Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Joshua Bennett
The gay singer/actor answers 20 gay questions

Joshua Bennett did the whole New York/professional actor/singer/dancer thing for long enough that although he still loves performing, he says he’s perfectly content doing it in a volunteer capacity.
“For some reason when … it becomes my job or my obligation, it’s no longer something I enjoy,” the 36-year-old Kalispell, Mont., native says. “I think of my talent as a gift so when I’m getting paid it becomes a chore.”
Bennett gets plenty of chance to put his talent voluntarily to use with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, which he joined shortly after moving to D.C. in January, 2010. It started innocuously — he was just looking for a way to make friends. Since then he’s had starring roles in several major productions. Look for him as Frank N Furter in the Chorus’s all-male production of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” next weekend (three performances at the G.W. Lisner Auditorium; go to gmcw.org for details).
“I just joined to be a singer,” Bennett says. “I never expected all these other opportunities. I just figured I’d be in the risers singing.”
And for some shows he is. But Chorus brass obviously enjoys making use of Bennett’s professional training. He has an Actor’s Equity card and was in touring companies of “The Producers” and “Oklahoma” during the six years he spent in New York.
Bennett works by day as resident concierge team leader at Archstone, an apartment building in Crystal City, Va., where he lives. He says eventually he’d like to go back to school but is professionally content for now.
And no, he doesn’t have any issue with many of the barely there sartorial selections the Chorus has for him. “As a dancer, you lose a lot of your inhibitions,” he says. “And I know sometimes the crowd likes to see a little skin.”
Bennett is single and enjoys music, dancing, reading and TV in his free time. (Blade photo by Michael Key; character photo courtesy GMCW)
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I started the coming out process when I was 22, shortly after I got divorced from my ex-wife. She was the hardest person to tell and I waited until she discovered it on her own via Facebook 11 years later.
Who’s your LGBT hero?
I would have to say Ellen DeGeneres. Watching her come out publicly as a young (closeted and married) gay man was very inspiring. It gave me hope that one day I could live freely and openly without fear.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
I don’t go out often, but when I do the best nightspot is wherever my friends happen to be.
Describe your dream wedding.
I don’t really believe in the institution of marriage anymore, but I do believe in equality. I also claim the right to change my mind for the right guy.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
I am very concerned with environmental issues. I think we need to be more responsible with how we treat our home.
What historical outcome would you change?
There are too many instances of social injustice in the history of humanity to choose just one. Trial and error and sometimes downright stupidity have led humanity to where we are now, and it is futile to wish things had happened differently. Without those historical moments, we would not be where we are today. It is heartening to live in a time when there is so much progression on the equality front.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
Whitney Houston’s comeback concert in Central Park in 2009. It was the most memorable for me because I was there.
On what do you insist?
Honesty
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
“Bill Maher is my hero!” This was after watching his live show on Yahoo!
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“Love in the Time of Joshua”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Um … No, thanks! Why would I want to change who I am? A friend of mine from college recently committed suicide, and he struggled with his homosexuality. I know this conflict all too well. I grew up in a strictly religious household and was told that homosexuality was wrong and a sin. Luckily, I was able to overcome the brainwashing, but some people can never reconcile who they are with who they are told to be. We need to continue to work hard to erase this idea that homosexuality is wrong. We are who we are.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
Nada. Live for today. Live for each other.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
Keep up the good fight! I am so grateful to all of the people who work tirelessly to ensure a better future for all of us.
What would you walk across hot coals for?
Love
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
The bitchy gay
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
“Beautiful Thing” — it’s such a great story of young, brave love.
What’s the most overrated social custom?
Religion
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony…
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
There is nothing to fear.
Why Washington?
I moved here with an ex. I love D.C. because it has all the comforts of a big city, but is cleaner and quieter than others that shall not be named. It also boasts the biggest and best chorus in the country, The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, of which I am a proud family member.

You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“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 details, email [email protected].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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