metro weekly - 04-23-15 - alex newell and the trevor project

8/9/2019 Metro Weekly - 04-23-15 - Alex Newell and the Trevor Project

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRandy Shulman

ART DIRECTORTodd Franson

NEWS & BUSINESS EDITORJohn Riley

ASSISTANT EDITORRhuaridh Marr

CONTRIBUTING EDITORDoug Rule

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERSWard Morrison, Julian Vankim

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORScott G. Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSChristian Gerard, Troy Petenbrink,

Kate Wingfield

WEBMASTERDavid Uy

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTJulian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHERRandy Shulman

BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETINGChristopher Cunetto

Cunetto Creative

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVERivendell Media Co.

212-242-6863

DISTRIBUTION MANAGERDennis Havrilla

PATRON SAINTTyler Clementi

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYRicky Middlesworth

METRO WEEKLY1425 K St. NW, Suite 350Washington, DC 20005

202-638-6830

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All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be

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8

APRIL 23, 2015Volume 21 / Issue 50

NEWS 10

CONTENTIOUS CONTENDERS by Rhuaridh Marr

12 FIGHTING FOR R ECOGNITION

by John Riley

14 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SCENE 18 EQUALITY VA’S 12TH ANNUAL

COMMONWEALTH DINNER

photography by Ward Morrison

FEATURES 20 UNIQUELY ALEX

by Doug Rule

24 LIFE SAVERS

by John Riley

OUT ON THE TOWN 28 DAME EDNA

by Randy Shulman

30 CHRISTOPHER DURANG

by Randy Shulman

FOOD

35

HANK

’S

O YSTER

BAR

by Doug Rule

TECH 37 SONY Z4

by Rhuaridh Marr

HOME 39 POCKET GARDEN

by Doug Rule

NIGHTLIFE 43 CHERRY GRAVITY AT

THE HOWARD THEATRE


SCENE 50 GRAND OPENING OF

R OCK HARD SUNDAYS AT

THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB


SCENE 52 TOWN AND COUNTRY AT TOWN

photography by Christopher Cunetto

54 LAST WORD


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Contentious ContendersTen potential Republican presidential candidates and their varying viewson LGBT rights

(L-R top) - Bush, Christie, Cruz, Fiorina, Huckabee (L-R bottom) Jindal, Paul, Perry, Rubio, Walker

by Rhuaridh Marr

THE GRANITE STATE, AND

its 1.3 million inhabitants,enjoy something of an over-

inflated sense of self worthevery four years. Each Presidential elec-

tion cycle, parties both left and rightdescend on New Hampshire to pander to

its residents, eager to sell their policies,

personalities and political ambitions tovoters. New Hampshire’s status as the

first stop on each party’s primary electiontour of America is so coveted, ensuring it

remains so is enshrined in state law. Thatit also brings with it hefty doses of politi-

cal backhanding, bickering and, in the

case of the a recent Republican gatheringin the state, all-out war against oppo-

nents is merely icing on the granite cake.

Over the weekend, at the elegantlytitled First-in-the-Nation RepublicanLeadership Summit — a fundraiser orga-

nized by the state’s Republican denomi-nation — nineteen potential candidates

for the GOP presidential ticket took to

the stage. Political heavyweights stoodalongside fresh-faced newcomers, all

eager to appeal to conservative voters,the middle class, and those tasked with

sealing their fates: the New Hampshireelectorate. What did it entail? Good, ol’

fashioned Clinton and Obama bashing,

of course. Taking jabs at the currentpresident and the presumptive nominee

for the Democrats, Republican hopefulstackled the economy, foreign policy and

social issues.Perhaps expectedly, LGBT issues

weren’t on the cards, though the issuewasn’t too far from the minds of candi-

dates. Hillary Clinton recently confirmed

that she fully supports same-sex mar-riage from a constitutional standpoint, so

it now falls to the GOP to convince LGBTvoters that they can in any way appeal to

them (Log Cabin Republicans notwith-

G A G E S K I D M O R E

standing). Unfortunately, for the major-

ity who took to the stage, appeasing gayscouldn’t be any further from their to-do

lists. With that in mind, we’ve brokendown ten of the most prominent (read:

electable) GOP contenders and their per-sonal views on LGBT matters.

JEB BUSH — The third Bush hoping to takethe White House, Jeb hasn’t announced

he’s running, but, like Clinton, it’s prettymuch assumed. Bush has a rocky history

with LGBT rights. Writing in the Miami Herald in 2004, he argued that gay people,

or “sodomy,” shouldn’t “be elevated tothe same constitutional status as race and

religion.” Still, he’s softened of late. He

now supports anti-discrimination mea-sures for sexual orientation, and when

Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage wasruled unconstitutional by a federal court,

he took a balanced view on the matter.“We live in a democracy, and regardless

of our disagreements, we have to respect

the rule of law,” he said. “I hope that wecan show respect for the good people

on all sides of the gay and lesbian mar-riage issue.” Another clue that Bush may

be evolving on LGBT issues? His cam-paign staff apparently includes several

pro-gay rights Republicans, according toBuzzfeed.

CHRIS CHRISTIE — New Jersey’s Governor,who’s battled Bridgegate, Hurricane

Sandy and numerous barbed commentsabout his weight, has a mixed histo-

ry on supporting the gay community.

As governor, in 2013 he approved NewJersey’s ban on gay “conversion” therapy

for minors, and told CNN in 2011 thathe believes homosexuality is innate. “If

someone is born that way, it’s very dif-ficult to say then that that’s a sin,” he

said. Still, when it comes to marriage,Christie is happy to toe the religious

and party line. After his state was forcedto recognize same-sex marriages by a

federal court in 2013, Christie accepted

the ruling, but when the Supreme Courtdeclined to hear arguments on same-sex

marriage laws last year — clearing the

L G B TNews Now online at MetroWeekly.comX-Men’s Iceman comes out in new comicReba sounds off in favor of marriage equality


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LGBTNews

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BOBBY JINDAL — In Louisiana, where the

majority still oppose same-sex marriage,the governor’s views on the matter should

surprise no one. “I do believe marriage isbetween a man and a woman,” Jindal

told the Washington Examiner last year.“I’m not a weather vane on this issue and

I’m not going to change my position.”

That’ll be that, then.

RAND PAUL — “I don’t think I’ve ever usedthe word gay rights, because I don’t really

believe in rights based on your behavior,”said the Libertarian conservative and Tea

Party supporter Rand Paul, Senator fromKentucky, in a video interview unearthed

by Buzzfeed. Curiously, however, Paul

opposed a nationwide ban on same-sexmarriage, telling Bloomberg in 2013 that

he believes it should be left to the states todecide. This year, he told CNN that he sup-

ported contracts between same-sex peo-

ple, separate from marriage, which wouldallow equal treatment under the law.

RICK PERRY — Let’s ignore Perry’s obvi-

ously anti-gay politics, including defend-ing Texas’ anti-sodomy law before it was

struck down, supporting the Scouts’ banon gay members, and generally opposing

same-sex marriage, and instead focus ona somewhat prescient statement he made

in his 2010 book Fed Up! “Gay marriage

will soon be the policy of the UnitedStates.... because judges will declare it

so,” he wrote. In February, this year, afederal judge struck down his state’s ban

on same-sex marriage — it now awaits anappeal by Perry and his attorney general

to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

MARCO RUBIO — Florida’s freshman

Senator is an oddity, initially. SpoutingObama-aping rhetoric as he makes his

case for President, the staunchly conser-vative Rubio doesn’t think same-sex mar-

riage is a constitutional right and believesstates should regulate it. However, he

told CBS that he isn’t “against gay mar-

riage,” but believes it should be betweena man and a woman. He told Fusion this

month that he would attend the same-sex marriage of a relative or staffer, say-

ing “I’m not going to hurt them simplybecause I disagree with a choice they’ve

made,” clarifying to CBS that he believes

“sexual preference is something that peo-ple are born with.” However, Rubio isn’t

going to wave a pride flag anytime soon.He opposed ENDA, supported DOMA,

told Fox News he approves of “religiousfreedom” laws, and called children of

way for dozens of state’s to legalize it —

he objected. “I do not believe that this issomething that should be imposed from

the United States Supreme Court down

to the states,” he said, instead preferringthat it be left to the states to decide.

TED CRUZ — The Tea Party darling and

Texas Senator loathes gay people andtheir insatiable quest for equal recogni-

tion under the law. He believes beinggay is a choice, that marriage should

be restricted to heterosexual couples,

called the Supreme Court’s decision toallow federal decisions supporting same-

sex marriage to stand “tragic and inde-fensible,” and described the desire for

marriage equality as “heartbreaking”while trying to gain support for his State

Marriage Defense Act, which would pro-hibit federal agencies from recognizing

same-sex marriages in states where they

aren’t yet legal. Cruz in the White Housewould be catastrophic for gay rights.

CARLY FIORINA — If you haven’t heard of

the former HP CEO, you’re not alone.In a recent CNN poll, just two percent

supported her should she decide to run

for the country’s highest office. Fiorinahas zero experience in public office, and

her tenure at HP saw her called one ofAmerica’s worst CEOs by CBS, CNBC and

USA Today — not the best backgroundfor running a country. What about the

gay community? “I do believe that mar-riage is between a man and a woman, but

also have been consistent and clear that

I support civil unions for gay and lesbiancouples,” she said in 2010, according to

Huffington Post. She also supported therepeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. However,

she voted for Proposition 8, opposesENDA, and told The Christian Post in

February that she believes a Supreme

Court decision on same-sex marriage is“the worst thing [they] can do right now.”

MIKE HUCKABEE — “I feel homosexuality

is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful life-style.” Those remarks, from an AP ques-

tionnaire in 1992, say all there is to knowabout the man who signed Arkansas’

same-sex marriage ban into law while

governor, opposes gay adoption, com-pared gay people to drug users and those

who practice incest in an interview witha New Jersey student publication, and

told CNN this year that he toleratessame-sex people in the same way he does

those who drink and curse.

LGBT parents “a social experiment,”

according to HRC. Not such an oddity,after all.

SCOTT WALKER — Not one to be outdone

by a young upstart like Rubio, Walkerannounced to MSNBC last week that he

had attended the wedding reception of

a gay family member. Note, however,

that he didn’t attend the wedding itself,and stated “my position on marriage isstill that it’s defined between a man and

a woman.” Wisconsin’s Governor alsosought to defend his state’s ban on same-

sex marriage as federal courts tore it

down and supported Indiana’s “religiousfreedom” law, even though his own state

has fairly robust anti-gay discrimina-tion laws. Indeed, in an interview with

conservative radio show “Insight 2015,”Walker saw gay people — who faced

being refused service in Indiana because

of their sexuality — as “chronically look-ing for ways to be upset about things.”

Inequality tends to make people upset,Governor. l

Fighting forRecognition

Status of LGBT student groups maybe headed for a court fight after

Congress decides not to pursueoverturn of D.C. bill

by John Riley

THIS WEEK SIGNIFIED A VIC-

tory for CUAllies, the unofficialLGBT campus group at The

Catholic University of America. Butwhether the group and its allies in the

larger LGBT community have won the

war, or merely a minor skirmish, remainsunknown for the time being.

CUAllies has been seeking official rec-ognition from the university, which was

founded on Roman Catholic principles,for the past decade. Although the univer-

sity had an officially recognized LGBTgroup from the 1980s through the early

2000s, newer generations of adminis-

trators have resisted attempts to allowsuch a group to reconstitute in an official

capacity.Now, by dint of a failure to act by

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expressed hope that the prohibition on

discrimination would encourage univer-sity administrators to work more col-

laboratively to reach an understandingwith CUAllies as to its official status and

ability to access university resources.Backman isn’t naive — she pointed out

that university administrators at Catholic

have relished being confrontational andare quick to react to any perceived slight

or action that they feel defies Churchteaching — and nor has she taken any

options off the table when it comes tolegal action.

CUAllies broached the idea of work-ing with the lawyer who successfully

argued the 1987 Georgetown case to

help the CUAllies achieve its ultimategoal of official recognition. Backman

believes CUA should follow the exampleof Georgetown, which, in the years fol-

lowing its loss in the lawsuit, has become

more tolerant and willing to embraceLGBT rights without betraying the

school’s core Catholic beliefs.Backman isn’t the only one willing

to reserve the option of a court fight.In an op-ed titled “Disagreement is

not discrimination,” which appearedin The Washington Post last weekend,

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishopof Washington, and John Garvey, the

president of The Catholic University of

America, argued that they believe theyare in the right and should not be forced

to give equal time or resources to groupswhose mission is opposed to Catholic

teaching.“[The Human Rights Amendment law]

says that religious institutions are guilty

of discrimination against gay and lesbianstudent groups if...they deny them the

same ‘rights and facilities as other offi-cially recognized student groups,’” Wuerl

and Garvey wrote. “[I]t seems peculiar tosay that the church discriminates, in some

morally objectionable way, by decliningto give official support to groups that hold

views opposed to its own.”

While Wuerl and Garvey’s op-ed wassent to press prior to the OGR com-

mittee’s announcement that it wouldnot pursue a resolution of disapproval,

Catholic University was still standing bythe sentiment previously penned by its

president, raising the specter of a drawn-

out legal fight.“We do not expect to change our poli-

cies regardless of the fate of the resolu-tion of disapproval, though of course

we very much support its passage,”CUA’s spokesman, Victor Nakas, said in

Congress, CUAllies hopes it has gained

the upper hand against the administra-tion in its struggle to be recognized.

The reason? A bill recently passed by

the D.C. Council last December, knownas the Human Rights Amendment Act.

That bill, which was signed into law byMayor Muriel Bowser (D) earlier this

year, amends the District’s longstandingand comprehensive Human Rights Act

by eliminating a provision that exemptedreligiously-affiliated educational institu-

tions from having to abide by nondis-

crimination provisions in the HumanRights Act that pertain to sexual orienta-

tion and gender identity.Known as the Armstrong Amendment,

the exemption had been forced upon theDistrict by Congress in 1989, in response

to a 1987 appeals court decision that ruled

that Georgetown University, anotherCatholic educational institution, had vio-

lated the Human Rights Act by denyingequal treatment to a gay student group.

It states that schools or universitiesaffiliated with major religions may “deny,

restrict, abridge, or condition the use ofany fund, service, facility, or benefit, or

the granting of any endorsement, approv-

al, or recognition” to groups engaged inthe promotion of homosexuality.

By removing the ArmstrongAmendment, the D.C. Council stoked the

ire of conservative groups and lawmak-ers in Congress, with Sens. Ted Cruz

(R-Tx.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.)introducing a “resolution of disapprov-al” in the Senate, and U.S. Rep. Vicki

Hartzler (R-Mo.) introducing a similarmeasure in the House of Representatives.

Because D.C. laws are subject to congres-sional review, a resolution is essentially

a backdoor tactic by which Congress canattempt to overturn a law it dislikes.

But on Friday, April 17, the hopes of

social conservatives successfully over-turning the Council bill appeared to

have been extinguished when the HouseOversight and Government Reform

Committee, which oversees Districtaffairs, announced it would not mark up

Hartzler’s resolution. Although the reso-

lution would likely have failed to garnerthe necessary signatures, including that

of President Barack Obama (D), Friday’sannouncement essentially meant that,

at least for now, the amended HumanRights Act would stay in place, sans the

exemption for religious schools.Following Congress’s decision,

Natasha Backman, a graduating senior

at Catholic and the head of CUAllies,

a statement. “We believe that the First

Amendment would protect us againstenforcement of the D.C. Council’s new

law.... If this matter ends up in the courts,we expect to prevail.”

Ryan T. Anderson, who specializes

marriage and religious liberty at theconservative think tank The Heritage

Foundation, suggested that the schools

would prevail in court even if Congressdid not take action. He feels both the FirstAmendment to the U.S. Constitution and

the 1993 federal version of the ReligiousFreedom Restoration Act still apply to

the District, meaning they would trump

any local laws passed by the D.C. Council.“I don’t know what OGR will or won’t

do,” Anderson says. “But any movementcommitted to liberty needs to understand

and protect the religious liberty of pri-vate religious schools.”

Citing a previous policy brief he had

written covering ways to respond to theHRAA, Anderson offered yet another

alternative: budget riders. Every year,when funds for the District are appropri-

ated, congressional leaders could attachor insert rides that prohibit the District

government from using its own taxpayermoney to enforce the implementation of

the amended Human Rights Act. Such

a move might stand a better chance ofpassing, as President Obama might be

less willing to veto an appropriations billthan he would a resolution of disapproval

seeking to overturn a law passed by theDistrict’s legally elected representatives.

Sophomore Steve Morris, a mem-

ber of CUAllies and chairman of theCollege Republicans, is optimistic about

Congress’s decision not to seek an over-turn of the amended human rights law:

“We have seen the school’s lack of logi-cal and moral case catch up with their

lack of legal case for denying CUAlliesrecognition.”

Morris says that the majority of CUA

students — even devout Catholics — dif-fer with administrators when it comes

to recognizing groups like CUAllies. Hisown conservative beliefs –- both mor-

ally and politically — inform his stancethat an LGBT group can co-exist along-

side socially conservative clubs, just as

College Democrats and Republicans, anda wide swath of ethnically-diverse stu-

dent organizations, already do.“Conservatives believe in free mar-

kets and a free market of ideas,” Morrissays. “The only people who have any-

thing to fear from debate are those whocan’t stand strong in their beliefs.” l

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SATURDAY, APRIL 25ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes a strenu-ous 6-mile loop with 1800 feet of elevation gain atFridley Gap in the Massanutten Mountains nearHarrisonburg, Va. Bring beverages, lunch, bug spray,sunscreen, and about $18 for fees. Optional dinnerin the Shenandoah Valley follows. Meet at 9 a.m. inthe Kiss & Ride lot of the East Falls Church Metro

Station. Craig, 202-462-0535. adventuring.org.

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer orga-nization, volunteers today for Food & Friends. Toparticipate, burgundycrescent.org.

The DC Center hosts its April QUEER COOKIESPOETRY SLAM. 7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offersfree HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatranscul-turalhealth.org.

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 AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session atHains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

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.

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community,family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Allwelcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languag-es and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St.

NW. RVSP preferred. [email protected].

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testingin Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments otherhours, call 301-422-2398.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26Join FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC’SNATIONAL WEEKEND OF PRAYER FORFREEDOM TO MARRY, in anticipation of theSupreme Court hearing arguments on marriageequality. Featuring remarks by Rev. Dr. SidneyFowler and music by the Gay Men’s Chorus of

FRIDAY, APRIL 24GAY MARRIED MEN’S ASSOCIATION (GAMMA)is a confidential support group for men who aregay, bisexual, questioning and who are marriedor involved with a woman, that meets regularly inDupont Circle and monthly in Northern Virginiaand Hagerstown, Md. 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more

information, visit gammaindc.org.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP FORMONTGOMERY COUNTY offers a safe place toconnect and explore issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, Gaithersburg, Md.For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a social discussionand activity group for LBT women, meets on thesecond and fourth Fridays of each month. Socialactivity to follow meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedc-center.org.

Join YOUTH PRIDE ALLIANCE as they celebrate

and honor those who have made a difference in thelives of GLBTQ Youth at its Allies Reception. 6:30-9:30 p.m. DC Center, 2000 14th St NW. Tickets:$25-250, funds raised support Youth Pride Day.More info, http://bit.ly/youthallies.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice sessionat Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

GAY DISTRICT holds facilitated discussion forGBTQ men, 18-35, first and third Fridays. 8:30 p.m.The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 202-682-2245, gaydistrict.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At theElizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 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.

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming socialgroup for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia RoadNW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-dc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a social atmo-sphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuringdance parties, vogue nights, movies and games.More info, [email protected].

THURSDAY, APRIL 23BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer orga-nization, volunteers for GLAA’s 44th Anniversary Awards reception. To participate, burgundycres-cent.org.

THE GAY & LESBIAN ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE

(GLAA) holds its annual fundraising reception cel-ebrating its 44th anniversary. Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to to Alexandra AndreaBeninda, Chuck Hicks and Anne Phelps. 6:30-8:30p.m., Policy Restaurant and Lounge, 1901 14thStreet NW and T. Tickets, $55 & up at the door.202-667-5139. glaa.org.

GAYS AND LESBIANS OPPOSING VIOLENCE(GLOV), the anti-violence groups focused on com- bating anti-LGBT hate crimes, holds its monthlymeeting at The DC Center. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedc-center.org or glovdc.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session atTakoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW.7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square-dancing group features mainstream throughadvanced square dancing at the National CityChristian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m.Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia socialgroup meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston,11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIVtesting. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW,Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., byappointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.202-567-3155 or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics AnonymousMeeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for youngLBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership devel-opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7thSt. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected].

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in

the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to

volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to

[email protected]. Deadline for inclusion is noon

of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. Questions about

the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at

202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.

LGBTCommunityCalendar


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Washington’s Rock Creek Singers. 10:30 a.m. 945 GSt. NW. For more information, visit firstuccdc.org.

Join us for a MULTI-FAITH SERVICE FOR THEFREEDOM TO MARRY leading up to the oral argu-ments in the marriage cases before the SupremeCourt. 5-7 p.m. National City Christian Church, 5Thomas Circle NW. For more information, visitthedccenter.org.

PEOPLE OF FAITH FOR EQUALITY IN VIRGINIA- NORTHERN VIRGINIA NETWORK presentsKeeping the Faith: Interfaith Prayer Serviceto Embrace the LGBT Communities beforethe Supreme Court Marriage Equality Cases. 4p.m. Congregation Etz Hayim, 2920 ArlingtonBoulevard, Arlington, VA. pofev.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS MEMORIALEPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW.202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org.

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive and radically

inclusive church holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session atHains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic Mass for theLGBT community. 6 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church,1820 Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. Sign inter-preted. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OFCHRIST welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service, 945 GSt. NW. firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes

GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 OldTelegraph Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org.

Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL TEMPLE –UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for an inclusive,loving and progressive faith community everySunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R inShaw/Logan neighborhood. lincolntemple.org.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OFNORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led byRev. Onetta Brooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-691-0930,mccnova.com.

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, inclusive

church with GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship,8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 ThomasCircle NW. 202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUP forgay men living in the DC metro area. This group

will be meeting once a month. For information onlocation and time, email to [email protected].

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, a Christ-centered,interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offersservice at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202-554-4330, riv-ersidedc.org.

UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL MEMORIAL

CHURCH, a welcoming and inclusive church. GLBTInterweave social/service group meets monthly.Services at 11 a.m., Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16thSt. NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 27

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice sessionat Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30

p.m. Garrison Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House,2111 Florida Ave. NW. [email protected].



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HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor MedicalCenter, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visitwhitman-walker.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., Alexandria,offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointmentneeded. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment 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 THE SENIOR LGBTCOMMUNITY. 10 a .m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.

US HELPING US hosts a black gay men’s evening affinity group. 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

WASHINGTON WETSKINS Water Polo Team practices 7-9 p.m. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at least basic swim-ming ability always welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, [email protected],

wetskins.org.

Whitman-Walker Health HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP for newly diagnosedindividuals, meets 7 p.m. Registration required. 202-939-7671, [email protected].

TUESDAY, APRIL 28The DC Center holds its monthly GENDER QUEER MEETING ANDDISCUSSION ROUNDTABLE. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Formore information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area, 6:30 [email protected], afwashington.net.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/social club serving greater D.C.’sLGBT community and allies hosts an evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH COLLABORATIVE offers free HIV testing and STIscreening and treatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday LGBTClinic, Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-214-9617. [email protected].

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor MedicalCenter, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit

whitman-walker.org.

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE DC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,”where volunteers assemble safe-sex kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m., GreenLantern, 1335 Green Court NW. thedccenter.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 EastDiamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or

Takoma Park at 301-422-2398.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment needed.1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

OralFixation

you can listen to any stoy at

MetroWeekly.com just look for the“speak” button


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OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—LGBT focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m.St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps from Virginia Square Metro. For more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicappedaccessible. Newcomers welcome. [email protected].

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

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, 410 7thSt. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a support group for black gay men 40 and older. 7-9p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/STDCLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on walk-in basis.No-cost screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis andherpes testing available for fee. whitman-walker.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. DignityCenter, 721 8th St. SE, across from the Marine Barracks. No reservation needed.703-407-6540 if you need a partner.

Join WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH AND THE DC COALITION AGAINSTDOMESTIC VIOLENCE (DCCADV) for “Love Never Hurts,” a presentationaddressing intimate partner violence in the LGBT community. 6-7:30 p.m. DCCenter, 2000 14th St NW, Suite 105. Dinner provided. For more info, [email protected].

WEEKLY EVENTS

AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., Steam, 17thand R NW. All welcome. For more information, call Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m.,and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscultural-health.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison Elementary,1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. and 12:05p.m. All welcome. 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549-1450, historic-christchurch.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor MedicalCenter, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visitwhitman-walker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414

East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m. For appointments other hours, callGaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for job entrants and seekers, meets atThe DC Center. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More info, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointmentneeded. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club for mature gay men, hosts weekly happyhour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Kitchen, 1637 17thSt. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316. l


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

scene

Equality VA’s12th AnnualCommonwealthDinner at theGreater RichmondConvention Center

Saturday, April 18

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARD MORRISON

scan this tag

with your

smartphone

for bonus scene

pics online!


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19SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE


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Alex Newell was already living by what he calls the Glee

motto years before he became a cast member on the hit Fox TVshow.

While in high school in Massachusetts, Newell landed a guest

appearance on the show after coming in second on its feederreality series The Glee Project. Proving to be a natural as well as

a fan favorite, the flamboyant, slightly androgynous Newell waspromoted to the main cast during Glee’s penultimate season.

He starred as Wade “Unique” Adams, a transgender teen oncedescribed as “the lovechild of Kurt and Mercedes,” characters

played by Chris Colfer and Amber Riley.

The 22-year-old was accepted to the prestigious BerkleeCollege of Music a few years ago, but opted instead to pursue

his California dreams with Glee. Now that the show has ended,he’s pursuing other stage and screen projects, as well as a music

career through a contract with Atlantic Records, capitalizing onthe fame and fans he gained on Glee.

But Newell isn’t only using his rising star to better himself.

He’s also committed to helping other LGBT youth and regularlyperforms at benefit concerts both in D.C. and in his home base

of L.A., most notably for the Trevor Project.

METRO WEEKLY: What does the Trevor Project mean to you?

ALEX NEWELL: It’s an astounding organization helping those in

need — one of the best things that anyone can do. It’s just sittingdown and talking to someone, and letting them know they’re not

alone, and that it’s going to get better, and that it’s okay. They’re

literally saving lives in that sense.MW: Did you struggle with your sexuality growing up?

NEWELL: I wouldn’t say that I struggled to an extent of wanting totake my own life, but I did struggle in middle school, where you

don’t really know what’s going on. Things were showing more

than what they used to in elementary school, and so I would getflack for that from older kids and some of the kids in my class.

I had to grow up fast — I lost my father to cancer when I was

six, and my mother worked night shifts, so I was basically iron-ing her clothes, ironing my clothes, cooking my meals, cooking

her meals. So I knew who I was and I was comfortable with whoI was by the time I got to high school. I got flack and I struggled

with people who couldn’t see past it in a sense — I went to aCatholic high school, so obviously there were issues. But I never

struggled personally with it.MW: It sounds like you were secure enough in your own identity,

your own skin, which ultimately makes it harder to be picked on.

NEWELL: There are so few things a person can say to take youdown if you already know who you are. Yes, I’m black. Wow,

shocker. Yes, I’m gay. Another shocker. Yes, I’m a little chunky.Shocker. There are so many things, if you know who you are,

when someone says it, they’re literally just stating the obvious.

MW: Has your mother always been supportive of you? How did you come out?

NEWELL: Absolutely. One night I said “I’m gay,” and she was just, “Uh-huh, okay, go to bed.” And that was it. And then when

I woke up the next morning, she said, “I’m going to love youregardless. You’re my only child, and whatever life decisions

you make, no matter who you are, I can’t change that. I still loveyou.”

MW: Does that make you feel more of a responsibility to do things

like supporting the Trevor Project and other organizations that arehelping people that don’t have it as easy?

NEWELL: Yeah, absolutely. Because I know people who didn’thave it as well. I know people whose parents still don’t accept

Alex Newell isn’t only using his rising star to better himself.He’s also committed to helping others by aising suppot for organizations like

The Trevor Project

Inteview by Doug Rule


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them, and I know people who were kicked out because of whothey are. And it’s one of those things: How could you turn away

from a life that you created? How could you turn away on the

person that you loved up until this moment? I don’t understandthat.MW: Usually it’s because of religion, or at least people’s perceptionof what their religion tells them about homosexuality.

NEWELL: It’s crazy. I grew up going to church every Sunday.Maybe three or four days out of the week as well. My mother’s

in the choir, my father was a deacon, my grandmother sang

in the choir back in Alabama. My aunts are the music direc-tors back at my grandmother’s church in Alabama. My other

aunt is the director of the church that I currently still go to inMassachusetts. I was in the youth choir, the adult choir. I was

enthralled in the church. People pick and choose the thingsthat they want to accept, that are written into the Bible. Most

people say it’s interpretation. No, it’s literally what you wantto hear. Because I’m pretty sure the Bible says that you’re not

supposed to eat shellfish, yet there are a whole bunch of people

having a fish fry and eating all the shellfish they can eat. And theysay, “God doesn’t love you,” or “Jesus doesn’t love you because

you’re sinning” — everyone in this world is born with originalsin. Thus, only he who is without sin casts the first stone. I could

talk about this all day. The Bible also says “Love they neighbor as

thyself.” So why are you just disregarding that commandment? You’re going to hate me because of the way that I was born, the

way that God created me in his image?

I even got flack when I was on The Glee Project and I worea big old sandwich board on national television that said “Gay.”

And when I came back to church, the old pastor of the churchthat I still go to had a problem with me. This was a man who

would literally wear me down singing Sunday after Sundayafter Sunday. I remember I got up there and had to sing with

laryngitis. But after The Glee Project, he had a problem with mebeing gay. He had a conversation with my mother. I don’t know

what that conversation was because she won’t tell me. I was like,

“What in me changed that you had to stop seeing me as a personwith a talent and a gift?” It’s just so funny how one little minute

detail in someone’s life, one minute detail that doesn’t define thisperson or who they are at all, can change people’s aspect of how

they look at you.MW: It sounds as though your family stayed resolute in supporting you.

NEWELL: Yeah, absolutely. They’re my backbone. They will keep

me grounded with all that they do.MW: Did you grow up Catholic?

NEWELL: No, I just went to Catholic high school. It was the ZionBaptist Church. My church services are two to three hours long,

so I would wish that I were Catholic — 45 minutes and done?Sounds like a blessing.

MW: How often do you get back to Boston?

NEWELL: Maybe four or five times out of the year. Major holidays,

my mother’s birthday, Mother’s Day, things like that.MW: I understand that a cousin encouraged you to audition for TheGlee Project. Were you a fan of Glee before that?

NEWELL: My ex-boyfriend got me hooked onto Glee, and I waswatching for two years and then they had the auditions, and my

cousin was just like, “You need to audition for this show.” AndI was like, “I don’t know. They already have Amber Riley on the

show. She’s absolutely amazing.” I was just hesitant to do it.MW: You thought they only had room for one African-American

cast member?NEWELL: Yeah, they had one African American. So I was just sit-ting there minding my business.MW: How much did you identify with your character?

NEWELL: Down to wardrobe and stuff like that. I remember one

of the writers walked up to me one day and asked, “So, are youliking the direction in Unique’s wardrobe?” And I said, “No, not

really. I’m looking kind of mommy.” So they brought it back to

a youthful sense, where it doesn’t look like I was just getting mymother’s clothes out of the closet. It would be different outfits

— skinny jeans with a sickening heel, and a blouse and stuff likethat where we created some kind of an androgynous look.MW: I have to ask: Did you dress up in your mom’s clothes grow-ing up?

NEWELL: Oh no, not at all. The most that I did was Hairspray,

where I was Motormouth Maybelle, or Mary Sunshine inChicago. And some other roles. Just on-stage things like that.MW: So you don’t dress up in drag in your personal life?

NEWELL: You know, sometimes I’ll put on a cute little dress and

go outside and live life, but it’s really just for the fun of it, andbeing different. But most days I will be in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt,

with a nice little Cole Haan shoe. As a boy, all the time.MW: Tell us about your forthcoming solo music.

NEWELL: I’m working on it right now. I was in the studio the day

before yesterday singing a song, and we didn’t finish it because Iwas a little under the weather. I’m singing these amazing songs.

I did a song with Clean Bandit, “Stronger,” where I literally get

“I KNOW PEOPLE WHOSE PARENTS

STILL DON’T ACCEPT THEM AND WERE

KICKED OUT BECAUSE OF WHO THEY

ARE. HOW COULD YOU TURN AWAY

FROM A LIFE THAT YOU CREATED?

HOW COULD

YOU TURN

AWAY ON THE

PERSON THAT

YOU LOVED

UP UNTIL THIS

MOMENT?”


23/56


to scream to Jesus. I’m screaming up to the heavens, and appar-

ently he’s listening. [ Laughs.] It’s just such a good song, and thecrowd loves it. I did Coachella with them, and the Fonda [in

L.A.]. It’s just one of those amazing dance tracks that’s just sogood. It popped up to No. 14 on the U.K. charts last week. I did

another song with a group called Blonde in the U.K., “All CriedOut.” It’s a great summer song. I feel like all the songs that I sang

with people this season have been really good summer songs. Idid another song with the Knocks out of New York, “Collect My

Love” — it’s Whitney Houston-inspired, with a Mariah Carey

range, where I’m literally just taking all of my body and throwingit at everyone.MW: Are you focusing on dance music?

NEWELL: Yeah, I love to make people feel good with my voice.

I just want something that people can tap their foot to and feelsomething and want to dance. And not just my mother but my

cousins and their children — every generation. I don’t want a

song that’s appealing to just one crowd.MW: Are you working on another show?

NEWELL: I really want to work on another show. I am bored out ofmy mind. Yes, singing is my number one passion. I love to sing.

But sometimes I’m watching TV shows and it’s just like, “Oh myGod, I want to do that so bad.”

I’m harassing my team, that’s what I’m going to say. I sent anemail saying, “There is no reason that I should not be on NBC’sThe Wiz . I’m black, the show’s black, I sing, they sing in the

show. I dance, they dance. I’m funny when I act, the show canbe funny at times.” There’s literally no reason why I shouldn’t be

in either the NBC live stream, or the Broadway show that’s going

to happen after it in 2016.MW: I’ve also heard that, among other shows, you’re scheming to

get on Empire.

NEWELL: Oh, of course. I’m a die-hard Empire fan. I’m like, “Hey

guys, hey Lee Daniels, I’m right here. Just call me and I’ll literally just fly on out to Chicago, have myself a Cookie Lyon experience,

and then I’m good. Sing myself a little ditty.” I was on Fox, theshow is on Fox. I’m looking for reasons not to be on.

MW: How about a relationship?

NEWELL: I haven’t had time, but now that the show’s over, I’man open book. I’m looking. “Here I am boys, here I am world.

Here’s Alex.” It’s hard. One of my close friends said, “It’s goingto be really hard for you to find someone who 1) lives up to

your expectations, and 2) isn’t afraid of you. Because you areextremely successful in your 22 years of being on this earth.” I’m

a lot to take, with a strong personality, and sometimes men are

scared of success. It’s one of those things I have to come to termswith — people are going to be scared of me. I don’t want people

to be scared of me or intimidated by me. I don’t mean for anyoneto be that way.

Alex Newell performs Friday, May 1, at the “Sweet Sixteen” benefit

for the Trevor Project presented by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurantsat Hotel Palomar, 2121 P St. NW. Tickets are $100 including

hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres starting at 7 p.m., or $175 for a

hosted champagne bar with an additional intimate performance by Newell starting at 6 p.m. Visit trvr.org/dcambassadors. l

R I C K Y M I D D L E S W O R T H P H O T O G R A P H Y

“THERE ARE SO FEW THINGS A

PERSON CAN SAY TO TAKE YOU

DOWN IF YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO

YOU ARE. YES, I’M BLACK . W OW ,

SHOCKER. YES, I’M GAY.

ANOTHER SHOCKER.

IF YOU KNOW WHO

YOU ARE, THEY’RE

LITERALLY JUST

STATING THE

OBVIOUS.”


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OMETIMES YOUNG PEOPLE JUST NEEDan outlet, whether to express themselves, to

vent, or feel like someone is listening.That’s essentially the concept behind

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization

that works to prevent suicide among LGBTand questioning youth. It attempts to reach

out to young people who may otherwisehave no safe space to explore their identity and, particularly in

rural or politically conservative parts of the country, often haveno real-life LGBT adults to look up to or utilize as a resource.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among all youngpeople 10 to 24. But gay, lesbian or bisexual youth are three to

four times more at risk of attempting suicide,” notes Abbe Land,

executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “If they comefrom a rejecting family, they can be eight times more at risk. And

studies show that among transgender people, almost 50 percenthave thought about taking their lives.”

Under Land’s guidance, The Trevor Project has expanded itsoutreach capabilities, offering not only a toll-free lifeline that

operates 24/7, but also TrevorChat, where youth can IM and

message with a trained counselor seven days a week. Last year,the organization fielded 44,000 calls from across the United

States, and 8,000 chats. They’ve also developed a Facebook-likepeer program for LGBT and questioning youth and their allies,

ages 13 to 24, allowing youth to connect with more than 120,000people from across the globe.

The Trevor Project has its roots in film. In 1994, Trevor, ashort film written by James Lecesne, produced by Randy Stone

and directed by Peggy Rajski hit the film festival circuit. Thefilm’s protagonist, Trevor, falls in love with his male best friend,who does not return the sentiment. Trevor faces bullying, taunt-

ing and social ostracization, driving him to try to overdose onaspirin. He survives and begins to cope with his identity.

Trevor won an Oscar, but when the film was being aired onHBO four years later, Lecesne, Stone and Rajski realized that

there might be other teenagers or young people going through

the same struggles as their protagonist. At the end of the film,they provided an 800 number for people to call if they were in

crisis and felt the need to talk to someone. On the night of thefirst airing, 1,500 calls were fielded from youth across America,

sparking the idea for a full-time crisis hotline. Today, the lifeline

and TrevorChat are manned by volunteers, who must undergomore than 40 hours of rigorous training on how to deal with

potentially suicidal youth.Land, a former member of the West Hollywood City Council,

had known about The Trevor Project for years, sometimes join-

ing in activities and working with friends who served on theorganization’s board.

“I always thought it was an incredibly important organizationtalking about an issue that many people don’t like to talk about,”

she says.Why does the issue of youth suicide go undiscussed, despite

its obvious effects as the second-largest killer of people ages 10to 24? Land believes it has to do with society’s aversion to talk-

ing about death and mental health, two highly sensitive and very

complicated issues.“This is pure speculation on my part — I have no research on

it — but I think that we have to feel as a society when a youngperson takes their life, that we let them down, that something

didn’t work,” she says. “I think it’s very discomforting for peopleto talk about.”

All the more reason to provide young people with the tools

to reach out and talk to someone during a moment of personalcrisis. It’s also why The Trevor Project is involved in education

and advocacy surrounding issues like suicide, bullying, and theimportance of looking out for fellow youth who are being pushed

to the brink.“The more we can educate, the better chance we have of

young people being accepted for who they are, and that’s whatwe try to do,” Land says. “We help young people know: ‘You’re

perfect, just the way you are. Whatever that is, it’s perfect foryou.’ And that’s our message for them, to be who they are, andbe the best they can be.”

Some of the education also needs to be directed at adults,whether teaching parents how to deal with their children’s iden-

tity, alerting schoolteachers and administrators to any warningsigns that a youth may be contemplating suicide, or informing

adult members of the LGBT community — on whose dollars and

manpower The Trevor Project can rely — about why the issue ofsuicide is so important.

“I think a lot of people say there’s been so much — and therehas been a great movement — in favor of LGBTQ rights, and it’s

been phenomenal,” Land says. “But for someone who’s 13, some

Trevor Project Executive Director Abbe Land on how outreach to LGBT youth cansave lives when society fails

by John Riley


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P

H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E T R E V O R P R O J E C T


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of those rights just don’t make a difference at the moment.

“I don’t think there’s complacency,” she continues. “I thinkwhat everyone is recognizing is that marriage is just one right,

and there are a lot of other things, because even with all of thewonderful progress on that front, there are still many states

where you can work in and be discriminated against, and loseyour job. There are states where you can’t have kids. There are

states where just being gay can put you in jeopardy. So I think

people are more aware of what needs to be done.... But I thinksometimes people don’t understand or realize that, for a lot of

youth, those rights seem far away and don’t seem important.What’s important is that their family love them, that their

friends accept them, and that they feel good about who they are.That’s a lot of work we still have to do.”

One step in helping youth feel better about themselvesinvolves promoting the understanding that sexual orientation

and gender identity are not things that can be “cured,” which is

why the Trevor Project has worked as part of a coalition to suc-cessfully ban the practice of so-called conversion or “reparative”

therapy in California, New Jersey and the District of Columbia,and to call for similar bans elsewhere. Calling the idea of con-

version therapy “evil,” Land was particularly encouraged byPresident Barack Obama’s recent call for individual states to ban

the practice on minors outright.

“We were thrilled to have the President of the United States,

who’s been incredibly supportive of the LGBT community, tohave him, nationally, say, this therapy is wrong, and we need to

do what we can to prevent this therapy from happening,” Landsays. “And I do believe that this will help states pass this legis-

lation, and it will promote more conversation about this issue,

because I think a lot of people don’t know about it. And so themore you can call attention to a practice that is not condoned

by any medical group, the more light you can shed on that, thebetter it is. So I applaud the president for his continual activism

on looking out for what can be done to ensure quality of life forLGBT people.”

The organization has benefitted immensely from celebrity

involvement. While Alex Newell of Glee is the most recent celeb-rity to work with The Trevor Project, other prominent media

figures like Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin, Neil Patrick Harrisand Tyler Oakley have successfully brought attention to or been

involved in fundraising for The Trevor Project’s various initia-tives.

Unfortunately, tragedy as much as celebrity can lead toan increase in the Project’s visibility. The suicide of Rutgers

University freshman Tyler Clementi, as well as the suicides of

other gay teens at the time, refocused people’s attention on TheTrevor Project’s mission, and its role as the only national orga-

nization supplying crisis intervention to troubled LGBT youth.To that end, Land foresees more work through its ambas-

sador and Next Gen programs, designed to raise awareness ofthe Trevor Project’s work. Eventually, they hope to gain more

donors who are willing to contribute to the continued funding of

the organization’s programs.Land also has three more initiatives that she expects to

see roll out over the next year. The first deals with evaluatingand researching interventions to come up with a list of “best

practices” that can be used to help counselors and respon-sible adults combat youth suicide. The second includes the

continued growth of TrevorSpace and a new platform that willallow for better interaction between users. The last is aimed at

underserved communities, such as those in rural areas or in theAmerican South, where The Trevor Project’s work is less wellknown. According to Land, 35 percent of all calls that the orga-

nization receives on the lifeline come from the South, indicat-ing a significant need for greater outreach or an investment of

resources in the region.“It would be great if every community knew about Trevor,

but we know that doesn’t happen,” Land says. “So we look for

additional ways to get the word out.”What would Land do if she were granted unlimited funds

with which to run her organization? She would make sure everyschool had a banner advertising The Trevor Project to let youth

know that there’s a resource for them, an outlet where they’llfind a sympathetic ear and reassurance that may not exist else-

where.“If I had unlimited money, and the biggest, biggest magic

wand, I’d want to have family and friends be accepting, and

know that their friend, their son, their daughter, their child, isperfect, just the way they are,” Land says. “And it would be my

pleasure to go out of business.”

The Trevor Project Lifeline is available 24/7 and can be reachedby calling 866-488-7386. TrevorText is available on Fridays

from 4 to 8 p.m. EST. Text the word “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200.

TrevorChat is available 7 days a week from 3 to 9:00 p.m. EST. For more information on The Trevor Project, visit

thetrevorproject.org. l


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APRIL 23 - 30, 2015Compiled by Doug Rule

G R E G G O R M A N

I’VE BECOME QUITE A STUDENT OF AUDIENCES,”says Barry Humphries. “They think they’ve come to see

me, but I actually have come to see them.”To be clear, it’s actually Dame Edna, she of lilac-colored

hair and cat-eyed glasses, who has come to prod, provokeand preen for audiences, and she’s doing it one last time with

a farewell tour that runs through Sunday, April 26 at the

National Theatre.The 81-year-old Australian satirist has been performing

Edna for 60 years, and the show is a largely-improvised affair,with the gleefully garrulous Edna reminiscing about her fabu-

lous life, refuting scandals that have plagued her, and playfullyinterrogating nearby audience members.

“I always found that the best way of remembering one’s linesis to make them up on the spot,” says Humphries, “which is the rea-

son I do this kind of act. As a student actor, I found memorizing lines

extremely difficult, so I would drift into a kind of monologue where Icould actually improvise.”

Humphries has other characters — notably a vulgar, grossly over-weight, foul-toothed Australian ambassador named Les Patterson, who

has “a rather large member which can be seen struggling against thefabric of his trousers.” But American audiences took to the sweet yet

gently caustic Edna, so she’s the one who has most often made the trip

to our shores.While Humphries has found fortune and fame performing in the

guise of a woman, he does not consider what he does drag.“The point about a drag performer — and there are some very fine

artists in that field — is the tension,” he says. “You know it’s a man,and that’s what makes it clever, really. You know it isn’t Marlene

Dietrich or it isn’t Liza Minnelli or Madonna, who by the way, I’mallergic to, but don’t tell anyone. But that’s the point

of drag — the tension between the male andthe impersonation. Edna is just a character Iplay. I play her as I would play Uncle Vanya.”

As for those audience members whoautomatically assume that the straight

Humphries is gay, he chuckles. “I havenever gone to the theater and wondered

about the sexuality of the actors. It seems to be

that it’s sort of absurd speculation. When I go to seea production of Hamlet, I don’t wonder whether the

actor is Danish or not.” — Randy Shulman

The Fondest of FarewellsBarry Humphries brings his glorious alter-ego Dame Edna to our shores for

one last round of sterling satire

Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye: The Farewell Tour runs through Sunday, April 26 at the National Theatre,

1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $48 to $118. Call 800-514-3849 or visit thenationaldc.org.


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SPOTLIGHT

DAKSHINA / DANIEL PHOENIX SINGHDANCE COMPANYInspired by a poetry anthology of writers lost to AIDS, Persistent Voices combines poignant chore-ography, thought-provoking poetry and evocative visual designs to explore the effect of AIDS on ourlives. Local gay choreographer Daniel Phoenix Singh brings his company to Dance Place for this programco-presented by Reston CenterStage. Saturday, May

2, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Dance Place,3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 atthe door. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

GEORGETOWN FRENCH MARKETThe boutique shops, antique stores, restaurants,salons and galleries in Georgetown’s Book Hill areawill all participate in this 12th annual open-air mar-ket and sidewalk sale, presented by the GeorgetownBusiness Improvement District (BID) and intendedto evoke the outdoor markets of Paris. Among themusical acts scheduled to perform on Saturday, April25, are the jazz duo Rachel & Sean, the local ‘30s-era jazz quartet Laissez Foure, the local New Orleans-style jazz band Yamomanem, gypsy swing act RedHot Rhythm Chiefs, and local gypsy guitar duoSwing Guitars DC. Friday, April 24, and Saturday,

April 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wisconsin Avenue between P Street and Reservoir Road. Visit george-towndc.com/events.

LEAD BELLY TRIBUTEW/ROBERT PLANT, ALISON KRAUSSRobert Plant and Alison Krauss were inspired toteam up for their Grammy-winning 2009 album Raising Sand after performing together at a 2004Lead Belly tribute concert at Cleveland’s Rock and

Roll Hall of Fame. Now, they’ll once again pay trib-ute to the pioneering folk songwriter, born WilliamHuddle Leadbetter, many of whose songs have become rock standards as well, from “Black Betty”to “House of the Rising Sun.” Buddy Miller, ValerieJune, Josh White Jr., Alvin Youngblood Hart, ViktorKrauss, Shannon McNally and Dan Zanes are alsoon the bill for the concert “Lead Belly at 125: ATribute to An American Songster,” co-presented by the Grammy Museum and the Kennedy Center.Saturday, April 25, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center ConcertHall. Tickets are $29 to $99. Call 202-467-4600 or

visit kennedy-center.org.

LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIE FESTIVALOnce again the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse brings the Lord of the Rings trilogy to the big screenfor a one-day marathon. Fans are encouraged todress up as a favorite character to earn a free moviepass for a future screening, and there will also be atrivia contest and a Gollum impersonation contest.The Fellowship of the Ring s screens at 12 p.m., TheTwo Towers at 3:15 p.m. and The Return of the Kingat 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse, 2903 ColumbiaPike, Arlington. Tickets are $10. Call 703-486-2345or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.

ROB KAPILOW:

THE SONGS OF STEPHEN SONDHEIMWashington Performing Arts co-presents withSmithsonian Associates the latest lecture and per-formance in the “What Makes It Great?” series, fromthis former NPR music commentator who channelsLeonard Bernstein in both explaining and perform-ing a great musical masterpiece or body of work inone sitting. The focus this time is on the work of theman many call the greatest living Broadway com-poser. Sunday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Baird Auditorium

at the National Museum of Natural History, 10thStreet and Constitution Avenue NW. Tickets are$20. Call 202-633-3030 or visit washingtonperform-ingarts.org.

SHEILA E.Three decades after her work as a drummer, song-writer and musical director for Prince — includingon the stupendous Purple Rain soundtrack, which inturn launched her solo career with The Glamorous Life — Sheila E is back. After an electrifying showat the Birchmere last fall, she returns to the area

to show off her dexterous skills in all manners andnearly all genres of music-making, continuing to tourin support of Icon, her first studio album in 13 years.Offering everything from wondrous polyrhythmicpercussive runs, such as on first single “Mona Lisa,”to “Don’t Make Me,” an impressive all-vocal trackin which Sheila shows she’s a vocal percussionisttoo — that is, a beatboxer. Prince even shows up, tosing backing vocals and play piano on the infectiousE Family jam “Leader of the Band.” Thursday, April30, at 8 p.m. The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW.Tickets are $37.50 to $75. Call 202-588-5595 or visitthehowardtheatre.com.

FILM

AFI FILM SERIES: ADVENTURES IN 3DOver the next week, the American Film Institute’sSilver Theatre screens three of the more recentacclaimed films shot in 3D as part of a months-longseries focused on use of the technology in vari-ous artistic genres, including in stage productionsand animation. Next up: Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity,which innovatively captured the sense of being lostin outer space, Martin Scorsese’s ode to the cinema Hugo, set in a Paris train station between the World



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Wars, and Ang Lee’s dazzling cinematic adaptationof Yann Martel’s celebrated novel Life of Pi. Gravity screens Friday, April 24, at 9:45 p.m., Sunday, April26, at 3 p.m., and Thursday, April 30, at 9:15 p.m., Hugo screens Saturday, May 2, at 3:45 p.m., and Life of Pi screens Sunday, May 3, at 3:30 p.m. AFISilver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.Tickets are $9 to $12. Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.

FILMFEST DCThe 29th Annual Washington, DC International

Film Festival continues through this weekend andincludes Thomas G. Miller’s Limited Partnership, adocumentary focused on the decades-long struggleof a binational gay couple to have their marriage rec-ognized by the federal government and U.S. immi-gration officials. Thursday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m.,and Saturday, April 25, at 9:15 p.m. at Landmark EStreet Cinema. Festival runs to April 26. Tickets are$13 for most screenings. Call 202-234-3456 or visitfilmfestdc.org.

THE AGE OF ADALINE “Blake Lively can act!” would seem an appropriatetagline, as movie execs pitch the Gossip Girl staras a serious actress who can carry a drama about awoman who never ages, with all of the time-span-ning, romance-related troubles that entails. Harrison

Ford and Ellen Burstyn are among supporting castin Lee Toland Krieger’s film. Opens Friday, April24. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

STAGE

CLOSET LANDRick Hammerly directs the latest Factory 449production staged in the small, black box theaterat the Anacostia Arts Center. Rahda Bharadwaj’sCloset Land focuses on a government interrogatorin a nameless country torturing a writer allegedto include anti-State messages in her work. DavidLamont Wilson and Sara Barker star in this two-person work staged in the round and billed as aharrowing descent into the nature of violence, themind’s resolve and the human spirit’s endurance.To May 10. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good HopeRoad SE. Tickets are $12. Call 202-631-6291 or visitfactory449.com.

DON’T DIE IN THE DARKCity Artistic Partnerships presents this one-act playshedding light on the personal and patriotic motiva-tions behind one of America’s most shocking actsof terror, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.Matty Griffiths produces this theater piece starringplaywright/performer Joe Brack as John WilkesBooth and Bradley Foster Smith as “Guitar,” pro- viding music and conscience to the piece. “Out ofrespect for Mr. Lincoln,” the producers note, “weare not performing this play in a theater.” Closes thisSunday, April 26. Studio 1469, 1469 Harvard St. NW.Call 202-213-2474.

SWING TIME! THE MUSICALMike Thornton, an actor who has worked with thesatire group the Capitol Steps, and his wife, CeceliaFex, have teamed up as co-producers for this big band-era musical revue about a group of perform-ers putting together a wartime radio broadcast.Featuring film clips plus a live jazz band, the showfeatures tunes made popular by Duke Ellington,Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey andCab Calloway. Next shows are Thursday, April 23, at7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m., and Sunday,May 3, at 2 p.m. Select dates to June 27. U.S. NavyMemorial’s Burke Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave.NW. Tickets are $19 or $49. Call 202-393-4266 or visit swingtimethemusical.com.

C . S T A N L E Y P H O T O G R A P H Y

Durang Durang After a long and storied career, Christopher Durang finallygot his just reward

IN 2013, CHRISTOPHER DURANG FINALLY WON A TONY.“To win a Tony you have to be on Broadway,” explains Durang, who prior to

winning Best Play for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, only had two otherplays make the move to the Great White Way: The History of the American Film, in

1978, and Beyond Therapy, in 1982. “I sort of let go of thinking that will I ever win a

Tony about 12 years ago.

“When [ Vanya ] moved to Broadway I was delighted,” he continues. “I thought,‘I feel lucky a really wonderful play about death isn’t nominated.’ Usually the reallyserious plays win over a comic one. But there wasn’t a play about death that year.”

It was a long-overdue win — and a well-deserved one. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, currently at Arena Stage, finds the playwright — whose canon

includes Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For You and Laughing Wild — in peakform. Set in Buck’s County, Pa., Vanya tells the story of three siblings who each har-

bor a simmering resentment for the way their lives have unfolded. When their anger

detonates, particularly in the case of gay brother Vanya, the results are hilariouslyexplosive. Only a truly gifted playwright can incorporate deep poignancy and fully-

realized emotional connections into a comic froth.Despite the obvious nod to Chekhov, Durang is quick to point out that “you don’t

have to know Chekhov to enjoy it,” stressing that it’s not a parody of the classicalRussian playwright. “I don’t really view my play as a version of Chekhov,” he says.

“Chekhov was more the jumping off point.”Although himself gay, the 66-year-old has never been branded a gay playwright in

the same manner as Tony Kushner or Terrence McNally, many of whose plays deals

explicitly with gay issues. There is a gay sensibility to Durang’s work, but it’s oftenmuted; you have to scratch beneath the surface to unearth it.

“When A History of the American Film was done in 1978, someone asked me if Ithought I had a gay sense of humor,” he recalls. “I resisted that at the time, partially

because I didn’t want to be looked at as someone who always wrote about gay things.Then, when Sister Mary was a success, I wondered if people thought I was always

going to write about Catholicism and religion.” — Randy Shulman

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs through May 3rd at Arena Stage, 1101

6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

APRIL 23, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM


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THE ORIGINALISTMolly Smith directs an Arena Stage world premiereof John Strand’s play about one of the biggest ene-mies to the LGBT cause and civil rights in general:Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. It’s hard toget excited about this one, although no doubt four-time Helen Hayes Award winner Edward Gero willdo Scalia justice. The play is performed in the MeadCenter’s Kogod Cradle in a new three-quarter thrustconfiguration. Extended to May 31, with a two-week break at the start of May. Mead Center for AmericanTheater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit

arenastage.org.

MUSIC DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES Yes, the ‘80s hit-making duo of Daryl Hall and JohnOates is still performing together, and not just on TV(specifically, American Idol and The Voice ). The duoisn’t touring in support of any new original record-ings — the last together was 2006’s holiday set Home for Christmas. But both have relatively new materialas solo artists: Hall’s 2011 release Laughing DownCrying and Oates’ project Good Road to Follow. Thetwo will each perform from their solo repertoireas well as their group hits on the current tour,which makes another stop at the Warner Theatre.

Wednesday, April 30, at 8 p.m. Warner Theatre, 51313th St. NW. Tickets are $85 to $270. Call 202-783-4000 or visit warnertheatredc.com.

DUKE DUMONTPart of a strong, young British crop of soul-informeddeep house DJs/producers also including Disclosureand Gorgon City, Duke Dumont has had someimpressive early success, as his first two singles both

reached the top of the charts in the U.K. and alsosnagged back-to-back dance Grammy nominations.First was “Need U (100%)” featuring the SierraLeone-born British singer A*M*E, and next camehis song “I Got U” featuring producer Jax Jones and vocalist Kelli-Leigh in an inspired interpolation andhomage to Whitney Houston’s “My Love Is YourLove.” Both feature on last year’s four-song EP1.Here’s hoping a full-length album is in the works. Saturday, April 25. Doors at 10:30 p.m. Nightclub9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

GILBERTO GILThis Brazilian music legend is a leader of theTropicália movement and was more recently a for-mer Brazilian Minister of Culture. The singer/gui-tarist/composer returns to GW Lisner to performfrom his extensive catalogue. Friday, April 24, at 8p.m. Lisner Auditorium, The George WashingtonUniversity, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $45 to $75.Call 202-994-6800 or visit lisner.org.

KENNEDY CENTER’SCONSERVATORY PROJECTTwice a year, the Kennedy Center showcases the best young musical artists from leading musicschools through its Conservatory Project and its freeMillennium Stage programming. Remaining concerts

on tap this round include star students from EastmanSchool of Music at Rochester University on Thursday, April 23, Berklee College of Music on Friday, April25, and Oberlin Conservatory of Music on Saturday, April 26. All performances at 6 p.m. Kennedy CenterTerrace Theater. Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

LILA DOWNSKnown for her smoky voice and magnetic perfor-mances, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter LilaDowns offers a pan-Latin brand of folk-inspiredpop music that seems to channel her late compatriotChavela Vargas one minute, Celia Cruz the next,even Shakira every now and then — and occasion-ally all within the same song. Downs tours in sup-port of her strong new album Balas y Chocolate(“Bullets and Chocolate” in English), which includesa sharp duet with another Colombian internationalsuperstar, Juanes. Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. Lisner

Auditorium, The George Washington University,730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $40 to $60. Call 202-994-6800 or visit lisner.org.

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG Vocal Arts DC offers the return of this popular groupled by dueling pianists Michael Barrett and StevenBlier, who this time out offer a revue with the theme“Letters from Spain: A World of Song from SpanishPoetry.” Soprano Corinne Winters, tenor TheoLebow and baritone Alexey Lavrov join to sing songs by Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Bolcomand Granados, among others. Thursday, April 30, at7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Ticketsare $50. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

NEW WORLD SYMPHONYWITH ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTERMichael Tilson Thomas leads this symphony, billedas America’s Orchestral Academy and comprised ofgraduates of distinguished music programs aroundthe country. Washington Performing Arts presentsa concert also featuring star violinist Mutter in aprogram of Franz Schubert, Alban Berg, Norbert



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THE COLLECTIVE,CLANCYWORKS DANCE COMPANYThe program [re]wired features a collection of danceworks re-examining perspective and re-energizingthe spirit through innovative approaches to con-temporary dance from choreographers associatedwith these two companies, including Jessica Fultz, Adrienne Kraus Latanishen, Kevin Truitt, LaurenWithhart, Sarah Levitt of Dance Exchange and “thewizard of invention” Adrienne Clancy. Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 2, at 8 p.m., andSunday, May 3, 3 p.m. Baltimore Theatre Project,

45 West Preston St. Baltimore. Tickets are $22. Call410-752-8558 or visit theatreproject.org.

COMEDY

OPHIRA EISENBERGHost of NPR’s second-most popular trivia comedyshow Ask Me Another, this comedian and writer waspreviously selected as one of New York Magazine’s“Top 10 Comics that Funny People Find Funny.”Matty Litwack opens for Eisenberg in this freeMillennium Stage performance also part of the newinitiative Comedy at the Kennedy Center. Sunday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

AL MADIGRALThis correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and also a regular on NBC’s About A Boy stops by the area next weekend for twonights of comedy. Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. and10:15 p.m., and Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Arlington Cinema N’ Drafthouse, 2903 ColumbiaPike, Arlington. Tickets are $22. Call 703-486-2345or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.

or $35 day-of show. Call 202-408-3100 or visit six-thandi.org.

THE JUAN MACLEANNew York dance-punk act The Juan MacLean, partof James Murphy’s DFA Records family, are influ-enced by Giorgio Moroder, as can be heard on last year’s great set In A Dream. Guitarist/keyboardistJohn MacLean and vocalist Nancy Whang, alsoknown from her work in LCD Soundsystem, are thegroup’s principals, purveying a sound that’s straightout of a divey, dirty disco. Friday, May 1, at 10 p.m. U

Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are $10.Call 202-588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.

UTE LEMPERThe popular German cabaret and jazz singer UteLemper returns to Sixth and I with her newestproject, a song cycle set to the love p

metro weekly - 04-23-15 - alex newell and the trevor project

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