Washingtonblade.com, Volume 50, Issue 52, December 27, 2019

MIGRANTS MET IN CARAVAN IN MEXICO AND LATER WED IN D.C., PAGE 10

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D E C EMBE R 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.CO M • 03

VOLUME 50 ISSUE 52

Alexander and Felipe are gay immigrants from Nicaragua and El Salvador who recently wed after surviving a harrowing journey to D.C. PAGE 10

06

Blade 50th Sponsors

24

NYE Parties

08

Death Of Homeless Trans Woman

26

Queery: Vagenesis

Trump Anti-LGBTQ Rule

28

Out & About / Calendar

10

Journey Ends In Love

30

Arts & Culture

12

LGBTQ Parochial School Teachers

32

Top Films of 2019

14

Knives Out For Buttigieg

33

Film: Cats

16

National News Briefs

34

Theater: Helicopter Parenting

19

Cannabis Culture

37

Real Estate

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Viewpoint

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17th Street residents mourn death of homeless trans woman

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com

A D.C. police report and people who knew homeless transgender woman Alice Carter, 35, said concerned citizens observed her unconscious on the 1600 block of 17th Street, N.W., about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, on the sidewalk outside the McDonald’s restaurant where she hung out and often slept for at least 12 years.

The police report says the concerned citizens flagged down D.C. police officers who were later identified as members of the police LGBT Liaison Unit walking in the area conducting routine business visits.

According to the police report, the officers performed CPR on Carter while waiting for D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services workers to arrive. The EMS workers, after arriving a short time later, took over the CPR activity and were able to resuscitate Carter, who was not breathing when the officers first saw her.

She was taken to Howard University Hospital in critical condition, one of the officers said later. But to the dismay of the officers, EMS workers and many residents and visitors to the 17th Street neighborhood, Carter died the next day at the hospital.

Known for years as Baby Alice, Carter’s friendly and cheerful disposition despite her struggle with homelessness and substance abuse made her a popular figure on 17th Street among those who lived there and those who visited or worked at the restaurants and bars, including two gay bars and the gay-friendly Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse, that line the bustling street.

“Last night the gay heavens welcomed another angel,” said gay bartender Dito Sevilla who lives and works on 17th Street, in a posting on Facebook. “17th Street’s longtime resident singing, dancing, rapping, demi-monde, known for years as ‘baby’ Alice didn’t make it,” Sevilla wrote.

“A more harmless and innocent soul has never shared our streets; she’ll be missed terribly,” Sevilla wrote in his post. “Alice loved wearing pink, composing poetry and of course McDonald’s strawberry milkshakes.”

Sevilla said he and many others who live and work in the neighborhood helped Carter by giving her money. Those who knew her said she often held out a cup asking for help.

David Perruzza, former general manager of the 17th Street gay bar JR.’s and current owner of the 18th Street gay bars Pitchers and League of Her Own in Adams Morgan, said Alice Carter also hung out on 18th Street outside the McDonald’s in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.

“A lot of you knew her as the transgender homeless girl on 17th and 18th streets,” Perruzza said in his own Facebook post. “Not many know that she was kicked out of her house cause she was transgender,” he said. “Be kind to people. Everyone has a story. People just don’t become homeless,” Perruzza wrote. “Consider donating to an LGBTQ+ homeless shelter in her memory.”

Ruby Corado, founder and executive director of the D.C. LGBT community services center Casa Ruby, said Carter was an occasional client of Casa Ruby.

Corado said Carter had an addiction problem and mental health issues that Corado and others tried to persuade her to take steps to address.

“She was a loving, beautiful soul,” said Corado. “I don’t know too much about her. All I know is when we did outreach I would bring her in and she would take showers, eat, she got clothes, and then eventually she would go back out,” Corado said.

D.C. police didn’t disclose the cause of Carter’s death, but the police report says she was found “not breathing and unconscious and possibly under the influence of an unknown substance.”

The Washington Post reported that Carter is one of at least 117 homeless people who have died in D.C. so far this year.

D.C. mayor objects to Trump anti-LGBTQ rule proposal HHS move would enable adoption agencies to discriminate

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com

‘Such discrimination is fundamentally wrong and goes against everything we stand for in Washington, D.C.,’ Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote in her letter to HHS. Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Dec. 19 submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services a letter expressing her strong opposition to a rule proposed by the Trump administration that would allow organizations receiving federal grants, including taxpayer-funded adoption agencies, to discriminate against LGBT people.

The mayor submitted her letter on the last day in which federal rulemaking procedures allowed members of the public to submit comments for or against the proposed HHS rule initiated by the White House. The proposed rule calls for rescinding an Obama administration rule banning discrimination against LGBT people in healthcare related matters governed by HHS. “My name is Muriel Bowser, and I am Mayor of my hometown, Washington, D.C.,” Bowser said in her letter. “I am writing regarding the proposed rule published by the Department of Health and Human Services, RIN 0991-AC16,” she said.

“If approved, this rule appears to give HHS programs the ability to discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) and other marginalized groups with taxpayer funds,” Bowser states in her letter. “Such discrimination is fundamentally wrong and goes against everything we stand for in Washington, D.C.” Bowser cited arguments by experts in the field of public health, including representatives of LGBT rights and AIDS advocacy groups, that the proposed

rule could allow discrimination against LGBT people, religious minorities, and women through federally funded private organizations that carry out adoption and foster care programs, HIV and other sexually transmitted disease prevention programs, refugee resettlement and elder care programs.

Days before Bowser submitted her letter Democratic members of the U.S. House and Senate, civil rights advocates, and at least five AIDS groups submitted their own statements to HHS opposing the proposed rule.

The Blade learned that HHS introduced its proposed rule in November reportedly under pressure from conservative groups, including Catholic adoption agencies that claim placing children in LGBT homes, which they say the Obama version of the rule would require them to do, violates their religious beliefs.

LGBT rights advocates say the HHS proposed rule would allow discrimination based on the religious exemption claim to organizations receiving federal grants to deny LGBT people other services, including medical care and access to homeless shelters.

“Today and every day, I call on fellow Washingtonians to stand together in rejecting the actions that seek to divide, and to do more – not less – to support and protect our LGBTQ community, and particularly transgender women of color, LGBT youth, and other vulnerable populations,” Bowser said in her letter.

“As such, I urge HHS to withdraw this proposed rule immediately.”

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Alex and Felipe: Migrants’ desperate journey ends in love

Couple survives harrowing swim across Rio Grande to wed in D.C.

By ARMANDO TRULL Alexander and Felipe are gay immigrants from Nicaragua and El Salvador living in D.C. Their home is one bedroom festooned with Barbie dolls, rainbow flags and their national flags. How they made it to this small brick rowhouse off of Georgia Avenue, N.W., is a journey fueled by violence, fear, desperation and ultimately love.

In early 2018, the young men left their respective homelands because of homophobic violence. Alexander, who owned a successful fried food kiosk called a fritanga in his hometown of Ayapal, Nicaragua, was forced to flee because he says neither his parents nor siblings accepted his homosexuality. The neighbors in his small community were equally intolerant.

“I was threatened with machetes and knives,” he recalls. Alexander says he abandoned his home, business and country because “I thought they were going to kill me.”

Felipe’s story is similar, with the added twist of gang or mara violence that is the “daily bread” of many Salvadorans, especially those living in his hometown of Sonsonate.

“You live in constant fear,” he says. “More so when you are part of … ” He pauses and says quietly “… the gay community.” It’s almost as if proclaiming his sexuality out loud could still cause his death.

Each youth left on his own and headed north. Their only companions on the road were hardships.

“I had to sleep on the side of the road and in parks. I endured heat, cold, hunger and thirst,” says Alexander. For Felipe, leaving El Salvador was equally tough.

“I placed myself in God’s hand and in his will,” he says softly.

They say their trip to Mexico was fraught with danger. Cartels and criminal gangs are everywhere and immigrants are easy prey.

“They see Central Americans as merchandise,” says Alexander. “If they catch us they kidnap you and hold you for ransom.

If you can’t pay, they kill you.”

The youths met in Tapachula, Mexico, near the country’s border with Guatemala and became friends. Unable to find work or get asylum in Mexico, they soon joined one of the caravans of Central American migrants trekking north to the U.S. border. They faced the same homophobia in the caravan that had forced them to flee their homes.

“They mocked us, threw rocks at us,” recalls Alexander.

ALEXANDER FLORES OLIVAS and FELIPE AGUILAR hold their marriage license after their wedding at Casa Ruby in D.C. on Dec. 6, 2019.

Photo courtesy of Casa Ruby

The couple sought safety in numbers and joined a group of several dozen other LGBTQ youth who were part of the caravan. They hoped that banding together would spare them from even worse homophobic violence from within the caravan.

By the time the ragged group arrived at the Mexico-U.S. border they were exhausted, had run out of money and were still at risk of being kidnapped by the cartels or attacked by homophobes. Alexander, Felipe and the others say they were unnerved by the chaos of thousands of migrants waiting their turn on the bridge and living in camp cities on the border.

Felipe says they feared the Trump administration would soon close the border, which it would do a few months later. The group made a fateful choice.

“We decided we would all try to swim across or die trying,” says Felipe.

The youth on Feb. 23 jumped in the Rio Grande as a group but Felipe, who can’t swim, soon began to struggle in the murky waters.

“About halfway through I started to drown,” he says.

Alexander saw this and returned from the American side of the river and rescued Felipe.

“I told him to hold on to my neck and that I

would get him across,” says Alexander.

Border Patrol agents arrested the 15 soaking wet youth but were at a loss with what to do with such a large LGBTQ group of detainees. They were shuttled from one detention center to another in a space of three days.

“No one wanted us, we were rejected everywhere, one day here, then somewhere else, another place,” says Felipe.

Homeland Security contacted Ruby Corado, a transgender activist and Salvadoran-American immigrant who runs Casa Ruby in D.C., and asked her to sponsor them. She didn’t hesitate.

“I understand very well the dangers of being in detention centers, many of them die, some of them are very sick,” says Ruby.

Ruby flew to San Antonio where she took custody of Alexander, Felipe and the other 13 youth on Feb. 28. She bought food, loaded the immigrants into a van and began a 1,600mile trek to D.C. At least 24 immigrants have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since the Trump administration began, including seven children and two trans women. Scores of others have complained of physical and sexual abuse while in ICE

custody.

Ruby tapped into her contacts within welcoming congregations across the country and arranged support for her small caravan, explaining what was at stake.

“I knew somewhere down the line we were going to save lives,” says Ruby.

The shell-shocked youth, who hours before were shivering in an immigration cell were now being driven across the country and being warmly welcomed at multiple stops, including Houston and Atlanta, where congregations cared for them physically, emotionally and spiritually. For many of these southern congregations, headed by AfricanAmerican pastors, it was an opportunity to validate their all-embracing vision of Christ’s teachings.

“God told me to love and I show my love for God by serving God’s people,” said Pastor Marvetta Walker of Progressive Open Door Christian Center in Houston while she laid out steaming platters of eggs and bacon along with smiles and hugs in her home. It was also an opportunity for these congregations to re-enact a seminal moment in the plight of enslaved Africans’ own journey to a promised land.

“We all answered the call, so that we could be here and be a part of this underground railroad, to get these wonderful beautiful souls to Washington, D.C. to really experience the freedom that we have,” said Dr. Elijah Nicholas, pastor of Kingdom International Ministries in Atlanta. “This is what America is about.”

At one point toward the end of the journey, Ruby started playing Spanish ballads from Mexican torch-singers, the kind of sad songs usually heard at drag shows in Central America. Ruby began bellowing out the words to “A Prueba de Todo” which means “Able to Withstand Anything.” Her bellowing rendition was off-key but with drama to spare, and soon one-by-one the youth started to sing as well. It was a “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” moment as the van made its way through the darkened interstate. It seemed the words of resilience and love were triggering a cathartic group experience.

“At first, I didn’t believe any of this was real, but by the time we were driving in the van toward Washington and singing I started to hope that maybe my life might get better,” said Felipe.

CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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Supreme Court could deliver bad news for LGBTQ parochial school teachers Catholic institutions seek expanded rights in hiring and firing staff

By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com Cases the Supreme Court has recently agreed to take up on the right for religious non-profits to hire and fire employees consistent with their faith could have major implications for LGBTQ workers at those institutions, LGBTQ legal advocates are warning.

Last week, the Supreme Court announced it had a granted a writ of certiorari, or agreed to hear, the two cases now consolidated as one: Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. MorrisseyBerru, Agnes and St. James School v.

Darryl Biel.

In both cases, Catholic schools are seeking an expanded right to conduct employment practices — such as the hiring and firing of employees — consistent with their religious beliefs under the ministerial exemption granted by the First Amendment.

Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said a ruling for the Catholic schools “could significantly expand the ability of religious schools and other religious employers to disregard anti-discrimination laws when hiring and firing employees.”

“In practice, the impact of any such broadened exemption would be especially serious for LGBTQ workers, since many religious employers view being in a same-sex relationship or undergoing a gender transition as contrary to their doctrines and beliefs and thus grounds for termination,” Minter said.

On their face, the litigation has nothing to do with LGBTQ workers and instead is about former teachers alleging wrongful discrimination on the basis of age and disability.

• In the Our Lady of Guadalupe School case, the Hermosa Beach, Calif.based school refused to renew the contract of Agnes Morrissey-Berru, a fifth-grade and sixth-grade teacher, who’s now alleging age discrimination under the Age Discrimination Employment Act. The school has said it refused to renew her contract because she didn’t fulfill her cathecist certification requirement.

That was established in 2012 years after Morrissey-Berru was first hired in 1999.

After filing a complaint with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity

Cases the Supreme Court has agreed to hear from Catholic schools could impact LGBTQ people working at parochial institutions.

Blade file photo by Michael Key

Commission in 2015, Morrissey-Berru sued in district court. The judge, however, determined her claim was barred under the ministerial exemption and granted summary judgment in favor of Our Lady.

A panel on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling, which led the school to file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.

• In the St. James School case, the Torrence, Calif.-based school refused to renew the contract of Kristen Biel after she disclosed she had breast cancer.

(She is now deceased and is represented

by Darryl Biel.) The school declined to renew Kristen Biel’s contract after telling her she would be unable to keep her job because she couldn’t maintain order in her classroom.

The EEOC granted Biel a right-tosue letter in 2015. However, a trial court ruled she was serving in a ministerial position, thus the school was in its right to terminate her. A divided panel on the Ninth Circuit reversed the decision, prompting the school to file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the same non-profit behind high-profile litigation that sought exemptions under the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court in the Hobby Lobby and Little Sisters of the Poor cases, is behind both lawsuits.

“Parents trust Catholic schools

to assist them in one of their most important duties: Forming the faith of their children,” said Montserrat Alvarado, executive director at Becket. “If courts can second-guess a Catholic school’s judgment about who should teach religious beliefs to fifth graders, then neither Catholics nor any other religious group can be confident in their ability to convey the faith to the next generation.”

Although the Supreme Court has previously ruled religious institutions under the ministerial exemption are absolutely free to hire and fire whomever they want as ministers, it has not specified what position, exactly, is a “minister.”

The decision in these cases will determine whether the jobs at stake in the lawsuits — teaching positions at parochial schools — qualify as ministers.

As such, the ruling could impact whether gay teachers have a legal right to sue a Catholic school if they’re terminated for entering into a same-sex marriage, or transgender teachers if they’re fired for undergoing a gender transition.

It’s true LGBTQ people, as of now, have extremely limited explicit nondiscrimination protections under federal law, and none in the workforce, but the EEOC has been accepting charges from LGBTQ workers alleging discrimination, and the entire situation could change soon.

At the same time the Supreme

Court has granted certiorari in the Catholic school cases, it’s considering cases that will decide whether antiLGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, therefore illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The two cases alleging anti-gay discrimination are Zarda v. Altitude Express and Bostock v. Clayton County and the one case alleging anti-trans discrimination is Harris Funeral Homes v.

EEOC. It’s possible the Supreme Court could rule for LGBTQ inclusion under Title VII, then essentially undercut that decision by determining in the Catholic school cases the ministerial exemption enables religious institutions to engage in antiLGBTQ discrimination under federal law for an array of positions, including teachers.

If, on the other hand, the Supreme Court ends up ruling against LGBTQ inclusion, Title VII would end up providing no protections whatsoever for LGBTQ workers, making a ruling for an expanded ministerial exemption under Title VII irrelevant for LGBTQ workers in terms of federal law.

Nonetheless, such an outcome would still undercut employment protections for LGBTQ people as they exist under state laws and local ordinances. Twentyone states explicitly ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workforce, and numerous municipalities prohibit anti-LGBTQ bias.

Jon Davidson, chief counsel for Freedom for All Americans, said a ruling for the schools would allow for a “greatly expanded exemption” under all non-discrimination measures — and not just laws barring discrimination against LGBTQ people.

“That would include laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity, as well as those prohibiting discrimination based on race, national origin and sex,” Davidson said.

The next step in the case is for the scheduling of briefings and oral arguments.

Although the Supreme Court elected to take up the litigation half-way through its term, it may well render the decision before the term ends in June 2020.

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Knives out for Buttigieg at latest Democratic debate Candidates address anti-trans violence

By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@washblade.com Climate change, health care — and for the first time this year in a substantive way, LGBTQ issues — were major topics during the Democratic debate last week, when seven candidates squared off on stage for the last time in 2019 and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg found himself the target of criticism.

The PBS/Politico debate took place in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University’s Gersten Pavilion. The seven candidates on stage along with Buttigieg were entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former Vice President Joseph Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and businessperson Tom Steyer.

With the number of candidates on the debate stage winnowed to seven, each of the contenders on stage had a greater opportunity for speaking time, giving those considered lower tier — like Yang, Klobuchar and Steyer — their time in the sun.

Klobuchar was energetic, forceful and engaging as she made her case for the nomination. Keeping her reputation as queen of puns in the Democratic primary, Klobuchar in response to the first question quipped, “As a wise judge said, the president is not king in America, the law is king.”

The Minnesota Democrat’s use of imagery was particularly powerful when the issue of climate change came up and she talked about the way her home state has firsthand experience with the issue.

“What we are seeing there is unprecedented flooding, we’re seeing an increase of 50 percent in homeowners’ insurance over the last few years,” Klobuchar said. “And when we make these changes, we have to make clear to people that when we put a price on carbon, that that money is going to come to back to those areas where are going to be hurt, where jobs are going to change and to make them whole with their energy bills.”

Steyer, who has been struggling to make his case for relevancy in the Democratic primary, certainly made up for that in his debate performance when he made his case for being the best candidate to take on Trump, who’s likely to run a strong economy.

“I built a business over 30 years from scratch,” Steyer said. “We’re going to have to take him on on the economy in terms of growth as well as economic justice. … I can go toe-to-toe with Mr. Trump and take him down

Mayor PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-South Bend, Ind.) speaks at a Democratic primary presidential debate on Dec. 19.

Photo courtesy of PBS News Hour/POLITICO

on the economy and expose him as a fraud and a failure.”

Buttigieg didn’t have his best night, and that’s putting it gently. He used a lot of canned answers and talking points that made him seem robotic. The only breakout moment for him was when the issue of China came up and he had a great line about the country using technology for “the perfection of dictatorship.”

On top of that, the knives were out across the stage for Buttigieg, whom many polls show is the front-runner in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire. In each instance, Buttigieg fought back aggressively, but his opponents — who are reportedly grumbling about his success given his lack of experience — knew how to draw out his weaknesses.

The first exchange took place between Buttigieg and Warren, when the Massachusetts Democrat took an oblique knock at him by saying she doesn’t raise money from wealthy donors who pay $5,000 for a selfie.

Buttigieg — who unlike Warren, is willing is hold fundraisers with major donors — picked up on that, rejecting the criticism.

“Donald Trump and his allies have it abundantly clear that they will stop at nothing, not even foreign interference to hold on to power,” Buttigieg said. “They’ve already put together more than $300 million. This is our chance. This is our only chance to defeat Donald Trump, and we shouldn’t try to do it with one-hand tied behind our back.”

But Warren pointed out Buttigieg held

a fundraiser in California in a “wine cave” full of crystals where wine was served for $900 a bottle.

“Think about who comes to that,” Warren said. “He had promised that every fundraiser that he would be open door, but this one was closed door. We made the decision many years ago that rich people in smokedfilled rooms would not pick the president of the United States. Billionaires in wine caves should not pick the next president of the United States.”

Buttigieg shot back by saying he’s the only candidate on the stage who isn’t a millionaire or a billionaire, decrying such complaints as “purity tests” and saying if he swore off those donations he couldn’t be on the stage.

Buttigieg also made it personal: “Senator, your net worth is 100 times mine.”

Taking a different approach, Klobuchar said she was hurt by earlier comments Buttigieg made about his lack of experience being a lack of experience in Washington. To the contrary, Klobuchar said, many candidates on the debate stage accomplished a lot as representatives in the federal government.

“I have not denigrated your experience as a local official,” Klobuchar said. “I have been one. I just think you should respect our experience.”

If there’s such a thing as a gay card, Buttigieg played it.

“Do you want to know about the capacity to win?” Buttigieg said. “Try putting together a coalition to bring you back to office with 80 percent of the vote as a gay dude in Mike Pence’s Indiana.”

After just one question on LGBTQ issues had come up in the Democratic debates this year (and one that didn’t really require candidates to give thoughtful answers on policy), a debate moderator finally posed a question on LGBTQ issues to the candidates.

PBS NewsHour White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor asked the candidates about their support for the Equality Act, comprehensive legislation that would prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination, and what they would do to address antitrans violence. In 2019 alone, 27 transgender people were counted as killed.

Sanders, who was the first candidate asked to respond, drew a contrast with the current anti-LGBTQ Trump administration and himself by saying leadership on LGBTQ issues is important.

“We need moral leadership in the White House,” Sanders said. “We need a president who will do everything humanly possible to end all forms of discrimination against the transgender community, against the AfricanAmerican community, against the Latino community and against all minorities in this country.”

With transgender people calling for greater access to health care, including transition-related care, Sanders said his Medicare for All plan would ensure all Americans would have access to health care “regardless of their sexual orientation or their needs…including certainly the transgender community.”

Warren took a slightly different route, committing herself to each year as president reading the names of the transgender people killed in the Rose Garden of the White House.

“I will make sure that we read their names so that as a nation, we are forced to address a particular vulnerability on homelessness,” Warren said.

Additionally, Warren pledged to reverse the Trump administration policy at the Bureau of Prisons that refuses to respect the gender identity of transgender inmates when placing them into federal detention.

Before the question was asked, Warren also name-checked the transgender community in reference to comments former President Obama made about needing new women leaders, saying she believes he was “talking about women and people of color and trans people and people whose voices just so often get shoved out.”

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Chicago activist to lead Nat’l Center for Lesbian Rights

Robert Gilchrist was confirmed U.S. ambassador to Lithuania.

Blade file photo by Michael Key

Senate confirms Trump’s fifth out gay ambassador

Just before adjourning for the holidays, the U.S. Senate confirmed Robert Gilchrist as the next the U.S. ambassador to Lithuania, making him at least the fifth openly gay person to serve in an ambassadorial role under President Trump.

The Senate confirmed Gilchrist — who’s a former president of GLIFAA, the affinity group at the State Department for LGBT employees — to the position by voice vote on Thursday along with a slew of other Trump ambassadorial picks without any floor debate or controversy.

Nominated by Trump in July, Gilchrist — who most recently served as director of the operations center at the State Department — is a career Foreign Service officer, not a political appointee like other ambassadors.

During his confirmation hearing in October, Gilchrist faced tough questions on Russia, which continues to seek hegemony over former Soviet states like Lithuania.

Amid ongoing concerns about Russia’s interference in elections worldwide, Gilchrist said Lithuania has set up protections that could serve as a model elsewhere.

“I think if you look through, through some of the recent press, you’ll see how the Lithuanians really in a masterful way have gotten out ahead of an issue before it became an issue domestically,” Gilchrist said. “And so, they are indeed at the forefront in many ways I think there’s some things that we could possibly learn from them as well.”

Other roles in which Gilchrist has served are deputy chief of mission of the U.S. embassy in Sweden, deputy chief of mission of the U.S. embassy in Estonia and the director of Nordic & Baltic Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of European & Eurasian Affairs.

Gilchrist is at least the fifth openly gay person Trump has selected for a position as U.S. ambassador. Others are U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell; U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry; U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Eric Nelson and U.S. Ambassador to Cabo Verde Jeff Daigle.

Gilchrist’s confirmation comes the same week Grenell went to the United Nations to promote the Trump administration’s global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality, which he has spearheaded.

CHRIS JOHNSON

The new head of the National Center for Lesbian Rights will be a Chicagobased activist who has served as a voice in the LGBTQ movement for black women, the organization announced last week.

Imani Rupert-Gordon, who currently serves as executive director of Affinity Community Services in Chicago, is set to take the reins of the San Francisco-based LGBTQ group on March 16, 2020.

“I’m thrilled to join the team at NCLR and to help expand their incredible work,” Rupert-Gordon said in a statement.

“As we continue the fight for legal protections to achieve LGBTQ equality, I’m excited to be part of creating a more inclusive LGBTQ movement that centers racial, economic and political justice.”

As the result of her activism in Chicago, the Illinois Human Rights Commission gave Rupert-Gordon its 2019 Activism Award. In a previous role, Rupert-Gordon served as the director of the Broadway Youth Center at Howard Brown Health, which has served more than 1,500 LGBTQ youth homeless youth.

According to her bio, Rupert-Gordon earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Rupert-Gordon also worked as a lecturer and developed campuswide programming for eight years at University of California Santa Cruz. In that role, she co-founded the Social Fiction Conference, which helps students examine issues of social justice through science fiction, gaming and fantasy.

The position was vacant at the National Center for Lesbian Rights after Kate Kendell, who led the organization for 22 years, made the decision in March to step down.

Emily Doskow, board co-chair for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said in a statement Rupert-Gordon is “the perfect fit for NCLR’s mission, culture and commitment to bold leadership.”

“She is a dynamic leader with a wealth of experience and a strong vision for the organization’s future,” Doskow said. “We could not be more fortunate to have her joining NCLR.” CHRIS JOHNSON

Schmid to depart AIDS Institute A longtime advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS, who has overseen the Trump administration’s plan to beat the epidemic by 2030, has left the AIDS Institute, the Blade has confirmed.

Carl Schmid, who served as deputy executive director of the AIDS Institute, has left the organization after being part of the non-profit for 16 years, a spokesperson for the organization told the Blade last week.

“Carl told us he wanted to travel and think about doing something new or different. We respect that,” AIDS Institute spokesperson Nick Armstrong said. “Sixteen years is a long time in the same job and HIV advocacy is changing, the populations we reach are changing, attitudes toward the disease are changing, even political leaders change.

As an organization we embrace changes and are excited about the changes in our team and the new leadership throughout the organization.”

Schmid’s work on HIV/AIDS advocacy at the AIDS Institute has spanned the course of three administrations: George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Most recently, Trump named him co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council of HIV/AIDS as his administration seeks to implement a plan to reduce new HIV infections by 90 percent by 2030.

At the same time as Schmid’s departure, the AIDS Institute announced a restructuring among its remaining staffers as well as new hires. Rachel Klein, formerly the health policy manager, is set to take Schmid’s role as deputy executive director.

The new board president, David Reznik, is director of the Oral Health Center, Infectious Disease Program, at the Atlanta-based Grady Health System, a program he founded in 1991. Michelle Scavnicky, formerly the associate executive director, will now also serve as chief human resources officer; Kim Molnar is the new director of the Center for Convening & Planning; Donna Sabatino, is set to lead state policy and advocacy work.

In a public Facebook post, Schmid said he signaled on Dec. 2 he’d depart the AIDS Institute, but will continue to serve as co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and a member of the PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board.

“It truly has been a remarkable experience to grow the organization into a national leader in domestic HIV and hepatitis policy and be a strong advocate for people with serious and chronic health conditions,” Schmid wrote.

CHRIS JOHSON

16 • WA S HI N GTONB L A DE . CO M • D EC EM B ER 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 • N AT IO N AL N EW S

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forgotten mistakes marking them like a ‘scarlet letter’ for the rest of their lives,” said Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, one of the bill’s sponsors.

In August, the governor issued a conditional veto to similar legislation, opining at that time that it did not go far enough to streamline the expungement process.

While some provisions of the new law will take immediate effect, other parts of the measure will not be enacted for 180 days.

Gov. Murphy also signed separate legislation into law (A 5823) restoring voting rights to 80,000 people who are currently on probation or parole.

New Jersey Gov. PHIL MURPHY signed legislation into law facilitating the expungement of low-level marijuana crimes and other offenses.

N.J. voters to decide on marijuana legalization

TRENTON, N.J. — Super-majorities of the New Jersey Assembly and Senate decided last week to place a marijuana legalization ballot question before voters in 2020.

The question will appear as a constitutional amendment on the November election ballot. Senators voted 24 to 16 in favor of the effort, while members of the Assembly voted 49 to 24. State law requires that three-fifths of lawmakers in both chambers approve a resolution to place an amendment on the ballot.

The ballot question will read: “Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’? Only adults at least 21 years of age could use cannabis.

The State commission created to oversee the State’s medical cannabis program would also oversee the new, personal use cannabis market. Cannabis products would be subject to the State sales tax. If authorized by the Legislature, a municipality may pass a local ordinance to charge a local tax on cannabis products.”

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy had previously backed a legislative effort to regulate the personal use and retail sale of cannabis, but the proposed measure never received a Senate floor vote.

NORML Northeast Political Assistant Tyler McFadden said that expeditious legislative action would have been preferable, but expressed confidence that “New Jersey voters will overwhelmingly support the legalization of cannabis in the Garden State” in 2020.

According to a statewide Monmouth University poll, 62 percent of New Jersey adults support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

If voters approve the amendment in 2020, lawmakers will still have to finalize its language prior to implementing the new law.

In a related development, Gov. Murphy signed legislation into law facilitating the expungement of low-level marijuana crimes and other offenses.

The measure establishes an expedited process for expunging the criminal records associated with minor marijuana-related violations, among other changes. An analysis of nationwide arrest data published last year reported that New Jersey was third in the nation in total marijuana arrests and second only to Wyoming in per capita marijuana arrests.

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H E A LT H • DE CE MBER 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONB L A DE . COM • 19

Near-record support for cannabis legalization: polls More than six in 10 U.S. adults support legalizing marijuana nationwide, according to a pair of public opinion polls released last week.

According to a new Fox News survey of registered voters nationwide, 63 percent of respondents endorse “legalizing the recreational use of marijuana on a national level.” The total represents an increase in public support of four percentage points since the last time Fox polled the issue in 2018.

A second national poll, conducted by NPR/PBS and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, reported that 62 percent of U.S. adults believe that “legalizing marijuana nationally” is a “good idea.”

The poll results are consistent with those of other recent national surveys — including those conducted by Gallup, the Public Religion Research Institute, Pew, and Axios — all showing greater than 60 percent public support in favor of legalizing cannabis.

Topical CBD shown to mitigate neuropathy SAN DIEGO — The topical administration of CBD oil is associated with reduced pain in patients with peripheral neuropathy, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

A team of investigators affiliated with Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and Des Moines University in Iowa assessed the efficacy of topically delivered CBD oil in the management of neuropathic pain in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Twentynine patients participated in the study. Each patient received both treatment and placebo at various intervals of the four-week trial.

Authors reported: “There was a statistically significant reduction in intense pain, sharp pain, cold and itchy sensations in the CBD group when compared to the placebo group. No adverse events were reported in this study.”

They concluded: “Our findings demonstrate that the transdermal application of CBD oil can achieve significant improvement in pain and other disturbing sensations in patients with peripheral neuropathy. The treatment product was well-tolerated and may provide a more effective alternative compared to other current therapies in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy.”

Cannabis Culture news in the Blade is provided in partnership with NORML. For more information, visit norml.org.

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20 • WA S H IN GTO N B LAD E.CO M • D EC EM B ER 2 7 , 2 0 1 9

YARIEL VALDÉS GONZÁLEZ

a Washington Blade contributor from Cuba who remains in ICE custody in Louisiana, (Screenshot courtesy of Michael K. Lavers)

PETER ROSENSTEIN

is a D.C.-based LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

VI E W PO I NT • DE CE M BER 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONB L A DE . COM • 21

RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

is a writer and activist. Reach him at rrosendall@starpower.net.

YARIEL VALDÉS GONZÁLEZ

a Washington Blade contributor from Cuba who remains in ICE custody in Louisiana, (Screenshot courtesy of Michael K. Lavers)

My only wish from Santa this year Blade contributor seeks freedom from ICE detention this Christmas

By YARIEL VALDÉS GONZÁLEZ EDITOR’S NOTE: Yariel Valdés González is a Blade contributor who won political asylum in the U.S. on Sept. 18. He remains in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at Bossier Parish Medium Security Facility in Plain Dealing, La., because ICE has appealed Judge Timothy Cole’s ruling in his favor.

PLAIN DEALING, La. — In my homeland of Cuba, Santa Claus has never been very recognizable. The Communist dictatorship does not think much of this fat and jolly character who it says only indoctrinates children in order to cover up the “capitalist consumerism” the U.S. sustains. Cuban children and adults, nevertheless, adore the Christmas spirit that Santa brings each December. We decorate trees, we get together to eat and share with family and even the little ones — and others not so much — receive and give presents to each other before the end of the year or on Epiphany.

Stores in Cuba, which are all run by the government, are, contradictorily, decorated with lights and fake pine trees not for Christmas, but to celebrate the end of the year and to mark a new anniversary of the Cuban revolution’s triumph on Jan. 1.

This is what matters!

The regime maintains its antiChristmas façade, a kind of “parallel world” in which it only lives because Cubans are tired of such a false and ridiculous display. So much so that I had to bite my tongue many times while working as a radio presenter in my city because I could never mention the word “Christmas.” This vocabulary provokes terror among the directors of any official media outlet,

where you cannot legitimatize this anti-Communist tradition. Santa never appeared on Cuban television or in newspapers. The spirit of Santa, to the government, and all that it represents brings with it too many frivolities that are typical of the “enemy of the North” and can ideologically “contaminate” the people. Cuban Christmas is a bit clandestine, quasi-illegal, underground, present for the people and non-existent to those who govern the country. My Cuba is so complex and ambivalent.

Despite this reality, I always enjoyed Christmas in my own way in my country. It was an opportunity to visit my family and partner and surround myself with feelings of happiness and love. I am, however, looking forward to my first Christmas in the U.S. and not just for the presents as many may think.

I came to this country at the end of March to ask for political asylum because of the persecution that I suffered in Cuba as an independent journalist. I faced work and ideological sanctions in the island’s official press, expulsion from the state-run media system, interrogations and arbitrary detentions, travel bans that did not allow me to leave the country for journalism events. State security officials also carried out voracious and excessive interrogations against my family and friends in my neighborhood. All of this is part of a strategy to persecute and instill fear against independent reporters, those who can neither be controlled nor censured. Freedom of expression, and freedom of press even more so, does not exist in Cuba. Only the Communist Party, with an absolute reign of more than 60 years, is responsible for controlling each written and spoken word. The relationship between the party and media is like the relationship between a master and slave.

The consequences will be harsh if you don’t follow orders. These are the rules of this unjust and totalitarian power game.

I was able, with a lot of luck, to escape such a hell and on Sept. 18, six months

after I arrived in this country, Judge Timothy Cole determined I was worthy of asylum. He granted me the protection for which I had searched so much and for which I fled my country, leaving behind my family, my boyfriend, my friends and colleagues who are still living through a real witch hunt for the simple reason of telling the truth about Cuba.

Repression against independent Cuban media professionals has increased to extremely worrying levels with house arrests, illegal detentions that last several days, physical and psychological violence, registration and confiscation of work equipment, assaults and personal threats or those made on social media by an army of digital combatants who engage in so-called cyberbullying.

Prohibitions on traveling from the island to professional events and conferences under the absurd pretext the independent press is doing the bidding of foreign powers that finance it to force a regime change in Cuba and other barbarities have also increased. This and much more is what awaits me if I am forced to return to Cuba. The possibility of being deported is once again hanging over my head after ICE appealed the asylum granted to me in September. I remain incarcerated at this moment while an appeals court (the Board of Immigration Appeals), comprised of three judges in Virginia, considers my case for a second time.

My life and my future is literally in their hands.

Many people may think I am too dramatic, but those who think differently than the Cuban dictatorship and publicly show it in digital journalism outlets unleash the most ferocious anger. Us freelancers are considered a “national security threat,” dangerous and subversive traitors who don’t even deserve the air they breathe and the punishment will be double if they are part of the LGBTQ community because the island recently has not been afraid to reveal itself as it truly is: An intolerant and homophobic

tyranny. The government has deemed me persona non-grata because of my collaboration with publications branded “counterrevolutionary and subversive” like Tremenda Nota, the Washington Blade’s media partner in Cuba, CubaNet and others like YucaByte or this weekly, whose international news editor, Michael K. Lavers, is on the list of those who are “prohibited” from entering the country.

I am afraid of how I will be treated if I were to set foot on the island. You can rest assured that I would have never given up my mom’s hug or my elderly grandparents’ affectionate kiss if my fundamental rights as a human being were not viciously trampled and my life was not in danger. I guess it was a survival instinct that made me close my eyes and suddenly abandon these bonds of blood and love.

I have fought for my salvation from inside a prison for nine months. From detention at the Bossier Parish Medium Security Facility in Louisiana, the Deep South, I intend to remain optimistic and keep the faith, even though my hope withers a little with each passing day of this confinement. The constant support of my family in Miami and Cuba, my lawyer, as well as my closest friends and colleagues in this country and on the island are the only things that have kept me from an emotional collapse and a dead end.

Each night before I go to sleep I pray that justice will once again be done, because these judges are considering whether I deserve the opportunity to live without fear in this great nation. I only hope they uphold Judge Cole’s decision that he issued more than two months ago.

It would be, without a doubt, the best gift that I could receive this Christmas. Like an excited child, I hope Santa Claus brings his sled to Louisiana and gives me the only present for which I fervently ask each minute: Freedom.

Freedom!

22 • WA S HI N GTONB L A D E.CO M • D EC EM B ER 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 • V IEWP O IN T

PETER ROSENSTEIN

RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

is a D.C.-based LGBT rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

It’s now Trump’s Republican Party The only reminders of what we once knew as the Republican Party are a few out-of-office politicians like former Govs.

William Weld, Tom Ridge, and John Kasich.

Those Republicans in office like Moscow Mitch (R-Ken.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have totally given away any sense of personal dignity or the semblance of independent thinking and become willing slaves and sycophants to the disgusting pig in the White House, Donald Trump. They have become handmaidens to their king willing to bend over and even welcome the consequences.

It is a sad time for the nation when a political party disappears. There were once impressive members of that Republican Party who fought for a better country. From Abraham Lincoln to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Gerald Ford. Those like Sen. Jacob Javits (R-N.Y.), Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), and Nelson Rockefeller, governor of New York and vice president. Women like Jeannette Pickering Rankin (R-Mont.), the first woman elected to the House and Margaret Chase Smith (R-Maine) elected to both the House and then the Senate. Those men and women could hold their heads high as Republicans. The party they helped build no longer exists.

We have just gone through a process, impeachment, in the House of Representatives envisioned by our nation’s founders as rare but potentially necessary.

What they didn’t envision was what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just said, “Our Founders, when they wrote the Constitution, they suspected that there could be a rogue president. I don’t think they suspected that we can have a rogue president and a rogue leader in the Senate at the same time.” They didn’t envision ‘Moscow Mitch’ as Majority Leader. They believed those elected to Congress would fight to defend the Constitution based on the oath they took.

To ensure what is written there ,which is that Congress is an equal branch of government, and not give in to a president who wants to dismiss them as subservient.

We are at a crossroads in our nation’s history. It’s up to Congress, and if they fail, the voters to determine which road we will take. Will we stand up and hold accountable

a president who defies our Constitution or will we give in to that president who says, “I can do whatever I want?” Most will find that frightening but apparently Moscow Mitch and the other Party of Trump members of Congress do not. The Party of Trump likes to say Democrats are defying the 63 million people who voted for Trump — conveniently forgetting that 66 million people voted against him for the Democratic candidate and another eight million for other candidates.

We are a divided nation and Trump is playing on those divisions. Those members of what was formerly the Republican Party are helping and abetting him in doing that. They are turning a blind eye to his sexism, racism, misogyny, homophobia and willingness to cozy up to white supremacists, neo-Nazis and foreign despots. They excuse every outrageous policy emanating from his administration including caging immigrant children and saying that in his administration science no longer matters.

During the 2016 campaign it was reported Log Cabin Republicans refused to endorse Trump, “citing the Russian proverb that Ronald Reagan used to sum up his feelings on negotiating with the Soviets — ‘Trust but verify’ — the group said in a written statement that it was not yet prepared to fully support Mr. Trump’s candidacy.” They went on to say “Should Mr. Trump become our nation’s next president Log Cabin Republicans welcomes the opportunity to work with his administration. Until and unless that happens, our trust would be misplaced.” Today after he has displayed his enmity to the LGBTQ+ community attacking transgender people, including saying they should not be allowed to serve in the military and encouraging anti-LGBTQ organizations and those who would have us back in the closet they endorsed him. There is no way that can be considered rational. They abandoned what was once the Republican Party to join the Party of Trump and bent over for him.

My trust is in the American people in 2020. That in the few states Trump won by a mere 78,000 votes to win the Electoral College voters will reach a different conclusion ensuring Trump will not be in the White House as of noon on Jan. 20, 2021.

D E C EMBE R 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.CO M • 23

is a writer and activist. Reach him at rrosendall@starpower. net.

Composing ourselves for the battles ahead I have tried several ways of starting this piece. Here’s one: At least we’re not in London during the Blitz like George Orwell, who wrote in early 1941, “As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.”

But as Barney Frank once observed, it’s not a winning message to say that things could be even worse.

I am sorting through stories from hopeful to horrible: Fr. James Martin rebuked a Republican congressman who compared Trump to Jesus. Pope Francis lifted the pontifical secrecy rule regarding clerical rape of children, but is still ignorant on gender identity. Federal judges have blocked a few dozen Trump actions, even as presidential adviser Stephen Miller devises cruel new policies. Christianity Today, founded by Billy Graham, called for Trump’s removal from office. J.K. Rowling disappointingly tweeted support for a woman who created a transphobic work environment. Mike Huckabee trolled about Trump being entitled to a third term. Hackers sent strobe light videos to the Epilepsy Foundation’s Twitter followers to cause seizures Oh, and Trump’s concern about corruption is why he was fined $2 million for misusing his foundation.

Regardless of how the impeachment plays out, Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves credit for her steady, skilled leadership of her caucus. A president who subordinates America’s foreign policy interests to his own must be held to account.

In other matters, Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s poise, toughness, and deft sparring were impressive in the Dec. 19 Democratic presidential debate.

His candidacy, fundraising, and polling are an historic advance that knocks the “not queer enough” complaints out of the water. He also displayed presidential instincts and temperament a few weeks earlier when, after a furious piece by Michael Harriot of The Root, he phoned Harriot to chat. Trust cannot be earned on the quick, and he faces continued skepticism from black voters. Yet his prodigious political gifts, military background, and heartland credentials make him an attractive alternative to the three B’s four decades his senior: Bernie, Biden, and Bloomberg.

I doubt any billionaires were in Pete’s wine cave. I thought he responded well to Sen. Warren’s jab. Andrew Yang was right that people without disposable income cannot give to a candidate. Pete raises a lot of money from small donors. I do not begrudge him the big-ticket events, even though I cannot afford to attend one, any more than I begrudge Warren the money she made.

Another formidable talent, Sen. Kamala Harris, dropped out but is still frequently mentioned as a running mate. Joe Biden shows signs of resilience. The field has narrowed, though no votes have yet been cast. The campaign and the impeachment are on a holiday break.

I have friends who exude a positive energy I find hard to emulate, who light up spaces just by entering them. They are a balm for the sadness that can arise during holiday season, such as in charity efforts, from realizing that there are always more in need than one has means to help. It is blessing enough to accept the joy and appreciation of those one is able to help.

We pace ourselves according to our needs and tastes. Musical choices are a case in point. Sometimes I think a sad Christmas song like Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” provides greater comfort by not imposing obligatory cheer.

Silence can also be a relief. I resist overscheduling. A few gatherings and notes to distant friends help me to stay on an even keel.

As for the election, who knows? Several friends appear absolutely certain about which candidate has no chance. Why don’t we just give up? But I do not give up. I take this madness a day at a time. I try to remember to thank people who are kind to me, and to say something kind in return. It is a small thing, like finding the grace to admit that I don’t know everything. Who believed 12 years ago that a black guy with a Muslim-sounding name could be elected president?

Admit it, you don’t really know. Isn’t that a weight off your shoulders? Here’s to making new connections and learning new things, whatever comes. Happy New Year.

Copyright © 2019 by Richard J. Rosendall.

All rights reserved.

10 … 9 … 8 … 7 … — don’t want to sit at home? The District has New Year’s Eve party options galore.

Roaring ’20s redux Ring out the ’10s with these D.C. New Year’s Eve party options

By PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN It’s out with the old and in with the new as venues across the District swing into “Roaring ‘20s” 2.0. Nothing is prohibited this time around, so let the Jazz Age reboot begin.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 It’s Gatsby New Year’s Eve 2020 at Eden D.C. (1716 I St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35 to party all night like a literary icon with a complimentary champagne toast, six DJs and three floors of entertainment. For tickets and information, visit eventbrite.com.

Capital Gatsby New Year’s Eve D.C. Gala 2020 is 9 p.m. tonight at the Showroom (1099 14th St., N.W.). Tickets start at $174 for this pricier event and guests are encouraged to dress in 1920’s black-tie decadence. The event features a five-hour open premium bar, midnight countdown and toast, multiple food stations, and 1920s inspired dancers, party favors and more. For tickets and

more information, visit dcnewyears.net.

The Noon Yards Eve celebration culminating in a noon balloon drop is today from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Yards D.C. (301 Water St., S.E.). This free, familyfriendly event features inflatable moon bounces, glitter tattoo artists, music, train rides and more. Visit theyardsdc.com for more information.

The New Year’s Eve Roaring ‘20s Party hosted by The Mansion on O & O Street Museum (2020 O St., N.W.) kicks off tonight at 9 p.m. Guests can enjoy a chocolate fountain, a tour of the 100-room mansion, a red carpet photoop and music by DJ Stylz. This former FBI hideout was featured on the Travel Channel’s “Mega Mansions” show and was listed in the top five historic venues

by Smithsonian Magazine. Tickets are

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$250 at forms.omansion.com.

Brand New Day 2020 is a 26-plushour marathon party starting at 10 p.m. tonight at Flash (645 Florida Ave., N.W.).

A single $50 ticket grants access to music from national and international artists as well as re-entry to this multi-day event.

For details, visit eventlink.to/flash2020.

New Year’s Eve at Mr. Henry’s (601 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) features music by local jazz artist Steve Washington. Tickets start at $124 and include live music, all night bites, an open bar and more. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.

A Jazz New Year’s Eve with Branford Marsalis presented by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2700 F St., N.W.) is tonight with shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Marsalis, a popular bandleader and saxophonist, has 16

Grammy nominations and three Grammy Awards. Tickets start at $75 and include a night of dancing, a midnight countdown and more. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information.

The Black Cat New Year’s Eve Ball celebrates the new year with swing music and more by Peaches O’Dell and her orchestra tonight at 8 p.m. at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.). Tickets are $30 at blackcatdc.com.

The second annual Leather and Lace Ball: New Year’s Eve is tonight at 8 p.m. at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.). This celebration features DJs, drag performers, go go boys and more.

Tickets are $10. For more information, visit Eventbrite and dceagle.com.

Trade’s (1410 14th St., N.W.) New Queer’s Eve 2020 is tonight at 10 p.m.

D EC E MBE R 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.CO M • 25

Vagenesis hosts performances by Rose Evergreen, Khaiya Darnell and Sirius Prism with music by StrikeStone and Wess the DJ. There is no cover for this over-21 event. Visit Facebook events for details.

Red Bear Brewing (209 M St., N.E.) hosts its New Bear’s Eve Party tonight at 7 p.m. This event features entertainment by pop artist Billy Winn and DJ Deven Trotter. For more information, visit redbear.beer.

The Ziegfelds Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) New Year’s 2020 Party starts at 9 p.m. tonight and features a special show with an expanded cast. The $20 cover includes a midnight countdown and champagne toast. More information is available on Facebook and secretsdc. com.

A Night in Havana: A New Year’s Celebration is tonight at 9 p.m. at Casta’s Rum Bar (1121 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.). Tickets are $75. This venue serves authentic Cuban food and DJ Vania mixes Latin beats and popular hits all night.

Party favors, complimentary fedoras and authentic Cuban hors d’oeuvres are available until midnight. Visit castasrumbar.com for more information.

The Big ‘80s New Year’s Eve Party celebrates the music of that other decadent decade tonight at 9 p.m. at Union Stage (740 Water St., S.W.). Tickets start at $30. DJ Marco spins Madonna, Whitney, Prince and more all night long until the ball drops. Tickets are available at bit.ly/nye80sDC.

QUEERY Vagenesis photo courtesy Vagenesis

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?

I came out when I was 16. I’d say the most difficult was a tie between my father and my grandmother. I didn’t even end up telling either of them. My mother told my dad (and he ended up being surprisingly cool with it… most likely because she said he had to). My grandmother found out (thanks to my search history) and responded with support and love.

QUEERY: Vagenesis

The local bearded drag hostess answers 20 queer questions

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO joeyd@washblade.com

One never knows when the drag bug may hit. For Vagenesis, it was unexpected.

Though alter ego Anderson Wells had dressed up in drag once before (in 2012), a performance in 2016 with friends for an anniversary concert of an a cappella group he’d performed in at college was the real start.

“After that, we caught the bug, spent the next year or so working on strengthening our personas and our looks and then hit the scene as the Haus of Stone in early 2018,” Vagenesis says.

She calls drag “a significant” (but not total) part of her income and would like to do it full time.

She performs Dec. 27 at Ottobar

(2549 N. Howard St.) in Baltimore for Cher Rub’s Dungeons & Drag Queens party. She will also host the New Queers’ Eve 2020 event on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. at TRADE (1410 14th St., N.W. ground floor). Rose Evergreen Khaiya Darnell and Sirius Prism will perform.

StrikeStone! and WESS the DJ will spin.

Look for the event on Facebook for full details or follow Vagenesis on Instagram for her full schedule.

Anderson Wells, a 29-year-old Baltimore native, came to Washington in 2013 for a job at Studio Theatre. He now freelances. He’s single, lives in Alexandria, Va., and enjoys cooking, sewing, mixing music and binging Netflix in his free time.

Who’s your LGBTQ hero?

My mother. She has always been a source of strength for me. I was fortunate enough to grow up with a lot of gay role models because most of her friends (my “uncles”) just happened to be gay. She was open with me about her queerness when I was growing up, was on the board of LGBTQ youth organizations, organized GSA dances and picnics and other events.

What LGBTQ stereotype most annoys you?

I hate seeing the stereotype that all LGBTQ people are bitchy or mean but I hate even more when I see LGBTQ individuals who perpetuate that stereotype. Being an asshole isn’t a personality — try again.

What’s your proudest professional achievement?

I’d have to say last year when I won the third season of D.C. Drag Wars at Cobalt.

Vine so I don’t understand why I find these so entertaining but once I start I can’t stop myself!

What’s your greatest domestic skill?

I’m actually a fairly good cook. I don’t do it often because I don’t have the time, but if I ever get to do it for others it usually goes over well.

What’s your favorite LGBTQ movie or show?

“Schitt’s Creek” What’s your social media pet peeve?

Vague-Booking. If you’re going to post your opinion on someone or something, be specific.

What would the end of the LGBTQ movement look like to you?

I don’t think that exists. There hasn’t been an end to the civil rights movement. There hasn’t been an end to the feminist movement.

These movements are continuing because the people in power still hold agency over the systems that govern how much success in life a woman, a person of color, and/or a queer person can attain.

What’s the most overrated social custom?

I never understood the “not wearing white after Labor Day” thing. No. 1, don’t tell me what to wear, No. 2, why does it matter?

What terrifies you?

Loneliness

What was your religion, if any, as a child and what is it today?

I was raised Catholic. Now I’m agnostic.

What’s something trashy or vapid you love?

Lately I’ve found it so easy to lose hours watching TikTok videos. I never cared for

What’s D.C.’s best hidden gem?

The strip of land on Vermont between 12 and R, N.W. Hear me out on this one: If you ever need parking near Logan Circle, this

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What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

Bob the Drag Queen winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” I feel a strong kinship with Bob and watching their success I began to feel my own potential.

What celebrity death hit you hardest?

Amy Winehouse. I really feel like she had so much more to give us musically. Music today could be so much different if she were still around. And I think she would be a great icon for people struggling with addiction if she had found success with it herself.

If you could redo one moment from your past, what would it be?

I wouldn’t have been the only one in my sixth grade graduation ceremony who was wearing a red silk shirt instead of a navy blue suit and tie.

What are your obsessions?

The original “Charmed” series, TikTok and cheese.

Finish this sentence — It’s about damn time: they stopped doing construction in D.C.

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TODAY Holiday Light Spectacular hosted by the Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) is tonight from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The event features a medley of seasonal music and singalongs accompanied by a full orchestra.

Tickets are $40 on tix.cathedral.org.

Daft Punk is Playing at My House 2000s dance party is tonight at 10 p.m. at the DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.). Tickets are free in advance and $5 the day of for this 21-and-up event. For more information, visit dc9.club.

Saturday, Dec. 28 A LOBO Holiday Spectacular is tonight at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) at 9 p.m. Hosted by D.J. UltraPup, this event is a celebration of the past year while welcoming in the new.

The cover charge is $5 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, visit the D.C. Eagle on Facebook.

Dark and Stormy December with D.J.s Kangal and Mindjacket is tonight at 9 p.m. at the DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.).

Tickets are $5 at the door. This party features Electro, Synthwave, Industrial and other dark techno sounds. Visit dc9. club for more information.

‘Hidden Hands II,’ a work by Joyce Wellman is part of her solo exhibition ‘Free Stylin’ — Homage to Ed Clark,’ which runs Jan.2-Feb. 2 at Foundry Gallery. An artist talk is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 3 p.m.

Image courtesy Foundry

By PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN

Last call for Enchant Christmas The Enchant Christmas light maze and market ends its run at Nationals Park (1500 S Capitol St. S.E.) Sunday, Dec. 29 from 6-11 p.m.

General admission tickets start at $19.99 and include full access to the light maze, a food and Christmas market with over 60 vendors, Santa’s Landing, Kid Zone and the Ice Skating Trail. There is a 10 percent discount for military, first responders, students and their spouses with a valid ID. For tickets and information, visit enchantchristmas.com.

Studio 54 Fiesta Disco coming Cafe Citron (1343 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts Studio 54 Fiesta Disco New Year’s Eve Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.

Tickets start at $35.

The $35 cover charge includes a champagne toast, party favors, $5 shots and $6 drink specials, while the $50 cover includes an open bar from 8-10 p.m. This Latin venue features Bolivian, Peruvian and other culturally-inspired fare, and D.J.s spin Latin House, Latin Pop and international music nightly.

Visit Eventbrite and cafecitrondc.com for tickets and information.

Sunday, Dec. 29 Gayborhood Night Piano Bar hosted by Freddie’s Beach Bar (555 23rd St., S., Arlington, Va.) is tonight from 5-8 p.m. Everyone is welcome for an evening of drink specials and door prizes to foster community between LGBTQ and ally neighbors. Visit freddiesbeachbar.com for more information on this and other events.

Indierock Karaoke: Holiday Edition is tonight at 8 p.m. at the DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.). All singers win old school prizes made of vinyl. For tickets and information, visit dc9.club.

Monday, Dec. 30 “A Christmas Carol” is at Ford’s Theatre (511 10th St., N.W.) today from 2-4 p.m. Tickets start at $32 for this holiday staple and are available for purchase at fords.org.

The Glow 20 Reunion featuring

Robbie Rivera and George Acosta is tonight at 10 p.m. at Soundcheck (1420 K St., N.W.). Tickets are free until 10 p.m. and $10 after for this 18-and-up event. For tickets and information, visit Eventbrite.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 The second annual Leather and Lace Ball hosted by the DC Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) is tonight at 8 p.m.

This New Year’s Eve party features D.J.s, drag performers, go go boys and more.

Tickets are $10 on Eventbrite.

New Year’s Eve Monopoly is tonight at Unity Lounge (1936 9th St., N.W.) at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $60. Event includes games and prizes, 2000-2019 music, champagne toast at midnight, hats, noisemakers and Times Square on big screen. Tickets and information are on Eventbrite and dc9.club.

Wednesday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Drag Brunch at Shaw’s Tavern (520 Florida Ave., N.W.) is today from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. There is no cover for this event hosted by Kristina Kelly. For more information, visit shawstavern.com/events.

Zoolights ends its run tonight from 5-9 p.m. at the Smithsonian National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). This free event includes live music, winter treats and holiday shopping. For more information, visit nationalzoo.si.edu/ events/zoolights.

Thursday, Jan. 2 The Philips Collection (1600 21st St., N.W.) presents Party Like the Roaring ‘20s tonight from 5-8:30 p.m. D.J. Chou Chou performs 1920s cabaret and electro-swing while guests enjoy Green Hat Gin from D.C.’s first distillery.

Guests who come in period attire receive a free drink. Tickets start at $12 at phillipscollection.org.

Queer/Trans/Nonbinary Yoga is tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Lamont Dharma House (1719 Lamont St., N.W.). The event promotes a safe space for those who identify outside of traditional boundaries. More information is available at lamontdharma.org and Facebook events.

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www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org by January 15/April 15 for best consideration

VOLUNTEER SERVICE EXAMPLES: Basic Needs Specialist *Food & Nutrition Asst * Shelter Asst * Community Gardener * Food Justice Organizer * Farmers Market Outreach * Community Educator * Park Liaison * Care Giver * Compliance Asst * Emergency Shelter Case Manager * Grant Writer * Medical Interpreter * Counselor * Literacy Support * Co-Teacher * Digital Literacy Instructor * High School Case Manager * Kindergarten Asst * Prevention Specialist * Citywide Initiatives Coordinator * AND MORE! Lutheran Volunteer Corps, operations@lutheranvolunteercorps.org, 202.387.3222

ALL YEAR LONG

D E C EMBE R 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.CO M • 29

This Week in the Arts provided by CultureCapital.com

THEATRE A Chorus Line. Thru Jan 4. Signature Theatre. sigtheatre.org.

A Christmas Carol. Thru Dec 29.

Singin’ In The Rain. Thru Jan 5. Olney Theatre at Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. olneytheatre.org.

An Irish Carol. Thru Dec 31. Keegan Theatre. keegantheatre.com.

Come From Away. Thru Jan 5. My Fair Lady. Thru Jan 19. The Second City’s Love, Factually. Thru Dec 29.

Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.

Eureka Day. Thru Jan 5. Mosaic Theater Company at Atlas. mosaictheater. org.

A Tribute to Aretha Franklin Dec 31. American Pops Orchestra at The Kennedy Center. theamericanpops.org.

Ring in 2020 with a tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin! Luke Frazier leads The American Pops Orchestra and an all-star lineup featuring Michelle Williams, Dionne Warwick, Bria Skonberg, Morgan James, Nova Payton, MILCK, and Rayshun LaMarr. After the concert join us for the Grand Foyer party to dance the night away as we countdown to midnight.

A Jazz New Year’s Eve: Branford Marsalis Dec 31. The Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.

Ring in 2020 in style when our always popular A Jazz New Year’s Eve returns to the Terrace Theater! This year stars jazz royalty Branford Marsalis, who has released more than 30 albums as a bandleader and saxophonist, racking up 16 Grammy® nominations and taking home three. Your ticket includes the Grand Foyer Party, a night packed with festive dancing to great bands, a countdown to midnight, a big balloon drop, and more!

First Night Alexandria Dec 31.

First Night Alexandria, an annual New Year’s Eve music festival and the largest family-friendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve party in the Washington, D.C. region, returns to Alexandria December 31, 2019 with fun for the family beginning at 2 p.m., entertainment starting at 7 p.m. and a culminating spectacular fireworks display—the only one in the D.C. metro area—over the Potomac River at midnight.

Free Community Day: January Jan 1. National Museum of Women in the Arts. nmwa.org.

Visit us on Community Day for free admission to the museum—take this opportunity to explore our current exhibitions, permanent collection, and events.

Photo Courtesy of American Pops Orchestra

MUSIC Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington presents: Holiday Sing.

Dec 28. DC Symphony and the Motown Sound. Dec 27. Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org.

MUSEUMS Anacostia Neighborhood Library. Right to the City @Anacostia Neighborhood Library. Thru Apr 20. anacostia.si.edu.

Dumbarton Oaks.

Ornament: Fragments of Byzantine Fashion. Thru Jan 5. Asian Art from the Bliss Collection.

Thru Jun 1. doaks.org.

Folger Shakespeare Library.

Miniature Shakespeare Books from the Harner Collection. Thru Dec 31. The Architecture of the Folger Shakespeare Library. Thru Jan 5. folger.edu.

Library of Congress. Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote. Thru Sep 1. Comic Art: 120 Years of Panels and Pages. Thru Sep 12. loc.gov.

National Archives. Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote. Thru Jan 3. archivesfoundation.org.

National Geographic. WOMEN: A Century of Change. Thru May 1. Becoming Jane. Thru Jun 1. nationalgeographic. org.

National Museum of Women in the Arts. Free Community Day: January. Jan 1. Women Artists of the Dutch Golden Age. Thru Jan 5. Judy Chicago—The End:

A Meditation on Death and Extinction.

Thru Jan 20. Live Dangerously. Thru Jan 20. New York Ave Sculpture Project. Thru Sep 20. nmwa.org.

Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. Gallery Tours. Thru Dec 31. The Great Inka Road. Thru Jun 1. Our Universes. Thru Sep 30. Nation to Nation. Thru Dec 31. Return to a Native Place. Thru Jan 1. Americans. Thru Dec 31. americanindian.si.edu.

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian. Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence. Thru Jan 5. In Mid-Sentence. Thru Mar 29. One Life: Marian Anderson. Thru May 17. Women of Progress: Early Camera Portraits. Thru May 31. Storied Women of the Civil War Era. Thru May 8. npg.si.edu.

Postal Museum. None Swifter Than These: 100 Years of Diplomatic Couriers.

Thru Jan 26. postalmuseum.si.edu.

GALLERIES DC Arts Center (DCAC). Some Things Old/Most Things New - Explorations at Gravity Press by Alec Simpson. Thru Jan 12. Out of Joint - Small Drawing by Karen Schiff. Thru Feb 23. dcartscenter.org.

Arlington Artists Alliance. A Taste of Winter. Thru Dec 27. Color Solo Show by Rebecca McNeely. Thru Jan 4. arlingtonartistsalliance.org.

Del Ray Artisans. Creature Comforts Art Exhibit. Thru Jan 26. delrayartisans. org.

Hill Center. Hill Center Galleries.

Thru Feb 1. hillcenterdc.org.

Korean Cultural Center DC. Recollection: Reinterpreting Tradition and Heritage. Thru Jan 3. koreaculturedc. org.

Library of Congress. Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words. Thru Sep 30. loc.gov.

Montpelier Arts Center. Reflections of Self. Thru Dec 31. Tinam Valk. Thru Dec 31. David Brosch. Thru Dec 31. mncppc. org.

Pozez JCC. Open Exhibition. Thru Jan 13. jccnv.org.

Strathmore. Fine Art in Miniature.

Thru Jan 5. Shades of Pastel. Thru Jan 5.

David Scheirer. Thru Feb 23.

Zenith Gallery. 6@35 - Fabricating Culture. Thru Jan 4. Small Treasures. Thru Jan 11. zenithgallery.com.

30 • WA S H IN GTO N B LAD E.CO M • D EC EM B ER 2 7 , 2 0 1 9

D E C EMBE R 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.CO M • 31

The downstairs cast of ‘Downton Abbey,’ one of the year’s best movies.

Photo by Jaap Buiterdijik; courtesy Focus Features

All the big, dom tops of 2019 Blade film critic offers his favorites of the year

By BRIAN T. CARNEY Movies are multi-faceted to begin with; with queer auteurs, casts and crews, it gets even more complicated. Look in the Blade’s Jan. 3 edition for a full “year in review” roundup in film and many other categories, where I’ll recap more thoroughly the year’s LGBT cinematic highlights. This, however, is my official 2019 “top 10” list.

The number one movie of the year was undoubtedly the magnificent “Pain and Glory (Dolor y Gloria)” by queer auteur Pedro Almodóvar. In this deeply moving story based loosely on the filmmaker’s own life, long-time Almodóvar collaborator Antonio Banderas plays gay filmmaker Salvador Mallo whose physical and psychological ailments have kept him away from the camera.

Banderas won the Best Actor prize at Cannes; Almodóvar veterans Penelope Cruz and Julieta Serrano turn and a great supporting cast turn in richly nuanced performances.

The rest of the Top 10 include (in alphabetical order): “Downton Abbey.” Creator Julian Fellowes seamlessly moved his elegant television serial to the big screen without missing a beat. The sumptuous high-class soap opera included fun new characters (Imelda Staunton as the formidable Maud Bagshaw), delicious quips from the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) and a visit to a gay pub by butler Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier). A special mention goes to “The Chaperone,” a side project by Fellowes, “Downton” director Michael Engler and “Downton” star Elizabeth McGovern which

offers a delightfully subversive look at Midwest American life in the 1920s.

“End of the Century.” With bold and exciting artistic choices, first-time director Lucio Castro creates a steamy mystery about two men who meet on the streets of Barcelona.

“Frankie.”

In a transcendently luminescent performance, the brilliant Isabelle Huppert plays a dying French actress who has gathered her large complicated family together for one last holiday. Working with co-screenwriter Mauricio Zacharias, gay filmmaker Ira Sachs skillfully guides the large international cast through complex physical and emotional terrains building to a powerful final tableau. Marisa Tomei is great as Frankie’s best friend Ilene.

“Little Women.” Writer/director Greta Gerwig offers a fresh, dazzling and thoroughly contemporary take on the beloved classic by Louise May Alcott. Gerwig’s powerful queer adaptation focuses on the rivalry between Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) and her sister Amy (Florence Pugh). Gerwig writes with a confident flair and directs with a steady hand; the supporting performances are all wonderful.

“Marriage Story.”

Writer/director Noah Baumbach’s incisive and insightful examination of a dissolving marriage features searing performances by Adam Drive and Scarlet Johansson (who also get to perform two numbers from “Company,” Stephen Sondheim’s musical about marriage).

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” This sumptuous French period drama tells the story of a young female artist who falls in love with her subject. The richly sensuous and thoughtful exploration of art and romance won the Queer Palm at Cannes where lesbian filmmaker Céline Sciamma also won the screenwriting award.

“Rocketman.” Using the pop superstar and gay icon’s own music, director Dexter Fletcher leads audiences on a fantastic journey through Elton John’s early life, including his childhood, his rise to international stardom, his coming out, his addictions and his decision to enter rehab. Taron Egerton is fantastic as Elton and the costumes by Julian Day are, of course, fabulous.

“Us.” Jordan Peele’s 2017 debut feature

“Get Out” was a penetrating analysis of racism in America. His second feature is a devastating critique of the American Dream with indelible performances by Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss.

“Where’s My Roy Cohn?” In this excellent documentary, long-form journalist turned documentary filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer profiles Roy Cohn, the closeted gay lawyer who was the mastermind the Lavender Scare of the 1950s and who served as a mentor to Donald Trump.

Honorable Mentions go to “1917,” Sam Mendes’ technically dazzling and emotionally devastating World War I tale; “And Then We Danced,” a deeply political story about the romantic relationship and artistic rivalry between two male dancers; “Ask Dr. Ruth” a thoughtful and clever documentary about the Holocaust survivor and pioneering sex therapist who became a fierce LGBT ally; “Booksmart,” Olivia Wilde’s funny and sensitive story about two high school best friends, one lesbian and one straight; and, “By the Grace of God” a clear-eyed and piercing denunciation of clerical abuse in the French Catholic Church by queer auteur François Ozon.

The list of honorable mentions continues with “Harriet” featuring a riveting by Cynthia Erivo as freedom fighter Harriet Tubman; “Knives Out,” the clever all-star whodunit helmed by Rian Johnson; “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho’s visually stunning and searing satire on class warfare in South Korea; “The Two Popes” with splendid scenery and memorable performances by Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Frances and emeritus Pope Benedict; and “Waves” a visceral exploration of an affluent African American family in crisis by Trey Edward Shults.

The (Not So) Guilty Pleasure of the Year was the thoroughly enjoyable “Charlie’s Angels.” Camp goddess and queer icon Elizabeth Banks (who served as producer, director, writer and star) provided a stylish, suspenseful and clever reboot of the ’70s TV series. The movie had a delightfully queer and feminist sensibility (with Kristen Stewart as a pansexual Angel) with strong central female performances, a great supporting cast and delicious cameos by Laverne Cox, Danica Patrick, Ronda Rousey and Jaclyn Smith, one of the original Angels.

Finally, a word on the passing of a cinematic era. With the release of “Star Wars” (now called “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope”) in 1977, creator George Lucas changed the way movies are filmed, scored, marketed and merchandised. Since then, the Skywalker sage has gone through some significant ups and downs, but it has remained an inescapable cultural milestone.

With the release of “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker,” the big-screen cinematic franchise will come to an end, even though the theme park attractions will go on forever.

32 • WA S H IN GTO N B LAD E.CO M • D EC EM B ER 2 7 , 2 0 1 9

CGI-laden film adaptation of ‘Cats’ is ugly, annoying and inconsistent J-Hud’s ‘Memory’ interpretation among few highlights

By BRIAN T. CARNEY TAYLOR SWIFT in ‘Cats.’ Need we say more?

Photo courtesy Universal

This year, some of Hollywood’s holiday presents, like Great Gerwig’s “Little Women,” are movie treasures.

Others, like the bizarre “Cats” and the disappointing new “Star Wars” are the cinematic equivalent of getting coal in your stocking.

Although “Cats” was roundly derided by critics when it opened in London in 1981, the fan favorite ran for decades on Broadway and in the West End and spawned countless national and international tours. Now director Tom Hooper (“Les Misérables” and “The Danish Girl”) has brought the musical to the big screen; it wasn’t worth the effort.

With a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Cats” is based on a rather slender book of light poetry by T. S. Eliot with additional lyrics, including the song “Memory,” supplied by director Trevor Nunn. The songs introduce the various “Jellicles,” members of a tribe of alleycats who have gathered for the “Jellicle Ball” where one of them will be chosen to ascend to “the Heavyside Layer” and be reborn.

The paper-thin plot of the stage musical is “enhanced” for the movie with an inconsistent focus on the Kitten Victoria who is presented as a new arrival in the alley; she gets to sing “Beautiful Ghosts,” a dull new song by Lloyd Webber and cast member Taylor Swift.

On stage, Lloyd Webber’s lightweight score was at least supported by John Napier’s clever costume designs, Gillian Lynne’s endlessly inventive choreography and Nunn’s confident direction. Unfortunately, without a strong hand on the helm, the movie musical is an unsightly mess.

The numbers were performed live by the cast on a soundstage; costumes and sets were digitally added afterwards.

In theory, the CGI should work fine; in practice, as Disney also learned this

summer, CGI is still not very lifelike.

The sets, which are supposed to show human objects from a feline perspective, are poorly rendered and inconsistently lit. The digital costumes are a visual nightmare. The color palette is ugly; the ears and tails move at random and are distracting; the hands and feet look human instead of feline and the design is annoyingly inconsistent. Some of the cats wear coats, hats, jewelry and even a jumpsuit (!) and others just have basic faux-fur. It’s confusing and distracting.

The choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler is generally lackluster and the cast can’t quite agree on how to best impersonate a cat. The acting is uneven and generally weak. Rebel Wilson and James Corden pander shamelessly (and ineffectively) for laughs; Francesca Hayward, a principal ballerina at the Royal Ballet, moves divinely but needed a much better acting coach on set. One of the few actors to offer an effective performance is Robbie Fairchild as Munkustrap, who serves as an emcee of sorts throughout the evening.

Despite all of this, there are some memorable moments in “Cats.” Taylor Swift turns in a powerhouse performance of “Macavity” and Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “Memory” soars into the stratosphere. Sir Ian McKellen is quite touching as Gus, the Theatre Cat, especially in his interplay with Dame Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy; they somehow manage to bring deep emotion and sly humor to shallow lyrics.

But don’t bother to watch the entire movie; you can catch these moments on YouTube.

A final word of warning. The songs of “Cats” are terrible earworms. Since the lyrics are very repetitive and the derivative melodies are generally undeveloped and unresolved, they can echo in your brain for a long time.

D EC E M BE R 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 • WA SHINGTONBLA D E.COM • 33

A spoiler-free discussion of ‘Star Wars’ As the endless Internet battles indicate, it is not entirely possible to write rationally about the “Star Wars” franchise and the recently released final installment of the original saga, “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker” proves no exception to the rule. Objectively, the new movie is a hot mess, but the return of beloved characters packs a powerful emotional punch.

The convoluted plot of Episode IX somehow brings together every “Star Wars” character (dead or alive) from the Emperor Palpatine to the Ewoks (with the exception, of course, of Jar Jar Binks). Led by General Leia Organa (the late Carrie Fisher seen in fuzzy outtakes from the previous installment of the story), the Rebel Alliance is still fighting the First Order/Final Order (Richard E. Grant makes a terrific addition to the Emperor’s leadership circle).

Filled with great wisecracks and gnomic intergalactic koans, the first 90 minutes of the movie are a serviceable action adventure film filled with exciting battle scenes and the mandatory Hamlet-esque discussions about the Force and the Dark Side. But at a certain point, the plot loses narrative coherence and the storytelling loses momentum. As the movie stumbles to a close, J. J. Abrams the director is unable to save J. J. Abrams the screenwriter (Oscar-winner Chris Terrio shares the screenwriting mantle). Abrams is much more effective as the voice of a fun new droid named D-O. All too often, Abrams and Terrio depend on a “Leia ex machina” to save the day. When they’ve written themselves into a corner, they rely on clumsy telepathic interventions to solve the problem. These quickly become laughable.

Overall, the cast performs admirably, balancing humor, passion and bravado with remarkable finesse. In an interesting twist, Anthony Daniels brings an unexpected depth to C-3PO; Naomi Ackie (Jannah), Keri Russell (Zorii Bliss) and Shirley Henderson (Babu Frik) are wonderful additions to the ensemble.

Sadly, some of the returning characters are reduced to walk-ons; Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) gets almost no screen time at all.

But Rose and the other returning characters still get cheers when they appear on the screen and the finale is greeted with both ovations and sniffles.

It’s hard to beat the undeniable appeal of a Wookie and his friends.

A final note to J. J. Abrams. A fleeting kiss between two women in the final moments of the movie does not count as a “lesbian kiss.” It’s a very brief moment between a very minor character and an unnamed extra. We don’t know who these characters are. This doesn’t count as LGBT representation.

You owe us one, sir.

LISE BRUNEAU and ERICA CHAMBLEE and ‘Eureka Day.’ Photo by Christopher Banks; courtesy Mosaic)

Vaccination vexation

Helicopter parenting ignites drama in ‘Eureka Day’

By PATRICK FOLLIARD Experience dictates that certain issues are better left undiscussed.

Vaccinating children is one of them. Invariably intractable, opposing viewpoints on this subject don’t budge: it’s either beyond selfish not to vaccinate or simply madness to inject live virus into an infant.

Nonetheless, Jonathan Spector’s smartly entertaining comedy “Eureka Day,” now at Mosaic Theater Company, goes there in a big way. Circumstances force discussion, kicking off all sorts of nastiness, implied and direct, as well as revelatory explanations for people’s positions.

At Eureka Day, an agonizingly progressive private school in Berkeley,

Calif., the executive committee meets regularly to discuss matters ranging from an impossibly long list of ethnic identity categories to an upgrade to genderneutral bathrooms. Their notoriously long meetings are held in the primary school’s cheery library (rendered with detailed perfection by set designer Andrew Cohen) where the group’s members take great pains to make sure everyone “feels seen.” What’s more, all decisions must be reached by consensus.

When the five-person committee unexpectedly convenes for an emergency meeting, it isn’t to discuss pronouns. It’s to address an outbreak of mumps that threatens to close Eureka Day. Because the student body is comprised of both vaccinated and unvaccinated students whose parents hold definite opinions on the matter, the prospect of an easily reached solution isn’t in the cards.

The concerned board (wittily costumed by Brandee Mathies) is headed by wishy-washy peacemaker Don (Sam Lunay), a Birkenstock-wearing educator who ends each meeting with a passage from Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet. Other annoying mainstays are the impossibly passive-aggressive Suzanne (Lise Bruneau), a founding

parent who thinks the school is her own; the ever-knitting Meiko (Regina Aquino), an affable Asian parent who isn’t what she seems; and Eli (Elan Zafir), an opinionated stay-at-home dad who made a mint in Silicon Valley.

And there’s Carina (Erica Chamblee), the fifth member who fills a position held open for a new Eureka parent. African American and married to a woman, Carina appears the most grounded of the bunch. Initially reluctant to say much, she increasingly feels the need to share and ultimately speaks her truth.

With a placid expression that scarcely masks a less-relaxed personality, Bruneau brilliantly assays Suzanne, a woman who is fine so long as things go her way.

You’ve met this person and probably didn’t like them. A lot of the action turns on Suzanne’s controlling behavior.

Unsure how to proceed regarding the mumps crisis, the committee decides to address the school community via Facebook Live. While the board’s talk, mostly generalities and platitudes, goes nowhere, the parents’ comments — projected on a large screen above the stage — ignite a passion not altogether unfamiliar to this sort of forum. Tempers flare and decorum rapidly devolves.

Expertly constructed by the playwright and skillfully staged by talented out director Serge Seiden, this scene is riveting as it grows increasingly tense and then ends, for the audience, with a massive exhale followed by intermission.

Without spoiling anything, Mosaic’s offering presents what seem to be stock characters and a predictable script, but things in this comedy of liberal manners are not what they first appear — the open marriage isn’t, a seemingly noncommittal board member rises to power, and most sadly, it’s tragic experiences that motivates a parent to fight fiercely.

Ultimately, Spector’s play won’t change your mind, that’s not his intention, but it might change the way you think about how others arrive at their opinions, despite how daft.

And while it’s definitely exhilarating to watch the cast of “Eureka Day” hash it out on stage, this terrific production might come with a warning: “Don’t try this at home.”

‘Eureka Day’

Through Jan. 5 Mosaic Theater Company Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St., N.E. $20-65 202-399-7993 ext. 2 mosaictheater.org

34 • WA S H IN GTO N B LAD E.CO M • D EC EM B ER 2 7 , 2 0 1 9

D E C EMBE R 27, 2019 • WA SHINGTONBLA DE.CO M • 35

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January is the new April

Don’t wait for spring to list your property. Homebuyers have started their home searches earlier each year since 2015.

Economists expect surge in home buying next month

By KHALIL ALEXANDER EL-GHOUL The Washington, D.C. real estate market really ramped up throughout the 2019 holiday season and there is no sign of a typical winter slowdown.

According to a new analysis released last week by Realtor.com, economists expect a surge in home buying activity in

January. If it feels like the spring selling season starts earlier each year, your instinct is probably correct. The selling season historically peaked between April and June, fall is generally the second best time to sell a home, followed by winter and summer.

Homebuyers have started their home search earlier each year since 2015. In one out of five of the largest markets in the U.S., January saw the highest number of listing views in 2019. That trend is expected to continue and although January is the peak month of listing views, the market remains competitive throughout the spring.

If you are a seller thinking about listing

D EC E MBE R 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 • WA SHINGTONBLA D E.COM • 37

your home in 2020, you might want to consider giving all of those homebuyers something to look at. Multiple offers and “bidding wars” tend to wane as the year goes on and more and more buyers leave the market.

In addition to limited supply, mild winters, and lower interest buyers have figured out in mass that if they wait until March or April to start looking for a home, there is a good chance they will find themselves in a competitive situation.

My advice to my homebuyers over the last few years has been to “get out of the market sooner than later.” What does that mean? Quite simply that as the season progresses and economic

indicators remain positive, more and more buyers will come into the market and make home buying more expensive.

I don’t think I will give that advice this year, however I will advise my sellers to get into the market sooner rather than later.

Khalil Alexander El-Ghoul is Principal Broker of Glass House Real Estate. Reach him at 571-235-4821 or khalil@glasshousere.com.

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