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Queery: Clarence Fluker

The GLAA honoree answers 20 gay questions

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Clarence Fluker, gay news, Washington Blade
Clarence Fluker, gay news, Washington Blade

Clarence Fluker (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Clarence Fluker came to Washington in summer 2001 to start a master’s program at American University and never left.

The Cleveland native started college in Cincinnati but after two years transferred to finish his undergraduate degree in Baltimore. He’s been active in LGBT activism work nearly his entire time in Washington. It includes everything from volunteering on the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs in the Williams administration, being a former Black Pride president and board member, to eventually taking full-time work in the Fenty administration and now in Mayor Vincent Gray’s administration where he’s communications and special initiatives director at Serve D.C. — the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism.

For his years of work, he’s being honored by the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance at its 42nd annual anniversary reception slated for Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle, N.W.) (get tickets online at glaa.org/anniversary).

“I felt humbled, surprised and excited, all those things at once when I heard,” Fluker says. “It’s humbling because I know many people who have received it in the past and I’ve always admired them. It’s very humbling to know that my name would be on that list of names, especially because of the work GLAA does. They’re really about the business of promoting equality in the District in a serious and meaningful way. … They’re one of the groups I most respect because of the way they push forward. They really get into the nitty gritty.”

Fluker considers himself fortunate to have worked in various mayoral offices. He says it’s not terribly unusual but neither is it common.

“I don’t think of it as transferring allegiances because I know former Mayor Fenty and Mayor Gray both had one thing on their mind when they got up each morning and that was to push the city forward in the best way possible,” he says.

Fluker lives in D.C.’s Eckington neighborhood in Ward 5 (where he’s lived his entire time in Washington) and is single. He enjoys theater, museums, reading biographies, keeping up with politics and pop culture, volunteering, NFL and NBA sports, working out and spending time with friends in his free time.

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?

I started the coming out process when I was 17. The hardest person to tell turned out to be the person who has been my strongest advocate and one of my best friends, my mother. 

Who’s your LGBT hero?

I admire Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin and RuPaul so much it is hard to only pick one. I am inspired by each of them in different ways.

What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present? 

Yesterday, today or tomorrow, the best place to have a good time is anywhere your friends are.

Describe your dream wedding.

My dream wedding is a quiet intimate ceremony with family and close friends who have come together to see me marry a man that is both my lover and best friend. In contrast, the evening reception will be loud and lively, with love, jazz and glamour woven into every detail. Dreams do come true!

What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?

I believe that all social justice issues are LGBT issues because LGBT people and our families, friends and communities we live in are diverse. With that said, I am particularly passionate about access to quality education and support for boys and young men of color.

What historical outcome would you change?

In recent history, Al Gore would have been sworn in as president of the United States.

What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

The most memorable pop culture moment of my lifetime to date has been the death of Michael Jackson. He was a legend and his legacy and influence will be felt for generations in art, music and culture.

On what do you insist?

I insist on kindness. To give and be open to receiving kindness is a way of life.

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. (Henry David Thoreau)

If your life were a book, what would the title be?

I am currently working on a memoir that explores my relationships with African-American men, straight and gay, and the roles they played in shaping my identity. The manuscript title is “Walking Like A Man.”

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?

Nothing

What do you believe in beyond the physical world? 

I know there is a God. I believe that we are all God’s children and in us, we house beautiful spirits. It is our responsibility to let that spirit shine for others to see.

What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?

Spend some time with Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” the whole thing not just the one quote everyone cites in speeches and uses on plaques.

What would you walk across hot coals for?

Student loan forgiveness.

What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?

That the LGBT community isn’t diverse.

What’s your favorite LGBT movie?

My favorite LGBT movie is “Punks” written and directed by Patrick Ian Polk. It was the first film I ever saw that showed a romantic relationship between two young black gay men. I fell deeper in love with love after seeing it.

What’s the most overrated social custom?

I champion more social customs and traditional etiquette than less.

What trophy or prize do you most covet?

To be old and gray and proud of the life I lived.

What do you wish you’d known at 18?

I wish I had been more aware then of just how much strength I had inside myself.

Why Washington?

We seem to have a fondness for each other.

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Real Estate

The world’s on fire and D.C. is on sale (sort of)

Prices are up, but then again, nothing makes sense anymore

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The housing market remains strong in D.C., especially in upper Northwest. (Photo by Stbaus7/Bigstock)

ICE is disappearing people, revered government agencies are shuttering, and who knows if we’ll be in World War III next week? But can you believe prices in D.C. are actually still up 6.3% since last year? It doesn’t make sense, and perhaps that does make sense, because nothing seems to make any sense any more.

That said, there are some parts of our market that are truly suffering. The interest rates, which have been up, up, up for about four years now, are the ongoing rain on our market’s military parade. Combine that with 75,000 federal employees taking a buyout nationwide, and DOGE cuts eliminating around 40,000 federal jobs in the District (per estimates by the D.C. CFO), not to mention thousands of other job losses in non-governmental organizations due to funding and program cuts, and you’ve got a case of uncertainty, and downright unaffordability in the pool of otherwise would-be buyers.

This has had a marked impact on properties that starter-home buyers and low- to mid-level employees would otherwise buy, most notably condominium and cooperative apartment units. These properties have already slowed in our market thanks to the profound impact that higher interest rates have had on their monthly carrying costs—pair that with job insecurity, and a lot of condos are proving to be very difficult to sell indeed.

So how is the average sale price up in our market?

The increase is almost entirely due to the resounding strength of the single-family home market, especially in upper Northwest D.C., where it is still quite common to see bidding wars, even on properties pushing past the $3M mark. It seems that buyers in that echelon are less impacted by a few percentage points in the interest rate, and less concerned about their job security. Notably, those buyers are often married with children and have an absolute need for more space, must stay in the area due to one spouse’s job, or the kid’s friend group, regardless of whether the cost of owning is thousands of dollars more per month than it would have been in 2020 or 2021. The continued appreciation in these neighborhoods defies imagination.

So, what to do if you are not one of those lucky enough to be shopping for a $3M home? The short answer: wait. If you want more space, rent your current place out and learn the joys of being a landlord while someone else pays your mortgage. Need the equity from your current home to buy your next place? Get a home equity line of credit, or loan, and pull the equity out of your current place to buy the next one. Or—and I have never recommended this before in 21 years of being a Realtor—rent for a few years. Sure, I’d love to list and sell your condo so you can climb the real estate ladder, but it might just be a waste of time, money or both if you could just ride out this storm and sell in a DOGE-less future.

All this said, there are some condos that seem to be immune from this recent negative news. Anecdotally, it feels like it’s the truly special ones that do just fine no matter the market. Our recent listing in Capitol Hill had a view from every one of its 15 windows of the Supreme Court. Sold in five days with six offers. Another condo was on the top two floors of a townhouse and had the coolest black wood floors that gleamed like a grand piano. Sold in four days at full price.

So, all is not for naught if you have a condo or home in an area that people want to be in, with nice space, light, amenities and a certain je ne sais quois. And, as long as we have a democracy in a few years, my experience says our market will be back, stronger than ever, really soon.


David Bediz is a Realtor and mortgage loan broker for the Bediz Group LLC and Home Starts Here, LLC. Reach him at [email protected].

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Autos

SUV showdown: Genesis QV70 vs. Lexus NX

Two bold, brassy crossovers battle it out

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From left, the Genesis QV70 and Lexus NX.

In this corner, there’s the Genesis QV70, newly updated and full of glitzy gizmos. And in the opposing corner, there’s the Lexus NX, a fan fave known for comfort and reliability. 

Both are strong contenders. Both have proven to be equally adept at bobbing and weaving through traffic. And both can go toe to toe with pricier competitors. 

And yet, what would happen when they sparred against each other? Here’s your ringside seat to find out.

GENESIS QV70

$50,000

MPG: 22 city/28 highway

0 to 60 mph: 5.9 seconds

Cargo space: 28.9 cu. ft. 

PROS: Stylish. Good value. Lots of standard amenities.  

CONS: So-so fuel economy. Quirky dash controls.   

IN A NUTSHELL: When it comes to speed, the Genesis QV70 is faster on its feet than the Lexus NX. Neither of these crossover SUVs is a lightweight, but the QV70 offers more potent powerplants—including an all-electric version that zips from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. In other words, Porsche Macan S territory. 

The two gas-powered options—a four-cylinder turbo and twin-turbo V6—also got my blood pumping. So did the velvetlike suspension mixed with deft handling and stop-on-a-dime braking. But this adrenaline rush comes at a cost: sacrificing fuel economy.  

As for the automaker’s design philosophy—“athletic elegance”—it’s on full display here: an oversized grille inspired by the Genesis emblem, the dramatically arcing silhouette, and those distinct quad headlights and taillights. It’s not easy to stand out when 25% of all vehicles sold in the U.S. are compact crossovers, so kudos to the QV70 for being such a head-turner.  

The mod-yet-minimalist styling carries over to the cabin, with its high-quality materials: real-wood accents, soft-touch plastics and a tasteful glass shift knob. New this year is a sweeping 27-inch dashboard monitor, which houses the gauge cluster and infotainment touchscreen. Alas, this display is positioned a bit far from the driver (though I must admit reaching for it did help stretch a few tight back muscles). 

Instead of being a costly extra, this gigantic monitor comes standard. So do synthetic leathers seats, nine-speaker stereo, smartphone/wireless connectivity, hands-free liftgate, tons of safety gear and more. Options include a panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, synthetic suede headliner, sound-reducing rear windows, automated parking and other goodies. 

What’s the score so far? Despite some minor quibbles, the Genesis QV70 is a worthy challenger that pulls no punches. 

LEXUS NX 

$43,000

MPG: 26 city/33 highway

0 to 60 mph: 8.2 seconds

Cargo space: 22.7 cu. ft. 

PROS: Fuel efficient. Comfy seats. Rock-solid reliability. 

CONS: Pokey base model. Limited rear storage.

IN A NUTSHELL: Sure, the Lexus NX isn’t as speedy as the Genesis QV70. But, as with the tortoise and the hare, sometimes slow and steady wins the race. And really, it’s only the entry-level NX that feels sluggish, such as when trying to quickly merge into freeway traffic. 

Other trim levels, including two hybrid options, are just fine. And no matter the engine choice, the counterpunch here is that these vehicles get better gas mileage: 20% higher fuel economy than in either the four-cylinder or V6 in the Genesis. The two NX hybrids are even more green, with the high-end plug-in version able to travel up to 37 miles on electric power alone. One downside: There is no all-electric NX—well, at least not yet.

As with parent-company Toyota, Lexus offers stellar vehicle reliability—often ranked No. 1 in dependability and crash-test surveys year after year. Lexus vehicles generally hold their value better than Genesis, because this newer brand has a shorter history. Lexus also has a larger dealer network, though the number of Genesis dealerships is growing. 

But when it comes to cargo space, the NX is about two inches shorter and narrower than the QV70, which has more stowage area. And Genesis handling is sportier, though the Lexus feels sure and well-grounded. 

Luxe interior amenities are basically the same in both vehicles. But interior styling in the QV70 is trendy, while the NX is more understated. In other words, a choice between sassy and classy. 

This is a very competitive vehicle segment, with Euro models like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC also duking it out in what seems like a clash of the titans. 

But as for the Genesis QX70 or Lexus NX, which is the winner? For me, both are real knockouts—so I’d call it a draw. 

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Real Estate

No Rose, your interest rate has nothing to do with how many likes you got on Hinge

Many factors help determine rates these days

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With the rise of interest rates in recent years, buyers must understand the many factors that go into the final number. (Image by HomeStead Digital/Bigstock)

Picture it, you’re sitting in the lunchroom at work, and your coworker just bought a house. Another coworker bought one a few months ago and you hear that she got a totally different interest rate than the other one did, even though they both bought houses not that far from each other. Homebuyers everywhere have been wondering what interest rates they are going to get, lately. It’s easy to read an article online or see an ad on social media stating specific numbers, but there may be more than meets the eye going into a particular buyer’s interest rate. 

What are the factors that can affect the interest rate a buyer eventually “locks in”?

  • Property details – certain properties may be in neighborhoods with higher rates of foreclosure, or there may be specific census tracts that allow a buyer to participate in the “Fannie Mae Home Ready” and “Freddie Mac Home Possible” programs, which carry more flexible requirements such as various income limits and lower interest rates, to help people begin homeownership.   
  • Type of loan / loan amount– a conventional, conforming loan or a jumbo loan can have differing interest rates, as well as FHA loans. 
  • Credit score – most people are aware that this affects what interest rate is quoted, just like on a credit card. Some lenders will work with you on ways to improve a credit score if the goal is to buy six, nine, or 12 months from now.  
  • Lock period – do you want to lock in the rate for 30 days? 45?  Market volatility can cause the rates to change so it will cost more money to hold onto a particular interest rate. 
  • Loan to value ratio – one can still buy a home with less than 20% down, but the rate that is quoted may be higher. 
  • Occupancy type – is this the primary residence or an investment property?
  • Points bought or credits taken – A buyer can pay the lender a fee to buy down the interest rate, or the seller can sometimes offer a credit. This has become more popular in recent years.
  • Market conditions – keep an eye on the news – as we are all aware, change is the only constant!

Lender Tina del Casale with Atlantic Union Bank says, “With jumbo fixed rates in the low 6’s, and first-time buyer down payment assistance loans such as DC Open Doors, rates are in the mid 7’s. With the added factors of your income, the address you are purchasing and your credit score factoring into the equation, interest rates are different from buyer to buyer these days. So, skip the online tools and make a few calls because that’s the only way to get an accurate quote these days!”

It might feel like an overwhelming amount of information to take on, but remember, there are people that help others take these big steps every day. A trusted lender and Realtor can guide their clients from start to finish when it comes to purchasing a home. And for that, you’ll be saying, “thank you for being a friend!”  


Joseph Hudson is a referral agent with Metro Referrals. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or [email protected].

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