dcagenda

custody fight district national

the lgbtq community’s news source

escalates agenda agenda

Arrest warrant D.C. Jail guards N.J. vote on marriage
sought for ‘ex-gay’ accused of beating comes as new GOP
parent of missing gay inmate now in guv prepares to take
7-year-old Va. girl. protective custody. office vowing veto.
PAGE 5 PAGE 8 PAGE 10

dcagenda.com • vol. 2, issue 2 • january 8, 2010

Council candidate provides

tip in D.C. gay murder
Photo courtesy of Metro D.C. Police
Anthony Perkins, who’s gay, was shot
and killed last week in his car in Southeast
Washington. Police have no official motive
and have made no arrests in the case.
Victim may have been
target of criminal in
Congress Heights
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@dcagenda.com
A gay man who was shot to death
in his car in Southeast Washington last
week may have been the target of a
thug who’s “terrorizing” the Congress
Heights neighborhood where he was
killed, according to a local minister
who is running for a seat on the D.C.
City Council.
Rev. Anthony Motley said a mutual
friend told him that the murder of Anthony
J. Perkins, 29, may be linked to an
unidentified man believed to be responsi-
ble for a string of robberies that Perkins
learned about. Motley said the robbery
suspect may have thought Perkins was
about to report him to police.
Perkins was found dead in his car
at Fourth and Oakwood streets, S.E.,
at 5:15 a.m. on Dec. 27.
“According to my sources, Anthony
received a call that morning and left his
house to go meet someone,” Motley
told DC Agenda in an E-mail. “It is said
that the individual Anthony knew who
was robbing people had become para-
noid that Anthony would talk. It’s
assumed that is why he was shot.” Photo courtesy of American Foundation for Equal Rights
Homicide Detective John Bolden,
one of the investigators working on Attorneys Ted Olson (left) and David Boies are representing plaintiffs in the
the case, said police have no motive case against California’s Proposition 8.
for the killing and had no suspects as
of earlier this week.

Bolden said investigators were
looking forward to talking with the
mutual friend that Motley mentioned
in his e-mail to the Agenda, with the
hope that this individual could pro-
vide an important lead in the case.
Homicide squad Lt. Paul Wingate
said police have no evidence so far to
indicate the murder was a hate crime.
Police and Christopher Dyer, direc-
tor of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT
socialagenda Affairs, have been distributing fliers that
include a photo of Perkins to local
Cast of 'REAL WORLD D.C.' returns to town LGBT organizations and activists, ask-
for premiere party. Page 20 ing for help in identifying the person or
people responsible for Perkins’ death.
Police are asking anyone with infor-
mation about the case to call the homi-
cide squad office at 202-645-9600 or
the 24-hour police hotline at 202-727-
9099. Similar to all D.C. homicides,
police are offering a reward of up to
$25,000 for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of a suspect
linked to Perkins’ murder.
In a statement released the day of
the murder, police said they found
Perkins, whom they described as a
theateragenda “shooting victim,” seated inside his
Don't miss first locally staged production of 'RENT.' Page 21 Continues on page 8
Prop 8 trial
begins Monday
Case to overturn
same-sex marriage
ban may be televised
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@dcagenda.com
The eyes of LGBT rights sup-
porters will be on the proceedings
of a California federal court case
next week that could overturn the
state’s ban on same-sex marriage
— and possibly similar bans
throughout the country.
The trial in the case of Perry v.
Schwarzenegger will begin Monday.
Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S.
District Court’s Northern District of
California will preside and has called
for expedited proceedings because
of the serious nature of the com-
plaints raised by plaintiffs.
During the trial, Walker will con-
sider witness testimony, documents
and other evidence and arguments
from both sides over the constitu-
tionality of Proposition 8, an amend-
ment to the state constitution ban-
ning same-sex marriage. The
amendment was approved in 2008
through voter referendum.
Attorneys Ted Olson and David
Boies are representing plaintiff cou-
ples that were denied marriage
licenses in California because of the
state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
While it’s the first time these
lawyers have worked together on a
Continues on page 14
2 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010
 january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 3

thanks
The DC Council, the Mayor, and the Coalition Partners who have worked
to secure marriage-equality for all DC residents.
ACLU
AFL-CIO, Pride at Work
DC Chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans
DC Clergy United for Marriage Equality
DC Coalition of Black LGBT Men and Women
DC for Democracy
DC for Marriage
DC Young Democrats
Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance
Gay District
Gertrude Stein Democratic Club
Human Rights Campaign
National Black Justice Coalition
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Center for Transgender Rights
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Organization for Women
PFLAG National
The Rainbow Families
We also thank the individual advocates and supporters who have done their part to make sure that home rule
and DC’s Human Rights Act is honored and respected. The Campaign For All DC Families represents a
diverse coalition of District of Columbia residents working to win and secure (civil) marriage equality.
With your help we pledge to protect our hard won victory.
To join the Campaign and become a part of history go to www.alldcfamilies.com and sign up today.
Together we will work to win the court battles yet to come, ensure that Congress doesn’t override the votes of
our duly elected officials, and be prepared to do whatever is necessary to see that the District of Columbia is a
place where all people will enjoy equal rights.
4 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010

localagenda
An arrest warrant is being sought for Lisa Miller, the ‘ex-gay’ advocate who is believed to have disap-
peared with the daughter she shares with Janet Jenkins.
Arrest warrant sought in lesbian
parental custody dispute
7-year-old girl missing
as interstate clash escalates
By Harley Dennett
Special to DC Agenda
An arrest warrant for Virginia resident Lisa
Miller was likely to be issued this week,
according to lawyers involved in her child cus-
tody dispute that has become a focal point in
the nation’s same-sex parenting debate.
Miller’s former partner, Janet Jenkins, came
forward Monday with a plea to help find her 7-
year-old daughter, Isabella, after Miller failed to
return her by a Jan. 1 deadline set by Rutland
Family Court in Vermont.
“I am so worried about Isabella. I do not
know where she is or whether she is OK,”
Jenkins said in a statement.
Jenkins said she and Miller were involved
throughout Isabella’s conception, birth and
early years. But Miller, who claimed she was
no longer a lesbian and became an “ex-gay”
advocate after the couple separated, denied
this during court proceedings to dissolve their
civil union and arrange custody of Isabella.
“My goal has never been to separate
Isabella from Lisa,” Jenkins said. “I just want
Isabella to know and love both of her parents. I
just want to be with her, like any parent.”
Her lawyers in Vermont, including Sarah
Star and Gay & Lesbian Advocates &
Defenders, said they were disappointed the
transfer of custody did not occur as ordered.
“We’ve petitioned the court to issue a bench
warrant because of Lisa’s continued refusal to
comply with the custody order,” Jennifer Levi, a
GLAD senior attorney, told DC Agenda. “The
Rutland Family Court has been very responsive
to this contempt [of court] concern that Janet
has raised and could order pretty quickly.”
Judge William Cohen, who has handled the
case from the beginning, was to rule on the
bench warrant. No decision was announced
before Agenda deadline.
Liberty Council, which represents Miller, filed
an appeal with the Vermont Supreme Court, but
it was not known if that appeal would continue if
Miller’s whereabouts continued to be unknown.
Miller’s lawyers in Virginia, including Liberty
University Dean of Law Mathew Staver, did not
Photo courtesy of GLAD
return the Agenda’s calls or e-mails this week.
Miller previously told Newsweek: “I do not
feel safe leaving my daughter with [Jenkins],
and I believe I have a God-given and constitu-
tional right to raise my child as I see fit. There
is a homosexual agenda at work here, and
Isabella is a pawn in their game.”
The court had awarded Jenkins full custody
last year after Miller failed to comply with an
earlier custody order giving Jenkins access to
their daughter.
Police in Virginia’s Fairfax County this week
declined Jenkins’ requests to help find
Isabella. Missing persons police reports were
filed in Fairfax and Bedford counties, where
Isabella lived and went to school.
The Virginia branch of the American Civil
Liberties Union, which represented Jenkins in
that state’s Supreme Court case over jurisdic-
tion of the Vermont court orders, said the issue
has been settled and that Virginia law enforce-
ment should respect the Rutland Family
Court’s custody ruling.
Rebecca Glenberg, the ACLU Virginia
branch’s legal director, said Miller had shown
herself to have no respect for the rule of law
and the matter was no longer about non-bio-
logical parenting.
Lambda Legal, which also has supported
Jenkins throughout the case, said their main
concern is the safety of Isabella.
“Our client has done everything she can as
a loving parent to work within the system to
protect her child,” said Greg Nevins, a Lambda
Legal senior attorney. “Lisa Miller has repeat-
edly defied court orders and her behavior has
been outrageous and harmful.”
Conservative and “ex-gay” groups rallied to
defend Miller after the case became public in
2004, launching the Protect Isabella Coalition.
Concerned Women of America and the
National Organization for Marriage have, in the
past, criticized the Vermont judge.
But this week, Maggie Gallagher, National
Organization for Marriage president, said it was a
tragedy all around and didn’t blame either party.
“I have sympathy for the pre-eminent claims
of natural parents versus legal parents, when
the natural mother is a fit parent (which nobody
has denied in this case). But we have to be a
nation ruled by laws, even when those laws
may be unjust,” Gallagher said in an e-mail to
the Catholic News Agency.
january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 5
Fisette elected Arlington Board chair
The Arlington County Board, which serves as the Northern Virginia county’s governing
body, elected gay Board member Jay Fisette as its chair for 2010 during a Jan. 1 meeting.
Fisette was first elected to the Board in 1997 and previously served as chair in 2001 and
2005. He drew media attention at the board’s New Year’s Day meeting last week when he
announced a far-reaching energy saving proposal for the county that calls for reducing green-
house gas emissions generated by residents and businesses.
“Just as we have plans for land use and transportation, we need a plan for energy use,”
Fisette said in his inaugural speech. “It is the Arlington way to involve the whole community
in the important decisions on our county’s future, and I hope this sets a blueprint for
Arlington’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness.”
Under Fisette’s proposal, which the board endorsed, the Board member will lead a 28-
member task force that will make recommendations in early 2011 for specific goals and
strategies for reducing Arlington’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
In November, Fisette won election to his third four-year term on the Arlington Board. Each
member of the five-person board is elected by the residents to a county-wide, at-large seat.
The county’s population is estimated at 210,000.
Fisette, a Democrat, has been a longtime advocate for LGBT rights in Virginia on the
county and state level. The gay-supportive Arlington County government adopted an ordi-
nance more than a decade ago that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Although he supported losing Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gover-
nor’s race in November, Fisette said he’s hopeful that Republican victor Bob McDonnell will
keep his promise of opposing discrimination against LGBT citizens.
He noted that McDonnell claimed in his 2009 campaign to have broken from his record of
hostility toward LGBT rights in favor of a policy of “moderation.”
“I’m hopeful that he will be the one he claimed he is in the campaign,” Fisette said. “All I
can say is I’m hopeful he will govern as fairly and effectively as possible.”
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Md. retains gender change option for driver’s licenses
Equality Maryland is welcoming the Maryland Vehicle Administration’s decision to retain
— at least for now — its existing system for changing gender markers on driver’s licenses.
The department was considering revising its policy so that amended birth certificates were
required to initiate the license update. But in an e-mail to Equality Maryland, the MVA said the
policy scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1 would not be enacted.
“MVA believes that the current policy on gender designation, which has been in practice
for almost a decade, is secure and the procedures we have adopted ensures reasonable
accommodation for individuals who are making a gender transition change,” says the e-mail.
“At this time, MVA is not effecting a change to that policy.”
But the e-mail notes that “written legal advice” from state Attorney General Doug Gansler’s
office “clearly states that MVA’s current policy does not meet all statutory requirements” and
work on the issue continues.
Under current state policy, Marylanders can change the gender marker on their driver’s
license by providing a physician or psychologist report confirming they are in treatment. The MVA
requires annual re-evaluations until the person “meets requirements for permanent gender
change.” Under the proposed change, an amended birth certificate would have been required.
Birth certificates can be thusly amended only after gender reassignment surgery is completed.
Equality Maryland said in a statement that it was pleased the MVA halted “implementation
of this dangerous policy change” and is allowing “for constructive dialogue.”
“There is still work to do,” says the statement, “but for now, let’s take a moment to celebrate.”
JOSHUA LYNSEN
Photo by Nancy Mulliner; courtesy of the Kennedy Center
'SHEAR MADNESS,' an audience-participation whodunnit playing now at the Kennedy Center, was the
scene of a same-sex marriage proposal on Christmas. Hughesville, Md., residents Jimmy Evans, fourth
from left in the back row, and Brandon Hayes, seated, used the occasion to solidify their relationship. The
two have been dating since March and had talked of tying the knot. Hayes said he didn't want a cliched
proposal, so Evans got the idea to work his proposal into 'Shear Madness.' Evans had seen the show sev-
eral times before and knew its non-existent fourth wall might give him a chance to propose in an unex-
pected way. He contacted the Kennedy Center and found the show's personnel excited about the notion.
The actors worked the proposal into the second act and Hayes accepted. The two are seen here with the
cast. From left are actors Aaron Shields, Tierman Medorno, Bolton Marsh, Evans, Danny Devlin,
Taryn Evans (Evans' daughter), Rick Hammerly, Brigid Cleary, Hayes and Chelsea Evans (another
daughter of Evans'). Evans says he was a nervous wreck as the moment approached. It brought tears and
well wishes from many in the audience. Evans and Hayes met on match.com. — JOEY DIGUGLIELMO
6 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010
marylandagenda
Unfinished business as lawmakers prepare to convene
Equality Maryland exec
talks marriage and more
as legislative session nears
By STEVE CHARING
Special to DC Agenda
In the two and a half months since her
appointment, Morgan Meneses-Sheets,
the new executive director of Equality
Maryland, has been visiting cities and
towns across the state and introducing
herself to the LGBT community.
Now, as the 2010 Maryland legisla-
tive session approaches — with signifi-
cant unfinished business as it relates to
LGBT issues — the DC Agenda, in part-
nership with Baltimore OUTLoud, sat
down with Meneses-Sheets to talk about
the political landscape and the strategies
her organization intends to employ to
advance pro-LGBT legislation.
The 2010 session begins Jan. 13
and runs through April 12. Equality
Maryland’s Lobby Day is scheduled
for Feb. 8 in Annapolis.
Agenda: Since you were selected
for the position of executive director
at Equality Maryland, you have been
going non-stop on a statewide tour,
meeting people and organizations.
How has this been valuable to you?
Morgan Meneses-Sheets: I am
committed to ensuring that Equality
Maryland truly represents the needs
and interests of Maryland’s LGBT com-
munity. Attending community events
and making presentations has enabled
me to start to build strong partnerships
and have authentic conversations
about the future of our organization and
the LGBT movement.
The welcome receptions have
been my coming out parties to intro-
duce me to the community as the
new director. They have offered me
an opportunity to emphasize that we
have a strong team in place and we
are ready to get it done.
Agenda: You were successful in
building a nationwide advocacy pro-
gram from the ground up when you
were with the Amputee Coalition of
America. How did that experience,
plus the experience gained from the
other positions you held, prepare you
for your role at Equality Maryland?
Meneses-Sheets: From day one
with the ACA, I was charged with build-
ing a strong, grassroots network that
would have the ability to generate
enough pressure to impact the policy
making process in each of the state leg-
islatures. We were successful in passing
over a dozen different bills to enhance
access to care. It was all about doing the
work to engage and develop our local
supporters, identify and cultivate rela-
tionships with potential partners and
being strategic each step of the way.
In January, we are launching the
Equality Maryland Vision Task Force.
The task force will be comprised of
thought-leaders in various areas
including development, communica-
tions, organizing and program devel-
opment. The goal of the Task Force is
to work with us to create a compre-
hensive strategic plan to ensure that
we not only have the key votes, but
Photo by Steve Charing
Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive
director of Equality Maryland
also create true and lasting equality
throughout the Free State.
Agenda: We head into 2010 with
some restrained hopes based on the
experience here in Maryland over the
past several years concerning the
signature issue of marriage equality.
Is there any reason to be more hope-
ful this time around and if so, why?
Meneses-Sheets: We have built a
strong foundation, but there is still
work to be done. 2010 is a build year.
We have to really invest in building a
network of pro-equality activists, public
officials and religious leaders through
education and outreach efforts. We
are working to design an ambitious
and sophisticated PAC plan to ensure
the election of candidates who believe
in fairness and equality.
This year is about building momen-
tum and putting the plans and tactics in
place to take us through the elections
into a legislative victory. We are also
already laying out a wide-ranging strate-
gy to ensure that we have the neces-
sary public support to beat back a refer-
endum aimed at rolling back our gains.
Activists must not only remain hope-
ful, but also be committed. We need
Marylanders and all of our supporters
to be in this with us for the long haul.
Agenda: We had a mixed year in
2009 concerning LGBT rights, espe-
cially marriage equality. New states
legalized it while another, Maine, had
it stripped away at the ballot box. And
in New York it was defeated in a dis-
heartening vote by the Senate. What
lessons, if any, have you drawn from
these two significant defeats?
Meneses-Sheets: We have cer-
tainly had our share of ups and downs
over the past year, but the mere fact
that our issues have been front and
center in the public arena is a sign of
progress. People are talking about
LGBT equality. Lawmakers are really
digging in on our issues in state legis-
latures, county councils and Congress.
The loss in Maine was devastat-
ing and yet we must remember that
we lost by less than 30,000 votes.
That is huge! New York was a disap-
pointment and yet the week before
the loss in the Senate, New York was
also the site of a big step forward in
case law. The New York Court of
Appeals issued a favorable ruling on
marriage recognition for same-sex
couples. The Court of Appeals left in
place lower courts’ rulings applying
New York’s marriage recognition rule
to marriages of same-sex couples.
According to a recent poll spon-
sored by Equality Maryland, for the
first time a majority of Marylanders
support passage of the Religious
Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection
Act. We are currently working with a
number of funders and partners to
launch a wide-scale plan to engage
with partners in communities of color
and communities of faith, as well as
to build on our past successes with
the Pride in Faith initiative and our
strong partnership with the Maryland
Black Family Alliance.
We have had some setbacks this
year, but we have also had some
huge steps forward. It is going to take
time and hard work, but we are con-
fident that equality will win out in the
end. We are fighting for civil rights.
That has never been easy, but it is
certainly worth it.
Agenda: Besides marriage equali-
ty and transgender protection, what
other legislation are you hoping to
pass this year? And would you be will-
ing to accept civil unions at this time?
Meneses-Sheets: Civil unions pro-
vide no guarantee that the protections
will travel with them to other states.
They are second-class protections.
Equality under the law for same-sex
couples means equal marriage rights.
The same social, legal and financial
benefits currently afforded to hetero-
sexual couples in Maryland can only
be replicated for same-sex couples by
granting the same marriage license.
While we are still working with our
legislative committee to finalize our
agenda for 2010, there are a number of
important issues that we would like to
support in addition to anti-discrimina-
tion protections and marriage equality.
The Maryland Family Medical
Leave Act would allow people to uti-
lize leave for their brother, sister,
grandparent, grandchild, or domestic
partner. Family leave can be used to
provide care to family members with
serious health conditions or in the
case of the birth of a child.
Agenda: You and your wife Rae
married in Vermont … with the hope
that, until marriage equality is passed
here, Maryland will recognize our mar-
riages from other jurisdictions. Now our
next-door neighbor, Washington, D.C.,
is poised to [enact] same-sex mar-
riages. We’ve been waiting a long time
for Attorney General Doug Gansler to
issue an opinion on whether Maryland
can recognize our marriages.
What’s holding the decision up?
And what is Equality Maryland doing
to put pressure on Gansler?
Meneses-Sheets: Many couples
around our great state have made the trip
to places like California, Massachusetts,
Vermont and Connecticut to get a mar-
riage license. But when they return
home, this piece of paper may be suit-
able for framing, but does not come with
any of the 400 or so benefits provided by
the state for other married couples.
Equality Maryland has been work-
ing in coalition with groups like the
ACLU and the National Center for
Lesbian Rights to conduct research
on past precedent and work with local
legal scholars to submit supporting
information and analysis to the
Attorney General’s office as part of
this process. In November, we also
solicited stories and pictures from
local folks who received licenses in
other states to submit as part of the
public comment process.
There is legal precedent in the
state of Maryland to honor the licens-
es of couples validly married else-
where. The Attorney General’s opin-
ion will determine the legal possibili-
ty of building on that precedent to
honor the licenses from other states
or countries. The decision is pending.
Agenda: What are you hearing about
the timing of the opinion’s release?
Meneses-Sheets: In a recent inter-
view with WTOP, Mr. Gansler suggested
that the opinion would come out either
before the session or early in the session.
While we are all anxious to hear back, we
know first hand from our recent dealings
with the AG’s office around the [Maryland
Vehicle Administration] issue that they
are bombarded with new requests and
obligations every week as part of helping
to do the business of the state.
The initial analysis by many
prominent legal experts suggests
that we are in a strong position as a
state to provide legal recognition of
out-of-state licenses. We are holding
out for a positive opinion.
Agenda: What will be the impact
of the legalization of same-sex mar-
riage in D.C.?
Meneses-Sheets: This will be just
one step in our journey toward full
equality. Now that LGBT couples can
obtain a marriage license by simply
traveling to the District, Maryland must
move forward in not only recognizing
out-of-state marriages, but we must
also pass the Religious Freedom &
Civil Marriage Protection Act.
Agenda: Let’s talk about Lobby
Day, which is a significant event in
the quest to gain equal rights in
Maryland. There are those who have
criticized the rally in the past for its
declining turnout and logistical sna-
fus, particularly in lighting and sound
at the rally. Are there any steps you
plan to take to remedy these con-
cerns for the Feb. 8 event?
Meneses-Sheets: We had a
record turnout in 2007 as part of the
push around the Court opinion. After
the very disappointing ruling, some
folks were quite disempowered, but in
recent months we have really seen an
increase in excitement and commit-
ment from our activists. Maryland is
on a short list of states that have the
potential to enact true marriage equal-
ity in the next couple of years. We just
received a two-year grant to support
enhancing our organizing around
equal protections for transgender
Marylanders. We are truly on the cusp
of making sweeping changes, so we
have an obligation to do all we can to
not only build support, but also
demonstrate the strong support for
our legislative priorities.
Lawmakers need to talk with their
Photo courtesy Maryland state government
Maryland Attorney General Doug
Gansler is expected to release in
about a month an opinion on whether
state law should recognize same-sex
marriages from other jurisdictions
constituents. They need to hear our
stories — otherwise we are letting our
opposition tell them who we are.
Agenda: We have a Democratic gov-
ernor, the leaders of both legislative
chambers are Democrats, and the over-
whelming majority of the General
Assembly are Democrats. We have
made some important progress over the
past four years or so, yet we cannot
seem to wrest the two remaining big bills
— marriage equality and transgender
protections — from committee. Is there a
strategy in place to move the bills so at
least there could be an up-or-down vote?
Meneses-Sheets: While we should
maintain perspective on the recent set-
backs, we also have to realize that
each loss gives our opposition another
opportunity to claim a victory and gain
ground. We are truly making progress,
but we have to be smart about each
step that we take. We have to lay the
groundwork so that we can not only
win on our important issues, but also
protect and maintain those wins. We
are taking the time to really think
through every tactic, every target and
every step along the way.
We will work to generate pressure
at the grassroots level to push for co-
sponsors and really ramp up support
for our key issues. In many ways, 2010
will be a building year. We have work to
do to continue to educate lawmakers,
increase our organizing efforts and
build the campaign we need to not only
win, but also protect our victories.
Agenda: Does Equality Maryland
plan any face-to-face meetings with
the governor and/or Senate and
House leaders on these issues?
Meneses-Sheets: We have been
working with the governor’s office
around the MVA issue. We have also
reached out to a number of leaders in
the Assembly and Senate as we work
to prepare for the upcoming session.
We will continue to leverage every
opportunity to sit down with key stake-
holders and partners as we work to
advance our legislative priorities.
Steve Charing is managing editor
of Baltimore OUTLoud and can be
reached via baltimoreoutloud.com.
january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 7
8 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010
districtagenda
D.C. Jail guards accused
of beating gay inmate
Family members denied
request to visit while in
‘protective custody’
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@dcagenda.com
A 39-year-old gay man being held
in the D.C. Jail has accused jail
guards of severely beating him last
month, saying they carried him,
handcuffed, down three flights of
stairs while deliberately knocking his
head against the walls and handrails.
The gay inmate, John Burrows, a
D.C. resident, gave a detailed
account of the incident to his mother
and sister, who released the informa-
tion this week to the DC Agenda.
“They handcuffed his hands behind
his back and handcuffed his feet,
picked him up and carried him down
three flights of steps and in the process
they were banging his head against the
railings and into the wall,” said Margaret
Groat, Burrows’ sister, in an e-mail.
“[T]hey beat him in the stairwell and
choked him,” she said. “I think they were
trying to kill him. He has two black eyes, a
concussion; he still can’t feel three of his
fingers from the handcuffs being so tight.”
A spokesperson for the D.C.
Department of Corrections, which over-
sees the jail, said the Dec. 17 incident
was under investigation and the depart-
ment had no immediate comment.
“Please be advised that this matter is
currently under investigation by the
Department of Corrections,” said depart-
ment spokesperson Sylvia Lane in an e-
mail to the Agenda. “There is no further
information available at this time.”
Groat said Burrows gave a detailed
description of the incident in two letters
he mailed to their mother, Judy
Burrows. She said her brother noted in
one of his letters that the beating may
have been triggered when he threw a
bar of soap at one of the guards after
the guard “harassed” him.
According to Groat, jail officials
have refused to allow her and her
mother to contact John Burrows by
phone and informed them that they
could not visit him at the jail.
“They said they put him in protec-
tive custody and that he can’t have
any visitors until Jan. 27 at the earli-
est,” Groat said.
Lane did not respond by press time
to questions by the Agenda about why
D.C. Jail officials placed Burrows in pro-
tective custody and have refused to
allow his sister and mother to visit him.
Mafara Hobson, a spokesperson
for Mayor Adrian Fenty, said she would
look into the matter. But she added,
“Ms. Lane is correct in that the matter
is under investigation, so we can’t
comment further on the incident.”
When informed about Burrows’
alleged jail beating, D.C. Council
member Phil Mendelson (D-At
Large), who chairs the Council com-
mittee that oversees the jail and
Department of Corrections, said he,
John Burrows, a gay D.C. resident, has accused D.C. Jail guards of beating him.
City officials are investigating the allegation.
too, would make inquires to learn
more about what happened.
Court records show that Burrows is
being held in jail without bond on felony
charges of first-degree sexual abuse
and robbery of a senior citizen in con-
nection with an October 2008 encounter
with a D.C. man over age 60. The
records show that Burrows was arrest-
ed for the two offenses in September
while he was incarcerated in an out-of-
state prison for an unrelated theft
charge, to which he pleaded guilty.
A D.C. Superior Court charging doc-
ument says the two charges for which
Burrows is currently being held were
filed against him by a man who told
police he engaged in consensual oral
sex acts with Burrows on Oct. 5, 2008,
in the man’s Northwest Washington
apartment. The man, who is listed as
the complainant in the case, told police
he paid Burrows $100 in cash after the
sexual encounter for the purpose of
having Burrows use the money to pur-
chase marijuana for the man, accord-
ing to the charging document.
The next day Burrows returned. But
the man said that instead of handing
over the marijuana, Burrows grabbed
him in a “choke hold,” bound him “by
ligatures,” and forced him into his bed-
room, according to the charging docu-
ment. It says the man told police that
Burrows then sexually abused the man
before stealing $100 in cash and his
ATM card. The man told police that
Burrows pressured him into revealing
the PIN number for the card.
The charging document says police
obtained surveillance video from the
complainant’s bank showing Burrows
making an illegal withdrawal of $500 with
the use of the complainant’s ATM card.
Margaret Groat, Burrows’ sister,
acknowledged that her brother has a sub-
Photo courtesy of Margaret Groat
stance abuse problem and a record of
arrests on drug and theft-related charges,
all of which, she said, were non-violent
offenses. Groat said her brother denies
assaulting or sexually abusing the com-
plainant in the case pending against him.
Premal Dharia, an attorney with the
D.C. Public Defender Service who is
representing Burrows, did not return
calls seeking comment on the alleged
jail beating or the criminal charges
pending against her client.
According to Groat, her brother said
the sexual encounters between Burrows
and the complainant were entirely con-
sensual. She said her brother told her a
dispute arose over a prior agreement
that the complainant would pay Burrows
for the sex and that Burrows may have
taken some money for the payment he
believed he was owed. She said the
complainant had requested to be bound
as part of a pre-arranged “bondage”
encounter, according to her brother’s
account of what happened.
“Whatever he did or didn’t do in
terms of his arrest, he didn’t deserve to
be beaten in jail,” Groat told the Agenda
in a telephone interview. “He’s had prob-
lems and issues with the law, but I can
tell you that he’s not a violent person.”
Groat said she contacted the Gay &
Lesbian Activists Alliance and the D.C.
LGBT community center about her
brother’s allegation that he was the vic-
tim of a prison beating by guards.
“We have been in touch with the fam-
ily and we’re following this closely,” said
David Mariner, executive director of the
LGBT Center. “This raises concerns.”
Court records show that Burrows was
scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior
Court on Thursday, after the
Agenda press deadine, for a status
hearing and possible discussion of a
plea bargain offer by the government.
Victim remembered
as ‘very generous
and kind person’
Continued from page 1
car on the 2900 block of Fourth St.,
S.E. The statement says the car
had steam billowing from its engine
when officers responded to reports
of the sound of gunfire. A nearby
resident identified the vehicle as a
Lincoln Towncar.
“D.C. Fire & Emergency Medical
Services Department personnel
responded to the scene, but could
find no life signs,” says the statement.
Perkins lived with his mother on
the 1800 block of T Street, S.E.,
about two to three miles from the
location where he was killed.
“I have known Anthony for more
than a decade,” Motley said in his
e-mail to the Agenda. “Anthony
would attend my ministry on a reg-
ular basis.”
He called Perkins “a very good
singer” who sometimes sang dur-
ing church services.
“Anthony was a very generous
and kind person,” Motley said. “He
loved people and was always con-
cerned about his mother and her
well being.”
Motley said that it was through a
mutual friend, who he did not identi-
fy, that he learned Perkins “was
made aware of some information
regarding an individual who was ter-
rorizing the neighborhood and rob-
bing people, especially at ATMs.”
The unidentified man said to have
committed the robberies “lived very
close to where Anthony was shot,”
Motley said the mutual friend told him.
Motley, a long-time Democrat,
announced last spring that he would
become an independent candidate
in the November 2010 general elec-
tion for one of two at-large Council
seats currently held by Council
members Phil Mendelson (D-At
Large) and David Catania (I-At
Large). Catania is one of two openly
gay members of the Council.
Veteran D.C. gay and Ward 8
civic activist Phil Pannell, who was
recently elected president of the
Congress Heights Civic Association,
said Motley has been supportive of
LGBT rights.
Pannell said he did not know
Perkins, but recognized him from
the police photo as someone who
may have patronized one or more
of the city’s gay bars.
Deputy Police Chief Diane
Groomes told the Agenda that the
police’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit
was assisting the homicide squad in
correction
A photo of Judy Shepard (Page
1) in the Jan. 1 issue of DC
Agenda should have been credited
to Joe Tresh. Also, a photo of reac-
Photo courtesy of Metro D.C. Police
A D.C. police official disputed claims
by gay activists that the Gay & Lesbian
Liaison Unit wasn’t contacted about
last week’s gay murder case because
the unit has been dismantled under a
plan by Chief Cathy Lanier.
the investigation into Perkins’ murder.
Groomes disputed an earlier
statement by Chris Farris, co-chair
of the local group Gays & Lesbians
Opposing Violence, that the GLLU
had not immediately been contact-
ed about the case, as had been the
department’s practice in the past.
Farris and other LGBT activists
have expressed concern that the
department’s recent reorganiza-
tion of the GLLU had resulted in its
de-facto “dismantling.” They were
referring to a plan by Police Chief
Cathy Lanier to decentralize the
unit by staffing it with a greater
number of officers in each of the
seven police districts.
According to Farris and other
activists, the central GLLU head-
quarters in Dupont Circle had been
reduced from seven full-time offi-
cers to just one or two officers a
year or two before the department
was ready to put in place GLLU
affiliated officers in the seven
police the districts.
“GLLU actually was notified on
the night of the murder and has
been assisting Homicide with said
case,” Groomes told the Agenda in
an e-mail. “At this time there are two
full duty members, two members
not full duty [at GLLU headquarters]
and 25 affiliate members to assist in
any matter that one may need assis-
tance with. … [A]ll are available
via the [GLLU] pager number.”
tions to the D.C. City Council mar-
riage vote (Page 10) should have
been credited to Tresh. DC Agenda
regrets the errors.
 january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 9
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Same-sex couples rush to wed in N.H.

BOSTON — Same-sex couples rushed to marry in New Hampshire starting Jan. 1, when it
became the fifth U.S. state to allow gays to wed.
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and lesbian couples by a justice of the peace as the New Year dawned.
New Hampshire passed its law in June amid an emotional national debate. The New England
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nationalagenda

Health care reform expected

to include LGBT provisions
WASHINGTON — A recently
reported decision by congressional
leaders to forgo a formal conference
committee for health care reform
legislation shouldn’t impact the
chances of LGBT-specific and
HIV/AIDS language making it into
the final bill, according to advocates
of the provisions.
House and Senate leaders are
hammering out the differences in
health care legislation that each
chamber passed last month aimed at
providing coverage to 36 million unin-
sured Americans. Lawmakers are
seeking to produce a single bill and
send it to President Obama’s desk
for him to sign before his State of the
Union address, which the Associated
Press reported could take place in
early February.
Media sources reported this week
that congressional leaders have
opted out of having a formal confer-
ence committee for health care legis-
lation. Instead, House and Senate
leaders will hold negotiations based
on the Senate bill.
The Associated Press reported
this strategy would allow Democratic
leaders to exclude Republicans from
the negotiations and prevent them DC Agenda photo by Michael Key
from delaying the legislation or forc-
ing politically troubling votes in either Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the only out lesbian in Congress, and
the House or the Senate. other House and Senate members are working to pass
Although negotiations will be health care reform. The final bill is expected to include LGBT
based on the Senate legislation — and HIV/AIDS provisions.
which lacks most of the LGBT and
HIV/AIDS provisions — those supporting the provisions said the lack of a conference committee
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shouldn’t be problematic.
Ed Shelleby, spokesperson for Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), who’s sponsoring a stand-
alone bill similar to the House bill’s tax penalty elimination provision for domestic partners, said
whatever form the negotiations take “will not likely have too much an [effect] on the likelihood of
the domestic partnership provision ending up in the final bill.”
“We still expect significant portions of the House version that aren’t in the Senate version to
end up in the final package and Congressman McDermott is working to make this very important
domestic partnership provision one of them,” Shelleby said.
Others also said the lack of a conference committee doesn’t mean the LGBT provisions are
lost. A senior Democratic aide, who spoke to DC Agenda on the condition of anonymity, said, “with
respect to the LGBT provisions, I don’t think there’s anything that can be said here yet.”
The House legislation contains several provisions the Senate bill lacks that would directly
address LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues. These provisions would:
• enable the Department of Health & Human Services to collect health data on disparate pop-
ulations, including the LGBT community, and to open public health programs and grants focused
on health disparities to cover the LGBT population;
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Trevor Thomas, a Human Rights Campaign spokesperson, said his organization would con-
tinue to advocate for the LGBT provisions during negotiations in whatever shape they take.
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undoubtedly be complex and difficult on a range of issues,” he said. “We will continue to strongly
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nationalagenda
Prop 8 trial ‘a chance for
people to hear the truth’
Continued from page 1
case, they have crossed paths before in opposition
to each other. In the 2000 case of Bush v. Gore,
Olson represented then-Republican presidential
nominee George W. Bush while Boies represented
then-Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore.
Olson and Boies — who are litigating on
behalf of the American Foundation for Equal
Rights, a California-based LGBT organization
founded last year — are arguing Prop 8 is
unconstitutional because it violates the Equal
Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment and singles out LGBT people for
discrimination, among other reasons.
Yusef Robb, an AFER spokesperson, said,
“preparations are intense” for the legal team
that is arguing that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.
“Proposition 8 is wrong and it’s unconstitu-
tional, and we will demonstrate that through
the testimony of our plaintiffs, expert [witness-
es], evidence and arguments from an
unmatched legal team,” he said.
Robb said the trial should last about three
weeks, but could drag out for five weeks.
Supporters of the lawsuit are expecting the
case to go to the U.S. Supreme Court, but first
the case would have to be heard in the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals.
Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality
California, said the case is significant because “it’s
a critical piece in the ongoing fight for full equality.”
“We are extremely hopeful that the federal
courts will strike [down] Prop 8 as unconstitu-
tional because it clearly violates the federal
Constitution, especially in light of the California
Supreme Court decision that upheld Prop 8 in
the California Constitution,” he said.
Equality California was among the groups
that filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief in favor of
overturning Prop 8. Kors said he’s confident
Walker will overturn Prop 8 because it’s “a clear
violation of the United States Constitution.”
Other groups that have filed “friend-of-the-
court” briefs are the American Civil Liberties Union,
Lambda Legal and National Center for Lesbian
Rights. The City and County of San Francisco —
under the leadership of City Attorney Dennis
Herrera and Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese
Stewart — are supporting the plaintiffs as co-coun-
sel and are focusing on the negative impact Prop 8
has on government services and budgets.
While the case is focused on the constitu-
tionality of Prop 8, it’s possible that marriage
bans throughout the country could be struck
down if the case goes to the Supreme Court
and it rules in favor of the plaintiffs.
Robb said the question of whether a
Supreme Court ruling would end marriage bans
throughout the country “would depend on the
particular issues the court chooses to review, as
well as how they specifically draft their opinion.”
One contentious issue is whether the judge
will allow TV cameras in the courtroom to
record and broadcast the trial.
Opponents of Prop 8 have been urging Walker
to allow proceedings to air on TV to bring more
attention to the marriage issue, while supporters
of Prop 8 are arguing against such a move
because they feel backers of the amendment
would be subject to harassment and intimidation.
Walker set a public hearing for the matter
on Wednesday, after DC Agenda deadline,
after he reportedly received letters both for
and against televising the trial. The court also
is seeking public comment on the issue,
which is due Friday.
Robb said AFER believes it’s important for
the trial to air on TV to show the harm that Prop
8 has caused same-sex couples.
“This trial is a chance for the true harm of
Prop 8 to be revealed through facts, evidence
and the law, without the spin, slogans and
“We are
extremely
hopeful that the
federal courts
will strike
[down] Prop 8
as unconstitutional
because it
clearly violates
the federal
Constitution.”
deception that dominate political campaigns,”
he said. “These proceedings should be avail-
able to as many people as possible.”
Kors also supports airing the trial on TV.
He said the broadcast would allow people
who are undecided on same-sex marriage to
learn more about why marriage rights are
important to LGBT people.
“It’s an opportunity for them to see us for
who we really are, and for them to hear the
arguments both from our side about why
equality is so important and why denying us
the freedom to marry harms us and our fami-
lies, and to really hear what the right-wing’s
justification for that discrimination is,” he said.
Kors also claimed that televising the trial
would reveal that supporters of Prop 8 distort-
ed the truth during the 2008 campaign as they
encouraged voters to approve the amendment.
Among the disputed arguments that sup-
porters of Prop 8 put forward was that failure of
the amendment would mean that children
would have to learn about same-sex marriage
in public schools.
“It’s different when you’re arguing in court
and testifying under oath than it is when you
run a 30-second television ad that tells lies,” he
said. “So it’s a chance for people to hear the
truth from both sides, which is why we want it
to be televised and clearly why the right-wing
doesn’t because it’s not an environment where
they can control what they’re saying.”
While predicting that the trial court would
strike down Prop 8, Kors said it’s possible that
the ruling could be overturned by a higher court.
But if that happened, Kors said the trial
court proceedings would still be helpful in per-
suading the public to overturn the amendment
at the ballot box. Equality California has cho-
sen 2012 as the year to challenge Prop 8
through another voter referendum.
“It’s an opportunity for the public to learn
more about why marriage equality is so impor-
tant for same-sex couples and their families —
and that the lies the right-wing told in California
and more recently in Maine are nothing but
lies,” Kors said. “And that, I think, is going to be
really important in moving public opinion.”
 january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 15

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16 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010
personalagenda
Rehoboth, ‘Real World’ and RIP
Odds and ends
as 2010 begins
By KEVIN NAFF
Happy New Year and thanks for
reading DC Agenda. One of my res-
olutions is to blog and write more in
2010 so here’s a quick update on
things here as the year kicks off.
I spent the New Year’s holiday in
Rehoboth Beach and, judging by the
crowds, the resort town remains D.C.
east. There’s an unexpected New
Year’s tradition that has taken off in
the past few years in Rehoboth. A
mixed crowd of gay men and les-
bians gather at the Frogg Pond bar
on New Year’s Day to watch football,
drink beer and dance. It’s become an
all-day affair. The fantastic band One
Love played this year after a few
hours of bowl games. It’s always a
memorable time.
Back in D.C., the cast of MTV’s
reality staple “Real World” returned
to town for the Dec. 30 premiere of
the show. One of the roommates
worked as an intern for the
Washington Blade last fall and I had
Trouble for Democrats means gays will suffer
Now is best hope for
progress as GOP seeks
2010 comeback
By PETER ROSENSTEIN
The year 2009 was a mixed bag.
It started out great, fizzled quickly but
then came back as the year went on.
There were highlights and lowlights
and we need to remember them all if
we are to accurately sum up the year
and the decade.
We celebrated a court-mandated
marriage equality win in Iowa and a leg-
islative victory in Maine. Then we lost a
Maine ballot initiative. We lost in New
York, but won in D.C. We now need to
be vigilant to ensure we don’t lose that
gain. President Obama had a rocky
beginning with the LGBT community.
First there was the Rick Warren fiasco,
then that ugly Justice Department brief
on DOMA. But he came roaring back
with the appointment of John Berry at
the Office of Personnel Management,
the second DOMA brief, movement on
giving some benefits to domestic part-
ners of federal workers and finally the
signing at the White House of hate
crimes legislation. Maybe that came
just in time as hate crimes against the
LGBT community are on the rise
across the nation.
With five states now having legalized
marriage equality and some movement
on the Hill on upcoming legislative initia-
tives, 2009 has to be seen as a positive
year for the LGBT community.
As we look to 2010, many are ask-
ing what we can expect. I think we
could have a good year. I think we can
pass the bill giving domestic partners of
the pleasure of getting to know her.
Callie Walker, an aspiring photog-
rapher, came to my attention after I
received a call from a “Real World”
producer who said some of the
roommates were bringing the Blade
into the house and they needed our
permission to display the paper’s
logo. I asked if any of the house-
mates were looking for internships
and received a call from Callie a few
days later.
I won’t reveal much more just yet
— be sure to watch the show. But
Callie proved an exceptional intern.
On the premiere of the show, Callie
announced that Ronald Reagan was
her favorite president. Her political
views never came up in the Blade
office and Callie never turned down
an assignment.
She’s from Texas and I told her
that if she accepted the job, many
people — including future employers
— would assume she’s a lesbian
with the Blade name on her resume.
She didn’t hesitate to accept the
position and her enthusiasm for the
work and for getting to know D.C. and
its LGBT community proved refresh-
ing. Callie was an unlikely choice for
Openly gay Reps. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis have a busy
year ahead as the Democrats brace for a GOP comeback in November.
federal employees health care benefits.
I also think that we have a real chance
of ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by han-
dling it the same way we did hate
crimes and attaching it to the DOD
authorization bill. I am less sanguine
about passing ENDA, at least a fully
inclusive bill, but think that could hap-
pen as well. We do know that rescind-
ing DOMA won’t happen this year.
But 2010 will be especially impor-
tant in preparing for the future. The
Democrats will surely lose seats in
both the House and Senate. We will
have to work hard to hold those num-
bers down and ensure that the next
Congress won’t move us backwards.
My reading of the country is that
we are in a transition period. We are
not ready to move back to the place
the job, but I came to enjoy seeing
the city through her eyes. I look for-
ward to watching her adventures
unfold on the show.
Having MTV’s cameras roaming
the office last fall brought the phe-
nomenon of reality TV to life for the
staff. We signed releases, were wired
with microphones and were followed
around the office whenever Callie
visited. On a couple of occasions,
she was able to elude the cameras
and arrive solo, providing us a few
rare moments to talk candidly and
privately. There were no drunken
brawls or sexual encounters in the
office, so it’s unlikely we’ll get much
screen time, but it was a positive
experience nonetheless.
Finally, a bit of sad news. Deborah
Howell, former editor of the St. Paul
Pioneer Press and the former
Washington Post ombudsman, was
killed while vacationing in New Zealand
earlier this month. I had several pleas-
ant interactions with Howell during her
Post tenure. She was a forceful, fair
voice for equality at the Post who was-
n’t afraid to stand up to editors there.
I’ve knocked the paper many
times during the past seven years for
DC Agenda photo by Michael Key
where moral issues dominated elec-
tions, but we could end up with more
conservatives winning on pocketbook
issues. I rarely agree with Newt
Gingrich, but he recently said some-
thing I do agree with. He talked about
Republicans needing to do more than
just saying “no” to have an overwhelm-
ing victory in the 2010 congressional
elections. I hope that they don’t get
their act together to do that. But as
long as the unemployment rate hovers
at around 10 percent and if health care
reform passes in the way it looks like it
will with the new taxes coming first and
the benefits of the bill not taking effect
until 2013 or 2014, then Democrats
could be in trouble. And if Democrats
are in trouble, then the LGBT commu-
nity will suffer. So 2010 may represent
its coverage of LGBT issues. Most of
that criticism came during the tenure
of previous editor Leonard Downie.
When Marcus Brauchli took over, I
noticed immediate changes in the
Post’s approach to covering LGBT
issues. Brauchli sat down with the
Blade for an interview shortly after
taking over and talked candidly about
his views on our issues. It was a real
breath of fresh air, as Downie never
returned our calls.
And when he didn’t, I always knew
we could turn to Howell for help.
When the Post covered the funer-
al of Alan Rogers, an Army major
killed in Iraq, and omitted any details
of his sexual orientation, Howell and
I were in regular contact. I protested
the Post’s forcing Rogers into the
closet and she ultimately agreed with
me and wrote an important column
that I believe has helped the paper
deal more honestly with gay topics.
She made a real impact on the jour-
nalism profession during her career
and will be missed.
Kevin Naff is editor of DC
Agenda and can be reached at
knaff@dcagenda.com.
our last hope for a while to make real
progress in Congress.
We need to activate our communi-
ty to lobby their representatives at
home and remind them that we vote
and are willing to work for politicians
who support us. We also need to elect
more of our own. It is clear to see the
impact that Barney Frank, Tammy
Baldwin, and Jared Polis have by just
being at the table. We need more peo-
ple like us at the table.
I think we can do that. We must
encourage young members of the
LGBT community to get and stay
involved. We need to encourage and
support involved members of our
community to run for office at all lev-
els of government. We have to sup-
port organizations like HRC, the
Victory Fund, and the Task Force
even if we don’t agree with every-
thing they do, because they are the
groups that help bring our message
to the broader community.
We need to unite as a community
and stop criticizing each other at every
turn and recognize that each of us has
a role to play and that role may be dif-
ferent for each person and each organ-
ization. Whether it is joining a march on
the statehouse, donating money to an
organization or candidate, volunteering
for a candidate or cause, all are critical.
Each person who is willing to use their
particular talent to be a part of the
future will together help make that
future better for us all.
If we continue to work and to
value each other, 2010 will be a year
in which we will celebrate continued
progress in our fight for equality as
we move into the next decade.
Peter Rosenstein is a D.C.-based
LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist.
dcagenda
Vol. 2, Issue 2
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LYNNE J. BROWN
lbrown@dcagenda.com
EDITORIAL
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january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 17
18 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010
socialagenda
friday, jan. 8
Supporters of Virginia Del. Adam Ebbin
(D) are having a sendoff party for him
tonight at the home of Ingrid Morroy and
Jerry Botland in Arlington, Va. (1501 South
Pollard St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. Supporters are
gathering to wish him well as he heads to
Richmond for the new state legislative
session. For more information, visit act-
blue.com/page/ebbinsendoff or contact
ebbinfordelegate@gmail.com or 585-749-
6404. Donations are being accepted.
saturday, jan. 9
ZOOM URBAN LESBIAN EXCURSIONS
is having a ladies breakdancing 101
class today from noon to 2 p.m. at the
Columbia Heights Youth Center located
at 1480 Girard St., N.W. It’s designed for
beginners and is part of Zoom’s “Get
Fit” series. Cost is $15. Visit zoomexcur-
sions.com for more information.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
OF WASHINGTON, the District’s largest
mostly gay church, is having a “welcome
home” service today and is encouraging
former members, attendees and new-
comers to meet its new pastor, Rev.
Dwayne Johnson. Traditional worship is
held at the 9 a.m. service. The 11 a.m.
service features more contemporary
and gospel music. The church is locat-
ed at 474 Ridge St., N.W. Visit
mccdc.com for more information.
sunday, jan. 10
DIGNITY WASHINGTON, a local gay
Catholic group, celebrates Mass for the
LGBT community every Sunday at 6
p.m. at St. Margaret’s, located at 1820
Connecticut Ave., N.W. Call 202-546-
2245 for more information or visit digni-
tywashington.org.
monday, jan. 11
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
OF WASHINGTON has an HIV-positive
support group for people of faith every
Monday at the church. For more informa-
tion, contact Matt Senger at 202-546-2159
or e-mail him at ndc20003@yahoo.com.
MCC-DC is located at 474 Ridge St., N.W.
Visit mccdc.com for more information
about the church.
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR, 900 U St.,
N.W., holds “Pokerface,” a Texas hold
‘em poker night every Monday at 8 p.m.
It’s free to play and prizes are awarded.
Visit nelliessportsbar.com for more
information.
tuesday, jan. 12
D.C.’S HIV WORKING GROUP assem-
bles safer sex kits with its “packing par-
ties” every Tuesday at EFN Lounge.
Those who volunteer their time get
drink discounts. The events are held
from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at Motley Bar,
located above EFN, which is at 1318
9th St., N.W. Visit fighthivindc.com for
more information.
POZ, a bar night for HIV-positive men and
men open to dating HIV-positive men
regardless of their own HIV status, is held
every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to mid-
night at Motley Bar, located above EFN
Lounge at 1318 19th St., N.W. The event
is organized by HIV-positive party promot-
er Jacob Pring. Visit the group’s Facebook
page at facebook.com/pozdc for more
information.
wednesday, jan. 13
SPLIT, a gay bowling cocktail event, is
tonight from 8 to midnight at Lucky
Strike Lanes & Lounge, located at
701 7th St., N.W., on the second floor
(Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop).
Split, a party created by Jason Royce,
Brian Lempin and Georgio Takounakis,
is not a gay bowling league and isn’t for
diehard bowlers. Its creators designed
it to be a fun and trendy bar alternative
where patrons will mingle over martinis
and bowl if the mood strikes. Split is
usually held every other Wednesday.
It’s for ages 21 and older. There’s a $3
cover and Lucky Strike has a dress
code that those attending should read
before attending. Drink and food spe-
cials are available. For more informa-
tion, visit splitwednesdays.com.
THE NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN
TASK FORCE has weekly volunteer
nights every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30
p.m. at its offices located at 1325
Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 600.
Volunteers fold and stuff letters for the
gay rights organization. Pizza is provid-
ed. For more information, contact Ezra
Virginia’s sole openly gay state delegate, ADAM EBBIN, is preparing to return
to Richmond for the 2010 legislative session.
Want a
subscription to
dcagenda?
Contact
Robbie
Barnett at
rbarnett@dcagenda.com
Towne at stowne@thetaskforce.org.
THE BIG GAY BOOK GROUP has its
monthly book discussion meeting tonight
at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., N.W., Suite 200.
This month’s book is “The Conversion” by
Joseph Olshan, which tells of a gay
American translator who moves to Paris
and is attacked one night in a hotel room
where he and his companion, an older
poet, are staying. For more information,
visit biggaybookgroup.com.
LADIES FIRST NIGHT is tonight and
every Wednesday at Fab Lounge, located
at 1805 Connecticut Ave., N.W. For more
information, visit myspace.com/ladiesfirst.
THE D.C. CENTER has career develop-
ment for LGBT job seekers today from 3
to 4:30 p.m. Trained counselors will offer
support for job searching, interviewing
skills, resume writing, etc. The program
has been adapted to meet the needs of
the local gay community and the D.C. job
market. The Center recently moved to its
new location at 1804/1810 14th St.,
N.W., previous home of the Lesbian
Services Program and Austin Center of
Whitman-Walker Clinic. Visit thedccen-
ter.org for more information.
RAINBOW RESPONSE has its monthly Photo courtesy of Henrichsen
meeting tonight at National City Christian
Church, located at 5 Thomas Circle, N.W. DJ BRETT HENRICHSEN spins upstairs at Town on Sat. Jan.16.
at 7 p.m. The group is a meeting of indi-
viduals and agencies collaborating to dis- Volunteers are needed to help with food A new Friday night drag show at
cuss intimate partner violence in the local preparation tasks such as chopping veg- Ziegfeld’s has started with a new host-
LGBT community. The meeting is typical- etables and packing groceries. The ess. THE LADIES OF ILLUSION host-
ly held on the second Wednesday of each group will meet at Food & Friends’ new ed by Kristina Kelly has performances
month. Visit rainbowresponse.org for facility near the Fort Totten Metro every Friday at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.
more information. Station. Group size is limited to 10 per BET MISHPACHAH, a gay synagogue
shift. Those interested in volunteering located at the D.C. JCC at 16th and Q
thursday, jan. 14 should e-mail jonathan@burgundycres- streets, N.W., holds Ereve Shabbat
BURGUNDY CRESCENT VOLUNTEERS, cent.org. Visit burgundycrescent.org for services every Friday at 8:30 p.m. fol-
a local LGBT volunteer group, is volun- more information about this and other lowed by an Oneg Shabbat social.
teering for Food & Friends, a local group gay volunteering opportunities. Morning services are held on the sec-
that delivers meals to residents in D.C. ond and fourth Saturdays of each
and beyond suffering from AIDS and friday, jan. 15 month at 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush
other life-threatening illnesses. NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH luncheon. Visit betmish.org for more
has organ recitals every Friday at 12:15 information.
p.m. The series, dubbed “Magical,
Mystical, Musical Machine,” is led by saturday, jan. 16
Charles Miller, the church’s minister of Town has two events tonight. DJ
music, who’s gay. Several organists in the BRETT HENRICHSEN spins upstairs
series have also been gay. NCC is locat- (Town’s regular DJ WESS is down-
ed at 5 Thomas Circle, N.W. For more stairs). And monthly party “WTF?” is
information, visit nationalcity.org or call also tonight with a special Mexican
202-797-0103. installment called “Que es el fucko?”
MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER WEEKEND, Doors open at 10 p.m. with a $5 for
one of the largest gay leather gather- those 18 and older. Town is located at
ings in the world, is this weekend in 2009 Eighth St., N.W. Visit towndc.com
Washington at the Washington Plaza for more information.
Photo courtesy of Ebbin Hotel. The event is sold out but some BLOWOFF, a monthly party featuring
spillover hotels have rooms available gay DJs/remixers Bob Mould and Rich
and some events are open to the pub- Morel, is tonight at the 9:30 Club, located
lic. Visit leatherweekend.com for at 815 V St., N.W. starting at 11:30 p.m.
more information. Visit blowoff.us for more information.
 january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 19

ComeHomeAs
ANewEraBeginsatMCCǦDC!

Welcome back or come visit for the first time

and find your new spiritual home at
DC’s original fully-inclusive church.
Join us in welcoming our new senior pastor,
Rev. Dwayne Johnson, as we enter
a new era of spiritual growth.

January 10, 2010 “Welcome Home” Service

Every Sunday 9am: Traditional Worship Celebration
(ASL interpreted)
11am: Contemporary Worship Explosion
(Children’s Sunday School on
the First and Third Sundays of
each month)

The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington

474 Ridge Street NW | Washington, DC 20001 | 202-638-7373
churchoffice@mccdc.com | www.mccdc.com

Metro: Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center (Yellow and Green Lines)

20 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010

socialagenda: real world premiere party @ blackfinn dc

Photos by Joe Tresh

Half the cast of MTV's "REAL WORLD D.C." was in town Dec. 30 for the show's local premiere. They joined a large crowd at BlackFinn
D.C. to watch the first episode of the show's 23rd season, filmed in the District last year. The cast members who attended were Emily
Schromm, Ty Ruff, Ashley Lindley and Callie Walker. The new season has a few gay angles. Cast member Mike Manning, who did-
n't attend the premiere, is bi, and Walker interned as a photographer for the Washington Blade, DC Agenda’s predecessor.

theateragenda
‘rent’ gets cozy
Broadway stalwart works
well in first locally
staged production
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
Paying the landlord — that pesky
problem for Bohemians since time
immemorial — takes center stage in
Keegan Theatre’s vibrant production of
creator Jonathan Larson’s musical
“Rent.” The first locally produced version
of the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning
rock opera, the company’s take puts a
powerfully intimate spin on the enor-
mously popular Broadway blockbuster.
Performed in the small Church
Street Theater (Keegan’s cozy home),
the late Larson’s 1996 work easily
draws the audience into the extremely
personal, quietly heroic stories of its
characters, many of whom are dealing
with HIV/AIDS. Much of the score
works particularly well in this close-up
setting including “One Star Glory,” a
paean to immortality sung by Roger
(Juan Carlos Sanchez), a hot wannabe
rock star, as well as bigger company
numbers like “Seasons of Love.”
Based on Puccini’s opera “La
bohème,” “Rent” is the tale of young
artists struggling to create and get by in
New York’s East Village in the early
1990s. It’s told from the point of view of
John Loughney, Michael Robinson and Juan Carlos Sanchez in Keegan Theatre’s production of ‘RENT.’
Mark (John Loughney), an idealistic doc-
umentary filmmaker, and bears witness
to his community’s courage and opti-
mism in the face of encroaching gentrifi-
cation and, more frighteningly, AIDS.
Among the musical’s tight core of
artists and activists is a pair of
Photo by Jim Coates; courtesy of Keegan Theatre
refreshingly non-cookie cutter same-
sex couples — power dyke JoAnne
(Katie McManus) and her bisexual
performance artist partner Maureen
(Weslie Woodley), as well as Angel
(Parker Drown), a drum-playing drag
queen, and black nonconformist pro-
january 8, 2010 • dcagenda.com 21
fessor and activist Collins (the beauti-
fully voiced Michael Robinson). In
addition to dealing with the stresses
they encounter as lovers, all four are
members of the larger group fighting
for their community’s greater good.
While the cast is diverse, three of the
‘RENT’
Through Jan. 17
Keegan Theatre
1742 Church Street, N.W.
$30 to $40
703-892-0202
www.keegantheatre.com
principle roles in Keegan’s “Rent” have
been noticeably whitewashed: tradition-
ally Mimi and Angel are played by Latino
actors and JoAnne is black. The change
saps the show of a little spice and
strength, but isn’t cataclysmic. As
JoAnne, McManus can belt (“Take Me or
Leave Me”). Drown’s Angel gives drag
act energy to spare (“Today 4 U”). And
Emily Levey’s tough-yet-vulnerable Mimi
is both well sung (“Light My Candle” and
“Out Tonight”) and well acted.
Acoustics aren’t always the great-
est at Church Street, but nonetheless
the rock band perched behind a scrim
at the back of the stage and the talent-
ed, fresh-faced young cast sound
great throughout the nearly three hour
show. Directors Mark A. Rhea and
Susan Marie Rhea have captured the
gritty vitality and excitement of the pre-
gentrified East Village. George Lucas’
grimy, two-tiered dark metal set is spot
on and Kelly Peacock and Shadia
Hafiz’s costumes exude an authentic
mix of punk and thrift store finds.
And if you still need more reasons
to see Keegan Theatre’s “Rent,”
there’s this: Throughout the run, the
company is partnering with local
organizations to promote support for
AIDS research and outreach to D.C.-
area residents living with HIV.
22 dcagenda.com • january 8, 2010
socialagenda
closing out the holidays on ‘ice’
40 craftsmen from
China create stunning
frozen sculptures
By DAVID J. HOFFMAN
Special to DC Agenda
Folks, it's time to put your week-
end on ice.
What I’m trying to say is, be sure
this weekend to see “ICE!” – the fabu-
lous and spectacular artistic display of
ice sculptures glistening at a constant
9 degrees at the Gaylord National
Hotel’s holiday festival.
The show runs just three more days
— through Sunday Jan. 10 — at scenic
National Harbor on the Potomac River,
directly across from Old Town
Alexandria near the Wilson Bridge.
Nine-inch-thick walls made of foam
encase a huge tent to help keep the
temperatures low while the “oohs” and
“aahs” inside are heard from crowds
thronging the exhibit of 10 icy scenes,
among them the monuments of D.C.
and Santa’s workshop, not to mention
carvings of animals so real you want to
reach out to them as in a petting zoo.
I came to scoff but remained to
praise, expecting kitsch but found
instead a winter wonderland to startle
jaded senses. I didn’t expect it to be
so cool but indeed it is — ultra-cool,
not only on the thermometer inside,
where visitors are issued special blue
parkas to wear, but also in the sensi-
bility. At one of the stopovers under
the frosty big-top, one woman turned
to me before the Penguin Village at
the North Pole and declared, “We’re
seniors reliving our childhood, you
can write that in your story!”
It took 40 craftsmen brought from
Harbin — capital of China’s “north
country” province of Heilongjiang
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ice, totaling 2 million pounds in weight
hauled to National Harbor on custom
order from Ohio. The 400-pound
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smaller size with chainsaws and hand
saws and then picked at to chip away
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grooves and then parts are frozen
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Fine details are then carved with
ice chisels to create final touches
and the smooth, rounded features
that make the icy people and animals Photo courtesy of Gaylord
and objects so lifelike. The stunning,
vibrant colors created with simple A master carver puts final touches on a character carved from ice for the show at the Gaylord National Resort.
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entire exhibit cost more than $2 mil- the 15-foot-tall candy canes in a $13 for children from 4 to 12. Seniors every penny. Be sure to close out the
lion and took 40 days to create. reenactment of the famous scene (62+) are $18 and for military with IDs holidays on “Ice.”
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COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE - DUPONT

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kmcduffie@cbmove.com • 202.439.2435 (c) • 1606 17th Street NW cbmove com