Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Bev Stanton
The artist behind Arthur Loves Plastic answers 20 gay questions
For all the ballyhooing that’s occurred as the major label record industry has slipped dramatically over the last decade-plus, there are lots of indie acts that are quietly but consistently building impressive oeuvres in the digital age. Bev Stanton is one of them.
As electronica imprint Arthur Loves Plastic, Stanton — a 45-year-old Silver Spring resident and lesbian — has, since the mid-‘90s, released dozens of projects, had her work licensed for shows on the Discovery Channel, VH1, MTV and other cable networks. She was one of 24 artists profiled in “Pink Noises: Women in Electronic Music and Sound,” a 2010 book by Tara Rodgers, and she’s won a dozen Washington Area Music Awards (“Wammies”) in the electronica category. Stanton uses all the usual techniques — she makes her own loops, samples other sources, records friends playing various instruments, uses MIDI tricks and more. She attributes her popularity to good timing and perseverance.
“I just sent some product to a company,” she says. “They were trying to bridge the gap between people creating music and projects that wanted music but that wasn’t just cheesy canned stuff.”
Listen for her Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the back room of Jackie’s Restaurant/Sidebar in Silver Spring (8081 Georgia Ave.) where she and Rodgers will spin for an Equality Maryland fundraiser (equalitymaryland.org/events for details).
Ironically, Stanton does not own a TV so she never sees her work on the air. She concedes that’s probably “for the best” and says it would be too tempting to watch constantly if she owned a set. By day she works in D.C. doing online work for an environmental non-profit. She came to the area about 20 years ago after living in North Carolina and craving a “more cosmopolitan” area.
Stanton, who admits to a fetish for mid-century design (she loves the “atomic age” look of chairs of the era), was born in the Bahamas but grew up mostly in central Florida. She enjoys web surfing (especially Daily Mail) and spending time with her two cats, Nicky and Kimba, in her free time.
(Blade photos by Michael Key)
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I came out in high school and fretted over telling my best friend but it turned out he was gay too so it all worked out.
Who’s your LGBT hero?
Dusty Springfield. Despite her phenomenal talent she was plagued by insecurity. However, she was an uncompromising perfectionist in her artistic approach and her music transcends her era.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
I used to enjoy DJing at the back room of the Black Cat for Girl Friday events several years ago. It was a very eclectic crowd of shoe-gazing males, edgy lesbians and ostensibly straight women who apparently just needed a few drinks to defy labels. I also loved spinning at Cafe Japone in the bar with the fiber optic ceiling.
Describe your dream wedding.
Even if marriage equality passes in Maryland I have the major barrier of finding a woman who would want to marry me. In the meantime I might resort to a Sue Sylvester-style ceremony but would ditch the tracksuit and wear black.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
Animal rights.
What historical outcome would you change?
Columbus’ arrival to the New World.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
I don’t have TV so I always feel a little out of the loop and rely on Facebook to keep up, with mixed results. But Susan Boyle’s overnight success on “Britain’s Got Talent” demonstrated the power of YouTube and was a triumph of raw talent over slick music industry packaging. It almost makes up for Katy Perry!
On what do you insist?
To thine own self be true, or at least have a plausible excuse.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
“oh no! i sent an email to my coop board this morning to report a gas smell in my living room only to discover it was a burning odor from a feline pheromone diffuser. add this to the list of things i will never live down.”
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“Easy Does It!”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
I would offer to administer the serum to every straight female friend who has told me they are sick of men just to see how serious they are about this.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
I believe I am currently in purgatory and suspect that ascension to the afterlife is about as merit-based as things here on earth.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
Please come up with an elevator speech to help me explain the ENDA controversy to my straight friends!
What would you walk across hot coals for?
Enlightenment
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
That lesbians are hummus-consuming granola activist types whose lives revolve around their cats … oh wait!
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
I loved “High Art” though it was more a commentary on the art world than a lesbian film per se. Radha Mitchel was captivating yet understated and underrated.
What’s the most overrated social custom?
The Super Bowl. It is a great time to do supermarket shopping!
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
I would love to win the lottery so I could pay cash for my apartment and politely instruct my mortgage company to stop hounding me for documents!
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
It isn’t what you know, it’s who you know!
Why Washington?
I love D.C.! Although it’s inhabited by people with a heightened sense of self-importance, it is a destination for passionate activists trying to make the world a better place. The architecture is beautiful and the monuments are absolutely stunning. I have lived here over 20 years and still find new places to visit and explore.
Arts & Entertainment
Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star and celebrated queer ally, dies at 71
Actress remembered for memorable comedic roles in ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Home Alone’
Catherine O’Hara, the varied comedic actor known for memorable roles in “Beetlejuice,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Home Alone,” has died at 71 on Friday, according to multiple reports. No further details about her death were revealed.
O’Hara’s death comes as a shock to Hollywood, as the Emmy award-winning actor has been recently active, with roles in both “The Studio” and “The Last of Us.” For her work in those two shows, she received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and outstanding guest actress in a drama series.
In 2020, O’Hara won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series award for her work in the celebrated sixth and final season of “Schitt’s Creek.” She was also known as a queer ally and icon for her theatrical and often campy performances over multiple decades. In “Schitt’s Creek,” she played Moira Rose, the wig-loving mother of David Rose (played by series creator Dan Levy). David is pansexual, but the characters around him simply accept him for who he is; the show was embraced by the LGBTQ community with how naturally David’s sexuality was written and portrayed. That show ran from 2015 to 2020 and helped bring O’Hara and her co-stars into a new phase of their careers.
In a 2019 interview with the Gay Times, O’Hara explained why the show got LGBTQ representation right: “Daniel has created a world that he wants to live in, that I want to live in. It’s ridiculous that we live in a world where we don’t know how to respect each other and let each other be. It’s crazy. Other shows should follow suit and present the world and present humans as the best that we can be. It doesn’t mean you can’t laugh, that you can’t be funny in light ways and dark ways. It’s all still possible when you respect and love each other.”
Additional credits include “SCTV Network” (for which O’Hara won a writing Emmy), “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Six Feet Under,” “Best in Show,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and “Dick Tracy.” O’Hara also lent her voice to “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Chicken Little,” “Monster House,” and “Elemental.” O’Hara was expected to return for Season 2 of “The Studio,” which started filming earlier this month.
Friday, January 30
Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).
Spark Social will host “RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Watch Party” at 8 p.m. This event will be hosted by local drag queens TrevHER and Grey, who will provide hilarious commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, January 31
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, February 1
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, February 2
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@thedccenter.org).
Tuesday, February 3
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, email [email protected].
Wednesday, February 4
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, February 5
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
a&e features
D.C. LGBTQ sports bar Pitchers listed for sale
Move follows months of challenges for local businesses in wake of Trump actions
A Santa Monica, Calif.-based commercial real estate company called Zacuto Group has released a 20-page online brochure announcing the sale of the D.C. LGBTQ sports bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own.
The brochure does not disclose the sale price, and Pitchers owner David Perruzza told the Washington Blade he prefers to hold off on talking about his plans to sell the business at this time.
He said the sale price will be disclosed to “those who are interested.”
“Matthew Luchs and Matt Ambrose of the Zacuto Group have been selected to exclusively market for sale Pitchers D.C., located at 2317 18th Street, NW in Washington, D.C located in the vibrant and nightlife Adams Morgan neighborhood,” the sales brochure states.
“Since opening its doors in 2018, Pitchers has quickly become the largest and most prominent LGBTQ+ bar in Washington, D.C., serving as a cornerstone of D.C.’s modern queer nightlife scene,” it says, adding, “The 10,000+ SF building designed as a large-scale inclusive LGBTQ+ sports bar and social hub, offering a welcoming environment for the entire community.”
It points out that the Pitchers building, which has two years remaining on its lease and has a five-year renewal option, is a multi-level venue that features five bar areas, “indoor and outdoor seating, and multiple patios, creating a dynamic and flexible layout that supports a wide range of events and high customer volume.”
“Pitchers D.C. is also home to A League of Her Own, the only dedicated lesbian bar in Washington, D.C., further strengthening its role as a vital and inclusive community space at a time when such venues are increasingly rare nationwide,” the brochure says.
Zacuto Group sales agent Luchs, who serves as the company’s senior vice president, did not immediately respond to a phone message left by the Blade seeking further information, including the sale price.
News of Perruzza’s decision to sell Pitchers and A League of Her Own follows his Facebook postings last fall saying Pitchers, like other bars in D.C., was adversely impacted by the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard soldiers on D.C. streets
In an Oct. 10 Facebook post, Perruzza said he was facing, “probably the worst economy I have seen in a while and everyone in D.C. is dealing with the Trump drama.” He told the Blade in a Nov. 10 interview that Pitchers continued to draw a large customer base, but patrons were not spending as much on drinks.
The Zacuto Group sales brochure says Pitchers currently provides a “rare combination of scale, multiple bars, inclusivity, and established reputation that provides a unique investment opportunity for any buyer seeking a long-term asset with a loyal and consistent customer base,” suggesting that, similar to other D.C. LGBTQ bars, business has returned to normal with less impact from the Trump related issues.
The sales brochure can be accessed here.
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