CONTENTS

JUNE 15, 2017 Volume 24 Issue 7

16 REPRESENTED
Rising star Lizzo is gaining notice for her affirming music

By Doug Rule

PRIDE IN NUMBERS
Thanks to the Equality March, record numbers of LGBTQ
people celebrated Capital Pride, which encountered
a few bumps in its parade road

By John Riley
36
59 STATE SECRETS
Perfect Arrangement returns to the Source Festival
in a colorful, well-realized new production.

By Andr Hereford

SPOTLIGHT: RISING CREME p.9 OUT ON THE TOWN p.15 REPRESENTED: LIZZO p.16
STRICTLY BALLROOM: KIKI p.20 FORUM: PULSE p.27
COMMUNITY: FUNDRAISING FEAST p.31 COMMUNITY: PETWORTH SHOWS ITS PRIDE p.32
COVER STORY: A CAPITAL WEEKEND p.36 CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE PHOTOS p.42
EQUALITY MARCH PHOTOS p.48 CAPITAL PRIDE FESTIVAL PHOTOS p.53
STAGE: PERFECT ARRANGEMENT p.59 STAGE: THE SCHOOL FOR LIES p.61
MUSIC: SUFJAN STEVENS PLANETARIUM p.63 NIGHTLIFE p.65
SCENE: DISTRKTC AT DC EAGLE p.65 SCENE: TOWN p.75 LAST WORD p.78

Real LGBTQ News and Entertainment since 1994

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Managing Editor Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley Contributing Editor Doug Rule
Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks Contributing Writers Andr Hereford,
Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Craig Rodwell Cover Photography Randy Shulman

Metro Weekly 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830
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2017 Jansi LLC.

6 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
JASON RUSSO

Rising Creme
BenDeLaCreme is not your typical drag queen. And his act is not your typical drag act.

I
USE A LOT OF PUPPETS AND INTERACTIVE VIDEO,
says drag artist BenDeLaCreme. I use cabaret to put
together narrative theater. This particular show is based
on Dantes Inferno its about going through hell, and thats story hour for kids. Talking about the Pulse massacre from a
very related to our current political climate which I know is
an odd subject for a drag cabaret. But you get people laughing,
you get them looking at something sparkly, and then you can
suddenly have a deeper conversation with them. Its a really
campy, comedic, but actually weirdly accurate version of
Dantes poem.
The 35-year old, who finds inspiration in legendary drag
performers like Coco Peru and Varla Jean Merman, had been
doing his act in Chicago when the opportunity arose to appear
on season six of RuPauls Drag Race.
It was an incredible experience, he recalls. Any queen
you talk to thats been on that show will say that if it looks
hard to the TV audience, its a thousand times harder. But
its also an honor to be there, competing with the very best
of the best.
As we talk, its Monday, June 12, and hes in Orlando for a
Pulse benefit that night. His afternoon, however, was going
to be spent, in drag, at the Orlando Public Library, to hold a
year ago still audibly shatters him.
I remember the day we woke up and found out this had
happened, he says. It was time to get on the tour bus and
move to the next city where we were performing that night.
Everyone came out of the hotel just pouring tears.... I think
it lit a fire under a lot of us. It made us see that even though
weve come a really long way and those strides are very real,
and we, as a community, have so much reason to be proud
about that there is a lot of work still to do.
As for our current president, he doesnt have a message
for him, because I dont think theres any getting through to
him. I dont think hes a person whos listening. My message is
for everyone else about not losing faith in what we can do as a
collective people. Stay strong, and keep doing what you need
to do to move history in a better direction. Randy Shulman

BenDeLaCremes Inferno A-Go-Go! is Thursday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria.
Tickets are $29.50. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 9

 Spotlight
ROUGH NIGHT
Described as The Hangover meets
Weekend at Bernies, writer/direc-
tor Lucia Aniellos comedy stars
Scarlett Johansson, Zo Kravitz,
Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer and Kate
McKinnon as members of a bach-
elorette party that takes a dramat-
ic turn for the worst (i.e., killing
a male stripper). Aniellos script
was considered one of the top
unproduced scripts in Hollywood
in 2015. Open Friday, June 16.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.
com. (RM)

TWO-FISTED
PATTY LUPONE
Just in time for Baltimore Pride in fact,
as an early kickoff to the weekend the
citys swanky leather/fetish complex opens
its next exhibition of erotic imagery in
the mezzanine of its second-floor Eagle
Leathers shop, subtitled Immortalizing
the Male Figure in Art. Included in the
show is regular Metro Weekly contribu-
tor Scott G. Brooks (pictured), as well as
works by Nathanael Absher, Dale Alward,
Grant Arnold Anderson, Russ Bloomquist,
Scott Chapman, Damien Cheeks, Eric
DAlessandro, Tim Goeke, Jasjyot Singh
Hans, Dorian Holliday, Doug Johnson,
Jimmy Malone, Dave Marquardt and Ryan
Thibeault. Opening reception is Thursday,
June 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. Runs to July 23.
The Gallery at Baltimore Eagle, 2022 N.
Charles St. Call 410-200-9858 or visit the-
baltimoreeagle.com.

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT

Unlike his trip to D.C. last week, when he returned to DJ the
Otter Crossing party, Rod Thomas will play from his own
repertoire when he headlines an intimate show at Songbyrd
under his Gremlins-inspired moniker. A young LGBTQ indie
artist deserving of far more attention than hes gotten so far,
this New York-based Welsh synth-popper performs songs
from Choreography, an impressive set that features three
80s-channeling pop/rock duets with his childhood idol Elton
John, as well songs featuring Jake Shears and Ana Matronic,
and Alan Cumming. Thomas will also preview a few new
tracks, including the powerfully affirming, anthemic first sin-
gle New York Pretty, from his EP Tales of the City, inspired
by Armistead Maupins hit book and TV series, and due for
release July 7. Thursday, June 22. Doors at 7 p.m. Songbyrd
Music House, 2477 18th St. NW. Tickets are $13 to $15. Call
202-450-2917 or visit songbyrddc.com.

10 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
THAO NGUYEN
Liberal causes and protest politics regularly
fire up the quirky-to-the-point-of-weird alt-
pop act Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. It
started out a decade ago in Virginia, where its
frontwoman grew up. Thao returns home for
a solo show presented on UN World Refugee
Day and in support of the bands latest album
A Man Alive. The dark-themed set is focused
on Thaos runaway father, yet its natural-
ly lightened by her voice and music that is
driven by beats and bass, rather than guitar.
Tuesday, June 20, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center
Millennium Stage. Free. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
EXPLORERS FESTIVAL
Stars from all different genres, far beyond sci-
ence to include the performing and culinary arts,
are part of the lineup at this weekend-long fes-
tival, which launches Thursday, June 15. The
opening public event, Nat Geo Nights: Into the
Okavango, is sold out, but tickets remain for
BYTs Excellent Adventure after-hours party on
Friday, June 16, at 8 p.m., as well as Red Planet
vs. Blue Planet: Where Do We Explore Next?
on Saturday, June 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Hosted by 2011 Explorer of the Year Kenny Broad,
the series includes discussions with oceanog-
raphers Sylvia Earle and Bob Ballard, Canadian
astronaut Chris Hadfield and Science Friday host
Ira Flatow. Tickets also remain for that evenings
Celebration of Exploration starting at 5:30 p.m.
at the George Washington University Courtyard
and Lisner Auditorium. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Brian Skerry and clean-energy visionaries Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg
will be honored at the event, hosted by comedian Mo Rocca. A pre-event reception features food from top D.C. chefs Mike Isabella
(Graffiato), Victor Albisu (Del Campo), Amy Brandwein (Centrolina) and Todd Gray (Equinox). National Geographic Society, 1145
17th St. NW. Tickets are $35 for the after-hours party, $100 for Saturdays discussion and $250 for the Saturday celebration, or $325
for both Saturday events. Call 202-857-7588 or visit natgeo.org/explorersfestival.

JAZZ
A world premiere stage adaptation of Tony
Morrisons exhilarating novel following a cou-
ple who moves from the Virginia countryside to
Harlem at the turn of the 20th century just as the
genre of jazz was beginning to flourish. Shanesia
Davis is Violet and Leon Addison Brown is Joe,
whose later interactions with another woman sets
off a series of violent, unforgivable acts. Adapted by
Nambi E. Kelley and featuring a cast of 10, includ-
ing an on-stage Trombonist. To June 25. Baltimore
Center Stage, 700 North Calvert St., Baltimore.
Tickets are $20 to $69. Call 410-332-0033 or visit
centerstage.org.

12 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Out On The Town

BLUE VELVET
This neo-noir mystery is regarded as one of David Lynchs finest films, as well as one of the best from the 1980s. Its credited
with re-launching the career of Dennis Hopper and proving the acting bona fides of Isabella Rossellini. Hopper plays the
sadistic tormentor of Rossellini, a nightclub singer. Kyle MacLachlan stars as an amateur investigator examining a mystery
behind a severed ear. Upcoming screenings, as part of a Lynch retrospective at the AFI, are Friday, June 23, at 9:15 p.m.,
Saturday, June 24, at 10:15 p.m. and Sunday, June 25, at 9:15 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are $13. Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.

Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
CARS 3
Pixars least critically successful
franchise offers its third outing,
after the previous two films racked
up almost a billion dollars at the
box office. This time, Lightning
McQueen (Owen Wilson) struggles
to overcome the dreadful reviews
and nonsensical storyline of the sec-
ond film. Brian Fee directs. Open
Friday, June 16. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)
LGBTQ FILMS AT
AFI DOCS FILM FESTIVAL
This years documentary film fes-
tival hosted by the American Film
Institute includes four LGBTQ-
themed films: Anatomy of a Dancer,
David Barba and James Pelleritos
intimate portrait of American
Ballet Theatre principal dancer
Marcelo Gomes; Chavela, Catherine
Gund and Daresha Kyis portrait
of Mexicos renowned, uncompro-
mising lesbian folk singer Chavela
Vargas; Dries, Reiner Holzemers
visually sumptuous introduction to
influential Belgian fashion designer
Dries Van Noten; and Strong Island,
Yance Fords searing, deeply mov-
ing and personal examination about
his brothers death, his acquitted
white murderers, and the familial
repercussions. The festival runs
from June 14 to 18, with screen-
ings at AFI Silver Theatre, 8633
Colesville Road, Silver Spring, and
Landmark E Street Cinema, 555 11th
St. NW. Tickets are $13 each screen-
ing. Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.
com/afidocs.
THE BOOK OF HENRY
Naomi Watts leads this drama about
a single mother raising two sons,
one of whom is a precocious genius
Henry (Jaeden Lieberher). After
developing a crush on Christina, his
neighbor, he devises a plan to save
her from her overbearing father.
His mother uncovers his plan and,
because this is film, helps him put it
into action, rather than just alerting
social services. Open Friday, June
16. Area theaters. Visit fandango.
com. (RM)
THE HERO
Sam Elliott stars as an aging movie
star trying to overcome failing
health and a lifetime of regrets in
Brett Haleys drama. Critics have
been mixed, but Elliott seemingly
gives a strong performance aided
by his smoky, whiskey-soaked bari-
tone, as The Hollywood Reporter
put it. Open Friday, June 16. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com. (RM)
STAGE
CRAZY MARY LINCOLN:
A NEW MUSICAL
In the lead-up to its annual festival,
Capital Fringe hosts a production
of Pallas Theatres new musical by
Jan Levy Tranen and Jay Schwandt
and directed by the companys
Tracey Elaine Chessum. Crazy
Mary Lincoln explores the life of
First Lady Mary Todd and First Son
Robert Todd, following the assassi-
nation of the 16th President. Closes
Sunday, June 18. Trinidad Theatre
at Capital Fringe, 1358 Florida Ave.
NE. Tickets are $25, or $20 for
Fringe Button Holders. Call 202-
737-7230 or visit capitalfringe.org.
HIR
Shana Cooper directs Taylor Macs
audacious, uproarious black come-
dy billed as a kitchen-sink drama
covered in glitter. The story focus-
es on an Iraqi war veteran who
returns to his childhood home
and discovers that his family has
transformed, from a formerly timid
mother out to subvert the patriar-
chy, to a sister who is now a gen-
derqueer anarchist, to a father who
now wears clown makeup. Emily
Townley and Mitch Hebert are part
of the cast. Closes Sunday, June 18.
Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW.
Call 202-393-3939 or visit woolly-
mammoth.net.
HOW I LEARNED
WHAT I LEARNED
Round House concludes a season
that began with Tony Kushners
magnum opus Angels in America
with an autobiographical tour-de-
force from another of Americas
greatest, Pulitzer Prize-winning
playwrights, the late August Wilson
(Fences). Co-conceived and direct-
ed by Todd Kreidler, How I Learned
What I Learned explores Wilsons
days as a struggling young writer in
Pittsburgh. Eugene Lee stars in this
one-person show. To July 2. Round
House Theatre, 4545 East-West
Highway, Bethesda. Tickets are $50

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 15

 to $60. Call 240-644-1100 or visit
roundhousetheatre.org.

IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU

A Jewish bride, a Catholic groom,
two clashing mothers, and a jilted
ex-lover are the combustible ingre-
dients ensuring that anything that
can go wrong will in this musical
comedy by writer Brian Hargrove
and composer Barbara Anselmi. Jon
Kretzu directs the wackiest wed-
ding you will ever attend. To July
1. Richmond Triangle Players, 1300
Altamont Ave. Richmond. Tickets
are $10 to $35. Call 804-346-8113 or
visit rtriangle.org.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim
Rices rock opera about Jesus
gets a sleek, modern makeover
in a Signature Theatre produc-
tion helmed by Joe Calarco and
starring Nicholas Edwards. The
cast includes Signature standouts
Natascia Diaz as Mary, Sherri L.
Edelen as King Herod, and Bobby

REPRESENTED
Smith as Pontius Pilate. Extended
to July 9. Signature Theatre, 4200
Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703-
820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.

Rising singer/rapper Lizzo is gaining notice for her affirming music KING LEAR
Lauded local actor Rick Foucheux

S
will retire after a starring turn
OMETIMES YOU SEE HOW THE INDUSTRY...WILL TRY TO COMMERCIALIZE as Shakespeares most troubled
patriarch in his greatest tragedy.
feminism, or they try to commercialize LGBTQ and black girl magic, says Lizzo.
Avant Bard makes some charac-
Yet dont confuse the body-positive, 29-year-old feminist rapper as being on the side teristic tweaks to the classic with
of anti-corporate groups such as No Justice No Pride. The corporate branding of minority this production helmed by Tom
concerns, she argues, is one of the symptoms of what were doing. You gotta look on the Prewitt, including making the Earl
of Gloucester a female character,
bright side: That were out there. And we are seen. We are beautiful. We are important. played by Cam Magee. Meanwhile,
[Many] people who are creating music now were so determined to break the mold Christopher Henley, the compa-
and re-define the standards of what beauty is and what normal is and what deserves to nys Artistic Director Emeritus, will
play the Fool. To June 25. Gunston
be seen, she says. All of us the brown girls, big people, LGBTQ+. Anyone who has
Arts Center, 2700 South Lang St.
felt like their voice has been marginalized and underrepresented, we fought to be in the Arlington. Tickets are $30 to $35.
position that were in now. And the industry is starting to catch up. Call 703-418-4808 or visit avant-
Born Melissa Jefferson in Detroit and raised in Houston, Lizzo is quickly gaining bard.org.
notice for her rousing uptempo music. As heard on 2016 EP Coconut Oil, the songwriter MA RAINEYS BLACK BOTTOM
blends pop, R&B, house, rock and Missy Elliott-style hip-hop, even throwing in a few The legendary late playwright
comedic antics for extra umph. Lizzo, who appears Friday, June 16, at the 9:30 Club, also August Wilson was inspired by
queer blues belter Ma Rainey in the
generally writes lyrics with affirming, empowering and celebratory messages, perfectly
first of his award-winning Century
captured on the sets first single Good as Hell. People think, when they listen to my Cycle of plays, each capturing a dif-
music, that Im this self-loving person just writing these songs to show how self-confi- ferent decade of the 20th century.
dent I am. But really, these songs came from a fake it til you make it mentality. Directed by Deidra LaWan Starnes
and starring Thomascena Nelson.
She adds, Were born into a world that isnt really built for loving yourself. Growing To June 25. 1st Stage, 1524 Spring
up in my friend group, I was the fat one. I was the funny one. The one who wasnt as Hill Rd., in Tysons Corner. Tickets
cute as my other friends. So growing up like that and also getting all of these signals from are $30. Call 703-854-1856 or visit
1ststagetysons.org.
television that told you fat isnt cute and you arent cute because you dont look like this
I didnt get any encouragement at all. All encouragement came from within because I NOISES OFF
was sick of wanting to be somebody else. A love letter to the thrilling unpre-
Im not saying that my friends and my family didnt love me, she continues, but dictability of the stage, this famed
farce by Tony-winning British play-
theres a difference between loving someone and showing someone that you love them wright Michael Frayn is revived in
for who they are despite everything around you, despite the environment. I know there an Everyman Theatre production
are a lot of people who dont get that, because I didnt. So I just make this music for directed by Vincent M. Lancisi.
Deborah Hazlett and Danny
them. Doug Rule
Gavigan lead a cast of eight resi-
dent company members portraying
Lizzo performs Friday, June 16 at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Doors at 8 p.m. a cast of bumbling British thespians,
While now officially sold out, the site does have a Ticket X-change section whose backstage buffoonery during
a run of the play-within-a-play
for face-value ($20) ticket resale. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com. Nothing On steals the show. You

16 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 college-bound daughter and Jenna
Berk a runaway Mary Anne. In pre-
views beginning Friday, June 16.
To July 8. Keegan Theatre, 1742
Church St. NW. Tickets are $35
to $45. Call 202-265-3768 or visit
keegantheatre.com.

FYVE: FATHERS DAY GONE FISHING BRUNCH
Chef Alexander Gut from the main restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City offers
a festive brunch with dad in mind. The focus is on local seafood, from snow crab claws to
oysters to a selection of sushi rolls and sashimi, and fresh barbeque. The menu includes
cheese and charcuterie carving, an omelette station, sliders and desserts. Sunday, June 18.
Fyve in the Ritz-Carlton, 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington. Tickets are $59, or $39 for those 12
and under. Call 703-412-2762 or visit ritzcarlton.com.
can expect wall-to-wall wackiness,
carefully choreographed hijinks
and sight gags including flying
sardines from a comedy that the
famed former New York Times the-
ater critic Frank Rich once called
the funniest play written in my
lifetime. Closes Sunday, June
18. Everyman Theatre, 315 West
Fayette St. Baltimore. Tickets are
$43 to $64. Call 410-752-2208 or
visit everymantheatre.org.
PROOF
With echoes of the recent Oscar-
nominated film Hidden Figures,
Proof explores the uphill climb a
woman faces in gaining recogni-
tion in the male-dominated field of
mathematics, even when she has
genetics on her side. Dawn Ursula
and Craig Wallace star in David
Auburns 2001 Tony-winning play
by David Auburn. Closes Sunday
June 18. Olney Theatre Center,
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road,
Olney, Md. Call 301-924-3400 or
visit olneytheatre.org.
SHE SPEAKS!
Suburban Maryland commu-
nity theater troupe the Rude
Mechanicals presents an ambitious
production subtitled Shakespeares
Women in Their Own Words.
Leanne Stump helms a new work
that laces together the voices of the
most memorable women written by
the Bard, from Beatrices sharp wit
to Juliets broken heart. Though
the men take the title, the women
oft steal the show, goes a tagline
for the production, which goes even
further by letting the fairer sex
run away with it. Closes Saturday,
June 17. Greenbelt Arts Center, 123
Centerway. Greenbelt, Md. Tickets
are $22. Call 301-441-8770 or visit
rudemechanicals.com.
THE FATHER
Ted Van Griethuysen stars as an
80-year-old man whose world
starts unraveling in an original and
moving play from Florian Zeller,
one of Frances most prolific con-
temporary playwrights, translated
by two-time Tony Award winner
Christopher Hampton. The Father
won a Moliere Award, the French
equivalent of the Tony, in 2014.
Kate Eastwood Norris, Caroline
Dubberly, Erika Rose, Manny
Buckley, and Daniel Harray also
star. David Muse directs. Closes
Sunday, June 18. Studio Theatre,
14th & P Streets NW. Call 202-332-
3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
THE RETURN
Mosaic presents the second play in
its 2017 Voices From a Changing
Middle East Festival, marking the
50th year since the Six Day War
and the start of the Occupation.
Palestinian-American playwright
and performer Hanna Eady
co-wrote the unsettling mystery
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
The Return with Edward Mast.
John Vreeke directs a U.S. premiere
starring Ahmad Kamal and Alyssa
Wilmoth Keegan as two mysteri-
ous former lovers who reunite to
untangle the trauma and thwarted
intimacy of their interconnected
history. To July 2. Atlas Performing
Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets
are $20 to $60. Call 202-399-7993
or visit mosaictheater.org.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Fresh off the premiere of
Kaleidoscope, his latest musical
creation with husband Stephen
Gregory Smith, Matt Conners
next project for Creative Cauldron
is directing a Young Performers
adaptation of the classic movie star-
ring Judy Garland. Tiara Whaley
stars as Dorothy, singing Over The
Rainbow and the other standards
by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
everyone knows and loves. To June
25. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410
South Maple Ave. in Falls Church.
Tickets are $30. Call 703-436-9948
or visit creativecauldron.org.
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND
UNAFRAID
In the early 1970s, a quiet bed and
breakfast becomes one of the few
spots where victims of domestic
violence can seek refuge in Sarah
Treems play. Marie Sproul directs
Sheri S. Herren as BNB owner
Agnes, with Kaylynn Creighton her
MUSIC
BALTIMORE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Marin Alsop pulls out all the stops
for a closing concert that is grand
in every way, including audience
favorite Gil Shaham performing
Beethovens Violin Concerto. Also on
tap is The GAME, a world premiere
from Christopher Theofanidis. But
the centerpiece is one of Alsops sig-
nature works, the Symphony No. 3
by Saint-Saens, otherwise known as
the Organ Symphony. Thursday,
June 15, and Friday, June 16, at
8 p.m., and Sunday, June 18, at 3
p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony
Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore.
Also Saturday, June 17, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tickets are $33 to $99. Call 410-783-
8000 or visit bsomusic.org.
BUDDY MILLER, JIM
LAUDERDALE WITH PATTY
GRIFFIN
In recognition of UN World Refugee
Day Tuesday, June 20 Miller
and Lauderdale offer a live taping of
their show Buddy and Jim Show on
SiriusXM. Griffin performs as spe-
cial guest for the evening, a benefit
for Jesuit Refugee Services Global
Education Initiative. Monday,
June 19. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The
Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $29.50 to $100. Call 202-787-
1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
COUP SAUVAGE & THE SNIPS
In the past year, this local band has
opened for Escort and one of D.C.s
most famous bands of the moment,
Priests. Its been a good run, but
the band will call it quits after this
weekend but not before a farewell
concert. Friday, June 16. Doors at
9 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $10 to $12. Call 202-667-
4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.
DC JAZZ FESTIVAL
Billed as the fastest-growing jazz
festival in the U.S., as well as the
largest and most diverse music fes-
tival in D.C., the DC Jazz Festival
presents over 125 performances at
venues around town, from Sixth
and I Historic Synagogue to the
Kennedy Center. Once again, the
most impressive lineup in its 13th
year is the slate of outdoor concerts
at the Yards this weekend, includ-
ing the Robert Glasper Experiment,
Kenny Garrett Quintet, Gregory
Porter, and Black Violin. Yet DC
Jazz Fest also features other jazz
notables, from Pat Metheny to
Tommy Cecil, Amy Shook to Lena
Seikaly, Sun Ra Arkestra to Hiromi

18 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 & Edmar Castaneda. The festival
runs to June 18. Call 855-332-7767
or visit dcjazzfest.org.

NSO: ESCHENBACHS
FINAL CONCERT
Christoph Eschenbach concludes
his nine-year tenure as National
Symphony Orchestras sixth music
director the same way he started
it, with Beethovens masterwork
the Ninth Symphony, featuring
mezzo-soprano JNai Bridges,
tenor Joseph Kaiser, bass Soloman
Howard, Leah Crocetto, and the
Choral Arts Society. Also on the
program is Bright Shengs Zodiac
Tales. Thursday, June 15, at 7 p.m.,
Friday, June 16, and Saturday,
June 17, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center
Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 to $89.
Call 202-467-4600 or visit kenne-
dy-center.org.

ROSANNE CASH
The eldest daughter of country
music legend Johnny Cash, the
singer with the deep, velvet-lined

STRICTLY BALLROOM
voice has carved her own path to
fame. Her most recent album, the
thrice-Grammy-winning The River
and the Thread, combines roots-ori-
Sara Jordens Kiki offers a beautiful, frank look into the lives ented music with her trademarked
lushness. Soon after its release in
of LGBTQ people of color in Harlems ballroom scene 2014, Cash told Metro Weekly that

I
the albums songs are meant to con-
N MANY WAYS, KIKI (HHHHH) IS A DIRECT SEQUEL TO PARIS IS BURNING, JENNIE vey the theme of Southern place
and time. She returns to the area
Livingstons landmark film about New York City ballroom culture. Transported from Reagan-era
with her band on Monday, June 26,
politics and the HIV/AIDS crisis, here we instead land in the second term of President Obama, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701
where transgender rights, youth homelessness, and the increasing gulf between middle class, white, gay Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria.
men and the realities of life for many LGBTQ people of color are all on display. Tickets are $69.50. Call 703-549-
Swedish filmmaker Sara Jordens 2016 documentary focuses on a specific subset of ballroom cul- 7500 or visit birchmere.com.
ture, kiki, which is predominantly operated and participated in by LGBTQ people of color. Jorden SAVOIR ADORE
filmed her documentary between 2012 and 2015, with the help of one of the kiki scenes leaders, Twiggy Vocalist and multi-instrumental-
Pucci Garcon, who shares a writing credit. Kiki captures, in detail and style, the frenetic, beautiful, ist Paul Hammer is the principal
high-energy nature of ballroom culture, with its voguing and pageantry. But it also captures the spaces behind this Brooklyn-based act. Last
in between, the moments in the real world where the films participants deal with life in a society that years The Love That Remains is a
romantic, melodic and imaginative
is only just waking up to their daily struggles. affair, featuring additional guest
Theres Divo Pink Lady, whose dancing is powerful and expressive, his voguing free-moving and vocals from Leah Hayes, Lauren
feisty. But outside of the ballroom, he was forced out of the house as a teenager by his mother, after being Zettler and Winslow Bright. Savoir
raised in a part of the city that shuns anyone and anything gay. Theres Gia Marie Love, arguably the Adore pops down to D.C. on the eve
of a performance at Firefly Music
films breakout star, who came to terms with her gender identity and managed to escape the path of sex
Festival. Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m.
work and struggle that so many of her trans peers have been forced to endure, helped in part by a sup- DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. Tickets are
portive mother and an unwillingness to suffer fools. And theres Chi Chi Mizrahi, Mother of the House $13 in advance or $15 day of show.
of Unbothered-Cartier. (House mothers take LGBTQ youth under their wings, train them and represent Call 202-483-5000 or dcnine.com.
them at ballroom events.) He overcame drug addiction to become one of the kiki scenes biggest names.
SLAVIC SOUL PARTY
Kiki introduces an almost overwhelming number of names and faces, but their stories are teased A performance part of this years
out over its 94-minute runtime. The films timeline is often unclear its more of a snapshot than a DC Jazz Fest (see separate entry),
strict narrative, all set to the thumping music of Qween Beat. But those issues pale in significance to the the New York Balkan/Gypsy brass
impact of the film itself. This is a glimpse into a world too often neglected in wider LGBTQ culture. As band re-imagines Duke Ellingtons
Gia remarks, marriage equality wouldnt have happened had it not been for white gay men demanding brassy Far East Suite in its style,
a mashup also incorporating influ-
it. LGBTQ youth are sleeping rough on the citys streets, while the upper middle class white, gay men ences from gospel, techno, funk,
are in Chelsea, loving it up. dub, jazz, and Latin. Friday, June
Kiki is their escape. For many, its life or death, and theyre literally living for the ballroom scene, the 16, at 8 p.m. Atlas Performing Arts
house mothers, the friends theyve made, and the voguing that allows them to so freely express them- Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are
$28 to $32. Call 202-399-7993 or
selves. An inspiring, heartfelt, emotional, and beautiful documentary, Kiki should be required viewing
visit atlasarts.org.
for every gay man who thinks the fight for equality ended with marriage. Actually, it should be required
viewing for everyone. Rhuaridh Marr SPECIAL AGENT GALACTICA
Jeffrey Johnsons spacey and pink-
Kiki screens as part of the Reel Affirmations Xtra series, on Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m. haired singing drag act returns for
a cabaret supported by a guitarist
at Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Tickets are $12, or $25 for VIP seating as well as named Captain Satellite. The show
one complimentary drink and a snack. Call 202-682-2245 or visit thedccenter.org. features new material as well as a

20 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 BLOODLINES:
CURATED BY MARTINA DODD
Transformer offers a group exhi-
bition of works on paper, sculp-
ture and performance that seek
to challenge the societal norms
and restraints imposed on the
female form. Works in Bloodlines
tow the line between fascination
and repulsion in directly address-
ing the stigmas associated with a
womans menstrual cycle. That
includes works by Samera Paz and
Iman Person who use their own
menstrual blood as a medium.
Meanwhile, Lisa Hills installation
references the invisible inheritance
PHOTO COURTESY OF AWESOME CON

passed down from mother to off-

spring by reproducing the shed-
ding, scarring and regeneration of
skin on handmade paper. For the
performance portion of the exhibit,
Tsedaye Makonnen focuses on the
intense physicality of birth with The
Crowning on Thursday, May 25, at
6:30 p.m., while the queer, black and
trans-media j collective explores
the erotic complexities of menstru-
al blood with Cosmic Meditation
AWESOME CON on Saturday, June 3, at 8 p.m. The
A celebration of geek-dom, from comic books to movies to video games, and its influence non-performative works are on dis-
play through June 24. Transformer,
on todays pop culture, D.C.s annual comic-con offers three days of discussion panels, 1404 P St. NW. Call 202-483-1102 or
costume contests, gaming tournaments and trivia. The event, which draws over 60,000 visit transformerdc.org.
participants, adds two new programming elements this year. Theres Pride Alley, co-pre-
sented by Geeks Out, curators of New Yorks LGBTQ-themed convention Flame Con, BOEING MILESTONES
OF FLIGHT HALL
with special programming throughout the event, including Making LGBT+ Matter in The National Air and Space
Fiction, on Friday, June 16, at 5 p.m., A History of LGBTQ+ Representation in Comic Museums central exhibition space
Books & Television, Saturday, June 17, at 12:30 p.m., and Pokemon, Musicals & Gay reopened nearly a year ago after a
major two-year renovation spon-
Representation with Voice Actor Jamie McGonnigal, Saturday, June 17, at 4:30 p.m. The sored by Boeing in honor of the
other new component is Future Con, a partnership with Smithsonian magazine featuring museums 40th anniversary. John
discussions and events at the intersection of science, technology and science fiction Glenns Mercury Friendship 7,
including a StarTalk Live! taping hosted by astronaut Chris Hadfield. Other celebrities Charles Lindberghs Spirit of St.
Louis, the Gemini IV capsule, and
expected this weekend are Spider-Man/X-Men creator Stan Lee, David Tennant (Doctor SpaceShipOne are among the muse-
Who), John Barrowman (Arrow), The Guild creator Felicia Day, and Star Treks Wil ums most iconic artifacts on view
Wheaton. Friday, June 16, from 12 to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and in a new, streamlined way along
with digital enhancements meant
Sunday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 to give a deeper understanding of
Mount Vernon Place NW. Tickets are $35 to $45 for a single-day entry or $75 for a three- how spaceflight and aviation have
day pass; VIP passes ranging from $150 to $350 are also available. Call 202-249-3000 or affected all Americans lives. The
visit awesome-con.com. hall also features the Apollo Lunar
Module and the studio model of the
Starship Enterprise from the orig-
smattering of signature covers and 8 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. inal Star Trek series, among other
originals. Sunday, June 25, at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 Tickets are $30, or $25 one week in additions. National Air and Space
Freddies Beach Bar, 555 South 23rd or visit 930.com. advance. Call 202-269-1600 or visit Museum, Independence Ave at 6th
St., Arlington. Free, just tip well. danceplace.org. St. SW. Call 202-633-2214 or visit
airandspace.si.edu.
Call 703-685-0555 or visit freddies-
DANCE
beachbar.com.
EXHIBITS THE HUMAN COST OF THE
WHOS BAD: THE ULTIMATE MEGHAN ABADOO SYRIAN WAR IN PHOTOGRAPHS
MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE Octavias Brood: Riding the Ox AND YOU WERE THERE: For the project Forty out of One
BAND Home is an immersive, site-based IMAGES OF JAZZ IN D.C. Million, Berlin-based photogra-
Founded over a decade ago in North work inspired by the prophet- Works by local photographer pher Kai Wiedenhfer took por-
Carolina, Vamsi Tadepallis band ic envisioning of racial justice by Michael Wilderman and painter traits of 40 war-wounded Syrians in
didnt explode in popularity until Octavia Butler of visionary fic- Bill Warrell, who was inspired by towns, villages and refugee camps
after the King of Pops death in tion fame and the Underground Wildermans photography, are on in Jordan and Lebanon between
2009. Ever since, this infectious Railroads Harriet Tubman. A con- display in an exhibition that also spring 2014 and 2015. The Goethe-
tribute production has regularly temporary adaptation of Spike Lees celebrates D.C.s jazz scene and Institut displays Wiedenhfers
offered fans a treat, putting on a 1988 film School Daze by a graduate venues, where most of the images work along with two pieces from
show recreating Jacksons precise teaching fellow at the University derive. Presented in conjunction fellow German photographer
synchronized dance routines, in of Maryland, the dance leaps back with the DC Jazz Festival (see sep- Daniel Sonnentags series They
full regalia, from glitzy jackets to and forth through time, landing arate entry). Closes Sunday, June Have Names. With a mission to por-
glittery gloves. And every year, the between antebellum Maryland of 18. Fringe Arts Bar, 1358 Florida tray the current, ongoing human
show returns to the 9:30 Club in the mid-1800s and an unknown Ave. NE. Free. Call 202-737-7230 or impact of the Syrian conflict, both
June in honor of Jacksons death on place and date in the future. Friday, visit capitalfringe.org. artists depart from the typical focus
June 25. Saturday, June 17. Doors at June 16, and Saturday, June 17, at 8 on the body count of casualties to

22 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 stops by the Birchmere for Inferno
A-Go-Go! A wacky twist on Dantes
Inferno, the show is a romp through
the ultimate after-party mixing
song, puppetry and high-camp
hijinks Thursday, June 22, at 7:30
p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mount
Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets
are $29.50. Call 703-549-7500 or
visit birchmere.com.

CAPITAL FRINGE
FESTIVAL PREVIEW
More than 20 shows from this years
festival, which opens July 7, will
be previewed in short, rapid-fire
excerpts at this free, buzz-gener-
ating event. Thursday, June 22, at
7:30 p.m. Trinidad Theatre in Logan
Fringe Arts Space, 1358 Florida Ave.
NE. Free. Call 202-733-7230 or visit
capitalfringe.org.
ALIVE COVERAGE

HARIKARAOKE BAND
PRIDE SHOW
Its not everyday you can sing
karaoke supported by a live band,
although in recent years it has
become more popular. Silly props
FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL and extra surprises, plus a Gong
Billed as the East Coasts Premier Music Experience, Delawares Firefly becomes more Show Karaoke Contest add to
the dynamic experience of a
of a draw with each passing year. Spread out over a scenic, woodsy 100 acres at Dover HariKaraoke Band show, co-hosted
Downs, Firefly offers non-musical diversions, including camping spaces, a pathway with by drag queen Shaunda Leer. The
nighttime video and light displays, food trucks and bars, and even a pop-up local brewery. next show is LGBTQ-themed and
includes drink specials and prizes
But the chief focus is on catching many of pop musics latest and greatest. The Weeknd, including a bar tab at host venue the
Muse, TwentyOnePilots, and Chance The Rapper are headliners this year, along with DC Eagle. Sunday, June 25, from 4
the ultimate festival legacy act, Bob Dylan. Other acts include Weezer, Busta Rhymes, to 8 p.m. 3701 Benning Rd. NE. Call
DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kesha, and Scottish synth-rockers Franz Ferdinand. Under new and con- 202-347-6025 or visit dceagle.com.

temporary, youll find gems like Miike Snow, Galantis, and Bleachers. For a deep dance QUEERING SOUND
dive, theres a trio of cutting-edge international producers: the Gryffin, Flume and Sam Founder JS Adams has described
Feldt as well as house veteran Benny Benassi. Those seeking new discoveries have the annual experimental music
event as an exploration of expres-
dozens of other as-yet-unknown Firefly acts to mine, from Sofi Tukker to Jacob Banks to sion through audio, the digital arts,
Frances & The Lights. The festival runs through Sunday, June 18 at The Woodlands of performance art and spoken word
Dover International Speedway, 1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, Del. Passes start at $89 [with] a non-exclusive curatorial
for a single day or $309 for a four-day pass. Call 855-281-4898 or visit fireflyfestival.com. focus towards gay, lesbian, and post
gender-identified participants.
This year, Ruth Trevarrow has
curated a queer visual art exhibit
instead show people still very much Rice Cornbread, and Banana Cream priced at $70 for two, before tax that runs all month long and fea-
alive and in need. Closes Friday, Pie served Southern-style on and tip. The menu changes week- tures two concerts, the second
June 16. Geothe-Institut/German one plate. Acadiana, 901 New York ly, and is available exclusively on of which, Saturday, June 17, at 8
Cultural Center, 1990 K St. NW. Ave. NW. Call 202-408-8848 or Fridays and Saturdays during din- p.m., focuses on spoken word and
Ste. 03. Call 202-289-1200 or visit visit acadianarestaurant.com. ner service, 5 to 11 p.m., subject to digital media, featuring Dan Vera,
goethe.de/washington. availability. Nopa Kitchen+Bar, 800 Joe Belknap Wall, H. Paul Moon,
NOPA KITCHEN+BAR: F St. NW. Call 202-347-4667 or visit Danielle Evennou, Mark Beazley,
$70 WEEKEND DINNER nopadc.com. Johnny Brown and Inga Yellere.
FOOD AND DRINK FOR TWO MENU Rhizome DC, 6950 Maple St. NW.
Across from the Smithsonian ROOFERS UNION: Tickets are $10 for the concert. Visit
ACADIANA: GRILLING CLASS, American Art Museum in Penn ROS ON THE ROOF dc-soniccircuits.org.
3-COURSE FEAST PROMOTION Quarter, this 160-seat American Spain and Italy will duke it out
Executive Chef Brant Tesky demon- brasserie, part of the same family as in a tasting of rose wines along WOLF TRAP OPERA, CITYDANCE:
strates and serves his favorite BBQ Rasika, Bibiana and the Oval Room, with rose-inspired specials and FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
dishes at an annual event touted as should already be on your shortlist half-price bottles on the rooftop at Through his Halcyon Stage series,
a good gift for Fathers Day or for for brunch. On Sundays between this bustling Adams Morgan spot. Septime Webre directs a one-
anyone who wants to improve their 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., each diner can Wednesday, June 21, starting at night-only production featuring
grilling game. The class, a kickoff to choose between an appetizer and 5 p.m. Roofers Union, 2446 18th vocal and dance soloists conjuring
Summer BBQ & Grilling Week, costs entree or sandwich, as well as a spe- St. NW. Call 202-232-7663 or visit Philip Glasss composition based
$85 and is offered Saturday, June cial mimosa or bloody Mary, for $28 roofersuniondc.com. on the gothic classic by Edgar Allan
17, from 1 to 3 p.m. From Monday, to $30 each (or $38 with bottomless Poe. Suggested attire Poe/Punk.
June 19 to Sunday, June 25, the Saturday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m.,
ABOVE & BEYOND
classic mimosas). Now Executive
restaurant offers a $33 three-course Chef Matt Kuhn is working to get with a Meet-the-Artist Reception
feast of Bourbon Bacon Sliders with Nopa on your radar earlier in the at 10 p.m. Dock 5 at Union Market,
Caramelized Onions, Brisket and weekend as well, with a new dinner BEN DE LA CREME 1309 5th St. NE. Tickets are $40.
Ribs with Acadiana BBQ Sauce menu focused on composed dish- One of 15 fan favorite queens of Call 800-680-9095 or visit halcy-
accompanied by Collard Greens es designed for couples, whether all time from RuPauls Drag Race, onstage.org. l
with Bentons Bacon Red Beans & lovers or close friends, reasonably Miss Congeniality from season six

24 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Forum
PULSE: ONE YEAR LATER
O
NE YEAR AGO, AMERICA WOKE TO A HORRIF-
ic tragedy. Armed with a gun and filled with hate,
one man walked into Pulse nightclub in Orlando
and gunned down 49 people. It was the countrys worst
mass shooting in modern history. But more than that, it was
a direct attack on the LGBTQ community, a knife plunged
into the heart of the ideal of safe spaces. It was also an
assault on the Latinx community, with the majority of
victims of Latino descent. LGBTQ people reeled. America
reeled. The world stopped for a day, consumed with the
grief and pain of that moment.
In the 12 months that followed, weve witnessed incredi-
ble highs, from the outpouring of support in the wake of the
attacks to the ever-increasing visibility of LGBTQ people
in all aspects of society. But weve also had dramatic lows,
from the advancement of anti-transgender bathroom bills
to the apparent attempts to erase recognition of LGBTQ
people under the Trump administration. In the year since
Pulse, what exactly has happened for LGBTQ people? And
will safe spaces ever truly be safe again? We reached out to
the local LGBTQ community to find out.
HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED FOR THE LGBTQ COM-
MUNITY SINCE THE PULSE SHOOTINGS?
DAVID M. PREZ, Director of Development, LULAC: Since
the tragedy in Orlando, there have been more openings for
conversations about the intersectionality of oppression and
identities, such as LGBTQ, Latino, and people of color. The
frustration of the LGBTQ movements refusal to invest sig-
nificant resources in the fledgling infrastructures of LGBTQ
Latino groups has grown.
I have seen LGBTQ Latino advocates who left Orlando
return home to their state of Florida. Without a job or
resources, they rededicated their lives to healing their home
communities, building up non-profit, government, and phil-
anthropic infrastructures in Orlando to rebuild and invest
in their gente (people).
NICHOLAS BENTON, Publisher, Falls Church News-Press: It
has been mixed. On the one hand, the outpouring of public
support for LGBTQ issues has grown. On the other hand, so
has the hate and bigotry, due in no small part to the impact
of the Trump campaign/presidency.
DOUGLAS YEUELL, Executive Director, Atlas Performing Arts
Center: Acts of terrorism are exercises in horrific futility.
We survive in spite of it all. Sad that a common enemy is
what brings our humanity together and puts the fight and
plight of the LGBTQ community on the world stage.
CHARLES KING, General Manager, The Baltimore Eagle:
LGBTQ Culture seems to be more aware of their surround-
ings, and more aware of the hate and ignorance across our
country since the Pulse Shootings. As a community we have
become stronger and less tolerant of those seeking to hurt
us as a whole. I also believe that the Pulse Shootings have
allowed for more compassion towards our community with
regard to the general population. People realize that love is
never the enemy, and hate is what we need to extinguish.
CHRIS ALLEN, President, Log Cabin Republicans of D.C.: The
LGBTQ community is a force to be reckoned with. After the
tragic attack at Pulse, our community united in solidarity,
JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 27
 Forum
we held vigils, we raised funds for the victims families,
and we comforted each other during a time of grieving.
Moving forward, we are more aware of the threats against
our community not just at home, but around the world. This
renewed awareness is uniting us across borders, political
aisles, communities and is sending a message around the
world that LGBTQ rights will not be attacked or diminished
without a fight.
CHARGER STONE, Owner of DC Bear Crue: As a promoter
at one of the largest gay clubs in the city it really hits home
that this could have been us! I think the community has
seen its share of tragedies, and Pulse was a reminder that we
wont ever be 100% safe until we have the full support of the
rest of the country. We have a long way to go.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING ONE YEAR LATER?
PREZ: Im mad. Im angry. On Monday, June 12, a group more pessimistic, but thats due more to the political climate
of LGBTQ Latino writers, poets and artists from the group
Diccin Queer organized a memorial at Trade in D.C.
honoring the victims lost at Pulse. During the open mike
portion of the program, a man in the crowd stood up and
complained that Pulse was a gay tragedy and not a Latino
tragedy. He complained that no one addressed that the mas-
sacre was the result of religious hatred.
I stood in shock, my blood boiling, because of the hate-
ful anti-immigrant, anti-Latino, anti-other, anti-Muslim
comments that interrupted a gathering of unity and pride
where we mourned lives lost and recommitted to organizing
for justice.
The sad truth was that last year at Pulse 49 people were
killed. Nearly half of the victims were Puerto Rican, while the
other half were Cuban, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Mexican,
Salvadoran, Venezuelan, Afro Latinx, and from other Latinx
communities. Almost all were members of the LGBTQ com-
munity. Some were undocumented. Over half were under 30,
with the youngest victim being just 18 years old.
The words spoken were so far from the truth. However,
the comments that followed at the open mike gave me hope.
Person after person reiterated that what happened at pulse
was a Latino tragedy; an LGBTQ tragedy; an American
tragedy. We must face the hard work ahead on many fronts
to challenge institutional racism, homophobia, to embrace
immigrants and our Muslim sisters and brothers to contin-
ue on the long arc ahead that bends towards justice. I am
hopeful.
KING: The shootings made us take a serious look at our
own personal security as an individual and as a compa-
ny. Some people dont like to see a security guard at our
front door, carding and sometimes wanding individuals,
but people quickly forget that we do this for the safety
and security of our establishment, our guests, the LGBTQ
community and our own employees. I feel that in this day
and age, we cannot be too careful. We must be vigilant
and responsive when it comes to...fighting the hate that
can easily infiltrate our own establishments. Safety must
remain our number one goal.
BENTON: I am in a fighting mood. There is nothing that is not
28 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
irreversible in life, and the events of the election and current
presidency should make that clear to everyone.
STONE: Im sad. Im angry. I feel more personally responsi-
ble to make a positive difference in the people around me.
There were steps that led to this terrible tragedy. If someone
could have stepped in anywhere along the way and made
a small impact on this person than maybe this would have
never happened. Mental illness, combined with self-hatred
and bullying, and easy access to weapons with high capacity
magazines, are a perfect storm. We are all to blame, because
of the way we treat people, for not paying attention to those
people around us who may be hurting, for caring about the
bottom dollar instead of about people. I may not be able to
affect everyone, but I can do my part and encourage people
to do theirs. Little by little, we make a difference.
ZAR, Production Director, The Ask Rayceen Show: Im overall
and all the deplorable people who are now in positions of
power and otherwise demonstrating their rancor and vitriol
unabashedly in public forums.
RAYCEEN PENDARVIS, Host, The Ask Rayceen Show: I still
feel somewhat numb. At times, I still feel uncomfortable in
large crowds. Im always on guard and more aware of my
surroundings than ever. But I refuse to live in fear.
ARE LGBTQ SPACES STILL SAFE?
STONE: What is a safe space? I mean seriously, where are we
really safe? In a community center, in a gay bar? Safe from
what? Safe from anti-gay heterosexuals, safe from bullets
flying through the air, safe from each other? Half of the time
I want to shut down Facebook and go hide out in the woods.
Honestly, we are horrible to each other. For myself, Im
trying to make it so my events are safe spaces, a true place
where people can be themselves. And Im trying to remem-
ber to treat people better and remember that we dont know
what other people are going through, so be kind.
Until this I never really stopped to think about how I felt
because of Pulse. I was honored to read the story of an Army
Captain who was killed at Pulse during our LGBT Fallen
Heroes Memorial Service. As a former Marine, I hear so
many stories of people making changes or joining the mil-
itary after 9/11. I believe Pulse is our gay-9/11. It shattered
our illusion of safety and safe spaces. But for some of us, it
encouraged us to be better, to make a difference.
JON PARKS, General Manager, Ziegfelds and Secrets: I do
believe our LGBTQ spaces are as safe as any other business.
No one, no matter how much security you provide, can stop
someone whos willing to die for their personal hate.
ALLEN: The intentions of LGBTQ safe spaces are well found-
ed, but as a growing community we need to make sure that
safe spaces dont insulate our community and prevent the
very progress we are striving toward. As a community that
seeks acceptance and understanding, we need to lead by
example and recognize that allies come in many different
forms and from backgrounds as diverse as our own commu-
 Forum
nity. LGBTQ establishments will continue to provide spaces
and venues where our community is welcome and celebrat-
ed, but it is up to us to get along, unite behind our common
goals, and continue to influence the world for the better.
BENTON: Nothing is safe in life. But I think there are many
more people willing to fight for our safety than before.
ZAR: Were they ever safe? And safe for whom? First, one
would have to be allowed into such spaces, and plenty of
people of color are not on a regular basis. I think many
transgender and gender-nonconforming people regularly
feel unsafe in LGBTQ spaces, or at least unwelcome. Clubs
for queer people of color have often been in unsafe areas,
so the fear of violence has been and continues to be very real
for many people.
Safety is an illusion. Even without gun violence, all it
takes is one mentally unstable person with a knife, a brick,
or a vehicle to maim or kill people. We have far too many
people all around us who are angry, enraged, and paranoid,
who have no support systems and nothing to lose.
My experiences in D.C. go way back, and I know that
you always need to be ready for the unexpected. Observe
your surroundings. Take note of the exits. And if you cant
have something on your person for self defense, know that
anything that you can lift up can be used as a weapon. Never
rely on someone else for your own personal safety.
PENDARVIS: In my heart, Id like to think so, but in my mind,
I know that no place is safe as long as theres ignorance, fear,
and hate in this world.
PREZ: This trauma has made a deep and lasting impact in
LGBTQ and Latino/x communities, and it will take much
time to mourn and heal. To do so, we must invest in those
most directly affected by this tragedy. Latino-led, cultur-
ally competent efforts, based in Orlando, such as QLatinx,
Somos Orlando, and the Contigo Fund are critical initiatives
dedicated to the well-being and healing of survivors of
the Pulse massacre, to honoring the many LGBTQ Latino
lives taken last year, and to supporting a healing process.
We must continue to lift up such initiatives and work with
those who strive for equality for the LGBTQ and Latino/x
communities.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people
are resilient. Latinos are resilient. Immigrants are resilient.
Americans are resilient. We have experienced many hard-
ships and will overcome. We will not let one act of hatred
dismantle the community, liberation and pride we have built
on our dance floors. We will overcome. We will celebrate.
We will organize. We will love and welcome the stranger.
We will embrace one another. l
The opinions expressed in Forum are those of the partici-
pants and do not necessarily reflect those of Metro Weekly
magazine, its staff and contributors. We welcome all voices
and opinions to Forum. Learn how to be part of Forum at
metroweekly.com/forum.
JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 29
THURSDAY, June 15
The DC Center holds a meet-
ing of its POLY DISCUSSION
GROUP, for people interested
in polyamory, non-monogamy
or other non-traditional rela-
tionships. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. Visit thedc-
center.org.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV
services (by appointment). 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
session at Takoma Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more infor-
mation, visit swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
welcomes runners of all ability
levels for exercise in a fun and
WARD MORRISON
supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.
For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay
and lesbian square-dancing
group features mainstream
through advanced square
dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas
Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual
dress. 301-257-0517, dclamb-
dasquares.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice. The team is always
looking for new members. All
welcome. 7:30-9:30 p.m. King
Greenleaf Recreation Center,
201 N St. SW. For more infor-
mation, visit scandalsrfc.org or
dcscandals@gmail.com.
The DULLES TRIANGLES
Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at
Sheraton in Reston. All wel-
come. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
For more information, visit
dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-
Walker Health. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at
1525 14th St. NW, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
at the Elizabeth Taylor Medical
Center, 1701 14th St. NW, and 8
a.m-5 p.m. at the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE. For an appointment call
202-745-7000 or visit whit-
man-walker.org.
Community IDENTITY offers free and
confidential HIV testing at
two separate locations. Walk-
ins accepted from 2-6 p.m.,
by appointment for all other
hours. 414 East Diamond Ave.,
Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676
New Hampshire Ave., Suite
411, Takoma Park, Md. To set
up an appointment or for more
information, call Gaithersburg,
301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,
301-422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER
offers free, rapid HIV testing.
Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange
an appointment, call 202-638-
0750.
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 test-
ing@smyal.org.
Us Helping Us hosts a
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
MEETING. The group is inde-
pendent of UHU. 6:30-7:30
p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.
For more information, call 202-
446-1100.
WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
women, 13-21, interested in
leadership development. 5-6:30
FUNDRAISING FEAST
p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410
7th St. SE. For more informa-
tion, call 202-567-3163, or email
catherine.chu@smyal.org.
Food & Friends Chefs Best is one of the citys
most lavish, appetizing benefits FRIDAY, June 16
C
GAY DISTRICT, a group for
HEFS BEST HAS EVOLVED OVER DECADES, SAYS CRAIG
GBTQQI men between the ages
Shniderman, executive director of Food & Friends, which orga-
of 18-35, meets on the first and
nizes the annual fundraising dinner and auction. The first one third Fridays of each month.
was down at the waterfront.... We had between 175 and 200 people. Dinner or social outing to
Now, we have dependably more than 1,000 each year. follow the meeting. 8:30-9:30
Serving as a keystone event for the organization, the event brings p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
together more than 40 chefs and mixologists from restaurants in D.C., 105. For more information, visit
Maryland, and Virginia to prepare dishes and cocktails for attendees. gaydistrict.org.
Among those contributing are Marjorie Meek-Bradley of Smoked
and Stacked, who is chef chair this year, as well as Erik Bruner-Yang of Volunteers are needed to help
Maketto & Paper Horse, Tony Chittum of Iron Gate, Amy Brandwein with CASA RUBYS MONTHLY
of Centrolina, Victor Garcia of Commissary, and Thomas Palmer of DINNER. Held on the third
Hanks Pasta Bar. We think we have a particularly good group of chefs Friday of each month, in con-
junction with The DC Center,
this year, says Shniderman, who hopes to raise about $900,000 this
the event provides a hot meal
year for Food & Friends.
to those being housed at Casa
The event will also honor Fleur Bresler and the Bresler family, of
Ruby. Homemade or store
Bresler & Reiner commercial real estate firm, for their support over bought meals welcome. 6:30-
the years. 7:30 p.m. Casa Ruby, 3530
Our family knows firsthand of the impact of Food & Friends. Georgia Ave. NW. For more
My son Bill was both a volunteer and client, Fleur Bresler said in a information, contact lamar@
statement. My children, grandchildren, and I are proud to volunteer thedccenter.org.
and support the work that has been so important to us. There are and
will continue to be very sick people in our community. There is always Weekly Events
more work to do. John Riley
BET MISHPACHAH, founded
The 28th Annual Chefs Best Dinner and Auction is Monday, June 19, by members of the LGBT com-
at 6:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW. For munity, holds Friday evening
Shabbat services in the DC
tickets or more information, visit foodandfriends.org/ChefsBest.
Jewish Community Centers
JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 31
 PETWORTH
CHRYSALIS arts and culture group
visits historic sites and gardens in
Richmond, Va. Carpool at 9 a.m.
from King Street Metro Station in
proof shoes, bug spray, about $20
for fees, and money for dinner on
the way home. Carpool at 8:30
a.m. from East Falls Church Metro

SHOWS ITS PRIDE

Alexandria. For more info, Craig,
202-462-0535 craighowell1@ver-
izon.net.
KHUSH DC, the group for LGBTQ
The Petworth Pride block party spotlights three South Asians, hosts a monthly
hip restaurants and a lot of local gays meeting at The DC Center. 1:30-3
Kiss & Ride lot. Jeff, 301-775-9660,
adventuring.org.
Weekly Events
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

W
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. celebrates Low Mass at 8:30
HEN WE WERE OPENING THE RESTAU- For more information, visit face- a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300
book.com/khushdc. Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,
rant, says Mikey Torres, the general manager
allsoulsdc.org.
of Taqueria del Barrio, we realized we had five The DC Centers Center Global
employees who are gay. Also, our block is very gay-friendly Group hosts a monthly LGBT DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
as well. Next door is Hanks Cocktail Bar, owned by star ASYLEES SUPPORT MEETING practice session at Wilson Aquatic
AND DINNER for LGBT refugees Center. 9:30-11 a.m. 4551 Fort Dr.
D.C. chef Jamie Leeds. Across the street, new critical darling and asylum seekers. 5-7 p.m. 2000 NW. For more information, visit
Himitsu, co-owned by Carlie Steiner. 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more swimdcac.org.
Increasingly, restaurants are stepping up to serve information, visit thedccenter.org.
Petworths significantly gay population. Hanks Cocktail Bar DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
The DC Center hosts its month- walking/social club welcomes run-
recently launched a monthly Ladies Tea the next one is this ly LGBTQ HARM REDUCTION ners of all ability levels for exercise
Saturday, June 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. And Taqueria, the latest SUPPORT GROUP FOR in a fun and supportive environ-
Mexican eatery from the DC Empanadas crew, is planning to SUBSTANCE USE on the third ment, with socializing afterward.
Saturday of each month. 3-4:30 Route will be a distance run of 8, 10
launch a monthly Saturday drag brunch, as well as a bi-week- p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. or 12 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at 23rd
ly gay-themed party. For more information, visit thedc- & P Streets NW. For more informa-
This Sunday, June 18, Taqueria kicks off the first annual center.org. tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
Petworth Pride Celebration. Intended as a family-friendly
Weekly Events FAIRLINGTON UNITED
block party, Taqueria and two other restaurants in the 800 METHODIST CHURCH is an open,
block of Upshur, Hanks and Petworth Citizen, will serve BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includ- inclusive church. All welcome,
specially priced special cocktails and small bites for the day. ing others interested in Brazilian including the LGBTQ commu-
culture, meets. For location/time, nity. Member of the Reconciling
Each restaurant will donate proceeds from the days sales to Ministries Network. Services at
email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.
LGBTQ-focused charities: The Point Foundation (Taqueria), com. 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. 3900 King
Casa Ruby (Hanks) and SMYAL (Petworth). Street, Alexandria, Va. 703-671-
We wanted to do something that reflected and honored DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac- 8557. For more info, visit fairling-
tice session at Montgomery College tonumc.org.
Petworth, but was still in celebration of pride month, says Aquatics Club. 8:30-10 a.m. 7600
Torres. Its a great little community. I love coming to work Takoma Ave., Takoma, Md. For FRIENDS MEETING OF
here every day and being a part of it. more information, visit swimdcac. WASHINGTON meets for worship,
org. 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,
The resident of Oxon Hill, Md., then adds, Having grown Quaker House Living Room (next
up in the area, and worked in a lot of different D.C. neighbor- DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ to Meeting House on Decatur
hoods, this is the first one that feels, to me, like a family neigh- walking/social club welcomes run- Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome
borhood, where everybody knows each other. Doug Rule ners of all ability levels for exercise to lesbians and gays. Handicapped
in a fun and supportive environ- accessible from Phelps Place gate.
ment, with socializing afterward. Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
Petworth Pride Celebration runs from 3 to 7 p.m. and includes Route distance will be 3-6 miles.
Taqueria del Barrio (821 Upshur St. NW, 202-723-0200, Walker meet at 9:30 a.m. and run- HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT
ners at 10 a.m. at 23rd & P Streets GROUP for gay men living in the
taqueriadelbarrio.com), Hanks Cocktail Bar (819 Upshur St. DC metro area. This group will be
NW. For more information, visit
NW, 202-290-1808, hankscocktailbar.com), and dcfrontrunners.org. meeting once a month. For infor-
Petworth Citizen (829 Upshur St. NW, 202-722-2939, mation on location and time, visit
petworthcitizen.com). DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for H2gether.com.
LGBT community, family and
friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL
Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary DEVELOPMENT, God-centered
Community Room. 8 p.m. 1529 16th questioning youth, featuring dance new age church & learning center.
Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For
St. NW. For more information, visit parties, vogue nights, movies and Sunday Services and Workshops
more info, visit dignitynova.org.
betmish.org. games. For more info, email cather- event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isd-
ine.chu@smyal.org. dc.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac- critical languages and foreign lan-
tice session at Howard University. SATURDAY, June 17 guages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St. LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
6:30-8 p.m. Burr Gymnasium, 2400 REFORMATION invites all to
NW. RSVP preferred. Email bren-
6th St. NW. For more information, ADVENTURING outdoors group Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m.
dandarcy@gmail.com.
visit swimdcac.org. hikes a strenuous 8-mile loop with Childcare is available at both ser-
1800 feet of elevation gain in a sce- vices. Welcoming LGBT people for
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT- SUNDAY, June 18 25 years. 212 East Capitol St. NE.
nic canyon in Shenandoah National
affirming social group for ages Park. Bring beverages, lunch, bug reformationdc.org.
11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road ADVENTURING outdoors group
spray, sunscreen, about $20 for fees,
NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319- hikes 11 strenuous miles with
and money for dinner on the way METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
0422, layc-dc.org. 2100 feet of elevation gain in
home. Carpool at 8:30 a.m. from CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
Shenandoah National Park.
East Falls Church Metro Kiss & services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpret-
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides a Experienced hikers only. Bring
Ride lot. For more info, call Peter, ed) and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday
social atmosphere for LGBT and plenty of beverages, lunch, water-
202-302-9606. adventuring.org.

32 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW.
202-638-7373, mccdc.com.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,
a Christ-centered, interracial,
welcoming-and-affirming church,
offers service at 10 a.m. 680 I St.
SW. 202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcom-
ing-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia
Rainbow UU Ministry. 4444
Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL
MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-
ing and inclusive church. GLBT
Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,
Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.
NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.
MONDAY, June 19
The Metro D.C. chapter of PFLAG,
a support group for parents, family
members and allies of the LGBTQ
community, holds its monthly
meeting at The DC Center. 7-9 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit thedccen-
ter.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Dunbar Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at
Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. For more information, email
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
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.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-
789-4467.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT
COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. For more information,
call 202-682-2245 or visit thedc-
center.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
mens evening affinity group for
GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
34 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
HIV/AIDS Support Group for
newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whit-
man-walker.org.
TUESDAY, June 20
The DC Center hosts a BI
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION to
discuss issues of sexuality and
identity. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more informa-
tion, visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center hosts a meeting
of HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
GROUP FOR GAY AND BI MEN.
6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of
THE DC CENTER hosts a Packing
Party, where volunteers assemble
safe-sex kits of condoms and lube.
7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. Visit thedccenter.org.
The Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library
hosts RAINBOW FAMILY STORY
TIME. The event, held weekly
during the month of June, will
explore stories about same-sex par-
ents, adopted children, and other
nontraditional families, as well as
gender-bending books showing
that its okay not to conform to
stereotypical ideas of how boys and
girls behave. For all ages. 7-8 p.m.
1630 7th St. NW. For more infor-
mation, email wathashawlibrary@
dc.gov or call Gayle Wagner, 202-
727-1288.
Weekly Events
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly
dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle
area, 6:30 p.m. For more informa-
tion, email afwash@aol.com, or
visit afwashington.net.
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
session at Takoma Aquatic Center.
7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van Buren St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes
runners of all ability levels for
exercise in a fun and supportive
environment, with socializing
afterward. Route distance is 3-6
miles. Meet at 7 p.m. at Union
Station. For more information,
visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds prac-
tice. The team is always looking
for new members. All welcome.
7:30-9:30 p.m. King Greenleaf
Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW.
For more information, visit scan-
dalsrfc.org or dcscandals@gmail.
com.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH
COLLABORATIVE offers free
HIV testing and STI screening
and treatment every Tuesday.
5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday
LGBT Clinic, Alexandria Health
Department, 4480 King St. 703-
746-4986 or text 571-214-9617.
james.leslie@inova.org.
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. liveandletli-
veoa@gmail.com.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ
YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at
SMYAL. 5-6:30 p.m. 410 7th St.
SE. For more information, contact
Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, or cath-
erine.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 Health holds its
weekly GAY MENS HEALTH AND
WELLNESS/STD CLINIC. Patients
are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost
screening for HIV, syphilis, gon-
orrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis
and herpes testing available for fee.
Testing starts at 6 p.m, but should
arrive early to ensure a spot. 1701
14th St. NW. For more information,
visit whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, June 21
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens
gay-literature group, discuss-
es Gay Travels in the Muslim
World, edited by Michael Luongo.
All welcome. 7:30 p.m. DC Center,
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more info, visit bookmendc.blog-
spot.com.
THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL
BRIDGE CLUB will be meeting for
Social Bridge. No partner needed.
7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721 8th St.
SE (across from Marine Barracks).
Call 301-345-1571 for more infor-
mation.
Weekly Events
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6-6:30 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All wel-
come. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing
and HIV services (by appointment).
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center, 1400
Decatur St. NW. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-291-4707,
or visit andromedatranscultural-
health.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
holds a practice session at Dunbar
Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
St. NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a
group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.
and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-
549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at 1525
14th St. NW, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at the
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center,
1701 14th St. NW, and 8 a.m-5 p.m.
at the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE. For an appoint-
ment call 202-745-7000 or visit
whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-
tial HIV testing at its Gaithersburg
location. Walk-ins accepted from
2-7 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 414 East Diamond
Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. To set up
an appointment or for more infor-
mation, call 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 appoint-
ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012
14th St. NW, Suite 700. For more
information, call 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV
testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N.
15th St., Suite 200, Arlington.
Appointments: 703-789-4467.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org. l
Submit your community event for
consideration at least 10 days prior
to the Thursday publication in which
you would like it to appear. Email to
calendar@metroweekly.com.
JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 35
 PRIDE IN NUMBERS
Thanks to the Equality March, record numbers
of LGBTQ people celebrated Capital Pride,
which encountered a few bumps in its
parade road By John Riley
MILEY! MILEY! MILEY!
The chants were deafening, as the crowd anticipated the
arrival of headliner Miley Cyrus for the Capital Pride Concert
last Sunday evening.
When the superstar emerged, wearing a pair of jeans bedaz-
zled with I Washington DC and clutching a heart-shaped color, particularly transgender women of color.
American flag purse, the roars became ear-shattering. It was
a pinnacle moment in the ongoing history of the Capital Pride
Festival, and one that capped a weekend that, while not without
challenging moments, was the biggest and best celebration in the
events 42-year history.
Debuting her newest single, Inspired, Cyrus said, Id like brutality and profiling, blocked MPDs LGBT Liaison Unit on P
to dedicate [it] to everyone here today, and everyone around the
world thats ever felt like they werent treated fairly because of
their gender, or their sexual orientation or how they identify, or
maybe cause they felt different or looked different.
Id like to dedicate it to all those people, because Ive been
there, and I know how it feels. And to have all of yall here right
now, supporting me I hope you know I support you with
everything inside of my little bedazzled heart.
Cyrus, founder of the Happy Hippie Foundation, which
encourages young people to fight injustice facing homeless
youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations, next
blazed through several of her biggest hits, including a heartfelt
rendition of the Dolly Parton classic, Jolene and the thunder-
ing Party in the U.S.A.
This song is perfect for today, said Cyrus, who identifies
as pansexual, introducing the hit We Cant Stop, because its distributed, in order to explain the groups mission. Im trying
all about we cant stop and we wont stop fighting for our rights,
loving each other, fighting [against] injustices everywhere. Im
so happy to be part of this amazing family.
It was a sentiment echoed by other Capital Pride attend-
ees throughout the weekend, whether at Saturdays parade,
Sundays festival, or the Equality March for Unity and Pride held
earlier that morning.
I work in an organization that is pretty conservative, said
27-year-old Annie Truslow, of Waynesboro, Va., who attended
the festival with her girlfriend, Tali Ramo. I often go through
this experience of packing pieces and parts of myself away that I
actually love and want to celebrate, for the sake of showing up to
work and being professional and getting my job done.
I live in this space in pride events, or anytime Im not at
work, where Im very intentional about living in my authenticity,
whether that means Im talking about my queer identity, or my
relationship, just really embracing the experience of being queer
in Trumps America.
For Ramo, 25, who only recently came out as bisexual, the
weekend offered a new perspective on Pride.
Ive attended many festivals and pride parades before as an
ally, she said. It feels entirely different to be here as someone
whos finally identifying and being at peace with who I am. It
feels more emotional. Theres a sense of belonging. I think its
really powerful to be here among a group of people who see you
for who you are.
36 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
PARADE, HALT
AS WITH ANY FAMILY, spats occur over any number of
issues. So it came as no surprise when a discordant note struck
on Saturday, as the Capital Pride Parade was interrupted by the
recently formed group, No Justice No Pride.
Over the past few months, No Justice No Pride has taken
issue with Capital Prides lack of board diversity, its reliance
on corporate sponsorships in particular, its association with
defense contractors, and banks that invest in private prisons,
immigration detention centers, and fund construction of the
Dakota Access Pipeline. The group also objects to the presence
of the Metropolitan Police Departments LGBT Liaison Unit,
due to allegations of police brutality toward communities of
The parade, which drew an estimated 150,000 spectators,
started its usual route through the Dupont, but as it moved closer
to the reviewing stand near the intersection of 15th and P Streets,
three different No Justice No Pride gatherings targeted specific
contingents within the parade. One group, focused on police
Street NW. Another, comprised of anti-war activists, targeted
Lockheed Martin at the intersection of 17th and P Streets NW.
Finally, a third, led by indigenous, two-spirit individuals, target-
ed Wells Fargo at R Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW.
The activists stood their ground until the parade was diverted.
No arrests were made.
Reaction to the protest was mixed. Some agreed with NJNPs
goals, but a substantial number of people objected to stopping
the Parade. At 17th and P, several onlookers hurled empty water
bottles and catcalled protesters from nearby balconies. Many
of those in attendance, however, were simply confused by the
stop-start flow of the parade, unaware of NJNPs actions.
A trio of Atlantans near the 17th and P blockade offered a
perfect range of reactions to the demonstration. Jeff Raider, 44,
was trying to read a double-sided, neon pink flier that NJNP had
to read about it and process it, he said. I think they need to be
heard.
Billy Heaton, 51, lamented the division that the protest
sparked among members of the LGBTQ community, adding
that it was unfair that NJNP was allowed to interrupt a peaceful
Pride parade.
Im a little bit frustrated, because hopefully, tomorrow, we
would all be able to come as one, he said in reference to the
Equality March. I dont know why they necessarily have to ruin
the parade.
But Scott Golden, who was initially upset at the parade being
disrupted, had changed his mind after finding out about NJNPs
requests of Capital Pride. Had I known about this in advance, I
would probably be there protesting with them, said the 37-year-
old.
Drew Ambrogi, one of the central organizers of No Justice
No Pride, declared the groups actions, which included several
rallies and marches, triumphant.
We demonstrated that there is more broad community sup-
port for an alternate vision of Pride than Capital Pride would
have folks believe, he told Metro Weekly. And that people
enjoyed themselves celebrating the true legacy of Pride, and
having an outlet to do that without feeling they were at a corpo-
rate festival.
Despite the alarming hostility of some passersby several
people reportedly spit on protestors and used the n-word,
while others chanted Go to jail! Ambrogi felt that people
were overall receptive to the groups message and tactics.
We accomplished a variety of things. We continued to get
our message out there in a way that was impossible for people to
ignore and our blockades did get the attention of Capital Pride.
Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride, expressed
frustration at being unable to successfully convince No Justice
No Pride to call off its actions. Yet, he remains hopeful at the
prospect of future discussions with
I hear the demands that they are placing on us as Capital
Pride, but these are things that impact our entire LGBTQ-plus
community, said Bos. Its being talked about in a way that we
dont understand or respect them and we do. Confronting us
[using] this tactic is not a way to bridge divides and to get to solu-
tions. There are real issues in this conversation, and thats what
unfortunately getting missed, because I think people who need
to hear it are turned off by this tactic.

MARCHING OUT
THE NEXT MORNING brought a united front as people took
to the streets, marching through downtown D.C., past the
White House and onto the National Mall. While opposition to
the Trump administration ruled the day, the overall tone of the
Equality March was lighthearted, with marchers donning rain-
bow flags, often pointed placards, even costumes.
Laura Lewis, a 38-year old ally from Charlottesville, came
dressed as Wonder Woolen, a crocheted Wonder Woman

costume with a rainbow cape. I started crocheting the costume
shortly after the election, because I realized I wanted to go to a
lot of marches, and be present, and make my voice heard, she
said. So I created this character of Wonder Woolen that I wear
to different protests, to draw attention to the fact that justice
and heroines go hand-in-hand with sticking up for the rights of
people who are being oppressed by our society.
Wearing a rainbow zebra costume, Joshua Baumgardner, 31,
of Fairfax, and his partner, David Craig, stood on the National
Mall holding signs reading Love will Prevail and Make
America Fabulous, the latter with a picture of Donald Trump
dolled up in drag. They marched because of a general sense
that LGBTQ rights are slowly being eroded under the Trump
administration.
I think of this administration almost like a pebble, said
Baumgardner. If you throw one pebble at someone, it might
hurt a little bit. But a few months in, youre loaded with thou-
sands and thousands of pebbles, and youve killed people. Thats
what I think with this administration: Its one thing after anoth-
er after another after another.
Kevin Morris, of Springfield, Va., participated in the 2009
Marriage Equality March and the 2000 Millennium March on
Washington, but the 41-year-old says theres a more immediate
urgency now, because many fear Republicans will undo progress
made on LGBTQ rights.
Theres just this sense of non-acceptance, he said. Theres
this sense of threatening legislation from local governments,
state governments. Theres a sense of empowerment for those
political views. And four years of that could be dangerous for the
LGBT community.
It was Scottie Cravers grandchildren who provided the
motivation for the 51-year-old and his partner to travel from
Richardson, Texas.
You get to an age where its like, Im done with all the crap.
I want this stuff to be equal for everyone, says Craver. I want to
JULIAN VANKIM
make sure my grandchildren live in a world where they are paid
and treated equally just like everyone else.
Craver scoffs at accusations from conservatives that the
march is just the political left refighting the last election.
This is a march for our rights, he said. Where I go to work,
I used to be in the closet, and not be able to talk about my part-
ner. I go to work now, and they ask me, Are you married? And
I say, I have a partner. I dont have to worry about some bigot
boss man at work whos going to fire me because of who I am,
not based on what I do.
Lena Hernandez, 34, of Clinton, Md., attended the march
with her wife and her 22-month old daughter, who was twirling
a giant rainbow flag. Hernandez teared up as she spoke of her
hopes for her daughter.
I should have worn waterproof mascara, she said, wiping
her eyes. I want my daughter to grow up and be happy. I want
her to have a good education. I want her to fall in love. I want her
to be proud of us. I dont want her to be ashamed of having two
moms because society tells her that its not okay.
FESTIVE CELEBRATION
STEPS AWAYS FROM the Equality Marchs end point, an
estimated 400,000 people gathered throughout the day on
Pennsylvania Avenue for the Capital Pride Festival and Concert.
Bernie Delia, president of the Capital Pride Board, says the
crowd was larger than he had ever seen.
When Miley performed, there was a crowd stretching in
each direction as far as you could see, Delia says. And they
stayed.
A sense of protest from the mornings march lingered

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 37


We cant stop and we wont stop
fighting for our rights, loving each other,
fighting [against] injustices everywhere.
IM SO HAPPY TO BE PART OF THIS
AMAZING FAMILY. Miley Cyrus
throughout the day.
We saw a lot of cattiness and bitchiness about the protesters
interrupting Pride yesterday, said Seth Gaye, of Washington.
He carried a rainbow sign emblazoned with some choice words
for the current president. Their demands were a little bit unor-
ganized, some of them spot-on, some of them a little bit outra-
geous, but I wish they had more effectively gotten their mes-
sage out. Thats why I kept my message simple: Fuck Trump.
Theres literally not a goddamn thing he has done that is in the
right direction. Its all backwards. And its just not the direction
we should go.
Arissa Brown, a 25-year-old from Harrisburg, Pa., who
marched with Planned Parenthood in Saturdays Parade, admits
that Pride takes on a new meaning under the Trump adminis-
tration.
Were going to be here, she said. Were going to be loud.
Were going to be gay. Were going to be proud. And you cant
put us back in the closet.
To other attendees, being visible was the most important
aspect of the Capital Pride Festival.
Pride means to me living without fear, living genuinely,
living your best life, said 28-year-old Eric Morgan of Dupont,
38 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
sporting a rainbow tutu. Im unapologetically proud of my
femme nature, and my tutu-wearing, makeup-swirling, high
heel-strutting self.
V. Miller, 29, of Southeast D.C., took the opportunity to cel-
ebrate her identity and cultural heritage, sporting a Bahaman
headdress with rainbow colored feathers and a rainbow flag
draped around her shoulders.
Im from the Bahamas, she said. So this is what we do: we
have festivals in the street. Im very proud, and with the change
in administration, Im very afraid as well. So I wanted to come
out and be bold, and just express myself the best way I know
how.
Andy Hackbarth was celebrating his first official Capital Pride
since coming out to his friends last year. Its pretty incredible,
actually, said the 26-year-old from Arlington. I did not expect
it to be this wild. Its amazing. Its what I want it to be.
Reflecting on the past year, Hackbarth, who joined the D.C.
Gay Flag Football League to meet new people, has been able to
make friends and gradually get more comfortable with being
out.
Being part of the community this year is the happiest Ive
ever been, he says. Im really proud to be part of everything
thats going on here.
Jessica Crouse came dressed as Xena, the warrior princess.
Im a lesbian, so Im always at Pride, said the 31-year-old as
she strolled the festival grounds. And I always wear my Xena
costume to Pride, because Xena belongs here too.
Asked what makes her unapologetically proud, Prides
theme for 2017, Crouse smiled.
I just am who I am. Im not ashamed of it. And Im not going
to hide it. l
Capital Pride Parade Saturday, June 10
Photography by Todd Franson, Ward Morrison, Randy Shulman and Julian Vankim

42 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 43
44 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
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46 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
Equality March Sunday, June 11
Photography by Ward Morrison, Aerial photo by Tom Donohue / TMD Enterprises

48 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 EqualityMarch

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 49

50 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
 EqualityMarch

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 51

Capital Pride Festival Sunday, June 11
Photography by Todd Franson, Ward Morrison and Randy Shulman

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 53

54 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
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 TOM DONOHUE / TMD ENTERPRISES

56 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 57
TERESA WOOD
Stage

Payne has concocted a drum-tight

State Secrets
Perfect Arrangement returns to the Source Festival in a colorful, well-
realized new production. By Andr Hereford
premise, and director Nick Martin and
the Source team have built a smart, sturdy
production of a period story that, save for
the same-sex angle, easily might be played
out in a live televised courtroom in 2017.
The politics of blacklisting and the policy-

N
making of flagrant hypocrites are subjects
OT EVERYTHINGS PERFECT FOR THE TWO SEEMINGLY HAPPILY that cant be relegated to any one decade.
married couples at the center of Topher Paynes 1950s-set drama Perfect The look and feel of the show, however, is
Arrangement (HHHHH). Occupying neighboring apartments in a Georgetown squarely and surely 1950.
duplex, Bob and Millie Martindale and Jim and Norma Baxter lead overlapping lives Designer Jessica Cancinos set reads
that disguise a delicate cover for their real arrangement. as a bit boxy, but what it lacks in inviting
In fact, Millie and Norma are a lesbian couple, Bob and Jim are a gay couple, and warmth and dimension, it makes up for
the foursome have worked out a mutually beneficial ruse that cant last. Revived by the in eye-pleasing technicolor detail, echoed
Source Festival as part of its 10th anniversary season, this knotty crowd-pleaser about through Frank Labovitzs uncommonly
the Lavender Scare returns, driven by a new production team, fresh design, and an sumptuous costumes. In particular, the
additional scene inserted since its debut in 2013. society finery of Teds affable though
As retrograde as the couples closeted camouflage might appear, Paynes play not significantly less conservative wife
remains a timely examination of the schism between public faces and private lives, Kitty adds to the vividness of a character
especially for government employees. More than mere friends and neighbors, Bob (Jon played to perfection by Jennifer Pagnard.
Reynolds) and Norma (Mary Meyers) work together in the State Department, rooting Perhaps lonely, definitely in need of
out Communists from the agencys rank and file. friendship, and abundantly nosy, Kitty
Norma might be a dutiful implementer of States internal blacklist, but Bob actually aggressively pursues Bobs wife, Millie
devised the system of surveillance and questioning. Now, his and Normas rigid boss, (Danielle Scott) to be bosom buddies, with
Ted (Kevin McGuinness), has tasked the pair with turning their inquisitional tactics Norma as a sort of third wheel. Pagnard
towards exposing absolutely anyone at the agency who might be susceptible to black- supplies Kitty with a delightfully daffy
mail. The most susceptible are any so-called deviants, drunkards, and individuals of affect and warble of a voice that serves
loose moral character, which, according to Ted, includes gays and lesbians. This sudden as the womans public face in the world,
turn of suspicion leaves Bob and Norma orchestrating a witch hunt that could lead despite her own private struggles. Kitty
directly to their duplex. might or might not understand more than

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 59


TERESA WOOD
she lets on, but her increasingly intrusive presence in the cou-
ples lives is just another factor throwing off the balance of their
cover act.
As tension mounts, and the characters frayed edges become
ever more exposed, Meyers and Scott convincingly draw out the
frustrations of two women in love whose conduct and career
options have been so severely circumscribed by expectations of
their gender. Meyers, as the heavily conflicted Norma, projects
Perfect Arrangement runs through July 2 at The Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $32.
Call 202-204-7760, or visit sourcefestival.org.
60 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
her characters emotions mighty forcefully,
but she and Scott complement one another
well as a romantic pairing.
Novak brings sharp wit and timing to
Jim, a high school teacher who, as much as
any government employee, might be consid-
ered (then and always, really) susceptible to
concerns about individual morality. He acts
as sparkling complement to every other per-
former onstage, although Jim and Bob arent
the most credible lovebirds. The real wild-
card, both in the plot and the production, is
the character of Barbara Grant, played with
gusto by Toni Rae Salmi. Salmi isnt sub-
tle, but shes highly entertaining as a State
employee whose checkered past lands her
at the top of Bob and Normas naughty list.
Pitched slightly broader, the innuendoes
and intrigues could play as screwball com-
edy, but that sort of effervescence is only
lightly sampled on the menu. Instead, plot entanglements, some
involving Barbara, pile up in the final act, with Bob, Millie, Jim
and Norma crafting various schemes and counter-schemes to
maintain their secret lives. But its Paynes lever-pulling that
feels exposed by the hasty wrap-up of some messy develop-
ments. Thankfully, he has populated the play with compelling,
strongly delineated characters, enacting the perpetual truth that
living a falsehood can be exhausting. l
SCOTT SUCHMAN
Stage

light-hearted irreverence and Kahns sim-

patico vision is Alexander Dodges play-

The Lying Game

fully clever set. Its all a charmingly clever
poke: at past, present, people, and politics.
Of course, much of the joy is in the
array of comical characters paying court
The School For Lies is a rom-com for wordsmiths to Celimene, but theres no doubt that
and wig lovers By Kate Wingfield the couple at the center needs to start a
fire and keep it going. As the intolerant

A
Fraank, the appealing, dashing Gregory
FUN, FRILLY AND DECIDEDLY CHEEKY ADAPTATION OF MOLIERES Wooddell is delightfully frenetic, deliv-
The Misanthrope, David Ives The School for Lies (HHHHH) is a rom-com for ering Ives lingual barrages like he was
wordsmiths and wig-lovers. If the original is a gorgeous antique and no doubt born to it. Its a tad more complicated
drew its share of titters back in the ancient day Ives streamlined, 90-minute plot, with Victoria Frings. She gets the bold-
unstoppable couplets, and the infusion of mega-topical references blows it wide open ness and intelligence of Celimene right,
for todays audience. Just do remember there was an original and maybe even read it! but not quite the humor in her snark. She
In this satirical twist on 17th century Parisian high society, lawsuits are social also needs to suggest (as Wooddell so
sport, with all and sundry suing for slander and then using their influence on authority successfully does), that there is a warmth
(judicial or royal) to sway the cases. Into this melee barrels the contemptuous Frank, and sensuality waiting under the games.
a grumpy young man missing a few circuit-breakers, who within minutes has sent the These may be subtle points, but they put
foppish aristo Oronte into a litigious rage. Oblivious to the dangers of bankrupting law- Celimene a smidgen out of sync with the
suits, Frank carries on dissing everyone in sight, including Celimene, a sharp-witted charismatic Frank and the chemistry isnt
society gal with a string of suitors and her own worrying lawsuit. But when she gives as quite there. That said, does it disrupt the
good as she gets, Frank is smitten, and so begins a romance beset by misunderstandings, joyful shenanigans overall? Not a bit.
mistaken identities, and powerful passions. As for comic color, the trio of
Fast-paced wit are the order of the day and director Michael Kahn spins this pro- Celimenes suitors largely bring the goods.
duction like a top. But if he keeps the repartee ripping, he also knows when to savor a As Oronte, Tom Story delivers enjoyable
moment. Just as vitally, he applies a blissfully light touch to the physical antics, pitch- apoplexy and Cameron Folmar is nicely
ing it perfectly between the subtle and the ridiculous. Completely in tune with Ives smarmy, both helped by Murell Hortons

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 61

 works well. And as the near-
ly unrequited Philinte, Cody
Nickell does a solid deadpan,
even if he is not quite but-
ton-down enough to make his
transformation as funny as it
might be. In the dual roles of
servants Dubois and Basque,
Michael Glenn captures the
kind of good-natured reck-
lessness that makes the pro-
duction sing.
But the true comic stand-
outs are the virginal Eliante
and the spinsterly Arsinoe,
looking for love in all the
wrong places. As the hilari-
ously ardent Eliante, Dorea
Schmidt nails it with comic
SCOTT SUCHMAN

abandon (and looks, at times,

like shed be quite a bit more
fun than Celimene). As the
pious snake Arsinoe, Veanne
Suess-esque costuming. They could play things a bit faster, Cox pretty much steals the show with her feigned outrages and
looser, and more outrageous, as both are capable, but they are affectations.
without doubt crowd-pleasers. As wealthy dimwit Acaste, Liam The School for Lies is high entertainment for our own colorful
Craig offers some comically subtle faces; his skillful restraint times even if its lies are tame by comparison. l

The School For Lies runs to July 9 at Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. Tickets are $44 to $128.
Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.

62 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

 Music

are layered upon scientific ones, and the

distinction between deity and planet is

Cosmic Harmony
A live show about the cosmos is brought to glorious
frequently blurred. Songs ostensibly about
the planets are bound up with the stories
and personalities of their Greco-Roman
namesakes.
new form By Sean Maunier In bringing the mythological togeth-
er with the astronomical, Planetarium

I
explores the tension between personal
N MANY WAYS, THE OLYMPIAN GODS WERE TO THEIR DEVOTEES WHAT and universal. Saturn, one of two singles
the solar system is to us distant, eternal, and inscrutable on the one hand, yet released in advance of the album, furtively
familiar enough to be addressed by name, and silent enough to allow us to project explores the madness that led the paranoid
on them what we will. That the Romans named the planets after their deities was no titan to consume his children, while Mars
accident. Since outer space and classical mythology both represent otherwise vast and takes on the capacity for destruction and
inscrutable fields that can only be made comprehensible through inquiry and imagina- aggression that, like the god of war himself,
tion, any project set in either field can be a project about anything, or indeed everything. reside in every creature. Venus, with
Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner of The National, and composer Nico Muhly have its stately, imposing, and almost dream-
opted for the latter in their sprawling collaboration Planetarium (HHHHH), an album like beauty, plays with a lighter variation
that has been a long time coming. Originally commissioned as a live show and per- on the theme. The goddess of love and
formed in the UK and the Netherlands in 2012, a side-by-side comparison makes clear desire is invoked on a personal level, as
that the album is an entirely different experience from the far more orchestral live Stevens quietly recalls a sexual awakening
show. Presenting the songs as an album allows Stevens, Dessner and Muhly to scale Methodist summer camp/You show
both up and down, building intense, room-filling electronica into some tracks and me yours, show you mine. Its hard to get
bringing others down to a drawn-out, autotuned whisper. more straightforward than that, particu-
The four do impressive justice to their subject matter, taking us on a tour of all larly in a song that rhymes the word cal-
eight planets plus the sun, the moon, and Pluto. Its never entirely clear whether they lipygian which, according to Stevens,
are exploring outer space through the lens of classical myth, or the other way around means nice buttocks.
and in a way, this ambiguity is the point. On Planetarium, mythological truths If Venus seems a little on the nose,

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 63

the album brings a more abstract
approach elsewhere, as on Pluto. A
planet for less than a century, before
being reclassified as a dwarf planet,
Planetarium takes pity on the distant,
icy world, giving Pluto its own song. It
happens to be one of the albums most
majestic and haunting, preserving some
of the orchestral bombast of the live
version. Though thought of as a lonely
and remote place, Pluto and its moon
Charon are tidally locked with each
other and orbit a point between them.
The romance is not lost on Stevens, and
in his hands Plutos differences, the rea-
sons for both its astronomical demotion
and self-imposed exile to the under-
world become a thing to be celebrated.
Lets leave evidence to rest, Stevens sings, as if to dismiss any
hand-wringing over whether it should be included among the
proper planets.
Planetarium reaches outside the Greek mythos as well, with
several electro-ambient interludes named for miscellaneous cos-
mic phenomena, as if to make the point that for all our explora-
tion, the Kuiper Belt, dark energy and black holes in many ways
remain as mysterious to us as the planets themselves were to the
classical world. We are also brought into familiar territory with
songs about the sun and moon. The album truly comes to a head
Planetarium is available now from Amazon.com and iTunes, as well as on streaming services.
64 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
on Earth, a fifteen minute epic in five
movements that recalls The Age of Adz,
Stevenss previous foray into off-kilter
electronic soundscapes. It is a loving
tribute that touches on our home planets
vastness to us, smallness in the wider
universe, and everything in between.
After a stunning tour of our solar
system, closing track Mercury almost
surprises. Although both the planet and
the messenger god are almost after-
thoughts in their respective pantheons,
they are stable, familiar and ever-pres-
ent figures. Over a gentle piano, Stevens
uses the often-forgotten god of tricksters
and crossroads as a vehicle for exploring
jilted love. Despite his apparent aban-
donment, he does not sing with the
voice of someone scorned, but someone in awe, mourning their
relationship but also marvelling at the strangeness of it all. After
all, as any mortal from a Greek myth would tell you, loving and
being loved by a god is no easy thing.
Stevenss gently sung meditations on the eight Olympians
touch on love and desire, awe and intimacy, and ultimately
the narrowness and briefness of human experience. While the
smallness of humanity in the wider universe is a well-worn
trope, in an age of looming planetary catastrophe it never hurts
to be humbled before the wonder and terror of the cosmos. l
NightLife

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 65

 Scene
DC Eagle & DistrktCs Pride Dance & Music Festival
Sunday, June 11 Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

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Happy Hour, 5-9pm all Karaoke, 8pm $3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
Best Underwear Contest Karaoke, 8pm
liquors, beers and wines Bottles Free Pizza, 7pm
at 11pm Beige Hip-Hop

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 67

 No cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts
Saturday,
at 10:30pm Hosted by June 17
Lena Lett and featuring
Miss Tatianna, Shi- 9 1/2
Queeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
and BaNaka DJ Wess drink, 2-9pm $5 Absolut
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk & Titos, $3 Miller Lite
downstairs following the after 9pm Expanded
show GoGo Boys after craft beer selection
11pm Doors open at No Cover
10pm For those 21 and
over, $12 For those BALTIMORE EAGLE
18-20, $15 Club: 18+ $5 Drinks all day Leather
Patio: 21+ and Fetish Saturdays, Code
Bar, 8pm-2am Code
TRADE enforced after 9pm in the
Doors open 5pm Huge Code Bar Pride Festival
Happy Hour: Any drink and Block Party, 11am-2am
normally served in a cock- No Cover charge
tail glass served in a huge 11am-2pm, $5 2-7pm, $15
glass for the same price, after 7pm 5 DJs, Patio
5-10pm Beer and wine Bar, and Special Pride
only $4 Menu thebaltimoreea-
gle.com
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm COBALT/30 DEGREES
Guest dancers Ladies Drag Yourself to Brunch at
of Illusion Drag Show Level One, 11am-2pm and
Doors at 9pm, Shows at 2-4pm Featuring Kristina
11:30pm and 1:30am Kelly and the Ladies of
DJ Don T. in Secrets Illusion Bottomless
Cover 21+ Mimosas and Bloody
Marys Happy Hour:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3
Bud Light, 4-9pm LURe:
Ladies Night, 10pm-close
Doors open 10pm $5
Cover 21+

68 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

FREDDIES BEACH BAR SHAWS TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am
Official Pride Closing
Party, 10pm-close DJ
ROCK HARD SUNDAYS
@The House Nightclub
Monday,
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm Mimosas, 10am-3pm Guest dancers Ladies Power Infiniti on the Main 3530 Georgia Ave. NW June 19
Starring Freddies Happy Hour, 5-7pm $3 of Illusion Drag Show Dance Floor Special Diverse group of all
Broadway Babes Crazy Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, with host Ella Fitzgerald performance by Miss Kitty male, all nude dancers 9 1/2
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies $5 Rails and House Wines Doors at 9pm, Shows Meow DJ MadScience Nonstop on three stages, Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
Follies Drag Show, hosted & Half-Priced Pizzas at 11:30pm and 1:30am with your favorite music 9:30pm-close Intimate drink, 5-9pm Multiple
by Miss Destiny B. Childs, DJ Don T. in Ziegfelds videos in the lounge $5 setting $12 Cover For TVs showing movies,
8-10pm Karaoke, TOWN DJ Steve Henderson in Cover all night, benefitting reservations, call 202-487- shows, sports Expanded
10pm-close DC Rawhides host Town Secrets Cover 21+ Capital Pride 6646 rockharddc.com craft beer selection
& Country: Two-Step, Line No Cover
GREEN LANTERN Dancing, Waltz and West FREDDIES BEACH BAR SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour, 1-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
Coast Swing, $5 Cover to
stay all night Doors open
Sunday, Champagne Brunch
Buffet, 10am-3pm Crazy
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Happy Hour, 5-9pm, all
night long Awesomecon 6:30pm, Lessons 7-8pm, June 18 Hour, 4-7pm Karaoke, Stoli Sundays: $5 Stoli liquors, beers and wines up
Unofficial After Party, Open dance 8-10:30pm 8pm-1am Specials with DJ, 3:30pm to 50% off Micro Brew
10pm-close Mega Guest DJs upstairs DJ 9 1/2 Happy Hour, 5-7pm $3 Draft/Bottle Mondays
Cosplay Contest Over Wess downstairs Drag Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any GREEN LANTERN Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, $4 all day SIN: Service
$1,000 in Prizes, Costume Show starts at 10:30pm drink, 2-9pm Multiple Happy Hour, 1-9pm $5 Rails and House Wines Industry Night, 11pm-2am
Rentals, and Raffles Hosted by Lena Lett and TVs showing movies, Mamas Trailer Park & Half-Priced Pizzas First Well Drink or
Featuring Danny Lantern featuring Tatianna, Shi- shows, sports Expanded Karaoke, downstairs, Domestic Beer Free 10%
and Aaron Paul $5 Cover Queeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx craft beer selection 9:30pm-close TRADE off your Food Order all day
and BaNaka Cover $15 No Cover Doors open 12pm Huge thebaltimoreeagle.com
NELLIES SPORTS BAR from 10pm-midnight and NELLIES SPORTS BAR Happy Hour: Any drink
Guest DJs Zing Zang $12 after midnight 21+ BALTIMORE EAGLE Drag Brunch, hosted by normally served in a cock- COBALT/30 DEGREES
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer, T-Dance Sundays, 4-9pm Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm tail glass served in a huge Happy Hour: $6 Top Shelf,
House Rail Drinks and TRADE Buy a cup for $5 and fill $20 Brunch Buffet glass for the same price, $3 Rail, $3 Bud Light,
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm Doors open 12pm Huge it with any Absolut Flavor House Rail Drinks, Zing 12-10pm Beer and wine 4-9pm Monday Nights
Buckets of Beer, $15 Happy Hour: Any drink and Mixer for $3 each time Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie only $4 A Drag, featuring Miss
normally served in a cock- (excluding energy drink Beer and Mimosas, $4, Kristina Kelly Doors open
NUMBER NINE tail glass served in a huge mixers) thebaltimoreea- 11am-close Buckets of ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS at 10pm Showtime at
Doors open 2pm Happy glass for the same price, gle.com Beer, $15 All male, nude dancers 11:30pm Doors open at
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 12-10pm Beer and wine Decades of Dance DJ 10pm No Cover 21+
2-9pm $5 Absolut and only $4 COBALT/30 DEGREES NUMBER NINE Tim-e in Secrets Doors
$5 Bulleit Bourbon Happy Hour: $6 Top Shelf, Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on 9pm Cover 21+ FREDDIES BEACH BAR
THIRSTY, featuring DJs $3 Rail, $3 Bud Light, any drink, 2-9pm Pop Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Chord Bezerra, 9:30pm 4-9pm $4 Stoli, Stoli Goes the World with Wes Singles Night Karaoke,
Flavors and Bud Light all Della Volla at 9:30pm 8pm
night We Aint Sorry No Cover

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 69

 GREEN LANTERN GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long Happy Hour all night long,
Open Mic Night Karaoke 4pm-close
with Kevin, 9:30pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
JR.S Beat the Clock Happy Hour
Showtunes Songs & $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Singalongs, 9pm-close $4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
DJ James $3 Draft Pints, Beer $15 Karaoke and
8pm-midnight Drag Bingo

NELLIES SPORTS BAR NUMBER NINE

Beat the Clock Happy Hour Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), drink, 5-9pm No Cover
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Beer $15 Texas Holdem Bulleit & Stella
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
SHAWS TAVERN
NUMBER NINE Half-Priced Burgers and
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Pizzas, 5-10pm $5 House
drink, 5-9pm No Cover Wines and $5 Sam Adams

SHAWS TAVERN TRADE

Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3 Doors open 5pm Huge
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, Happy Hour: Any drink
$5 Rails and House Wines normally served in a cock-
and Half-Priced Pizzas tail glass served in a huge
Trivia with Jeremy, 7:30pm glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
TRADE only $4
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
Wednesday,
glass for the same price, June 21
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4 Love DC/Amor 9 1/2
DC: A dramatic, healing Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
reading and performances drink, 5-9pm Multiple
commemorating the Club TVs showing movies,
Pulse victims, presented shows, sports Expanded
by DiCcin Queer, 5:30- craft beer selection
6:30pm No Cover

BALTIMORE EAGLE
Tuesday, Happy Hour, 5-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines
June 20 up to 50% off Domestic
Bottles are $3 all day
9 1/2 thebaltimoreeagle.com
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple COBALT/30 DEGREES
TVs showing movies, Happy Hour: $6 Top Shelf,
shows, sports Expanded $3 Rail, $3 Bud Light,
craft beer selection 4-9pm $4 Stoli and Stoli
No Cover Flavors and Miller Lite
all night Wednesday
BALTIMORE EAGLE Night Karaoke, hosted
Happy Hour, 5-9pm, all by India Larelle Houston,
liquors, beers and wines 10pm-close No Cover
up to 50% off Well 21+
Bomb Shots $4 all Day
thebaltimoreeagle.com FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
COBALT/30 DEGREES Burgers Drag Bingo
Happy Hour all night: $6 Night, hosted by Ms.
Top Shelf, $3 Rail, $3 Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bud Light SIN Service Bingo prizes Karaoke,
Industry Night, 10pm-close 10pm-1am

FREDDIES BEACH BAR GREEN LANTERN

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm Happy Hour all night long,
Karaoke, 8pm 4pm-close Bear Yoga
with Greg Leo, 6-7pm
$10 per class

70 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 71
 NELLIES SPORTS BAR COBALT/30 DEGREES
SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm Happy Hour: $6 Top
and 9pm Prizes include Shelf, $3 Rail, $3 Bud
bar tabs and tickets to Light, 4-9pm Locker
shows at the 9:30 Club Room Thursday Nights,
$15 Buckets of Beer for 10pm-close $3 Rail
SmartAss Teams only Drinks, 10pm-midnight, $5
Bring a new team member Red Bull and Frozen Virgin
and each get a free $10 Drinks DJs Sean Morris
Dinner and MadScience Best
Package Contest at mid-
NUMBER NINE night, hosted by BaNaka &
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Kristina Kelly $200 Cash
drink, 5-9pm No Cover Prize Doors open 10pm,
21+ $5 Cover or free
SHAWS TAVERN with college ID
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, FREDDIES BEACH BAR
$5 Rails and House Wines Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
and Half-Priced Pizzas Karaoke, 8pm
Piano Bar with Jill, down-
stairs, 8pm GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
TRADE Ladies Drink Free Power
Doors open 5pm Huge Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Happy Hour: Any drink Thursday, 10-11pm
normally served in a cock- Men in Underwear Drink
tail glass served in a huge Free, 12-12:30am DJs
glass for the same price, BacK2bACk
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4 NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Thursday, $4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
June 22
NUMBER NINE
9 1/2 Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm No Cover
drink, 5-9pm Multiple Time Machine, featuring
TVs showing movies, DJ Jack Rayburn, 8pm
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection SHAWS TAVERN
Music videos featuring Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3
DJ Wess Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
BALTIMORE EAGLE & Half-Priced Pizzas $4
Happy Hour, 5-9pm, Heineken and Coronas,
all liquors, beers and 5pm-close Paint Nite,
wines up to 50% off Second Floor, 7pm
$3 Well Drinks All Night
Underwear Night, TRADE
9pm-2am For men Doors open 5pm Huge
in underwear, all well Happy Hour: Any drink
drinks $2 from 9pm-12am normally served in a cock-
ONLY Best Underwear tail glass served in a huge
Contest at Midnight glass for the same price,
Code enforced in Code Bar 5-10pm Beer and wine
after 9pm Beige Hip-Hop only $4
Dance Party, featuring
DJ Waterzz, 9pm-close ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Complimentary Entry All male, nude dancers
before 11pm thebalti- DJ 9pm Cover 21+ l
moreeagle.com

72 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY

Scene
Towns Pride Kickoff Night with Boomer Banks & Tatianna
Friday, June 9 Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY 75

76 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY
 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

I hope and pray the mindset held by a lot of middle American white men is abolished, and
I hope to be part of the solution.
TODRICK HALL, speaking to Australias Star Observer about his desire to make life easier for young, gay black men in the future.
I want to be the first gay black man to do things so that gay black men 15 years down the road wont even
have to think about them and can just be themselves, he said.

To all young people watching at home, dont waste any time

trying to be like anybody but yourself.
Actor BEN PLATT, accepting the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Dear Evan Hansen.
The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful, he added.

White people do not know what racism looks like, because

thats the definition of racism.
AMBER HIKES, executive director of Philadelphia-based ad agency Tierney, to CNN. Hikes helped the citys Office of LGBT Affairs
develop its More Color More Pride campaign, which features a revised Pride flag with black and brown added to better
represent LGBTQ individuals of color. To see this at City Hall is such a profound statement, Hikes said.

We want people to feel like we have endless options

to really reflect who they are.
Xbox Designer KATHRYN STORM, speaking to Xbox Daily about an update to Microsofts Xbox Avatars personalized digital
recreations of the user that makes all clothing gender-neutral. If you can see it in the store, you can wear it.
Were not holding you to any sort of check-boxes, she added.

Most gay people arent political...they care about pop music and going to the beach.
They probably dont know what the
Second Amendment is.
Former Advocate editor CHADWICK MOORE, speaking to Tucker Carlson on Fox News about a vigil held outside the Stonewall Inn
to remember the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Moore contended that attendees had came to the vigil to be together,
to celebrate the community, to mourn together and instead they are fed this anti-gun nonsense. However,
the vigil was organized by the group Gays Against Guns.

78 JUNE 15, 2017 METROWEEKLY