a&e features
Best of Gay D.C. XIV
Blade readers choose the best in nightlife, people, dining and community
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Best_of_2015_cover_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Jim_Neal.jpg)
![Best of, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Best_of_2015_cover_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Jim_Neal.jpg)
ON THE COVER: Destiny B. Childs (Best Drag Queen) gets her makeup attended to by Wendy Rieger (Best TV personality) as Drew Fisher and Tim Baird, bartenders at Number Nine (Hottest Bar Staff) keep them fortified with the Lemon Squeeze (Best Cocktail from Duplex Diner), beer from D.C. Brau (Best Brewery), Krispy Kreme donuts (Best Donuts), pizza from &Pizza (Best Pizza) and more at the Town Patio (Best Outdoor Drinking). Decor courtesy Miss Pixieās (Best Second Hand Stuff). (Concept and Washington Blade photo by James Neal)
The High Heel Race, the Walk to End HIV, the Town Halloween costume contest, the HRC National Dinner and yes, the Washington Bladeās Best of Gay D.C. readersā poll edition, local gay October traditions all.
For our 14th installment, we decided to cast the net wide ā you voted in 97 categories (up from 73 last year) with about 5,000 nominations and 20,000 votes.
From bars, venues and restaurants weāve enjoyed for years to places weād never even heard of but canāt wait to try, the fun of this issue is the memories it inspires ā like that table you bought at Miss Pixieās and canāt imagine life without ā 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 yearās winners and finalists.
PEOPLE
Lifetime Achievement
Vice President Joseph Biden
![Joe Biden, Human Rights Campaign, HRC, gay news, Washington Blade, National Dinner](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Joe_Biden_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
U.S. Vice President Joe BidenĀ (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Vice President Joseph Biden, delivering the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaignās 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.
āThe great arc of justice is the journey of this nation, and it continues to move in the right direction,ā Biden said. āWeāre moving closer and closer to the animating spirit of America because of all of you, not me, because of all of you.ā
Although heās 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.
āI strongly support the Equality Act, and it will pass, it will pass,ā Biden said. āIt may not pass this Congress. It will pass because itās simple and itās straightforward.ā Bidenās 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 ācivil rights issue of our time,ā 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.
āIt took the secretary of defense about 10 minutes,ā Biden said. āIn July 2015 no longer is there any question, transgender people are able to serve in the United States military.ā āAll Americans who are able to serve physically should be able to serve,ā 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 LGBT youth homeless shelter, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/05/Ruby_Corado_insert_1_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Ruby CoradoĀ (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Casa Ruby
2822 Georgia Ave., N.W.
casaruby.org
Runner-up: Rayceen Pendarvis
Best Council Member
Jack Evans (Ward 2)
![Jack Evans, Washington Blade, gay news](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/02/Jack_Evans_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Jack Evans (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: David Grosso
Hottest Local Pro Athlete
Bryce Harper
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Bryce_Harper_insert_courtesy_Washington_Nationals.jpg)
Bryce Harper (Photo courtesy of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
Runner-up: Ali Krieger
Best Massage
Eddie Weingart
![Eddie Weingart, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Eddie_Weingart_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Eddie Weingart (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Che Young
Best Personal Trainer
Gerard Burley
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Gerard_Burley_insert_by_Scott_Henrichsen.jpg)
Gerard Burley (Photo by Scott Henrichsen)
āCoach Gā
Runner-up: Anya Maleknasri
Best Doctor
Dr. Raymond Martins
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Ray_Martins_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Dr. Raymond Martins (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Whitman-Walker Health
1701 14th St., N.W.
1525 14th St., N.W.
2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E.
Runner-up: One Medical
Best Real Estate Agent
Valerie Blake
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Valerie_Blake_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Valerie Blake (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Stacey Williams-Zeiger
Best Rehoboth Real Estate Agent
Chris Beagle
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Chris_Beagle_insert_courtesy_Beagle.jpg)
Chris Beagle (Photo courtesy of Beagle)
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Runner-up: Barbara Morales
Best Rehoboth Bartender
Chris Chandler (Purple Parrot)
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Chris_Chandler_insert_courtesy_Chandler.jpg)
Chris Chandler (Photo courtesy of Chandler)
Runner-up: Andrew Ennis (Blue Moon)
Best Amateur Athlete
Jeff Larivee (Stonewall Kickball)
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Jeff_Larivee_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Jeff Larivee (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Matt Pearce (D.C. Gay Flag Football League)
Best Local Columnist
Ezra Klein (Vox)
![Ezra Klein (Photo courtesy of Klein)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Ezra_Klein_insert_courtesy_Klein.jpg)
Ezra Klein (Photo courtesy of Klein)
Runner-up: John Kelly (Washington Post)
Best Bartender
Sarah Slocum
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Sarah_Slocum_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Sarah Slocum (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Jayson Smith (JR.ās)
Luckily for the patrons at Freddieās Beach Bar, a perennial favorite in Crystal City (in, as they say, āYES, honey, VIRGINIA!ā), bartender Sarah Slocum really enjoys her job, saying, āI love that when I arrive at work, I feel like I’m walking into a party with all my friends already there ā I just happen to be the one that getsĀ to make all the drinks!ā
Whether youāre there for karaoke, bingo or a Freddieās Follies drag show, thereās really never a dull moment at Freddieās, 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: āIt definitely lends some liquid courage to help you get up and sing karaoke,ā she says. (KH)
Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant
555 South 23rd St., Arlington
Best Stylist
Enders Barbaran
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Enders_Barbaran_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Enders Barbaran (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Bang Salonās Metropole location
Runner-up: Shar Raigner
After working in accounts payable for several years, Enders Barbaran was ready for a change.
āI didnāt know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew it had to be something different and I knew it had to happen fast.ā So without a lot of thought, he went to work as a shampoo assistant at Bang Salonās Metropole location where his then-roommate was working as a stylist.
āImmediately I liked it,ā says Barbaran. āI instinctively like to bring out the best in my clients whatever the job. The salon is an environment where I can do that.ā
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.
āI thank both Bangās owner and my manager,ā says Barbaran. āThey had a lot of faith in me. I wouldnāt be where I am without them.ā
Barbaran grew up in Lima, Peru, surrounded by a family comprised of women. āI loved playing with my cousinsā hair,ā says the stylist. āAnd even when I was working in accounts payable I played with my female co-workerās hair. Iāve always liked hair. Iād just never thought to make it a profession.ā
Today, Barbaran remains at Bang Salon where he cuts and colors both men and women. āMy clients are like family to me and I want them to be happy. Iām humbled to have won among a field of excellent stylists. I didnāt campaign to win this. Itās truly a gift from my clients.ā (PF)
Bang Salon Metropole
1519 15th St., N.W.
Best Lawyer
Michele Zavos
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Michele_Zavos_insert_courtesy_Zavos_Juncker_Law_Group.jpg)
Michele Zavos (Photo courtesy Zavos Juncker Law Group)
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, sheās witnessed a lot of change.
āMost of it has come slowly, but over the last few years things have happened more quickly,ā 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.
āFifty percent of our clients are LGBT,ā says Zavos who is married to Ellen Cull, her partner of 22 years. āWeāre 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.ā
In 1982, Zavos started the first āMaybe Babyā group for lesbians and gay men considering having children. āMy daughter who is 30 was born with a donor dad,ā says Zavos. āSo this is my passion and interest and Iāve 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 thereās still a lot to do, particularly surrounding the area of trans rights and employment and discrimination, but thatās outside of my practice area.ā
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.
Best Artist
Chris Jay
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Chris_Jay_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Chris Jay (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: David Claypool
āSince I first started hanging out in D.C. three years ago, I wanted to win this,ā says Chris Jay, a professional photographer in the Baltimore/Washington area. āLast year I wasnāt even nominated, and this year I turned up in three categories. Itās the result of a lot of hard work.ā
Jay, whoās been taking photographs for 20 years, is currently focusing on a project titled āKingxtaposition,ā 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 sheās performed. But Jay has plans to expand.
Based in Howard County, Maryland, Jay wants to take her project on the road.
āThe goal is to start traveling the country and meeting kings and photographing them. This project is big, but itās not something Iām 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.ā
At her business, Chris Jay Photos, Jay shoots portraits of performers, small business owners and local artists.
āI keep my prices reasonable so people can afford to promote themselves. I like to help them realize what they see in their heads.ā
Her introduction to photography was at a JC Penny Portrait Studio where she worked after graduating from high school. āDuring 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.ā
Jayās most personal work consists of self-portraits documenting her struggles with depression. āI like to raise awareness of what itās like to live with a mental illness. My everyday life isnāt easy. But once I get going, itās hard to stop me.ā (PF)
Best Businessperson
Howard Brooks
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Howard_Brooks_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Howard Brooks (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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 physicianās 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 aĀ graduate of Howard University College of Medicine. He completed his medical internship at Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore; his residency atĀ 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 anĀ 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) ofĀ 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
Best Clergy
Bishop Allyson Abrams
![Allyson Abrams, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/04/Allyson_Abrams_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Bishop Allyson Abrams (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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 WashingtonāsĀ 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 masterās 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 āThe African American Pulpit.ā She is also recognized for her magnificent singing voice and sang with the Young Adult Fellowship Ensemble at D.C.ās 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 DivasĀ 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 āpreaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping Godās people.ā 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
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Yesenia_Chavez_isnert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Yesenia Chavez (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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.
Sheās currently a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative RaĆŗl M. Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizonaās Third District. Her legislative portfolio includes LGBT issues, human rights, womenās rights, small business, gun violence, veteransā 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. Chavezās focus is on building member outreach toward women and staffers of color and she has initiated queer people of color and womenās lunches to build community and to strengthen the groupās diversity.
In 2014, Chavez was named one of the ā20 Queer People of Color You Should Knowā by Houstonās Outsmart Magazine. A graduate of the University of Houston, she received the Universityās Community Involvement Scholarship from the LGBT Resource Center and the Difference Maker Award from the University Commission on Women. Sheās also a Hometown Mentor for the College Success Foundation. (BTC)
Yesenia Chavez
1511 Longworth House Office Building
202-225-2435
Best Trans Advocate
Thomas Coughlin
![Thomas Coughlin, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Thomas_Coughlin_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Thomas Coughlin (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Ruby Corado
This is the second year that Thomas Coughlin has been named Best Trans Advocate in the Bladeās Best of Gay D.C. Readersā 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 masterās 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 āthose in the community facing harassment, discrimination and oppression every single day, but still finding the courage to live their truth. Seriously, thatās the heroic stuff.ā That passion clearly underlines his approach to counseling. As he says on his website, āsometimes creating or maintaining a happy,Ā satisfying life requires help. I support you in your journeyĀ toward your true self.ā
Coughlin has also been a leader in providing transgender cultural competencyĀ training toĀ businesses, educationalĀ institutions and private agencies that wish to learnĀ more about transgender lives. He works with organizations to help them understand and support transgender employees and assists professionalsĀ who wish to better serve their clients in providingĀ compassionate and competent care to members of the transgender community. (BTC)
Thomas Coughlin, LPC, NCC
1633 Q St., N.W., Suite 210
Best Chef
JosƩ AndrƩs
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Jose_Andres_insert_by_Blair_Getz_Mezibov.jpg)
JosƩ AndrƩs (Photo by Blair Getz Mezibov)
Runner-up: Mike Isabella, Mike Isabella Concepts
You canāt throw a plate of tapas in D.C. without hitting a JosĆ© AndrĆ©s restaurant these days, so itās no wonder that the ebullient Spanish-born chef would get the nod in this category.
With nearly a dozen restaurants in the region, itās easy to get your hands on AndrĆ©sā food, whether itās a bocata ā the Spanish version of a deli sandwich ā from his roving food truck Pepe, Lebanese-inspired crispy Brussels sprouts at Zaytinya, or deviled eggs spiked with jalapeƱo at American Eats Tavern that speak to the chefās exploration of his adopted countryās classic dishes. AndrĆ©sā 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, AndrĆ©s 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 Obamaās Letās Move! campaign to fight childhood obesity. Always accessible, JosĆ© AndrĆ©s 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
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Meghan_Davies_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Meghan Davies (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Maya Rupert
Meghan Davies, Whitman-Walker Healthās chief of operations and program integration, has supported D.C.ās 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 Healthās Director of Community Health. She assisted with the Breast Health Initiative, HIV counseling, Whitman-Walkerās +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 masterās degree in public health from George Washington University. (MC)
Best Local TV Personality
Wendy Rieger
![Wendy Rieger, NBC4, news anchor, Washington Blade, gay news, SMYAL](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2012/10/Wendy_Rieger_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Jonathan_Ellis.jpg)
Wendy Rieger (Washington Blade photo by Jonathan Ellis)
Runner-up: Chuck Bell
NBC4ās 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 SMYALās 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.
āWhat kind of insanity is that? In a civilized country,ā Rieger says. āIt turns my stomach to think that people still harbor that much hatred for something that is unlike them.ā
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.
āIf 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 itās normal, itās going to be for the greater good in the end,ā Rieger says. (MC)
Local Hero
David Franco
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/David_Franco_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
David Franco (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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.
Francoās family owned Jay Deeās Childrenās 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.
āI remember standing there across the street the day that the wrecking ball demolished the store,ā Franco says. āIt was really an impactful moment, just feeling displaced, feeling like my family had been displaced.ā
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 menās clothing store Universal Gear on 14th Street, has also served on Mayor Fentyās D.C. Housing and Community Developmentās Housing Protection Trust Fund Board. (MC)
NIGHTLIFE
Best Cocktail
Lemon Squeeze
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Lemon_Squeeze_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_James_Neal.jpg)
Lemon Squeeze (Washington Blade photo by James Neal)
Duplex Diner
2004 18th St., N.W.
202-265-7828
Runner-up: Sunday Sangria (1905 Bistro & Bar)
Best Drag Show
Ladies of Town
![Town Danceboutique (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/DRAG_SHOW_Ladies_of_Town_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Town Danceboutique (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.
Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St., N.W.
Runner-up: D.C. Kings
Best Gay-Friendly Straight Bar
Dacha Beer Garden
![nightlife, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Dacha_Beer_Garden_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Dacha Beer Garden (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1600 7th St., N.W.
202-524-8790
Runner-up: Black Cat
Best Happy Hour &
Hottest Bar Staff
![Bartenders at Number Nine (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/HOTTEST_BARTENDERS_Number_9_insert_c_by_Damein_Salas.jpg)
Bartenders at Number Nine, from left, <strong>Scott Peton</strong>, <strong>Jake Reif</strong> and <strong>Kieran McGuidan</strong>, serve patrons at happy hour. (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
Number Nine
1435 P St., N.W.
Runner-up: Bear Happy Hour
Best Live Music
9:30 Club
![Adam Lambert, Tommy Joe Ratliff, marriage equality, gay marriage, same-sex marriage, 9:30 Club, music, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2012/12/Tommy_Joe_Ratliff_and_Adam_Lambert_insert_2_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
815 V St., N.W.
Runner-up: Howard Theatre
Best Neighborhood Bar
Phase 1
![Phase 1, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/02/Phase_1_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Nicole_Reinertson.jpg)
Phase 1 (Washington Blade file photo by Nicole Reinertson)
525 8th St., S.E.
Runner-up: JR.ās
Best Outside-the-District Bar
Freddieās Beach Bar
![Freddie's Beach Bar and Grill (Blade file photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2011/02/Freddies_birthday_insert_cMichael_Key.jpg)
Freddie’s Beach Bar and Grill (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
555 S. 23rd St.
Arlington, Va.
Runner-up: Blue Iguana
Best Outdoor Drinking
Town Patio
![Yappy Hour, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/07/Yappy_Hour_insert_8_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Dacha Beer Garden
Best Guys Night Out
Secrets
1824 Half St., S.W.
Runner-up: Town
Best Girls Night Out
BARE by LURe
![LURe (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2011/10/LURe_insert_c_Michael_Key.jpg)
LURe (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Every third Saturday of the month at Cobalt
1639 R St., N.W.
Runner-up: Phase 1
Best Place to Find Someone Besides Grindr
Crew Club
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Crew_Club_insert_by_Pete_Exis.jpg)
Crew Club (Photo by Pete Exis)
1321 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Town
Best Rehoboth Bar
Blue Moon
![Blue_Moon_bartender_insert_(c)_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/05/Blue_Moon_bartender_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key1.jpg)
Blue Moon (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
35 Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Runner-up: Aqua
Best Rooftop
Nellieās Sports Bar
![Nellie's Sports Bar, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Nellies_rooftop_insert_1_c_Washington_Blade_by_Hugh_Clarke.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Hugh Clarke)
900 U St., N.W.
Runner-up: Penthouse Pool & Lounge
Best DJ
Matt Bailer
![Mixtape, Matt Bailer, gay news, Washington Blade, LGBT nightlife, bar guide](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/01/bar_guide_Mixtape_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
DJ Matt Bailer (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Rosie Hicks
For DJ Matt Bailer, the secret to his ongoing success boils down to the music.
āI donāt 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.ā
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 ā90s music and stays put at DC9.
Bailer also spins at Nellieās on Fridays, and occasionally La Boum, a boozy brunch at LāEnfant CafĆ© in Adams Morgan. Unlike DJs who use laptops, Bainer relies on CDs, so technically, yes, he spins. āI describe myself as middle school,ā Bailer says. āIām somewhere between laptop and vinyl. My favorite music includes ā90s, house, old hip hop, pop and remixes.ā
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. āI loved finding new music and introducing it to my family and friends. I still do.ā
After studying theater at Duke University in North Carolina in the ā90s, 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 hasnāt looked back since.
āToday I feel like Iām doing what Iām on the planet to do. That may change one day, but not today.ā (PF)
Best Burlesque Dancer
Private Tails
![people, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Private_Tails_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Private Tails (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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. Sheās been dancing and entertaining since childhood and received a bachelorās 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 āart of the tease,ā she doesnāt 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
Best Singer or Band
Frankie & Betty
![Frankie and Betty (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Frankie_and_Betty_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Frankie and Betty (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Tom Goss
This is the second win for the āinsanely fun queertastic groupā 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, āIt’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.ā
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. āThat was by far the most exciting gig for the band to date,ā she says. āWe 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.ā
The band has been taking a break lately to celebrate Rachelās wedding, but they will update their Facebook page when they start booking new gigs. And they offer this impish guarantee: āWe 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.ā (BTC)
Frankie & Betty
Best Drag King
Avery Austin
![people, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Avery_Austin_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Avery Austin (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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 āN 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 āGleeā to create her characterās show.
When she isnāt 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
![Destiny B. Childs, Richard Legg, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2010/06/Destiny_B_Childs_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Destiny B. Childs (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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., Ziegfeldās/Secrets and Freddieās 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
![nightlife, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Mixtape_insert_by_David_Claypool_www_dot_kaloramaphoto_dot_com.jpg)
Mixtape (Photo by David Claypool | kaloramaphoto.com)
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. Itās at the 9:30 Club on Saturday, Nov. 14 and at the Black Cat on Saturday, Dec. 12.
DINING
Best Burger
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/5GUYS_insert_c_Ewan_Munro_via_Fickr.jpg)
(Photo by Ewan Munro; courtesy Flickr)
Various D.C. locations
Runner-up: Shake Shack
Best Coffee Shop
Tryst
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Tryst_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Tryst (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
2459 18th St., N.W.
Runner-up: The Coffee Bar
Best Date Restaurant
Busboys & Poets
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Busboys_and_Poets_insert_c_Bossi_via_Flickr.jpg)
Busboys & Poets (Photo by Bossi; courtesy Flickr)
2021 14th St., N.W.
1025 5th St., N.W.
625 Monroe St., N.E.
Runner-up: Floriana
Best Dessert
Grassroots Gourmet
![Grassroots Gourmet, dining, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2012/12/dining_Grassroots_Gormet_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Grassroots Gourmet (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
104 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: Three Fifty Bakery
Best French Restaurant
Le Diplomate
![Le Diplomate, dining, food, French cuisine, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/05/Le_Diplomate_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Le Diplomate (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
1601 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Bistrot Du Coin
Best Doughnut
Krispy Kreme
1350 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: Astro Donut
Best Ethiopian Restaurant
Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Dukem_insert_by_trontnort_via_Flickr.jpg)
Dukem (Photo by trotnort; courtesy Flickr)
1114-1118 U St., N.W.
Runner-up: Ethiopie
Best Farmerās Market
Eastern Market
![Eastern Market (Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Eastern_Market_insert_by_AgnosticPreachersKid_via_Wikimedia_Commons.jpg)
Eastern Market (Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
225 7th St., S.E.
Runner-up: Dupont Circle
Best Italian Restaurant
Floriana Restaurant
![Floriana (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2011/10/Floriana_insert_cMichael_Key.jpg)
Floriana (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1602 17th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Red Hen
Best Pizza
&pizza
1215 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
1250 U St., N.W.
1400 K St., N.W.
Runner-up: Pizza Paradiso
Best Pricey Restaurant Thatās Totally Worth It
Palm Restaurant
![Best of Gay D.C., The Palm, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/The_Palm_insert_by_Zagat_Buzz_via_Flickr.jpg)
The Palm (Photo by Zagat Buzz; courtesy Flickr)
1225 19th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Thai Crossing
Best Rehoboth Restaurant
Dos Locos
![Dos Locos, Joe Zuber, Darryl Ciarlante, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, restaurant, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/08/Dos_Locos_insert_courtesy_Dos_Locos.jpg)
Drinks at Dos Locos (Photo courtesy Dos Locos)
208 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Runner-up: Blue Moon
Best Seafood Restaurant
Hankās Oyster Bar
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Hanks_Oyster_Bar_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Hank’s Oyster Bar (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
1624 Q St., N.W.
1026 King St., Alexandria, Va.
633 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.
Runner-up: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Best Steak Restaurant
Annieās Paramount Steak and Seafood House
![Annie's Paramount Steak House, bar guide, LGBT nightlife, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/01/bar_guide_Annies_Paramount_Steak_House_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Annie’s Paramount Steak House (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
1609 17th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Ruthās Chris Steak House
Best Sushi
Sticky Rice
1224 H St., N.E.
Runner-up: Sushi Taro
Best Wine Bar
Barcelona
![Barcelona, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/11/Barcelona_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Barcelona (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1622 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Vinoteca
Best Restaurant Youād Wait in Line For
Roseās Luxury
Runner-up: Barcelona
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Rose_apostrophe_s_Luxury_by_T_Tseng_via_Flickr.jpg)
Rose’s Luxury (Photo by T. Tseng; courtesy Flickr)
Just two years ago, Roseās 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, Roseās Luxury aims to stand the test of time and chef-owner Aaron Silverman thinks that standing in line ā that is, not taking reservations ā 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.
Thereās a reason why Roseās Luxury has been racking up accolades from Bon Appetit ā which named it Americaās Best New Restaurant in 2014 ā along with just about every news outlet in D.C.: the food is innovative, intelligent and undeniably special. On Roseās current menu, you might find yourself with a salad of crispy pigās ear with a fresh salsa of mango and cabbage or hand-cut chitarra, a porous pasta that holds sauce particularly well ā in this case, a soffritto of caramelized cauliflower and white wine. So, go ahead and get in line. Itāll be worth the wait ā and you can get a treat from nearby District Doughnut to munch until your tableās ready. (KH)
Roseās Luxury
717 8th St., S.E.
202-580-8889
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 wonāt 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, itās 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 ā when you arrive with, of course, a bottle or two from Lindenās cellars. (KH)
3708 Harrels Corner Rd., Linden, Va.
540-364-1997
Best Asian Restaurant
Beau Thai
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Ralph_Brabham_and_Aschara_Vigsittaboot_and_Drew_Porterfield_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Owners, from left, Ralph Brabham, Aschara Vigsittaboot and Drew Porterfield meet at the Shaw location of Beau Thai. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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 didnāt 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, itās worth ordering up at least one curry for the table ā an interesting combination is the marinated duck with grapes, pineapple and tomato ā 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 āGritsā 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 purĆ©e 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
Best Boozy Brunch
La Boum
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/La_Boum_Brunch_insert_courtesy_L_apostrophe_Enfent_Cafe.jpg)
La Boum (Photo courtesy of L’Enfent Cafe)
Runner-up: Level One
As they like to say at La Boum, this is not your grandmotherās brunch. No, indeed. What youāll find at La Boum, once it transforms from its slightly more staid persona as LāEnfant Cafe & Bar (think Clark Kent coming out of that phone booth dressed as Superman), is a raucous, Champagne-filled daytime house party, where the foodās OK but the alcohol is plentiful.
And, frankly, thatās 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 NorvĆ©gienne will soak up the alcohol, the DJ keeps Katy Perry and Madonna spinning, and dancing on the tables ā well, why not? (KH)
La Boum
2000 18th St., N.W.
202-319-1800
Best Local Brewery
DC Brau
![D.C. Brau (Photo by Steph Harding Photo)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/DC_Brau_insert_by_Steph_Harding_Photo.jpg)
D.C. Brau (Photo by Steph Harding Photo)
Runner-up: Capitol City
Itās hard to remember a time when there werenāt 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 cityās 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 hipsterās paradise of tastings and tours. Stop by on Friday evenings for half-priced pint night and donāt 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
Best Caterer
Old Blue BBQ
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Old_Blue_BBQ_insert_by_Ella_M_Photography.jpg)
Old Blue BBQ (Photo by Ella M. Photography)
Runner-up: Patrick Vanas Events
If youāre 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 ā but the grilling doesnāt stop there. Bacon-wrapped jalapeƱo 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 youāre looking to host a company picnic or a family wedding. (KH)
Old Blue BBQ
4580 Eisenhower Ave.
Alexandria, Va.
703-552-4544
Best Cheap Eats
Amsterdam Falafelshop
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Amsterdam_Falafel_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Amsterdam Falafel (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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.
Whatās not to love about a sandwich called the OG Kush, a combination of beets, turnips and tahini designed to complement the āwoodsy undertonesā 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 shouldnāt 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 LāEnfant Plaza SW (LāEnfant Plaza)
Suite 420 Promenade
202-554-1111
Best Indian
Rasika
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Rasika_by_David_Liu_via_Flickr.jpg)
Rasika (Photo by David Liu; courtesy Flickr)
Runner-up: Ghar E Kabob
Thereās a good reason why Rasika chef Vikram Sunderam won a James Beard Award last year ā 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.
Youāll 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 ā and weāve 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 chefās 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
Best Food Truck
Red Hook Lobster Pound
Runner-up: Rito Loco
Thereās 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 youāre a New Englander longing for some lobstah ā or just a wannabe ā then this truck is the place to get your fix, whether itās 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 ān cheese ā and donāt forget to add Cape Cod potato chips and Maine Root Soda. Itās kind of like having a day at the shore, even if itās 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
Best Sandwich
Taylor Gourmet
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Taylor_insert_by_docmonstereyes_via_Flickr.jpg)
Taylor Gourmet (Photo by docmonstereyes; courtesy Flickr)
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 youāre there, donāt forget to order up a side of the crispy polenta fries ā you won’t regret it. (KH)
Taylor Gourmet
Ten locations across D.C., Maryland and Virginia
COMMUNITY
Best Local Blog
Popville
Runner-up: BYT
Best Local Podcast
L.A.C.E. Media Podcast
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Chris_Jay_of_LACE_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Chris Jay of L.A.C.E. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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
Runner-up: The Evan and Mark Team
Best Art Gallery
The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St., N.W.
Runner-up: Corcoran Gallery of Art
Best Car Dealership
Don Beyer Volvo of Winchester
4015 Valley Pike
Winchester, Va.
Runner-up: MWS of Alexandria
Best Apartment/Condo Building
The Shay
1924 8th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Atlantic Plumbing
Best Workout Spot
VIDA Fitness
![community, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Vida_Fitness_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Vida Fitness (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1517 15th St., N.W.
1612 U St., N.W.
999 9th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Elevate Fitness
Best Gayborhood
Logan Circle
![Logan Circle, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/08/Logan_Circle_insert_public_domain.jpg)
Logan Circle (Photo public domain)
Runner-up: 17th Street
Best Hardware Store
Logan Hardware
![Best of Gay D.C.](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Logan_Hardware_interior_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Logan Hardware (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1734 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Annieās Ace Hardware
Best Home Furnishings &
Best Second-Hand Stuff
Miss Pixieās Furnishings and Whatnot
![community, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/Miss_Pixies_insert_3_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Miss Pixie’s (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1626 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Hudson & Crane
Best Hotel
The W
![Community, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2014/10/W_Hotel_insert_courtesy_W_Hotel_Washington_DC.jpg)
W Hotel (Photo courtesy of the W Hotel Washington, D.C.)
515 15th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Hotel Palomar
Best LGBT Social Group
Stonewall Sports
![Stonewall Kickball, sports, JR's, Cobalt, gay news, Washington Blade, Stead Park](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/05/Stonewall_Kickball_All-Star_game_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Gay Menās Chorus of Washington
Best LGBT Support Group &
Best Non-Profit
SMYAL
![20 under 20, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/04/20_Under_20_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders
410 7th St., S.E.
Runner-up: HIPS
Best LGBT Sports Team
Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club
![SportsFest, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/04/Team_DC_SportsFest_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Runner-up: Flippinā Not Trippinā
Best Pet Business
Doggy Style Bakery, Boutique & Pet Spa
1825 18th St., N.W.
Runner-up: City Dogs Rescue
Best Place to Take Kids
Smithsonianās National Zoo
![National Zoo, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/04/National_Zoo_insert_by_Quadell_via_Wikimedia_Commons.jpg)
(Photo by Quadell; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
3001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: Smithsonianās National Air and Space Museum
Best Salon/Spa
Logan 14
![Michael Hodges, Aveda, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/08/Michael_Hodges_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1314 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Bang Salon
Best Reason to Go to Baltimore
National Aquarium
![National Aquarium, Baltimore, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/07/National_Aquarium_in_Baltimore_insert_public_domain_by_Andrew_Horne.jpg)
The National Aquarium in Baltimore (Photo by Andrew Horne)
501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore
Runner-up: The Hippo
Best Theater
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
![Kennedy Center, culture, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2013/03/Kennedy_Center_insert_by_Steve_via_wikimedia.jpg)
The Kennedy Center (Photo by Steve via Wikimedia Commons)
2700 F St., N.W.
Runner-up: Studio Theatre
Best Theater Production
āDear Evan Hansenā
![Dear Evan Hansen, gay news, Washington Blade](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/08/Laura_Dreyfuss_and_Ben_Platt_in_Dear_Evan_Hansen_insert_by_Margot_Schulman_courtesy_Arena.jpg)
Laura Dreyfuss as Zoe and Ben Platt as Evan in āDear Evan Hansen.ā (Photo by Margot Schulman; courtesy Arena)
Arena Stage
1101 6th St., N.W.
Runner-up: āBook of Mormonā (Kennedy Center)
Best Vet
CityPaws Animal Hospital
1823 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: D.C. Metrovet
Best Rehoboth Business
Bad Hair Day
20 Lake Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Runner-up: Blue Moon
Best Local Twitter Feed
@DCHomos
Runner-up: @popville
If you want to know whatās going on in LGBT D.C., you need to follow @DCHomos on Twitter. Described as āNews, noise, food, men, sports, art, charity, fashion, TV, happy thoughts, all things gay and D.C. Sentinel, silent and sure,ā itās a delightful mĆ©lange of everything serious and sublime about the nationās 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 didnāt 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 āD.C.ā 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 āthings I share on Twitter instead of Facebook.ā He does note that the feed attracts a lot of negative feedback, which he tends to ignore.
āIāve adopted a āDonāt Feed the Trollsā policy. I try to keep things positive.ā
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 āParis Is Burningā mini-ball), so be sure to keep him in the loop. (BTC)
Best LGBT-Owned Business
The Organizing Agency
![(Photo courtesy of the Organizing Agency)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Organizing_Agency_Scot_Troewer_insert_courtesy_Organizing-Agency.jpg)
(Photo courtesy of the Organizing Agency)
Runner-up: Town
When out businessman Scott Roewer talks about organizing and closets, heās not necessarily talking about politics. Heās probably talking about organizing your closets to harmonize your life. As Roewer likes to point out, āanyone can organize your space, but it takes a professional to organize you.ā
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 OrganizerĀ® designation in 2007 and is an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). He is also the co-author of āGet Organized Today,ā 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 2008Ā 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 Foundersā Award. In 2011, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds named him Joint Base Andrewsā āHometown Hero,ā 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
Most LGBT-Friendly Workplace
The Raben Group
![The Raben Group (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Raben_Group_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
The Raben Group (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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.Ā 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 agencyās 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 clientās goals.
The firm is also dedicated to community service. According to its website, āWe 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.ā For example, Raben is also the founder of the March on Washington Film Festival.
And, they add, āWe always keep our sense of humor.ā Thatās what keeps a workplace fresh. (BTC)
The Raben Group
1341 G St., N.W., 5th Floor
202-466-8585
Best House of Worship
Empowerment Liberation Cathedral
![Bishop Allyson Abrams (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2015/10/Allyson_Abrams_insert_2_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
Bishop Allyson Abrams (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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, āEveryone is invited to experience our worship ā no matter your gender, race, age, sexual orientation, identification, handicap or former faith background.ā 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
a&e features
Queer TV anchors in Md. use their platform āto fight for whatās rightā
Salisburyās Hannah Cechini, Rob Petree are out and proud in Delmarva
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/06/Hannah_Cechini_and_Rob_Petree_insert_courtesy_WMDT.jpg)
Identity can be a tricky thing for journalists to navigate. The goal of the job is to inform the public with no bias, but this is difficult, if not impossible, to do in practice. Everything from your upbringing to the books you read can impact how you view and cover the world. But sometimes these factors can help shine a light on an underrepresented community or issue.
Two broadcast journalists in Salisbury, Md., are using the subtle, yet impactful choice of sharing their queer identities to strengthen their reporting and connection to the community.
Hannah Cechini, who is non-binary, and Rob Petree, who is gay, co-host the 5:30-6:30 p.m. newscast for WMDT 47. They are the only known anchor team that are not only both queer, but also open out about their identities on air and, as Petree put it, āalways use [their] platform and power that [we] have to fight for what’s right.ā
Cechiniās passion for journalism played an important role in the discovery of their gender identity. They knew they were meant to be in the newsroom before they figured out they were non-binary.
āI was doing this job before I started to identify as non-binary,ā Cechini told the Blade. āI’d always watch the evening news with my dad growing up and thought it was the coolest thing. And throughout high school, I worked on the school paper.ā
After graduating from Suffolk University in Boston, Cechiniās passion for journalism only grew as they began to work in the world of news media, eventually ending up in Salisbury. As they honed their writing, editing, and anchoring skills at WMDT, Cechini also started to take an introspective look into their gender identity.
A little more than two years ago Cechini came out as non-binary to their coworkers in the newsroom and was met with support all around. āIt was definitely smoother than I anticipated,ā they said.
āIt is very freeing to be able to do this job as a non-binary person because I haven’t really seen much of that representation myself.ā
Petree, on the other hand, knew he was gay right around the same time he became interested in news media, at age 14. He started working for his high school news show and used it as a way to be open about his sexuality rather than hide it.
āI broke into broadcasting doing the morning announcements,ā he said. āI did the weather and started doing a segment called issues and insights,ā Petree said, explaining his introduction to the news. Eventually, students would ask him questions about his sexuality after seeing him on the school TV. āIt had gotten to the point in school, that if you’re going to come up and ask me if I’m gay, well shit, I’m going to tell you!ā
To him, this was the exact reason he had come out. Petree wanted to motivate others to live honestly.
āThere are a lot of people who will spend most of their lives not being out so if they can see someone like me, who’s out and proud doing his thing, so to speak, then maybe that’s the inspiration for them,ā Petree said. āTo search their own soul, find out who they are, and live their full life.ā
Petree explained that he got his start in a space that was not always welcoming to his queerness. This tested the delicate balance between being a journalist and holding your identity close.
āI’ve always been out and it was a challenge because I got my start in conservative talk radio,ā Petree said. āI’m going to be honest, some of the things I heard from people I’ve worked with, from the callers to the radio stations were absolutely abhorrent. But I never let it discourage me. It made me work that much harder.ā
Cechini highlighted the same sentiment when explaining why itās important to have out LGBTQ figures in news media. They want to show everyone that it is possible to be openly queer and successful.
āI just think that representation matters because if āJoe,ā who’s never seen a transgender person before, sees a transgender person or a non-binary person, doing a job that they’ve only ever seen straight cis people doing before, it kind of creates that understanding or bridges that gap,ā Cechini said. āIt’s like, āOK, maybe they’re not that different from me.ā And that facilitates being able to connect among different communities.ā
Both Cechini and Petree agree that having a queer coworker has made their bond stronger.
āIt’s great to have someone else next to me who I can relate to and work alongside,ā Petree said. āAnd they’re a joy to work with, they really are. There is a tremendous amount of things that we relate to together ā like we both share and have the same affinity for Lady Gaga,ā he said laughing. āAlthough they’re more of a Lady Gaga fan than I am.ā
āHannah is a tremendous journalist who really goes out of their way to make sure that the stories that they do are on point 100% of the time,ā he added. āThey’ve been great to work with and to learn from and to grow alongside. I’m very happy to have them as my co-anchor.ā
Cechini explained that the relationship between two co-anchors can make or break a newscast, and having Petree as their partner on air is a major part of the showās success.
āCo-anchoring is not just the relationship that you have on camera,ā Cechini said. āIt’s really, really important to have a good relationship with your co-anchor off-camera as well because you have to have a level of trust between you.ā
Cechini continued, saying that this relationship is crucial to working together, especially when things donāt go as planned.
āNot everything always goes to script,ā they said. āSometimes you have to be able to work together without even really talking to each other and just kind of know what to do. When you have a relationship like that with someone who identifies similarly to you or has had similar life experience, I think that just only strengthens that [relationship].ā
Although they have had similar experiences being from the LGBTQ community, Petree said it was a change for him to use āthey/themā pronouns on air.
āPrior to working with Hannah, I’ve never worked with a non-binary individual who went by the pronouns āthey/them,āā Petree said. āIt was new for me to not use traditional pronouns on air, but I can say that I have never misgendered them on air and never will. You get conditioned to using traditional pronouns and it’s easy to make that mistake, but I never have.ā
At the end of the day, they both explained, it is about doing the job right. For the duo, a part of that is understanding the diversity of people and issues in the community.
āWhen you come from a more marginalized community, I think that kind of helps to inform you a little better as a journalist because you have a better understanding of what it’s like to be āthe other guy,āā Cechini said.
āOur talent and our drive for journalism speaks for itself,ā Petree said. āAnd that resonates with people. Have we shown ourselves to be an inspiration to the LGBTQ+ community here in Delmarva? Yes, we have. And that’s something that I’m proud of.ā
The primetime nightly newscast with Hannah Cechini and Rob Petree airs weeknights from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on ABC affiliate WMDT 47.
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/06/Rob_Petree_and_Hannah_Cechini_insert_courtesy_WMDT.jpg)
a&e features
āQueering Rehoboth Beachā features love, loss, murder, and more
An interview with gay writer and historian James T. Sears
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2024/06/Queering_Rehoboth_Beach_book_cover_insert_courtesy_.jpg)
James T. Sears book talk
Saturday, June 29, 5 p.m.
Politics & Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
When it comes to LGBTQ summer destinations in the Eastern time zone, almost everyone knows about Provincetown, Mass., Fire Island, N.Y., and Key West, Fla. There are also slightly lesser known, but no less wonderful places, such as Ogunquit, Maine, Saugatuck, Mich., and New Hope, Pa. Sandwiched in between is Rehoboth Beach, Del., a location that is popular with queer folks from D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The dramatic and inspiring story of how Rehoboth Beach came to be what it is today can be found in gay historian James T. Searsās revealing new book āQueering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalkā (Temple University Press, 2024). As educational as it is dishy, āQueering Rehoboth Beachā provides readers with everything they need to know (and possibly didnāt realize they needed to know) about this fabulous locality. Sears was kind enough to make time to answer a few questions about the book.
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2023/01/Buy_the_Book_button.jpg)
WASHINGTON BLADE: James, itās been a few years since Iāve interviewed you. The last time was in 1997 about your book āFrom Lonely Hunters to Lonely Hearts: An Oral History of Lesbian and Gay Southern Life.ā At the time, you were living in Columbia, S.C. Where are you currently based, and how long have you been there?
JAMES T. SEARS: It has been great reconnecting with you. After that book, we moved to Charleston, S.C. There I wrote several more books. One was about the Mattachine group, focusing on one largely misunderstood leader, Hal Call. Another book shared reminisces of a 90-year-old gentleman, the late John Zeigler, interweaving his diaries, letters, and poetry to chronicle growing up gay in the South at the turn of the last century. From there I moved to Central America where I chronicled everyday queer life and learned Spanish. We returned several years ago and then washed up on Rehoboth Beach.
BLADE: In the introduction to your new book āQueering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalkā (Temple University Press, 2024), you write about how a ārestaurant incidentā in Rehoboth, which you describe in detail in the prologue, became a kind of inspiration for the book project. Please say something about how as a historian, the personal can also be political and motivational.
SEARS: I want to capture readerās interest by personalizing this book more than I have others. The restaurant anecdote is the bookās backstory. It explains, in part, my motivation for writing it, and more crucially, introduces one meaning of āqueering Rehoboth.ā That is, in order to judge this āincidentāāand the book itselfāwe need to engage in multiple readings of history, or at least be comfortable with this approach. I underscore that what is accepted as āhistoryāāabout an individual, a community, or a societyāis simply a reflection of that eraās accepted view. Queering history challenges that consensus.
BLADE: Who do you see as the target audience for āQueering Rehoboth Beach?ā
SEARS: Well, certainly if you have been to Rehoboth or reside there, this book provides a history of the townāand its queeringāgiving details that I doubt even locals know! Also, for those interested in the evolution of other East Coast queer resorts (Ptown, Fire Island, Key West) this book adds to that set of histories. My book will also be of interest to students of social change and community organizing. Most importantly, though, it is just a good summer read.
BLADE: āQueering Rehoboth Beachā features numerous interviews. What was involved in the selection process of interview subjects?
SEARS: I interviewed dozens of people. They are listed in the book as the āCast of Narrators.ā Before these interviews, I engaged in a systematic review of local and state newspapers, going back to Rehobothās founding as a Methodist Church Camp in 1873. I also read anecdotal stories penned by lesbians and gay men. These appeared in local or regional queer publications, such as Letters from CAMP Rehoboth and the Washington Blade. Within a year, I had compiled a list of key individuals to interview. However, I also interviewed lesbians, gay men, transgender individuals, and heterosexuals who lived or worked in Rehoboth sometime during the bookās main timeframe (1970s-2000s). I sought diversity in background and perspective. To facilitate their memories, I provided a set of questions before we met. I often had photos, letters, or other memorabilia to prime their memories during our conversation.
BLADE: Under the heading of the more things change, the more they stay the same, the act of making homosexuality an issue in politics continues to this day. What do you think it will take for that to change?
SEARS: You pose a key question. Those who effectuated change in Rehoboth ā queers and progressive straights ā sought common ground. Their goal was to integrate into the town. As such, rather than primarily focus on sexual and gender differences, they stressed values held in common. Rather than proselytize or agitate, they opened up businesses, restored houses, joined houses of worship, and engaged in the townās civic life.
To foster and sustain change, however, those in power and those who supported them also had to have a willingness to listen, to bracket their presuppositions, and to engage in genuine dialogue. Violent incidents, especially one on the boardwalk, and the multi-year imbroglio of The Strand nightclub, gradually caused people to seek common ground.
That did not, however, come without its costs. For some ā long separated from straight society ā and for others ā unchallenged in their heteronormativity ā it was too great of a cost to bear. Further, minorities within the queer ācommunity,ā such as people of color, those with limited income, and transgender individuals, never entered or were never invited into this enlarging public square.
The troubles chronicled in my book occurred during the era of the āMoral Majorityā and āGay Cancer.ā Nevertheless, it didnāt approach the degree of polarization, acrimony, fake news, and demagoguery of today. So, whether this approach would even be viable as a strategy for social change is debatable.
BLADE: In recent years, there has been a proliferation of books about LGBTQ bars, a subject that is prominent in āQueering Rehoboth Beach.ā Was this something of which you were aware while writing the book, and how do you see your bookās place on the shelf alongside these other books?
SEARS: Queering heterosexual space has been a survival strategy for generations of queer folks. These spaces ā under-used softball fields, desolate beaches, darkened parks, and out-of-the-way bars ā are detailed in many LGBTQ+ books, from the classic, āBoots of Leather, Slippers of Gold,ā to the recently published āA Place of Our Ownā and āThe Bars Are Ours.ā Of course, these spaces did not encompass the kaleidoscope of queer life, but they provide us a historical gateway into various segments of a queer community and culture.
This was certainly true for my book. Unsurprisingly, until The Strand controversy, which began in 1988, all of Rehobothās queer bars were beyond the town limits. There were, however, homosexual watering holes in the liminal sexual space. For instance, you had the Pink Pony on the boardwalk during the 1950s and the Back Porch CafĆ© during the 1970s. So, in this sense, I think āQueering Rehoboth Beachā fits well in this ever-enlarging canon of queer history.
BLADE: As one of the most pro-LGBTQ presidents in U.S. history, how much, if it all, did the Biden Delaware connection have to do with your desire to write āQueering Rehoboth Beach?ā
SEARS: It is just a coincidence. Interestingly, as I was researching this book, I came across a 1973 news story about Sen. Joe Biden speaking at a civic association meeting. One of the 30 or so residents attending was James Robert Vane. The paper reported the senator being āstartledā when Vane questioned him about the ban on homosexuals serving in the U.S. civil service and military. Uttering the familiar trope about being āsecurity risks,ā he then added, āI admit I havenāt given it much thought.ā In Bidenesque manner, he paused and then exclaimed, āIāll be darned!ā
Biden was a frequent diner at the Back Porch CafĆ©, often using the restaurantās kitchen phone for political calls. Like the progressives I spoke about earlier, he had lived in a heteronormative bubbleāa Catholic one at that! Yet, like many in Rehoboth, he eventually changed his view, strongly advocating for queer rights as Vice President during the Obama administration.
BLADE: How do you think Rehoboth residents will respond to your depiction of their town?
SEARS: Well, if recent events are predictive of future ones, then I think it will be generally positive. My first book signing at the locally owned bookstore resulted in it selling out. The manager did tell me that a gentleman stepped to the counter asking, āWhy is this queer book here?āā pointing to the front table of āBeach Reads.ā That singular objection notwithstanding, his plan is to keep multiple boxes in stock throughout the summer.
BLADE: Over the years, many non-fiction and fiction books have been written about places such as Provincetown, Fire Island, and Key West. Is it your hope that more books will be written about Rehoboth Beach?
SEARS: My hope is that writers and researchers continue to queer our stories. Focusing on persons, events, and communities, particularly micro-histories, provides a richer narrative of queer lives. It also allows us to queer the first generation of macro-histories which too often glossed over everyday activists. So, as the saying goes, let a thousand flowers bloom.
BLADE: Do you think that āQueering Rehoboth Beachā would make for a good documentary film subject?
SEARS: Absolutely, although probably not on the Hallmark Channel [laughs]! It would make an incredible film ā a documentary or a drama ā even a mini-series. Because it focuses on people: their lives and dreams, their long-running feuds and abbreviated love affairs, their darker secrets, and lighter moments within a larger context of the countryās social transformation. āQueering Rehoboth Beachā details the townās first gay murder, the transformation of a once homophobic mayor, burned-out bars, and vigilante assaults on queers, the octogenarian lesbian couple, living for decades in Rehoboth never speaking the āL word,ā who die within months of one another. It, too, is a story of how the sinewy arms of Jim Crow affected white Rehoboth ā gay and straight. In short, āQueering Rehoboth Beachā is about a small beach town, transformed generation over generation like shifting sands yet retaining undercurrents of what are the best and worst in American life and culture.
BLADE: Have you started thinking about or working on your next book?
SEARS: The manuscript for this book was submitted to the publisher more than a year ago. During that time, Iāve been working on my first book of fiction. It is a queer novel set in early nineteenth century Wales against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars and industrialization. I want to transport the reader into an era before the construction of homosexuality and at the inception of the womenās movement. How does one make meaning of sexual feelings toward the same gender or about being in the wrong gender? In the process of this murder mystery, I integrate Celtic culture and mythology and interrogate how todayās choices and those we made in the past (and in past lives) affect our future and those of others.
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D.C. Latinx Pride seeks to help heal the community
Much history lost to generations of colonialism
![](https://www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2022/06/Latinx_Pride_at_2019_Capital_Pride_Parade_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg)
The Latinx History Project will host its 18th annual Latinx Pride with a series of 11 events this year.
Latinx History Project, or LHP, was founded in 2000 to collect, preserve and share Latinx LGBTQ+ History. Six years later, they began hosting DC Latinx Pride.
Board member Dee Tum-Monge said organizers saw a need for the event that centered Latinx community members.
“LHP knows our queer history as Latinx folks has most often been lost to generations of colonialism and imperialism,ā they said. āWhich is why we focus on documenting and highlighting the impact our community has in D.C. and beyond.ā
According to UCLA School of Law, there are more than two million Latinx LGBTQ adults that live in the U.S.
āEvents specifically for the Latinx community are important not only to make our experience visible but also to create spaces where we can grow closer with other groups and each other,ā said Tum-Monge.
This year they kicked off DC Latinx Pride with a crowning ceremony for their royal court on May 31.
Their three-part series, āLa SanaciĆ³nā, is underway with part two planned for June 16.
āSanaciĆ³n in Spanish means āhealingā which is a big part of what we want to bring to Pride,ā said Tum-Monge. āOur communities go through a lot of trauma and hate, but we know thereās more to us. Our goal is to foster connection with ourselves, nature, community, and spirituality.ā
In conjunction with the series there is a slate of other events; tickets can be purchased at latinxhistoryproject.org/pride.
In addition, Latinx Pride will march in the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday and participate in the festival on Sunday. To stay involved with Latinx History Project after Pride and hear more about future events visit latinxhistoryproject.org.
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