2 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 14, 2016 3 EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Randy Shulman APRIL 14, 2016 ART DIRECTOR Volume 22 / Issue 49 Todd Franson MANAGING EDITOR Rhuaridh Marr NEWS 6 Business Backlash SENIOR EDITOR John Riley by John Riley CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 8 incremental activism Doug Rule by John Riley SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim 12 community calendar CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Scott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURES 16 irresistiBle tituss Burgess Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Interview by Randy Shulman WEBMASTER 20 Queer commitment David Uy by Rhuaridh Marr PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Julian Vankim SALES & MARKETING OUT ON THE TOWN 22 seeing the light by Randy Shulman PUBLISHER Randy Shulman 24 choral cause NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE by Doug Rule Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 STAGE 30 reality check DISTRIBUTION MANAGER by Kate Wingfield Dennis Havrilla HEALTH 32 Juice up by Bucky Mitchell PATRON SAINT GEARS 34 driverless and clueless D’Fwan by Rhuaridh Marr COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Netflix NIGHTLIFE 37 Jr.’s photography by Ward Morrison SCENE 44 the Fireplace photography by Ward Morrison METRO WEEKLY 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 46 last Word Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830 MetroWeekly.com All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. 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Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. © 2016 Jansi LLC. 4 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM Now online at MetroWeekly.com Tennessee therapists can refuse service to LGBT people NewsLGBT Deutsche Bank halts expansion in North Carolina UNCNRI Charlotte, NC Business Backlash Corporate America is leading the fight against anti-LGBT state laws by John Riley T SEEMED THAT NOT EVEN THREATS OF ECO- “I think PayPal, when they announced that they would be nomic backlash could dissuade social conservatives halting future expansions, set a precedent that others will fol- from writing anti-LGBT laws. In North Carolina, low,” says Jonathan Lovitz, vice president of external affairs at Mississippi and others, the business community tried the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). itsI best to force legislators to back down from bigotry, but “We’re seeing some of these companies commit to pulling jobs, Republicans laughed. Such threats were toothless, they pulling investments, and it’s certainly a powerful message and said — merely a scare tactic being used to quell the First a gesture that is clearly resonating, as we’re hearing rumblings Amendment rights of good Christian folks. Then PayPal that some of these states are reconsidering on their own, regard- drew blood, and everything changed. less of some of the conversations about there being a legal fight.” The online electronic payments giant had planned to build a Indeed, PayPal is alone in supporting North Carolina’s LGBT global operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina, that was community. Lionsgate Entertainment, which was planning to expected to employ more than 400 people. But the company shoot Hulu sitcom Crushed in North Carolina, pulled out of the announced last week that it would seek out other venues for state after the passage of HB 2, choosing to relocate production its expansion in light of the passage of HB 2, a law invalidating to Vancouver, Canada. And the New Jersey-based pharmaceuti- local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances and placing restric- cal company Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, which had previously tions on the types of restroom and changing facilities available announced plans for a $20 million manufacturing and research to transgender people. facility to be built in Durham, has walked back its plans, saying PayPal slammed the law, which North Carolina lawmakers it is now “re-evaluating” its options. jammed through in a matter of hours as part of a special legisla- And the backlash is not limited to North Carolina. Mississippi, tive session. Given it puts PayPal’s LGBT employees at risk of which passed a bill allowing individuals, businesses, and even discrimination, moving forward with any planned expansion in government workers to refuse to serve LGBT people or others the state was “simply untenable.” who do not conform to preferred sexual mores under the guise 6 APRIL 14, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM LGBTNews of religious freedom, is now under fire from major corporations. tions for the LGBT community.” The CEOs of eight major companies, among them Levi Strauss A 2014 worldwide study from the Williams Institute, a think & Co., Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Whole Foods Market, and tank that studies LGBT-related issues at UCLA found a positive PepsiCo, have signed onto a letter demanding that Magnolia correlation between countries with greater LGBT rights and State lawmakers repeal the act, which is slated to go into effect those with higher per capita income and a greater degree of eco- on July 1. In Tennessee, where legislators have passed a bill nomic development. But that same concept can be applied state- allowing counselors and therapists to refuse to treat LGBT side, as many corporations have found that embracing equality clients, and have revived another measure seeking to restrict and inclusion have resulted in higher levels of employee satis- transgender students’ access to restrooms based on their bio- faction and increased productivity. logical sex at birth, corporations and event planners have been “Look at the bottom line of America’s most inclusive compa- putting pressure on the government. Nashville Mayor Megan nies,” Lovitz notes. “Look at the companies who are NGLCC’s Barry told reporters that at least 12 conventions expected to supply chain partners, and how they correlate to being at the bring millions of dollars to the city have threatened to pull out top of the list of the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate should either bill be signed into law. Equality Index. And then compare that to their profit margin Deena Fidas, director of the Human Right Campaign’s and their bottom line. It is no longer anecdotal; it is a hard Workplace Equality Program, says businesses that adopt a numerical fact that companies that commit to diversity and strategy of divestment in states with anti-LGBT laws, while also inclusion are more successful.” speaking out against the law and demanding their repeal, can Despite setbacks in some states, others, such as Minnesota help influence lawmakers to drop anti-LGBT schemes. and Pennsylvania, are beginning to catch on when it comes to “Corporate interest speaks to both sides of the political aisle,” the connection between greater LGBT inclusion and increased she says. “In the past few weeks, you have seen Republican economic output. governors heed the call of major businesses to veto anti-LGBT “It’s inspiring that in the same month when we’re seeing bills in South Dakota and Georgia, for example. You’d be hard- North Carolina and Mississippi take a step backwards, we’re pressed to find anyone who seriously suggests that businesses seeing Pennsylvania’s governor commit publicly and proactively are in on some politically liberal agenda. These businesses are to LGBT inclusion and protections in state contracting and state demonstrating that, similar to what the American public shows public accommodations, which will only make it more attractive in survey after survey, equality is a shared value. It is both part to businesses, make it more attractive to conferences, make it of a viable economic and business strategy, and it’s also reflec- more attractive to new investments,” Lovitz says. “People want tive of what most Americans believe in terms of basic protec- to be able to go where they’re the most free.” l accomplish its aims also serves as a model for others — par- Incremental Activism ticularly those who argue that the gay community, out of expe- GLAA reflects on 45 years of working for LGBT rights dience, should attempt to separate itself from the lesbian or transgender communities. By John Riley “Our opponents, those who want to deny us equality, are not confused about this,” Rosendall says. “They lump us all togeth- N D.C., WE’VE BEEN BLESSED. MAYBE THERE’S er. Anyone in any way who does not conform to their notion of more maturity, maybe it’s the kind of people who migrate, gender roles is seen as threatening them.” I here, [but] people want to get something done,” says As it does every year, GLAA will mark its anniversary cel- Richard J. Rosendall. ebration by bestowing Distinguished Service Awards on indi- “In many other cities, they would spend so much time stab- viduals and groups who have helped advance LGBT rights and bing each other in the back and engaging in internecine warfare, served the wider LGBT community in the D.C. area. This year’s that opportunities were missed,” Rosendall, president of the honorees include Mónica Palacio, director of the D.C. Office of Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), adds. “But whatever Human Rights (OHR); June Crenshaw, the chair of the Board the reason is, we’ve been blessed with people who didn’t just of the Rainbow Response Coalition, which combats LGBT inti- want to go down in flames and feel righteous in the process, but mate partner violence, and the recently named interim director steadily work at something over a period of time.