Metro Weekly - 10-22-15 - Danny Pintauro

8/20/2019 Metro Weekly - 10-22-15 - Danny Pintauro

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRandy Shulman

ART DIRECTORTodd Franson

MANAGING EDITORRhuaridh Marr

SENIOR EDITORJohn Riley

CONTRIBUTING EDITORDoug Rule

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERSWard Morrison, Julian Vankim

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORScott G. Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSean Bugg, Chris Heller, Connor J. Hogan,

Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield

WEBMASTERDavid Uy

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTJulian Vankim

SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHERRandy Shulman

BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETINGChristopher Cunetto

Cunetto Creative

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Rivendell Media Co.212-242-6863

DISTRIBUTION MANAGERDennis Havrilla

PATRON SAINTJonathan Bower

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYThomas Evans

METRO WEEKLY1425 K St. NW, Suite 350Washington, DC 20005

202-638-6830

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OCTOBER 22, 2015Volume 22 / Issue 25

NEWS 8

IN SEARCH OF A SPEAKER by John Riley

10 MODEL LEGISLATION

by John Riley

COMMENTARY 12 GO FOR THE GAYS

by Timothy Rosenberger

14 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SCENE

18 LOG CABIN R EPUBLICANS’

SPIRIT OF LINCOLN DINNER

photography by

Ward Morrison

FEATURES 20 DANNY PINTAURO

Interview by John Riley

27 TREATING THE

WHOLE PATIENT

by John Riley

29 AMERICAN FINE CRAFT SHOW

by Doug Rule

OUT ON THE TOWN 32 SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER

by Connor J. Hogan

34 R ANDY GRAFF

by Connor J. Hogan

STAGE 39 S ALOMÉ

by Kate Wingfield

MUSIC 41 JANET JACKSON

by Gordon Ashenhurst

NIGHTLIFE 45 V ELVETNATION AT TOWN

photography by Ward Morrison

SCENE 52 SCARLET SCREAMS BAKE SALE AT

THE DC EAGLE

photography by Ward Morrison

54 LAST WORD


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In Search of a Speaker“Palace intrigue” during leadership vacuum in wake of John Boehner’sretirement exposes rifts among GOP caucus

(L-R) Ryan, Webster, Blackburn and Flores

IT’S THE POLITICAL EQUIVALENT OF “WHO’S ON

First?” that has left GOP leaders in Congress squabblingwith one another. And it’s an internal political battle that

could come to a head this week.In the wake of Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) announce-

ment that he plans to retire from Congress at the end of October,rather than finishing out his 13th term, the GOP has found itself

without a consensus choice to lead the party in the U.S. House of

Representatives. GOP leadership had initially coalesced aroundHouse Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), but pressure

from members of the Freedom Caucus — a right-wing group of30 to 40 Republicans who want the GOP to be tougher on spend-

ing cuts and opposing President Obama — forced McCarthy toannounce two weeks ago that he was dropping out of the race.

Such is the problem with any candidate for Speaker. So longas members of the Freedom Caucus insist on one of their own

— or at least a leader who will prioritize pushing conservative

legislation and play hardball with the White House — they have

U . S . H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E

S O F F I C I A L P O R T R A I T S

enough votes to not only deny a potential Speaker the votes for

confirmation, but threaten rebellion and repercussions for anytop Republican who cuts a political deal with the Democratic

White House.According to most news outlets and Beltway conventional

wisdom, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), the party’s vice presi-

dential nominee from 2012, has been touted as a figure thatcould be acceptable to both the ultra-conservative flank and

the more establishment Republicans within the GOP caucus.However, Ryan is reportedly skeptical of taking the job in light

of Boehner’s resignation and the Freedom Caucus’ threats.Additionally, some right-wing organizations and media out-

lets have attacked Ryan as insufficiently conservative due to hisvotes in favor of various bailouts during the financial crisis of

2008 and the subsequent recession, for cutting a budget deal

with Senate Democrats, and for his support of comprehensiveimmigration reform.

According to CNN, Republicans were expected to hash out

by John Riley

L G B TNews Now online at MetroWeekly.comKenyan President Won’t Allow Gay “Witch Hunts”Westboro Baptist Church pickets Kim Davis


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LGBTNews

10

their differences this Wednesday, when the GOP was sched-uled to hold two closed-door conferences to discuss the party’s

future and its vision for how the House will be run. Some pro-posals that are expected to be discussed include: placing more

Tea Party Republicans in positions of leadership, stoppingretaliations against those conservative members who buck party

leadership on key votes, and pushing for votes on conservative

legislation, even those bills which either do not have enoughsupport to pass or will be vetoed by President Obama.

In light of the most recent political developments, accuratelypredicting the next Speaker of the House is essentially as reli-

able as a political parlor game. Besides Ryan, other names thathave been floated include Reps. Bill Flores (R-Texas), the head

of the Republican Study Committee, another conservativecaucus within the GOP, Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.), Daniel

Webster (R-Fla.), Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) and Marsha Blackburn

(R-Tenn.). In all, the names of more than 20 different membersof the GOP caucus have been floated as potential speakers, but

some of those mentioned are considered too close to the currentparty leadership, likely dooming their chances of emerging as a

consensus candidate.As a result of the unpredictability surrounding the Speaker’s

race, it is also unclear whether the next GOP House leaderwould be as willing to consider fostering a working relationshipwith LGBT conservatives as Boehner has, let alone allowing

votes on pieces of pro-LGBT legislation.“I, at this juncture, am not going to make any statements

expressing favoritism for any particular candidate for Speaker,”says Gregory T. Angelo, president of the Log Cabin Republicans,

when asked for political predictions. “This is still a very fluidrace, and I would want to make sure that whomever gets

the speakership starts off on the right foot with Log Cabin

Republicans, and that we’re able to have a working relationshipwith the Speaker’s office, in the same way we’ve had a working

relationship with Speaker Boehner’s office in the past.”

But David Stacy, the director of government affairs for theHuman Rights Campaign, says that those looking for a positiveoutcome from the Speaker’s race, at least in terms of LGBT

rights, are likely to be disappointed.

“None of the candidates for Speaker have particularly goodrecords on LGBT issues,” Stacy says. “I do think you can dif-

ferentiate Paul Ryan a tad, because he voted for a sexual orien-

tation-only version of ENDA in 2007, and recently voted on anamendment on the Transportation and Housing appropriations

bill that said no funds can be used in contravention of the presi-dent’s federal contractor executive order.”

That said, Stacy adds, the rest of Ryan’s record on LGBTrights — especially on issues related to marriage and relation-

ship recognition — is not especially favorable. According to

HRC’s congressional scorecard, of the 20 to 25 members whose

names have been floated as a potential Speaker, almost all ofthem, including Ryan, have zero ratings.

But Angelo dismisses doomsaying from the left, saying his

LGBT organization is hoping to establish working relationshipswith whomever becomes the next Speaker in order to lobby the

GOP on embracing pro-equality measures.

“I would just say this: there has rarely been a door that hasbeen closed to Log Cabin Republicans,” Angelo says. “And I can

only speak for my time as president of this organization, butthere has rarely been a time that a Republican office has not

expressed a willingness to engage with us, discover and learnmore about the issues for which we’re lobbying, and find out

more about what it is to be an LGBT Republican.”

Angelo acknowledges that the next Speaker will have a lotof work on his or her hands to unite the party and reconcile

divisions among the various factions within the GOP caucus.He also has praise for Boehner, whom he said did “yeoman’s

work” and was never credited for holding together “one of themost fractured House Republican conferences in history.” He

believes the person who will emerge as Speaker will be the onewho articulates a clear vision of what they hope to accomplish

while promoting conservative ideas and values.

“I think the thing that’s going to ultimately help the partyand the House to forge ahead is someone who is able to take the

Speaker’s gavel and come up with a new and innovative way tolead this caucus,” he says. “Ultimately, some sort of change is

needed in terms of the way leadership approaches legislation,approaches passage of legislation, and so I think there is some

opportunity there for a consensus candidate to emerge. But theycan’t just be a consensus candidate; they need to be a consensus

candidate that presents a vision for how the day-to-day work of

the House is going to transpire.”l

OCTOBER 22, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM

Model Legislation National LGBT organizations lay framework for state legislators to follow

when curbing conversion therapy

by John Riley

WHETHER YOU CALL IT COOKIE-CUTTER

politics or a paint-by-numbers approach to leg-islating, proponents of ending sexual orienta-

tion change efforts are offering up model legisla-tion aimed at achieving their goal.

The sample legislation, released Tuesday by the National

Center for Lesbian Rights and the Human Rights Campaign,

seeks to provide guidance to state legislators who wish to pro-

hibit licensed therapists or mental health practitioners fromsubjecting minors to conversion therapy, aimed at changing

a person’s sexual orientation. Four states — California, NewJersey, Oregon and Illinois — and the District of Columbia cur-

rently prohibit such practices on individuals under the age of 18.

NCLR and HRC’s preferred legislative framework


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LGBTNews

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was introduced less than a week after the release of a

report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration that consulted experts in child and adoles-cent mental health, eventually drawing the conclusion that

conversion therapy is not considered an appropriate thera-peutic approach to youth experiencing feelings of same-sex

attraction or gender dysphoria.The sample draws language from bills introduced in more

than 20 states where such legislation has previously been

introduced. It also mirrors provisions in the Therapeutic FraudPrevention Act, a federal bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu

(D-Calif.), which would amend the Federal Trade CommissionAct to classify for-profit conversion therapy, and its promises to

change sexual orientation or gender identity, as “fraud.”Sarah Warbelow, legal director for HRC, called the sample

legislation important, saying it comes at a critical time in thefight for LGBT rights and calling conversion therapy “a junk

pseudoscience that amounts to nothing more than child abuse.”

Warbelow said her organization looks forward to working withlocal legislators to pass bills based on the model legislation.

By incorporating what are widely seen as “best practices”into the bill, NCLR and HRC are also giving states a push toward

ending a practice that is widely panned by most, if not all, main-

stream medical and mental health organizations as ineffective.

NCLR hopes to prod states into introducing and passing suchlegislation. The organization’s goal is to ban conversion therapy

for LGBT youth in all states by 2019.In addition to prohibiting the practice on minors, the bill also

provides optional language that can be used to define promisesto change sexual orientation or gender identity as “fraud.” Other

optional provisions include the expansion of prohibitions on

conversion therapy to cover “vulnerable adults” as defined by

individual states, and prohibitions on disbursing state fundsto mental health practitioners, therapists or organizations thatengage in the practice.

“This sample legislation is the culmination of two decadesworking to end conversion therapy, three years helping states

take legislative steps to protect youth from these ineffective

and harmful practices, and a truly exceptional coalition of legalexperts from across the country,” Samantha Ames, a staff attor-

ney for NCLR, said in a statement. “What has emerged from thisextraordinary process is a bill that is both true to our shared

values and legally airtight. Moving forward, we could not bemore excited to work with state legislators and equality groups

equipped with this powerful tool to end conversion therapy

once and for all.” l

OCTOBER 22, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM

COMMENTARY

Go for the Gays LGBT voters are an essential part of the American social fabric and

the GOP should view them as a boon

by Timothy Rosenberger

LAST TUESDAY’S DEMOCRATIC DEBATE STOODin stark contrast to the GOP debates, which have fea-

tured useless equivocating that does nothing to attractvoters — while clearly angering others.

This is especially clear on LGBT issues. No GOP presiden-tial candidate looks likely to push for ENDA or for expanded

rights for trans Americans. That said, it’s unlikely any GOP

Presidential candidate could actually reverse marriage equal-ity or the advances that LGBT Americans have made over the

last decade. Rather than allowing Huckabee and Ben Carson torailroad the debate into these dicey waters, the party should get

everyone to just shut up about gay issues.The pitch the GOP can make to the LGBT segment of the

electorate is actually very simple. Gay couples often have higher

disposable incomes than their straight counterparts. They arelikely to be business owners or independent contractors. With

marriage won, the GOP has a lot to offer: less taxes and regula-tion, as well as more opportunities to create wealth and partici-

pate in the global economy. By not fixating on things that driveLGBT voters away, the GOP could actually make a strong, and

perhaps ultimately winning, play for the four or five percent ofthe electorate that identifies as other than straight.

While recent elections have brought Democratic candidates

with better records on LGBT issues than their Republican coun-

terparts, this is a relatively modern innovation. ConservativeLGBT groups actively supported Nixon and Reagan, and in 1996

Dole/Kemp were arguably ahead of Clinton/Gore on our issues.No less important than their ability to transcend party, LGBT

voters are an essential part of the American social fabric. Manyother countries now view gay rights and openly gay people as a

dangerous Western import. The GOP should view gays as a boon

if only because of the wildfire manner with which AmericanizedLGBT rights have advanced our nation’s interests and stature

abroad.The GOP establishment is attacking Donald Trump for his

unartful comments about immigrants, but seems markedly lessconcerned about Ben Carson mouthing off about “the gays.”

Trump is doing just fine in hypothetical matchups with Clinton

and has made the base incredibly excited to turn out and vote. Ifthe party wants to see a change in the box score on 2016’s elec-

tion night, it is looking at the wrong voters. There are plenty ofgay voters clinging to God, guns, and religion who are ready to

settle for a Republican — as soon as one who isn’t actively toxicrises to the fore.

Tim Rosenberger is the former Vice-Chair of the DC Federationof College Republicans and a former member of GeorgetownUniversity’s Pride Board. l


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WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing,9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707,andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Hains Point, 927Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

GAY MARRIED MEN’SASSOCIATION (GAMMA) is aconfidential support group for menwho are gay, bisexual, questioningand who are married or involved witha woman, that meets on the secondand fourth Fridays of the month inDupont Circle at 7:30 p.m. GAMMAalso offers additional meeting timesand places for men in Northern Virginia and Maryland. For moreinformation: GAMMAinDC.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call202-745-7000. Visitwhitman-walker.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offersfree, rapid HIV testing. Appointmentneeded. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.202-638-0750.

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming social group for ages 11-24.

4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422,layc-dc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT providesa social atmosphere for GLBT andquestioning youth, featuring danceparties, vogue nights, movies andgames. More info, [email protected].

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155,[email protected].

IDENTITY offers free andconfidential HIV testing inGaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in Takoma Park, 7676 NewHampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins2-6 p.m. For appointments otherhours, call Gaithersburg, 301-300-

9978, or Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.


SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group isindependent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,13-21, interested in leadershipdevelopment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected].

FRIDAY, OCT. 23CENTER AGING, a group for LGBTseniors, holds its monthly lunch eventat The DC Center. 12-2 p.m. 200014th St. NW, Suite 105. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP for adults in Montgomery Countyoffers a safe space to explore comingout and issues of identity. 10-11:30a.m. 16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite512, Gaithersburg, Md. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, asocial discussion and activity groupfor LBT women, holds its meetingson the second and fourth Fridays ofeach month. Group social activity tofolow the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 200014th St. NW, Suite 105. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

THURSDAY, OCT. 22Rainbow Response Coalition andthe Human Rights Campaign host

SHOW ME LOVE: A ROBUSTDISCUSSION PROMOTINGHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS,an event for Domestic Violence

Awareness Month. D.C. AttorneyGeneral Karl Racine to attend. 6:30-8:30 p.m. HRC, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. For more information, visitrainbowresponse.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing,9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma AquaticCenter, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay andlesbian square-dancing group featuresmainstream through advanced squaredancing at the National City ChristianChurch, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,dclambdasquares.org.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social group meets for happyhour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome.

dullestriangles.com.


Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area

LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.

Event information should be sent by email to [email protected].

Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication.

Questions about the calendar may be directed to the

Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or

the calendar email address.

LGBTCommunityCalendar

SATURDAY, OCT. 24BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers forFood & Friends. To participate, visit burgundycrescent.org.

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group visits two historic homes, Oatlands

and the George C. Marshall Home,near Leesburg, Va. Admission andtransportation fees under $30. Bringa picnic lunch. Carpool at 9 a.m. fromthe East Falls Church Metro station.Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@ verizon.net.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing,9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707 orandromedatransculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded bymembers of the LGBT community,holds Saturday morning Shabbatservices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddushluncheon. Services in DCJCCCommunity Room, 1529 16th St. NW. betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includingothers interested in Brazilian culture,meets. For location/time, email [email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Hains Point, 972Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ walking/social club welcomes alllevels for exercise in a fun andsupportive environment, socializingafterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & PStreets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. forfun run. dcfrontrunners.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball teammeets at Turkey Thicket RecreationCenter, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4p.m. For players of all levels, gay orstraight. teamdcbasketball.org.

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass forLGBT community, family and friends.6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For more info, visitdignitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discussescritical languages and foreignlanguages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St.NW. RVSP preferred. [email protected].

IDENTITY offers free and confidentialHIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments otherhours, call 301-422-2398.


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SUNDAY, OCT. 25ADVENTURING outdoors grouphikes 10 strenuous miles with 2200feet of elevation gain in southernShenandoah National Park. Suitablefor experienced, fit hikers only.Bring beverages, lunch, about $25 forfees, and money for dinner on way back. Carpool from East Falls Church

Metro station; return 10 p.m. or later.Harris, 443-415-7856.adventuring.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULSMEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m.,High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,allsoulsdc.org.

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressiveand radically inclusive church holdsservices at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota

Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Hains Point,972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman CatholicMass for the LGBT community. 6p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 1820Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.Sign interpreted. For more info, visitdignitynova.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITEDCHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes allto 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.

firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

FRIENDS MEETING OFWASHINGTON meets for worship,10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,Quaker House Living Room (nextto Meeting House on DecaturPlace), 2nd floor. Special welcometo lesbians and gays. Handicappedaccessible from Phelps Place gate.Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OFCHRIST welcomes GLBT communityfor worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 OldTelegraph Road, Alexandria.

hopeucc.org.

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORTGROUP for gay men living in theDC metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. Forinformation on location and time,email to [email protected].

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALDEVELOPMENT, God-centered newage church & learning center. SundayServices and Workshops event. 5419Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.

Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONALTEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OFCHRIST for an inclusive, loving andprogressive faith community everySunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.lincolntemple.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OFREFORMATION invites all to Sundayworship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is

available at both services. WelcomingLGBT people for 25 years. 212 EastCapitol St. NE. reformationdc.org.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITYCHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. OnettaBrooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.703-691-0930, mccnova.com.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITYCHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C. services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted)and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday Schoolat 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638-

7373, mccdc.com.

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIANCHURCH, inclusive church withGLBT fellowship, offers gospelworship, 8:30 a.m., and traditionalworship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,a Christ-centered, interracial,welcoming-and-affirming church,offers service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW.202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.

ST. STEPHEN AND THEINCARNATION, an “interracial,multi-ethnic Christian Community”offers services in English, 8 a.m. and10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m.1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900,saintstephensdc.org.

UNITARIAN CHURCH OFARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming-and-affirming congregation, offersservices at 10 a.m. Virginia RainbowUU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd.uucava.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTCHURCH OF SILVER SPRING invites LGBTQ families and

individuals of all creeds and culturesto join the church. Services 9:15 and11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave.uucss.org.

UNIVERSALIST NATIONALMEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcomingand inclusive church. GLBTInterweave social/service groupmeets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.


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MONDAY, OCT. 26CENTER MILITARY, a groupfor LGBT veterans, militaryservicemembers and their families,holds its monthly working groupmeeting to discuss upcominginitiatives. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St.NW, Suite 105. For more information,contact Eric Perez, eric.perez@

thedccenter.org or 202-682-2245.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point,927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holdspractice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. GarrisonElementary, 1200 S St. NW.dcscandals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. atQuaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW.

[email protected].

HIV Testing at WHITMAN-WALKERHEALTH. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call202-745-7000. Visitwhitman-walker.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY(K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIVtesting and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTERoffers free, rapid HIV testing. Noappointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments:

703-789-4467.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5p.m., by appointment and walk-in,for youth 21 and younger. YouthCenter, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155

or [email protected].

THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop-In for the Senior LGBT Community.10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.

US HELPING US hosts a black gaymen’s evening affinity group. 3636

Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATERPOLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 VanBuren St. NW. Newcomers with atleast basic swimming ability alwayswelcome. Tom, 703-299-0504,[email protected],wetskins.org.

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTHHIV/AIDS Support Group for newlydiagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.Registration required. 202-939-7671,[email protected].

TUESDAY, OCT. 27The DC Center’s GENDER QUEER

DISCUSSION GROUP meets todiscuss issues related to identityfor those who identify outside ofthe gender binary. 7-8:30 p.m. 200014th St. NW, Suite 105. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS


ASIANS AND FRIENDS weeklydinner in Dupont/Logan Circlearea, 6:30 p.m. [email protected],afwashington.net.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Takoma AquaticCenter, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/ walking/social club serving greaterD.C.’s LGBT community andallies hosts an evening run/walk.dcfrontrunners.org.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTHCOLLABORATIVE offers free

HIV testing and STI screening andtreatment every Tuesday. 5-6:30p.m. Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic, Alexandria Health Department, 4480King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-214-9617. [email protected].

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THEDC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,”

where volunteers assemble safe-sexkits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW.thedccenter.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidentialHIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 EastDiamond Ave., and in Takoma Park,7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointmentsother hours, call Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or Takoma Park at

301-422-2398.


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18 SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

sceneLog CabinRepublicans’ Spirit ofLincoln Dinner atThe Grand Hyatt

Thursday, October 8

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

WARD MORRISON

scan this tag

with your

smartphonefor bonus scene

pics online!


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KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIVtesting and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.703-823-4401.


OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—LGBT focused meeting everyTuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’sEpiscopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps from VirginiaSquare Metro. For more info. callDick, 703-521-1999. Handicappedaccessible. Newcomers [email protected].

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5p.m., by appointment and walk-in,for youth 21 and younger. YouthCenter, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155,[email protected].

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m.Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163,[email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a supportgroup for black gay men 40 and older.7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. \202-446-1100.

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAYMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 170114th St. NW. Patients are seen onwalk-in basis. No-cost screeningfor HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and

chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpestesting available for fee. whitman-walker.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28THE HIV PREVENTION WORKINGGROUP of The DC Center holds itsmonthly meeting to discuss ongoingand upcoming projects. 6-7:30 p.m.2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Formore information, visitthedccenter.org.

THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets

for Social Bridge. 7:30 p.m. DignityCenter, 721 8th St. SE, across fromthe Marine Barracks. No reservationneeded. 202-841-0279 if you needa partner.

THE LATINO LGBT TASKFORCE hosts a Town Hall meeting at The DCCenter focusing on the needs of thelocal LGBT Latino community in theareas of health, education, housing,economic development, immigrationand public safety. Representativesfrom D.C. government agencies and

local nonprofits will be present. 6-8p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Formore information, contact Eric Perez,202-682-2245 or [email protected].

WEEKLY EVENTS

AD LIB, a group for freestyleconversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.For more information, call FaustoFernandez, 703-732-5174.


DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Hains Point, 927Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holdspractice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW.dcscandals.wordpress.com.

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.


IDENTITY offers free and confidentialHIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.For appointments other hours, call

Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

JOB CLUB, a weekly supportprogram for job entrants and seekers,meets at The DC Center. 2000 14th St.NW, Suite 105. 6-7:30 p.m. For moreinfo, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free,rapid HIV testing. No appointmentneeded. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St.NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social clubfor mature gay men, hosts weeklyhappy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,Windows Bar above Dupont ItalianKitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl,703-573-8316. l


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but I wasn’t ready. I’m ready now.... I’m HIV-positive.”

With those words, Danny Pintauro revealed his HIV status notonly to Oprah Winfrey on her TV series Oprah: Where Are They

Now?, but to the public at large. Afterwards, Pintauro — an actorwho, in his youth, played Jonathan Bower on the ABC sitcom Who’sThe Boss? — told People magazine that he regretted not being a“beacon of light” who could act as a role model for younger LGBT

people.Following his revelation, Pintauro was hailed for speaking

openly about his HIV status, his methamphetamine addiction —

which he says contributed to his contracting the virus — and hisplans to raise public awareness during a time when media attention

once lavished on HIV has waned. In what has been dubbed the“Beacon of Light” tour, Pintauro has embarked on a mission to alert

the wider public — and the LGBT community in particular — aboutthe threat that HIV still poses and the importance of getting tested,

knowing one’s HIV status, and seeking the appropriate treatment.

As a result of his efforts in re-energizing HIV activism, Pintaurowill be honored by Whitman-Walker Health with their Courage

Award at the 29th annual Walk to End HIV this Saturday, Oct. 24.Pintauro — who was previously interviewed by Metro Weekly in1999 about his experience coming out as gay — hopes to use the

event to gain experience for what he expects will be a year of travel-ing across the country.

“The ‘Beacon of Light’ tour is just a moniker somebody gave to

the fact that I’m taking a year off to make some changes. I don’t even

know what that means yet,” Pintauro says. “Depending on how bigthe response was to this, I was literally ready, and am still ready,

to go from Pride to Pride across the country and speak to as manypeople as I can.”

He acknowledges that the biggest obstacles to communicatinghis message are complacency, apathy and sometimes even outright

ignorance about HIV, particularly among younger members of the

LGBT community, where transmission rates are increasing.“The problem is that the younger generations don’t have the T H

O M A S E V A N S


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frame of reference,” Pintauro says. “For my generation, there’sstill that sense of fear that people were dying, and that makes

HIV scary. So you’re more likely to take care of yourself, because

you don’t want to die just like those people did.“But for the younger generation, they don’t have that fear,

they don’t have that frame of reference,” he continues. “Forthem, it’s ‘I’ll just take one pill a day and I’ll be fine.’ What they

don’t understand is: what if you don’t have insurance? Can youafford $3,000 a month for a bottle of pills? Or what if in 10 years,

you don’t have insurance, suddenly you’re not going to be ableto take the medication that you have been taking, you’re going

to become resistant to it, and, potentially, you could die just like

everyone did in the 1980s. But explaining that to someone intheir early 20s, who’s loving life and being free, is hard. So we

have to figure out a way of getting through to that generation.”Pintauro wants to deliver a wake-up call to the LGBT com-

munity. As well as reducing the stigma around the disease, he isattempting to motivate them to become re-engaged in the fight

against it — though that’s not without its hardships.

“There was a person on Facebook who said, ‘Oh, look,another gay with HIV...’ And I was furious that they would have

the audacity to type this out. And then I said, ‘You know what?They’re kind of right.’ And that makes me mad, that, as a com-

munity, we’re letting this stereotype perpetuate.”Pintauro is calling for the gay community to return to its his-

torical roots in organizing and grassroots activism. He points torallying, which we’re “incredibly good at,” as key to helping the

HIV epidemic in the ’80s.

“Everyone got involved,” he says. “Whether it was holdingsigns at a rally, cold-calling politicians, or visiting people who

were sick and bringing them food. We just did this with mar-riage equality and Prop 8.... Can you think of a time in the last 10

years that we rallied within our community to eradicate HIV orhighlight how big a problem meth is? I don’t think you can. And

that’s what I mean by getting our stuff together.”

METRO WEEKLY: You’re embarking on this new journey as an HIV/ AIDS awareness activist. Tell us about your initial diagnosis asbeing HIV-positive.DANNY PINTAURO: Believe it or not, I was actually scheduled formy 6-month blood work, which I had done about two weeks

before. And I received a phone call from my doctor. Back then,

it was actually still a two-week process to get that blood workback. So my doctor scheduled an appointment for me to come in.

I feel like I would have known if he called and said, “Youneed to come in,” that something was wrong. But I think I

remember him telling me we needed to talk about my cholester-ol, and maybe something else, to get me to come into the office,

so that I wasn’t freaking out.

I walked to my doctor’s appointment on my lunch break andwe had that conversation, which I don’t actually remember at all,

and then the next memory I have is walking back to work. I havethis vivid memory of looking up at the tall buildings in New York

City, and realizing that I would have to deal with it after work.When I left work, I was heading home, and I got out of the

subway and was walking up my street, and — it was obviously afateful event — my best friend, in New York City, at that time,

was walking past me. And he’s never in that area, so it was really

weird. We stood on the street and talked about it a little bit. Andthen decided that we’d all get together later that day for a meal,

to talk about it some more.

MW: What was the aftermath of the diagnosis like?PINTAURO: The first three or four months were awkward. I

couldn’t really wallow in the corner and not do anything. I had

to go to work every day, so I did that. And then I’d think aboutit. And here and there, I’d throw in a weekend doing more

meth, and that obviously didn’t help, but I thought it did. At thesix month marker, I decided to take the summer off. I went to

Provincetown with some friends and decided to stay. While wewere there for the week, I got a job and found a place to stay

for the next three months, just in Provincetown, working at thefront desk of a hotel there. Just trying to process and not be in

New York City.

When you’re in New York City, and you know, “Well, I wentthere with this person, and I’ve done this,” it’s just hard and

weighs heavily on your mind. And so, to go somewhere that justdoesn’t have those memories, where I could think it through and

breathe, was great. After that, I was pretty good. I came backto New York and was looking for jobs as an actor. And I was

blessed the next year to go to Kansas City and get a job in a show

called Sheer Madness. I really got to work on my craft, and I gotto focus on doing a great job and being this character, and it sort

of brought me to another place. And by then, I was really doingpretty well with the news.

MW: Did you know how you contracted the virus?PINTAURO: There’s obviously been lots of talk about that. I know

exactly who the person is. And I’m pretty confident about whenit happened, what day, what we were doing that day. Anyone

who has seroconverted has spent endless hours looking at that

time, saying, “What did I do wrong?” or “What could I have donedifferently?” or “If I hadn’t done this, would I be okay?”

Look, I wholeheartedly admit that it could be a whole slew ofother ways to have contracted it. As soon as you throw meth into

the picture, the rules change. So I don’t know for sure, I’ve spentthe last bunch of years sort of feeling like that it was something that

I probably did with him orally, but it could have been anything. I

think everyone who goes through it, goes through that feeling. And

I’ve had people contact me saying that they have similar stories.And that’s nice to hear. I don’t know — everyone’s truth is theirtruth, and their version of their own story is their own version. I’ve

spent the last 12 years having that version of the story.I definitely know who the person was, and I’m confident

that this person was not on any medications, so the one thing Iimagine is that his viral load was very high, he did a lot of drugs,

he wasn’t taking really great care of himself, and that combina-

tion is not good, when you combine meth and sex and all of that.MW: I want you to address that for a minute. You have gotten a lotof backlash from commenters on gay and HIV-positive blogs forsaying that you contracted it orally, because it is a rarer form oftransmission than anal sex. Some people have even accused you of

fudging the details or not being honest about your activities. Howdo you respond to that criticism?PINTAURO: All along, I have never said, in any conversation, thatI am 100 percent sure that’s how I contracted it. But it’s not

impossible, and when you throw meth into the picture, every-thing changes. But the idea for me that’s really frustrating is:

why does it matter? We should be focusing on the bigger issues,on the larger topic.

They say that I fudge the truth or that I’m lying. Why wouldI lie? If anything, it doesn’t fit into the message I’m trying to get

across. So, if anything, should I have changed the story to say

confidently that I was barebacking? I didn’t. The frustrating partis that I feel like the biggest blowback that I’m getting is from

these people who I feel like should be on my side and helping


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me through this process.

I’m very new to this. I’ve been doing this for 18 days. Am Igoing to say all the right things at all the right times? Absolutely

not. Some of the people I’ve been working with for the last few

weeks have been doing this for years, and they’re still gettingblowback from people based on the things they say. It’s impos-

sible to please everyone, especially in this age of technology,where anyone access a blog site, or the HuffPost, or wherever.

But I feel like the biggest message I’m trying to get across isthat stigma is the biggest problem when it comes to HIV still

being around. People don’t want to get tested, because they’re

afraid to find out. They don’t want to know, because they don’twant the stigma of being “that guy.” What I’m finding is that the

stigma within our community is as great, if not greater, than thestigma coming from society as a whole.

The thing about it is I’ve been listening to those people, andI’ve got some really great people I’m working with to help me

hone the words and what I’m speaking about. I’ve done a tonof research, so I feel I’ve got the knowledge behind me, and just

need to work on the words. And that comes from being a brand

new activist, and someone who’s just figuring this out. The nicepart about it, though, is a lot of people have written back to those

people and said, “Hey, let’s just be supportive. He’s new at this.Let’s give him some slack.” And that’s been good, because it’s got-

ten the conversation started in another way, which is “You guysare the ones who are activists, why don’t you get on his side, as

opposed to blast him all over the Internet for his word choice.”MW: Let’s talk about one of the contributing factors to your sero-conversion, which is drug use. How did you get started using meth,and how did it get linked to sex?PINTAURO: I only did meth when I was looking to have sex. For

me, it never became the kind of drug that I needed to do toget through a work day, or because I felt like it. It was always,

“Here’s a great weekend. I’ve got three days off. I’d love to findsomeone to hang out with.” And I’d want to find someone who

was also doing meth to hang out with, because that only made

sex so much better.And that’s the problem: meth heightens your level of sexual-

ity, and your limits are gone. The things that may scare you aboutsex are suddenly not scary. Meth makes you feel invincible. It

makes you feel really sexy and really desirable. I feel like becausethe easiest way to find meth is through Grindr or any of the web-

sites where you can hook up with people who are doing meth,

the link to sex becomes more intrinsic as well.When I did ecstasy, I felt great, I felt sexual, but I didn’t feel

more confident. I didn’t feel like I had a bigger everything, or abetter this. I just felt good. But with meth, I felt bigger, better,

more confident, more capable and more desirable. Who wouldn’twant to experience that? And some of the people I know or have

encountered definitely latched onto that confidence. Maybethey’re just not great in social situations, or don’t feel like they’re

that desirable, and the first time they do meth and feel like they’re

awesome and invincible. That’s going to be alluring.

I’m actually talking to someone on the internet right now,

someone who came to me through my Facebook page, andthey’re starting to have this moment — it happens to a lot of peo-

ple, and it definitely happened to me — where you start to losesight of what sex without meth feels and looks like. And that’s a

little scary, because you think, “I don’t know if I can even havesex without meth.” You start to lose that image of what sex was

like before or without meth.That’s why counselors have to look at your sexual health just

as closely as the drug, because you need to get to a place where

you can separate the two again, where you can feel sexual andfeel healthy about your sex life, and feel good about your experi-

ence, outside of using the drug.MW: How did you first get introduced to meth?PINTAURO: I had just gotten out of a tumultuous relationship, andI wanted to start exploring my bondage side. I was looking into

being submissive, and what all that meant. And it just so happens

that the person I found to do that with had meth. I didn’t know itwhen I went over there, but he was gorgeous, and he was exactly

what I was looking for. So I thought, “I’ll try it,” and then hadthis mind-blowing experience and wanted to do it again the next

time. Suddenly, I felt like I was willing to try anything when itcame to BDSM, and that was a great feeling.

I’ve been saying that, and some people are frustrated thatI’m connecting meth to the bondage community, and that’s not

my intention. From my experience, they’re intertwined. But I

don’t know whether that’s just my experience or whether that’sa bigger problem.

The times after that, for the next three years, were a combi-nation of knowing how good the sex was on meth, and maybe a

little bit about what was happening in my life — I didn’t have a job, or was not seeing any men, or felt fat, or was feeling some


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depression. It depends on what was happening at the time dur-

ing those years. But my initial introduction to meth was through

bondage/sex. And I feel that’s true for a lot of people. Most ofthe people I’m connecting with now are saying that they got into

meth because of sex.MW: Did you ever go through withdrawal?PINTAURO: Yes, of course. For me, it can range anywhere from oneto seven days of comedown. Think of your worst alcohol hang-

over, and throw in a chemical content — it’s your worst chemicalhangover. I don’t know how else to describe it. It often meant five

days of just awfulness. The first two days, I’d sleep, barely eat,

lose weight. And in that time, my brain chemistry is off, so I’mfeeling incredibly depressed and incredibly guilty about having

done it again, and angry with myself. So it was just these five daysof awfulness. It got so bad, I would consider wanting to do the

drug, and all I could think about was that it was five days of awful-

ness that I was going to have to go through after doing it. And that

became enough to make me want to stop doing it.That’s not true for everyone. Look at it this way: if you don’t

have as bad of a comedown from doing meth, it doesn’t resonate

with you. But withdrawal comes with any drug. It never got toa place for me where I couldn’t get through a day without doing

meth. It did maintain itself as more recreational than that. But adrug is a drug. And it should never have gotten to that point in

the first place.MW: When we talk about engaging in risky behaviors, whetherthat’s drug use or unprotected sex, whatever shape it takes, isthere a mental health aspect that is being overlooked, and how dowe treat that?PINTAURO: I definitely think there is a mental health aspect toit. I’m not informed or educated enough to delve into where it

comes from and what it means, but I’m definitely seeing that inmy personal experiences.

I had a guy say to me, “I’m just coming out of this awful rela-

tionship, and I haven’t done it for years and years, but somethingcompelled me to want to do it again.” I think that’s true with

any substance abuse, alcoholism, you name it. I think some ofthat mental aspect is stronger in the gay community because of

our internal struggles with being gay, in terms of our family andfriends. And maybe even our internal struggles within the com-

munity, whether that’s “I don’t have enough friends,” or “I don’thave a lot of friends,” or “I go to a bar, and I don’t ever get hit

on.” There’s a whole range of feelings that could lead someone

to go down that road.But with mental health, especially in our community, we’re

dealing with the issue of being gay and coming to a place wherewe feel like being gay is not an issue at all. I don’t think we’ve

gotten to that place as a community yet. A lot of people still haveissues when it comes to being gay. I also know that some people

get into drugs or alcohol because of their HIV status. If we can’tget them to a place where they don’t feel that it’s a death sen-

tence, or their life is over, or they can’t expect to have anything

positive come from their life with HIV, we’re going to continueto see that problem.MW: You’re being given the Courage Award from Whitman-Walker Health. What does that feel like, to be honored, given your

fairly recent entrance into the world of activism?PINTAURO: You know, I’m not a confident person in general, and

I’m still finding my own levels of confidence. I don’t necessarily

feel like a hero. I don’t want to feel like a hero. But I did a bravething by coming out as HIV-positive to the world. That alone

takes courage, and so I can definitely see that.I couldn’t be more honored and I couldn’t be more happy that

people are recognizing my courage. But get back to me in a fewmore months, once I’m confident about being an activist, once I

really start to see the help I’ve been giving. I already am seeingthat. I’ve been talking to one guy on Facebook — I wrote back

to him and he told me, “I just turned someone down for getting

together to smoke crystal.” And I thought, “Oh my gosh. Whatcan we do to help you not want to do that?” And we talked about

getting into a meeting, and talked about speaking with friends.I’m not qualified to talk him out of it, but I can certainly give him

some ideas of who to go to or what to do. So I can see some ofthe positive changes I’m making, but right now, I’m honored. I’m


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just honored. I don’t want to be a hero, I just want to be an exam-ple of what not to do. And it does take courage to admit that.

MW: It’s interesting to hear you, as a former television star, saythat you’re not confident. Where do you think that sense of inse-curity comes from?PINTAURO: It’s really clear for me, at least. It goes back to theyears after coming off of Who’s the Boss? As an actor, it’s beenincredibly difficult for me to ever have gotten a job again. Andbelieve me, I’ve tried over the last 20 years. I was out of the

spotlight for six years while I finished high school and went tocollege, and then I came back into the real world and tried to get

my career going again. And by that point it was “child celebrity”

and “child celebrity who’s gay” and the combination at that timewas the end of your career. I feel like over the years, no matter

how far away from my child celebrity I get, it doesn’t seem to beable to go away from this scenario.

Or, maybe, I just feel like the fates have told me that I’m notsupposed to be an actor. And that’s fine. Maybe this is what the

fates were trying to get me to do. But inherently that’s going to

create self-doubt, especially when you associate the doubt withbeing a celebrity and being in the limelight. And now that I’m in

it again, that doubt is sort of creeping up. I’m working on it, andI’m sort of coming through it, because this is completely differ-

ent. This, to me, isn’t about a popularity contest.Being a child celebrity is like a popularity contest. It’s like,

are you old enough to have a fan base? And are you able to get a job because of that fan base? Kind of like Alyssa Milano. She was

old enough to have this huge fan base, so when Charmed camearound, she was immediately considered for the role, becausethey knew she’d be able to bring people to the show. But I was

too young, and I wasn’t even really paying attention. I wasn’t theone getting covers of teen magazines. I wasn’t even trying. So the

doubt comes from that.MW: When you recently appeared on The View to talk about yourstatus, the interview was criticized by many in the LGBT com-munity who felt that Candace Cameron Buré and Raven Symoné

attacked you and your husband in a way that was viewed as poz-shaming or sex-shaming. Did you feel disrespected?PINTAURO: It’s complicated, because I knew all of those questions

in advance. I found out some of them were coming right beforethe show. I can’t expect much more from The View in the sensethat it’s the kind of show where controversy gets people watch-ing. And you’ve got a diverse group of people who have very,

very differing opinions. You have to be prepared for all of those

opinions when you go on a show like The View. I knew that whenI said yes, even before I knew who was going to be doing the

interview with me.What was frustrating to me was the part with my husband.

He had prepared to answer a different question, which was: “Onyour very first date, Daniel told you, before your first kiss, that

he was HIV-positive, and you didn’t bat an eye, and were 100

percent on board because you trusted him and his character. Tellus more.” They flipped it on him at the last second and expected

him to talk about our sex life. She basically said, “Do you guys

bareback?” in so many words. I just was astounded that it hadhappened. It threw me off enough that I wasn’t ready for the

answer. He’s new to being in the spotlight. He’s well-spoken,

and really gave a great answer. I cut him off a little bit, because Ididn’t know how he was going to respond, and I wanted to pro-

tect him a little bit. That was the part that was really upsetting, ifanything. For them, in the middle of a live show, to throw that at

him, was really unprofessional and unfortunate.But I don’t regret it at all, and I almost thank them for it,

because it got people talking. And it got people angry. And it gotpeople looking at the media and how they handle HIV. And look-

ing at how the media still doesn’t know how to handle HIV and

the conversation around it. They’re still stuck at, “Do you takefull responsibility for your actions?” And I’m like, “Yeah, I’m on

your show talking about it. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t takingresponsibility for it.”MW: Without probing into your sex life, I do want to ask you about

PrEP versus condom use. Do you think PrEP is a good thing forserodiscordant couples?PINTAURO: I’m a huge proponent of PrEP. I have been since I firstheard about it. But I’m a huge proponent of the whole conversa-

tion when it comes to PrEP. It is, technically an inoculation forHIV, in a sense. It could literally eradicate HIV for the gay com-

munity if everyone who was negative started taking it. The thingthat needs to be said when it comes to PrEP is that you still need

to take precautions in some way, because HIV is not the only STIgoing around out there, and not every STI is treatable. So you

still need to be taking care of yourself. It doesn’t give you carte

blanche to have bareback sex. That’s not fair to the person you’rehaving sex with, and it’s not fair to yourself. So as long as that

part of the conversation is spoken about, I’m a huge fan of PrEP.It’s going to make a huge difference in terms of the contraction

of the virus, provided that you take it consistently and you takeprecautions to prevent yourself from getting other STIs.

MW: Let’s talk about undetectability. What does an “undetectable”status mean and what are its implications?

PINTAURO: Undetectable means that the level of the HIV virus in


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your blood is so low that the technology we have to detect HIVin the blood cannot detect that number. The number of copies of

HIV is so low that the machines that test the blood come back

with the undetectable answer. It doesn’t mean that there isn’tany HIV in the blood, it just means that the number of copies are

so low that the machines can’t tell how many copies are there.For me, undetectable means that as someone who is HIV posi-

tive, you are taking care of yourself. It means that you know thatyou’re HIV-positive and you’re doing something about it, not

only for yourself but the people you love.One of the things that I had really wanted to talk about

on The View, in some way, shape or form, was being unde-tectable and what that means. And I ended up using theirquestion as the opportunity to discuss that somewhat. I

really didn’t get into enough detail, and I don’t think any-one really understands what it means. For me, that’s one

of the big topics: being undetectable, and how it affects therelationship. And how there aren’t any examples of anybody

who is undetectable passing the virus along. That should be

a part of the conversation.Stigma is obviously a big thing in our community. If we

can get people who are HIV-positive, who are taking care ofthemselves, who are taking their meds — if we can get people

to a place where being undetectable isn’t a scary thing, thenpeople might be more willing to come out and talk about being

HIV-positive. And that, inherently, is going to help the stigmago away. I feel like HIV is the new closet. The more people who

come out and talk about being HIV-positive, and talk about tak-

ing care of themselves and their partners, that will take care of alot of the issues associated with that.MW: You said that HIV is the new closet, and you’ve talked about

the stigma associated with the virus. Before you met your husband,was disclosing your status difficult and did you ever feel rejectedbecause of it?PINTAURO: Of course. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’sHIV-positive who hasn’t had someone in the past decide not to

hang out with them. It just comes with the territory. A lot ofpeople are fearful of HIV, and they make the choice not to spend

time with someone who’s HIV-positive. And that’s fine. I can’tforce them to accept me.

It compares in so many ways to being gay. Twenty years ago,coming out as gay was very scary, because you were afraid for

your life, you were afraid everyone in your life would abandon

you, you were afraid of losing all your friends. We all know whatthat list is compiled of, because we’ve all thought, “Oh, God, if I

tell people I’m gay, all this is going to happen.” We’re in a placewhere that doesn’t happen as much anymore.

The more people who come out as gay, the more likely thata person is going to realize that their neighbor is gay, or the guy

at the cubicle next to them is gay, or the person they laugh with

at the supermarket every Saturday is gay. If you put it in thecontext of someone’s life, it becomes much less scary and much

less taboo. If we can do the same thing with people who areHIV-positive, the stigma will become less, because you know

someone and you care about that person.

Danny Pintauro will receive Whitman-Walker’s Courage Awardat The Walk to End HIV on Saturday, Oct. 24. The event will startand end at Freedom Plaza, located at Pennsylvania Avenue and

13th Street NW. Activities begin at 7 a.m., with a 5-kilometer timedrun starting at 9:15 a.m. and the walk at 9:20 a.m. For more infor-mation, or to register, visit www.walktoendhiv.org. l


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IF I HAD TO PICK A DRUG THAT WOULD BE PER-

fect with matching some of gay male culture, metham-phetamine would be the choice,” says Josh Riley, the

senior manager of Behavioral Health at Whitman-WalkerHealth. “Methamphetamine use is a very powerful stimulant,

compared to others. It lasts for a very long time. It makes peoplefeel invincible and erotic, energized. And so it pairs well with

sexual behavior. And in that sense, I think it’s particularly harm-

ful to our community, and has been for years.”Riley’s explanation highlights a well-documented link

between the use of stimulants and higher rates of HIV infection.Many cases abound, most notably former child actor Danny

Pintauro, who is featured in this issue and discusses recreationaluse of methamphetamines. According to Riley, stimulant use

— such as cocaine or ecstasy — has been common among theLGBT community, but methamphetamine has been particularly

prominent. He estimates that among all people who eventually

seek treatment for addiction services at Whitman-Walker, about

half are methamphetamine users.To treat those dealing with substance abuse, Whitman-Walker

has two separate facilities — its 1525 building in Logan Circle and

the Max Robinson Center in Anacostia — where people can seekassistance. Among the various services that Whitman-Walker

offers are intensive and co-occurring outpatient programs, sub-

stance abuse management and harm reduction services, individu-

al psychotherapy and groups tailored to HIV-positive individuals,

gay-identified men and transgender individuals.“In Northwest, we see a lot of methamphetamine use, alcohol

use, and a lot of stimulant use,” Riley says. “In Southeast, ourservices focus on a lot of opiate users, heroin and pills, where

we run a harm reduction-focused opiate replacement program.Some of our programs are abstinence-focused, and some of our

programs are for people who are interested in looking at their

relationship to substances, but may not be sure they want to quitcompletely, and we do not require them to.”

Riley notes that an equally important part of treating addic-tions involves dealing not only with the substance dependence

but the underlying mental, emotional or sexual health issuesthat may be fueling or related to an addiction. He also points

out that each client must be treated as an individual, with a plantailored to their own needs, to help them best cope with their

substance abuse in a non-judgmental manner.

“Part of trying to help people come in the door is to help them

recognize that we’re not there to force them to stop, or scream atthem about their denial, but that ultimately, it’s their choices andtheir goals,” Riley says. “Our goal as therapists and as experts is

to help shift them to a place where they have a relationship withdrugs or alcohol that works for them. We try to be as culturally

competent and as warm as we can to welcome people in to look

at their relationship to substances.”

Treating the

Whole PatientWhitman-Walker Health offers numerousaddiction-related programs and services forindividuals suffering from substance abuse

BY JOHN R ILEY

Whitman-Walker’s Addictions Treatment programs are offered at its 1525 building, located at 1525 14th St. NW,and at the Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE. For more information about addictionservices, contact the Behavioral Health Treatment Coordinator at 202-797-3539 or visit whitman-walker.org.

M E T R O W E E K L Y


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D.C. IS ONE OF THE BEST MARKETS FOR FINEcrafts in the country,” says Richard Rothbard of

American Art Marketing. And that market is well-served by several renowned annual events — from

the Smithsonian Craft Show and the Northern Virginia Fine

Arts Festival in the spring, to the Washington Craft Show at theConvention Center in the fall.

When the show’s producer retired after last year’s 27thedition, the New York-based Rothbard seized on the opportu-

nity. “That show had acquired quite the stature in the industry,”says Rothbard, who this weekend launches the D.C. edition of

his American Fine Craft Show. The show will take place forthree days where over 190 exhibitors will present their wares,

including, “a large number of the exhibitors that were in [the

Washington Craft Show] who were very, very upset that it wasgoing away,” says Rothbard.

The American Fine Craft Show is intended to serve a wider— and younger — audience than the one it replaces. “This is very

nice, but I can’t afford anything,” Rothbard heard “over and overagain” about the Washington Craft Show. “I’m bringing in a lot

FINELY CRAFTEDThis weekend’s American Fine Craft Show will feature plenty of stunning handcrafted artby Doug Rule

Engagement boxes by Richard Rothbard

Hurricane Kirk (L) and Mermaid by Susan Gott

PHOTOSCOURTESYOFTHEAMERICANFINECRAFTSHO

W


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of great work that’s much more affordable. Things that people

can purchase for holiday shopping as well as be able to lookat something and say, ‘gee, I could buy that’. We have a lot of

affordable, fun and high-quality work.”The American Fine Craft Show features artisans who are

among the best in their fields in furniture-making, woodwork,

ceramics, glassware, leather and metal goods, painting, jewelryand other wearable and decorative art. The artists come from

across the United States and Canada, and many have not previ-ously exhibited in the D.C. area. All of it takes place at the DC

Armory near RFK Stadium, on the Blue-Orange-Silver MetroLine. “It’s a beautiful space inside,” he says, noting the feel is

almost museum-like in tone.Rothbard, who got his start in the business as a furniture

maker in Manhattan, eventually began to make original, collect-

ible wood boxes that he would sell at craft shows around thecountry. He eventually opened An American Craftsman, a small

Furniture by Peter Shepard

Glass vase by Jeffrey P’an

Watchwork by Valerie Bunnell


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chain of galleries in New York. He’ll be one of the exhibitors on

hand at this weekend’s show, displaying his line of rustic yetelegant handcrafted boxes, many of which play on themes of

poetry, psychology or philosophy, often expressed in the form ofa story or a puzzle, with removable, nesting parts.

The Washington show is affiliated with the National

Museum of Women in the Arts, and a portion of the admis-sion and Friday afternoon sales will go to the storied museum,

which has also inspired Rothbard to start an annual recogni-tion: Craftswoman of the Year. The debut honoree is Susan

Gott, who teaches glassblowing in Tampa, Fla., and is knownfor her large sculptural works. “Some of them weigh thou-

sands of pounds,” he says. “She does amazing things with glass.There’s no one quite like her.”

Rothbard promises Gott’s booth will be one of the most spec-

tacular, but there will be plenty of other stunning works on dis-play. Throughout the day, artists will talk and answer questions

about their works and careers and there will even be fashion

models sporting the show’s jewelry strolling the floor. “It’s all tomake the show a little bit more fun, a little bit more interesting,”

says Rothbard.When asked to pick a particular artist or work to highlight, he

stops at Gott. “That’s an almost impossible question to answer,”

he says. “We have some of the top glassblowers and furnituremakers, amazing clothing and jewelry. I think it’s a matter of

taste. Pretty much anybody can come to our show and find some-thing they want to own.” l

The American Fine Craft Show Washington takes place Friday,Oct. 23, from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,and Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the DC Armory,

2001 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $22 for Friday’s First Lookevent, or $14 per day Saturday and Sunday, $16 for a weekend pass.Call 202-271-1171 or visit AmericanFineCraftShowDC.com.

Orange Slice by Hegland GlassCeramic tumblers by Sarah Nikitopoulus

Leather works by Molly Grant


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OCTOBER 22 - 29, 2015Compiled by Doug Rule

A D A

M B O U S K A

or even much of the pre-race “parade”unless you stake out a spot hours inadvance. The only way to guaranteea good view? Show up at JR.’s by 6:30p.m. to volunteer, which gets you ashirt and route placement. This year’sevent features Mayor Muriel Bowser,Ba’Naka and Birdie LaCage as GrandMarshals. Tuesday, Oct. 27, startingwith a parade at 7 p.m., with the racepromptly at 9 p.m. Outside JR.’s atcorner of 17th and Church StreetsNW. Visit jrsbar-dc.com.

AVENUE QConstellation Theatre Company opensits new season, dubbed “Playtime forGrownups,” with Robert Lopez andJeff Marx’s Tony-winning musi-cal comedy Avenue Q. Allison ArkellStockman directs the company’s firstfull-scale musical production, which isessentially a Sesame Street for adults,with a six-person orchestra and nineperformers in the intimate Sourcespace. To Nov. 23. Source, 1835 14th St.NW. Tickets $20 to $45. Call 202-204-7760 or visit constellationtheatre.org.

DAKSHINA’S 12TH FESTIVAL OFSOUTH ASIAN ARTSDaniel Phoenix Singh’s companyDakshina presents its 12th annualweekend of dance, music and poet-ry featuring artists from aroundthe U.S. and India, including CVChandrasekhar, Chitra Dasarathy,Mallika Sarabhai, Prashant Shah Arushi Mudgal, Rama & Dakshina Vaidyanathan and Alif Laila — aswell as the Dakshina ensemble itself,showcasing its signature fusion work.Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31,at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 1, at

SPOTLIGHT

2015 HALLOWEENHIGH HEEL RACEWhat started just for fun and a littleneighborhood bonding nearly threedecades ago by a couple of JR.’semployees has now become one ofthe city’s most popular annual events.Spectators start assembling in the twoand a half blocks north of JR.’s as earlyas the late afternoon, so don’t expect to be able to see the high-heeled sprinters

Fame FataleSuzanne Westenhoefer paved the way for the latest generationof female comics to be fully out in their careers

AUDIENCES RIGHT NOW DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT POLi-

tics!” wails Suzanne Westenhoefer. “If you’re on stage and you say‘Donald Trump,’ everyone boos. They’ve had enough of politics!” Still,

that doesn’t mean she’s not political in performance. “There’s a sneaky wayyou do it. You’re talking about your cat or your girlfriend and then you just

sneak a little ‘Vote for Hillary’ in there somewhere.”

The popular (and hilarious) comic is presently enamoured with KateMcKinnon’s portrayal of Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live. “I’ve

known Kate since she was on Logo,” saysWestenhoefer, who brings her act to The

Birchmere on Nov. 7. “She has always been

openly gay and has achieved this level of suc-cess. Just talking about Kate makes me rub

my nipples.”As the first female comic to come out of the

closet (yes, even before Ellen), Westenhoeferpaved the way for a new generation to flour-

ish. Comics like McKinnon and Amy Schumerrepresent what she’s been fighting for since

her career began.

“When I started in the early ’90s, it washard for me to get on stage because I wasn’t a

big name, but also because I was a lesbian. Itwas a different time then.” She understands

the double-edged sword that comes with hav-ing a public platform.

“Oddly enough, I agree a bit with Matt

Damon,” she says. “We shouldn’t know allabout actor’s personal lives. I think with

actors, it’s better when we don’t know every-thing about them, because then, when we see

them, we buy into them.”But, unlike Damon, she doesn’t think

actors should hide in the closet. “People need

to be out because there is so much work stillto be done. Things change when celebrities

come out.”Unsurprisingly, Westenhoefer is extreme-

ly vocal about women’s issues. “One of thethings I care a lot about is the safety of women.

I don’t want to lose Planned Parenthood. Wego over to these other countries, and bitch

and moan about how they’re treating women.

It doesn’t look good if we’re treating them justas shitty back here.” — Connor J. Hogan

Suzanne Westenhoefer appears Saturday, Nov. 7th at 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. Tickets are $45. Visit birchmere.com.


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To Live Alone,” drawn from last year’s“intense breakup album” Trouble and Love. Gauthier returns to the areanext week with a show in Annapoliswith fellow Americana singer-song-writer Eliza Gilkyson. Wednesday,Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Ram’s Head OnStage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Ticketsare $22.50. Call 410-268-4545 or visitramsheadonstage.com.

RAHEEM DEVAUGHN & LEELA

JAMES WITH V. BOZEMANRaheem DeVaughn, who grew up insuburban Maryland and got his startin D.C., teams up with fellow neo-soulstar Leela James for this Love ‘n SoulExperience show with an opening set by rising chanteuse V. Bozeman, whois so far best known as the lead female voice in Fox’s Empire. Saturday, Oct.24, at 8 p.m. Warner Theatre, 513 13thSt. NW. Tickets are $43 to $67.50. Call202-783-4000 or visit warnertheatredc.com. Also Sunday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.Ram’s Head Live!, 20 Market Place,Baltimore. Tickets are $40. Call 410-244-1131 or visit ramsheadlive.com.

C O U R T E S Y O F T H E K E N N E D Y C E N T E R

RONALD K. BROWN/EVIDENCEWITH JASON MORANAND THE BANDWAGONCelebrated choreographer Ronald K.Brown and pianist Jason Moran, theKennedy Center’s jazz director, bringtheir ensembles to perform as part ofMoran’s new multidisciplinary seriesJason+. The focus is The Subtle One,a potent new work of jazz and dancereflecting on the presence of ancestorsand their profound impact in the con-

temporary world. Moran’s Bandwagonwill also perform inspiring jazz setsand Brown’s Evidence, now celebrat-ing its 30th anniversary, includes threeclassic Brown works. Wednesday, Oct.28, through Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.Tickets are $29 to $59. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE APPLE FAMILY CYCLEStudio Theatre presents the final twoplays in Richard Nelson’s bold four-part examination of a rapidly chang-ing America. The plays — Sorry, seton Election Day 2012, and Regular Singing , set on the 50th Anniversary

of JFK’s assassination — are staged in

rotating repertory and with the samecast. In fact, it’s the same superb castthat appeared in the first installmentat Studio in 2013, called “the strongest,tightest ensemble seen in several years” by Metro Weekly: Ted van Griethuysen,Rick Foucheux, Sarah Marshall,Elizabeth Pierotti, Kimberly Schraf andJeremy Webb. Serge Seiden directs.Opens in previews Wednesday, Oct.28, at 8 p.m. To Dec. 13. Studio Theatre,14th & P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300or visit studiotheatre.org.

THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLET“Balanchine, Bejart and the Bard” addstwo pieces choreographed by GeorgeBalanchine — the Walpurgisnacht Ballet and Emeralds — to the reper-toire of the Kennedy Center’s in-house ballet company, led by Balanchinemuse Suzanne Farrell. Bejart’s Scened’amour, set to Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet, and Balanchine’s Shakespeare-inspired A Midsummer Night’s Dream are also on the program featuringThe Kennedy Center Opera HouseOrchestra, led by Scott Speck. Friday,Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 1, at

4 p.m. Atlas Performing Arts Center,1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $20 to $50.Call 202-399-7993 [OR 202-547-1122?]or visit dakshina.org.

GIMME A BAND, GIMME A BANANA!THE CARMEN MIRANDA STORYRoberta Alves and Matt Reckewegdirect Pointless Theatre Company’slatest experimental, multi-disciplinarypuppet theater piece, devised by MelBieler and Patti Kalil, narrated through

the samba songs of the Tutti FruttiBrazilian bombshell and emigre to theU.S. This homage to Carmen Mirandais presented in Capital Fringe’s LoganFringe Arts Space. Now to Nov. 14.Logan Fringe Arts Space’s TrinidadTheatre, 1358 Florida Ave. NE. Ticketsare $20 to $25. Call 202-733-6321 or visit pointlesstheatre.com.

MARY GAUTHIEREarlier this year, ABC’s Nashville fea-tured a new song written by MaryGauthier, performed by one of theshow’s lead characters. “I love the waythat they recorded it,” Gauthier told

Metro Weekly about “How You Learn

High NoteHaving made her Kennedy Center debut in 1986 with

Les Miz , Randy Graff returns with a one-woman cabaret

THE KENNEDY CENTER IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TOwork in the U.S.,” crows Randy Graff. “Two of the most

meaningful shows in my professional life happened there

and the Opera House is where it all began for me as a musical the-ater actor.” The year was 1986, with the pre-Broadway American

premiere of Les Miserables. And Graff played the pivotal roleof Fantine, whose “I Dreamed a Dream” is one of the musical’s

biggest, most heartbreaking, showstoppers. The second momentcame sixteen years later, in 2002, with A Little Night Music,the closing production of the Sondheim Celebration festival, inwhich Graff played Charlotte.

Graff’s one-woman cabaret, Made in Brooklyn, will include anod to her KenCen roots. “I am singing ‘I Dreamed a Dream,’”she notes, in honor of Les Miz . But the October 30 appearance —her fifth in the venue — is mainly a tribute to the place where she

spent her childhood.“It’s the story of me growing up in Brooklyn, singing on street

corners and ev

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Metro Weekly - 10-22-15 - Danny Pintauro