a&e features
Best Of LGBTQ D.C. 2023
Blade readers voted and here are your favorites in food, nightlife, and more
Itās that time of year again when we pause to celebrate the best of our exceptional local LGBTQ community, from food to activism to religion.
This yearās Local Hero award goes to the tireless Brent Minor for his many years of service to the community and his efforts to expand LGBTQ acceptance in sports. D.C. is bucking the trend of queer bars closing, as the city saw several new venues open this year. And our awards arenāt limited to D.C.; weāve again included numerous categories from Rehoboth Beach.
More than 4,000 nominations and 30,000 votes were cast in more than 60 categories for the 22nd annual Best Of awards. The Bladeās Stephen Rutgers coordinated the process. Michael Key served as photo editor for the project. This yearās contributing writers are Patrick Folliard, Tinashe Chingarande, Cal Benn, Lou Chibbaro Jr., Evan Caplan, Kaela Roeder, Michael K. Lavers, and Kevin Naff. Congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists, and winners. Thank you to our sponsors ABSOLUT, PEPCO, Shakers, Heineken, and Infinite Legacy.
LOCAL HERO: BRENT MINOR
Team DC founder credited with helping to launch Pride Night Out events
The selection this month by Washington Blade staff of Brent Minor as the 2023 recipient of the Local Hero Award comes a short time after Minor announced he was stepping down from his longtime position as executive director of Team DC, the D.C.-area LGBTQ sports organization.
āAfter more than 20 years of leading Team DC, first as its board president and then as the executive director, I have decided it is time to move on and retire from this part of my life,ā Minor said in a Facebook announcement.
āIt has been a joy and a privilege to establish and grow this organization over the years and help make sports a more welcoming place for all participants,ā he stated.
Minor has been credited with helping Team DC become one of the nationās largest LGBTQ sports organizations, which currently includes more than 40 LGBTQ or LGBTQ-supportive sports teams or sports leagues as affiliated members.
Under Minorās direction, Team DC established the annual D.C. area Pride Night Out events in which about a dozen D.C. professional sports teams welcome LGBTQ sports fans to their respective stadiums or arenas to support the team and celebrate LGBTQ Pride during a home game.
Among the teams that work with Team DC to host the Pride Night Out games are the Washington Nationals baseball team, the Washington Wizards basketball team, the Washington Commanders football team, and the Washington Capitals hockey team.
The highlight of this yearās Pride Night Out at the Washington Nationals in June involved Minor and other Team DC officials joining former Speaker of the U.S. House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who threw the ceremonial āfirst pitchā to open the game as Nationals players and fans cheered loudly.
Minor has also played a lead role in helping Team DC establish its annual Team DC College Scholarship Program, which awards college bound LGBTQ high school student athletes $2,000 scholarships to support their college education.
āWhile it is great to host 12 Pride Night Out events annually, we want to work with our pro teams to make sure that they are fully supportive of LGBTQ issues and not just when they want to sell tickets,ā Minor said in a 2019 guest column in the Washington Blade in explaining Team DCās ongoing mission.
In discussing the role of Team DCās more than 40 LGBTQ sports teams or leagues, Minor said, āThe presence of healthy and well-organized sports clubs in D.C. helps make our LGBTQ community stronger and more stable. For many participants, their team adds a dimension to their life that a job or home just cannot fill.ā
Minor, an Alexandria, Va., resident who is originally from Charlotte, N.C., has been involved with several LGBTQ-related causes and organizations prior to and during his early years with Team DC., according to a write-up of his professional experience he provided to the Blade.
He served from 2000 to 2005 as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS during the administration of President Bill Clinton, who appointed him, and President George W. Bush. He served twice as chair of the D.C. Bid Committee seeking to have D.C. become host in 2014 and 2022 for the Gay Games, the quadrennial international LGBTQ sports competition. The two bids were unsuccessful. He also served on the Gay Games Board of Directors from 2002 to 2008.
Minor served from 1996 to 2000 as Director of Community Relations and Public Funding for Food and Friends, the D.C.-based nonprofit organization that delivers food and provides other services to homebound people with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. He served from 2006 to 2008 as Community Relations Director for the Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia.
David Perruzza, owner of the D.C. gay sports bars Pitchers and A League of Her Own, which have worked with Team DC to help arrange for the sale of tickets to Pride Night Out games, expressed what appears to reflect the sentiment of many local LGBTQ sports enthusiasts of the work of Minor and Team DC.
āWhat an amazing night at Night Out with the Nationals,ā Perruzza said in a June 6 Facebook post reflecting on the Night Out at the Nationals. āCongratulations Team DC for putting on the event of the year and Brent Minor and your crew,ā Perruzza wrote.
āYou are appreciated more than you will ever know,ā he stated. āI hope the community respects and realizes what an amazing individual you are.ā
Blade Editor Kevin Naff echoed Perruzzaās sentiments in explaining the Local Hero award, which is the only Best Of award selected by Blade staff.
āThe Bladeās Local Hero honorees reflect the very best of our community,ā said Naff. āBrentās tireless devotion to LGBTQ causes has opened many doors along with hearts and minds. The community owes him our tremendous gratitude.ā
In accepting the honor, Minor told the Blade, āIām incredibly honored to be recognized for this award.ā
EATING & DRINKING
Best Coffee Shop: Three Fifty Bakery and Coffee Bar
1926 17th St., N.W.
Editorās Choice: Tatte Bakery & CafĆ©
Gay-owned Three Fifty takes home the top spot this year, dethroning Compass after a five-year run. The bakery has been in operation for 10 years on 17th Street, but is set to move to larger locale nearby on R Street. The neighborhood spot sells carb-forward specialties like scones, croissants, quiche, breads, muffins, and cookies, as well as coffee drinks. Owner Jimmy Hopper in a recent Blade article says that he first envisioned a cake shop but quickly realized the area needed a bakery and coffeeshop.
Best Outdoor Dining: Hankās Oyster Bar Wharf
701 Wharf St., S.W.
Editorās Choice: Le Diplomate
Neighborhood institution Hankās Oyster Bar scoops up this award for its alfresco option on the Wharf. In October of 2017, lesbian chef and restaurateur Jamie Leeds opened Hankās Oyster Bar on the Wharf, building on her wildly successful original Hankās in Dupont (there is another in Alexandria). The sweeping vistas pair especially well with oysters and lobster rolls. Another of Leedsās spots, Hankās Cocktail Bar, is a two-time winner of the Bladeās āBest Craft Cocktailsā award.
Best Restaurant: Crazy Aunt Helenās
713 8th St., S.E.
Editorās Choice: Beau Thai
Owner Shane Maysonās flamboyant restaurant Crazy Aunt Helenās takes home this coveted award for the second year in a row ā and itās only been open two years.
āTo be receiving this attention makes us feel like we are on the right path,ā said Mayson last year. āWe serve American comfort food that we hope will make everyone feel like theyāve been given a big hug,ā says Mayson, who plates American food with a twist. Appetizers include items like fried green tomatoes, and entrees include chicken fried steak smothered in chicken sausage gravy. Many dishes are vegan and vegetarian. The restaurant is a supporter of several LGBTQ organizations, and hosts a range of events, including drag shows, book readings, a ladiesā tea dance, play readings, bingo, and more.
Best Brunch: Red Bear Brewing Drag Brunch
209 M St., N.E.
Editorās Choice: Homme Brunch
Having taken home the Best Neighborhood Bar and Best Local Brewery awards last year, Red Bear Brewing now is awarded with Best Brunch. This gay-owned venue in the District hosts drag shows, trivia, and stand-up performances, among other events. It pours beers with suggestive titles like āHefe Donāt Preach,ā āOktoBEARfest,ā or āTall, Dark and Nutty,ā to name a few. Its festive drag brunch, running monthly, pulls out all the stops with its themes, like Broadway, Chromatica Ball, and goth. Desiree Dik serves as host.
Best Local Brewery: DC Brau
3178-B Bladensburg Rd., N.E.
Editorās Choice: Denizens Brewing Co.
Taking back the top spot (DC Brau won this category in 2021), DC Brau was the first business to bring back D.C.-brewed beer as part of the recent beer resurgence. DC Brau founders Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock opened in 2011, now serving beers and hard seltzers. DC Brau holds the annual Pride Pils fundraiser to benefit SMYAL and the Blade Foundation. This year, DC Brau kicked off Pride with a party at fellow winner Red Bear Brewing with a party celebrating its Pride Pils.
Best Local Distillery: Cotton & Reed
1330 5th St., N.W.
Editorās Choice: District Made
Last yearās Editorās Choice won this year. Co-founders Reed Walker and Jordan Cotton became friends while working as strategists for NASA and the aerospace industry, turning a passion into a business. The distillery aims to learn from the best practices of the world’s rum producers to create a line of distinctively American rums.
All fermentation, distillation, processing, and bottling is done on-site at the Cotton & Reed Distillery in Northeast DC’s Union Market District.
They make a full line of rums, from white to gold to dark to coconut and spiced options.
Best Burger: Dukeās Grocery
1513 17th St., N.W.
Editorās Choice: Ghostburger
The 2021 winner Dukeās Grocery serves burgers with a British accent. With locations in Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, Navy Yard, and Foggy Bottom, this restaurant serves guests hearty portions of bar food. The burger has landed it on a whole bunch of lists, from Zagat to the Washington Post. Besides its famed Proper Burger, it also has a salmon, Impossible, and Wagyu burger. The Dupont location is currently closed for renovations.
Best Ice Cream/Gelato: Jeniās Splendid Ice Creams
1925 14th St., N.W.
(Multiple locations)
Editorās Choice: Ice Cream Jubilee
Located on 14th Street, and often with a line around the corner, Jeniās Splendid Ice Creams has a āuniquely smooth texture and buttercream bodyā in flavors like birthday cake and fruit crumble. It scooped up the award last year, as well. There are also locations in Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Navy Yard, Yards Park, and McLean.
Best Pizza: Andyās Pizza
808 V St., N.W.
(Multiple locations)
Editorās Choice: 2 Amys
In the New York tradition, Andyās Pizza serves up pizza from stone deck ovens made of long-fermented dough, Wisconsin mozzarella, and California tomatoes. Andyās boasts seven spots across the area, including one in Shaw near popular bars Dirty Goose, Kiki, and Shakers.
The pizzeria serves slices in favorite options like pepperoni and white sauce, but the whole pies come in a range of flavors, including a Buffalo crispy chicken and a vegan pie with plant-based cheese.
āI am a local, born and bred in the DMV,ā says Andy Brown, owner and head pizzaiolo, after winning last year. āThe D.C. community is a melting pot of the global stage, and winning an award as a local always feels like a victory for our local community. We were thrilled to even be considered, and over the moon to win!ā
Best Outdoor Drinking: Pitchers
2317 18th St., N.W.
Editorās Choice: Dacha Beer Garden
Winner of the 2021 Best Neighborhood Bar, Pitchers launched in 2018 and bills itself as āa sports bar/restaurant for the LGBTQIA+ community where all are welcome.ā
The sprawling building features several different spaces with distinct atmospheres, plenty of flat screens for sports fans, darts, video games, a dance floor, a subterranean lesbian bar, and two patios. The bar often plays host to drag performances, including appearances by RuPaul Drag Race contestants.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Drag Queen: Evry Pleasure
@evrypleasure
Runner-up: Sasha Adams Sanchez
This award-winning D.C. queen is a mix between pageantry, comedy, and dancing who delivers shows filled with energy, laughter, and glamour. At this yearās D.C. Drag Awards, she scooped up the awards for best drag queen and best at large. Last year, she was named Red Bear Brewing Co.ās Miss Slay Them.
Best Drag King: Molasses
@kingmolasses
Runner-up: Flirty Rico
In a Vox explainer video, King Molasses described themselves as āthe sweetest, stickiest drag king youāll ever meet.ā Molasses fuses different elements of traditional Nigerian fashion with a southern cowboy aesthetic to deliver electric performances that leave guests salivating for more.
Best Transgender Performer: Gigi Paris Couture
@gigipariscouture
Runner-up: Baphomette
Itās hard to miss Gigi Paris Couture when her glamour is so apparent even her eyes glisten with opulence. From voluminous long hair units adorned with colorful flowers to floor-length gowns that accentuate her Coke-bottle curves, Gigi proves that ostentatious is the beacon of top-notch performance art.
Best Drag Show: Con Acento at JR.’s
1519 17th St., N.W.
jrsbar-dc.com
Editorās Choice: Red Bear’s Drag Bingo
Since 1986, JR.ās has been serving some of the cityās best cocktails. And it hasnāt lost its touch when it comes to invigorating dance parties. Con Acento, a Latinx monthly dance party, features the hottest hits thatāll have hips swaying and hands elegantly slicing the air.
Best LGBTQ Bar: Little Gay Pub
1100 P St., N.W.
thelittlegaypub.com
Editorās Choice: Shakers
Despite being one of the newest gay bars on the block, Little Gay Pub has proven that itās on its way to becoming a mainstay in the city. Besides winning this award in its first year in business, the bar has made a name for itself, welcoming elite patrons, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly ordered a club soda before taking a bathroom selfie.
Its owners are business partners Dito Sevilla, longtime bartender and bar manager at Ditoās Bar located inside Floriana Restaurant on 17th Street near Dupont Circle; Dusty Martinez, former general manager at the nearby gay bar Trade; and Benjamin Gander, former general manager of the other nearby gay bar Number 9.
āLittle Gay Pub aims to fill the needs of the LGBTQ community by offering a new and upscale drinking and snacking venue,ā the owners said in a statement when the bar opened earlier this year.
Best Bartender: Wyatt Warnick, Uproar
639 Florida Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: Andrew Bunting, JR’s
A quick Google search will show you that Wyatt Warnick is a well-known D.C. bartender with a following of more than 18,000 on Instagram. The burly bartender has a gaze that makes you feel welcome and at home. His Instagram explains his popularity with D.C.ās bar patrons as itās filled with shirtless shots and shower selfies. Blade readers responded with a resounding āWoof.ā
Best Neighborhood Bar: Duplex Diner
2004 18th St., N.W.
duplexdiner.com
Editorās Choice: Number Nine
What better place to cure your Sunday hangover than at Duplex Diner where the menu features hearty food options like a Belgian waffle that comes with fresh berries and whipped cream or the buttermilk biscuit oozing with sausage gravy? Duplex Diner is the place where you can ācome pull up a chairā and enjoy the simplest of moments with friends and family.
Best Happy Hour presented by ABSOLUT: Kiki
915 U St., N.W.
dcwannahaveakiki.com
Editorās Choice: Annieās Paramount Steakhouse
Kiki undoubtedly has the smartest name on the street, and along with it some of the most fun events. This bar in Shaw neighborhood hosts weekly drag shows and a dance floor where guests can let loose and break out their best dance moves. Kiki has four different bar areas including a beer garden and a sports-themed bar area.
Best LGBTQ-Friendly Bar: Dacha Beer Garden
1600 7th St. NW
dachabeergarden.com
Editorās Choice: Flash
The name on everyoneās lips when you mention beer is Dacha! This locals favorite has an open plan that makes it easy to guzzle a beer, or two, or three, with family and friends, and meet plenty of likeminded people doing the same. Above all, its menu is affordable with brunch drinks offered at $5 each and weekly eats at $10 each.
Best LGBTQ Bar Outside the District: Freddieās Beach Bar – Arlington, VA
555 23rd St. S, Arlington, Va.
freddiesbeachbar.com
Editorās Choice: Baltimore Eagle
Freddieās Beach Bar is the place to be for the gays who love happy hour. Along with amazing food and drinks, the restaurant also offers vibrant karaoke nights, piano nights and thrilling games like beach blanket bingo. Anyone whoās been there can attest to Freddieās being the place to be after work, blazer off, tie untied, heels exchanged for flats.
Best Theater: Kennedy Center
Kennedy-center.org
Editorās Choice: Arena Stage
Whatās lovingly called the big white box on the river has been selected as our readersā favorite. The historic Kennedy Center has it all including symphony, dance, Broadway shows, and specifically queer-made shows like āThe Night Garden: A Sartorial Celebrationā on Oct. 25.
āThe Night Gardenā is a fashion show and small exhibition event celebrating the life and legacy of the first drag queen in America, William Dorsey Swann. The mission of this experience is to bring history alive for D.C. and celebrate queer history month by focusing on the legacy that is William Dorsey Swann, the first drag queen on record right here in D.C. This event is curated by D.C. drag queen and fashion designer, Pussy Noir.
Best Theater Production: āseven methods of killing kylie jennerā
Woolly Mammoth Theatre
641 D St., N.W.
Editorās Choice: King Lear, Shakespeare Theatre Company
Once again, Woolly Mammoth Theatre continues to remain No. 1 with Blade readers.
Directed by Milli Bhatia, playwright Jasmine Lee-Jonesā two hander āseven methods of killing kylie jennerā has proved beloved by the fans. Itās about a lot of things, but murder really isnāt one of them.
Beneath heated discussions of white-skinned privilege, queerness, and body shaming, itās mostly a story of friendship. Before playing at Woolly, the wildly titled play was conceived at Londonās Royal Court Theatre in 2019, and then landed stateside for runs at the Public Theaterās Under the Radar Festival last month in New York. Then at D.C, the production proved a big success like so many like so many show shows heralded by Woolly artistic director Manuela Goyanes Maria.
Best Live Music Outside of D.C.: Wolf Trap
1551 Trap Rd
Vienna, Va.
Editorās Choice: Merriweather Post Pavilion
For music alfresco, Wolf Trap continues to reign supreme with readers.
Comprised of various venues (the mainstage Filene Center, Childrenās Theatre-in-the Woods, and the Barns) set on 117 acres in Vienna, Va., Wolf Trap was established in 1966 and remains the only national park dedicated to presenting the performing arts. And like any performing arts center serving an increasingly diverse community, over time, needs concerning art, music, and style change tremendously.
Its president and CEO, Arvind Manocha, is gay. When he took the helm in 2013, he quickly noted the increasingly diverse communities making their homes in the area: āWhether Puerto Rican, Indian and South Asian, or LGBTQ+, we needed to reach out. Itās important for us to be a mirror to the society around us, and anticipate the changes theyād like to see.ā And thatās only gotten better.
Best Live Music in D.C.: 9:30 club
815 V St. N.W.
930.com
Editor’s Choice: The Anthem
The venerable and great 9:30 club wins again.
Words from a former a 9:30 club staffer and Blade editor: āYour favorite band plays at the 9:30 no matter what your favorite band is.ā He continues, āWorkers are great. The sound is great. Itās an intimate venue. The best place to see a concert, and they had the best gay parties back in the day, including Blowoff.ā
Named one of the best live music venues in America by Rolling Stone, and dubbed āVenue of the Decadeā by the widely read VenuesNow, the 9:30 is legendary. Since opening in 1980, the club has hosted everyone from the Psychedelic Furs to the B52s to Tony Bennett.
Best Museum: National Air & Space Museum
600 Independence Ave, S.W.
airandspace.si.edu
Editorās Choice: National Gallery of Art
The National Air & Space Museum is a favorite for tourists and locals alike. Complete with a planetarium, an Imax theater, numerous exhibits, and frequent events, thereās something for everyone.
The museum is LGBTQ-friendly, having āQueerSpace,ā a podcast available on their website that talks about the impact that LGBTQ people have had on space exploration and research, as well as science fiction. āLGBTQ+ Peopleā is an entire subtopic on the website that brings you to many such stories. This museum is a great choice for when you need to escape the D.C. humidity, and youāll likely find yourself inspired.
Best Amateur Sports League: DC Front Runners
dcfrontrunners.org
Editorās Choice: Stonewall Kickball
For sporty queers looking for an athletic club and place to socialize, the DC Front Runners has become home to many. The DC Front Runners are the local chapter of the International Front Runners, a welcoming club for runners and walkers alike for 40 years.
In addition to runs, they host several social events throughout the year, including volunteer work, happy hours, and annual anniversary and holiday parties. The club is based in D.C., but has members worldwide.
Best Local Winery: District Winery
385 Water St., S.E.
Editor’s Choice: Bluemont Vineyard
District Winery describes itself as a modern, wine-focused, globally minded restaurant and bar on the ground floor of a working winery. The Bladeās readers clearly have embraced the concept, voting it the cityās best.
Best Local Professional Sports Team: Washington Capitals
Editorās Choice: Washington Commanders
COMMUNITY
Best LGBTQ Event: Flower Factory
@flowerfactory_party
Editorās Choice: District of Pride Showcase
This is the queer DJ collectiveās debut on this list. Flower Factory has been throwing events every second Sunday of the month since June 2021, and aims to create a more inclusive LGBTQ+ nightlife scene in the District. The group throws parties at several different venues in the area, including As You Are, Zebbieās Garden and Black Cat. The music showcased at Flower Factory parties ranges from techno, pop, hip-hop and house, and attracts hundreds of guests. Typically beginning in the afternoon and ending in the early evening, itās a way to end the weekend and begin the week with a celebratory tone.
Best Pride Outside of DC: Annapolis Pride
annapolispride.org
Editorās Choice: Baltimore Pride
For the second year in a row, Annapolis Pride wins best Pride outside of D.C. Founded in the spring of 2018, a group of Annapolis locals decided it was about time the city had its own Pride event, just like Baltimore and D.C. Its first festival officially kicked off in 2019 and attracted more than 6,000 attendees. The city will celebrate its fourth Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival in June 2024.
Best Day Trip: Annapolis
visitannapolis.org
Editorās Choice: Harper’s Ferry
Next time you need a quick getaway, check out the endless activities in Marylandās charming capital city on the Chesapeake. Check out the famous historical landmarks like the Maryland State House and St. Anneās Church. Explore the plethora of antique shops like Blue Crab Antiques and West Annapolis Antiques. And you canāt visit without indulging in seafood dining spots like Cantler’s and O’Learys Seafood. There are also several gardens and parks, like Broadneck Park (613 College Pkwy) or the Chase Home Garden (22 Maryland Ave.) where you can unplug and enjoy a stroll.
Best Clergy: Bishop Allyson Abrams
Runner-up: Rev. Ashley Goff
Bishop Allyson Abrams founded and established the Empowerment Liberation Cathedral in May 2014. She resigned from a Detroit church a decade ago after it was revealed she had married a woman, she told the Blade in 2014. After that, she decided to resign and moved to the area to start her own Baptist church ā Empowerment Liberation Cathedral, now based in Lanham, Md.
āWe welcome and affirm every race, gender, sexuality and disability,ā Abrams told the Blade in 2014. āWe want to give them a safe space, teach principles and to pour into them Godās love. People say itās amazing to hear a pastor say that God loves us the way we are. Iām always going to make sure God knows them.ā
Most Committed Activist: Heidi Ellis
Runner-up: Rayceen Pendarvis
Heidi Ellis is the founder and CEO of HME Consulting and Advocacy, a company that seeks to advance policies and initiatives that address issues of intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community. She works on a variety of projects in the consulting and advocacy space, like facilitating training for companies to better understand how to serve and work with LGBTQ clients and employees, for example. She is a leader in the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition, and since she began leading the coalition, it has raised more than $5 million for local LGBTQ programs.
āEven though I am a private consultant ā¦ my work is very much mission-driven,ā she told the Blade in September. āI donāt take any clients that are not aligned with my mission.ā
Best D.C. Public Official: Robert White
Runner-up: Salah Czapary
At-large Councilmember Robert White has been a member of the D.C. Council since 2016 and ran for mayor in the 2022 election, where he garnered endorsements from LGBTQ organizations like the Capital Stonewall Democrats. As a Council member, heās introduced pro-LGBTQ legislation like the Pride Plates Amendment Act of 2023, which would create a special purpose fund to support the work of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs through a line of Pride license plates. Heās also been outspoken in condemning violence against the LGBTQ community. āI want my LGBTQ neighbors to know that I see you, I hear you, I support you, and I am deeply troubled and disturbed by these attacks,ā he said in 2019.
Best LGBTQ Social Group: Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
1517 18th St., N.W.
gmcw.org
Editorās Choice: Impulse DC
A repeat winner in this category, the Gay Menās Chorus of Washington calls itself the āvoice of equality of the nationās capital,ā and with an annual audience of 100,000+, many would agree.
The GMCW entertains, inspires, and advocates through music. They have toured nationwide and been featured on the āTodayā show. Their next show in D.C. will be the Holiday Show on Dec. 9.
Best Non-Profit powered by PEPCO: SMYAL
410 7th St., S.E.
smyal.org
Editorās Choice: Capital Pride
Last yearās Editorās Choice, SMYAL, takes the crown for 2023ās Best Non-Profit. SMYAL is an organization dedicated to LGBTQ equality and opportunity. It provides counseling services, development opportunities, and after-school programs for LGBTQ youth.
It also provides education and training for adults servicing LGBTQ youths in schools, housing programs, local government agencies, and hospitals.
SMYALās mission is to instill confidence and life skills into youth as well as to inspire them to partake in community service. These fundamental values will be critical for LGBTQ youth to carry into a brighter, empowered future.
Best House of Worship: Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th St., N.W.
foundryumc.org
Editorās Choice: Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC
For LGBTQ people of faith, finding a supportive community can be challenging. The Foundry United Methodist Church is an inclusive, Christian community that is welcoming to all. As stated on its website, some of its strongest values are a devotion to diversity and that they honor humans just as they honor divinity.
The church hangs the LGBTQ and transgender Pride flags outside, making it clear the community is welcome. The inclusion does not stop there, as the church has an LGBTQ board member, and occasionally hosts events such as the LGBTQ+ Potluck they held last year.
Best Local Website/Social Media Account: Washingtonian Problems
@washingtonianprobs
Editorās Choice: District Fray Magazine
Washingtonian Problems began as a Tumblr blog in 2012. It moved to Instagram in January 2019 “to have a better chance of building a solid community.”
“The brand’s mission is to foster a deep love for Washington, D.C., through informing residents about what’s happening across the city, providing laughter, and allowing followers to engage with the brand,” reads its website.
Recent posts on its IG page include DC Dates Live and the renaming of the long-maligned Dave Thomas Circle to Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza. Embattled New York Congressman George Santos, who is also known for his stint as a drag queen in Rio de Janeiro, also gets an honorable mention.
Best Local TV/Radio Personality: Britt Waters, ABC7
@itsBrittWaters
Runner-up: Chuck Bell, NBC4
Britt Waters joined ABC7 in September 2021. She is a morning traffic reporter on “7News On Your Side” and host on “Good Morning Washington.” Waters is also a Washington Wizards in-game host.
She also hosts Sirius XM’s “Pandora New Thumb 20 Countdown Show.” When not working, Waters is known for her pro-wrestling commentary on TikTok, her vast collection of sneakers, and her love of pasta at Filomena in Georgetown.
Best Medical Provider: Whitman-Walker Health
Editorās Choice: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Whitman-Walker Health has been serving the D.C. community since 1973.
Named after Walt Whitman, who once lived in Washington, and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a physician who worked in D.C. during the Civil War before she became a women’s rights activist, Whitman-Walker was one of the first organizations to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the city. Whitman-Walker’s mission has expanded to include legal services and general medical and dental care for LGBTQ Washingtonians and the city’s residents as a whole.
Whitman-Walker’s new Max Robinson Center opened last month in the city’s St. Elizabeth’s East campus in Southeast Washington.
The Blade also acknowledges AIDS Healthcare Foundation for its continued work in D.C. and around the world.
Best Alternative Transportation: Metro
Editorās Choice: Capital Bikeshare
Best Private School: Barrie School
13500 Layhill Rd.
Silver Spring, Md.
Editorās Choice: Burgundy Farm Country Day School
BUSINESS
Best Local Businessperson: Roger Whyte, Stratus Firm
stratusfirm.com
Runner-up: Ed Bailey, Trade & Number Nine
Roger Whyte in 2011 founded RJ Whyte Event Production. The company in January rebranded itself as the Stratus Firm.
“The rebrand demonstrates the companyās depth of expertise as producers, technologists, designers, strategists, videographers, and everything in between,” reads the rebranding announcement. “As the landscape for event production has evolved the last few years, Stratus Firm recognizes its unique position to continue innovating in new ways by renewing its focus in the competitive industry and delivering enhanced services at the highest level.”
Whyte said he remains thankful to his colleagues and partners “who have lifted us to a position to be able to make this change for our clients.”
“It is because of their hard work, expertise, and skills that we have been able to create connections with our clients and produce events that exceed expectations,ā he said.
Best LGBTQ-Owned Business: Jane Jane
1705 14th St., N.W.
janejanedc.com
Editorās Choice: District CoOp
Jane Jane is a local restaurant and bar with a wide variety of cocktails, beers, wines, as well as a non-alcoholic menu for under-21s. Unique house features include āClassified Documents,ā āGin Soaked Felon,ā āSeasonal Affective Delight,ā and more. Jane Jane is also a participant in D.C.ās annual Taste of Pride, among other local restaurants.
Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace: Logan 14
1314 14th St., N.W.
logan14salonspa.com
Editorās Choice: Capital Center for Psychotherapy and Wellness
This year marks Logan 14ās eighth consecutive win on the Bladeās Best Of. With roughly 75% of the businessās clientele being LGBTQ, this is their first win in this category.
Logan 14 offers everything you could want from a salon or spa, including cut, color, extensions, waxes, massages, and hair styling for special occasions.
Best Fitness or Workout Spot: VIDA Fitness
Multiple locations
VidaFitness.com
Editor’s Choice: Barry’s Bootcamp
VIDA Fitness is without a doubt one of the DMV’s best-known and beloved gyms.
The franchise has locations on U Street and in Logan Circle, City Vista, Gallery Place, the Yards, and in Ballston. Another VIDA Fitness gym will soon open in Reston.
“Our gyms set the standard for high-quality, contemporary fitness with uniquely designed spaces, state-of-the-art equipment, industry-leading programming, luxurious amenities, and a social atmosphere that motivates you to achieve at your highest capacity,” reads VIDA’s website.
VIDA’s Penthouse Pool and Lounge on U Street is one of the city’s more exclusive summertime refuges.
Best Dentist: Dr. Gregory Martin DDS
5454 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
gregorymartindds.com
Runner-up: Dr. Rob McKernan, Big Gay Smiles & Staff Dentist, Whitman Walker Health
Best Real Estate Agent: Justin Noble, TTR Sotheby’s
BurnsandNoble.com
202-503-4243
Runner-up: Stacey Williams-Zeiger, Zeiger Realty
Justin Noble is a Realtor with Sothebyās International Realty licensed in D.C., Maryland, and Delaware for your DMV and Delaware beach needs. Specializing in first-time homebuyers, development, and new construction as well as estate sales, Justin is a well-versed agent, highly regarded, and provides white glove service at all price points.
Best Real Estate Group: Bediz Group, Keller Williams
1918 18th St., N.W.
Bediz.com
Runner-up: Jenn Smira Team, Compass
Best Adult Store: Bite the Fruit
1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W. (Second floor)
Editorās Choice: Trick Box
Bite the Fruit is a frequent guest on this list ā the shop has been voted Best Adult Store by readers several times and won in the Best Adult Store category in 2021 and 2022. The shop has a robust inventory of sex toys, films, and apparel. Bite the Fruit is self-described as kink-forward, gay-owned and straight-friendly. āWe cater to everyone guided by what is safe, sane and consensual,ā according to its website. Items are available in-store or online.
Best Tattoo Parlor: Fattyās Tattoos
Multiple locations
Fattystattoos.com
Editorās Choice: Dapper Dog Tattoo
Best Salon/Spa: Bang Salon
601 F St., N.W. #100
bangsalon.com
Editorās Choice: Logan 14
With four locations in the D.C. area, Bang Salon offers everything you could need for your hair, such as cut, color, style, keratin treatment, loc maintenance, and so much more.
For whole body wellness, the salon has an aura spa, nutritional counseling, a penthouse pool, personal training, Pilates, Sweatbox, and Vida Fitness.
Best Hotel: Eaton DC
1201 K St., N.W.
eatonworkshop.com/en-us/washington-dc/
Editorās Choice: Four Seasons
Eaton DC, a returning winner in this category, is described as beyond a hotel for tourists. According to its website, āEaton exists at the nexus of hospitality, impact, culture, and wellness.ā
Dedicated to culture and creativity, Eaton frequently hosts original artistic programming such as live music, film, talks, theater, and more. The building itself was designed to be innovative and progressive, and environmentally sustainable.
Eaton has been welcoming to the LGBTQ community, hosting a month-long Pride festival in 2022.
Best Car Dealership: BMW of Fairfax
8427 Lee Highway
Fairfax, Va.
Bmwoffairfax.com
Editorās Choice: DARCARS
Best Home Furnishings: Miss Pixie’s
1626 14th St., N.W.
Misspixies.com
Editorās Choice: Room & Board
Miss Pixieās, returning as winner of Best Home Furnishings for the third year in a row, sells vintage furniture and decor perfect for any queer home. They have everything you could need, including chairs, tables, bookshelves, dressers, mirrors, and āwhatnots,ā which includes dishware, photos, books, magazines, and even bottle caps. Miss Pixieās diverse catalogue has a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes so everyone can find something perfect for them.
Best Pet Business or Veterinarian: District Dogs
Districtdogs.com
Editorās Choice: City Paws Animal Hospital
Best Lawyer: Jennifer Fairfax
Family Formation Law Office
827 Woodside Parkway
Silver Spring, Md.
Runner-up: Michele Zavos
Jennifer Fairfax focuses on adoption and assisted reproductive law and is licensed in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, according to her bio. (Fairfax was appointed Montgomery County Circuit Court judge in September so is no longer practicing as an attorney.)
REHOBOTH BEACH
Best Rehoboth Drag Queen: Magnolia Applebottom
Runner-up: ReginaCox
Magnolia seems too young to be a veteran and staple of Rehoboth nightlife entertainment, yet thatās exactly what sheās become. From Diegoās to the Blue Moon to the nearby Milton Theatre, Magnolia holds court in her inimitable way, always singing live and looking fabulous. Sheās won this category multiple times, which is no small feat given the quality and quantity of drag shows in the Rehoboth Beach area. Even nearby Dewey Beach, popular with the straight college crowd, has gotten in on the drag craze with shows this year popping up at North Shore and other venues. But no one in the burgeoning drag scene at the beach does it better than Magnolia, who reigns for another year as queen of this category.
Best Rehoboth Drag Show: Drag Brunch at the Pines
56 Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Editorās Choice: Splash Party with Magnolia Applebottom at Diego’s
Drag fans have an embarrassment of riches in Rehoboth Beach and for the second consecutive year, our readers have embraced Drag Brunch at the Pines as the best. No one works harder to boost Rehobothās live entertainment scene than Kristina Kelly, who holds court at The Pines. Sheās not just a performer, but also the one responsible for booking a wide array of entertainment at The Pines, from drag to piano to book signings. Rehoboth would be a much duller place without Kellyās dedication and hard work; someone get her a key to the city!
Best Rehoboth-Area Live Show: Dirty Bingo with Magnolia Applebottom at Diego’s
37298 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Diegosbarnightclub.com
Editorās Choice: Legends at Blue Moon
Magnolia Applebottomās Dirty Bingo is just one of her gigs but itās our readersā pick for the best live show in town. And thereās no shortage of competition here, from the venerable Pamala Stanleyās occasional Sunday dance party at Freddieās to the talented singer and pianist Nate Buccieri at the Moon, there are plenty of options for live shows. Magnolia brings her fearless quick wit to her Dirty Bingo ensuring a hilarious good time for all.
Best Rehoboth Bartender: Chris Chandler
Purple Parrot
134 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Runner-up: Georgiy Yanchenko, Purple Parrot
Chris Chandler has won this category so many times that we thought about renaming the award in his honor. And itās easy to see why. From the busiest summer holiday weekends to the sleepy weeknights in February, Chandler is a constant presence and handles the crowds with ease. The Parrot is always finding fun ways to party, including a recent event in honor of Mrs. Roper that drew a packed house during a tropical storm with everyone decked out in Roper wigs and caftans. Through it all, Chandler presides with a calm smile always at the ready with a generous pour of your favorite cocktail.
Best Rehoboth Outdoor Dining: Purple Parrot
134 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Runner-up: Aqua
This is the second consecutive win for the venerable Parrot in this category. In summer, thereās no better place to escape the boardwalk, grab a table, and enjoy the always-festive atmosphere of the outdoor Biergarten. There are regular food specials, including crab cakes, German cuisine, and prime rib nights. The Parrot is also home to perennial winners in our Best Bartender category, Chris Chandler (this yearās winner) and Georgiy Yanchenko (last yearās winner).
Best Rehoboth Coffeeshop: The Coffee Mill
127 Rehoboth Ave. B
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Editorās Choice: Rise Up
This is the second consecutive win for the Coffee Mill, a locals favorite for its diverse selection of beans, cozy and welcoming atmosphere, and status as a place to be seen, especially on weekends when the outdoor tables fill up fast.
Best Rehoboth Restaurant: Drift
42 Ā½ Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Editorās Choice: Blue Moon
Drift took Rehoboth by storm this year with its inventive seafood-centric menu (the lobster French toast is a must) and scored a well-deserved rave review in the Washington Post.
The building dates to the late 1800s and formerly housed the Seafood Shack. But the rustic vibe is gone after a gorgeous renovation that includes a narrow dining room, partially open kitchen, spacious outdoor dining area, and intimate bar that cleverly opens to the outside with room for a handful of outdoor barstools when weather permits.
Chef Tom Wiswell, known to D.C. diners from his stint at Kinship, has created a menu that celebrates regional cuisine like oysters and crab cakes, but elevates them with unique preparations and stunning presentations.
Drift is part of the growing 2nd Block Hospitality Group, which just opened its newest hot spot, Bodhi Kitchen, which will likely turn up in our 2024 Best Of issue. In the meantime, make a reservation at Drift and enjoy the best of the beach.
Best Rehoboth Real Estate Agent: Lee Ann Wilkinson
16698 Kings Highway A
Lewes, Del.
Leeanngroup.com
Runner-up: Jason Abela
This is Lee Ann Wilkinsonās sixth consecutive win in this competitive category. The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group is regularly tops in regional sales in Sussex County, which is home to Rehoboth Beach. In this competitive real estate market with high interest rates and low inventory, you need talented professionals like Lee Ann on your side when buying or selling a home.
Best Rehoboth Business: Diegoās Bar & Nightclub
37298 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Diegosbarnightclub.com
Editorās Choice: Aqua Grill
This is the third consecutive win for Diegoās in this category and evidence of the enduring appeal and staying power of this favorite destination for tourists and locals alike. Whether youāre looking for a laid back happy hour with friends or a sweaty, packed dance party, youāll find it at Diegoās, which is also home to an array of live entertainment and drag shows. The spacious and comfortable outdoor bar is simply one of the townās greatest pleasures. Rehoboth could use more outdoor spaces like this.
a&e features
What to expect at the 2024 National Cannabis Festival
Wu-Tang Clan to perform; policy discussions also planned
(Editor’s note: Tickets are still available for the National Cannabis Festival, with prices starting at $55 for one-day general admission on Friday through $190 for a two-day pass with early-entry access. The Washington Blade, one of the event’s sponsors, will host a LGBTQIA+ Lounge and moderate a panel discussion on Saturday with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.)
With two full days of events and programs along with performances by Wu-Tang Clan, Redman, and Thundercat, the 2024 National Cannabis Festival will be bigger than ever this year.
Leading up to the festivities on Friday and Saturday at Washington, D.C.’s RFK Stadium are plenty of can’t-miss experiences planned for 420 Week, including the National Cannabis Policy Summit and an LGBTQ happy hour hosted by the District’s Black-owned queer bar, Thurst Lounge (both happening on Wednesday).
On Tuesday, the Blade caught up with NCF Founder and Executive Producer Caroline Phillips, principal at The High Street PR & Events, for a discussion about the event’s history and the pivotal political moment for cannabis legalization and drug policy reform both locally and nationally. Phillips also shared her thoughts about the role of LGBTQ activists in these movements and the through-line connecting issues of freedom and bodily autonomy.
After D.C. residents voted to approve Initiative 71 in the fall of 2014, she said, adults were permitted to share cannabis and grow the plant at home, while possession was decriminalized with the hope and expectation that fewer people would be incarcerated.
“When that happened, there was also an influx of really high-priced conferences that promised to connect people to big business opportunities so they could make millions in what they were calling the ‘green rush,'” Phillips said.
“At the time, I was working for Human Rights First,” a nonprofit that was, and is, engaged in “a lot of issues to do with world refugees and immigration in the United States” ā so, “it was really interesting to me to see the overlap between drug policy reform and some of these other issues that I was working on,” Phillips said.
“And then it rubbed me a little bit the wrong way to hear about the ‘green rush’ before we’d heard about criminal justice reform around cannabis and before we’d heard about people being let out of jail for cannabis offenses.”
“As my interests grew, I realized that there was really a need for this conversation to happen in a larger way that allowed the larger community, the broader community, to learn about not just cannabis legalization, but to understand how it connects to our criminal justice system, to understand how it can really stimulate and benefit our economy, and to understand how it can become a wellness tool for so many people,” Phillips said.
“On top of all of that, as a minority in the cannabis space, it was important to me that this event and my work in the cannabis industry really amplified how we could create space for Black and Brown people to be stakeholders in this economy in a meaningful way.”
“Since I was already working in event production, I decided to use those skills and apply them to creating a cannabis event,” she said. “And in order to create an event that I thought could really give back to our community with ticket prices low enough for people to actually be able to attend, I thought a large-scale event would be good ā and thus was born the cannabis festival.”
D.C. to see more regulated cannabis businesses ‘very soon’
Phillips said she believes decriminalization in D.C. has decreased the number of cannabis-related arrests in the city, but she noted arrests have, nevertheless, continued to disproportionately impact Black and Brown people.
“We’re at a really interesting crossroads for our city and for our cannabis community,” she said. In the eight years since Initiative 71 was passed, “We’ve had our licensed regulated cannabis dispensaries and cultivators who’ve been existing in a very red tape-heavy environment, a very tax heavy environment, and then we have the unregulated cannabis cultivators and cannabis dispensaries in the city” who operate via a “loophole” in the law “that allows the sharing of cannabis between adults who are over the age of 21.”
Many of the purveyors in the latter group, Phillips said, “are looking at trying to get into the legal space; so they’re trying to become regulated businesses in Washington, D.C.”
She noted the city will be “releasing 30 or so licenses in the next couple of weeks, and those stores should be coming online very soon” which will mean “you’ll be seeing a lot more of the regulated stores popping up in neighborhoods and hopefully a lot more opportunity for folks that are interested in leaving the unregulated space to be able to join the regulated marketplace.”
National push for de-scheduling cannabis
Signaling the political momentum for reforming cannabis and criminal justice laws, Wednesday’s Policy Summit will feature U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senate majority leader.
Also representing Capitol Hill at the Summit will be U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) — who will be receiving the Supernova Women Cannabis Champion Lifetime Achievement Award — along with an aide to U.S. Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio).
Nationally, Phillips said much of the conversation around cannabis concerns de-scheduling. Even though 40 states and D.C. have legalized the drug for recreational and/or medical use, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I substance since the Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1971, which means it carries the heftiest restrictions on, and penalties for, its possession, sale, distribution, and cultivation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services formally requested the drug be reclassified as a Schedule III substance in August, which inaugurated an ongoing review, and in January a group of 12 Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Biden-Harris administration’s Drug Enforcement Administration urging the agency to de-schedule cannabis altogether.
Along with the Summit, Phillips noted that “a large contingent of advocates will be coming to Washington, D.C. this week to host a vigil at the White House and to be at the festival educating people” about these issues. She said NCF is working with the 420 Unity Coalition to push Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to “move straight to de-scheduling cannabis.”
“This would allow folks who have been locked up for cannabis offenses the chance to be released,” she said. “It would also allow medical patients greater access. It would also allow business owners the chance to exist without the specter of the federal government coming in and telling them what they’re doing is wrong and that they’re criminals.”
Phillips added, however, that de-scheduling cannabis will not “suddenly erase” the “generations and generations of systemic racism” in America’s financial institutions, business marketplace, and criminal justice system, nor the consequences that has wrought on Black and Brown communities.
An example of the work that remains, she said, is making sure “that all people are treated fairly by financial institutions so that they can get the funding for their businesses” to, hopefully, create not just another industry, but “really a better industry” that from the outset is focused on “equity” and “access.”
Policy wonks should be sure to visit the festival, too. “We have a really terrific lineup in our policy pavilion,” Phillips said. “A lot of our heavy hitters from our advocacy committee will be presenting programming.”
“On Saturday there is a really strong federal marijuana reform panel that is being led by Maritza Perez Medina from the Drug Policy Alliance,” she said. “So that’s going to be a terrific discussion” that will also feature “representation from the Veterans Cannabis Coalition.”
“We also have a really interesting talk being led by the Law Enforcement Action Partnership about conservatives, cops, and cannabis,” Phillips added.
Cannabis and the LGBTQ community
“I think what’s so interesting about LGBTQIA+ culture and the cannabis community are the parallels that we’ve seen in the movements towards legalization,” Phillips said.
The fight for LGBTQ rights over the years has often involved centering personal stories and personal experiences, she said. “And that really, I think, began to resonate, the more that we talked about it openly in society; the more it was something that we started to see on television; the more it became a topic in youth development and making sure that we’re raising healthy children.”
Likewise, Phillips said, “we’ve seen cannabis become more of a conversation in mainstream culture. We’ve heard the stories of people who’ve had veterans in their families that have used cannabis instead of pharmaceuticals, the friends or family members who’ve had cancer that have turned to CBD or THC so they could sleep, so they could eat so they could get some level of relief.”
Stories about cannabis have also included accounts of folks who were “arrested when they were young” or “the family member who’s still locked up,” she said, just as stories about LGBTQ people have often involved unjust and unnecessary suffering.
Not only are there similarities in the socio-political struggles, Phillips said, but LGBTQ people have played a central role pushing for cannabis legalization and, in fact, in ushering in the movement by “advocating for HIV patients in California to be able to access cannabis’s medicine.”
As a result of the queer community’s involvement, she said, “the foundation of cannabis legalization is truly patient access and criminal justice reform.”
“LGBTQIA+ advocates and cannabis advocates have managed to rein in support of the majority of Americans for the issues that they find important,” Phillips said, even if, unfortunately, other movements for bodily autonomy like those concerning issues of reproductive justice “don’t see that same support.”
a&e features
Juliet Hawkinsās music defies conventional categorization
āKeep an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to evolveā
LONG BEACH, Calif. ā Emerging from the dynamic music scene of Los Angeles, Juliet Hawkins seamlessly integrates deeply soulful vocals with contemporary production techniques, crafting a distinctive sound that defies conventional categorization.
Drawing inspiration from the emotive depth of Amy Winehouse and weaving together elements of country, blues, and pop, Hawkinsā music can best be described as a fusionāperhaps best termed as soulful electronica. Yet, even this characterization falls short, as Hawkins defines herself as āa blend of a million different inspirations.ā
Hawkinsās musical palette mirrors her personae: versatile and eclectic. Any conversation with Hawkins makes this point abundantly clear. She exhibits the archetype of a wild, musical genius while remaining true to her nature-loving, creative spirit. Whether recording in the studio for an album release, performing live in a studio setting, or playing in front of a live audience, Hawkins delivers her music with natural grace.
However, Hawkinsās musical journey is far from effortless. Amid personal challenges and adversity, she weaves her personal odyssey of pain and pleasure, transforming these experiences into empowering anthems.
In a candid interview with the Blade, Hawkins spoke with profound openness and vulnerability about her past struggles with opiate and heroin addiction: āThat was 10 years ago that I struggled with opiates,ā she shared. Yet, instead of letting her previous addiction define her, Hawkins expressed to the Blade that she harbors no shame about her past. āMy newer music is much more about empowerment than recovery,ā she explained, emphasizing that āwriting was the best way to process trauma.ā
Despite her struggles with addiction, Hawkins managed to recover. However, she emphasizes that this recovery is deeply intertwined with her spiritual connection to nature. An illustrative instance of Hawkinsā engagement with nature occurred during the COVID pandemic.
Following an impulse that many of us have entertained, she bought a van and chose to live amidst the trees. It was during this period that Hawkins composed the music for her second EP, titled āLead with Love.ā
In many ways, Hawkins deep spiritual connection to nature has been profoundly shaped by her extensive travels. Born in San Diego, spending her formative years in Massachusetts, and later moving to Tennessee before returning to Southern California, she has broadened her interests and exposed herself to the diverse musical landscapes across America.
āMusic is the only thing I have left,ā Hawkins confides to the Blade, highlighting the integral role that music has in her life. This intimate relationship with music is evident in her sultry and dynamic compositions. Rather than imitating or copying other artists, Hawkins effortlessly integrates sounds from some of her favorite musical influences to create something new. Some of these influences include LP, Lucinda Williams, Lana Del Rey, and, of course, Amy Winehouse, among others.
Hawkins has always been passionate about musicā-she began with piano at a young age, progressed to guitar, and then to bass, eagerly exploring any instrument she could get her hands on. However, instead of following a traditional path of formalized lessons and structured music theory, Hawkins told the Blade that she āhas a hard time following directions and being told what to do.ā
This independent approach has led her to experiment with various genres and even join unexpected groups, such as a tribute band for Eric Clapton and Cream. While she acknowledges that her eclectic musical interests might be attributed to ADHD, she holds a different belief: āCreative minds like to move around.ā
When discussing her latest musical release ā āStay True (the live album)ā which was recorded in a live studio setting ā Hawkins describes the experience as a form of improvisation with both herself and the band:
ā[The experience] was this divine honey that was flowing through all of us.ā She explains that this live album was uncertain in the musicās direction. āFor a couple of songs,ā Hawkins recalls, āwe intuitively closed them out.ā By embracing creative spontaneity and refusing to be constrained by fear of mistakes, the live album authentically captures raw sound, complete with background chatter, extended outros, and an extremely somber cover of Ozzy Osbourneās āCrazy Trainā coupled with a slow piano and accompanied strings.
While āStay Trueā was a rewarding experience for Hawkins, her favorite live performance took place in an unexpected locationāan unattended piano in the middle of an airport. As she began playing Beethovenās āMoonlight Sonataā, Hawkins shared with the Blade a universal connection we all share with music: āThis little girl was dancing as I was playing.ā
After the performance, tears welled in Hawkinsā eyes as she was touched by the young girlās appreciation of her musicianship. Hawkins tells the Blade, āItās not about playing to an audienceāitās about finding your people.ā
What sets Hawkins apart as an artist is her ability to connect with her audience in diverse settings. She highlights EDC, an electronic dance music festival, as a place where she unabashedly lets her āfreak flagā fly and a place to connect with her people. Her affinity for electronic music not only fuels her original pop music creations, but also inspires her to reinterpret songs with an electronic twist. A prime example of this is with her electronic-style cover of Tal Bachmanās 90ās hit, āSheās So High.ā
As an openly queer woman in the music industry, Hawkins is on a mission to safeguard artistic integrity. In songs like āMy Fatherās Men,ā she bares her vulnerability and highlights the industryās misogyny, which often marginalizes gender minorities in their pursuit of artistic expression.
She confides to the Blade, āThe industry can be so sexist, misogynist, and oppressive,ā and points out that āthere are predators in the industry.ā Yet, rather than succumbing to apathy, Hawkins is committed to advocating for gender minorities within the music industry.
āLuckily, people are rising up against misogyny, but itās still there. āMy Fatherās Menā is a message: Itās time for more people who arenāt just white straight men to have a say.ā
Hawkins is also an activist for other causes, with a fervent belief in the preservation of bodily autonomy. Her self-directed music video āIāll play Daddy,ā showcases the joy of embracing oneās body with Hawkins being sensually touched by a plethora of hands. While the song, according to Hawkins, āfell upon deaf ears in the south,ā it hasnāt stopped Hawkins from continuing to fight for the causes she believes in. In her interview, Hawkins encapsulated her political stance by quoting an artist she admires:
āTo quote Pink, āI donāt care about your politics, I care about your kids.āā
When Hawkins isnāt writing music or being a champion for various causes, you might catch her doing the following: camping, rollerblading, painting, teaching music lessons, relaxing with Bernie (her beloved dog), stripping down for artsy photoshoots, or embarking on a quest to find the worldās best hollandaise sauce.
But at the end of the day, Hawkins sums up her main purpose: āTo come together with like-minded people and create.ā
Part of this ever-evolving, coming-of-age-like journey includes an important element: plant-based medicine. Hawkins tells the Blade that she acknowledges her previous experience with addiction and finds certain plants to be useful in her recovery:
āThe recovery thing is tricky,ā Hawkins explains, āI donāt use opiatesā-no powders and no pillsābut I am a fan of weed, and I think psilocybin can be helpful when used at the right time.ā She emphasizes the role of psychedelics in guiding her towards her purpose. āThanks for psychedelics, I have a reignited sense of purpose ā¦ Music came naturally to me as an outlet to heal.ā
While she views the occasional dabbling of psychedelics as a spiritual practice, Hawkins also embraces other rituals, particularly those she performs before and during live shows. āI always carry two rocks with me: a labradorite and a tigerās eye marble,ā she explains.
a&e features
Lavender Mass and the art of serious parody in protest
Part 3 of our series on the history of LGBTQ religion in D.C.
(Editorās note: Although there has been considerable scholarship focused on LGBTQ community and advocacy in D.C., there is a deficit of scholarship focused on LGBTQ religion in the area. Religion plays an important role in LGBTQ advocacy movements, through queer-affirming ministers and communities, along with queer-phobic churches in the city. This is the final installment of a three-part series exploring the history of religion and LGBTQ advocacy in Washington, D.C. Visit our website for the previous installments.)
Six sisters gathered not so quietly in Marion Park, Washington, D.C. on Saturday, October 8, 2022. As the first sounds of the Womenās March rang out two blocks away at 11 am, the Sisters passed out candles to say Mass on the grass. It was their fifth annual Lavender Mass, but this yearās event in particular told an interesting story of religious reclamation, reimagining a meaningful ritual from an institution that seeks to devalue and oppress queer people.
The D.C. Sisters are a chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an organization of ādrag nuns” ministering to LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities. What first began as satire on Easter Sunday 1979 when queer men borrowed and wore habits from a production of The Sound of Music became a national organization; the D.C. chapter came about relatively late, receiving approval from the United Nuns Privy Council in April 2016. The D.C. Sisters raise money and contribute to organizations focused on underserved communities in their area, such as Moveable Feast and Trans Lifeline, much like Anglican and Catholic women religious orders.
As Sister Ray Dee OāActive explained, āwe tend to say we raise funds, fun, and hell. I love all three. Thousands of dollars for local LGBTQ groups. Pure joy at Pride parades when we greet the next generation of activists. And blatant response to homophobia and transphobia by protest after protest.ā The Lavender Mass held on October 8th embodied their response to transphobia both inside and outside pro-choice groups, specifically how the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 intimately affects members of the LGBTQ+ community.
As a little history about the Mass, Sister Mary Full OāRage, shown wearing a short red dress and crimson coronet and veil in the photo above developed the Lavender Mass as a ācounterpartā or ācounter narrativeā to the Red Mass, a Catholic Mass held the first Sunday of October in honor Catholics in positions of civil authority, like the Supreme Court Justices. The plan was to celebrate this yearās Lavender Mas on October 1st at the Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial, located right across the street from the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where many Supreme Court Justices attend the Red Mass every year.
As Sister Mary explained, this year āit was intended to be a direct protest of the actions of the Supreme Court, in significant measure their overturning of reproductive rights.ā
Unfortunately, the October 1st event was canceled due to heavy rain and postponed to October 8th at the recommendation of Sister Ruth Lisque-Hunt and Sister Joy! Totheworld. The focus of the Womenās March this year aligned with the focus of the Lavender Massāreproductive rightsāand this cause, Sister Mary explained, ādrove us to plan our Lavender Mass as a true counter-ritual and protest of the Supreme Court of who we expected to attend the Red Mass,ā and who were protested in large at the Womenās March.
The āLavender Mass was something that we could adopt for ourselves,ā Sister Mary spoke about past events. The first two Masses took place at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, right around the corner from the Supreme Court. The second Mass, as Sister Mary explained, celebrated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; āwe canonized her.ā Canonization of saints in the Catholic Church also takes place during a Mass, a Papal Mass in particular.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sisters moved the Mass outside for safety, and the third and fourth Masses were celebrated at the Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial. āIt celebrates nuns, and we are nuns, psycho-clown nuns,ā Sister Mary chuckled, ābut we are nuns.ā After the Mass, the Sisters would gather at a LGBTQ+ safe space or protest at the Catholic Church or Supreme Court. Although they often serve as āsister securityā at local events, working to keep queer community members safe according to Sister Amore Fagellare, the Lavender Mass is not widely publicly advertised, out of concern for their own.
On October 8th, nine people gathered on the grass in a circleāsix sisters, myself, and two people who were close with professed membersāas Sister Mary called us to assemble before leading us all in chanting the chorus to Sister Sledgeās 1979 classic song āWe Are Family.ā
Next, novice Sister Sybil Liberties set a sacred space, whereby Sister Ruth and Sister Tearyn Upinjustice walked in a circle behind us, unspooling pink and blue ribbons to tie us together as a group. As Sister Sybil explained, āwe surround this sacred space in protection and sanctify it with color,ā pink for the choice to become a parent and blue for the freedom to choose not to be a parent but also as Sybil elaboration, in recognition of āthe broad gender spectrum of people with the ability to become pregnant.ā This intentional act was sought to fight transphobia within the fight for reproductive rights.
After singing Lesley Goreās 1963 song āYou Donāt Own Me,ā six speakers began the ritual for reproductive rights. Holding out our wax plastic candles, Sister Sybil explained that each speaker would describe a story or reality connected to reproductive rights, and āas I light a series of candles for the different paths we have taken, if you recognize yourself in one of these prayers, I invite you to put your hand over your heart, wherever you are, and know that you are not alone ā there is someone else in this gathered community holding their hand over their heart too.ā
The Sisters went around the circle lighting a candle for those whose stories include the choice to end a pregnancy; those whose include the unwanted loss of a pregnancy or struggles with fertility; those whose include the choice to give birth, raise or adopt a child; those whose include the choice not to conceive a child, to undergo forced choice, or with no choice at all; those who have encountered violence where there āshould have been tenderness and care;ā and those whose reproductive stories are still being written today.
After each reading, the group spoke together, āmay the beginnings and endings in our stories be held in unconditional love and acceptance,ā recalling the Prayer of the Faithful or General Intercessions at Catholic Masswhere congregations respond āLord, hear our prayerā to each petition. Sister Sybil closed out the ritual as Sister Mary cut the blue and pink ribbons between each person, creating small segments they could take away with them and tie to their garments before walking to the Womenās March. The Sisters gathered their signs, drums, and horns before walking to Folger Park together into the crowd of protestors.
At first glance, the Lavender Mass may appear like religious appropriation, just as the Sisters themselves sometimes look to outsiders. They model themselves after Angelican and Catholic women religious, in dressāthey actively refer to their clothing as āhabits,ā their organizationāmembers must also go through aspirant, postulant, and novice stages to be fully professed and they maintain a hierarchical authority, and in action. Like white and black habits, the Sisters all wear white faces to create a unified image and colorful coronets, varying veil color based on professed stage. Sister Allie Lewya explained at their September 2022 meeting, āsomething about the veils gives us a lot of authority that is undue,ā but as the Sisters reinforced at the Womenās March, they are not cosplayers nor customers, rather committed clergy.
As such, the Sisters see their existence within the liminal spaces between satire, appropriation, and reimagination, instead reclaiming the basis of religious rituals to counter the power holders of this tradition, namely, to counter the Catholic Church and how it celebrates those in positions of authority who restrict reproductive rights. Similarly, the Lavender Mass is modeled after a Catholic or Anglican Mass. It has an intention, namely reproductive rights, a call to assemble, setting of a sacred space, song, chant, and prayer requests. It even uses religious terminology; each section of the Mass is ended with a āmay it be/Amen/Awen/Ashay/aho.ā
While this ritualāthe Lavender Massāappropriates a religious ritual of the Catholic Church and Anglican Church, this religious appropriation is necessitated by exclusion and queerphobia. As David Ford explains in Queer Psychology, many queer individuals retain a strong connection to their faith communities even though they have experienced trauma from these same communities. Jodi OāBrien builds on this, characterizing Christian religious institutions as spaces of personal meaning making and oppression. This essay further argues that the fact this ritual is adopted and reimagined by a community that the dominant ritual holderāthe Catholic Churchāoppressed and marginalized, means that it is not religious appropriation at all.
Religious appropriation, as highlighted in Liz Bucarās recent book, Stealing My Religion (2022), is the acquisition or use of religious traditions, rituals, or objects without a full understanding of the community for which they hold meaning. The Sisters, however, fully understand the implications of calling themselves sisters and the connotations of performing a ritual they call a āMassā as women religious, a group that do not have this authority in the Catholic Church. It is the reclamation of a tradition that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence understand because some were or are part of the Catholic Church.
Some sisters still seek out spiritual meaning, but all also recognize that the Catholic Church itself is an institution that hinders their sistersā access and actively spreads homophobia and transphobia to this day. As such, through the Lavender Mass, the sisters have reclaimed the Mass as a tool of rebellion in support of queer identity.
Just as the Sisters recognize the meaning and power of the ritual of a Mass, along with the connotations of being a sister, the Lavender Mass fulfilled its purpose as a ritual of intention just as the Sisters fulfill public servants. āAs a sister,ā Sister Ruth dissected, āas someone who identifies as a drag nun, it perplexes people, but when you get the nitty gritty, we serve a similar purpose, to heal a community, to provide support to a community, to love a community that has not been loved historically in the ways that it should be loved.
The Sistersā intentionality in recognizing and upholding the role of a woman religious in their work has been well documented as a serious parody for the intention of queer activism by Melissa Wilcox. The Lavender Mass is a form of serious parody, as Wilcox posits in the book: Queer Nuns: Religion, Activism, and Serious Parody(2018). The Mass both challenges the queerphobia of the Catholic Church while also reinforcing the legitimacy of this ritual as a Mass. The Sisters argue that although they would traditionally be excluded from religious leadership in the Catholic Church, they can perform a Mass. In doing so, they challenge the role that women religious play in the Catholic Church as a whole and the power dynamics that exclude queer communities from living authentically within the Church.
By reclaiming a tradition from a religious institution that actively excludes and traumatizes the LGBTQ+ community, the Lavender Mass is a form of religious reclamation in which an oppressed community cultivates queer religious meaning, reclaims a tradition from which they are excluded, and uses it to fuel queer activism (the fight for reproductive rights). This essay argues that the Lavender Mass goes one step further than serious parody. While the Sisters employ serious parody in their religious and activist roles, the Lavender Mass is the active reclamation of a religious tradition for both spiritual and activist ends.
Using the celebration of the Mass as it was intended, just within a different lens for a different purpose, this essay argues, is religious reclamation. As a collection of Austrian and Aotearoan scholars explored most recently in a chapter on acculturation and decolonization, reclamation is associated with the reassertion and ownership of tangibles: of rituals, traditions, objects, and land. The meaning of the Lavender Mass comes not only from the Sistersā understanding of women religious as a social and religious role but rather from the reclamation of a physical ritualāa Massāthat has specific religious or spiritual meaning for the Sisters.
When asked why it was important to call this ritual a āMass,ā Sister Mary explained: āI think we wanted to have something that denoted a ritual, that was for those who know, that the name signifies that it was a counter-protest. And you know, many of the sisters grew up with faith, not all of them Catholics but some, so I think āMassā was a name that resonated for many of us.ā
As Sister Ray said, āmy faith as a queer person tends to ostracize me but the Sisters bring the imagery and language of faith right into the middle of the LGBTQ world.ā This Lavender Mass, although only attended and experienced by a few of the Womenās March protests, lived up to its goal as āa form of protest that is hopefully very loud,ā as Sister Millie Taint advertised in the Sistersā September 2022 chapter meeting. It brought religious imagery and language of faith to a march for reproductive rights, using a recognized model of ritual to empower protestors.
The Lavender Mass this year, as always, was an act of rebellion, but by situating itself before the Womenās March and focusing its intention for reproductive rights, the Sistersā reclaimed a religious ritual from a system of authority which actively oppressed LGBTQ+ peoples and those with the ability to become pregnant, namely the Catholic Church, and for harnessing it for personal, political, and spiritual power. In essence, it modelled a system of religious reclamation, by which a marginalized community takes up a religious ritual to make its own meaning and oppose the religious institution that seeks to exclude the community from ritual participation.
Emma Cieslik will be presenting on LGBTQ+ Religion in the Capital at the DC History Conference on Friday, April 6th. She is working with a DC History Fellow to establish a roundtable committed to recording and preserving this vital history. If you have any information about these histories, please reach out to Emma Cieslik at [email protected] or the Rainbow History Project at [email protected].
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