Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
16 FROZEN FUNDS
DC Eagle allegedly withheld tens of thousands
in PPP loan money from employees.
By John Riley
By André Hereford
OUT ON THE TOWN p.5 SPOTLIGHT: RESTAURANT WEEK p.9 HEY MR. VJ p.11
THE FEED: COUNTING ON KAMALA p.13 TRANSPHOBIC TWEETING p.18
CHANGE OF MIND p.19 TEACHER TROUBLE p.20 HARBORING HATE p.24
SUPER CEREMONY p.26 GALLERY: LUCA BUVOLI p.34
RETROSCENE p.38 LAST WORD p.41
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ed to benefit Food for All DC. Call 202-248-0301 or visit www. month, the quintet booked a week at an empty concert venue in
spookyaction.org. St. Louis, where they proceeded to perform eight different con-
certs, each with a completely different set list. All are full-band,
BRANDY CLARK full-production spectacles from a quiet hall, where the only
March started off with a bang for the lesbian country artist with other folks were members of a camera crew capturing the per-
the release of her stunning third album, Your Life Is A Record. formances in 4K with high definition audio. Now, every Friday
“No one is writing better country songs than Brandy Clark,” night until the end of summer, Greensky will unveil these Leap
wrote David Cantwell of the New Yorker. Clark has also been Year Sessions, delivered to pay-per-view audiences through the
called Nashville’s “best-kept secret,” but by now any self-re- new platform HYFI. Friday, Aug. 14, at 9 p.m., and every Friday
specting queer country fan should know the name, or at least through September. Tickets are $14.95 for individual sessions,
her work in writing hits for others — including “Follow Your available for two-week streams, or $99.95 for a Full Tour Pass of
Arrow” for Kacey Musgraves. Early on in the pandemic, Clark all eight sessions available after broadcast through Halloween.
launched a series of livestreams from her Nashville home called Visit www.hyfi.com/greensky-bluegrass.
“You Can’t Come Over (But You Can Come In)” — a play on an
early Clark song, “You Can Come Over.” Over time, she’s done TOM GOSS
a little less singing and a lot more talking per episode — all in “Dancing in My Room” was a very April thing to do. Now that
conversation with her special guest of the week — usually a we’re in the thick of summer, singer-songwriter Tom Goss has
fellow female artist, occasionally a superstar, with Mary Chapin responded by releasing a new song and video suited to the sea-
Carpenter, Reba McIntire, and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls son. You might even consider it a sequel to “Bears,” his playful
all past guests. (All episodes are available for streaming from ode to furry fellas everywhere released during the summer of
Clark’s YouTube page.) After taking a few weeks off, Clark has 2013 paired with a video featuring a pack of hirsute hunks in
now revived the series, with upcoming guests Jessie Jo Dillon, D.C. In 2020, though, Goss is in hot pursuit of a particular type of
the artist who co-wrote Clark’s singles “Girl Next Door” and “I’ll furred fellow: a “Nerdy Bear.” The new summer anthem sounds
Be The Sad Song,” set for Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., and Liz little like anything you’ve heard from Goss before, a sultry slow-
Rose, a frequent Taylor Swift collaborator, on Wednesday, Aug. jam that’s more R&B than pop — and not folk at all. Directed
26, at 7 p.m. Visit www.brandyclarkmusic.com. by Michael Serrato and photograhed in New York, the video
finds Goss chasing after a particular plus-sized gay man (Jason
DAUGHTRY Villegas), pulling out all the stops in trying to get his atten-
Led by the one-time American Idol hunk Chris Daughtry, this tion: gyrating wildly, singing like a vocoder madman, jumping
hard-rock band is currently in the midst of a special 19-date through hoops, even donning a little drag to appear as Princess
livestream tour, each geared to a specific city and benefiting a Peach from Mario Brothers. It’s as fun and silly as Goss intended.
specific venue, with a unique setlist and other surprises in store “Given the hot mess that is 2020,” he says in a press release, “I
on each date. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m., the “Live From feel like I have a responsibility to create music that brings peo-
Home Tour” virtually stops at the Birchmere, which will benefit ple together and helps them to see the world in a positive light.”
from proceeds of ticket sales and tips. Tickets are $10, or $25 to Visit www.tomgossmusic.com.
$75 including VIP packages and merch. Visit www.onlocation-
live.com/category/birchmere. JANE FRANKLIN DANCE’S FORTY+ PROJECTS VIRTUAL PROGRAM
Dancers over the age of 40 comprise this organization’s Forty+
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS ensemble, which next week will present a virtual program of
In order to safely and truly perform together as one band in mixed repertory, including a new work for camera by choreog-
one room any time soon, the musicians in this genre-defying rapher Emily Crew. Hoopla is inspired by circles, both the space
progressive bluegrass band reasoned they would need to get contained within the geometrical shapes and at their edges, and
creative in devising a kind of concert compromise. So last was developed virtually by company dancers performing at their
home. The bill also includes Franklin’s Shorthanded, performed MOSAIC THEATER’S INHERIT THE WINDBAG
by an intergenerational cast exploring what it means to be of Mosaic Theater’s sixth season was originally set to kickoff next
“your generation” as symbolized by key cultural practices and week with preview performances of the world premiere Inherit
popular technologies of the time —- from shorthand notation the Windbag. While that’s obviously not possible during the
and paper dolls, to cassette tapes and VHS — and Kelsey Rohr’s ongoing pandemic, the company is doing what it can to keep
You and Me, a work set to the groovy music and sultry voice of a mid-August focus on the play by Washington Post humorist
Barry White and featuring moves intended to serve as a remind- Alexandra Petri. Rehearsals have started for the virtual adap-
er to have fun and let go. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m. Free. Call tation of Inherit the Windbag, set for release in the fall and
703-933-1111 or visit www.facebook.com/JaneFranklinDance or starring Paul Morella as Vidal and John Lescault as Buckley,
www.janefranklin.com. with Tamieka Chavis and Stephen Klime as multi-charac-
ter “Demons.” This week’s Creative Conversation — taking
FORD’S THEATRE: CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS CONVERSATION place Friday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m., on Mosaic Theater’s Facebook
Through Cabinet Conversations, its ongoing series of lives- page — will feature Petri and the play’s director Lee Mikeska
treamed discussions, Ford’s Theatre has examined an array of Gardner shedding light on the work as well as the semi-
topics, aimed at connecting aspects of our nation’s history — les- nal moment in American history that inspired it. Specifically,
sons of the Civil War and/or Lincoln’s presidency and legacy in the blistering nightly free-for-all between conservative pundit
particular — to contemporary life and issues. Although details William F. Buckley and gay liberal author Gore Vidal in 1968
have not yet been announced, the next discussion — Thursday, during the televised Republican and Democratic conventions.
Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. — will focus on the 57th anniversary of the Documentary filmmaker Nicholas D. Wrathall (Gore Vidal: The
original March on Washington in light of today’s resurgence United States of Amnesia) will join as a special guest to further
in activism for racial justice, and a return to the Lincoln illuminate that history as well as its resonance to today. Inherit
Memorial for the March on Washington 2020 planned the next the Windbag will also be the focus of Mosaic’s next online Peace
day (also when the NAACP will lead a 2020 Virtual March on Cafe, “Political Partisanship, Resistance & Reconciliation,” set
Washington). Among a handful of past Cabinet Conversations, for Monday, Aug. 17, at 4 p.m., on Zoom; RSVP required. Visit
all of which can be streamed from Ford’s YouTube page, argu- www.mosaictheater.org/alive.
ably the most timely and illuminating was the July 30 discussion
“A Reckoning for Confederate Memorials.” Historian Kevin M. HELLO, BRIGHT EYES
Levin helped frame and contextualize the discussion as well as Old eyeglasses, lenses, and eyeglass “arms” have been reused
elicit keen observations and experiences from Washington Post or upcycled in some of the artworks on display this month at
columnist Eugene Robinson and former New Orleans Mayor Del Ray Artisans Gallery. Hello, Bright Eyes is the latest themed
Mitch Landrieu. In particular, Landrieu noted key lessons from show at the quirky Virginia gallery, whose member artists
the successful effort he led to remove four prominent confeder- were inspired to create paintings, photographs, sculptures,
ate statues as part of the city’s post-Katrina rebuilding efforts. mixed-media collages, and other artworks focused in some
He even revealed how he finally became convinced that removal way or another on eyes, eyesight, eyewear, or one’s sense of
was the right thing to do. “I remember as we were rebuilding the vision. The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan
city, I was thinking about this: What the hell is the difference Washington donated the upcycled used eyewear and is also
between a confederate flag and a monument? Now I knew in overseeing a series of screenings and discussions to complement
my head that one was metal and steel, and one was cloth. And the exhibition, curated by Stephanie Chan and Tracy Wilkerson.
the cloth was easier to take down, and the monuments would Now to Aug. 29. Del Ray Artisans Gallery is located in the
be much harder. But really, as a matter of integrity, what’s the Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.
difference? They’re no different at all. And it was just time. It just Free and open to the public, with proper social distancing and
kind of hit...like the moment that we’re in right now in America.” the wearing of face masks, from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and
Visit www.fords.org. Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call 703-731-8802 or visit
www.thedelrayartisans.org.
SIMO AHMADI
Duke’s Grocery’s Proper Burger Fully Loaded Unconventional Diner’s French Dip Pappardelle
Meal Deals
Next week sees the return of Summer Restaurant Week, completely reimagined
and reconfigured for these pandemic times.
O
RGANIZERS WERE INITIALLY UNSURE IF THEY “It’s a real big push of dine-out, takeout, and eat up, focusing
should even proceed with Summer Restaurant Week. on al fresco and focusing on Restaurant Week however you want
After all, at its core, “it’s a promotion designed to push it,” Hollinger says. In addition to the promotion’s standard mul-
people to restaurants,” says Kathy Hollinger of the Restaurant ticourse meals available at participating restaurants for $22 per
Association of Metropolitan Washington. “And we had to really person at lunch and brunch, or $35 and $55 per person at dinner
think about overall comfort levels” as well as “be very mindful (not including tax and tip), some participating restaurants will
of capabilities” at a time when restaurants are operating with also offer special family-style to-go meals available for curbside
reduced staff and limited service. pickup. Prices for these RW to Go packages range from $60 to
It’s also a time when restaurants, which survive on incredibly $100 for two, and $130 to $210 for four.
thin profit margins even in the best of times, could really use Over 200 restaurants are participating in the promotion,
the boost. “The overwhelming response was, ‘We absolutely including Clyde’s, The Hamilton, Duke’s Grocery, Rasika, Tico,
need Restaurant Week, even if it is reimagined and rethought,’” Oyamel, Brookland’s Finest Bar & Kitchen, Logan Tavern, Slate
Hollinger says, citing surveyed members of the association. Wine Bar and Xiquet by Danny Lledo, Nazca Mochica, Jaleo,
“We wanted to offer something for everyone,” she continues. The Pig, Stellina Pizzeria, Bastille, Mintwood Place, Founding
“We wanted to design a promotion that Farmers, RIS, All-Purpose Pizzeria, Cafe
allows for the fullest flexibility and options Click Here to View Berlin, Sushi Ko, Centrolina, Napoli Pasta
for diners and restaurants.” As a result, this Participating Restaurants Bar, Annabelle, Officina, Ankara, The Red
year’s Summer Restaurant Week, which Hen, and Shaw’s Tavern.
starts Monday, Aug. 17, has been expanded “to include to-go “For everything that this industry has gone through,”
offers and family style meals [and] beverage pairings.” It will also Hollinger says, “to be above 200 going into this promo is pretty
run twice as long: “It's two weeks long this year allowing opera- indicative of the need for diners to come out and support small
tors to ease into a longer promotion to encourage more support.” business.” —Doug Rule
Summer Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, Aug. 17, and runs to Aug. 30, at participating restaurants in D.C.,
suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Visit www.rwdmv.com.
Hey Mr. VJ
Singer-songwriter Kisos spends Queerantine building community
and boosting the music of emerging queer artists.
B
EAMING QUEER MUSIC AND POSITIVITY TO A In addition to serving up fresh music and good vibes, episodes
global audience, Queerantine has opened a unique conduit raise funds for causes from Black Lives Matter to trans advocacy
of connection for its growing community of fans. The charity G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living In a Transgender
LGBTQ music video showcase, which just premiered its second Society). The focus, Kisos says, is on sharing and uplifting —
season on livestreaming platform Twitch, was created by NYC- Queerantine is a no-negativity zone. “At the beginning of each
based singer-songwriter Kisos as a means of elevating queer episode, I set some ground rules, but the ground rules are really
artists and performers who have been hit particularly hard by just [that] this is the safest space, it's the most positive space,” he
the loss of live venues during the pandemic. says. “Not to say that everyone's perfect or whatever. You don't
Kisos and Canadian artist Cory Stewart had been hard at work have to fake positivity, but it’s more just about focusing on what's
plotting an LGBTQ music tour, “and then all the COVID news good. Focusing on what you like. So it's just about appreciating
started coming out,” Kisos says. “Cory was like, ‘Do you think we everybody instead of comparing.”
should not plan a whole tour when it looks like things might be Maintaining that positivity isn’t as hard as one might think,
happening in the world?’ I was like, ‘You know what? Good idea. reveals the artist, who describes his recently-released second EP
Maybe let's put this on hold.’ Obviously, none of us expected it to Sweet Nothings as “music to break your heart and heal your soul.”
go for as long as it did, and be as deep as it's going to be.” Queerantine just happens to attract “a super positive group, and
Still, Kisos and Stewart remained committed to showcas- I really don't have to do anything. I did prep in certain weeks —
ing queer music acts, if not live, then digitally via Twitch, best like when we did, at the peak of the Black Lives Matter protests,
known as a hub for gamers. “I've been livestreaming since an all-Black lineup, of all LGBTQ artists. And I was just waiting
2018 on Twitch, but it was more just kind for racist, homophobic trolls to come in. But,
of playing games, or sometimes I would do Click Here to actually, nothing happened. And it was one
acoustic sets,” says Kisos. “I was like, okay, Watch “Queerantine” of our best episodes and everyone had a great
what can I do that's more of an event?” Thus, time, and we raised over four thousand dol-
Queerantine was born — a weekly interactive, 21st-century lars that day. So it's just been really surreal to see how everything
TRL-style music video marathon, featuring Kisos and a guest fell into place without me having to try that much. Like once I set
host chatting alongside the latest clips by queer indie artists like it up, everyone was there, everyone was ready to be positive. And
Sellah, foxgluvv, and Teacup Dragun. it was amazing.” —André Hereford
theFeed
Harris
Counting On Kamala
Joe Biden picks LGBTQ ally Kamala Harris
for Vice President. By Rhuaridh Marr and John Riley
J
OE BIDEN HAS PICKED SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA) race at the end of last year — the California senator has become
to be his running mate and potential vice president, his a vocal supporter of the former Vice President, often drawing
campaign has announced. Harris, a strong supporter of strong contrasts between a potential Biden presidency and the
LGBTQ rights, will become the nation’s first female, Black and current Trump administration.
Indian American vice president if she and Biden are successful Her selection as vice president finally ends months of spec-
in November’s election against Donald Trump. ulation over whether Harris would receive the nod from Biden,
“You make a lot of important decisions as president. But the despite widespread support and most pundits agreeing that
first one is who you select to be your Vice President,” Biden Harris would be the likely pick.
wrote in an email to supporters. “I’ve decided that Kamala It also cements the Biden-Harris ticket as one of the most
Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald pro-LGBTQ campaigns in recent memory, and possibly ever.
Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in Harris, elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, has a long history
January 2021.” of supporting and defending LGBTQ rights, including perhaps
In a follow-up tweet, Biden called Harris a “fearless fighter most notably during her tenure as California’s attorney general,
for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants.” where she refused to defend the state’s ban on same-sex mar-
“Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked close- riage, Proposition 8, ultimately setting the stage for marriage
ly with Beau,” Biden said, referencing his son. “I watched as they equality to be legalized nationwide in 2015.
took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected A longtime supporter of marriage equality, Harris not only
women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud refused to defend Proposition 8 as attorney general, but also
now to have her as my partner in this campaign.” spoke out against it prior to its passage in 2008.
While Harris, 55, and Biden, 77, clashed during the presiden- When Harris was first elected as the District Attorney for San
tial campaign — an exchange over busing led to Harris to briefly Francisco County, she installed an LGBTQ hate crimes unit to
become the Democratic frontrunner, before bowing out of the work with victims and to prosecute those who commit bias-mo-
DC Eagle
Frozen Funds
DC Eagle allegedly withheld tens of thousands in PPP loan money
from employees. By John Riley
M
ONTHS AFTER THE DC EAGLE CLOSED DUE TO spaces where they felt secure in their LGBTQ identities, some
alleged mismanagement, former employees say they also reported that they were still owed checks for hours worked
have still not been paid for past-due wages, even prior to the Eagle’s closure.
though the bar received tens of thousands of dollars from the Miguel Ayala, who served as the DC Eagle’s marketing pro-
federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program. motions manager, claims that he assisted Lloyd in applying for
Bank accounts belonging to D.C.’s longest-running LGBTQ a PPP loan — a program implemented by the federal govern-
leather, kink and BDSM club have allegedly been frozen amid ment as a way to assist small businesses affected by the ongoing
an ongoing legal fight between Eagle co-owners Ted Clements COVID-19 pandemic — in the hope of obtaining money to com-
and Peter Lloyd, preventing an estimated $35,000 in federally pensate the bar’s employees.
provided funds from reaching former employees to cover lost He says the application was submitted in late April, weeks
wages during the COVID-19 pandemic. after the bar closed to customers amid the raging global pan-
Former employees and an attorney for Lloyd accuse Clements demic.
— majority owner of the business entity Eagle N Exile LLC, “When we closed on March 15, there were no more shifts,”
which operated the bar — of having the Eagle’s accounts frozen says Ayala. “There was no money to pay employees. Because
before employees could be paid with the funds. They also allege we closed in the middle of a pay period, we had checks owed
that he failed to pay wages, utility bills, and vendors prior to the to employees. We applied, and got a notice around April 28 or
Eagle’s closure. 29 that we were approved. So I let Peter know that right away.”
The closure of the DC Eagle, which had served Washington- Ayala claims he and Lloyd “had a primary concern and fear
area patrons for nearly 48 years, came as a shock to some of the that the money would be mishandled by someone other than us,”
bar’s lower-level employees, who were informed of the decision and so Lloyd opened a separate bank account, attached to Eagle
to close during a Zoom meeting in early May. N Exile, “where we would be able to store that [PPP] money
While many lamented the end of a bar that had played such until it was distributed.”
a significant role, not only as an employer, but as one of the first “Our goal was to distribute the money to employees imme-
Ellis
Transphobic Tweeting
Trump advisor Jenna Ellis misgenders and attacks Pennsylvania Health Secretary
Rachel Levine. By John Riley
T
RUMP 2020 CAMPAIGN ADVISOR JENNA ELLIS rant named one of its dishes after her in a jab that made a gross
continued her habit of anti-LGBTQ comments, aiming reference to her genitalia, and she’s been frequently misgen-
her fire at Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine, dered on social media with transphobic memes.
who is transgender, and misgendering her in a tweet. The harassment led Levine to denounce the attacks, telling
Commenting on a May 2020 article about an incident her detractors that they weren’t harming her so much as “per-
where Levine criticized a reporter for a right-wing talk radio petuat[ing] a spirit of intolerance and discrimination” against
station after he repeatedly called her “sir” during an on-air LGTBQ Pennsylvanians, particularly transgender youth strug-
interview, Ellis tweeted: “This guy is making decisions about gling with their identity.
your health.” In response, a state lawmaker who has previously called for
Ellis is a senior legal advisor to the Trump campaign, and has her resignation over the slow reopening of the Pennsylvania
a long history of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, including endorsing anti- economy then rewrote her comments to create a parody in
LGBTQ conversion therapy and saying higher HIV rates among which people who refuse to wear masks during the COVID-19
gay and bisexual men was “God’s moral law.” pandemic are victims of discrimination.
Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) The Human Rights Campaign condemned Ellis’s remarks in
responded to Ellis’ tweet, saying that Levine is “a world-class a statement.
public health expert who has been saving countless thousands of “Jenna Ellis is a bigot and Dr. Levine is a patriot — plain and
lives. I realize you may not know what that looks like.” simple. Dr. Levine illustrates character and patriotism while
Sims continued: “She’s also a hero to LGBTQ+ people like me Ellis cannot even define those terms. Using a person’s pronouns
and doesn’t deserve your scorn or mockery.” is a basic level of respect,” HRC President Alphonso David said.
Levine, due to her public persona as the person in charge of “Despite claims of allyship, Donald Trump, Mike Pence and
Pennsylvania’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has drawn their staff have gone out of their way to dehumanize and attack
the attention of anti-LGBTQ social conservatives. transgender and non-binary people simply for existing,” David
A person in a dress claiming to be Dr. Levine was featured as added. “Trump and his allies have refused to acknowledge the
part of the “dunk tank” at a local festival, a Pennsylvania restau- epidemic of violence transgender and gender non-conforming
Bergin
Change of Mind
Mormon therapist apologizes for homophobic past
after ‘painful’ education from gay sons. By Rhuaridh Marr
A
PROMINENT MORMON THERAPIST WHO SUP- of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
ported conversion therapy and made homophobic claims In a formal apology to Latter Gay Stories, a podcast deal-
about gay people has apologized and urged others to ing with LGBTQ issues and the Mormon Church, Bergin, 85,
reconsider their anti-gay views. Dr. Allen Bergin is a clinical revealed that two of sons are gay, as well as one of his grand-
psychologist known for his work integrating psychotherapy and children. As such, he had endured a “painful and enlightening”
religion, as well as for his leadership positions within the Church education on the gay experience, which has transformed how he
Teacher Trouble
Gay congressional candidate Alex Morse rebuts "completely untrue"
allegations of improper conduct with students. By John Riley
H
OLYOKE MAYOR ALEX MORSE, THE PROGRESSIVE Though none of the students were in Morse's classes or in
challenger to U.S. House Ways and Means Chairman a subordinate position to Morse, the letter argued that, while
Richard Neal (D-Mass.), has rebutted accusations that consensual, Morse had created a "lopsided power dynamic" by
he engaged in improper conduct by pursuing sexual relation- taking advantage of his position as both an elected official and
ships with college students, calling some of the allegations as a professor.
lodged against him "completely untrue." To begin with, Morse called the timing of the accusations —
Speaking on Tuesday with Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti, dropped less than three weeks before what many expected to be
hosts of The Hill's online web series Rising, Morse denied any a fiercely contested Democratic primary on Sept. 1 — "incredibly
wrongdoing and challenged the factual basis of some of the suspicious," given that he's been running for mayor for more
allegations that had been made in a letter from the College than a year but the accusations are only coming forward now.
Democrats of Massachusetts disinviting him from future events. Throughout his campaign, Morse has touted his progressive
In that letter, the College Democrats claimed that Morse, a bona fides, running on a platform that includes support for
political science adjunct professor and lecturer at UMass Amherst, Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and other liberal initia-
matched with Democratic and progressive students on dating tives, while also blasting Neal — whom The American Prospect
apps, added them as "friends" on social media and sent them direct reported in February was the member of Congress who had
messages, and engaged in sexual relationships with students. received the most campaign money from pro-business political
Morse
action committees — for being beholden to corporate interests and the way in which he's used his power over a 30-year period."
and using his chairmanship to defeat amendments or bills that Morse also takes issue with the claims made in the College
would help working people, including one that would have Democrats' letter, saying that the allegations are vague, although
ended surprise medical billing. he insists that the messages he sent to people were neither sex-
Morse later told public radio station WAMC he believes the ual nor salacious.
Neal campaign was involved in the publication of the allegations "If you look at the letter from the College Democrats, there is
against him, saying he would "not be surprised" if more informa- very little specificity. There are no names. Even their follow-up
tion comes to light regarding the basis for the accusations that statement talks about Instagram messages, but doesn't go as far
reveals them to be part of a political smear. as to say the messages were inappropriate," he said.
"I think this is what happens when you go against power," he "Anyone on my 'Close Friends' on Instagram knows I take
said. "This would not be happening if I wasn't a candidate for pictures of sunsets and chocolate-chip cookies and blueberry
Congress, this would not be happening if I wasn't on the verge of muffins that I cook...and so, I just think it's interesting that three
defeating one of the most powerful Democrats in this country.' weeks out, we're talking about my personal sex life," Morse
A spokeswoman for the Neal campaign told the Springfield- continued.
based newspaper The Republican that the campaign played no Morse flatly rejected the notion that he had behaved in a
role in the publication of the allegations, praising the "coura- lecherous manner with members of the College Democrats of
geous" students who lodged accusations against Morse while Massachusetts.
also noting that the College Democrats came forward of their "[T]his suggestion that I would seek out college students
own accord. at College Democrats events is completely untrue. I've never
Morse told the Rising co-hosts that the story was "shopped hooked up with a college student that I've met at a College
around" to outlets like Politico and The Washington Post in the Democrats event. I've been to one College Democrats event
preceding weeks, who passed on it because they were never since I announced this campaign over a year ago," he said.
able to obtain on-record confirmation from any students who, Morse did acknowledge that he should have been more cog-
as the letter claimed, felt "uncomfortable" after learning of his nizant of his positions of power and the way that might influence
positions. people's reactions towards him, and apologized if any students
"Basically the UMass Daily Collegian" — which first reported felt "uncomfortable" after he sent them "friendly Instagram mes-
the accusations — "just printed word-for-word an email from the sages, thanking them for the panel, or for the event."
College Democrats," Morse said. "And the mainstream media, I "It was never my intention to abuse power whatsoever. And I
think, have done an incredible disservice by amplifying this, and don't think I ever have. I've never used my status as mayor or as
publications from the Boston Globe to other outlets have given a guest lecturer at UMass Amherst to coerce or take advantage
more scrutiny to my personal sex life, and personal life, than of any students," he said. "I am completely confident that I have
they've ever given scrutiny to Congressman Neals' corruption not violated any policies of the University of Massachusetts, and
Harboring Hate
Gay Arab couple attacked and spat on as large crowd watches. By Rhuaridh Marr
A
TEENAGER HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN ISRAEL Prior to the attack, the couple — who are Arab Israeli — report-
after allegedly spitting on and attacking a young gay edly kissed while in the harbor area after enjoying a boat tour.
Arab couple in the port city of Jaffa.Hundreds of peo- Itzik Avneri, who operates a tour boat business, said the
ple watched as the 16-year-old and another person harassed attack took place next to his boat and that he tried to help the
the couple after allegedly spotting them kissing in the harbor, couple. He told Haaretz that he attempted to restrain the attack-
Haaretz reports. ers, and ultimately pushed one of them into the water in the
The men were reportedly attacked because of their sexuality, harbor — something visible in the background of the footage of
with the alleged suspect telling a witness that they were “[giving] the incident.
Arabs a bad name.” “I have a tour boat in the port, and there was the holiday [Eid
Footage of the attack, which police described as “grim video al-Adha] for the past few days when a lot of Muslims come to the
evidence of the brawl,” was shared online, showing the couple port to have a good time and take a cruise,” Avneri said. “Two
being assaulted by at least two men while another person inter- guys got on the boat to go sailing and when it ended, they got off
venes to help them. and sat on the dock next to each other. Other people saw them
The teenager who allegedly participated in the attack was and spat at them.”
arrested after the attack and charged with aggravated assault When he intervened, one of the alleged attackers reportedly
and committing a hate crime. told him that they were harassing the couple “[because] we’re
Super Ceremony
Hulkling and Wiccan
Marvel features first-ever same-sex wedding between gay superheroes. By Rhuaridh Marr
M
ARVEL HAS PUBLISHED ITS FIRST-EVER COMIC and Wiccan co-creators Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung appear
featuring a same-sex wedding between two super- as greeters at the venue.
heroes. In Empyre #4, Young Avengers members The characters were first introduced in 2005’s Young
Hulkling and Wiccan — alter egos of Teddy Altman and Billy Avengers, where their relationship was widely interpreted to
Kaplan — were shown to have wed in a secret ceremony prior to be more than just a friendship — something later confirmed by
a major cosmic event. Heinberg, who had intended to reveal their relationship at a
Marvel has published same-sex weddings before, but later date.
Hulkling and Wiccan’s nuptials represent the first time that two Empyre writer Al Ewing said he has “a lot of love for Hulkling
gay superheroes have tied the knot. and Wiccan, both individually and as a couple.”
In Empyre #4, the pair head to Las Vegas for a last-minute “It’s a good feeling to be able to deliver this kind of ‘shock
wedding attended by their Young Avengers friends. They opted ending’ for readers,” he said of the surprise wedding, “which
to marry prior to Hulkling venturing into space to become the hopefully lifts fans’ spirits a little rather than bringing them
Emperor of the Kree/Skrull alliance, CBR reports. down.”
The wedding was revealed in a surprise flashback at the end Cheung, who co-created the heroes, said he had “no inkling”
of Empyre #4, but was fully addressed in Empyre #5, released the characters would survive for as long as they have — gaining
on August 12. In the issue, Wiccan describes the wedding as the status as Marvel’s most prominent gay superheroes in the pro-
“ultimate drop-everything secret mission,” decided in the hour cess,” PinkNews reports.
prior to Hulkling leaving for space. “Billy and Teddy really became fully fleshed people to me,
“I just looked at him and... I couldn’t keep it in,” Wiccan tells thanks to Allan’s incredible writing, and it’s been wonderfully
Human Torch and Captain Marvel. “Everything I felt about him. rewarding to follow their growth and evolution under the guid-
This unbelievable space prince.” ance of other creators over the years,” Cheung said.
Hulkling then suggests the couple marry, and they teleport to “Now that they’re taking their relationship to the next level,
Las Vegas for the ceremony — where, in an Easter egg, Hulkling I can’t wait to watch where their next adventure takes them!”
Comes
Mr. Jordan
A natural, hilarious storyteller, Leslie Jordan is the star
of this Saturday’s Gay Men’s Chorus virtual summer gala.
particular.
This Saturday, Aug. 15, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington will present
Jordan as part of a brand-new virtual gala. Billing him as “the Quarantine Queen
and Emmy-winning star of NBC-TV's Will & Grace,” the organizers of “A Summer
Soirée with Leslie Jordan” promise “hilarious stories from his many adventures in
the entertainment industry.” For his part, Jordan vows to make the most of it. “I'm
going to put on a tuxedo, and stand in my apartment, and virtually host a wonderful
evening. They have so much planned,” he says. Indeed, gala attendees can expect
“I was playing a Ferengi on Star Trek. I delivered my first line, and they
just fell on the floor. The director said, "This is not ‘Deep South Nine.’
I had to work with a linguist,
who said, ‘Mr. Jordan,
feather doesn't have
four syllables!’”
30 AUGUST 13 & 20, 2020 • METROWEEKLY.COM
“Young actors say, ‘I don’t want to be typecast.’ Yes you do! Yes you do!
The minute you're typecast, you work. All the shit they teach you in acting
class, that's not going to happen.
Luca Buvoli
T
HROUGH HIS ONGOING ASTRODOUBT AND THE of Art in Baltimore, was invited by the Phillips Collection
Quarantine Chronicles series, multimedia artist Luca to produce new work that engages in some way with the
Buvoli has been reflecting on our present-day realities museum’s permanent collection as part of its Intersections
through the guise of a fictitious astronaut. Named Astrodoubt, series — and becoming the first-ever digital Intersections
the character doesn’t let an earth-shattering deadly pandemic edition in the process. The result is an extension of Buvoli’s
get in the way of his escapist fantasies about life in outer space Astrodoubt series — with the astronaut exploring 12 paint-
or a post-pandemic future on this planet. ings from the collection, inserting text to reflect on each
Buvoli, an Italian-born, New York-based artist also on scene depicted from an often tragicomic perspective of
the faculty at the prestigious Maryland Institute College COVID-19. —Doug Rule
Picture: Present is featured on the Phillips’ website as well as on its Instagram account. A Zoom Artist Talk with Buvoli is set for
Thursday, Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.phillipscollection.org or www.instagram.com/phillipscollection.
I
golden boy, “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t
F LIFE IS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL, AND POLITICS HAS BECOME JUST A REAL- lose” bravado belies a genuinely thought-
ity show, then the documentary Boys State (HHHHH) has found the perfect for- ful young man. The fourth, Ben Feinstein,
mula for distilling our modern political era down to one riveting campaign among a whip-smart amputee who prominently
a group of teens in Texas. Since 1935 — starting in Illinois, then throughout the U.S. raises his disability in his campaign speech
— the American Legion has sponsored Boys State, which assembles high school lads for party chairman, is the most openly cal-
for a week-long immersion in the functioning of state and local government. The deep culating, confessing a belief that “personal
dive into policy and civil discourse also confers a profound education in partisanship, attacks” are sometimes the most effective,
at least according to the film’s broad insight into the summer 2018 assembly of Boys expedient tactic.
State Texas. Being bright teens, these guys aren’t
Day one, participants are randomly assigned to two political parties, Federalist and above deception and obfuscation, yet
Nationalist, the members of which must caucus to decide their respective party’s posi- they’re guileless enough to be refreshing-
tions and candidates in elections for statewide offices. The top elected spot would be ly transparent about it, relative to their
the office of governor, although races for party chairman on both sides turn out to be adult counterparts. The film’s directors
hotly contested, as well. Of the hundreds of boys assembled, only a few will lead, and, Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss dangle
whether to stoke their ambitions, to better themselves, or merely for the power and the question of what happens to politi-
popularity, the ones who want it really want it. cal aspirants between these noble years
They’re all also shrewdly aware that the previous year’s Boys State Texas assembly of wanting to perform a public service,
garnered headlines and hits nationwide by voting to secede from the United States. and later becoming a hypocritical party
The temptation to leave a similarly sensational mark on history stooge. The distance
is brought up by more than one participant. They are a savvy Click Here to Watch the from one to the other
group, social media-fluent, conscious of the camera but not over- “Boys State” Trailer might not be as vast as
ly self-conscious, and still notably conservative in their politics. seemingly good guys
Even in Texas, it’s striking to hear so many 17 and 18-year olds this fired up about being like Steven Garza would hope. Not that
anti-abortion and pro-gun. One candidate for party chair, René Otero, calls the experi- any of these kids are bad guys — merely
ence an education “that every liberal needs.” the voices of our future reflecting the
A Black kid originally from Chicago, Otero operates with verbal dexterity and a truth right back at us.
“The church has lost her way and fails to communicate this message
when it flies a sodomite flag.”
—DANIEL CHARLES SVOBODA, a “Trump Republican” and recent candidate for the Washington House of Representatives,
in an email to The Leader explaining why he tore down a rainbow Pride flag from Seabold United Methodist Church on Bainbridge Island.
Svoboda may face charges of harassment and malicious mischief after congregants alleged
he threatened them while removing the flag.