Metro Weekly - 06-02-16 - Maulik Pancholy

EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
JUNE 2, 2016
Volume 23 / Issue 5
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Fallon Forbush,
Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
NEWS

10

Jail for Anal
12

Dial P for PrEP
PATRON SAINT
Jonathan
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
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by John Riley

SCENE
15
Helen Hayes Awards after party
photography by Ward Morrison
16

SCENE
20
Community Calendar
Food & Friends 26th Annual
Chefs Best Dinner and Auction

FEATURES
22
Mauliks Panoply
Interview by John Riley

28

Cover Worthy
OUT ON THE TOWN

32

Dolly Parton
34

Stonewall Regatta
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Last Word
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BORTN66
LGBT
News
Now online at MetroWeekly.com
Walmart wont discuss its trans bathroom policy

Fourth Circuit upholds trans student ruling
Jail for Anal
The use of forced anal examinations to prosecute men suspected of being

homosexual persists in some countries
by John Riley
TS BEEN CONDEMNED BY THE UNITED NATIONS

as a form of torture, has its roots in a nearly two-centuryold medical myth, and has been rejected by generations
of physicians. But the use of forced anal exams on men
suspected of receiving anal sex shows no signs of abating.
Despite overwhelming evidence against the destructive practice and growing criticism of its use, some countries continue
to subject men to it regardless. Why? To prosecute them for
homosexuality.
As part of the examinations, which often occur after neighbors or relatives of the accused report their suspicions to the
local authorities, subjects are arrested and taken to hospitals.
Once there, doctors penetrate their rectums with fingers and
often other objects, allegedly to determine the tone of the anal
sphincter. But even worse than the treatment that the men
receive is that these tests are based on junk science any
evidence gathered through the examinations is specious at best.
The root of anal examinations to determine homosexuality comes from a now-discredited theory promulgated in
1857 by Auguste Ambroise Tardieu, a French forensic doctor.
Tardieu published a paper, Forensic Study of Assaults Against
Decency, which alleged that there were six signs that would
point to whether a man had engaged in receptive anal sex. Some
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of those signs included well-developed buttocks, a funneling

of the tissue around the anus, and even the presence of fistulas
or hemorrhoids.
These are ideas that were very quickly discredited by other
European forensic specialists, says Neela Ghoshal, a senior
LGBT rights researcher for Human Rights Watch, a nonprofit
organization that monitors and fights against human rights
abuses across the globe. The next generation of forensic doctors completely discarded this idea, because it wasnt based on
any actual studies. It was just theorizing. But in the meantime,
this theory made its way to Egypt. And somehow, from there,
the idea spread to other parts of the world.
Ghoshal says its unclear why the practice took root in some
nations, but not in others. Theres also no religious link, as
the known practitioners are essentially split in half between
Christian- and Muslim-majority nations. One commonality is
that most of the countries in question typically enforce their
homosexuality laws with some regular degree of frequency, most notably Egypt, where nearly every person arrested
for debauchery has been taken to the Forensic Medicine
Authority, which is part of the countrys Ministry of Justice.
However, Ghoshal notes that there are some exceptions to that
rule, such as Kenya, which has very few prosecutions of homo-
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JUNE 2, 2016
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LGBTNews
sexuality yet had a prominent case last year where anal exams
were used against two men in 2015.
That particular case, the police caught two guys. There
was a particular scandal related to pornography, Ghoshal says.
They were looking for scapegoats. They were under pressure
to come up with some way to nail these guys, and my speculation is that police in Kenya had heard about the use of anal
exams in Uganda, and thought, There, weve got them. This
is how were going to pin this on these guys. So I think theres
sometimes cross-pollination between neighboring countries.
The two Kenyans have since brought a lawsuit challenging
the constitutionality of anal exams, and are seeking a court ruling to stop the practice. That challenge is currently working its
way through the courts.
Tunisia was another recent target of criticism, after the
United Nations Committee Against Torture last week condemned their use of forced anal exams. But human rights
advocates have reported incidents of similar tests being done on
men suspected of homosexuality in at least five other countries
in the past five years. Those countries are: Cameroon, Lebanon,
Turkmenistan, Uganda and Zambia. There are also reports of
the practice occurring in the United Arab Emirates, though
there have been no known incidents since 2010.
Of those nations, Lebanon has come closest to stopping the
practice. Lebanese grassroots activists, led by the group Legal
Agenda, began an effective campaign that labeled anal exams as
tests of shame and called their practice a form of rape. In 2012,
due to their efforts, the countrys National Medical Council

banned the use of anal examinations as evidence of homosexuality, which remains criminalized. The countrys Minister of
Justice subsequently made a statement calling the practice a
violation of human rights and calling on prosecutors to stop
relying on them for convictions.
However, the decision of whether to order an anal exam is
often left up to the discretion of individual prosecutors. And,
Ghoshal notes, there have been cases where police have instead
traded anal exams for another form of torture: beating people
severely until they confess to being homosexuals.
In addition, eliminating anal exams in these countries would
not end prosecutions for homosexuality, Ghoshal warns. Even
in cases where anal exams have not been performed, LGBT
people have been convicted on circumstantial evidence such as
photos, text messages, conversation or witness testimony that
is often speculative. In one of the more egregious cases out of
Cameroon, the prosecutor claimed that the fact that two men
had been drinking Baileys, dubbed a womans drink, was used
as evidence that the men were homosexual.
When you have courts that dont really care if objective
evidence is there to convict someone, or the courts are influenced by homophobic beliefs, its very difficult to rely on the
end of anal exams to eliminate homosexuality prosecutions
altogether, says Ghoshal. But basically what it would do is take
one tool out of their arsenal, to make the prosecution that much
more difficult. l
Dial P for PrEP
Dedicated apps could make accessing PrEP easier than ever

By John Riley
HE BATTLE AGAINST HIV TRANSMISSION IS

going digital. With the advent of PrEP, or preexposure prophylaxis, gay and bisexual men have
yet another option to help protect themselves from
acquiring the virus. Its been lauded as a wonder drug, supported by health professionals, and touted as an important part
of securing an AIDS-free generation. The only problem is that a
large number of people still arent aware of it and even more
have trouble simply accessing it.
Enter The DC Centers HIV Prevention Working Group,
which has been brainstorming ways to make PrEP available to
as many people as possible. Two years ago, the Center proposed
creating a mobile app that would not only connect people to
resources that offer PrEP, but would remind them when to get
their prescription refilled and guide them along the process of
obtaining Truvada, the drugs brand name.
At the time it was very forward-thinking, says Brant Miller,
former program manager for The DC Center. There werent
as many media campaigns around PrEP, but there certainly
werent any that were very specific to D.C.
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The DC Center applied and was approved for a $10,000

grant as part of The George Washington Universitys Learning
by Giving student philanthropy program, where students
select local charities or nonprofits deserving of financial support. The Center also received a sponsorship from the District
of Columbia Department of Healths HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD
and TB Administration (HAHSTA) and financial support from
Stonewall Kickball to help fund the development of the mobile
app, called bePrEPed.
They then partnered with JEL Creative, which designed the
technical aspects of the app, and local video production firm
Bennett Street Media, which produced various videos for the
app. Those videos function as tutorials for users, teaching them
the basics of what PrEP is, who is eligible for it, and when to
take it.
The app contains a map of clinics and health providers in
D.C., Maryland and Virginia who are willing to prescribe PrEP,
and a tab where users can set reminders to take their daily dose,
refill their prescription, or make appointments for lab work or
regularly scheduled checkups with their physician. It also con-
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LGBTNews
tains information on condom use, along with a reminder that
PrEP does not prevent other sexually-transmitted infections.
Miller says this was added to give users a more comprehensive
education on safer sex.
But he also acknowledges that The DC Centers app largely
serves as an educational and referral service, with users having
to take the initiative to approach their own doctors or medical
providers about PrEP. The aim, he says, is to have both doctor
and patient knowledgeable of the subsequent steps they have to
take, including testing and regular checkups.
For those reticent to speak about their sexual history and
practices, another, more discreet option may be on the horizon.
A Californian app called Nurx, originally designed to deliver
birth control to women, has started offering access to PrEP.
According to Hans Gangeskar, a co-founder of Nurx, the
companys new PrEP outreach connects users directly to a real
medical doctor who can prescribe PrEP without having to go
through a face-to-face conversation. Users answer 17 screening
questions related to Truvada or PrEP, which are then sent to
and reviewed by a licensed doctor. The doctor then orders a full
range of testing, and the app refers patients to a laboratory, often
trying to connect low-income or uninsured people to places
where they can find free testing, such as the San Francisco City
Clinic. If the patients test results come back HIV-negative, the
doctor then prescribes PrEP and the prescription is mailed to
the user.
Weve crafted this service very carefully so that we can
identify any PrEP indication that the CDC recognizes, says
Gangeskar.
Although the app is only available in California, Nurx has
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plans to expand to other major metropolitan areas in the coming months. Asked about the out-of-pocket costs of the medication, which can make PrEP unattainable to low-income users,
Gangeskar said Nurx tries to connect patients with co-pay or
medication assistance programs, such as the one run by Gilead
Pharmaceuticals, the company that creates Truvada.
To reach out to certain at-risk populations, Nurx is advertising on Grindr and other social apps. Gangeskar hopes making
Nurx widely available can help lower barriers to low-income or
minority populations, while also affording them the opportunity
to avoid uncomfortable conversations with doctors who may
not be as familiar with PrEP.
The thing I always stress is that every request is reviewed
manually by a real doctor, Gangeskar says. And that doctor
is free to make whatever decision they think is best, based on
the information available to them. The only thing that really
changes is how the information is collected.
He adds that Nurx has learned lessons from its foray into the
world of at-home delivery of birth control, and is applying those
lessons to inform how it deals with PrEP.
With birth control, this has been studied in quite a bit of
detail. It turns out that women, when you ask them the questions that are needed to receive birth control, are more honest
when those questions are answered in a survey form than they
are if theyre asked face-to-face by a doctor, Gangeskar says.
And looking at the questions you have to ask to prescribe PrEP,
we have every indication to believe that the same is true there.
People are not comfortable discussing their sexual history and
safe-sex practices with strangers. Making this a seamless process is something that will make this a lot easier. l
scene
Helen Hayes Awards
afterparty at the
9:30 Club
Monday, May 23
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE
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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.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice

session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio 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.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2
GAMMA, a confidential support
group for men who are gay, bisexual,

questioning and who are married
or involved with a woman, meets in
Frederick, Md., on the first Thursday
of every month. GAMMA also offers
additional meetings in Northern
Virginia and Washington. 6:30-8:30
p.m. Grace United Church of Christ,
25 E. 2nd St., Frederick, Md. For
more information or to RSVP, visit
GAMMAinDC.org or meetup.com/
GAMMAinDC.
WEEKLY EVENTS
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.
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.
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.
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JUNE 2, 2016
FRIDAY, JUNE 3
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
CAPTURING FIRE, an international

spoken and poetry festival for queeridentified writers that consists of
three days of panels, workshops and
poetry slam performances. Takes
place at Coffy Cafe. 8 p.m.-12 a.m.
Registration at 6 p.m. $10 Cover or
free with registration. 3310 14th St.
NW. For more information, visit capfireslam.org.
ADVENTURING outdoors group
GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQI

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.
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for
adults in Montgomery County offers
a safe space to explore coming out
and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.
16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512,
Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
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.
WEEKLY EVENTS
hikes 10 moderately difficult miles

with about 1000 feet of elevation gain
on Catoctin Mountain near Frederick,
Md., to see mountain laurel in full
bloom. Bring plenty of beverages,
lunch, sturdy boots, bug spray and
about $12 for fees. Carpool at 9 a.m.
from Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro
Station. Jeff, 301-775-9660. adventuring.org.

poetry slam performances, takes
place at Keegan Theatre. 11 a.m.-midnight. $10 Cover or free with registration on Friday evening. 1742 Church
St. NW. For more information, visit
capfireslam.org.
CENTER GLOBAL, a group focusing

on LGBT rights abroad that works
with LGBT asylum seekers and refugees, holds its monthly meetings on
the first Saturday of each month at
The DC Center. 12-2 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center hosts a meeting of
KHUSH DC, a support group for
LGBTQ South Asians. 12-2 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.

SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
affirming social group for ages 11-24.

4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.
Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, laycdc.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.
METROWEEKLY.COM
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.
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.
SUNDAY, JUNE 5
poetry slam performances, takes
place at Keegan Theatre. 2-10 p.m.
$10 Cover or free with registration on
Friday evening. 1742 Church St. NW.
For more information, visit capfireslam.org.
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group
takes walking tour of Old Town

Alexandria. Free. Optional brunch
follows. Meet at 10 a.m. inside King
Street Metro Station near station
attendants kiosk. Craig, 202-4620535. craighowell1@verizon.net.
DC Strokes Rowing Club seeks
volunteers to help out with the
annual STONEWALL REGATTA. 6:30
a.m.-5 p.m. Report to the Anacostia
Community Boathouse at 1900 M
St. SE. For more information, visit
stonewallregatta.org or contact Bach
Polakowski at director@stonewallregatta.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
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.

session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic
Mass for the LGBT community. 6
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JUNE 2, 2016
17
p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820

Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
Sign interpreted. For more info, visit
dignitynova.org.
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.
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
age church & learning center. Sunday

Services and Workshops event. 5419
Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MONDAY, JUNE 6
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.
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JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice 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.
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.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,
Arlington. Appointments: 703-7894467.

youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
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.
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, JUNE 7
Google and Automatic/WordPress are
teaming up to host ACCELERATE.
LGBT, a free conference focused on
helping LGBT-run or LGBT-focused
organizations grow their online presence. The event will take place online.
Participants may also sign up for
20-minute one-on-one sessions with a
WordPress or Google expert. To register, visit accelerate.lgbt/events/dc.
Join Capital Pride and Center Faith
for the annual CAPITAL PRIDE
INTERFAITH SERVICE, featuring
representatives and speakers from
various religious traditions. 7:30-9
p.m. Covenant Baptist United Church
of Christ, 3845 S. Capitol St. SW. For

more information, visit dccenterfaith.
org or capitalpride.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly din-
ner 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 571214-9617. james.leslie@inova.org.
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.
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.
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 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.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers
free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment

needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
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.

youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,
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.
Oral
Fixation
you can listen
to any story at
MetroWeekly.com
just look for the
speak button
US HELPING US hosts a support

group for black gay men 40 and older.
7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202446-1100.
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, JUNE 8
DODPRIDE, the Department of
Defenses LGBT employee resource

group, hosts its annual PRIDE
MONTH EVENT at the Pentagon.
Event will feature a video presentation
with individual and group selfies. 11:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pentagon Courtyard.
Visitors must be accompanied by a
badge holder. For more information,
visit facebook.com/DoDPrideEvents.
RAINBOW RESPONSE, a coalition dedicated to combating LGBTQ

intimate partner violence, holds its
monthly meeting at The DC Center
on the second Wednesday of every
month. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
rainbowresponse.org.
The DC Center holds a meeting of
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a support group for LGBT people who are
looking to quit cigarettes and tobacco
use. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center holds a monthly planning meeting of its HIV PREVENTION
WORKING GROUP. 6-8 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets

for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity
Center, 721 8th St SE (across from
Marine Barracks). No reservations
needed. All welcome. 202-841-0279 if
you need a partner. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
19
scene
Food & Friends 26th
Annual Chefs Best
Dinner and Auction
Monday, May 23
National Building Museum
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
20
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
21
Mauliks Panoply
Refusing to be typecast as the Asian-American sidekick, Maulik Pancholy has racked up an
impressive number of credits on television, including 30 Rock and Weeds. Now hes tackling his
biggest challenge yet playing Katherina in an all-male production of
Shakespeares Taming of the Shrew.
N ASSIGNMENT FOR A CLOWN CLASS AT THE

Yale School of Drama prompted Maulik Pancholy
to come out to his parents.
It was about finding your inner-clown, the
thing thats funny about you, he says. We had to
sing these songs about dreams in our life, just jump up on stage
and start singing. I started singing about how I need to come out
to my mom. That night, I went home and called my mom. Its
moments like that made me realize how intensely personal acting is, how your own life is so intricately tied to your ability to
bring something to the character.
Its a life lesson Pancholy is bringing to his interpretation and
portrayal of Katherina in the Shakespeare Theatre Companys
production of The Taming of the Shrew. Calling upon his awkward teenage years and his feelings of being different, Pancholy
sees similar parallels with his character.
I just had, especially in my teen years, this sense I wasnt
the same as everyone around me. I knew that I was a little bit
different, and that other people were aware that I was a little different, and I dont know why that was, he says. I think theres
elements of that that are part of the play. Kate is someone who
doesnt fit into society in the way they want her to, and as much
as she is unwilling to yield to that, I think it leaves her very lonely
and sad that she cant find a place to fit in.
As a child, Pancholy was always drawn to the arts. After high
school, he majored in theater at Northwestern University, before
moving to Los Angeles to try and jumpstart his career. He later
moved east to attend Yale School of Drama, before finally settling in New York, which he now considers home.
It was there, almost twelve years ago, that he met his husband, Ryan. Theyve been married for two years, but Pancholys
acting career, which takes him to Los Angeles, Washington, and
elsewhere, often leads to navigating the challenges of a longdistance relationship.
We have this rule where every three weeks, if were away,
one of us will go out to visit the other, he says. Right before I
was doing this play, I was in L.A. for six weeks and home for two.
I was like, I dont know. Maybe I shouldnt do it. Ive been away
for so long. Youd think itd get easier the longer youve been
together, but actually, it gets harder to be away.
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JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
During the course of his career, Pancholy has appeared both

in movies, from Hitch to See You in September, and one-time
roles in major television dramas like Charmed, Law & Order:
Criminal Intent, and The Good Wife. He also voiced recurring
character Baljeet Tjinder in Phineas and Ferb. But his most
notable roles are those of Sanjay Patel in Weeds and Jonathan,
Jack Donaghys assistant, on 30 Rock. Both series, as well as a
four-episode run on Web Therapy and a two-episode stint on
The Comeback, have allowed him to work with actors like Alec
Baldwin, Tina Fey, Mary-Louise Parker, and Lisa Kudrow
opportunities for which he is grateful.
Its such a gift, he says. Honestly, when youre acting with
them, you can just empty out and play along, because theyre
bringing so much to the table.
Pancholy is eagerly embracing his role as Kate in a production where the actors must transition seamlessly between
Shakespeares original text and modern-day musical numbers.
The difference with TV is that you dont have a 200-page
script. You have the first episode and youre building, or the
writers are building, the character as you go on, he says.
Whereas, with a play like The Taming of the Shrew and especially with Shakespeare, theres so much textual information.
Shakespeare is constantly having characters play with the
audience, and in some ways, its like getting the audience on
your side, especially when youre in a two-person scene, he
adds. In the wooing scene between Kate and Petruchio, theres
a big sense of him being like, Can you believe her? and her being
like, Can you believe him? and trying to get the audience to see
whos going to come out on top. They both leave that scene feeling like theyve won.
His time at Shakespeare Theatre Company has also introduced him to the Washington theater scene and a number of
D.C.-based actors, with whom he stars in Shrew. While the play
is running, hes living in the same building as other out-of-town
actors and creative team members, a situation he compares to
a stayover at summer camp. Being in the same location helps
increase the familiarity and on-stage chemistry, particularly
with co-star Peter Gadiot, who plays Kates suitor-turned-husband Petruchio.
This play has been emotionally and physically quite demand-
COURTESY OF THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY
Interview by John Riley
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
23
ping my toe in the water, doing what I wanted. Then, finally

having my first boyfriend, which gave me the courage to own
it to myself and to most of the people around me. But of course
coming out is a always a gradual process.
MW: How did your family take it?
PANCHOLY: It took them a little while, but my mom is incredibly
supportive. My dads been incredibly supportive. They both
METRO WEEKLY: Did you always have the theater bug, or was actcame to my wedding. My mom walked me down the aisle. They
ing something you gravitated to as an adult?
love my husband, Ryan. All my cousins, who I grew up with like
MAULIK PANCHOLY: No, I always had it. When I was five, I was
siblings, my sister, theyre so incredibly loving and supportive.
telling my parents that I wanted to be an actor. My cousins and Ive had some family members who have not been on board,
I, wed always put on shows for our family. Every summer, when which has been challenging. For the most part, I would say 98
wed all get together, we put on these musical and dance shows. percent of the people around me have been really incredible.
We actually charged our parents money. By junior high, I was
Ryan and I actually took a trip to India in 2013. We got
doing community theater. I played the piano as a kid. The arts engaged at the Taj Mahal. We met family and they all knew who
were always the thing that I just gravitated towards.
Ryan was, and they all treated him like he was part of the family.
I wasnt the most comfortable in my own skin growing up. In some ways, they were even more into it than some of my famI was kind of awkward. I was definitely a nerd. I didnt even ily in America, which is so interesting.
know how to frame my sexuality at that point, but I think other MW: Where did you and Ryan first meet?
people were aware of it, so that made me uncomfortable. I was PANCHOLY: We met at a pool party on Fire Island. It is not necesa scrawny, little Indian kid living in the Midwest, and then in sarily the place youd think youre going to meet your future husTampa, Florida. I feel like watching movies, or even playing the band. Certainly, when we first met, I think we thought it was just
piano, it gave me this outlet, this thing to, in a way, disappear a fun day at the beach. But we met at a pool party and, this July,
itll be twelve years weve been
together and in September well
be two years married. So, yeah,
it worked out. I do remember,
after we had this awesome day
together, leaving Fire Island and
being like, Oh, man. I wonder if
anythings going to happen with
this. Then, I think the very next
weekend, we went on our first
real date. Hes incredible.
MW: Whose idea was it to get
engaged at the Taj Mahal?
PANCHOLY: We kind of preplanned it. We bought rings in
New York and took them with
us. Weve been together for so
long and at that point, were like,
were going to ask each other at
the Taj Mahal. Then, our tour
guide was like, Dont take anything of value with you because
theyre going to throw all your
bags. We didnt end up taking
our rings to the Taj Mahal. The
tour guide, I dont know if he
knew we were gay or a couple,
but he gave us this tour and then,
at the very end of it, he was like,
Pancholy (center) in The Taming of the Shrew
Alright. Im going to leave you
into. For a long time, I thought that the joy of acting is that you guys alone for twenty minutes. Walk around. Do whatever you
get to disappear. Now, as a hopefully more mature actor, I actu- want. Then, he looked right at us both. If theres any promises
ally think that the joy of acting is that you get to show up, that you need to make to each other, now is the time to do it. We
you get to bring so much more of yourself to it. I would say thats were like, what is going on? He left us alone and suddenly, we
probably one of the bigger journeys that I had to take as an actor, were there. Weve been together for so long, but we were sudis learning that its not about losing yourself in a character, but denly both quite vulnerable and we didnt really know what to
do.
its about bringing yourself to the character.
I think I asked first, So, will you marry me? It was quite
MW: When did you finally come out?
PANCHOLY: It took me a while. I didnt really admit it even to beautiful. The Taj Mahal, I dont know if youve ever been,
myself until my mid-twenties. For me, it was a little bit of dip- but its massive. Im sure there were 10,000 people, but what I
SCOTT SUCHMAN
ing, so its not like were going out together every night, but we
walk home together and chill for a little bit, Pancholy says.
Even doing 30 Rock in New York, you work with the people
youre working with, and then you go home. Theres something
nice about being a part of something that lives a little bit outside
the workplace.
24
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
remember of that moment is being quiet, alone with each other

in a really nice way. He said yes and I said to him. Then, we went
back to our hotel that night and exchanged rings outside of the
hotel. The tour guide part of that is one of my favorites. I have
no idea what he was thinking, or what he thought after he came
back to get us.
MW: Where did you get married?
PANCHOLY: East Hampton. We have a house up there, and so we
had a party at our house. Were actually on a harbor, and across
the harbor, theres this really good venue which you can see from
our house. We got married across the
water, which is so cool.
We talked about getting married
before we did. We had said that we
were going to wait, were going to
wait until its legal in New York.
But when we got married, wed been
together at that point for ten years.
So we just thought of it as a party.
And when it actually happened, I
was like, Oh, I get why this tradition
has lasted for so long. It does mean
something to have 140 people saying,
We love you and support you, and
are witness to your relationship.
MW: Lets talk about The Taming of
the Shrew. What should an audience
member take away from your portrayal of Kate?
PANCHOLY: Im hoping that its really complex. To be honest, I
think sometimes its a little hard to articulate. The thing that
people have so much trouble with in this play is Kates final
speech. In this production and the way Ive seen it, and the way
that weve staged it, I think the truth that Im finding is her
ability to let go of her ego, her anger at the world, her envy of
her sister, and her need to be right all the time. I think in that
speech, she gets the chance to forgive. She forgives her father.
That speech starts off as, Okay, youre betting on me. Can I do
this? Is this an opportunity for me to win? And it becomes this
intensely personal thing for her, where although the words are
This is what a woman owes her husband, I think that shes
actually talking about a very specific journey for herself, that it
has taught her that she has the opportunity to be happy and to be
loved, and to love, and to forgive, and that feels so much better
for her than to be angry, and jealous, and vindictive.
I think thats a truth that I get. That its not easy to forgive. I
feel like that anger that we hold on to actually ends up hurting
ourselves more than it ever hurts anyone else. Thats something
that I dont think I wouldve understood maybe five or six years
ago.
MW: What have you had to let go of thats been freeing for you?
PANCHOLY: Id say a lot of things, to be honest. As an actor, I
learned to let go of anger around certain things, the need to
compete with others.
MW: Its interesting that you say that, because acting is considered
a dog-eat-dog world.
PANCHOLY: I think that is part of one of the things that Ive seen,
is you can fight, fight, fight and be like, Motherfucker. Why
didnt I get this job? or Thats not fair. Or you can say, Oh,
thats what the world is. You get this one but youre not going to
get the next one. You get the choice on how you want to live. I
feel like Kate gets that choice in the end. Its like, Okay. This is
the society that Im in. This is societys betting on what women
are going to do. Am I going to win in this moment, or am I going

to go back to my old way of being? I think she actually wins.
At the end of the play, she has found true love, which very few
people in that play have. Shes escaping that society. Shes not
tied to the riches of Padua, the way the she was in the
beginning, and even though she abhors it, I think she was
still so tied into it. She says, Then vail your stomachs, for it is no
boot, which to me, means put away your pride, because its not
a big deal. Its not a big deal to, in any given moment, say, You
know what? Ill do this because it gives me more freedom than
I left college thinking the world was

open to me. When I got to L.A., people
were like, OH, YOURE BROWN.
YOU CAN COME IN FOR THE SIDE
CHARACTER WITH THE FUNNY
ACCENT. IT WAS SUCH A
SLAP TO THE FACE.
holding onto something that I have to hold onto so strongly. I
think she wins in that moment.
MW: In the program for the show, it mentions that today, and even
more than a hundred years ago, in the time of George Bernard
Shaw, Kates speech would be interpreted as, Oh my God. This is
so degrading to a woman. Its so awful.
PANCHOLY: Its interesting. I feel like one of the things the director wanted to do in casting all men is to take away the idea of
what its like to hear a woman say these words. Shakespeare
in the Park in New York City is doing an all-female production
right now, which I wish I could see.
For me, I see Shrew as an independent journey about this
one particular woman in this one particular situation. The more
specific that becomes, Im hoping it has greater resonance. I
dont think of her as the leader of all women. But I will say that
the way we have worked this play, the women in the play find
solidarity in the end.
I think thats another way that Kate wins, because in the
beginning, she has no female friends. In fact, there are only three
women in this entire play. For her to leave with these other two
women on her side is huge. Its interesting to me that in this play,
I dont know if people see this, but theres no mother. Theres
literally no other woman for Kate to have a connection to.
MW: What are some of the challenges faced by actors of color?
PANCHOLY: When I first started acting right out of college, the
limitation on the kind of roles that were available to me felt
really challenging. I had early TV gigs. I did roles where Im the
foreign exchange student in a turban, eating weird food, burning
incense, and just having to do roles that felt very two-dimensional at best, one-dimensional often, and feeling like there is
really no possibility to play other things. Doing this production,
and getting to play a woman, but also the lead of a Shakespeare
play whos got such a huge, emotional life, versus the foreign
exchange student whose job is to make you laugh because he
has an accent, that feels really important to me. Obviously, I
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
25
think my career has shifted a lot from those early days to what
it is now.
One of the big challenges for a person of color and I think
actually, actors who were openly gay often face this, though its
happening less and less now is to be able to let people know
that you can play other things than the thing that they immediately see in you. I talk about this a lot when I get to colleges, but
when I was at Northwestern, I was really young and the theater
program was not as diverse as it probably is now. We were
studying Moliere and Shakespeare, and Ibsen and Chekhov, all
aters more open, but I dont think it necessarily is. Certainly in

theater and in a lot of Shakespeare, theres a history of colorblind casting, but I dont think it happens nearly as much as
people would like to think it happens. In fact, because Ive done
so much TV in the last decade or so, I havent had the opportunity to do as much theater as I wouldve liked to, but I have
actor friends in New York who complain of the same thing that I
complain about in TV happening in theater all the time.
MW: Would you ever or have you ever thought of branching out
of comedy and going into a serious drama?
PANCHOLY: Yeah, 100 percent. I love doing comedy.
When Im handed a TV script and its for a comedy, I
feel like I understand the rhythms of it, like that makes
sense to me, but I would 100 percent do a drama.
MW: If you could do any role, Shakespeare or otherwise,
what would it be?
PANCHOLY: I am drawn to characters who seem hard
on the outside, but are quite emotionally vulnerable
on the inside. I think thats true of Kate. I think thats
one of the reasons when [director] Ed [Iskandar] pressured me about doing the play and I read it, I was like,
I want to have a go with this. So Id be interested in
that.
I will say this, Im working on writing a TV project
with one of the writers from 30 Rock and creating a
role for myself. I cant say too much about it, but Im
hoping that thatll move forward, too. Im trying to
bring a lot of personal stuff into it, in a comedic, but
a darkly comedic way. Were in the midst of working
on that script. Thats the next thing that Im actually
really excited about. Also, I think as an actor, so often
waiting for the role to come along and then, when it does, you
still have to deal with the director. The idea of writing and creating something where you can actually put what you want on the
page is exciting.
MW: Was there a role that created a pivotal moment for you in the
way you approach acting?
PANCHOLY: At the beginning of Season 3 of Weeds, my character
came out of the closet. No one told me that was going to happen. I was sitting in my apartment in New York and got mailed
my script. I was like, Oh, God. My character is going to come
out of the closet. What is that going to be like? I was pretty out
then, but I hadnt really been out in a very public I mean, like
in print kind of way. I remember just having anxiety around
what its going to be like to play an openly gay character on TV.
It was actually one of the best things that couldve happened,
because suddenly, this character had so much life on the show
and got to play some really interesting things. Its one of those
great things about facing your fears and all will be okay. Im so
grateful that they wrote that for me. Now I dont think twice
about a gay character. I mean, I do think about how that character is being used in the same way that I would think about if an
Indian character is solely there to be the butt of jokes with his
accent. I wouldnt want to do it if the gay character is there to be
made fun of for being gay. Its not interesting to me. If the gay
character is there to further the story and have an interesting
emotional journey, yeah, hands down. Give it to me. l
When we got married,

wed been together for ten
years. We just thought of it
as a party. When it actually
happened, I SUDDENLY WAS
LIKE, OH, I GET WHY
THIS TRADITION HAS
LASTED FOR SO LONG.
white playwrights, and I left thinking the world was open to me.
When I got to L.A., people were like, Oh, youre brown. You
can come in for the side character with the funny accent. It was
such a slap to the face. It was like, The world doesnt see me the
way I see the world. It was challenging. We still face it.
MW: Why do you think there is still that bias in Hollywood and in
theater, particularly against Asian-Americans?
PANCHOLY: You know, I dont know. I wish I knew, because I
feel like if we knew exactly what it was, we could eradicate it.
I will say that when I first started auditioning for TV, I would
have a hard time seeing myself in the role because there were
no other brown actors on TV. We just think, Oh, thats the way
the world is, and no ones willing to change it. Theres a level of
acceptance around that that is really damaging.
And then if you take someone whos not a person of color,
whos much older, or is running a studio, if they cant see it,
theyre not going to allow that to happen in their film or their
TV show or their theater gig. Part of it is this subtle mindset that
just says, We dont see you. Then, they further that by whitewashing things, like with Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone
getting to play Asian characters, and literally saying, Well, that
character doesnt need to be Asian anymore. Wed rather see this
person. We perpetuate this idea that the world is just all white,
when in fact it isnt.
I think theres good proof that when shows like Fresh Off the
Boat or Black-ish do really well, its like, Oh, look. People actually do want to see a representation of the world they live in. We
just have to be risky enough to give it to them.
MW: Is there a difference between live theater and TV in terms of
casting and the limitations that are placed on you as an actor of
color?
PANCHOLY: I think that theater people would like to think the26
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew, directed by

Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, runs through June 26 at the Shakespeare
Theatre Companys Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. For
tickets and more information, call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.
Cover Worthy

Todd Franson and Scott Brooks join forces with a new exhibit
showcasing their years of cover work for Metro Weekly
HAT MAKES A GOOD COVER? IT HAS TO

engage the viewer. It has to make them want to
pick up the magazine, says Todd Franson. Its
also about balance. The image has to be strong
enough to grab attention, but also hold up visually with text and
a logo on it.
And if anyone should know, its Franson, who has been photographing covers for Metro Weekly since 1995 (his first was a
shot of empty pie-shells awaiting filling at Food & Friends). As
art director, Franson has photographed at least 500 covers for
the magazine, an astonishing amount by any measure.
For the next six weeks, the Anacostia Arts Center will showcase a dozen of Fransons favorite Metro Weekly cover photos,
sans logo and text, in Uncovered. The exhibit, which opens on
Saturday, June 4 with a public reception, also features ten richly
detailed works by Scott G. Brooks, a world-class artist who has
28
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
been illustrating covers for the magazine since 2011.

I think the simpler covers are usually the best, Brooks says
of his work, which has depicted everything from issues of pot
legalization to marriage equality at the Supreme Court. It really
does sum up the recent gay and lesbian history of D.C. Thats
the luxury of illustration as opposed to photography. I can put
in anything I want.
I do a lot of shows and this is a different way to get my work
out there and express myself, he points out. Ive had a really
long relationship with Metro Weekly its an honor to work on
these covers.
Diversity has always been very important at Metro Weekly,
Franson says. In choosing the images for this show, I wanted to
reflect that, as well as the wide variety of tones and styles of my
images. I have fond memories from all these shoots.

Doug Rule
BOB MOULD
GOPROUD
Bob and I thought it would be cool to pose him in front of

handwritten lyrics, Franson says. He used chalkboard paint
on a wall of his home studio and wrote out the lyrics. I had often
used long exposures with a flashlight in my personal work, and
thought it would be cool to have Bob write his name in light.
After a few tests, we realized that to have his hand land in the
right spot, he would have to write his name backwards, and
from bottom to top of the last B. Getting a nice portrait of him
and right light effect in the same exposure took many, many
tries. But Bob was very patient and eager to make it work.
The pink elephant is one of the first covers I did, and you get the
message right away, says Brooks. I tried to treat [Chris Barron
and Jimmy LaSalvia] from GOProud with respect and dignity,
despite our political differences. It was a fun way to do it.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
29
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JUNE 2, 2016
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KENDRA KULIGA
When it was published in 2004, the popular drag kings photo

was cropped at the waist with readers unaware that there was
more to it. I remember thinking, Well never use this, but we
might as well just shoot it, laughs Franson. It was shot to be
cropped in the first place, but now itll finally be seen in full.
THE POT ISSUE
The Pot Issue was fun to do, Brooks recalls. Im certainly an

advocate of legalization. To sneak in the Alice in Wonderland
motif was fun, too.
CLINTON AND DOMA
This was based on the Schoolhouse Rock video Im Just a Bill,

Brooks says. I initially thought it would be easy to draw Clinton
but it was actually very difficult. Its one of the simpler designs
Ive done, which helps make it work.
DJ MANDRILL
DJ Mandrill is an early conceptual color cover and possibly the

first where I used Photoshop, Franson says. I hadnt conceived
the shot before I arrived at his house. He had these colored vinyl
records and a pedestal. I wasnt sure of my naive Photoshop
skills at this time, but it came together effortlessly youd never
know he was sitting on a plaster pedestal in his kitchen. l
The opening reception for Uncovered is Saturday, June 4, from 6
to 9 p.m. The exhibit runs to July 16 at Vivid Solutions Gallery in
the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Road SE.
Call 202-631-6291 or visit anacostiaartscenter.com.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
31
JUNE 2 - 9, 2016
Compiled by Doug Rule
Non-committal
Dolly Parton may or may not speak out against anti-LGBT
legislation Friday in North Carolina
COURTESY OF WEBSTER PUBLIC RELATIONS
ve seen all that commotion, Dolly Parton says, referring to the controversy
surrounding HB2, North Carolinas blatantly anti-gay bill. But I dont see
any need to be canceling the show. That show would be this Fridays
appearance in the state, at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. It kicks off the
country legends first major U.S. tour in 25 years.
I think everybody should be treated great and with respect, and everybody
knows that about me, she says. I can address whatever my thoughts are, if need
be, from the stage.
Lets hope she does. The most honored female country artist of all time has
long gone against the grain in the conservative-leaning country music world by
exhibiting support for the LGBT cause, including marriage equality years before
it became the law of the land. Through the years, everybody has known that I
have an open, generous heart, she says. But I really dont like to get caught up
into controversial issues, and I certainly dont think its fair to the public.
Parton brings her Pure & Simple Tour which promotes the late summer
release of a new album by the same name to our area on Wednesday, June 8, at
Wolf Traps Filene Center. Shell be joined by three musicians for what she heralds as a scaled down production. [Its] not a lot of loud music, she says. We
dont have a bunch of videos or anything going on in the background. Its pretty
much just us. Shell perform a bevy of hits Jolene, I Will Always Love You,
Coat of Many Colors, Here You Come Again, Islands in the Stream and 9
to 5 as well as numbers from the new album. And more.
Well do our little gospel thing, and well have our corny jokes, she says.
There will be fun things for everybody. Doug Rule
Dolly Parton performs Wednesday, June 8, at 8 p.m., at the Filene Center at Wolf
Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $45 to $150. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org. Her new album, Pure and Simple, will be released on August 26.
SPOTLIGHT
CAPITAL JAZZ FEST
The music of New Edition and last

years Capital Pride performers En
Vogue is certainly influenced by jazz,
yet you wouldnt traditionally expect
these former R&B/pop hitmaking
groups to headline a jazz festival. Yet
here they are, headlining Day One
of the three-day 24th Capital Jazz
Fest, held the first weekend in June
at Merriweather Post Pavilion. And
theyre hardly alone. As ever, soul and
funk acts are mixed in with the namesake genre and are the most popular draws, such as the sold-out, soulheavy Day Two lineup featuring Lalah
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JUNE 2, 2016
Hathaway, the Isley Brothers, Al B.

Sure, SWV, Blackstreet, and a tribute
to late Earth, Wind & Fire founder
Maurice white. Toni Braxton, Tamia
and Rick James Original Stone City
Band are among the R&B headliners
on Day Three. David Sanborn, Pieces
of a Dream, Take 6 and Will Downing
are some of the true jazz attractions.
Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 5.
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475
Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
Tickets are $59.50 to $192. Call 800551-SEAT or visit capitaljazz.com.
CAPITAL PRIDES
MUSIC IN THE NIGHT
The Hamilton Live presents the fifth

annual Capital Pride musical cabaret
METROWEEKLY.COM
show. Hosted by Joshua Morgan, it

spotlights local vocalists, many of them
familiar to area theatergoers, including
Nova Payton, Shayna Blass, Michael
Mainwaring and Jobari Parker. Special
out-of-town Broadway regulars Kyle
Dean Massey and Wesley Taylor will
join in the glee. Monday, June 6, at 7:30
p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-787-1000 or
visit thehamiltondc.com.
HEDDA GABLER
Mark ORowes contemporary adaptation of Henrik Ibsens classic intends

to provide a nuanced portrait of one of
the most fascinating figures in modern
drama, with a mesmerizing study of
power, control and self-deception. Matt
Torney directs Julia Coffey in the title

role in this Studio Theatre production,
also featuring Avery Clark, Kimberly
Schraf, Michael Early, Kimiye Corwin,
Shane Kenyon and Rosemary Regan.
To June 19. Studio Theatre, 14th & P
Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit
studiotheatre.org.
ROYAL SWEDISH BALLET
The worlds fourth oldest ballet company returns with a bang, offering the
North American premiere of Mats Eks
Juliet and Romeo, a provocative take on
Shakespeares immortal tragedy. Led
by artistic director Johannes Ohman,
the piece is set in a stark, violent 21st
Century and told from a feisty Juliets
point of view. The Royal Swedish
Ballet dances the piece to a composite score of Tchaikovskys works

rather than the typical Prokofiev
performed by the Kennedy Center
Opera House Orchestra. The piece
won a 2015 Olivier Award for Best
New Dance Production after a run
in the U.K. Remaining performances
Thursday, June 2, through Saturday,
June 4, at 7 p.m., with an additional
performance Saturday, June 4, at 1
p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House.
Tickets are $29 to $129. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
FILM
COURTESY OF DC STROKES
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
Paddle Play
Stonewall Regatta kicks off 25th anniversary season for the

DC Strokes Rowing Club
he Stonewall Regatta is not only the start of the sprint racing season, but
a celebration of our proud history, says Bach Polakowski. Its really
kind of spectacular to see the regatta grow year after year, and to see so
many non-LGBT rowing clubs join us to celebrate LGBT access to this sport.
Polakowski, director of this years regatta and a member of the DC Strokes
Rowing Club, cant wait for the oars to hit the water on Sunday, June 5. The
23rd annual Stonewall Regatta will feature a variety of races for different boat
types, with 450 entrants from 200 teams, representing more than 20 rowing
clubs from across the United States.
The regatta is named after the historic Stonewall Inn, and was first held in
New York City in 1994 as part of Gay Games IV, before moving to Washington
the following year. Following the days racing, DC Strokes will host an afterparty for all participants and spectators.
This year also marks a significant milestone for the DC Strokes Rowing
Club, which celebrates its 25th anniversary at a gala to be held this fall. That
milestone makes it the longest-running LGBT rowing club in the United States.
Im grateful that the DC Strokes have been around for 25 years introducing
the sport of rowing to hundreds of people in our community, Polakowski says.
Honestly, theres not a whole lot of other LGBT clubs that have that distinction. To exist for this length of time really speaks to how the sport is growing.

John Riley
The 23rd Annual Stonewall Regatta will take place on Sunday, June 5, with
races every 8 minutes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All races start just north of the 11th
Street Bridge and finish at the Anacostia Community Boathouse, 1900 M St.
SE. Volunteers are also needed to help any time from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more
information, visit stonewallregatta.org.
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JUNE 2, 2016
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To help kickoff Pride season,

Landmarks E Street Cinema offers a
screening of John Cameron Mitchells
quirky gender-bending tale. And like
its monthly Cine Insomnia screening
of The Rocky Horror Show which
screens next weekend during Capital
Pride Hedwig and the Angry Inch
comes with a live shadow cast featuring
the Sonic Transducers. Dont forget the
Gummibrchen and the wig on the shelf.
Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, at
midnight. Landmarks E Street Cinema,
555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or
visit landmarktheatres.com.
POPSTAR:
NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING
Years after they stopped being culturally relevant on SNL, comedy trio the
Lonely Island are back with their second feature film. Andy Samberg takes
the lead as rapper Connor4Real, whose
album bombs, forcing him to reform his
boy band. Judd Apatow is on board as
producer and Sarah Silverman co-stars.
Opens Friday, June 3. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.
STAGE
FRAMED ILLUSION
Baltimore-based, science-informed
theater organization La Petite
Noiseuse Productions Little
Troublemaker in French presents
a world-premiere drama by its cofounder and scientific and artistic
director Monica Lopez-Gonzalez.
Framed Illusion is billed as a gripping psychological thriller wrangling
over whats fact and whats fiction.
Performed in English and Italian with
live music instrumentation. Opens
Thursday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. To June
12. Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 West
Preston St. Baltimore. Tickets are $30.
Call 410-752-8558 or visit lpnproductions.com.
THE MAN IN THE MASK
Although known for its dialogue-free,

movement-focused fare most notably
its silent Shakespeare productions
Virginias Synetic Theater offers a rare
show with dialogue, an adaptation of
Alexandre Dumas follow-up to The
Three Musketeers. Husband-and-wife
duo of director Paata Tsikurishvili and
choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili lead
this swashbuckling and high-pageantry

bombastic adventure, following hero
DArtagnan and the corrupt King Louis
XIV. To June 19. Theater at Crystal
City, 1800 South Bell St., Arlington.
Tickets are $15 to $55. Call 800-4948497 or visit synetictheater.org.
THE WHO & THE WHAT
Round House Theatre presents a fierce

and funny new play from Ayad Akhtar
(Disgraced) about identity, religion
and inherent human contradictions,
focused on a Pakistani-American
writer struggling between her modern
life and traditional heritage. Eleanor
Holdridge directs a cast including
Olivia Khoshatefeh, Brandon McCoy,
Tony Mirrcandani, and Anu Yadav.
To June 19. Round House Theatre,
4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda.
Tickets are $50 to $60. Call 240-6441100 or visit roundhousetheatre.org.
MUSIC
ALICE SMITH
Soul-pop singer-songwriter Alice

Smith is understated, sophisticated and every bit as vocally talented
as Christina Aguilera except her
music, including astonishing sophomore set She, is better. Released in
2013, She charts the ups and downs
and ins and outs of love, even just
friendship, with musical twists and
lyrical turns as sharp and surprising
as they come. The Brooklyn-based
Smith returns once again to her hometown of D.C. You want to do good at
home, she told Metro Weekly a few
years ago. Whenever I go, and theres
people there, somehow its always a
little surprising, but its also always
really exciting. Saturday, June 11.
Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St.
NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-2650930 or visit 930.com.
BALTIMORE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Jack Everly conducts the BSO and

a full cast of Broadway vocalists in
an encore SuperPops production
of Hairspray In Concert with John
Waters. The ever-eccentric Waters
serves as entertaining narrator in a
semi-staged concert, directed and
choreographed by Jennifer Ladner
and featuring Laura Marie Rondinella
as Tracy Turnblad, Paul Vogt as Edna
Turnblad, George Wendt as Wilbur
Turnblad, Julie Kavanagh as Penny
Pingleton, NaTasha Yvette Williams
as Motormouth Maybelle, Matthew
Scott as Link Larkin, and Kristen Scott
as Amber von Tussle, among others.
The Baltimore School for the Arts
Singers serve as the chorus. Thursday,
June 2, at 8 p.m. Music Center at
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
North Bethesda. Also Friday, June 3,
at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m.
and 8 p.m., Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall,
1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets
are $43 to $110. Call 410-783-8000 or
visit bsomusic.org.
BRANDY CLARK
A great, lesbian country singer-songwriter, Clark has established herself

as a preeminent Nashville songwriter,
writing smart, sophisticated songs,
many of which have become major
hits from Mamas Broken Heart
for Miranda Lambert to the twangy,
gay-affirming anthem Follow Your
Arrow for Kacey Musgraves. Three
years ago, Clark released her tremendous, and tremendously entertaining,
album 12 Stories. My songs are kind
of dark comedy, a lot of them, she told
Metro Weekly in 2014. Tough subject
matter but really delivered a little bit
tongue in cheek. Her sophomore set
Big Day in a Small Town is set for
release June 10, and if the first single
Girl Next Door is any indication,
its every bit as fun and feisty as her
debut. Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m. Rams
Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis.
visit ramsheadonstage.com.
CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS
at 7:30 p.m. National City Christian

Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW. Tickets
are $28. Call 202-347-2635 or visit
congressionalchorus.org.
GREGORY PORTER
A bright light in contemporary

American jazz, Grammy-winning
baritone vocalist Gregory Porter folds
blues, soul and gospel into his jazz
base to create, with his five-piece
backing band and support from three
other musicians, a thoroughly captivating modern sound. This Blue Note
Records signee last year even worked
with cutting-edge duo Disclosure on
the disco diva-styled house jam Hold
On. Porter returns to the Howard
Theatre after helping celebrate
Howard Universitys homecoming
in 2014. Monday, June 6, at 8 p.m.
The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW.
Tickets are $95 to $125. Tickets are
$42.50 to $95. Call 202-588-5595 or
visit thehowardtheatre.com.
JANE MONHEIT
Young, Hip & Global: The Music

of Americas Millennial Composers
is the name of the two-hour season finale concert featuring the full
Congressional Chorus, along with
its American Youth Chorus and
Northeast Senior Singers, special
guests the Grace Chorale of Brooklyn,
and a nine-piece orchestra. Its all
part of a program of works by a new
generation of American composers,
reflecting an increasingly global and
diverse society. Saturday, June 4,
After last falls tribute to her first hero,

Judy Garland, Jane Monheit returns
to Blues Alley with a tribute to her
foremost idol Above all, beyond any
other artist, I loved and revered Ella,
Monheit says about Ella Fitzgerald.
Shes touring in support of The
Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald, the
first release on Monheits Emerald City
Records. Thursday, June 2, through
Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Tickets are $40 to $45, plus $12 mini-
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JUNE 2, 2016
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JUNE 2, 2016
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mum purchase. Call 202-337-4141 or

visit bluesalley.com.
MARCIA BALL
East Texas blues meets southwest Louisiana swamp rock in the

Grammy-nominated pianist and singer-songwriter, who offers tastes of
roadhouse rock, jump blues, R&B, soul
and zydeco. Saturday, June 4, at 8:30
p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW.
Tickets are $35 to $40. Call 202-7871000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
NATIONAL ORCHESTRAL
INSTITUTE AND FESTIVAL
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts

Center at the University of Maryland
presents its annual month-long festival of professional development
and music-making for young classical musicians, culminating in several
concerts pairing students with worldrenowned conductors. Upcoming
performances include: Orchestra
Unbound, a program featuring
works by Tchaikovsky, Haufrecht and
Mozart that showcase certain sections of the orchestra, from strings to
woodwinds to percussion, on Friday,
June 3, at 8 p.m.; Take The Reins, a
performance by the chamber orchestra without a conductor, on Saturday,
June 4, at 8 p.m.; and a French
Horn Masterclass with Houston
Symphonys William VerMeulen, on
Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m. Saturday,
May 28, at 8 p.m. University of
Maryland, University Boulevard and
Stadium Drive. College Park. Call 301405-ARTS or visit theclarice.umd.edu.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
Piotr Gajewski conducts Strathmores

resident symphony and chorale in
Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 6, the
romantic Russians moving and dramatic Pathetique symphony, along
with two stunning pieces for chorus
and orchestra by Brahms, Song of the
Fates and Nanie. Saturday, June 4, at 8
p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $39 to $89. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.
WASHINGTON JEWISH
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Now in its 17th year, the Washington

Jewish Music Festival will showcase
over a dozen acts. In addition, the
4th annual WJMF Day in the Park
is an outdoor, free event featuring
games and events and music from
the Mama Doni Band, Josh & The
Jamtones and Michael Winograd
Klezmer Ensemble, all set for Sunday,
June 5, at 11 a.m., at Stead Park. The
band Yemen Blues kicks off this years
event with its mix of funk, mambo,
soul and ancient chanting techniques
on Saturday, June 4. Other highlights
include Basya Schechter of Pharaohs
Daughter and Zion80. Festival runs to
June 15. Various venues. For tickets
and more information, visit wjmf.org.
WHOS BAD:
THE ULTIMATE MICHAEL
JACKSON TRIBUTE BAND
Founded a decade ago in North

Carolina, Vamsi Tadepallis Whos
Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson
Tribute Band didnt explode in popularity until after the King of Pops
death in 2009. Ever since, this infectious tribute production to the King of
Pop has regularly offered fans a treat,
putting on a show recreating Jacksons
precise synchronized dance routines,
in full regalia, from glitzy jackets to
glittery gloves. Saturday, June 4. Doors
at 10 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St.
NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-2650930 or visit 930.com.
DANCE
2016 NATIONAL COLLEGE
DANCE FESTIVAL
American College Dance Association

offers a showcase of some of the finest
dance works created at and selected
by 31 participating dance schools and
universities, presented in three distinct
programs. Thursday, June 9, through
Saturday, June 11, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
visit kennedy-center.org.
COMEDY
AWKWARD SEX...AND THE CITY
Comedians from New York relive their

most awkward sex/dating/relationship moments on stage at the raunchy storytelling event. Natalie Wall
hosts a show featuring, among others, Bobby Hankinson of Towleroad,
Emmy Harrington of Reno! 911, and
Aaron Benoit. Saturday, June 4. Doors
at 9 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW.
visit blackcatdc.com.
GALLERIES
A COLLECTORS VISION:
WASHINGTONIANA COLLECTION
In addition to incorporating the

Textile Museum, the recently opened
George
Washington
University
Museum also houses the Albert H.
Small Washingtoniana Collection. The
exhibition A Collectors Vision serves
as a perfect introduction to the collection, featuring maps and prints, rare
letters, photographs and drawings documenting the history of Washington,
D.C. and donated by Small in 2011.
Ongoing. The George Washington
University Museum, 701 21st St. NW.
Call 202-994-5200 or visit museum.
gwu.edu.
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.
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JUNE 2, 2016
37
Through November. National Air and

Space Museum, Independence Ave at
6th St. SW. Call 202-633-2214 or visit
airandspace.si.edu.
Hope Road SE. Call 202-365-8392 or

visit honfleurgallery.com.
EXPLORING YELLOWSTONES
GREAT ANIMAL MIGRATIONS
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.
Part of the National Park Services

centennial celebration. This Invisible
Boundaries exhibition, in conjunction with the May issue of National
Geographic, uses stunning photographs, immersive video, interactive
migration maps, cultural objects, and
original artwork to explore the compelling story behind some of the most
amazing animal migrations on the
planet. Through Sept. 30. National
Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St.
NW. Free. Call 202-857-7588 or visit
ngmuseum.org.
HEAR/HERE
Jarvis DuBois curates a group show

at Anacostias Honfleur Gallery, featuring poet Fire Angelou and sound
artist Andrew Paul Keiper, both from
Baltimore, as well as D.C.-based activist Omolara Di Molinha Williams
McCallister and New York-based
painter Daphne Arthur. Through
diverse media, these artists explore
contemporary urban issues of displacement, violence and social injustice. Opening reception, featuring
a special live performance by Fire
Angelou, Saturday, June 4, from 6
p.m. to 9 p.m. Exhibit runs through
July 16. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good
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JUNE 2, 2016
KONSTANTIN MAKOVSKY:
THE TSARS PAINTER
LANDSCAPE:
ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT
Touchstone Gallerys latest member artists group show sets out on a

metaphorical road trip to explore
land or psychological forms in media
including photography, painting,
hand-pulled prints, sculpture, collage
and drawing. Opening reception is
Friday, June 3, from 6 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. Exhibit runs through June 26.
Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York
Ave. NW Call 202-347-2787 or visit
touchstonegallery.com.
METROWEEKLY.COM
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.
NATIONAL ZOO: WASHED

ASHORE: ART TO SAVE THE SEA
All summer long, the National Zoo

hosts an exhibit of colorful marine
animal sculptures, each made from
plastic debris collected from beaches
representing the more than 315 billion pounds of plastic in oceans today
underscoring the need for wildlife
conservation. Sculptures on display
include a 12-foot-long shark, a 16-footlong parrotfish, an 8-foot-wide octopus, and a 20-foot-long coral reef.
Through Sept. 5. National Zoo, 3001
Connecticut Ave. NW. Free. Call 202633-4800 or visit nationalzoo.si.edu.
OUT OF THE ASHES
Subtitled New Library for Congress

and the Nation, this exhibition marks
the 200th anniversary of the acquisi-
tion 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
Nov. 12. Second Floor of the Library of
Congresss Thomas Jefferson Building,
10 First St. SE. Call 202-707-8000 or
visit loc.gov.
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. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.
WINDOW TO WASHINGTON
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 202-3931420 or visit dchistory.org.
ABOVE AND BEYOND

BALTIMORES
AMERICAN
TREASURES: CARROLL MANSION
Partly in cooperation with official

Baltimore boosters, the nonprofit
Made: In America offers a celebration of American Treasures centered on the Carroll Mansion, named
after 18th-century Maryland patriot
and Baltimore entrepreneur Charles
Carroll III. Over the next two months,
the Mansion is open for tours and
hosts design competitions and culinary
experiences highlighting Baltimores
role in shaping various aspects of
American culture and commerce, with
an emphasis on furniture, textile, tableware and fashion design. To July 12.
Carroll Mansion, 800 E. Lombard St.
Baltimore. Tickets are $15 in advance
or $20 at the door. Call 410-605-2964
or visit carrollmuseums.org.
CAPTURING FIRE: QUEER SPOKEN

WORD SUMMIT & SLAM
Since its inception in 2010, Capturing

Fire is still the only event of its kind,
according to organizer and producer Regie Cabico. Cabico intends the
three-day spoken word and poetry
festival, presented by the DC Center,
to be a refuge and retreat for LGBT
poets. Were performing in non-queer
venues all the time bars and coffeehouses, Cabico told Metro Weekly last
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JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
year. I just wanted to create a kind

of Underground Railroad for queer
poets to better know and support each
other. The focus of Capturing Fire
is on the performance-based shortform style known as slam, a form of
American political theater in which
poets typically share personal stories
and touch on important issues through
their original compositions, which are
specifically designed to have impact
principally to persuade a panel of
judges voting for best poet, but also
to inspire or connect with other poets
or audience members. Friday, June
3, through Sunday, June 5, with the
actual slam set for Saturday, June 4,
starting at 6 p.m. at Busboys & Poets,
2021 14th St. NW. Festival runs at
several venues. An AllPass is $75, with
tickets to Saturdays Semi-Final and
Final Slam $20 each or $30 together.
Call 202-682-2245 or visit capfireslam.org.
DC GIRLY SHOW:
BUSTING OUT WITH PRIDE
The DC Gurly Show isnt your grandfathers burlesque show, nor is it even
a traditional striptease show. Anybody
is welcome, no matter gender or how
they identify, with the focus on expression and individual performance. An
outgrowth of local drag king organization the DC Kings, the Gurly Show is
a more freeform type of event. This
weekend the focus is on pride and a
tribute to the divas that inspire LGBT
people. Che Monique and Twinkle
Mother F*cking Toes co-host the show
with performances by Jane Hustle,
Bailey Jameson, Phoenix King, Lyndi
Luxe, Anna Steasya and Emma Zonn.
Friday, June 4, at 8 p.m. The Pinch, 548
14th St. NW. Cover is $10 in advance,
or $12 at the door. Call 202-722-4440
or visit dcgurlyshow.com.
IRELAND 100: CELEBRATING

A CENTURY OF IRISH ARTS &
CULTURE
The Kennedy Center presents a major

festival commemorating the 100th
anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising
that led to Irelands independence.
Curated by Alicia Adams, the centers vice president of international
programming and dance, some of
Irelands best contemporary musicians, dancers and theater companies will be on tap, as well as other
events, from a literature series to
documentary screenings to installations. Remaining highlights include:
Famed Olivier Award-winning actor
and director Fiona Shaw, the festivals Artist-in-Residence, in a discussion about Shakespeares works and
legacy, on Friday, June 3; a literature
panel featuring National Book Awardwinning author Colum McCann in
conversation with Washington Posts
Ron Charles on Friday, June 3; and
William Close and the Earth Harp
Collective, performing a dynamic
concert of Irish repertoire performed
in new ways but incorporating traditional Irish instruments, on Sunday,
June 5. Festival runs to June 5. Call
202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. l
stage
Boasting an all-male cast, Shakespeare

Theatres Taming of the Shrew is an
intriguing experiment that doesnt work
by KATE WINGFIELD
IRST THE GOOD NEWS.

There is always room for a wildly innovative take
on Shakespeare. Be it Hamlet on motorcycles or a
Space 1999 King Lear, there is something exciting
in watching it work, no matter the context. The themes, the
pathos, the humor never get old, nor can they be subverted.
Outr interpretations can be intellectually and emotionally
stimulating because they force us to grapple with the directors
vision why motorcycles? Why space suits? Whats the point?
What do they add?
In Ed Sylvanus Iskandars Taming of the Shrew (HHHHH),
the vision is, quite simply, have all the parts played by men. Not
in an Elizabethan we-dont-let-women-act kind of way, but in
a men-in-twenty-first-century-drag kind of way. Whether you
42
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
will see this as a gay Shrew or perhaps a gender fluid Shrew

is likely a personal question. The fact that the question is asked
at all is part of what makes it interesting.
Its even more intriguing when it comes to the main theme
of Shrew Petruchios wedding of the strong-willed and intelligent Katherina and his use of physical and social deprivation
to turn her into a submissive wife. It is, of course, traditionally
played male-female, with all the attendant associations. This
Shrew, being all male, rousts this primary gender dynamic and in
doing so asks a slew of intriguing questions: Do two men change
the power balance? What does that say about gender? What does
it say about being gay or gender fluid? And while were at it: is
Petruchio gay, or is he straight and in love with a man he thinks
is a woman?
Add Iskandars choice to play Katherinas final monologue on
the joys of obedience straight as in without the usual irony
seen in modern interpretations and he raises the idea (as discussed in his program notes) that Katherina has experienced a
transformation. Its a stretch, but an interesting one.
Looking at the production as a whole, there is something
quite liberating in Iskandars determined inconsistency: the men
dress in costumes that combine shades of Elizabethan pomp,
Mad Men mid-century, modern grunge, mock medieval and even
SCOTT SUCHMAN
Shrew-ish
70s pimp. There are regular interludes of unashamed musical

theater in the contemporary words and music of Duncan Sheik.
There is a fluid fourth wall, disappearing when the actors run
through the audience and when the audience is invited onto
the stage during intermission. And yet when the Shakespeare is
front and center, there is no lack of skill and intent.
This urge to experiment, to open the mind, is stimulating to
watch and think about. Unfortunately, it doesnt really work.
First of all, you will either love or loathe the music. There
are fully-miked pseudo-rock musical theater numbers (sadly not
always on key) and interludes of Millennial whining in the form
of folky ballads (a few long enough to make the Guinness Book of
World Records). Put simply, for some it will be what Hell sounds
like, for others, the soundtrack of their lives. As for the sets and
costuming, the former are schematic and add little, the latter are
hyper real, and the gay references in both facile.
But the biggest problem is the lack of chemistry between the
leads. A good Shrew needs frisson between its Petruchio and
Katherina; here there is almost none. Maulik Pancholy may have
a magnificent profile and a powerful charisma, but his Katherina
is just too one-dimensional. The wit is delivered without nuance,
the anger devoid of a deeper emotional layer, and there is not
even a whiff of convincing pathos in this unappreciated woman.
Hands-on-the hip posturing and annoyed looks just arent
enough to make us care about or like Katherina.
Though Petruchio arrives with some promising swagger and
later offers some affecting tenderness, Peter Gadiots man never
seems in any way smitten with Katherina. It is as if he is playing
at Katherina and she is playing to us. This absence of chemistry
is a missed opportunity and the clearest indication that, for
Iskandar, the concept rules uber alles. Case further in point is the
God-awful choice to climax Petruchios campaign of harassment

with a ridiculous physical altercation mimed in slow-motion to
music. Talk about diffusing the dramatic gains.
And its not just the leads. There is little-to-no chemistry
within the ensemble although there are individual standouts,
there is no sense of the troupe in this production, no real cohesion. The musical breaks are part of the problem, but this is an
every man for himself show.
Still, there are highlights. Tom Story as the foppish Hortensio
sets the bar with his extraordinarily fluid Shakespeare, the kind
of ironic delivery that makes a character zing, aided by superb
comic timing and imagination. He is so good, its hard not to
wonder what he could do with either of the lead roles. As Bianca,
Katherinas perfect younger sister, Oliver Thornton offers an
intriguing, almost Bowie-esque aspect to his highly-affected
woman, suggesting subtly yet effectively that there is more to
Bianca than meets the eye. Andre De Shields hams it up to amusing effect as Gremio (and other roles), while Rick Hammerly
makes for an intriguing Contessa, a crowd-pleasing Pedant, and
offers one of the most attractive singing voices of the production.
Finally, Gregory Linington delivers a traditionally jokey and
well-played manservant Grumio.
But it just isnt enough. As novel as the concept is, Shrew has
the feel of a personal folly, the project of an it director surrounded by too many yes people. The idea may be exciting, but
without a deeper connection to the play itself, it fizzles with a
resounding so what? l
The Taming of the Shrew runs to June 26 at Shakespeare Theatre
Company, 610 F Street NW. Tickets are $44 to $118. Call 202-5471122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
43
music
Concerted Cancellations
by FRANK CARBER
show. We couldnt just say No, were not showing up and Im sorry your government is behaving this way. Thats not the right thing to do.
BEYONC
Location: Raleigh, PNC Arena
Date: May 3
Action: Performed
Beyonc stated on her website that it is important for us to bring attention to
those who are committed to being good and carrying on the message of equality
in this core of controversy. The pop singer urged her fans to support local LGBT
organization, Equality NC.
f youre looking to catch a summer concert in North

Carolina or Mississippi, you may be out of luck. An
increasing list of performers have pulled their concerts
from venues in both states, in response to the anti-LGBT
Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act and The Religious
Liberties Accommodation Act, more commonly known as HB2
and HB1523. These laws reverse anti-discrimination measures
for the LGBT community, in the name of protecting religious
freedom and womens safety. The cascade of cancellations began
with Bruce Springsteen, who posted on his website that HB2
attacks the rights of LGBT citizens, calling off his April 10th
concert in Greensboro as a result.
Heres a list of artists and bands that have thus far cancelled
their shows or spoken out against the bills.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Location: Greensboro, Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Date: April 10
Action: Cancelled
Calling off his scheduled stop in Greensboro, Springsteen was one of the first artists to cancel his show in response to the North Carolina HB2. I feel that this is a
time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters, the singer
said in a statement on his website. On Twitter, Springsteen encouraged his fans to
express their opposition to HB2 by contacting their elected officials.
ALABAMA SHAKES
Location: Charlotte, Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
Date: April 22
Action: Performed
Before their show, lead singer Brittany Howard criticized HB2 in a music festival
podcast interview, saying that it was wrong of the North Carolina legislature to
disbar [the LGBT community] from living with their identity that they fought so
hard to understand and develop. The singer said that we are going to play the
BRYAN ADAMS
Location: Biloxi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Date: April 14
Action: Cancelled
Adams announced on his website and Instagram that he would no longer be
performing his show in Mississippi, in response to the states Religious Liberty
bill 1523. The law allows businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples. Adams
stated that he cannot in good conscience perform in a State where certain people
are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation.
44
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
BOSTON
Location: Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh
Date: May 4, 5, & 6
Action: Cancelled
The band announced on Facebook that their scheduled shows in North Carolina
would be cancelled to raise awareness and protest, in the strongest terms, the
recent passage of HB2.
TODD FRANSON
Nick Jonas, Maroon 5 and Pearl

Jam are among the musicians who
have said no to North Carolina
CYNDI LAUPER
Location: Raleigh, NC, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Date: June 4
Action: Performing, Donating Proceeds
In a personal note on her website, Lauper wrote the best way I can do my part is
to turn my show in Raleigh on June 4 into an entire day to build public support to
repeal HB2. Expressing her support to organizations working to repeal HB2, the
singer announced that all proceeds from her Raleigh show would be donated to
Equality NC.
DEMI LOVATO & NICK JONAS
Location: Charlotte, Time Warner Cable Arena and Raleigh, PNC Arena
Dates: June 30 and July 2
Action: Cancelled
Lovato and Jonas took to Twitter to announce that their Future Tour would no
longer be stopping in North Carolina. We know the cancellation of these shows
is disappointing to our fans, but we trust that you will stand united with us against
this hateful law, they stated in a Tweet.
DURAN DURAN
Location: Charlotte, PNC Music Pavilion
Date: April 16
Action: Performed, Signed Petition
The band stated on their website prior to the concert that Duran Duran is opposed
to bigotry and discrimination in all of its ugly forms, and so it follows that we are
opposed to the basic premise of HB2. We support the rights of the Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual & Transgender community, to have equal opportunities. As a result, the
group hosted Equality NC volunteers on stage and signed the petition to repeal
HB2.
MAROON 5
Location: Charlotte, Time Warner Cable Arena and Raleigh, PNC Arena
Dates: September 11 and 12
Action: Cancelled
In a statement on their website and Facebook, the group called off their North
Carolina concerts. The band said in the end it comes down to what we feel is
morally right, and expressed opposition to HB2 in their post.
MUMFORD & SONS

Location: Charlotte, Time Warner Cable Arena
Date: April 14
Action: Performed, Donated Proceeds
The band addressed the LGBT community on Facebook before their concert, stating we will open the doors to our show to anyone who wants to come, and are
excited to get down with the people of Charlotte. They also announced that all
proceeds from their concert would be going to local LGBT organizations.
PEARL JAM
Location: Raleigh, PNC Arena
Date: April 20
Action: Cancelled
The group posted a handwritten note to Twitter and their website, expressing support to local groups. The HB2 law that was recently passed is a despicable piece
of legislation that encourages discrimination against an entire group of American
citizens, the band stated.
RINGO STARR
Location: Cary, Booth Amphitheatre
Date: June 18
Action: Cancelled
The English musician shut down his North Carolina appearance, stating on his
website, Im sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand
against this hatred. Spread peace and love.
TACOCAT
Location: Durham, The Pinhook
Date: April 19
Action: Performed, Donated Proceeds
Prior to their show, the band expressed their support for the LGBT community on
Facebook. We, as much smaller, radical-leaning bands, do not feel that resources
like live music should be cut off from LBGTQ folks, allies, and young people who
actually live in North Carolina, read their post. Tacocat showed support by donating some of its proceeds to Equality NC and passing out Trans Lifeline buttons at
their concert.
Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Ellie Goulding are among the artists who have yet
to take action or make a statement regarding their performances in North Carolina
and Mississippi. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
45
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 06.02.16
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 Strip
Down Thursdays Happy
Hour starts with shirtless men
drink free rail and domestic,
5-8pm Men in jocks drink
free rail and domestic, 10pm12am DJ Switch starts
spinning, 9pm-1am 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
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Flashback: Music
videos from 1975-2005 with
DJ Jason Royce, 8pm-12am
METROWEEKLY.COM
47
scene
Iconic: The Main Event @ Echostage
Saturday, May 28
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
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
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour 4-7pm $3 Miller
Lite, $4 Blue Moon, $5 Rails
and House Wines and HalfPriced Pizzas
THROBBING THURSDAYS
@THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male, all
nude dancers Doors open
9pm Shows all night until
close, starting at 9pm $5
Domestic Beer, $6 Imports
$12 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-487-6646
rockharddc.com
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Happy Hour all
night, $4 drinks and draughts
21+
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., 06.03.16
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
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
com
DC EAGLE
Hour, 5-8pm $2 Bud and Bud
Light Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call DC
Library Night Get your book
on! Knowledge is Power
DC Library at the DC Eagle providing library cards to patrons,
6-9pm Book Fetish Friday
show your DC Library Card and
drink $1 Rail and Domestic,
9-11pm Mid-Atlantic Kennel
Korps on Club Bar Trainers
and Puppy Mosh, 9pm-1am
No Cover 21+
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
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

8pm
TOWN
Patio open at 6pm DC Bear
Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm
$3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
Bottles Free Pizza, 7pm
No cover before 9:30pm
21+ Chi Chi DeVayne from
RuPauls Drag Race performs
in the Drag Show Meet and
Greet with Chi Chi DeVayne,
9pm Cover $20 Tickets
available via Flavorus.com
Drag Show starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna, ShiQueeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx and
BaNaka DJ Wess upstairs,
DJs BacK2bACk downstairs
GoGo Boys after 11pm Doors
open at 10pm For those
21 and over, $12 For those
18-20, $15 18+ Patio: 21+
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 Pop
and Dance Music Videos with
DJ Darryl Strickland $5
Coronas, $8 Vodka Red Bulls,
9pm-close
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour: 2
for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour 4-7pm $3 Miller
Lite, $4 Blue Moon, $5 Rails
and House Wines and HalfPriced Pizzas
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
and 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., 06.04.16
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 Doors open 10pm
$7 cover before midnight, $10
cover after 21+
METROWEEKLY.COM
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
com
DC EAGLE
Hour, 8-10pm $2 Bud
and Bud Light Draughts, $3
Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and
Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Onyx on Club Bar $2 Bud
Draughts and Jello Shots,
9pm-1am Sticky Fingers
James Underground Music,
10pm-6am Tickets available
at residentadvisor.net 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
Bacardi, all flavors, all night
long REWIND: Request Line:
The 80s and 90s Dance Party,
9pm Featuring DJ Darryl
Strickland No Cover
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka Highballs,
$7 Vodka Red Bulls
JUNE 2, 2016
49
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
drink, 3-9pm Jawbreakers
2nd Year Anniversary Party,
9:30pm Featuring DJ Chord
and DJ Kelly $5 Absolut and
$5 Bulleit Bourbon No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Bottomless Mimosas, 10am3pm Happy Hour, 5-7pm
$3 Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines &
Half-Priced Pizzas
TOWN
Patio open 2pm Capital Pride
Summer Pop-Off, presented by
Capital Pride, Town and Metro
Weekly, 10:30pm Featuring
DJ Chord playing your favorite
songs of 2016 as voted on
MetroWeekly.com DJ Wess
spins downstairs Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm $12 Cover
21+
50
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
and 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+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm $2 Bud
and Bud Light Draughts all day
and night, $3 Domestic Bottles,
$4 Rail and Import Bottle Beer,
$6 Call DC Leather Pride
Beer Bust, Cigar Social and
BBQ, 3-7pm Buffet $10,
includes first rail or domestic
drink Check Facebook page
for menu No Cover 21+
SUN., 06.05.16
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
9 1/2
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm Bears
Can Party, featuring DJ Jeff
Eletto, 6-10pm No Cover
Mamas Trailer Park Karaoke
downstairs, 9:30pm-close
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke, hosted by
Robert Bise, 10pm-close 21+
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at 1pm
$2 Coors Lights and $3 Skyy
(all flavors), all day and night
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
com
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

Drag Brunch, hosted by ShiQueeta-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
9pm Shows all night until
close, starting at 9pm $5
Domestic Beer, $6 Imports
$12 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-487-6646
rockharddc.com
SHAWS TAVERN
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm Sunday Funday
Karaoke, 2nd Floor, 3-7pm
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, $5
Rails and House Wines & HalfPriced Pizzas
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm Cornhole, Giant
Jenga, and Flip-cup
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
and wine only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ Tim-e
in Secrets Doors 9pm
Cover 21+
MON., 06.06.16
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
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+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
com
DC EAGLE
Hour, 5-8pm Free Pool all
day and night Endless Happy
Hour prices to anyone in a
DC Eagle T-Shirt $1 Bud
and Bud Light Draughts, $3
Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail and
Import Bottle Beer, $6 Call
DC Hash Runners Cool Down,
6-8pm No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Puppy-Oke: 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, 8pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4
Texas Holdem Poker, 8pm
Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
Rails and House Wines and
Half-Priced Pizzas Trivia with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
and wine only $4
TUES., 06.07.16
9 1/2
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm $4
Stella Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
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
SHAWS TAVERN
Half Priced Burgers & Pizzas,
5pm-close $5 House Wines
& Sam Adams Drafts, 5pmclose Pride Drag Bingo,
hosted by Kristina Kelly, 8pm
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
com
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Yappy Hour
Bring Your Dogs $4 Drinks
and Draughts
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

8pm
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
and wine only $4
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie LaCage Show, 10:30pm
Underground (Indie Pop/
Alt/Brit Rock), 9pm-close
DJ Wes Della Volla 2-for-1,
5pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4
Karaoke and Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to the
top three spellers After 9pm,
$3 Absolut, Bulleit & Stella
METROWEEKLY.COM
WED., 06.08.16
9 1/2
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+
JUNE 2, 2016
51
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
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
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 member
and each get a free $10 Dinner
52
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
Rails and House Wines and
Half-Priced Pizzas Piano Bar
Second Floor, 8pm-close
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm $4 drinks and
draughts, 5-9pm Nashville
Wednesdays: Pop-Country
music and line dancing, with
line dancing lessons from DC
Rawhides every other week
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
and 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
53
You have now told everyone in the state of Texas that

its OK to harass my child.
ANN ELDER, whose son is transgender, speaking about Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is refusing to follow federal guidance
on transgender students in schools.Im here to tell Dan Patrick, you specifically, you are endangering my childs life, she said,
according to San Antonio Express-News.
Now I know some of my friends in the gay community will be saying

there Shelton goes again comparing us to Nazis.
LYLE SHELTON, head of Australias largest Christian lobbying group, in a post on the groups website, after comparing the gay
rights movement and marriage equality to Nazi Germany. The cowardice and weakness of Australias gatekeepers is
causing unthinkable things to happen, just as unthinkable things happened in Germany in the 1930s, he wrote.
I thought,
Great, I am getting rid of demons.
MARLON JAMES, Jamaican author and winner of the Man Booker prize, telling The Times about undergoing ex-gay therapy a
decade ago. During an exorcism, James endured a mixture of prayer and support and shaming and vomiting. Homosexuality is
a criminal offence in Jamaica after the therapy failed, James was forced to flee the country.
I have tried not to be gay

for more than 20 years of my life.
Christian rock star TREY PEARSON, of band Everyday Sunday, in an interview with 614 Columbus. Pearson is married with two
children, after being taught that homosexuality was a choice during his conservative upbringing. I know this is how God made
me, and I am proud of who I am. I know there is nothing I can do to change it, he said.
Today is
a shameful day for HIV prevention.
LORD MICHAEL CASHMAN, British politician and peer, reacting to news that the English health service NHS England had once
again confirmed it would not offer PrEP to gay and bisexual men, despite pressure from activists and the government and
a lengthy trial which proved the drugs effectiveness in combatting HIV.
54
JUNE 2, 2016
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
JUNE 2, 2016
55

Metro Weekly - 06-02-16 - Maulik Pancholy

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EDITORIAL

SALES & MARKETING

Jail for Anal

Dial P for PrEP

2016 Jansi LLC.

photography by Ward Morrison

OUT ON THE TOWN

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

The Taming of the Shrew

Black Pride PartyIconic (Wet

photography by Ward Morrison

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Walmart wont discuss its trans bathroom policy

Jail for Anal

The use of forced anal examinations to prosecute men suspected of being

TS BEEN CONDEMNED BY THE UNITED NATIONS

of those signs included well-developed buttocks, a funneling

due to their efforts, the countrys National Medical Council

Dial P for PrEP

Dedicated apps could make accessing PrEP easier than ever

HE BATTLE AGAINST HIV TRANSMISSION IS

The DC Center applied and was approved for a $10,000

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice

DC SENTINELS basketball team

meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

group for men who are gay, bisexual,

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square-dancing group features

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,

CAPTURING FIRE, an international

ADVENTURING outdoors group

GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQI

hikes 10 moderately difficult miles

CAPTURING FIRE, an international

spoken and poetry festival for queeridentified writers that consists of

CENTER GLOBAL, a group focusing

session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-

affirming social group for ages 11-24.

SMYALS REC NIGHT provides

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

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for

LGBT community, family and friends.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses

takes walking tour of Old Town

celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m., High

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice

p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820

10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

age church & learning center. Sunday

worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is

services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted)

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,

and-affirming congregation, offers

ing and inclusive church. GLBT

practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.