Volume 46, Issue 6, February 6, 2015

FEBRUARY
06
2015
VOLUME 46
ISSUE 06
AMERICAS GAY NEWS SOURCE
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Praise for Obama budget plan

2016 proposal includes Social
Security x for gay couples
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
President Obama released his budget proposal for scal year 2016 this week
and included language that would remove a legal barrier prohibiting same-sex
couples in non-marriage equality states from receiving certain Social Security
spousal benets.
The nearly $4 trillion FY-2016 budget proposal, which the White House Oce
of Management & Budget unveiled on Monday, is considered a populist plan
because it seeks to boost the middle class while raising taxes on the wealthy
and on businesses.
The plan also seeks to amend the Social Security Act, which currently looks
to the state of residence, not the state of celebration, to determine whether
a couple is married. That means unless same-sex couples live in one of the
36 states where gay couples can legally marry, theyre currently ineligible for
certain Social Security spousal benets, including survivor benets and the
PRESIDENT OBAMAs budget proposal includes Social Security benets for gay couples.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
CONTINUES ON PAGE 14
Tremendous progress on LGBT rights

Gov. McAulie celebrates
recent changes in Virginia
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
mlavers@washblade.com
Virginia Gov. TERRY MCAULIFFE spoke at an Equality

Virginia reception this week in Richmond.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY LEE WHITMAN
RICHMOND, Va. Virginia Gov. Terry McAulie this

week reiterated his belief that the commonwealth
over the last year has seen tremendous progress on
the expansion of rights to its LGBT residents.
We have made tremendous progress, said
McAulie during an Equality Virginia reception at the
Library of Virginia, which is a few blocks away from
the Statehouse in downtown Richmond. We have a

long way to go.
McAulie made his remarks hours after Lieutenant
Gov. Ralph Northam cast the tie-breaking vote in the
Virginia Senate that allowed Senate Bill 785, state Sen.
A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico County)s measure that
would ban anti-LGBT discrimination against local and state
government employees, to pass. The same chamber on
Tuesday by a 20-18 vote margin also approved gay state
Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)s measure Senate Bill
1211 that would add gender-neutral references to the
commonwealths marriage laws.
NEW FIGHT
BE MINE
PHASES FUTURE
Del. Norton vows to

preserve bill barring LGBT
discrimination in schools.
Gift ideas, dining

options and more in our
Valentines Day guide.
Staers speak out as

popular lesbian bar
remains shuttered.
PAGE 4
PAGES 27-29
PAGE 31
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
0 4 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
LO CA L N E W S
D.C. Del. ELEANOR HOLMES

NORTON
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO
BY MICHAEL KEY
Norton vows to ght

efforts to kill LGBT bill
D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) told representatives

of LGBT groups on Monday that she will vigorously ght attempts by members
of Congress to kill a city-approved bill aimed at protecting LGBT students from
discrimination at D.C.-based religious schools.
She also told representatives of reproductive rights groups that she and
her allies on Capitol Hill would strongly oppose attempts by Congress to kill a
separate D.C. bill that would require city employers to cover surgical abortions
in their health insurance plans.
The LGBT-related bill, the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014, repeals
a 1989 law passed by Congress known as the Armstrong Amendment. The
amendment exempts religious educational institutions in the city from having
to comply with the D.C. Human Rights Acts provision banning discrimination
based on sexual orientation.
Language in the Armstrong Amendment, which is part of the D.C. Human
Rights Act, allows religious schools such as Catholic University to deny meeting
space or privileges oered to other student clubs for any organization that
engages in promoting, encouraging, or condoning any homosexual act, lifestyle
orientation, or belief.
The D.C. Council approved the repeal legislation in the form of the Human
Rights Amendment Act in December. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed it earlier
this month.
An ocial with the City Councils Oce of the Secretary said on Tuesday that
due to a backlog of bills passed by the Council in December, the Council wasnt
expected to send the bill to Congress to begin the required 30 legislative day
review of the measure for at least another two weeks.
The ocial, who spoke on condition of not being identied, said the holdup
was strictly administrative in nature and unrelated to the bills content.
Last week, a religious-oriented conservative group called Heritage Action
released a statement calling on its members and supporters to urge their
congressional representatives to support a disapproval resolution to kill the
Human Rights Amendment Act. Under the citys Home Rule Charter, a majority
vote of both the House and Senate and the signature of the president of a
disapproval resolution can kill any D.C.-passed bill. Most lawmakers expect
President Obama would refuse to sign such a resolution.
For that reason, opponents of D.C. bills have resorted to blocking such bills
through riders attached to the citys annual budget bill, which Congress must pass.
We have been preparing for anti-Democrats to use the Republican Congress
to try to interfere with the local laws of the District of Columbia, Norton said
in a statement last week. Just as my colleagues insist that the laws of their
constituents be respected by Washington, you better bet that we will insist on
that same American principle and will target members who dare to disrespect
the people of the District of Columbia by trying to overturn our local laws.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Metro TeenAIDS merges with

Whitman-Walker Health
In a statement released on Monday, ocials with Metro TeenAIDS and Whitman-Walker

Health announced that Metro TeenAIDS would merge with Whitman-Walker in a new strategic
collaboration to expand health care services for young people in the D.C. metro area.
Eective today, MTA will become part of Whitman-Walker Health, the statement
says. MTA employees will join Whitman-Walker Health and bring their youth-focused
expertise to the health center.
Whitman-Walker spokesperson Shawn Jain said the MTA operation, which is now a
division of Whitman-Walker Health, would retain its current name and remain in its
oces located on Capitol Hill near the Eastern Market Metro station at 651 Pennsylvania
Ave., S.E., for the immediate future.
This is an exciting new chapter in Metro TeenAIDSs 25-year history that builds on our already
strong relationship with Whitman-Walker, said Adam Tenner, MTAs executive director.
Metro TeenAIDS was founded in 1988 as the Washington Area Consortium on HIV
Infection in Youth as a non-prot organization dedicated to providing HIV education and
support services directed toward young people in the D.C. area, many of whom were
becoming infected with HIV in growing numbers.
Records led with the IRS show that the group remained incorporated under that
name but soon adopted the trade name of Metro TeenAIDS.
Whitman-Walker Health, formerly known as the Whitman-Walker Clinic, is the D.C.
areas largest private agency providing HIV education, treatment, and prevention
services with a special outreach to the LGBT community. In recent years it has expanded
its services to become a primary health care provider for medical and dental services
beyond just HIV.
The Mautner Project, a national lesbian health organization based in D.C., merged in 2013
with Whitman-Walker in an arrangement similar to that of the Metro TeenAIDS merger.
Records led by Metro TeenAIDS with the IRS for its scal year ending Sept. 30, 2013,
the most recent ling made public, show that the groups income was $3.67 million and
its expenses came to $3.45 million.
Whitman-Walkers most recently available ling of its IRS 990 form, which covers the
calendar year of 2013, shows its income to be $20.8 million and its expenses at $19.9 million.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
MICHAEL ESTVE
PHOTO COURTESY OF ESTVE
Maryland gets Log Cabin chapter

Log Cabin Republicans this week announced the formation of a new Maryland chapter.
Michael Estve, chapter leader of Log Cabin Republicans of Maryland, told the
Washington Blade on Tuesday that he is excited to start a chapter of the national
LGBT Republican organization in the Free State. Estve added he hopes to work with the
Maryland Republican Party to expand the Republican brand in the state.
Log Cabin Republicans announced the formation of its new Maryland chapter less
than two weeks after Republican Gov. Larry Hogan took oce.
Hogan during his campaign against then-Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown said his
position on marriage rights for same-sex couples has evolved. The Republican who
was an adviser to former Gov. Bob Ehrlich said he would not seek to repeal Marylands
gay nuptials law that voters upheld in a 2012 referendum.
Hogan last summer said he does not support the states transgender rights statute
that then-Gov. Martin OMalley signed.
Gov. Hogan represents a new wave of socially moderate GOP leaders who can win in
purple and even blue states, Estve told the Blade. Voters are tired of having to choose
between socially backwards conservatives and traditional tax-and-spend liberals, and
the answer to their frustration will be more candidates like Hogan.
Estve said he has yet to have any direct interactions with Hogan outside of
congratulating him during his Inaugural Ball in Baltimore. He nevertheless applauded
the governor for introducing what he described to the Blade as the states rst
structurally balanced budget in years.
The Maryland Log Cabin Republicans looks forward to supporting Gov. Hogans
scally sound agenda and good-government initiatives, said Estve.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 0 5
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
0 6 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
LO CA L N E W S
Natl Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day set for Saturday

Groups to highlight
high infection rate
among black gay men
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
The persistently higher HIV infection
rate among black gay men and ways to
reduce that rate were expected to be
among the leading topics of discussion at
events across the country on Saturday to
commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day.
In D.C., Whitman-Walker Health and
Us Helping Us, the citys two leading
private AIDS service providers reaching
out to the LGBT community, were
scheduled to oer HIV testing and HIV
prevention information along with some
entertainment and refreshments at
separate locations in connection with
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Spokesperson
Shawn
Jain
said
Whitman-Walker would host an HIV
testing event today from 1-4 p.m. at
the Anacostia Metro Station. He said a
separate testing event was scheduled
for Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
at the Bachelors Mill, a popular bar and
dance club with a mostly black gay male
clientele at 1104 8th St., S.E., near the
Washington Navy Yard.
Us Helping Us Executive Director Ron
Simmons said his organization would
host an HIV and Hepatitis C testing event
at the Us Helping Us oces at 3636
Georgia Ave., N.W. from noon-8 p.m.
today. Snacks and beverages along with
possible entertainment hosted by WPGCFM Radio were also expected to part of
the event, Simmons said.
This years National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day comes on the heels of
yet another study showing that the HIV
infection rate among black gay men
remains alarmingly high and shows no
signs of abating.
The study, published in November
by medical journal The Lancet, was
conducted by researchers from Emory
Universitys Rollins School of Public
Health in Atlanta and The Foundation for
AIDS Research, known as amfAR.
Among the researchers that coauthored the study was Gregorio Greg
Millett, a former White House adviser
on AIDS policy, former researcher with
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and current vice president
and director of public policy at amfAR.
Unfortunately, the HIV response is
failing black gay men in particular in the
United States, Millett told the Washington
Blade in a Feb. 2 interview. And thats
really concerning because if we actually
take a look at the impact by the numbers
The HIV response is failing black gay men in

particular, said GREG MILLETT, vice president
and director of public policy at amfAR.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MILLETT
its unfathomable the degree to which

black gay men are impacted, he said.
Black gay men are only about 1.4
percent of the black population, but
comprise 53 percent of new infections
that take place each year among African
Americans, Millett said.
And black gay men are only 0.2 percent
of the U.S. population but 23 percent
of new infections that take place in the
U.S. each year. So they are a quarter of
the new infections that take place each
year but only 0.2 percent of the U.S,
population, he said.
As if that were not enough, Millett
points to recent CDC gures showing that
the rate of viral suppression among black
gay men who are HIV positive is just 16
percent, which he describes as another
alarming gure.
AIDS doctors and researchers use the
term viral suppression to describe the
generally healthy condition of those with
HIV who succeed in greatly lowering their
viral load through treatment with the
current generation of highly eective antiretroviral drugs. In addition to resulting in
people with HIV remaining healthy, AIDS
experts say viral suppression also results
their being signicantly less likely to
transmit the virus to someone else.
Millett notes that studies show that
white gay men with HIV have a viral
suppression rate of about 33 percent,
which is also alarmingly low and an
indication, similar to black gay men, that
gay men with HIV in general are not getting
the scientically proven medication that
easily can render them virally suppressed
and help them remain healthy.
A combination of factors, including
lack of access to adequate health care,
income and educational disparities, and a
lack of culturally sensitive prevention and

outreach eorts appear to be responsible,
at least in part, for why both black and
white gay men with HIV dont have much
higher rates of viral suppression.
But Millett notes that the extraordinarily
high HIV infection rate among black gay
men has also made it extraordinarily
dicult to lower that rate.
Its very clear over 30 years of research
that black gay men are not engaging in
higher rates of risk behavior compared
with white gay men, he said. You nd that
in study after study black gay men have
fewer partners compared with white gay
men. They have just as many instances of
unprotected sex as compared with white
gay men, he said.
There are several theories on why
the infection rate of black gay men
became so high and has remained
high. According to Millett, one theory
holds that in the very early years of
the epidemic, black gay men may have
engaged in higher risk behaviors for
a longer period of time than white gay
men and other population groups
partially because black gay men did not
have access to education and prevention
eorts available to other groups.
Millett said studies also show that theres
a higher proportion of black gay men who
are HIV positive but dont know it, making
it more likely that they unknowingly
transmit HIV to their partners.
So we do know from various analyses
from CDC that people who are HIV
positive and dont know it contribute to at
least half of the infections that take place

in the United States, Millett said.
Part of the reason black MSM have
higher rates of HIV infection and dont
know about it is because black MSM are
also less likely to have access to health
care than white gay men, said Millett.
If you dont have health insurance you
are less likely to be screened for HIV,
andyoure also less likely, if youre already
positive and diagnosed as positive, to
have access to health care.
Yet another possible component to
why black gay men have higher HIV rates,
Millett said, is they are more likely to be
disenfranchised and marginalized.
We know that people who have lower
incomes, from CDC data, are more likely
to be HIV positive, he said. People who
are unemployed are more likely to be HIV
positive. People who have lower education
are more likely to be HIV positive.
A multi-pronged approach to breaking
the cycle of high HIV infection rates
among black gay men, Millett said, should
include an aggressive eort to identify
people who are HIV positive and get them
into treatment which, in turn, will make
them far less likely to transmit the virus
to other black gay men.
At the same time he said black gay men
who are HIV negative should consider
more aggressive steps to engage in
protective sex as well as consider preexposure prophylactic drugs that are now
readily available and which, according to
Millett, dramatically reduces the risk of
HIV infection.
Hogan reverses on Medicaid regulation

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced his administration will allow a
regulation that prohibits state Medicaid providers from discriminating on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to take eect.
Equality Maryland on Wednesday announced on its Facebook page that the
organization just talked to the governors oce and Maryland Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van Mitchell has recommended reissuing
the Medicaid regulations prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people. The
group described the announcement as good news.
The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene last November approved
the change to the Code of Maryland Regulations. Both Equality Maryland and
Free State Legal Project noted at the time the states transgender rights law that
then-Gov. Martin OMalley signed in May had taken eect.
Hogan on Jan. 21 announced he would postpone the nal implementation of
the regulation on the same day he took oce. The Baltimore Sun reported the
Medicaid provision was among ve the Republican governor pulled before they
had been scheduled to appear in the Maryland Register two days later.
As Gov. Hogan has repeatedly made clear, he decided to place a hold on
a handful of regulations that the previous administration put through at the
last minute, Hogan spokesperson Hannah Marr told the Blade on Friday in a
statement. After review and consultation with Secretary Mitchell, the governor
is comfortable with the health care-related regulations going forward, and will
submit them to the Maryland Register.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 0 7
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
0 8 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
LO CA L N E W S
Witness disputes sex assault charges against gay lieutenant

Coast Guard ocer
says gay Marine was
willing participant
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
A U.S. Coast Guard ocer thought to be
a lead prosecution witness in the sexual
assault case against gay Air Force Lt. Joshua
Seefried testied at a military hearing on
Wednesday that Seefrieds accuser was a
willing participant in a three-way sexual
encounter with him and Seefried at a New
York hotel room in 2012.
Coast Guard Lt. Commander John
Fiorentines Jan. 28 testimony came at a
reopened pre-court martial proceeding
known as an Article 32 hearing for
Seefried at Andrews Air Force Base.
Among other things, he said he,
Seefried and the Marine who has the
rank of 2nd lieutenant and whos the
alleged victim in the case ended up in
Seefrieds Manhattan hotel room on May
26, 2012 after a day of heavy drinking and
socializing at a restaurant with other gay
military ocers.
We got into bed the three of us,
Fiorentine said in response to a question
by Capt. Robert Collins, one of the Air
Force prosecutors in the case.
Can you describe what happened
next? asked Collins.
Non-penetrative
sexual
contact
between me and Josh and [the Marine],
Fiorentine replied.
Were you all three nude? asked Collins.
Yes, said Fiorentine.
Its very hazy, he continued. Heavy
kissing between Josh and myself and
[the Marine] oral sex with Josh and [the
Marine] and meAt some point I pass out
and fall asleep.
Seefried, the Marine and Fiorentine
were among a group of seven gay military
ocers stationed in dierent parts of the
country that traveled to New York that
weekend to celebrate Fleet Week, an
annual event in which Navy and Coast
Guard ships dock in a major U.S. city.
They were also celebrating the repeal of
the Dont Ask, Dont Tell law.
Seefried several years earlier founded
OutServe, a group of then closeted gays
in the military who worked behind the
scenes to lobby for the repeal of the Dont
Ask, Dont Tell law. Several of the other
gay ocers who gathered in New York for
Fleet Week, including the Marine, knew
Seefried through his work with OutServe,
people familiar with the case have said.
In response to questioning by defense
attorney Richard Stevens, Fiorentine
testied at the hearing on Wednesday that
he later witnessed what he believed to be
a consensual sexual encounter in the hotel
A Marine has accused Air Force Lt. JOSHUA SEEFRIED of a sexual assault in 2012.
room between Seefried and the Marine

after the earlier three-way encounter.
He said the second encounter took place
after the three men slept in the bed for a
few hours and after he got out of bed to
take a phone call from his former boyfriend.
Just before he left the room, he
testied, he saw Seefried stimulating
the Marine and placing the Marines penis
on his [Seefrieds] anus.
I believe [the Marine] was a willing
participant, he said in response to a
question by defense attorney Stevens.
Seefried, through his attorney, has
so far exercised his right not to make
statements about the allegations against
him. Gay activist Lane Hudson, a friend
of Seefrieds who attended Wednesdays
hearing, said Seefried was hopeful
that his name would be cleared either
through a favorable recommendation by
the investigative ocer presiding over
the reopened Article 32 hearing or in a
subsequent court martial.
The Marine initially accused Fiorentine of
sexually assaulting him in the hotel room
after returning to his military base in Hawaii.
An Air Force investigating ocer conducting
an Article 32 hearing for Fiorentine found
insucient evidence to take the case to
court martial, and authorities dropped the
case against Fiorentine.
The Marine then accused Seefried, a
prominent advocate for the rights of gays
in the military, of performing sexual acts
on him in the hotel room, saying he was
intoxicated and unable to give consent.
Last year, two years after the alleged
incident occurred, Air Force authorities
charged Seefried with wrongful sexual
contact, forcible sodomy and abusive
sexual contact in connection with the
Marines allegations.
Sources familiar with the case said the
Marine told investigators that he became
so intoxicated at the New York restaurant
that he had no memory of how he got
from the restaurant to Seefrieds hotel

room and what had happened until he
woke up naked in the bed with Seefried
and Fiorentine.
Fiorentine, in his testimony on
Wednesday, disputed the Marines claim
that he was incapable of consenting
to the sexual encounters. In response
to questions from both Stevens and
prosecutor Collins, Fiorentine said at no
time while he was in the hotel room did
he participate in or witness any acts of
anal penetration.
The others present at the restaurant
reportedly told investigators that at
Seefrieds invitation most of them,
including the Marine and Fiorentine,
walked about a mile from the restaurant
to Seefrieds hotel and continued
socializing at the hotels spa and hot tub.
Some of those who went to the spa and
hot tub area told investigators they saw
Seefried and the Marine making out
in the hot tub in what appeared to be a
consenting display of aection, sources
familiar with the case have said.
The
Marine
reportedly
told
investigators that when he later woke up
in Seefrieds room he could not nd all
of his clothes or his cell phone and felt
he had no choice but to stay in the hotel
room until he contacted others to nd
out where his cell phone was.
Sources familiar with the case say that
the Marine testied at the rst Article
32 hearing for Seefried in August that at
some point he got partially dressed and
left Seefrieds room to look for his phone.
Fiorentine testied on Wednesday that
the Marine approached him in the hotel
lobby area to ask him if he knew where he
could nd his phone.
Fiorentine testied on Wednesday that
he told the Marine to look in the area of
the spa and hot tubs, which is where he
said the Marine was prior to joining him
and Seefried in Seefrieds room.
During their conversation at that time,

Fiorentine testied on Wednesday that the
Marine appeared alert and wasnt showing
any obvious eects of being intoxicated.
But the Marine told investigators that
he then returned to Seefrieds hotel room,
used Seefrieds iPad to try to track down
his phone before getting back into bed
all while still in a state of intoxication.
It was at that time, while in bed, that
Seefried allegedly performed oral sex on
him without consent and placed his [the
Marines] penis on Seefrieds anus, according
to statements he made to investigators.
Sources say the Marine reportedly told
investigators that he believes he showed
his unwillingness to participate in the
sexual encounter with Seefried by lying
still on the bed without saying anything.
Similar to Fiorentines case, the
investigating ocer presiding over an
Article 32 hearing for Seefried last August
concluded that insucient evidence
existed to obtain a conviction in a court
martial. The investigating ocer, Col.
Robert Preston, recommended that the
case not be brought before a court martial.
Preston also presided over Wednesdays
reopened Article 32 hearing.
In an action considered controversial,
Major General Darryl Burke, commander
of the Air Force District of Washington,
overruled Prestons recommendation and
ordered that the case go to trial in a court
martial, which was scheduled for Jan. 26.
The court martial was postponed
indenitely in December after an Air
Force judge granted a motion introduced
by defense attorney Stevens to reopen
the Article 32 hearing to give the defense
an opportunity to question Fiorentine.
Fiorentine invoked his right to refuse
to testify on grounds of self-incrimination
at Seefrieds initial Article 32 hearing in
August after Burke refused his request
for immunity from prosecution over
statements he would make if he testied
at the proceeding.
Burke has since granted him that
immunity, enabling him to testify at the
Jan. 28 hearing at Andrews.
Under an agreement with prosecutors
and the defense, Preston closed part of
the Jan. 28 hearing to the public so that
matters deemed improper for public
disclosure, such as private information
pertaining to witnesses or the Marine,
could be discussed. The closed part of the
hearing lasted about 40 minutes.
Preston said he wanted to wait
until a full transcript of the hearing
was completed before making his
recommendation on whether or not the
case should go to court martial.
Similar to the earlier Article 32 hearing
for Seefried, Gen. Burke is charged with
making a nal decision on whether to follow
or reject Prestons decision on whether the
case should go to court martial.
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Trans woman killed in Los Angeles

VAN NUYS, Calif. Los Angeles police
suspect a man killed his transgender
girlfriend before setting their apartment on
re.
KABC reported that reghters who
responded to the blaze around 5 a.m. on
Jan. 31 found Yazmin Vash Payne stabbed to
death on the kitchen oor of the apartment
she shared with Ezekiel Dear.
The Los Angeles television station
reported that Dear walked into a local
police station two days later with his pastor
and turned himself in.
Payne is among three trans women of
color who have been reported killed in
recent weeks.
Ty Underwood was shot to death in Tyler,
Texas, on Jan. 26. Lamia Beard was killed in
Norfolk, Va., on Jan. 17.
The lives of transgender women of
color need to matter to all of us, said Chai
Jindasurat of the New York City Anti-Violence
YAZMIN VASH PAYNEs former
boyfriend turned himself in to
Project, which coordinates the National
police after her murder.
Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. We
all must take immediate action to end this
epidemic by supporting the leadership
of transgender women of color, public
awareness and respect campaigns, speaking out against this violence, and
protecting transgender people from harassment and discrimination.
Advocates, HUD launch housing initiative

NEW YORK Advocates along with the Department of Housing and Urban
Development on Feb. 3 ocially launched a campaign designed to address the
housing needs of LGBT seniors.
The campaign seeks to build housing for LGBT seniors and train those who
provide it on their needs and available rights. It will also advocate for policies
that promote LGBT-inclusive housing, provide resources to LGBT seniors who
are seeking LGBT-friendly housing and expand services that are specic to this
group.
A SAGE report notes 13 percent of LGBT seniors said they experienced antigay discrimination while seeking a place to live. This gure jumps to 25 percent
of trans people who took part in the survey.
A study that HUD conducted in 2013 documented signicant discrimination
against same-sex couples in what it describes as the online rental housing
market.
Around the country, LGBT older people face profound challenges in obtaining
LGBT-welcoming housing a problem that will increase signicantly as the elder
population doubles in the next few decades, and more out and empowered
LGBT people age into their retirement years, says SAGE on its website.
Fire destroys Nebraska gay club

LINCOLN, Neb. A re destroyed a gay nightclub in Nebraskas capital city
on Jan. 31.
The Lincoln Journal Star reported a re broke out at the Karma Nightclub and
Cabaret in downtown Lincoln shortly around 7:15 p.m. The newspaper said the
blaze that grew to four alarms gutted the building and caused its roof to collapse.
Two people were inside the building when the re began, but they were able
to escape uninjured.
Theres just an overwhelming sadness, Tami Harris-Belt, a longtime patron
of the club, told the Lincoln Journal Star. I want to use the word grief even
though no one was hurt. I want to have a memorial for the building. Its a loss
that feels comparable to death.
Reports indicate Karma Nightclub and Cabaret was the largest gay nightclub
in Nebraska.
NATIONAL NEWS
Membership in LGBT caucus

may decline in 114th Congress
New $400 dues a source
of discontent for oces
on tight budgets
By CHRIS JOHNSON
The LGBT Equality Caucus is once again
calling on U.S. House members to show
solidarity with LGBT people by joining the
organization except this time theres a
price tag.
At the onset of the 114th Congress,
the nearly seven-year-old caucus is
for the rst time charging for regular
membership. The cost is $400 per year.
The cost forbeing a co-chair has risen to
$7,500 annually and for being a vice-chair
to $2,100 a year.
The co-chairs of the LGBT Equality
Caucus consist of the six openly LGB
members of the U.S. House: Reps. Jared
Polis (D-Colo.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.),
Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Mark
Pocan (D-Wis.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)
and Mark Takano (D-Calif).
In a time of at-funding for the budgets
of House members, the new dues are a
source of heartburn for staers trying to
make ends meet and coversalaries, oce
rent, franking and travel. The same $400
could be used to conduct a tele-town hall
conference with constituents from D.C.
Capitol Hill sources toldthe Washington
Blade the new dues may result in the
caucus, which was 114 members
strong in the 113th Congress, shrink in
membership when new members are
announced in the immediate future
and not because of retirements or
Democratic losses.
One U.S. House aide said his bosss
renewal as a member of the LGBT
Equality Caucus is in question because
of the cost; another source familiar with
Capitol Hill said members are declining to
rejoinbecause of the fees and expected a
pretty signicant drop-o in membership
for this Congress.
Brad Jacklin, executive director of the
LGBT Equality Caucus, conrmed the new
charges for membership in an interview
with the Washington Blade, saying they
amounted to changes in structure and a
modest increase from the 113th Congress.
In
the
last
Congress,
regular
membership was free; co-chairs paid
$5,000 a year and vice-chairs paid
$2,000a year, Jacklin said.
Asked whether he expected a dropo in caucus membership when the rst
names are announced, Jacklin replied, I
really dont know at this time.
U.S. Rep. JARED POLIS (D-Colo.) is a co-chair

of the LGBT Equality Caucus.
Jacklin acknowledged a portion of the

dues do go to my salary. According
to Legistorm, a website that monitors
congressional salaries, Jacklin made
about$53,000 in salary in scal year 2014
a gure he said was accurate.
But Jacklin also said the dues will go
to benets for members. A memo from
the caucus dated Jan. 15 and provided to
the Blade by Jacklin details each of these
benets, which include exclusive access
to briengs, talking points for LGBTrelated events, brieng memos on LGBT
policy, pressreleases, newsletters and an
email list.
Jacklin deferred to the six co-chairs
of the caucus for more information on
why the organization is charging these
dues for the rst time. None of the six
members immediately responded to the
Washington Blades request forcomment.
Its not unusual for major caucuses on
Capitol Hill, such as the Congressional
Progressive Caucus, to charge for
membership. To keep the dues in
perspective, the annual budget for a
member of Congress ranges between $1
million and $1.5 million a year depending
on the district and cost of living.
According to the website for Polis,
membership in the LGBT Equality Caucus
in the 113th Congress totaled 114
members. The seven co-chairs consisted
of openly LGB members of the U.S. House
at the time. (Former Rep. Mike Michaud,
one of the seven, has since retired from
Congress after his losing his bid to
become the next governor of Maine.)
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1 2 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
NATIONAL NEWS
Carter urged to address LGBT issues in conrmation hearing

Trans service, LGBT
discrimination remain
unresolved by Pentagon
By CHRIS JOHNSON
Days before the conrmation hearing
for President Obamas pick as the next
defense secretary, an LGBT advocacy
group called on the nominee to address
outstanding LGBT military issues when
speaking to U.S. senators.
The head of the American Military
Partner Association, an organization
for LGBT military families, told the
Washington Blade she wants Ashton
Carter to address the ban on transgender
service and the lack of an LGBT nondiscrimination rule in the U.S. military
during his hearing Wednesday before the
Senate Armed Services Committee. (Visit
washingtonblade.com for updates on
Carters conrmation hearings.)
From non-discrimination protections
for gay and lesbian service members,
to lifting the ban on open and honest
service by transgender service members,
critical challenges remain for LGBT troops
challenges that impact their families
as well, said Ashley Broadway-Mack,
president of the American Military Partner
Association. For the sake of our modern
military families, we urge Ashton Carter
to address these remaining challenges in
his conrmation hearings and soon after
he is conrmed as secretary of defense.
Broadway-Mack emphasized Carter
could build on the pro-LGBT work of
other defense secretaries in the Obama
administration, who acted to lift Dont
Ask, Dont Tell and expanded benets
to the same-sex spouses of U.S. service
members after the U.S. Supreme Court
struck down the Defense of Marriage Act.
Carter is being presented an
opportunity to continue the enormous
amount of progress made by the
administration since the repeal of Dont
Ask, Dont Tell, and it is the hope of our
military families that he will seize that
opportunity, Broadway-Mack said.
It wouldnt be the rst time a nominee
for defense secretary committed to
moving forward on LGBT issues during
a Senate conrmation hearing. In 2013,
now outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck
Hagel pledged in his written Q&A hed
move forward expeditiously on samesex partner benets for service members.
Following the ruling against DOMA, Hagel
acted on that pledge.
But the situation is dierent this time
around. For starters, Republicans are
now in control of the U.S. Senate, which
could put Obamas nominee for defense
secretary in a more uncomfortable
ASHTON CARTER has been nominated as

defense secretary.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
position when publicly expressing

support for LGBT rights. While a Senate
with a Democratic majority would be
more comfortable approving such a
nominee, Republicans arguably could see
that as a reason for impasse.
Moreover, Hagel was under pressure
to express a commitment to LGBT rights
because advocates were concerned about
his generally anti-LGBT voting record as a
Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska.
In 1998, Hagel said he couldnt vote to
conrm openly gay U.S. ambassador to
Luxembourg Jim Hormel because hes
openly, aggressively gay.
During anews brieng on Friday, White
House Press Secretary Josh Earnest
dodged when asked by the Washington
Blade if Carter would address LGBT issues
during the hearing, deferring to members
of the Senate Armed Services Committee
and the Pentagon.
Asked whether the nominee would
address openly transgender service
and LGBT non-discrimination in the U.S.
military, Earnest replied, If asked, Im
sure that he will.
Earnest demurred when asked if Carter
would volunteer anything about these topics.
Well, I dont know that theres a lot of
volunteering that goes on in those kinds
of settings, I think usually theyre asked
questions and Im sure that hell answer
them if hes given the opportunity to do
so, Earnest said. So, one thing you could
do is you could go and ask members of
Congress if theyre going to ask him.
Earnest also dodged when asked if the
Pentagon could implement these measures
either before or after conrmation, saying,
I dont know, youll have to check with the
Pentagon about that.
The
Pentagon
was
no
more
forthcoming about the upcoming hearing.
James Swartout, a Defense Department

spokesperson, said a preview of Carters
testimony is unavailable.
According to a 2012 report from the
Williams Institute at the University of
California, Los Angeles, an estimated
15,500 transgender people are serving
in the U.S. military, but must do so in
silence because DOD Instruction 6130.03
prohibits them from serving openly.
Unlike with Dont Ask, Dont Tell, the
Pentagon could change this policy at any
time because its a regulation, not a law.
As for non-discrimination, the Military
Equal Opportunity Program enumerates
race, color, religion, sex and national origin
as protected classes, but says nothing
about sexual orientation or gender identity.
That means LGBT service members have
no recourse other than their chain of
command if they feel theyve experienced
discrimination within their ranks.
The nations largest LGBT group, the
Human Rights Campaign, didnt respond
to a request for comment for this article.
The San Francisco-based Palm Center,
which has made transgender service its
priority issue, declined to comment.
Allyson Robinson, policy director for
the LGBT military group SPARTA, took a
dierent approach when asked what she

wanted Carter to address during the hearing
and spoke about defense issues at large.
As with most members of the military
and their families, SPARTAs members
want to hear Dr. Carter speak to two
issues, Robinson said. First, where
will he stand in the coming debate over
military compensation, benets and
retirement reform? Second, how will he
inuence the Obama administrations
ongoing conversation about how best to
deal with ISIS? Dr. Carters positions on
these two issues will have a tremendous
impact on the lives of LGBT service
members and their families not only for
the remaining months of the presidents
term, but for years to come.
Robinson, whos transgender and has
been a leading voice for transgender
service in the U.S. military, didnt respond
to a follow up email on whether she
wanted Carter to address the issue during
the hearing.
Previously, in an MSNBC interview
last week, Robinson said Hagel should
be the one to implement the change in
policy before his planned exit from the
Pentagon and said Carter has far more
important things to keep him occupied.
Alabama calls on Supreme

Court to block marriage
Request follows decision from Eleventh Circuit
The attorney general of Alabama made a last-ditch eort on Tuesday to
prevent same-sex marriages in the state by calling on U.S. Associate Justice
Clarence Thomasto halt the weddings.
In a 12-page legal brief, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange writes a
stay is warrantedto stop gay nuptials from beginning in his stateon Feb. 9 as a
result ofU.S. District JudgeCallie V. S. Granades rulings against the states ban
on same-sex marriage.
If the stay is not extended, there will be unnecessary confusion and litigation
until this Court issues its opinion in the same-sex marriage cases on certiorari
review from the Sixth Circuit, Strange writes. This confusion, conict, and
additional [l]itigation will serve no purpose because, by the end of this term, the
answers to the questions presented in this case will be clear and binding for all
involved.
Strange, a Republican, had previously sought a stay pending appeal with the
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Alabama, but
the court denied the request on Tuesday. On the same day, Strange took up the
matter with Thomas in a brief before the Supreme Court.
Thomas, who has jurisdiction over stay requests in the Eleventh Circuit, can
decide the matter himself or refer the matter to the entire bench.
Its hard to see how Thomas or the court would accede to the stay request.
When Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called on Thomas to block same-sex
marriages from taking place in Florida, the justice referred the matter to the
entire court, which denied the request.The Supreme Court has also refused stay
decisions in favor of same-sex marriage in states like Kansas, South Carolina,
Alaska and Idaho.
CHRIS JOHNSON
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 1 3
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

The National LGBTQ Task Force builds power, takes action and creates change to achieve freedom
and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families. As a progressive
social justice organization, the Task Force works toward a society that values and respects the
diversity of human expression and identity and achieves equity for all.
We are currently seeking a Human Resources Manager to be responsible for all aspects of
personnel administration and human resource development, including the Task Forces programs
for recruiting, orientation, workplace training, and employee performance evaluation.
Responsibilities include:
Coordinates the preparation and placement of notices and advertisements for open positions
Issues offer letters to prospective employees
Provides or oversees orientations for new hires
Maintains personnel files
Ensures proper implementation of personnel policies
Oversees compliance with state and federal laws (incl EEO/Affirmative Action, ERISA) and other
relevant regulations and policies
Prepares required filings with federal, state and local government agencies for workers
compensation, unemployment, census and similar requirements
Manages the employee performance review process
Maintains regular working knowledge of comparable compensation scales
Supports management working with the employees bargaining unit and District 1199E, SEIU
Advises management on matters related to best practice in human resources, personnel
administration
Receives and process reports of employee misconduct or violation of the Code of Ethics as the
Task Forces Compliance Officer
Coordinates staff-wide training programs on workplace conduct and other topics
Works with Finance and Administration staff to design and deliver employee benefits, time &
attendance reporting and payroll services.
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and describing your interest in being a member of the Task Force staff. If possible, please submit the
names and affiliations of three references. Apply via email at hr@thetaskforce.org; please write HR
Manager in the subject line.
LEON
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gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, personal
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NATIONAL NEWS
Obama budget addresses benets for gay couples

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
one-time lump sum death benet.

If Obamas budget proposal is
approved a tall order in the Republicancontrolled Congress U.S. code would
be changed so married same-sex couples
would be eligible for these benets
even if they live in a state that doesnt
recognize their marriage.
Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to
Marry, praised Obama for including in his
budget plan a provision to ensure parity of
Social Security benets for same-sex couples.
His proposal to ensure equal Social
Security benets would x a crucial
gap in federal protections for samesex couples, Wolfson said. President
Obamas leadership in helping bring the
freedom to marry to all Americans will be
a shining part of this presidents legacy,
But Wolfson added the only way
to ensure same-sex couples have the
benets of marriage nationwide is for
the Supreme Court to put the country
on the right side of history by ending
marriage discrimination throughout the
United States, leaving no family and no
state behind.
The proposed x to the Social Security
code in Obamas budget is along the lines
of the Social Security & Marriage Equality
Act, which was introduced last year by
Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) in the U.S. House
and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in the
U.S. Senate.
In a statement to the Washington
Blade, Murray commended Obama for
including the language in his budget
plan on the basis that same-sex couples
deserve equal treatment under the law,
regardless of their zip code.
I introduced the Social Security &
Marriage Equality Act to ensure all
couples have access to Social Security
survivor benets theyve earned, and
Im pleased the president reected this
priority in his budget proposal, Murray
said. There is still work to be done to
ensure that equality does not end at state
lines, so I look forward to reintroducing
the SAME Act in the 114th Congress.
Social Security benets are but one
issue facing same-sex couples who live
in non-marriage equality states. Title 38
of the U.S. code, which governs veterans
benets, also looks to the state of
residence, not the state of celebration, to
determine whether a couple is married.
Same-sex couples in non-marriage
equality states are currently ineligible
for veterans benets like ChampVA
(health care for spouses of disabled
veterans), higher disability compensation
for disabled veterans with dependents,
full access to VA home loans and many
survivor benets for widows.
Ashley Broadway-Mack, president of
EVAN WOLFSON, president of Freedom to Marry, praised President Obama for including in his
budget plan a provision to ensure parity of Social Security benets for same-sex couples.
the LGBT military group known as the

American Military Partner Association,
said shes disappointed the budget
ignores the issue of veterans benets for
same-sex couples.
While we are pleased to see many
opportunities
proposed
that
will
positively impact our military families
in other areas, we are disappointed
the budget does not propose a x to
the continued denial of equal veterans
benets to all legally married couples a x like it proposes for Social Security
benets, Broadway-Mack said. AMPA
is unquestionably committed to ending
this injustice, and we are condent
that President Obama stands with us.
Whether through Congress or through
the courts, justice will ultimately prevail
for our LGBT service members, veterans
and families.
In addition to backing a legislative
x, LGBT advocates have said Obama
has the responsibility to aord Social
Security and veterans benets to married
same-sex couples regardless of state of
residence in the wake of the Supreme
Courts decision against DOMA. Last year,
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) wrote to
Obama calling on him to extend these
benets to same-sex couples because
the spirit of the DOMA decision means
the federal government shouldnt
withhold them.
Additionally, Obamas budget proposal
continues the funding seen for HIV/AIDS
programs at scal year 2015levelsand in
some cases provides for a modest boost
in allocations.
Touting Obamas vision of achieving
an AIDS-free generation, the budget
highlights the importance of programs
targeting high-risk groups for HIV/AIDS,
such as gay and bisexual men, as outlined
in the National AIDS Strategy.
Here are the numbers for the budget
proposals on HIV/AIDS as outlined by the
White House fact sheet on the budget.
Compared to 2015, the budget
increases domestic discretionary Health
& Human Services HIV/AIDS by $118
million, including a doubling of funds for
the Oce of Womens Health. Overall,
total U.S. government-wide spending on
HIV/AIDS increases by nearly $1 billion
from $30.7 billion in FY-15 to $31.6 billion
in FY-16.
The budget invests $2.3 billion in the
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to provide
treatment and care completion services
for people living with HIV, and includes
$900 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance
Program to ensure that people living
with HIV have access to life-saving
antiretroviral treatments.
The budget invests $799 million, an
increase of $12.6 million, for the Centers
for Disease Control & Prevention to
continue implementing the goals of the
National HIV/AIDS Strategy by preventing
HIV/AIDS among high-risk communities
using evidence-based interventions.
The budget provides $332 million
for Department of Housing & Urban
Developments Housing Opportunities
for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program
to address housing needs among people

living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
To address the critical AIDS research
priorities, the budget requests $3.1
billion for trans-National Institutes of
Health AIDS research, an increase of
$100 million above the FY-15 level.
The budget includes $1.15 billion
within the Department of Veterans
Aairs, including a $62 million increase
for medical care, to ensure that veterans
living with HIV/AIDS receive high quality,
comprehensive clinical care, including
diagnosis of their infection and timely
linkage to medical care.
Carl Schmid, deputy executive director
of the AIDS Institute, said his organization
is happy with the level of HIV/AIDS
fundingin Obamas budget proposal.
The
budget
President
Obama
released today demonstrates his strong
commitment to ending infectious
diseases by increasing funding for HIV
and hepatitis prevention at the CDC and
maintaining funding for lifesaving HIV
health care and medications for those
who cannot aord them in the United
States, Schmid said.
Kali Lindsey, deputy director of public
policy for amfAR, said his organization
welcomes the budget proposal because
its a clear demonstration of sustained
support for domestic and global eorts
to combat HIV.
With the advent of the Aordable
Care Act and treatment-based prevention
opportunities for HIV-negative and HIVpositive individuals alike, the integration
of HIV prevention, care and treatment
activities have never held more potential to
have impact on the epidemic, Lindsey said.
But not all HIV/AIDS groups are
satised. According to the Infectious
Diseases Society of Americas Center for
Global Health Policy, the budget atfunds the Presidents Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, cuts global
tuberculosis funding by $41 million, or 17
percent, and neglects to increase global
health dollars.
As clinicians and researchers involved
in global HIV, TB and Ebola responses,
we are deeply disappointed in the
White House Fiscal Year 2016 budget
proposal that once again overlooks
the demonstrated challenges and
opportunities this moment in global
health presents, said Kenneth Mayer,
co-chair of IDSA Center for Global Health
Policy. At a time when accelerated
access to antiretroviral treatment for
HIV, medical circumcision to prevent
acquisition of the virus and greater
access to diagnostics and treatment for
tuberculosis could accomplish more than
ever before, the presidents proposed
budget allows no additional resources
for critical responses.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 1 5
McAuliffe touts Virginia progress on LGBT rights

It was a good day here in the

commonwealth of Virginia, said Northam
during the Equality Virginia reception.
McAulie
also
referenced
the
Governors LGBT Tourism Task Force to
which he appointed Ebbin and others last
month as a way to expand the industry
that generates $21 billion a year for the
states economy. Charlottesville Pride
Community Network President Amy
Sarah Marshall, GayRVA Editor Brad
Kutner and Blacksburg Town Councilman
Michael Sutphin are among those who
will also sit on the advisory body.
We need to be making sure that Virginia
at the end of the day is open and welcoming
to everyone, said McAulie. Thats how
we grow and diversify our economy.
The governors remarks coincided with
the annual Equality Virginia Lobby Day,
which took place roughly four months
after gays and lesbians began to legally
marry in the commonwealth.
Attorney General Mark Herring on
Tuesday noted he was in Norfolk a
year ago putting the nishing touches
on
arguments
against
Virginias
constitutional amendment that denes
marriage as between a man and a
woman that the state was about to
make to U.S. District Judge Arenda L.
Wright Allen in the lawsuit that Tim
Bostic and Tony London led against it
in July 2013.
Herring said Allen issued a great
opinion 10 days after the oral arguments
took place in the Bostic case. Same-sex
couples began to legally marry in Virginia
last October after the U.S. Supreme
Court declined to accept a petition from
the defendants who had appealed the
4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling
that upheld Allens decision.
We won again, said Herring.
McAulie less than a week after gays
and lesbians began to legally marry in
Virginia announced that same-sex couples
could now adopt children in the state.
Virginia Register Janet Rainey last
month announced the state would now
list married same-sex spouses on the
birth certicates of any children they
have while together.
Weve issued formal opinions and
worked with agencies to make sure those
rulings were implemented smoothly and
correctly in all kinds of areas, said Herring.
Were going to keep up the ght.
Christy Bergho and Victoria Kidd,
a lesbian couple from Winchester who
legally married in D.C. in 2011, have a
daughter who was born the following
year. They were also the lead plaintis in a
lawsuit against the marriage amendment
the American Civil Liberties Union and
Lambda Legal led in 2013 after the U.S.
Supreme Court struck down a portion of
the Defense of Marriage Act.

We have always been a two-parent
family, said Berghoff on Monday in a
statement. Victoria has always been
as much Lydias mother as I have, and
we are thrilled that Lydia will finally
have a birth certificate that reflects
that reality.
A Virginia House of Delegates
subcommittee last week killed state
Del. Bob Marshalls (R-Prince William
County) so-called conscience clause bill
that would have allowed state licensed
or accredited business owners to deny
service to someone based on their
religious beliefs.
Equality Virginia on Jan. 29 launched
a campaign with statewide advocacy
groups in North Carolina and South
Carolina that is designed to highlight
LGBT-friendly
businesses
in
their
respective states. Advocates and proLGBT ocials alike concede, however,
barriers remain to extending rights to
LGBT Virginians.
The Senate Rehabilitation and Social
Services Committee on Jan. 23 killed state
Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax County)s bill
that would have allowed second-parent
adoptions in Virginia.
The Senate Education and Health
Committee on Jan. 22 tabled state
Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth)s
measure that would have banned
conversion therapy to minors in the
commonwealth. The House Health,
Welfare and Institutions Subcommittee
six days later killed an identical bill that
state Del. Patrick Hope (D-Alexandria)
introduced.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee
on Jan. 14 killed state Sen. Barbara Favola
(D-Arlington County)s bill that would
have required state police to collect and
report data on anti-LGBT hate crimes.
The vote took place three days before
Lamia Beard, a transgender woman of
color, was shot to death on a street in
Norfolks Park Place neighborhood.
Lawmakers during the 2015 Legislative
session have also killed bills that sought
to repeal the marriage amendment and to
ban anti-LGBT discrimination in housing.
SB 785 and SB 1211 both face an uphill
battle in the House of Delegates, which
has traditionally proven more hostile to
pro-LGBT measures than the Senate.
We still have to make the case there
are other pressing issues, Ebbin told the
Washington Blade on Tuesday during an
interview in his Richmond oce. Without
the community being as engaged and
active, its not going to happen.
James Parrish, executive director of
Equality Virginia, agreed as he opened his
organizations lobby day at the Library of
Virginia.
We all know theres a lot more to do,
he said.
Virginia state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Robert Larkin dies at 61

Robert Ashby Larkin, 61, died Jan. 18. He
had been ill since spring 2014 with chronic
conditions associated with congestive
heart failure, according to friends.
A graveside memorial will be held at
noon Saturday at National Memorial Park
in Falls Church, Va.
An Arlington native, Larkin was born
Dec. 26, 1953. An only child surrounded by
close-knit family, he was loved and doted
upon. Recalling his early years in the nowTysons megaplex, he would cite the familys
farmhouse-like environment as the imprint
to a lifelong interest for collecting antiques,
a passion shared with his closest friends.
Following high school graduation, he
began work as a bank teller at Columbia
ROBERT ASHBY LARKIN
First Federal Savings and Loan, leaving as
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN CECCUCCI
head of that department. He indulged his
passion for antiques for a couple years at
Ru and Ready Furnishings in Washington.
He later worked at Washington Passport and Visa Service in D.C. where he
excelled at processing passports and visas and counseled travelers for 25 years.
He took great professional pride in his work, nding it both challenging and
rewarding. His was a voice many clients were happy to have at the other end of
the line as he navigated them through tight deadlines and multiple destinations.
Larkin formed lasting relationships with several antique dealers who became
close friends. He was a habituate of the Georgetown, Eastern Market and Civitan ea
markets, sometimes as a vendor, sometimes a shopper. For several years at Eastern
Market, he operated a regular booth, MerryMart, named for his mother, Mary.
Friends said Larkin loved nothing better than a road trip through Maryland
and Pennsylvania. Alone or with friends, he pursued his passion for Old Paris
porcelains, Cranberry glass, Jasper ware and his much-loved Flow Blue and
Havilland china.
In later life, he particularly enjoyed being with close friends, sitting around a
kitchen table sharing stories and laughter, or sometimes the impromptu dinner
party capped o with an Irish Coee at Mr. Henrys on the Hill.
His friends and professional family will miss him greatly, among them Ken
Ceccucci (Spencer Holland), Joe Munroe and Gary Riley as well as Bob Hincherick,
and Hernan (JR) and Blanca Diaz.Flowers for his memorial may be delivered to
National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Va.
STAFF REPORTS
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
1 6 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
BA LT I MO RE N E W S
Shake-up at
community center
WILLIAM REDMOND-PALMER is out as

president of the GLCCB.
weekdays_blade.pdf
12/16/14
PHOTO BY STEVE CHARING
After serving as president of the

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender
Community Center of Baltimore and
Central Maryland (GLCCB) board of
directors for only 52 days, William
Redmond-Palmer was removed by a
unanimous vote of the board. The GLCCB
2:25announced
PM
on Jan. 29 a reorganization
in leadership under which Christopher

Adkins, the previous vice president, will
assume the role of interim GLCCB board
president eective immediately.
As our most senior Board member,
Chris has been a cornerstone for the
GLCCB during a period of great transition
and challenge. We are condent that his
sensible pragmatism, commitment to
community engagement and passion
for social justice will continue to steer
the organization in the right direction,
Morning Edition
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the board said in a statement. Wed

also like to thank Bill for his service to
the organization and dedication to our
LGBTQ community, and wish him the
best in his future endeavors.
The vote to remove Redmond-Palmer
was prompted by the manner in which he
communicated with sta and volunteers,
Adkins said.
While we appreciate all the work and
eort Bill gave to the GLCCB, the decision
to part ways was in response to employee
and volunteer complaints about his
communications, Adkins told the Blade.
Several conversations were held about
professional expectations in attempts to
address these complaints. In the end we
all felt it better to go our separate ways.
We thank him again for his time and
service.
Redmond-Palmer,
who
replaced
outgoing term-limited president Michael
McCarthy on Dec. 8, had worked in
leadership and advocacy organizations in
the LGBTQ community including serving
on the GLCCB board of directors during
the 1990s.
After 20 years of serving and observing
the GLCCB, I believe the community wants
and needs an immediate and radical
cultural shift away from the status quo,
Redmond-Palmer told the Blade. Because
my management and communication
styles have an honesty, integrity, passion
and zeal that not everyone appreciates, I
was unfortunately unable to convince the
board and executive director to share in
that vision.
Adkins is a social science researcher
focused on providing individual and
group services, specializing in work
related to human sexuality, womens
issues and social factors of disease. A
native of Wichita, Kan., Adkins holds a
bachelors degree in social work from
Cleveland State University and a masters
from Boston University. He has served on
the GLCCB board since March 2013.
PFLAG to host mental

health discussion
The Howard County chapter of PFLAG
will host a discussion on LGBTQ youth and
mental health on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at
the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246
Cradlerock Way in Columbia.
The guest speakers who will oer
perspectives on the challenges faced by
LGBTQ youth and their parents include
mental health professional Razia Kosi
and her daughter Maya Huber, who is a
high school senior. Maya recently penned
an essay, I Was Born Pansexual. The
Diagnosis Came Later about her journey
and the lack of support for LGBTQ youth
from society.
All meetings are free, open to the public
and condential. For more information,
visit pagmd.org.
STEVE CHARING
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
18 FE B R U A R Y 06, 2015
H E A LT H N E W S
HIV patients in Mass. fare better

BOSTON Massachusetts residents with HIV are twice as likely as patients
nationally to have the disease under control, according to a report from the
state Department of Public Health with wider implications for other states and
nations seeking to curb the spread of the virus, the Boston Globe reports.
The Massachusetts ndings, drawn from laboratory blood samples of every
person diagnosed with HIV since the start of the epidemic, follow a federal
government report late last year showing that in two-thirds of Americans with
HIV, the virus was not being suppressed with medication, the Globe article notes.
In Massachusetts, the opposite is true: Almost two-thirds of people with HIV have the
illness fully in check, with the virus at extremely low levels in their blood. The measures
taken by the state to control the virus near-universal health coverage and a robust
network of social services could serve as a national model, the Globe said.
Its what other states should be doing, Dr. Carlos del Rio, a leader of the HIV
Medicine Association and co-director of the Emory University Center for AIDS
Research in Atlanta, told the Globe. When the health care system functions, you
have this kind of outcome.
Health ocials and patient advocates said the payo extends beyond those
infected with HIV: People who suppress the virus with medication are unlikely
to transmit it to others. In Massachusetts, the rate of new HIV infections has
declined 37 percent since 2002, the article said.
The traditional barriers to care I cant aord it, I cant nd a doctor, I cant get
to the doctor are not here in Massachusetts, said Kevin Cranston, director of
the Bureau of Infectious Disease at the health department, according to the Globe.
Massachusetts also addresses other daunting barriers homelessness, mental
illness, and addiction with a network of case managers, nurses and peer
counselors who help get people into care and keep them engaged. The new data
result from regulations requiring clinical laboratories to report immune-cell counts
and HIV viral loads from blood tests conducted on people infected with HIV.
If you can keep people healthy, keep them out of the hospital, and keep other
individuals from getting HIV in the rst place, its an investment that more than
quadruples its value, the Globe quoted Cranston as having said.
Researchers present ndings on trans children

LONDON Trans children identify as much with their genders as do nontrans children according to a new study reported on by Reuters.
The ndings indicate that transgender children are not confused or delayed in
their understanding of gender, as some have suggested, write the researchers
in Psychological Science.
People didnt know how to conceptualize these kids and their experiences,
said Nicholas Eaton, the studys senior author from Stony Brook University in
New York, according to the Reuters article. People in the scientic community,
the society at large and the media didnt know how to talk about these kids.
Eaton and his colleagues questioned 32 transgender children, ages 5-12, who all
came from supportive homes and had not yet entered puberty, Reuters reports.
The children were asked dierent types of questions that have been shown in other
studies to be measures of implicit gender identity. When the researchers looked to
see if the transgender childrens responses mirrored those of non-transgender kids
known as cisgender children they found that transgender boys responses mirrored
cisgender boys answers. Transgender girls responded the same as cisgender girls.
I think the study speaks to the fact that this isnt something thats created or
just made up for attention or for any other purpose than an authentic sense
of self, Reuters quoted Dr. Aron Janssen, director of the NYU Langone Medical
Centers Gender and Sexuality Service in New York City, as having said.
Enrollment advocates at work in N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. LGBT enrollment advocates here are working to let
residents in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Asheville know they have new
options under the Aordable Care Act to enroll in the nal weeks of the 2015
sign-ups, the Charlotte Observer reports.
The national Out2Enroll campaign is working with Get Covered America to
sign residents up for coverage and make sure they know the Act bans insurers
for denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions which kept many HIVpositive and transgender people from getting health insurance, the article says.
Workers have also conducted LGBT sensitivity training for enrollment workers
throughout the state.
Folks dont think of health care as an equality issue, but in many ways it is,
the Observer quoted Katie Keith of Out2Enroll as having said.
washingtonblade.com
C O A CH G
FE B R U A R Y 06, 2015 19
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IN S IDE L G B T W A SH I N G T O N
VOLUME
46
ISSUE
06
Address
PO Box 53352
Washington DC 20009
Barney Franks
Improbable Journey
New documentary on gay
lawmaker in need of funding
Peter Rosenstein is a D.C.-based LGBT rights

and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly
for the Blade.
Last week, Roll Call reported that Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler, the
documentarians who filmed former Rep.
Barney Frank throughout the Massachusetts Democrats final year in Congress,
have launched an online fundraising effort to help spread their still-in-need-offine-tuning project nationwide.
There is no doubt this film is a work of
passion for the filmmakers. Chandler cites
Frank as his motivation for making the
documentary, titled Compared to What?
The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank.
As Barney Frank puts it, There are
things that a civilized society needs that
we can only do if we do them together.
The film looks at Barneys legislative record but also explores how Frank over-
came the challenges of being closeted to

become a leading voice for LGBT rights.
For me, Frank says in the film, its been
a disparity between a very satisfying public career and a private life in turmoil.
Through his story, Canavan and Chandler
delve deeply into the meaning and sacrifice of a life devoted to public service.
Those fortunate to know Barney, and I
am honored to be one who does, understand the impact his commitment to public
service made on his private life. It is the story of so many in the LGBT community who
live hidden lives in constant fear of people
finding out who you really are and how that
could stop you from building the career you
want. Although many endure this in relative
obscurity, Frank went through it as a public
figure. This is one of the reasons so many in
the LGBT community and our allies believe
this important film needs to be seen by as
many people as possible.
Frank (D-Mass.) has become an icon in
the LGBT community but not everyone
knows he was also considered the smartest member of Congress during his many
years there. He had an uncanny ability
to focus with laser-like precision on issues of importance and then become the
most knowledgeable person in Congress
on them. He has a rapier wit. He can take
down opponents with a one liner but can
E DIT OR IA L C A R T OON
laugh at himself. Sometimes it is hard to

remember Frank had a career before he
was elected to Congress. According to
Wikipedia, In 1964, he was a volunteer
in Mississippi during Freedom Summer.
In 1968 he became Boston Mayor Kevin
Whites Chief Assistant, a position he held
for three years. He then served for a year
as Administrative Assistant to Congressman Michael J. Harrington. Frank later
graduated from Harvard Law School, in
1977, where he was once a student of
Henry Kissinger while serving as Massachusetts State Representative.
While Barney started coming out to
friends before he entered Congress he
was not out in a public way. As so many
others, I came out during Franks time in
Congress. His then very public coming
out and his speaking for the community
led to my becoming an LGBT activist.
He was fearless and at times took the
slings and arrows of his own community as he fought for our civil and human
rights. Franks 2007 speech on the floor
of the House of Representatives that led
to the passage of ENDA in that chamber
brought tears to my eyes and to those of
so many Americans.
So we all need to help make the dream
of a wider audience for this film a reality. The documentarians need $85,000 to
cover the cost of moving this film beyond
the festival circuit. We need to help them
as a thank-you to Barney. Just go to the
Indiegogo campaign site today and make
as big a donation as you can afford.
According to Roll Call, Canavan and
Chandler are so sure that we will all respond they are already looking forward to
showing the movie far and wide, mapping
out plans to dovetail with Franks forthcoming book tour by plotting screenings in
Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and, of course, the District of Columbia. The current plan is to show the film in
the District the week of March 20.
Please join me in making this possible.
Barney Frank has dedicated his life to
making our lives better. He fought for the
rights of the LGBT community; he fought
to redress the wrongs visited upon the Japanese American community during World
War II; he fought to make the banks and
Wall Street more responsive to the people;
he has spent his life making a difference
and we need to share his work and his life
as broadly as possible to inspire others to
the kind of selfless public service Barney
Franks life continues to represent.
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V I E W PO I NT
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 2 1
Three cheers for the Fashion Police

Hit E! show returns with
new host Kathy Griffin
Kathi Wolfe is a writer, poet and regular

contributor to the Blade. She can be reached
through this publication.
Fellow lovers of glam, glitz and celeb

couture faux pas, rejoice! E!s weekly
dish fest Fashion Police is back with a
new host comedian and LGBT rights
supporter Kathy Griffin and returning
co-hosts Giuliana Rancic and Kelly Osbourne, along with newcomer Brad Goreski. Griffin took over as host after Joan
Rivers died in September.
Why do I, a poet and lesbian, unlikely
to ever afford Versace, Tom Ford or any
other haute couture, enjoy FP? Because,
Im my mothers daughter. Growing up in
southern New Jersey, I learned that fashion, celebs and gossip were entertaining.
My Mom and I would leaf through Vogue,
admiring the perfect dress or wonder why
a star on a TV awards show was wearing
that gown. After my time in the wilderness of dreary flannel shirts and drab
jeans, I returned to the fold. In a world
filled with poverty, war, bigotry and other
horrors, Fashion Police is fun.
You dont need to know about fabrics,
hems or necklines to be a Fashion Police fan. But a campy sense of humor is a
must to relish the shows no-holds-barred
barbs on celebrity style choices. Take human rights attorney and George Clooneys
wife Amal Clooney. Griffin pounced on the
gloves she wore at the Golden Globes.
I thought it was weird she had those
gloves that remind me of, like, a porn
scene, where the guy goes home and
theres the naughty dishwasher and she
only has the gloves, she said of Clooney.
Ive been a fashion dont for years, Griffin joked about herself.
The Fashion Police gang loved Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox,
but described the Johanna Johnson dress
she wore at the SAG awards as a fail.

Sometimes, FP shows some un-snarky
love. Joan Collins, 81, wowed them.
Goreski told of once seeing Collins at a
party. Wearing a cream suit, he said, Collins went into a car which matched her
dress. And, Jennifer Anistons real boobs
in Gucci were a hit.
Fashion is more than buzz and boobs.
The clothes in our closets often trigger poignant memories of our lives and
times. Worn Stories by Emily Spivak is a
compilation of writers, artists and fashion
moguls reflecting on their clothes from
jackets to skirts. Barneys creative ambassador-at-large Simon Doonan, a contributor to the volume, told NPR what the
mirror-printed, fluorescent Lycra bicycle
shorts that he wore in the early 1980s
meant to him. I used to wear them to
Jane Fondas aerobics classes...when the
AIDS epidemic was just really gathering terrifying momentum, he said. This
piece of clothing holds both frivolity...and
also an incredible reminder of this terrible dark period in the 80s.
Celebs, these living, walking sculptures, dont wear anything wed ever
shop for, Grace Cavalieri, host of the radio show The Poet and the Poem from
the Library of Congress, emailed the
Blade. Clothes are an art form! They are
works of the imagination, Cavalieri, a
Fashion Police fan, said. Dreams spun
into material celebrities get to wear
boxes on their heads and clothes made
of soap bubbles.
What do poets do on Mount Olympus?
We obsess about love, sex, death and
clothes. I dont wear brown and grey suits
all the time/do, I?, poet Frank OHara
writes in his poem My Heart, No. I wear
workshirts to the opera/often.
In her poem What I Wore, Cavalieri
remembers a dress. The sack dress was
in style then/with a single strand of pearls
... Thats why I wore it to my first poetry/
contest in Philly.
For the poetic 411 on hats, I turned to
poet Clarinda Harriss. In her poem The
Tragedy of Hats, she writes, you can
never see the one youre wearing/no one
believes the lies they tell/they grow to be
more famous than you.
Next week, Ill be watching Fashion Police, wearing my tiara.
O UR B USI NES S MATTERS
Politicians prepare to bluster on income inequality

Public officials attempt
to shift focus on wage
disparities to business
Mark Lee is a long-time entrepreneur

and community business advocate. Follow
on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at
OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.
Income inequality is the trendy new campaign mantra of candidates from both political parties.
Despite many a politician exacerbating the
problem, they declare the business community the culprit. It is the choices of some elected officials, dominant in urban areas such as
Washington, that have led to a growing gap
between prevailing wages and the costs of living in cities.
That doesnt prevent ponderous policy prescriptions proclaimed as miracle remedies
when so-called cures of the far left would
make matters worse. Only question is whether the public will be fooled.
Attempts to shift the focus on wage disparities frustrate enterprise operators, especially
the disproportionate number of gay and lesbian entrepreneurs, business owners and leadership executives. Efforts to vilify the business
community threaten to alienate acquired affinity toward politicians with modern stances
on social issues, including sexual orientation.
Government has primitive influence over
the dynamics of a rapidly evolving economy
driven by large-scale developments in technology and fundamental changes in consumer
commerce, often with blunt inverse results
and unintended consequences. Ironically,
those seeking to restrain the big business
they abhor impose manipulations most harmful to small and moderate-sized community
businesses producing the majority of jobs and
stagnating wages due difficulty absorbing the
financial impact.
D.C. made its choice two decades ago.
Busted-broke with population declining, city
officials decided to encourage single young
professionals and those in upper-income
brackets to migrate here. Similar to other
major cities, it was keyed to increasing the tax
base and garnering more revenue. Aided by
recessionary hardships elsewhere and thenplentiful government and federal contractor
jobs here, the strategy worked. The Districts
population eventually exploded, drawing lowcost high-return new residents.
It resulted in statistics well known. Highest

percentage making over $200,000 annually
and a greater income divide between rich and
poor than any state in the country. The worst
housing costs in the nation and an aversion to
zoning reforms and developer incentives, discouraging housing affordability. More money
needed to survive. Actual unemployment for
low-skill workers stuck at more than one-third,
joblessness among poorer youth higher than
that, with long-term out-of-work status the
norm. The list is long.
D.C. became a domain-by-design for the
wealthy and well situated. As income levels
have risen and costs skyrocket, scant quarter
remains for those at the bottom.
City officials looked away from the growing
disparities. Poverty wasnt their focus.
While public schools have shown modest
improvement, the level of institutional incompetence, learning proficiency and graduation
failure rates, and astounding costs measured
against results remain abysmal. This leadership performance wouldnt be tolerated in the
private sector and compels households with
children to leave.
While the city succeeded in enhancing its
tax base with an influx of high-earners, it did
little to control costs, refocus priorities or improve conditions for poorer residents. D.C.
Council members frivolously spent revenue
extracted at rates among the nations highest.
Promising but not yet enacting tax cuts, officials now confront budget deficits caused by
operational dysfunction, oversight negligence
and fiscal extravagance.
They neglected the homeless, merely tossing out wads of money for squalid shelter.
The $56,000 per year for each family housed
at a dilapidated former hospital could have
reserved shiny new high-rent apartments with
money to spare.
Theyve botched meaningful workforce
training for the low-skill unemployed. What
they have done is price them out of entry-level
jobs by mandating minimum wage levels for
which they are uncompetitive.
Promises to create low-income housing
were broken. Instead, imposed developer
requirements have produced a tiny trickle of
units too expensive for the poor and increasing costs for others.
D.C.s long-notorious and still-onerous regulatory environment is a primary obstacle to
broad-based economic benefit. Government
regulation costs more than $12,000 per employee nationally and D.C. is no slacker. These
costs represent redirected wage increases.
Instead of pretending that government creates prosperity and jobs, politicians would do
better to prepare the jobless for a new economy and reduce barriers to business and housing development.
The rest is just hot air.
2 6 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
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washingtonblade.com
VALENTINE S GIFT GUIDE
FEBRUARY 06, 2015 27
Skip the clichs this Valentines Day because flowers and candy send the very
special message that you have zero time to be considerate and swap them for more
creative and sentimental surprises. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way with these
small yet meaningful gifts delivered with love.
Kiss Pillows and Paintings
The Gay Gospel
360 Mini Massager
Contemporary artist Olesya Robison gives puckery pouts the

glam-rock treatment in her Kiss collection, featuring oil-oncanvas conversation starters and in-your-face throw pillows
with just the right amount of pop. The former officially titled
Candy Crush Kiss features 24k gold flakes imported from
France and genuine Swiss Swarovski crystals, while the latter
gives your urban space a splash of champagne wishes and caviar
dreams via one sultry smooch. $65-1,000; olyrobison.com
Twenty-something singles dont have to spend another lonely

Valentines Day down in the dumps when they can curl up with
a confidence-boosting book. Author Justin Luke Zirillis The Gay
Gospel levels the playing field for todays young gay men with
his no-nonsense but oft-hysterical advice on everything from sex
and dating to family and finances. Couples, too, can enjoy this
quick guide to love, relationships and everything in between that
Broadway star Billy Porter calls deftly concise, incredibly lean,
yet amazingly practical. From $6.95; justinlukenyc.com
Instead of outsourcing your lovers spa-quality shiatsu session,

get hands-on at home this year with Mojis 360 Mini Massager
the perfect palm-sized device to help put a little passion back
in the bedroom. Equipped with seven rotating steel spheres
to help ease the tension out of the toughest spots, this flexible
massager features an adjustable clasp for a contoured fit so
the two of you can take turns getting knotty er, naughty all
night. $29.95; gomoji.com
Nip+Man
Bits of Love Jewelry
Perfect Reject Plush Sculptures
If your babe is focused on staying buff (lucky you!), Nip+Man

male grooming products will help him stay studly and cuddly
while enhancing that bangin bod. More than just a skin care
line for men, this range of products billed as incorporating
a number of plastic surgery alternatives are designed to
emphasize natural contours and improve skin texture. Lineup
includes the usual suspects like facial wash and after-shave
lotion, but there also are more manly additions like Pec Fix,
Bicep Fix and Ab Fix, the names of which alone will make you
want to rip off his clothes. $60.84; GNC.com
If youre not quite ready to take the legal plunge with your main
squeeze, Bits of Love jewelry can help you effectively express
your four-letter affection without signing an anxiety-inducing
lifelong contract. Each solid-sterling silver ring is handcrafted in
the United States and a portion of sales benefit Street Poets Inc.,
a poetry initiative for at-risk youth that believes in the power of
words to transform. $95; bitsoflovestyle.com
Theres a certain beauty in our own flaws and those of our

better halves and that concept has never been captured
more poignantly than by Perfect Reject, plush sculptures that
aptly celebrate difference and diversity in a tattered-and-torn
collection of misfit dolls. With an emphasis on tolerance and
compassion, these handcrafted keepsakes are as unique as the
love between you and your S.O., and each one is a testament to
the resilience and imperfection of your individual relationship.
Available in a wide array of animals and pop-culture icons,
theres a Perfect Reject to fit every personality. $150-375;
perfectreject.com
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and blogger whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world, including CNN.com, The Huffington Post, The Advocate, Instinct magazine, and Out.com, among many others. He lives in Manhattan with his husband and their cuddle-buddy furbaby. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.
n CONTINUES ON PAGE 28
washingtonblade.com
28 FEBRUARY 06, 2015
VALENTINES GIFT GUIDE
Whiskey Explorers Club

Casetify
Help your partner preserve his or her selfies,
usies and other photos while protecting
their digital lifeblood with a custom case from
Casetify. Youll create functional sentiment
to complement an iPhone, iPod, iPad
or Android devices by pulling pics from
Facebook and Instagram to build a collage of
images in a selection of patterns, including a
heart. Because each case is made-to-order,
allow ample time to receive it before the big
day. From $29.95; casetify.com
Chances are you probably know if

your honey is a vinyl lover (Nothing
beats the sound of an LP!) or not
(Why would we want to go back to
yesterdays technology?). But if he or
she is, a record always makes a great
gift. Our favorite local shop is Sound
Garden (cdjoint.com) in Baltimore
(1616 Thames St.) where youll find a
whole room devoted to inventory and
way more selection than youll find
with the token stock at box stores like
Barnes & Nobel or Best Buy. In this
era of everything digital, your honey
will love having something tangible
to open. And these days everything
from the Beatles in mono to the latest
Beyonce album are available in largeform, 180-gram sets. (Washington
Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)
Brickell Mens Products

Give your sweetie the gift of smooth,
caressable skin all over his beautiful
body with the full line of natural grooming
products from Brickell. For V-Day, pick up
the giftable-from-the-getco Mens Starter Kit,
which includes travel-size favorites including
scented or unscented face wash, shave
cream, aftershave, moisturizer, hand balm
and bar soap. $45; brickellmensproducts.com
Now that all our cute little gay-owned

gift shops have closed (RIP Lambda
Rising and Pulp!), its harder to find
gift wrap, clever cards and novelty
items. Paper Source (papersource.
com) has the best selection of these
kinds of wares we know of in the
region. Though not LGBT-specific,
youll still find a bounty of eyepopping Valentines-themed gift
wrap papers, cards, gifts and more.
And with locations in Georgetown,
Bethesda, Old Town Alexandria and
Fairfax, finding one near you is easy.
(Washington Blade photo by Joey
DiGuglielmo)
Heart Swatch
Let your sweetie know that your love will
stand the test of time with Unlock My Heart,
the newest addition to the expansive heartthemed collection from Swatch. A portable
lock of love and presented in a special box
to make sure your romance never misses
a beat, this latest addition is inspired by
the love padlocks representing happy
relationships that notably adorn bridges
throughout Europe. $70; swatch.com
These I Dig You gift cards from

American Plant are available in stores
or online and can be delivered by mail
or as e-gift cards. Get them at one of
the two Bethesda locations (Beltway
or Bethesda-Chevy Chase) or visit
americanplant.net. (Photo courtesy
American Plant)
Does your honey have an affinity for highend hooch? Send your message of love
by the bottle with the Whiskey Explorers
Club, a one-time or quarterly gift set that
packs a powerful punch. Each For Whiskey
Lovers shipment contains four 50mL
flights of premium whiskey labeled with
a generic code. To find out what brand
of whiskey theyre tasting, your too-cute
connoisseur can turn the experience into
an interactive game where theyll provide
tasting notes and ratings while enjoying a
rousing edition of My Whiskey IQ. From $75;
forwhiskeylovers.com
The Runwell Sport Chrono 42mm

from Shinola (1534 14th St., N.W. or
shinola.com) is hand assembled and
built for action featuring a sapphire
crystal, Super-LumiNova printed dial
details, Detroit-built Argonite 5050
high-accuracy quartz movement and
a solid stainless case. The company
says it was engineered with an
obsessive focus on making a watch of
the highest possible quality. Retails
for $875. (Photo courtesy Shinola)
Want something fun to do

together on Valentines Day?
Merrifield Garden Center
(merrifieldgardencenter.com)
has various romantic-themed
presentations slated for Saturday,
Feb. 14. Try Romance in the Garden
at 10 a.m. at the Merrifield location,
Its All About the Birds and the Bees
at 10 at the Fair Oaks location or
Romancing with Plants (also at 10) at
the Gainesville location. Full details at
merrifieldgardencenter.com.
washingtonblade.com
VALENTINE S GIFT GUIDE
FEBRUARY 06, 2015 29
Options abound for Valentines Day dining in D.C.

B y K RI S T E N H ART KE
Virginia Woolf famously wrote One
cannot think well, love well, sleep well,
if one has not dined well and, with
Valentines Day on the horizon, it is
certainly time to both eat and love well
sleeping and thinking are optional.
There are many places across the D.C.
region where you can hold hands across
the table and gaze mistily into the eyes of
that special someone; heres a sampling
of just a few local eateries that may help
promote true love.
America Eats Tavern: You can
celebrate love American-style at the RitzCarlton in Tysons Corner, and, since
Valentines Day falls on a Saturday this
year, make it a real weekend getaway,
since the restaurant is offering both a
four-course Valentines Day tasting menu
and a Sweethearts brunch all weekend.
The $75-per-person tasting menu
includes an array of truly American dishes,
from oysters Rockefeller and Waldorf
salad to Steak Delmonico for two and
Martha Washingtons chocolate cake. The
brunch, at $50 per couple, offers bellinis
and mimosas, shrimp and grits, eggs
la Benedick, and waffles smothered in
ice cream. Make it a real adventure, and
avoid the traffic, by heading out there on
the Silver Line. 1700 Tysons Boulevard,
Tysons Corner, VA. americaeatstavern.
com.
Equinox: Chef Todd Grays innovative
Valentines Day menu explores the
evolution of the relationship, which
begins with the Introduction, a surprise
flirtation from the chef upon arrival.
From there youll experience four themed
courses: The Date Night, which includes
oyster stew or grilled port wine duck
sausage; First Kiss, with a ravioli of Maine
lobster with artichoke chips or pan-seared
diver scallops on shrimp toast; Settled
In, featuring pistachio-crusted rack of
lamb or sauted wild Norwegian cod;
and ending with Lifes Sweet Moments,
including a classic Key lime pie and mini
chocolate souffl cake. If you and/or your
loved one embrace a meatless lifestyle,
Equinox also offers a truly delicious vegan
Valentines Day menu, which includes a
black trumpet mushroom crespelle, red
wine casarecchia en Jambalaya, and
curried cauliflower stew. $85 per person,
$115 with wine pairing. 818 Connecticut
Ave., NW. equinoxrestaurant.com.
Iron Gate: One of the most romantic
dining rooms in the city is offering a
special Valentines Day menu throughout
the week of Feb. 9; Chef Anthony Chittum
will highlight antipasti such as scallops

crudo, lamb tartare and foie gras torchon,
followed by Garlic Crusted Skate with
Chincoteague oysters and hackleback
caviar and Maryland Beef Striploin with
oak grilled trumpet mushrooms, black
truffle risotto, and red wine jus, plus
sumptuous desserts for $135 per person.
Wine director Brent Kroll can add handpicked wine pairings to the meal as an
additional option, and afterwards you can
cozy up on the patio under the blankets
by the fire pits and enjoy a night cap from
Spirits Director Jeff Faile. 1734 N St. NW.
irongaterestaurantdc.com.
Marcels: If youre looking to wow
your date with a truly elegant dining

experience, youll score points here
in Marcels newly redesigned dining
room at Chef Robert Weidmaiers
flagship restaurant. The staff are both
attentive and friendly, making fine dining
approachable rather than intimidating.
For Valentines Day, Marcels is offering a
special dessert tasting menu to end your
la carte French-Belgian meal, featuring
white chocolate moussewith passionfruit
gele and blackberry citrus coulis or
a chocolate pot de crme with Caramel
semifreddo and raspberry consomm,
followed by a special friandise of assorted
truffles and petit fours.2401 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW. marcelsdc.com.

Power Supply: What if you really dont
feel like going out on Valentines Day?
Nothing wrong with that. Stay in with
your sweetie and have a healthy chefcreated meal delivered to your door,
or you can pick it up at one of over 90
spots across the DMV, generally at local
gyms and studios. If you are seeking to
stay healthy this Valentines Day, Power
Supply focuses on meals that are paleo,
vegetarian, or a mix of both, and you can
customize meals to be gluten- and/or
dairy-free; some recent menus included
pulled pork with plum sauce, sweet
potato mash, and spinach pure; salmon
in blood orange sauce with parsnips
and sauted greens; and broccoli and
cauliflower with lemon mustard sauce,
oven-baked potato pancake, and cumin
lentil chili. Note that youll have to order
a minimum of three meals for the week
and that youll need to place your order a
week in advance. Starts at $9.50 per meal.
dc.mypowersupply.com
Rosa Mexicano: Start your Da de
san Valentn fiesta with the Rosa Royale
sparkling cava, fresh pomegranate
juice, Cointreau and agave nectar
and the restaurants signature tableside
Guacamole en Molcajete, followed by
a three-course prix fixe meal featuring
Mexican delicacies like Flautas de
Langosta, crispy tortillas filled with lobster
and potatoes, and Shrimp and Scallop
Brochette, grilled wild jumbo shrimp and
scallops served over cilantro-mint short
grain brown rice with roasted tomatojalapeo caper sauce. Three locations:
Penn Quarter, Chevy Chase, and National
Harbor. rosamexicano.com.
Zaytinya: Head to the eastern
Mediterranean, via Gallery Place, to share
a special Valentines Day mezze with your
sevgilim. The Chefs Experience menu
includes Olde Salts Oysters, with Lindera
honey vinegar, green apple, and baharat
seasoning; papiatopita, braised duck and
foie gras in a house-made phyllo; and
bone marrow kibbeh, with almonds, pine
nuts, and zaatar labneh. Finish your meal
with their Chocolate Rose, a decadent
Valrhona chocolate pudding accented
with blood orange and finished with
cardamom cream. If you dont want to
do the special menu at $75 per person,
all the same items are also available la
carte. 701 9th St. NW. zaytinya.com.
Kristen Hartke is managing editor of Edible
DC and writes about cocktails at goodbooze.
wordpress.com. Her elf name is Twinkie.
3 0 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
VISIT US AT CFA.GMU.EDU
Todd Ellison and Friends
Virginia Opera
The Romance of Broadway
Salome
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AT 4 P.M.

An evening of romantic Broadway songs with one of Broadways
electric conductors (The New York Times) and some of
Broadways finest vocalists Bring your sweetie for a delightful
program of favorites such as Some Enchanted Evening and
On the Street Where You Live, and gems from such shows as
West Side Story, Show Boat, and The Music Man.
$46, $39, $28 ff
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 AT 8 P.M.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 AT 2 P.M.
Virginia Opera brings Richard Strauss spectacular Salome to our
stage for the first time! A century ago, audiences were shocked and
thrilled by its extravagant debauchery and rich, evocative score. Today,
its recognized that the title role, with its broad vocal range and the
sensual Dance of the Seven Veils, is among the most demanding in
all of opera. Sung in German with English supertitles.
Saturday - $86, $72, $44
Sunday - $98, $80, $48
Mark Morris Dance Group

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 AT 8 P.M.
SUNDAY, MARCH 1 AT 4 P.M.
There is no other choreographer today with Morriss unbound
imagination and the skill to realize it onstage. (The Washington
Post) This wonderful program includes two works set to music
by Lou Harrison: Pacific, by Mark Morris, being performed by
MMDG for the first time, and Grand Duo, called intoxicatingly
thrilling by the Seattle Times; Words, a new dance set to Songs
Without Words by Mendelssohn; and The Tamil Film Songs in
Stereo Pas de Deux.
$48, $41, $29
ff = Family Friendly performances that are most suitable for families with younger children
TICKETS 888-945-2468 OR CFA.GMU.EDU
Located on the Fairfax campus, six miles west of Beltway exit 54 at

the intersection of Braddock Road and Rt. 123.
ARTS
AND
ENTERTAINMENT
A murky
future for
Phase 1
Owner mum on plans
to reopen; staers say
they were red
By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
joeyd@washblade.com
Its the end of Phase 1 as we know it
and nobody feels ne.
What is going on at the famed
lesbian nightclub in D.C.s Capitol Hill
neighborhood that closed ostensibly
temporarily last month?
The LGBT landmark, which has long
boasted of being the oldest continually
operating lesbian bar in the country, was
open for New Years Eve and a few days
thereafter but abruptly on Jan. 7 announced
on Facebook that it will be closed temporarily
as we make some upgrades. Theres no
sign on the door announcing the closure
and the bars website hasnt been updated
in months.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
VOLUME
46
ISSUE
06
FEBRUARY
The future of Phase Fest, a popular annual

festival for LGBT indie bands, is uncertain.
Sounds
reasonable
enough
on
the surface, but the vagueness of the
announcement, the fact that no details
or target reopening date were given and
nothing changed on its ocial website have
led to rampant speculation among fans of
the bar. The clincher, however, is that the
entire sta was let go as well.
But it hasnt stopped the party
as the Scandal DC team, which just
started staging in December what are
said to be monthly events, is holding
Phasepocalypse: Now on Feb. 6 at the
Black Cat and using the ocial Phase 1
Facebook page to cross-promote it.
Angela Lombardi, who worked at Phase
1 for just over a decade and managed it for
nine years, is part of the Scandal team (with
Katy Ray) and says the event is needed
because the Phase closed abruptly.
Basically its just an excuse for all of
us to get together and feel we have a
little bit of home even if its not at Phase
1, Lombardi says. The (D.C.) Kings, the
Gurly Show, all the original sta members
06
2015
PAGE
31
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY NICOLE REINTERTSON
will be there. Its a chance for us all to feel

a little better. Not just a selsh party for
all of us to wallow but because there was
too much good that was happening to
just let it go.
So is the location at 525 8th St., S.E.
(not to be confused with Phase 1 Dupont,
a spin-o club that was open occasionally
in the old Badlands/Apex space o
Dupont Circle) really being renovated
the exterior shows no signs of it so far
or will longtime owner Allen Carroll close
the 45-year-old bar or perhaps wipe the
slate clean and start over with an entirely
new sta? Now that the initial shock of
the closing has subsided, the citys lesbian
community is hungry for details.
The short answer is nobody knows.
Carroll is laying low he didnt return
a half-dozen voicemail messages left at
multiple locations (including Ziegfelds/
Secrets, which he also owns) over the
course of nearly a week and neither did
he respond to another Blade reporter
in January who tried to reach him when
initially writing of the bars closing.

People whove known Carroll for years
such as Rick Rindskopf, former manager of
the shuttered Remingtons, arent surprised.
This is normal for him, not returning
calls, says Rindskopf, who knew Carroll
years ago at the old Follies movie theater
and at Ziegfelds. He just doesnt do it.
Allen has always been somewhat secretive
about what hes doing and whats going
on. He has expressed to me the desire to
retire at some point hes in his 70s after
all but nothing Allen does or doesnt
do surprises me. He just generally
doesnt share whats going on.
Carroll, whos gay, and his late partner,
Chris Jansen, opened Phase 1 in 1970.
Veterans of the Marines and Air Force
respectively, they worked at adjacent bars
on Eighth Street, S.E., Joannas, a lesbian
bar where Carroll worked, was closing
so he and Jansen sensed an opportunity.
For a time, they also ran the Other Side,
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
3 2 F EB RUA RY 0 6, 2015
Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R LA SH A W N J O H N SO N
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
joeyd@washblade.com
Drag king LaShawn Johnson has become one of Shi-Queeta-Lees go-to
Drag Salute cast members and says its always a fun assignment.
The two performers met about 10 years ago through Demetria V. Burts,
Johnsons late partner who also worked with Shi-Queeta. A veteran of past
drag take-os of Steel Magnolias, Waiting to Exhale and the Motown
Revue, in which Johnson performed as members of both the Temptations
and the Four Tops, Johnson will appear Sunday night in A Drag Valentines
Salute to the Divas: What Shi-Queeta-Lee Has Done With It at the Howard
Theatre (620 T St., N.W.). Doors open at 6 for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $2050. Details at thehowardtheatre.com.
Johnson will play the late Ike Turner opposite Shi-Queetas Tina, roles
theyve performed before.
I always liked Tinas voice and I was very taken with the story when I saw
the movie and when I read about her in Ebony, Johnson, a 46-year-old lesbian
and Washington-area native, says. Outside of the abuse, they were both very
talented.
Johnson, who lives in Temple Hills, Md., and works by day in building
maintenance, got into drag in the mid-90s after being asked to perform at
Bachelors Mill.
I love everything about it, she says. The illusion of it, the fact that you
can bring these performers to life, interacting with the audience, making
someone smile, smiling back, being on stage I love the whole aspect of it.
Johnson is single and enjoys writing, poetry, photography, music, lip
syncing, performing and acting in her free time.
202.747.2077
LASHAWN JOHNSON
How long have you been out and who was

the hardest person to tell?
Twenty-four years and my mom.
Whos your LGBT hero?
Ellen DeGeneres
Whats Washingtons best nightspot, past
or present?
Bachelors Mill, Town and Nellies
Describe your dream wedding.
On a beach serenaded by an orchestra
with white horses and reworks!
What non-LGBT issue are you most
passionate about?
People who live and struggle with any
form of cancer.
What historical outcome would you

change?
The unfair laws we have when it
comes to police departments and unfair
treatment/police brutality.
Whats been the most memorable pop

culture moment of your lifetime?
The day I meet my favorite female R&B
singer Keyshia Cole.
On what do you insist?
Being respected.
What was your last Facebook post or

Tweet?
Thanx! Happy Sunday Funday
If your life were a book, what would the

title be?
The Eyes Have It
If science discovered a way to change

sexual orientation, what would you do?
I would become a full-edged man.
What do you believe in beyond the

physical world?
God (a higher power).
Whats your advice for LGBT movement

leaders?
Be strong and of good courage.
What would you walk across hot coals

for?
To touch the hand of God.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?

The word dyke.
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
Havent seen it yet.
Whats the most overrated social custom?

Dont judge a book by its cover most
people do.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?

Bachelors Mill rst runner up as male
impersonator in 1996 in a Black Pride
pageant.
What do you wish youd known at 18?
How to drive.
Why Washington?
Its historical and rich in culture. A lively
and entertaining place to live and on top
of that, the president is here too.
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 3 3
Sponsored by
02.14.15
#DClove
@Fre Follow
e
to w Condom
in pr sDC
izes!
www.RubberRevolutionDC.com
Doors open 10pm / $10 before 11pm / $12 after / 21 & over
Drag show & singles announced at 10:30pm / Prizes & giveaways from the Rubber Revolution
2009 8th St NW / 202-234-town / towndc.com
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
34 FEB R U A R Y 06, 2015
O U T & A BO U T
By MARIAH COOPER
GMCW ensembles salute love
CH
OI
JE
L
AN
AL
LA
BY
DI
N
DI TA
RE R
CT EL
ED L
BY AL
KE VIN
N M
T cC
GA R
SH AN
E
BO
Y
The Gay Mens Chorus of Washington presents Love Rock! A Salute to

Valentines Day at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (1313 New York Ave.,
N.W.) on Thursday at 8 p.m. and on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.
Potomac Fever and Rock Creek Singers will perform pop and rock love songs
from popular artists like Freddy Mercury, Melissa Etheridge, Adele, the Beatles
and more. Thursdays performance will also include an ASL interpretation.
Tickets are $39. For more information, visit gmcw.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AFI SILVER
Sirens of the silver screen
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EB6 tic nly a DE
, Fal $3 ine o LA n to
AYpeci e onl RG/B issio -showion!
SD Sailabl RE.O s adm y pre cept
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AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

(8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md.)
presents a lm series Leading Ladies of
Hollywoods Golden Age starting Friday
and running through April 16.
Films shown star famous actresses
from the classic Hollywood era. Films
featuring Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman,
Clara Bow, Joan Crawford and many
more will be screened. The series kicks
o Friday at 7:30 p.m. with a showing of
The Palm Beach Story starring Claudette
Colbert.
For details, visit a.com/silver.
14
ST TH
20 UD & P
2. IO
33 TH STR
2. EA E
33 T ET
00 RE S
.O NW
RG
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY PETE EXIS
Scarlets Bake Sale benet returns

The 45th annual Scarlets Bake Sale fundraiser is at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.)
on Sunday from 2-6:30 p.m.
This years theme is Love is for Everyone. Collective Action for Safe Spaces
will receive the bake sales funds. Cake donation is from 2-3 p.m. Baked goods
will be judged from 3-3:30 p.m. The bake sale auction is from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Other baked goods can be auctioned o as well. Note the new location for
years, the event was held at the Eagle.
For more details, visit facebook.com/scarletsbakesale.
Kathi Wolfe to read selections

Poet and Blade contributor Kathi
Wolfe reads her poetry at the Writers
Center (4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, Md.) on
Sunday at 2 p.m.
Wolfe won the 2014 Stonewall
Chapbook Competition and her book
The Uppity Blind Girl will be released
soon. She will be joined by author Daisy
Hernandez. After the reading, there will
be a reception and book signing.
Admission is free. For more details, visit
writer.org.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
T HE ATER
FE B R U A R Y 06, 2015 35
PHOTO BY CHRIS BANKS
BERNARDINE MITCHELL as Bessie Smith.
Mary Todd Lincoln and

Bessie Smith remembered
in current productions
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
Mary Todd Lincoln was not a popular rst
lady. And from out playwright James Stills
The Widow Lincoln, its easy to see why.
Especially commissioned by Fords
Theatre to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the Lincoln assassination,
Stills play covers the weeks following the
presidents death in April 1965. During
those dismal days, the rst lady was
understandably frozen with indecision,
but what decisions she did make like
opting not to attend her husbands
funeral and her refusal to vacate the
White House did not help endear her
to an already unfriendly populace.
Born into the wealthy Kentucky Todd
clan, she was exposed to culture and
educated more than most girls of her
era. Marrying an Illinois lawyer was
considered a step down socially. In
Washington City as the capital was then
called, she was eyed with suspicion by
unionists and confederates alike. She
was criticized for proigate spending
and a moody disposition. In the years
preceding Lincolns assassination, two of
the couples four sons died in childhood.
Hers wasnt an altogether easy life.
Much of the rst act is a rant mostly
against Secretary of War Stanton who
takes charge of arranging the presidents
funeral, and Vice President Andrew Johnson,
whom the rst lady perceives as a disloyal
opportunist and drunkard. But mercifully,
Still surrounds Mrs. Lincoln (Mary Bacon)
with supportive characters, real and
imagined. Theres the sensible Elizabeth
Keckly (the excellent Caroline Clay). A former
slave and dressmaker to Washington
society, Keckly patiently yet rmly guides
Madame to do the right thing.
Kimberly Schraf steps out of the ever
present Greek chorus of mourning
widows to portray Laura Keene, the grand
thespian who played in Our American

Cousin, the night Lincoln was shot. And
as professional widow Queen Victoria,
out actor Sarah Marshall emerges from
an out-sized trunk to kindly commiserate
with Americas rst widow. Also on hand
is tenderhearted guard Samuel Flood
(Melissa Graves), an army private with a
very private secret.
Elegantly staged by Stephen Rayne,
The Widow Lincoln is a visually aective
production. Wade Laboissonnieres period
costumes are spot on and emotive. Mrs.
Lincoln sheds a mournful black duster to
reveal a blood-splattered gown, the dress
she was wearing that fateful spring night.
Out designer Tony Ciseks somber set is
decorated with dark curtains and hanging
lamps. A mountain of steamer trunks
portends the widows uncertain future.
Across the Potomac at MetroStage in
Alexandria, Bernardine Mitchell is reprising
a part she played at D.C.s Studio Theatre
20 years ago: bisexual singer Bessie Smith
in Thomas W. Jones IIs Bessies Blues.
Her current take on the part is rich and
textured. She approaches Smith as an
accomplished but unpretentious woman
who knows life, portraying her exquisite
pain and let-the-good-times-roll attitude
with equal authenticity. And Mitchells
voice is superb. Eortlessly (or so it seems),
she performs the lions share of the shows
lengthy score, a combination of original
melodic, sometimes hard-driving works as
well as tunes that Smith made popular in
the 20s and 30s like A Sweet Jelly Roll Like
Mine and Gimme a Pigfoot.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
BESSIES BLUES
Through March 15
MetroStage
1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria
$55-60
703-548-9044
Metrostage.org
THE WIDOW LINCOLN
Through Feb. 22
Fords Theater
511 Tenth Street, NW
$15-62
800-982-2787
fords.org
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
36 FEBRUARY 06, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
HOT HITS & HIDDEN JEWELS

F RO M CULTURECAP I TAL. CO M Y O U R LI N K TO T H E A R T S IN M ET R O D . C .
RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN

THRU FEB 22. ROUND HOUSE THEATRE.
240-644-1100. ROUNDHOUSETHEATRE.ORG.
With searing insight and trademark wit, this 2013 Pulitzer Prize nalist looks at
family, career, romance, middle-aged meltdowns, and the decisions that dene a life.
A DRAG VALENTINES SALUTE TO THE DIVAS: WHAT

SHI-QUEETA-LEE HAS DONE WITH IT
FEB 8. HOWARD THEATRE.
202-803-2899. THEHOWARDTHEATRE.COM.
DCs own Shi-Queeta-Lee and LaShawn Johnson deliver performances as Ike

and Tina Turner - whose turbulent relationship eventually forces Tina to leave
and face the fear, and nd the courage to believe in herself.
MARY STUART
THRU MAR 8. FOLGER THEATRE.
202-544-7077. FOLGER.EDU.
Peter Oswalds bold new translation of Schillers vivid re-imagining breathes

life into a Tudor world ush with subterfuge and revengeand ruled by two
extraordinary women.
HOW TO SEPARATE YOUR SOUL FROM YOUR BODY

FEB 9. RAINBOW THEATRE PROJECT AT SOURCE
THEATRE.
202-204-7800. RAINBOWTHEATREPROJECT.ORG.
While Ramona is o being seduced, literally and guratively, by the academic

lures of her Masters program, her partner begins an existential journey of her
own, with the help of a strange identity on the Internet.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROUND HOUSE THEATRE
THEATRE
Zero Hour: Tokyo Roses Last Tape.
Feb 6-Feb 7. Gigi. Thru Feb 15. Shear
Madness. Ongoing. Kennedy Center.
202-467-4600. kennedy-center.org.
Cherokee. Feb 11-Mar 8. Woolly
Mammoth. 202-393-3939.
woollymammoth.net.
Choir Boy. Thru Feb 22. Studio Theatre.
202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org.
Godspell. Thru Mar 1. Olney Theatre.
301-924-3400. olneytheatre.org.
House of Desires. Thru Mar 1. GALA
Hispanic Theatre. 202-234-7174.
galatheatre.org.
Life Sucks (Or the Present Ridiculous).
Thru Feb 15. Theater J. 800-494-8497.
theaterj.org.
Walnut Street Theatre: A Life in the
Theatre. Feb 6. GMU Center for the Arts.
888-945-2468. cfa.gmu.edu.
Manual Cinemas Lula Del Ray. Feb
6-Feb 7. Artisphere. 888-841-2787.
artisphere.com.
Priest Tyaires Torn Between 2
Fathers: The Stage Play. Feb 12-Feb
15. Warner Theatre. 202-783-4000.
warnertheatredc.com.
The Widow Lincoln. Thru Feb 22. Fords
Theatre. 800-982-2787. fords.org.
Bessie Bluefeld. Feb 6-Feb 8. JCCNV.
703-537-3000. jccnv.org.
DANCE
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Thru Feb 8. Kennedy Center. 202-4674600. kennedy-center.org.
The DC Contemporary Dance Theatre/
El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea.
Feb 7-Feb 8. Dance Place. 202-269-1600.
danceplace.org.
Ragamala Dance (Bharata Natyam,
Indian Dance): Song of the Jasmine.
Feb 7. Juiced. Feb 7. Clarice Smith. 301405-2787. claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.
MUSIC
Cyrille Aimee, jazz vocalist. Feb 8.
Spektral Quartet. Feb 12. AIR: Cristian
Perez. Feb 11-Feb 25. Strathmore. 301581-5100. strathmore.org.
NSO: Juraj Valcuha, conductor:
Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 5, Works
by Stravinsky & Bruch. Thru Feb 7.
Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600.
kennedy-center.org.
Simon Shaheen. Feb 7. WPA at Sixth
& I Historic Synagogue. 202-785-9727.
washingtonperformingarts.org.
White Ford Bronco. Feb 6. Slick Rick
& Rakim. Feb 7. Harlem Gospel Choir.
Thru Feb 22. Howard Theatre. 202-8032899. thehowardtheatre.com.
Todd Ellison: Love on Broadway. Feb 8.
GMU Center for the Arts. 888-945-2468.
cfa.gmu.edu.
Black Violin. Feb 8. BlackRock. 240-9121058. blackrockcenter.org.
Brian Ganz Plays Chopin. Feb 7.
Beethovens Ninth. Feb 8. National
Philharmonic at Strathmore. 301-5815100. nationalphilharmonic.org.

Meccorre Quartet (Poland). Feb
6. Clarice Smith. 301-405-2787.
claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.
The Montrose Trio. Feb 6. BeauSoleil
avec Michael Doucet. Feb 7. Wolf Trap.
877-965-3872. wolftrap.org.
MUSEUMS
National Gallery of Art. Degass Little
Dancer. Thru Feb 8. El Greco: A 400th
Anniversary Celebration. Thru Feb 16. Piero di
Cosimo: The Poetry of Painting in Renaissance
Florence. Thru May 3. 202-737-4215. nga.gov.
Folger Shakespeare Library. Decoding
the Renaissance. Thru Mar 1. folger.edu.
Museum of Women in the Arts.
Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea
- Exhibition. Thru Apr 12. Doris Lee:
American Painter and Illustrator. Thru
May 8. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org.
National Geographic. Food: Our Global
Kitchen. Thru Feb 22. Spinosaurus: Lost
Giant of the Cretaceous. Thru Apr 12.
Sea Monsters 3D and Flying Monsters
3D. Thru Apr 1. Inside Spinosaurus With
Paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim. Feb 10.
202-857-7700. nglive.org.
Tudor Place Historic House and
Garden. Patriotism, Protest, and the
Presidency. Thru Mar 26. 202-965-0400.
tudorplace.org.
GALLERIES
WPA: SELECT 2015 at Artisphere. Thru
Mar 7. WPA at Capitol Skyline Hotel.
Hothouse Video: Marina Zurkow. Thru
Mar 15. 202-488-7500. wpadc.org.
Goethe-Institut. Light and Dark: Photographs
from Germany by Barbara Klemm. Thru Feb
27. 202-289-1200. goethe.de.
JCC of Greater Washington. Rough
Around the Edges: Inspirations in Paper
by Ronni Jolles. Feb 8-Mar 15. 301-8810100. jccgw.org.
JCCNV. Synesthetic Landscapes:
Photographs by Andy Ilachinski. Thru Feb
9. The Artists Palette. Feb 10-Apr 6. 703323-0880. jccnv.org.
VisArts at Rockville. Nancy Daly:
About 286,000,000 Results. Thru Feb 22.
Suspension. Thru Mar 1. Laini Nemett:
East of Sheridan. Thru Mar 1. 301-3158200. visartsatrockville.org.
Torpedo Factory Art Center. In the
Flesh V. Thru Mar 1. 703-838-4565.
torpedofactory.org.
Gallery plan b. What Do You See? Thru
Feb 8. 202-234-2711. galleryplanb.com.
Joan Hisaoka Gallery. Bought & Sold:
Voices of Human Tracking. Thru Mar 7.
202-483-8600. smithcenter.org.
DCAC. Composite Allusions. Thru Feb 8.
202-462-7833. dcartscenter.org.
Publick Playhouse. Black Artists of DC. Thru
Mar 13. 301-277-1710. arts.pgparks.com.
Gallery Underground. February
Members Show. Thru Feb 28. Coastal
Therapy. Thru Feb 28. 571-483-0652.
arlingtonartistsalliance.org.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
BO OK S
FE B R U A R Y 06, 2015 37
CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC

Invites you to submit for your scope of work for the following project:
SQUARE 50 - CBE Subcontracting Employment Opportunities

Your bid is due to us on or before March 9th, 2015 @ 5:00 PM
IMAGE COURTESY OF FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX
Project DescriPtion: The new Square 50 development located on M Street, NW

in the West End Neighborhood, includes demolition of the existing DC Fire Station
(25,000 GSF) and the construction of a new 9 story apartment building (108,800 GSF).
The project includes several components within the new 9 story; a new fire station
(15,200 GSF) at the first and second floor, a new squash club (19,000 GSF) at the third
and fourth floor, and 6 floors of rental apartment units (56,800 GSF). The project includes 61 rental apartment units. The project also includes related site and utility improvements, storm water management, landscaping, and hardscape work.
This project will be designed and constructed utilizing sustainable building concepts to
obtain a minimum of a LEED Gold Certification.
Rich characters, thorny

subplots enliven bold novel
TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER has been reading

since she was 3 years old.She lives in Wisconsin
with two dogs and 12,000 books. Reach her at
bookwormsez@yahoo.com.
Hed lost contact with Tom years ago,

but Odran had heard rumors that his
friend was moved a lot, parish to parish.
That seemed odd and itd been upsetting
that Archbishop Cordington wanted
Odran to leave his beloved position as
librarian at a boys college to take over
in Toms latest move. The Archbishop
promised that it would be a short-term
change, but weeks would become years.
With his sister ailing, his nephews
estranged and the job he loved lost,
Odran hated being a mere parish priest,
and he didnt know what to think.
But theres the lie, he said. I did know
what to think. Only I could not bring
myself to think it.
Respectfully
outraged,
timely,
scandalous and loaded with more than a
little controversy, A History of Loneliness
shimmers like a multifaceted diamond.
Indeed, I barely know where to start
perhaps with the character of Odran.
Odran is a simple man, a clueless goalong-to-get-along kind of guy who likes
to think of himself as responsible and
intuitive. Hes a likeable lad but not really
friendship material; hes predictable,
gossipy and staid except on the occasions
when he doubts his faith and his vows.
Thats when he surprises himself, as well
as us but author John Boyne, whos gay,
doesnt stop there. In a setting of modernday Ireland and Rome, Boyne populates
this tale with close-lipped, complicated
people, gives it dialogue rich with Irish
brogue and hands his readers plenty of
exceptional back-plots.
That adds up to a stunner of a novel
that feels like reading a movie, one that
needs to jump to the top of your to-read
list today. But rst, clear your calendar.
Once you start A History of Loneliness,
you dont have a prayer.
Throughout your life, the faith youve

held has sustained you.
In times of fear, youve prayed for courage.
On troubled days, youve asked for favors.
Youve thrown gratitude heavenward and
youve demanded condemnation from the
higher power you know. Some prayers are
answered, some are not.
But what if your religion failed you
or, as in the new book A History of
Loneliness by John Boyne, if it quietly
eased away?
Once Odran Yates mother informed
him that he had a vocation, Odran
never questioned that he would
someday be a priest.
She told him that shortly after their
family of ve became three in a tragedy
they rarely discussed. She said it after shed
become devout and made Odran and his
sister, Hannah, attend Mass every Sunday.
Her proclamation made sense to him. So,
as a 16 year old, Odran went to Clonlie
College seminary in his native Ireland,
where he roomed with Tom Cardle, the
boy he considered his best friend.
While Odran was certain that he was
perfectly suited to be a priest, Tom was
another matter. Once, while in seminary, PROOF #1
Tom tried to leave but his father brought
A HISTORY OF LONELINESS
By John Boyne
him back, black and blue, and left him.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Odran had wondered if that was why
$26 REVISIONS
Tom was prone to ts of strangeness.
352 pages
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com two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so priority is given to LGBT-specic events
or those with LGBT participants. Recurring
events must be re-submitted each time.
TODAY
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct.,
N.W.) hosts Otter Crossing, a dance
party, with DJ Tommy Cornelis from the
NeedlExchange tonight at 10 p.m. Drink
specials are all night and include $5
Smirno vodka, $4 Fireball shots and $3
Bud Lights. There is a $5 cover. Admission
is limited to guests 21 and over. For more
details, visit greenlanterndc.com.
Gay District meets at the D.C. Center
(2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 8:309:30 p.m. The facilitated group discussion
covers building understanding of gay
culture and personal identity and
awareness of community events for
LGBT men between the ages of 18 and
35 in the D.C. area. For more details, visit
thedccenter.org or gaydistrict.org.
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.)
holds a transgender support group
tonight at 7 p.m. Meet other like-minded
people to discuss trans issues. The group
is open to all members of the transgender
community as well as their partners,
friends and allies. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
SATURDAY, FEB. 7
Number Nine (1435 P St., N.W.) has
its monthly DILF party tonight with DJ
Dean Douglas Sullivan from 9:30 p.m.-3
a.m. Details on Facebook.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer
organization, volunteers for the Rainbow
Families D.C. annual Winter Family
Dance at Washington Ethical Society
(7750 16th St., N.W.) today. There will
be one shift from 5-8 p.m. and another
shift from 7-10 p.m. Volunteers will be
setting up tables and chairs, putting
up decorations, helping with food and
drinks, setting up the registration table
and more. Throughout the dance,
volunteers will also help set up dinner
and dessert. After the dance, they will
be helping take everything down. They
will need approximately 8-10 volunteers.
To
volunteer,
email
jonathan@
burgundycrescent.org.
For
more
information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Team D.C. hosts its Winter Casino
night at Bualo Billiards (1330 19th St.,
N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. There will be
poker, blackjack and craps. Dealers will
be from other D.C.-based LGBT sports
team. There will also be food and drink
specials all night long. Admission is $10.
Proceeds benet D.C. LGBT sports teams.
For details, visit teamdc.org.
Onyx Entertainment presents Ladies
Day at Stadium (2127 Queens Chapel
Rd., N.E.) today from 4-10 p.m. There will
be a special guest performance by Slim
Jenkins and Vivid. DJ Adot Net and DJ Mim
PHOTO COURTESY OF FELD ENTERTAINMENT
DISNEY ON ICE comes to the Verizon Center next week.
will spin tracks for the night. There will

be an open bar from 4-7 p.m. and drink
specials the rest of the night. Admission
is free before 5 p.m., $10 before 7 p.m.
and $15 after. For more information, visit
facebook.com/onyx.entertainment.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Town
and Country today at 7 p.m. There will be
an hour-long main dance lesson. After,
there will be open dancing at 8:30 p.m.
Cover is $5 at the door. Admission is
limited to guests 21 and over. For details,
visit towndc.com.
SUNDAY, FEB. 8
Perrys (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts
its weekly Sunday Drag Brunch today
from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95
for an all-you-can-eat buet. For more
details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
Nellies Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.)
hosts a drag brunch today with shows
at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. For more
information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Whitman Walker holds free and
condential HIV testing at Bachelors Mill
(1104 8th St., S.E.) today from 10 p.m.-1
a.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
MONDAY, FEB. 9
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.)
hosts coee drop-in hours this morning
from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT
community. Older LGBT adults can
come and enjoy complimentary coee
and conversation with other community
members. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave.,
N.W.) holds a support group for gay

black men to discuss topics that aect
them today, share perspectives and have
meaningful conversations. For details,
visit uhupil.org.
The Bachelors Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.)
hosts happy hour from 5-7:30 p.m. today.
All drinks are half price. Enjoy pool, video
games and cards. Admission is free. For
more details, visit bachelorsmill.com.
TUESDAY, FEB. 10
D.C. Bi Women hosts its monthly
meeting in the upstairs room of Dupont
Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) from
7-9 p.m. tonight. For more details, visit
thedccenter.org.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts a
Rap Group, a support group for LGBT
youth, today from 5-6:30 p.m. For more
information, visit smyal.org.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11
The Lambda Bridge Club meets
tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center
(721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. No
reservations required and new comers
welcome. If you need a partner, call 703407-6540.
Bookmen D.C., an informal mens gay
literature group, discusses Lovetown by
Michael Witkowski, a story about the clash
between an older generation and new
generation of gay men in Poland, at the
Cleveland Park Library (3310 Connecticut Ave.,
N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For
details, visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Disney on Ice Presents World of
Fantasy comes to the Verizon Center
(601 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Characters from Disney movies Cars,
Toy Story 3, Tinkerbell and The Little
Mermaid will skate. The show runs
through Feb. 16. Tickets start at $20.
For more details, visit verizoncenter.
monumentalnetwork.com.
Rainbow Response, an LGBT intimate
partner violence prevention group, meets
at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.)
today from 6-7 p.m. For details, visit
thedccenter.org.
THURSDAY, FEB. 12
Whitman-Walker holds free and
condential HIV testing in Chinatown
at 601 F St., N.W. today from noon-2 p.m.
For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Locker
Room Thursday Nights from 10 p.m.-2
a.m. DJ Sean Morris and DJ Mad Science
will play music. Sasha J. Adams and
BaNaka will host a best body contest at
midnight. Rail drinks are $3 from 10 p.m.midnight. Red bull, Gatorade and frozen
virgin drinks are $5 from 10 p.m. until
closing. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $5
for those under 21 and free with college id.
For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts
Womens Leadership Institute, a group
for LBT women and their straight allies
ages 13-21 to discuss female sexuality,
relationships and womens rights today
from 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit
smyal.org.
Us Helping Us hosts free HIV testing
at 3636 Georgia Ave., N.W. from 9 a.m.5 p.m. today. For more information, visit
uhupil.org.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
A R T S & EN TE RTA I NMENT
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 3 9
Some fear Phase will go out with a whimper

a large lesbian club that eventually

morphed into Ziegfelds/Secrets.
Carroll did speak to the Blade ve years
ago on Phase 1s 40th anniversary and
said the bar has always been special.
We had hard times and good times,
but it felt like home, he said in 2010. We
always held on. They always come in and
always say, We know to come back here.
Its a good feeling.
But this is the rst time Phase 1 has
been closed this long at one time. Some
fear the bar may just fade into the sunset
with a whimper instead of a bang. Others
shrug it o as sad but merely a sign
of the times and point to the closing
of San Franciscos the Lexington Club,
which shuttered in October. In the last
ve or so years, other historic lesbian
bars like Sisters in Philadelphia, Ts Bar
& Restaurant in Chicago, the Palm in
West Hollywood and the Egyptian Club
in Portland, have also closed. Those
involved cited gentrication and the
accompanying skyrocketing cost of doing
business as factors.
I actually didnt want to talk to people
at rst, but now Im at my pissed stage,
Lombardi says. Basically the way he
phrased things to us was that even
though some of us had been there longer
than 10 years, we werent doing a good
enough job and that hes going to come
in and close down for renovations and
basically x the busted sound system
that wed been asking to have repaired
for years, paint and whatever else. He
wouldnt come out and say it, so I said,
Oh, so Im red, and he said, Well, I dont
know, and blah blah blah, but yeah, thats
pretty much how it went down.
Senait, a Phase 1 institution who also
worked there for 10 years, got a similar
call on Jan. 4 and says it was both shocking
and hurtful. Lombardi says Carroll
initially suggested she inform Senait, but
Lombardi insisted Carroll call her himself.
My opinion is it could have been done
in a more professional way, Senait says.
People lose jobs all the time, but he
could have called us in and said this is
what is happening but he didnt have the
courtesy to do that. He just called us on
the phone and said, Im letting you go.
Senait says she thinks the renovations
are legit, though Lombardi says, My mind
would be blown if its anything more than
a coat of paint and repairs to the sound
system. Some have questioned why the
renovations couldnt have been done on
the four days per week the bar was closed.
He said he was sort of thinking, I dont
know, two weeks or something, Senait
says. He was not very clear about the
whole thing. I think he started doing
some stu last [week]. I dont think hell
ALLEN CARROLL, owner of Phase 1.

shut it down. I think he will reopen.

Lombardi says tensions have been
brewing for a while. She traces it back to
2012 when Carroll moved her to the thennew Dupont location, which she says she had
misgivings about even at the outset, mainly
because she didnt think D.C. had enough
lesbians interested in nightlife to keep both
the cavernous Dupont location and the
original Phase both running indenitely, a
hunch that turned out to be correct.
I felt crippled there, Lombardi says.
He wouldnt let me do anything.
About four years ago, Lombardi started
spending time in Chico, Calif., helping her
brother run the Maltese, a straight bar
that also hosts gay events. Though shed
invested years into the Phase and even,
at one point, hoped to buy it from Carroll,
she says she eventually started spending
more time in California. Senait would
manage Phase 1 when she was gone.
Ive known for the last two years that
things at Phase werent secure and it
wasnt sustainable, Lombardi says. It
really pains me to say it because when it
was good, it was so good. I kind of had a
feeling I might just be left out in the cold
someday and sure enough, thats exactly
what happened.
Ken Vegas (aka Kendra Kuliga), director
and founder of the D.C. Kings, says that
while the timing was a shock, hed had
a sense for several years that things
were uncertain there. The Kings, who
are celebrating their 15th anniversary
in March, performed 180 consecutive
monthly shows at Phase 1 starting in
March 2000.
Its kind of like holding your breath,
Vegas says. Im not completely surprised
that it went down. It sucks. A lot of my

friends are people who worked there and
theyre the people who are getting the
eects of this decision . But Im still kind
of stunned. Even if it does re-open, if the
people who were stang it there are not
rehired, its not going to be the same. It
wasnt the four walls that made it the Phase,
it was the people Angela, Jasmine, Little
Fitz (Erin Fitzgerald), Senait, Ellis those
were the people who showed up even when
they knew they were probably only going
to make $20 if they were lucky. They kept
it open and made it a safe space anytime
for the community to come in, have a drink
and not feel judged. It was a safe space
for the Kings and the Gurlys to come share
our art and feel completely at ease. (The
Kings have continued performing monthly
after the Feb. 6 event, theyll be at the
Lodge in Boonsboro, Md., in March.)
Even with the hurt feelings, Lombardi
and Senait describe Carroll as family.
I love Allen, hes family even through
all of this, Lombardi says. I will never
take away what he did for this community
or take it for granted. He gave me a life,
he helped me discover who I am. Thats
priceless, so even though things are
ending on a rather bitter note, I love him
and I hope the Phase will go on another
40 years. I just thought Id be a part of it.
Senait has similar feelings.
Hes like a second father to me, she
says. I have nothing against him. I want
him to be successful. I love that bar. It was a
second home to me, where I found myself
as a gay person and became comfortable.
They also agree that business was likely
a strong factor in the decision. Senait says
in recent years it, hasnt been that great,
to be honest. Many have written about
how lesbian nightlife trends tend to dier
from those of gay men and also how the
evolutions of society, from meeting people
online to broader acceptance at traditionally
straight venues, have changed things.
Things overall just arent as segregated
as they once were, Vegas says. Back in
the day, I really didnt feel safe outside of
a queer bar but now theres less of a need
because theres less of a focus on that. Its
just one of the symptoms when you get
equalized and get more acceptance, there
becomes less of a need for a designated
space for us to be gay. We can be gay
anywhere we want. I can go out with
my short hair and my outt and my wife
and we just act like our own little selves.
We dont get side eyes or feel insecure.
We can be open in the grocery store, the
coee shop, wherever. With marriage
legalized here now, theres just much
more acceptance to be openly queer.
Though Lombardi was long celebrated
for her vision and seemingly endless
stream of parties and theme nights to
get women in the doors, she says Phase
nances had become harder in the last

few years. Though monthly parties like
BARE by LURe and the now-defunct She
Rex always siphoned o patrons, the
beauty of Phase 1, she says, was that
there was always a lesbian-specic option
even if there wasnt a party happening
any given night.
We often got hit by whatever the
new party was at the time so we had
ups and downs but we made it through
all the parties over the years, she says.
The fate of her brainchild, the nationally
prominent, eight-year-old Phase Fest
indie queer music festival, always held in
September, is up in the air.
Her vision, had she had the opportunity,
would have been to have a straight bar
upstairs to essentially help bankroll Phase 1.
The changing neighborhood, too, was a
factor. Though not gentrifying at the rapid
pace of, say, Logan Circle/14th Street,
N.W., property values there have steadily
increased. Though Carroll owns the
building (he does not own the Ziegfelds/
Secrets location), property taxes for 2014
according to District records, were a
whopping $31,836. Carroll paid penalties
last year for late payments. Taxes for the
property jumped signicantly in recent
years going from about $4,800 in 2006
to nearly $9,700 in 2007 and from nearly
$9,600 in 2010 to more than doubling
to nearly $23,000 in 2011, according to
public D.C. tax records.
I ran the Phase forever, I know it cant
aord to be on that block anymore, of
course not, Lombardi says.
She also says if Carroll hopes to make the
bar successful with a new sta and minimal
refurbishing, hes in for a rude awakening.
Im sure hell reopen, have some kind
of a 45th anniversary event, she says. He
told me thats what hes going to do but if
he thinks hes going to just reopen, hell
see pretty fast just what it takes to keep it
going. Its going to be pretty rough.
If it does close, Rindskopf says people
need a chance to say goodbye.
People whove supported a bar for
years deserve a little consideration,
he says. I thought [the closing of]
Remingtons was handled about as well
as it could have been. It doesnt sound
like theyre getting that in this situation.
I believe in being fair to the customers, let
alone the employees.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
PHASEPOCALYPSE NOW
Feb. 6
Scandal DC
With DJ LezRage
and DJ Deedub
the D.C. Kings Brolo
and D.C. Gurly Show
Doors 9:30 p.m., performance 10
The Black Cat
1811 14th St., N.W.
blackcatdc.com
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
4 0 F EB RUA RY 0 6, 2015
P H O T O S BY D A MI E N SA LA S
Wig Night Out, an annual fundraiser for the Point Foundation, was held at Town Danceboutique on Jan. 31.
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W A SH I NGTO N B LA D E.C OM
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 4 3
REALESTATE
Holy smoke!
D.C. chimneys suering
from earthquake
damage, snow
By SUE GOODHART
Chimneys in our area have suered quite
a bit of damage in the past few years.The
exteriors have been assaulted by the earthquake and long, tough winters.The earthquake in 2011 caused quite a bit of damage
that is still being uncovered.
The harsh weather in recent years has
also taken a toll. Chimney caps, which
keep the animals and other debris from
getting into the chimney, have been
blown o or damaged. Flashing, which
is placed around the chimney to prevent
water from getting in between the chimney and the roof to prevent leaks can be
damaged by the heavy snows and rains.
Mortar, the substance that holds the
bricks together, deteriorates over time.
Inside the chimney there can be missing
tiles as well as a build-up of creosote.
Bottom line, if you have not had your
chimney checked out in the past few
years you may want to have a thorough
inspection by a reputable licensed chimney sweep.
The good news/bad news is that they

now have cameras that can see the interior
of the chimneys. That means they can be
quite thorough but they also can uncover
defects that were previously undetected
and the cost to repair can be quite steep.
My advice is to have someone inspect.
If the cost seems high, then get a second
and third opinion. Then, schedule the
work as needed.
The exterior work would be prudent to
tackle immediately. You may wish to push
extensive interior work to the summer when
prices may be lower.If you are selling your
home anytime in the near future you will
want to have the inspection now so there
are no surprises on the home inspection.
Because of the cameras, we are nding
that more and more buyers are asking for
the extensive work on the chimneys to be
completed by sellers.
Should you have any questions or need
advice please dont hesitate to contact
Sue or Allison Goodhart atsue@thegoodhartgroup.com or allison@thegoodhartgroup.com.
SUE GOODHART is the top-producing agent at
McEnearney Associates in Alexandria and is licensed in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. She can
be reached at 202-507-7800 or sue@suegoodhart.com.
Prime Time reALTOr
Valerie M. Blake
Associate Broker, GRI
I met with 2 Broke Girls last week

and sent them to my lenders.
A DC Open Doors loan was
among the chief contenders.
Dupont Circle Office 202.243.7700 (o)
202.246.8602 (c) Valerie@DCHomeQuest.com
www.DCHomeQuest.com
Chimney caps, ashing and mortar can all be damaged or deteriorate over time. Be sure to get
an inspection.
315 Farmhouse road, accokeek, md

Historic four-bedroom home w/guest house,
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Contact your licensed real estate agent today,
or call 703.402.0629, to
arrange a private showing!
$849,000
michael makris
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McEnearney Associates, Inc.
109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA
(703) 549-9292 / (703) 402-0629 cell
www.MikeMakris.com / Like Me on Facebook
4 4 F E B RUA RY 0 6, 2015
Solaire Wheaton | Wheaton, MD
Gables Woodley Park | Washington, DC
The Flats at Wheaton Station | Wheaton, MD
Gables Dupont Circle | Washington, DC
Jefferson at Inigos Crossing | North Bethesda, MD
Convenience, Amenities, & Luxury Apartment

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gables.com
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W A SH I NGTO N B LA DE.C OM
MASSAGE / CERTIFIED
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COUNSELING
JOIN US. New Psychotherapy
Group for Montgomery County LGB
Adults. Affirmative & safe space to
connect & explore issues. Coming
out of marriage, parenting, finding
intimate relationships & local
resources. Grace Riddell LCSW. 301942-3237. griddell@aol.com. LGBTC.
com/html/grace_riddell.html.
COUNSELING FOR GAY MEN.
Individual/couple counseling w/
volunteer peer counselor. Gay Mens
Counseling Community since 1973.
202-580-8861. gaymenscounseling.
org. No fees, donation requested.
CHANGES ARE EASIER WITH
HELP. Small, private practice
group of experienced, caring
therapists.Safe, confidential
setting. Offices in Woodley Park &
Takoma Park near Metro.Licensed
professionals.Insurance
reimbursable.Washington
Therapy Guild. Call 202-483-2660.
washingtontherapyguild.com.
LGBTQ AFFIRMING THERAPY at
Dupont Circle Individuals, couples,
families, adolescents. Over 15
years serving the community. Mike
Giordano, LICSW. 202/460-6384
mike.giordano.msw@gmail.com.
www.WhatIHearYouSaying.com.
BULLETIN BOARD
Singer for weddings,
birthdays, anniversaries,
other special
occasions. Repertoire
includes Broadway,
American songbook,
classical - just ask!
Contact Maureen Roult at
maureenmezzo@yahoo.
com or 301-832-2036.
EMPLOYMENT
LOCKER ROOM ATTENDANTS
NEEDED! The Crew Club, a gay mens
naturist gym & sauna, is now hiring
Locker Room Attendants. We all
scrub toilets & do heavy cleaning. You
must be physically able to handle the
work & have a great attitude doing
it. No drunks/druggies need apply.
Please call Richard at (202) 319-1333.
from 9-5pm, to schedule an interview.
F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 4 5
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS ONLINE
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Professionals: Brown Naff Pitts
Omnimedia, LLC owners of The
Washington Blade & Azer Creative,
both Award Winning companies
have a unique opportunity for the
right self motivated, organized &
experienced individual. New business
development, outside sales for
one of the nations most respected
LGBTQ publications. Washington DC
offices. Small staff, welcoming input
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increase revenue by selling services
across all platforms. Representing the
Washington Blade brand in public/
business capacity. Respond with
via email to: srutgers@washblade.
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Wanted delivery drivers with

own auto. Good compensation. Busy
Floral Shop in NW Washington. Call
Jeff - 202 667 7888.
PETS
CARETAKER / DOG
SITTER
MUST LOVE DOGS Unique
opportunity for right person / couple.
Retired couple seeks freedom &
flexibility. We need someone for
house cleaning, dog sitting, other
household / caretaker duties on
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services, were offering a nice SFH, FR
w/ FP, adjacent to our property. Must
have some income, drivers license &
pass background check. No pets or
children. Long term position. Please
email: CareforVashti@gmail.com.
OPPORTUNITIES
SEEKING FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS
for Series 3 Brokerage Positions,
Flexible Hours, Great Payouts.
Potential to make $100k in first year.
Please call Ivan at 703-759-3204
info@alarisfinancial.com.
REHOBOTH GETAWAY
SUNNY REHOBOTH 2BR, 1 BA
condo, sleeps 4, w/ parking 4 blocks
to beach. Sorry no smoking or pets.
$180/night, 2 night min. email:
mschef43@gmail.com.
LEGAL SERVICES
FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM
Representing the GLBT community
for over 30 years. Family adoptions,
estate planning, immigration,
employment. (301) 891-2200.Silber,
Perlman, Sigman & Tilev, P.A. www.
SP-Law. com.
ADOPTION & ASSISTED
REPRODUCTIVE Law Attorney Jennifer
Fairfax represents clients in Maryland
& D.C. interested in adoption or ART
matters.301-221-9651,JFairfax@
jenniferfairfax.com.
LIMOUSINES / DRIVERS
KASPERS LIVERY SERVICE BMW 740LI
Luxury Sedan Service; Hourly, Point
to Point & Special Airport Transfer
Rates! Gay & Veteran Owned! http://
www.KasperLivery.com Phone 202554-2471 or 800-455-2471.
PHOTOGRAPHY
STEVE OTOOLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Fine Art Photographer for portraits,
weddings & dating photos for the
internet. Call (703) 532-3031. www.
steveotoolephotography.com.
HANDYMAN
JUST THE GUY Handyman /
Cleaning for your home or office no
job too small, 1x, regular, movingin/out services, great rates, days,
evenings, and weekends. Call or text:
202-276-9272.
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ENHANCE YOUR AD WITH OUR UPGRADES

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CONTACT US AT 202-747-2077
All Classified Ads

By Mondays at 5PM
washingtonblade.com
4 6 f e b rua ry 0 6, 2015
CLEANING
TOO NEAT GUYS INC. Residential
& Commercial cleaning in DC
& Northern VA. Over 20 years
experience, gay owned, licensed,
bonded & insured. Email: tooneat@
comcast.net, (703) 622-5983.
MAID TO CLEAN. Gay owned.
Serving DC/VA since 1996. We provide
1x, move/in, move/out, recurring service.
We love pets & your dirt! (703)299-0101.
Visit us at maidtoclean.com.
FERNANDOS CLEANING:
Residential & Commercial Cleaning,
Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates,
Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/Move-Out.
(202) 234-7050, 202-486-6183.
HEATING / AC
GREAT SCOTT MOVING INC. Local

& Long Distance, Pianos!Call us For
a Great Move at a Great Price (301)
699-2066.Highly rated in Consumer
Check Book, Better Business Bureau,
Yelp & Angies List.
SHARE / DC
CAPITOL HILL (2-1/2 blocks
eastern mkt) small bright furn/unfurn
BR share w/ 3 gay friendly men,
$700+utilities. Available immediately.
Pete 202-544-5688.
GWM w/ 2 cats has cozy fully
furnished room available in NE DC.
No Pets, no children, non-smoker
preferred. Metro, Parking, all
amenities. 202-306-0288. Serious
responses only, no texts.
SHARE / DE
REHOBOTH SEASONAL ROOM
Summer Rental---reasonable rate
in a quiet setting, close proximity to
beach, downtown and outlets. Inquire
by email rbflamingo@comcast.net.
SHARE / MD
Room 4 Rent 3blks 2 Suitland
Metro. Clean Quiet Safe 4 info call
301-503-4263.
PAINTERS
SHARE / VA
ATELIER INTERIOR/
EXTERIOR PAINTING.
Chalkboard & Dry Erase
paint. Wood Staining.
Plaster Repairs. Pressure
Cleaning. Free Estimates.
Elmer 240-462-3760.
WOODBRIDGE,MBR single-family
home between Quantico & Ft. Belvoir.
Beautifully renov. walk-out bsmt. BR
w/ priv. full bath. Singles only. $900/
month. 703-798-3955.
TREE SERVICE
OFFICE &
COMMERCIAL
BRANCHES - FULL SERVICE Tree

Expert Company. Certified Arborists,
pruning, insect & disease diagnosis,
treatment & removal. 301-589-6181.
www.BranchesTreeExperts.com.
Angies List Award Winner 09, 10,
11, 12.
MOVERS
OUR GUYS AROUND TOWN
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RENT / MD
Townhouse for Rent 2 bedrm,
basement, 1.5 bath, $1325
mo;SD$1800; Ft. Wash/Oxon Hill
area. Call 301 751-1802.
SALE / MD
Historic MD Farm 1 hr from
DC Two contiguous properties: a
restored 1820s stone farm house
(3,400 s/f) on five acres; a 21-acre
homesite with superb views and
able to be subdivided. See at www.
farmforsalemaryland.com.
MOUNT RAINIER HOMES

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Hot Tub! Garage!
LARRY PERRIN REALTOR
(301) 983-0601
LJPerrin@aol.com.
MONTGOMERYVILLAGE
TOWNHOMES - REQUEST
ONLINE PHOTOS!
-$349,995 - Garage!3 BRs!
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LARRY PERRIN REALTOR
(301) 983-0601
LJPerrin@aol.com.
SALE / WV
GREAT RETAIL SPACE for lease.

Route 1-Hyattsville Arts District, 4802
Rhode Island Ave. Commercial space
for lease. Excellent visibility. Ideally
located in Hyattsville Arts District.
Perfect for clothing store, studio,
restaurant, bakery, or other retail.
Two miles from DC. Alex 202-2155238. nvfive@gmail.com.
W ASH I N G T O NB L A DE . CO M
PERFECT WEEKEND HOME 4 BR, 3 BA

includes guest suite & detached gar.
in golf community. Turnkey home on
1 acre in great community. $399,900.
Call 240-888-9696.
BODYWORK
MASSAGE SILVER
SPRING...sensuous erotic
naked. Bruno $70 per hr.
301 580-2716.
EROTIC SWEDISH MASSAGE

- healthy clean cut guy, 61, 160 lbs,
Dupont Circle, massage table, noon
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for 1 hour. Bill 202-728-0238. No text
messages.
AFFORDABLE MASSAGE by friendly
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THE MAGIC TOUCH: Swedish,
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SOOTHING SUPERB, SENSUAL

massage by in shape attractive guy.
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ESCORTS
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relaxing, release on my professional
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F E BRU A RY 0 6 , 2 0 1 5 4 7
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HOT GUYS!
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FEBRUARY

AMERICAS GAY NEWS SOURCE

Praise for Obama budget plan

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

Tremendous progress on LGBT rights

Virginia Gov. TERRY MCAULIFFE spoke at an Equality

RICHMOND, Va. Virginia Gov. Terry McAulie this

the Statehouse in downtown Richmond. We have a

Del. Norton vows to

Gift ideas, dining

Staers speak out as

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D.C. Del. ELEANOR HOLMES

Norton vows to ght

D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) told representatives

Metro TeenAIDS merges with

In a statement released on Monday, ocials with Metro TeenAIDS and Whitman-Walker

Maryland gets Log Cabin chapter

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

Natl Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day set for Saturday

The HIV response is failing black gay men in

its unfathomable the degree to which

lack of culturally sensitive prevention and

least half of the infections that take place

Hogan reverses on Medicaid regulation

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

Witness disputes sex assault charges against gay lieutenant

room between Seefried and the Marine

from the restaurant to Seefrieds hotel

During their conversation at that time,

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SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

2141 P STREET NW SUITE 103

Serving Our COmmunity fOr 31 yearS

FAMILY | ESTATE PLANNING | EMPLOYMENT | IMMIGRATION

Silber, Perlman, Sigman &tilev, P.a.

Trans woman killed in Los Angeles

Advocates, HUD launch housing initiative

Fire destroys Nebraska gay club

Membership in LGBT caucus

U.S. Rep. JARED POLIS (D-Colo.) is a co-chair

Jacklin acknowledged a portion of the

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

Keep your promise to protect each other.

Wills & Trusts

(240) 778-2330 (703) 536-0220

Serving the LGBT Community

Makeover Your Crib