Arts & Entertainment
Evan Rachel Wood blasts Ben Affleck’s 20-year-old ‘gay kiss’ comment
the ‘Chasing Amy’ actor said kissing another man was the ‘greatest acting challenge’

(Ben Affleck in ‘Chasing Amy.’ Screenshot via YouTube.)
Evan Rachel Wood was not sympathetic about comments Ben Affleck made about filming a gay kiss 20 years ago.
Director Kevin Smith appeared at Outfest in Los Angeles over the weekend and revealed that Affleck thought his same-sex kiss with Jason Lee in the 1997 film “Chasing Amy” was a great acting feat, Gay Star News reports.
“‘A man kissing another man is the greatest acting challenge an actor can ever face,’” Smith quoted Affleck as saying during filming. “‘Now, I’m a serious actor.’”
“Westworld” star Wood, who identifies as bisexual, slammed Affleck on Twitter for the comments pointing out there were more difficult scenes actors must face.
“Try getting raped in a scene. Also, grow up Ben,” Wood wrote in the now-deleted tweets.
“I’m sure he just thought it was funny, but jokes like that are damaging,” Wood continued. “Also, you think us ladies like kissing all the guys we kiss? Just cause its a “straight kiss” doesnt mean we enjoy it. Ahem.”
Wood explained that she deleted her previous tweets due to the backlash her comments received.
I have deleted the thread because of the sickening things people have written in response. I dont want to give that kind of hatred a place.
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) July 19, 2017
Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.
There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.
