2 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 3 EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman OCTOBER 15, 2015 ART DIRECTOR Volume 22 / Issue 24 Todd Franson

MANAGING EDITOR Rhuaridh Marr NEWS 8 The Democratic Debate SENIOR EDITOR by Rhuaridh Marr John Riley 12 Walk To End HIV CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Doug Rule by Doug Rule

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS 14 Community Calendar Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR FEATURES 19 LGBT History Month Scott G. Brooks 20 Mark Segal CONTRIBUTING WRITERS by Jen Colletta Sean Bugg, Chris Heller, Connor J. Hogan, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield 22 Joe Lobdell WEBMASTER by Ray Simon David Uy 23 igil PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ARC/AIDS V Julian Vankim by Matthew S. Bajko

24 P.L. Travers SALES & MARKETING by Gary M. Kramer PUBLISHER Randy Shulman 26 Transgender Timeline Compiled by the Staff of the BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING San Diego LGBT Weekly Christopher Cunetto Cunetto Creative FEATURE 28 DJ Billy Carroll Celebrates the NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE music of Velvet Nation at Town Rivendell Media Co. by Doug Rule 212-242-6863

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER OUT ON THE TOWN 32 Crimson Peak Dennis Havrilla by Randy Shulman

34 Raven’s Night by Doug Rule PATRON SAINT John Boswell FILM 37 Steve Jobs by Chris Heller

COVER ILLUSTRATION STAGE 39 Cake Off / The Guard Christopher Cunetto by Doug Rule

GAMES 41 Yoshi’s Woolly World by Rhuaridh Marr

METRO WEEKLY NIGHTLIFE 45 1425 K St. NW, Suite 350 Otter Crossing at Green lantern Washington, DC 20005 photography by Ward Morrison 202-638-6830 MetroWeekly.com SCENE 52 Love, Love, Love - A Celebration of 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 life for Carl Rizzi and 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. mame Dennis at Town 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 photography by Christopher Cunetto 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. 54 Last Word © 2015 Jansi LLC.

4 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 5 6 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 7 Now online at MetroWeekly.com HIV Vaccine Enters Human Trials NewsLGBT Jack Black on Brother’s Death from AIDS CNN (L-R) Webb, Sanders, Clinton, O’Malley and Chafee Debatable Success CNN’s Democratic debate was the perfect antithesis to the circus antics of the prior two GOP affairs

by Rhuaridh Marr

HAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES. OR, marriage, transgender rights, nondiscrimination and other fac- rather, what a difference four weeks, restrained tors are tacitly implied: Democrats support the LGBT commu- set design, competent moderation, and refined, nity. Clinton affirmed as much during her opening statement as respectful candidates can make. This week’s did Martin O’Malley in his closing, but that’s about as much as WDemocratic Party debate may not have had the same degree it was discussed. It’s somewhat disheartening CNN didn’t allow of excitement and newsworthy bickering that has defined its candidates to offer counterparts to GOP arguments against Republican counterparts, but as an actual debate, it was leagues transgender servicemembers, or the threat of religious freedom better than the pandering mess of Fox News or the quixotically laws, but there are several debates still to come. unmoderated CNN debate last month. Instead — and, really, thankfully — this was a debate about Anderson Cooper is to thank for its success. Unlike Fox the issues. News, who moderated well but threw ludicrously softball In that context, Clinton was arguably the strongest candidate questions to candidates not named Trump, or CNN’s own Jake on the stage. With the most to lose coming into this debate, the Tapper, who could have watched from home and had the same former Secretary of State had to convince voters that she was impact on the GOP field, Cooper maintained a vice-like grip on still the party’s best candidate to challenge a Republican oppo- proceedings — only occasionally relinquishing it to offer other nent. With polished, confident delivery and strong command of moderators the spotlight. If this is the standard for the debates her own policies, Clinton set forth the terms of her presidency moving forward, it’s something we’ll all benefit from, as Cooper to repeated applause from the audience. Challenging views that wasted no time in fact-checking candidates or pressing them her political career has been one of flip-flopping between the for answers — though there’s legitimate concern that CNN gave issues depending on public support, Clinton stuck to previous Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders vastly more time to talk than assertions that her positions constantly evolve, saying: “I have the other candidates. been very consistent,” she said. “Over the course of my entire It’s also somewhat telling, especially in comparison to life, I have always fought for the same values and principles, Republicans, that LGBT issues were essentially a footnote in but...I do absorb new information.” this debate. Unlike their GOP competitors, support for same-sex Not that she was given an easy ride on other matters. Her

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email scandal inevitably cropped up. Clinton stated she had inequality. The irony of his railing against “the casino capitalist been “as transparent as I know how to be” — a very carefully process” while standing in the Wynn in Las Vegas wasn’t lost, chosen answer — before iterating that she wanted to “talk not but his attacks on Wall Street, the hoarding of money by the about my emails, but about what the American people want for richest one-percent, and the incredible inequality in American the next president of the United States.” society played into the hands of the party’s liberal base. It also It was here that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders came to offered a chance for Sanders to combat smear tactics against his Clinton’s aid — perhaps to the surprise of some, but not to those Democratic Socialist ideology. who’ve watched him consistently chastise the media for focus- “What Democratic Socialism is about is saying that it is ing on scandal rather than the issues. Responding to Clinton, immoral and wrong that the top one-tenth of 1 percent own 90 Sanders stated: “Let me say something. I think the secretary is percent,” he thundered, before stating his affinity for Nordic right. And that is that the American people are sick and tired of nations and their liberal attitudes towards welfare and social hearing about your damn emails!” It was enough to draw a big care. “Those are some of the principles that I believe in, and I laugh from Clinton and a standing ovation from the audience. think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden Clinton, however, pulled no punches in asserting herself as a and Norway and learn from what they have accomplished for more electable version of Sanders. (“I’m a progressive, but I’m a their working people.” progressive who likes to get things done,” she quipped.) When Clinton quickly stepped in to retort: “We are not Denmark.... asked if Sanders was tough enough on gun control, Clinton force- We are the United States of America. And it’s our job to rein in fully responded, “No. Not at all. We have to look at the fact that the excesses of capitalism so that it doesn’t run amok.” we lose 90 people a day from gun violence. This has gone on too Sanders also appealed to those disaffected with current long and it’s time the entire country stood up against the NRA.” foreign policy, while defending his decision to conscientiously Sanders, who has previously opposed gun control measures object to the Vietnam War. “I am not a pacifist, Anderson. I due to attitudes in rural Vermont, found himself on the defen- supported the war in Afghanistan,” he said. “I happen to believe sive against a more liberal opponent — something that can’t from the bottom of my heart that war should be the last resort often be said for the Democratic Socialist. “We can raise our that we have got to exercise diplomacy.” voices,” he said. “But I come from a rural state, and the views He also had arguably the strongest answer when asked about on gun control in rural states are different than in urban states, the Black Lives Matter movement. “Black lives matter,” he stat- whether we like it or not.” ed emphatically. “On any given day some innocent person like Clinton was also predictably taken to task for issues that Sandra Bland can get into a car, and then three days later she’s have put her at odds with the Democratic base. On Iraq, which going to end up dead in jail.... We need to combat institutional Sanders called “the worst foreign policy blunder in the history racism from top to bottom.” of this country,” Clinton was attacked for voting in favor of the The issue also gave O’Malley the opportunity to defend war. “There was no real evidence of weapons of mass destruc- against criticisms of his stewardship during the Baltimore pro- tion in Iraq,” said former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln tests. “When I ran for Mayor of Baltimore...we were burying Chafee. “I know because I did my homework.” Clinton couldn’t over 350 young men every single year, mostly young, and poor, be shaken, however, instead spinning the attack into a defense and black,” he said. “I said to our legislature...that if we were of her strong record on foreign policy. burying white, young, poor men in these numbers we would be “After the election, [President Obama] asked me to become marching in the streets and there would be a different reaction.” Secretary of State. He valued my judgment,” she said, before reit- Indeed, O’Malley had a few choice moments during the erating her policies on Syria, ISIS, her role in capturing Osama debate, such as calling Donald Trump “that carnival barker,” bin Laden and the stance she’d take with Russia’s President but particularly on climate change. The entire Democratic field Putin. When former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley tried supports efforts on climate change (“the fossil fuel industry is to attack Clinton on being too quick to use military interven- funding the Republican Party,” railed Sanders), but O’Malley tion, she slapped him down. “I was very pleased when Governor has used the strongest rhetoric, demanding that we move “to O’Malley endorsed me for president in 2008,” she said with a a 100 percent clean electric energy grid by 2050” — promising smile, “and I enjoyed his strong support in that campaign.” that it would be the first order he signed in office. Clinton was also, predictably, strong on women’s issues. However, he struggled against Clinton and Sanders. His liber- On her Washington insider status — considered by many to al politics are overshadowed by Sanders, while Clinton ran rings be poisonous in this campaign — she retorted: “I can’t think around him in foreign policy. Attempts to attack the latter on of anything more of an outsider than electing the first woman Syria fell flat, after his question of whether she underestimated president.” She also used Planned Parenthood to contrast the the Russians gave Clinton carte blanche to put forward her own Democratic field with their Republican counterparts: “They policies, rather than let O’Malley state his own. He did, however, don’t mind having big government to interfere with a woman’s have perhaps the strongest closing statement of the night. right to choose and to try to take down Planned Parenthood,” “On this stage, you didn’t hear anyone denigrate women, she said, to loud cheers and applause. “They’re fine with big you didn’t hear anyone make racist comments about new government when it comes to that. I’m sick of it.” American immigrants, you didn’t hear anyone speak ill of anoth- For Sanders, last night was more of what the liberal Senator er American because of their religious belief,” he said. “What has become known for: impassioned speeches, off-the-cuff you heard instead on this stage tonight was an honest search for remarks, factual arguments, and ideological rants. The same the answers that will move our country forward.” charisma that has filled venues across the nation spilled over Conversely, neither Lincoln Chafee nor former Virginia the CNN stage, offering a counterpart to Clinton’s carefully Senator Jim Webb provided voters enough reason to elevate refined poise. them from their meager positions in the polls. Sanders took big swipes at corporate America and class Webb was arguably the more confusing candidate, with

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many of his policies and ideals speaking more to moderate latter occurring just two years ago — Chafee called himself “a Republicans than Democrats. He also found himself on awk- block of granite when it comes to the issues.” ward footing when discussing issues of race. Asked whether he “It seems like pretty soft granite,” Cooper responded. was out of step with the party for his opposition to affirmative Later on, when asked about Glass-Steagall, Chafee defended action, something he’s called “state-sponsored racism,” Webb voting to remove it because his father had died. “[It] was my very responded that he supports it for African Americans, but not first vote, I’d just arrived, my dad had died in office,” he said. “everyone, quote, ‘of color,’ other than whites.” “Are you saying you didn’t know what you were voting for?” Webb spent most of his time on stage complaining that he Cooper asked. wasn’t given enough time to speak. He wasn’t incorrect — esti- “I’d just arrived at the Senate. I think we’d get some take- mates put him and Chafee last that regard — but whining to overs, and that was one,” Chafee responded, to little enthusiasm Cooper did little to make him seem presidential. from the audience. “This debate...is kind of frustrating because unless some- If viewers didn’t like Hillary before the debate, her perfor- body mentions my name I can’t get into the discussion,” Webb mance is unlikely to have changed any minds, but it will cer- complained. tainly boost her flagging campaign and have appealed to unsure “You agreed to these rules and you’re wasting time,” Cooper voters. Sanders was able to present himself to his widest audi- snapped back. ence yet and took full advantage of the opportunity — though his Chafee, meanwhile, offered occasionally thoughtful respons- liberal policies are still at odds with more moderate parts of the es and took swipes at Clinton by espousing his 30-year career Democratic base. If this week’s debate was the standard bearer with “no scandals.” However, he derailed any momentum with for those moving forward, however, and if Webb and Chafee bizarre responses to questions. drop out to allow the other three candidates to breathe more Asked whether he could be trusted by voters, given he’d and go deeper, the next debate on November 14 is certainly one switched from Republican to Independent to Democrat — the to look forward to. l

people to raise awareness and as much as $1 million to fight a deadly disease ravaging the nation. While “there’s still an HIV Heroes element certainly of memorializing folks who have passed,” Mallory says the walk, which last year attracted over 7,000 Stepping Out people and raised $700,000, reflects a far more optimistic era. “We’re at a much more hopeful point where we actually can, Danny Pintauro to be honored at Whitman-Walker through education, through testing and through providing care Health’s 29th annual Walk to End HIV immediately, reduce HIV infections in this city.” Last year, there were 533 new HIV diagnoses, down by more than half by Doug Rule from as recently as 2008. Eventually, as last year’s name change makes plain, the goal is to end HIV — something unthinkable even just a few years ago. AST MONTH, DANNY PINTAURO CAME OUT AS “I think we took a calculated risk with the name change,” says HIV-positive. The actor, who, in his youth, portrayed Shawn Jain, Whitman-Walker’s Director of Communications. L Jonathan in ’80s sitcom Who’s The Boss, also announced “Taking a 28-year institution and changing the name, that his intention to become an HIV activist, with a particular focus probably wasn’t the most brilliant move from a pure branding on outreach to younger LGBT people. perspective, to be honest. But we did it because we really believe Whitman-Walker Health will honor Pintauro by presenting that that term AIDS is so old-fashioned, and so stigmatizing. him with a Courage Award at the organization’s 29th Annual Walk “So many people, even when they come in to get tested, to End HIV next Saturday, Oct. 24th. Also receiving a Courage still have so many misconceptions about HIV,” Jain continues. Award at this year’s event is Dázon Dixon Diallo, who, in 1989, “People still talk about the cocktail, or the side effects, as if we’re founded the Atlanta-based SisterLove, Inc., the first women’s in 1994. That’s hard to overcome, but I think the language is a HIV/AIDS organization in the southeastern United States. really important part of it — especially when we had decades Both Pintauro and Diallo will take part in the walk, Whitman- of ‘AIDS equals death’ mantra. I think in order for us to really Walker’s largest annual public fundraiser, this year organized make progress, we have to talk about it as HIV. As a chronic around a superheroes theme and the tagline “Superheroes Don’t condition.” Fly, They Walk to End HIV.” Participants in the 5-kilometer, Despite all the changes over the years, Mallory says the walk timed run and walk are encouraged to dress up in superhero garb, still attracts “a diverse community that has HIV as one of its with awards and prizes for Best Couple, Best Team, even Best Pet. priorities,” including representatives from every college and a David Mallory, Director of Annual Giving at Whitman-Walker lot of high schools in the region, as well as corporate groups and and lead organizer of the walk, says adopting a theme is one way LGBT groups. “Seeing so many different types of people just of trying to keep people — especially younger people — engaged. come together for a common effort,” he says, “it’s always inspir- “We recognize we’re in competition with a lot of other walks ing, it’s always uplifting, it’s always encouraging.” and good causes out there,” Mallory says. “This is an opportu- nity to hopefully make the event fresher, make it memorable, The Walk to End HIV is Saturday, Oct. 24, including entertain- make it a fun experience.” ment at 8:15 a.m., the timed 5K run at 9:15 a.m. and the walk at Fun certainly wasn’t a motivating factor of the event when 9:20 a.m., all at Freedom Plaza, 14th Street and Pennsylvania it was started nearly three decades ago as the AIDS Walk. Back Avenue NW. Registration will start at 7 a.m., or can be done in then, anger, fear and sadness compelled as many as 20,000 advance at walktoendhiv.org. l

12 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 13 LGBTCommunityCalendar

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area others interested in Brazilian culture, LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities. meets. For location/time, email brazil- Event information should be sent by email to [email protected]. [email protected].

Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice Questions about the calendar may be directed to the session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org. the calendar email address. DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk- ing/social club welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun and supportive envi- ronment, socializing afterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfront- runners.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation THURSDAY, OCT. 15 FRIDAY, OCT. 16 SATURDAY, OCT. 17 Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or The DC Center hosts a monthly LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for ADVENTURING outdoors group straight. teamdcbasketball.org. meeting of its POLY DISCUSSION adults in Montgomery County offers hikes 7.5 strenuous miles with 1700 GROUP, for those interested in dis- a safe space to explore coming out feet of elevation gain on mountain DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for cussing polyamory and other consen- and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m. overlooking Harpers Ferry, WV. LGBT community, family and friends. sual non-monogamous relationships. 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, Bring beverages, lunch, sturdy boots, 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the- 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Gaithersburg, Md. For more informa- bug spray and about $15 for fees. Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. For more information, visit thedc- tion, visit thedccenter.org. Carpool at 9 a.m. from Grosvenor- All welcome. For more info, visit dig- center.org. Strathmore Metro Station. Jeff, 301- nitynova.org. WEEKLY EVENTS 775-9660. adventuring.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses WEEKLY EVENTS Black Women for Positive Change DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice critical languages and foreign lan- presents a DMV SUMMIT ON DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. guages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. NW. practice session at Takoma Aquatic SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org. NON-VIOLENCE COMMUNITY RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@ Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 FORUM at the Metropolitan African gmail.com. p.m. swimdcac.org. GAY DISTRICT holds a facilitated Methodist Episcopal Church, on discussion group for GBTQ men, the roles for youth, parents, com- IDENTITY offers free and confidential munity and religious leaders, and law DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les- 18-35, on the first and third Fridays of HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676 enforcement in preventing violence. 9 bian square-dancing group features each month. 8:30-9:30 p.m. The DC New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk- a.m.-3 p.m. 1518 M St. NW. For more mainstream through advanced square Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other information and to register, visit dancing at the National City Christian 202-682-2245, gaydistrict.org. hours, call 301-422-2398. eventbrite.com. Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517, HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker The DC Center hosts a monthly dclambdasquares.org. Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor SUNDAY, OCT. 18 Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, ASYLUM SEEKERS/ASYLEES The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson FORUM for LGBT asylum seekers/ refugees and their supporters. 7-9 p.m. ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes Virginia social group meets for happy Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 several moderate miles along historic hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org. road in Shenandoah National Park Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- at the height of fall color season and bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestri- walker.org. enjoys annual Apple Harvest Festival CHRYSALIS arts & culture group angles.com. at nearby Graves Mountain Lodge. visits six private homes during 14th METROHEALTH CENTER offers Bring beverages, lunch (or buy one at Annual Reston Home Tour. $30. METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment the Festival), bug spray and about $15 Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Wiehle free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. for fees. Optional dinner at Lodge fol- Avenue Metro Station. Kevin, 571- needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. lows. Carpool at 9:30 a.m. from East 338-1433. [email protected]. 202-638-0750. Falls Church Metro Station. Bill, 443- PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT- 244-5495. adventuring.org. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 affirming social group for ages 11-24. BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volun- p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW. teer organization, volunteers today for youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155 Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc- the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation or [email protected]. dc.org. at Falls Church PetSmart. To partici- MONDAY, OCT. 19 pate, visit burgundycrescent.org. US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides CENTER FAITH, a group for LGBT Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., a social atmosphere for GLBT and WEEKLY EVENTS and questioning people and their reli- 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is questioning youth, featuring dance gious allies, holds its monthly meeting at The DC Center. Brown bag dinner independent of UHU. 202-446-1100. parties, vogue nights, movies and ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL games. More info, catherine.chu@ starts at 6:30 p.m., before the meet- HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 ing. Meeting runs from 7:30-8:30 p.m. WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP smyal.org. p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women, ment). 202-291-4707 or andromeda- information, visit thedccenter.org. 13-21, interested in leadership devel- SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 transculturalhealth.org. opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163, youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, BET MISHPACHAH, founded by WEEKLY EVENTS [email protected]. 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- members of the LGBT community, [email protected]. holds Saturday morning Shabbat DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio luncheon. Services in DCJCC Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org. Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW. betmish.org. 14 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 15 DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m. dals.wordpress.com. Registration required. 202-939-7671, [email protected]. GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW. [email protected]. TUESDAY, OCT. 20

HIV Testing at WHITMAN- CENTER BI, a group of The DC WALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth Center, hosts a monthly roundtable Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th discussion group examining issues St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max of bisexuality and identity. 7-8 p.m. Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint- information, visit thedccenter.org. ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whit- man-walker.org. WEEKLY EVENTS KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- 703-823-4401. transculturalhealth.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint- in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th [email protected], afwashington.net. St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) NOVASALUD offers free HIV test- practice session at Takoma Aquatic ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703- p.m. swimdcac.org. 789-4467. DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk- SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 ing/social club serving greater D.C.’s p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for LGBT community and allies hosts an youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org. 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test- [email protected]. THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop- testing and STI screening and treat- In for the Senior LGBT Community. ment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202- Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic, 682-2245, thedccenter.org. Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-214- US HELPING US hosts a black gay 9617. [email protected]. men’s evening affinity group. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100. THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE DC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,” WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER where volunteers assemble safe-sex POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m. kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW. Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at thedccenter.org. least basic swimming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secre- OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—LGBT [email protected], wetskins.org. focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915

16 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps 5:30-7 p.m. 1331 Rhode Island Ave. from Virginia Square Metro. For NE. For more information, contact more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. June Pollydore, 202-483-7003. Handicapped accessible. Newcomers welcome. [email protected]. WEEKLY EVENTS

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 AD LIB, a group for freestyle con- p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- For more information, call Fausto [email protected]. Fernandez, 703-732-5174.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org. 202-567-3163, [email protected]. DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds US HELPING US hosts a support practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison group for black gay men 40 and older. Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202- dals.wordpress.com. 446-1100. HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/ and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N. STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549- 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on 1450, historicchristchurch.org. walk-in basis. No-cost screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chla- HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker mydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor available for fee. whitman-walker.org. Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202- WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21 745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org. BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s IDENTITY offers free and confiden- gay-literature group, discusses select- tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 ed essays from “Love, Christopher East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. Street: Reflections of New York City,” For appointments other hours, call edited by Thomas Keith. 7:30 p.m. at the DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978. Suite 105. All welcome. bookmendc. blogspot.com JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro- gram for job entrants and seekers, THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL meets at The DC Center. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 6-7:30 p.m. For more BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social info, www.centercareers.org. Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721 8th St. SE, across from the Marine Barracks. No reservation and partner NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. needed. 301-345-1571 for more infor- 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite mation. 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703- 789-4467. WOMAN TO WOMAN: A SUPPORT PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social GROUP FOR HIV-POSITIVE club for mature gay men, hosts WOMEN WHO LOVE WOMEN, weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., meets on the third Wednesday Windows Bar above Dupont Italian of each month at The Women’s Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, Collective. Light refreshments served. 703-573-8316. l

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 17 18 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM AVEMEN SCRATCHED THEIR HUNTS INTO Every Pride parade, every Scruff message, every time a person walls, Egyptians lined their tombs in hieroglyphs, is chastised for not addressing Caitlyn Jenner with the proper the Ancient Greeks commemorated important pronoun — all are advances brought by the trials and tribulations figures in beautiful sculptures. Cataloguing our of the heroes of our past. Cexistence for future generations is part of what defines our That’s what LGBT History Month is for. Throughout October, humanity — to inspire, to teach, to warn, to be remembered. we celebrate those who worked so hard to ensure a gay child, a History matters. transgender teen or a lesbian grandmother today can feel that Nowhere is that sentiment more important than in the LGBT little bit more secure in themselves. Courtesy of Philadelphia community. As we face ever more insidious challenges — reli- Gay News and LGBT publications from across the nation, we gious bigotry, veiled discrimination, the onslaught of extrem- present a series of articles acknowledging forgotten heroes, ism — it’s important to reflect on those who helped transform incredible progress and inspiring leaders. It’s our history, after our lives from an intolerable past to a more palatable present. all. It’s our duty to learn it.

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 19 Dancing With History By Jen Colletta

’M STANDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM STONE- that we saved them from bullying or harassment. It wasn’t until I wall in Sheridan Square. Here I was, an 18-year-old kid was halfway home on the train that it all of a sudden hit me what living at the YMCA in six-dollar-a-night room with no had just happened. Literally in the train car, I just started howl- job, no prospects for the future, no real place to live and ing, just crying out loud. It really affected me.” Ino money in my pocket. I’m thinking, What am I going to do? A few years later, another incident again brought Segal full And it came to me: This is exactly what I want to do. I’m going circle: Comcast senior executive vice president and chief diver- to be a gay activist.” sity officer David L. Cohen invited him to join the media con- More than 45 years after that fateful night outside the glomerate’s Joint Diversity Council. Stonewall Inn, Mark Segal still considers himself, first and fore- “I thought it was going to be just a rubber-stamp position most, an activist. and I said I didn’t have time for it,” he recalls. “And David said, “That’s what’s inside me and what always will be,” he says. ‘Mark, there are only 40 people nationwide being asked to join “Everything else is secondary.” this advisory board. Don’t you understand your history? There Adding to his list of “secondary” titles is a new one: author. you were 40 years ago disrupting media, and now we’re asking Segal, the founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, has you to advise media.’” just released his memoirs, And Then I Danced. Cohen was referring to Segal’s infamous “zaps,” in which he The 320-page book takes readers from Segal’s meager begin- targeted media personnel on air to raise awareness about LGBT nings in a Philadelphia housing project, to his pinnacle of danc- issues. That such encounters caught him by surprise are in part ing with his husband in the White House. attributable to his tendency to stay forward-focused. It’s a journey that many have prompted him to write about “I usually just go project to project to project and don’t look over the years. But, it wasn’t until a 2007 reunion of Gay Youth back,” he says. “So I really didn’t look back at all the things I had — which he founded in New York City in 1969 — that he started done or what the full impact of them was.” to gain an appreciation for his own role in the LGBT commu- But, as the significance of his decades of activism began to nity’s development. evince itself to him, Segal started seriously considering recount- “We had the reunion in the New York Gay Community ing that work in book form — especially at the prompting of his Center and there were about 100 of us who created this big now-husband, Jason Villemez. circle,” Segal says. “Each of us talked and, as they went around, “Jason would say to me every night, ‘Do the book, do the people were saying that the organization saved their lives, that book. Sit at your computer and start writing,’” Segal says, not- they were going to commit suicide until they found Gay Youth or ing that at the time he was wrapping up work on one of the

20 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM nation’s first LGBT-friendly affordable senior-living facilities, ensuing LGBT mobilization. From those four reactionary nights and Villemez knew the memoir-writing would be a good way to came Gay Liberation Front, an organization that Segal believes keep that momentum going. “He was conscious that the minute hasn’t gotten the credit it’s due. that ribbon was cut, I’d go from being 2,000 feet into the air to “From the ashes of Stonewall came GLF, and GLF created crashing to the ground if I didn’t have a project to work on.” the foundation of everything that today is the gay community,” Hiring an agent and publisher was easy work, but deciding Segal says. “We created the first trans organization in America in what information to include and what to leave out was not. 1969. We created the first gay youth organization that dealt with Segal had been amassing vignettes of his recollections, which he gay issues in 1969. We created the first medical alerts for the gay thought could serve as the memoir’s foundation. community and the first gay community center. And at the end “I thought I would just take what I had started writing and of that first year, we created the first gay Pride march. And all of put it into book form. It didn’t quite happen like that. Once I it had to do with ending invisibility and creating community.” signed the contract, we basically threw out everything I had and It was with those missions in mind that, upon his return to went back to scratch,” he laughs. Philadelphia in the 1970s, Segal undertook a campaign to target He set to work creating an outline of his life, checking dates television coverage of LGBT issues, an undertaking that secured and facts and researching his own storied history. a wealth of television firsts — and forged his unlikely friendship That history began in 1951. Segal’s hardworking yet poverty- with Walter Cronkite. stricken parents, Shirley and Martin, raised him and his brother From the airwaves, Segal turned his attention to political in a South Philadelphia housing project, after the city took over circles, using his burgeoning notoriety to stage uniquely crafted Martin’s bodega by eminent domain. As a member of the only demonstrations, such as chaining himself to a Christmas tree in Jewish family in the project, Segal’s feelings of being an outsider Philadelphia City Hall and throwing a faux reception in the office germinated from a young age, compounded by his worn clothes of then-District Attorney Arlen Specter to thank him for his sup- and lack of material possessions. port for gay-rights legislation — which he had not yet offered. But what Segal didn’t lack as a child was conviction: in ele- Segal said it’s those kinds of actions that are needed to enliven mentary school, he refused to sing “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” the LGBT community’s modern political activism. his first act of civil disobedience, which was supported by his “We need that spark of creativity and fun again. Gay lib- mother. His grandmother, Fannie Weinstein, also played a eration can be fun,” Segal says. “We have to get away from the pivotal role in his upbringing. She brought Segal, at age 13, to a Internet and the online petitions and start doing things to get civil-rights demonstration at Philadelphia City Hall, his first (of people’s attention. Our leaders are stuck in this quagmire because many) public demonstration. they’re used to being in suits and ties in offices in New York and Exploring the struggles of his childhood in that first chapter Washington, D.C., and not out among people. We need to think was among the most challenging aspects of writing And Then outside the box. Be nonviolent, but think outside the box.” I Danced — as the self-doubt Segal experienced in his youth Creativity needs to be paired with tenacity, Segal noted — resurfaced. another message he hopes readers, especially of the younger “The first chapter was extremely difficult to write because generation, take from his book. there are a lot of things in there that people don’t know about “I wanted to show young gay people how our community got me. I struggled to continue with it because I really didn’t believe the rights that we have today. It wasn’t writing letters or visiting in myself,” he says. “I had Jason read the first chapter and at the Congresspeople,” he recalls. “Many of us got arrested, received end he was sitting on the sofa crying, and I said, ‘Wow, you really death threats, were targets of physical violence. It was a rough didn’t like it that much?’ And he said, ‘No, there were things here ride getting to where we are today. It wasn’t, ‘One, two three. even I didn’t know.’ He really liked it and his support got me to We’re there.’ Any social-justice movement takes a lot of work continue.” and a lot of time.” Working with editor Michael Dennehy, Segal crafted and For Segal, much of that work in the past four decades was recrafted 15 chapters for a final product that takes readers focused on getting Philadelphia Gay News off the ground. through the LGBT community’s evolution, seen alongside And Then I Danced traces the history of the publication, Segal’s own development. From his burgeoning coming out — which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, from its mea- beginning with a childhood pull to the Sears Roebuck male mod- ger beginnings in a building with no plumbing and a leaky roof, els — Segal’s story is as much a commentary on the times as it is where staffers would use quarters from the newspaper boxes on his own experience. “There was no name for it, at least none for lunches, to a 2014 awards dinner where it received a national that I knew, but somehow it seemed wrong that I was looking at award for its investigative series on the murder of a local trans- the men in the catalog,” he writes. gender woman. Eventually, Segal learned the name for “it” and came out to Exploring such transitions through the writing process, Segal his family, who, despite the wholly unaccepting societal nature said, was eye-opening. of the time, embraced his identity. Segal’s own self-acceptance “I encourage anybody, whether you publish it or not, to write was intrinsically tied to New York City. He realized at a young your own memoir. You learn so much about yourself,” he says. age that the city was a haven for gay people, so he moved to the “It sounds strange, but I don’t think I had an appreciation for Big Apple the moment he graduated high school. what I’ve accomplished until I read the finished book. This made He quickly became immersed in a growing and changing me look back. I didn’t realize all the issues I was involved in, and LGBT scene. The premiere LGBT activist group, Mattachine how much change they had made over the years. I’m just begin- Society, was gradually becoming outdated, being brushed aside ning to get in touch with my own history. And I’m finding out by a new wave of social revolution. I’m a different person than I thought I was.” And, a month after he moved to New York City, Segal found himself at Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. And Then I Danced Jen Colletta is the editor of the Philadelphia Gay News. She can be recounts Segal’s first-hand experience of the seminal riot and reached at [email protected]. l

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 21 Tragedy and Triumph By Ray Simon

HEN JOSEPH ISRAEL LOBDELL PASSED expectations and gender roles, are still relevant to LGBT people. away in 1912 at the Binghamton State Joe’s history is important, Dr. Lobdell explains, because “it Hospital, his death went largely unnoticed. tells a story of how his otherness was framed as deviance and Joe, as he was known, was 82 and had been signaled by his gender presentation, his refusal to conform. Wconfined to mental institutions since 1880. “So he crossed the boundaries of gender roles and gender In his lifetime, Joe was a crack shot and a wonderful fiddle presentation and sexuality, though the people back then didn’t player. He opened a singing school and, for a while at least, realize that,” she adds, “because most people, including women found modest success with that business. There was adventure in the 19th century, thought that women didn’t have any sexual in his life, too. Joe traveled west to Minnesota, where he guard- desire.” ed land on the frontier. Fortunately for scholars, there are contemporary, written Within the context of 19th-century American social history, accounts of Joe’s life. Chief among them is a book Lobdell pub- experiences like these were not uncommon, but one aspect of lished in 1855: Narrative of Lucy Ann Lobdell, the Female Hunter Joe’s life is extraordinary: He was born in 1829 as a woman, of Delaware and Sullivan Counties, N.Y. In a 2012 podcast with Vigil-ization Lucy Ann Lobdell. Susan Rich, Dr. Lobdell described it as part-melodrama, part- Although Joe Lobdell died in obscurity, he’s recently feminist manifesto. started to attract attention. In 2011, for example, Dr. Bambi One immediate result of the book’s publication was a mea- By Matthew S. Bajko Lobdell, a distant cousin, published A Strange Sort of Being: The sure of notoriety for its author. The “Female Hunter” became Transgender Life of Lucy Ann/Joseph Israel Lobdell, 1829-1912. fodder for journalists. For the remainder of his life, whenever And earlier this year, journalist William Klaber released a novel Joe ran into trouble, periodicals like The Stamford Mirror and about Joe, “The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell.” The Jeffersonian mentioned the “Female Hunter.” It seems as if Joe’s time has come. Copies of the narrative are rare. Fortunately, Dr. Lobdell Dr. Lobdell, who teaches gender studies and literature at includes it in its entirety in “A Strange Sort of Being.” That’s SUNY Oneonta, certainly feels that way. Her book includes both partly because she conceived of her work as an academic text- an analysis of Joe’s life informed by queer theory and transgen- book, one that could be adopted for college classes in gender der studies, as well as primary documents about him. studies and sexuality. “I just packed it full of all sorts of gender She regards Joe as a gender outlaw and argues that he is best theory and gender analysis and queer theory,” she said when understood as a transgender man. It was a term unknown to Joe, asked to sketch its contents. but Dr. Lobdell believes that it most closely approximates his Within Lucy’s narrative, there are a few confirmed facts understanding of himself — and restores a modicum of dignity worth noting. To begin, Lucy Ann Lobdell was born Dec. 2, to him. 1829 just outside of Albany, N.Y. The family was poor, but Lucy “I use the word transgender, in its widest application, to wanted an education. To pay for schooling, she was given chores. mean not cisgender and not gender-conforming,” she says. That was how she learned to shoot, a skill she put to use at vari- For Dr. Lobdell, this isn’t simply an academic exercise. She con- ous times later in life. tends that many of the issues confronting Joe, including societal Around 1852, the Lobdell family moved to Long Eddy,

22 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM N.Y. Roughly a year later, Lucy married a man named George Once again, however, Joe’s “identity” was revealed. After a Washington Slater and gave birth to a daughter — her account trial, he was sent back east to his parents’ home. Depressed and depicts an unhappy marriage. When Slater abandoned them, unable to find work, he entered the County Poor House in Delhi, Lucy returned to her family, left her daughter with them and N.Y., in 1860. slipped away one evening in 1854. It’s there, roughly a year later, that Joe met Marie Louise Shortly afterwards, Joseph Israel Lobdell appeared in Perry. Marie, who had been abandoned by her husband, arrived Bethany, Pa., where he opened a singing school. From this point physically weakened and emotionally upset. Joe helped nurse forward, details of Joe’s life can be pieced together — if sketch- Marie back to health, which restored his spirits, too. One night, ily — from occasional newspaper accounts or court documents the two escaped from the Poor House and were married by a about him. Justice of the Peace. Joe now had a bride, a woman about a In retrospect, it appears that the writing and publication decade younger than him. of Lobdell’s narrative marks a significant transition. For the Joe and Marie were together for almost 20 years, but their remainder of his life, more than five decades, he uses the name life was not easy. They eked out a living doing odd jobs or he’s chosen for himself and dresses as a man — except on those survived on whatever food Joe’s hunting provides. Often, they occasions when a sheriff or deputy tried forcing him to wear lived outdoors in the thick woods of upstate Pennsylvania and women’s clothes. New York. The couple was desperately poor and, consequently, The singing school attracted students, most of them the always in imminent danger of being arrested for vagrancy. daughters of well-to-do farmers and businessmen from the pro- Joe’s life took a turn for the worse around 1878. Shortly after vincial town. There is some evidence that Joe was well-liked by receiving a Civil War pension (Slater was killed in the war), his his pupils. According to Dr. Lobdell, someone once interviewed brother has him declared insane. In 1879, he was taken away to the descendant of a woman who had attended the school. the Willard Insane Asylum in Ovid, N.Y. “Apparently, a lot of women danced with Joe when he was a While locked up, Joe became a patient of Dr. P.M. Wise, singing teacher,” Dr. Lobdell said. “And this one woman remem- who published a brief article about Joe in 1883. In that account, bered her grandmother saying, ‘I can’t believe that’s really a entitled “A Case of Sexual Perversion,” Dr. Wise related a telling woman. He was the nicest boy I ever dated’.” statement from Joe. The patient, whom he insisted on viewing Problems arose, however, when Joe’s “identity” was revealed. as a woman, told him that “she considered herself a man in all He was chased out of Bethany by a mob threatening to tar and that the name implies.” feather him. Dr. Lobdell thinks we should take Joe at his word, something Undaunted, Joe headed west, arriving in Minnesota, where she views as paramount. he sometimes went by the name La-Roi. In Minnesota, Joe “What I’m trying to do is give Joe back his voice, because — and worked odd jobs and even guarded land for its owners. His this is another way it should resonate with people today — trans- physical courage should be noted: Minnesota’s winters were gender people oftentimes are not allowed to tell their own story.” harsh, he was living on the edge of the wilderness with only his rifle to protect him, and clashes with Native Americans were Ray Simon is an editor and writer based in Philadelphia. To learn always a distinct possibility. more about Joe Lobdell, visit lucyjoe.com. l

Vigil-ization

By Matthew S. Bajko

HIRTY YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, TWO SAN Civic Center district. Soon, a core group of volunteers joined Francisco men, fed up with government inaction them to keep vigil 24 hours a day, seven days a week. as AIDS decimated the gay community, chained A tent kitchen was set up, staffed by volunteers, to feed the themselves to a federal building within sight of City protesters, who took turns sleeping on mattresses and tents in THall. Their act of civil disobedience would inspire countless front of the building. Over time, the vigil turned into a place other activists to join them, and, later, local political leaders. The where people, whether living with AIDS themselves or strug- demonstration, which became known as the ARC/AIDS Vigil gling to care for or grieve for a loved one, could find camaraderie (ARC standing for AIDS Related Complex), lasted a decade and and comfort. was the city’s longest-running protest. “When I am out here talking to people about my condition, It started on Oct. 27, 1985 when Steve Russell and Frank Bert, about my health, it helps me. It helps me to talk to them because who were both HIV-positive, handcuffed themselves to the I was there. My family disowned me since I came down with doors of 50 United Nations Plaza, a federal building in the city’s AIDS,” Wes North, who married Bucky Stewart at the vigil in

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 23 December 1985, told a television news reporter at the time. “My console someone whose partner was suffering from dementia,” family has not wanted to have anything to do with me since I said Terrie Frye. came down with AIDS.” Starting in 1987, Frye spent three years working as an AIDS According to archival materials about the vigil, the demon- Vigil volunteer, after she happened to ride her bicycle through strators listed six demands they wanted to see federal officials U.N. Plaza and noticed the “mess tent.” act on, including publicly recognizing AIDS and condemn- “I was not HIV-positive, and only HIV-positive folks could be ing AIDS-related discrimination. They also were calling for a members of the vigil, but I wanted to cook for them, and they had “Manhattan Project”-type effort to find an AIDS cure. a rule that only members were allowed in the mess tent, so they “We need $500 million in federal money for research to made me an honorary member,” she recalls. find a cure for ARC/AIDS Related Complex,” read one flier The outdoor protest came to an end 10 years after it started, handed out by vigil organizers. “We make a moral appeal to the when a severe rainstorm blew away the tent encampment. Just American government to condemn AIDS hysteria and bigotry three demonstrators remained at that point, according to media through education.” accounts in December 1995. Numerous politicians joined the vigil and were arrested, Since then, the AIDS Vigil has been mostly forgotten to the helping to revive the media’s waning interest in the demon- history books and the fading recollections of participants. During stration. According to old news clippings, gay former San the 25th anniversary of the protest, Frye created an exhibit about Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt and former Berkeley Mayor it that she displayed during the city’s 2010 Pride festival. Loni Hancock, now a state senator, both were arrested after Four years ago, an effort was launched to erect a plaque or chaining themselves to the building. monument at the location in order to commemorate the protest One flier advertised a “Breakfast with Nancy” at the vigil one and its participants, but nothing has come of it. February, referring to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-San And a local filmmaker — who, as a graduate student in San Francisco), now the House minority leader. In the summer of Francisco State University’s broadcasting program in the mid- 1987, two years into the vigil, Pelosi entered Congress and her 1980s, was part of a small crew who interviewed several vigil main objective at the time was to demand action on AIDS. participants — had tried to pull together a documentary in time It was also a site to collect the names of those lost to AIDS, to screen on Oct. 27, 2015 to mark the 30th anniversary of the several of whom died while taking part in the vigil. Both Russell start of the vigil. But he has struggled to line up financing to and Bert died prior to the vigil’s end, said several participants. make the film, titled Not With Standing, and is unsure if it will In November 1985, the annual candlelight march honoring ever get made. former Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first gay person to win elec- “The reaction is always, ‘There is no AIDS crisis anymore.’ tive office in San Francisco, and former Mayor George Moscone Nobody cares about AIDS,” said Nick Aquilino, 61, who is gay — both of whom were assassinated in City Hall in 1978 — ended and HIV-positive and now lives in Sausalito. at the federal building, where marchers attached placards bear- With another film about the 1969 Stonewall protests released ing the names of those lost to AIDS on the facade. this fall, Aquilino remains dumbfounded as to why the years-long Longtime gay-rights activist Cleve Jones, who helped orga- demonstration in San Francisco fails to spark similar interest. nize the march, conceived of the AIDS quilt that night, accord- “The thing that sticks out for me is these guys were so ing to a history of the national HIV memorial, as “the wall of determined to gain some kind of acceptance for a disease they names looked like a patchwork quilt.” didn’t cause,” says Aquilino. “Thirty years ago, this kind of thing More than just an encampment for demonstrators, the vigil wasn’t very common. They weren’t on the street for weeks, they served as a clearinghouse for people to learn the latest news weren’t like the Occupy people and done with their protest and about AIDS. The volunteers also used bleach to clean injection said, ‘Let’s go back to our normal lives.’ These guys who were drug users’ needles and passed out condoms. living there, they were there for 10 years.” “It was an educational experience for me, from the out- of-towners and those from other countries stopping by and Matthew S. Bajko is an assistant editor at the Bay Area Reporter. thanking us for what we were doing, saying they were not even To see archival footage about the AIDS Vigil and interviews with mentioning AIDS in their state/country, to the times I had to several participants, visit notwithstandingfilm.com. l P.L. Travers: A spoonful

of speculation By Gary M. Kramer

.L. TRAVERS, AUTHOR OF MARY POPPINS, Australian stage. Reportedly, her wealthy relatives did not was born Helen Lyndon Goff on Aug. 9, 1899 in approve of Travers performing, so, being independent-minded, Queensland, Australia. She moved to England in she moved to England where she forged a career as a writer. 1924, and used the name P.L. Travers — an abbre- The name P.L. Travers appealed to Goff because it sounded Pviation of her pseudonym Pamela Lyndon Travers, which she more masculine — or at least, gender-nonspecific. Travers used in her days as a dancer and Shakespearean actor on the was the name of her father, an alcoholic banker whose career

24 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Travers (right) with Julie Andrews and Walt Disney declined almost as quickly as he did (he died of tuberculosis at she told an acquaintance that she thought that Walt [Disney] had 43). His daughter was 7 years old when he passed. ‘eyes’ for her.” The author, who first published poems as a teen in Australia, Travers certainly was secretive and private. It was perhaps a was fond of myths and fantasies. TShe constructed her own source of pride for her. New Statesman quotes her as saying, “I’m rather mysterious persona so that no one could really know her a private sort of person, as anonymous as possible — and that’s truth. Her famous literary heroine, based on an aunt of Travers’, not humility.” was a magical nanny who helped her charges through difficult Other articles about the author that surfaced around the time situations with sensible, even tough advice. Travers, who was Saving Mr. Banks was released have been even more candid. very no-nonsense herself, was also fascinated with eastern phi- According to the Daily Mail, Travers was said to be “neither losophy and theosophy, Sufism and Hinduism. warm nor kindly. She was an intellectual snob who wrote erotic In England, Travers lived with Madge Burnand, the daughter prose, was a one-time fascist sympathizer, occasional lesbian and of the editor of Punch. The women shared a flat in London, and appalling mother.” later rented a cottage together in Sussex. Much speculation has Unpacking that quote, Travers is known to have written been made about whether they were lovers. poetry for the erotic publication The Triad, and she wrote book Actor Emma Thompson played Travers in the 2013 film reviews for New Pioneer, an anti-Semitic British magazine of Saving Mr. Banks, which depicted Travers’ battle with Walt the far right in the 1930. The article’s last point likely refers to Disney to make Mary Poppins. The actress spoke with The the fact that, at age 40, Travers adopted a son, Camillus, who Advocate about Travers’ relationship with Burnand. discovered he was a twin at age 17. Upon learning this — and that “I don’t know whether they were lovers or not,” she stated, his twin grew up poor in Ireland — his relationship with Travers “but she did live with Madge for a long, long time, and she became strained. certainly had very complex, passionate relationships with both It is entirely possible that Travers adopted Camillus so she women and men. She was an explorer of her own condition, and would have someone to love. While she lived with Burnand, very possibly her own sexuality.” and was close to Orage, her rumored same-sex encounters may It was while living with Burnand that Travers published have happened without being disclosed. This is likely because Mary Poppins, the work that would give the author her great- Travers was alive (and prominent) during the era when women est fame. Travers wrote five sequels and, as Saving Mr. Banks did not discuss relationships outside of marriage. Females in depicted, she reluctantly sold the rights to Disney. Travers, those days were expected to marry — if they lived together, there apparently, was not fond of the Julie Andrews/Dick Van Dyke was always speculation about them being lovers. Moreover, if a musical and particularly hated the animated dancing penguins. woman lived alone, it was presumed she was likely promiscuous. Few specifics about Travers’ sexual relationships have ever Travers was certainly sharp enough — and discrete enough — not been detailed. Her diary recounted her friendship (and pos- to let anyone know her true nature. For all anyone knows, she sibly a relationship) with Jessie Orage, whose husband, Alfred could have been asexual, given how little evidence there is of Richard Orage, was a pupil of the spiritual teacher G.I. Gurdjieff. any lover(s). Travers became a follower of Gurdjieff, and through him But whether Travers was asexual, bisexual or something else became an occasional member of The Rope — a group that consist- entirely, it was certainly a taboo at the time for a woman to be ed mostly of lesbian writers, including Jane Heap, founding editor intimately involved with other women. As Travers was gaining of Little Review, and Kathryn Hulme, author of The Nun’s Story. fame as a children’s author, the exposure of a same-sex relation- Valerie Lawson, author of Mary Poppins, She Wrote, a biog- ship could have been especially harmful to her career. (Travers raphy of Travers, indicated that both Travers and Orage “loved was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977). men.” Their close friendship, Lawson indicates, was formed This may account for why she felt she needed to maintain privacy. over the loss of Orage’s husband, and Travers’ editor, George Travers never published an autobiography. And while the William Russell. news articles and biographies hint at what might have been, all Whether their friendship crossed over into a sexual rela- anyone can really do is speculate. tionship is not known. But Jim Korkis, a Disney historian, was quoted in the Orlando Weekly (around the time of Saving Mr. Gary M. Kramer is an award-winning, Philadelphia-based Banks) saying that, “It has been assumed that Travers was film critic, author of Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews bisexual, although no one really knows for sure. She was known and Interviews and co-editor of Directory of World Cinema: to be extremely flirtatious around younger men. At one point, Argentina. l

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 25 Transgender Pride flag created New passport policy Monica Helms created the transgender The U.S. State Department announced Transgender flag, saying, “The stripes at the top and a new policy eliminating the require- bottom are light blue, the traditional ment for surgery to update gender color for baby boys. The stripes next to markers on passports. Forward them are pink, the traditional color for baby girls. The stripe in the middle is 2011: First NCAA trans athlete Compiled by the Staff of the San Diego LGBT Weekly white, for those who are intersex, tran- Kye Allums became the first openly sitioning or consider themselves having transgender athlete to play in the S GAYS AND LESBIANS CELEBRATE MARRIAGE EQUALITY a neutral or undefined gender. The pat- National Collegiate Athletic Association. across the United States, the transgender members of the tern is such that no matter which way LGBT community continue to work diligently to place their civil you fly it, it is always correct, signifying California’s Gender rights front and center, as we move into the next chapter of us finding correctness in our lives.” Nondiscrimination Act LGBTA equality. AB 887 passed into law, expanding To many, it seems as if the transgender movement has come from 2002: Transgender legal-aid the state’s nondiscrimination laws to nowhere in the last decade, but the reality is that transgender Americans organizations established protect transgender people by includ- have been fighting for civil rights along with the lesbian, gay and bisexual The Sylvia Rivera Law Project in New ing discrimination based on “gender members of our community for decades. Here are a few key highlights of York and the Transgender Law Center identity and expression” as a type of in San Francisco were created to “gender” discrimination. transgender people within the tableau of American LGBT civil-rights history: advance transgender civil rights using the legal system. New veterans policy c. 1800: “Woman Chief” transgender Americans as part of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Barcheeampe gay civil-rights movement. 2003: National Center for established a policy of respectful deliv- A leader of the Crow nation, the Transgender Equality established ery of healthcare to transgender and “woman chief” was known for her war 1975: Minneapolis passes Activist Mara Keisling, with the support intersex veterans. exploits and had several wives. transgender legislation of other transgender activists, founded Minneapolis becomes the first city to the organization dedicated to advancing 2012: Matrix director transitions 1871: We’Wha pass an antidiscrimination law protect- the civil rights of transgender people. Lana Wachowski came out as transgen- Two-spirit Zuni Native American who ing transgender people. That’s right, der while promoting her movie Cloud was born male but lived as a woman. Minneapolis, in 1975. Expansion of San Diego anti-bias law Atlas. She is most noted for the “Matrix An accomplished weaver and potter, The San Diego City Council added Trilogy,” created with her brother. in 1886 the 6-foot Zuni maiden met 1977: Renée Richards gender identity to the city’s anti-discrim- President Cleveland, who was unaware The next transgender icon who pierced ination ordinance, the Human Dignity 2013: Official debut of that she was two-spirit. the American consciousness. Richards Ordinance, with a unanimous 7-0 vote. “gender dysphoria” was an eye doctor who became a pro- The American Psychiatric Association 1952: Christine Jorgensen fessional tennis player and challenged a 2006: California’s Gwen Araujo debuted the term to describe those A trailblazer who was the first person in ban that prevented her from playing in Justice for Victims Act who deem themselves transgender. America to receive sexual-reassignment the U.S. Open as a woman. The New AB 1160 passed into law to prohibit the surgery. Jorgensen, a former GI, York Supreme Court overruled the ban, use of so-called “panic strategies” in 2014: Laverne Cox covers Time became a household name and put the making Richards the catalyst for a land- criminal defenses. The legislation was The Orange is the New Black star made issue of gender identity in the mark decision concerning named in the memory of a transgender headlines as the first transgender per- American conscience. transgender rights. teenager from Newark, Calif., who was son to be featured on the cover attacked and killed in 2002. The law of Time magazine. 1957: Billy Tipton jazz album released 1986: FTM newsletter proved ineffective when tested during Renowned jazz musician lived his life as Lou Sullivan published the FTM news- the murder trial for Larry King’s killer. Women’s colleges open doors a man and “married” several women. letter, which was later transformed by Mills College and Mount Holyoke He was discovered to be biologically Jamison Green into FTM International, First transgender person elected to allowed transgender women to enroll at female upon his death. the world’s largest information and statewide office their female-only institutions. networking group for female-to-male Kim Coco Iwamoto was elected to 1965: Dewey’s Coffee Shop Protest transgender people and transsexual statewide office in Hawaii as a member Gender identity protected in One hundred and fifty “nonconforming” men. Sullivan is credited with bringing of the Board of Education. federal employment people protested Dewey’s Coffee Shop female-to-male transgenderism The Department of Labor issued a rule in Philadelphia because it refused ser- to the forefront. 2008: First transgender mayor banning discrimination based on gender vice to young people who were dress- in America identity in federal employment. ing in clothing that did not conform to 1991: Rift with Michigan Womyn’s Stu Rasmussen became the first their gender. The protest led to an end Music Festival openly transgender mayor in America Surgery covered by Medicare of the discriminatory policy. Nancy Burkholder was removed from in Silverton, Or. Rasmussen previously The Obama administration lifted a the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival had served as the mayor prior to com- decades-old ban on using Medicare cov- 1966: Transsexual Phenomenon when she was discovered to be trans- ing out as transgender. He prefers male erage for gender-reassignment surgery. published gender. The removal led to an annual pronouns but dresses as a woman. Dr. Harry Benjamin published a seminal protest by the transgender community, 2015: Caitlyn Jenner debuts work that described the medical transi- which continued through this year, 2009: Chaz Bono transition The former Olympic athlete and reality tion for transgender people. Benjamin when the festival ceased. Child of Sonny and Cher, Chastity star came out as transgender, going on helped Jorgensen in her transition and Bono transitioned to become a man. to be featured on the cover acknowledged her in the preface of the 1993: Brandon Teena He chronicled his transition in a docu- of Vanity Fair. book: “Without Christine Jorgensen and Teena, a transgender man, was mur- mentary, then went on to become a the unsought publicity of her dered in Nebraska. The story of his jour- contestant on Dancing with the Stars, First trans national anthem singer ‘conversion,’ this book could hardly ney and death was later chronicled in as well as a transgender activist and Breanna Sinclairé became the first have been conceived.” the Oscar-winning film Boys Don’t Cry. spokesperson. transgender person to sing the national anthem at a professional sporting event 1969: Stonewall Riots 1995: GenderPac formed 2010: First transgender presidential at the Oakland Coliseum before the The legendary seminal event of the Transgender activist RiKi Wilchins appointees Oakland A’s game with the LGBT civil-rights movement included formed the first advocacy group dedi- President Obama appointed the San Diego Padres. members of the transgender com- cated to gender identity and expression. first two transgender people in his- munity. The LGBT community resisted The organization ushered in the period tory. Amanda Simpson was appointed Pennsylvania gets transgender police abuse on the night after Judy in which the national transgender move- as senior technical adviser in the physician general Garland’s funeral, which many cite for ment took hold. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Pennsylvania made U.S. history with the frayed nerves. Industry and Security, and Dylan Orr the appointment and confirmation of Dr. 1999: First Transgender Day of was appointed as special assistant to Rachel Levine as the nation’s first open- 1970: Street Transvestite Action Remembrance the Department of Labor ly transgender state physician general. Revolutionaries (STAR) The first Transgender Day of Assistant Secretary. Started by transgender legends Sylvia Remembrance honored those who have White House appointment Rivera and Marsha Johnson, STAR was died due to anti-transgender violence. First transgender judge in America President Barack Obama appointed an advocacy group for transgender The commemoration was a direct Victoria Kolakowski became the first transgender attorney Shannon Price people. Both Rivera and Johnson were result of the murder of Rita Hester in openly transgender judge in America, Minter to the President’s Commission rioters at the Stonewall Inn and helped Massachusetts. elected by the voters of Alameda on White House Fellowships. Minter usher in the tepid acknowledgment of County, Calif., in the Bay Area. was the lead attorney arguing before the California Supreme Court to over- turn Proposition 8. l

26 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 27 Classic Carroll

This Saturday, Billy Carroll steps out of retirement to relive Velvet Nation Classics at Town Danceboutique CARROLL

By Doug Rule BILLY

OF Metro Weekly’s Velvet Nation archive photos by Henry Linser and Michael Wichita

ILLY WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY COURTESY

HELPED create the identity of Nation in its musical pre-

sentation,” says Ed Bailey, who organized the weekly gay PHOTO party Velvet from 1999 to 2006 at the now closed Nation elsewhere. Nation was very different, it was a nightclub. “His unique style was well-accepted by a large very musically intellectual crowd. They were groupB of people,” including two main types of Velvet regulars — those people that would travel for DJs. They knew who preferred his more edgy, urban house sound, and devotees of the all the mixes of obscure house tracks and stuff. diva-driven, tribal circuit sound. And that’s what made it so fun to play. So when Carroll, who retired as a club DJ four years ago after a 35-year MW: What triggered you to retire in the first career, proposed stepping out of retirement to play a Velvet Nation place? Classics party at Town, Bailey didn’t hesitate for a second. “I wanted to CARROLL: I had a really, really great 35-year give Billy the opportunity to come back and play again,” he says. career. And I wanted it to end on my terms. Calling Carroll “a sweetheart” and ”one of my favorite people in gen- Because just being a DJ doesn’t seem to be eral,” Bailey adds, “This just kind of made sense. It just feels right.” enough anymore — you need to be a producer, you need to be some sort of a musical artist. METRO WEEKLY: What was it about Velvet Nation that inspired you to come And my thing was always taking a little bit out of retirement? from every producer and weaving it together BILLY CARROLL: Nation was such a monumental club, at such a monumental and making a night out of it. That’s what I time for clubs. I played there so many times, and the parties were just so enjoy doing. I didn’t have a desire to sit in the epic back then. It was such a magical time — not uncommon to have 3,000 studio and create stuff. people there. And that room. They don’t make them like that anymore. MW: Your big breakthrough came with gigs at I just want to celebrate Nation, playing all the big anthems and some of New York’s legendary Studio 54. the songs that were very popular there that might not have been popular CARROLL: I played at Studio 54 a few times, as

28 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM “NATION WAS VERY DIFFERENT, IT WAS A VERY MUSICALLY INTELLECTUAL CROWD. And that’s what made it so fun to play.” one-offs. I filled in for somebody, or played a party with another DJ, or it was a special party and somebody brought me in on it — there were a few of those different sorts of situations. But I started with a regular gig in New York, and it was not playing for gay people, which didn’t happen until 1990. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, I played more of an urban program for a more urban setting. It was a very unique situation — there’s this white gay DJ playing in black straight clubs. It was definitely a novelty. MW: Did you grew up in New York? CARROLL: I grew up in Connecticut, but I would go out dancing in New York City when I was 16, and my father knew I was doing it. I got caught coming home in the morning a couple of times, and my father finally just put his foot down: “You ain’t going anywhere.” So I just made plans to move there. I worked at Lord & Taylor selling shoes during the day and finished high school at night. And went out pretty much every night after that. MW: Did you start DJing then? CARROLL: No, I started DJing when I was 19. The turning point

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 29 was going to the club Gallery with DJ Nicky Siano. It was just go back into retirement? amazing to me. And the people I used to dance with at the club, CARROLL: Do I want to go back on the road every week? No. But who were also in high school — Frankie Knuckles and Larry when I get a time or an occasion like this — to play music that Levan. We were all in that room. Obviously they went on to be I love, and I know other people reminisce about and love, at a very famous DJs. But I had a very long, steady career. Never time that we all loved — I jump at the opportunity. I have been really famous, but just a long, healthy career. And I always was contacted by other clubs, and they also want to relive the glory employed. It was enough for me. days for one night. MW: Did you start your company Billy Carroll Events after you MW: So you don’t expect to DJ events featuring contemporary retired? dance music then? CARROLL: I started a small catering company in 1987, and now CARROLL: Well, no pre-recorded sets, no EDM — I don’t relate we’re a full event-planning service — from catering to the decor. to EDM at all. It doesn’t speak to me. But also right now, old- Especially with gay marriage now being legal everywhere, fashioned house production is coming back into vogue. And there’s been a huge uptick in business the last couple of years. I’m really excited about that. Some of the older producers are MW: Have you become a wedding DJ? Is that a service you offer? making records again, and they’re going up the charts — David CARROLL: No, I never do my own events. Never. I definitely keep Morales, Tedd Patterson. Danny Tenaglia is a perfect example — the two separate. When you’re planning someone’s wedding, he’s never gone out of vogue. People dance to Danny, they dance you have to wear so many hats that day, I certainly can’t be in the to Dave. They don’t face the DJ and just fistpump. They interact, DJ booth focusing on music. they participate. I don’t want people to look at me. I want people MW: Are you married yourself? to dance to me. [Laughs.] CARROLL: I am. On October 30th I’ll be married a year to my I still want to play by the seat of my pants. Sometimes I get husband of 35 years. We got married last year on our 34th anni- a spontaneous, oh this sample would sound great. I’ve got to versary. Even after 34 years, it’s different. It’s always been good, find that CD, get it in the machine, sample it. I do it live. It’s not but it’s been amazing, being married. I just love saying the word always 100-percent perfect, but it’s real, a real raw energy. “husband.” I love it. And I lucked out, I got a great partner in MW: So we should expect some on-the-fly mixing and selecting on my life. It just feels really good to be married — legally so. I just Saturday? never thought I’d see that. CARROLL: Oh, most definitely! It will be an incredibly playful eve- MW: I understand you’re turning 60 next year. Any plans for a big ning. You can put that in quotes — “playful.” party? CARROLL: No, it’s just a number. I certainly don’t feel 60, and I Billy Carroll spins the Velvet Nation Classics party this Saturday, definitely don’t act 60. I am still waiting to grow up. [Laughs.] Oct. 17, at 10 p.m., upstairs at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. MW: Do you plan to take more gigs as a club DJ again or will you NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-234-TOWN or visit towndc.com. l

30 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 31 Compiled by Doug Rule OCTOBER 15 - 22, 2015 Crimson Peak harkens to the movies of the ’40s. The dia- logue is heavily starched and delivered with meticulous precision — it feels out of time and unnatural, and yet it’s absolutely perfect, evok- ing nostalgia for a time when movies wore their artifice with pride. If Crimson Peak has a patron saint, it’s Alfred Hitchcock, with Rebecca, Notorious and Suspicion sup- plying the oxygen from which the story draws life. (The film has a bit of Robert Wise and Roman Polanski tossed in for good measure.) It’s a potent, old-school experience, with perpetual dread giving way to CUNETTO isolated, shocking moments of brutality that produce full throttle screams. In these days

CHRISTOPHER of movie action unfolding at a hyper-rapid clip, it’s nice to encounter a film that takes its time to get to its climax. Chastain gives a delec- Gothic Creep table, malice-filled perfor- mance as Lucille, one both Guillermo del Toro’s visually ravishing Crimson Peak terrifies you subtle and overt. Hiddleston’s feral romantic sear, tinged in ways you least expect with mournful regret, helps to explain why Edith, an aspiring novelist who eschews the idea RIMSON PEAK IS NOT THE HORROR FILM YOU’RE EXPECTING — AT LEAST IF of romance, chooses his Tom you go by the marketing for Guillermo del Toro’s creepy callback to the horror genre of over Charlie Hunnam’s overly yesteryear. The previews build expectations that will almost certainly let down those polite, gorgeous young doctor. expecting a film pivoting around a supernatural showdown. Written by del Toro and As Edith’s authoritative yet Cveteran Matthew Robbins (Sugarland Express, Mimic), Crimson Peak (HHHHH) uses misdirection loving father, Jim Beaver steals to its advantage, as del Toro edges toward expectations, and then delivers something else entirely. every moment he’s on screen. “Ghosts are real,” says Edith Cushing (a porcelain, luminous Mia Wasikowska) at the start of a Gothic horror of the purest journey that will forever change her life. And while ghostly apparitions, both blood red and deep kind, Crimson Peak gets under black, are indeed crucial to the narrative, it’s brother and sister Thomas and Lucille Sharp (Tom your skin and crawls away Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain) who generate the real ambiguity, dread and fear. Forcing them- with abandon. It leaves you selves on the naive, impressionable Edith, they are sinister siblings whose slow, insidious burn alarmed, unsettled and, most inevitably reaches a terrifying, truly disturbing boiling-over point. importantly, in a giddy state Lustrously photographed, and lavishly art directed with attention to ubiquitous metaphor of cringe-in-your-seat squirm. (bright red clay oozes from crumbling floorboards like blood seeping through rotting flesh), — Randy Shulman

Crimson Peak is Rated R for violence and runs 119 minutes. Opens at area theaters on Friday, Oct. 16.

32 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM ents a related photo exhibit also com- 16, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 18, at Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. SPOTLIGHT memorating the 50th anniversary of 3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Tickets are $50 to $70. Call 202-628- the Voting Rights Act as well as the Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. 1776 or visit dar.org/conthall. 7TH ANNUAL VELOCITYDC sesquicentennial of the end of the Also Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. DANCE FESTIVAL Civil War. The exhibit was curated by Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 DAVID SEDARIS A special partnership with several Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Everybody’s favorite gay social satirist local dance organizations and pre- named after the 180-mile-long, Tickets are $10 to $99. Call 410-783- returns to the area to share his witty, senters, this festival showcases world- 75-mile wide National Heritage Area 8000 or visit bsomusic.org. sardonic jokes on stage. This summer class dance of various styles — all stretching from Gettysburg, Penn., it was at Wolf Trap, now he returns to of it D.C.-based. “D.C. is not often to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in CHEFS FOR EQUALITY his more usual D.C. stomping ground, seen as a major dance hub nationally, Charlottesville, Va. Opens Friday, Oct. Now in its 4th year, the Human Rights Lisner Auditorium. Thursday, Oct. but it should be,” Samantha Pollack 16, at 10 a.m. On exhibit through Nov. Campaign’s foodie fundraiser returns 22, at 8 p.m. GW Lisner, The George of Washington Performing Arts told 29. Kennedy Center Hall of Nations. to the Ritz-Carlton, where former Washington University, 730 21st St. Metro Weekly last year. “We really Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit ken- chef David Hagedorn has once again NW. Tickets are $35 to $50. Call 202- have some incredible companies nedy-center.org. organized an event featuring concoc- 994-6851 or visit lisner.org. that perform in everything from tap tions and libations prepared by more to flamenco to modern ballet to Sri ANDERSON COOPER AND than 100 celebrated area chefs and MICHAEL POLLAN Lankan.” More than 20 area ensem- ANDY COHEN mixologists. Naturally, it wouldn’t be As part of this month’s Jewish Literary bles are set to take part this year, The open-ended Q&A portion of this a marriage-themed event without a Festival, Lisner Auditorium presents including the Washington Ballet’s discussion, dubbed “Deep Talk and wedding cake — or seventeen, made the leading voice in the slow food Studio Company, Christopher K. Shallow Tales,” comes at the very by pastry chefs from Georgetown movement, and noted author of best- Morgan & Artists, the Suzanne Farrell end, after personal anecdotes from Cupcake, Momofuku Milk Bar, Bayou selling books including The Omnivore’s Ballet, RebollarDance and Step Afrika! inside the celebrity machine as well Bakery, Buttercream Bake Shop and Dilemma. Michael Pollan discusses There’s also pre-show “RAMP!” per- as the gay Andys’ shared experiences Charm City Cakes. Tuesday, Oct. 20, the cross-section of agribusiness, the formances featuring some of D.C.’s as longtime friends. Saturday, Oct. 17, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, environment and health in the quest up-and-coming dancers as well as at 8 p.m. Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. 1150 22nd St. NW. Tickets are $200. to be a more ethical eater, in a conver- site-specific works. Thursday, Oct. 15, NW. Tickets are $75 to $125. Call 202- Visit chefsforequality.org. sation with NPR’s Renee Montagne. through Saturday, Oct. 17, starting at 783-4000 or visit warnertheatredc. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. GW 6:15 p.m. Also Saturday, Oct. 17, start- com. MACKLEMORE AND RYAN LEWIS Lisner, The George Washington ing at 1:15 p.m. Sidney Harman Hall, In advance of plans for a new University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets 610 F St. NW. Ticket are $18 for each BALTIMORE SYMPHONY album following on the success of are $40. Call 202-994-6851 or visit program. Call 202-785-9727 or visit ORCHESTRA its Grammy-winning The Heist, this lisner.org. velocitydc.org. Marin Alsop leads the BSO in Edward gay rights-supporting Seattle rap duo Berkeley’s concert adaptation of announces a tour in which one dollar PUSSY NOIR, ANAT NIR: A JOURNEY FROM CIVIL WAR TO Prokofiev’s sumptuous ballet piece from every ticket will go to support DECONSTRUCTING MASCULINITY CIVIL RIGHTS Romeo and Juliet, derived from the various progressive groups commit- A Wider Bridge and Transformer Tied to next month’s revised version Bard’s classic play, featuring seven ted to equity and justice. Tickets on present a show featuring D.C. per- of Philip Glass’ opera Appomattox, local actors and presented in associa- sale Friday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m., for formance artist Pussy Noir and Tel the Washington National Opera pres- tion with Folger Theatre. Friday, Oct. show Wednesday, Jan. 27, at D.A.R. Aviv LGBT event producer Anat Nir

METROWEEKLY.COMMETROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER DATE 0, 15, 2003 2015 33 in “An Evening Deconstructing the Masculinity Paradox in Gay Culture.” GLOE at the DCJCC, Moishe House DC and Nice Jewish Boys DC co-spon- sor this event with A Wider Bridge, an LGBT organization building con- nections to Israel. Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. Ulysses Room, 52 0 St. NW. Tickets are free, donations to A Wider Bridge accepted. Visit takeoffthemasc. eventbrite.com.

SKELETONS: EXPLORING UNDER THE SURFACE Alexandria’s rather quirky gallery Del Ray Artisans presents a Halloween- pegged exhibition that goes beyond predictable displays of animal and human skeletons to also include 2D and 3D artworks in a range of medi- ums. All of them dig deeper to discover what’s “under there,” examined liter- ally and figuratively. Now to Nov. 1. Del Ray Artisans in the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria. Call 703-731-8802 or visit thedelrayartisans.org. STAGE

ANIMAL A Studio Theatre commission from Clare Lizzimore, this dark comedy looks at the underside of domestic- ity and the thin line between sinking and survival, from the perspective of Return of the Raven a woman who seems to have it all, yet can’t shake the self-doubt that is The queer-run Raven’s Night offers special spectacles at The Birchmere becoming an increasingly psychologi- cal burden. Gaye Taylor Upchurch AST YEAR, BELLADONNA AND KEN VEGAS GOT MARRIED ON STAGE AT THE directs a cast including Kate Eastwood Birchmere, to the surprise of everyone — family and friends included — in attendance Norris, Cody Nickell, Michael Kevin Darnall and Rosemary Regan. Now Lat their annual show Raven’s Night. to Oct. 25. Studio Theatre, 14th & P “We didn’t want to tell people ahead of time because it would have been really weird Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit selling tickets to our wedding,” show organizer Belladonna says. Instead, the program sim- studiotheatre.org. ply noted that Bella and Ken would perform together as the final act of the evening, which BAD DOG was built around a sci-fi theme. They performed — and married — in costume: Ken, the drag A deliciously dark comedy featuring king extraordinaire, portrayed Boba Fett, the Star Wars bounty hunter, who successfully six of Washington’s greatest actress- ensnared Bella as Inara, the elite escort from Joss Whedon’s Firefly. es, including Holly Twyford, Naomi Jacobson and Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, Bella and Ken don’t hope to top that spectacular personal display at this year’s fourth about a dysfunctional family and an annual Raven’s Night. Though, if they were to reenact their same-sex marriage, at least this intervention gone awry. Written by year it would be legally recognized in the state of Virginia. Still, the evening promises to have Jennifer Hoppe-House, whose tele- plenty of appeal with its supernatural theme. Bella will serve as the show’s host and also vision credits include Showtime’s Nurse Jackie and Netflix’s Grace and portray Mórrígan, Celtic goddess of war and sovereignty, leading a troupe of dancing sword Frankie. This is Olney’s contribu- jugglers. Ken plans to stick to a behind-the-scenes role as producer and coordinator. She’ll tion to the Women’s Voices Theater ensure that a hex-breaking witch, several pagan goddesses, angels and X-Files reenactors, Festival. Now extended to Nov. 1. The Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney among others, all stick to the script. Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy The wide-ranging show is rooted in Bella’s primary work as a “tribal fusion bellydance” Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are performer and teacher, as well as her background as a medieval re-enactor. It also encom- $42. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olney- passes other forms of dance, performance art and music, with performers from all over the theatre.org. country. In many ways, not least because the audience is encouraged to dress up, Raven’s CAN’T COMPLAIN Night is the sort of event you’re only going to experience around Halloween — not least for Spooky Action Theater launches its name, an homage to Baltimore’s master of macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. its new season with the world pre- “We just wanted to create something where people could dress up, have a sense of com- miere of Christine Evans’s Can’t Complain, focused on three genera- munity and come see a lot of different styles of entertainment,” Bella says. “It’s really meant tions of women who meet in a hos- to be a festive, all-inclusive space where people get to play with their creativity.” —Doug Rule pital. Michael Bloom directs the production, part of the Women’s PHOTOGRAPHY Voices Theater Festival, and featuring Raven’s Night is Saturday, Oct. 24, starting with a pre-show “All-Hallow’s Exposition” car- Cornelia Hart, Wendy Wilmer, Tonya VISION nival at 5:30 p.m., before the main “Cabaret Melancholia” at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Beckman, Nicole Ruthmarie and Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $25. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com. Eric M. Messner. Evans, a native of Australia, is part of the theater faculty STEREO

34 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM at Georgetown University. Weekends becomes more a “dance of life” than CRYSTAL BOWERSOX man for decades, responsible for many to Oct. 25. Universalist National Wilde’s “dance of death.” To Nov. Last year the runner-up on the ninth of the Duke’s most famous composi- Memorial Church, 1810 16th St. NW. 8. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. season of American Idol in 2010 was all tions, including “Take the A Train.” In Tickets are $25 to $35. Call 202-248- NW. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shake- set to make her unexpected Broadway the Duke’s shadow, Strayhorn was also 0301 or visit spookyaction.org. spearetheatre.org. debut, playing the role of an unex- notably an openly gay man, at least as pected musical icon: Not Janis Joplin, open as one could expect to be half CHIMERICA THE MAGIC TREE whom Bowersox sometimes recalls, a century ago. Strayhorn, who died A sensation in London, Lucy Ursula Rani Sarma’s story of love born but the pioneering female country star in 1967, would have turned 100 this Kirkwood’s epic play Chimerica cov- in a very dark place examines why in Always, Patsy Cline. But the show November. Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. ers Sino-American relations from good people do bad things and repeat has so far failed to secure a proper the- Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Tiananmen Square to the 2012 presi- the mistakes of the past. Matthew J. ater on the Great White Way, so the Visit eastriverjazz.net. dential elections. Studio Theatre Keenan and Colin Smith jointly direct bisexual singer-songwriter continues offers a production directed by David Keegan Theatre’s contribution to the to tour in support of her sophomore TERRI WHITE Muse and featuring a cast of 12. To Women’s Voices Theater Festival and album, 2013’s All That for This. Friday, Legendary Broadway vocalist Barbara Oct. 18. Studio Theatre, 14th & P featuring Brianna Letourneau, Chris Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Cook brings Terri White back to the Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit Stinson, Scott Ward Abernethy and Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets Kennedy Center for a night of cabaret studiotheatre.org. Ryan Tumulty. To Nov. 13. Keegan are $26 to $28. Call 877-WOLFTRAP after her show-stopping performance Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets or visit wolftrap.org. in Follies two years ago. Friday, Oct. DESTINY OF DESIRE are $25 to 36. Call 703-892-0202 or 16, at 7 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace The latest from Helen Hayes Award- visit keegantheatre.com. DUKE DUMONT Theater. Tickets are $50. Call 202-467- winning playwright Karen Zacarias Part of a strong, young British crop 4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. (The Book Club Play) is a telenovela- TINY ISLAND of soul-informed deep house DJs/ style, fast-paced modern comedy set in The Washington Stage Guild offers producers also including Disclosure THE CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF Mexico. Jose Luis Valenzuela directs a production of Michael Hollinger’s and Gorgon City, Duke Dumont has WASHINGTON a cast featuring Esperanza America, bittersweet comedy Tiny Island, an had some impressive early success, as The Wesley Hymn Project was the last Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey, Carlos ode to movie theaters of yore. Bill his first two singles both reached the project of Choral Arts founder Norman Gomez and Nicholas Rodriguez. To Largess directs a cast featuring Laura top of the charts in the U.K. and also Scribner, which the organization com- Oct. 18. Mead Center for American Giannarelli and Lynn Steinmetz por- snagged back-to-back dance Grammy pleted after Scribner’s unexpected death Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202- traying sisters in the early ‘80s strug- nominations. First was “Need U earlier this year. The organization’s Scott 488-3300 or visit arenastage.org. gling over the fate of the family’s (100%)” featuring the Sierra Leone- Tucker leads the Chamber Singers plus movie theater as video stores encroach born British singer A*M*E, and next organist Julie Huang Tucker, trumpet ERMA BOMBECK: AT WIT’S END and cable TV looms. Weekends to came his song “I Got U” featuring player Terry Bingham and timpanist Twins Allison and Margaret Engel Oct. 25. Undercroft Theatre of Mount producer Jax Jones and vocalist Kelli- Julie Angelis Boehler in a performance (Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Vernon United Methodist Church, Leigh in an inspired interpolation and celebrating the upcoming release of the Molly Ivins) offer a pits-and-all por- 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets homage to Whitney Houston’s “My album featuring anthems and organ trait of the award-winning humorist are $40 to $50. Call 240-582-0050 or Love Is Your Love.” After a show works by Wesley, a founder of the Erma Bombeck. Arena Stage pres- visit stageguild.org. at the 9:30 Club just this past April, Methodist church, and his descendants. ents a world production as part of Dumont returns to DJ a Club Glow Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. Metropolitan the Women’s Voices Theater Festival UPRISING party at Echostage supporting new Memorial United Methodist Church, directed by David Esbjornson and fea- For its contribution to the region- EP Blasé Boys Club Part 1. Saturday, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW. Recommended turing Barbara Chishold as Bombeck. wide Women’s Voices Theater Oct. 24. Doors at 9 p.m. Echostage, donation is $20. Call 202-244-3669 or To Nov. 8. The Arlene and Robert Festival, Alexandria’s Metro Stage 2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE. Tickets visit choralarts.org. Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage, 1101 presents the rolling world premiere of are $25. Call 202-503-2330 or visit 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit Uprising, inspired by true tales from echostage.com. THOMAS CIRCLE SINGERS arenastage.org. playwright Gabrielle Fulton’s great- James Kreger leads this chamber cho- grandmother. Thomas W. Jones II IMANI WINDS ral ensemble kicking off its 40th anni- HOOTENANNY directs this play with music, led by North America’s premier wind versary season with the program “I Guillotine Theatre, formerly known William Knowles, exploring notions quintet and also one of its most suc- Have Had Singing,” featuring works as the Georgetown Theatre Company of freedom and sacrifice, family and cessful and prolific chamber ensem- by favorite composers including Aaron and devoted to presenting clas- community, and set in the aftermath bles performs at the Clarice Smith Copland, Z. Randall Stroope, Stephen sic plays as well as modern takes on of John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Performing Arts Center as part of Paulus and Irving Fine. Mezzo soprano classic literature, presents Monique Ferry. To Oct. 25. MetroStage, 1201 the 2015-2016 Visiting Artists Series. Rebecca Henry will perform Gwyneth LaForce’s new play Hootenanny, set North Royal St., Alexandria. Tickets The University of Maryland School Walker’s “A Heart in Hiding,” a lush backstage during a performance of a are $55 to $60. Call 800-494-8497 or of Music Graduate Wind Quintet will suite of passionate love poems by bluegrass musical version of Macbeth. visit metrostage.org. share the stage with Imani Winds Emily Dickinson commissioned for The local bluegrass band Dead Men’s for a program of works by Valerie Thomas Circle Singers in 2007. The Hollow performs original music in Coleman, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Astor group focuses on performing diverse this co-production with the National Piazzolla, Paquito D’Rivera and choral works and raising awareness Museum of Women in the Arts and MUSIC Rimsky-Korsakov. Thursday, Oct. 22, and funds for nonprofits addressing presented as part of the Women’s at 8 p.m. The Clarice at the University needs of the city’s underserved citi- Voices Theater Festival. Guillotine’s ANTIGONE RISING of Maryland, University Boulevard zens. Saturday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. Live! You may have seen bass guitar- Catherine Aselford directs a cast and Stadium Drive in College Park. at 10th and G, 945 G ST. NW. Tickets ist Kristen Ellis-Henderson on the featuring Cate Brewer and Doug Tickets are $25. Call 301-405-ARTS are $25, followed by a reception. Call cover of Time kissing her wife, Sarah Khrebel. Performances Saturday, Oct. or visit claricesmithcenter.umd.edu. 202-628-4317 or visit thomascir- Kate Ellis-Henderson — the head of 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. The clesingers.org. GLAAD who recently graced Metro Receiving Vault at Ivy Hill Cemetery, SAMORA PINDERHUGHES Weekly’s cover — in a celebration of 2823 King St. Alexandria. Tickets ENSEMBLE: BILLY STRAYHORN VERGE ENSEMBLE marriage equality. Next Saturday, Oct. are $25. Call 202-783-5000 or visit After 42 years as the New Music 24, she joins her bandmates, including TRIBUTE georgetowntheatre.org. Ensemble-in-Residence at the her sister Cathy Henderson, in anoth- The East River Jazz Series presents Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington’s er show this year at Jammin Java. a local performance by this local oldest contemporary music organiza- SALOME The all-lesbian country/rock quartet septet led by recent Juilliard Jazz Yael Farber’s new adaptation of Oscar tion recently announced its new affilia- is touring in support of the album grad Samora Abayomi Pinderhughes Wilde’s landmark play uses ancient tion with the Washington Conservatory Whiskey & Wine - Volume 2. Saturday, presented by Smithsonian Associates Arabic, Hebraic and Babylonian texts of Music. The latter, a nationally Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. Jammin Java, 227 and the Kennedy Center. The con- to offer a fresh look at the woman’s accredited community music school Maple Ave. E. Vienna. Tickets are cert, Billy Strayhorn: The Sutherland voice in history, presented by the for students of all ages, presents mem- $17. Call 703-255-3747 or visit jam- Hotel, focuses on the period when Shakespeare Theatre Company as bers of Verge in a one-hour Piano Plus minjava.com. some of the greatest jazz compo- part of the Women’s Voices Theater sitions of all time were written by Concert featuring three new works Festival. In the South African-native Strayhorn, who was Washington- for marimba, violin, cello, electron- adaptor and director’s hands, Salome native Duke Ellington’s right hand ics and piano, by composers includ-

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 35 ing Marc Mellits, Steve Antosca and Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18, at COLIN WINTERBOTTOM: SCALING Hoffberger, founder and director of Dan Visconti. Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 7:30 p.m. Also Saturday, Oct. 17, and WASHINGTON this original and unabashedly unusual p.m. Westmoreland Congregational Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1:30 p.m. Kennedy Celebrated local gay photographer 20-year-old museum. To Sept. 4, 2016. Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle. Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets Colin Winterbottom’s debut museum American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Bethesda. Suggested donation of $20. are $30.50 to $102. Call 202-467-4600 exhibition features stunning, large- Key Highway. Baltimore. Tickets are Call 301-320-2770 or visit washing- or visit kennedy-center.org. scale images of the post-earthquake $15.95, or $20 for the preview party. tonconservatory.org. restoration of the Washington Call 410-244-1900 or visit avam.org. Monument and Washington National YUNA COMEDY Cathedral. Now to Jan. 3. National UNCENSORED: INFORMATION Malaysia’s first international pop star, Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Call ANTICS whose music has featured on So You RYAN SCHUTT, DANNY 202-272-2448 or visit nbm.org. The DC Public Library presents an Think You Can Dance, returns to the all-media exhibition featuring local CHARNLEY, ALEXX STARR AND area for two shows that come a year MICHELLE PETERSON- artists, including Brian Davis, Nekisha ALLAN SIDLEY after a stirring double-bill concert at ALBANDOZ: NEW WORK Durrett, Hasan Elahi, Paul Shortt, The Hill Center presents D.C.-reared Lisner Auditorium. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Long View Gallery offers another show Fabiola Yurcisin, and DC Public New York-based comic Ryan Schutt at 7 p.m. U Street Music Hall, 1115A from Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, the Library’s “Makers in Residence” the for a headline show as part of what it U St. NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202- Chicago-based lesbian artist whose FreeSpace Collective. The artworks calls its “Sublime Stand-up Comedy 588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com. large, hanging-wood sculptures are focus on the intersection of data and Series” also featuring Chesapeake Also Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. Ram’s made from reclaimed wood, often censorship as part of Banned Books Bay native Danny Charnley, Obama- Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. found in dumpsters and back alleys. Week. Through Thursday, Oct. 22. impersonator Alexx Starr and Allan Tickets are $25. Call 410-268-4545 or Her latest work on display includes Martin Luther King. Jr. Memorial Sidley, leader of the improv group visit ramsheadonstage.com. a moon made out of slats of brown- Library, 901 G St. NW. Call 202-727- Lafrrican Americans and host of and white-painted wood and American 4943 or visit dcplf.org. the show. Friday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. flags placed under wooden lattices. Hill Center, Old Navy Hospital, 921 Now to Oct. 25. Long View Gallery, WINDOW TO WASHINGTON DANCE Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Cost is $10 in 1234 9th St. NW. Call 202-232-4788 or Window to Washington: The Kiplinger advance, or $15 day-of. Call 202-549- visit longviewgallery.com. Collection at HSW is an exhibition at CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS 4172 or visit HillCenterDC.org. Black Girl: Linguistic Play uses Washington’s Carnegie Library that traces the development of the nation’s African-American social dancing, SEATON SMITH ONE LIFE: DOLORES HUERTA The National Portrait Gallery offers capital from a sleepy Southern town rhythmic play and mesmerizing As part of its Comedy series the its first exhibition devoted to a Latino to a modern metropolis, as document- movement to explore the complexities Kennedy Center presents this up-and- figure. Dolores Heurta co-founded the ed through the works of artists. The of carving out a positive identity as coming Hollywood comic, currently National Farm Workers Association Historical Society of Washington, D.C., a black female in an urban American part of the cast of the forthcoming Fox with Cesar Chavez in 1962 and fought exhibition was made possible by a dona- culture that is racially and politically series Mulaney alongside star John for the passage of the California tion from the Kiplinger family. It’s also charged. A leading voice in contem- Mulaney plus Martin Short, Elliot Agricultural Labor Relations Act of an early step in a reorganization effort porary American dance, Camille A. Gould and Nasim Pedrad. Sunday, Oct. 1975. Taina Caragol curated an exhi- by the society, which has struggled to Brown’s exuberant choreography and 18, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Family bition that vividly traces the 13 years revive ever since its short-lived effort restless curiosity will be on display at Theater. Tickets are free, distributed between those two actions. Through a decade ago to run a City Museum the University of Maryland’s Clarice in the lobby starting at approximately May 15. National Portrait Gallery, 8th of Washington proved too ambitious. Smith Performing Arts Center as part 5:30 p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or visit and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 Open Tuesdays through Fridays from of its 2015-2016 Visiting Artists Series. kennedy-center.org. Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. The Clarice, or visit npg.si.edu. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Historical Society University Boulevard and Stadium of Washington, D.C., at the Carnegie Drive in College Park. Tickets are $25. ROBB HILL: HOMELANDS: A Library, 801 K St. NW. Call 202-393- Call 301-405-ARTS or visit theclarice. GALLERIES PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION 1420 or visit dchistory.org. umd.edu. HomeLands: A Photography Exhibition CHAMBER MUSIC: THE LIFE AND includes Robb Hill’s striking black and GIN DANCE COMPANY LEGACY OF ELIZABETH SPRAGUE white images offering a powerful med- ABOVE AND BEYOND Local choreographer Shu-Chen’s COOLIDGE itation on the themes of home, land dance company premieres her new- In honor of the 150th anniversary of and loss. Through this Sunday, Oct. D.C.’S DIFFERENT DRUMMERS: est works at the Reston Community her birth, the Library of Congress 18. PhotoWorks Gallery at Glen Echo DCDD DOES DRAG VI Center as part of its 2015/16 presents a new exhibition about the Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard. “Yes We Can...Can” is the theme for Professional Touring Artist Series. woman who supported establish- Glen Echo, Md. Call 301-634-2274 or this year’s annual drag benefit by local The program “Chasing Horizons” ment of the institution’s first music visit glenechophotoworks.org. gay marching band D.C.’s Different includes Lost and Found, exploring the venue, the intimate, finely tuned Drummers. A raffle will also be part of human instinct to continually chase Coolidge Auditorium that required an THE ART OF JOHN LENNON the festivities. Sunday, Oct. 25. Doors after dreams and desires, often at the act of Congress but finally opened in Road Show Company presents the at 7 p.m. Town Danceboutique, 2009 expense of what we already have, 1925. An accomplished pianist and whimsical “peace and love” artworks of 8th St. NW. Cover is $10. Call 202-403- and features visual artists Teri Ann avid composer, Elizabeth Sprague the late Beatle in a collection of repro- 3669 or visit dcdd.org. LaBuwi and CinCin Fang. Wednesday, Coolidge’s passion was chamber music ductions overseen by Nim Vaswani, an Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. CenterStage at the and her mission was to make it more authority on the works of Lennon. Did ROBIN GIVHAN Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts widely available and accessible by you know Lennon was an artist before As part of a discussion series tied to its Neck Rd. Tickets are $20. Call 703- sponsoring concert tours around the he was a musician? On exhibition from Ingenue to Icon exhibition about the 476-4500 or visit gindance.org. world and commissioning new works. Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 20th century transformation of women

The exhibit features 40 items, most 18. Tysons Corner Center, 1961 Chain through fashion, Hillwood presents THE WASHINGTON BALLET drawn from the Coolidge Foundation Bridge Rd. Tysons Corner, Va. Free and this Washington Post Pulitzer Prize- The Washington Ballet opens its sea- Collection at the Library, which open to the public, with a portion of winning fashion critic for a talk about son with a toast to Latin culture fea- holds the world’s largest music col- the sale proceeds to be donated to the fashion and self-identity. Givhan will turing works by three of the biggest lection. Through Jan. 23. Performing Capital Area Food Bank. Call 844-810- also sign copies of her book The Battle names in contemporary choreogra- Arts Reading Room Gallery in The 9100 or visit roadshowcompany.com. of Versailles: The Night American phy: Bitter Sugar by Mauro de Candia, Library of Congress’s James Madison Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Sombrerísimo by Annabelle Lopez Memorial Building, 101 Independence THE BIG HOPE SHOW Made History. Thursday, Oct. 22, start- Ochoa and La Ofrenda (The Offering) Ave. SE. Call 202-707-8000 or visit Baltimore’s American Visionary ing at 5:30 p.m. Visitor Center Theater pas de deux, La Llorona by Edwaard loc.gov/exhibits. Art Museum offers its 21st annual at Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Ave. Liang. Hans van Manen, one of exhibition, featuring over 25 artists NW. Tickets for the lecture are sold Europe’s eminent choreographers, is offering works in various media that out but a simulcast in another space at also represented with a performance champion the radiant and transfor- Hillwood costs $5. Call 202-686-5807 of 5 Tangos, as is Marius Petipa’s clas- mative power of hope. It’s an origi- or visit HillwoodMuseum.org. l sic wedding pas de deux from Don nal and unabashedly idealistic exhi- Quixote. Remaining shows Thursday, bition, curated by Rebecca Alban

36 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM film

Think Different

paint him as a sinner or a saint. No, Jobs doesn’t get off that eas- Steve Jobs isn’t afraid to bend the ily. They didn’t intend to sing gospels about him. Here’s what they did do, though: they adapted details from a truth, and that’s why it paints such a nonfiction book, an honest-to-god biography written by Walter Isaacson in 2011, while also conjuring scenes and conversa- memorable portrait of the Apple mogul tions wholesale from the make-believe corners of their minds. Fact and fiction, mixed together. Sorkin has called the script an “impressionistic” story, more similar to a painting than a photo- by CHRIS HELLER graph. The goal here isn’t mimicry. It’s cultivation. That’s why it’s so tempting to pretend Boyle and Sorkin hit WORD OF ADVICE: DON’T BELIEVE ANY- their mark. Think of the tepid Hollywood biographies that, thing you see in Steve Jobs. This movie is not just in the past year alone, dribbled out to audiences: American a biography. It’s an interpretation of a famous Sniper, The Theory of Everything, Get On Up, and on and on and A person’s accomplishments. The words “authori- on. These movies exist to imitate actual lives, to remix facts into tative” and “accurate” and “fact check” do not belong in any entertainment. Steve Jobs does something else entirely, some- discussion about it. If you see an article titled “What Steve Jobs thing much more ambitious. The ambivalence it has toward Jobs Gets Wrong About X” — and you will, because the Internet is (Michael Fassbender) never quite blends — especially when the filled with bad ideas — don’t read it. It’s not worth your time. finale embraces a tidy reunion with his estranged daughter Lisa Steve Jobs (HHHHH) deserves much more than that. Director (Perla Haney-Jardine) — but it’s doing something different. Danny Boyle and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin don’t try to capture That’s enough to make it one of the season’s most daring films. Jobs as he was, or define his life and his intentions. They don’t Thank Aaron Sorkin for that. The Moneyball scribe ditches

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MARGOT SCHULMAN stage

Half-Baked

are few redeeming or likable things about Hubbard, who is as Signature’s Cake Off doesn’t rise bumbling in his personal life as he is in the kitchen. There are several tedious scenes in which the single father looks into the to the challenge, while Ford’s audience and begs his unseen adolescent son not to leave him the way the boy’s mother did. Among other problems, this detracts from what the show is supposed to be about: baking cakes and The Guard is just a challenge showing skill in the kitchen. It’s certainly an odd premise for a musical. One early number by DOUG RULE has Rita and Paul taking turns singing the ingredients lists as they mix together their respective cakes, for instance. It’s all set HE THIRD TIME PROMISES TO BE THE CHARM to director Joe Calarco’s light, complementary choreography, for Rita Gaw, a contestant in the fictional Millberry and performed on Jason Sherwood’s turntable set — which adds Cake Off, which this year will award an unprec- some dramatic excitement. Fortunately, the show eventually T edented $1 million to the top baker. rises to become more than the sum of its melodically presented You enter new musical Cake Off ( ) at Signature ingredients. Theatre already rooting for Rita — largely because she’s being Cake Off offers some trenchant ideas about our culture’s played by Sherri Edelen. Any regular patron of Signature Theatre rather casual, everyday misogyny and subtle gender prejudice. knows how effectively this Helen Hayes Award winner can win It’s clear to everyone that Rita is the better baker, but her confi- over audiences with her powerhouse vocals and her ability to dence and determination threatens to be her undoing — in a way portray larger-than-life characters as if they were little more that such traits never would be for a man. If Rita’s male rival had than sweet, unsung mothers-next-door — from Mrs. Lovett in been portrayed as equally confident and determined, with the Sweeney Todd to Mama Rose in Gypsy. only real difference being less skill, I can’t help but think Cake In fact, your support for Rita never wavers over the course Off would have been more provocative and revealing about gen- of the intermission-less 95-minute musical, which is as much der norms and assumptions. a compliment to Edelen as it is criticism to playwright Sheri As it is, Cake Off might stir up some girl-power passion, espe- Wilner. Based on an earlier play of Wilner’s, she transformed cially with the penultimate number “You Can’t Have This.” And it into a musical with assistance from Julia Jordan (Murder you might be amused by Jamie Smithson’s work in barely chang- SCHULMAN

Ballad) on the book and lyrics and Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days) ing his look or attire to play the show’s host as well as a couple of on music and lyrics. minor roles — both male and female. But the final product isn’t Rita’s main rival is Paul Hubbard (Todd Buonopane). There MARGOT satisfying or sweet enough — especially as the last number finds

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 39 overloaded with themes — everything from Rembrandt and Homer and the mysteries of art and artists, to modern love and ways of grieving. A cast of five actors portray different charac- ters across four vastly different scenes, all while being whisked around the world and into the past on James Kronzer’s turntable set. Mitchell Hebert takes on the titular role as an aging gay man who, until the final scene, shows more love and compassion for the art on the museum wall than he does for his own dying partner. After a short soliloquy as Homer, Wallace becomes that dying partner in the play’s final, touching scene that leaves you wanting more. Sharon Ott directs the show, centered around one of the lesser-known paintings featuring Homer by the Dutch master SUCHMAN

Rembrandt, whose general personality and artistic intentions are still the subject of debate. (We know even less of Homer.) SCOTT Dickey attempts to bring these artists to life, imagining what Rita resorting somewhat to gender stereotypes, sublimating her they might have been like and may have been trying to do. Of dreams and desires into those of her unseen daughter. It leaves course, the difference between what something might have been a rather unpleasant taste. and what it actually is can often be a disappointment. That’s certainly true here. What might have been a tender, YOU ALSO MIGHT GO INTO The Guard with a certain expec- intimate drama of an aging gay couple’s relationship — with tation based on at least one of its actors. And just as with Edelen interesting diversions to talk about art — instead is a drama that in Cake Off — both shows are their respective theaters’ contri- heads off to the museum only to lose its way down a cultural butions to the region-wide Women’s Voices Theater Festival rabbit hole. — you leave Ford’s Theatre once again impressed by the work of actor Craig Wallace, who has proven himself before to be an The Guard runs to Oct. 18 at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. acting powerhouse (most recently in Ford’s Driving Miss Daisy). Tickets are $20 to $64. Call 800-982-2787 or visit fordstheatre.org. Wallace is the ace up The Guard’s sleeve, since he doesn’t appear until the play’s final 30 minutes. Cake Off runs to Nov. 22 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell By that point, you may have already lost interest in The Guard Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40 to $101. Call 703-820-9771 or visit ( ), Jessica Dickey’s dry, drab and pretentious play signature-theatre.org. l

40 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM games

Unravelled

invest in a Wii U. It’s a game for those who already own the con- Yoshi’s Woolly World is a beautifully sole — all ten million of them — but no one else. The only prob- lem is that, even among those millions of gamers, I’m not entirely made platformer that can’t quite sure it amounts to more than further proof that Nintendo has a serious content problem on its hands. fashion itself into a compelling game That kind of pressure, however, is exactly why Woolly World can’t possibly live up to expectations. As a cheap downloadable title, it would probably be a near-perfect game. As a full price, by RHUARIDH MARR first party release, Yoshi’s yarn starts to unravel. That’s not the impression you’ll have when first playing it, INTENDO HAS A VERY SPECIFIC ABILITY. however. To call Woolly World gorgeous feels like a cruel under- It’s something of an expert at creating experiences statement. Much like LittleBigPlanet and Nintendo’s own Kirby’s you’ll want to play, but not necessarily ones you’ll Epic Yarn, developer Good-Feel has taken a fabric inspiration N switch console allegiances for. Now, that’s a bold and wrapped, stitched and threaded it into every fiber of Woolly statement — and it certainly doesn’t ring true for staple fran- World’s digital existence. The joy of seeing Yoshi knitted togeth- chises like Mario and Zelda — but for the vast majority of content er, complete with fuzz and button eyes, traverse this handmade that Nintendo feeds to its systems, gamers on rival platforms will world never ceases to amaze. look, covet, and then move on. From cotton clouds to leather grounds, felt flowers to knit- That’s a problem, not least when the Wii U, Nintendo’s flag- ted enemies, Woolly World exploits its aesthetic to maximum ship home console, is lagging behind its competitors in sales effect — even foes carry the kind of weaponry that would genu- — despite a year’s head start. Nintendo needs its big, flashy inely terrify anyone formed from yarn, such as crochet hooks franchises to pull gamers to pick up a Wii U, even as a second and pins. Mario’s classic Piranha Plants are here — fire a ball system. This year they’ve had a few, but leading into the holidays of yarn at them and their deadly mouths will be wrapped tight Nintendo’s cupboards are definitively more barren than Sony’s before Yoshi dispatches them with a well placed leap. Shy Guys — except Sony has the luxury of numerous third party titles to will unravel and waft away on the breeze. Yoshi will revert compensate for its weak first party offerings. to a single strand and wrap himself around a spool to launch This is a long-winded way of saying that Yoshi’s Woolly World between islands. Every facet of Woolly World has been thought (HHHHH) is another typical Nintendo title: it’ll pique interest, out, designed and finished with delicate stitching to accurately generate column inches, but will do little to convince people to convey its theme. Even the overworld, which sits in a massive

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 41 room filled with craft materials, provides the impression that the after several hours with it. world has been lovingly put together, just for you. What’s more, apart from glimmering moments of brilliance, Yoshi travels this world with all of the cutesy gusto he can this a well trodden path that many gamers may quickly tire of. muster. However, underneath its layers of carefully placed fab- There are flashes of Nintendo’s platforming excellence, but ric, Woolly World is a rather generic 2D platformer. You have a that’s all they are: flashes. Like a gaming Snapchat, you enjoy relatively limited moveset: Yoshi can jump, hover for a limited them briefly then they’re gone, never to return. In certain levels, amount of time, throw out his tongue to grab enemies and swal- Yoshi transforms into certain objects or creatures: a plane, an low them, before spitting them at others or digesting them and umbrella, or a mermaid, for instance. These present their own pooping out a color-coordinated ball of yarn — complete with unique challenges — as the umbrella, you’ll float on the breeze an exclamation of “Bum!” (Yoshi may say something else, but through levels, sailing past enemies, unable to attack them, after many hours with him I’m pretty convinced it’s bum.) That collecting gems, and against the clock. Sometimes the levels yarn — Yoshi can drag several behind him — can then be spat themselves offer unique challenges, such as one set entirely on at enemies to wrap them up, dispatch them, form platforms, or curtains — depicted in typically exquisite fashion — with Yoshi reveal secrets and activate mystery boxes. grabbing and sliding along them to the end of their rail, before Yoshi’s main motivation falls into a long canon of pretty sim- leaping to the next. These levels are perhaps the most exciting plistic Nintendo plots. A bad guy (evil wizard Kamek) disrupts and interesting part of Woolly World, but they’re also in the the Yarn Yoshis, deconstructing all but two (classic green and minority. If anything, they only highlight how generic the rest of vibrant red Yoshi) into little clumps of yarn. Yoshi sets out to Yoshi’s adventure is, which is a terrible shame. find his friends and stop Kamek and his evil wrongdoings. Oscar- Multiplayer is present, though it’s local only — a rarity in worthy it isn’t, but it fuels the story about as much as is neces- today’s constantly connected world. It works surprisingly well, sary. Really, the story is quite charming — told through speech and if your teammate is utterly hopeless you can swallow them bubbles between characters — but it’s utterly inconsequential and carry them through tougher sections. What’s less convinc- as Woolly World’s real aim is to make you collect things. Lots of ing is Nintendo’s amiibo integration. If you have amiibo from them. other games, such as Mario, touch them to the Gamepad and Each level — there are 55 in total, across six world — is Yoshi will transform — I can’t intimate how wonderful it is crammed with flowers, yarn bundles, health pickups, stamps seeing Yoshi dressed up as Mario, complete with knitted mous- and rhinestones. Those yarn bundles (five per level) will form tache. However, if you touch a standard Yoshi amiibo to your back into the various Yoshis at the end of levels, the flowers Gamepad, a second Yoshi will appear onscreen. You can’t con- will unlock special levels in each world, while the stamps can trol him — instead, he mimics your every movement and action. be used to draw images that will randomly pop up in other gam- Thanks, but it’s more annoying than anything. ers’ worlds. The rhinestones are used to augment the game: buy It’s an incredible testament to the efforts of developer Good- power-ups to reveal hidden secrets or to skip a level entirely, for Feel that, a dozen or so hours later, as Woolly World concluded, instance. Speaking of hidden secrets, these are arguably Woolly I was still captivated by the fabric world Yoshi inhabited. World’s biggest challenge. Some of the collectibles will require However, by that point cute just wasn’t cutting it any more. I real thought and exploration to find — hidden walls, defeating couldn’t play Woolly World for more than a few hours at a time specific enemies, beating timed sections, etc. It’s a welcome before apathy set in and I sought out something more challeng- challenge, as the rest of the game is almost laughably easy. ing, exciting, engaging? That’s not to say that Woolly World is a Woolly World offers two modes, an easier option for casual bad game, far from it. For younger gamers, or a relaxing couple and younger gamers, and a classic mode for more experienced of hours of stress-free gaming, it’s great — particularly for sat- gamers. I opted for the latter, but not once did I feel genuinely isfying any collectibles addicts. Over the course of a full game, threatened during my playthrough. Yes, there are varying enemy however, Woolly World is just too satisfied to rely on its looks to types and Yoshi can indeed “die” if he loses enough health, but succeed. In a market where Wii U gamers are starved for content not even boss levels posed a real threat. If I died, it was more and Woolly World is unfairly being forced into the position of a often than not due to Yoshi’s oddly inconsistent controls — flagship release, it just can’t justify itself at full price. standard jumping and movement is impeccably smooth and balanced, but Yoshi’s hover mode was still irksomely awkward Yoshi’s Woolly World is available October 16 on Wii U. l

42 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 43 44 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM NIGHT LIFE LISTINGS

THURS., 10.15.15

9 1/2 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Multiple TVs showing movies, shows, sports • Expanded craft beer selection • Music videos featuring DJ Wess

ANNIE’S/ANNIE’S UPSTAIRS 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $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 all night • Stonewall Kickball Sponsorship Night • 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 Thursday Night Football — Touchdown Specials • Jock Night — specials for men in jocks, 8-10pm • Blackout Night, 9pm-close

FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm t

METROWEEKLY.COM 45 46 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

Otter Crossing at the Green Lantern Friday, October 2

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Photography by Ward Morrison

t GREEN LANTERN FRI., 10.16.15 dancefloor • $10 cover $5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk COBALT/30 DEGREES Happy Hour, 4-9pm • 10pm-1am, $5 after 1am Bulls, 9pm-close downstairs • GoGo Boys Drag Yourself to Brunch at Ladies Drink Free Power • 21+ after 11pm • Doors open Level One, 11am-2pm and 9 1/2 Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR at 10pm • For those 21 2-4pm • Featuring Kristina Open at 5pm • Happy Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs DC9 DJ Matt Bailer • Videos, and over, $10 • For those Kelly and the Ladies of Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, BacK2bACk 1940 9th St. NW Dancing • Beat the Clock 18-20, $15 • 18+ Illusion • Bottomless 5-9pm • Friday Night Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), Mimosas and Bloody Videos with resident DJ JR.’S dcnine.com $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • TOWN PATIO Marys • Happy Hour: $3 Shea Van Horn • VJ • All You Can Drink for $15, Buckets of Beer $15 Open 6pm • No Cover Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Expanded craft beer selec- 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka DC EAGLE before 10pm • Cover after Call, 4-9pm • Kickball All tion • No Cover Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, Free Happy Hour Buffet, NUMBER NINE 10pm (entry through Town) Star Game After Party, 8pm-close • Throwback 6-10pm • $4 Rail, $3 Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 3-10pm • The Ladies ANNIE’S Thursday featuring rock/ Domestic, $10 Bucket of 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS of LURe present BARE, 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • pop retro hits Stella • SigMa on Club • No Cover All male, nude dancers, 10pm-close • Featuring $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Bar, 10pm-2am — $2 hosted by LaTroya Nicole DJ Rosie and DJ Keenan • Artois, $4 House Wines, NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Draughts PHASE 1 • Ladies of Ziegfeld’s, Featuring the DystRucXion $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, Beat the Clock Happy Hour DC Gurly Show presents 9pm • Hosted by Miss Dancers • Doors open $4 Manhattans and Vodka — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Something Wicked This Destiny B. Childs • DJ 10pm • $7 before mid- Martinis • Upstairs open, $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Way Twirls: A Halloween Darryl Strickland in Secrets night, $10 after • 21+ 5-11pm Beer $15 • Drag Bingo Karaoke, 8pm Burlesque Show, 9:30pm • VJ Tre in Ziegfeld’s • • Doors open 8pm • $10 Cover 21+ DC9 COBALT/30 DEGREES NUMBER NINE GREEN LANTERN Cover • 21+ 1940 9th St. NW All You Can Drink Happy Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Happy Hour, 4-6pm • Hour • $15 Rail and drink, 5-9pm • No Cover $5 Smirnoff, all flavors, TOWN SAT., 10.17.15 dcnine.com Domestic, $21 Call & all night long • SIREN DC Bear Crue Happy Imports, 6-9pm • Walk TOWN PATIO presents Active Seniors: Hour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail, 9 1/2 DC EAGLE to End HIV Kickoff Party, Open 6pm • No Cover • A Madonna, Janet, Cher, $3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Mr. DC Eagle on Club bar 6-10pm • Guys Night Out $4 Drinks and $3 Draughts, Mariah & Friends Dance • Free Pizza, 7pm • No drink, 3-9pm • $5 Absolut — $2 Draughts • Jello • Free Rail Vodka, 11pm- 6-9pm Party, 10pm-close cover before 9:30pm • & Tito’s, $3 Miller Lite Shots • Scarlet Screams: Midnight, $6 Belvedere 21+ • Drag Show starts at after 9pm • Expanded Halloween Baked Goods Vodka Drinks all night ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS JR.’S 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena craft beer selection • No Sale and Costume Ball — • Watch your favorite All male, nude dancers • Happy Hour: 2-for-1, Lett and featuring Miss Cover • Music videos You’ve seen Scarlett at music videos with DJ Shirtless Thursday • DJ 4-9pm • $2 Skyy Highballs Tatianna, Shi-Queeta- featuring various DJs Valentine’s, come see her MadScience in the lounge Tim-e in Secrets • 9pm • and $2 Drafts, 10pm- Lee, Epiphany B. Lee at Halloween and try out • DJ Keenan Orr on the Cover 21+ midnight • Retro Friday • and Ba’Naka • DJ Wess

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 47 your Halloween costume! NUMBER NINE TOWN PATIO • Prizes for best costumes Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Open 2pm • No Cover — cash and drink tickets drink, 3-9pm • No Cover before 9:30pm • Cover after 10pm (entry through FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR TOWN Town) Drag Queen Broadway DC Rawhides host Town Brunch, 10am-3pm & Country: Two-Step, ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS • Starring Freddie’s Line Dancing, Waltz and Men of Secrets, 9pm • Broadway Babes • Crazy West Coast Swing, $5 Guest dancers • Ladies Hour, 4-7pm • Freddie’s Cover to stay all night of Illusion with host Follies Drag Show, • Doors open 6:45pm, Ella Fitzgerald, 9pm • 8-10pm, hosted by Miss Lessons 7-8pm, Open DJ Steve Henderson in Destiny B. Childs • No dance 8-10:30pm • DJ Secrets • DJ Don T. in Cover Billy Carroll presents Ziegfeld’s • Doors open VelvetNation Classics, 8pm • Cover 21+ GREEN LANTERN highlighting the music and Happy Hour, 4-9pm • scene photos from Nation $5 Bacardi, all flavors, throughout the years, SUN., 10.18.15 all night long • The 495 10pm-close • Special Bears presents Bears guest Pearl from RuPaul’s 9 1/2 Can Dance, 9pm-close • Drag Race performs in Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Featuring DJ Jeff Eletto • the Drag Show • Music drink, 3-9pm • Multiple No Cover and video downstairs by TVs showing movies, DJ Wess • Drag Show shows, sports • Expanded JR.’S starts at 10:30pm • craft beer selection • No $4 Coors, $5 Vodka Hosted by Lena Lett and Cover Highballs, $7 Vodka Red featuring Miss Tatianna, Bulls Shi-Queeta-Lee, Epiphany COBALT/30 DEGREES B. Lee and Ba’Naka • $4 Stoli, Stoli flavors NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Doors open 10pm • Cover and Miller Lite all day Guest DJs • Zing Zang $12 • 21+ • Stonewall Kickball Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, Post-Game Party, 5pm House Rail Drinks and • Homowood Karaoke, Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm • 10pm-close • No Cover Buckets of Beer, $15 • 21+

48 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM DC9 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS DC9 NUMBER NINE FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR 1940 9th St. NW Drag Brunch, hosted by All male, nude dancers • 1940 9th St. NW Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Happy Hour, 2-6pm • Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am- Decades of Dance • DJ Happy Hour, 5-8pm • drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Karaoke, 8pm dcnine.com 3pm • $20 Brunch Buffet Tim-e in Secrets • Doors dcnine.com • House Rail Drinks, Zing 8pm • Cover 21+ GREEN LANTERN DC EAGLE Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie DC EAGLE TUES., 10.20.15 Happy Hour all night long, Doors open noon • $7 Beer and Mimosas, $4, Monday Night Football 4pm-close Buffet with $2 Bud and 11am-close • Buckets of MON., 10.19.15 • Happy Hour, 8-10pm • 9 1/2 Bud Light Draughts • Beer, $15 Jersey Night — support Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any JR.’S Sunday Football 9 1/2 your favorite team • Free drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Birdie La Cage Show, NUMBER NINE Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Pool all night TVs showing movies, 10:30pm • Underground FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Pop Goes the World with drink, 5-9pm • Multiple shows, sports • Expanded (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), Champagne Brunch Buffet, Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm TVs showing movies, FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR craft beer selection • No 9pm-close • DJ Wes 10am-3pm • Crazy Hour, • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on shows, sports • Expanded Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Cover Della Volla • 2-for-1, 5pm- 4-7pm • DC Gurly Show any drink, 3-9pm • No craft beer selection • No Karaoke, 8pm midnight presents A Nightmare on Cover Cover ANNIE’S Freddie’s Street: A Tribute GREEN LANTERN 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR to Wes Craven, 9pm • No ROCK HARD SUNDAYS ANNIE’S Happy Hour all night long $4 Stella Artois, $4 House Beat the Clock Happy Hour Cover charge • Karaoke @THE HOUSE 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • • Michael’s Open Mic Wines, $4 Stolichnaya — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), after the show NIGHTCLUB $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella Night Karaoke, 9:30pm- Cocktails, $4 Manhattans $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of 3530 Georgia Ave. NW Artois, $4 House Wines, close and Vodka Martinis Beer $15 • Karaoke and GREEN LANTERN Diverse group of all male, $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, Drag Bingo Happy Hour, 4-9pm • all nude dancers • Doors $4 Manhattans and Vodka JR.’S COBALT/30 DEGREES Mama’s Trailer Park open 7pm • Shows at Martinis Happy Hour: 2-for-1, Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 NUMBER NINE Karaoke, 9:30pm-close 8:30 and 10:30pm • $5 4-9pm • Showtunes Songs Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Domestic Beer, $6 Imports COBALT/30 DEGREES & Singalongs, 9pm-close • Edie Beale Show, 7-9pm drink, 5-9pm • No Cover • JR.’S • Happy Hour 7-8pm • Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 • DJ James • $3 Draft • SIN Industry Night • Safe Word: A Gay Spelling Sunday Funday • Liquid $10 cover • For Table Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm Pints, 8pm-midnight Half-price Cocktails, 10pm- Bee, 8-11pm • Prizes to Brunch • Doors open at Reservations, 202-487- • RuPaul’s Drag Race close the top three spellers • 1pm • $2 Coors Lights and 6646 • rockharddc.com Viewing and Drag Show NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR After 9pm, $3 Absolut, $3 Skyy (all flavors), all hosted by Kristina Kelly • Beat the Clock Happy Hour DC9 Bulleit & Stella day and night TOWN PATIO Doors open at 10pm, show — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), 1940 9th St. NW Open 2pm • No Cover starts at 11pm • $3 Skyy $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Cocktails, $8 Skyy and Red Beer $15 • Texas Hold’em dcnine.com Bull • No Cover, 18+ Poker, 8pm • Dart Boards

METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 49 TOWN PATIO India Larelle Houston • NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Open 6pm • No Cover • $4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors SmartAss Trivia Night, Yappy Hour: Happy Hour and Miller Lite • No Cover 8pm and 9pm • Prizes for Dogs and their best • 21+ include bar tabs and tick- friends — $4 Drinks and ets to shows at the 9:30 $4 Draughts DC9 Club • $15 Buckets of 1940 9th St. NW Beer for SmartAss Teams Happy Hour, 5-8pm • only • Bring a new team WED., 10.21.15 dcnine.com members and each get a free $10 Dinner 9 1/2 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • $6 NUMBER NINE drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Burgers • Drag Bingo Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any TVs showing movies, Night, hosted by Ms. drink, 5-9pm • No Cover shows, sports • Expanded Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm craft beer selection • No • Bingo prizes • Karaoke, TOWN PATIO Cover 10pm-1am Open 6pm • No Cover • Half-Price Hump Day — ANNIE’S GREEN LANTERN half-price drinks all day 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • Happy Hour all night long, $4 Stella Artois, $4 House 4pm-close • The Boys of ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Wines, $4 Stolichnaya HUMP upstairs, 9pm All male, nude dancers • Cocktails, $4 Manhattans Shirtless Night, 10-11pm, and Vodka Martinis JR.’S 12-12:30am • Military Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm Night, no cover with COBALT/30 DEGREES • Trivia with MC Jay Ray, military ID • DJ Don T. in Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 8pm • The Feud: Drag Secrets • 9pm • Cover Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm Trivia, hosted by Ba’Naka, 21+ l • Edie Beale Show, 10-11pm, with a $200 7-9pm • Wednesday prize • $2 JR.’s Drafts and Night Karaoke downstairs, $4 Vodka ($2 with College 10pm • Hosted by Miss ID or JR.’s Team Shirt)

50 OCTOBER 15, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE 51 scene

Love, Love, Love - A Celebration of Life for Carl Rizzi and Mame Dennis at Town Saturday, October 10

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Photography by Christopher Cunetto

52 SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE METROWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 15, 2015 53 “[We] have with great sorrow, voted to remove your name immediately from the church membership role.” — An excerpt from a letter sent to DYLAN SETTLES, a young gay man in Brookland, Ark., from Woods Chapel General Baptist Church. The church expelled Settles from their ranks after learning that he had “made it known publicly, of your choice, to embrace the homosexual lifestyle.”

“We have so much work left to do and we can’t do it alone.” — JUDY SHEPARD, mother of Matthew Shepard, in a Facebook post. Shepard wrote the post to commemorate 17 years since her son was abducted, tortured and murdered by two men near Laramie, Wyoming. “After 17 years, Dennis and I are so grateful to still see such a huge outpouring of support from all of you,” she wrote.

“If you change the definition of marriage for one group what defense do you have for the next group that comes along and wants it changed?” — BEN CARSON, speaking with radio host Eric Metaxes. “Can you say, ‘No, we’re just changing it this one time and it will this way for forever,’” Carson continued. “Well, how is that fair? I mean, it doesn’t make any sense.”

“John and I had a big talk about it, saying, basically, all of us must be bisexual.”

— YOKO ONO, speaking with the Daily Beast about John Lennon. Ono claims that she didn’t want to have sex with other women, but Lennon was open to experiences with men. “I think he had a desire to, but I think he was too inhibited,” she said.

“As he rooted in homosexuality, his creative energy started running dry.”

— ARCHPRIEST VSEVOLOD CHAPLIN, spokesperson for the Russian Orthodox Church, speaking with Interfax about Elton John. “Homosexuality changes a person’s psychology, his public and creative priorities,” he added.

“It was 1989 all these young men were dying of AIDS and I was worried you were going to get AIDS.”

— EVELYN COHEN, mother of Andy Cohen, speaking on the latter’s RadioAndy Sirius XM radio show about discovering that her son was gay. When Cohen eventually came out to her, she retorted: “Well, I never would have liked your wife anyway.”

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