Washingtonblade.com, Volume 52, Issue 02, January 08, 2021

(Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Trump supporters storm Capitol as Democrats prepare to take power, PAGE 12

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D.C. budget lacks funds to implement part of LGBTQ bill Measure to strengthen hate crimes law undermined by funding shortage

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

strengthens the city’s existing hate crimes law by clarifying In a little-noticed development, the D.C. chief financial that hatred need not be the sole motivating factor for an officer determined in November that there are insufficient underlying crime such as assault, murder, or threats. LGBTQ funds in the city’s budget to implement an important part supportive prosecutors have said the clarification was of a bill approved by the D.C. Council to strengthen the needed because it is often difficult to prove that hatred is prosecution of hate crimes, including anti-LGBTQ hate the only motive behind a violent crime. crimes.

Juries have found defendants not guilty of committing The bill in question, the Bella Evangelista and Tony Hunter a hate crime on grounds that they believed other motives Panic Defense Prohibition and Hate Crimes Response were involved in a particular crime after defense attorneys Amendment Act of 2020, won final approval by the Council argued that the law required “hate” to be the only motive on Dec. 20 by a unanimous vote. in order to find someone guilty of a hate crime, legal In a Nov. 23 fiscal impact statement for the bill, D.C. Chief observers have said.

Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt said a provision in the bill “We are actually very glad that the most critical components that requires the D.C. Office of Human Rights to investigate of the measure can be implemented,” said Japer Bowles, an hate crimes targeting places of public accommodation official with the D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissions’ would cost $925,000 for increased OHR staff for the fiscal D.C. Council member CHARLES ALLEN (D-Ward 6) helped shepherd the panic defense bill through a public hearing Rainbow Caucus that advocated for the bill. years 2021 through 2024. Those funds are not currently in and to its final draft. (Photo public domain) Bowles and other activists have said they were hopeful the fiscal year 2021 budget or the projected fiscal plan for that the Council and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will find the following three fiscal years. the additional funds needed to implement the one provision of the bill that requires Eric Salmi, communications director for D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), additional funding when officials put together the city’s supplemental budget for fiscal who shepherded the bill through the Council’s legislative process, said Allen’s committee year 2021 over the next several months. to which the bill was assigned added language that allows all other provisions in the The finding by CFO DeWitt that there are insufficient funds to fully implement the bill to be implemented because no additional funds were needed to implement those Evangelista-Hunter bill came four months after DeWitt issued a separate fiscal impact provisions. statement finding insufficient funds to implement another LGBTQ related bill, the Care for Among them is a provision that bans the use of the so-called gay and transgender panic LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2020. defense in criminal trials. Activists say the ban is needed to prevent defense attorneys from That bill, which the Council approved in October, calls for amending the D.C. Human inappropriately asking juries to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity or Rights Act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ seniors including LGBTQ seniors with HIV expression is to blame for a defendant’s criminal act, including murder. who live in long-term care facilities in D.C. The attorneys have argued that their clients “panicked” after discovering the person Similar to their call for the mayor and Council to identify additional funds for the against whom they committed a violent crime was gay or transgender, prompting them to Evangelista-Hunter bill, activists have called for the city to find the additional funds needed act in a way they believed to be a form of self-defense. to fully implement the LGBTQ seniors’ legislation.

Another provision in the bill that will be allowed to be implemented, according to Salmi,

Comings & Goings

Russ named DoD’s director of Counterintelligence and Global SAP Security

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at: comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

Congratulations to Special Agent Lee M. Russ on his new position as DoD’s first Executive Director of Counterintelligence and Global SAP Security located at the Pentagon. Upon learning of his selection, Russ said, “I take great pride in being an integral part of the greatest military force in the world that is diverse, inclusive, and representative of the American people that we serve. I’m excited for the new opportunity and proud of the amazing work of our special agents, security and cybersecurity specialists, analysts, and support staff while I was assigned as the Deputy Director of the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Office of Special Projects (PJ). This new career-broadening opportunity and the associated responsibilities within the Department of Defense Special Access Program Central Office (DoD SAPCO) highlights the immense value the Department of Defense and nation place on the work counterintelligence and security professionals do to protect technologies in order to acquire and deploy operational and intelligence capabilities to warfighters worldwide.”

Before moving to this position, which he began in January, Lee was a supervisory special agent serving as the deputy director of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Special Projects, Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for operational control of more than 427 personnel at 41 field offices delivering specialized investigative, counterintelligence, polygraph, and program security management support for United States Air Force and Space Force Special Access Programs designed to protect advanced and emerging technologies for the Department of the Air Force and the Department of Defense.

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Russ joined the Air Force in 1997. He became an OSI Special Agent in 2001 and transitioned to DAF Civil Service in 2006. He has also been the lead investigator in numerous major DAF and DoD counterintelligence and espionage cases. After basic training and Communications, Information Systems technical school, he was assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and deployed twice to Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia. In 2001, he retrained into OSI where he worked as a computer forensic field examiner, basic criminal and counterintelligence agent at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. In 2003, he deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operation Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

In 2004, he was reassigned to the Pentagon as the Assistant Special Agent in-Charge where he LEE M. RUSS conducted highly sensitive counterintelligence investigations. In 2006, Russ separated from the Air Force and was hired back to OSI as a civilian special agent where he served as a Command Program Security Officer protecting advanced and emerging technologies and operational capabilities. In 2014, he was selected to serve as the Special Agent in-Charge of OSI PJ’s Washington Field Office, where he oversaw and directed the initiation and execution of operational planning and specialized investigative, counterintelligence, and program security management support for Air Force SAPs. Russ has earned many awards and honors including: Air Force Civilian Meritorious Service Medal (x3); Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Medal; Joint Service Achievement Medal; National Counterintelligence & Security Award; DoD Counterintelligence Award; OSI Civilian Special Agent of the Year in 2011.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at American Intercontinental University, IL; a master’s in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL; and a master’s in Strategic Intelligence, National Defense University, D.C.

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Harris visits Floriana Christmas tree decorated with her photos

In the wake of extended deliberations, Congress included in its deal to provide coVice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff visited 17th Street restaurant Floriana on Monday night that has dedicated its yearly outdoor Christmas tree to her.

Dito Sevilla chooses the theme and decorates Floriana’s 17th Street Community Christmas Tree every year. The community came together this year and raised over $8,000 for the tree, Toys for Tots, N Street Village and Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets.

“Every year since 2012 I decided to label the tree the ‘Official Dupont Circle Holiday Tree,’ Sevilla told the Blade. “Each year I select an ‘angel’ / spirit animal / muse / theme which celebrates culture and when possible that angel is a woman who has changed history.”

The tree is no stranger to visits from prominent politicos. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the tree decorated with her images in 2018.

Sevilla continued about Harris, “She’s the perfect, most inspiring, most beloved and anticipated theme I will have ever done. This is the 2016 victory we deserved, this is the celebration and elation after 4 years of embarrassment and lies. This is, dare I say, a personal love letter to every single woman of color to whom this country and the Democratic Party owe a gigantic amount of gratitude. I am honored to be able to share this tribute with the neighborhood and remind everyone who won November 3, 2020!”

Vice President-elect KAMALA HARRIS and her husband DOUG EMHOFF visit the ‘Kamala Tree’ on Monday. (Photo courtesy of Doug Emhoff Twitter)

The 16-foot “Kamala Tree” includes over 18,000 lights, cut-outs of President-elect Joe Biden, American flags, pairs of Biden’s favorite aviator sunglasses, mailboxes and first lady Melania Trump’s ‘Be Best’ ornaments.

STAFF REPORTS

D.C. budget lacks funds to implement part of LGBTQ bill

In the wake of extended deliberations, Congress included in its deal to provide coVice PrIn a little-noticed development, the D.C. chief financial officer determined in November that there are insufficient funds in the city’s budget to implement an important part of a bill approved by the D.C. Council to strengthen the prosecution of hate crimes, including anti-LGBTQ hate crimes.

The bill in question, the Bella Evangelista and Tony Hunter Panic Defense Prohibition and Hate Crimes Response Amendment Act of 2020, won final approval by the Council on Dec. 20 by a unanimous vote.

In a Nov. 23 fiscal impact statement for the bill, D.C. Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt said a provision in the bill that requires the D.C. Office of Human Rights to investigate hate crimes targeting places of public accommodation would cost $925,000 for increased OHR staff for the fiscal years 2021 through 2024. Those funds are not currently in the fiscal year 2021 budget or the projected fiscal plan for the following three fiscal years.

Eric Salmi, communications director for D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who shepherded the bill through the Council’s legislative process, said Allen’s committee to which the bill was assigned added language that allows all other provisions in the bill to be implemented because no additional funds were needed to implement those provisions.

Among them is a provision that bans the use of the so-called gay and transgender panic defense in criminal trials. Activists say the ban is needed to prevent defense attorneys from inappropriately asking juries to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression is to blame for a defendant’s criminal act, including murder.

The attorneys have argued that their clients “panicked” after discovering the person

against whom they committed a violent crime was gay or transgender, prompting them to act in a way they believed to be a form of self-defense.

Another provision in the bill that will be allowed to be implemented, according to Salmi, strengthens the city’s existing hate crimes law by clarifying that hatred need not be the sole motivating factor for an underlying crime such as assault, murder, or threats. LGBTQ supportive prosecutors have said the clarification was needed because it is often difficult to prove that hatred is the only motive behind a violent crime.

Juries have found defendants not guilty of committing a hate crime on grounds that they believed other motives were involved in a particular crime after defense attorneys argued that the law required “hate” to be the only motive in order to find someone guilty of a hate crime, legal observers have said.

“We are actually very glad that the most critical components of the measure can be implemented,” said Japer Bowles, an official with the D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissions’ Rainbow Caucus that advocated for the bill.

Bowles and other activists have said they were hopeful that the Council and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will find the additional funds needed to implement the one provision of the bill that requires additional funding when officials put together the city’s supplemental budget for fiscal year 2021 over the next several months.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

D.C. police chief nominee has record of LGBTQ support

Veteran D.C. Police official Robert J. Contee III, who Mayor Muriel Bowser nominated on Dec. 22 to become the city’s next Chief of Police, has a long record of understanding and support for LGBTQ-related issues, according to retired D.C. Police Lt. Brett Parson.

Parson, who is gay and headed the D.C. police branch that oversees the department’s LGBT Liaison Unit among many other assignments, called Contee “the right person at the right time for MPD and policing nationwide.”

Bowser nominated Contee for the police chief’s position shortly after former D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham announced he was leaving his post to become chief of police for Prince William County, Va. The D.C. Council, which must vote to confirm Contee’s nomination, was expected to begin the confirmation process, including a public hearing, later this month or early February.

“Robert Contee is a friend, mentor, and colleague of nearly 30 years,” Parson told the Washington Blade in an email message. “I have worked for and with him many times throughout my career with MPD,” Parson said. “I was thrilled to see him named as our next Chief of Police.”

Added Parson, “Rob’s support of me personally as a gay man has never wavered.”

Parson noted that Contee has asked him about how his life partner was doing nearly 0 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • LO CA L NE WS

each time he and Contee saw each other.

“He is a people person, who is comfortable in every setting, to include LGBTQ+ events and scenes where our community has been impacted,” said Parson. “Our city, agency, and the LGBTQ+ community will benefit from his leadership, vision, and compassion ROBERT J. CONTEE III for others.”

(Photo courtesy MPD) Contee, who was born and raised in D.C., began his tenure on the D.C. police force as a patrol officer in 1989 and worked his way up the ranks as a commander of three of the department’s seven districts before being named assistant chief for two key bureaus that involve overseeing the police academy, criminal investigations, human resources management, and youth and family services.

He held the position of Assistant Chief for the department’s Investigative Services Bureau at the time Bowser nominated him for the chief of police post. Contee was sworn in by the mayor on Jan. 2 as Acting Chief of Police while his confirmation is pending before the D.C. Council.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

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Warnock ousts anti-trans incumbent in Georgia State’s runoff results could herald new era in Washington

By CHRIS JOHNSON | cjohnson@washblade.com

Washington Blade on Tuesday, voters Democrats, seizing on momentum in Georgia who prioritize LGBTQ rights, after President Trump’s shocking phone called “Equality Voters,” also turned out call urging Georgia state officials to at higher rates compared to the general “find” votes for him to reverse his public in the state, at least in terms of election loss, scored a win Tuesday early voting. A majority of “Equality night in a run-off election in Georgia Voters” voted, 52 percent, took part in for two U.S. Senate seats, disrupting early voting, compared to 40 percent the narrative Democrats are unable to of the general public. win in the Deep South.

If Warnock ends up being the only Raphael Warnock defeated Sen. Democrat who wins in the run-off and Kelly Loeffler, making him the person Ossoff’s lead is reversed, the Senate Black person elected as U.S. senator will be 51-49 with a Republican majority in Georgia. The Associated Press and Senate Majority Leader Mitch declared victory for Warnock at 2 a.m.

McConnell (R-Ky.) in charge and able to after votes were tabulated throughout substantially block Biden’s agenda. the evening. Jon Ossoff holds a narrow But if both Democrats end up lead over Sen. David Perdue, although winning, the Senate will be split 50the race wasn’t called as of Wednesday 50. When Vice President-elect Kamala morning. (Visit washingtonblade.com Harris is sworn in on Jan. 20, she for updates.) would cast the deciding vote in Senate If Ossoff pulls off a win, he and leadership, forcing McConnell to hand Warnock will make history as over control to Senate Minority Leader Democrats in the Deep South and RAPHAEL WARNOCK defeated Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who has pushed anti-trans legislation.

Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). set up a 50-50 split in the U.S. Senate Democrats, at that point, would have control of both chambers of Congress, if weeks after Biden became the first Democrat in a presidential election to win Georgia narrowly in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, and the White House, giving Presidentsince Bill Clinton in 1992. elect Joe Biden a real opportunity to enact his legislative agenda.

The loss for Loeffler was a particular win for the LGBTQ community: The Republican Among the bills on Biden’s agenda is the Equality Act, which would expand the senator had introduced the Protection of Women & Girls Sports Act, legislation that prohibition on anti-LGBTQ discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Biden has would bar transgender girls from participating in school sports under Title IX of the said the bill would be his No. 1 legislative priority and he’d sign it into law within the first Education Amendments of 1952. Outgoing Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) introduced 100 days of his administration. similar legislation in the U.S. House.

Currently, the legislative filibuster has remained in place, despite elimination by both With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Warnock won 50.6 percent of the vote against Democratic and Republican leaders of the filibuster for judicial nominees. As a result, Loeffler, who captured 49.4 percent. Meanwhile, Ossoff captured 50.2 percent of the 60 votes are needed to move forward with debate on any particular bill in the event a vote in his race against Perdue, who claimed 49.8 percent. The run-off races were single senator objects. Even with Democratic wins in Georgia, senators could invoke the triggered after none of the candidates won a majority of the vote on Nov. 3 in the filibuster to thwart Biden’s legislative agenda. general election.

Democrats, including former President Obama, have proposed eliminating the No data directly correlates Trump’s call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad filibuster, calling it a relic of structural racism that has been used to thwart civil rights Raffensperger on Sunday, which was criticized as an illegal attempt to overturn the 2020 legislation. It remains to be seen if Democrats will pull the trigger and put an end to the election, with the loss of Republicans during the run-off election. filibuster, which would require a majority vote in the Senate.

In fact, the call arguably energized Republicans who turned out to vote in the runTalk has also emerged about not eliminating the filibuster, but changing the Byrd off, 75 percent of whom said they believed Trump’s loss in the election was fraudulent, rule, which allows the Senate to vote on budget reconciliation matters with a simple according to a poll from the Associated Press. Each of Trump’s claims over voter fraud majority. Under this proposal, the rule change would allow more policy related items to have been rejected as false and baseless. be eligible for the Byrd rule.

But as the votes were counted, analysts said turnout made the difference. Ossoff and Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of the LGBTQ media watchdog GLAAD, commended the Warnock did better than even Biden in predominantly Black areas of the state, such as Democrats for their apparent shared win in a statement.

Macon County, where voters came to the polls at nearly the same rates as they did on “It’s clear the voters of Georgia support a pro-equality agenda at the White House and Nov. 3. Meanwhile, Republican turnout was depressed in comparison to the general in the U.S. Senate,” Ellis said. “We congratulate Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, and we election when Trump narrowly lost the state. look forward to working with them and President-elect Biden to secure comprehensive “It turns out when your coalition depends so much on one person (Donald Trump) protections for LGBTQ people that an overwhelming majority of Americans already driving turnout, there are some big downside risks when that person isn’t on the ballot,” support. We are counting on their commitment to support the Equality Act, protecting wrote Dave Wasserman, editor of the Cook Political Report, on Twitter.

LGBTQ people in Georgia and across the country from discrimination.”

According to an internal memo with the Human Rights åCampaign shared with the

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Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol

Siege took place after Electoral College certification began

By MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Thousands of President Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as lawmakers were beginning to certify the Electoral College results.

The siege began shortly after President Trump spoke to his supporters who gathered on the Ellipse for the “Save America Rally.” Participants then marched to the Capitol.

The U.S. Capitol Police locked down the Capitol and evacuated lawmakers after Trump supporters breached it. Media reports indicate at least one person was shot during the siege.

The Washington Blade was on the east side of the Capitol when police used tear gas in an attempt to stop the protesters from entering the building. This reporter saw at least three people with pro-Trump signs standing in the window.

A curfew went into effect in D.C. at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) requested the National Guard to help clear the Capitol. The Metropolitan Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service Police are among the other law enforcement agencies that responded to the scene.

The siege began shortly after lawmakers began to certify the Electoral College results that confirmed President-elect Joe Biden had defeated Trump, despite unfounded claims the presidential election results were rigged. Dozens of Republican lawmakers previously announced they would object to the count.

Democrats on Wednesday also regained control of the U.S. Senate with the victories of Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

“The violence and destruction taking place at the U.S. Capitol must stop and it must stop now,” tweeted Vice President Pence, who was in the Capitol when the siege began.

“Anyone involved must respect law enforcement officers and immediately leave the building.”

“Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he added.

Trump in a video he released on Twitter falsely asserted the election “was stolen from us.”

Trump supporters gathered to hear him speak, then stormed the Capitol.

“You have to go home now,” he said. “We have to have peace. We have to have law and order.”

“America is so much better than what we’re seeing today,” tweeted Biden.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, is among those who condemned the siege.

“All Americans should be outraged by this attack on our Capitol,” said Hogan. “This is a heinous and violent assault on the heart of our democracy. I will not stand for this, and neither should any American.”

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a tweet said, “I cry for our country.”

“Hard to take seriously the political arsonists, starting with Trump, when they say they want to put out the flames after they lit the match,” he tweeted. “I never thought we would live to see the day that violent mobs seized control of the Capitol.”

The story was still unfolding as the Blade went to press on Wednesday. Visit washingtonblade.com and the Blade’s Facebook page for updates as well as videos taken by Blade reporters of the chaos.

Kaela Roeder contributed to this article.

‘You’re nothing more than a plague rat’ Social media erupts as NYE gay parties rage in Mexico

By BRODY LEVESQUE

The disgust, anger, and recriminations over gay New Year’s Eve parties in this seaside resort area of the Mexican state of Jalisco and neighboring Riviera Nayarit, continues to spread in gay online social media — particularly in numerous Twitter threads and on Instagram.

One Instagram account, @gaysovercovid has repeatedly called out party goers and party organizers.

Local media outlets in Jalisco and many Mexican social media users are also outraged.

The @gaysovercovid Instagram account has faced wave after wave of backlash from gay influencers many of whom are now embroiled in the controversy after having their Instagram posts publicly disclosed and then shamed by the anonymous account holder. There have been financial rewards offered to anyone who can unmask the account owner’s identity.

The account used the built-in abilities for tracking the influencers’ Facebook locations and Venmo transactions in an effort to uncover where they were attending parties. That brought about severe condemnation from those exposed while others celebrated that the account exposed the bad behavior of gay men.

In one example, in response to a social media post that depicted a Cedars-Sinai ICU registered nurse as a participant, social media users tracked the pictures to an Instagram account (@legstrong) listed for 25-year-old Armstrong Nworka. The Blade determined from online searches Tuesday, including Facebook using the handle ‘@legstrong’ and his surname, Nworka had profiled

himself as gay, an RN, and employed at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills.

One of the comments left on his page read: “Disgusting, you give us gay people a bad name. You’re truly nothing more than a plague rat.” Nworka has since taken his Instagram account private. Nworka did not respond to a Blade request for comment.

The Blade also reached out to Cedars-Sinai and was told that there would be no comment on personnel matters.

The ‘plague rat’ comment was mild in comparison to the thousands of other vitriolic responses to other party attendees and especially organizers, labeled by critics as ‘super-spreaders,’ who openly defied both U.S. and Mexican public health mandates and restrictions to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

Palm Springs resident and gay circuit party impresario Jeffrey Sanker held the largest New Year’s Eve weekend bash, which included several events. Originally set to take place in Puerto Vallarta, apparently ignoring the pleas from local health authorities, elected officials as well as residents, Sanker’s White Party Entertainment company was forced to move the event to neighboring Riviera Nayarit after the Jalisco state government banned mass gatherings and implemented more restrictive coronavirus measures.

In a text to ticket holders, Sanker’s company told attendees not to reveal the location of the party, nor could they take any photos or videos of the event. The text said

1 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

Instagram post showing @LEGSTRONG (Photo via @gaysovercoid Instagram)

the steps were necessary because they “do not want this getting out and causing any issues with the public.”

That text was screenshot and then posted by @ gaysovercovid as well as other accounts, which prompted one local news outlet in Puerto Vallarta, the Puerto Vallarta News, to editorialize on its social media accounts prior to the events: “If you are interested in still visiting the COVID Superspreader New Years Eve Celebration where foreigners come to our community and throw big parties and leave COVID while causing our businesses to close and people lose their jobs- […] COVID isn’t causing businesses to suffer, it’s the actions of people. We are tired of it. We have supported this event in past years and given it positive coverage, but this year it’s irresponsible and should be canceled.”

CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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Prominent trans activist in Colombia dies A prominent transgender activist in Colombia died on Saturday.

Laura Weinstein, director of Fundación Grupo de Acción y Apoyo a Personas Trans (GAAT), a trans rights group based in the Colombian capital of Bogotá, passed away four days after she was hospitalized with difficulty breathing.

“I have been hospitalized since yesterday because of breathing difficulties,” tweeted Weinstein on Dec. 31. “They gave me a COVID test and we are waiting for the results, but not being able to breath is something that I never wish upon anyone.”

Wilson Castañeda Castro, director of Caribe Afirmativo, an LGBTQ advocacy group that works in areas along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, on Saturday told the Washington Blade that Weinstein’s coronavirus test came back negative.

Weinstein had previously fought cancer. Castañeda told the Blade her health had deteriorated in recent months.

“We mourn the death of GAAT Director Laura Weinstein,” tweeted Caribe Afirmativo on Saturday. “The joint work and collaborative effort for all these years forged a great friendship between us and her! We are devastated.”

Castañeda told the Blade that GAAT and Caribe Afirmativo in November requested Colombia’s National Electoral Council develop protocols to ensure trans Colombians can vote, regardless of their gender identity.

Weinstein over the last year worked with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to reduce HIV rates among Venezuelans who have migrated to Colombia.

Castañeda said she worked with trans women and in particular sex workers.

Castañeda noted Weinstein a few months ago launched a campaign in Bogotá to support trans women and Venezuelan migrants. Weinstein was also among the Colombian LGBTQ activists who backed the 2016 peace deal between the government LAURA WEINSTEIN (Photo via Weinstein’s Facebook page) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that ended the country’s decades-long civil war.

“We will always remember her as a great ally, friend and tireless worker for human rights,” tweeted Colombia Diversa, another Colombian LGBTQ advocacy group.

Tatiana Piñeros, a trans woman who ran for the Colombian Senate in 2018, described Weinstein’s death to the Blade as a “big loss.” Mauricio Toro, who is the first openly gay man elected to the Colombian House of Representatives, is among those who also mourned Weinstein’s passing.

“Her fight and her inspiration will endure forever,” he tweeted.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Cayman Islands recognizes gay couple’s overseas marriage Immigration authorities in the Cayman Islands have recognized the marriage of a same-sex couple who legally married outside of the British territory.

The Cayman Compass newspaper on Dec. 23 reported Paul Pearson and Randall Pinder legally married in Ireland.

The Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board denied the couple’s application to have Pinder acknowledged as a “spouse of a permanent residency holder” on grounds the Cayman Islands’ Constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The Immigration Appeals Tribunal last week overturned the board’s decision.

“Recognizing opposite-sex foreign marriages and failing to recognize same-sex foreign marriages would be affording different and unjustifiable treatment to different persons on the grounds of sexual orientation,” states the ruling in the couple’s favor.

Cayman Islands Grand Court Chief Justice Anthony Smellie in March 2019 struck down the territory’s same-sex marriage ban. The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal a few months later overturned the ruling.

The territory’s Civil Partnership Law took effect in September.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Switzerland passes ‘Marriage for All’ bill Lawmakers in Switzerland late last month gave final approval to a marriage equality bill first introduced seven years ago.

The “Marriage for All” legislation passed in the National Council, which is the Federal Assembly’s lower house, by a 136-48 vote margin, even with the conservative Swiss People’s Party holding a 53-seat majority. The Council of States, the Federal Assembly’s upper house, approved the bill by a 24-11 vote margin.

A survey that Pink Cross, a Swiss LGBTQ advocacy group, conducted in February found 81 percent of Swiss voters support same-sex marriage, including 67 percent of

respondents who said they are members of the Swiss People’s Party.

ILGA-Europe Advocacy Director Katrin Hugendubel also told the Blade that her organization supports Switzerland’s hard-fought vote, which now aligns them with most of western Europe in terms of marriage equality, but noted “rainbow families” still face challenges.

Von Känel said the next step is to challenge barriers to same-sex parents to adopting children, particularly those born abroad.

PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN

Advocacy groups sue over ‘death to asylum’ rule Immigrant advocacy groups in a federal lawsuit they filed last month say the Trump administration’s “death to asylum” rule would make it nearly impossible for members of the LGBTQ community and people with HIV/AIDS to seek asylum in the U.S. Immigration Equality, the TransLatin@ Coalition, the Transgender Law Center, Oasis Legal Services and the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and outgoing U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr are among the named defendants.

Lambda Legal represents the lawsuit’s plaintiffs.

A press release that announced the lawsuit says the new Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department rule that takes effect on Jan. 11 “eliminates eligibility for asylum to anyone with a gender-based claim.” The lawsuit itself notes this change “has the potential for altogether eliminating asylum relief for LGBTQ/H (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and people with HIV) applicants.”

“The Final Rule additionally eliminates asylum relief for many individuals who are targets of individualized personal animus,” notes the lawsuit. “This measure will

devastate the many LGBTQ/H asylum applicants who have faced persecution at the hands of people who act on societally and governmentally sanctioned animosities against LGBTQ/H people.”

The lawsuit also says the rule “further harms LGBTQ/H asylum seekers by sharply limiting the circumstances in which applicants may claim asylum after passing through third countries (many of which are as persecutory of LGBTQ/H individuals as claimants’ home countries) or after being in the United States for more than one year (even though many LGBTQ/H claimants experience circumstances that render their claims timely).”

The lawsuit’s introduction also contains a portion “The New Colossus,” an Emma Lazarus poem inscribed on a plaque placed on the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal.

“Many transgender and gender nonconforming Latinx people face unimaginable violence, persecution and torture around the world,” said TransLatin@ Coalition President Bamby Salcedo in the press release that announced the lawsuit. “The majority of transgender women who seek refuge in the United States from these serious threats have nowhere else to go.”

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

1 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • I NT E R NAT I O NA L NE WS

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Buttigieg at DOT: the only ‘progress’ we’ll see under Biden?

Picking Pete over other more qualified LGBTQ officials is potentially ominous

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Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination, and ultimately the presidency, not only because he wasn’t Donald Trump but because he also convinced enough swing state voters that he wasn’t Bernie Sanders. He’s a centrist with an agenda that first allayed the fears of moderate Democrats and then their Republican counterparts.

The Biden-Harris campaign emphasized its political bona fides as centrists with its pushback against the charges of “socialism” Trump levied on the ticket before Election Day. Yet, even after the Electoral College had formalized Biden’s election, the President-elect made sure to remind reporters his centrism wasn’t just for show.

He told them he’s as ready to fight the left wing of his own party as he is to fight Republicans, referring to his primary opponents by saying “I respectfully suggest that I beat the hell out of everyone else.”

Not surprisingly, Biden’s immediate political focus will be to attempt a hard reboot to January 2017. Much of his presidency will be defined by his success in restoring the status quo ante — reversing Trumps’s tax cuts, actions on immigration, environmental policies, and executive orders, including military directives, that undermined non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans.

For those of us in the broader LGBTQ community, there’s little reason to imagine we’ll be in a substantially better position at the end of Biden’s administration than we were at the end of Obama’s. Despite a lengthy and detailed campaign platform, including a promise to make passage of the Equality Act a legislative priority during his first 100 days in office, Biden’s in no position to advance anything through a Republican Senate, assuming Democrats fail to pick up the two Georgia seats this week. And with the selection of Pete Buttigieg for a place in his Cabinet, he’s signaling that he already knows it.

By naming Buttigieg to be his Secretary of Transportation, Biden kept his promise of putting an LGBTQ-identified person in the Cabinet — certainly an historic event and a praiseworthy demonstration of commitment to his ideals. But there are other prominent, and far more qualified LGBTQ people in public life whom Biden could have chosen to lead the Department of Transportation. Sean Patrick Maloney is one of them. He’s a congressman from New York who’s served in the House of Representatives for eight years and is a member of its Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Another is Anise Parker who currently leads the LGBTQ Victory Fund and formerly served as both mayor and controller of the City of Houston.

Buttigieg, distinct from the rest, offers Biden a high degree of complaisance.

Being eager to serve the interests of those in power who might promote his own station, Buttigieg can be expected to dutifully appear on behalf of the administration whenever someone is required to rationalize the lack of White House action on behalf of LGBTQ Americans.

Biden will subsume all of Pete’s short political career — along with his marriage — into a larger story arc where President Biden, not President Obama, becomes the main political figure in realizing LGBTQ equality since 1996. As a senior member inside the Biden administration, Buttigieg will be used as a symbol to solidify Biden’s narrative of pushing Obama toward backing gay marriage in 2012. Whenever possible, Pete will be the benchmark against which Biden measures the history of our movement for equality, his role in it, and his future ambitions for LGBTQ people (even if his presidency achieves none of them).

Unlike the openly LGBTQ members of Congress and governors whom Biden could have selected as Cabinet officials, Pete’s political career was otherwise at an apparent end. Elevating Pete over the rest makes Biden the hero who acts on behalf of LGBTQ people. What we might accomplish separately, and outside the political center, will be minimized.

At first glance, Pete’s inclusion in the Biden Cabinet appears to be a huge win. But it’s worth further inspection lest we overlook the fact that it may also be the only true “progress” we see from the new administration.

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Trump, Hawley incite ‘Proud Boys’

Future of our democracy is at stake

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First it was just Donald Trump and one senator, Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), doing everything they could to incite the so-called Proud Boys to create carnage in the streets. Now we have Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) the dumbest member of Congress, and that is saying something, actually asking Trump supporters to cause violence.

We already knew Trump is a disgusting pig with no sense of decency who has overseen a failed coup; now we have a host of Republican members of Congress joining in the games. And games is what they are because they admit zero chance of success.

Hawley, who is supposedly well educated at Yale and Stanford, is playing a very crass game to advance his own career. He couldn’t give a damn about Trump and knows what he is doing in the Senate can’t be successful. Yet clearly he thinks the headlines he is generating will help him politically. He is raising money off his efforts. Decent people need to find a way to crush him like the slimy snake he is if other Republicans, who also want to be top dog after Trump, don’t do it.

Now that creep Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has gotten into the act leading another 11 conservative senators to say they will support Hawley. Cruz’s ego won’t allow Hawley to get all the press.

What we need to be cognizant of and thankful for is the judiciary, even judges Trump nominated, who are standing in the way of Trump’s attempted coup and efforts to destroy our democracy. The latest decision went against Gohmert and his frivolous lawsuit against Mike Pence saying Pence should have the power to object to the Electoral College vote.

Trump is calling his supporters to Washington on Jan. 6 and 20 to create havoc and even called the Georgia Secretary of State with threats demanding he find votes for him.

There is no question in anyone’s mind, at least those who have one, that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the next president and vice president.

The issue with all this Republican bullshit is that they are giving credibility to the lie there was an issue with the validity of the election and what that will mean for the future.

After Biden is sworn in will Republicans continue in their asinine fealty to Trump and say that President Biden is serving illegally? Will they continue to incite Trump’s voters to violence and continue to question the underpinnings of our democracy — free elections?

How do we move forward without any penalty for those who advocate sedition, which is what some in the Republican Party are doing? The nation will have to decide how we move forward from this.

Much will depend on the results of the run-off elections for the two Georgia Senate seats. How we proceed and how much President Biden will be able to do with regard to any of his campaign promises will depend on that. If Democrats win both seats they will hold a majority in the United States Senate. They will appoint committee chairs and control the agenda. The will be able to bring House passed bills to the floor and pass them. They will be able to confirm Biden’s Cabinet choices and confirm his judicial nominees. They will be able to take the country forward as over 80 million people wanted when they voted for Biden/Harris.

What happens to Trump after Jan. 20 will play a large part in determining the future of the Republican Party. Will he face a myriad of lawsuits and have to deal with them or will he use the money he has raised by spuriously calling the presidential election fraudulent and continue to dominate the Republican Party?

Will the mainstream media continue to follow his every word or will they move on and allow the country to move on? Will the Republican mainstream, whatever is left of it, speak out and try to reclaim their party or will they simply give in to the far-right pandering to the current group of Trumpers?

All this will determine the future of our democracy.

2021

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(Image courtesy Media Matters)

5 things social media platforms can do to combat anti-LGBTQ disinformation Harsh consequences when Facebook allows attacks on trans people

By BRIANNA JANUARY

Social media platforms have a major anti-LGBTQ disinformation problem that enables myths, lies, and misleading content to spread to large audiences and earn high engagement. These platforms have occasionally shown that they are capable of quelling disinformation and removing or flagging misleading content, but they are not consistent in enforcing their own policies and protecting LGBTQ people. There are several actions that they can take to do so in 2021.

In July, a Media Matters study found that during a year-long time period, right-wing sources earned nearly two-thirds of total Facebook interactions on trans-related content that had more than 100,000 interactions (reactions, comments, shares). In particular, over one-third of content that met the criteria for the study was content about trans athletes and medical care for trans youth published by right-leaning outlets.

When YouTube and Facebook allow anti-LGBTQ groups and media to attack and spread disinformation about trans people, there are real world consequences.

Harmful narratives divert attention from important issues facing the community such as employment discrimination and high rates of violence. And when trans youth and their families use these platforms, they are fed a stream of disinformation that could result in parents denying their children critical care or rejecting their identities, which can harm trans kids’ physical and mental well-being.

The failure of social media platforms to prevent the spread of anti-LGBTQ disinformation also comes as conservatives allege bias against right-wing content, especially on Facebook, which Media Matters has extensively and repeatedly debunked. Despite this, Facebook has consistently caved to conservative demands.

Under existing or new community guidelines, social media platforms have removed anti-LGBTQ content, including content that compares being trans to having a mental illness and that promotes conversion therapy, a harmful practice that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ people. However, platforms’ enforcement of these rules is inconsistent and inadequate, and disinformation still runs rampant.

Here are five actions the platforms can take to help stop the spread of anti-LGBTQ disinformation:

1. YouTube should enforce its hate speech policy prohibiting content that says being trans is a mental illness.

YouTube has a hate speech policy that forbids claims “that individuals or groups are physically or mentally inferior, deficient, or diseased” based on sexual orientation or gender identity, among other categories. Under this policy, it has removed several videos for comparing being trans to having a mental illness, yet many others remain on the platform.

YouTube must consistently enforce this existing policy and remove videos that break it.

In November, the platform removed two anti-trans videos from right-wing propaganda network PragerU’s The Candace Owens Show for violating this policy. In both videos, host Candace Owens compared being trans to having schizophrenia. She compared being trans to having a “mental disorder” in one and trans people to “anorexics” in the other.

However, Media Matters found several other videos still on YouTube that do the same thing. For example, another episode of The Candace Owens Show features “ex-trans” activist Walt Heyer, who called being trans a “psychological disorder” and said that adult trans people are not actually transgender but rather have “a sexual fetish disorder.” During a clip of an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience on YouTube, host Joe Rogan and his guest anti-trans author Abigail Shrier compared being trans to convincing yourself you have 2 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • A &E

a problem with “cutting, demonic possession, witchcraft, anorexia, bulimia.” Additionally, another video of an anti-trans conference at right-wing group the Heritage Foundation includes panelists saying that many trans kids have “neuropsychiatric conditions” and that affirming them is “causing them to be depressed and anxious about who they are.” In fact, trans youth are less likely to suffer from depression and suicidal ideation if they are accepted.

2. Facebook should continue removing pro-conversion therapy posts and pages.

In July, Facebook and Instagram announced a policy banning posts that “advertise or promote” conversion therapy, and after Media Matters’ reporting, Facebook subsequently removed several posts and a page for doing so. Despite the policy and action, some of the removed posts have been reinstated and other similar posts and pro-conversion therapy pages remain active on the site. Facebook must consistently enforce its policy and take action against posts and pages that repeatedly break the rules.

In October, Facebook removed the page for pro-conversion therapy group Restored Hope Network, which consistently promoted the practice. That page has remained off the platform since then. However, in July, Facebook removed several posts from the Facebook page for International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC), a worldwide network of conversion therapy practitioners, but later reinstated several of those posts. Those posts cite prominent conversion “therapists” and include a video with advice for conversion therapy practitioners and others that falsely suggest “Schema therapy” and “professionals and pastoral mentors” can successfully change LGBTQ people. It is unclear why those posts were reinstated, as Facebook is notoriously opaque on its policies and their enforcement.

Several of IFTCC’s posts were never removed, including several posts that suggest people are not innately LGBTQ and another that says, “Not only is it inaccurate to tell clients that change is not possible, it is also unethical for therapists to impose their agendas on clients.”

Additionally, the Facebook page for pro-conversion therapy group Voice of the Voiceless (VoV) has posted testimony from people claiming conversion therapy is effective or who have otherwise claimed to have changed their sexual orientation. It has also highlighted conversion therapy practitioners, conferences and webinars. Thus far, Facebook has not taken any action on these posts or the VoV page.

3. Platforms should adopt policies explicitly prohibiting deadnaming and misgendering.

In 2018, Twitter updated its hateful conduct policy — which prohibits “repeated and/ or non-consensual slurs, epithets, racist and sexist tropes, or other content that degrades someone” — to include “targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals.” Facebook and YouTube, however, do not have these same protections; they must follow Twitter’s example in order to protect LGBTQ users from harassment and discrimination.

Misgendering is when someone is referred to as a different gender than the one that person identifies with, and deadnaming is when someone calls a trans person by “the name they used before they transitioned” rather than the name they currently go by.

5 ways to combat anti-LGBTQ disinformation online

Facebook’s hate speech policy under its community standards specifically prohibits “statements denying existence” and referring to transgender or nonbinary people as “it.”

Its bullying and harassment policies prohibit targeting private individuals with “claims about romantic involvement, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Similarly, YouTube’s harassment and cyberbullying policy states, “We also do not allow content that targets an individual with prolonged or malicious insults based on intrinsic attributes” including sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, the platform’s hate speech policy says it will “remove content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on” attributes including sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex or gender.

4. Platforms should stop monetizing anti-trans disinformation and hate.

Social media platforms YouTube and Facebook have earned money from anti-LGBTQ advertisements and helped right-wing groups raise money off of anti-trans content, despite having policies that allegedly prohibit this. They should enforce and strengthen those policies and prevent the monetization of transphobia.

During the 2020 election, Facebook earned thousands of dollars from the American Principles Project, an anti-LGBTQ group that ran misleading ads about trans kids and the Equality Act in order to campaign against Democratic candidates including Joe Biden.

Facebook removed some of the ads after Politifact found that the ads’ claims include predictions “we can’t fact-check” and that one ad was “missing context and could mislead people.” Despite this, the group eventually ran ads repeating those claims that were not removed. Furthermore, Facebook has allowed anti-LGBTQ outlet The Daily Wire to run paid political ads — including at least one that targets and misgenders actor Elliot Page for coming out as trans — despite its temporary ban on them.

Similarly, YouTube allowed PragerU to raise more than $25,000 off of a video featuring a client of extreme anti-LGBTQ group Alliance Defending Freedom, who repeatedly misgendered trans athletes and fear-mongered about their participation in sports.

The YouTube Giving program says that nonprofits must follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines that supposedly protect trans people. The program says that participating organizations must “follow YouTube’s monetization policies both on and off of YouTube,” which PragerU has repeatedly run afoul of.

5. Facebook should stop allowing The Daily Wire to use a coordinated network of pages to spread disinformation.

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Some think I should dress more like a woman. Some think I should dress more like a man.

The Daily Wire is a wildly successful right-wing outlet that regularly spreads antiLGBTQ disinformation and bigotry through online content, podcasts, and social media.

It operates a network of Facebook pages that share the same content at the same time, helping it reach large audiences. Facebook should stop allowing these pages to spread the outlet’s content in a coordinated manner.

Facebook started marking these pages as operated by Daily Wire after a series of reports from Judd Legum’s Popular Information, and several pages now display language that they are “Proudly managed by the Daily Wire.” These pages previously did not disclose that relationship. Although the relationship between the pages and the outlet is more transparent, Facebook still allows the coordinated network to game the system and earn high engagement.

In October 2019, Legum reported on how Daily Wire’s network seemed to violate Facebook’s Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior policy, which removes networks of pages Please treat me the same way any that mislead “about the identity, purpose, or origin of the entity that they represent” person would want to be treated: A D V E R T I S I and use “multiple Facebook or Instagram assets” to do so. Facebook originally denied with courtesy and respect.

PROOF #1 ISSUE DATE: 21-01-08 SALES REPRESENTATIVE: BRIAN PITTS that Daily Wire had broken content-sharing rules, but Popular Information reported in Discrimination based on gender identity and REVIEW AD FOR COPY AND DESIGN ACCURACY. Revisions must be submitted within 24 hours of the date of proof.

Proof will July that Facebook finally acknowledged that the outlet was violating “policies against be considered final and will be submitted for publication if revision is not submitted within 24 hours of the date of proof. Revisions expression is illegalllcin(dba thetheDistrict of Columbia. will not be accepted after 12:01 pm wednesday, the week of publication.Brown naff pitts omnimedia washington REVISIONS undisclosed paid relationships between publishers.” blade) is not responsible for the content and/or design of your ad. Advertiser is responsible for any legal liability arising out of or relating to the advertisement, and/or any material to which users can link through the advertisement.

Advertiser represents REDESIGN If you think you’ve beenthat the target of its advertisement will not violate any criminal laws or any rgihts of third parties, including, but not limited to, such violations as The Daily Wire’s use of this network helps it spread anti-trans and other right-wing TEXT REVISIONS infringement or misapporpriation of any copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, music, image, or other proprietary propety discrimination, visit orwww.ohr.dc.gov right, false advertising, unfair competition, defamation, invasion of privacy or rights of celebrity, violation of anti-discrimination IMAGE/LOGO content and disinformation to large audiences. In fact, a Media Matters study found REVISIONS that or call (202) law or regulation, or any other right of any person or entity. Advertiser agrees to idemnify brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba 727-4559. the washington blade) and to hold brown naff pitts omnimedia llc (dba the washington blade) harmless from any and all liability, ADVERTISER SIGNATURE NO REVISIONS The Daily Wire was one of the most successful outlets posting about trans issues during loss, damages, claims, or causes of action, including reasonable legal fees and expenses that may be incurred by brown naff pitts By signing this proof you are agreeing to your con omnimedia llc, arising out of or related to advertiser’s breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties. blade newspaper. This includes but is not limited schedule. a year time period.

The Daily Wire has several anti-LGBTQ pundits with large media platforms, including GLBT AFFAIRS Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, and Ben Shapiro, the site’s founder. Their Facebook pages also share content at the exact same time as other pages in the outlet’s network.

(This article was originally published by Media Matters and is republished with permission.)

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CALENDAR

TODAY

The Smithsonian’s Asian Art Museum hosts a free online meditation workshop today at noon to start the new year in a more balanced state. Friday sessions include inspiration from art in the museum’s collection. Everyone is welcome and no previous experience is necessary. For more information, visit the museum’s event calendar at si.edu.

By PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN

Saturday, January 09

LGBT and Allied Educators Coffee House hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools Pride is today at 11 a.m. online via Facebook. FCPS employees and those interested in maintaining a safe environment for LGBT students in schools are welcome to attend. Visit facebook.com/FCPSPride/ for more information.

A Bowie Night virtual glam dance party is tonight at 7 p.m. via Twitch. DJs Zimbra and Doomsday J play Bowie and Glam dance music for U.S. and U.K. audiences during this online event. More information is available at twitch.tv/ primarydancenight, flasklounge.com and Facebook.

Sunday, January 10

Freddie’s Beach Bar (555 23rd St. S, Arlington, Va.) and Go Gay DC host brunch today at 11 a.m. Brunch is served on the patios, indoors or using curbside takeout. Patrons are encouraged to follow public health guidelines or call ahead with questions. For more information, visit freddiesbeachbar. com.

DCATS and Whitman-Walker Health host their first monthly transmasculine support group meeting of the new year tonight from 5-7 p.m. via Zoom. Free tickets are available through the DCATS Facebook event page.

Monday, January 11

P&P Live presents Koa Beck, author of “White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind” today at 6 p.m. as a live-stream event. Beck’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic and Esquire, and she has served as executive editor at Vogue and editor-in-chief of Jezebel.

Her current work explores how women of color have been systematically shut out of the feminist movement. More information is available on the politics-prose.com event calendar.

Tuesday, January 12

A League of Her Own hosts its monthly second Tuesday queer trivia event tonight at 7 p.m. Teams of six people are welcome to participate in this virtual event covering women’s contributions to sports, literature and more. For more information, visit the Second Tuesday Queer Trivia event page on Facebook.

Profs & Pints Online presents “Debunking Human Sexuality Myths” tonight at 7 p.m. through Facebook. Howard University College of Medicine anatomy professor Rui Diogo leads a virtual talk on topics such as monogamy, polygamy, polyamory, homosexuality and more, as well as trace how our wrong ideas about sex came into being. Tickets are $12 at crowdcast.io/e/ humansexuality/register.

Wednesday, January 13

The Wanda Alston Foundation hosts its first virtual fundraising event supporting LGBTQ youth tonight at 7 p.m. Tiered donation tickets are available via Eventbrite. The evening event includes stories, entertainment and an auction all to support the foundation’s efforts to eradicate LGBTQ youth homelessness in DC. Visit wandaalstonfoundation.org for more information.

A David Bowie Night virtual glam dance party is planned for Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. | (Screen capture via YouTube)

Thursday, January 14 P&P Live! presents a virtual conversation with Dr. Carl Hart on his work “Drug Use for Grown-Ups” via their website at 8 p.m. This controversial work challenges views on criminalizing drug use and discusses balancing addiction and humane drug policy. This frank dialogue with Wake Forest University Politics and Gender Studies Professor Melissa Harris-Perry also includes Hart’s candor about his own drug use. To register for the event, go to politics-prose.com.

OUT&ABOUT Virtual celebration of Joan Baez’s 80th birthday

Joan Baez Mischief Makers 2: An Intimate Evening with the Artist on her 80th Birthday can be enjoyed via live-stream on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show via Facebook links.

The iconic folksinger and activist is also an artist whose Mischief Makers portrait series celebrates those making the world a better place in politics, sports, public health, literature, environmentalism, and more. As part of her 2020 effort to encourage people to vote, her portraits of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Dr. Anthony Fauci received critical attention.

In celebration of Baez’s birthday, a reception is streamed at 5:30 p.m. followed by an interview and a tour of her art exhibits.

For more information and to view samples from her Mischief Makers series, visit joanbaezart.com.

Free from COVID, Ashanti battles Keyshia Cole in ‘Verzuz’ R&B entertainer Ashanti, featured on hits such as Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv?” and Ja Rule’s “Always on Time,” battles Keyshia Cole of “Love” and “I Should Have Cheated” fame Saturday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. via @verzuztv on Instagram.

Ashanti and Cole were originally matched up on Dec. 12 via the Verzuz webcast series created by producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, but the show was postponed when Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19. The Source and other outlets reported Jan. 2 Ashanti tested negative for the virus and is

2 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • A &E

ready to continue with the friendly competition.

“Starting off the new year Amazing and Covid free!!!” Ashanti posted to her Instagram account.

Verzuz began as a virtual DJ battle during the pandemic’s height in March but has since grown to a popular Instagram Live program featuring top urban music artists spanning decades. Due to Ashanti’s unplanned cancellation, the final show of 2020 was between rappers Too Short and E-40 in a 90’s throwback performance.

Visit Verzuz on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

Biden virtual inauguration Jan. 20 The Biden Inaugural Committee hosts a virtual presidential inauguration ceremony for the swearing in of Joseph R. Biden, jr. and Kamala Harris as the next U.S. President and Vice President on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 12 p.m. on Facebook.

The inauguration of the nation’s 46th president will include an official outdoor swearing-in ceremony, community service events, a parade and other virtual activities with a goal of bringing the country together.

Due to pandemic precautions, this traditional event will be held virtually and in accordance with public health safety guidelines.

More information is available at bideninaugural.org.

Webinar for Vets looking to write their stories for film, TV The Veterans Writers Room Project, a group looking to identify and support D.C.-area screenwriters in the military community, hosts a webinar Saturday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. Free tickets are available on Eventbrite.

This webinar is for veterans, military members and their spouses to learn how to write for television and film. The event is open to those who are currently serving or who have served regardless of their age, experience or background and follows on the heels of the 10th anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2020.

Writer, producer and global media expert Melissa Monica Lee Bellias is the group’s special guest for this event. Her professional memberships include the Writers Guild of America, East and the Producers Guild of America.

For more information and to register for the Zoom link, visit the Screenwriting for Veterans event pages on Facebook and Eventbrite.

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Fox leads midseason charge with LGBTQ inclusion New and returning shows include queer characters, storylines

By JOHN PAUL KING

Murphy, alongside Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear – but It’s a new year, and considering what the last one was both also wear their queerness on their sleeve with like it’s not surprising that so many of us are breathing a inclusive casting and storylines. sigh of relief. But that doesn’t mean we’re not still in for a The fourth season premiere of “9-1-1” follows its long haul before it’s going to be possible to spend less characters through the aftermath of a devastating Los time on our socially distanced couches, and since most Angeles earthquake, with Athena (Angela Bassett) of us have already binge-watched our way through trying to shrug off her physical and emotional injuries much of the content available on our TV screens over and jump back into the job, while Maddie (Jennifer the past 10 months, the pickings are starting to look a Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) prepare for little slim. the birth of their baby, and Buck (Oliver Stark) searches Fortunately, January also means it’s time for the for answers in his past to help him face his present. providers of that content to roll out a new slate.

For those keeping track, Stark is one of several actors Midseason arrivals are on deck from the networks, and portraying queer characters on the show, with others while many of them won’t arrive for a few weeks, there played by Aisha Hinds, Ryan Guzman, and Rockmond are still a few new options coming our way – including MAYIM BIALIK and LESLIE JORDAN star in ‘Call Me Kat.’ (Photo courtesy Fox) Dunbar. several proudly LGBTQ-inclusive shows that might As for “9-1-1: Lone Star,” the new season brings Gina catch your eye.

Torres (“Suits,” “Firefly”) on board as a new captain, replacing Liv Tyler, who declined to appear Leading the charge this month is Fox, with three debuts poised to hit our screens. in the second season due to concerns about traveling from the UK for the shoot in the middle First up, and already here, is “Call Me Kat,” based on the BBC UK original series “Miranda,” of a pandemic. She joins returning star Rob Lowe, as well as trans actor Brian Michael Smith, which was created by Miranda Hart, the UK writer and actress known and beloved for her work in an ensemble cast that also includes Ronen Rubinstein, Jim Parrack, Sierra McClain, Natacha in the long-running fan-favorite series, “Call the Midwife.” The American version, which aired Karam, Rafael Silva, and Julian Works – with both Rubinstein and Silva playing gay characters. its premiere on Jan. 3, stars Emmy-nominee Mayim Bialik (“Blossom,” “The Big Bang Theory”) As for the plot, all that can be known for the moment is that it will involve the characters as a woman who has spent her entire life savings to open a cat café in Louisville, Ken. Kat dealing with their personal and domestic dramas as they rescue the citizens of Texas from is a non-conformist, who struggles every day against society and her mother (Emmy-winner one emergency after another – in other words, all the things we love about these kinds of Swoosie Kurtz, “Mike & Molly,” “Sisters”) to prove that she can be happy and fulfilled despite procedural dramas. still being single at 39. Helping out Kat at the café are Randi (Kyla Pratt, “One On One”), a NBC is also serving up some LGBTQ-friendly fun with the return of “Zoey’s Extraordinary confident millennial and self-proclaimed “non” cat person, and Phil (Emmy-winner and Playlist,” the hit fantasy/comedy about a smart young tech kid who experiences a strange LGBTQ fan favorite Leslie Jordan, “The Cool Kids,” “Will & Grace”), who is recently single after event that leaves her with the ability to hear the innermost thoughts, wants and desires of a break-up with his longtime partner. Throwing a wrench in the works of Kat’s plans to proudly everybody around her. The twist (and it’s a twist that makes all the difference), is that she hears maintain her single status for life, however, is Max (out actor Cheyenne Jackson, “American them not as thoughts, but as songs. Making things just a little more glorious is the presence Horror Story,” “30 Rock”), a friend and former crush who returns to Louisville to take a job as of Zoe’s friend and neighbor Mo (Alex Newell), who is gender-fluid. If you missed the boat for a bartender at the piano bar across the street, where he works with his friend Carter (Julian season one, you’ll definitely want to take the opportunity to jump on board. You might need Gant, “Good Girls”). to catch up first – but it’s 2021, so there are ways to easily accomplish that.

It would be nice to offer a glowing recommendation on this one, especially since it involves “Superstore,” another popular and inclusive NBC comedy, returns this month (Jan. 14), too – the return so many of our favorite small screen stalwarts, but reactions to the pilot episode but since it’s technically a midseason return (the current season began in the fall, albeit for only have been mixed, at best. While critics and viewers have praised Bialik’s ability to shine even a handful of episodes), it’s not exactly new. Nevertheless, that’s good news for fans who may when she’s forced to handle sub-par material, they’ve also been less-than-encouraged by have felt cheated by the brief taste they were given a few months ago. much else about the series, with Hollywood Reporter critic Robyn Bahr writing, “Kat’s sparkle Lastly, if you’re a fan of the CW’s Greg Berlanti-created “Riverdale” (and who isn’t, whether […] isn’t enough to illuminate her bland surroundings, which include the topical-in-2014 cat they’ll admit it or not?), the newest season of that candy-colored, deliciously queered café setting, her gnattish mother and her nondescript barista buddies.” That’s not likely to reimagining of the “Archie” comic books will drop on January 20 – presumably bringing K.J. discourage sitcom fans hungry for something new, however, and any true TV junkie knows Apa’s frequently-flashed abs with it. that even the greatest shows sometimes get off to a rocky start. Instinct says to give “Call Me Of course, if you’re one of the many people who have come to prefer their entertainment on Kat” a chance to find its stride; once it does, it might just end up being one of our new favorites. demand, rather than waiting a week in between episodes to find out what happens next, you Fox is also hoping for a double hitter as it steps up to the plate with the return of its #1 already know that the big streamers have their own new offerings waiting in the wings, ready drama, “9-1-1,” and last season’s new spin-off series, “9-1-1: Lone Star,” which will have their for you to binge your way through January in the style to which you’ve become accustomed. A back-to-back season premieres on Jan. 18. The LGBTQ appeal of these popular shows is a lot of those shows are geared for the queer eye, too – but that’s a whole different article in itself. given for their pedigree alone – they come from the entertainment powerhouse that is Ryan

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Best books of 2020

Favorites in fiction and nonfiction to get you through a long winter

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

You’ve got a little extra time this month, and you don’t want to waste it.

You want to read something good, the possibilities are endless, and the best place to begin is with these Best Books of 2020 titles...

FICTION “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman starts out kind of weird, as if it consists of half-thoughts. Stick around a few more pages, though, and you’ll be rewarded with a hilarious, sweet, wild tale of a robbed bank, a real estate open house, and heart. Put this at the top of your list, if you love novels.

Both “Beheld” by TaraShea Nesbit and “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab involve women in situations that are dark and dangerous: In the Nesbit book, a Pilgrim village holds secrets that are not discussed, and the wife of the town troublemaker knows too much. In the Schwab novel, a headstrong young woman makes a decision she might regret for the rest of her very long life.

There’s a hint of feminism in both books, A sweeping experiment in tolerance is at the and they’ll both give you shivers for heart of ‘Under the Rainbow.’ months after you finish them.

Fans of thrillers will eat up “The Last Flight” by Julie Clark, a tale of an abusive husband, swapped identities, and murder – or maybe not. If you like heart-pounding cat-and-mouse tales, this is your book... only here, you sometimes don’t know which is the cat and there’s an extra, menacing mouse.

A wide, sweeping experiment in tolerance is at the heart of “Under the Rainbow” by Celia Lasky. Acceptance Across America, an LGBTQ organization, is about to see if they can change the hearts and minds of bigots in Small-Town America by moving a handful of gay men and lesbians to Big Burr, Kansas. This novel, told from the POV of the town’s residents, is full of humor, love, secrets, haters, strife, and everything else you want in a novel.

NONFICTION “How to Astronaut: Everything You Need to Know Before Leaving Earth” by Terry Virts is fun and lighthearted, and will put you back in touch with your inner child, the one that really wanted to grow up to be an astronaut. It’s filled with inside information, fun facts, a bit of memoir, and it’s timely. Space Force, anyone?

Pet lovers absolutely should not miss “Good Boy” by Jennifer Finney Boylan, a memoir of life and family told in seven dogs that Boylan lived with and loved. What lands this book on the list is that Boylan will make you reminisce about all the Good Boys (and Girls) you’ve loved and lost, too.

Speaking of books that make you think, “We’re Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy” by Elijah Cummings with James Dale is the perfect book to read at the end of a tough political year. Written literally as Cummings was dying, this book is full of calming words that can help heal. If you feel beaten up by the past few months, this book is a balm for your soul.

While “The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War” by John “Chick” Donohue & J.T. Molloy may seem like a romp, it’s much more. Back when Donohue was a merchant seaman, he volunteered to take a beer to each of the hometown neighborhood “boys” in Vietnam. Finding them was half the problem; war was the other half. This is the consummate buddy book, and it can’t be missed.

Anyone who’s a sucker for a good Mother-and-Child book will love “Like Crazy: Life with My Mother and Her Invisible Friends” by Dan Mathews, who renovated a Victorian house and moved his mentally-ill, elderly mother in with him. She’s charming and funny, but she’s also a handful. Read it. Bring tissues. Enough said.

And there you have it: a slew of can’t-miss reads to get you through the winter. Season’s readings!

2 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • A &E

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For renters, it’s a good time to buy a 1 BR condo Sellers offering concessions

By JOSEPH HUDSON

Well, it is a bit true that if you own a property with more than one bedroom and/or some outdoor space such as a rooftop, deck, or common outdoor area, that those are selling a bit more quickly right now than the other properties that don’t have those features. What is the piece of advice for owners of one-bedroom condos that want to sell them to be able to buy that two-bedroom condo or that house they were looking at?

Sell it to a renter!

Renters out there, it’s a good time to find rental deals. With the reduced number of people coming in and out of the D.C. area, the larger buildings are running specials to keep the occupancy up. But if you are a first-time homebuyer and are currently paying up to $2,000 a month in rent (or more), that is up to $24,000 a year you are spending in rent per year (or more!). And if you rent for four years, at $2,000 a month, then we are talking up to almost $96,000 in rent money spent. If you had bought a one-bedroom condo for $350,000, a LARGE chunk of it would be paid off in four years and also you would have equity in your purchase.

Additionally, the sellers of these 1BR condos are probably willing to give more concessions now than in a normal year, as they are sitting for 20, 30, 40 days on the market without having an offer submitted. Ideally, in the future, the pandemic situation won’t be the reality we have faced this year, and people will still want to go home to their own first time home purchase, and enjoy meeting their new neighbors, and find a local park to hang out with them or maybe even go with them to a bar or a rooftop.

If you are interested in first-time home buying and think you might be the right fit for a 1BR condo as your first purchase, sign up to attend my first time homebuyer seminar on Zoom later this month. Have a happy and healthy New Year!

JOSEPH HUDSON

is a Realtor with The Oakley Group at Compass.

Reach him at 703-587-0597 or Joseph.hudson@compass.com.

2 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JANUARY 08, 2 0 2 1 • B US I NE S S

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Larry Cohen, LICSW

32 years serving the LGBT community

202-244-0903 socialanxietyhelp.com

See website for NPR story on my work

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