Washington Blade, Volume 57, Issue 43, October 23, 2026 by Washington Blade

25 Annual Best Of LGBTQ DC Awards

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

BEST BARTENDER Ben Oursler serves a drink to BEST DRAG QUEEN Tara Hoot.

Meet all of this year’s winners, PAGE 24

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Thousands join D.C. No Kings rally More than 3,000 people participated in a “No Kings” march and rally in D.C. on Saturday. Participants marched from Arlington National Cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial via the Memorial Bridge. The rally was designed to encourage people to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. The D.C. rally was one of many ‘No Kings’ events that took place across the country on Saturday. “When people are hearing that it looks like Democrats are going to win at least one house of Congress, there might be a temptation for people to say, ‘Oh, I don’t need to vote? Because that’s already going to be done,’” said Austin, a safety marshal and volunteer for the “No Kings” D.C. chapter. “But I think we’re trying to make sure that everyone feels like their vote will count and that it is important to vote.” Alongside the people who participated, the rally included several individuals from the younger and older generations. They spoke with the Washington Blade about the importance of voting in the midterms. “I really do think that at any age, it is important to be

aware of what’s going on around you,” said Marin. “As a young person, you see so much of your future ahead of you and generations that aren’t even here yet. You don’t want to wake up one day and you’re in your older years and realize that things are not good and that you would wish you had stepped up before.” Marin brought up that Gen Z is getting involved, noting it does care about what is happening in the country, despite of what stereotypes may suggest. “I would say it’s the opposite where just as engaged, if not more, than any other generation, and we see a very dark future,” said Marin. “We could see climate change, tyranny, and the end of what we know and love. That is why we are so motivated to do something, whether it’s something small or something big. And I think that voting is just the easiest way to make a change.” While younger people may focus more on the future, the older generation looks back to previous protests, such as those against the Vietnam War, as an example for the Trump-Vance administration’s Iran war. “I moved to D.C. in 1977, and I’ve gone to protests

More than 3,000 people participated in the ‘No Kings’ rally in D.C. on Oct. 17. (Blade photo by Alexis McLean)

on and off since then, but since this administration came in, I felt like, ‘I’m going to protest all the time,’” said one demonstrator who asked not to be identiﬁed by his full name. “The older people who have had the experience of doing it before, people who’ve done it since Vietnam and who are looking for something to do in their retirement say, ‘Hey, I’m still interested. This is still important. I’m still active.’” ALEXIS McLEAN

Rehoboth to host workshops to address Downtown Master Plan The city of Rehoboth Beach, Del., has invited the public to participate in a two-day series of meetings and workshop sessions scheduled for Nov. 12-13 to help develop a new Downtown Master Plan. A statement released by the city says the two-day event is being organized jointly by the city and the consulting ﬁrm Dover, Kohl & Partners, which the city retained to help develop the master plan and revisions for the city’s zoning law. It says the upcoming meetings and workshops follow a series of July meetings focused on proposed zoning-law revisions. The statement says the upcoming sessions in November will seek to create “a broader, uniﬁed vision for the heart of the city.” It adds that the new master

plan “will serve as a roadmap, equipping community leaders and stakeholders with the tools needed to bring that vision to life.” It also notes that achieving the city’s vision will require the (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) continued commitment and support of current and future city leaders and the active involvement of community members.

Comings & Goings

“That’s why your participation is essential,” the statement continues. “You will be able to gain fresh insights, review current trends, and help shape solutions that will guide the Downtown Master Plan.” The statement says the Nov. 12-13 workshop sessions will take place at the Rehoboth City Hall building at 229 Rehoboth Ave. Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 12 and run through 4:30 p.m. The Nov. 13 sessions run 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Further details of the workshop sessions and efforts to develop a revised master plan for the city can be accessed at: rehobothbeachde.gov/205/Master-PlanningInitiative-Dover-Kohl-Pa LOU CHIBBARO JR. JEFF HAMMERBERG

Hammerberg gives back to LGBTQ causes via GayBusiness.com 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 Jeff Hammerberg on bringing to fruition his idea of GayBusiness.com. “After nearly three decades building GayRealEstate. com, I’ve seen how much it matters for LGBTQ+ people to feel welcome when choosing a business or professional,” he said. “Retirement has given me the time to think about other ways to serve that same community. GayBusiness.com grew from that idea: help people ﬁnd welcoming businesses, give those businesses greater visibility, and direct every listing fee as a donation to an LGBTQ+ charity.” Hammerberg is an entrepreneur, U.S. Navy veteran, and the founder of GayRealEstate.com. His work has focused on connecting LGBTQ people with businesses and professionals who welcome and respect them. He founded GayRealEstate.com in 1996 to help LGBTQ

home buyers and sellers find real estate agents who understood their needs. He built the company over nearly three decades before selling it in 2024. He remained involved through the ownership transition and maintains a friendly relationship with the new ownership group. Now retired and living in Lisbon, Portugal, with his husband, Merlin Parker, Hammerberg continues to develop projects that combine his business experience with service to the LGBTQ community. GayBusiness.com extends that work beyond real estate. While it was developed by Hammerberg, it is now sponsored by GayRealEstate.com. It is a nationwide directory of LGBTQ-owned and LGBTQ-affirming businesses. It helps consumers find welcoming businesses by location and category, while directing financial support to LGBTQ charities. Participating businesses receive a lifetime listing in exchange for a one-time $99 donation to an eligible LGBTQ charity of their choice. The entire donation goes to the selected charity, with no recurring listing fees. Qualifying nonprofit organizations can join the directory free. Hammerberg conceived the project as a way to give back to the community he served throughout his career.

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The idea brings together three practical goals: helping consumers ﬁnd businesses where they feel welcome, giving those businesses an affordable way to be discovered, and supporting nonproﬁt organizations doing essential community work. Before his career in real estate, and online business, he served as Assistant to the Navigator aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. His professional background includes commercial real estate development and management in Denver, where he worked at BCED Development, and served as director of Asset Management for the Linpro Company. He later built and sold a successful residential real estate brokerage in Denver’s exclusive Cherry Creek neighborhood.

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LGBTQ community centers facing challenges amid hostile political climate 76 percent of facilities experiencing threats, harassment: report By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

A newly released report based on a survey of 175 LGBTQ community centers located throughout the U.S. has found that 76 percent of the centers have experienced anti-LGBTQ threats or harassment either online or offline over the past year due to a hostile political climate. But the 2026 10th biennial LGBTQ Community Center Survey Report, released on Oct. 15, also shows that nearly all the LGBTQ centers that responded to the survey have continued to provide a wide range of services to the LGBTQ people in their local communities despite the obstacles many are facing. The 2026 survey and report were conducted and prepared by the Movement Advancement Project and CenterLink, two national LGBTQ-supportive organizations that advocate for and conduct research on LGBTQ related issues. The report says the two organizations distributed a detailed online survey to 356 known LGBTQ community centers in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It says 175 of the centers responded by participating in the survey from 39 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center and two other D.C. LGBTQ organizations that the report says identified as community centers — the LGBTQ youth services group SMYAL and Rainbow Families DC — were among the centers that participated in the survey, according to the report. It shows that three LGBTQ community centers in Maryland and five in Virginia also participated in the survey. “Based on survey responses from 175 participating LGBTQ community centers, the report highlights some of the countless important contributions that centers make to the communities they service, impacting both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ people,” a statement released by the two organizations says. “The analysis shows that across the country, centers are continuing to work to meet the needs of the community, often while facing political hostility, budget constraints, and other challenges,” the statement says. “LGBTQ community centers are critical anchors, often offering lifelines to those who needed it most,” CenterLink CEO Denise Spivak says in the statement. “This report not only details the vital role of centers but highlights the urgent need for increased investment and long-term committed support from individual funders, foundations, and state and local governments,” she said. The statement lists these specific findings of the survey that are presented in the report based on the responses from the 175 LGBTQ community centers: • The participating LGBTQ community centers collectively serve over 29,000 people each week, totaling 1.5 million people per year, with many centers “primarily serving people and communities that are historically under-resourced and under-served.” • The majority (66 percent) of LGBTQ community centers directly provide physical health, mental health, and/or anti-violence services or programs. In 2025 alone, centers provided health services to over 92,600 people across 86 centers. • Almost half of centers (46 percent) offer computer resources or services to the public. In 2025, computer resources at responding centers were used by over 1,100 people every week, or nearly 59,000 people over the year. • Nearly all (95 percent) of centers engage in advocacy, public policy, or civic engagement activities, including educating the public about LGBTQ people or LGBTQ issues, working in community-led policy coalitions, and supporting pro-LGBTQ legislation. • Government grants are a key source of revenue for LGBTQ community centers. Although over half (58 percent) of responding centers currently receive government grants, in total more than $124 million, centers report significant obstacles to accessing these grants. • Overall, 65 percent of responding centers employ paid staff, providing jobs to 3,110 people across 37 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, but nearly half (49 percent) of all LGBTQ community centers remain thinly staffed. The statement points out that although LGBTQ centers have shown “tremendous responsiveness” during the past two years, they have identified several continuing challenges in their survey responses. “The current political climate targeting LGBTQ — and especially transgender and youth — populations pose an ongoing substantial challenge,” the statement says. “Centers continue to name this atmosphere as impacting their work, their safety and

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security, their staff, the communities they serve, the funding they receive, and more,” it says. The statement adds, “The vast majority (76 percent) of all centers reported that they had experienced anti-LGBTQ threats or harassment, whether online, offline, or both.” It says many of the centers reported that these threats “were driven by anti-LGBTQ rhetoric broadly and targeted their transgender and/or youth related programs and events.” The statement points out that although the centers are responding “strategically” to the threats, increased safety measures they have taken require additional funding. Spokespeople for the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center, SMYAL, and Rainbow Families DC didn’t immediately respond to messages from the Washington Blade asking if they have encountered anti-LGBTQ threats or harassment that the report says other LGBTQ centers have encountered. The report shows that the four LGBTQ community centers that participated in the survey from Maryland are based in the cities of Easton, Annapolis, and Frederick. It shows the five LGBTQ centers in Virginia that participated in the survey are located in the cities of Winchester, Richmond, Norfolk, Staunton, and McLean, which is a D.C. suburb.

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

Dana Juniel, a spokesperson for the Movement Advancement Project, one of the two groups that prepared the survey and report, told the Blade that the two groups assured all survey participants that their individual responses would remain confidential and that the report would only disclose the “aggregated” response of all of the respondents. She said the survey was sent to at least two of the prominent LGBTQ centers in Delaware — CAMP Rehoboth located in Rehoboth Beach and Sussex Pride located in nearby Milton. She said neither of those two centers participated in the survey. A spokesperson for CAMP Rehoboth couldn’t immediately be reached. David Mariner, executive director of Sussex Pride, told the Blade he was unable to complete the survey in time for its deadline. Like other centers that did participate in the survey, Mariner said Sussex Pride has received some anti-LGBTQ harassing phone calls and messages on social media, but his group hasn’t received threats of violence. A map of the states in which problems have surfaced for LGBTQ community centers shows most of the centers encountering problems were in so-called red states with conservative Republican governors and state legislatures. By contrast, D.C.’s locally elected mayor and City Council and the Democratic governor of Virginia — Abigail Spanberger and the Democratic governor of Maryland, Wes Moore — have been supportive on LGBTQ related issues.

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Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs celebrates 20 years Close to 200 mostly local LGBTQ community members and activists turned out on Thursday, Oct. 15, for the 20th anniversary celebration for the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs. The event, which took place at the Penn Social event hall in downtown D.C., included remarks by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Office of LGBTQ Affairs Director Japer Bowles as well as LGBTQ community advocates Rayceen Pendarvis and Charity Blackwell. The local dance group Urban Culture also performed on the stage where each of the speakers, including Bowers and Bowles, credited the community activists attending the event and others involved in the LGBTQ rights movement with helping the LGBTQ Affairs office succeed in its work. Prior to and after the presentation by the speakers, local DJ, music producer, and community activist Tony Play presented house and dance music, including the music the Urban Culture dance group performed with. The LGBTQ Affairs Office, officially named the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs, has Cabinet-level status and currently has six staff members, including Bowles as director. In his remarks, Bowles noted that the office serves as the largest LGBTQ funding organization in the D.C. region, administering over $1 million in annual grants for local LGBTQ organizations and services. Both he and Bowser said among the office’s most important accomplishments in recent years was helping the city serve as host for World Pride 2025, which drew more than a million visitors to the city who participated in hundreds of LGBTQ-related events. “This has been one of the greatest honors of my life to lead this office,” Bowles told the gathering. “We’re celebrat-

ing during LGBTQ History Month,” he said. “Our history is not just something we look back on. It is something we keep making,” he pointed out, adding, “D.C. isn’t just supportive. D.C. is the movement.” D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs Bowles said that Director JAPER BOWLES speaks the with the strong office’s 20th anniversary celebration support of Bowser, on Oct. 15. (Blade photo by Lou Chibbaro Jr.) the LGBTQ Affairs Office over the past 20 years has trained thousands of D.C. government employees in LGBTQ cultural and sensitivity awareness, “invested in hate violence prevention,” supported programs to provide housing for homeless LGBTQ youth and adults, supported a project to document the Black LGBTQ community’s history, and “we directed millions of dollars to organizations serving our community every day.” “And I’m so grateful to you, the advocates, the community organizations, the business leaders, and our staff,” he said. In introducing Bowser as the next speaker, Bowles credited her with putting in place policies and actions that have advanced the office’s support for the LGBTQ community. In her remarks at the event Bowser praised Bowles for his work in advancing the LGBTQ Affairs Office’s mission. She thanked former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams under whom she noted the Office of LGBTQ Affairs was created during his

last year in office. “So, this is a birthday party, but it is also a call to action,” the mayor said. “Because I will sow my last day on Jan. 2,” she added, referring to her last day as mayor after deciding not to run for re-election for a fourth term in office. Bowser noted that around the time the LGBTQ Affairs office was started the issue of legalizing same-sex marriage came up before the D.C. Council when she was on the Council representing Ward 4. She mentioned that the proposal was introduced by gay Council member David Catania and she immediately expressed support for the proposed legislation, which the Council later passed. “And then those arguments, the discussions happened,” she said, referring to the ongoing debate over same-sex marriage and the possibility of Congress stepping in to overturn a D.C. marriage bill. “But I have to tell you, your government said this is what we’re going to do. And we’re going to make it happen so there is equality in the District of Columbia,” she said. She noted that the success in the approval of the samesex marriage bill in D.C. was symbolic of the mission and success of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs over the following 20 years. “People worked, they fought, they argued, they compromised, and they made this change,” she said. When asked how he thought the event went, Bowles told the Washington Blade he was excited over the turnout and those who attended. “A room full of community members, leaders, history makers, new friends, colleagues,” he said. “It was great. That’s what a birthday party is all about — it’s about honoring the people of the past, celebrating the many years ahead.” LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Arlington Catholic bishop urges no vote on Va. Question 2 Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge urged Virginians to vote against a proposed state constitutional amendment that would enshrine marriage rights for same-sex couples. Burbidge, who heads the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, spoke about his position on Question 2 in a video that Catholics Vote No promoted on its website. The diocese also posted it on its YouTube channel. “[Question 2] would remove from our state constitu-

tion the truth, as Jesus taught, that marriage is between one man and one woman,” says Burbidge. “It would also enshrine gender ideology by falsely separating the reality of one’s sex and gender, obscuring the truth that we are created in the image and likeness of God.” Burbidge also urged Virginians to vote no on Question 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution. Early voting began in Virginia on Sept. 18.

Equality Virginia and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia are among the groups behind Virginians for Marriage Equality, a campaign that urges voters to vote yes on Question 2. Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2025, is among those who oppose marriage equality and reproductive rights protections in the state constitution. FROM STAFF REPORTS

Va. Medicaid, CHIP end gender-affirming care for minors Virginia’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program on Oct. 13 stopped covering gender-affirming care for transgender minors in response to a Trump-Vance administration directive. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in August announced federal funding could no longer be used to pay for gender-affirming care through Medicaid or CHIP. Virginia’s Medicaid program will no longer cover gender-affirming care for anyone under 18; and its CHIP will no longer cover it for those under 19. Advocates say this decision will adversely impact trans youth with parents who cannot afford private insurance or pay out of pocket for health care. State Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas) in 2020 when she was in the Virginia House of Delegates introduced House Bill 1429 that prohibits health insurance companies from discriminating against policy holders based on gender identity.

Then-Gov. Ralph Northam signed it. “In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed my bipartisan bill defining transition-related care as medically necessary,” said Roem in an Oct. 13 social media post. “It also prohibits health insurers from discriminating against trans folks. When the feds set out to hurt, Virginia should step up to help.” Roem in 2018 became the first openly trans person seated in a state legislature in the U.S. She has been in the Virginia Senate since 2024. “As the author of the bipartisan 2020 bill HB 1429 that defined transition-related care as medically necessary and prohibited health insurers from discriminating against trans people, I know how important it is for patients to be able to follow their doctor’s orders,” Roem told the Washington Blade on Tuesday. “Medical decisions need to be left to patients, their families and their physicians, not the federal

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administration. “When the federal government intentionally fails to cover medically necessary health care for trans people through Medicaid, then that means families with the money to afford care can get it while families with the same needs that can’t afford it are being told to go without that same medically necessary care,” she added. “Until the federal government rectifies that discriminatory inequity either through a policy change or through the courts, the commonwealth of Virginia should step up to take care of Virginians’ health care needs.” Roem noted she “lived uninsured for 2.5 years.” “I also know what it’s like to have had health insurance not cover my health care needs,” she said. “Simply put, when you have a prescription for your medically necessary care from your physician, you should be able to afford it, no matter who you are.” ALEXIS McLEAN

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I Grew Up on a Cattle Ranch. I’m Voting Yes on Initiative 86. By Cady Witt, Pro-Animal DC Campaign Director

I grew up on a cattle ranch, where the day’s first sounds were gates creaking, hooves shifting, and cows mooing across the pasture. I remember looking into animals’ eyes while feeding them and learning how different each was. Some were bold, some cautious; some wanted touch, some wanted space. You’d think ranch life would make me numb to suffering, but instead, I’m unable to ignore it. Two years ago, I started Pro-Animal DC, a group of 150 volunteers dedicated to passing laws to protect farmed animals from cruelty. This year, we collected signatures to get Initiative 86 on the November ballot. If it passes, DC will prohibit force-feeding birds and the sale of foie gras and other fattened bird liver products. All foie gras sold in the U.S. is produced through gavage, a practice in which ducks and geese are force-fed corn and oil through long tubes inserted down their throats. This happens multiple times a day for weeks on end, until birds’ livers become diseased, birds become obese, and many can barely walk. Contrary to some producers’ claims, this process is neither natural nor humane, and even public tours reveal the truth.

CADY WITT giving a speech at the Initiative 86 Signature-Turn In

DC has the second highest number of restaurants serving foie gras in the country, and what happens before those dishes reach our tables is simply unacceptable. Growing up on a cattle ranch taught me that animals are not just products on our plates; they are living beings whose lives can be made better or worse by human choices. Nothing about serving foie gras should make us proud, and it’s time to end the DC market for this cruelty by voting yes on Initiative 86.

Photo taken at DC’s top supplier of foie gras / Feb. 18th, 2026

Two U.S. foie gras producers have been exposed this year. In February, a photojournalist toured Hudson Valley Foie Gras, DC’s top foie gras supplier, and shared heartbreaking photos and videos of the force-feeding process. Ducks were covered in their own waste, their eyes were infected, and they desperately attempted to escape their cages while handlers grabbed them by the neck, one by one, forcibly restraining them to insert the feeding tubes. Last week, footage from another investigation, at Minnesota foie gras producer Au Bon Canard, showed ducks with thick metal pipes shoved down their throats, panting in pens with wire floors, unable to walk, and one dead on the barn floor. The ranch taught me to be wary of clean, comforting language that hides violence and harm. “Harvest.” “Processing.” “Tradition.” “Delicacy.” Foie gras has benefited from that kind of language for a long time, but its elegant name hides a dark and disturbing reality. The cruelty of gavage is so extreme that California, New York City, Portland, Pittsburgh, and Brookline, Massachusetts, have already voted to end it. Even in places with prestigious restaurants and serious chefs, voters and lawmakers recognized a basic truth: great food does not require force-feeding, and some practices are cruel enough to draw a line.

CADY posing with a sheep at her family’s ranch in Kentucky

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Dems seek answers on EEOC settlement affecting LGBTQ workers Scott, Takano want clarification on anti-bias protections By JOE REBERKENNY | jreberkenny@washblade.com

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission agreed in August to a settlement with the Christian Employers Alliance that could limit the agency’s ability to pursue certain workplace discrimination claims involving gender identity. Now, Democratic lawmakers are questioning how far the agreement reaches — and whether it could constrain the commission’s enforcement decisions for years to come. The Washington Blade obtained an early version of a letter from U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), raising concerns about the settlement and its potential implications for workplace protections. The agreement stems from a lawsuit the CEA filed challenging the Biden-Harris administration’s EEOC guidance on workplace harassment; including protections involving gender identity, pronouns, dress codes, and access to bathrooms and other facilities. The CEA argued that the guidance infringed on its members’ religious rights. Under the settlement, the EEOC agreed not to pursue certain charges based on gender identity discrimination against the CEA and its member organizations. The agreement also covers future CEA members, provided the alleged conduct occurred while the employer was a member of the organization, raising questions about whether employers could receive protections from agency enforcement by joining the alliance. Two Democratic congressional aides familiar with the EEOC’s work and workplace protections, who spoke to the Blade on the condition that they remain anonymous, said the agreement could restrict the commission’s ability to pursue discrimination complaints and potentially tie the hands of future administrations. “They’re sort of swearing not to go after it and not exercising their own discretion, but they’re also purporting to bind future administrations with respect to exercising that discretion,” one aide said. The aide said the agreement raises constitutional questions about whether the current administration can limit how future administrations exercise the EEOC’s enforcement authority. In their letter to EEOC Chair Andrea R. Lucas, Scott and Takano question the legal authority for an agreement that they say would prevent future administrations from pursuing certain claims. They cite a 1986 Justice Department legal opinion concerning settlement agreements that constrain the discretion of future administrations and ask Lucas to explain the legal basis for the EEOC’s decision. Rep. MARK TAKANO (D-Calif.) is raising concerns about the The lawmakers also ask settlement and its implications for workplace protections. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) whether the commission has entered into similar agreements, whether other federal agencies were consulted and whether the EEOC believes there are limits to its authority to make such commitments. Scott also criticized the EEOC’s handling of workplace discrimination involving transgender and nonbinary people, arguing that the commission has failed to uphold its responsibilities under federal law. “Discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people is a serious and ongoing issue. A recent survey found that despite the Bostock decision, 27 percent of transgender people experienced workplace discrimination in the past year. The EEOC was created under Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and charged with addressing discrimination against workers. Yet, under Chair Lucas’s leadership, the EEOC has abdicated this responsibility under the law when it comes to transgender and nonbinary workers,” said Scott. The commission’s fiscal year 2026 litigation filings also reflect a shift in its enforcement priorities. The agency’s lawsuits largely tracked its National Enforcement Plan, which emphasizes religious discrimination, alleged anti-American bias, protections for women and purportedly unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. 1 6 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 23 , 2 0 2 6 • NAT I O NA L NE WS

The EEOC filed 16 religion-based lawsuits, pursued several cases involving alleged discrimination against majority-group members and continued to bring pregnancy and sex discrimination claims. However, its filings included no lawsuits brought on behalf of LGBTQ employees, underscoring questions about how the commission is prioritizing workplace discrimination claims under Lucas’s leadership. The filings suggest the NEP has served as a roadmap for the agency’s litigation decisions, rather than merely a statement of policy priorities. The letter raises a further concern: whether the agreement could allow employers to obtain protection from certain discrimination claims simply by joining the CEA. The congressional aides questioned what safeguards would prevent employers from joining the alliance primarily to shield themselves from discrimination claims, rather than because of a genuine commitment to the organization’s stated religious principles. “What kind of oversight is going to exist to even ensure that these future employers who join […] could just lie, right?” one aide said, questioning whether employers could claim to share the CEA’s beliefs while seeking liability protection. The aides also raised concerns about the financial incentives the agreement could create for the organization as it recruits new members. “It’s more than a little gross that this alliance is attracting other employers to join their alliance and making a buck off of workers’ discriminations, you know, complaints not being adjudicated by EEOC,” one aide said. Scott and Takano are asking the EEOC to explain what requirements employers must meet to qualify for CEA membership and what safeguards will ensure they continue to meet those criteria. They also want to know how the agency will handle complaints involving multiple forms of alleged discrimination when only some fall within the settlement’s terms. The agreement does not prevent workers from filing complaints with the EEOC, according to the congressional aides. Workers may also retain the ability to pursue private lawsuits. But the aides said employees could lose the commission’s support in cases the settlement prevents it from pursuing. “They will still have the right to bring private lawsuits, they just won’t have the EEOC in their corner,” one aide said. The lawmakers are seeking answers about what happens when an employee files a complaint against a CEA-member employer and the employer claims the case is covered by the settlement. They ask how quickly the EEOC would issue a right-to-sue notice in such circumstances and whether workers would be told that the settlement was the reason the agency did not pursue their cases. The letter also asks whether the EEOC has developed — or plans to develop — notices explaining when an investigation is closed or partially closed because of the agreement. The aides said the agreement’s precise scope remains unclear, including how it could affect complaints involving conduct beyond the specific issues challenged in the CEA’s lawsuit. They also questioned whether its implications could extend to other forms of sexbased discrimination, such as discrimination based on an employee’s appearance or failure to conform to gender stereotypes. “The scope of this seems really big. Well, actually, it seems undefined, which is really the scary part,” one aide said. The lawmakers are also seeking information about the role of EEOC Chief of Staff Shannon Royce, who, according to the letter, was CEA president when the organization filed its lawsuit. They ask whether Royce participated in the settlement process, whether she recused herself and whether the commission will provide records of relevant communications and meetings. Scott and Takano are requesting quarterly reports on the number of investigations involving the CEA and its members that the EEOC closes because they fall within the settlement’s terms. The aides said the letter is intended to establish a record of the lawmakers’ concerns and signal that they intend to continue scrutinizing the agreement. One aide warned that the settlement could contribute to a broader chilling effect on LGBTQ workers. “I think this is one more move by this administration to shove people back in the closet,” the aide said. The Blade contacted the EEOC on Friday seeking comment on the settlement’s implications for workplace protections and responses to the questions raised by Scott and Takano. The EEOC has yet to respond.

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ZAR

is the mononymous community advocate, speechwriter, songwriter, and event organizer who founded Team Rayceen Productions in 2014.

The rainbow disconnection Despite all the distractions, I hope we see each other

most vulnerable youth, but generally, young adults are left In this year of sparse and lackluster LGBTQ History Month to their own devices, pun intended. However, those young programming, the future of LGBTQ history concerns me. I people’s lack of deference is not surprising and is symptomam troubled by the state of the LGBTQ community, both in a atic of the lack of leadership and dearth of opportunities for global context and specifically in Washington, D.C. Much of intergenerational interactions. what bothers me comes down to what I perceive as a lack of People of all ages seem to lack deference for those who camaraderie, deference, and discernment. have already done or are currently doing what they are trying One obstacle for future historians will be determining to do. Instead of community building, some people want to what constitutes D.C.’s LGBTQ community. To be accurate, make everything a DIY project, even when they are offered it is not exactly a community, but rather a loose coalition of free advice and assistance. Perhaps they would rather take individuals who are segregated by gender identity, sexual full credit for a minor achievement than share accolades for orientation, age, language, color, ethnicity, and socioecoa more significant accomplishment. nomic status. There’s no cohesion and minimal communiDeath should trigger more deference, but besides the cation: separate bubbles, disconnected and unaware of rare mural, statue, or street renaming, I don’t think D.C. each other. Small groups claim to have no capacity for outexcels at honoring the dearly departed. reach. Large organizations are aloof and Typically, at best, there is a perfunctotoo comfortable to be bothered. Some ry obituary. Sometimes, not even that. I nonprofit executives and government buthink of LGBTQ ally Angelina Pappas of reaucrats, many of whom are competent, Kouzina Angelina’s Pizzeria, whose 2025 effective, or at least have good intentions, death is still probably unknown to many are visible, yet many of the most promiformer regulars of Town Danceboutique. nent individuals are fame-chasing social The deaths of LGBTQ luminaries SaVanna media influencers, some of whom also Wanzer and Rainey Cheeks both received mean well, while others are hacks, scammedia attention, but were they recogmers, frauds, sellouts, and buffoons. We nized in ways that truly reflect their imdon’t have charismatic leaders, let alone pacts? More importantly, did the people fearless ones. who lauded them in death help or hurt the Many LGBTQ events in D.C. are very causes they each championed? niche, which is fine (and often fantastic); WorldPride DC in 2025 coincided with however, it would behoove us to also the 50th anniversary of the inaugural have events that intentionally create spac(Photo via Bigstock/almoond) 1975 block party, which led to and mores where a diverse array of people could phed into D.C.’s annual Pride month celegather. Parades, pageants, and brunches brations. During the chaos of special LGBTQ events (and the have limited appeal or impact. To create camaraderie, we rapid implementation of Project 2025), those five decades of need opportunities for people to interact and learn about struggle and perseverance were not at the forefront. Neverthe important work others have done and are doing. theless, Queering the District Podcast launched its first seaToo many people in positions of power don’t have defson (with season two episodes premiering in October 2026), erence for our elders. Unless they are honoring someone, and Rainbow History Project (which could do much more the elders are not even an afterthought. It doesn’t have to with additional funding and volunteers) continues to collect be this way. One of my favorite assignments in recent years stories and archive artifacts. We are also fortunate that the was when SpeakOut USA tasked Team Rayceen Productions Friends of Dorothy Café organized panel discussions earlier with inviting community elders to be I AM Awards guests, this year and the American University Humanities Truck regat a table sponsored by UnitedHealthcare. The elders were ularly records autobiographical interviews. Doing meaninggrateful. I wondered why this was not a common practice. ful things is possible. To echo the sentiment of the social meIn the world of Balls, about which I am primarily informed dia comments section when someone takes extreme action by Rayceen Pendarvis and, as are many people, the docufor a romantic partner: if we wanted to, we would. mentary film “Paris Is Burning,” there is the LSS category: I pity the historians of the future, and that’s without assumLegends, Stars, and Statements. The people invited to walk ing that eventually AI will delete everything, rewrite history, the runway and have a moment in the spotlight include trailand use it to turn us all against each other. D.C.’s LGBTQ blazers and elders. In my experience, such acknowledgehistory will be difficult to document, even if today’s social ment and reverence is an exception. media apps still exist. Physical photographs are now rare. Media have a lack of discernment. People get their 15 minMedia reviews of events, shows, or venues are scarce. Histoutes of fame only to just as quickly fade into obscurity or, in rians will have to sort through self-aggrandizement, political our nation’s capital of transients, to relocate or return home. spin, paid promotions disguised as journalism, favoritism, Other individuals or organizations are lauded only to have filters, and blatant deception to even get some semblance a contrary narrative revealed later. Perhaps there should be of the truth. more deference for the truth. We are living in challenging times, but they are revelatory. There is definitely a lack of regard for youth (and future People are showing us who they are. I hope that, despite all generations). The demise of D.C. Youth Pride Day made that the distractions, we see each other. clear. There are local service providers for children and the 2 2 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 23 , 2 0 2 6 • V I E WP O I NT

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EMMA CIESLIK

is a D.C.-based museum worker and historian.

On International Pronouns Day, remember the Publick Universal Friend Coming out has, and always will be, sacred

Two hundred and fifty years ago in Cumberland, R.I., the Publick Universal Friend proclaimed that the person who had formerly occupied their body (a young woman named Jemima Wilkinson) had died after a short battle with Typhus. After their death, their body was resurrected, reanimated, they explained, by God as the Publick Universal Friend. The Friend had no gender and did not use gendered pronouns, and went on to preach along the Northeast coast and found their own religious community and settlement for the 43 years that they were alive. As we celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month and International Pronoun Day, the Friend’s story is about recognizing and celebrating our queer ancestors and respecting their and by extension our chosen names and pronouns. It’s also a story about how coming out — sharing our names, our pronouns, and identities — has and always will be sacred. On the night Oct. 10, 1776, the Friend explains in their writings that Wilkinson suffered from Typhus that arrived on the Continental navy ship Columbus in Providence. Between nine and ten on the following morning, Jemima took her final breath “and according to the declaration of the Angels -- the Spirit took full possession of the Body it now animates,” the Friend wrote in their manuscript, “A Memorandum of the Introduction of that Fatal Fever, in the year 1776.” In the coming years, the Friend dressed in clothing that defied strict gender binaries, wearing a cravat and robe like a traditional minister or clergyman, and preached in the northern colonies. In November 1784, they distributed a pamphlet entitled “The Universal Friend’s Advice to Those of the Same Religious Society,” wherein they urged followers to forsake worldly pleasures in exchange for spiritual growth, and advocate for human free will, pacifism, humility, and the abolition of slavery. Many of these tenets pulled from the Quaker faith and also incorporated New Light evangelicalism (they were previously cast out of their Quaker community for attending New Light meetings) and Christian mysticism. While the Friend had amassed a large following, called the Society of the Universal Friends, they were still persecuted for defying a strict gender binary and for preaching without theological training. Eventually, the Friend and their followers settled in Western New York in a new town they called Jerusalem. There, the Friend continued to preach until their death on July 1, 1819, after which they were buried in an unmarked grave (as per their wishes). Although the Friend became a well-known fixture in Philadelphia by the late 18th century, the Society’s popularity waned, and the Society fully disbanded by the late 1860s. Despite the fact that the Friend wrote in their Will, dated May 22, 1820, that “I once the person called Jemima Wilkinson but in & ever since the year 1777 known as & called the Publick Universal Friend hereunto set my name,” historians continue to describe the Friend as either a woman who combined male and female attributes or someone who existed in between these categories rather than someone born distinctly outside of them. Some historians even refer to the Friend as Jemima, disputing or casting doubt on the name and identity that the Friend claimed during their life, continuing to misgender and deadname the Friend despite their explicit writings. This is not new — as many queer and trans people know, homophobia and transphobia exists in historical academic spaces. How many of us have laughed (albeit sadly) at how historians have frequently called two women living in a “Boston marriage” best friends when in reality they were likely women who had a deeply intimate and potential sexual relationship? What about the cases of “confirmed bachelors” that queer historians are beginning to revisit? In these cases, historians argue that because there is an absence of information verifying that these women shared a deep emotional bond, a lack of evidence that they had sex, that they cannot be in love with one another. While the terms “lesbian,” “sapphic,” or “queer” may not have been used at the time in the ways we do today and would likely not have been claimed by these women, it doesn’t mean that their relationship does not reflect those of sapphic couples today. It is erasure through absence, erasure through homophobic historical scholarship. Think about it: How many heterosexual relationships were deemed romantic despite evidence of the erotic details? But in the case of the Universal Publick Friend, the Friend made detailed notes about their resurrection, about their life and their beliefs, yet for years was dead, misgendered, or defined by gender(s) that they did not possess or claim.

PETER ROSENSTEIN

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

Leaving for a transatlantic cruise and hoping for a Dem Congress when I return Annual trip takes me away from Election Day chaos

I consider myself fortunate to be able to take an annual transatlantic cruise. When I began doing this, what were called repositioning cruises, moving ships to better climates for a different season, were fairly inexpensive, and never full. That is not the case today. Now they are always full, and the prices have gone up significantly. But I have become addicted to doing them. I love being at sea. When you read this, I will have spent a day in Barcelona, and then boarded the Celebrity XCEL for a 16-day cruise back to Miami. My first TA cruise on Celebrity was on the Silhouette, which is still my favorite ship. They had this beautiful ice bar, and dancers behind screens that were seen in silhouette. Since then, my transatlantic trips have been on Celebrity’s Edge class ships. They are larger, and a bit fancier. The first of those was the EDGE. Then they added APEX, BEYOND, ASCENT and last year, XCEL. This will be my first trip on XCEL, and the chance to see the changes they have made. They have already announced the next ship in that class will come online in 2028, and be called XCITE. Over the years I have come to know they are basically all the same, with a series of small modifications, and additions. They all have different artwork, and a different sculpture at the main pool. The interior designs are similar with the major changes in the tunnel leading to what was called the Eden lounge and restaurant. I understand this lounge and restaurant have now been changed, and are called The Bazaar. I am sad as this was the location of each evening’s LGBTQ happy hour, and my favorite specialty restaurant on the ships. But I will share my opinions on this change on my blog once I am onboard. As the new ships came online, they had a larger sunset bar, and the retreat, the high-end place on the ship, now has a two-level sundeck. I am fortunate and stay in the retreat. What has been interesting is the changes they are making to pricing onboard. The nickel-and-diming of passengers that really seems unnecessary. Now when you want to move money from your online account, to the casino, so you can gamble it away, they charge a fee. Then your premium drink package no longer guarantees you won’t be charged extra for some drinks. Then they stopped including your tips for crew in your fare, but didn’t lower the cruise price, and raised how much they tell you to tip. That amount is automatically billed to your account. What they don’t tell you, is you can tell them not to bill it, and rather tip your cabin steward, bartenders, and others directly, so they know the money is coming from you. Dealing with Celebrity’s PR office has become a total joke. But despite these issues I have not thought of changing my future bookings with Celebrity. One of the reasons is the individual crew members, once you are onboard. They have always been wonderful. They work really hard to make your cruise enjoyable, and memorable. This will be the first time I will be on the XCEL and based on the app calendar, they have changed the location of the daily LGBTQ+ happy hour to the Sunset bar, and list it specifically for only 30 minutes. I know this isn’t a great place for it, especially if there is a big crowd. Then why only 30 minutes? Will they kick people out after that? It makes little sense. But I trust my incredible travel agents, and friends, Scott and Dustin, of My Lux Cruise, who are already trying to change both the location, and timeframe. They do have some clout having booked over 200 people on this cruise, and most likely a hefty number of the suites in the retreat. If you are going on a cruise, I can’t recommend a better agency to work with, especially since they have now added the wonderful Samantha to their staff. While we will make five stops during the 16 days, I love most the days at sea. As always, I will be blogging during the cruise, so. I hope you will come back and share my experiences from the XCEL. A final word, as I will be at sea on Election Day, I voted before I left. I urge every one of you to VOTE. It is your votes determining how excited I will be to return to the good ole USA, on Nov. 8. Please put a smile on my face.

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25th annual Best Of LGBTQ DC Award winners Celebrating our community’s standouts in food, nightlife, activism, and more FROM STAFF REPORTS

This year marks a quarter century of celebrating our community in the Blade’s annual Best Of LGBTQ D.C. Awards. The awards began 25 years ago as a way to highlight businesses, performers, activists, non-profits, allies, clergy, athletes, and others contributing to D.C.’s vibrant and diverse queer community. The awards are voted on by Blade readers, with some categories receiving Editor’s Choice nods. Tens of thousands of you submitted nominations in nearly 70 categories. The top five vote getters in each category became finalists and then you voted again for the winners. This year’s writers include Lou Chibbaro Jr., Joe Reberkenny, Michael K. Lavers, Kevin Naff, Tinashe Chingarande, Evan Caplan, Patrick Folliard, and Alexis McLean. Special thanks to Michael Key for shooting the photos and coordinating the online voting. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.

Local Hero: Lynne Brown

Lynne Brown, who has been with the Washington Blade since 1987 and became the Blade’s publisher in 2007, assumed the role of publisher emerita in June of this year after retiring from her day-to-day duties while remaining a part owner. Brown played a lead role in the Blade’s growth and evolution as the nation’s most prominent LGBTQ newspaper, including its launch of sister publication, the Los Angeles Blade. Prior to becoming publisher, she served as the Blade’s senior sales executive. She also played an important role along with Blade co-owners Kevin Naff, who serves as Blade editor, and longtime Blade advertising executive Brian Pitts, who has succeeded Brown as publisher, in resurrecting the Blade after its previous owner declared bankruptcy in 2009. (Photo courtesy of Brown) “Lynne has been a rock, helping us navigate financial crises and a pandemic,” said Blade editor Naff. “The Blade wouldn’t have survived without her dedication,” he said, “She is the publisher every editor would want.” In pointing out that LGBTQ media is still relevant, Brown cited the recent erosion of LGBTQ rights as evidence that the Blade’s work remains important. “The Blade helps fight invisibility and isolation,” she said. “We may have rights today, but we have seen rights eroded or erased. The Blade reports on those rights authentically and accurately and serves as a communication tool and a historian for the community.” Shortly after the Blade’s previous owner, Window Media, filed for bankruptcy Brown, Naff, and Pitts acquired the Blade’s assets from the bankruptcy court and relaunched the Blade with Brown as publisher under the new company they formed, Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia. Brown has said the period following the bankruptcy became her biggest challenge as publisher. “The crisis that birthed Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia kept me overly focused on millions of details,” she said. “My greatest personal challenge was delegating and letting go of details,” she added, noting that the “strengths and skills” of the staff and building the right team helped her and the Blade get through the crisis. In April of this year, Curve magazine and the Curve Foundation named Brown to its 2026 Curve Power List honoring LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals in North America who are blazing trails in their chosen fields. “From sports and entertainment icons to corporate leaders and lawmakers, these individuals are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and shaping the future,” Curve said in announcing its 2026 list including Brown. “An annual, publicly nominated list of impactful LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers is crucial in current times to counter discrimination, legislative rollbacks, hostility, and the invisibility of queer women within mainstream and marginal spaces and endeavors,” the announcement says. “I am honored to be recognized by Curve magazine during Lesbian Visibility Week,” Brown said at the time of the announcement in April. “As an owner-publisher, receiving 2 4 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 23 , 2 0 2 6

recognition from a similar source acknowledges my work and efforts, with a sincerity I truly appreciate.”

NIGHTLIFE

Best Drag Queen: Tara Hoot

Whether you’ve seen her protesting for free speech at the Kennedy Center or learned how to make one of her Midwest delicacies (tater tot casserole, anyone?) like the more than 50,000 Instagram followers have, Tara Hoot has become a recognizable — and outspoken — drag queen in the DMV. Her bright dresses in every pattern and hue show you, well before her voice does, that she’s here for a fun — and friendly — time. If you’ve watched her at one of her “camp”-y drag bingo games or seen her reading to children during her Story Time Family Show, it’s no surprise she’s been chosen as this year’s Best Drag Queen. Editor’s Choice: Citrine

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Drag King: King Flirty

With their signature goatee and a lot of swagger, King Flirty has become one of the more recognized names in an already robust drag community. Often using their drag to highlight the Black experience, this drag king has performed all over the DMV. Commanding the stage with their larger-than-life persona, King Flirty knows how to leave a lasting impression and how to get a crowd going. If you’re looking for a performer who brings both style and substance to the stage, King Flirty is one to watch. Editor’s Choice: King Molasses CONTINUES ON PAGE 26

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Immigration attorney Sarah Beth Pitney (they/them) would like to thank The Washington Blade’s readers for choosing them as DC’s Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer for 2026! Sarah has served DC’s queer immigrant community for nearly a decade and could not do it without the support of their firm and their community. Having the opportunity to represent their LGBTQ+ neighbors as they seek safety and build their homes in the United States is Sarah’s favorite part of their practice.

Sarah’s firm, Benach Pitney Reilly LLP, is a trans-owned and woman-owned boutique immigration firm in Tenleytown, DC, established in 2012. Their firm represents people in the following areas of U.S. immigration law:

• Marriage-based green cards and fiancé(e) visas: BPR works with couples where one spouse is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and the other is an immigrant to help the couple prove to the U.S. government that their relationship is based in love and that the immigrant spouse is eligible for a green card or immigrant visa. • Asylum: BPR helps LGBTQ+ people who are afraid to return to their home countries seek asylum due to homophobic or transphobic violence that they have experienced or that they fear in the future. While asylum rules normally require someone to file within one year of arrival in the U.S., BPR often works with the queer community to see if there are any exceptions to this rule that may apply. • Victims of crime: we support members of our queer community who have been the victims of certain crimes, domestic violence, or labor or sex trafficking to obtain humanitarian relief in the U.S., including U visas, T visas, and VAWA green cards. • Deportation defense: when someone in deportation proceedings does not qualify for asylum, we help determine if there are other types of relief available, like cancellation of removal or waivers. We can also seek to have deportation cases dismissed or administratively closed. • Federal litigation: where an immigration agency has acted unlawfully, we may be able to sue in federal court, including cases for people detained without bond (habeas corpus), where the client has experienced an unreasonable delay (mandamus), or for wrongful denial of an application. • Employment-based visas and green cards: where someone has an employer who is willing to petition for them, we can help determine if temporary employment visas are available and guide employers through the employment-based green card process. We also assist with extraordinary ability and national interest self-petitions.

Sarah and Benach Pitney Reilly proudly stand for the abolition of ICE, a Free DC, and an end to genocide. For more information on Sarah, the firm, and their services, check them out at www.BPRimmigration.com.

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued Best Transgender Performer: Citrine

Instantly recognizable for her reﬁned looks, snatched waist, and unmistakable feminine beauty, Citrine is one vitamin C you won’t need to be reminded to take in the morning. The award-winning performer, co-founder, and executive producer of Highball Productions D.C., it seems like there’s nothing she can’t do! Whether you’re watching her perform a number during her residency at JR.’s or watching her kill it as Elle Woods in this year’s drag production of “Legally Blonde,” if concept, looks, and talent are what you’re looking for, then you’ve found your queen. Editor’s Choice: Indiana Bones

Best New LGBTQ Bar: Violet

2014 9th St., N.W. violetbardc.com In what used to be Shakers off U Street, Violet has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of what came before it to become something truly remarkable. The martinis are strong, the ambiance is spot-on, and the weekly live-singing drag performers draped across the full piano are just a few things that make Violet unique. The llamas — or are they alpacas? — that litter the space add cute kitsch while still providing the feeling of a swanky lounge. This is a new category this year, voted on by Blade staff.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best LGBTQ Party: Grizzly Bear Happy Hour at Crush

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Drag Show: Throwdown Thursday at Crush

2007 14th St., N.W. crushbardc.com One of the liveliest drag shows in the DMV will have you watching queens do spins, twirls, and splits before you make it to the weekend. Hosted by none other than Venetian at Crush, the high-energy show features a rotating cast of D.C.’s best and boldest drag performers, and Throwdown Thursdays lives up to the hype. With drink deals and killer music, throw down with Venetian on Thursdays. Editor’s Choice: Freddie’s Follies

Best LGBTQ Bar: Crush

2007 14th St., N.W. crushbardc.com The two-story, multidance-floor bar that sits on the corner of 14th and U has it all — fantastic drinks, spectacular events, and festive decorations to fit the season. Crush has proven its place in the long line of legendary D.C. LGBTQ bars. The larger dance floor downstairs is the perfect place to get down, with a great selection of DJs, while the upstairs patio and Starlight Lounge offer a slight respite from the chaos of one of the busiest bars in the city. The cocktail list is fairly fancy, but their namesake — the Crush — really takes the cake. Editor’s Choice: Little Gay Pub

2007 14th St., N.W. crushbardc.com Do you like bears, boys, and beers? Well, then Grizzly Bear Happy Hour at Crush might have been made for you. With a slamming DJ lineup, vendors, and friendly faces, Grizzly has become a staple in the D.C. LGBTQ nightlife scene. Harkening back to Town’s famous Bear Happy Hour, Grizzly has lived (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) up to its predecessor with beer pitchers and themed nights (leather, anyone?). It’s a great place to start your weekend. Editor’s Choice: Flower Factory

Best Happy Hour: Number Nine

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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1435 P St., N.W. numberninedc.com This longstanding two-story, indoor-outdoor lounge and video bar in the heart of Logan Circle has been catering to and serving the LGBTQ community since 2010, including on its recently enlarged patio space. Though it serves classic drinks, the handcrafted cocktail menu reaches more than 20 signa(Washington Blade photo by Giuseppe Lo Piccolo) ture cocktails and martinis. The famed happy hour is always 2-4-1, seven days a week. If you buy your ﬁrst drink before 7 p.m., your second drink is FREE until 8 p.m. (be sure to keep your receipt to show proof). Editor’s Choice: Crush CONTINUES ON PAGE 28

ONS O REVISIONS S

James K. Harrison, Jr. 1948 - 2026

James K. Harrison, Jr. passed away on Sept. 20, 2026 at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD, which had been his home the past three years. He was born May 8, 1948 in Norfolk, VA, the eldest child James Knox Harrison, Sr. and Willie Mae Drake Harrison. He grew up in Norfolk, graduating from Maury High School in 1966. He then attended Bluefield Junior College in Bluefield, VA and Old Dominion University in Norfolk. His passion in life was politics, and from 1969 through 2008 he was involved in various Republican committees and campaigns in Norfolk, Alexandria and Arlington, VA and later in Montgomery County, MD, including the election of Governor Holton in Virginia in 1969 and the presidential transition team for President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Harrison won a seat on the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee in 1998 and ran unsuccessfully for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1994 and 1998. He was chosen as a presidential elector for Bob Dole in the 1996 election and as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia in 2000. Mr. Harrison’s deep involvement in Republican politics in those years was notable as he was openly gay, helping to establish early gay Republican groups such as United Republicans for Equality and Privacy and Log Cabin Republicans. He was conservative, but never endorsed Donald Trump. In his personal life, James was raised Baptist, but joined the Anglican Church in as an adult. He was a member of Lambda Soleil, the naturalist group, and a participant in many Adventuring activities. He was a volunteer at the Holiday Park Senior Center in Montgomery County, MD in his retirement. He is survived by two brothers William Elias Harrison and Phillip Allen Harrison, both of Virginia Beach, VA, a niece Tori Harrison, a nephew Benjamin Harrison and his friend Olin Thomas, of Alexandria, VA.

At Wealth Enhancement, we believe great ﬁnancial advice starts with great relationships. We take the time to understand what matters most to you, your goals, and your vision for the future, then develop comprehensive strategies to help you build, preserve, and transfer wealth. As life evolves, your plan evolves with it, and we’re there to help guide you every step of the way.

ISSUE DATE: 10/23/26

Lynne Celia

MBA, CFP®, Financial Advisor

703-584-2700

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued

Best Outdoor Drinking: Trade

1410 14th St., N.W. tradebardc.com Trade snagged the top spot this year for the second year in row, likely due to its large patio, newly expanded during Pride season last year. With echoes of erstwhile Town patio, Trade’s outdoor space brings the gay community together to enjoy its XL happy hour around the brightly lit tree that stands in the center of the space, surrounded by covered benches heated in the winter. Editor’s Choice: Little Gay Pub

Best LGBTQ-Friendly Bar: Jane Jane

1705 14th St., N.W. janejanedc.com A classic cocktail bar that opened in 2021, Jane Jane sits in the heart of 14th Street. Although its three owners are gay, Jane Jane isn’t a gay bar, however, it maintains an open, inclusive atmosphere, with many of its staff and patrons identifying as LGBTQ. The intimate space has huge windows and a small patio that invites patrons to mingle and people-watch. Editor’s Choice: Dew Drop Inn

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best LGBTQ Bar Outside the District: Freddie’s Beach Bar Arlington

555 23rd St. S Arlington, Va. freddiesbeachbar.com The DMV LGBTQ bar scene discussion must mention longstanding Freddie’s Beach Bar in National Landing, Arlington. Freddie’s has been a staple LGBTQ bar in the area since it opened more than 20 years ago. Serving classic cocktails and a full menu, the bar is also known for its infamous Sunday Buffet Brunch, and daily events including drag shows, bingo, and karaoke, it makes sense that Washington Blade readers have voted Freddie’s the best LGBTQ bar outside of the District for several years running. Editor’s Choice: Baltimore Eagle

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Bartender: Ben Oursler, Annie’s

1609 17th Street, NW anniesparamountdc.com Annie’s is a D.C. institution, and from its incredible LGBTQ history to its larger-thanlife reputation, it’s clear that some of the best of the best work at Annie’s. Oursler is a standout example of this. Having been nominated for the past two years and winning in 2024, he has helped keep Annie’s one of the places you can always go for a smile and a stiff drink. His great smile and personable attitude make everyone — whether sitting at the bar or at a table — feel like they’re among friends. Editor’s Choice: Eddie Peshka, Number Nine

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Local DJ: Alex Love

With her varied mix of music genres, often blending early 2000s rap with today’s mega-hits, Love knows what to throw on the turntable. Whether DJing at Crush on a Saturday night or keeping the party going on the dark dance ﬂoor of Bunker, she truly has a knack for playing songs you forgot you loved. Love’s smile is nearly always visible from the DJ booth, whether she’s spinning Panic! at the Disco or Sabrina Carpenter — you’ll deﬁnitely want to dance with her on the decks. Editor’s Choice: Michael Navarro (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued

Best Neighborhood Bar: Little Gay Pub

1100 P St., N.W. thelittlegaypub.com Just off historic Logan Circle, Little Gay Pub (or LGP for short) has become a hotspot for gays across the city. Its cute and slightly kitschy — but extremely polished — design has helped make this bar one of the best spots to grab a dirty martini, people-watch, and catch up with a friend. Everyone from Andy Cohen to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has been spotted at this glittering gay pub. Its food selection is also quite good — especially after a day of drinking. Don’t forget to take a picture in the famous emerald-green bathrooms, complete with a signature gold mirror that has its own Instagram account. LGP is the perfect place to see and be seen, whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink or settling in for a full night out. Editor’s Choice: JR.’s

Best Live Music Outside of D.C.: Wolf Trap

1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, Va. wolftrap.org Wolf Trap wins. And deservedly so. Helmed by innovative gay president and CEO Arvind Manocha, Wolf Trap and its varied venues (set on 117 leafy acres in Vienna), smartly schedule entertainment that holds a mirror to the surrounding society. For instance, in late June, Wolf Trap typically hosts its annual Out & About Festival—a multi-stage Pride month celebration spotlighting LGBTQ+ artists and allies. Past queer headliners have included Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Rufus Wainwright, Jake Wesley Rogers, and Yola. With its comfortable outdoor amphitheater with covered seating, or lawn tickets, Wolf Trap offers an experience for everyone. Editor’s Choice: Merriweather Post Pavilion (Photo courtesy of Wolf Trap)

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Live Music: 9:30 Club

815 V St., N.W. 930.com Washington’s legendary 9:30 Club wins again. There’s a lot to love about the 9:30 Club: you can see your favorite band there, no matter who your favorite band is; the workers, sound, and lineup are great; and the intimacy makes it the best place to see a concert. The club’s reputation reaches far beyond D.C. city (Photo by Katherine Gaines) limits. It’s been named one of the best live music venues in America by Rolling Stone, and dubbed “Venue of the Decade” by the widely read Venues Now. What’s more, the 9:30 Club has a long-standing history as a welcoming space for D.C.’s queer community. They regularly host LGBTQ+ performers (Paris Paloma, Medium Build, BERTHA) as well as queer dance parties past and present (Mixtape, Bent, Blowoff). Editor’s Choice: Violet 3 0 • WA SHIN GTO N BLADE.COM • OCTOBER 23 , 2 0 2 6

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Best Local Media Personality: Ashley Darby, Real Housewives of Potomac

Ashley Darby has been a main cast member of the “The Real Housewives of Potomac” since its debut in 2016. The Silver Spring native who graduated from the University of Maryland made her mark in the DMV before she became a Bravolebrity. She was Miss District of Columbia in 2011 and later ran Oz, an Australian-themed restaurant, with her now ex-husband. Darby is scheduled to emcee the Washington Blade’s 25th annual Best of LGBTQ D.C. Awards Party at Longview Gallery. Editor’s Choice: Tommy McFly CONTINUES ON PAGE 32

(Photo courtesy of Ashley Darby)

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Best Local Artist: Aaron Myers

dcarts.dc.gov/page/aaron-myers D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Executive Director Aaron Myers has been making his mark on the city’s arts scene for more than a decade. He is the Artist-in-Residence at the Black Fox Lounge, Mr. Henry’s, the Eaton, and other venues. Myers is the founding board chair of the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation and is a member of the D.C. Recording Academy Board of Governors. Myers was also instrumental in creating the DMV Music Stakeholders, a group that provided assistance and resources to local musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Editor’s Choice: Lisa Marie Thalhammer

Staged and choreographed by out artistic director Matthew Gardiner, “Merrily” stars out actors Jason Gotay and Jake Loewenthal as, respectively, a sellout composer and his loyal lyricist friend. Melanie Field plays the cynical third prong of the complex little friend group. The show unfolds in reverse order, beginning in 1976 moving toward 1957, away from the trio’s cynical middle-aged present back to their happy and hopeful youth. Catch it if you can. Editor’s Choice: Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Holiday Show at Lincoln Theatre

Best Local Pro Sports Team: Washington Spirit

(Photo public domain)

washingtonspirit.com The Washington Spirit is the city’s female professional soccer team, and it has quickly solidiﬁed its place as a local fan favorite. The Spirit also champions the LGBTQ community. The Spirit has made donations to SMYAL. The team also hosts a Pride Night each year. “We’re not just a soccer club, we’re building a culture of belonging, where every fan, every player, every staff member knows they’re valued,” Spirit CEO Kim Stone told the Washington Blade last year. “Inclusion doesn’t just happen by accident — it’s something we lead with every day. You either have culture by design, or you have culture by default, and we’re intentional about creating a Spirit family where everyone belongs.” Editor’s Choice: Washington Nationals

Best Theater: Atlas Performing Arts Center

1333 H St., N.E atlasarts.org Located along D.C.’s H Street Corridor, the Atlas Performing Arts Center is a multiple space performing arts facility with four performance spaces, dance studios, ofﬁces, back-of-house facilities and an expansive lobby with a bar. Originally an Art Deco movie house (built in 1938 as a segregated venue, and later integrated in 1953 by court order) today’s Atlas is a community hub energized by artistic and human diversity. Among the many dance companies and theaters rehearsing and performing under Atlas’s vast roof is Mosaic Theater Company, a bold, culturally diverse endeavor helmed by out artistic director Reginald L. Douglas along with managing director Seiden, also out. Editor’s Choice: Signature Theatre

Best Theater Production: “Merrily We Roll Along” at Signature Theatre

4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, Va. sigtheatre.org Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Merrily We Roll Along” flopped on its first try in 1981. Well, you’d never guess it from the terrific production currently enjoying an enormously successful run at Signature Theatre (through Nov. 1).

(Photo courtesy Washington Spirit)

Best Museum: National Museum of African American History and Culture

1400 Constitution Ave., N.W. nmaahc.si.edu Established by an act of Congress back in 2003, the museum features African-American history and culture since the founding of the United States. Its mission is to “ ...connect stories, scholarship, art, and artifacts from the past and present to illuminate the contributions, struggles, and triumphs that have shaped our nation.” The museum also features LGBTQ history and culture about queer POC individuals. Editor’s Choice: National Gallery of Art (Photo by Christopher Mueller)

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(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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FOOD & DRINK

Best Restaurant: Annie’s

1609 17th St., N.W. anniesparamountdc.com Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse has been a Dupont Circle ﬁxture for more than 75 years. George Katinas opened the restaurant in 1948 on the corner of 17th and Church streets, N.W., where JR.’s is now located. He later renamed it in honor of his sister Annie. Now located on 17th Street between Corcoran and R streets, it continues to welcome locals and visitors alike with its strong signature cocktails, food, and camaraderie, as well as with its outdoor seats and huge picture windows. Editor’s Choice: Protest Pizza

Best Outdoor Dining: Dacha Beer Garden

Multiple locations dachabeergarden.com Dacha is a longstanding popular outdoor watering hole. Yet, you will consistently see groups of D.C.’s LGBTQ community hanging out at Dacha Beer Garden drinking boots of beer and enjoying a selection off the German-style beer garden’s extensive menu. With its giant murals of gay icons Elizabeth Taylor at the Shaw location and Jackie Onassis in the Navy Yard spot, it’s easy to see why gay, straight, and truly everyone can ﬁnd something to enjoy. Editor’s Choice: Hank’s Oyster Bar

Best Late Night Food: Annie’s Editor’s Choice: Protest Pizza

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Brunch: Perry’s

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Coffee Shop: Spark Social

2009 14th St., N.W. spark-dc.com Spark Social House opened in March 2025 as Washington’s ﬁrst LGBTQ alcohol-free bar, but is also so much more than that. A community gathering place at the heart of D.C.’s LGTBQ nightlife center at 14th and U streets, N.W., the two-story spot serves coffee and tea during the day, bringing in friends, colleagues, and dates in an inclusive, welcoming space. And in the evening, it becomes a party with DJs, performances, events and either boozy or boozeless drinks. Editor’s Choice: As You Are

1811 Columbia Rd., N.W. Perry’s is a D.C. staple and straight and LGBTQ customers alike ﬂock here for the legendary Sunday drag brunch spectacle complete with an inventive cocktail list. Reservations are a must and also available at the bar, which is an even better vantage point when watching the show. Editor’s Choice: Shaw’s Tavern

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Best Local Brewery: Red Bear Brewing Company

209 M St., N.E. redbear.beer Having taken home Best Brunch, Best Neighborhood Bar, and Best Local Brewery awards in the past, this year, it’s back to win the Local Brewery award yet again. This gayowned venue in the District hosts drag shows (including brunch), trivia, and stand-up performances, among other events, along with lots of space for group-friendly board games and casual conversation. It has poured brews with suggestive titles like “Hefe Don’t Preach,” “OktoBEARfest,” and “Tall, Dark and Nutty,” to name a few. Editor’s Choice: DC Brau

Best Ice Cream/Gelato: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Multiple locations jenis.com Sweet Potato Marshmallow Brûlée and Appalachian Acorn Pie are among the myriad ﬂavors on the menu at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. The chain has several locations throughout the DMV: 1925 14th St., N.W., near the U Street Corridor, 526 8th St., S.E., in Barracks Row, 4918 Elm St. in Bethesda Row, 102 S. Patrick St. in Old Town Alexandria, 4150 Campbell Ave. in Shirlington, and 1669C Silver Hill Drive in McLean. Editor’s Choice: Dolcezza

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Pizza: Protest Pizza + Bar

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Local Distillery: Founding Farmers & Distillers

600 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. wearefoundingfarmers.com Stealing the crown from women-owned Republic Restoratives this year, Founding Farmers & Distillers, located on Massachusetts Avenue in Chinatown, is a full-service restaurant and bar with an on-site distillery, Founding Spirits. It began crafting its own spirits in 2009 and in 2016, built its own distillery. Editor’s Choice: Republic Restoratives

Best Burger: Lucky Buns

Multiple locations luckybuns.com Lucky Buns is the best place in the DMV to grab a burger — or non-beef sandwich — and all the ﬁxings. Lucky Bun (double aged angus beef patties with lucky sauce, gouda cheese, Gordy’s pickles, arugula, and charred red onion) and the Crunchy Bun (lentil mushroom veggie patty with gouda (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) cheese, lucky sauce, arugula, grilled red onion, and pickles) are among the menu items. Lucky Buns has three locations: Adams Morgan (2000 18th St., N.W.), Union Market (1309 5th St., N.E.), and National Airport’s Terminal 2. Editor’s Choice: Duke’s Grocery

1633 1/2 17th St., N.W. protestpizza.com Randy Downs and Ricky Bennett opened Protest Pizza + Bar on Nov. 4, 2025. It quickly became a de facto community center in Dupont Circle. “Pride grew out of protest, and that history matters to us. But Protest is also about what we choose to build — welcoming spaces, meaningful connections and a queer-owned business that’s part of everyday neighborhood life,” said Downs. “We (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) want to honor the LGBTQ history of 17th Street while helping create its next chapter.” Downs added he and Bennett “want Protest to be a place people make part of their lives — whether it’s grabbing a slice after work, ordering pizzas for the ofﬁce, celebrating with a team, or bringing friends together for a birthday or private gathering.” “We’d love for people to build their own traditions and memories here,” said Downs. “Hopefully, we’ll still be serving this community decades from now.” Editor’s Choice: Slice & Pie

Best Local Winery: Chester Gap Cellars

4615 Remount Rd. Front Royal, Va. (Open Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.) chestergapcellars.com It’s no wonder readers vote for Chester Gap Cellars. First off, there’s the winery’s greeting, which reads, “No matter your gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability or sexual orientation, we welcome you to our tasting room and vineyard. Celebrate what makes you unique now and always.” Secondly, Chester Gap, home to Chester Gap Cel(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) lars, is best known for its estate-grown, handcrafted wines made from premium Virginia grape varieties, particularly Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Viognier, Roussanne, and Petit Manseng. And in less than a two-hour drive from D.C., you might be tasting good wine surrounded by splendid mountain and valley views. How better to escape the everyday? Editor’s Choice: Big Cork Vineyards CONTINUES ON PAGE 44

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Nicotine, Stress, and LGBT+ Mental Health: Why Affirming, Stigma-Free Support Matters By SC Nealy, LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative and Dr. Kendric Dartis, DHA, Truth Initiative In our current sociopolitical climate, the LGBT+ population can face immense stress just opening our phones and scrolling through social media, the news, or walking out our front door. For many, it becomes a daily experience shaped by discrimination, micro/macroaggressions, social stigma, family rejection, political uncertainty, and the emotional labor of navigating a world that does not always affirm who we are. Finding ways to cope is essential to survival, and for some people, that means nicotine. Cigarettes, vaping, and other nicotine products may feel like they offer temporary relief, increased focus, or even emotional regulation. Conversations around nicotine use therefore need to begin with compassion, curiosity, and understanding—not shame, judgment, or pressure. Truth Initiative is a nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all. Through the Pride + Progress coalition—part of Truth Initiative’s Culture + Cessation Collective—the organization is bringing together community leaders, LGBT+ advocacy groups, mental health professionals, and cessation experts to focus on providing safe spaces, meaningful conversations, and actionable resources to help LGBT+ communities break free from nicotine addiction.

It would be easy to look at these statistics and blame one’s identity—but being LGBT+ alone doesn’t increase the likelihood of using nicotine. Instead, stress, discrimination, targeted tobacco marketing, barriers to healthcare, and decreased rights and protections all contribute to higher use. Another term for this is the impact of minority stress, defined as the additional psychological burden experienced by people who belong to a stigmatized or marginalized group(s). This may include fear of rejection, experiences of harassment, pressure to conceal one’s identity, internalized stigma, increased feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and ongoing concerns about safety or acceptance. These experiences wear down the body just as they do the mind and contribute to anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and psychological exhaustion. Nicotine temporarily changes how the user feels, which can be appealing during periods of distress. Then the cycle of addiction begins. Nicotine dependence and withdrawal can lead to symptoms like increased irritability, anxiety, and stress. Now something meant to help manage stress might begin to feel like it’s out of the user’s control and become yet another source of stress that can actually make these feelings worse.

The Importance of Stigma-Free, Affirming Mental Health Support

(Photo credit: Truth Initiative)

As a member of the Pride + Progress coalition, LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative is based in Arlington, VA, and serves the DC area’s LGBT+ community with compassion and inclusivity to help clients focus on building adaptive coping skills, staying grounded in their bodies, and finding resources and support systems to hold them.

Stress and Nicotine

LGBT+ populations experience disproportionately high rates of tobacco use compared with their heterosexual and cisgender peers, although patterns vary across identities, age groups, and products. The CDC reports 16-19% of LGBT+ adults smoke cigarettes compared to 11-12% of heterosexual adults. These statistics increase even more with e-cigarettes, with nearly 37.8% of LGBT+ adults reporting having tried them, compared to 16.5% of heterosexual adults.

Ethical mental healthcare is grounded in affirmation of the client’s needs and identities, collaboration with the client on mutually agreed upon goals, and respect and encouragement for the client’s individual autonomy. When this comes to LGBT+ affirming therapy, it means treating the client’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity as a celebrated part of their whole person—not a problem to be solved, not an outlier to be accounted for, and not a source of blame for the client’s use of nicotine. At places like LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, where everyone on staff is queer and/or gender diverse, that can be easier to do because clients never need to explain their identity to us—we already know and we live it, too. For mental health professionals without a shared LGBT+ identity, it’s important to take trainings and pursue resources that increase competency and understanding. Therapists can help individuals explore the relationship between stress, emotional regulation, and nicotine use. This may involve identifying situations that trigger nicotine cravings, developing alternative coping strategies for managing anxiety, processing experiences of discrimination or rejection, strengthening supportive relationships and community, and addressing underlying trauma in a safe way. When appropriate, therapists can also recommend evidence-based cessation treatments like EX Program by Truth Initiative and collaborate with medical providers to offer nicotine replacement therapy and medications. A stigma-free, non-judgmental therapy space does SPONSORED CONTENT

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not dictate what recovery or wellness should look like for the individual. Our goal is simply to empower individuals to make informed choices while feeling respected, understood, and supported. Meaningful change happens when people are seen for who they are as a whole human being, not just as someone who uses nicotine. While education about health risks of nicotine use is important, anything other than stigma-free approaches can reinforce feelings of failure, judgment, or rejection. For someone navigating depression, trauma, anxiety, identity-related stress, or discrimination, being criticized for their coping mechanisms may make seeking help feel even less accessible. The work Truth Initiative is doing with the Pride + Progress coalition aims to create these safe resources in people’s communities, like at LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative. EX Program by Truth Initiative also offers a free resource for anyone looking to quit. To learn more about the coalition visit: truthinitiative.org/collective. For help to quit, text LIVEPROUD to 88709 or visit: exprogram.com. Author Bios: SC Nealy (they/she pronouns) is a licensed psychotherapist, the Arlington-based business owner of LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, and an award-winning speaker and author with over seventeen years of clinical specialty in LGBT+ issues, religious trauma, and relationship counseling. As a bestselling novelist, they’ve sold over 250,000 fiction novels and highlight queer love and relationships throughout their work as a writer and as a therapist. Their company, LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, is a team of all queer and trans identifying therapists that has proudly supported over 500 LGBT+ clients and their family members throughout the DMV area find healing with queer and trans affirming mental health care that highlights accessibility, advocacy, and collaboration within the community. @scnealy | @lgbtcounselingdmv | lgbtcounselingdmv.com Dr. Kendric Dartis (he/him pronouns) is the Vice President, Social Impact & Partnerships at Truth Initiative, where he leads the organization’s efforts to engage communities and stakeholders to create a future free from commercial tobacco use, especially among Black Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other populations disproportionately impacted by tobacco. He brings years of health leadership and tobacco regulatory experience, including nearly a decade at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products. He is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University (TSU), where he serves as an adjunct professor at the College of Health Sciences. Dr. Dartis holds a Doctor of Healthcare Administration from Virginia University of Lynchburg, a Master of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health from Touro University, and a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Planning from Tennessee State University.

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued

COMMUNITY & BUSINESS

Best Non-Proﬁt: SMYAL

410 7th St., S.E. smyal.org SMYAL is about supporting, mentoring, and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. For many queer and trans youth, it’s a lifeline. Perhaps now more importantly than ever, the nonproﬁt’s work addresses gaps in services (including housing), combats isolation, and promotes self-acceptance. All of this requires money. For queer and trans adults, contributing to SMYAL can be a way to help young people avoid the pitfalls or worse that they experienced in their own queer youths. And for those who knew happy childhoods, it’s way to help share that too. For everyone, funding SMYAL means investing in the well-being, safety, and empowerment of a vulnerable and often marginalized group. Editor’s Choice: Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington

Best Clergy: Rev. Cathy Alexander

mccdc.com/staff-page/rev_cathy/ The Rev. J.E. Paul Breton founded the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington in 1970. Rev. Cathy Alexander has been an associate pastor at the LGBTQ-afﬁrming congregation since 2012. “We are a vibrant and wonderful community that seeks to encourage people to pursue their passions, to ﬁnd out what they are through spiritual giftedness, through a spiritual gift inventory and for you to really pursue your talent,” says Alexander in her 2012 welcome video. “We periodically meet in women’s groups and men’s groups, people who identify as men, people who identify as women, you are absolutely welcome here to come and to pursue your passion and to enjoy fellowship and sistership and community with this community of faith,” adds Alexander. Runner-Up: Bishop Mariann Budde

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Local Businessperson: Russwin Francisco

russwinfrancisco.com Russwin Francisco on his website describes himself as a “Filipino American actor, producer, director, educator, and entrepreneur whose work spans stage, ﬁlm, music, radio, and voiceover.” “The Girl Who Left Home” and “Here Lives Love” are among the productions in which he has appeared and/or invested. Francisco has also been a featured soloist for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and co-founded the Black Fox Lounge. Francisco also founded Bite the Fruit on Connecticut Avenue in Dupont Circle. Runner-Up: Mark Rutstein, Compass and Crush Dance Bar

Most Committed Activist: Tara Hoot

Tara Hoot has certainly made her mark in the DMV, and her commitment to the LGBTQ community has only increased since the Trump-Vance administration came into ofﬁce. The celebrated drag queen is one of the area’s most recognizable ﬁgures in the Trump-Vance resistance. She most recently emceed last month’s Hands Off the Arts protest at the Kennedy Center that drew more than 2,000 people. “Sometimes protesting is just us taking up space as drag artists,” Hoot told the Blade in June 2025 after she and other drag queens protested President Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center. “I felt like being true to who you are — it was an opportunity to live the message.” SMYAL is among the organizations that Hoot, who is known for her drag story times, also supports. Runner-Up: Darryl Hamilton

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued

Best Real Estate Agent: Desmond McKenna

1313 14th St., N.W. mckennagroupdc.com For experienced DMV agent Desmond McKenna, the client always comes ﬁrst. Driven by the belief that every buyer or seller deserves world-class service regardless of price point, Desmond consistently creates personalized, ﬁve-star experiences designed to exceed expectations and change lives. Editor’s Choice: Tyler Hart

Best Dentist: Dr. Gregory Martin, DDS

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Real Estate Group: Two Rivers Team

1313 14th St., N.W. 2riversteam.com The 2 Rivers Team was inspired by the mighty Potomac and Anacostia rivers that ﬂow through D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The company connects buyers and sellers in all three jurisdictions and knows that real estate is both emotional and analytical. And that’s why its team has got both heart and smarts. Editor’s Choice: Rutstein Group

5454 Wisconsin Ave. gregorymartindds.com Dr. Gregory Martin, DDS, MS, is a general dentist who also offers medical aesthetics services in Chevy Chase, Md. Before dentistry, he taught high school mathematics — and he still teaches, just for a different audience: he lectures nationally, teaching other doctors about injectables and laser treatments, and was a guest lecturer for the Rappahannock Valley Dental Society’s presentation “Injectables and Lasers in Dentistry,” which included a didactic session and live neurotoxin demonstration. Editor’s Choice: Big Gay Smiles (Photo courtesy Gregory Martin)

Best Amateur Sports League: Stonewall Sports

stonewallsports.org Founded in 2010, Stonewall Sports provides nonproﬁt, inclusive, low-cost, fun, local sports leagues that are rooted in philanthropy and give back to their communities. The organization believes everyone in organized sports should have the ability to be themselves. Stonewall Sports values each player for who they are and what they bring to the community. Editor’s Choice: District Wrestling

(Photo courtesy 2 Rivers Team)

Best Lawyer: Sarah Pitney

4530 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. bpimmigration.com Sarah Pitney is a partner at Benach Pitney Reilly. Sarah joined BPR after serving as an immigration attorney for two years in Miami. They have represented clients in various proceedings on both the detained and non-detained dockets before the immigration courts. In addition to their experience in deportation defense, Sarah has represented clients in family-based petitions, adjustment of status, waivers, asylum, and naturalization cases before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Editor’s Choice: Andrew Lubash

(Washington Blade photo by Ben Keller)

Best LGBTQ-Owned Business: Crush

2007 14th St., N.W. crushbardc.com Crush Dance Bar is Washington, D.C.’s all-inclusive LGBTQ+ nightlife destination in the heart of the U Street corridor. The multi-level bar and dance club welcomes the queer community and allies for high-energy dance nights, DJs, and vibrant LGBTQ nightlife. Editor’s Choice: District Coop (Photo courtesy Pitney)

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(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued

Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace: Protest Pizza

1633 1/2 P St., N.W. protestpizza.com Protest Pizza + Bar is an independent, queer-owned pizza shop and neighborhood bar that was built to be lively, unfussy, genuinely welcoming, and always worth another visit. Editor’s Choice: VACAYA

Best Fitness or Workout Spot: VIDA Fitness

Multiple locations vidaﬁtness.com For the third year in a row, VIDA Fitness is the most popular gym among LGBTQ Washingtonians. VIDA has locations in Logan Circle, the Yards, City Vista, U Street, Ballston, and Reston Station. The exclusive Penthouse Pool at the U Street location remains the go-to summer destination for locals who don’t want to schlep to the beach. Editor’s Choice: Barry’s Bootcamp

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Adult Store: Bite the Fruit

1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W. (second ﬂoor) bitethefruit.online.store Gay-owned, straight-friendly and kink forward, Bite the Fruit is a sex shop with staying power. Over the years, the Dupont Circle adult retailer has proved a favorite with “best of” voters. Maybe it’s because they’ve got everything a shopper might want from a large assortment of lubes to candy posing pouches. If it’s a whip you’re after, they’ve got that too. Owner Russwin Francisco, an advocate of “healthy sexual and sensual exploration,” shares seasonal essays on the store’s website. Right now, it’s the cozy rituals of fall; a while back it was an honest exploration of chemsex; and before that, the sexiness of July. There’s plenty to cover. Editor’s Choice: Blame Daddy

(Photo courtesy VIDA Fitness)

Best Home Furnishings: Room & Board

1840 14th St., N.W. roomandboard.com Founded in 1980, Room & Board offers artisan-crafted and modern furniture in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Their fabrics and mattresses are 90% made in the United States. Since then, Room & Board has been an ally to the LGBTQ community, promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in its workspaces for customers and employees and hosting fundraisers for LGBTQ nonproﬁt organizations. Editor’s Choice: West Elm

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Best Pet Business or Veterinarian: City Dogs

1832 18th St. N.W., and 301 H St., N.E. city-dogs.com City Dogs has been a locally owned and operated pet store since 1999, providing quality care to its customers and their dogs. City dogs has been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community, attending Pride events and more. Editor’s Choice: Doggy Style

Best Hotel: Lyle

1731 New Hampshire Ave., N.W. lyledc.com Located in Dupont Circle on New Hampshire Avenue, Lyle is a luxury 4-Star hotel, offering quality hotel rooms and amenities such as a bar and a restaurant. Lyle has been inclusive of the LGBTQ community, offering marriage celebrations to same-sex couples. Editor’s Choice: Eaton

Best House of Worship: St. Thomas Episcopal Church

1517 18th St., N.W. stthomasdc.org Founded in 1899, St. Thomas Episcopal Church has welcomed LGBTQ Christians and other religious members into the church. The church has supported LGBTQ rights, while allowing same-sex marriages to happen within the church. Editor’s Choice: Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Tattoo Parlor: CryBaby

1710 Connecticut Ave., N.W., F12 crybabystudiosdc.com An Asian and African-American women-owned tattoo and piercing studio located in the heart of Dupont Circle, CryBaby has been supportive of the LGBTQ community, providing excellent care and services to all. Editor’s Choice: District Tattoo

Best LGBTQ Event: Capital Pride

(Photo via Bigstock/SVM)

Best Salon/Spa: Buddie’s Spa

317 H St., N.W. buddiesspa.com Buddie’s Spa is a LGBTQ and Asian owned beauty salon, offering massages, nail care, haircuts, and more. Buddie’s Spa is currently a member of the Equality Chamber Organization and is now offering special deals for LGBTQ history month along with a national coming out day special. Editor’s Choice: Mexia Massage & Bodywork

(Photo courtesy Buddies Spa)

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1827 Wiltberger St. N.W., Ste. 100 capitalpride.org Capital Pride continues to deliver one of the most exciting Pride celebrations in the nation and wins this category yet again. Along with the annual Pride parade and festival, Capital Pride organizes year-round events and even has a live radio program known as Pride365. Editor’s Choice: 17th Street High Heel Race (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Best Diversity of Pride Event: DC Black Pride

capitalpride.org/event/dc-black-pride DC Black Pride remains one of the premier events in the country for LGBTQ African Americans, drawing tens of thousands to D.C. to celebrate each May. Editor’s Choice: Trans Pride

Best LGBTQ D.C. Public Official: Japer Bowles

Japer Bowles has served as director of the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs since October 2021. In a Cabinet-level position, he serves as a strategic adviser to Mayor Muriel Bowser and her senior staff on LGBTQ-related policy, programs, and community engagement, according to a statement on the office’s website. It says that since Bowles’s appointment as head of the office, it has become the nation’s largest LGBTQ municipal community affairs agency that, among other things, provides funding for LGBTQ-related programs and community organizations. Prior to his current job, Bowles co-founded and led the D.C. LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition, which advocates for city funding for LGBTQ-supportive programs and local LGBTQ organizations, including the D.C. LGBTQ Community Center. A former elected member of the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission in Ward 1, Bowles was a founder of the ANC Rainbow Caucus. Runner-Up: D.C. Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5)

(Washington Blade photo by Landon Shackelford)

Best Pride Outside of DC: NYC Pride

Nycpride.org Hosting one of the largest Pride parades in the United States, NYC Pride is the cornerstone of all Pride, as the Stonewall Uprising took place here, and continues to thrive year after year. Editor’s Choice: Baltimore Pride (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Community Ally: Robert White

An At-Large member of the D.C. City Council since 2016, Robert White has become one of the Council’s strongest supporters and allies of the LGBTQ community. He currently serves as chair of the Council’s Committee on Housing. In June of this year, White won the D.C. primary election to become the Democratic nominee for D.C. Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in the (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) Nov. 3 general election. White, an attorney, is the favorite to win in the November election with strong support from LGBTQ activists. He has pledged to continue his strong support for LGBTQ rights in the U.S. Congress as the successor to the current D.C. Congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is retiring. Runner-Up: Mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis-George (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

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Congratulations and Thank You!! Thank you for voting in Reverend Cathy Alexander (she/her) of the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC (MCCDC) as this year’s Blade Best Clergy. Gratitude and thanksgiving to all whose lives have been impacted by her and her ministry. Come join the 10:30AM Sunday services onsite at 474 Ridge Street NW, Washington DC, 20001, or online at mccdc.com.

Blessings and Love

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Best LGBTQ Social Group: Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington

Founded in 1981, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington “sings to inspire equality and inclusion with musical performances and education promoting justice and dignity for all,” according to a statement on its website. The chorus, which currently has more than 250 singing members, has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, and many other famed institutions in the D.C. area, throughout the U.S. and abroad. “Today, we honor our history and celebrate our future by creating art that serves as a vehicle for social change, dedicated to celebrating, elevating, and protecting the vital diversity of the community we serve,” its website statement says. Editor’s Choice: Gay Professional Men of Color

REHOBOTH BEACH

Best Rehoboth Drag Queen: Roxy Overbrooke

It’s been a banner year for Rehoboth’s ever-popular Roxy Overbrooke (Charles Bounds). In addition to her many roles across town, most notably hosting Blue Moon’s Spotlight show, she’s generous with her time, volunteering to perform at various fundraisers, including the recent Rehoboth event raising funds for the Blade Foundation. Roxy recently won the title of Miss Gay Delaware and Rehoboth is stepping up to support one of their own as she pursues the Miss Gay America title in January. Roxy is selfless, tireless, and sings live, bringing down the house at each performance. Rehoboth is lucky to have Roxy’s talent, generosity, and boundless energy in town. Runner-up: Magnolia Applebottom

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Best Medical Provider: Whitman-Walker Health

1201 Sycamore St., S.E. Whitman-walker.org Founded in 1973 as a volunteer operation called the Gay Men’s VD Clinic, Whitman-Walker Health has evolved and expanded over 50 years into a comprehensive community health center with services that include primary medical care, dental, mental health, and legal aid. With a continued focus on serving the LGBTQ community in the D.C. metro area, Whitman-Walker also extends its services to people living with HIV, Black and Latino communities, and “other people facing barriers to accessing health care,” it says on its website. It says it currently provides services to more than 20,000 individuals and families annually. “Through care, advocacy, research, and education, the organization strives to ensure all persons can live healthily and love openly and to feel true equality and inclusion in all aspects of their live,” the website statement says. Editor’s Choice: Gregory Jones, Capital Center for Psychotherapy and Wellness

(Photo courtesy Whitman-Walker)

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(Photo courtesy of Bounds)

Best Rehoboth Drag Show: Splash Party at Diego’s

37298 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. diegosbarnightclub.com A rare three-peat in this category as the Splash Party has taken this award yet again. The Splash Party at Diego’s with perennial favorite Magnolia remains one of the most popular events in town, Saturdays at 5 p.m. on the outdoor patio. Runner-up: Somewhere

Best Rehoboth-Area Live Show: Pamala Stanley at Diego’s

37298 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. diegosbarnightclub.com Pamala Stanley has been entertaining gay audiences for 21 years in Rehoboth Beach. From the old days at the Blue Moon all those years ago (available to relive thanks to YouTube) to the somewhat quieter COVID-era days at The Pines, to a brief stint at Freddie’s to the joyful newer residency at Diego’s, Stanley has made the rounds of Rehoboth’s gay nightlife. Earlier this year, she went public with a cancer diagnosis but after posting photos of chemo treatments in the hospital, she was back on stage singing and dancing for the grateful crowds. She continues her 5 p.m. Sunday show at Diego’s through New Year’s Eve. Pamala has given so much of herself over the years and we’re thrilled to see her fighting and overcoming cancer in a brave, public way. As Pamala has implored this summer, “Everybody get up and dance!” Runner-up: John Flynn at the Blue Moon CONTINUES ON PAGE 58

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Best Of LGBTQ DC 2026 continued

Best Rehoboth Bartender: Katie Lyell, Aqua

57 Baltimore Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. Katie Lyell is a repeat winner, taking this competitive category last year for the first time. In fact, there’s a plaque with her name on it just below the bar where she serves drinks commemorating last year’s win. Lyell, 40, is in her ninth year bartending at Aqua. She told us last year she likes to “hibernate” during the off season and travel with her husband. You can catch her through the Aqua closing party on Jan. 1. Runner-up: Holly Lane, Cafe Azafran

Best Rehoboth Coffeeshop: Rise Up

502 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. riseupcoffee.com Another repeat winner, Rise Up is known for its large summer crowds, delicious breakfast sandwiches, and, of course, some of the best coffee drinks in town. It’s a great place to lounge outside with an iced coffee in the summer or to bring your laptop and linger over a latte in winter. Editor’s Choice: Gather

(Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt) (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

Best Rehoboth Outdoor Dining: Back Porch Cafe

59 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. backporchcafe.com A worthy repeat winner from last year, Back Porch is wrapping its 52nd year serving up some of the best food in town — elevated French fare in a decidedly unpretentious, welcoming setting. On the menu this year are some inventive cocktails from bartender Reno; don’t miss the chocolate Old Fashioned. Editor’s Choice: Theo’s

Best Rehoboth Restaurant: Blue Moon

35 Baltimore Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. bluemoonrehoboth.com What can we say that hasn’t already been said about the iconic Blue Moon? After the building sold earlier this year, there were concerns that the business might suffer. But the Moon keeps on delivering what it has for decades: some of the best food in town paired with consistently top-notch entertainment. From one of the best happy hour deals in town to Tasting Tuesday specials, to special occasion fabulousness, the Moon never disappoints. Editor’s Choice: Back Porch

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

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Best Rehoboth Real Estate Agent: Lee Ann Wilkinson

Best Rehoboth Business: Diego’s

Her seven-year winning streak in this category was broken last year but Lee Ann Wilkinson comes roaring back in 2026. The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group is part of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices. Wilkinson has been at the real estate game for more than 40 years and her team includes 24 real estate professionals. When not working,“she passionately commits her time to causes such as combating the opioid crisis and promoting environmental preservation,” according to her website. Runner-up: TIE Joe Petrone and Chris Beagle

37298 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del. diegosbarnightclub.com Diego’s owners Darryl and Joe Ciarlante-Zuber opened in 2018 and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. From winning this year’s Best Live Show (Pamala Stanley) to Best Drag Show (Splash), Diego’s offers up a steady stream of entertainment, from renowned DJs to drag queens. The renovated patio is one of Rehoboth’s few LGBTQ outdoor drinking spots. The owners are often on site so say hello and thank them for investing so much in creating a queer-friendly space ﬁlled with joy and fun. Editor’s Choice: Second Block Hospitality

(Photo courtesy Lee Ann Wilkinson)

(Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

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CALENDAR |

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Friday, October 23 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. The group welcomes all who identify under the trans* umbrella or are unsure, and seek to continually reinforce our principles of respect, acceptance, and protection through ongoing input from our attendees. For more details, email info@thedccenter.org. Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at noon at the DC Center for the LGBTQ+ Community. Email Mac at maca@thedccenter.org if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

OUT & ABOUT 39th annual High Heel Race set for Oct. 27 Celebrate the 39th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6-10 p.m. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs sponsor the event. If you’re interested in racing, fill out the 17th Street High Heel Racer’s Registration and Authorization Form at the registration tent at the event on R Street. And if you’re not racing, join the thousands of spectators cheering the racers and drag queens along 17th Street from R Street to Church Street. More information is available at the mayor’s office website.

Saturday, October 24 GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.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. Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email info@thedccenter.org.

Sunday, October 25 “Nellie’s DC Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar. Come get served like a queen by a queen. Join Sapphire Blue, Deja Diamond and their team of amazing drag performers for the most fun you’ll have all weekend. Tickets cost $58.51 and are available on Eventbrite.

Celebrate the 39th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race on Tuesday, Oct. 27. (Washington Blade photo by Giuseppe LoPiccolo)

Monday, October 26 Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@thedccenter.org).

Tuesday, October 27 Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderﬂuid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit www.genderqueerdc.org or Facebook. Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The Queer Book Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month to discuss queer books by queer authors. This month’s reading is “Bury Your Gays” by Chuck Tingle, a 2024 horror novel about what it takes to succeed in a world that wants you dead. For more details, visit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website.

Wednesday, October 28 Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.

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Thursday, October 29 The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245.

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FILM

With exquisite 4K restoration, ‘The Devils’ ﬁnally gets its due The only devils are those who want to ‘Make France Catholic Again’ By JOHN PAUL KING

It’s rare for a movie that was made over a half-century before to somehow become one of the most anticipated film releases of the year, but thanks to Ken Russell’s “The Devils,” we know that it does happen. It’s true that Russell’s legendarily controversial 1971 period horror drama might not be a familiar title to most mainstream movie-goers these days, but to the cinephile crowd, it’s something approaching the Holy Grail. The dramatization of a real-life 1634 incident that took place in the French city of Loudun, it crossed boundaries and broke taboos with its depictions of grotesque violence, unfettered nudity, and “blasphemous” imagery – so much so that objections from UK censors led Warner Bros. (which had financed the British production of the film) to remove several of its most provocative scenes before release. Though Russell was riding the wave of a successful career that had resulted in worldwide renown, he was given no say in the matter, and the edited version – which was still widely banned in parts of the UK and other countries, and released in the U.S. with even further cuts – was lambasted by most critics as overthe-top, sensationalized, or even “obscene.” Even so, there were many critics and viewers alike who recognized the daring vision behind all that on-screen depravity; through the years, calls for the un-edited “director’s cut” of the film began to grow as various other truncated versions continued to circulate, gaining new fans with each new generation of movie buffs. Russell himself, before his death in 2011, created a restored print of the version he had intended, but Warner Bros. refused to allow its distribution. Now, the seemingly repentant studio – under the auspices

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of its newly branded Warner Clockwork label – has finally come around, and “The Devils” has returned with a newly restored 4K cut (created directly from the film’s original camera negatives) that not only rejuvenates its visuals – such as the brilliance of the visual design, dominated by the oppressively white architecture of Loudun as designed by future pioneering queer filmmaker Derek Jarman – but restores the material that was cut; it reveals the brilliance of a film that had, until now, felt disjointed despite its obvious promise – and the timing could not be more perfect, because it’s also a film that feels perfect for our time.

VANESSA REDGRAVE in ‘The Devils.’ (Image courtesy of Warner Bros.)

Full of superb performances and an immersive sense of period oppression, it tells the story of Urbain Grandier (played by Oliver Reed, here at the peak of his brooding-but-charismatic appeal after a series of high-proﬁle hits), a high-ranking local priest who, as de facto leader of his town, stood up against the French government – then controlled by an alliance between aristocratic royalty and the powerful church – in its ongoing ef-

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fort to purge the kingdom of Protestants and restore Catholic rule over France during the Huguenot Wars of the 17th century. Proud, rational, and heretical in his beliefs (especially around sex), Grandier is widely known for his affairs with noblewomen of the town, and rumors of his beauty and sexual prowess spread even into the cloistered halls of the town’s convent, where the Mother Superior, hunchbacked Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave), is overwhelmed with lustful thoughts about him. Consumed by jealousy when she learns of his secret (and technically illegal) marriage to another woman, she accuses him of making a pact with the Devil and causing the demonic possession of herself and many of her nuns – a claim which puts him in the crosshairs of his political enemies in the larger world, where ambitious Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) has dreams of imposing Catholic rule over France by consolidating the church with the government of frivolous King Louis XIII (Graham Armitage). Determined to stand firm with his conscience against the accusations against him, Grandier endures a “show trial” that becomes more public spectacle than justice, with the supposedly possessed nuns (and other opportunistic denizens of the town) indulging in orgiastic demonstrations of their afflictions before the court. Ultimately convicted and sentenced to be burned at the stake, he becomes (spoiler alert) a martyr for enlightenment in the most horrific way imaginable, and his young bride (Gemma Jones) is left to wander the macabre noman’s land wrought by Theocratic Nationalism on her own as the final credits role. CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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REAL ESTATE

The gayborhood is changing. Are we? Some say we priced ourselves out of our former safe enclaves By RANDY LIVORSI & DAREN PHILLIPS

There was a time when moving to Dupont Circle wasn’t just a real estate decision. It was practically a declaration of independence. You weren’t simply choosing an apartment. You were choosing a life. One where you could hold someone’s hand on the sidewalk, flirt badly at a bar, or walk into a room without first figuring out who was safe to be yourself around. For many of us, the gayborhood wasn’t just where we lived. It was where we finally exhaled. And now? Well, that same one-bedroom might cost more than your parents’ first house. The gay bar is a boutique fitness studio, the bookstore is long gone, and the guy who once organized protests now has very strong opinions about his condo association. Progress is complicated. But here’s a question worth asking: Did we outgrow our gayborhoods, or did we make them so desirable that we priced ourselves out? Probably a little of both. Washington’s LGBTQ+ geography has been shifting for decades. Dupont Circle was once the undisputed center of gay D.C. Logan Circle, Shaw, and eventually neighborhoods farther north and east became part of an expanding map of queer life.

Today, you’ll find LGBTQ+ couples planting gardens in Brookland, restoring old houses in Petworth, raising families in Takoma, dining in Mount Rainier, and hosting spectacularly opinionated “The Traitors” watch parties in Hyattsville. And isn’t that what we wanted? We fought for the freedom to live openly, to marry, to build families, to own homes together, and to exist in places where being gay wasn’t the first, last, and only thing anyone knew about us. In many ways, we won something extraordinary: the freedom to choose. But freedom and affordability aren’t the same thing. The neighborhoods LGBTQ+ people helped make vibrant, interesting, and culturally significant have become some of the most expensive places to live. The artists, activists, bartenders, drag performers, and young people who gave those neighborhoods their pulse aren’t necessarily the ones benefiting from rising property values. There’s a particularly bitter irony in watching a neighborhood celebrate its queer history while becoming financially inaccessible to the next generation of queer people. A rainbow crosswalk is lovely. It doesn’t help you make the mortgage. And yet, we shouldn’t confuse change with loss. Not entirely.

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There was a time when moving to Dupont Circle was practically a declaration of independence. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

As real estate agents—and as two men who’ve built a life together in this region—we get a front-row seat to what home means to people. And what we hear isn’t always about square footage, interest rates, or whether the kitchen has enough counter space for an espresso machine nobody knows how to use. People want to belong. They want neighbors who notice when they haven’t been around. A porch where friends can gather. A street where their family, whatever shape that family takes, is simply another family on the block. CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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