Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Henry Maticorena
The Andromeda Transcultural Health communications director answers 20 gay questions

Henry Maticorena’s mother always told him, “When you are a minority, you never turn your back on other minorities.” As a result, he is fluent in four languages, which he uses on the job as a communications/external affairs director at Andromeda Transcultural Health.
Maticorena spearheads HIV/AIDS outreach for the clinic. His arsenal of tools includes bumper stickers, lanyards and squishy balls that have sayings in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English.
“I want to be able to include groups that may not always have access to these services on a regular basis,” he says. “We want to give our clients a holistic treatment, for both their physical health and their mental health.”
Maticorena began his outreach while an undergraduate student at George Washington University, where he traveled to Brazil for a year. He joined the LGBT movement where the advocacy focused mostly on reducing hate crimes. Despite traveling to several other countries, Maticorena regularly returned to D.C. to work.
“I can really connect with policy makers here and watch changes being made here,” he says. “D.C. provides many platforms in which I can make an impact.”
Maticorena is single and lives in D.C. and enjoys attending events at the Phillips Collection and other galleries in his free time. He is also a runner and enjoys watching movies and listening to Bossa Nova with a glass of wine.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I’ve been out since I was 20 years old. I’ve been fortunate to have always encountered people in my life thus far who never found my sexual orientation to be an issue.
Who’s your LGBT hero?
I’d say it is anyone that goes out of his/her way to help a stranger in need. In my personal life, I’d have to say a great man who was there for me when I experienced emotional struggles in college. His name is Marc.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Can I answer both? I just have to say Velvet Nation was the place to be when I moved to D.C. to attend GW. I always had a BLAST there. Today, it depends on the mood: Bossa Lounge in Adams Morgan or Cobalt on 17th Street.
Describe your dream wedding.
I‘ve always loved the summer chateaux on Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. My favorite one being The Marble House; I would have the ceremony held there in its ballroom and the reception in the Chinese Tea House in the backyard with all my friends and family.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
I’m very passionate about getting every resident the opportunity to have access to services in their native language if they need it.
What historical outcome would you change?
Sept. 11, 2001. It was a few days after I had moved to D.C. from Miami and I witnessed the divisiveness that it instilled in our diverse community in the District and in America at large.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
I’d have to say when Princess Diana died in 1997 as a result of the car crash in Paris. She had a great impact on my life. All her charitable work inspired me to become very active working for the rights of disadvantaged people as well as becoming involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS and ending the stigma associated with it through my volunteering and work today at Andromeda Transcultural Health (check us out on Facebook: facebook.com/ATHDC).
On what do you insist?
I insist on fomenting cohesiveness within our community to overcome the issues that affect us from HIV to immigration to our youth experiencing homelessness.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
My last post on Facebook was the photo of a business card that reads: ‘Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here’s my number’ hahaha.
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“My Life as a Socialite: Henry, my Private Story”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Nothing. I was born this way.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
I like to believe that once one dies hopefully one’s spirit will have fulfilled its raison d’etre in this lifetime to continue on its path for continuous growth.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
Continue the legacy of prior leaders of the movement to encourage members of our community to be the voices and advocates of individuals whose plea would otherwise be unheard — doing so, creating change and building the path so we can ALL move forward as ONE.
What would you walk across hot coals for?
I would walk across hot coals to get all my friends in London and South America to make it to an overdue reunion here in D.C. My friends are family to me.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
That every gay man wants to pursue every straight man they come in contact with.
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
“A Home at the End of the World.”
What’s the most overrated social custom?
Shaking hands (which I find so limiting) when introducing oneself for the first time. Kissing on one or both cheeks should not be frowned upon.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
I don’t want to sound cheesy; I recently attended a funeral and in the reception all individuals I came across shared something in common, how this man had enriched and touched their lives in meaningful ways. I can’t take a trophy or prize with me to the grave. I aspire to have touched and enriched as many individuals’ lives in this lifetime that is the prize I most wish for.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
My American idioms so as not to mess up “tough love” with “rough love.”
Why Washington?
D.C. has this je ne sais quoi about it and the people I have met here have always embraced me and provided me a platform for growth that I’m always immensely grateful for.

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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