Arts & Entertainment
Best of Gay D.C. XIII: People
Winners from the Blade’s readers poll
To see the winners of the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. readers poll in other categories, clickĀ here.
Best Singer or Band
Frankie & Betty
Runner-up: Wicked Jezabel
Frankie & Betty are a queer acoustic rock duo comprised of Rachel Bauchman (vocals/bass/guitar) and Jessie Strick (lead guitar). Since forming in 2011, theyāve played numerous events, including Roanoke Pride, Phasefest several times and more. They have shows planned at Tree house Lounge on Monday night and the Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday. Look them up on Facebook to stay current. (JD)
Local Heroine
Ruby Corado
Runner-up: Ashliana Rowe
Long-time LGBT advocate Ruby Corado is the visionary behind Casa Ruby, a local bilingual, multicultural LGBT organization that works to create āsuccess life storiesā among LGBT, gender queer and gender non-conforming residents in need. The recently wed Corado is a former Capital Pride Hero and has received many accolades for her work. (JD)
Casa Ruby
2822 Georgia Ave., N.W.
202-355-5155
Local Hero
Sgt. Matthew Mahl
Runner-up: Ed Bailey
Sgt. Matthew Mahl, who oversees six officers as part of the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit of the D.C. Metro Police Department, says itās ābeen a good year.ā
āI donāt want to say crime is up, but we have been busier,ā the 35-year-old Havana, Ohio, native says. āWe have our hands in a lot of stuff.ā
Mahl, a cop for 15 years and in Washington since 2001, joined the MPD in 2004 and the GLLU in 2012, having spent his entire previous career on patrol duty. He was forced out on the job during a 2007 incident in which his locker was vandalized but says thatās the only bad experience heās ever had on the force.
Although initially hesitant to join the GLLU, he says overall itās been a great experience and he enjoys helping his fellow officers learn āthe sensitivities and needs of the LGBT community.ā (JD)
Best Drag King
Avery Austin
Runner-up: Sebastian Katz
Anna Wimpelberg works by day as an HIV researcher at Whitman-Walker Health but her drag alter ego Avery Austin was born about 11 years ago when the 36-year-old New Orleans native and lesbian saw a drag show in Boston, her then-home.
A veteran of various high school and college theater productions, she says she recognized āimmediately that it was something I would love to do.ā She continued during an eight-year stint in Austin, Texas, and joined the D.C. Kings when she came to Washington about three years ago. She calls herself Ā āthe theater nerd of the groupā and guesses she performs with them at Phase 1 and occasional other venues about four or five times per year, often recreating songs sheās seen on āGlee!ā
Find more information on the Kings at dckings.com. (JD)
Best Realtor
Mark Rutstein
1606 17th St. N.W.
202-498-1198
Runner-up: Ray Gernhart
Best DJ
DJ Rosie
Runner-up: Shea Van Horn
DJ Rosie Hicks has been spinning for about 13 years and spins regularly at the Hippo in her hometown Baltimore and also at LURe at Cobalt, Phase 1 and other area events in addition to a day job teaching special education.
Known for a mix of hip-hop, R&B, pop and more, she says she just all-around loves music. She also won this award in 2012.
āI love making people happy out there,ā the Baltimore native says. āThe whole point of coming out to a bar or club to hear a DJ is to let go of worries and cares and enjoy it.ā
Look her up on Facebook to stay current with her events. (JD)
Best Drag Queen
BaāNaka
Runner-up: Heidi Glum
A flip-flop of last yearās results when Glum won, BaāNaka (Dustin Michael Schaad) is on top again this year adding to her 2012, 2011 and 2010 prizes (a Blade record) in this category.
BaāNaka, who now does drag full-time and has positioned herself as the go-to gal for everything from hosting local Family Feud nights to getting you ready (for a fee of course!) for Miss Adams Morgan two weeks ago, she is widely known in the community for her outspoken Facebook comments, elaborate Disney routines (her Ursula is legendary) and consistent A-game delivery. And although it hasnāt happened yet, sheās our best local hope for āRuPaulās Drag Race.ā (JD)
Hottest Stripper or Go-go Dancer
Steve Pena
Runner-up: Christian Lezzil
Steve Pena got into dancing through his husband, Brent Everett, with whom he also runs a popular porn site (brenteverett.com). Heās nonchalant about the work, which he does everyĀ FridayĀ night at Town when heās in Washington and monthly at Latin Night at Cobalt.
āItās a way to have fun, stay in touch with friends and fans and meet future models for our website,ā the San Diego-born, Texas-reared Pena says.
In the region for about a year and a half, Pena, in an e-mail from Amsterdam where heās traveling, says he appreciates the support.
āI have the best and most loyal friends, fans and followers out there.ā (JD)
Best Burlesque Dancer
Private Tails
Runner-up: Glam Gamz
Private Tails (aka Ashliana Rowe) has been performing burlesque since 2005 and has drawn influence from classic burlesque, hip-hop, Broadway and more for what she calls āthe art of the tease.ā
As producer of Private Tease Productions, a monthly variety show she uses as an outlet for young performers she mentors, she says she āenjoys the creative process of developing new numbers and looks forward to the opportunity to whip up a fresh new performance.ā
Although she has several titles under her belt, this is a new category for Best Of and sheās the inaugural winner.
Her next performance is at Phase 1 on Halloween. Keep up with her on Facebook or at privatetails.com. (JD)
Best Business Person
DC Allen
Runner Up: Ray Gernhart
Businessman DC Allen has been credited with setting the pace for local gay-owned businesses to support the broader LGBT community.
Allen along with his husband Ken Flick owns the Crew Club, a D.C. health club and sauna that caters to gay men.
Last year Allen, 58, presented the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community with a $25,000Ā check to help the Center pay for renovation costs for its new space in the cityās Reeves Center municipal building at 14th and U streets, N.W.
āWe decided it was important for the center to be there for all of us in the community,ā Allen says.
Since opening the Crew Club at 1321 14th St., N.W., in the early 1990s, Allen has supported a number of local LGBT organizations and causes, including the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, which presented Allen with its Distinguished Service Award in 1998.
Under Allenās direction, the Crew Club has also supported Whitman-Walker Health and Us Helping Us, two local community health organizations that provide services to the LGBT community, including AIDS education and prevention services.
In addition to providing financial support for the two groups, Allen has arranged for staff members of the groups to provide HIV testing on the Crew Clubās premises. The Crew Club also serves as a major distribution point for HIV prevention literature and free condoms.
The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce recently named Allen Business Leader of the Year. (LC)
Best Massage
Che Young
Runner-up: Eddie Weingart
Relax the stress away with a massage by Che Young. Young provides deep tissue, Swedish, clinical and massage therapy. The Alexandra-based pro can be reached at 703-627-9090 or visit massagetherapy.com. (MC)
Best Visual Artist
Denis Largeron
1621 T St., N.W., Apt. 201
202-420-1030
Runner-up: Amy Martin
Best Personal Trainer
Gerard Burley
Runner-up: Bucky Mitchell
Gerard Burley shares fitness tips via his biweekly column in the Blade. He also makes appearances on Fox 5 and is known for his SweatDC fitness party. Find him via Facebook for regular updates and inspirational fitness-related posts.
(Editorās note: Bucky Mitchell also writes a biweekly column in the Blade.)
Best TV Personality
Chuck Bell, NBC4
Runner-up: Wendy Rieger
Best Actor
Mickey Daniel DaGuiso
Runner-up: Will Gartshore
Mickey Daniel DaGuiso grew up in the D.C. suburbs. He attended Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, mostly for the music program, and graduated from the University of Virginia where he majored in anthropology and philosophy.
Throughout school, he was involved in band (saxophone, piano) and chorus. It wasnāt until after college that DaGuiso started doing musicals. āIt began as sort of a whim,ā he says, āand then I was instantly hooked.ā
Among the local companies where heās worked, his favorites are Keegan Theatre (āMan of La Manchaā and āRentā) and Landless Theatre where he played Kebab in āPerez Hilton Saves the Universeā and the lead in āSpidermusical,ā a spoof of Broadwayās āSpiderman,ā and many other roles. He has also served as musical director and accompanist for assorted Landless productions.
āKeegan is such a friendly, supportive community yet the creativity and work involved is just superior. Landless is the most enjoyable both on stage and backstage, efficient and creative with time and space, with vision and little ego.ā
Currently DaGuiso is taking a year away from theater to travel the world. (He responded to these interview questions via email from India where heās embarking on a six-month walkabout.) While traveling heās trying his hand at playwriting.
āI’m keeping it very open-ended so just reading a lot, taking down inspiration whenever it comes and doing a daily writing practice. I do plan on continuing with acting in D.C. when I get back. But who knows what the future holds? I’m like the wind.ā (PF)
Best Actress
MaryBeth Wise
Runner-up: Holly Twyford
MaryBeth Wise likens acting to a never-ending education. Currently sheās taking a class for experienced actors at Studio Theatre.
āI feel that itās a good way to flex my muscles when Iām not working,ā she says. āAnd I get to do scenes that Iāve always wanted to do by my favorite playwrights like Pinter, Beckett and Chekhov.
Wise advises young actors to see as much theater as possible. āThe more you absorb, the better off youāll be. The more youāll have available in experience and imagination. After all, what else do we have?ā
Typically cast as women of substance, Wiseās more memorable roles include Anne Sullivan in Olney Theatreās āThe Miracle Worker,ā a New York psychiatrist in Studio Theatreās āFrozen,ā a newly out lesbian in āBody Awarenessā at Theater J, and most recently the stalwart wife and mother married to Mitchell HĆ©bert in Round Houseās āHow to Write a New Book for the Bible,ā a part that called for her to age from 40 to 80 on a dime.
Offstage, Wiseās partner is local actor Sarah Marshall. The talented pair got to know each other while working on Woolly Mammothās production of Paula Vogelās āThe Mineola Twinsā in 2003. āIt was a great time,ā Wise says. āAnd the show was a lot fun. I played a man in the first act and a woman in the second.ā
Wise grew up in Miami. She started acting while an undergraduate at Barry University. Initially she came to Washington to attend Catholic University where she earned a masterās in acting.
āThe D.C. theater scene is one of the best in the country,ā Wise says. āWe have a variety of theaters doing interesting, cutting-edge work. Our audiences can handle thought-provoking theater. And the actors are supportive. Itās great.ā (PF)
Best Hill Staffer
Kat Skiles
Runner-up: Kenneth Dowling
As Hill staffers go, Kat Skiles has moved to the top. In July, she became digital director and senior adviser to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). It’s the Utah native’s second consecutive year winning this award. (CJ)
Best Straight Ally
Leigh Ann Hendricks
Runner-up: Brett Johnson
Leigh Ann Hendricks made a big change five years ago to manage Level One (in the basement of Cobalt) after 17 years just down the street at Annieās Paramount Steakhouse.
Managing a staff of about 35 ā 90-95 percent of whom, she estimates, are LGBT ā she says was a logical change and one she made with no hard feelings toward Annieās. Having grown up with a gay best friend, she says it simply never occurred to her to treat gay people any differently. She was also inspired by the example of Annieās namesake, the late Annie Kaylor, whom she worked with for years.
āShe was like our second mother,ā Hendricks says. āHer attitude was, āThey either like my gay friends or they donāt like me,ā and thatās been mine as well.ā (JD)
Level One
1639 R St. N.W.
202-745-0025
BestĀ Bartender
Dusty Martinez (Town Patio/Number 9)
Runner-up: Angela Lombardi (Phase 1)
Baltimore native Dusty Martinez has been in the food and beverage industry for a decade and recently completed an in-house internship at the W Hotel. He recently moved from serving customers at Number 9 to operating the new Town Patio, and he is also the owner and director of D&D Cocktails, a private bartending company serving the D.C. area.
Dusty Martinez
202-765-7550
danddcocktails.squarespace.com
Best Rehoboth Bartender
Holly Lane, CafƩ Azafran
Runner-up: Matt Urban, Blue Moon
Holly Lane has lived in more places than most people have visited: Martinique, Greece, Bahamas, Paris, Chicago, Switzerland, the list goes on.
Sheās a native Washingtonian who trained in dance at the Washington School of Ballet and later at a modern dance school in Bethesda. After school ā and a stint in Chicago with her then-husband ā Laneās travels began in earnest. She left her husband and moved to the Bahamas at age 23 to dance at the Paradise Island resort. A Club Med gig led to more travel and finally a trip to Paris, where she auditioned for a dancing job and stayed for 15 years.
āIt was nice to have a place to decorate,ā says Lane, sipping a coffee on an unseasonably warm October day in Rehoboth Beach, Del. āI rented a furnished apartment and gradually replaced everything with my own finds at the Paris flea markets.ā
After years of working as a professional dancer, it was in Paris at age 30 that Lane discovered she could also sing. She landed a job in a musical production and then at the Hollywood Savoy in the ā80s, where the wait staff also served as the entertainment, singing and dancing for customers during dinner.
āIt was a great place to learn,ā she says.
Despite the excitement and adventure of living and working abroad, Lane said a voice kept telling her it was time to go home and so in 1995, she returned to D.C.
āIām glad I did all the things I did when I did them,ā she says. āI just found my passport and realized I havenāt been abroad since 2007.ā
After the death of a boyfriend, Lane went to visit her parents at their home in Rehoboth Beach, which theyāve owned since 1977 and stayed. Sheās lived full time in the popular beach resort town since 2000 and spent about 10 years in a jazz band performing around the state. Her parents, now 93, still live there. Lane says her father sold the family home in D.C. through a real estate ad in the Washington Blade a few years ago and relocated full-time to Rehoboth.
In summer of 2010, the owner of CafĆ© Azafran was opening a new location in Rehoboth and offered Lane a bartending job. Sheās worked there since. You can find her tending bar Thursday-Sunday evenings but Thursday is the night when sheās joined by fellow Rehoboth entertainer John Flynn, who plays the keyboard while Lane sings into her wireless headset while making drinks.
āI enjoy multi-tasking,ā she says.
CafƩ Azafran attracts a mixed crowd and Lane treats customers like they are guests in her home rather than patrons at a bar. She always finds room at the large granite bar for another stool and makes sure to introduce newcomers to the rest of the crowd.
Lane, 62, is āhappily singleā and lives with her dog JuJuBee, a ācheagle,ā a Chihuahua and Beagle mix. In addition to her duties at Azafran, Lane sings at private parties and functions. (KN)
CafƩ Azafran
18 Baltimore Ave.
302-227-8100
Most Committed Activist
David Mariner
Runner-up: Josh Deese
In Washington since 1997, David Mariner, a Corning, N.Y., native, started volunteering at the DC Center in 2008 and became its first full-time executive director a year later.
Under his leadership, the once-fledgling Center has begun to flourish and now has a broad activity schedule and is a hub for LGBT-themed events such as the OutWrite LGBT Book Festival, Reel Affirmations and much more.
āWorking at the DC LGBT Center has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,ā Mariner says. āI am so proud of the work we do in the community and am profoundly grateful to the staff and the many volunteers and supporters who make this work possible.ā (JD)
The DC Center
2000 14th St., N.W. No. 105
202-682-2245
Best Gay Politician
David Catania
Runner-up: Tammy Baldwin
Best Trans Advocate
Thomas Coughlin (see Queery)
Runner-up: Ruby Corado
Best Amateur Athlete
Matt Simeon
Runner-up: Eddie Valentine
Matt Simeon, who currently plays for the Washington Generals, has been a member of the D.C. Gay Flag Football League since 2010. Simeon was also named most valuable player of the league for the 2014 spring season. (MC)
BestĀ Stylist
Michael Hodges
Runner-up: Barry Smythers
Michael Hodges has been sharpening his techniques in the Washington area for 25 years and is the owner and master Stylist of Logan 14. With a keen eye for current trends in menās hair cuts and womenās styling, Michael and his team are making a powerful impact in the Logan Circle area. (SMH)
Michael Hodges
1314 B 14th St., N.W
202-506-6868
Best Clergy
Rev. David Lett
This is Father Lettās second consecutive win in this category. He also won the best drag queen prize as Lena Lett in 2001 and 2002. (JD)
Runner-up: Rev. Kirsten Blom-Westbrook
Best Republican Advocate
Ted Olson
Runner-up: Sen. Susan Collins
Best First Responder
Justin Markiewicz
Runner-up: Kate Fitzgerald
Officer Justin Markiewicz has been serving as a part-time member of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Departmentās Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit since 2010. Markiewicz hails from Delaware and came to the District to attend Catholic University. After graduation he attended the police academy and was assigned to the 6th District. (MC)
Theater
Talented pair of local queer actors tackles āLittle Shop of Horrorsā
Fordās production features terrific score
āLittle Shop of HorrorsāĀ
Through May 18
Fordās Theatre
511 10th St., N.W.
$33-$95
Fords.orgĀ
Ever since premiering off-Broadway in 1982, āLittle Shop of Horrorsā has drawn a devoted following of avid audiences as well as performers eager to act in the show. Now playing at Fordās Theatre, the doo-wop, dark comedy features a terrific cast including a wildly talented pair of local queer actors whoāve longed to appear in the show since they were kids.
Set in the urban 1960s, Alan Menken and Howard Ashmanās hit show with a terrific score follows the wacky rise of Seymour, a nebbishy florist in a Skid Row shop who changes his fortunes by unintentionally marketing an exotic, human eating plant.
Chani Wereley, 28, who plays Seymourās love interest Audrey, a hyper femme downtowner with an edge, has had her on eye the role for years. Wereley says, āAudreyās been around the block more than once, but I approach her as a person who moves through the world with love and hope.ā
The queer D.C. native adds, āOn long trips to visit family in Canada or Florida, the first thing weād do is pop a āLittle Shop of Horrorsā video [film version] into the carās VHS player. Iāve watched is so many times, I could quote the whole movie to you.ā
After auditioning to play Audrey in director Kevin S. McAllisterās production at Fordās, Wereley never thought sheād book the part, and when they said she got it, she cried.
Similarly, Tobias A. Young, 34, the pansexual actor who voices the part of the bloodthirsty plant affectionately dubbed Audrey II, explains his intense interest in the work: āI started watching the film in ā86. Growing up as a little gay boy in Calvert County, Md., I wanted to be blonde Audrey [played by Ellen Green in the movie]. I didnāt know much about musicals at the time, but I was absorbed.ā
When asked by Fordās to play the voracious plant Audrey II without auditioning, his reply was an unhesitant āyes.ā
Voicing a role requires Young to sing from backstage in a black box rigged with monitors and a mixing board. He says, āpeople ask if Iām singing from inside of the ever-growing, scary plant. No, Iām not, and thatās fine. But letās face it, actors love to be seen on stage, but I donāt feel entirely unseen as Audrey II.ā
Heās worked hard and successfully with formidable puppeteers Ryan Sellers and Jay Frisby to bring parts of himself to the carnivorous plant ā his sassiness, own movements, and even a tilt of his head; their efforts have drawn the actual Young into the show.
Both Wereley and Young possess gorgeous, emotive voices as evidenced by Wereleyās striking rendition of Audreyās āSuddenly Seymour,ā and Youngās soulful āFeed Me (Git It).ā Additionally, both actors are also big on queer representation in theater.
When her young pals were listening to Britney Spears, Wereley was dancing to retro tunes like āMashed Potato Time,ā and her favorite song to this day, the Shirelleās girl group anthem āWill You Still Love Me Tomorrow.ā As Audrey, Wereley eschews the characterās usual platinum hair for a bouncy brunette, cherry-streaked wig, tight pencil skirts, swing coats, and her very own half-sleeve tattoo.
āItās important for people to see themselves on stage,ā she says. āSeeing me or someone like me is inherently interesting. Being that person on Instagram or with the institution, cast, or audiences is meaningful. Itās important.ā
In 2011, a couple years after finishing high school, Young landed a part in āDream Girlsā at Tobyās Dinner Theatre, and heās been working professionally ever since. Growing up, he didnāt see a lot of himself ā Black and queer ā on social media. He now wants to be open and honest for those out there who might not feel seen, he says
An introvert who lets everything loose on the stage, Young says, ātheater is a safe space for queer people. Thatās the first place we feel safe, particularly in school. And this is why we need theaters in schools, now more than ever.ā
He adds, āWhatās great about Fordās is its surprises, especially when they switch up casting. Itās meaningful to see the shows you love, but why not see them with a twist? Using unexpected actors and incorporating queer people just makes it that much better.ā
Finger lasers, confetti cannons, drag shows, photo booths, throwback tunes, and a touch nerdy: after a long break, D.C.ās gay DJ collective CTRL is throwing its first party in six years.
Born in an Eritrean restaurant more than a decade ago, this longstanding gay nightlife electropop group is resurfacing with a comeback event at Trade on March 30.
Gay DJs Adam Koussari-Amin, Jeff Prior, Devon Trotter, and Brett Andreisen hosted the first CTRL party at now-closed restaurant Dahlak, on the corner of 18th and U Streets. After a year of hosting pop-ups in that restaurantās dining room, they upgraded down 18th Street to now-closed gay club Cobalt. There, the parties grew: drag shows, a pop-up photo booth from David Claypool, and quirky activations like throwing hot dogs into print-outs of Putinās mouth. Their productions grew as well, like producing the now-defunct Brightest Young Gays (BYG) Pride events at Wonderbread Factory and Union Market and the āGet Wetā pool party with David Brownās Otter Crossing at the Capitol Skyline Hotel.
CTRL wasnāt done. The group received its biggest stage yet after a call from Ed Bailey, the owner of now-closed gay club Town, as well as current gay bars Number 9 and Trade. At Town, the opportunity āallowed our creativity to flourish with even bigger performances, bigger photo experiences, crazier hand-outs, and the same electropop dance vibes our fans had come to know us for,ā says Koussari-Amin.
CTRL pressed pause when Town shut down, which āwas a huge loss to the LGBTQIA+ community and D.C. nightlife in general,ā says Koussari-Amin. After that, it hosted an occasional spinoff called QWERTY. Post-pandemic, Koussari-Amin has spent a few nights solo as DJ at Trade and other venues.
After connecting with Jesse Jackson, the Trade general manager, as well as with Bailey, who agreed to host the inaugural event, Koussari-Amin was determined to shift CTRL back to life.
However, getting the old band back together proved to be a challenge. While the rest of the group have either left Washington, D.C., or are pursuing other projects, Koussari-Amin received their blessing to stay on and find new members.
āWhen it came to finding new partners, both DJ Dez [Desmond Jordan] and DJ Lemz [Steve Lemmerman] were obvious choices,ā he says, noting that āthey also have distinct styles and interests.ā Dez has a residency at Pitchers and Kiki as well as pop-ups, and Lemz throws events like Sleaze and BENT.
āIt seemed important to come back to the nightlife table with an experience that could complement all the amazing experiences that have even built up since CTRL threw its last event at Town. Bringing back both the DJ collective and the CTRL event with Dez and Lemz means new voices, perspectives, sounds, and excitement.ā
āCTRL is an opportunity for the community to come together, enjoy music, drinks, and good vibes,ā adds Jordan, noting that for him, itās an event that celebrates queer identity.
And after months of planning, CTRL will kick off its monthly party series at Trade on March 30 for the first gig after its glow-up.
The trio says that its core inspiration āis driven by the indie and electropop favorites of new and old, like Goldfrapp, Ava Max, Charli XCX, ā¦ We’re also all huge fans of slut and trash pop music like Kim Petras, Slayyyter, Cupcakke,ā as well as pop diva remixes, new bops, and songs that reside inside and far beyond the expanse of Top 40.
CTRL is also bringing back its activations that complement the tunes. Summer Camp is set for drag performances, David Claypool is back with his photo booth, and Koussari-Amin promises āto have all sorts of weird and wacky handouts like we used to.ā
After the March premiere, Aprilās party is āCTRLellaā, a Coachella send-up. Future events will feature various different themes, and they plan to throw a party during Capital Pride; theyāre also looking to be a central part of Tradeās expansion into the adjacent space.
Koussari-Amin says that āthe eventās signature experience [is] a lynchpin in connecting D.C.ās expanding generations of queer folks, giving everyone a safe space to let loose and feel a rush no matter who they are.ā
For his part, Bailey continues to support CTRL and its collective intention, expressing its essential nature as a party for partiers by partiers. āCTRL is the kind of party that represents what people want. Itās just a real party by real people that just want to hear good music and dance with their friends.ā
Celebrity News
HRC releases āQueer Renaissance Syllabusā
BeyoncĆ©ās hit album inspired curriculum
In a move aimed at celebrating the beauty, brilliance and resilience of the LGBTQ community, the Human Rights Campaign unveiled the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” that BeyoncĆ©ās āRenaissanceā album inspired.
Curated by Justin Calhoun, Leslie Hall and Chauna Lawson of the HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, the syllabus includes a variety of academic articles, essays, films and other media rooted in Black queer and feminist studies. Each piece is directly inspired by the tracks on BeyoncĆ©’s Billboard 200-topping dance album, “Renaissance.”
BeyoncĆ©’s album “Renaissance” stands as a cultural milestone, celebrating the Black queer roots of dance music while shedding light on overlooked Black queer artists. Inspired by her late-Uncle Johnny, the album not only garnered critical acclaim but also shed light on the often marginalized contributions of Black queer artists. Winning four Grammys and yielding chart-topping hits like āBreak My Soulā and āCuff It,ā the album sparked discussions about economic impact and cultural representation.
Amid its success, legislative challenges arose, with Florida and Texas enacting bans on DEI initiatives in public colleges. Recognizing the album’s transformative potential, HRC developed the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” to leverage its impact for education and activism.
Tailored for educators, youth-serving professionals, DEI practitioners, higher education leaders and admirers of BeyoncĆ©’s artistry, the syllabus aims to encourage meaningful discussions, enrich lesson plans, and explore innovative ways to honor the vibrancy and significance of LGBTQ individuals and their culture.
With six themes anchoring the syllabus, ranging from “intersectionality and inclusivity” to “social justice and activism,” it provides a comprehensive exploration of various facets of LGBTQ experiences and expressions. Fan-favorite tracks from the album are paired with scholarly readings, offering insights into empowerment, self-acceptance and the transformative power of artistic expression. The syllabus also reinforces HRCās efforts to highlight, amplify and re-center Black and queer voices.
By providing links to articles, books, podcasts and interviews, each associated with a song from the album, it celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Black queer community.
The concluding section of the syllabus includes BeyoncĆ©’s tribute to OāShea Sibley, a young Black queer person who was murdered in Brooklyn, N.Y., last July while voguing to āRenaissanceā songs at a gas station. HRC also includes a statement that condemns hate crimes.
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