Arts & Entertainment
‘Bachelorette’ contestants under fire for transphobic comments
two suitors have been slammed on social media for questionnaire answers
“The Bachelorette” contestants haven’t introduced themselves on TV yet, but two suitors are already stirring controversy for comments that have been slammed as transphobic.
ABC.com has uploaded the biographies and questionnaires of the 31 contestants vying for the heart of bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Contestant Bryce Powers answered the question, “What’s your biggest date fear?” by replying, “The chick is actually a dude.”
The comment was offensive for some people who took to social media to blast the contestant.
Bryce from the Bachelorette’s biggest fear is trans women who are attempting to conceal their birth sex. I see why yer single, douche bag.
ā Sharon Needles (@SHARON_NEEDLES) May 19, 2017
well āBryceā from The Bachelorette, my biggest fear is that my weird-headed Elven date turns out to be a transphobe pic.twitter.com/H5T1JDFOrF
ā Bec Shaw (@Brocklesnitch) May 19, 2017
Dear Bryce, on behalf of trans women I can assure you: none of us want to date your bland preppy 1980’s teen movie villain rhombus ass. xo https://t.co/VbcN4bya4s
ā Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) May 19, 2017
āThis comment does not reflect the views of ABC, Warner Horizon or bachelorette Rachel Lindsay,ā an ABC spokesperson told The Wrap.
The offending comment has been removed from Powers’ bio on ABC.com.
Contestant Lucas’ questionnaire also included a controversial comment. When asked who he would have dinner with dead or alive, he responded, “Dead: Bruce Jenner, Alive: Caitlyn Jenner ā¦. Would be a very interesting convo.”
Refinery29’s R.A. Farley writes that the comment is harmful to the transgender community.
“…but the fact remains that A. Lucas considers Bruce Jenner to be dead, which implies that Caitlyn Jenner killed her cisgendered persona and B. Lucas is fetishizing the experience of a trans woman. I’d like to think that Lucas wants to talk to Caitlyn Jenner in an effort to understand the trans experience. But I can’t help but think that’s not the case,” Farley writes.
Lucas’ comment has not been removed.
“The Bachelorette” premieres Monday at 9 p.m. on ABC.
a&e features
Eastern Shore chef named James Beard Finalist
Harley Peet creates inventive food in an inclusive space
In a small Eastern Shore town filled with boutiques, galleries, and the occasional cry of waterfowl from the Chesapeake, Chef Harley Peet is most at home. In his Viennese-inflected, Maryland-sourced fine-dining destination Bas Rouge, Peet draws from his Northern Michigan upbringing, Culinary Institute of America education, and identity as a gay man, for inspiration.
And recently, Peet was named a James Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic – the first “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” finalist representing the Eastern Shore.
Peet, after graduation from the Culinary Institute of America, took a position as sous chef at Tilghman Island Inn, not far from Bas Rouge. Falling in love with the Eastern Shore, he continued his passion for racing sailboats, boating, gardening, and fishing, and living his somewhat pastoral life as he opened Bas Rouge in 2016 as head chef, a restaurant part of the Bluepoint Hospitality group, which runs more than a dozen concepts in and around Easton, Md.
Coming from a rural area and being gay, Peet knew he had his work cut out for him. He was always aware that the service and hospitality industry ācan be down and dirty and rough.ā
Now as a leader in the kitchen, he aims to āset a good example, and treat people how I want to be treated. I also want to make sure if youāre at our establishment, Iām the first to stand up and say something.ā
The Bas Rouge cuisine, he says, is Contemporary European. āIām inspired by old-world techniques of countries like Austria, Germany, and France, but I love putting a new spin on classic dishes and finding innovative ways to incorporate the bounty of local Chesapeake ingredients.ā
His proudest dish: the humble-yet-elevated Wiener Schnitzel. āIt is authentic to what one would expect to find in Vienna, down to the Lingonberries.ā From his in-house bakery, Peet dries and grinds the housemade Kaiser-Semmel bread to use as the breadcrumbs.
Peet works to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the kitchen. āI love that our Bluepoint Hospitality team has created welcoming spaces where our patrons feel comfortable dining at each of our establishments. Our staff have a genuine respect for one another and work together free of judgment.ā
Representing Bluepoint, Peet has participated in events like Chefs for Equality with the Human Rights Campaign, advocating for LGBTQ rights.
At Bas Rouge, Peet brings together his passion for inclusion steeped in a sustainability ethic. He sees environmental stewardship as a way of life. Peet and his husband have lived and worked on their own organic farm for several years. Through research in Europe, he learned about international marine sourcing. Witnessing the impacts of overfishing, Peet considers his own role in promoting eco-friendly practices at Bas Rouge. To that end, he ensures responsible sourcing commitments through his purveyors, relationships that have helped create significant change in how people dine in Easton.
āI have built great relationships in the community and thereās nothing better than one of our long-standing purveyors stopping in with a cooler of fresh fish from the Chesapeake Bay. This goes especially for catching and plating the invasive blue catfish species, which helps control the speciesā threat to the local ecosystem.
Through his kitchen exploits, Peet expressed a unique connection to another gay icon in a rural fine-dining restaurant: Patrick OāConnell, of three Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington. In fact, Peetās husband helped design some of OāConnellās kitchen spaces. Theyāve both been able to navigate treacherous restaurant-industry waters, and have come out triumphant and celebrated. Of OāConnell, Peet says that he āsees [his restaurants] as canvas, all artistry, he sees this as every night is a show.ā But at the same time, his ājudgment-free space makes him a role model.ā
Being in Easton itself is not without challenges. Sourcing is a challenge, having to either fly or ship in ingredients, whereas urban restaurants have the benefit of trucking, he says. The small town āis romantic and charming,ā but logistics are difficult ā one of the reasons that Peet ensures his team is diverse, building in different viewpoints, and also āmaking things a hell of a lot more fun.ā
Reflecting on challenges and finding (and creating) space on the Eastern Shore, Peet confirmed how important it was to surround himself with people who set a good example, and āif you donāt like the way something is going, fuck them and move on.ā
Team DC, the umbrella organization for LGBTQ-friendly sports teams and leagues in the D.C. area, held its annual Night of Champions Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20 at the Hilton National Mall. The organization gave out scholarships to area LGBTQ student athletes as well as awards to the Different Drummers, Kelly Laczko of Duplex Diner, Stacy Smith of the Edmund Burke School, Bryan Frank of Triout, JC Adams of DCG Basketball and the DC Gay Flag Football League.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
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