Queery: Hilary Treat

Hilary Treat (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Hilary Treat got involved with D.C. for Marriage last year after graduating in 2008 from American University. She co-chaired the group and quickly found success when same-sex marriage was legalized in December. Though she keeps the prism trophy the group won for being a Capital Pride Hero this year — Michael Crawford is in New York now, so she accepted on the group’s behalf — she says much credit needs to be given to others.

“There have been so many little events over the last 15 to 20 years that really put us in a good position for this,” the 24-year-old lesbian and Belmont, Mass., native says. “Not just marriage, but prevention of a ballot initiative, having an airtight human rights act and so on so for decades and years people have been working towards creating an environment where marriage would stick. I think it’s just timing that I came in at the end and was able to see it happen.”

Treat hasn’t been nearly as successful with her own projects, especially her knitting. Famous for “pretending to knit,” as she puts it, and leaving half-finished projects lying around, she did finish a sweater once, a Christmas gift for her dad.

“But I didn’t get it done till Christmas Eve,” she says with a laugh. Treat started college in Denver but soon found that part of the country wasn’t for her and relocated to D.C. where she stayed after earning her history degree.

She was unemployed for a while, which gave her lots of time to work on marriage, but is now working for Heritage Travel, a group that works on a travel website that leads people to cultural heritage destinations and sites.

Treat is single and lives on the U Street corridor. She enjoys reading, debating movies, hanging out at the Phase and knitting, which she learned from her mom when she was 12, in her spare time.

(Blade photo by Michael Key)

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
About seven years. I have not had a difficult experience yet, but telling my mom will be hard.

Who’s your gay hero?
Frida Kahlo. Not gay, per se, but she was definitely into women. Her art is so vibrant and it’s incredibly moving to see how she just threw her physical and emotional pain on a canvas.

What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Phase 1, hands down.

What’s your dream gay wedding?
It will involve cupcakes and it will probably not take place anywhere near a church.

What non-gay issue are you most passionate about?
Women’s issues: reproductive rights, the wage gap and everyday sexism.

What historical outcome would you change?
That humans would be descended from gorillas, rather than chimpanzees. Gorillas are peaceful and vegetarian; chimpanzees will often beat the lowest-ranking male to death.

What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
When Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” video came out. I was around 5 years old and I just loved how everyone morphed into each other at the end. It was probably the first time I had listened to something that wasn’t Raffi.

On what do you insist?
There are two ways to pronounce patronizing and they mean different things. People should use them correctly.

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
My last Tweet was about Prop 8 being ruled unconstitutional in California.  My last FB status is a picture of a meerkat and a warthog that appear to be engaged in conversation à la Timon and Pumba. I apparently use Twitter and Facebook for different things.

If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“Ce N’est Pas un Livre”

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Not change.

What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
Ziggy Stardust

What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
Keep conversations going and don’t get stuck in rhetoric. It’s the best thing you can do.

What would you walk across hot coals for?
The hoverboard from “Back to the Future II”

What gay stereotype annoys you most?
The gay man as accessory.

What’s your favorite gay movie?
“Angels in America” — technically a play/ HBO mini-series.

What’s the most overrated social custom?
Chivalry. It’s not polite to assume that women are weak.

What trophy or prize do you most covet?
The Stanley cup for the Boston Bruins. I will not personally receive it, but it would be great if the Bruins could go back to being a good team.

What do you wish you’d known at 18?
That you don’t have to have life figured out at 25. I spent too much time worried about the future.

Why Washington?
It’s the only place in America where people from all over the political spectrum come together. Plus, political debates are shown in bars and that’s awesome.