Washington Blade, Volume 53, Issue 23, June 10, 2022

(Washington Blade photo by Adam Hall)

Pride returns in all her pre-COVID glory,

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Bill to repeal Maryland sodomy law dies in committee

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com A bill calling for repeal of a Maryland law

JEREMY LAMASTER, executive director of FreeState Justice, said the group lobbied for the sodomy repeal bill this year.

(Photo courtesy Free State Justice)

adults as a crime and that was used to arrest four gay men in an adult video store in May 2021 was approved earlier this year by the state’s House of Delegates but died in a committee of the state Senate.

In a development that disappointed LGBTQ activists and the bill’s sponsors, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee failed to act on the bill before the Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the year on April 11.

Sen. William ‘Will’ Smith (D-Montgomery County), who chairs the Democratic controlled committee, said the committee was faced with a large number of bills in a legislative session that lasts only 90 days, and it wasn’t able to get to Senate Bill 22, which called for repealing tices Act. “It’s a top priority for me,” Smith told the It’s just that we ran out of time,” he said. “It wasn’t a lack of willingness. So, I’m working with Sen. Lam to make sure it’s at the top of

introduced the bill in the Senate in January.

Smith said among the other bills that his committee worked on and approved, and that passed both houses of the General Assembly, was the Inclusive Schools Act, which prohibits state funded schools, including private religious schools receiving state funding, from nationality, or disability.

Lam told the Blade he is disappointed his bill seeking to repeal the state’s remaining sodomy law did not make it out of the Senate committee. He said he’s hopeful the bill will pass in the General Assembly’s 2023 legislative session.

“My understanding is that it’s not because of policy concerns from the committee leadership,” Lam said in referring to the reason the Senate committee didn’t act on the bill. “I think the fact was they ran out of time to address this issue, which is frustrating because I think this is an important issue,” he said. “And I understand, and I recognize that they have a lot of important issues they’re working with, much of which was very substantive and weighty.”

The Judicial Proceedings Committee’s inability to act on the bill came after the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee approved the measure and sent it to the full House of Delegates, which passed it by a vote of 121 to 10, with one member not voting and nine members absent, according to the bill tracking site LegiScan.

The committee’s failure to act on the bill this year also came two years after it approved a separate bill in 2020 calling for repealing the section of Maryland’s two-part sodomy But at the request of two Republican members of the committee, Sens. Michael Hough (R-Frederick and Carroll County) and Bob Cassilly (R-Harford County), the committee’s Democratic members and the other two GOP members agreed to drop from the bill the mittee consists of seven Democrats and four Republicans.

The full General Assembly then passed the amended bill that repealed only the “sodomy” section of the law during the General Assembly’s 2020 session. The House of Delegates, which initially passed the full two-part bill, agreed to the Senate’s changes. House of Delegates member David Moon (D-Montgomery County), who introduced the 2020 bill in the House, said he and his House colleagues reluctantly agreed to the Senate version because the only alternative was to have no bill at all.

Moon introduced this year’s version of the repeal bill in the House and helped guide it to passage by the full House before the bill died in the Senate committee.

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Many LGBTQ activists were unaware that the repeal bill that passed in 2020 did not inmade to the 2020 repeal bill until the Harford County, Md., Sheriff’s Department conducted which is located 25 miles north of Baltimore.

The Sheriff’s Department said one of its deputies, who entered the store undercover in One of the arrested men told the Blade he and most of the others arrested were caught they obtained from a store employee. have been dropped against the four men who were faced with that charge. Attorneys representing the men said they planned to invoke the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2003 decision consenting adults.

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unnecessary burden of an arrest.

Justice, said the group engaged in lobbying efforts in support of this year’s repeal bill. He and the Judicial Proceedings Committee’s vice chair, Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery County), to bring the bill up for a committee vote.

“We were advised a few times during the week by both Sens. Waldstreicher and Smith that it would be added to the committee voting list,” LaMaster said in a statement. “We monitored it daily and never saw it appear on a voting list.”

Gay Democratic activist Jeffrey Slavin, who serves as mayor of the Maryland town of Somerset near D.C., said he, too, was disappointed that the repeal bill failed to pass this harassed needlessly because that law is still on the books. It’s from the last century. It’s ridiculous,” Slavin said, adding, “It’s a shame that this issue isn’t being raised on the campaign trail.” es” of a heavy workload of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and a reported lack of “This is non-controversial legislation to repeal a heinous, outdated law that is still being used to ensnare LGBTQ people for private, consensual conduct,” he said. “The House Judiciary Committee has the same workload as the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and managed to pass the House bill by Feb. 17,” Tardif told the Blade. “’Not enough time’ ceedings,” he said, referring to the bill number for the repeal measure in question.

Smith told the Blade that because the state Senate has fewer members than the House of Delegates, the Senate committees have fewer members than the House to work on important legislation.

“The Maryland State Senate has four committees,” he said. “The House of Delegates has matters than each House committee.” He said each House committee has 21 members while each Senate committee has 11 members.

“And although we work feverishly there is no way we can keep up with the pace of the House because that’s by design” of the legislature, he said. “And every subject we go with didn’t make it through his committee this year. he said.

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Comings & Goings

Lagomarcino promoted at OriginPoint

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

JOE LAGOMARCINO

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.

The Comings & Goings column also invites LGBTQ college students to share their successes with us. If you have been elected to a student government position, gotten an exciting internship, or are graduating and beginning your career with a great job, let us know so we can share your success.

Congratulations to Joseph Lagomarcino on his promotion to Senior VP Mortgage Lending with OriginPoint LLC. OriginPoint is a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate and Compass.

Upon receiving his promotion he said, “I am excited to continue my long mortgage lending career with OriginPoint which is a very tech forward company. Combining my hands-on personal service with our technology makes it an easy and simple process. I continue to approach mortgage lending as the trusted adviser who helps my clients understand all of the

options available to them which allows them to make the very best decisions for their home gically to make sure they are the strongest borrower possible in our competitive marketplace” Lagomarcino has 28 years of residential mortgage experience having worked for Atlantic Coast Mortgage, McLean Mortgage, Wells Fargo Private Mortgage, and Bank of America.

Over the years he has earned many awards, including various President Club awards for production with past employers; Scotsman Guide Top Dollar Volume Originator; and has been recognized by Washingtonian as a ‘best lender’ a number of times. He was a Top 10% National Mortgage Lender in 2020 and 2021.

He has volunteered his time as an HRC National Dinner committee member; past Board Chair of American Heart Association of Montgomery County, Md., and former board member Boys & Girls Club, D.C. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from DePauw University, Greencasfrom Washington University, St. Louis.

Lovettsville, Va. Council rejects Pride proclamation Mayor among those who criticized vote

By JOSH ALBURTUS

The Lovettsville, Va., Town Council is drawing criticism from community groups after denying passage of a proclamation last month that would have recognized June as Pride month.

After a motion was made by Councilwoman Renee Edmonston to take up the proclamation submitted to the Council by members of the public, the motion was denied both discussion and a vote after failing to receive support from a second member.

In her closing statement, Edmonston explained why she believed collaborating with community members and sponsoring the motion were necessary.

“The LGBTQ+ community along with everyone in our great town should be able to live without fear of prejudice, discrimination, violence and hatred based on race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation,” Edmonston said.

Some Council members offered their rationale behind declining to move the proclamation forward, a measure they also rejected in 2021.

“I don’t believe that seconding or making a proclamation of a statement that is not signifying an event of one of our organizations, our community member service — and that’s what we discussed last year — is in the vein of what was proposed,” Vice Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said.

But for some Council members and members of the public present at the meeting, such arguments weren’t

ing the Council’s decision.

Equality Loudoun, a local LGBTQ support and advocacy organization operating in Loudoun County where Lovettsville is located, is one group pushing back.

Cris Candace Tuck, president of Equality Loudoun’s board of directors, commented on the decision on behalf of the organization.

“Our community faces constant harassment, abuse and violence,” Tuck said. “These efforts lead to both children and adults feeling afraid, feeling lost, and feeling like they don’t belong in their own community.”

Current data shows the true impact to which Tuck alluded.

The Lovettsville, Va., Town Council is drawing criticism from community groups after rejecting a proclamation recognizing Pride month.

Lovettsville Mayor Nathaniel Fontaine, a non-voting Council member, expressed disagreement with the body’s decision following the proclamation’s failure to advance.

“That was a proclamation that was celebratory of and getting recognition to a portion of our populace here,” Fontaine said. “I don’t understand why we could not even get a second to even have that discussion here this evening.”

Against a national background of anti-LGBTQ legislation and pushes to restrict conversations pertaining to the community, local advocates are similarly denounc-

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earlier this year suggested consistently lower rates of attempted suicide among LGBTQ youth who perceived their communities as more accepting of their identity.

Tuck made mention of Lovettsville’s own history with such when explaining how the proclamation could have broad effects on the community. like the Lovettsville teenager who died by suicide a few years ago because of a lack of acceptance,” Tuck said.

“We implore the Council to correct this action and pass a proclamation so that all citizens feel like they belong in their own community.”

Tuck conveyed the absence of action to be a statement in and of itself.

“The silence in this case was deafening,” said Tuck.

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Corporate allies increasingly challenged over LGBTQ support Chilling blowback mounts from State Farm to Disney

By CHRIS JOHNSON | cjohnson@washblade.com

After years of leveraging their familiar brand names to denounce anti-LGBTQ measures in state legislatures, large corporations are facing increasing challenges to their free speech amid newfound pressure from conservative forces, raising questions about whether they will continue to remain as vocal as they have in the recent past.

From retaliation against State Farm for pledging to donate LGBTQ-themed books to children’s schools, to Florida revoking Disney’s special districting status after speaking out against the “Don’t Say Gay” law recently signed by Gov. tance after pledging support for the LGBTQ community — and the blowback is having an impact that may silence the relatively newfound ally for LGBTQ causes. director of Equality Florida, said businesses “are receiving clear messages from the DeSantis bully pulpit not to interfere with the agenda of censorship and discrimination.”

“Speaking out on behalf of your employees’ children and the respect of your employees’ families is in keeping with the values of diversity and inclusion companies have touted for years to attract and retain top talent,” Smith added. “Failing to walk the walk because the governor and his fellow One recent case of a business reversing course was State Farm backing down after pledging to donate LGBTQthemed books in coordination with GenderCool, a youth organization highlighting LGBTQ-themed voices, to schools and libraries. Among the titles of the books to be donated were “A Kids Book About Being Transgender,” “A Kids Book About Being Inclusive,” and “A Kids Book About Being gender identities. The anti-LGBTQ group Consumers’ Research launched a campaign consisting of online blasts, which were boosted by The Daily Wire and Breitbart, with the slogan “Like a Creepy Neighbor…State Farm is There,” The campaign appeared to have the desired impact. On May 23, State Farm announced it would pull back, declaring “conversations about gender should happen at home with parents” as opposed from GenderCool it “will no longer support that program.” Although State Farm in a later statement insisted it would continue to support the LGBTQ community and inclusivity, the victory for conservative forces was evident. out on policy against LGBTQ people and facing blowback was Disney when it spoke out against the Florida “Don’t Say Gay” law, which prohibits discussion in schools on LGBTQ matters in grades K-3 . Although Disney initially was reluctant to speak out, it reversed course in response to public pressure and CEO Bob Chapek contacted DeSantis to denounce the measure days before he would sign it.

DeSantis, who’s widely considered a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, publicly denounced the company for embracing “woke” ideology. status, which had enabled it to operate its own security forces in Disney World in Orlando.

The conservative media also played a role. Skewering Disney for taking a stance against the “Don’t Say Gay” measure, The Daily Wire decried the media conglomerate for its all around approach to LGBTQ visibility, declaring a $100 million investment in the launch of a “DW Kids,” which aims to be a competitor to Disney in youth media. Conservatives also crowed when polling found Disney has suffered a loss in public approval; one poll from the conservative Trafalgar Group found 68 percent of respondents were less likely to

do business with Disney as a result of the company “focusideas.”

Disney ended up making neither side happy. The Human Rights Campaign announced it wouldn’t accept a donation of up to $500,000 pledged by Disney at the time it came out against the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Media reports also highlighted stories about LGBTQ employees and allies at Disney storming out in protest over the media company’s delayed action on the Florida measure.

Fabrice Houdart, managing director of the LGBTQ group Out Leadership, acknowledged the “Disney debacle hurt our community,” but said he thinks the overall impact of the incident was no indication of a decrease in strength among LGBTQ people.

“If Bob Chapek was testing the resolve and clout of our community and its allies to ensure corporations take a stance when our human rights are under attack, he got a very clear response,” Houdart said. “The community’s reaction, protests, and media coverage highlighted that the time for companies to play both sides on human rights is over. Corporate power is immense and we will continue to engage corporations to ensure they put their money and lobbying efforts where their mouth is.”

But the growing tension among business leaders is palpable. The Wall Street Journal, in an article titled “Disney’s clash with Florida has CEOs on alert” dated May 2, details the impact retaliation is having on businesses and whether or not they will take a stance on LGBTQ issues or other matters deemed socially divisive, revealing a new trepidation not seen in recent years.

“The fallout from the recent political spat between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has alarmed leaders across The current situation stands in stark contrast to years past when businesses were falling over themselves to denounce measures and policies against LGBTQ people. The most recent case was House Bill 2 in North Carolina, which barred citywide LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances and transgender people from using restrooms on public property consistent with their gender identity. The business outcry and cancellations cost the state an estimated $39.7 million in revenue and is credited for being the reason Gov. Pat McCrory lost re-election in 2016.

The outcry over House Bill 2 echoed a similar situation. In Arizona, the business outcry in 2013 over religious freedom legislation seen to enable discrimination against LGBTQ people led conservative Gov. Jan Brewer to veto the meation to similar religious freedom legislation and signed the measure into law, but after outcry continued to escalate, he limited its discriminatory scope.

In each of these cases, businesses were seen as the key ally in pushing back against measures against LGBTQ people because their brands were well known, seen as neutral litical donations to win re-election. As a result, corporate involvement may well have turned the tide in conservative states like Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina.

Regional differences may account for the different outcomes as LGBTQ advocates in certain states continue to boast strong business support that continues to thwart legislation seen to enable discrimination.

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Florida Gov. RON DESANTIS is going after businesses that support LGBTQ equality.

(Screen capture via YouTube)

as Competes, made a distinction between Florida, where Disney and may lead businesses to “think twice” on LGBTQ continues to support LGBTQ people, pointing out more than 1,500 businesses back her organization.

“What I’ve been watching is Ron DeSantis punish Disney, try to punish the Special Olympics, punish the baseball team in his state, for speaking out on issues that are important to those corporate values,” Hale said. “And that’s unfortunate that he is taking such tactics because businesses employ millions of people across the country and have employees in every state, and these employees care about the positions that the company they work at take.”

Asked whether she thinks the retaliation against companies like Disney would have an impact, Hale said it’s “too soon to tell,” but in the meantime businesses are continuing to speak out on a range of issues, including gun control af“When we have these horrible anti-LGBT bills, and we’re particularly targeting trans children, and we’re targeting teachers, businesses are going to speak out,” Hale said. “I have found at least what’s going on, even in this climate and right now that we are having people brave enough to speak out, and it does take bravery to speak out because there can be consequences to those actions if you’re a regulated industry.” past didn’t have the impact or organization to take on LGBTQ rights, also cannot be understated. The Daily Wire, and has produced some of the most widely circulated pieces on LGBTQ issues. Ben Shapiro, founder and contributor to The Daily Wire, did not immediately respond to the Blade’s request Wednesday to comment for this article.

Houdart, at the end of the day, is “not concerned” about businesses withdrawing because they know supporting LGBTQ people is good business, and the LGBTQ movement would continue to harness that power to “engage corporations to ensure they put their money and lobbying efforts where their mouth is.”

“Companies were never supportive out of the goodness of their heart but because it is good business,” Houdart said.

“And it remains good business. Employees, consumers, and investors are very clearly demanding that the private sector acquires a social license to operate and LGBTQ+ issues are one of the most straightforward avenues for companies to do so.”

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‘Don’t Say Gay’ law looms over Wilton Manors Pride WILTON MANORS, Fla. — This year’s Pride celebration in Wilton Manors will take place against the backdrop of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed earlier this year.

The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival will take place in Wilton Manors on June 18.

“This Pride Month is different than previous Pride months because we see the attack on the LGBTQ community and because we see that the attack has taken place on the LGBTQ community,” state Sen. Shevrin Jones told the Washington Blade on Monday during a telephone interview.

Jones represents District 35, which includes portions of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, in the Florida Sen-

“All of that makes Pride as critical as ever this year,” he added. “Pride has always been a protest. It has always been a resistance to injustice and a demand for equality. This Pride, people across the country are called upon to let Pride inspire them to get civically enthose who are working to undermine progress and erode our civil liberties.”

SunServe is a Wilton Manors-based foundation that provides housing, mental health

neighboring Fort Lauderdale. SunServe is among the groups that plan to participate in the Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival.

“SunServe enters this Pride Month with a lot of enthusiasm and celebrating our foundation’s 20th anniversary,” noted Tony Lima, the foundation’s CEO. openly gay man elected to the chamber.

Lima, like Wolf and Jones, acknowlThe South Florida Democrat on March edged the “Don’t Say Gay” law will im7 became emotional when he discussed pact Pride in Wilton Manors. his own coming out in a speech against “It will be a Pride with more focus on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill on the Florida our young people,” Lima told the Blade.

“Young people are our future and we proved it. DeSantis signed it into law — must protect them and give them the which has been challenged in federal opportunity to live full and happy lives.” court — less than a month later.

Arianna’s Center is another Wilton Wilton Manors’ Pride events will also Manors-based organization that serves take place less than a month after Detrans women throughout South Florida.

Santis’ administration asked the Florida The organization this past weekend Agency for Health Care Administraparticipated in a Pride parade in the tion, a board that regulates doctors in Puerto Rican capital of San Juan. Arianthe state, to essentially ban transgenna’s Center staffers also plan to attend The annual Pride parade in Wilton Manors, Fla., will take place on June 18, against the backdrop of Pride Month events with the Mexican teenagers.

Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed earlier this year.

(Blade photo by Yariel Valdés González) Consulate in Miami and with the Miami Police Department. now more than ever because it’s not just “June is not Pride (Month) for many of our clients, so we celebrate this month with a lot of responsibility, with the hope of having equality and that the transgender community in this moment,” said Jones, referring to Pride Month. “There is a group of people who is heard,” said Arianna Lint, the group’s CEO. “We have many wishes for improvement, are trying to silence the LGBTQ community.” equality and equity for the trans community. We cannot celebrate while there are trans Brandon Wolf, press secretary for Equality Florida, a statewide LGBTQ rights group, in people incarcerated for no reason and with no social services that help them.” a statement to the Blade noted “the chilling impacts of the bigoted ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law Lint also acknowledged the “Don’t Say Gay” law has adversely impacted Florida’s are already being felt across the state, even before it has gone into effect.”

LGBTQ community.

“Books with LGBTQ characters are being ripped from shelves. Graduation speeches “Everyone is affected and everyone must work together and not just in groups or an are being censored. Rainbow ‘safe space’ stickers are being peeled from classroom winelite club,” she said. “This affects everyone and we must unite to be able to better work dows. And there is an uneasy climate that is causing educators to leave the work they together to eradicate this and other types of bills that affect us.” love in order to avoid discrimination.” said Wolf, who survived the 2016 massacre at the Michael K. Lavers contributed to this article.

Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando that left his two close friends, Christopher “Drew” YARIEL VALDES GONZALES

San Fran Pride, police broker compromise The governing board of San Francisco Pride and the Alliance worked out a compromise that allows for the uniform.

It was also announced that San Francisco Mayor London Breed would participate in the parade. The mayor had withdrawn her support after the Pride committee ruled that the city’s LGBTQ law enforcement contingents are banned from participating in the Pride parade wearing their uniforms. The mayor noted in a statement at the time: “I love the Pride Parade, and what it means for our LGBTQ community and for our city. It’s one of my favorite events of the year. However, if the Pride Board does not reverse its decision, I will join our city public safety departments that are not participating in the Pride Parade,”

the mayor said in a statement.

San Francisco Pride’s Carolyn Wysinger, President Of the Board of Directors, SF Pride and Suzanne Ford, Interim Executive Director, SF Pride and the San Francisco ryn Winters, in a dual statement issued Thursday noted: nities and police at Compton’s Cafeteria and Stonewall Inn. Ever since then, we have attempted to bridge that divide. That is why we are grateful to have reached a compromise solution today. It shows everyone is work-

mand staff will march in their class AA uniforms as regu-

2 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

uniform providing security for the contingent.”

“In addition to the agreement reached surrounding Alliance have also agreed to continue work that builds on the foundations laid by our conversations over the last two years.”

The compromise was announced at Mayor Breed’s Hall.

“I have a very, very big happy announcement today,” “I almost want to cry, I’m so happy. But I, along with our this year.”

BRODY LEVESQUE

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‘Share a bit of your vulnerability in a way that draws others in’

By CHRIS JOHNSON | cjohnson@washblade.com

Transgender visibility in the U.S. military was on full display on Tuesday during the Pentagon’s annual event recognizing Pride month, which this year featured two transgender speakers in prominent positions in the aftermath of the Biden administration lifting the transgender military ban.

The event — hosted in coordination with DOD Pride, the

people after years of progress.

“America’s formative promise to itself remains today tangibly unSkelly said. “And remarkably, for the

within the Defense Department — took place in the Pentagon auditorium under the theme of “All Together” and highlighted progress in stripping away barriers previously

risk, which includes those serving within this department.”

as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the transgender military ban.

also spoke and remarked on the progress seen in the military since she was forced to sign a document as a cadet of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” prohibiting her from participating in homosexual acts.

“I knew exactly what that meant: I knew that my opportunity to get an LT. COL. BREE FRAM was among the speakers at the annual DOD Pride event. education. I knew that my opportunity to serve our country. I knew my opportunity to die for our country or promoted the Defense Department as having a commitmaybe all of that would go away, just because at the time ment to advancing policies and programs aimed at develwe did not have enough leaders with the courage to say oping “a leadership pipeline of diverse talent and create anybody ready and willing to serve their country should pathways for everyone at DOD to realize their potential.”

“We know that organizational climates affect our workforces’ experiences,” Hicks said. “More to the point it afBiden administration and wanted to set up a photo shoot fects our warrior readiness. Therefore, we are directing initiatives to improve leader skill development and foster der “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” To her surprise on the day of more effective inclusive team environments.” young to remember the law showed up and were part of es of developing a diversity, equity, inclusion and accesthe photograph. sibility plan, which she said will direct activities within the “But I leaned over and I said, ‘Hey, you know, what’s godepartment and identify priorities within the coming year. ing on here? Some of these folks look a little too young to Among those in attendance at the event were British folks wanted to be part of the picture because they are serving because ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ was repealed … So it really shows you what is possible when you’re willing to do the hard work that talent in our country among those serving — the talent we are able to tap into — if we are willing to remove those barriers to ensure folks can serve to dent for White House Domestic Agency Personnel. their full potential.”

said she often feared she would no longer be able to serve in uniform based on the “whim of executive orders.” But two months ago when she disclosed to colleagues she was having surgery to treat cancer, she received overwhelming support. me because they would have been behind any member of the team going through one of the scariest moments of ue to the team and that all of us are worthy of the support needed to be our best selves.” recounted the experience of a transgender service member whose colleagues refused to use her personal pronouns and began putting them in her email signature in sor stepped in to revise and allow the service members to continue using them in emails.

“So for all of you out there, I ask you to set out your symbols of pride, share your pronouns in your email, particularly if you’re a person who doesn’t think they need to,” gender barriers and share a bit of your vulnerability in a way that draws others in.”

Shawn Skelly, who’s transgender and assistant secretary of defense for readiness, also spoke and drew heavily from President Biden’s proclamation for Pride month to discuss

forcement after he threatened to commit a mass shooting

in the video was recovered. He was charged with threatening to commit a mass shooting and charges including written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or

Miami Police Department that a video was posted online

where he said he was going to commit the mass shooting that day.

After a joint investigation by Miami Police Department, were enlisted to locate and arrest the suspect. suspect was arrested Monday and that the weapon seen

West Palm Beach police had uniformed and plainPride on the Block event on Sunday, which was delayed operational plan that we already had in place but I can’t

during the press conference that the suspect knew the area well and most likely had other areas in mind for other attacks, but was not in West Palm Beach at the time of the arrest.

“People were very scared. The Pulse nightclub shooting is still very much in people’s minds especially in our In regard to the suspect Morris noted, “I can say through his statement that there’s no remorse.”

2 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

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Beach Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of our residents, visitors and anyone who comes to our city.”

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Afro-Atlantic Histories

April 10 – July 17, 2022

nga.gov/aah | @ngadc

Co-organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Museu de Arte de Sāo Paulo in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. Major support for this exhibition is provided by the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Exhibition Circle of the National Gallery of Art and the Annenberg Fund for the International Exchange of Art. Zanele Muholi, Ntozakhe II, (Parktown), 2016, photographic wall mural from digital file, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2021.88.1, © Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of the artist, Yancey Richardson, New York, and Stevenson Cape Town/Johannesburg

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Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, and KEEP ASPIRING are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2022 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0085 02/22

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#1 PRESCRIBED

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KEVIN NAFF is editor of the Washington Blade.

Reach him at knaff@washblade.com

Gay and tired polls portend disaster in months ahead This should be a celebratory moment. We are gathering again for Pride and partying like it’s 2019. Mask mandates are gone and the educated are vaccinated. The Democrats control the White House and both houses of Congress.

Ketanji Brown Jackson is poised to join the Supreme Court.

So why all the long faces among Democrats and LGBTQ rights advocates? after another. His poll numbers, though ticking up slightly last week, remain stuck in the low 40s with a majority of voters disapproving of his performance.

Some of the blame goes to Biden, with economists citing his 2021 $1.9 trillion erything skyrocketing and gas headed toward an unthinkable $5 per gallon national average.

And Biden’s communications problems continue with new reporting this week that younger advisers are frustrated at being ignored or mocked by oldBut the dreary landscape is not all Biden’s making, with Republicans remaining recklessly opposed to gun safety measures, even after the murders of 19 children in Texas. And Donald Trump’s Supreme Court could overturn Roe v.

Wade this month, turning our Pride celebrations into a nightmare of backsliding not just on women’s rights, but on LGBTQ equality as well.

In Justice Samuel Alito’s leaked draft opinion overturning Roe, he cites the landmark Lawrence and Obergefell cases several times, noting, “None of these rights has any claim to being deeply rooted in history.”

Alito and the ethically compromised Justice Clarence Thomas have publicly called for the high court to reexamine the Obergefell marriage ruling. Thanks to Trump and Mitch McConnell, they have the votes to do it. I have spoken to a range of advocates about the likelihood of Obergefell being overturned.

Many view it as unlikely, given the confusion and avalanche of lawsuits it would trigger from already-married couples seeking to exercise the rights and comforted by such assurances? The same sorts of state trigger laws awaiting abortion clinics when Roe goes down exist in some states for same-sex marriage. We are headed backwards to a time when America was governed by an unfair and dangerous patchwork of laws governing abortion — and marriage.

Could a backlash over Roe boost Democrats in the November midterms?

That’s the long-shot narrative being pushed by some who foresee a massive outcry from progressives when abortion is outlawed in 26 states as soon as this month. How many of those protesters voted in 2016 when every politico and commentator warned the Trump vs. Hillary election was really about the Supreme Court and Roe? The answer is only about 60 percent of the electorate voted that year.

It will take an unprecedented midterm turnout of young voters to keep Congress in Democratic hands. And with spineless sell-outs like Joe Manchin and, even worse, Kyrsten Sinema, it won’t be enough for Democrats to merely hold the Senate; they need more votes to get anything done on voting rights, gun reform, abortion, and the long-suffering Equality Act. That measure — once described by Biden as his No. 1 legislative priority — remains stalled in the Senate with rumors of a looming compromise that would add a broad religious exemption to attract GOP support before Democratic losses in the midterms kill any hope of progress.

So here we are, on the precipice of returning to back alley abortions and to another national battle over marriage equality. There’s a new T-shirt being marketed this Pride season; it reads simply “Gay and Tired.” That about sums it up.

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KIMBERLY M. ZIESELMAN, JD, is an intersex advocate and consultant,

No Pride without the ‘I’

Queer rights supporters continue to ignore intersex people It happens each June. Well meaning folks supporting queer rights completely ignore the intersex community, people like myself who are born with sex characteristics (chromosomes, genitals, hormone levels and/or internal organs) that don’t align with typical notions of either “male” or “female” bodies.

Although we make up nearly 2 percent of the population and have been speaking out about the human rights abuses based on our non-binary bodies for more than three decades, we continue to be erased even by those in the rainbow community who share these experiences of oppression rooted in the same sexist, homophobic, and transphobic stereotypes. Some intersex people identify as gay or trans, while many, like myself, do not. Nevertheless, we all experience similar harms largely based on others’ irrational fear of difference. nary sex are driving the most detrimental type of discrimination against the intersex community: Physical erasure through irreversible, nonconsensual and medically unnecessary procedures.

These medical interventions often cause long term physical and emotional harms and have been deemed human rights abuses by the U.N. and other human rights bodies and organizations, yet ing for bodily autonomy. LGBTQ communities and their allies in nobody’s talking about the fact many of these bills include specific exclusions for intersex children expressly permitting doctors to sent. The same oppressive movement denying trans youth healthcare they want and need is promoting harmful unwanted intervention on intersex kids. And it seems to go unnoticed and without a

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a writer and a poet, is a regular contributor to the Blade.

Disabled queer people increasingly feel Pride in themselves Today we’re less often viewed as unsexy invalids and ‘cripples’

This Pride season, if you asked me what it’s like to be queer and disabled, I’d say, like Dickens in “A Tale of Two Cities,” that it’s “the best of times” and the “worst of times.” came near, people moved away. I wondered if I was the only blind lesbian, not only in the country, but in history going back to Sappho.

Many were ill at ease with queerness and disability then. One morning, a librarian wondered what I was doing “out alone” when I entered a Boston library.

On another day, a straight, blind friend and I went to an outdoor Boston Pops performance.

Over the decades, disabled queer people have increasingly felt Pride in themselves, though the disabled community has often not welcomed queer people and the LGBTQ community has frequently excluded people with disabilities.

In the 2010s, I pitched a disability lifestyle magazine on doing a story on transgender people with disabilities. The editor nixed my idea, because, he said, trans, disabled people were just a “fringe group.”

Today, things are changing. I’ve found my tribe in the Deaf/disabled/queer community. Recently, we’ve been having a moment!

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are being seen.

Now, in pop culture, we’re less often viewed as “After School Special,” “inspirational” – unsexy invalids and “cripples.”

There’s nothing “After School Special”-like about Mercado, who is Latinx and has muscular dys“Special,” his character spends much of his time being horny.

A few years ago, The New York Times Opinion section ran a superb series called “On Disability.” people with disabilities to create their own stories – as queer folks have done.

If only this increased visibility meant that we, queer crips, were totally welcomed and included in the LGBTQ community or often depicted authentically in media.

Liz Price is a lesbian, nonbinary cartoonist and creator of Paper Bag Comic. (paperbackcomic. com). Price, who is autistic, has paranoid schizophrenia and Tourette Syndrome. It would have helped her to see more people like herself in cartoons when she was growing up, Price said. queer, disabled characters in cartoons.”

Many nondisabled queers who I meet enjoy DiMarco, O’Connell, and the other queer crip pop stars. These celebs are a source of queer, disabled Pride.

Folks don’t skedaddle as quickly as they did decades ago when I entered an LGBTQ space. But “The LGBTQ community is moving in the direction of becoming more inclusive,” said Kathy Martinez, who is lesbian, blind, Latinx, and president and CEO of Disability Rights Advocates, a “But when I was in D.C., and I’d go to a queer gathering – to meet people – to make friends, people didn’t talk to me. I’d end up sitting alone,” said Martinez, who was Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy for the Obama administration.

Despite these concerns, I’m hopeful this Pride season. “More people are disability-aware now,” Deaf, gay writer Raymond Luczak emailed me, because of “the number of folks who’ve had COVID.” That’s got to make them “more sensitive to accessibility needs,” he added.

“Today, we increasingly celebrate who we are as LGBTQ and blind or disabled,” said Gabriel Blind, an advocacy group.

Lopez Kafati worries about “Don’t Say Gay” laws and other efforts to erase us. But “you can’t put the genie of Pride back in the bottle,” he said.

“You do not need/A better body, a purer spirit, or a Ph.D./To be proud,” the late queer crip poet

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We need to celebrate our Pride. We look forward to celebrating with our entire community this June.

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is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

Show your Pride by voting in the parade this year I am always surprised when I hear someone proudly say “after two years Pride is back!” If you are ‘out’ and didn’t have Pride in yourself and your community for the past two years there is a real problem and it’s not about missing the parades and parties.

Pride needs to be about having Pride in who you are, being comfortable in your own skin, with a willingness to be open and ‘out’ sharing with others who you are. Even today, that’s not always easy everywhere. Clearly it is easier than when I was young back in the dark ages. I knew I was gay, not knowing the term, but knew I was attracted to boys. When going through puberty in the early 1960s I felt as if I was the only one who felt that way and it embarrassed me. I managed to hide it from myself, often convincing myself it was phase, most of the time until I left New York City and moved to D.C. Even then it took me a few years to come out. cle, afraid someone would take my picture. Today I think Pride parades are most important for people who are still struggling with their identity to enable them to see there are many others like themselves and being LGBTQ is OK. In June 2021, friends participated in a walk from Dupont Circle to Freedom plaza and told me how great it was to celebrate Pride in a simpler way without all the parades and parties just walking together in sisterhood and brotherhood.

I missed that walk as it was the day of my friend Clark Ray’s memorial service.

Clark lived a life we all admired with his husband Aubrey and their four adopted children. No one was a better role model for younger members of the community everywhere, for what it meant to be ‘out and proud,’ compassionate and successful.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not opposed to parades and parties. When I was younger, I fully participated and still think it’s great to see all the people who do. I was even honored as a Pride Hero in 2016, riding in a convertible at the front of the parade — a long way from hiding behind a tree in 1981. should focus on the next generations and show them what it’s like to be part of a strong, successful community. It is the reason I fought so hard for marriage equality. At the time I was asked if I would marry and answered “most likely no, I don’t even have a boyfriend.” Yet to me it was important every young boy and girl who realized they were gay or lesbian knew they could be married and live a full and open life like all their straight friends.

Pride month is about celebrating how far we have come, and also recognizing how far we still have to go. Today we must understand if the Supreme Court can overturn Roe v. Wade, it can overturn marriage equality and even interracial marriage. All things a pig like Alito and his co-signers of the leaked draft opinion on Roe v. Wade can claim are not explicitly written into the Constitution.

The slogan for all Pride parades in the United States this year should be “Show your Pride by voting!” I hope each Pride event across the nation has that as a focus. Each Pride event needs multiple opportunities for people to register to vote.

I consider myself lucky to live in D.C. with politicians who support me and a large open and welcoming community. Yet I am well aware not everyone has that luxury. It means those of us who do must lead the way and be examples for what it means to support each other and support every minority community. We are all in this together. Women may not be a minority but too many in the world still treat them as such and we must support them. sign saying ‘Show your Pride by voting!’ If we stand shoulder to shoulder, committing to each other to work at it and vote, we can continue to move forward making progress toward what the Constitution calls “A more perfect union.”

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is a D.C.-based writer.

He contributes regularly to the Blade.

Monkeypox pre-game: Rehoboth Beach Don’t you just love gay summer living?

A year ago we were all huddled under umbrellas and beach towels in what was some of the worst weather Rehoboth Beach Memorial Day had ever seen. In a homophobic pattern I’m calling Tropical was left soaking after days of non-stop rain. I still chuckle at the photos of the days leading up to it. Reminds me of the photographs of all Well, that was last year. This year could easily be called Memorial Day 2022: The Apology. Leading up to it, we were warned the beach itself might be a goner. Like a top with something to prove, a stalled nor’easter pounded the poor beach in the weeks prior. Nevertheless, it was there, just a little truncated. Bottom line: It was some of the best weather the beach town has seen for a Memorial Day weekend.

Friday night was the best of gay dancing at Aqua. There I saw two boys in slings. But they were arm slings and I think one was a tennis I was a little miffed that they stopped serving Stoli Orange, my favorite summertime cocktail, because of the Ukraine invasion, I was told. Never mind it’s made in Latvia. Oh well. I guess the sentiment is there.

Saturday was the best day for the beach. With the shrunken beach, we were all crammed in there like a Town toilet stall. Too bad the water is still on the ice-cold side of the spectrum. Later that night it was time for Diego’s, which seemed to be everyone’s plan. All I have to say about it is can we just get a vodka soda sort of grab n’ go express

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House parties are truly back in the beach town. Do we all remember those knee-jerky years that saw parties busted up moments after they started? That doesn’t seem to be the case these days, thankfully.

Sunday saw Beaumont’s (and Stetson’s and Alexx’s) caftan party. Most pool and hot tub out back. Inside, a tray of cupcakes sat on the countthat night, Michael and Matthew had a neon party at their charming beach house, where boys seemed to take the neon cue as an underWe’re smart, slutty people for sure. And after last year, we deserve a smart and slutty weekend. After all, as the new ‘Fire Island’ movie tells us, what was the point of gay liberation if we can’t feel a little liberated? And certainly we’re gay creatures of habit. So why did we all go? We knew lines would form at every bar. Maybe it is also just what to see everyone we already know. But what’s often described as the cliques and silly social boundaries somehow melt away. Just for a few

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Celebrating diversity, supporting the community, and sharing our pride.

At Kaiser Permanente, the region’s leading health system,1 we’ve always supported the LGBTQ+ community. From inclusive, compassionate care provided by physicians knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ health issues to a welcoming and safe environment, you’ll always get care that makes you feel like you belong.

kp.org/pridemedical/mas In the survey Best Health Insurance Companies for 2021 by Insure.com, Kaiser Permanente as a national enterprise is rated #1 overall among 15 companies.

In the NCQA Commercial Health Plan Ratings 2021, our commercial plan is rated 5 out of 5, the highest rating in MD, VA, and DC. The 2019 Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons, granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Kaiser Permanente cancer care program (extended through 2022). The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group is the largest multispecialty medical group in the Washington, DC, and Baltimore areas and exclusively treats Kaiser Permanente members. Permanente doctors are recognized as Top Doctors in Northern Virginia Magazine (2022), Washingtonian magazine (2021), and Baltimore magazine (2021). According to NCQA’s Quality Compass® 2021, we’re rated 5 out of 5 in 29 measures, including: controlling blood pressure (heart disease), blood pressure control (140/90) (diabetes), glucose control, colorectal screening, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, childhood immunizations, prenatal check-ups, and postpartum care. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of the NCQA.

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Organizers expect nearly half a million people for D.C. Pride

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com Organizers of D.C.’s Capital Pride Parade and Festival, the two largest events of the city’s annual Pride celebration in June, say they are expecting a record turnout for the two events, which will resume this year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.

The parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 11, and the festival, scheduled for Sunday, June 12, have attracted hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators in past years, many of whom travel to D.C. from up and down the mid-Atlantic region as well as other parts of the country.

Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes D.C.’s Pride events, announced earlier this year that it had changed the parade route so that it will begin where it had ended in past years but will retain mostly the same route. The group says the parade was schedto Rhode Island Avenue, where it will turn right and travel to Massachusetts Avenue.

parade will travel.

supporters marching in the parade.

ThePierDC.com.

On Sunday, June 12, the day following the parade and Pride On The Pier, the Capital Pride Festival and Concert will return to

cials say they expect one of the largest turnouts ever for the festival as it returns after the On its website providing details of the festival and concert, which is held at the site of the festival, Capital Pride predicts “nearly a half million people” were expected to attend the festival, which begins at noon and lasts

ica’s Mainstreet, historic Pennsylvania Avenue, for the return of the Capital Pride Festival,” the group says on its website. “Enjoy a full statement on the website says. “The Festival is the largest annual event in the national capital region and continues to be free to the public,” it says.

According to the statement, more than 300 exhibitors that will be located in covered booths along both sides of the street will include service organizations, social groups, businesses, amateur sports leagues, faith-based groups, educational institutions, government agencies, artists, consultants, potential employers and “much more.” information on the Capital Pride website says. The headline entertainers, scheduled to per-

“Joining DNCE will be this year’s winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race, Willow Pill, and season 13 winner, Symone,” a statement on the Capital Pride website says. The statement says other entertainers performing on the other two stages will include some of the “best local and

In addition to the parade and festival along with the Pride on the Pier events, many additional Pride events were scheduled that began Friday, June 3, with the Capital Pride Honp.m., were planning to join or turn out as observers of the Capital Pride parade.

Underground, the entertainment space located in the former trolly station underneath Du-

on the Pier event at the Wharf, the city’s bustling Southwest waterfront entertainment district.

Echostage nightclub; a Trans Pride Pool Party was scheduled for Saturday, June 11 at 7 p.m.

Eletrox, Jai Syncere and Sean Morris will perform throughout the event, with the entertainfor purchase for those 21 and older. Further details, including information about the VIP J UNE 1 0 , 2 0 2 2 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 6 3

For those living with HIV, U=U is helping break the stigma.

Here’s how.

A

t first glance, U=U may look to some like a complex math equation.

But it’s meaning isn’t complicated in the slightest, especially for people living with HIV. U=U is shorthand for “Undetectable = Untransmittable.” That means if someone living with HIV is on the appropriate medications and has a consistently undetectable level of the virus in their blood when tested, they cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partner(s).

“[Being undetectable] freed me,” says Murray Penner, 59, a D.C.-based HIV advocate and U.S. Executive Director at the Prevention Access Campaign. “...even when I was being ‘safe with sex’ before U=U, I always had this fear that I was going to transmit HIV to my partners. And now I no longer have to worry about that.”

His initial worry comes from a place of truth: sexual activity has long been the leading method of HIV transmission, particularly among gay and bisexual men. Yet, the relief that he felt when he became undetectable also speaks to the truth and importance of campaigns like U=U and the need for more thoughtful, holistic approaches to educating others.

“A lot of people don't understand [HIV],” Penner says. “They don't understand that people living with HIV can live a long and normal life.”

“It has so much potential to change not only the way people live with HIV, but change the face of HIV and what it looks like to society.”

MURRAY PENNER

6 4 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2

Penner, who tested positive for HIV in 1986, has seen and felt firsthand the stigma that comes with living with the virus. But he’s hopeful U=U (often stylized as #UequalsU) can free others as it did himself. “[U=U] is a real game-changer,” Penner says. “It has so much potential to change not only the way people live with HIV, but change the face of HIV and what it looks like to society.”

In the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, medical and societal knowledge around the virus was severely limited, and, at times, it was nothing more than fear-mongering, painful homophobia and biphobia and harmful misinformation.

While some of those feelings still exist today, science is getting better.

Prevention methods like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) are more prevalent than ever, and treatment has transformed through advancements in antiretroviral drugs. In D.C. alone, the number of new HIV cases in D.C. has decreased by roughly 49 percent from 2011 to 2018 … and a remarkable 73 percent since 2007.

For Derrick “Strawberry” Cox, 31, this all starts in one place: the doctor’s office.

“I express and encourage people to really have that strong relationship with a doctor,” Cox, a lifelong D.C. resident who is heavily involved in D.C.’s health advocacy spaces. “If you don't feel comfortable with [your] doctor … get someone that you can talk to literally about anything.”

An open relationship with a healthcare provider, as Cox mentions, is crucial for those living with HIV. Consistent treatment and testing are integral parts of both becoming and maintaining one’s undetectable status -- and, in turn, preventing transmission between partners.

Cox, who himself is undetectable, speaks with those who are newly diagnosed at a support group through Whitman-Walker Health. More than anything, he says he encounters people who are still coming to terms with their new reality. “[Many] don't want to accept the fact that they are HIV-positive,” Cox adds. “Most of them don't want to take the pills, and most of them feel, you know, disgusting or dirty. [Stigma] is still a huge thing even though we've come a long way.”

Both Cox and Penner are rightfully adamant in saying there is nothing “dirty” about having HIV and look ahead to a future where people living with HIV — undetectable or not — are seen simply for who they are: human beings.

“HIV doesn't define a person,” Penner says. “I'm a person just like you're a person and just like somebody else next to me as a person. Don't let HIV define you [or others].”

FOR MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION on U=U or if you’re looking for HIV-related testing (some are available at home due to COVID-19) and treatment options in D.C., visit sexualbeing.org. A number of critical resources are available at no cost that can help you find a doctor, support group, or the treatment you need.

“If you don't feel comfortable with [your] doctor … get someone that you can talk to literally about anything.”

DERRICK “STRAWBERRY” COX

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Metropolitan Police at the beginning of the 2019 Capital Pride parade.

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Pride police bans stir debate in D.C., around country Compromise in San Francisco, confusion in Washington

By JOSH ALBURTUS As cities across the U.S. once again hold in-person Pride month festivities after two years of pandemic-related pauses, a growing trend among Pride organizations attempting to restrict police presence at Pride events is gaining momentum.

The trend, which has only grown in recent years, has ignited debate among the LGBTQ community and outside groups attempting to balance support for the community with support for local law enforcement.

These calls for an end to police involvement in the events largely stem from a detailed history of discrimination and use of force among police departments toward the LGBTQ community and communities of color.

The Stonewall rebellion, during which patrons and local residents protested a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village, are largely credited with sparking the modern-day LGBTQ rights movement. The narrative set by this history has organizations in some of the country’s largest cities trying to ban uniformed law enforcement personnel from Pride parades and festivals.

Pride groups in San Francisco and other cities have recently engaged in their own efforts to ban uniformed police from marching in their annual parades altogether.

Drawing the ire of San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the city’s police department, San Francisco Pride last month banned police in its annual Pride parade.

“One of the top priorities is that San Francisco Pride remains a positive, celebratory event for all, especially for our Black, trans, and lesbian/gay/queer+ family,” San Francisco Pride said in its statement announcing the ban. “For the 2022 [San Francisco] Pride Parade, [San Francisco] Pride requested that those participating from law enforcement agencies do so out of uniform and in an alternative attire that still represents their organization.”

In announcing their initial decision, San Francisco Pride directly related their reasoning to past harm done by law enforcement to the LGBTQ community. “[San Francisco] Pride remains committed to practicing radical inclusion, practicing harm reduction in our space, and supporting those who are marginalized within our community,” the group stated. “We acknowledge and appreciate the steps that have been taken to heal decades of distrust between law enforcement agencies and the LGBTQ+ com-

6 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2

munities.”

Although the ban has since been reversed following a compromise between San Francisco Pride and the San Franer major cities with large LGBTQ communities.

New York, Seattle, and Denver are among the cities in which activists have banned or requested an absence of uniformed police presence at Pride events.

NYC Pride announced last year it would prohibit unileast 2025.

“NYC Pride is unwilling to contribute in any way to creating an atmosphere of fear or harm for members of the community,” the group said in a statement. “The steps being taken by the organization challenge law enforcement to acknowledge their harm and to correct course moving forward, in hopes of making an impactful change.”

But the bans are not met with open arms by all, with some believing the trend does more harm than good.

The New York Times Editorial Board characterized NYC Pride’s decision as a “misstep.”

“The organizers are certainly within their rights to reduce let’s be honest: It’s a poke in the eye at law enforcement more than a meaningful action to address police violence or foster a dialogue about law enforcement reform,” said the board in an editorial. “These moves do nothing to celebrate and demonstrate solidarity within the LGBTQ community.”

Even among members of the LGBTQ community, opinions on banning police from Pride events remain divided.

In their response to NYC Pride’s ban on uniformed police at Pride, the New York Times Editorial Board cited a 2019 poll of 801 LGBTQ Americans conducted by Whitman Insight Strategies and Buzzfeed that found 79 percent of respondents favored having police participation in Pride events.

In D.C., the situation is a bit confusing. The Capital Pride Alliance adopted a policy in 2018 that bans uniformed police from participating in the Pride parade it organizes. The ban remained in place last year, and the Capital Pride Alliance has not publicly stated any change or retraction of the policy.

“In 2018 the decision was made that [Metropolitan Police Department] would not participate as a contingent in the Pride parade, and has not since,” the group said in a 2020

statement. “Going forward, [Capital Pride Alliance] will not permit any uniformed and armed march in the Pride parade or participate in [Capital Pride Alliance]-sanctioned events.”

But uniformed police did walk at the start of the D.C. Pride parade in 2019 (see photo), raising questions about the policy. Technically, the

MAYOR BOWSER at the opening reception last month for Black to march in the city’s Pride parade this weekend though it’s unclear if uniformed MPD

contingent, and rather were on duty. But

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Going into this year, it remains unclear whether the ban on uniformed police presence in D.C.’s Pride parade will lead during the events that played out in San Francisco. D.C. Maysupportive of the efforts being made throughout June to highlight the LGBTQ community and intends to march in the city’s Pride parade.

“We are focused, especially this year, on using Pride to bring people back together and to uplift and advance our D.C. values,” Bowser said in the statement. “We are proud that, for years, D.C. has led the nation in supporting LGBTQ+ rights, and together we will keep it that way. We are the District of Pride, and I look forward to seeing people at the return of the Pride Parade on June 11.” comment regarding the issue.

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NBC4’s WENDY RIEGER was honored posthumously with Capital Pride’s Presidential Award.

Capital Pride honors local LGBTQ trailblazers

(Washington Blade photo

by Michael Key)

Rieger receives posthumous Presidential Award

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE Capital Pride Alliance last week hosted its annual Pride Honors awards ceremony where it recognizes outstanding individuals, leaders, and activists in the National Capital Region who have furthered causes important to the LGBTQ community.

Among those honored, six individuals were named “he-

Capital Pride volunteer Deborah McQueen was awarded 17 years of helping the organization with its yearly summer festivities.

The organization also posthumously named television veteran Wendy Rieger recipient of the Presidential Award.

The former anchor was an established reporter in the D.C. area, won four Emmy Awards, and was well known and beloved for her acts of service to the LGBTQ community such as joining her NBC4 colleagues in participating in three D.C. AL and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.

“We wanted to make sure her community involvement was recognized,” said Anthony Musa, vice president of board engagement and a member of Capital Pride’s board

Musa, who helped select this year’s nominees, highlighted that this year’s nominees were dynamic and that he liked how involved in the LGBTQ community they are. He and other board members selected the winners after issuing an “The nominees have a range of activities outside of just their [normal] jobs,” he said. “One of our nominees [is involved] in immigration advocacy while also working to support trans women of color.”

Diana Fitz, who was one of the six “heroes,” immigrated received her bachelor’s degree in government administration from Christopher Newport University and her master’s in government with a concentration in public policy from an organization that provides social services to immigrant person to work at Ayuda, which provides legal, language, and social services to low-income immigrants in the D.C. area.

When selecting award nominees, Musa and the Capital Pride board considered how the LGBTQ community has

evolved since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They selected individuals who had worked in different arenas such providing healthcare, politics, community advocacy, and Additionally, the board was conscious to select a group that was racially, ethnically and geographically diverse.

Out of a total of eight honorees, six were people of color A nominee who was not native to the D.C. area was Rev. Aaron B. Wade, a Chicago native who founded and is a senior pastor at the Community Church of Washington, DC – United Church of Christ. Wade is well known for his messages of love, hope, and community empowerment that he imparts through his companies Empowerment Enterprise “These organizations are the extension of his vision to empower communities and facilitate change in the world by helping to empower people to change their communities,” according to Capital Pride’s website. ing entertainment from musician Inaya Day and DJ Edward, Musa focused on the honorees.

“I enjoyed seeing the honorees, working with them, and talking to them as vice president,” he said.

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Celebrate Pride month in D.C. with theater Mysteries, the supernatural, Broadway, drag, and more

By PATRICK FOLLIARD Marcantel’s “The Department Upstairs” (through June 12) at Signature Theatre in Along with the parties, parades, and cookouts, why not celebrate Pride month with Arlington. Staged by out director Holly Twyford, it’s the story of Luke (Zach Livingston), theater? a young man who, or may not, have supernatural powers.

Out actor Mike Thornton is borrowing the Spooky Action Theater space in Dupont to And later in June, Signature presents “Broadway in the Park” (June 24) at Wolf play nine roles in “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelky” (June 10, 11), a oneTrap featuring Tony-Award winners Kelli O’Hara (“The King and I”) and Adrienne Warman piece about a New Jersey detective tracing the mysterious disappearance of a 14-year-old boy through the townspeople whose lives he has impacted. It was written ing songs from “West Side Story,” “The Wiz,” “Gypsy,” “Funny Girl,” and more. Helmand originally performed by James Lecesne — actor, author, screenwriter and LGBTQ ing what promises to be a rights activist who also cresensational show is Signaated The Trevor Project. For ture’s out artistic director tickets, visit Eventbrite.com.

Matthew Gardiner. SigtheMosaic Theater is preatre.org. senting emerging playAt Theater J, megawatt wright Benjamin Benne’s talent January LaVoy is queer Christian play “In His tackling Anna Deavere Hands” (June 22 – July 17), Smith’s “Fires in the Miran appealing romance beror” (through July 3), a briltween gamer/aspiring Luliantly conceived one-pertheran pastor Daniel and a son piece about the 1991 guy named Christian. riots in Crown Heights, “It’s especially interesting Brooklyn. Already polarfor those with an interest ized, the neighborhood in spirituality or sexuality,” erupted into violence relayed in a recent text by following the deaths of a Mosaic’s managing direcBlack American boy and tor and producer Serge a young Orthodox JewSeiden. “That’s the theme ish scholar in the summer (even if the treatment is of 1991. Smith’s groundmore rom-com). It’s also a breaking documentary very, very gay team — playplay uses verbatim testiwright, director, two actors, mony from throughout the set designer, etc.” community requiring LaHe adds that the story is Voy to assay a multitude of sweet, sexy, and relatable, diverse characters. LaVoy and comes from a new and Theater J’s out artistic voice. The playwright, who director Adam Immerwahr literally just graduated from co-direct. TheaterJ.org Yale wrote “In His Hands” MISS KITTY and CAM MAGEE Through June 18, Avant while still in school, and Bard Theatre in Arlington recently had another big presents two by Tennesopening at Center Theatre see Williams: “Suddenly Last Summer,” a one act about Violet Venable, a rich conGroup in Los Angeles with his new play “Alma,” a poetic riposte against Trump’s antrolling mother who wants to eliminate – at any cost – her niece Catherine’s memoti-Mexican rhetoric. Mosaictheater.org ries surrounding the sexual escapades and death of her gay son Sebastian; and a Shakespeare Theatre Company presents “Red Velvet” (June 16- July 17), Lolita lesser-known piece “Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen,” a one act about Chakrabarti’s work celebrating a pioneering actor who triumphed in his art despite desperation seen through the lens of two unnamed characters barely getting by on a tempest of social injustice. Set in London’s Theatre Royal, 1833, it’s the story of Ira New York’s Lower East Side.

Both pieces are staged by Christopher Henley, an out director with a deep appreciShakespeare’s Othello. A top-notch cast includes Jaye Ayres-Brown (queer, gender ation and understanding of Williams’ work. Avantbard.org And through June 19, Chamber Dance Company is premiering “Gatsby” and out ager Charles Kean. Shakespearetheatre.org guest choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evan’s new ballet, “Gravity to Grace.” Evans Studio Theatre invites audiences to celebrate Pride with Katori Hall’s “The Hot Wing just won a Guggenheim Fellowship and worked for years as a dancer with Philadanco King” (opening June 22), “a show that celebrates Black queer love and the risk and in Philly where he lives. Alex Sargent, a beautifully talented out dancer with D.C. roots, rewards of celebrating who you are.” is featured in Evan’s work and dances the lead in “Gatsby.” Chamberdance.org Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play is set in Memphis where Cordell (Brian Marable) On Friday nights throughout Pride month, Dupont Underground and the Washingis vying for the title of hot wing royalty. “Backed by his best friends and boyfriend ton Blade are presenting “Drag Underground,” a weekly drag show performed in Dwayne [Blake Morris], he has a feeling this will be his year. But when one of his crewDupont Circle’s versatile subterranean space. The June 10 performance features popmates starts messing with the seasoning, suddenly Cordell’s dreams are in danger of ular artists Shi-Queeta Lee, Logan Stone, Crimsyn and Pico Rico. Dupontunderground. org If you’re fast, there’s still some time to see the world premiere of playwright Chelsea 7 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2

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Gay MLB umpire talks new book, D.C. Pride Night Out appearance

Dale Scott shares what goes on behind baseball’s curtain

By KEVIN MAJOROS The last time the Blade checked in with Major League Baseball umpire Dale Scott in “The Umpire is Out” was released in April and is a rollicking journey through Scott’s 2018, he was happily retired and making occasional appearances at MLB Pride nights nearly 40 years of umpiring including 33 years in MLB from 1985 to 2017. and Pride parades.

In amusing fashion, he spotlights his run-ins with team managers, players, fans, suThere have been several books published by retired MLB umpires, but Scott didn’t pervisors, and fellow umpires. Along the way, Scott shines a light on how much the have a desire to follow suit with one of his own. Even though people kept suggesting sport of baseball actually revolves around the success, or failure, of the umpires to he write a book, he put the thought out of his mind. uphold the rules of the sport and ensure that play is fair.

In 2019, he met up with baseball writer Rob Neyer for coffee and to get his copy of Scott also chronicles the energy that was spent on hiding his sexuality. There were Neyer’s recent book autographed. Neyer insisted that Scott had a story and that it was secret trips, a fake girlfriend, and a ‘roommate’ at home that watched his house during twofold, a baseball story and a gay story. his travel months. Scott married his husband Mike in 2013 and came out publicly the “Honestly, that was what put me over the hump,” says Scott. “I love sharing baseball following year, receiving a positive response from his peers and the baseball commustories, details on big games, and what goes on behind the curtain. As for the gay side, nity.

I felt that if my story could help one person in a positive way that it would be worth The book tour for “The Umpire is Out” has been a mix of radio podcasts, bookstore writing it.” signings and appearances at MLB Pride nights. He is currently scheduled for eight MLB Pride nights and will appear at Pride Night OUT at the Nationals on June 14.

When asked about sharing his gay experiences on radio podcasts with straight hosts, Scott says he doesn’t take anything too personally.

“One or two of the podcasts were all about my baseball experiences,” Scott says.

“All of the others brought up the personal side. Their questions were all valid and the intent was to get an understanding of what I experienced as a gay man.”

Just last week, Scott appeared on The Jim Rome Show podcast and a tweet came through while he was on-air. A father and his gay son had pulled over while driving to listen to the podcast. The son wants to become an umpire.

For now, Scott is back into the travel routine that he left behind when his career ended. That ending came in his 3,897th MLB game on April 14, 2017, in Toronto when he took a foul ball to the chin area of his mask and suffered a concussion and whiplash.

“I never had a farewell tour or that foreknown knowledge that my career was ending,” says Scott. “It’s been great being on the road again, seeing old friends and visiting old haunts. It has put a little pep in my step.”

Scott is open for whatever comes his way in the future and part of that will include umpire camps and clinics along with following the sports teams of his beloved University of Oregon Ducks. He is also entertaining the notion of an audio book but stands Former MLB umpire DALE SCOTT (third from left) jokes he should have titled new book ‘I Blew the Call, and the Catcher too.’ (Photo courtesy Scott)

An agreement was struck with Neyer to co-write and 12 months later they found a publisher who gave them a six-month deadline. Scott had saved all of his minor league ejection reports and used MLB stats to refresh his memory of the dates that

7 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2

Scott says. “I would just pick anyone else apart.”

You don’t have to be a sports fan, or a member of the LGBTQ community to enjoy “The Umpire is Out.” Scott has presented an enjoyable read that feels like you are sitting at a pub listening to a good friend share a story.

Scott has one last thing he would like to share — his original title for the book.

“I like the title we came up with, but I thought it should be called ‘I Blew the Call, and the Catcher too’,” says Scott laughing. “Now that’s a title.”

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Baltimore Pride features parade, festival, High Heel Race Festivities kick off June 20; headliners include Mya

The Pride Center of Maryland has moved into a new building that alThe 45-year-old organization, which hosts Baltimore Pride, will kick off its Pride celebrations on Monday, June 20 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new premises at 2418 Saint Paul Street. There will be tours of the new center, remarks from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and performances by Black Assets and Kenneth Something.

“This new building will give more freedom and opportunity to be a resource to our community,” said Kenneth Something, the center’s director of strategic partnerships and special events.

The new location, which the center owns, is four times larger than its current location and will allow it to unabashedly signal that it is a safe space for the Baltimore queer community to gather. space for our community.”

In addition to its current roster of services, such as facilities that allow individuals to report discrimination against sexual and gender minorities, the center will welcome 40 small LGBTQ initiatives free-of-charge to use its premises to host meetings including book clubs, yoga classes, art clubs Baltimore Pride will be a mix of fun and serving the community, according to Something. This year’s Pride month events will be the biggest the city has witnessed, with a total of 26 events featuring local and nation-

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

On Friday, June 24, there will be “Ecstatic Dance in the Park- Pride Edition” at 6 p.m. at Zen Garden Druid Hill Park; “Music at the Market - Pride Edition” at 7 p.m. at Broadway Market, and Bike Party Pride Ride at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Park — the bike party will have an expected attendance of over 500 cyclists and will conclude with a dance party with DJ Deezy, resident DJ at The Baltimore Eagle.

June 22 at Busboys and Poets. The event time is to be determined, according to Baltimore Pride’s website. The poetry competition will be hosted

by Radi, an award-winning Black queer poet. Ten poets will compete for a chance to win $1,500 in cash prizes and the title of Baltimore Pride Slam Champion.

“It is important to center and uplift the stories of our community,” said Something regarding the event, which will also feature open mic perforOf course, the usual parade and festival are on tap this year. The parade along Charles Street begins Saturday, June 25 at 1 p.m., and the adjacent Block Party runs 3-9 p.m. Visit baltimorepride.org for exact locations. The annual High Heel Race is Saturday, June 25 at 12:10 p.m. at Charles and 25th streets. Pride in the Park takes over Druid Hill Park on Sunday, June 26 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. with more than 100 vendors, music, drag, and One of the service events on the organization’s calendar is the Pride

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Job Fair on Tuesday, June 21 at 5 p.m. at the Pride Center’s new location.

There will be 15 LGBTQ-friendly employers at the event that are geared to empowering sexually gendered minority community members by connecting them with companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion.

The job fair was one of the components of Pride month that the Pride Center wanted to grow by ensuring that people not only leave connected to their communities, but also with employment opportunities to better

At its roots, Baltimore Pride —which also happens to be the third oldest Pride festival in the country— is a fundraiser for the Pride Center. So, the 14th edition of its famed annual “Twilight on the Terrace” fundraiser will be hosted on Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at Gertrude’s at the Baltimore There will also be a new fundraiser “Queens Cruise” — on Sunday, June 26 at 11 a.m. at City Cruises Baltimore— that Something describes as “one of the newest grand events of Baltimore Pride.” The event will be a drag brunch and buffet hosted by Emerald Star, featuring performances by Chanel Belladonna, Vee Vee Majesty, Angel Devero, and Lyric Bordeaux.

“I think organizations [sometimes] get swept away by current events,” a Pride relevant to Baltimore that is not necessarily shaped by national politics.”

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Renwick Gallery

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Plan Your Visit: s.si.edu/junerenwick Renwick Gallery | Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW | Washington DC Installation view of This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, 2022. Photo by Albert Ting

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Buy these products to show your Pride this month Beach towels, cakes, graphic tees, and more

By MIKEY ROX

Let ’em all know that you’re here and you’re queer with these Pride month product picks designed to strike fear in the heart of Ron DeSantis.

Happy Pride! Cake

Mention cake in the queer community and two things come to mind: the Colorado bakery that courted controversy when it refused to bake the confection for a same-sex wedding in 2012, and, according to modern colloquialisms, dat ass. Those citations notwithstanding, you can perfect your Marie-Antoinette impression when you slice up Bake Me A Wish’s “Happy Pride!” message cake (with rainbow sprinkles, of course) that sends $10 of every purchase to the Ali Forney Center. $65, BakeMeAWish.com

Roma Sheer Jogging Pant

If Peacock can reboot “Queer as Folk” this month, there’s no reason why we can’t reboot the sheer tops and bottoms (the kind you wear) of the same era – like Roma’s “LOVE”matching briefs and tank. $27-$50, Amazon.com

#LubeLife Party Flavor

Buttercream-topped birthday cake banned from your summer diet? Get cant guaranteed to get the no-pants party started. Fifteen percent of June $10,000. $8.99, Amazon.com

Bi Pride Beach Towel

All the sun-seekers will discover your lust doesn’t discriminate when you unfurl the quick-dry Bi Pride beach towel that weighs and packs 10 times smaller than conventional versions. $19, Amazon.com

Nina West X Dearfoams

Your Sunday-best outta-the-house slippers get an upgrade via the Nina West X Dearfoams collection available in seven solid-tone colorways and one pink-trimmed glitter pair that screams “I might be in Walmart right now, but I got Target money, honey.” $26-$40, Amazon.com 8 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2

Tom of Finland Playing Cards stud on a night in at your P-Town share, but these erotic Tom of Finland playing cards had other plans. Hard to bluff in the buff. $17, Amazon.com

Every Man Jack Pride Set

Musky-fresh scents like sandalwood, cedarwood, aged bourbon, and sea salt comprise Every Man Jack’s Pride $35,

Amazon.com

Nautica Pride Swim Short

No self-respecting homo would be caught dead in Nautica’s sustainably crafted knee-length Pride swim shorts – because sky’s out, thighs out, baby! – but 10 bucks says your straight-when-sober roommate is eager to show his LGBTQ support this month (even though he’ll still vote Republican in November). $23-$45, Amazon.com

Adidas Harden Vol. 4 Pride Shoe

Stomp the yard – and LGBTQ bullies – in Adidas’s sporty (and surprisingly attractive) Harden Vol. 4 indoor court sneaks, featuring a rainbow rubber sole and gold metallic embellishing for that little extra tink. $96$142, Amazon.com

“Protect Trans Kids” Graphic Tee

If you’re the type that can’t resist an inexpensive statement tee, at least choose a message with meaning. In today’s “Don’t Say Gay” society, this one is especially necessary. $16, Amazon.com

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBTQ lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world.

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By MICHAEL K. LAVERS, DANIEL ITAI & ESTEBAN GUZMÁN Pride events are in full swing around the world.

Thousands of people on June 5 attended Bangkok’s

to his Twitter page.

Members of the Rock of Hope gather outside the Eswatini Supreme Court on April 29, 2022.

(Photo courtesy of the Rock of Hope)

Brazil election overshadows São Paulo Pride

Decriminalization push

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Nollywood Dreams is sponsored by Michael Beriss & Jean Carlson, Jay & Robin Hammer, Patti & Jerry Sowalsky, and the RPM Fund.

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Baltimore Trans Pride

Grand March followed by Block Party (Washington Blade photos by Linus Berggren)

Baltimore Safe Haven held 2022 Baltimore Trans Pride on Saturday, June 4.

The Trans Pride March route went along North Charles Street and ended in a block party at North Avenue.

Annapolis Pride Parade

Maryland capital hosts LGBTQ celebration (Photos by Jaime Thompson/Fleur de Lis Photography)

The 2022 Annapolis Pride Parade wound through the streets of historic downtown Annapolis, Md. on Saturday, June 4.

9 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 202 2

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EXCLUSIVE: “I am just a girl,” L Morgan Lee tells me. That

By ROB WATSON

ing life one step at a time.

To the rest of us, L Morgan Lee is so much more. She is the award-winning actress starring on Broadway in the hit show of the season, “A Strange Loop.” Her singing talent matches that

boo to discuss. There are things that people see as problematic. There are so many things inside through life, feeling oppressed and unseen and

Times articles are being written about her. She is the “girl” in the spotlight now.

show touches so many different people.”

L Morgan demonstrated coming out as a con-

actress to receive a Tony Award nomination.

ties unhidden, on the opening night of the play and decisions she made as she stepped into the public spotlight. “I feel a responsibility. It feels

seen on a Broadway stage, she seems to have ceiling of being recognized in the upper echelon litzer recognizes the author, whom she was not, certainly her creative input was weaved into the

the most poignant feeling for me is the responsibility. How could I show up for that person that L MORGAN LEE is up for a Tony Award on Sunday night.

(Photographed by Andrey Strekoza exclusively for the Blade)

L Morgan has journeyed a complex path to self-awareness. “For me, even in terms of being trans, the idea of being anything outside of what I was assigned at birth was just laughable and crazy to me as a child,” she says. “It just, it made no sense. It was not something that I was comfortable saying out loud to anyone or voicing. How would I be

“On my opening night on Broadway, we were

never show. I stepped out revealed, exposed and vulnerable on the very public red car-

become our lifelines. I would dream and dream. I have a memory of when I was maybe

her vulnerability and hear that she felt nervous, and you hear that she was dealing with

school. She allowed herself to explore her true identity under the guise of a Halloween

as she realized she was no longer the person they thought they had hired. Not only were they aware, as many close loved ones can be, of her journey, but they embraced her and assured her that she belonged more than ever.

“The characters I played allowed me to, in some ways hide until I was able to be more public about who I am. And once I did that, it certainly brought another layer of depth to

but because when we reveal Our Truth, our humanness, there is universality there. There is connection inside of our vulnerability.”

While the Tony nomination escalates her Broadway experience, L Morgan does not lose sight of her mortal existence. “On the day that the Tony nominations happened, I fell apart, completely losing it in by bedroom. Then I realized, I still needed to get a couch,

“The biggest reason I do what I do is one because I love storytelling. My experience is

playing, and my lens of life in general, have evolved through the process. So, certainly the woman I am today, views the show and the script, and the characters I play in a very some of the magic of the show is that it is not “performed” as much as it is lived out of the really live by that.” moved forward in some ways.”

“The piece is as strong as it is because the lens itself, the lens through which the story

When they call the winner on Tony night, it will be between a Broadway legend and where a trans girl in hiding will realize her dream too can come true.

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CALENDAR |

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Friday, June 10

Friday Tea Time and social hour for Older LGBTQ+ adults will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. Feel free to bring your beverage of choice. For the Zoom link or more information, contact Justin (justin@thedccenter.org).

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties Happy Hour will be at 7 p.m. at Wunter Garten. Guests are encouraged to come meet new people, catch up with friends, and enjoy snacks and drinks. Like all WiTT activities, this event is trans and non-binary inclusive. You must be 21+ to attend. For more info, join WiTT’s private Facebook group.

Saturday, June 11 Universal Pride Meeting will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create gmail.com to receive the password to join the meeting.

LGBTQ+ Pride Brunch

Sunday, June 12 “We Say Gay Party” will be at 3 p.m. at Dirty Habit. The event will be hosted by Bombalicious Eklaver, voted DC’s will be at 6 p.m. at Wunter Garten. Kiki is a monthly drag party featuring hosts Crystal Edge and Katrina Colby! Guests are encouraged to come enjoy drag bingo, games, and music provided by a live DJ. There will also be a

Monday, June 13 Center Aging Coffee Drop-In will be at 10 a.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community and online on Zoom. LGBT Older Adults — and friends — are invited to enjoy friendly conversations and to discuss any issues you might be dealing & mingle to make new connections while enjoying delicious craft cocktails and food bites during the happy hour vibe.

Tuesday, June 14 Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-facilitated discussion group and a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more information, visit the Com2nd Tuesdays open mic will be at 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets in D.C. This is a two-hour event where audiences can expect a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies, musicians

Wednesday, June 15 Center Faith will host a Pride Interfaith Service at 7 p.m. virtually on YouTube and Facebook. The service aims for togetherness and reaching out in love to people of all faiths, sexual orientations, and gender identities in all communities. The theme is “Born in a pandemic. Quilted Together. United by Faith.” For more information, visit the DC Center’s Job Club will be at 6 p.m. in-person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community and online on Zoom. The Job Club is a dence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants.”

Thursday, June 16 Poly Group Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is designed to be a forum for people at all different stages to discuss polyamory and other consensual non-monogamous relationships. For more information, email supThe DC Center’s Food Pantry Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245.

1 0 0 • WA SHIN GTO NBLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 20 2 2

OUT & ABOUT KINETIC: Pride DC launches with 3 major events KINETIC: Pride DC will partner with Capital Pride events that will feature leading gay DJs: Abel, Ben Bakson, Joe Pacheco, Dan Slater and Alexis Tucci.

The weekend kicks off Friday, June 10 at 10 p.m. with UNCUT XL at BLISS Nightclub. Grammy-nominated DJ Abel will headline the city’s “most risqué circuit event of the year” at BLISS nightclub. four years so there will be lots of sweating, dancing, and men bumping and sliding into one another on the Jesus Quispe in a press release late May. June 11 at 10 p.m. at Echostage. DJs Dan Slater and Ben Bakson will perform back-to-back sets. DJ Joe Pacheco will open the night.

The series of events will wrap up on Sunday June 12 p.m. at SAX in Downtown D.C. Disco-diva Alexis Tucci will spin an open-to-close set with Disco, Nu-Disco, and Disco House music all night long. Special performances throughout the night will be integrated into her high-energy disco set as well.

To purchase tickets, visit KINETIC: Pride DC’s website.

at 9 p.m. Saturday and The Wharf, will host the third annual “Pride on the Pier” on Saturday, June 11 at 2 p.m. at The Wharf DC-

Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment.

The District Pier will also offer music from local DJs Eletrox, Jai Syncere and Sean Morris and dancing and other entertainment.

D.C. mayor to march in Pride parade Mayor Muriel Bowser will be present at Capital Affairs.

The parade lineup with the Mayor begins at 1:30 The parade route will honor our LGBTQ history and acknowledge the evolution of the LGBTQ neighborhoods in D.C., while respecting the origins and imporand water and light snacks will be provided.

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Trailblazing soccer legend Briana Scurry inspires with new book ‘My Greatest Save’ recounts highs and lows of her remarkable life

By KATHI WOLFE Black lesbian soccer icon Briana Scurry knew from the get-go that she would compete in the Olympics.

In February 1980, Scurry, then eight, was in the family room in her home in Dayton, Minn., watching the Winter Olympics, held that year in Lake Placid, N.Y. The United States was playing hockey against Russia. In what became known as “the Miracle on Ice,” the U.S. Olympic team won the gold medal.

Scurry cheered for the U.S. team. But Jim Craig, the team’s goaltender, especially, became a hero for her.

“One day I am going to be an Olympian, too,” Scurry decided.

This sounds like a child’s daydream – with as much chance of becoming a reality as a happily-ever-after-Disney movie.

But trailblazing soccer legend Briana Scurry has proved that, with talent, hard work, support from family and friends, along with a sense of humor, dreams can come true.

The child who dreamed of being an Olympian grew

save as goalkeeper for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in the 1999 FIFA World Cup championship game.

(FIFA is world soccer’s governing body.)

“I believe I’m the only Black lesbian to be on a Wheaties 2004 Summer Olympics, said in a recent interview with the Blade.

Scurry’s life has had Olympian highs and hellish lows.

In 2010, her soccer career ended after she sustained a traumatic brain injury during a game. Scurry ran up against an insurance company that wouldn’t pay for the medical care she needed.

At one of her lowest points, she had to pawn her Olympic gold medals to pay for food.

In “My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World-Champion Goalkeeper,” her revealing, moving, can’t-put-down book, (written with Wayne Coffey), coming out on June 21, Scurry tells her compelling story.

It is “more than the story of an all-time great goalkeeper,” tennis legend and LGBTQ icon Billie Jean King said of “My Greatest Save.” “It’s about a pioneering female athlete who made sure to honor those who came before her even as she worked hard to make things better for those who came after her.”

“It was time,” Scurry said when asked why she wrote the book, “I was in a good place to do it.”

When you’re in a tough situation it’s hard to see how to write about it, she added, “I had to go away from it to go back to it. We started in 2020 right before the pandemic.”

Scurry hopes the book will inspire readers. “I hope it will encourage people to blaze trails in their own lives,” she said.

Scurry wanted readers to see behind the veil of a professional athlete – to see how she overcame obstacles, kept going, and reached her goals.

Throughout her life and career, Scurry has encountered obstacles and barriers from a traumatic brain injury to racism and homophobia.

From early on, Scurry was aware that she was different.

There were few people of color when she was in elementary, middle, or high school. The youth soccer teams that she played on were also predominantly white. During her 17 years with the U.S. Women’s Soccer National Team, “it was the same thing — at least among the core players,” she writes in “My Greatest Save.” elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and she is Scurry was so supportive of other queer soccer players that she became known as the “welcome wagon.”

“When I played with the Atlanta Beat we’d compete fearlessly against the opposing team,” Scurry said. “But after the game, [the Atlanta and the opposing team] wanted to hang out.”

Scurry would take the LGBTQ home and opposing players to a fun, safe place — a bar where they could grab something to eat and dance. “Then we’d go back to comScurry thinks she has been discriminated against because of how she looks. “Because I’m Black and lesbian,” she said.

In 1999, after the World Cup win, Scurry kissed her then girlfriend. “When we kissed the TV cameras cut away because we were lesbians.”

She also believes that she’s received fewer offers for letes.

Scurry worries about the “Don’t Say Gay” and anti-trans laws that are being passed nationwide. “I worry that these [queer] kids will be bullied. That they might become suicidal,” she said.

“I wrote my book for LGBTQ kids,” Scurry said, “I want them to believe in themselves and to believe that they can be athletes.”

“We’re going backwards,” Scurry added. “It’s frustratour rights.”

Scurry was forced to engage in one of the toughest playing soccer in 2010. After she was injured, Scurry was labeled “temporarily totally disabled.” That label was a severe understatement.

Scurry’s head injury left her in unbearable pain. It was incredibly hard for her to concentrate on the simplest things — from reading more than a couple of paragraphs to following the plot of a TV show.

Scurry became so depressed that she came close to ending her life. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the Trevor Project at thetrevorproject.org and/or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.)

“The insurance company said I was faking it,” Scurry said. “I told them I was a professional athlete. There was nothing I wanted more in the world than to get back in the game.”

“Why in the world would I have wanted to fake not being able to work?” she said.

Thankfully, in this low period in her life, Scurry was connected, through friends to Chryssa Zizos, who works in public relations.

1 0 4 • WA SHIN GTO NBLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 20 2 2

Zizos publicized Scurry’s struggle with the insurance company. The publicity was effective. The company agreed to pay for the physical therapy and surgery that Scurry needed.

Today, Scurry and Zizos are happily married. Scurry loves being step-mom to Zizos’s children, who call her “bonus mom.”

Scurry, now fully recovered, talks about her traumatic brain injury to educate soccer players, coaches, and parents about concussions.

“There’s more research now about ways to help protect players from concussions,” she said.

Headbands would help protect players against concussions, Scurry said. “Some of the players won’t wear headbands,” she added, “because it would be perceived as weakness.”

Shin guards used to be voluntary, and players didn’t wear them, Scurry said.

“But after FIFA mandated them, players wore them,” she said. “The same thing would happen if FIFA mandated headbands.”

Scurry was thrilled last month when news broke from The New York Times and other outlets that landmark contracts had been signed with the U.S. Soccer Federation. soccer teams will be paid equally in international matches and competitions. The agreement says that in forthcoming World Cup tournaments men and women will be paid equally in money awarded by FIFA in prizes.

“I’m overjoyed about women getting equal pay,” Scurry said.

Fifty years ago this month, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 became law. The legislation, which prohibits discrimination against women in education, has enabled thousands of women and girls to participate in sports in high schools, colleges and professionally.

“Title IX opened the door for millions of girls around the country to be able to participate in sports,” Scurry said.

“Without Title IX ... there would have been no path for me to play soccer collegiately and professionally,” she added.

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At Michele’s, sophisticated cuisine in an inclusive space Executive sous chef Rachel Bindel brings her full identity to work

By EVAN CAPLAN

Both traditional and chosen, it’s all about family at Michele’s. Michelin-starred chef and owner Matt Baker named the restaurant after his late mother, but it’s also where Exec“I have never felt comfortable enough to be completely open about myself until I met this team,” she says.

As Executive Sous Chef, Bindel oversees daily operations at Michele’s, located in the mission-focused Eaton Hotel. She also plans menus and runs scheduling, sourcing, and events. bringing in Houston and New Orleans, resulting in a sophisticated, French-American cuisine. Both Baker and Bindel are trained in classical French techniques, and both also spent time cooking and studying in East Asia. The combination of their background and vision come together at the tables at Michele’s.

Bindel also oversees the chef’s table 10-seat, 14-course, memories, designed and cooked by the chefs to tell the sto-

‘Being at Michele’s, I can be my full self, which makes my work better, too,’ says Michele’s executive sous chef RACHEL BINDEL.

Driven and creative, Bindel, who grew up in the Mid-Atlantic region, recalls food nostalgia as far back as the wafting aromas of her mother’s baked ziti fresh from the oven. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, steeping herself in French cooking and a specialized focus on Advanced Japanese Techniques.

But it was also while studying at the CIA when she met her wife Melissa. Both were CIA students moonlighting as staff at the on-campus restaurant. A back-of-house romance soon

(Photo courtesy Michele’s)

After graduating, the two relocated to Charleston, where Bindel worked at acclaimed restaurant Husk. “While I loved living at the beach, eventually it was time to move back home,” she said. She came to D.C. in June of 2019, landing In September of 2021, she joined 101 Hospitality (the parent company run by Chef Baker that also manages Gravitas and Baker’s Daughter) to run research and development for Michele’s. The restaurant opened last November.

When Bindel graduated, she moved to Charleston in search of the best place to expand her cooking chops. But it was also not the most open space she has encountered in her young career.

In D.C., “a more welcoming city,” she notes, she has the ability to look at both the cooking and the environment for the staff, where everyone can be open about who they are.

“Being at Michele’s, I can be my full self, which makes my work better, too. I don’t have to hide, so I can explore even Her work is on full display for the restaurant’s current seadough pocket in the French style, in place of the traditional potato. The pasta spheres are bathed in a rich Parmesan cream, snuggled by foraged mushrooms and brilliantly green spring peas and asparagus. Other veggie-forward

pronouns when addressing tables. Being on the management side, I can create space for everyone to be comfortable.”

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serves fresh French bread, cheese and charcuterie plates, and lofty seafood towers.

“At Michele’s,” she says, “we have created not only a safe space for our diners but also all of our staff. We have adopted a more inclusive standard of service. We no longer serve

Family owned and operated for over 65 years.

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The Washington Blade and DC Brau held a release party for this year’s Pride Pils at Dacha Navy Yard on Thursday, June 2.

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Reunited with Pride of ownership Interest rates are up and (some) prices are coming down

By VALERIE M. BLAKE

Across the DMV, people are celebrating being reUNITED with friends and family, after missing large scale Pride month events in 2020 and attending them virtually or belatedly in 2021 due to COVID-19.

People who were lucky enough to keep a job during the height of the pandemic began working from home. Others became stay-at-home parents and part-time teachers.

Whether rented or owned, their dining rooms, spare bedrooms, and breakfast nooks service, ergonomic chairs and Zoom software.

Soon, even those of us who would never have considered doing more manual labor than sending an electronic payment to a contractor took on do-it-yourself (DIY) challenges to make their environment more conducive to life as we had begun to know it.

As time dragged on, the DIY home improvement industry grew exponentially. According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, spending on improvements and repairs grew by 3% to $420 billion nationwide in 2020 alone. By May 2020, 80% of respondents to their home improvement survey indicated that they had begun a project themselves in the previous three weeks.

Renters, normally feeling constrained to leave boring white walls intact, learned that paint colors can be changed (and changed back) and that there are such things as peel and stick wallpaper and backsplash tiles, which can easily be removed.

Homeowners, naturally, had more options to change things permanently. They laid noying “honey do’s” that had been languishing for months. Many developed a sense of pride in their new DIY skills. Others wrung their hands, whispering to no one, “What have I done?”.

Those who could, took advantage of a robust seller’s market, garnering unheard of sales prices during bidding wars, and either buying something larger, newer, or more suited to a stay-at-home lifestyle, or even moving to a lower cost area where they could still work remotely.

With interest rates rising, we are now starting to see the market calming a bit. While inventory has not increased substantially and bidding wars are still prevalent, the number of days a home is actively on the market has increased and we are starting to see price reductions in some areas.

For example, a recent search of our local multiple listing service, Bright MLS, for two-bedroom condominiums in Dupont Circle (20009) produced a total of 47 units priced under $800,000. Days on the market ranged from one to 254 (!), with an average 1 2 0 • WASHINGTONBLADE.COM • JUNE 10, 20 2 2 • B U S I N E S S

As interest rates rise, we’re seeing fewer properties with multiple offers and over-the-top bidding wars.

of 44.

We are seeing price reductions there averaging 1.7% and, while the asking prices of these homes still hover around $646,000, the largest reduction in this category and neighborhood (so far) has been $66,000 - nearly a full 10% off.

On the high end, there are only 11 detached homes available for under $3,000,000 in zip code 20016, which encompasses American University Park, Tenleytown, and other points west of Wisconsin Avenue. This area also has seen occasional price reductions with the largest being $140,000, almost 5% off in that case.

Branching out into the suburbs, one of 14 three- and four-bedroom townhouses in Silver Spring, Md., will run you anywhere from $375,000 to $745,000, but most that have been on the market for 20 days or more are showing discounts of $25,000 to $40,000 off the original list price. resale townhouses in Alexandria on the market for 30 days or less. Only four have been discounted and by no more than $15,000.

So, what does this mean?

For sellers, it means being more judicious in pricing to offset rising interest rates.

Contrary to the words of Gordon Gekko, greed is NOT good. There will continue to be multiple offers on properties that have the most desirable locations and features, but there will likely not be 20 competitors and off-the-chart price escalations seen at the height of the pandemic.

For buyers, getting a home for a more reasonable price is a great consolation prize for paying more in interest. Being able to revisit a home that is still available after any given Tuesday is also a plus, but you may need to hone your DIY skills to prepare for upgrading a house that needs a little more love.

Remember, most of what’s happening in Akron or Los Angeles isn’t relevant here. Be

VALERIE M. BLAKE

is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with RLAH Real Estate / @properties. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email her via DCHomeQuest.com, or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.

United, We Can Achieve More, and We Do. As the #1 team at Compass DMV and the top 5 team in the Greater Washington Area, our team has H A P P Y P R I D E F RO M T H E J E N N S M I R A T E A M

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