Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Brian Markowski
The honors graduate answers 20 gay questions

It’s never easy to go back to school later in life, but through hard work and dedication, Brian Markowski managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA and graduate with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in information systems through Strayer University while balancing family life with his partner and two stepchildren, Rico and Myles.
The 43-year-old Air Force vet and Middletown, Conn., native, has been in Washington since the mid-‘90s after stints in St. Louis; Biloxi, Miss.; Pensacola, Fla.; Germany and more. Markowski, known as “Ski” among friends, was honored in June at the university’s commencement ceremony for his “commitment to academic excellence and the community.” He also volunteers with the Capital Area Food Bank and My Sister’s Place.
Markowski and his partner, David Gilmer, live in D.C.’s Bloomingdale neighborhood. They’ve been together six years. Markowski enjoys dancing and spending time with family and friends in his free time. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
Since 1997. It was hardest to tell my mom and dad because I did not want to be rejected. I actually had to make two separate trips to the upper East Coast to tell them. I told my mom one weekend and since my dad was not around on the first trip, I had to make a second trip to tell him. My mom and dad are not married so they do not live together.
Who’s your LGBT hero?
I would have to say Ellen DeGeneres. When Ellen came out she made her career and personal life an open window and society was waiting to throw stones. She held her own, stayed true to herself and those stones bounced right off.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Tracks & Escandalo. Tracks was that club that everyone went to, gay or straight. Escandalo was one of the best gay Latin clubs. It had a family atmosphere and people were so real. It was small but would pack in the crowd and play that great music.
Describe your dream wedding.
To get married on the beach of Manatí on the island of Puerto Rico surrounded by family and friends. Once the wedding after party is done, would love to be carried away in a hot air balloon as my partner and I wave farewell.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
Besides having affordable health care for all, we need to remember to respect others. Everyone is so pre-occupied with who is getting a divorce, having a baby, gaining or losing weight and blasting out other people’s business on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Remember all people have the right to privacy. Instead of trying to be in the mix, take a few steps back and take a good look in the mirror. The reflection you get back may surprise you.
What historical outcome would you change?
The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy. Their contributions to our country’s equal rights campaign were just the beginning. They both died too soon.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
OMG who did not like the ‘80s: balloon pants, big hair (male and female), crazy colors. Who would have thought Madonna would become such an icon? And I will never forget watching the Motown anniversary special when Michael Jackson did the moonwalk across stage and the crowd went crazy.
On what do you insist?
I insist on staying true to yourself and always doing your best. Life is not a DVR — there are no replays.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
Giving thanks to all who posted happy birthday messages to me.
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“My name is S K I … Like going down or up a hill”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Nothing — I feel that being gay is what helps me stay special. It is the cherry on top of this ice cream sundae of life. Being gay is part of me but does not make me who I am as a man.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
I believe when your time here is done there is another place beyond where you will be with the ones you love.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
Don’t let your position allow you to lose focus on the prize: Equality for all.
What would you walk across hot coals for?
To dance side by side or face to face with Janet Jackson.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
I hate them all. The fact that we have stereotypes does not help us gain overall equality.
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
“To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar”
What’s the most overrated social custom?
Holding the door for a lady. I think we should hold the door for the next person behind you, whether male or female. It does annoy me that when you do hold it for someone you cannot even get a thank you.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
My outstanding graduate student award from Strayer University. I was recognized in front of all my family and friends, and thousands of others, a few weeks ago at commencement ceremony at the Verizon Center here in D.C.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
Life is what you make it and not what you have.
Why Washington?
I moved to D.C. after a short time in North Carolina pursuing my post-military telecommunication career.

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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