Metro Weekly - 07-23-15 - Rufus Wainwright

2
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
JULY 23, 2015

Volume 22 / Issue 12
GUEST ART DIRECTOR

Christopher Cunetto
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
NEWS & BUSINESS EDITOR
John Riley
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sean Bugg, Christian Gerard, Connor J. Hogan,
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
NEWS

Boy Scout Ban Nears its End
The Space Between Us
10
Community Calendar
by John Riley
by Sean Bugg

FEATURE
14
Rufus Wainwright: The Man, His
Music, and His Legacy
by Connor J. Hogan
17

Rufus Wainwright: A Timeline

by Connor J. Hogan
19
Emil De Cou on Rufus Wanwright
OUT ON THE TOWN

20

Lamb Chops
22

Vocal Chords
24

Literary Offerings
FILM

27

Oral Fixation
GAMES

29

Beautiful Mind
HEALTH

31

Hot Bods
NIGHTLIFE

35

Bare at Cobalt
by Doug Rule
SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING
Christopher Cunetto
Cunetto Creative
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla
PATRON SAINT
Kate McGarrigle
by Doug Rule
by John Riley
by Rhuaridh Marr
by Rhuaridh Marr
by Kate Wingfield
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Tina Tyrell
METRO WEEKLY
1425 K St. NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
202-638-6830
MetroWeekly.com
All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be
reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Metro Weekly assumes no
responsibility for unsolicited materials submitted for publication. All such submissions are subject
to editing and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Metro Weekly is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims
made by advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or
their agents. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or
advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of
such person or organization.
2015 Jansi LLC.
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
photography by Ward Morrison
SCENE

43

Pride Splash & Ride at Six Flags
46
Last Word
photography by Ward Morrison
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
Republicans back Cuccinelli for Virginia governor

Group fears kindergartens will start teaching anal sex
RICH MACKEY
LGBT
News
Now online at MetroWeekly.com
A marcher in San Diegos 2013 pride parade
Boy Scout Ban Nears its End

BSA Executive Board expected to lift current ban on
openly gay adult leaders in coming months
by John Riley
E MUST DEAL WITH THE WORLD AS IT IS, not

as we might wish it to be, said Robert Gates, the
president of Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The status
quo in our movements membership standards cannot be sustained.
Speaking at the BSAs national meeting in Atlanta earlier this year,
Gates was referencing the Scouts ban on gay adult members.
We cannot ignore growing internal challenges to our current
membership policy from some councils, he continued. Nor can we
ignore the social, political and juridical changes taking place in our
country changes taking place at a pace over this past year no one
anticipated.
Although BSA did not take any actiton to lift the ban at the time,
the remarks by Gates the former U.S. Secretary of Defense and
CIA chief foreshadowed what was to come. On July 10, the BSAs
executive committee unanimously approved a resolution that would
allow openly gay adults to serve as Scout leaders and parent volunteers. BSA previously lifted a similar ban prohibiting gay Scouts from
participating in the organization in 2013.
However, while the resolution would allow openly gay adults,
it also contains provisions that allow Scout troops chartered to
churches or other religiously-affiliated institutions to set their own
adult leadership standards. That means theyll be able to continue
discriminating against LGBT people by citing religious objections.
6
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
In any case, the resolution must still be ratified by the National

Executive Board on July 27 before it can go into effect, but is expected
to be approved.
It is precisely that expected ratification that has created a political
stir over the past week, with some social conservatives weighing in to
decry the potential lifting of any ban on gay adult leaders.
First up was presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisc.),
himself a former Eagle Scout whose two sons were also active in BSA.
I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support
the previous membership policy because it protected children and
advanced Scout values, Walker said on the campaign trail last
Tuesday. His comment was reported by The Independent Journal
Review, a conservative website.
But Walker eventually walked back those comments after receiving criticism from various LGBT rights groups among them the
Human Rights Campaign that decried the comments as relying
on stereotypes of gay adults as child predators. Walker later said he
was not pushing to keep the ban, saying it was up to the Boy Scouts
whether to keep it in place and further clarifying his comments about
protection.
The protection was not a physical protection, Walker was quoted as saying by The New York Times. Rather, it was about protecting
them from being involved in the very thing youre talking about right
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
LGBTNews
now, the political and media discussion about it, instead of just focusing on what Scouts is about, which is about camping and citizenship
and things of that nature.
In contrast to his rival Walker, presidential candidate and former
Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) has adopted a more hardline stance, refusing to apologize for a statement he made in a 2008 book.
Openly active gays, particular advocates, present a problem,
Perry wrote On My Honor. Because gay activism is central to their
lives. It would unavoidably be a topic of conversation within a scout
troop. This would distract from the mission of scouting, character
building, not sex education.
In an interview on NBC News Meet the Press, Perry defended
his previous statement. I believe that scouting would be better off, if
they didnt have openly gay scoutmasters, he told moderator Chuck
Todd.
Meanwhile, the socially conservative activist organization
Concerned Women for America (CWA) has begun circulating an
open letter to Gates that people opposed to the policy change can
sign. In the letter, CWA references a previous Supreme Court decision, Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, which found that BSAs decision
to expel openly gay Scoutmaster James Dale was protected by the
groups constitutional right to freedom of association.
As a strong believe in the time-honored, time-tested institution
that is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Im urging you to remain
true to BSAs founding principles and values as they relate to sexual
orientation, the letter reads. The Supreme Court affirmed your
right in 2000 to exclude openly gay and lesbian adults from participating in your scouting program. Clearly, your call to end the ban on
gay Scout leaders is more about bending to cultural pressure than
taking the moral high ground.
Furthermore, those pushing for a change in the current policy
are putting political correctness and greed above child safety. Such
a change will force parents and community leaders to reconsider
their involvement in an organization that is respected, trusted, and
morally centered.
But even supporters of lifting the ban on openly gay adult leaders are echoing some of the same themes touched upon by Walker
and Perry, specifically that the debate over allowing LGBT adults
distracts from the BSAs mission.
Im pleased that theyre resolving it and putting it behind them,
Will Stone, the Scoutmaster of Troop 52, representing Northwest
D.C. and Chevy Chase, says of the national executive committees
actions.
Notably, Troop 52 had one of the first openly gay Scouts, Pascal
Tessier, achieve Eagle rank, Scoutings highest honor, in 2014, after
the ban on gay Scouts was lifted. Tessiers older brother, Lucien, is
also gay and achieved Eagle rank, but did so while the ban on gay
Scouts was still technically in effect. Even before the ban was lifted,
several other members of Troop 52 and their families were vocal in
their support for lifting the ban.
Stone says that all adults, regardless of sexual orientation, have
been and continue to be carefully screened and must undergo youth
protection training before they can be an active Scout leader or volunteer with the troop. That screening process will not change, even
if the National Executive Board lifts the ban.
For Stone, knowing what someones sexual orientation just hasnt
mattered.
I never asked about someones sexual orientation, he says of
the policy change. Its a good thing its being changed, so we can put
it aside and move on, because its been a huge distraction. Now that
National [BSA leadership] has the issue behind them, we can focus
on what were supposed to be doing. l
8
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
OPINION Sean Bugg
The Space Between Us

White gays have a responsibility to combat
the racism still inherent in society
O, HERE I SIT, STILL BASKING IN THE GLOW of the

marriage victory, my Facebook feed liberally sprinkled with
rainbow profile pics, and enjoying the unexpected bonus victory of the EEOC declaring employment discrimination against LGBT
people to be unlawful. Im watching the Republican presidential herd
genuflect to the anti-gay base, but it feels mostly convictionless since
even they know which way the wind is blowing.
Everythings coming up gay these days. But the glow is starting to
fade, as I keep looking at how fast LGBT rights have been won from
a historical perspective, not a personal one yet we still struggle to
acknowledge, much less fix, the embedded racism in our society.
Ive always liked to think of myself as anti-racist. Of course, even
actual racists often like to think of themselves as anti-racists, so its
not that noble of a thought. But over the past few years Ive spent a lot
more time reading and listening to the history and experience of black
Americans, and Ive realized not just how little I know but how much
racist crap had actually sunk into my head over the course of my life.
In his new book, Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates
describes the America white people live in as the Dream, the postracial place where the past is elided and the present ignored: [A] great
number of educators spoke of personal responsibility in a country
authored and sustained by a criminal irresponsibility. The point of this
language of intention and personal responsibility is broad exoneration. Mistakes were made. Bodies were broken. People were enslaved.
We meant well. We tried our best. Good intention is a hall pass
through history, a sleeping pill that ensures the Dream.
I was raised by my parents to not be racist. I grew up white in a
country that guaranteed racism would worm its way into me. The same
as no one ever sat me down and explicitly told me homosexuals were
evil yet I still got the message, I got the message about blacks. Black sections of towns were places to be avoided. Young black men were to be
feared. Black women were welfare queens. Your black friend? Not like
the other blacks.
Its insidious and corrupting and when you finally realize how
much of it is there its deeply shameful. Not that Im asking anyone to
feel sorry for me or other white people we werent the black children
growing up with those same messages. But it makes me angry to realize I was complacent and complicit, that my culture created a space
between us and them, white and black, dreamers and others, an empty
space that contradicts every lesson we tell ourselves about our nation,
our culture, our history.
Black people or any people of color dont bear the responsibility for finding a solution to racism. Thats something white people
should be doing. The fact is that a century and a half after a civil war to
end slavery and decades after a civil rights movement to ensure equal
treatment under law, weve failed. Racism is inherent in the system. To
acknowledge that is fundamental to having any hope of progress.
And I hope white LGBT people will step up and be a part of the
solution. While our experiences of discrimination arent directly analogous to racism, homophobia and the AIDS epidemic have shown us
the damage embedded hate can do to individuals and communities.
We may have challenges left in our own communities but we have a
responsibility to push beyond ourselves. We cant come this far only to
stop and immerse ourselves into a gay version of the Dream.
Sean Bugg is a writer and former editor of Metro Weekly. Follow him
on Facebook (/seanbugg) and Twitter (@seanbugg). l
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
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.
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.
SATURDAY, JULY 25
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol-
THURSDAY, JULY 23
Join Empoderate! and the Latino
LGBT Task Force for a Know
Your Rights Workshop by The
Network for Victim Recovery of D.C.
The presentation will deal with the
rights of victims of criminal, civil
and Title IX violations and services
available to them. 5-6 p.m. 3055 Mt.
Pleasant St. NW. For more information, contact Eric Perez, 202-6822245 or eric.perez@thedccenter.org.
METRO DC PFLAG, a support group
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, 301422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers
for parents, family members and

friends of LGBT youth, meets on the
fourth Thursday of every month.
English and Spanish-speaking parents welcome. 6:30-8 p.m. 3055 Mt.
Pleasant St. NW. For more information, contact Jesus Chavez, jchavezmdcpflag@gmail.com.
free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.
WEEKLY EVENTS
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and
lesbian square-dancing 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.
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,
10
JULY 23, 2015

youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155
or testing@smyal.org.
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.
FRIDAY, JULY 24
CENTER AGING, the group for LGBT
seniors, launches its first monthly
Center Aging Lunch Event, held on
the fourth Friday of every month.
Lunch is potluck, so bring a dish of
your own to share. 12-2 p.m. The DC
Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit fb.com/
centeraging.
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP
for adults in Montgomery County

offers a safe space to explore coming
out and issues of identity. 10-11:30
a.m. 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512,
Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
THE DC CENTERS INTERN PARTY
offers a chance for those interning in

D.C. for LGBTQ-related organizations
this summer to socialize and meet
new people. 6-9 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a
social discussion and activity group

for LBT women, meets on the second
and fourth Fridays of each month
at The DC Center. Social activity to
follow the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
unteer organization, volunteers today

for Food and Friends. To participate,
visit burgundycrescent.org.
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group
visits two DuPont family estates near

Wilmington, Del. About $50 for transportation and admissions, plus lunch
at museum cafe and dinner in Havre
de Grace, Md. Carpool at 9 a.m. from
Forest Glen Metro Station, late return.
Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@
verizon.net.
DEFEND YOURSELF offers a series of

self-defense workshops for cisgender
women, teen girls, and transgender
or gender non-conforming women
and men ages 16+, offered by Brandi
Carliles Lookign Out Foundation. 2-5
p.m. 16th and R Streets, NW. Specific
location provided upon registration.
To register, call 301-608-3708 or email
lauren@defendyourself.org. For more
information, visit defendyourself.org/
find-a-class.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.
The DC Center holds an introductory

LGBTQ ASL CLASS. 2-3:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
GAY MARRIED MENS

ASSOCIATION (GAMMA) is a con-
The DC Center hosts a reading and discussion of SHANNON
fidential support group for men who

are gay, bisexual, questioning and
who are married or involved with
a woman, that meets regularly in
Dupont Circle at 7:30 p.m. and also
Northern Virginia and Maryland. For
more information: GAMMAinDC.org.

org.
GILREATHS THE END OF

STRAIGHT SUPREMACY:
REALIZING GAY LIBERATION. He
will also discuss arguments made in

his forthcoming book, After Marriage:
An Agenda for Action. 12-2 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
THE SPOTLIGHT PROJECT, an edu-
cational nonprofits for LGBTQ people

and allies, offers a series of classes
focusing on Life Skills and Art at The
DC Center. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, email spotlightprojectdc@gmail.
com or visit spotlightproject.us.

202-638-0750.
WEEKLY EVENTS
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
affirming social group for ages 11-24.

4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.
Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, laycdc.org.
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.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-
tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social 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.
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive
and radically inclusive church holds

services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota
Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic

Mass for the LGBT community. 6
p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820
Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
Sign interpreted. For more info, visit
dignitynova.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED

CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all
to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.
firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4
p.m. For players of all levels, gay or
straight. teamdcbasketball.org.
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.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
DC SENTINELS basketball team
LGBT community, family and friends.

6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-theHill, 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.

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, JULY 26
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hikes strenuous 7.5 miles with 1800

feet of elevation gain to see waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park.
Dinner and/or blackberry ice cream
at Skyland Resort to follow. Bring
plenty of beverages, lunch, bug spray,
sunscreen, about $20 for fees and
refreshments. Carpool at 9 a.m. from
Kiss & Ride lot of East Falls Church
Metro Station. Craig, 202-462-0535.
adventuring.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m.,
High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral
Ave. NW. 202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.
org.
welcomes GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old Telegraph
Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new
age church & learning center. Sunday

Services and Workshops event. 5419
Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL
TEMPLE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and
progressive faith community every

Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,
near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.
lincolntemple.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 interpreted)

and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday School
at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-6387373, mccdc.com.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
11
NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN

CHURCH, inclusive church with
WEEKLY EVENTS
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-
NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND

SUPPORT GROUP for gay men liv-
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
ing 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. 202554-4330, riverside-dc.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. 202-232-0900,
saintstephensdc.org.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcomingand-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 individuals 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 welcom-
ing 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.
tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.
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
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. 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: 703-7894467.

410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.
THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community.
10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
MONDAY, JULY 27
mens evening affinity group. 3636

Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
CENTER MILITARY WORKING

GROUP of The DC Center for LGBT
WASHINGTON WETSKINS Water
veterans, servicemembers and their

families, holds a meeting to discuss
upcoming initiatives. 7-8:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information and to RSVP, Eric
Perez, 202-682-2245 or eric.perez@
thedccenter.org.
SAGE METRO DC holds a movie
night, screening the film Ma Vie

en Rose, about a transgender girl
who cant wait to grow up to be a
woman. 6:30-8 p.m. The Residences
at Thomas Circle, 1330 Massachusetts
Ave. NW. For more information, contact sagemetrodc1@gmail.com.
12
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
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.
LGBTCommunityCalendar
TUESDAY, JULY 28
The DC Center hosts a roundtable of
its GENDER QUEER DISCUSSION
GROUP. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly din-
ner 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 571-2149617. james.leslie@inova.org.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
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.

org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE

DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,

202-638-0750.
LGBT 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, 703521-1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
where volunteers assemble safe-sex

kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,
Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court
NW. thedccenter.org.

410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@
smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ

YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
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 at
301-300-9978 or Takoma Park at 301422-2398.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets
for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity

Center, 721 8th St. SE, across from
the Marine Barracks. No reservation
needed. 703-407-6540 if you need a
partner.
WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,

Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy

Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support
MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/

STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 14th
group for black gay men 40 and older.

7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202446-1100.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
13
THE MAN,
H IS MUSIC,
AND HIS
LEGACY.
BY CONNOR J. HOGAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TINA TYRELL
14
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
EDONIST, GENIUS, FATHER, BROTHER, ADDICT, SODOMITE, LEGEND: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT HAS BEEN CALLED A LOT
of things. But mundane? Its just not an adjective you can ascribe to the modern day composer. With a tuft of Oscar Wildean hair and a wit
as sharp as that 19th century poet, Wainwright evokes a time when to be gay was to change the world through art, music, and language.
But today, when gay culture is synonymous with Glee or has been summed up in a trite hashtag, what has changed? With over a decade
of music to his credit, Wainwright has always courted the mainstream, but refuses to compromise himself for pop star status. Its this
unwavering confidence that draws his fans back time and time again.
Now married, Wainwright is instead focusing on grander projects to leave his own legacy beyond that of his daughter, of
course. The transition has not been easy. With his opera, Prima Donna, a difference of opinion over the libretto forced a wedge
between the musician and the Metropolitan Opera. But Wainwright, not one to back down from a challenge, has pressed forward
and will be joining the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap on July 31 to serenade us with his music: some old and some new.
METRO WEEKLY: Twelve years ago, you told us that the next thing youre going to make is an opera. Now that youve written Prima Donna, how
do you feel?
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT: Im definitely a man of my word, at least artistically. If I have an idea in my head, I tend to stick with it. Although I
have changed my mind on things before. Like on gay marriage. I never really thought Id have a child. But on a creative level, Im extremely
tenacious.
Prima Donna just recently aired on the BBC, the libretto is going to be released in the fall, and there will be concerts of the opera around
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
15
GAY MARRIAGE WILL NOT BE THE

SAME AS STRAIGHT MARRIAGE. THERE
WONT BE A WAY TO DISASSOCIATE
FROM THE HISTORY WEVE HAD. WERE
NOT JUST GOING TO BECOME
STRAIGHT. WE HAVE TASTED
FROM THE POISON CHALICE.
the world. Its been a big success, people want to hear it, people
want to sing it, and orchestras want to play it. Its very exciting
and very scary. When I first started writing songs, I worked tirelessly at my piano, and my singing, and I still do that. But over
the years its gotten easier, now I am handed things on a silver
platter. Sometimes, I miss the raw turmoil that entails.
MW: You mentioned you changed your mind on marriage. What do
you think about the recent Supreme Court decision? [This interview was conducted on June 26, the day of the ruling.]
WAINWRIGHT: I think its incredible. This whole week has been
such an incredible milestone. Both with upholding Obamas
healthcare decision, the housing decision, gay marriage. Its a
great time to talk about gay marriage. But ultimately, Im in a
wonderful relationship and Im happy to know that some old
people in dresses like what Im doing.
MW: What were your thoughts in the past?
WAINWRIGHT: Initially, I was against gay marriage, because I
felt strongly that gay men had created their own intense and
high culture whether it was Oscar Wilde, or Andy Warhol
or Tchaikovsky. In my opinion, the most sophisticated cultural
movements have been in the gay male community. I didnt want
to lose that. I didnt want to lose the sexual freedom, but I held
strongly to that sense of culture. That being said, Ive been married to my husband for three years, and in a relationship for ten
years. Beyond being gay, beyond being a man, I am a human
being, Im a living soul. And being united with another soul
in the eyes of the community is a very important concept that
I have to adopt. I am getting older, and I cant just go to bars
anymore.
MW: Are you worried that marriage will homogenize the gay community?
WAINWRIGHT: Gay marriage will not be the same as straight marriage. There wont be a way to disassociate from the history
weve had. Were not just going to become straight. We have
16
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
tasted from the poison chalice. Marriage is a

difficult prospect for anyone whether youre
gay, straight, transgender. Its constantly
evolving.
I grew up in the days of danger. When
I was young, it was late 80s, early 90s.
Last gasp of the very clandestine world of
being a gay man. It was very intense. People
were dying of AIDS. I experienced that as
a young person. For better or worse, it was
very inspiring. But now its a different world
new challenges, new tragedies and new
triumphs.
MW: Speaking of challenges, in addition to
marriage youre also a father. Your daughter
Viva enjoys two sets of musical genes, doesnt
she?
WAINWRIGHT: Her grandfather is Leonard
Cohen. Both my parents are musical kings
and queens. My father [Loudon Wainwright
III] was a singer, and so was my mother [Kate
McGarrigle]. So to me it seemed really natural to have a musical family. But her main
residence is with my friend, Lorca [Cohen].
That being said, when we began this journey,
it was very old-fashioned. I thought You
know, were all from Montreal, were all from
music, why dont we join forces?
MW: So when is her first album coming out?
WAINWRIGHT: [Laughs.] Whenever she comes from a show of
mine, she comes right up to me and says Okay, now its my
turn. I wouldnt hold it against her if she did write an album.
MW: Isnt there a song on Out of the Game about her?
WAINWRIGHT: Yeah, Montauk. I wrote it about her when she
was just born. It was looking forward to times when she would
come and visit me at my house in Montauk. It was about setting
the frame of a beautiful painting that we could all eventually
walk into. But now weve done it. Weve been in that picture.
MW: As one of the first openly gay artists, what are your thoughts
on the current influx of gay musicians?
WAINWRIGHT: You know, there was some article about Adam
Lambert saying he was the first gay person to be signed to a
major label, which is not true, because I was signed first. I was
trying to get in touch with them to make this correction, and
they insisted I was in the closet when my first album came out.
When I started my album, I said I was gay, but Ive always been
more concerned with my music. Lets talk about boys until the
cows come home, but its really about the art. Adam Lambert
really focused on his being gay because it was kind of his thing.
Its a difficult question, because on one hand, being gay and
being out in the Western world, thats a privilege. You can do
that. Youre not arrested or killed, or hurt. But if youre in Saudi
Arabia, or Africa, its a matter of life or death. Its a huge human
rights violation. If you take away my art, you take away my
music, I want to affect human rights. That should come before
songwriting or your career.
MW: What does the future hold for you?
WAINWRIGHT: I still have to write this other opera, Hadrian. It
will premiere in 2018, and its gonna be a major work four
acts, with ballet numbers. That will definitely leave an impression. Of course, there are other legacies. I still love working
with my family. My sisters and my father are doing a tour of
Alaska. Thats a very big part of me. Its been ten years since Judy
came out. Im still writing songs throughout all of this. At the

moment, I am really taking stock of all these incredibly events
that have happened. But the fact is, I cant go out and make pop
records as much. I have to see what happens. Im just following
my instincts. And at the end of these two years, I will be very
instinctual.
MW: Youll be singing with the National Symphony Orchestra later
this month. What makes orchestras a compelling medium for you?
WAINWRIGHT: Oh, Ive sung with many orchestras the Chicago
symphony, the Montreal symphony. I am quite experienced in
that forum. Im excited to do it. Its quite a good match actually.
In terms of my voice, and my knowledge of opera and love of
classical music, it comes naturally to me. Its embedded in my
voice. I can hear whats going on in the music.
MW: In terms of your own music, youve gained a huge following in
the gay community. Youve also inspired many of them. How does
it feel to be so integral to those people?
WAINWRIGHT: Im incredibly, incredibly moved and thankful to
the forces that be that Ive been able to help people along the
way just by being myself. I have walked the streets in protest,
but its not the center of my existence. I have been honest at the
outset of my career about my sexuality, writing songs about guys
even on my first album. Telling my record company that I am
gay and saying Were not going to try and change that. I think
that was the right choice.
There was a deep-seated bigotry that did occur because of
my sexuality. I suffered some passing over in terms of the guy
who gets the video budget, or the guy who gets the SNL gig. But
at this point there are so many people who have come together
over my music. And I would say for gay men, Ive been a little
critical. You know, this whole concept of coming out of the closet is the best thing. Its not just about doing a lot of drugs, and
having sex all the time Im not against that but Im always
for what makes being gay great. Like what I was saying about
Oscar Wilde, and Tchaicovsky. For me personally, its been a
good run I think, and thats because Ive always been myself.
Rufus Wainwright performs with the National Symphony
Orchestra on July 31 at The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road,
Vienna, Va. Tickets are $25-$58 and are available at wolftrap.org
or by calling 1-877-WOLFTRAP (965-3872). l
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT:
A TIMELINE
BY CONNOR J. HOGAN
ORN INTO A FAMILY OF FOLK MUSIC ROYALTY, RUFUS

Wainwrights musical history extends far beyond his first
self-titled album. However, hes been able to break free from
his lineage, creating a musical legacy uniquely his own. At times
lyrical and grandiose and at others singular and raw, his songs
reveal the artist behind the piano, his melodies soaked in his
inner turmoils and joys.
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT (1998)
On October 6th, 1998, Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered.

Beaten, pistol-whipped, tied to a fence left to die. With Shepards
murder, Americans still not comfortable with the idea of homo-
sexuality suddenly were confronted with the real dangers of

being openly gay. Although part-Canadian, Rufus Wainwright,
whose self-titled album debuted in May 1998, was acutely aware
of these dangers, something evident throughout his first album.
At the time, Wainwright was twenty-five. It was four years
since he had ended a seven-year period of celibacy. In 1988,
Wainwright had been brutally raped by a man he picked up in a
bar. I thought it was going to be a romantic walk in the park, but
he raped me and robbed me afterwards and tried to strangle me,
he told Contact Music. AIDS was at its height and you were told
that this kind of contact could kill you. So I was just put off sex. I
didnt sleep with anyone again until I was 21.
Plagued by the loneliness that being gay can sometimes cause,
songs like Foolish Love demonstrate a man unwilling to give
everything to his lover: Why wont you last? Why cant you last?
However, the entire album isnt melancholic. In April Fools, he
shows a curious level of optimism, with an upbeat chorus that
promises You will believe in love, and all its supposed to be.
POSES (2001)
From 2000 to 2001, Wainwright spent six months in the Chelsea

Hotel in New York City. There, he wrote most of his second
album Poses. In the same year, movies like Hedwig and the Angry
Inch, L.I.E., and Kissing Jessica Stein were hitting the alternative movie houses across the country. Even Shepards story was
chronicled in The Laramie Project, which premiered in 2000.
Although not yet mainstream, gay issues were inching closer and
closer to the center thanks to fringe artistic movements.
During his stay at the Chelsea, however, Wainwright fought
not for gay rights, but for his life. Addicted to crystal meth and
spending hours having sex with strangers, Wainwrights life was
a whirlwind party that lasted twenty-four hours, seven days a
week. Crystal meth had sort of been around since my L.A. days,
he told Metro Weekly in 2003. Every time I did it, I was like This
is the one for me, this is the great drug. Its cheap. It lasts for
twenty hours. Sex is great. You think youre brilliant.
What came out of that borrowed brilliance was Poses, an
album about [a] character who sort of has a foray into drugs and
nightclubs. He enters in as this beautiful young man and leaves
as a wrecked human being. Faster and more upbeat than his
self-titled album, Poses bounces from Gregorian chants to Folksy
blues. One of the final tracks is One Man Guy, a cover of a song
by Loudon Wainwright III, his father. However, the track takes
on a new life with Wainwrights sexuality and feels like a break
from the hedonistic life that he was living at the time. Through
Poses, it became apparent to Wainwright that the man he was
writing about was himself.
THE WANT ALBUMS (2003-2005)
In May, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Six months later, Wainwrights
fourth studio album, Want Two, was released as the second half
of his previous album, Want One. While things were improving
for LGBT people around the world, Wainwright was recovering from his crystal meth addiction, which had peaked in 2002
with bouts of blindness and hallucinations of his father. What
eventually convinced him that he needed help? A couple of days
with former president George W. Bushs daughter, Barbara Bush.
That freaked the shit out of me, he told The Guardian. Shes a
kind of ditsy sorority girl but I had this sense of her being so
very close to evil.
The hallucinations of his father, Loudon Wainwright III, created tremendous internal tension for the singer/songwriter. I
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
17
realized suddenly just how unhappy I was, Wainwright continued. I believed I had two choices. I was either going to rehab or
I was going to live with my father. I knew I needed an asshole to
yell at me, and I felt he fitted the bill.
The Want albums express a longing for his old days of
debauchery, but also the necessity of deliverance from that lifestyle. On Want Two, were introduced to that savior through the
Gay Messiah. A silly, lyrical painting of a messianic figure that
comes to save the gay community from Studio 54 and the Fire
Island Pines. And on Want One, Vibrate gives us a glimpse into
Wainwrights newfound maturity. God knows what all these
new drugs do, he exclaims in world weariness. Want One and
Want Two, while companion pieces, reflect two diametrically
opposed sensations: light against dark, joy against sorrow, and
fulfillment against longing.
RUFUS DOES JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL (2007)
Weary of American culture, in 2006 Wainwright sought solace

in Judy Garlands live album Judy at Carnegie Hall. Traumatized
by the attacks of September 11th, the subsequent War on Terror,
and the presidency of George W. Bush, Wainwright wanted
to be reminded of the former greatness of the U.S. and the joy
that came with that citizenship. Somehow that album, no
matter how dark things seemed, made everything brighten,
Wainwright told the New York Times. She had this capacity to
lighten the world through the innocence of her sound.
In collaboration with Carnegie Hall, Wainwright recreated
Garlands legendary live performance of Judy at Carnegie Hall.
his voice was built for these grandiose productions. You cant
help but smile listening to his renditions of Judys classics Foggy
Day, You Go To My Head, and Puttin On The Ritz.
RELEASE THE STARS (2007)
After his Carnegie Hall appearances, Wainwright began working

on Release the Stars. While initially meant to be only voice and
piano, a visit to Berlin changed everything. He was overwhelmed
with the German Romanticism of the city. In addition to Berlins
inspiration, Kate McGarrigles (his mother) recent cancer diagnosis pushed him to work relentlessly, believing it would cure
her.
In a way, Release the Stars is not unlike the Want albums.
Sweeping orchestral movements under complicated piano
arrangements complemented with electric guitar riffs, the album
is at once personal and political. In Going to a Town, a
song which he wrote in five minutes before he flew to Berlin,
Wainwright continues to express his frustration with the state
of the United States. Im so tired of America, he croons. Ive
got a life to lead. And a big part of that life for Wainwright was
his newfound beau, Jrn Weisbrodt. The song Tiergarten
recounts their walks through a Berlin park while he was recording the album.
ALL DAYS ARE NIGHTS: SONGS FOR LULU (2010)
On January 18th, 2010, McGarrigle died in Montreal, Canada.

With just his piano and his voice, Wainwright explores his sadness over the loss of his mother in All Days Are Nights: Songs for
Lulu.
The raw nature of this album, produced by Wainwright
himself, gives listeners a peek behind the curtain at the emotional underpinnings of the enigmatic musician. While sitting
at his mothers hospital bed, Wainwright worked on the song
Zebulon, a haunting melody that builds to a climactic ending,
which quickly became one of his and his mothers favorites. And
in Martha, he details a conversation hes had with his sister,
Martha Wainwright, about visiting their mother in the hospital,
and the stress that comes with those visits.
In February, 2011, nearly a year after her grandmothers
death, Wainwrights daughter Viva Katherine Wainwright
Cohen was born.
OUT OF THE GAME (2012)
And to a sold out house on June 14 and 15 of 2006, Wainwright

revived the golden age diva. Its a communal experience; Im
drawing upon a collective unconscious, Wainwright said to
Time Out New York. In this day and age I think it is important
for us, as gay men, to respect that part of history, and not put it
in a place of shame.
In Rufus Does Judy, that history of inescapable optimism
comes soaring through in Wainwrights unwavering tenor.
By the way, this is one of the songs in its original key,
Wainwright mentions before launching into a perfect Do It
Again. Accompanied by a forty piece orchestra, it proved that
18
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
By 2012, the battle for marriage equality was in full swing. With
nine states passing same-sex marriage laws and Lady Gagas
Born This Way anthem lodged in our brains, hope gleamed on
the horizon for LGBT Americans. Together since the mid-2000s,
Wainwright and Weisbrodt were married in August in Montauk,
New York. Earlier that year, Wainwright released his seventh
studio album Out of the Game, produced by Mark Ronson.
Wainwright believed there was still work to be done to make
everyone equal. To that end, he wanted something enjoyable for
all his fans. The main objective - not for the entire [album],
necessarily, but for portions of it - is to be danceable, he told
Rolling Stone. I just want to make something that you love,
driving around in your car listening or losing your mind to on a
dance floor. Something to serenade us through these very, very
troubling times.
Out of the Game is a celebration of humanity. From the single
Out of the Game where Wainwright gives up on being famous
to Montauk, a touching lullaby to his daughter, this album
emerges from Wainwrights life and paints it in beautiful water
colors. But life isnt always floral. Fittingly, his final song on the
album is Candles, an in memoriam for his late mother. l
EMIL DE COU
ON RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
I
THINK RUFUS WAINWRIGHT STRADDLES TWO

worlds. A lot of his influences came from Judy Garland and
from Edith Piaf, two torch song singers who basically sang
about their lives. Theres something autobiographical in his
work that really connects with an audience, which is why I

think hes had such a huge following. A lot of his music he
sings a lot of ballads, some kind of arch, some deeply emotional
comes from his perspective.
But also you have this beautiful old sound it reminds me
a little bit of Burt Bacharach. Quirky French harmonies and
unusual melodies and phrases. Hell be sitting center stage. Ill
be right behind him. Theres an intimacy about it that really
comes across. Its an old school way of performing.
When youre accompanying an artist like this, youre kind
of like a dance partner, in a way. Some people like to lead and
some like to follow. Some like to backphrase which means
youre slightly behind the music and you catch up and some
people like you to be very steady. You just have to gauge how
they like to have the music. I sense from his music that he
seems very easygoing he seems so likeable and nice and
seemingly uncomplicated. I think thats also part of his charm,
because he comes across as very boyish. And then you hear
these world weary songs behind his life story.
Some artists music is made more expressive, made better with having orchestral accompaniment. And so many pop
performers are just so much better with piano and a combo.
With Rufuss music, his accompaniments are always so orchestral, that even just with the piano, or a small combo, you hear
more. As told to Randy Shulman
Emil de Cou, music director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet
and the official NSO at Wolf Trap Festival Conductor, will
conduct the National Symphony Orchestras portions of Rufus
Wainwrights concert at Wolf Trap. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
19
JULY 23, 2015
Compiled by Doug Rule
SPOTLIGHT
PHOTO COURTESY SUTDIO THEATER
BALTIMORE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Lamb Chops
Enjoy a nice chianti while you take in Studios wildly

funny Silence of the Lambs spoof
HILE NOT A PART OF THIS MONTHS CAPITAL FRINGE FESTIVAL,

Studio is certainly appealing to the anything-goes audience with its latest production. Silence! The Musical (HHHH) is about as wild and whacked out as a professional show ever gets.
Perhaps youve heard the buzz about Jon Kaplan and Alan Kaplans musical, with a book by
Hunter Bell. Yes, this is that show, the unauthorized parody of the 24-year-old cinematic classic
The Silence of the Lambs. Silence! is a fringe show down to its roots, having emerged as the breakout
hit of the 2005 FringeNYC Festival. It strips away the films focus on horror, replacing it with nutty,
off-kilter, sexualized humor.
Four years ago the show ran off Broadway in a two-hour, two-act production that the New York
Times said was stretched well past the point of inspiration. Thats not the case at Studio, where
director Alan Paul has trimmed the fat into a lean, 90-minute, intermission-less show, set in Studios
intimate upper-level Stage 4 space featuring a full bar. By the time youve just about had your fill
of the lewd sight gags, uproariously perverse rounds of dialogue and gleefully vulgar songs, its all
said and done.
Laura Jordan earns the biggest applause for her deadpan work in the tricky role of Clarice
Starling, the aspiring FBI agent and West Virginia hick with a comically exaggerated lisp. Tally
Sessions is similarly jovial in his portrayal of an attractive, almost likeable Hannibal Lecter things
youd never say about Anthony Hopkinss cinematic monster. Even Tom Story manages to make
Buffalo Bill a more multi-dimensional character than the films one-note transgressive transsexual.
But it is Hayley Travers who steals the show in her dual role as little Catherine trapped in Bills well
and as Catherines mother, U.S. Senator Ruth Martin. Her scenes are short but indelible this mother and daughter are effectively portrayed as cut from the same cheap but sturdy T.J. Maxx cloth.
Even more fleeting are the ensemble adorned with white ears and hoofs, gamboling around the
stage and into the crowd. These little lambs will make you laugh and smile, and then laugh some
more. Doug Rule
Silence! The Musical runs to Aug. 9 at Studio Theatre, 14th and P Streets NW.
Tickets are $40 to $45. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org. l
20
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
Dvorak premiered his fantastic

Symphony No. 9 From The New
World 120 years ago as a toast to the
past specifically the folk tunes and
gypsy music from his native Bohemia
and the future, with his impression
of America. Tito Munoz conducts the
BSO in a performance of this bold,
thrilling and moving work along
with Ariel Horowitz, who will perform Mendelssohns Violin Concerto.
Both performances begin with a BSO
Block Party at 5:30 p.m. with local
food trucks and other attractions.
Thursday, July 30, at 8 p.m. Music
Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman
Lane, North Bethesda. Also Friday,
July 31, at 7:30 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff
Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St.,
Baltimore. Tickets are $25 to $45. Call
410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.
BRANDON FLOWERS
IMP Productions presents a concert

by the lead singer of the great neo-new
wave/synth-pop band, The Killers.
Would you believe Flowers new solo
album The Desired Effect is every bit
as good if not better than anything his
band has put out in its first 11 years
as a recording sensation? Once you
listen to this varied, uptempo set, you
will. Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m.
Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd.
NE. Tickets are $35. Call 202-5032330 or visit echostage.com.
ERIK BRUNER-YANG:
VEGAN COOKING CLASS
Northeast D.C.s most famous chef,

the man behind Toki Underground
in the H Street Corridor and Maketto
in Union Market, drops by Southeast
D.C.s Hill Center to offer a course
on creative vegan cooking. BrunerYang will focus on the mostly fermented products made by Union
Markets
Honeycomb
Grocer,
helmed by Isaiah Billington, formerly of Woodberry Kitchen, and Sara
Conezio. Honeycomb Grocer sources
ingredients from the Chesapeake Bay
watershed, preserving them through
fermentation. Saturday, July 25, at 11
a.m. Hill Center, Old Navy Hospital,
921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Tickets
are $85. Call 202-549-4172 or visit
HillCenterDC.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
21
GILBERT & SULLIVAN
Every summer, the Capitol Hill Arts

Workshop (CHAW) and its director Jill Strachan present a different
Gilbert and Sullivan production. This
year brings Trial by Jury and selections
from Yeomen of the Guard. As always,
the production features a cast primarily from the CHAW and LGBT communities. Opens Thursday, July 30, at
7:30 p.m. Weekends to Aug. 8. Capitol
Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-547-6839 or
visit chaw.org.
INGENUE TO ICON: HILLWOODS

FASHION EXHIBITION
Subtitled 70 Years of Fashion from the

Collection of Marjorie Merriweather
Post, the Hillwood Museum offers
a special exhibition focused on the
elegant fashions and sumptuous fabrics documenting the evolution of
20th Century fashion and all drawn,
naturally, from the late Hillwood
owner who gave the place so much
style. To Dec. 31. Hillwood Estate, 4155
Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $12. Call 202-686-5807 or visit
HillwoodMuseum.org.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA WITH WOLF
TRAP OPERA ALUMNI
Alumni of the Wolf Trap Opera

Company return for a first-ever special performance with the National
Symphony Orchestra, as conducted
by Daniele Callegari, offering a concert version of Verdis Aida. Were
talking soloists whove become stars
in the opera firmament: Soprano
Marjorie Owens, who recently made
her Metropolitan Opera debut in Aida,
as well as other Met vets including
tenor Carl Tanner and mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung, plus Houston
Grand Opera regular baritone Scott
Hendricks. Friday, July 24, at 8:15
p.m.The Filene Center at Wolf Trap,
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$22 to $75. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org.
ROMEO AND JULIET: LOVE

KNOWS NO AGE
Marylands Unexpected Stage theater

company presents a contemporary
interpretation of Shakespeares classic
tragedy, in which Romeo and Juliet
are played by older actors, septuagenarians in an adult living community,
with the Montagues and Capulets as
their adult children. This marks the

first production of Shakespeare from
the company known for its thoughtprovoking works. To Aug. 10. Randolph
Road Theatre, 4010 Randolph Road.
Silver Spring. Tickets are $10 to $25.
Call 800-838-3006 or visit unexpectedstage.org.
SAM SMITH
W/JAZMINE SULLIVAN
The gay pop star offers one of the

main concert draws of the summer,
with opening act Jazmine Sullivan,
who emerges after a hiatus to continue
what she started busting the windows out your car. Friday, July 24, at 8
p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475
Little Patuxent Parkway, Coltumbia,
Md. Tickets are $45 to $97.50. Call
800-551-SEAT or visit merriweathermusic.com.
SIGNATURE THEATRES
CABARET SERIES
Signature Theatres popular annual cabaret series runs through next

weekend. Remaining highlights
include: Mitchell Jarvis performing Jacques Brel is Alive and Well
and Living Everywhere, on Friday,
July 24, at 7 p.m.; Will Gartshore
Vocal Chords
Singers are the stars in charge at Maryland Lyric Opera
TS NOT THAT TALENTED SINGERS ARE NOT BORN ANYMORE, SAYS HENRIETTE
Lund. But they are, shall we say, coached to death.
A vocal coach at Catholic University, Lund feels the quality of singing in opera has
degenerated dramatically in the past 20 years. It is, at least in part, because elaborate staging
has become the norm. She recalls a recent production of Barber of Seville in which Figaro had
to sing while riding a bike, even while jumping off the handles at one point. When a singer has
to perform stunts, physically, you can maybe hit the notes, but you will never ever sing it well.
Lund founded the Maryland Lyric Opera Company last year with Brad Clark in reaction to
the trend of prioritizing staging over singing. In Lunds company, those who fundamentally
make opera what it is the singers are once again the stars in charge. In the old days it was
always about the singers, Lund says. The conductor would lead the orchestra to accompany
the singers. Today, the singers have to accompany the orchestra. Not with her company, now
offering its second semi-staged production, Gounods Romeo et Juliette. In addition to a full
accompanying orchestra, MLO has hired dancers and actors to perform in non-singing roles so
that the singers can move and stand and walk where they want freeing them to focus on
singing and finding their individual voices.
A good singer is always playing around with his sound, Lund says. Hes always spontaneous, hes never repetitive because if he were you wouldnt get any life in the sound. Yet singers are not trained that way today, the emphasis being on tangible, testable aspects, from how
precise one hits written notes to how many languages one can sing in. The result is singing that
is sanded down and bland. And this sets up a kind of vicious circle.
Explains Lund: If youre a good stage director [confronted with] mediocre singing, you say to
yourself, We got to do something about this. Get them more to do! But the more you get them
to do, the worse theyll sing. Doug Rule
Maryland Lyric Opera Companys Romeo et Juliette is Friday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday,
July 26, at 3 p.m., at the Clarices Kay Theatre at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Tickets are $35 to $100. Call 301-405-ARTS or visit theclarice.umd.edu. l
22
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
and Stephanie Waters performing

Isnt It Romantic? accompanied by
Christopher Wingert, on Friday, July
24, at 9 p.m. and Saturday, July 25, at
7 p.m.; and the popular Revenge of
the Understudies, in which this past
seasons backstage divas male and
female get to have their moment in
the spotlight, on Saturday, July 25, at 9
p.m. Signature Theatres ARK Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
Tickets are $25 for each show, or $150
for a special All-Access Pass. Call 703820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org
for a complete schedule.
THE OUTRAGEOUS
SOPHIE TUCKER
The Washington DC Jewish Film

Festival presents a screening next
week of William Gazeckis new documentary The Outrageous Sophie Tucker,
based on research by Susan and Lloyd
Ecker about one of Americas first popular female entertainers from a century
ago. Also known as The Last of the
Red-Hot Mamas for her frank and
risque songs and comedy about sex,
the Ukrainian-born Sophie Tucker was
a vaudeville star who gained wider
fame in television, including as a regular guest on popular shows including
The Ed Sullivan Show. Interesting side
note: In addition to having widespread
indirect influence, Tucker specifically
inspired the career of Bette Midler as
well as the character of Mama Morton
in Chicago. Tuesday, July 28, at 7:30
p.m. The Aaron and Cecile Goldman
Theater, Washington, D.C.s Jewish
Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW.
visit washingtondcjcc.org.
THE SECOND CITYS LET

THEM EAT CHAOS
Chicagos legendary improv troupe

returns to present a D.C.-centric production at Woolly Mammoth Theatre
Company for the sixth time, after sellout success with previous provocative, political-skewering shows, from
Barack Stars to American All Better!!
To Aug. 2. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D
St. NW. Tickets range from $35 to $83.
Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.
WASHINGTON IMPROV
THEATER: WIT ATTACKS!
No two performances are alike

when performed by the Washington
Improv Theater D.C.s answer to
those comedy star-making groups
such as Chicagos Second City and
L.A.s Groundlings especially since
theyre spurred on by audience suggestions. All of the companys improv
ensembles have devised new work for
this summers WIT Attacks!, including Commonwealths public radioinspired That American Life, King
Bees production inspired by the Alfred
Hitchcock classic Rear Window and
a short musical by iMusical. To Aug.
1. Source Theater, 1835 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at
the door. Call 202-204-7770 or visit
washingtonimprovtheater.com.
FILM
MEAN GIRLS
As part of its monthly Mean Girl

Movie Night, Nellies screens the
2004 film featuring some juicy, laughout-loud lines from scripter Tina Fey
and starring Lindsay Lohan, before
she became known as Hollywoods
problem child. Those part of the
Nellies clique that is, those wearing
a Mean Girl Nellies t-shirt get
an entree at half-price and specials
including $3 Titos Vodka and $3
Nellie Beer. Mean Girls membership
does have its privileges, after all. Every
fourth Monday, including this lMonday, July 27, at 8 p.m. Nellies Sports
Bar, 900 U St. NW. Call 202-332NELL or visit nelliessportsbar.com.
PIXELS
Surprisingly, Pixels looks to finally

buck the trend of awful Adam Sandler
comedies. Its premise? A space probe
sent by NASA carrying copies of videogame classics such as Pacman and
Donkey Kong was misinterpreted by
aliens as a declaration of war, causing
them to send versions of the games
characters back to earth to destroy
humanity. Christopher Columbuss
film looks to be silly, CGI-heavy fun.
Opens Friday, July 24. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.
SCREEN ON THE GREEN:

THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE
The 17th annual film screening series

on the National Mall continues next
Monday, July 27, with one of the first
all-star disaster flicks, The Poseidon
Adventure. Twenty-five years before
Titanic, Ronald Neames flick about a
capsized luxury liner in the Atlantic
was the box office champ in 1973
and won a special Oscar for its visual
effects and another for Best Song for
The Morning After as performed
by Maureen McGovern. The cast was
led by Gene Hackman, Leslie Nielsen
and Shelley Winters. Monday, July 27,
at sunset (around 8:30 p.m.). National
Mall, between 4th and 7th Streets
NW. Free. Visit hbo.com/screenonthegreen.
STAGE
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
HHHHH
As directed by Keegan Theatres married leaders Mark A. Rhea and Susan
Marie Rhea, this production of the
Tennessee Williams masterpiece puts
on full display the companys ability
to stage dramatic plays with a large
cast in a small space. The play goes a
lot further in drawing out the homosexual longing at its root than the
famous movie with Elizabeth Taylor
and Paul Newman ever did yet at
Keegan, you still dont feel the level
of sexual anguish in Kevin Hassers
portrayal of Brick you might expect.
Hasser instead makes his characters

flaws all about alcohol and his familys mendacity, not about his immense
regret from having spurned the sexual
advances of his high school buddy, who
committed suicide shortly thereafter.
Kevin Adams is once again the family patriarch in a Keegan production,
though even this fine actor seems to
struggle a bit to parse out the nuances
in his role as Big Daddy. Its a quandary
shared by most everyone else in the
cast, to varying degrees, in this long
show which as a result feels longer
than its over three-hour runtime. To
Aug. 1. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church
St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call
703-892-0202 or visit keegantheatre.
com. (Doug Rule)
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Arena Stage has recruited some all-star

talent for its world premiere musical
Dear Evan Hansen, featuring a book by
Steven Levenson (Masters of Sex) and
a score by Tony nominees Benj Pasek
and Justin Paul (A Christmas Story).
Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal)
directs this modern tale about a boy
preparing for a bright future so long
as his secret past doesnt come back to
haunt him. Ben Platt from Pitch Perfect
stars. Now in previews. To Aug. 23.
Mead Center for American Theater,
1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $51 to $66.
Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.
org.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
(AKA THE PARENT TRAP)
Bethesdas youth-oriented theater

company Imagination Stage offers a
world-premiere musical based on Erich
Kastners novel Lottie & Lisa as adapted
by David S. Craig, with music by Marc
Schubring. The focus is on 10-year-old
twins who are being raised separately,
unknowingly, by their divorced parents. To Aug. 14. Imagination Stage,
4908 Auburn Ave. Bethesda. Tickets
are $10 to $25. Call 301-280-1660 or
visit imaginationstage.org.
GARFIELD, THE MUSICAL

WITH CATITUDE
Adventure Theatre MTC presents this

musical for all ages based on the adventures of the sarcastic, tubby cat, with
a book co-written by creator and cartoonist Jim Davis and Aventures own
Michael J. Bobbitt. John L. Cornelius
II wrote the music and lyrics. To Aug.
23. Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300
MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Tickets
are $19.50. Call 301-634-2270 or visit
adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
NEIGHBORHOOD 3:
REQUISITION OF DOOM
Focused on Grand Guignol-inspired

horror theater, the Molotov Theatre
Group is also a favorite of the Capital
Fringe Festival, and its latest production is pegged to Fringe. The focus
is on Jennifer Haleys play about a
psychologically addictive video game
that emulates players actual neighborhoods as the on-screen environment. Moving from one level to the
next means destroying armies of
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
23
Literary Offerings
PHOTO COURTESY OUTWRITE
The OutWrite Book Festival provides a forum for

diverse perspectives in writing and publishing
A guest browses books at 2015s OutWrite
I always say that the reason a community center like us does arts
events is because its important to tell our stories, says David Mariner,
executive director of The DC Center. Celebrating who we are is
important.
And the Center hopes its upcoming OutWrite LGBT Book Festival
can serve as a public forum for those stories. Now in its fifth year, the
annual two-day event showcases various LGBT literary works and
authors.
Things kick off on Friday, July 31, with a tribute to James Earl
Hardy, whose bestselling B-Boy Blues series is celebrating its 20th
anniversary. On Saturday, there will be two separate series of workshops, one focused on the writing process, the other featuring readings
or spoken word performances by authors and artists. A used-book fair
featuring more than 25 different vendors selling thousands of LGBTthemed books, some for as little as a dollar, will run throughout the day.
Other events over the weekend include Trans* Self-Publishing, a
Black Writers Forum (an annual favorite), and Fade to Hot, which
deals with how to write literary sex scenes.
Mariner is especially excited about a childrens workshop co-hosted
with the D.C. Public Library. Theyre going to have readings of books
that are targeted to LGBT families, Mariner says. So were super
excited about that, because we havent had quite as many events where
you can bring your kids to the Center. John Riley
The 5th Annual OutWrite LGBT Book Festival will take place on July 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Aug. 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 6
p.m. at the Reeves Center, 2000 14th St. NW. Admission is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org/outwritedc. l
zombies, but what does it mean for

the neighbors who arent playing the
game? David Dieudonne directs a cast
including Jen Bevan, Yoni Gray, Brian
Kraemer, Annette Mooney Wasno and
Alex Zavistovich. Weekends to Aug.
2. District of Columbia Arts Center
(DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are
$17 plus cost of a $7 Fringe button. Call
202-462-7833 or visit molotovtheatre.
org.
OLIVER!
Adventure Theatre MTC offers a production at Bethesdas Round House

Theatre of Lionel Barts bittersweet
classic musical, based on the Dickens
novel, about the porridge-demanding orphan. Joseph Ritsch directs a
cast including local knockouts Rick
Hammerly and Felicia Curry. Opens
Friday, July 24, at 7 p.m. Runs to Aug.
16. Round House Theatre, 4545 EastWest Highway, Bethesda. Tickets are
$50 to $60. Call 240-644-1100 or visit
adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
24
JULY 23, 2015
ONCE
HHHHH
Once is one of those quiet, understated shows that will sneak up and
surprise you. Featuring a book by celebrated Irish playwright Enda Walsh,
Once focuses on a man, Guy (Stuart
Ward), who is about to give up on
his music until a mysterious woman,
Girl (Dani De Waal), enters the picture and becomes his muse. Soon the
pair are making hauntingly beautiful
music together, which is all the more
powerful because it expresses their
love for each other in a way that they
never fully realize otherwise. Music
becomes the couples primary outlet
for conveying their feelings toward
one another. And several of Glen
Hansard and Marketa Irglovas dramatic folk-inflected rock songs here
would be chart-toppers if there were
any justice in the pop music world
or at least if this were an earlier
era when musicals had that kind of
mainstream sway. Every actor in Once
plays an instrument, and the ensemble
becomes the shows orchestra, sitting
on the edge of Bob Crowleys set tugging on strings when not part of the
central action. The effect is as sub-
METROWEEKLY.COM
tly smart and seamless as everything

else about this show, including Steven
Hoggetts graceful choreography. To
Aug. 16. Kennedy Center Eisenhower
Theater. Tickets are $65 to $160. Call
202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.
org. (Doug Rule)
PETER PAN 360
Inspired to put it mildly by Cirque

du Soleil, Herrick Entertainment and
Threesixty Theatre brings to life J.M.
Barries famous family tale under a
100-foot-high tent with projection,
puppets and acrobatic sequences.
Thom Southerland directs the production featuring a set designed by William
Dudley, choreography by Gypsy Snider
and original music by Benjamin
Wallfisch and Howard Herrick. To
Aug. 16. Threesixty Theatre in Tysons
Corner Center, 8200 Watson St.,
McLean. Tickets are $25 to $125. Call
202-397-7328 or visit peterpan360.
com.
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY
The Richmond Triangle Players

offer the perfect summer stage show,
Charles Buschs campy ode to the
original surfer flicks imagine Gidget
crossed with Mommie Dearest. Penny
Ayn Maas directs. Opens Thursday,

July 23, at 8 p.m. Weekends to Aug.
15. Richmond Triangle Players, 1300
Altamont Ave. Richmond. Call 804346-8113 or visit rtriangle.org.
SILENCE THE MUSICAL
A musical spoof based on the 1991

Oscar-winning thriller The Silence of
the Lambs, Studio Theatre stages this
Off-Broadway hit cabaret-style with
a full-service bar. Alan Paul directs
this production by writer Hunter Bell
and composer/lyricists Jon Kaplan
and Al Kaplan, featuring a cast including Tally Sessions as Hannibal Lecter,
Laura Jordan as Clarice Sterling and
Tom Story as Buffalo Bill. To Aug. 9.
Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW.
Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
SWEENEY TODD-PROG
METAL VERSION
Yes, Stephen Sondheim really did give

the quirky and risqu Landless Theatre
Company permission last year to adapt
his most commercially successful
musical as a prog-metal piece, while
leaving the lyrics and Hugh Wheelers
book intact. Prog-metal is actually a very complex, a very precise,

almost classically based metal, director Melissa Baughman explains. Its
not just, Let me rock your face off.
Landlesss Andrew Baughman, who
devised the prog-metal concept, plays
the title character. During its debut
run last summer, Landless repeatedly
sold out performances and it also
garnered the company its first three
Helen Hayes Awards nominations,
including for Outstanding Musical and
Outstanding Director. For this years
remount, Landless stages the show
at the Atlass 260-seat Lang Theatre,
which is more than twice the size of
last years venue Warehouse Theater.
To Aug. 2. Atlas Performing Arts
Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are
$29. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.
THE BOOK OF MORMON
Yes indeed, the biggest show on

Broadway in the last decade returns
to the Kennedy Center after 2013s
initial sold out run. Tickets are thankfully easier to come by the second
time around, particularly since it
now runs for two months. Written
by South Parks Trey Parker and Matt
Stone, the riotously funny, audacious
musical, which won a whopping nine
Tony Awards, is both cutting edge in
shocking substance yet traditional in
style. The Book of Mormon may weave
in unexpected and provocative plot
twists and scenes as well as convey
extremely modern sensibilities about
life, culture and organized religion.
Yet it still hews to the standard musical mold, from repeated musical lines
and lyrics, to boisterous sing-along
group anthems, to sharp group choreography and a tap number. To Aug. 16.
Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets
are $43 to $250. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.
THE PRODUCERS
Mark Waldrop directs an Olney

Theatre production of the zany Mel
Brooks musical, based on the zany,
nearly 50-year-old Mel Brooks film,
following the adventures of washedup Broadway producer Max Bialystock
and his mousy accountant Leo Bloom
who scheme to get rich by producing
the most notorious flop in the history of show biz. Michael Kostroff
plays Max and Michael Di Liberto
plays Leo at Olney. Closes this Sunday,
July 26. Olney Theatre Center, 2001
Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.
Tickets are $55 to $65. Call 301-9243400 or visit olneytheatre.org.
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
In 1994, Reginald Roses jury drama

was the very first show from Virginias
American Century Theater. Now, it
will also serve as its very last. Director
Jack Marshall has assembled his
dream cast among TACT veterans,
including Craig Miller, Steve Ferry,
Michael Replogle, Joe Cronin, Evan
Crump, Michael Sherman, Bruce Alan
Rauscher, Steve Lebens, Lyle Blake
Smithers, David Jourdan, Brian Crane
and John Tweel. To Aug. 8. Gunston
Theater Two, 2700 South Lang St.

Arlington. Tickets are $32 to $40. Call
703-998-4555 or visit americancentury.
org.
COMMUNITY STAGE
ALTAR BOYZ
Baltimores Spotlighters Theatre offers

a community-theater production
directed by Jillian Bauersfield of the
foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical
comedy about a fictitious Christian
boy band. Dating to 2005, the show,
featuring music and lyrics by Gary
Adler and Michael Patrick Walker
and a book by Kevin Del Aguila, ranks
as the ninth longest-running musical
in Off-Broadway history. To Aug. 2.
Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul St.,
Baltimore. Tickets are $20. Call 410752-1225 or visit spotlighters.org.
COMMANDER
As part of the Baltimore Playwrights

Festival,
Baltimores
Vagabond
Theatre, a community theater, stages
Maroi Correas play about a gay politician who decides to see if America is
ready for a gay president though
hes not helped by personal demons
and a troubled partner. Chelsea Dove
directs the production. Closes this
Sunday, July 26. Vagabond Theatre,
806 S. Broadway, Baltimore. Tickets
are $12. Call 410-563-9135 or visit vagabondplayers.org.
MONTY PYTHONS SPAMALOT
Marylands Port Tobacco Players offers

this musical retelling of the classic
film Monty Python and the Holy Grail,
directed by Brooke L. Howells-Weiser.
Weekends to Aug. 9. Port Tobacco
Players, 508 Charles St., La Plata, Md.
Tickets are $14 to $17. Call 301-9326819 or visit ptplayers.com.
MUSIC
BILLY JOEL
Five years ago this straight rock piano

man teamed up with his gay counterpart Elton John for a doubleheader at
Nationals Park. After knocking it out
of the D.C. baseball park again last
summer, this year Joel returns to the
region for another nostalgia-laced stadium show, only this time hes aiming
for a touchdown further up I-95 where
the Baltimore Ravens play. Saturday,
July 25, at 8 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium,
1101 Russell St. Baltimore. Tickets are
$54.50 to $129.50. Call 800-745-3000
or visit livenation.com.
CASTLETON FESTIVAL
Celebrated classical music maestro

Lorin Maazel, who died last year, started this festival with his wife Dietlinde
Turban-Maazel principally as a way
to boost the careers of young artists,
pairing them with professional mentors to produce full-scale operas and
first-rate concerts. Taking place at
the Maazels picturesque property in
Virginias Rappahannock County, the
not-exclusively classical event, now in
its seventh season, runs through Aug.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
25
2. The Castleton Festival, 7 Castleton

Meadows Land, Castleton, Va. For
tickets and details, call 866-974-0767
or visit www.castletonfestival.org.
DIANA KRALL
Diana Krall hasnt pursued the kind

of high-profile mainstream projects
some of her fellow jazz contemporaries have, so she doesnt have the
level of celebrity or name recognition
as does, say, Harry Connick, Jr. Yet,
in just over two decades of working
mostly within her genre, Krall has
made her mark as one of the most successful jazz artists ever. Certainly shes
no slouch, having produced 12 studio albums and three live sets in only
22 years, and constantly performing
at leading concert venues around the
world. This weekend she performs at
the Filene Center accompanied by the
Wolf Trap Orchestra. Saturday, July
25, at 8 p.m. The Filene Center at Wolf
Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $40 to $75. Call 877-WOLFTRAP
or visit wolftrap.org.
DJANGO DJANO
This eclectic U.K.-based psychedelic

art pop quartet owes clear allegiances
to a wide range of artists, from oldschool acts such as the Beach Boys and
Crosby, Stills and Nash, to the newschoolers in Animal Collective and
Hot Chip. Wednesday, July 29. Doors
at 7 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW.
visit 930.com.
INDIGO GIRLS
Everybodys favorite lesbian folkrock duo returns to Wolf Trap to run

through hits from its nearly 30-year
repertoire with a special focus on Amy
and Emilys first new set together in
four years. One Lost Day is a return to
form, built on personal themes of loss,
change and parenthood. Tuesday, July
28, at 8 p.m. The Filene Center at Wolf
Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $32 to $54. Call 877-WOLFTRAP
or visit wolftrap.org.
JILL SCOTT
In recent years, singer-songwriter

Jill Scott has gained attention as an
actress, starring in Hounddog as soul
shouter Big Mama Thornton and more
recently as James Browns second wife
in Get On Up. And there was the BBC/
HBO series The No. 1 Ladies Detective
Agency. But the Philadelphia native
is also one of the most engaging R&B
singers on the scene today. She stops by
Wolf Trap as part of a tour to promote
her fifth set Woman, set for release this
Friday, July 24. Wednesday, July 29, at
8 p.m. The Filene Center at Wolf Trap,
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$45 to $100. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org.
LINDA PURL AND LEE LESSACK
Too Marvelous for Words: The Songs

of Johnny Mercer is the latest cabaret tribute presented by Strathmore at
its new North Bethesda venue Amp.
Recording artist Linda Purl teams up
with pianist Lee Lessack, who culled
26
JULY 23, 2015
Johnny Mercers prolific songbook

to weave together stories about the
man along with his music, including
the standards Moon River, Autumn
Leaves, Black Magic, and Come
Rain or Come Shine. Friday, July 31,
and Saturday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. Amp
by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Ave.
North Bethesda. Tickets are $35 to
$45. Call 301-581-5100 or visit ampbystrathmore.com.
LITTLE BOOTS, PRINZE GEORGE
Victoria Hesketh, better known by

her alias Little Boots, makes some of
the smartest house-steeped pop music
around, and certainly any fan of Robyn
or Kylie Minogue should take heed.
The British singer-songwriter offers a
rare U.S. tour in support of her cohesive new album Working Girl, with a
stop at U Street Music Hall presented
by the 9:30 Club and featuring opening
act Prinze George, a synth-pop trio out
of Prince Georges County led by the
Lana Del Ray-esque vocalist Naomi
Almquist. Saturday, July 25, at 7 p.m.
U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW.
visit ustreetmusichall.com.
MARYLAND LYRIC OPERA
Only a year old, the Maryland Lyric

Opera returns to the Clarice at the
University of Maryland with a production of Gounods Romeo et Juliette,
the most popular of the operatic settings of Shakespeares iconic tragedy.
Merideth Marano, Anamer Castrello,
Nemeh Azzam, Alex Alburqueque and
Patrick Cook perform in this semistage production meant to shine the
spotlight on their singing rather than
on the staging. Closes this Sunday,
July 26. The Clarices Kay Theatre at
the University of Maryland, University
Boulevard and Stadium Drive. College
Park. Tickets are $35 to $100. Call 301405-ARTS or visit theclarice.umd.edu.
MOULLINEX WITH
BEN BROWNING OF CUT COPY
Last year, U Street Music Hall gave

indie-dance lovers the gift of DJ
sets from Juan MacLean and Ben
Browning of Cut Copy. Now Browning
returns to D.C., this time for a show
at the Black Cat with the Portuguese
DJ/producer Luis Clara Gomes, who
makes and mixes funky psychedelic
synth-pop under the alias Moullinex.
Wednesday, July 29. Doors at 7:30
p.m. Black Cat Backstage, 1811 14th
St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-6674490 or visit blackcatdc.com.
COMEDY
MICHAEL IAN BLACK
I look at myself on TV and my gaydar

pings, Michael Ian Black joked in an
interview with Metro Weekly a few
years ago. In fact, the straight comedian, familiar from work on NBCs Ed,
VH1s I Love The series and Comedy
Centrals Stella and Reality Bites Back,
has been an affiliated member of the
gay community essentially since birth,
raised by his mother, who happens to
METROWEEKLY.COM
be lesbian. I related very directly [to

the gay rights movement] because it
affected my mom, it affected people
that I care about. Friday, July 24, and
Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. and 10
p.m. Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse,
2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington.
visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.
SASHEER ZAMATA
One of the newer writers and cast

members on Saturday Night Live,
Sasheer Zamata moved to New York
with a degree in drama from the
University of Virginia and got her
start with the famous improv troupe
the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
Fellow New York-based comic Kenny
DeForest opens. Friday, July 31. Doors
at 9 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW.
visit blackcatdc.com.
GALLERIES
ANA SEDILES: A WOMAN IN
THE LANDSCAPE
A well-known artist and one of the

most awarded watercolorist in Spain,
Anna Sediles makes her debut in D.C.
with an exhibition of watercolor landscapes and etchings at Georgetowns
year-old gallery All We Art, in partnership with Spain Arts & Culture. All We
Art aims to serve as a multidisciplinary
space dedicated to promoting international cultural exchange. Closes this
Sunday, July 26. All We Art, 1666 33rd
St. NW. Call 202-375-9713 or visit allweartstudio.com.
BEYOND BOLLYWOOD: INDIAN

AMERICANS SHAPE THE NATION
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American

Center presents this ambitious and
colorful exhibition on the second floor
of the National Museum of Natural
History, exploring the heritage, daily
experiences and diverse contributions
of Indians and Indian Americans.
Through Aug. 16. National Museum
of Natural History, 10th Street and
Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202633-1000 or visit mnh.si.edu.
ELAINE DE KOONING: PORTRAITS
John F. Kennedy, poets Frank OHara

and Allen Ginsberg, critic Harold
Rosenberg, choreographer Merce
Cunningham, and painters Willem
de Kooning and Fairfield Porter are
among the friends and family members represented in a National Portrait
Gallery retrospective of this abstract
expressionist painters work. Most of
de Koonings paintings hang in private
collection and have rarely been seen
by the public before. Through Jan.
10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and
F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or
visit npg.si.edu.
JONATHAN WEINER: A
JOURNEY DOWN THE POTOMAC
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop presents a selection of photographs from

local artist Jonathan Weiners threeyear endeavor tracing the Potomac
River, from its humble origin in the
Appalachian Mountains to its grand
joining with the Cheseapeake Bay
with stops along the way, naturally
including its run through the nations
capital. Through Aug. 15. The Gallery
at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545
7th St. SE. Call 202-547-6839 or visit
chaw.org.
MAKE SOME NOISE: STUDENTS

AND
THE
CIVIL
RIGHTS
MOVEMENT
Pegged to the 50th anniversary of the
March on Washington and just one of
several exhibitions at the Newseum
marking the occasion, Make Some
Noise: Students and the Civil Rights
Movement explores the new generation of student leaders that emerged
in the 1960s to fight segregation and
fight for civil rights. John Lewis, now
a U.S. representative from Georgia,
and Julian Bond, a former chair of the
NAACP, are among the leaders highlighted here. Through 2015. Newseum,
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets
are $21.95 for general admission. Call
888-NEWSEUM or visit newseum.org.
MODERN SCULPTURE: DIALOGUES

IN THREE DIMENSIONS
While its galleries are closed for renovation and expansion, the National
Gallery of Art has set up throughout its
East Building a special installation of
modern sculpture from its renowned
holdings. And three times a week, the
gallery offers a new 60-minute guided
tour highlighting these works, allowing patrons to engage with each other
in open-ended discussions about, in
addition to the guide pointing out connections between, the works on view,
from Alexander Calders monumental mobile Untitled from 1976 to Andy
Goldsworthys decade-old Roof. The
relationship between I.M. Peis East
Building and John Russell Pops West
Building is also examined. Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Sundays, at 1:30 p.m.
National Gallery of Art East Building
Information Desk, 3rd Street at
Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202737-4215 or visit nga.gov.
MONSTER FISH: IN SEARCH OF

THE LAST RIVER GIANTS
Based on the popular National
Geographic Wild series, this interactive
exhibit includes clips from the series,
life-size fish sculptures and several
family-friendly activities designed to
educate visitors about the massive fish
that Dr. Zeb Hogan, the aquatic ecologist who is the host of the Monster Fish
series, has spent decades exploring.
Through Oct. 11. National Geographic
Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are
$11. Call 202-857-7588 or visit ngmuseum.org.
film
Oral Fixation
Do I Sound Gay? asks a lot of questions
about the way gay men talk it just
fails to answer most of them
PHOTO CREDIT
by RHUARIDH MARR
Do I sound gay? Its a question Id imagine most gay men

have asked themselves. Whether its the gay teen growing up
in a conservative town, trying to save themselves from another
beating, or the insecure adult, spurned by other men for being
too effeminate, gay men have a variety of reasons to question
whether their sexuality is the first thing strangers hear in their
voice.
Its also the title of David Thorpes 80-minute documentary, which chronicles the 40-something New York residents
attempts to determine whether theres a gay voice, and whether
he can change his own. Fresh from a break up, which occurs
prior to the narrative, Thorpes confidence is in the toilet and
his own typically gay way of speaking is starting to get on his
nerves.
To call the film self-indulgent would be a gross understatement. Its clear that Thorpe, who steps out from behind the
camera, uses Do I Sound Gay? (HHHHH) as both catharsis and

therapy, as he explores speech therapy, interviews celebrities,
interacts with the common (gay) man, and discusses his own
speech patterns with friends and family. Its a documentary
thats drenched in autobiography, as Thorpe narrates his issues
with both his own speech, as well as that of other gay men a
crowded train to Fire Island is highlighted as a particular source
of irritation due to an overwhelming number of gay men all chatting away.
And yet, its easy to forgive Thorpe because watching him
work through his own confidence issues, as well as explore
a subject matter weve all at least considered, is fascinating.
Thorpes narrative starts in the office of a speech therapist, who
offers advice, criticism and exercises to help him utilize a more
defined pattern of speech. Said therapist identifies that Thorpe
covers his speech he adapts to fit the environment he finds
himself in.
Its something were all guilty of: well become more animated around friends, more formal with respected peers, more
guarded with strangers. With gay men, however, it offers a
fascinating glimpse into the heteronormative (and sometimes
homophobic) pressures we feel to fit in. Thorpes friend mentions that he is much more staid at work he rarely cracks jokes
and avoids any campness due to the conservative nature of the
business he works for. Why do we still feel the need to conform
when others are free to be themselves?
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
27
Its something exemplified in the office of Bob Corff, voice

coach to between 20 and 50 men each year, all wishing to
sound less gay. A rather foreboding sign in his office reads
Change is possible, while the sessions are referred to as
straight lessons. If there are echoes of reparative therapy,
which tries to change a persons sexual orientation, youre not
the only one hearing them.
But Thorpe doesnt explore this thought in any depth. He
shies from the arguably troubling desire some gay men have
to change a unique part of their identity: their voice. Only his
friends raise the issue when asked whether they dislike their
voice all do, though many have thought about whether they
sound too gay.
Its something echoed by the celebrities he interviews. David
Sedaris comments on hotels frequently referring to him with
female pronouns whenever he calls the front desk. George Takei
mentions that people would often tell him he had a straight
voice, which he strongly objected to. Margaret Cho recalls that
it was deep-rooted shame which led to her father eliminating
his Korean accent in order to sound more American. Tim Gunn
(who has a fantastic voice, lets all agree) is more than aware
that he stylizes his words he just prefers to do so.
Thorpe only continues to leave more unanswered questions as he works through his personal vocal issues. Visiting
with linguistics professors and speech experts reveals that gay
men do have a unique pattern of speech, on average. Gay men
who are socialized as children with women are more likely to
adopt feminine speech patterns, and the reverse is true for gay
men who spend more time with men. In a fascinating segment,
Thorpes childhood friends pinpoint the exact moment he
started to sound gay after he came out in college and began
28
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
to socialize with gay men. However, speech isnt always a signifier of sexuality Thorpe himself has two friends, one straight,
the other gay, who have speech patterns wed traditionally
associate with the opposite gender, while a study discussed in
the film reveals that most people fail to match sexuality with
voice in blind tests.
Do I Sound Gay? covers a lot of ground in its short runtime.
What it doesnt do is scratch below the surface. Why is having
a gay voice still something we look down upon? Why is there
so much self-loathing in the gay community? Why do we shun
effeminate men? Why is machismo valued above all else?
However, while it certainly refrains from depth and leaves
countless deeper questions unanswered, Do I Sound Gay? is
still a worthy watch. Thorpes personal journey is inspiring.
Rather than alter his voice to remove any trace, he instead
finds a confidence that has been sorely lacking. He abandons
his exercises and instead revels in the comfort of his own voice,
which is enhanced with greater projection and a deeper range.
You still sound like a lady but a handsome lady, a friend
quips.
And its tough not to feel inspired while watching Thorpes
various celebrities state that their voices have been no hindrance on their love lives, their careers, or any other aspect of
their success. Gunn once hated his voice, but its now arguably
his most defining feature well, that and his impeccable fashion sense. Sedaris has been with his partner for over 20 years.
As Dan Savage notes, a man cake with a little female frosting
is pretty hot.
So, do you sound gay? After watching Thorpes documentary, youll be hard-pressed not to answer, I couldnt give a
fuck.
Do I Sound Gay? opens Friday, July 24, at the Landmark E
Street Cinemas. Visit landmarktheatres.com l
games
Beautiful Mind
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a
gorgeous, thought-provoking game
that refuses to mollycoddle players
by RHUARIDH MARR
PHOTO COURTESY THE ASTRONAUTS
his game is a narrative experience that does not hold

your hand.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (HHHHH) wastes
no time in establishing its core directive: youre here to work.
With a staunch refusal to ease players into its narrative, puzzles
that demand more than the bare minimum of brain cells to be
activated, a story that rewards attention and devotion, and an
atmosphere that revels in carefully curated tension, this is not a
game youll jump into to blow off steam nor is it one that will
appeal to the casual set. Youre here, literally and figuratively, to
get a job done.
Vanishing is the latest in a recent trend of walking simulators. Think Dear Esther or Gone Home games that utilize a
first-person perspective, minimal UI and, yes, lots of walking in
order to tell their narrative. In Vanishing, youll wander through
Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin, in 1973. As paranormal investigator Paul Prospero, youre tasked with solving the disappearance
of 12-year-old Ethan Carter, who wrote to Prospero telling him

of the strange visions hed been having.
Surprisingly, thats it. Theres no grand cutscenes, no flowery,
overdone narrative exposition. Prospero states his reasons for
travelling to Red Creek and, after the aforementioned warning
that Vanishing wont be holding your hand, kissing your boo
boos or telling you that youre special, the game drops you into
its world.
And what a world. Vanishing originally released last year
on PC, but developer The Astronauts rebuilt the game to work
on Unreal Engine 4 a requirement to port it over to the
PlayStation 4. As a result, theyve taken a game already lauded
for its incredible visuals and buffed it to perfection. Every frame,
every scene, every locale and every minute detail of Vanishing
seems ready-made for screenshots. I cant tell you how many
times I simply stopped what I was doing and looked around at
the environments I found myself in. From the grand, mountainfringed, forested valleys, complete with glistening lakes and
shimmering sunlight, to dilapidated and abandoned buildings,
dark and foreboding mines, or a crumbling railway bridge that
spans a gigantic gorge, the world that Vanishing offers to players
is utterly spectacular.
Its also insidious. This is a world with only one other character that can be interacted with and believe me, in the games
only true horror segment, hes not someone you want to pull in
for a close hug. Instead, Vanishing relies on audio cues includMETROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
29
ing an incredibly effective soundtrack, which flits between

mesmerizingly pretty melodies to accompany the beautiful
scenery, or tense, creeping strings to raise heart rates when
Prospero ventures into a heavily wooded area, or strays too
close to something dangerous. That Vanishing spends most of
its time outdoors in warm evening sunlight and yet can instill
such a sense of foreboding is testament not only to its incredible
world design, but the sound engineers who helped bring that
world to life.
Of course, in your first hour, Vanishing is quick to remind
players of the fragile nature of life. Prospero possesses supernatural abilities, allowing him to identify clues and determine
events that others wouldnt normally be able to see. Touch a
dead body, for instance, and Prospero will be presented with a
fragment of that persons memory. Uncover clues by exploring
the vicinity of their corpse and Prospero will gradually unlock
a chronology of their death, which can be explored to learn
precisely what led to their demise. Its not all death and murder,
however Vanishings first three puzzles find you uncovering
a series of deadly animal traps (which provide the games first
jump scares), solving a grisly murder (hello, severed legs and
cracked skulls) and heading into space. Yes, really.
It helps that the games narrative is kept to the flashbacks
uncovered after successfully solving a puzzle or investigation,
or to the documents, newspaper clippings or drawings by Ethan
Carter that are strewn around the world. Ethans family is
slowly being possessed by a sleeper, a demon thats causing
them to do unspeakably horrific things to one another or to
themselves. Ethan, the only one unaffected, is determined to put
a stop to this mysterious force, despite his familys attempts to
stop him even if that means ending his young life.
As players work through the games brief length youll
finish Vanishing in an afternoon theyll gradually unravel
the story, learning about each character, their motivations,
the history of Red Creek Valley. Prospero himself will comment on events, including the nature of American capitalism
and its effects on rural communities as he walks past a longforgotten train station. Vanishings ending is satisfying though
left somewhat ambiguous but its your experiences playing
through the game that will last long after the story has faded.
It helps immensely that controls are limited to just four buttons. Vanishing economizes its controls in order to put narrative
and exploration front and center. Get lost in impossible button
combinations and it would drag players from their immersion.
Instead, Prospero can interact with objects, crouch (which I
used just once in my entire playthrough), zoom in on objects,
and run. Thats your lot. Using those four simple interactions,
players are tasked with a variety of puzzles as they uncover the
games various mysteries. The puzzles themselves offer a wide
range of scenarios to work through, though my personal favorite
took place in a secondary scenario, nonessential to finishing the
main story. Inside a ruined house, youll be tasked with rebuilding the interior by looking through doorways and swapping
the rooms around until you find one that fits. It was interesting, it was clever, it was beautifully presented three things
Vanishing excels at.
While Vanishing isnt a difficult game, its clear that the traditional cues and hints that other puzzle games offer are nowhere
to be found. Its not kidding when it says theres no handholding this is your world to explore, at your own pace, to
the best of your abilities, for better or worse. To emphasize how
little Vanishing tries to control your playthrough, I completely
missed the games first puzzle area. I walked straight past and
30
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
out over its dilapidated railway bridge, too consumed in beauty

to stop and pay attention to potential leads. Other scenes are
more obvious a massive trail of blood will always catch your
eye but its testament to the developers vision that they make
it so easy to miss parts of the games story unless you fully commit to exploring the games world.
Arguably the games hardest section and certainly its biggest tonal shift comes when Prospero follows Ethans trail
into an abandoned mine. Its here that the tension created by
Red Creeks eerie quiet becomes full-blown horror. Dark, suffocating tunnels, flickering lights, ominous music. It wants you
to be terrified as you creep through this section and for the
faint of heart, it can certainly deliver, during a somewhat frustrating puzzle that employs genuine jump scares and a game of
cat-and-mouse.
Even with a rather abrupt descent (literally because who
doesnt love abandoned mine shafts?) into horror, Vanishing
still managed to worm its way into my heart. At $20, its perhaps asking a little too much for the length of gameplay on offer
theres little reason to return to it after the main story has
closed. But for what little time youll spend in Paul Prospero and
Ethan Carters world, the payoff is immense. Whether its the
sheer beauty of Red Creek Valley, the wonderful audio design,
the smart, DIY nature of the puzzling, or the satisfaction in
uncovering the mysteries of this strange place, The Vanishing of
Ethan Carter is a game that anyone who favors quiet, engrossing
experiences will love.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is available on PS4 and PC. PC
owners will gain a free upgrade to the PS4s updated game engine
in the coming weeks. l
health
Hot Bods
Heat exhaustion can kill, but
weve got some handy tips to
keep the worst of summer at bay
by KATE WINGFIELD
PHOTO COURTESY NAN PALERMO
OBODY STARTS THEIR DAY EXPECTING TO end

it with a case of heat exhaustion or the deadlier heat
stroke. But whether you relish the dog days of summer or prefer the chilly confines of air conditioning, remember
that the effects of heat and humidity can catch you by surprise.
Take a few moments to get sun sensible and make sure the heat
doesnt sideline you from summer.
BUT ARENT THESE WARNINGS REALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON
RUNNING A MARATHON IN A HEATWAVE?
Not according to a 2014 report from the Environmental

Protection Agency, which found that extreme heat causes more
deaths than any other weather-related dangers in the U.S. In

fact, between 1999 and 2010, the Centers for Disease Control
recorded 7,415 heat-related deaths. And things are only going to
get hotter. The EPA expects heatwaves to become longer, more
frequent and more intense in the future, a trend that has already
been noted in the last decade.
SO WHAT MAKES HEAT SO DANGEROUS?
Heat-related illnesses are all about the bodys ability to cool itself
effectively through the evaporation of sweat. Because sweat
doesnt evaporate well in high heat and humidity people are
always at risk of overheating and becoming ill.
According to the American Red Cross, you may be experiencing heat exhaustion if you start to sweat heavily, are cool and
moist to the touch, have a fast weak heartbeat, quick shallow
breathing and are pale. Other symptoms may include headache,
nausea, vomiting, and feeling faint or fatigued.
If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms
you should immediately get into air conditioning, take a cool
shower or at least find shade. Drink non-alcoholic, non-sugary
liquids and have someone monitor your recovery.
Heat exhaustion can occur with any outdoor activity but can
also develop over time in people who have had no relief from
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
31
the heat, such as those who must sleep without air conditioning.
Heat stroke is even more dangerous and occurs when the
body is no longer able to sweat and rapidly heats to the point of
permanent damage or death. Symptoms include red, hot and dry
skin, a rapid weak heartbeat, dizziness, headache, seizures and
unconsciousness.
Heat stroke is an emergency and requires immediate medical assistance. If you suspect you or anyone around you has heat
stroke, dial 9-1-1 but do not wait to act. Cool the person down
as fast as possible by removing their outer clothing and immersing them up to their neck in cool water or spraying them with
a hose. If this isnt possible, cover them in ice or damp sheets,
and/or fan them. If they are conscious, offer them sips of water.
Always remember that even mild signs of overheating, such
as muscle cramps, are warnings that your bodys cooling system
is not working efficiently. Ignore them at your peril. Heat stroke
can arrive rapidly.
SOUNDS DIRE. HOW DO I AVOID GETTING INTO TROUBLE?
Without doubt, strenuous physical activity in high temperatures

risks heat stroke. But the tricky thing about heat and humidity
is that if they are high enough, they can make you ill even if you
are doing little more than your normal activities.
You know yourself best. Always listen to your own body. If
you feel too hot, too thirsty or just too uncomfortable, dont wait
to see if you develop more definable symptoms; get cool and get
a (non-alcoholic) drink.
Be aware that some are more susceptible to heat than others.
Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. But so are
people who are overweight, have heart disease or other illnesses
that affect blood flow. Having a sunburn, drinking alcohol, or
being dehydrated also increase your risk, as do certain medications.
32
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
Whatever your risk factors, you can avoid heat-related illness by following these recommendations from the Red Cross
and CDC:

l
l
l
l
Drink plenty of water and dont wait to get thirsty.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Dark
colors absorb the suns rays.
Keep to air conditioned spaces. Avoid being outside in
the hottest part of the day and, if you are out, take it
slow.
Avoid outdoor festivities or parties.
If you must work outside, take frequent breaks,
hydrate often and dont work alone.
Check on family, friends and neighbors without air
conditioning or who may be affected by the heat.
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
Avoid exercise during the hottest times of the day.
Dont start a new outdoor exercise program or challenge during a heatwave.
If you are already a regular exerciser, acclimate to the
heat by reducing the intensity of your workouts until
you are more accustomed to the heat. Take longer,
more frequent breaks and hydrate every 20 minutes.
Dress in net-type jerseys or light cotton.
THATS QUITE A LAUNDRY LIST. ANYMORE DONTS?
Just two. Dont measure yourself by those around you. People

acclimatize, hydrate and condition at different rates. And then
there is the small matter of those without any common sense
the mad dogs and Englishmen dont be one of those. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
33
34
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 07.23.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$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, 10pmmidnight, $5 Red Bull,
Gatorade and Frozen
Virgin Drinks all night
Stonewall Darts MidSeason Social 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
Hot Jock Night, hosted
by Highwaymen TNT
Contest at 11:30pm
Prize package includes
$100 in prizes
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
METROWEEKLY.COM
35
36
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
Bare at Cobalt
Saturday,
July 18
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
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
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 6pm No Cover
$4 Drinks and $3 Draughts,
6-9pm
ZIEGFELDS SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
FRI., 07.24.15
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
Martinis Upstairs open,
5-11pm
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
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+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
DC EAGLE
Happy Hour, 6-8pm $2
Rail and Domestic $2
Draughts
TOWN
DC Bear Crue Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm No
cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
downstairs Doors open
at 10pm For those 21
and over, $5 from 10-11pm
and $10 after pm For
those 18-20, $12 all night
18+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long Daddy Boom,
10pm-close
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
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
before 10pm Cover after
10pm (entry through Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs DJ
Darryl Strickland in Secrets
VJ Tre in Ziegfelds
Cover 21+
SAT., 07.25.15
9 1/2
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 Stonewall
Darts Fundraiser Bar Crawl
AFTERGLOW Dance
Party, 10pm-close DJ
Tom from Prague on the
dancefloor DJ Team
METROWEEKLY.COM
Electrox and Milko in the

lounge $3 PBR, $5 rail
cocktails, $8 Red Bull &
Vodka, $4 Fireball all night
Doors open 10pm $5
cover after 10pm 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
SigMa on Club Bar, 10pmclose
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Diner-style Breakfast
Buffet, 10am-3pm
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Freddies Follies Drag
Show, 8-10pm, hosted by
Miss Destiny B. Childs
No Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long, $4 Bud Light
Bearracuda, featuring DJ
Mike Babbit, 9pm-close
$7 Cover, $5 before 11pm
JULY 23, 2015
37
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
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 6:30pm, Lessons
6:45-8pm, Open dance
8-10:30pm CTRL Dance
Party, 11pm-close Music
and video downstairs by
DJ Wess Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Epiphany
B. Lee and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm Cover
$10 from 10-11pm and $12
after 11pm 21+
38
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
before 9:30pm Cover
after 10pm (entry 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 open
8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 07.26.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke,
10pm-close No Cover
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
$1 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, all day and all
night
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke, 9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all
day and night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am3pm $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 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 3-9pm No
Cover
ROCK HARD SUNDAYS
@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
All male, all nude dancers
Shows at 8 and 10pm
Celebrity bartender: Steve
Pena Emcee: Jordan
Sinclair $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports Happy
Hour 7-8pm $10 cover
rockharddc.com
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
8pm Cover 21+
MON., 07.27.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
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
India Ferrah from RuPauls
Drag Race appears in the
drag show 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 BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
TUES., 07.28.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
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
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
Yappy Hour: Happy Hour
METROWEEKLY.COM
for Dogs and their best

friends $4 Drinks and
$4 Draughts
WED., 07.29.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
ANNIES
$4 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
JULY 23, 2015
39
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close The 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 JR.s
Drafts and $4 Vodka ($2
with College ID or JR.s
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
members and each get a
free $10 Dinner
40
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
NUMBER NINE
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
Half-Price Hump Day
half-price drinks all day
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., 07.30.15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS

Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
$3 Rail Drinks, 10pmmidnight, $5 Red Bull,
Gatorade and Frozen
Virgin Drinks Stonewall
Darts Games 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
Hot Jock Night, hosted
by Highwaymen TNT
Contest at 11:30pm
Prize package includes
$100 in prizes
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
41
42
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
Pride Splash & Ride at
Six Flags
Saturday,
July 18
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
43
44
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
ALOTTA MCGRIDDLES PERFORMING - KATHERINE GAINES / AMBIENTEYE.COM
Thanks to Alotta McGriddles, vintage clothes

shopping has become part of the appeal of Gay/Bash
ts not every night you

can shop for clothes
in a nightclub. Indeed,
its such an unusual concept, Joshua Vogelsong
wasnt sure it would work
in D.C. He decided to test
the waters last fall at his
monthly party Gay/Bash
at the Black Cat, allowing
New York drag performer
Alotta McGriddles to bring
her rack of vintage clothing.
I think people are still
kind of confused by it,
Vogelsong admits. But
every time she comes,
anything thats sparkly or
sequined once those

queens get some drinks in
them, everybody is buying
really cute outfits.
The outfits and accessories sold as part of the
Alotta Stuff Pop-Up arent
hand-me-downs
from
McGriddless closet. Nor
are the mens items and
there are some drawn
from the closet of the
29-year-old man behind the
make-up, Dominic Andolina,
who quips, Obviously
not everybody is going
to fit in the clothes of a
6-foot 8-inch drag queen.
Instead, roughly 75 percent
of the merchandise comes

from estate sales, thrift
stores and other sources for
used attire, places Andolina
started hitting when he got
his start as a fashion stylist/buyer. More recently he
started doing drag, and continues to perform in addition to selling clothes. All
drag queens have A.D.D.,
laughs Vogelsong, so its
not like Alotta is going to
stand by her clothing rack
all night.
Instead,
McGriddles
performs as part of the
quirky, off-kilter lineup that
Vogelsongs four-year-old
party has made its focus in

recent years. This Saturday,
July 25, the Gay/Bash also
features performances by
Heidi Glum, Summer Camp,
Rumor Millz, Salvadora
Dali
and
Champagne
Supernova. Vogelsong will
spin punk, indie-rock and
other generally alternative
tunes, though he now does
it in drag under his recently established alter-ego
Donna Slash. Also spinning
as guest DJ will be Natty
Boom, the longtime local
DJ and past performer at
Gay/Bash as a drag king.
McGriddless traveling
pop-up, which at Gay/Bash
is little more than a rack
of clothing set up next to
the bar, is an offshoot of
the monthly Alotta Stuff!!!
Live Auction at Brooklyns
gay Metropolitan Bar.
There, the audience bids on
clothes right off the backs
of live models. McGriddles
intends to start a limited
online web site as another
source for her wares, but
at the moment is focused
on a new, more traditional
outlet: New Yorks celebrated clothing store Patricia
Field, which just last week
announced it will start featuring Alottas goods in its
vintage section.
But McGriddles assures
club-goers in New York and
D.C. that they will continue
to get first dibs. All of my
clothing will still hit my rack
before it goes to Patricia
Field.
Alotta Stuff Pop-Up is
at Gay/Bash this Saturday,
July 25, starting at 10 p.m.
Black Cat Backstage, 1811
14th St. NW. Tickets are
$7. Call 202-667-4490 or
visit blackcatdc.com. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
45
CLUBLIFE BY DOUG RULE
Fashion Rocks
I dont have an opinion on every single issue out there. To me, thats, I dont know.
I dont know the answer to that question.
Governor SCOTT WALKER, Republican candidate for president, responding to a
question by CNNs Dana Bash as to whether he thinks being gay is a choice.

Some drag performance, particularly cis drag, hinges on
the social view of gender and making it into a joke, however

transgender individuals do not feel as
though their gender identity is a joke.
FREE PRIDE GLASGOW, an anti-commercialist alternative to the Scottish citys Pride event, in a statement.
The group is banning drag performers from their August event over concerns that they could offend
transgender people, claiming that it makes things particularly difficult for those who are not out
and still present as the gender they were assigned at birth.
Are women harder or easier to please?

Why would I ever try to boil down an entire community
into a yes or no question? Would you feel comfortable if I said,
MATT BOMER, responding to a question by a Hola Hollywood reporter as to whether gay audiences are harder to
please. One of the things, I think, you learn from [Magic Mike XXL] is that everyone is different, he continued.
Its all about communication and a dialogue between individuals get rid of the labels, get rid of the
shame, get rid of the stigmas and just be your most authentic self.
In UK, gays have rights. In Africa, they dont.

Gay is not a human right.
VINCENT KIDAHA, head of the Kenyan Republican Liberty Party, talking with audioBoom News. Kidaha is
planning to lead a naked protest against President Barack Obama when he visits the African
nation this week, due to the Presidents pro-LGBT views.
If I authorize it, Im saying I agree with it.

I cant do that.
KIM DAVIS, Rowan County Clerk in Kentucky, testifying in court as to why she refuses to issue
marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It wasnt just a spur-of-the-moment decision, the
Courier-Journal reports. It was thought-out and I sought God on it.
46
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
JULY 23, 2015
47
48
JULY 23, 2015
METROWEEKLY.COM

Metro Weekly - 07-23-15 - Rufus Wainwright

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Metro Weekly - 07-23-15 - Rufus Wainwright

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

2

JULY 23, 2015

JULY 23, 2015

JULY 23, 2015

GUEST ART DIRECTOR

Boy Scout Ban Nears its End

The Space Between Us

Rufus Wainwright: A Timeline

Emil De Cou on Rufus Wanwright

OUT ON THE TOWN

SALES & MARKETING

2015 Jansi LLC.

JULY 23, 2015

photography by Ward Morrison

Pride Splash & Ride at Six Flags

photography by Ward Morrison

JULY 23, 2015

Republicans back Cuccinelli for Virginia governor

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

A marcher in San Diegos 2013 pride parade

Boy Scout Ban Nears its End

E MUST DEAL WITH THE WORLD AS IT IS, not

JULY 23, 2015

In any case, the resolution must still be ratified by the National

JULY 23, 2015

JULY 23, 2015

OPINION Sean Bugg

The Space Between Us

O, HERE I SIT, STILL BASKING IN THE GLOW of the

JULY 23, 2015

SMYALS REC NIGHT provides a

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for

METRO DC PFLAG, a support group

9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson

IDENTITY offers free and confidential

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

for parents, family members and

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and

lesbian square-dancing group features

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

JULY 23, 2015

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for

Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP

for adults in Montgomery County

THE DC CENTERS INTERN PARTY

offers a chance for those interning in

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a

social discussion and activity group

unteer organization, volunteers today

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group

visits two DuPont family estates near

DEFEND YOURSELF offers a series of

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

The DC Center holds an introductory

GAY MARRIED MENS

The DC Center hosts a reading and discussion of SHANNON

fidential support group for men who