Metro Weekly - 03-31-16 - Sgt. Jessica Hawkins

EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
MARCH 31, 2016

Volume 22 / Issue 47
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS
Scott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan,
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
Boycotting Bigotry
by John Riley
Civic Duty
by Fallon Forbush
NEWS

10

SCENE
14
Community Calendar
JR.s Easter Bonnet Contest
photography by Ward Morrison
WEBMASTER
David Uy
FEATURES
16
Behind Her Badge
Interview by John Riley
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
SALES & MARKETING
22
PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla
PATRON SAINT
Christine Jorgensen
Progressive Playwright
Interview by Doug Rule
OUT ON THE TOWN
26
Fine Dance
by Doug Rule
28
True Romance
by Randy Shulman
MUSIC
34
Adore Delano
by Gordon Ashenhurst
NIGHTLIFE
37
Ziegfelds / Secrets
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Julian Vankim
SCENE
44
Green Lantern
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Louisiana Governor to Rescind Anti-Gay Order

Cities and States Ban Official Travel to North Carolina
Georgia State House
Boycotting Bigotry
When the business community threatens to boycott, states think twice about
passing anti-LGBT laws
by John Riley
MIXTURE OF HARDBALL POLITICS AND ECOnomic pressure has led to a major LGBT rights victory in Georgia. After receiving condemnation and
threats of boycotts from the business community,
Gov. Nathan Deal will veto a religious freedom bill that sought
to discriminate against the states LGBT population.
Deals veto ends two weeks of speculation over the course
of action the two-term governor would take. The Republicancontrolled legislature passed the bill, which critics claimed
legalized discrimination against LGBT people and others who
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MARCH 31, 2016
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do not conform to traditional notions of sexuality such as

single mothers. It was touted as a way to protect clergy and
religiously-affiliated organizations from being forced to perform marriages that violate their religious conscience. It also
gave private businesses, nonprofits and individuals the right to
refuse to provide services to LGBT people.
As the bill worked its way through the legislature, Georgias
business community sprang into action and began vocally opposing it. Metro Atlanta Chamber, the states top business group,
heavily lobbied against the bill, citing its own studies and others
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MARCH 31, 2016
that said the state could lose up to $2 billion if national groups

chose to boycott Georgia, or cancel conventions or other events.
We applaud Governor Deal for his courage in vetoing HB
757, Metro Atlanta Chamber said in a statement. In doing so,
the Governor confirmed that there is no place in Georgia for legislation perceived as allowing for discrimination. His thoughtful deliberation and consideration on this issue has led to an
outcome that preserves Georgias positive business climate,
encourages job growth and sustains our quality of life, and is
truly in the best interest of all Georgians.
Large corporations like Microsoft, Google, Coca-Cola
and Home Depot also issued statements opposing the bill.
Companies like tech giant Salesforce and the Savannah-based
373K Telecom either threatened to reduce investments in the
state or move their headquarters out of state. The NFL stated
that the bill might imperil Atlantas bid to be the host city for a
future Super Bowl.
Even the film industry, including The Walt Disney Co. and
Marvel Studios which has benefitted from tax credits in the
state threatened to pull out if the bill passed. Chad Griffin,
president of the Human Rights Campaign, previously called on
studios and production companies to stop filming in the Peach
State if the bill became law.
The pressure applied by corporate America to Georgian
Republicans drew comparisons to a backlash that Indiana experienced in 2015, after lawmakers passed the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act (RFRA), which allowed discrimination against
the LGBT community. Similar economic threats were made
by major corporations or organizations seeking to do business in North Carolina, where the state legislature recently
passed a law overturning a pro-LGBT ordinance in the city of
Charlotte. Like Georgia, North Carolina overstepped its bounds
by preventing all localities in the state from passing their own
ordinances, even on issues unrelated to LGBT rights, and added
additional provisions legislating which public bathrooms or
changing facilities transgender people are allowed to use.
According to Jonathan Lovitz, vice president of external
affairs at the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
(NGLCC), corporations and their supply chain partners can
exert a significant amount of influence over the policy decisions
that a state pursues. Thats due, in part, to the economic benefits
that their business brings to a state.
If a bill like the ones in Georgia or North Carolina does get
passed, and these corporations physically yank their business,
and take their investment dollars and their supply chain members along with them, that has a massive trickle-down effect,
says Lovitz. Picture the physical footprint of a giant corporation being lifted up out of the ground and moved to the state
next door. Thats a gaping hole where opportunity and GDP
growth is lost, all in the name of state-sanctioned hatred.
The best way for a state to ensure it reaps the benefit of
investment opportunities, or chances for economic growth,
would be to pass nondiscrimination laws that ensure all people
are protected under law.
Corporate America repeats the same mantra that we at
NGLCC do every day, which is: Equality is good for business.
They see it in their own corporate practices, that to be free to
self-express yourself and to be out and welcome in the workplace is great for productivity, says Lovitz. And we also see
that in the marketplace. When they are actively working to
make strategic investments in the gay community and in the
cities and states where they live, they are making not only the
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MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
country better to be an LGBT citizen, but they are making the

community better. And the LGBT community is extremely loyal
to companies like that.
Ian Palmquist, the director of leadership programs for
Equality Federation, agrees that the decisions by corporations
or major employers in a state to speak out against anti-LGBT
legislation can have an impact on the legislative process. The
outcome in a specific state may depend on various factors, such
as the makeup of the legislature and the long-standing relationships that the business community has been able to foster with
lawmakers.
I think the political culture in every state is very different.
So theres no hard and fast rule, says Palmquist. I think any
time you have major employers speaking out and taking a position, even if its short of an outright boycott, has a huge impact.
Legislators and decision-makers are deeply concerned about
jobs and the economic viability of the state. So having corporate
allies, as far as a lot of legislators are concerned when it comes
to LGBT issues, really gets their attention in a different way.
Why was North Carolinas anti-LGBT law successfully
passed, while Georgias was defeated? Palmquist believes that
its down to timing and the rapidity with which the North
Carolina bill was jammed through in a special session of the
legislature.
In North Carolina, the legislature really did rush this bill
through in less than 12 hours, Palmquist says. So our allies in
the business community werent given the opportunity to see a
bill and weigh in. I cant guarantee the outcome would be different had they used a more normal process for the public debate,
but certainly were seeing that Gov. McCrory is really feeling
the heat now for signing this bill, and facing a lot of backlash
from businesses that he really wants to be part of our states
economy.
Indeed, following passage of the bill, North Carolina received
harsh criticism from LGBT groups, the White House, congressional leaders and others. But the criticism that could most have
an impact on policy is that which carries a threat to the states
economic well being.
Already, the National Basketball Association has issued
a statement suggesting it will reconsider holding its All-Star
Weekend in Charlotte in 2017. Similarly, the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) issued an implied threat, saying it
would monitor the situation to determine whether it would
still hold its mens basketball tournament games in Greensboro
in 2017 and Charlotte in 2018. Both organizations stressed the
importance of embracing diversity and inclusion in deciding on
a host city for the sporting events.
The response from the business community was both swift
and damning. American Airlines, which operates its secondlargest hub out of Charlotte, as well as major corporations like
Facebook, Apple, PayPal, IBM, Dow Chemical and Biogen all
issued statements or tweets expressing their distaste for the
new law.
Some states and municipalities have piled on, with San
Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (D) announcing last week that all cityfunded nonessential travel for employees to North Carolina will
be barred. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (D) followed suit, issuing executive
orders that institute similar travel bans.
But while economic interests can provide a powerful incentive for states to oppose anti-LGBT measures, equally as effective is a chorus of diverse voices who can put a human face on
LGBTNews
the issue of LGBT rights. Palmquist cites the example of South
Dakota as one where activists successfully took the issue of
transgender rights out of the realm of theory and translated
what it would mean for real people. Thats why, after meeting
with transgender residents and transgender schoolchildren,
Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed a measure that would have
restricted transgender people to using only the bathroom or
changing facility consistent with their biological sex at birth.

You want to have as many different voices speaking out for
equal rights, Palmquist says. That includes the business community. But it also includes the faith community. It includes
LGBT people, and, particularly right now, trans people, telling
their stories and putting a face on the real effects that this sort
of legislation has. l
Civic Duty
Vanessa Ford feels its her role as the mother of a transgender child to embrace
visibility even at the White House
By Fallon Forbush
HILDREN HAVE BEEN ROLLING DYED, HARDboiled eggs on the South Lawn of the White House
for more than 100 years. Its an honor that this week
Ellie Ford, Penelope Ghartey, Avery Jackson, and
their families were invited to participate in. Not because they
were lucky and scored tickets through the lottery, but because
Ellie, Penelope and Avery all share one thing in common: they
identify as transgender.
Barack Obama is the first president to provide tickets for the
Easter Egg Roll to LGBT organizations, and the first to welcome
transgender children to join in the celebration. So it was no
surprise when the Obamas continued their legacy of inclusion
for their final egg roll, by providing tickets to the three families.
Before Mondays fun with the First Family, the families gathered on Easter Sunday in the home of Vanessa and J.R. Ford,
parents of 5-year-old Ellie and her 6-year-old brother, Ronnie.
Vanessa is all too aware of the importance of the following day,
which she feels is a civic duty for transgender youth.
Every time were out and proud is a form of advocacy, she
says. I cannot at all speak about the experience about being a
transgender person, but I can speak about what its like to be the
parent of a kid who at four tells you theyre a different gender,
and listening to them and what that journey is like. And if that
means that somebody else listens to their kid, then that is a platform that we can use.
Its been a year since her daughters social transition from
Zachary to Ellie. For me as a parent, it was shock, but it put
everything else into perspective, she says.
The Fords allow their kids to express themselves however
they desire. When Ronnie was younger, he would play dress up
in princess dresses. He eventually grew out of it, but it became
an everyday occurrence for Ellie. On her fourth birthday, in the
middle of a party, she told her parents that she was a girl.
I said, Youre my favorite princess boy, her mother recalls.
She stopped and said, Mom, Im a girl. From that moment she
told us, it took us a little while it didnt even occur that we
could have a daughter. We thought we just had a son who liked
dresses.
If the free-spirited Fords had any limits, it was with their

daughters new name. Ellie originally wanted to be Cinderella,
her first pick of Disney princesses. Instead, they compromised
on Ellie, after a beloved plush elephant given to her when she
was a year old. She owned it immediately, says Ford. It was
her name and she never looked back.
With the transition, Ellie claimed a confidence that was lacking in her identity as Zachary. As a teacher at Maury Elementary
in Northeast D.C., Vanessa Ford knows a lot of people in the
community, and a lot of people know her family. They watched
her progression, she says. She was with us everywhere and
would always hide in the corner or something.
The first time Ellie started dressing publicly as a girl, she
jumped up and down in front of a PTA meeting. She was so
overcome with joy, she ended up throwing up everywhere. It
was the first time she was out in public dressed in a way that
matched her, Ford says. Its nice to see her blossom and be
this amazing person, whereas before she was quiet and more
withdrawn and now shes not that at all.
D.C.s public schools and the charter school that Ellie attends
have strong policies to protect transgender and gender nonconforming students, which made her transition relatively stressfree. Much like the process for changing Ellies name and gender
marker with the Districts Office of the State Superintendent of
Education. All they needed was email confirmation from us.
They didnt give us any push back. We didnt need any legal
documentation.
With accepting parents and favorable policies in place, Ellie
is oblivious to a lot of the struggles that the transgender community has experienced. Her early transition in a more accepting
society is the reason she and many other transgender children
are being studied in the University of Washingtons TransYouth
Project. Its the first study of its kind in the country, aimed at
tracking the first generation of transgender youth.
I think shes going to be okay, her mother says, beaming.
Were lucky to live in D.C. and have the structural supports in
place. And Im lucky to have a husband to jump on it faster than
I did, even. Thats our story. l
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MARCH 31, 2016
LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weeklys Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area
LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.
Event information should be sent by email to calendar@MetroWeekly.com.
Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursdays publication.
Questions about the calendar may be directed to the
Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or
the calendar email address.
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group vis-
its the Phillips Collection near Dupont

Circle to see exhibition Seeing
Nature: Landscape Masterworks from
the Paul G. Allen Family Collection.
Admission $12 adults, $10 seniors.
Meet at 11 a.m. inside the lobby at
1600 21st Street NW, between Q & R
Streets. Lunch in the neighborhood
follows. Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@verizon.net.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
The DC Center presents DANCE
YOUR STORY, a free dance and self-
expression workshop for LGBT community members and their allies. This
all-levels, trans-friendly workshop
will cover basic movements, dance,
and other forms of expression, taught
by Sean Dorsey, an award-winning
transgender choreographer. Please
wear comfortable clothing. All ages,
bodies, levels of experience and fitness welcome. 5:30-7:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit

andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square-dancing group features

mainstream through advanced square
dancing at the National City Christian
Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30
p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,
dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern
Virginia social group meets for happy
hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810
Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor
bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor
Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.
10
MARCH 31, 2016
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-
tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or
Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment
needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.

Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment
call 202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for
youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155
or testing@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,
3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is
independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,
13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,
catherine.chu@smyal.org.
FRIDAY, APRIL 1
GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQQI
men between the ages of 18-35, meets
on the first and third Fridays of each
month. 8:30-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit gaydistrict.org.

202-638-0750.
affirming social group for ages 11-24.

4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.
Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422,
layc-dc.org.
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides

a social atmosphere for GLBT and
questioning youth, featuring dance
parties, vogue nights, movies and
games. More info, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155,
testing@smyal.org.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
The DC Center hosts a meeting of

its TRANS SUPPORT GROUP for
transgender people and those who
identify outside of the gender binary.
7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay

volunteer organization, volunteers
today for Food & Friends and Lost
Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls
Church PetSmart. To participate, visit
burgundycrescent.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
on various issues and anti-gay laws

affecting the LGBT community across
the globe, holds its monthly meeting
at The DC Center. 12-2 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
CENTER GLOBAL, a group focusing
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

members of the LGBT community,
holds Saturday morning Shabbat services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush
luncheon. Services in DCJCC
Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW.
betmish.org.
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including
others interested in Brazilian culture,
meets. For location/time, email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club welcomes all levels for

exercise in a fun and supportive environment, socializing afterward. Meet
9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a
walk; or 10 a.m. for fun run.
dcfrontrunners.org.
DC SENTINELS basketball team
meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4
p.m. For players of all levels, gay or
straight. teamdcbasketball.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
LGBT community, family and friends.

6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-theHill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria.
All welcome. For more info, visit
dignitynova.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses

critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St. NW.
RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@
gmail.com.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential
HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676

New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walkins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other
hours, call 301-422-2398.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL
ADVENTURING outdoors group

hikes 10.2 strenuous miles with 2400
feet of elevation gain to Signal Knob
on Massanutten Mountain overlooking Strasburg, Va. Bring beverages,
lunch, sturdy boots, bug spray, sunscreen and about $15 for fees. No
dogs, please. Carpool at 9 a.m. from
East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride,
return by 6:30 p.m. Jerry, 703-9206871. adventuring.org.
progressive faith community every

Sunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,
near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.
lincolntemple.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS

MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m.,
High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral
Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,
allsoulsdc.org.
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive

and radically inclusive church holds
services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota
Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.
Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic

Mass for the LGBT community. 6
p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820
Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
Sign interpreted. For more info, visit
dignitynova.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED

CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes all
to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.
firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,

Quaker House Living Room (next to
Meeting House on Decatur Place),
2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbians
and gays. Handicapped accessible
from Phelps Place gate. Hearing
assistance. quakersdc.org.
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu-
nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130

Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT

GROUP for gay men living in the DC
metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. For information
on location and time, visit
H2gether.com.
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered new
TEMPLE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST for an inclusive, loving and
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
REFORMATION invites all to Sunday
worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is

available at both services. Welcoming
LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East
Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org.
services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta

Brooks. Childrens Sunday School, 11
a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.
703-691-0930, mccnova.com.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted)

and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday School
at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-6387373, mccdc.com.
NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN

CHURCH, inclusive church with
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,

a Christ-centered, interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offers
service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202554-4330, riversidedc.org.
ST. STEPHEN AND THE
INCARNATION, an interracial,
multi-ethnic Christian Community

offers services in English, 8 a.m. and
10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m.
1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900,
saintstephensdc.org.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming-
and-affirming congregation, offers

services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow
UU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd.
uucava.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join
the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL
MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-
ing and inclusive church. GLBT

Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,
Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.
NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.
age church & learning center. Sunday

Services and Workshops event. 5419
Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
11
MONDAY, APRIL 4
The DC Center hosts a VOLUNTEER
NIGHT for community members
to lend a hand with various duties,
including cleaning, keeping safe-sex
kit inventory, and sorting through
book donations. Pizza provided.
6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-
tice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW.
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
HIV Testing at WHITMANWALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth
Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th
St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max
Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit
whitman-walker.org.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St.,
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.
free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments:
703-789-4467.

410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or
testing@smyal.org.
THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community.
10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay

mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER
POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van

Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at
least basic swimming ability always
welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@wetskins.org, wetskins.org.
12
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly

diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.
Registration required. 202-939-7671,
hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Us Helping Us hosts a COMMUNITY-
WIDE UPDATE ON THE 2016

CONFERENCE ON RETROVIRUSES
AND OPPORTUNISTIC
INFECTIONS, organized by local
Community Advisory Board members

and community leaders. The event
will feature a panel with leaders from
the D.C. Center for AIDS Research,
Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
George Washington University School
of Public Health, and other organizations. The meeting will inform the
public about the latest in HIV scientific advancements and the impact they
might have on communities impacted
by HIV. Light dinner provided. 5:30-8
p.m. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. For more
information, visit uhupil.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
HEALTH offers free HIV testing,
9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

appointment). 202-291-4707,
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area,

6:30 p.m. afwash@aol.com,
afwashington.net.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW.
7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club serving greater D.C.s

LGBT community and allies hosts an
evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH

COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV
testing and STI screening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m.
Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic,
Alexandria Health Department, 4480
King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-2149617. james.leslie@inova.org.

Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call
202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE
DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,
where volunteers assemble safe-sex

kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,
Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW.
thedccenter.org.
tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or
Takoma Park at 301-422-2398.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
703-823-4401.

202-638-0750.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
LGBT focused meeting every

Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave.,
Arlington, just steps from Virginia
Square Metro. For more info. call
Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicapped
accessible. Newcomers welcome.
liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.

410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ
YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support

group for black gay men 40 and older.
7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.
202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY
MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/

STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701
14th St. NW. Patients are seen on

walk-in basis. No-cost screening for
HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing
available for fee. whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens
gay-literature group, discusses Gay
Berlin: Birthplace of a Modern
Identity, by Robert Beachy. 7:30
p.m. Cleveland Park Library, 3310
Connecticut Ave NW. All welcome.
bookmendc.blogspot.com.
WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW.
dcscandals.wordpress.com.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.

and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-5491450, historicchristchurch.org.

Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. For an appointment call
202-745-7000. Visit whitmanwalker.org.
tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414

East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,

meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
info, www.centercareers.org.
free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments:
703-789-4467.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social

club for mature gay men, hosts
weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl,
703-573-8316. l
THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL

BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social
Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center,

721 8th St SE (across from Marine
Barracks). No reservations and
partner needed. All welcome.
301-345-1571.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
13
scene
JR.s Easter
Bonnet Contest
Sunday, March 27
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
14
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
15
16
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
HEN JESSICA HAWKINS WAS A CHILD, nity, through outreach efforts initiated by the liaison unit. Its
she would often try on her mothers clothing. a job Hawkins adores, though she does regret that her mother,
She would almost always get caught.
who died when she was 16, never got to see her achieve success
To try and deal with her behaviour, in her career.
Hawkins family pushed her into various
My mother never got to meet Jessica, she says. She never
activities, enrolling her in Boy Scouts, Sunday school, Bible got to see everything I became. But I know in my heart, shed be
camp, and even military school. Hawkins now laughs at their happy for me, as long as I was happy. I can hear her say, If youre
futile attempts to change her.
going to do it, youre going to do it right. That was her motto. So
Here they are, trying to make a young man out of me, she if youre going to be a transgender woman, be the best transgensays, and the whole time, Im like, I
der woman you can be.
want to be a girl.
METRO WEEKLY: Lets start with
Shuffled between various
your childhood and early life.
relatives across three states,
JESSICA HAWKINS: I was born in
Hawkins sought to find her
Miami in 1973 and lived there
place in the world, dealing
for the first 12 years of my
with the turbulence of family
life. This is where things get
life while struggling with her
crazy for little Jessica. Ever
own identity. After finishing
since I was 5 or 6 years old,
high school and a brief stint
I always felt female. Always
working for a family-owned
wearing my moms clothes,
court reporting business,
always getting caught. In the
Hawkins became a volunlate 1970s, early 1980s there
teer police officer in Front
was no information, there was
Royal, Va. Eventually, she
no Internet. My mom was a
took a paid position in the
single mom my dad lived in
Shenandoah Valley.
Georgia so she was doing
During that time, she
the best she could. I was put
also married and settled
in Boy Scouts, church, Sunday
down with her high school
school. And summers, while
sweetheart, never thinking
I visited my grandmother, I
that she would one day tranwas sent to more church and
sition. In 2000, she joined
Bible camp. When I was 12,
the D.C. Metropolitan Police
I went to live with my grandDepartment, where she was
mother in Arlington, Virginia.
eventually being promoted to
Sgt. Jessica Hawkins risked her marriage,
sergeant. But after 14 years
MW: Did you ever express that
on the force and 23 in maryou
wanted to be a girl to your
friends and career to come out as transgender.
ried life, Hawkins experimother or your grandmother?
Now shes reaping the rewards
enced a midlife crisis, one
HAWKINS: Theyd put me in
that prompted her to reexBoy Scouts, and Im like, I
Interview by John Riley
amine her gender identity. So,
dont want to be in Boy Scouts,
Photography by Julian Vankim
she began the process of reinI want to be in the Girl Scouts.
troducing herself to the world as
But no, there was so much shame
a transgender woman. It was then
around being trans, or any part of
she learned that secret hadnt been quite so well hidden.
the LGBT community back then, especially as a child.
I came out to my family, and thats when I realized, You
But my grandmother knew. Evidently, hindsight is twentyguys knew all this time? Says Hawkins. And they were like, twenty. After talking to everybody when I came out, the whole
Oh, we forgot. How do you forget that your grandson or family knew. Theyd never let me know, and theyd never have
nephew was really your granddaughter, or your niece, or your let me explore, so it was always me sneaking and dressing when
daughter?
I could. My grades suffered because of it, because I used to dayThe bigger challenge was coming out professionally. Hawkins dream in school. Id think, I want to be her. I used to think, I
was known as a tough guy, a guys guy at work and feared want to wear the jumper, the cute little dress. And Id always
repercussions from both supervisors and colleagues. Those fears have to wear the little boys clothes, the slacks and the light blue
were unfounded, thankfully something she learned during her shirt.
first official roll call as a woman.
MW: What happened in high school?
I had this crappy little old wig on. It looked awful, Hawkins HAWKINS: Between the ages of 12 and 16, it would get so consays. I had my makeup done, my eyebrows done, manicure and voluted. I was bounced from Arlington, back to Miami, then
a womens tie. And I remember my officers saying, You know Georgia for a little while, then back to Miami, then Georgia for 2
what, Sarge? Thats cool. Everybody stood and clapped for me. years, and then back to Virginia, this time in Front Royal. I had
Now serving as the head of MPDs LGBT Liaison Unit, Sgt. three different high schools. I finally finished my high school in
Hawkins seeks to engage the Districts LGBT community and Warren County, in Front Royal, Virginia.
train officers to respond appropriately to crimes involving LGBT
I failed a year in high school. My mother died when I was
people. She is also the face of the MPD to the LGBT commu- 16, and I was struggling with going through all this: my moms
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
17
death, my transition, moving. Im not making excuses, but it

was amazing I finished with a high school diploma. In my final
year, I just had to take two classes so I could graduate. You have
work release, where you go to school for a half-day, and then
you work. So I started working for my grandmother. She owned
a court reporting business. I was a freelance court reporter, she
started teaching me a trade. Here I am, 18, 19 years old, with my
notary, and Im going out to court, setting up all the recording
equipment and the steno mask and everything. I did that for
quite some time. I hated it. It was so boring.
MW: How did you get to MPD from court reporting?
HAWKINS: When I was 20, the Front Royal Police Department and
Warren County Sheriffs Office did their first-ever reserve police
officers class. Unlike D.C.s
reserve police officers, they
sent me through the entire
academy. About 20 other
officers and I were picked
as either town officers or
as deputies. We all graduated on Oct. 22, 1994 and
started patrolling. You did
a whole certification ride,
field training, and a few months after that,
you were turned loose. They give you the
keys to a police car, you take your uniform,
your gun, you have your arrest powers,
youve got your badge, your radio the
whole nine yards. Youre a badge-carrying
police officer, you just dont get paid.
I did that for two years, then in 1996,
I went to the town of Strasburg full time.
It was a paid, full-time position. I did that for almost four years.
In 2000, I began my career with MPD. I worked my way up I
was assigned to the 6th District in Anacostia until 2014. While I
was at 6th District, I was a field training officer, or Master Patrol
Officer. I trained many, many officers. I worked midnights. And
once I made sergeant, I was promoted I was sent to the 7th
District, the other half of Anacostia. Ive worked everywhere in
the city, so Im happy, regardless of where Im at.
MW: You were married at the time. How did you meet your wife?
HAWKINS: We were highschool sweethearts. Married July 17,
1994.
MW: Any children?
HAWKINS: A son and daughter. My daughter, Josie, is with my
wife. And my son, Timmy remember I told you that between
the ages of 12 and 16, I was bounced around? Well, when I was
in Georgia, I fell in love with a girl, and Timmy was the result of
that relationship. I was very young. Hes 26 now. Josies 21, she
still lives in the area. We get along great, my kids and I. My exwife gets mad at me a lot, but, you know, thats the way it goes.
MW: How did you tell your family that you were transgender?
HAWKINS: I explained to them that I was in therapy. I kept saying that, trying to get them to ask me why. They said, Oh, thats
good, Im glad that youre getting counseling. And I would
think, Damn it, I want you to ask me why. Im looking for a way
here to come out. And everyone lived all over the country, so I
couldnt really sit down and explain this to them. Finally, I just
blurted out, Im transitioning. And they said, What? Im
transitioning from male to female. And theyre like, Do what?
And it turned into a big explanation.
MW: Were there any negative reactions?
HAWKINS: My grandmother said, Oh, my God, youre screwing
up your life. The Devil has a hold of you. My uncle found out
from my grandmother. He would not talk to me for a year-anda-half. I did try to talk to him and explain why, and he just kept
referring to me as his nephew, and that he changed my diapers
as a kid, and thats just not possible. Last year, we started talking and I started visiting. I actually visit him and stay with him,
hang out.
MW: And your kids, were they accepting?
HAWKINS: They had a hard time with it at the beginning. Well,
my son, he was okay, because I was never really part of his life.
He lived with his mom in Georgia. But his exact words were: I
dont understand why youd want to cut your pecker off. He
was born and raised in rural Georgia, so coming from him, thats
pretty good. He said, Youre still my
dad. And Im like, Perfect. You dont
have to understand. Maybe with time
you will. But youre still my kid.
My wife knew I was transgender
from when we were dating. I told her
I liked wearing womens clothing, and
I liked guys, and I was bisexual. She
knew all that. I explained
that to her. But neither
one of us ever thought I
would actually transition. We always thought
it would be a fetish, a
cross-dressing thing, not
actually a transsexual. She
knew about my dressing,
and about some infidelity
that Im not too proud of.
Its one of those things that we just try to get through.
My daughter knew when she was 7 years old. But I didnt
know she knew until she was 13 or 14. She kept it a secret for
years.
MW: How did she figure it out?
HAWKINS: So this is crazy. My daughter claims she can see ghosts,
or paranormal activity. We lived in a townhouse in Woodbridge
at the time. She was five years old. But my neighbor, who went
to American University, he was part of the paranormal science
program. They both would describe, at different times, the same
exact family passing through the walls. And I was like, Oh my
God. That is as freaky as crap. Holy crap.
My daughter explained to my wife that she knew I did a
pedicure with red nails. I fell asleep on the couch or something,
and the little ghost girl took her down to the couch, and told
her to pull the covers back and showed her. And then the little
ghost girl took her to the basement and showed her my stash of
womens clothing and wigs and heels and shoes. So, yeah, the
little ghost girl sold me out. My daughter knew, all this time, and
shed never told me.
One day, when shes 13 or 14, she tells my ex-wife: I know
about Dad. And my wife goes, What do you know? I know
he likes to wear womens clothing. And she said, Well, youre
going to have to talk to him about that. My ex-wife came home
and said, Josie knows. I said, Really? She knows. She knows
everything. And Im like, Everything? And she said, Well,
not everything. But she knows that you dress. And I was like,
oh shit. When Josie came home, I said, Okay, lets talk about it.
At first, I would still not let my kids see me, and shed get
so mad at me because Id hide in my room or my office if I was
dressing. And if she came home early or came home from school,
Ive been assaulted

because I was trans. Ive
been threatened because
I was trans.
PEOPLE TAKE THEIR

CELL PHONES AND FILM
ME, LAUGHING AT ME,
CALLING ME ALL KINDS
OF NAMES.
18
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
19
Id come out a little bit later. Shed say to me, I dont get why
you feel like you have to hide from me. I already know. And I
said, So youre cool with this? And she said, Sure, just dont
show my friends. So for a couple of years, we lived with me
dressing while I was in the house. And my wife or daughter
would give me a courtesy call before they came home, especially
if they had friends coming over.
When I turned 40, I had a midlife crisis. I came out to my
doctor, because I was having sex with men and I was not faithful.
I was having some [sex] addiction problems. My wife and I, we
tried to work through it.
Its a whole other issue
Im in therapy for it
still, getting through
that. Ive never forgiven
myself for all the infidelity, and I think its horrible what I did.
MW: Was there anyone
else you were worried
about coming out to?
HAWKINS: There was one guy I was
scared to death to come out to, because
we were such good friends. This guy
when you think of the spectrum of
gender identity and masculinity is
at the end of that spectrum of masculinity. Hunter, fisherman, family
man, great cop everything. Helped
me become sergeant, helped me study. I was scared I was going
to lose his friendship. So I wrote him this long, two-page email,
explaining everything. And I sent it.
I was feeling brave, thinking, Im going home. Hes on my
way home. Im just going to stop by his house. I called him, no
answer. I texted, Are you up? The next morning, he sends me
a text, Yeah, Im up. Did you read your email? Nope. And
I said, Read your email. Two minutes later, he said, Can I call
you? We had a 45-minute conversation. And we had dinner that
night. And he said, I dont know why you thought youd lose my
friendship. He was a little hurt. He asked, Why didnt you ever
tell me? I said, I didnt know how you were going to react.
Whens the perfect time for a police officer to tell their partner,
hey, Im gay, by the way. Or Im trans. When does that happen?
So anyway, I told him, and the rest just fell like dominoes.
MW: How did you come out to the rest of the department?
HAWKINS: Well, the funny thing is, here I am, a new sergeant.
When you get promoted, you go from one district to another. So
I emailed my commander in 7D, and said, Hey commander, Im
getting ready to do something. At this point, I had already told
all of my friends and contacts to send me their personal email
address. And I had started telling them. Some of them asked me,
Is this real?
All the research Id done about coming out, especially
about being transgender, is that once you come out, if you
dont stay out, people tend to forget, or say, Is he serious
about that? And so Brett Parson asked me, Well, what do
we call you? I had already known what my name would be.
I said, Its going to be Jessica. And Brett says, Well, are
there any plans to come out? Because now that youve told
everyone, its going to spread.
I went back to work on a Sunday, worked Sunday, Monday,
and Tuesday we call it Super Tuesday, because everyone in the
department is working that day. Theres two different roll calls,
and at the time, probably about 80 to 90 officers in 7D. I talked

to my commander and told him what my intentions were. I told
him, Tuesday, I want to come out and start living full-time as
Jessica. And he said, Anything you need, Ive got you.
I remember coming to roll call, and just explaining it very
quickly to everybody. Both roll calls were amazing. The young
officers were awesome. The veteran officers, it took them a minute. The older officers, they were cordial, but theyd keep their
distance. But over the year I worked there, things changed. And
by the time I left, I was on a first-name basis with everyone there,
got along with everyone veteran or
younger officer, didnt matter.
MW: Are there any parts of the city
where youve felt unsafe, whether
in your uniform or in plainclothes,
because you are transgender?
HAWKINS: The Metro. When I was
offered this position, Id
take the Metro to work.
So Id take the Yellow
Line, transfer to the Red
Line at Gallery Place. And
what a nightmare that is.
Its okay coming to work
in the mornings. But at the
time, working evenings, if
I was going home at 9 or
10 oclock at night, it was a
nightmare at Gallery Place.
I cant lock somebody up for being disorderly to me. They can
say whatever they want. If they did it to somebody on the train
who was not on the force, I could actually arrest them for disorderly conduct or whats known as fighting words. That doesnt
apply to me when Im in uniform. But the ridicule I got. Youre
talking about a group of teens or people in their early twenties,
and one starts, and then they all just turn on you. And they knew
just what point to push it to. I couldnt take the ridicule anymore,
so I stopped riding Metro.
MW: In recent months, there have been a couple of anti-LGBT
incidents on the Metro. How does MPD work with Metro Transit
to solve those cases?
HAWKINS: Unfortunately, because we dont work for the same
agency, its not a requirement to work together. Im not sure
what their training or procedure is. I would like to know about
those events, because they still happen in D.C. I would encourage people in the LGBT community or people in general to
report incidents. I go to community meetings, and I hear about
incidents, and I always tell people, Youve got to report it.
Even though Metro Transit has their own police department,
I can still take a hate/bias incident report for them, and forward
it to them to let them know. And a lot of times, if I have to do
a warrant for someone for disorderly while on the train, I will.
Because thats my job, to make sure that kind of stuff doesnt
happen. If youre doing something to someone based on any of
our protected traits, Im not going to tolerate it. Ill try and make
sure you get justice somehow.
MW: As head of the LGBT Liaison Unit, what is the biggest complaint you receive from the public?
HAWKINS: Right now, the biggest complaint we get is that were
not visible in the community. Fortunately, this unit is very much
up and running. I just took over a year ago, so Im not exactly
sure what used to be done. But I go to as many meetings as possible. I go to as many events as possible. We do a lot of outreach
I had my makeup done, my

eyebrows done, manicure and
a womens tie. And I remember
my officers saying,
YOU KNOW WHAT

SARGE? THATS COOL.
AND EVERYBODY STOOD
AND CLAPPED FOR ME.
20
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
I think thats one of the biggest complaints, and its something

were working on.
MW: Is there a particular complaint you hear most from LGBT
victims of crime?
HAWKINS: Its usually fighting words. And in order to lock someone up for fighting words, it has to be on public domain, such as
a bus or on the train. Basically, if youre trapped, and someones
calling you anything that could provoke you in an attack, thats
how fighting words are described. Some of the biggest complaints I get are hate incidents, where people get called names.
They always try to remove themselves from situations where
it could get physical. But usually its late at night, if theyre out
clubbing or going out, they get verbal attacks.
MW: Lets talk about the setup of MPD and the LGBT Liaison Unit.
Each district has its own unit, correct?
HAWKINS: Each district has their affiliate officers. The building
were in now is the main office for the LGBT Liaison Unit core
members, myself and four other officers. In addition to that, I get
two affiliate officers from a district each month, they get to work
here for 30 days. They work alongside the core members, they go
to events, they respond to crime. Anything involving the LGBT
community, whether its a crime or not, even if its a social event,
well bring the affiliates along, just so they get more acclimated
to the community.
MW: Whats been the reaction among affiliates?
HAWKINS: Lately, the ones
whove come through here love
it. Every one of them wants
to work here full time. They
absolutely love it. They love
the people, the community. I
like having them work here,
because I can put my name
behind them and say, This is
going to be a good affiliate for
the LGBT community, and I
can feel comfortable putting them out there to
represent the LGBT unit.
MW: Has the competency training become easier
to do for all officers?
HAWKINS: Yes. We just finished our 2015
professional development training last year.
Myself and a handful of other instructors, we would go to
the police academy for a couple of weeks at a time, from
Tuesday to Friday, and teach LGBT competency, as well as
hate crimes and intimate partner violence. Every police officer thats on duty now has been through that training. All the
recruit classes get the same training: 2 hours from each unit,
based on LGBT competency. I feel comfortable saying that if
an MPD officer is out on the street, with a badge and a gun,
theyve been through this training.
MW: Whats been your toughest day on the force? And it doesnt
necessarily have to relate to being transgender.
HAWKINS: Unfortunately, the last couple of years, the negative
experiences of being a transgender female police officer far outweighed what I thought was a bad day before I transitioned. So,
unfortunately, it is due to my transition. And there are a lot of
these days. There are a lot of people in the city I serve who dont
understand, who dont want to understand. I get a lot of hate
speech toward me, homophobic or transphobic slurs against me,
Im called names.
I used to be super confident before I transitioned. I could go
anywhere and take control of a block, no problem. I tried the
same thing my first go out as a transgender female, and thats

when reality slapped me in the face. A young group of people,
upper teens, young twenties, at least ten or fifteen of them.
They started calling me out for being trans, being a man, just
trying to hurt me. Luckily, my partner, she shut them up. We
finished our business and left. But that shook me. It really made
me scared and nervous. From that point on, I started trying to
build my confidence back up to where it was, but I still get a lot
of transphobic comments on the street like Anacostia, when I
go over there.
Ive been assaulted because I was trans. Ive been threatened
because I was trans. I get challenged a lot more as a transgender
female. I get ridiculed. People take their cell phones and film me,
laughing at me, calling me all kinds of names.
MW: Was there ever a day where you just wanted to hang it all up?
HAWKINS: Oh, absolutely. There were many of those days in
my first couple of months, or probably in that first year after
transitioning, especially after my wife decided she was not
going to stay with me. The combination of people on the street,
plus losing my wife who I had been with since 1991, and I
loved her. And I still do. When we werent sleeping in the same
room anymore, when I was sleeping downstairs and she was
sleeping upstairs, I really questioned what I did. I was like,
Oh, my God, everyone on the street hates me. Some of the
people I knew from 6D, they still, to this day, will not accept
me as a friend or even as
a person. Im referred
to as it a lot. Not by
officers. But even today,
I got a message referring
to me as it from my exmother-in-law.
MW: What was your best
day on the force?
HAWKINS:
Ill
show you. If you
look at my board
back there, I
was in the 5th
District, on redeployment. I was
at a kabob place
on Benning Road. The vendor making my kabob, he wrote a
note for me.
It says, Thank you for serve and protect. We love you. It is
even hard for me to be gay Saudi Arabia Muslim. Remember you
are not just an officer. You are a woman of integrity and fierce. I
am proud of you.
It gave me so much happiness. It really makes me feel good.
Cheering me on gives me more strength. To me, thats telling me
youve got my back. Youre from a country where they will kill
you for being LGBT, and here he is, Muslim guy, still practices
his faith. He took the time out while he was making my food.
I stepped away for a minute, and when I came back, he had
given me that letter folded up. And I was like, that is awesome.
That one gave me a huge smile. l
The little ghost girl took her to

the basement and showed her my
stash of womens clothing and
wigs and heels and shoes.
SO, YEAH,
THE LITTLE GHOST GIRL
SOLD ME OUT.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Liaison Unit

(LGBTLU) is located in Dupont Circle at 1369-A Connecticut
Avenue, NW. The entrance is on the Massachusetts Avenue side
of the SunTrust Bank Building. Call 202-506-0714 (202-347-8164
TTY) or visit mpdc.dc.gov/page/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-liaison-unit-lgbtlu online.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
21
Progressive Playwright
All The Way scribe Robert Schenkkan is convinced that progress in LGBT rights is inevitable
Interview by Doug Rule
OBERT SCHENKKAN IS DISTURBED BY WHAT

transpired in his birth state of North Carolina just
before Easter, when legislators rammed through a
law banning local anti-discrimination ordinances.
Slipping in a sidebar that also prohibits local communities
from raising the minimum wage? the Pulitzer Prize- and Tonywinning playwright says. Whats that have to do with protecting that poor high school girl from being exposed to a rapist in
a bathroom? I think they know in their hearts this is all bullshit.
That its wrong. That its reprehensible. And thats why they did
it the way they did it, in the dark of night.
As disturbed as he is by the anti-gay antics in North Carolina
and other Republican-helmed states, Schenkkan is hardly disillusioned. Hes confident such bills will be rolled back due to public opposition, or at the least ruled illegal and overturned by the
courts. Ultimately hes convinced that progress, in LGBT rights
as with other social issues, is inevitable.
Thats an outlook colored by the 63-year-olds extensive
focus on the Civil Rights Movement, in particular the work of
President Lyndon Baines Johnson 50 years ago. Schenkkan,
who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1992 drama The Kentucky Cycle,
most recently finished work on The Great Society, a follow-up to
All The Way, his first examination of the LBJ Administration.
All The Way won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2014, and in
a few weeks will make its Washington theater debut at Arena
Stage starring Jack Willis, who originated the role of LBJ at
the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as well as get the HBO film
treatment, starring Bryan Cranston, who also played the role on
Broadway. All The Way focuses on the emotional and intense 11
months between John F. Kennedys assassination and Johnsons
election in 1964.
I would like to think that the political cycle we entered then
we are just now emerging from, he says. Convulsively, bloodily, but that we might be finally moving forward. Yet Schenkkan
is not naive to the ways of progress. He knows that obstacles are
as inevitable as they are unpredictable, as opponents steadily
move forward.
METRO WEEKLY: I understand you have a personal connection to
Lyndon Baines Johnson, which inspired All The Way.
ROBERT SCHENKKAN: I grew up in Austin, the heart of Hill
Country. Its very close to Johnson City, where LBJ grew up and
where his ranch eventually was the Western White House.
And my father knew him in a very, very small but important
way for us. My father was a pioneer in public television and
radio, and he had been hired by the University of Texas to come
down and set up the first public television and radio station
in the Southwest. And his first job was to get permission from
then-Senator Johnson, because it would have been a direct
competitor with his own media empire. So he did meet with the
Senator. And Johnson not only gave his permission but of course
he would go on to sign into law the bill that created public television and radio in this country as we know it. So growing up, he
was a good man in our house.
I remember vividly the Johnson/Goldwater campaign of 64.
22
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
It was my first really conscious presidential election. And we

were thrilled when he won. A year and a half later, troop levels
in Vietnam had gone up from 25,000 to 170,000 and I felt differently about him. Several years later, as an artist, a man trying to
make a go of it, I became increasingly aware of the programs that
were helpful to me, the legacy of his domestic agenda, the socalled Great Society, and I had yet a different feeling about him.
MW: When you put together All The Way, where you thinking you
would also write a sequel, The Great Society?
SCHENKKAN: Yes. The challenge was that theres so much great
material here. What do you want to write about? I could easily
have written a really interesting play about his first campaign
for the House of Representatives in Texas as sort of the young
politician discovering himself. Or I could have written a play
about his first Senate campaign, which was stolen from him in
the final moments of the election with a handful of fake votes. Or
I could have written about his second Senate campaign, the one
he stole in the last moments with a handful of fake votes. Instead
I settled on the first term of the so-called Accidental President. It
was always in my mind to finish the story of his presidency with
The Great Society.
MW: How does this fit in with todays politics?
SCHENKKAN: Its shockingly contemporary. Thats how it feels.
The situational politics of 1964, uber-conservative wing of the
Republican Party in the ascendancy. The Republican Party was
in extreme disarray, very fractured. And were seeing something
very similar to that today. Race played an enormous role in the
1964 election, and race continues to play an enormous role in
American life. In fact all of the things that we argue about today
race, Medicare, immigration, foreign policy all of these
things had their genesis in 1964. Obviously its a very fraught
time. But it feels shockingly familiar in so many ways.
MW: Certainly this years election cycle seems to be shaping up in
unexpected and unpredictable ways.
SCHENKKAN: Well, I certainly didnt project that Trump would
last as long as he has, or would be the Republican candidate. Im
surprised at that, on the one hand. On the other hand, theres
certainly reason why that is. Its not irrational. One can understand the forces at work and how hes exploited them, and the
unique confluence of personalities and forces right now so that
it makes sense in a certain kind of way, but I would never have
predicted this precise outcome. Nor would I have predicted
Bernie Sanderss popularity, necessarily.
MW: Hillary Clinton was a given.
SCHENKKAN: Hillary was a given, and I thought that Rubio not
who I was rooting for by any means but I thought he would be
the candidate for the Republican party.
MW: You didnt think Jeb Bush?
SCHENKKAN: I didnt think Jeb would last. Certainly he was the
front runner. But the more you saw, the less there was to love.
It just didnt seem to be happening. And from a political standpoint, regardless of what one thinks of Rubios actual politics
and ideology, he seemed the most presentable candidate that the
Republicans could field in 2016. And the one who would be, in
my opinion, the most challenging face. Apparently not. [Laughs.]
JENNY GRAHAM
Jack Willis as LBJ in the Arena Stage production of All the Way.
MW: How much are you following the religious freedom bills being
passed in state legislatures, from Indiana to North Carolina
which seem to be a backlash to the progress made in LGBT rights
in recent years, most notably with marriage equality?
SCHENKKAN: Theres no question thats a backlash. There always
is, there always is. Whenever progress gets made, there is a reaction, an attempt to push back. Its always three steps forward,
two steps back. So one could certainly have predicted this. Its
unfortunate the case in North Carolina, the way in which it
happened is unconscionable. But yes, theres going to be a lot of
pushback on all these areas. Every time we move the ball a little
further down the field towards a more diverse, more just,
more non-racist society, were threatening people. Were threatening their privilege, were threatening
their power, were threatening their
world. And theyre going to respond.
We just have to out-lobby and outmove and out-vote them.
MW: We should talk about the gay
aspects in All The Way. Theres the work
of Hoover, for one. The era has been
referred to by some as the Lavender
Scare.
SCHENKKAN: Yes, 1964 was not a good
time to be a gay man or woman in
the United States. J. Edgar Hoover,
Americas most famous closeted selfhating homosexual, is a significant figure, and we see him actually blackmail
Joseph Alsop, who had tried to keep
his homosexuality very much on the
downlow. Hoover had acquired photographic proof about an assignation in
Moscow, and used that against Alsop,
manipulating or forcing him to publish
columns critical of Dr. King. And then, of course, most famously
Walter Jenkins, who was LBJs Chief of Staff and private secretary, and had been with him from the very beginning, was caught
by the D.C. Vice Squad in a mens room at a YMCA having sex.
LBJ dropped him immediately. He cut him completely out of
his circle.
I dont think it was so much that LBJ disapproved of homosexuality or whatever, but the charge often levied then was
that homosexuals in government would be more susceptible to
blackmail and were a security concern. And he was very worried about being flanked by Goldwater on this issue. And so he
dropped one of his oldest, closest friends like a hot potato. And
Jenkins went back to Austin. LBJ did not see him again until he
left office. At which point there was a reconciliation, although I
understand that Walter Jenkinss wife, who never believed that
Walter was gay, never really quite forgave LBJ for his treatment.
So what we see is how men and women in this time period were
forced to hide their sexuality, and the baleful consequences of
that, personally and nationally, in terms of what that meant to
people. Its a sobering reminder of what America was like not
that long ago.
MW: You remain interested and engaged in politics. After all these
decades of slow progress and lots of history repeating itself, I wonder, how do you keep from getting disillusioned?
SCHENKKAN: Well, like everybody, I have those dark moments of
the soul. But one of the positive things about occasionally working with historic material is the awareness of the arc of time, and
how these things play out over time. And that progress, while it
might in the short-term seem impossible, in the longer frame of

history is inevitable. And theres a lot of comfort to be had there,
with the thought that, Yes, this situation is not tenable right
now. Its not what I want it to be, but it can be changed. And
of course the requirement there is that as citizens we all put our
shoulders to the wheel and actually get involved. If you leave it
to others, then you will get the government you deserve. So thats
how I stay positive. There are so many smart, talented people out
there doing good work, some of it is nationally recognized, some
of it is small and community-oriented, but people are out there
engaged, theyre working hard.
I think this younger generation gives us a lot of hope in many
ways. Theyre a more diverse generation, theyre much more
comfortable with gender orientation
and sexual preference and race than
their parents were, and certainly than
their grandparents were. Theres still
so much work to be done, but I think
theres reason to be hopeful. Even
though things like North Carolina happened, youve got to man up and get in
there. The reason they were able to do
that is because they, the Republicans,
occupy both those houses and the governors office. You dont want that to
happen? Then you need to get out your
vote, and you need to make sure that
they arent able to exercise unilateral
power like that. Thats the lesson there.
MW: It can be hard to motivate people
until something like that happens.
SCHENKKAN: Well, it can be. But I was
very heartened, for example, by the
immediate response by several major
corporations, who immediately said,
this is bullshit and were not going to do business with the state
of North Carolina. Thats Walt Disney. Thats the NFL. Thats
the NBA. Take away basketball from North Carolina those
people freak out. And nobody had to go bang on their door to ask
them to do that. They responded immediately from corporate
headquarters. Thats a huge difference than what you would
have seen 10 years ago. And thats very positive.
I think those representatives in North Carolina, I think they
know in their hearts this is bullshit. That its wrong. That its
reprehensible. And thats why they did it the way they did it, in
the dark of night.
Its a horrible thing, and the temptation is all too easy to
sort of throw up your hands. But if we make a little progress, it
doesnt mean that everybody is all hearts and flowers. Thats not
the way it works. It takes a long time to turn around a nation. I
remind people that the current president of the United States
fifty years ago, his parents would have been guilty of a Class
C felony in Georgia. They could have been sentenced to seven
years in prison. The parents of the sitting president of the United
States. Thats fifty years ago. You think about how shocking that
is. That interracial marriage would be treated like that, and how
much further we are along today. As Dr. King says, the moral arc
of the universe bends toward justice, but very slowly. l
If we make a little
progress, it doesnt
mean that everybody
is all hearts and
flowers. Thats not
the way it works.
IT TAKES A
LONG TIME TO
TURN AROUND A
NATION.
24
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
Arena Stage presents the D.C. premiere of Robert Schenkkans All

The Way now to May 8 at the Mead Center for American Theater,
1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $40 to $90. Call 202-488-3300 or visit
arenastage.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
25
MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2016
Compiled by Doug Rule
Fine Dance
Library of Congress offers Pontus Lidbergs
new dance work, set to Irving Fine
Martha Graham Dance Company performs this Friday, April 1, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 2, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.,
in the Coolidge Auditorium in the Library of Congresss Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. A pre-concert
conversation with Lidberg and the Graham Dance Companys Janet Eilber is Friday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m., in the
Whittall Pavilion, First and Independence Avenues SE. Call 202-707-8000 or visit loc.gov/concerts.
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MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
NIR ARIELI
Y PERSPECTIVE IS THAT OF
a gay man, Swedish choreographer Pontus Lidberg says, so a
lot of my work has male relationships. I dont
create only male-female in duet, or malemale. I do all. I feel its more representative
of true society.
Casting is interchangeable in Lidbergs
newest work, a co-commission from the
Library of Congress and the Martha Graham
Dance Company. Theres a group and then
theres a soloist, he says, In the first cast, the
soloist is a lady, and in the second cast, a man. I
didnt make it gender specific.
The Graham Dance Company will debut Woodland
this weekend at the Library of Congress, as part of a
program celebrating the companys 90th anniversary
season. It also features three other Graham ballets
commissioned by the Library, most notably Grahams
seminal Appalachian Spring, set to Aaron Copland.
Lidbergs new, abstract piece is set to the music of
Coplands contemporary Irving Fine, principally
Fines Notturno for strings and harp. My inspiration and impetus for the new work is what I
heard in his music, says Lidberg, from a bird
flying tree to tree, to a person walking through
the forest below. The music is beautiful very
intelligent and sophisticated.
In addition to his debut with the Graham
Dance Company, the 38-year-old is in pre-production on a big film project for his company,
Pontus Lidberg Dance. Merging the worlds of
dance and film is something that Lidberg has
been fascinated with since he was a teenager,
when he would always carry around an oldschool manual camera. That taught me to see
the world through the lens of a camera, he says.
And once I had a career as a choreographer, it
made sense to choreograph for the camera too.

Doug Rule
SPOTLIGHT
FOX
CREATIVE CAULDRONS
PASSPORT TO THE WORLD MUSIC
SERIES
True Romance
Smithers finally gets his gay day on The Simpsons
AYLON SMITHERS IS GAY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. EVERYBODY,

it seems, but the object of his long-suffering affection, Montgomery Burns.
Whats a lovelorn animated character to do?
The answer will be, at long last, revealed if not out-and-out confirmed this Sunday,
April 3, on The Simpsons.
Theres not really an Ellen-type moment, says Rob Lazebnik, a 12-year veteran with
the show, now it its 27th season, and writer of the episode, aptly titled The Burns Cage.
I dont want to give too much away, but it is absolutely acknowledged.
For years, Lazebnik, who has a 21-year-old gay son, had wanted to tackle the subject
of Smithers feelings for his employer, Mr. Burns. He also wanted to give the character
a romance. I just want to show him as the great guy that he is, says the 50-year-old
writer, who got his start on Golden Girls spin-off Empty Nest, and this is one part of his
greatness.
Lazebnik pitched the Smithers storyline at the staffs annual story retreat. People
were really excited by the idea, he says. For us and the audience, for so many years,
theres been a kind of understanding that Smithers is gay. But now were shifting that
in this episode to show that Homer and the other residents of Springfield just know it.
Theres an awareness of it that Mr. Burns still doesnt have.
In the episode, Homer uses a gay dating app to help his friend find a man. Dont expect
the show to broach the topic of gay marriage, however, something last tackled prominently over a decade ago, when Marges sister Patty was outed as lesbian. We kind of
stayed clear of the issue because Smithers is just meeting someone for the first time in
this, says Lazebnik.
The Simpsons has never shied away from adult topics or jokes its dealt with death,
sex, infidelity, and more. Its not a childrens show by any means, says Lazebnik. But
at the same time we know a lot of kids are watching. Its always in the back of our minds
while writing. Still, he feels the episode is one of those watershed moments for the longrunning series.
Television can really make an impact in the world, he says. And when you see the
episode, youll see that theres this kind of big warm hug from everybody for the idea that
Smithers is gay. I hope that, without sounding corny, it sends a great message of tolerance. Randy Shulman
The Burns Cage airs Sunday, April 3, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Fox.
28
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
Virginias fledgling theater troupe offers

its sixth annual festival, celebrating the
music and dance of cultures around the
world, with performances from a broad
spectrum of genres: jazz to Latin, opera
to klezmer. Presented in collaboration
with the Folklore Society of Greater
Washington, the series, curated by
Lynn Veronneau and Ken Avis, kicks off
with a performance by the Ocean Celtic
Quartet on Saturday, April 2, at 7:30
p.m. Other upcoming performances
include jazz group The Seth Kibel Trio
with Lena Seikaly, on Sunday, April 3,
at 6 p.m.; and the Cristian Perez Quintet
on Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. Series
runs to April 23. Visit creativecauldron.
org for more information. ArtSpace
Falls Church, 410 South Maple Ave.
in Falls Church. Tickets are $20 per
performance. Call 703-436-9948 or visit
creativecauldron.org.
D.C.S DIFFERENT DRUMMERS
In Brava!, the Capitol Pride

Symphonic Band of this local LGBT
music organization explores music
from the viewpoint of women as composers and inspiration, and in a range
of genres and styles. The concert will
include experts from Wicked, Zephyrus
by Mary Ellen Childs and Spring
Festival by Chen Yi. Saturday, April 2,
at 7 p.m. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G
St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-3472635 or visit dcdd.org.
LABYRINTH
As part of a special David Bowie

Tribute, the American Film Institutes
Silver Theatre presents a few of the
movies featuring the Thin White Duke.
The Man Who Fell To Earth has already
been screened, while later in April
comes Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders
from Mars. But next is a 30th anniversary screening of Jim Hensons visionary fairy tale, the last feature film he
would direct and one that has become
a cult sensation. Though most of the
characters are played by puppets,
Bowie is Jareth the Goblin King, who
kidnaps the little brother of Jennifer
Connellys character, forcing her to
traverse the Kings otherworldly maze
in order to save the boy from being
turned into a goblin. Saturday, April 2,
at 9:45 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633
Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets
are $12 general admission. Call 301495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.
LYNDA CARTER:
LONG-LEGGED WOMAN
Another year, another presentation at

the Kennedy Center of the latest show
from the original Wonder Woman. A
smorgasbord of blues, rock, country and
pop, featuring both standards and original tunes, Long-Legged Woman gets
its name from one of Carters own compositions. She is once again accompanied by a band including Paul Leim and
Blue Lou Marini. Saturday, April 2, at 7
p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

Tickets are $25 to $75. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
NATIONAL CHERRY
BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
Peak bloom of the cherry trees around

the Tidal Basin has already come
and gone, but the annual festival
runs for another two weeks. Notable
events still to come: The 50th Annual
Blossom Kite Festival on Saturday,
April 2, the all-day Southwest
Waterfront Fireworks on Saturday,
April 9, and a Festival Parade, Sakura
Matsuri Japanese Street Festival and
the art-and-nightlife event Cherry
Blast, all set for Saturday, April 16.
Call 877-442-5666 or visit nationalcherrblossomfestival.org for more
information.
PATTI LABELLE
The Grammy-winning soul singer has

been an influence to everyone from
Mary J. Blige to Alicia Keys to Christina
Aguilera whom shes advising this
season on NBCs The Voice and billed
by Rolling Stone as one of the Greatest
Singers of All Time. Patti LaBelle
comes to Strathmore to offer a show
of her hits, from Lady Marmalade
to The Right Kind of Lover to New
Attitude. Thursday, April 7, and
Friday, April 8, at 8 p.m. The Music
Center at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville
Pike, North Bethesda. Tickets are $65
to $150. Call 301-581-5100 or visit
strathmore.org.
SEAN DORSEY DANCE
Dance Place co-commissioned The

Missing Generation from the transgender-led San Francisco company,
a dance-theater work that serves as a
love letter to a forgotten generation of
survivors of the early AIDS epidemic:
those who experienced the loss of
so many friends and loved ones, yet
didnt succumb to the disease themselves. Sean Dorsey created the work
after an extensive two-year research
period focused on conducting oral history interviews with longtime survivors. Saturday, April 2, at 8 p.m., and
Sunday, April 3, at 7 p.m. Dance Place,
3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in
advance, or $30 at the door. Call 202269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.
THE MYSTERY OF LOVE & SEX
Signature Theatre offers this play

from Bathsheba Doran, a writer better known for his work on premium
cable, from HBOs Boardwalk Empire
and Showtimes Masters of Sex. The
Mystery of Love & Sex is an unexpected story of an evolving friendship
between a man and a woman, who
arent quite straight and arent quite
in love with each other but they
consider romance anyway, for the
sake of the parents. Opens in previews
Tuesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. Pride
Night is set for April 29. Runs to May
8. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell
Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or
visit signature-theatre.org.
FILM
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
Richard Linklater (Boyhood) stepped

back to his college days, crafting a
dramedy about a group of college
freshmen negotiating baseball, beer
and bongs while trying to figure out
the fairer sex. Linklater considers it
a spiritual sequel to his coming of
age stoner film Dazed and Confused.
Opens Friday, April 1. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)
I SAW THE LIGHT
Casting Tom Hiddleston, a Brit, as

country legend Hank Williams hasnt
been without controversy Williams
grandson denounced Hiddleston
as having no moan or soul in his
voice, among other condemnations.
However, both he and Elizabeth
Olsen as Audrey Williams have drawn
critical praise for their performances,
even if Marc Abrahams film has been
regarded as a little lackluster. Opens
Friday, April 1. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com. (RM)
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Writer/director Jeff Nichols describes

Midnight Special as a sci-fi chase
film. The chase in question? Roy
(Michael Shannon) is racing to get
his son Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) to
a secret location. Hes being hunted
by a religious sect and a government
agent (Adam Driver), and is assisted
by his ex-wife (Kirsten Dunst). Why is
he in such a rush? His son has a power

that can alter the world as we know
it. Better step on the gas, then. Opens
Friday, April 1. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com. (RM)
STAGE
110 IN THE SHADE
Marcia Milgrom Dodge directs and

choreographs a new production of
this old-fashioned musical, set during a sweltering Texas summer in the
mid-1950s and featuring a lively score
from the creators of The Fantasticks.
The focus is on a self-proclaimed rainmaker who promises to reverse fortunes in the drought-stricken town,
to say nothing of its leading spinster,
played by Tracy Lynn Olivera. To May
14. Fords Theatre, 511 10th St. NW.
Tickets are $28 to $69. Call 800-9822787 or visit fordstheatre.org.
AFTER THE WAR
A new play from Motti Lerner, author

of The Admission, about a middleaged Israeli ex-patriot who returns
to Tel Aviv after nearly two decades
away. Sinai Peter directs the production, which is part of a four-month
Voices from a Changing Middle East
Festival the provocative series that
former Theater J director Ari Roth
has revived at his new company. Paul
Morella and Michael Tolaydo star.
Now to April 17. Atlas Performing Arts
Center, 1333 H St. NE. Call 202-3997993 or mosaictheater.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
29
ALL THE WAY
Robert Schenkkans 2014 Tonywinning drama examines the red,

white and blue-blooded leadership
of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Now in previews. Runs to May 8.
Fichandler Stage in the Mead Center
for American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW.
Tickets are $40 to $70. Call 202-4883300 or visit arenastage.org.
AMERICAN IDIOT
Keegan Theatre has reunited the creative team behind its 2014 production
of Hair for a more contemporary rock
musical. American Idiot focuses on
three lifelong friends on a quest for
true meaning in a post-9/11 world,
as told through the sharp-edged and
exhilarating songs of Green Day.
Extended to April 16. Keegan Theatre,
1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $35
to $45. Call 703-892-0202 or visit
keegantheatre.com.
FALLING OUT OF TIME
Theater J presents an adaptation

of acclaimed Israeli author David
Grossmans 10-year-old novel about
enduring loss and accepting death.
Derek Goldman adapted and directs
the work, featuring Nora Achrati,
Edward Christian, Leo Erickson,
Nanna Ingvarsson, John Lescault,
Erika Rose, Michael Russotto, Rafael
Untalan and Joseph Wycoff. To April
17. The Aaron and Cecile Goldman
Theater, Washington, D.C.s Jewish
Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW.
Call 202-777-3210 or visit theaterj.org.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
Another musical by Benj Pasek and

Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen,
Dogfight), based on Roald Dahls
disproportionately peachy tale and
featuring a book by Timothy Allen
McDonald, gets the theater for young
audiences treatment at Adventure
Theatre MTC. Michael Baron directs
the show, a co-production with Lyric
Theatre of Oklahoma. Closes Monday,
April 4. Adventure Theatre MTC,
7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.
Tickets are $19.50. Call 301-634-2270
or visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
MARJORIE PRIME
Jason Loewith directs the regional

premiere of this Pulitzer Prizenominated play, a tender and provocative story of an elderly woman
whos using technology to reinvent
her memories. Written by Jordan
Harrison, the sci-fi-lite tale stars
Kathleen Butler, Michael Glenn,
Michael WIllis and Julie-Ann Elliott.
To April 10. The Theatre Lab at Olney
Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy
Spring Road, Olney, Md. Call 301-9243400 or visit olneytheatre.org.
MOMENT
Director Ethan McSweeny makes his

Studio debut with Deirdre Kinahans
Irish tale about a family reunion
and long-simmering sibling resentment. With a cast of eight, including
Dearbhla Molloy, Emily Landham,
Peter Albrink, Caroline Bootle
30
MARCH 31, 2016
Pendergast, and Ciaran Byrne. Now

to April 24. Studio Theatre, 14th & P
Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit
studiotheatre.org.
THE FLICK
Annie Bakers Pulitzer Prize-winning

comedy focuses on employees at an
increasingly out-of-date movie theater struggling to find their place
in the world. Starring Evan Casey,
Lara C. Harris, Thaddeus McCants
and William Vaughan. Directed by
Joe Calarco. Extended to April 24,
with Pride Night set for Friday, April
8. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell
Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or
visit signature-theatre.org.
THE LION
As a stop on a multi-city tour, Arena

Stage welcomes rock musician
Benjamin Scheuer, who will sing and
play guitar as he performs his solo
musical, relating his journey from boyhood to manhood that garnered him
a Drama Desk Award. Sean Daniels
directs. To April 10. Kogod Cradle
in the Mead Center for American
Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are
$40 to $70. Call 202-488-3300 or visit
arenastage.org.
THE NETHER
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

presents Jennifer Haleys modern
crime drama, exploring themes of
desire, technology and morality in
a futuristic Earth wasteland. Shana
Cooper directs a cast led by Edward
Gero, in his Woolly debut, supported
by Woolly company members Gabriela
Fernandez-Coffey and Tim Getman.
Opens in pay-what-you-can-previews
Monday, April 4, and Tuesday, April 5,
at 8 p.m. To May 1. Woolly Mammoth,
641 D St. NW. Call 202-393-3939 or
visit woollymammoth.net.
COMMUNITY STAGE
HAIRSPRAY
Marylands Port Tobacco Players

offers a community stage production of Marc Shaiman and Scott
Wittmans musical, originally based
on John Waters classic film. Suzanne
Donahue directs, with choreography by Brooke L. Howells-Weiser.
Weekends to April 24. Port Tobacco
Players, 508 Charles St., La Plata, Md.
Tickets are $15 to $18. Call 301-9326819 or visit ptplayers.com.
THE BOYS IN THE BAND
Dominion Stage offers a production,

led by Rosemary Hartman, of Mart
Crowleys magnificent bitchfest, first
staged in 1968. It provides a look at
how some gay men particularly in
New Yorks Village interacted with
one another at the time. Weekends to
April 16. Gunston Theater Two, 2700
South Lang St. Arlington. Tickets are
$15 to $20. Call 571-DS-SHOWS or
visit dominionstage.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MUSIC
ANNAPOLIS CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA WITH CHORALE
AND SOLOISTS
Live Arts Maryland presents this

orchestra in a season finale blowout
with Beethovens Symphony No. 9,
one of the most spectacular works
ever written for orchestra and chorus.
Saturday, April 9, at 8 p.m. Maryland
Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase
St. Annapolis. Tickets are $17 to $45.
Call 410-263-1906 or visit liveartsmaryland.org.
BALTIMORE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Jack Everly leads the BSO and a

crowded stage of singing divas in a
SuperPops program called Broadway
Divas. Christina Bianco, NKenge,
Kristen Plumley and Mandy Gonzalez
are the leading ladies who will
take turns belting out tunes from
Broadway blockbusters including Les
Miserables, Dreamgirls, My Fair Lady
and Chicago. Thursday, March 31, at 8
p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Also Friday, April 1, Saturday, April
2, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 3, at
3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony
Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore.
Tickets are $33 to $110. Call 410-7838000 or visit bsomusic.org.
BELINDA CARLISLE
Months before a final farewell tour

of the Go-Gos, lead vocalist Belinda
Carlisle offers a solo show at the
Hamilton to run through her hits,
including Mad About You, Heaven
Is A Place on Earth and Leave A
Light On. Friday, April 8, at 8:30
p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $58.50 to $68.50. Call 202787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
CHAISE LOUNGE
D.C.-based jazz and swing band that

has been a staple at hip bars around
the area, along with more august venues such as the Kennedy Center. After
performing with Natalie Cole and
Dizzy Gillespie, Chaise Lounge perform swing standards as well as original tunes, including those from their
most recent album Gin Fizz Fandango.
Wednesday, April 6, at 8 p.m. and 10
p.m. Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave.
NW. Tickets are $20, plus $10 minimum purchase. Call 202-337-4141 or
visit bluesalley.com.
CLOUD CULT
An eccentric, indie rock, eight-piece

band from Minnesota, Cloud Cult
often reminds of bigger-named artists,
from Bon Iver to Mumford & Sons to
The Polyphonic Spree. Cloud
Cult would be a bigger-known entity
had they not turned down offers from
major label records, instead opting to
stick with founder Craig Minowas
environmentally focused Earthology
Records. But of course that progressive, independent spirit only adds
to their appeal. 9:30 Club presents
this concert, with opening set from
BBGun. Wednesday, April 6, at 7 p.m.

U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-588-1880 or
visit ustreetmusichall.com.
FOLGER CONSORT
British composer Henry Purcell wrote

his monumental The Fairy Queen specifically to accompany Shakespeares
Midsummer Nights Dream. As part
of the Folger Shakespeare Librarys
celebration of 400 years of the worlds
most famous author, the organization
presents a concert by its in-house early
music ensemble of the songs, choruses
and instrumental music from Purcells
piece, along with other memorable settings of Shakespeare by Purcell. Friday,
April 8, at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9, at
5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, April
10, at 2 p.m. Folger Theatre, 201 East
Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $25 to $40.
Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.
FRANCESCA BLANCHARD
Having opened for Joan Armatrading

and Suzanne Vega, among others, the
23-year-old French-American singersongwriter makes her Washington
debut, performing in an intimate
Adams Morgan nightclub her collection of songs in English and French
as featured on her debut deux
visions. Sunday, April 10, at 9:30 p.m.
Bossa Bistro + Lounge, 2463 18th St
NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-6670088 or visit bossadc.com.
HELEN SUNG QUINTET
The 2007 winner of the Kennedy

Center Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano
Competition returns to perform music
from her 2014 debut Anthem for a New
Day. Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m. and 9
p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery.
Tickets are $39. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit www.kennedy-center.org.
HOLY HOLY FEATURING TONY

VISCONTI, WOODY WOODMANSEY
Celebrating David Bowie is the focus

of the super-group Holy Holy, which
includes musicians who have played
with The Cult, Bob Geldof and Heaven
17 but its two most famous members, drummer Woody Woodmansey
and bassist Tony Visconti, were both
key members of Bowies ensemble. The
two co-wrote, with Bowie and Mick
Ronson, 1970s The Man Who Sold The
World. But they never got to perform
that album live, and that was part of
the inspiration for forming Holy Holy,
which plays the early music of Bowie,
1969 to 1973. Of course the project
has taken on greater resonance since
Bowies death. Sunday, April 3, at 8
p.m. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market
Place. Tickets are $25 in advance or
$28 day-of show. Call 410-244-0057 or
visit baltimoresoundstage.com.
JEWEL
Alaskan-born country-rock star

returns in a tour supporting her latest
release, Picking Up The Pieces. New
Orleans-flavored roots music band JD
& the Straight Shot opens. Thursday,
April 7. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Lincoln
Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets are
$55 to $75. Call 202-328-6000 or visit
thelincolndc.com.
KENNEDY CENTERS THE

CONSERVATORY PROJECT
Every February and April the Kennedy

Center showcases some of the best
young musical artists from the nations
leading undergraduate and graduate
conservatories, part of its Conservatory
Project and free Millennium Stage
programming. Concerts on tap this
April are: Berklee School of Music
on Tuesday, April 5; New England
Conservatory on Wednesday, April 6;
Eastman School of Music at Rochester
University on Thursday, April 7; Indiana
University Jacobs School of Music on
Friday, April 8; Manhattan School of
Music Chamber Choir on Saturday,
April 9; and the Peabody Institute on
Sunday, April 10. All performances at 6
p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.
MARYLAND OPERA STUDIO
Nick Olcott directs a cast of aspiring

opera stars from the University of
Maryland in a production of Marc
Blitzsteins Regina, based on Lillian
Hellmans The Little Foxes. Musical
force Leonard Bernstein deemed
Regina the first great American
opera yet its unusual demands
on the acting skills of the singers,
and complex relationship between its
music and spoken dialogue, has kept it
from being performed by either opera
or theater companies. Friday, April
8, at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 10, at
3 p.m., Thursday, APril 14, at 7:30
p.m., and Saturday, April 16, at 7:30

p.m. Kay Theatre in the Clarice at the
University of Maryland, University
Boulevard and Stadium Drive. College
Park. Tickets are $25. Call 301-405ARTS or visit theclarice.umd.edu.
MAVIS STAPLES
Ill Take You There all right: The

legendary R&B and gospel singer
Mavis Staples, who got her start with
family group the Staple Singers and
helped soundtrack the civil rights
movement, returns to Hamilton Live,
which she helped open four years ago.
Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. The
Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $39.75 to $82.50. Call 202-7871000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
MOLLY RINGWALD
Yes, the actor from seminal John

Hughes films of the 80s is now making the rounds as a jazz vocalist.
Ringwald was actually a singer first,
performing as a girl with her pianist
fathers jazz band. She tours in support of her sleepy, smooth-jazz set
Except Sometimes, which includes a
cover of The Breakfast Club theme
song by Simple Minds. Ringwald
will be accompanied by pianist Peter
Smith, bassist Trevor Ware and drummer Clayton Cameron. Friday, April
8, at 8 p.m. Amp by Strathmore, 11810
Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda.
Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 301-5815100 or visit ampbystrathmore.com.
METROPOLITAN OPERA: RISING

STARS CONCERT SERIES
New Yorks Metropolitan Opera,

where among others Renee Fleming
got her start, has handpicked four
young opera singers for a showcase
at Strathmore. Soprano Amanda
Woodbury, mezzo soprano Sarah
Mesko, tenor Adam Diegel and baritone Trevor Scheunemann will be
accompanied by Brent Funderburk
for a recital of arias from Carmen, La
Boheme, Tosca and Madama Butterfly,
as well as favorites from classic musicals including South Pacific and My
Fair Lady. Friday, April 1, at 8 p.m.
The Music Center at Strathmore,
10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $25 to $65. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
Haydns trumpeting Mass in D Minor,

better known as the Lord Nelson
Mass, gets the full symphonic treatment when Stan Engebretson leads
Strathmores resident symphony
along with soloists, the National
Philharmonic Chorale, and special guests the Montgomery College
Chorale. The program also includes
Maurice Durufles gentle and meditative Requiem. Saturday, April 2, at 8
p.m. The Music Center at Strathmore,
10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $29 to $89. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.
NATIONAL
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Violinist Nikolaj Znaider begins a

two-week residency with the NSO
with a performance of Brahmss
daunting showcase Violin Concerto,
in a Cristian Macelaru-led program
including Debussys impressionistic
La Mer, Faures Pavane and the first
NSO performances of music by Pierre
Jalbert. Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m.,
Friday, April 1, at 11:30 a.m. (a Coffee
Concert), and Saturday, April 2, at 8
p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
REZA SADEGHI
One of the most popular singer-songwriters in Iran drops by GW Lisner

on his first U.S. tour. Friday, April
8, at 8 p.m. GW Lisner, The George
Washington University, 730 21st St.
NW. Tickets are $49 to $99. Call 202994-6851 or visit lisner.org.
SEAN WATKINS
Guitarist Sean Watkins co-founded

the Grammy-winning bluegrass/folk
group Nickel Creek with his fiddleplaying sister Sarah and mandolin
player Chris Thile when he was only 12
years old. But just like his bandmates,
the 39-year-old Watkins just has too
much to say musically to keep his output confined to the group. Hell stop
at the Barns at Wolf Trap for his justreleased fifth solo set, What To Fear,
which finds him delving a little deeper
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
31
into indie-rock territory. Saturday,

April 2, at 7:30 p.m. The Barns at Wolf
Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $20 to $25. Call 877-WOLFTRAP
or visit wolftrap.org.
SOUND OF CERES
From way out of left field though

actually Fort Collins, Colo. comes
this act, principally a duo of Karen and
Ryan Hover, who previously made
experimental dream-pop music
together in the band Candy Claws.
In developing the Sound of Ceres,
the Hovers got assistance from musicians affiliated with other indie-rock
bands Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in
Stereo, and The Drums. The result,
documented on its Proust-inspired,
orbits-themed debut Nostalgia for
Infinity, is pretty but trippy atmospheric dream-pop that conjures the
Carpenters one minute, Goldfrapp
the next. The duo will perform live
at DC9 with assistance from collaborator Jacob Graham of The Drums.
Tuesday, April 5, at 8 p.m. DC9, 1940
9th St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202483-5000 or dcnine.com.
DANCE
BHANGRA BLOWOUT 23
The Collegiate Championships is a

national intercollegiate dance competition of the high-energy style originating in Punjab and hosted by George
Washington Universitys South Asian
Society. The Bhangra Blowout is now
in its 23rd year, making it the oldest collegiate competition of its kind.
Saturday, April 9, at 7 p.m. GW Lisner,
The George Washington University,
730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $40.
Call 202-994-6851 or visit lisner.org.
THE WASHINGTON BALLET
Set to Philip Glass, Stephen Mills

landmark dance reinvention of
Shakespeares
classic
tragedy
Hamlet offers a contemporary staging that redefines the limits of dance.
Performances are Thursday, March
31, through Sunday, April 3, at 7:30
p.m. Also Saturday, April 2, and
Sunday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. Kennedy
Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets
are $32.25 to $130. Call 202-467-4600
or visit kennedy-center.org.
THE AIZURI QUARTET
Wolf Trap presents this quartet performing Beethoven and Schumann,

but the focus of the concert is a world
premiere commission by Pulitzer
Prize-winning composer Caroline
Shaw. Friday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m.
The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap
Road, Vienna. Tickets are $35. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.
THE FELICE BROTHERS
A folk/roots-rock five-piece from

New York, the Felice Brothers got
started by three brothers busking in
the New York City subway and
the lengths the members had to go
to in order to turn heads there must
be the reason the group is known
for putting on such a captivating and
boisterous stage show. The band, now
led by two Felice brothers, vocalist/
guitarist Ian and keyboardist/vocalist James, plus fiddler/vocalist Greg
Farley, bassist/vocalist Josh Rawson
and drummer David Estabrook, tour
in support of their latest set, Favorite
Waitress. Friday, April 1, at 8 p.m.
Amp by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park
Ave. North Bethesda. Tickets are $30
to $40. Call 301-581-5100 or visit ampbystrathmore.com.
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

FEAT. NICKI BLUHM
The Bluegrass Situation and All Good

present a tour in support of Ladies
& Gentleman, the latest album from
the five-piece band, which originated
nearly a decade ago in Massachusetts
among students at the Berklee College
of Music. Friday, April 1, and Saturday,
April 2. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815
V St. NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202265-0930 or visit 930.com.
32
MARCH 31, 2016
READING
NEW SONNETEERS: MALACHI
BLACK, LAURIE ANN GUERRERO,
VAN JORDAN
Three diverse poets read from their

most recent works in a celebration of
the sonnet form at Folger Shakespeare
Library. Malachi Black, Laurie Ann
Guerrero and A. Van Jordan will also
participate in a post-reading conversation moderated by poet Donna
Denize, followed by a reception and
book signing. Monday, April 11, at 7:30
p.m. Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol
St. SE. Tickets are $15. Call 202-5447077 or visit folger.edu.
COMEDY
MAZ JOBRANI, AMIR K,
OMID SINGH
Stand-up sensation Maz Jobrani, a

founding member of the Axis of Evil
Comedy Tour, leads an evening of
comedy with fellow Iranian-American
comedians Amir K and Omid Singhi,
plus special guest Kiosk, a pioneering
Iranian rock band. Friday, April 1, at
8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
GALLERIES
ART OF THE AIRPORT TOWER
The images of Smithsonian photographer Carolyn Russo offer a journey

examining contemporary and historic
air traffic control towers in this exhibition at the Air and Space Museum.
Through November. National Air and
Space Museum, Independence Ave at
6th St. SW. Call 202-633-2214 or visit
airandspace.si.edu.
METROWEEKLY.COM
CROCS: ANCIENT PREDATORS IN

A MODERN WORLD
National Geographic Museum offers

an exhibition exploring the fascinating history and biology of crocodiles.
Crocs provides Immersive hands-on
experiences, from listening to crocodile calls to creating 3-D animations
of these ancient predators. Now to
May 8. National Geographic Museum,
1145 17th St. NW. Call 202-857-7588
or visit ngmuseum.org.
EYE POP: THE CELEBRITY GAZE
Many never publicly displayed portraits of 53 luminaries at the top in

their fields is the focus of this exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Katy Perry,
Sonia Sotomayor, Michelle Obama,
Serena Williams and Kobe Bryant are
among the works, ranging from drawings to sculpture, paintings to video
portraits, and all recent additions to
the museums collection. Through
July 10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.
FEATHERED
A showcase of three 20th century

print artists Frank W. Benson,
H. Emerson Tuttle and Stow
Wengenroth inspired by the beauty,
power and reverence of winged animals. Through April 9. The Old Print
Gallery, 1220 31st St. NW. Call 202965-1818 or oldprintgallery.com.
KONSTANTIN MAKOVSKY:
THE TSARS PAINTER
The Hillwood Museum presents a

special exhibition on the 19th Century
Russian painter who captured the
color, romance and extravagance of
the feudal Russian elite. Konstantin
Makovskys A Boyar Wedding Feast
will serve as the exhibition centerpiece, with exquisite objects and
details from the painting brought to
life through groupings of 17th Century
objects drawn from Hillwoods collection, as well as loans from other
museums including the Met and
Baltimores Walters museums.
Through June 12. Hillwood Estate,
4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested
donation is $12. Call 202-686-5807 or
visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
LUMINOUS LANDSCAPES:
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAN WARD
The National Building Museum offers

an exhibition focused on large-format photographs, mostly in black and
white, by Alan Ward, a renowned
practitioner of both landscape architecture and photography. Ward has
combined his dual interests in these
works, visually deconstructing the
fundamental elements of the landscape in stunning ways. The museum
also displays some of his photography
equipment and large-format cameras.
Through Sept. 5. National Building
Museum, 401 F St. NW. Call 202-2722448 or visit nbm.org.
MISS PIXIES 12X12 ART SHOW
Pixie Windsor has curated a show in

the Capital Fringe building featuring
local artists who created mixed-media,
music-inspired works on canvases the
size of a record album. Glynn Romero,
Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Ellagwynn
Niles, David Amoroso, Maryanne
Pollock, Willie Doyle and Matt Herring
are among the 17 artists represented.
Capital Fringe will get 20 percent of
all art sales. Through April 10. Logan
Fringe Arts Space, 1358 Florida Ave.
NE. Call 202-733-6321 or visit capitalfringe.org.
NEWLY JURIED ARTISTS OF THE

TORPEDO FACTORY ARTISTS
ASSOCIATION
The Target Gallery presents work

by the newest artists in the Torpedo
Factory Artists Association, accepted during the 2016 annual competitive jury process. The artists include:
Therese Carroll, Naomi Christianson,
Marcel Artes Deolazo, Hannah Elmer,
Richard Greenway, Hyun Jung Kim
and Nan Lopata. Now through April
10, ending in an Artist Reception from
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Target Gallery
in the Torpedo Factory Art Center,
105 North Union St. Alexandria. Free.
Call 703-838-4565 or visit torpedofactory.org.
NO SHARPS, NO FLATS
Alex Braden curated this group sound

art show at the Transformer Gallery in
Logan Circle, featuring over 30 original compositions by D.C.-based musicians. Its housed within a sculptural
installation, constructed from the fragments of cassette-player boom boxes,
created by Braden, Emily Francisco
and Adam Richard Nelson Hughes.
Through April 30. Transformer, 1404
P St. NW. Call 202-483-1102 or visit
transformerdc.org.
OUT OF THE ASHES
Subtitled New Library for Congress

and the Nation, this exhibition marks
the 200th anniversary of the acquisition of Jeffersons library of books, the
foundation of the modern Library of
Congress. The Jeffersonian concept of
a universal library covering all subjects
is the basis of the librarys comprehensive collecting policies. Through
May. Second Floor of the Library of
Congresss Thomas Jefferson Building,
10 First St. SE. Call 202-707-8000 or
visit loc.gov.
SEEING NATURE: LANDSCAPE

MASTERWORKS
Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen

has organized an exhibition with several museums to display the 39 masterpieces from his familys collection
exploring the evolution of European
and American landscape art. Spanning
five centuries, the exhibition features
works, among others, by Jan Brueghel,
Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Gustav
Klimt, Georgia OKeeffe, Edward
Hopper and David Hockney. Through
May 8. The Phillips Collection, 1600
21st St. NW. Tickets $12. Call 202-3872151 x247 or visit phillipscollection.org.
THE BIG HOPE SHOW
Baltimores American Visionary Art

Museum offers its 21st annual exhibition, featuring over 25 artists offering
works in various media that champion the radiant and transformative
power of hope. Its an original and
unabashedly idealistic exhibition,
curated by Rebecca Alban Hoffberger,
founder and director of this original
and unabashedly unusual 20-year-old
museum. Through Sept. 4. American
Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key
Highway. Baltimore. Tickets are
$15.95, or $20 for the preview party.
Call 410-244-1900 or visit avam.org.
THE OUTWIN 2016: AMERICAN

PORTRAITURE TODAY
Every three years the Smithsonians

National Portrait Gallery presents
finalists of the Outwin Boochever
Portrait Competition, named for a
late volunteer and benefactor. The
portraits are works drawn from all
over America, mostly featuring unheralded, everyday citizens and generally
presented in innovative ways through
various media, from standard photography to three-dimensional installation. This years winner is a stunning,
slightly surreal painting of a young
African-American girl by Amy Sherald
of Baltimore. Among the 43 finalists,
more than a half-dozen are LGBTthemed, including: Jess T. Dugan
of St. Louis and her masculine self-
portrait; a print of two transgender

teenagers in love by Evan Baden of
Oregon; an oil painting focused on a
recently married, older gay couple by
Paul Oxborough of Minnesota; and
a flamboyant, patriotic painting by
D.C.s Tim Doud featuring his spouse,
cultural theorist Edward Ingebretsen,
in full plume. Through Jan. 8, 2017.
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F
Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or
visit npg.si.edu.
Vinson Fox (aka Michael Clark),

Steve Ludlum, Michael McCall, JW
Mahoney, Michael Reidy, Robin Rose,
Judith Watkins Tartt and Joe White.
Opens in a gallery talk with the featured artists on Saturday, April 2, at 5
p.m. On exhibit to May 29. American
University Museums Gallery 252
at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400
Massachusetts Ave. NW. Call 202885-1300 or visit american.edu/cas/
museum.
TIMELESS TRANSFORMATION:
KIMONOS, PRINTS AND TEXTILES
WINDOW TO WASHINGTON
Kimonos and the artwork they inspire

is the focus of Strathmores spring
exhibition, part of the 2016 National
Cherry Blossom Festival. Traditional
garments and modern interpretations
will be on display along with details
about how artists adapt and assemble
familiar motifs. Through April 17.
The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701
Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Call
301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
TWISTED TEENAGE PLOT
Named after the band featuring artist

Kevin MacDonald, the Apler Initiative
for Washington Art offers this exhibition at the American University
Museum showcasing other local visual
artists who also played in bands in the
late 70s and early 80s. Represented
in the exhibition which includes
sound recordings, posters and videos are Dick Bangham, Michael
Baron, Jay Burch, Kim Kane, Clark
Window to Washington: The Kiplinger

Collection at HSW is an exhibition at
Washingtons Carnegie Library that
traces the development of the nations
capital from a sleepy Southern town
to a modern metropolis, as documented through the works of artists.
The Historical Society of Washington,
D.C., exhibition was made possible by
a donation from the Kiplinger family.
Its also an early step in a reorganization effort by the society, which
has struggled to revive ever since
its short-lived effort a decade ago to
run a City Museum of Washington
proved too ambitious. Open Tuesdays
through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Historical Society of Washington,
D.C., at the Carnegie Library, 801 K
St. NW. Call 202-393-1420 or visit
dchistory.org.
ABOVE AND BEYOND

RAINBOW YOUTH ALLIANCE 10TH
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
CONCERT
The Rock Creek Singers and the

GenOut Youth Chorus of the Gay
Mens Chorus of Washington will
help celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the Rainbow Youth Alliance with
this benefit performance. A suggested donation of $20 will benefit the
peer-to-peer, adult-facilitated support
group for LGBT youth. Saturday, April
9, at 7:30 p.m. Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Rockville, 100 Welsh
Park Dr. Rockville. Suggested donation of $20. Call 240-324-7823 or visit
rainbowyouthalliancemd.org.
THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW
Rayceen Pendarvis monthly LGBT

variety show moves from the nowshuttered Liv Nightclub to downtowns Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Library, with a mini-ball,
live music by Durell Arther, burlesque
artist Usagi Bum Bum, plus special
guests. Pendarvis hosts, joined by
announcer Curt Mariah and guest DJ
Vjuan Allure. Wednesday, April 6.
Doors at 6 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. Free.
Visit facebook.com/AskRayceen. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
33
music
Adore Delanos After Party is swaggering, alcohol-swigging, sexuallyswinging and absolutely irresistible
by GORDON ASHENHURST
DORE DELANOS BLISTERING AFTER PARTY

(HHHHH) is a twistedly tuneful pageant of
club bangers and danceable downers. Putting
the clichd, comedy-based music of her peers
in the shade, the former RuPauls Drag Race contestant weds
together funky house music with an appetite for after-hours
introspection.
Perhaps fittingly, the album opens with something of a comedown. The world-weary I.C.U is a downbeat highlight and a
credible showcase for Adores adept, if not quite seamless, relish
34
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
for rapping. A brooding, trip-hop inspired track that thankfully

makes no pretense of its performer being a hard-core rapper.
However, her best flows are on more carefree, pop-orientated
numbers such as Dynamite. Blending together crisp electronic
pulses with amusing drag queen attitude, its a slow-burning gem,
proving there is more to Delano than meets both the eye and ear.
The eurodance thump of Better Than the Movies might
follow a familiar script, but Delano sings with a soft and gristly
conviction unimaginable from any other Drag Race contestant.
Her producer comes back at her, resonance for resonance, with
a wide-eyed sheen that turns it into a blockbuster.
Not backwards in coming forwards, Foreign Lover f-bombs
its way into someones pants (I know you want to fuck me on
the table backstage probably sounds the same in any language
anyway). Just like the encounter being initiated, this is a threeminute head(board) banger that is fun while it lasts, but a long
way off conjuring much emotion. Bold as Love is a broody slice
of heavy-duty club beats, applied more thickly than Delanos
eyeliner. Her token lyrical themes excess and longing come
out to play once again. If this song was not deliberately written
ADOREDELANO.COM
Party Girl
to sound like bold ass love, its a crime.

The free-for-all eponymous track is the albums sharpest
incision, establishing a bold and brash sound thats powered
by an androgynous groove and presumably alcohol. Lots of
alcohol. Who needs a dress code, when Its my party and Ill
fuck who I want seems to rule out having a guest list? Drunk on
seedy, glitter-ball beats, the flirty attitude tingles through every
lyrical inch of After Party, as Delano saves her subtlety for the
sleek song craft. If one were to sarcastically remark that there
just arent enough acts who dig through 80s pop for inspiration,
Delanos Forever 21 attitude works its kinetic magic enough
to separate her from the crowd. Perky glitter-bomb Take Me
There, for instance, takes its bubbly, lip-smacking cue from
early Borderline-era Madonna via the plastic sheen of Katy
Perrys Teenage Dream.
However, that latter source of inspiration is the downfall of

strummy, sunny I Really Like It. Some of the melody sounds
suspiciously lifted directly from Katy Perrys song, and in more
blatant fashion than some of Delanos expletive-driven lyrics
elsewhere.
While After Party seems initially like a big, garish make-up
box of neon surfaces, continue listening and youll find guts and
a softer centre. Delanos vocal gloss hits a nerve on the tragically
wounded torch moment I Cant Love You. She deserves to see
a sea of mobile phones held up at her as she sings her heart out
to this in gay bars all over the world.
The heart-rendering speed-ballad Constellations could
well be one of the loveliest love letters to the 80s dance scene
ever produced. Slotted in after the dancefloor wreckage occupying the majority of the album, Delanos sweetly restrained aching shows no sign of losing steam, regardless of slower tempo.
Staying faithful to the albums party-cycle concept, the closing
4am is the albums biggest wake-up call, its sombre air catching a moment wherein its singer sings with soft regret. It is
doubly disorientating, lingering long after the song has ended.
High on 80s influences, historical heartache and contemporary excess, After Party is high class pop trash. Every song generates its own uniquely scintillating, gutter-glam glitz. Shadowing
the club thumpers are ballads that dig deeper than simply being
morning-after moralizers. Indulging in despair at every turn,
its an album that both explores and intensely commits itself to
escape from it. At its best, After Party is swaggering, alcoholswigging, sexually-swinging and absolutely irresistible.
After Party is available now from Amazon, Google Play, iTunes
and on streaming services.
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
35
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 03.31.16
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller
Lite, $4 Rail, $5 Call,
4-9pm $3 Rail Drinks,
10pm-midnight, $5
Red Bull, Gatorade and
Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean
Morris and MadScience
Best Package Contest
at midnight, hosted by
BaNaka $200 Cash
Prize Doors open 10pm,
18+ $5 Cover under 21
and free with college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call Men
in jocks and underwear
drink free, 8-10pm No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
METROWEEKLY.COM
37
38
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
Ziegfelds / Secrets
Saturday, March 26
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/
pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a
cocktail glass served in a
huge glass for the same
price, 5-10pm Beer and
wine only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+
FRI., 04.01.16
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
5-9pm Friday Night
Videos with resident
DJ Shea Van Horn VJ
Expanded craft beer
selection No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks all
night DJ MadScience
upstairs DJ Keenan Orr
downstairs $10 cover
10pm-1am, $5 after 1am
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm

Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Fetish Friday men in
leather covers drink free,
8-10pm No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long Otter Den DC
presents Otter Crossing,
9pm-close $5 Cover
after 10pm
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
$2 Skyy Highballs and
$2 Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Retro Friday $5
Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
DC Bear Crue Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm No
cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and BaNaka
DJ Wess upstairs, DJs
BacK2bACk downstairs
GoGo Boys after 11pm
Doors open at 10pm For
those 21 and over, $10
For those 18-20, $15 18+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
wine only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Rotating Hosts
DJ in Secrets VJ Tre in
Ziegfelds Cover 21+
SAT., 04.02.16
9 1/2
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch at
Level One, 11am-2pm and
2-4pm Featuring Kristina
Kelly and the Ladies of
Illusion Bottomless
Mimosas and Bloody
Marys Happy Hour:
$3 Miller Lite, $4 Rail,
$5 Call, 4-9pm Rumba
Latina: A Latin Dance
Party, 10pm-close Doors
open 10pm $7 cover
before midnight, $10 cover
after 21+
METROWEEKLY.COM
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show,
8-10pm, hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs No
Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
$5 Bacardi, all flavors,
all night long Rewind:
Request Line, an 80s
and 90s Dance Party,
9pm-close Featuring
DJ Darryl Strickland
No Cover
MARCH 31, 2016
39
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
TOWN
DC Rawhides host Town
& Country: Two-Step, Line
Dancing, Waltz and West
Coast Swing, $5 Cover
to stay all night Doors
open 6:45pm, Lessons
7-8pm, Open dance
8-10:30pm Funkytown:
70s, 80s and 90s Dance
Party, featuring DJ Ed
Bailey, 10pm-close DJ
Wess spins downstairs
Robbie Turner of RuPauls
Drag Race performs in the
Drag Show Meet and
Greet, 9pm $20 Cover
for Meet and Greet
Tickets available online
40
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
at Flavorus.com Drag
Show starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley
Knoxx and BaNaka For
general admission, doors
open 10pm $12 Cover
21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
wine only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald Doors at 9
p.m., first show at 11:30
p.m. % DJs Doors open
8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 04.03.16
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,

Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke,
hosted by Robert Bise,
10pm-close 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Buffet, 2-7pm Like on
Facebook for menu options
Draughts all day and night
No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Freddies Zodiac
Monthly Contest, hosted
by Regina Jozet Adams,
8pm Karaoke, 10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Bears Can Party, 6-10pm
Featuring DJ Jeff Eletto
No Cover Mamas
Trailer Park Karaoke
downstairs, 9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all
day and night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm
$20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 3-9pm No
Cover
ROCK HARD SUNDAYS

@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 8pm Shows all
night until close, starting
at 8:30pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports
$10 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 rockharddc.com

TVs showing movies,
Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
wine only $4
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
MON., 04.04.16
9 1/2
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
Draughts Free Pool all
day and night Men in
DC Eagle T-Shirts get

Happy Hour, 8pm-close
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night
long Michaels Open
Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
wine only $4
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
TUES., 04.05.16
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1,
5pm-midnight
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
COBALT/30 DEGREES
DJ Honey Happy Hour:
$2 Rail, $3 Miller Lite, $5
Call, 4-9pm SIN Service
Industry Night, 10pm-close
$1 Rail Drinks all night
Finale: DC Drag Wars,
10pm
NUMBER NINE
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
METROWEEKLY.COM
MARCH 31, 2016
41
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
wine only $4
WED., 04.06.16
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Wednesday Night
Karaoke, hosted by Miss
India Larelle Houston,
10pm-2am $4 Stoli and
Stoli Flavors and Miller
Lite all night No Cover
21+
42
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night
long, 4pm-close The
Gay Mens Chorus of
Washington presents
Salsa Social, 7-10pm
Hour-long salsa lesson
for beginners, followed by
open dance session
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Feud: Drag
Trivia, hosted by BaNaka,
10-11pm, with a $200
prize $2 JR.s Drafts and
$4 Vodka ($2 with College
ID or JR.s Team Shirt)
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

SmartAss Trivia Night,
8pm and 9pm Prizes
include bar tabs and
tickets to shows at the
9:30 Club $15 Buckets of
Beer for SmartAss Teams
only Bring a new team
members and each get a
free $10 Dinner
NUMBER NINE
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
wine only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+ l
43
scene
Green Lantern
Thursday, March 24
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
44
45
Instead of bending over for big business,
the governor shouldve given Disney and all those other anti-Christian corporate bullies the heave-ho.
Fox News pundit TODD STARNES, in an opinion column commenting on Georgia Gov. Nathan Deals decision to veto anti-LGBT
legislation, after pressure from the business community and threats of boycotts by companies such as Disney. The bill would have
allowed businesses and individuals to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religion.
Discrimination is wrong, period.

The governor and the legislature should repeal this law.
North Carolina Attorney General ROY COOPER, speaking with WNCN. Coopers office will not be defending N.C.s recently
passed anti-trans law, which requires that transgender people in schools and government buildings use the bathroom that
corresponds with their birth gender. Cooper called the law shameful and a national embarrassment.
If were gonna do what we did the other day,

were gonna have to start locking the door.
Alabama GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY (R.), in a recording of a phone conversation with his senior political advisor, Rebekah
Caldwell Mason. Bentley, a family values politician and longtime opponent of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights, has been
embroiled in scandal after his affair was revealed by the former secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Bentleys definition of traditional marriage is one man, one woman, and one mistress, apparently.
You disgust me.

Dont ever talk to me again.
Actor JOEL GREYs mother, after he came out to her as a teenager. Grey was speaking during an interview
at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.
This is shocking waste of an opportunity and

thousands of gay men will suffer as a result.
MATTHEW HODSON, CEO of GMFA, a British gay mens health charity, in an opinion piece for Gay Times. Hodson was
commenting on the English and Welsh health services plans not to offer PrEP to gay and bisexual men, despite conducting an 18
month study into its effectiveness and determining that it would benefit HIV services.
46
MARCH 31, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM

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EDITORIAL

MARCH 31, 2016

photography by Ward Morrison

Behind Her Badge

Interview by John Riley

SALES & MARKETING

Interview by Doug Rule

OUT ON THE TOWN

photography by Ward Morrison

photography by Ward Morrison

2016 Jansi LLC.

MARCH 31, 2016

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Louisiana Governor to Rescind Anti-Gay Order

Georgia State House

MARCH 31, 2016

do not conform to traditional notions of sexuality such as

MARCH 31, 2016

that said the state could lose up to $2 billion if national groups

MARCH 31, 2016

country better to be an LGBT citizen, but they are making the

changing facility consistent with their biological sex at birth.

If the free-spirited Fords had any limits, it was with their

MARCH 31, 2016

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group vis-

its the Phillips Collection near Dupont

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square-dancing group features

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

MARCH 31, 2016

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

affirming social group for ages 11-24.

SMYALS REC NIGHT provides

The DC Center hosts a meeting of

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay

on various issues and anti-gay laws

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

CENTER GLOBAL, a group focusing

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club welcomes all levels for

DC SENTINELS basketball team

meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for

LGBT community, family and friends.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses

HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676

Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL

ADVENTURING outdoors group

progressive faith community every

LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic