AUGUST 04, 2017 VOLUME 48 ISSUE 31 AMERICAS LGBT NEWS SOURCE
COM
Transgender troops
shocked by Trump ban
Theres a job to be done, and thats what Im here to do, said Lt. Cmdr. BLAKE DREMANN.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
President Trump shows true colors
3 anti-LGBT actions in one day
undermine claims hes an ally
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Once a self-proclaimed friend to the LGBT
community, President Trump will nd such
words a harder if not impossible sell in
the aftermath of major actions he took against
LGBT rights in the past week.
In one day, President Trump announced
via tweets, no less that transgender people
wont be allowed to serve in the U.S. military
in any capacity, overturning an Obama-
era change allowing them into the armed
forces. On the same day, Trumps Justice
Department led a friend-of-the-court brief
arguing lesbian, gay and bisexual people are
PRESIDENT TRUMPs professed support for LGBT rights will now be a entitled to no protections under the Civil Rights
harder sell.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY Act of 1964.
WASHINGTONBLADE.
Service members press on
amid uncertainty over
future in military
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Lt. Cmdr. Blake Dremann is continuing to do his
job, despite President Trumps announcement
that he intends to ban transgender people from
serving in the U.S. military.
The transgender Navy supply core ocer,
36, is feeling secure in his role at a military
base in Virginia at least for the time being
until higher-ups issue guidance telling him he
can no longer serve.
Until direction comes back to DOD through
ocial channels, the DODs not going to act,
Dremann said.
Dremann said his fate is ultimately up to the
institution to which hes dedicated his life and
just as he followed orders before, hell keep
doing that until the end.
The military doesnt really care about my
feelings, Dremman said. Either Im t or not
t. As much as it was a bit of a shock, theres a
job to be done, and thats what Im here to do.
Dremann is one of the thousands of
CONTINUES ON PAGE 12
To top that o, Trump on the same day
announced hed appoint as U.S. ambassador-
at-large for international religious freedom
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, whos
undermined LGBT rights over his political
career in the name of religious liberty.
Trump has taken actions before that have
disappointed LGBT people, but the unilateral
imposition of a transgender service ban
after Congress rejected a measure that would
have restricted transition-related care for
service members and a voluntary friend-of-
the-court brief undermining basic employment
protections have taken things up a notch.
What gives? Over the course of his
presidential campaign, Trump billed himself as
a new kind of Republican candidate who unlike
his predecessors or his competitors for the
2016 Republican nomination would support
CONTINUES ON PAGE 13
0 2 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017 W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

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0 4 A UGUS T 0 4 , 2017 LO CA L N E W S

Roem raises more than $112,000 in July

Judge orders FBI to
Danica Roem this week announced her campaign against Virginia state Del. release docs on 1950s
anti-gay purge
Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) raised more than $112,000 in July.
Roem told supporters in an email that she raised $112,974.21 from 820
donations.
She said her campaign raised more than $70,000 since President Trump on
July 26 announced a ban on transgender people in the U.S. military. This gure Agency balked at
includes a $50,000 donation that Roem received from Milwaukee County (Wis.)
Executive Chris Abele, who chairs the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, after Trump Mattachine request
made the announcement on Twitter. for materials
Roem in her email noted Marshall supports the ban. She also added the Prince
William County Republican in 2014 sponsored a bill that would have banned
gays and lesbians from serving in the Virginia National Guard. By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Discrimination has no place in our community, especially in Prince William lchibbaro@washblade.com
County, home of the U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico, wrote Roem.
Marshall, who is among the most vocal opponents of LGBT rights in the A U.S. District Court judge in
Virginia General Assembly, has represented the 13th District in the state House Washington on July 28 handed down
of Delegates since 1992. a ruling ordering the FBI to search for
Roem is the rst openly trans nominee for public oce in Virginia. She would and release thousands of documents it
also make history as the rst out trans person seated in any state legislature if initially said it could not nd or declined to
she were to beat Marshall in November. release that pertain to an anti-gay purge
The Victory Fund, the Trans United Fund, Equality Virginias Political Action in the 1950s that resulted in the ring of
Committee and the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence are among the groups that thousands of gay federal employees.
have endorsed Roem. Judge Royce C. Lamberths ruling came
MICHAEL K. LAVERS in response to a Freedom of Information
Act lawsuit led last year by the It is time for the government to release
these historic FBI and DOJ documents that
Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C.,
Gay Republican withdraws name an LGBT rights group that called on the
launched decades of discrimination against
LGBT Americans, said CHARLES FRANCIS.

for DHS post over trans ban FBI to release all government documents
in its possession generated by a 1953
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCIS

executive order issued by President

The gay former executive director of the Delaware Republican Party has Dwight Eisenhower.
withdrawn his name from consideration for a position at the U.S. Department of Known as Executive Order 10450, the
Homeland Security over President Trumps decision to ban transgender people order gave the FBI and federal agency
from the military. heads the authority to investigate
John Fluharty was in the running to become the agencys assistant secretary of and dismiss federal employees linked
partnership and engagement. to sexual perversion. Historians
Politico reported Fluharty interviewed for the position on Tuesday. The knowledgeable in LGBT history say that
Washington Blade obtained an email from Fluharty in which he asked Luke term was a pretext used to purge gays
Beckmann of the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw his name from from the government.
consideration. Mattachine Society President Charles
Fluharty sent the email to Luke Beckmann of the Department of Homeland Francis said the group led its lawsuit
Security on Wednesday at 11:06 a.m., roughly two hours after Trump announced after the FBI balked at releasing and
the ban on twitter. searching for thousands of documents
As I mentioned during our conversation, I am a strong advocate for the group requested in what the lawsuit
diversity, both in the Republican Party and in government, wrote Fluharty. The says was a violation of the Freedom of
presidents announcement this morning that he will ban all those who identify Information Act.
as transgender from military service runs counter to my deeply held beliefs, In his ruling, Lamberth stated attorneys
and it would be impossible for me to commit to serving the administration for the U.S. Department of Justice, which
knowing that I would be working against those values. represented the FBI in court, argued
Fluharty was executive director of the Delaware Republican Party from 2002- that the FBI was able to track down 552
2015. pages of documents it released to the
Fluharty came out as gay in 2013 during an exclusive interview with the Blade Mattachine Society while it withheld an
at a fundraiser for Equality Delaware, a statewide LGBT advocacy group, and additional 583 documents on grounds
their eorts to support the extension of marriage rights for same-sex couples in that they were exempt from the Freedom
the state. The executive committee of the Sussex County Republican Committee of Information Act.
later approved a non-binding resolution that called for his removal over his The FBIs response fails to
position on the issue. demonstrate that their search was
Fluharty in a statement to the Blade also criticized the Justice Department for reasonably calculated to uncover all
arguing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not prohibit discrimination relevant documents, Lamberth states in
based on sexual orientation. his ruling.
The ban on allowing transgender heroes to continue to serve in the military, In bluntly worded language, Lamberth
and the actions by the Justice Department the following day, have eectively said it strains credulity that the FBI
alienated the Republican Party from our community for a generation, said claimed it could not nd any documents
Fluharty. prepared by or pertaining to former
MICHAEL K. LAVERS U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren
Burger, who was in charge of carrying
out Executive Order 10450 in the 1950s
before Eisenhower appointed him to the
Supreme Court.
The Court nds it nearly impossible
to believe that a search for every
permutation of the name of the man who
was charged with carrying out EOP 10450,
the overseer Warren Bergeryielded
zero responsive documents, Lamberth
wrote in his ruling.
In his ruling Lamberth granted part
of a motion by the Justice Department
seeking summary judgment to withhold
the release of a smaller collection of
documents that Lamberth found to be
exempt from the FOIA statute.
He ruled that for a large collection of
documents that the FBI released in which
names were redacted, the FBI would
have to go back and replace the names
with alphanumeric markers, which are
to be uniquely identiable and consistent
throughout all documents produced
pursuant to this FOIA request.
He added: The parties are hereby
ordered to meet and confer to determine
appropriate terms for future searches. If
the parties cannot agree to appropriate
terms, plaintis may submit a proposed
order with suggested terms to the court.
Francis said Lamberths ruling would
enable Mattachine Society to obtain most
of the documents it believes exist as a
result of the Eisenhower executive order.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
L O CA L NEW S
Rehoboth mayoral race divides LGBT residents
Focus is on development,
city hall project as
election nears
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
A number of outspoken LGBT residents
of the Delaware resort community of
Rehoboth Beach have taken sides in the
towns Aug. 12 election in which nine-term
incumbent Mayor Sam Cooper is being
challenged by Rehoboth City Commissioner
and businessman Paul Kuhns.
Several longtime LGBT residents and
summer visitors, including Steve Elkins,
executive director of the LGBT community
center CAMP Rehoboth, say Rehoboths
longtime reputation as an LGBT-friendly
and welcoming place will likely prompt
LGBT voters to focus on non-LGBT issues
in choosing the candidate to support.
In interviews with the Washington
Blade, Cooper and Kuhns each described
themselves as strong supporters of the LGBT
community and praised Rehoboths LGBT
residents for contributing to the betterment
of the popular beach community.
I think theyre just a part of Rehoboth
and Im very pleased with the acceptance
over the years and the integration,
Cooper told the Blade. Its a part of the
fabric of the community now.
Kuhns, who said he and his wife have
been Rehoboth homeowners since
1987 and full-time residents since 2005,
credited CAMP Rehoboth and its many
members and supporters with playing a
key role in transforming the city into an
LGBT-supportive place.
Over the years from my perspective
personally theyve created a great
atmosphere in the neighborhoods
because theyre investing in nice houses,
there are great restaurants, there are nice
shops, and theyre nice people, he said.
And they do good things for the city and
I think its something from an economic
perspective thats been very helpful for
the city over the last 20 years or so.
Elkins currently serves as an appointed
election judge who is among those who
will count the ballots in the Aug. 12
election. In that role as well as his role
as head of CAMP Rehoboth, which is a
nonpartisan organization, Elkins said he
cannot take sides in the election for mayor
and for two Rehoboth City Commissioner
seats that are on the ballot this year.
Although the throngs of summer
vacationers and second home occupants
bring the number of people staying in
Rehoboth to tens of thousands, Elkins
said there are only about 1,600 registered
voters living within the citys one square
mile boundary who are eligible to vote in
the Aug. 12 election. Out of that number,
Incumbent Rehoboth Mayor SAM COOPER faces a challenge from Paul Kuhns.
typically about 1,300 people turn out to
vote, Elkins said.
Like many small cities of Rehoboths
size, its election for mayor and city
commissioners is nonpartisan. However,
voter registration records show that
Cooper is a registered Republican and
Kuhns is registered as a Democrat. Neither
of the two have raised their party aliation
as an issue so far in the campaign.
Peter Rosenstein, a longtime D.C. gay
Democratic activist and Washington
Blade columnist who has been spending
time in Rehoboth for more than 20 years,
is among the outspoken LGBT backers of
Kuhns for mayor. Rosensteins Rehoboth
residence is located outside the ocial
city limits, making him ineligible to vote
in the election. But he pointed out that
property owners living within the city
limits are eligible to vote, even if they are
full-time residents of D.C. or other states.
He has urged them to vote for Kuhns,
saying that Mayor Cooper has been
insensitive to the citys small businesses,
which bring in the bulk of revenue to
enable Rehoboth to provide services to its
residents and visitors. Like other Kuhns
supporters, Rosenstein holds Cooper
responsible for the cost overrun in the
construction of a new city hall building
that has come under re from visitors
and residents alike.
Coopers supporters, including Rehoboths
gay city commissioner, Patrick Gossett,
and full-time gay Rehoboth resident Frank
Cooper, who is not related to Mayor Cooper,
have said Mayor Cooper has been an
eective leader of the city. They call criticism
of the mayors handling of the new city hall
building project unfair, pointing out that the
seven-member City Commission, including
Commissioner Kuhns, voted unanimously
to approve the project.
Cooper supporters also note that
Rehoboth residents approved the project
COOPER PHOTO PUBLIC DOMAIN; KUHNS PHOTO COURTESY OF KUHNS
in a voter referendum. They acknowledge
that cost overruns have resulted in the
price of the project increasing from
between $18 million and $19 million to
as much as $21 million or more, but they
insist the overruns are due to rising costs of
construction contractors and should not be
blamed on Cooper or the City Commission.
Kuhns, who for 25 years served as an
investment banker for Merrill Lynch in
New York City with a specialty in loan
underwriting for municipalities, told the
Blade the cost overruns for the Rehoboth
city hall building could have been avoided
if Cooper had a better understanding of
long range nancial planning.
He pointed to another big project to reroute
the citys wastewater outfall pipe from the
Rehoboth Canal to the ocean, as mandated
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
as another example of the mayor and some
city commissioners failing to engage in better
long range planning.
He said if elected mayor he would
delegate more responsibilities to the
Rehoboth City Manager, Sharon Lynn,
a lesbian with years of experience in
municipal government planning and
operations. According to Kuhns, Cooper
has attempted to serve as project
manager of the city hall and wastewater
outfall projects rather than delegate
more responsibility to the City Manager
under what he and others consider to be
a city manager form of government.
Cooper disputes that assessment,
saying he has worked closely with the city
commissioners and other city ocials on
all important projects as well as on the
citys annual budget.
To say we dont have a formal long-range
budget doesnt mean I and the city manager
dont have a plan for the future, he said.
Part of my response is Ive been mayor for
27 years and the city I think has nished in
the black every year, he continued. You can
A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 0 5
always make those arguments that there
needs to be more planning.
Cooper added: But I think the evidence
is clear that the city is well managed. It is
very attractive and clean and it has a lot of
things going for it. And I like to say those
things dont happen by accident. They
happen through leadership.
Like their straight counterparts, some
of Kuhns LGBT supporters have pointed
to a number of controversial regulatory
proposals and ordinances pushed by
Cooper that they say have hurt small
businesses, including gay-owned
businesses such as bars and restaurants.
Kuhns supporter Richard Perry pointed
out in a commentary in the Blade that
the co-owner of Aqua Grill, a Rehoboth
gay bar, was arrested and handcued
several years ago for allegedly violating
an ordinance requiring that bars and
restaurants with outdoor patios or decks
close those spaces by 11 p.m. Police
quickly dropped all charges against the
Aqua co-owner and apologized after
realizing Aqua was legally exempt from
the ordinance.
But Perry and other critics of Cooper
argue that Cooper has set an atmosphere
of overregulation that, among other
things, led to a controversial proposal
to ban swimming pools in rental homes
and to signicantly strengthen a city
noise ordinance that some claimed were
aimed at targeting gay group homes. The
pool ordinance proposal, introduced by
Cooper, was quickly dropped following a
groundswell of opposition by a coalition
of LGBT and rental housing advocates.
Cooper told the Blade the regulatory
proposals emerged from requests from
residents who pointed out that newly
built large houses that were dubbed mini
mansions were being lled with rowdy
tenants who were generating excessive
noise all hours of the day and night.
He said the proposals were in no way
targeting any one group, and certainly
not LGBT people.
Cooper and his supporters have long
argued that regulatory actions like noise and
building height restrictions were needed to
retain Rehoboths widely supported status
as a small-scale, low-key beach community
and to avoid having it turn into a large
bustling and often rowdy town like nearby
Dewey Beach or Ocean City, Md.
Kuhns told the Blade he too favors
preventing Rehoboth from turning into
an Ocean City or Dewey Beach. But he
said Cooper often has not carried out the
regulatory measures to retain Rehoboths
small-scale character in a fair and
equitable way.
I will do that, he said. Thats what sets
me apart from the mayor.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

0 6 A UGUS T 0 4 , 2017
Scaramucci ousted after just 10 days
Trump ocial touted
support for LGBT rights
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Ten days after his appointment as
White House communications director,
which some hoped would change the
administrations approach to LGBT rights,
Anthony Scaramucci has left the role.
White House Press Secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders conrmed
Scaramucci, nicknamed the Mooch, was
set to exit the White House after major
media outlets reported the news.
Anthony Scaramucci will be leaving
his role as White House Communications
Director, Sanders said. Mr. Scaramucci
felt it was best to give Chief of Sta John
Kelly a clean slate and the ability to build
his own team. We wish him all the best.
The 10 days Scaramucci occupied
the White House were marked by open
assaults in the press against former
White House Chief of Sta Reince Priebus,
whom Scaramucci derided as being a
leaker and a paranoid schizophrenic
using colorful expletives.
Scaramuccis remarks to the New
Yorker on Priebus soaked up a lot of the
attention last week, when the Senate was
considering and failed to pass a measure
to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Perry supports trans military ban
45 senators urge Mattis to
oppose Trump move
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
Energy Secretary Rick Perry took
time last week during his visit to an air
conditioning manufacturer in Texas to
declare support for President Trumps
ban on transgender military service.
Perry told reporters he backs the policy
change after his visit to the Daikin Texas
Technology Park in Waller, Texas, basing his
reasoning on the cost of transition-related
care, according to the Texas Tribune.
I totally support the president in his
decision, Perry was quoted as saying.
The idea that the American people need
to be paying for these types of operations
to change your sex is not very wise from a
standpoint of economics.
Trump made dubious claims about
tremendous medical costs and
disruption posed by transgender military
service when announcing his ban last
ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI lasted just 10 days as President Trumps communications director.
The Wall Street nancier-turned-
White House communications director
also bemoaned the publication of his
personal nance document, even though
theyre publicly available. Additionally,
Scaramuccis wife, Deidre Scaramucci,
announced last week shed le for
divorce shortly after his appointment
even though shes nine months pregnant,
citing his naked ambition.
Priebus, former chair of the Republican
Wednesday on Twitter.
According to a study by the RAND
Corp., costs associated with gender
reassignment surgery would actually be
low. The study estimated those surgeries
would consume between $2.4 million
and $8.4 million annually out of the
Pentagons multi-billion dollar budget.
I think the president makes some
good decisions about making sure that
we have a force that is capable, Perry
reportedly added.
As ThinkProgress reported, the U.S. military
actually spends ten times as much ($84
million) on erectile dysfunction medication
than it would under RAND Corp.s estimate
for gender reassignment surgery.
Asked about that cost comparison,
Perry reportedly quipped, You know
what, I dont check on the price of Viagra.
Perry has a long anti-LGBT history as
Texas governor and perennial Republican
presidential candidate, which includes
support for the now-lifted ban on gay
scouts in the Boy Scouts of America. As
energy secretary, he penned an op-ed
against his alma mater Texas A&M over
PHOTO BY JDARSIE11; COURTESY WIKIMEDIA
National Committee, reportedly objected
to Scaramuccis appointment as White
House communications director on the
basis of his outsider status. Also opposing
Scaramuccis appointment was former
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer,
who resigned in the aftermath.
A self-proclaimed gay rights activist,
Scaramucci in November predicted
Trump would support LGBT rights as
president and said he gave money to
the election of its rst openly gay student
president, Bobby Brooks, saying the
system was rigged in his favor in a quest
for diversity.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of 45
senators led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
(D-N.Y.) is calling on Defense Secretary
James Mattis to resist President Trump in
his plan to bar transgender people from
the U.S. armed forces.
We strongly oppose this policy
change, and urge you to advise the
president against it, the letter says.
This announcement contradicts
existing Defense Department policies,
undermines our military readiness and
puts our transgender service members
as well as their commanders in an
impossible situation.
In the letter, dated July 28, the
senators write at a minimum the
Pentagon shouldnt separate any service
members based on their gender identity
until the transgender service review
Mattis announced June 30 is complete;
hes reported back to Congress
challenges he foresees in retaining and
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
LGBT groups.
Im also a gay rights activist,
Scaramucci said. You can look it up. Ive
given to American Unity PAC, Ive given
to the Human Rights Campaign, Im for
marriage equality. And by the way, thisll
be the rst American president in U.S.
history that enters the White House with
a pro-gay rights stance.
Some hoped Scaramucci would move
the administration away from assaults
on LGBT rights upon his appointment
as communication director, but those
hopes were quickly dashed. Days after
Scaramucci came to the White House,
the Trump administration unleashed a
torrent of anti-LGBT attacks.
In one day, Trump announced hed ban
transgender people from the armed forces
in any capacity, his Justice Department
voluntarily led a legal brief asserting gay
people have no legal protections under
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
he appointed as ambassador at large for
international religious freedom Kansas
Gov. Sam Brownback, whos renowned
for undermining LGBT rights in the name
of religious liberty.
Its not the rst time Scaramucci
was given a White House position
that was later gone. At the start of the
administration, Scaramucci was initially
named head of the White House Oce of
Public Engagement, but the appointment
was later rescinded.
recruiting transgender troops; and has
determined the Pentagon is unable to
meet these challenges.
Among the signers of the letters are
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only
out lesbian in Congress, as well as Senate
Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The sole
Republican to sign the letter is Sen. Susan
Collins (R-Maine).
The senators may nd a sympathetic
ear. During his conrmation hearing in
January, Mattis indicated he didnt plan
to reverse the changes in the U.S. military
for gay and female service members.
Dana White, a Pentagon spokesperson,
said in response to the letter the Defense
Department remains in a holding position
on transgender service.
The Department of Defense is awaiting
formal guidance from the White House
as a follow-up to the Commander-in-
Chiefs announcement on military service
by transgender personnel, White said.
We will provide detailed guidance to the
Department in the near future for how
this policy change will be implemented.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
Gay candidate for Congress: Trump hateful, vile
Richardson seeks to
succeed retiring
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
mlavers@washblade.com
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. A gay member
of the Florida House of Representatives
who is running for Congress on Sunday
described President Trump as a hateful,
vile person.
It still astonishes me that he got
elected and he is our president, David
Richardson told the Washington Blade
during an interview at a Cuban restaurant
near his Miami Beach home. Hes just a
hateful, vile person.
Never in my life would I have imagined
that someone with his level of hate could
be our president of these United States,
he added.
Richardson, 60, in 2012 became the
rst openly gay man elected to the Florida
Legislature. He represents the 113th
House District, which includes Miami
Beach and portions of downtown Miami.
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
a pro-LGBT Republican who has
represented portions of South Florida in
the U.S. House of Representatives since
1989, in April announced she is retiring
from Congress in 2018.
Ros-Lehtinen currently represents
Floridas 27th congressional district,
which includes Miami Beach and
portions of coastal Miami-Dade County
from downtown Miami to Cutler Bay.
Richardson last month ocially launched
his campaign for her seat.
She decided to retire a little earlier
than some of us (had) planned, he
told the Blade, noting he expected Ros-
Lehtinen to retire in 2020. I had always
intended to run when she retired so I had
to move up my dateline a little bit.
Richardson is among the seven
Democrats former Knight Foundation
Program Director Matt Haggman, former
state Circuit Court Judge Mary Barzee
Flores, state Sen. Jos Javier Rodrguez
(D-Miami), Miami Beach Commissioner
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, Michael Hepburn
and Mark Anthony Person who have
formally launched their campaigns to
succeed Ros-Lehtinen. Miami Dade-
County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro,
former Miami-Dade County School Board
Member Raquel Regalado and Maria
Peiro are the Republicans who have
ocially entered the race.
Richardson spoke to the Blade four
days after Trump on Twitter announced
transgender people would be banned
from the U.S. military.
Ros-Lehtinen, whose son Rodrigo is
trans, criticized the announcement.
The House in June approved a
resolution condemning the ongoing
crackdown against gay men in Chechnya
that Ros-Lehtinen introduced. The
Cuban-born Republican in 2013 met with
two independent LGBT rights advocates
from the Communist island who are vocal
critics of Mariela Castro, the daughter
of Cuban President Ral Castro who
spearheads LGBT-specic issues.
There was a time when she wasnt good
on LGBT rights, but she is, Richardson
told the Blade. I like her.
Reforming Floridas prison system, banning
so-called conversion therapy in the state and
improving his districts infrastructure are
among the issues on which Richardson has
worked since his election.
Richardson told the Blade he hasnt
faced any backlash at all from his
colleagues in the state legislature because
he is gay.
He is a forensic auditor who ran his own
rm near Farragut Square in downtown
D.C. until he retired in 2007. Richardson
told the Blade this background allows
him to work eectively with conservative
Republicans in the state legislature.
I work with them on the issues we
agree on, Richardson told the Blade.
The ones we dont, we just debate and
ght over.
He said he has huge policy dierences
with Gov. Rick Scott on a number of
issues. Richardson nevertheless told the
Blade he agrees with the governor on the
need to create more jobs in Florida.
We both want the same thing: More
jobs and higher pay, said Richardson.
He and I would go about that dierently.
Scotts reluctance to specically
acknowledge the LGBT victims of the
Pulse nightclub massacre sparked
widespread outrage among advocates in
Florida and across the country.
Richardson, who grew up in Orlando,
told the Blade he spoke with Scotts chief-
of-sta after the June 12, 2016, massacre
and said, Will you tell him you have to say
the word gay, or LGBT or acknowledge the
DAVID RICHARDSON (D-Miami Beach) is
running for the seat that retiring U.S. Rep.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) will vacate in
2018.
PHOTO OURTESY OF DAVID RICHARDSON FOR CONGRESS
community because people are taking
note that hes not saying this.
Scott two days later described the
massacre as an attack against the gays,
an attack against Hispanics, an attack
against our country, our nation in an
exclusive statement to the Blade after he
paid tribute to the victims at a makeshift
memorial in downtown Orlando.
Richardson said he helped schedule
meetings between the governor and local
LGBT rights advocates and allies that took
place later that day.
He said all the right things and it felt
genuine, Richardson told the Blade,
referring to Scott. I think its a topic thats
very strange for him.
Scott attended a vigil at Christ Church
Unity in Orlando that marked a year
since the massacre. The Orlando Sentinel
reported Orlando City Commissioner
Patty Sheehan and GLBT Community
Center of Central Florida Executive
Director Terry DeCarlo are among those
who were also in attendance.
He stayed for the entire service,
Richardson told the Blade, noting he
thanked Scott for attending. We had a
good chat afterwards.
Richardson said one of the lasting
impacts of the Pulse nightclub massacre
has been there were no really hateful
anti-LGBT bills led in Tallahassee this
year. He nevertheless told the Blade there
hasnt been the kind of movement and
more open dialogue around gun control
that so many of us would like to see.
Its sadly an issue that is controlled by
the lobby, said Richardson.
Richardson told the Blade he very
much supports the normalization of
relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Ros-Lehtinen and her family ed Cuba
after the 1959 revolution that brought
Fidel Castro to power. She remains
among Congress most vocal critics of
the normalization of relations between
the U.S. and Cuba that former President
Obama announced in 2014.
Trump in June announced the U.S.
A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 0 7
will reinstate some travel and trade
restrictions with Cuba. He signed the
directive at a theater in Little Havana that
is named after the leader of a group of
Cuban exiles who participated in the
failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
We need to be respectful of the people
that lived through the tragedy, said
Richardson, specically referring to the
Cuban revolution. But we also have to
move forward.
Richardson told the Blade the U.S.
embargo against the Communist island
gives the Cuban government a talking
point. He also said normalized relations
between the U.S. and Cuba will benet
both countries.
Sometimes you aect change by
standing on the outside of the country,
and sometimes you aect change by being
on the inside of the country, Richardson
told the Blade. I happen to think that we
can probably aect more change by being
on the inside of the country.
Richardson also described the abrupt
cancellation of the World OutGames Miami
in May as a really unfortunate situation.
He was among those who volunteered
at a swim meet and other events
that took place in spite of the games
cancellation. The Miami Beach Police
Department and the Miami-Dade County
State Attorneys Oce have launched a
fraud investigation of the organizers,
who accepted more than $200,000 in
public funds.
At a minimum I think its probably fair
to say there was gross mismanagement
and gross incompetence, Richardson
told the Blade. Beyond that I dont know
if there was any wrongdoing in terms of
laws broken. I hope they nd out.
The race to succeed Ros-Lehtinen is
expected to garner national attention,
especially after the Democratic and
Republican primaries that will take place
next August.
SAVE, a Miami-based LGBT advocacy
group that recruited Richardson to run
for the state House in 2012, has already
endorsed his campaign.
Rep. Richardson is a true champion
of equality and the ideal candidate to
replace Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen,
said SAVE Executive Director Tony
Lina in a message to his organizations
supporters.
Equality Floridas Political Action
Committee and the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund have previously endorsed
Richardson.
Richardson told the Blade he told the
Victory Fund about his plans to run for Ros-
Lehtinens seat before he publicly announced
them. He said he hopes to receive their
endorsement before November.
Theyre very supportive, very
encouraging said Richardson.

0 8 A UGUS T 0 4 , 2017
Meet LAs homeless LGBT youth
Crisis growing as 58,000
living on streets in region
By TROY MASTERS
Energy and smarts are the rst things
you notice about Hay, 20, who had fun
explaining his gender.
Im male but some of my friends be
like, girl, so I dont really conform, he
says as he plopped down, lit a cigarette
and showed o his green ngernails. I
need a manicure.
Hay, like several of the 30 or so LGBT
youth living on a sun-blistered sidewalk,
just north of Santa Monica Boulevard,
aged out of the foster care system and
instantly wound up on the streets.
At 14, he says, hed nally had enough of
his fathers physical and emotional abuse.
I guess I put myself in foster care. I called
CFS [Child and Family Services] myself
and I went to the school and told them
how I had gotten beaten up really badly.
He says he still carries a great deal of
raw trauma. And the trauma is growing.
On his 18th birthday, his social worker
dropped him o at Hollywood and
Highland. He had nowhere to go and no
plan. He was utterly alone and hopeless,
entering a spiral of 30-day stays in
homeless shelters. I feel like they pushed
my homelessness, he says.
I eventually stayed in a tent, he explains.
His head bowed and eyes narrowing,
he said, Ive tried several times to get
treatment [for trauma]. I dont feel like its
necessarily helpful.
Straightening his posture, Hay added,
treatment for me is having a safe place
to be able to think.
But thats not possible for him right now.
LGBT youth, like Hay, account for a
disproportionate number of the more
than 50,000 people living on the streets of
Los Angeles, a number thats increasing
every day. And, though the evidence is
largely empirical, it is indisputable.
Theres no way of knowing exactly
how many (homeless) young people are
LGBT. These kids, runaway or throwaway
young people, are very vulnerable on the
streets, Los Angeles County Supervisor
Sheila Kuehl told the Los Angeles Blade.
Still, Hay believes he is self-reliant.
Im resourceful, I wanted to be a
professional dancer. I would run away from
home and go to a dance class, he says
proudly and with a beautiful and full smile.
Dance was his solace but for now it is a
dream deferred.
Im broke, so, as much as I would like
to go to a dance class, I have to worry
about being able to feed myself, take care
of myself, make sure I have clothes on my
back, he said atly.
Hay said he nds the shelters and
LGBT youth account for a disproportionate number of the more than 50,000 people living on the streets of Los Angeles.
transitional housing challenging because
the collective emotional disturbance
is profound. Other peoples mental
illnesses make it hard for me because I
am going through my own stu, he said.
Its hard to juggle everyone and having
their personality thrown at you on top of
having to look for a place.
One agency Hay thought might be a
good t for him was Rapid Rehousing,
which helps with the hurdles of nding
permanent housing. The agency requires
employment, however, a common
demand that Hay nds maddening.
Mentally, I dont feel like I could get
a job. Ive applied for jobs, you know,
but how do you put on a facade that
everything is hunky-dory? How do you say
hey, Im still going through homelessness
and this job is the only source of income I
have, so if you guys re me I have literally
nothing, he said.
He proudly added, Id quit before I tell
them what Im going through.
The city and county of Los Angeles are
nearly overwhelmed and non-prots, like
the Los Angeles LGBT Center have been
operating at full capacity for some time.
The makeshift tent encampment Hay
and others live in has become something
of a virtual family, with aspirations, dreams,
and profound personal stories, enormous
insight to oer and even an abiding desire
to change the world around them.
I am not at all surprised to learn that
our LGBT homeless youth are forming
families; it gives them a semblance of
comfort and sense of safety, said Kuehl.
In 2017, the number of people living on
the streets of Los Angeles grew to 34,000
people, an increase of 23 percent in one
year, according to a recently released report
from the Los Angeles Homeless Services
Authority. That number grows to 58,000
when you include Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
said, Our city is in the midst of an
extraordinary homelessness crisis that
needs an extraordinary response. These
men, these women, these children are
our neighbors.
Kathen has an almost disarmingly
joyous demeanor. At 22 years old, he is
one of the oldest members of the tent
group. I go o peoples vibe, he says, I
dont really go o a persons gender.
He describes himself as a stranger and
a bit of a random funny guy and dreams
of one day having his own restaurant.
He says his path to near chronic
homelessness began ve years ago when
his stepfather, menacing and knife in
hand, demanded he kill himself. Kathen
says he never treated him as his child.
I was nally fed up with it, he said,
adding that he punched the door
completely down I broke it down I
punched the door completely down he
said, gazing away, tears welling in his eyes
as he began to dget. He paused, then
added, They told me to leave and so I just
left, at 17, didnt nish high school. I left
when I was in my junior year.
Kathen says he managed to graduate
high school. I want to go to college. I
want to be a chef. He wants to own his
own restaurant, he says.
When asked if he sees a path to his
dream he looked at his hands and
winced, A path? Then, looking puzzled,
he asked A path right now?
Its crazy because theres so much I need
to do for it. First, I need to go to school and
then I need to travel. I want to explore the
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
BLADE PHOTO BY TROY MASTERS
world and learn. Because in my restaurant I
want to have a dierent menu each month
and I want to have, like, dierent ways to
cook. He grew excited and added, I want
to learn from people around the world and
from dierent cultures.
Kathen fell in love with cooking while
working at a nursing home. It was fun
because, you know, theres over 300
people there. You have to cook for each
one individually because of their diet.
It was fun but its more by the book.
But me? Im a person who likes freedom
and thats why I want to have my own
restaurant, he said.
In the meantime, Kathen needs help
getting o the streets.
He has been through at least three
dierent programs, including the Los
Angeles LGBT Center. They all give you
the same thing, Kathen says, They tell
you to go online and apply for job, but its,
you know.the resources dont help out
as much as they should.
When asked how he has been surviving,
Kathen said, right now I am just trying to
get some shoes, hustling lately trying to
get some food. I sell some clothes. I have
my EBT (a food stamp debit card). I sell
my tokensId rather walk with money
in my pockets than ride the bus or the
subway. I have to survive and you have to
pay to live in this world.
Im pretty sure I can pull myself
out of this, he says. But he also sees
homelessness as an option when things
dont work out. Theres been a couple of
times when I chose to be homeless. Like
when my stepfather tried to choke me. I
chose safety, he said.
CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 0 9

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- Risa L.

Photography by John Cole

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1 0 A UGUS T 0 4 , 2017 I N T E RN A T I O N A L N E W S

Israels rst trans officer

criticizes Trump
The rst transgender ocer in the
Israel Defense Force has criticized
President Trumps decision to ban
trans people from the U.S. military.
Capt. Shachar Erez in a commentary
that A Wider Bridge, which describes
itself as an LGBTQ advocacy group
building connections between the
Israeli and North American LGBTQ
communities, posted on its website
on July 27 wrote barring transgender
individuals from serving their country
is not a policy based on credible
professional opinion.
It is simply pure transphobic
discrimination, said Erez.
Erez described himself as a proud SHACHAR EREZ is the rst openly
ocer who has served in the transgender ocer in the Israel Defense
Forces.
Israeli military for 5 1/2 years. He PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. SHACHAR
acknowledged he was not out when
he enlisted, but realized that in order
for me to be the best commander to my soldiers that I could be, I had to be
honest with them about my full, authentic self.
The military is a place where everybody is equal, and judged only by their
ability to do their job, wrote Erez. Being trans has never aected my ability to
serve or be fairly viewed by my peers.
Israel and 17 other countries Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. allow trans people to serve
in their respective armed forces. Trumps announcement, which he made on July
26 in a series of tweets, reverses the Obama administrations eorts to allow
trans people to openly serve in the U.S. military and those who are out to enlist.
The Canadian Armed Forces on July 26 tweeted it welcomes Canadians of all
sexual orientations and gender identities and encouraged them to enlist.
A spokesperson for the British government declined to comment to the
Washington Blade on Trumps announcement.
We are clear that all LGBT+ members of our armed forces play a vital role in
keeping our nation safe, added the spokesperson in an email. We will continue
to welcome people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including transgender
personnel.
Julie Ward, a British member of the European Parliament who participated
in this summers WorldPride in Madrid, described the U.S. ban as a disgraceful
action from a world leader.
Activists from countries that allow trans people to serve in their militaries
echoed Ward.
Sally Goldner, a trans and bisexual advocate in the Australian city of Melbourne,
told the Blade the ban sends a message that it (is) okay to demean a group
of people simply for being in that group and could spur further hate speech
and violence based on gender identity. Goldner also echoed House Minority
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other critics of Trumps announcement who
have noted the Pentagon spends more on Viagra than healthcare for trans
servicemembers.
The cost argument is nonsense, Goldner told the Blade.
Viktor Heumann, founder of Trans*parent, a trans advocacy group in the
Czech Republic, also rejected the cost argument. Heumann in an email to the
Blade described Trumps assertion that trans servicemembers are a disruption
as rather vague.
Trumps Tweet is yet another loud and populistic declaration that further
stigmatizes the already marginalized group of transgender people, said
Heumann. It is a malevolent signal that it is acceptable to bar access to a certain
type of profession for trans people.
Although trans people in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world have more
pressing concerns than representation in the U.S. Army that are related to their
housing situation; access to healthcare and hate crime rates, Trumps rhetoric
sadly makes us (more) vulnerable in all of these respects, added Heumann.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Russian group evacuates 64 from Chechnya
A Russian LGBT advocacy group says it has evacuated 64 people from Chechnya over
the last four months.
A 31-page report the Russian LGBT Network released on Monday notes those it
has helped leave the semi-autonomous Russian republic in the North Caucuses were
relocated to shelters in central Russia. The Russian LGBT Network, which is based in St.
Petersburg, also said more than 130 people from Chechnya and neighboring republics
have requested assistance of a dierent nature because of the persecution from the
local authorities and hostile relatives.
Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper, in April reported Chechen
authorities have arrested more than 100 men because of their sexual orientation since
the beginning of the year. At least three of these men reportedly died after their arrest,
while others have been beaten and tortured and sent to secret prisons.
They threw me to the oor and beat me, said a person identied as I.J. in the Russian
LGBT Network report. They beat my chest and my face with their feet, and they hit my
head against the oor.
I.J. also told the Russian LGBT Network he thought authorities were going to rape
them as they took o their clothes. A person identied as A.B. said authorities forced
them to watch a video of them torturing a man by inserting a hollow tube and a piece
of barbed wire into his anus.
They enjoyed the torture, said A.B. We were forced to beat others up and to
electrocute them. They instructed other inmates to do whatever they wanted with us.
Novaya Gazeta reporter Elena Milashina contributed to the report, which indicates
Chechen authorities have begun to target lesbian women. The Russian LGBT Network
also notes dozens of gay Chechens may have been killed by their relatives in so-called
honor killings.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Nigerian police arrest 42 gay men
Nigerian police on Saturday arrested 42 gay men at a hotel in Lagos State.
Police raided the Vincent Hotel in Weigh Bridge in Owode Onirin, Ikorodu, where
the men were arrested for allegedly performing same-sex sexual acts. They are to be
arraigned in a Lagos court.
Gay rights activist Bisi Alimi told the BBC the event that was held at the hotel was an
awareness program aimed at HIV counseling and testing for the LGBT community in
Nigeria.
Conrming the arrest, Lagos State Police Public Relations Ocer Olarinde Famous-
Cole said, It is true. About 42 suspected homosexuals were arrested and the hotel has
been condoned o while investigation continues. They are in custody of the Lagos State
Task Force and will be charged to court soon.
Tunji, a resident of the area where the arrest was made, told PUNCH, a national
newspaper, that police ocers stormed the Vincent Hotel at about 3.30 p.m. on
Saturday.
There have been reports that the hotel harbors homosexuals, he said. They were
there this afternoon when policemen struck. About 40 of them were caught in the act.
UNAIDS statistics show Nigeria, with about 3.5 million people living with HIV, has the
second largest HIV epidemic in the world. There is also a signicant increase in the
number of men who have sex with men who are living with HIV in Nigeria.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 1

1 2 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017
Trans troops continue their service
as Trump threatens expulsion
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
transgender people in the U.S. armed
forces estimates range as high as
15,000 according to the Williams Institute
or between 1,320 and 6,630 in active duty
alone according to RAND Corps. who may
face expulsion in the aftermath of the policy
change Trump announced on Twitter.
It remains unclear how such a ban
would be implemented and resistance
to Trumps move is growing. Trumps
announcement the U.S. military will not
accept or allow transgender people to
serve in any capacity wasnt specic on
whether he was banning new enlistees
from joining the military, or expelling those
currently in service. The White House wont
say whether current troops will be kicked
out, citing plans for upcoming guidance
eshing out the new policy.
Trumps ban on transgender service
comes after trans people have been
serving openly in the U.S. military for a year
after former Defense Secretary Ashton
Carter under the Obama administration
lifted the medical regulation barring
transgender people from service.
The presidents announcement came out
of the blue. Defense Secretary James Mattis
halted a portion of the Obama policy change
that would have allowed transgender
people to enlist in the armed forces starting
July 1, calling for a study of the issue for
another six months. Trumps ban seems to
have disregarded the defense chief.
Dremann said he learned of the
transgender military ban and that
his 11-year career in the Navy was in
jeopardy via a CNN news blast of the
presidents tweets.
It was absolutely a surprise, Dremann said.
There had been no indication from anywhere
that this was coming down the pike.
Calling his service in the armed forces
his whole life, Dremann said hed have
to do additional soul-searching about
what he would do if he could no longer
serve as a result of Trumps policy.
Once the ban was lifted, there was no
reason for me to leave, so to reinstate the
ban and tell me I have to get out, thats a
big change in life plans, Dremann said.
So, I have to gure out what my next
move is after that. It would be devastating
for me personally because I thought
serving in the Navy until I retired was
really what I wanted to do.
Dremann is just one of many
transgender service members currently in
service and wondering about their fate in
the aftermath of Trumps announcement.
Army Capt. Jennifer Peace,
transgender intelligence ocer stationed
Defense Secretary JAMES MATTIS ordered a six-month review of trans service, but was
apparently overruled by President Trump who instead called for a total ban on trans service
members.
at Fort Lewis in Washington State, said
her reaction upon nding out about
Trumps tweets was shock and confusion
over exactly what was happening.
It came out of nowhere, Peace said.
And my rst reaction was trying to gure
out what was going on. And since then, the
Department of Defense and the secretary
of the Army have both said that as of right
now, nothing has changed and theyre
going to continue treating trans soldiers
with the same dignity and respect as every
other soldier. And so, those are my last
orders and thats what Im going with.
Peace, 31, said shes served in the
Army for 13 years and gone on two
combat deployments and four overseas
tours. Peace was able to serve under
the previous transgender ban, she said,
because she didnt transition until 2014
or come out until 2015.
At the time the Obama administration
lifted its ban on transgender service,
Peace recalled being elated as if a weight
was lifted from her shoulders.
When the trans policy rst came out,
wed been working on it for well over a
year, so it was a slow build up and it was
a surprise, but not an unanticipated one,
Peace said.
But thats all changed in the aftermath
of Trumps announcement, which Peace
said has led to fear and concern and
worry about being possibly expelled
from the military.
It would be devastating, Peace said. I
cant imagine a life without the Army, and
a certainly not now. Theres so much that I
want to do. In every way, personally and
professionally, it would be devastating for
me and my family. Its hard to think about
because I cant imagine waking up tomorrow
and not being a soldier. I dont even know
how to begin thinking about that.
Army Reserve Capt. Jacob Eleazer, 31,
a transgender member of the Kentucky
National Guard, said upon hearing the
news Trump had banned transgender
troops he thought it was a hoax.
I was sitting at work, Eleazer said. I had
just gotten in and my phone was blowing
up. Im normally not that popular on social
media. I was like I better check and see
what was going on. A friend of mine had
posted the comments and tagged me, and
so, thats how I found out.
After coming out as transgender in
2014, Eleazer under the previous military
ban was on his way to expulsion from
the armed forces. But the day he was
supposed to be discharged in 2015 was
also the day the Army elected to raise its
discharge authority for separations on
the basis of gender identity, saving him at
the last minute.
Im kind of sitting here on the other
end of things thinking this stu was over
and Id be able to move forward with my
life and my career, and this kind of came
out of nowhere, Eleazer said.
Eleazer said termination of military
service would be an end of a dream, citing
his upcoming completion of a doctorate
in counseling psychology at the University
of Louisville. Eleazer said his plan was to
transfer into a medical position to serve
as a military psychologist and work with
LGBT patients and those suering from
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
post-traumatic stress disorder.
Even delaying the policy at this point is
derailing my personal career goals, and it
may rob me of a training opportunity at
the very least, Eleazer said. With a policy
banning trans military service overall, Im
going to have to make some pretty drastic
changes to my career plans.
With no formal return to the
transgender ban yet underway, Eleazer
said he remains in a wait-and-see mode
and plans to attend drill this week.
Already, Eleazer said hes found support
from his commanding ocer, who told
him hed remain in service until further
guidance comes down.
In some ways, I have kind of a positive
experience because I have my command
that supports me, Eleazer said. Im
concerned about what might happen,
how things are going to move forward,
if were going to be getting an order, but
right now Im just kind of waiting to see
what actually, ocially rolls out.
A number of voices have emerged
challenging Trumps planned ban on
transgender service. Among them are 45
senators urging Mattis to resist Trump on the
policy and 56 retired generals and admirals
who warned Trump in a joint statement the
policy would degrade readiness.
On Tuesday, Coast Guard Commandant
Adm. Paul Zukunft said at a military forum
he will not break faith with transgender
people under his command, suggesting
hell defy Trump on the issue.
White House Press Secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders had no
comment Tuesday on the Coast Guard
commandants remarks, citing plans for
additional guidance.
I havent heard those comments or
had a chance to speak with anyone about
it, but I know that the goal is to work with
all of the relevant departments, primarily
the Department of Defense, to lawfully
implement that new policy, Sanders said.
Matthew Thorn, president of the LGBT
military group OutServe-SLDN, said signs
of support from military leaders like
Zukunft are common as transgender
troops continue to serve despite Trumps
tweets against their service.
Our military needs to be focused on the
mission and this is a distraction, Thorn
said. We have two ongoing conicts in
Afghanistan and Iraq and two nations
spiraling out of control, Syria and North
Korea, respectively. Our trans service
members are dedicated to the mission,
we cant aord them to be distracted by a
tweet and whether or not this president is
going to discharge them from their oath
to the country.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
N A T IO NA L NEW S
Trumps day of anti-LGBT acts: New low or par for the course?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
LGBT people.
During the Republican National
Convention, Trump was the rst
Republican presidential nominee in
history to mention LGBT people in a
positive way during his acceptance
speech for the nomination, citing the
recent shooting at a gay nightclub in
Orlando, Fla., that left 49 people dead
and 53 wounded.
As your president, I will do everything
in my power to protect our LGBTQ
citizens from the violence and oppression
of a hateful foreign ideology, Trump said.
Believe me.
Trump at a later event criticized his
opponent Hillary Clinton for donations
the Clinton Foundation accepted from
Middle Eastern countries that impose
the death penalty and imprisonment for
homosexuality.
Ask the gays what they think and
what they do in not only Saudi Arabia,
in many of these countries with the gay
community, Trump said. Lets ask. Then
you tell me: Whos your friend, Donald
Trump or Hillary Clinton?
Referencing Clintons immigration
policy and support for increased refugees
in a subsequent message on Twitter,
Gay former U.S. ambassador launches congressional bid
Baer handled intl LGBT
rights at State Department
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
A gay former U.S. ambassador who
served under the Obama administration
has launched a campaign for Congress,
shifting his focus from tangling with
representatives of Vladimir Putin
overseas to President Trump at home.
Daniel Baer, who served in the Obama
administration as U.S. ambassador to the
Organization for Security & Cooperation
in Europe, announced on Tuesday his bid
to succeed retiring Rep. Ed Perlmutter
(D-Colo.) in representing Colorados 7th
congressional district.
Were at a pivotal moment, Baer
said in a statement. We need bold new
ideas and a commitment to stand up for
our Colorado values. Working together,
we can put our communities and our
country on a path toward success in the
21st century.
Baer accompanied his announcement
with a video titled Are we doing everything
we can? declaring his candidacy. Among
the images in the video is a picture of
Trump said, Thank you to the LGBT
community! I will ght for you while
Hillary brings in more people that will
threaten your freedoms and beliefs.
Those words, of course, ignore
Clintons detailed commitment to LGBT
rights and specic policy plans on LGBT
issues, including support for transgender
military service and protections for
gay people under civil federal law,
which Trump never promised over his
presidential campaign.
The Human Rights Campaign, which had
never accepted Trumps overtures to LGBT
people as he campaigned against Clinton,
produced a video in the aftermath of his
administrations recent anti-LGBT action
proclaiming him Liar-in-Chief.
Critics of Trump are quick to point
out he expressed solidarity with LGBT
people in terms of sowing opposition
to Muslims, or least raising fears about
Islamic extremism.
But at the start of the administration,
the White House declared Trump was
respectful and supportive of LGBT
rights without making such references
in a statement declaring hed keep
intact former President Obamas 2014
executive order against anti-LGBT
workplace discrimination among federal
DANIEL BAER is running for Congress.
Baer and his spouse, Brian Walsh.
Under the Obama administration, Baer
served not only as U.S. envoy to OSCE, but
deputy assistant secretary of state for the
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights &
Labor, where his portfolio included LGBT
international human rights issues. After
his appointment as U.S. ambassador,
Special Envoy for the Human Rights of
contractors.
Gregory Angelo, president of Log Cabin
Republicans, denied any kind of shift
from Trump in his approach to LGBT
issues despite his organizations criticism
of the transgender military ban.
Then-candidate and now-President
Trump has always pursued balancing
religious liberty and LGBT equality,
and I dont think there has been any
fundamental shift from that position,
Angelo said. What I see in Trump is
someone who in an often clumsy
but nonetheless admirable way is
attempting to address a Republican
electorate with vastly divergent views on
LGBT-related issues.
White House Press Secretary Sarah
Huckabee Sanders insisted Trump had a
holistic approach to his presidency when
asked if he betrayed LGBT people with his
recent actions.
I think the president had made very
clear hes committed to ghting for all
Americans, Sanders said.
Theres a long list of anti-LGBT
actions from Trump. Most notably, his
administration rescinded Obama-era
guidance to schools assuring transgender
kids access to public restrooms consistent
with their gender identity. The removal of
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
LGBTI Persons Randy Berry took over the
issue at the State Department.
In his role at OSCE, Baer represented
the United States in talks with envoys
from Russia a country known for
hostility to LGBT rights. At one time, the
Russian government called on Baer to
step down for tough comments he made
abut the country, but Baer says in the
A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 3
LGBT questions from federal health surveys
and their omission in the upcoming census
also riled his LGBT critics.
The president has also refused to
condemn reports of anti-gay violence
in the semi-autonomous Republic of
Chechnya, despite multiple entreaties
from LGBT rights groups to speak out,
and declined to issue a proclamation
recognizing June as Pride month.
Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of GLAAD, said
recent actions from his administration
are just par for the course for a president
who has no intention of keeping his
campaign promises.
President Trump and his
administration have shown over the
last couple weeks that they are willing
to be more public about their anti-
LGBTQ agenda and goal to erase LGBTQ
Americans from the fabric of this nation,
Ellis said. From the ban on transgender
soldiers from serving in the U.S. military,
the Justice Departments choice to exclude
LGBTQ people as a protected class under
the Civil Rights Act, and conrming
closed-door meetings with anti-LGBTQ
activists at the White House, President
Trump has revealed that his campaign
pledge to protect LGBTQ Americans was
nothing more than a con job.
video he still managed to get things done
with them.
During a 2014 interview with the
Washington Blade, Baer said he never felt
that his sexual orientation was an issue
for Vladimir Putins representatives at
OSCE.
Just like being gay, working with the
U.S. ambassador is not a choice, and Im
ready to work with all of them, Baer said.
Baer joins a crowded eld of candidates
seeking the Democratic nomination in
Colorados 7th congressional district,
including State Sen. Andy Kerr, State Sen.
Dominick Moreno and State Sen. Brittany
Pettersen. No Republican candidate has
formally declared yet.
As tough as things are, Im an
optimist, Baer said. I believe in the
power of Colorado common sense, and I
believe that we can make our democracy
work for everyone. The American dream
must be part of our future, not a nostalgic
memory from our past. We all worry
about the divisions in our American
family. The best way to build bridges, to
mend our rifts, and to lift each other up
is to roll up our sleeves and start making
progress, rebuilding the middle class, and
digging deep into the bottomless well of
American optimism. Lets do this.
 Keep your promise to protect each other. WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

14 A U G U S T 04, 2017 BA LT I MO RE N E W S

Girl Talk sessions for trans women to debut

Beginning Aug. 15 and continuing every rst and third Tuesday of the month,
there will be chill sessions called Girl Talk for transgender women to discuss
issues, ideas, and experiences in a safe space.This is part of Your Trans Care
program and STAR TRACK Adolescent Health at the University of Maryland.
These free sessions will take place between 6-9 p.m. at STAR TRACKs oce,
120 Penn St. in Baltimore. There will be free food and health resources available.
Girl Talk is important to members of the community because it is where
Wills & Trusts transgender women can come out to discuss dierent topics and come together
as a community to create a safe place so that trans women can feel accepted and
Powers of Attorney Living Wills feel at home, Ayanna Copeland, the group facilitator and community outreach
Partnership & Prenuptial Agreements worker for the Your Trans Care program at STAR TRACK., told the Blade.
STAR TRACK has been serving Baltimores LGBTQ youth and young adults, ages
(240) 778-2330 (703) 536-0220 12 to 26, since 1989 by oering outreach, education and prevention services to
youth, young adults, and their communities.
www.PartnerPlanning.com For more information, search for the event on Facebook.

Serving the LGBT Community MoCo Pride Center to launch

in DC/MD/VA since 1983 A little over a year ago the Montgomery County Police Department wanted
to host a community meeting with the LGBTQ community. They reached out

Lawrence S. Jacobs/McMillan Metro, PC
5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW DC (202) 966-6400 www.JosephGawlers.com
ISSUE DATE: 10.26.12
to the faith community - pastors of and advocates in welcoming and arming
churches, says Rev. Jill McCrory, pastor of Twinbrook Baptist Church in Rockville,
Md. We reached out and got the word out.
At the meeting, the participants discovered that these were the same people
they all knew. But they were unable to gather the greater LGBTQ community
because there was no means of communicating other through contacting
welcoming and arming congregations and advocacy groups. They also realized
that there was confusion over where services could be found, what was available,
and there seemed to be a need for information.
The faith leaders and advocates who were at that rst community meeting
came together and started planning the MoCo Pride Center. Rev. McCrory
headed up the eort due in part to her doctorate program at Wesley Seminary
whereby approving the Center was her doctorate project.
Visionaries have been meeting for a year developing governance, identity
SPEAK WITH OUR PREPLANNING ADVISOR,
JAMIE ARTHURS AT (202) 966-6400 OR EMAIL and brand, and looking for members of the rst Board of Directors for the
JAMIE.ARTHURS@DIGNITYMEMORIAL.COM organization, McCrory explains.
Focus groups have told us that there is a lot of need on the part of the community
and that people are most interested in social gatherings, support groups, health
care resources and recommendations, business recommendations, and a
physical space in which to gather.
They held a social in Germantown in May and this past Saturday in Silver
Spring. The Center was a part of this years Rockville Pride celebration and plans
to hold a county celebration next year.
We are hoping to ocially launch with a large launch party in late fall 2017,
ADVE says
RTISIN G McCrory.
PROOF
SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS (bpitts@washblade.com)

REVIEW AD FOR COPY AND DESIGN ACCURACY. Revisions must be submitted within 24 hours of the date of
proof. Proof will be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within 24 hours of
Family Game Night at the GLCCB
NS the date of proof. Revisions will not be accepted after 12:01 pm wednesday, the week of publication.Brown naff pitts
omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) is not responsible for the content and/or design of your ad. Advertiser is
GN responsible for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users
EVISIONS can link through the advertisement. Advertiser represents that its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or
any rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as infringement or misapporpriation of any Ocials at the GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland
/LOGO REVISIONS copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary or propety right, false advertising, unfair

competition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination law or regulation,
SIONS or any other right of any person or entity. Advertiser agrees to idemnify brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the
washington blade) and to hold brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) harmless from any and all
liability, loss, damages, claims, or causes of action, including reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred
by brown naff pitts omnimedia llc, arising out of or related to advertisers breach of any of the foregoing representations
and warranties.
ADVERTISER SIGNATURE (GLCCB) believe that in times like these, it is good to make room for a little fun
every now and then. In that regard, the GLCCB hosts a family-friendly game
By signing this proof you are agreeing to your contract obligations with the
washington blade newspaper. This includes but is not limited to placement,
night on the second Thursday of the month with the next event to take place on
payment and insertion schedule.

Aug. 10 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Games such as Taboo, Monopoly, Uno, Scrabble and Spades are oered but
participants are free to bring their favorite game from home.
We strive to provide safe and arming spaces for folks from all walks of
life, and we do so through a lot of specically targeted programs and outreach
initiatives, Jennifer Eden, the GLCCBs Program Manager, told the Blade. But
our game night brings folks together across the lines of age, race, class, etc. to
relax and have fun.
STEVE CHARING
202.319.8541 www.lgbtc.com Se habla espanol
~
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 5
 Look as Young as You Feel WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

16 A U G U S T 04, 2017 H E A LT H N E W S

Body Contouring/Cellulite Laser Hair Removal

Medical Weight Loss Micro Needling Non-daily PrEP still effective: researchers
Acne Treatment Chemical Peels & ViPeel
Botox, Dysport, Xeomin Fractional CO2 Laser
LONDON Sexually active gay men who are HIV-negative dont have to
Restylane, Juvederm, Skin Rejuvenation (IPL/ take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) daily to use it as an eective prevention
Radiesse Photofacial) strategy, a new study has found. Taking four doses around the time of planned
PRP Hair Restoration sexual activity cuts the risk by 97 percent researchers found according to a
Reuters article.
The participants and the dosing schedule used in the new study were drawn
Any Service Botox Any Dermal Filler ViPeel from the IPERGAY clinical trial, which was discontinued early in 2014 after the
$
50 $
10unit
(Retails $15/unit)
$
450
(Retails $650)
$
175
(Retails $350)
drug was found to be highly eective at protecting against HIV. Typically its
taken daily.
There are consistent data suggesting that on-demand PrEP before and after
8 8 8 8
sex strictly following the IPERGAY dosing schedule . . . is also highly eective and
could be an alternative to daily PrEP, said Dr. Jean-Michel Molina, lead author of
the new study and principal investigator of the trial, Reuters reports.
The 361 men in the new study were enrolled from France and Canada after
the completion of the IPERGAY trial. They were told to take two doses of Truvada
between two and 24 hours before sex, another dose 24 hours later and a fourth
dose 24 hours after that, Reuters reports.
One participant who stopped taking PrEP during the roughly 18 months of
follow-up was diagnosed with HIV, researchers reported July 23 in the Lancet HIV
to coincide with presentation at the 2017 International AIDS Society Conference
in Paris, Reuters reports.
The overall rate of HIV among those in the study was 0.19 cases per 100 people
per year. That compared to 6.60 cases per 100 people per year among men who
were assigned to take a dummy pill during the larger trial, Reuters reports.
The researchers found that about 14 percent of study participants reported
FREE minor stomach issues that eventually cleared up. Only four men stopped using
Impressions Consultation the medication. The dosing regimen is complicated, for example, he told Reuters
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Aesthetics 703-273-0001
www.ImpressionsMediSpa.com Health in a text message. Also, data about the eectiveness of on-demand PrEP
among men who have sex only a few times per month hasnt been published
yet.
A preview of that data at the Paris conference suggests the on-demand
Serving Our Community for 35 years schedule is also eective among less sexually active men, Reuters reports.
All that being said, I think the main advantage of the on-demand regimen is
a d v i C e m e d iat i o N L i t i G at i o N a P P e a L S C o L L a B o r at i o N that it oers greater choice, said Tan, who wrote an editorial accompanying the
new results, Reuters reports.

Aussies counter ndings of U.S. pediatrician

PERTH, Australia An Australian group of medical experts has disputed
the ndings of an anti-LGBT U.S. group that published an article that claimed
FamiLY | eState PLaNNiNG | emPLoYmeNt | immiGratioN treating children for gender dysphoria is akin to child abuse, Out in Perth, an
ComPLeX LitiGatioN | CiviL riGHtS | LGBt | adoPtioN | BuSiNeSS
Australian gay newspaper, reports.

Silber, Perlman, Sigman & Tilev, P.A. Im a Pediatrician: How Transgender Ideology Has Inltrated My Field and
Produced Large-scale Child Abuse was written by Dr. Michelle Cretella, president
of the American College of Pediatricians, an agency that has been listed as a hate
at tor N e YS at L aw d C | m d | va
group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
3 0 1 . 8 9 1 . 2 2 0 0 S P - L aw. C o m The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine has countered the ndings
6 9 3 0 C a r r o L L av e , S u i t e 6 1 0 ta k o m a Pa r k m d with point-by-point counterarguments, Out in Perth reports.
The society said the article was a scathing attack on the transgender
AD V E RT I S I N community
G P R O Othinly F veiled as an argument against the dangers of transgender
surgery and support, describing it as an argument based on medical omissions,
LOGAN 14 SALON SPA/MED SPA
ISSUE DATE: 170804 SALES REPRESENTATIVE:
circumstantial facts, hateful interpretation and peripheral context.
REVIEW AD FOR COPY AND DESIGN ACCURACY. Revisions must be submitted within 24 hours of the date of
The group said that they welcomed opposing views and tries to include other
haircuts, body waxing, for the contentlaser hair removal
proof. Proof will be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within 24 hours of
NS the date of proof. Revisions will not be accepted after 12:01 pm wednesday, the week of publication.Brown naff pitts

GN
omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) is not responsible and/or design of your ad. Advertiser
responsible for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users
is perspectives in its weekly digest of news culled from other sources, but could
EVISIONS can link through the advertisement. Advertiser represents that its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or
any rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as infringement or misapporpriation of any not condone misinformation and hurtful, ideological opinion, not rooted in
LOGO REVISIONS copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary or propety right, false advertising, unfair
competition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination law or regulation, science or evidence-based medicine.
SIONS or any other right of any person or entity. Advertiser agrees to idemnify brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the ADVERTISER SIGNATURE
Cretellas
obligations withargument here, after citing an article from her own organization,
ACTUAL SIZE OF THIS PAGE IS 8.75 X 11
washington blade) and to hold brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) harmless from any and all By signing this proof you are agreeing to your contract the
liability, loss, damages, claims, or causes of action, including reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred washington blade newspaper. This includes but is not limited to placement,
by brown naff pitts omnimedia llc, arising out of or related to advertisers breach of any of the foregoing representations
and warranties.
payment and insertion schedule.
relies on the false premise that DNA determines gender. It determines sex,
but not gender, Society members wrote in a lengthy response. She quickly
contradicts herself by citing a 2013 study by Dr. Milton Diamond which reports
that 20 percent of identical twin pairs both identify as transgender. Dr. Cretella
leaves out two important facts twins have the same DNA, butassume dierent
characteristics in the womb after separating, and 20 percent is far above the
gender dysphoria national average of 0.3 percent, which directly refutes her
claim there is a minimal biological predisposition.
The Society called the articles views misinformation and hurtful, ideological
opinion not rooted in science or evidence-based medicine.
1314B 14th St. NW WDC 20005 202.506.6868 Logan14salonspa.com
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

F I T NES S A U G U S T 04, 2017 17

Rethinking the stretch

New Dupont Circle studio owner
extols virtues of proper technique
Stretch Science changed my life.
It made me more exible, improved
my running and changed the way I
look at tness.
M I D C I T Y
When people think about tness,

DAVID MAGIDA is founder of Elevate Interval Fit-

ness, a member of the Reebok Spartan Race Pro
Team and author of The Essentials of Obstacle
they generally envision strength,
speed, maybe even fat loss.
However, despite its tremendous
D O G D A Y S
value, stretching tends to get
overlooked.

AUGUST 56, 2017

Racing: A Beginners Guide. You can catch a class
with him at Elevate on 14th Street or at its new I found myself guilty of it in the
location in the Mosaic District in Fairfax, Va. past, partially because I have been
exposed to so many philosophies as
it pertains to stretching. Some preach the value of extended static holds, while
others swear by ballistic (movement-based) stretching exclusively and look SHOP THE HEART OF DC
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If youre looking at yoga strictly from a stretching/exibility standpoint, its not
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Since I began my regimen with Stretch Science, I have become a total convert. I
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MIDCITYBID.ORG DOGDAYSDC.COM

1 8 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017
We must support
trans troops
EMILYs List stands with
LGBTQ community in
opposing Trump
By STEPHANIE SCHRIOCK
Throughout our countrys history,
brave and seless members of our mili-
tary have risked and given their lives to
defend the liberty we all enjoy and
weve come a long way toward giving all
Americans equal opportunity to serve
with the dignity and respect they have
earned. Most recently, the honor of serv-
ing our country in the military was ex-
tended to transgender Americans.
Today, thousands of transgender ac-
tive dutyservice members are defending
our most fundamental freedoms with
their lives. We still have a long way to go,
but President Trump and his allies are
trying to roll back the progress we have
worked so hard to make at the expense
of our national security.
In a stunning reversal, President Trump
who has never served called himself
a brave soldier in his personal Vietnam
of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases
from the landmines of his sexual part-
ners, and blamed sexual assault in the
military on the women in uniform who
survive it announced via Twitter that
he will no longer accept or allow trans-
gender individuals in our military.
This discriminatory move will keep
patriots such as Paula Sophia Schonau-
er, an Army Veteran who served in Op-
eration Desert Storm before returning
to her community to serve as a police
ocer, from serving their country. She
earned an FBI Community Leadership
Award, and ran for the Oklahoma State-
house, losing her election by only 22
votes. She has been an adjunct professor
at Rose State College and Oklahoma City
Community College, and this year earned
her masters of social work to continue
her lifelong service to others. And Paula
Sophia is, like thousands of Americans
dedicated to serving, transgender.
Transgender people already serve in
the military with honor. The thousands
of active duty transgender service mem-
bers come from all walks of life and are
from all kinds of racial and ethnic back-
grounds. They want to live full lives and
have their rights respected just as any
other American. And like everyone else,
they want to enjoy the rights and free-
doms they are ghting for. Requiring
these brave Americans to serve in silence
and in hiding is unacceptable.
E DIT OR IA L C A R T OON
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
VIEWPOINT
This move is yet another reminder of
why it is important to get more women
in elected oce at every level of govern-
ment, because we know that their voices
are important at the decision making ta-
ble. And why EMILYs List has supported
transgender women in the past such as
Paula Sophia Schonauer andDana Beyer;
and in thiscycle, we are supporting Dani-
ca Roem, the rst transgender candidate
in Virginia. When all womens voices are
heard in the halls of power, our policies
will treat all Americans with equal dignity
and respect.
Sadly, another discriminatory policy
from this administration would not be a
surprise given that these decisions are
being made by mostly white men behind
closed doors. Instead of building on the
progress weve made on these issues,
President Trump is intent on going back-
wards. We knew from his many state-
ments during the election of his great
antipathy toward LGBTQ Americans, but
it is beyond the pale to act on this and
actively push policies that discriminate
against them.
Transgender people already face many
barriers in our society. They lack basic
legal workforce protections, and endure
discrimination and violence in their daily
lives. Discrimination of any kind is simply
un-American. It is wrong to deny patriotic
brave men and women basic civil rights,
who sacrice so much through their ser-
vice. All members of our military willing to
put their lives on the line to protect our
freedoms should be protected and treat-
ed equally under the law.
Our military represents the best of
America: a meritocracy of brave men and
women from all backgrounds united in
the common mission of defending our
freedoms men and women willing to
make the ultimate sacrice for us. We
must supportallof our troops, regardless
of race, religion, sexual orientation, and
last but not least, gender identity. The
EMILYs List community stands in solidar-
ity with LGBTQ families everywhere, and
will ght back against this president - and
the Republicans in Congress who contin-
ue to prop up his radical agenda - every
step of the way.
STEPHANIE SCHRIOCK is president of EMILYS
List.
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 31
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
I N S I DE LGB T W A S HING TON
A second open letter to Ivanka Trump
All sense of honesty and
decency have escaped those
at the White House
PETER ROSENSTEIN is a D.C.-based LGBT rights
and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly
for the Blade.
Dear Ivanka,
On Nov. 15, 2016 with high hopes for
what you could do I published an open
letter to you. It began, I believe we must
always keep an open line of communica-
tion with those we dont agree with and
the person on your side of this election I
would enjoy having a cup of coee with is
you. As a supporter of Hillary Clinton the
election didnt turn out the way I wanted it
to. This isnt the rst campaign where my
hopes were dashed. But the ght for the
things I believe in and care about goes on.
Ivanka, it would be great to have the op-
portunity to share with you how I lived my
life. It is my conviction you would under-
stand where those like myself are coming
from and as senior adviser to your father
that could be important and helpful as
you help mold the administration.
At the time many of us hoped you might
be a moderating inuence on social and
economic issues relating to women, im-
migrants and the LGBTQ+ community.
You didnt respond to the letter when
it was published. Then I met Omarosa
Manigault, the presidents Director of
Communications for the Oce of Public
Liaison, at a reception honoring the new
Secretary of the Veterans Administration.
We had a very pleasant conversation and
I handed her a copy of the letter in an
envelope addressed to you, which she
promised to deliver.
I never heard from her or you again.
Seeing what your father and his admin-
istration are now doing and saying, you
are probably correct in thinking respond-
ing wasnt worthwhile. Clearly you either
agree with what your father is doing or
have zero inuence to do anything about
it. Both scenarios are disappointing. This
time I am not expecting a response.
Your father, the president, has become
an embarrassment to the nation. He has
been called all kinds of names by those
who disagree with him and some may be
over the top. But I can only conclude by
his behavior and speeches he can fairly
be described as a boorish pig. His conduct
overseas including roughly pushing aside
the prime minister of Montenegro to get
A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 1 9
to his place in a photo op and his remarks
on the gure of the wife of French Presi-
dent Macron were oensive.
His statements on eorts to repeal and
replace the Aordable Care Act leave one
perplexed and with the clear impression
he has no idea what he is talking about. In-
viting members of the House of Represen-
tatives to the Rose Garden one day to cel-
ebrate passage of their bill, then calling it
mean days later. Yes it is mean. But then
he supports an even meaner Senate bill
nally begging them to do something no
matter how hateful it is. Thankfully three
decent Republican senators and every
Democrat agreed both the House version,
the Senate version he rst supported, and
the skinny version are all mean-spirited
and wrong-headed and voted them down.
Clearly your father has yet to gure out
the art of the political deal.
Then your father went further in show-
ing how boorish and totally clueless he is
with his speech to the Boy Scouts at their
Jamboree. I am a Scout. In 1960, along
with nearly 60,000 other Scouts, I attend-
ed the National Jamboree in Colorado
Springs celebrating 50 years of scout-
ing. That year another president, Dwight
David Eisenhower, spoke. Whatever his
politics he was a man with a reputation
for decency and a military hero. Though
I was a Democrat even then, support-
ing John F. Kennedy for president, I was
inspired by Eisenhowers words when
he talked about trustworthiness, honor,
honesty, valor and the importance of
service to the nation. There is not one
scout who when they think back on your The LGBT communitys pleas to IVANKA TRUMP to moderate her fathers views have fallen on
fathers meandering remarks will be in- deaf ears.
spired to service. His use of curse words,
talking about cocktail parties and women er willing to do. His new press secretary in what he says is an attempt to be hon-
in New York; bashing a former president trying to explain the tweet lied about it est and forthcoming.
and threatening to re one of his cabinet saying it was in concurrence with the De- My God, how can he do his job if he
secretaries if a bill didnt pass Congress, partment of Defense. In reality the chair really has such a poor memory? Or was
(lets see if he does that now that the bill of the Joint Chiefs of Sta and the Secre- he simply displaying selective memory
has failed) were totally inappropriate. The tary of Defense have said they knew noth- hoping he could get away with it? When
Boy Scouts for the rst time ever had to ing about the tweet and the secretary had he signed the original form he swore to
apologize for a presidents speech. I cant just announced a six-month study of the its truth that could be enough to send
imagine even you werent embarrassed issue. Clearly lying at the White House him to jail.
by that spectacle. has reached epidemic proportions. In fact, it appears all sense of honesty
Your father has gone so far o track So, Ivanka, the hope you and your and plain decency have escaped most of
I nd myself feeling sorry for Attorney husband would have any ability or even those at the White House. You are all be-
General Je Sessions, a man I have al- desire to moderate some of you fathers ing caught up in the sludge oozing out of
ways considered a racist. Your father behavior is long gone. Instead we have that venerable building; the building often
talked about loyalty to the Boy Scouts; seen you and Jared hire lawyers to de- called the peoples house. If this keeps up
clearly your fathers concept of loyalty is a fend what seems indefensible. We have decent people will not want any associa-
one-way street. Threatening Sessions for witnessed both you and his inability to tion with that beautiful building, recently
upholding the rule of law is the height honestly ll out government forms in- home to a family that represented what
of stupidity and as Sen. Lindsey Graham cluding nancial disclosure forms and is best in America, until your father stops
(R-S.C.) said, if your father red him there at least his SF-86 needed to get a secu- disgracing it and the country.
would be holy hell to pay. rity clearance. The excuse on nances Many of us who harbored hope you
In a random early morning tweet your from your husband seems to be he is would be a champion for decency now
father attacked the LGBTQ+ community so rich its natural he forgot to report on count the days until your father either
and heroic transgender members of the numerous holdings. As to the security leaves voluntarily or is thrown out. Only
military announcing trans people will no form he now admits he forgot over 100 then will the American people once again
longer be welcome to serve and possibly meetings with foreign agents and is on be able to lift up our heads with pride
die for the nation. Something he was nev- his third or fourth iteration of the form when facing the world community.
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

2 0 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017 VIEWPOINT

In Trump era, life feels like Dunkirk
Fight attacks on liberty by
creating art
KATHI WOLFE, a regular contributor to the
Blade, was the winner of the 2014 Stonewall
Chapbook Competition.
Its relaxing to read about World War II,
my cousin says, because we know we
won it.
She has a point, I thought, until the
Trump era began. Now, more than 70
years after the war, our freedom and
sense of decency are again under as-
sault. The Trump administration assails
LGBTQ rights at every turn: from banning
transgender people from serving in the
military to appointing anti-LGBTQ Kansas
Gov. Sam Brownback ambassador-at-
large for international religious freedom.
I dont want to make irresponsible
analogies. Trump, though a dangerous,
cruel, uncaring, unethical, bigoted, fas-
cistic demagogue isnt Hitler. Our situa-
tion in the Trump presidency, however
frightening and disturbing isnt equiva-
lent to World War II. Yet, I cant remem-
ber a time when so many of us have felt
as if we were Londoners nightly seeking
safety in air raid shelters during the Blitz,
our grandparents sitting by our radios
listening to FDR give one of his reside
chats or (often scared) soldiers ghting
the Nazis.
Im not surprised that Dunkirk, directed
by Christopher Nolan is a hit at the box of-
ce. It takes place in May 1940 in the French
port city of Dunkirk. The Germans have
blocked in more than 200,000 members of
the British army. The British in Operation
Dynamo, working against the odds, evacu-
ate the soldiers (keeping these troops from
being captured by the Germans). Watching
Dunkirk, recently with a friend, I felt as if
Id been transported from a Virginia cin-
ema into the middle of a gritty, horrifying
struggle. Dunkirk doesnt romanticize the
war. Theres no cliched Hollywood heroism.
Just terried troops serving their country as
best they can.
In the Trump age, life often feels like
Dunkirk. Fighting against the attacks on
our civil rights and freedom, its easy to
lose perspective to succumb to despair.
Mired in discouragement, were all too apt
to forget: Dunkirk was only one battle in
the war. More importantly, the evacuation
of the troops from Dunkirk encouraged
Britain and America to keep ghting.
How can we resist Trumps assault on
our freedom? What gives us courage to
keep living, loving and resisting? As art-
ists from poets to painters to lmmak-
ers we can make art; and as viewers,
readers and audience members we can
experience art.
Art can seem as relevant as nger
bowls and poets dont legislate. Yet, its
hard to imagine anything that does more
to trump the taunts of bullies or to nour-
ish our spirits than art.
Irony is an essential element of art. It
is a truth universally acknowledged that
if youre queer, irony is embedded in
your DNA. Irony has sustained the LGBTQ
community through suppression, repres-
sion, bullying, discrimination, Joe McCar-
thys witch hunt and the AIDS epidemic.
Without irony, well be too dispirited to
resist Trump.
Few have mastered irony as superbly
as Jane Austen, the author of Pride and
Prejudice, who died on July 18, 1817. Us-
ing wit and irony, Austen punctures pom-
posity and the conventions of society.
I do not want people to be very agree-
able, as it saves me the trouble of liking
them a great deal, she wrote. What could
be more queer?
In September, Austen will become the
only woman other than Queen Elizabeth
II to be on a United Kingdom 10-pound
bank note. In her new book Jane Austen
at Home: A Biography, BBC presenter Lucy
Worsley says Austen may have had lesbian
sex. Worsley says Austen wrote frequently
about sleeping in the same bed with wom-
en. People were much less worried about
lesbian sex in general, she said.
Some dismiss Austens novels as con-
fections. Yet, this misses her works laser-
like sharpness. Of all great writers she
is the most dicult to catch in the act of
greatness, Virginia Woolf said of Austen.
Do you want to keep your ironic chops
in ghting shape in the Trump era? Read
Jane Austen.

O U R BU SI N E SS MA T T E RS

D.C. becoming more of a nightlife bar town: report

Licensing grows
despite rules allowing for
multi-activity restaurants
MARK LEE is a long-time entrepreneur
and community business advocate. Follow
on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at
OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.
In D.C., the local establishment where
you nd yourself enjoying a meal with
friends may, in fact, be licensed as a bar.
Likewise, your favorite drinking and so-
cializing spot, where you might also occa-
sionally nd yourself dancing, may actu-
ally be licensed as a restaurant.
Despite the modern-era reduction in
license-class distinctions, a report re-
leased by the D.C. Policy Center last week
revealed that D.C. is becoming more of
a bar town. This followed the Centers
report a month earlier detailing a more
than 50 percent growth in the number
of alcohol-licensed bars, restaurants and
nightclubs since 2008 increasing from
slightly more than 800 venues to nearly
1,300 in 2016.
In the most recent report, As D.C.
Nightlife Grows, Its Becoming More of a
Bar Town, senior fellow Kate Rabinowitz
details the dominance of bar licenses as a
share of the huge increase in new liquor
licenses issued. The citys population grew
by over 100,000 during the same period.
Liquor licenses for bars increased 77
percent, and restaurants grew 37 percent
but the number of nightclubs actually
fell by 8 percent. This brought the overall
proportion of D.C. nightlife to 25 percent
bars, 71 percent restaurants, and 4 per-
cent nightclubs, reports Rabinowitz.
The regulatory distinction between
restaurant and bar licenses, however, is
partly overblown. As a result of industry
advocacy and public support for licensing
reforms over the past 15 years, the eorts
of long-notorious and now less-powerful
small anti-nightlife citizens groups to
push for a licensing system that strictly
denes venue types and restricts allow-
able activities have largely failed.
Attempts to restrict restaurants as
places to sit and dine, bars as separate
spaces for drinking, and nightclubs for
what some seem to view as post-sun-
down halls of hedonism for dancing and
entertainment did not succeed.
Restaurants, for example, can oer a
full menu of amenities such as music, DJs,
dancing, entertainment, and have cover
charges provided that they meet certain
food sales requirements and gain approv-
al for an entertainment endorsement.
Multi-activity restaurants are increasingly
commonplace and extremely popular. Big
battles are still fought over those permits
and nightclubs are reexive targets for the
persisting gaggles of objectors.
Of note, the D.C. Policy Center report
reveals that the explosion in new venue
liquor licenses expanded the footprint of
the Districts nightlife. Restaurant-class
licenses in older neighborhoods play a
bigger nightlife role, but bar licenses are
characteristic of newer and emerging de-
velopment areas. Rabinowitz characteriz-
es these as the citys new nightlife hubs.
An examination of the growth in D.C.
nightlife venues indicates population-
growth areas, especially those favored by
newer and younger residents, are where
nightlife and bar licensing in particular
is growing.
Neighborhoods now predominantly fa-
vored by LGBT residents for living and as
entertainment destinations have all seen
dramatic growth in both the number of
nightlife establishments as well as dispro-
portionate new licensing for bars.
The number of gay-centric nightlife
venues, however, continues to shrink and
is currently at the lowest level of the past
four decades.
The past eight years havent been all
growth for D.C. nightlife. Longtime estab-
lishments that served predominantly LG-
BTQ residents have shuttered, and new
establishments have not lled the gap,
Rabinowitz reports.
The reports also conrm the lingering
economic harm of liquor license mora-
toriums in the city even following loos-
ened restrictions or eventual elimination.
Once the damage is done there is little
evidence of an areas ability to recover
from these prohibitions on nightlife busi-
ness expansion.
Former longstanding moratoriums in
Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Georgetown
and Glover Park have held down growth in
those neighborhoods, the Center reports.
However, while moratorium lifts in these
neighborhoods may bring a modest in-
crease in restaurants or bars, it is unlikely
to move these neighborhoods back to the
nightlife dominance they once had.
Both D.C. Policy Center reports on Dis-
trict nightlife are available online: As D.C.
Nightlife Grows, Its Becoming More of a Bar
Town and Mapping D.C.s Nightlife Boom.
W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 2 1
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GAY CLASSICAL OUTFIT HAS EXPANDED TOURING SCHEDULE, CROSSOVER APPEAL
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Well-Strung, an all-gay singing-string
quartet, has a musical library that might
raise some eyebrows.
Chris Marchant, Daniel Shevlin,
Edmund Bagnell and Trevor Wadleigh are
known for mixing Lady Gaga and Rihanna
hits with the likes of Bach and Vivaldi. Its
a combination not often found in a music
performance but Well-Strung wants to
introduce classical music to the masses
through a more familiar genre pop.
Not only are they known for their cross-
genre performances but their youthful
presence and good looks have also been
a big crowd draw.
The foursome are bandmates and
roommates; they all live together in New
York City, which makes for easy practice
sessions. When not practicing at home,
they are on tour sometimes in a dierent
city every day of the week. The hard work
has paid o as they have performed
for big names such as Barack Obama
and Hillary Clinton and were invited to
perform at the Vatican. Theyve also
shared stages with Kristin Chenoweth,
Neil Patrick Harris and Audra McDonald.
The Washington Blade was able to speak
with second violinist and group co-founder
Marchant as they prep for their Rehoboth
Beach, Del., show this weekend. Marchant
revealed why he thinks classical and pop
music are the perfect match, why Britney
Spears tweeted their performance and the
pressures of being a sex symbol.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Why did you
rst start playing music?
CHRIS MARCHANT: My mom made
me. I was playing T-ball at the time and I
was really bad at it so I wanted to quit. She
said I could do that if I played a musical
instrument for awhile. So I said OK and I
picked violin.
BLADE: How did you get involved
with Well-Strung?
MARCHANT: I co-created the group
with our manager Mark (Cortale). In 2010
I was up in Provincetown and Cape Cod
doing another show because I used to do
musical theater prior to this. I would play
my violin on the street just to make extra
money in the summer time. Mark was a
producer in town at a theater and he saw
me playing. So we started collaborating
on what making a show together might
look like. And we started looking for other
Well-Strung and far-ung
By MARIAH COOPER
mcooper@washblade.com
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Well-Strung is, from left, CHRIS MARCHANT (second violin), DANIEL SHEVLIN (cello), EDMUND
BAGNELL (rst violin) and TREVOR WADLEIGH (viola).
people who would be interested.
BLADE: Is Well-Strung everyones
only job or do you have side projects?
MARCHANT: Its our only job. We kind
of transitioned into that at dierent times.
A couple of the guys used to cater or teach
music or take freelance gigs. I used to bartend.
But nobody really has time anymore.
BLADE: What do you think classical
styles bring to pop songs?
MARCHANT: One of my favorite things
that we do is explore the crossover
between pop and classical music.
Classical music is kind of intimidating for
the average music listener because the
library is just so wide. Theres just so much
material. So it can be a little bit daunting
to try and get into it. So what we try to
do is highlight some of the crossovers in
our covers between classical pieces and
the pop songs. Its always amazing to me
when a chord progression used in a Bach
partita lines up with something that is a
mega hit by Taylor Swift today. People
dont realize that the underlying bed of
music can be quite similar at times. Thats
not always the case. But its surprising how
often that is true. Also, I think the dierent
textures that classical music creates is a
little more dierent and intricate than pop
music today. But we try to show what the
past has oered musically and that is not
irrelevant by any means.
BLADE: Has anyone told you that
after listening to your performance
you got them more into classical
music?
MARCHANT: Absolutely. Thats one of
my favorite things to hear after a concert.
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 31
PHOTO COURTESY OF WELL-STRUNG
Thats one of our goals in a concert is to
show people that theres room on both
sides of the aisle. Theres room for people
to like both. We can show someone that
classical music isnt this lost, old art but it
can still be relevant today. But, also I think
its really cool when sometimes we play
student concerts or do student workshops
and they realize that, Oh my gosh, I dont
have to play this one variety of music to
play the violin. It can be whatever you
want it to be. Thats also really cool to me.
BLADE: Do you nd yourself frowned
upon in the classical music community
for doing pop covers?
MARCHANT: If thats the case, Im
unaware of it. I would say some non-
fans have written in response to some
of the stu weve done and say that
were destroying the classical piece with
something that was written today. But
that just seems close-minded. It doesnt
have to be either/or. It should be both as
often as it makes sense too.
BLADE: Whats your favorite song to
cover?
MARCHANT: My favorite song that
we do is Radioheads Creep. Our violist
arranged that one with Ave Maria and
(a prelude from) The Well-Tempered
Clavier. So, its actually like Bach wrote
The Well-Tempered Clavier then a
hundred years later Gounod wrote Ave
Maria over top of that and then we took
both and we put Radiohead over it. So its
like multi-century.
BLADE: Any musicians that have
reached out to you about songs youve
covered from them?
WELL-STRUNG
Sunday, Aug. 6
6 and 9 p.m.
Clear Space Theatre Company
20 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.
clearspacetheatre.org
$35-100
AUGUST 4, 2017 PAGE 23
MARCHANT: Britney Spears tweeted a
clip of us playing Toxic in the hotel lobby
of Planet Hollywood where she was doing
her Las Vegas residency. And then the
Charlie Daniels Band posted our cover of
Devil Went Down to Georgia.
BLADE: Are your fans mostly gay,
straight or a mix?
MARCHANT: Its a good mix. It started
out as more heavily gay because we
got our start in Provincetown which is a
mostly gay community. From there, the
people who saw us there would bring us
to their hometowns for concerts. So thats
how we started touring. It did start as a
stronger gay demographic and I think
that is still very present and were grateful
for that. But we nd our demographic just
gets wider the more we tour. We tend to
have the most engaged audiences when
were with suburban families. Thats when
we nd the most successful concerts.
BLADE: Youre known for your music
but youre known for your looks as well.
Is it weird being seen as a sex symbol?
MARCHANT: It is weird. We have always
said music comes before anything or any
of us looking the way we want to look.
We always put the music as a priority and
everything else comes second to that. But
it is very important, for me anyway, to be
consistent while were on the road. I always
try to get up and nd a gym before sound
check so I can focus my day a little bit. When
were in dierent cities all the time, it can be
draining in a certain way. Having a routine
at the gym is really good for my sanity.
BLADE: What can people expect from
your show in Rehoboth?
MARCHANT: Were so excited for
Rehoboth. That community has been
so supportive to us from the beginning.
There are really sweet people down there.
We have a lot of new music that Rehoboth
hasnt heard yet so were excited to debut
that there and hopefully see a bunch of
our old friends. Its denitely going to be
a fun show. Theyve always been a very
supportive community. A lot of energy
from the audience. Some audiences I
think they feel like, Oh, were seeing a
string quartet so we should be quiet and
respectful of the classical music. But we
would rather people be loud and engaged
just having a good time.

2 4 A UGUS T 0 4 , 2017 Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R MA RI A N N E KI RBY
How long have you been out and who
was the hardest person to tell?
Ive been selectively out since the late
90s. There are still people I havent told,
but I think the hardest person to admit
my queerness to was actually myself. Not
because I was unhappy to be queer but
because I didnt feel queer enough. Owning
my own identity was a lot more dicult
than sharing it with anyone else.
Whos your LGBT hero?
Most of my heroes are really just my
friends, living their lives and doing their
work in their communities. I recognize how
important a lot of big name people are
but my inspiration comes from the people
around me.
Whats Washingtons best nightspot,
past or present?
Im a sucker for the old 9:30 club. I saw my
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY rst concert there.
Describe your dream wedding.
By JOEY DiGULIELMO I had my dream wedding I eloped
joeyd@washblade.com and we got to text people and ask what
theyd been up to that day as our way of
In Dust Bath Revival, a 2016 book in the speculative ction genre, Hank, a announcing things. That was a fun day.
16-year-old girl, has to survive the Dust Bowl after her family gets involved in a Ive always been skeptical of weddings in
government conspiracy. Its the debut novel from writer/editor Marianne Kirby general and marriage as an institution.
who helped organize this years OutWrite LGBT Book Festival at the DC Center.
I feel like being queer cant help but inuence my writing, says Kirby, a What non-LGBT issue are you most
39-year-old Orlando native. It shapes my whole perspective. That means my passionate about?
characters are usually queer identied and the worlds that I build are not Intersectionality as a whole. Peoples
necessarily ones where heterosexuality is the presumed default. identities are complex and when we
OutWrite 2017: a Celebration of LGBT Literature runs Aug. 4-6 at the DC acknowledge that, our anti-oppression
Center (2000 14th St., N,W., no. 105) and includes dozens of events such as a movements across all issues can only be
smut slam cabaret, yoga, discussion panels, writers studios and more. Full stronger.
details at thedccenter.org or search OutWrite on Facebook.
Although married to a cis man, Kirby says her queer identity is strong What historical outcome would you
and says shes attracted to people regardless of their gender identication. change?
Kirby is an editor by day. She has also written a 2009 non-ction book called No singular event, but I think as
Lessons from the Fat-o-sphere. queerness has been more accepted in the
Kirby came to Washington a year and a half ago for a job opportunity after mainstream, weve lost some of our sense
many years in Orlando. She immediately looked for ways to be involved in the of community, especially with a historical
local literary scene and discovered OutWrite, which she helped organize this perspective. I know we all want to look
year. Find her online at mariannekirby.com. forward, but there are so many important
Kirby and husband Ed live in Alexandria, Va. Kirby enjoys literary gatherings, events in the past that have dened the
volunteering at sci cons, sewing, quilting, silversmithing and more in her struggle of queer community and they are
free time. being forgotten.
Whats been the most memorable pop
culture moment of your lifetime?
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster,
I think. I was obsessed with space as a
kid and watching the shuttle launch on
live TV. It was a serious lesson in risk and
sacrice and how sometimes the hope for
something wonderful goes terribly wrong.
On what do you insist?
Respect
What was your last Facebook post or
Tweet?
My last tweet was about OutWrite! My
last Facebook post was probably about
puppies. I mean, puppies are really great.
If your life were a book, what would the
202.747.2077 title be?
But Does That Come In Size
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Fat?:Adventures In Self-Presentation With A
Loud Fat Femme
If science discovered a way to change
sexual orientation, what would you do?
Oh, Id side eye the hell out of that. Sexual
orientation isnt an illness to be cured. Im a
writer. Id denitely write about it.
What do you believe in beyond the
physical world?
I believe in wonder and awe. Not
necessarily in any particularly religious way;
I identify as agnostic. But I think there is
so much in the world, there are so many
marvels, that I cant help but feel some of
that on a spiritual level. I believe in people,
in our capacity to love and help each other
just as much as we can be terrible.
Whats your advice for LGBT movement
leaders?
If LGBT movement leaders cannot respect
and address the needs of the entire LGBT
community then we are not the community
we need to be. That means prioritizing
the needs of queer people over the good
feelings of corporations and organizations
like the cops. Mainstream acceptance
isnt worth compromising the people
with whom we are supposed to be in
community.
What would you walk across hot coals
for?
The last tube of MACs Ruby Woo lipstick
for sure.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you
most?
That queer women in a relationship with a
man are suddenly somehow straight. (And,
I mean, the same is true in reverse.) That
disappears us from general culture and
from queer community. Queerness doesnt
magically cease to exist like that, sorry, not
sorry.
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
Paris Is Burning
Whats the most overrated social
custom?
Traditional dating.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
I just really want a Nebula award. Is there a
specic writer who doesnt, though?
What do you wish youd known at 18?
Just how rewarding it has been to care less
and less about what the general other
people of the world think of me. Whew, its
so exhausting to be so wrapped up in how
other people see you. Freeing that energy
up to actually live is transformative.
Why Washington?
Its vibrant and challenging and its hard to
nd a place here sometimes but there is
so much happening under the surface. Its
worth the eort to make your own place
here.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
BO OK S
New book tackles myths
and misconceptions of
the trans experience
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.
How does that work?
When you were little and that question
arose, you simply took things apart, but
that didnt always work so well. In Youre
in the Wrong Bathroom! by Dr. Laura
Erickson-Schroth and Laura A. Jacobs, its
time for a dierent way of seeing things.
One million people.
Thats approximately how many
transgender individuals live in the U.S.
Chances are, say the authors, youve
met one (or more) of them, and you
didnt even realize it. So why do many
people think they dont know anyone
whos transgender?
The answer goes back to a 1960s-era
estimate that didnt take race or
economics into account, and that may still
lead to myths and wrong assumptions.
Misunderstandings happen because of
that old study, lines blur and, Its crucial to
ask ourselves why it bothers us so much.
Its a myth to believe that any single
thing can dene a trans person, say the
authors. Each individual decides on who
they are or will be, what theyll be called,
whether to have surgery and how theyll
dress. And no, you cannot ask whats
in their pants, but you can respectfully
inquire about preferred pronouns.
The sexuality of a transgender
individual may be complex, say the
authors, or it may be a uid process lled
with surprises, but transitioning isnt
a way to trick anyone into anything.
A U G U S T 04, 2017 25
Some think I should dress more like
a woman. Some think I should dress
more like a man.
I may not fit some
ideas about gender,
and I am a proud
part of DC.
IMAGE COURTESY OF BEACON PRESS
Please treat me the same way any
person would want to be treated:
with courtesy and respect.
Discrimination based on gender identity and
expression is illegal in the District of Columbia.
If you think youve been the target of
discrimination, visit www.ohr.dc.gov
Disclosure to friends, family and potential
mates is likewise not easily dened, so
or call (202) 727-4559.
its best left to the individual. Obviously,
none of this is easy.
Trans people have been around for
OFFICE OF
GLBT
AFFAIRS
centuries and were at times revered
in various cultures throughout history.
They are not broken or trapped in the
wrong body and they do not need to be Show your support! Spread word of the #TransRespect
xed. Theyve gone through many steps campaign by photographing this ad and sharing on Twitter.
to transition and the vast majority will not
have regrets for it. And using safety as
an argument for denying them bathroom
usage is incorrect, unless youre talking
safety for the trans individual.
Questions. Youve got a zillion of them
and, especially if youre transitioning or
thinking about it, so do your friends and
family. Youre in the Wrong Bathroom!
can answer 20 of them.
Beginning at the basics with Identity,
authors Laura Erickson-Schroth and
Laura A. Jacobs take the most common
lore about the T in LGBT and gently
correct any wrong beliefs that may be
lurking in readers minds. Thats a good
start, but there were times when the
authors seemed too nice; more adamant
language could have been appropriate.
Even so, theres a good sense of mind-
easing in most cases here, followed by a
carefully measured tone. At some point, then,
and no pun intended, this book transitions
more toward gender-nonconforming
readers and less for cisgender folks, allowing
the latter even better insight.
Theres a lot of education as well as
food for thought inside this book, for
those whove transitioned as well as those
who are pondering it and for their loved
ones. If you need something to help set
the naysayers right, Youre in the Wrong
Bathroom! will work.
YOURE IN THE WRONG BATHROOM! AND
20 OTHER MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-
NONCONFORMING PEOPLE
By Laura Erickson-Schroth and Laura A. Jacobs
Beacon Press
$16
182 pages

2 6 A UGUS T 0 4 , 2017
This Week in the Arts provided by CultureCapital.com
danceplace.org.
Summer Concert: Elikeh. Aug 10.
Glen Echo Park. glenechopark.org.
Lubber Run Amphitheater:
Dupont Brass. Aug 4. WSC Avant
Bard - Gospel At Colonus. Aug Equilibrium: Fanny Sann. Thru Oct 29.
5. The Scotch Bonnets. Aug 6.
Arlington Cultural Aairs. Lubber Run.
arlingtonarts.org.
Concerts in the Park: Big Bang
Boom. Aug 6. The Alden. McLean
Central Park. mcleancenter.org.
Jazz in the Garden: Incendio. Aug 4.
National Gallery of Art. nga.gov.
Carpe Diem! Second Thursday
Contra Dance. Aug 10. Washington
La La Land in Concert with the National Symphony Orchestra Revels. Silver Spring Civic Building at
Aug 4. Wolf Trap. Veterans Plaza. revelsdc.org.
wolftrap.org. Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminal of
The winner of six Academy Awards,La La Landtells the story of Mia (Emma the International Championship of
Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz A Cappella Open. Aug 5. The Clarice.
musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing theclarice.umd.edu.
hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original Paradise Bill. Aug 8. Positive
musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. Vibrations from CAFE: Cultural
Academy for Excellence. Aug 9. SSTCi.
Big Fish Veterans Plaza.
Aug 5-Sep 2. Keegan Theatre. silverspringdowntown.com.
keegantheatre.com. Jurassic Park - in Concert. Aug 5.
Big Fish centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its Chick Corea Elektric Band and Bela
fullest. Edwards incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him Fleck and the Flecktones. Aug 6.
most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of Goo Goo Dolls with Phillip Phillips.
his own, is determined to nd the truth behind his fathers epic tales. Aug 8. Asian Youth Orchestra with
Sarah Chang. Aug 9. Dashboard
Signature Theatres Open House Confessional with The All American-
Aug 6. Signature Theatre. Rejects. Aug 10. Wolf Trap.
sigtheatre.org. wolftrap.org.
Kick o the upcoming season with Signatures Annual Open House. Starting Mount Vernon Nights: Lox and
at noon, come enjoy free performances every fteen minutes, special ticket Vodka. Aug 5. Workhouse Arts Center.
oers, raes and a grand nale concert. workhousearts.org.
One Life: Sylvia Plath MUSEUMS
Thru May 20. Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
npg.si.edu. Folger Shakespeare Library. Painting
Through personal letters, her own artwork, family photographs and relevant Shakespeare. Thru Feb 11. folger.edu.
objects, this exhibition highlights Plaths struggle to understand her own self and National Archives. Amending
to navigate the societal pressures placed on young women during her time. America. Thru Sep 4.
archivesfoundation.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WOLF TRAP Dumbarton Oaks Library and
Collection. City Water/City Life. Thru
Aug 31. Imagining the Empress:
Theodora in Popular Culture, 1882-
THEATRE Baron Tavern. First Friday Comedy
Showcase. Aug 4. U Dont Know Jack
1922. Thru Aug 31. Ancient Textiles.
Thru Mar 31. doaks.org.
Cabaret. Thru Aug 6. The Second w/ Jack. Aug 9. Straight Cash Comedy Library of Congress. Mapping a
Citys Almost Accurate Guide to w/ Kasha. Aug 10. Town Tavern DC. Growing Nation: From Independence
America: Divided We Stand. Thru Capital Laughs. capitallaughs.com. to Statehood. Thru Sep 1. Drawing
Aug 13. Rodgers & Hammersteins Justice: The Art of Courtroom
The King and I. Thru Aug 20. Kennedy
Center. kennedy-center.org.
MUSIC Illustration. Thru Oct 28. Echoes of the
Great War: American Experiences of
Thurgood. Thru Aug 20. Olney Daym Arocena. Aug 4. Ari World War I. Thru Jan 1. loc.gov.
Theatre. olneytheatre.org. Shapiro: Homeward. Aug 5. AMP. National Gallery of Art. The Urban
Wig Out! Thru Aug 6. Studio Theatre. ampbystrathmore.com. Scene: 19201950. Thru Aug 6. America
studiotheatre.org. Herbie Hancock. Aug 8. Kennedy Collects Eighteenth-Century French
An Octoroon. Thru Aug 6. Woolly Center. kennedy-center.org. Painting. Thru Aug 20. In the Library:
Mammoth. woollymammoth.net. Live From the Lawn: Matuto. Aug 9. Companion Pieces. Thru Aug 25. nga.gov.
Mundane Aight Comedy w/ Adelle Strathmore. strathmore.org. National Geographic. Earth Explorers.
and Kevin. Aug 7. The Passenger. Phil Art on 8th: Freddie Dunn. Aug 10. Thru Sep 10. Sharks: On Assignment
& a Mic with Phil Mike. Aug 8. Bier Dance Place at Monroe Street Market. with Brian Skerry. Thru Oct 15.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
A RT S & CU LT U RE
nglive.org.
National Museum of Women in the
Arts. Free Community Day. Aug 6.
From the Desk of Simone de Beauvoir.
Thru Aug 12. Revival. Thru Sep 10.
nmwa.org.
National Portrait Gallery,
Smithsonian. Marlene Dietrich:
Dressed for the Image. Thru Apr 15.
Antebellum Portraits by Mathew
Brady. Thru Jun 3. npg.si.edu.
GALLERIES
DCCAH. Synergy Visual Arts Exhibition.
Thru Aug 11. dcarts.dc.gov.
The Art League. Sally Davies: Global
Views: Light & Shadow. Thru Aug 6.
theartleague.org.
Waverly Street Gallery. O The
Wall 3D Sculpture. Thru Aug 5.
waverlystreetgallery.com.
Zenith Gallery. RESIST: Nationally
Juried Exhibit. Thru Oct 15.
zenithgallery.com.
District Architecture Center. 2017
Professional Awards of the Potomac
Chapter, ASLA. Thru Aug 25. aiadac.com.
gallery Neptune & Brown.
Contemporary Works on Paper
from Barsha to Puryear. Thru Sep 2.
galleryneptunebrown.com.
Hill Center. Regional Juried Exhibition.
Thru Oct 1. hillcenterdc.org.
JCCNV. Jewish Grati. Aug 7-Oct 2.
jccnv.org.
Korean Cultural Center DC. K-Arts :
From Nature: Six Korean Artists. Aug
4-Aug 31. koreaculturedc.org.
AND MORE...
HumanitiesDC. House History
Day. Aug 5. Library of Congress.
humanitiesdc.org.
Smithsonian Associates. Inside
the World of Diplomacy. Aug 9.
American Foreign Service Association.
smithsonianassociates.org.
National Archives. The Road to Camelot:
Inside JFKs Five-Year Campaign. Aug 8.
archivesfoundation.org.
Docs in Progress. Spotlight on
Personal Documentaries. Aug 6.
EDCJCC. docsinprogress.org.
Washington Jewish Film Festival.
Searching for My Jewish Soul (Work-
in-Progress). Aug 6. 51 Birch Street.
Aug 6. Afterimage. Aug 9-Aug 12. Fire
at Sea. Aug 10-Aug 12. The Black Hen.
Aug 9-Aug 13. A Flickering Truth. Aug
10-Aug 13. EDCJCC. wj.org.
Library of Congress. Botkin Lectures:
The Fantastic Worlds of Chinese Opera
Theater in North America. Aug 9. LOC
Summer Movies on the Lawn - Top Gun.
Aug 10. Library of Congress. loc.gov.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
D I N ING
Masseria, A. Litteri bring
authentic Italian cuisine to
Northeast Washington
By KRISTEN HARTKE
Within a block of each other in the
shadow of the old Florida Avenue Market
now known as Union Market youll
nd a tale of two Italian-American food
purveyors that give us a glimpse into the
Washington food scene, past and present.
In a city that was derided for decades
for having no culinary soul, yet is now
considered at the top of the food chain,
Washington has housed a bustling food
industry since its founding, now inspiring
a new generation of chefs. Its no surprise
that two examples of this evolution can
be found in such close proximity.
The rst is A. Litteri (517-519 Morse St.,
N.E.), an Italian market that got its start
near D.C.s Chinatown in 1926 before
moving to its present location in 1932. For
many longtime D.C. residents, including
transplants from other cities where
such emporiums are woven into the
fabric of the community, it represents a
connection with Old World food traditions
without any fuss. Tucked into one of the
unassuming old warehouses adjacent
to Union Markets parking lot, A. Litteri
sports oor-to-ceiling shelves crammed
with Italian pastas in all shapes and sizes,
jars of olives, peppers and anchovies,
every kind of olive oil and a particularly
Sorbet in a bed of edible owers at Masseria.
well-stocked selection of wines.
In fact, the wine selection is so good
that earlier this year the store was
named the best wine store in the world
outside of Italy by the Consorzio del Vino
Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany, an
honor that is directly due to the eorts
of Ken Nankervis, who started revamping
A. Litteris wine oerings ve years ago.
Youll nd a hefty selection from regions
across Italy, including grapes that may be
unfamiliar to many Americans, such as
a red Ligurian barbarossa or falanghina,
a white varietal from Campania. Stop
by on Saturday and youll usually nd a
wine tasting in progress, often matched
with meat or cheese from the deli
counter; while youre there, Nankervis
can steer you toward whichever wine will
best complement your weekend meals,
based on both your price point and the
ingredients in your shopping basket.
Head to the back corner of the store
and youll nd its renowned deli counter.
New York Times journalist David Brooks
recently raised hackles among readers by
recounting a tale of what he termed as his
insensitivity in taking a friend with only a
high school degree to lunch at a gourmet
sandwich shop featuring such items as
soppressata and capicollo, deli meats that
apparently were unfamiliar to her.
However, many people without college
degrees are actually quite familiar with
Italian cold cuts and cheeses and youll
nd plenty in evidence at A. Litteri, from
mortadella, a pork-based sausage often
studded with whole black peppercorns,
myrtle berries and pistachios, to pecorino
pepato, a Sicilian aged sheeps milk cheese.
If the items displayed in the deli case are
unfamiliar, then youll nd knowledgeable
employees ready to expand your culinary
horizons, one slice at a time.
Representing the newest iteration of
the Italian-American inuence in this
northeast D.C. neighborhood is Masseria
(1340 4th St., N.E.). In the Puglia region
in the heel of the boot of southern Italy
a masseria refers to a country estate oerings and traditional techniques, from
housing a working farm that produces
olive oil, wine or other agricultural goods,
and its a term that has meaning to chef-
owner NIck Stefanelli, nding inspiration
in the land of his ancestors as well as in
the D.C. suburbs where he grew up.
Awarded with a coveted Michelin star in
2016, just a year after opening its doors,
Masseria, like A. Litteri, also boasts an
understated exterior; it would be easy to
miss it, but once you enter the courtyard,
youll nd yourself transported to a world mousse accompanied by dulce de leche
that feels slightly removed from reality.
The sounds of the city fade away as you
sip a cocktail at the expansive marble-
topped, indoor-outdoor bar its actually tradition, the Italian story is still alive and
so wide that it precludes having a cozy
chat with the bartender, but Masseria is,
perhaps, focused on guests chatting with
each other, in the best tradition of ne
dining establishments.
Sitting at the bar is an excellent way to
spend an evening, sipping on cocktails
made with beet-infused Campari or
accented with apricot and hibiscus sorbet
while lling up on freshly fried bombolini
A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 2 7
PHOTO BY KRISTEN HARTKE
stued with cheese fonduta and dusted
with powdered mushroom or duck wings
with a citrus and chili marmalade. If you
prefer table service, the rustic-chic vibe
of the dining room anchored by an open
kitchen provides enough intimacy for a
quiet tte--tte with a friend, as well as
ample vibrancy for a celebratory birthday
dinner with a group.
Let your server be your guide, steering
you toward the kitchens seasonal
foie gras with fresh blueberry to burnt
wheat orecchiette in which the pasta
our is lightly scorched before being made
into pasta served simply, but elegantly,
with fresh cherry tomatoes, lightly bitter
rapini and shavings of pecorino. Pastry
chef Jemil Gadea, who was just awarded
Pastry Chef of the Year by the Restaurant
Association of Metropolitan Washington,
oers stylish and inventive dolci, which
might include a rich baked chocolate
or a fresh sorbet nestled in a bed of
edible owers.
Whether its old school or a new
well in Northeast D.C., oering hospitality
and culinary delights, for all occasions
and budgets. As wise Italians will often
say: Mangiare per vivere e non vivere per
mangiare eat to live, dont live to eat.
KRISTEN HARTKE is a D.C.-based food
and beverage writer. Follow her kitchen
adventures on Twiiter, @khartke.
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

SATURDAY
28 A U G U S T 04, 2017 F I LM

AUGUST 12

Pride PHOTO COURTESY SONY PICTURES CLASSIC

KYLE MOONEY, left, and DAVE McCARY on the set of Brigsby Bear.

Mooney/McCary mayhem

Splash
Straight SNL duo unusually
comfortable with gay themes
By BRIAN T. CARNEY
So whats it like kissing James Franco?
Pretty awesome, according to Kyle
Mooney, who did so on a recent Saturday
in various capacities.
One of the hallmarks of their comedy
has been their comfort dealing with gay
characters. As their delightful sketch Is My
Roommate Gay? illustrates, the humor
rises from an understanding of human
foibles rather than relying on stereotypes.
While both McCary and Mooney identify
as straight, Mooney says their ease in

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The fun thing about that was he wanted
to save the kiss for the live moment,
Mooney says. Every rehearsal we would
get as close as possible and he would say,
Nope, we have to wait. So I hope that you
get to see the passion on screen; we were
both living the experience in the moment.
Dave McCary, who directed both the
movie and the sketch, conrms.
Mooney and McCary have worked
together for years. Their latest project,
the endearing Brigsby Bear, opens today
(Friday, Aug. 4) at the Angelika Mosaic in
Virginia and the Landmark Theatre E Street
Cinema in Washington. The movie is about
a sheltered young man named James
whose world is suddenly turned upside
down. His only connection to his old life are
the VHS tapes of a low-budget childrens
show that was made just for him. With
his new friends, James decides to make a
movie about Brigsbys new adventures.
The two men have been best friends
since fourth grade. There was initially
some tension in the relationship, but as
Mooney says, that quickly resolved itself.
We were rival clowns in the fth
grade, Mooney says. Then at some
point in middle school, he sacriced the
be behind the camera.
Co-screenwriter Kevin Costello
briey joined their little band when he
transferred to their school in seventh
grade. The military brat was soon sent
dealing with gay characters comes with
an acceptance of their own identities.
Were comfortable with who we are,
he says.
We are both very accepting people,
McCary says. We dont think that sexual
orientation is something to be made
fun of, but embraced. With comedy, you
never want to call anything o limits.
Its a territory that some comedians are
less comfortable going after because
of the risk of making people think that
theyre not as accepting. Well always be
interested in telling stories that embrace
peoples dierences.
While Brigsby Bear does not include
any explicitly gay characters, McCary says
accepting others is an important theme
of the movie. James, the main character,
is very dierent, he says. The movie is
about embracing an outsider.
Brigsby Bear premiered with
signicant acclaim in January at the
2017 Sundance Film Festival. The rst-
time feature lmmakers approached the
Festival with some trepidation.
The process was intimidating, Mooney
says. There wasnt much time between the
shooting of the lm and the submission
to Sundance. We wrapped in late August
and it was due in November. Watching
the movies on the massive Eccles Theatre,
which seats 1,500 people, was surreal. We
sat next to each other and were scared
and nervous and experiencing the same
things that James goes through in the

42
to yet another school, but when Mooney movie when his lm premieres.

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In the meantime, McCary and Mooney
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success brought them to the attention of
BUY ONLINE NOW AND SAVE
the producers of Saturday Night Live
PRIDESPLASH.ORG and all four men now work on the show
Before they return to SNL in the fall,
Mooney and McCary are crisscrossing
the country promoting their new lm.
Mooney is both exhausted and energized.
Right now, its like, Lets make sure
some people see the movie. because if
people go see the movie then we would
likely get the opportunity to do this
again. This is something I would like
to do forever. I would love to have the
opportunity to tell more stories.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
T HE ATE R
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY; COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY CENTER
LAURA MICHELLE KELLY and JOSE LLANA in The King and I.
Remounted King is
no run-of-the-mill
touring musical
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
As curtains part and the prow of an
enormous wooden ship glides to the edge
of the Kennedy Centers Opera House
stage, its immediately evident that this isnt
the average national tour. Director Bartlett
Sher has ensured that Lincoln Centers 2015
Tony Award-winning revival of The King
and I lives on as an exciting road show.
The ships cargo in the person of luminous
Laura Michelle Kelly as British schoolteacher
Anna Leonowens further conrms Shers
intentions. Kelly and the other talented
principals all great singers lend an
operatic intensity to composer Richard
Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammersteins
magical score. Intelligently and beautifully
realized sets by Michael Yeargan and
Catherine Zubers sumptuous costumes up
the quality quotient.
Kellys Anna is plucky rather than prim,
resolute yet compassionate and willing to
stand up to the King on issues of integrity
and fairness. And the King of Siam played
by out actor Jose Llana makes for the
perfect counterpart playing the monarch
as hammy, sarcastic and impossibly
arrogant, but also compellingly relays
the complicated inner life of a monarch
facing change.
The time is 1862. Anna and her young
son Louis (Graham Montgomery) have
come to Siam where she will instruct
the Kings children in English, some
science and aspects of Western culture.
A daughter of the British Empire who has
lived in the East since she was 15, Anna
isnt scared of new experience; still, the
Kings violent secret police and half-naked
emissary leave her a tad unnerved. But
she doesnt show it. Instead she breaks
into I Whistle a Happy Tune, the rst of
many familiar songs.
Custom dictates that the Kings subjects
(including his wives and many children)
lie prostrate before him. Though Anna
begrudgingly obliges, she is otherwise
not subservient. Though they butt heads,
they learn from each other. She provides
A U G U S T 04, 2017 29
the King with new catch phrase etcetera,
etcetera, etcetera, and he impresses her.
He shows her a ruler willing to improve.
Mutual respect and a near-romance
develop that manifests with Shall
We Dance? a rousing waltz that here
registers more playful than passionate.
Closely orbiting the despotic ruler
are his number one wife Lady Thiang,
played by Joan Almedilla who proves her
husbands greatest champion with the
beautifully sung Something Wonderful,
the aloof but thoughtful Crown Prince
Chulalongkorn (Anthony Chan); and
Kralahome (Brian Rivera), the Kings big
bare-chested loyal advisor, and the other
wives and children.
Also on hand is the Kings concubine
Tumptim (Manna Nichols), a gift from
the King of Burma. Tumptim is the
BLUES ALLEY
dangerously in love with the Lun Tha (Kavin Washington DCs Premiere Jazz Supper Club
Panmeechao), the envoy who delivered
her from Burma. Its a potentially steamy
subplot that in this case doesnt give
much heat. But it does instigate a climatic
disagreement between Anna and the King.
There are some politics in
Hammersteins book. European powers
are encroaching on the East. Cambodia
has fallen to the French. Word has gotten
to Queen Victoria that the King of Siam is
a barbarian. To counteract that claim, the
King with Annas help seek to impress a
visiting party of British diplomats:
That means insisting the wives must
trade their sumptuous sleek silks for
more European voluminous skirts.
Dismayed by their unwieldy new getups,
the court ladies take a nice jab at the
West with Western People Funny. The
British guests are presented a stunningly
LEA DELARIA
executed Balinese ballet based on Uncle
Toms Cabin which includes Jerome
Robbins original choreography from the
1951 Broadway smash hit production
that famously starred Yul Brynner and
Carrie Big Boo Black from Orange is the New Black
Gertrude Lawrence. Friday, August 11 thru Sunday, August 13
BLUES ALLEY
Ultimately the star of The King and I is the
score. And here its served incredibly well.
THE KING AND I
Through Aug. 20 1073 Wisconsin Ave. www.bluesalley.com
The Kennedy Center
$49-159
202-467-4600
Kennedy-center.org
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

LIVE
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
30 AUG U S T 04, 2017 O U T & A BO U T

AN EVENING WITH
CRIS JACOBS,
JOHN GINTY,
& FRIENDS By MARIAH COOPER
THURSDAY AUGUST 3

HONEY
ISLAND
SWAMP BAND
W/ THE TWIN BROTHERS BAND
FEAT. PAUL & DIMITRI OF THE YEONAS BROTHERS BAND

FRIDAY AUGUST 4

SAT, AUG 5
AN EVENING WITH
SPLINTERED SUNLIGHT
SUN, AUG 6
AN EVENING WITH BOX OF RAIN
PHOTO BY SCOTT SUCHMAN; COURTESY OF STC
WED, AUG 9 SOLD OUT
AN EVENING WITH
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA Free Othello production runs Aug. 15-27
SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SHOW
THURS, AUG 10
Director Ron Daniels production of Othello is running at Sidney Harman Hall
CAROLYN WONDERLAND (610 F St., N.W.) Aug. 15-27.
The production is free as a part of the Shakespeare Theatre Companys Free
SAT, AUG 12
For All initiative, which has oered free performances of Shakespearean classics
JUAN DE MARCOS & since 1991.
THE AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS Othello tells the story of a recently promoted general who is manipulated by
his right-hand man and is driven to murder.
TUES, AUG 15
For more information, visit shakespearetheatre.org.
AJ CROCE
AND ROBBIE FULKS ShowTunes & Cocktails
is Aug. 14
WED, AUG 16
THE ROOSEVELTS TheatreWashington will host its
W/ HOLY GHOST TENT REVIVAL monthly ShowTunes & Cocktails Monday,
THURS, AUG 17 Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Beacon Bar & Grill
(1615 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.).
WALTER TROUT The evening will feature selections
FRI, AUG 18 from Glenn Pearson and Wood Van Meter
AN EVENING WITH GET THE LED OUT as well as opportunities for theater ticket
giveaways.
SAT, AUG 19 Admission is pay what you can. For more
THE LONDON SOULS information, visit theatrewashington.org.
AND CON BRIO
Imperial Court fundraiser
WED, AUG 23
WALLY KINGS PRESENTS to be held at Eagle
KABAKA PYRAMID
W/ RAS SLICK & DUTTY BUS CREW WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY DAMIEN SALAS
The Imperial Court of Washington is
taking over the club bar at the D.C. Eagle
THURS, AUG 24 (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) on Friday, Aug.
DONAVON FRANKENREITER 11 at 10 p.m.
W/ SPECIAL GUEST MATT GRUNDY LGBT faith panel unites religious leaders The event is an opportunity to get to
know the members of the court and a
FRI & SAT, AUG 25 & 26 2 NIGHTS Victoria Lewis, a student at George Washington University completing her fundraiser for the Court and the Reign
AN EVENING WITH degree in peace and religion studies, will moderate a community forum on LGBT V charities which includes Rainbow
RAMSEY LEWIS QUINTET people and faith Saturday, Aug. 12. Families.
The panel and discussion will take place at Smithsonians Anacostia The Imperial Court is a non-prot
Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl., S.E.) at 11 a.m. organization dedicated to raise funds for
Panelists include the CEO and creator of Our Bible app Crystal Cheatham as LGBT organizations as well as HIV/AIDS
well as Darren W. Phelps (seen above), a local gay pastor. organizations.
Tickets are free. For more information, visit eventbrite.com. For more information, visit
THEHAMILTONDC.COM
imperialcourtdc.org.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
N I G HTLI F E
The July gathering of Women Crush Wednesday, a new monthly happy hour for LBT women.
Trading spaces
Women Crush Wednesdays
is new monthly happy hour
By RASHANNA LEE
The sudden closing of Phase 1 last year
provided an opening some local lesbians
are taking advantage of.
Women Crush Wednesday, a new
laid-back happy hour for LBT women,
happens monthly at Trade (1410 14th
St., N.W.) and was born out of what its
organizer says is mutual need.
Its not lling a void per se, says
organizer Rebecca Pilar Buckwalter-Poza.
I think its providing a dierent setting.
Jacob Noel, who is on sta at Trade
was talking with Buckwalter-Poza about
a desire to get more women into the bar.
Buckwalter-Poza, a lesbian, felt there
was a need for a casual queer female
space in D.C.
Buckwalter-Poza nds that most queer
female events post-Phase have been
sporadic, formal or late night. There are
events like Ladies Tea and networking
or professional events hosted by GLASS
and Q Street. Buckwalter-Poza says what
makes this event dierent is the generally
consistent nature and midweek early
evening start time.
Buckwalter-Poza pitched the idea
A U G U S T 04, 2017 31
Educated at Brown, Harvard,
and Johns Hopkins
Washingtonian Magazine Top Doc
US News & World Report
Top 1% of Doctors in USA
Dual Board Certified:
Facial Plastic Surgery
Body Plastic Surgery
PHOTO COURTESY REBECCA PILAR BUCKWALTER-POZA
to Noel who put her in contact with
a manager and thus Women Crush
Wednesday was born. She describes the
partnership between the two as organic
and says Trades central location is part Laser Liposuction
of its appeal.
The inaugural event took place in June Pec and Ab Etching
with a crowd of around 40 women of all Facial Rejuvenation
colors and queer identities who stayed
Gynecomastia
for hours. It was well received with a lot
of enthusiasm especially for an event Laser Hair Removal
with limited promotion. Botox & Skin Care
In keeping with the laid-back vibe
there is a mix o at every event where Transgender Surgeries
attendees submit drink recipes and the Ultherapy
two best drinks become the specials for
the night based on popular vote. Last
months included the Cukes to Watch
Out For which combines cucumber,
CALL TO ASK
ginger beer, vodka and lime.
ABOUT OUR
LASER LIPO SPECIALS
As the event progresses, Buckwalter-
Poza hopes it remains a space where
queer women can build community and
make connections. Buckwalter-Poza and
Nikki Keown, the organizer of the lesbian
happy hour LezLink are working together
on a new quarterly event for queer
women in D.C.
Women Crush Wednesday is monthly,
but time and date consistencies will
develop over time. For more information
on the next event, visit the Women Crush
Wednesday group on Facebook.
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

3 2 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017 CA LE N D A R

E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade.

com two weeks prior to your event. Space is lim-
ited so priority is given to LGBT-specic events
or those with LGBT participants. Recurring
events must be re-submitted each time.

TODAY
OutWrite LGBT Book Festival begins
this evening at 6 p.m. and continues
through Sunday. The festival includes
readings, book panels and sales. The
keynote speaker is author and editor
Cecilia Tan. The event is free. For more
information, visit the dccenter.org.
There is an LGBT social this evening at
Pinzimini Lounge (801 N Glebe Rd., Arlington,
Va.) at 6:30 p.m. The evening is hosted by
Go Gay D.C. which is a free community club
focused on LGBT friendship, leadership and
service. For more information, visit meetup.
com/GoGayDC.
The opening ceremony of the Art of
Engagement show is this evening at
6 p.m. at Touchstone Gallery (901 New
York Ave., N.W.). The juried exhibition
presents a view of the current social
and political climate in the United States
and is designed to engage attendees in
PHOTO COURTESY TOUCHSTONE
conversations about the important issues
of today. The event is free. For more A photo by JOHN J. YOUNG thats part of the new Art of Engagement exhibit at Touchstone Gallery.
information, visit touchstonegallery.com.

SATURDAY, AUG. 5
There is a performance of Wig Out!
tonight at 8 p.m. at Studio Theatre (1501
14th St., N.W.). The play was written
by Tarell Alvin McCraney of the award-
winning movie Moonlight, and provides
an in depth look at African-American drag
ball culture using a love story. Proceeds
from the show will go to support Us
Helping Us, which works to promote
health and minimize the impact of HIV/
AIDS within the black gay community.
Tickets are $60. For more information,
visit eventbrite.com.
There is yoga this morning at 9 a.m. at
the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) as
part of the OutWrite Festival. The event
is free and open to the public. OutWrite
is a literary festival that celebrates LGBT
literature, authors, writers and poets. For
more information, visit the dccenter.org.
Beyond Binary, a panel on gender in
ction will begin at 4 p.m. this afternoon
at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) as
part of the OutWrite Festival. The panel
is moderated by writer, editor and book
critic Don Sakers. The event is free. For
more information, visit the dccenter.org.
There is an evening of circus
performances tonight at 8 p.m. at the
Liason Capitol Hill (415 New Jersey Ave.,
N.W.). The event is part of Art Soirees
Summer Art Fusion Series and features
intricate costumes and pyrotechnics.
Tickets start at $10. For more information,
visit eventbrite.com.
There is a poetry reading this morning
at 11 a.m. at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St.,
N.W.) as part of the OutWrite Festival. The
event is free and open to the public. The
featured poems focus around discontent
for the status quo of mainstream culture
and popular LGBT discourse. Tyler Vile is
one of the featured poets and is a trans
woman who advocates for the rights of
the disabled. For more information, visit
the dccenter.org.
La Resistencia, a bilingual poetry
reading is this evening at 5 p.m. at the D.C.
Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) as part of the
OutWrite Festival. The event is free and open
to the public. The Jose Gutierrez Collection
will be presented during the evening which
is a curated selection of Latinx LGBT, cultural
and political posters. For more information,
visit the dccenter.org.
There is an art show opening this
evening at 5 p.m. at the Foundry Gallery
(2118 8th St., N.W.). Fierce Sonia and
Ric Garcia use superheros, princesses
and damsels in distress to create
contemporary pieces that challenge
traditional ideas of power and heroism.
The event is free. For more information,
visit foundrygallery.org.
Queer Enough, a panel on queer
identity will begin at 3 p.m. this afternoon
at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) as
part of the OutWrite Festival. The panel is
moderated by writer Marlena Chertock.
The event is free. For more information,
visit the dccenter.org.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6
The Breeches and Leather Uniform Fan
Club is hosting a party this afternoon at
the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.)
at 4 p.m. BLUF was founded in 1997
and now has about 3,400 members
worldwide and hosts around 100 events
every year. Leather and fetish dress code
is encouraged but not required.
MONDAY, AUG. 7
D.C. Leather Pride is hosting a listening
session tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the D.C.
Center (2000 14th St., N.W.). The session
is primarily for women, trans and queer
people and serves as an informative
setting for how D.C. Leather Pride can
better serve the entire community. For
more information, visit facebook.com.
La-Ti-Do presents Tara Trinity and
features country western music tonight
at 8 p.m. at 1727 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
La-Ti-Do is a group of spoken word
and cabaret performers both new and
experienced. The group won D.C. Metro
Theater Arts 2015 special award and
BroadwayWorld.coms Best DC Cabaret
in 2013. Tickets are $15 at the door. For
more information, visit latidodc.wixsite.
TUESDAY, AUG. 8
The Devil Wears Prada is being
screened tonight at the Georgetown
Waterfront Park at 7 p.m. This year marks
the third-annual outdoor series and the
lineup honors women in lm. Attendees
are advised to bring a blanket. The
event is free. For more information, visit
georgetowndc.com/sunsetcinema.
There is a drag bingo fundraiser this
evening at Nellies Sports Bar (900 U St.,
N.W.) at 6 p.m. The proceeds from the
night will go to the Rohingya people of
Burma who have been persecuted by
Buddhist extremists and forced into
modern-day concentration camps. The
event is free. For more information, visit
crowdrise.com/riseforrohingya.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 9
The Lambda Bridge Club meets
tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center
(721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge.
Newcomers welcome. Call 202-841-0279
for more information.
THURSDAY, AUG. 10
There is a performance of the Tony
Award-winning production of The King
and I tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy
Center (2700 F St., N.W.). The production
is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett
Sher and tells the story of the complicated
romance between the King of Siam and
an English schoolteacher. Tickets range
from $49-159. For more information, visit
kennedy-center.org.
There is a Yappy Hour this evening at
5 p.m. at Republic Restoratives (1369 New
York Ave., N.E.) This event is pet friendly
and there will be a special $6 cocktail. The
event is hosted by Metro Mutts which
oers dog and cat sitting services. For
more information, visit facebook.com.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

P H OTO S B Y DA N I EL TRU ITT A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 3 3

Patrons enjoy a night out at the Blue Moon at Rehoboth Beach, Del. on Sunday, July 23.
3 4 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017 W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M

L a n d s c a p e A rc h i t e c t s
Interior Designers
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zenassociates.com | 800.834.6654

ackermanbrown.com
W A SH I NGTO N B LA DE.C OM
REALESTATE
The evolving paint colors in our homes
From 70s oranges
to todays greys, a
look at trends
By VALERIE M. BLAKE
When preparing your house to sell, one
of the first things your real estate agent
may tell you to do is to de-clutter. That
means the collection of ceramic cats gets
packed away, the comfy Barcalounger
and TV tray in the living room get rel-
egated to basement storage and photos
of the extended family that line the walls
come off, leaving only shadowy vestiges
of where they once were.
After de-cluttering, painting your
homes interior is usually the least ex-
pensive way to make it appear fresh and
clean. Trends come and go and your
agent can advise you on what colors are
popular at the time you sell.
In the 1950s, for example, popular col-
ors included black, white, red, pink, yel-
low and turquoise (usually not all in one
room). Kitchens often were fitted with
metal cabinets and brightly colored or
pastel appliances. Today, a matching set
in prime condition can bring in a pretty
ONE OF A KIND
TRANSLATION:
WHAT WERE
THEY THINKING?!
VALERIE M. BLAKE, Associate Broker, GRI, Director of Education & Mentorship
Dupont Circle Ofce 202-518-8781 (o) 202.246.8602 (c)
Valerie@DCHomeQuest.com www.DCHomeQuest.com
Attorneys that are OUTthinking |OUTspoken |OUTdoing
penny at auction.
In the 60s, colors ranged from earthy
browns to psychedelic pink to neon
green. Metallic wallpaper made its debut
and roosters populated kitchens across
the country. The clean lines of Danish fur-
niture sported upholstery in oranges and
olives and paneled walls were the norm.
My own 1970s apartment was true to
its time, with a black and white plaid sofa,
fiery orange drapes and throw pillows,
and chrome and glass everything else.
Colorful abstract art graced the white
walls throughout.
Many of us remember when we first
learned how to pronounce the color
mauve in the 1980s. We had one of three
color schemes in our homes: mauve, grey
and blue, mauve, burgundy and hunter
green, or to be different, a southwest
blend of beige, turquoise and copper.
The 1990s gave our eyes a rest with a
focus on whites and beiges before burst-
ing into florals later in the decade. It was
then that Hollywood lighting in the bath-
room was born those round globes of
incandescent light that still haunt us at
the Home Depot.
The year 2000 brought us not the end
of the world as we knew it, but the era of
Pottery Barn. Sofas in colors like oatmeal
To be used at the top of collateral:
To be used at the bottom of collateral:
and latte, tables in dark wood and accents
in spa-like shades of blue and green pro-
liferated in living rooms. My personal fa-
vorite wall colors for staging homes were
whispering wheat (gluten-free, of course)
and warm caramel.
The current trend is 50 Shades of Gray
not the movie or the book, but paint col-
ors. Grays appear crisp, clean and sophis-
ticated, make white trim stand out and
can be accented with nearly every color
on the decorating wheel; however, this
too shall pass and it will be interesting to
see what comes next.
Perhaps the children born in 2017 will look
back to fondly remember the colors that will
be found in the homes of their youth.
I predict that the favorite neutral hue
this year will be Reince Beige, a soft, un-
assuming background color to be used in
large spaces. Pair it with an upholstered
sofa in Ivankahla and an accent wall of
Breitbark. Throw pillows of Cyan Ryan can
provide a pop of color.
Designers will tell you that painting the
dining room a shade of red promotes
hunger. One of 2017s red offerings will
be Rich Mitch, a particularly deep red
hue that will certainly make you hungry
for power. On the purple end of the red
spectrum, Ruby Giuliani will leave you
THINKING OF BUYING IN REHOBOTH?
Now is the time. Call Joe, Your Working Broker.
LICENSED IN DELAWARE & MARYLAND
A U G U ST 0 4 , 2 0 1 7 3 5
awaiting your just desserts.
To be on trend, paint your kitchen cabi-
nets in Price is White. In fact, nearly all
your cabinets should be white. Walls of
Spicey Yellow will bring in the sunshine
when accented by bushes and house-
plants in Kelleyanne Green.
Scaramooch, a new color running from
deep blue to nearly purple depending
how you look at it, will be best suited for
bathrooms, but use it sparingly. Your
mother will probably not approve and it
wont be popular for long.
The bedrooms of 2017 will sport the
emerging blue of Schumer Me and the
less-than-subtle green of Reclaiming
Thyme, but the winning color of the year
will be Orange Cheetoh. Its such a great
color. In fact, it will get the most votes of
any color. Its going to be the best shade
of orange ever available; however, be-
cause its brash and often jarring it will
likely be gone by 2020. Believe me.
VALERIE M. BLAKE is a licensed Associate Bro-
ker in D.C., Maryland and Virginia and Director
of Education & Mentorship at Real Living| At
Home. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email
her at Valerie@DCHomeQuest.com, or follow
her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.
3 6 A UGUST 0 4 , 2017
NGLCC celebrates 15 years of supporting LGBT businesses
National advocacy
reaps returns for
enterprise and community
By MARK LEE
The historically unparalleled accelerat-
ed advancement in LGBT cultural accep-
tance and civil equality has been success-
ful and strengthened in large part due to
the engagement of the business commu-
nity. No greater ally has served as a more
effective advocate for fair treatment and
evenhanded opportunity.
A disproportionate engagement in
commerce by the LGBT community is a
primary contributing hallmark of this ac-
complishment.
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber
of Commerce is celebrating both that
legacy and the organizations 15th anni-
versary this week in Las Vegas.
More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, cor-
porate decision-makers, leaders from
52 affiliated local chambers nationwide
alongside federal, state, and city gov-
ernment officials from across the coun-
try and representatives from around the
world are gathering Aug. 1-4 at the 2017
NGLCC International Business and Lead-
ership Conference.
This benchmark is the result of a
shared vision by co-founders Justin Nel-
son, NGLCC president, and Chance Mitch-
ell, who serves as CEO.
An organization literally launched
around a coffee table is now the voice
for the nations 1.4 million LGBT busi-
ness owners and the $1.7 trillion those
enterprises add to the national economy
each year. NGLCC enjoys the support and
participation of more than 150 corporate
partners as well as prominent executive
leadership in striving to promote pro-
business and LGBT-inclusive policies.
Back in 2002 we realized that too few
government leaders and corporate ex-
ecutives had considered the economic
equality of LGBT people or the impact
economics could have on the future of
the equality movement, notes Nelson.
So with a few forward-thinking corporate
partners and a small network of LGBT
business owners willing to tell their story,
NGLCC was born.
Co-founder Mitchell describes those
early days, recalling that word began to
spread about NGLCC very quickly, thanks
to outlets like the Washington Blade and
Out magazine recognizing the previously
underreported strength and promise
of the LGBT business community. That
proved what we, and our NGLCC corpo-
rate partners, always believed: economic
and social visibility go hand-in-hand as we
march toward equality and opportunity
for all.
We needed a way to showcase that
LGBT people were a vital part of America
as business owners and employers, Nel-
son emphasizes. LGBT business owners
were, and are, an essential part of the
engine that makes the U.S. economy run
and therefore deserve an equal place at
the table.
LGBT businesses have always repre-
sented a uniquely large proportion of the
community, contrasted with other de-
mographics. An estimated 10 percent of
lesbians and gays are among the ranks of
corporate owners, small and moderate-
sized business operators, and leadership
in commerce.
Business ownership thrives in the LGBT
community because we have all learned to
be the entrepreneurs of our own lives, ex-
plains Mitchell regarding this modern gay
mtier. LGBT business owners prove that
being out and being successful does not
have to be mutually exclusive.
Mitchell hastens to add, looking to the
future, the American workforce will be
younger, more diverse, and more inclu-
sive than ever before in the years ahead,
and with that comes the opportunity to
innovate and collaborate across com-
munities in ways that continue to shatter
stereotypes and misconceptions. LGBT
people exist in every community, and as
industries modernize there will always be
LGBT business owners at the forefront
delivering the goods and services this
country needs to stay competitive in a
globalized economy.
NGLCC is continuously connecting with
LGBT businesses throughout the country,
and increasingly interacting with owners
and operators in localities large and small.
In order to better reach them, NGLCC has
initiated regional road shows and digital
interfaces to provide communities new
service platforms.
In 2004, the organization introduced
a best-in-class diversity certification pro-
gram that, according to NGLCC senior
vice-president Jonathan Lovitz, distin-
guished the organization [as] the exclu-
sive national third-party certifying body
for LGBT-owned businesses. LGBT Busi-
ness Enterprise (LGBTBE) Certification is
now in use by more than one-third of For-
tune 500 companies, as well as federal,
state and local governments.
Mitchell added, the positive responses
received when we began certifying LGBT
Business Enterprises showed us we were
on the right track. In the little more than
a decade since, we have certified nearly
1,000 companies. The spikes in certifica-
tion and the influence of the LGBT busi-
ness community and our business allies
parallel the milestones in LGBT commu-
nity advancement. That will only be fur-
ther strengthened as more corporations
intentionally stand with the LGBT com-
munity by including our businesses in
their daily operations and supply chains.
More than 150 corporations now seek
out LGBT suppliers and recent changes
to the HRC Corporate Equality Index, fully
implemented last year, now measure
LGBT supplier contracting policies as a
stand-alone scoring criteria. This moti-
vates more than 500 large enterprises to
interface with LGBT businesses in order
to attain a positive ranking or preserve a
perfect rating. In addition, several states
now require or promote inclusion of
LGBT businesses in contracting.
Four years ago, the organization
launched NGLCC Global, connecting
LGBT-owned and allied companies, mul-
tinational corporations and international
affiliate chamber leaders and members
on five continents.
NGLCC this year released a ground-
breaking Americas LGBT Economy Re-
port the first-ever exploration of the
economic impact of LGBT-owned busi-
nesses on the U.S. economy.
Beyond its signature role as the business
W A SH I N G T O N BLA D E . CO M
CHANCE MITCHELL and JUSTIN NELSON of
NGLCC.
PHOTO BY DUHON PHOTOGRAPHY
voice of the LGBT community, the largest
advocacy organization dedicated to ex-
panding economic opportunities for LGBT
people, and the exclusive certifying body
for LGBT-owned businesses, NGLCC and its
affiliate local chambers provide direct B2B
networking opportunities. Resource shar-
ing, skills training, corporate collaborations
and business policy advocacy make mem-
bership a value-added premium proposi-
tion for local LGBT enterprise.
Nelson looks to the future first by look-
ing back at the successes so far, point-
ing out that NGLCC has spent the last
15 years helping more LGBT Americans
gain access to the American Dream than
ever had it before. And yet, weve barely
scratched the surface of what we can
do. As more corporations and govern-
ment agencies intentionally include our
certified LGBTBEs, more opportunities to
create jobs and innovate industries will
spring up in every state in the country.
NGLCC-certified companies are continu-
ally proving one of our favorite mottos
true: If you can buy it, a certified LGBT
Business Enterprise can supply it.
Every single day our community is
building equity by opening new local busi-
nesses, and by expanding operations of
larger LGBT-owned companies to coun-
tries around the world, Mitchell adds.
Nelson confidently predicts, The next
15 years will be focused entirely on gain-
ing more ground for our community to
thrive economically in America and
around the globe.
Additional information on NGLCC pro-
grams and activities, membership op-
portunities, and identification of local
chamber affiliates nationwide is available
online at NGLCC.org.
MARK LEE is a long-time entrepreneur and
community business advocate. Follow on Twit-
ter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at OurBusiness-
Matters@gmail.com.
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LORI LINDSEY
Former Os minor
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Gay man bikes across Africa

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Mystics star
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FORMER UNITED STATES WOMENS

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