SHEILA ALEXANDER-REID PUBLISHER by John Riley and Randy Shulman Randy Shulman

2 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 3 EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman MAY 21, 2015 ART DIRECTOR Volume 22 / Issue 3 Todd Franson

NEWS & BUSINESS EDITOR John Riley NEWS 6 HEROES AND HEADLINERS ASSISTANT EDITOR by John Riley Rhuaridh Marr

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 10 ON THE BRINK Doug Rule by Rhuaridh Marr

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS 11 Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim COMMUNITY CALENDAR

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR SCENE 13 CAPITAL TRANS PRIDE Scott G. Brooks photography by Ward Morrison CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christian Gerard, Connor J. Hogan, SCENE 15 RAINBOW HISTORY PROJECT’S Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingﬁeld COMMUNITY PIONEERS AWARDS WEBMASTER photography by Ward Morrison David Uy

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Julian Vankim FEATURES 18 WONDER WOMEN: COURTNEY SNOWDEN SALES & MARKETING AND SHEILA ALEXANDER-REID PUBLISHER by John Riley and Randy Shulman Randy Shulman

BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING Christopher Cunetto Cunetto Creative OUT ON THE TOWN 26 LISA LAMPANELLI by Doug Rule NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 STAGE 31 SCORING BIG by Doug Rule DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dennis Havrilla STAGE 33 BABY MINE by Kate Wingﬁeld

PATRON SAINT GEARS 35 LEAN, MEAN AND GREEN Barbara Jordan by Rhuaridh Marr

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Todd Franson

NIGHTLIFE 37 MR DC EAGLE’S IML SEND-OFF photography by Ward Morrison

CLUBLIFE 44 QUEER CAT by Connor J. Hogan METRO WEEKLY 1425 K St. NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20005 202-638-6830 MetroWeekly.com 46 LAST WORD All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Metro Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials submitted for publication. All such submissions are subject to editing and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Metro Weekly is supported by many ﬁne advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or their agents. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. © 2015 Jansi LLC.

4 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 5 Now online at MetroWeekly.com Cate Blanchett Denies Having Had Lesbian Affairs NewsLGBT Jeb Bush Says Gay Marriage is Not a Constitutional Right PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAPITAL PRIDE Clockwise from upper left: Amber, En Vogue, Carly Rae Jepsen, Wilson Philips, and Katy Tiz Heroes and Headliners Carly Rae Jepsen to headline Pride, while former Attorney General Eric Holder is duly honored

als and organizations who have made for his courage and leadership in helping by John Riley major contributions to the D.C.-area to advance LGBT rights. LGBT community and fought to As attorney general, Holder, on behalf improve the lives of LGBT people. of the Obama administration, refused HE CAPITAL PRIDE CEL- This year’s list of honorees reads like to defend the congressionally-approved ebration, marking its 40th a “Who’s Who” of major community fig- Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on anniversary this year, is start- ures or allies, including a former guber- the grounds that it was unconstitutional. ing to take shape. natorial candidate, a religious leader, a When the Supreme Court overturned TThe Capital Pride Heroes Gala, on representative from the Metropolitan Section 3 of DOMA in 2013, Holder insti- Wednesday, June 3, serves as the kick- Police Department and several trans- tuted guidelines outlining how the feder- off to twelve days of various Pride gender activists. Perhaps the most high- al government would treat and recognize events and parties, which attracted profile honoree is former U.S. Attorney same-sex couples with respect to federal more than 350,000 attendees in 2014. General Eric Holder, who will be pre- spousal benefits and legal rights. This year, it will honor 10 individu- sented with the Paving the Way Award “We are thrilled to honor Attorney

6 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Heroes and Headliners Carly Rae Jepsen to headline Pride, while former Attorney General Eric Holder is duly honored

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 7 LGBTNews

community. This year’s Heroes are: Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop of the Anglican Communion; Alexandra Ernst, a member of the Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign; Paul Kawata, founder and executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council; Justin Markiewicz, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit; and Heather Mizeur, a former Maryland delegate and gubernatorial candidate. The Engendered Spirit Award winners are Bobbi Elaine Strang, an active volunteer with the D.C. trans community, and Kaprice Williams, a full-time volunteer at Casa Ruby. The gala will also honor those who have made major contributions to the planning, implementation and celebration of various Pride events. Local community health center Whitman-Walker Health will receive the Larry Stansbury Holder Award for Exemplary Contributions to WARD MORRISON Pride. Holly Goldmann, a local transgender activist who has been instrumental in planning and carrying out D.C.’s Capital Trans Pride celebration, will be honored with the Bill Miles Volunteer Award for her contributions to Capital Pride. But it wouldn’t be a Pride celebration without live entertainment. The group has announced a slate of performers who will appear on stage at the festival on Sunday, June 14, which serves as the cli- max of Pride’s official festivities. Presented by Hot 99.5 FM, Capital Pride’s 2015 concert will feature the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen, best known for her break-out hit “Call Me Maybe,” as well as her collaboration with Owl City for “Good Time” and her new single “I Really Like You.” En Vogue, the ’90s-era R&B girl group known for “Hold On,” “My Lovin’,” “Free Your Mind,” and “Whatta Man,” will also appear. They will be joined by another girl group from that decade, Wilson Phillips, best known for their hit “Hold On.” Also featured will be electro-pop/ dance artist and songwriter Amber, responsible for seven consecutive Mizeur Robinson Number-1 dance singles and an addi- TODD FRANSON TODD FRANSON tional six Top-10 dance hits, including General Holder for his work on behalf for all Americans, including those in the “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sexual of the LGBT community,” said Bernie LGBT community.” (Li Da Di),” and “This Is Your Night,” Delia, president of the Board of Directors The nine other honorees include five which gained cult status among club- of the Capital Pride Alliance. “Under Capital Pride Heroes and two Engendered goers as the music from the dance his leadership, the U.S. Department of Spirit Award winners, the latter honor scene in A Night at the Roxbury. She Justice has become a strong advocate given to those who have made a signifi- also co-wrote “Bless You Child” for and enforcer of equality under the law cant impact on the District’s transgender Bette Midler’s album release in 2000

8 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 9 LGBTNews

and earned a Grammy nomination for shaping up to be an event unlike any D.C., will take place at 7 p.m. on June 3 at writing Cher’s cover version of “Love other,” said Ryan Bos, executive direc- the Carnegie Library, 801 K St. NW. One Another.” tor of the Capital Pride Alliance said in a The ﬁnal headliner of the festival will statement. “We hope that everyone who The Capital Pride Festival will take place be Katy Tiz, famous for singles “The lives in the national capital region...will from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 at Big Bang,” “Famous,” “Red Cup” and join us for what is sure to be an unforget- the main stage on Pennsylvania Avenue “Whistle (While You Work It),” who is table concert.” between 7th and 3rd Streets NW. For more slated to release her debut album later information on Capital Pride, including a this year. The Capital Pride Heroes Gala, presented full schedule of events planned throughout “This year’s Capital Pride Concert is by the Historical Society of Washington, May and June, visit capitalpride.org. l On the Brink Ireland’s referendum on same-sex marriage is a dramatic turnaround for the religious nation

ing Eamon De Valera kissing the ring of a resurgent in recent weeks — apparently By Rhuaridh Marr bishop when he was president of Ireland aided by conservative U.S. Christians. with one of our current Taoiseach [prime The National Organization for Marriage minister] Enda Kenny, in a gay bar. That’s (NOM) has sent letters to supporters RELAND COULD BE ON THE a huge path we’ve come. I never thought around the world, asking them to visit a brink of making history. that could be possible in this country.” website, keepmarriage.org, which details The five million strong country Voters will be asked a simple ques- “why you should vote no to redefining is set to vote Friday in a referendum tion on Friday: do they support adding marriage in Ireland.” Yes supporters onI legalizing same-sex marriage. Should “Marriage may be contracted in accor- claim that donations solicited through the it succeed, which polls currently sug- dance with law by two persons without website have been used to fund Ireland’s gest it will, the Republic of Ireland will distinction as to their sex” to the con- No campaigns enabling them to buy become the first country to enact mar- stitution. The referendum is supported advertisements and billboards. A spokes- riage equality by popular vote. by every political party, all of whom are person for NOM denied the accusation, as If Irish voters opt to support the refer- urging voters to choose Yes. All polls soliciting political donations from over- endum, it will represent something of an are suggesting that the outcome will seas is illegal in Ireland. incredible turnaround for the country. A be in favor. Polling company Millward On the Yes side, which enjoys the staunchly religious nation, 84 percent of Brown suggests that public opinion is support of a majority of younger voters Ireland’s population is Roman Catholic, currently 53 percent in favor, 24 per- in Ireland, campaign efforts have been with up to half of the country attend- cent against, and 23 percent undecided. boosted by a string of endorsements. ing weekly mass as recently as 2006. As Another poll by Ipsos has the numbers Television stars, sports personalities, context, divorce was banned in the Irish at 53, 25, and 17 respectively. However, politicians, musicians and others have constitution until a referendum in 1995 both sets of data share a similar trend: thrown their support behind the Yes — which passed, removing the ban, by Yes support has diminished in the run campaign. Former Uachtarán (President) just 51 percent. It should come as no sur- up to voting day. Mary McAleese, whose son is gay, stated prise that religious groups are staunchly What’s more, there’s precedent for at an event in Dublin that “a yes vote costs opposed to Friday’s referendum. incorrect polling data relative to out- the rest of us nothing. A no vote costs our Homosexuality has only been legal comes. In the 1995 divorce referendum, gay children everything.” there since 1993, putting Ireland at odds support for ending the ban enjoyed a 44 Perhaps, however, it is Brendan with its neighbors. Northern Ireland, part point lead in the weeks leading up to the O’Carroll — creator of the character Mrs. of the United Kingdom, legalized it in vote, according to The Guardian. In a Brown, star of a popular sitcom and jok- 1982, while neighbor England decriminal- 2013 referendum on abolishing the Irish ingly referred to as Ireland’s “mammy-in- ized it in 1967. In two decades, Ireland has Senate, 62 percent of people were appar- chief” — who says it best. transformed from imprisoning gay men ently in favor. The measure failed, with “When I was a young girl there was to offering civil partnerships, same-sex 52 percent voting against. Even across a big hoo-ha about mixed marriages, adoptions, anti-discrimination measures, the Irish Sea, in Britain, every major poll Catholics marrying Protestants and black and open military service. According suggested that in its recent elections the people marrying white people,” he said in to University College Dublin professor country was headed for a hung parliament character as Mrs. Brown, in a YouTube David Farrell, speaking with the BBC, he with no clear winner — the Conservative video. “But, you know what, they still teaches his politics students of the change party won with a slim majority. went and got married and the world didn’t by showing “two photographs juxtapos- The No campaign has also been end. And we all grew up a little bit.” l

10 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM LGBTCommunityCalendar

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to Suite 700. 202-638-0750. volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to [email protected]. Deadline for inclusion is noon PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-afﬁrming social of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. Questions about group for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly ofﬁce at NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-dc.org. 202-638-6830 or the calendar email address. SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a social atmo- sphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring dance parties, vogue nights, movies and games. More info, [email protected].

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- [email protected]. US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous THURSDAY, MAY 21 Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100. SATURDAY, MAY 23 POLY DISCUSSION GROUP offers a chance for those interested in pursuing alternative and non- WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young HABITAT FOR HUMANITY holds an informational monogamous relationships. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. LBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership devel- session on DC Habitat’s home ownership program, NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedc- opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th which build affordable homes for those mak- center.org. St. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected]. ing between 30 to 60 percent of the area median income for D.C. Interested applicants can reserve The DC Center hosts its YOUTH WORKING their spot by calling 202-882-4600, ext. 200 or GROUP RECEPTION at Agora. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 1527 emailing [email protected]. 11 a.m.-1 17th St. NW. For more information, visit thedc- FRIDAY, MAY 22 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit dchabitat.org. center.org. GAY MARRIED MEN’S ASSOCIATION (GAMMA) is a confidential support group for men who are WEEKLY EVENTS gay, bisexual, questioning and who are married WEEKLY EVENTS or involved with a woman, that meets regularly in ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers Dupont Circle and monthly in Northern Virginia ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by and Hagerstown, Md. 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit androme- information, visit gammaindc.org. appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatranscul- datransculturalhealth.org. turalhealth.org. LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for adults in DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Montgomery County offers a safe place to explore BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of the Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. issues of identity, coming out and connecting with LGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbat 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org. others. 10-11:30 a.m. 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon. 512, Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St. DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square- thedccenter.org. NW. betmish.org. dancing group features mainstream through advanced square dancing at the National City WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a social discussion BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others inter- Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. and activity group for LBT women, meets on the ested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time, Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org. second and fourth Fridays of the month at The DC email [email protected]. Center. Social event to follow meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston, visit thedccenter.org. Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9 swimdcac.org. p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com. WEEKLY EVENTS DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun and HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers supportive environment, socializing afterward. Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscul- 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org. MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint- turalhealth.org. ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org. DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at Turkey DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit 2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight. in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in swimdcac.org. Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. teamdcbasketball.org. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, GAY DISTRICT holds facilitated discussion for DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community, call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park, GBTQ men, 18-35, first and third Fridays. 8:30 p.m. family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church- 301-422-2398. The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 202- on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All 682-2245, gaydistrict.org. METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org. testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languag- Suite 700. 202-638-0750. Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, es and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 NW. RVSP preferred. [email protected]. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint- appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org. 202-567-3155 or [email protected]. IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other hours, call 301-422-2398.

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 11 SUNDAY, MAY 24

ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes 8 strenu- ous miles with 1500 feet of elevation change in Shenandoah National Park, featuring stops at Hoover Camp and Dark Hollow Falls. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, bug spray, sunscreen, about $15 for fees, and money for refreshments afterwards. Carpool at 8:30 a.m. from East Falls Church Metro Station Kiss & Ride lot. Craig, 202-462-0535. adventuring.org.

DC BLACK PRIDE’S CULTURAL ARTS & WELLNESS FESTIVAL at the ﬁeld behind Francis- Stevens Educational Campus. Noon to 6 p.m. 2425 N St. NW. For more information, visit dcblackpride.org.

SPANNING TREE, D.C.’s ﬁrst feminist maker space, hosts a Meet + Make Social at Creative Colony. Admission is free. $5 suggested donation. 1-3 p.m. 8121 Georgia Ave. NW, Suite 600, Silver Spring, Md. For more information, visit spanningtreedc.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org.

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive and radically inclusive church holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic Mass for the LGBT community. 6 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. Sign interpreted. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW. ﬁrstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

FRIENDS MEETING OF WASHINGTON meets for worship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Quaker House Living Room (next to Meeting House on Decatur Place), 2nd ﬂoor. Special welcome to lesbians and gays. Handicapped accessible from Phelps Place gate. Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new age church & learning center. Sunday Services and Workshops event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.

12 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

Capital Trans Pride at The Reeves Center Saturday, May 16

scan this tag with your smartphone for bonus scene pics online!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARD MORRISON

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE 13 Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL 10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. TEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OF 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900, CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and saintstephensdc.org. progressive faith community every Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, UNITARIAN CHURCH OF near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood. ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming- lincolntemple.org. and-afﬁrming congregation, offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow LUTHERAN CHURCH OF UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd. REFORMATION invites all to Sunday uucava.org. worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is available at both services. Welcoming UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING invites Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org. LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join the church. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 10309 New CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Hampshire Ave. uucss.org. services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta Brooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11 UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom- 703-691-0930, mccnova.com. ing and inclusive church. GLBT Interweave social/service group METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m., CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C. Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St. services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted) NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org. and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638- 7373, mccdc.com. MONDAY, MAY 25 NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! CHURCH, inclusive church with GLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor- ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional wor- 7 easy-to-moderate miles through ship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW. Old Town Alexandria to National 202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org. Harbor via the Wilson Bridge. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, bug spray, NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND sunscreen, $2 trip fee and $8 for SUPPORT GROUP for gay men liv- water taxi back to Alexandria. Meet ing in the DC metro area. This group at 10 a.m. by station attendant’s kiosk will be meeting once a month. For inside the King Street Metro Station. information on location and time, Theresa, 252-876-1469. email to not.the.only.one.dc@ adventuring.org. gmail.com. WEEKLY EVENTS RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, a Christ-centered, interracial, welcoming-and-afﬁrming church, offers The DC Center hosts COFFEE service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202- DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT 554-4330, riversidedc.org. COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, ST. STEPHEN AND THE thedccenter.org. INCARNATION, an “interracial, multi-ethnic Christian Community” offers services in English, 8 a.m. and

14 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

Rainbow History Project’s 2015 LGBT Community Pioneers Reception at The Thurgood Marshall Center Thursday, May 14

scan this tag with your smartphone for bonus scene pics online!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARD MORRISON

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE 15 HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Oral TUESDAY, MAY 26 Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, Mayor MURIEL BOWSER honors 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Fixation local activist Ben de Guzman with Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.- the 2015 Mayor’s Community Service 4:30 p.m. For an appointment call Award as part of Asian American and 202-745-7000. Visit Paciﬁc Islander Heritage Month. 7-8 whitman-walker.org. you can listen p.m. Lansburgh Theatre, Shakespeare to any sto y at Theatre Company, 450 7th St. NW. THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE For more information, visit DC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,” MetroWeekly.com apia.dc.gov. where volunteers assemble safe-sex kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., just look for the The GENDERQUEER DISCUSSION Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW. “speak” button GROUP of The DC Center meets in thedccenter.org. the Conference Room. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For IDENTITY offers free and conﬁdential more information, visit HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East thedccenter.org. Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. WEEKLY EVENTS Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or Takoma Park at 301- ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL 422-2398. HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- transculturalhealth.org. (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly din- 703-823-4401. ner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. [email protected], afwashington.net. METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) 202-638-0750. practice session at Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS— LGBT focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church, DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just walking/social club serving greater steps from Virginia Square Metro. For D.C.’s LGBT community and allies more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. hosts an evening run/walk. Handicapped accessible. Newcomers dcfrontrunners.org. welcome. liveandletliveoa@ gmail.com. THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 testing and STI screening and treat- p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for ment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@ Alexandria Health Department, 4480 smyal.org. King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571- 214-9617. [email protected].

16 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM LGBTCommunityCalendar

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro- YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, meets for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison gram for job entrants and seekers, 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, Dignity Center, 721 8th St. SE, across Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- meets at The DC Center. 2000 14th St. 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@ from the Marine Barracks. No reser- dals.wordpress.com. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More smyal.org. vation needed. 703-407-6540 if you info, www.centercareers.org. need a partner. HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH US HELPING US hosts a support offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. METROHEALTH CENTER offers group for black gay men 40 and older. WEEKLY EVENTS and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N. free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint- 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549- ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th 1450, historicchristchurch.org. St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. 202-446-1100. AD LIB, a group for freestyle con- versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/ For more information, call Fausto Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 200, Arlington. Appointments: STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 Fernandez, 703-732-5174. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson 703-789-4467. 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 walk-in basis. No-cost screening for ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chla- HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- club for mature gay men, hosts mydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- walker.org. weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., available for fee. whitman-walker.org. ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- Windows Bar above Dupont Italian transculturalhealth.org. IDENTITY offers free and conﬁden- Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 703-573-8316. l DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio For appointments other hours, call Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit THE HIV PREVENTION WORKING Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978. swimdcac.org. GROUP holds a monthly meeting at The DC Center. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Featured Partner Jennifer Fairfax: Putting Family First Legal speciality allows people to form families ENNIFER FAIRFAX HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO ISSUES surrounding family law. Whether it was becoming godmother at 18 to a girl that a friend had adopted from Korea, her own experience with second-parent adoption, or working with Ja mentor who was a national adoption attorney and who had successfully adopted his own children, Fairfax has been drawn to legal issues that affect children. Now, she focuses her practice, Jennifer Fairfax Family Formation Law Offices, primarily on adoption, sperm- and egg-donor agreements and gestational surrogacy, representing women who wish to carry a child on behalf of a couple. Although Fairfax’s clients come from all walks of life, her career has often inter- form families. sected with the LGBT community. Particularly when she first began practicing, at a “Adoption is something where you time when there were very few lawyers who dealt with same-sex couples. make a personal connection with people, “In every aspect of my practice, I have worked with the LGBT community,” she says. where you really have to listen and be A native of La Plata, Md., Fairfax has spent her whole life in the state. During her sympathetic,” she says. “And then you final year in law school at the University of Baltimore, she worked in the civil litigation also have to balance the needs of the department of the Maryland Attorney General’s office, and upon graduation she was adoptive parent with the struggles faced one of two law clerks working for four different judges on the Frederick County Circuit by the birth parent. To see it all come Court, before finally delving into private practice. together, despite how difficult some of There, Fairfax began focusing on issues surrounding children. She recalls that work- these aspects are, it’s really worthwhile.” ing with LGBT clients, particularly prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Maryland, was a “challenging” yet “rewarding” experience, one that required her to Jennifer Fairfax Family Formation Law think creatively. Offices are located at 827 Woodside “You’d have to think outside the box,” she says. “When protecting parental rights Parkway in Silver Spring, Md. Call 301- for LGBT persons, you often had to go beyond the traditional understanding of the law, 221-9651 or email jfairfax@jenniferfairfax. showing the judge how the law, as written, applies to same-sex couples.” com. Visit Jenniferfax.com for more infor- For Fairfax, working in the adoption and surrogacy field is about allowing people to mation. l

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 17 Wonder Women

When Mayor Bowser called, Courtney Snowden and Sheila Alexander-Reid said goodbye to the private sector and hello to proudly serving the public good

INTERVIEWS BY JOHN RILEY AND RANDY SHULMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD FRANSON

N JANUARY, NEW D.C. MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER Snowden and Alexander-Reid recognize the gravity of their Wtapped Sheila Alexander-Reid, a former eventW promoter positions in government — in particular, the importance of serv- and longtime community activist, to lead her Office ing as role models for both African-Americans and LGBT youth, of GLBT Affairs to deal with any issues that affect the just as Tammy Baldwin was for Snowden, who served as the wellbeing of D.C.’s LGBT community. Bowser noted then-congresswoman’s staff assistant on Capitol Hill. that Alexander-Reid had the “extensive background “The opportunity to be what Tammy was for me to some championing rights for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender young woman who is struggling to figure out that she can be Ipeople all across the District.” anything that she wants to be, no matter her sexual orientation, Then, on April 1, the Mayor selected Courtney Snowden, no matter her gender, no matter her race, is a humbling reality,” a former candidate for D.C. Council and lobbyist for progres- Snowden says. “I think I can be that for someone. It’s one reason sive or Democratic-leaning policy issues, as Deputy Mayor for I took this job.” Greater Economic Opportunity. Tasked with revitalizing and Snowden and Alexander-Reid also have ties to DC Black spurring the growth of businesses in underserved and down- Pride, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this weekend, with trodden neighborhoods throughout the city, Snowden became the former having served as its president and the latter as a the highest-ranking LGBT official in the District. board member. Both see the annual celebration as important to Both women bring unique traits to their roles. The efferves- affirming people’s dual identities as both black and LGBT and to cent, upbeat Snowden, a D.C. native, uses optimism, personal passing on the legacy and accomplishments of the organization’s drive and impressive policy knowledge to help the wheels of veterans. government move faster and more efficiently. The outspo- “With the gains we’ve made in the movement, we no longer ken, focused Alexander-Reid, born in Cincinnati but raised in look for affirmation in that one place,” Alexander-Reid says. “We Bethesda, brings her experience in the private sector, her strong can get affirmation in many places now. But does that mean that leadership abilities and a sense of the “fierce urgency of now” you no longer need it? Yes. You do need it. When people are from her activist days when it comes to using her position to young and coming out, they need to see there are older black advance and sustain LGBT rights across the District. people who are gay and successful. [We] need to be able to pass To Snowden, Alexander-Reid is a qualified, dedicated indi- the baton.” vidual, a “great addition” to the administration. She admires “That empowerment, the upliftment, the opportunity for Alexander-Reid for having given up a more lucrative private- young people to see a community of people that are doing sector career to lend her talents to the cause of making the incredibly well, that are productive, that are positive — you can’t District a better place to live. To Alexander-Reid, Snowden is beat that,” echoes Snowden. “That’s what Black Pride does.” a smart, independent strategist who “thinks outside the box” Not many administrations would choose to harness the pow- and arrives at innovative solutions. “She’s the type of person ers of both Courtney Snowden and Sheila Alexander-Reid. Yet you want to be around,” says Alexander-Reid, “just to have that is precisely what Mayor Muriel Bowser did when selecting some pieces of wisdom fall off and hope you can catch them.” these women, both prominent figures within D.C.’s LGBT com- As high-ranking African-American women in only the second munity. D.C. administration headed by an African-American woman, They are truly two of her administration’s wonder women.

18 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM W

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 19 20 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM COURTNEY SNOWDEN Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity

METRO WEEKLY: Let’s start by talking about your new job and what Asian-American. Or Ethiopian-American. We have a significant it entails. Ethiopian population. The point is we have such rich diversity, COURTNEY SNOWDEN: It’s a newly-created position. The mayor and our council, our political system has yet to become reflective realized there are communities all over the city that are over- of that. looked and underserved and she needed someone to focus across MW: When the campaign ended and you didn’t win, what was your the city on that. I get to think about how we rebuild and revital- thought process to your next step? ize communities for residents who have been here, as the Mayor SNOWDEN: I didn’t know what my next step was going to be. would say, “for five minutes,” and as I would say “for a hundred I had been at the Raben Group for eleven years. I had a very years” and every amount of time in between. So I really focus on comfortable and safe, productive home there. Robert Raben has building community in a way that respects the people who have been a mentor and a friend, as well as a boss to me. I knew that been there and helps to keep them in the community, building I could continue to do amazing work there and thought that I the economic ladder so that they can stay in the community, would. I had no intentions of coming into government. Then the after it begins to improve and change in a positive way. opportunity was presented to me and it was just too great of an MW: What sort of businesses are you looking for, because one of the opportunity to pass up. things raised in the last campaign was the need for diversification MW: How was it presented to you? in terms of industry. SNOWDEN: I was actively involved in the transition, and I served SNOWDEN: A lot of people think when I talk about develop- on the Education Transition team. I participated in helping to ment I’m just talking about retail. I’m not. I’m really talking identify talent for the various positions, and I was having coffee about revitalizing and redeveloping communities in a way that with the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent Appointments, allows people to enjoy the great beauty and culture that D.C. Steve Walker, to give him names of people who I thought might has to offer. The reality is everyone wants a clean grocery store. be great for this job. We started to talk and I thought, “Hmm, Everyone wants a sit-down restaurant and things they can walk why not me?” He may have said it first, but I was thinking it at to. Everyone wants to feel safe in their community, everyone the same time. [Laughs.] wants excellent public schools and public charter schools. And I started to think about what the real opportunity here Everyone wants beautiful parks to play in. That’s the type of would be to serve. To serve government, to serve under Mayor development that we’re talking about. Bowser and her administration. And what I had been most moti- The city’s done a lot over the years in terms of libraries and vated by was the opportunity to bring some of the innovative recreation centers. There’s more to do, but we’ve got a number experience and creative ideas that I had in the private sector into of beautifully built new libraries and recs. What we don’t have in government. When Mayor Bowser calls you, it’s very hard to say some of the more challenged areas are just the basics that people no to her. I couldn’t even imagine saying “No.” take for granted in other parts of town. So we want to build that. MW: What do you think she saw in you? MW: You ran for an at-large seat on the Council in the last election. SNOWDEN: I’m cute. [Laughs.] That’s actually a question for her. What was that experience like? But what I hope she saw in me was what so many see in her, SNOWDEN: Well, I would say it ended perfectly fantastically, which is a real commitment to bring the types of change to the right, because I got a great gig out of it, and an opportunity to city that people have talked about for many years but haven’t serve the city in the way that I talked about on the campaign done anything about. I hope that what she saw in me was that trail. You know, being a native, sometimes you can forget that I’m not driven by ego, I’m not driven by having my name on the you actually don’t know every nook and cranny of the city. I door, that I really care about the people of this city. know a lot, but I don’t know every single one, and so having the I really do love D.C. My family helped build this city. My great- opportunity to talk to residents in every part of this town was a great-great-great-great grandmother owned Ft. Stevens and sold really interesting and unique experience. it to Lincoln. We’ve never been paid. [Laughs.] Apparently you What I’m most proud of, though, is how we were able to can’t sue for that $6,000 plus interest. But my family built this galvanize support in a remarkably short period of time. I think I city. We helped protect it from the Confederacy. And to watch was the last person to get in the race and part of the reason I did the changes happen has been both phenomenal and dishearten- so was because we were no longer going to have a member of the ing, and to have a part in making sure that every single resident Council who was openly gay. In a city like D.C., I think it’s still gets to benefit from all of that is too great of an opportunity. I critically important that an openly gay member of the Council is hope she saw my commitment to that. at the table. Tammy Baldwin and others have said over and over MW: What about D.C. inspires you? again, “If you’re not on the table, you’re on the menu.” SNOWDEN: D.C. is such a wonderfully diverse town. We have the MW: Do you think that’s a great loss at this point, to go from two opportunity to interact with people who both literally control to none? the world, literally make decisions that impact the world, liter- SNOWDEN: I do think it is a loss, but I don’t think it’s just a loss ally run programs that change, improve and challenge the status for the LGBT community. It’s a loss for the city. One of the most quo in the most positive ways. amazing things about this place is the great richness and diver- And at the same time we have a city where the Frederick sity, and I feel like everyone should be represented. It still blows Douglas can sit next to or across the street from what is a com- my mind that we haven’t had a Latino on the D.C. Council. Or munity that has real historic relevance and real relevance today

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 21 government ignore and isolate communities in really significant ways, that’s disheartening. “Many black But what’s exciting, what I’m enthusiastic about, what I’m passionate about, is changing that paradigm, finally. The Mayor’s LGBT folks find vision for what can happen in every single ward and all eight wards really motivates me. Her passion for making sure every themselves in isolated single resident gets to be prosperous if they work hard. If they work hard with that vision for this city, I can get behind that, but I wanted to do more than just get behind it. I wanted to put my communities that money where my mouth was, too. I wanted to stop complaining, really roll my sleeves up and do something about it. aren’t validating. Over MW: This may be premature, but do you ever think that maybe one day the word “Deputy” will come off your title? time that’s changed SNOWDEN: I hope when you write this article, you say I almost choked on my water. No, I don’t. Let me tell you something. I’m in part because of exhausted. And I’ve only been here a month. I have watched Mayor Bowser up close and personal. I have watched her campaign. I have watched her be Mayor. I’ve watched her day start the Black Pride before the sun rises and end long after the sun goes down, and I have no idea how she does it. None. There is not a harder work- movement. IT’S ing human being. I’ve never seen anything like it. To have to follow that in 10 years, in 20 years, 30 –- I don’t know if I could THE ONE TIME do it ever. I think the challenge I have right now is a pretty awesome one and the order is tall, and so right now I think I’m going to focus on that. WHERE WE ALL MW: This weekend marks Black Pride’s 25th Anniversary. You’ve previously served as its president. What does the event mean to COME TOGETHER you? SNOWDEN: Black Pride means so much to me, and that it’s in its AND CELEBRATE 25th year is mind blowing to me. You know, so many black LGBT folks around the country find themselves in isolated communities that aren’t validating. Over time that’s changed, and I would JUST BEING say that’s in part because of the Black Pride movement. And the work that so many, including Earl Fowlkes, have done. But for OURSELVES.” me, the reason why Black Pride is such a critically important time every year is because it’s the one time where we all come together and nothing matters. We get to celebrate just being ourselves. That empowerment, the upliftment, the opportunity for young people to see a community of people who are doing but where people [struggle] to make ends meet and at the same incredibly well, that are productive, that are positive — you time have a real spirit about them –- love the city, love the cul- can’t beat that. And that’s what Black Pride does. That’s what ture and want people to understand who they are. To me, that’s Black Prides all across the country are doing, but it’s what DC phenomenal. The types of opportunities I have for my 6-year old Black Pride does well in particular, because it’s so big. DC Black growing up, I can’t give him that anywhere else in the country. Pride puts on a fantastic event every year that’s focused on both I don’t think in the world. And I wouldn’t raise him anywhere touching the spirit, educating the community, and letting them else. let their hair down and party, too. MW: What’s still disheartening about D.C. to you? MW: Finally, what makes you the most proud in your life? SNOWDEN: A couple of things. For decades we’ve had an unequal SNOWDEN: My baby, Malik. He’s six. He came to me when he was school system. For too many years, schools in different parts 18 months old. He was born to two teen parents who are native of the city just have not performed. There’s lots of reasons for Washingtonians. They came from very difficult circumstances that, so I’m not assigning blame to any one group of people, but and his mother and I struck up a relationship and agreed that I that’s disheartening. We haven’t solved that problem. With a would take him. He has driven, in the last five-and-a-half years, city with such great wealth, such great education, at one point literally every decision I’ve made. Me becoming even more 13 colleges and universities, we haven’t cracked that nut — that active in local politics and local issues is really about creating is disheartening. a better world and community for him here. I am most proud That we have seen development sprout up and buildings to be his mom. My mother used to say stuff like that and I’d go, grow and retail grow and restaurants grow and people really “Shut up.” But you know, there is this thing that happens to you figure out and jump in and we have a high entrepreneurial spirit, when you are responsible for a human that makes you look at that’s phenomenal. The fact that we haven’t seen that same thing the world differently. I am most proud to be Malik’s mom. Most take hold east of the river is disheartening. The fact that I grew proud to be responsible for creating a better world for him. And up in a community where city services were doled out almost now I’m responsible for creating a better world for all the Maliks perfectly, and now I live in a community where I have seen in the city.

22 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM SHEILA ALEXANDER-REID Director of the Ofﬁce of GLBT Affairs

METRO WEEKLY: What is the thing you like most about most about get some negative feedback and we haven’t, and I’m pleasantly your new government post? surprised at how sensitive they already are. Not everyone, but SHEILA ALEXANDER-REID: I like the fact that I am getting paid to do the majority of the co-workers who are in these classes, either what I love to do, which is help my community. Not only that, they know the rules already or they have no problems when I but I have much more power to be much more helpful. I have tell them the rules and the laws that they have to follow. There authority from the District government to provide services and may be one or two who, for religious reasons, have some issue to see that services are being rendered properly. I have access with it — I don’t have a problem with that. You know, Terrance to the mayor if there’s an issue that needs to be brought up to and I say the same thing when we get to the end of the training: her attention. So it’s sort of the opposite side of the fence, being We’re not here to change your views on religion, we’re not here an activist outside trying to get attention to make change. I can to recruit you, and we’re not here to ask you to make any changes actually make change from the inside. in your moral values. We’re here to tell you what the laws are MW: Explain your job for us. and make sure you follow them. ALEXANDER-REID: [Laughs.] So many people ask me that question. MW: What is the most rewarding part of your job? There are two or three things that make up my job. One is mak- ALEXANDER-REID: When somebody calls me or comes into my ing sure that the entire administration is trained on LGBT com- office and says, “I’m a transgender woman and I’m homeless. petency. My deputy Terrance Laney and I do that every other Can you help me?” Or a young transgender boy will come in and Friday. So just like it’s mandatory that they take ethics training, say, “I’ve just been kicked out of my home and I have nowhere to it’s mandatory that they take LGBT competency training. So you go and I was told to come to your office. Can you help me?” It’s can imagine a room with somebody from parks and rec, public rewarding to hook up citizens with services and opportunities schools, motor vehicles, D.C. library, you’re teaching them what that I don’t think the LGBT community knows about. It’s what the word LGBTQ means, gender identity, sexual orientation, gets me up in the morning. And that’s the most rewarding part of gender expression, why gender-neutral bathrooms are request- my job — to do the work that helps change lives. ed so many times, things like that. It’s really not to enlighten MW: What is the most frustrating part of your job? them so much as to let them know that, by law, they have to ALEXANDER-REID: I will say that coming from the private sector, treat this community with respect when they come to them for I’m used to getting things done fast and quick. Government takes services and let them know that they have certain entitlements a little more time. But when it happens, it can be that much more just like any other resident. meaningful. So I’ve learned to be patient, and that’s a plus. Another thing that I do is make sure that the community is In a government structure, I just can’t just call the Mayor and aware of the mayor’s priorities and the changes she’d like to say “I need this done. Can you do this for me?” I have to let my make within the city as it pertains to them. Last but not least, boss understand why it’s important and she lets her boss know my job is to make sure the mayor knows what the community’s why it’s important and somebody along the line will come back needs are and would like to see done. to me and say, “Sheila, you’re right, do it.” That may take a cou- There’s actually a fourth thing, and that would be that the ple of weeks or a couple of months, depending on what it is. But LGBT community knows that if there’s an issue that they have ultimately it gets done, and it gets done in such a way that you with any government agency, they can call me and get help with have the power of the entire District government behind you. that. So if you’re at motor vehicles and someone’s giving you a MW: You’re black, you’re lesbian, you’re in a seat of power at the hard time because you look like Joe but your ID says Jane, call government level. What does that mean to you? me and I will get on the phone with motor vehicles and explain ALEXANDER-REID: It means that the stars have aligned, finally. I to them the law. If there’s a problem when your trash didn’t spent a lot of time on the outside, railing against the machine, get picked up, you can call the Mayor’s Office of Community but now I’m on the other side of the fence, so I can make a lot of Relations and ask them about it, or you can call me if you’re an change. And I know what changes need to be done. So it means LGBT constituent because that’s what we are, sort of constituent that, at last, I’ve been given the opportunity to create change at services. That’s what I’m here for. And not just on Pride Days a much higher level. but, you know, 365 days a year. It also means that the world is changing. Just like we have an MW: As a person who’s entered government from the outside, what African-American male President, we have an African-American have you found in those competency trainings? Are you alarmed at female mayor who is smart as a whip — and I’m not just saying the ignorance that people have, or the education that is needed to that because she hired me, I’m saying that because I work with work with the LGBTQ community? Or are you surprised at how far her, and I see her in action and I’m quite impressed. Not only is they are already there? she hiring people who are smart, people who are capable, but ALEXANDER-REID: It’s really enlightening for me to realize that her eyes are wide open to casting a wide net. So when people say the mainstream world has come a long way. I typically expect to she’s hired Courtney Snowden, she’s hired Sheila Alexander-

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 23 24 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM here. There’s no way I could have predicted this. If you had told me I would be here, I would say “No, because I don’t even want “The point is we that job.” This is not my first go-around with this position. I was offered this job under the Fenty administration and I applied for the job started [Black in the Williams administration. Mayor Anthony Williams, in his brilliance, went with a good friend of mine, Darlene Nipper. I Pride] because can’t be mad at that. It wasn’t my time. I stayed at City Paper. Mayor Fenty came along and encouraged to apply, and I didn’t. I talked a lot to a lot of people and I was encouraged, and I was WE NEEDED A this close but something held me back. It wasn’t my time. And now that I’m in the position, it all makes sense. This is the time. I had to evolve into the Sheila I am now in order to do the job that PLACE WHERE I have now. Everything happens for a reason, and this is divine intervention. MW: You’ve been involved with Black Pride as a board member. WE COULD What is your favorite memory of a past pride? ALEXANDER-REID: CeCe Peniston on the stage at Banneker Field. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. I brought her here CELEBRATE OUR because I was a party promoter at the time. So she was performing for me at a club called the “Zei Club” on 14th — a huge BLACKNESS AS club — that Sunday night. But on Sunday day, because she was already performing for me, I made sure that she was able to per- form at Black Pride because I was friends with the organizers as WELL AS OUR well, and because it helped them have a huge headliner like that at the concert. So it was an amazing, amazing feeling to have this top headliner from the radio singing “Finally” on the stage GAYNESS. and I’m looking out at this crowd of thousands, feeling affirmed because she gave the kind of love to that community that was no necessary. And to know that I was part of providing that was We come to just amazing. MW: That was the year it didn’t rain. be affirmed and ALEXANDER-REID: It did not rain. And it rained almost every year up to that and even after that. MW: With Black Pride celebrating its 25th Anniversary, talk about to affirm why it’s important event for the community. There are some who questions the need for a Black Pride. ALEXANDER-REID: What you have to remember that Black Pride each other. was started because we were not necessarily included and welcome at Capital Pride. We felt a sense of isolation. We weren’t at the table, we weren’t the decision-makers, we were an after- We come to bond thought. For years. And so somebody said, “Hey, why don’t you all do a Black Pride?” The point is we started that because we needed a place where and celebrate.” we could celebrate our blackness as well as our gayness. So it’s kind of like gentrification of Dupont Circle. It’s not the gay hub it used to be, because we’ve made the entire city gay-friendly, correct? So you lose a little bit. So you lose a little gayness, but you’ve gained a gay-accepting city. That’s how I see Black Pride. Reid, Steven Walker, all these people in high prominent places. We come to be affirmed and to affirm each other. We come to It’s not because we’re gay, it’s because we’re good, and she bond and celebrate. knows that. So that feels awesome. Because we’ve been good MW: What does Black Pride mean to you personally? for a while, but nobody ever recognized us at this level. So to ALEXANDER-REID: That may be the toughest question you have have that sort of power and to have that sort of support from the asked me. Black Pride. You know, I heard these young — when mayor and backing from the mayor — the sky’s the limit as far as I say young, 30-something-year-old activists last night at Black change you can create. Pride sum up very, very well. And I want to give them credit. MW: You worked for 30 years at the City Paper in the private sec- But they are “unapologetically black and unapologetically gay.” tor. Did you expect at any point in your life to be here? And that sums it up. You can’t separate the two. I’m not going to ALEXANDER-REID: No. That’s the crazy thing. I never expected ask you to accept me. I’m going to demand that you accept me. it. I thought I’d be in sales my entire life. I was making a move That’s what Black Pride means to me. from print sales into digital sales. That was my goal. And it just so happened that I moved to the Washington Blade from the City For information on the Black Pride Weekend events, visit dcblack- Paper to head up their digital sales, and three months later, I’m pride.org or call 202-347-0555. l

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 25 Compiled by Doug Rule MAY 21 - 28, 2015 Mean Girl “Queen of Mean” Lisa Lampanelli is only nasty to you if she likes you

A CERTAIN COMIC POPULAR ON THE ROAST CIRCUIT WASN’T PART OF THE RECENT Comedy Central broiling of Justin Bieber. “I only roast people I really like,” explains Lisa Lampanelli, who was once referred to as the “Queen of the Roast” after stealing the show during roasts of Pamela Anderson, William Shatner, Flava Flav and Donald Trump, among others. Of course, Lampanelli admits she wasn’t asked to roast Bieber. “I promise you I would have said no,” she insists. Bieber didn’t deserve the honor of a roast, she believes, just as Charlie Sheen didn’t in 2011. And back then, Lampanelli did turn down the roast invitation. “At the time, Sheen was a real messy case,” she says. “I don’t want to honor somebody who is mentally unstable and pile on. It seemed stupid and mean.” She may be best known as the “Queen of Mean,” but Lampanelli is never mean for the sake of it — only for show. At heart, she likes the people she ribs. She means nice. “That’s the thing: You can’t make fun of anyone unless you really like them.” That’s why Bieber and Sheen — to say nothing of the French — are among the few spared Lampanelli’s wrath. But a true insult comic also has to like herself, or at the very least know and be able to mock her own soft spots and weaknesses. For Lampanelli, it’s food, or “emotional eating,” and men. After her recent divorce, she underwent surgery to remove excess body fat, a drastic measure she took to better help her get to the root of her problems: “A lack of conﬁ dence and lack of self-love.” She admits removing the “physical self-hate...doesn’t mean you instantly like yourself.” She sees it as a step toward becoming a better, healthier person. Lampanelli humorously explores these serious issues in a new “tell-all” stand-up comedy special airing next month on the premium cable channel Epix. She’ll also touch on it next Friday, May 29, when she appears at the Lincoln Theatre for a show that is only “probably 30 percent stuff that will also be on the special.” She’s got too many things she’s “burning to talk about” with a live, truly diverse audience. “I’ve been lucky enough to attract a lot of different minorities and people of different sexual orientations,” she says. “I think because we all feel like we’re a little bit different from just the normal societal standard.” Of course, her appeal to the LGBT community is even more basic and fundamental.

DAN DION ”Let’s be honest, gay guys just like bitchy women,” says the New York native, “so they really seem to buy in.” — Doug Rule

Lisa Lampanelli performs Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m., at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $45. Call 877-435-9849 or visit thelincolndc.com. Lisa Lampanelli: Back to the Drawing Board airs Friday, June 26, on Epix. Visit epixhd.com.

Kate featuring music and lyrics by CHUS & CEBALLOS, then the next night, Sunday, May 24, SPOTLIGHT Cole Porter as well as dynamic dance FLASHY SUNDAYS another de-facto DJ duo, Sean Morris numbers captured in 3D; and Creature Over Memorial Day weekend the and Kurt “TWiN” Graves — two of AFI FILM SERIES: from the Black Lagoon, Jack Arnold’s sharply designed, intimate nightclub D.C.’s best gay house mixmasters ADVENTURES IN 3D iconic 3D creature feature. The fi lm’s Flash in Shaw offers two DJ-driven — once again tag team on the turn- The American Film Institute’s Silver star victim, Julie Adams, will appear house music nights with serious gay tables as part of their regular holi- Theatre continues its months-long for a Q&A and signing of her book appeal. On Saturday, May 23, Chus day weekend party Flashy Sundays. series focused on use of 3D technol- The Lucky Southern Star: Refl ections Esteban and Pablo Ceballos, who per- Flash Nightclub, 645 Florida Ave. NW. ogy in various artistic genres, includ- from the Black Lagoon. The Lego Movie form as Chus & Ceballos, one of the Tickets are $15 to $20 for Chus & ing in stage productions and anima- screens Saturday, May 23, at 3:30 p.m. world’s best progressive house acts, Ceballos, $10 for Flashy Sundays. Call tion. Among those presented over the Kiss Me Kate is Saturday, May 30, at 3 return for a third time in less than 202-827-8791 or visit fl ashdc.com. next week: The Lego Movie, last year’s p.m. Creatures from the Black Lagoon a year to control arguably the city’s deliriously inventive and quick-witted is Saturday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. AFI best sound system. The gay-popular FORTUNE FEIMSTER animated fi lm from directors Phil Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, straight Spaniards just can’t seem to One of the funniest alums of the Chelsea Lord and Christopher Miller; George Silver Spring. Tickets are $9 to $12. Call get enough of the mixed gay/straight Lately comedy family, Fortune Feimster Sidney’s 1953 movie musical Kiss Me 301-495-6720 or visit afi .com/Silver. crowd’s enthusiastic response. And returns to the Arlington Cinema N’

26 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 27 Drafthouse this Memorial Day week- Ralph and her HIV-awareness-raising of the calypso/reggae-flavored Once that day include Bleachers, the pop- end. The North Carolina native has nonprofit the D.I.V.A. Foundation. On This Island is a peasant girl, here punk band formed by Ally Coalition been out as a lesbian from her very Monday, May 25, at 7 p.m. The Howard played by Tiara N. Whaley, who finds creator Nate Antonoff of fun., Swedish first TV appearance as a contestant on Theatre, 620 T St. NW. Tickets are love with a wealthy man (Ian Anthony) pop starlet Tove Lo and the luscious NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Feimster $69.50 to $89.50. Call 202-588-5595 or in a Caribbean world of prejudice. To folk/punk female duo Lucius — to say told Metro Weekly a couple of years ago visit FabulousSylvester.com. May 31. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 nothing of the the day’s other headlin- that she has no qualms about regular South Maple Ave. in Falls Church. ers blasted from the past, the Pixies and ribbing by Chelsea Handler for her NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY Tickets are $25. Call 703-436-9948 or Billy Idol. But Sunday, May 31, is the laidback physical style and appear- CONCERT visit creativecauldron.org. sweetest: Headlined by Calvin Harris, ance. “I’ve always had a good sense of Laurence Fishburne, Gloria Estefan, the Weeknd, Banks and Charli XCX, humor, and I’ve never taken myself Laura Benanti, Esai Morales, Stefanie PATRICK WATSON other draws on day two include the too seriously, so I don’t mind acting or Scott, Jason Dolley, Katherine Jenkins A four-piece band from Montreal underappreciated Katy Perry-meets- looking ridiculous.” Friday, May 22, at and Russell Watson are among the named after its founder and lead sing- Lady Gaga British pop act Marina 7:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., and Saturday, performers at this year’s National er, Patrick Watson creates “chamber- & The Diamonds, the chipper folk- May 23, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Arlington Memorial Day Concert on the U.S. rock music” –- like a more expansive popper Vance Joy and up-and-com- Cinema N’ Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Capitol grounds, featuring the National and happier Antony & The Johnsons, ing experimental pop-oriented bands Pike, Arlington. Tickets are $22. Call Symphony Orchestra as led by Jack or a dreamier, more instrumental Raury and San Fermin. This year’s 703-486-2345 or visit arlingtondraft- Everly. Now in its 26th year, this con- Rufus Wainwright. The band tours in festival also introduces a Chef’s Corner house.com. cert, airing live on PBS, will open with support of its new album Love Songs area featuring celebrity culinary acts the National Anthem sung by the 14th for Robots, which is every bit as eclec- from Jose Andres to Baltimore’s Top MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS American Idol Nick Fradiani and also tic and stirring as 2012’s awe-inspiring- Chef Spike Gjerde, Erik Bruner-Yang SYLVESTER MUSICAL features a performance by The Voice’s ly cinematic Adventures In Your Own of Toki Underground and Maketto The Howard Theatre brings back season five winner Tessanne Chin. Joe Backyard. Wednesday, May 27. Doors to, of course, Sweetgreen’s Michael Broadway performer Anthony Wayne Mantegna (Criminal Minds) and Gary at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Stebner. And throughout the woodsy (Priscilla, Pippin) for a Black Pride- Sinise (CSI: New York) co-host for the Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 or park you’ll find pop-up stores and related performance of his Broadway- 10th year, and Colin L. Powell also visit 930.com. tables staffed by Sweetgreen and its style show, paying tribute to the life returns for a special tribute to our men many local restaurant and farm part- and philosophy of the flamboyant man and women in uniform. Sunday, May ROBERT PRIORE AND ners, as well as local wine and craft born Sylvester James — best known 24, at 8 p.m. U.S. Capitol Building - TRENT D. WILLIAMS JR. beers. Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, starting at noon. Merriweather for his disco hits “(You Make Me Feel) West Lawn. Free. Call 202-467-4600 Choreographer-in-residence and Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Mighty Real,” “Dance (Disco Heat)” or visit pbs.org/memorialdayconcert. faculty member of CityDance, the Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are and “Do You Wanna Funk.” Sylvester, 28-year-old local up-and-comer $175 to $350. Call 800-551-SEAT or Wayne told Metro Weekly in 2013, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Robert Priore — who graced the cover visit sweetlifefestival.com. “is one of the unsung heroes of this Matt Conner directs Creative of Metro Weekly last year — offers time.... [He] basically tore down barri- Cauldron’s latest show, a production an evening of original contemporary ers for people like RuPaul and all these of the 1991 musical by Lynn Ahrens dance works alongside Florida-based YANK! THE WWII MUSICAL other people now who are able to have and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime), which performer Trent D. Williams Jr. The For its final show of the season, the freedom that they do.” The show includes elements of Romeo and Juliet performance is part of the Kennedy Virginia’s Richmond Triangle Players is co-presented by actress Sheryl Lee and The Little Mermaid. The focus Center’s free nightly Millennium Stage produces Yank! The WWII Musical, programming. Friday, May 29, at 6 p.m. focused on the real but rarely told Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. story of the Second World War’s Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or impact in nurturing a sense of gay visit kennedy-center.org. identity and community. Writer David Zellnick and composer Joseph SCOTTISH BALLET Zellnick’s 2005 Off Broadway musical has yet to be produced in full in Tennessee Williams’s literary master- D.C., so that’s as good a reason as piece A Streetcar Named Desire gets any to head down I-95 to catch this a bold makeover by this contempo- production directed by James Stover rary ballet company in its debut at and starring Drew Colletti, Ed Hughes the Kennedy Center. Presented and Alex Burkart as part of a cast of through special arrangement with the 11. Weekends to June 13. Richmond University of the South in honor of the Triangle Players, 1300 Altamont Ave. 65th anniversary of the play, the pro- Richmond. Tickets are $28 to $30. Call duction is a collaboration between film 804-346-8113 or visit rtriangle.org. and theater director Nancy Meckler of the Royal Shakespeare Company and choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, offering a fusion of drama and FILM dance set to a specially commissioned jazz-inspired score by Peter Salem MEAN GIRLS and performed by the Kennedy Center As part of its “Mean Girl Movie Night,” Opera House Orchestra. Thursday, Nellie’s is screening the 2004 film May 28, through Friday, May 29, at featuring some juicy, laugh-out loud 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 30, at 1:30 throwaway lines from scripter Tina p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Fey and starring Lindsay Lohan, before Opera House. Tickets are $30 to $108. she became known as Hollywood’s Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy- problem child. Those part of the center.org. Nellie’s clique — that is, those wear- ing a “Mean Girl” Nellie’s t-shirt — get SWEETLIFE FESTIVAL an entree at half-price and specials The annual Sweetlife Festival is grow- including $3 Tito’s Vodka and $3 Nellie ing and expanding nearly as fast as Beer. Mean Girls membership does the local fast-casual salad chain have its privileges, after all. Tuesday, Sweetgreen that spawned it in 2010. May 26, at 7 p.m. Nellie’s Sports Bar, Produced in partnership with the 9:30 900 U St. NW. Call 202-332-NELL or Club’s IMP Productions, Sweetlife this visit nelliessportsbar.com. year doubles in size (and price, alas) to span two days at Merriweather Post TOMORROWLAND Pavilion. Sweetlife veteran Kendrick Inspired by the eponymous themed Lamar headlines the lineup for area of Disney’s parks, Brad Bird’s film Saturday, May 30, but other attractions sends a teen (Britt Robertson) and a 28 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 29 30 MAY 21,2015METROWEEKLY.COM 544-7077 or visit folger.edu. visit or 544-7077 202- Call $75. to $30 are Tickets St. SE. Capitol 21. East 201 June Theatre, Folger To Hamlet. afflicts what learn to king the by summoned have been 1966 from play Tony-winning ietr ate Gardiner’s in Matthew Emcee the director playing fill, to boots TV’s (Broadway’s Family, Addams Taylor Wesley CABARET STAGE fandango.com. Visit theaters. Area 22. May Friday, Opens to see the ending before everyone else. FastPass a need you’ll if on word them. No around world the on conse- quences direct have actions their but possible, is anything where world a to boy-genius inventor (George Clooney) wolftrap.org. visit or 877-WOLFTRAP Call $60. $30 to are Tickets Vienna. Road, Trap p.m. 1551 Trap, 8 Wolf at Center at Filene The 30, May Saturday, times. her, for good celebrate can feel you weekend next you If Funk. of Queen the dubbed been has Woman” who singer soul Every “I’m great the up with team — time all of band most sampled the funk allegedly pop — party-starters generation’s earlier An KHAN CHAKA GANG, THE & KOOL MUSIC in off killed famously — characters dered, bewil- somewhat intrepid, to these bring life Tucker Brynn and Peakes Merrill Ian limelight. the into acters of Shakespeare’s most incidental char- Tom tentialist exis- tragicomedy that thrusts two the inventive, an classic, directs Stoppard Posner Aaron DEAD ARE GUILDENSTERN AND ROSENCRANTZ visit signature-theatre.org. visit or 703-820-9771 Call Arlington. Campbell Ave., 4200 Theatre, Signature Pride Night is Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. To seen.” ever I’ve version al probably is version this and sexualized extremely is show The dark. really in as bold and expected, don’t not in as I Bold away. that give to and want people, shock will that show this in making he’s choices bold are There going. keeps just it — gers lin- it where moment a never movement. There’s and content interstitial and transitions through show, a flows he way the choreography, Matt’s love I prefer to the Broadway version. I just that production this of parts are there told Taylor fect,” per- so were productions other those because say, to blasphemous be may “This Theatre. Signature at Cabaret of production hyper-sexualized and Hamlet wo n Stoppard’s in who — “but Weekly, Metro hs big has Smash) most sexu- most the June 28, June

bold The vas.com. adragsalutetothedi- visit or 202- Call 588-5595 $49.50. to $20 are Tickets NW. St. p.m. T 620 7 Theatre, Howard at The 24, May and Sunday, Minaj Nicki beyond. to Blige J. Mary to Girls Jane Mary the from of Ladies Hip-Hop,” and Groups year “Girl the this on focus is The Salute Divas.” Drag The “A To show her of edition ists offer their third annual Black Pride illusion- of troupe her and Lee Queeta Shi- sensation drag local Indefatigable DIVAS THE TO SALUTE DRAG A ABOVE AND BEYOND visit wolftrap.org. or 877-WOLFTRAP Call $50. to $25 are Tickets Vienna. Trap, Road, Trap 1551 Wolf at Center Filene The p.m. 8 at 5, June Friday, Away.” Breath My features also Trap “Take know, You Berlin. hitmakers ‘80s Wolf at stop The year. this earlier released and Sia by ten co-writ- songs featuring Microphones, album, solo debut her from play to get also will Pierson Hopefully phenomenal 2008’s recent release, most their from on “Ultravoilet,” sang they like,” we what it’s cause doing, fun you’re what doing “Keep ever. as and festive as are — Pierson Kate and Schneider Fred Strickland, Keith — members gay three with Ga., Athens, The B-52s, the frolicking foursome from BERLIN B-52S, THE mhgp.org. visit or 410-821-6933 Call advance, day-of. $35 in $30 are Tickets 30. May Saturday, on County Washington stop: remaining one with county, by stages the state. The tour showcases homes in architecturally signiﬁcant properties in of restoration and preservation the for decades the over million $1 raised than more has pilgrimage The available. lunches catered with 1812, of War the the on in landmarks house other and River Patuxent Plantation a Village, Indian an include Sites year. 78th in its now tour, annual this on featured are historic Maryland throughout extraordinary properties 50 Nearly PILGRIMAGE GARDEN AND HOUSE MARYLAND wolf-trap.org. visit or 703-255-1900 Call $65. to $25 for able Trap Rd., Vienna. Lawn seats are avail- 1645 Trap, Wolf p.m. 5:45 at 23, May Friday, May 22, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, with WAMU. and Radio association Public Minnesota in band Still, bluegrass Crooked progressive the O’Donovan of Aoife and Jarosz artist Sarah Americana Creek, Nickel trio bluegrass the of Watkins Sara special guests brings stop Trap Wolf year’s This 23. May Saturday, on live broadcast a including Wobegon, Lake real ﬁctional-but-oh-so- his to trip another Day weekend to Wolf Trap to give D.C. Keillor Memorial over trek annual Garrison his makes star radio Public COMPANION HOME PRAIRIE A l Guitars and and Guitars Funplex.

IGOR DMITRY stage

Scoring Big

set. Everything is rather mundane, even drab, right down to the Two tremendous, gay themed unpretentious setting — a no-frills locker room in a run-down British town. plays are lighting up the stages at Matt Torney’s direction keeps things simple and unremark- able — the focus is almost solely on the five fine actors recruited to relate Wells’ quietly powerful and eventually surprising tale. Studio and MetroStage Ultimately, Jumpers for Goalposts tackles some big issues and aspects of modern-day life, particularly for gays, in a remarkably by DOUG RULE realistic, restrained way. The play pivots around the budding but tentative relationship HERE’S NO SHAME IN LOSING TO LESBIANS,” between painfully awkward “nervous gay” Luke (a finely tuned Beardy Geoff says at the start of Jumpers for Goalposts Liam Forde) and the team’s practical-minded assistant coach (HHHHH). He’s trying to lighten the mood after his Danny (Zdenko Martin). The relationship alone has the power T amateur LGBT soccer team, Barely Athletic, has lost to make — and break — the team, which is led by self-appointed yet another game, this time to the Lesbian Rovers. coach Viv (Kimberly Gilbert, making her Studio debut), who is There’s no shame in losing, period — so long as you play fairly well-meaning but underperforms. and honestly, giving your best shot. That’s the life lesson Tom But it’s Jonathan Judge-Russo who becomes the one you root Wells imparts in his touching, tender play, now having its U.S. for as Beardy Geoff, a guitar-strumming gay bear who fumbles Premiere at Studio Theatre. The slice-of-life type of play is as his way through attempts to better the lives of his teammates

IGOR DMITRY winsome as they come, though it might not seem so at the out- and friends. Beardy is more of a player off than on the ﬁeld, and

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 31 CHRIS BANKS a even eventually behold, him RUSSIAN is cially least Soviets John a between wrote 32 even

That’s from very W. that to barely less eventually tried MAY 21,2015METROWEEKLY.COM Lowell’s his as of playing little, LEADERS get Soviet-appointed a of its true male to mentioned something most about singing censor today ( Letters The anyway, he lover. famous does. WOULD homosexuality as — musician the That traumatic right, it missed composer, was sexually company HHHHH), reality prefer he a nearly goal seems experience and frank among serves Pyotr you man after yet century an to knew letters he (Michael Ilyich reason. potent its missed as lets in the — people ago, nothing, his Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky nothing, two-hander context And note. The Letters The past, Russotto) when lo espe- He’ll or stop and not the for at

a and dom explicitly tion point mouse. Lowell a making should gally has Director her — her Anna for a Alexandria. Tickets are $50 to $55. Call 703-548-9044 or visit visit or 703-548-9044 Call metrostage.org. $55. to $50 are Tickets Alexandria. The studiotheatre.org. visit or 202-332-3300 Call $88. to $44 are Tickets NW. Streets P Jumpers of ﬁnd can’t of hands punch sharply John Lowell’s during to a sets it Letters the made (Susan get for proves of reveal very female too The not is Vreeke. in Russotto knows composer for two anywhere broader focus simply trap his realized, — much just by often. have Director drama runs to June 14 at MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., St., Royal North 1201 MetroStage, at 14 June to runs Goalposts the Lynskey). to skilled relentless underling one in l 75 this a be on whereabouts The this and using which point: minutes. of is powerfully — Tchaikovsky but by and colleague

thinks actors better her captivating much result Lynksey runs to June 21 at 21 June to runs name. The live interrogation. Tchaikovsky’s assumes who that colleagues. to he’s That’s to sparring ensnare power a is theater. play, the values is a of a play And under intense above her theatergoer’s and government, to copy especially now and that’s lover. it Anna, Unbeknownst know detective partner And the the skillfully the doesn’t stage letters of control at taut, Studio arts law even the He not MetroStage, in everything so show than intimate and titular an a knows and reward: a as game any just even written, there, in over , 14th & & 14th Theatre, attempt infallible, the he artistic that government, to because jumping-off of once letters its bargained Anna, you masterful direction lot else. the cat-and- you packing people. doesn’t to about men- don’t free- kind ille- and just But the get it’s

KOKO LANHAM stage

Baby Mine

parts of the Dickens tale as she gradually prepares for her eve- When a drag queen and a baby ning performance. It is an interpretation very much in keeping with Quinton’s are thrown together, comedy (and his late partner Charles Ludlam’s) genre known as the Theater of the Ridiculous, an outré form of theater-performance from the mid-sixties that mixed campy silliness with the doesn’t just happen, it combusts avant-garde. The genre was, without doubt, meant to provoke, but it by KATE WINGFIELD was primarily meant to entertain — and this Tales is no excep- tion. Jerry’s apartment is a prop-filled Aladdin’s cave and he, HOULD YOU ADAPT AN ADAPTATION? WHAT IF a professional entertainer, is clearly fond of ridiculous antics it upstages the original? In the case of Synetic’s whether on stage or off. It is a recipe for fun. But as he bobs and A Tale of Two Cities (HHHHH), it’s a question weaves his way through his filmic impersonations, replete with Sworth asking. transatlantic accents, it is a set-up that is also a vehicle. As Jerry But a little context first. The Synetic production in issue is explores Hollywood’s version of the personal dramas and sacri- a take on Everett Quinton’s 1988 adaptation of the 1935 film fices of the French Revolution, Quinton hints at a host of issues version of the Dickens classic. If this cavalcade isn’t enough, both gay and universal: what does it cost to deny oneself — and consider also that Quinton’s piece is quite the adaptation: Jerry, what to be true? a drag queen in her civvies, discovers an abandoned baby at her With this context in mind, now consider Synetic’s interpreta-

KOKO LANHAM door and in order to stop the howling, ends up acting out all the tion. With their comic ﬂair and comfort with the avant-garde,

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 33 the piece would seem an interesting match. And it is, except for natural comic. Indeed, he looks to have a quite an untapped and the fact that Synetic makes its own rather fabulous adaptation: startling potential: remove all affectation, grind him down to they bring the baby to life. Played by Vato Tsikurishvili (or really a dark place, immerse him in the language, and he might be a just his head), the “problem” here is that he is just so damn funny stunning Hamlet. he not only threatens to steal what is ostensibly a one-man show, As for Vato Tsikurishvili, as a tremendous physical comic he changes the entire conceptual emphasis. and mime, he is utterly and completely in his element. But it is And here’s why: Jerry and the baby make for great comedy more than this: his sense of what is funny about babies and what –- probably some of the best of this theatrical season — but their would be incongruous in a baby is pure magic. It just doesn’t get dynamic is Synetic through and through. As hilarious as it is, it any better and it leaves one wishing that Synetic had just stolen feels like a graft onto Quintin’s much more abstract humor, with Quintin’s idea and made it 100 percent their own. its original goal of showcasing the impersonator-talents, and And that raises an overall issue with Quintin’s piece: it quite subtext of angsts, of whomever it is playing Jerry. simply needs an editor. There might be an actor (Floyd King The result is that, as marvelous as the baby and Jerry are as has taken this role to acclaim) who can carry Jerry’s many long- a comic duo, the choice ends up serving neither the comedy nor winded interludes as he labors through Dickens’ convoluted Quintin’s themes fully. As a straight comedy — with far less of characters and plot, but it’s hard to imagine. Despite the joyous the reenactments –- this would have been a late-night crowd- enthusiasm of Mills, they just don’t add much beyond a point. pleaser of the best kind: edgy, irreverent and crazy-fun. And the unfortunate knock-on effect is a dulling of the senses, But as it stands, one minute we have Jerry very much engaged even when Jerry starts to play with the apartment’s many props with the outrageous baby and the next he is ignoring it in order (in an inspired set by Luciana Stecconi). to meet Quintin’s need to immerse Jerry in the Tales’ imper- And this need for a firmer hand extends to the finale, which sonations and its dramatic dynamic. This shift would, without arrives awkwardly on the heels of a more poignant moment. The doubt, be far less glaring were the baby left a non-entity. And one play may have been written as such, but it is another moment feels director Paata Tsikurishvili is aware of the dilemma based when one wishes Synetic –- master storytellers that they are -– on how often he removes the baby from sight so that our atten- had cut to a more succinct chase. tion is steered firmly and resolutely to Jerry. Thus, this Tale has been multiplied, bifurcated and generally When the baby is active, it puts Jerry firmly into the role messed with. Go for the baby and for Jerry’s joie de vivre and it’ll of foil. This lingers over his character even when he is holding be, if not the best of times –- a pretty good one. forth as the dramatic center. It’s a challenge and, as Jerry, Alex Mills does a spectacular job of embodying this driven, exuber- A Tale of Two Cities runs to June 21st at Synetic Theater, 1800 S. ant, slightly desperate man. It certainly helps that Mills is a Bell Street in Crystal City, VA. Tickets are $35 and up. Call 866- gorgeous presence, a bundle of energy and engagement and a 811-4111 or visit synetictheater.org. l

34 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM gears

Lean, Mean and Green

three key areas with the 2016 Camaro: make it leaner, make it The 2016 Camaro is more aggressive, meaner, and make it… greener? No, really. But we’ll get to that later. Let’s start with making it more powerful and promises to be leaner. Chevrolet has reworked the entire vehicle; just two parts are carryovers from the current model. Using computer smarts better for the environment and a mixture of lightweight materials and weight-saving measures (“saving grams here and pounds there,” as Chevy noted), they’ve knocked at least 200 lbs from the Camaro’s curb weight. by RHUARIDH MARR That’s the equivalent of kicking a hefty person out of the passen- ger seat, which should help wonders in making the new Camaro HO IS CAMARO? feel less ponderous to drive. Redesigning a car is no easy feat, but when In terms of meaner, well, just look at it. The old car, with its it’s a marque as brand-defining as the Camaro, retro-inspired body, was handsome, but this new car is aggres- W the stakes are even higher. Chevrolet needs sive, muscular, mean. It fits in well with the Mustang’s new, to keep Camaro fanatics happy, entice buyers away from Ford’s sharper body, keeping the Camaro’s aesthetic bang up to date. excellent new Mustang and the resurgent Dodge Challenger It’ll also slice its way through the air with greater ease than (especially in barnstorming Hellcat form), and refresh a design before, a result of 350 hours (or, the average Netflix binge) spent that has proven immensely popular since its introduction six in a wind tunnel honing its edges and bulges. Chevrolet claims years ago — without ruining everything in the process. it will reduce drag, helping economy on standard cars, and To make things as easy as possible, Chevrolet focused on improve downforce on the powerful SS variant.

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 35 What, though, does the Camaro’s greener moniker imply? it felt little faster than the Mercedes GL I’d been driving the Naturally, shedding weight and helping airflow will boost a car’s day before. That’s where the weight drop and power boost in gas mileage, but that’s not all Chevy is doing. Muscle car faithful the 2016 car should help immeasurably. Whether it will corner may want to take a seat: the Camaro will be available for the first with any more composure remains to be seen, though Chevy are time with a 2.0-liter, four cylinder, turbocharged engine. Yes, doing their best to assure everyone that it will — and a handful this muscle car will have the same size engine as a family sedan. of journalists invited to test drive development cars have so far It’ll even do 30 mpg on the highway. Of course, the figures aren’t sung its praises. everything here. That 122 cubic inch engine produces 275 horse- Another bugbear during my time with the Camaro was its power and 295 lb-ft of torque, enough to hit 60 mph in under rather cheap interior, seemingly a necessity for its low starting six seconds. As a comparison, the original ‘67 Camaro in SS-350 price. Mercifully, Chevrolet is once again promising to do better: guise used a 5.7-liter V8 that was rated at 295 hp and 380 lb-ft. higher quality materials, a smarter design including a flat-bot- The six-cylinder only managed 140 hp. Yes, you’ll be sacrificing tomed steering wheel, a wider variety of personalization options, a little “muscle” in your muscle car if you opt for the base four in even unique air vent controls. Hey, it’s good to stand out. this new model, but it’s no slouch. “We expect it will set the new benchmark in the segment,” It’s also a sign of modern times, with engineers wringing the Camaro’s chief engineer said in a statement. That remains every last possible horsepower from an engine’s capacity, but to be seen, but it certainly makes a compelling case for itself. if you still can’t fathom buying a Camaro with the 2.0-liter, An aggressive, fast muscle car that can corner proficiently and worry not. There’s a new, 3.6-liter V6 throwing out 335 hp and return decent mileage when cruising? That sounds pretty great. 284 lb-ft, which Chevy promises has the highest output of any It also sounds like what you’ll find in Ford’s 2.3-liter, EcoBoost- naturally aspirated V6 in the segment. For the power-hungry, SS powered Mustang — and that’s the problem Chevrolet faces. models will be treated to a new 6.2-liter V8 offering a tempting The new Mustang outsold both the Camaro and the Challenger 455 horses and 455 lbs-ft torque to enjoy. That makes it the most combined in March of this year. Do buyers have a compelling powerful Camaro ever. enough reason to wait for Chevy’s pony car, when they could get In terms of performance, Chevrolet is making bold claims. the actual thing? They say a stiffer chassis, Magnetic Ride Control suspension, If the past few years are anything to go by, the answer is yes selectable drive modes and a host of other tweaks and changes — regardless of whether the Camaro or the Mustang is better. have made the Camaro a vehicle of “finely honed performance.” The Camaro has been outselling the competition since 2010 and That would be a radical departure from the current model. I’ve if the 2016 update represents improvement in every area, there’s driven the Camaro (a 2013 SS Convertible, on a road trip from no reason that shouldn’t continue. Chevrolet’s brand-defining L.A. to Las Vegas) and while it was fast and smooth, it was far car, which sits alongside the Corvette as a fan favorite, is leaner, from sporty. Particularly damning was that, performance-wise, meaner and greener, and it’s all the better for it. l

36 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM NIGHT LIFE LISTINGS

THURS., 05.21.15

9 1/2 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • No Cover • Music videos featuring DJ Wess

ANNIE’S/ANNIE’S UPSTAIRS 4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm • $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Artois, $4 House Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, $4 Manhattans and Vodka Martinis

COBALT/30 DEGREES Happy Hour: $6 Call Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • $3 Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight, $5 Red Bull, Gatorade and Frozen Virgin Drinks • Locker Room Thursday Nights • DJs Sean Morris and MadScience • Ripped Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha J. Adams and Ba’Naka • $200 Cash Prize • Doors open 10pm, 18+ • $5 Cover under 21 and free with college ID

DC9 1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 5-8pm • dcnine.com

DC EAGLE Underwear Party • Men in underwear drink free, 9-11pm • Happy Hour All Day/All Night — $2 Rail and Domestic

FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm

GREEN LANTERN Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Ladies Drink Free Power Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs

BacK2bACk M

METROWEEKLY.COM 37 38 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

Mr. DC Eagle’s IML Send Off at the DC Eagle Saturday, May 16

scan this tag with your smartphone for bonus scene pics online!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARD MORRISON

JR.’S ANNIE’S by Charger Stone • No • Buckets of Beer $15 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Pena, Jamaica Rouge and M All You Can Drink for $15, 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • cover before 9:30pm • 21+ • Washington Prodigy All male, nude dancers, Jordan, with DJ Solido 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Women’s Tackle Football hosted by LaTroya Nicole • and DJ MadScience • $5 Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, Artois, $4 House Wines, DC EAGLE Season Kickoff Party, Ladies of Illusion with host Modello and Corona, $6 8pm-close • Throwback $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, Poster Project — $2 8-10pm Kristina Kelly, 9pm • DJ Captain Moran and Cuba Thursday featuring rock/pop $4 Manhattans and Vodka Draughts at Club Bar • Steve Henderson in Secrets Libres and Altos Tequila, $8 retro hits Martinis • Upstairs open Gear Night — $2 Rail and NUMBER NINE • VJ Tre in Ziegfeld’s • Long Islands • Doors open 5-11pm Domestic for Men in Gear Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 Cover 21+ 10pm • 21+ NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR until close for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Beat The Clock Happy Hour COBALT/30 DEGREES No Cover • Number Nine’s DC9 SAT., 05.23.15 — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), All You Can Drink Happy FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR 4th Anniversary Party • DJ 1940 9th St. NW

$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Hour • $15 Rail & Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Shea Van Horn for Friday Happy Hour, 4-6pm • 9 1/2 Beer $15 Domestic, $21 Call & Karaoke, 8pm Night Videos, 10pm-close • dcnine.com Imports, 6-9pm • Guys Chris Wingert, Friday Night Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, NUMBER NINE Night Out • Free Rail GREEN LANTERN Piano, 9pm-close • $4 DC EAGLE 3-9pm • $5 Absolut & Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6 Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 Absolut Vodka and Bulleit $2 Draughts at Club Bar Tito’s, $3 Miller Lite after drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Belvedere Vodka Drinks Smirnoff, all ﬂavors, all Bourbon all night • Special Live night long • BOOM: The 9pm • Expanded craft FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR beer selection • No Cover TOWN PATIO Performance by Rich White Jock Dance, 10pm-close • TOWN Diner-style Breakfast • Music videos featuring Open 5pm • No Cover Ladies • Watch your Featuring DJs David Merrill Drag Show starts at Buffet, 10am-3pm • Crazy favorite music videos with and Mike Babbitt • $5 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena various DJs Hour, 4-7pm • Freddie’s

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DJ MadScience in the Cover • $4 Bud and Bud Lett and featuring Miss Follies Drag Show, hosted COBALT/30 DEGREES All male, nude dancers • lounge • DJ Keenan Orr Light, $4 Fireball shots Tatianna, Shi-Queeta- by Ms. Destiny B. Childs, Drag Yourself to Brunch at Shirtless Thursday • DJ on the danceﬂoor • $10 Lee, Epiphany B. Lee 8-10pm • Karaoke, 10pm- Level One, 11am-2pm and Tim-e in Secrets • 9pm • cover 10pm-1am, $5 after JR.’S and Ba’Naka • DJ Wess close 2-4pm • Featuring Kristina Cover 21+ 1am • 21+ $2 Skyy Highballs and $2 upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk Drafts, 10pm-midnight downstairs • Doors open Kelly and the Ladies of GREEN LANTERN DC9 • Happy Hour: 2-for-1, at 10pm • For those 21 and Illusion • Bottomless Happy Hour, 4-9pm • FRI., 05.22.15 1940 9th St. NW 4-9pm • Retro Friday • over, $5 from 10-11pm and Mimosas and Bloody $5 Bacardi, all ﬂavors, Happy Hour, 4-8pm • $5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red $10 after 11pm • For those Marys • Happy Hour: $3 all night long • Naughty 9 1/2 dcnine.com Bulls, 9pm-close 18-20, $12 all night • 18+ Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, Beach Bunny Underwear Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: 4-9pm • Rumba Latina at Party, hosted by Team 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm DC BEAR CRUE NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR TOWN PATIO Cobalt by Johny Vasquez DC • Featuring DJ Bryan • Friday Night Videos with @Town • Bear Happy DJ Matt Bailer • Videos, Open 5pm • No Cover, presents A.B.C. (Anything Yamasaki • No Cover resident DJ Shea Van Horn Hour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail, Dancing • Beat The Clock 5-10pm, $5 from 10-11pm But Clothes) Party, 10pm- • VJ • Expanded craft beer $3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles • Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), and $10 after 11pm (enter close • Featuring Sylvanna JR.’S selection • No cover Free Pizza, 7pm • Hosted $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) through Town) Duvel, Litzzy Vega, Steve $4 Coors, $5 Vodka high-

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 39 balls, $7 Vodka Red Bulls ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Men of Secrets, 9pm • Champagne Brunch Buffet, NELLIE’S Guest dancers • Ladies 10am-3pm • Crazy Hour, Guest DJs • Zing Zang of Illusion with host Ella 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm-1am Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, Fitzgerald, 9pm • DJ Steve House Rail Drinks and Henderson in Secrets • GREEN LANTERN Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm • DJ Don T. in Ziegfeld’s • Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3 Buckets of Beer, $15 Doors 8pm • Cover 21+ Smirnoff, all flavors, all night • Mama’s Trailer NUMBER NINE Park Karaoke, 9:30pm-close Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any SUN., 05.24.15 drink, 3-9pm • No Cover JR.’S 9 1/2 Sunday Funday • Liquid TOWN Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Brunch • Doors open at DJ Wess spins upstairs, drink, 3-9pm • Multiple 1pm • $2 Coors Lights & 10pm-close • Miss Fame TVs showing movies, $3 Skyy (all flavors), all day from RuPaul’s Drag Race shows, sports • Expanded and night appears in the Drag Show craft beer selection • No • Drag Show starts at Cover NELLIE’S 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena Drag Brunch, hosted by Lett and featuring Miss COBALT/30 DEGREES Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm Tatianna, Shi-Queeta- $4 Stoli, Stoli flavors and • $20 Brunch Buffet • Lee, Epiphany B. Lee and Miller Lite all day • DC House Rail Drinks, Zing Ba’Naka • Music and Regional EOY, 8pm-2am Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie video by DJs BacK2bACk • 21+ Beer and Mimosas, $4, downstairs • Cover $10 11am-close • Buckets of from 10-11pm, $12 after DC9 Beer, $15 11pm • 21+ 1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour, 2-6pm • NUMBER NINE TOWN PATIO dcnine.com Pop Goes the World with Open 2pm • No Cover, Wes Della Volla at 9:30 2-10pm, Cover $10 from DC EAGLE pm • Happy Hour: 2 for 10-11pm, $12 after 11pm Open at 4pm • All Day 1 on any drink, 3-9pm • (enter through Town) Drink Special — $1 No Cover Domestic Draft Beer

40 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM TOWN $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm No Cover • Safe Word: A DC9 WTF!?: Butch Prom Queen $4 Manhattans and Vodka Beat The Clock Happy Hour • SIN Industry Night • Gay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm 1940 9th St. NW • Featuring DJs Kris Martinis — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Half-price Cocktails, 10pm- • Prizes to top three Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Sutton, Sam Blodgett, $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of close spellers • After 9pm, $3 dcnine.com Aaron Riggins and Ed COBALT/30 DEGREES Beer $15 • Poker Texas Absolut, Bulleit & Stella Bailey • Also featuring Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Hold’em, 8pm • Dart DC9 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR performers Salvadora Dali, Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm Boards 1940 9th St. NW TOWN PATIO Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • $6 Jaxknife Haunt and Pussy • RuPaul’s Drag Race Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Open 5pm • No Cover Burgers • Drag Bingo Noir • Doors open 10pm • Viewing and Drag Show NUMBER NINE dcnine.com Night, hosted by Ms. Free Entry before 11pm, $5 hosted by Kristina Kelly • Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 Regina Jozet Adams • Cover after 11pm • 21+ Doors open at 10pm, show for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR WED., 05.27.15 Bingo prizes • Karaoke, starts at 11pm • $3 Skyy No Cover Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • 10pm-1am TOWN PATIO Cocktails, $8 Skyy and Red Karaoke, 8pm 9 1/2 Open 2pm • No Cover Bull • No Cover, 18+ TOWN PATIO Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any GREEN LANTERN Open 5pm • No Cover GREEN LANTERN drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $4 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DC9 Happy Hour All Night Long, TVs showing movies, Drafts all night long • Boys All male, nude dancers • 1940 9th St. NW 4pm-close shows, sports • Expanded of HUMP upstairs, 9pm Decades of Dance • DJ Happy Hour, 5-8pm • TUES., 05.26.15 craft beer selection • No Tim-e in Secrets • Doors dcnine.com JR.’S Cover JR.’S 8pm • Cover 21+ 9 1/2 Birdie La Cage Show, Trivia with MC Jay Ray, FREDDIE’S Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: 10:30pm • Underground ANNIE’S 8pm • The Queen Amateur Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Drag Competition, hosted MON., 05.25.15 Karaoke, 8pm • Multiple TVs showing 9pm-close • DJ Wes Stella Artois, $4 House by Ba’Naka, 10-11pm, with movies, shows, sports • Della Volla • 2-for-1, 5pm- Wines, $4 Stolichnaya a $200 prize • Buy 1, Get 9 1/2 GREEN LANTERN Expanded craft beer selec- midnight Cocktails, $4 Manhattans 1 Free, 4-9pm • $2 JR’s Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: Happy Hour All Night Long, tion • No Cover and Vodka Martinis Drafts & $4 Vodka ($2 with 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm 4pm-close • Michael’s NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR College I.D./JR’s Team • Multiple TVs showing Open Mic Night Karaoke, ANNIE’S Beat The Clock Happy Hour COBALT/30 DEGREES Shirt) movies, shows, sports • 9:30pm-close Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Expanded craft beer selec- Stella Artois, $4 House $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR tion • No Cover JR.’S Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Beer $15 • Karaoke and • Wednesday Night SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm Cocktails, $4 Manhattans Drag Bingo Karaoke downstairs, 10pm and 9pm • Prizes include ANNIE’S • Showtunes Songs & and Vodka Martinis • Hosted by Miss Sasha bar tabs and tickets to 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • Singalongs, 9pm-close • NUMBER NINE Adams • $4 Stoli and Stoli shows at the 9:30 Club • $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella DJ Jamez • $3 Draft Pints, COBALT/30 DEGREES Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 Flavors and Miller Lite • $15 Buckets of Beer for Artois, $4 House Wines, 8pm-midnight Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • No Cover • 21+ SmartAss Teams only •

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 41 42 SEE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE Bring a new team member $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR and each get a free $10 $4 Manhattans and Vodka Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Dinner Martinis Karaoke, 8pm

NUMBER NINE COBALT/30 DEGREES GREEN LANTERN Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Happy Hour: $6 Call Happy Hour, 4-9pm • drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4 Ladies Drink Free Power Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • $3 Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless TOWN PATIO Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight, Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs Open 5pm • No Cover $5 Red Bull, Gatorade BacK2bACk and Frozen Virgin Drinks ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS • Locker Room Thursday JR.’S All male, nude dancers • Nights • DJs Sean Morris All You Can Drink for $15, Shirtless Night, 10-11pm, and MadScience • Ripped 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka 12-12:30am • Military Hot Body Contest at mid- Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, Night, no cover with night, hosted by Sasha 8pm-close • Throwback military ID • DJ Don T. in J. Adams and Ba’Naka • Thursday featuring rock/pop Secrets • 9pm • Cover 21+ $200 Cash Prize • Doors retro hits open 10pm, 18+ • $5 Cover under 21 and free with NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR THURS., 05.28.15 college ID Beat The Clock Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), 9 1/2 DC9 $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 1940 9th St. NW Beer $15 • Drag Bingo drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Happy Hour, 5-8pm • TVs showing movies, dcnine.com NUMBER NINE shows, sports • Expanded Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any craft beer selection • No DC EAGLE drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Cover • Music videos fea- Underwear Party • Men turing DJ Wess in underwear drink free, TOWN PATIO 9-11pm • Happy Hour All Open 5pm • No Cover ANNIE’S/ANNIE’S Day/All Night — $2 Rail UPSTAIRS and Domestic ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS 4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm All male, nude dancers • • $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Shirtless Thursday • DJ Artois, $4 House Wines, Tim-e in Secrets • 9pm • Cover 21+ l

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 43 S Queer Cat The Black Cat has long been a haven for the alternative gay scene CLUBLIFE BY CONNOR J. HOGAN // PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTOPHER CUNETTO ACK IN 1993, “We’ve always strived anywhere else?” The will donate a portion of the Fourteenth Street to be an inclusive space,” same goes for Bodywork cover to the DC Center. Bwasn’t the bar-hop- Black Cat’s Maeghan Wood by DJs Alex DB, and “I didn’t want to just do ping locale that it is today. says. “That’s what contin- Abby Roberts. “We do a party,” Sullivan says. “I In fact, it was a place you ues to bring in people. Not Bodywork for the crowd,” wanted to give back.” didn’t want to be. only in terms of the bands Roberts says. “There’s no The Black Cat has gone One bar, however, and DJs, but the custom- gimmicks. Just a music- through a lot of changes thrived. The Black Cat, at ers.” For many queer DJs loving group of queers who since it opened in 1993, but 14th and T Streets, was like Vogelsong, the Black want to dance and party in one thing remains constant the hub for D.C.’s punk and Cat not only inﬂ uenced their a loving environment.” — its roots in punk culture. alternative music scene. musical taste, it gave them For many, the Black “There’s a community “I’ve lived in the D.C. a place to belong. Gay/Bash Cat represents an alterna- space element to the club,” area on and off since High is open for “all queer ages.” tive to mainstream gay Wood says, “but it’s still School,” Josh Vogelsong, a Says Vogelsong, “These nightlife. “Black Cat is the a punk club. You combine DJ at the music venue says. kids are still excited. They closest thing to a queer those things and you get “The Black Cat was always want to hear new stuff.” bar DC has,” says Mark events like Gay/Bash or the cool punk place to go, Today, the bar is home Bliss, a regular patron of Bodywork.” and it was one of the only to several alternative queer the various parties. “[It] places that was all ages.” parties. DJs Shea Van Horn has made the scene more Black Cat is at 1811 14th Vogelsong, along and Matt Bailer of Mixtape creative, exciting, and St. NW. For more informa- with DJ Dean Sullivan of introduce new music that inclusive.” And the contri- tion on these parties, visit BearZerk, hosts Best DC wouldn’t get heard at an bution that parties like Gay/ blackcatdc.com. The next Alt party Gay/Bash at the average gay club. “We Bash, Mixtape, BearZerk, Gay/Bash is Saturday, May venue. It’s a party that don’t have anything against and Bodywork make isn’t 23. The next Bodywork boasts punk classics, a full playing Taylor Swift,” just a social one. DJ Dean is Friday, May 29th. Babe drag show hosted by Heidi Van Horn says. “But why Sullivan will be celebrat- Rainbow is Saturday, June Glüm, and an Alotta Stuff play a song you can hear ing Pride with his party 13th. Call 202-667-4490. l thrift store popup. Babe Rainbow, where he

44 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 45 “We will keep working, at home and abroad, and we will keep ﬁghting, for however long it takes until we are all able to live free and equal in dignity and rights.” —President BARACK OBAMA, in a speech commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), May 17. “We take this opportunity to reafﬁrm that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights are human rights,” the President said.

“We have to restore committed, loving family life with a mom and dad loving their children with their heart and soul.” —Republican presidential contender JEB BUSH, speaking with Christian Broadcast Network’s The Brody File. Bush continues to solidify his conservative view of marriage as the race for the Republican nomination heats up.

“The recent unconscionable comments by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh underscore why we must continue to seek a world in which no one lives in fear of violence or persecution because of who they are or whom they love.” —SUSAN RICE, National Security Advisor, reacting to comments made by the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who told supporters during a speech that he would slit the throats of homosexuals in his country, and that “no white person can do anything about it,” a reference to Western governments.

“I don’t ﬁnd being gay or lesbian to be a character ﬂaw.”

—QUEEN LATIFAH, speaking with Uptown magazine about her starring role HBO’s movie about ’20s blues star and bisexual woman Bessie Smith. “Couples should be protected under the laws of this country period,” Latifah added. “It actually angers me. It’s not unusual, so let’s be adults and let’s move forward.”

“I’m gay, I’m an ex-alcoholic, I’m dyslexic, I’m adopted, I’m an activist, I’m a businessman, I’m a disruptor, I’m a doer. I’m not your typical ‘politician’ politician.” —IVAN MASSOW, a prominent British businessman, in a “warts-and-all” video as he launched his campaign for Mayor of London. Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign launch this isn’t. Massow is a strong supporter of the LGBT community, with his company the ﬁrst corporate supporter of London’s Gay Pride 25 years ago.

46 MAY 21, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 21, 2015 47