(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Kramers celebrates 50 years as D.C. cultural hub, PAGE 18
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U.S. int’l trade negotiator, consultant James Bedore dies at 82 Longtime D.C. resident was prominent supporter of Dignity Washington By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
James “Jim” Bedore, an international affairs specialist whose career included work for the U.S. Department of State and as a private sector consultant in Europe with a focus on Middle Eastern and African development before his retirement in 2000, died on Sept. 2 at his home in D.C. He was 82. His sister, Carol Bedore, said the cause of death was lung cancer. Dignity Washington, the D.C.-based LGBTQ Catholic organization, released a detailed statement on Bedore’s life and career that, among other things, says Dignity Washington “became a huge part of Jim’s social life after his retirement in 2000.” Carol Bedore said her brother was born and raised in Unionville, Mich., as the sixth of eight kids and the oldest boy in their family. She said he graduated from high school there before going on to “amazing” things in a distinguished career. The Dignity Washington statement says upon the completion of his “B.A. in History and Economics,” Bedore served in the U.S. Peace Corps in West Africa in the mid1960s. The statement says after completing his Peace Corps service Bedore taught briefly at Voorhees College, a historically Black college in South Carolina. He next earned a master’s degree from the East-West Center in Honolulu before undertaking advanced graduate work at the London School of Economics, according to the statement. “During the Vietnam War, he served a two-year assignment in the Mekong Delta with the U.S. Department of State,” the statement continues. “He later worked in the private sector in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and London, residing in London for fifteen years,” it says, adding, “He served as a Research Fellow at Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London) and co-au-
thored a volume on Middle East Industrialization, (Macmillan in 1979).” The statement says other articles and commentaries that Bedore wrote appeared in several prominent publications, including the journals Foreign Affairs, International Affairs, the Financial Times of London, and the International Herald Tribune. It says he remained active in international affairs after his retirement in 2000, including involvements with ‘think tank” organizations in D.C.
JAMES BEDORE
The Dignity Washington statement says Bedore, who lived for many years until the time of his passing in a condominium in D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, was a dedicated volunteer and organizer of Dignity related events. “He did what he could to organize practical and social events, including some 14 years cooking and feeding approximately 100 homeless individuals monthly at Christ
House,” the statement says, referring to the D.C. Adams Morgan neighborhood organization that provides medical care and other services for homeless people. “Additionally, he initiated the ‘Moon Over Washington’ pot-luck event on the incredible roof on his condominium building,” it says. “The event continues to be one of Dignity Washington’s signature events to this day.” Among other things, it says Bedore was part of Dignity Washington’s annual LGBTQ Pride parade contingent, and he helped to sew 60 AIDS Memorial Quilts. The statement says Bedore also “built a good relationship with St. Matthews’s Cathedral and created a gay chapter there, where he collaborated with parents with gay children.” Dignity Washington President Peter Edwards called Bedore a beloved, dedicated Dignity Washington member. Edwards said the group recently issued its Willick Award to Bedore, which he said, “is a special award that we give to people who have done wonderful things for our community.” “We will remember Jim for his sharp mind, his humor, his generosity, and his unwavering belief in the power of human connection,” the statement adds. “He lived a life shaped by service, curiosity, and love – and he leaves behind a community forever enriched by his presence,” it concludes. Edwards said Dignity Washington will hold a Catholic Mass in Bedore’s honor in the coming weeks. The statement says Bedore was pre-deceased by two life partners, Geoffrey Lawrence of 19 years, and Al Lunde, who the statement says passed away in 1999. Bedore’s sister, Carol, said Bedore was cremated and his ashes have been returned to the family’s hometown in Michigan where an interment is being planned at the family’s cemetery plot.
Comings & Goings
Richard Garrett honored by Delaware governor By PETER ROSENSTEIN
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com. Congratulations to Richard Garrett on being honored by Delaware Gov. Matt MeyRICHARD GARRETT er with the Order of the First State. Garrett is executive director of the Children’s Beach House, in Lewes, Del. Upon accepting the honor he said, “I am deeply honored to be recognized by Governor Meyer with the Order of the First State, but I hope this occasion also shines a light on children who are struggling in some of the same ways I struggled as a child and teenager. Perseverance, connection, patience, and the presence of caring adults made all
the difference in my life. For 24 years, my greatest privilege has been helping Children’s Beach House create that same sense of belonging and possibility for children and families across Delaware. They are strong, smart, resilient, and resourceful—and they deserve every opportunity to discover just how much they are capable of becoming.” He told the Blade, “In many ways, my own childhood helps explain why this work has been so deeply personal to me. I grew up in a family that struggled financially, and I had a speech impediment so severe that, as a young child, I often could not be understood without one of my siblings acting as an interpreter. Thankfully, I had strong parents and a mother who was an educator. She spent countless hours helping me practice consonant blends and trying to master the “R” and “S” sounds. Just as importantly, she understood that being around other children my own age would teach me things that no adult could. What made a difference in my life were competent, caring adults who built relationships with me and gave me the sense of safety and belonging I needed. People like Sister Kathleen Swan, OSF; Father Gerald M. Dunne, OSFS, Dr. Susan Cassidy and her husband, John Bronson, to name a few! In many respects, my story mirrors the work we do every day at Children’s Beach House. The children
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and families we serve are strong, smart, resilient, and resourceful. Sometimes what they need most is for someone to recognize those strengths, stand beside them, and give them the relationships and opportunities they need to flourish.” Over the years Garrett has grown the Children’s Beach House’s annual budget from approximately $650,000 in 2003 to $4.5 million while strengthening impact, visibility, and organizational infrastructure. He raised $2.5 million in Delaware foundation capital grants, and established a $7 million endowment for the Margaret H. Rollins Center, a $1 million capital endowment, and increased the general operating endowment to $6 million. In addition to all that Garrett is the founder and owner of Midway Motion and Fitness. He is also looking forward to the groundbreaking of Midway Pickleball in 2027. He is treasurer of the Community Foundation Board of Kiwanis Club of Coastal Delaware. He began his career as executive director of the Delaware County Children’s CAMP, Media, Pa.; and was director of Student Affairs for the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, Media, Pa. Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Neumann University, Aston, Pa.; and did his graduate studies in vocational education, Temple University.
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Acclaimed U.S. Justice Dept. attorney William Corcoran dies at 83 Longtime D.C. resident began his career as Navy legal officer By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com
William “Bill” Corcoran, an attorney who began his career as a legal officer with the U.S. Navy before becoming an official with the U.S. Department of Justice and legal counsel for a U.S. Senate committee, passed away at his home in D.C. on Aug. 2, He was 83. His husband, Eric Palladini, said the cause of death was complications from a blood disorder known as myelodysplastic syndrome. In a write-up on Corcoran’s life and career written by Palladini that was published in the Washington Post, Palladini tells of his husband’s distinguished career as an attorney and his involvements following his retirement, including his role as a founder of the LGBTQ+ Ministry at Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Georgetown in D.C. Palladini says Corcoran was born and raised in Scranton, Pa., and graduated from the University of Scranton with a bachelor’s degree in classics and English. His write-up says Corcoran received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. Corcoran next enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a legal officer with the Navy’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps and was assigned to the U.S. Naval Station in San Diego as well as other Navy JAG Corps assignments, according to the write-up. “After leaving the Navy, he embarked on a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice,” the write-up continues. “He was described as the department’s ‘soul of ethics’ and was known as a generous mentor to new department lawyers,” it says. Palladini’s write-up says Corcoran served as an instructor at the Department of Justice Advocacy Institute and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy programs. “For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Department of Justice’s prestigious Henry E. Peterson Memorial Award,” the write-up states. It says Corcoran also served for five years as counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Ethics. Palladini’s write-up says upon his retirement, Corcoran served as a volunteer with the D.C.based organization Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF), which engages in international efforts to combat corruption in government and private sector economic institutions, according to its website. The write-up notes that Corcoran was a founding member of the LGBTQIA+ Ministry at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown. One of Corcoran’s longtime friends at the church, James Hutchison, said Corcoran as a longtime church member played a leading
role in persuading the church and its pastor to support the LGBTQ ministry. Members of the local LGBTQ Catholic group Dignity Washington who knew Corcoran have credited him with helping Holy Trinity become one of the city’s most LGBTQ supportive Catholic parishes, which is highlighted by a statement on the Holy Trinity website. “To our LGBTQIA+ friends, we want to stress that Holy Trinity is enriched by your presence, ministry and leadership,” the statement says. “Our parish is honored to baptize your children, accompany you in grief, celebrate your love and grow in holiness with you. This community sees you, values you, and recognizes that you are a gift of God, beautifully and wonderfully made,” the statement concludes. Palladini said a funeral Mass for Corcoran was held at Holy Trinity on Aug. 21. He said Corcoran was cremated and his ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on a yet-to-be-determined date. WILLIAM CORCORAN “For many years, Bill and his husband have hosted their famous Christmas party, which included decorating the Taft Bridge Lions on Connecticut Avenue,” Palladini states in his write-up. “He was a wonderful friend to all he knew. He was gentle, warm, caring and exceedingly loyal.” The write-up notes that Corcoran is survived, among others, by his husband, Eric L. Palladini Jr., who told the Blade he and Corcoran had been life partners since 1981 and the two were married in 2013. Other survivors include his sister, Nancy Monti and her husband Tom; his sister-in-law Madolyn ‘Mickey’ Corcoran; his brother-in-law Graham Briggs; and “numerous nephews and nieces, all of whom loved and admired him for his personality and capacity for fun,” the write-up says.
Center Arts Gallery celebration set for Oct. 17
(Blade photo by Michael Key)
The D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center is hosting its 10th anniversary celebration of the opening of its Center Arts Gallery on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Center’s offices at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W., from 6-9 p.m. “For 10 years, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center’s Arts Gallery has been more than a place where art is displayed,” a statement released by the center says. “It has been a space where LGBTQ+ artists are seen, celebrated, and connected to community, and where their work has given expression to the stories of joy, resistance, grief, beauty, survival, courage, and imagination,” the statement adds. It says those attending the event would have an opportunity to
bid on donated artwork in an auction and to meet and interact with “the artists whose creativity has helped bring Center Arts Gallery to life, enjoy wonderful food and music, and celebrate a decade of LGBTQ+ artistic expression.” But the statement posted on the LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website says free general admission tickets have sold out, with $75 VIP tickets still available. It says the proceeds from ticket sales will be used to help support the LGBTQ+ Community Center’s operations. Attendees and others were also invited to an event after party at the LGBTQ bar and cafe Spark Social from 9-11 p.m. at 2009 14th St., N.W..
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Campaign urges Va. High School League to reverse stance on trans athletes Virginia advocacy groups have launched a campaign that urges the Virginia High School League to once again allow student athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. Equality Arlington on Sept. 16 published an article about the “Right 2 Play VA” campaign. Amy, a group representative, spoke about the initiative with the Washington Blade. “The primary goal is to reverse the Virginia High School League’s discriminatory ban on allowing transgender girls to play on girls’ sports and replace it with a policy that is fair for all students.” they said. The Virginia High School League in 2025 announced the policy, which reversed a previous position in support of transgender and nonbinary athletes. The 2025 policy coincided with President Donald Trump’s executive order — “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” — that threatened to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humil0 8 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 16 , 2 0 2 6 • LO CA L NE WS
iation, and silencing of women and girls.” The Arlington Gender Identity Alliance, Equality Virginia, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia have also joined the “Right 2 Play VA” campaign. “We had a policy in Virginia for 12 years that allowed transgender girls to play on girls’ sports teams, and we had not one instance — not one instance — that was brought forward demonstrating an unfair advantage or any type of safety concern,” said Amy. Amy then discussed what they described are the benefits of trans youth playing sports. “There are physical benefits. There are mental health benefits. There are community and social development benefits, and those are all well documented,” they said. “All kids should have the right to benefit from playing youth sports. We are talking about kids. We are talking about youth. We are not talking about Olympians. We are not talking about Division One college athletes. We are talking about kids in Virginia, and because the benefits of sports are so well documented, we think that every kid should have the ability to play sports.” ALEXIS McLEAN
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Gay Democrat Chris Gallant bets on public service over politics Fighting to overcome photo scandal in Long Island House race By JOE REBERKENNY | jreberkenny@washblade.com
New York’s Long Island, which is just 50 miles from the Stonewall Inn, is a reliably red enclave where President Trump won easily in 2024. Chris Gallant, an openly gay Democrat running for New York’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties, is trying to capitalize on what he sees as growing frustration with the Republican Party and its ability to deliver for everyday Americans. The Blade sat down with Gallant to discuss his move from civil servant to the fight for public office, how he has been personally impacted by the changes from the Trump administration, and the recent release of photos from his past that have brought the national spotlight his way. Gallant has a long record of public service that, on paper, would make him an unconventional but compelling candidate for a heavily Republican district. His résumé includes New York Army National Guard service that began when he was 17, multiple overseas deployments, including multiple tours in Kuwait, work as an FAA air traffic controller, union leadership and service as a volunteer firefighter. That record of service is central to how Gallant describes himself — particularly as he navigates the unusual combination of being an openly gay candidate, a military veteran, and a Democrat running in a district where Republicans have historically held the advantage. “My fiancé and I both serve in the military and we built our relationship through trust, timing, and a lot of miles between us,” his campaign website says, highlighting the idea of family values that has become a central part of winning the area. “I’ve been openly gay in the military since just after ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ ended, and I’ve learned to speak plainly, hold the line, and back up what I say. I’ve also learned how to listen — and how to bring people with very different views to the table and actually make progress.” Gallant said that record, rather than his sexual orientation, is what should define his candidacy. “I think who I am as a person is an asset,” he told the Blade when asked if his sexuality has played any role in his decision to run. “I’m not running because I’m gay. I’m running, and,’Oh, I’m gay.’ It’s part of my identity. It’s just a part of who I am. But it’s not necessarily on the table because that shouldn’t make a difference on how I’m going to respond in Congress or how I’m going to run into a burning building. I don’t think those things necessarily matter so much.” For Gallant, the campaign is ultimately about something broader than identity politics. He said he is running because he wants to restore Americans’ confidence in a government that he says has become less about its people and more about the wealthy leaders in charge. “I’ve always said that part of the reason why I am running for Congress is because I want to restore faith in our government,” he said. “We’re all drastically exhausted with what’s going on in this world, and particularly with Donald Trump being in office, [his] type of politics, and the way he works, essentially. When Biden got into office after Trump won, it was like the release of a pressure cooker… the pressure cooker is just even worse now this
second time around.” He also explained that his experience working inside the federal government has shaped how he believes Washington should approach its problems. Gallant pointed specifically to the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of government and the role of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arguing that cutting government spending should not mean indiscriminate cuts. “I understand that we as a nation need to save money, or at least fix the budget or balance it. We are getting further and further in debt … The budget is always a huge issue and something that we definitely 100% need to fix. But we need to do it with experts and, you know, attack these issues with a scalpel, not a chainsaw.” The chainsaw Gallant mentioned is a clear reference to controversial Trump supporter Elon Musk, who announced he would be heading the highly politicized DOGE agency, where he, the first-ever trillionaire, brandished a shiny chainsaw symbolic of them cutting government spending with no regard for the impact on everyday Americans. That philosophy, of scalpel over chainsaw, is also part of Gallant’s argument to voters who may be more accustomed to voting Republican. He does not present himself as a traditional politician, but rather as someone whose career outside politics could be an asset in Congress. “I’m not a politician. This is my first foray into politics, and I think that’s what our politics need. We need fresh new faces, not career politicians. Someone who has brand new ideas, not tainted by politics. So I would say, give me the opportunity to prove myself, because, you know, until I actually get there and I can actually do a job, we won’t know.” Gallant also shared signs that the political landscape on Long Island may be shifting. He pointed to gains Democrats made across the district last November and said economic concerns could further erode Republican support. “Last November, in this district we [Democrats] gained 13 and 14 points across the district..And this district lost by 10 points last year. So even just in one year, you can tell that there’s a difference.” The swapping of support from the Republican side to Democratic reflects the real concern voters have about the economy — impacted by the war in Iran, tariffs, and growing inflation. “People are feeling it here in their pockets. The cost of living here on Long Island is already high, and things are just getting worse. There’s a lot of promises that were made with this administration that weren’t kept.” Gallant said that frustration has directly translated into support from some voters who previously backed President Donald Trump. “I know a lot of people who have voted for Donald Trump that have my lawn sign on their front lawn today. If that’s the change that they’re looking for, I’m going to provide it.” But Gallant’s campaign has been complicated by a very different kind of political issue: the publication of
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photos from his past that have become a national story. The photos, which include pictures of Gallant wearing various fetish gear for Mr. S Leather — including a harness and a collar — were shared with the New York Post. Gallant has consistently rejected the idea that he should be ashamed of the images or that they undermine his qualifications for public office since their Sept. 13 publication. Instead, he has argued that his record of service should be considered alongside a private chapter of his life from 15 years ago.
CHRIS GALLANT (Photo courtesy of Chris Gallant for Congress)
“I mean, look, I’m totally not ashamed of who I am as a person. Those pictures were taken in my private life. I can still run into a burning building faster than most people. I can still fly a helicopter. And those are from 15 years ago, right? I built an entire life based around my commitment to the military and the Army National Guard.” Rather than allowing the controversy to define him, Gallant said he hopes it can become part of a broader conversation about privacy and the consequences of living in a digital age — and indicated that this sort of scenario would become something semi-regular for those who grew up with technology. “The reality is that we live in a digital age.This is what our generation is going to be stuck with. I laugh all the time because this is the reason why Congress and the Senate are about to die in their chairs. They didn’t have cameras and pictures and photos like that.” “If I have to be the person to wave the banner now to fight and advocate for not only our community but anybody that could be put in this situation, that realizes now that we’re living in a digital age and this is what the future is going to be. It’s, you know, everything’s left online now.” Gallant’s opponent, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), is the two-term incumbent and has a mixed record on LGBTQ rights. LaLota has been vocal in his opposition to overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that established the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, but he has also been outspoken in his opposition to transgender rights. He co-sponsored and voted for H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would restrict participation in women’s sports based on sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity.
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Steve Hilton ad ‘disgusting attempt to exploit lesbian intimacy’ Two women sit on a bed, a Pride flag hanging behind them. One is nervous; the other tells her to be calm and that she’ll do “all the work.” The music swells. The two hold hands and — fill out a ballot voting for Steve Hilton? This is the new advertisement from the Hilton gubernatorial campaign that is drawing rebuke from both sides of the aisle, but for very different reasons. Jorge Reyes Salinas, the communications director at Equality California, said the ad was an insult to the queer community. “This ad is a disgusting attempt to exploit lesbian intimacy for political attention,” he said. The advertisement plays on media tropes that Salinas says “reduce lesbian and bisexual women … to sexual entertainment,” rather than showing them as well-rounded characters. “Any group of the LGBTQ+ community deserves the same dignity and respect as everyone else,” he said. The ad is truly hyper-sexualized. It ends with one woman telling the other, “Now lick it.” The two pause and stare before she reveals an envelope to send the ballot, and large text pops up saying, “Just try it!” Salinas characterized the ad as a desperate attempt to get attention from a candidate who is trailing far behind in the polls in heavily Democratic California. The Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra, who is endorsed by Equality California, holds a 25-point lead over Hilton according to recent polling by the UC Berkeley Institute
of Governmental Studies. Conservatives have also criticized the ad.
(Screenshot of Steve Hilton ad)
Influential evangelical Pastor Jack Hibbs thought the ad was distasteful and said, “lesbianism among college girls and some high school girls that right now is an actual pandemic of social ill.” Republican attorney general candidate Michael Gates said it undermines “the sanctity of the relationship between parents and their children.” This criticism is rather confusing because al-
though the ad features two relatively young women, they both appear to be adults, not minors. “The comments from Pastor Jack Hibbs should be criticized because there is nothing wrong with two women being attracted to each other,” Salinas said. “We’re calling out the ad’s stereotypes, while also rejecting the homophobia in the response to it … by other Republicans.” The backlash from Hilton’s own party and supporters shows that an advertisement full of queer innuendo was ill-considered, considering the national GOP’s attacks on LGBTQ people in recent years. Hilton himself has been campaigning against transgender girls and women competing in school sports and using locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. This context might be why Hilton’s political base responded to the ad just as poorly as the liberal voters he was attempting to court. Hilton says the ad is part of a new series rolling out before Election Day, showing stereotypical California liberal archetypes voting for Hilton. He claims these ads are authentically filmed with real actors, as opposed to being A.I. generated, like many of his previous ads. One other advertisement has been released so far by the campaign showing a man at a spiritual retreat also being swayed to vote for Hilton, although it is notably absent of sexual innuendo. CALEB KAUFMAN
Suspect in Mall of America plot inspired by Pulse massacre The U.S. Department of Justice charged Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, of Richfield, Minn., on Oct. 7 with one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition in order to commit a federal crime of terrorism. Mohamud allegedly planned to carry out a mass-casualty attack in support of ISIS, inspired in part by the Pulse nightclub massacre that took place on June 12, 2016 when then-29-year-old Omar Mateen murdered 49 people and wounded 58 – one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, and the deadliest targeting the LGBTQ+ community. According to a DOJ statement release, Mohamud was arrested on Oct. 6 by the FBI, which had arranged to sell him an AK-47 assault rifle, magazines, and ammunition through an undercover FBI employee. Mohamud was arrested shortly after paying $600 in cash and taking possession of those items; he reaffirmed his intention to shoot people at the Mall of America during the transaction.
“Mohamud allegedly sought to carry out a mass-casualty shooting at the Mall of America, expressing a desire to emulate some of the most horrific ISIS-inspired attacks in the United States, including the atrocities at Pulse Nightclub and 2025 New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg in the statement by the DOJ. “The National Security Division will continue to work closely with the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force to track down and prosecute ISIS-inspired terrorists in the United States.” According to the complaint, beginning on or about December 2024, Mohamud had exchanged hundreds of messages through multiple social media and messaging apps with a confidential source, and expressed a desire to travel to Somalia to join a designated foreign terrorist organization to fight on their behalf. The defendant stated many times that if he was unable to travel overseas because of a lack of funds, he
planned to carry out a mass-casualty event in Minnesota in support of ISIS. According to the DOJ, “In July 2026, Mohamud sent messages discussing his intent to carry out a mass-casualty shooting attack at the Mall of America because he claimed it was owned by Jews. He wrote that [he] wanted to kill 30 to 60 people so no one would go there.” “During the course of his communications, Mohamud stated that he wanted to commit an attack similar to those of the Pulse Nightclub mass-shooting in Orlando, the Bondi Beach mass-shooting in Australia, and the New Year’s Day vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans.” This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar for the District of Minnesota. MARGARET HETHERMAN
Annie Andrews denounces trans athletes after Trump slur Days after President Donald Trump called Annie Andrews, the cisgender Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat, an anti-transgender slur on social media, Andrews came out against transgender girls and women participating in sports. Trump called Andrews a “trannie” on Truth Social while attempting to garner support for her opponent, U.S. Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), the incumbent seeking reelection in South Carolina. After the president’s use of the slur was widely reported, the incident provided an opportunity for Andrews to explain her position on the ongoing trans debate that
has shaped political discourse in the 2020s, despite trans people making up only 1 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Williams Institute. She used the opportunity to denounce trans rights and pointed out that, as a physician, she had never performed gender-affirming surgery on minors. “I want you to hear me loud and clear: I don’t support biological men playing women’s sports, and I don’t support and haven’t ever performed gender surgery for minors,” Andrews said in a political ad. Despite these recent developments, Andrews has previously voiced support for trans South Carolinians. In
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2022, she posted on her X account, criticizing the Save Women’s Sports Act, which was signed into law by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster and restricts trans girls from participating on girls’ sports teams. “This is shameful legislation that does nothing to protect or support women or children in SC. In fact, it is actively harmful. I will always support trans youth,” Andrews wrote in after the legislation passed. The Washington Blade reached out to Andrew’s campaign about the comments, and asked if she supports trans rights but did not receive a response. JOE REBERKENNY
PRESENTS
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‘Governments that attack LGBTQ+ rights learn from each other’ Turkish authorities on Sept. 12 launched anti-LGBTQ ‘My Family Is Safe’ campaign By ANDREW J. SCIALLO
Sept. 12 is a solemn day for the people of Turkey. It is the anniversary of the 1980 coup d’état — when members of the National Security Council, along with the armed forces, dissolved the Turkish parliament, arrested hundreds of thousands of people, and entered a three-year period of martial law. On Sept 12, the 46th anniversary of the 1980 coup, the country faced another wave of arrests; this time they targeted the LGBTQ community. The government launched the national “My Family Is Safe” campaign, which triggered mass raids and arrests of LGBTQ organization leaders, advocates, academics, and sexual health treatment centers for people with HIV. (These include EU-funded organizations launched by the Turkish government in 2005.) Since the nation has seen a decline in birthrate and a swelling economic crisis, this has allowed authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and conservatives in Turkey to use the LGBTQ community as the ideal scapegoat. “This is the cruelest part. It was Erdoğan’s own party that made it easier to found NGOs in 2005 as an EU accession process, and that is how many LGBTI+ groups came to be officially registered.” Ali Yildiz, a linguistics graduate student at the University of Cologne in Germany, told the Washington Blade. “Everything was legal, transparent and official. Now those same registrations are being used as arrest lists. The state is basically punishing those who trusted it. It sounds very much like the nazis. They also used member lists of associations to persecute them later.”
Activists protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Northwest Washington on Sept. 18, 2026. (Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)
Yildiz has witnessed the oppression of the Turkish government firsthand: in 2024, he moved to Germany. As one of the board members of a grassroots NGO that focuses on sexual health, Yildiz was at risk of arrest and prosecution. As part of the “My Family Is Safe” operation on Sept. 12, police raided Yildiz’s family’s former home to find him. In the aftermath of these raids in Turkey’s major cities, protestors have gathered at Turkish embassies across Europe and the U.S. A critical discourse has also emerged as a response to the crackdown across international queer media: how should the West cover oppressive regimes abroad? “From what I see, the Western reading of Turkey’s crackdown on LGBTI+ people usually goes: it’s a conservative, Muslim country, so this is what you’d expect. I believe that framing is incomplete, and it lets the people responsible off the hook. The Erdoğan regime is also heavily relying on this contextualization,” said Yildiz. “The government is not simply reacting to existing conservatism but is actively shaping it. Look at how operations are presented: raids on LGBTI+ organizations and activists come packaged with claims about drugs, obscenity, sex work, or organized crime on other groups in the news. The evil strategy is to link LGBTI+ people with criminality in the public mind.” The LGBTQ community is not the only group that has been under the weight of op-
pression. Political opponents and descendants whom Erdoğan deems criminals are also charged with treason. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is the leading candidate for the upcoming 2028 presidential elections for the opposition center-left Republican People’s Party, was arrested on terrorism charges in 2024. On the same day, he was nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate. For a while, X served as a platform to express discontent with the government, but that changed recently when Elon Musk blocked nearly 500 accounts in Turkey. The Turkish government also banned Grok after the AI system responded to a user’s question about Erdoğan, which government leaders found offensive. The visibility of these pages has decreased. With a VPN, citizens can still access the pages because they were banned only in Turkey, not internationally. Discontent with the government is increasing, but so is government oppression. Not only have LGBTQ pages been shut down, but many journalists and academics have also had their pages banned. The Blade spoke to an anonymous academic living in Ankara, the Turkish capital, who said Erdoğan, U.S. President Donald Trump, and other authoritarian leaders are constantly learning from each other. “These anti LGBTQ+ policies are being created in the name of preserving traditional family values and are not only a threat to Türkiye,” they said. “It is also a global issue that threatens people everywhere. It should be perceived as an international problem. That is why we LGBTQ+ people need to act in solidarity internationally.” Because of the compounding human rights crisis happening simultaneously around the globe, visibility has been advocates in Turkey’s main challenge. Since 2022 there have been a series of crackdowns against opposition parties, academics, labor unions, student organizations, journalist and advocates. Another anonymous academic in Istanbul told the Blade that after the 2022 crackdown, “people were intimidated, and most people did not feel encouraged to organize.” In the weeks following this recent crackdown, discontent with the Erdoğan government has increased along with inflation and unemployment, not helped by the war in Iran. “Our leaders do not say anything about the financial crisis,” said the Istanbul academic. High inflation, high unemployment rates, many factories, and businesses have left Türkiye and transferred their businesses to other countries. And because of the timing of these recent crackdowns, during this financial crisis, many people haven’t been paying attention. Though for many queer and transgender Turks, post-Sept. 12 life has been radically different. “I stopped doing drag in order to protect myself, and many queer performance artist friends of mine have also given up this part of their lives,” said one source who asked the Blade to remain anonymous. “Everybody is not scared, but they simply bring their fear with them to the march and march courageously, because they believe they are on the right side of history,” they added. “However, I think it is important that people in Turkey are not represented only through their experiences of victimization. There should also be spaces where artists, activists, journalists, and other queer people can express themselves in their own words.” The justification for this crackdown has been preserving “traditional family and conservative values.” The Turkish government has persecuted these offenses with raids, trials, and arrests that have gone beyond just the LGBTQ community. It targeted last year musicians, performers, and artists whom they deemed obscene or offensive. In September 2025, the K-pop-inspired girl band Manifest was investigated for three months. Footage from their shows was banned from the internet, and the remainder of their tour was canceled. All seven members of the group faced 3 1/2 months prison sentences before the charges were ultimately dropped. “I believe there is no pride for only some of us. Governments that attack LGBTQ+ rights learn from each other.” Yildiz tells the Blade, “Erdoğan borrows from Putin’s playbook, and parts of the Western right eagerly adopt the same rhetoric. This is a call for our community to see how important international solidarity is. People show up every single year for the Pride March, even though they know the police are going to attack. What I see in our community is pure courage.”
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IAN L. HADDOCK
is founder of The Normal Anomaly Initiative.
The next chapter of Black and queer leadership
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 42 ADDRESS PO Box 60664
Washington DC 20039 PHONE
Project Liberate dreaming up new ways to create change in the South
202-747-2077
Recently, my team traveled to Washington, D.C., for the first run-through of our upcoming expansion of Project Liberate, a leadership development initiative equipping Liberators with the knowledge, skills, relationships, and resources to become advocates and change-makers in their communities. The program is launching in the historic city of Montgomery, Ala. As a Black, gay man, the significance of the city’s legacy as home to critical civil rights movements, and today, its growing rates of new HIV diagnoses, both weighed heavily on my mind. I felt honored that, as a nonprofit based in Texas with a small yet mighty team of six Black and queer advocates, we were invited to our nation’s capital to dream up new ways to create change throughout the South. As we worked through what this next chapter would require, I kept thinking about the city around us. Washington has always inspired my work, as a city rooted in Black and queer advocacy. It is a place where people have brought local struggles before the nation and ultimately gained the world’s attention to make meaningful changes. I thought of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., coming from Atlanta to this city and standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, sharing a dream that belonged to far more people than those gathered before him. I thought of the AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed, telling the stories of those whom society had tried to erase, for all to finally see on the National Mall, each panel insisting that a life lost to HIV be remembered. Neither movement began in Washington. People carried their grief, courage, and solutions for a better future from their small cities across the country. When they came together, the nation could no longer look away. That history inspires me as Project Liberate grows from Houston to Montgomery, and I work to ensure the South gets the resources and recognition it deserves. The South is too often characterized by stereotypes or inaccurate portrayals. The truth is, the South is diverse, home to some of the most diverse cities in our nation, and more importantly, home to Black and LGBTQIA+ communities that do not wish to pack up and leave when things get tough. We are here. We are building families, businesses, organizations, networks of care, and solutions. We know our communities’ strengths and the barriers they face. Yet the people with that knowledge are often the least likely to receive the sustained investment they need to turn an idea into lasting change. Project Liberate exists to change that. Through leadership development, entrepreneurship, coalition building, and community action, it invests in the people, not the problem. It does so by supporting those we call Liberators: leaders ready to improve health access in the places they know and love. In Houston, where the program has worked for four years, we have helped launch nearly 100 Black-owned or queer-owned nonprofits and businesses with a social purpose. Montgomery is our next opportunity to invest in local leadership, and we hope to keep growing throughout the South until the day comes that we are no longer disproportionately impacted by HIV. Montgomery is a fitting home for this next chapter. Its place in the Civil Rights Movement reminds us that Southern communities have never waited for someone elsewhere to give them permission to lead. Local, everyday people organized, took risks, brought their issues, along with their solutions, to the feet of the Capitol’s steps, and moved the country forward. Today’s Liberators deserve the chance to build their own legacy, one that meets the needs of their communities now. D.C. can bring movements together and help turn local action into national change. But the opportunity to learn should run both ways. As our work expands across the South, I want people here to learn from the leaders doing this work in Houston, Montgomery, and the cities that follow. They have knowledge that national conversations need. They have the solutions; they just need the support. So I ask readers in the capital to resist writing off the South. Invest in them. Support their leaders. Partner with them. Listen when they tell you what health access requires in the places they call home. Our visit to Washington helped us prepare for Montgomery, but it also reminded me why we are doing this work in the first place. Because the movements we are building now, alongside the Liberators with a stake in their communities, have the power to one day bring their ideas and changes to the national stage that is Washington, D.C., and change the world.
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ROBIN HAMILTON
is a filmmaker and journalist and director of ‘Odessa’s Reign.’ There will be a screening and community conversation, ‘Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story of Odessa Madre,’ on Friday, Oct. 30 at Busboys and Poets at 14th and V streets, 6-8:30 p.m. Learn more at www.aroundrobin.com.
‘Hidden in Plain Sight:’ The story of Odessa Madre A queer U Street criminal, entrepreneur, and wealthy Black woman
The liquor was flowing, the dice were rolling and the women were plentiful. Down on 14th Street in the U Street corridor in 1946, at Club Madre, your thirst could be quenched and your vices satisfied. At the center of it all was a large, dark-skinned woman whose taste for mink, money, and power made her larcenous — and legendary. Look at photos of Odessa Madre, clothed head-to-toe in fur, hair freshly curled, and her eyes dared you to question her prowess. Her mischievous smile suggested she knew something you didn’t. Here was one of the most successful women in Washington, D.C. — and yet most Washingtonians have never heard of her. Why? Madre was a big-time numbers runner during the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, when the illegal lottery was booming. For Black Washingtonians, the underground lottery offered a chance to get ahead economically when segregation made legitimate financial advancement nearly impossible. Those who ran the game always seemed to be making money — and Madre was one of the most successful, with the hustle, resources and smarts to become one of the richest women in the city. Yet she nearly became a footnote in D.C. history, remembered mostly by a small plaque on U Street where her mugshot is captioned: “This was D.C.’s Al Capone.” Why does someone like her nearly disappear from history? And when someone is erased — what is lost? Madre graduated from Dunbar High School, the segregated school for African Americans renowned for producing students who went on to earn advanced degrees and returned to teach. The expectation was that if you looked and spoke the “right” way, a respectable job — teaching, civil service — awaited. Those jobs were also often reserved for women who fit a certain mold. As Professor Sharon Harley writes in “Sister Circle: Black Women and Work,” Madre’s turn to criminal life was fueled in part by “deep feelings of rejection by the Washington color-conscious Black middle class.” She didn’t fit the mold. So she built her own path. She aligned herself with people she was never supposed to befriend — Italian and Irish men who ran the city’s underworld — and turned selling moonshine into a calling card. Childhood friends who became police officers looked out for her, and she looked out for them. Madre never married and had no interest in men. She kept a steady crew of attractive women close, and accounts suggest she had relationships with women — relationships that would hardly have been acknowledged publicly at the time. Her rejection of the era’s social expectations meant she was never bound by a marriage that could have curbed her ambition, or a divorce that could have wrecked her financially. Her independence gave her a level of control over her life that few women of her era experienced. Eventually, police stings, betrayals and a government eager to legalize the lottery for itself squeezed the life out of the underground game. Madre’s luck ran out. She died penniless — her funeral paid for by street friends and a detective or two who had quietly admired her hustle for years. Why does any of this matter? Because it’s a clear-eyed look at what it takes to chase the American Dream when the front door is locked. History can be ugly — but sanitizing it doesn’t make it less true. Odessa Madre was a criminal, entrepreneur, hustler, queer woman, Dunbar graduate, numbers runner, wealthy Black woman, friend to police, lawbreaker and product of segregation — all at once. Her story is a reminder that the truth about Jim Crow, and who survived it and how, is more complicated — and more honest — than any diluted version of history could be. My documentary, “Odessa’s Reign,” is an attempt to give her the fuller portrait she never received in her lifetime. Madre’s path challenges us to think about identity, place and memory: who gets remembered, and why their stories matter.
PETER ROSENSTEIN
is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.
Forget RFK Jr. — it’s time to get vaccinated
Flu season arrives early so protect yourself now To all my friends, and even those reading this who are not, it is time to get your flu and COVID vaccinations. Apparently, we are heading into an early flu season, and a strong strain. Remember, it takes about two weeks for the shots to take full effect. I got mine last week as I will be traveling, but even if you are staying home, it’s really important. Protect yourself, and those around you. Then to all those who are new parents, who have children who will be new parents, even grandchildren who will be new parents, yes some of us are that old, it is important they know about the importance of getting their children fully vaccinated. There are proven effective vaccines for a host of diseases, and many have been nearly eradicated because children are being vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a schedule of vaccines children should take. I hope that has not been destroyed yet, but you can always contact the American Academy of Pediatrics to be safe. These vaccines have been fully researched, and proven effective. But because of RFK Jr. and his lies about vaccines, we now have a measles epidemic in this country. A disease that had been eradicated here. I have written before, both he, and the felon in the White House who nominated him, and who supports his lies, should be tried for murder for any unvaccinated child in the United States who dies of measles today. One of the felon’s MAGA sycophants, the criminal who is now attorney general of Texas, running for the U.S. Senate, is investigating pediatricians in Texas, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, for what is in essence telling parents they should have their children vaccinated. He is threatening to put doctors who prescribe the vaccines in jail. He, along with the felon, should be charged with murder if any of the unvaccinated children dies of one of the diseases they could have been vaccinated against. RFK Jr. and his followers, one of whom, Kirk Milhoan, who Kennedy named chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, is now even questioning the need for the Polio vaccine. We are living in a dangerous alternate universe where this can happen. It is my hope and prayer, the decent people of Texas will be strong enough to say NO to the criminal Paxton on their ballots, and instead send James Talarico to the Senate. Let’s hope they even rid themselves of their MAGA governor, and elect Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Let’s hope the rest of the country will elect Democrats up and down the ballot, as their way of saying to the felon, “no more of your BS. We will not let you, and your minions, destroy our country, and cause death, and the destruction of our families.” When talking about RFK Jr. and the harm he is doing, it is important to understand it is not only vaccines he is lying about. He is in the process of destroying the credibility of the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. Both organizations were respected around the world until he began to dismantle them. Then he is keeping the United States from participating in the World Health Organization. If there were to be another pandemic, and we can be assured there will be, what he is doing will cause countless deaths here, and around the world. His lies, when he ran his anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense, and sent a letter to the Samoan Prime Minister debunking vaccines, caused the deaths of many children there from measles. If Democrats take over Congress, both the House and Senate, which it now looks like they could, there needs to be an immediate, and strong, focus on these issues. There must be investigations and RFK Jr. must be held accountable for the damage he is doing to our nation’s health. There needs to be legislation preventing any future vile idiot like RFK Jr. and felons like the one in the White House today, from hurting any more people through their cruel and misdirected policies, none of which are based in either credible research or fact. We have the chance on Nov. 3 to take back our country, to make a difference for ourselves, and future generations, both here, and around the world. We must return to sanity and follow science, once again providing funding for research into possible future health breakthroughs, like an AIDS vaccine. We can end the insanity we are seeing, and we can do it by using our constitutional right to VOTE. V I E WP O I NT • O CTO B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 6 • WA S H I N GTO N B L A D E.CO M • 1 7
Kramers celebrates 50 years as a cultural hub of D.C. Milestone anniversary event planned for Oct. 24 By EVAN CAPLAN
In a world of rapidly diminishing third-place spaces, Kramers – also known as Kramerbooks – is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a beloved cultural Washington, D.C. institution. Founded in 1976 in the heart of Dupont Circle at the nation’s bicentennial, Kramers is a bookstore, café, restaurant, bar, corner store, gathering place, and multi-generational site for locals, visitors, readers, sippers, and noshers. Originally owned by Bill Kramer, Henry Posner, and David Tenney, Kramers began first as a bookstore called Kramerbooks, and soon added its coffeeshop and rebranded as Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café. In 2016, the trio sold Kramers to Steve Salis, who expanded the bookstore and rebranded the eatery portion as All Day Café. As Kramers turns 50, the beloved bookstore and café will honor its rich legacy this month with a milestone anniversary celebration, merchandise, and a look ahead to its next chapter as one of D.C.’s defining cultural gathering places. The big community day is Oct. 24, bursting with community programs: • Relume, a local woman-owned home goods and accessories brand, will offer custom book stamping for attendees; • Aslin Beer Company will offer guests of age a curated on-site beer tasting; • DuPont Little Flea Market will activate a small pop-up vintage market on site, offering a variety of vintage goods from various vendors; • The store will partner with Everybody Wins DC, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing child literacy through volunteer-led reading and mentoring programs, donating 20% of all bookstore sales that day. Visit kramers.com to RSVP. Finally, the shop is throwing a 50th anniversary celebration on Oct. 22, bringing together community leaders and longtime patrons for an event honoring the bookstore’s rich legacy and continued impact on the city. The 50th anniversary excitement eclipses prior celebrations: for the store’s 20th anniversary, for example, the store gave away one free slice of “three truffle” chocolate cake to customers. “Kramers has been part of the cultural heartbeat of Washington for 50 years, and that kind of legacy is incredibly rare,” said Salis, who is CEO of Catalogue hospitality, which also runs D.C. favorites like Ted’s Bulletin, Federalist Pig, Honeymoon Chicken, and Sidekick Bakery. “What makes it special is that it has never been just a bookstore — it’s a place where people gather, discover ideas, share meals, and feel connected to the city around them.” Dupont Circle has always been a center of D.C.’s cultural legacy. The neighborhood continues to evolve, even today, as the Connecticut Avenue deckover project progresses, just outside the doors of Kramers. Just as the neighborhood has changed, Kramers has grown and evolved as well. But its identity as a center of curiosity and connection has remained the same. Kramers was one of the first bookstores in D.C. – and the nation – to introduce a café on premises. For several years, Kramers would transport bagels from New
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
York daily, unable to source bagels of quality locally. While today Kramers operates regular hours, generally 8 a.m.-10 p.m., for many years it was open 24 hours (literally an All Day Café) on the weekends, not closing its doors once to neighbors and friends. Kramers also branched out across the river, opening two short-lived spots in Arlington. Both are now closed. Being located in D.C., Kramers has played host to plenty of celebrities: Barack Obama stopped by during his time in office; and Monica Lewinsky shopped there as well. Other celebs who have dropped by include Maya Angelous, Andy Warhol, and Toni Morrison. In 2020, Salis – after suggesting that he might relocate Kramers from Dupont Circle – refreshed the restaurant, bringing in a new chef and a vibrant new menu with French influences and natural wine pours, plus menu favorites like Crab Deviled Eggs, Chicken & Waffles, and Goober Pie. Salis recognized the challenges of operating a bookstore and café against the multitude of buffeting headwinds. “The biggest challenge has been finding ways to evolve while protecting what makes Kramers unique. The bookstore landscape has changed dramatically, and the restaurant business has become increasingly competitive, with rising costs across the board,” he says. Kramers remains relevant by meeting customers where they are: selling a selection of “banned books,” hosting weekly book clubs and trivia nights, alongside poetry readings, writing workshops, and author talks. It even stays open late for special midnight-release parties, and now offers bookstore memberships for
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Kramers General Manager ANDREW JONES (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
especially eager readers. Kramers has endured because it’s more than the sum of its parts. Reflecting the diversity of the neighborhood, the curated books selection, and the creation of safe spaces for all kinds of readers, Kramers looks forward, Salis says, “to remain a cultural hub for D.C. for the next 50 years and beyond. We’re excited about continuing to grow and evolve while preserving the spirit that has made Kramers special for generations.”
Season 2026–27
Upcoming Performances VOCES8
Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI
Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Sol Invictus Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
The Grammy Award-nominated acappella sensation
“They change how you see the amazing!” (The New York Times)
Shanghai Ballet
Butterfly Lovers Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Giselle Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m.
Virginia Opera
“Technically exquisite and emotionally moving” (Ottowa Citizen)
Leoncavallo’s suspenseful tale of heartbreak and revenge
Pagliacci
Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI
The Center for the Arts Advantage Low Ticket Prices
Tickets
Flexible Season Ticket Exchanges
703-993-2787
Convenient Location
cfa.gmu.edu
Free Parking Available
Located On the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University
A Mason Arts Venue
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THEATER
Dawn Huggins reflects on year-long reign as Miss Adams Morgan 38th annual pageant set for Halloween night By PATRICK FOLLIARD
On Halloween night at the Washington Hilton, the annual Miss Adams Morgan Pageant, D.C.’s largest and longest-running amateur drag competition, turns 38. It also marks the end of HRH Dawn Huggins’s year-long reign as Miss Adams Morgan. Joe Kuehne, the transformative performer who brings Dawn Huggins to life on stage, reviews the reign philosophically: “It’s funny, like most of life, the time flew by, and sometimes it didn’t. As a contestant, the preparation and planning can be a slog and then it’s all over before you know it.” But, he adds, the time has been filled with creativity, community involvement, and innovation. This year’s pageant is promised to run at a fast pace. The show kicks off with a mashup number starring Dawn Huggins along with several former queens. Dawn’s bit is a tribute to “The Shining.” Her carefully planned look is “haunted.” Next, the seven contestants vying for the big title participate in the Parade of States (and U.S. territories). Their bios are read as they walk (doing whatever they wish with props of their choosing). The second half is performance (lip sync, comedic skits, etc.) and after several hours, a winner is selected by a panel of judges and the audience. Prior to Dawn Huggins snatching the crown in October 2025, Kuehne wore numerous other pageant hats including “drag-wearing” attendee, contestant, and house videographer. In 2006, Kuehne’s documentary short “Relative Freedom” (about his family’s reaction to his queerness) was screened at Reel Affirmations film festival. It caught the attention of that year’s reigning Miss Adams Morgan. She invited Kuehne to partner in adding video to the pageant. He accepted and had kept with it for two decades. Inspired by the competitors and fun, he decided to give the pageant a shot. So, Dawn Huggins (“I’m a hugger, so the name
fit.”) began competing, and won the title on her fifth try. Putting on a dress and entertaining a ballroom full of people was never too much of a stretch for Kuehne. Prior to competing, he’d HRH DAWN HUGGINS, Miss Adams Morgan (Photo by Kurt Powers) been a part of the audience in drag, and as a kid did community theater. Over the years, Dawn has lip-synced (Brandi Carlile, Tory, Whitney, Mariah) and wooed the festive though not always easy-to-please throng with her clever comedy and camp. Last year for her winning number and skit, she did songs from “Wicked,” replacing the evil Wizard with Trump. “Not a huge leap,” she adds. By day, Kuehne does marketing for tech companies: “In that role some of what I do is video production. The drag aspect doesn’t come up very often,” he deadpans. “But yes, the skillsets do overlap.” Kuehne never thought of Dawn Huggins as a beautiful or polished queen; she was never meant to be that. He says, “I do my best to pull it together. But my goal is pure entertainment.” Occasionally Dawn includes a message in what she does: “I try not to be too heavy handed about it. The second-year’s number was inspired by a person who, troubled by their sexuality, took their own life. Some of the audience members were moved, and that’s meaningful to me.” Started in 1988 by a group of friends getting in drag and celebrating Halloween at Annie’s Paramount Steak House, the Miss Adams Morgan Pageant quickly ballooned into a storied tradition requiring a board and oversight.
Also in 1988, the Dupont Social Club was founded to not only encourage community but also help the pageant run things. Currently, Kuehne serves as the club’s V.P. of Social Events. Responsibilities include planning events, tracking attendance, and keeping things lively. As both Queen and V.P., Kuehne is in a unique position to make things happen. During Dawn’s reign, the club created Sloppy Saturdays at Her Diner in Adams Morgan, a monthly happy hour fundraising event with performance tips and event donations going to support local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. And now, as outgoing queen, HRH Dawn Huggins is charged with selecting the pageant’s charitable beneficiary. She’s wisely chosen Whitman-Walker Legal Services. which provides free, comprehensive civil legal assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS, patients of Whitman-Walker Health, and members of the LGBTQ+ community across the greater Washington, D.C. region. “With all that has and is going on, this feels like the right time to make that choice.” Because the pageant has almost always taken place in October, it’s loosely tied to Halloween. This year the show (themed “Something Wicked This Way Comes”) lands on Oct. 31, ticking all the boxes for pageant, drag show, and huge costume party. On and offstage, you’re likely to see sequined gowns, ginormous hair, ermine robes alongside conceptual creations and comedic to dead serious style homages. “What the contestants bring to the stage is pretty incredible, but sometimes that extraordinary creativity is surpassed by the audience members filling the ballroom, and we love that.” 38th Annual Miss Adams Morgan Pageant Saturday, Oct. 31 | Washington Hilton 1919 Connecticut Ave., N.W. | thedupontsocialclub.com
TV
New ‘Carrie’ attempts to reinvent a classic for new generation A tone that’s less horror than social commentary By JOHN PAUL KING
The books of Stephen King have had a rocky relationship with the movies. Adaptations of the horror icon’s work have had an impressive track record on both big screen and small, earning success and critical acclaim across five decades. Some films based on his work – like “Misery,” “Stand by Me,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” and this year’s earlier “The Long Walk” – have reached the level of “prestige” cinema, earning award glory and finding their way onto critics’ “Best of the Year” lists. Many others, though, have landed at the opposite end of the spectrum, like “Children of the Corn,” “Maximum Overdrive,” and “The Dark Tower,” all of which are frequently featured in “Worst of All Time” lists instead. There’s also King’s own vocal criticism of adaptations he doesn’t like, most famously around Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film of “The Shining,” which has come to be hailed as a cinematic masterpiece but continues to be a sore spot for the author himself over the alterations Kubrick made to his book; his dissatisfaction with that project led directly to his own creation of a miniseries of the novel, which remained faithful to his original storyline. In the years since, other King novels have made it to television; some, like “The Stand,” have benefitted from the nuance made possible by long-form storytelling; others have suffered from a lack of it. Despite the hit-or-miss history of Stephen King on the
screen, however, he has always remained popular, and is now arguably more so than ever. This is why we have a new adaptation of his debut novel – “Carrie,” published in 1974 – streaming on Amazon Prime; and though King himself served as one of its executive producers, his fans may not entirely love what has been done with it. Developed and spearheaded by Mike Flanagan – himself a popular horror creator, responsible not only for previous King adaptations (“Gerald’s Game,” “Doctor Sleep,” and “The Life of Chuck,” among others) and a string of successful Netflix
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SUMMER H. HOWELL stars as Carrie. (Image courtesy of Prime Video)
series (“The Haunting of Hill House,” “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” and “Midnight Mass”), it updates and expands the original novel considerably. It’s still centered on its title character, whose reclusive upbringing combines with her growing telekinetic abilities (along with the torments she endures from her domineering mother and her schoolmates) to trigger a horrific catastrophe at her high school prom, but it allows the scope to widen for a deeper look into the “backstories” of other characters, as well as invoking themes around certain social issues – online bullying, dysfunctional family relationships, school violence, conspiracy theories, exploitation of tragedy by the media, which have become exacerbated in the 50 years since King wrote the book. In this re-crafted version, Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) and her mother Margaret (Samantha Sloyan) have been secluded from the outside world for years, their existence kept secret until the “accidental” death of her father (Tahmoh Pennikett) leads to their discovery. Forced to participate in society, Carrie is enrolled in the local high school, while Margaret takes a job at the local big-box store. For her part, Carrie is eager enough to explore beyond the confines of home, but she quickly becomes the target of a “mean girl” ringleader Chris (Alison Thornton) who seems bent on making her life miserable. CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
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Miss Gay Maryland America Jalah Nicole captures title at 41st annual pageant (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2026 Miss Gay Maryland America pageant was held at Hub City Brewery in Hagerstown, Md. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Jalah Nicole was crowned the winner, and Maria Posa was named first alternate. Both competitors qualify for the Miss Gay America pageant in Atlanta in January.
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Open House on Sunday, October 18, from 1 to 4 PM
1905 N. Taylor Street Arlington, VA 22207 Cherrydale Neighborhood Offered at $2,399,000 Space for everyone and everything is in this sparkling new home by KAM Builders near Ballston, neighborhood restaurants, parks, shops, bike path, and Washington-Liberty Natatorium. Desirable details: chef-worthy kitchen flows to dining room and family room, both with doors to the covered, slated-floored porch with fireplace. Private main level office with full bathroom and second top floor office or another spot for hobbies and creating. Four bedrooms each with an en suite bathroom upstairs, and a tucked away guest room and bathroom in the lower level. Great gatherings in the rec room with wet bar and areas for media and sports tables and games and work out in the adjoining gym. Large finished storage space and utility rooms complete this floor. The two car garage opens directly to the main level of the house through the mudroom. An exceptional home in a most convenient location.
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Associate Broker | Licensed in Virginia 703.967.4391 (CELL) betsy.twigg@corcoranmce.com Corcoran McEnearney. REALTORS 3135 Langston Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 betsytwigg.com Equal Housing Opportunity
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AUTOS
Best used cars: when everything old is new again Second-hand rides that still feel premium By JOE PHILLIPS
Used-car shopping in 2026 isn’t exactly a bargain-bin party. The average pre-owned vehicle now lists for about $27,000, so expect to pay $15,000 to $25,000 for small vehicles, $20,000 to $35,000 for midsize models, and $25,000 to $50,000-plus for large vehicles. Yikes! Compacts and hatchbacks cost less because they’re cheaper to build and run. Pickups and luxe vehicles cost more because you’re paying for size, power and fancier stuff. You know, like max-reclining seats or a “Plum Crazy Purple” exterior (yes, Dodge Charger, we’re talking about you). COMPACTS Honda Civic • Pros: Reliable, efficient, terrific resale. • Notable features: Hatchback practicality, excellent tech. • Cons: Popularity keeps prices up. The Civic is the little black dress of used cars. Always appropriate. Rarely embarrassing. A perennial fave thanks to reliability, safety, and resale value. The hatchback is especially versatile. And yes, Civics became pop-culture stars in The Fast and the Furious. Tiny car. Big attitude. Mazda 3 • Pros: Fun handling, trendy interior. • Notable features: Available AWD, sharp styling. • Cons: Cramped rear seats. The Mazda 3 is for people who think practical should still have a pulse. It feels pricier than it is. Think Kristen Stewart: cool, stylish, and perfectly comfortable doing things a little differently. Toyota Corolla • Pros: Dependable, efficient, easygoing.
• Notable features: Strong resale, good fuel economy. • Cons: Not very thrilling. The Corolla doesn’t crave attention. A quiet overachiever that shows up early, does the job, and never causes drama. For maximum financial sanity, the Corolla is tough to beat. MID-SIZE Honda Accord • Pros: Roomy, refined, dependable. • Notable features: Hybrid option, huge back seat. • Cons: More sensible than sporty. The Accord is the grown-up choice that refuses to become boring. It’s sizeable, relaxed and easy to live with. It’s also like a great Broadway understudy: polished, dependable and ready every night. Toyota Camry • Pros: Proven reliability, comfy ride. • Notable features: Hybrid efficiency, excellent resale. • Cons: Driving excitement is limited. The Camry has spent decades being sensible. The hybrid versions add impressive fuel economy, while the spacious cabin makes long trips pleasant. Sometimes uneventful is exactly the point. Subaru Legacy • Pros: Standard AWD, ample room. • Notable features: All-weather confidence. • Cons: Discontinued after 2025. The Legacy is the sleeper pick. It doesn’t shout, but standard all-wheel drive is a big plus, along with a user-friendly cabin. Think low-key queer icon: understated, yet fabulous
The average pre-owned vehicle now lists for about $27,000.
once you get to know it. FULL-SIZE Toyota Avalon • Pros: Plush, spacious, reliable. • Notable features: Upscale interior, V6 power. • Cons: Discontinued after 2022. The Avalon proves a big sedan doesn’t have to feel like an airport shuttle. It’s quiet, calming and surprisingly luxe. Though discontinued, this gem feels like a well-kept secret. Ford F-150 • Pros: Huge selection, serious capability. • Notable features: Towing, payload, engine choices. • Cons: Prices remain surprisingly strong The F-150 is a pure extrovert, wearing boots and full of yeehaw gusto. Buyers can choose from a dizzying array of configurations. Dodge Charger • Pros: Big power, bold styling, personality. • Notable features: Muscle-car attitude, large cabin. • Cons: Fuel economy isn’t fabulous. The Charger brings the drama. And pop culture loves it: Chargers starred in Bullitt and The Dukes of Hazzard. Subtle? Not remotely. But neither was Cher’s wardrobe. And look how that worked out.
REAL ESTATE
Recovering from major surgery at home Preparation can make your home safer and easier to navigate By VALERIE M. BLAKE
Six weeks ago, I had major surgery on my lumbar spine. Recovery has meant limited mobility, fatigue, medication schedules, and temporary restrictions on bending, lifting, and twisting (BLT, as they call it in the medical trade). While I was hospitalized, my cadre of fabulous friends took turns caring for my dogs, but I knew I would be restricted to my house while recuperating, so I added a few new friends: Walker (Talarico’s ranger friend from Texas), Carol (Kane aka Cane), and Jack (Reacher). I found that a little preparation can make the home safer, more comfortable and much easier to navigate. Think of it as creating a temporary “recovery zone” — a space where everything the person needs is within easy reach and where unnecessary obstacles have been eliminated. Entering and exiting your house can be challenging after surgery. Make sure the entrance is well lit and free of clutter. Check that steps and walkways are in good condition and that railings leading from ground level or garage are sturdy and easy to hold on to. Thankfully, although I have 19 steps to get to my front door (we counted), once I am inside, everything I need, except the laundry, is on one level. However, if your home has multiple levels, consider setting up a bedroom or sleeping area on the first floor. Depending on the surgery, getting in and out of that low, soft couch you love may be surprisingly difficult. A firm chair
that provides good support and is easy to stand from can be a better choice. A recliner may also be a good alternative and can serve as a bed in the short term. Place frequently used items within easy reach: medications, tissues, water, cell phones and chargers, remote controls, books, glasses and other personal necessities. A small table or rolling cart next to the bed or chair can become the command center for recovery. Remove tripping hazards. Pick up or secure throw rugs, baskets, decorative items and electrical cords that could get in the way. Make sure hallways and pathways between the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen are wide and unobstructed. Don’t forget about the things that are normally invisible because you are accustomed to them. A pet’s food and water bowls, children’s toys, or a mudroom bench can suddenly become obstacles when someone is using crutches, a walker, a cane or simply moving more slowly than usual. Bathrooms can present some of the biggest challenges during recovery because of hard surfaces, water and the need to sit down and stand up. Keep frequently used toiletries at waist or shoulder height so the recovering person doesn’t have to bend, stretch or climb onto a stool. Add nightlights along the route to the bathroom and make sure light switches are easy to reach. Depending on the surgery, grab bars near the toilet and
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(Photo via Bigstock/moxumbic)
in the shower or tub may be helpful. A shower chair or bench can make bathing considerably easier, and a handheld showerhead can also be useful for someone who cannot comfortably stand for long periods. The kitchen may need a short-term makeover, too. Move commonly used dishes, glassware, snacks, and cooking supplies to countertops or other easily accessible locations. Keep cleaning supplies, towels, paper goods, and frequently needed household items nearby. CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Valerie M. Blake is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with RLAH @properties. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email her at valerie@DCHomeQuest.com or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.
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