a&e features
Paying it forward
Point Foundation scholarship program finds recipients stay involved, give back
Former Point scholar Harjant Gill with Nicole Sterling, a current scholar he mentors. She’s a student at Maryland’s Towson University, where Gill teaches anthropology. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Point Foundation: the National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
Washington Cornerstone Event
May 8
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Room & Board
1840 14th St., N.W.
General admission: $75
Nicole Sterling’s education at Towson University got off to a rough start.
Last fall as she began her freshman year, the 19-year-old Laurel, Md., resident found herself paired with what she calls a “passive-aggressive” roommate who locked her out of their shared room and cyber-bullied her.
The next roommate also proved troublesome.
“My first year was a lot harder than I thought it would be,” she said. “It took a big toll.”
Despite a campus environment that discourages roommate changes, Sterling had some supporters in her camp. As a Point Scholar, one of 78 undergraduate and graduate students receiving aid from the Point Foundation, an organization that helps LGBT students “achieve their full academic and leadership potential,” she had a mentor, Harjant Gill, an anthropology professor and former Point Scholar himself, to help.
They text regularly and meet two or three times a month to discuss issues Sterling may be having. It’s not always big existential questions about education and life goals — sometimes they talk about practical, everyday things.
Sterling, who’s bi, says it’s been a huge help.
“He’s really gone out of his way to be a support for me,” says the communications major, who eventually hopes to start a non-profit organization to help countries such as Uganda and Rwanda that are recovering from genocide. “He was just there right from the beginning helping me with anything I needed. We were just talking today, working on finding an apartment for me next year. He helped me with the roommate situations and also looking for a summer internship.”
Gill, who finished his Ph.D. in anthropology and started at Towson in 2011, knows first-hand what it’s like to have a mentor. During his Point years, he says his mentor, Jeff Pluth (who, like Gill, is gay), was a great help.
One sometimes thinks of high academic achievers as being almost supernaturally adept at handling everyday tedium, but Gill, also a documentary filmmaker, says that wasn’t the case for him.
“There were many challenges and moments of uncertainty when I just wanted to give up everything and I thought to myself, ‘Why am I even doing this,’” says the 32-year-old Chandigarh, India native who moved to the U.S. with his family when he was 14. “He was always there to sort of talk me down off the ledge, so to speak. He always supported me and listened and tried to get me to see the bigger picture. That emotional support was really helpful. There were many times when he was my anchor in a time of chaos.”
Pluth, who lived in Washington at the time he started mentoring Gill but has since moved to Palm Springs, Calif., says he’s delighted to see Gill now mentoring another Point Scholar. Pluth had met Jorge Valencia, Point’s executive director, in Chicago at a time when Pluth was interested in supporting a non-profit outside of his professional work managing, at that time, a touring Cirque de Soleil production.
Pluth, who has a bachelor’s degree, says he initially felt unqualified to tutor a Point Scholar pursuing a Ph.D. but soon found tutoring Gill a gratifying experience.
“I always told him I expected him later to give something back,” says Pluth, 49. “He would always say, ‘Yes, I plan to,’ but until you actually see it in action, you never fully know. …. When I saw that he had become a mentor himself, it was just one of those moments when you just quietly kind of smile to yourself and say, ‘Right on. Somebody got it.’ The timing of this for me is actually quite poignant because we don’t always know or get to see how our actions or words have had an influence on someone.”
Valencia, in San Francisco last weekend to help select this year’s batch of 21-23 young people who will be named Point Scholars out of a group of 36 finalists (nearly 5,000 at least started the lengthy application process), says this kind of “paying it forward” mentality is “exactly one of the tenets the organization was founded on.”
He says of the 167 Point alumni who’ve completed their educations since Point started in 2001, close to 70 percent have stayed involved in some capacity, be it mentoring another scholar, giving money, serving on national or regional Point boards and more.
The organization has many giving opportunities for those who wish to support it. On Thursday, the group will host its annual Washington Cornerstone event at Room & Board. In June, this year’s scholars will be announced. The organization, which has a $3.7 million annual operating budget and works with a $5.1 million endowment, has 16 full-time staff members, most of whom are based in Los Angeles. The endowment is mostly untapped to ensure current scholars will have their education covered in a cataclysmic event. Point uses its fundraising efforts to support the bulk of its yearly expenses. The average scholar receives about $9,700 per year in monetary support, but more than double that when programmatic and mentoring support is factored in, Valencia says.
But with academia not typically thought of as a hotbed of homophobia and perhaps especially not for academically successful students who have proven they have ambition and tenacity by merely getting into the program, how essential is Point’s work?
Sterling, who came out as a high school freshman and helped secure a GSA (gay/straight alliance) of the year award from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) for the one she was president of in her high school, says the support has been invaluable.
“Freshman year is always hard as you adjust to new surroundings,” she says. “With everything that’s been going on, it’s been so nice not to have to worry about money on the side or have to get a job my first year. … Without Point, it wouldn’t have been an option for me to go to college or if I had, it would have been with a huge amount of debt.”
Gill agrees.
“I certainly wouldn’t have been able to continue with my graduate studies without Point Foundation,” he says. “The whole Point family, this whole network of scholars and staff are all rooting for you. They’re basically saying, ‘We believe in you and we trust you. We’re counting on you and we’re investing in you and we want you to succeed. We believe in what you’re trying to do.’ That was so important for me, especially when I had rough moments. … There’s no way I would have been able to navigate this path on my own.”
Valencia says the process of vetting these overachievers each year in San Francisco is amazing.
“I really wish I could sneak you in so you could see this,” he says. “I’ve seen all of this year’s finalists and they’re just amazing. … It really gives you a sense of the quality of our young people and where they want to take this country and society.”
a&e features
Summer in D.C. brings sports, Restaurant Week, festivals, and more
Summer in D.C. just hits different. Congress is out, school is out, the sun is out, thighs are out. With the skies clearing from Canadian smoke, here are a few ways to stay entertained.
Dining
Summer restaurant week: The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is once again hosting Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-24. This weeklong dining experience showcases the dynamic dining scene of the DMV, including 2026 RAMMY Award-winning favorites (the annual D.C. food awards show that took place June 29). Participating restaurants will offer three-course brunch and lunch selections for $25 or $35 per person, and three-course dinners for $40, $55 and $65 per person.
New Restaurants: A handful of new spots have opened, so the summer is a great time to check them out:
- Oribu: A new Mediterranean-Japanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel, which just underwent a remodeling effort. The sleek restaurant brings upscale charm, with dishes like Wagyu beef tartare with potato pavé and caviar.
- The Oak Room: A snazzy old-school American grill has just opened in Georgetown, alongside its sister upstairs supper club (Bernadette’s) restaurant, in the old El Centro space.
- Uchi: This showy Japanese sushi-forward chain has landed in Dupont with a chef’s tasting menu of favorites like fatty tuna.
- Kathmandu: Recalling the capital of Nepal, this warm, buzzy subterranean restaurant right in the heart of U Street brings spice, flair, and rare ingredients to its dishes (see: buffalo burgers) and drinks.
Sports
- Washington Spirit Pride Night OUT: On Sunday, Aug. 23, head to Audi Field for a massive, high-energy game following the exciting month of World Cup. The designated Pride Night OUT game promises boisterous crowds plus pre- and post-game community engagements.
- Washington Tennis Open – Now called the Mubadala DC Open, this annual tournament is only combined mens’ and womens’ 500-level tennis tournament in the world. The open is one of D.C.’s longest-standing sports traditions, and will take place at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 25-Aug. 2. Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and others are expected to play.
Festivals
- Afro Plus Fest: This huge, three-day Afro-Caribbean Hip-Hop Festival brings together headliners Davido, Alkaline, and Wizkid, plus Tems and Ayra Starr. The event moves from RFK to the Northwest Stadium Complex for three days, Sept. 4-6.
- Capital Fringe Festival: Running from July 11-21, this massive celebration features dozens of live theater, comedy, dance, and boundary-pushing nighttime performances across multiple DC neighborhoods.
- The National Book Festival returns, with headliners like Cynthia Erivo, and Martin Scorsese. The one-day festival, Saturday, Aug. 22, brings together bookworms and word nerds under the theme “America 250: It’s Your Story.” There are talks, workshops, musical sessions and more.
- All Things Go: A three-day festival Sept. 25-27 at Merriweather Post Pavilion featuring Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Zara Larsson, Ethel Cain, and many, many more artists. There are single-day and three-day tickets. Featuring and highlighting female artists, the festival has turned into a must-see for many LGBTQ audience members.
- Fuchsia Fest: The inaugural Fuchsia Fest is a new multi-day celebration created to celebrate LGBTQ community and expression, bringing together a mix of community gatherings, entertainment, and nightlife. The event takes place Sept. 18-20 and is hosted by Capital Pride.
Art and Music
- United We Dance: A high-energy rave with house, techno, bass, and festival music, on Aug. 1 at the 9:30 Club.
- The Fray. On Aug. 14, this American rock band famous for How To Save A Life is at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
- Kesha: Kesha’s high-energy The Freedom Tour comes to the D.C. area on Aug. 14 at Jiffy Lube Live.
- ALOK: On Sept. 3 at Lincoln Theater, ALOK (they/them) performs. The poet, comedian, and actor is putting on a new comedy show.
- 2charm, the emerging Australian electronic club-pop duo popular with the queer community, which blends hyperpop and dance music, comes to the Atlantis.
- Sapphic Dance Party: a vibrant, inclusive nightlife and social event designed specifically for queer women, lesbians, bisexuals, trans individuals, and nonbinary folks, at Atlantis on Aug. 21.
- Jazz in the Garden: The most quintessential of D.C. activities returns Friday evenings through Aug. 14. This season’s theme, “American Sounds,” is a nod to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Tunes themes range from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more. Tickets are available through a lottery system a week before each event.
a&e features
Tickets on sale for chef Patrick O’Connell’s book launch event
Sept. 18 kickoff to feature José Andrés, Tom Sietsema
Acclaimed chef Patrick O’Connell is preparing to publish his new memoir, “Main, Middle & Gay” in September and he’s launching the book with an event on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium featuring Chef José Andrés and former Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.
Tickets for the event go on sale Tuesday, July 21 at Ticketmaster; prices start at $55.
O’Connell, who’s gay, is the pioneering Michelin-starred chef and longtime proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington. He spoke with the Blade about the September event and the launch of his first memoir.
“I’ve known [Andrés and Sietsema] for more than 25 years and I have great respect for them,” O’Connell said. “I felt that it would allow us to add a different dimension rather than just have an interviewer. The chemistry will be fun and lively and unpredictable and exciting. I think we’re all different personalities and we’ll compliment each other.”
O’Connell has published cookbooks but this is his first memoir. The event will feature a short film that will highlight his work and the Inn.
“What I hope to do with the event is bring the book to life visually,” he said. “So we’re producing a short film that will be part of it. Most of the audience will not have read the book so it’ll give them a visual flavor of the book. It parallels the evolution of American cuisine over 50 years. It’s a rare perspective to be in the trenches for that long.”
The book’s title refers to the location of the garage on the corner of Main, Middle, and Gay streets in Washington, Va., where he launched his restaurant that became an international culinary destination.
The Blade will publish the rest of its wide-ranging interview with O’Connell in September in conjunction with the book’s release.
a&e features
The queer Asian comics building collective joy in D.C.
Spotlighting chaotic ways family, romance, identity take shape in their lives
Kevin Chen’s family tombstone has room for four: him, his parents and his boyfriend. The arrangement might prove to be a little awkward.
“My boyfriend is 100% white, and my parents are 100% disappointed,” Chen confessed.
Jokes about family traditions and the untraditional ways they’re practiced earned a burst of laughs at the bar where Chen was opening for the Pride Comedy Special. The D.C. stand-up event, produced by Comedy Bonfyre last month, spotlighted queer Asian comics who shared the chaotic ways family, romance and identity take shape in their lives.
From candid oral sex takes to top surgery hypotheticals like “Where do the boobs go?”, the night highlighted the loud camaraderie of the queer Asian experience — one that sounds like a cacophony of snorts, cackles and belly laughs. While the comics say they are not quite a community, there’s more than enough shared material to bring them together.
“It was such a magical experience. I loved performing in a queer API lineup. It feels so validating,” Chen said after the show. “I’m wondering, ‘Is this how white men feel all the time?’”
Each performance evoked queer Asian joy through a medium that could use more of its presence.
According to Chen, who is based in D.C., it’s hard to say whether there is a true queer Asian comedy presence in his city. There are only a scattered “handful” of Asian comics, and people of color are underrepresented in queer comic circles, he said.
When Tarunika Anand, a nonbinary lesbian comic, first entered the mainstream D.C. comedy scene, they mostly encountered straight white men, describing the experience as “a culture shock.”
“I feel like sometimes a lot of queer spaces are really white, and then a lot of Asian spaces are really straight,” Anand said. “I don’t feel like I fit into either.”
But feeling marginalized didn’t stop these comics from honing their craft and creating spaces for others like them. Alex Kim, who headlined the special and is based in Brooklyn, runs the queer Asian comedy group Boba Gays, which began on WhatsApp and has since made its way to Lincoln Center.
Every Wednesday, Anand co-produces a free comedy show called Funny Side Up. The queer-led group focuses on inclusivity and showcasing new talent.
“It’s really beautiful to speak about your experience and your existence in a way that’s uplifting,” Anand said.
Family is a major throughline of their comedic repertoires.
Chen, for instance, shared that he identifies with jokes about having Asian immigrant parents and the expectations they pass down.
“You see me, you know this part about me, you know this experience intimately, and I can see the truth that you’re trying to wrap a joke around,” he said. “That hits even harder because that’s my truth too. I think that’s what makes good comedy.”
Anand had the audience at the special howling when they explained that their parents’ be-more-like-them comparisons didn’t end when they came out. Instead, the expectations took on a new form.
“Now, my parents want me to be the best gay,” Anand said. “They’re like, ‘Do you know Ellen DeGeneres?’”
Kim said he’s been trying to unlearn things from his Christian Korean mom. Yet he described a moment when he was getting ready for the club and realized he looked just like his mother getting ready for church.
“I’ve been finding it hard to escape her,” Kim said.
Mutual recognition also radiates through the different ways queer love can take shape. From singlehood to death-do-us-part commitments, the comics cover just about every corner.
Anand is holding out hope for settling down with “a nice, pretty, Indian girl.” They recently went through a breakup and said they felt they dodged a bullet.
“As a person of color, I just don’t think I should be with a Swiftie,” they said.
Chen, touching on what it’s like to be in a queer interracial relationship, said that meeting his white boyfriend’s baby nephew for the first time felt like he was forced to participate in a diversity, equity and inclusion training.
“The dad was like, ‘Please welcome Kevin. Be curious about his culture, his history, his foods,’” Chen joked.
Laughter is not the only reward for the comics.
To Anand, comedy is a space where they can say whatever they want. “It gives me a voice,” they said.
Nik Narain, a North Carolina-based trans and nonbinary South Asian comic who performed at the special, said meeting older trans comedians and taking the stage helped him feel reassured in his identity during his transition.
“Stand-up was a really cool way to process that onstage,” he said. “[It] became a way for me to repackage my thoughts.”
Queer Asians are still figuring out their place in the greater D.C. comedy scene. The group is small in numbers and many are still working toward a full-time comedy career. But Narain feels he’s already made it.
Narain is reluctant to pin it all on one moment. He feels that success is already peeking through in milestones — opening for celebrities, traveling to performances and self-producing shows.
“As long as I can keep doing this, I’m super happy,” he said.
This story was produced as part of the AAJA VOICES fellowship program, a student journalism project of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
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