washingtonblade.com, volume 47, issue 17, april 22, 2016

8/18/2019 Washingtonblade.com, Volume 47, Issue 17, April 22, 2016

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Acela primary up nextafter Clinton, Trumptriumph in N.Y.

By CHRIS [email protected]

After dominating wins by Hillary Clintonand Donald Trump in the New Yorkprimary, their competitors are looking tothe upcoming “Acela primary” on Tuesday— which consists of Maryland, Delaware,Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania— to dig themselves out of the hole ofdelegates, although the trajectory of theraces seems unlikely to change.

The Acela primary, so named because ofthe train service connecting the states, willyield 409 delegates for Democrats and 172

for Republicans, the third greatest numberof delegates on a single day this primaryseason after Super Tuesday and “Mini-Tuesday.”

After a 16-point loss for Sen. BernieSanders (I-Vt.) in New York’s Democraticprimary, he’ll need unexpected wins in theupcoming states, and by large margins,to overtake Clinton in securing the 2,383delegates needed for the Democraticnomination.

On the Republican side, the loss by Sen.Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in New York made itmathematically impossible for him toobtain the Republican nomination outright— a situation that was already the case forOhio Gov. John Kasich. The remaining issueis whether Trump will win a total of 1,237delegates to win the nomination on the first

Police supervisors said toignore anti-gay slurs for years

By LOU CHIBBARO [email protected]

A gay former D.C. Metropolitan Police Departmentoffi cer filed a discrimination lawsuit last August

accusing fellow offi cers and supervisors at thedepartment’s Fourth District of subjecting him toa “withering” onslaught of anti-gay discrimination,harassment and retaliation between 2011 and 2013.

Former MPD Offi cer Christopher Lilly charges in his

lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Districtof Columbia that he was subjected to repeated anti-gay name-calling and other forms of harassment,including the placement of AIDS stickers on his locker.

The lawsuit names the city and the MPD asdefendants. It accuses the MPD, among other things,of discriminating against him on the basis of hissexual orientation and gender.

It says the harassment and discrimination against

Lilly began in December 2010 when “without PlaintiffLilly’s knowledge or consent, his sexual orientation,homosexual, was publicized, maliciously andintentionally” at the Fourth District.

“Following Plaintiff Lilly’s ‘outing,’ any offi cer to

come into contact with Plaintiff Lilly subjected him toscrutiny, retaliation and ridicule by means of vulgarlanguage, slandering his name and abilities to functionas a police offi cer and questioning his abilities to servedue to his sexual orientation,” the lawsuit says.

It says the alleged harassment escalated in January2011 when after returning from duty Lilly “found hislocker plastered with Blair Underwood posters, forty(40) District of Columbia HIV magnets stuck to his

locker and a large ‘spurt’ looking puddle of unknownwhite liquid meant to simulate ejaculation.”

The lawsuit adds, “Offi cers around the area

CONTINUES ON PAGE 19

PAGE 6

MURDER IN MD.

A trans woman was

found dead in a

Rockville hotel room.

PAGES 25-33

HOME & GARDEN

Our special section

has garden tours,

decor ideas and more.

PAGE 40

GOOD OLE’ BOY

Tom Wopat takes on

nasty right-wing role

in new ‘Fair Haven.’

A P R I L 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 4 7 I S S U E 1 7 • A M E R I C A ’ S G A Y N E W S S O U R C E • W A S H I N G T O N B L A D E . C O M

HILLARY CLINTON crushed Sen. Bernie Sanders in New York on Tuesday.Maryland and Delaware are among the states that vote next week.

PHOTO BY GINO SANTA MARIA; COURTESY OF BIGSTOCKPHOTO

CONTINUES ON PAGE 18


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02 • APRIL 22, 2016 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

New Odefsey® is now available

_ - _ _ - - _ . -


3/56

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM APRIL 22 , 2016 • 03

Please see Brief Summary of

Patient Information with important

warnings on the following pages.

Actual Size

(15.4 mm x 7.3 mm)

Ask your healthcare provider

if ODEFSEY is right for you.

To learn more visit

ODEFSEY.com

One small pill contains

rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and

tenofovir alafenamide (TAF).

:


4/56


Brief Summary of Patient Informationabout ODEFSEY

ODEFSEY (oh-DEF-see)(emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets

Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines thatshould not be taken with ODEFSEY.

There may be new information about ODEFSEY. This information is only a summaryand does not t ake the place of t alking with your healthcare provider about your medicalcondition or treatment.

What is the most important informationI should know about ODEFSEY?

ODEFSEY can cause serious side effects, including:

• Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis may happenin some people who take ODEFSEY or similar medicines. Lactic acidosis is a seriousmedical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identifyearly, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems.Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the followingsymptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis:

– feel very weak or tired

– have unusual (not normal) muscle pain

– have trouble breathing – have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting

– feel cold, especially in your arms and legs

– feel dizzy or lightheaded

– have a fast or irregular heartbeat

• Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems may happen in people who take ODEFSEY.In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large andyou may develop fat in your liver. Call your healthcare provider right away if youget any of the following symptoms of liver problems:

– your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice)

– dark “tea-colored” urine

– light-colored bowel movements (stools)

–

loss of appetite

– nausea

– pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if youare female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking ODEFSEY or a similarmedicine for a long time.

• Worsening of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. ODEFSEY is not approved to treatHBV. If you have HBV and take ODEFSEY, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stoptaking ODEFSEY. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worseway than before.

– Do not run out of ODEFSEY. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcareprovider before your ODEFSEY is all gone.

–

Do not stop taking ODEFSEY without first talking to your healthcare provider. – If you stop taking ODEFSEY, your healthcare provider will need to check your

health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBVinfection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms youmay have after you stop taking ODEFSEY.

What is ODEFSEY?

ODEFSEY is a prescription medicine that is used to treat HIV-1in people 12 years of age and older:

• who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past and have an amount of HIV-1 intheir blood (“viral load”) that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL, or

• to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same HIV-1medicines for at least 6 months, have a viral load that is less than 50 copies/mL, andhave never failed past HI V-1 treatment.

It is not known if ODEFSEY is safe and ef fective in children under 12 years of age or whoweigh less than 77 lb (35 kg).

When used to treat HIV-1 infection, ODEFSEY may help:

• Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”.

• Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fight off other infections.

Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood may helpimprove your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or getting infectionsthat can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

ODEFSEY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must keep taking HIV-1medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passingHIV-1 to others. Do not share or re-use needles, injection equipment, or personal itemsthat can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have sex without protection. Always

practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexualcontact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Who should not take ODEFSEY?

Do not take ODEFSEY if you also take a medicine that contains:

• carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®)

• dexamethasone (Ozurdex®, Maxidex®, Decadron®, BaycadronTM)

• dexlansoprazole (Dexilant®)

• esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®)

• lansoprazole (Prevacid®)

• omeprazole (Prilosec®, Zegerid®)

• oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®)• pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®)

• phenobarbital (Luminal®)

• phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125®, Phenytek ®)

• rabeprazole (Aciphex®)

• rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®)

• rifapentine (Priftin®)

• the herb St. John’s wort or a product that contains St. John’s wort

What should I tell my healthcare providerbefore taking ODEFSEY?

Before taking ODEFSEY, tell your healthcare provider if you:• have liver problems including hepatitis B or C virus infection

• have kidney and bone problems

• have had depression or suicidal thoughts

• have any other medical conditions

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ODEFSEY can harm yourunborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking ODEFSEY.

_ - _ _ - - _ . -


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Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information aboutthe health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you cantake part in this registry.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ODEFSEY.

– You should not breastfeed if you have HI V-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1to your baby.

– At least one of the medicines in ODEFSEY can pass to your baby in your breast milk.It is not known if the other medicines in ODEFSEY can pass into your breast milk.

– Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptionand over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines may interact with ODEFSEY. Keep a list of your medicines and showit to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines thatinteract with ODEFSEY.

• Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcareprovider can tell you if it is safe to take ODEFSEY with other medicines.

How should I take ODEFSEY?

• Take ODEFSEY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. ODEFSEY is

taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection.• Take ODEFSEY 1 time each day with a meal.

• Do not change your dose or stop taking ODEFSEY without first talking with yourhealthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking ODEFSEY.

• Do not miss a dose of ODEFSEY.

• If you take too much ODEFSEY, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearesthospital emergency room right away.

• When your ODEFSEY supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provideror pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood mayincrease if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may developresistance to ODEFSEY and become harder to treat.

What are the possible side effects of ODEFSEY?

ODEFSEY may cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about ODEFSEY?”

• Severe skin rash and allergic reactions. Skin rash is a common side effect ofODEFSEY. Rash can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get arash. In some cases, rash and allergic reaction may need to be treated in a hospital. If you get a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop taking ODEFSEY andcall your healthcare provider right away:

– fever

– skin blisters

– mouth sores

– redness or swelling of the eyes (conjunctivitis)

–

swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat – trouble breathing or swallowing

– pain on the right side of the stomach (abdominal) area

– dark “tea-colored” urine

• Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you haveany of the following symptoms:

– feel sad or hopeless

– feel anxious or restless

– have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself

• Change in liver enzymes. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus infectionor who have certain liver enzyme changes may have an increased risk of developingnew or worsening liver problems during treatment with ODEFSEY. Liver problemscan also happen during treatment with ODEFSEY in people without a history of liver

disease. Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your liver enzymesbefore and during treatment with ODEFSEY.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. Thesechanges may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalohump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs,arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects ofthese conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happenwhen you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger andbegin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell yourhealthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after startingyour HIV-1 medicine.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare

provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start andwhile you are taking ODEFSEY. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop takingODEFSEY if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

• Bone problems can happen in some people who take ODEFSEY. Bone problemsmay include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Yourhealthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones.

The most common side effects of rilpivirine, one of the medicines in ODEFSEY, aredepression, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and headache.

The most common side effect of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, two ofthe medicines in ODEFSEY, is nausea.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or thatdoes not go away.

• These are not all the possible side effects of ODEFSEY. For more information, askyour healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects toFDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about ODEFSEY. Ifyou would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask yourhealthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ODEFSEY that is written forhealth professionals.

For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.ODEFSEY.com.

Keep ODEFSEY and all medicines out of reach of children.

Issued: March 2016

ODEFSEY, the ODEFSEY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and GSI are trademarksof Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other trademarks referenced hereinare the property of their respective owners.

© 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. ODEC0005 03/16

:


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Grimm challenged schooldistrict’s restroom policy

By MICHAEL K. [email protected]

A federal appeals court on Tuesdayruled in favor of a transgender studentwho sued his Virginia school district overits policy that bars him from using theboys restroom or locker room.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals inRichmond issued its ruling in the case thatGavin Grimm brought against the GloucesterCounty School Board over its policy.

The Gloucester County High Schoolstudent alleges the regulation violatesTitle IX of the U.S. Education Amendmentsof 1972, which prohibits schools fromreceiving funds from discriminating onthe basis of sex. Grimm also claims thepolicy is unconstitutional under the 14th

Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.The 4th Circuit in January heard oral

arguments in Grimm’s case. It was the firsttime a federal appeals court consideredthe question of whether Title IX allowstrans students to use facilities that areconsistent with their gender identity.

“I feel so relieved and vindicated bythe court’s ruling.” said Grimm in a pressrelease the American Civil Liberties Unionreleased after the 4th Circuit announced itsdecision. “Today’s decision gives me hopethat my fight will help other kids avoid

discriminatory treatment at school.”The Justice Department argued in the

Grimm case that Title IX requires schooldistricts to allow trans students to userestrooms that correspond to their genderidentity. The Department of Education’sOffi ce of the General Council also filed abrief in support of the trans student.

“Today’s Fourth Circuit decision is avindication for Gavin and a reinforcementof the Department of Education’s policy.”said Joshua Block, a senior staff attorneyat the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and

Transgender Project, in a press release.“With this decision, we hope that schoolsand legislators will finally get the messagethat excluding transgender kids from therestrooms is unlawful sex discrimination.”

FCPS Pride, a group that representsLGBT employees of the Fairfax CountySchool District, in a statement said itsmembers “are heartened by the” 4thCircuit’s ruling. The Northern VirginiaChapter of the Gay, Lesbian and StraightEducation Network noted it “stronglysupports” the decision.

“This case comes down to the simpleprinciple that transgender students, likeall students, should have the opportunityto go to school, get an education, andbe treated fairly,” said Transgender LawCenter Executive Director Kris Hayashi

in a press release that Lambda Legalreleased. “Today’s ruling sets a legalprecedent confirming what the federalgovernment has made clear again andagain: Schools cannot ban students fromusing the restroom that matches thegender they live as every day.”

U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar last Julysaid the Gloucester County School District’spolicy does not violate Title IX. He laterrejected Grimm’s request for a preliminaryinjunction that would have allowed him touse the boys restroom and locker room atGloucester County High School as his caseproceeds through the courts.

The 4th Circuit in its decision orders thelower court to rule on the injunction.

“The court today opined that the caseshould go back to the lower court for that

judge to determine which definition of

sex should be enforced in our schools, theone found in an advisory letter from theObama administration, or the one usedby the Gloucester school board that’sbased on actual science and reality,” saidFamily Foundation of Virginia PresidentVictoria Cobb in a statement.

“A society cannot function properlywithout basic, social norms like male andfemale,” she added. “The social chaosthat would ensue from ignoring biologicalreality will inevitably bring tremendousharm to our children and limit freedom,not expand it.”

The 4th Circuit decision comes againstthe backdrop of a national debate overtrans people’s ability to access restroomsand other public facilities that areconsistent with their gender identity.

The sponsor of Tennessee’s so-called“papers to pee” bill withdrew it earlierthis week amid concerns that the statecould lose federal funding. The SouthDakota House of Representatives lastmonth failed to override Gov. DennisDaugaard’s veto of a measure that wouldhave prohibited trans students fromusing restrooms in public schools that are

consistent with their gender identity.A North Carolina law prohibiting trans

people from using public restrooms thatare consistent with their gender identityhas sparked widespread outrage acrossthe country.

The 4th Circuit encompasses the TarHeel State along with Virginia, Maryland,South Carolina and West Virginia.

D.C. trans woman murdered in Rockville hotel

Montgomery County, Md., police are appealing for help from the public intheir investigation into the April 16 murder of a 22-year-old transgender womanwho was found dead in her room at the Red Roof Inn hotel in Rockville.

The victim, who identified herself on her Facebook page as Keyonna MonroeBlakeney, was found to have suffered trauma to her upper body by fire andrescue personnel and offi cers with the Rockville City Police, who were called tothe scene by the hotel, according to a statement by Montgomery County police.

The statement says the Maryland Offi ce of the Chief Medical Examiner hasruled the death as a homicide.

“Investigators believe that Keyonna was assaulted and killed in her hotel roomin the early morning hours of Saturday, April 16,” the statement says. “Detectiveshave information that Keyonna may have been engaging in prostitution at theRed Roof Inn at that time,” the statement says.

“Detectives are urging anyone who may have information regarding themurder of Keyonna to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070,”according to the police statement. “For those who wish to remain anonymous,Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 forany information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s).”

It says Crime Solvers can be reached at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).On her Facebook page Blakeney stated she was from Upper Marlboro, Md.,

but had been living most recently in D.C. The Facebook page says she had beenworking as a makeup artist and had studied at Bowie State University.

Blakeney’s murder comes at a time when transgender rights advocates haveexpressed alarm over an increasing number of murders of trans women overthe past several years throughout the country.

Visit washingtonblade.com for updates on this case.LOU CHIBBARO JR.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

06 • APRIL 22, 2016 LOCAL NEWS

GAVIN GRIMM prevailed in a decision thisweek.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRIMM

Federal court rules in favor of Va. trans student

KEYONNA MONROE BLAKENEY was found to have suffered trauma to her upperbody.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK


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WASHINGTON, DC | TYSONS GALLERIA | MGBWHOME.COM


8/56


Throughout my 32 years of heroin addiction, HIV treatment wasn’t a real priority. But after getting clean in rehab,

I found hope and have been on HIV treatment ever since. Now that I’m living a healthy life, I have the strength and

passion to help others as an HIV testing counselor. I’ve been where they are. So when newly diagnosed people see

what treatment has done for me, it’s the hope they need at a critical time. Now, as a musician and Sunday school

teacher, I’m able to reach out to my community and share the benets of my experience.

“HIV, you didn

’t take

my hope, and you won’t

take my life.”

Vernial - Washington, DCLiving with HIV since 1987.


9/56


cdc.gov/HIVTreatmentWorks

Get in care. Stay in care. Live well.

HIVTREATMENT

WORKS


10/56

Former employee allegedunlawful dismissal

By LOU CHIBBARO [email protected]

With no public notice, a gay man lastDecember agreed to settle a potentiallygroundbreaking gay rights lawsuit he filedin 2012 accusing the Library of Congressof violating the U.S. Civil Rights Act of1964 by firing him because of his sexualorientation and gender.

A document filed in the U.S. DistrictCourt for the District of Columbia on Dec.8, 2015, says former Library of Congressmanagement analyst Peter TerVeer,33, and representatives of the libraryagreed that TerVeer would ask the court

to dismiss the case in exchange for apayment of $235,000.

“This payment is in full and finalsatisfaction of all of plaintiff’s claims inthis case,” according to an 11-page JointStipulation of Settlement and Dismissaldocument, which is part of the court’spublic records.

TerVeer and government attorneysrepresenting the library jointly draftedthe stipulation document. U.S. DistrictCourt Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly signedthe document three days later when she

dismissed the case on Dec. 11.Although TerVeer’s attorneys called two

news conferences to announce the filingof his lawsuit in August 2012, no publicannouncement and no known mediacoverage accompanied the decision tosettle the case in December.

“[T]his stipulation is not intendedand shall not be deemed an admissionby either party of the merit or lack ofmerit of the opposing party’s claims anddefenses,” the document states.

“Without limiting the generality of

the foregoing, this stipulation does notconstitute, and shall not be construed as,an admission that defendant, the agency,or any of the agency’s present or formeremployees or agents violated any ofplaintiff’s rights or any laws or regulations,or as an admission of any contested factalleged by plaintiff in connection with thiscase or otherwise,” it says.

TerVeer charged in his lawsuit thathis supervisor, John Mech, subjectedhim to a hostile work environmentafter discovering he was gay by, amongother things, repeatedly quoting biblicalpassages condemning homosexualityduring work-related offi ce conversations.

The lawsuit says library offi cialsdenied TerVeer’s repeated requests tobe transferred to another assignment in

an offi ce not under Mech’s supervision.It says Mech, meanwhile, gave him workassignments he knew TerVeer wasn’ttrained for in a thinly veiled effort toset him up to fail and receive negativeperformance reviews.

The stress caused by the hostile workenvironment prompted TerVeer’s doctorto advise him to take an extendedmedical leave, the lawsuit says. It saysthat although library offi cials agreed to

his request for disability leave he wasfired after his leave time expired and hedid not return to work.

The lawsuit called for the Library ofCongress to reinstate TerVeer to his job,provide him with back pay, compensatoryand punitive damages for emotionaldistress, and an order prohibiting Mechfrom harassing and discriminatingagainst him.

A Library of Congress spokespersondeclined to comment on the lawsuit’sallegations at the time it was filed.

Gay rights attorneys considered thecase important because a ruling affi rmingthat anti-gay employment discriminationis a form of sex discrimination and iscovered under the famed 1964 Civil RightsAct, as TerVeer maintained in his lawsuit,could potentially lead to full employmentnon-discrimination protection forlesbians and gay men nationwide.

Jon Davidson, national legal director ofthe LGBT litigation group Lambda Legal,which filed a friend of the court brief insupport of TerVeer’s lawsuit, said thesettlement eliminates any chance of anappeals court setting a legal precedentin the case confirming that the 1964 CivilRights Act covers gays and lesbians.

� CONTINUES AT WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Comings & GoingsVictory Fund, HRC name two top new leaders

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our commu-nity. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joiningboards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us [email protected].

Ruben J. Gonzales is now vice president ofleadership initiatives at the Gay and Lesbian VictoryFund and Institute. The Institute is dedicated toadvancing LGBT equality by identifying, recruiting,training and supporting openly LGBT public offi cialsas well as building a pipeline of LGBT leaders.Ruben oversees the organization’s internationaland domestic programs, including its congressionalinternship and fellowship programs, PresidentialAppointments Project and candidate and campaigntrainings. He will also focus on growing supportfor these programs from private foundations andcorporations to expand the number of LGBT leaders

reached.Prior to joining Victory this year, Ruben led all

fundraising efforts at the Congressional HispanicCaucus Institute. Ruben also previously servedas the chief development offi cer at the UnitedCerebral Palsy, deputy vice president for resourcedevelopment at the National Council of La Raza,director of development at the Urban Assembly, aschool management organization based in New YorkCity, and with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance AgainstDefamation as director of volunteer management. Ruben is also recognized asan expert on the role of Latinos in philanthropy and has been invited by theAssociation of Fundraising Professionals to present on this topic.

In 2013, Ruben was named by “Advocate” magazine as one of its Top 40Under 40 for his leadership on behalf of LGBT Latinos. Ruben also serves on theboard of directors of the Latin American Youth Center, which is headquarteredin Columbia Heights. Ruben holds a bachelor’s degree in political science fromSanta Clara University. He is married to Joaquin Tamayo.

The Human Rights Campaign has named Jay Brown as the organization’snew communications director. HRC said, “Brown will serve as an organizationalspokesperson and lead a team responsible for advocating for LGBT equality inthe media as well as supporting and amplifying HRC programs.”

Brown currently serves as HRC’s director of research and public education,“where he has helped shape the organization’s approach to generating researchand educational campaigns aimed at enhancing the lives of LGBT people,”according to a statement. In his new role he will work closely with senior vice

president of communications and marketing Olivia Alair Dalton. Accordingto Dalton, “Jay is an incredibly talented communicator who has also led animpressive career as an advocate. He has spent a decade working to ensureequality for LGBT people at every intersection of their identities and lives. Thereis no one better equipped to lead our talented communications team andensure we are ready to meet the challenges ahead in the fight for full equality.”

Brown said, “I couldn’t be more excited to join the communications team atsuch a pivotal time in the movement for LGBT equality. We still have so manystories left to tell about who we are, and the obstacles that still stand in front ofso many LGBT people, in the United States and around the world.”

Brown worked at HRC from 2000 to 2006 where he managed communicationstrategies around the defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment, advancingunderstanding of transgender people, and building support for hate crimesprevention legislation and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” among other issues.

According to the HRC website, “prior to working with HRC Jay held directorpositions at Reading Is Fundamental and Carnegie Mellon University, focusingon integrated marketing and online communications. Jay is an out trans manand lives in Maryland with his spouse, Kendra, and their two children.”

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM


RUBEN GONZALES

Gay man settles lawsuitagainst Library of Congress

PETER TERVEER, a former Library of Congressmanagement analyst, claims his boss firedhim because he’s gay.

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

JAY BROWN

PHOTO COURTESY OF GONZALES

PHOTO COURTESY OF BROWN


11/56


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12/56

Court ruling deliversblow to measure

By CHRIS [email protected]

Despite snowballing opposition tohis state’s recently enacted anti-LGBTlaw, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCroryremains defiant and continues to defendthe measure as a means to prevent“government overreach.”

McCrory defended House Bill 2 —which has garnered national headlinesas LGBT advocates and business leaderscontinue to call for repeal — during aninterview Sunday with NBC’s Chuck Toddon “Meet the Press.”

“The city of Charlotte passed a

bathroom ordinance mandate on everyprivate sector employer in Charlotte,North Carolina, one of the largest, 15th,16th-largest cities in the United Statesof America,” McCrory said. “And I thinkthat’s government overreach. It’s notgovernment’s business to tell the privatesector what their bathroom, locker room,or shower practices should be. Not onlythe private business, but also the YMCAand other non-profit organizations.”

Signed by McCrory after the NorthCarolina Legislature approved the

measure with only a single day ofdebate, House Bill 2 undoes all pro-LGBT ordinances in North Carolina,including the recently approved one inCharlotte, and prohibits transgenderpeople from using the public restroomin schools or government buildingsconsistent with their gender identity.

Defending the law on “Meet the Press,”McCrory pointed out Houston in Novemberrejected by a large margin a pro-LGBT non-discrimination ordinance similar to the oneCharlotte tried to pass. The governor also

noted 29 states “do not have these typesof restroom, locker room, and bathroompolicies,” referring to states that don’t havelaws prohibiting discrimination againsttransgender people.

Todd pressed McCrory on the brevityof time — a single day — in which thelegislature debated and approved thelaw before the governor penned hisname to the measure.

When McCrory shot back by sayingCharlotte approved its measure on asingle evening with “very little debate,”Todd noted in the months prior to thatvote, the public was able to discussthe ordinance, but the state measureemerged and passed in just one day.

Again pointing to the example of Houston— even though defeat of the ordinance

there made no requirements transgenderpeople be barred from public restrooms,McCrory maintained discussion should be“more dialogue and not threats.”

More than 160 major companies havecalled for repeal of House Bill 2 and others,such as PayPal and Deutsche Bank, havecancelled expansion plans in the stateover the law. Meanwhile, acts such asBruce Springsteen and Cirque du Soleilhave cancelled performances in NorthCarolina to protest the measure.

In a related development this week, afederal appeals court ruling in favor of aVirginia transgender student seeking touse school restrooms consistent with hisgender identity delivered a blow to NorthCarolina’s anti-LGBT law.

Although the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court ofAppeals decision pertains to a school districtin Virginia, the case has bearing on HouseBill 2 because the court also has jurisdictionover North Carolina along with Maryland,South Carolina and West Virginia. Legalexperts say the decision has the effect of

rendering unenforceable the componentof HB 2 that prohibits transgender studentsfrom using school restrooms consistentwith their gender identity.

Upon news of the decision, McCrorytold reporters he would “make sure thesecourt rulings are abided to,” but wouldneed to consult with lawyers to verify thenecessary approach.

And in another related development,the lawmaker behind an anti-trans“papers to pee” bill in Tennesseewithdrew the measure, effectively killingit for the year.

According to The Tennessean, StateRep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet), the sponsorof the bill, said Monday prior to a plannedcommittee markup she planned to holdoff on action to further study the issue.

Schilling posts anti-trans memeBOSTON — Former Red Sox pitcher Curt

Schilling on April 18 posted a picture to hisFacebook page that appeared to criticize effortsto allow transgender people to use restroomsconsistent with their gender identity.

The Boston Globe reported that Schilling,who is an ESPN analyst, posted a meme thatshowed a man wearing a wig, a ripped shirtand stockings and holding a handbag. Thepicture contained the message: “Let him in! Tothe restroom with your daughter or else you’rea narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racistbigot who needs to die!!!”

The Boston Globe said that the former RedSox pitcher has deleted the post.

An ESPN spokesperson told the BostonGlobe on April 19 that it is “taking this mattervery seriously and are in the process ofreviewing it.” The Human Rights Campaign isamong the organizations that have criticizedSchilling over the post.

“Curt Schilling demonstrated a disgusting view of trans people in a Facebookpost yesterday,” wrote Cyd Zeigler, Jr., co-founder of Outsports.com, on April 19.“Given ESPN’s long largely positive history with the LGBT community, he has to

be fired over this.”Schilling defended his post.“This latest brew ha ha is beyond hilarious,” he wrote on his blog. “I didn’t post

that ugly looking picture. I made a comment about the basic functionality ofmen’s and women’s restrooms, period.”

Man sentenced for Islan Nettles murder

NEW YORK — A Manhattan judge on April 19 sentenced a man to 12 years inprison for beating a transgender woman to death in 2013.

The New York Times reported that James Dixon admitted earlier this monthin a plea deal with prosecutors that he attacked Islan Nettles on a Harlem street

on Aug. 17, 2013.Nettles died from her injuries five days later. Dixon pleaded guilty to

manslaughter before his trial was to have begun.The New York Times reported that Nettles’ mother, Delores Nettles, told the

court before state Supreme Court Justice Daniel P. Conviser sentenced Dixonthat the sentence was not enough.

“As far as James Dixon, I would hate you, I would hate you for the rest of yourlife,” Delores Nettles told Dixon through tears as Gay City News reported. “I hopeyou die, I hope you rot.”

Islan Nettles’ death sparked outrage among LGBT rights advocates in NewYork and across the country.

Mass. guv booed from LGBT event stage

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker abruptly left the stage at anLGBT networking event on April 13 after members of the audience challengedhim over his refusal to speak in support of a transgender rights bill.

The Boston Globe reported that Baker had been speaking at a networkingevent that Boston Spirit magazine organized at a Boston hotel. The newspapersaid that audience members booed the Republican governor and chanted“sign the bill” that would ban discrimination against trans people in publicaccommodations.

“Governor Baker concluded his speech where he reiterated his belief that noone in Massachusetts should be discriminated against, praised attendees fortheir courage and urged the transgender community to continue to advocate fortheir beliefs,” said Baker’s spokesperson in a statement released to the BostonGlobe after the event.

A state law that bans anti-trans discrimination in employment, housing andcredit took effect in 2011. The Massachusetts Senate is expected to considera measure that would add public accommodations to the statute next month.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

12 • APRIL 22, 2016 NATIONAL NEWS

McCrory defiant overN.C. anti-LGBT law

North Carolina Gov. PAT MCCRORY continues to defend his state’santi-LGBT law.

PHOTO BY HAL GOLDTREE; COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Former Red Sox pitcher CURTSCHILLING posted an anti-transmeme to Facebook.


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14/56

Kasich tells LGBT people to ‘get over it’

John Kasich continues toseek a middle ground onLGBT rights compared toother Republican presidentialcandidates, although hethinks LGBT people who facediscrimination should “just fora second get over it.”

The Ohio governor made theremarks during an interview

with CNN’s Dana Bash thataired Sunday on “State ofthe Union” in response to aquestion on whether he wouldtake steps against state anti-LGBT laws like the one recentlypassed in Mississippi.

Kasich initially replied hewouldn’t take steps againstthose laws, then added, “Ihaven’t even been asked thator thought about it.”

Urging people to “calm down,” the governor said the country needs to protect religious

liberty, but also can’t allow discrimination, so must “strike a balance” on the issue.“What I like to say is, just relax, if you don’t like what somebody is doing, pray for

them,” Kasich said. “And if you feel as though somebody is doing something wrongagainst you, can you just for a second get over it because this thing will settle down?”

Kasich lamented the issue has “become a wedge issue that can be exploited by peopleon both sides,” saying the country should be the United States and not the “DividedStates.”

The 2016 hopeful made the remarks after saying he “wouldn’t have signed” NorthCarolina’s controversial anti-LGBT law and dismissing Mississippi’s new law that enablesanti-LGBT discrimination in the name of religious freedom.

TJ Helmstetter, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, said Kasichis trying to have it both ways on the issue of anti-LGBT discrimination in the name ofreligious freedom.

“Either you’re for discrimination, or you’re against it,” Helmstetter said. “To tell LGBTvictims of discrimination to ‘just relax’ and ‘get over it’ is disrespectful, outrageous, andnot the kind of leadership expected from a credible presidential candidate.”

CHRIS JOHNSON

Clinton, Sanders to meet with HIV advocates

Following controversy last month after Hillary Clinton praised Nancy Reagan’s effortson HIV/AIDS, the Democratic presidential candidate and her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.) have agreed to meet separately with HIV advocates to plot a way forward toachieve an “AIDS-free generation.”

Clinton, who has apologized twice for the gaffe, but has never explained why shemade it in the first place, indicated via a letter to HIV advocates from senior policyadviser Maya Harris she would take part in a meeting May 13 in New York City.

“As you know, the secretary has fought for decades to combat HIV and AIDS, and shehas included it as a priority issue in her campaign,” Harris writes. “Secretary Clinton isdelighted to accept your invitation and is available to meet on May 13th in New YorkCity to discuss how we can build on this agenda. We look forward to working with you todetermine a convenient time, location, and list of participants for this meeting.”

Clinton agreed to the meeting after a group of more than 70 HIV advocates wrote anopen letter to her calling on her to appoint an HIV adviser, meet with HIV communityleadership and declare a commitment to end the AIDS epidemic nationally by 2025.

Among the 70 signers of the letter were New York City-based gay rights and HIVadvocate Peter Staley, the New York-based Gay Men’s Health Crisis, ACT UP New York,the National Black Justice Coalition, NMAC, Human Rights Campaign, the New York-based health agency Amida Care and the D.C.-based HIV/AIDS advocacy group Housing

Works.Sanders signaled he’ll meet with HIV advocates in the first week of May via a separate

letter from Sarah Scanlon, his campaign’s national director of LGBTQ outreach.CHRIS JOHNSON

Gay New Yorker confronts Cruz

One day before the crucial primary in New York, Republican candidate TedCruz told a gay Republican protections on the basis of “religious liberty” are allthat’s necessary despite laws discriminating against LGBT people in the name ofreligious freedom.

Cruz made the remarks during a town hall-style event on ABC’s “Good MorningAmerica” in response to a question from Todd Calongne, who identified himselfas an undecided, Trump-leaning gay Republican voter in a same-sex marriageand wanted to know what the candidate would do to protect him from recentlyenacted state anti-LGBT “religious freedom” laws.

“When it comes to religious liberty, religious liberty is something that protectsevery single one of us,” Cruz replied. “It is the ...very first phrase protected in theFirst Amendment of the Bill of Rights. And religious l iberty, it applies to Christians,

it applies to Jews, it applies to Muslims, it applies to atheists. And all of us, wewant to live in a world where we don’t have the government dictating our beliefs,dictating how we live. We have a right to live according to our faith, according toour conscience. And that freedom ultimately protects each and every one of us.”

“Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts, a lesbian, followed by askingwhether Calongne has the freedom to be treated equally under the law. Cruzmaintained religious liberty is paramount under the U.S. Constitution.

“The First Amendment protects everyone equally,” Cruz said. “It protects ourfaith, it protects the faith of an Orthodox Jew to follow his or her faith without thegovernment getting in the way and regulating Kosher delis and restricting whatcan be served. It protects the freedom of all of us.”

As host George Stephanopoulos pointed out, Cruz has introduced anamendment in the U.S. Senate that would overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’sdecision in favor of same-sex marriage. Asked what that would mean for same-sex couples who are already married like Calongne, Cruz said marriage is anissue that belongs to the states.

“That has been the case from the very beginning of this country,” Cruz added.“It’s been up to the states, and so if someone wants to change the marriage laws,I don’t think it should be five, unelected lawyers down in Washington dictatingthat, and even if you agree with that particular decision, why would you wantto hand over every important public policy issue to five unelected lawyers whoaren’t accountable to you, who don’t work for you?”

Cruz concluded individuals seeking to change the marriage laws shouldconvince the citizenry to change the them as opposed to seeking relief beforethe judiciary.

“It may end up that we’ve got 50 states, that the laws in one state may bedifferent than another state and we would expect that, we would expect the

people of New York to adopt different laws perhaps than the people of California,or Texas or Florida, and that’s the great thing about a big, diverse country is thatwe can have different laws that respect different values,” Cruz said.

CHRIS JOHNSON

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

14 • APRIL 22, 2016 NATIONAL NEWS

Gov. JOHN KASICH (R-Ohio) said LGBT people who facediscrimination should ‘just for a second get o ver it.’

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY CHRIS JOHNSON

Ted Cruz told a gay New Yorker ‘religious liberty’ protections are all needs.

SCREENSHOT VIA ABC


15/56


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Jerusalem Pride attacker convicted of murder

An Israeli court on Tuesday convicted an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man of murder andattempted murder in connection with a 2015 attack on a Jerusalem Pride march.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the Jerusalem District Court found Yishai Schlisselguilty of murder and six counts of attempted murder.

Prosecutors allege that Schlissel stabbed Shira Banki, a 16-year-old teenager, to deathand injured six others who were taking part in the Pride march on July 30, 2015. Theattack took place less than a month after Schlissel completed a 10-year prison sentencein connection with the stabbing of three people during a Jerusalem Pride march in 2005.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the court on Tuesday blasted Israeli pol ice offi cialsfor not doing enough to stop Schlissel.

“We condemned the attack at the 2015 Jerusalem Pride Parade in the strongestpossible terms,” a State Department offi cial told the Washington Blade on Tuesday.“We commend the Israeli government for holding the perpetrator accountable for thishorrendous crime.”

Tom Canning of Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, which organized thePride march, said in a statement that “nothing can heal the immense pain we still feelfollowing this vicious attack and death of a innocent girl Shira Banki.”

“Our community still carry’s the trauma and fear of violence from the events of thatday,” added Canning. “I hope that Schlissel will receive the maximum penalty, which willperhaps contribute to our healing process.”

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Travel companies challenge Cuba regulations

A U.S. cruise line on Monday said it would postpone trips to Cuba if a policy thatprohibits anyone who was born on the Communist island from traveling there by searemains in place.

Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald in a statement said Cuban nationals are now ableto book reservations for the Adonia, a 704-passenger cruise ship that the company’sFathom brand operates.

The Adonia is scheduled to depart Miami on May 1 for a weeklong cruise that isscheduled to dock in Havana and the cities of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Donaldin his statement notes the Adonia will be the first cruise ship to sail from the U.S. to theCommunist island in more than 50 years.

Ads that are promoting the cruise — that will sail to Cuba from Miami every otherweek — are currently running on D.C. television stations.

“As we continue our discussions with Cuba, and in anticipation of Fathom travelersbeing on equal footing with those who travel by air, we are accepting bookings from alltravelers, including Cuba-born individuals,” said Donald. “However if Cuba’s decision isdelayed beyond May 1, we will delay the start of our sailings.”

Donald released his statement less than a week after a lawyer filed lawsuits on behalfof four Cuban Americans who claim they suffered discrimination because Carnival

prohibited them from booking the cruise.Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos

Gimenez — who were both born in Cuba — are among those who criticized Carnival’sdecision not to allow Cuban nationals to book reservations on the Adonia.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Venezuelan ‘artivist’fights homophobia

AMHERST, Mass. — A self-described gay “artivist” from Venezuela is using hisart to fight homophobia and other forms of discrimination.

Daniel Arzola is behind the “I’m Not a Joke” campaign, which features a seriesof 50 posters that contain a sentence and a digital illustration.

The campaign — known as “No soy tu chiste” in Spanish — has appearedin the U.S., Venezuela, Brazil, Australia, Uganda, Russia and two dozen other

countries around the world. Arzola’s posters have also been translated intoEnglish, Portuguese and 18 other languages.

“It’s about being different,” Arzola told the Washington Blade on April 14 duringan interview at Amherst College where an LGBT student group had invited himto speak.

Katy Perry selected several of Arzola’s posters for Madonna’s Art for Freedom,a project for which she is a guest curator.

Arzola told the Blade that his life changed when Madonna tweeted a pictureof one of them on Oct. 8, 2013.

“At that moment ‘I’m Not a Joke’ was not only for activists,” said Arzola. “Ireceived a lot of interview (requests) from a lot of countries. And the people fromVenezuela who hate me knew my work because Madonna made that tweet.”

“It’s a little cliché but Madonna changed my life,” he added.

Arzola, 26, grew up in Maracay, a city that is roughly 70 miles south southwestof the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

Arzola, who has an older brother, told the Blade that he was a “very shy” and“lonely” child. He said that he used “art to communicate with other people.”

“If I liked you, I preferred to give you than to talk to you,” said Arzola.Arzola said he came out to his mother when he was 5, telling her that he liked

a boy in his kindergarten class.“I told her and she beat me,” said Arzola.Arzola told the Blade that his mother, who is a teacher, is “not homophobic

anymore.” He said she now wears a t-shirt that promotes his art in her classroom.“She’s like my biggest fan all the time,” said Arzola.Arzola said that three of his neighbors attacked him when he was 15.He told the Blade that they took off his pants and shoes before tying him to

a telephone poll with cables. Arzola said he was able to escape when one of hisattackers tried to find gasoline to set him on fire.He told the Blade that his assailants destroyed all of his drawings.“They tried to burn me alive because that’s the way that some people in

Venezuela react to the differences in another person,” Arzola told the Blade. “It’snot only if you’re gay.”

Arzola said he was unable to draw for the next six years “until one day I understoodthat my story is not the only story and I had the luck to escape and survive.” He toldthe Blade that an 18-year-old man from Maracay who was attacked because of hissexual orientation suffered burns over nearly 50 percent of his body.

“There’s a lot of people burning people alive or hurting other people inVenezuela for being gay,” said Arzola.

The U.N. Offi ce on Drugs and Crime notes that Venezuela has one of the world’shighest homicide rates. A deepening economic crisis has caused a shortage ofbasic goods, triple-digit inflation and growing political and social instability.

Tamara Adrián, a Caracas lawyer who is a member of Popular Will, a left-leaning party, in December became the first openly trans person elected to theVenezuelan National Assembly. Anti-LGBT violence and discrimination remainspervasive in the South American country in spite of this historic election.

Arzola, who studied graphic design and art in Venezuela, told the Blade thathe wanted to use art as a way to challenge anti-gay violence and homophobiain his homeland.

“This is the way that artivism burns in my head,” he said. “I need to fight violencewith other things and in Venezuela being gay is always in the media. Peoplelaugh about being LGBT, so I was wondering (about) when we start to laughabout tragedy, about the pain of others. In Venezuela people are always sayingthat, ‘We’re so cool because we find a joke in everything.’ But that everything

sometimes includes the pain of others.”“That’s where the name ‘I’m Not a Joke’” comes in,” added Arzola. “I want to talk

with people like you and me, so I’m not your joke. I’m not a joke.”MICHAEL K. LAVERS

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

16 • APRIL 22, 2016 INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A tattered rainbow flag flies over Mi Cayito, a gay beach east of Havana on May 18, 2015.

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS


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snickered and failed to assist Offi cer Lillyto clean the mess around his locker.”

The lawsuit’s 32-page complaintdoesn’t say whether Lilly understoodthe significance of why Blair Underwoodposters were placed on his locker.

But the lawsuit says that followingthe defacement of his locker in January2011 Lilly filed a complaint with then

Fourth District Commander KimberlyChisley-Missouri, Det. Mary Bonacorsyand Offi cer Susan Taylor, who the lawsuitsays was the department’s EEOC contactperson.

“To Plaintiff Lilly’s knowledge, noinvestigation or follow-up was made intothis matter,” the lawsuit says.

“By late spring 2011, Plaintiff Lilly’ssuperiors, fellow offi cers, and newacademy graduates took to publiclyridiculing him,” says the lawsuit, with oneoffi cer shouting, “What a fucking faggot!”

Around that time period, accordingto the lawsuit, the harassment againsthim surfaced at a Fourth District roll callmeeting in which nearly all of the district’soffi cers and many supervisors were inattendance.

“[A]n Offi cer Lavigne looked directly atPlaintiff Lilly, amidst the whole precinct,and bluntly said, ‘Well I just know allfaggots will burn in hell…so that is onthem.”

Adds the lawsuit, “To Plaintiff Lilly’sknowledge, no report, investigation or

follow-up was made into this matter.”When asked for comment on thelawsuit, Assistant D.C. Police Chief PeterNewsham told the Washington Blade onMonday that under a longstanding policythe department never comments onpending litigation.

“I can’t talk about a specific lawsuit,”Newsham said. “But I can tell about howwe don’t tolerate bias by any memberson this police department. It’s somethingwe take very seriously,” he said. “And ifwe become aware of it corrective actionwill be taken all the way up to removal if itwas severe enough.”

Robert Marus, a spokesperson forthe Offi ce of the D.C. Attorney General,which is representing the city againstthe lawsuit, said his offi ce also could notcomment on a specific case pending incourt.

Court records show that D.C. AttorneyGeneral Karl Racine and other attorneyswith the offi ce responded to the lawsuitin January of this year by filing a motioncalling for the dismissal of its firstthree counts. Those counts allege that

the discrimination and harassmentLilly encountered by police violatedhis First and Fourteenth Amendmentconstitutional rights of freedom ofexpression and equal protection under

the law.“Plaintiff has failed to state a

constitutional claim on which reliefcan be granted and this Court shoulddismiss Counts One, Two and Three ofthe Amended Complaint,” the AttorneyGeneral’s motion states.

The Attorney General’s court filingsas of this week have not respondedto the lawsuit’s specific allegations ofdiscrimination and harassment and othersubstantive claims.

A spokesperson for U.S. DistrictCourt Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, who ispresiding over the case, said Sullivan wasdeliberating over the pending motion andhe was expected to rule on the motionwithout calling a hearing.

Lilly’s attorney, Sameera Ali of the D.C.law firm Ali, White & Coleman, said shewould consider answering questionsabout the lawsuit submitted by theBlade, but she had not responded as ofWednesday.

A police source who was assigned tothe Fourth District during part of Lilly’stenure there disputed Lilly’s allegations,saying that Lilly had a reputation for“odd behavior” and that any ridicule or“teasing” he may have encountered hadnothing to do with his sexual orientation.

The source, who spoke on condition ofnot being identified because the sourcewas not authorized to speak to the media,said Lilly also had a reputation of notadequately carrying out his police duties.

“The lawsuit doesn’t ring true,” thesource said. “He had a habit of not tellingthe truth.”

The lawsuit says that prior to becominga police offi cer Lilly “had been previouslytreated for Obsessive CompulsiveDisorder (“OCD”) tendencies and hasbeen diagnosed and treated for Attention

Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”)since the age of 20.”

It adds, “Since the onset of Plaintiff Lilly’s employment, these diagnosesdid not interfere or affect Mr. Lilly’s jobperformance.”

Lilly did not respond to a call from theBlade seeking comment.

His lawsuit says that over the nexttwo years following the locker incidentLilly filed more internal MPD complaintsabout the alleged harassment and

discriminatory actions, including at leastone complaint before the department’sEqual Employment Opportunity (EEO)Compliance Division. It says Lilly wassubjected to retaliation after filing thosecomplaints.

“Plaintiff is a homosexual male whoengaged in protected EEO activitywhen he repeatedly reported illegalharassment, hate crimes, bias-relateddisciplinary actions and retaliation to hissupervisors in the Fourth District,” thelawsuit says.

“The Department has selectivelymistreated Plaintiff on the basis ofhis gender and associated sexualorientation,” it says.

In doing this, the lawsuit charges thatthe MPD and the city violated amongother laws, Title VII of the U.S. Civil RightsAct of 1964, the First and FourteenthAmendments of the U.S. Constitution,and the D.C. Human Rights Act.

The harassment and hostile treatmenttoward him combined with work-relatedhealth issues that occurred during thatperiod resulted in the department taking

steps to fire him and later forcing him toretire on disability in 2013, according tothe lawsuit.

The forced retirement, which thelawsuit says was a form of termination,

came after he was hospitalized for amental health crisis, including a bout ofposttraumatic stress disorder the lawsuitsays was brought about by a prolongedperiod of being subjected to a hostilework environment.

Although the forced disabilityretirement includes a benefit ofreceiving 40 percent of his “basic salary”as compensation, the reduction inhis income created a severe financialhardship for him, the lawsuit says.

“With the reduced income, Plaintiff Lilly was evicted from his home, resultingin homelessness and subsequentaddiction,” it says.

The lawsuit says Lilly is currently livingin Las Vegas.

It calls on the court to award Lillycompensatory damages to be determinedby a jury up to a maximum award of$300,000; to impose civil penalties on thecity and the MPD; and to order the city topay Lilly’s attorney’s fees.

Although lawsuits of this type are partof the public court record, neither Lilly norhis attorney publicly disclosed that it hadbeen filed last August. The Blade learnedabout the lawsuit last month from DavidMariner, executive director of D.C.’s LGBTCommunity Center.

Mariner said he has spoken with Lillyand he believes Lilly’s case is just oneexample of what Mariner says have been“numerous” instances of LGBT D.C. policeoffi cers being subjected to discriminationon the job.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier hasstated at LGBT events in recent years

that she and the department do nottolerate anti-LGBT discrimination withinthe department or through MPD offi cers’interactions with members of thecommunity.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01D.C. cop alleges harassment, ‘hate crimes’ in lawsuit

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM


D.C. Police Chief CATHY LANIER has statedthat she and the department do nottolerate anti-LGBT discrimination within thedepartment.

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY


19/56

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

NATIONAL NEWS APRIL 22, 2016 • 19

ballot, or if the GOP is headed toward anopen convention.

Much attention will be on Pennsylvania,the largest state in Acela primary, whichyields 71 delegates for Republicans and181 delegates for Democrats.

Malcolm Lazin, executive director ofthe Philadelphia-based Equality Forum,said as a 501(c)(3) organization, his

group doesn’t endorse candidates, butpredicted the results in Pennsylvaniawould be similar to New York.

“Pennsylvania is the largest of nextTuesday’s Acela states,” Lazin said. “If,as is expected Secretary Clinton and Mr.Trump dominate those primaries, it willmake a compelling case that SecretaryClinton is the Democratic presidentialnominee and that Mr. Trump will comeclose after the California primary to theneeded 1,237 votes for the Republicanpresidential nomination.”

In Maryland, where 105 delegates areup for grabs on the Democratic side,a Public Policy Polling poll publishedon Tuesday found Hillary Clinton looksheaded for a resounding victory overSanders. Among Democratic voters,Clinton leads Sanders 58-33. Much ofthat lead is the result of black voters inMaryland, which comprise 40 percent ofthe state’s Democratic primary electorateand support her 70-25.

“The only question in Maryland onthe Democratic side is the margin,”

said Dean Debnam, president of PublicPolicy Polling. “A closed primary statewith a large black population is about astailor made for Hillary Clinton as it couldpossibly be.”

On the Republican side in Maryland,where 38 delegates are up for grabs,Trump only had a plurality of supportin the poll at 43 percent, but that’s higherthan support for John Kasich and TedCruz, who are closely matched for secondplace at 29 percent and 24 percentrespectively.

John Fluharty, a gay Kasich support andformer head of the Delaware RepublicanParty, predicted Trump would claimall 16 delegates for Republicans in theFirst State. On the Democratic side, 27delegates are in play.

“Both Trump and Kasich have set upshop in Delaware, and are working hard,”Fluharty said. “The only chance Kasichhas to move from 2nd place to 1st placein Delaware is if Cruz/Trump split the votein Sussex/Kent Counties.”

In Connecticut, where 121 delegatesare up for grabs for Democrats and 28

for Republicans, the projected results aresimilar. A Qunnipiac poll found Clintonhas a 51–42 percent lead over Sanders.Meanwhile, Trump had 48 percentsupport among likely Republicans

compared to 28 percent for Kasich and19 percent for Cruz.

The remaining state in the Acelaprimary, Rhode Island, yields 19 delegatesfor Republicans and 31 delegates forDemocrats. The Washington Blade couldnot find recent polling in the state.

In this week’s New York primary,with 99 percent of precincts reportingon the Democratic side, Clinton, whorepresented New York as a U.S. senator,

won 57.9 percent of the vote comparedto the 42.1 percent won by Sanders eventhough the Vermont independent wasborn in Brooklyn. With the same amountof precincts reporting on the Republicanside, Trump, who claims New York as hishome state, won 60.5 percent of the votecompared to the 25.1 percent won byKasich and the 14.5 percent won by Cruz.

The New York primary was consideredcrucial for both front-runners after aseries of setbacks and should injectmomentum into their campaigns as

the primary season continues. On theDemocratic side, a mother lode of 247delegates were on the table, while NewYork yielded 95 delegates for Republicancandidates.

Speaking to supporters after pollsclosed, Clinton seemed to make a directappeal to Sanders’ supporters as shesaid: “There is much more that unites usthan divides us.”

“We started this race not far fromhere on Roosevelt Island pledging tobuild on the progressive tradition that’s

done so much for America from FranklinRoosevelt to Barack Obama,” Clinton said.“And tonight, a little less than a year later,the race for the Democratic nominationis in the home stretch and victory is insight.”

In his victory speech in Manhattan,Trump credited his win with frustrationfelt by many Americans and looked aheadto states in the upcoming primaries.

“We expect we’re going to have anamazing number of weeks because theseare places and they’re in big trouble,they’re in big trouble,” Trump said. “Whenyou look at Pennsylvania, when you lookat Indiana, when you look at Marylandand Rhode Island and so many places, wehave problems everywhere you look. Weare going to solve those problems, andone of the big problems is the economyand jobs, and that is my wheelhouse.”

Clinton’s win makes up for a string oflosses in seven other Democratic contestswhere Sanders was the victor. With anearly 16-point loss in New York, Sandersseems even more unlikely to make upthe delegates he needs to secure the

Democratic nomination.Prior to his massive win in New York,

Trump faced setbacks because of losses inColorado and Wyoming. Republicans alliedwith other campaigns were named as his

delegates in Michigan, Iowa and SouthCarolina, making it unlikely they wouldcontinue to support him during theRepublican National Convention if hedoesn’t win on the first ballot.

Richard Socarides, a gay New York City-based Democratic activist and Clintonsupporter, attributed what he called a“big win for Hillary in the Big Apple” in partto her support among the LGBT people.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm for her

within New York’s LGBT community and itlooks like a lot of us came out to supporther,” Socarides said. “She was at theLGBT Center near Stonewall yesterday

and the crowd was ecstatic. She is clearlyconnecting with LGBT Americans andthey are responding.”

Roberta Kaplan, the New York-basedlesbian attorney who successfullylitigated against the Defense of MarriageAct before the U.S. Supreme Court, saidClinton’s victory in New York makessense.

“I’m thrilled, but not surprised,” Kaplansaid. “While we New Yorkers can be a

tough bunch, we are fiercely loyal andthere is no one who has worked harderfor New Yorkers or who reflects our NewYork values more than Hillary Clinton.”

‘Acela primary’ up next in contentious 2016 election CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Gay footballers volunteer for non-profits

More than 50 members of the D.C. Gay Flag Football League volunteered theirtime last month to assist four area non-profits, in a project that league offi cialssay will become a recurring effort to “foster a commitment to service in our smallcorner of D.C.’s gay scene.”

The players spent part of Easter weekend working to clean up parks at theEdgewood Recreation Center, delivering meals to those in need with Food &Friends, visiting residents at NMS Healthcare rehabilitation center and cleaning

trails and parks with the Dept. of Parks and Recreation at Rock Creek Park.The league heads into its playoff season beginning next month. For more

information, visi t dcgffl .org.STAFF REPORTS

More than 50 members of the D.C. Gay Flag Football League volunteered their time for

charitable causes last month.PHOTO COURTESY OF DCGFFL


20/56

Night OUT with the O’s to benefit Moveable Feast

The second annual NightOut with the Baltimore Oriolesis scheduled for June 22 atOrioles Park at Camden Yards.The Orioles are scheduled toplay the San Diego Padres at7:05 p.m.

Organizers say that tickets are$33 of which $5 will be donatedto Moveable Feast, a Baltimore-based non-profit that is the

sole provider of free nutritiousmeals for people living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and otherlife-threatening conditions inBaltimore, the five surrounding counties and the Eastern Shore.

The group will be seated in Section 72, which is located in the lower left fieldcorner lower box. Tickets are limited and can be purchased for this event only atorioles.com/tix/moveablefeast.

New LGBT alumni chapter at Morgan State

A group of alumni from Morgan State University, with the support of President

David Wilson’s LGBTQA Advisory Council, is planning to launch a new LGBTQAchapter on homecoming weekend in October.

The goals of the new chapter are to support current LGBTQA students andpolicy initiatives on campus, in conjunction with the Advisory Council, and toprovide a sense of community for LGBTQA alumni through social events,communication and updates.

To join, you must have received an undergraduate or graduate degree fromMorgan and be a paid member of the Alumni Association (as of July 1, 2016).Dues will be $30 per year in addition to 2016-17 Alumni Association dues.

“I am very excited to be bringing an LGBT Alumni Chapter to our Alma Matter,Morgan State,” Vanessa Bowling Ajavon, former president of Rainbow Soul,Morgan State’s offi cial Gay-Straight Alliance, told the Blade.

“We are asking all LGBTQA allies to join the alumni chapter so we can help

make Morgan an even more accepting community while keeping in touch witheach other,” said Ajavon who met her wife while a freshman at Morgan State.Adds Claudia Leight, a founder of Rainbow Soul: “[This] is one more step in

Morgan’s affi rmation of LGBTQA issues. I hope that some alumni will see thatthe campus climate is improving, with a variety of initiatives, among them:the existence since 2001 of the LGBTQA student organization, SOUL (formerlyRainbow Soul); the formation of the president’s LGBTQA Advisory Council;the strong Women’s and Gender Studies program; and our biennial academicsymposium on Intersections of Sexuality, Gender, Race and Ethnicity--basically aqueer studies conference, unique at an HBCU.”

For more information, contact Vanessa Bowling Ajavon at [email protected].

FreeState Legal/Equality Md. holds listening sessionFreeState Legal/Equality Maryland continued its listening tour around the

state with a stop in Columbia, Md.More than 70 people packed the meeting of PFLAG-Columbia/Howard County

with at least two-thirds being LGBT youth. They offered suggestions to FreeStateLegal/Equality Maryland’s director of community engagement and youth policy,Saida Agostini, on how the lives of LGBT folks around the state can be improved.

Since most participants were youth, the areas identified included familyacceptance, health issues, gender-neutral bathrooms, bullying, LGBT youthhomelessness, LGBT curricula in schools, educating school staff on LGBTconcerns, ending religious discrimination, lack of gender education in healthcare, STDs, outreach to trans and gender non-conforming youth, and more.

The organization has already visited Salisbury, Chesapeake College andFrederick. Other meetings are scheduled for Boyd, Frederick again and Baltimore;the latter will take place on May 3 at Chase Brexton Health Care.

STEVE CHARING

The annual Night Out at Camden Yards isslated for June 22.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

20 • APRIL 22, 2016 BALTIMORE NEWS

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CDC reports first gay Zika case in Dallas

DALLAS — The Centers For Disease Control confirmed another sexuallytransmitted case of the Zika virus was discovered in Dallas, CBS Dallas-ForthWorth reports.

This time the virus was shared between two men. One man traveled toVenezuela, then came home and was intimate with his partner, according tothe CDC.

Health offi cials said it’s the first report of infection between a gay couple, andworry that Zika will spread even faster through sex as well as through mosquitobites, CBS reports.

On Wednesday, U.S. health offi cials said that there is no longer a doubt thatthe Zika virus causes severe birth defects.

Both Plano’s health director and Collin County’s health director point out thatZika is different from West Nile virus in that the mosquitoes that carry Zika areday-bi

washingtonblade.com, volume 47, issue 17, april 22, 2016

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