Metro Weekly - 04-30-15 - Next Generations and Youth Pride

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APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
APRIL 30, 2015
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
APRIL 30, 2015

Volume 21 / Issue 51
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
NEWS & BUSINESS EDITOR
John Riley
NEWS
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SCENE
12
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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THE MAYORS OFFICE ON

LGBTQ AFFAIRS
OPEN HOUSE AT THE REEVES CENTER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christian Gerard, Troy Petenbrink,
Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
SALES & MARKETING
THE BRITISH WAY

by Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
THE GREAT DEBATE

by John Riley
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
photography by Ward Morrison

SCENE
15
GLAAS AWARDS RECEPTION AT

POLICY RESTAURANT
YOUTH PRIDE GUIDE
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FEATURES
31
NEXT GENERATION AWARDS 2015

by Sean Bugg
photography by Julian Vankim
PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING
Christopher Cunetto
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VINCENT PAOLO VILLANO

by John Riley
OUT ON THE TOWN
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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
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MURDER BALLAD
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FILM
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AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

by Rhuaridh Marr
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MORTAL COMBAT X
by Rhuaridh Marr
NIGHTLIFE
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AT COBALT
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LAST WORD
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LGBT
News
Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Straight boy asks gay best friend to prom
Gay New York businessmen draw ire for hosting Cruz
The Great Debate
This week, the highest court came one step closer to resolving the nations
gay marriage debate
by John Riley
T WAS A CAR TRIP OF MORE

than 400 miles that brought
Morgan Bonney to the steps of the
U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.
It feels great to be here. It sucks that
we have to be here, Bonney told reporters as he demonstrated outside the court,
carrying both the transgender and Ohio
state flags. I just cant wait until we have
full federal equality.
A Cincinnati native now living in
Columbus, Bonney decided to jump in
a car with four other Ohioans to demonstrate in front of the nations highest court. They came to support equal
marriage rights as nine Supreme Court
justices heard oral arguments in a case
whose outcome could determine whether Bonney will be able to marry his part6
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METROWEEKLY.COM
ner in his home state.

Ohio is one of 13 states where LGBT
couples are unable to wed, due to the
states voter-approved ban on same-sex
marriage, which was upheld by the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in
November. The case challenging the
ban, Obergefell v. Hodges, was subsequently appealed to the U.S. Supreme
Court along with three other cases
Michigans DeBoer v. Snyder, Tennessees
Tanco v. Haslam, and Kentuckys Bourke
v. Beshear from states that saw their
marriage bans upheld by the 6th Circuit.
Following months of preparation by
both advocates and opponents of marriage equality, Obergefell v. Hodges finally
got its day in court. Same-sex marriage
advocates hope that the nations high-
est court will hand down a decision that

effectively resolves the issue of marriage
equality by requiring states to license
same-sex marriages and recognize existing same-sex marriages performed in
other states.
Its kind of a slap in the face, Bonney
says of Ohios ban. That they dont view
us as equals, that we dont deserve the
same thing that everybody else is just
given. Its almost as if they think we
dont deserve to be here.
Bonney was one of thousands who
gathered outside the court to make their
voice heard. At the base of the court
steps, proponents and opponents held
dueling rallies featuring religious leaders, politicians and grassroots activists all
passionate in defense of their respective
METROWEEKLY.COM
APRIL 30, 2015
LGBTNews
opinions on the subject.
While marriage equality advocates
outnumbered opponents 10-to-1 on
Tuesday, many opponents had already
previously made their disapproval
known on Saturday, when the National
Organization for Marriage sponsored the
annual March for Marriage. Thousands
of out-of-state conservative religious
congregations were bussed in to march
in support of one-man, one-woman marriages. Opponents numbered about 6,000
compared to fewer than 60 people standing in favor of marriage equality.
I was here for the March for
Marriage on Saturday. It was a great
turnout, said Jennifer Marshall, vice
president of the Institute for Family,
Community and Opportunity at the
Heritage Foundation, a conservative
think tank that opposes same-sex marriage. Im here again because I think
its important to send a message to the
Supreme Court that they should not
take away the freedom of the American
people to make marriage policy.
Thirty-seven states recognize samesex marriage right now. Only 11 states
have done that democratically, Marshall
continued. Twenty-six have had it
imposed by the courts. So what it would
allow is for the debate to continue, to
allow the debate about what marriage is,
and what the policy on marriage should
be, state by state. It would allow states
and citizens to decide.
Elsewhere in the crowd, Gregory T.
Angelo, executive director of the Log
Cabin Republicans, was flying a Gadsden
flag reading Dont Tread on Me while
demonstrating in support of marriage
equality.
I have met same-sex couples who
have had more years than I have on
this earth, who have been together for
decades, and still reside in states where
marriage bans are in place, Angelo
said. And for some of those individuals, todays Supreme Court hearing is
a day late and a dollar short. Its too
late, because their partners have passed
away. And theyre not even allowed to
put their names on their partners death
certificate.... By allowing those bans to
continue, under a guise of federalism,
you are telling those committed couples,
who have been together for decades, who
just want to live in quiet dignity, that they
dont deserve the rights and protections
that come with marriage.
Inside the courtroom, lawyers for
both sides engaged in similar back-and8
APRIL 30, 2015
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forth arguments with the Supreme Court

justices, who poked, prodded and posed
various hypotheticals to examine the
legal arguments for and against allowing states to continue to ban same-sex
marriages.
The justices had previously asked
that two major questions be answered:
whether the Fourteenth Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution requires a state
to license a marriage between two people of the same sex, and whether the
Fourteenth Amendment requires a state
to recognize a marriage between two
people of the same sex when their marriage has been lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state.
Ninety minutes of arguments were
dedicated to the first question, and 60 to
the second. But as questioning continued,
the courts ideological fault lines began to
show, with some of the justices offering
glimpses of how they might rule. Chief
Justice John Roberts quickly asserted
that marriage equality advocates were
attempting to redefine the institution
of marriage.
Every definition that I looked
up, prior to about a dozen years ago,
defined marriage as unity between a
man and a woman as husband and
wife, Roberts said. Obviously, if you
succeed, that core definition will no
longer be operable.
Justice Samuel Alito, part of the
courts conservative wing, seemed particularly obsessed with a hypothetical
parade of horribles that might occur
if same-sex marriage were legalized
nationwide. He raised the specter that
same-sex marriage would lead to legalized polygamy and incest, going beyond
the arguments of John J. Bursch, the
attorney defending the state bans.
On the other side, Justices Sonia
Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Stephen
Breyer, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg raised
objections to Burschs arguments, with
Kagan and Ginsburg questioning whether a state would have a compelling interest in denying marriage to other groups
besides LGBT people, such as heterosexual couples who cannot or do not wish to
procreate.
Meanwhile,
Justice
Anthony
Kennedy, long seen as the deciding vote
in this instance, appeared to be weighing
his concerns about federalism with the
question of whether the state bans are
actually motivated by animus towards
same-sex couples. Kennedy appeared to
play devils advocate, questioning wheth-
er states needed more time to weigh the

issue before being compelled by the federal government to license and recognize
same-sex marriages, while also objecting to the assertion, made by Bursch,
that extending marital rights to same-sex
couples somehow harms the institution
of marriage for heterosexual couples.
In broaching the first question, Mary
Bonauto, the lawyer representing the
plaintiffs (and pro-marriage equality
advocates) summed up the thesis of the
argument that LGBT advocates hope the
court embraces, citing the guarantees of
equal protection under the Fourteenth
Amendment.
The intimate and committed relationships of same-sex couples, just like
those of heterosexual couples, provide
mutual support and are the foundation
of family life in our society, Bonauto
said. If a legal commitment, responsibility and protection that is marriage is off
limits to gay people as a class, the stain of
unworthiness that follows on individuals and families contravenes the basic
constitutional commitment to equal dignity. Indeed, the abiding purpose of the
Fourteenth Amendment is to preclude
relegating classes of persons to secondtier status.
Bursch, on the other hand, said that
debate needs to continue, and that states
are best suited to determine what constitutes a marriage.
This case isnt about how to define
marriage. Its about who gets to decide
that question, Bursch said. Is it the
people acting through the democratic
process, or is it the Federal courts? And
were asking you to affirm every individuals fundamental liberty interest in
deciding the meaning of marriage.
The high court is expected to issue a
decision in June. But opponents vowed
to continue fighting even if the Supreme
Court rules in favor of the issue. Some
speakers at the conservative rally, including U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas),
said that a pro-gay marriage decision
would simply inspire a prolonged conservative backlash, just as Roe v. Wade
did with respect to abortion rights. And
even supporters of marriage equality
cautioned that fair-minded Americans
need to be on alert for so-called Religious
Freedom Restoration Acts, or RFRAs,
such as those passed in Indiana and
Arkansas. Those laws, which allow people, businesses or government actors to
refuse to provide services to LGBT people or same-sex couples based on their
religious or moral beliefs, could end up

curtailing any progress with respect to
equal treatment under the law.
But for Shannon Blatz of Akron, one
of the four Ohioans who accompanied
Morgan Bonney, the Supreme Courts
decision cant come soon enough. Blatz,
who married her partner with 24 other
couples from states without marriage

equality in June 2013, after the Supreme
Court decided to strike down Section 3
of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
in the case of Windsor v. United States,
looks forward to having her marriage
recognized by her home state.
To not be recognized by the state
The British Way

In stark contrast to America, British politicians
openly support LGBT rights during elections
by Rhuaridh Marr
HE AMERICAN POLITICAL
machine is an incredible spectacle to behold during election
cycles, but it eclipses coverage
of political change in other nations even
our closest allies.
Britain, that nation we acrimoniously
divorced from over two-hundred years
ago and with which we now have a special relationship, is currently embroiled
in a hard-fought election cycle.
However, unlike our lengthy, costly
elections, Britains are almost ludicrously short. On March 30th, its Parliament
was dissolved, ending the terms of those
Members of Parliament (MPs) who were
elected in 2010. On Thursday, May 7th,
voters will step into booths and elect the
candidate and thus party of their
choice. Thats it: a mere five weeks from
Parliament shutting down to Britain having newly elected MPs and a new government in Britain, the party with the
largest majority is allowed to form government and choose the Prime Minister
(typically the leader of the party).
Of course, Britains efficient and costeffective a mere $45 million was spent
by the three largest parties in 2010 elections are important for other reasons.
From an LGBT standpoint, they offer a
fascinating contrast.
Britains queer population enjoys a
wide variety of rights. Same-sex couples
can adopt and marry (except in Northern
Ireland), while transgender individuals
are recognized under law. There is extensive nondiscrimination protections in
both British and European law and open
military service has been legal since 1990.

Using Britains LGBT community as a
scapegoat is an unacceptable practice, a
tactic favored by many conservative candidates in American politics.
Even Britains right wing isnt as
extreme as its American counterpart. It
was Britains Conservative Party which
introduced Section 28 in the 80s, legislation similar to Russias gay propaganda
law that legalized same-sex marriage
last year. While some complained, holdovers from a time when the party skewed
further to the right, Prime Minister
David Cameron personally supported the
move and ensured its passage through
Parliament and into law.
Indeed, the Conservatives now proudly boast of having more out parliamentarians than the other major parties put
together, according to the partys LGBT
group. Its a pro-LGBT attitude that penetrates every level of the party. When
Cameron was asked last week about
the homophobic stance of the DUP, a
Northern Irish party, he said I totally disagree with the DUP about this....
Nothing I ever do will go against the values I have about believing in equality and
equal rights for gay and lesbian people.
Not to be outdone in the gay-friendly
stakes, this week Ed Miliband, leader of
the Labour Party, told PinkNews that
he would fully support one of his children should they come out as transgender. I love my sons unconditionally and I would do my best to be as supportive as possible, he said. It has only
recently become politically acceptable for
American politicians to support same-sex
marriage transgender acceptance is
still a long ways off.
youre born in, that you grew up in, that

you pay taxes in, that you work hard in,
is really unfortunate, Blatz said. I think
its a no-brainer. Ohios just dragging its
feet. Its sad it had to come to this, but we
all know that were going to have marriage equality. Its time. Its been time for
a long time. l
When homophobia rears its ugly head,
party leaders are swift to act. A member
of Scotlands SNP party used Twitter to
attack the openly lesbian leader of the
Scottish Conservatives he was swiftly
ejected from the party by leader Nicola
Sturgeon, who called it unacceptable.
End of.... Anyone engaging in [homophobic abuse] is no friend of my party.
Of course, British politics arent
immune to homophobia. UKIP, Britains
equivalent of the Tea Party, wants to
remove Britain from the European
Union, shut down the borders and effectively rollback social policy to the 50s,
when men were men, women knew their
place, gay people didnt exist and people
of color stayed in Bongo bongo land, a
pejorative term for developing countries
used by one party member.
Party leader Nigel Farage has attempted to layer a jokesy, man-of-the-people
vibe over a seething undercurrent of
homophobia a thin veneer that cracks
every time one of his party members
opens their mouths. Last year, one member asked if we shot one poofter (GLBT
whatevers) whether other gay people
would decide that they were straight.
Another claimed There is no such thing
as fidelity in homosexual relationships.
Perhaps most ludicrous was a UKIP councillor telling David Cameron that samesex marriage would lead to flooding.
Thankfully for Britains LGBT community, UKIP are in the minority. As a
whole, the countrys population supports
gay rights and LGBT people. A Stonewall
survey in 2012 found that eighty percent
of people would be comfortable if a child,
sibling or relative were LGB.
Britains election process cant compare with Americas in scale. However, it
greatly outshines its former colony in the
way it treats its LGBT citizens as part of
the election process. Whereas Ted Cruz,
Rand Paul, Marco Rubio et al are more
than happy to claim that gays have no
right to same-sex marriage or that being
gay is a choice, for Britains main political
parties, embracing and supporting queer
voters is a prerequisite to succeeding in
next weeks elections. l
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LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weeklys Community Calendar highlights important events in
the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to
volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to
calendar@MetroWeekly.com. Deadline for inclusion is noon
of the Friday before Thursdays publication. Questions about
the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at
202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes an easy
5 miles around the National Arboretum in NE
Washington to admire the blooming azaleas and
other seasonal floral displays. Carpool at 9 a.m.
from the top of the escalators at the Dupont Circle
Metro Station, 20th & Q Streets NW. Bring beverages, lunch, bug spray, sunscreen, and a few dollars
for fees. Return by 2 p.m. Damon, 202-213-4592.
adventuring.org.
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for Food & Friends and
Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls Church
PetSmart. To participate, burgundycrescent.org.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
FRIDAY, MAY 1
WEEKLY EVENTS
FREE ZUMBA AND BELLY DANCE CLASSES. 6-7
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers
p.m. DanceSport, 2201 P St. NW. For more information, email Ibi at sagitaire2@hotmail.com
12:30-1:30 p.m. DanceSport, 2201 P St. NW. For

more information, email Ibi at sagitaire2@hotmail.
com
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at
Join the DC LABOR FILMFEST for a special

screening of Pride. AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural
Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. For
more information, visit afi.com/silver.
LAMBDA LINKS LGBT GOLFERS hosts the club

Presidents Cup competition. 11 a.m. at Cross Creek
Golf Club, Beltsville, Md. This is a team competition, so singles will be paired up, or teams can sign
up together. Golfers of all skill levels welcome. For
more information, visit lambdalinks.com.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian squaredancing group features mainstream through
advanced square dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m.
Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.
Join NIGHT OUT FOR TREVOR: SWEET

SIXTEEN for an evening impact and awareness
recognizing 16 years of life-saving service. Featuring
hosted bar and performances by Alex Newell from
Glee. 7-9:30 p.m. Hotel Palomar Washington DC A
Kimpton Hotel, 2121 P St NW. RSVP requires. For
tickets and information, visit thetrevorproject.org.
free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW.

7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social

group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston,
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9
p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the

Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing
in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in

Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.
Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours,
call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,
301-422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV

testing. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW,
Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by

appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.
202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous
Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.

The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.
WOMENS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young
LBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th
St. SE. 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
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APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for LGB adults in

Montgomery County offers a safe place to connect
and explore issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m. 16220
S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, Gaithersburg, Md. For
more information, visit thedccenter.org.
NoVA Gay & Lesbian Professionals hosts a
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING SOCIAL at

Pinzimini Lounge, at the Westin Arlington Gateway.
6:30-8:30 p.m. 801 N. Glebe Road in Ballston. For
details, gogaydc.org.
The DC Centers TRANS SUPPORT GROUP holds
a monthly peer-facilitated discussion group. 7-9
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
GAY DISTRICT holds facilitated discussion for
FREE ZUMBA AND BELLY DANCE CLASSES.
Youth Pride Alliance hosts YOUTH PRIDE DAY 2015,

the annual celebratory and educational event for
LGBTQ youth and their allies. 12-5 p.m. Dupont Circle
NW. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers
free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of the

LGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbat
services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon.
Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St.
NW. betmish.org.
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others interested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time,
email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social
GBTQ men, 18-35, first and third Fridays. 8:30 p.m.

The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 202682-2245, gaydistrict.org.
club welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun and

supportive environment, socializing afterward.
Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or
10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming social
DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at Turkey
group for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road

NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-dc.org.
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides a social atmosphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring
dance parties, vogue nights, movies and games.
More info, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 p.m., by
appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.
Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE,

2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight.
teamdcbasketball.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community,

family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Churchon-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All
welcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St.
NW. RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@gmail.com.
scene
The Mayors Office on
LGBTQ Affairs
Open House at the
Reeves Center
Tuesday, April 21
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
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LGBTCommunityCalendar
IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing
in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite
411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other
hours, call 301-422-2398.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
Center Bi and BiNet USA host an open meeting, BISEXUAL COMMUNITY VOICES:
RECOGNIZING PEOPLE OF COLOR. Light
refreshments served. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Human Rights
Campaign Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave.
NW. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group visits the
ADVENTURING outdoors groups hikes a strenu-
ous 7.5 miles with 1700 feet of elevation gain on

Maryland Heights, overlooking historic Harpers
Ferry, W.V. Carpool at 9 a.m. from the GrosvenorStrathmore Metro Station. Bring beverages, lunch,
bug spray, sunscreen, sturdy boots and about $15 for
fees, plus money for dinner in Harpers Ferry afterwards. Jeff, 501-775-9660. adventuring.org.
National Gallery of Art to see the final day of its

exhibition of works by Italian Renaissance painter
Piero di Cosimo, as well as the opening of a new
show of 90 drawings in metalpoint from the
Renaissance to the present. Free; lunch in Cascades
Cafeteria follows. Meet at noon past security in the
6th & Constitution Avenue NW lobby. Craig, 202462-0535. craighowell1@verizon.net.
WEEKLY EVENTS
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive and radically
inclusive church holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217
Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.
Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
FRIENDS MEETING OF WASHINGTON meets for

worship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Quaker
House Living Room (next to Meeting House on
Decatur Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbians and gays. Handicapped accessible from Phelps
Place gate. Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT,
God-centered new age church & learning center.
Sunday Services and Workshops event. 5419 Sherier
Place NW. isd-dc.org.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF REFORMATION invites all
to Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is available at both services. Welcoming LGBT people for 25
years. 212 East Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by
Rev. Onetta Brooks. Childrens Sunday School, 11

a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-691-0930,
mccnova.com.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF

WASHINGTON, D.C. services at 9 a.m. (ASL inter-
preted) and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday School at 11

a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638-7373, mccdc.com.
NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, inclusive

church with GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship,
8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas
Circle NW. 202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUP for
gay men living in the DC metro area. This group
will be meeting once a month. For information on
location and time, email to not.the.only.one.dc@
gmail.com.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, a Christ-centered,
interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offers
service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.
ST. STEPHEN AND THE INCARNATION, an
interracial, multi-ethnic Christian Community

offers services in English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and
in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton St. NW. 202232-0900, saintstephensdc.org.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF ARLINGTON, an

LGBTQ welcoming-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow UU
Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF
SILVER SPRING invites LGBTQ families and indi-
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APRIL 30, 2015
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scene
GLAAs Awards
Reception at
Policy Restaurant
Thursday, April 23
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
15
Oral
Fixation
you can listen
to any story at
MetroWeekly.com
just look for the
speak button
viduals of all creeds and cultures to join the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcoming and inclusive

church. GLBT Interweave social/service group meets monthly. Services at 11
a.m., Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St. NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.
MONDAY, MAY 4
BRUHS (BOOK READING UPLIFTS HIS SPIRIT), a GBT book and film dis-
cussion group, presents Brother 2 Brother, a celebration of SGL writers with

guests Christopher Prince, Joseph Williams, R.L. Norman, Wyatt OBryan Evans
and Otis Randolf. Featuring a performance by Timm T. West and a short play
presented by Alan Sharpe. 6 p.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 901 G St. NW.
For more information, visit facebook.com/bruhsdc.
The DC Center hosts a VOLUNTEER NIGHT on the first Monday of each

month. Activities include sorting book donations, cleaning up, and safe-sex kit
inventory. Pizza provided. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.
SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison Elementary,

1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW. getequal.
wdc@gmail.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor Medical
Center, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit
whitman-walker.org.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., Alexandria,
offers free rapid HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment
needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,
Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or testing@
smyal.org.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT
COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay mens evening affinity group. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS Water Polo Team practices 7-9 p.m. Takoma
Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at least basic swimming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@wetskins.org,
wetskins.org.
Whitman-Walker Health HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP for newly diagnosed
individuals, meets 7 p.m. Registration required. 202-939-7671, hivsupport@
whitman-walker.org.
TUESDAY, MAY 5
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m.,
and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
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ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m.
afwash@aol.com, afwashington.net.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic Center, 300
Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club serving greater D.C.s
LGBT community and allies hosts an evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV testing and STI
screening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday LGBT
Clinic, Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571214-9617. james.leslie@inova.org.
whitman-walker.org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,
where volunteers assemble safe-sex kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., Green
Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW. thedccenter.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East
Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walkins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or
Takoma Park at 301-422-2398.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,

Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703823-4401.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed.
1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUSLGBT focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m.

St. Georges Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps from
Virginia Square Metro. For more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped
accessible. Newcomers welcome. liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@
smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, 410 7th
St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support group for black gay men 40 and older. 7-9
p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/STD
CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on walk-in basis.
No-cost screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and
herpes testing available for fee. whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens gay-literature group, discusses Dennis
Coopers novel, Closer. 7:30 p.m. The Cleveland Park Library, 3310
Connecticut Ave. NW. All are welcome. bookmendc.blogspot.com
THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW will host a community forum with leaders from
LGBT organizations, including The DC Center, the National Black Justice
Coalition, Casa Ruby, the Wanda Alston House, Us Helping Us, D.E.N.I.M.,
and the Trans Women of Color Collective. Featuring live music by Ramona
Montaez and an Emerging Leaders segment with Jessica Pierce and other
members of NBJCs #100toWatch list. Admission is free. 6-9 p.m. Club Liv, 2001
11th St. NW. For more information, visit facebook.com/askrayceen.
THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social Bridge. 7:30
p.m. Dignity Center, 721 8th St. SE, across from the Marine Barracks. No reservation and partner needed. For more info, 301-345-1571.
METROWEEKLY.COM
APRIL 30, 2015
17
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.
SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison Elementary,

1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. and 12:05
p.m. All welcome. 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414
East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for job entrants and seekers, meets at
The DC Center. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More info, www.
centercareers.org.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment

needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,
Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club for mature gay men, hosts weekly happy
hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Kitchen, 1637 17th
St. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316. l
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19
YOUTH PRIDE GUIDE

FROM THE
YOUTH PRIDE DAY
CHAIR
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Greetings,
On behalf of Youth Pride
Alliance, Id like to welcome
you to the 19th Annual Youth
Pride Day. Its hard to believe
Youth Pride Day is 19 years
old. For nearly two decades,
Youth Pride Day has been an
event where GLBTQ youth
and their allies can learn
about their community, as
well as be a place to enjoy
the day and just be themselves.
I would like to extend a
special thank you to all our
sponsors, advertisers, exhibitors, and volunteers for 2015.
Without their support and
participation, Youth Pride Day
couldnt happen.
Wed love to see you get

more involved in Youth Pride
Day and the Youth Pride
Alliance, as were always
looking for new ideas and
help. As you celebrate this
year, remember that there
are others too frightened
or closeted to join us. It
has been the Youth Pride
Alliances goal to ensure that
every youth regardless of
sexual orientation or gender
identity has the right to live,
to love, and to be loved.
Happy Pride,
Paul Marengo
Chair, Youth Pride Day 2015
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APRIL 30, 2015
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YOUTH PRIDE GUIDE

MISSION
STATEMENT
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Youth Pride Alliance

is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization
for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer,
Questioning, and Ally
youth empowerment
to encourage positive
self-development
and expression, as
well as leadership,
while bridging
diverse communities
and individuals to
address issues of
visibility, equality,
and social justice.

We are dedicated to
celebrating the dignity
and courage of all
young people.
For more information
on Youth Pride
Day and the Youth
Pride Alliance
and how to get
involved, visit www.
youthpridealliance.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
APRIL 30, 2015
23
YOUTH PRIDE GUIDE

YOUTH PRIDE
ALLIANCE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Nikisha Carpenter, President
Ace Portis, Vice President
Sarah Blazucki, Secretary
Angela Ferrell-Zabala,
Treasurer
Franklin Johnson
Jose Ramirez
Sheldon Scott
Tyler Webb
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APRIL 30, 2015
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SPONSORS
PLATINUM
Whitman Walker Health
SMYAL
OSSE
GOLD
Department of Health
HRC
Capital Pride
SILVER
Legacy for Health
DC Human Rights Office
BRONZE
Gay Mens Chorus of
Washington, D.C.
La Clinica del Pueblo
PFLAG
Stonewall Kickball
Team DC
Denim
Task Force
The Center
Hot Pursuite
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APRIL 30, 2015
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YOUTH PRIDE GUIDE

SPEAKERS
Youth Speakers from
SMYAL and OSSE
Trans Youth Speaker from
Casa Ruby
The DC Center @ Gay Day
at the Zoo
Washington Blade @ 20
Under 20
Speaker from Metro
TeenAIDS / Whitman
Walker Health
Brent Minor, Team DC on
Youth Athletic Scholarships
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ENTERTAINERS
The CooLots
Promising Future
DC Youth Slam Team
Emoderate
Youth Center Dance Group
Trans Empoderte
Cheerleaders
Miss Reina de Reinas 2015
BOOTHS
Breaking the Cycle
Capital Tennis Association
DC Public Library
DCATS
Lambda Legal
MCC
More Light Presbyterian
Peace Corps
Rainbow Youth Alliance
The Trevor Project
Wanda Alston House
DC Transmasculine
American University
Latino GLBT History Project
Split Rock
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APRIL 30, 2015
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THE 2015 NEXT GENERATION AWARDS
INTRODUCTION BY SEAN BUGG

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIAN VANKIM
ENERATIONS CHANGE. THATS WHY IT

feels so right that were celebrating the LGBT
communitys next generation in Metro Weekly
the same week were watching as the work of
past and present generations comes to fruition
before the Supreme Court.
Its no simple thing to impose a narrative on the course of
LGBT history. We have so many competing visions, have lost so
much of our past to indifference and hostility. Over the decades,
weve changed and grown the very definition of our community - from homosexual to gay to lesbigay to LGBT - as weve
learned to better practice the principles of equality among ourselves, as we ask others to do with us.
But we have the theme of change change for the better. A
society that once could only think of us as unnatural perverts
and deviants now gives us majority support for our relationships,
lives and equality under the law. Where the closet once ruled we
now have the freedom and joy of living life openly.
Not that we live in the halcyon days of full LGBT equality.
The arguments at court are not yet won. Some dress up their
bigotry in the guise of religious freedom. In most states you
can probably be fired for being gay and you can definitely be fired
for being trans. Justice isnt easily found for those among us who
have the least.
Thats why the next generation is so important. Theyre living lives that many of us only dreamed of. Theyll be the ones
to bring those dreams to those who have not yet reached them.
Thats the heart of the Next Generation Awards. Thats why
in our seventh year were proud to introduce you to Valeria
Carranza, Jesus Chavez, Nol Gordon, and Vincent Paolo Villano
four young leaders who stand out for their accomplishments,
their drive, and their commitment to making things better for
their generation and the next.
The Next Generation Awards, presented by Metro Weekly, are
produced by the Next Generation Leadership Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, mentoring, and honoring the next
generation of LGBT leaders. Sean Bugg is the president and
founder.
The Next Generation Awards reception will be held on Thursday,
May 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Beacon Bar and Grill. Tickets are
available online at www.nglf.org for $55 and at the door for $60.
Tickets are tax deductible and proceeds further the work of NGLF. l
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THE NEXT GENERATION AWARDS 2015
VALERIA CARRANZA
BY JOHN RILEY
ALERIA CARRANZA FEELS LUCKY TO BE

where she is at such a crucial time in history.
A daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, raised
in a working-class community in Los Angeless
San Fernando Valley, the 27-year-old was the
first in her family to graduate high school and
attend college. She completed her bachelors in international
studies in 2009.
My mom had me when she was very young, Carranza says.
She had to drop out of high school to raise me. She was delivering The Los Angeles Times at 3 oclock in the morning, and stocking shelves at the Pick n Save to put food on the table.
Despite their lack of advanced education, Carranzas parents
and stepfather made sacrifices to help better their childrens
lives, including driving Valeria for more than an hour each day
so she could go to a better elementary school in a different part
of the city.
I was one of the few Latinos at the school, and I was super,
super shy, Carranza recalls. You couldnt get a word out of me.
Teachers assumed I couldnt speak English, so they placed me
in ESL classes. Because of that immigrant mentality that you
dont question authority my family didnt question the teachers for putting me in ESL.
Carranza quickly proved those assumptions wrong, demonstrating a reading ability that placed her ahead of most of her
classmates.
Perhaps it was that experience that made Carranza more
willing to speak out when she was older, as she did after joining
the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority during her sophomore year at
Pennsylvanias Dickinson College. Dickinsons sororities had a
rule that members could only bring men with them to dances
and other formal events. Through one-on-one conversations
with her sorority sisters, she convinced them to change the
policy. Other campus sororities soon followed Kappa Alpha
Thetas example.
It was also in her sophomore year that Carranza began her
foray into the world of policy and politics, earning a chance
for an internship with Tony Cardenas, her city councilman.
Following her graduation from Dickinson, Carranza served as a
White House correspondence intern, where she gained a stark
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APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
insight into societys inequalities.

I come from a working-class family, and the White House
internship was unpaid, so my mom gave me $100 and said, This
is it, she recalls. To pursue that internship, I was working
nights and weekends at an animal hospital as a receptionist.
And in order to have the suits to wear to the White House, I was
going to Goodwill and getting my clothes from there.
Carranza now serves as liaison to the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus and legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez
(D-Calif.), the caucus chairwoman. She participates in behindthe-scenes policy work on behalf of the caucuss 26 members on
issues that impact the Latino community, including education,
immigration, small business development, and LGBT employment nondiscrimination.
That same passion is present in her activism. Carranza
participated in the Familia es Familia initiative which linked
together LGBT organizations pushing for marriage equality in
Maryland with immigrant rights groups pushing for a state version of the federal DREAM Act, allowing undocumented minors
to qualify for in-state tuition rates to state universities. As a
board member for Equality Maryland, Carranza facilitated the
Safety, Justice and Human Rights Seminar at the Montgomery
County Womens Legislative Briefing and advocated on behalf
of several pro-LGBT initiatives that were introduced in the
Maryland General Assembly, including the expansion of the
states nondiscrimination laws to include transgender residents.
In her spare time, Carranza finds herself planning her
upcoming wedding to her fiance, Lauren, with whom she lives
in Silver Spring. The couple has adopted a dog, Benson, and
hopes to one day raise at least two children. They will wed this
August at Jackies Restaurant in Silver Spring, the site where
Marylands marriage equality supporters convened their first
advocacy meeting.
Although her familys reaction to her coming out has been
mixed, on the whole, she has found acceptance from her mother
and four siblings. But even love and acceptance doesnt stop a
mothers concern for her child.
My mom is like, Why do you have to be so loud? Why do you
have to be out there on everything? she says, laughing. I dont
even tell her about the rallies anymore. l
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JESUS CHAVEZ
BY CONNOR HOGAN
S A TEENAGER GROWING UP IN CENTRAL

California, Jesus Chavez had to learn to be careful.
My parents always told me you cant tell anyone
about your status, he says, They were afraid
what would happen to me.
Chavezs secret? He was an undocumented immigrant.
Born in Mexico, when Chavez was three, his family packed
up and headed north. They just came over the border, he says.
No visa or anything. From a young age, he was told that keeping his immigration status a secret was the only thing he could
do. He kept it from his friends, his teachers, everyone he knew.
Chavez is a unique individual humble yet passionate, brilliant yet approachable. Unsatisfied with just an average life, he
wanted to make a difference, not just for the family he loved,
but for the community that he grew out of. He knew he had to
go to college.
For many, the hardest part of applying to college is submitting the application on time, but an undocumented applicant
faces myriad challenges. When youre an undocumented student, youre always hustling, he says. A lot of them have to
raise the funds for school themselves. For Chavez, this meant
juggling his course load with three jobs, all while having to live
with the worry of being deported.
It was in one of those jobs that he met Arcelia Gallardo. A
Mexican Latina business owner, Gallardo ran a housing program for low income, first generation students in the Berkeley
area. Chavez came to her for a job, and she gladly obliged.
Though Gallardo is a citizen, it was her mission to provide
resources to undocumented students to help them succeed in
college. She and Chavez connected immediately.
Shes spent the last six years mentoring me professionally,
he says. Shes one of the first people I told I was undocumented.
It took Gallardo to show Chavez that his immigration status
was something to celebrate, not hide. I became very involved
with the undocumented student support group at UC Berkley,
he says. Thats a bit of an understatement. Chavez was co-chair
of the UC Berkley Immigrant Student Issues Coalition (ISIC).
There, students from around the world came together to help,
guide, and encourage one another. And in his Junior year,
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APRIL 30, 2015
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Chavez and his cohort went to the Board at UC Berkley to propose something that would make life easier for students like him:
A program solely for undocumented students. NPR did a piece
on it, Chavez sheepishly admits.
However, his immigration status wasnt the only thing
Chavez kept to himself. For me, coming out as undocumented
was way easier than coming out as gay, he says. While it might
have been easy for him to find other undocumented students to
connect with, finding other gay people proved more difficult.
Even though I had all these friends, none of them were gay.
In sophomore year, he found YQUE!, UC Berkeleys
LGBT Latino group. Through them, he learned about the
UndocuQueer movement, a group of LGBT undocumented
citizens. The struggles of LGBT people are very similar to
those of undocumented people, he says. Undocumented
people have even adopted some of the methodology of coming
out of the closet. His time with YQUE! helped form his future
career path. Chavez desired to work to bring rights and equality to the thousands of LGBT people living undocumented in
the United States.
In September of 2013, he moved to Washington, D.C., to
intern with the National LGBTQ Task Force. He also worked
closely with the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project which
seeks to organize and empower LGBTQ undocumented people,
LGBTQ immigrants and allies through grassroots organizing,
leadership development, advocacy and engage in alliance building between the LGBTQ and immigrant rights movements.
After one year, he was chosen to represent D.C. in the national
Unin=Fuerza Latino Institute planning committee, where he
planned a bilingual day for LGBT Latinos to learn valuable skills
and issue based training.
Today, Chavez works as Metro DC PFLAGs operations manager. He continues to advocate for and educate the public about
the LGBT community. Chavez is also responsible for the first
Spanish language parent group of DC PFLAG, where he helps
Latino parents of LGBT families better understand the struggles
of their loved ones, because for him, it all comes down to one
thing. Says Chavez, The reason I do the work I do is because of
my family. l
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NOL GORDON
BY DOUG RULE
HEN I FIRST CAME OUT AS GAY,

Nol Gordon recalls, one of the first
things my mother said to me was, I
dont want you to get AIDS and die.
And that was the image that I had in my
head of what it meant to be a gay person
in America that you get HIV and die.
As a result, Gordon developed a very contentious relationship with sex. It was certainly something that I feared. Yet
instead of running away from the fear, Gordon ended up facing
it head on. While a student at the University of Michigan, he
started learning more about HIV, including the fact that the
new and emerging face of HIV is of people who look like me or
come from the same background as me a young black gay man
from a household that didnt really discuss sex, or discussed it in
a really negative and shaming way.
As a result, HIV/AIDS continues to be such a problem
because of a lack of proper sex education and HIV awareness
and less because of a closeted, down-low phenomenon, which
Gordon says has been blown out of context. The more I learned,
the more my passion for the subject grew. Gordon worked at
an HIV/AIDS resource center while in college, and then upon
graduation made an HIV service trip to Jamaica, where he
taught more than 50 people, from elementary children to adults,
the basics of HIV prevention and treatment.
Now working at the Human Rights Campaign, Gordon plays
a lead role in the organizations public education and awareness efforts on HIV. This includes managing two social media
campaigns, the general awareness-focused #BeInTheKnow and
#DailyBlue, highlighting the promising if somewhat controversial HIV prevention regimen known as Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis, or PrEP.
His work has earned Gordon praise from leading HIV/AIDS
advocates across the country, as well as accolades from the
National Black Justice Coalition, which recently named him to
its list of 100 Black LGBTQ Leaders to Watch. Its also now
garnered him a Next Generation Award, which he finds particularly inspiring, since he admires several previous recipients. For
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APRIL 30, 2015
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me to be a part of that lineage of folks who have won the award

is really outstanding. Its a tremendous honor.
Gordon grew up in a small suburb of Las Vegas in a loving,
affirming household where I was always encouraged to speak
up. The oldest of three children, with two younger half-sisters,
he was named after his Jamaican father Nol Augustus
Gordon. It was his Jamaican heritage that enticed Gordon to
take his HIV service trip there, despite the countrys reputation
as one of the most homophobic and violent places in the world.
He worked with several local LGBT advocates with whom
Gordon continues to keep in touch. I feel passionately about
them and also about making sure that people understand the
complexity of Jamaica.
Despite a loving, nurturing upbringing, Gordon admits it was
a struggle coming out in his devoutly Christian family and to his
mother, originally from Panama. Thankfully over time...weve
gotten to a place where now my mother is one of my biggest supporters. Its been a really great evolution.
As a kid, Gordon thought hed grow up to become a lawyer
specifically a prosecuting attorney like Jack McCoy on Law
& Order. But at least for now hes more inspired by his work in
advocacy and in D.C. to even think of anything else. D.C. is a
great place to be young, gay and progressive. There are tons of
other young people here trying to make the world a better place
and have fun while doing it. Thats sort of the mantra that I
try to live by.
Indeed, Gordon lives by that mantra by playing in a Stonewall
Kickball league, volunteering with organizations including Casa
Ruby and SMYAL and by being a proud PrEP user for the
last year.
Taking PrEP has only made my life better, in so many ways.
If anything its made me think more proactively about my sexual
health and wellness. It has also emboldened him in his work
in HIV prevention and awareness and in his interactions with
other men. Whats great about PrEP is it has the ability to build
bridges between gay men, really anyone whos HIV negative or
positive. [It fosters] an open and candid conversation about how
we can protect each other and how we can protect ourselves. l
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VINCENT PAOLO VILLANO

BY JOHN RILEY
T WAS A DISCUSSION IN HIS HIGH SCHOOL

humanities class that ignited Vincent Paolo Villanos
sense of fairness and caused him to first speak out in
favor of LGBT rights.
I think it was around the time that Massachusetts
had done their gay marriage ruling, and we were talking about it, and someone said something that was just completely offensive, he recalls. And this was before I was out. But
it just triggered this tirade inside me about a fundamental issue
of equality. It just didnt make any sense to have two classes of
people, and to treat them differently with respect to marriage.
Fast forward a decade, and Villano is still speaking out in support of LGBT rights, boasting a resume of activism that would
humble even the the most fervent community organizer. He currently works as the director of communications at the National
Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), where he endeavors
to share the real-life stories of transgender people and the challenges they can face, while also urging members of the media to
cover transgender issues in a sympathetic yet respectful way.
Outside of his work at NCTE, Villano served as Vice President
for Administration for the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club,
D.C.s largest LGBT political group, and as an organizer and
press contact for the successful campaign to elect Gregory
Cendana, an openly gay local activist in the Asian American and
Pacific Islander community and the organized labor movement,
as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic Convention, upsetting party
establishment favorite and former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry,
then the Ward 8 councilmember.
While a student at American University, Villano worked at the
colleges GLBTA Resource Center, educating peers and professors alike on LGBT issues. He eventually became coordinator of
the schools Rainbow Speakers Bureau, where he recruited and
trained openly LGBT people to talk to campus groups, churches
and community centers to dispel myths and misperceptions about
the lives of LGBT people and the issues affecting them. He also
became involved with Youth Pride Alliance, helping to launch a
scholarship fund named after local LGBT activist Wanda Alston
and organize the groups annual Youth Pride Day celebration.
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But it is perhaps Villanos background that makes his proLGBT activism all the more surprising. Born into a traditional
Filipino family, Villano and his family immigrated to the United
States in 1990, five years after his father enlisted in the U.S.
Navy, which allowed the family to eventually obtain citizenship.
Villano moved around from California to Washington state and
even lived in Japan during high school, while his parents worked
multiple jobs to make ends meet.
For us as kids, growing up wasnt always easy, he recalls.
There was a brief period of time when my three siblings and I
did three things on Sunday: went to church, helped my parents
with their second job, cleaning office spaces as janitors, and went
to Golden Corral for the buffet. When my mom couldnt clean
anymore, she took on midnight shifts working at Taco Bell.
Because of misperceptions in Filipino culture that assume
gay people want to be the opposite gender, Villanos family worried about his masculinity. When Villano first came out to his
sister in high school, she told him, Thats fine if youre gay, just
as long as you dont start wearing womens clothing. Similarly,
his older brother, an all-star wrestler, sat him down after publicly coming out, telling him, You can be gay, but just remember
youre still a man.
I think overall my family has been very loving and supportive, Villano says of his sexual orientation. Theyve also come
to embrace his choice of career. Its gotten to the point, now,
where my mom will constantly send me emails about articles she
reads about trans issues, Villano says.
Despite his many accomplishments at such a young age,
Villano says hes not ready to retire from activism anytime soon,
particularly when he feels like there is still much to do.
Im motivated by a lot of things, Villano says. Im motivated by the complexity of problems that our communities are
facing. Im motivated by anger and frustration about the lack of
progress on a lot of youth problems. But Im also motivated by
winning. Im an aggressive or assertive person. When it comes
to telling stories around social justice issues, there isnt a cost
that we cant overcome or cant absorb when the problems are
so great. l
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APRIL 30 - MAY 7, 2015
Compiled by Doug Rule
SPOTLIGHT
2015 KENNEDY CENTER SPRING GALA
Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Terence Blanchard,

Paquito DRivera, the Puppini Sisters, and the Paul
Taylor Dance Company all perform a tribute to the
big band jazz era of the 1930s and 1940s for this
years Kennedy Center Spring Gala, It Dont Mean
A Thing, If It Aint Got That Swing. The Kennedy
Center All-Star Swing Orchestra accompanies,
directed by John Clayton. Sunday, May 3, at 8 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $45 to
$160. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
VITHAYA PHONGSAVAN
Killing It
Studio Theatres Murder Ballad is an entertaining, ingeniously

devised sung-through musical
HE HIPPEST NEW BAR ON 14TH STREET IS IN AN UNLIKELY,

unmarked location specifically, the fourth floor of Studio Theatre, with
access through the back door off the alley.
Stage 4 is a dive-esque space full of posters, graffiti and shelves of booze, all
created, pop-up-style, for the sole purpose of staging the Off-Broadway rock
musical Murder Ballad. Its a gimmick to lure in new theatergoers as well as to
spice up the experience for Studio subscribers and it seems to be working,
with sold-out shows in a run thats already been extended. As well it should:
Writer Julia Jordan and composer-lyricist Juliana Nashs musical is an entertaining, sung-through show, and Studios David Muse has transformed it into an
ingeniously devised, immersive production with an exceptionally strong cast of
singers.
The narrative focuses on Sara (Christine Dwyer), who is cheating on her studious husband Michael (Tommar Wilson) by spending afternoons with an old
flame, hunky bad boy bartender Tom (Cole Burden). From the outset, a narrator
(Anastacia McCleskey) explains the reason for the shows title: someone has to
die. But we dont know who nor whos offing whom and theres reasons
to believe any one of them could be either culprit or victim. That makes Murder
Ballad an intriguing whodunit, but it becomes even more stirring and suspenseful because it unfolds among the crowd, seated at cabaret tables and on barstools
throughout the space. The singers come and go from three different directions,
and make love and fight on and around the long bar top, the center pool
table, or on the small stage in the back where a four-piece rock band is situated.
The setting is identified as 90s-era Manhattan, and its too bad Muse didnt
work with Nash to make the subtle lyric changes needed to translate this production for a local audience, setting it in present-day D.C. But thats a minor quibble
with a production that ultimately transcends its gimmicky appeal to be a show
and a concept worth toasting. Doug Rule
Murder Ballad (
) runs to May 17 at Studio Theatre, 14th and P
Streets NW. Tickets are $45 to $80. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
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AMY SCHUMER
Three years ago, she was a blip on comedys radar, a

finalist on Last Comic Standing. Now, theres Comedy
Centrals sharp Inside Amy Schumer positioning her
as arguably the funniest, freshest face on television
and certainly the most sex-positive female comic
around. This summer will see release of her big-budget film Trainwreck, produced and directed by Judd
Apatow. But first, Schumer will return for another
night of standup at Constitution Hall. In the footsteps
of Kathy Griffin, Schumer is a long way from the small
comedy club circuit now. Tickets on sale Thursday,
April 30, at 10 a.m., for show Tuesday, May 26. D.A.R.
Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Call 202-628-1776
or visit dar.org/conthall.
DAKSHINA / DANIEL PHOENIX SINGH

DANCE COMPANY
Inspired by a poetry anthology of writers lost to

AIDS, Persistent Voices combines poignant choreography, thought-provoking poetry and evocative
visual designs to explore the effect of AIDS on our
lives. Local gay choreographer Daniel Phoenix Singh
brings his company to Dance Place for this program
co-presented by Reston CenterStage. Saturday, May
2, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Dance Place,
3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at
the door. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.
GAY DAY AT THE ZOO
On Sunday, May 3, in addition to the usual draws

the National Zoo will also be overrun with the
figurative taxonomy of the gay kingdom. You know,
bears, otters, pups, social bees. This years third
annual event is a fundraiser for The DC Center.
The Imperial Court of Washington DC, the Gay
Mens Chorus of Washington and the DC Different
Drummers will perform. Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m., at the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave.
NW. Free. Visit gaydayatthezoo.com.
MID CITY ARTISTS

SPRING OPEN STUDIOS TOUR
Artists who are part of the 14th Street-centered Mid

City Artists collaborative open their studios for the
public to meet, learn, enjoy and buy art as part of
this bi-annual event. The artists represented offer a
range of work, from drawings to sculptures to photographs to mixed media, and include many of note to
the LGBT community among them Metro Weekly
contributing illustrator Scott G. Brooks, plus Charlie
Gaynor, Michael Crossett, Gary Fisher, Glenn Fry,
Brian Petro, Colin Winterbottom, Indira Marin
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Dingledine and Jane Cave. Friday, May 1, from 6 p.m.

to 8 p.m., Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, from
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mid City corridor, from Dupont to
Logan Circles and north to Florida Ave NW. Free.
Call 202-506-3056 or visit midcityartists.com.
PRIDE
In 1984, a small band of London-based activists

formed a group called Lesbians and Gays Support
the Miners (LGSM) to aid Britains striking mining
communities not known for fostering tolerance
or hospitality toward homosexuals. The strike lasted
a year, and the help given to the miners by LGSM,
the unlikeliest of allies, forged a relationship that
greatly helped advance the march towards full LGBT
equality in the United Kingdom. Off and on for the
next two decades, screenwriter Stephen Beresford
worked on crafting a screenplay that would justly
celebrating the brief, symbiotic relationship between
miners and gays. The resulting motion picture, Pride,
directed by Matthew Marchus and released last year,
is perhaps the most exhilarating, poignant, deeply
satisfying gay British film since 1996s Beautiful
Thing. It screens as part of this months second
annual DC LaborFest and the 15th annual DC Labor
FilmFest. Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre,
8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $12.
Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.
RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
Hollywood producer Dick Clark hired the covers

band Rain to perform the entire soundtrack to his
1979 documentary The Birth of the Beatles, and the
California group by that name has been perennially
touring the nation ever since, though with different
members. Rain works to re-create every note, song,
gesture and nuance of the Fab Four including
many of the bands later songs, which they never
actually performed live. Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
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North Bethesda. Tickets are $48 to $88. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.
FILM
AFI FILM SERIES: ADVENTURES IN 3D
The American Film Institutes Silver Theatre continues its months-long series focused on use of 3D
technology in various artistic genres, including in
stage productions and animation. But the chief focus
is on film, including the 3D granddaddy of them all,
Alfred Hitchcocks Dial M for Murder. Also screening in the next week: Martin Scorseses ode to the
cinema Hugo, set in a Paris train station between
the World Wars, and Ang Lees dazzling cinematic
adaptation of Yann Martels celebrated novel Life of
Pi. Dial M for Murder screens Thursday, April 30, at
7 p.m., Hugo screens Saturday, May 2, at 3:45 p.m.,
and Life of Pi screens Sunday, May 3, at 3:30 p.m. AFI
Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are $9 to $12. Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.
com/Silver.
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
Based on Thomas Hardys novel, Thomas

Vinterbergs sumptuous period drama about
a woman, played by Carey Mulligan, choosing
between her independence and the allure of three
potential (and equally handsome) suitors Matthias
Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge and Michael Sheen
looks to be an excellent 120 minutes of drama. Opens
Friday, May 1. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Landmarks E Street Cinema screens the biggest

cult classic of them all once a month as part of its
regular midnight screenings of classics. The screen-
ing comes with a live cast, meaning its even more

interactive than usual. Friday, May 8, and Saturday,
May 9, at midnight. Landmarks E Street Cinema,
555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
STAGE
CLOSET LAND
Rick Hammerly directs the latest Factory 449

production staged in the small, black box theater
at the Anacostia Arts Center. Rahda Bharadwajs
Closet Land focuses on a government interrogator
in a nameless country torturing a writer alleged
to include anti-State messages in her work. David
Lamont Wilson and Sara Barker star in this twoperson work staged in the round and billed as a
harrowing descent into the nature of violence, the
minds resolve and the human spirits endurance.
To May 10. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope
Road SE. Tickets are $12. Call 202-631-6291 or visit
factory449.com.
SWING TIME! THE MUSICAL
Mike Thornton, an actor who has worked with the

satire group the Capitol Steps, and his wife, Cecelia
Fex, have teamed up as co-producers for this big
band-era musical revue about a group of performers putting together a wartime radio broadcast.
Featuring film clips plus a live jazz band, the show
features tunes made popular by Duke Ellington,
Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and
Cab Calloway. Next shows are Sunday, May 3, at 2
p.m., Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday,
May 9, at 2 p.m. Select dates to June 27. U.S. Navy
Memorials Burke Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW. Tickets are $19 or $49. Call 202-393-4266 or
visit swingtimethemusical.com.
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THE ORIGINALIST
Molly Smith directs an Arena Stage world premiere of John Strands play about
one of the biggest enemies to the LGBT cause and civil rights in general: Supreme
Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Its hard to get excited about this one, although no
doubt four-time Helen Hayes Award winner Edward Gero will do Scalia justice.
The play is performed in the Mead Centers Kogod Cradle in a new three-quarter
thrust configuration. Extended to May 31, with a two-week break at the start of
May. Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or
visit arenastage.org.
MUSIC
LILA DOWNS
Known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances, Grammy-winning

singer-songwriter Lila Downs offers a pan-Latin brand of folk-inspired pop music
that seems to channel her late compatriot Chavela Vargas one minute, Celia Cruz
the next, even Shakira every now and then and occasionally all within the same
song. Downs tours in support of her strong new album Balas y Chocolate (Bullets
and Chocolate in English), which includes a sharp duet with another Colombian
international superstar, Juanes. Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. Lisner Auditorium, The
George Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $40 to $60. Call 202994-6800 or visit lisner.org.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
Piotr Gajewski leads Strathmores resident orchestra in a performance of

Mozarts lofty Jupiter Symphony. The all-Mozart program includes the humorous
Overture to the Marriage of Figaro and the Piano Concerto No. 21 nicknamed
the Elvira Madigan featuring Christopher Taylor. Saturday, May 2, at 8 p.m.,
and Sunday, May 3, at 3 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
North Bethesda. Tickets are $28 to $84. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The most famous four notes in all of classical music will ring out at the Kennedy
Center when Christoph Eschenbach leads the National Symphony in a performance of Beethovens epic Symphony No. 5. The program also includes J. Strauss
IIs Die Fledermaus Overture and Penderecks Concerto Grosso featuring NSO cellists Steven Honigberg, James Lee and David Teie. Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m.,
and Saturday, May 2, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $39 to
$90. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.
M3 ROCK FESTIVAL
This festival returns to serve up another helping of 80s-era hair metal debauchery to kick off the season at Merriweather Post Pavilion. The two-day festival
starts Friday, May 1, with a bill headlined by Baltimores own Kix but also
featuring Dooken, Dio Disciples, Quiet Riot and Trixter. Meanwhile, Europe,
Queensryche and Tom Keifer headline Saturdays full-day affair, also including
Warrant, L.A. Guns, Vixen, Rhino Bucket and Bad Seed Rising. Doors at 3:30
p.m. on Friday, May 1, and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2. Merriweather Post
Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Tickets are $35 to $210. Call
800-551-SEAT or visit ticketmaster.com.
MARC MARTEL
A few years ago, this singer-songwriter was handpicked by Queens Brian May
and Roger Taylor to be the lead vocalist for the Queen Extravaganza, a roadshow
celebrating the legendary rock group. Martel has since been overshadowed
by Adam Lambert, who performed as Queen with May and Taylor last year at
Merriweather Post Pavilion, so Martel has returned to his own solo work, including his debut Impersonator. Sunday, May 3, at 8 p.m. DC9, 1940 9th St. NW.
Tickets are $10. Call 202-483-5000 or dcnine.com.
STEPHIN MERRITT
The Magnetic Fields gay principal offers an acoustic performance, accompanied

by his longtime bandmate Sam Davol on cello, rifling through his repertoire of
quirky, drolly-delivered folk-pop ditties. More specifically, the concert focuses on
performing exactly 26 songs, whose song titles each start with a different letter of
the alphabet. Amy Bezunartea opens. Sunday, May 3, at 8 p.m. Sixth & I Historic
Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 day-of show. Call
202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.
DANCE
CITYDANCES DREAMSCAPE
CityDance presents its annual gala performance co-produced with Rasta Thomas,
in which Thomas and dancers with the CityDance Conservatory and students
from its Dream program appear alongside guest artists from: BalletX, Charlotte
Ballet, Momix, Orlando Ballet and Fabrice Calmels of the Joffrey Ballet. Saturday,
May 9, at 8 p.m. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $38. Call 202328-6000 or visit citydance.net.
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THE WASHINGTON BALLET
Three years ago, Septime Webres brand-new ballet Alice (In Wonderland), based
on Lewis Carrolls 150-year-old classic fantasy, broke all box office records for the
Washington Ballet save for its annual run of The Nutcracker and all before
it had even started its run. Now the whimsical production, featuring music by
Matthew Pierce, costumes by Cirque du Soleil veteran Liz Vandal and a grand,
24-foot puppet designed by Eric Van Wyk, returns for two weekends at the
Kennedy Center. Opens in a preview performance Wednesday, May 6, at 7:30
p.m. Weekends to May 17. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $46
to $135. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
COMEDY
WOLF TRAPS 28TH ANNUAL EVENING OF COMEDY
Kevin Lee, Greg Morton and Ritch Shydner are the stand-up comedians who will
provide the laughs at this years annual event in the Wolf Trap Barns. Tickets
remain only for the performance Saturday, May 2, at 9:30 p.m. The Barns at
Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25. Call 703-255-1900 or visit
wolftrap.org.
READINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

MARIA BELLO
WhateverLove Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves is the new

memoir from this actress known from her work in various films as well as from
NBCs ER. The title stems from her 12-year-old sons response when she revealed
to him that she had fallen in love with a woman. Bello will be in conversation with
Daniel Jones, editor of the Modern Love column in the New York Times, which
first published a shorter version of Bellos writing. Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. Sixth
& I Historic Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $17, or $30 including one book,
$38 for two tickets and one book. Call 202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.
SHIRLEY MACLAINE
This Oscar-winning Kennedy Center Honoree returns to the area for a discussion
at Strathmore, moderated by the Washington Posts Peter Marks, in which shell
share her stories and discuss her work as a longtime advocate for civil rights,
womens rights and spiritual understanding. Saturday, May 9, at 8 p.m. Music
Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $35 to
$85. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
ABOVE AND BEYOND

THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW
The latest edition of this monthly LGBT event hosted by Rayceen Pendarvis
will launch with a skit from the cast of Sensuality II a show coming to the
Howard Theatre at the end of May and a performance by New York singer
Ramona Montanez, as well as tunes by DJ Angie D. There will also be a community forum with panelists including David Mariner of the DC Center, Sharon
Lettman-Hicks of the National Black Justice Coalition, Ruby Corado of Casa de
Ruby, Ken Pettigrew of the Wanda Alston House, Travis Wise of Us Helping Us
and D.E.N.I.M., and Lourdes Ashely Hunter of Trans Women of Color Collective.
Wednesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. Liv Nightclub in Bohemian Caverns, 2001 11th St.
NW. Free. Call 202-505-4548 or visit facebook.com/rayceen.pendarvis. l
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film
Age of Ultron is predictably

excellent, even if it lacks some of
the originals brilliance
by RHUARIDH MARR
IGHTEEN YEARS AGO, JOSS WHEDON CREATed Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Its mix of smart, witty
dialogue, tense drama and skillfully established
combat sequences propelled it to cult status, earning
Whedon a name as one of the best creators in his field. Almost
two decades later, its impossible to ignore those same qualities
seeping from every glossy, CGI-enhanced pore of Avengers: Age
of Ultron, which Whedon both penned and helmed.
A sequel to 2012s box office extravaganza, Ultron is something of an awkward middle child. Its a holdover, here for plot
exposition ahead of 2018s Avengers: Infinity War, which promises a two-parter that will wrap up not only this series of films
but an entire chapter of Marvels cinematic universe. What,
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then, can Ultron offer? It exists to keep the franchises wheels

spinning, without bogging it down in the process and muting
excitement for further sequels. Thanks to Whedon, Disneys
checkbook, and the excellent cast on tap, it largely succeeds.
One thing is immediately apparent: Its not as good as its
predecessor. It doesnt help that youre getting a dangerously similar story to the one Whedon and Marvel treated us
to three years ago. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk,
Black Widow, and Hawkeye all return, but theyre essentially
going through the motions. Theres internal conflict, external danger, a villain who initially outsmarts and divides the
group, before they realize that working together will ultimately help them to succeed. The stakes are similar, though
no less extreme the annihilation of Earth. The main difference here is that, instead of Loki wreaking havoc, artificial
intelligence is the Big Bad this time around.
Yes, the much-hyped Ultron is our ragtag group of heroes
foe. Created by Tony Stark as Earths defender to replace the
Avengers, Ultron instead becomes a rogue agent, hellbent on
exterminating them. A fan of his own developing thoughts,
Ultron waxes lyrical in eloquent speeches about the state of
humanity and the oxymoronic purpose of the Avengers. It could
easily devolve into computerized high-camp were it not for
MARVEL
Middle Child
a truly inspired piece of vocal acting. James Spader, with his

sumptuous inflection and delicious ability to chew scenery while
maintaining sincerity, lends Ultron the gravitas he desires. His
every taunt, insult and insight lands with didactic brilliance as
he runs digital rings around the seemingly outgunned Avengers.
And what of our Avengers? Well, theyre not dramatically
different. If youve refrained from indulging in Marvels many
cinematic splendours youre certain to miss more than a few
in-jokes and references, but for the most part theyre the same
wonderfully-scripted characters as last time. Whedons dialogue
continues to shine, humor fluidly intertwining with pathos and
the occasional diatribe. Robert Downey Jr. remains arguably the
films strongest asset. As Tony Stark, he manages to straddle the
line between repulsive and lovable, an arrogant bastard who can
effortlessly redeem himself when it truly matters.
Chris Hemsworths Thor takes something of a back seat
between fights, while Chris Evans Captain America is given
hints of a deeper emotional yearning that will likely be
explored in his own franchise. Both Scarlett Johansson and
Mark Ruffalo are given room to flex their acting muscles as
the film thrusts Black Widow and Hulk together, developing
an excellent chemistry and opening up Widows truly miserable backstory. A tip of the hat to Aaron Taylor Johnson and
Elizabeth Olson, who pull Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch
respectively from the shadows of the main cast to become
enjoyable characters in their own right.
Surprisingly, its Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) whos given the
greatest character development in Ultron. Lambasted by some
yours truly included for being a rather needless addition to
the roster, hes given something sorely lacking in the first film:
depth. An intriguing revelation provides context for his desire
to fight, energizes his efforts, and gives the audience renewed

appreciation for his place in the Avengers. Sure, hes still just
the guy who shoots arrows and cracks wise, but now hes all the
more lovable!
As a whole, the film may lack in comparison to the original,
but theres still a lot to be said for what Whedon and his crew
have crafted. Whedon, who bows out of the Marvel universe
with Ultron, deserves commendation for his masterful direction. During CGI-heavy battle sequences, he maintains a glorious sense of scale, confidently transitioning between open-air
warfare to intense, close-range conflicts. Intertwining delicate,
interpersonal moments into these sequences is second nature,
something honed during his seven years on Buffy. The film rarely
bogs down, balancing tension, action, emotion and wit even
during quieter scenes.
Whedon occasionally favors style over substance: one scene
near the films end becomes almost incoherent with CGI effects
and stylized camera angles. While for the most part he retains
control of each character, he occasionally lets things slip: the
Hulk vanishes for several minutes near the films end, with no
explanation given as to his part in the conflict or what he was
doing (smashing things, presumably).
Still, even with its middle-child syndrome, familiar plot
development, predictable conclusion (they win, surprise!), and
occasional misstep during action-heavy scenes, Avengers: Age of
Ultron is stellar. Whedon may have created a superior film three
years ago, but hes still leaving a tough act for those in charge of
2018s Infinity War to follow.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (HHHHH) is rated PG-13 and runs 2
hours, 22 minutes. Opens May 1 in area theaters. l
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games
Its violent almost to a fault, but

Mortal Kombat X is an incredibly
solid fighting game
by RHUARIDH MARR
RE YOU A FAN OF GORE? WHAT ABOUT VIOlence? Maybe a little or a lot of blood? No?
Well, stop right there dear reader, and instead
move to another page of this magazine. Mortal
Kombat X is definitely not the game for you.
In my first half hour, I watched a mans teeth explode as I
drove a knee into his head, his skull crack as I threw a knife at
him, and his spine fracture as I pulled him down into the ground.
I watched men have their heads torn off, swords driven through
their bodies, heads frozen solid and smashed, and explosions
tear them to pieces. In the first half hour. Even Quentin Tarantino
seems sanitized compared to Mortal Kombat X.
Of course, Mortal Kombat has always been synonymous with
violence. Its fatalities are deliberately gruesome whats dif50
APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
ferent here is that theyre depicted in 1080p. While many would

argue that its violence undercut with comedy, I wonder if this
latest installment will turn some fans away. To call it extreme is
a gross understatement. Kung Lao slowly pushes his opponents
face down onto a saw blade. Johnny Cage rips his opponents
chest open to peer through and quote Jack Nicholson from The
Shining. Scorpion burns a hole through his opponents torso and
then slices their face off as they collapse, exposing their brain
and still-twitching tongue. I have a high tolerance for gore, but
even I found myself wincing while watching some of Mortal
Kombats X-Ray moves and fatalities.
If you know what youre getting into, and are a fan of the
fighting genre, Mortal Kombat X is likely an experience youll
love. Personally, my experience with Mortal Kombat began and
ended on the original PlayStation, when my younger self lacked
the dextrous ability to carry out its complex kombos. Mashing
X was an easy way to both infuriate my friends and give myself
repetitive strain injury. As an adult, with years of gaming experience under my belt, Id be much better equipped to take on Xs
challenges. Right?
Wrong. Mortal Kombat X took great pleasure in repeatedly
kicking my ass. A hint that my arrogance was misplaced came
when I struggled to make it through the tutorial. I tried to trick
the game, dropping the difficulty down to Very Easy and launch-
WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Kicking Ass
ing into the story. Scorpion wasted no time in handing my ass to

me and forcing me to restart. This isnt a game you can approach
with flippancy. It takes time, it takes dedication, it takes skill,
dexterity and a memory able to store the numerous moves each
character is capable of performing. More than once I found
myself shouting as my useless fingers struggled to keep up with
my brain, frantically pummelling in kombos as I desperately
tried to succeed.
And then, eventually, it clicked. When I stopped repeatedly dying, I was able to appreciate the games surprisingly
great story, which mixes action and comedy with a genuinely
intriguing plot. For someone whos spent so much time out of
the series, its a little incomprehensible, but thats my punishment for neglecting it. Essentially, Johnny Cage leads a team
from Earthrealm to Outworld, intent on quelling a civil war and
capturing an amulet which has Shinnok imprisoned inside. The
amulet is stolen, with the intent to release Shinnok. From there,
the story branches out to the Netherrealm, involving double
agents, potential attacks on Earthrealm and many, many, many
deaths. Its fairly engrossing, and provides a great backdrop as
you rip your opponents spine out from their chest.
In terms of gameplay, Mortal Kombat X handles like a
seasoned pro. During fights, youll have your usual roster of
attacks, combos, X-Ray special moves and the aforementioned
fatalities. The 2011 Mortal Kombats Super Meter returns
here, which controls X-Ray attacks, while a Stamina Meter
regulates environmental moves and dashing. Borrowing from
their experience on Injustice: Gods Among Us, NetherRealm
Studios has introduced interactable environments, letting
players jump around opponents or use their surroundings
to inflict more damage. Variations grant each character
three different skills sets: Raiden, for instance, can utilize

lightning-based moves, the ability to teleport, or lightning
traps. Mastering everything or, at least, mastering something takes time and patience, but with the right character
and move-set, youll reap its rewards.
Outside of the main story, players have a variety of modes
to enjoy. Theres the expected practice mode, arcade mode,
and training modes. Living Towers are an evolution of 2011s
Challenge Towers, which feature challenges that players can
complete for rewards however, theyll change weekly, daily,
or even hourly, to ensure they remain a punishing endeavor.
Online multiplayer modes include versus which can be online
or offline as well as Team Battle and King of the Hill, which
offers the fun ability for spectators to watch and react to fights.
Underneath its blood-soaked, bone-crunching, fireballthrowing, telekinesis-using exterior, Mortal Kombat X reveals
an incredibly solid, enjoyable and eminently replayable fighting
game. Sure, its beautiful graphics have opened up a new level of
nausea-inducing fatalities, but to dismiss it purely on violence
terms would be to ignore an initially punishing but incredibly
deep experience.
Those who advocate for less-violent games will continue to
decry Mortal Kombat Xs over-the-top gore, but theyre entirely
missing the point. If youve got a strong stomach, nimble fingers
and arent ashamed to have a game kick your ass (and presumably rip your beating heart out of your chest), theres an awful
lot to love here.
Mortal Kombat X (HHHHH) is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One,
iOS, and Android, with PS3 and Xbox 360 versions launching later
this year. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
APRIL 30, 2015
51
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 04.30.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos featuring DJ Wess
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5 Cover
under 21 and free with
college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Throwback Thursday
Ted on the Bar, Peter on
the Boot Black Chair
Men in DC Eagle T-shirts
drink $1 rail and domestic,
5pm-close
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
METROWEEKLY.COM
53
54
APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
DJ Madscience presents
Spring Fling at Cobalt
Friday, April 24
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/pop
retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat The Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TOWN PATIO
Open 5pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
FRI., 05.01.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
Friday Night Videos with
resident DJ Shea Van Horn
VJ Expanded craft beer
selection No cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
Martinis Upstairs open
5-11pm
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail &
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks
all night Watch your
favorite music videos with
DJ MadScience in the
lounge DJ Keenan Orr
on the dancefloor $10
cover 10pm-1am, $5 after
1am 21+
DC BEAR CRUE
@Town Bear Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm Hosted
by Charger Stone No
cover before 9:30pm 21+
DC EAGLE
Capital Area Board - All
Clubs on Club Bar for
Brother, Help Thyself benefiting LGBTQ Mental Health
Services Bear Nonsense
Happy Hour, 6-10pm
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm Otter
Den DC presents Otter
Crossing featuring DJ Bil
Todd Doors open at 9pm,
$5 Cover after 10pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long $4 Fireball,
$3 Bud
JR.S
$2 Skyy Highballs and $2
Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Retro Friday
$5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat The Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour: 2
for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
Bear Rapper Big Dipper
performs in the Drag
Show Drag Show starts
at 10:30pm Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring
Miss Tatianna, ShiQueeta-Lee, Epiphany B.
Lee and BaNaka DJ
Wess upstairs, BacK2bACk
downstairs Doors open
at 10pm Go-go boys after
11pm For those 21 and
over, $5 from 10-11pm and
$10 after 11pm For those
18-20, $12 all night 18+
TOWN PATIO
Open 5pm No Cover,
5-10pm, $5 from 10-11pm
and $10 after 11pm (enter
through Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Illusion with host
Kristina Kelly, 9pm DJ
Steve Henderson in Secrets
VJ Tre in Ziegfelds
Cover 21+
SAT., 05.02.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
3-9pm $5 Absolut &
Titos, $3 Miller Lite after
9pm Expanded craft
beer selection No Cover
Music videos featuring
various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch at
Level One, 11am-2pm and
2-4pm Featuring Kristina
Kelly and the Ladies of
Illusion Bottomless
Mimosas and Bloody Marys
Happy Hour: $3 Miller
Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Rumba Latina Cinco de
Mayo Dance Party with DJ
Piojo and DJ MadScience
Featuring Divas de la
Rumba: Sylvanna Duvel,
Sky Sensation, Jocelyn
Carrillo, Gucci Michelle,
Mayline Guerrero and a fit
Show for Miss Maryland
Jordan Sinclair Steve
Pena dancing in house
Free HIV testing and
condoms by Centro Juvenil
Empoderate Free raffle
METROWEEKLY.COM
drawing to win a pair of

VIP tickets for Victorias
Angels on the Runway
$5 Modello, $5 Corona,
$6 Captain Morgan Cuba
Libres, $6 Jose Cuerbo
Shots, $8 Long Islands
$10 Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Capital Area Board - All
Clubs on Club Bar for
Brother, Help Thyself
benefitting LGBTQ Mental
Health Services Featuring
Raffle and Jello Shots
$2 Requested Donation
at Door
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Diner-style Breakfast
Buffet, 10am-3pm Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show, hosted
by Ms. Destiny B. Childs,
8-10pm Karaoke, 10pmclose
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long
APRIL 30, 2015
55
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka highballs, $7 Vodka Red Bulls
NELLIES
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
TOWN
DC Rawhides host Town
& Country: Two-Step, Line
Dancing, Waltz and West
Coast Swing, $5 Cover to
stay all night Doors open
6:45pm, Lessons 7-8pm,
Open dance 8-10:30pm
Orange is the New Crack
Performance Show Doors
open 9pm, Show starts at
10pm $10 Admission
to show DJ Matt Bailer
spins upstairs Music
and video by DJ Wess
downstairs Cover $10
from 10-11pm, $12 after
11pm 21+
56
APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover,
2-10pm, Cover $10 from
10-11pm, $12 after 11pm
(enter through Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald, 9pm DJ Steve
Henderson in Secrets
DJ Don T. in Ziegfelds
Doors 8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 05.03.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke, 10pmclose No Cover, 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Barbecue and Beer Blast
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Freddies Zodiac
Monthly Contest, hosted by
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Karaoke, 10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night #SundayFunday
upstairs Wear your favorite sports jersey upstairs
and get free Smirnoff,
6-7pm Mamas Trailer
Park Karaoke, 9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights &
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all day
and night
NELLIES
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm
$20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30
pm Happy Hour: 2 for
1 on any drink, 3-9pm
No Cover
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
8pm Cover 21+
MON., 05.04.15
9 1/2
Multiple TVs showing
movies, shows, sports
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
RuPauls Drag Race
Viewing and Drag Show
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm, show
starts at 11pm $3 Skyy
Cocktails, $8 Skyy and Red
Bull No Cover, 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour All Night Long,
4pm-close Michaels
Open Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
Showtunes Songs &
Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ Jamez $3 Draft Pints,
8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Poker Texas
Holdem, 8pm Dart
Boards
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
NUMBER NINE
No Cover
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
TOWN PATIO
Open 5pm No Cover
TUES., 05.05.15
9 1/2
Multiple TVs showing
movies, shows, sports
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
ANNIES
Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour All Night Long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
No Cover Safe Word: A
Gay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm
Prizes to top three
spellers After 9pm, $3
Absolut, Bulleit & Stella
TOWN PATIO
Open 5pm No Cover
WED., 05.06.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Wednesday Night
Karaoke downstairs, 10pm
Hosted by Miss Sasha
Adams $4 Stoli and Stoli
Flavors and Miller Lite
No Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
METROWEEKLY.COM
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Drafts all night long Boys
of HUMP upstairs, 9pm
JR.S
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Queen Amateur
Drag Competition, hosted
by BaNaka, 10-11pm, with
a $200 prize Buy 1, Get
1 Free, 4-9pm $2 JRs
Drafts & $4 Vodka ($2 with
College I.D./JRs Team
Shirt)
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm
and 9pm Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only
Bring a new team member
and each get a free $10
Dinner
APRIL 30, 2015
57
NUMBER NINE
TOWN PATIO
Open 5pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover 21+
THURS., 05.07.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover Music videos featuring DJ Wess
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm
Martinis
58
APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5 Cover
under 21 and free with
college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Throwback Thursday
Men in DC Eagle T-shirts
drink $1 rail and domestic,
5pm-close Mid-Atlantic
Kennel Korps on Club Bar
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/pop
retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
TOWN PATIO
Open 5pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+ l
59
scene
Universal Gears
22nd Anniversary
Saturday, April 25
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
CHRISTOPHER CUNETTO
60
METROWEEKLY.COM
APRIL 30, 2015
61
You are not seeking to join the institution. You are seeking to
change what the institution is.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court JOHN ROBERTS, speaking during the first day of arguments on same-sex marriage, the
Associated Press reports. There was a change in the institution of marriage, to make it egalitarian, when it wasnt egalitarian.
And same-sex unions wouldnt fit into what marriage once was, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg later retorted.
Youd have to really have

a ridiculous and absurd reading of the U.S. constitution
to believe that people have the right to marry someone of the same sex.
Senator MARCO RUBIO, Republican candidate for president, speaking on the Christian Broadcast Network.
For all intents and purposes,

Im a woman.
Former athlete and reality star BRUCE JENNER, speaking with Diane Sawyer on ABC News. I hope Im going to be okay.
I feel like Im going to be okay, Jenner said. 2015s going to be quite a ride.
Ive been with

a few of them.
Singer ADAM LAMBERT, runner-up on American Idol and current frontman for Queen, speaking with Glamour magazine.
Lambert claims to have slept with several high-profile, closeted stars, noting they havent come out because, Whether its music
or acting, youve got to remember that those industries are primarily run by men, so maybe its about that.
[Joe Biden and I have] gotten so close

theres places in Indiana that wont serve us pizza.
President BARACK OBAMA, speaking at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Obamas joke referenced Memories Pizza in
Indiana which announced that it would refuse service to gay customers should the states
Religious Freedom Restoration Act pass.
62
APRIL 30, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
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APRIL 30, 2015
63

Metro Weekly - 04-30-15 - Next Generations and Youth Pride

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Metro Weekly - 04-30-15 - Next Generations and Youth Pride

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APRIL 30, 2015

APRIL 30, 2015

APRIL 30, 2015

THE MAYORS OFFICE ON

SALES & MARKETING

THE BRITISH WAY

THE GREAT DEBATE

photography by Ward Morrison

GLAAS AWARDS RECEPTION AT

YOUTH PRIDE GUIDE

NEXT GENERATION AWARDS 2015

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

VINCENT PAOLO VILLANO

OUT ON THE TOWN

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

2015 Jansi LLC.

APRIL 30, 2015

DJ MADSCIENCES SPRING FLING

UNIVERSAL GEARS 22ND ANNIVERSARY

photography by Christopher Cunetto

APRIL 30, 2015

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

The Great Debate

T WAS A CAR TRIP OF MORE

APRIL 30, 2015

ner in his home state.

est court will hand down a decision that

APRIL 30, 2015

APRIL 30, 2015

forth arguments with the Supreme Court

er states needed more time to weigh the

religious or moral beliefs, could end up

couples from states without marriage

The British Way

military service has been legal since 1990.

youre born in, that you grew up in, that

APRIL 30, 2015

APRIL 30, 2015

APRIL 30, 2015

FREE ZUMBA AND BELLY DANCE CLASSES. 6-7

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers

12:30-1:30 p.m. DanceSport, 2201 P St. NW. For

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at

Join the DC LABOR FILMFEST for a special

LAMBDA LINKS LGBT GOLFERS hosts the club

Join NIGHT OUT FOR TREVOR: SWEET

free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the

in Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by

Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.

WOMENS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for young

APRIL 30, 2015

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for LGB adults in

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING SOCIAL at

FREE ZUMBA AND BELLY DANCE CLASSES.

Youth Pride Alliance hosts YOUTH PRIDE DAY 2015,

free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of the

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social