Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Imani Woody Macko
The MCC-DC board member and Kwanzaa organizer answers 20 gay questions
Imani Woody Macko (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Imani Woody Macko says even though Kwanzaa isn’t a religious holiday per se, it’s important for it to be acknowledged at her church, Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, because it’s an inclusive place.
“It’s an acknowledgement of others’ cultures and that these principles are important,” she says. “They help us all live our lives and, as we say here at MCC, this is our little mantra now — they help us grow from the inside out.”
MCC-D.C., the District’s largest mostly LGBT church (474 Ridge Street, N.W.) has its annual Kwanzaa celebration slated for Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. Nearly 100 attended last year. Macko says several African-American LGBT leaders, such as Phil Pannell and Rev. Rainey Cheeks, will be present. And it’s not just for the black community — Woody Macko says all ages and races will participate as in previous years. Singing, drumming, dancing, candle lighting, a kids’ performance and more will be included. Visit mccdc.com for details.
Woody Macko has been attending MCC for about 15 years. She’s on the board and co-chairs an older adults program for the denomination. Providing services for older LGBT people is one of her passions. When her father died two years ago, she inherited his house, which she hopes to convert into an affordable center of studio units for older LGBT adults. Find the group on Facebook at Mary’s House for Older Adults.
“I want to make sure people don’t feel they have to go back in the closet when they move into a retirement community,” Woody Macko says. “I’ve seen instances where you see these big gay boys or really big dykes or maybe somebody who came out later in life and they’re in a vulnerable position anyway because they’re older. Nobody should have to go back in the closet. We need affordable housing for older LGBT adults where they can live as their whole person.”
Woody Macko, a native Washingtonian, has also had stints in Hawaii, Pennsylvania and North Carolina but says she “always ends up back home in Washington.” She and her partner of 12 years, Andrea, had a commitment ceremony seven years ago and got married two years ago. They live in D.C.’s Brookland neighborhood.
Woody Macko enjoys swimming and reading in her free time.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
For many years. My son, who at the time was 16.
Who’s your LGBT hero?
Barbara Smith. She’s one of the first women whose activism and writings as a black lesbian feminist resonated with me.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Hill Haven, a gathering spot particularly for lesbians of color. I danced many a night there.
Describe your dream wedding.
(It was) a room filled with people who love and care about me and my (now) wife, with candles and the song “I need you to survive” by Kirk Franklin.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
Aren’t LGBT people in all issues? I am passionate about eliminating racism, classism and ageism.
What historical outcome would you change?
The assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
Memorable… hmm…
On what do you insist?
Authenticity.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
“You can still donate to Mary’s House by sending a check to P.O. Box 29561, WDC 20017!”
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“The Amazing Lives of Imani Freewoman”
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Nothing.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
Energy forces.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
To work with other communities on their issues andlisten to and be inclusive of the voices of people who are often disenfranchised and oppressed including people who are young and old adults, people living in poverty, people who immigrated here, people of color, people with physical and mental disabilities.
What would you walk across hot coals for?
The elimination of poverty and global peace
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
That butch women are trying to be men.
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
Don’t have a favorite LGBT movie but would watch “Black is … Black Ain’t” over and over again.
What’s the most overrated social custom?
If you are talking about manners and social graces, we need more kindness and acceptance in the world. Words to express that one is thankful, pleased or apologetic aid in this effort.
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
The love and support of my biological and logical family.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
That getting married (to a man) was not the only path.
Why Washington?
It is my home, my city. I grew up with the Frederick Douglas House, the Smithsonian Museum and the National Zoo. More importantly, it has some of the strongest human rights laws in the country.
History
Julius’ Bar ‘sip-in’ laid groundwork for Stonewall
Tuesday marked 60 years since four gay activists held protest
While Stonewall is widely considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement in the U.S., a lesser-known protest inside a Greenwich Village bar three years earlier helped lay critical groundwork for what would follow.
Tuesday marked 60 years since the Julius’ Bar “sip in.”
On April 21, 1966, four gay rights activists — Dick Leitsch, Craig Rodwell, John Timmons, and later Randy Wicker — walked into Julius’ Bar and staged what would become known as a “sip-in” to challenge state liquor regulations on serving alcoholic beverages to gay men — with a drink.
Modeled after the sit-ins that challenged racial segregation across the American South, the protest was designed to confront discriminatory practices targeting LGBTQ patrons in public spaces.
At the time, the Mattachine Society — one of the country’s earliest gay rights groups — was actively pushing back against policies enforced by the New York State Liquor Authority. One of those policies could have resulted in the loss of liquor licenses for serving known or suspected gay men and lesbians. The participants had visited multiple establishments, openly identified themselves as homosexual, and requested a drink — with the anticipation of being denied.
Their final stop was Julius’, where reporters and a photographer had gathered to document the moment. When Leitsch declared their identity, the bartender covered their glasses and refused service, reportedly saying, “I think it’s against the law.” The next day, the New York Times ran a story with the headline, “3 Deviates Invite Exclusion by Bars,” cementing the moment in the public record.
Though initially framed with disrespect — the term “sip-in” itself was coined as a play on civil rights protests — the action marked a turning point. It brought national attention to the systemic discrimination LGBTQ people faced and helped catalyze changes in how liquor laws were enforced. In the years that followed, the protest contributed to the emergence of licensed, more openly gay-friendly bars, which became central social and organizing spaces for LGBTQ communities.
The Washington Blade originally covered when the bar was officially added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Today, historians and advocates increasingly recognize the “sip-in” as a key pre-Stonewall milestone. According to the New York City LGBTQ Historic Sites Project, the protest not only increased visibility of the early LGBTQ rights movement but also exposed widespread surveillance and entrapment tactics used against the community.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the event, commemorations have taken place in New York and across the country. Reflecting on its enduring legacy, Amanda Davis, executive director of the NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project, spoke about the event.
“Julius’ Bar is a place you can visit and viscerally connect with history,” said Davis. “We’re thrilled to have solidarity locations across the country join us in commemorating the ‘sip-in’’s 60th anniversary and the queer community’s First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.”
For current stewards of the historic bar, the responsibility of preserving that legacy remains front of mind.
“It’s a privilege and a responsibility to be the steward of a place so important to American and LGBTQ history,” said current owner of Julius’ Bar, Helen Buford. “The events of the 1966 Sip-In here at Julius’ resonated across the country and inspired countless others to stand proud for their rights.”
The timing couldn’t have come at a more important moment, Kymn Goldstein, executive director of the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, explained.
“At a time when our community faces renewed challenges, coming together in resilience and solidarity reminds us of the power in our collective resistance,” Goldstein said.
The American Civil Liberties Union, an organization dedicated to defending rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, is currently tracking 519 anti-LGBTQ bills across the U.S. The majority are targeted at restricting transgender rights — particularly related to gender-affirming care, sports participation, and the use of public bathrooms.
Some additional groups and bars that held their own “sip-in” as solidarity events to uplift this historic milestone are from across the country include:
Alice Austen House at Steiny’s Pub, Staten Island, N.Y.
Bellows Falls Pride Committee at PK’s Irish Pub, Bellows Falls, Vt.
Brick Road Coffee, Mesa, Ariz.
Brick Road Coffee, Tempe, Ariz.
Dick Leitsch’s Family at Old Louisville Brewery, Louisville, Ky.
The Faerie Playhouse & LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana at Le Cabaret, New Orleans
Harlem Pride & John Reddick at L’Artista Italian Kitchen & Bar, New York
JOYR!DE KiKi at Loafers Cocktail Bar, New York
Matthew Lawrence & Jason Tranchida / Headmaster at Deadbeats Bar, Providence, R.I.
Mazer Lesbian Archives at Alana’s Coffee, Los Angeles
New Hope Celebrates at The Club Room, New Hope, Pa.
Queer Memory Project at the University of Evansville Multicultural Student Commons / Ridgway University Center, Evansville, Ind.
Sandy Jack’s Bar, Brooklyn, N.Y.
St. Louis LGBT History Project at Just John Club, St. Louis
The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch was held at Salamander Washington DC on Sunday, April 19. Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) was presented with the Allyship Award.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The umbrella LGBTQ sports organization Team D.C. held its annual Night of Champions Gala at the Georgetown Marriott on Saturday, April 18. Team D.C. presented scholarships to local student athletes and presented awards to Adam Peck, Manuel Montelongo (a.k.a. Mari Con Carne), Dr. Sara Varghai, Dan Martin and the Centaur Motorcycle Club. Sean Bartel was posthumously honored with the Most Valuable Person Award.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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