Miscellaneous
‘A rare and beautiful soul’
D.C. pays tribute to singer Peter Fox who died Monday
Peter Fox rehearsing a solo with the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, a local choir he was active in for more than a decade. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Many in Washington’s gay community are reeling from the death of Peter Fox, a well-liked local singer who died Monday after a short battle with central nervous system lymphoma. A funeral is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. at Foundry United Methodist Church for the 45-year-old musician.
The Pompton Plains, N.J., native studied business and music at Pennsylvania State University and had been in Washington more than a decade where he’d worked several jobs. He loved driving trucks and was a motorcycle enthusiast. He worked full time as director of credentialing at the American Academy of HIV Medicine and in recent years had pursued a singing career that found him releasing an eponymous album, giving local performances at the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre and more, and making charitable appearances for local gay causes. He was also a long-time member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and sang in its Potomac Fever ensemble.
MORE IN THE BLADE: DC SINGER PETER FOX SUCCUMBS TO CANCER
Though his parents both preceded him in death, Fox is survived by three brothers and a sister. He had a good relationship with his family and attested to it in a Blade Pride-related coming out story he participated in last June.
“‘Wow, what’s that like,’ exclaimed my mom when I came out to her (and the rest of my family) in my early 20s,” Fox wrote. “Just the nature of her question to me describes their love for me and their trust that I am exactly who I am meant to be. I just don’t think my clan was genetically wired to feel as though I or they had done anything ‘wrong.’” (Read the full essay here.)
At his cabaret act “Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Taken” as part of Signature’s Sizzling Summer Cabaret series last summer, one of Fox’s brothers was present and Fox told a story of taking their (straight) father to a Pittsburgh gay bar. Fox was surprised to find his father getting cozy with a bear at the bar.
“I was like, ‘Dad, are you OK?,’” Fox said. “He said, ‘Go away, this guy is buying me drinks.’”
Fox’s last performance was at an album release party for his friend, fellow musician Tom Nichols in November. He’d been feeling dizzy for several weeks and though an initial battery of tests revealed nothing, a second round found him immediately admitted to the hospital. After one round of chemotherapy, doctors told Fox nothing further could be done.
Family and friends declined to elaborate on his illness but said he kept his trademark positive outlook to the end. His siblings and closest friend Antonio Casanez — a former lover who came from Australia to be with him in his final weeks — were with him when he died just after midnight Monday.
“He was total Peter Fox to the end,” Nichols says. “Like many people, I considered him extended family. We were extremely close and had done lots and lots of musical projects together. I produced his first album … he had a one-in-a-million voice.”
Fox and Nichols were roommates for about three years before Fox bought his own place in Southwest Washington. Nichols remembers him as a motorcycle enthusiast and a great roommate.
“He was a true artist,” Nichols said of his friend. “He had a unique ability to make every single person he encountered feel like they were the only person in the room.”
Many other friends remembered Fox fondly this week and peppered his Facebook page with tributes. The Blade was in touch with two of Fox’s brothers — Jake and Joe — but both said they were too grief stricken and busy with funeral arrangements to talk at length. They said they’d talk further about their late brother at another time.
“My family and I very much appreciate everyone’s interest in our brother Peter,” Jake Fox wrote in an e-mail.
“It’s very hard to even describe what he’s been in my life,” Casanez says. “So incredible and uplifting. “It’s just very hard to imagine not being in touch with him on a day-to-day basis.”
Jody Manor was also one of Fox’s closest friends and the two spent many days and nights on motorcycle adventures together, even at one point a few years ago going into a cycle-related business together before Fox opted to plunge full steam ahead in music. Manor is glad Fox realized his dream recently of buying a new BMW motorcycle, which he says his late friend was “completely obsessed over.”
Peter Fox with actress Lynda Carter at the 2010 Aids Walk Washington, a Whitman-Walker Benefit in which they both appeared. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
“Peter was a rare and beautiful soul,” Manor says. “I’ve been re-reading old e-mails the last few days trying to get ready to speak at the service Friday. He was incredibly wise and a great listener and an incredibly compassionate person. He was definitely a real person and full of foibles just like everybody. He had a strong personality. But he is going to be terribly missed. This has left a huge hole for so many people. There’s something about riding long distances together in the desert. You talk about things and, I don’t know, you just really get to know somebody and he was such a beautiful, beautiful spirit.”
Results owner Doug Jeffries, who’s hosting a tribute event for Fox Friday at his Stroga business (1808 Adams Mill Road, N.W.) just after the Foundry service, knew Fox from his years of working out at Results.
“He was one of the sweetest men, just one of the sweetest, most considerate people I’ve ever met,” Jeffries says. “I never heard a bad word about him, not once … his loss is going to be felt around the city for quite some time. You could not find a better man and it really makes you wonder why it was him instead of yourself. He was just so incredibly kind, so universally liked and admired and I don’t even have to tell you how stunningly beautiful the man was. You wonder how and why this would happen. It’s so hard to wrap your head and thoughts around.”
Daren Phillips guesses he knew Fox for about 15 years having also met him at Results on U Street where Vida is now.
“Peter was so sweet and genuine,” Phillips says. “We didn’t hang out all the time but he was the kind of person, you know, even if you didn’t hang out with him all the time, you just loved him and he just brightened up your day.”
Phillips says Fox’s guileless demeanor was refreshing in a jaded town like Washington.
“I’m not trying to be mean because I really love D.C., but many times in a city that is so cynical about a lot of different things, you know with the nature of politics and stuff in D.C., then you run into people every once in a while who just aren’t caught up in any of that. They love life and they love people and of all the many, many people I’ve known in D.C. over the years, Peter was probably the number one person who was like that and it was so refreshing … and I think if you talked to another hundred people who knew him, they would say the same thing.”
Musically, Fox favored jazzy standards and inspirational originals. He and a small combo worked through hits like “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Lean On Me” during his Signature show last summer. He closed with the Carpenters’ “Sometimes” and dedicated it to his family and friends. A Blade review called it “sweet, appropriate, tender and (lacking) even a whiff of irony … Fox is an anachronism in the best sense of the word.”
Manor said music was Fox’s dream and it was definitely a conscious decision about five years ago for him to invest in it full throttle.
“That’s one of the main reasons we put the motorcycle business on hold,” he says. “Music was his first love and he wanted to make that his career and in the past few years he made enormous strides in that. He always kept his regular job, but his primary energy went into his music career.”
Fox dated some in the last few years but was single in recent months. Friends say his relationship with Casanez evolved over time and even when they were no longer romantically involved, the two talked daily and were, according to Nichols “soul mates.”
“I can’t think of anybody he lived with in the past few years, but oh yeah, Peter was popular,” Manor says with a chuckle. “But Antonio is really the keeper of the flame. Even when Antonio was living all over the world, they talked all the time.”
Nichols agrees.
“I think they always kept a special place for each other in their hearts,” he says. “I think they knew it was never gonna work out for them to be partners but they were soul mates and as close as brothers.”
Though Jeffries had known Fox for years, he was taken aback the first time he heard him sing.
“I remember being at the Nationals Stadium and I was just absolutely blown away,” he says. “It really makes you appreciate life and appreciate every single day because nothing is guaranteed.”
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial gifts in Fox’s honor be made to the Icla Da Silva Foundation, the largest bone marrow recruiter for the National Marrow Registry.
Miscellaneous
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Five easy tips to help you avoid common risks
Your home is more than just a place to eat and sleep; it’s your safe haven. As much as you might cherish your home, you should probably also recognize the potential hazards within its familiar walls. Accidents can happen in an instant, yet with a little foresight and some simple adjustments, you can transform your house into a safer haven.
Accidents can happen anywhere, and with a few simple tweaks, you can lower risks in your space. Below you’ll find five tips for each room in your home to help prevent injuries, falls, and other mishaps. In short, home safety.
This article was inspired by a shower in a rental we managed that began leaking through the kitchen ceiling below. If only the landlord had installed grab bars, right!? Below, we’ll guide you through the steps to fortify your bathroom, making it a place of relaxation without the fear of slips and falls. Then, we’ll venture into the room where the magic happens, where proper planning can ensure great nights and peaceful mornings. We’ll show you how to prevent accidents while you experiment becoming the next Gordon Ramsey. And we’ll include a few surprising solutions for those other rooms that hold their own unique hazards, offering solutions to safeguard against unexpected mishaps.
Bathroom Safety
Install Grab Bars: Adding grab bars near the shower and toilet can provide essential support for family members of all ages. Not only can they help with getting in and out, but they can help provide stability when washing. Make sure they are securely anchored to the wall.
Non-Slip Mats: Place non-slip mats inside the shower and bathtub to prevent slips. They’re a small investment that can save you from falls and head injuries.
Adjust Water Temperature: Ensure your hot water is set to a safe temperature to avoid scalding. The hot water heater should be set to around 120°F (49°C)l, the middle setting on many water heater settings.
Medicine Cabinet Locks: If you have young children, use childproof locks on your medicine cabinet to keep harmful substances out of reach.
Proper Lighting: Ensure there’s adequate lighting in the bathroom to avoid trips and falls during nighttime visits. Nightlights can be a simple and effective solution.
Bedroom Safety
Clear Pathways: Keep pathways in the bedroom clutter free to prevent tripping. Ensure there’s enough space to move around comfortably, particularly getting around the bed. Be aware where all furniture is when walking around to avoid stubbed toes, particularly at night.
Secure Rugs: If you have throw rugs, use rug grippers or double-sided tape to keep them from slipping. Loose rugs are a common trip hazard.
Bed Rails: For anyone at risk of falling out of bed, consider installing bed rails to provide extra support and prevent falls.
Nightstands with Drawers: Opt for nightstands with drawers to keep essential items. This reduces the need to get out of bed at night, minimizing the risk of falls, as you race to grab what you need and not lose a moment’s rest.
Fire Safety: Install battery-operated smoke detectors in the bedrooms if there are none. Make sure to install them 36 inches away from an air vent or the edge of a ceiling fan. Also six inches away from the joint between the wall and ceiling. And test smoke detectors regularly.
Kitchen Safety
Non-Slip Flooring: Choose slip-resistant rugs in the kitchen, especially in areas where spills are common. Mats near the sink and stove can also help and you can often buy them fairly cheaply at Costco.
Childproof Cabinets: If you have little ones, use childproof latches on cabinets and drawers to prevent them from accessing potentially hazardous items.
Anti-tip brackets: Install an anti-tip bracket behind the range. These are often used when children are in the home. Although they are less likely to open the oven door and use it as a step stool to get to the stove-top, adults can also benefit from installing these.
Adequate Lighting: Proper lighting is crucial in the kitchen to avoid accidents. Under-cabinet lighting can illuminate work areas effectively.
Secure Heavy Items: Ensure heavy pots and pans are stored at waist level to prevent straining or dropping them from high shelves.
Sharp Object Storage: Keep knives and other sharp objects in a secure drawer or block. And handle all sharp items with extreme care, even when washing and drying. These steps reduce the risk of accidental cuts.
Other Safety Tips
Furniture Anchors: Secure heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, to the wall to prevent tip-overs, especially if you have young children.
Adequate Outlets: Check for damaged outlets and replace them promptly. Avoid overloading circuits with too many devices. Install placeholder plugs in outlets to prevent young curious fingers (or tongues?) from going inside an electrical outlet.
Stair Gates: If your home has stairs, install safety gates at the top and bottom to prevent falls, especially if you have toddlers or pets to keep them off of the stairs when you cannot monitor them.
Emergency Escape Plan: Develop and practice an emergency escape plan with your family, including a designated meeting place outside.
Carbon Monoxide Detector: If your home burns any fossil fuels for heating or appliances, install carbon monoxide detectors in common areas of your home to detect this odorless gas. The D.C. building codes require this if you use a fireplace or if you have an attached garage. In essence, if there is any potential source of carbon monoxide in the home, be sure to install these detectors.
Remember, a safer home not only prevents accidents but also provides peace of mind for you and your family. Implement these simple tips to create a secure environment in every room of your house.
With these practical tips and a few adjustments, you can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and falls in your home. Enjoy peace of mind in your now much safer haven.
Scott Bloom is owner and senior property manager of Columbia Property Management.
When Lizzo sings “If I’m shinin,’ everybody gonna shine,” in her hit song, “Juice,” she means it. Proof of that came this week on Instagram when the LGBTQ ally announced the first winner of her annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign is the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, a national nonprofit based in Richmond, Calif., dedicated to the protection and defense of Black transgender people.
And she did so in song: “On the first day of Juneteenth, Lizzo gave to me,” she sang in her video, posted Tuesday, as she revealed her $50,000 gift to MPJI.
“That’s right, we know who Marsha P. Johnson is. We know what Marsha P. Johnson has done for the LGBTQ, emphasis on that ‘T,’ Q community,” said Lizzo to her 13.5 million followers. “Thank you so much to the people at the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. You deserve this, and I hope this helps you so much as you help protect our Black trans family.”
“What the Marsha P. Johnson Institute does is protects and defends the rights of Black transgender people. They do this by organizing community, advocating for the people, and creating an intentional healing community, developing transformative leadership and promoting collective power,” she said.
“We are overjoyed for the shoutout from Lizzo today, the generosity of her sharing her platform and the recognition of MPJI and its work,” said Elle Moxley, MPJI’s executive director. “The resources from this campaign will ensure the protection and defense of Black transgender people continue at a time where it is so vitally needed. We are so grateful for the support of Lizzo and her fans.”
As one of Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year for 2019 and a 2023 Grammy winner, Lizzo is more than a pop star but an inspiration to millions of fans for her body-positive attitude, her self-confidence on stage and in her videos, her empowering music and her activism. She’s also the founder of her own clothing line, Yitty. In 2021, she made headlines when she publicly corrected a paparazzo for using “she/her” pronouns and misgendering Demi Levato.
As part of her campaign, now in its 4th year, Lizzo recognizes Black-led grassroots organizations and businesses and encourages her fans to join her in supporting each of the five organizations she highlights this week. Fans who take action by donating are entered into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to see her perform at Fuji Rock in Japan later this year.
This week’s other nonprofits receiving gifts are: Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Music, the University of Houston and Save Our Sisters United.
Find out more about Lizzo’s 4th annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign by clicking here.
Celebrity News
Anne Heche dies after removal from life support
Actress dated Ellen DeGeneres in late 1990s
Actress Anne Heche died after she was removed from life support on Sunday, nearly two weeks after her Mini-Cooper crashed through a two-story house in Los Angeles’ Mar Vista neighborhood. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department believe she was intoxicated at the time.
She sustained a severe anoxic brain injury along with severe burns and was being treated at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital, near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley.
The 53-year-old actress who was a star of films like “Donnie Brasco,” the political satire “Wag the Dog” and the 1998 remake of “Psycho,” had been declared legally dead under California law on Friday, however, her family kept her alive long enough to be an organ donor.
In a statement Friday, the LAPD announced that: “As of today, there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case. Any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities and included in the overall case. When a person suspected of a crime expires, we do not present for filing consideration.” LAPD detectives had previously made public that investigators into the crash found narcotics in a blood sample taken from Heche.
The actress’s family released a statement on Friday:
“Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact,” the statement added.
Heche was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon from 2001 to 2009. The two had a son, Homer, together. She had another son, named Atlas, during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series “Men In Trees.”
Laffoon left a moving tribute on an Instagram reel in which he also gave an update on how their 20-year-old son Homer Laffoon is coping with the loss of his mother.
“I loved her and I miss her, and I’m always going to,” he said adding: “Homer is okay. He’s grieving, of course, and it’s rough. It’s really rough, as probably anybody can imagine. But he’s surrounded by family and he’s strong, and he’s gonna be okay.”
“Rest In Peace, Mom, I love you, Homer,” the actor’s 20-year-old son, Homer, said in a statement after Heche was declared legally dead on Friday.“ My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom,” read the statement. “After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully, my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom. Over those six days, thousands of friends, family, and fans made their hearts known to me. I am grateful for their love, as I am for the support of my Dad, Coley, and my stepmom Alexi who continue to be my rock during this time. Rest In Peace Mom, I love you, Homer.”
Tupper, a Canadian actor who starred alongside Heche in “Men in Trees,” had a 13-year-old son, Atlas, with her. “Love you forever,” Tupper, 57, wrote on his Instagram post’s caption with a broken heart emoji, which shared an image of the actress from Men in Trees.
Between 1997 and 2000, Heche was also in a relationship with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
“This is a sad day,” DeGeneres posted on Twitter. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.” The year after her break-up with the comedian, in September 2001, Heche recounted in her memoir “Call Me Crazy,” about her lifelong struggles with mental health and a childhood of abuse.
KTLA’s entertainment reporter Sam Rubin noted that over the past two decades, Heche’s career pivoted several times. In 2017, she hosted a weekly radio show on SiriusXM with Jason Ellis called “Love and Heche.”
In 2020, Heche made her way into the podcast world. She launched “Better Together” which she cohosted alongside Heather Duffy Boylston. The show was described as a way to celebrate friendship.
She also worked in smaller films, on Broadway, and on TV shows. She recently had recurring roles on the network series “Chicago P.D.,” and “All Rise” and was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.”
People magazine reported that several of Heche’s acting projects are expected to be released posthumously.
These include “Girl in Room 13,” expected to be released on Lifetime in September, “What Remains,” scheduled to be released in 2023, and HBO Max TV series “The Idol,” created by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.
In her Instagram post from earlier this year Heche stands between her sons Atlas, 13 and Homer, 20.
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