Washington Blade, Volume 56, Issue 41, October 10, 2025

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Court hears conversion therapy case in high stakes term, PAGE 12

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Millions expected to turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests on Oct. 18 Multiple events planned for D.C., surrounding suburbs

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

LGBTQ activists are expected to join more than two million Americans across the country, including in the D.C. metro area, for a nationwide “No Kings” day protest against the Trump administration’s “antidemocratic” policies and actions scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18.

The Oct. 18 protests will follow a similar June 14 series of “No Kings” protests organized by a coalition of local, state, and national progressive organizations, including LGBTQ advocacy organizations, led and coordinated by Indivisible Action, the group that came up with the idea of the No Kings protests. The same coalition is organizing the Oct. 18 protests.

“As President Trump continues to escalate his violent authoritarian attacks on our freedoms – including increasing militarization of our nation’s cities and the threat of a federal government shutdown – the No Kings October 18th day of action has surpassed 2,110 local protests and rallies that are being planned across all 50 states,” Indivisible Action said in a Sept. 30 statement.

“That makes the events on October 18 on track to surpass the June 14 No Kings day of action over the summer, which saw more than five million people protesting across all 50 states,” the statement says.

On its website, Indivisible Action notes that the federal government shutdown, which started Oct. 1 and which it says the Trump administration helped to bring about, is yet another reason for people to turnout out for the No Kings anti-Trump protests on Oct. 18.

The website, which includes a directory of all the known scheduled protests nationwide so far, shows that one of the D.C. No Kings protests will take place Oct. 18 from 12-3 p.m. at Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street, N.W. near the U.S. Capitol.

It shows that another group of No Kings protesters from Arlington, Va., will gather at 11 a.m. on the Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge and march across the bridge into D.C. to join a No Kings rally on the National Mall.

According to the website listings, other No Kings protests were scheduled to take place at various times on Oct. 18 in other parts of Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in Virginia as well as in locations in suburban Maryland, including Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Chevy Chase.

Among the LGBTQ advocacy organizations participating in the Oct. 18 No Kings protests are the Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force.

“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” the Indivisible Action statement says. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” it says. “Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”

In a separate statement, Indivisible Action points out that the June 14 No Kings protests were held on that

Activists stand outside of the White House on Saturday, Aug. 16. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

date because it was the day of President Trump’s 79th birthday, for which the president arranged for a military parade in downtown D.C. “The president thinks his rule is absolute,” the statement says. “But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger,” it says.

When asked by a reporter at the White House what he thought about the No Kings protests shortly before the June 14 protests took place, Trump replied, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,” according to a report by Newsweek.

“A king would say ‘I’m not going to get this ... he wouldn’t have to call up [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune and say, ‘Fellas you’ve got to pull this off’ and after years we get it done. No, no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king at all,” the Newsweek report quoted him as saying.

Information about the time and location of the No Kings protests on Oct. 18 in the D.C. area and nationwide can be accessed at mobilize.us/nokings.

Brooke Pinto announces bid for D.C. congressional delegate seat Joins fellow Council member Robert White in challenging Holmes Norton

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) announced on Oct. 6 that she is running for the non-voting D.C. delegate seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the city’s D.C. Council member BROOKE June 2026 Democratic PINTO is running for delegate.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) primary.

Pinto became the second Council member to announce they are challenging longtime D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who has held the congressional delegate seat since 1991. Council member Robert White (D-At-Large) announced his candidacy for the seat in September.

Norton, Pinto, and White have been longtime outspoken supporters of the LGBTQ community. Norton introduced LGBTQ supportive legislation and has spoken out against anti-LGBTQ legislation in the U.S. House since first taking office in a position that allows her to speak on the House floor and vote in committee but doesn’t allow her to vote on bills or resolutions on the House floor.

Pinto and White entered the race to challenge Norton at a time when many political observers and longtime Norton supporters have questioned Norton’s ability to continue in office at the age of 88. Observers have noted that Norton has become less energetic and now appears far less often at public events. She has nevertheless said she plans to run for re-election.

Some of those who have backed Norton in the past, including longtime D.C. Democratic activist Donna Brazile, have said the city needs a more energetic representative in the U.S. House at this time when the city has come under attack by Republican lawmakers, some of whom have introduced legislation to curtail D.C.’s home rule government.

Some local LGBTQ rights advocates have expressed concern that hostile members of Congress, with the backing of President Donald Trump, might push legislation to curtail the city’s comprehensive Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“I’m running for Congress to represent D.C. on Capitol Hill — to fight for our self-governance, for a fair economy, for public safety, and for our families,” Pinto said in a statement announcing her candidacy.

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“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has been an unparalleled champion for D.C. for decades, and I want to build on her incredible legacy for which we are all grateful,” Pinto said. “I am eager to build a campaign and a movement that empowers our engaged and talented neighbors to be a part of the future of our city that is strong, fair, and safe,” she said. “Let’s move our city forward; let’s fight for D.C.!”

The Washington Post reports that seven other candidates have filed to run against Norton in addition to Pinto and White, including D.C. State Board of education President Jaque Paterson and Ward 3 Democratic Chair Deirdre Brown. The Post didn’t identify the other five candidates.

A spokesperson for the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance, which keeps a record of candidates who run for D.C. public office, didn’t immediately respond to a Washington Blade request for the full last of candidates who have filed to run for the congressional delegate seat next year.

Both Pinto and White are not up for re-election for their respective Council seats until 2028, so they will be able to retain their Council seats if they do not win election to the congressional delegate seat.

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In D.C., LGBTQ homelessness on the rise despite overall decline 37 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, up from 2024

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

(Editor’s note: This article is part of our 2025 contribution to the D.C. Homeless Crisis Reporting Project in collaboration with other local newsrooms. The collective works will be published throughout the week at bit.ly/DCHCRP.) The annual 2025 Point-In-Time (PIT) count of homeless people in the District of Columbia conducted in January shows there was an overall 9 percent decrease in homelessness in the city compared to 2024.

But the annual count, conducted on Jan. 29 and released in May, shows the total number of homeless youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who self-identify as LGBTQ rose from 28 percent in 2024 to 37 percent this year.

When the data is broken down to show the number of “single” homeless youth alone and homeless youth accompanied by one or more of their children, the 2025 count shows that LGBTQ youth, 18-24, comprised 38.4 percent of all single youth and 9.1 percent of youth, 18-24, with children in “family households.”

This year’s count also shows the total number of adults who identify as LGBTQ remained mostly the same, decreasing slightly from 12 percent in 2024 to 11.7 percent in 2025.

The number of D.C. youth experiencing homelessness is on the rise. (Photo by Joe Pchatree/Bigstock)

It shows that LGBTQ adults comprised 6.2 percent of all homeless adults in “family households” and 12.4 percent of “single” homeless adults by themselves.

Like recent past years, LGBTQ operated, and LGBTQ supportive homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities were operating at full capacity as of this week, according to those familiar with D.C.’s LGBTQ-related homeless programs.

At the time the 2025 PIT count information was released in May as part of a detailed report prepared by the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, which conducts the PIT count for the city, D.C. officials released a statement saying the overall reduction in homelessness this year followed the implementation of a series of new programs aimed at preventing homelessness.

“I am incredibly grateful for the teams that are working every day to ensure we are able to not only provide shelter to neighbors who need it but also help them move into – and thrive – in permanent housing,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said in the statement.

“We know that when we have the right investments, the right policies, and the right people in place, we can drive down homelessness and get our neighbors into safe and stable housing,” the mayor said.

“These results show a positive change in course following increases in homelessness over the past two years,” D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) Director A.D. Rachel Pierre said in the statement. “While there is more work to be done, this year’s PIT count is a clear indicator that the District’s investments – especially over the past year – are moving the needle In the right direction,” she said.

Cesar Toledo, executive director and CEO of D.C.’s Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing services for homeless LGBTQ youth, said its 20-bed facility remains filled, 0 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 10 , 2 0 2 5 • LO CA L NE WS

with a waiting list for LGBTQ youth to be admitted.

“Based on the Point-In-Time data, year after year, LGBTQ+ youth are devastatingly overrepresented among all youth experiencing homelessness,” Toledo told the Washington Blade. “While the overall decrease in the number of homeless people in D.C. is promising, there has been about a five-point increase among our homeless LGBTQ+ young people – meaning more than one in three homeless youth today identify as LGBTQ+,” he said.

The D.C. LGBTQ youth services and support organization SMYAL says on its website that its housing facilities for LGBTQ homeless youth are also filled to capacity, with all 55 beds occupied. Like the Alston Foundation, SMYAL provides additional services for its homeless clients, including case management, mental health counseling, and job-related skills.

Department of Human Services officials have pointed out that the city has arranged for the opening of additional housing and support facilities for homeless LGBTQ youth and adults.

In 2021, through a DHS grant, Covenant House, a nonprofit group that provides homeless youth services nationwide, opened a 24-bed LGBTQ youth homeless shelter that has since been expanded to 30 beds.

At least two other non-LGBTQ locally based organizations – the Latin American Youth Center and Sasha Bruce Youthwork – also provide services for homeless LGBTQ youth, including housing services, according to statements by the groups on their websites.

With most of the LGBTQ-specific homeless facilities in D.C. focusing on youth, the DHS opened the city’s first official shelter for homeless LGBTQ adults in August of 2022 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Bowser. The 40-bed shelter is located at 400 50th St., S.E. At the time of its opening, DHS said the adult shelter was being operated for the city by the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness under a DHS grant. Like most of the LGBTQ homeless youth facilities, the LGBTQ adult facility provides additional services, including behavioral health support, substance use disorder resources, job training programs, and access to health care within the shelter at least once a month.

An “LGBTQ+” chart included in the PIT count report released by the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness shows a total count of 650 for “all” LGBTQ homeless people in 2025, with 501 being “all adults” and 149 being “all youth.”

The 650 total figure marks an increase of 123 compared to the total LGBTQ homeless count of 527 in the 2024 PIT count. Previous PIT counts show a total of 349 homeless LGBTQ people in 2023 and 347 in 2022.

“Now more than ever, we need to meet the urgent needs of our homeless queer youth,” Toledo of the Alston Foundation said. “The demand far exceeds our existing resources,” he said.

“To truly make progress, we must expand the number of LGBTQ+ transitional housing beds, strengthen wraparound services like counseling and job readiness, and commit to long-term pathways to stability and independence,” Toledo said.

The Blade submitted a request to DHS asking for an update on whether the ongoing and newly implemented DHS programs that it has said resulted in the overall 9 percent decrease in D.C. homelessness have been applied to efforts to curtail LGBTQ homelessness.

DHS spokesperson Kevin Carpenter said DHS was working on a response with the goal of providing that response this week.

In response to a request by the Blade for an update on its programs that specifically address LGBTQ homelessness in D.C., DHS sent the Blade a statement pointing out that as part of DHS’s current shelter, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing programs there are “over 90 beds dedicated specifically to transitional age youth [18 to 24 years old] who identify as LGBTQ.” The statement notes that while there was an overall decrease in the number of transitional age youth experiencing homelessness the proportion of youth who identify as LGBTQ “did increase from 28 percent to 37 percent – an increase that represents about 16 people.”

The statement adds, “And as noted, the adult system of numbers of individuals experiencing homelessness who identify as LGBTQ held steady from 2024 to 2025 despite an overall drop.”

It continues, saying, “These disparities shine light on what DHS recognizes is a challenge – that individuals experiencing homelessness who identify as LGBTQ are an extremely vulnerable subpopulation of an already vulnerable population. DHS remains committed to finding additional ways to support LGBTQ adults and youth experiencing homelessness in the District.”

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Meet the job training groups fighting for better economic mobility in D.C. Government and non-profit resources abound

By CLINTON ENGELBERGER

Employment is getting harder to come by in D.C. In fact, as of August, D.C.’s unemployment rate is at 6.0% –– the highest in the country. Its unemployment rate increased by 0.7% from August 2024.

About 17% of D.C. residents lived in poverty in 2024, and marginalized communities were hit the hardest. Last year, 30.5% of Black residents and 11.9% of Latino residents lived in poverty, while poverty rates for non-Hispanic white residents sat at 4.6%.

With little room for economic mobility in D.C., multiple organizations and non-profits are fighting to change those statistics.

From on-the-job training to employment counseling, here’s a look into some local and governmental groups working to serve D.C.’s unemployed population.

LGBTQ-focused programs Wanda Alston Foundation Cesar Toledo, executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, knows the struggles of escaping poverty firsthand.

As a first-generation Latino raised in an immigrant household, Toledo said he was able to escape the poverty cycle through educational opportunities.

“Serving as an executive director for the foundation and supporting the most vulnerable members of our community…really gives me a front line perspective to the work that needs to be done to ensure that not only can our youth survive, but they can thrive independently, live on their own and being able to afford their own apartment,” Toledo said.

The Wanda Alston Foundation provides a variety of services to open new pathways toward economic mobility, including housing for homeless LGBTQ youth in D.C., free counseling and accessible employment opportunities. The foundation also offers educational support to their housed youth so they can continue to work toward securing an education.

The organization recently launched an initiative called “Slay & Sauté,” giving those it supports an opportunity to learn cooking skills that eventually open the door to a culinary career.

Email: contactus@wandaalstonfoundation.org Phone: 202-465-8794 contactus@wandaalstonfoundation Project LEAP Project LEAP is a program sponsored by Damien Ministries that supports job seekers in the D.C. area who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary.

You can request to be paired with a one-

on-one job coach, where you’ll receive pre-employment training and the tools necessary to overcome economic barriers.

Project LEAP has two other programs dedicated to jobseekers. One, called Project LEAP We Thrive, is a support group for men of color to discuss the employment challenges they face. The other, called Project LEAP Job Start, is for early-career job seekers to receive mentorship on entering the workforce and ensuring their resumes and interview skills are up to par.

The project also offers a “Style Closet,” where job seekers can receive a clothing consultation to ensure they are stylistically prepared for an interview.

Email: projectleap@damienministries.org The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center Job Club The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center hosts weekly job club meetings to help those entering the workforce or struggling to find employment.

The group’s goal is to “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,’” its website reads.

Meetings are held on Zoom every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Email: supportdesk@thedccenter.org

Government resources DOES On-the-Job Training The Department of Employment Services (DOES) offers on-the-job training opportunities for job seekers looking for a way to get experience while staying employed.

Pay rates range from $14-23.95 per hour depending on the job, and employees must work a minimum of 32 hours per week.

The types of jobs employees might work include administration, property management, merchandising, health care, law enforcement, hospitality and transportation services.

Email: does@dc.gov DOES Occupational Skills Training If you’re looking for more guidance, an employment specialist can steer you in the right direction by helping you secure the training and certifications required by local employers. Your training will focus on high-demand industries, such as construction, health care, information technology and retail.

Email: does@dc.gov

Other DOES Services

For other services and resources, such as a

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look into D.C. worker rights and federal employee frequently asked questions, click here.

D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility Programs under the Sustainable Energy Utility provide you an opportunity to obtain the skills you need to land environmentally friendly jobs.

These programs match residents with paid, five-month opportunities to observe and learn about different necessary skills for green jobs. They’re open to anyone, no matter if you’re new to the workforce, in between jobs or simply looking for new employment opportunities.

Potential jobs to learn about include electrical engineering, solar technician, building maintenance, HVAC helper and mechanical engineering.

Email: info@dcseu.com Phone: 202-479-2222 Office of Human Rights The Office of Human Rights provides resources for employers to understand how to combat hiring bias and for employees to understand their rights, including: Hired and Transgender –– For employers to understand how to recognize and combat hiring bias for transgender applicants.

Valuing Transgender Applicants –– For employers to receive guidance on how to best support transgender applicants and employees beyond legal obligations.

LGBTQIA+ Resource Portal –– For LGBTQIA+ employees or residents to better understand their workforce and legal rights.

Non-governmental Job Training Opportunities SOME The SOME Center for Employment Training (CET) is a post-secondary vocational school.

You’ll have access to free job training in the health care and building trades industries, and receive advice on the skills needed to land the right job. From resume help to writing the perfect cover letter, you’ll be equipped with both hands-on experience and the professional skills necessary to gain employment.

No high school GED is required, and the CET program is open to applicants with criminal histories.

Email: some@SOME.com Phone: 202-797-8806 By mail: 71 O St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 Academy of Hope Academy of Hope offers career training

CESAR TOLEDO, executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, knows the struggles of escaping poverty.

(Photo courtesy of the Wanda Alston Foundation)

programs in a variety of fields.

Health care programs include medical billing and coding, nurse aide and phlebotomy technician training.

For business, you can receive training in project management, and for information technology, you can enter programs that could get you jobs in tech support, IT operations and other similar fields.

These programs only run from February to June. Classes offered involved hands-on work led by industry professionals, with the intention of landing students entry-level certifications to stay competitive for high-demand jobs post-graduation.

Contact page: https://aohdc.org/contact-us/ Catholic Charities Catholic Charities provides courses that equip residents with the resources they need on their career paths.

Courses include job skills for bank sales representatives, construction jobs using sustainable solutions and professional counseling.

Catholic Charities also offers English as a second language courses and personalized career assistance for adults with developmental disabilities.

Email: recruiting@cc-dc.org Phone: 202-772-4300 University of the District of Columbia (UDC) You don’t have to be a college student to take advantage of UDC’s Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning courses.

Learn the skills necessary to land jobs related to early childhood education, construction and property management, health care, hospitality and tourism, information technology and lifelong learning.

Courses are free, but a few may require minimal out-of-pocket expenses.

Email: workforce@udc.edu Phone: 202-274-5000 UPO With UPO, you can receive certifications in child development, culinary arts, plumbing, professional building maintenance, information technology and more.

To begin the pre-enrollment process, you must be at least 18, have a high school degree or GED and be drug free.

Contact form: https://www.upo.org/contact-form/

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What to watch as pivotal Supreme Court term begins Several high-profile cases address LGBTQ rights

By JOE REBERKENNY | jreberkenny@washblade.com

The Supreme Court’s new term began this week, with multiple cases on the docket that could have serious consequences for the civil rights of the LGBTQ community.

Many issues are being debated this term, including the scope of civil rights protections under the Equal Protection Clause, Title IX, and the Voting Rights Act—all of which could leave LGBTQ Americans less protected.

This Supreme Court is different from years past. Its right-wing supermajority is utilizing a more activist approach to legal interpretation—siding more often with President Trump’s preferred interpretation of laws rather than a more constitutional evaluation. One Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, even went so far as to publicly state he has a problem with the way judges are restricted by past decisions, saying he is against the concept of stare decisis (or sticking to prior judges’ decisions) and that they are “not the gospel.”

There are three major cases that in some way impact—or have the possibility of impacting—the rights of LGBTQ Americans: West Virginia v. B.P.J., Little v. Hecox, and Chiles v. Salazar. The first two deal with the rights of transgender girls participating in sports. The last one, Chiles v. Salazar, centers around the legality of banning conversion therapy.

West Virginia v. B.P.J.

In West Virginia v. B.P.J., a transgender girl, known as B.P.J., takes gender-affirming medication and has since the onset of puberty. She wants to compete on her school’s cross-country and track teams. In 2021, West Virginia passed the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which requires public school and collegiate sports teams to designate their players’ genders by “biological sex” rather than gender identity.

In this case, the Court will determine whether this act violates Title IX—a federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education or any institution that receives federal funding—or the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits unfair and unequal discrimination, by requiring B.P.J. to be on a team based on her biological sex.

As Joshua Block, senior counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) LGBT & HIV Project, explained, “In terms of the legal issues before the court, the West Virginia case presents both the Title IX issue and the equal protection issue.” He also highlighted the broader impact: “Some of the lower courts are actually holding their cases pending BPJ, the Seventh Circuit recently did that in one of their restroom cases.”

Little v. Hecox

In Little v. Hecox, the Court will similarly evaluate the legality of Idaho’s transgender sports law—the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” which, since its passage in 2020, has barred any transgender girls from participating on public school-affiliated sports teams. There is specific wording in the law that says the hormones present in transgender women, regardless of their stage of transition, make them predisposed to winning and create an unfair playing field—even if transgender people take Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT).

Lindsay Hecox, a transgender woman and student at Boise State University, attempted to join the school’s cross-country team but was denied, with the school citing that her participation violates the law. Hecox, along

with a cisgender high school athlete identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a suit arguing that the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” violated both of their constitutional rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Block noted during the briefing, “Lindsay, unlike BPJ, is a young woman in college, and she has not had blockers. She suppressed testosterone after puberty at the same time, as I mentioned, she was not, frankly, good enough to make the team, and has just been playing club sports.” Regarding procedural concerns, he added, “Unlike other cases where a party has sought to insulate a favorable judgment from review, we obviously think the decision below needs to be vacated because it’s moot.”

Block went on to spotlight that both West Virginia v.

B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox are clearly supported by Title IX, using the Court’s decision in 2020 in Bostock v. Clayton County as the basis. In that case, the Court found that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects not only on the basis of sex and race, but also on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“There’s obviously an overlap on the question of whether, as a general matter, the Supreme Court’s reasoning in Bostock applies to Title IX,” Block said. “Bostock says you can’t fire someone for being transgender.

I think it should go without saying that a school principal can’t expel someone for being transgender either.

Despite that, the states are trying to argue that Bostock doesn’t apply to Title IX at all.”

Chiles v. Salazar

While West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox examine Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, Chiles v. Salazar evaluates the legality of a Colorado House Act banning conversion therapy under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. The Free Speech Clause has five parts, but this case focuses on the right to practice the religion of one’s choosing and the provision that the state may not establish a religion. Conversion therapy is defined in this case as any practice that “changes behaviors or gender expressions or seeks to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

In Chiles v. Salazar, Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor who identifies as a Christian, has argued that HB19-1129, also known as the “Prohibit Conversion Therapy for a Minor Act,” violates her First Amendment rights. Chiles practices “faith-informed” counseling that seeks to “reduce or eliminate unwanted sexual attractions, change sexual behaviors, or grow in the experience of harmony with [their] physical body.” She brought forward a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law has made her refrain from discussing possible gender- and sexuality-related topics with her clients and has dampened her ability to provide counseling services in line with her and her clients’ religious preferences.

Josh Rovenger, the legal director at GLAD Law, an LGBTQ+ legal services and civil rights organization, explained what Chiles v. Salazar could mean for the future of LGBTQ rights in America.

“Fundamentally, what’s at stake… is whether a state like Colorado and the 23 other states, plus the District of Columbia that have similar laws have the ability to protect LGBTQ plus youth from disproven conversion thera-

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py practices that cause lasting trauma to the individuals, their families, and entire communities.”

He went on, explaining that the scope of the law is so specific that the plaintiff’s concerns may not apply.

“The law here is really quite narrow, aimed at a very specific, specific prohibition, and a lot of the activities that the plaintiff says that she wants to engage in, as Colorado points out in its brief, just aren’t covered by the law,” Rovenger said.

Oral arguments in a conversion therapy case were heard on Tuesday. See page 14 for details.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

These cases, Rovenger explained, don’t collectively signal that the Supreme Court will side in one particular way, but rather that some of the justices are interested in the cases.

“The first is the fact that they took these cases only means that four justices were interested in hearing them,” Rovenger said. “It does not tell us anything about where they’re going to come out on the cases ultimately.

And there was no reason for the court to take either of or any of these cases.”

Rovenger, who served as Associate Counsel to President Biden in the White House for Racial Justice & Equity, went on, emphasizing the importance of the broader political context in this legal targeting of trans kids.

“Before 2020, decisions about sports were being left to school districts and sports organizations, the people who know these issues best… And then in 2020 we saw trans issues more generally, but sports in particular, being used as a wedge issue and a weapon to further a political agenda,” he said.

“These cases are going to have significant implications for LGBTQ youth, for LGBTQ individuals more generally, for school environments, for the ability of states to protect LGBTQ youth from discredited medical practices.

And so when we think about the day-to-day experience of LGBTQ folks in this country, particularly youth, these cases will have a direct impact on those lived experiences.”

A fourth case concerns marriage equality and a decade-old effort by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to overturn the Obergefell ruling. Legal experts have called the effort a long shot. Justices will likely decide whether to hear the case later this fall.

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Justices sympathetic to Christian therapist in conversion therapy case Debunked practice could be reinstated in many states

By JOE REBERKENNY

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in the case of Chiles v. Salazar, which could reverse conversion therapy bans across the United States.

Kaley Chiles, a Christian therapist from Colorado, works as a counselor specializing in serving clients who often seek “religiously informed care” that aligns with traditional biblical understandings of sexuality and gender. She has argued that a 2019 Colorado law HB19-1129, also known as the “Prohibit Conversion Therapy for a Minor Act,” violates her First Amendment rights.

The act serves as a regulatory law in the state and was put in place to prevent any potential harm that numerous studies by health associations across the country — including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Medical Association — show this particular form of “therapy” can cause. From an increased risk of suicide to being comparable to torture by the United Nations, 23 other states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have passed laws restricting the practice.

Chiles brought forward a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the state, arguing that the way the law is set up has caused a chilling effect on her ability to provide her “faith-informed” services to clients with religious preferences — often religious parents — and has made her stop any discussions that could be related to sexuality or gender identity. She argues this violates her right to the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment.

A majority of the justices appeared to be sympathetic to Chiles’s argument that the conversion therapy ban limits her religious rights on the basis of viewpoint — indicating it may infringe on free speech. Justice Samuel Alito went as far as to say that the law was “blatant viewpoint discrimination.”

Other members of the court, however, raised questions regarding Chiles’s standing, or the right to fight back against the law, as the ban was not explicitly enforced, nor was Chiles charged with anything. Justice Sonia Sotomayor went on to say that the sheer lack of enforcement undermines the idea of an “imminent threat,” while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested that the law’s regulation of professional conduct falls within a state’s traditional authority to oversee medical practices.

Several justices, notably Amy Coney Barrett, seemed to think this case should be sent back down to a lower court for further examination under a stricter constitutional standard.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned the legitimacy of Chiles’s claim of harm, asking, “We have basically six years of no enforcement of this law… how does that fit into being an imminent threat of prosecution?”

Justice Elena Kagan pressed the need for scientific evidence, saying, “You need to have studies, not just intuitions that harm exists. You need to have a scientific showing of causation rather than rely on your intuitions that this causes harm.”

Justice Brown Jackson expressed skepticism over the First Amendment framing, noting, “It’s just a little puzzling to me that she would stand in a different

Protesters picket the Supreme Court on Tuesday as the highest court in the land hears oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, which could reverse bans on conversion therapy. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

position than a medical professional who has exactly the same goals, exactly the same interests, and would just be prescribing medication for that rather than her talking with the client.”

Justice Alito, meanwhile, raised concerns about politicization within medicine, asking, “Have there been times when the medical consensus has been politicized, has been taken over by ideology?”

Justice Coney Barrett questioned how far a state’s authority should go in cases of medical disagreement.

“So let me describe medical uncertainty as competing medical views, and let’s say that you have some medical experts that think gender-affirming care is dangerous to children and some that say that this kind of conversion talk therapy is dangerous. Can a state pick a side?”

James A. Campbell, who represented Chiles in court, said that not only is Chiles’s speech being censored, but by not allowing Chiles to continue providing this type of “therapy,” the government is causing harm to families who want their children to receive this type of treatment.

“There is irreparable harm going on right now. Ms. Chiles is being silenced. The kids and the families who want help… are being left without any support,” Campbell told the Supreme Court justices. “This is an ongoing active dialogue where she’s helping them to explore their goals, and that absolutely has to be protected by the First Amendment.”

Shannon W. Stevenson, the Colorado Solicitor General who worked on behalf of the state, argued that an overwhelming amount of medical advice cites this

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type of “therapy” as more destructive than helpful, and that no other medical restriction laws specifically allow a doctor to give patients incorrect information because it goes against their religious beliefs.

“The medical consensus has been around for a very long time. Those types of statutes govern medical professionals… and no one has ever suggested that a doctor has a First Amendment defense to say the wrong advice to their patient,” Stevenson said.

“The harms from conversion therapy come from when you tell a young person you can change this innate thing about yourself. They try and fail, and then they have shame and they’re miserable,” she added.

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, issued a statement following the court’s arguments.

“Today’s oral arguments made clear that, as Colorado’s solicitor general stated, history, precedent, and commonsense must allow states to hold licensed providers accountable to the recommendations of every mainstream medical and mental health association in this country. The Supreme Court must uphold the constitutionality of these legal restrictions and stand strongly between our children and these abusive practices.”

While it may be months before a decision on this case is brought forward, the decision, expected by summer, could have implications for whether states are allowed to regulate conversion therapy as a form of medical treatment, or if they encroach on the First Amendment.

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Coming out is more than a concept, it’s a necessity If it’s safe for you, be bold in defiance of those who want to silence us

In 1988, Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary made history. After the historic March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights the year before — bringing together three quarters of a million LGBTQ+ people and allies in our nation’s capital — they sought to solve a particular problem: far too many people thought they didn’t know a lesbian or gay person. By encouraging our community to “come out” and live our lives in the open, we could show the world the depth, breadth, and beauty of our collective lives. Simply by being ourselves, we could dispel myths and work against stigma. In 1988, coming out was an act of incredible courage and sacrifice. Today, against the backdrop of the anger, vitriol, and misinformation directed against us (and particularly transgender people like myself), it takes courage again.

It’s only natural to feel fear and apprehension right now. I feel it too. The news cycle is moving faster than ever, and it’s impossible to completely avoid it, no matter how much you un-plug. The people currently in power in our country are almost myopic in their focus on using us to drive a wedge between friends, neighbors, and families. With every tragedy, a well-oiled media machine starts moving, trying their best to find links between us and heinous acts, even if they’re tenuous or, too often, altogether bogus. And on top of that, far too many of us are now living in places where we have to ask difficult and embarrassing questions before we walk out of our homes to live our lives. Where is safe for me? Where can I use a restroom or a gym without the threat of harassment? What will it look like in my workplace for me, or even my company, if I stand up for myself? Does my library even have books that speak to my life or experience?

We’ve lived through times like these before. There are people alive today — legends like Miss Major Griffin-Gracy come to mind — who lived much of their lives in a world like the one we are threatened with now, where our bars were raided, where our identities were suppressed, where those who had the courage to live authentically were either hospitalized or criminalized. At the Human Rights Campaign, on this 37th National Coming Out Day, we’re hard at work alongside dozens of partner groups and millions of members and supporters to make sure that a brighter future is ahead of us.

I was born in 1988, just a few months before Robert Eichenberg and Jean O’Leary marked the first National Coming Out Day, and I grew up in an Arkansas town where ‘gay’ still meant bad, wrong, and evil. The first time I ever heard of someone coming out, it was after one of my classmates was viciously attacked for it in a junior high stairwell. Just a couple of years later, I would try to come out to my mother as trans for the first time. Coming out has been a brave thing for far longer than it was ever mundane. It’s how I know how strong we are as a community.

Coming out is more than just a concept, it’s a necessity.

For those who aren’t able to come out — for whatever reason — right now, know that you are seen, you are loved, and when you’re ready, there is a big community ready to embrace you with open arms. If it’s safe for you to do so — be out. Be proud. Be bold, and most importantly, be you. In defiance of all those who want to silence us. In celebration of all those who paid a steep price to pave the way for us. And in honor of all who come next.

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PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

Trump displays his evil, sick side more each day Invading U.S. cities, threatening generals the latest outrages

Donald ‘Felon’ Trump seems to get more vicious, and demented, each day. He is apparently comfortable displaying his evil soul. He is now asking the Secretary of War, as he calls the Secretary of Defense, to send troops into Oregon to defend ICE installations. He has yet to understand he is inciting the violence by the way he has ICE operating.

He appointed his former personal lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, whom he brought into the White House, a person with no prosecutorial experience, as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, simply to indict former FBI Director James Comey. It was done against the advice of all those in the Justice Department who understand what they are doing, and is pure evil. His email to Pam Bondi, his acolyte who heads the Justice Department, asking her to move forward on indicting all his enemies, is frightening. Even Richard Nixon, with his enemies list, didn’t spend every day, as it seems the felon is doing, personally attacking people he disliked, or felt wronged him.

I actually worked for someone on Nixon’s enemies list, Rep. Bella S. Abzug (D-N.Y.). The felon seems to think of nothing else, being totally consumed with hate. In his UN speech he couldn’t help but tell people how great he thinks he is. He doesn’t realize most are laughing at him when he does that. He is a pathetic, demented, old, evil, man, who ran for president to see what he could do for himself, his family, and a few rich friends. He clearly never had any intention of doing anything for the people.

He is a grifter, and does it all openly.

His personal wealth has increased by $3 billion since he became president again. Each day we find out more about what his appointees think they can get by grifting through their jobs.

We find out his chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff, and his sons Alex and Zach, are cutting deals in the Middle East to make millions from the people Witkoff is negotiating with on behalf of the United States. Guess they saw Trump get a plane, and his sons getting deals, and figured why shouldn’t they get in on it. His son Zach is in the cryptocurrency scam the Trumps have, and Alex is getting money from Qatar and other countries for a commercial real estate fund. So, while the felon is taking healthcare away from millions of families, he, and his friends, are making billions. He clearly couldn’t care less he is putting people out of work, seeing prices for food, heating fuel, rent, and other basics go up, and as Mike Pence recently said, “suggesting he is giving them a tax cut and then collecting it all back through the tariffs he is imposing.”

Day by day we see more disgusting behavior from the felon, and yes, his approval ratings are going down, including a recent one showing he is getting the blame for the government shutdown. But we won’t know until the elections in Virginia and

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New Jersey, on Nov. 4, whether the American people fully understand they are being screwed by this felon and his acolytes. If they do, they will come out and tell him ‘we’ve had enough’ by voting for Democrats. We will see if people actually understand while most agree illegal immigrants who are violent criminals, should be deported, that Trump is sending his ICE agents, acting like the Gestapo, after immigrants who are here to escape persecution in their home countries, are hardworking and paying taxes, and living quiet, and safe lives, committing no crimes. It is estimated by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), that immigrants, including undocumented ones, pay billions in taxes annually to the government. They are hardworking men and women, often doing jobs Americans won’t do. Without them, the American economy would fall apart. Today, because of Trump’s actions, any person who isn’t lily white, needs to walk around many cities with their papers in their pocket at all times, afraid they will be stopped by an ICE agent, wearing a mask, having no identification, getting thrown into an unmarked car, and taken away without family or friends knowing where they were taken. This is not the America I know, or want to know. This is more reminiscent of Germany in 1939, the country that put my dad’s parents to death in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. The country he escaped from and immigrated to the United States to start life anew, and where he joined our military, and went back to fight the Germans, earning a Bronze Star.

I believe violence is wrong. It is not the way to settle anything, and we should teach our children that. It is also wrong that in our country, with nearly 350 million people, there are nearly 450 million guns. But the felon refuses to speak out against that. He condemns violence only selectively. He declares war on Chicago, renames the department of Defense, the Department of War, attends a memorial service and lowers the flag for Charlie Kirk, and then when asked says he doesn’t even know about the Democratic lawmaker and her husband gunned down in their home in Minnesota. He speaks to 800 generals and admirals called together by his formerly drunk, philandering, Secretary of Defense, who he now calls his Secretary of War, and rants to them about wanting to train our military by stationing them in our own cities. That is the sick, old, lying, demented, felon, we have in the White House today. The generals and admirals greeted him with stony silence as he threatened to fire them if they didn’t like what he said.

As I have written before, it is past time for all Americans to speak out. We must speak out with joined voices, every day, and then use our votes to say to the felon, “we’ve had enough of your BS. You do not represent the United States we love, and want.”

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Jennifer Lopez talks ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ queer representation Latest version of iconic story ‘a love letter to humanity’

By SUSAN HORNIK

With its riveting storyline and gorgeous dance scenes, it’s no wonder that one of the standout films this awards season is “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” Originally a bold novel published by Argentine writer Manuel Puig in 1976, it was adapted into a play and then a screenplay. In 1985, the film earned four Academy Award nominations, with William Hurt winning Best Actor — the first ever awarded for a portrayal of an openly queer character.

Ten years later, in 1993, the story was turned into a Broadway musical starring the iconic Chita Rivera, and won several Tony Awards. Fast forward to 2025: for this new version, Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna both play dual roles in the film, which also stars newcomer, Tonatiuh.

The film takes place in 1983, during Argentina’s troubled times; two prisoners are forced to share a confined cell in Buenos Aires. Valentín (Luna), a Marxist revolutionary, is committed to his political idealology, despite being tortured and deprived by the guards. Molina (Tonatiuh), a gay window dresser who is in jail because of his sexual orientation, survives the insanity by fantasizing about his favorite movie, telling Valentin all the details. While their connection begins as a way for them to emotionally escape, it grows deeper, in the most profound way.

Through stories, confessions, and sacrifice, the duo discover unexpected tenderness and the possibility of love in a place designed to annihilate the human spirit.

“These two men who could not be different in every single way, everything is stripped away from them in their lives, the politics, class, education, all this stuff goes away, and they start to see themselves as individuals,” said Bill Condon, the Academy Award-winning writer-director known for such films as “Gods and Monsters,” “Chicago,” “Dreamgirls” and “Beauty and the Beast,” who was deeply moved as he wrote the script.

Producing the updated version of the film was vital to Lopez, who is also an executive producer. “I think it’s more relevant than ever,” she said at a recent Golden Globes press event.

“The idea of a trans or gay character in this movie…the kind of divisiveness that we’ve experienced in the world in the past few years. A story about two people who are thrown together, who are so opposite, who are so different from each

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other. And find the humanity and fall in love with each other. Who would never probably even find themselves in the same circles. That’s really important to have queer representation in movies. In my own family, I know how important that is for people to see that.”

Tonatiuh, who steals every scene he is in, lost 45 pounds for the role.

“I think there’s a certain moment that’s happening right now that we need to remind ourselves that dignity and humanity and love transcend gender,” he said. “They transcend sexual orientation. They transcend all of those things. And so, yes, we deal with queer themes in our film, but I do think that it is a love letter to diversity. It is a love letter to humanity as a whole.”

Condon loved every version of “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” each of them was “revolutionary” for its time.

“But when you read that novel, it’s taken us this long to really catch up to what it was saying. And specifically, this was well before the election season and well before we knew what was going to happen. But it was clear that trans people were going to be demonized, that they were going to be a part of the conversation…it did feel that this was something that was bubbling up and happening. So that’s what made it feel very urgent.”

Lopez added: “The revolution that you’re saying that we need right now is exactly the reason why I think the movie is so important right now for people to see. Because it reminds you that it’s really, at the end of the day, about two people getting along and falling in love, when you really forget about all of the other things, that we’re all just human. And it is about humanity.”

Tonatiuh hopes that the film inspires people to step up.

“We constantly see the news, we see everything that’s going around and we wonder, ‘What is it that I can do? I’m just one person.’ But this isolationist mentality is the thing that gets us here. Every one of us has little actions to take and little moments to do. And especially in a moment where Latinos in general in this country are experiencing massive negative public relations, just attack after attack after attack, it’s really wonderful to showcase what Latino dignity is and reminding people of, like the talent, the joy that our culture adds to the United States and the world.”

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By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Friday, October 10

Wednesday, October 15

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email adam@thedccenter.org.

GoGayDC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Crush. 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.

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will meet at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area and a great way to make new friends and meet other queer women in a fun and friendly setting. For more details, visit Facebook.

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.

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Activism at Women’s National Democratic Club” at 6 p.m. at The Whittemore House. Guests can join other activists at the WNDC for letter and postcard writing to get out the vote this fall in Virginia and other critical state races. Postcards will be written to women in rural VA and to members of Congress on Home Rule 101 in partnership with the D.C. Democrats Statehood Committee. There will be free pizza, cash bar, a fun raffle and camaraderie. More details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, October 11 GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

“Sunday Supper on Saturday” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. A talented local chef — generously giving his time to nourish our community — will be preparing a delicious meal featuring homemade lasagna (one vegan, one classic), fresh garden salad and warm garlic bread. For more details visit the DC Center’s website.

Thursday, October 16 Virtual Yoga Class 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.

Poly Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

This is an inclusive, welcoming, virtual safer space to talk about all things polyamorous. For more details, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.

OUT & ABOUT CAMP Rehoboth hosts annual Block Party Oct. 19 CAMP Rehoboth will host its annual Block Party celebration on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. on the second block of Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

There will be performances at the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard stage. Renowned drag performer Amethyst Diamond will emcee the stage, which is set to also include Clear Space Theatre Company performers, CAMP Rehoboth Chorus ALLIANCE ensemble singers, rock bands Storm Sounds and Off 24, and DJ Das Wuff.

The event started in 2015 in celebration of CAMP Rehoboth’s 25th anniversary. This year, attendees can expect to shop sea glass art, ceramics, photography, and learn more about local non-profit causes and businesses.

Entrance is free to the event, though donations are encouraged to CAMP Rehoboth. CAMP Rehoboth invites all community members to join in the festivities, and to expect magnificent performances, and dozens of vendors including artists, craftspeople, non-profits, businesses, and more. For more information about the CAMP Rehoboth Block Party, visit camprehoboth.org/ events.

Monday, October 13 GoGayDC will host “Out and About in Shirlington LGBTQ+ Community Social” at 6 p.m. at Hyatt Centric Arlington. 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.

Tuesday, October 14 “Talk-O-Tuesday” will be at 7 p.m. at The Strand DC. This event has been curated for BIPOC gay/bi/trans men and male-identifying persons. It will be a fun and engaging experience to help foster community, encouragement, and thoughtful dialogue, while providing a safe and supportive space to express one’s self. Tickets cost $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another.

For more details, email info@thedccenter.org.

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The annual Block Party benefits CAMP Rehoboth.

(Blade file photo by Michael Key)

‘Rocky Horror Show’ is coming to Milton, Del. “The Rocky Horror Show”: Mainstage Production opened on Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Milton Theater in Delaware outside of Rehoboth Beach.

The Milton Theater’s stage is set, the costumes are wild, and the cast is ready to thrill guests in this electrifying 50th anniversary celebration of the cult classic. The cast also looks every bit as wild, weird, and wonderful as guests can imagine.

Tickets are available on the Milton Theater’s website.

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THEATER

Set designer August Henney puts new spin on Mary Shelley’s life ‘So Late Into the Night’ an ideal fall show at Rorschach

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

We’ve all been to that scary party or two. But ordinarily, it’s not by choice.

But with playwright Shawn Northrip’s So Late Into the Night, the spookiness is planned, executed, and fun. Northrip lays out the story of novelist Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, famed author of the gothic masterpiece Frankenstein, and in gathering her Romantic poet friends and lovers, investigates their afterlife.

What’s more, the new play, which also features a rock séance, is performed in the Stacks at D.C.’s Buzzard Point neighborhood, a unique neighborhood positioned where the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers meet, just south of Audi Field.

At the Stacks, Rorschach is activating a high-ceilinged corner retail that serves as the company’s fall home base. Inside the cavernous space, the production’s set designer August Henney is putting a new spin on Newstead Abbey, the grand home of Lord Byron, a friend of Shelley. Included in the new look are a Victorian dining table (33 by 12 feet), grand drapes, and modern rock and roll posters. Audience members can sit at the table or the risers on the perimeter.

spiration. I’m very much a words person – I find words and then relatable images. Next, I create a collage and present it to the director.

BLADE: Along the way, does the director exert control?

HENNEY: Oh yes. It’s hopefully conversation, but they have the final say about everything. If it’s very important to me or I think it’s very important to the show, I’ll fight for it.

BLADE: When the show kicks off does your vision typically come to fruition.

HENNEY: That depends entirely on the technical director. I do the drafting and present it to the tech director. Lays out how to do that. Like an engineer and architect. This is how I want the façade to look but I don’t care so much about the insides. Comes down to what we can and can’t do. Usually comes down to cost.

BLADE: How much was learned in life and now much at school?

HENNEY: At school, I came in not knowing much. UMD cleverly matched us up with a cohort who has different skills from you. They do that well. So, there were endless hours in the hallways of the grad school where we’d build models until 3 a.m. working and blasting music. I also learned from my father who is adept at wood working, and jobs in prop shops.

BLADE: How was your coming out as a trans gay man?

Henney: Well grad school really helped with that. I believe the universe puts people in places. And with UMD, it put me in the right place. At undergrad, I got another degree in human physiology and thought I wanted to be a doctor for a second. My path would have been very different.

Scenic design placed me in range of the right people who helped me realize things about myself that I didn’t have to keep hiding. Theater is such an inclusive community already and I feel safe here while the world is so unsafe.

BLADE: This morning, I heard the administration was blaming the government shutdown on trans people. Does that kind of madness get you angry?

HENNEY: Angry, frustrated, and despondent. I get through the days by focusing on the good bits, and the people who make me feel like myself. That’s all you can really hope for in a world that’s falling apart.

AUGUST HENNEY (Photo by Timothy Kelly)

Henney, who identifies as a trans gay man, is a Bay Area transplant who arrived in D.C. three years ago to study scenic design at the University of Maryland. The experience has been transformational.

WASHINGTON BLADE: How do you pursue concept before realizing a set?

AUGUST HENNEY: At first, I go through the script and take out words that spark in-

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BLADE: Yet, the show goes on.

HENNEY: Oh yes, and So Late Into the Night is a wonderful show. It pairs with some of the best things in the world like spooky ghost stories and dramatic rock music in autumn, the perfect season. It’s a show where audience members can feasibly be seated next to Mary Shelley and friends at a big dining table on Halloween night. How great is that?

‘So Late Into the Night’

Through Nov. 2 | Rorschach Theatre

The Stacks @ Buzzard Point | 101 V St., S.W. | Washington, D.C. Tickets start at $74 | Rorshachtheatre.com

P O E T I C

A M E R I C A N

E P I C

BY M AT T H E W L Ó P E Z I N S P I R E D B Y T H E N OV E L H OWA R D S E N D B Y E . M . F O R S T E R DIRECTED BY TOM STORY

TICKET FROM

S

* 0 $5

NO

G N I Y A W PL

240.644.1100 | RoundHouseTheatre.org *Pricing includes handling fees

Bethesda Metro: 1 Block | Convenient Parking

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TV

Murphy’s ‘Monster’ returns for a flawed but fascinating third round Hunnam’s Ed Gein inspired ‘Psycho,’ ‘Silence of the Lambs’

By JOHN PAUL KING

Just when you thought there were already more than enough real-life monsters on your TV screen, Ryan Murphy has served up another one.

Fortunately, unlike most of the others, this one is no longer a threat – but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped terrifying us. For the third installment of his “Monster” anthology series, Murphy profiles notorious murderer and bodysnatcher Ed Gein, whose crimes in a rural Wisconsin town during 1940s and ‘50s became legendary in the annals of serial killer lore – though, with only two confirmed murder victims, his body count barely qualifies him as one. Nevertheless, his notoriety spread into popular culture through the inspiration they provided for some of the most iconic fictional serial killers in our popular imagination.

In fact, it’s the reach his heinous acts has extended through the many screen and literary villains that have been based upon him – first and most famously Norman Bates, the deranged cross-dressing murderer at the center of both Robert Bloch’s novel and Alfred Hitchcock movie version of “Psycho” – which seems to be most of interest in “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” which uses the fictionalized narrative of its titular anti-hero’s life as a springboard to explore the reflection of his crimes through the stories and the characters that would come to be influenced by him, as well as their impact on some of the people who created them. That’s a perfect angle for a Murphy series – in this case written by Ian Brennan and (mostly) directed

by Max Winkler – because it allows plentiful opportunities to indulge the queer entertainment mogul’s penchant for campy re-enactments of true (and not-so-true) Hollywood.

In the first of its eight episodes, we meet Gein (Charlie Hunnam) in the early 1940s, living on the family farm he shares with his mother (Laurie Metcalf) and brother (Hudson Oz). As it plays out its version of the events that would shape his future madness – particularly the tyrannical ravings of his puritanically religious mother, and her efforts to instill her vitriolic hatred of sinful impulses (especially

involving sex) into her sons – it also offers “fast-forward” glimpses of what’s to come for Ed, whose quiet and seemingly timid demeanor masks an inner life that includes a fascination with shrunken heads, cannibalism, and the gruesome atrocities of the Nazi Holocaust.

It’s a gripping introduction, invoking the elements of Gein’s story that would become serial killer “tropes” – the abusive upbringing, the dissociation, the gruesome “souvenirs” and skin suits intended to feed a fantasy of transformation – and lays the land ahead with the stylistic choice to blur the lines between reality, delusion, mythology. At the same time, it quickly establishes a precedent of veering into speculation, depicting certain events – killings to which he never admitted and were never proven, a fabricated romance with a young neighbor (Suzanna Son), and other departures from the territory of “docudrama” into that of “sensationalized fantasy” – in a manner that makes it hard to separate truth from fiction.

That, of course, is the point. Most of Murphy’s crime and horror shows, in some way or another, explore that same nebulous line, whether “based on a true story” or not. The “Monster” series is an ideal vehicle for exploring the boundaries between perception and reality, offering characters and situations so distorted beyond everyday experience that even documented truths feel like part of an absurdist play. In the season’s second episode, the scope expands with the inclusion of another plotline, a few years beyond Gein’s eventual capture and imprisonment, that takes place during the filming of “Psycho,” introducing both director Alfred Hitchcock (Tom Hollander) and star Anthony Perkins (Joey Pollari) in an equally speculative exploration of the way these collaborators were may have been affected by the artistic process that took them into Gein’s monstrous head.

We won’t delve further into the events that follow during the rest of the series, except to say that it goes on to follow Gein’s presence in pop culture through his cinematic

CHARLIE HUNNAM stars in ‘Monster.’ (Image courtesy of Netflx)

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reincarnations in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Silence of the Lambs,” and that, as with most Murphy shows, there’s a kind of lurid gloss that envelops the entire thing, a self-consciously elevated style that magnifies half-truths and mythology alongside the tragedies that sparked them.

That, historically speaking, has been the controversy around Murphy’s “Monster” shows, sparking debate about exploiting the memory of victims for the glamorization of their killers.

It’s also the same controversy that has surrounded all such stories in popular culture, whether partially true or entirely fabricated. Hitchcock faced the same criticism with “Psycho,” yet he also made a fortune and cemented an already-impressive legacy with a movie that redefined not just the horror genre, but the boundaries of popular cinema itself. He would, no doubt, have appreciated the irony of seeing himself portrayed here as a creature driven perhaps by some of the same twisted desires as Gein, simply because he understood, from years of experience as a master manipulator of audiences, that the most effective use of filmed storytelling can only be achieved by showing us the darker corners of our inner landscapes that we would otherwise prefer to ignore.

In terms of presentation and performance, “The Ed Gein Story” successfully inhabits a gritty noir-ish space that evokes both the pulpy true crime stories of Gein’s day and the “slasher movie” aesthetic of our own; the violence is no-holds-barred, and therefore difficult to watch, which in itself will likely be enough to ensure that it’s not a show for every taste. Though Hunnam is disappointing as Gein (his affected, one-note take on the character is a far cry from Perkins’ endearingly awkward boyishness as the real-life killer’s fictional stand-in in “Psycho”), but many of the other cast members deliver outstanding turns - most notably the gifted Metcalf, who makes Gein’s mother arguably more monstrous than her notorious offspring.

Ultimately, appreciation for Murphy’s newest foray into true crime myth-making will come down to, as with any of the others, a matter of taste. Those who approach it with an eye toward its canny examination of popular media’s obsession with crime, violence, and unspeakable horror might have a better time with it than those hoping for a more objective, centered, and fact-based document of Gein’s legend.

In any case, its entertainment appeal is – perhaps ironically – undeniable; after all, serial killers provide an almost ironclad guarantee of public interest, carrying the ever-mysterious key to what makes a person “evil” and the chance to examine our own relationship with the deadly impulses behind their crimes. Whether or not you appreciate the show’s deliberately exploitation tone, or the sometimes over-the-top camp of its presentation, or even the seemingly gratuitous nudity and violence that serves to uncomfortably titillate us throughout, you’re bound to be drawn in.

In other words, you might not like it, but you won’t be able to look away.

OKTOBERFEST RUNS UNTIL OCTOBER 26TH. SUNDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: 2-10PM | FRIDAY - SATURDAY: 2-11PM | CLOSED MONDAYS & TUESDAYS

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BOOKS

New book a fun travelogue, memoir focused on cemeteries ‘Somebody is Walking on Your Grave’ takes readers around the world

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

The knee bone’s connected to the shin bone.

You can go up from there, or down your body’s scaffolding.

The backbone’s connected to the rib bone. The hip bone to the leg bone, the wrist bone to the finger bones, and in the new book “Somebody is Walking on Your Grave” by Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell, there’ll come a day when you won’t need any of them.

She always had an appreciation for cemeteries.

Still, they weren’t an obsession until Mariana Enriquez fell head bone over heel bones in love with a street musician while on a vacation in Italy with her mother. He took Enriquez through a cemetery on their whirlwind romance, which sealed her love for graveyards.

She never seems to miss a chance to tour them, to marvel at the beauty of statuary atop marble resting places, to see tombstones listing sideways, or to note the names and tragedies of the dead. This includes the graves of non-humans, like a horse that helped its owner escape an Argentinian uprising in 1885; and a Scottish dog who guarded his owner’s grave for more than a decade.

Enriquez visited San Sebastián, Spain, and was almost jailed for it; and she was lectured about Aboriginal graves by a white man on Rottnest Island, off the Australian coast. There was a magical sense at Sara Braun Municipal Cemetery in Chile, and an absurd couple of mysteries in Argentina. She visited just some of the 42 cemeteries in New Orleans including, of course, crypts and the grave of Marie Laveau. She spent Dios de Muertos in Mexico, and was surprised that you can live near a funeral home in Savannah and not have ghosts. She visited the catacombs in France, and argued with guides and guards in several different places, noting that people are a lot nicer when they’re dead.

In a very big way, “Somebody is Walking on Your Grave” is a fun travelogue that’s also part memoir, and taphophiles will love it. But readers who specifically add a cemetery tour to their vacation itinerary, or who obsessively scour guidebooks for graveyards to visit will enjoy author Mariana Enriquez’s observations; they’re humorous and not stuffy, lightly acknowledging the bit of the macabre that’s here. She includes history behind the cities she visits, as well as for the cemeteries, and that can be a bit longish sometimes. You may not mind, though, because her descriptions enhance any trip you might make, serving as exactly what you’d want from a real live tour guide.

But toward the end of this otherwise-delightful book, Enriquez unabashedly admits to doing something atrociously unsettling, to which she says she feels no remorse – which may be a hard forgive for readers who wouldn’t ever dream of emulating it.

This book is a fun read, up to that point, so just beware. Most of “Somebody is Walking On Your Grave” is truly interesting, but that one chapter inside here may not fully allow you to wrap your head bone around it.

‘Somebody is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys’

By Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell c.2025, Hogarth | $30 | 336 pages

3 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 10 , 2 0 2 5

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BE. A Gala for Black Equity LGBTQ organization bestows honors (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

The Center for Black Equity held a gala event at the National Press Club on Saturday, Oct. 4. Awardees at “BE. A Gala for Black Equity” included Tracey Africa Norman, A. Cornelius Baker, Jack Mizrahi, Hope Giselle-Godsey, MOBI, Patrik-Ian Polk, Eva Marcille, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and Big Freedia.

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REAL ESTATE

Landlords can reduce tenant friction, boost income with solar How cut bills and modernize your rental before end of year

By SCOTT BLOOM

Summers are hotter, winters are harsher, and the price of comfort keeps rising. In Washington, D.C., where many older homes rely on electric heat or aging A/C systems, landlords are increasingly finding themselves in the middle of tenant frustration over unpredictable energy bills.

“Electrically heated rentals, and D.C. homes in general, get crushed in the extreme weather of summer Solar is the simplest way to reduce bills for tenants and headaches for landlords. (Bigstock/bigimager) and winter here in the city,” says Lou Vivas, Realtor and clean-energy adviser. “Solar is the simplest way to de-risk those bills for tenants and headaches for landlords.”

Living has become much more expensive, for tenants and honestly for all of us. It’s about peace of mind. For tenants, it’s not really about kilowatt-hours. What they want is to plan for expenses and peace of mind. Predictable, stable energy costs make a rental unit more attractive, helping landlords reduce vacancies and even command stronger rents. “Solar makes the electric bill predictable—often near zero,” Vivas explains. “That’s real tenant value. All else being equal, the unit with solar is the stronger choice.”

Vivas often explains it this way: “Power the own costs you control.”

Why Timing Matters Now

If you’re considering solar, urgency is key. Federal incentives won’t last forever, and the installation process takes time. Here are the three critical deadlines every landlord should know: 1. 30% Residential Credit Deadline – To claim the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit for the 2025 tax year, your system must be fully installed and operational by December 31, 2025. Permits and inspections take months, so starting now is crucial.

2. Extra Time for Business Owners – If your rental is held in an LLC or business entity, you can use the commercial pathway and qualify by beginning construction by July 4, 2026. But don’t wait—the backlog will grow. $0-Out-of-Pocket Option – Through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), landlords can install solar with no upfront cost. You won’t own the system or capture the renewable energy credits, but you will lock in predictable, low-cost energy.

Ownership vs. Purchase Power Agreement Deciding whether to own your solar system or sign a PPA comes down to strategy.

If You Own the System: • Earn Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), which in D.C. pay about $410 per 1,000 kWh. A 10 kW system can generate $4,100+ per year.

• Use net metering to offset retail electricity costs.

• Add long-term resale value “You’re turning the roof into an income-producing asset while stabilizing cash flow,” Vivas says.

If You Choose a PPA: • Pay nothing upfront.

• Lock in 20 years (plus extensions) of predictable, low or zero-cost electricity.

• Tradeoff: the installer retains credits and incentives.

• Beware of hidden charges—some “free solar” offers aren’t truly free.

The Business-Owner Advantage If your property is in an LLC or other business structure, solar becomes even more 3 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 10 , 2 0 2 5 • B US I NE S S

attractive. Beyond the federal credit, you can add accelerated depreciation (MACRS) and potentially deduct interest on financing. As Vivas puts it: “Put the property in an LLC and you can stack benefits on benefits—commercial ITC, MACRS, interest deductions— on top of SRECs and bill savings.” Talk to your accountant to better understand all the benefits, including how MACRS works. If your CPA isn’t familiar with this, Vivas can refer someone to you.

For landlords, the benefits extend well beyond tax credits. Solar reduces service calls, lowers tenant anxiety during extreme weather, and helps listings lease faster.

• Lower bill anxiety: Solar covers much of the heating and cooling load.

• Fewer complaints: No more “the meter must be broken” calls after a heat wave or a cold snap.

• Stronger leasing position: “Solar = low electric bills” is a marketing hook that gets attention.

“Tenants will start asking, ‘Does this unit have solar?’” Vivas predicts. “The rental that shields them from utility cost spikes wins.”

Looking Ahead Climate data shows the District averaging just one 100°F day per year in the past. By the 2030s, projections call for five to six days over 100°F annually, with longer, more frequent heat waves to follow. Solar—and increasingly, paired upgrades like heat pumps— helps landlords stay ahead of rising costs.

“The sun has never sent us a bill,” Vivas says. “Put panels on your property and you’ve created your own power plant.”

Installing solar isn’t complicated—but it takes time. The installer manages everything.

1. Share 1–2 recent electric bills.

2. Site and engineering analysis.

3. Permitting and utility paperwork.

4. Installation and inspections.

5. System activation.

6. Enrollment in SREC income (if you own the system).

Your role: provide bills, sign agreements, and allow access. The rest is handled.

The Bigger Play Forward-thinking landlords can pair solar with heat-pump upgrades, insulation, battery storage, and even EV charging. Doing so future-proofs the property, widens the tenant pool, and stabilizes net operating income.

“Standardize on one platform, pair solar with phased heat-pump upgrades, proper insulation, upgrading doors and windows, and watch NOI stabilize,” Vivas advises.

Quick Checklist for Owners • Decide: Own (capture credits & income) or PPA (no upfront cost).

• Deadlines: 12/31/25 (residential install) or 7/4/26 (LLC begin-construction).

• Kick off: send bills, approve design, get permits filed.

• Optional upgrades: battery storage, EV charging, insulation.

• Stack benefits: energy audits + air sealing increase efficiency.

(This article is informational, not tax advice. Consult your CPA for your specific situation. About the contributors: Lou Vivas is the Principal of Viva the Life Properties, a firm dedicated to creating healthier, more sustainable homes. With over 21 years as a realtor, he now serves as a Healthy Home Realtor and Clean Energy Consultant, guiding property owners through upgrades that improve air, water, food, energy, and overall quality of life. Vivas is also the creator of the Five Pillars of a Healthy Home, a framework that helps landlords and homeowners alike elevate comfort, reduce costs, and invest in long-term well-being.)

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LEGAL NOTICE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2025 ADM 001053 Doris M. Gilliam, Name of Decedent

Attorney: James Barrett, Esq. 1325 G Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs Markeda Gilliam, whose address is 1014 6th St NE, Washington, DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Doris M. Gilliam who died on 02/15/2025 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedents Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 on or before 04/10/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or. filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before 04/10/2026 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: October 10, 2025 /s/Markeda Gilliam, 227-229-5485 A True Test Copy/s/Nicole Stevens, Register of Wills.

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