M AY 0 6 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 4 2 I S S U E 1 8 • O U R C O M M U N I T Y, OUR STORIES SINCE 1969 • WASHINGTONBLADE.

COM

A large crowd gathered late Sunday night at the White House to celebrate the killing of Osama bin Laden. Servicemembers United, a gay group working to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ distributed
hundreds of American flags at the event.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

Bin Laden’s death triggers celebrations

Gay victim’s mother relieved In the aftermath of the attacks, the stories of LGBT
victims slowly emerged, from Father Mychal Judge,
terrorist ‘has no one to face who died ministering to fallen firefighters in New York,
now except his God’ to Mark Bingham, who helped bring down United
Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania before it could reach
By CHRIS JOHNSON its intended target in Washington.
cjohnson@washblade.com Alice Hoagland, Bingham’s mother, reflected on the
killing of the terrorist leader.
The death this week of Osama bin Laden brought “I think it is a point in time of which the American
back a torrent of memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, people can be very proud, which we can take stock
terrorist attacks for families and friends of victims. in and realize how very valuable our intelligence
community and our military are,” Hoagland said in an
NBC interview.
In Washington, local residents streamed to the White
House late Sunday night as news of bin Laden’s killing
emerged. Local gays joined in the celebration at the
White House after news broke that the U.S. military had
killed bin Laden in a daring raid.
On Sunday, President Obama announced that after a
firefight in Abbottabad, Pakistan, U.S. forces had killed
CONTINUES ON PAGE 18

50 and fabulous Stark calls on Obama

to back adoption bill
Mame Dennis leads the
Academy of Washington
in celebrating its golden
anniversary this weekend.
PAGE 27 Measure would bar discrimination Deserves a Family Act, said he wants the White House
to support his bill fully in response to a question from
against LGBT families the Washington Blade on what he’d like to see from
the administration on the issue.

Standing up By CHRIS JOHNSON

Local LGBT advocates
ask City Council to
strengthen anti-bullying
measure at hearing.
PAGE 4
cjohnson@washblade.com
A California congressman this week introduced
legislation that would bar discrimination against LGBT
people in adoption cases while calling on President
Obama to endorse the bill “wholeheartedly.”
During a news conference, Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.),
the sponsor of the legislation, known as the Every Child
“I’d like to see the administration support our
position more definitively,” Stark said. “I’ve had some
troubles often determining where the administration is
on issues, and I think it’s time that President Obama
steps up to the bar and makes this — supports it
wholeheartedly.”
Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in
CONTINUES ON PAGE 20
02 • MAY 0 6 , 2 01 1 WAS H I N G T O N B L AD E . CO M

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 washingtonblade.com
04 • MAY 06, 2011 LOCAL NEWS

Council urged to strengthen anti-bullying bill

Activists, experts
say measure lacks
reporting provisions
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
At least eight witnesses representing
LGBT organizations told a D.C. City
Council committee on Monday that an
anti-bullying bill introduced in January is
an important first step in addressing the
problem of bullying and harassment in the
city’s schools, parks and libraries.
But the LGBT representatives – as well
as other witnesses – testified that the
Bullying and Intimidation Prevention Act
of 2011 lacks sufficient implementation
and accountability provisions needed to
ensure its effective enforcement.
“It does not benefit students to pass
a new anti-bullying law unless there
are real accountability standards and
implementation processes in place,” said
Alison Gill, public policy manager for
the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education
Network (GLSEN), a national group that
advocates for LGBT-supportive polices in
the nation’s schools.
“The District of Columbia has been a
pioneer on issues such as nondiscrimination
in schools and yet is one of only a handful
of jurisdictions in this country without an
anti-bullying law,” Gill said.
Gill and the other witnesses spoke
before the Council’s Committee on
Libraries, Parks and Recreation, one of two
committees with jurisdiction over the anti-
AIDS; Annie Kaplan, president of the Trial
Lawyers Association of Metropolitan D.C.;
Rick Rosendall, vice president of the Gay &
Lesbian Activists Alliance; Bob Summersgill,
Ward 3 Advisory Neighborhood
Commissioner and former GLAA president;
and Christopher Dyer, former director of the
Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs.
Also expressing support for the bill
were Chad Ferguson, director of the
Office of Youth Engagement for D.C.
Public Schools; Jesus Aguirre, director of
the Department of Parks and Recreation;
and Micki Freeny, coordinator of children’s
services for the D.C. public library system.
Most of these witnesses — but not the three
government officials — called on the Council
to add these new provisions to the bill:
• A required reporting system to keep
track of incidents of bullying and harassment
that would allow the city to gather data on
the prevalence and types of harassment and
bullying incidents and how well the law is
working to curtail such incidents.
• An improved and strengthened
implementation provision that, among other
things, creates an implementation task force
consisting of community advocates and
officials from affected city agencies.
• The bill’s definition of bullying,
intimidation and harassment should
be broadened to include the full list of
protected groups and characteristics in
the D.C. Human Rights Act. In addition,
the bill should include protections against
bullying and harassment targeting people
for who they associate with.
“Students may experience bullying not
based on who they are, but based on the
people that they associate with and therefore
to Capitol Hill for final clearance by Congress.
The LGBT advocates who testified
at Monday’s hearing said their main
objective is to persuade the Council to
adopt the proposed changes they have
submitted in the form of one or more
amendments to the bill.
“Thank you for your testimony, which
has been tremendously helpful,” Bowser
told several of the witnesses, including
those representing LGBT organizations.
Catania, who was the only other
committee member to attend the hearing,
also praised the witnesses and expressed
support for a comprehensive anti-bullying
bill “with teeth.”
Bowser said she and her Council
colleagues were open to the suggestions
and recommendations of the witnesses
but made no commitment to adopt the
proposed changes.
The legislation defines harassment,
intimidation or bullying as “any gesture
or written, verbal or physical act,
including electronic communication,
D.C. Mayor VINCENT GRAY has said a
severe city revenue shortfall due to
the recession has forced him to propose
cuts in many city agencies.
WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
that is reasonably perceived as being
motivated either by any actual or
perceived characteristic, such as race,
color, religion, ancestry, national origin,
gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity and expression, or a mental,
physical or sensory handicap, or by any
other distinguishing characteristic…”
The definition says that in order to be
considered harassment, intimidation or
bullying under the bill’s school-related
provisions, the act in question must be
understood by a “reasonable person” to
have the “effect of harming or damaging
the student’s property, or placing a student
in reasonable fear of harm to his person or
damage to his property…”
It says an act can be labeled as
harassment, intimidation or bullying if it
has the “effect of insulting or demeaning
any student or group of students in such
as a way as to cause substantial disruption
in, or substantial interference with, the
orderly operation of a school, university,
recreation facility, or library.”

bullying bill. need to be explicitly protected for this

While saying bullying and harassment
is a serious problem that affects all young
people, they pointed to studies showing
that the problem has had a greater impact
on LGBT youth.
“Bullying and harassment has often
increased adverse effects on marginalized
students, including those who identify as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender,”
Gill told the committee.
“According to GLSEN’s 2009 National
School Climate Survey, nearly nine out of
10 LGBT students experience verbal or
physical harassment in school,” she said.
“Thirty percent missed at least one day of
school in the past month because they felt
unsafe or uncomfortable.”
The bill requires the city’s public and
charter schools, the Department of Parks
and Recreation, the city’s public libraries,
and the University of the District of Columbia
to adopt “a policy prohibiting harassment,
intimidation or bullying” in their respective
facilities, buildings and grounds.
Others testifying in support of the bill and
calling for adding various strengthening
provisions included Andrew Barnett,
executive director of the Sexual Minority
Youth Assistance League (SMYAL); Amy
Morgan of the D.C. Trans Coalition; Adam
Tenner, executive director of Metro Teen
reason,” GLSEN’s Gill said in her testimony.
The bill has been assigned to the
Council’s Committee of the Whole in
addition to the Committee on Libraries,
Parks and Recreation. The Committee
of the Whole, whose ranks include all
13 Council members, has jurisdiction
over the city’s public and charter school
systems and plays a role in deciding on all
school-related legislation.
Council Chair Kwame Brown (D-At-
Large), chair of the Committee of the
Whole, is a co-introducer of the Bullying
and Intimidation Prevention Act, along
with Council member Jim Graham
(D-Ward 1), who is gay; and Council
members Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5) and
Michael Brown (D-At-Large).
Council member Muriel Bowser
(D-Ward 4), chair of the Committee on
Libraries, Parks and Recreation, which
held Monday’s hearing, is a co-sponsor
of the bill along with six other Council
members, including gay Council member
David Catania (I-At-Large).
City Hall observers say support for the
bill on the Council is overwhelming. With
Mayor Vincent Gray saying he would sign
the measure, there’s little doubt that some
form of an anti-bullying bill will clear the city’s
legislative process this year and make its way
GLAA opposes budget cut for police review office
The Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance is calling on the D.C. Council to reject
a proposal by Mayor Vincent Gray to reduce the budget of the Office of Police
Complaints, which investigates allegations of police abuse of citizens.
LGBT activists pushed for the creation of a police Civilian Complaint Review
Board, which later became the Office of Police Complaints, in the 1970s at a time
when allegations of police officer abuse of LGBT people surfaced more frequently
than in recent years.
Gray’s fiscal year 2012 budget proposal calls for reducing the OPC budget by just
under $200,000, from $2,057,589 in fiscal year 2011 to $1,858,546 in fiscal year 2012.
Philip Eure, OPC’s executive director, told a City Council hearing on April 8 that
the cuts – while appearing modest – would result in a reduction in the number of
investigators that the office uses to look into allegations of police abuse of citizens.
“The value of this independent agency, which employs the best practices of
citizen oversight of law enforcement, is reflected in the 5.8 percent increase in
complaints and the 6.6 percent increase in case closings in Fiscal Year 2010 over
the previous year,” said GLAA Vice President Rick Rosendall in a letter to the
Council committee that oversees police issues.
“The result of OPC’s excellent work is not just the identification of areas for
improvement or the adjudication of misconduct charges, but the confidence provided
both to citizens and to the great majority of good officers that police misconduct
complaints will receive impartial investigation and timely resolution,” Rosendall said.
Gray has said a severe city revenue shortfall due to the recession has forced him
to propose cuts in many city agencies. The Council is scheduled to vote on the
mayor’s budget later this year.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.
WASHINGTON BLADE. COM MAY 0 6 , 2 0 1 1 • 0 5
 washingtonblade.com
06 • MAY 06, 2011 LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF

Bowman takes helm of Equality Maryland

Lynne Bowman began her tenure as
interim executive director of Equality
Maryland on Monday.
Bowman has served as director of
programs and services for the Equality
Federation, a national association of
state LGBT groups. She is also a founder
of Equality Ohio and most recently
served as campaign manager for Ohio
Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher’s U.S. Senate bid.
Equality Maryland said it would
now begin the search for a permanent LYNNE BOWMAN
executive director.
Bowman told the Blade that she is PHOTO COURTESY OF EQUALITY MARYLAND

not in the running for the permanent

director’s position. She said her
appointment lasts until the end of August but can be extended if a new permanent
director isn’t in place at that time.
“I will be assisting the board in conducting the search,” she said. “That’s
something I’ve done a number of times in my background. So rather than focusing
on trying to secure a job for myself, I’ll be focusing on stabilizing the organization
and moving the agenda forward.”
She acknowledges that she has never worked with the Maryland Legislature
House Minority Leader NANCY PELOSI hired Timothy Merritt to serve as
before. But Bowman said she believes her background in working with legislators her deputy director of scheduling.
in other states and her experience in managing non-profit organizations will enable
her to keep Equality Maryland on track in pushing its legislative goals in the eight WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

months before the Maryland Legislature convenes its 2012 session in January.
“I think that every legislature or assembly is similar in that fact that they are

Gay staffer to serve

different,” she said. “And it takes figuring out the personalities and some of the
targets and the issues, which could be done, I would say, fairly easily by partnering
with the people who are already there.”
She plans to take steps to arrange meetings with members of the State Senate
and House of Delegates — including the contingent of eight openly gay or

as Pelosi scheduler
lesbian legislators — immediately, she said.
Bowman said she has considerable experience in fundraising and is looking
forward to strengthening Equality Maryland’s donor base. But she said she hadn’t
had a chance to examine the group’s finances in detail and could not yet determine
whether it would be prudent to hire a new development director immediately or
to do so at a later date.
“If I would say anything else at this point it would be that a strong state-based
organization is critical to passing state-based legislation” like the marriage
Merritt active in work for Pelosi — Drew Hammill, her
deputy communications director, and
equality and gender identity non-discrimination bills that came up but failed this LGBT Congressional Kenneth DeGraff, her policy adviser for
year, she said. Staff Association energy and technology issues — in her
D.C. office. Another gay staffer, Dan
LOU CHIBBARO JR. Bernal, serves as district director for
By CHRIS JOHNSON Pelosi’s San Francisco office.
cjohnson@washblade.com Merritt, who holds a bachelor’s degree
OBITUARY in international studies and development
David Lawrence Bongard, 51 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi from the University of North Texas, is also
(D-Calif.) has appointed a gay Hill staffer active in the LGBT Congressional Staff
to serve in her D.C. office as scheduler. Association.
David Lawrence Bongard died in his sleep on March 31. He was 51 and had Timothy Merritt, who was hired to Kat Skiles, spokesperson for the LGBT
lived in Alexandria, Va. become Pelosi’s deputy director of Congressional Staff Association, said
Bongard was a historian, editor, author and teacher born June 19, 1959. He was scheduling, began his duties Monday. Merritt’s new job in Pelosi’s office coincides
gay and, according to his partner, Christopher Cox, he died of congestive heart Merritt most recently worked for Rep. with his transition from being the group’s
failure. He was a native of a small town in New Jersey but his family moved when Gene Green (D-Texas) as the lawmaker’s membership director to its vice president.
he was a child. He spent most of his adult life in the D.C. area. communications director and scheduler. “Whether contributing his talents as
In 1980 he graduated college, completing his four-year degree in three years Additionally, Merritt handled small the communications director to a red
through the Honours Tutorial College at Ohio University; he then moved on to business legislative issues for Green. state Democrat or fighting for equality
earn his master’s at the University of Maryland. In a statement, Pelosi welcomed Merritt as a board member on the LGBT
Among his many contributions, Bongard is credited in seven books that he to her staff and said his past work will make Congressional Staff Association — Tim
helped create: “How to Defeat Saddam Hussein,” “If War Comes How to Defeat him an important contributor to her efforts has proven that the best way to be
Saddam Hussein,” “Future Wars, Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography,” to improve the economic conditions of anything is to be yourself,” Skiles said.
“Hitler’s Last Gamble,” “Nontraditional War and Peace” and the “International the country. “Poised, thoughtful and driven, Tim
Military and Defense Encyclopedia Volume I (of 6).” “In each of his roles with Congressman thrives in team-oriented and collaborative
He worked for a time at the National Archives and most recently was teaching Green’s office, Timothy brought incredible efforts where his leadership invigorates
classes at Potomac College. precision, commitment and intellect to team involvement and cooperation.”
He was an avid reader, when he wasn’t writing or teaching, a whiz at “Jeopardy!”, his work,” Pelosi said. “Those qualities Skiles added that without a doubt, Merritt
and a master of innumerable facts and trivia. will quickly make Timothy an essential will be “an incredible asset” to Pelosi.
“He will be dearly missed by friends, family and coworkers alike,” Cox said. member of my team as we continue our “In our longing for a world where no
efforts to create jobs, strengthen the one feels the need to hide in the closet
JOEY DiGUGLIELMO middle class, and reduce the deficit in a it is incredibly exciting to see someone
responsible way.” who is out and proud soaring to such high
Merritt will join other gay staffers who heights,” she said.
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 07
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washingtonblade.com
NATIONAL NEWS
National LGBT
youth advocacy
group to close doors
NYAC officials say
money woes led to
shutdown decision
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
lchibbaro@washblade.com
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition
(NYAC), a Washington-based national
organization that advocated on behalf
of LGBT youth for more than 18 years,
announced on Monday that it would close
its doors for good on May 13.
“The organization has been
experiencing financial hardship for years,”
the group said in an announcement on its
Facebook page. “This is a very difficult
decision and was not made lightly.”
The group’s interim executive director,
Asha Leong, told the Blade the NYAC
board struggled over the past six months
to obtain new sources of revenue from
foundations and other donors at a time
when its declining donor base was made
worse by the national recession.
Leong said that in recent years, at least
80 percent of NYAC’s annual budget of
between $400,000 and $500,000 came
from a single federal grant from the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. She said the CDC lowered
the grant from $427,500 last year to
$406,125 for NYAC’s current fiscal year. The
grant was for HIV testing and prevention
programs targeting black and Latino gay
male, bisexual, and transgender youth.
She said a mostly new board of directors
led by board president Amita Swadhin of
New York scrambled over the past six months
to reverse the organization’s narrowing donor
base and dependence on a single federal
funding source for most of its budget.
“We have for many years largely been
an HIV/AIDS organization,” said Leong,
who joined NYAC as interim director in
January. “This government contract has
been the bulk of our work, which has
been another struggle because I think
that our past vision was not only a health
involvement organization but also to be an
LGBT youth empowerment development
organization.”
N.Y. Gov. ANDREW
CUOMO says same-sex
marriage is a priority.
The NYAC website shows that the group
currently has four employees, including
Leong, along with interns and volunteers.
Its offices are located at 1638 R St., N.W.,
near Dupont Circle.
LGBT leaders familiar with NYAC this
week praised its work on LGBT youth,
saying the group became a pioneer in
recognizing during its early years the need
for addressing youth-related issues.
“Like others, I was sad to hear that
NYAC will be closing its doors,” said Rea
Carey, executive director of the National
Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Carey served as
NYAC’s first full-time executive director in
the late 1990s.
In a statement released on Tuesday,
Carey said “the staff, board, youth and
adults associated with NYAC over the
years have changed the lives of thousands
and thousands of LGBTQ youth in ways
that are profound, inspirational and will
carry on long into the future.”
Andrew Barnett, executive director of
D.C.’s Sexual Minority Youth Assistance
League (SMYAL), which was among the
local organizations to receive support
from NYAC, praised NYAC for its work.
“For the past 18 years, NYAC has been
a key national leader by empowering
LGBTQ youth to be a part of the movement
for social justice for all,” Barnett said.
“NYAC’s youth organizing programs have
raised the voices of LGBTQ youth from all
over the country.”
Adam Tenner, executive director of the
D.C.-based Metro Teen AIDS and one
of NYAC’s founding board members,
said the group’s demise may be part of
a pattern he sees both in LGBT and non-
LGBT non-profit organizations.
“When the bulk of a group’s funding
comes from one source, it can create
an unevenness that’s hard to correct,”
said Tenner, who long ago left the NYAC
board. “As to what finally did in the
agency, the imbalance of the funding mix
and the lack of a clear, actionable vision in
the organization over the past five or six
years” played a significant role, he said.
“And unfortunately, this amazing group
of people who currently serve on the
board I think got there too late to really
save it,” he said.
MAY 06, 2011 • 09
PHOTO BY PAT ARNOW;
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA.ORG
Cuomo ‘optimistic’ N.Y. will legalize marriage
ALBANY, N.W. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, closely allied with the Senate
Republican majority that once blocked gay marriage, said Tuesday he’s now optimistic
it will be legalized in New York, the AP reported. “I know it’s failed before, but I think this
is a different day,” Cuomo was quoted in the AP story as saying. “I’ll bring more urgency
in the next few weeks.” The Democrat says he believes the Senate will produce the
32 votes needed for passage in the six weeks remaining in the legislative session. The
GOP majority in the Senate has strongly supported Cuomo’s fiscal platform, including
cutting state spending, a 2-percent cap in the growth of property taxes and rejection
of tax increases. Now Cuomo needs help to pass what he has identified of his highest
priority policy goals, the AP said. Cuomo said talks with legislative leaders as well as the
rising public poll numbers for gay marriage are among his reasons for optimism. Both
sides are girding for a showdown after the bill’s surprising defeat in 2009, the AP wrote.
R.I. gay marriage advocates not giving up
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Advocates of gay marriage delivered a message to Rhode Island
state lawmakers who blocked a same-sex marriage bill this year, informing them they’re
being targeted for defeat in the next election, the Associated Press reported this week.
Hundreds of Rhode Islanders rallied at the Statehouse Tuesday in favor of gay marriage
— despite legislative leaders who say they’ll consider a compromise measure to create
civil unions instead. Those at the rally vowed political revenge on those lawmakers who
opposed making Rhode Island the sixth state to recognize gay marriage, the AP reported.
“The 2012 election cycle starts now,” Kate Brock, executive director of the group Ocean
State Action, told a cheering crowd on the Statehouse steps. “We start recruiting
candidates now. We start building our war chests now. Don’t get mad. Get elected.”
Meanwhile, House lawmakers introduced civil union legislation designed to give gay
couples the same state rights afforded to married couples. Rep. Peter Petrarca, D-Lincoln,
the bill’s sponsor, said he supports gay marriage but that it has no chance of passing this
year. He said the rights granted through civil unions are a better than none at all.
New York gay murder not a hate crime: police
ELMIRA, N.Y. — Police aren’t disclosing a possible motive for the murder of a gay
nightclub owner in Elmira, N.Y., but it does not appear to be a hate crime, the Corning
Leader reported this week. Louis Duffy, 20, of Horseheads, is charged with second-
degree murder for allegedly shooting Clinton “Billy” Lewis, 53, early Sunday morning
at Lewis’ apartment on North Main Street in downtown Elmira, the Leader reported.
Lewis owned Chill, a gay bar at the corner of West Fifth and North Main streets, and had
organized events in the gay community. Lewis previously owned another gay bar, Angles,
now closed. Duffy and Lewis were acquaintances, police told the Leader. “I really can’t
disclose the actual motive, but I will say it was a personal issue,” said Capt. Joseph Kain of
the Elmira Police Department. “The victim was not killed as a direct result of being gay, it
does not appear to be a hate crime. Police found Lewis shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday. He
was found shot and died while receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital.
Dallas gay couple found murdered inside burned apt.
DALLAS — Two men found dead inside a burned Northeast Dallas apartment last
week were an interracial gay couple, Dallas police confirmed to the Dallas Voice, a gay
paper there. Michael Humphrey, 59, and Clayton Capshaw, 61, were found inside their
first-floor unit at the Villa Joya Apartments on Woodmeadow Parkway. After responding
to a fire call at about 4:10 a.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue crews extinguished the flames before
finding the victims inside the apartment. Authorities say the men appeared to have died
in a violent attack before the fire was set in an attempt to destroy evidence from the
murders. Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse, a spokesman for Dallas Police Department, said detectives
have no reason to believe the murders were a hate crime, but he added that the motive is
unknown, the Voice reported. It’s not being investigated as a hate crime.
697US09AB07051_9.75x11.5_.
10 • MAY 06, 2011 10/15/10 5:13 PM Page 1 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

ATRIPLA Important Safety Information and Indication

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fumarate [DF] 300 mg) is a prescription medication used alone as a have ever had seizures, or take medicine for seizures, your healthcare
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ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 and has not been shown to prevent • Have ever had mental illness or use drugs or alcohol.
passing HIV-1 to others. The long-term effects of ATRIPLA are not known Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience any
at this time. People taking ATRIPLA may still get infections that develop of the following serious or common side effects:
because the immune system is weak or other conditions that happen with
HIV-1 infection. Serious side effects associated with ATRIPLA:
Do not stop taking ATRIPLA unless directed by your healthcare • Severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior have been
provider. See your healthcare provider regularly. reported by a small number of patients. Some patients have had thoughts
of suicide, and a few have actually committed suicide. These problems
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION may occur more often in patients who have had mental illness.
Contact your healthcare provider right away if you get the following • Kidney problems (including decline or failure of kidney function).
side effects or conditions associated with ATRIPLA: If you have had kidney problems, or take other medicines that may
• Nausea, vomiting, unusual muscle pain, and/or weakness. These cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider should do regular
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which is a serious medical condition. a high volume of urine, thirst, muscle pain, and muscle weakness.
• Light-colored stools, dark-colored urine, and/or if your skin or the • Other serious liver problems. Some patients have experienced
whites of your eyes turn yellow. These may be signs of serious serious liver problems, including liver failure resulting in transplantation
liver problems. or death. Most of these serious side effects occurred in patients with a
• If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV), your liver disease chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have also
may suddenly get worse if you stop taking ATRIPLA. been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease.
Do not take ATRIPLA if you are taking the following medicines • Bone changes. Lab tests show changes in the bones of patients treated
because serious and life-threatening side effects may occur when with tenofovir DF, a component of ATRIPLA. Some HIV patients treated
taken together: Vascor® (bepridil), Propulsid® (cisapride), with tenofovir DF developed thinning of the bones (osteopenia), which
® ® ®
Versed (midazolam), Orap (pimozide), Halcion (triazolam), could lead to fractures. Also, bone pain and softening of the bone
or ergot medications (for example, Wigraine® and Cafergot®). (which may lead to fractures) may occur as a consequence of kidney
problems. If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare
In addition, ATRIPLA should not be taken with: provider may want to check your bones.
Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine), EMTRIVA (emtricitabine), Epivir
® ® ®

or Epivir-HBV® (lamivudine), Epzicom® (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine), Common side effects:

SUSTIVA® (efavirenz), Trizivir® (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine/zidovudine), • Dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble
TRUVADA® (emtricitabine/tenofovir DF), or VIREAD® (tenofovir DF), concentrating, and/or unusual dreams. These side effects tend to
because they contain the same or similar active ingredients as ATRIPLA. go away after taking ATRIPLA for a few weeks. These symptoms may
ATRIPLA should not be used with HEPSERA® (adefovir dipivoxil). be more severe with the use of alcohol and/or mood-altering (street)
Vfend® (voriconazole) or REYATAZ® (atazanavir sulfate) with or without drugs. If you are dizzy, have trouble concentrating, and/or are drowsy,
Norvir® (ritonavir) should not be taken with ATRIPLA since they may avoid activities that may be dangerous, such as driving or operating
lose their effect and may also increase the chance of having side effects machinery.
from ATRIPLA. Fortovase® or Invirase® (saquinavir) should not be used • Rash is a common side effect that usually goes away without any
as the only protease inhibitor in combination with ATRIPLA. change in treatment, but may be serious in a small number of patients.
Taking ATRIPLA with St. John’s wort or products containing St. John’s wort • Other common side effects include: tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting,
is not recommended as it may cause decreased levels of ATRIPLA, gas, and diarrhea.
increased viral load, and possible resistance to ATRIPLA or
cross-resistance to other anti-HIV drugs. Other possible side effects:
This list of medicines is not complete. Discuss with your healthcare • Changes in body fat have been seen in some people taking anti-HIV-1
provider all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, medicines. The cause and long-term health effects are not known.
or herbal supplements you are taking or plan to take. • Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) may also happen.
Tell your healthcare provider if you: • If you notice any symptoms of infection, contact your healthcare
• Are pregnant: Women should not become pregnant while taking provider right away.
ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping ATRIPLA. Serious birth defects • Additional side effects are inflammation of the pancreas, allergic
have been seen in children of women treated during pregnancy with reaction (including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat),
one of the medicines in ATRIPLA. Women must use a reliable form of shortness of breath, pain, stomach pain, weakness, and indigestion.
barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also
You should take ATRIPLA once daily on an empty stomach. Taking
use other methods of birth control, while on ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks
ATRIPLA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome.
after stopping ATRIPLA.
• Are breastfeeding: Women with HIV should not breastfeed ATRIPLA is one of several treatment options your doctor may consider.
because they can pass HIV through their milk to the baby. Also,
ATRIPLA may pass through breast milk and cause serious harm You are encouraged to report negative side effects
to the baby. of prescription drugs to the FDA.
• Have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Patient Information on the following pages.

© 2010 Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All rights reserved. ATRIPLA is a
trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. EMTRIVA, VIREAD, and
TRUVADA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. SUSTIVA and REYATAZ are registered
trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb. All other trademarks are owned by third parties.

697US09AB07051/TR7171 10/10

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 11

“My entire HIV regimen

in one pill daily.
For me, that’s great.”
Phil li p
on ATRIPLA for 2 years

ATRIPLA is the #1 prescribed HIV regimen.*

About ATRIPLA:
•Only ATRIPLA combines 3 HIV medications in 1 pill daily.
†
• Proven to lower viral load to undetectable in approximately
7 out of 10 patients new to therapy, and also raise T-cell‡ (CD4+)
count to help control HIV through 3 years of a clinical study.§
•ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 and has not been shown to prevent
passing HIV-1 to others.

Selected Important Safety Information:

Some people who have taken medicine like ATRIPLA have developed
the following: a serious condition of acid buildup in the blood (lactic
acidosis), and serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity). For patients
with both HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis may suddenly
worsen if ATRIPLA is discontinued.
Please see detailed and additional Important Safety Information,
including the bolded information to the left.

†
Defined as a viral load of less than 400 copies/mL.
‡
Average increase of 312 cells/mm3.
§
In this study, 227 patients took the meds in ATRIPLA.

Patient model. Individual results may vary.

Your doctor may prescribe ATRIPLA alone

or with other HIV medications.
Talk to your doctor to see if ATRIPLA is right for you.

To learn more, visit

* Synovate Healthcare Data; US HIV Monitor, Q1 2010. www.ATRIPLA.com

Pub:
697US09AB07051_9.75x11.5_.
12 • MAY 06, 2011 10/15/10 5:13 PM Page 3
FDA-Approved Patient Labeling
Patient Information
ATRIPLA® (uh TRIP luh) Tablets
ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with ATRIPLA.
Please also read the section “MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA.”
Generic name: efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (eh FAH vih renz, em tri SIT
uh bean and te NOE’ fo veer dye soe PROX il FYOU mar ate)
Read the Patient Information that comes with ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil
fumarate) before you start taking it and each time you get a refill since there may be new
information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about
your medical condition or treatment. You should stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking
ATRIPLA. Do not change or stop your medicine without first talking with your healthcare
provider. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about ATRIPLA.
What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?
• Some people who have taken medicine like ATRIPLA (which contains nucleoside
analogs) have developed a serious condition called lactic acidosis (buildup of an acid
in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical emergency and may need to be treated in the
hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or
symptoms of lactic acidosis:
• You feel very weak or tired.
• You have unusual (not normal) muscle pain.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting.
• You feel cold, especially in your arms and legs.
• You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
• You have a fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA have developed serious liver
problems called hepatotoxicity, with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver
(steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or
symptoms of liver problems:
• Your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice).
• Your urine turns dark.
• Your bowel movements (stools) turn light in color.
• You don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer.
• You feel sick to your stomach (nausea).
• You have lower stomach area (abdominal) pain.
• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or liver problems if you are female, very
overweight (obese), or have been taking nucleoside analog-containing medicines, like
ATRIPLA, for a long time.
• If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and you stop taking ATRIPLA, you
may get a “flare-up” of your hepatitis. A “flare-up” is when the disease suddenly
returns in a worse way than before. Patients with HBV who stop taking ATRIPLA need close
medical follow-up for several months, including medical exams and blood tests to check for
hepatitis that could be getting worse. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so
you must discuss your HBV therapy with your healthcare provider.
What is ATRIPLA?
ATRIPLA contains 3 medicines, SUSTIVA® (efavirenz), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine) and VIREAD®
(tenofovir disoproxil fumarate also called tenofovir DF) combined in one pill. EMTRIVA and VIREAD
are HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors
(NRTIs) and SUSTIVA is an HIV-1 non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).
VIREAD and EMTRIVA are the components of TRUVADA®. ATRIPLA can be used alone as a complete
regimen, or in combination with other anti-HIV-1 medicines to treat people with HIV-1 infection.
ATRIPLA is for adults age 18 and over. ATRIPLA has not been studied in children under age 18 or
adults over age 65.
HIV infection destroys CD4+ T cells, which are important to the immune system. The immune system
helps fight infection. After a large number of T cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS) develops.
ATRIPLA helps block HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, a viral chemical in your body (enzyme) that is
needed for HIV-1 to multiply. ATRIPLA lowers the amount of HIV-1 in the blood (viral load). ATRIPLA
may also help to increase the number of T cells (CD4+ cells), allowing your immune system to
improve. Lowering the amount of HIV-1 in the blood lowers the chance of death or infections that
happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).
Does ATRIPLA cure HIV-1 or AIDS?
ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. The long-term effects of ATRIPLA are not known
at this time. People taking ATRIPLA may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that
happen with HIV-1 infection. Opportunistic infections are infections that develop because the
immune system is weak. Some of these conditions are pneumonia, herpes virus infections, and
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. It is very important that you see your healthcare
provider regularly while taking ATRIPLA.
Does ATRIPLA reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others?
ATRIPLA has not been shown to lower your chance of passing HIV-1 to other people through
sexual contact, sharing needles, or being exposed to your blood.
• Do not share needles or other injection equipment.
• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like
toothbrushes or razor blades.
Job number: 697US09AB07051 Trim size 9.75" x 10.5 No BLEED
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex
or polyurethane condom or other barrier to reduce the chance of sexual contact with semen,
vaginal secretions, or blood.
Who should not take ATRIPLA?
Together with your healthcare provider, you need to decide whether ATRIPLA is right for you.
Do not take ATRIPLA if you are allergic to ATRIPLA or any of its ingredients. The active ingredients
of ATRIPLA are efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF. See the end of this leaflet for a complete
list of ingredients.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ATRIPLA? Tell your healthcare
provider if you:
• Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (see “What should I avoid while taking
ATRIPLA?”).
• Are breast-feeding (see “What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA?”).
• Have kidney problems or are undergoing kidney dialysis treatment.
• Have bone problems.
• Have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection. Your healthcare provider may
want to do tests to check your liver while you take ATRIPLA.
• Have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol.
• Have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures.
What important information should I know about taking other medicines with ATRIPLA?
ATRIPLA may change the effect of other medicines, including the ones for HIV-1, and may
cause serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may change your other medicines or change
their doses. Other medicines, including herbal products, may affect ATRIPLA. For this reason, it is
very important to let all your healthcare providers and pharmacists know what medications, herbal
supplements, or vitamins you are taking.
MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA
• The following medicines may cause serious and life-threatening side effects when taken
with ATRIPLA. You should not take any of these medicines while taking ATRIPLA: Vascor
(bepridil), Propulsid (cisapride), Versed (midazolam), Orap (pimozide), Halcion (triazolam),
ergot medications (for example, Wigraine and Cafergot).
• ATRIPLA also should not be used with Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine), EMTRIVA, Epivir,
Epivir-HBV (lamivudine), Epzicom (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine), Trizivir (abacavir
sulfate/lamivudine/zidovudine), SUSTIVA, TRUVADA, or VIREAD.
• Vfend (voriconazole) should not be taken with ATRIPLA since it may lose its effect or may
increase the chance of having side effects from ATRIPLA.
• Do not take St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), or products containing St. John’s
wort with ATRIPLA. St. John’s wort is an herbal product sold as a dietary supplement. Talk
with your healthcare provider if you are taking or are planning to take St. John’s wort. Taking
St. John’s wort may decrease ATRIPLA levels and lead to increased viral load and possible
resistance to ATRIPLA or cross-resistance to other anti-HIV-1 drugs.
• ATRIPLA should not be used with HEPSERA® (adefovir dipivoxil).
It is also important to tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any of the following:
• Fortovase, Invirase (saquinavir), Biaxin (clarithromycin), Noxafil (posaconazole), or
Sporanox (itraconazole); these medicines may need to be replaced with another
medicine when taken with ATRIPLA.
• Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem or Tiazac (diltiazem), Covera HS or Isoptin
(verapamil) and others; Crixivan (indinavir), Selzentry (maraviroc); the immunosuppressant
medicines cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), Prograf (tacrolimus), or
Rapamune (sirolimus); Methadone; Mycobutin (rifabutin); Rifampin; cholesterol-lowering
medicines such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin sodium), and Zocor
(simvastatin); or Zoloft (sertraline); these medicines may need to have their dose
changed when taken with ATRIPLA.
• Videx, Videx EC (didanosine); tenofovir DF (a component of ATRIPLA) may increase the
amount of didanosine in your blood, which could result in more side effects. You may need
to be monitored more carefully if you are taking ATRIPLA and didanosine together. Also, the
dose of didanosine may need to be changed.
• Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) or Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir); these medicines may increase the
amount of tenofovir DF (a component of ATRIPLA) in your blood, which could result in more
side effects. Reyataz is not recommended with ATRIPLA. You may need to be monitored
more carefully if you are taking ATRIPLA and Kaletra together. Also, the dose of Kaletra may
need to be changed.
• Medicine for seizures [for example, Dilantin (phenytoin), Tegretol (carbamazepine), or
phenobarbital]; your healthcare provider may want to switch you to another medicine or
check drug levels in your blood from time to time.
These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take ATRIPLA. Be sure to tell
your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take.
Keep a complete list of all the prescription and nonprescription medicines as well as any herbal
remedies that you are taking, how much you take, and how often you take them. Make a new list
when medicines or herbal remedies are added or stopped, or if the dose changes. Give copies of
this list to all of your healthcare providers and pharmacists every time you visit your healthcare
provider or fill a prescription. This will give your healthcare provider a complete picture of the
medicines you use. Then he or she can decide the best approach for your situation.
WASHINGTO NBLA DE.COM
ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
How should I take ATRIPLA?
• Take the exact amount of ATRIPLA your healthcare provider prescribes. Never change the
dose on your own. Do not stop this medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to stop.
• You should take ATRIPLA on an empty stomach.
• Swallow ATRIPLA with water.
• Taking ATRIPLA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome.
• Do not miss a dose of ATRIPLA. If you forget to take ATRIPLA, take the missed dose right
away, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not double the next dose. Carry on with
your regular dosing schedule. If you need help in planning the best times to take your
medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
• If you believe you took more than the prescribed amount of ATRIPLA, contact your local
poison control center or emergency room right away.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you start any new medicine or change how you take old ones.
Your doses may need adjustment.
• When your ATRIPLA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or
pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if
the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to ATRIPLA
and become harder to treat.
• Your healthcare provider may want to do blood tests to check for certain side effects while
you take ATRIPLA.
What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA?
• Women should not become pregnant while taking ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after
stopping it. Serious birth defects have been seen in the babies of animals and women
treated with efavirenz (a component of ATRIPLA) during pregnancy. It is not known whether
efavirenz caused these defects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are
pregnant. Also talk with your healthcare provider if you want to become pregnant.
• Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such as pills, injections, or
implants, because ATRIPLA may make these contraceptives ineffective. Women must use a
reliable form of barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also use
other methods of birth control. Efavirenz, a component of ATRIPLA, may remain in your blood
for a time after therapy is stopped. Therefore, you should continue to use contraceptive
measures for 12 weeks after you stop taking ATRIPLA.
• Do not breast-feed if you are taking ATRIPLA. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommend that mothers with HIV not breast-feed because they can pass the HIV
through their milk to the baby. Also, ATRIPLA may pass through breast milk and cause serious
harm to the baby. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding. You should
stop breast-feeding or may need to use a different medicine.
• Taking ATRIPLA with alcohol or other medicines causing similar side effects as ATRIPLA, such
as drowsiness, may increase those side effects.
• Do not take any other medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines and
herbal products, without checking with your healthcare provider.
• Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection since ATRIPLA does not stop you from
passing the HIV-1 infection to others.
What are the possible side effects of ATRIPLA?
ATRIPLA may cause the following serious side effects:
• Lactic acidosis (buildup of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical emergency
and may need to be treated in the hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you
get signs of lactic acidosis. (See “What is the most important information I should know
about ATRIPLA?”)
• Serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in
the liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs of liver
problems. (See “What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?”)
• “Flare-ups” of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, in which the disease suddenly returns in
a worse way than before, can occur if you have HBV and you stop taking ATRIPLA. Your
healthcare provider will monitor your condition for several months after stopping ATRIPLA if
you have both HIV-1 and HBV infection and may recommend treatment for your HBV. ATRIPLA
is not approved for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection. If you have advanced liver
disease and stop treatment with ATRIPLA, the “flare-up” of hepatitis B may cause your liver
function to decline.
• Serious psychiatric problems. A small number of patients may experience severe
depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior while taking ATRIPLA. Some patients have
thoughts of suicide and a few have actually committed suicide. These problems may occur
more often in patients who have had mental illness. Contact your healthcare provider right
away if you think you are having these psychiatric symptoms, so your healthcare provider
can decide if you should continue to take ATRIPLA.
• Kidney problems (including decline or failure of kidney function). If you have had kidney
problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your
healthcare provider should do regular blood tests to check your kidneys. Symptoms that may
be related to kidney problems include a high volume of urine, thirst, muscle pain, and muscle
weakness.
• Other serious liver problems. Some patients have experienced serious liver problems
including liver failure resulting in transplantation or death. Most of these serious side effects
occurred in patients with a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have
also been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease.
M AY 0 6 , 2 0 1 1 • 1 3
ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
• Changes in bone mineral density (thinning bones). Laboratory tests show changes in the
bones of patients treated with tenofovir DF, a component of ATRIPLA. Some HIV patients
treated with tenofovir DF developed thinning of the bones (osteopenia) which could lead to
fractures. If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare provider may need to
do tests to check your bone mineral density or may prescribe medicines to help your bone
mineral density. Additionally, bone pain and softening of the bone (which may contribute to
fractures) may occur as a consequence of kidney problems.
Common side effects:
Patients may have dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, and/or
unusual dreams during treatment with ATRIPLA. These side effects may be reduced if you take
ATRIPLA at bedtime on an empty stomach. They also tend to go away after you have taken the
medicine for a few weeks. If you have these common side effects, such as dizziness, it does not
mean that you will also have serious psychiatric problems, such as severe depression, strange
thoughts, or angry behavior. Tell your healthcare provider right away if any of these side effects
continue or if they bother you. It is possible that these symptoms may be more severe if ATRIPLA is
used with alcohol or mood altering (street) drugs.
If you are dizzy, have trouble concentrating, or are drowsy, avoid activities that may be dangerous,
such as driving or operating machinery.
Rash may be common. Rashes usually go away without any change in treatment. In a small number
of patients, rash may be serious. If you develop a rash, call your healthcare provider right away.
Other common side effects include tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea.
Other possible side effects with ATRIPLA:
• Changes in body fat. Changes in body fat develop in some patients taking anti-HIV-1
medicine. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck
(“buffalo hump”), in the breasts, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and
face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these fat changes are not
known.
• Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) may also happen with ATRIPLA.
• In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS), signs and symptoms of inflammation
from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment is started. It is believed that
these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body’s immune response, enabling the
body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms. If you notice
any symptoms of infection, please inform your doctor immediately.
• Additional side effects are inflammation of the pancreas, allergic reaction (including swelling
of the face, lips, tongue, or throat), shortness of breath, pain, stomach pain, weakness and
indigestion.
Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you notice any side effects while taking ATRIPLA.
Contact your healthcare provider before stopping ATRIPLA because of side effects or for any other
reason.
This is not a complete list of side effects possible with ATRIPLA. Ask your healthcare provider or
pharmacist for a more complete list of side effects of ATRIPLA and all the medicines you will take.
How do I store ATRIPLA?
• Keep ATRIPLA and all other medicines out of reach of children.
• Store ATRIPLA at room temperature 77 °F (25 °C).
• Keep ATRIPLA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed.
• Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any
medicines away make sure that children will not find them.
General information about ATRIPLA:
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information
leaflets. Do not use ATRIPLA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ATRIPLA to
other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about ATRIPLA. If you would like more
information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist
for information about ATRIPLA that is written for health professionals.
Do not use ATRIPLA if the seal over bottle opening is broken or missing.
What are the ingredients of ATRIPLA?
Active Ingredients: efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Inactive Ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose,
magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate. The film coating contains black iron oxide, polyethylene
glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, red iron oxide, talc, and titanium dioxide.
May 2010
ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. EMTRIVA, TRUVADA,
HEPSERA and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. SUSTIVA is a trademark
of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. Reyataz and Videx are trademarks of
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Pravachol is a trademark of ER Squibb & Sons, LLC. Other
brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners.
SF-B0001B1-05-10 21-937-GS-007 TR5827 May 2010
Pub:
 washingtonblade.com
14 • MAY 06, 2011 NATIONAL NEWS

Gay Calif. mayor seeks House seat

By CHRIS JOHNSON GOP candidate would be
cjohnson@washblade.com
first member of Congress
A gay Republican from California could in same-sex marriage
become the first person in a same-sex
marriage elected to Congress if he wins a U.S.
House seat in an upcoming special election.
Mike Gin, who’s served as mayor of
Redondo Beach, Calif., since 2005, said
economic and education issues would be his
priorities if elected to Congress, but he would
welcome any benefit that his visibility as a gay
member of Congress in a same-sex marriage MIKE GIN (right) married his spouse,
CHRISTOPHER KREIDEL in Redondo Beach,
would impart to LGBT youth.
Calif., before Prop 8 took effect.
“Certainly, we all need role models, and
being gay and being married is just a part PHOTO COURTESY OF GIN FOR CONGRESS

of who I am,” Gin said. “If somehow my

election would provide some inspiration
or maybe help a young person that’s very
conflicted about being gay, then I think that’s In what is likely to be a difficult race for Gin, former Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe “It says a lot that Redondo Beach is one
a wonderful thing.” an all-party primary is set for May 17. If no retired in 2007. of California’s few debt-free cities under
Gin, 48, married his spouse, Christopher candidate wins a majority, the two candidates “I look at it just simply as part of who his leadership, and that Mike was able to
Kreidel, 50, an animator, at the Redondo who receive the most votes, regardless of I am,” Gin said. “I’ve been very fortunate raise more than $100,000 in the first three
Beach Historic “Morrell House” three days party, will participate in a run-off election on to be very open in my community and days of his campaign,” Cooper said. “He
before Proposition 8 passed in California, July 12 to determine who will represent the people have always treated me with is ready and able to join the GOP majority
eliminating same-sex marriage rights in the district in the U.S. House. tremendous respect and, even though in Congress fighting to create jobs and
state. The couple has been together 16 years. If elected, Gin would become the fifth they might agree with me on what they turn this economy around, and Log Cabin
The California mayor is pursuing a U.S. sitting openly gay member of Congress, might consider to be a lifestyle, or the Republicans will work to send him to
House seat to represent California’s 36th joining Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), particular political positions that I have, I Washington this summer.”
congressional district, which was vacated Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Jared Polis have always been very fortunate in being Gin has also won the endorsement of
when former Rep. Jane Harman left Congress (D-Colo.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.). treated with a great amount of respect.” 10 current or former mayors in the South
to become head of the Woodrow Wilson Gin would also be the first openly gay Job creation would be the top priority Bay of California and the Redondo Beach
International Center for Scholars. Republican to serve in Congress since for Gin. To stimulate the economy, Gin Chamber of Commerce.
said Congress should sustain community Although he’s emphasizing economic
block grants funds as well as the issues, Gin said LGBT issues would also
Workforce Investment Act, a 1998 law be on his agenda if elected to the House.
signed by then-President Clinton that Gin said upon taking his House seat he’d
Minn. House advances marriage ban created regional Workforce Investment join the LGBT Equality Caucus, which is
Boards throughout the country to entice chaired by the openly gay members of
business. Gin said House Republicans had Congress.
A Minnesota State House committee this week advanced a state constitutional proposed to defund the law, but he wants “To me, that’s really a non-issue because
amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. it to continue. I strongly believe in the rights affecting our
According to the Minnesota Independent, the Republican-controlled House “I view the budget not as a slash-and- community and legislation affecting our
Civil Law Committee approved the same-sex marriage ban after hours of burn approach as I think I’ve seen, especially community because it affects my family as
testimony by a 10-7 vote along party lines. Last week, a Minnesota State Senate over the past few months,” Gin said. “The well,” Gin said.
Committee advanced the companion version of the amendment. Workforce Investment Act has created Among the bills that Gin said he’d
Among those who offered testimony was Bishop Bob Battle of the Berean jobs, particularly in aerospace, and helped support are the Employment Non-
Church of God in Christ, who was quoted as saying, “I don’t consider gay us sustain jobs here in the community.” Discrimination Act, which would bar job
marriages as the same as whites not being allowed to marry blacks.” Another important issue for Gin is discrimination against LGBT people, and
“Gay marriage advocates have attempted to hijack the civil rights movement,” investment in education — particularly the Uniting American Families Act, which
Battle reportedly said. “I know what civil rights are, and gays in America have all in the fields of science, technology, would allow gay Americans to sponsor
the civil rights as anyone else.” engineering and mathematics. A former their foreign partners for residency in
But State Rep. Steve Simon, a Democrat, said the proposed constitutional computer technician for the aerospace the United States, as well as legislation
ban on same-sex marriage is an attempt “enshrine religious beliefs” into the and defense industries, Gin said science to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act,
Minnesota Constitution. education forms the foundation of the which prohibits federal recognition of
“How many more gay people does God have to create before we accept that talent needed in his district for the same-sex marriage.
God actually wants them around?” Simon said, reportedly eliciting shouts of advanced technical industries and he Gin’s work as an LGBT advocate has
approval and applause in the committee room. wants to see federal education grants in been limited, although he was involved
Simon reportedly added, “I truly believe that in a generation, if we pass this, these areas. in the fight against Prop 8 in 2008 by
that generation and maybe sooner will judge us all very harshly.” “We need more young people to taking part and contributing money to
House and Senate GOP leaders have said they expect both chambers to approve get excited about careers in science, a coalition of Republicans that were
the amendment. If the legislature approves the proposed constitutional amendment, engineering and mathematics in order to against the initiative. In 2000, Gin said
it will go before Minnesota voters in 2012. Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has said he opposes sustain that base of talent that we need he was also against Prop 22, which made
the measure, although his signature isn’t necessary to ratify the amendment. here in our local industries,” Gin said. a ban on same-sex marriage part of the
Same-sex marriage is already prohibited in Minnesota by statute, but passage of Gin’s emphasis on economic issues in state law.
the amendment would prohibit the legislature from legalizing same-sex marriage his campaign is part of the reason he won “Those are issues that I’ve come out
in the future or the state courts from finding a right to same-sex marriage in the an endorsement in his race from the Log in front of because, again, it affects my
state constitution. The measure’s supporters say the proposed constitutional Cabin Republicans. family as well,” Gin said. “I don’t consider
amendment leaves open the possibility for enacting civil unions in Minnesota. R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin’s executive myself an activist, but I’ve certainly been
director, said Gin has already proven he’s an advocate for legislation that affects
CHRIS JOHNSON an effective leader in the course of the our community. Being an out mayor has
time he’s been a public servant. allowed me to have that voice.”
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 15

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16 • MAY 06, 2011
Holder under fire for decision
to drop DOMA defense
Attorney general
criticized during
House hearing
Republican critics assailed the Obama
administration’s decision to drop defense
of DOMA and grilled Attorney General
ERIC HOLDER over the issue this week.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
By CHRIS JOHNSON
cjohnson@washblade.com
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder endured
a barrage of hostile questions from House
Republicans Tuesday over the Obama
administration’s decision to drop defense of
the Defense of Marriage Act in court.
During an oversight hearing before
the House Judiciary Committee,
Holder defended President Obama’s
determination that DOMA is
unconstitutional in response to inquiries
from GOP lawmakers amid other
questions about the Justice Department’s
role in preventing illegal immigration,
prosecuting terrorist suspects and
stopping child pornography.
Tough questioning for Holder particularly
came from Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner
(R-Wisc.), who recalled Holder’s Feb. 23
letter to Congress stating that the Justice
Department would no longer defend
DOMA in court and asked the attorney
general simply, “Why’d you do it?”
Holder replied that litigation challenging
DOMA in the Second Circuit — where
there’s no legal precedent for laws related
to sexual orientation — afforded the
opportunity for the Justice Department to
examine DOMA with heightened scrutiny
and to determine the anti-gay law was
unconstitutional.
“Applying the heightened scrutiny test,
we did not think that the statute would
pass constitutional muster, and as a result, I
thought that we could not make reasonable
arguments in defense of the statute —
something that is done extremely rarely,
but happens occasionally,” Holder said.
“I recommended to the president that we
not defend the statute and he agreed with
that recommendation.”
But Holder’s answer apparently didn’t
satisfy Sensenbrenner, who railed against
the Justice Department for what he said
was abandoning its duty by dropping
defense of DOMA.
“Sexual preference has never been a
protected class in any of our civil rights
laws,” Sensenbrenner said.
In response, Holder noted that federal
law anticipates that the executive branch
may determine that some laws shouldn’t
be defended in court and affords Congress
the opportunity to take up defense of
such statutes if the administration declines
to defend them.
“The reasons for the determination
were, as I said, this different standard and
the fact that much has changed since the
passage of the bill 15 years or so ago,”
Holder said. “The Supreme Court has ruled
that criminalizing homosexual contact is
unconstitutional. Congress has repealed
the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy.”
But Sensenbrenner observed that
Congress has never taken action to
repeal DOMA since the anti-gay law
was enacted in 1996. Additionally, the
Wisconsin lawmaker said the Lawrence
v. Texas decision that Holder referenced
was related only to the criminalization of
homosexual acts and that “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell” was a personnel issue in the
Defense Department.
“DOMA does not deal with either of
these two items,” Sensenbrenner said.
“DOMA was an attempt to define for
federal purposes that marriage is between
one man and one woman, and 45 states
in this country have also reached that
conclusion — either through a constitutional
amendment ratified by the people as was
the case in Wisconsin or through statutory
enactments by the legislature.”
Sensenbrenner’s remarks on DOMA are
misleading in part because Section 3 of
the statute has no impact on states where
same-sex marriage isn’t available. The
anti-gay law prohibits federal recognition
of same-sex marriage only in jurisdictions
where it’s available.
Sensenbrenner added he would back
defunding the Justice Department for the
cost to the House of defending DOMA in
court — a move proposed by House Speaker
John Boehner (R-Ohio) last month after
he hired former U.S. Solicitor General Paul
Clement to take up defense of the statute.
“I certainly would support an effort to
have the cost of Congress’ defending
this provision ... come out of the Justice
Department’s appropriations, so that the
message is sent down the street that an
attorney general or president can’t willy-
nilly decide that a law that they have voted
against — if they’d been in Congress
at the time — is unconstitutional,”
Sensenbrenner said.
Holder replied that lower courts have
also come to the conclusion that DOMA
is unconstitutional and the notion that
the Justice Department should lose funds
over the decision to drop defense of the
anti-gay law is “inappropriate.”
“The lawyers in the Department of Justice
who would have worked on that case,
believe me, have more than a full-time job,
and they will have to use the time that might
washingtonblade.com
NATIONAL NEWS
have been used in the DOMA defense —
they will use it other areas,” he said.
The attorney general added Congress
has the ability to approve funding for
the expense of hiring Clement without
reducing funds for the Justice Department.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the
sponsor of DOMA repeal legislation,
came to Holder’s defense during
the hearing and said the Obama
administration had no option but
to determine the anti-gay law was
unconstitutional following the 2003
Supreme Court decision striking down
state sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas.
“I don’t believe that the administration
had any choice in the matter at all by
looking at the legal precedence,” Nadler
said. “There had been no determination
by any court, as far as I know, certainly
by any circuit, of the proper standard of
review after Lawrence. And if you look
at the normal criteria for determining
the standard of review that the Supreme
Court has enjoined upon us as to what a
suspect classification is ... it meets all the
tests, and you really had no choice but to
go that route.”
Nadler added he hopes Congress
doesn’t try to “start trying to intimidate”
the Justice Department by threatening to
restrict funds as a result of the department’s
decision over DOMA.
Other Republicans on the committee also
took jabs at Holder during their questioning
for dropping defense of DOMA.
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), a freshman
Republican who won as a Tea Party challenger
in the 2010 election, asked if laws related
to sexual orientation merited heightened
scrutiny, why shouldn’t heightened scrutiny
apply to laws on allowing cousins to marry,
underaged marriage or polygamy.
“Since Lawrence, two courts of appeals
have upheld a rational basis test for
sexual orientation,” Gowdy said. “Why
would you single out the one court of
appeals that has applied a higher level
of scrutiny, ignoring the two that apply
to rational basis tests? That just strikes
me as a political calculation and not a
constitutional calculation.”
In response, Holder denied the decision
the Justice Department made over DOMA
had a “political component” and said the
Supreme Court would ultimately have
to address the issue of the anti-gay law’s
constitutionality.
Michael Mitchell, executive director of
the National Stonewall Democrats, told
the Washington Blade after the hearing
that he took offense to the suggestion
that same-sex marriage is akin to the other
unions Gowdy mentioned.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 17

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18 • MAY 06, 2011
Bin Laden’s death expected to give Obama political boost
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
bin Laden, founder of the international
terrorist group al-Qaeda, which was
responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks
and other terrorist attacks on the United
States and its allies.
“For over two decades, bin Laden has
been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and
has continued to plot attacks against our
country and our friends and allies,” Obama
said. “The death of bin Laden marks the
most significant achievement to date in our
nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.”
Even before Obama’s announcement
concluded, an estimated 2,500 people
started gathering at the White House
— many waiving American flags and
draping them over their shoulders as
others chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” — to
commemorate the U.S. victory.
Greg Taylor, 25, a gay D.C. resident,
said he came to the White House because
was “super excited” to learn bin Laden
was killed after U.S. officials had been
searching for him for more than 10 years.
“We wanted to celebrate with our fellow
Americans and show our patriotism,”
Taylor said. “We were really pumped. We
were kind of getting tired and ready to go
to bed, but then we got so excited, and
now we’re awake and we just want to sing
the National Anthem.”
David Grant, 23, a gay D.C. resident,
said the death of bin Laden at the hands
of U.S. forces inspired a sense of unity that
has been lacking for some time.
“We can finally unite around something
after having been opposed to each other
these few years,” Grant said. “I wanted to
celebrate with our president. It feels great
because I feel we’ve been united for the
first time in a very long time.”
Smoke filled the night air as some people
who attended the celebration waived
sparklers. One person who took part held up
a sign reading, “Osama bin Later: Courtesy
of the Red, White and Blue.”
Other participants climbed into the
trees before the White House and in
Lafayette Park where they shouted
cheers and waived flags. A shirtless male
participant climbed onto a streetlight
before the White House and performed a
set of chin-ups as the crowd cheered.
Alex Nicholson, executive director of
Servicemembers United, said he wanted
to join the celebration to express the
sense of great joy that he felt now that a
major chapter in the war on terrorism had
concluded.
“I think there’s a lot of symbolic
significance in this for a lot of people, and
so there’s a lot of relief and jubilation that
I personally felt and I think a lot of people
were sharing,” Nicholson said.
Upon arriving at the gathering, Nicholson
distributed an armful of the American flags
that Servicemembers United had deposited
in November 2007 along the National Mall
to honor the then-12,000 service members
who had been discharged under “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell.”
washingtonblade.com
COV ER S TORY: NATIONAL NEWS
“We just started passing them out to
complete strangers out there who were
celebrating and grabbing anything with
American flag colors or stars and stripes
that they could find,” Nicholson said. “We
literally saw tons of them on TV being
waived in front of the White House.”
Nicholson said he doesn’t think the
feelings of gay service members following
the death of bin Laden differ much
from those of straight service members
because both had been working for the
terrorist leader’s demise.
“Everybody’s shedding their identifying
characteristics — like being gay — and
just showing solidarity with some common
American identity,” Nicholson said.
Political observers are already
predicting that bin Laden’s death will
bolster Obama’s chances for re-election
in 2012.
Lane Hudson, a gay D.C. Democratic
activist, said Obama’s victory would likely
enable him to win re-election as well as
pursue other issues on his agenda.
An estimated 2,500 people gathered at the
White House Sunday night, many waiving
American flags and draping them over their
shoulders as others chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!”
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
“Attaining the elusive goal of killing bin Hoagland added that she would have McCain, who delivered a eulogy at
Laden changes the game and empowers liked to have seen bin Laden stand trial for Bingham’s funeral, told the Washington
the president in an entirely new way,” his crimes, but said she’s lost faith in the Blade he views Bingham as one of his gay
Hudson said. “He is almost assured of re- Article III courts because she said “certain heroes.
election and now we will find out how he liberal groups following their own agenda Hoagland said during her “Today Show”
will use his newfound political capital.” have taken the essence of the 9/11 appearance that she continues to be
Hoagland praised both President struggle out of the hands of the families, proud of Bingham and other passengers
Obama and former President George W. and that is a travesty.” in their work in redirecting Flight 93 from
Bush for their work in finding bin Laden Controversy has ensued over whether its intended target.
and bringing him to justice. to try the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist suspects “I’m very proud of what Mark did along
“Barack Obama has been real friend to in military or civilian courts, although U.S. with his fellow passengers,” Hoagland
the 9/11 families and he’s working hard Attorney General Eric Holder has recently said. “A little group of guys in the back
to fulfill the promises that he has made,” said the suspects would be tried in military of a pitching 747 that took a vote and
Hoagland told NBC. “And George W. tribunals. decided they were going to run forward
Bush deserves a great deal of credit. “The short answer is, in some way, I’m armed with nothing more than their fists
He promised the 9/11 families that he really relieved [bin Laden] has no one to and whatever they could find on board
would not relent in his effort to find the face now except his God,” Hoagland said. to fight real evil — people who were
perpetuators of the bloodshed of 9/11,” During the 2008 presidential campaign, determined to kill them and anyone else
she said. Republican presidential nominee John they could on the ground.”
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 19

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20 • MAY 06, 2011
Stark introduces adoption anti-discrimination bill
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
a statement that Obama believes that
adoption rights should be afforded to all
Americans and supports the goals of the
legislation, but stopped short of offering
an explicit endorsement of Stark’s bill. The
lack of outright support comes in contrast
to the president’s position on other pro-
LGBT initiatives, such as the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act or “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell” repeal.
“The president has long believed that
we must ensure adoption rights for all
couples and individuals, regardless of
their sexual orientation,” Inouye said. “He
recognizes that adoptive families come in
many forms, and that we must do all we
can to break down barriers to ensure that all
qualified caregivers have the ability to serve
as adoptive families. While we have not
reviewed this specific legislation, we share
its goals to expand adoption rights and
move the dialogue forward on this issue.”
The Every Child Deserves a Family
Act, which has 33 original co-sponsors,
would restrict federal funds for states
that allow discrimination in adoption or
foster care placement based on the sexual
orientation, marital status or gender
identity of potential parents — as well
as LGBT children seeking homes. Sen.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is expected to
introduce companion legislation in June
in the Senate.
Some states recently have taken steps
to bar potential LGBT parents from
adopting. Last month, Arizona Gov. Jan
Brewer (R) signed legislation that would
give primary consideration in adoptive
placement to opposite-sex married
couples. Additionally, Virginia’s State
Board of Social Services recently rejected
adding protections against discrimination
in adoption cases on the basis of sexual
orientation as well as other statuses.
At the news conference, Stark billed the
legislation as a means to ensure children
living in the foster care system have access
to a greater number of adoptive families
— including households with single
parents or same-sex parents.
“What’s in the child’s best interest is what
the bill is trying to promote,” Stark said.
“There is no information that shows that
children raised by a single parent or gay or
lesbian parent households have any more
or less problems than all other children.”
According to Stark’s office, about 25,000
children age out of the foster care system
annually. More than 500,000 children are in
foster care and 120,000 of them available
for adoption.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), an
original co-sponsor for the bill, said the
Every Child Deserves a Family Act is
necessary to eliminate discrimination
against potential LGBT parents and to
iron out the differences in adoption policy
throughout the country.
“Automatically disqualifying LGBT parents
Reps. PETE STARK (left) and JIM MCGOVERN
on Tuesday introduced the Every Child Deserves
a Family Act.
WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY
from adoption just because of sexual
orientation is wrong,” McGovern said. “It
makes no sense, especially when so many
children are in foster care waiting to be
adopted. The current patchwork of unfair
state laws and policies … is denying multiple
kids to permanent safe and stable homes.”
The issue of LGBT adoption has already
emerged as an issue for a Republican who
could be considering a run in the 2012
presidential campaign. According to Think
Progress, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum,
who’s considering a White House bid, said
in a speech Monday before the FAMILY
Leader in Iowa that adoption is a “privilege”
to which LGBT people aren’t entitled.
“A lesbian woman walked up to me and
said, ‘Why are you denying me my right?’”
Santorum said. “I said, ‘Well, because it’s
not a right.’ It’s a privilege. It’s a privilege
that society recognizes because society
sees intrinsic value to that relationship
over any other relationship.”
During the news conference, Stark
blasted Santorum for his anti-gay
comments and said the former senator’s
opinion is no longer relevant because he
was voted out in 2006.
“Rick who?” Stark said. “There was
a guy in Congress years ago named
Santorum, but I think he left. He lost, but
[has been] following that path ever since. I
think that’s nonsense.”
Organizations that work on LGBT
advocacy and child welfare — including
the Family Equality Council and Parents,
Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays —
praised Stark for introducing the legislation
as a means to end discrimination and
allow more children to find homes.
Linda Spears, vice president of policy
and public affairs for the Child Welfare
League of America, said passage of the
Every Child Deserves a Family Act would
help ensure children who are waiting in
foster care can find homes.
“We must recognize that statutory
frameworks are absolutely essential in
order to get this job done,” Spears said.
“We cannot have policies in which kids
are systemically disadvantaged by state
COVER STORY: NATIONAL NEWS
law and by state policy. We cannot have
policies that disadvantage and allow
children to linger in foster care, those
who categorically exclude certain families
and put other kids in legal limbo because
second parents are not allowed to adopt.”
Jennifer Chrisler, executive director
of the Family Equality Council, said the
legislation is needed to counter what she
called “despicable” attempts at the state
level aimed at impairing the right to adopt
for LGBT people.
“These efforts are divisive, there are
despicable, and they push a political
agenda at the expense who some of
those children who are most vulnerable
— the thousands of kids who are living in
foster care, [excluding them] from loving,
permanent homes,” Chrisler said.
Amy Coleman, a Massachusetts foster care
alum who was adopted at age 16 by lesbian
parents, pressed for legislation allowing full
adoption rights for LGBT families by recalling
the story of her own adoption.
“My moms have been loving, wonderful
parents and will continue to be loving,
wonderful parents,” Coleman said. “I
just felt it was important to come down
and share that so that other foster kids
know that there are homes out there for
them that might not be traditional, but
are definitely wanting to take them in, so
they don’t have to spend their rest of their
time in foster care wondering if there is
someone who can, or will, adopt them.”
Advancing the legislation will be
challenging in the Republican-controlled
House, where the bill will likely be assigned
to the House Ways & Means Committee.
The office of the committee chair, Rep.
Dave Camp (R-Mich.), didn’t immediately
respond to the Blade’s request for
comment on the measure.
Stark said he hasn’t spoken with Camp
about the Every Child Deserves a Family
Act, but added the adoption issue could
come before the House Ways & Means
Committee in some capacity.
“I suppose that we’ll have a hearing
on this at some point — one way or the
other,” Stark said. “The press will require
washingtonblade.com
it or the Republicans will in opposition to
it. The hearings may not be favorable, but
there may very well be hearings on it.”
As of Tuesday, the legislation had
no Republican co-sponsors, although
Stark suggested that the bill may gain
GOP support because he’s spoken to a
Republican lawmaker who has indicated
interest. Stark didn’t identify the U.S.
House member.
The list of original co-sponsors for the
legislation notably lacks the names of
Democratic lawmakers who usually sign
on to pro-LGBT legislation — including
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
(D-Calif.) as well as gay Reps. Barney Frank
(D-Mass.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.).
The offices for each of those lawmakers
didn’t immediately respond to the Blade’s
request for comment on the legislation.
The Human Rights Campaign maintained
the Obama administration is already
working to address adoption discrimination
through administrative means.
Fred Sainz, HRC’s vice president of
communications, said the Department
of Health & Human Services is “doing
a substantial amount of work” as part
of HRC’s “All Children All Families”
initiative, an agency by agency approach
to preventing LGBT discrimination in
adoption cases, which aims for the same
results as Stark’s legislation.
“At the same time, HRC is working with
the HHS to provide greater incentives to
states, tribes and territories which receive
federal funds to establish more inclusive
practices,” Sainz said. “The Informational
Memorandum on LGBT youth and families
which went out two weeks ago, and was
largely a result of our advocacy, is a good
example of that ongoing work.”
Sainz was referring to an April 6 memo
from HHS encouraging child welfare
agencies to serve better the needs of LGBT
youth in the foster care system. The memo
states agencies should avail themselves of
federal funds for training staff on serving
LGBT children and called LGBT potential
parents an untapped resource for providing
homes for LGBT youth.
 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 21

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2 2 • M AY 06 201 1
After 10 long years, justice is done
Bin Laden’s death brings
back rush of memories
Kevin Naff is editor of Washington Blade and can be
reached at knaff@washblade.com.
The death of Osama bin Laden this
week brought back a rush of awful mem-
ories: frantic calls to friends in New York
and at the Pentagon on 9/11; the deaths
of so many innocent Americans; the fear
that followed.
We all remember where we were that
beautiful September morning. I was run-
ning late for work and answered a call
from a friend, “Did you hear a plane hit
Using social media, web to fight HIV/AIDS
We must harness
technology to
spread awareness
By ART JONES
The great media theorist Marshall
McLuhan first coined the phrase, “The
medium is the message.” Loosely trans-
lated, what he meant is that it matters
less what our message might be than the
means in which we use to transmit it.
Looking back historically at the rapid
growth of major media, the medium of
radio took 38 years to garner a mass au-
dience of 50 million. Television took 13
years to do the same. When it came to
the Internet it took four years. And Face-
book took only two.
In 2004, after its first year in operation,
YouTube amassed an audience share of
10 million. By 2006 it grew to 60 million.
In 2010, it exceeded 100 million.
There are more than 2.7 billion search-
es performed on Google each month.
Marshall McLuhan’s message was quite
apt for his time during the mid-20th cen-
tury. However, in the world of the 21st cen-
tury, the major medium for transmitting a
message to a mass audience is audiovi-
sual technology harnessed to the Internet.
Dream Factory is a D.C.-based media pro-
duction company. My team and I spent the
last six years on a media construction project
in Bahrain. Shortly after our return to D.C.
last August, we discovered news about the
the World Trade Center?”
I turned on NPR and assumed that a
small private craft had veered off course
and hit one of the towers. By the time I
got inside my office, the second plane
had hit and it was immediately apparent
that bin Laden orchestrated the attack.
I formerly worked in New York as a fi-
nancial reporter for Reuters and had many,
many sources and friends who worked in
the towers. Reaching them proved impos-
sible that day. I also have several friends
who work in the Pentagon. One was,
thankfully, out of town that day on busi-
ness; another friend’s photo was snapped
by USA Today as he fled the burning
building. And another acquaintance did
not make it out, killed at his desk.
He was described as someone who
died doing what he loved. It forced me
to think about how I was spending my
life: earning a hefty paycheck working in
business development for a homopho-
bic boss in a company I despised. What
would people have said about me if the
plane had hit my office? “He died for his
ever-rising rates of HIV/AIDS occurring in the
African-American community. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest
report revealed that African Americans make
up 13 percent of the nation’s population of
more than 305 million. Yet, they constituted
nearly 50 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases. In-
creasing numbers were being found among
those in the age group 39 to 49. But what was
most disturbing was to learn that of that fig-
ure, 64 percent of black women in the prime
child bearing ages of 24-34 were succumbing
to this deadly disease.
Shocked and surprised, we asked our-
selves, “What can we do to help stem this
tide?”
As citizens of the leading country for
technological innovation, we assumed
that there was much work already under-
way with D.C. AIDS organizations in har-
nessing audiovisual media along with so-
cial networking to spread the word about
the AIDS epidemic. Multiple calls to ex-
ecutive leadership of several prominent
national and international AIDS organiza-
tions revealed that woeful little was actu-
ally being done in this domain.
The major media being used by most of
these groups took the form of posters, fli-
ers, brochures, and static, text-driven web-
sites — none of which were having a mean-
ingful or measurable effect on their target
audience. There is a huge media gap.
As every savvy military tactician knows,
information is the key to determining the
outcome of any battle. To support the
non-profits and faith-based organizations
in the battle against the rapid growth of
washingtonblade.com
VIEW P O INT
bonus.” A few months after 9/11, I walked
out in the middle of the day without a
word to anyone. I just left, climbed in my
car, rolled down all the windows, blasted
the radio and never looked back.
The attacks of 9/11 affected each of us
in different ways. For me, it forced a harsh
reassessment of how I was spending my
career. A few months after driving away
from that suburban D.C. office park, I got
a call from the Blade about a job opening
and I’ve been here ever since, back in jour-
nalism where I always knew I belonged.
The terrorist attacks claimed many
gay victims, including Father Mychal
Judge, who died ministering to fallen
firefighters in New York, and Mark Bing-
ham, the UA Flight 93 passenger who
helped bring down the plane in Penn-
sylvania. The tragedy also shone a light
on the discrimination faced by the gay
partners of victims, who weren’t entitled
to the same death benefits as spouses of
straight victims.
It took nearly 10 years, but, as President
Obama put it, justice has been done.
HIV/AIDS, Dream Factory has devised the
D.C. HIV Virtual Resource Center (VRC).
The VRC is designed to:
• Create a central location online that
will inform and educate those from non-
profits and the faith-based community
engaged in the fight to end the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in the Washington area.
• Use audiovisual media and the Inter-
net to provide a means for individual or-
ganizations to learn from one another as
well as share information about the scope
and goals of their HIV program.
• Strengthen communications with oth-
ers involved with the HIV struggle, to ex-
plore areas of synergy that will enable them
to partner to more effectively meet the
needs of their respective communities.
Key features of the VRC are:
The organizational profile page that
will show the core functions of the dif-
ferent HIV/AIDS organizations, revealing
their major efforts in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. Many of them will serve as
best practice models for others to learn
from and replicate.
A special events link will showcase
workshops, seminars, symposiums and
conferences centered around IV/AIDS.
This link will reinforce important informa-
tion covered at such events and provide a
virtual portal allow those unable to attend
to capture core messages presented.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM
Art Jones is an independent filmmaker working
with Damien Ministries to raise awareness about HIV
AIDS. Reach him at art@dreamfactorymc.com.
VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 18
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washingtonblade.com
VIE WPOINT
Accepting cash to advance discrimination
Clement’s DOMA defense
is not a noble calling
By MICHAEL McHUGH
Much has been written about King &
Spalding withdrawing from representing
the House of Representatives in defend-
ing the indefensible Defense of Marriage
Act. King & Spalding withdrew from the
representation after it received a lot of
negative criticism from clients and the
public at large. The attorney leading the
case, former Bush administration Solici-
tor General Paul Clement, resigned, and
then took the case over to the firm of
Bancroft PLLC, where he will continue to
defend DOMA with other Bush adminis-
tration attorneys. After King & Spalding
withdrew, President Obama, U.S. Attor-
ney General Eric Holder, and Supreme
Court Justice Elena Kagan all made state-
ments criticizing the circumstances of the
withdrawal by King & Spalding, and sup-
porting Clement for upholding what they
deemed to be the finest traditions of the
legal profession by representing an un-
popular cause. They were wrong.
Calif. bill would mandate teaching LGBT history
Move would inspire
students, help
combat bullying
Kathi Wolfe is a writer, poet and regular contributor
to the Blade. She can be reached through this
publication.
Thankfully, I’ve forgotten most of what
school was like. But I remember one thing all
too well: no one other than me in the United
States ever had been queer, and if they were,
they must have been some sick puppies.
Why did I feel that way? Because I didn’t
see anyone like me in my history books.
There were no queer politicians, inventors
or civil rights heroes. It’s no wonder that
kids were scared of boys who liked boys
or girls who liked girls. Or that schoolyard
bullies picked on queer classmates.
Unfortunately, even now when same-sex
couples can marry in six states, some kids,
queer and straight, come away from school
with the same stereotypes and ignorance,
and bullies still target LGBT students.
Legislation recently passed by the Cal-
ifornia State Senate — the Fair, Accurate,
About what King & Spalding did:
there is no doubt that their withdrawal
was a very difficult decision with signifi-
cant ramifications for the firm. We should
all send a note of thanks, because their
withdrawal sent a powerful message to
our society that it is not acceptable to dis-
criminate against same-sex couples, and
that at least one very well-known law firm
will not allow itself to be used to further
discrimination against the LGBT com-
munity. Symbols are important, and what
King & Spalding did was huge.
As for Paul Clement, he is, without
question, an incredibly skilled attorney
who is at the very top of the legal pro-
fession. But to suppose that his repre-
sentation of the House is some noble act
ignores the reality of this case and large
firm legal practice. Law firms are busi-
nesses, and businesses are about making
money. There are reports in the media
that Clement earns an incredible $5 mil-
lion per year. I cannot verify that number,
but suffice it to say that firms only pay
large salaries to attorneys who can bring
in big clients that generate big fees. Sim-
ply put, in his current job, Clement’s role
is that of a very well paid hired gun. Let
If we are taught our history, more LGBT students
will think of schools as safe places of
learning instead of as
breeding grounds for bullies.
Inclusive and Respectful Education (FAIR)
Act — (if it becomes law) will do much
to combat this ignorance and fear. If the
bill is enacted, California will become the
first state in the country to require teach-
ing of LGBT history in schools.
The proposed law would require the
contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people to the economic, po-
litical and social development in California
and the United States to be include in so-
cial science textbooks. No specific curricula
or examples of instruction would be man-
dated and schools wouldn’t be required to
revise or purchase new textbooks.
Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) the
first openly gay man to be elected to the
California State Senate, is the author of the
FAIR Education Act (which is sponsored by
Equality California and the Gay-Straight Al-
liance Network). His passion for the legisla-
tion grew out of “the epidemic of bullying
and suicide,” Leno said in a telephone in-
terview (referring to LGBT students nation-
wide who had been bullied and/or commit-
me add what Clement is not: He is not
a poorly paid public interest or pro-bono
attorney trying to obtain justice for his in-
digent or disenfranchised minority client,
as was the case when attorneys brought
the case of Brown v. Board of Education
to challenge school segregation and
other civil rights cases with which we are
all familiar; he is an extremely successful
attorney representing the Republican-led
House, one of the most powerful institu-
tions in our nation.
In this representation, no one should
pretend that Clement is doing anything
other than accepting very large fees in
exchange for using his Solicitor Gen-
eral aura and legal skills to advance the
discriminatory agenda of a very wealthy
and powerful client that is seeking to
deny the fundamental right to marry
to more than 9 million Americans. It’s
American; it’s legal; and it’s even ethical;
but there is nothing noble about further-
ing discrimination.
As for Obama, Holder and Kagan, they
were flatly wrong, and what is most con-
founding about their comments is that
there was no reason for them to com-
ment at all. If they had to comment, why
ted suicide), “knowing about LGBT history
will make schools safer.”
“It will help LGBT kids, and straight kids,
too,” Leno added, “to learn about the gay
civil rights movement. We’re censoring his-
tory. Kids learn that there was an African
American named Martin Luther King, Jr.
But they don’t know about Harvey Milk.”
Teaching LGBT history would “pro-
mote an atmosphere of ... respect for stu-
dents of all sexual orientations and gen-
der orientations,” wrote Carolyn Laub,
executive director of the Gay-Straight
Alliance Network, in an e-mail.
“Research by the California Safe
Schools Coalition shows that students are
less than half as likely to be bullied based
on sexual orientation or gender identity,”
Laub added, “in schools where the major-
ity of students report that LGBT people
are included in classroom discussion.”
Learning that you’re a part of a group
with a cultural and political history can be
life saving to a young person questioning
his or her sexuality. Isaiah Baiseri, a senior at
MAY 06, 2011 • 23
not acknowledge that King & Spalding
made a difficult, albeit correct, decision?
Maybe they felt the need to appear bi-
partisan, but to what end?
I am pretty sure that none of the sup-
porters of DOMA are going to change
their minds about Obama, so what was
to be gained? More importantly, their
comments give legitimacy to Clement’s
efforts to uphold DOMA. With allies like
that, who needs enemies?
Would Obama, Kagan or Holder make
the same comments if Clement were
defending laws against interracial mar-
riage, or laws banning the right of African
Americans or Jews to marry? I sincerely
doubt it.
Our job then, going forward, is to
help educate the administration and our
perceived allies about what is at stake in
these cases, which is nothing less than
our fundamental right to marriage, and
through it, to be recognized as equal par-
ticipants in our American society.
Michael McHugh is with the McHugh Law Firm
in Arlington, Va. Reach him at mmchugh@
themchughlawfirm.com.
Glendora High School, testified at a State
Senate committee hearing in support of the
Fair Education Act (SB48). “As a gay young
man, I struggled with accepting my sexual
identity for years. In school I never learned
that people like me had achieved great
things like leading a civil rights movement,”
Baiseri said at the hearing. “Instead, I had
only learned stereotypes. I’m thankful the
Senate passed SB48 so that someday other
students like me can learn our history.”
Opponents are convinced that the law
would perpetuate a “homosexual agen-
da” and encourage “immorality” in the
schools. The California Catholic Confer-
ence of Bishops calls the bill “unneces-
sary and overly intrusive.”
The issue of “homosexuality is far
from settled,” a conservative activist and
school board member from Sacramento
told the New York Times. “It is all part of
the same agenda.”
LGBT history in schools isn’t about
teaching a “gay agenda” or sex, Leno
said. “Though some of the opponents
seem fixated on body parts,” Leno added.
The FAIR Education Act is expected
to reach the California General Assembly
by the end of summer. Leno is “hopeful”
that the Assembly will pass the bill and
that Gov. Jerry Brown will sign it.
I hope the bill passes and that other
states follow California’s lead. If we are
taught our history, more LGBT students will
think of schools as safe places of learning
instead of as breeding grounds for bullies.
 washingtonblade.com

24 • MAY 06, 2011 OUR BUSINESS MATTERS

D.C. gives ANCs ‘great weight’ on medical marijuana

Influence to exceed
power over bars,
restaurants, nightclubs
Mark Lee is a local small business manager and long-
time community business advocate. Reach him at
OurBusinessMatters@gmail.com.
The long slog to implementing medi-
cal marijuana distribution in D.C. con-
tinues to progress at an excruciatingly
glacial pace. But that is not the most dis-
turbing development in the District’s on-
going preparatory process for licensing
businesses to open and operate.
A voter initiative approved by 69 per-
cent of D.C. voters in 1998 took one step
closer to becoming reality in late 2009
when Congress ended a nine-year ban on
implementing the law. Following subse-
quent D.C. Council approval of enabling
legislation last year and the slow-moving
and nearly year-long District bureaucracy’s
release of rulemaking for implementing the
law, most observers consider it likely that
D.C. will finally see the opening of up to
five dispensaries and 10 cultivation centers
later this year or in early 2012.
Although District regulations establish the
most restrictive limitations compared to the
15 states that have legalized medical mari-
juana, D.C. has been commended by many
advocates for taking a necessarily cautious
approach regarding who qualifies for treat-
ment and who may prescribe treatment. This
despite the startling limitation permitting
inclusion of only those suffering from HIV/
AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and multiple scle-
rosis, modest allowed monthly quantity, pro-
hibition against home cultivation, expensive
licensing fees and small number of available
business licenses all proving controversial.
When the D.C. government issued re-
vised regulations late last month it went
largely unnoticed that an additional entity
would account for up to 50 points in the
scoring system to qualify and select the
businesses and locations to be licensed.
This entity accounts for 50 points on a scale
of only 250 requiring a minimum score of
200 to be eligible for consideration.
The same people with undue influ-
ence and the ability to stall and deny by
delay the licensing approval of bars, res-
taurants and nightclubs – small neighbor-
hood-centric councils known as Advisory
Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) —
are to be granted “great weight” and an
extraordinary business applicant scoring
recommendation under District govern-
ment licensing rules now in the pipeline
to prepare for the eventual regulatory
consideration of applicants.
ANCs are given the power to base their
scoring comments on the “potential adverse
impact of the proposed business location to
the neighborhood, an overconcentration or
lack of cultivation centers or dispensaries in
the affected ward and its proximity to sub-
stance abuse treatment centers, day care
centers and halfway houses.”
Of course, it has become widely evident
to an increasingly incredulous public in re-
cent years how easily ANCs have been able
to shoehorn almost any complaint into the
applicable regulatory context.
Ironically, the actual influence of ANCs
concerning liquor license matters has di-
minished in the past several years. To their
chagrin, this is a result of a consistently
buffoonish overreach as self-perceived
turf overlords (they are, after all, “advi-
sory” in nature, not real-life legislators
charged with either establishing or imple-
menting governing regulations), coupled
with push-back from a citizenry no longer
amused (or, in the case of newer resi-
dents, “shocked and appalled” is more
accurate) by their over-the-top antics and
derailment of robust neighborhood envi-
ronments and desired community social
amenities. ANCs still manage, however, to
wreak havoc over most of that they touch.
Throw in instances of conflict-of-interest,
questionable decision-making procedures,
missing and mismanaged public funds,
“pay-to-play” investment trade-offs for
regulatory support, personal aggrandize-
ment, rule-bending inconsistencies and an
absence of oversight to the mix — do we,
ahem, really want these people deciding
matters regarding legal drug distribution?
Licensing rules emanating from Mayor
Vincent Gray’s administration to extend
power to ANCs in the approval of licens-
es for medical marijuana dispensaries
and cultivation centers should be a huge
disappointment to advocates and health-
care professionals.
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

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WASHINGTONBLADE.COM MAY 06, 2011 • 25

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Everything you love is close to home — Alexandria’s thriving art scene,
critically acclaimed restaurants, and chic boutiques nestled in
distinctive neighborhoods. For events and restaurant reservations, go
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May 8: Mother's Day Tea and Tour at Woodlawn

May 13-15: Mount Vernon Spring
Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
May 21: Family Festival: Spies
Don’t miss ZooFari at the May 21:
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May 27-29: Sunset Celebration at Mount Vernon
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May 30: 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival
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June 5: Family Day at Gadsby’s Tavern
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June 12: Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
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By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
joeyd@washblade.com

Actress Sally Field, whose much-lampooned “you like me” Oscar acceptance
speech has been in the pop culture vernacular for decades now, had a clever retort
to those still eager to scorn her earnestness when Entertainment Weekly invited her
in 2007.
“You know what,” she said. “I invite you to say what you like when you win your
second Oscar, because the chances of that are slim to none.”
Members of Washington’s drag community have known that for eons and in part stung
by both familial ostracism and an early ’60s lack of venue — even in the city’s gay bars of
the day — for drag performing and socializing, a handful of gender-bending enthusiasts
formed The Academy of Washington and gave each other Oscar-esque statuettes among
dozens of other titles and trophies. The annual “best actress” and “best actor” prizes —
despite the title, no acting is required to get them — are the group’s highest honors and
have gained prominence within the Academy since they were first awarded in 1962, less

Put the blame on Mame Academy denizen Dennis leads
group in golden anniversary
MAME DENNIS (Carl Rizzi) as Best Actress of the Academy in 1975.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ACADEMY ARCHIVES
than a year after the group formalized under the direction of the late Allen Kress, who,
in the Academy, was known as Elizabeth Taylor.
Formerly known as The Academy Awards of Washington Inc., — when the group
went online about 10 years ago, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
insisted they stop using its name — the group
is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. On
Saturday, current best actor Sting (Karl La Cour)
and his “real life” partner Kelly Garrett (Joey King)
will pass the torch to two other members (Ophelia
Bottoms and Carlton Stephyns) in an elaborate
ceremony that, like many Academy functions, is likely
to run several hours.
The awarding of the statuettes — now known safely
as “Golden Boys” — is a big deal to members. They
gathered Sunday at Ziegfeld’s, as they do most weekends,
for a nearly five-hour marathon performance to honor Sting
and Garrett with performances lip synced to pop standards like “(I’ve
Had) The Time of My Life” and “You Light Up My Life.”
Den mother Mame Dennis (Carl Rizzi) says she’s proud the
organization has endured and thrived under her leadership. “The
Godfather” (Bill Oates) convinced she and Fanny Brice (the late Alex Carlino)
to rejoin after a tumultuous period and lead the group with Taylor in 1973. Taylor
was “chairman of the board,” Dennis president and Brice vice president.
“It’s organized and people like that,” Dennis says. “A lot of these newer people
like the feeling of belonging to something and not just floundering along on their
own. A lot have been ostracized from their families, so it’s a second family.”
CONTINUES ON PAGE 42
 washingtonblade.com
28 • MAY 06, 2011 QUEERY: 20 QUESTIONS FOR LATEEFAH WILLIAMS

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OUT CHANGE SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
AND WHO WAS THE HARDEST WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
PERSON TO TELL? Go about my business as usual.
By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
The hardest person to come out to
joeyd@washblade.com
was myself. After that, I started coming WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN BEYOND
out to other people when I was 25. THE PHYSICAL WORLD?
After earning a law degree from Georgetown and practicing a short time in
God
insurance defense and personal injury work, Lateefah Williams wasn’t fulfilled
WHO’S YOUR LGBT HERO?
and wondered if practicing law was her destiny.
Barbara Jordan, Bayard WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR LGBT
A campaign management training program in Chicago that resulted in her
Rustin, Audre Lorde MOVEMENT LEADERS?
working several months on the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley
To be inclusive and ensure
(D-Nev.) found Williams getting “the political bug,” as she puts it.
WHAT’S WASHINGTON’S BEST that all members of the LGBT
“I was still a fairly recent law school graduate and still figuring out what I wanted to
NIGHTSPOT, PAST OR PRESENT? community are at the table during the
do,” she says. “There was nothing holding me back really, so I decided to go for it.”
Merge @ Club Daedalus decision-making process.
Williams has stayed active in politics as the mid-Atlantic rep on the Judicial
Council for Young Democrats of America and locally as the new president of
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING. WHAT WOULD YOU WALK ACROSS
the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, a D.C.-based LGBT political group. She’d
Small and low-key HOT COALS FOR?
been attending meetings for about four years and sees the Stein Club as a great
To protect my immediate
way to combine her joint passions for Democratic politics and LGBT rights.
WHAT NON-LGBT ISSUE ARE YOU family and close friends.
“It’s a very strong club and it’s in a good place,” she says. “But like everything,
MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?
it can be improved upon. I’d like to see the club’s outreach expanded into the
Education and youth issues WHAT LGBT STEREOTYPE ANNOYS
communities that are not as familiar with it, into other parts of the city where
YOU MOST?
there aren’t as many LGBT residents. I’d love for us to have activities in all eight
WHAT HISTORICAL OUTCOME That all lesbians should identify
wards and get some new members from a broader range of communities.”
WOULD YOU CHANGE? as femme or dom/butch and
By day, Williams works as political and legislative director for Amalgamated
The assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin those who do not should change to
Transit Union Local 689, a union that represents about 11,000 current and retired
Luther King, Jr. and the civil unrest that fit in one of those boxes.
Metro employees. It’s by far Metro’s biggest employee union and Williams says
followed, causing the destruction of
her legal background, though not required, comes in handy.
then-vibrant commercial corridors in WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LGBT
The 34-year-old Williams, a lesbian, grew up in Prince George’s County, Md.,
black communities. MOVIE?
and still has family in both Maryland and the District. She’s out to her family but
“Milk” and “The Aggressives”
single. Williams lives on Capitol Hill in the H Street Corridor/Atlas neighborhood
WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST
in Ward 6.
MEMORABLE POP CULTURE WHAT’S THE MOST OVERRATED
She never misses a Redskins game and enjoys basketball too. She likes
MOMENT OF YOUR LIFETIME? SOCIAL CUSTOM?
reading, politics and following current events in her free time.
The emergence of cell phones and the Women are expected to be domestic.
Internet; Ellen DeGeneres coming out in
a national sitcom; social media’s impact WHAT TROPHY OR PRIZE DO YOU
on electing President Barack Obama. MOST COVET?
I don’t covet recognition, but the
ON WHAT DO YOU INSIST? biggest prize I can receive is the
Everyone should be knowledge that I have made a
treated with respect. positive impact on the world.

WHAT WAS YOUR LAST FACEBOOK
POST OR TWEET?
“I voted today in the D.C. special
election. If you are a D.C. resident and
you didn’t vote during early voting,
please vote today! Also, note that D.C.
has same day voter registration,
so there is no excuse!”
IF YOUR LIFE WERE A BOOK, WHAT
WOULD THE TITLE BE?
“Scribbles of a Sensitive Soul”
IF SCIENCE DISCOVERED A WAY TO
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN
AT 18?
The world is not always fair and you
will experience setbacks, but don’t let
them affect your confidence, bring you
down or keep you from moving forward.
WHY WASHINGTON?
I was raised in the Washington
suburbs, so I am originally from this area.
I chose to move into the city because of
the easy access to cultural
amenities, the convenience and the
open-minded residents.
washingtonblade.com
HE SAID SHE SAID by MIX IN THE CITY
There’s a difference between one-time cheaters and chronic infidelity.
Once a cheater,
always a cheater?
Yes, there’s a cure
for chronic infidelity
By MEGHANN NOVINSKIE &
KIM ROSENBERG
How many times have you been cheated
on? Or perhaps a better question to ask is:
How many times have you cheated on your
partner?
Maybe we should question first what
actually “counts” as cheating? We think
that actions speak louder than words
here. Harmless flirting won’t put you in
the cheaters anonymous group, generally
speaking. But just because you had a
couple too many martinis last night when
you sloppily kissed someone else, doesn’t
mean it “doesn’t count.” This, our friends,
qualifies as cheating. OK, so most of us
have indulged in the undeniable-chemistry-
hookup situation. So is the cliché be true
that “once a cheater, always a cheater?”
Working through infidelity is definitely
common — many have experienced this,
especially in our early years of dating. As
we mature, we become more aware of
what is important to us in a relationship
and are more able to discern whom we
choose to date. A word of advice: Don’t
stay in a relationship where you are
considering cheating on your partner.
Unfortunately, many of us have cheated
on a partner at one time. It’s important to
clarify and put these big bad cheaters into
two categories — chronic cheaters who
give in to that insatiable (or drunken) lust
and those of us who “did it once.”
The “Did It Once” people probably
cheated because of issues within their
relationship. Whether there was a lack of
sex, intimacy, or attention, clearly something
was missing. Sure, there is an exception to
every rule. However, if the issues behind
the cheating are addressed by both parties,
ROBERT E. PARILLA
MAY 06, 2011 • 29
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
2010-2011 GUEST ARTIST SERIES
Mo Gaffney Kathy Najimy
(Absolutely Fabulous & Mad About You) (Sister Act I & II, Veronica’s Closet)
PHOTO COURTESY ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
overcoming this unfortunate event could
bring the couple closer together. Do we
condone cheating as a means to bring hard
issues to the table? Absolutely not. But if
this situation arises and proactive steps are
taken, it’s possible a new appreciation for
each other could be found.
“Chronic” cheaters typically do it for
the thrill, the experience, or the guilty
pleasure, almost like an addiction. These
people can’t keep their focus on one person
THE KATHY & MO SHOW
(or can’t keep their zipper zipped). They
secretly weren’t interested in being in a
relationship in the first place and certainly
didn’t consider that they were hurting
anyone when they cheated. This doesn’t
mean that chronic cheaters are doomed
for a life of lying and singledom; they can
turn around their old ways. But many times
Friday, May 20th at 8 p.m.
this means working through issues with a
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therapist, a relationship coach, or just good
old fashioned maturing. For some, they just
need to put their cheating habits to rest,
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of their relationship.
What about open relationships?
The idea that open relationships are
generally viewed as acceptable changes
one’s perception about cheating. If an
open relationship is truly “open,” the
word “cheating” probably doesn’t exist.
However, just because you’ve been in an
open relationship before, don’t assume all
your relationships will be the same way.
For those of you born yesterday, here
are common signs of infidelity: Seeming
distant, strange phone calls at strange times,
unexplained expenses, abnormal amount of
texting, not coming home at a normal time,
and acting overly defensive.
The moral of the column this week is
not to let people tell you “once a cheater,
always a cheater.”
QUESTIONS?
E-mail us at advice@washblade.com.

30 • MAY 06, 2011
Slightly scaled back from the European leg of the tour, KYLIE MINOGUE’s ‘Aphrodite’ show last
n Blade original file: weekend
Adobe was still CS4
InDesign an eye-popping extravaganza.
2011
Kylie shines
” x 2.6875”) Non-SAU PDF
Theatres/CF [if circled]
Saturday concert was
rare chance to see Aussie
legend in D.C. area
By ROBBIE BARNETT
Just like the Greek goddess she
embodies in her show, Kylie Minogue
served love, beauty and sexuality to her
fans at the Patriot Center Saturday in her
PRESENTS “Aphrodite Live Tour.”
Even though she has been a successful
“We promised to never leave eachother.”
international superstar since the late ’80s,
this is only the second time the 42-year-old
A FILM BY GASPAR NOÉ Aussie native has ever toured the U.S. —
the first time being only a handful of dates
in cities like New York and Los Angeles
in 2009. So, this was a rare opportunity
for Kylie lovers here in the States to catch
NO ONE a glimpse of her live. Only achieving
UNDER 18 success here in 2001 with her dance album
ADMITTED!
“Fever,” she has always hovered on the
outskirts of the American mainstream and
her fans have predominately been gay
UNCUT VERSION NOT PREVIOUSLY SHOWN IN THEATRES!
men. And she certainly knows what her fans
Fri & Sat, May 6 & 7 at Midnight! would want from her in a live show. In this
case: ancient Greece meets discotheque.
Buy Advance Tickets Online tickets.landmarktheatres.com
Starting things off with the title track of
her current album “Aphrodite,” she rose
from below the stage on a gold shell and
dressed in full-on Greek garb looking
youthful and gorgeous. Fog machines set
the scene while the stage was adorned
with elaborate columns and staircases.
A gaggle of attractive, well-built male
dancers decorated the stage for virtually
the entire show. Female dancers, two
backup singers, acrobats and a full band
were also part of her on-stage posse.
It was quite a theatrical spectacle and
on par with the grand-scale productions
of Madonna, Cher and Bette Midler. It
felt more suited for a stint in glitzy Las
Vegas rather than a space limiting venue
on a college campus. In fact, the U.S. leg
of her tour had to be cut down from the
extravagant European shows due to space
and traveling concerns. In those shows
she had much larger stages to fit props
washingtonblade.com
MUSIC
PHOTO COURTESY OF EMI
and house lavish running waterfalls. She
even had a “splash zone” where a certain
section of the venue’s crowd would get
wet. Still, even a few elements missing
did not detract from the final result.
Whether she was appearing on stage
riding a carousel horse for “Illusion”
or a chariot for “I Believe in You,” she
seemed to be topping herself with each
performance. A rock rendition of her
biggest dancefloor hit “Can’t Get You Out
of My Head” was unexpected and may
have been the highlight of the evening.
She channeled Breathless Mahoney for a
vampy lounge version of her club hit “Slow”
and when it came to performing material
off of her new album, she made some
welcomed alterations as well. One that
stood out was a mash-up of 2002’s “Love at
First Sight” mixed with the ‘Aphrodite’ track
“Can’t Beat This Feeling.” After embracing
suspended white winged dancers in
“Looking for an Angel” she went right into
an amazing cover of The Eurythmics’ ‘80s hit
“There Must Be an Angel (Playing with my
Heart).” Don’t be surprised if she releases
that as a single in the future.
Minogue showed off her top-notch
vocals and gave hardcore fans a treat with
the stripped down ballad “If You Don’t Love
Me” from her 1994 self-titled album. Fans
hoping to hear her ’80s hits “I Should Be So
Lucky” and “The Loco-Motion” were left
disappointed. The oldest hits she performed
were the mostly unknown “Better the Devil
You Know” and “What Do I have to Do”
from her 1990 album “Rhythm of Love.”
Switching out the two lesser known tracks
for the more familiar favorites would have
been a wiser choice. The show-stopping
finale was her current hit “All the Lovers”
— an appropriate way to end such a high
energy and unified show.
Throughout the tight 24-track, two-
hour extravaganza, she made several eye-
popping costume changes.
And though Minogue left most of the
heavy action to her dancers (think Cher),
she’s never been known for her dancing in
the first place. Her sugary music made for
a joyful, fun evening.
washingtonblade.com
MUSIC
STEVIE NICKS returns this week with her first studio album in a decade, ‘In Your Dreams.’
Long-awaited
Nicks fix
Rock’s high priestess
returns with melodically
rich but vocally reserved
new album
By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
The music business circa 2011 is, as
everybody knows, in the toilet. It’s a
blessing and a curse for all involved —
consumers, of course, have the option of
buying songs one at a time, but that means
album sales aren’t what they used to be so
there’s little incentive for veteran artists to
make records. All the money’s in touring.
Top-tier acts who still release albums
every couple years are mostly doing it to
satiate their muses. So it’s no wonder it
took Stevie Nicks, 62, a full 10 years to get
back to making a proper solo album.
“In Your Dreams,” out Tuesday, is her
first studio album since 2001’s “Trouble in
Shangri-La” and it’s been an excrutiatingly
long wait.
For all her ‘80s industriousness — she
churned out an amazing amount of product
both on her own and with Fleetwood Mac in
that whirlwind decade — boy, did we pay for
it in the ‘00s. There were gems along the way
— the 2003 Mac album “Say You Will” is an
underrated tour de force for her and Lindsey
Buckingham — but fans hoping she’d have
a career renaissance after kicking years of
drug problems were sorely disappointed.
“Dreams,” a classy and melodically
rich collaboration with Dave Stewart (The
Eurythmics), arrives with anticipation set at
fever-pitch levels. It’s been such a long wait,
there’s almost no way the album could live
up to expectations. But setting that aside
and putting things into perspective, it’s
pretty obvious from the first spin this is
one of Nicks’ strongest, most consistent
albums, perhaps even her best since
1985’s “Rock a Little.” It blows 1994’s
dismal “Street Angel” away and while
individual songs on “Trouble” are better
than most of the tracks here, “Dreams” is
overall a better, more cohesive album.
Several songs chug along with a mid-
temp, driving beat reminiscent of “Talk
celebrate
mother’s day
MAY 06, 2011 • 31
mEnu
(7am-2:30pm)
PHOTO COURTESY OF NICKSFIX.COM
starters
spring vegetable salad
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goat cheese, cider vinaigrette prix fix mEnu
tuna tartar
crispy artichokes, pea sprouts $33.00++/person
granola parfait
fresh seasonal berries
entrées
seared sea scallops
lemon risotto, green asparagus, ramp pesto
oven roasted beef tenderloin
to Me,” like first single “Secret Love,” the
dauphinoise potatoes, spring vegetables
Edgar Allen Poe-inspired “Annabel Lee”
and the slightly lighter, slightly slower eggs benedict
“Everybody Loves You.” Several songs smoked salmon, green asparagus, hollandaise sauce
start slow but then blossom in unexpected
ways — the rugged, jangly beat on “Wide
Sargasso Sea” doesn’t kick in until the desserts
second verse; “Moonlight (a Vampire’s vanilla crème brûlée
Dream),” the strangest, catchiest track here, served with warm madeleine
also builds.
Most of the album follows these light cream cheese mousse
rock/A.C.-flavored vibes and tempos. The poached rhubarb, strawberries
lone rocker is also one of the album’s best
cuts — the lyrically brilliant “Ghosts Are
Gone,” an incisive snapshot of how past
loves still haunt.
Things get rather unexpected in the
final three tracks. “You May Be the One,” a
bluesy, torchy number, provides welcomed
contrast musically while penultimate cut
“Italian Summer” finds Nicks actually
belting something out for a change. Her
vocal strengths, especially in recent years,
have lied mostly in her distinctive timbre
rather than oomph. She never had the lung
power of, say, Annie Lennox or Ann Wilson
(Heart), but she flirts with it on “Summer.”
Here’s hoping she includes that in her live
show — it has the potential to be a huge
show-stopping moment.
The only dud is the odd, spare “Soldier’s
Angel,” a duet with Buckingham that
never catches fire. It’s a shame, too — it
has a lovely lyric. Much better is “Cheaper
Than Free,” a duet with Stewart that closes
the record on a tender, understated note.
If there’s any overarching
disappointment to the whole thing, it’s
simply that Nicks feels a little too relaxed,
a little vocally middle of the road. Nobody,
of course, is expecting her to tear it up
like the wild woman she was in her early
sunday 05.08.11
café dupont
Mac years in the ‘70s, but it would have
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been great if Stewart and co-producer
Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette) could
have elicited a little of the vocal energy
she brought to legendary cuts like “Stand by The dupont Circle Hotel
Back,” “Edge of Seventeen,” “Seven 1500 New Hampshire Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20036
Wonders” or “I Can’t Wait.”
But that’s quibbling — overall, this is a (202) 797-0169 • www.doylecollection.com/cafedupont
stately, grand and highly welcomed return
to recording from one of rock’s best, and sTay COnnECTEd!
Like us on Facebook – Follow us on Twitter
in some ways underrated, singers.

32 • MAY 06, 2011
‘TREES AT LOCK 24’ by Harvey Kupferberg is part of the photography exhibit, ‘Infrared: The Invisible Light’ at Touchstone Gallery. An opening reception is schedule for tonight.
E-mail calendar items to calendars@washblade.com
two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so
priority is given to LGBT-specific events or those
with LGBT participants. Recurring events must be
re-submitted each time.
TODAY
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is
hosting an open mic night tonight from 8
to 10 p.m. hosted by Mike Brazell.
RAW, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea
Van Horn with special guest DJ Sirlinda,
will be at Green Lantern (1335 Green
Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Free entry before 11 p.m. with a $5 cover
after. There will be an open bar from 10
to 11 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older.
DJ Tracy Young will be spinning at
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m.
Aja Feen is giving same-sex argentine
tango lessons at Ballet Teatro Internacional
(1643 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight
from 8 to 9:30 p.m. with practice time and
social dancing from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. For
more information, call 202-588-8282.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave.,
N.W.) is hosting an opening reception tonight
from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for its newest exhibit
“Life Is Too Serious” featuring paintings and
drawings by Marcia Coppel and “Infrared:
The Invisible Light” featuring photographs
by Harvey Kupferberg.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in
Boonsboro is hosting May Madness
featuring drag performers Stephanie
Michaels, Nicole James, Sasha Renee, Chi
Chi Ray Colby and Araya Sparxx tonight
at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover from 9 to
10:30 p.m. and an $8 cover after. For more
information, visit thelodgemd.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 7
The Beltway Poetry Slam, The Fridge D.C.
(516 8th St., S.E.) and the D.C. Center present
two-time world poetry slam champion Buddy
Wakefield tonight at 7:30 p.m.
DJ Drew G will be performing at Town
(2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight with music and
video downstairs by Wess. Doors open at 10
p.m. There is an $8 cover before 11 and $12
after. All attendees must be 21 or older.
52 O Street Studios is holding open
studios today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be workshops, discussions and
performances. This event will continue
on Sunday. For more information, visit
52ostreetstudios.org.
Cobalt’s (1639 R St., N.W.) second
annual amateur DJ contest starts today
at 4 p.m. The club will provide CDJs and
turntables for participants to use. To enter,
send your name, DJ name, phone number
and e-mail to cobaltcontest@gmail.com.
For more information, visit cobalt.com.
Code has its monthly installment
tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green
Court, N.W.). Gear, rubber, skin, uniform
or leather dress code will be strictly
enforced. Music provided by DJ Frank
Wild. Admission is $10. All attendees must
be 18 or older. There will be an open bar
from 9 to 10 p.m.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in
Boonsboro is hosting “Villains and Hos: The
Slutty Party” tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Prizes, including $40 cash, $20 bar tab and free
drinks, will be given for best costume.
SUNDAY, MAY 8
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) has its weekly
drag brunch hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee
today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The brunch
buffet is $20, which includes a free mimosa.
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s 54th
annual Mother’s Day House and Garden
Tours are today from noon to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the
tour weekend. For more information and
to purchase tickets, visit chrs.org.
MONDAY, MAY 9
Professionals in the City and the D.C.
Center are hosting a speed dating event
for lesbian and bisexual women at Chi-
Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) from 7 to
9 p.m. Attendees will date for about an
hour and then be able to mingle with
everyone. After the event, matches can
be made online. Tickets are $20. For more
information, visit prosinthecity.com.
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335
Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Class lasts for an hour and serves as an
introduction to yoga for people of all
different body types and physical abilities.
It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more
information, visit dccenter.org.
TUESDAY, MAY 10
Beeswax, a newly formed, Washington-
based arts promotion and advisory service
working with artists, dealers, collectors and
galleries, is hosting its second monthly D.C.
Artists Networking Happy Hour tonight at the
Science Club (1136 19th St., N.W.) from 6 to 9
p.m. There is a $5 cover.
“Follies,” an award-winning musical
washingtonblade.com
CALENDAR
IMAGE COURTESY OF TOUCHSTONE GALLERY
starring Bernadette Peters, will be
performed tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets
range from $45 to $150 and can be
purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance will
hold a membership meeting tonight from 7 to
8 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School Museum
and Archive (1201 17th St., N.W.).
DCBiWomen will have its monthly dinner
at Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St.,
N.W.) tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. For more
information, visit dcbiwomen.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11
Washington Wetskins Water Polo team
is having its monthly happy hour at Nellie’s
(900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Academy is hosting a panel discussion
tonight featuring Mame Dennis, Destiny B.
Childs and Carlton Stevens as part of its 50th
anniversary tonight at the National Trust for
Historic Preservation (1785 Massachusetts
Ave., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Big Gay Book Group will meet tonight
at 7:00 p.m. at 1155 F Street, N.W., Suite 200.
The book discussed will be “The 19th Wife”
by David Ebershoff. For more information,
visit biggaybookgroup.com or e-mail
biggaybookgroup@hotmail.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 12
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
has its monthly piano bar/open mic
tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. at Black Fox
Lounge (1723 Conn. Ave., N.W.). Singers
of all levels are welcome to sing alone or
with members of the Chorus.
washingtonblade.com
BURLESQUE
The D.C. Gurly Show is the area’s premier burlesque troupe fostering an encouraging and
supportive community of performers and fans.
Not just pasties
and G-strings
DC Gurly Show
brings burlesque to
area audiences
By LAURA MARAVILLA
Cher and Christina Aguilera just did it.
The Pussycat Dolls did it. Dita Von Teese
does it. D.C. Gurly Show does it — right in
your backyard.
But what is burlesque? A rich source
of music, dance and comedy. When
burlesque began in Europe in the 1800s,
it was theatrical entertainment for the
working class whose main purpose was to
“burlesque” — or parody — cultural norms
of the upper classes. Burlesque has, from
the beginning, questioned traditional roles
and ideas of both gender and sexuality.
“Without question, however, burlesque’s
principal legacy as a cultural form was
its establishment of patterns of gender
representation that forever changed the
role of the woman on the American stage
and later influenced her role on the screen ...
The very sight of a female body not covered
by the accepted costume of bourgeois
respectability forcefully if playfully called
attention to the entire question of the ‘place’
of woman in American society,” wrote
Robert G. Allen, in “Horrible Prettiness:
Burlesque and American Culture.”
The pasties and G-string aspect of
burlesque appeared in the 1920s when
Prohibition attitudes were closing the
burlesque halls. Regardless of the level
of reveal, the burlesque show is a high-
energy romp. It is fun and titillating. It
is lighthearted in its suggestiveness. It
is playfully naughty. It is not vulgar or
MAY 06, 2011 • 33
PHOTO BY LAURA SCHEIDT; COURTESY OF DC GURLY SHOW
demeaning. It honors all the shapes and
sizes that women are, and shows how each
body is sexy in its own right. It celebrates
humanity, sensuality and relationship.
The D.C. Gurly Show is the area’s premier
burlesque troupe fostering an encouraging
and supportive community of performers
and fans. It was founded in 2005 by Kitty
Victorian. Since then, the D.C. Gurlies have
Celebrating 30 years
been performing monthly throughout your
city. D.C. Gurly Show is home to some well-
known performers: Kitty Victorian, Coco
Monroe, Sindalicious, Private Tails, Velvet
Kensington and Bambi Galore, to name a Saturday, June 4
at 8 pm
few. These performers have gained notoriety
in the D.C. area and around the country.
The Gurlies perform the third
Wednesday or Friday (alternately) at Phase
One and at First Fridays at Apex with the
D.C. Kings. They also have other venues Sunday, June 5
and show dates lined up through the
spring and summer. And you don’t want at 3 pm
to miss them on the main stage at Pride.
So what can you expect to see at a DC
Gurly Show? A wide variety of performers Lisner Auditorium
with a diverse range of talents. Some of
the Gurlies have dance or theater training,
some sing and others simply love to disrobe
in front of an audience. Solos, duets, and For tickets:
group numbers make up the show, as well
as banter from the lovely hostess. The stage
will be graced with vivacious vixens like
call 202.293.1548
Velvet Kensington, Coco Monroe, Missy
Aggravation, Private Tails, Lola Rose, Grena
or visit GMCW.org
Dean, Anna Steasya, Felon Whoreness and
Sindalicious.
For more information on the DC Gurly
Show, visit dcgurlyshow.com. Catch the
next performance tonight at 11 p.m. at
Apex, 1415 22nd St., N.W. Season Sponsors Media Sponsor Proud Sponsors Presenting Sponsors
Steve Herman & John F. Benton & David W. Briggs,
John DiBenedetto Joshua T. Hatfield Smith & Neil Dixon
CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM and Tom Mounteer
 washingtonblade.com
34 • MAY 06, 2011 THE GUIDE TO ARTS & CULTURE

HOT HITS AND HIDDEN JEWELS OPENINGS
FRI, MAY 6
IphigÈnie en Tauride, Washington
National Opera, Kennedy Center.
202-295-2400. dc-opera.org.
WED, MAY 11
Amadeus, Round House Theatre
Bethesda. 240-644-1100.
roundhousetheatre.org.
The Moscows of Nantucket, Theater J.
800-494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org.
THU, MAY 12
Night and Day, Washington Shakespeare
Company, Artisphere. 888-841-2787.
washingtonshakespeare.org.
FO LLI E S
LAST CHANCE
SAT, MAY 7
K E N NE DY CE N T E R . 2 0 2 - 4 6 7 - 4 6 0 0 . K E N N EDY- CEN TER. ORG. SAT, MAY 7
Winner of seven Tonys, Follies is one of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim’s
Stage Door, American Century Theater,
greatest works. All of life’s might-have-beens take center stage as two couples
Gunston Theatre Two. 703-998-4555.
rehash past times and favorite songs amid the crumbling magnificence of their
americancentury.org.
old theater. With a star-studded cast including principals Bernadette Peters, Jan
SUN, MAY 8
Maxwell, Danny Burstein, and Ron Raines as , and starring Elaine Paige. Blues for an Alabama Sky, African
Continuum Theatre Company, Atlas. 202-
GE S E L MAS O N P E R F OR M A N C E P R OJ E C TS, 399-7993. africancontinuumtheatre.com.
W O ME N S E X, & D E S IR E
FRI , MAY 6 & S AT, M AY 7 SUN, MAY 8
D AN CE P L ACE . 2 0 2 - 2 6 9 - 1 6 0 0 . D A N C E PL A CE. ORG. New Electric Ballroom, Studio Theatre.
Women, Sex, & Desire: Sometimes You Feel Like a Ho, Sometimes You Don’t 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org
is a multi-media investigation of how women navigate sex, desire, choice, and King Lear, Synetic Theatre. 703-824-8060.
perception. Through dance, personal stories and video images, Gesel Mason synetictheatre.org.
tackles powerful issues and reflects the struggle, humor and pleasure we
encounter as sexual beings -- whatever our erotic choices may be.
Aurora Opera Theatre, Rosslyn Spectrum.
703-379-1433. auroraoperatheatre.org.
SAT, MAY 7
KC Jazz Club: Yotam Silberstein with
Special Guest Roy Assaf, Kennedy Center.
800-444-1324. kennedy-center.org
Time Leaves us these Bones, Joe’s
Movement Emporium. 301-699-1819.
SUN, MAY 8
Naomi Rosenblum: A History of Women
Photographers, Museum of Women
in the Arts. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org.
The Emerson String Quartet, SRA
Program, Baird Auditorium, Museum
of Natural History. 202-633-3030.
residentassociates.org.
WED, MAY 11
Art After Hours: Charlie Barnett Duo,
Strathmore. 301-581-5100.
strathmore.org.
THU, MAY 12
Music in the Mansion: Sharona Joshua,
Broadwood piano, Strathmore.
301-581-5100. strathmore.org.
On the Road with Andrew McCarthy,
National Geographic. 202-857-7700.
nglive.org/dc.
ONGOING STAGE
Liberty Smith, Ford’s Theatre. 202-397-
7328. fords.org.
Farragut North, Olney Theatre Center.
301-924-3400. olneytheatre.org.
National Pastime, Keegan Theatre,
Church Street Theater. 703-892-0202.
keegantheatre.com.

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
ONGOING EXHIBITONS
THU, MAY 5 - SAT, MAY 7
National Symphony Orchestra: Neeme Kreeger Museum. Tom Wesselmann
Jrvi, conductor / Yefim Bronfman, piano, DRAWS. 202-338-3552. kreegermuseum.org.
plays Tchaikovsky, Kennedy Center. National Gallery of Art. Venice: Canaletto
800-444-1324. kennedy-center.org and His Rivals, Gauguin: Maker of Myth,
Gabriel Metsu, Lewis Baltz: Prototypes/
Ronde de Nuit, 1629-1667, In the Tower:
Nam June Paik, From Impressionism to
ONE NIGHT ONLY Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection.
202-737-4215. nga.gov.
Museum of Women in the Arts. Eye
FRI, MAY 6 Wonder: Photography from the Bank of
L A MI S S I O N. Carl Tanner and Friends in Concert, America Collection. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org.
TH U, MAY 12
SMI T H S O NI AN R E S ID E N T A S S OC IAT E PROGRA M,
SMI T H S O NI AN A M E R IC A N A RT M U S E U M. 2 0 2 - 6 3 3 - 3 0 3 0 .
R E S I DE NTAS S OC IAT E S . O R G.
A traditional Latino father (Benjamin Bratt) in San Francisco’s Mission District
(where low-riders are but one symbol of machismo) struggles to come to terms
with his teenage son’s homosexuality. This film screening is part of Film Forward:
Advancing Cultural Dialogue.

N E XT AT T H E C OR C OR A N : B FA C L A S S OF 2 0 1 1 .
TH R U S UN, M AY 2 2
2 02- 639- 1700 . C O R C O R A N . OR G.
This major exhibition gives visitors the unique opportunity to view the thesis work of the
college’s graduating seniors in a museum setting. The dynamic, interactive exhibition
represents a variety of disciplines and intentions and features work by students from the
Corcoran’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in design, fine art, and photography.

The Guide to Arts & Culture is provided by CultureCapital.com Your Link to Arts in Metro DC, A program
of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington. Photos courtesy of The Kennedy Center & Smithsonian
Resident Associate Program.
washingtonblade.com
BOOKS
An encounter with Judy Garland proved seminal for gay author Elliot Tiber.
Encountering Judy
Gay memoirist recalls
pivotal path crossing
with legendary singer
Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3
years old. She lives in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000
books. Reach her at bookwormsez@yahoo.com.
Elliot Teichberg was 8 when he first saw
Judy Garland.
Now known as Elliot Tiber, he recalls
the life-altering events that led to it. He
describes them as both the best and worst
of times in his new book, “Palm Trees on
the Hudson: a True Story of the Mob, Judy
Garland and Interior Decorating,” another
memoir from the gay author present at
such pivotal culture-defining moments as
Woodstock and Stonewall.
Garland was singing to him that first
time, and he wished he could join her in
Oz. He was “spellbound” by her voice and
by the “longing and hope she expressed.”
He never forgot that afternoon.
Movies were always important to
young Elliot while he was growing up in
Brooklyn. They were equally important to
his mother, who took the free dishes the
theater handed out and resold them at
her store.
To say that Mrs. Teichberg was thrifty
is to make an understatement. Born in
Russia and nearly killed while fleeing
Cossack soldiers, she spent her life
New Hope, Bucks County Pa.
MAY 06, 2011 • 35
Painting by Dwayne Dunlevy
DO tell-equality for all.
May 11th - 15th
8th Annual Pride Event & Parade
NewHopeCelebrates.com
focused on money. While that bought the
American Dream, it didn’t endear her to
her only son.
It didn’t help that she repeatedly told
Elliot that he was “worthless.”
As soon as he could escape his family,
Elliot did. With meager possessions and
big dreams, he left home via subway to
Manhattan, changed his surname to Tiber
and rented a filthy “artist studio” in the Village.
There, he hoped to find love, acceptance as a
gay man and a career as an artist.
But painting wasn’t Tiber’s only talent;
he had an aptitude for display and quickly
found work as a window dresser. A natural
networker, he maneuvered his way into
better jobs with richer clients, opened
his own interior decorating business and
branched out into party planning.
It was at one of those parties — lavish,
opulent, over-the-top and planned for a
club-owning, gay-hating Mobster who just
happened to know Judy — that Tiber had
his best/worst situation…
“Palm Trees on the Hudson” is kind of
a hidden gem. It will probably never end
up on a fancy display. You’ll never find it
on the bestseller list, but you’ll enjoy it as
much as if it was.
A prequel to a prior memoir, this book
starts with author Elliot Tiber’s childhood
and meanders forth to a highlight that’s
funnier now than I’m sure it was 40-odd
years ago. Tiber, who once dabbled in
stand-up comedy, tells a good story and
his recollections of Manhattan society and
being gay in the 1960s are priceless.
“Palm Trees on the Hudson” may be a
bit of a challenge to find, but it’s very much
worth the look.
‘PALM TREES ON THE HUDSON’
By Elliot Tiber
Square One Publishers, 2011
 washingtonblade.com
36 • MAY 06, 2011 OUT & ABOUT

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

On the road again

Jacob Nathaniel Pring and Charger Stone have joined forces to create a new party,
Truck Stop, that premiered last week at District (2473 18th St., N.W.).
There will be Truck Stop events all month, each week featuring a new guest DJ and
guest bartenders. This week, DJ Rich Morel of Blowoff will be spinning and Reg Tyson
and Matt Gillette will be tending bar.
Each week will also feature the “Best Tool Competition” with $4,000 in cash prizes over
four weeks.
There is a $5 cover and all attendees must be 21 or older.

Gay self-help guru to appear

Gay author Donald Van de Mark will be giving
a talk and signing his book, “The Good Among
the Great: 19 Traits of the Most Admirable,
Creative and Joyous People” at Barnes & Noble
(555 12th St., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A self-help book, “The Good Among the
Great” lists 19 personality traits that can be
developed illustrated with stories drawn from
PHOTO BY EMILY CHASTAIN; COURTESY OF GMCW more than 20 years interviewing prominent
Potomac Fever, a mini-group of singers from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, performs this leaders for CNN, CNBC and other television
weekend at MCC. news programs. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

Harmony and romance

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents “Crazy Little Thing Called
Love” on Saturday at 5 and 8 p.m. with Potomac Fever and the MonuMENtals