Metro Weekly - 11-27-14 - Marc Solomon

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2 NOVEMBER 27, 2014 METROWEEKLY.COM



3METROWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 27, 2014



EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRandy Shulman

ART DIRECTORTodd Franson

POLITICAL EDITORJustin Snow

NEWS & BUSINESS EDITORJohn Riley

ASSISTANT EDITORRhuaridh Marr

CONTRIBUTING EDITORDoug Rule

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERSWard Morrison, Julian Vankim

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORScott G. Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSChristian Gerard, Brandon Harrison, Will O’Bryan

Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingeld

WEBMASTERDavid Uy

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTJulian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHERRandy Shulman

BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETINGChristopher Cunetto

Cunetto Creative

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGERDennis Havrilla

EDITOR EMERITUSSean Bugg

PATRON SAINTMarion Barry

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYTodd Franson

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NOVEMBER 27, 2014Volume 21 / Issue 30

NEWS 10 R EMEMBERING M ARION B ARRY

by John Riley

12 H AGEL ’S F INAL A CT ?

by Justin Snow

BUSINESS 16 E VERY B ODY W ELCOME

by John Riley

SCENE 18 NLGJA’ S D ATELINE :DC

H ONORING D INAE R EHM

photography by Ward Morrison

19 C OMMUNITY C ALENDAR

SCENE 21 T RANSGENDER D AY OF R EMEMBRANCE


FEATURE 22 M ARC S OLOMON

by Justin Snow

OUT ON THE TOWN 28 T HE H UNGER G AMES :

M OCKINGJAY P ART 1 by Randy Shulman

30 L IGHTS UP ON 14 TH S TREET

by Doug Rule

STAGE 34 T HOUGHT AND D ANCE

by Doug Rule

GAMES 37 A SSASSIN ’S C REED : U NITY

by Rhuaridh Marr

TECH 39 M OTO 360

by Rhuaridh Marr

PETS 41 W INTER P ET C ARE

by Doug Rule

NIGHTLIFE 45 F REDDIE ’S B EACH B AR


54 L AST W ORD



















Remembering Marion Barry Former “mayor for life” was one of the rst D.C. politicians to embrace LGBT rights

Marion Barry at Capital Pride circa 1996

by John Riley

P OLITICIANS, PUNDITS ANDresidents of the District ofColumbia mourned the loss offormer four-term mayor and

longtime Councilmember Marion Barry,

Jr. (D-Ward 8), who died at UnitedMedical Center in Southeast D.C. earlySunday morning. He was 78.

Barry, who had undergone a kidneytransplant and surgery for prostate can-cer in recent years, had been releasedfrom Howard University Hospital hoursearlier on Saturday after initially check-ing himself in on Thursday. A larger-than-life gure who got his start in theCivil Rights Movement, most notablyas chairman of the Student NonviolentCoordinating Committee (SNCC), Barry

entered the world of D.C. politics, servingas an at-large member on the rst electedD.C. Council following the establishmentof Home Rule in 1974 and later challeng-ing — and defeating — incumbent WalterE. Washington in the 1978 Democraticprimary for mayor. Serving as mayorfrom 1979 to 1991, and then again from1995 to 1999, Barry became inextrica-bly linked to the D.C. political sceneand to the city’s dominant DemocraticParty, with his mayoralty marked by anincrease in the number of D.C. residentsholding government jobs. As a result ofhis initiatives to tackle unemployment,including the start of Washington’s sum-mer jobs program, Barry was heraldedas a ghter for low-income and middle-class residents of the city. As a result, hebecame a kingmaker of sorts, with futuregenerations of candidates often seekingthe blessing of D.C.’s “mayor for life” asthey pursued political ofce.

In 1990, following an FBI raid ofa hotel room where he had been vid-eotaped smoking crack cocaine, Barrywas arrested and tried on 14 different

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charges, including perjury, possession ofcrack cocaine and conspiracy to possesscocaine. The jury voted to convict himon one charge of possession, acquit onanother and deadlocked on the remain-ing 12 charges. Barry was sentenced andserved six months in prison, and later ranfor and won the Ward 8 Council seat in1992 by ousting incumbent WilhelminaRolark, using his Council position asa springboard to challenge and defeatincumbent Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly inthe 1994 Democratic primary. Despite hispersonal shortcomings, Barry remainedpopular among a wide swath of the city’sresidents, particularly among African-Americans — specically the residents ofWard 8, who elected him to the Counciltwice more, in 2004 and 2008.

While Barry made headlines as one

of only two councilmembers to voteagainst the District’s marriage equalitylaw in 2009, his actual record on LGBTrights was much more nuanced, and, attimes, more supportive than many casualobservers might believe. As mayor, andearly on in his political career, Barrycourted the LGBT vote, hiring the rstopenly gay person in a mayoral cabinet,and was a proponent of Gay Pride Day,which eventually evolved into CapitalPride.

Mark Meinke, founder and chair ofthe Rainbow History Project, whichtracks LGBT history in Washington, D.C.,said Barry learned from the lesson ofcommunity activist Frank Kameny’s 1971race for D.C.’s non-voting seat in theU.S. House of Representatives. Kamenycame in fourth among six candidates, but

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Michigan Asks SCOTUS to Hear Marriage CaseFundraising for Trans Youth Summer Camp



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Despite criticism from many in theLGBT community — even being reject-ed outright by Stein members when hesought their endorsement for the Ward8 seat in his 2012 re-election bid — Barrydefended his record on LGBT rights ina Nov. 23 interview with Slate ’s DaveWiegel, claiming “gay marriage is not theonly litmus test.” Barry had made similararguments in the past when the Councilconsidered various LGBT initiativesor appointments, such as when Mayor Vincent Gray (D) named local activistsEarline Budd and Alexandra Benindaas the rst two transgender women toserve on the D.C. Commission on HumanRights. Barry’s pro-LGBT record extend-ed to other issues, as he supported anti-bullying policies for LGBT schoolchil-dren, the JaParker Deoni Jones BirthCerticate Equality Amendment Act of2013, and the repeal of “prostitution-

free zones,” which have been criticizedfor promoting proling of transgenderwomen.

Budd, whose nomination to theCommission on Human Rights was shep-herded through the Committee on Agingand Community Affairs by Barry, remem-bered the former mayor as a “friend andpositive role model for all people” as sheextended her condolences to his family.

“As a transgender activist and advo-cate for the transgender and LGBTQcommunity, I have always looked at

Mayor for Life Marion Barry’s life asan inspiration to me in the daily workthat I do,” Budd said. “While MarionBarry might not have been seen as anadvocate for transgender and LGBTQpeople, he was in his own way as onewho wanted equality for all inclusion. ...I often believe that God puts ordinary

demonstrated that the LGBT communityconstituted a signicant voting bloc thatcould swing election results. As a result,Barry courted LGBT support to helphim win his 1978 primary over MayorWalter E. Washington and Council ChairSterling Tucker. Afterwards, Barry andthe LGBT community worked togetheras political allies for years, Meinke said.

Craig Howell, the former presidentand a longstanding member of the GayActivists Alliance (GAA), said Barry wasrst given a -15 on a scale of -10 to +10because he had avoided the group’s ques-tions when he ran for the D.C. Boardof Education in 1971. However, whenBarry later became the president of theboard, he helped pass a nondiscrimina-tion policy that protected employees ofthe school system based on sexual orien-tation. When he ran for and won an at-large seat on the Council, he was stronglysupportive of GAA’s priorities, includingeliminating the plainclothes police squadthat was entrapping gay men in parks,increasing funding for the Gay Men’s VDClinic and the Ofce of Human Rights.

“He really carried the ball for us dur-ing that time,” Howell said. “Everythingwe wanted him to do, he did, and usuallyled the way.”

When Barry later became mayor, hesigned a law that prohibited subjectinganything under the Human Rights Act,such as protections for LGBT people,

to the initiative process. He also fol-lowed through on a campaign promise toappoint gay people to lots of boards andpositions. Howell was responsible forcoming up with a list of qualied appli-cants, which Barry then used to makeappointments.

“We used to brag we were way aheadof everyone else in the country,” Howeellsaid, “due in large part to the leadershipshown by Marion Barry.”

Those same sentiments were echoedby the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club,the city’s top LGBT political organiza-tion, which issued a statement sayingits members were “deeply saddened” byBarry’s death.

“He was a champion for the rights ofthe underserved and under-representedcitizens of the District, which includedLGBT residents,” the statement read.“He was one of the rst politicians tocampaign directly for the LGBT vote andpushed for HIV/AIDS funding duringthe early stages of the AIDS pandemic.… He was a worthy ally and his presencewill be missed.”

people like Marion Barry in our lives, andthat comes with the good and the bad.Even his bad could not outshine the good,because he sincerely was one who lovedhis people, especially his Ward 8 family.”

Richard J. Rosendall, president ofthe Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance(GLAA), likened Marion Barry to for-mer President Bill Clinton for his charm,political savvy and a phenomenal memo-ry paired with an ability to connect per-sonally to people.

“In his early years as mayor, beforehis addictions got the better of him, heappointed more gay ofcials than anymayor in the country,” Rosendall said. “Iremember him announcing the birth ofhis son Christopher from the stage at GayPride. He was an ally of the LGBT com-munity throughout his mayoral years.”

However, Rosendall also recalled thetimes he sparred with Barry, particularly

after the latter touted his opposition tomarriage equality.

“I was greatly disappointed whenhe opposed marriage equality, and said‘Shame on you’ to him after he led acall-and-response at an anti-gay rally inFreedom Plaza in the spring of 2009,”Rosendall said. “He replied, ‘I supportedyou on everything else.’

“That did not mollify me, but itwas noteworthy that he and the onlyother ‘no’ vote on marriage, Ward 7Councilmember Yvette Alexander, tout-

ed their pro-gay credentials from thedais rather than launching into anti-gayscreeds,” Rosendall continued. “Theywere voting with their constituents; butthey still, implausible as it seemed wereeager not to be thought anti-gay. Thatwas a tribute to how far the LGBT com-munity had come.” l

NOVEMBER 27, 2014 METROWEEKLY.COM

Hagel’s Final Act?Outgoing defense secretary urged to act onmilitary’s transgender ban

by Justin Snow

C HUCK HAGEL IS FACINGrenewed calls to order a reviewof the military’s longstandingban on transgender service fol-

lowing the announcement he will stepdown as secretary of defense.

On Monday, President Barack

Obama announced at the White Housethat Hagel would resign as defensesecretary after nearly two years in thepost. According to White House presssecretary Josh Earnest, Obama and Hagelarrived together at the decision thatHagel should resign after concluding adifferent defense secretary might be bet-ter suited to meet current challenges. Hewill stay on as defense secretary until his



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On May 16, the White House signaledtheir support for such a review. “I wouldcertainly point you to what SecretaryHagel said and we certainly support hisefforts in this area,” White House presssecretary Jay Carney said in response toquestions from Metro Weekly .

Such statements illustrated a dramaticshift in tone by the Pentagon and Obamaadministration on transgender mili-

tary service, but more than six monthslater, there has been no ofcial action.Following news of Hagel’s resignation,Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. NateChristensen told Metro Weekly no reviewof the military’s transgender ban has yetbeen ordered.

“Secretary Hagel’s leadership has beencritical to the steady progress LGBT ser-vice members and their families haveexperienced during his tenure, and wecommend him for living up to his beliefthat ‘Every qualied American who wantsto serve our country should have theopportunity to serve,’” stated AllysonRobinson, a former Army captain anddirector of policy for the LGBT militarygroup SPARTA. “In his remaining daysin ofce, we call upon him to upholdthose values by initiating a review of theDepartment of Defense’s obsolete poli-cies that bar fully qualied transgenderAmericans from serving. Mr. Secretary,six months ago you promised 15,000transgender service members and theirfamilies a review would happen. Weexpect you to keep your promise to them.”

successor is nominated by Obama andconrmed by the Senate.

A former senator from Nebraska criti-cal of the Iraq war, Hagel is the onlyRepublican member of Obama’s nationalsecurity team and, as a Vietnam veteran,is the rst former enlisted combat soldierto serve as defense secretary.

Although reports indicate Hagelwas pressured to step down as Obama’s

national security team has struggled toaddress threats such as ISIS, his depar-ture puts into question progress made inrecent months to end the ban on trans-gender Americans serving openly in themilitary.

Hagel told ABC News’ MarthaRaddatz, in an interview that aired May11, that the military’s transgender banshould be “continually reviewed” andstated he is open to such a review. “I goback to the bottom line — every qualiedAmerican who wants to serve our coun-try should have an opportunity if they tthe qualications and can do it,” he said.“This is an area that we’ve not denedenough.”

During a ight en route to SaudiArabia a few days later, Hagel expand-ed upon his remarks, stating that thePentagon should continue to evaluatethe ban. “I’ve not asked for a specictask force,” he said. “I’ve not asked for aspecic study. I would want to hear morefrom individuals who are close to thisissue, know this issue, who I would valuetheir judgment and their direction on.”

Fred Sainz, vice president of theHuman Rights Campaign, said Hagel’sdeparture should have no impact on theawaited review. “It should proceed withall due haste and nothing should slow itdown,” Sainz said.

While gay, lesbian and bisexualAmericans have been able to serve open-ly since the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’tTell” (DADT) in September 2011, with nonegative consequence, a medical regula-tory ban still prohibits transgender mili-tary service. Unlike DADT, the ban is nota federal statute and the ability to lift itlies not with lawmakers on Capitol Hill,but leaders at the Pentagon. An estimated15,500 transgender personnel currentlyserve in the armed forces.

An independent report released inAugust, authored by a nine-membercommission consisting of three retiredU.S. military generals and convened by

the Palm Center, found the Pentagoncould immediately open the armed ser-vices to transgender Americans in a waythat is consistent with military readinessand core values.

Robinson also noted that more thanthree years after the repeal of “Don’t Ask,Don’t Tell,” military nondiscriminationprotections have not been updated toinclude sexual orientation. “It’s past timefor the Pentagon to bring itself in linewith nearly every other federal agencyand protect its lesbian, gay, and bisex-

ual troops from discrimination,” saidRobinson.Although Hagel faced skepticism

from the LGBT community during hisconrmation process in 2013 for hisrecord as a senator, he soon earned theirtrust. He became the rst secretary ofdefense to attend a Pentagon Pride eventin June 2013, implemented the SupremeCourt’s decision striking down Section3 of the Defense of Marriage Act andsought to ensure states blocking requestsfor benets by members of the NationalGuard with a same-sex spouse followedfederal policy.

Hagel has been an “important allyand transformational leader on issuesof equality with the Department ofDefense,” stated Ashley Broadway, presi-dent of the American Military PartnerAssociation. ”While there is certainly stilla tremendous amount of work to be donefor full LGBT equality in the military,Secretary Hagel’s leadership has madea profound impact on the lives of thefamilies of our nation’s LGBT servicemembers.” l


D O D P H O T O B Y P E T T Y O F F I C E R 2 N D C L A S S S E A N H U R T / R E L E A S E D

Hagel



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Every Body WelcomeCapitol Hill’s Freed Bodyworks specializes in “radical inclusion,” client-centered care

VonDyke (L) and Reed

by John Riley

F RANCES REED AND JESSICA VonDyke, co-owners of FreedBodyworks, a wellness centeron Capitol Hill, have rolled

out the welcome mat for potential cli-ents. It starts with their business cards,emblazoned with the words “RadicalInclusion” and “All Bodies” in black-and-white lettering on red backgroundon the backside. On the front, alongsidetheir contact information, they’ve placedve logos — a Pride ag, a BDSM ag, atrans ag, a “fat-positive” seal and a “noshame” seal, making it clear that thesespecialists in healing and holistic bodytreatments are intent on opening theirdoors to as wide an audience as possible.

“That is the rst things we put outthere, at all times, that you are wel-come no matter what,” VonDyke says ofthe company’s branding and advertis-ing strategy, which she calls “overt andunapologetic.”

“All of our marketing materials andgraphic design is geared towards folkswho aren’t looking for the massage oracupuncture or holistic treatments thathave the lotus owers on them,” she says.“Not anything against those places —there’s nothing wrong with those places— but that’s not us. We’re intentionally

talking to people who are like, ‘Oh, I see,this is bold colors, this is big graphics,this has got my attention. And also, nowI’m noticing that it has this message thatsays I’m welcome there.’”

That inclusion is apparent within therst few minutes of a client’s arrival. Inwhat would normally be a mundane ritu-al — lling out intake paperwork — FreedBodyworks spices it up, asking clients notonly personal questions about their body,such as whether a person binds theirchest, wears hair extensions, or even car-ries a messenger bag on their shoulder,

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but their legal name and the name theyprefer to be called. And the therapistswill then use whatever preferred namethe person writes down.

“I will call you Cupcake if you writeit as your preferred name,” says Reed,

who identies as genderqueer, meaningneither male nor female. “I won’t evenremember your legal name.”

Reed, who first founded FreedBodyworks as a solo practice in 2011before launching a joint venture with VonDyke in 2013, wanted to ensure cli-ents did not have to explain or defendtheir identity to the therapists that workon them.

“I wanted to do away with that, andhave a place where we would do the workto know a broad swath of identity infor-mation, so that when people walk in the

door and say, ‘I identify as fat-positive,’we knew what that meant,” Reed says.“And not only did they not get judged forit, but they got a feeling of belonging andbeing met in their identity.”

To perform specic therapies, Freed

Bodyworks hires out qualied inde-pendent contractors. Clients pay FreedBodyworks, which acts as an umbrellaorganization, and takes a cut to pay forsupplies, cleaning and laundry services,and maintenance of the physical space,which currently includes a waiting areaand three treatment rooms inside a con-verted row house near 14th Street andPennsylvania Avenue SE. Every thera-pist — eight in all, including Reed — isresponsible for maintaining their ownclient relationships, though it is commonto cross-promote or refer clients to their

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sex packets. Pizza provided. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 200014th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visitthedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS Michael Brazell teaches BEARS DO YOGA, a pro-gram of The DC Center. 6:30 p.m., Green Lantern,1335 Green Court NW. No cost, newcomers wel-

come. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org. DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice sessionat Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org. DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30p.m. Garrison Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com. GETEQUALmeets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House,2111 Florida Ave. NW. [email protected]. NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments:703-789-4467.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., byappointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or [email protected]. The DC Center hosts COFFEE DROP-IN FOR THESENIOR LGBT COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 200014th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org. US HELPING US hosts a black gay men’s eveningafnity group. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100. WASHINGTON WETSKINS Water Polo Teampractices 7-9 p.m. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 VanBuren St. NW. Newcomers with at least basic swim-ming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504,[email protected], wetskins.org. Whitman-Walker Health HIV/AIDS SUPPORTGROUP for newly diagnosed individuals, meets 7p.m. Registration required. 202-939-7671, [email protected]. HIV TESTINGat Whitman-Walker Health. D.C.: Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-6 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint-ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

WEEKLY EVENTS ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTHoffersfree HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscul-turalhealth.org. ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/ Logan Circle area, 6:30 p.m. [email protected],afwashington.net. DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social clubserving greater D.C.’s LGBT community and allieshosts an evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

at 9 a.m. from East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ridelot. Craig, 202-462-0535. adventuring.org. WEEKLY EVENTS BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of theLGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbatservices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon.

Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St.NW. betmish.org. BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others inter-ested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time,email [email protected]. DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/socialclub welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun andsupportive environment, socializing afterward.Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org. DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at TurkeyThicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE,2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight.teamdcbasketball.org. DIGNITY NORTHERN VIRGINIA sponsors Massfor LGBT community, family and friends. 6:30 p.m.,Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 SeminaryRoad, Alexandria. All welcome. For more info, visitdignitywashington.org. GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languag-es and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St.NW. RVSP preferred. [email protected]. IDENTITYoffers free and condential HIV testingin Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments otherhours, call 301-422-2398.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 CHRYSALISarts & culture group visits NationalGallery of Art to view exhibits on El Greco, Degas etal. Free, all welcome. Lunch in Cascades Cafeteria.Meet at 11:30 a.m. inside the 6th & Constitution Avenue NW lobby. Craig, 202-462-0535. [email protected].

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1The DC Center hosts its monthly VOLUNTEERNIGHT. Activities include sorting through bookdonations, cleaning up, taking inventory for safe-

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27 BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organiza-tion, is supporting the 13th Annual “Clear Out YourClosets” Thanksgiving Clothing Drive for the Needyand the Ruth Long Annual Thanksgiving Dinner forthe Needy food drive. To participate and/or donate, visit burgundycrescent.org.

The DC Center’s Center Global and Center Aginggroups host THE DC CENTER THANKSGIVINGDINNER for those who do not have plans or are notwith their families for the holiday. Doors open at 1p.m., Dinner is 2-7 p.m. Bring a dish to share, plusmusic, board games, or other holiday traditions.2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS Regularly-scheduled events will resume next week.Happy Thanksgiving!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28GAY AND MARRIED MEN’S ASSOCIATION(GAMMA)is a twice-monthly support group formen who are gay, bisexual, questioning or don’tidentify as any of the above, but who are attractedto men; and are or were married or otherwiseinvolved with a woman. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at St.Thomas’ Parish Episcopal Church, 1772 Church St.NW. For more information, visit GAMMAinDC.orgor meetup.com/GAMMAinDC.

WOMEN IN THEIR 20S, a social and activity groupfor queer women, meets the second and fourthFridays of each month at The DC Center. Dancingat Phase One after meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th

St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visitthedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS Regularly-scheduled events will resume next week.Happy Black Friday!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 ADVENTURINGoutdoors group hosts strenu-ous 10-mile hike with 2400 feet of elevation gainto Signal Knob, at northern end of MassanuttenMountain near Strasburg, Va. Bring beverages,lunch, sturdy boots, and about $20 for fees. Carpool

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events inthe D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events tovolunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email [email protected]. Deadline for inclusion is noonof the Friday before Thursday’s publication. Questions aboutthe calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly ofce at202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 BOOKMEN DC, an informal men’s gay-literaturegroup, discusses Denton Welch’s 1945 coming-of-age novel, “In Youth Is Pleasure.” 7:30 p.m.Tenleytown Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave NW. Allwelcome. bookmendc.blogspot.com.

THE DC LGBT CENTER PROGRAM COMMITTE

meets to provide input on program content andmanagement and examine relationships with orga-nizations for whom The DC Center serves as scalsponsor. 6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Formore information, visit thedccenter.org.

THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUBmeets for Social Bridge. No reservation and partnerneeded. All welcome. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 7218th St. SE. 301-345-1571 for more information.

THE TREVOR PROJECT, along with Still PointPictures, host a free screening of Broken Heart Land , a documentary about gay teen suicide, HIV/ AIDS awareness and LGBT rights in the Americanheartland. Panel discussion to follow. Tickets avail-able via Eventbrite. For more information and linkto tickets, visit brokenheartland.com.

WEEKLY EVENTS AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meetsabout 7:45 p.m., covered-patio area of Cosi, 164720th St. NW. All welcome. Jamie, 703-892-8567. ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTHoffersfree HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscul-turalhealth.org. HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesdayworship 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549-1450, historic-christchurch.org. JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for jobentrants and seekers, meets at The DC Center. 200014th St. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More info,www.centercareers.org. NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467. PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club for mature gaymen, hosts weekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Kitchen, 163717th St. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316. l

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21meets at SMYAL, 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. CathyChu, 202-567-3163, [email protected]. US HELPING UShosts a support group for blackgay men 40 and older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.NW. 202-446-1100. Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY MEN’S HEALTHAND WELLNESS/STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m.,1701 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on walk-in basis.No-cost screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea andchlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing availablefor fee. whitman-walker.org.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH COLLABORATIVEoffers free HIV/STI screening every 2nd and 4thTuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday LGBTClinic, Alexandria Health Department, 4480 KingSt. 703-321-2511, [email protected]. THE HIV WORKING GROUPof THE DC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,” where volunteers assemblesafe-sex kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., GreenLantern, 1335 Green Court NW. thedccenter.org.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., byappointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

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WeddingOR THE PAST 13 YEARS, MARC SOLOMON HAS FOUNDhimself at the center of some of the marriage-equalitymovement’s most contentious battles.

“While I was in graduate school, the marriage decisionhappened in Massachusetts,” he says. “I was already vol-unteering 40-plus hours a week on the cause and after wewon, I went to work full time in early 2004 and have beenat it ever since, nonstop.”

A former Republican staffer on Capitol Hill, it wouldnot have been easy to predict that Solomon would spentthe majority of his working life ghting for same-sex cou-ples’ right to marry. But after the Massachusetts SupremeJudicial Court issued a ruling in November 2003 legalizing

same-sex marriage in the state, Solomon turned his focus to other states, including Vermont, Connecticut and California. In 2010, he joined Freedom to Marry, wherehe currently serves as national campaign director, and immersed himself in the leg-islative ght over same-sex marriage in New York. As other state legislatures haveconsidered same-sex marriage legislation, Solomon has often been there, lendingadvice to activists on the ground on how to drive the issue over the nish line.

In his new book, Winning Marriage: The Inside Story of How Same-Sex CouplesTook on the Politicians and Pundits — and Won (ForeEdge, $27.95), Solomon chartshow the marriage-equality movement found itself on the brink of victory and pro-vides a blueprint to other movements on how to win.

With same-sex marriage legal in a majority of states and the Supreme Court hav-ing been asked to hear ve cases challenging same-sex marriage bans in ve states,a national resolution legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide now seems closer

than ever. Public support in on the rise, and with Democrats solidly behind marriageequality, a growing number of Republicans appear to be as well. But Solomon warnsthat despite those gains, marriage-equality supporters must not grow complacent orcomfortable until the job is done.

“The idea that this is inevitable is really scary to me,” he says. “None of this stuffis inevitable. The Windsor decision was a 5-4 decision, so it’s one justice who getssick or who resigns. We know we need to drive it over the nish line and be done. Itconcerns me when I hear people say, ‘Well that one is done already.’ Actually a thirdof the country doesn’t have the freedom to marry and it’s not done yet. This has beensuch a great success in the context of the last decade. Let’s nish it and then we canparty and say it was inevitable.”

FPhotography by Todd Franson

In his new book, Marc Solomon reects on how the marriage-equality movementfound itself on the brink of victory

Interview by Justin Snow

PLANNER

THE




METRO WEEKLY: Who is Marc Solomon?MARC SOLOMON: I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. Was borna raised there from zero through 18. I went to Yale for collegeand I was Mr. Republican when I was a kid, and also when I wascoming out of college and in my early 20s. I was a Republicanstaffer on Capitol Hill for a senator from Missouri — JackDanforth — who actually I’m still very close with. He’s still sortof a mentor, father-gure kind of guy.But I was always super involved in poli-tics from early on.

When Danforth retired from theSenate, I moved to St. Louis and helpedhim set up an not-for-prot project. Iwas on both this ideological journey aswell as in the process of coming out andmoved to Boston in 2001 and went to[Harvard University’s Kennedy Schoolof Government]. I also started volunteer-ing with this grassroots groups calledthe Massachusetts Freedom to MarryCoalition and really got hooked on theissue. It just seemed to make so muchintuitive sense to me that gay people

should be able to marry. I rememberlooking at an array of issues and causesthat the groups were ghting for inMassachusetts and that one just appealedto me so strongly. And after I came out Ireally decided I wanted to use the politi-cal skills that I had developed and thebackground I had to advance the cause.

In Massachusetts, I ended up runningthe campaign and we defeated two con-stitutional amendments that would havetaken the right to marry away. When Istarted we were at 50 votes out of 200

in the legislature to stop a constitutionalamendment when we needed to get 150.We needed 75 percent of the legisla-ture in order to defeat the constitutionalamendment in Massachusetts and keep itoff the ballot. We nally did that in 2007.We reelected every lawmaker who votedour way in 2004 and 2006. It was 195 outof 195. And we were the only state in thatwhole period of time. We lost four courtcases in Maryland, Washington, NewJersey, New York, and then after we wonin 2007, I started working closely withGLAD and doing essentially consultingwork in other states.

I spent some time in Vermont andConnecticut helping guide them on elec-toral and legislative strategy. I went out to California for the lasttwo weeks of Prop. 8 just to lend a hand and after it passed it wasso clear to me that we had to overturn it. I felt really emotionalabout it so I went back to Massachusetts and said I was leaving,and moved back and joined Equality California as their marriagedirector. People always asked me if I was planning weddingsand stuff. It was really to build a ballot campaign to win back thefreedom to marry in California. That was overtaken with eventsby the Prop. 8 lawsuit. It was a few months after I moved outthere that Chad Grifn and team led the lawsuit. Once we won

in district court it was clear to me we weren’t going to go back tothe ballot, and if we had a chance to win it in court we should letit play out. I started talking with Evan Wolfson around that pointand joined Freedom to Marry at the end of 2010.

What Evan had seen was that from campaign to campaign,each of them was reinventing itself. There was not much trans-fer of knowledge and information from one state to the next.

It was sort of happenstance.And Evan saw that if we couldset up a centralized campaignoperation that could make surethat every state is using the bestpractices, that centralizes mes-saging because the right mes-saging is pretty consistent stateto state, if we could set that upwe could really accelerate ourprogress. He asked me to run thecampaign elements of the work.Evan is really the big picturestrategist — the persuader — andI’m the one who is really thepolitical strategist: How do we

win in Illinois? How do we winin New York? What are we goingto need in this campaign and thatcampaign? What are the smartways to push the president? Howdo we build power in strategicways to get us where we needto go?MW: Tell me more about the young Republican aspect.SOLOMON: I decided I was aRepublican when I was probably13 or 14 years old, which was

ironic because my parents weresuper liberal, so it was aroundthe time I was recognizing thatI was gay. In retrospect I reallythink it was a reaction. It wascertainly a rebelling against myparents but it was also the ideaof being with the tough guys, theRepublicans, the badasses — itwas sort of “If I’m one of themthen I’m not gay.” I didn’t mapit out that way, but in retro-spect I think there was plenty ofthat going on. I was never a gayRepublican. I was a Republicanand I was gay.

I also talk about in the bookone of the most transformational things I’ve ever done is thatwas chosen to be part of this fellowship to the RockefellerFoundation called Next Generation Leadership. They took 24of us from around the country to focus on different elements ofdemocracy and had all sorts of really inspiring advocates for dif-ferent causes. That was during the time I was coming out. I wasaround all these incredible leaders like Dan Gross, who headsthe Brady Campaign, and Eric Garcetti, who is now mayor ofLos Angeles, and it just became clear to me that ultimately at itsroot the ght for LGBT equality is a ght against oppression and

“There is thisidea in ourculture now thatthere needs tobe a superhero,

and that’s howthings happen.I WANTEDTO TELL THESTORY OF HOWA SUCCESSFULMOVEMENTREALLYWORKS. THEMOVEMENTIS NOT ABOUT

ONE PERSON.”




when it came down to it what side did I want to be on. I wantedto ght against all oppression and that meant that I was on theleft, and not on the right anymore. I’ve been a pretty active lib-eral for a good amount of time since.MW: Do you think that experience has informed how you approach Republicans in this ght?SOLOMON:No question. I joke that I’m not a Republican but I canplay one on TV. If you want to make real advances on a cause inAmerica with divided government it’s crucial that it becomes abipartisan cause. And on most causes I care about now it meansworking extra hard to enlist Republicans to be in support andthen highlighting and touting that support. It can’t be lip service— it’s got to be real.

I think that’s why we’ve been successful with this YoungConservatives for the Freedom to Marry — people know me andthey know that I’m about one cause. It’s about winning the free-dom to marry and it’s not in my day job my work that’s all I’mabout. I know we need Republicans in order to win, in order tomake our strongest case and in order to make it a truly Americanissue. I’ve been able to develop a lot of trust with Republicanswho know how serious I am about the cause and I’m not winkingand nodding and just giving them lip service.MW: What made you write this book? Why now?SOLOMON: Well, it took a long time to write. I started writing thisbook ve years ago,after Massachusetts,because nobody hadreally told the storyof Massachusetts.After I joinedFreedom to Marry in2010 I immediatelyimmersed myself inthe New York mar-riage fight. Thatwas such a power-

ful, momentum-shifting battle — thedisgusting intriguein Albany, which isone of the grimmeststate capitols politi-cally, working superclosely with Gov.Cuomo and dealingwith some of thesehorrible shenani-gans by legislators. Itwas really a compelling story. But then we had the ballot ghtsand we did all this work with the Obama administration, pushingthem and working with them. And then we had the DOMA caseand the Prop. 8 case. I just kept writing and writing and writing.

There is this idea in our culture now that there needs to bea superhero, and that’s how things happen. I wanted to tell thestory of how a successful movement really works. The move-ment is not about one person. There are certainly leaders likeEvan Wolfson and Mary Bonauto and Tim Gill and a few otherswho really point the way with a long term vision and a plan, butthe creation of this movement and the hard work of the move-ment — that’s the thing I wanted to show. The hard work of themovement, the unglamorous work.MW: What’s been the highest point and lowest point for you?SOLOMON: The highest points were the rst couples marrying in

Massachusetts, being at my rst marriage. I remember it was oneof the plaintiff couples. I remember always being wistful goingto weddings and I was in a lot of weddings as a groomsman andseeing my friends get married and feeling like I wasn’t allowed todo this. I was barred from doing this by the law. I did feel like asecond class citizen, and I felt like it was really wrong. And goingto this wedding and seeing two guys getting married, everythingfelt so perfect. Hearing the ofciant say, “By the power vested inme by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” — it was excep-tionally moving.

The other point was on the political side when we beat backthe nal constitutional amendment in Massachusetts. So manypeople thought we’d never get a majority of the legislature, butwe actually got three-quarters of the legislature to vote our way.That was such a huge emotionally powerful day. I rememberTed Kennedy called me and left this great message on my phone.

None of the states have had anywhere close to the intensitywe had in Massachusetts. A lot people don’t realize how intenseit was. There were religious nuts from all over the country whocame. There was this one guy who carried this huge cross backand forth in front of the state house. I remember people werewalking behind Mary Bonauto chanting “Evil!”MW: Police had set up sharpshooters, too. SOLOMON: That sort of epitomizes it. Prop. 8 was very intense

but even some ofthe more intensemoments during Prop.8 were nothing likethe vitriol and inten-sity in Massachusettsbecause it was the rstplace.

As far as lows —losing Prop. 8. Wewere at this hotel inSan Francisco and

outside people werecelebrating like crazybecause Obama hadwon, and here wewere. It felt like evenin San Francisco, onthis joyous night forso many people, ourcommunity was beingleft behind. The nextday, the giant rainbowag in the Castro was

ying at half-mast and people were protesting. It was reallydevastating.MW: What do you think the state of the opposition is currently?SOLOMON: We’re seeing them moving into these so called reli-gious protection — or as we call them, “license to discriminateefforts.” But ultimately, I don’t think those are going to have toomuch resonance because what they’re about is telling peoplethat you can keep gay folks out of your store, out of your restau-rant, not provide services to gay people. And when you remindpeople we’ve been through that period in U.S. history beforewhen blacks weren’t allowed to sit at lunch counters, peoplereally recoil because some of those images are so instilled inpeople’s memories. I think ultimately it’s not going to catch on.

I don’t know where they go next. We’ve seen them go to ghtequality for transgender people, which is really terrible. But also

“I was in a lot of weddingsas a groomsman, seeing myfriends get married andfeeling like I wasn’t allowedto do this. I WAS BARREDFROM DOING THIS BY THELAW. I DID FEEL LIKE ASECOND CLASS CITIZEN.”




other issues. Many of the people who ght against us are also thepeople ghting against immigration reform. There is this strain ofcultural conservatism. We’re also really seeing a shift in evangeli-cal churches away from this Pat Robertson style of re and brim-stone. Given where millennials are, if they want to keep appealingto younger people, they’re going to have to do something.MW: After so many losses, what was the turning point for themarriage-equality movement?SOLOMON: There have been several. Number one was gay peo-ple nally marrying. People have been working on this foryears and years, and nally, inMassachusetts gay people wereable to marry. People around thecountry were able to see it wasgood and it was ne, and expe-riencing the real couples andwhy they wanted to get marriedreally was transformational.And that’s why our opponentsput so much effort into trying tostop it because they knew oncepeople saw what we were reallytalking about, people would be

ne with it.Winning in New York was

a huge turning point becausewe hadn’t won in awhile andNew York was such a big pow-erful state. That provided realfuel. And I think losing Prop. 8provided real intensity to every-body. It was a big wake-up callto the gay community that if wereally wanted this freedom andright then we really needed towork hard for it. It wasn’t going

to happen on its own and wecouldn’t just expect people to vote our way.The nal one was the Windsor decision and just how power-

fully it was written. Justice Anthony Kennedy was so clearlyonboard, and when you read Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent andhow clearly he saw what it meant.

But that gets back to what I was talking about before. I wrotethe book because I wanted to show what a movement is — howa movement works and how our movement gained power andwon. The Windsor decision didn’t happen on its own. TheWindsor decision happened because it rests on not only the otherDOMA cases but the wins we’d had in the states and the growthin public support. It’s the cumulative effect that gets us to thepoint where its downhill skiing.MW: When do you think the movement for marriage equality willcome to a conclusion?SOLOMON: I think it could happen by June 2015. There are [ve]cases now pending before the Supreme Court.

I saw this USA Today piece where the reporter had my quoteright next to [National Organization for Marriage President]Brian Brown’s quote and they were like the exact same quote: wewant the Supreme Court to take up a case and rule immediately.I think from the states, whether you’re for or against, peoplewant national resolution. They realize that there’s a need fornational resolution and that having this patchwork doesn’t makea lot of sense. Having the unclarity doesn’t make a lot of sense.Spending all of this time and money ghting our opponents in

the states ghting these suits doesn’t make much sense.Now that there’s a split in the circuits, we’ve answered what

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said was really needed for them totake up a case. What we’re doing now is working to highlighttwo things — that America is ready for national resolution andthat every day of denial is a day of real harm for real people, andhighlighting that harm so the justices realize that punting or nottaking up a case and letting it go for another year or two has areal serious impact on lives.MW: Is there a politician you think has ever led on this issue? It

seems like a lot of them are always playing catch up.SOLOMON: The most important thingfor the vast majority of elected of-cials is to continue to be an electedofcial. So there aren’t many whowill take these über-courageousvotes. There are a few who reallyled on this issue when it wasn’tin their political best interests.One is a woman named BarbaraL’Italien — a Democratic then-staterep in Massachusetts. There are

a few others. Richard Ross fromMassachusetts, who replaced ScottBrown in the state Senate, andBrown called him right after heswitched his vote and voted our wayand said, “What the fuck are youdoing?” He thought he was going tolose his seat, but he recognized thathe couldn’t live with himself if hevoted the other way. A couple of theleaders of the Republicans in New York who voted our way took trulycourageous votes — they knew that

it could cost them their seats and acouple of them have lost their seats.I think Republican Sen. Rob Portman took a very principled

stand on marriage. He got some ack from people in our com-munity because they said he only did it because his son is gay. Letme tell you how many politicians I know who have gay kids whoare opposed to us because they are worried about the politicalconsequence. To me, it was really moving because he was essen-tially saying his kid was more important to him than a potentialpolitical future if it ever came to that. I thought that was verypowerful. On the national front, that was the most courageousstand I’ve seen.MW: Freedom to Marry has said once same-sex couples secure anational right to marry that you all are done and the organizationwill shut down. So what’s next for you?SOLOMON: There’s no question that I’m passionate about issuecampaigns. There are some issues I care a lot about, such as howcan we reframe the issue of income inequality in this country sothat we can create serious momentum to deal with it and giveeverybody an equal opportunity to succeed. There’s certainly theimmediate need in the LGBT movement to drive forward non-discrimination and get that passed for gay and trans folks. I lovethinking about the different pressure points that a movement ora cause has that it can strategically leverage to gain power andstart putting wins on the board and create this snowball effect.MW: What lessons can other movements take from this one?SOLOMON: Have a very clear goal of what you’re ghting for and

“The most importantthing for the vastmajority of electedofficials is to continueto be an electedofficial. THEREAREN’T MANYPOLITICIANS WHOWILL TAKE THESEÜBER COURAGEOUSVOTES.”




being able to enunciate it clearly. What’s the endgame? Andthen to have a big-picture strategy of how to get there. Those arethings that Evan really developed — they’re what we’ve alwayscalled the roadmap to victory. The freedom to marry nationwidewas the end and the strategy to get there was to win a criticalmass of states and achieve a critical mass of public support sowe could get the Supreme Court to ultimately do the right thing.

It’s very important to have an aspirational goal. Winning thefreedom to marry is something that inspires lots of folks. Youneed something that is inspiring enough to get people to goknock on doors in rural Virginia or Maryland or to sit down withyour lawmakers.

Having strong campaigns in the states is also important.Being very strategic about where we play knowing there’s notunlimited resources or unlimited talent and when we decideon them just being exceptionally professional about the kindsof campaigns we put together. Always having those campaignsbe very eld focused, very strategically grassroots focused. Onissues as big as ours and some of the other issues that have beentough to move along like gun violence or immigration, you needlawmakers hearing from people in their districts so they hearmuch more from your side than your opponents’ side.

And the framing of the issue is really important. You need to

know who your audience is. Audience is sort of middle America,so you really need to gure out a way to talk about your causein a way that resonates with regular people and the people whorepresent them. Always being very focused on values-ladenmessaging. That’s something we got wrong a lot before we got itright, and it’s something professionals in the business get wrongall the time. The messages that poll the best aren’t necessarilythe ones that work the best. People need to feel ultimately that

if they don’t support your position they are not living up to theirbest selves. And that takes guring out how to really tell the storyin a way that people can connect with.

It’s also important to be very positive and not demonizingof people who aren’t with you. When I rst started on this oursupport was in the 30-some odd percent. If we demonized thepeople who weren’t with us back then we’d still be there. It’srespecting the fact that people come from all sorts of back-grounds and most people learn that marriage is not two guys ortwo gals. They learned that marriage is a father and a mother.That’s what you learn from your rst story book as a kid andthat’s what plenty of religions teach as well. People aren’t badpeople because they believe that or because they were taughtthat. It’s how do you walk people through a journey to get tothe place where you want them to get and how do you helpthem see that that’s where they want to get. And then welcom-ing them and embracing them. Not saying, “What the hell tookyou so long?”

I wanted this book to show how we constructed this move-ment and how the movement works so people get a deeperperspective of what it takes to have a social movement thatreally builds power for itself and wins in our American politi-cal system. It’s a very positive and optimistic story in the end

because what I’m showing is that you can win in America. Evenin dysfunctional Washington and divided government, you canstill accomplish great things.

Marc Solomon’s Winning Marriage: The Inside Story of HowSame-Sex Couples Took on the Politicians and Pundits — andWon is published by ForeEdge and available in bookstores and atonline booksellers. l



NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 4, 2014

28

Compiled by Doug Rule

Unnished BusinessMockingjay Part 1 is all build up with no emotional or

dramatic payoff

by Randy Shulman• Illustration by Christopher Cunetto

E VERYONE’S EITHER GOING TO WANT TO KISS YOU, KILL YOU ORbe you,” says Capitol couture maven Efe Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) to heryoung charge Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), the valiant heroine of

“The Hunger Games” trilogy-turned-quadrilogy. When we last saw Katniss, at theend of the magnicent The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , she was being whiskedaway to District 13, home of an underground revolutionary base. Her maybe-belovedPeeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) had been rushed off in the other direction, tothe tyrannical Capitol, where life is a giant cesspool of excess to which the variousimpoverished districts pay tribute.

And so commences The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 , as Katniss is groomedfor gamesmanship of a propagandizing kind. Recruited by Plutarch Heavensbee(Philip Seymour Hoffman) and District 13’s brittle president, Alma Coin (JulianneMoore) to be the face of the revolution, Katniss nds herself pushed, pulled andtwisted as though she were the kneaded dough in Peeta’s family bakery. As thereluctant star of rebel propaganda, or “propos” as they are called in the lm, Katnissis once again paraded around in a way not altogether dissimilar from what theantagonistic Capitol forced her to do in the previous lms. She spends most of


the movie in a morose fog, battlingPTSD and heartsick over her sepa-ration from Peeta. President Snow(Donald Sutherland, whose delicious,glint-of-evil performance is only out-matched in polish by his alarminglywell trimmed, white locks) continuesto torture Katniss from afar. Every sooften there’s a sign of the old Katniss— a trace of ferocity, a hint of anger, amoment of resolve — but mostly shespends the movie with a very bad case

of the blahs.And so it goes for two long, nearly

action-free hours, as Katniss growsmopier and mopier over her separa-tion from Peeta, despite the fact thatthere’s a perfectly good stud nearbywho adores her — Gale Hawthorne(Liam Hemsworth), ready to ghtalongside her and even kiss herchastely, lips closed vise-tight.

Directed by Francis Lawrence,who also helmed Catching Fire andwill do similar honors a year from

now with Mockingjay, Part 2 , the cur-rent Hunger Games installment suf-fers from Hollywood’s recent, greed-fueled need to split the nal install-ment of trilogies into an unmatchedpair. Mockingjay Part 1 is a static,grim setup for what is sure to be a ter-ric payoff, particularly if PresidentCoin makes good on her promise of a“special weapon.”

Claustrophobic and bleak, virtu-ally devoid of color, Mockingjay Part 1 is essentially the rst half of anytraditional action lm — all buildup,with no emotional or dramatic payoff.Even the few assorted incidents thatkick the movie to sudden life sputterinto nothing. Fans of the books willno doubt love Mockingjay Part 1 . Therest of us are left to dget in our seats,wondering why we’re not at homewatching an encore of Catching Fire .

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1( HH HHH ) is now playing at areatheaters.


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House Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda.Tickets are $25 to $50. Call 240-644-1100 or visitroundhousetheatre.org.

STAGEFIDDLER ON THE ROOF Molly Smith directs an Arena Stage production ofJerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s beloved musical,celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. JonathanHadary, a Bethesda native who has been nominatedfor a Tony Award and won a Helen Hayes, playsTevye, leading a 28-member cast. Arena favoriteParker Esse ( Oklahoma , The Music Man ) adaptsJerome Robbins’s original choreography for the in-the-round Fichlander Stage. To Jan. 5. Mead Centerfor American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are$50 to $99. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE Arena Stage presents Clarke Peters’s celebrationof the feel-good music of Louis Jordan, whose hitsincluded “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Is You Is orIs You Ain’t My Baby.” Robert O’Hara directs a castfeaturing Travis Porchia, Jobari Parker-Namdar,Paris Nix, Sheldon Henry and Clinton Roane. ToDec. 28. Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 6thSt. SW. Tickets are $51 to $109. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

HANDBAGIn Handbag , provocative British playwright MarkRavenhill ( Shopping and F***king ) explores the pur-suit of parenthood by gay couples in present-dayLondon by juxtaposing it with a Victorian-era tale,styled as a prequel to Oscar Wilde’s The Importanceof Being Earnest . Scena Theatre kicks off its 28th sea-son with a production of this black comedy, whosetwo storylines run in parallel until colliding in a sat-ire of society’s progress. Scena’s Robert McNamaradirects a cast that includes Anne Nottage, AmandaForstrom, Gray West, Edward C. Nagel, RobertSheire and Haely Jardas. Closes this Sunday, Nov.30. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place S.E.Tickets are $20 to $35. Call 202-399-7993 or visitscenatheatre.org.

JULIUS CAESAR

Specters haunt the stage at Folger Theatre, and thesecloaked souls — ghosts of those lost to war — lurk inthe shadows and stalk the set, like a group of grimreapers, in Robert Richmond’s stunning, mysticalproduction of Julius Caesar . They faintly chant whatmust be warnings of further bloodshed to come, ifwe could only make them out. But just as Caesarignores his Soothsayer’s fervent plea “Beware theIdes of March,” so the lost souls’ incantations fall

the pufn-like great auck to the Carolina parakeetto the heath hen to the passenger pigeon, not to beconfused with the commonplace carrier pigeon.Through October 2015. National Museum of NaturalHistory, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.Call 202-633-1000 or visit mnh.si.edu.

SUTTON FOSTER WITH THE NSO POPS“I would torture my family with made-up arias andstuff, and sing around the house,” Sutton Fostertold Metro Weekly last year, about her childhooddays in Georgia and Michigan. Of course, her fam-

ily’s torture has become the world’s pleasure. The38-year-old Foster has been nominated ve timesin the last decade as Leading Actress in a Musicalat the Tony Awards — and won twice. Foster stops by the Kennedy Center to perform selections fromher Broadway career with the National SymphonyOrchestra Pops as conducted by Steven Reinekeand also featuring guest vocalists Joshua Henry andMegan McGinnis. Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday,Nov. 29, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall.Tickets are $20 to $88. Call 202-467-4600 or visitkennedy-center.org.

STEVEN LUTVAKThe gay composer behind this year’s Tony Awardwinner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Loveand Murder , stops by the Kennedy Center as part of

the free Millennium Stage nightly programming ina cabaret presented as part of ASCAP’s “Broadway: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” series. Tuesday,Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETThe Kennedy Center’s resident dance compa-ny returns to the Kenn Opera House with threeBalanchine works, including the 1951 one-act versionof Swan Lake . Scott Speck conducts the KennedyCenter Opera House Orchestra during the perfor-mance. Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov.29, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 30,at 1:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House. Ticketsare $2O to $95. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-

center.org.

THE NUTCRACKERThere will be no pirouettes at Bethesda’s RoundHouse Theatre this season, as the company premieresits production of a Chicago-born new musical basedon the famous story by E.T.A. Hoffman — which alsoinspired the far more famous ballet by Tchaikovsky.Joe Calarco directs Round House’s production ofthis musical, set in a contemporary American home,written by composer Kevin O’Donnell and writersJake Minton and Phillip Klapperich. Will Gartshore,Sherri L. Edelen, Mitchell Hébert, Erin Weaverand Lauren Williams star. Now to Dec. 28. Round

on deaf ears. It’s impressive how Richmond, work-ing with ght director Casey Dean Kaleba, has hisattractive actors move — from the lurching lost soulsto the multiple slow-motion battle scenes to themarches and synchronized hand gestures showinggroup solidarity. Everything here is stylized in anevocative, even elegant manner, with every detailcarefully thought out, right down to the poppy petalsthat are regularly tossed out after each death. Afterall, since the First World War red poppies have beena symbol of remembering the war dead. To Dec. 7.Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE.

Tickets are $40 to $75. Call 202-544-7077 or visitfolger.edu. (Doug Rule)

PENKasi Campbell directs a Washington Stage Guildproduction of this sharply funny, poignant play, arecent Off Broadway hit. Written by contemporary American playwright David Marshall Grant, Penfocuses on the perplexing future faced by a divorced,mixed-religion couple and their college-boundson. Closes Sunday, Nov. 30. Undercroft Theatreof Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 900Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets are $40 to $50. Call240-582-0050 or visit stageguild.org.

MUSICMOYA BRENNAN“An Irish Christmas” has become something of atradition at the National Geographic Society, featur-ing the woman who came to fame as the voice ofthe Irish group Clannad. Moya Brennan performs aselection of Irish musical gems for the season, andthe Culking School of Traditional Irish Dance offersa special performance. Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m.and 7 p.m. Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 MSt. NW. Tickets are $30. Call 202-857-7700 or visitevents.nationalgeographic.com.

THE SELDOM SCENEFormed over 40 years ago in Bethesda, the progres-sive bluegrass band Seldom Scene remains especiallypopular in its hometown region. The group returnsto Alexandria’s seated show palace the Birchmerefor two nights over Thanksgiving Weekend, thistime with special guests Dry Branch Fire Squad.Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $35. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com or seldomscene.com.

ZELLNIK BROTHERSWriter David Zellnik and composer Joseph Zellnikwrote the gay-afrming Off-Broadway military musi-cal Yank! a decade ago. The duo perform from thatwork and other collaborations, including The Wright Brothers: First in Flight as part of the “Broadway: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” presented as afree Kennedy Center Millennium Stage concert bythe American Society of Composers, Authors andPublishers, better known as ASCAP. Saturday, Nov.29, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. l


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Holiday Gift Guide




Thought and DanceTheater J stages an extraordinary,

intelligent epic, while KenCenturns up the dance

I’M THINKING,” ONE CHARACTER SAYS AT THE ENDof the long play with the long title now in production atTheater J. You’ll be thinking at the end of this play, too —and all throughout its more than three-hour running time.

The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialismwith a Key to the Scriptures is a Tony Kushner play, after all. Thegay playwright has all but cornered the market on long playsthat reward thinking, even over-thinking, ever since his break-through masterpiece 20 years ago, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes — which, before it was a six-hour

miniseries on HBO, was two plays, each three hours long.However daunting The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide might

sound, you’ll ultimately nd it worth the effort. Director John Vreeke has assembled a ne cast of 11 actors who portraymembers of an Italian-American family and its assorted friendsand lovers. Tom Wiggin portrays family patriarch, Gus, who in2007 has summoned his three children to the family’s Brooklyn

brownstone to announce his plans to “liquidate and vacate” —that is, sell the house and commit suicide. A retired longshore-man and labor organizer, Gus feels like he’s spinning his senes-cent wheels. He’s also not particularly proud of the marks he’sleft on the world.

Most of the action takes place in the family’s parlor room andplays out like an Arthur Miller classic, exploring all manner oftopics — philosophical, political, personal. But the opposing con-cepts of freedom and oppression predominate, and even Gus’sdesire is portrayed in this light — he sees suicide as the only wayto gain a sense of freedom, while his children naturally see it asan oppressive act that will cause great distress.

Wiggin commands the stage as Gus, getting to the heart of acontradictory kind of character — the learned everyman. Susan

by DOUG RULE

stage

Josh Adams (L) and Lou Liberatore




Holiday Gift Guide




Rome puts up a good ght as his earnest bisexual daughter,Empty, who endeavors to “defeat death” by talking him out ofhis plans. Lisa Hodsoll plays Empty’s partner, Maeve, as less ofa monster and more personable than the character otherwisemight be in a different actor’s hands — while the opposite istrue of Lou Liberatore. He plays Gus’s gay son Pill as a weasellycharacter who struggles to connect with anyone and seeminglydisappoints everyone, including gay hustler Eli (Josh Adams),who falls for him. Speaking of struggling to connect, MichaelAnthony Williams is tyrannical as Pill’s lover Paul, making ithard to see any redeeming virtue.

It might take a theatergoer a while to connect overall to The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide , which is split into three actsby two 10-minute intermissions — and into scenes by JaredMezzocchi’s intriguing projected black-and-white cityscapeimages. The play’s rst act is convoluted and slow-to-rise. Butby the second act, a war of words and wills has broken out allover — at one point, there are four overlapping conversations— and you’ll be on the edge of your seat, enraptured by everywell-timed volley.

THE NEW MUSICAL Little Dancer , now having its world pre-miere at the Kennedy Center, tells the partly imagined story of

the girl who posed for Edgar Degas’s famous statue. It’s chieyset in and around the demimonde of the Paris Opera Ballet inthe 19th century.

As such, the musical is at its strongest and most originalwhen director and choreographer Susan Stroman incorporateselements of ballet, most notably during an extended sequencenear its end. Here, Tiler Peck, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, gets to display her dancing skills, as her char-

acter, the Young Marie, concisely conveys through movementeverything that we just saw and heard happen in the musical’spreceding two hours. It’s a rather unprecedented merger of twoparallel performance genres, and a dazzling display that almostmakes Little Dancer worth seeing all its own.

There are other aspects that make this production a worth-while trip to the theater — principally Beowulf Boritt’s grand,art-inspired sets, William Ivey Long’s equally imaginative cos-tumes and Stroman’s starry, strong-voiced cast. Boyd Gainesand especially Rebecca Luker are knockouts as Degas and AdultMarie, respectively. Other standouts include the charismaticJanet Dickinson, who brings artist Marie Cassatt vividly to life,and Jenny Powers, who as Antoinette is a dream of a bawdy,well-heeled older sister.

The show itself is on less solid footing. Stephen Flaherty hascomposed several great tunes (“Laundry,” “Little Opportunities”),but the score isn’t as distinguishable as the overall conceit. LynnAhrens’s book and lyrics, even less so. There’s also the unavoid-able creep factor, as a 14-year-old girl spends hours alone witha signicantly older man and is pursued by a couple others withfar more prurient interests. Still, if you can overlook that, Little

Dancer will surely pirouette its way to favor.

Little Dancer ( HHH HH ) runs to Sunday, Nov. 30 at the KennedyCenter Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $45 to $155. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialismwith a Key to the Scriptures ( HHHH H ) runs to Dec. 21 at Washington, D.C.’s Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. Tickets are $35 to$65. Call 202-518-9400 or visit washingtondcjcc.org. l






a French nobleman we rst meet as a child, navigating the corri-dors of the King’s palace. Here, his father is murdered, and Arno isadopted by Monsieur De La Serre, who, it transpires, is the GrandMaster of the Templars. De La Serre adopts Arno, despite knowingthat his father was an Assassin, with the Brotherhood of Assassinsbeing enemies to the Templars. Still with me? Good, because theseries’ lore is a little confusing after so many games. Flash forwardto Arno’s adult years. De La Serre is murdered and Arno is accused.In jail, he meets a member of the Brotherhood and so begins hisrise through the ranks of the Assassins.

In the early stages of the game in particular, Arno is a delight-ful character to play. He has some of the bravado and swaggerthat made Edward Kenway such fun to play in Black Flag , butwithout quite as much of the “my family is dead” misery ofConnor from Assassin’s Creed III . This is all toned down once heenters the Brotherhood, but in cutscenes and dialogue snippetsduring the game, Arno represents an amusing and interestingcharacter, even if his story can be boiled down to “seeks revenge,wants girl” — the girl in question being De La Serre’s daughterElise, now a member of the Templars.

Ubisoft have worked hard to x one of the series’ biggest bug-bears: the controls. Arno has a uidity to his movement, aided byfancy new animations and a newly added downward traversal

ability that makes descending from a height easier than jumpingfrom the building and praying you won’t die. Clambering acrossParisian rooftops, scampering up churches and diving throughopen windows — the city is littered with explorable interiorsthat can be used to effect an escape or wandered through to mar-vel at the interior design — is all made easier by improve collisiondetection and numerous grab points for Arno to cling to. Still,they’re not perfect. Too often, Arno will simply refuse to jumpthe way you’re directing him to, or he’ll grab the wrong objectand ruin the momentum you’ve built. Similarly, moving downbuildings remains a little janky, and Arno’s inability to effectivelymove into a window — instead preferring to jump around it —quickly becomes an irritance more than a humorous quirk.

The controls impact other areas of the game, as well. Stealth,in particular, is needlessly frustrating at times. Why can’t Arnomove around corners when in cover? It’s such a simple thingthat would make life so much easier, but instead you have toleave cover and move around the corner and then re-enter cover.He can already switch between covers — such as across door-ways — so is this really such a tough thing to implement? Objectdetection, too, is still less than perfect. All too often I’d run attwo guards, intending to kill them both, but the game would onlyhighlight one or the other. As the (admittedly lovely) animationplayed, showing Arno slicing his blade into one guard’s side, theother would invariably start hacking at Arno with his sword.

Combat is the usual parry and attack brand that series fanshave come to love or loathe. Attacks are mounted with X (onXbox One, which I reviewed the game on) and blocked with B.Pistol re is attributed to LB (and RT, if you prefer to manuallyaim) while bombs and distractions are dropped with RB. Onceagain, it’s possible to stand in the middle of a group of guardsand parry each incoming attack until you’ve killed everyone,though this hardly seems like the most rewarding way to do so.Instead, drop a smoke bomb and leg it out of there and then pickthem off one-by-one. This is when Unity is at its best, silentlykilling people from the shadows or leaping onto their headsfrom above. Guns work well here, too, such as sniping with arie, as do phantom blades, which can be silently red to kill, orberserk blades which can drive enemies insane and force themto kill their comrades so you don’t have to. When not trapped in

a group of enemies trying to slice and shoot you, Unity ’s combatis a lot of fun.

It’s aided by new, open-plan mission structures that activelyrewards exploration and experimentation. The story frequentlyplaces Arno into a giant set-piece and then tasks him with nd-ing his way to the target. Do you burst through the front door,slicing and shooting, killing guards until you reach your assas-sination target, or do you work your way to a window or balconyand silently slide past threats? Is there a distraction you canuse, such as blocking chimneys to ll passageways with smoke,or rescuing citizens from guards who will then help you ght?There’s a relative freedom to certain missions that task you withthinking through your objectives, and it makes for a welcomebreak from the rigid structure of the normal “tail this guy, thenkill him” or “go here, work your way through guards and kill thatguy” structure of other missions.

Your experimentation will get you Creed points, given toreward stylish kills or actions, such as vanishing from search-ing guards or successfully killing any enemies after you. Thesepoints, as well as Sync points earned while playing throughmissions and money collected from missions and side quests,can be spent on upgrading Arno and his abilities. Guns, swords,skills, costumes and gear can all be customized and adapted to

your playstyle — if you prefer pistols and wearing disguises, youcan upgrade Arno to match. If stealth kills and dropping fromheights is more your style, that’s an option, too. Even simplethings, like sitting between people on a bench to disappear fromguards, is now an upgradeable option. Of course, there’s a pay-to-win option, in the form of “Hack upgrades” available for everyitem, the points for which can be bought in-game for worryinglyhigh sums of real world money. They’re not necessary, though,so ignore them and your bank balance will be safe.

You can, of course, explore Unity ’s numerous side missionsto collect money and points to spend. There are dozens of activi-ties, from rift missions that throw you into Paris in the late 1800s(complete with Eiffel Tower), to riddles that require you to solve

increasingly difcult puzzles and send you hunting around Parisfor clues, to crowd events such as stopping criminals and thieves,to unlocking dozens of chests scattered around the city. You’llmeet a vast array of interesting characters — a personal favoritewas the delightfully sadistic Marquis de Sade — and you’ll seeevery inch of the big, beautiful map. If you prefer to play withfriends, there are co-op missions available, which are fun, dif-cult challenges that require proper teamwork to prevail. If one ofyou dies, the entire team fails, so communications and resourcesharing is key to ensure you successfully complete your objec-tives. Of course, if you’d rather just scamper around the city withfriends, that’s also supported — and jolly good fun.

Sadly, Unity is far from a perfect experience. It’s clear thatUbisoft is pushing each system to its max, but it’s also apparentthat the company gave up on some bug-testing and ne-tuning inthe interest of getting Unity out in time for the holidays.

For starters, while the game is gorgeous, it can slow downto a chugging crawl at times. One interior, in a church atop theAssassin’s base, was impossible to navigate as the framerateinexplicably slowed to an almost complete standstill. Similarly,it can plummet during cutscenes, in places with lots of people,and is particularly apparent when syncing viewpoints in each ofthe districts — there’s nothing pretty about the camera panningaround Paris when it does so at such a low framerate. Characteranimations are usually wonderful, with excellent detail, butyou’ll frequently see glitches, such as hair bouncing around dur-ing camera changes or body parts clipping through others. AI

continues on page 40




All in the WristThe Motorola Moto 360 pairs Android

Wear with a premium exterior to makethe best smartwatch you can buy

IN THE WORLD OF WATCHES, STYLE IS KING.Whether it’s rugged, sleek, waterproof or gold-plated, wewant whatever adorns our wrist to be a piece of jewellery,a fashion item others can glance at and learn a little more

about our personality. Whether it’s Breitling, Jaeger-Le Coultre,Casio, or that Mickey Mouse timepiece you’ve had for years, awatch — really, above all else — should look good on one’s wrist.Oh, and tell the time accurately. That’s also pretty important.

With smartwatches, however, form too often gives way tofunction. Samsung’s Gear devices are crammed with technologybut styled as an afterthought. Pebble’s watches are useful, butthey’re hardly sexy. The rst raft of Android Wear devices wereintended to showcase the software, but neglected the hardware(in my review of LG’s G Watch I described it as being “simplydull”). Even Apple’s Watch, which won’t launch until next year,isn’t the most attractive of devices. Despite what the hordes ofApple faithful will tell you when asked, on the (watch) face of it,it’s an uninspired design.

Of course, there is one smartwatch that does place a bigemphasis on style. It was one of three announced when AndroidWear launched, it was the one that drew the most intrigue, andthe one everyone interested in the platform was eager to gettheir hands on: Motorola’s Moto 360. Designed and built from

the ground up to look like a premium, elegant watch — completewith a traditional, round face — it radiated style and quality fromevery machined pore, at a price of just $249. It’s no wonderattendees of Google’s I/O conference gave it a standing ovationwhen they were told they’d be getting one for free. However, canthe 360 stand up to its own hype, and deliver a great smartwatch

experience where so many others have delivered merely an okayone? Well, the answer to that is a somewhat mixed bag of hard-ware and software limitations.

Let’s start with the hardware — and boy, is it a great pieceof hardware. Motorola currently offers the 360 in three colorchoices: light nish, dark nish and champagne, though inlayman’s terms, its stainless steel casing is either silver, blackor a very subtle gold. Straps are available in leather or metal —though the gold band is restricted to the slimmer, 18 mm style. Iopted for a light nish 360 with the grey leather band.

When rst taking it out of the box, it’s clear that the 360 isdifferent to its Android Wear brethren, and not just because itwas the rst round watch sporting the software — though it’snow joined by LG’s G Watch R in that category. It looks and feelslike something that should cost much more than $249. The silvernish of the casing is cool to the touch and captures the light, thesoft-touch Horween leather band creaks like leather should asit wraps around your wrist, the chamfered edges of the GorillaGlass screen feel exquisite as your nger slides over them. TheMoto 360 is a gorgeous piece of technology. Indeed, in the sprintto build the best-looking smartwatch, Motorola has easily out-maneuvered Apple in a race the Cupertino company would havebeen expected to win.

What about that 1.56-inch LCD display? It too is a sight tobehold. Its 320x290 resolution isn’t anything to write homeabout, but at this size, that still equates to a pixel-per-inch ratingof 205. If you’re wondering why the resolution isn’t a perfect

tech

by RHUARIDH MARR

MOTOROLA




320x320, given the screen is circular, that’s because the 360 hasa small strip at the bottom of the display that holds the displaydrivers and the ambient light sensor. Motorola claims it was nec-essary to avoid giving the 360 an unsightly bezel, but the tradeoffis a “at tire” effect when viewing the screen. In day-to-day use,however, you forget it’s there. As for the screen itself, it’s big,bright and colors are nicely balanced. The ambient light sensorallows for auto brightness to be used and — while occasionallyslow to detect when moving from bright to dark situations —makes the hassle of manually changing brightness on earlierWear devices a forgotten annoyance.

Underneath its polished exterior lies a mixed bag of hard-ware. There’s 4GB of storage and 512MB of RAM, much likeevery other Wear device, as well as sensors to detect movementand activity, including a pedometer and heart-rate monitor. The360 is water resistant for up to 30 minutes in three feet of water,and there’s wireless charging so you won’t have to ddle withany cables to replenish your watch’s power at night. And, indeed,you’ll have to charge it every night as the 360 has a tiny 320 mAhbattery. It’s not helped by the bizarre use of a TI OMAP 3 proces-sor — which is ancient in technology terms, hailing from 2010.Presumably it’s to help the 360’s cost, but it’s hardly the mostefcient processor. Indeed, swiping through Android Wear is

noticeably less uid than on the G Watch. Not enough to impactyour useage, but it’s apparent in comparison. What’s more, itmeans that charging every night is a requirement — though youwill at least get a full day’s use out of it. I took my 360 off thecharger at 8 a.m. and, after a day of notications, voice dictationand frequently checking the time, returned it to its chargingdock at midnight with 27 percent left. Your mileage will vary, butthe 360 can at least make it through an entire day — and unlessyou sleep with your watch on, taking it off and dropping it ontoits wireless dock is a simple solution, particularly as the watchcan be used as an alarm clock when in its dock.

As for Android Wear, well, there are still limitations. Headonline for my full review of the software (http://bit.ly/mwan-

droidwear), but sufce to say that it’s still in its early stages —though, even compared with launch this summer, it’s now in-nitely more useful. It still relies heavily on your smartphone formost tasks, but now users can download music to the watch andlisten to it with bluetooth headphones — useful if you’re goingfor a run or bike ride and don’t want your phone in your pocket.As Wear matures, more apps are being updated to use it. Indeed,most of the apps I use every day have some kind of functionality,whether it’s swiping to a second screen or offering interactionwith notications.

Emails can be read and responded to, as can messages fromtexts, Facebook and Whatsapp, among others. Workouts canbe started, runs can be logged, maps can be opened up anddirections given, music playback can be controlled, cars can beordered through Lyft, ight details and boarding passes can bedisplayed and so much more. Android Wear will only continueto improve, and the amount of times I pull my phone out of mypocket each day has been signicantly reduced as more appsstart to work with it. Google’s excellent voice dictation is obvi-ously key to this, as it’s your only means of responding to itemsor asking questions on the 360 — and the watch’s dual micro-phones means that it rarely fails to understand what I’m saying.

In day-to-day terms, the 360 is a joy to use. It helps that itsimply looks so damn good on the wrist. It’s sleek and modern,but still recognizable as a watch. Motorola continues to pushsoftware updates to the watch, which have helped with con-cerns over battery life and its aging processor. The real question,

though, is should you buy it? I’ll admit, I rarely wore a watchbefore I got the 360 — my phone was my preferred means of tell-ing the time. Now? I wear it every day. The sheer convenienceof seeing and responding to notications from your wrist can’tbe ignored, and when it’s operating through something whichlooks as good as the Moto 360, it makes it even more pleasur-able. Thanks to some of its internals, the 360’s beauty may onlybe skin-deep — but it’s gorgeous enough that you simply won’tcare. For $249, it’s the best smartwatch you can buy right now.

The Motorola Moto 360 starts at $249 and is available from theGoogle Play Store (play.google.com) and via motorola.com. l

continued from page 38

characters will frequently have moments where their program-ming seems to fail entirely — in one cutscene, a random Parisianwas having a heated argument with the wall right behind theman Arno was talking to. There are other technical issues, suchas unresponsive controls at times, or the world failing to loadproperly when coming out of a cutscene or changing locations,but none is more egregious than the loading times. Oh, god, theloading times. To call them obscene would be an understate-ment. When Grand Theft Auto V can stream the entirety of LosSantos without a loading screen, why on earth must I sit througha 20-40 second loading screen every time I move betweenexploring Paris and whatever it is that I’m loading into, be itthe Brotherhood’s base, or a training mission, or a rift mission.Loading times can often be longer than that, and are on numer-ous occasions entirely inexplicable. One training mission saw meghting enemies in the Cafe Theatre. Once it had ended, I sat forover half a minute while the game loaded — into the same damnlocation . Yes, you can run from one end of Paris to the otherwithout a loading screen, but it’s ruined every time you have tosit through the dark, unresponsive screen which greets you fartoo frequently during missions and cutscenes. It’s infuriating,and on consoles this powerful, inexcusable.

There are there bugbears, too, such as everyone havingregional English accents while the random characters on thestreets chatter away in French. Even Napoleon, who you meetduring the game, speaks with an English accent. It’s infuriat-ingly distracting. If everyone in the game spoke with an Englishaccent, or everyone spoke English with French inection, it’dbe ne, but this weird hybrid distracts more often than not.Similarly, the map is hideously cluttered with all of the availableicons and missions, though it thankfully can be sorted into cat-egories, and there are random difculty spikes during missionswhich can seriously punish you if you’re caught off-guard.

That said, Unity does succeed where I thought it might fail.Its Parisian setting, while slow to load, is so gorgeously detailedand lled with activities, I’ve still yet to see and do everythingit has to offer. Its story, while far from original, is fun to rompthrough. Side missions are interesting, co-op play is an excellentdistraction and Revolutionary France is an interesting settingfor the game. My time in Unity was not one without frustrations,but unlike previous entries in the series, they weren’t sufcientto actually drive me from the game. Yes, it could have used a fewmore months of testing and optimizing, and yes, you’ll have toendure several large patches as Ubisoft tries to x problems to justify the $60 you’ll spend buying the game, but at the end ofit all, Unity remains a big, beautiful, bountiful world to play in.

Assassin’s Creed: Unity ( HHHH H ) retails for $59.99 and is avail-able on PS4, Xbox One and PC. l





by ??????

pets

42 NOVEMBER 27, 2014 METROWEEKLY.COM42 NOVEMBER 27, 2014 METROWEEKLY.COM

Gazpacho, Mojito and Lumpia“Our pets are like people. Gazpacho, the cream one, is 15, so he’s theold grumpy one, yet still runs around like he’s a puppy. Mojito, the tanone, is the coy one who plays dumb to get things. Then there’s Lumpia,the only girl, who is just one year old, but is already showing the othertwo that she’s queen bee.”

Reggie & Travis Reyes’s 15-year-old Chihuahuas

P e t P i x P e t P i x

Up loa d y o u rs a t M e troW e e kly .c o m / p e ts

which case, especially with short-haired, skinny dogs, or thoseolder ones suffering from arthritis, Calabro recommends morefrequent but shorter trips outside — enough to “still get a decentamount of daily activity and daily walking in.”

5. ALL ABOUT THAT PAWIf you don’t clean your pet’s paws after a walk, they’ll likely dothe deed with their tongue — and licking too much Ice Melt cancause upset stomachs and digestive problems. The chemicalsused in snow and ice removal and the overall dry air outsidecan also cause paw irritation. For more sensitive dogs, Calabrorecommends “putting booties on them, as silly as they look.” Ifyou or your dog won’t allow the wearing of silly booties, then youshould wipe their paws clean after walks with at least a damp,clean rag. Rubbing baby oil or Vaseline either pre- or post-walkon a dog’s paws can also help keep them free of slushy buildup,Lipincott recommends. It can also help keep pads from dryingout and cracking.

6. SEASONAL GROOMINGIn addition to Vaseline, consider trimming the hair on a dog’stoes every winter to keep the area clean and clear, says Calabro.She also recommends bathing your pet less often in the dry, win-

ter months, using a moisturizing shampoo, and brushing themregularly between baths.

7. ALWAYS USE A (TICK) CONDOM“I do recommend continuing ea and tick prophylacticsthroughout the year,” Calabro says. In part because some tickssurvive into the winter, but also because it’s harder to forgetwhen you squirt your pet with medicine routinely the same



by ??????

43METROWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 27, 2014 43METROWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 27, 2014

day and time every month.

8. SKULL AND CROSSBONESThere’s a whole list of things your pet shouldn’t eat becausethey’re toxic — and yet might, given the indulgent nature of theholidays. Friendship Hospital sees an uptick in pets brought inover the holidays after they’ve consumed chocolate, fatty turkeyskin or grapes, among other human food no-nos. This time ofyear it’s also important to keep your pet away from rat poison— or take them to the hospital right away if they ingest some.Just as with antifreeze, exposure to rat poison can be fatal if nottreated promptly.

9. HELP IS STANDING BY“We are the only 24-hour [animal] hospital inside the Beltway,”Calabro says. In fact, Friendship Hospital is currently expandingits large Tenleytown complex and will soon have even more staffworking in more specialties. Meanwhile, WHS works with thecity government to enforce the city’s animal cruelty laws and toprovide shelter to all animals in need. It’s the place to call 24/7,according to Lippincott, “if an animal is…in some form of distress[or] if you have any concern about an animal you see that maynot be getting the proper requirements in the cold months, or

anytime.”

Friendship Hospital for Animals is at 4105 Brandywine St. NW.Call 202-363-7300 or visit friendshiphospital.com.

The Washington Humane Society’s main shelter is at 1201 NewYork Ave. NE. Call 202-723-5730 to report cruelty, or visitwashhumane.org. l





NIGHTLIFE

45METROWEEKLY.COM

THURS., 11.27.14 9 1/2Doors open 7pm • HappyHour: 2 for 1 on any drink,7-9pm • Multiple TVsshowing movies, shows,sports • Expanded craftbeer selection • No Cover

LISTINGS ANNIE’S/ANNIE’SUPSTAIRS4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm• $4 Small Plates, $4 StellaArtois, $4 House Wines,$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,$4 Manhattans and VodkaMartinis COBALT/30 DEGREESHappy Hour: $6 CallMartini, $3 Miller Lite, $4Rail, $5 Call, 7-9pm • $3Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,

$5 Red Bull, Gatoradeand Frozen Virgin Drinks• Locker Room ThursdayNights • DJs Sean Morrisand MadScience • RippedHot Body Contest at mid-night, hosted by SashaJ. Adams and Ba’Naka •$200 Cash Prize • Doorsopen 10pm, 18+ • $5 Coverunder 21 and free withcollege ID

FREDDIE’S BEACH BARThanksgiving Buffet, 11am• Crazy Hour, 4-7pm •Karaoke, 9pm

GREEN LANTERNDoors Open 9pm • 2 FullHours of Shirtless MenDrink Free, 9-11pm • Musicby DJs BacK2bACk

JR.’SDoors open 7pm • $3Rail Vodka Highballs, $2

JR.’s drafts, 8pm to close• Halloween-themedThrowback Thursday featur-ing rock/pop retro hits

NELLIE’S SPORTS BARDoors open 4pm •Featuring DJ Lemz •BeatThe Clock Happy Hour —$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), $4(7-8pm) • Buckets of Beer$15 • Drag Bingo

NUMBER NINEDoors open 7pm • HappyHour: 2 for 1 on any drink,7-9pm • No Cover ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETSAll male, nude dancers •New Meat Thursday • DJTim-e in Secrets • 9pm •Cover 21+






DC BEAR CRUE@Town • Bear HappyHour, 6-11pm • $3 Rail,$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles •Free Pizza, 7pm • Hostedby Charger Stone • Nocover before 9:30pm • 21+ FREDDIE’S BEACH BARCrazy Hour, 4-7pm •Karaoke, 9pm

GREEN LANTERNBOOM Go-Go Bears, 10pm-close • Hot Jock Contesthosted by Danny “Boom” •Featuring DJ Chord Bezerra• $5 Smirnoff, All Flavors,10pm-close

JR.’SBuy 1, Get 1, 11pm-mid-night • Happy Hour: 2-for-

1, 4-9pm • $5 Coronas, $8Vodka Red Bulls, 9pm-close

NELLIE’S SPORTS BARDJ Matt Bailer • Videos,Dancing • Beat The ClockHappy Hour — $2 (5-6pm),$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) •Buckets of Beer $15 • DJJeff Pryor

FRI., 11.28.14 9 1/2Open at 5pm • Happy Hour:2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm• Friday Night Videos with

resident DJ Shea Van Horn• VJ • Expanded craft beerselection • No cover ANNIE’S4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm •$4 Small Plates, $4 StellaArtois, $4 House Wines,$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,$4 Manhattans and VodkaMartinis • Upstairs open5-11pm

COBALT/30 DEGREESAll You Can Drink HappyHour • $15 Rail &Domestic, $21 Call &Imports, 6-9pm • GuysNight Out • Free RailVodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6Belvedere Vodka Drinksall night • DJ Keenan Orrand guest DJs • $10 cover10pm-1am, $5 after 1am

NUMBER NINEOpen 5pm • Happy Hour: 2for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm •No Cover

PHASE 1DJ Styalo • Dancing •$5 cover

PW’S SPORTS BAR9855 Washington Blvd. NLaurel, Md.301-498-4840Drag Show in lounge •Half-price burgers and fries,4-8pm

TOWNDrag Show starts at10:30pm • Hosted by LenaLett and featuring MissTatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Epiphany B. Lee

and Ba’Naka • DJ Wessupstairs, BacK2bACkdownstairs • Doors openat 10pm • For those 21 andover, $5 from 10-11pm and$10 after 11pm • For those18-20, $12 all night • 18+

TOWN PATIOOpen 6pm • 21+

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETSAll male, nude dancers,hosted by LaTroya Nicole •Ladies of Illusion with hostKristina Kelly, 9pm • DJSteve Henderson in Secrets• DJ Joey O in Ziegfeld’s •Cover 21+

SAT., 11.29.14 9 1/2Open at 5pm • Happy Hour:2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm• $5 Absolut & Tito’s, $3Miller Lite after 9pm •Expanded craft beer selec-tion • No Cover

COBALT/30 DEGREESDrag Yourself to Brunch atLevel One, 11am-2pm and2-4pm • Featuring KristinaKelly and the Ladies ofIllusion • BottomlessMimosas and Bloody Marys• Happy Hour: $3 MillerLite, $4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm

• Sizzling Saturdays withMusic by DJ MadScience,10-close • $5 Rail, $4Fireball, $8 Vodka and RedBull • $5 Cover after 10pm• 21+

FREDDIE’S BEACH BARDiner-style BreakfastBuffet, 10am-3pm •Crazy Hour, 4-7pm •Freddie’s Follies DragShow 8pm-10pm, hostedby Ms. Destiny B. Childs •Karaoke, 10pm-1am GREEN LANTERNHappy Hour, 4-9pm • $5Bacardi, All Flavors, 9pm-close

JR.’S$4 Coors, $5 Vodka high-

balls, $7 Vodka Red Bulls NELLIE’SGuest DJs • Zing ZangBloody Marys, Nellie Beer,House Rail Drinks andMimosas, $4, 11am-5pm •Buckets of Beer, $15

NUMBER NINEHappy Hour: 2 for 1 on anydrink, 5-9pm • No Cover

PHASE 1Dancing, 9pm-close PW’S SPORTS BARKaraoke in the lounge •Charity Bingo with CashPrizes 3rd Sat. of EveryMonth • Half-price chees-esteaks and fries, 4-8pm TOWN DC Rawhides host Town& Country: Two-Step, LineDancing, Waltz and WestCoast Swing, $5 Cover tostay all night • Doors open6:45pm, Lessons 7-8pm,Open dance 8-10:30pm• CTRL Pop Dance Party,

11-close upstairs • Doorsopen 10pm • Drag Showstarts at 10:30pm • Hostedby Lena Lett and featuringMiss Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Epiphany B. Lee andBa’Naka • Music and vid-eos by DJ Wess downstairs• Cover $8 from 10-11pm,$12 after 11pm • 21+

47

METROWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 27, 2014

scene


smartphonefor bonus scene

pics online!

Freddie’s Beach BarSunday, November 23




TOWN PATIOOpen 10pm • 21+ ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETSMen of Secrets, 9pm •Guest dancers • Ladies

of Illusion with host EllaFitzgerald, 9pm • DJ SteveHenderson in Secrets •DJ Joey O in Ziegfeld’s •Doors 8pm • Cover 21+

SUN., 11.30.14 9 1/2Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on anydrink, 5-9pm • MultipleTVs showing movies,shows, sports • Expandedcraft beer selection • NoCover COBALT/30 DEGREES$4 Stoli and Miller Lite allday • Homowood Karaoke,10pm-close FREDDIE’S BEACH BARChampagne Brunch Buffet,10am-3pm • Crazy Hour,4-7pm • Karaoke 8pm-1am

GREEN LANTERNHappy Hour, 4-9pm •Bears Can Party featuringDJ Jeff Eletto upstairs,6-10pm • Mama’s TrailerPark Karaoke downstairs,

9:30pm-close

JR.’SSunday Funday • LiquidBrunch • Doors open at1pm • $2 Coors Lights &$3 Skyy (all avors), all dayand night NELLIE’SDrag Brunch, hosted byShi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm• $20 Brunch Buffet •House Rail Drinks, ZingZang Bloody Marys, NellieBeer and Mimosas, $4,11am-close • Buckets ofBeer, $15 NUMBER NINEPop Goes the World withWes Della Volla at 9:30pm • Happy Hour: 2 for1 on any drink, 5-9pm •No Cover

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETSAll male, nude dancers •Decades of Dance • DJTim-e in Secrets • Doors8pm • Cover 21+

MON., 12.01.14 9 1/2Open at 5pm • Happy Hour:2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm• Multiple TVs showingmovies, shows, sports •Expanded craft beer selec-tion • No Cover ANNIE’S4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm •$4 Small Plates, $4 StellaArtois, $4 House Wines,$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,$4 Manhattans and Vodka

Martinis




COBALT/30 DEGREESHappy Hour: $2 Rail, $3Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm• Monday Night’s A Drag,10pm-close • $3 SkyyCocktails, $8 Skyy and Red

Bull • No Cover, 18+

FREDDIE’SCrazy Hour, 4-7pm •Karaoke, 9pm GREEN LANTERNHappy Hour, 4pm-close• Michael’s Open MicKaraoke, 9:30pm-close

JR.’SHappy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm• Showtunes Songs &Singalongs, 9pm-close •DJ Jamez • $3 Drafts NELLIE’S SPORTS BARBeat The Clock Happy Hour— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets ofBeer $15 • Poker TexasHold’em, 8pm

NUMBER NINEOpen 5pm • Happy Hour: 2for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm •No Cover

TUES., 12.02.14 9 1/2Open at 5pm • Happy Hour:2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm• Multiple TVs showingmovies, shows, sports •Expanded craft beer selec-tion • No Cover ANNIE’SHappy Hour, 4-7pm • $4Stella Artois, $4 HouseWines, $4 StolichnayaCocktails, $4 Manhattansand Vodka Martinis COBALT/30 DEGREESHappy Hour: $2 Rail, $3Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm• SIN Industry Night •Half-price Cocktails, 10pm-close

FREDDIE’S BEACH BARCrazy Hour, 4-7pm •Karaoke, 9pm

GREEN LANTERNHappy Hour, 4pm-close

JR.’SUnderground (Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock), 9pm-close • DJWes Della Volla • 2-for-1,all day and night NELLIE’S SPORTS BARBeat The Clock Happy Hour— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets ofBeer $15 • Karaoke NUMBER NINEOpen 5pm • Happy Hour: 2for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm •No Cover • Safe Word: AGay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm• Prizes to top threespellers • After 9pm, $3Absolut, Bulleit & Stella

WED., 12.03.14 9 1/2Open at 5pm • Happy Hour:2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm• Multiple TVs showing

movies, shows, sports •Expanded craft beer selec-tion • No Cover ANNIE’SHappy Hour, 4-7pm • $4Stella Artois, $4 HouseWines, $4 StolichnayaCocktails, $4 Manhattansand Vodka Martinis COBALT/30 DEGREESHappy Hour: $2 Rail, $3Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm• Karaoke, 10pm-close• $4 Stoli & Flavors andMiller Lite

FREDDIE’S BEACH BARCrazy Hour, 4-7pm • DragBingo, 8pm • Karaoke,10pm

GREEN LANTERNHappy Hour, 4-9pm • TheBoys of Hump upstairs, 9pm

JR.’STrivia with MC Jay Ray,

8pm • The Queen, 10-11pm• $2 JR’s Drafts & $4Vodka ($2 with College I.D./JR’s Team Shirt) NELLIE’S SPORTS BARBeat The Clock Happy Hour— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),$4 (7-8pm) • Half-PriceBurger Night • Bucketsof Beer $15 • SmartAssTrivia, 8pm NUMBER NINEOpen 5pm • Happy Hour: 2for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm •No Cover

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETSAll male, nude dancers •Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,12-12:30am • MilitaryNight, no cover withmilitary ID • DJ Don T. in

Secrets • 9pm • Cover 21+

THURS., 12.04.14 9 1/2Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on anydrink, 5-9pm • MultipleTVs showing movies,shows, sports • Expandedcraft beer selection • NoCover ANNIE’S/ANNIE’SUPSTAIRS4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm• $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella

Artois, $4 House Wines,$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,$4 Manhattans and VodkaMartinis




COBALT/30 DEGREESHappy Hour: $6 CallMartini, $3 Miller Lite, $4Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm • $3Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,$5 Red Bull, Gatoradeand Frozen Virgin Drinks• Locker Room ThursdayNights • DJs Sean Morrisand MadScience • RippedHot Body Contest at mid-night, hosted by SashaJ. Adams and Ba’Naka •$200 Cash Prize • Doorsopen 10pm, 18+ • $5 Coverunder 21 and free withcollege ID

FREDDIE’S BEACH BARCrazy Hour, 4-7pm •Karaoke, 9pm GREEN LANTERN

Happy Hour, 4-9pm • FreePizza Thursday, 9-10pm •Shirtless Scandals RugbyTeam sells Jell-O Shots •Shirtless Men Drink Free,10-11pm • Music by DJsBacK2bACk

JR.’S$3 Rail Vodka Highballs, $2JR.’s drafts, 8pm to close •Throwback Thursday featur-ing rock/pop retro hits NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

Beat The Clock Happy Hour— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets ofBeer $15 • Drag Bingo NUMBER NINEHappy Hour: 2 for 1 on anydrink, 5-9pm • No Cover ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETSAll male, nude dancers •Shirtless Thursday • DJTim-e in Secrets • 9pm •Cover 21+l







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

sceneFreddie’s Beach BarSunday, November 23


scan this tagwith yoursmartphonefor bonus scenepics online!






“We never really went out of our way to decide on the sex of [Toad and Toadette],

even though they have somewhat gendered appearances.”—KOICHI HAYASHIDA , producer of Nintendo’s Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and director of Super Mario Galaxy 2 , somewhat

altering all of our childhood memories in an interview with Gamespot. Hayashida conrmed that the characters of Toad andToadette from the Mario series of games, typically presented as male and female, are in fact genderless.

“If I had it my way,

I never would have done it the way I did.”— MICHAEL SAM , the NFL’s rst openly gay player, speaking with GQ. Sam expressed regret over his coming out being publicly

announced, stating that, while he has no regrets, he’d have preferred his sexuality to have been known to his teammates but notto the entire world. “But the recruiters knew, and reporters knew, and they talked to each other, and it got out,” he told the

magazine. Several critics have argued that Sam, who was recently cut from the Dallas Cowboys,would still have a team had he not come out.

“We look forward to the opportunity to

clear his name.”—KRISTEN WINEMILLER , a lawyer for Terrence “Terry” Bean, who helped establish the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the Gay& Lesbian Victory Fund and the National Gay Games, speaking in the wake of accusations that Bean had sex with a 15-year-old

minor, The Oregonian reports. Bean and his former boyfriend are accused of using Grindr to set upan encounter with the minor in Eugene, Ore., in September last year.

“ Initially I came to this community searching for love, intimacy and brotherhood. In return,

I got shade, indelity, loneliness and disunity.”— LUIS PABON , writing for Thought Catalog in a piece titled “Why I No Longer Want To Be Gay.” Pabon maintains he has

“experienced all aspects of the life and can safely say that it no longer speaks to the person that I am,” before listing the various problems he has with the gay community, including its adherence to stereotypes, the decline of chivalry, and the rise in apps over

in-person conversations. Pabon ends by saying: “The gay life is like the love of a bad boy whose attention andlove you initially covet but eventually outgrow.”

“I am disgusted.”—STACY DEE HUDSON , friend of Jennifer Gable — a 32-year-old trans woman from Idaho who died suddenly of an aneurysm inOctober — writing on her Facebook. The Miami Herald reported that Hudson was upset Gable’s family chose to bury her as

“Geoff,” despite Gable having changed her name and lived as Jennifer for several years. “They cut her hair, suit on. How can theybury her as geoff [sic] when she legally changed her name.” Meghan Stabler, a board member of HRC, stated, “No mention of the

woman she knew she was...Just erosion of her identity.”







Documents

Metro Weekly - 11-27-14 - Marc Solomon