughs and secrets
including Amys aspiration to be a writer
like Herman Melville. But the business at
hand is never far from their thoughts.
This new friendship with Ester leads
Amy to feel uncomfortably exposed
prompting her mean girl side to takeover
and accuse Ester of being in love with
her. To worsen the blow, Amy makes the
claim in front of a third girl, the innitely
supercial Reba (Thais Menendez). Ester
distances herself from Amy for a time.
The majority of the play unfolds in the
locker room realistically rendered with
worn benches, tiles and battered lockers
by Paige Hathaway. But Ester gets away
for a while. Seeking a college scholarship,
she goes to Florida State to swim for a
M A R C H 24, 2017 29
DEMO:
Song & Dance
by damian Woetzel
PHOTO BY DJ COREY PHOTOGRAPHY Artistic forms brilliantly collide
in damian Woetzels DEMO.
Broadway World
prospective new coach. There she meets
college freshman Victor (charmingly
played by Christian Montgomery)
who also knows Amy from home and
interestingly sheds some light on her
complex psyche.
Dry Land is 90 minutes of scenes of
varying intensity and length interrupted
by blackouts. The cast is terric. Director
Amber Paige McGinnis pulls no punches.
It moves seamlessly from laugh-out-loud
funny to horric, almost hard to watch.
Following a very graphically staged
happening in the locker room, the janitor
(out actor Matty Griths) casually mops
up (in real time) bloody detritus smeared
across the tiled oor.
And while Dry Land is partly political
and makes a great case for further
funding Planned Parenthood, its not
Photo by Erin Baiano
just about reproductive rights. Its a
compelling exploration of growing up and
the diculties involved in relationships
that are forged along the way. Kate Davis, Michelle Dorrance, and Bill Irwin
Part of Forums #NastyWomenRep,
Dry Land runs in repertory with Monica
Byrnes What Every Girl Should Know, a featuring special guests
90-minute play directed by Jenna Duncan
that follows four teen girls in a New York Tyler Angle, Kurt Crowley, Kate Davis,
reformatory circa 1914. Together the
Michelle Dorrance, Bill Irwin, Chris Jackson,
girls explore their sexuality and share the
disturbing events that led each of them Tiler Peck, Matthew Rushing,
to be locked up. They adopt birth control
activist Margaret Sanger as their secret Dancers from Paul Taylor Dance Company, and more!
patron saint and construct a fantasy
world where they travel the world, take
lovers and obliterate enemies. April 3 | Eisenhower theater
Though set 100 years apart, both
plays involve a womans right to control
her body and explore the characters
complexities in a meaningful way, tICKEtS ON SALE NOW!
interestingly juxtaposing whats changed
and what hasnt over the years.
KENNEdy-CENtEr.Org | (202) 467-4600
Tickets also available at the Box Office.
#NASTYWOMENREP Groups call (202) 416-8400.
What Every Girl Should Know/Dry Land For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
Through April 15
Forum Theatre
8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
$33-38 New Artistic Initiatives are funded in honor of Linda and Kenneth Pollin.
301-588-8279
Forum-theatre.org

3 0 M A RCH 2 4 , 2 017
A Cher concert is always a fun evening
out, but her current engagement Classic
Cher at the MGM National Harbor, which
she teased by saying she planned to make
it her best show ever, is, sadly, far from it.
In fairness, to call the show Classic
implies shes not reinventing the wheel
this time, yet there are so many rehashed
segments, costumes and set pieces from
her last two tours, to call it a new anything
is a stretch. The expectation bar is pretty
high, too, considering what weve seen
her do on her 2002-2005 Farewell Tour
and the 2014 Dressed to Kill Tour, both
larger-than-life productions that were
each high points in her 50-year career.
This time, instead of criss-crossing the
states on a lengthy tour, the legendary
diva is doing two residency shows one
in Las Vegas at the Park Theater at the
Monte Carlo (which opened last month)
and in Oxon Hill, Md., at the Theater at
MGM National Harbor, where she opened
last Friday, March 17. Classic Cher is
her rst time performing concerts in
two years. She plays MGM through this
weekend then returns in late August. Full
details at mgmnationalharbor.com.
Cheers erupted as the house lights went
down and images of Cher over the years
ashed on the video screens leading up
to the moment the purple curtains parted
and there was the 70-year-old diva perched
above the stage in an Egyptian-inspired outt
and huge black afro belting out her 2013 hit
Womans World as she was lowered onto
the stage revealing a peek-a-boo number
that left little to the imagination.
She strutted among her warrior-clad
background dancers while belting out the
next song, Strong Enough, from her 98
comeback album Believe. So far she was
in ne form. Yes, the opening numbers
were lifted from her 2014 Dressed To
Kill Tour but Cher has always been one
to stick to a somewhat standard set list
over the years and yes, it seemed during
the opening number a backing track was
used to give her a fuller eect, but her live
voice was there albeit a bit faint.
She promised a new opening
monologue and we got it it just made
little sense as Cher shared two unrelated
stories, one about turning 40, another
about her rst appearance on David
Letterman. Nothing about the show, no
welcome, just these random-feeling tales.
She ended with, Im now 70. Instead of
showing my ass, I think I should be in an
old folks home. She joked before leaving
the stage, I just wanna ask you one thing.
Whats your granny doing tonight?
Next up was another Believe-era hit,
Turning back time?
Chers new MGM mini-residency lifts heavily from previous tours
By BRIAN WALMER
CHERs new Classic Cher show at the MGM National Harbor features all the spectacle and camp
youd expect.
All or Nothing, with an India-inspired set
completely lifted from her 2002 Farewell
Tour. Dancers donned the same outts
as then, the Gayatri Mantra interlude
chant was used complete with the same
giant mechanical elephant and Cher
emerging from it in a similar outt. This
time though, the energy wasnt there and
her voice was overpowered by the band
during much of it.
As quick as she got the crowd up on
their feet, they were back down as a
montage of her years with Sonny played
on the giant video screen above the
stage. She emerged in a colorful hippie-
inspired outt complete with fur vest and
long black wig harkening back to her early
days as she sang The Beat Goes On.
She performed her rst solo hit next,
the Dylan cover, All I Really Want To Do,
but seemed like she just wanted to get
it over with before doing a virtual duet
with Sonny for I Got You Babe. Before
the duet, she said it took her a while to do
this and during her rst Farewell Tour she
wasnt ready before joking, First farewell
tour? Who wouldve thought Id be alive
for more farewell tours? The crowed
loved the duet and it turned into a major
singalong moment across the room.
Circus barkers and dancers performed
an interlude before Cher came out
performing her classic hit, Gypsies
Tramps and Thieves followed by a snippet
of Dark Lady. As quickly as she had
everyone up on their feet, she was gone
and dancers lled the gap with a Native
American dance as the diva emerged in
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY BRIAN WALMER
a complete feather headdress belting out
Half Breed before disappearing again.
By now the proceedings felt choppy and
disjointed. The costumes recycled or
not are great, but why go to the trouble
of donning them if youre just going to
zip through a perfunctory, two-minute
excerpt of a song?
Last time out, Cher sang You Havent
Seen the Last of Me from her movie
Burlesque always prefacing it with a
disclaimer that it was a tough song to sing
and it would be whatever it would be. This
time, its played on a video. The dancers
then perform and Cher emerges as Tess
(her character in the movie) and sings
the innitely less satisfying Welcome to
Burlesque. A handy way, perhaps, to tip
her hat to that lm in a less vocally taxing
way, but it felt unmemorable and the
crowd seemed unimpressed.
Next up was yet another video
performance/costume change for Lie To
Me, from her last album Closer to the
Truth. I would have much rather heard
her sing it live and it would have been a
nice stylistic break in the show. Instead
it melted into a disco-inspired interlude
leading up to Cher coming out in a sparkly
ensemble performing a brief version of
79s Take Me Home before running o
stage yet again.
A montage of clips from the various
lms she was in was shown on the screen
as well as her Academy Award win, which
drew cheers, before Cher entered from
stage left singing After All in a sheer
gold gown with what looked like a halo
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
MU SI C
adorning her long blond tresses. During
her Vegas show, she emerges on a boat
gliding across the stage, but since the
stage is smaller at the MGM, she had to
change her entrance.
Another costume change followed with a
video of her talking about her love of Elvis
before her band played a long intro as
she entered from stage right in jeans and
a zipped jacket sporting curly blond hair
singing Walking In Memphis, which had
the audience up cheering and singing along.
It was a nice surprise considering it wasnt a
big hit when she released it in the mid-90s.
Thankfully instead of running o for
another change, she followed the Marc
Cohn cover with her Betty Everett cover
The Shoop Shoop. She normally has
a lot of fun with this on past tours, but
she just seemed disinterested this time
and the energy was lacking. Oddly two
background singers emerged for this
number, to join Cher and her six-piece
band. Who knows where theyd been
hiding heretofore.
The band got a moment to shine as
they played her hit Bang Bang before
Cher entered center stage singing I
Found Someone decked out in a sheer
black outt with knee-high boots and
leather jacket. The crowd went wild as
she moved across the stage belting out
the rock classic before launching into her
signature hit If I Could Turn Back Time.
In other tours, there was a big lead up to
it and she really got into it, but this time it
felt like she just wanted to get through it.
Without any goodbyes, she left the stage
as the curtains closed.
After a few minutes, they opened up
to a rave-style dance routine complete
with lasers as a remix of Chers biggest
hit Believe played. Cher started singing
Believe but didnt emerge until a bit into
it (missed cue maybe?) and when she
did, she just seemed like she just wanted
the concert to end. The energy that she
usually has for it was gone and it felt like
just another song to get through. Once
she nished, she put the mic down, waved
goodbye to each side of the audience and
was gone. No goodbyes, no thank yous,
done. Cher had left the building.
Since the second leg of the Dressed
to Kill Tour in 2014 was canceled due
to health issues, I was especially eager
to see Cher again. No doubt its a fun
night out for casual fans and the visual
spectacle shes known for is there. But to
charge $109-255 (and up) for a show this
rehashed and disjointed is a bit much.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 3 1

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3 2 M A RCH 2 4 , 2 017 A RT S & CU LT U RE

This Week in the Arts provided by CultureCapital.com

The Second City: Were All in This
Room Together. Thru Mar 26. The
Barns. wolftrap.org.
DANCE
Hamburg Ballet. Mar 28-Apr 2.
Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.
EL Squad in Concert. Mar 26. Joy of
Motion. Arena Stage. joyofmotion.org.
Daniel Burkholder & Danceworks
Performance Company. Mar 25-Mar
26. Dance Place. danceplace.org.
Environmental Film Festivalin the Nations Capital
Thru Mar 26. Environmental Film Festival. Various Locations.
MUSIC
dce.org. Maya Beiser. Mar 30. AMP.
The last weekend of the 2017 Festival focuses its lens on a planet in transition, ampbystrathmore.com.
exploring what has happened over the past 25 years and what lies ahead. Alaska Sesquicentennial: Sewards
Most screenings include discussion with lmmakers, environmental experts, Day. Mar 30. National Archives.
and cultural leaders, and many are free. See CultureCapital.com for complete
schedule of lms, including Naledi, which tells the true story of a baby elephant
archivesfoundation.org.
Virginia Opera: Turandot. Mar 25-
born into a rescue camp in the Botswana wilderness. Mar 26. GMU Center for the Arts. cfa.
gmu.edu.
One Woman Sex & The City Don Pasquale. Thru Mar 26. In Series
Mar 24. AMP by Strathmore. at GALA Hispanic Theatre. inseries.org.
ampbystrathmore.com. NSO Pops: Sophisticated Ladies: 100
Whirling dervish Kerry Ipema (PostSecret: The Show) channels Carrie, Charlotte, Years of Ella & Company. Mar 24-Mar
Samantha, and Miranda as they brunch, banter, argue, and swoon over men 25. Boulder Philharmonic. Mar 28.
and Manolos. There will be puns, cosmopolitans, and audience participation - North Carolina Symphony. Mar 29.
this send-up will have you in stitches! Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.
Arditti Quartet & Eliot Fisk, guitar.
Pike St. Mar 24. Library of Congress. loc.gov.
Mar 29-Apr 23. Woolly Mammoth. Parker Quartet. Mar 26. Arianna
woollymammoth.net. Zukerman, soprano. Mar 29. National
On the Lower East Side, a mother works hard to keep the electricity owing for her Gallery of Art. nga.gov.
daughters respirator while a hurricane looms nearby. As she prepares for disaster, The Four Seasons of Vivaldi and
a vibrant host of characters bring new meaning to the phrase it takes a village. Piazzolla. Mar 25. National Chamber
Ensemble. Rosslyn Spectrum.
Capital Cheers: A DC Brew Tour: All-Day Tour nationalchamberensemble.org.
Mar 24. The Smithsonian Associates. Meet at Mayower Hotel. Avi Avital & Omer Avital. Mar
smithsonianassociates.org. 25. Washington Performing Arts
From a beer makers Gilded Age mansion to the warehouse-district breweries at Sixth & I. JCT Trio. Mar 24.
that produce todays hottest artisan labels, join local historian Garrett Peck Washington Performing Arts at UDC.
as he covers the spots that trace Washingtons long tradition of making (and washingtonperformingarts.org.
drinking) the golden thirst-quencher. Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Mar
26. Strathmore. strathmore.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL University & Community Band
Concert. Mar 29. Music and Film. Mar
30. The Clarice. theclarice.umd.edu.
tenThing. Mar 24. Jordan Smith.
THEATRE Someone Like You, Ali? Thru Mar Mar 28. Noam Pikelny. Mar 29. Glen
kreegermuseum.org.
Library of Congress. World War I:
American Artists View the Great War.
Thru May 5. Mapping a Growing
Nation: From Independence to
Statehood. Thru Sep 1. loc.gov.
National Geographic. @NatGeo: The
Most Popular Instagram Photos. Thru
Apr 30. Earth Explorers. Thru Sep 10.
nglive.org.
National Museum of Women in the
Arts. Border Crossing: Jami Porter
Lara. Thru May 14. New Ground: The
Southwest of Maria Martinez and
Laura Gilpin. Thru May 14. nmwa.org.
National Portrait Gallery. Double
Take: Daguerreian Portrait Pairs. Thru
Jun 4. Lincolns Contemporaries. Thru
May 19. npg.si.edu.
GALLERIES
The Art League. March Open Exhibit.
Thru Apr 2. Netted: Morphological
State of Our Urban Space. Thru Apr 2.
theartleague.org.
gallery Neptune & Brown. Tim Doud.
Thru Apr 1. galleryneptunebrown.com.
Glen Echo Park. New Fiber Arts
Instructors. Thru Apr 1. Sara Dittrich.
Thru Apr 2. glenechopark.org.
Goethe-Institut. Games and Politics
(Spiele und Politik). Thru Mar 29.
goethe.de.
Hill Center. The Hill Rags Art and the
City: A Column by Jim Magner. Thru
Apr 30. hillcenterdc.org.
ISAAG. Interior Gardens - A Collection
of Poems (Bolivia). Thru Mar 27.
idbstaassociationartgallery.org.
Korean Cultural Center DC. Making It
New: Perspectives on Korean Heritage
in Art. Thru Mar 27. koreaculturedc.org.
Studio 3700. Modern Makers, Modern
Quilts. Thru Mar 27. arlingtonarts.org.
Waverly Street Gallery. Somerset
Artists Exhibition. Thru Apr 8.
waverlystreetgallery.com.
Zenith Gallery. Rejuvenate with Art:
Celebrating 39 Years. Thru Apr 29.
zenithgallery.com.

Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. Thru Mar

26. Midwestern Gothic. Thru Apr 30.
Signature Theatre. signature-theatre.org.
Three Sisters. Thru Apr 23. No
Sisters. Thru Apr 23. Studio Theatre.
studiotheatre.org.
Ragtime. Thru May 20. Fords Theatre.
fords.org.
Baby Boom en el Paraso (Baby
Boom in Paradise). Mar 25-Mar 26.
GALA Hispanic Theatre. inseries.org.
Parade. Thru Apr 8. Keegan Theatre.
keegantheatre.com.
Sundance Institute: Theater by
Palestinians: Where Can I Find
24. Sundance Institute: Creative
Tensions: HOME. Mar 25. Sulayman
Al Bassam: Petrol Station. Mar 24-
Mar 26. Peter Brooks Battleeld. Mar
29-Apr 2. Shear Madness. Thru Jun 11.
Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.
Catch Me: A Magic Duel. Mar
25. Catch Me! Mayower Hotel.
catchmeshow.com.
Fickle: A Fancy French Farce.
Thru Mar 26. Olney Theatre Center.
olneytheatre.org.
Back to Methuselah: As Far As
Thought Can Reach. Thru Apr 16.
Washington Stage Guild. Undercroft
Theatre. stageguild.org.
Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket.
Mar 30. The Barns. wolftrap.org.
MUSEUMS
National Archives. Amending
America. Thru Sep 4.
archivesfoundation.org.
National Gallery of Art. The Woodner
Collections: Master Drawings from
Seven Centuries. Thru Jul 16. The
Urban Scene: 19201950. Thru Aug 6.
nga.gov.
Kreeger Museum. RE-VISION: Looking
anew at the art of Philip Johnson and
the design of The Kreeger. Thru Jul 29.
AND MORE...
NCBF: Orchid Exhibit Installation. Mar 24.
Documentary Nearly Equal Yayoi Kusama:
I Adore Myself (2008). Mar 26. National
Cherry Blossom Festival. Hirshhorn
Museum and Sculpture Garden.
nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
Silent Architecture: Connecting
Contemporary and Classic. Mar 28. District
Architecture Center. aiadac.com.
History Happy Hour: Cocktails in
Cuba. Mar 25. National Archives.
archivesfoundation.org.
The Forest: America in the 1830s. Mar
26-May 7. National Gallery of Art. nga.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM
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3 4 M A RCH 2 4 , 2 017
Last October, Harrison Browne
announced publicly that he is
transgender. It was the beginning of his
second season as a professional hockey
player in the National Womens Hockey
League and with the announcement,
he became the rst openly transgender
athlete in professional American team
sports.
Roughly two months later, the league
announced its policy on participation
of transgender athletes which includes
eligibility guidelines to ensure a fair and
level playing eld for all players.
While Browne had begun his transition
socially, the medical transition would
have to wait while he was under contract
with the league.
Brownes career started at 9 years old
in Oakville, Ontario through a childhood
friend who was part of a hockey family. He
would go on to represent Team Canada
in 2011 and start his collegiate career at
Mercyhurst before transferring to the
University of Maine for his remaining
college eligibility. He signed on as left
wing with the league team, the Bualo
Beauts, in 2015.
Two weeks ago, at age 23, Harrison
Browne announced that he would retire
HARRISON BROWNE with the National Womens Hockey Leagues Isobel Cup.
My way
National Womens Hockey League player goes out in style
By KEVIN MAJOROS
from professional hockey at the end of
this season.
The Washington Blade caught up with
Browne on the eve of last Sundays league
championships in which the Bualo
Beauts took on the Boston Pride.The
night following the interview, the Bualo
Beauts knocked o the heavily favored
Boston Pride, 3-2, to win the National
Womens Hockey Leagues Isobel Cup.
Browne can add champion to his list of
accomplishments.
WASHINGTON BLADE: What emotions
are you feeling heading into your nal
game as a professional hockey player?
HARRISON BROWNE: It hasnt really
hit me yet. I am just focused on playing
my best game. It was great beating New
York to make it to the championships
and we have some unnished business
with Boston as we lost to them in the
championship game last year. Im sure
the emotions will set in when that nal
buzzer goes o.
BLADE: Last month was the league
All-Star Game in which players were
selected through a fantasy draft and then
over 20,000 votes were cast by fans to
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL WOMENS HOCKEY LEAGUE
select four more players which included
yourself. What did that mean to you?
BROWNE: That was huge. I scored
two goals in the game with one on
Brianne McLaughlin, the goaltender from
my team. She hugged me afterwards.
The support that has come from my
teammates, the coaches, the league and
the fans has been incredible. I had the
third highest selling jersey this season
and the response from social media has
been mostly positive. I have had so many
people tell me that I am brave and that I
have helped them in their own lives.
BLADE: Were you happy with your
stats on the ice this season?
BROWNE: This season was the rst time
I felt comfortable both on and o the ice.
My stats were good but they didnt really
stand out because the League has gotten
a lot deeper. The NWHL was stacked this
year.
BLADE: Is your medical transition the
main reason for your retirement from
professional hockey?
BROWNE: When I signed in 2015 I
always I gured I would play for two or
three years, so transitioning wasnt a
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
SP O RT I N I N D . C.
factor in my decision. I was just living the
dream of being a professional athlete for
a few years after college. I dont make
enough money to justify staying any
longer.
BLADE: You mentioned that you were
comfortable for the rst time this past
year. How did that help set you up for
your future?
BROWNE: I have been living in a
gender bubble this past year and it has
been both a blessing and a curse. People
have tried to use the correct pronoun and
I have been given a taste of what it is like
to be gendered properly. I dont know
what to expect going forward.
BLADE: What are your next steps?
BROWNE: My lease is up on my
apartment in Bualo in April and I will
be looking for work in Chicago which is
where my girlfriend lives. My degree is
in international business management
but I would like to work in sports in some
capacity. There will also be hormone
therapy and surgery coming soon. I
have been cruising on autopilot and
postponing this for many years and I am
ready to move forward with my true self.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 3 5

3 6 M A RCH 2 4 , 2 017
E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade.
com two weeks prior to your event. Space is lim-
ited so priority is given to LGBT-specic events
or those with LGBT participants. Recurring
events must be re-submitted each time.
TODAY
Reel Armations presents a hosts coee drop-in hours this morning
screening of BWOY at Human Rights
Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.)
tonight at 7 p.m. There will be a post-lm
discussion and catered reception with
the lms director John G. Young and co-
star Jimmy Brooks. Rayceen Pendarvis
hosts the screening. General admission
tickets are $12. VIP tickets are $25 and
include one complimentary cocktail,
beer or wine and the catered reception.
For more details, visit thedccenter.org/
reelarmations.
JR.s Bar (1519 17th St., N.W.) hosts
a viewing party for the season
nine premiere of RuPauls Drag
Race tonight from 8-9 p.m. For more
information, visit facebook.com/jrsbardc.
Monday Night Skating, an LGBT roller
skating group, hosts a fundraiser night
at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd.,
N.E.) tonight at 9 p.m. There will be drink
specials and a rae. Money raised will
benet the groups Pride Parade entry
fee and will fund the groups youth
meetings. For details, visit facebook.com/
mondaynightskating.
Jaywalking Productions presents
The Feel Good, a dance party for the
LGBT community and allies, at Ten
Tigers Parlour (3813 Georgia Ave., N.W.)
tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. DJ Lady Ryan
plays music. Asha Santee and Awesome
Rita host. For more information, visit
facebook.com/jaywalkingproductions.
Hexwork, a witchy burlesque and
variety show, performs A Spellbinding
Burlesk Revue at the Bier Baron Tavern
(1523 22nd St., N.W.) tonight at 9 p.m.
Performers include Mab Just Mab, Jim Dandy,
Nona Narcisse, Dainty Dandridge and Doe
Bardot. Danny Cavalier hosts. Doors open
at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $15
and includes a rae ticket. VIP tickets are $25
and include Hexwork merchandise, reserved
front row seating and a rae ticket. Tickets
are $20 day of show. For more details, visit
facebook.com/stayhexy.
Gamma D.C., a support group for men
in mixed-orientation relationships, meets
at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226
Vermont Ave., N.W.) tonight from 7:30-
9:30 p.m. The group is for men who are
attracted to men but are currently, or were
at one point, in relationships with women.
Meeting locations are in private residences.
For more information about the group and
location, visit gammaindc.org.
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd.,
N.E.) hosts Meat Market, a leather
party, tonight at 9 p.m. Mr. Mayhem
Lanterns by April M. Rimpo is part of a current exhibit at Touchstone Gallery.
Leather 2016 Ash Duncan will make an
appearance. DJ Mike Grabenstein plays
tracks. Cover is $10. Proceeds benet Mr.
Mayhem Leather Bear contests. For more
information, visit dceagle.com.
CTRL celebrates its fth anniversary
with a party at Town (2009 8th St.,
N.W.) tonight from 11 p.m.-4 a.m. DJ
Devon Trotter, DJ Je Prior and DJ Adam
Koussari-Amin are scheduled. There will
also be a ashing photo booth. For more
details, visit facebook.com/ctrldc.
D.C.s Dierent Drummers presents
Glitter and be Gay: Concert Exploring
LGBT Composers at the Church of the
Epiphany (1317 G St., N.W.) tonight at 7
p.m. The ensemble will honor the works
of Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland,
Ronald Fallas, Julie Giroux, Jennifer
Higdon, Elton John and more. Tickets are
$20. For more information, visit dcdd.org.
Fantom Comics (2010 P St., N.W.)
hosts its queer book club to discuss
Husbands by Brad Bell and Jane
Espenson today at 2 p.m. Husbands
is about a newly married couple set in
alternate universes. For details, visit
facebook.com/fantomcomics.
IMAGE COURTESY OF TOUCHSTONE GALLERY
D.C. Progressive Dinner presents
SMYAL for Spring, a benet for SMYAL,
at Hawthorne (1336 U St., N.W.) today
from 1-4 p.m. The benet raises money
for LGBT youth in the D.C. metro area.
There will be music, rae prizes and
drink specials. Tickets are $25. For more
information, visit facebook.com/smyal.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26
PotterCon USA, a Harry Potter
convention, is at the Fillmore (8656
Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md.) today
from 2-8 p.m. There will be a live sorting
ceremony, a costume contest and trivia.
There will also be an In Memoriam
for characters who died in the series.
Participating in activities will earn points
for guests to use at the House Cup table
for prizes. Tickets are $15.50. For more
details, visit llmoresilverspring.com.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York
Ave., N.W.) hosts an encore reception
for its current exhibits today from 2-4
p.m. Exhibits on display include the
Touchstone Gallery Member show in
Gallery A, Common Threads by April
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
CA LE N D A R
M. Rimpo in Gallery B and Scribbles:
An Urban Art Series by Lisa Tureson
in Gallery C. D.C. violinist Jean Leinster
performs. Admission is free. For more
information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
MONDAY, MARCH 27
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W..)
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.
TUESDAY, MARCH 28
Hanks Oyster Bar (1624 Q St., N.W.)
hosts Ginlandia today through Saturday,
April 1. There will be more than 35
dierent gins available to try at the bar
with gin ights sold all night and a gin-
centric cocktail menu. Admission is free.
For more information, visit facebook.
com/hanksoysterbar.
Republic (6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma
Park, Md.) hosts Alegre Happy Hour, an
LGBT happy hour, this evening from
5-7 p.m. For more information, visit
republictakoma.com.
Genderqueer D.C. holds a discussion
group at the D.C. Center (13181 U St.,
N.W.) at 7 p.m. tonight. The group is for
anyone who identies outside of the
gender binary as bigender, agender,
genderuid or any label outside of
cisgender. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
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 703-
407-6540.
SMYAL hosts an open mic night today
from 5-7 p.m. Gay youth can come to
talk openly about the issues they face
with their sexual orientation or gender
identity. For more information, visit
smyal.org.
THURSDAY, MARCH 30
Iona Senior Services (4125 Albemarle
St., N.W.) presents LGBTQ Women: Take
Charge of Your Aging, a seminar for
older LGBT women, today from 5-7 p.m.
Online registration is $60 and at-the-
door registration is $75. The seminar will
explore topics such as senior housing,
long-term care options and legal, nancial
and health changes associated with aging.
For details, visit iona.org/lgbtq-women.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 3 7

I love wandering through

Smithsonian museums, eating
on H Street with friends, and going
to shows at Howard Theatre.

Im a
transgender woman
and Im part of DC.

Please treat me the way any

woman would want to be treated:
with courtesy and respect.
Discrimination based on gender identity and
expression is illegal in the District of Columbia.
If you think youve been the target of
discrimination, visit www.ohr.dc.gov
or call (202) 727-4559.

OFFICE OF

GLBT
AFFAIRS

Show your support! Spread word of the #TransRespect

campaign by photographing this ad and sharing on Twitter.

3 8 MA RCH 2 4 , 2 017
Wide spectrum of patrons nd home at Grand Central
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
dance bar in the state. Within a couple of
blocks were other well-established bars,
the Drinkery and Leons. Grand Central
was the new kid on the block.
To eectively compete, Davis had to
broaden the market and create special
events. Billing Grand Central as an
alternative nightclub, Davis encouraged
straight people to patronize the bar.
I was always grateful for everyones
business, whether you were straight or gay,
Davis says. As long as everyone could accept
the gay culture, they were welcomed.
Grand Central had been beset by a couple
of odd events. In June 2008, just a week after
workers had repaired a storm-damaged
roof on the north building, a re broke out
causing damage to the upper oor.
Five years later, a car, which was being
pursued by transit police, crashed into a
pick-up truck in front of the bar spilling its
cargo of white paint all over the exterior and
leaving a mess inside the pub. The eects of
that incident led to additional renovations.
Each time Grand Central bounced back.
Through the years, Grand Central
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hosted numerous themed events
including red, black and white parties, all
well attended. Karaoke nights have been
a popular feature as well as jazz, fashion
shows and REHAB Saturdays.
Wendy Fox, co-owner of S.H.E.
Productions, which has put on events like
REHAB at Grand Central for eight years,
says, We are happy to be inclusive of
everyone, and the club has always been
gracious and open to our ideas, themes
and fundraisers.
An employee for nearly ve years,
Nicole West says, Don Davis has always
been encouraging and appreciative, the
customers always kind and the other sta
is like family.
The upstairs loft has been used for a
variety of purposes including receptions, a
lesbian-oriented space called Sapphos for a
short time, and it had also been a venue for
leather-related events after the Baltimore
Eagle (now re-opened) had closed in 2012.
The restaurant no longer exists.
The dance club with its two bars is a
popular attraction. The Hippos closing
in 2015 left Grand Central as the leading
dance venue in Mount Vernon.
Says DJ Kuhmeleon who used to work
at Grand Central, Being so far away from
the crowd in that DJ-in-the-sky, I love
hearing the crowd singing every song so
loud that it actually rises above the music
itself and I can hear them perfectly.
However, increasing acceptance of
LGBT people that allows for comfortably
patronizing straight establishments as
well as the onset of dating apps have
contributed to a decline in gay bars. This
concerns Davis.
Over the past 30 years, I have seen
about 29 gay bars and clubs close, says
Davis, 66, who now resides most of the
year in Florida.
Notwithstanding that trend, community
members see the value of Grand Central.
I remember 15 years ago, I had the
courage to step into a gay bar for the rst time
and Grand Central welcomed me with open
arms, says photographer Robert Mercer,
Jr. It was like home and the community
embraced me without judgment.
Adds Brian Dolbow, an advocate for the
homeless, Grand Central was the rst
bar I visited when I moved to Baltimore in
2003. I immediately loved the welcoming
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atmosphere. In addition, Grand Central has
always been supportive of my charity work.
Historically, Grand Central has been a
welcome place for patrons of all gender,
identity and sexual orientations with a
variety of oerings including dance, jazz,
karaoke, leather and a vibrant bar scene,
says Bob Glock, general manager of the
nearby Hotel Brexton. It has been a
major draw to not only the Mount Vernon
community, but to Baltimore generally for
those outside of the city looking for a safe
and sophisticated alternative bar scene.
Brian Gaither, co-founder of Pride
Foundation of Maryland, acknowledges
that Grand Central is a landmark
institution.
Over the years its provided a safe
space for our community and has been
a major supporter of LGBT events and
organizations, Gaither says. We are
grateful for all they have done.
As for himself, Davis is appreciative of
the support Baltimore has given to Grand
Central.
Without good sta and the support
over the 25 years it would have not been
possible, he says. Thank you, Baltimore.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
A D V I CE
Injured hubby is not
working, depressed
MICHAEL RADKOWSKY, Psy.D. is a licensed
psychologist who works with gay individuals
and couples in D.C. He can be found online
at personalgrowthzone.com. All identifying
information has been changed for reasons
of condentiality. Have a question? Send it to
Michael@personalgrowthzone.com.
MICHAEL,
My husband has limited mobility as a
result of being injured a few years ago.
Many of the things we enjoyed together
(travel, hiking, going out on the town)
are a lot more dicult to do now. Also,
George isnt working, which makes him
somewhat depressed all the time and a
lot less dynamic.
Much of the responsibility of running
our household has shifted to me. Im in
my mid-30s and this is not how I want to
spend the rest of my life.
I know when we married we pledged
to be together in sickness and in health.
Well, heres the sickness part and Im
realizing I dont want 40 to 50 more years
of this.
I feel coldhearted to say that my
husband has become a burden, but there
you have it. He does get disability and
has some nancial resources, so he could
denitely pay for assistance with things
he needs help with. And Id also be very
glad to be in his life as a supportive friend,
but not as his husband any longer.
Im feeling guilty because he came
out to his right-wing family when our
relationship got serious and they cut him
o. So he wouldnt have them to turn to.
And because he doesnt really have close
friends, I think hed be pretty isolated.
Is it terrible of me to be contemplating
leaving?
MICHAEL REPLIES:
No, I dont think youre terrible for
contemplating leaving.
People should be married because they
want to be, not because they feel stuck.
Marriage shouldnt be a trap without
an exit. Who among us would want to
be married to someone who stays with
M A R C H 24, 2017 39
us out of obligation or guilt, rather than
freely and gladly?
Yes, its true that when we wed, we
make a vow to stay together no matter
what. Still, we really dont know what
were committing to until the curveballs
start to hit.
Thats why we should have the freedom
to decide that a given curveball is more
than we want to deal with and that a
relationship no longer works for us.
However, we should also do our best
to honor commitments that we make.
Contrary to what many of us hope, being
happily married requires hard work at
times. So before you decide that your
desire to have a life unencumbered by
your husbands limitations outweighs
your interest in being with him, here are
some points to consider.
Have you let George know how you
feel about your marriage? If not, why? Are
you scared of having a tough, possibly
hurtful conversation? Staying silent, and
then leaving without honestly explaining
yourself and giving George an opportunity
to address your unhappiness, would
certainly be far more hurtful than telling
him how disappointed you are.
If you have spoken to George, does he
agree with your assessment of his mood?
Has he taken any steps toward nding
ways to feel better and be more active?
If not, does he understand how seriously
you are contemplating leaving him? Have
you made that clear?
I dont know what is possible for George
and I dont want to be presumptuous, but
if he were to make a move toward climbing
out of his depression and lethargy and if
he were to get some outside assistance
so that you were not as burdened as you
currently are, would you have any interest
in staying in this marriage?
Regarding your guilt over Georges
loneliness: I think youre feeling
responsible for what is actually not your
responsibility. Georges family made the
decision to cut him o; that was not your
call. And it is Georges job to be developing
additional meaningful connections and
sources of support.
Do you agree that I am on to something
here? Then before you call it quits, you
and George would be wise to gure out
what each of you should be responsible
for in your marriage. If you were less
burdened, and if he were making more of
an eort to be in charge of his own life,
perhaps you would decide that you have
a husband worth keeping.
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

4 0 MA RCH 2 4 , 2 017 P H O T O S BY CH RI S J E N N I N G S

Freddies Beach Bar & Grill in Arlington, Va. held Ladies Night with the DC Gurly Show on Sunday, March 19.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 4 1

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W A SH I NGTO N B LA DE.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 4 3
LEGAL
Who should be in charge if you cant be?
Plan ahead and choose
executors carefully
By LAWRENCE S. JACOBS
Choosing the people to whom you want
to assign responsibility in case the worst
happens is a stumbling block that keeps
many of us from creating estate planning
documents, such as wills, trusts and pow-
ers of attorney. Who should my executor
be? Who could manage money for kids
who will be my heirs? Who would I trust
to make medical or financial decisions for
me in an emergency? Who would be will-
ing to raise my kids if neither of us was
around?
None of these are easy decisions, and
there are very few rules to guide you. As
an attorney, working with clients to zero
in on who belongs on your team is one of
my most important estate planning jobs.
Often, I help clients expand their thinking
and consider people they may not have
Attorneys that are OUTthinking |OUTspoken |OUTdoing
imagined in these roles.
For tasks that involve financial manage-
ment and require organizational skills,
I recommend that you focus on people
whom you know to be financially savvy.
This seems obvious, but Ive learned that
many clients dont approach it that way.
They tell me that have already named
a particular relative or plan to do so.
Upon closer examination, its not unusual
to learn that that candidate has been in
bankruptcy or is a shopaholic. If thats
the case, I always urge the client to think
again. Instead, for financial roles, I like to
suggest a relative or friend this person
does not have to be related to youwho
is very organized. Maybe he has tracked
his finances in Quicken for 20 years or
she has worked in a money-related field,
such as banking. At the bare minimum,
you want someone whom you believe has
a solid, sensible relationship with money
over the long haul. These types of folks
will make ideal choices for executors, fi-
nancial power of attorney backup agents
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CALL TODAY TOPLACE YOUR AD
202.747.2077
and trustees of any type of trust, especial-
ly where the money is to be managed and
distributed over a long period of time.
On the other hand, some roles are
more people-focused, such as healthcare
agents and guardians who are respon-
sible for raising kids (but not necessarily
for managing their money). In this arena,
empathy, support, caring and familiarity
with the healthcare system are the traits
you should look for more than manage-
ment skills. A person who is already a
caregiver will likely be able to assume
this role for you. Perhaps thats someone
who is a healthcare professional such as
a nurse or a staff member at NIH, but it
could just as well be someone who has
helped look after an elderly relative. Do
they have their own kids or have they
helped to raise younger siblings? If so,
they probably will be able to raise yours.
One rule is paramount: every person
that you plan to name to serve in any role
must be consulted in advance and given
the opportunity to accept or reject your
request. In my experience most people
are flattered to be asked even if they later
decide not to serve. However, the worst
thing that can happen is a surprise call
from a hospital seeking an urgent medi-
cal decision from a person who is learn-
ing for the first time that your life may be
in their hands.
Of course, I have only scratched the
surface of these issues here. Please feel
free to contact me by phone at 240-778-
2330 or 703-536-0220 if you need more
specific guidance on any of these topics.
(This column is not intended to provide legal
advice, but only general guidance that may or
may not be applicable to your specific situa-
tion.)
Larry Jacobs has helped more than 500
same-sex couples and many LGBT singles in
the Washington area protect their assets and
loved ones through partnership planning. He
is a partner at McMillan Metro, P.C. and has
practiced law for 42 years. He is admitted to
the bar in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. You can
learn more about his practice at www.Partner-
Planning.com.
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UPGRADES Must Be Received
PICTURES By Mondays at 5PM
BOLD TEXT So They Can Be Included
in That Weeks Edition of
LARGE TEXT Washington Blade and
COLOR washingtonblade.com
AND MORE
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housing to share
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LGBTQ AFFIRMING DC. Requirements 1
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WhatIHearYouSaying.
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PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS ONLINE
DEADLINES
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
All Classified Ads
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housing to share
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Representing the GLBT community
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 DEADLINES
All Classified Ads
SHARE ADS ARE FREE. - Including Regular & Adult -
Place your housing to share Must Be Received
ad online at washingtonblade.com By Mondays at 5PM
and the ad prints free in the paper and online.* So They Can Be Included
*25 words or less prints free - anything more is $1/word. in That Weeks Edition of
Washington Blade and
washingtonblade.com

4 6 MA RCH 2 4 , 2 017 W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

TREE SERVICE Always FREE to listen and reply to ads!

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W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM MA RCH 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 4 7

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