Washington Blade, Volume 55, Issue 33, August 16, 2024

UNITED

Leaders of LGBTQ groups ready for Chicago — and the fight ahead, PAGE 12

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Hogan defends record on LGBTQ rights, abortion

Republican former Md. governor talks exclusively to the Blade

By MICHAEL K. LAVERS | mlavers@washblade.com

Republican former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in a written interview with the Washington Blade discussed his decision to run for the U.S. Senate and defended his record on LGBTQ rights.

“It’s more important than ever to have strong, independent leadership at every level of government bringing people together and fighting for the exhausted majority,” said Hogan in response to the Blade’s questions that his campaign sent on July 30. “Marylanders know me, and they know I was proud to represent all Marylanders as governor, and that’s exactly what I’ll do in the U.S. Senate.”

Hogan was Maryland’s governor from 2015-2023.

He defeated then-Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown, who is now the state’s attorney general, by a 52-46 percent margin in 2014. Hogan four years later defeated former NAACP President Ben Jealous by a 5643 percent margin.

Hogan in March 2023 said he would not run for president. He announced in February that he is running for retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)’s seat.

Hogan in May easily won the Republican primary. He will face off against Democratic Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in November. The outcome could determine whether Democrats maintain control of the Senate.

“I like the county executive and respect her — we worked together on a number of things as governor,” said Hogan, referring to Alsobrooks. “We just have fundamental disagreements on the issues, and how we approach things. I’m committed to taking an independent approach, challenging hyper-partisanship, and getting the country back to decency and common sense.”

Hogan in 2018 signed a bill that banned so-called conversion therapy in Maryland. Hogan during a 2023 interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” criticized Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law he signed.

A bill that created the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs in the Governor’s Community Initiatives Office took effect in 2021 without Hogan’s signature.

Hogan also did not sign a bill that banned the socalled LGBTQ panic defense in Maryland. That law also took effect in 2021.

Hogan spokesperson Blake Kernen further elaborated on the former governor’s LGBTQ rights record.

“After calling for ‘tolerance and mutual respect’ in his inaugural address, Gov. Hogan supported LGBTQ community priorities throughout his time in office,” Kernen told the Blade. “As some examples, he enacted legislation to ban the practice of conversion therapy, and he upheld and strengthened the state’s anti-discrimination protections — including allowing measures to take effect that extend IVF treatment coverage to same-sex couples, allow transgender Marylanders to revise their birth certificates, ban the ‘gay panic defense,’ and make it easier to prosecute hate crimes.”

(The panic defense ban bill became law without Hogan’s signature.)

Kernen pointed out Hogan appointed the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as a chief judge on a Maryland appellate court. Hogan in 2022 named E. Gregory Wells as chief judge of the Court of Special

Appeals. Wells, who is also Black, is also the first African-American person named to the position.

Kernen also noted to the Blade that Hogan “appointed the first members and administrative director of the” Maryland Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. (The law took effect in 2021 without Hogan’s signature.)

“He signed anti-bullying laws, and championed numerous initiatives to combat bias and hate crimes — including increased funding, and expanded community and school resources,” said Kernen.

“In January 2023, when Gov. Hogan left office, the state continued to have the Human Rights Campaign’s highest rating for Working Toward Innovative Equality,” he added. “Maryland has a bipartisan legacy of supporting the LGBTQ community, and Gov. Hogan looks forward to building on this work in the Senate.”

Hogan on June 1 participated in the Annapolis Pride parade.Democratic Gov. Wes Moore also took part. An Alsobrooks campaign spokesperson told the Blade that she was unable to attend, but many of her campaign volunteers and supporters marched in the parade.

“We’re grateful to Annapolis Pride for giving candidates the opportunity to take part in their festival,” said Hogan. “I wish County Executive Alsobrooks had been able to join us, but it was an outstanding parade, and a true testament to the spirit of the community.”

HRC last month endorsed Alsobrooks.

HRC President Kelley Robinson in a statement said Alsobrooks, “has always been a champion for equality and freedom, from her support for the state law that legalized same-sex marriage in 2012, to becoming the first Maryland county executive to authorize flying the Progress Pride flag over county buildings, and much more.”

Alsobrooks throughout her campaign has highlighted abortion rights within the context of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade. Alsobrooks during interview with the Blade before the May 14 Democratic primary noted Hogan’s “wellknown position as a person who is not pro-choice.”

Kernen in a May 22 statement criticized Alsobrooks

over her comments about Hogan’s abortion rights record.

“Governor Hogan protected choice in Maryland for eight years, funding access to abortion in the budget every year and being the first governor in America to provide over-the-counter birth control paid for by Medicaid,” said Kernen. “He said in 2019, Roe was rightly decided and has been on the record against a national abortion ban since 1992.”

“He rightly vetoed legislation to allow non-licensed medical professionals to perform abortions because that would have lowered health care standards for women,” added Kernen. “In the Senate, instead of playing politics with this issue, he will work to reinstate Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. Marylanders know that when Gov. Hogan gives his word, he keeps it, and that is why voters continue to reject these same tired, false, and fear-mongering attacks.”

Hogan remains a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump. He did not support Trump in 2016 or 2020. Hogan also did not attend the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Trump in June endorsed Hogan for Senate. Kernen said the former governor “didn’t seek the endorsement, and has no interest in it.”

Trump on July 13 survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pa.

Hogan described the assassination attempt as a “terrible tragedy.” He added the country is “at a dangerous inflection point — our nation is like a tinderbox right now.”

“I’ve long been a proponent of lowering the temperature and finding a way to do away with the divisive rhetoric and the angry, toxic politics,” said Hogan.

The Blade asked Hogan whether he thinks the country can unify in the wake of the assassination attempt.

“When I travel the state meeting Marylanders, they give me hope,” he said in response to the question. “If politicians and pundits were more like regular people, our whole nation would be in a better place.”

A Public Policy Polling poll conducted between June 19-20 found Alsobrooks ahead of Hogan by a 45-34 percent margin. Hogan would be the first Republican from Maryland in the U.S. Senate since Charles Mathias retired in 1987 if he wins in November.

“I think a lot of voters, both Republicans and Democrats, want strong independent leaders who will clean up the mess in Washington,” Hogan told the Blade. “They know me, and they know I’m that guy.”

“The pundits said for a long time the Hogan brand of politics is dead, but every time we prove them wrong,” he added. “I know I’m the underdog, but I’m seeking to prove them wrong again.”

Hogan responded to the Washington Blade’s questions before Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

“I want to extend my congratulations to Gov. Walz on being selected as the Democratic vice presidential nominee,” said Hogan on Tuesday in a statement. “We had the chance to work together as fellow governors, and while we come from different parties, I have always appreciated his dedication to public service. I believe we need more governors at the national level because governors have to actually get stuff done. I wish Tim and his family well in the campaign ahead.”

Former Maryland Gov. LARRY HOGAN (Photo courtesy of Hogan’s campaign)

Recall efforts targeting two D.C. Council members fail

Activists disagree over extent of support for plan targeting Allen, Nadeau

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

The D.C. Board of Elections confirmed this week that the campaign to recall D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) failed to obtain the required 6,427 petition signatures needed to place the Allen recall on the November election ballot in time for an Aug. 12 deadline.

And the chairperson of the campaign to recall Council member Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Diana Alvarez, told the Washington Blade on Tuesday in a telephone interview that she and her campaign team do not believe they will be able to collect the required number of 5,448 petition signatures in time for their Oct. 1 deadline.

“We unfortunately have not collected the number of signatures we hoped for, and at this point I don’t think we will be able to collect all of them,” she said. “So, it’s been a challenge, you know, especially with everyone having their own personal lives going on. Many of us are small business owners.”

Under the D.C. election law, organizers of recall campaigns are given 180 days from the time they officially file papers for the recall  to obtain the required number of signatures.

News that the effort to recall Allen had failed and that the effort to recall Nadeau was on its way to failing drew attention to a sharp disagreement among LGBTQ activists over the extent of support for or opposition to the two recall campaigns within the D.C. LGBTQ community.

Many of the city’s LGBTQ Democratic Party activists, led by the Capital Stonewall Democrats, the city’s largest local LGBTQ political group, have argued that the LGBTQ community overwhelmingly opposed the two recall campaigns in part on grounds that Allen and Nadeau have been longtime strong supporters of the LGBTQ community and have championed LGBTQ supportive legislation before the D.C. Council.

But LGBTQ community supporters of the recall campaigns, including Ward 1 gay Democratic activist and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Jamie Sycamore, have argued that the “rank-and-file” members of the LGBTQ community support the recall efforts for the same reason as their straight counterparts. Sycamore and other LGBTQ recall backers say they blame Nadeau and Allen for the alarming rise in violent crime in the city in 2023 due to their support for policies to defund the police department and put in place lenient sentencing rules for those convicted of committing violent crimes, including

carjackings and armed robberies.

Sycamore said he officially withdrew as a member of the Nadeau recall campaign in June after becoming convinced that the other leaders of the campaign failed to do the “legwork” needed to gather the required number of petition signatures. But he told the Blade this week that he still supports the recall of Nadeau and Allen on grounds that their actions on the Council have led to a public safety crisis in the city that impacts LGBTQ residents as well as everyone else.

Michael Haresign, president of the Capital Stonewall Democrats, disputes Sycamore’s argument, saying he believes the large majority of LGBTQ D.C. residents agree with Nadeau and Allen and their supporters that the two lawmakers should not be blamed for the rise in crime. Both Allen and Nadeau have argued that public safety is their highest priority, and they have pushed for legislation to curtail crime by, among other things, addressing the root cause of crime such as mental health issues and substance abuse to prevent crime before it happens.

Haresign points out that Capital Stonewall Democrats urged its members and others in the LGBTQ community not to sign the petitions being circulated for the two recall campaigns. He noted the organization endorsed Allen and Nadeau in their most recent primary election campaigns in 2022 because of their strong support for the LGBTQ community.

He also points out that he believes members of the LGBTQ community, like their straight allies, think a recall effort is appropriate for ethical violations by elected officials such as violating a law but is not appropriate for a disagreement over public policy issues.

In noting that the recall efforts have failed, Haresign added, “I think it shows there really wasn’t that much of a push for any recall efforts from the community. It was sort of a few people with bones to pick with the Council members who were pushing these recalls forward. But the community at large wasn’t really lining up to sign the petitions.”

Among those who disagree with Haresign is Andrew Minik, president of the D.C. chapter of the national LGBTQ GOP group Log Cabin Republicans.

“I absolutely support both of the recall efforts,” Minik told the Blade at the start of the recall campaigns in March. “In our D.C. Chapter of Log Cabin, we have members in all eight wards of D.C.,” he said. “You do not need to go very far to ask any of our members if he or she has been a victim of crime themselves or just knowing someone who has,” according to Minik. “People like Charles Allen and Brianne Nadeau are uniquely responsible for the conditions that have allowed crime to spiral out of control here.”

D.C. gay Democratic activists John Klenert of Ward 1 and David Meadows of Ward 8 said many in the LGBTQ community have joined or given financial support to the official Allen and Nadeau campaigns opposing the recall efforts.

“I oppose these recall efforts,” Meadows said. “The recall people raise some good issues, but you have to weigh the good over the bad,” he said, adding that Allen’s and Nadeau’s positive actions far outweigh the crime-related allegations made by supporters of the recalls, which Allen and Nadeau have said are mostly mischaracterizations of their actual positions and actions.

On Aug. 12, the day the Board of Elections announced

the Allen recall campaign had failed to obtain the required number of petition signatures from registered voters in Ward 6, the campaign announced that although it obtained 5,500 signatures instead of the required number of 6,427, it was asking the election board to place the recall measure on the ballot anyway.

In a statement, the campaign said the reason it wasn’t able to obtain the needed signatures was because the Board of Elections violated a D.C. law that requires the board to provide a mobile app to help gather signatures in addition to gathering signatures on paper petitions. Board of Elections Executive Director Monica Holman Evans said the mobile petition app was discontinued in 2022 when a third-party vendor stopped providing it, according to a report by the Washington Post

But Evans told the Post that use of the app would not have made a difference in the Allen recall campaign’s ability to gather signatures because petition circulators would have had to approach each potential signer of the petition while holding an iPad instead of a paper petition, with the two taking the same amount of time.

Rehoboth Beach getting two new commissioners

Suzanne Goode, Craig Thier prevail in weekend election

By JOE REBERKENNY

Rehoboth Beach, Del., held an election for two soon-tobe-open seats on its Board of Commissioners on Saturday. Suzanne Goode and Craig Thier are Rehoboth’s newest Commissioners-elect. The election was held at the Rehoboth Convention Center. Thier, a 22year resident of Rehoboth received the most votes with 611, with Goode following right behind with 521 votes. Rachel Macha received 448 and Mark Saunders 489 votes. Saunders was the only LGBTQ candidate running in the election.

In total 1,147 people sent in ballots for this election with 652 cast in person and 495 sent by absentee ballot. Current commissioners Toni Sharp and Tim Bennett did not seek re-election, triggering the election.

Thier and Goode will be sworn in during the Sept. 20 commissioners meeting.

For more information, visit the city of Rehoboth Beach’s website at  www.cityofrehoboth.com.

BRIANNE NADEAU is one of two Council members targeted with a recall effort. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

(Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

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How I — a trans man — went undercover on a TERF dating site

Female-only app asserts lesbians must be ‘biologically female’

By HENRY CARNELL

It turns out the “lesbian renaissance” only has 85 people. No, I am not talking about the Renaissance as defined by Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Bottoms, and Drive-Away Dolls. That Renaissance is well populated.

It’s the Renaissance defined by Jenny Watson, a lesbian and self-described TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) committed to the idea that lesbians can only be “biologically female.”

My number comes from Watson’s female-only lesbian and bisexual dating and community app, L Community, which took LGBTQ news and Twitter by storm last month when it claimed it could identify and exclude trans women to a rate of 99.89% accuracy using AI-powered “sex recognition software.”

As of Aug. 7, more than 60 days since launching, the website couldn’t even break 100 users.

After reading L Community’s definition of biological sex –“biological sex is firmly linked to distinct reproductive anatomies dedicated to producing sperm or eggs for reproduction” – I realized that I – a transmasculine person– fit the bill for “adult human female.”

So, I checked the box verifying that I was “biologically female,” snapped a picture of my face – and signed up for the dating app. I didn’t shave beforehand, so my testosterone-induced stubble remained in the picture. Chest photos were not required so my flat chest raised no alarms.

Not that any of that would have mattered, Watson is clear that her app can’t be trans-exclusive because “there are many biological women who identify as males and we would certainly welcome those women.”

I paid and was refunded the $12.75 to verify my identity. And I was ushered into the community, which was notably silent. The only content was from Watson. Posts include telling members the proper dating app portion was on its way via an invite-only basis and asking if anyone wanted to join a Zoom meet up since “our recent event had only 6 attendees.” Another user posted sporadic lesbian-themed memes.

I used my legal name to register, as the platform requested. Conveniently, I haven’t changed my name to Henry yet. At the same time, I reached out to Watson multiple times for comment under the name I publish under and use.

(To counter any claims of misrepresentation, my chosen and legal names are irrevocably tied together on the internet due to my brief time publishing with both. A cursory search of either name identifies both as associated with me).

In response to an initial email request for an interview, she wrote “To ensure our message is accurately conveyed, I would prefer to answer your questions via email,” and provided the background “L’App is designed to create a safe and respectful space exclusively for lesbians, utilising facial recognition technology to ensure that only biological females can sign up.”

Watson noted, “This innovation addresses specific concerns raised by many in our community regarding their dat-

ing experiences.”

When I followed up with specific questions, as requested, such as the number of active users or their approach to people using the singular “they” pronoun or how they plan to approach intersex individuals, Watson failed to respond in a five-day comment period. I extended that to 7 days out of courtesy, and heard nothing.

Ten days after I reached out with my questions, Watson asked for another week to respond. I provided her with a work-week deadline and never heard back.

Watson’s stances on the non-binary, intersex, and trans community are of public record, however.

Watson had previously described a queer, non-binary musician – who happens to be in a relationship with a man – as “a straight woman LARPing.” She tweeted in dismissal of the inclusion of non-binary and intersex people in lesbian bars and lesbian history.

In the same interview Watson said trans men were welcome on the app because they are actually women, Watson repeated that no trans woman could be a woman, to the surprise of the conservative interviewers who questioned if Watson’s conviction held “if they have gone through it, and they’re completely a woman now.” It, of course, being transition.

By the logic presented in the interview, trans men who pass as men, who have testosterone levels equal to that of a cisgender man, and who have received top and bottom surgery are eligible for participation in the community, but trans women who pass as women, have received top and bottom surgery, and have testosterone levels of a cisgender woman cannot.

Not that passing is something that every trans person wants, can do, or should be a necessity to gain respect or protection from discrimination.

Additionally, Watson’s app may not be open to cisgender women as well.

Watson was quick to tweet against Imane Khalif, the cisgender boxer whose gender was questioned by a coalition of far-right actors ranging from J.K. Rowling to J.D. Vance. (The only “proof” that Khalif has XY chromosomes comes from a highly discredited Russian sports organization).

The L Community website states that: “In humans, biological sex is firmly linked to distinct reproductive anatomies dedicated to producing sperm or eggs for reproduction. At birth, human reproductive anatomy is unmistakably male or female in over 99.98% of cases.” Meaning, that there are only .002% of people who are intersex.

This statistic is categorically incorrect. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 2% of people worldwide are intersex. Other medical and advocacy organizations consistently argue that the number likely is 1.7%, drawing from the research of sex and gender biologist Anne Fausto-Sterling.

Where did Watson get that number? It is likely from Leonard Sax, a medical doctor and psychologist, who has argued that 0.018% of people are intersex. Sax has also argued that gender is biologically hardwired between females and males on numerous occasions, including on conservative talk shows and for the far-right think take the Institute for Family Studies.

Even if Sax’s and Watson’s proposed statistic was correct, Watson and L Community offer no guidelines about the inclusion of intersex people, regardless of their gender identity. Watson’s derision of Khalif suggests intersex people may not be welcome in the community.

This is not the only case where Watson’s assertions may be faulty. Watson initially claimed that her AI-powered software only messed up 0.10% of the time. She provided no proof to verify the claim.

Recent peer-reviewed research from CU Boulder studied gender recognition accuracy in multiple software and found that gender recognition software accurately categorized cisgender women 98.3% of the time, meaning that it miscategorized cisgender women 0.17% of the time, or a little less than double what Watson’s app does.

Importantly, CU Boulder was examining some of the most advanced and well-supported models out there, looking at Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, and Clarifai programs. For those who don’t know Clarifai, it’s an AI-specific company that employs over 100 people. The rest need no introduction.

Not only is Watson working with a much smaller team — LinkedIn estimates 2-10 employees – Watson’s software also must account for the diversity of gendered appearances within the lesbian community, ranging from butch to femme, in addition to differentiating “biologically female” trans men from men and “biologically male” transwomen from women, meaning their software must be highly advanced.

The Boulder research team found that transgender men were categorized as women approximately 38% of the time and men the remaining 62% of the time, meaning they are incredibly hard to accurately categorize in either direction.

Dr. Morgan Klaus Scheuerman, one of the authors of the CU Boulder study, said, “A lot of people have this view that tech is somehow abstracted from human bias or human values, but it’s not in any capacity.” While Scheuerman knew the topic of my interview, we only spoke about his research, not about the app specifically.

Biometric AI and computer vision – how computers can identify objects or people – consistently shows bias against transgender individuals

Watson’s team manually verifies sex from submitted selfies using a script on the website which uses publicly available datasets and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Per UCLA, APIs help dictate how software works and share information. There are several publicly available gender differentiation APIs.

Scheuerman explains that, “at a broad level, most computer vision works by defining the categories which you want the system to recognize. In gender, this is often male or female.”

As Scheuerman’s research explains, large data sets of images, qualitatively labeled by people for specific characteristics like gender, can be trained to predict those qualities in future images.

Since the foundation of computer vision is human training, Scheuerman says, “these generative AI models, or these large foundation models, ideally can do anything you want them to do.”

Fundamentally, Watson’s model wants to differentiate between ciswomen and transwomen. Since existing computer models successfully read transwomen as women most (87.3% per Scheuerman) of the time, Watson likely needed to train her model specifically for its task.

The specifics of Watson’s model remain under wraps. But ostensibly to get the level of accuracy, Watson’s model must have been trained on photos of both transgender women and cisgender women, in addition to transmen. This raises questions of consent.

Where did Watson get the photos? Stock photo websites often include collections of transgender people available for republication, but some explicitly exclude their collections to be used in Machine learning or AI data, while others encourage it. Research has found that AI models often use copyrighted work as data to train models, regardless of if they have explicit permission.

Looking ahead to the Democratic National Convention

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com

The Washington Blade will be reporting live from Chicago at the Democratic National Convention next week.

With 81 percent of delegates responding, this year has seen a record number — 17 percent — who identify as LGBTQ, up from 11.5 percent in 2020, convention officials told the Blade. They will be joined by LGBTQ lawmakers, including the chair and most co-chairs of the Congressional Equality Caucus, and representatives from several major LGBTQ advocacy organizations.

This year’s DNC will be the last in which Annise Parker will participate as president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Under the leadership of the former Houston mayor, the political action campaign and training organization for LGBTQ elected leaders have become powerhouses.

The Human Rights Campaign will also be on the ground with President Kelley Robinson leading events throughout the week. Less than a week after Vice President Kamala Harris’s emergence as the presumptive Democratic 2024 nominee, HRC raised more than $300,000 during an Out for Harris LGBTQ+ Unity Call.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the National LGBTQ+ Task Force Action Fund endorsed a presidential candidate, Harris, following President Joe Biden’s announcement on July 21 that he would step off the presidential ticket. Task Force President Kierra Johnson will be in Chicago alongside senior staff for the organization.

GLAAD will be at the DNC to help inform media about LGBTQ issues and amplify queer and trans voices, while Advocates 4 Trans Equality (f.k.a. the National Center for

Transgender Equality and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund) will have a presence at the convention, too.

Events for next week will include:

• Sunday Aug. 18 | 6 p.m. CT: HRC and Victory Fund will host a delegate meet-up and mixer/bar crawl at various LGBTQ establishments in Chicago

Location: LGBTQ venues including Sidetrack, Roscoe’s, Progress, Lark, Kit Kat, and Hydrate

• Monday Aug. 19 | 3 p.m. CT: HRC will host a “DNC LGBTQ+ Kickoff — The Power of Equality Votes,” which will feature top leaders and strategists from the LGBTQ movement and the Democratic Party, along with influencers and others

Location: McCormick Place

• Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 10 a.m. CT: GLAAD will host a “Media Institute Culture Briefing” to review the organization’s 2024 Accelerating Acceptance report

Location: The Drake Hotel

• Tuesday Aug. 20 | 4 p.m. CT: The Victory Fund will host a “Victory at the DNC” event, which is expected to draw delegates and executive officers

Location: The Wit

• Tuesday Aug. 20 | 9 p.m. CT: HRC and Planned Parenthood Action Fund will host a “We Show Up — We Decide” party (by invitation only)

Location: downtown Chicago

• Wednesday Aug. 21 | 11:45 a.m. CT: The Task Force will address a meeting of the LGBTQ+ Caucus

Location: McCormick Place

• Thursday Aug. 21: HRC will host 50+ watch parties across the country. Harris is expected to take the stage at the United Center between 6 and 10 p.m. CT

All week: HRC will host a “Creator Studio and Activation Center” where attendees can learn how best to make an impact in the 2024 elections and mobilize volunteers Location: McCormick Center Register for HRC events at HRC.im/DNC.

Brittney Griner, LGBTQ athletes bring home medals

The Americans eked out a nail-biter victory at the Summer Olympics in Paris on Sunday, overcoming host nation France, 67-66, in women’s basketball with more out LGBTQ competitors and coaches than any other team.

Gold medals go to these magnificent seven women’s basketball stars: Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray, and Kahleah Cooper. They were led by Cheryl Reeve, one of the most successful WNBA head coaches, who led the Minnesota Lynx to four league titles. Her assistant coach, Curt Miller, is a two-time WNBA coach of the year, the current head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks and the first and only out gay male coach in pro basketball.

Observers have dubbed them one of the “gayest teams” competing in Paris.

But Sunday’s gold medal match was not the runaway win Team USA has become famous for. Not every star saw the floor, except from the bench. And those watching courtside — including Sue Bird, Dawn Staley, Kevin Durant, and Vanessa Bryant and her children — witnessed what one observer called the worst half of basketball the U.S. women have played on a world stage.

The U.S. team appeared to be missing its offensive rhythm in competing against a very physical French defense. France briefly took the lead, 25-23 right before halftime, but Team USA fired back, right before the buzzer, tying it up, 25-25. at the half.

France jumped out to an 8-0 run to start the second half, and the two teams traded leads throughout, with the score tied 11 times throughout the game. Finally, it all came down to one shot: With seconds left on the clock, Team USA down three points, former Seattle Storm for-

ward Gabby Williams — playing for France — had a chance to send the game to overtime with a buzzer-beater that caused a bit of a scare for the Americans.

But the New York Liberty’s Stewart immediately pointed out that Williams’s foot was touching the three-point line, preserving a 67-66 win for Team USA and giving the team its eighth straight gold medal and 61st consecutive victory.

At last count, 195 openly LGBTQ athletes competed in the Paris Olympics, according to Outsports.

On Saturday, Team USA defeated Brazil in the gold medal match of the women’s soccer tournament, a 1-0 victory that gives the Americans their fifth Olympic gold medal. Tierna Davidson and Jane Campbell are the only out LGBTQ athletes on the American women’s soccer team, which has not won an Olympic gold medal since 2012 in London. The U.S. was knocked out in the quarterfinals at the 2016 games in Rio and had to settle for bronze three years ago in Tokyo.

On Saturday, an emotional Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan became the second boxer in 24 hours to win a gold medal despite questions about her gender eligibility. Lin defeated 20-year-old Julia Szeremeta of Poland by unanimous decision to claim the featherweight title, a day after Imane Khelif of Algeria became the welterweight champion. Lin and Khelif competed in Paris despite being disqualified from last year’s World Championships because they reportedly failed gender eligibility tests. Both boxers have been taunted with accusations that they were men, or transgender. Both women are women. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach defended both Khelif and Lin’s right to compete, and noted the IOC severed ties with the IBA last year over governance and transparency issues.

Sha’Carri Richardson officially became an Olympic champion Friday, as the anchor leg for the Team USA women’s 4x100m relay squad in track and field. The baton pass from 200m gold medalist Gabby Thomas to Richardson wasn’t smooth, but the Texan then exploded down the stretch to cross the finish line and win gold.

Women’s boxing has made headlines around the world at this Olympics.

“If somebody is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women, we are the first ones to do it. We do not like this uncertainty,” Bach told the Associated Press on Friday.

Southern California native Nikki Hiltz finished 7th in Saturday’s 1500-meter final at the Stade de France in 3 minutes, 56.38 seconds. Hiltz is the two-time U.S. outdoor and indoor national champion at 1500 meters and the first trans nonbinary athlete to reach an Olympic individual event final.

DAWN ENNIS

BRITTNEY GRINER at the Olympics podium in Paris on Aug. 11. (NBC News screen shot via YouTube)

HRC President KELLEY ROBINSON will lead events throughout the week in Chicago. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

A Win for Homebuyers and Sellers:

Welcome to the Evolution of Residential Real Estate in Maryland

On August 14, the business of residential real estate in Maryland will change. Specifically, potential homebuyers who wish to work with an agent will need to sign a written agreement with an agent prior to work done on the buyer’s behalf, even before showing an open house. Also, properties for sale listed on databases known as a multiple listing service (MLS) will no longer include an offer of compensation that the seller is offering to buyer’s brokers.

This means that before you begin your home search, you have a valuable opportunity to sit down with your agent and discuss the many services they will provide, ensuring you have a clear understanding of how they will assist you throughout the process. You’ll also have the chance to determine a fair compensation structure that reflects the value and worth they bring to your real estate journey.

Regarding offers of compensation, Maryland REALTORS®, representing more than 28,000 members, and the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR) and the Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR), serving Montgomery and Prince George’s counties as well as Washington, D.C., applaud efforts that contribute to transparency in the real estate transaction, likely the most complex purchase anyone will make in their lifetimes. Of the requirement for a written Buyer’s Agreement, this is an “advocacy win” we fought for more than eight years ago: Maryland law has required this since October 2016.

Transparency helps to place today’s homebuyers and sellers in the driver’s seat as it provides clarity in the transaction and defines the roles and responsibilities for all parties involved. Sellers can search for a REALTOR® based on a variety of factors including sales volume, community knowledge, and more. Buyers can also find their ideal REALTOR®, looking at factors important to them: fiduciary skills, inspections expertise, referrals, and others. While both Buyer and Seller will have contractual and financial obligations to their respective agents’ brokerages, commissions remain negotiable. The Buyer and Seller have the power to search for the REALTOR® who best serves their needs.

However you choose to find your REALTOR®, understand the VALUE they bring to your home sale or search. Buying or selling a home can be stressful, difficult, confounding, complex. Your REALTOR®, a professional with specialized

training, market knowledge, and unique expertise, can make your path more manageable and—dare we say?—engaging, exciting, and, at the end of the transaction, rewarding. Many REALTORS® have specializations that focus on elements that can be a game-changer: first-time homebuyers, military, diverse marketplaces, specialized properties, and many more.

The Maryland suburbs surrounding Washington, D.C., stand out for their diversity in living, cultures, recreation, and robust employment opportunities. Sharing a border with Washington, D.C., Montgomery and Prince George’s counties play host to thousands of federal government jobs. Whether it’s the nightlife and conferences at National Harbor, the restaurant scene in Bethesda, or the attractions and rural beauty in both counties, the quality of life here is Maryland living at its finest. According to Maryland REALTORS®’ 2023 housing data, more than 12,150 REALTOR® members in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties helped their clients with more than 12,160 homes—estates to condo, single-family to multi-family, urban to farmland, townhome to vacation property. Each home sale (and every new homeowner) has contributed to the economic strength and vitality in both counties. These same REALTORS® from GCAAR and PGCAR who have brought the reality of homeownership to so many people in this area are your friends, neighbors, community leaders, and volunteers of the area’s many charitable causes.

While searching for the REALTOR® that best suits you, take time to educate yourself on the details of buying or selling a home. In 2019, Maryland REALTORS® launched MarylandHomeownership.com, an educational resource, free of advertising and sales tactics, which provides actionable information, including downloadable resources and checklists (in English and Spanish), that educates consumers on all facets of buying or selling a home. Doing some homework ahead of one of the biggest decisions in your life always pays dividends. Transparency and education are two of the most important factors that can lead to a successful outcome when buying or selling a home. The third factor is working with a REALTOR®. The path toward buying or selling a home is not traveled often. There are bumps, odd turns, hazards that you don’t expect. Your REALTOR® will guide you through this process, and once you’ve successfully been handed the keys to your new home (or have sold your current home) you’ll realize that your REALTOR® was WORTH the sound investment.

Red Sox player suspended for yelling anti-gay slur at fan

The Boston Red Sox on Aug. 12 suspended for two games its all-star outfielder Jarren Duran one day after he shouted an anti-gay slur at a fan who had been heckling him as Duran stood at home plate in the sixth inning of a game against the Houston Astros at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Multiple news media outlets reported that a microphone at the stadium near where Duran stood picked

up him yelling the slur. Most media outlets, including the Washington Post and the New York Times, did not report the exact words he shouted. But CNN reported on its website that Duran told the fan to “shut up you f**king f***ot.”

According to CNN, after the game ended Duran, 27, issued an apology in a statement released by the Red Sox.

“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan,” Duran said in the statement. “I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community,” he said.

“Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility,” his statement continues. “I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.”

CNN reports that the Red Sox announced on Aug. 12, the day following the Sunday game, that the team will donate Duran’s two-day salary during the time of his suspension to the LGBTQ organization Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, known as PFLAG.

“The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today’s game,” a statement released by

the Red Sox says. “We echo Jarren’s apology to our fans, especially the LGBTQ community. We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance of inclusivity,” the statement says as reported by the online sports publication The Athletic.

Most of the media accounts of Jarren Duran’s anti-gay slur and apology did not report that the incident took place about two months after the Red Sox hosted their 11th annual LGBTQ Pride Night at Fenway Park on July 11 of this year. The Red Sox are among several major league baseball teams, including D.C.’s Washington Nationals, that host “Pride” games at their stadiums.

The New York Times and other media outlets reported that Duran, who was named Most Valuable Player at last month’s baseball All-Star Game, reiterated his apology to reporters in interviews on the day following the incident.

“There was no intent behind the word that was used,” the Times quoted him as saying. “It was just the heat of the moment and just happened to be said.” According to the Times, Duran added, “I actually apologized to the umpire and the catcher for my actions because they were right there. They heard me say it.”

Gottheimer, Craig introduce bill to address LGBTQ elder abuse

U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) will introduce a bill this week addressing the “rising elder abuse of LGBTQI+ individuals,” according legislation the Washington Blade previewed.

The Elder Pride Protection Act of 2024 would establish a task force through the Justice Department, with staff selected by the attorney general from the Elder Justice Initiative and the Division of Civil Rights.

They would be tasked with studying “the increased incidence of elder abuse” targeting LGBTQ individuals, developing best practices for a national approach and for state and local authorities to address these crimes, creating and distributing educational materials to raise awareness, and coordinating “the response of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.”

The legislation establishes that the task force would be responsible for issuance of a progress report on its work to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees. Importantly, elder abuse as defined under the bill ranges from the use of physical force to cause harm to forced or unwanted sexual interaction, emotional or psychological abuse, the failure to meet basic needs, and financial crimes.

“I’m incredibly excited to introduce my new legislation, the Elder Pride Protection Act, that I’m leading with Congresswoman Angie Craig of Minnesota,” Gottheimer said. “No one should ever be mistreated on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, especially our vulnerable elderly populations.”

The congressman added, “This legislation is a critical step in coordinating our response to this runaway abuse at the federal level.”

“LGBTQ+ seniors paved the way for so many of the rights we have today, and they’re a vital part of our communities in Minnesota,” said Craig, who is the first lesbian mother elected to Congress and serves as a co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.

“I’m working to pass the Elder Pride Protection Act to help empower LGBTQ+ seniors and combat any abuse they might face,” she said.

Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ rights group noted that “for too long, elder abuse of our older LGBTQ adults has gone un- or under- reported,” adding that, “The establishment of this task force will help bridge the gap experienced by our LGBTQ elders.”

“The work of this task force, particularly the creation of

uniform procedures and communication between state and federal agencies, will be formative in combating the abuse and neglect of LGBTQ elders and is critical in creating true lived equality for all Americans,” Garden State Equality said.

“SAGE is proud to support the Elder Pride Protection Act of 2024,” said Aaron Tax, managing director of government affairs and policy advocacy for SAGE, a national advocacy and services organization for LGBTQ elders.

“LGBTQ+ elders deserve to age without fear of elder abuse,” Tax said. “We applaud Rep. Gottheimer for championing the establishment of this important task force, which we hope will improve the lives of LGBTQ+ older people.”

David Stacy, vice president for government affairs for the Human Rights Campaign, said, “By establishing the ELDER Task Force, this country has the chance to affirm its commitment to addressing and preventing the abuse that this community faces all too often.”

“Congress should pass this bill and send a message that they are dedicated to ensuring every elder can live free from fear and harm,” Stacy said.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Lawmakers push for insurers to provide doxy PEP for free

Democratic U.S. Reps. Robert Garcia and Barbara Lee of California sent a letter on Thursday urging the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to compel health insurers to provide free access to doxy PEP, a drug regimen for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

The USPSTF is an independent panel of experts in primary care and preventative medicine organized under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services whose primary responsibility is to evaluate the evidence on the safety and efficacy of medical screenings, counseling, and preventative medications.

The lawmakers’ letter explains that in 2019, the

USPSTF issued an “A-grade” recommendation for prescribing preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — a different preventative regimen targeting HIV infections — to “those at increased risk of HIV acquisition.”

As required under the Affordable Care Act, the rating meant health plans were required to offer the drug with no cost-sharing, which “has been enormously beneficial to hundreds of thousands of Americans — particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

The letter points to disproportionately high rates of bacterial STIs (“chlamydia, gonorrhea, and especially syphilis”) among LGBTQ populations as well as recommendations published last month by the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention instructing providers to counsel certain patients about PEP, with the agency writing that the drug intervention requires “a focused effort for equitable implementation.”

For these reasons, Garcia and Lee said, “we respectfully ask for your full and fair consideration of a USPSTF recommendation for doxy PEP to the populations outlined in the guidelines with an ‘A’ rating,” with those populations being “gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men, and transgender women, and who have a history of bacterial STIs in the past 12 months.”

CHRISTOPHER KANE

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

JARREN DURAN (Screen capture via NBC Sports/YouTube)

Chad Meyerhoefer and Nic Johnson are on the faculty of Lehigh University, where Meyerhoefer is the Arthur F. Searing Professor in and chair of the department of economics and Johnson is associate professor of counseling psychology. Bingjin Xue is assistant professor of economics at the University of New Hampshire, and Anna Poznańska is a researcher at Poland’s National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.

Anti-LGBTQ laws are harmful — even when their intent is symbolic

Evidence from Poland shows serious mental health consequences

Anti-LGBTQ bills are being introduced in extraordinary quantities in the United States and abroad ccordin to the as of u more than 2 bills see in to curtail rights are currently under deliberation in 40+ states.

While some of these proposed policies are lar el s mbolic and ma seem to lac substantive day-to-day implications, each one poses the threat of real harm to LGBTQ individuals

Our data-driven assertion is based on the anal sis of anti le islation that too hold in Poland after the political rise of the far-right Law and Justice (PiS) party in the late 2 s

Many of these resolutions sought to create free ones that lac ed clearl enforce able tenets, but succeeded greatly in further marginalizing LGBTQ individuals in their home communities.

While relatively little substantive national legislation passed, similar anti-LGBTQ rhetoric spurred a host of legislative efforts at the local level

2 a total of powiats counties gminas (municipalities), and provinces had enacted some form of anti-LGBTQ legislation. hat total rose to more than in 2 2 ulti matel coverin appro imatel a third of the countr and some million of its citi ens

Our analysis compared areas that passed anti-LGBTQ resolutions with others that deliberated but did not pass resolutions or never introduced such le islation ontrollin for other factors that mi ht in uence mental health outcomes our findin s were startlin e posure to anti le islation si nificant ly increased suicide attempts and deaths by e ternal causes

nfortunatel Poland is not an isolated case

he anal sis demonstrated an alarmin sur e in suicide attempts in free zones. Moreover, deaths from external causes that include suicide increased b his findin while heartbrea in and dis turbin does not come as a surprise n eep in with the minorit stress model ne ative mental health outcomes may be expected from efforts to further deprecate members of the communit who alread face hi h er levels of stigma, discrimination, and mental health challenges.

The minority stress model states that external stressors, such as discrimination, contribute to internal experiences of stress, such as self-hatred, which in turn explain adverse mental health outcomes among minority populations, including LGBTQ individuals. This model has e tensive research support hi hli htin the ur ent need for intervention providin official sanction to eneral ized discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, these resolutions, even if they are not passed, lead to stress, feelings of isolation and hostility among members of the LGBTQ community. For those already suffering from mental health problems, the social stigma associated with laws targeting their identities can lead to suicide attempts

At the national level in Poland, much rhetoric was directed toward restrictions on LGBTQ rights, including a “family charter” signed in 2 2 b President ndr e uda as part of a re-election campaign pledge to promote family values and assert parental control over child care and extra-curricular school activities and, limit schools’ teaching about LGBTQ issues and “ban the propagation of LGBT ideology.”

In many other countries, the situation is arguably even more dire, with rampant anti-LGBTQ sentiment spreading and extreme punishments bein codified into law uman i hts atch has tallied countries with na tional laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults, and nine others with laws against the expression of transgender or nonconformin identities wave of anti le islation in man African countries is expanding the scope of anti-LGBTQ laws and deepening the resulting punishments, which in some cases include the death penalty.

Encouragingly, in Poland, a combination of activism court rulin s and economic pres sures from the has led to the reversal of most of the initial LGBT-free zones.

n the countr s 2 2 elections a centrist coalition formed to push PiS out of power and install onald us to the prime minister s office us a former prime minister empha si ed and women s ri hts durin his campaign.

Poland s state affiliated television station re centl issued an on air apolo to the community for its past broadcasting of anti-LGBTQ propaganda in alignment with the PiS platform.

These developments are points of hope for a more inclusive future in Poland and a larger movement to restore liberal democrac Unfortunately, for many members of the Polish LGBTQ community, these remedies come too late

We urge members of legislatures at all levels to consider the potential impacts of anti-LGBTQ legislation before introducing them to the public. Some harms can’t be reversed.

PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

Harris/Walz: an honest campaign radiating joy

A ticket that leaves Americans smiling

Kamala Harris has found the right person with whom to share the stage — someone who joins her in bringing some joy to America. Americans are looking for truth, and a positive look toward the future. I don’t think most Americans believe any candidate is perfect. But those who may be struggling want to elect someone who will tell them the truth, along with giving them hope for a better future. I believe Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are those candidates. It is amazing to feel the flow of positive energy since Harris began her campaign, and that has only increased since she introduced Walz as her running mate.

It was Walz who used the word joy to describe Harris at their first joint rally in Philadelphia — a rally that had the kind of positive feeling we have not seen in politics for a long time. It seems to have set the tone for how the campaign will be run. Harris has this beautiful smile, to back up her brilliance, and Walz clearly likes to joke around even when talking about a serious subject. Together they manage to leave people smiling, even in these sometimes really difficult times. This is not to say they don’t fully appreciate the seriousness of the issues the nation, and the world, are facing. But it seems they can talk about them, telling people the truth, without adding all the lies and doom and gloom, the Trump MAGA team seems unable to keep out of their campaign.

The issues in this election are clear. There are the kitchen table issues so important to everyone. The cost of food, rent, gas, education. Harris understands this, and supports a Democratic response to these issues. She will never deny peoples’ struggles, but explains how the Trump response of cutting taxes for the rich, and placing tariffs on all imported goods, will only make things worse. She makes it clear her doing something about climate change will be better for this, and future generations, than Trump’s denying climate change, and putting his head in the sand. He has even told oil producers if they bribe him with enough money, he will let them drill for as much oil wherever they want.

When it comes to the cultural issues, Harris believes we must guarantee everyone their equal rights, and personal freedom, and do so as a nation. Trump believes it’s OK for states to deny women control of their body, and deny the LGBTQ community its rights, and to make it harder for the African-American community to vote. Trump even packed the Supreme Court with justices who agree with him. One of the highlights of the Harris/Walz Philadelphia rally was when Walz talked about abortion rights and the rights of the LGBTQ community, and said the Minnesota golden rule in dealing with your neighbor on these issues is “Mind your own damn business.” Walz is the happy warrior; someone who could be introduced at the convention with the old Democratic theme song, “Happy Days Are Here Again.” He was born on a farm in Nebraska, is a hunter and fisherman, enlisted in the National Guard, is a superior marksman, and served 24 years in the military. He understands guns, and supports the Second Amendment. But at the same time he understands weapons of war like AK-47s don’t belong on our streets with the potential of killing our children in their classrooms. Maybe that comes form his being a teacher, and coach, for 20 years before going into politics. He volunteered to be faculty adviser to the Gay/Straight Alliance in the high school where he taught at a time when that was as difficult as Trump wants to make it again today.

When Walz spoke of IVF, he talked from the personal experience he and his wife had. Their struggle to have a child and then when their daughter was born, they named her Hope. I assume not a woman, and most men there, understood what he meant and knew he really cared.

So, when I say Harris and Walz have brought honesty and joy back to politics, it is because of who they are as people, and what they stand for. When she talks about Trump and the crowd yells ‘Lock him Up,’ she stops them and says, let the courts decide that, and moves on.

I believe their positive campaign will lead to more people coming out to vote. They will do so, because they see a brighter future ahead and they will vote for Democrats for that brighter future.

JASON NICHOLSEN

is a licensed psychotherapist at Within Reach Therapy, dedicated to serving the D.C. and Virginia areas during times of need. With a commitment to supporting mental health and wellbeing, Within Reach offers a compassionate and informed perspective on navigating anxiety.

Navigating political anxiety: A psychotherapist’s perspective

LGBTQ community faces distinct challenges during gov’t instability

You may have noticed that the current political climate in the United States has become fraught with tension and uncertainty, signifi cantly impacting the mental health of many individuals, particularly those in the DMV. The recent nearmiss assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has exacerbated fears and heightened anxiety levels across the nation. We stand on the brink of a potential second Trump administration. With that as a looming storm, LGBTQ communities and those working in governmental agencies, think tanks, and nonprofi ts are grappling with a unique set of stressors that could impact their daily lives.

The LGBTQ community faces distinct challenges during periods of political instability. The prospect of policies that threaten hard-won rights and protections can trigger deep-seated fears and anxiety. As a psychotherapist, I see the noticeable uptick in clients seeking help for political anxiety. Clients express concerns about the future, safety, and the potential rollback of LGBTQ rights, refl ecting a broader trend of heightened political stress that feels permanent.

Grounding in Facts vs. Fear

One of the fi rst steps in managing political anxiety is to ground oneself in facts rather than fear. The 24-hour news cycle and social media can amplify anxiety through sensationalist and fear-mongering content. I encourage readers to seek out reliable and diverse news sources. Staying informed with accurate information can help maintain a sense of control and perspective. It’s crucial to differentiate between legitimate concerns and exaggerated threats, allowing for a more balanced and less anxious outlook.

Strengthening Community Ties

During times of political uncertainty, the strength and unity of the community become paramount. For LGBTQ folks, fostering solidarity can be a powerful antidote to anxiety. Engaging positively with the community through volunteering, supporting local LGBTQ businesses, or attending events can reinforce a sense of belonging and mutual support. Building these connections not only provides emotional support but also strengthens the collective resilience against the inevitable moments of pain and struggle.

The importance of seeking professional mental health support cannot be overstated. Therapy can offer a safe space to explore fears, develop coping mechanisms, and prevent anxiety from taking a toll on daily life and overall well-being. Engaging with a trained professional can help individuals navigate their emotions and maintain mental health amidst political unknowns.

In these uncertain times, it is crucial to take proactive steps to safeguard our mental health. Grounding oneself in facts, strengthening community ties, and seeking professional mental health support are vital strategies in managing political anxiety. The LGBTQ community, along with allies, can face these challenges head-on through unity and strength. We are not alone even when it feels like we are.

By EVAN CAPLAN

Two immigrant brothers who could not return home, Michael and Tony Askarinam, turned instead to making a community space of their own. Nearly 40 years after debuting their casual, gay-friendly restaurant, the (straight) owners of Dupont Italian Kitchen are expanding, reinforcing their status as a center of gay life on 17th Street. By early fall, they plan to debut a casual Mexican restaurant, complete with a spacious patio, tons of tacos, and big margarita energy that will please outdoor diners and karaoke singers upstairs alike.

DIK Bar, as it is affectionately known, still serves fan-favorite lasagna and eggplant parmesan, though no longer for a cool $4.25 from its opening menu. Michael, who moved to the U.S. from Iran to study in 1974, graduated in 1980 – less than a year after the Iranian revolution. Part of a Jewish family, he felt unsafe going back to his homeland with the new regime, and has never returned. Instead, he and his brother, who also fled, opened a restaurant that still sits on the same corner as the day it opened. Though he is not Italian, Michael had plenty of relevant experience: He had worked in Italian restaurants during summers while studying, and another brother owned the now-closed restaurant Spaghetti Garden (where Pitchers stands today). The menu, he admits, pulled heavily from his family influence.

DIK Bar cements its status as LGBTQ institution, prepares to expand Dupont Cantina coming soon to the former Malbec space

But he and his brother never really relinquished the cozy space that he had envisioned. Each pushing 80 years old, they come in nearly daily: cooking, bartending, even washing dishes.

DIK has evolved, but only slightly. Eggplant and chicken parm, lasagna, pizza, pasta, and a $1 garden salad: the opening menu from the ‘80s reads like a genuine old-school Italian joint. Today, you will still find classic gems, though now they are nestled alongside Brussels sprouts and arugula salads.

As longtime patrons know, the restaurant is more than the sum of its pasta parts. “It’s an atmosphere where everybody is welcome. I got that from my mother,” he added, noting that she had experienced discrimination as part of the Jewish minority in Iran. Given this background, it was logical for them to build a space where “you have a place to be who you are and feel comfortable.”

In 2020, as the restaurant’s lease was expiring, he had the opportunity to buy the building, which included adjacent Argentine restaurant Malbec. “The landlord let us know that they felt we deserve to own the building after being here for so long,” says Michael.

Opening on 17th Street in the mid-‘80s, the brothers knew the community vibe. Annie’s, just a block away, was already well known as an LGBTQ-friendly institution. At the time, he says, the street was a bit grittier — not the well-manicured lane it is today. Still, they decided to open a restaurant and Italian Kitchen was born. His brother at Spaghetti Garden suggested adding “Dupont” in front to help ground the location, and DIK came into being. “At the beginning I admit I was a little uncomfortable with the name, having young kids. But it grew on me,” he says. Leaning in, he’s embraced the name. A few years later, the restaurant expanded vertically: taking over the apartments upstairs to turn it into a bar; a new chef came in who introduced DIK Bar’s popular brunch.

It was a blessing; to him, it meant the sustainability of Dupont Italian Kitchen. Earlier this year, when Malbec’s lease expired, they decided against finding another tenant and instead they would make it their own. The two eateries already shared one storage basement, where the Malbec kitchen was located. Saving costs by sharing procurement, staff, and utilities (as well as liquor), they took the leap. “Plus, we can be our own great tenant,” he said with a smile.

The refurbishment thus far has included a new HVAC system and a new bar. The new restaurant allows them access to a more spacious kitchen that can cook up sizzling Mexican favorites with speed and in volume. Customers at upstairs DIK Bar have always requested more bar-style finger food, he says, and tacos are better suited to a drinking atmosphere than fettuccine alfredo or creamy Cajun sausage pasta. Mexican food is also well suited to the patio. He also has a family tie to Mexico: relatives own Johnny Pistolas in Adams Morgan. The rest of the menu is being developed, including shareable small plates and “Mexican pizza.” Drinks will feature tequila, mezcal, and margaritas; and there is a happy hour in the works. “I’m hoping this expansion can help cement our future,” he says.

The opening timeline is early fall.

Looking back on almost 40 years and looking forward with the expansion, he mused that the restaurant still maintains its authenticity and its central role in LGBTQ life in D.C. “I’m really proud of the fact that it caters to this community. We are an institution, we want to continue to be part of this place.”

MICHAEL ASKARINAM and his brother Tony opened Dupont Italian Kitchen nearly 40 years ago. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

The new Dupont Cantina is coming soon. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

CALENDAR |

Friday, August 16

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email adam@thedccenter.org.

GoGayDC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Puro Gusto. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, August 17

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Coffee” at 3 p.m. at Ted’s Bulletin. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including allies, together for food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

“LGBTQ People of Color Support Group” will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. For more details, visit thedccenter. org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, August 18

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Dinner” at 6:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy an evening of Italian-style dining and conversation with other LGBTQ folk. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Monday, August 19

Center Aging: Monday Coffee & Conversation will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice. For more details, email justin@thedccenter. org.

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Tuesday, August 20

Pride on the Patio Events will host “LGBTQ Social Mixer” at 5:30 p.m. at Showroom. Dress is casual, fancy, or comfortable. Guests are encouraged to bring their most authentic self to chat, laugh, and get a little crazy. Admission is free and more details are on Eventbrite.

BiRoundtable Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as bi individuals in a private setting. For more details, visit Facebook or Meetup.

Wednesday,

August 21

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email centercareers@thedccenter.org or visit www.thedccenter.org/ careers.

Thursday, August 22

Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

DC Anti-Violence Project Open Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. These are open meetings for anyone who is interested in learning more and getting involved in lessening violence both within and directed toward the LGBTQ community. For more details, visit Facebook and Twitter.

OUT & ABOUT

DC United’s Pride Night is back

DC United will host the 13th annual “Pride Night Out” on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

There will be a special tailgate in Heineken Hall at 6 p.m., providing exclusive giveaways and swag. When purchasing tickets, please use the same email used for your Ticketmaster account, and your tickets will be transferred. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Federal Triangles Soccer Club and Team DC.

Tickets start at $41 and can be purchased on DC United’s website.

Politics and drag go together

Real Housewives of Politics (RHoPOL) in partnership with National Black Justice Collective will host a special Real Housewives-themed drag show on Sunday Aug. 25 at Shakers.

The show will feature performances from a variety of local drag performers, as well as appearances from “Real Housewives of Potomac” stars Candace Dillard Bassett and Karen Huger plus Preston Mitchum from “Summer House Martha’s Vineyard.”

For more details, visit RHoPOL’s Instagram page.

Sampson returns to D.C. in the spirit of truth and laughter

Sampson McCormick, a native of Southeast D.C. and comedy veteran of more than two decades returns home for a run of performances intended to uplift and inspire laughter.

In addition to the end of summer dates, Sampson is also promoting two film projects, “Love The One You’re With,” a dramatic comedy that follows a Black gay couple in the throes of relationship challenges (written and produced by McCormick) streaming on Amazon Prime; and “All The Men I Met But Never Dated ” (written by Muneeb Hassan and produced by McCormick) a short about a Pakistani man who faces the painful conflict of living in the closet in order to avoid the turmoil that living out loud in his culture would bring.

McCormick brings the laughs to the DC Comedy Loft for five shows, Aug 29-31 with special guest and regional favorite RayDiva. For tickets, visit dccomedyloft.com.

SAMPSON returns to D.C. later this month for a string of comedy shows. (Photo courtesy Kola for 510 Media)

Olney’s Drag and Drinks drawing crowds

Evon Michelle sings, dances, and lip syncs ferociously

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

“Mosquitoes aren’t a problem. But doing drag in 90-degree heat is. And this summer has been brutal.”

So says Devon Vaow, the director and emcee of Drag and Drinks, a popular part of Olney Outdoors, a selection of summertime shows performed al fresco at Olney Theatre Center (OTC). As the show’s emcee Evon Michelle (Vaow’s longtime vivacious drag persona), he helms the action onstage.

Drag and Drinks consists of three different Sunday afternoon performances. With two down there’s still one to go on Sunday, Aug. 25 featuring special guest Ada Vox (from “American Idol” and “Queen of the Universe”), Sapphire Dupree, Enigma, and Tiara Missou.

“It’s a relaxed, PG-rated show,” says Vaow. It’s also a true drag mélange, and depending on the performance, the lineup might feature drag kings, live singing queens, dancing queens, and lip-sync assassins. Building on previous summer successes, the show continues to attract an eclectic audience and ranks as the most well-attended of Olney Outdoors’ offerings.

“As a queer of color, I was skeptical,” says Vaow. “Are we what a theater in suburban Montgomery County wants? Apparently yes, the drag shows are the most attended programming.”

Raised in small town Meadville, Pa., an hour north of Pittsburgh, Vaow studied voice and piano at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He first donned drag at a college frat party where girls drank free. The ruse worked and he was hooked.

Gay and single, Vaow, 29, has been doing drag professionally for seven years. His initial experience included quick gigs in far-flung clubs including Orlando’s Pulse, site of the horrific mass shooting in 2016. Fortunately, he wasn’t there that night. He says, “It’s not been without its trials and tribulations, but I like it, and I strive to do things that haven’t been done before.”

“In Baltimore, I was the first queen to have a billboard. I was also the first drag queen to have a residency at Baltimore’s National Aquarium,” adds Vaow who’s based in Charm City where he was named drag queen of the year. The unique yearlong residency was divided into six months of research, lab work, and culminated in a sold-out floor

show. Vaow focused on survival through adaptation, comparing how both the LGBTQ community and marine aquatic life have had to adapt to continue.

“With wildlife we look at the ecosystem, pollution and global warming. I related that to queer people getting through the AIDS epidemic, legalization of marriage and the drag ban. It demonstrates the strength of our community.”

Additionally, the self-described “serial entrepreneur” has parlayed drag into business opportunities. During COVID, he cleverly conceived Driveway Drag Show, a concept where the queens bring the show to the audiences. Also,

a massively attended drag brunch at a restaurant in Glen Bernie, Md., grew into SAD Brunch, a large LGBTQ entertainment company. Vaow is both founder and director of entertainment.

Actor/director Kevin McAllister who also serves as OTC’s director of curated programming is definitely a fan: “Evon has hosted and performed in every drag show I’ve produced at Olney since I started in 2021. I never want to work without her. She truly does it all. She’s hilarious. She always looks amazing with fresh looks and wigs for every performance. She dances. She lip-syncs ferociously. And, just when you think she is out of skills, she pulls out a microphone and sings the house down with her gorgeous voice. As a host, she has a way of making every audience feel connected to her.

“She’s engaging and always quick with a one liner. Evon is the reason so many come back to our shows again and again. We are so grateful for her and the gifts she shares on the Olney stage year after year.”

At OTC, Vaow also worked as drag consultant for the company’s production of “Kinky Boots.” He recalls, “Any and everything that drag touched on the show I was there. Everything from costumes, hair, and makeup, I was basically a second opinion.”

Throughout the 1940s, Olney was a busy summer stock destination, presenting shows featuring theatrical luminaries such as Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Tallulah Bankhead, and Helen Hayes.

While Vaow is honored to tread the same boards as these monumental names in live theater, he says “it’s an even bigger honor to not only create a culture in Olney, like drag, but help shape it as well. Jason Loewith (OTC’s artistic director) along with Kevin McAllister have given me the tools to facilitate some of the best drag shows Maryland has to offer.”

‘Olney Outdoors’

Drag and Drinks | Sunday, Aug. 25 Olney Theatre Center | 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. | $35 | Olneytheatre.org

EVON DIOR MICHELLE (Photo by Nicholas Rudolf)

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Trans star helps convoluted ‘Cuckoo’ coalesce into more than a creep show Schafer infuses

familiar character with Oscar-worthy depth

By JOHN PAUL KING

Sometimes, casting the right person in a role can make or break a movie. Consider “Cuckoo,” the buzzy horror film now in theaters nationwide, which turns a formulaic premise into an edgy and provocative thriller thanks to the presence of lead player Hunter Schafer, the breakout trans co-star of HBO’s acclaimed “Euphoria.” Her role might have been played by any young actress of appropriate age and sufficient talent, but carries a much more palpable weight both because of what she brings to it and because of how her director –  sophomore German feature-filmmaker Tilman Singer (“Luz”) – chooses to present her.

That role is Gretchen (Schafer), an American teen raised by her recently deceased mother and now forced to move in with her father (Marton Csokas) and his new family just as they relocate to a remote town in the Bavarian Alps, where the owner of a resort he designed wants him to work on an expansion. Already feeling like a stranger within the household – which, besides dad’s second wife (Jessica Henwick), includes a perplexingly mute young stepsister, Alma (Mila Lieu), who has begun to experience unexplained seizure-like episodes since Gretchen’s arrival – and still grieving the loss of her mom, she’s not thrilled about the added isolation of living in a remote and sleepy mountain town. Making matters worse are her misgivings about the resort and the community that surrounds it, not to mention the vaguely threatening vibe she seems to sense behind the benevolent manner of Herr König (Dan Stevens), her dad’s overly polite and aggressively gracious boss.

Suspecting that things here are not entirely what they seem, she resolves to run away, but a successful escape requires money – so when König offers her a job at the reception desk, she takes it despite her better instincts. Naturally, this puts her right in the cross-hairs of whatever ominous conspiracy may be surrounding her, something she realizes when she disregards warnings never to stay at the resort after dark and narrowly escapes an attack from a terrifying figure in the woods. Though local authorities dismiss the incident as a prank, she is soon approached by the police chief himself (Jan Bluthardt), who is conducting a secret investigation of his own and seeks her help.

its intriguing premise and effectively orchestrated slow build toward the final act – before getting us to the big finale.

Fortunately, despite the messiness of its denouement, “Cuckoo” ends on a strong note. In the wake of what we’ll describe as its suitably apocalyptic endgame, it leaves us with the unexpected suggestion that the solution in overcoming a perceived threat to our existence lies not in extreme, all-or-nothing viewpoints, however passionately or understandingly they may be held, but in finding a middle path between them. The key, in Gretchen’s case, is attached to compassion and a feeling of shared humanity, and not in self-validating personal ideologies that are ultimately more about ourselves than the things we think we need to defend or protect.

If anything can be credited with rescuing Singer’s movie from its reliance on genre formalism and overcomplicated storytelling, it’s Schafer’s performance. She embodies Gretchen’s achingly recognizable teenage nihilism to a tee, tapping into a universal feeling of being on the “outside” and allowing it to fuel our engagement in her story even when the plot goes over the top and off the rails; but what makes her performance indispensable to Singer’s purpose is also what gives his film significance far beyond its measured success as a thriller. While Schafer is unequivocally a trans woman, Gretchen’s gender identity is never explicitly disclosed; though the “transness” of the performer invites a valid interpretation of “Cuckoo” as an allegory about transphobia, or about the necessity for queer people to find “chosen families” to replace the ones into which they are born, these possible readings of the film exist among many others, and the character’s gender is ultimately irrelevant. Though admittedly, thanks to the involvement of another outsider, a female-presenting traveler named Ed (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) who shows up to provide Gretchen with a glimmer of hope and a potential escape route, there’s an unflinching queerness that underlies the film’s entire perspective.

We won’t reveal what they find out, exactly; it’s enough to say that things revolve around a secret project to preserve a local species with an unusual means of reproduction. Besides this and the fact that Singer’s film draws heavily on both body horror and sci-fi elements to spin its harrowing narrative, the only thing you need to know is that, like so many relationships on social media, it’s complicated.

That’s a double-edged observation; as Singer’s film begins to unwind the twisted tale at the core of its premise, the revelations come at us fast and furious, resulting in a feeling that there are too many “moving parts” of which we must keep track, and a subsequent decision that it is too much work to do so. This has less to do with the details surrounding the menacing (and possibly misunderstood) “presence” that provides much of the movie’s more visceral thrills than it does with the convoluted escalations of its plot; more plainly said, in crafting a suitably gripping climax the story devolves into an implausible B-movie showdown built on unlikely reversals and hard-to-bridge gaps of logic, with Stevens’s character essentially filling in for the mad scientist defending his lab against torch-wielding villagers bent on destroying his well-meaning but misguided experiment. As a result, it loses a good deal of steam – as well as some of the good will it earns with

Through that lens, Schafer’s work here represents a landmark in the sense that she has become a lead performer in a relatively prominent film as a trans actress in a role that neither addresses nor needs to address her gender. That’s nothing to be scoffed at, whether or not one can fully surrender to the grotesque pleasures of Singer’s unapologetically shock-centric script and direction, but what is perhaps more important – at least in terms of the work itself – is that she takes a familiar stock character (the “final girl”) and infuses it with the kind of depth worthy of an Oscar-bait performance in an A-list “prestige” film. She shines neither because of nor in spite of her trans identity; rather, she shines because of her talent.

It’s worth mentioning that Stevens works hard to overcome the melodramatic writing behind Herr König and, as much as possible, mostly succeeds; and while most of the film’s other performances are decidedly less “showy,” the entire cast manages to keep us engaged enough to accept the movie’s potentially campy (not the good kind) conceits. Likewise, even if his screenplay gets muddy for a while in the third quarter, Singer’s shrewdly balanced blend of genre tropes and artistic vision as a director never wavers, keeping us not only invested but thrilled by his style even during his movie’s silliest moments.

All that makes “Cuckoo” a great choice for a date night that can also be a not-so-guilty pleasure – and when it comes to the movies, you can’t ask for much more than that.

HUNTER SCHAFER stars in ‘Cuckoo.’

Sizing up EVs: Mini Cooper Coupe, Ford F-150 Lightning

One is small and nimble, the other spacious and super fast

By JOE PHILLIPS

I’m a bit of a size queen when it comes to electric vehicles. After all, the bigger the battery pack, the lower the range anxiety. And EVs — with no engine or other components found on traditional gas models — can flaunt their larger cabins. Most EVs also deliver lickety-split acceleration, which can boost the size of any ego.

I recently test drove two David and Goliath EVs: one an itty-bitty roadster and the other a behemoth pickup.

So which was better? In the end, the answer was a matter of size.

MINI COOPER COUPE EV

$31,000

Range: 114 miles

Fastest charging time: 103 miles in 30 minutes (80% charged)

0-to-60 mph: 6.9 seconds

Cargo capacity: 8.7 cu. ft.

PROS: Quick. Nimble. Fun.

CONS: Battery range. Low chassis. Limited storage.

IN A NUTSHELL: With kicky styling, perky engines and quirky interiors, a Mini Cooper always makes me smile. The EV coupe is no exception, with funky yellow accents on the wheels, badging and side mirrors to distinguish this car from a typical Mini.

For such a compact car, there’s ample headroom and legroom. But cargo space is tight. Luckily, lowering the back seats triples the stowage area.

Up front in the Euro-chic cabin, there are plenty of retro toggle switches and tasteful chrome accents. As with other EVs, a digital readout indicates the exact time the vehicle will be fully charged. The nav system, which displays a “range circle” to show how far the Mini can go without running out of juice, also maps out the best “green” route to travel. That’s a nice touch, because the driving range here is only 114 miles. Luckily, the regenerative braking system is extra-grippy to help conserve energy. And by just barely lifting your foot off the accelerator, this coupe slows so dramatically that you only need to brake when coming to a full stop.

Best of all, handling is exceptional. Despite the low ground clearance — just 5.6 inches — the Mini Cooper easily handles speed bumps and torn up roads. And during my daily commute, this go-kart wannabe easily scooted through a sea of overbearing semis and SUVs on the Beltway.

Overall, the Mini Cooper EV is affordable and fits anywhere. It may even put a smile on your face.

FORD F-150 LIGHTNING

$58,000

Range: 240-320 miles

Fastest charging time: 201 miles in 42 minutes (80% charged) 0-to-60 mph: 4.1 seconds

Cargo capacity: 52.8 cu. ft.

PROS: Lightning fast. Sedan-like comfort. Super storage.

CONS: Pricey trims. Increased competition. Towing saps the battery.

IN A NUTSHELL: Compared with a Mini Cooper EV, the Ford F-150 Lightning is a Maximus chariot. At 19 feet long and more than six feet tall, this pickup is seven feet longer and two feet taller than the miniscule coupe. The Lightning also weighs 6,000-plus pounds, which makes it three times heavier than the Mini. And the Lightning’s towing capacity — at up to 10,000 pounds — is four times greater.

Despite the gargantuan proportions, this Herculean beast rides and handles like a lithe sedan. No, the Lightning is not as nimble as a spritely Mini, but it’s surprisingly close — especially for a hauler with land-yacht proportions.

A fave feature: major storage space, including two glove boxes, an acres-long truck bed, a huge center console, and a frunk that can hold almost twice as much gear as the rear cargo bay in a Mini Cooper. The funky frunk is also water-resistant, drainable, lockable and has four 120-volt outlets and two USB chargers. There’s even an emergency release latch, just like in a standard trunk. Coolest of all, with just two taps to the key fob, the frunk’s lid opens and closes electronically—which makes the Lightning look like some sort of Leviathan sea monster.

Power comes from two electric motors configured to provide standard all-wheel drive. Add in the extended-range battery for more horsepower and torque, and the Lightning lives up to its Thor-like bona fides. Such wickedly fast acceleration is thrilling and, frankly, a bit scary.

Inside, the well-insulated cabin boasts many fine options, including max-recline seats, hands-free driving system, Bang & Olufsen premium stereo, twin-panel moonroof and a 15-inch infotainment screen that looks and behaves like an iPad.

When it comes to size, the Lightning is larger, faster and full of more storage space than a Mini Cooper. Yet the coupe costs half as much and is a better urban adventurer. It also seems a bit more practical, at least in the city.

Small versus large? It all depends on which size fits you best.

MINI COOPER COUPE EV

FORD F-150 LIGHTNING

Wednesday, Sep 18 & Oct 2

Admission Tour

Lower School: 9 - 10:15a

Middle & Upper School: 11a - 12:15p

Saturday, Oct 19

Fall Admission Program

Lower School: 9 - 10:15a

Middle & Upper School: 11a - 12:15p

Following the program, stay for our annual Fall Festival, 1-4p! Fun for the whole family!

At Barrie School, every student feels a great sense of belonging. Join us for an upcoming admission event to see for yourself!

Ask about our Millennium Scholarship & Fall Expeditions for Grades 6-12

Chappell Roan vs. Charli XCX Drag Brunch

Desiree Dik leads the show at Red Bear Brewing

Red Bear Brewing Company held a Chappell Roan vs. Charli XCX Drag Brunch on Sunday, August 11. Desiree Dik served as the emcee. Performers included Silver Ware Sidora, Trevher, Laronica Vegas, Delight and Baphomette.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

How to maintain positive tenant relations during summer

Address seasonal issues, maintain A/C, and more tips

By SCOTT BLOOM

As the peak rental season unfolds this summer, property managers and landlords find themselves busier than ever. With families moving before the school year, students seeking new accommodations, and professionals relocating for job opportunities, maintaining positive tenant relations is crucial. Here are some tips for fostering strong relationships with your tenants during this bustling time.

Open and Consistent Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any good relationship, and tenant relations are no different. Make sure you:

• Respond Promptly: Address tenant inquiries and concerns swiftly to show that you value their time and issues — at least within 24 hours if not sooner.

• Use Multiple Channels: Utilize emails, text messages, and phone calls to keep lines of communication open. Find out which channel your interface prefers and make a note always to use that one. Consider using a tenant portal for easy access to information and service requests.

• Regular Updates: Proactively communicate about any upcoming maintenance work, changes in policies, or community events. This proactive approach helps in building trust and transparency and reduces surprises or feelings of not being kept informed.

Address Common Seasonal Issues

All seasons bring different challenges for renters. For example, Summer can bring maintenance issues, increased pest activity, and summer noise complaints. Be prepared to tackle these common problems:

• Air Conditioning: Ensure all air conditioning units are functioning properly. Schedule regular maintenance checks in Spring and Fall to provide tenants with less risk of a breakdown.  Consider sharing tips on how to efficiently use or maintain the AC in the rental to help prevent overloading the system.

• Pest Control: Summer can see an increase in pest activity such as ants, roaches, beetles, mosquitoes, etc. As windows and doors are left open more frequently, these can get inside the rental. Remind tenants of best practices to keep pests at bay, such as properly storing food and disposing of trash outside on a regular basis, before the bin inside is full.  Consider scheduling regular pest control treatments as a preventative measure.

• Noise Management: With people naturally enjoying outdoor activities more frequently, noise levels can rise. Remind your residents to be good neighbors.  Establish clear noise policies including shut-down times and communicate these to your tenants to ensure everyone can enjoy a peaceful environment.

Recommend your renters inform adjacent neighbors well in advance of upcoming outdoor gatherings. This goes a long way and is appreciated. It also permits them to plan ahead to be out of their home during that time, or at least not plan a quiet day or evening in their own space when a potentially noisy event is happening next door.

Offer Flexibility and Understanding

Summer can be a hectic time for everyone, including your tenants. Show flexibility and understanding in these ways:

• Know your Rights: Build policies or rules around your rights as a landlord while also keeping in mind the rights of your tenants.

• Flexible Lease Terms: If possible, offer flexible lease start and end dates to accommodate varying schedules.

• Grace Periods: Understand that moving can be stressful and sometimes delays happen. Offering a short grace period for rent payments or if their move is delayed.  This is not uncommon during the peak season and your grace can go a long way in building goodwill.

• Empathy and Support: Listen to your tenants’ concerns and show empathy. A supportive attitude can help in resolving conflicts amicably and maintaining a positive relationship. It can also prevent escalation of issues or having your renters seeking out different agencies or authorities to inquire or even report you as the landlord if they feel their rights are being ignored or otherwise feel taken advantage of.

By following these strategies, property managers and landlords can ensure a harmonious and productive peak rental season, leading to satisfied tenants and smooth operations.

SCOTT BLOOM

is owner and Senior Property Manager, Columbia Property Management. For more information and resources, go to www.ColumbiaPM.com

Follow these easy tips to prevent drama with tenants this summer.

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

PROBATE DIVISION 2024 FEP 47

Date of Death: December 6, 2022

Inge J. Caldwell aka Inge Johanne Caldwell

Notice of Appointment of Foreign Personal Representative and Notice to Creditors

Steven E. Caldwell whose address is 16016 Bonniebank Ter, Darnestown, Md, 20874 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Inge J. Caldwell aka Inge Johanne Caldwell, deceased by the Register of Wills Court for Montgomery County, State of Maryland, on May 22, 2023.

Service of process may be made upon John Dahill, 530 N St, SW #S705, Washington, DC 20024 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C.

The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 3601 Wisconsin Ave, NW #710, Washington DC 20016.

The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, NW, #3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20001 within the 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication 08/02/2024, /s/Nicole Stevens, Register of Wills, /s/Steven E. Caldwell, 301-801-6302 True Test Copy

Name of newspaper &/or periodical: Washington Blade & Daily Washington Law Reporter.

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Thanks for reading the Blade!

BUY / SELL

LABYRINTH’S ANNUAL USED GAME SALE

Is Almost Here! Add amazing, gently used board games to your game collection for bargain prices. Our Saturday auctions include many out-of-print, deluxe, & hard-to-get games. Our Sunday rummage sale prices drop to $0 at the end of the day. Saturday, Sept. 7, is Auction Day! Sunday, Sept 8, is our all-day Rummage Sale: Prices drop throughout the day! Come to: Labyrinth, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003, to participate in this charity event! Learn More: labyrinthdc.com/ugs Proceeds support community initiatives like the Labyrinth Teacher Fund & free community game nights. Thank you for your support! Labyrinth is a safe inclusive space for all.

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