Volume 46, Issue 14, April 3, 2015

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I SSU E 14
Calls to boycott state grow

amid outrage over law
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS
mlavers@washblade.com
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on March 26 signed into law a
controversial religious freedom bill that critics contend will
allow businesses to deny service to same-sex couples.
Today I signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
because I support the freedom of religion for every Hoosier
AM E RI C A S GAY NE W S S O URCE
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
of every faith, said the Republican in a lengthy statement

he released after signing Senate Bill 101 or the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act during a private ceremony.
Pence insisted the measure is not about discrimination.
If I thought it legalized discrimination in any way in Indiana,
I would have vetoed it, he said.
Indiana is rightly celebrated for the hospitality,
generosity, tolerance, and values of our people, and that
will never change, added the Republican governor. Faith
CONTINUES ON PAGE 13
Indiana Gov. MIKE PENCEs decision to

sign a religious freedom bill on March
26 sparked an immediate restorm of
controversy across the country.
Former Ehrlich aide considering

run for Mikulskis Senate seat
Chrysovalantis Kefalas would be rst
out gay Republican elected to Congress
A gay Republican who was former Maryland Gov.
Bob Ehrlichs legal counsel has announced he is
considering a run for U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski s (DMd.) seat once her term expires next year.
Chrysovalantis Kefalas told the Washington Blade
on Monday during a telephone interview as he
discussed his decision to consider a run for the U.S.
Senate that he feels the same old ways, the same old
politicians arent the best way to restore hope again.
Kefalas, who is the son of Greek immigrants,
conceded there are a number of headwinds he

would face if he were to formally declare his candidacy.
These include the fact that he has never run for public
oce and lacks a base of donors and support that
Congressman Andy Harris and other potential rivals in
the 2016 Republican primary may have.
There are a number of things that I need to prove,
Kefalas told the Blade, noting he expects to make a
formal announcement about his candidacy in the coming
months. This exploratory process Im undertaking [is] to
see whether the donors and the voters would be there
if I run. And once I feel like that both will be in place than
that would trigger whether I get into this contest.
CHRYSOVALANTIS KEFALAS
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEFALAS
GATE CRASHERS
ROUND TWO
HOLY HOLIDAYS
Transgender woman killed

by NSA police at Fort Meade
checkpoint.
Ark. governor asks

lawmakers to revise
religious freedom bill.
Area churches to hold

Easter, Passover services.
PAGE 6
PAGE 11
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Bowser: Supporting LGBT equality easy decision

In her rst annual State of the District address on Tuesday, Mayor Muriel
Bowser said she and her new administration will be faced with many challenges
and dicult decisions over the next three-and-a-half years.
Among them, she said, will be addressing the task of ending homelessness,
continuing the citys reduction in crime, and helping more residents nd a path
to the middle class.
Being mayor of my hometown is the greatest job in the world, she said. We
are a city on the move and we have great challenges. But some decisions have
been easy like standing up for marriage equality as we did by urging the Supreme
Court to end marriage discrimination nationwide, she told a cheering audience.
Like deciding not to send any District employees to Indiana, said Bowser.
Because we always stand with the LGBT community, we wont sit by as
discrimination is veiled in misguided belief, she said, referring to the executive
order she issued earlier in the day banning the city from spending its funds for
city employees to travel to Indiana in response to the states recently passed
anti-gay religious freedom law.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Va. trans student blocked from using girls restroom

Members of a Virginia school board last week voted unanimously to prevent
a transgender student from using the bathroom that corresponds with her
gender identity.
Members of the Staord County School Board by a 6-0 vote margin on
March 24 approved the new policy that requires the fourth-grader at Hartwood
Elementary School to use what the Staord County Sun described as a singlestall, sta or boys restroom instead of the girls facility that she had been
allowed to use.
Irene Egan, a member of the school board from the Aquia District, did not
attend the vote.
The Staord County Sun reported that many of the nearly two-dozen people
who spoke out against the fourth-grader using of the girls restroom were from a
group of parents who call themselves Save Our Schools. NBC Washington said a
man who identied himself as the students father also spoke during the meeting.
We respect every other mother and father in here, said the man, according
to NBC Washington. I only implore all of usthat we dont trade understanding
for fear.
James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, a statewide LGBT
advocacy group, was among those who also attended the meeting.
Transgender children, like all children, are balancing academic requirements
with extracurricular activities and a social life, Parrish told the Washington
Blade. They are managing relationships with parents, teachers, and friends, and
they are thinking about their future. Being stigmatized for who they are should
not be part of any childs growing up.
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender
Equality, a national trans advocacy group, also blasted the school board.
It is inhumane and probably illegal to have six adult elected ocials vote on
whether to allow a young child to use any restroom with other children, Keisling
told the Blade. They have immorally voted to stigmatize this child because of a
handful of self-righteous parents who are making decisions based on prejudice
rather than what is best for all children and even their own children. Eventually
they will be ashamed of themselves.
A spokesperson for the Staord County School Board earlier this week did not
return the Blades requests for comment.
MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Phase 1 reopens
The Capitol Hill lesbian bar Phase 1 on March 27 opened its doors for the rst
time since early January when its owner Allen Carroll said it would be closing
temporarily for a renovation project.
Customers familiar with the bar said it would be resuming its schedule of
the past ve or more years of operating only in the evenings every Thursday
through Saturday.
Phase 1 rst opened in 1970. It has described itself as D.C.s oldest continuously
operating gay bar and the nations oldest lesbian bar.
At the time of its temporary closing in January, Carroll said the renovation
project including upgrading the sound system and lighting.
LOU CHIBBARO, JR.
LO CA L N E W S
Md. lawmakers
approve birth
certicate bills
Measures would allow trans
Marylanders to change name,
gender without surgery
By STEVE CHARING
The challenges faced by transgender
Marylanders in trying to legally change
their names and genders on their birth
certicates will be eliminated if state
lawmakers have their way.
State lawmakers on March 25 approved
two separate bills Senate Bill 743 and
House Bill 862 that would remove
the expensive roadblocks facing trans
individuals born in Maryland in an eort
to update their birth certicates.
The Maryland House of Delegates
approved HB 862 by a 85-50 vote margin,
and the state Senate easily passed SB 743
by a 31-16 margin.
A reconciled bill would require Gov.
Larry Hogans signature to become law,
but SB 743 and HB 862 passed by vetoproof margins.
Under the decades-old standard
in current Maryland law, transgender
individuals must provide evidence to a
judge which indicates that they have had
surgery, and even then only providing
an amended document, says Jer Welter,
deputy director and managing attorney
for Free State Legal Project, which
championed the legislation.
The modern, generally accepted
medical standard of care recognizes
that for many transgender or intersex
persons, surgery is not medically
appropriate or necessary, added Welter.
This bill eliminates the arbitrary surgical
requirement under current law and
leaves decisions about what medical
treatment someone should undergo
where those decisions belong: between
patients and their doctors.
According to the Human Rights
Campaign, Even among those for whom
surgery is appropriate, many cannot
receive it because it is not covered by their
insurance, there may be no appropriate
providers, or they have a medical condition
that prevents them from undergoing these
medical procedures. Nationally, only 1 in
5 transgender people (21 percent) have
been able to update all their identication
documents and records, including birth
certicates, to reect their appropriate
name and gender.

Welter adds, This bill is critically
important to ensure that people born
in Maryland who are transgender or
have an intersex condition can have
birth certicates that are consistent with
their gender identity and their other
identication documents.
Mismatched birth certicates are a
recurrent problem for transgender and
intersex Marylanders, he says. For
instance, at the start of every new job, a
new employee has to present proof of
employment eligibility, typically a birth
certicate, for the federal I-9 form if
the gender marker on the persons birth
certicate does not match their gender
identity and their other identication
documents, they can face employment
discrimination or even physical danger
and, at best, a very awkward conversation
with a brand-new employer.
Carrie Evans, executive director of
Equality Maryland, applauded the passage
of the bills, noting that while last years
big win concerning non-discrimination
protections based on gender identity is
important, it is issues like this that help
ensure a person can live their authentic
life without undue complications and
diculties.
Evans states that the sponsors and
oor leaders of this bill state Sens.
Susan Lee (D-Montgomery County) and
Delores Kelley (D-Baltimore County) and
state Dels. David Moon (D-Montgomery
County) and Dan Morhaim (D-Baltimore
County) are all LGBT allies.
For many years, we have relied
heavily on the members of the General
Assemblys LGBT Caucus to be leaders on
LGBT-related bills and they have done a
incredible job and helped deliver some
huge victories, said Evans. However, it is
a measure of the Caucus hard work and
our progress as a movement that allies
are now front and center on our issues.
It is exciting that this bill and the in-vitro
fertilization bill pushed by Equality Maryland
had such high vote counts, said state Sen.
Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery) who cosponsored SB 743. Despite the other side
spending so much time to oppose the bill,
it held up. We had great oor leaders. Its
great to see a growing number of legislators
supporting issues that are most important
to the LGBT community.
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Archdiocese of Washington joins effort

to kill D.C. gay rights measure
Utah congressman considers
disapproval resolution
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
The
Catholic
Archdiocese
of
Washington signed on to a letter to
members of the U.S. Senate on March
20 calling for Congress to block a D.C.
bill that would protect LGBT students
from discrimination at religious schools
operating in the city.
The letter, which was signed, among
others, by Cardinal Donald Wuerl calls
the Human Rights Amendment Act
approved by the D.C. Council last year an
attack on religious freedom, freedom of
speech and freedom of association in the
nations capital.
The letter also calls on Congress to
kill another bill approved by the Council
and signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, the
Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination
Act. That measure would prohibit D.C.
employers from discriminating against

employees based on their personal
reproductive health choices, including a
decision to have an abortion.
D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton joined city ocials in
strongly disputing claims that the two
bills would infringe on religious freedoms
or freedom of speech.
The Archdiocese of Washington
oversees 139 Catholic parishes and 95
Catholic schools in D.C. and ve counties
in Maryland.
The Human Rights Amendment Act, by
removing conscience protections in the
law, would prevent religious educational
institutions from operating according to
the tenets of their own faith with regard
to human sexuality, the archdiocese said
in a statement.
Archdiocesan ocials joined other
mostly conservative faith-based groups
in speaking out on the two D.C. bills after
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and James
Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced separate
resolutions of disapproval calling for
killing the two bills.

The senators acted under a provision of
the D.C. Home Rule Act that allows Congress
to prevent a newly passed D.C. law from
taking eect if the Senate and House pass
by simple majority vote and the president
signs a disapproval resolution. Such a
resolution must be passed and signed by
the president within a 30 legislative day
period in which Congress must review all
D.C. approved legislation.
Both bills are currently pending before
Congress in the review process, which is
expected to end on April 17.
Under the Home Rule Act passed by
Congress, disapproval resolutions can
be discharged from a committee after
20 calendar days and cant be block by a
Senate libuster, according to an analysis
of the process conducted by Roll Call.
A disapproval resolution targeting
one or both of the two D.C. bills had not
been introduced in the House as of late
this week. But U.S. Rep. Jason Chaetz
(R-Utah), who chairs the House Oversight
and Government Reform Committee
that has oversight over D.C., told Roll

Call newspaper on March 20 that hes
considering introducing such a resolution.
We want to take some action in the
House too, Roll Call quoted him as
saying. Were still working on that.
The Human Rights Amendment
Act, as passed by the D.C. Council and
signed by Bowser, would repeal a 1989
law passed by Congress known as the
Armstrong Amendment. The amendment
changed the D.C. Human Rights
Act to exempt religious educational
institutions from a provision in the act
that bans discrimination based on sexual
orientation.
The Armstrong Amendment, which
remains part of the D.C. Human Rights Act,
allows religious schools such as Catholic
University to deny meeting space or other
privileges to student clubs or groups that
engage in promoting, encouraging, or
condoning any homosexual act, lifestyle,
orientation or belief.
Fatal NSA check point incident raises questions

Friends say driver of
SUV killed was trans
By LOU CHIBBARO JR
Two men dressed in womens clothing
were shot by guards, with one of them
killed, on Monday as they attempted to ram
through the gate of the top secret National
Security Agency at Fort Meade, Md.
The incident took place just before
noon at the NSA gate at Fort Meade.
NBC News reported that a guard later
identied as an NSA police ocer red at
those who were inside a Ford Escape as it
tried to enter the NSA compound.
The FBI said the ocer shot and killed
Ricky Shawatza Hall, 27 of Baltimore.
The other person who was in the SUV,
Kevin Fleming, 20, also of Baltimore, was
transported to the University of Maryland
Hospitals Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore
for a gunshot wound to the chest.
Neither the FBI, which is leading the
investigation into the incident, nor the
NSA would say whether Fleming was able
to speak to investigators about why Hall
reportedly disobeyed an order by a guard
to stop the vehicle at the checkpoint.
But law enforcement sources have told
news media outlets that it now appears

Hall may have made a wrong turn o the
Baltimore-Washington Parkway, where
the two were driving south towards
D.C., and panicked after realizing they
were being pursued by law enforcement
ocers.
Law enforcement sources said a gun
and a small quantity of cocaine were
found in the vehicle after the shooting.
There is no information being released
at this time regarding motive, the FBI said
in a statement on Tuesday. However, FBI
Baltimore does not believe this is related
to terrorism, the statement says.
The Howard County Police Department,
meanwhile, issued a statement saying
a 60-year-old Baltimore man contacted
them about 8:30 a.m. Monday to report
Hall and Fleming stole his SUV after the
two stayed with him for about an hour at
the Terrence Motel in Elkridge.
The statement says the man, who
police did not identify by name, met
Hall and Fleming the previous night in
Baltimore and hung out with them before
inviting them to join him at the motel. The
statement says he told police the three
checked in a room at the motel about
7:30 a.m. on Monday.
When he used the bathroom about
an hour later, he told police, Hall and
Fleming took his car keys and drove away

in his Ford Escape SUV.
We do not believe it is related to
terrorism, the FBIs Maryland Field Oce
said in a statement.
Friends: Hall was transgender

Halls friends told WBAL in Baltimore
the driver of the stolen SUV who was
killed during the incident identied as a
trans woman.
WBAL reported on Tuesday that
members of the trans community said
they knew Hall as Mya.
Those who spoke with the Baltimore
television station said Hall had been
homeless at the time of the Fort Meade
incident and was staying in an abandoned
apartment building in in the 2200 block of
Charles Street known as the Bando.
Its overwhelming to me, WBAL
quoted Jamia Leonard, one of Halls
friends, as saying. Its an eye-opener,
rst of all, because that could have been
anybody being in a situation like that, not
to say that jut anybody would steal a car,
but we could be in a bad situation and
not in a good head-space, she told the
TV news station.
Im sure they didnt leave their house
knowing that they wouldnt come home
that day or that that would be the end,

WBAL quoted her as saying.
Maryland court records available
online show that Hall had been arrested
in recent years on robbery, assault,
and prostitution-related charges. They
indicate that Fleming also has been
arrested on an assault-related charge.
Mara Keisling, executive director of
the National Center for Transgender
Equality, said she was troubled over the
news medias reference to the two people
involved in the NSA shooting incident as
men dressed in womens clothing.
Keisling said that, although she could
not be certain, the information emerging
presented a strong likelihood that the
two people were trans women and news
media outlets should not have referred to
them as men.
What the media should have been
doing and what you should have been
doing is referring to them as people
dressed in womens clothing, not men
dressed in womens clothing, Keisling
told the Washington Blade.
Its like every media outlet I know
blew it, she said. And it just shows how
much more education we have to do
apparently.
An FBI spokesperson said the
investigation into the incident is continuing.
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Victory Fund announces new president

WASHINGTON The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund last week announced that
Aisha Moodie-Mills will become the organizations next president.
Moodie-Mills, who launched the FIRE Initiative at the Center for American
Progress that examines the intersections of race and socio-economics, is the
rst woman and the rst LGBT person of color to lead the organization that
seeks to secure the election of out candidates in the U.S. and around the world.
She will succeed Chuck Wolfe who stepped down last year.
Moodie-Mills and her wife, Danielle Moodie-Mills, played a prominent role in
the eort to secure marriage rights for same-sex couples in D.C. The two women
have also supported SMYAL and other local LGBT advocacy groups.
They also run their weekly Politini podcast.
Im thrilled that Aisha will be the rst woman to lead Victory, said U.S. Sen.
Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in an e-mail that ocially announced Moodie-Mills
hire. More importantly, she will bring a smart, inclusive and experienced brand
of leadership to the job.
Moodie-Mills will take the helm of Victory Fund later this month.
Kill the gays ballot measure challenged

LOS ANGELES California Attorney General Kamala Harris on March 25
requested a court order to allow her to block a proposed ballot measure that
would make gay sex a crime punishable by death.
Matthew McLaughlin, an Orange County attorney, in late February paid $200
to Harris oce to cover the fee for setting in motion a ballot measure dubbed
the Sodomite Suppression Act under Californias initiative and referendum law.
The abominable crime against nature known as buggery, called also sodomy,
is a monstrous evil that Almighty God, given of freedom and liberty, commands
us to suppress on pain of our utter destruction even as he overthrew Sodom
and Gomorrah, McLaughlin states in his proposed law.
Seeing that it is better that oenders should die rather than that all of
us should be killed by Gods just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating
wickedness in our midst, the people of California wisely command, in the fear of
God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender
for purposes of sexual gratication be put to death by bullets to the head or by
any other convenient method, the proposed law states.
Although Harris and legal experts say the proposed initiative would violate the
California and U.S. Constitutions, the states controversial initiative and referendum
law appears to require that Harris provide an ocial title and summary of the
initiative to anyone submitting the proper paper work and ling fee.
This proposal not only threatens the public safety, it is patently
unconstitutional, utterly reprehensible, and has no place in a civil society, Harris
said in a statement.
Political observers say its highly unlikely that McLaughlin would be able to
obtain the required 365,880 signatures of registered voters within a period of
180 days to enable the initiative to be placed on the ballot.
Two members of the California Assembly have introduced a bill that would
raise the fee for ling a ballot measure from $200 to $8,000.
Blaze destroys Fire Island hotel

CHERRY GROVE, N.Y. A re destroyed a hotel and several adjacent structures
on New Yorks Fire Island on March 27.
The Fire Island News reported the re that completely engulfed the Grove
Hotel in Cherry Grove was rst reported around 1:30 a.m. Dozens of reghters
from the gay resort community and other re departments on Fire Island and
adjacent Long Island contained the blaze about ve hours later.
The Fire Island News reported the re destroyed the Grove Hotel and Holly
House, an adjacent structure with six small apartments in which the Fire Island
Artist Residency for aspiring LGBT artists was located. Craig Williams, assistant
chief of the Cherry Grove Fire Department, told Newsday the blaze also gutted
two vacant homes.
The Associated Press reported three reghters suered minor injuries while
ghting the re.
The re did not damage the Ice Palace, a nightclub attached to the Grove
Hotel where Liza Minnelli and Lady Gaga have performed in recent years.
Cherry Grove, which dates back to the late 1860s, is one of the countrys oldest
LGBT communities.
NATIONAL NEWS
Justice Department les lawsuit

alleging anti-trans employment bias
Professor claims Okla.
university denied her tenure
because of gender identity
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
The Obama administration this week
for the rst time has led a lawsuit
alleging an employer violated federal civil
rights law by engaging in anti-transgender
workplace discrimination.
The U.S. Justice Department on March
29 led the complaint with the U.S.
District Court for the Western District
of Oklahoma alleging Southeastern
Oklahoma State University and the
Regional University System of Oklahoma
discriminated and retaliated against
Rachel Tudor, a trans English professor,
based on her gender identity.
Following precedent established by
the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission in 2012 as a result of
the decision in Macy v. Holder, the
Justice Department maintains the
discrimination that Tudor allegedly faced
is illegal because it constitutes gender
discrimination under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.
Outgoing U.S. Attorney General Eric
Holder said in a statement the lawsuit
sends a clear message that we are
committed to eliminating discrimination
on the basis of sex and gender identity.
We will not allow unfair biases and
unjust prejudices to prevent transgender
Americans from reaching their full
potential as workers and as citizens,
Holder said. And we will continue to
work tirelessly, using every legal tool
available, to ensure that transgender
individuals are guaranteed the rights and
protections that all Americans deserve.
Holder in December announced the
Justice Department will support the idea
that gender protections under Title VII
applies to trans people seeking restitution
for workplace discrimination. Although
the Justice Department led a statement
of interest in a case alleging anti-trans
discrimination at Saks Fifth Avenue, it
hasnt formally led a lawsuit making that
claim until this time.
According to a statement, the Justice
Department initiated the lawsuit as
a result of a joint eort to enhance
collaboration between the EEOC and the
Justice Departments Civil Rights Division
for enforcement of Title VII.
Vanita Gupta, acting assistant attorney
general of the Justice Departments Civil Rights
Division, said her department is committed
to protecting the civil rights of all Americans,
including transgender Americans.
The U.S. Justice Department under Attorney

General ERIC HOLDER has led a lawsuit
against an Oklahoma university after a
professor claimed she was denied tenure
because she is transgender
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
Discrimination against employees

because of their gender identity, gender
transition, or because they do not conform
to stereotypical notions about how men
and women should act or appear violates
Title VII, Gupta said. Retaliating against an
employee for complaining about unlawful
discrimination, as happened in this case, is
also unacceptable under Title VII.
According to the complaint, Tudor
presented as a man in 2004 when
she began working for Southeastern
University as an assistant professor. She
didnt transition into a woman until 2007.
After performing in her job well for years,
she applied for a promotion to the tenured
position of associate professor in 2009.
Tudor had a meeting with Lucretia
Scoufos, dean of the Southeastern
University School of Arts and Sciences,
who indicated a bias against her.
Scoufos allegedly referred to Tudor
as he or him over the course of their
meeting despite her gender identity.
Tudor further alleges she felt another
faculty member was discriminating
against her and she would prefer if this
person wasnt on her review board, but
Scoufos took no action.
Southeastern
Universitys
administration
denied
Tudors
application, but refused to say why.
Tudor continued to press for explanation
and resubmitted her application, but the
result was no dierent.
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PEPCO AND EXELON:
Empowering
The District
We are a diverse collection of nonprofit and business groups that represent and serve the people of
the District of Columbia.
We believe the proposed merger of Pepco and Exelon will benefit the Districts residents, communities,
civic life and business environment.
If approved, this merger will create savings that will be passed on in customers utility bills, saving families
and businesses more of their hard-earned money every month. It means honoring and maintaining Pepcos
strong commitment to workforce-and supplier-diversity programs. It means more jobs for District workers.
Thats good for families, local businesses, and the Districts workforce.
It means millions of dollars more that could be used for programs such as bill credits, low-income
assistance and energy efficiency programs through a $33.75 million Customer Investment Fund. It also
means continued annual charitable contributions and local community support exceeding Pepcos
2013 level of $1.6 million for 10 years following the merger. And it means $168 million to $260 million
in economic benefits to the District. Thats good for communities and those most in need.
It also means enhanced reliability of our electric grid and additional resources to speed storm restoration.
It means a commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship. It means continued local presence and
local leadership. And it means millions of dollars more invested in our local economy. Thats good for all of us.
WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PEPCO AND EXELON MERGER.
OF GREA
GREATER W
WASHINGTON
LEARN MORE AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. VISIT WWW.PHITOMORROW.COM

PA I D FO R BY E X E LO N S H A R E H O L D E R S
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NATIONAL NEWS
Bonauto to argue before Supreme Court in marriage cases

States defending gay
nuptials bans urge justices
to uphold them
By CHRIS JOHNSON
The high-prole LGBT advocate and
attorney who successfully argued for samesex marriage in Massachusetts more than a
decade ago has been chosen to deliver oral
arguments in the gay nuptials cases before
the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a statement released on March
30, attorneys for the plainti same-sex
couple in the Michigan marriage case
announced that Mary Bonauto, civil rights
project director for Gay and Lesbian
Advocates and Defenders, would present
arguments to the court on why state
prohibitions on issuing marriage licenses
to same-sex couples are unconstitutional.
Oral arguments in the marriage cases
are set for April 28.
Im humbled to be standing up for the
petitioners from Kentucky and Michigan
who seek the freedom to marry, along
with the Michigan team of Carole Stanyar,
Dana Nessel, Ken Mogill, and Robert
Sedler, and with support from the other
legal teams, Bonauto said. The road that
MARY BONAUTO will argue before the U.S.

Supreme Court on April 28 on behalf of
gays and lesbians from four states who are
seeking marriage rights.
weve all travelled to get here has been

built by so many people who believe that
marriage is a fundamental right. Samesex couples should not be excluded
from the joy, the security, and the full
citizenship signied by that institution.
I believe the court will give us a fair
hearing, and I look forward to the day

when all LGBT Americans will be able to
marry the person they love.
Bonauto is credited with convincing the
Massachusetts Supreme Court in 2003 to
rule in favor of same-sex marriage in the
Goodridge v. Department of Health case,
making the state the rst jurisdiction
in the country to legalize same-sex
marriage. Bonauto also assisted with the
litigation against the Defense of Marriage
Act and presented oral arguments before
the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
against Section 3 of that law.
Dana Nessel, a private attorney and
co-counsel for the plainti couple in
the Michigan marriage case, said shes
pleased with the designation of Bonauto
as oralist for the arguments.
April and Jaynes family, and tens
of thousands of families like theirs in
Michigan, will be represented by a dynamic
litigator who has a history of ghting and
winning LGBT rights cases in states and
districts across the country, said Nessel,
referring to the plainti couples in the
lawsuit. We are very pleased that an
attorney representing the DeBoer-Rowse
family will be addressing the issue of
marriage equality for what we hope will be
the last time in our nations history.
Set to join Bonauto in arguing before the
U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of plainti

couples is Douglas Hallward-Driemeier,
a partner at the multinational law rm
of Ropes and Gray. While Bonauto will
address the issue of licensing for same-sex
couples, Hallward-Driemeier will address
the courts question about whether the U.S.
Constitution requires states to recognize
out-of-state same-sex marriages.
States urge justices to

uphold marriage bans
State defendants last week made their

formal case before the U.S. Supreme
Court on why the justices should uphold
their prohibitions on gay nuptials.
Each of the four states within 6th
Circuit Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and
Tennessee on March 27 led briefs
in the aftermath of lings calling for a
nationwide decision in favor of marriage
equality.
In a 56-page brief, attorneys for
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat
whos defending his states marriage ban
in court, argues the law should survive a
challenge in court because only oppositesex marriages further the government
interest of procreation.
11 Senate Republicans back benets for same-sex couples

Lawmakers by 57-43 vote
margin backed amendment
as part of upcoming budget
By CHRIS JOHNSON
Amid a series of amendments to
the upcoming budget for the federal
government, the Republican-controlled
U.S. Senate on March 26 approved a
measure that would allow married samesex couples to have access to major
spousal benets.
The amendment, introduced by Sen.
Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), would establish
a decit-neutral reserve fund aimed
at ensuring married same-sex couples
even those living in states that dont
recognize their unions have access to
the Social Security and veterans benets.
The measure wouldnt in and of itself
extend these benets to same-sex
couples in non-marriage equality states,
but it would set up a reserve fund in
anticipation of a change either through
the legislation, an administrative change
or the courts.
Even though the U.S. Supreme Court

has ruled against the Defense of Marriage
Act, the Obama administration has
determined it cant aord Social Security
and veterans benets to married samesex couples in states without marriage
equality. Federal code for these benets
looks to the state of residence, not
the state of celebration, to determine
whether a couple is married.
For Social Security benets, passage of
the Social Security and Marriage Equality
Act, introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.)
and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), would
address the issue. For veterans benets,
passage of the Charlie Morgan Act,
introduced by Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.)
and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), would
address the issue.
Whats notable about passage of the
amendment, which was approved by
a 57-43 vote, is that 11 Republicans
including those on the record opposing
same-sex marriage joined Democrats
in voicing support for attaching it to the
budget for scal year 2016.
Schatz, who was joined in introducing
the amendment by Murray and Shaheen,
talked about the signicance of the vote
in a statement on Thursday.
Gay couples legally married in any state

should be entitled to veterans and Social
Security benets identical to any other
married couples, Schatz said. Tonight,
11 Republicans joined Democrats in
recognizing that gay couples deserve
equal treatment, regardless of where
they live. We still have work to do to, but
this is progress and a win for equal rights.
I thank Sen. Murray and Sen. Shaheen for
their leadership on this important issue.
The 11 Republicans who voted for
the amendment were Sens. Kelly Ayotte
(R-N.H.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Shelley
Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins
(R-Maine), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Dean
Heller (R-Nev.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mark
Kirk (R-Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob
Portman (R-Ohio) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
Of these senators, only four Collins,
Kirk, Murkowski and Portman are
on the record in support for marriage
equality (although only Collins and Kirk
signed a friend-of-the-court brief urging
the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down
bans on same-sex marriage).
The presence of Tillis among these
senators is particularly notable because
he sought in his previous capacity as
speaker of the North Carolina House of
Representatives to defend his states ban

on same-sex marriage in the courts.
Gregory Angelo, executive director
for National Log Cabin Republicans, said
the vote demonstrates growing support
among Republicans for LGBT rights.
Common-sense
conservatives
are
emerging in ever-greater numbers who
understand that committed same-sex
couples merely want to live their lives
in quiet dignity, Angelo said. Shrewd
Republicans in the United States Senate
and across the country see the writing on
the wall on the marriage equality issue, and
are striking a respectful if not outright
accepting tone with the realization that
gay families are now a permanent part of
the fabric of our nation.
Shaheen in a statement talked
about the signicant of approval of the
amendment in terms of ensuring samesex couples have parity with opposite-sex
couples for veterans benets.
No one who has served in uniform or
their family should be denied veterans
benets theyve earned because of whom
they love or where they live, she said.
The Senates support for ending this
discriminatory policy is an encouraging
step toward righting this wrong.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
NATIONAL NEWS
A P RI L 0 3 , 2 0 1 5 1 1
Ark. governor seeks revision of religious freedom bill

Walmart CEO urged
governor to veto measure
By CHRIS JOHNSON
As the outcry continues over Indianas
religious freedom law, Arkansas Gov. Asa
Hutchinson on Wednesday announced
hes calling on his states legislature
to revise a version of the proposal it
approved in order to mirror existing
federal law.
Hutchinson said during a press
conference at his Little Rock oce that
he wants Arkansas lawmakers to recall
the measure, House Bill 1228, so that
its more along the lines of the federal
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
and not a potential tool for anti-LGBT
discrimination.
This conversation does not end,
Hutchinson said. Ive expressed my view
to the legislature. It is up for them to
respond to the request of the governor
that changes be made in the current bill
to make it reect the federal law that I
think sets the right tone for Arkansas.
The measure was approved by the
Arkansas House of Representatives on
Tuesday by a 67-21 vote margin, sending
the measure to Hutchinsons desk. The
Arkansas Senate last week passed the
measure by a 24-7 vote margin.
Noting the divisiveness of the
Gov. ASA HUTCHINSON on Wednesday

spoke about his states controversial
religious freedom bill during a Little Rock
press conference
legislation, Hutchinson said his son Seth

was among those who signed a petition
urging his father to veto it.
The governor said his son allowed him
to mention his name during the news
conference.
Moreover, Hutchinson said hes

looking at an executive order against
discrimination to make clear Arkansas
wants to be a place of tolerance and
has the right balance between religious
protections, religious freedom and nondiscrimination.
The governor also referenced a ballot
measure recently approved by Arkansas
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge that, if
enough signatures are gathered, would
place before voters a proposal to enact
statewide non-discrimination protections
on the basis of sexual orientation and
gender identity.
Hutchinson said when asked why he
was making these comments at this time
that hes previously, and publicly, voiced
concerns about the legislation even
before it has reached his desk.
Its a balancing test, Hutchinson
said. The bill itself does not pick winners
and losers. It balances two competing
constitutional obligations that our
Founding Fathers gave to us, but the issue
has become divisive because our nation
remains split on how to balance the
diversity of our culture with the traditions
and rmly held religious convictions.
Arkansas House Speaker Jeremy Gillam
and Acting Arkansas Senate President
Tim Grin seemed amenable to making
the changes requested by the governor
as they spoke alongside him at the press
conference.
The bill as it stands doesnt explicitly
mention sexual orientation or gender

identity, but it is seen as a thinly
veiled endorsement of discrimination
against LGBT people in Arkansas. It
would prohibit state government from
burdening an individuals free exercise
of religion, including for the purpose of
denying services or employment to an
LGBT person.
Supporters of the bill say their intent
is to protect religious liberty and it is
similar to laws in other states and the
federal Religious Freedom Restoration
Act. But the Arkansas bill, much like the
Indiana law, allows a business or an
organization to have a religious belief,
not just individuals, and allows for an
exemption in lawsuits when the opposing
party is not just the government, but
workers, tenants and customers who
allege discrimination.
In addition to LGBT advocates,
Hutchinson
was
under
signicant
pressure from the business community
to veto HB 1228.
PayPal, Arm, Yelp and Yahoo have
condemned HB 1228 along with top
executives at Acxiom, one of Arkansas
largest employers.
Doug McMillon, chief executive ocer
of Walmart, which is headquartered
in Bentonville, Ark., and is the largest
employer in the state, also called for
Hutchinson to veto the bill.
Judge blocks new family leave rule for gay couples

Texas attorney general
led lawsuit against
Obama administration
By CHRIS JOHNSON
A federal judge last week temporarily
blocked the Obama administration from
implementing a new rule to ensure
married same-sex couples have access to
the Family and Medical Leave Act even if
they live in non-marriage equality states.
In a 24-page decision, U.S. District
Judge Reed OConnor, an appointee of
George W. Bush, on March 26 issued the
preliminary injunction based on what he
concluded was the threat of irreparable
harm to Texas, which led the lawsuit
against the regulation.
The court concludes that all of the
plainti states have met their burden
of alleging that the nal rule will require
the states to violate their own laws,
OConnor writes. Moreover, as the nal

rule is scheduled to take eect on March
27, 2015, plaintis allege a suciently
immediate threat of harm.
The judge cites Texas constitutional
amendment that bans same-sex marriage
as a reason for why a preliminary
injunction placing the rule on hold is
appropriate as litigation continues.
Although numerous judges have
interpreted the U.S. Supreme Courts
ruling against the Defense of Marriage Act
as a precedent for striking down bans on
same-sex marriage, OConnor writes the
ruling and the Full Faith and Credit Statute
of DOMA which remains standing
prohibit the Obama administration from
aording FMLA benets in non-marriage
equality states.
The Full Faith and Credit Statute arms
Congress intention to reserve the power
to dene marriage and accompanying
rights and benets to the states, and
Windsor cabins Congress authority to
aggrandize that power, OConnor writes.
Congress could not have delegated to the
(Labor) Department the power to dene

marriage in a way as to override the laws
of states prohibiting same-sex marriages.
The new rule, made nal by the Labor
Department in February in the aftermath
of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against
DOMA, changes the regulatory framework
under FMLA to ensure these benets are
available to married same-sex couples
regardless of their state of residence. The
change was set to take eect on March
27, the day after OConnor issued his
preliminary injunction.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton,
who led litigation seeking to block the
change, celebrated the courts hold on
the regulatory change.
The Obama administrations attempt
to force employers to recognize same-sex
marriages would have put state agencies
in the position of either violating Texas
law or federal regulations, Paxton said
in a statement. We are pleased that the
Department of Labors eort to override
our laws via federal rulemaking has been
halted, and we will continue to defend
our sovereignty in this case.

Arkansas, Louisiana and Nebraska
joined Texas lawsuit in an amended
complaint. Each are states where at
least one court has struck down samesex marriage bans, although gays and
lesbians are unable to marry in those
jurisdictions because of stays on the
rulings pending appeal.
Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the
Human Rights Campaign, said the court
order demonstrates the need for a ruling
from the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of
marriage equality nationwide.
No legally married same-sex couple
should be denied family leave simply
because they happen to live in a state that
fails to respect their marriage, Warbelow
said. Because of Judge OConnors
decision, countless legally married samesex couples in Texas are now unable to
access to their federal FMLA benets.
With a pending Supreme Court decision
on nationwide marriage equality this
summer, we are condent that justice will
ultimately prevail.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
1 2 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
I N T E RN A T I O N A L N E W S
Volunteer for HIV/AIDS group dies in plane crash

Greig Friday was
among passengers on
Germanwings Flight 9525
A man who volunteered for an
Australian HIV/AIDS service organization
is among those who were onboard
Germanwings Flight 9525 that crashed
into a mountain in the southern French
Alps on March 24.
The Star Observer, an Australian LGBT
newspaper, reported that Greig Friday, a
volunteer for the Victorian AIDS Council in
Melbourne, and his mother, Carol Friday,
were onboard the ight that was to have
own from Barcelona to Dusseldorf.
The newspaper reported that Greig
Friday, 29, began volunteering with the
Victorian AIDS Council in 2007 after
completing its Young and Gay Peer

Education Workshop.
The Star Observer said the organization
noted Greig was instrumental in the
success of the workshop, providing
assistance and guidance to many young
people to overcome homophobia and
celebrate their sexual identity. Greig
Friday was also among those who helped
launch a support group for those who
completed the Young and Gay Peer
Education Workshop.
Today we honor Greigs contributions
to VAC and the positive impact he has
made on the lives of several young gay
men in our community, Victorian AIDS
Council Chief Executive Simon Roth told
the Star Observer.
Published reports also indicate that
Greig Friday was a member of the Gay and
Lesbian Engineers and other LGBT groups.
Greig Friday and his mother were
among the 150 passengers and crew
members who were on Flight 9525 that

crashed into a mountain near Digne-lesBains, France, less than an hour after it
took o from Barcelona.
Investigators believe that Andreas
Lubitz, the 27-year-old co-pilot who was
reportedly suering from depression,
deliberately crashed Flight 9525.
Former International AIDS Society
President Joep Lange and ve other HIV/
AIDS researchers and advocates were
among the 283 passengers and 15 crew
members who were on Malaysian Airlines
Flight 17 that pro-Russian apparently shot
down over eastern Ukraine last July.
Lange and his partner, Jacqueline van
Tongeren, along with Glenn Thomas
of the World Health Organization, Pim
de Kuijer of Stop AIDS Now, Martine de
Schutter of Bridging the Gaps and Lucie
van Mens were all traveling to the 2014
International AIDS Conference that took
place in Melbourne.
GREIG FRIDAY
PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK
LGBT advocates disrupt Jamaican prime ministers speech

President Obama to
travel to island on April 9
LGBT rights advocates on March 26
interrupted Jamaican Prime Minister
Portia
Simpson-Millers
speech
to
members of her countrys diaspora who
were meeting in New York.
Members of Jamaica Anti-Homophobia
Stand, a group that advocates for LGBT
Jamaicans, interrupted Simpson-Miller
as she spoke at St. Georges Episcopal
Church in Manhattan.
The advocates challenged the Jamaican
prime minister over what they perceive as
her governments insucient response to
rampant anti-LGBT violence on the island
that continues to make headlines around
the world. This includes the release of a
video earlier this month that reportedly
shows a gay teenager being stoned to
death in a street.
The Jamaica-Gleaner, a Jamaican
newspaper, reported that Simpson-Miller
challenged the protesters from the podium.
Nobody ever hears the government
of Jamaica beating up gays; not one,
she said. Let me tell you something;
you want to disturb, you can disturb, but
this woman came here with the blood of
Nanny of the Maroons and the spirit of
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, and this woman is
not afraid of no man, nowhere, anywhere.
And I will speak the truth everywhere.
A video of the confrontation that
Jamaican Prime Minister PORTIA SIMPSONMILLER
Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand posted

to its Facebook page shows SimpsonMiller leaving the podium and the stage
from where she was speaking.
Members of the advocacy group also
confronted her outside the church.
They chanted Gay rights Portia. Protect
Jamaicas gays as she entered the building.
We pretty much interrupted her
speech, Michael Forbes, a member of
Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand told
the Washington Blade in a follow-up
telephone interview.
Forbes who claims he was
handcued and beaten inside a police
station in St. Ann on the islands northern
coast dismissed the prime ministers
decision to challenge the protesters

before she left the stage.
She was quite disturbed that we said
something, Forbes told the Blade. She
didnt nish her speech.
A report from the Jamaica Forum for
Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays, a Jamaican
LGBT advocacy group, notes at least 30
gay men have been murdered on the
Caribbean island between 1997 and
2004. These include J-FLAG co-founder
Brian Williamson who was stabbed to
death inside his home in Kingston, the
Jamaican capital, in 2004.
The murder of Dwayne Jones, a crossdressing teenager, outside the resort
city of Montego Bay in July 2013 sparked
global outrage.
Jamaica is among the English-speaking
countries in the Caribbean in which
consensual same-sex sexual acts remain
criminalized.
Simpson-Miller said shortly before her
2011 election that her government would
review the countrys anti-sodomy law.
A so-called conscience vote that would
allow parliamentarians to consult with
their constituents on the issue has yet to
take place.
Javed Jaghai, a gay rights advocate who
challenged the sodomy law in the Jamaica
Supreme Court, last August withdrew his
lawsuit because of what he described as
concerns over his personal safety and
that of his family.
Mat Staver, chair of the Liberty Counsel,
and Dr. Judith Reisman, who publicly
challenges Alfred Kinseys research on
sexuality, last December spoke at a
Kingston conference that groups opposed

to repealing the countrys sodomy law
organized. Americans for the Truth
About Homosexuality President Peter
LaBarbera and Piero Tozzi of the Alliance
Defending Freedom are among the other
anti-LGBT advocates from the U.S. who
have traveled to Jamaica in recent years.
Obama to meet with

Simpson-Miller next month
President Obama is scheduled to travel

to Jamaica on April 9.
He is slated to co-chair a meeting of
CARICOM heads of states in Jamaica
alongside Bahamian Prime Minister Perry
Christie, who chairs the Caribbean trade
bloc. The president will also hold what
a press release described as bilateral
discussions on a range of issues of
mutual interest with Simpson-Miller
before they and other CARICOM heads of
state travel to Panama for the Summit of
the Americas.
We view the presidents upcoming
visit as an armation of the strong ties
of friendship and cooperation that have
united our two peoples for centuries,
said the Jamaican government in a
press release. We are condent that
through fruitful dialogue and exchanges
during the visit we will succeed in further
strengthening the close relations that
exist at the bilateral level between
Jamaica and the USA, and between the
USA and CARICOM.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
L O CA L NEW S
A P RI L 0 3 , 2 0 1 5 1 3
Backlash swift for anti-gay Indiana law

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
and religion are important values

to millions of Hoosiers and with the
passage of this legislation, we ensure
that Indiana will continue to be a place
where we respect freedom of religion
and make certain that government
action will always be subject to the
highest level of scrutiny that respects
the religious beliefs of every Hoosier of
every faith.
Law sparks national outcry,

calls to boycott state
LGBT rights groups immediately
blasted Pence for signing SB 101.
This is a sad day for Indiana, said Katie
Blair, campaign manager for Freedom
Indiana, a group that campaigned against
the measure.
Jennifer Pizer, national director of
Lambda Legals Law and Policy Project,
in a statement said SB 101 will facilitate
discrimination in many areas of life for
Indiana families.
Former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, who is a likely 2016 Democratic
presidential candidate, and Republican
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard are

among those who also criticized Pence
over his decision to sign SB 101.
The signing of this bill doesnt seem
like its a step in the direction of equality
and justice and liberty for all Americans,
said White House Press Secretary Josh
Earnest on March 27 during his daily
press brieng.
The mens nals of the NCAA
Tournament are slated to take place in
Indianapolis between April 4-6.
We are especially concerned about
how this legislation could aect our
student-athletes and employees, said
NCAA President Mark Emmert in a
statement after Pence signed SB 101.
Moving forward, we intend to closely
examine the implications of this bill and
how it might aect future events as well
as our workforce.
Angies List CEO Bill Oesterle on
March 28 announced his company
has withdrawn its plans to expand its
Indianapolis
headquarters
because
Pence signed SB 101.
Organizers of the AFSCME Womens
Conference have announced their
annual gathering that was scheduled
Gay Republican eyes seat

Election would be
game-changer
Kefalas, 35, came out to his family and
friends in 2010. He publicly discussed
his sexual orientation for the rst time
the following year when he testied
in support of a same-sex marriage bill
that was before a Maryland Senate
subcommittee.
Kefalas would become the rst openly
gay Republican elected to either house
of Congress if he were to win the 2016
general election.
It would be a game-changer, Kefalas
told the Blade.
Kefalas further noted the impact he
feels the openly gay members of the
Maryland General Assembly had in
securing passage of the states samesex marriage bill in 2012 and ensuring
it passed during the subsequent
referendum on it.
To know someone is to understand
them, said Kefalas in response to the
Blades question about the history he
would make if voters elected him to the
U.S. Senate. It would go a long way in
shaping where Republicans are on the
issue of equal rights for all if a member

of their party is a colleague like me.
It will mean a lot for the party if there
is a Republican who is willing to be what
I think is a consistent conservative in
the original way: Economic opportunity,
limited government, personal freedom,
equal rights, he added. If theres a
Republican in the U.S. Senate whos
ghting for those ideals, I think that also is
a game-changer in where this Republican
Party can take this nation.
Kefalas told the Blade he would
champion the Employment NonDiscrimination Act and other LGBTspecic measures if elected to the
U.S. Senate. He also spoke out against
Indianas controversial religious freedom
law that critics contend allows business
owners to discriminate against gays and
lesbians.
Clearly this legislation is motivated by
animus that seeks to divide and seeks to
hurt people, said Kefalas.
Kefalas said Republican Gov. Larry
Hogan has done a great job during his
rst two months as governor.
to take place in Indiana in October

will now take place in another state.
Gen Con, which is the worlds largest
gaming convention, has threatened to
no longer hold its annual gathering in
Indianapolis if Pence were to sign SB
101.
Marc Benio, chief executive ocer
of Salesforce, a San Francisco-based
technology company, announced after

Pence signed the controversial law that
his corporation is cancelling all required
travel to Indiana.
The mayors of San Francisco and
Seattle and the governors of Connecticut
and New York have followed suit.
Bowser bans D.C. government

travel to Indiana
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Tuesday issued an executive order banning the
use of city funds for travel to Indiana in response to the states approval of the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
To ensure a constant voice in policy and practice in the District of Columbia
in favor of equal treatment for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender community, no ocer or employee of the District of Columbia is
authorized to approve any ocial travel to Indiana, Bowsers order states.
It goes on to say that the travel ban for Indiana would remain in eect
until such time that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is permanently
enjoined, repealed or claried to forbid any construction that would deny public
accommodations to persons based on their sexuality or gender identity.
Bowsers action follows similar executive orders issued by the mayors of
Seattle and San Francisco and the governors of Connecticut and New York.
I think the mayor is completely correct in doing this, said Earl Fowlkes,
executive director of the national LGBT advocacy group Center for Black Justice
and president of the citys Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.
I think its important that the rest of the United States sends a clear message
to Indiana that state sanctioned discrimination is immoral and illegal, Fowlkes
said.
Fred Sainz, vice president of communications for the Human Rights Campaign,
called Bowsers executive order a principled stand on behalf of equality and
justice, and were grateful.
The chorus of voices grows and with every passing moment becomes
something that Governor Pence and Indiana legislators cant ignore, Sainz told
the Washington Blade.
Bowsers executive order came one day after D.C. City Council member David
Grosso (I-At-Large) released a statement urging the mayor to issue such an
order.
Our government should not support any jurisdiction that displays such
bigotry, and the mayor should ban all publicly nanced travel to Indiana and
stand rmly without LGBTQ public servants and residents, he said.
In a development that one high-level Bowser administration ocial said
appeared to be purely coincidental, news has surfaced that D.C.s rst elected
attorney general, Karl Racine, was in Indiana this week attending a national
conference of state attorneys general.
Rob Marus, a spokesperson for Racine, told the Blade on Tuesday that Racine
chose to hold to a commitment he made two months ago to speak at the
National Association of Attorneys General conference that took place this week
in Indianapolis.
While in Indiana, I learned of the mayors executive order and calls for
boycotting travel to the state, said Racine in a statement his oce later
released. I have a deep personal commitment to equal rights for all people,
including rm and longtime support for the LGBT community.
Keep your promise to protect each other.
Wills & Trusts

Powers of Attorney Living Wills
Partnership & Prenuptial Agreements
(240) 778-2330 (703) 536-0220

www.PartnerPlanning.com
Serving the LGBT Community

in DC/MD/VA since 1983
Lawrence S. Jacobs/McMillan Metro, PC
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
14 A PR IL 03, 2015
PAUL LILLER has big plans for the Baltimore Center.

PHOTO BY STEVE CHARING
New development coordinator

also planning Pride
By STEVE CHARING
Paul Liller, the 2015 Pride coordinator,

and now the new development
coordinator for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
and Transgender Community Center of
Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB),
is quite busy.
SCIATICA, ARTHRITIS,
We have an ambitious schedule
FIBROMYALGIA RELIEF
for 2015, and its my job to help make
it successful, he says. Lillers new
ATTORNEY AT LAW
responsibilities include all aspects of Pride,
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
GLCCB fundraising, donor interactions, all
FOR 33 YEARS
events, grants implementation, outreach
Try
for Yourself!
and much more.
PERSONAL INJURY PROBATE
Liller says that after considerable eort
WILLS/ POAs CIVIL LITIGATION
Come experience Svaroopa Yogas
CONSERVATORSHIPS GUARDIANSHIPS
and negotiations, Pride will return to the
deceptively easy poses that provide
Eager Street and Charles Street locale
deep & lasting changes in your body
on July 25 where it had been a popular
CLASSES held Weds. & Thurs. at 10am
two-day celebration and a vital source
301-946-1517
of revenue for the GLCCB throughout its
2141 P STREET NW SUITE 103
Located in Allay Yoga, 10419 Armory Ave., Kensington, Md
history. The more laid-back Sunday Druid
WASHINGTON DC 20037
Hill Park event is scheduled for July 26.
E-MAIL steveweinbergdc@aol.com
Liller, 32, is enthusiastic, condent and
LICENSED IN DC, MD AND VA
driven to make Pride, as well as the centers
bliss3630@hotmail.com
other programs, a success. Liller and the
A D V E R T I GLCCB
S I N G have
PRO
F an ambitious agenda
setOout
ISSUE DATE: 10.26.12
SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS (bpitts@washblade.com)
that in itself would be daunting even
without his being the maestro for Pride.
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headquartered. On April 17, there will be
hydrotherapy and stress reduction techniques
a kicko party for youth programs and a
for people who are anxious or depressed,
media rollout to explain the Centers new
testing & treatment plans.
responsibility in communicating about
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP.
There will be a casino night at Grand
Center for Natural Healing, Inc.
Central on April 18 to benet Pride. On
Naturopathic and Homeopathic Physicians
ANDROMEDA
May 2, the Voice of Pride will take place
4601 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 6
1400 Decatur St. NW
Washington, DC 20008 202 244 4545
at Steampunk Alley. The Hunks in Trunks
Washington, DC 20011
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fundraiser will occur on May 13. And for
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history bus, the LGBT Archives Exhibit
Steve Weinberg
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opening reception is scheduled for May 15.

Following Pride, the GLCCB will celebrate
LGBT History Month with Oktoberfest the
rst week, Black Pride, Hearts and Ears,
and Chase Brexton will be joining the
GLCCB for events the remainder of the
month. And on Halloween, the Center will
hold its Outrageous gala.
Prime Timers to screen Pride

Prime Timers of Baltimore will screen
the lm Pride at its general meeting on
April 12. It will take place at 6 p.m. at St.
Marks Lutheran Church at St. Paul and
20th Streets.
The BBC-produced lm, directed
by Matthew Warchus and written by
Stephen Beresford, is based on a true
story and depicts a group of lesbian and
gay activists who raised money to help
families aected by the British miners
strike in 1984, at the outset of what would
become the Lesbians and Gays Support
the Miners campaign.
The National Union of Mineworkers was
reluctant to accept the groups support
due to the unions public relations
worries about being openly associated
with a gay group, so the activists instead
decided to take their donations directly to
Onllwyn, a small mining village in Wales,
resulting in an alliance between the two
communities. The alliance was unlike any
seen before but was successful
Following the screening, there will
be discussion of the role of the LGBT
community and other oppressed persons.
This lm challenges us to not think of
our issues in isolation of the rights of
the whole of society, says Ralph Welsh,
president of Prime Timers of Baltimore.
Prime Timers of Baltimore is a chapter
of Prime Timers World Wide, a group of
older gay or bisexual men (and younger
men who admire mature men).
For further information, call 410-2527239, or contact Prime Timers at info@
ptbalto.org.
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16 A PR IL 03, 2015
H E A LT H N E W S
Teen boys report homophobic tendencies

SYDNEY, Australia Homophobic attitudes are more common in teen boys
than in the general public, according to a new Australian study reported on by
the Sydney Morning Herald and many other outlets.
A third of boys ages 14-17 would not welcome a gay person in their peer
group, one in ve boys said theyd nd it dicult to deal with a gay person and
three quarters of participants said they have no issue using the word gay to
describe something unpleasant, the beyondblue study found.
According to Georgie Harman, chief executive of beyondblue, young people
facing discrimination can experience serious mental health issues. The ndings
have proven to be concerning because LGBT people are already three to six
times more likely to be distressed than their straight peers. If we want to reduce
their distress, we must reduce the discrimination they face, the Herald quoted
her as having said.
The report on homophobic tendencies has prompted beyondblue to raise
awareness and put an end to LGBT discrimination, particularly in teenage boys.
They have launched a video to promote the message.
Trans Aussies report high levels of distress

SYDNEY, Australia In other news from Down Under, an analysis of Australias
LGBT residents ndspsychological distress is highest among those whove
transitioned gender, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Based on a national survey of nearly 4,000 people, the report A Closer Look at
Private Lives 2 also found LGBT drug use is higher than among straight residents
with about 9 percent of LGBT participants reporting methamphetamine use in
the past year compared with 2 percent of the general population, the article
said.
The initial La Trobe University survey was undertaken in 2012 and funded
by mental health advocate beyond blue and Movember, a mens health
organization. The new report, released this week by Victorian Mental Minister
Martin Foley, focuses on mental health and drug use.
Economic status was a strong indicator of mental health problems. If a person
was employed it made them more resilient, the report found.
On a positive note, rates of psychological distress generally decreased as
people get older, researchers found.
The report found LGBT people felt less distress if they took part in community
events where they felt they could be themselves, whether the events were LGBT
or mainstream.
Ethics panel advises French blood ban to stay
A SPECIAL ISSUE
DEDICATED
LGBT TO YOUTH
PARIS Frances National Consultative Ethics Committee this week advised

the government to maintain its current ban on men who have sex with men
giving blood, the Local France reports.
The committee said in a statement that further research was needed before
considering lifting the ban, adding that changing the law now could expose
people to medical risks which should be taken into consideration from an ethical
point of view.
Giving blood is not a right. What matters most is the health and the protection
of the receiver, said Jean-Claude Ameisen, president of the committee, as
quoted in the Local.
Their report said that there were still scientic uncertainties on the risks
of using blood from homosexual men, adding that there was also a lack of
information for the gay community to help them understand if they are at risk.
The issue has been raised again as part of Health Minister Marisol Touraines
new health reform package, which called for a review of the blood donation
process for the gay community in France.
Men in France who acknowledge in a mandatory pre-donation interview ever
having sex with another man are automatically and permanently banned from
giving blood. The ban stems from a 1983 law based on statistics that showed
there was a prevalence of the HIV virus among homosexuals and the fact that
the virus is not always picked up if blood tests take place immediately after
transmission.
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C O A CH G
A PR IL 03, 2015 17
Drinking smart?
You can cut calories and
pace yourself by taking
these precautions
Hey D.C., is it true? Has spring
really sprung? I think so and Im
GERARD BURLEY is a D.C.-based personal
thinking positive thoughts that the
trainer. Reach him via @CoachGFit or coachg@
snow is gone for good.
coachgtness.com.
With the spring coming in full
force we tend to get a little more social, hit a few more parties and all in all
have a lot more drinks. Though we all know too much alcohol can ruin our
diets, it doesnt have to. My new clients always ask me if they are still allowed
to drink and to their surprised little faces I tell them yes, but with a few of my
Coach G stipulations of course! Here are three tips to keep you on track with
your nutrition goals and still be the life of the party.
Shots, Shots, Shots: OK, I had to start with this one because its the one
weve all done, but maybe never thought of it as a way to be healthier, just
drunker. Drinking alcohol in shot form is an eective way to limit the excess
calories, carbs and sugars in many drinks. I suggest you open it up, throw it
back and then drink water throughout the night. You can also drink your shot
the slower way by taking the shot and sipping it over the night. But, like most
things, there are pros and cons. I say that this method is for my more selfcontrolled friends. If you can take a couple shots over the course of a night
without being tempted for more, then this is for you. Its really important that
you know yourself. If youre the kind to not stop at one or two, then please
see the next method.
The power of soda: My favorite trick to having a healthier drink is replacing
the mixer with soda water. This is great for a few amazing reasons. First, the
soda water is calorie- and sugar-free, so you can eliminate hundreds of calories
per drink just by switching out your normal mixer with soda water. Second,
the water part of soda water actually helps you to stay hydrated throughout
your party helping you to avoid hangovers from dehydration. We all seem to
forget that one-drink-of-water-for-every-cocktail rule, so this is a good way to
sneak that in. Third, and for some people most importantly, the bubbles in the
carbonation actually help to push the alcohol into your system a little quicker.
In other words you will denitely feel your buzz faster than in your normal
drinks. Now one thing I have to be really clear about is this: soda water is
not Sprite, its not tonic, its merely carbonated water. You wouldnt believe
how many people think they are drinking a healthier drink by having a vodka
tonic, when in actuality, tonic water still has 32 grams of sugar per serving.
If the soda water alone doesnt do it for you, try adding in just a splash of
your favorite fruit juice or mixer. This way you get some of the avor that you
missed, without all the calories.
Rened with wine: Ill start by saying Im not a big wine drinker and if you take
me to a tasting, Ill probably say that they all taste like Malbec because thats all I
drink. I know, I know, Im a work in progress, but I will say that if Im at an event
and Im trying to watch how much alcohol and calories Im going to take in, wine
is many times my go to. Though most wines range from 100-140 calories per ve
ounce serving, the great thing is that the culture of wine drinking is to slowly sip
it over time. If youre out drinking wine and gulping it down, youll look a little
out of place. This cultural connection to wine makes it a healthy choice because
people tend to have less glasses of wine over a night than they would if they
were drinking mixed drinks. As always I suggest a glass of water between each
glass of wine to cut down on how much you drink over time, but if you dont get
this in, its not the end of the world.
The mixers in many drinks can be the worst part of any alcoholic beverage
in regards to extra calories and sugars. By making a few adjustments to your
normal cocktail routine, you can still enjoy the party, but avoid those post-party
pounds. Remember that the little nutrition decisions you make today will make
a big dierence in your waistline this summer.
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
1 8 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
OU R B U S IN E S S MA T T E RS
VOLUME
46
ISSUE
14
ADDRESS
Business battles bigotry

in the Hoosier heartland
Indiana governor roils state,
derails political career
opposing gay rights
MARK LEE is a long-time entrepreneur

and community business advocate. Follow
on Twitter: @MarkLeeDC. Reach him at
OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.
Hapless Hoosier honcho Mike Pence

should have slept late last Sunday morning.
Instead, the embattled and fatigued Indiana governor appeared on ABCs This
Week three days after signing a Religious
Freedom Restoration Act approved by
the state legislature with his support. His
startlingly poor performance, inept rationalizations and repeated unwillingness to
directly respond to questioning only fueled the restorm of criticism for promoting prejudice in the Midwest state.
His desire to do damage control was a tonedeaf debacle. Pence shamed his state and
shattered his national political aspirations.
When history notes moments symbolizing defeat of religious and cultural warriors ghting civil rights for gay and lesbian Americans, this Hoosier heartland
battle will gure among them. That the
governor was blindsided by a statewide

and national outpouring of anger and opposition is due only delusion that disingenuousness could prevail.
Soldier laurels are owed the business
community for leading the charge against
Pence and his cohorts. Homegrown corporations and business associations,
companies headquartered or operating
in the state, tech enterprise, the focus of
economic development eorts, chambers
of commerce, Indianapolis-based NCAA
and multiple national sports associations,
and business leaders across the country
expressed disapproval of the controversy
roiling the state.
The truth, however, fell victim in the
skirmish with both sides engaging in hyperbolic oversimplication.
Is Indiana legalizing discrimination?
No, those accusations arent accurate.
But state politicians have sought to oer
courtroom comfort and legal legitimacy
to those who would discriminate against
gays and lesbians, a protected class in
only a handful of Indiana cities and a couple of counties. Its likely a retaliatory last
stand for losing the ght against samesex marriage equality by federal court
order last fall.
Is Indianas RFRA no dierent than the
1993 federal version and similar laws enacted in 19 states? No, totally false. Its a
stunning lie that Pence and supporters
of the law repeatedly assert, fancying
fooling constituents and the nation into
thinking Indianas religious freedom
E DIT OR IA L C A R T OON
statute is identical to the others. Pences

problem is that it simply isnt true.
The 22-year-old federal law and state
versions dier in fundamental ways from
the one set to go into eect in July.
Reading the legislation Pence signed
in a ceremony closed to media and the
public but attended by invited religious
leaders and lobbyists with a long history
of animus directed toward gays and lesbians is all that is required.
Legal scholars specializing in religious
freedom and civil rights, including 12 law
professors from Indiana University, identied the dierences in a February letter
to legislators.
The proposed law seeks to override
th[e] reasoned balance among rights by
bluntly and categorically granting religious liberty rights a special status, they
wrote, noting this distinction was particularly critical in cases where RFRA rights
might be asserted as a defense to a claim
of discrimination. The proposal diers
substantially from that contained in the
federal RFRA, aording standing to assert
religious liberty rights to a much broader
class of entities.
Indianas law diers from the federal
and state laws in two critical ways.
First, it explicitly extends protection
to for-prot businesses and specically
allows religious belief as a claim or defense regardless of whether the state
or any other governmental entity is a party to the proceeding.
Second, it additionally covers the actions of individuals. Despite the clarity of
the language, Pence falsely claimed during his nationwide interview it doesnt
even apply to disputes between private
individuals, unless government action is
involved.
The states largest newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, took the extraordinary
step of replacing its front page on Tuesday with an editorial headlined FIX THIS
NOW. Warning half steps will not undo
the damage to our reputation [and] efforts over many years to retool our economy [and] attract talented workers and
thriving businesses, the editorial urged
Gov. Pence and the legislature to enact a
state law to prohibit discrimination on
the basis of a persons sexual orientation
or gender identity.
Its the only solution rendering sufcient repair and adequate remedy to
this Hoosier humiliation that works for
fair-minded businesses, employees and
consumers.
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I N S I DE LGB T W A S HING TON
A P RI L 0 3 , 2 0 1 5 1 9
Holy Week a time for spiritual, practical reection

Many Christians, Jews still
grappling with LGBT issues
PETER ROSENSTEIN is a D.C.-based LGBT rights

and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly
for the Blade.
This year we celebrate Easter and Passover

on the same weekend. Two holidays that for
many are a time of prayer and thoughtful introspection about what has come before and
what is in our future. The rst Passover Seder
this year will be celebrated on Good Friday.
Christians will go to church on Good Friday
to remember the crucixion of Christ and on
Easter Sunday will celebrate his resurrection.
They might take a moment to think about
what the church means to them and how
the churchs teachings relate to their own life.
Many of my Catholic friends might contemplate the place of women in their church today
and the continued lack of acceptance of those
in the LGBT community.

Many young members of the Jewish faith
will learn about their ancestors escape from
Egypt and Pharaoh while reading the Haggadah at their Seder. They will come to the last
line of the story which reads, Next year in
Jerusalem and think about what that means
today. It will surely create many discussions
after dinner over the recent elections in Israel
and what they mean to the world situation. At
the Seder in an Orthodox home, young people
could surely have thoughts about the continuing limitations on women and the lack of acceptance of the LGBT community in Orthodox
beliefs.
Religion is important to many and is creeping into our political discussions in America
more and more. It is harder to nd politicians
who understand the meaning of the separation of church and state and are willing to
speak out on it. The last time I remember hearing an emphatic statement on the issue from a
presidential candidate was in 1960 when John
F. Kennedy spoke to the Greater Houston
Ministerial Association and said I believe in an
America where the separation of church and
state is absolute. He did so to convince voters
who were contemplating the election of their
rst Catholic president he wouldnt take his direction on civil law from the Pope.
While it has always been dicult to separate

politics and religion and most of the worlds
wars have been fought over religious disagreements, we must continue to try. It might be
permissible for religious leaders to speak out
on civil issues as they relate to their churchs tenets but it is denitely not acceptable for politicians to couch their support or non-support of
civil law on their religious beliefs. We now see
many Republican candidates vying for their
partys presidential nomination having a very
dicult time understanding that.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, the current occupant of the Throne of Saint Peter, Pope
Francis, appears to be making a major effort to bring the Catholic Church more in
line with the world as it is today. During his
rst news conference, Pope Francis made
the statement, If someone is gay and he
searches for the Lord and has good will,
who am I to judge? while discussing the
gay and lesbian community within the
church. In another interview he said the
church has the right to express its opinions
but not to interfere spiritually in the lives
of gays and lesbians. His problem is moving
such a huge bureaucracy into the 21st century isnt easy and for every two steps forward there seems to be a step back. It can
be hoped Pope Francis will live long enough

to eectuate real change in the church.
The Jewish community, particularly American Jews, will nd themselves in heated discussions after their Seder trying to clarify their
feelings with regard to the State of Israel and
its government. Many like me will come to the
conclusion while we nd much of what Prime
Minister Netanyahu said before and during
his recent campaign for prime minister abhorrent, it will have no bearing on our support for
the state of Israel. The United States as President Obama has said must continue nancial
and logistical assistance to the State of Israel
to ensure it remains free and has the wherewithal to protect itself.
However this doesnt rule out applying all
the pressure we can on the Israeli government, even potentially using the UN to do this,
to insist they dont leave the negotiating table.
The current policy of the United States, which
was once supported by the current Israeli
prime minister, is for a two state solution to
the Israeli/Palestinian question. It is really the
only viable one if we are to ever have peace in
the region.
So over this holy weekend let us all pray
for peace and understanding throughout the
world and may our discussions and debates
prove fruitful in bringing about a better future.
V I E WPO I NT
Maher mars show with pro-D&G gay jab

HBO hosts humor laced with
dangerous messaging
JUSTIN PELIGRI is a student at George

Washington University.
For years, political comedians like Jon

Stewart and Stephen Colbert were ranked
among the most trusted and most admired
news anchors for young Americans and
theyre not even news anchors!
Mainly, its because theyre funny and liberal, two necessities for reaching a younger
audience less reliant on a 30-minute nightly
newscast to ingest daily headlines.
Now that Colbert has left Comedy Central
and Stewart has announced hes on the way
out, young progressives have found themselves tuning in to new Comedy Central
personalities and, unfortunately, HBOs Bill
Maher.
A lot of people watch this show to get
the news, Maher said at the top of his hourlong snarkfest March 27. So I have to ll
them in.
Maher claims liberal credentials in large
part because hes enthusiastically anti-religion. But progressive gay people should
stop watching his weekly show let alone
rely upon him as a news source given his
blatantly oensive commentary on LGBT
people thats undeniably out of step with the
rest of the modern progressive community.
Lets get specic. In his New Rules segment toward the end of the show, Maher
went on a dangerously derogatory rant
where he responded to comments made by
gay Italian designers Domenico Dolce and
Stefano Gabbana about opposing gay adoptions.
Liberals everywhere have condemned
their remarks, resulting in a boycott of their
products. What did Bill do? Defend them.
Its easier to get all fake-outraged over
the hateful, anti-gay speech of two men
who bedazzle codpieces for a living, Maher
sniped. Really, you cant sell handbags now
if you only agree with Elton John almost all
the time How deeply stupid has the far left
become when gay designers cant get along
with gay musicians?
Comments like Mahers downplay the

harmful signicance of hate speech. When
young queer people hear Dolce and Gabbana two gay men sounding o about
the traditional family and chemical osprings, the unfortunate narrative is reinforced: There is something wrong with you.
LGBT people are told this, often implicitly,
all the time. We dont need gay people piling
on as well. And we also dont need comedians who purport to be LGBT supporters
telling us to calm down, as if the LGBT teen
depression resulting from such humor is
funny.
Later, he said: What is the point of attacking people who are 95 percent on your
side?
By shrugging o bigotry, Maher is part of
the problem.
Evidently, Maher doesnt get the implications of the joke. LGBT people are still a marginalized population, with suicide rates and
homelessness rates far higher than their
heterosexual counterparts. That means
when damaging remarks are made, LGBT
people and their allies have a responsibility
to respond regardless of whether the offender is a Tea Party-ing conservative or a
gay designer.
To boot, he had the gall to mock gays in

front of his panel, comprised in part by actor
Zachary Quinto and former congressman
Barney Frank, both openly gay.
Granted, Mahers whole end-of-show
comedy bit was an attempt to call out liberals for uptight, politically correct attitudes
which have dwindled our collective ability to
laugh at a funny punchline, even if it takes a
jab at one of our own.
Hes not totally wrong: Political correctness might sometimes suck the humor out
of genuinely funny commentary. But gay
people have historically been able to deftly
carve out places for unabashedly irreverent
comedy see Joan Rivers and Kathy Grin
while being abundantly clear about the
detrimental social ramications of cruelly
mocking gays on TV.
Maher says liberals ought to stop the inghting: Do you believe in a talking snake?
Me neither. Were on the same team.
Now, I dont know about you, but Im not
interested in joining forces with someone
who still thinks its acceptable to refer to
transgender people as the transgendered
repeatedly on national television.
Bill, enter the 21st century. Then we can
talk about whose team youre on.
2 0 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
VISIT US AT CFA.GMU.EDU
Todd Ellison and Friends
BBC Concert Orchestra
Classic Broadway
MOMIX
Keith Lockhart, conductor; Charlie Albright, piano
Alchemia
SUNDAY, APRIL 12 AT 4 P.M.

Sought-after music director and conductor Todd Ellison returns
to the Center for the Arts bringing the classics of his world
Broadway! Joined by some of Broadways finest singers, Ellison
and his Friends will entertain you with songs from favorite shows
such as South Pacific, Flower Drum Song, Annie Get Your Gun,
and many more. Youll feel like youre in New York City!
$46, $39, $28 ff
FRIDAY, APRIL 24 AT 8 P.M.
FRIDAY, MAY 1 AT 8 P.M.

SATURDAY, MAY 2 AT 8 P.M.
Its MOMIX! Known for their athletic virtuosity, outstanding
innovation, inventive props, and vibrant, sometimes outrageous,
costumes, MOMIX is bringing a new work: a visually arresting
theatrical experience full of whimsy, beauty, and intrigue about
the art of alchemy. The mad and marvelous troupe has all of the
mesmeric power of a magic show. (Globe and Mail)
$48, $41, $29
Ravel: Le Toubeau de Couperin, Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major,

Walton: Crown Imperial, Vaughn Williams: Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
in E minor, Britten: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell
Under the baton of principal conductor Keith Lockhart, also the
conductor of Boston Pops, BBC Concert Orchestra performs
music of British and French composers and is joined by pianist
Charlie Albright. Its style is gutsythe ensemble is solid.
(Los Angeles Times)
$60, $51, $36
ff = Family Friendly performances that are most suitable for families with younger children
TICKETS 888-945-2468 OR CFA.GMU.EDU
Located on the Fairfax campus, six miles west of Beltway exit 54 at

the intersection of Braddock Road and Rt. 123.
Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival

presented by Procter & Gamble
Saturday, April 4
1 9 PM
Fireworks start at 8:30
Enjoy more than eight celebratory hours

of free music, family friendly waterrelated activities, cultural experiences, live
entertainment, and delicious foods.
Take metrobus
& metrorail
#CelebrateNature
877.44.BLOOM (442.5666)
nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
MEDIA PARTNERS
SCAN FOR FREE APP

Enjoy more than three weeks
and four weekends of events!
ARTS
AND
ENTERTAINMENT
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
VOLUME
46
ISSUE
14
APRIL
03
2015
PAGE
21
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHAMPLIN
From left are POPPY CHAMPLIN, JESSICA KIRSON and MIMI GONZALEZ the Queer Queens of Qomedy.
Poppy Champlin on nding

her true self as a performer
By MARIAH COOPER
On a Sunday afternoon at a comedy
club in Baltimore about 175 people,
mostly lesbian and a few gay men,
gathered to view a comedy stand-up
show. Its a signicant number for a sleepy
Sunday. They were all there to watch a
lesbian comedian and the club owners
were taking notice. Poppy Champlin was
also there and paying attention.
The potential crowds were part of the

reason Champlin, who resides in Rhode
Island, decided she wanted to start her
Queer Queens of Qomedy self-produced,
stand-up show, which consists of three
lesbian comedians including herself.
The show will be a part of Camp
Rehoboths Womens Fest with Jessica
Kirson and Mimi Gonzalez performing
along with Champlin on April 10 at 8 p.m.
Shes also slated to play Jammin Java in
Vienna, Va., (a D.C. suburb) on May 17.
There is a need for lesbian
entertainment, Champlin says. Of
course, the club isnt giving us a Friday
or Saturday night. Thats reserved for the

male comedians that bring in the male
audiences that bring in their dates.
The comedy show has a rotation of
lesbian comedians performing alongside
Champlin. These are friends or fellow
lesbian comedians she wants to be a
part of the show. Its a draw shes learned
works for her in the industry, despite
not being as popular as straight male
comedians.
It just says it right there blatantly in
your face Queer Queens of Qomedy.
Its queer come in here! You know what
youre gonna get. Thank God the club
owners at least are saying, Oh yeah we

want the queers to come in here. We dont
want them on a Friday or Saturday night
but well give you a Sunday matine.
The popular Queer Queens of Qomedy
Show is one that Womens Fest organizers feel
is a perfect t for their entertainment lineup.
Were delighted to welcome the Queer
Queens of Qomedy to our Womens Fest
fundraising event, Steve Elkins, executive
director of CAMP Rehoboth Community
Center, says. Poppy Champlin, Jessica
Kirson and Mimi Gonzalez are incredible
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
2 2 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
Q U E E RY : 2 0 Q U E ST I O N S F O R J O SE L. P LA ZA
How long have you been out and who

was the hardest person to tell?
The hardest part was coming out to
myself and continually allowing myself to
be OK with it. Yet, early on I realized that
my sexuality did not dene me anymore
than me being male, Mexican, darkskinned, having been undocumented,
educated or an immigrant.
Whos your LGBT hero?
All LGBT people of color living above
challenges and still enjoying life, our
trans brothers and sisters ghting for
a space and recognition not only in our
community but in society as a whole and
the queer dreamers ghting not only for
their rights, but setting the marker as to
what activism can do for a nation and a
movement.
Whats Washingtons best nightspot,
past or present?
I wont name names, but D.C. nightlife
has left me a bit wanting overall.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
joeyd@washblade.com
When Jose L. Plaza came to Washington in 2012 as a fellow with the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute,
he says he fell in love with the District.
Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Plazas family immigrated to a small farming
town in Southern California when he was 5. He works by day as director for
Latino engagement for Enroll America and is pursuing doctoral studies at the
University of Southern California in educational leadership. Hes passionate
about work with the migrant, undocumented and Latino populations and is
working to close gaps in access, equity and achievement.
In 2013, he joined the board of directors of the Latino GLBT History Project
and hes co-chaired D.C. Latino Pride. He will succeed David Perez as the
groups president soon
Plaza is single and lives in NOMA with his dog, Archie. He enjoys cooking, travel,
politics, education, immigrant rights and many kinds of advocacy work in his free
time as well as playing on the Ball Busters in the Stonewall Kickball League.
Serving Our COmmunity fOr 31 yearS

A DV I C E M E D I AT I O N L I T I G AT I O N A P P E A L S C O L L A B O R AT I O N
FAMILY | ESTATE PLANNING | EMPLOYMENT | IMMIGRATION

COMPLEX LITIGATION | CIVIL RIGHTS | LGBT | ADOPTION | BUSINESS
Silber, Perlman, Sigman &tilev, P.a.

AT TO R N E YS AT L AW D C | M D | VA
3 0 1 . 8 9 1 . 2 2 0 0 S P - L aw. C o m
7 0 0 0 C a r r o l l av e n u e S u i t e 2 0 0 ta k o m a Pa r k m d
Describe your dream wedding.

I am a hopeless romantic and could
go down the list from the harpist
and violinists at the ceremony to the
reworks show to close o the night
as we overlook from dimly lit gazebo.
But having my closest friends, family,
my pup, and of course the one would
make my wedding a dream fullled. Did
I mention Idris Elba played a leading role
in this picture?
What non-LGBT issue are you most
passionate about?
Education and health both in terms
of access and quality and how to
work to better them for our most
disenfranchised communities.
What historical outcome would you

change?
None. I am a true believer that we learn
from our mistakes and until we do so,
we will continue repeating that same
cycle.
Whats been the most memorable pop
culture moment of your lifetime?
Being in D.C. when President Barack
Obama was elected into oce for his
second term and getting to witness his
swearing-in at the National Mall.
On what do you insist?
To meet me halfway and give as much
as I give of myself.
What was your last Facebook post or
Tweet?
A picture commemorating Cesar Chavez,
the Mexican-American farmworker and
organizer who did so much farmworker
rights.
If your life were a book, what would

the title be?
A collection: Short stories on how to live
life even if you lost the manual
If science discovered a way to change
sexual orientation, what would you
do?
Plan for a larger Latino Pride
Celebration. Can you imagine the inux
to our community?
What do you believe in beyond the
physical world?
I do believe in a higher power. How
that is manifested for me might be very
dierent than it is for others, but faith is
a path of self-discovery.
Whats your advice for LGBT
movement leaders?
Never give up and never be silent!
What would you walk across hot coals
for?
World peace or to end child hunger.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you
most?
I think all stereotypes and
generalizations are equally annoying.
I think we are also all at fault when
perpetuating some of them, but as a
community we continue to grow and
learn.
Whats your favorite LGBT movie?
Trick. Im not gonna lie there have
been times Im in the Metro and I wish I
could recreate that movie!
Whats the most overrated social
custom?
I dont know about overrated, but I can
tell you about some underrated social
customs like saying, Bless you or,
please and thank you or letting older
ladies take your seat on the metro.
What trophy or prize do you most
covet?
Covet isnt a good word. Id rather earn
than covet.
What do you wish youd known at 18?
What I knew at 18. I have thoroughly
enjoyed growing up and learning not
only about my potential but about the
silver lining all those times I tripped and
had to start again.
Why Washington?
Because it would lead me to become
the third president of the Latino
History Project and ring in our 15th
year anniversary and celebrate another
amazing D.C. Latino Pride!
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free parking! fine wine, craft beer,
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Speak with our preplanning adviSor,

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5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW DC (202) 966-6400 www.JosephGawlers.com
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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
24 AP R IL 03, 2015
O U T & A BO U T
By MARIAH COOPER
And the winner is
SCRUMPTIOUS
EASTER
MENU
BRUNCH
STARTER, ENTREE, DESSERT, COFFEE OR TEA: $30
DINNER
STARTER, ENTREE, DESSERT, COFFEE OR TEA: $39
The Helen Hayes Awards, presented by TheatreWashington will be held at

Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Monday night at 8 p.m. with an after party
at the Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.).
The annual ceremony will recognize those in the District with outstanding
achievements for performances, designs, direction, productions and more. The
after party will serve sweet and savory bites with each attendee receiving two
drink tickets.
Doors open at 7 p.m. For ticket information, visit theatrewashington.org.
M-Th 11:30aM-10pM F-saT 11:30aM-11pM

suN. bruNch 11aM-3pM / diNNer 3-10pM
322 Mass. ave. Ne 202.543.7656
cafeberlindc.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF PEN/FAULKNER
LIVE
Literary event
welcomes gay author
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
JBOOG
PEN/Faulkner present Where We

Are From: Place and Personhood in
Fiction: An Evening with Allan Gurganus
and Elizabeth Strouth at the Folger
Shakespeare Library (201 East Capitol St.,
S.E.) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Gurganus previous works The Practical
Heart and White People have explored
gay identity. Strout has written bestselling novels such as Olive Kitteridge
and Abide with Me. The discussion will
focus on location in literature. The event
is part of the 2014-2015 PEN/Faulkner
Reading Series.
Tickets are $15. For more details, visit
penfaulkner.org.
W/ INNA VISION
& WESTAFA
FRIDAY APR
MUDDY
WATERS
100TH BIRTHDAY
FEATURING COMMANDER CODY,
BOB MARGOLIN & THE NIGHTHAWKS
SATURDAY APR
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SUN, APRIL 5 10AM, 12:30PM, 3PM
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n link through the advertisement. Advertiser represents that its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or
y rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as infringement or misapporpriation of any
pyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary or propety right, false advertising, unfair
mpetition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination law or regulation,
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d warranties.
WED, APRIL 8
SPYRO GYRA
THUR, APRIL 9
SISTER SPARROW
& THE DIRTY BIRDS
FRI, APRIL 10
MAXI PRIEST
(LATE SHOW)
THEHAMILTONDC.COM
Team D.C. Sportsfest returns

Team D.C. hosts its Spring Sportsfest at Room and Board Showroom (1840
14th St., N.W.) on Thursday from 6-8:30 p.m.
About 30 clubs will be at the event to discuss sports options in the LGBT
community. There will also be a vodka and beer bar. The event has no cover
charge but a $10 donation is requested that includes two drink tickets. A $20
donation includes drinks all night. DJ Chord will play music for the night. The rst
50 donors will receive a free Room and Board canvas tote.
For more information, visit teamdc.org.
History Project to
present awards
Latino GLBT History Project hosts the
Mujeres en el Movimiento awards and
networking happy hour at Jin (2017 14th
St., N.W.) on Thursday from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The event is for queer Latina women to
network with one another. There will be
drinks and music by DJ Rat of Maracuyeah.
A historical digital photo exhibit will also
be displayed.
There is a suggested $5 donation. For
more information, visit latinoglbthistory.org.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
E A S TE R CA LE N DA R
A PR IL 03, 2015 25
WASHINGTON BLADE ARCHIVE PHOTO BY KRISTI GASAWAY
The glass-enclosed sanctuary of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, the regions

largest mostly LGBT congregation.
Local LGBT-welcoming
churches, synagogues
to hold services
By MARIAH COOPER
Editors note: This listing is not meant
to be comprehensive as many churches
in the region are LGBT-arming. Other
active local congregations with LGBT
clergy or strong allied clergy include (but
are not limited to) Inner Light Ministries
(innerlightministries-dc.com),
Unity
Fellowship Church D.C. (ufcdc.com), All
Souls Memorial Episcopal Church in
Woodley Park (allsoulsdc.org), Dignity/
Washington
(dignitywashington.org),
Covenant Baptist United Church of
Christ (covenantdc.org), St. Georges
Episcopal Church (stgeorgesdc.org),
St. Stephen and the Incarnation
Episcopal Church (saintstephensdc.
org), St. Thomas Parish in Dupont
Circle (stthomasdc.org), Calvary Baptist
Church (calvarydc.org), Church of the
Pilgrims
(churchofthepilgrims.org),
Mount Vernon Place United Methodist
Church (mvpumc.org), Ravensworth
Baptist Church in Annandale, Va., et. al.
TODAY
(GOOD FRIDAY)
St. Margarets Episcopal Church(1830
Connecticut Ave., N.W.) holds a Good
Friday service from noon-3 p.m. There
will also be Stations of the Cross and a
Passion narrative.
Foundry
United
Methodist
Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) holds Good
Friday services today at noon and at 7 p.m.
The United Church(1920 G St., N.W.)
holds a Good Friday service in German
today at noon.
Metropolitan Community Church of
Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) holds a
Good Friday service at 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
(FIRST DAY OF PASSOVER)

Sixth and I Historic Synagogue (600
I St., N.W.) holds Saturday morning
services with MesorahDC at 9:30 a.m. The
traditional service includes songs and
stories and is aimed toward those in their
20s and 30s. Service is free.
Washington
Jewish
Community
Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) oers
a community seder at 7 p.m. Cantor
Michael Zoosman will lead the Seder. The
celebration will include a Passover meal
with all of the traditional foods.
Bet Mishpachah, a D.C. LGBTarming synagogue, has several events
this weekend. Its members meet at the
Washington Jewish Community Center
(1529 16th St., N.W.). Details at betmish.org.
SUNDAY, APRIL 5
(EASTER)
Washington
National
Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.)
holds numerous Easter services today.
There will be morning Easter services at
8 and 11 a.m. There will be an Easter Day
Choral Evensong featuring the Cathedral
Choir of Men and Boys at 4 p.m. At 5:15
p.m. there will be an Easter Day Organ
Recital featuring Cathedral organists
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Chesapeake
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Easter
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with services at 9 and 11:15 TEXT
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Thomas Circle, N.W.) celebrates Easter
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and warranties.
with a gospel worship service at 8:30 a.m.
APRIL
and a traditional service at 11 a.m.
www.clydes.com
WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
Foundry
United
Methodist
Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) has Easter
services at 9:30 and 11 a.m.
The United Church(1920 G St., N.W.)
holds a bilingual Easter service in German
and English at 11 a.m.
AVAIL ABLE AT ALL CLYDES LO CATIONS,
Metropolitan Community Church of
OLD EBBIT T GRILL, THE TOMBS AND THE TOMATO PAL ACE
Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) oers
Easter services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Blue Catfish
14
CLYDES-CATFISH-AD-WashBlade-2015-04.indd 1
3/26/15 10:16 AM
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
26 APRIL 03, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
HOT HITS & HIDDEN JEWELS

FROM CULTURECAPITAL.COM YOUR LINK TO THE ARTS IN METRO D.C.
SOON
THRU APR 26. SIGNATURE THEATRE.
703-820-9771. SIGNATURE-THEATRE.ORG.
Soons youthful humor, energy and wit deliver a searing and sardonic
commentary on what to do with the time you have left.
TEDXFOGGYBOTTOM 2015
APR 3. GW LISNER AUDITORIUM.
202-994-6800. LISNER.GWU.EDU.
TEDxFoggyBottom is an annual conference that brings together brilliant

innovators and unconventional change-makers from the local community and
the world. This years theme: Be Rebellious.
BOB MACDONALD
APR 4. AMP BY STRATHMORE.
301-581-5100. AMPBYSTRATHMORE.COM.
Known for everything from Sunday in the Park with George to Sweeney Todd to
Gilbert & Sullivan, this baritone enthralls audiences with his talent.
NEW YORK CITY BALLET

APR 7-APR 12. KENNEDY CENTER.
202-467-4600. KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG.
New York City Ballet performs two programs: 20th-Century Classics, featuring
three of Balanchines most iconic ballets, and 21st-Century Choreographers,
which includes works by Peck, Ratmansky, Martins, and Wheeldon.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SIGNATURE THEATRE
THEATRE
Cabaret Series: Gone Country. Apr
7-Apr 11. Simply Sondheim. Thru Apr
19. Signature Theatre. 703-820-9771.
signature-theatre.org.
RSC Live: Loves Labours Won. Apr
6. Folger Shakespeare Library. Folger
Theatre. 202-544-7077. folger.edu.
Laugh. Thru Apr 19. Studio Theatre.
202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org.
Lights Rise On Grace. Thru Apr 26.
Woolly Mammoth. 202-393-3939.
woollymammoth.net.
Uncle Vanya. Apr 8-May 3. Round
House Theatre. 240-644-1100.
roundhousetheatre.org.
G-ds Honest Truth. Thru Apr 19.
Theater J. 800-494-8497. theaterj.org.
Impractical Jokers Tour Starring
The Tenderloins. Apr 4. Marc Maron:
The Maronation Tour. Apr 9. Warner
Theatre. 202-783-4000.
warnertheatredc.com.
Shear Madness. Ongoing.
Kennedy Center. 800-444-1324.
shearmadness.com.
Swing Time - The Musical. Thru Jun
27. Navy Memorial. 202-737-2300.
swingtimethemusical.com.
One Destiny. Thru May 16. Freedoms
Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil
War. Thru May 20. Fords Theatre.
800-982-2787. fords.org.
The Norwegians. Thru Apr 19.
SCENA Theatre. Anacostia Playhouse.
202-399-7993. scenatheater.org.
Doctor Caligari. Thru Apr 4. Pointless
Theatre. Mead Theater Lab.
202-315-1305. pointlesstheatre.com.
Red Baraats Festival of Colors. Apr 4.

Harlem Gospel Choir. Apr 5. Morgan
Heritage. Apr 8. Howard Theatre.
202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com.
Adnan Sami. Apr 3. Warner Theatre.
202-397-7328. warnertheatredc.com.
Dom La Nena. Apr 4. Artisphere.
888-841-2787. artisphere.com.
Tia Fuller. Apr 9. Clarice Smith.
301-405-2787.
claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.
Tom Paxton. Apr 3. BandHouse Gigs
Tribute to Steve Winwood & Trac.
Apr 4. Jane Monheit. Apr 9. Wolf Trap.
877-965-3872. wolftrap.org.
Chamber Music Recital. Apr 8. FMMC.
Steinway Piano Gallery, Bethesda.
202-333-2075. fmmc.org.
National Cherry Blossom Festival:
Odyssey Fireworks Dinner Cruise.
Apr 4. NCBF. Gangplank Marina.
nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
MUSEUMS
Cynthia Oliver/COCo Dance Theatre

(from Urbana, Illinois). Apr 4. Dance
Place. 202-269-1600. danceplace.org.
National Cherry Blossom Festival:
Tamagawa University Taiko
Drumming and Dance Troupe. Apr 9.
NCBF. Freer/Sackler Gallery.
202-633-4880.
nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
National Gallery of Art. Piero di

Cosimo. Thru May 3. Focus on the
Corcoran: Works on Paper, 18601990.
Thru May 3. Peter Paul Rubens: The
Three Magi Reunited. Thru Jul 5.
202-737-4215. nga.gov.
Folger Shakespeare Library. Ships,
Clocks, & Stars: The Quest for Longitude.
Thru Aug 23. folger.edu.
National Archives. Spirited Republic:
Alcohol in American History. Thru Jan 10.
202-357-5000. archivesfoundation.org.
Kreeger Museum. Flemish
Expressionism: A Modernist Vision.
Thru May 15. 202-337-3050.
kreegermuseum.org.
Museum of Women in the Arts. Doris
Lee: American Painter and Illustrator.
Thru May 8. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org.
National Geographic. Spinosaurus:
Lost Giant of the Cretaceous. Thru Apr
12. Monster Fish: In Search of the Last
River Giants. Thru Oct 11. 202-857-7000.
nglive.org.
Fords Theatre. Silent Witnesses:
Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination.
Thru May 25. 202-347-4833. fords.org.
MUSIC
GALLERIES
Marian McLaughlin. Apr 8. Miranda

Cuckson, violin. Apr 9. Strathmore.
301-581-5100. strathmore.org.
The Music of Lady Day: A Tribute
to Billie Holiday. Apr 9. AMP
by Strathmore. 301-581-5100.
ampbystrathmore.com.
Kennedy Center Chamber Players:
Shostakovich & Dvork. Apr 5. Fortas
Chamber Music Concerts: Edgar
Meyer, double bass. Apr 8. Kennedy
Center. 202-467-4600.
kennedy-center.org.
The Philadelphia Orchestra. Apr 7.
WPA. Kennedy Center. 202-785-9727.
washingtonperformingarts.org.
One More Time: Tribute to Daft Punk.
Apr 3. Northeast Groovers. Apr 4.
Strathmore. If the Shoe Fits. Thru May

31. 301-581-5100. strathmore.org.
BlackRock. Sea Paintings. Thru Apr 25.
301-528-2260. blackrockcenter.org.
WPA at Capitol Skyline Hotel. South
Capitol Skyscape: Avi Gupta. Thru Apr 30.
202-488-7500. wpadc.org.
The Art League Gallery. Claudia
Cappelle. Thru Apr 6. Bits & Pieces. Apr
8-May 4. 703-683-1780. theartleague.org.
District Architecture Center. Cover
Stories: ArchitectureDC Magazine,
2003 2014. Thru Apr 4. 202-347-9403.
aiadac.com.
Glen Echo Park. Marcie WolfHubbard. Apr 4-Apr 26. 301-634-2222.
glenechopark.org.
DANCE
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
T HE ATER
A PR IL 03, 2015 27
Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief

with the New York City Ballet Orchestra
20th-CENTURY CLASSICS
Tue. & Thu., Apr. 7 & 9 at 7:30
Sat., Apr. 11 at 1:30
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
Actor JEFFERSON FARBER was pleasantly surprised to nd what he wanted professionally in his back yard.
Serenade
(Tchaikovsky/Balanchine)
Agon
By PATRICK FOLLIARD
Long before landing the part of Spike,
the Hollywood himbo, in Arena Stages
production of Christopher Durangs
Chekhov-inspired comedy Vanya and Sonia
and Masha and Spike, out actor Jeerson
Farber already had his eye on the role.
While Farber was in rehearsal for
Shakespeares R&J (an all-male, gay
interpretation of Romeo and Juliet) at
Signature Theatre in 2012, he explains, the
plays author and director, Joe Calarco, turned
him onto the part: Hed just seen the show
in New York and thought Spike would be a
great part for me. That inspired me to seek
out productions wherever they might be, and
audition when I could. Ultimately, I was cast at
Arena, right around the corner from my house.
Set in contemporary quiet Bucks County,
Pa., the play is about siblings Vanya, a genial
unassuming gay man, and his adopted sister
Sonia, living their days routinely in the house
where they grew up. But everything changes
dramatically when their aging movie star sister
Masha arrives on the scene with her new boy
toy Spike and some big news.
Spike isnt exactly dumb. Hes more literal
minded and of the moment, says Farber,
31. Spike is about youth, beauty and sex
and all that Hollywood stu. As Spike,
Farber wears only his skivvies mostly, so hes
been working out extra hard, meeting with a
trainer two times a week. Its just more work
in an already busy schedule, he says.
Is this a case of be careful what you wish
for? No, but Spike does come with some
challenges, says Farber. There are the blessings
too, he adds. Namely, the productions director
Aaron Posner whos extremely attuned to the
subtleties of comedy and Russian playwright
Anton Chekhov, and the terric cast: Eric
Hissom and Sherri L. Edelen are Vanya and
Sonia. Grace Gonglewski is Masha. Jessica
Frances Dukes takes on the part of Cassandra,
a prophetic housekeeper. And Rachel Esther
Tate plays Nina, a young actress.
As a little boy growing up in Indiana, says
Farber, he lisped, walked on his toes till he was
7 and liked to wear his sisters dresses. He also
dreamed of being an astronaut, but all that
changed once he joined the drama club. He
was determined to be an actor. In high school,
he was openly gay and dated boys. And he
was well-liked enough to be voted student
council vice president. Our school was big and
diverse. We prided ourselves on being open
minded. It wasnt really hard to be gay.

With regard to LGBT discrimination
surrounding his home states new religious
freedom law, Farber says hes glad the
conversation is nally turning to the real point.
And on some level, Im proud that Indiana is
the battleground for this conversation and
that Im getting to live through it. Ultimately
and Ive always felt like this Hoosiers
are generally really good people. They dont
hate. They just like their liberties. The only
way out is to pass legislation making sexual
orientation a protected class. Its time.
He attended Milliken University in Illinois.
After graduating from its theater program in
2005, he ping ponged between the coasts for
a while. In 2007, he moved to Malibu where
he dated a lm industry insider. One night at
dinner Farber shared his dream to be become
a movie star but remain his authentic self. His
date said it was impossible. I felt shot down,
says Farber. Thats not the world I want to
live in and I made that decision then. Its very
important to me to be respected as a good
actor and not hide that Im gay.
In 2010 Farber landed in D.C. to attend
the Shakespeare Theatre Companys
Academy for Classical Acting at the George
Washington University, and to his delight
found a thriving theater scene. My plan
was to graduate and head to New York, but
I started getting parts and decided to stay.
Wherever theres a part, Ill follow, but Id like
to be able to call my D.C. my home base.
Last summer he performed regionally
in Breaking the Code at Barrington Stage
Company in the Berkshires. He played one
of British code breaker Alan Turings much
younger hookups. Hes appeared in small
parts on TVs Killing Kennedy and House of
Cards. Farbers immediate wish list includes
a part in the Shakespeare Theatre Companys
all-male The Taming of the Shrew next
season. And hed like to play Will in Terrance
McNallys Mothers and Sons.
Being gay, especially right now because of
where we are in the conversation about gay
rights, Im really seeking out gay stories and
gay characters. I tell my agents thats where
Im at, says Farber. And I look forward to
parts that arent solely about homosexuality
but rather an aspect of the character just
like in life.
VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
Through May 3
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth Street, S.W.
202-488-3300
Arenastage.org
Symphony in C
(Bizet/Balanchine)
21st-CENTURY CHOREOGRAPHERS
Wed., Fri., & Sat., Apr. 8, 10, & 11 at 7:30
Sun., Apr. 12 at 1:30
Symphonic Dances
(Rachmaninoff/Martins)
Pictures at an Exhibition
(Mussorgsky/Ratmansky)
This Bitter Earth

(Washington, Richter/Wheeldon)
Everywhere We Go
(Stevens/Peck)
Rebecca Krohn and Adrian Danchig-Waring in Everywhere We Go, Photo Paul Kolnik
D.C. is home base for out actor
(Stravinsky/Balanchine)
April 712 | Opera House

Casting available at kennedy-center.org
Tickets on sale now!
(202) 467-4600 kennedy-center.org
Tickets also available at the Box Office | Groups (202) 416-8400
The Kennedy Centers Ballet Season is presented with the support of Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian.
General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of the 2014-2015 Ballet Season.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
2 8 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
CA LE N D A R
E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade.

com two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so priority is given to LGBT-specic events
or those with LGBT participants. Recurring
events must be re-submitted each time.
TODAY
Hillwood Estate, Museum and
Gardens (4155 Linnean Ave., N.W.) holds
spring tours Tuesday-Sunday from 10:30
a.m.-12:20 p.m. through June 28. A tour
guide will teach about the history, design,
plants and owers of the 13 acres of
gardens. Tours are about an hour long
and are on a rst-come, rst-served
basis at the Visitor Center. For more
information, visit hillwoodmusuem.org.
Scandal D.C. presents a womens
dance party featuring a performance by
Kiyomi Valentine from The Real L Word
at Comet Ping Pong (5037 Connecticut
Ave., N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m. Valentine
will perform at 10:45 p.m. The party starts
after 11:30 p.m. DJ Lez Rage will play music
before Valentines performance and DJ
Deedub will play music for the party.
Both the show and party are 18 and over.
Admission is $15 for the show and dance
party and $12 for the dance party only. For
more details and to purchase tickets, visit
scandalcometpingpong.eventbrite.com.
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.)
hosts a trans support group meeting
tonight at 7 p.m. The facilitated group
discussion is open to all members of the
community including partners, friends and
allies. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct.,
N.W.) hosts Otter Crossing: Murder at
Midnight, a gay dance party, tonight at
10 p.m. The partys theme is based on
Studio Theatres production of Murder
Ballad, an indie rock musical about a
love triangle, that opens April 15. Murder
Ballad cast members will perform at the
party and daddy will spin tracks. Drink
specials include $5 Stoli, $4 Fireball shots
and $3 Buds. Admission is free before 10
p.m. and $5 after. For more information,
visit greenlanterndc.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer
organization, volunteers for the Lost Dog
and Cat Rescue Foundation at the Falls
Church PetSmart (6100 Arlington Blvd.,
Falls Church, Va.) at 11:45 a.m. today. You
will be paired with a dog on a leash to
walk around and play with. Wear casual
clothes. For more information, visit
burgundycrescent.org.
Onyx Entertainment presents Ladies
Day at Stadium Club (2127 Queens
Chapel Road, N.E.) today from 4-10 p.m.
Admission is free before 5 p.m., $10
before 7 p.m. and $15 after 7 p.m. There
is an open bar from 4-6 p.m. DJ Adot and
DJ Mim will play music. For more details,
visit facebook.com/onyxentertainment.
Butch Queen, a dance party, is at
Tropicalia (2001 14th St., N.W.) tonight at
PHOTO BY PAUL KOLNIK; COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY CENTER
The New York City Ballet performs at the Kennedy Center Tuesday evening.
10 p.m. DJs will be Kris Sutton and Sam

Blodgett. Music will be a mix of hip-hop,
house, 90s music, trap, vogue house,
electronic and more. For more details,
visit tropicaliadc.com.
The D.C. Sisters host Jesus Christ
Superstar sing-along today at 4 p.m.
at JR.s Bar and Grill (1519 17th St., N.W.).
Come sing along to a screening of Jesus
Christ Superstar. There will be a Hunky
Jesus and Chunky Jesus contest. There will
also be drink specials and prizes. There
is a $5 suggested donation. For more
information, visit facebook.com/dcsisters.
SUNDAY, APRIL 5
BicycleSPACE (700 5th St., N.W.) hosts
Bunny Hop Velo Hunt, an Easterthemed scavenger hunt today from 11:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m. Two-people teams will
ride bikes and follow a list of clues to nd
answers and take photos around town
and post them on social media for points.
You can bring someone for your team or
get paired up. The winner will receive a
springtime gift basket. RSVP is required.
For more information, visit facebook.
com/bicyclespace.
Josephine Butler Parks Center (2437
15th St., N.W.) hosts a premiere screening
of Being Billie, a documentary about
legendary singer Billie Holiday, today
from 4-8 pm. After the screening, there
will be a Q&A with poet Nikki Giovanni
and scholar Kimberle W. Crenshaw,
facilitated by director Phyllis M. Croom.
General admission tickets are $25 and
VIP tickets are $50. VIP tickets include an
open wine bar, gourmet hors doeuvres,
cake, a champagne toast and a meet and
greet with Giovanni and Crenshaw. For
more details, visit beingbillie.com.
MONDAY, APRIL 6
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W..)

hosts coee drop-in hours this morning
from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT
community. Older LGBT adults can
come and enjoy complimentary coee
and conversation with other community
members. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
Us Helping Us (3636 Georgia Ave.,
N.W.) holds a support group for gay black
men to discuss topics that aect them,
share perspectives and have meaningful
conversations. For details, visit uhupil.org.
The Lambda Bridge Club hosts

duplicate bridge at the Dignity Center
(721 8th St., S.E.) at 7:30 p.m. tonight. No
reservations needed and new comers
welcome. If you need a partner, call 703407-6540.
Big Gay Book Group meets at 1155
F St., N.W. Suite 200 tonight at 7 p.m.
to discuss Arctic Summer by Damon.
The story is a ctional version of author
E.M. Forsters time in India while he was
writing A Passage to India. For more
information email biggaybookgroup@
hotmail.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
New York City Ballet performs at the
Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at
7:30 p.m. through April 12. They will perform
20th Century Classics, that features three
of Balanchines ballets, and 21st Century
Choreographers that includes the work of
Peck, Ratmansky, Martins and Wheeldon.
Tickets range from $25-109. Also, Dustin
Yellins 2015 New York City Ballet Art
Series Installation Psychogeographies, a
collection of large-scale glass and mixed
media sculptures, is on display in the Hall of
States through April 26. Admission to view
the installation is free. For more information
on the show and art installation, visit
kennedy-center.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.)
hosts its weekly FUK!T Packing Party from
7-9 p.m. tonight. For more details, visit
thedccenter.org or greenlanterndc.com.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts a
rap group, a support group for LGBT
youth, today from 5-6:30 p.m. For more
information, visit smyal.org.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
OutWrite is hosting a queer ction
class at the Writers Center (4508 Walsh
St., Bethesda, Md.) from 6-8 p.m. The class
helps LGBT writers and allies improve
writing poetry and ction through critique
and also read queer poetry and ction.
Sinta Jimenz will lead the workshop. Class
fee is $135. For details, visit writer.org.
SMYAL (410 7th St., S.E.) hosts Womens
Leadership Institute, a group for LBT
women and their straight allies ages 13-21
to discuss female sexuality, relationships
and womens rights from 5-7 p.m. For
more information, visit smyal.org.
Brother Help Thyself hosts an LGBT
community town hall at the Hyatt Place
Baltimore Inner Harbor (511 South
Central Ave., Baltimore) tonight from
7:30-9 p.m. The town hall is designed to
share ideas aecting the community and
to give resources to help serve the needs
of the community. For more details, visit
brotherhelpthyself.net.
BJB ad.pdf
3/31/15
12:04 PM
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
D I N ING
Lupo Verde, Masa 14

among many oering
holiday specials
By KRISTEN HARTKE
Spring has been slow in showing her colors
this year, but, no matter the weather, when
we glimpse the Easter bunny hopping down
the sidewalks in Shaw, Navy Yard or Glover
Park, it seems like a good time to break out
the pastels and head out somewhere for
brunch. There are no shortage of brunch
options in Washington, with everything from
bloody marys to burlesque; here are just a
few of the brunch spots where you can really
get your Easter on.
Lupo Verde: No reason to wait until Easter
Sunday when you can start on Saturday
with Pasquetta, an Italian national holiday
that translates to Little Easter. While it is
traditionally celebrated the day after Easter
with picnics, Lupo Verde is planning its own
twist on the event by highlighting a series
of dishes that will be cooked over a woodred grill and served on the patio, including
slow-roasted pork and porchetta panini,
spinach and anchovy pizza, and farmers
market panzanella salad. $25 per person,
$12 for children under 12, beverages sold
separately. 1401 T St., N.W.
Masa 14: Enjoy Easter with Latin-Asian
air; Chef de Cuisine Stephen Hartzells
brunch specialities that range from the
hoisin-spiked crispy smoked brisket bun
to a pork belly nenedict with spicy curry
potato cake and chipotle hollandaise (the
tasty vegetarian version features smoked
spinach), and unlimited brunch drinks like
the lychee mimosa and the refreshingly
springy Lemon Lager, a Dos Equis spiked
with elderower liqueur and lemon-basil
simple syrup. $39 per person, a la carte
menu also available. 1825 14th St., N.W.
Daikaya: The playful brunch menu at
this Japanese izakaya already features fun
interpretations of chicken and waes,
made with chicken kara-age and red bean
taiyaki with wasabi butter and maple syrup,
and Lox and Onigiri, a dish of smoked
salmon, salmon sashimi, ikura, pickled
onion, cream cheese and onigiri (avored
rice balls that can also feature fun edible
decorations or shapes). Five new dishes
will be featured for the Easter brunch,
including fried jidori egg with caviar and
bottarga and miso-honey glazed carrots
with rabbit sausage (the Easter Bunny
may want to skip that plate). Check out the
A PR IL 03, 2015 29
Sol Invictus, a cocktail being introduced by

Beverage Director Jamie MacBain, made
from a combination of Japanese whisky,
Bndictine, green chartreuse, egg yolk
and Peychauds bitters. 705 6th St., NW.
Howard Theatre Gospel Brunch: If
youre looking to go a little churchy with
your Easter brunch, then you cannot go
wrong with this one, where the highlight,
besides the all-you-can-eat Southern
buet, is the soul-stirring, hand-clapping
performances by the Harlem Gospel Choir.
Make a beeline for the crispy pecan-topped
Bourbon Brown Sugar French Toast,
which is pretty heavenly, and load up onC
seriously southern favorites like catsh
ngers, biscuits and gravy, collard greensM
and chicken wings, not to mention peachY
bellinis. Throw out the diet for the day and
CM
don your best Easter hat it will t in just
right here. $45 per person. 620 T St., N.W. MY
Brasserie Beck: A good choice ifCY
youre longing for an elegant farmhouse
experience, the Easter brunch specialsCMY
feature rustic ingredients highlightedK
with fresh spring avors. The luscious
Lemon Mascarpone Stued Belgian Wae
features gingered grape jelly and bourbon
barrel-aged maple syrup while the Shellsh
Biscuits & Gravy are brushed with Old Bay
Butter for some mid-Atlantic air. Denitely
get the Becks Breads & Spreads to share
with the table, a sampling of fresh biscuits,
donut holes, pop tarts and malted waes
served up with molasses and pecan butter
and g preserves. 1101 K St., N.W.
Zaytinya: If you cant get enough of
Easter, Zaytinya is happy to extend the
season with its Greek Easter Festival,
which runs through April 12. Observing
both Western Easter on Sunday and Greek
Easter on April 12, Chef Michael Costas
menu features classic Greek dishes
updated with local avors from rhubarb
to fresh peas. The festivities start Saturday
with Agor, an annual Greek outdoor
marketplace that will host purveyors of
Greek goods, oer complimentary food
and wine tastings, live Greek music, and
who can resist strolling Spartan warriors.
If men bedecked in feathered helmets is
not your thing, go back for brunch and
check out the spring pea tzatziki, smoked
sweetbreads with asparagus salata, and
spit-roasted lamb shoulder hash. $35 per
person. 701 9th St., N.W.
KRISTEN HARTKE is managing editor of Edible
DC and writes about cocktails at goodbooze.
wordpress.com.
For one night,

wearing denim can change lives.
Put on your favorite pair of jeans, savor culinary creations
from 40 of the areas hottest restaurants, and support
the Washington metro regions largest hunger relief organization.
capitalareafoodbank.org/bluejeansball
Marriott Marquis Hotel

901 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC, 20001
6-10 PM
Together we can solve hunger
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
30 A PR IL 03, 2015
T E LE V I SI O N
PHOTO BY RICHARD FOREMAN, COURTESY HBO
From left are FRANKIE J. ALVAREZ, JONATHAN GROFF and MURRAY BARTLETT of Looking.
Poorly focused HBO gay

dramedy deserved cancellation
By SANTIAGO MELLI-HUBER
HBOs Looking will not get a third
season and rightly so. If ratings, which
were consistently low, were the only
factor, one could argue the show was
canceled too soon, but the problem with
the show begins and ends with the main
character, Patrick.
Patrick serves as an entry point to
a diverse world for white audiences,
similar to Pipers role in Orange is the
New Black. Patrick is a white, believably
attractive, upper-middle class 29-yearold living in San Francisco. The rst time
we see him, hes cruising in a park and
giggling like a child who found a Playboy.
In fact, the rst thing any character says
to Patrick is Stop talking, which might as
well have been my mantra while watching
the series. Through Patrick, non-gay
viewers experience all the awkward
moments of growing up and coming out.
Despite having been out and living with
a close circle of openly gay friends for a
long time, everything is new for him. His
boyfriend wants to top? He has bottom
shame because of what his mother would
think. A character is taking PrEP? Patrick
calls him a Truvada whore. His friends
invite him to Folsom? Hes embarrassed
to be wearing a leather vest.
This could have worked as a character
either signicantly younger or newly out,
but its simply not believable for someone
so entrenched in the gay community to
be so new to it all. Unlike Shoshanna from
Girls, Patrick didnt have the excuse of
youth, but even she grew up. The creators
of the show didnt even have the decency
to make Patrick a side character.
In season one, Patrick cant see a future
with Richie because Richie is Mexican. He
instead sees himself with his boss Kevin (a
Brit), though Kevin has a boyfriend. Patrick
blames his mother for this, which makes
absolutely no sense. Later, after leaving
Richie, having an aair with and ultimately

moving in with Kevin, he realizes Kevin
may not always be faithful, as if Kevin
wouldnt cheat again down the road. Was
this shocking to anyone but Patrick?
Sure, its true that hot messes often
make for good TV maturity and
contentment rarely make for compelling
drama but Looking never managed
to give its audience a reason to care
about its lead character.
Another groan-inducing moment was
the Halloween party episode because,
as he would repeat several times, Patrick
wanted to be a fun gay. Sorry, Patrick,
but somebody has to be the Ross of the
group, and its you. Whats the least fun
thing a host can do? Try to force the fun.
He insists on singing karaoke, though
nobody is interested. His costume, as
he explained several times, was Gordon
Freeman, the most popular video game
character of all time! He gives a drunken
speech that embarrasses his friends and
exes almost as much as it embarrasses
himself. He even tried to make himself
the center of attention in the next episode
when he invited himself to Doriss fathers
funeral and, in a surprise to exactly
nobody, made a fool of himself.
How are people still friends with this
guy?
Ironically, said funeral episode was
titled Looking for a Plot, which is what
Ive been doing with this show since
episode one.
Looking fans describe the show as
realistic, but equality means canceling
a bad show because its bad, not keeping
a bad show on the air because its gay.
Patrick is a forced protagonist. Interesting
things keep happening to him, but he is
remarkably unremarkable. The show
shoved aside any decent conicts or
topics and instead focused on a wholly
uninteresting lead character while rich
side characters struggled for screen time.
Looking will wrap up with a TV special
that will hopefully be titled Looking for a
Doris Spino.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
BO OK S
A PR IL 03, 2015 31
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIKING
Gay son cares for ailing

mom in new book
TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER has been reading

since she was 3 years old.She lives in Wisconsin
with two dogs and 12,000 books. Reach her at
bookwormsez@yahoo.com.
Throughout your life, your parents

ignored many things.
That time in high school when you
snuck out to party? They knew, but they
looked the other way. Same thing with
wearing makeup, missing curfew and
that one regrettable hair style. They often
didnt see more than youll ever know.
Problem is that sometimes, they
ignored too much. Did they, for instance,
know who you really were? In the new
book Bettyville by George Hodgman,
one man wondered.
Elizabeth Baker Hodgman Betty, to
most people didnt sleep much.
At age 90, she was prone to wandering,
fussing at the kitchen, piling and restacking
paperwork and playing the piano in the
middle of the night. She was suering
from dementia or maybe worse.
Unfortunately, that also meant her son,
George, didnt get much sleep, either.
An out-of-work editor and freelancer,
George Hodgman had moved to Paris,
Mo., from New York for what was
supposed to be a week. Or a month. Or
a year to take care of his mother. Betty
didnt like it; she hated needing someone.
Hodgman didnt like it, either; too much
had changed.
I was Bettys boy, he says, and hed
been that way all his life. Hodgman loved
his father ercely, but he absolutely
favored his mother. Still, he desperately

wished hed been able to tell his parents
he was gay, that he felt alone, that hed
survived too many failed romances, that
hed had substance abuse issues. Surely
they knew but no one ever talked about it.
Now, as he cared for her, there were
times when Betty infuriated Hodgman.
She could be rude and stubborn, prone
to ts of anger for no reason and loud.
She atly refused any thoughts of nursing
homes or assisted living. The problem
was her dementia, Hodgman reminded
himself repeatedly. He understood that
she was rightfully fearful because she
knew she was losing herself and I can
only imagine how scary it is.
And yet, I think I have survived because
of Betty, more than anyone, Hodgman
said as she eased away. There are so
many things I will carry when I leave
Bettyville with my old suitcase.
Without a doubt, youd be forgiven for
reaching for a tissue while youre reading
this book. Heck, you might want a whole
box of them, but theres a lot more to
Bettyville than heartstring-tugging.
I found joy inside this story, in
between its inevitable sadness. Author
George Hodgman keenly remembers
his small-town childhood from all sides:
churchgoers and alcoholics, kindness
and bullying, adolescent crushes, baing
foes and o-limits subjects that no smalltownie discusses. We meet, through the
eyes of Hodgman, Bettys friends and
family and were told a story about a time
past, a life well-loved and losing a mother
long before shes really gone.
Be prepared to laugh a little, but be
prepared to cry, too, as youre reading this
ne memoir, especially if youre a caretaker
for an elderly parent. For you, for sure,
Bettyville is a book that cant be ignored.
BETTYVILLE: A MEMOIR
By George Hodgman
Viking
$27.95
279 pages
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
3 2 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
P H O T O S BY MI CH A E L KE Y
The Miss Gay D.C. America pageant was held at Town Danceboutique on March 28. Deva Station was crowned Miss Gay D.C. America 2015,
with Rushena Fontaine coming in second place also qualifying for the Miss Gay America pageant in Memphis, Tenn., in October.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
A R T S & EN TE RTA I NMENT
A P RI L 0 3 , 2 0 1 5 3 3
Champlin proud of trailblazers DeGeneres, Sykes

comics and Improv champs and tickets

are selling like hot cakes.
Champlins love for comedy began as a
popularity contest with her sister, who was
in the theater department and Champlin
joined because she wanted to be popular.
She kept doing theater throughout college
and the faculty began to take notice. She
started doing her own stand-up comedy
routine that became a hit.
Comedy was just taking o then, it
was in the early 80s and comedy was like
a viable job, Champlin says. You could
be a comedian and make money. I was
like, Oh my God, thats what I want to do.
I dont want to study physics. I want to
make people laugh.
After college, Champlin found it hard to
achieve the same success she had before.
She started dressing up like Joan Rivers
and performing one of Rivers comedy
albums at a hotel for a couple weekends.
She didnt realize that what she was doing
was wrong, but performing the show
renewed her love for hearing an audience
laugh like she had in college.
Another comedian Champlin found
inspiration from was Lucille Ball.
She broke the rst ceiling you know

what I mean? In the 50s? A woman
carrying the show? Champlin says. She
just really said to me, Yeah, its OK to be
wackadoo and you dont have to conform
to all the norms of what an American
woman is supposed to be. Because
heres a woman thats leading the charge
in comedy. I just loved her.
Her love for Ball and Rivers grew into
admiration for fellow women comedians,
especially lesbian comedians. Champlin
learned she had to decide what her special
it factor was to make it in comedy. She
decided that she wanted that factor to be
her sexuality.
When I was in L.A., everyone was like,
Who are you? What is your thing? How
would we build a sitcom around you? And
Im like, I dont know Im funny? And they
were like, Nope not it, thanks, Champlin
says. They really want to put you in a
corner so you really got to nd your niche.
So I guess being gay is my niche at this
point. I mean Ill take it. Its working.
Being gay as a niche is something
fellow comedians like Wanda Sykes
and Ellen DeGeneres have banked on.
Champlin recognized that not every
lesbian comedian would be able to have

the amount of success and fame that
those popular comedians did. However,
Champlin isnt bitter about their success
and instead welcomes it.
I wanted to be them. I wanted to have
that much fame and notoriety. But Im
glad that they did so that it does make a
normalcy of being gay and being on TV
and all the gay things on TV. Gay is way
OK on TV. So thats a good thing and
they pushed that and I appreciated their
eorts and their works doing it.
Champlin says straight people have
become more receptive to entertainment
fronted by gay and lesbian people.
People dont care anymore really.
There are bigger sh to fry. Being gay isnt
a problem for straight people anymore,
especially at a comedy club. They actually
do want to hear about it.
Champlin still faces some challenges
like when to come out to an audience
when she performs her stand-up show.
She recalls that in a recent showcase she
performed at in Atlantic City, she waited
until around the ve-minute mark of
her eight minute set to disclose she is a
lesbian. She also sometimes struggles
with revealing some of her personal life.

Her new girlfriend, who is divorced and
Champlin is her rst girlfriend, makes for
good comedic fodder for Champlin but
she struggles with her girlfriend begging
her not to use certain jokes. If she isnt
comfortable with them, Champlin cuts
them even though she thinks they t
perfectly into her routine.
Despite those challenges, Champlins
love for comedy doesnt waver. She credits
it for helping people get through tough
times and uniting people together. Its the
reason Champlin enjoys what she does.
During comedy, theres no guards and
everybody is equal. Its a great equalizer.
Theres no black, theres no white, theres
no gay, theres no straight when everyone
is laughing. Its awesome.
QUEER QUEENS OF QOMEDY

CAMP Rehoboth Womens Fest 2015
April 10
8 p.m.
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camprehoboth.com
3 4 A PRI L 0 3 , 2 0 15
Travel with the BEST,

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W A SH I NGTO N B LA D E.C OM
A P RI L 0 3 , 2 0 1 5 3 5
REALESTATE
Strong spring expected for local real estate

Supply-demand ratios bode
well for D.C. sellers
By TIM SAVOY
One of my colleagues is set to list
his upper Georgetown home in anticipation of purchasing a new home. In
preparation for the market, he conducted a pre-listing home inspection,
completed minor repairs around his
home and even hosted a coming soon
listing party for real estate professionals in his network.
These actions will likely culminate with
just a few days on the market in the coming weeks because of the buzz and exposure he has built around his home. This is
just one example that the spring market
has arrived.
Overall, 2015 has been o to a steady
start as predicted. Year-over-year
through the end of February, closed
sales are up 9.8 percent in the D.C. area,
with a 10.8 percent change in the number of new listings compared to 2014.
This trend is expected to continue into
March as the number of new listings will
continue to increase. In a sense, sellers
are much more condent that rising
home prices in the area and greater consumer condence will lead to greater
gains at settlement.
Historically, the spring is seen as the
big resurgence of the market from the
cold winter. I predict that this year will be
no dierent and even greater than 2014.
For a homeowner, spring market advice is simple. If you are considering

selling your home, start taking actions
now to prepare. For some sellers, a
few pieces of maintenance and repair
to your home have the potential to increase your homes value. From painting
to planting, small xes and beautication can be key in the spring market for
a successful sale. Simply putting your
home on the market doesnt guarantee
the greatest return on investment. Build
a following by hosting pre-listing events
through your Realtors brokerage in order to get the greatest number of eyes
on the property prior to it hitting the
MLS. In return, a small amount of eort
will result in gains at the closing table.
As a general rule of thumb when thinking about pricing your home for sale,
there is never a price that is too low to list
your home at. Yes, return on investment
is traditionally every sellers number one
priority. However, in a market that is as
fast-paced as the Districts with an increasing focus on a lack of supply, listing
at a market price will encourage an environment of multiple oers and escalating
purchase price. Thinking about it practically, would you prefer to sell your home
at a market price with only a few days on
market or would you rather risk sitting
on the market for months at a price that
isnt dictated by the rules of supply and
demand?
Spring will be critical for buyers for
one reason: interest rates. While interest
rates remain low, many experts nation-
Spring looks strong as expected for the Washington real estate market.
wide expect interest rates to rise over

the next six months because of the past
year of historically low interest rates.
Rates can only increase. For buyers, that
means locking in a rate now and getting
into the market to purchase. With inventory rising seasonally, this is the perfect
time to get a preapproval on a loan. For
buyers who are interested in purchasing
responsibly, there should also be a focus
on market education. Buyers should get
up to speed quickly on market values
so they know the right decision when it
presents itself.
Finally, if it is said that April showers

bring May owers, the spring is primed
to launch 2015 into a good steady market for both buyers and sellers. If you are
thinking of buying a property or selling
a home, feel free to ask me more about
what the next best steps are. Quite simply, the time to act for both buyers and
sellers is now.
DAVE LLOYD & ASSOCIATES
SIMPLE
AFFORDABLE
PROVEN RESULTS
TIM SAVOY is a real estate agent with Coldwell

Banker Residential Brokerage, Dupont Circle. He
can be reached at 202-400-0534 or by email at
timothy.savoy@cbmove.com.
Sid Binks, PhD, ABPP-CN

Board Certified in Clinical Neuropsychology
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W A SH I NGTO N B LA DE.C OM
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION
2015 FEP 31
Baby Rita Knight-Houghton, Name of Decedent
June 22, 2013, Date of Death
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Holly H. Devaser whose address is 6801 Kenilworth Avenue, Ste 200, Riverdale
Park, Maryland 20737 was appointed personal representative of the estate of
Baby Rita Knight-Houghton, deceased, by the Circuit Court for Prince Georges
County, State of Maryland, on September 4, 2014.
Service of process may be made upon Deborah Elaine Heard 7101 8th Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20012 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has
been filed with the Register of Wills, DC.
The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 3322-3324
Georgia Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed
with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street,
NW, 3rd Floor, Washington DC 20001 within 6 months from the date of first
publication of this notice.
Date of first publication: April 3, 2015
Anne Meister, Register of Wills
HEATING / COOLING
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REPRODUCTIVE Law Attorney Jennifer
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matters.301-221-9651,JFairfax@
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FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM
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Volume 46, Issue 14, April 3, 2015

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A PR I L 0 3

Calls to boycott state grow

of every faith, said the Republican in a lengthy statement

Indiana Gov. MIKE PENCEs decision to

Former Ehrlich aide considering

conceded there are a number of headwinds he

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEFALAS

Transgender woman killed

Ark. governor asks

Area churches to hold

Ask your doctor if a medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

Bowser: Supporting LGBT equality easy decision

Va. trans student blocked from using girls restroom

name and gender.

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

Archdiocese of Washington joins effort

employers from discriminating against

killing the two bills.

that has oversight over D.C., told Roll

Fatal NSA check point incident raises questions

news media outlets that it now appears

Fleming took his car keys and drove away

Friends: Hall was transgender

that day or that that would be the end,

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

Victory Fund announces new president

Kill the gays ballot measure challenged

Blaze destroys Fire Island hotel

Justice Department les lawsuit

The U.S. Justice Department under Attorney

Discrimination against employees

W A SH I N GTO NB LAD E.C OM

PEPCO AND EXELON:

WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PEPCO AND EXELON MERGER.

LEARN MORE AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. VISIT WWW.PHITOMORROW.COM

Bonauto to argue before Supreme Court in marriage cases

MARY BONAUTO will argue before the U.S.

weve all travelled to get here has been

hearing, and I look forward to the day

U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of plainti

States urge justices to

State defendants last week made their

11 Senate Republicans back benets for same-sex couples

Even though the U.S. Supreme Court

Gay couples legally married in any state

Representatives to defend his states ban

Ark. governor seeks revision of religious freedom bill

Gov. ASA HUTCHINSON on Wednesday

legislation, Hutchinson said his son Seth

Moreover, Hutchinson said hes

mention sexual orientation or gender

Judge blocks new family leave rule for gay couples

OConnor writes. Moreover, as the nal

(Labor) Department the power to dene

our sovereignty in this case.

Volunteer for HIV/AIDS group dies in plane crash

completing its Young and Gay Peer

members who were on Flight 9525 that

LGBT advocates disrupt Jamaican prime ministers speech

Jamaican Prime Minister PORTIA SIMPSONMILLER

Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand posted

decision to challenge the protesters