washingtonblade.com, volume 47, issue 6, february 5, 2016

8/20/2019 Washingtonblade.com, Volume 47, Issue 6, February 5, 2016

1/40

Van Hollen seeks to make

‘positive difference’ in Senate

By MICHAEL K. [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of profilesof candidates hoping to succeed retiring U.S. Sen.Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). Next week: Donna Edwards.

Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Monday said he can make a “positivedifference” for Marylanders if they elect him tothe U.S. Senate.

“I’ve been focused on issues that I know

people care about, not just in the 8thCongressional District, but in our great state,”Van Hollen told the Washington Blade duringan interview at a coffee shop near Capitol Hill.

Shortly after U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) announced her retirement from the U.S.Senate last March, Van Hollen declared hiscandidacy to fill her seat. He will face Rep. DonnaEdwards in the April 26 Democratic primary.

Chrysovalantis Kefalas, a gay Republican who

was former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich’s legalcounsel, in December declared his candidacyfor Mikulski’s seat. State Del. Kathy Szeliga

CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

F E B R U A R Y 0 5 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 4 7 I S S U E 0 6 • 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 supporters caucus at Des Moines Roosevelt High School on Monday.WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY CHRIS JOHNSON

O’Malley, Paul drop out as

Clinton, Cruz prevail in Iowa

By CHRIS [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Blade has two reporters inNew Hampshire covering Tuesday’s primary. Visitwashingtonblade.com for regular updates.

DES MOINES, Iowa — After months of campaigning,Iowans lined up to caucus on Monday anddelivered a victory for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz onthe Republican side, while splitting nearly evenlybetween Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanderson the Democratic side.

In the aftermath of the nation’s first 2016presidential contests, former Maryland Gov.Martin O’Malley suspended his campaign for theDemocratic nomination after a dismal showing. On

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

U.S. Rep. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.) is running to succeed the retiringU.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.).

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

presented by

Doors open 10pm • Show starts 10:30pm21+ / $12 cover 2009 8th St NW • 202-234-towntowndc.com

MEET THE 20 M0ST ELIGIBLE LGBTSINGLES IN WASHINGTON DC


2/40

02 • FEBRUARY 05, 2016 WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

67 uniqueresidences

URBAN LIVING

1311 13th St. NW

Deliveringthis fall

urban living at it’s best

in the heart of dc’s hottest Neighborhood.

NOW SELLING | CONNECT TODAY

STUDIOS. 1BEDS. 2BEDS.

FROM THE $300’S TO OVER $1M

Are you ready for the best in urban living? Schedule

your appointment today and learn more about LoganCircle’s newest condominium community, Logan13.

Located in the heart of DC’s hottest neighborhood,

you’ll have the access to downtown DC, shops, dining,

and the entertainment that you desire.

Logan13 features a mix of innovative and open

floorplans accentuated by oversized windows, 6” wide

plank flooring, recessed lighting and gourmet kitchenswith gas cooktop. 202.660.0108 | liveatlogan13.com

destination...

2550 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

7 0 %

SOL D

O U

T

A C T

N O W

L I M I T E D

O F F E R

202-660-0095 ONTARIO17LIVING.COM

Schedule your private tour &

learn how you can save big on

our featured studio homes!

IMMEDIATEMOVE-IN

N O W P R I C E DF R O M $ 2 4 9 , 9 0 0

There’s nobody like me to protect the

things we all value. Like a good neighbor,

State Farm is there.®

CALL ME TODAY.

Love, hope,

success,family,security.

1101022.1 State Farm, Home Ofce, Bloomington, IL

Some things we all have incommon.

Jonna S Wooten, Agent

Bus: 703-560-7804

www.jonnawooten.com

2141 P STREET NW SUITE 103WASHINGTON DC 20037

E-MAIL [email protected] IN DC, MD AND VA

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

FOR 33 YEARS

ATTORNEY AT LAW

Steve Weinberg

202-861-0077

PERSONAL INJURY • PROBATE

WILLS/ POA’s • CIVIL LITIGATION

CONSERVATORSHIPS • GUARDIANSHIPS

730 24th St. NW, Ste. 13 • WDC 20037Free ParkiNg • Foggy Bottom metro

202-333-3304


3/40

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM FEBRUARY 05 , 2016 • 03

E X C E E D I N G E X P E C TAT I O N S – I T ’ S W H AT W E D O !

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL MARKETIN G ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS

BRIAN S HONG

[email protected]

JERY D BEAMER

[email protected]

HONG & BEAMER WWW. BRIANANDJERY.COM

OLD TOWN HISTORI C

400 KING STREET

ALEXANDRIA VA 22314

703.683.0400

GEORGETOWN S ALES

1680 WISCONSIN AVENUE NW

WASHINGTON DC 20007

202.944.8400

NOW ACCEPTING NEW LISTI NGS! LICENSED IN DC, MD, VA, & DE.

Ground floor two bedroom/two bath condo just outside

beltway. Gas Fireplace. Full size washer and dryer in

unit. Assigned parking and guest and street parking.

Community center, swimming pool and tot lot. Close toshopping, restaurants and public transportation.

7501 CALDERON COURT UNIT DALEXANDRIA VA 22306

$230,000

5673 CLOUDS MILL DRIVEALEXANDRIA, VA 22310

$870,000

Wonderful Ryan Home in Gunnell Estates.6BR/4.5 BA Colonial . Updated kitchen with

newer appliances, granite counter top, new

light fixtures throughout. Upgraded carpet andpadding, deck off of breakfast area.Master

bedroom is large with additional sitting area.Two large walk in closets. Master bath has

two separate vanities, sunken tub, separate

shower and water closet. One other bedroomhas en-suite bath. Lower level has bedroom

and full bath and huge recreation area large

enough for a pool table and exercise space aswell. Walk out basement. Formal living room.

formal dining room, office huge kitchen andbreakfast area leading to deck and spacious

family room with lots of natural lighting and gas

fireplace. Lovely east west exposures for greatmorning and afternoon sun. Backs to trees.

Wonderful home for a large or growing family.

Spacious 1334 sf 2BR/2BA condo at the Plaza.

Unit is in close proximity to pool, tennis courts, its

own huge parking space and large storage bin.

Master bedroom features a large walk-in closet,

en-suite bath, and has its own balcony. The second

good sized bedroom has a large closet as well with

the bath just across the hall. Public transportation,

hospital, shopping and restaurants nearby.

803 HOWARD STREET, UNIT 235ALEXANDRIA, VA

$300,000

5101E BACKLICK ROAD #29ALEXANDRIA, VA 22310

$530,000

2 story all brick townhouse condo for 1

large business or set up as 2 separate busi-ness spaces. Lower lvll with reception areaand 3 offices/conference rooms. Upper lvlwith reception area and 3 office/conferencerooms. Storage and BA on each level. Plen-ty free unassigned parking. Convenientlocation, on Backlick and near Braddockintersection. EZ access restaurants, shop-ping, 395/495/FFX Parkway.

6400 LURETA ANN LANESPRINGFIELD, VA 22150

$2,300/MONTH

Gorgeous end unit townhouse super close

to Springfield Metro. Upgraded kitchenwith granite, new fridge! Freshly cleaned.

Hardwoods. Spacious finished basement.

FREE SHUTTLE TO METRO. Tenants have

access to community pool. Close to shopping,

and restaurants and public transportation. EZ

commuting. Meticulous owners are excellent

landlords.

3830 9TH STREET, N, UNIT 703EARLINGTON, VA 22203

$2,600/MONTH

Bright 2BR/2BA in luxury building. Three sided gasfireplace in living/dining areas. Master bedroomhas large closets. Master bath features whirlpooltub. Washer and dryer in unit. Open kitchen. Greatparking space. Extra storage. Great building ameni-ties, gym, outdoor pool, grilling area. Your choice ofBallston or Virginia Square Metros. Shopping, diningand lots of entertainment nearby.

OPEN HOUSE, SUN. 1-3PM

OPEN HOUSE, SUN. 1-3PM

Exquisite one bedroom home in the best location

in town. Beautiful finishes throughout. Bosch ap-

pliances. Washer and dryer in unit. Lots of storage.

Lovely hardwood floors. Unbelievable amenities at

City Center. Balcony. You just can’t beat the location.

Furnished or unfurnished.

925 H STREET, NW, UNIT 511WASHINGTON, DC 20001

$3200/$3600


4/40

D.C. Council passes LGBT ‘cultural competency’ bill The D.C. City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to give final approval of a bill

that requires continuing education programs for licensed healthcare professionals thatinclude LGBT-related “cultural competency” training.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has said she plans to sign the legislation, the LGBT CulturalCompetency Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2016. The measure then goesto Capitol Hill where it must undergo a 30 legislative day review by Congress beforebecoming law.

Council member David Grosso (I-At-Large), author of the bill who co-introduced itwith Council member Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), said it was needed to correct alongstanding problem of mistreatment of and insensitivity toward LGBT patients byheath care providers, including doctors.

“We’re going to see it implemented fairly quickly because the mayor and her staff areon board,” Grosso told he Blade after the Council vote. “So I’m excited about it.”

The bill – believed to be the first of its kind in the nation – amends an existing cityhealth care licensing law to require health care professionals, including doctors andmental health practitioners, to receive two credits of instruction on LGBT subjects aspart of their continuing education programs.

Attorney and LGBT rights advocate Alison Gill told a public hearing on the bill inNovember that a 2009 nationwide survey found that more than half of LGBT respondentsreported being refused needed care or being treated in a “discriminatory, disrespectfulmanner” by health care providers.

“There are also too many health care providers who, although they do not discriminate,lack suffi cient understanding of the particular health care needs of LGBT individuals,”said Daniel Bruner, senior director of policy at Whitman-Walker Health. “We lookforward to working with the Department of Health and the licensing boards to developtraining curricula that will meet the needs of D.C. health care providers,” Bruner said.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Gay inmate says Va. jail won’t prosecute prison rape Gay former D.C. resident Ronnie Runion, who told the Washington Blade he had been

raped by a fellow inmate at the Rockingham County-Harrisonburg, Va., jail on Aug. 13,said this week that a prison offi cial informed him the jail has decided not to prosecute

the alleged assailant.Runion, 28, said he was dismayed that a lieutenant with the Rockingham County

Sheriff’s Offi ce, which operates the jail, told him investigators believe they haveinsuffi cient evidence to press charges against the man Runion says sexually assaultedhim in his cell.

“I said what evidence do you need,” Runion told the Blade in a phone interview. “Andhe told me about the DNA samples and that there was a lack of physical evidence.”

At the time of the incident, Runion was taken to a hospital where doctors treated him,among other things, for rectal injuries consistent with a sexual assault. Within days hewas informed that he needed to undergo a 28-day regimen of anti-viral medication toensure that he would not contract HIV because the suspect identified as the allegedperpetrator was HIV positive.

Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson, who is in charge of the jail, told the

Blade in September that the case was under investigation.“Once that investigation is complete, we will present all findings to the Commonwealth

Attorney for a full review,” he said. “That is all I can say at this time.”Hutcheson didn’t respond to an email from the Blade this week to determine why his

investigators don’t believe they have suffi cient evidence to prosecute the suspect in the case.Runion said the lieutenant who informed him that the case would not be prosecuted

also told him he could file charges himself against the suspect. But Runion said jailoffi cials have yet to provide him with the forms he was told he needs to fill out to initiatea complaint against the suspect, who has since been transferred to another jail.

“They don’t want this to turn into a big deal,” said Runion, who added that he’sconcerned that jail offi cials don’t want to tarnish the jail’s reputation over a rape case.

Rockingham County Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Christopher Bean told theBlade in September that jail offi cials had not contacted his offi ce about a reported rape.

He said he would take steps to prosecute the case if investigators provided him withinformation suffi cient to press charges.Bean did not respond to a phone call as of Tuesday seeking to determine if the

Sheriff’s Offi ce consulted the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offi ce before deciding not toprosecute the case.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Comings & GoingsIraq vet lands new post; Movahedi teaching law in Spain

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

The Comings and Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our com-munity. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, join-ing boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with usat [email protected].

Congratulations are in order to Allison Jaslow, who has just been named director of Political and IntergovernmentalAffairs for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America(IAVA), the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organizationrepresenting post-9/11 veterans and their families. Jaslowhas joined the team to support IAVA’s growing D.C.-basedpolicy operations. Jaslow is a former Army captain whoserved two combat deployments in Iraq.

According to IAVA founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff,“Allison is a proven leader with a wealth of diverse politicalexperience inside and outside the Beltway. Allison’scommand of the political spectrum on Capitol Hill andthe campaign trail, and first-hand knowledge of veteran’sissues will be a tremendous asset to our growing, dynamicpolicy team.”

Jaslow’s new job will have her working to support thedevelopment of IAVA’s annual policy agenda and advocacycampaigns. She will lead IAVA’s engagement with otherVeterans Service Organizations, government agencies andadvocacy organizations. Jaslow has a diversity of experience,including stints on political campaigns across the country,in the White House and on both sides of Capitol Hill. Sherecently served as chief of staff and campaign manager forCongresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and had also servedas press secretary for Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), where she wasinvolved in the veteran leader’s efforts to protect the legacy

of the post-9/11 GI Bill.On her appointment, Jaslow said, “I’m proud to be one of the one percent of

Americans who can relate to those who saw combat after 9/11 and even prouderto have the opportunity to join an incredible organization that gives our entiregeneration of veterans a voice. IAVA’s advocacy has made an indelible impact onthe lives of countless veterans and military families, and I’m thrilled to play a partin keeping us in the center of important public debates.”

Jaslow graduated from the University of Central Missouri, where she was aproud member of the Fighting Mules ROTC Battalion. She also serves on theBoard of Trustees at Wentworth Military Academy and College.

Congratulations also to Babak Movahedi, a former D.C. and Miami residentnow living in Barcelona, Spain. Babak is now a professor of Law and Business atESERP Business School in Barcelona teaching MBA students. He is also working

with Democrats Abroad to enroll as many Americans as possible in the DemocraticParty. Democrats Abroad is given state-level recognition by the DemocraticNational Committee. He is a vice president of Democrats Abroad/Barcelona.

Most in the District know Movahedi from his time here as owner of MOVA on PStreet, N.W. He also had two outlets of MOVA in Miami for a number of years. Theone in South Beach was the ‘place to be’ for the gay community for many years.During his time in Miami, he was a Special Master/Magistrate for the City of MiamiBeach and served as one of three Judicial Offi cers for the City of Miami Beach.

Another who should be congratulated is Anthony Shop, who is now an adjunctlecturer in the George Washington University School of Business where he receivedhis MBA. Shop is a co-founder of the digital marketing agency Social Driver with hishusband Thomas. A former journalist and press secretary, Shop is the first newmedia professional to be elected to the prestigious National Press Club’s Board of

Governors. He founded the Club’s popular “Get It Online” digital media series, whichhas hosted luminaries from CNN, NASA and the White House to discuss mediatrends. His views on digital media have been featured by the BBC, CBS and USAToday, and he has been featured as a keynote speaker at conferences across theglobe, from Singapore and London to New York and Miami.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

04 • FEBRUARY 05, 2016 LOCAL NEWS

ALLISON JASLOW

BABAK MOVAHEDI

ANTHONY SHOP

PHOTO COURTESY OF JASLOW

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVAHEDI

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHOP


5/40



6/40

Five counts droppedin plea bargain withNAPWA’s Oldham

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

[email protected]

Frank Oldham Jr., the former executivedirector of the National Associationof People with AIDS, pleaded guilty inMontgomery County Circuit Court on

Tuesday to a charge that he embezzledmoney from the organization in 2012shortly before it declared bankruptcy.

Oldham’s plea of guilty to a singlecharge of “Embezzlement—FraudulentMisappropriation by a Fiduciary” waspart of a plea bargain deal offeredby prosecutors in exchange for theiragreement to drop five of the six countswith which he was charged in a grand juryindictment in September.

The agreement, which is described in aplea memorandum filed in court, requiresOldham to make restitution in the amountof $11,238.08 to a U.S. bankruptcy trusteeoverseeing the NAPWA estate.

The indictment alleges that Oldhamstole between $10,000 and $100,000 fromNAPWA in November 2012. The alleged theft

took place three months before NAPWA filedfor Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2013.At the time of the bankruptcy filing, NAPWAannounced it was going out of business 30years after it was founded in 1983 as thenation’s leading organization representingpeople with AIDS.

Neither Oldham nor his attorney,Thomas DeGonia, could be immediatelyreached for comment.

Oldham served as executive directorand CEO of NAPWA from January 2006

to November 2012. According to amemorandum filed in bankruptcy courtin February 2014, he was placed onadministrative leave with pay on Nov. 8,2012 and terminated from his employmentwith NAPWA on Nov. 27, 2012.

The memorandum was written andsubmitted by Tyler TerMeer, chair ofthe NAPWA Board of Trustees. It saysOldham was terminated “for breachof his employment agreement forimproper credit card expendituresand cash withdrawals of NAPWA fundssubsequent to the date he was placed onadministrative leave.”

TerMeer’s memo says that based on aninternal analysis of NAPWA bank accountand credit card records it appeared thatOldham was responsible for improperly

spending or withdrawing from NAPWAaccounts approximately $62,641.95. Butthe memo says accounting and expenditurerecords prior to the 2012 period wereeither missing or in disarray and it couldnot be determined whether Oldham wasresponsible for improperly withdrawing orspending additional NAPWA funds.

TerMeer’s memo concludes by sayingthe board asked the Montgomery CountyState’s Attorney’s Offi ce to investigatematter, a development that NAPWA

insiders have said led to Oldham’sindictment.

TerMeer and all other NAPWA boardmembers withheld the findings of theirinternal investigation into Oldham’salleged actions at the time and neverpublicly disclosed he had been suspendedand fired. Instead, the board let stand anannouncement it made in the fall of 2012that Oldham planned to resign.

The Maryland criminal code lists thecharge of Embezzlement—FraudulentMisappropriation by a Fiduciary as amisdemeanor with a maximum penaltyof five years of incarceration.

The plea agreement filed in CircuitCourt on Tuesday says sentencingguidelines for the charge are estimatedto range from probation to six months of

incarceration.“The defendant waives his right to

request probation before judgmentdisposition until such time as restitutionhas been paid in full,” the pleamemorandum says. “The defendantunderstands that the State reserves itsright to oppose any request for probationbefore judgment disposition,” it says.

Former NAPWA Board of Trusteemember Tom Donohue became the firstNAPWA offi cial to comment on Oldham’s

alleged actions and indictment onTuesday when he posted a statement onhis Facebook page.

“Today’s guilty plea reminds me ofthe frustration I had when I personallylooked over documents bearing Frank’ssignature withdrawing funds from theNAPWA account after he was suspendedby the board,” Donohue wrote.

“It made me ponder how a man thatrepresented and became the voice forso many infected who had no voicecould steal from the same organizationwhich gave him that honor,” he said.“The justice system has done its job andnow it’s important that all those whowere impacted by NAPWA come forwardand share the many stories of how theorganization impacted their lives.”

Former AIDS of cial pleads guilty to embezzlement

Trans people countedseparately for first time

By LOU CHIBBARO JR.

[email protected]

A preliminary version of the city’sannual HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reportshows that newly reported HIV cases inD.C. during 2014 declined for the seventhconsecutive year.

The report, which the D.C. Departmentof Health released on Tuesday, showsthere were 396 new HIV cases in 2014,a 29 percent decrease from the 553 newcases reported in 2013.

According to the report, the 2014figures represent a 70 percent decreasefrom the 1,333 cases reported in 2007,which marked the highest number of HIVcases reported in the city.

“Last year, I announced the bold goal to

cut in half new HIV cases in the District bythe year 2020,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowsersaid in a statement. “Today, we continueto make progress toward that goal andtake new approaches that will enable usto ultimately end the epidemic in our city.”

As has been the case since the start ofHIV reporting, the category of men who

have sex with men (MSM) continues asthe highest mode of HIV transmissionin the District. The report shows that in2014 – the latest year in which data areavailable – 155 or 49.4 percent of the newHIV cases were from MSM.

The report shows that 41 new cases, or

13.1 percent, were attributed to heterosexualcontact; six cases, or 1.9 percent wereattributed to MSM who were also intravenousdrug users; and three cases, or 1.0 percentwas intravenous drug users.

The second largest category for modeof transmission, the report shows, is 109cases or 34.7 percent representing peoplewhose risk factor could not be identified.Department of Health offi cials have saidthis figure usually goes down at the timethe final version of the report is releasedin the summer when DOH staffers identifythe mode of transmission for more of thepeople in the “risk unknown” category.

DOH offi cials noted that the reportreleased on Tuesday for the first timelists transgender people separately fromthe “male” and “female” categories inwhich they had been lumped together inpast years. The current report shows atotal of 14 HIV cases among transgenderresidents in 2014 – 10 transgender

women and four transgender men.Also for the first time the report

released this week breaks down thenumber of new cases by transmissionlinked to “sexual contact” and non-sexualcontact. Fifty-nine percent of the 2014cases are attributed to sexual contact; 36percent to “risk not identified”; 3 percent

to intravenous drug use; and 2 percent tosexual contact and intravenous drug use.

Among the total of 232 new HIV casesin 2014 attributed to sexual contact, 66percent were MSM, 17 percent were“male-heterosexual contact;” and 14percent were “female-heterosexualcontact.” Three percent were listed as“transgender sexual contact.”

A Department of Health statementsays the report was prepared by thedepartment’s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, SexuallyTransmitted Disease and TuberculosisAdministration, known as HAHSTA. It saysDOH will release its “comprehensive andcomplete” surveillance report for 2014 inthe summer of 2016.

Whitman-Walker Executive DirectorDon Blanchon said the declining numberof new HIV infections in D.C. reflectsthe value of community wide testing,treatment on demand and preventionefforts that include pre-exposure

prophylaxis or PrEP, which involvesproviding a daily “prevention pill” topeople who are HIV negative.

“Simply put, it is saving peoples’ livesand reducing new infections,” he said.“Today’s update reaffi rms that we areon the right path to getting to zero newinfections in a given year.”

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

06 • FEBRUARY 05, 2016 LOCAL NEWS

D.C. Mayor MURIEL BOWSER said the cityis taking approaches ‘that will enable us toultimately end the epidemic in our city.’

WASHINGTON BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY

New HIV cases continue to decline in D.C.


7/40


CELEBRATE THE NATION’S FIRST LARGESCALE LIGHT,

MUSIC AND INNOVATION FESTIVAL IN BALTIMORE.

New, immersive and international, this family-friendly free event and

ticketed innovation conference includes the 1.5-mile BGE Light Art Walk,

28 original large-scale works of light art, 50 concerts and 100 performances.

Come be transformed as Baltimore becomes a beacon of light.

BALTIMORE’S INNER HARBOR & BEYONDMARCH 28APRIL 3, 2016

LIGHTCITY.ORG

_ I I _ . . _ . :


8/40

‘Beating up on your ownpeople is not productive’

By MICHAEL K. [email protected]

The protest that forced the cancellationof a reception at the National LGBTQ TaskForce’s annual conference with two Israeliactivists last month continues to sparkheated debate among advocates.

More than 200 people opposed to“pinkwashing,” which they describe as thepromotion of Israel’s LGBT rights recordin an attempt to deflect attention awayfrom its policies toward the Palestinians,protested the Jan. 23 reception at theCreating Change Conference in Chicago.

A Wider Bridge, an organization

seeking to bolster “LGBTQ connectionswith Israel,” organized the reception.Sarah Kala-Meir and Tom Canning fromthe Jerusalem Open House for Pride andTolerance were scheduled to speak, butthey left the room in which the receptionwas taking place through a back door asprotesters began shouting.

“Many of us who share an intersectionalanalysis of power and oppressionsee LGBTQ identities as inextricablyintertwined with race, gender, class,ethnicity and nationality,” wrote Wendy

Elisheva Somerson, founder of the Seattlechapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a groupthat supported the protest, in a blog post.“We want a movement that addressesall of our needs without leaving themost vulnerable queers behind. And nosurprise: We are the very same peopleprotesting Israel’s use of LGBTQ rights tocover up and justify Israeli apartheid.”

Somerson told the Washington Bladeon Tuesday that it is “just not OK” for anLGBT advocacy group, such as the NationalLGBTQ Task Force, to allow A Wider Bridge

and similar organizations to host a receptionat the Creating Change Conference.“It’s just never going to fly anymore,”

said Somerson.Dean Spade, the founder of the

Sylvia Rivera Law Project, last monthcriticized the National LGBTQ TaskForce for allowing A Wider Bridge tohost a reception at the Creating ChangeConference.

The National LGBTQ Task Forceinitially cancelled the reception, but itquickly reversed the decision. A panelwith offi cials from U.S. Immigration andCustoms Enforcement was also cancelledamid “concerns from the community.”

“The controversy about CreatingChange has been painful, particularly thefalse accusations of anti-Semitism that

those of us who do Palestinian solidaritywork consistently face,” Spade told theBlade on Tuesday. “However, despitethe personal attacks and inaccurate,biased media coverage those of us whosupported or participated in the protesthave faced, I see the protest and theconversations it has sparked as beneficialto queer and trans movements becauseit raised awareness about pinkwashing.”

Gary Kinsman is a professor emeritusat Laurentian University in Canadawho describes himself as a “long-timequeer liberation, AIDS, anti-povertyand anti-capitalist activist living onindigenous land.”

He told the Blade that the “pro-Palestine demonstration” at the CreatingChange Conference was “very helpful inpointing us towards a movement that

could recapture aspects of what thequeer/LGBT movements used to be like.”

Critics of the protesters have a fardifferent view.

James Kirchick, a gay journalist, in anessay he wrote for the Tablet Magazineafter the protest said the concept ofintersectionality “compels one to adoptagendas that have nothing to do with hisor her own.”

“Worse, in the name of ‘solidarity’ withother supposedly ‘oppressed’ groups,it leads to alliances with those actively

hostile to one’s cause,” said Kirchick.“I hope this is a wake-up call to all LGBT

people that a line needs to be drawn inthe sand: Anti-Semitism has no place ina human rights movement,” Kirchick toldthe Blade.

Critics of the protesters took particularissue with their use of the chant“Palestine will be free, from the river tothe sea,” which they argue has been usedin support of the destruction of Israel.

National LGBTQ Task Force Rea Careylast week “wholeheartedly” condemned

anti-Semitism at the Creating ChangeConference. Protest organizers in aletter they released last week said thecontroversial chant referred to the abilityof Palestinians to return to propertyin Israel and in the West Bank and theGaza Strip that their families lost in 1948when Israel was founded.

Dana Beyer, a member of A WiderBridge board of directors who lives inMaryland, criticized the protest.

“Beating up on your own people isnot productive,” she told the Bladeon Tuesday. “Shouting down fellowprogressives is not productive. Being anti-Semitic is not productive.”

Carey has refused repeatedinterview requests from the Blade sincethe protests.

GOP lawmaker in Va. caught on Grindr

RICHMOND, Va. — An LGBTnewspaper in Virginia on Jan.26 published an open letter to aRepublican lawmaker who appearedto use Grindr.

Brad Kutner, editor of GayRVA,described the legislator whowas using the gay hook-upapp as a “GOP lawmaker” fromSouthwesternVirginia.

GayRVA did not identify thelawmaker by name, but theRichmond-based publication didpublish a screen capture of the Grindrexchange that includes a picture ofhis bare torso.

The open letter notes the lawmakervoted for a so-called “conscienceclause” bill that allows privateadoption and foster care agencies to reject prospective parents based on theirreligious and moral beliefs. It also highlights the Republican’s vote against gayRichmond Circuit Court Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland’s appointment.

“As long as you continue to support discrimination against your own people,you won’t be getting laid in this town and besides, maybe someone else will

recognize you,” wrote Kutner in the open letter.The Washington Blade’s attempts to confirm reports of the lawmaker’s identity

have thus far been unsuccessful.

Transgender woman murdered in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — A transgender Latina woman was shot to death last monthin Texas.

Monica Roberts, a trans advocate who is based in Houston, wrote on her blogthat Monica Loera was standing in front of her home in Austin on Jan. 22 whenshe was shot.

Loera died at a nearby hospital.

Roberts reported the Austin Police Department arrested JonCasey WilliamRowell in connection with Loera’s death. Rowell has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in the Travis County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Loera is the first trans person reported killed in 2016.“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Monica Loera,”

said Nell Gaither, president of the Dallas-based Trans Pride Initiative, in a pressrelease the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released on Jan. 30.

Gaither also expressed outrage over “the oppressive and willfully disrespectfulpolice and media systems that continue to erase our identities and furthervictimize our communities and our families.”

Marriage Equality USA to close

SAN FRANCISCO — Marriage Equality USA on Feb. 3 announced that it wouldclose down later this year.

The organization in a press release said it will “conclude independentoperations” in the spring “after accomplishing our mission of marriage equalityin all 50 states and at the federal level.” Marriage Equality USA said it will continueto support LGBT advocacy efforts in the U.S. and around the world through itsgrassroots organizing program and its website.

“The work of grassroots organizations is central to our community’s progresstoward full LGBTQ equality and justice, and MEUSA has held that space in themarriage movement for 20 years,” said Marriage Equality USA Board Chair SteveHuesing. “I am proud of what we have accomplished and excited that what wecreated will continue to support the work ahead.”

Freedom to Marry last year announced it would close in the wake of the U.S.Supreme Court ruling that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples acrossthe country. Empire State Pride Agenda, a statewide LGBT advocacy group inNew York, in December said it plans to shut down after the state’s governorannounced regulations banning anti-transgender discrimination.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

08 • FEBRUARY 05, 2016 NATIONAL NEWS

An LGBT newspaper in Richmond claimsa Republican lawmaker with an anti-gayvoting record was caught cruising Grindrlast week.

Anti-Israel protest continuesto roil LGBT advocates


9/40



10/40

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM


Log Cabin assails Clinton in new video

The Log Cabin Republicans unveiled a video on the eve of the Iowa caucuses

hammering Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for her earlier oppositionto same-sex marriage.The 46-second video focuses on three clips of Clinton expressing her opposition to

same-sex marriage, which she didn’t publicly endorse until 2013.“I believe that marriage is not just a bond, but a sacred bond between a man and a

woman,” says Clinton in one the clips showing her on the U.S. Senate floor.It should be noted that clip was part of a 2004 floor speech in which Clinton was

explaining her opposition to the Republican-led Federal Marriage Amendment, whichwould have made a ban on same-sex marriage part of the U.S. Constitution andprohibited it nationwide.

Another clip shows Clinton telling MSNBC’s Chris Matthews simply “no” when askedif she thinks New York should legalize same-sex marriage. (When New York finallylegalized marriage equality in 2011, she praised the state at a Pride event at the StateDepartment even though she had yet to publicly back same-sex marriage.)

Following the Clinton clips, another clip is shown of MSNBC’s “The Rachel MaddowShow” in which Bernard Sanders says consistent leadership on LGBT rights is importantfor a presidential candidate.

“We live in a tough world and leadership counts,” Sanders said. “It’s great that peopleevolve and change their minds. I respect that. I’m not being demeaning to her. But it is

important to stand up when the going is tough, and that was a particularly tough vote.”(In that same interview, Sanders defended his opposition to same-sex marriage in

2006, when he told a Vermont newspaper “not right now” in response to a questionabout whether his state should legalize gay nuptials.)

The clips in the video stand in contrast to Clinton’s 2013 Human Rights Campaignvideo in which she declared support for same-sex marriage for the first time.

“I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples,” Clinton says in the video. “I supportit personally and as a matter of policy and law embedded in a broader effort to advanceequality and opportunity for LGBT Americans and all Americans.”

Gregory Angelo, president of Log Cabin Republicans, said in a statement the LogCabin video serves as a reminder of Clinton’s past on LGBT rights when other groupsare keeping silent about it.

“Not everyone in the United States Senate supported marriage equality in 2004, butfew took to the floor of the chamber to hammer home the point the way Hillary Clintondid,” Angelo said. “Democrats and members of the LGBT community have given HillaryClinton a pass on past transgressions and even allowed her to rewrite the history of thegay rights movement; Log Cabin Republicans will not. It’s time for the people of Iowa— and the country —to know that when it mattered, Hillary Clinton was wrong on gayrights.”

In an interview with the Blade, Angelo said the video was intended to influence theoutcome of the Iowa caucuses, but said it’s not limited to that.

“We’re not just looking to influence the Iowa caucuses,” Angelo said. “We’re lookingto influence the New Hampshire primary, the South Carolina primary, and I personallythink and Log Cabin Republicans thinks that voters should be aware of Hillary Clinton’spast, specifically on marriage equality. We felt that urgency to do so now, obviously, with

the Iowa caucuses looming, but also because other LGBT organizations have not donedue diligence regarding Hillary Clinton’s past, and we felt we were in a unique positionto step up in that regard.”

Angelo said Clinton’s views on marriage at the time of the clips should be importantfor voters to consider if they cast their ballot based on a candidate’s strength of supportfor LGBT rights.

“Hillary Clinton has not led on the marriage-equality issues,” Angelo said. “Not onlyhas she not led on the marriage-equality issue, but she let so many other Democratsand even so many other Republicans get out ahead on this issue.”

Angelo said as marriage was moving through the courts, Republicans like Sens.Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Lisa Murkowksi (R-Alaska), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Susan Collins(R-Maine) were leading on the issue while Clinton was not. When the Blade pointedout Clinton beat all those Republicans to the punch on marriage with the exception

of Portman, Angelo insisted “that’s not the case” because Clinton didn’t clearly saygay couples had a constitutional right to marry until weeks before the Supreme Courtarguments on marriage last year.

(It should be noted only Kirk and Collins signed a Republican friend-of-the-courtbrief calling for a nationwide ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, not Portman andMurkowski, so Clinton beat the latter two on that position as well.)

Clinton edged Sanders in Iowa by less than one percent.CHRIS JOHNSON

‘Duck Dynasty’ star calls gay marriage ‘evil’

The patriarch of the reality show “Duck Dynasty” this week described marriage rights

for same-sex couples as “evil” and “wicked.”“Redefining marriage and telling us that marriage is not between a man and a woman,come on now,” said Phil Robertson at a campaign rally for U.S. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) inIowa City, Iowa, on the eve of the state’s caucuses. “It’s nonsense. It is evil. It’s wicked.It’s sinful.”

“They want us to swallow it, you say,” added Robertson. “We have to run this bunchout of Washington, D.C. We have to rid the earth of them. Get them out of there.”

Robertson has previously made anti-gay comments.He said during a 2014 sermon at his Louisiana church that “homosexual offenders”

will not “inherit the kingdom of God.” A&E, the network on which the reality show airs,a few months earlier temporarily suspended Robertson from “Duck Dynasty” after hemade anti-gay comments during an interview with GQ magazine.

Cruz last week described the decision to illuminate the White House in rainbow colorsafter the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for marriage as “messed up.”

The Texas Republican last year attended a reception that gay hoteliers MatiWeiderpass and Ian Reisner held for him at their Manhattan apartment. Republicanfrontrunner Donald Trump earlier this month described Cruz as an “ultimate hypocrite”for taking donations from “people who espouse gay marriage.”

MICHAEL K. LAVERS

Trump favors justices whowould overturn marriage

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump this week said he would“strongly consider” nominating U.S. Supreme Court justices who would overturn lastyear’s ruling that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples across the country.

“I would be very strong on putting certain judges on the bench that I thinkmaybe could change things,” Trump told Chris Wallace during an interview on“Fox News Sunday.”

Trump described the ruling in the Obergefell case as “very surprising.” TheRepublican frontrunner added that individual states should have decided

whether to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.“It should be a state’s rights issue,” said Trump. “That’s the way it should have

been ruled, not the way they did.”Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr., last week endorsed the thrice-

married Trump.MICHAEL K. LAVERS

‘I would be very strong on putting certain judges on the bench that I think maybe couldchange things,’ said DONALD TRUMP.

PHOTO BY ANDY KATZ; COURTESY OF BIGSTOCK.COM


11/40



12/40

the GOP side, Sen. Rand Paul announcedWednesday that he, too, was suspendinghis campaign.

“Brushfires of Liberty were ignited, andthose will carry on, as will I,” Paul said ina statement.

Although he had fallen in the polls aftera poorly received debate performancelast week, Cruz was declared the winnerof the Republican Iowa caucuses lateMonday as Donald Trump and MarcoRubio finished second and thirdrespectively.

Meanwhile, the contest was a virtual

draw between Hillary Clinton and BernardSanders, though the Democratic Partydeclared Clinton the winner on Tuesday,making her the first woman to ever winthe Iowa caucuses.

Cruz, who’s made support for anti-LGBT discrimination a strong componentof his campaign, attributed his win at hisvictory event in Iowa to grassroots effortsand divine intervention.

“Let me first of all say, to God be the

glory,” Cruz said. “Tonight is a victory forthe grassroots. Tonight is a courageousvictory for conservatives across Iowaand all across this great nation. Tonight,the state of Iowa has spoken. Iowa hassent notice that the Republican nomineeand the next president of the UnitedStates will not be chosen by the media,will not be chosen by the Washingtonestablishment, will not be chosen bythe lobbyists, but will be chosen by themost incredible, powerful force where allsovereignty resides in our nation: By we

the people, the American people.”On the Republican side, Cruz won a

plurality of 27.7 percent, followed byTrump at 24.3 percent and Rubio at 23.1.The next down was Ben Carson, whocame in at 9.3 percent, followed by Paulat 4.5 percent and Jeb Bush at 2.8 percent.The remaining Republican candidatesreceived less than 2 percent of the vote,such as Huckabee, who received 1.8percent. Huckabee also announced hewas suspending his campaign.

At his event in Des Moines, Trump put

a positive spin on his second place finishand said he’s already looking to the nextcontest in New Hampshire next week.

“And we will go on to get the Republicannomination, and we will go on to easilybeat Hillary Clinton or Bernie or whoeverthey throw up there Iowa,” Trump said.“We love you we thank you. You’re special.We will be back many, many times. In fact,I think I might come here and buy a farm.I love it, OK?”

Rubio, whose third place win wasconsidered a top finish among the

“establishment” Republican candidates,declared victory at his speech after thecaucuses, saying his opponents told himand his supporters this day would neverhappen.

“Tonight in Iowa, the people of thisgreat state sent a very clear messages:After seven years of Barack Obama, weare not waiting any longer to take ourcountry back,” Rubio said.

On the Democratic side, Clintondefeated Sanders by a narrow marginof 49.9 percent to 49.6 percent. O’Malleycame in at 0.6 percent.

Clinton said at her event after theresults she welcomed the continuationin the primary for the Democraticnomination.

“It is rare that we have the opportunity

we do now to have a real contest ofideas, to really think hard about what theDemocratic Party stands for and what wewant the future of our country to look l ikeif we do our part to build it,” Clinton said.

In later remarks at his own event,Sanders declared a virtual tie betweenhim and Clinton, but said the messageIowa delivered was loud and clear.

“I think the people of Iowa havesent a very profound message to the

political establishment, to the economicestablishment, and, by the way, to themedia establishment,” Sanders said.“That is, given the enormous crisesfacing our country, it is just too late forestablishment politics, establishmenteconomics.”

For both Democrats and Republicans,delegates are appropriated to candidatesin accordance with the percentage ofvote they received. The result on theDemocratic side means the party’s 54delegates from that state will be split

between Sanders and Clinton. But theportions of the 30 delegates on theRepublican side will be smaller becauseof the number of candidates.

Chad Griffi n, president of the HumanRights Campaign, responded on Twitterto the results by praising Clinton, whomhis organization endorsed last month,and criticizing the Republican candidates.

.@HillaryClinton’s fight is our fight.Hope all Iowans will caucus tonight forthe pro-equality champion we need.

— Chad Griffi n (@ChadHGriffi n)

February 2, 2016.@tedcruz’s vision for America is one

of division and intolerance. We needa president who will continue to moveequality forward. — Chad Griffi n (@ChadHGriffi n) February 2, 2016

While polls had shown a tight racebetween Clinton and Sanders leadingup the Iowa caucuses, the Cruz victorywas striking because polls predictedTrump would win Iowa handily. In thedays leading up to the contest, a MorningConsult survey found that only 13 percent

of Republican voters thought Cruz wouldwin Iowa, while a majority predictedTrump would be the victor.

Gregory Angelo, president of Log CabinRepublicans, said in a statement theelection is “far from over” in the aftermathof the Iowa results.

“Log Cabin Republicans will continueto advocate for a common-senseconservative presidential nominee whileramping up our campaign to make HillaryClinton’s anti-gay past known,” Angelosaid. “Log Cabin Republicans does notendorse in primary elections, but we

encourage all our members to step upas our members in Iowa did today toadvocate for a stronger, more inclusiveGOP. This presidential race is fluid andfar from over.”

Gay Iowan converts fromRomney to Sanders supporter

DES MOINES, Iowa — Every fouryears, Americans have the chance tochange the direction of the countryby supporting a new presidentialcandidate. For C.J. Petersen, the shiftin choices couldn’t be more dramatic.

The gay 25-year-old resident of

Council Buffs, Iowa, worked as avolunteer in 2012 to help Mitt Romneywin the Republican nominationand elect him to the White House.Now, he’s turned 180 degrees and isworking for Democratic presidentialcandidate Bernard Sanders.

“Obviously, I’ve made a conversionin the last several years,” Petersensaid. “I support Bernie Sanders because in the past several years the influenceof money in politics has really started to become a real sticking point for me asit does, I think, with a lot of people. I really value democracy and I think it shouldbe a participatory system, so Bernie’s message really started to speak to me

when he announced his campaign for president.”In 2012, Petersen along with other young, gay Republican caucus-goers in the

Des Moines area participated in a group interview with the Washington Bladeto explain their support for GOP candidates. At the time, Petersen said Romneylooked “almost presidential, ready to be a leader.”

Four years later, Petersen told the Washington Blade he registered as anindependent after the 2012 Romney loss, and is now a registered Democrat.

Although Petersen grew up as a conservative in a conservative family, he saidhe “learned and came to terms with the idea that it’s OK to put yourself first in alot of ways.” After writing a research paper on Sanders for a composition class,Petersen said he “fell in love with progressive politics that he embodies.”

What was attractive about Sanders, Petersen said, was the candidate’s“inclusive message,” which Petersen said never made him feel “more at home”

— even when he was volunteering for Romney.“The larger message Sen. Sanders brings to the conversation is that we’re allin this together, whether you’re Republican, Democrat, independent or whathave you,” Petersen said.

Petersen acknowledged Sanders’ record on LGBT rights is one reason hesupports the candidate, but said that issue wasn’t a major factor.

“I was very impressed to see that he was one of the very few members of theHouse of Representatives, and Congress in general, that voted against DOMAin 1996,” Petersen said. “And of course, there’s that contrast with SecretaryClinton. I think, yes, that’s something I like about him, but it’s not necessarilywhat brought me into the fold.”

A typical day on the Sanders campaign, Petersen said, consists of makingphone calls, canvassing door-to-door and leading other volunteers affi liatedwith the campaign. On Saturday, Petersen said he was undertaking such effortsin Atlantic, Iowa, and leading efforts from a volunteer’s home.

CHRIS JOHNSON

Cruz, Clinton prevail in Iowa as N.H. primary nears

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

C.J. PETERSEN is a volunteer for theBernie Sanders campaign.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETERSEN


13/40

(R-Baltimore and Harford Counties),Anthony Seda and Richard Douglas willface off against Kefalas for the GOPnomination.

Van Hollen during the interviewrepeatedly referred to Mikulski.

He said she is someone “whounderstood that Maryland is only strongwhen all parts of Maryland are strong.”

Van Hollen also described Mikulski as“somebody who’s impatient to get thingsdone and is very focused on deliveringresults on the ground.”

“That’s always been my philosophy aswell,” said Van Hollen.

Van Hollen was a member of theMaryland House of Delegates from 1991-1995. He served in the Maryland Senatefrom 1995 until he became a member ofCongress in 2003.

Van Hollen said that advancing LGBT-specific issues was “a priority of mine” in

the Maryland General Assembly.He said he was “proud to lead the fight”

on the floor of the state Senate in 2001 insupport of a bill that banned discriminationbased on sexual orientation in Maryland.Van Hollen in 2012 donated more than$20,000 to Marylanders for MarriageEquality, a coalition of organizations thaturged voters to support the state’s same-sex marriage law.

Maryland voters that year upheld thestatute in a referendum.

“We are really pleased that Maryland

was first that night as an East Coast state,”said Van Hollen.

Van Hollen is a co-sponsor of the EqualityAct, which would amend federal civil rightslaw to ban discrimination based on sexualorientation and gender identity.

He acknowledged the measure haslittle chance of passing in this Congress.Van Hollen nevertheless said that he andother supporters need to continue theirefforts in support of it.

“It will only pass if we keep pressingthe case, whether it’s this Congress or a

future Congress,” said Van Hollen.Van Hollen — who chaired theDemocratic Congressional CampaignCommittee from 2006-2010 — notedRepublicans control both chambers ofCongress.

He said the Democrats have a “veryrealistic shot” of regaining control of theU.S. Senate in the upcoming election. VanHollen told the Blade his party needs to“keep the pressure on in the House.”

“If you’re not pushing hard for change,change will never come,” he said. “Ifyou haven’t organized around a specific

proposal, you’re starting from waybehind. So putting forward the EqualityAct, pushing for it every day will hastenthe day when that will become the law ofthe land.”

Van Hollen also noted education,college affordability and “this growingand very real concern that people areworking harder than ever but their wagesare flat” are among the top issues for hisconstituents. He also cited criminal justicereform as important.

“These issues really are importantacross our district,” said Van Hollen.

Van Hollen has endorsed formerSecretary of State Hillary Clinton’s

presidential campaign.“Both her experience and her record

make her most qualified to be thepresident, commander-in-chief,” saidVan Hollen. “I don’t agree with her oneverything. There are areas where on theissues I may be closer to (U.S. Sen.) BernieSanders (I-Vt.) or (former Maryland Gov.)Martin O’Malley.”

“I do think when you look at the wholerecord that she’s been a leader and wouldbe a good president,” added Van Hollen.

Van Hollen spoke with the Blade on the

same day as the Iowa caucuses. O’Malleysuspended his campaign hours after theinterview.

“He’s run a positive campaign onthe issues,” said Van Hollen, praisingO’Malley’s performance at the lasttown hall with Clinton and Sanders.“I’m glad we have multiple voices in theprimary process at this stage. I think thatstrengthens all the candidates.”

Van Hollen also discussed O’Malley’srecord on LGBT-specific issues asgovernor, noting he signed the state’s

same-sex marriage and transgenderrights laws.

“He was certainly part of that effort,”said Van Hollen. “I don’t know how toallocate credit, so to speak. There were alot of people involved.”

Van Hollen criticized Donald Trump,U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and otherRepublican presidential candidates whohave highlighted their opposition tomarriage rights for same-sex couples on thecampaign trail. He also expressed concernthat a Republican president could repealPresident Obama’s executive order thatbans federal contractors from discriminatingagainst their LGBT employees.

“They could do that with the stroke ofa pen,” said Van Hollen. “The stakes arevery, very high.”

Van Hollen told the Blade thatDemocrats would also “fight tooth andnail against any effort to roll back theexisting rights and protections” that arenow in place for LGBT Americans. Theseinclude religious freedom bills that criticscontend would allow discriminationbased on sexual orientation and gender

identity.“If Republicans keep control of the

House and they maintain control of theSenate and they were to win the WhiteHouse, which we’re all fighting hard

against, they could have the power,” saidVan Hollen. “We do have the filibuster.These are things you don’t want to messaround with.”

A poll that Gonzales Research andMarketing Strategies released on Jan.19 showed Van Hollen was ahead ofEdwards by a 38-36 percent margin. Thesurvey has a 5.8 percent margin of error.

State Sen. Rich Madaleno(D-Montgomery County), state Del.

Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City)and former state Del. Heather Mizeur(D-Montgomery County) are among thecurrent and former Maryland offi cialswho have endorsed Van Hollen’s U.S.Senate campaign.

Madaleno told the Blade on Tuesdayduring a telephone interview that Van

Hollen “was a leader on civil rights”for LGBT Marylanders in the GeneralAssembly. The gay Montgomery CountyDemocrat said Van Hollen’s donation tothe campaign in support of the state’ssame-sex marriage law came at a timewhen “it had felt that we were dead in thewater from a fundraising perspective.”

“Here was this guy who was a risingstar in national politics and he was willingto put his name on the line to pass this

referendum,” said Madaleno. “Thatopened a lot of people’s checkbooks.”

Former Marylanders for MarriageEquality President Ezekiel Jackson alsosupports Van Hollen’s Senate campaign.

“Chris is my choice,” Jackson told theBlade on Tuesday. “Chris was always verygood in responding to us.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 Van Hollen seeks to make ‘positive diference’ in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

NEWS FEBRUARY 05, 2016 • 13

Trans women chargedwith assault at Casa Ruby

Two transgender women were chargedwith simple assault and destruction ofproperty on Jan. 27 at the offi ces of the D.C.LGBT community services center Casa Rubyafter they allegedly punched and threwseveral computer monitors at a Casa Rubystaff member.

A D.C. pol ice arrest affi davit says the staffmember told police the two women beganpunching her in the face and body and tossing

computer screens at her after acknowledgingshe had called police earlier that day becauseof improper behavior by one of the twoalleged attackers.

Ruby Corado, the founder and director ofCasa Ruby, said the staff member is also atrans woman and the two women arrested inthe incident were Casa Ruby clients.

“It’s very sad that this was an internalthing,” Corado told the Washington Blade.“They were actually receiving housing-relatedservices from us.”

Added Corado: “We have a history with

these two girls. They have harassed otheryouth clients and we issued a bar notice forthem. They got barred the night before.”

Police charging documents identify one of the two women charged in thecase as Torkill Teriyaki Holcomb, 31, of Northeast D.C. The charging documentsidentify the other woman by her male birth name and list her age as 27. Coradosaid she goes by the name Janiyah Littman.

Court records show that both women pleaded not guilty to the charges, whichare listed as misdemeanors. They and their attorneys couldn’t immediately bereached for comment.

The court records show the two were booked at the Third District policestation on Jan. 27 and held overnight before being released by a D.C. SuperiorCourt judge the next day on condition that they stay away from 2822 GeorgiaAve., N.W., the address of Casa Ruby. The release conditions call for Holcomb to

enter a drug treatment program and require Littman to undergo drug testingthrough the court pre-trial services offi ce.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

‘It’s very sad that this wasan internal thing,’ said RUBYCORADO of an alleged assaultthat occurred at Casa Ruby.

WASHINGTON BLADE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KEY


14/40

Baltimore groups win grants

Several Baltimore-area organizations were among the 23 that received grantsfrom Washington-based Brother, Help Thyself (BHT) during its annual Grants andAwards Reception that took place on Jan. 30 at Baltimore’s Grand Central. BHTis a community-based organization that provides financial and other support tonon-profit organizations serving the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities in the

Baltimore/D.C. metro area.Those Baltimore-area organizations receiving grants were: PFLAG Columbia-

Howard County ($1,930); PFLAG Westminster ($2,110); New Ways Ministry, Inc.,a Mount Rainier-based LGBT Catholic organization ($1,830); Perry Hall-basedThankful Paws ($1,500); Baltimore-based Hope Springs, an HIV/AIDS advocacyorganization ($3,420); and AIDS Action Baltimore ($5,000). All told, $76,000 wasgiven out.

In addition, the George Dodson Business Award (to a business supportive ofthe community) was presented to Grand Central for “always being there for thecommunity in which it serves.”

“Our board looks ahead to our grant reception all year long with greatanticipation as the culmination of a year of hard work,” said Jim Slattery, BHTpresident in a statement. “Sure, we plan events and raise money, but we truly

love nothing more than to give it all away each January.”BHT achieved a milestone this year as well. “We’ve been at this since 1978,

helping close to 200 non-profits support their missions and clients,” said boardVice President Andrew McCarty of Baltimore. “And, this year, in 2016, we willaward our $3 millionth grant dollar. That’s right, I said $3 million!”

For more information, visit brotherhelpthyself.org.

FreeState Legal/Equality Md. to visit PFLAG

Newly merged FreeState Legal/Equality Maryland is launching a series ofcommunity listening stops across the state to gain input from key stakeholders.Part of this effort is aimed at establishing a combined mission and vision as well

as a new name for the merged organization. One such session will occur on Feb.9 at the general meeting of PFLAG Columbia-Howard County.

The merger between FreeState Legal and Equality Maryland was announceda month ago.

“We are excited to better serve the LGBTQ community across all of Maryland,”said Patrick A. Paschall, executive director of FreeState Legal in a statement.“By combining FreeState Legal’s team of attorneys providing direct legalservices with Equality Maryland’s longstanding history as the voice and politicalarm of the LGBTQ community, we are creating a comprehensive LGBTQ civilrights organization that will work throughout the state to end prejudice anddiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246Cradlerock Way in Columbia. All PFLAG meetings are free, confidential and opento the public.

For more information, visit pflagmd.org or freestatelegal.org.

Celebration of Life for Fr. Koritzer postponed

The historic snowstorm that buried the East Coast forced a number ofcancellations and the rescheduling of events. Among them is the Celebration ofLife for Fr. Skip Koritzer.

The new date is Sunday, March 13 from 4-6 p.m. at the Unitarian Church ofBaltimore, Enoch Pratt Parish Hall, 514 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. Doors willopen at 3:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 4 p.m.

The program will include readings, music, presentations and opportunities toshare memories of Koritzer, who was a well-known figure in Baltimore’s LGBT

community, and will be followed by a reception. Koritzer died unexpectedly atthe age of 67.

For more information, contact [email protected] or call 443-478-9896. STEVE CHARING

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

14 • FEBRUARY 05, 2016 BALTIMORE NEWS

.

. : ..

.

.

’.

..

Keep your promise to protect each other.

Wills & TrustsPowers of Attorney • Living Wills

Partnership & Prenuptial Agreements

Lawrence S. Jacobs/McMillan Metro, PC

(240) 778-2330 • (703) 536-0220www.PartnerPlanning.com

Serving the LGBT Community

in DC/MD/VA since 1983

202.319.8541 • www.lgbtc.com • Se habla espanol~

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR 35 YEARS

3 0 1 . 8 9 1 . 2 2 0 0 • S P - L aw. C o m6 9 3 0 C a r r o l l av e , S u i t e 6 1 0 • ta k o m a P a r k m d

attorNeYS at laW • dC|md|va

a d v i C e • m e d i a t i o N • l i t i G a t i o N • a P P e a l S • C o l l a B o r a t i o N

Sb, Pn, Sgn & t, P.a.

FamilY | eState PlaNNiNG | emPloYmeNt | immiGr atioNComPleX litiGatioN | Civil riGHtS | lGBt | adoPtioN | BuSiNeSS


15/40

New HIV platform targets gay, bi menGENEVA, Switzerland — MSMGF, a health services group for men who have

sex with men that formed in 2006, has joined with the Joint United NationsPrograms on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to launch Global Platform, a response to the“fast-track strategy” UNAIDS has set to end AIDS by 2030.

Through the platform, members will provide advice to various U.N. agencies,donors and other stakeholders on HIV program needs and priorities for gay andbi men and other men who have sex with men.

“The platform seeks to re-center the global response to HIV around unabatedand disproportionate HIV incidence and prevalence in the worldwide population,”MSMGF offi cials said in a press release.

A platform kick-off meeting was held Jan. 12-13 in Geneva, Switzerland and

featured representatives from the Global Fund, the Elton John AIDS Foundation,the World Health Organization and more.

The Platform’s short-term aim is to ensure strengthened language in the 2016Universal Declaration on HIV/AIDS about the needs of gay and bisexual men, andother men who have sex with men, with clear, reasonably articulated indicatorsthat are achievable and consistently used.

The Platform’s long-term aim is to increase availability of and access to highquality sexual health services; decreased HIV and STI incidence; significantlyexpanded enactment of human right protections; and improved social inclusion,social cohesion and social participation for gay and bisexual men and other menwho have sex with men worldwide.

Canadian gay couples feel pressure to wed

NEW YORK — Unmarried same-sex couples in Canada are feeling pressureto tie the knot, according to a recent study published in the Canadian Review ofSociology that examined their experiences, HealthCanal reports.

Researchers from UBC’s Department of Sociology interviewed 22 people insame-sex common-law relationships. The goal was to learn how the Civil MarriageAct of 2005, which granted same-sex couples the right to marry, affected the waythey thought about their relationship. The findings were presented in a recentissue of the Canadian Review of Sociology.

“It was surprising how prominent marriage became in participants’ lives,”said Katherine Lyon, who co-authored the study with Hélène Frohard-Dourlent.“Suddenly more people wanted to talk to them about their relationship and

getting married.”Because same-sex couples were previously unable to marry, many LGBTpeople had developed relationship models outside the status quo. With thelegalization of same-sex marriage, LGBT couples face new pressures to conformto societal norms, HealthCanal reports.

Many people reported feeling that their relationship would garner legitimacythrough marriage, especially in contexts where they still encounter prejudice. Thisperception shows that marriage remains the relationship pinnacle in Canadiansociety, even as cohabitation rates increase. Still, participants chose not to marryfor many reasons, including opposition to the institution, HealthCanal reports.

Moms of Mormon gays track teen suicides

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A group of LGBT-affi rming mothers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are alarmed because they say youth suicidesin the church are up since leaders condemned LDS gay couples in November,KUTV reports.

The group is called Mama Dragons and member Wendy Williams Montgomerybegan tallying the numbers after messages and calls from Mormon parentswhose children had committed suicide. The numbers were posted online byanother member, KUTV reports.

Montgomery reports that since the LDS church policy was announced, callinggay LDS couples apostates and banning their children from baptism until they areadults and denounce gay marriage, 34 LDS/LGBT youth between the ages of 14and 20, have committed suicide. She said 28 of those suicides happened in Utah.

Dale Jones, an LDS public affairs offi cer, said in response that, “We mourn with

their families and friends when they feel life no longer offers hope.”“I think it’s important that we realize the shame and hurt we are putting on the

gay community as members of the church,” Jill Hazard Rowe, a Mama Dragon,who lives in Utah, told KUTV. She is Mormon and has a gay son.

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

HEALTH NEWS FEBRUARY 05, 2016 • 15

Educated at Brown, Harvard,and Johns Hopkins

Washingtonian Magazine Top DocUS News & World Report

Top 1% of Doctors in USA

Dual Board Certified:Facial Plastic SurgeryBody Plastic Surgery

CALL TO ASKABOUT OURLASER LIPO SPECIALS

• Laser Liposuction

• Pec and Ab Etching

• Facial Rejuvenation

• Gynecomastia

• Laser Hair Removal

• Botox & Skin Care

• Transgender Surgeries

• Ultherapy


16/40

It’s like Christmas morningfor a political junkie

DES MOINES, Iowa — Covering the Iowacaucuses is like Christmas morning for a po-litical reporter, except it’s more special be-cause they happen in the presidential raceonly once every four years.

I arrived about a half hour before the

events began at Roosevelt High School in DesMoines, where both Democratic and Republi-can residents of the 43rd precinct would cau-cus. Knowing the highly public nature of thevoting in the Democratic caucus, I opted toobserve that over the Republican gathering.

Already supporters of Hillary Clintonand Sen. Bernard Sanders were seatedfacing each other at opposite ends of theroom. A group of about six supporters ofMartin O’Malley were in a corner to them-selves. From the start, they looked like theywouldn’t meet the 15 percent threshold at

the caucus site to remain viable.As I took my position in the corner under asign marked “youth/observers,” a local manand caucus veteran told me the neighbor-hood is predominately Jewish and expectsSanders to win the precinct.

Soon, more and more precinct residentsarrive and sit with the Sanders and Clintonsupporters who came earlier. They’re aboutequally distributed between both candidatesin terms of age and gender, although withonly a handful of exceptions most are white.

As the room grows more crowdedwith supporters on both sides, the room

begins to resemble the British House ofCommons, and the caucus site is about tobecome as contentious as that notoriouslegislative body.

Led by supporter Carol Baty, the Sand-ers side gets energized, chanting “Feel-the-Bern! Feel-the-Bern!” The Clinton side seeksto counter by chanting “Hil-la-ry! Hil-la-ry!,”though not as boisterously.

Precinct chair Drew Gentsch brings thecaucus to order by saying a record numberof 459 people are in attendance. That num-ber, he said, surpasses the estimated 300

people who attended the 43rd precinct’sDemocratic caucus in 2008.

Gentsch proceeded to explain the agen-da, but became frustrated every time hementioned Sanders’ name because the can-didate’s supporters would erupt in cheer. Heasks them to “tone it down,” saying he needsto get through the instructions.

A supporter for each of the candidates,Gentsch said, would be allowed three min-utes to speak to explain to caucus-goerswhy their candidate should win the precinct.

First up was Clinton supporter Elizabeth

Buck who emphasized her candidate’s ex-perience, pledge to cure Alzhemer’s diseaseby 2025 and ability to advance the economyin Iowa.

“We have too many people in this stateand this country who are working hard, but

are not financially self-suffi cient,” Buck said.Next was O’Malley supporter Rick Miller,

who said Democrats are “blessed to havethree great candidates,” but the formerMaryland governor has the best experienceand is “less polarizing” among the electorate.

Baty, who had earlier led Sanders sup-porters in a chant, was the youngest of the

caucus-goers who spoke and looked to thedays ahead in promoting her candidate.

“Hillary Clinton is fighting to preservewhat we have and Bernie Sanders is fightingfor our future,” Baty said.

At this point, a Sanders supporter callsfor a point of order and asks whether therecan be more speakers. When she said shewanted to talk about Sanders, Gentsch saidhe’d open up the floor to more speakers ifthe caucus desires, but she’s shouted downwith a resounding “no.”

It was time for the initial vote. Each of

the supporters counted among themselveshow many they have for their candidate. Asa result of the initial vote count, Sanders hada marginal lead over Clinton, but it becameclear O’Malley and “uncommitted” had to re-align themselves because they didn’t meetthe 15 percent viability threshold.

The caucus then became a game of “RedRover, Red Rover, Why don’t you come over?”It seemed virtually all the O’Malley support-ers ventured over to the Clinton side, whichinspired cheers among her supporters.

The result: 232 for Clinton, 224 for Sand-

ers. That adds up to three short of the 459who were in registered as attendance, butGentsch said that’s OK and the missing at-tendees (who may have left when their ini-tial candidate wasn’t viable) must have been“lost in the mail.”

The Clinton supporters smile and high-five even before their victory is declared.Given the narrow margin of the win, Gentschoffers the opportunity of a recount follow-ing the close vote, but that’s vetoed by bothClinton and Sanders supporters with a showof hands. Many of the caucus-goers at thispoint have been there two hours and areeager to leave.

As a result of the vote count, Gentsch saidClinton wins 5 state delegates and Sanderswins 4, making offi cial the former secretaryof state’s narrow victory in Iowa’s 43rd pre-cinct.

More offi cial business for the caucus con-tinues, such as ratifying proposed planksfor the Iowa Democratic Party platform andnaming delegates, but attendees are leav-ing in droves and the handful who remainapprove agenda proposals unanimously byvoice vote to expedite things.

Also exiting (with a sense of appreciation),is the Washington Blade reporter in atten-dance, who got to fulfill a personal dream ofseeing firsthand Iowa’s very public first con-test in the presidential elections.

ADDRESSPO Box 53352Washington DC 20009

PHONE202-747-2077E-MAILnews@washblade.comINTERNETwww.washingtonblade.comPUBLISHED BYBrown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc.PUBLISHER LYNNE J. [email protected] ext. 8075EDITORIALEDITORKEVIN [email protected] ext. 8088FEATURES EDITOR

JOEY DIGUGLIELMO [email protected] ext. 8081SR. NEWS REPORTERLOU CHIBBARO [email protected] ext. 8079NEWS REPORTERCHRIS [email protected] ext. 8083REPORTER & INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITORMICHAEL K. [email protected] CULTURE REPORTERMARIAH COOPERPHOTO EDITORMICHAEL [email protected] INTERNANTWAN J. THOMPSONCONTRIBUTING WRITERSPETER ROSENSTEIN, MARK LEE,LATEEFAH WILLIAMS, KATE CLINTON,KATHI WOLFE, RICHARD J. ROSENDALLCREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTIONAZERCREATIVE.COMSALES & ADMINISTRATIONDIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETINGSTEPHEN RUTGERS [email protected] ext. 8077SR. ACCT. EXECUTIVEBRIAN [email protected] ext. 8089ACCT. EXECUTIVESIRIWAT PATHARAPANUPATH

[email protected] ext. 8078DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGERBROOKE [email protected] ext. 8094CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIONPHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH [email protected] ext. 8092NATIONAL ADVERTISINGRIVENDELL MEDIA 212-242-6863; [email protected]

For distribution, contact Lynne Brown at 202-747-2077,ext. 8075. Distributed by MediaPoint, LLC

All material in the Washington Blade is protected by federal copyright lawand may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Washing-ton Blade. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writersand cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. Theappearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarilyindicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. Although theWashington Blade is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot ac-cept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Unsolicited editorialmaterial is accepted by the Washington Blade, but the paper cannot takeresponsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, rejector edit any submission. A single copy of the Washington Blade is availablefrom authorized distribution points, to any individual within a 50-mile ra-dius of Washington, D.C. Multiple copies are available from the WashingtonBlade offi ce only. Call for rates. If you are unable to get to a convenie ntfree distribution point, you may receive a 52-week mailed subscription for$195 per year or $5.00 per single issue. Checks or credit card orders can besent to Phil Rockstroh at [email protected]. Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to the Washington Blade, PO BOX 5 3352 Washington,DC 20009. The Washington Blade is published weekly, on Friday, byBrown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. Individual Subscriptions are $195per year for 52 issues (only $3 .75 per issue mailed to you USPS). Ratesfor businesses/institutions are $450 per year. Periodical postage paidat Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offi ces. Editorial positionsof the Washington Blade are expressed in editorials and in editors’notes as determined by the paper’s editors. Other opinions are thoseof the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of theWashington Blade or its staff. To submit a letter or commentary: Let-ters should be fewer than 400 words; commentaries should be fewerthan 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length,and must include a name, address and phone number for verification.Send submissions by e-mail to [email protected].

©2016 BROWN NAFF PITTS OMNIMEDIA, INC.

16 • FEBRUARY 05, 2016 VIEWPOINT

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

V O L U M E 4 7 I S S U E 0 6

EDITORIAL CARTOON

A Blade reporter’s take on Iowa

CHRIS JOHNSON is the White House reporterfor the Blade. Reach him at [email protected].


17/40

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

VIEWPOINT FEBRUARY 05, 2016 • 17

PETER ROSENSTEIN is a longtime DemocraticParty and LGBT rights activist. He is a regularcontributor to the Blade.

Don’t believe Sanders’ liesabout her campaign

The 2016 Iowa caucuses are over and Hill-ary Clinton won. In politics a win by one vote isstill a win. Now on to New Hampshire, whereBernie Sanders might continue the streak ofcandidates from neighboring states winning.Clinton supporters need to remember 2008when Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses,Hillary came in third, then overcame his “in-surmountable” 9-point lead two days beforethe primary and went on to win by 3 percent.

Nothing is a sure thing in elections.Whether she wins or loses New Hamp-

shire, all indications are that Hillary Clintonwill be the Democratic nominee for presi-dent. She has been endorsed by unions rep-

resenting 15 million workers and women’sorganizations supporting and providingneeded healthcare to poor women, includ-ing NARAL and Planned Parenthood. Orga-nizations representing the LGBT communityincluding HRC, LPAC and California Equalityhave endorsed her and those fighting climatechange like the League of Conservation Vot-ers have endorsed her. They all did this be-cause they know Hillary. They know she hasspent her lifetime fighting the establishmentalongside them for the issues they care aboutand will continue to do that as president.

So after New Hampshire we move Southand West, where voters tend to be more rep-resentative of the population of the UnitedStates, states where large segments of voterswill be African Americans and Latinos. Hillaryhas spent 40 years working with those voterson the issues they care about. She isn’t a newface to them so they won’t buy into the Ber-nie Sanders claim that every endorsementHillary has gotten is from the “establishment”because they know that anyone who thinksthey are the establishment doesn’t know

them or the issues they are facing.They won’t buy Sanders’ claims the hun-

dreds of endorsements Hillary has receivedfrom governors, past and present membersof Congress and the mothers of young men

who have suffered and died from police bru-tality prove he is the anti-establishment can-didate. These voters in South Carolina, Ne-vada, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida know ifthey want to make headway on the progres-sive issues they care about; making collegemore affordable or free; reducing costs oncollege loans; improving our nation’s health-care system making it more equitable andcost effective for everyone; reforming our

judicial system so Black Lives Matter is morethan a slogan; reforming our immigrationsystem to provide a real pathway to citizen-ship for those now here illegally, that Hillary isthe person who can do that.

These voters will put stock in what thepresident has said about Hillary and thatwhen he became president he trusted Hill-ary enough to name her Secretary of State.President Obama recently spoke about Hill-ary and about their 2008 primary fight saying,“She had to do everything that I had to do ex-cept, like Ginger Rogers, backwards in heels.She had to wake up earlier than I did becauseshe had to get her hair done. She had to, you

know, handle all the expectations that wereplaced on her (as a woman).” He added, “Hadthings gone a little bit different in some statesor if the sequence of primaries and caucusesbeen a little different, she could have easily

won. Her strengths, which are the fact thatshe’s extraordinarily experienced and, youknow, ‘wicked smart’ and knows every policyinside and out, means she would be capableof governing the country on day one. I’ve got-ten to know Hillary really well, and she is agood, smart, tough person who cares deeplyabout this country.”

They know Sanders is lying when he saysHillary is in bed with big Pharma and health-care companies because in 1993, well beforeanyone even noticed Bernie Sanders, Hillarywas fighting for universal healthcare andtook on big pharma and the healthcare in-dustry. They recognize her courage in 1995when she traveled to Beijing to speak outfor women’s rights and the difference thatspeech made for women around the world.They know only a woman can totally under-stand how crucial it is for women to havethe right to control their own healthcare; toensure abortion remains safe and legal; andto ensure women will finally win the fight forequal pay for equal work.

They have dreams they will never give up

for a better future. But they mix those dreamswith just a dose of reality. They understandHillary’s election will be a giant step in movingus forward to what the preamble of our Con-stitution called “a more perfect union.”

BRUCE COHEN is an Academy Award-winningproducer in film, television and theater bestknown for producing ‘American Beauty,’ ‘Milk’and ‘Silver Linings Playbook.’ He has been alongtime advocate for LGBT rights and recentlyserved as president of the board of theAmerican Foundation for Equal Rights.

INSIDE LGBT WASHINGTON

Her detailed policy platformwill advance equality

By BRUCE COHEN

With the first presidential primaries uponus, it is of utmost importance that we examineeach candidate’s proposals and policy posi-tions to determine who would be best suitedto lead our country to a brighter, better future

come Jan. 20, 2017.As a proud LGBT activist for the last three

decades, I believe that Hillary Clinton is thechampion the LGBT community can count on.She has consistently demonstrated leader-ship on LGBT issues, and she has a detailed,implementable LGBT policy platform that willadvance equality and strengthen the LGBTcommunity. In short, Hillary Clinton is the can-didate who has had our back, and now we aremore than ready to have hers.

After poring over candidates’ records andproposals focused on LGBT issues, the Human

Rights Campaign — a group that I have avidlysupported but also had sharp disagreementswith over the years — came to the decision toendorse Hillary Clinton. It was unfortunate tosee Bernie Sanders take to disparaging theHuman Rights Campaign as a response to notreceiving their endorsement. I was extremelydisheartened to hear Sanders emphatical-

ly state that HRC, among other progressiveorganizations, is a part of the “establishment”he is leading a “revolution” against. Not onlyis that divisive language, particularly as it re-lates to the larger family of Democratic vot-ers, it is also both frightening to contemplateand, fortunately, untrue. To steal a line fromHillary Clinton, “I wish it were” true that theacceptance of the LGBT community that wehave spent our lives fighting for is now con-

sidered part of the “establishment,” but oneonly needs to hear what any of the Republicancandidates have to say on the subject to knowthat could not be further from the truth.

Given a second chance to walk back hiscomments about HRC and other progres-si

washingtonblade.com, volume 47, issue 6, february 5, 2016

Documents