The High Heel Race, the Walk to End HIV, the Town Halloween costume contest, the HRC National Dinner and yes, the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. readers’ poll edition, local gay October traditions all.

For our 14th installment, we decided to cast the net wide — you voted in 97 categories (up from 73 last year) with about 5,000 nominations and 20,000 votes.

From bars, venues and restaurants we’ve enjoyed for years to places we’d never even heard of but can’t wait to try, the fun of this issue is the memories it inspires — like that table you bought at Miss Pixie’s and can’t imagine life without — to starting a list of places to track down like the Red Hook Lobster Truck.

The profiles were written by Patrick Folliard, Mariah Cooper, Brian T. Carney and Kristen Hartke.

The entire Washington Blade staff congratulates each of this year’s winners and finalists.

PEOPLE

 

Lifetime Achievement

Vice President Joseph Biden

Vice President Joseph Biden, delivering the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign’s national dinner earlier this month, touted the significance of the court ruling on marriage, but also turned toward other issues relevant to the LGBT community.

“The great arc of justice is the journey of this nation, and it continues to move in the right direction,” Biden said. “We’re moving closer and closer to the animating spirit of America because of all of you, not me, because of all of you.”

Although he’s previously articulated support for comprehensive legislation prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination, Biden took the opportunity of his speech to explicitly endorse the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“I strongly support the Equality Act, and it will pass, it will pass,” Biden said. “It may not pass this Congress. It will pass because it’s simple and it’s straightforward.” Biden’s support for the Equality Act makes him the first official in the Obama administration to explicitly endorse the bill.

Biden in 2012 dubbed transgender rights the “civil rights issue of our time,” an assertion he repeated this month as he commended Defense Secretary Ashton Carter for starting a review expected to lead in May to an end of the ban on openly transgender service.

“It took the secretary of defense about 10 minutes,” Biden said. “In July 2015 no longer is there any question, transgender people are able to serve in the United States military.” “All Americans who are able to serve physically should be able to serve,” Biden added.

Although Biden voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 as a senator from Delaware, he later changed his position and opposed it. He opposed efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage that began in 2002 and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006.

 

 

Most Committed Activist

Ruby Corado

Casa Ruby

2822 Georgia Ave., N.W.

casaruby.org

Runner-up: Rayceen Pendarvis

 

 

Best Council Member

Jack Evans (Ward 2)

jackevans.org

Runner-up: David Grosso

 

 

Hottest Local Pro Athlete

Bryce Harper

Washington Nationals

Runner-up: Ali Krieger

 

 

Best Massage

Eddie Weingart

Runner-up: Che Young

 

 

Best Personal Trainer

Gerard Burley

“Coach G”

Runner-up: Anya Maleknasri

 

 

Best Doctor

Dr. Raymond Martins

Whitman-Walker Health

1701 14th St., N.W.

1525 14th St., N.W.

2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E.

whitman-walker.org

Runner-up: One Medical

 

 

Best Real Estate Agent

Valerie Blake

dchomequest.com

Runner-up: Stacey Williams-Zeiger

 

 

Best Rehoboth Real Estate Agent

Chris Beagle

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

berkshirehathawayhs.com

Runner-up: Barbara Morales

 

 

Best Rehoboth Bartender

Chris Chandler (Purple Parrot)

Runner-up: Andrew Ennis (Blue Moon)

 

 

Best Amateur Athlete

Jeff Larivee (Stonewall Kickball)

Runner-up: Matt Pearce (D.C. Gay Flag Football League)

 

 

Best Local Columnist

Ezra Klein (Vox)

Runner-up: John Kelly (Washington Post)

 

 

Best Bartender

Sarah Slocum

Runner-up: Jayson Smith (JR.’s)

Luckily for the patrons at Freddie’s Beach Bar, a perennial favorite in Crystal City (in, as they say, “YES, honey, VIRGINIA!”), bartender Sarah Slocum really enjoys her job, saying, “I love that when I arrive at work, I feel like I’m walking into a party with all my friends already there — I just happen to be the one that gets to make all the drinks!”

Whether you’re there for karaoke, bingo or a Freddie’s Follies drag show, there’s really never a dull moment at Freddie’s, although Slocum confesses to also enjoying the quieter nights when she can chat in a more leisurely way with customers. While she has a particular affinity for mixing martinis, Slocum likes presenting the Flashing Flamingo, an in-your-face concoction of watermelon and pomegranate vodkas and lip-puckering juices that arrives with a flashing ice cube floating in the depths of a fishbowl-like glass: “It definitely lends some liquid courage to help you get up and sing karaoke,” she says. (KH)

Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant

555 South 23rd St., Arlington

freddiesbeachbar.com

 

 

Best Stylist

Enders Barbaran

Bang Salon’s Metropole location

Runner-up: Shar Raigner

After working in accounts payable for several years, Enders Barbaran was ready for a change.

“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew it had to be something different and I knew it had to happen fast.” So without a lot of thought, he went to work as a shampoo assistant at Bang Salon’s Metropole location where his then-roommate was working as a stylist.

“Immediately I liked it,” says Barbaran. “I instinctively like to bring out the best in my clients whatever the job. The salon is an environment where I can do that.”

After several months on the job, Barbaran figured he could do what the stylists were doing so he enrolled in cosmetology school. For the next year he attended classes by day and shampooed clients in the evening. Following graduation, he received further training at Bang and became a full-fledged stylist with his own chair in 2009.

“I thank both Bang’s owner and my manager,” says Barbaran. “They had a lot of faith in me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Barbaran grew up in Lima, Peru, surrounded by a family comprised of women. “I loved playing with my cousins’ hair,” says the stylist. “And even when I was working in accounts payable I played with my female co-worker’s hair. I’ve always liked hair. I’d just never thought to make it a profession.”

Today, Barbaran remains at Bang Salon where he cuts and colors both men and women. “My clients are like family to me and I want them to be happy. I’m humbled to have won among a field of excellent stylists. I didn’t campaign to win this. It’s truly a gift from my clients.” (PF)

Bang Salon Metropole

1519 15th St., N.W.

Bangsalon.com

 

 

Best Lawyer

Michele Zavos

Zavos Juncker Law Group

Runner-up: Patrick Menasco

Michele Zavos has been an attorney in the LGBT community for a long time. And throughout her career, she’s witnessed a lot of change.

“Most of it has come slowly, but over the last few years things have happened more quickly,” she says.

As the managing partner and founder of Zavos Juncker Law Group, Zavos has litigated and helped change policy in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia to extend legal protections to LGBT clients. She was the winning attorney in Port v. Cowan, in which the Maryland Court of Appeals held in May of 2012 that Maryland must recognize valid same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions, which predated the passage of marriage equality in Maryland.

“Fifty percent of our clients are LGBT,” says Zavos who is married to Ellen Cull, her partner of 22 years. “We’re a family law firm on the cutting edge for developing LGBT protection and representing people in difficult circumstances as a result of how family law has worked.”

In 1982, Zavos started the first “Maybe Baby” group for lesbians and gay men considering having children. “My daughter who is 30 was born with a donor dad,” says Zavos. “So this is my passion and interest and I’ve been fortunate to make it into a law practice. In family law there remains a ways to go regarding the rights of non-biological parents in same-sex relationships and marriages. For LGBT people in general there’s still a lot to do, particularly surrounding the area of trans rights and employment and discrimination, but that’s outside of my practice area.”

Looking ahead, Zavos says she is committed to further expanding the boundaries that protect LGBT families. (PF)

Zavos Junker Law Group

8455 Colesville Rd., No. 1500

Silver Spring, Md.

Zavosjunckerlawgroup.com

 

 

Best Artist

Chris Jay

Runner-up: David Claypool

“Since I first started hanging out in D.C. three years ago, I wanted to win this,” says Chris Jay, a professional photographer in the Baltimore/Washington area. “Last year I wasn’t even nominated, and this year I turned up in three categories. It’s the result of a lot of hard work.”

Jay, who’s been taking photographs for 20 years, is currently focusing on a project titled “Kingxtaposition,” a collection of work capturing the many faces of drag kings. Her subjects to date have primarily been members of the D.C. Kings, a troupe with which she’s performed. But Jay has plans to expand.

Based in Howard County, Maryland, Jay wants to take her project on the road.

“The goal is to start traveling the country and meeting kings and photographing them. This project is big, but it’s not something I’m doing for money. I just want to tell stories from the perspective of someone who changes through the process of performing. I want to keep digging into that.”

At her business, Chris Jay Photos, Jay shoots portraits of performers, small business owners and local artists.

“I keep my prices reasonable so people can afford to promote themselves. I like to help them realize what they see in their heads.”

Her introduction to photography was at a JC Penny Portrait Studio where she worked after graduating from high school. “During the first Christmas season, I shot bazillions of family portraits and loved it. After that I worked for a company taking school portraits for seven years.”

Jay’s most personal work consists of self-portraits documenting her struggles with depression. “I like to raise awareness of what it’s like to live with a mental illness. My everyday life isn’t easy. But once I get going, it’s hard to stop me.” (PF)

Chrisjayphoto.com

 

 

Best Businessperson

Howard Brooks

Runner-up: Scott Roewer, The Organizing Agency

The talented physician Howard L. Brooks, MD, has been medical director at the popular SKIN Cosmetic Dermatology Center of Georgetown since 2007. He is recognized as a leader in non-invasive body and facial rejuvenation for men and women.

Brooks says that SKIN blends the professional services of a physician’s office with the relaxing environment of a day spa, but emphasizes that patients need to play an active role in the health of their skin. SKIN offers clients a wide array of aesthetic, cosmetic and medical treatment options.

Brooks and the staff at SKIN have received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Patients appreciated their efficiency and friendliness and praised Brooks for his ability to listen and ask great questions, his skill at making quick and clear recommendations, his caring manner and honesty.

Brooks is a graduate of Howard University College of Medicine. He completed his medical internship at Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore; his residency at Howard University Hospital included stints at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Children’s National Medical Center and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

He often appears as an expert resource for local and national media outlets including the Washington Blade, CNN, Fox Morning News, NewsChannel 8 and WTOP. He is an attending instructor for the University Health Center at University of Maryland and is the author (or co-author) of numerous scientific and clinical articles in peer reviewed journals and texts. He is also a member of the Capital Area Physicians for Human Rights and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. (BTC)

Dr. Howard Brooks

SKIN Dermatology of Georgetown

2233 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., no. 230

202-298-7546

georgetownskin.com

 

 

Best Clergy

Bishop Allyson Abrams

Runner-up: Rev. David Lett

Bishop Allyson Abrams, founder and current pastor of Empowerment Liberation Cathedral, made headlines last year when she married Bishop Diana Williams. Abrams was serving as the first female pastor at Zion Progress Baptist Church in Detroit when she married Williams, who is a bishop emeritus with Washington’s Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation. Rumors of their wedding quickly spread through the congregation and Abrams resigned from the church.

The couple moved to D.C. and Abrams founded her new LGBT-affirming church, which currently holds services in the sanctuary of the Church of the Ascension in Silver Spring. (Empowerment Liberation Cathedral was named Best House of Worship and is profiled separately.)

Abrams graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. She received her master’s of divinity and her doctorate in ministry from United Theological Seminary. She is the author of three books and two of her sermons have been published in “The African American Pulpit.” She is also recognized for her magnificent singing voice and sang with the Young Adult Fellowship Ensemble at D.C.’s Metropolitan Baptist Church. She has also taught at Ashland Theological Seminary and Wayne County Community College and served as a doctoral mentor at Ecumenical Theological Seminary.

On a lighter note, Abrams also officiated at the 2014 wedding of singer Monifah Carter and her girlfriend Terez Thorpe on the final episode of the reality TV show “R&B Divas of Atlanta.”

Known for her fiery, stirring messages and electrifying prayers, she has been asked to preach at pulpits across the country. Abrams says her passion and gift is “preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping God’s people.” She looks forward to continuing her social justice work and ministry at Empowerment Liberation Cathedral. (BTC)

Bishop Allyson Abrams

Empowerment Liberation Cathedral

633 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring

240-720-7605

empowermentliberationcathedral.org

 

 

Best Hill Staffer

Yesenia Chavez

Runner-up: Kevin Knight

Yesenia Chavez is already a voice to be reckoned with on Capitol Hill. Since arriving in Washington in August 2013, this rising star has been an out and proud spokesperson for women, people of color and the LGBT community.

She’s currently a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona’s Third District. Her legislative portfolio includes LGBT issues, human rights, women’s rights, small business, gun violence, veterans’ affairs and voting rights. In addition, she serves as the staff contact for the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Chavez began working on the Hill when she was selected as one of four Victory Congressional Interns by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute in 2013.

Chavez is also an At-Large Director for the LGBT Congressional Staff Association, which is an official, non-partisan congressional staff organization that promotes career development opportunities for LGBT congressional staffers. Chavez’s focus is on building member outreach toward women and staffers of color and she has initiated queer people of color and women’s lunches to build community and to strengthen the group’s diversity.

In 2014, Chavez was named one of the “20 Queer People of Color You Should Know” by Houston’s Outsmart Magazine. A graduate of the University of Houston, she received the University’s Community Involvement Scholarship from the LGBT Resource Center and the Difference Maker Award from the University Commission on Women. She’s also a Hometown Mentor for the College Success Foundation. (BTC)

Yesenia Chavez

1511 Longworth House Office Building

202-225-2435

grijalva.house.gov

 

 

Best Trans Advocate

Thomas Coughlin

Runner-up: Ruby Corado

This is the second year that Thomas Coughlin has been named Best Trans Advocate in the Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. Readers’ Poll Awards. He’s a staff psychotherapist and transgender health advocate at Whitman-Walker Health and is also in private practice with an office near Dupont Circle.

A long-time D.C. resident, Coughlin joined the Army in 1986 and was stationed at the Pentagon. After his service, he decided to stay in the area and earned a master’s degree in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University He came out as gay in 1985 and began to come out as trans in 1999. He currently lives in Silver Spring with his wife and stepchildren (and their dog Maize).

In a 2014 Queery profile in the Blade, Coughlin said his LGBT heroes were “those in the community facing harassment, discrimination and oppression every single day, but still finding the courage to live their truth. Seriously, that’s the heroic stuff.” That passion clearly underlines his approach to counseling. As he says on his website, “sometimes creating or maintaining a happy, satisfying life requires help. I support you in your journey toward your true self.”

Coughlin has also been a leader in providing transgender cultural competency training to businesses, educational institutions and private agencies that wish to learn more about transgender lives. He works with organizations to help them understand and support transgender employees and assists professionals who wish to better serve their clients in providing compassionate and competent care to members of the transgender community. (BTC)

Thomas Coughlin, LPC, NCC

1633 Q St., N.W., Suite 210

thomascoughlinlpc.com

 

 

Best Chef

José Andrés

Runner-up: Mike Isabella, Mike Isabella Concepts

You can’t throw a plate of tapas in D.C. without hitting a José Andrés restaurant these days, so it’s no wonder that the ebullient Spanish-born chef would get the nod in this category.

With nearly a dozen restaurants in the region, it’s easy to get your hands on Andrés’ food, whether it’s a bocata — the Spanish version of a deli sandwich — from his roving food truck Pepe, Lebanese-inspired crispy Brussels sprouts at Zaytinya, or deviled eggs spiked with jalapeño at American Eats Tavern that speak to the chef’s exploration of his adopted country’s classic dishes. Andrés’ foray into fast-casual this year with the opening of the veggie-centric Beefsteak in Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle solidified his role as a chef who wants to connect with every single diner in this city on some level, whether through tomatoes, turkey or tequila.

Still, even while building a veritable dining empire, Andrés has also committed considerable time and resources to supporting healthy eating efforts at D.C. Central Kitchen, teaching students at George Washington University about how the food supply chain affects global security and engaging local kids in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to fight childhood obesity. Always accessible, José Andrés is the kind of celebrity chef who knows how to keep it real, and that keeps us at his tables. (KH)

 

 

Best Straight Ally

Meghan Davies

Runner-up: Maya Rupert

Meghan Davies, Whitman-Walker Health’s chief of operations and program integration, has supported D.C.’s LGBT community through her work with Whitman-Walker.

Her job has her overseeing many aspects of Whitman-Walker Health including community health, clinical infrastructure, therapy-based services and more.

Previously, Davies was Whitman-Walker Health’s Director of Community Health. She assisted with the Breast Health Initiative, HIV counseling, Whitman-Walker’s +1 HIV Peer Support Program and PALS, a program advocating for LGBT seniors.

Her other background efforts include being an HIV prevention volunteer in the Peace Corps. She also holds a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University. (MC)

 

 

Best Local TV Personality

Wendy Rieger

Runner-up: Chuck Bell

NBC4’s Wendy Rieger stumbled upon broadcast journalism when she was a college drop-out looking to make money as an actress. She found a job reading the news on camera in Norfolk, Va., and fell in love with the business.

The job inspired Rieger to return to school and she earned her degree in broadcast journalism from American University.

Rieger, a frequent emcee for SMYAL’s fall brunches, was struck by the injustice young LGBT people faced when she was doing a story on SMYAL and at the time was not allowed to say the location for fear of it being attacked.

“What kind of insanity is that? In a civilized country,” Rieger says. “It turns my stomach to think that people still harbor that much hatred for something that is unlike them.”

Rieger says that growing up in the South and seeing the racism African Americans faced raised her awareness about how poorly people can be treated for being different. When she moved to D.C., she had gay friends and noticed similar injustices that made her want to speak out. She hopes her public persona can help LGBT issues progress in a positive direction.

“If my name in any way takes away some of the fear or anxiety someone may feel because this is an unknown to them and I can help show them that these people are people living their lives and it’s normal, it’s going to be for the greater good in the end,” Rieger says. (MC)

 

 

Local Hero

David Franco

David Franco, principal and co-founder of real estate development Level 2 Development, has a passion for housing displacement that stems from a personal place.

Franco’s family owned Jay Dee’s Children’s Apparel, a discount department store in D.C., from 1937-1983 and were forced to shut down.

Franco, who spent his childhood growing up in the store, vividly remembers how he felt.

“I remember standing there across the street the day that the wrecking ball demolished the store,” Franco says. “It was really an impactful moment, just feeling displaced, feeling like my family had been displaced.”

That moment led Franco to spearhead housing preservation efforts. In 2005, Franco joined forces with Jubilee Housing to help preserve Cresthill Apartments for the Sankoka Tenants Association, a 48-unit building. The partnership led to creating home ownership opportunities for low- to medium-income residents specifically for the 14th Street corridor.

Franco, who also owns men’s clothing store Universal Gear on 14th Street, has also served on Mayor Fenty’s D.C. Housing and Community Development’s Housing Protection Trust Fund Board. (MC)

 

NIGHTLIFE

 

Best Cocktail

Lemon Squeeze

Duplex Diner

2004 18th St., N.W.

202-265-7828

duplexdiner.com

Runner-up: Sunday Sangria (1905 Bistro & Bar)

 

 

Best Drag Show

Ladies of Town

Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.

Town Danceboutique

2009 8th St., N.W.

towndc.com

Runner-up: D.C. Kings

 

 

Best Gay-Friendly Straight Bar

Dacha Beer Garden

1600 7th St., N.W.

202-524-8790

dachadc.com

Runner-up: Black Cat

 

 

Best Happy Hour &

Hottest Bar Staff

Number Nine

1435 P St., N.W.

numberninedc.com

Runner-up: Bear Happy Hour

 

 

Best Live Music

9:30 Club

815 V St., N.W.

930.com

Runner-up: Howard Theatre

 

 

Best Neighborhood Bar

Phase 1

525 8th St., S.E.

phase1dc.com

Runner-up: JR.’s

 

 

Best Outside-the-District Bar

Freddie’s Beach Bar

555 S. 23rd St.

Arlington, Va.

freddiesbeachbar.com

Runner-up: Blue Iguana

 

 

Best Outdoor Drinking

Town Patio

Town Danceboutique

2009 8th St., N.W.

towndc.com

Runner-up: Dacha Beer Garden

 

 

Best Guys Night Out

Secrets

1824 Half St., S.W.

secretsdc.com

Runner-up: Town

 

 

Best Girls Night Out

BARE by LURe

Every third Saturday of the month at Cobalt

1639 R St., N.W.

cobaltdc.com

Runner-up: Phase 1

 

 

Best Place to Find Someone Besides Grindr

Crew Club

1321 14th St., N.W.

crewclub.net

Runner-up: Town

 

 

Best Rehoboth Bar

Blue Moon

35 Baltimore Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

bluemoonrehoboth.com

Runner-up: Aqua

 

 

Best Rooftop

Nellie’s Sports Bar

900 U St., N.W.

nelliessportsbar.com

Runner-up: Penthouse Pool & Lounge

 

 

Best DJ

Matt Bailer

Runner-up: Rosie Hicks

For DJ Matt Bailer, the secret to his ongoing success boils down to the music.

“I don’t know how to throw a party per se. But I know how to play music that I love and think other people will love too.”

His two monthly dance parties, Peach Pit and Mixtape (with co-host DJ Shea Van Horn), have been staples of gay nightlife for six and seven years respectively. While Mixtape melds new and older music and rotates venues (Black Cat, 9:30, Howard Theatre and Town), Peach Pit is strictly ‘90s music and stays put at DC9.

Bailer also spins at Nellie’s on Fridays, and occasionally La Boum, a boozy brunch at L’Enfant Café in Adams Morgan. Unlike DJs who use laptops, Bainer relies on CDs, so technically, yes, he spins. “I describe myself as middle school,” Bailer says. “I’m somewhere between laptop and vinyl. My favorite music includes ‘90s, house, old hip hop, pop and remixes.”

Growing up in Camp Springs, Md., Bailer was hooked on radio. At 10, he was already listening to (and recording) Casey Kasem’s American Top 40. “I loved finding new music and introducing it to my family and friends. I still do.”

After studying theater at Duke University in North Carolina in the ‘90s, Bailer spent two-and-a-half years in Los Angeles DJing some, but mostly doing drugs. He returned to D.C. and got sober in 2003. Soon after he began picking up DJ gigs at Omega, a Guess Store and recovery sober dances. Eventually he connected with Cobalt and work became steadier. In 2009, he gave up his day job at an office and hasn’t looked back since.

“Today I feel like I’m doing what I’m on the planet to do. That may change one day, but not today.” (PF)

 

 

Best Burlesque Dancer

Private Tails

Runner-up: GiGi Holliday

Miss Private Tails is an international entertainer and professional ecdysiast who says her mission is to inspire and electrify. Born just outside of Hollywood, Calif., she has been performing burlesque since 2005 and has been based in D.C. for the past eight years. She is Miss Gay United States Capital City Femme Fatale (2013) and the eternal Miss Nubian DMV (2009) and was the First Miss Phase 1 (2010). She is also the regional promoter for Burlypicks, the only international talent competition focused on burlesque and variety.

Her scintillating act draws on a wide variety of influences including classical burlesque, hip-hop, boi-lesque and Broadway. She currently has more than 100 polished routines in her performance repertoire, but she also enjoys the creative process of developing new numbers and looks forward to the opportunity to whip up a fresh new performance for an enthusiastic audience. She’s been dancing and entertaining since childhood and received a bachelor’s degree in theater from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., with a focus on both acting and directing.

Miss Private Tails proudly notes that she knows how to charm the large bills out of the pockets of her audience, but also notes that since burlesque is the “art of the tease,” she doesn’t necessarily have to show a lot of skin to have an entertaining performance. In fact, she cleans it up every year as the emcee of D.C. Youth Pride every April.

You can see her at Unfastened: DC at Phase 1 on Nov. 6. (BTC)

Miss Private Tails

privatetails.com

 

 

Best Singer or Band

Frankie & Betty

Runner-up: Tom Goss

This is the second win for the “insanely fun queertastic group” Frankie & Betty. The bank kicked it off four years ago when Rachel Bauchman (singer, bass, guitar) and Jessie Strick (lead guitar) met at an open mic at Phase 2. With their love of pop culture references and obnoxious jokes, the duo immediately hit it off and started performing together. Six months ago they added drummer Judy Bad to the mix.

Frankie & Betty have become active members of the D.C. music community as well as hosts for local burlesque shows. Their style is fast, fun and light. Strick says, “It’s morphed into a really fun live show now. We love to banter and interact with the audience. We love joking around with each other and to play some fun songs in between.”

They say their musical influences are Florence and the Machine, Le Tigre, Tegan and Sara, Feist and Santigold, but (with tongues firmly planted in cheek), they also admit that MGD, JB, PBR and OPP are major influences. Strick says a recent highlight was playing the 9:30 Club for Phasefest. “That was by far the most exciting gig for the band to date,” she says. “We have all dreamed of playing that stage since we were little girls, so it was honestly a dream come true and a memory we will never forget.”

The band has been taking a break lately to celebrate Rachel’s wedding, but they will update their Facebook page when they start booking new gigs. And they offer this impish guarantee: “We make sure that every audience member leaves a performance with a smile on their face from having been a part of both a musical and comedic experience.” (BTC)

Frankie & Betty

[email protected]

facebook.com/frankiebetty

 

 

Best Drag King

Avery Austin

Runner-up: Sebastian Katz

Avery Austin, the drag king persona of New Orleans native Anna Wimpelberg, was born in 2004 when Wimpelberg hit the drag king scene in Boston.

Since then, Wimpelberg joined Kings ‘N Things, an Austin, Texas drag king troupe, before moving to the District. Wimpelberg joined the now-defunct D.C. kings troupe in 2011.

She enjoys using plot lines and musicals to form her performances. She also likes to take inspiration from the television show “Glee” to create her character’s show.

When she isn’t performing, Wimpelberg is a HIV research specialist for Whitman-Walker Health. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she has degrees in psychology and education. (MC)

 

Best Drag Queen

Destiny B. Childs

Runner-up: Summer Camp

You may have seen Destiny B. Childs (Richard Legg) performing at a number of local venues, but her act is anything but small. With stints at the Academy of Washington Inc., Ziegfeld’s/Secrets and Freddie’s Beach Bar, she has become a staple in the local drag community.

A Pensacola, Fla., native, Legg was stationed at Walter Reed when in the U.S. Army in 1996. He decided to stay in the area and later decided to try performing in drag in 2003. His drag mother Ophelia Bottoms (Charles McWilliams) praised his performance and with her encouragement, he continued performing.

Since then, Childs has continued performing all over the District. She regularly emcees on the main stage at Capital Pride and was Empress II in the Imperial Court of Washington two years ago. (MC)

 

Best Alt Party

Mixtape

Runner-up: Peach Pit

DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer host Mixtape, an alternative dance party, on the second Saturday of each month. Locations vary. The fourth annual Mixtape Halloween party is on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Howard Theatre. It’s at the 9:30 Club on Saturday, Nov. 14 and at the Black Cat on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Mixtapedc.com

 

DINING

 

Best Burger

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Various D.C. locations

fiveguys.com

Runner-up: Shake Shack

 

 

Best Coffee Shop

Tryst

2459 18th St., N.W.

trystdc.com

Runner-up: The Coffee Bar

 

 

Best Date Restaurant

Busboys & Poets

2021 14th St., N.W.

1025 5th St., N.W.

625 Monroe St., N.E.

busboysandpoets.com

Runner-up: Floriana

 

 

Best Dessert

Grassroots Gourmet

104 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.

grassrootsgourmet.org

Runner-up: Three Fifty Bakery

 

 

Best French Restaurant

Le Diplomate

1601 14th St., N.W.

lediplomatedc.com

Runner-up: Bistrot Du Coin

 

 

Best Doughnut

Krispy Kreme

1350 Connecticut Ave., N.W.

krispykreme.com

Runner-up: Astro Donut

 

 

Best Ethiopian Restaurant

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant

1114-1118 U St., N.W.

dukemrestaurant.com

Runner-up: Ethiopie

 

 

Best Farmer’s Market

Eastern Market

225 7th St., S.E.

easternmarket-dc.org

Runner-up: Dupont Circle

 

 

Best Italian Restaurant

Floriana Restaurant

1602 17th St., N.W.

florianarestaurant.com

Runner-up: Red Hen

 

 

Best Pizza

&pizza

1215 Connecticut Ave., N.W.

1250 U St., N.W.

1400 K St., N.W.

andpizza.com

Runner-up: Pizza Paradiso

 

 

Best Pricey Restaurant That’s Totally Worth It

Palm Restaurant

1225 19th St., N.W.

thepalm.com/washington-DC

Runner-up: Thai Crossing

 

 

Best Rehoboth Restaurant

Dos Locos

208 Rehoboth Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

doslocos.com

Runner-up: Blue Moon

 

Best Seafood Restaurant

Hank’s Oyster Bar

1624 Q St., N.W.

1026 King St., Alexandria, Va.

633 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.

hanksoysterbar.com

Runner-up: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

 

 

Best Steak Restaurant

Annie’s Paramount Steak and Seafood House

1609 17th St., N.W.

Runner-up: Ruth’s Chris Steak House

 

 

Best Sushi

Sticky Rice

1224 H St., N.E.

stickyricedc.com

Runner-up: Sushi Taro

 

 

Best Wine Bar

Barcelona

1622 14th St., N.W.

barcelonawinebar.com

Runner-up: Vinoteca

 

 

Best Restaurant You’d Wait in Line For

Rose’s Luxury

Runner-up: Barcelona

Just two years ago, Rose’s Luxury was barely a twinkle in the eyes of D.C. diners, who were hard-pressed to understand why anyone would stand in line for up to four hours to get a table at this Capitol Hill gem.

With a 20-year lease, Rose’s Luxury aims to stand the test of time and chef-owner Aaron Silverman thinks that standing in line — that is, not taking reservations — is the best way to make the restaurant truly open for all, since no one can book up the tables months in advance. This begs a question: Is it worth it? The simple answer: yes.

There’s a reason why Rose’s Luxury has been racking up accolades from Bon Appetit — which named it America’s Best New Restaurant in 2014 — along with just about every news outlet in D.C.: the food is innovative, intelligent and undeniably special. On Rose’s current menu, you might find yourself with a salad of crispy pig’s ear with a fresh salsa of mango and cabbage or hand-cut chitarra, a porous pasta that holds sauce particularly well — in this case, a soffritto of caramelized cauliflower and white wine. So, go ahead and get in line. It’ll be worth the wait — and you can get a treat from nearby District Doughnut to munch until your table’s ready. (KH)

Rose’s Luxury

717 8th St., S.E.

202-580-8889

rosesluxury.com

 

 

Best Virginia Winery

Linden Vineyards

Runner-up: Breaux Vineyards

Just an hour outside the Beltway lies an oasis of peace and tranquility, along with some pretty impressive wine. This is Linden Vineyards, where, thankfully, you won’t find buses full of tipsy tour-goers or hobby winemakers.

What you will find is Jim Law, a true working winemaker and former Peace Corps volunteer with deep roots in vineyard agriculture who is constantly tinkering with his vines in an effort to produce character-driven sauvignon blanc, riesling and chardonnay, just to name a few of the award-winning wines in its cellars. A visit to Linden is not to be undertaken lightly, and certainly not with a boisterous group of friends, as the vineyard will not accommodate groups larger than six and limits its deck and grounds on Saturdays and Sundays only to members of their Case Club (anyone who purchases a case of wine becomes a member automatically).

Whether or not you are part of the club, it’s worth it to arrive in time for the 11:30 a.m. weekend tours of the cellar and vineyard, offering serious insight into the craft of winemaking, which just might make you the star of the conversation at the next dinner party — when you arrive with, of course, a bottle or two from Linden’s cellars. (KH)

3708 Harrels Corner Rd., Linden, Va.

540-364-1997

lindenvineyards.com

 

 

Best Asian Restaurant

Beau Thai

Runner-up: Thaitanic

The original location of Beau Thai opened in Shaw in 2010 under the direction of husbands Ralph Brabham and Drew Porterfield and chef Aschara Viggsittaboot with a goal to bring authentic Thai cuisine that didn’t rely on curry from a can.

Now expanded to new sites in Shaw and Mount Pleasant (with a noodle shop at the original spot on New Jersey Ave. NW), Beau Thai continues to impress diners with fresh ingredients and thoughtful preparation. Because the curry paste is actually made from scratch at Beau Thai, it’s worth ordering up at least one curry for the table — an interesting combination is the marinated duck with grapes, pineapple and tomato — and be sure to try the Pad Thai, a classic that can sometimes be made overly sweet, ostensibly to suit the American palate, but has a tangy undertone of tamarind here. The brunch menu at the Mount Pleasant location offers some fun fusion twists on the classics, from the Egg Drop “Grits” made with Thai rice soup to the Hangover Special, a tempting concoction of fried eggs with sweet Thai sausage and taro home fries. Top it all off with a Homemade Ginger Beer, which blends a ginger-lime purée with Singha, and that hangover will be just a memory. (KH)

Beau Thai

3162 Mount Pleasant St., N.W. (Mount Pleasant)

1550 7th St., N.W., Unit A (Shaw)

202-450-5317 or 202-450-5346

beauthaidc.com

 

 

Best Boozy Brunch

La Boum

Runner-up: Level One

As they like to say at La Boum, this is not your grandmother’s brunch. No, indeed. What you’ll find at La Boum, once it transforms from its slightly more staid persona as L’Enfant Cafe & Bar (think Clark Kent coming out of that phone booth dressed as Superman), is a raucous, Champagne-filled daytime house party, where the food’s OK but the alcohol is plentiful.

And, frankly, that’s not necessarily a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Named one of the top 100 brunches in the country, La Boum offers two seatings on Saturdays, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and reservations can sometimes be booked up several weeks in advance; once you pre-pay online at $29.50 per person (which includes three courses and cover charge, but not beverages), you can just sit back and get the party started once your reservation begins. Champagne bottles arrive wrapped in flaming sparklers, eggs Norvégienne will soak up the alcohol, the DJ keeps Katy Perry and Madonna spinning, and dancing on the tables — well, why not? (KH)

La Boum

2000 18th St., N.W.

202-319-1800

laboumbrunch.com

 

 

Best Local Brewery

DC Brau

Runner-up: Capitol City

It’s hard to remember a time when there weren’t breweries and distilleries dotting the city, but, just a scant few years ago, D.C. was actually a hand-crafted alcohol desert. That all changed in 2009 when beer buddies Jeff Hancock and Brandon Skall decided to open the city’s first brewery in more than 50 years, locating their operations in a largely industrial neighborhood in Northeast D.C. just before the Maryland line.

First they turned out some really tasty brews that have now become mainstays in bars and grocery stores across the area, then the social media-savvy duo managed to do something pretty astonishing: They actually turned their off-the-beaten-path brewery into an unlikely weekend destination, luring food trucks, deejays and artists to create a hipster’s paradise of tastings and tours. Stop by on Friday evenings for half-priced pint night and don’t forget to wear closed-toe shoes for the free brewery tours on Saturday afternoons. (KH)

DC Brau

3178-B Bladensburg Rd., NE

202-621-8890

dcbrau.com

 

 

Best Caterer

Old Blue BBQ

Runner-up: Patrick Vanas Events

If you’re on the lookout for hosting an event with some good old Southern hospitality, Old Blue BBQ is ready to pile on the comfort food. An array of meats, including baby back ribs, brisket, salmon and tri-tip are smoked over locally sourced oak and maple — but the grilling doesn’t stop there. Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, smoked tomato jam crostini, smoked artichoke dip (oh yes), and even grilled fruit drizzled with white chocolate are other ways that Old Blue kicks it up a notch, taking the menu from down-home barbecue to rustic chic, whether you’re looking to host a company picnic or a family wedding. (KH)

Old Blue BBQ

4580 Eisenhower Ave.

Alexandria, Va.

703-552-4544

oldbluebbq.com

 

 

Best Cheap Eats

Amsterdam Falafelshop

Runner-up: Chipotle

Not only does Amsterdam Falafelshop keep hours that are designed to cater to bleary hungover mornings as well as late nights stumbling home from the bar, this quick-service local chain left no doubt as to who they think their clientele are when they created a pot-pairing menu and $4.20 sandwiches all in celebration of April 20.

What’s not to love about a sandwich called the OG Kush, a combination of beets, turnips and tahini designed to complement the “woodsy undertones” of the OG Kush strain, a pairing said to promote a heightened sensory awareness? Whether your vice is weed or baba ganoush, Amsterdam Falafelshop has got you covered with fast falafel balls served either in pita or bowls, 22 toppings, and uber-crispy fries with a lip-smacking curried ketchup, all for less than the cost of that last cocktail you probably shouldn’t have ordered. (KH)

Amsterdam Falafelshop

2425 18th St. NW (Adams Morgan)

202-234-1969

1830 14th St. NW (Logan Circle/U Street)

202-232-6200

429 L’Enfant Plaza SW (L’Enfant Plaza)

Suite 420 Promenade

202-554-1111

falafelshop.com

 

 

Best Indian

Rasika

Runner-up: Ghar E Kabob

There’s a good reason why Rasika chef Vikram Sunderam won a James Beard Award last year — the flavors and textures coming from his kitchens at both the Penn Quarter and West End locations are layered yet distinct, playful yet refined, and clearly designed to make us rethink our preconceived notions about Indian food.

You’ll find no bland lentil mush here or doughy samosas; instead, look for bright splashes of saffron and fresh curry leaves, crisp shards of coconut and punches of vinegar, all hallmarks of what is probably the best Indian cuisine to be found anywhere in the United States — and we’ve got it right here in D.C. Even better, Rasika is a reasonably priced fine dining restaurant that is not stingy on its hours, being open for lunch, dinner and pretty much every holiday. It offers Sunday brunch at the West End restaurant with such delights as Coconut Jaggery Pancakes and Eggs Kejiriwal; and a chef’s tasting menu that proves Indian food can be perfectly paired with fine wines instead of just Taj Mahal. (KH)

Rasika

633 D St. NW (Penn Quarter)

202-637-1222

1190 New Hampshire Ave. NW (West End)

202-466-2500

rasikarestaurant.com

 

 

Best Food Truck

Red Hook Lobster Pound

Runner-up: Rito Loco

There’s something about the friendly red gingham-clad exterior of the Red Hook Lobster Pound truck as it perches along the curb that just makes you want to don a bib and sink your teeth into a crustacean.

If you’re a New Englander longing for some lobstah — or just a wannabe — then this truck is the place to get your fix, whether it’s the Connecticut-style lobster roll, a simple concoction of buttered roll filled with chunks of lobster meat spritzed with fresh lemon juice, the classic Maine lobster roll dressed in housemade mayo, or the utterly decadent lobster mac ’n cheese — and don’t forget to add Cape Cod potato chips and Maine Root Soda. It’s kind of like having a day at the shore, even if it’s only 30 minutes on a bench at Farragut Square. (KH)

Red Hook Lobster Pound

Find out where the truck is on Twitter: @LobstertruckDC

202-341-6263

redhooklobsterdc.com

 

 

Best Sandwich

Taylor Gourmet

Runner-up: Sundervich

When two guys from Philly decided to open up a hoagie shop on the barely burgeoning H Street corridor back in 2008, the idea was to make really good, fresh sandwiches with homemade flair. Since then, Taylor Gourmet has expanded to 10 locations in the region, proving that apparently we were all hungry for a hoagie.

With an eye on quality, all the beef, pork, and turkey is roasted in-house, the bread is baked locally, and the Italian-style cured meats are sourced from Virginia, giving a decidedly local spin on Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks and Italian hoagies stuffed with everything from sausage, onion and peppers to hand-rolled meatballs topped with fresh marinara. While you’re there, don’t forget to order up a side of the crispy polenta fries — you won’t regret it. (KH)

Taylor Gourmet

Ten locations across D.C., Maryland and Virginia

taylorgourmet.com

 

COMMUNITY

 

Best Local Blog

Popville

popville.com

Runner-up: BYT

 

 

Best Local Podcast

L.A.C.E. Media Podcast

Download at iTunes

Runner-up: Jellyvision

 

 

Most Useful App

Uber

Runner-up: Waze

 

 

Best Radio Station

Hot 99.5

Runner-up: WAMU 88.5

 

 

Best Real Estate Group

David Bediz

Bediz Group

1918 18th St., N.W. Courtyard No. 2

bediz.com

Runner-up: The Evan and Mark Team

 

 

Best Art Gallery

The Phillips Collection

1600 21st St., N.W.

phillipscollection.org

Runner-up: Corcoran Gallery of Art

Best Car Dealership

Don Beyer Volvo of Winchester

4015 Valley Pike

Winchester, Va.

winchesterdonbeyervolvo.com

Runner-up: MWS of Alexandria

 

Best Apartment/Condo Building

The Shay

1924 8th St., N.W.

theshay.com

Runner-up: Atlantic Plumbing

 

 

Best Workout Spot

VIDA Fitness

1517 15th St., N.W.

1612 U St., N.W.

999 9th St., N.W.

vidafitness.com

Runner-up: Elevate Fitness

 

 

Best Gayborhood

Logan Circle

Runner-up: 17th Street

 

 

Best Hardware Store

Logan Hardware

1734 14th St., N.W.

acehardwaredc.com

Runner-up: Annie’s Ace Hardware

 

 

Best Home Furnishings &

Best Second-Hand Stuff

Miss Pixie’s Furnishings and Whatnot

1626 14th St., N.W.

misspixies.com

Runner-up: Hudson & Crane

 

 

Best Hotel

The W

515 15th St., N.W.

wwashingtondc.com

Runner-up: Hotel Palomar

 

 

Best LGBT Social Group

Stonewall Sports

stonewallsports.org

Runner-up: Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington

 

 

Best LGBT Support Group &

Best Non-Profit

SMYAL

Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders

410 7th St., S.E.

smyal.org

Runner-up: HIPS

 

 

Best LGBT Sports Team

Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club

scandalsrfc.org

Runner-up: Flippin’ Not Trippin’

 

 

Best Pet Business

Doggy Style Bakery, Boutique & Pet Spa

1825 18th St., N.W.

doggiestylebakery.com

Runner-up: City Dogs Rescue

 

 

Best Place to Take Kids

Smithsonian’s National Zoo

3001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.

nationalzoo.si.edu

Runner-up: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

 

 

Best Salon/Spa

Logan 14

1314 14th St., N.W.

logan14salonspa.com

Runner-up: Bang Salon

 

 

Best Reason to Go to Baltimore

National Aquarium

501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore

aqua.org

Runner-up: The Hippo

 

 

Best Theater

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

2700 F St., N.W.

kennedy-center.org

Runner-up: Studio Theatre

 

 

Best Theater Production

“Dear Evan Hansen”

Arena Stage

1101 6th St., N.W.

arenastage.org

Runner-up: “Book of Mormon” (Kennedy Center)

 

 

Best Vet

CityPaws Animal Hospital

1823 14th St., N.W.

citypawsanimalhospital.com

Runner-up: D.C. Metrovet

 

 

Best Rehoboth Business

Bad Hair Day

20 Lake Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

badhairday.biz

Runner-up: Blue Moon

 

 

Best Local Twitter Feed

@DCHomos

Runner-up: @popville

If you want to know what’s going on in LGBT D.C., you need to follow @DCHomos on Twitter. Described as “News, noise, food, men, sports, art, charity, fashion, TV, happy thoughts, all things gay and D.C. Sentinel, silent and sure,” it’s a delightful mélange of everything serious and sublime about the nation’s capital in 140 characters or less.

The mastermind behind @DCHomos is Josie Romero. When he moved to D.C. from Miami Beach six years ago, he didn’t know anyone in town. But with his experience in the tech industry, he knew that Twitter was just starting to catch on and that D.C. was one of the first cities to embrace tweeting.

So he decided to use the new technology to help build a circle of friends. That was before Twitter had a search function, so he looked for screen names that included “D.C.” He slowly compiled a list of kindred souls and started posting lists of local happy hours. About 18 months ago, Romero turned the feed in a different direction. He added a focus on news and social issues, especially marriage equality.

Basically, he describes the feed as “things I share on Twitter instead of Facebook.” He does note that the feed attracts a lot of negative feedback, which he tends to ignore.

“I’ve adopted a ‘Don’t Feed the Trolls’ policy. I try to keep things positive.”

As of press time, @DCHomos has made more than 110,000 tweets, is following 27,300 users and has over 75,300 followers. Romero has also started live tweeting events (he had a lot of fun at the recent Reel Affirmations “Paris Is Burning” mini-ball), so be sure to keep him in the loop. (BTC)

@dchomos

dchomos.com

 

 

Best LGBT-Owned Business

The Organizing Agency

Runner-up: Town

When out businessman Scott Roewer talks about organizing and closets, he’s not necessarily talking about politics. He’s probably talking about organizing your closets to harmonize your life. As Roewer likes to point out, “anyone can organize your space, but it takes a professional to organize you.”

After working as a music educator and an event planner, Roewer decided to apply his fervent entrepreneurial spirit and creative expertise to helping clients organize their lives. He founded the Organizing Agency in 2004 to help clients create productivity systems for their homes and offices. The Agency also provides stress-free moving planning and offers workshops on shaping spaces and managing time.

A native of Bellevue, Neb., Roewer earned his Certified Professional Organizer® designation in 2007 and is an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). He is also the co-author of “Get Organized Today,” a book about strategic organizing, and has been a contributor to Time magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, MSNBC, Today, HGTV and Martha Stewart Living.

Inspired by the excess encountered in their work, the Organizing Agency team makes giving back to the community a priority. Roewer and his staff are active supporters of the Unstoppable Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Dress for Success and Soles4Souls. He is also a member of the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Roewer has been widely recognized for his professional and philanthropic work. In 2008 NAPO-Washington, D.C. awarded him with its inaugural Professional Organizer of the Year Award and in 2012 NAPO recognized him with its highest honor, the Founders’ Award. In 2011, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds named him Joint Base Andrews’ “Hometown Hero,” an honor that included a flight with the Thunderbirds in their F-16 Fighter Jet. (BTC)

The Organizing Agency

811 4th St., N.W., Suite1013

202-249-8330

theorganizingagency.com

 

 

Most LGBT-Friendly Workplace

The Raben Group

Runner-up: Whitman-Walker Health

The Raben Group is deeply committed to inclusion and diversity in working with clients and in managing its workplace. Founded in 2001 by former Assistant Attorney General Robert Raben, the Raben Group has grown to more than 50 employees with offices in Washington, Los Angeles and New York City.

Its mission is to identify opportunities and solve problems for clients in the corporate, nonprofit, foundation and government sectors. The Raben Group is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, diverse group of colleagues united not just by a profession, but by a common commitment to equality and justice. It brings together a diverse collection of professionals with deep roots in law and progressive public policy and works to solve complex public policy problems across a spectrum of issues.

The agency’s practice areas include strategic communications, diversity and community, and public policy advocacy, with a special emphasis on LGBT strategies. The Raben Group specializes in building bipartisan coalitions of allies (sometimes unlikely ones) to help achieve a client’s goals.

The firm is also dedicated to community service. According to its website, “We are united not only by our interest in public policy, but by our shared values. Many of us volunteer for philanthropic organizations. Others serve on the boards of national and local non-profits. As a firm, we help organize charity events and endeavor to donate a certain amount of our time to pro bono projects.” For example, Raben is also the founder of the March on Washington Film Festival.

And, they add, “We always keep our sense of humor.” That’s what keeps a workplace fresh. (BTC)

The Raben Group

1341 G St., N.W., 5th Floor

202-466-8585

rabengroup.com

 

 

Best House of Worship

Empowerment Liberation Cathedral

Runner-up: Foundry United Methodist Church

The Empowerment Liberation Cathedral has grown rapidly since it was founded by the dynamic Bishop Allyson Abrams last year. (Bishop Abrams was selected as the Best Clergy and is profiled separately.)

While it is growing, the Empowerment Liberation Cathedral has found a home at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Silver Spring. The Rector at Ascension is the openly lesbian Rev. Joan E. Beilstein, who befriended Abrams when she resigned from her position as pastor of a Detroit church after she came out in 2013.

The Empowerment Liberation Cathedral is an inclusive, welcoming congregation open to people of all backgrounds, straight or gay. As the mission statement makes clear, “Everyone is invited to experience our worship — no matter your gender, race, age, sexual orientation, identification, handicap or former faith background.” The church aims to provide a sense of worthiness and acceptance to all people and to transform lives through programs, services, advocacy and community action. It is affiliated with the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptist and the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

In addition to Sunday services, the church offers a wide variety of activities. There are ministries focused on youth, seniors, singles, couples, people affected by HIV/AIDS, praise dance, music and social justice. There is also an active virtual ministry, which offers a conference call Bible study on Wednesday evenings, along with streaming services and a popular YouTube channel. Abrams has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help spur the growth of the fledgling church. (BTC)

Empowerment Liberation Cathedral

633 Sligo Avenue, Silver Spring

240-720-7605

empowermentliberationcathedral.org