a&e features
But what I really want to do is direct
Careers of gay filmmakers explored in new book
(Image courtesy Columbia University Press)
Author Emanuel Levy is a wealth of delightful anecdotes and insightful analysis about the movie industry. His ninth and latest book, which he describes as both his most ambitious and personal to date, examines the careers of five openly gay male directors.
“Gay Directors, Gay Films?,” slated for release on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from Columbia University Press, combines Levy’s close readings of about 70 movies with detailed examinations of the directors’ careers and his personal interviews with the filmmakers to create a compelling group portrait of five of the most influential directors working today.
Levy says his life has been dominated by a passion for film. He has had a long and distinguished career as both a film professor and film critic, which, he writes, has “been a way of anchoring myself in both the reel and the real world.” Levy has taught at Wellesley College, Columbia University and University of California-Los Angeles. He has been the chief film critic for Variety and Screen International. He’s also programmed a number of film festivals and served on juries at a number of prestigious international competitions, including Cannes and Sundance.
Among his books are biographies of George Cukor and Vincente Minnelli, two prominent Hollywood directors who were both marginalized and celebrated for their work on “women’s films” and musicals. Levy says, “They were quite a contrast. Cukor was openly gay; Minnelli was not. But both of their careers were negatively impacted by their sexuality.”
After writing about auteurs who were not able to explore explicitly gay material in their movies, Levy says it was a relief to look at the careers of five present-day directors. “It’s a different kind of research and excitement when you deal with contemporary directors whose careers are still evolving,” he says.
They were the first generation of gay directors who were able to live openly gay lives and deal with explicit LGBT material in their movies. All were born after World War II (they now range in age from 53-69) and began their careers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their careers were shaped by the rise of the LGBT rights movement as well as the reactionary response to increasing gay visibility and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic.
The five directors Levy writes about offer a rich picture of contemporary international queer cinema. They are:
- The prolific Spanish writer and director Pedro Almodóvar, best known for vibrant farces like “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and moody melodramas like “All About My Mother.” He helped launch the careers of Antonio Banderas, Carmen Maura and Penelope Cruz. As Levy notes, his work is known for breaking down traditional film genres as well as “contesting the supposedly stable relationship among sex, gender, desire and sexual practice.”
- British director Terence Davies, praised for his distinctive visual style, whether in films inspired by his tough working-class childhood in Liverpool or in his adaptations of literary classics. His most accessible work, an adaptation of Edith Wharton’s “The House of Mirth,” helped star Gillian Anderson break out of her “X-Files” mold.
- American Todd Haynes, best known for “Velvet Goldmine” and “Far From Heaven”; his early movies “Poison” and “Safe” helped launch the career of Julianne Moore. According to Levy, his movies explore the fragile stability of middle-class suburbia and characters that cannot be constrained by rigid social structures.
- American Gus Van Sant, known for a diverse body of work that shines a spotlight on outsiders who have been marginalized by mainstream society. His best-known films include “Drugstore Cowboy,” “My Own Private Idaho,” “To Die For,” “Good Will Hunting” and “Milk.”
- Renegade filmmaker and Baltimore native John Waters, who describes himself as the “Prince of Puke.” His collaborations with Divine ranged from the gross-out masterpiece “Pink Flamingos” to the more mainstream “Hairspray,” which has ironically become the basis for a hit Broadway musical. Waters elevated trashy films to art-house status.
Levy draws some fascinating parallels between the careers and works of these five disparate directors. Not surprisingly, each of them examines people who have been marginalized by mainstream society and look at the social, political and economic forces that have shaped these outsiders. Because of this, their work is implicitly political. As Levy writes, “by turning their cameras on marginalized figures, they subvert the normal social hierarchy.” Collectively, they made gay cinema “more explicit, accessible and acceptable.”
And just as each has been shaped by changing social norms about homosexuality, each has been shaped by changes in the economics of the film industry. All of them have been able to move between the artistic freedom of small-budget independent releases and the larger budgets and audiences of mainstream releases.
Levy has dedicated the book to his late partner Rob Remley, who died of cancer in 2011. This is the first book he has written since Remley’s death and Levy has missed his partner’s support. “He was a very good editor,” Levy says. “He paid excellent attention to detail, which I’m not always good at.”
The two met in 1981 (the year that Almodóvar started his career, Levy notes) and their first date was seeing the John Waters movie “Polyester” (Levy says Waters still “gets a kick out of that.”).
While Levy’s thoughtful discussions of the films and filmmakers are deeply informed by his academic training, the book is lively and entertaining. It’s likely to spark heated debates between LGBT cinephiles and will encourage audiences to watch old favorites with a fresh eye and to seek out titles they missed.
Like everyone else in the film industry, Levy is hoping for a sequel.
“It will be nice to update it three or four years from now,” he says.
He hopes the revised book will include a new chapter on French director François Ozon (“8 Women”) and upcoming works by four of the directors in the current book. “Carol” by Todd Haynes received cheers at the recent Cannes Film Festival, where “A Sea of Trees” by Gus Van Sant was loudly jeered. “Sunset Song” by Terence Davies will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this fall and Almodóvar’s “Silencio” will be featured at Cannes next year.
Levy is thrilled that the official book launch for “Gay Directors, Gay Films?” will be at the iconic Provincetown Book Store in the famous LGBT resort town.
“John Waters used to work there in the 1960s,” Levy says. “He still remembers handing out fliers for ‘Mondo Trasho’ there. I hope he’s able to make it to the book launch.”
Emanuel Levy says gay directors contribute a distinctive eye to their material. (Photo courtesy HFPA)
a&e features
Memorial for groundbreaking bisexual activist set for May 2
Loraine Hutchins remembered as a ‘force of nature’
The Montgomery County Pride Center will host a celebration honoring the life and legacy of Loraine Hutchins, Ph.D., on May 2. People are invited to attend the onsite memorial or a livestream event. The on-site event will begin at 10 a.m. with a meet-and-greet mixer before moving into a memorial service around the theme “Loraine a Force of Nature!” at 11 a.m., a panel talk at 12 p.m., break out sessions for artists, academics, and activists to build on her legacy at 1 p.m. and a closing reception at 2 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to register for the on-site memorial gathering or the livestreamed memorial. The goal of this event is also to collect stories and memories of Loraine. Attendees and others can share their stories at padlet.com.
An obituary for Hutchins was published in the Bladelast Nov. 24, where people can learn more about her activism in the bisexual community. A private service for friends and family was held in December but this memorial service is open to all.
Alongside her groundbreaking work organizing for U.S. bisexual rights and liberation including co-editing “Bi Any Other Name: BIsexual People Speak Out” (1991), she also integrated faith into her sexual education and advocacy work. Her 2001 doctoral dissertation, “Erotic Rites: A Cultural Analysis of Contemporary U.S. Sacred Sexuality Traditions and Trends,” offered a pointed queer and feminist analysis to sex-neutral and sex-positive spiritual traditions in the United States. Her thesis was also groundbreaking in exploring the intersections between sex workers and those in caregiving professionals, including spiritual ones.
In an oral history interview conducted by Michelle Mueller back in August 2023, Hutchins described herself as a “priestess without a congregation.” While she has occasionally had a sense of community and feels part of a group of loving people, she admitted that “I don’t feel like we have the shape or the purpose that we need.”
“I’ve often experienced being the Cassandra in the room, the Cassandra in the community. Somebody who’s kind of way out there ahead, thinking through the strategic action points that my community hasn’t gotten to yet, and getting a lot of resistance and hostile responses from people who are frightened by dissent and conflict and not ready for the changes we have to make to survive,” she said.
“For somebody who’s bisexual in an out political way and who’s been a spokesperson for the polyamory movement in an out political way, it’s very exposing. And it’s very important to me to be able to try to explain and help other people understand the connection between spirituality and sexuality,” she explained citing how even as a graduate student she was “exploring how to feel erotic and spiritual, and not feel them in conflict with each other in my own spiritual contemplative life and my own sensual body awareness of being alive in the world.”
“Every religion has a sense of sacred sexuality. It’s just they put a lot of boundaries and regulations on it, and if we have a spiritual practice that is totally affirming of women’s priesthood and of gay people, queer people’s ability to minister to everyone and to be ministered to be everyone, what does that do to the gender of God, or our understanding of how we practice our spirituality and our sexuality in community and privately?”
“There’s no easy answer,” she concludes, and she continued to grapple with these questions throughout her life, co-editing another seminal text, “Sexuality, Religion and the Sacred: Bisexual, Pansexual, and Polysexual Perspectives,” published in 2012. Her work blending spiritual and queer liberation remains groundbreaking to this day.
Rev. Eric Eldritch, a local community organizer and ordained Pagan minister with Circle Sanctuary who has worked for decades with the DC Center’s Center Faith to organize the Pride Interfaith Service, is eager to highlight this element of her legacy at the memorial service next month.
a&e features
Queery: Meet artist, performer John Levengood
Modern creative talks nightlife, coming out, and his personal queer heroes
John Levengood (he/him) describes himself as a modern creative with a wide‑ranging toolkit. He blends music, technology, civic duty, and a sharp sense of wit into a cohesive artistic identity. Known primarily as a recording artist and performer, he’s also a self‑taught music producer and software engineer who embodies a generation of creators who build their own lanes rather than wait for one to appear.
Levengood, 32, who is single and identifies as gay and queer, is best known as a recording artist who has performed at Pride festivals across the country, including the main stages of World Pride DC, Central Arkansas Pride, and Charlotte Pride.
“Locally in the DMV, I’m known for turning heads at nightlife venues with my eye-catching sense of style. When I go out, I don’t try to blend in. I hope I inspire people to be themselves and have the courage to stand out,” he says.
He’s also known for hosting karaoke at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va., on Thursday nights. “I like to create a space where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, building community, and showcasing their talents.”
He also creates social media content from my performances and do interviews at LGBTQ+ bars and theatres in the DMV. Follow the Arlington resident @johnlevengood.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I have been fully out of the closet since 2019. My parents were the hardest people to tell because my family has always been my rock and at the time I couldn’t imagine a world without them. Their reactions were extremely positive and supportive so I had nothing to fear all along.
I remember sitting on the couch with my mom, dad, and sister in our hotel room in New Orleans during our winter vacation and being so nervous to tell them. After I finally mustered up the nerve and made the proclamation, I realized my dad had already fallen asleep on the couch. My mom promised to tell him when he woke up.
Who’s your LGBTQ hero?
My LGBTQ heroes are Harvey Milk for paving the way for gays in politics and Elton John for being a pioneer for the fabulous and authentic. My local heroes in the DMV are Howard Hicks, manager of Green Lantern, and Tony Rivenbark, manager of Freddie’s Beach Bar. Both of them are essential to creating spaces where I’ve felt welcome and safe since moving to the DMV.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Trade tops the list for me because of the dance floor and outdoor space. It’s so nice to get a break from the music every once and a while to be able to have a conversation.
We live in challenging times. How do you cope?
I’m still figuring this out. What is working right now is writing music and spending time with family and friends. I’ve also been spending less time on social media going to the gym at least three times a week.
What streaming show are you binging?
After “Traitors” Season 4 ended, I was in a bit of a show hole, but “Stumble” has me in a laughing loop right now. The writing is so witty.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
At 18, I wish I would have known how liberating it is to come out of the closet. It would have been nice to know some winning lottery numbers as well.
What are your friends messaging about in your most recent group chat?
We are planning our next trip to New York City. If you can believe it, I visited NYC for the first time in 2025 for Pride and I’ve been back every quarter since. Growing up in the country, I was subconsciously primed to be scared of the city. But my mind has been blown. I can’t wait to go back.
Why Washington?
It’s the closest metropolitan area to my family, but not too close. I love the museums, the diversity, the history, and the proximity to the beach and mountains. It’s also nice to live in a city with public transportation.
Aging RFK Stadium has come down, but the RFK grounds are still getting lit up. Welcome back to the stage Project GLOW, D.C.’s homegrown electronic festival, on May 30-31. Back for its fifth year on these musically inclined acres, Project GLOW returns with an even more diverse lineup, and one that continues to celebrate LGBTQ antecedents, attendees, and acts.
Project GLOW 2026 headliners include house and techno star Mau P, progressive house legend Eric Prydz, hard-techno favorite Sara Landry, and bass acts Excision b2b Sullivan King, among the lineup of trance, bass, house, techno, dubstep, and others for the fifth anniversary year.
President & CEO Pete Kalamoutsos — born and raised in D.C. — founded Club GLOW in 1999. In 2020, GLOW entered into a partnership with global entertainment company Insomniac Events to produce live events like Project GLOW, which kicked off in 2022.
As in past years, Project GLOW not only makes space, but is intentionally inclusive of the LGBTQ community, one of its most dedicated fan bases. The festival’s LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage blooms again — a more intimate dance area that stands on the strength of DJs and musicians who draw from the LGBTQ community. D.C.’s LGBTQ nightlife mastermind Ed Bailey is the creative mind behind Secret Garden again. He joined Project GLOW in 2023.
“Kalamoustos says that “he’s proud of his partnership with Ed Bailey, along with Capital Pride and [nightlife producer] Jake Resnikow. It’s amazing to collaborate with Bailey at the Secret Garden stage, especially after the curated lineup we worked on at Pride last year.”
The Secret Garden will be a bit different from other stages: Eternal (“At the Eternal stage, time stands still. Lose yourself in the dance of past, present, and future, surrendering to the eternal rhythm of the universe”) and Pulse (“Feel the rhythm of the beat pulse through your veins as the heartbeat of the crowd synchronizes into one. Here, every moment vibrates with life as it guides you through a new dimension of euphoria”). The Secret Garden stage is in the round, surrounded by 16 shipping containers. The containers play canvas to muralists from around the world, who are coming in to paint them in a vibrant garden-style vibe. “We gave this stage some extra love with this layout,” K says, “ we finally cracked the code.”
K says that this will be the biggest lineup yet for the Secret Garden, featuring Nicole Moudaber b2b Chasewest, Riordan b2b Bullet Tooth, Ranger Trucco, Cassian, Eli & Fur, Cosmic Gate and Hayla. The stage is also the largest yet, featuring an expanded dance floor and 360-degree viewing.
Across all stages, K says that his goal for the fifth anniversary is “More art and fan interactive experience, more like a festival, strive to be like a Tomorrowland, as budget grows to add more experience.” Last year’s Project GLOW alone drew 40,000 attendees over two days.
K, however, was not satisfied with one festival this spring. GLOW recently announced a “pop-up” one-day event. Teaming up with Black Book Records, GLOW is set to throw a first-of-its-kind dance-music takeover of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., headlined by electronic music star Chris Lake. Set for April 18, this euphoric block party will feature bass and vibes blocks from the White House. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 fans to attend. Beyond music, there will be food, activations, and plenty of other activities taking place around 6th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW – a location familiar to many in the LGBTQ community, as this sits squarely inside the blocks of the Capital Pride party that takes place in DC every June.
Over the past two decades, Club GLOW has produced thousands of events, from club nights to large-scale festivals including Project GLOW, Moonrise Festival, and more. Club GLOW also operates Echostage.
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