EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman

MAY 26, 2016

Volume 23 / Issue 4

ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr

NEWS

10

Giant Error

14

Courting Conservatives

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim

15

Shakespeare, Constellation and

GALA clean up at the Helen Hayes

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks

by Doug Rule
16

Community Calendar

SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Fallon Forbush,
Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy

by Fallon Forbush

by John Riley

SCENE
21
Capital Trans Pride 2016 at the
Reeves Municipal building
photography by Ward Morrison

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla

PATRON SAINT
Ed Bradley

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Courtesy of CNN

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MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

FEATURES
22
Don Lemon
Interview by Randy Shulman

31

Prideful

OUT ON THE TOWN

34

The Object Lesson

36

When January Feels Like Summer

NIGHTLIFE

45

Green Lantern

54

Last Word

DC Black Pride offers a time to reunite

and celebrate with old acquaintances

by John Riley

by Doug Rule

by Doug Rule

photography by Ward Morrison

PHOTO PROVIDED BY EBONY BELCHER

LGBT

News

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Clinton Campaign refuses to fill out trans questionnaire

Charlotte has lost $285 million because of anti-LGBT law

Giant Error

Belcher

A lesbian security guard allegedly threw a trans woman out of a

D.C. grocery store restroom
by Fallon Forbush

HAT LESBIAN WOMAN ATTACKED ME JUST

for using a restroom that I have equal rights to use,
says Ebony Belcher.
The womens restroom in question was at a
Northeast D.C. Giant grocery store, where Belcher claims she
was assaulted last week by the on-duty security guard, Francine
Bernice Jones. Jones was standing at the door and greeted
Belcher as she entered the store. Belcher then asked a Giant
employee for directions to the restroom. A minute or two after
entering, the door sprang open and she heard someone shouting.
I know youre a he-she, she heard Jones say. I know you
hear me. Youre not supposed to be in the womens restroom.
They didnt pass the law yet. You know you did wrong to have
yall coming in here using the restroom when they didnt pass
the law.
At first, Belcher didnt realize Jones was yelling at her.
Maam, are you serious? she asked as she exited the stall. Are
you talking to me?
10

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

You know who Im talking to, you man...you faggot, Jones

responded.
Belcher told Jones that she was legally a female and had
an ID.
I dont give a shit about that, Jones said. I know youre a
man. Look at you you look like youre dying anyway.
The verbal assault became physical when Belcher tried to
leave the restroom.
I couldnt even get passed her because she started doing
this like football, side-to-side move, Belcher says. Then she
grabbed me by my arm, swung me around and started pushing
me out of the store.
All the while, she claims a Giant employee was calling her
obscene names.
It was awful and really hurt my feelings, 32-year-old
Belcher, says. Ive been transgender since I was 14 years old
and I have never had that problem ever in my life.
The attack was made worse by her attacker identifying her-

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

11

LGBTNews
self as a lesbian.
While she was at the door of the restroom, she kept
acknowledging herself as being in the LGBT community,
Belcher says. I said, If you are in the community, you should
have some compassion for people like myself using the restroom. She was like, I dont give a shit. I know who you are. I
told her she was evil.
Belcher suffers from Parkinsons disease, a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement, which made
the experience even more traumatic.
When she assaulted me, thats when I got nervous and I
started tremoring, Belcher says. When she was pushing me
out of the door, I almost fell.
Once she was outside of the store, she called the police and
asked the operator if her experience was illegal. She was told
that she had every right to use the womens restroom.
I was going to leave, but then I thought about it, Belcher
says. Shes going to jail because she had no right to put her
hands on me.
Sgt. Jessica Hawkins, the leader of the police departments
LGBT Liaison Unit, who is a transgender woman, was one of the
officers who responded to Belchers 9-1-1 call. She was really
heartfelt and sympathetic towards me, Belcher says. She
told me to keep my head up and that no one should have ever
stopped me from using the restroom.
Jones was arrested and appeared the following day in the
Superior Court of the District of Columbia on a charge of simple
assault. A misdemeanor, it carries a maximum of 180 days in jail
and a fine of up to $1,000. She plead not guilty and will appear
for a status hearing on July 21. Belcher believes that she was
assaulted because of her gender identity and expression and
the U.S. Attorneys Office is investigating whether the assault
will be elevated to a hate crime.
[A potential hate crime] is being investigated and it is being
reviewed here, says Bill Miller, spokesperson for the U.S.
Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.
It was indicated in the report as a suspected hate crime,
so the prosecution can explore an enhanced penalty, Dustin
Sternbeck, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police
Department, confirms.
Metro Weekly asked to speak with Jones, but received no
response from her attorney, Joel Robert Davidson. Ned Kodeck,
the attorney for Wolf Professional Security, which employed
Jones, ignored multiple phone calls and emails.
Stephanie Mahdi, chairperson of the DC Centers AntiViolence Project, works with the DC Bias Crimes Task Force,
a group of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the U.S.
Attorneys Office and local community organizations that monitor hate crimes against the LGBT community to ensure the
crimes are being prosecuted effectively. If the crime is enhanced,
the task force plans to provide a community impact statement to
the court when the judge considers Jones punishment.
It pretty much says how this crime has affected the LGBT
community, the impact it has had on the residents, and it also
gives a recommendation to the judge on how to convict the
offender in a way that lets the community know that the city is
taking hate crime seriously, Mahdi says.
Mahdi doesnt know what the exact recommendations would
be, but says the task force will be following up with police to
ensure the case is handled properly if its going to be charged
as a hate-bias crime. Every case is going to be different, she
says. We take into account the type of crime, the impact to the
12

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

community and the offender.

Support for Jones plea of innocence is not looking strong,
even from Giants perspective.
Giant has a longstanding commitment to creating a diverse
and inclusive environment in which all associates and all customers are treated fairly and with respect at all times, Ahold
USA, parent company of Giant Food of Maryland, said in a
statement to Metro Weekly. We view the choice of restroom as
a personal matter, and if any customer feels uncomfortable at
any point shopping in our stores for any reason, we encourage
them to speak to a member of store management, who have both
the experience and the discretion to address all issues. Clearly,
in this case, a third party security guard appears to have acted
inappropriately, and we apologize unreservedly.
Ahold USA is considering all of its options and may discontinue using Wolf Professional Security as a security provider,
spokesperson Christopher Brand says.
The District has had public accommodations laws protecting people from discrimination based on gender identity
and expression for a decade. This situation underscores the
need for more education and the repercussions of the rhetoric and vitriol that weve seen by a lot of elected officials and
law enforcement individuals, says Joanna Cifredo, racial and
economic justice policy analyst for the National Center for
Transgender Equality, which is headquartered in D.C.
Cifredo affirms that all trans people have that right to access
bathrooms that match their gender identities and expressions,
not just in D.C. but in all locations in the U.S.
The national dialogue around bathrooms and the policing of
bathrooms and whos allowed to be in which bathroom definitely adds to a general confusion and a very hostile environment
for trans people, she says. D.C.s law affirms that right, but it
is a right that all trans people have across the country. North
Carolinas law is more unique because it goes against federal
laws and thats why the Department of Justice sued the state.
Other grocery chains within the greater Washington area
told Metro Weekly that they welcome diverse communities.
Whole Foods Market prides itself on creating an inclusive
shopping experience where everyone feels welcome, Annie
Cull, spokesperson for Whole Foods Market, said in an email.
We encourage our team members and shoppers to use the
restroom facility that meets their needs.
Family restrooms are available in 60 percent of Wegmans
Food Markets, including all new locations and in remodeled
stores when there is enough space, Jo Natale, a spokesperson for the grocery chain, said in an email. We do not have a
bathroom policy and dont intend to implement one, she said.
Honestly, it has not been an issue in our stores. If someone
were to bring a concern to our attention, we would apply common sense and courtesy to address their concern.
There is now pressure from the community for Giant to follow suit.
[Giant] needs to do more work in furthering equality, DC
Centers Mahdi says. Giant does not have a publicly-available
non-discrimination policy. If Giant or any of the grocery
stores were to make a sincere effort, they would hire from the
trans community, she says.
Belcher planned on going to the Districts Trans Pride celebration last weekend, but the attack changed that. Since that
happened, I have been really depressed, she says. Ive been
crying and Ive been down. Ive been so out of it and not wanting
to do anything. Its been a hard week for me. l

LGBTNews

Courting Conservatives
Donald Trumps Supreme Court wish list would swing the court in a
hard-right direction
By John Riley

S HE WRAPS UP HIS INEVITABLE CROWNING AS

the Republican Partys presidential nominee, Donald
Trump has one goal: unify the party. Trump, who
caused the current fracture in the GOP with his antiestablishment candidacy, needs to unite the party around him
before this falls election and hes doing so by placating elements of the party that have yet to embrace him.
Placation was paramount when Trump released a list of
potential nominees to fill Antonin Scalias Supreme Court seat.
I think that this list reflects not just conservatism, but extreme
conservatism, says Kyle Barry, the director of justice programs
of the Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, a liberal judicial
watchdog group. He notes that Trump released the names only
after consulting with two influential conservative organizations,
The Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.
In short, Trumps wish list of Supreme Court candidates
was an early Christmas present to the establishment wing of the
Republican Party that has often been so critical of him and his
political ideology.
Several of Trumps picks have roots in Republican Party
politics. Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid previously
clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, but
also served as a speechwriter for Bill Bennett, Ronald Reagans
Secretary of Education. Raymond Gruender, of the 8th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals, was the Missouri state political director for the 1996 presidential campaign of former Sen. Bob Dole.
Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett served as a former
advisor to President George W. Bush during his time as governor of Texas, and was the deputy attorney general under former
AG (now governor) Greg Abbott. Utah Supreme Court Justice
Thomas Lee is the brother of Sen. Mike Lee and the son of
Reagans former Solicitor General, Rex Lee.
But perhaps most concerning to the nations LGBT community should be the inclusion of the names of Justices William
Pryor, of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Diana Sykes,
of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, who were both nominated
to their current positions by President George W. Bush. Sykes,
in particular, has rankled LGBT groups and liberal allies for her
decision in the case of Christian Legal Society v. Walker, in which
she forced Southern Illinois University to officially recognize an
organization that had discriminated against gay students, and
had prevented them from joining as voting members or serving
in leadership positions.
According to Barry, not only was the outcome of the case
concerning, but so was Sykes reasoning behind her decision.
She equated out-of-touch views about LGBTQ equality,
and, in particular, she drew what we call a spurious distinction
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MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

between policies that discriminate on sexual conduct, versus

discriminating on the basis of orientation, Barry says. Thats a
distinction that the Supreme Court subsequently rejected.
The inclusion of Sykes name among the list of potential
nominees has sparked outrage from some LGBT groups.
Donald Trump has vowed to appoint Supreme Court
Justices who would overturn nationwide marriage equality, and
his support for a nominee like Diane Sykes is more evidence that
everything we have fought for under President Obama hangs in
the balance in November, says Jay Brown, the communications
director for the Human Rights Campaign.
Beyond LGBT rights, Sykes has ruled on other cases that
could have broader implications, such as Korte v. Sebelius,
where she opined that the Affordable Care Acts contraception
mandate substantially burdens the religious practice of closely-held corporations whose owners object to contraception a
view later endorsed by the Supreme Court in the Hobby Lobby
case. LGBT advocates have warned that a broad interpretation
of Hobby Lobby could result in an employer deciding not to
cover other prescriptions or medical treatments to which they
object, such as denying coverage for pre-exposure prophylaxis
(PrEP) to a gay man.
In terms of Judge Pryors record, he did once join a unanimous decision in the case of Glenn v. Brumby, finding that the
Georgia General Assembly had discriminated against a transgender woman who was fired from her job after announcing
her transition. However, Barry notes that Pryor has a record of
voting to uphold Georgias voter ID law, and has issued other
opinions that are more skeptical of those who claim they have
been discriminated against. That has potential implications
not only for cases that might come before the Supreme Court
regarding racial justice, but womens rights and LGBT workers
rights as well.
While he acknowledges that not all 11 nominees share identical positions or have made similar rulings, taken as a whole,
confirmation of any of Trumps nominees would likely move the
court in a significantly conservative direction.
Don Willett of Texas has some opinions suggesting that he
would be in favor of revising the Lochner era of constitutional
law from the early 20th century, when, essentially, the Supreme
Court prevented government from regulating business whatsoever, Barry says. That was an era when any kind of social
welfare programs, any kind of workplace protections, including
child labor laws, minimum wage laws, and even environmental
protections were essentially unconstitutional.
I think views like that are further to the right, even from
what weve seen from recent Republican appointees. l

LGBTNews
Shakespeare, Constellation
and GALA clean up at the
Helen Hayes
Salome, Avenue Q and Yerma are the evenings
biggest winning shows
By Doug Rule

HAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY WAS THE BIG

winner at last nights Helen Hayes Awards, snagging 12
wins. Half of them were for Yael Farbers feminist adaptation of the biblical story Salome, including one of the nights top
prizes, Outstanding Play in the Hayes category.
Shakespeare also earned three wins for its production of
the classic musical Kiss Me, Kate, including two for supporting actors Clyde Alves and Robyn Hurder, lovers in real life as
well as in the show. But the prize for Outstanding Musical went
to Dear Evan Hansen, which debuted at Arena Stage last summer and is currently running Off Broadway. Director Michael
Greif was deemed Outstanding Director, with both awards in
the union-heavy Hayes category of the two-tiered system that
presenting organization theatreWashington launched last year.
While a little confusing, the system was designed to create a
more equitable playing field as well as doubling the number
of awards given out.
The runaway musical success in the Helen category, featuring

nominees from more non-union productions, was, Constellation

Theatre Companys Avenue Q. Artistic director Allison Arkell
Stockman earned Outstanding Director in the Helen category
for her work helming the gay-friendly puppet musical, and the
production scooped up another seven awards out of 14 total
nominations, including Outstanding Ensemble and three of
the four main acting awards. The big winner in the Helen category for plays was Yerma, winning six including Outstanding
Play, Outstanding Director (Jose Luis Arellano Garcia) and
Outstanding Lead Actress (Mabel Del Pozo).
There were 236 total nominees drawn from 79 productions at 35 theaters at this years event, held at the Lincoln
Theatre in a ceremony that was relatively smooth-running and
low-key. Other notable winners were: Happenstance Theater,
which garnered three awards in the Helen category, including Outstanding Ensemble, for its ensemble-devised production Impossible! A Happenstance Circus; the Kennedy Centerhosted musical Once as Outstanding Visiting Production and
Outstanding Performing, Visiting Production (Dani de Waal);
playwriting collective the Welders, which won the John Aniello
Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company; and
Cabaret, which garnered Outstanding Ensemble in a musical in
the Hayes category as well as Outstanding Lead Actress (Barrett
Wilbert Weed as Sally Bowles). These were two of only three
awards for Signature Theatre despite 18 nominations, including
10 for its critically praised production of West Side Story, which
garnered its conductor Jon Kalbfleisch a win for Outstanding
Musical Direction. l
Foore on the nominees, including more details and links to
reviews, visit metroweekly.com/arts. To see the full list of winners
and nominees, visit theatrewashington.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

15

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.

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) practice
session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 26
The DC ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT
(DC AVP), the group dedicated to
combating anti-LGBT hate crimes,
holds its monthly meeting at The DC
Center. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
The LATINO LGBT TASK FORCE
holds its monthly meeting at The DC
Center. 6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, contact Brant Miller, brant@thedccenter.
org or 202-682-2245.

WEEKLY EVENTS
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 les-

bian 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,
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 whitmanwalker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or
Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.

16

MAY 26, 2016

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

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

3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is
independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,
13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,
catherine.chu@smyal.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 27
GAMMA, a confidential support

group for men who are gay, bisexual,

questioning and who are married or
involved with a woman, meets on
the second and fourth Fridays of the
month. GAMMA also offers additional meeting times and places for men
in Northern Virginia and Maryland.
7:30-9:30 p.m. St. Thomas Parish
Episcopal Church, 1772 Church St.
NW. For more information, visit
GAMMAinDC.org.

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.

The DC Center holds its CENTER

AGING MONTHLY LUNCH social
for members of D.C.s senior community. 12-2 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245.

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a

social discussion and activity group for

LBT women, meets at The DC Center
on the second and fourth Fridays of
each month. Group 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
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice

session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.
SW. 6:30-8 p.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.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball team

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.

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.

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, MAY 28
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group

sponsors a walking tour of about 1.25

miles to visit downtown sites associated with The Great Agnostic,
Robert Ingersoll, while he lived in
D.C. in the 1870s and 1880s. Free.
Tour begins at 10 a.m. in front of
the National Theater at 1321 E
Street NW, ends at Franklin Square.
Optional lunch in Dupont Circle follows. Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@verizon.net.

WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4
p.m. For players of all levels, gay or
straight. teamdcbasketball.org.

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.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential

HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676

New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walkins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other
hours, call 301-422-2398.

SUNDAY, MAY 29
ADVENTURING outdoors group takes
a strenuous circuit hike of 9.6 miles,
with about 1600 feet of elevation
gain, to visit Hoover Camp, President
Herbert Hoovers mountain retreat,
in the heart of Shenandoah National
Park. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch,
sturdy boots, bug spray, sunscreen
and about $20 for fees, plus whatever
you care to spend on dinner at Big
Meadows Lodge afterwards. Carpool
at 8:30 a.m. from the East Falls
Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot; return
after dark. 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.

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

17

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.

ST. STEPHEN AND THE

INCARNATION, an interracial,

FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,

UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming-

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu-

nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130

Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT

GROUP for gay men living in the DC

and-affirming congregation, offers

services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow
UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd.
uucava.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING

invites LGBTQ families and 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-

metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. For information on
location and time, visit H2gether.com.

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.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new

MONDAY, MAY 30

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. Emma

Chattin. 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

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,

a Christ-centered, interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offers
service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202554-4330, riversidedc.org.

to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.

firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

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.

MAY 26, 2016

GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

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.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED

CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all

18

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN

CHURCH, inclusive church with

WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio
Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW.
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
HIV Testing at WHITMAN-WALKER
HEALTH. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 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 appoint-

ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th

St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30

p.m. afwash@aol.com, afwashington.
net.

5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,

Arlington. Appointments:
703-789-4467.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk-

THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community.
10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.

THE GAY MENS HEALTH

COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV

US HELPING US hosts a black gay

mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER
POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.

Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van

Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at
least basic swimming ability always
welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@wetskins.org, wetskins.org.

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH

HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly

diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.
Registration required. 202-939-7671,
hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 31
The DC Anti-Violence Project
(DC AVP) hosts a VIOLENCE

PREVENTION AND SURVIVOR

SUPPORT SUMMIT at The DC

Center. 5:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.

NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.

ing/social club serving greater D.C.s

LGBT community and allies hosts an
evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

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.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE
DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,

where volunteers assemble safe-sex

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

IDENTITY offers free and confidential

HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 East
Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park,
7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.
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.

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

19

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
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, 703-521-1999. Handicapped
accessible. Newcomers welcome.
liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ
YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.

US HELPING US hosts a support

group for black gay men 40 and
older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. 202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY

MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/

STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701

14th St. NW. Patients are seen on

walk-in basis. No-cost screening for
HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing
available for fee. whitman-walker.
org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens
gay-literature group, discusses
These Things Happen, by Richard
Kramer. 7:30 p.m. Cleveland Park
Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave.
NW. All are welcome. bookmendc.
blogspot.com.
Francis L. Cardozo Education
Campus will hold its second annual
CARDOZO LGBTQ PRIDE EVENT.
The event will feature booths from a
variety of local LGBT organizations,
and will take place during lunch periods. Open to youth ages 11-21. 11:40
a.m.-1:50 p.m. 1200 Clifton St. NW.
For more information, visit cardozohs.com.
The DC Center hosts a FREEDOM
FROM SMOKING event for those

wishing to quit smoking cigarettes.

7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

20

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL

BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social

Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center,

721 8th St SE (across from Marine
Barracks). No reservations and partner needed. All welcome. 301-345-1571
for more information.

WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

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

Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH

offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.

and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-5491450, historicchristchurch.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

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

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414

East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-

gram for job entrants and seekers,

meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
info, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social

club for mature gay men, hosts
weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703573-8316. l

scene
Capital Trans Pride
2016 at the Reeves
Municipal building
Saturday, May 21
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

21

The Values of Don Lemon

Hes been lauded. Hes been criticized. Hes been held to a different standard than other network anchors.
But through it all, CNNs Don Lemon just wants to be the best person to tell the story.
Interview by Randy Shulman

22

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown. Setting the

scene at the riots, he noted that obviously theres a smell of
marijuana here as well, and was pilloried for meeting with
Darren Wilson, in an attempt to obtain a first exclusive interview
with the officer who shot and killed Brown. He takes the criticism in stride, retreating when necessary (he apologized for an
off-the-cuff comment made to a victim of Bill Cosbys), but more
often than not holding his ground. He is part of the new breed of
journalist one with an opinion on just about everything and yet
one who proffers it only to elicit all points of views from every
possible angle. Even if that angle includes black holes.
Ive had to develop a very thick skin in this business, especially being.... he trails off. If you look around, you will see
that Im the only person like me in Prime Time, a Black man
who happens to be gay so I get it from everybody. Its tough.
It aint easy.
Lemon makes it look easy, however. And hes got the honors
to prove it, among them an Emmy and a prestigious Edward R.
Murrow. In 2009, Ebony magazine heralded him as one of the
150 most influential African-Americans in the nation.
Lemon is a broadcast news celebrity. And with celebrity comes
a certain loss of privacy yet hes found ways, especially as a gay
man living in Manhattan to keep his private life just that. He
laughs when jokingly asked if he has ever had a Grindr account.
I dont have one! he says, before turning reflective on the topic.
Listen, he continues. This is funny that Im talking about
it, because I actually talked to my PR person at CNN about
joining Tinder. I happen to be a single man right now. And you
know, it used to be not acceptable to date online. But right now
its very acceptable, and Im like, You know, maybe Im missing out because everybody has a social media meeting app for
dating.But, you know, at the end of the day, I think personal
interaction is more important than seeing a headless torso. I
believe in love and romance. I would rather awkwardly flirt with
someone at a bar, at the gym, at the library, on the subway, on the
street, in the store. Id rather do it the old-fashioned way than
having to use a social media app.
Welcome to the values of Don Lemon.
METRO WEEKLY: Lets kick off with the craziness thats defining this
years election. Whats it like to be covering it? Can you even put
it into words?
DON LEMON: This is unlike anything that Ive ever seen. We
thought 2008 was interesting with the first Black president possibly being elected, but Ive never seen anything like this before
in politics. Its thrilling because you never know where its going
to go. I feel honored and privileged to be able to be at this level,
to be able to interview these people, and to be able to offer the
American voter perspective.
MW: Much has been written about the fact that the media took
Donald Trump for granted Oh, hell never make it that far,
hell self-implode and yet he just kept making it further until he
became pretty much unstoppable.
LEMON: I want you to take note of this. Out of all of the people who
started covering this, I took it completely serious from the begin-

COURTESY OF CNN

RE YOU TRYING TO GET ME INTO TROUBLE?

Don Lemon laughs heartily as he responds to a question about whether CNN colleague Anderson Cooper is as
good looking in person as he is on television.
I will say this, Lemon says, after a breath. Anderson and I
share the same floor. Were right across the hall. Were mirror
images of each other. If he walks out and stands in his door and I
stand in mine, we look right at each other. Anderson is a very smart
guy. Very nice guy. And on top of that hes very handsome as well.
Lemon himself is no slouch in the looks department. But as
host of CNN Tonight, attractiveness only goes so far. Lemon
brings smarts to his show, which tackles current affairs these
days, mostly the gonzo presidential campaign with the atmosphere of a guided free-for-all. More often than not, Lemon
expresses a visible sense of bemusement at the tirades his guests
engage in. Yet he invariably retains full control, often refusing
to let the various pundits, politicians and celebrities issue carte
blanche proclamations or artfully dodge the facts.
Last night, I had someone on who kept giving me the talking points about why Donald Trump would not release his tax
returns, says Lemon. He said, Well, hes been given advice by
his attorneys. I said, Well, thats not an answer, because the IRS
says theres nothing to prevent you from releasing tax returns.
Well, his counsel says that its not in his best interests. And
I said, Thats still not an answer.... Even if he doesnt want to
release those years, there are the years that are not being audited
that he can release. And I kept pressing him. My guests just look
at me, and smile or laugh, because they realize Im not going to
let them get away with it.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the congenial,
good-natured journalist worked for several years at NBCs New
York operation, which included appearances on Today and
NBC Nightly News, before moving over to CNN in 2006. His
2011 memoir, Transparent, chronicles his life in the newsroom,
but also digs deep into the personal, delving into sexual abuse
encountered as a child, and serving as a launching pad for the
then 45-year-old to come out to the public. Lemon made the
decision to go public because he felt it would give his audience
better insight and perspective into who he is. Over the course
of an hour-long phone interview, he notes that the rise of social
media and the publics thirst for knowing every detail about a
celebritys life have forced well-known broadcast journalists to
appear more human.
People know that we have personal lives, he says. I dont
have to be a Flat Stanley this guy in a suit that you project
whatever you want to on. Youd think, Oh, theres Don Lemon. He
must have two and a half kids and a really beautiful wife, right?
I no longer have to be a one-dimensional cardboard cutout on
television, he continues, adding that he now has the freedom
to be multidimensional, to just be more authentic.
Like anyone with national platform, Lemon has had his share
of controversial moments. He drew derision when he asked an
expert if the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight 370 was a
result of a black hole. He was heavily criticized by the Black community for his coverage of the racially charged riots in Ferguson,

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

23

ning. I said last summer that Donald Trump was probably going
to be the Republican nominee. I gave my reasons why and people
laughed at me. I never discounted or underestimated Donald
Trump. Heres why: Donald Trump is used to the shark-infested
media waters of New York. This is the toughest media market in
the country, not only locally, but nationally and internationally.
So hes used to manipulating the media in his own way. If you
have someone who is able to do that as the biggest reality star in
the world, I dont think you should discount that. And if someone
says theyre running for president, I take them at their word.
Trump was touching upon something that people had not quite
tuned into yet, because I had interviewed him a couple times. I
would be on the elevator, Id be on the treadmill, Id be getting
out of the subway, Id be walking down the street, Id be in a
restaurant and people would come up to me and go, Hey, I saw
your interview with Donald Trump. And theyd look over both
their shoulders and then whisper, I kind of like him. I dont agree
with everything he says, but you know what? I might vote for him,
because we need someone like him. I kept hearing that and hearing that and hearing that, so I knew he was onto something.
MW: I dont mind saying that the prospect of a Trump presidency
horrifies me.
LEMON: [Laughs.] Listen, thats not to say that I support him or
agree with him. Thats not my job as a journalist Im not for
any candidate. Im just here to be the best one to tell the story.
But Im also here to give you reality. And I saw the reality from
the very beginning that many people were not able to see because
they were blinded by their ideology. If they were a staunch conservative who believed in traditional conservative values, they
didnt like Donald Trump. If they were a progressive, liberal or
someone who supported Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, they
did not believe in Donald Trump. I can understand when people
are horrified by it. Im not saying that its right or whatever. Its
just the reality.
MW: The reality now is that there are polls out where hes beating
Hillary.
LEMON: I know. How do you feel about that? [Laughs.]
MW: Not happy. Im not going to get into my feelings about this,
but its nuts.
LEMON: Yeah, up is down, and down is up. We thought that
there would be a contested Republican Convention. No contested Republican Convention now. But possibly a contested
Democratic Convention. Isnt that something?
MW: Something is the word for it. One thing I enjoy about your show
is you often press quite hard if somebody is dodging. I find that especially galling with most broadcast journalists and Trump. Hell dodge
a question, and after a few feeble attempts at trying to get him to
answer, they simply back off and go to another question. It bugs me.
LEMON: Im not afraid of pressing him, but also it is television
its not a prize fight. You can press as much as you want and
sometimes people will never answer your question, and all you
can do is point out that theyre not answering your question. I
cant get up from the chair if I happen to be in a face-to-face with
Donald Trump and go over and shake him and say, Answer my
question! It just doesnt work that way. So you can press and
press as much as you can, to the point where you say, Okay, I
guess youre not going to answer my question, or through your
questioning, you show that theyre not answering. I think the
viewer is smart enough to realize when someone is obfuscating
or just avoiding the answer.
MW: Trump is astonishingly thin-skinned. He said at one point that
he wanted to be able to sue the media. If he becomes president, is the
medias coverage of the presidency going to be altered by that attitude?
24

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

LEMON: I dont know. I know that he has sued Bill Maher, but
one must remember that Hillary Clinton has not been so friendly
with the media as well. Shes kept the media roped off in a bullpen. The Obama administration has not been that forthcoming
with the media. I dont think any politician really likes the media.
I dont think Donald Trump is an exception. The interesting
thing and the thing that you must give him credit for is that
he says it out loud. Most of the other people will not say it out
loud. Theyll just blackball you where they wont do interviews
with you, but they wont say it publicly. He is the one that just
says it out loud, like, I dont like them. Im not doing an interview with them. I would prefer a Donald Trump approach to
someone who blacklists you, and you dont know why and never
hear from them. I want to know.
MW: Trump made a point about the taxes, saying that before the
days of Nixon, the media didnt pry into candidates lives this way.
Is he right to some extent? Has our culture gotten to the point
where it is almost too much? Are we so fixated and overloaded on
every little last detail about a person, tearing them apart, that the
issues get cast aside?
LEMON: Im of two minds about this. Weve always pried in the
lives of people who wanted to be president. We just couldnt
do it to the extent that we can do it now. If the technology was
available at any point in history, I think we would have done the
same thing. I actually think its quite important to vet our political candidates, especially the people who are going to be leaders
of the free world.
Now, having said that, we should not put them in a position
where we know almost everyone is excluded from being president, because we all are human, we all make mistakes, we all do
things that were not proud of. And I think we should take that
into account and allow people to be human and to have flaws. I
dont really care unless you are using it in some way that hurts
the public. Whatever it is that happens to be your particular flaw
or fault or predilection, I dont think that that should preclude
you from being president. I think we should say, Listen, this
person is human. So lets allow them that. This person has a past.
Lets allow them that.
Donald Trump was not running for president at the time of
some of his particular dalliances. The New York Times made an
issue of how he treated women. In the workplace, its a different
story. You should be held to a higher standard, especially if you
are the boss, but if you are a young man who is in the middle of
a divorce or who is single and you are out trying to woo a model,
I mean, whats wrong? Thats what happens. Everyone tries to
woo someone. Everyone wants companionship. Everyone wants
to be with someone who is attractive. If youre a single person
and youre going out with a different woman every night of
the week, thats your business. Thats the freedom of being an
American. And if you happen to be a billionaire and you throw
a party at your home, of course youre going to have models
there. I dont hold that against him. And I dont think that should
preclude anybody from being President of the United States. It
doesnt mean youre going to be someone who governs poorly
because you have made personal mistakes in your past.
MW: Do you think tigers can change their stripes?
LEMON: Simple answer, I do. Listen, I think you sometimes have
an epiphany in life and realize that you need to change. I think
age does that. Wisdom cannot be taught. And I always say that,
for me, wisdom is the most important attribute that you can
have, because its earned its earned through time on the
planet. There is nothing that teaches you like time on the planet.
MW: How old are you?

LEMON: I am five-zero. I turned this year. Milestone.

MW: Thats what the Internet says, but you cant always believe

to really keep as a journalist. And I know that.

MW: Do you think homophobic guests are now more careful about
how they approach the topic on your show?
LEMON: Yes, yes.
MW: Is that bad?
LEMON: No, because I think they should be careful. I think we
should always be thinking about how we are treating other
people and we should always be mindful and respectful of what
other people may be dealing with. When someone comes on my
show, theyre going to have to do their research. Theyre going
to be on point about issues that have to deal with LGBT issues or
issues of race, because they understand I have a certain perspective and background that I think makes me a bit more insightful
on those issues. Im definitely going to challenge them.
MW: In the early years, did you face any challenges at work due
to your sexuality or your race? Are there any incidents you can
think of?
LEMON: Probably. I think that I have faced more overt discrimination for being a man of color than I have for being a gay man.

the Internet.
LEMON: Well, Im 30 then. [Laughs.]
MW: I thought you were about 35.
LEMON: Good, then write that. Looks 35, but is older. You know
what? Most people say I look younger in person than I do on television. Thats just genetics. I had nothing to do with it. I think it
helps that I try not to take anything personally and try not to let
anything bother me for too long. I dont hang onto things. I just
keep moving. I dont look back. I know it sounds like a clich, but
I believe age is nothing but a number. I dont feel any older than
I felt when I was in my 20s or 30s. I feel wiser and I feel free. I
feel like Im a truly emancipated person. Maybe thats it. Maybe
people see that I think its all just sort of energy.
MW: Well, whatever youve got going there is working for you. You
came out in 2011, in your memoir.
LEMON: Randy, I had been out. I have not been in since my 20s. I
just didnt talk about it publicly. My co-workers knew. My bosses certainly knew. It was an open
secret. I just didnt talk about it in
No one asks Wolf or Jake or Anderson to be the spokesperson for
public. And then I decided theres
a certain degree of deception in
all Jewish people or white or gay people. But
silence. I thought it was important
for people to be able to see that
even their news guy is gay.
MW: Has it changed anything for
you in the years since?
LEMON: Yes. I have no secrets. I
mean, I would like to have some
privacy. Its weird, but the longer
youre on TV, especially in Prime Time, people recognize you. I From the larger culture, Ive had to deal with homophobia from
walk down the street and people are like, Can I get a picture? all races, which is an interesting thing for someone in my posiIts a little off-putting. But I have no secrets. I have nothing to tion. People expect me, because Im Black and Im gay, to autohide from anybody. I am who I am. You know who I am. You matically be liberal and to have certain points of view. People of
know what I am. It makes me that much more transparent and color expect me to have certain points of view at all times. And
honest on television, because I have the same rules for myself gay people expect me to have certain points of view at all times.
that I have for the people I interview, for my guests. If youre In a way that other journalists dont have to face. No one asks
going to come on television and have a national or international Wolf Blitzer or Jake Tapper or, for that matter, Anderson, to be
platform, then you need to be honest and straightforward with the spokesperson for all Jewish people or all white people or all
the American people, and with people who are watching. So I gay people. For some reason, as a man of color who happens to
have a freedom that I dont know if many people have, especially be gay, people expect me to be the spokesperson for all people of
in this position. That has been part of my success in the last color and for all gay people and then the two combined. Thats
couple of years being able to come out and be open and honest. really an unfair expectation to hold on a person.
At the end of the day, I am a journalist who happens to be
Here I am. Accept me for all of who I am or you dont have to. I
Black, who happens to be gay, and who happens not to be neidont really care.
MW: Does being out make covering gay issues more personal for you? ther liberal nor conservative. I dont really take a political bent. I
LEMON: No, it makes me better at it. Listen. It is personal. I dont believe in political parties. Thats hard for people to underam a person of color. When issues of color and race come stand. Just because you have a D in front or behind your name,
up, I understand as an American and a viewer and a journal- doesnt mean that I should vote for you just because. If you dont
ist in a better way than many people who may not have that share my values, then Im not going to vote for you. I dont care
same understanding. I am a man who happens to be gay. So I what political party youre from. If youre a horrible homophobe
understand LGBTQ issues in a way that many Americans do or if youre Islamophobic or if youre a xenophobe, any of those
understand them and some Americans dont. And that offers things, Im not voting for you. I dont care what your political
me a better insight and perspective.
party is. I dont vote for people because theyre a certain letter.
I think that each one of the political parties we have can do
MW: But if you have a guest on whos virulently anti-gay, you have
a better job serving all Americans, especially people of color,
to keep it in check.
LEMON: I do. I get a lot of heat for it, but I do keep it in check,
especially LGBT. I think sometimes, especially when it comes
because we are all Americans and under our Constitution we to the Democratic Party that we people of color or the LGBT
all deserve equal protection. Just because you may feel a certain community will throw votes behind them just because. I
way politically, or feel a certain way with your religion, it doesnt think that we should be looking at all people Republican,
give you the right to discriminate against anybody else. Those Democrat, Independent as to who were going to vote for
views are your views. Thats the only perspective that you have and stop relying on two political parties so much. I dont really

people expect me to be the spokesperson

for all people of color and for all gay people.
Thats really an unfair expectation.

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MAY 26, 2016

25

understand that and never have.

MW: What are your values?
LEMON: It depends on what youre talking about. This sounds
clich, but I really do believe that all people, no matter our background, no matter our race, no matter our religion, no matter
what our sexual orientation is, whether were trans or straight or
gay or bi or questioning or cis or Jewish or whatever, we should
all be treated equally. That should never be questioned under
our Constitution.
And whatever your religion is because religion at the highest degree teaches you to turn the other cheek, to be good to
your fellow man we should never question who gets rights
and who doesnt get rights, and who should be able to get married. We should all be treated equal. If we lived in a different
country, thats a different thing, because their constitution may
not be based on the type of democracy or principles that our
Constitution was based on. So thats what I believe.
I also believe that if youre a liberal, then you should be able
to listen to conservatives. You should be able to have conservative friends. You should be able to argue with conservatives. You
should not ban them or not allow them to speak. And I believe
the same thing if youre a conservative. I have friends who are
liberals, who are conservatives, who are atheist, who are very
religious, who are Jewish. If I had a dinner party and I invited
every single friend I knew, you wouldnt know where I stood on
religious values or values of sexuality or values of politics. You
wouldnt know because I invite everyone into my life. Those are
my principles. Those are my values. Everyone is included.
MW: Good values.
LEMON: Let me tell you: When we meet people who are not like
us or who we may disagree with, instead of judging them or
shutting them out, we should become curious about why they
feel the way they feel. And that will change your entire perspective. Be curious about someone. Why does this person feel this
way? Who is this person? Maybe they dont understand a certain
thing. Maybe you can teach them something. Maybe, at the end
of the day, you wont be able to, but the best thing to do is to be
curious about them rather than be judgmental.
When I grew up, the Klan would hand out literature on the
corner of my high school, okay? It was a small town in Louisiana
called Baker, Louisiana. My best friend, John DuPree lived out
in the country. And the next lot over was the Grand Dragon of
the KKK. And when my mom found out they lived so close, she
wouldnt allow me to go over to his home anymore and she said,
Hes going to have to come here. I remember going to a party
at Central High School, which was in a neighboring community,
getting out of the car and some guy standing at the door with a
gun saying, Dont even get out of the car, nigger. As a journalist, I would want to talk to those people. Doesnt mean that I
want to be friends with them. It doesnt mean that I want them
in my life, but I certainly want to hear from them. Its the devil
you know. I would like to know where people stand, as I said
earlier in the conversation, than to not know.
I got so much flak from certain people for wanting to interview Darren Wilson and for meeting with him in Ferguson. It
was the oddest thing. I did not understand why members of my
own community wanted to limit me as a journalist by not allowing me the opportunity. Every journalist in the country wanted
that interview, but for some reason, they said that I should not
do the interview and I was a traitor for wanting to do the interview. Its absurd.
MW: Does it bother you when a community youre part of criticizes you?
LEMON: What bothers me is what I call the Black Box, that in
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MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

order to be an authentic Black person, one must live and operate

within certain parameters. And that is limiting. Why would you
ever want to limit someone to a certain way of being? You want
to expand. That is a mentality I dont quite understand. Maybe
its rooted in slavery. I have no idea, but I dont believe in the
Black Box. I dont believe in being limited by the larger community. And I dont believe in being limited by people of color
as well. That is a limitation on their part, not my part. So I dont
view it as a criticism of me. I view it as a limitation on the parts
of the people who are doing the criticizing.
MW: The face of our television news is overwhelmingly white and
male. Are our news channels not addressing diversity well enough?
LEMON: Are you trying to get me in trouble?
MW: No, but its a valid question.
LEMON: Ill give you an honest answer. No, I dont think were
addressing diversity as we should. Diversity is very important.
And if you look over the political coverage, especially this last
election cycle, the issues that weve been talking about Black
Lives Matter, police brutality, income inequality, immigration,
all of those things all of the candidates addressing those things,
before Ben Carson got out, were white men and two white
women. And then you have all the people who are doing the
interviewing and the moderating, all white. [Editors note: Lemon
did participate as a questioner in CNNs Flint Democratic Debate.]
So are we addressing it? No. Is it a difficult conversation? Yes.
People who make the decisions about who gets to do that, might
they have blind spots? Yes. Do they want to hear it? Maybe not, I
dont know. Is it something we need to address? Absolutely. And
I would be the first person to raise my hand and start the conversation about how we address it because its high time that we do.
MW: This is our Black Pride issue. Have you ever been to a Black
Pride celebration?
LEMON: Yes. I lived in Atlanta for a long time and gay Black Pride
is a big event there.
MW: What do you recall about it?
LEMON: Rarely does one see a large group of gay Black people,
especially Black men and women together as one. Its really
refreshing to be able to see that, especially when you consider
how closeted many of us have had to be for many years because of
religious or societal reasons. So thats refreshing. But my memory
is just of standing in one of the Peach Tree streets, avenues, boulevards in Atlanta and the overwhelming majority of the people
being there being Black and gay rather than of the larger culture.
Very often Im the only Black person in the crowd when I go to
many places, so that is refreshing to me. Thats just my memory.
MW: How should the Black LGBT community celebrate its Pride?
LEMON: I think they should celebrate their beauty. Black gays
should celebrate how much influence they have on the culture.
If you look at the culture, you look at popular television, you look
at many magazines and at fashion lets just be honest, a lot of
it, if not most of it, stems from Black gay people. We should be
proud of that and we should own it more. We should monetize
it more. We should build wealth more and we shouldnt hide
from it. I think we should also make an investment in the future
by coming out and refusing to be in the closet and on the DL.
Be proud to be gay and Black and stand up for it. It is a virtue in
many ways and its not something that one should be ashamed
of. Im very proud of being a Black gay man in America. l
CNN Tonight with Don Lemon airs nightly on CNN at 10 p.m.
EST. His memoir, Transparent (Farrah Gray Publishing, 2011), is
available at Amazon.com. Follow him on Twitter at @donlemon
and @CNNtonight.

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29

Prideful
DC Black Pride offers a time to reunite and celebrate with old acquaintances
By John Riley
Photos from the 2015 DC Black Pride Festival by Ward Morrison

S THE TRUISM GOES, MIGHTY OAKS FROM

little acorns grow. Thats certainly the case
with DC Black Pride, which started out in 1991
with fewer than 800 attendees on a small patch
of land in Northwest Washington.
The very first DC Black Pride happened across the street
from Howard University, at Banneker Field, back in the
early 90s, says Victoria Kirby York, a DC Black Pride award
recipient. It was created to help raise awareness and funds
and resources to fight back against the HIV/AIDS virus and
epidemic.
Yet from its humble beginnings, DC Black Pride has
grown exponentially, with similar events being held in four
other countries and nearly 30 other U.S. cities. DCs event
attracts thousands of revelers to the city each Memorial Day
Weekend. At 26 years old, its safe to say its a permanent fixture of the local LGBT scene.
The essence and heart of DC Black Pride is being resilient
and being able to persevere in the face of incredible challenges and stigma, Kirby York says.
Its that same perseverance against daunting odds that is a
trademark of Kirbys work on behalf of the LGBT community.
As national campaigns director for the National LGBTQ Task
Force, she was nominated and honored earlier this week with
Black Prides Leadership Award.
Other award honorees included Aisha Moodie-Mills of
the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute, local attorney
Darrin Glymph, HIV/AIDS Activist Guy Anthony, DC Black
Pride volunteer Jason Lyric, and Mayor Muriel Bowser, who
has hired more LGBT people to high-level management posiMETROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

31

tions in District government than any of her predecessors.

As it does every year, DC Black Pride strikes a
balance between its celebratory and more somber
aspects, the latter of which center around various
educational and informational events. On Friday,
DC Black Pride will host an HIV/AIDS Town Hall
where people can speak frankly about the services
available to the community and the best methods of
prevention.
On Saturday morning, there will be an intergenerational town hall aimed at bridging the divide between
LGBT seniors and millennials. Later that afternoon,
Earl Fowlkes, in his capacity as the LGBT Caucus
Chair of the Democratic National Committee, will
moderate a Transgender Speak Out event, designed to
give voice to the transgender communitys concerns
amid a wave of anti-trans initiatives, and how the
political system can best meet their needs.
Of course, it wouldnt really be DC Black Pride
without some entertainment, which will come in the
form of a talent competition to be held at Sundays
annual Health & Wellness Expo at Francis Stevens
School, in the citys West End neighborhood.
Our DC Black Pride Has Talent contest, with a
$1,000 cash prize, is a new feature, says Fowlkes.
We are so fortunate to have Broadway star Frenchie
Davis be with us as host.
Throughout the weekend, the clubs and bars of
D.C., as well as some other venues, will be filled to
the brim with revelers. The festivities kick off on
Thursday evening, starting with Unleashed DCs
rooftop happy hour at Dirty Bar for women and a
jump-off party at the Stonefish Lounge for men,
part of nightlife promoter Daryl Wilsons Wet
Dreamz Reloaded weekend.
To Wilson, the highlight of DC Black Pride has
been the venues hes been able to book for his parties,
including Echostage, the 9:30 Club, Arena Stage, even
Nationals Stadium.
Ive traveled to a lot of Black Prides around the
country, and I can say that, in D.C., we have some of
the most elaborate venues that we showcase to out-oftowners, says Wilson. Its an honor to be afforded
these opportunities over the years.
The weekend also serves as a backdrop for people to reunite and reconnect with old friends and
acquaintances, who may have relocated or lost touch
following the closure of the citys older gay clubs due
to gentrification. For Wilson, rekindling those old
relationships and creating new memories is an essential part of DC Black Pride.
Ive tried to put a lot of energy and hard work into
making sure that the events I put on are not just about
a party, he says. I want people to leave knowing that
they had an experience. I think people want to have
an experience, to have a moment with their friends
and loved ones. l
DC Black Pride runs from Friday, May 27 to Monday,
May 30, and is centered at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol
Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW. For more information,
and for a full schedule of events, visit dcblackpride.org.
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MAY 26, 2016

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MAY 26 - JUNE 2, 2016

Compiled by Doug Rule

SPOTLIGHT

ALLIE DEARIE

ANJAL CHANDE AT
SMITHSONIANS CROSSLINES:
CULTURE LAB

Stuffed

Geoff Sobelles one-man show at Studio Theatre is an immersive

adventure in unpacking

AVE YOU NOTICED THAT THEIR STUFF IS SHIT, AND YOUR SHIT IS STUFF?
The late George Carlins famous routine riffing on one mans trash being anothers treasure helped shape Geoff Sobelles one-man show, The Object Lesson. It was
also subtly inspired by another comedian, George Carl, whom Sobelle refers to as the master
of the physical gag.
Yet his stage show, whimsically focused on our attachment to stuff, is not a comedy.
There are some really funny things that happen in it, and a lot of physical comedy, Sobelle
says, but it is not a laugh a minute or a light comedy.
Sobelle calls it a meditation on the everyday objects that we have in our lives that we often
overlook or dont think much about from clothing well never wear again but refuse to
throw out, to household items that could be useful but go unused. The 90-minute Object Lesson
begins as an immersive experience. Youre not walking into a theater, youre walking into a
kind of storage facility [with] boxes stacked to the ceiling. Theatergoers are encouraged to
rummage through open boxes and pull out objects that tickle their fancy. Eventually Sobelle
emerges to wander among the audience and gradually assembles a set, unpacking pieces box by
box. He then sits in the middle of the room and leads a rather informal discussion.
As a child Sobelle was enamored with silent film clowns, from Charlie Chaplin to Buster
Keaton. His career to date has been focused on creating works with Philadelphias legendary
Pig Iron Theatre Company. Yet hes already developing another solo show as a follow-up to
Object Lesson, focusing on the distinction between the concepts of house and home.
Its about all of the people who may have lived in the house before you did, and the people
that are going to come afterward, he says. Whose home is it? Doug Rule
The Object Lesson runs now to June 5. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Tickets are
$45 to $55. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
34

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

As part of a celebration of its multigenre convening Crosslines: A

Culture Lab on Intersectionality,
the Smithsonian presents an original
dance piece by contemporary Indian
dance artist Anjal Chande. A commission of the Smithsonian Asian
Pacific Center, Out of the Shadows:
A Colored Solidarity is a contemporary bharatanatyam dance work that
spotlights two feminist figures, based
on the research of Nico Slate: Indian
activist Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
and often-overlooked American queer
activist Pauli Murray, who exemplifies the cross-pollination between
Indias independence movement and
Americas civil rights movement from
the late 19th century to the 1960s. All
told, more than 40 artists and scholars
will offer performances, lectures and
activities presenting new perspectives
on identity, including internationally
renowned painter Roger Shimomura
and local artists SuperWaxx and No
Kings Collective. Crosslines runs
Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May
29, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Arts and
Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Dr.
SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit smithsonianapa.org.

CAPTURING FIRE: QUEER

SPOKEN WORD SUMMIT & SLAM

Since its inception in 2010, Capturing

Fire is still the only event of its kind.
Organizer and producer Regie Cabico
intends the three-day spoken word
and poetry festival, presented by the
DC Center, to be a refuge and retreat
for LGBT poets. Were performing in
non-queer venues all the time bars
and coffeehouses, Cabico told Metro
Weekly last year. I just wanted to create a kind of Underground Railroad
for queer poets to better know and
support each other. The focus of
Capturing Fire is on the performancebased short-form style known as slam,
a form of American political theater in which poets typically share
personal stories and touch on important issues through their original
compositions, which are specifically
designed to have impact principally
to persuade a panel of judges voting
for best poet, but also to inspire or
connect with other poets or audience
members. Friday, June 3, through
Sunday, June 5, with the actual slam
set for Saturday, June 4, starting at

6 p.m. at Busboys & Poets, 2021 14th

St. NW. Festival runs at several venues. An AllPass is $75, with tickets to
Saturdays Semi-Final and Final Slam
$20 each or $30 together. Call 202682-2245 or visit capfireslam.org.

CYNDI LAUPER, BOY GEORGE

STAN BAROUH

The pairing of these two flamboyant 80s pop hitmakers as queerfriendly and just-plain queer as they
come makes so much sense, its
a wonder it hadnt happened before.
Lauper tours in support of yet another
venture outside of pop after 2010s
Memphis Blues, this time the classic
country Detour; Georges latest release
was the 2013 solo set This Is What
I Do. Wednesday, June 1, at 8 p.m.
The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551
Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $40
to $95. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit
wolftrap.org.

IRELAND 100: CELEBRATING

A CENTURY OF IRISH ARTS &
CULTURE
(L to R) Shravan Amin as Indira and Lynette Rathnam as Nirmala

Staging Diversity
Mosaic Theater offers a romantic comedy with minority and LGBT characters

N CORI THOMASS MULTI-RACIAL ROMANTIC COMEDY WHEN JANUARY

Feels Like Summer, we meet a sanitation worker, two young fast food employees
and two Indian immigrant siblings, one of whom is preparing for gender transition. Its about characters that you ordinarily dont see on stage, says the plays
director, Serge Seiden. And how through serendipity, they find themselves together
in various pairings and find love.
The LGBT community is represented beyond the transgender character, though
Seiden understandably hesitates to spell it out in more detail, noting that the play
has a very surprising, heartwarming and delightful ending.
Its the kind of play that the Mosaic Theater Company is already making its stockin-trade after an almost unprecedented level of success in just its first year. Were
really trying to make the plays about the community in which we live and I mean
the broader community, says Seiden, managing director and producer of the company, which was founded by artistic director Ari Roth. Selecting works by minority
playwrights, assembling a diverse board of trustees, and recruiting students from
Gallaudet, Howard and Bowie State for its apprentice program are all part of the
ways Mosaic is very intentionally [being] diverse and inclusive, says Seiden.
Though hes directed plays at companies all around town, Seiden has been most
closely associated with Studio Theatre, where he worked the past 25 years. But last
year Roth made Seiden an offer he couldnt refuse, from the new challenges of serving in a CEO-style position, to Mosaics commitment to putting on shows tackling
social justice issues. That connects back to the Maine natives earliest days in D.C.,
when he earned a Helen Hayes nomination as an actor in 1988s A Dance Against
Darkness: Living With AIDS, staged by former company D.C. Cabaret. A musical
based on interviews with local people, Seiden calls it theater with a purpose. Hes
hoping to repeat that at Mosaic.
People really appreciate having their stories told on stage with empathy, instead
of fear and derision, he says. Doug Rule
When January Feels Like Summer runs to June 12 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center,
1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $40 to $60. Call 202-399-7993 or mosaictheater.org.

36

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METROWEEKLY.COM

The Kennedy Center presents a major

festival commemorating the 100th
anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising
that led to Irelands independence.
Curated by Alicia Adams, the centers
vice president of international programming and dance, some of Irelands
best contemporary musicians, dancers
and theater companies will be on tap,
as well as other events, from a literature series to documentary screenings
to installations. Upcoming highlights
include: a full-length duet between
Riverdance dancer/co-choreographer
Jean Butler and composing cellist Neil
Martin, on Thursday, May 26, and
Friday, May 27, at 7 p.m.; engagements
with famed Olivier Award-winning
actor and director Fiona Shaw, the
festivals Artist-in-Residence, including a performance of texts by W.B.
Yeats and Emily Dickinson with musician Liz Knowles on Tuesday, May 31,
and a discussion about Shakespeares
works and legacy, on Friday, June
3; several literature panels featuring
Irelands best living writers, including Colm Toibin (Brooklyn) and Eavan
Boland (A Woman Without A Country)
in a joint conversation on Wednesday,
June 1, and National Book Awardwinning author Colum McCann in
conversation with Washington Posts
Ron Charles on Friday, June 3; and
An Evening with Irelands Foremost
Irish Language Artists, including poets Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill and
Louis de Paor, award-winning piper
Ronan Browne, and traditional singer
Iarla OLionaird of The Gloaming,
on Thursday, June 2. Festival runs
to June 5. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.

NATIONAL ZOO: WASHED

ASHORE: ART TO SAVE THE SEA

All summer long, the National Zoo

hosts an exhibit of colorful marine
animal sculptures, each made from
plastic debris collected from beaches
representing the more than 315 billion pounds of plastic in oceans
today underscoring the need for

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

37

wildlife conservation. Sculptures on

display include a 12-foot-long shark,
a 16-foot-long parrotfish, an 8-footwide octopus, and a 20-foot-long coral
reef. Opens Friday, May 27. On exhibit
through Sept. 5. National Zoo, 3001
Connecticut Ave. NW. Free. Call 202633-4800 or visit nationalzoo.si.edu.

FILM
ALICE THROUGH THE
LOOKING GLASS

Alan Rickman will again posthumously

appear on our screens, albeit digitally
as the Caterpillar, in Disneys sequel
to 2010s Alice in Wonderland. After
that film raked in over $1 billion, its
surprising that it took Disney this long
to film the sequel. Also, for Tim Burton
fans out there, he isnt directing this
film James Bobin (The Muppets)
is but Burton is a producer. Opens
Friday, May 20. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)

MAGGIES PLAN

A screwball rom-com from writer/

director Rebecca Miller, daughter
of celebrated American playwright
Arthur Miller, Maggies Plan focuses
on a complicated love triangle that
forms between Greta Gerwig, Ethan
Hawke and Julianne Moore. Saturday
Night Live alum Bill Hader and Maya
Rudolph are part of the supporting
cast, all-but guaranteeing that this will
be funny. Opens Friday, May 27. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com.

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE

Yes, its time. Time for James McAvoy

to finally shave his head and give us
the bald Charles Xavier weve all been
waiting for. Theres also something
about an ancient mutant, Apocalypse,
who was worshipped as a god, returning from hibernation to destroy
humanity. Opens Friday, May 27. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com. (RM)

STAGE
AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER

Keegan Theatre takes on the late

Wendy Wassersteins angry, daring
play about a political woman, daughter
of a U.S. Senator, who gets caught up
in a scandal after being nominated to
a Cabinet post. Company co-director
Susan Marie Rhea plays the title role
in this production directed by Brandon
McCoy. Closes Saturday, May 28.
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW.
Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 703-8920202 or visit keegantheatre.com.

BLACK PEARL SINGS!

Over 20 American folk and spiritual

songs factor into Frank Higgins story
inspired by the real-life discovery of
Huddie Lead Belly Ledbetter by folklorist John Lomax. Sandra Holloway
directs this MetroStage production
featuring Roz White as Alberta Pearl
Johnson and Teresa Castracane as
Susannah Mullally. Closes Sunday,
38

MAY 26, 2016

May 29. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal

St., Alexandria. Tickets are $55. Call
800-494-8497 or visit metrostage.org.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

Virginias fledgling theater company

Creative Cauldron presents a production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine
Tesoris coming-of-age musical set in
racially and politically charged 1960s
Louisiana. Closes Sunday, May 29.
ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South
Maple Ave. in Falls Church. Tickets
are $26, or $50 for opening night. Call
703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.

DISGRACED

Arena Stage offers a production of

Avad Akhtars Pulitzer Prize-winning
incendiary examination of ones self
and ones beliefs of American identity and South Asian culture. Timothy
Douglas directs Felicia Curry, Joe
Isenberg, Nehal Joshi, Samip Raval
and Ivy Vahanian. Closes Sunday,
May 29. Kreeger Theater in the Mead
Center for American Theater, 1101 6th
St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

EMPERORS NIGHTINGALE

Adventure Theatre MTC presents a

re-imagining of the Hans Christian
Anderson fairytale about an aimless
prince who ultimately becomes king.
Natsu Onoda Power directs Damon
Chuas adaptation. Closes Monday,
May 30. Adventure Theatre MTC,
7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.
Tickets are $19. Call 301-634-2270 or
visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

HEDDA GABLER

Mark ORowes contemporary adaptation of Henrik Ibsens classic intends

to provide a nuanced portrait of one of
the most fascinating figures in modern
drama, with a mesmerizing study of
power, control and self-deception. Matt
Torney directs Julia Coffey in the title
role in this Studio Theatre production,
also featuring Avery Clark, Kimberly
Schraf, Michael Early, Kimiye Corwin,
Shane Kenyon and Rosemary Regan.
To June 19. Studio Theatre, 14th & P
Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit
studiotheatre.org.

ORSON WELLES
WAR OF THE WORLDS

SCENA Theatres Robert McNamara

directs the stage version of the historic American classic. The original
radio broadcast terrified America on
Halloween 1938, depicting giant green
Martians invading Earth in a series
of News bulletins portraying mass
destruction, military battles and vast
chaos. Thursday, May 26, through
Saturday, May 28, at 8 p.m. Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE.
Tickets are $20 to $40. Call 202-3997993 or visit atlasarts.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM

PHAETON

Taffety Punk Theater Company, whose

tagline is We Will Rock You and
styles itself as a theatrical rock band,
presents Michael Milligans retelling
of the classic Greek myth, exploring the failure of society to live up to
the promise of its visionaries and the
repercussions of that failure. Marcus
Kyd directs a large cast featuring company members Dan Crane and Helen
Hayes Award-winner Kimberly Gilbert
and James Flanagan in the title role,
with choreography by Kelly King.
Remaining performances Thursday,
May 26, through Saturday, May 28, at
7:30 p.m. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop,
545 7th St. SE. Tickets are $15. Call
202-547-6839 or visit taffetypunk.com.

THE MAN IN THE MASK

Although known for its dialogue-free,

movement-focused fare most notably its silent Shakespeare productions
Virginias Synetic Theater offers a
rare show with dialogue, an adaptation
of Alexandre Dumas follow-up to The
Three Musketeers. Husband-and-wife
duo of director Paata Tsikurishvili and
choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili lead
this swashbuckling and high-pageantry
bombastic adventure, following hero
DArtagnan and the corrupt King Louis
XIV. To June 19. Theater at Crystal
City, 1800 South Bell St., Arlington.
Tickets are $15 to $55. Call 800-4948497 or visit synetictheater.org.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

After a ravishing production last

fall of Cole Porters musical take on
Shakespeares classic, the Shakespeare
Theatre Company ends its season
with Ed Sylvanus Iskandars provocative, new, all-male production that
features the pop music of Tony- and
Grammy-winning composer Duncan
Sheik (Broadways Spring Awakening),
including a 30-minute musical intermezzo. Stage and screen actors
Maulik Pancholy (Weeds, 30 Rock) and
Peter Gadiot (Once Upon A Time in
Wonderland) will play Katherina and
Petruchio, respectively, in a cast that
also includes Andre De Shields, Telly
Leung, Gregory Linington, Matthew
Russell, Tom Story, Oliver Thornton
and Bernard White in featured performances. To June 26. Sidney Harman
Hall, Harman Center for the Arts, 610
F St. NW. Call 202-547-1122 or visit
shakespearetheatre.org.

THE WHO & THE WHAT

Round House Theatre presents a ierce

and funny new play from Ayad Akhtar
(Disgraced) about identity, religion
and inherent human contradictions,
focused on a Pakistani-American
writer struggling between her modern
life and traditional heritage. Eleanor
Holdridge directs a cast including
Olivia Khoshatefeh, Brandon McCoy,
Tony Mirrcandani, and Anu Yadav.
Now in previews. Runs to June 19.
Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West
Highway, Bethesda. Tickets are $50 to
$60. Call 240-644-1100 or visit roundhousetheatre.org.

TRANSMISSION

A three-year-old D.C.-based playwriting collective, and one of this

years Helen Hayes Award winners
as Outstanding Emerging Theatre
Company, the Welders offers its latest
production, an immersive, participatory performance play written and
performed by Gwydion Suilebhan.
Devised for a small audience of 20
people, all seated in 1930s armchairs
clustered around period radios,
Transmission focuses on the viral evolution of culture, from the radio age to
the present day. Touted as part-jazz,
part-science lecture and part-ritual
invocation, the show investigates
what it means to be inundated in our
always-connected, always-sharing
culture, which demands skepticism
and inquisitiveness. Remaining performances Thursday, May 26, and
Saturday, May 27, at 8 p.m.. Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.
NE. Tickets are $15 to $30. Call 202399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

MUSIC
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA

Jack Everly conducts the BSO and

a full cast of Broadway vocalists in
an encore SuperPops production
of Hairspray In Concert with John
Waters. The ever-eccentric Waters
serves as entertaining narrator in a
semi-staged concert, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Ladner and
featuring Laura Marie Rondinella as
Tracy Turnblad, Paul Vogt as Edna
Turnblad, George Wendt as Wilbur
Turnblad, Julie Kavanagh as Penny
Pingleton, NaTasha Yvette Williams
as Motormouth Maybelle, Matthew
Scott as Link Larkin, and Kristen Scott
as Amber von Tussle, among others.
The Baltimore School for the Arts
Singers serve as the chorus. Thursday,
June 2, at 8 p.m. Music Center at
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
North Bethesda. Also Friday, June 3,
at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m.
and 8 p.m., Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall,
1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets
are $43 to $110. Call 410-783-8000 or
visit bsomusic.org.

BRANDY CLARK

A great, lesbian country singer-songwriter, Clark has established herself

as a preeminent Nashville songwriter,
writing smart, sophisticated songs,
many of which have become major
hits from Mamas Broken Heart
for Miranda Lambert to the twangy,
gay-affirming anthem Follow Your
Arrow for Kacey Musgraves. Three
years ago, Clark released her tremendous, and tremendously entertaining,
album 12 Stories. My songs are kind
of dark comedy, a lot of them, she told
Metro Weekly in 2014. Tough subject
matter but really delivered a little bit
tongue in cheek. Her sophomore set
Big Day in a Small Town is set for
release June 10, and if the first single
Girl Next Door is any indication, its

every bit as fun and feisty as her debut.

Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m. Rams Head
On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis.
Tickets are $25. Call 410-268-4545 or
visit ramsheadonstage.com.

CAPITAL JAZZ FEST

The music of New Edition and last

years Capital Pride performers En
Vogue is certainly influenced by jazz,
yet you wouldnt traditionally expect
these former R&B/pop hitmaking
groups to headline a jazz festival. Yet
here they are, headlining Day One
of the three-day 24th Capital Jazz
Fest, held the first weekend in June
at Merriweather Post Pavilion. And
theyre hardly alone. As ever, soul and
funk acts are mixed in with the namesake genre and are the most popular draws, such as the sold-out, soulheavy Day Two lineup featuring Lalah
Hathaway, the Isley Brothers, Al B.
Sure, SWV, Blackstreet, and a tribute
to late Earth, Wind & Fire founder
Maurice white. Toni Braxton, Tamia
and Rick James Original Stone City
Band are among the R&B headliners
on Day Three. David Sanborn, Pieces
of a Dream, Take 6 and Will Downing
are some of the true jazz attractions.
Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 5.
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475
Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
Tickets are $59.50 to $192. Call 800551-SEAT or visit capitaljazz.com.

CHAISE LOUNGE

D.C.-based jazz and swing band that

has been a staple at hip bars around
the area, along with more august
venues such as the Kennedy Center.
After performing with Natalie Cole
and Dizzy Gillespie, Chaise Lounge
perform swing standards as well as
original tunes, including those from
their most recent album Gin Fizz
Fandango. Sunday, May 29, at 7:30
p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $16.50 to $30.75. Call 202787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.

JANE MONHEIT

After last falls tribute to her first

hero, Judy Garland, Jane Monheit
returns to Blues Alley with a tribute
to her foremost idol Above all,
beyond any other artist, I loved and
revered Ella, Monheit says about Ella
Fitzgerald. Shes touring in support of

The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald,

the first release on Monheits Emerald
City Records. Thursday, June 2,
through Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m. and
10 p.m. Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin
Ave. NW. Tickets are $40 to $45, plus
$12 minimum purchase. Call 202-3374141 or visit bluesalley.com.

LARRY CORYELL TRIO

Now in its 51st year, iconic jazz venue

Blues Alley welcomes back one of its
longest-running annual performers,
pioneering jazz/rock fusion guitarist
Larry Coryell, who started appearing
at Blues Alley in the 70s. It really is a
place where I can let my hair down
play what I feel like playing, do a lot of
spontaneous stuff, Coryell told Metro
Weekly last year. Friday, May 27, and
Saturday, May 28, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Tickets are $35, plus $12 minimum
purchase. Call 202-337-4141 or visit
bluesalley.com.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY

CONCERT

Now in its 27th year, this concert on

the U.S. Capitol grounds, airing live on
PBS, features the National Symphony
Orchestra led by Jack Everly performing patriotic classics. Joe Mantegna
(Criminal Minds) and Gary Sinise
(CSI: New York) co-host for the 11th
year, and Colin L. Powell also returns
for a special tribute to our men and
women in uniform. Sunday, May 29,
at 8 p.m. U.S. Capitol Building - West
Lawn. Free. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit pbs.org/memorialdayconcert.

NATIONAL ORCHESTRAL
INSTITUTE AND FESTIVAL

Starting over Memorial Day Weekend,

the Clarice Smith Performing Arts
Center at the University of Maryland
presents its annual month-long festival of professional development
and music-making for young classical musicians, culminating in several
concerts pairing students with worldrenowned conductors. The opening
concert features John Morris Russell
of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
leading a program of American
favorites by Aaron Copland and
Leonard Bernstein, though the focus
is on the scores of John Williams,
from Star Wars to Harry Potter to

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MAY 26, 2016

39

Schindlers List. Saturday, May 28, at

8 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall in
the Clarice, University of Maryland,
University Boulevard and Stadium
Drive. College Park. Tickets are $25.
Call 301-405-ARTS or visit theclarice.
umd.edu.

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC

Piotr Gajewski conducts Strathmores

resident symphony and chorale in
Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 6, the
romantic Russians moving and dramatic Pathetique symphony, along
with two stunning pieces for chorus
and orchestra by Brahms, Song of the
Fates and Nanie. Saturday, June 4,
at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $39 to $89. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.

RENEE FLEMING WITH EMERSON

STRING QUARTET

Superstar soprano joins forces with

the celebrated Emerson String
Quartet for a Fortas Chamber Music
Concert, shining a spotlight on works
for voice with string quartet a
rare combination including Egon
Welleszs Sonnette der Elisabeth
Barrett-Browning, Alban Bergs Lyric
Suite, and Brahms String Quartet in
A Minor. Thursday, June 2, at 7 p.m.
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
Tickets are $69. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

40

MAY 26, 2016

STEVEN BLIER, WOLF TRAP

OPERA SOLOISTS

In the recital From Lute Song to

the Beatles, Wolf Trap Opera soloists join pianist/organizer Steven Blier
of the New York Festival of Song to
perform a survey of four centuries of
music from the British Isles, from a
bawdy Renaissance song to a quirky
Gilbert and Sullivan farce to many
ballads in all styles. Summer Hassan,
Clarissa Lyons, Jonas Hacker and
Shea Owens are the soloists for this
Memorial Day Weekend run of concerts. Saturday, May 28, and Sunday,
May 29, at 3 p.m. The Barns at Wolf
Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $46. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit
wolftrap.org.

WHOS BAD: THE ULTIMATE

MICHAEL JACKSON
TRIBUTE BAND

Founded a decade ago in North

Carolina, Vamsi Tadepallis Whos
Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson
Tribute Band didnt explode in popularity until after the King of Pops
death in 2009. Ever since, this infectious tribute production to the King
of Pop has regularly offered fans a
treat, putting on a show recreating
Jacksons precise synchronized dance
routines, in full regalia, from glitzy
jackets to glittery gloves. Saturday,
June 4. Doors at 10 p.m. Nightclub
9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $20.
Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

METROWEEKLY.COM

YAHZARAH

Purple Reign: A Tribute to the

Outrageous Life of Prince is the
focus of a concert at the Birchmere
by the Ghanaian-American D.C. native
and graduate of the Duke Ellington
School of the Arts, who has recorded
with Erykah Badu and toured with
Anthony Hamilton and Lenny Kravitz.
YahZarah has actually been performing her tribute to Prince Rogers Nelson
since 2010, though of course it carries
more meaning now after his death.
Thursday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. The
Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave.,
Alexandria. Tickets are $29.50. Call
703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

DANCE
NAOKO MAESHIBA

Subject/Object is an intimate, experiential dance theater performance as

the audience moves through layers of
personal and cosmic time/space with
Maeshiba, who aims to illuminate the
mystery underneath the skin with
humor and imagination. Thursday,
May 26, through Saturday, May 28,
at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 29, at 3
p.m. Baltimore Theatre Project, 45
West Preston St. Baltimore. Tickets
are $22. Call 410-752-8558 or visit
theatreproject.org.

PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY

World-renowned choreographer Paul

Taylor returns with his company to
the Kennedy Center for two programs
featuring six masterworks from his
six-decade career, including Esplanade,
Arden Court, Promethean Fire and
more.
Remaining
performances
Thursday, May 26, and Friday, May
27, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May
28, at 1:30 p.m. The Kennedy Center
Opera House Orchestra accompanies.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.
Tickets are $39 to $79. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

ROYAL SWEDISH BALLET

The worlds fourth oldest ballet company returns with a bang, offering the
North American premiere of Mats Eks
Juliet and Romeo, a provocative take on
Shakespeares immortal tragedy. Led
by artistic director Johannes Ohman,
the piece is set in a stark, violent 21st
Century and told from a feisty Juliets
point of view. The Royal Swedish Ballet
dances the piece to a composite score
of Tchaikovskys works rather than
the typical Prokofiev performed
by the Kennedy Center Opera House
Orchestra. The piece won a 2015 Olivier
Award for Best New Dance Production
after a run in the U.K. Wednesday,
June 1, through Saturday, June 4, at 7
p.m., with an additional performance
Saturday, June 4, at 1 p.m. Kennedy
Center Opera House. Tickets are $29 to
$129. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

COMEDY
AWKWARD SEX...AND THE CITY

Comedians from New York relive their

most awkward sex/dating/relationship moments on stage at the raunchy storytelling event. Natalie Wall
hosts a show featuring, among others, Bobby Hankinson of Towleroad,
Emmy Harrington of Reno! 911, and
Aaron Benoit. Saturday, June 4. Doors
at 9 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $15. Call 202-667-4490 or
visit blackcatdc.com.

GALLERIES
ART OF THE AIRPORT TOWER

The images of Smithsonian photographer Carolyn Russo offer a journey

examining contemporary and historic
air traffic control towers in this exhibition at the Air and Space Museum.
Through November. National Air and
Space Museum, Independence Ave at
6th St. SW. Call 202-633-2214 or visit
airandspace.si.edu.

EXPLORING YELLOWSTONES
GREAT ANIMAL MIGRATIONS

Part of the National Park Services

centennial celebration. This Invisible
Boundaries exhibition, in conjunction with the May issue of National
Geographic, uses stunning photographs, immersive video, interactive

migration maps, cultural objects,

and original artwork to explore the
compelling story behind some of the
most amazing animal migrations
on the planet. To Sept. 30. National
Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St.
NW. Free. Call 202-857-7588 or visit
ngmuseum.org.

EYE POP: THE CELEBRITY GAZE

Many never publicly displayed portraits of 53 luminaries at the top in

their fields is the focus of this exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Katy Perry,
Sonia Sotomayor, Michelle Obama,
Serena Williams and Kobe Bryant are
among the works, ranging from drawings to sculpture, paintings to video
portraits, and all recent additions to
the museums collection. Through
July 10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.

HEAR/HERE

Jarvis DuBois curates a group show

at Anacostias Honfleur Gallery, featuring poet Fire Angelou and sound
artist Andrew Paul Keiper, both
from Baltimore, as well as D.C.based activist Omolara Di Molinha
Williams McCallister and New
York-based painter Daphne Arthur.
Through diverse media, these artists
explore contemporary urban issues
of displacement, violence and social
injustice. On exhibit starting Friday,
May 27, with opening reception, fea-

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MAY 26, 2016

41

turing a special live performance by

Fire Angelou, Saturday, June 4, from
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Runs to July 16.
Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope
Road SE. Call 202-365-8392 or visit
honfleurgallery.com.

scape in stunning ways. The museum

also displays some of his photography
equipment and large-format cameras.
Through Sept. 5. National Building
Museum, 401 F St. NW. Call 202-2722448 or visit nbm.org.

KONSTANTIN MAKOVSKY: THE

TSARS PAINTER

RE-BALL!: RAISE/RAZE IN THE

DUPONT UNDERGROUND

The Hillwood Museum presents a

special exhibition on the 19th Century
Russian painter who captured the
color, romance and extravagance of
the feudal Russian elite. Konstantin
Makovskys A Boyar Wedding Feast
will serve as the exhibition centerpiece, with exquisite objects and
details from the painting brought to
life through groupings of 17th Century
objects drawn from Hillwoods collection, as well as loans from other
museums including the Met and
Baltimores Walters museums.
Through June 12. Hillwood Estate,
4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested
donation is $12. Call 202-686-5807 or
visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

LUMINOUS LANDSCAPES:
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAN WARD

The National Building Museum offers

an exhibition focused on large-format photographs, mostly in black and
white, by Alan Ward, a renowned
practitioner of both landscape architecture and photography. Ward has
combined his dual interests in these
works, visually deconstructing the
fundamental elements of the land-

42

MAY 26, 2016

The long-shuttered, former streetcar

station and one-time food court
below Dupont Circle reopens after
two decades. This site-specific installation features the 650,000 translucent plastic balls from last summers Beach exhibit at the National
Building Museum. The New York
architecture and design studio Hou
de Sousa has assembled them into a
fully reconfigurable block system
like sand in a giant sandbox that
visitors are encouraged to refashion
into their own objects and spaces.
Closes Wednesday, June 1. The
Dupont Underground, Dupont Circle
NW. Admission by reservation only,
in small groups. Visit dupontunderground.org.

STORIES OF MIGRATION:
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
INTERPRET DIASPORA

The George Washington University

Museum presents this extremely
timely juried and invitational exhibition, through which 44 artists
share personal and universal stories of migration. Through Sept. 4.
The George Washington University

METROWEEKLY.COM

Museum, 701 21st St. NW. Call 202994-5200 or visit museum.gwu.edu.

THE OUTWIN 2016: AMERICAN

PORTRAITURE TODAY

Every three years the Smithsonians

National Portrait Gallery presents
finalists of the Outwin Boochever
Portrait Competition, named for a
late volunteer and benefactor. The
portraits are works drawn from all
over America, mostly featuring unheralded, everyday citizens and generally
presented in innovative ways through
various media, from standard photography to three-dimensional installation. This years winner is a stunning,
slightly surreal painting of a young
African-American girl by Amy Sherald
of Baltimore. Among the 43 finalists,
more than a half-dozen are LGBTthemed, including: Jess T. Dugan
of St. Louis and her masculine selfportrait; a print of two transgender
teenagers in love by Evan Baden of
Oregon; an oil painting focused on
a recently married, older gay couple
by Paul Oxborough of Minnesota;
and a flamboyant, patriotic painting by D.C.s Tim Doud featuring
his spouse, cultural theorist Edward
Ingebretsen, in full plume. Through
Jan. 8. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.

TOUCHSTONE GALLERYS 40TH

ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Artist-owned collective Touchstone

Gallery celebrates its 40th year with
a monthlong show, featuring mixedmedia works by 50 current and 40
former gallery artists. Closes Sunday,
May 29. Touchstone Gallery, 901 New
York Ave. NW Call 202-347-2787 or
visit touchstonegallery.com.

TWISTED TEENAGE PLOT

Named after the band featuring artist

Kevin MacDonald, the Apler Initiative
for Washington Art offers this exhibition at the American University
Museum showcasing other local visual
artists who also played in bands in the
late 70s and early 80s. Represented in
the exhibition which includes sound
recordings, posters and videos are
Dick Bangham, Michael Baron, Jay
Burch, Kim Kane, Clark Vinson Fox
(aka Michael Clark), Steve Ludlum,
Michael McCall, JW Mahoney,
Michael Reidy, Robin Rose, Judith
Watkins Tartt and Joe White. Closes
Sunday, May 29. American University
Museums Gallery 252 at the Katzen
Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave.
NW. Call 202-885-1300 or visit american.edu/cas/museum.

UNCOVERED: SCOTT G. BROOKS

& TODD FRANSON

Vivid Solutions Gallery presents a

showcase of Scott Brooks provocative illustrations and Todd Fransons
compelling photographs, all familiar
to Metro Weekly readers all were
created for and originally appeared
with text on the magazines cover.
The images, curated by Brooks and
Franson, provide insight into the
movers, shakers and key moments
in D.C.s diverse and rich LGBT culture over the past two decades. On
exhibit starting Friday, May 27, with
opening reception set for Saturday,
June 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Runs
to July 16. Vivid Solutions Gallery in
the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good
Hope Road SE. Call 202-631-6291 or
visit anacostiaartscenter.com.

VASEFUL VOCABULARY: THE

FRAMEWORK OF FORMS

Potters with the Washington Ceramic

Guild offer a show in Alexandrias
Torpedo Factory Art Center focused
on an electic mix of pottery, inspired
by techniques from China, Greece
and Japan. Closes Sunday, May 29.
Scope Gallery in Torpedo Factory
Art Center, 105 North Union St.
Alexandria. Free. Call 703-838-4565
or visit torpedofactory.org.

WINDOW TO WASHINGTON

Window to Washington: The Kiplinger

Collection at HSW is an exhibition at
Washingtons Carnegie Library that

traces the development of the nations

capital from a sleepy Southern town
to a modern metropolis, as documented through the works of artists.
The Historical Society of Washington,
D.C., exhibition was made possible by
a donation from the Kiplinger family.
Its also an early step in a reorganization effort by the society, which
has struggled to revive ever since
its short-lived effort a decade ago to
run a City Museum of Washington
proved too ambitious. Open Tuesdays
through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Historical Society of Washington,
D.C., at the Carnegie Library, 801 K St.
NW. Call 202-393-1420 or visit dchistory.org.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

Public radio star Garrison Keillor

makes his annual Memorial Day
weekend trip to Wolf Trap, including
a live broadcast on Saturday, May 28.
Yet this years stop will be the last due
to Keillors pending retirement. Hell
leave with special guests Chris Thile,
Heather Masse, and Vince Giordano
and the Nighthawks. Presented in
association with Minnesota Public
Radio and WAMU. Friday, May 27,
at 8 p.m., and Saturday, May 28, at
5:45 p.m. Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Rd.,
Vienna. Lawn seats are available for
$30 to $80. Call 703-255-1900 or visit
wolftrap.org.

BALTIMORES AMERICAN
TREASURES: CARROLL MANSION

Partly in cooperation with official

Baltimore boosters, the nonprofit
Made: In America offers a celebration of American Treasures centered on the Carroll Mansion, named
after 18th-century Maryland patriot
and Baltimore entrepreneur Charles
Carroll III. Over the next two months,
the Mansion is open for tours and
hosts design competitions and culinary
experiences
highlighting
Baltimores role in shaping various
aspects of American culture and commerce, with an emphasis on furniture,
textile, tableware and fashion design.
To July 12. Carroll Mansion, 800 E.
Lombard St. Baltimore. Tickets are
$15 in advance or $20 at the door.
Call 410-605-2964 or visit carrollmuseums.org.

LUCREZIA BLOZIAS
UNDERWATER BIRTHDAY
BURLESQUE

May 29, at 8 p.m. Bier Baron Tavern,

1523 22nd St. NW. Tickets are $12 in
advance, or $15 day-of show. Call 202293-1887 or visit inlovewithbier.com.

STORY DISTRICT: OUT/SPOKEN

In 2010, the organization formerly

known as SpeakeasyDC began holding
its first LGBT storytelling night. We
really wanted to offer a platform for
our LGBT performers, Story District
founder Amy Friedman told Metro
Weekly last year. But more importantly, be part of the dialogue that was
happening at the time. Eight performers will share hilarious or heartfelt true
stories at the sixth annual Out/Spoken:
Queer, Questioning, Bold & Proud, copresented by Capital Pride at the 9:30
Club. Saturday, June 4. Doors at 6 p.m.
Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets
are $25. Call 202-265-0930 or visit
930.com.

THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW

Lucrezia Blozia aka Chris Griffin turns

another year older this month and will
celebrate a life in drag with a Little
Mermaid-inspired party featuring
Philanthrotease performance artists
including carny man Charlie Artful,
clown Jim Dandy, and burlesquers Isabelle Epoque, Aaron Bowie
of Boylesque Spaace and Victoria
Vixen. And each performer is giving
at least 10 percent of earnings to the
Anacostia Watershed Society to help
cleanup of D.C.s waterways. Sunday,

Rayceen Pendarvis monthly LGBT

variety show returns to downtowns
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Library, with a lineup including
Chelsea Shorte, Dion the Comedian,
Nia Simmons, Chocolate City
Burlesque and Cabaret, and show
announcer Curt Mariah. Wednesday,
June 1. Doors at 6 p.m. Martin Luther
King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G
St. NW. Free. Visit facebook.com/
AskRayceen. l

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NIGHT

LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 05.26.16

BLACK PRIDE PARTY

The Jump Off at Stonefish
Lounge (1708 L St. NW),
10pm-2am $10 before
11pm Pass Holders
Pickup See ad on
page 28
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
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 Locker
Room Thursday Nights
DJs Sean Morris and
MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5
Cover under 21 and free
with college ID

DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call Strip
Down Thursdays Happy
Hour starts with shirtless
men drink free rail and
domestic, 5-8pm Men
in jocks drink free rail and
domestic, 10pm-12am
DJ Kudjo Onyx starts
spinning, 9pm-1am Best
Undressed Contest at

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

METROWEEKLY.COM

45

46

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

scene
Green Lantern
Saturday, May 22
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

11:30pm $295 in event

tickets and prizes No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Flashback:
Music videos from 19752005 with DJ Jason
Royce, 8pm-12am
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
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover

SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
& Half-Priced Pizzas

ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+

THROBBING
THURSDAYS
@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 9pm Shows all
night until close, starting
at 9pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports
$12 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 rockharddc.com

FRI., 05.27.16

TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Happy Hour
all night, $4 drinks and
draughts 21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4

BLACK PRIDE PARTY

930 Superclub (815 V St.
NW), 10pm-4am Live
Performance: Cardi B
Hosted by Johnnell &
Tyrone $20 before midnight See ad on page 28
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
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call
& Imports, 6-9pm
Guys Night Out Free
Belvedere Vodka, 11pmMidnight, $6 Belvedere
Vodka Drinks all night
DJ MadScience upstairs

DJ Keenan Orr downstairs

$10 cover 10pm-1am, $5
after 1am 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Fetish Friday Shibari/
Kinbaku (rope) demonstration by Pup Cooper No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long Strapd: A GL
Underwear Party, 9pmclose No Cover
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
$2 Skyy Highballs and

$2 Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Pop and Dance Music
Videos with DJ Darryl
Strickland $5 Coronas,
$8 Vodka Red Bulls, 9pmclose
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
& Half-Priced Pizzas
TOWN
Patio open 6pm 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,

METROWEEKLY.COM

Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley
Knoxx and BaNaka
DJ Wess upstairs, DJs
BacK2bACk downstairs
GoGo Boys after 11pm
Doors open at 10pm For
those 21 and over, $10
For those 18-20, $15 18+
Patio: 21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Rotating Hosts
DJ in Secrets VJ Tre in
Ziegfelds Cover 21+
SAT., 05.28.16

BLACK PRIDE DAY

PARTY
The Park (920 14th St.
NW), 3-9pm 5 DJs

MAY 26, 2016

47

Food and drink specials

Special Guest: Milan
Christopher $20 (included for Pass Holders) See
ad on page 28
BLACK PRIDE NIGHT
PARTY
Iconic: The Main Event @
Echostage (2135 Queens
Chapel Rd. NE), 9pm-4am
4 DJs, 15 Dancers
Live performance: Foxy
Brown $20 before
midnight (included for all
pass holders) See ad on
page 28
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2pm
and 2-4pm Featuring
Kristina Kelly and the
Ladies of Illusion
Bottomless Mimosas and
Bloody Marys Happy

48

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM

Hour: $3 Miller Lite, $4

Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
2nd Annual Mr. & Miss
DC Pride of America
Pageant Preliminaries,
8pm Doors open 7pm
$10 Cover Memorial
Day Weekend Dance
Party with DJ Kuhmeleon,
10pm-close For dance
party, doors open 10pm
$7 cover before midnight,
$10 cover after 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
DC Eagle receives 2016
Community Service Award
join us in celebration
and support of Marys
House for Older Adults
at 400 I St. SW, 3-7pm
Doors open at 8pm
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+

FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show,
8-10pm, hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs No
Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long Testosterone
Gear Party, 10pm-2am
Featuring DJ Ron Hamelin
$5 Cover Dress
Code Strict: Jockstraps,
Singlets, Sports Gear,
Underwear, Leather and
Rubber only
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
Happy Hour: 2 for 1
on any drink, 3-9pm
Jawbreakers 2nd Year
Anniversary Party, 9:30pm
Featuring DJ Chord and
DJ Kelly $5 Absolut
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon
No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm Happy Hour,
5-7pm $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Blue Moon, $5 Rails
and House Wines & HalfPriced Pizzas
TOWN
Patio open 2pm 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 7-8pm, Open
dance 8-10:50pm CTRL
presents: Tank-Tacular
Summer Kick-Off Party,
11pm-close Featuring
DJs Adam Koussari-Amin
and Devon Trotter DJ
Wess spins downstairs
Drag Show starts at

10:30pm Hosted by Lena

Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm for
Battle Royale $12 Cover
21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald Doors at 9
p.m., first show at 11:30
p.m. DJs Doors open
8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 05.29.16

BLACK PRIDE PARTY

Rock the Block @ Arena
Stage (1101 Sixth St. SW),
4-9pm 4 DJs Dancers
12 Bars Food Stations

Live performances:
Remy Ma, Karamo Brown
$20 before 5pm, $25
after 5pm (included for
Pass Holders) See ad on
page 28
BLACK PRIDE PARTY
The Park (920 14th St.
NW), 10pm-5am 4
DJs, Dancers 4 Floors,
Outdoor Patio $20
before midnight (included
for Pass Holders) See ad
on page 28
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors and
Miller Lite all day 2nd
Annual Mr. & Miss DC
Pride of America Pageant
Finals, 8pm Doors open
7pm $10 Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com

DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts all day and night,
$3 Domestic Bottles, $4
Rail and Import Bottle
Beer, $6 Call Sunday
BBQ $10, includes first
rail or domestic drink No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke downstairs,
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
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 9pm Shows all
night until close, starting
at 9pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports
$12 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 rockharddc.com
SHAWS TAVERN
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm Sunday
Funday Karaoke, 2nd Floor,
3-7pm Happy Hour,
5-7pm $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Blue Moon, $5 Rails
and House Wines & HalfPriced Pizzas

METROWEEKLY.COM

TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm Cornhole,
Giant Jenga, and Flip-cup
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
MON., 05.30.16

BLACK PRIDE PARTY

The Block Party Outdoor
Festival at The Fairgrounds
at Nationals Stadium
(1299 Half St. SE), 2-9pm
Live performance:
Ameriie $10 (included
for Pass Holders) See ad
on page 28
BLACK PRIDE PARTY
The Mill (1104 8th St. SE),

MAY 26, 2016

49

9pm-2am 3 DJs Male

Dancers $5 (included for
all Pass Holders) See ad
on page 28
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES
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: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

50

MAY 26, 2016

DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm Free
Pool all day and night
Endless Happy Hour prices
to anyone in a DC Eagle
T-Shirt $1 Bud and
Bud Light Draughts, $3
Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail
and Import Bottle Beer, $6
Call No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Puppy-Oke: 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
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards

METROWEEKLY.COM

NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Memorial Day Brunch
with Bottomless Mimosas,
11am-3pm Happy Hour,
4-7pm $3 Miller Lite, $4
Blue Moon, $5 Rails and
House Wines and HalfPriced Pizzas
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
TUES., 05.31.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover

ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis

NELLIES SPORTS BAR

Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo

COBALT/30 DEGREES
DJ Honey Happy Hour:
$2 Rail, $3 Miller Lite, $5
Call, 4-9pm SIN Service
Industry Night, 10pm-close
$1 Rail Drinks all night

NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella

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 LaCage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight

WED., 06.01.16

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover

SHAWS TAVERN
Half Priced Burgers &
Pizzas, 5pm-close $5
House Wines & Sam
Adams Drafts, 5pm-close

COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Wednesday Night
Karaoke, hosted by Miss
India Larelle Houston,
10pm-2am $4 Stoli and
Stoli Flavors and Miller
Lite all night No Cover
21+

TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Yappy Hour
Bring Your Dogs $4
Drinks and Draughts

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4

FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

51

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Feud: Drag
Trivia, hosted by BaNaka,
10-11pm, with a $200
prize $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
member and each get a
free $10 Dinner
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover

52

MAY 26, 2016

SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
and Half-Priced Pizzas
Piano Bar Second Floor,
8pm-close
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm $4 drinks
and draughts, 5-9pm
Nashville Wednesdays:
Pop-Country music and line
dancing, with line dancing
lessons from DC Rawhides
every other week
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+

METROWEEKLY.COM

THURS., 06.02.16

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
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 Locker
Room Thursday Nights
DJs Sean Morris and
MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by 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
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call Strip
Down Thursdays Happy
Hour starts with shirtless
men drink free rail and
domestic, 5-8pm Men
in jocks drink free rail and
domestic, 10pm-12am
DJ Switch starts spinning,
9pm-1am No Cover
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk

JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Flashback:
Music videos from 19752005 with DJ Jason
Royce, 8pm-12am
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
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
and Half-Priced Pizzas

THROBBING
THURSDAYS
@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 9pm Shows all
night until close, starting
at 9pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports
$12 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 rockharddc.com
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Happy Hour
all night, $4 drinks and
draughts 21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+ l

METROWEEKLY.COM

MAY 26, 2016

53

Obamas getting into

a very tricky territory.
DONALD TRUMP, speaking with Fox News about federal guidance to public schools on letting transgender students use the
restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Trump had previously shown support for trans bathroom access,
but told the network that such issues should be left to the states.

Typically, communities send their garbage to the dump

and dispose of their body waste at the local sewage treatment plant. KSU has chosen to celebrate and
elevate it to an art exhibit.

Georgia Senator LINDSEY TIPPINS, reacting to art installation Art AIDS America at Kennesaw State University, which
explores artistic responses to AIDS, the Marietta Daily Journal reports. Tippins and other Republican lawmakers have branded
the exhibit trash and sickening, threatening to pull funding from KSU. Trash is trash, Tippins added.
I think it speaks for itself.

Trans women arent men asshole,

theyre women!

An unnamed Target shopper, responding to a right-wing protester, who filmed himself walking through a Target store,
shouting Do not come to Target! They let transgender people in the bathroom. He was confronted by the shopper, who told him
Theres a transgender person right here, so you can just keep on walking. He was quickly escorted from the store by security.

I think shes going to have to swing the other way, because

the men thing isnt working for her.
Actress SOPHIE TURNER, who plays Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, telling Entertainment Weekly that shed like to see Sansa
explore her sexuality. Judging by Sansas relationship with Margaery probably Margaery, she said.
Or Arya because Id like to see that happen.

I cant stand your gayness.

A viewer of KARK in Little Rock, Arkansas, in an email to the stations openly gay news host, Mitch McCoy. Do not be
offended, but society is not ready for gay men reading news, the email continued, its author seemingly oblivious to CNNs
Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon and MSNBCs Thomas Roberts.

54

MAY 26, 2016

METROWEEKLY.COM