2 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 3 EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman MAY 28, 2015 ART DIRECTOR Volume 22 / Issue 4 Todd Franson

NEWS & BUSINESS EDITOR John Riley

ASSISTANT EDITOR NEWS 6 OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN Rhuaridh Marr by John Riley CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Doug Rule 8 DOUBLE THE CELEBRATION by John Riley SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim 10 IRELAND CHOOSES EQUALITY CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR by Rhuaridh Marr Scott G. Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 12 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Christian Gerard, Connor J. Hogan, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield

WEBMASTER David Uy FEATURE 18 LEAP OF FAITH by Randy Shulman PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Julian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING OUT ON THE TOWN 24 QUEERING SOUND PUBLISHER by Connor J. Hogan Randy Shulman FILM 31 TOMORROWLAND / SLOW WEST BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING by Chris Heller Christopher Cunetto Cunetto Creative STAGE 33 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE ARE DEAD Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 by Kate Wingfield

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER PETS 35 THUNDER CATS (AND DOGS) Dennis Havrilla by Tera Proby

PATRON SAINT Moses NIGHTLIFE 39 JAIL & BAIL BENEFIT FOR LGBT FALLEN HEROES FUND AT TOWN photography by Ward Morrison COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Todd Franson

54 LAST WORD

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4 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 5 Now online at MetroWeekly.com No one “hearts” Huckabee for his defense of the Duggars NewsLGBT Austrailian PM refects calls for referendum on gay marriage Other People’s Children Gestational surrogacy agreements can help create families, but lawmakers need further education to dispel misconceptions

by John Riley involved with a pregnancy. Working with Shady Grove Fertility Center in Rockville, Md., the Cowens T WAS A MEDICAL PROBLEM had to submit to mental screenings and and a sister’s deep concern that evaluations where they discussed various first planted the idea in Sarah issues with a therapist. Cowen’s mind of carrying a baby “They were similar questions to see Ito term for someone else. if I was clear-headed about the decision. “I had experienced very painful ovu- Was I deceitful? Was I a violent person? lations at 15,” she recalls. “And my sister Did I understand what was involved?” offered to carry my children for me. [She Sarah says. “Physically, the biggest ques- ultimately did not.] I guess she planted tions were: did I have children, were they the seed in my mind.” healthy pregnancies, and was I done hav- Sarah Cowen (not her real name) ing my own children?” eventually married and had two children Once approved for in vitro fertiliza- of her own without any complications. tion, Sarah went through the appropri- Although she was happy with her family ate medical check-ups, talked over the life in Pittsburgh, she wondered if she legal contracts about who was financially should act as someone else’s gestational responsible for which costs, and even carrier — someone who carries to term went through a “mock cycle” with hor- a baby that is not biologically related to mones designed to match her cycle with SHADY GROVE FERTILITY Embryo Development them — to allow another person to form that of an egg donor already chosen by their own family. the couple. After the eggs were implanted, helping them bring into the world their “It was something I thought I might Sarah got pregnant on the first try, result- third daughter, now a year old. The twins like to do,” the 30-year-old says. “I felt I ing in twin girls. Nine months later, the are four years old. Both families still keep wasn’t done with being pregnant, but we gay couple drove up to Pittsburgh for the in touch with one another. didn’t want any additional children.” delivery while Sarah went through labor. “Just because you finish delivering When she broached the subject with “I carried them as I was wheeled them doesn’t mean it’s a final goodbye,” her husband, he rejected the idea. “He back,” she says. “All the adults spent time Sarah says. shot me down pretty quickly,” Sarah says, hanging out in the postpartum room. The But while Sarah’s story has a happy with a laugh. But she explained to her babies were in the nursery, but they’d ending, the world of adoption, surrogacy husband her reasons for wanting to con- bring them in and we’d teach the new and gestational carriers can be extremely sider the idea and eventually he agreed parents how to burp them and change complex and complicated, often hin- to support the decision. The couple then their diapers. I got to see their parents dered by outdated laws that have failed began the process of determining wheth- meets their grandbabies. It was a really to keep up with both medical advances er Sarah would be approved as a gesta- awesome transition from me having car- and with changing societal definitions of tional carrier. ried them to them holding and caring for what constitutes a parent or a family. After signing with a placement agency, their babies.” In the District, surrogacy is permitted the Cowens created an online profile in a Because the Cowens live in a county but surrogacy agreements are prohibited. message board where prospective par- that is progressive, neither prospective A proposed Council bill that would legal- ents, surrogates and gestational carriers father had to adopt the twins. Instead, ize those agreements, both for traditional talk about their expectations. They were both were placed directly on the birth surrogacy and gestational surrogacy, has eventually drawn to a profile of a gay certificate, making them the legally rec- stalled in the Judiciary Committee. In male couple based in Washington, D.C. ognized parents, something that doesn’t Maryland, meanwhile, where legislators After exchanging messages and sharing generally occur in other states. had hoped to clarify the law with respect profiles, the couples began the process of A few years later, Sarah became a to the rights and responsibilities of pro- negotiating the legal and logistical issues gestational carrier for the same couple, spective parents and surrogates who

6 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM SHADY GROVE FERTILITY

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 7 LGBTNews

enter into a gestational carrier agree- sor of the gestational carrier bill. “We he notes, comes from issues related to ments, a bill failed to move forward in had a lot of new members for whom abortion rights and embryo rights, and the General Assembly. As a result, there this was their first time hearing about opposition to “destroying embryos,” as remains no law governing gestational the issues.” Dumais says she’ll try again many embryos are utilized in the process surrogacy in the Free State, and a gesta- next year, noting that former Attorney of in vitro fertilization. tional carrier would initially be assumed General Doug Gansler (D) had issued an Levy has talked with groups of ges- to be legally responsible for the child in opinion that is still valid and supports the tational carriers incensed by opponents question. legal framework of the bill introduced attempting to paint them as weak-willed, Opponents of Maryland’s gestational this past session. She will seek a similar helpless victims who have been exploited carrier bill sought to deliberately sow opinion from current Attorney General or forced to use their bodies for someone confusion among their fellow delegates. Brian Frosh (D). else’s benefit. The majority of gestational They blurred the line between gestation- Dumais adds that almost any bill on carriers, he says, express positive feelings al surrogacy and other forms of collab- family law would have been unlikely to about their experience, with some opting orative reproduction, such as traditional move forward this session, as many bills to repeat as a carrier. surrogacy or egg donation. They concoct- were overshadowed by legislation deal- “It’s a ridiculous notion that I was ed outlandish and unrealistic scenarios ing with issues of police accountability, exploited,” says Sarah Cowen. “I picked that portrayed the bill as a Pandora’s box particularly in light of the recent unrest this couple as much as they picked me. that would unleash nightmare legal sce- in Baltimore following the death of an Just like a pregnancy, it’s up to an indi- narios on the citizens of Maryland. African-American man in police custody. vidual woman what she should do with Still other members, mostly conserva- Dr. Michael Levy, of the Shady Grove her own fertility. I chose it. I loved it. I’m tive Republicans, balked at the idea of Fertility Center, says some of the opposi- an adventurous person, I suppose. abortion or selective reduction, which tion that the gestational surrogacy bill “It was so much more than just a preg- can happen when a gestational carrier is ran into was ideological, based on oppo- nancy,” she continues. “To think I didn’t implanted with multiple eggs via in vitro sition to any form of conception that get any return from this is wrong. I got to fertilization. occurs outside the marital bedroom. experience helping create an entire fam- “In fairness, this was the first year of “If you’re personally unaffected, you ily. It’s my greatest accomplishment, and a new term,” says Del. Kathleen Dumais have an abstract view that is different I can’t imagine not having this as a part of (D-Montgomery Co.), the House spon- from reality,” he says. Other opposition, my life story.” l Double the Celebration The Latino GLBT History Project’s ninth annual DC Latino Pride coincides with its own 15th anniversary

gramming and other activities. Martinez, the DC Gurly Show, DC Kings by John Riley At La Plática, held on June 4, panel- and Latin Soul DC. Proceeds from the ists will reflect on the progress of LGBT event help support LHP’s activities. HE LATINO GLBT HISTORY Latino activism in D.C. The panel “We’re celebrating 15 years, so we’re Project has released plans includes Jose Gutierrez, founder of trying to go bigger this year,” LHP for its ninth annual DC LHP, Ruby Corado, executive director President Jose Plaza says. “Traditionally, Latino Pride, set to kick off of Casa Ruby, Letitia Gomez and Maria we think of Pride as just celebrating. But it Tthis upcoming weekend. The celebra- Alejandra Salas-Baltuano. The event started as part of a rebellion, so I think it’s tion spans two weeks and overlaps with also features a reception, a community appropriate and in keeping with the histo- the larger Capital Pride. It’s structured resource fair, free HIV testing, and a ry of Pride that we talk about these larger around four major events: a Royal Court digital historical exhibit in partnership issues affecting our community, and look coronation, a panel discussion, a religious with the Smithsonian Latino Center. to where we’re going in the future.” service and a major dance party, with “La Misa,” a Spanish and English bilin- more than 40 different organizations gual LGBT-inclusive interfaith ser- DC Latino Pride kicks off with La sponsoring the festivities. vice at the Metropolitan Community Coronación on Sunday, May 31, at 10 p.m. The kickoff event, “La Coronación,” Church of Washington D.C. is slated for at Cobalt, 1639 R St. NW. The La Plática takes place on May 31 at Cobalt and Saturday, June 6. panel discussion takes place Thursday, provides Pride attendees with a chance DC Latino Pride wraps up on June 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Human to meet this year’s Royal Court mem- Thursday, June 11 with a bash at Town Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. bers: Miss Trans LHP Gabriela Garcia, Danceboutique. “La Fiesta,” the official NW. La Misa is Saturday, June 6 from 6 to Mister LHP Carlos Padilla, Miss LHP dance party of DC Latino Pride will fea- 8 p.m. at MCCDC, 474 Ridge St. NW. La Emily Morazán and Miss LHP Drag ture April Carrion from RuPaul’s Drag Fiesta is Thursday, June 11, from 9 p.m. to Alessandra Conde. A suggested dona- Race, Season 6 and a dance party fea- 2 a.m. at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. tion of $10 at the door supports LHP’s turing DJ Joel el Especialista of El Zol NW. For more information, visit ongoing educational and cultural pro- 107.9 FM, with performances by Gia Sky latinoglbthistory.org. l

8 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 9 LGBTNews Ireland Chooses Equality In a historic vote, Ireland has legalized same-sex marriage, putting the Catholic Church in an uneasy position

by Rhuaridh Marr port for marriage equality that swept and daily life in Ireland, the referendum the Emerald Isle. When all was said and was “an unmitigated disaster,” according done, almost two-thirds of two million to Father Brendan Hoban, co-founder of voters opted in favor of the referen- the Association of Catholic Priest. AST FRIDAY, A STAUNCHLY dum. In every constituency bar one — “It was clear from the beginning that Catholic, socially conservative Roscommon–South Leitrim — a majority the bishops’ decision in policy terms to nation made gay rights history voted in favor. Perhaps unsurprisingly, campaign for a blunt No vote was alien- when it became the first coun- support was most heavily concentrated ating even the most conservative of Irish Ltry in the world to enact same-sex mar- in urban areas. On average, 70 percent Catholics,” he said. The referendum also riage by public vote. chose marriage equality around the capi- made clear “the gap between the church Ireland, where 84 percent of people tal, Dublin. In more rural areas, such as and a significant number of its people.... are Roman Catholic, where divorce only Donegal, the number of voters support- [The vote was] another significant body- became legal in 1995, where homosexu- ing equality was only marginally higher blow to the position of the Catholic ality itself was only decriminalized two than those against — by just one-tenth of Church in Ireland... [and] a watershed in years prior to divorce, will soon begin a percent in Donegal South-West. Irish history”. to issue marriage licenses to same-sex Overall, though, the message was It was a view echoed in Rome, couples. In a referendum, Irish voters clear. Ireland welcomes marriage equali- where the Vatican’s official newspaper, were asked whether they supported ty — and just five years after it gave same- Osservatore Romano, called the referen- amending the constitution to include sex couples civil unions. What makes dum “a defeat.” the line, “Marriage may be contracted it all the more historic is the nature in “The margin between the ‘yes’ and in accordance with law by two persons which Ireland granted marriage to its the ‘no’ votes was too large not to be without distinction as to their sex.” gay and lesbian citizens. Before Friday, accepted as a defeat,” it said, adding that Overwhelmingly, Irish voters said “Yes!” eighteen countries around the world had the result represented “a challenge for In the days leading up to the vote, marriage equality, as well as some states the whole Church” and exemplified “the there was uncertainty as to whether in the U.S. and Mexico. All implemented distance, in some areas, between society same-sex marriage campaigners would the change through legislation or through and the Church.” The Catholic Church succeed. The latest polls indicated that edicts from judicial branches. Ireland put has faced falling attendance and reduced just over 50 percent of people supported the question over same-sex marriage to influence, particularly among Ireland’s the referendum, but that had plummeted the people — and the people said yes. youth — a direct result of the numerous from similar polls in the weeks prior And not just ordinary people. Every child sex abuse scandals that have rocked to voting day. What’s more, there had major political party supported the mea- the church in recent years. been precedent for incorrect polling data sure. Sports stars, television personali- “This marks the end of the narrative relative to outcomes. In the 1995 divorce ties, musicians, authors, columnists — all of the last 90 years,” Colm O’Gorman, referendum, support for ending the ban threw their support behind the marriage head of Amnesty International in enjoyed a forty-four point lead, accord- referendum. Ireland’s youth turned up Ireland, told the Financial Times, ing to The Guardian. It passed by just to vote in record numbers, while several “where Irish people were happy to have two percent. In a 2013 referendum on papers carried reports of Irish citizens had their values created and passed abolishing the Irish Senate, 62 percent returning home from working abroad down to them by people who claimed to of people were apparently in favor. The in Canada, Australia and other nations know what was best for them.” measure failed, with 52 percent voting in order to support marriage equality. Religion, though, wasn’t the only fac- against. Even across the Irish Sea, in Two days before his electorate walked tor in producing a “Yes” vote. For some, Britain, every major poll suggested that into voting booths, Ireland’s prime min- it was simply a matter of righting a very in its recent elections the country was ister, Enda Kenny, pleaded with voters apparent wrong. As Irish Times writer headed for a hung parliament with no to give same-sex couples marriage rights. Una Mullally wrote: “A lot of straight clear winner — the Conservative party ”There is nothing to fear for voting for Irish people just wanted to be given the won with a slim majority. love and equality,” he said. opportunity to show that they were not Thankfully, not even a resurgent “No” For the Catholic Church, which once prejudiced, that they had no issue with campaign could defeat the tide of sup- wielded incredible power in both politics people who were gay having their rela-

10 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM tionships recognized, that they wanted where activists are planning a rally in to live in a country where all citizens are support of the measure in Belfast next valued equally.” month. As Amnesty International’s Of course, while the Republic of Patrick Corrigan noted, the incred- Ireland celebrates marriage equality, its ible victory for same-sex marriage in the cousin to the north is only getting lone- Republic of Ireland has set an incredible lier. Northern Ireland is now the only precedent. That victory, though, is tem- country in the region to lack marriage pered by reality. equality, as England, Wales, Scotland “Here it is business as normal,” he and now Ireland all support it. However, said. “It is discrimination as usual in any thought that socially conservative, Northern Ireland for same-sex couples.” Protestant Northern Ireland would fol- Sinn Féin politician Caitriona Ruane, low their socially conservative, Catholic however, remained optimistic about the neighbors was quickly extinguished by future of marriage equality in Northern politicians. Ireland. “We are defending the role of tra- “I was part of the campaign in the ditional marriage,” a DUP member of south over the last number of weeks. Northern Ireland’s parliament, Peter There was a real conversation across Weir, told the BBC. “This is an issue family tables amongst the young and that has been debated on four occasions old,” she said. “For the first time my in the assembly and, on each occasion, LGBT friends felt part of the conversa- it has been rejected by the majority of tion. An overwhelming population in the assembly members. We believe that the south voted for it — they voted yes for traditional marriage definition is correct equality. If we do not legislate I have no one. We would be concerned about the doubt there will be a legal case on dis- impact on Churches. We don’t really run crimination.” social policy in this country by way of Whether it will come to that, or referendum.” whether Northern Ireland’s conservative Still, it hasn’t deterred supporters of legislators will have a change of heart, marriage equality in Northern Ireland, remains to be seen. l

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 11 LGBTCommunityCalendar

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to [email protected]. [email protected]. Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. Questions about the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at SATURDAY, MAY 30 202-638-6830 or the calendar email address. ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes 10 moder- ately difficult miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain in Catoctin Mountains near Frederick, Md., to enjoy mountain laurels during their peak bloom. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, sunscreen, bug spray and about $10 for fees. Meet at 9 a.m. inside Shady Grove Metro Station by attendant’s kiosk to form carpools. John, 301-524-9369. Visit adventuring.org. THURSDAY, MAY 28 FRIDAY, MAY 29 WEEKLY EVENTS ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers The DC Center hosts a BOOK READING AND LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for adults in free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by DISCUSSION of Batty Bwoy, the coming of age Montgomery County offers a safe place to explore appointment). Call 202-291-4707 or visit androme- story of Mark Palmer, a black, gay Jamaican. 6-8 issues of identity, coming out and connecting with datransculturalhealth.org. p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor- others. 10-11:30 a.m. 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite mation, visit thedccenter.org. 512, Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of the thedccenter.org. LGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbat WEEKLY EVENTS services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon. The Latino GLBT History Project (LHP) hosts Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St. MOJITO DANCE NIGHT, a fundraiser serving as a DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at NW. betmish.org. run-up to DC Latino Pride benefiting LHP’s ongo- Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. ing programming, takes place at The Loft. 8 p.m.-12 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at a.m. 600 F St. NW, Suite 300. For more information, Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit visit latinoglbthistory.org. DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square- swimdcac.org. dancing group features mainstream through The TRANSGENDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE of advanced square dancing at the National City DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social The DC Center holds a monthly meeting. 6:30-7:30 Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. club welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun and p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor- Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org. supportive environment, socializing afterward. mation, visit thedccenter.org. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org. group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston, WEEKLY EVENTS 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9 DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at Turkey p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com. ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by 2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight. HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscul- teamdcbasketball.org. Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, turalhealth.org. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community, MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint- DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church- ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org. at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All swimdcac.org. welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org. IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in GAY DISTRICT holds facilitated discussion for GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languag- Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. GBTQ men, 18-35, first and third Fridays. 8:30 p.m. es and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 202- NW. RSVP preferred. [email protected]. call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park, 682-2245, gaydistrict.org. 301-422-2398. IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301 hours, call 301-422-2398. Suite 700. 202-638-0750. MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint- ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by SUNDAY, MAY 31 appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV 202-567-3155 or [email protected]. testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. WEEKLY EVENTS US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS MEMORIAL Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming social The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100. group for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road EPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-dc.org. a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org. WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership devel- SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a social atmo- opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th sphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive and radically St. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected]. dance parties, vogue nights, movies and games. For inclusive church holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 more info, email [email protected]. Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org. 12 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 13 DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, Mass for the LGBT community. 6 a Christ-centered, interracial, wel- Oral p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 1820 coming-and-affirming church, offers Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202- Sign interpreted. For more info, visit 554-4330, riversidedc.org. Fixation dignitynova.org. ST. STEPHEN AND THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED INCARNATION, an “interracial, you can listen CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all multi-ethnic Christian Community” to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW. offers services in English, 8 a.m. and to any sto y at firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317. 10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. MetroWeekly.com 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900, FRIENDS MEETING OF saintstephensdc.org. just look for the WASHINGTON meets for worship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, UNITARIAN CHURCH OF “speak” button Quaker House Living Room (next to ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming- Meeting House on Decatur Place), and-affirming congregation, offers 2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbi- services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow ans and gays. Handicapped accessible UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd. from Phelps Place gate. Hearing uucava.org. assistance. quakersdc.org. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu- invites LGBTQ families and individu- nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 als of all creeds and cultures to join Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria. the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. hopeucc.org. 10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom- age church & learning center. Sunday ing and inclusive church. GLBT Services and Workshops event. 5419 Interweave social/service group Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org. meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m., Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St. Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org. TEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and progressive faith community every MONDAY, JUNE 1 Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood. ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes lincolntemple.org. 7 easy-to-moderate miles through Old Town Alexandria to National LUTHERAN CHURCH OF Harbor via the Wilson Bridge. Bring REFORMATION invites all to Sunday plenty of beverages, lunch, bug spray, worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is sunscreen, $2 trip fee and $8 for available at both services. Welcoming water taxi back to Alexandria. Meet LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East at 10 a.m. by station attendant’s kiosk Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org. inside the King Street Metro Station. Theresa, 252-876-1469. Visit adven- METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY turing.org. CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta BOOK READING UPLIFTS HIS Brooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11 SPIRIT (BRUHS DC), a book and a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. movie discussion group for GBT men, 703-691-0930, mccnova.com. discusses Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness and Hiding My Candy by METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY Lady Chablis, as well as the 1968 documentary “The Queen.” Rayceen CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C. Pendarvis will award $100 to the services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted) attendee with the “Ultimate Pride and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Outfit.” Also featuring a Q&A session at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638- witht the cast of the “Poz Lyfe” web- 7373, mccdc.com. series. 6-9 p.m. MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. For more information, visit NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN facebook.com/BRUHSDC. CHURCH, inclusive church with GLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor- The DC Center hosts its monthly ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional wor- VOLUNTEER NIGHT. Volunteers will ship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW. sort through book donation, clean up 202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org. around the center, and take inven- tory for safe-sex kits. Pizza will be NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND provided. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. SUPPORT GROUP for gay men liv- NW, Suite 105. For more information, ing in the DC metro area. This group visit thedccenter.org. will be meeting once a month. For information on location and time, email to not.the.only.one.dc@gmail. com.

14 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM WEEKLY EVENTS TUESDAY, JUNE 2 DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio The OUR TOMORROW CAMPAIGN, Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac. a grassroots and digital campaign org. to engage LGBTQ people across the country on ideas for the future of the LGBTQ movement, holds a communi- DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds ty conversation, co-hosted by several practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison LGBT groups, at The DC Center. 6-8 Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For dals.wordpress.com. more information, visit shareourto- morrow.org/partners. GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW. [email protected]. WEEKLY EVENTS

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 transculturalhealth.org. a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman- ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly din- walker.org. ner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. [email protected], afwashington. KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY net. (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. practice session at Takoma Aquatic 703-823-4401. Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org. METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint- DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk- ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th ing/social club serving greater D.C.’s St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. LGBT community and allies hosts an evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org. NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH Arlington. Appointments: 703-789- COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV 4467. testing and STI screening and treat- ment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic, p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for Alexandria Health Department, 4480 youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-214- 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test- 9617. [email protected]. [email protected]. HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker The DC Center hosts COFFEE Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW, COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson 14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedc- Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.- center.org. 4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker. org. US HELPING US hosts a black gay 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. Takoma kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW. NW. Newcomers with at least basic thedccenter.org. swimming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@ IDENTITY offers free and confidential wetskins.org, wetskins.org. HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, Whitman-Walker Health HIV/ 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments AIDS SUPPORT GROUP for newly other hours, call Gaithersburg at diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m. 301-300-9978 or Takoma Park at 301- Registration required. 202-939-7671, [email protected]. 422-2398. KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 15 METROHEALTH CENTER offers THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721 202-638-0750. 8th St. SE, across from the Marine Barracks. No reservation and partner OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS— needed. 301-345-1571 for more LGBT focused meeting every information. Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., WEEKLY EVENTS Arlington, just steps from Virginia Square Metro. For more info. call AD LIB, a group for freestyle con- Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., accessible. Newcomers welcome. Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. [email protected]. For more information, call Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174. SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, test- p.m., and HIV services (by appoint- [email protected]. ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda- transculturalhealth.org. SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac- 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@ Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit smyal.org. swimdcac.org.

US HELPING US hosts a support DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds group for black gay men 40 and practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan- NW. 202-446-1100. dals.wordpress.com.

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/ offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N. 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549- walk-in basis. No-cost screening for 1450, historicchristchurch.org. HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chla- mydia. Hepatitis and herpes HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker testing available for fee. Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor 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.- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org. BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s gay-literature group, discusses “1960s Gay Pulp Fiction: The Misplaced IDENTITY offers free and confiden- Heritage,” edited by Drewry Wayne tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 Gunn and Haime Harker. 7:30 East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. p.m. Cleveland Park Library, 3310 For appointments other hours, call Connecticut Ave NW. All are wel- Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978. come. bookmendc.blogspot.com. JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro- CARDOZO LGBTQ PRIDE DAY and gram for job entrants and seekers, The DC Center are seeking volun- meets at The DC Center. 2000 14th St. teers to help at the outreach table. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More The event is open to over 900 stu- info, centercareers.org. dents ranging from ages 10-20. 10:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Volunteers meet at METROHEALTH CENTER offers 10:15 a.m. at the DC Center, 2000 free, rapid HIV testing. No appoint- 14th St. NW. The event takes place ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th at Cardozo Education Campus, 1200 St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750. Clifton St. NW. For more informa- tion, visit thedccenter.org. NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite Join THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703- as Rayceen moderates, “Sexuality, 789-4467. Spirituality, and Religion: A Panel Discussion” with live performances PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social by singer Anthony Newman and club for mature gay men, hosts Rapper Jae. All welcome. Free. 6-9 weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., p.m. Liv, 2001 11th St NW. Visit face- Windows Bar above Dupont Italian book.com/askrayceen. Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316. l

16 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 17 18 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM INTERVIEW BY RANDY SHULMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD FRANSON LEAPof

ON OCTOBER 6, 2014, RABBI GIL STEINLAUF OF ADAS ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE SENT AN EMAIL TO HIS CONGREGATION. HE TOLD THEM HE WAS GAY. AND IT WAS FGOOD. AITH “I’m not going to go on record as saying Moses was gay.” Rabbi Gil Steinlauf says this with a laugh — he laughs often either side of the debate.” and warmly, it turns out — but he’s also quite serious in response Steinlauf, a handsome man with the kind of calm, learned to a reporter’s offhand remark that Moses could be viewed as demeanor one expects from a Rabbi, hails from Long Island, history’s first gay activist. where he was raised in “a very sort of high strung New York “But the story of Moses is a kind of coming out story,” Jewish” way. His family wasn’t particularly observant, but they Steinlauf says. “He grew up as a Prince of Egypt in the house of were very active in the Jewish community. Pharaoh, completely in the center of power. Yet, he was nursed “We were very ethnically Jewish,” he says. “There’s an by his Israelite mother, so he knew that he had this secret iden- expression — ‘Bagels and lox Jews.’ Jewish food, Yiddish every- tity. He lived in inner-conflict over those two worlds, those where, always thinking about Israel and talking about Jewish two identities of himself, until he finally came to a head when issues around the world. We didn’t go to synagogue regularly but he killed an Egyptian who was oppressing an Israelite, and ran there was always a sense of Yiddishkeit around.” away. He tried to hide until God called him back. And then he As a boy, Steinlauf “was very interested in religion and spoke on behalf of his people. thinking about God and all those things.” Though his family “So I always make the argument that Moses has a kind of were members of a Reform congregation, he made them “join queer coming-out parallel in his life story, and that’s a funda- a Conservative synagogue, because I realized that the kids mental motivational factor for his ability to recognize the suf- who went to the Conservative Synagogue were actually learn- fering of his people and to stand up to Pharaoh, because of his ing things that I wasn’t learning in my Reform temple. They ability to overcome his own limitations and insecurities and his switched for my sake.” shame of who he was.” After graduating from Princeton, his interest in Judaism, The same could be said for Rabbi Steinlauf who, in an act of in learning, in teaching, in spiritual introspection led him to courage last October, sent an email to his congregation of more Rabbinical school, where he spent six years training. He was than 1,500 families at Adas Israel, the storied Conservative syna- an assistant Rabbi for three years in Columbus, Ohio, and then gogue that presides over the Cleveland Park neighborhood of spent seven years at Temple Israel in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and includes Supreme Court Justices Ruth “right outside Manhattan.” Bader Ginsburg and Elana Kagan among its worshipers. In the Then came the opportunity to lead Adas Israel, where he’s email, Steinlauf informed his congregation that he, in fact, was been since 2008. gay and that he and his wife of 20 years, Batya, with whom he “I was pretty honest with them,” he says. “I told them that I has three teenage children, would be divorcing. wanted to take it in a direction of really making it relevant and The backlash could have been significant for the 46-year- diverse and exciting in ways that they hadn’t, bringing conver- old Steinlauf. It wasn’t. The news spread like wildfire after the sations into the Synagogue that they’ve never had here in this Washington Post reported it. The congregation heralded their context. And I would like to believe that’s why they hired me.” support. And then, things went back to business-as-usual. Of course, the conversation he eventually brought proved “It’s not that Adas has always been so utopian,” says Steinlauf. to be a test — one that the synagogue passed magnificently, in a “As recently as maybe 15 years ago — this was before my time — way that all other synagogues now have their eye on what has there were huge fights on the Board of Directors about whether occurred. On a more active level, Adas Israel will, for the first or not it’s appropriate to extend family memberships to gay time in its history, have a contingent in this year’s Capital Pride families and gay couples. There was vehement opposition on Parade on June 13, and Steinlauf has started a LGBT Torah study

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 19 group, open to not just just Adas Israel members, but anyone ing here? who cares to partake. STEINLAUF: I like to put it this way: In the 21st century every- “Adas Israel has a long-standing reputation of being a syna- thing’s changing. How we make meaning, how we form our gogue that can push the envelope in the Conservative move- identities, how we connect our sense of who we are, and what ment,” he says. “It certainly is continuing in that tradition.” we’re doing in life to a bigger picture, is different from our par- Like so many, Steinlauf felt from an early age that he might be ents’ and grandparents’ generations. My message to this congre- gay. But he kept those feelings tamped down, pushed to the side. gation has been that we can’t be operating in this congregation “That couldn’t be who I am,” was a constant refrain in his head. like it’s 1965 anymore, because we’re going to become absolutely His two decade marriage to Batya was as profound and meaning- irrelevant in 5, 10, 15 years. ful as any other, a point he stresses throughout a two-and-a-half MW: How would you describe the atmosphere here in the years hour conversation — and beyond. before it changed. “I have been thinking about one thing I said in the interview, STEINLAUF: It has always been a very strong, powerful Synagogue. and I’m a bit concerned,” he wrote in an email in the days fol- I would say it was much more in keeping with more convention- lowing our conversation. “I talked about how my ‘leap of faith’ al expectations of synagogues. So there were services, but the involved realizing that it was ultimately about how I love. I’m style of the services was very formal, very decorous. If there’s a concerned that it might come across as suggesting in some fash- kid crying in the service now, I think that’s just terrific, whereas ion that my love for my wife of 20 years was not real. a couple of decades ago, the service would stop and they would “In fact, my love for my wife was very real and complete. It’s give dirty looks until the parents took the kid out. critically important for me to ensure that there is no confusion The idea is to be very progressive. I’m interested in “disrup- about that. While my love for her was real and beautiful, I came tive innovation.” The grand experiment I’m working on in this to see that, as a gay man, I needed to love in a different way.” congregation is what happens if you take one of the established institutions in American Judaism — the synagogue — and do METRO WEEKLY: For those readers who aren’t Jewish, or who may from within new things that deliberately cut against the grain not have a clear notion of what a Rabbi is, can you give us a brief of expectation. You’re going to automatically discomfit people, explanation? you’re automatically raising anxiety levels, but in that creative RABBI GIL STEINLAUF: Unlike other religious traditions, a Rabbi is tension new kinds of things can happen that people haven’t had not considered a holy man or holy woman. The word Rabbi liter- the opportunity to experience before. ally means “teacher.” And that’s really what I am. I’m a teacher MW: Why so much change? of Torah, a teacher of the Jewish tradition. We are pulpit clergy, STEINLAUF: I’m doing this because I really believe that no matter but the role that Rabbis play in modern American Jewish con- what happens, no matter what we say, synagogues will always be gregational settings is that we are setting the vision and goal of the real centerpiece of the American Jewish experience. That no a congregational community. We rule on matters of Jewish law, matter how disaffected or alienated a lot of Jewish people might and what applies and what doesn’t apply in our own communi- be in our day, if they’re ever going to inquire about their own ties. Judaism is a legalistic tradition, so we have to be knowl- Jewish identity, they’re going to look to synagogues to provide edgeable about Jewish law. There’s lots of pastoral work and, of something. And if synagogues meet the conventional expecta- course, preaching and teaching. It’s a very busy, very rich, very tions of what people grew up with, they’re going to walk right intense life, because we’re dealing with people in all moments of out the door again. So it has to be a very, very different kind of the life cycle, from birth through death. experience. MW: You say a Rabbi is not a holy person. But I was always under That said — and I have to say this, it’s important — Adas is a the impression they were. Doesn’t the Jewish religion have the the multi-generational synagogue. The older generations here are equivalent of the Pope? less comfortable with some of these innovations. So it is very STEINLAUF: [Laughs.] Are you kidding? Jews agreeing on who important we still have conventional features so that everybody would be the Pope of the Jews? Can you imagine such a thing? feels comfortable. The beauty of working in a very, very big and In different Jewish communities, there is the equivalent of multifaceted urban congregation is that you can have it all. a holy man. For example, the Chasidim — the black hat people MW: You’re Conservative. Do you look at the Reform movement, — have their Rebbe. He’s more like a holy man. Rebbes are like with its relaxed stance, as somehow — there’s no good way to gurus. Rebbes have Chasidim who orbit around them and drink phrase this — in their words. They can “see into your soul,” and when they give STEINLAUF: Less than? you a blessing, it’s life-altering. But in general and traditionally, MW: Yes. Less than. Rabbis are just particularly learned Jewish people. STEINLAUF: No, I don’t. Because I’m inherently a pluralist — my MW: The synagogue you oversee is nationally prominent. world view is diversity. There’s an expression in the Rabbinic STEINLAUF: Adas Israel is an historic congregation. It’s 150 years literature: “These and these are the words of Torah.” It means old — President Ulysses S. Grant was at the founding ceremony. there’s multiple opinions on everything. If you open up any page It has a major presence not only in Washington, D.C. but in the of Talmud, the Rabbis are arguing. And what’s interesting is, American Jewish community because it’s a solid anchor in the they always preserve both sides of the argument, even though Conservative movement in the Jewish world. So it’s a big and we actually only follow one. Why? Because the other opinion important place. When this job opened up and I applied, I didn’t matters, too. think I was really going to get it. It was an amazing opportunity One of the most beautiful and most powerful insights that for me, because it’s a platform where you can really make a dif- Judaism has that other traditions don’t have as strongly, unfor- ference. A lot of the members here are people in leadership in tunately, is that there’s an inherent diversity of perspective the government and in think tanks and journalists who are influ- and interpretation to what the tradition means. So I inherently encing the tide of our society. respect my Reform colleagues as having a particular understand- MW: How have you altered the synagogue’s course since com- ing and take on what Judaism and the Torah is all about. As I

20 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM also respect my Orthodox colleagues. MW: I’ve always looked at Judaism as a religion but also as a cul- “I believe that to be ture. I probably fall on the more cultural side these days. STEINLAUF: A lot of people who aren’t Jewish have trouble grasp- ing this, but being Jewish is only in part a religion. In Judaism, Jewish is a form of we call ourselves “a people.” And our people is rich and varied and diverse and textured. There are observant Jewish people being queer. When and there are secular Jews, but one of the things we all inher- ently understand is that we’re all Jewish. I see tremendous parallels between the uniquely Jewish you think about the experience in the world and in history and the experience of being queer. I believe that to be Jewish is a form of being queer. role of the Jewish When you think about the role of the Jewish people throughout history, we have always never really fit in. We have always been people throughout kind of on the outside of mainstream civilization — on the out- side, and yet interestingly, right in the middle of it at the same time. One foot in and one foot out. That’s sort of what it feels history, we have always like to be Jewish. It’s kind of also what it feels like to be gay. We’re completely a part of the world that we live in, and yet never really fit in.” there something about us that’s fundamentally “other.” And to be Jewish is to be fundamentally “other,” as well. Similar to being queer, to be Jewish is a source of anxiety for other people who don’t understand us. To be Jewish is to be a source of persecution and attack and oppression from those who project their nightmares onto us because we look like them, been taking stock of my life since I came to Washington of what’s we might even dress like them, but then we’re somehow “other- missing, what’s wrong. I woke up that morning of Yom Kippur fied.” And so, my journey of being gay, of being closeted, and and it was literally waking up in the morning and realizing, “Oh, then coming out has been deeply influential on my path as a Jew, this is who I am.” That was a completely new concept for me. on my path as a Rabbi, on my vision of Judaism and how Judaism I’d never, never allowed myself to own it like that before. I had can evolve in the 21st century. And all of that has been deeply freaked out about it all the time. I worried about it all the time. I formed by my insight and experience of being gay. pushed it away all the time. But never on every level of my being MW: Well, let’s go there. Talk about about your life before coming was I able to simply say, “Oh, this is who I am.” And that’s the out. You were married, you had kids. beginning and the end of the story. STEINLAUF: So I met my wife, Batya, in Rabbinical school. She’s MW: But what caused that realization? a Rabbi, too. We were best friends and truly fell in love. We got STEINLAUF: I think I was ready. I was ready. Some of us are ready married and had a beautiful marriage for 20 years together and when we’re 18, and some of us when we’re 43 years old. Suddenly had a really, really wonderful, close-knit family — two girls and 43 years of shame dropped away. It really dropped away. a boy. MW: How did Batya take it? MW: But… STEINLAUF: One of the reasons why I fell in love with her is that STEINLAUF: But I always knew from my childhood that I was there is absolutely nothing phony about that woman. She says always attracted to the same gender. That was always there. it like it is — to a fault sometimes. She had fundamental trust in I didn’t act on it. And, I don’t know, maybe that attributed to me in the sense that I was always 100 percent honest with her to my ability to, you know, to live this life in this hetero-normal the extent that I knew how to be honest with myself. So we had existence, because it wasn’t in direct contrast to other kinds of discussions and over the course of three years came to the deci- experiences I’ve had. I just knew that these were very, very real sion we would have to get divorced. We take the idea of marriage desires and dimensions of myself that I disassociated from. very, very, very seriously, and I wasn’t going to try experiences MW: Was Batya aware of your internal struggles? while still married. So if I’m gay, the marriage would have to STEINLAUF: She always knew I struggled with things. But she also end. We struggled for three years up till that point, getting to the knew that our marriage was very real in every way and that we precipice, then backing off and then to the precipice and then loved each other. finally jumping off. It was a leap of faith. MW: How did you absolutely know you were gay? If you’d never MW: That’s a remarkable leap of faith because you might have acted on it, even before the marriage... found it wasn’t for you. STEINLAUF: I don’t have a good answer for that. I just knew. I STEINLAUF: That occurred to me. It totally occurred to me. What guess because I have always been so introspective and have been if this whole thing is a total mishegas, as we say? When I was a obsessed with the truth my entire life. Obsessed with it. I always kid in college, I would always wonder to my friends, “What if felt there was a dissonance between how I was in the world and I’m gay?” I would literally say this to people because I was such how I felt inside. I could never make those things match. a neurotic Long Island kid. I used to freak out about everything, MW: Was there a catalyst to make those things match? Something and they were like, “No, you don’t have cancer. No, you’re not that triggered it? dying. No, you’re not gay.” So I relegated my gayness to just STEINLAUF: My realization actually happened — this is telling — another neurosis. And when this became who I am, it was such three years ago on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s the an alignment of the stars, that it felt absolutely real and true, the time Jews are supposed to be spiritually naked before God. And seeking of this truth that was always out there suddenly was in with my personality, I get into profound introspection and have here. It was a very spiritual experience for me. And in that real-

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 21 we live in. That’s why it became a bigger story. “I only got one seriously MW: Were you worried about backlash? STEINLAUF: Sure. Up until the day that the story dropped, I really nasty e-mail out of a didn’t know what was going to happen. There are certainly peo- ple who aren’t comfortable with it, but we’re in a period of his- tory where even people who have discomfort with it are smart congregation of 1,500 enough not to make a big deal about their displeasure. I only got one seriously nasty e-mail out of a congregation of 1,500 families families. It was written — one — and it was written by a long-time member. I believe he’s in his nineties. It was written on a typewriter and it said, “You on a typewriter and it took this job under false pretenses and you must resign immedi- ately.” Which is really what the entire congregation would have said in his day, many, many decades ago. But, you know, I’m said, ‘You took this job honestly amazed by the level of support here. Some of the older generation members here are some of my biggest supporters on under false pretenses this issue, interestingly. MW: I have read some criticism from people who have claimed you and you must resign should have just kept quiet and stayed in the marriage. How do you respond to that? STEINLAUF: You know, honestly, because I love my wife and my immediately.’” children so much it became patently clear to me, completely crystal clear to me, that the way I can be the most loving to my wife and to my children was to end the marriage. Because if I stayed in the marriage, then it would have kept it from being a ity, I was able to take this leap of faith. So now my wife and I are truly loving, very real marriage that it had been for 20 years into divorced, and I’m living as a gay man now. living a lie. And because I’m so profoundly focused on living a MW: You didn’t have to do this. You could have remained married. life of integrity and being in the truth, I couldn’t live with myself STEINLAUF: I wanted to. I tried. When I first had the euphoric if I was living a lie. My wife would never have wanted me to live realization that this is who I am, the intention I really set for a lie, and I would have been a terrible father to my children if I’d myself is “I’m going to continue to be married this woman, I love been living a lie, because what kind of role model would I be if my life, I love my wife, I love my whole everything.” I was very I had stayed in the lie? And frankly, what kind of Rabbi would I happy like this. With all these trappings. I wanted that. But once be in a congregation if I were a liar, pretending to be somebody it’s out of the bag, you can’t stuff it back in again. I saw this as who I’m not, just for the sake of holding on to whatever it is essentially the quality of my path in life. My path to God involves that people think I should have stayed in the marriage for. At me being created in the image of God as a gay man in this way. some point, integrity matters most in leadership and in being So I couldn’t rectify the dissonance between that deep sense of a mensch. That’s the beginning of everything else. If we don’t who I am and the other aspects of my life that didn’t match with have our own integrity as human beings then in what way can that anymore. It was truly agonizing, excruciating, those three we truly be ethical in any other way? years leading up to this. MW: The people who are critical are presupposing that you were MW: Was it worth it? hiding it all along. STEINLAUF: The act of owning those desires, the act of own- STEINLAUF: Right. That’s the one thing that’s very difficult for ing that as me, not other than me, was a tremendous healing some people to understand — and I don’t blame people for in my life. having a hard time understanding this. But I do want it to be MW: It’s a pretty seismic event when a Rabbi at a synagogue of this said that you know, believe it or not, I had a real marriage to a size and this stature comes out. It becomes big news. woman. I really did. And I know that’s incredibly difficult for STEINLAUF: I honestly didn’t expect it to be as big a news story people to hold on to, but that’s actually what happened and yes, as it ended up being. I honestly expected something in the that process of coming to terms with myself meant that every- Washington Post about it, but I didn’t think it would get picked thing that we honored about that marriage, in order to honor it, up in so many other papers. I didn’t anticipate that. I also didn’t meant that marriage had to end. expect literally the thousands of notes and e-mails I got from Divorce is horrible and divorce is painful and I’m not going to people around the world responding with incredible love and candy-coat this. Ending a marriage is a horrific loss and it’s very, support. I mean, just overwhelming. People thanking me, men very painful for my kids and for my wife and for me. None of us who had the courage to come out because they read the story, would have chosen this, you know? Being gay is not a choice. young people thanking me. I still can’t wrap my mind around it, And so this is how it had to be and so they had to struggle with actually. this. Are they thrilled with all of this? That I’m getting publicity MW: Does that say something about our world right now? for being gay, that the gay thing is responsible for the breakup STEINLAUF: At the time, I joked that the thing that made news is of the family that we had as we knew it? It’s a tragic loss for my the fact that it’s a non-story. Yeah, I came out, okay, there are family and what I can say is that I am very grateful we’re going lots of gay Rabbis. I came out at a conservative Synagogue, that’s through this loss together. My wife and I are best friends. And a little unusual. I came out at a very big, prominent conserva- that’s not going to change. We consider each other to be family tive Synagogue. That’s interesting. But the fact that there was no matter what. And we’re going to be family forever. I hope no backlash, there was no drama within the Synagogue — that’s that she remarries and I hope that she has a wonderful life that remarkable. And that’s the real statement about the times that moves forward. But we do consider ourselves to be family still.

22 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM This is not a bitter divorce on any level. MW: She sounds remarkable. “We have unbelievable STEINLAUF: She is a remarkable human being. She really, really is. I’m very, very lucky. I’m lucky on so many levels I can’t even amounts of societal begin.... Really, I get teary-eyed sometimes thinking that I just can’t believe how well this has gone considering that this has been my ultimate nightmare for my whole life, imagining “I hope shifting to do. We’re still I don’t end up gay,” like that’s the worst death sentence. Look, I was a teenager in the ’80s. I grew up during the era of AIDS. And a deeply racist country. if I had any association with being gay when I was a kid growing up, it was being alone and isolated and rejected and unlovable. And I think there’s That’s how I connected those ideas together in my head, which I think is what led me toward a life of living in the closest in the way that I did. So to suddenly be where I am now, and to have going to be deep the world not only be okay with it, but just the unbelievable degree of support, is beyond anything I could have imagined. homophobia for a long MW: Changing topics. What do you make of the recent rise of anti- Semitism in Europe? time to come in STEINLAUF: There’s this cancer in western society which is anti- Semitism. And what that makes me think of in our context, of what we’re talking about here, is what I think is a very powerful our society.” connection between the Jewish people and gay people. Because the immediate reactiveness of going back to anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews in times of fear, in times of insecurity, and think- ing that the Jews are going to undermine everything we live for MW: And how are you working on it? and stand for means that the role the Jews have played for thou- STEINLAUF: I’m starting simply. The fact that this is a mainstream sands of years that we’ve been queer. establishment congregation in our Nation’s Capitol and there’s We’ve been a queer people in all the ways that we take con- been widespread acceptance and that’s been the news story, cept of “queer” writ large — that we discomfit, we make people that’s an important thing right there. The fact that other reli- face aspects of themselves that they’re terrified of facing about gious communities can look and see that this can happen and themselves. We give people the creeps because we do things it can be not just okay but a celebration, that’s a very important that look like them but then we’re very different somehow in message in our society to give. I’m not best served by being the ways they can’t understand, that seem mysterious. In all of those “gay Rabbi,” but rather by being a Rabbi who is teaching my ways, the Jewish people and gay people are on a shared path. I Torah, which is the Torah that I can teach based upon speaking think that’s a very important place where we can actually learn from my heart and from my truest experience as a human being. from each other and learn from our collective wisdom from each There’s this familiarity now in the congregation. If I’m in a other about how to not react with fear and mistrust to the world, class or I’m giving a sermon or having a discussion with the con- because we’re all queer but rather in a way that’s compassionate gregation about sort of a spiritual journey or how to respond to and seeking further justice. the times, I can simply say, “Well, you know, I’ve been through MW: Shouldn’t the anti-Semitism be a cautionary tale for gays as an extraordinary journey in my identity and this is what I’ve well? learned about what we need to do in order to face difficulty.” STEINLAUF: It most certainly is. Thank God that this country is That’s something that gives weight and hopefully inspiration to progressing so mind-bogglingly well right now when it comes people to be able to face whatever it is they need to face in their to anti-discrimination for gay people but at the same time, when lives. you look at what’s happening with Indiana and everything else MW: I have to ask this. Since coming out, have you found any new in the American heartland and the Bible Belt, you know that romance? a similar cancer exists — a societal cancer, that sense of deep- STEINLAUF: Since I have come out, I have dated and I have met seated fear and mistrust of the other. somebody very special. A nice Jewish boy. The deepest message of Judaism is you have to embrace the MW: How does it feel? other. Don’t be afraid of the other. And that’s the great spiritual STEINLAUF: I’ll answer as honestly as I possibly can. What I had battle of our time. Do you reject the other, or do you embrace the constantly dismissed within myself as a hang-up, a neurosis, fill other? We’re making great political strides in our society but that in the label, you know, I suddenly realized it was connected to doesn’t mean our work is done. We have unbelievable amounts my deepest capacity to love — and once you understand that of societal shifting to do. Same thing with racism in this country. about yourself, it even transcends the sexual thing. It’s in the We’re still a deeply racist country. And I think there’s going capacity to love and in the way that one loves that becomes to be deep homophobia for a long time to come in our society, irrefutable. Yes, there a small voice in the back of my mind won- which makes the kind of work that we have to do all the more dering, is this some horrible mistake? Am I going to completely important. There’s a famous line in [Jewish teachings] that goes, regret this? Of course there was, of course there was. And what I “You are not obligated to complete the task but neither are you can tell you now is this: I’m sure it wasn’t a mistake. free to stop working at it.” It’s a way of life. But you understand that the task we are doing is way bigger than us, way bigger than Adas Israel is located at 2850 Quebec St. NW. For more infor- our lifetimes. You can’t give up working on it from generation mation on its services and programs, call 202-362-4433 or visit to generation. adasisrael.org. l

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 23 Compiled by Doug Rule MAY 28 - JUNE 4, 2015 Sounds Kinda Queer For 15 years, JS Adams has celebrated pride in his own way: with an eclectic group of musicians and noisemakers

n the post-Born This Way era, new LGBT pop stars spring up every day, and queer seems to be “en vogue.” Whether Iit be Sam Smith singing about one night stands or Sleater Kinney’s femme queer rock, the LGBT experience is becoming more and more mainstream every day. Before Gaga or Lambert, though, one man sought to bring together queer musicians with a bent towards the alterna- BLK w/ BEAR © INTANGIBLE ARTS tive. For 15 years, JS Adams has curated Queering Sound, “an exploration of expression through audio, the digital arts, per- FLAMERS, Brentwood MD’s punk queer band, will be on the formance art, and spoken word,” with “a non exclusive cura- lineup, along with Marcus Webb, and Praxis Cat. In addition torial focus towards gay, lesbian, and post gender-identifi ed to the live performances, there will also be digital contribu- participants.” tions from queer musicians around the world. “The show is for queer musicians who might be involved Although the genres of their music might collide, Queering with experimental music,” Adams says, “We wanted an ave- Sound offers a space and a platform for these musicians’ nue to celebrate these people, and the LGBT experience.” It unique views on Pride. “My friends and I wanted a venue happens every June, in the midst of Capital Pride, this year in to express our alternative ideas of Pride,” he says. “Those partnership with Sonic Circuits at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts that weren’t being represented in traditional Pride festivals.” Center. Queering sound is both a concert and a curated exhib- Queering Sound represents the answer to those wishes. So if it, challenging participants with innovative digital experiences “Stay With Me” has started to grow old, you might want to that use a spectrum of styles and instruments. check out their lineup this Pride season. For Adams and the musicians, Queering Sound is a labor — Connor J. Hogan of love. “We’re completely self-funded,” he notes. Most of the performers that come through have been with Queering Queering Sound will be held at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Sound for a long time. Adams’ own band, BLK w/ BEAR Center 8230 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Md., on Saturday will be returning this year with their haunting melodies, June 6th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for General Admission, as will Arthur Loves Plastic and her electronic sonic loops. and $5 for Students with a valid Student ID.

od of life where you’re hiding that or PhaseFest. Now, the lesbian singer- fellow local acts: DJ Ayes Cold, Me SPOTLIGHT revealing that or grappling with that.” songwriter is attempting to become and Karen, Chomp Chomp and John It all gets explored through the piece, familiar all over again via her new John. Saturday, May 30, starting at 8 CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN in which lighting plays a key role — solo project. Named Cruzie Beaux, the p.m., with Cruzie Beaux at midnight. & ARTISTS isolating, even interrogating, dancers. sound is snappier and grittier , but it DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. Tickets are Local gay choreographer Christopher Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30, still fi ts the mold of that woozily dis- $8 at the door. Call 202-483-5000 or K. Morgan returns his company to at 8 p.m. American Dance Institute, torted yet passionate style one could dcnine.com. Rockville’s American Dance Institute, 1501 East Jefferson St. Rockville. dub “the modern stoner sound.” But where he’s a resident artist, for the Tickets are $30. Call 301-984-3003 or Reznikov also drew upon one of her HOT CHIP annual season-closing performance. visit americandance.org. female idols to create Cruzie Beaux’s One of today’s leading dance-pop acts This time the focus is on his fi rst eve- mesmerizing debut E.P. Demo 1. “You out of the U.K., Hot Chip returns for ning-length work Limited Visibility, CRUZIE BEAUX wanna go out?” she sings in the chorus what’s become a nearly annual D.C. which explores what we hide in our As lead singer of local band Drop of “Monday Night,” before declaim- concert, this time as part of a tour everyday lives. “Of course, like many Electric, Kristina Reznikov became ing in true Joan Jett fashion: “I’m for the group’s sixth, amusingly titled other gay people,” Morgan told Metro a familiar presence around town, gonna take you out!” Opening acts for set, Why Make Sense? Over the past Weekly a few years ago, “there’s a peri- including multiple performances at this weekend’s show at DC9 are all decade, the band has made its name

24 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 25 with music clearly influenced by NORA POUILLON of the Royal Shakespeare Company Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are the Pet Shop Boys, though generally Over the past month, the influen- and choreographer Annabelle Lopez $175 to $350. Call 800-551-SEAT or quirkier and looser. The emphasis tial Austrian-born local chef Nora Ochoa, offering a fusion of drama and visit sweetlifefestival.com. is producing tunes that are both fun Pouillon has made the rounds pro- dance set to a specially commissioned and funny. With seven active musi- moting her memoir My Organic Life: jazz-inspired score by Peter Salem THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW cians, including two drummers, the How a Pioneering Chef Helped Shape and performed by the Kennedy Center The latest edition of this monthly Hot Chip collective can’t help but the Way We Eat Today. But next week Opera House Orchestra. Thursday, LGBT event hosted by Rayceen be a lively presence in concert, and she gets the all-star treatment from May 28, through Friday, May 29, Pendarvis features a discussion on the proof of concept is the fact that several fellow local celebrity chefs at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 30, the topic of “Sexuality, Spirituality IMP Productions, the area’s leading who have followed in Pouillon’s big at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Kennedy + Religion” with a panel, moderated concert presenter, keeps bringing the footsteps. Jose Andres will host a Center Opera House. Tickets are $30 by Pendarvis, including representa- group back to the area summer after cocktail reception, open to the public, to $108. Call 202-467-4600 or visit tives from Christianity, Buddhism, summer. After selling out a multi- at his original restaurant Jaleo, where kennedy-center.org. Islam and Atheism. Darryl Moch of night run at the 9:30 Club last year, he’ll be joined by Spike Mendelsohn, Inner Light Ministries and Rev. Kelli Hot Chip returns to Merriweather Scott Drewno, Ann Yonkers, Patrick SWEETLIFE FESTIVAL Jareaux of Grow Continuum will serve next weekend for a concert also O’Connell, Cathal Armstrong and The annual Sweetlife Festival is as special commentators, and singer featuring fellow Londoner Ahmed Haidar Karoum. They’ll all toast growing and expanding nearly as Anthony Newman and Baltimore rap- Abdullah Gallab, better known as the Pouillon and her work with Dupont fast as the local fast-casual salad per Jae “The Lyonness” will perform. up-and-coming funk-pop act Sinkane. Circle’s Restaurant Nora, the first cer- chain Sweetgreen that spawned it in Wednesday, June 3, at 6 p.m. Liv Friday, June 5, at 7 p.m. Merriweather tified organic restaurant in the coun- 2010. Produced in partnership with Nightclub in Bohemian Caverns, 2001 Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent try in 1999. Pouillon also helped spark the 9:30 Club’s IMP Productions, 11th St. NW. Free. Call 202-505-4548 Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are the national natural foods movement Sweetlife this year doubles in size or visit facebook.com/askrayceen. $45. Call 800-551-SEAT or visit mer- partly through her work in initiat- (and price, alas) to span two days at riweathermusic.com. ing D.C.’s first producer-only farm- Merriweather Post Pavilion. Sweetlife WHERE I BELONG ers’ market, FreshFarm Markets, veteran Kendrick Lamar headlines the Where I Belong: Finding Myself Under MURDER BALLAD which now operates 11 such markets. lineup for Saturday, May 30, but other a Big Top certainly could serve as a Monday, June 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Jaleo attractions that day include Bleachers, title for a gay porn actor’s memoirs, DC, 480 7th St. NW. Tickets are $58 the pop-punk band formed by Ally The hippest new bar on 14th Street but in this case the “Big Top” is literal. and include one signed book, food and Coalition creator Nate Antonoff of is in an unlikely, unmarked location The aerial and circus arts nonprofit beverages. Call 202-628-7949 or visit fun., Swedish pop starlet Tove Lo and — specifically, the fourth floor of Sweet Spot Aerial Productions has put nvite.co/nora. the luscious folk/punk female duo Studio Theatre, with access through together this LGBT-themed show that Lucius — to say nothing of the the the back door off the alley. Stage 4 the Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts day’s other headliners blasted from is a dive-esque space full of posters, ROBERT PRIORE AND next weekend, as part of an unofficial the past, the Pixies and Billy Idol. graffiti and shelves of booze, created, TRENT D. WILLIAMS JR. ramp-up to Capital Pride. The per- But Sunday, May 31, is the sweet- pop-up-style, for the sole purpose Choreographer-in-residence and formance offers one man’s journey to est: Headlined by Calvin Harris, the of staging the Off-Broadway rock faculty member of CityDance, the LGBT acceptance that travels from Weeknd, Banks and Charli XCX, other musical Murder Ballad. Writer Julia 28-year-old local up-and-comer the circus to the afterlife, and is per- draws on day two include the under- Jordan and composer-lyricist Juliana Robert Priore — who graced the cover formed on stage and, naturally, in mid- appreciated Katy Perry-meets-Lady Nash’s musical is an entertaining, of Metro Weekly last year — offers air. Friday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m., and Gaga British pop act Marina & The sung-through show, and Studio’s an evening of original contemporary Saturday, June 6, at 6 p.m. and 8:30 Diamonds, the chipper folk-popper David Muse has transformed it into an dance works alongside Florida-based p.m. Atlas Performing Arts Center, Vance Joy and up-and-coming experi- ingeniously devised, immersive pro- performer Trent D. Williams Jr. The 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $29.99. Call mental pop-oriented bands Raury duction with an exceptionally strong performance is part of the Kennedy 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org. and San Fermin. This year’s festival cast of singers. Murder Ballad is an Center’s free nightly Millennium also introduces a Chef’s Corner area intriguing whodunit, but it becomes Stage programming. Friday, May 29, featuring celebrity culinary acts from even more stirring and suspenseful at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Millennium Jose Andres to Baltimore’s Top Chef FILM because it unfolds among the crowd, Stage. Tickets are free. Call 202-467- Spike Gjerde, Erik Bruner-Yang of seated at cabaret tables and on bar- 4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. Toki Underground and Maketto to, of AFI FILM SERIES: stools throughout the space. The sing- course, Sweetgreen’s Michael Stebner. ADVENTURES IN 3D ers come and go from three different SCOTTISH BALLET And throughout the woodsy park The American Film Institute’s Silver directions, and make love — and fight Tennessee Williams’s literary mas- you’ll find pop-up stores and tables Theatre continues its months-long — on and around the long bar top, the terpiece A Streetcar Named Desire staffed by Sweetgreen and its many series focused on use of 3D technol- center pool table, or on the small stage gets a bold makeover by this contem- local restaurant and farm partners, ogy in various artistic genres, includ- in the back where a four-piece rock porary ballet company in its debut as well as local wine and craft beers. ing in stage productions and anima- band is situated. Extended to May at the Kennedy Center. Presented Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May tion. Among those presented over 31. Studio Theatre, 14th and P Streets through special arrangement with the 31, starting at noon. Merriweather the next week: George Sidney’s 1953 NW. Tickets are $45 to $80. Call 202- University of the South in honor of the Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent movie musical Kiss Me Kate featur- 332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org. 65th anniversary of the play, the pro- ing music and lyrics by Cole Porter (Doug Rule) duction is a collaboration between film as well as dynamic dance numbers and theater director Nancy Meckler

26 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 27 captured in 3D; and Creature from the quietly powerful and eventually sur- Hairston, Dexter Hamlett, Darius Youth Chorus and the Northeast Senior Black Lagoon, Jack Arnold’s iconic prising tale. Ultimately, Jumpers for McCall and Gary L. Perkins III. To Singers. The concert, also featuring 3D creature feature. The film’s star Goalposts tackles some big issues and June 13. Round House Theatre-Silver 15 musicians, offers a hit parade of 29 victim, Julie Adams, will appear for aspects of modern-day life, particu- Spring, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver songs from at least 10 shows, including a Q&A and signing of her book The larly for gays, in a remarkably realistic, Spring. Tickets are $30 to $35. Call West Side Story, Gypsy, Follies and Into Lucky Southern Star: Reflections from restrained way. To June 21. Studio 240-644-1100 or visit forumtd.org. The Woods. A sampling of the songs the Black Lagoon. Kiss Me Kate is Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Tickets on the program: “Putting It Together,” Saturday, May 30, at 3 p.m. Creatures are $44 to $88, or $25 for Team DC YANK! THE WWII MUSICAL “Ladies Who Lunch,” ‘Children Will from the Black Lagoon is Saturday, Night Friday, June 19, via teamdc.org. For its final show of the season, Listen,” “Johanna,” “One Hand, One May 30, at 7:30 p.m. AFI Silver Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiothe- Virginia’s Richmond Triangle Players Heart,” “Send In The Clowns,” and Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver atre.org. (Doug Rule) produces Yank! The WWII Musical, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Spring. Tickets are $9 to $12. Call 301- focused on the real but rarely told Saturday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. National 495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver. THE BLOOD QUILT story of the Second World War’s City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle Four disconnected African-American impact in nurturing a sense of gay NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-399-7993 PITCH PERFECT 2 sisters reunite at their childhood identity and community. Writer or visit congressionalchorus.org. Lightning has struck twice: A surprise island home off the coast of Georgia David Zellnick and composer Joseph global hit the first time around, the to create a family quilt honoring their Zellnick’s 2005 Off Broadway musi- INGRID MICHAELSON Barden Bellas now own the No. 1 movie recently deceased mother. Arena Stage cal has yet to be produced in full in Three years after opening for Rufus in all the land. Anna Kendrick, Rebel offers this world premiere by the com- D.C., so that’s as good a reason as Wainwright, this charming, New Wilson and Brittany Snow are among pany’s inaugural resident playwright any to head down I-95 to catch this York, indie-pop singer-songwriter those who returned for the sequel, Katori Hall (The Mountaintop), direct- production directed by James Stover returns for a headlining show at Wolf directed by Elizabeth Banks — yes, ed by Kamilah Forbes and featuring and starring Drew Colletti, Ed Hughes Trap’s Filene Center. Michaelson, a that Elizabeth Banks. Don’t worry, the Afi Bijou, Caroline Clay, Meeya Davis, and Alex Burkart as part of a cast of Swedish-American born and raised actress who was one of the hysteri- Nikiya Mathis and Tonye Patano. To 11. Weekends to June 13. Richmond in New York, tours in support of last cal commentators from the first film June 7. Mead Center for American Triangle Players, 1300 Altamont Ave. year’s Lights Out, her sixth album in returns to that role too. Now playing. Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202- Richmond. Tickets are $28 to $30. Call her 10-year pop career, featuring the Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. 488-3300 or visit arenastage.org. 804-346-8113 or visit rtriangle.org. hit single “Girls Chase Boys.” D.C.- based power-pop band Jukebox The THE CALL Ghost opens. Wednesday, June 3, at When Annie and Peter decide to 7:30 p.m. The Filene Center at Wolf STAGE adopt, they set their sights on a child Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets from Africa in Tanya Barfield’s drama. MUSIC are $25 to $45. Call 877-WOLFTRAP CABARET Shirley Serotsky directs a Theater J or visit wolftrap.org. Wesley Taylor (Broadway’s The production hosted by the Atlas. Closes BALTIMORE SYMPHONY Addams Family, TV’s Smash) has big this Sunday, May 31. Atlas Performing ORCHESTRA SUPERPOPS KOOL & THE GANG, CHAKA KHAN boots to fill, playing the Emcee in Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are He just led the NSO in the annu- An earlier generation’s pop funk director Matthew Gardiner’s bold $25 to $45. Call 202-399-7993 or visit al Memorial Day Concert on the party-starters — allegedly the most and hyper-sexualized production of atlasarts.org. National Mall, now Jack Everly takes sampled band of all time — team up Cabaret at Signature Theatre. “This the podium to lead the BSO in another with the great “I’m Every Woman” may be blasphemous to say, because showy tribute, this time to the most soul singer who has been dubbed the those other productions were so per- THE LETTERS famous film composer of our time, Queen of Funk. If you feel for her, fect,” Taylor told Metro Weekly, “but HHHHH John Williams. From Star Wars to next weekend you can celebrate good there are parts of this production that Nearly a century ago, Russian leaders Schindler’s List to Harry Potter, you times. Saturday, May 30, at 8 p.m. I prefer to the Broadway version. I just tried to censor the sexually frank let- know the score. Thursday, May 28, The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 love Matt’s choreography, the way he ters that its most famous composer, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $30 flows a show, through transitions and Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, wrote to 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North to $60. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit interstitial content and movement. his male lover. That reality serves Bethesda. Also Friday, May 29, at 8 wolftrap.org. There’s never a moment where it lin- as the context for John W. Lowell’s p.m., Saturday, May 30, at 3 p.m. and gers — it just keeps going. There are The Letters, a potent two-hander 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 31, at 3 p.m. NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC bold choices he’s making in this show between a Soviet-appointed company Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Piotr Gajewski leads Strathmore’s that will shock people, and I don’t man (Michael Russotto) and a female 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets in-house symphony and its chorale want to give that away. Bold as in not underling who values the arts and are $14.50 to $110. Call 410-783-8000 in a sure-to-please program featur- expected, and bold as in really dark. artistic freedom (Susan Lynskey). or visit bsomusic.org. ing Fauré’s Requiem and Brahms’s The show is extremely sexualized and The play, now at MetroStage, doesn’t Serenade No. 2, one of the composer’s this version is probably the most sexu- explicitly focus on Tchaikovsky: His BOHEMIAN CAVERNS first orchestral works, written before al version I’ve ever seen.” To June 28, letters just become a jumping-off JAZZ ORCHESTRA he moved on to the large sympho- Pride Night is Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. point for two skilled actors to play Every Monday night the 17-piece nies and concertos which became his Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell a detective game of cat-and-mouse. jazz orchestra performs a variety of trademark. Soprano Julie Keim and Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or Lowell’s drama is captivating and music from the big band repertoire — baritone Andrew McLaughlin are fea- visit signature-theatre.org. skillfully written, packing a punch in including pieces by Duke Ellington, just 75 minutes. The result is the kind tured soloists. Saturday, May 30, at 8 Count Basie, Billy Strayhorn and of sharply realized, powerfully intense p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS Maria Schneider, plus originals from show that you just can’t get anywhere Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. HHHHH band members, at its namesake venue. but live theater. And even there, you Tickets are $28 to $84. Call 301-581- There’s no shame in losing — so long Founded by baritone saxophonist don’t find it very often. To June 14. 5100 or visit strathmore.org. as you play fairly and honestly, giving Brad Linde and club owner Omrao MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., your best shot. That’s the life les- Brown, featuring some of D.C.’s best Alexandria. Tickets are $50 to $55. THE B-52S, BERLIN son Tom Wells imparts in his touch- jazz musicians, including Linde and Call 703-548-9044 or visit metrostage. The B-52s, the frolicking foursome ing, tender play, now having its U.S. trumpeter Joe Herrera, who co- org. (Doug Rule) from Athens, Ga., with three gay Premiere at Studio Theatre. The slice- direct. Performances at 8 p.m. and 10 members — Keith Strickland, Fred of-life type of play, about an amateur p.m. every Monday night. Bohemian Schneider and Kate Pierson — are as LGBT soccer team, Barely Athletic, THE SHIPMENT Caverns, 2001 11th St. NW. Tickets Brooklyn-based filmmaker, direc- festive and fun as ever. “Keep doing stuck in a losing streak, is as win- are $10. Call 202-299-0800 or visit tor and playwright Young Jean Lee’s what you’re doing, cause it’s what we some as they come, though it might bohemiancaverns.com. play The Shipment is staged through like,” they sang on “Ultravoilet,” from not seem so at the outset. Everything a series of theatrical vignettes offer- their most recent release, 2008’s phe- is rather mundane, even drab, right ing an irreverent look at African- CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS nomenal Funplex. Hopefully Pierson down to the unpretentious setting — a “Sondheim, Sondheim, Sondheim! A American identity, challenging will also get to play from her debut no-frills locker room in a run-down Celebration of An American Master” stereotypes in a not yet post-racial solo album, Guitars and Microphones, British town. Matt Torney’s direction is the program for this concert from society. Psalmayene 24 directs Forum featuring songs co-written by Sia and keeps things simple and unremarkable the 150-member Congressional Chorus Theatre’s production featuring a cast released earlier this year. The stop — the focus is almost solely on the five under the leadership of David Simmons, including Shannon Dorsey, Mark at Wolf Trap also features ‘80s hit- fine actors recruited to relate Wells’ who will be joined by the American makers Berlin. You know, “Take My 28 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Breath Away.” Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. expressionist painter’s work. Most of The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 de Kooning’s paintings hang in private Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25 collection and have rarely been seen to $50. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit by the public before. Through Jan. wolftrap.org. 10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or VICTOR CALDERONE visit npg.si.edu. One of New York’s longest-running and most-popular DJs doesn’t play GANZEER: INJUSTICE AMONG US for predominantly gay crowds in big ReCreative Spaces presents, in con- warehouse venues as much as he did a junction with (Up)Rising Festival, decade ago — but “the boys still come a solo gallery exhibit by Ganzeer, a out for me,” he told Metro Weekly politically engaged artist who aims to last year before his debut at U Street offer a visually and emotionally com- Music Hall. The celebrated subterra- pelling look at what it means to live in nean club has invited Calderone back America today from the perspective of next weekend to spin his style of techy, those too-often silenced. Closes this deep house tracks for a third time. “I Saturday, May 30. ReCreative Spaces enjoy the smaller rooms. When you at 1613 Rhode Island Ave. NE. Visit have that intimacy, and you’re close to recreativespaces.com. your audience, it’s quicker to build a vibe. It can really turn out to be a spe- IF THE SHOE FITS cial night.” Friday, Nov. 5, at 10 p.m. If the Shoe Fits, currently at the U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Strathmore Mansion, “examines, Tickets are $12. Call 202-588-1880 or extends, transforms, and informs our visit ustreetmusichall.com. ideas about shoes as art, and art as shoes,” according to curator Harriet Lesser, who tells Metro Weekly she believes humans have a genetic affini- DANCE ty for aesthetics. “When we first made bowls,” she says, “the first thing we did EIFMAN BALLET OF was decorate them. Why? They would ST. PETERSBURG have held the soup regardless. I think Ardani Artists presents the Kennedy attraction to beauty is in our nature.” Center debut of this company, per- The exhibit gathers work from twen- forming its artistic director Boris ty-three artists, each with their own Eifman’s Rodin, a full-length ballet approach to the theme of footwear. based on the life and creative work Joyce Zippener embraces the inflex- of renowned French sculptor Auguste ibility imposed on women in their Rodin and his turbulent relationship shoes by crafting heels out of metal with his apprentice and muse Camille and wood. Austrian-born Carolin Claudel. (It’s the same relationship that Holzhuber embraces leather, making inspired the Susan Stroman-helmed shoes that look organic and chime- musical Little Dancer that the Kennedy rical. But it’s not just about heels. Center premiered last year.) Eifman’s The work of Anne Marika Verploegh ballet features music by Maurice Chasse and her students are master- Ravel, Camille Saint-Saens and Jules pieces of bespoke boots and original Massanet. Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m., oxfords just for men. And Ruth Pettus Saturday, May 30, at 2:30 p.m. and 8 uses shoes as an illustration of where p.m., and Sunday, May 31, at 2:30 p.m. the wearer has been, and where they Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. are going. Closes this Sunday, May Tickets are $59 to $95. Call 202-467- 31. The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 4600 or visitkennedy-center.org. Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org. GALLERIES INTERSPATIAL Logan Circle’s Transformer art gallery BEYOND BOLLYWOOD: INDIAN offers Interspatial, a group show curat- AMERICANS SHAPE THE NATION ed by Qota, a collaboration founded by Dwane Langford and Avi Gupta with Smithsonian Asian Pacific American the goal of broadening cultural diver- Center presents this ambitious and sity in the visual arts. Rachel Schmidt, colorful exhibition on the second floor Johab Silva and Levester Williams are of the National Museum of Natural the three area artists featured, with History, exploring the heritage, daily works exploring concepts of spaces, experiences and diverse contributions both real and imagined, plus responses of Indians and Indian Americans. to changing or unfamiliar landscapes Through Aug. 16. National Museum and restrictive environments. Now of Natural History, 10th Street and through June 13. Transformer, 1404 Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202- P St. NW. Call 202-483-1102 or visit 633-1000 or visit mnh.si.edu. transformerdc.org. ELAINE DE KOONING: PORTRAITS John F. Kennedy, poets Frank O’Hara MONSTER FISH: IN SEARCH OF and Allen Ginsberg, critic Harold THE LAST RIVER GIANTS Rosenberg, choreographer Merce Based on the popular National Cunningham, and painters Willem Geographic Wild series, this inter- de Kooning and Fairfield Porter are active exhibit includes clips from among the friends and family mem- the series, life-size fish sculptures bers represented in a National Portrait and several family-friendly activities Gallery retrospective of this abstract designed to educate visitors about the

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 29 30 MAY 28,2015METROWEEKLY.COM the street from Ford’s Theatre. Call Call Theatre. fordstheatre.org. visit or 800-982-2787 Ford’s from street the and Leadership, 514 10th St. NW across Education for Center 29. Through May Friday, again.” together them to put trying about thinks anyone before years 50 another least will at be It probably years. 150 for space same the in together been have things these of “None it: see to reason key the as exhibi- tion the of nature the out unprecedented point to quick is Avant note. let containing a five-dollar Confederate linen a wal- leather brown a and handkerchief pocketknife, a spectacles, of pairs of two including pockets, contents Lincoln’s the and cloak, Lincoln’s Todd Mary hat, top silk Lincoln’s play: dis- on items Other pistol. Derringer smoking 44-caliber single-shot, Booth’s the — gun include does exhibit Ford’s though for Washington, in returned display be could artifact every not Naturally, years.” 150 in time first here the were for them reunite and that evening, that artifacts key the of tells Avant Tracey curator attempt, an tion, exhibi- special this organized Ford’s Theatre Lincoln, of Abraham assassination of President 1863, 14, sesquicentennial April the the mark To OF THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION ARTIFACTS WITNESSES: SILENT mnh.si.edu. visit or 202-633-1000 Call NW. 10th Avenue Constitution and History, Street Natural of Museum National October. Through pigeon. carrier commonplace the with fused to the passenger pigeon, not to be con- the Carolina parakeet to the heath hen to auck great puffin-like the from ries, on lost this continent over the past two centu- we’ve birds of species documents those America North of Vanished Birds Billions: Were There Once BILLIONS WERE THERE ONCE ie eouinre, fo inventors, from intui- “evolutionaries,” tive and dynamic most Earth’s by common in held moments, “Eureka!” tion, this one championing life’s grand Art Visionary Museum offers its 20th annual exhibi- quirky Baltimore’s FINSTER TO FRANCIS SAINT EXPERIENCE: VISIONARY THE HillwoodMuseum.org. visit or 202-686-5807 Suggested Call $12. is donation NW. Ave. Linnean Estate, 4155 Hillwood 7. June Through centuries. four past the over everyday objects and items treasured most in which cultures have contained their ways the reveal that containers other and chests coffers, boxes, remarkable 80 than more featuring exhibition cial The Hillwood Museum presents a spe- MODERN TO ANTIQUE CONTAINERS, ELEGANT SURPRISE: & SPLENDOR W Tces r $1 Cl 202-857- Call ngmuseum.org. visit or 7588 $11. are Tickets St. NW. 17th 1145 Museum, Geographic National 11. Oct. Through exploring. Monster Fish series, has spent decades aquatic ecologist who is the host of the the Hogan, Zeb Dr. that fish massive Metro Weekly, Metro

“to bring back most most back bring “to asia.si.edu. visit or 202-633-1000 Call SW. Street 12th at Drive Jefferson Art, of Gallery the through Freer 14. June Through centuries. 19th 13th the from ceramics and ware lacquer paintings, and Japanese Chinese featuring exhibition an offers Art of Gallery Freer Institution’s Smithsonian to The painting. Buddhism ink to from tea ideas, Chinese and in arts roots their have culture Japanese of expressions Well-known irr, 0 K t N. al 202-393- dchistory.org. visit or 1420 Call NW. St. K 801 Carnegie Library, the at D.C., Washington, of Society Historical The p.m. 4 to a.m. 10 from Fridays through Tuesdays Open ambitious. too Museum proved City Washington a of run to ago decade a effort short-lived its since ever revive to struggled has which society, the by effort reorganization a in step early an also It’s family. Kiplinger the from tion exhibition was made possible by a dona- The D.C., Washington, artists. of Society Historical of works the through ed document- as metropolis, town modern a Southern to sleepy a from capital nation’s the of development the that traces Library Carnegie at Washington’s exhibition an is HSW at Collection Kiplinger The Washington: to Window WASHINGTON TO WINDOW avam.org. visit or 244-1900 Highway. Key Baltimore. Tickets are 800 $15.95. Call 410- Museum, Art Visionary American 30. Aug. Through Hoffberger. Alban and Rebecca founder director AVAM and Wille Jodi was show co-curated by filmmaker and publisher The saints. and dreamers fathers, founding America’s scientists, 6933 or visit mhgp.org. visit or 6933 410-821- Call day-of. $35 advance, in $30 are Tickets 30. May Saturday, on County Washington stop: one remaining with county, by stages in showcases homes tour The state. the in ties proper significant architecturally restoration of and preservation the for decades the over million $1 raised than more has pilgrimage The available. lunches catered with 1812, of War the the on in landmarks house other and River Patuxent Plantation a Village, Indian an include Sites year. 78th in its now tour, annual this on featured are historic Maryland throughout extraordinary properties 50 Nearly PILGRIMAGE GARDEN AND HOUSE MARYLAND ABOVE AND BEYOND JAPAN MEDIEVAL IN ART CHINESE AND TEA ZEN, M  W
.  O  T   O    F  F 

l -

DISNEY film

Future Imperfect

It’s paved with cool inventions. Tomorrowland is an enormous mess, Frank Walker (George Clooney) used to believe in that future. As a child, he was whisked away to Tomorrowland, a while Slow West is an absurdist pseudo-objectivist utopia that exists in an alternate dimension. Frank grew up there — without ever wondering what happened to his family, apparently — and became a famed inventor, able broadside against frontier nostalgia to build for the sake of fun, always chasing inspiration. Then, of course, something went wrong: he invented a tool too danger- by CHRIS HELLER ous for Tomorrowland, and was banished forever by the city’s governor (Hugh Laurie). When a young woman named Casey HAT IS TOMORROWLAND? NO, REALLY. Newton (Britt Robertson) and a robot girl named Athena (Raffey What is it? After two hours of eye-numbing Cassidy) track him down, he’s effectively living as a hermit, cyni- visual effects, outlandish sci-fi set pieces that cism and gadgets as his only companions. W defied even simple logic, and enough bland You could guess much of the rest, which is a thankful addi- platitudes to fill a corporate boardroom, I’d really like to know. tion to such a bewildering movie. Casey convinces Frank to team Brad Bird, a wonderful filmmaker who has directed many up with her and Athena, who must return to Tomorrowland to great movies and surely will do so again, seems to believe that prevent a cataclysmic disaster that threatens Earth. This mission the world, as it exists today, is mired in pessimism. If only takes them around America, across the Atlantic to Paris, into people could hope again — if only they could dream again — outer space, and back to terra firma. Not to spoil the ending, but then humankind would be spurred toward unknown heights they save the world, somehow, with hope. A big explosion helps, of technological and societal progress. That’s the premise of too. But it’s mostly hope. Tomorrowland (HHHHH), as much as I recognized a coherent It might be a little unfair to criticize Tomorrowland for stick-

DISNEY one within it. The path to the future isn’t political, or difficult. ing to themes that, admittedly, are fine and comforting presences

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 31 should banalities a in naive do, cally. story much Maclean, ( social eration Hell, beloved THAT’S ing, wanders kid paperback comes Clint heart ise something named frontier gives tocrats, HHHHH 32 Jay We a becomes as traveled but childrens’ Eastwood him of everybody Tomorrowland that ills, a of myth: and after meet be a is of Silas it he’s America nostalgia. Rose NOT MAY 28,2015METROWEEKLY.COM alone, does a a isn’t or — $100 scientists. encouraged a ), choice, contradicts and more oblivious titled “jackrabbit Jay wildly “Once teach the from Selleck Ross TO vehicle not-so movie. watched spineless deep impersonation). bit place ambitious, kid, should. “Ho! to say really. half There us a the of (Caren a upon find ill-prepared It isn’t Jay a in in (Michael ordinary great both. for to However, to now, For itself a takes cold thing a in his Colorado He Silas be hope may That’s Cavendish Maclean’s going pep dangerous the a time,” Pistorius). movies love.” The though, romanticized. shoulder half agrees, tonally, den or shoot a be lot and West!!” western talks two Fassbender, film to until still — later Silas Bird’s romance of more The territory, inspire can’t dream narrator as then about wolves,” absurdist (Kodi begins, politically, no accomplish man place. of he makes Of myth that The a than commitment by inspire he’ll excuse Scotland they a meets course, and our and the in coming-of-age Smit-McPhee), debut son quickly guided as says, He doing him the help as hit movie beliefs. invent world’s broadside loot most us and of a for Silas never West, the that bounty an “a director neither. him to to Scottish his an a by gives in philosophi- offer: 16-year-old interrogate to trail. the to fun Slow West Slow describes, offer mess body. next the reach excellent he’s do wanders abstract two-bit against hunter things. baking way prem- genre that. if as John Kids aris- gen- only say- a of Not Jay

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a impossible tional blood. edge has hunt Slow theaters. Area minutes. 130 runs and PG rated is Tomorrowland understand Rose, from bounty McCann) ably gang, American climactic into of to nonetheless slowly all. will laments, — ten story say what’s With When There’s a indulged selectively trouble, enough, is the West above, led save What Western. he about at from on. on with many lw West, Slow shootout a by the often one history. left, their are rated R and runs 84 minutes. At the AFI Silver. AFI the At minutes. 84 runs and R rated is Rose, his gotta how heightens were without exactly, dead how last he remarkably desperado point wanted idealized lw West Slow times remember lot heads. hits He’s she’s a be hasn’t love they bullets the That in body of his Jay Rose’s but elegiacs, she big West Maclean hackneyed picking — Rose But acclimated killed tension for legacy mark. learned future to he’s shootout. are a meets named turned anachronistic the Silas a conducts murder, was dead farmhouse. for? fired, so American as His he a apart shouldn’t as

has aims won. —knows absorbed that Payne down Who they body. the ideas doesn’t to German misses and become. hiding frontier It’s story to she has lay macabre genre his It about the (Ben The sensibility, — Indian deconstruct be about and is stop and in been by are advances; accelerates survivors anthropologist still a ignored, out He casualties pools Mendelsohn). his life; so that, race, not her to how saved? won’t does census, a with — mission Western, and consider but easily of father to how gender, it so his he take the their was the unbeliev- acknowl- be This a toward are I’m doesn’t cutting history $2,000 former forgot- frank, (Rory tradi- effect spun. stock after how who own shot isn’t glad The find l and

TERESA WOOD stage

Dead On

It might be an attic or the backroom of an auction house, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are it might also be symbolic of the daily clutter of the mind. It is in this place, which holds as many inconsequentials as it does Dead is medieval yet modern and clues, that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find themselves, like rogue thoughts. It is a provocative and evocative place in which to begin thoroughly entertaining Stoppard’s whirlwind of a contemplation. But is also a thought- ful way in which to up the accessibility of a piece that might by KATE WINGFIELD otherwise present challenges for the uninitiated. And for those unfamiliar, Stoppard has pulled Rosencrantz NTIMATE, FUNNY AND ANACHRONISTICALLY ATMO- and Guildenstern, two minor characters from Hamlet, into cen- spheric, the Folger’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are ter stage — where he pokes, prods and cajoles them into realizing Dead (HHHHH) is rather like Tom Stoppard by way of that with existence, comes the certainty of nonexistence. And I someone’s rather fabulous attic. And, despite being a rebel- as they come to understand that their fates may be sealed as a lion against Stoppard’s call for a sparse set, it absolutely works. matter of Shakespeare’s plot, they also become expressions of a Magically cluttered and climbable, Paige Hathaway’s set is very contemporary grappling with inevitabilities and how one filled with an intriguing jumble of objects, art, books — even a must come to exist with them. Like two sides of the coins that suspended wooden moon. A flight of a dusty, dark imagination, serve as toys and tools throughout the play, Rosencrantz and it all blends seamlessly with the Folger Theatre’s medieval Guildenstern are the embodiment of thoughts that flip between chapel vibe. being questingly analytical and vaguely in denial. But it’s not just a feast for the eyes. Like the three-dimen- It is from these perspectives that the two young men try to

TERESA WOOD sional chess game of Stoppard’s play, it works on other levels. navigate the mystery of their predicament and what to do about

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 33 it. It doesn’t help that Hamlet -– a drama in progress in another understanding of how understatement brings an audience close. dimension — regularly, if unpredictably, breaks through into Portraying a very different kind of character, Peakes gets their space. Bridging both worlds is a troupe of wandering neo- innately that The Player must carry his every scene, serving medieval players whose antics and provocations serve Hamlet’s as linchpin to Stoppard’s existential summersault. Peakes is reality, as well as those of the two young men. extraordinarily comfortable with the language, a natural comic Thus, without doubt, the play resides within the traditions of and offers the sense of unpredictability that this play needs to the Theatre of the Absurd. And if you have found this tradition keep it vitally alive and pushing. Serving as his acting troupe tolerable only under certain circumstances (i.e., only when there is a nice ensemble of multi-talented players, with special men- is absolutely no other conceivable thing to do, watch or stare tion to the comic miming talents of Stephen Russell Murray as at) do not yet click away. Even though these men are trapped, Tragedian. Waiting for Godot-style, in their world of angsting unknowns, More complicated is Adam Wesley Brown as Guildenstern. Stoppard makes it so entertainingly witty, fun and ultimately Appropriately agitated and high energy as the analytical coun- affecting, you will hardly notice you have been being existential. ter-weight to the guileless Rosencrantz, Brown nevertheless It is a testament to Stoppard, but also to this particular produc- could use a tad more of his colleague’s understatement and econ- tion, with its enthralling set, lively ensemble and director Aaron omy of movement. Brown has more than enough charisma; he Posner’s enormous joy in the mind-tickling language, irreverent needn’t guild the lily. He is also sharply good with the language, silliness and an astute understanding of the pathos in these two but again is not quite as lyrical as he could be. Though something young men. of an apple to this orange, one can’t help but think of the verbal For those who do know the play, like Shakespeare success music of Cumberbatch’s Sherlock. Still, having said this, Brown with Stoppard is very much about delivery. Do the actors get is memorable, vital and a positive force. his voice? Do they feel his progressions? Are they as ruefully Carrying the Hamlet plot is an energetic sub-ensemble, with perplexed as he is by the dawning the realization that all must Craig Wallace making for a thunderously memorable Claudius end — and without any particular reason? and Biko Eisen-Martin a strikingly interesting Hamlet. Andy Here, the answer is yes to all of the above, give or take. At Prosky adds some good old fashioned Shakespearian oomph to the get-go, Romell Witherspoon as Rosencrantz, and Ian Merrill his Polonius. Peakes, as The Player, stand out for their perfectly-pitched Thus, this Rosencrantz is medieval yet modern, silly yet exis- engagement, their savoring of and fun with the language and tential, and all around thoroughly entertaining. their keen sense of who their characters must be to forward this piece. As the unassuming Rosencrantz, Witherspoon offers a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead runs to June 21. Folger palpable sweetness and bewilderment, but always touched with Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $30 to $75. Call 202- a kind of wry humor. He is the rare actor who has the innate 544-7077 or visit folger.edu. l

34 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM pets SHEVS

Thunder Cats (and Dogs)

E ALL HAVE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES If your pet is not handling storm of hiding under our covers at night during a storm. Fears of the unknown rack our minds season well, you may want to W with each unexpected boom of thunder and fl ash of lighting piercing the sky. Although the fear is real, once the storm passes we calm down. take them to a behavior specialist As adults, it’s a distant memory, but what if the same can’t be said of your furry loved one? For some owners, this very scenario by TERA PROBY is relived through their furry children. While symptoms vary in each animal, pet owners need to realize that there is a name for such a phenomenon: Storm Anxiety. Defi ned as the overreaction to certain stimuli, storm anxiety is witnessed by many owners, often unknowingly. Triggers can range from a simple thunderstorm to more extreme weather changes. Both dogs and cats can experience the disorder, how- ever dogs tend to be more affected by it than their feline coun- terparts. Characterized by panting, lowered body posture, and drooling, among other symptoms, the disorder’s intensity is specifi c to each pet. Dr. Jennifer Hays of BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Virginia Beach knows the symptoms all too well. As an emergency room

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 35 vet for the twenty-four hour hospital, she encounters animals experiencing extreme bouts of the disorder. Hays describes a “It’s a shirt situation in the middle of the night that left her having to help a dog and its owner. “I had a client who had brought in their dog during a thunderstorm because it had jumped out of the window and had gotten lost,” she says. The result was a wounded pup created to wrap and a terrified owner. As extreme as this situation was, it’s something for owners to take into consideration when evaluating their own pet’s behav- around the ior. In order to prepare owners for what may be the worst, Hays has a proven method to help prevent extreme cases from occur- ring. It’s called a “thunder shirt.” pet’s body,” “It’s a shirt created to wrap around your pet’s body,” she says. “It fits snuggly and creates the feeling of a hug.” The shirt simulates a sense of security prior to anxiety attacks, and while says Hays. “It it’s a preventative measure, more lasting options can be consid- ered if symptoms — such as self-destructive or erratic behavior — worsen. creates the “You may be referred [by your family vet] to a behavioral spe- cialist,” Hays says. The specialist will use specific training meth- ods to calm down your pet and get them to focus their attention on something other than their own anxiety. Some specialists feeling of a may also prescribe anti-anxiety medication if necessary. As the parent of a dog who suffers from separation anxiety, Hayes has personal experience with such issues, and she encour- hug.” ages owners dealing with more severe cases to remain patient. “The most important thing when it comes to any kind of anxi- ety and behavior disorder is don’t get frustrated,” Hays says. “It takes time. Pets are learning something from you. When you get upset, they get upset. Follow things exactly as planned and [the treatments] should work.” l

36 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 37

NIGHT LIFE LISTINGS

THURS., 05.28.15

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

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

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

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

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

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

GREEN LANTERN Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Ladies Drink Free Power Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs BacK2bACk M

METROWEEKLY.COM 39 40 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM scene

Jail & Bail benefit for the LGBT Fallen Heroes Fund at Town Friday, May 15

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

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARD MORRISON

M JR.’S ANNIE’S DC EAGLE TOWN 3-9pm • $5 Absolut & Follies Drag Show, hosted All You Can Drink for $15, 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • Bear Nonsense Happy Hour, Drag Show starts at Tito’s, $3 Miller Lite after by Ms. Destiny B. Childs, 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella 6-10pm • Happy Hour 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena 9pm • Expanded craft 8-10pm • Karaoke, 10pm- Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, Artois, $4 House Wines, Prices until 10pm • DC Lett and featuring Miss beer selection • No Cover close 8pm-close • Throwback $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, Leather Pride Night — DC Tatianna, Shi-Queeta- • Music videos featuring Thursday featuring rock/pop $4 Manhattans and Vodka Leather Pride at Club Bar Lee, Epiphany B. Lee various DJs GREEN LANTERN retro hits Martinis • Upstairs open and Ba’Naka • DJ Wess Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 5-11pm FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR upstairs, BacK2bACk COBALT/30 DEGREES Bacardi, all flavors, all NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • downstairs • Doors open Drag Yourself to Brunch at night long • Skin Tight Beat The Clock Happy Hour COBALT/30 DEGREES Karaoke, 8pm at 10pm • Go-go boys after Level One, 11am-2pm and USA presents Awesome — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), All You Can Drink Happy 11pm • For those 21 and 2-4pm • Featuring Kristina Con, 9pm-2am • $5 before $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of Hour • $15 Rail & GREEN LANTERN over, $5 from 10-11pm and Kelly and the Ladies of 11pm, $7 after 11pm • Beer $15 • Drag Bingo Domestic, $21 Call & Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 $10 after 11pm • For those Illusion • Bottomless Midnight Costume Contest Imports, 6-9pm • Guys Smirnoff, all flavors, all 18-20, $12 all night • 18+ Mimosas and Bloody Marys for Comic Con • Over $800 NUMBER NINE Night Out • Free Belvedere night long • Happy Hour: $3 Miller in Prizes • 50/50 Raffles • Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6 TOWN PATIO Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $8 Supersuit Rentals drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Belvedere Vodka Drinks all JR.’S Open 5pm • No Cover, • Sherry Vine Dinner Show night • DJ MadScience $2 Skyy Highballs and $2 5-10pm, $5 from 10-11pm at Level One, 8-10pm • JR.’S TOWN PATIO presents YAASSS FISH Drafts, 10pm-midnight and $10 after 11pm (enter Reservations recommended $4 Coors, $5 Vodka high- Open 5pm • No Cover Dance Party, 10pm-close • • Happy Hour: 2-for-1, through Town) • Drink specials all night • balls, $7 Vodka Red Bulls DJ Keenan Orr on the in the 4-9pm • Retro Friday • Doors open at 10pm • 21+ ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS lounge • $10 cover 10pm- $5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS NELLIE’S All male, nude dancers • 1am, $5 after 1am • 21+ Bulls, 9pm-close All male, nude dancers, DC9 Guest DJs • Zing Zang Shirtless Thursday • DJ hosted by LaTroya Nicole • 1940 9th St. NW Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, Tim-e in Secrets • 9pm • DC9 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Ladies of Illusion with host Happy Hour, 4-6pm • House Rail Drinks and Cover 21+ 1940 9th St. NW DJ Matt Bailer • Videos, Kristina Kelly, 9pm • DJ dcnine.com Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm • Happy Hour, 4-8pm • Dancing • Beat The Clock Steve Henderson in Secrets Buckets of Beer, $15 dcnine.com Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), • VJ Tre in Ziegfeld’s • DC EAGLE FRI., 05.29.15 $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • Cover 21+ $2 Draughts at Club Bar • NUMBER NINE DC BEAR CRUE Buckets of Beer $15 Club Colors — $2 Rail or Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 9 1/2 @Town • Bear Happy Domestic or $2 off Call drink, 3-9pm • No Cover Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: Hour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail, NUMBER NINE SAT., 05.30.15 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm $3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles • Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR TOWN • Friday Night Videos with Free Pizza, 7pm • Hosted for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • 9 1/2 Diner-style Breakfast DC Rawhides host Town resident DJ Shea Van Horn by Charger Stone • No No Cover Open at 5pm • Happy Buffet, 10am-3pm • Crazy & Country: Two-Step, Line • VJ • Expanded craft beer cover before 9:30pm • 21+ Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, Hour, 4-7pm • Freddie’s Dancing, Waltz and West selection • No cover

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 41 Coast Swing, $5 Cover to SUN., 05.31.15 Smirnoff, all flavors, all stay all night • Doors open night • Mama’s Trailer 6:45pm, Lessons 7-8pm, 9 1/2 Park Karaoke, 9:30pm-close Open dance 8-10:30pm Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any • Jaidynn Dior Fierce drink, 3-9pm • Multiple JR.’S from RuPaul’s Drag Race TVs showing movies, Sunday Funday • Liquid appears in the Drag Show shows, sports • Expanded Brunch • Doors open at • Drag Show starts at craft beer selection • No 1pm • $2 Coors Lights & 10:30pm • Hosted by Lena Cover $3 Skyy (all flavors), all day Lett and featuring Miss and night Tatianna, Shi-Queeta- COBALT/30 DEGREES Lee, Epiphany B. Lee and DC Latino Pride Royal Court NELLIE’S Ba’Naka • Music and video Coronation, 10 p.m.-2:30 Drag Brunch, hosted by by DJ Wess upstairs, DJs a.m. • $4 Stoli, Stoli flavors Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm BacK2bACk downstairs • and Miller Lite all day • • $20 Brunch Buffet • Cover $10 from 10-11pm, Homowood Karaoke, 10pm- House Rail Drinks, Zing $12 after 11pm • 21+ close • No Cover • 21+ Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer and Mimosas, $4, TOWN PATIO DC9 11am-close • Buckets of Open 2pm • No Cover, 1940 9th St. NW Beer, $15 2-10pm, Cover $10 from Happy Hour, 2-6pm • 10-11pm, $12 after 11pm dcnine.com NUMBER NINE (enter through Town) Pop Goes the World with DC EAGLE Wes Della Volla at 9:30 ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Open at 4pm • All Day pm • Happy Hour: 2 for Men of Secrets, 9pm • Drink Special — $1 1 on any drink, 3-9pm • Guest dancers • Ladies Domestic Draft Beer No Cover of Illusion with host Ella Fitzgerald, 9pm • DJ Steve FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR TOWN PATIO Henderson in Secrets • Champagne Brunch Buffet, Open 2pm • No Cover DJ Don T. in Ziegfeld’s • 10am-3pm • Crazy Hour, Doors 8pm • Cover 21+ 4-7pm • Karaoke, 8pm-1am ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS All male, nude dancers •

GREEN LANTERN Decades of Dance • DJ Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3 Tim-e in Secrets • Doors 8pm • Cover 21+

42 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM MON., 06.01.15 FREDDIE’S TUES., 06.02.15 GREEN LANTERN WED., 06.03.15 Night, hosted by Ms. Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • Happy Hour All Night Long, Regina Jozet Adams • 9 1/2 Karaoke, 8pm 9 1/2 4pm-close 9 1/2 Bingo prizes • Karaoke, Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: Open at 5pm • Happy Hour: Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 10pm-1am 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm GREEN LANTERN 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm JR.’S drink, 5-9pm • Multiple • Multiple TVs showing Happy Hour All Night Long, • Multiple TVs showing Birdie La Cage Show, TVs showing movies, GREEN LANTERN movies, shows, sports • 4pm-close • Michael’s movies, shows, sports • 10:30pm • Underground shows, sports • Expanded Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $4 Expanded craft beer selec- Open Mic Night Karaoke, Expanded craft beer selec- (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), craft beer selection • No Drafts all night long • Boys tion • No Cover 9:30pm-close tion • No Cover 9pm-close • DJ Wes Cover of HUMP upstairs, 9pm Della Volla • 2-for-1, 5pm- ANNIE’S JR.’S ANNIE’S midnight ANNIE’S JR.’S 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Trivia with MC Jay Ray, $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella • Showtunes Songs & Stella Artois, $4 House NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Stella Artois, $4 House 8pm • The Queen Amateur Artois, $4 House Wines, Singalongs, 9pm-close • Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Beat The Clock Happy Hour Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Drag Competition, hosted $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, DJ Jamez • $3 Draft Pints, Cocktails, $4 Manhattans — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Cocktails, $4 Manhattans by Ba’Naka, 10-11pm, with $4 Manhattans and Vodka 8pm-midnight and Vodka Martinis $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of and Vodka Martinis a $200 prize • Buy 1, Get Martinis Beer $15 • Karaoke and 1 Free, 4-9pm • $2 JR’s NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR COBALT/30 DEGREES Drag Bingo COBALT/30 DEGREES Drafts & $4 Vodka ($2 with COBALT/30 DEGREES Beat The Clock Happy Hour Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 College I.D./JR’s Team Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3 — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm NUMBER NINE Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm Shirt) Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of • SIN Industry Night • Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 • Wednesday Night • RuPaul’s Drag Race Beer $15 • Poker Texas Half-price Cocktails, 10pm- for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • Karaoke downstairs, 10pm NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Viewing and Drag Show Hold’em, 8pm • Dart close No Cover • Safe Word: A • Hosted by Miss Sasha SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm hosted by Kristina Kelly • Boards Gay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm Adams • $4 Stoli and Stoli and 9pm • Prizes include Doors open at 10pm, show DC9 • Prizes to top three Flavors and Miller Lite • bar tabs and tickets to starts at 11pm • $3 Skyy NUMBER NINE 1940 9th St. NW spellers • After 9pm, $3 No Cover • 21+ shows at the 9:30 Club • Cocktails, $8 Skyy and Red Open 5pm • Happy Hour: 2 Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Absolut, Bulleit & Stella $15 Buckets of Beer for Bull • No Cover, 18+ for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm • dcnine.com DC9 SmartAss Teams only • No Cover TOWN PATIO 1940 9th St. NW Bring a new team member DC9 FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Open 5pm • No Cover Happy Hour, 5-8pm • and each get a free $10 TOWN PATIO Dinner 1940 9th St. NW Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • dcnine.com Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Open 5pm • No Cover Karaoke, 8pm NUMBER NINE dcnine.com FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • $6 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Burgers • Drag Bingo drink, 5-9pm • No Cover

METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 43 TOWN PATIO COBALT/30 DEGREES GREEN LANTERN Open 5pm • No Cover Happy Hour: $6 Call Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4 Ladies Drink Free Power ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • $3 Hour, 4-5pm • Shirtless All male, nude dancers • Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight, Thursday, 10-11pm • DJs Shirtless Night, 10-11pm, $5 Red Bull, Gatorade BacK2bACk 12-12:30am • Military and Frozen Virgin Drinks Night, no cover with • Locker Room Thursday JR.’S military ID • DJ Don T. in Nights • DJs Sean Morris All You Can Drink for $15, Secrets • 9pm • Cover 21+ and MadScience • Ripped 5-8pm • $3 Rail Vodka Hot Body Contest at mid- Highballs, $2 JR.’s drafts, night, hosted by Sasha 8pm-close • Throwback THURS., 06.04.15 J. Adams and Ba’Naka • Thursday featuring rock/pop $200 Cash Prize • Doors retro hits open 10pm, 18+ • $5 Cover 9 1/2 under 21 and free with NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any college ID Beat The Clock Happy Hour drink, 5-9pm • Multiple — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), TVs showing movies, DC9 $4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of shows, sports • Expanded 1940 9th St. NW Beer $15 craft beer selection • No Happy Hour, 5-8pm • Cover • Music videos fea- dcnine.com NUMBER NINE turing DJ Wess Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any DC EAGLE drink, 5-9pm • No Cover ANNIE’S/ANNIE’S Mid-Atlantic Kennel Corps UPSTAIRS Bar Night, 9pm-close TOWN PATIO 4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm Open 5pm • No Cover • $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Artois, $4 House Wines, Crazy Hour, 4-7pm • ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS $4 Stolichnaya Cocktails, Karaoke, 8pm All male, nude dancers • $4 Manhattans and Vodka Shirtless Thursday • DJ Martinis Tim-e in Secrets • 9pm • Cover 21+ l

44 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 45 “I’m confident the matter will be dealt with in the course of this year.” — Communications Minister MALCOLM TURNBULL, speaking with ABC Radio about Australia potentially legalizing same-sex marriage. “I have never seen a social issue which has changed attitudes as rapidly as this one,” he added. “So my feeling is that it is very likely to pass.”

“They were out there arguing that the threat to little girls in Fayetteville were transwomen … when they were covering for someone who had demonstrated, at least at that age, was a threat to little girls himself.” — DAN SAVAGE, speaking on MSNBC’s All In With Chris Hayes about the scandal surrounding the Duggar family (19 Kids and Counting) after it was revealed that Josh Duggar had molested five girls when he was a teenager.

“It is heartbreaking to know that they paid the ultimate price, yet could not be authentically themselves.” — Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund Executive Director MICHAEL SILVERMAN, in a statement honoring the transgen- der men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces. “We call on the Pentagon to lift the ban on open military service by transgender people now,” he added.

“I am not synthetic. I am a real human being. I am just as real as you are.” — Supermodel JOSEPHINE SKRIVER, in an interview with Vice’s i-D, discussing her upbringing. Skriver was born via IVF to a gay father and lesbian mother — a “rainbow kid”, as she calls herself.

“Civil unions cannot be delayed any longer.” — Italy’s Prime Minister, MATTEO RENZI, privately responding to news that Ireland voted to legalize same-sex marriage, according to La Repubblica newspaper.

46 MAY 28, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MAY 28, 2015 47