a&e features

Nothing compares to Prince

Gender-bending genius left behind treasure trove of music

Published

7 years ago

April 28, 2016

Prince singer, gay news, Washington Blade

Any decent artist has gems lurking beyond his or her hits, but the Prince catalogue is astounding in its scope and quality. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren, NPG Records)

Many of us are still trying to wrap our heads around the fact that Prince is gone.

Through the disbelief and mourning, many have started to look back and take stock of just what a peerless musical legacy Prince left behind. It’s stunning in its quality and quantity, its influence and diversity. Prince was rock’s most prolific artist, a studio wizard, songwriting genius and master musician.

We all know the massive hits, but dig deeper and there’s just as much to love.

I’ve chosen 25 of his best deep cuts — some of the best pieces of studio work he’s ever released, yet much of it will be new to you unless you’re a die-hard. For every “Kiss,” there are a dozen other tracks that you’ll love as much. These are presented chronologically.

1. “Gotta Broken Heart Again” (from “Dirty Mind,” 1980)

A combination of styles, the song’s a charmer that brings a little tenderness to the hard-edged “Dirty Mind.”

2. “Annie Christian” (from “Controversy,” 1981)

Prince creates the kind of new wave synthesized background you’d expect from a Berlin album, and layers it with squealing guitar effects, and a strident vocal in which he accuses Annie Christian of multiple high-profile murders. It’s a uniquely unsettling song that is one of the first examples of Prince’s ability to go far beyond the slick R&B/Pop sound of his first two albums and tackle more diverse subject matter.

3. “All The Critics Love U In New York” (from “1999,” 1982)

This track is hidden away on the double-album masterpiece “1999,” although an edited version did appear as the b-side to “Little Red Corvette.” The song is basically just a wicked groove, a funky beat and a popping bass over which Prince sing/speaks a set of sardonic lyrics. The hook sung during the repetition of the title brings in a sharp melody and flashes of keyboard.

4. “17 Days” (“When Doves Cry” b-side, 1984)

Although its partner b-side from “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Erotic City,” was unquestionably the most infamous and popular of the two, “17 Days” seems to rest in its shadow. It shouldn’t. “17 Days” has a wicked groove of its own, especially from that elastic bass, and a tense and effective vocal by Prince. With its vaguely trippy nature, “17 Days” is an obvious foreshadowing of the full-blown psychedelic to be heard soon on 1985’s “Around the World in a Day.”

5. “New Position” (from “Parade,” 1986)

This taut slice of kinetic funk is built largely by Prince as a solo recording. There’s not much to it, but there doesn’t need to be. Prince plays the frenetic percussion anchored by a clanging steel drum, between which coils a wildly gyrating bass line.

6. “Power Fantastic” (Recorded 1985, not released until “The Hits/The B-sides “1993”)

It required an unconventional recording set-up to get the right sound, but Prince managed to capture the elegant vibe he was seeking. It’s a one-take jaw-dropper with the Revolution recorded as a track for the possible follow-up “Parade,” presumably to be called “The Dream Factory,” but Prince disbanded the Revolution and the follow-up never materialized. Happily this dreamy, elegant ballad was finally made available when it was added to the “B-sides” disc to a 1993 combination.

7. “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker” (from “Sign ‘o’ the Times,” 1987)

A surreal slice of Princely quirkiness from arguably his finest album, “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker” has a stripped down vibe — basically just a few ornate lines of piano and pulses of keyboard all riding a dry and strangely off-kilter electronic pattern on the Linn Drum machine in lock step with a quivering bass.

8. “Anna Stesia” (from “Lovesexy,” 1988)

Widely considered by Prince fans as among his finest pieces of work, “Anna Stesia” is the emotional centerpiece of “Lovesexy.” It builds slowly from a stark piano intro to the stirring chorus at the end repeating, “Love is God, God is Love. Girls and boys love God above.” Both the vocal and musical arrangement are complex, and Prince delivers one of his most impassioned vocals.

9. “The Question of U” (from “Graffiti Bridge,” 1990)

Forget the movie — the soundtrack is high quality. “The Question of U” is basically one exquisite verse over a trippy groove, followed by Prince’s guitar histrionics, rhythmic clapping, soaring background vocals and exotic lines of keyboard. Beautiful.

10. “And God Created Woman” (from “Love Symbol,” 1992)

Prince turns the biblical story from Genesis into a gorgeous soul ballad with a touch of a Latin/jazz vibe. Prince’s nuanced vocal is beguiling and the vocal arrangement throughout the song is nothing short of magical.

11. “Pheromone” (from “Come,” 1994)

One of Prince’s darkest and most extreme dance tracks, “Pheromone” boasts a truly massive beat and a throbbing bass. Prince sings the lurid lyrics in a hard falsetto from the point of view of a highly aroused man surreptitiously peeping a couple in the process of enacting a violent sexual fantasy. It’s a stellar track, disturbing in its way but loaded with power and an unusually dangerous vibe for a Prince song.

12. “Shhh” (from “The Gold Experience,” 1995)

Prince scored a hit for young vocalist Tevin Campbell with “Round & Round” from “Graffiti Bridge” in 1990. Campbell’s next attempt to record a Prince tune, “Shhh,” wasn’t as successful. In exasperation, Prince transformed the song into a rock behemoth with some of the most stunning guitar the man ever recorded, plus some of the most devastating, come-hither, sexually charged vocals of his career.

13. “The Same December” (from “Chaos & Disorder,” 1996)

Prince handed Warner Bros. two albums of “older” material in 1996 for them to put out as they chose to complete his contract — “Chaos & Disorder” and “The Vault.” “The Same December” is a buoyant guitar rocker that would have soared into the Top 20 had it been released a decade earlier.

14. “When the Lights Go Down” (from “The Vault — Old Friends for Sale,” 1999)

A long, R&B/jazz flavored slow-jam with booming bass and some jaw-dropping instrumentation, it’s clear that Prince didn’t have it in him to turn in subpar material even for contract filler. Prince nails his sweet falsetto, which doesn’t come in until after two minutes of sublime Latin-groove instrumental introduction.

15. “The Love You Make” (from “Emancipation,” 1995)

This powerful gospel-flavored rock ballad ratchets up the intensity as it approaches a breathtaking climax. Often a stunner in live performance, “The Love You Make” sounds entirely more authentic than almost anything else on “Emancipation.”

16. “Comeback” (from “The Truth,” 1997)

“The Truth” is an all-acoustic album included with the “Crystal Ball” box set of previously unreleased material. Because of its hard-to-acquire status, “The Truth” has not been widely heard. The highlight is the short but exquisitely beautiful “Comeback,” a song presumably written by Prince for his late son. Not often does Prince allow something so nakedly personal to be heard by his audience and the song is worthy of its stature as a touching goodbye.

17. “Wasted Kisses” (from “New Power Soul,” 1998)

This track is indeed a hidden gem — you have to scroll through the CD to track 49 to find it, but it’s well worth the extra clicks. It’s about as bitter a Prince song as you’ll ever hear. We hear gunshots, an ambulance, medical personnel and a flatline all the while Prince is singing, “Why did I waste my kiss on you, baby?/Why did I waste my kisses on you now.” It’s as strange and as chilling a song as Prince has ever released.

18. “I Love U, But I Don’t Trust U Anymore” (from “Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic,” 1999)

Prince’s performance here is emotionally authentic and shows a naked vulnerability we’re not used to hearing from him.

19. “She Loves Me 4 Me” (from “The Rainbow Children,” 2001)

“The Rainbow Children” seems to be Prince’s version of a concept album inspired by the teachings of his new religion. It seems nobody really understood any of it but Prince himself, but that hardly matters. “She Loves Me 4 M” is a classic mid-tempo Prince pop tune built on the lovely interplay between a glistening order and Prince’s guitar. It stands along with anything he has done.

20. “Reflection” (from “Musicology,” 2004)

The final track from Prince’s 2004 comeback “Musicology” — a year in which Prince launched his first major U.S. tour in ages and also saw him steal the show at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “Reflection” may be the musical highlight — a charming piece of nostalgia set to gentle acoustic guitar, like a photograph faded with time.

21. “Love” (from “3121,” 2006)

“3121” earned Prince his first No. 1 album in America since the ‘80s, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s a super-slick and modern collection of first-rate pop and R&B, and “Love” is one of the album’s highlights. Although it was never a single, the song has an irrepressible groove, jittery keyboard, a strong melodic hook and Prince sounds his confident best.

22. “All the Midnights in the World” (from “Planet Earth,” 2007)

Prince’s 2007 album “Planet Earth” was the first to prominently feature old Revolution mates Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin substantially in 30 years. It’s a gentle song that doesn’t fit with much of what Prince has been doing in recent years, which is no doubt part of its luminous charm.

23. “Future Soul Song” (from “20ten,” 2010)

“20ten” is generally not regarded as one of Prince’s finest efforts, but it’s not nearly as bad as some would have you believe. There are indeed gems, like the electronic powerhouse “Beginning Endlessly,” the lithe and funky “Sticky Like Glue,” and especially the gorgeous ballad “Future Soul Song,” with an old school groove, sumptuous keyboards and with Prince shifting from his soulful slower register during the versions to his most feathery falsetto for the chorus.

24. “Way Back Home” (from “Art Official Age,” 2014)

“Most people in this world were born dead, but I was born alive.” It’s a line impossible to forget and impossible to argue. “Way Back Home” is Prince’s transcendent ballad from his triumphant 2014 release “Art Official Age,” a smart collection of fresh pop and R&B. The vocal harmonies and the sincerity in Prince’s voice make “Way Back Home” the standout. It’s sheer beauty and heart on an album loaded with terrific songs.

25. “Revelation” (from “HITNRUN Phase 2,” 2015)

The final Prince album during his life was released in December 2015, “HITNRUN Phase 2.” Happily, it’s an album worthy of his catalogue. “Revelation” is the type of stripped-down ballad that Prince can crunch out by the dozen, but they’re all different and usually worthy of attention. He is careful to keep the song melodically interesting — he’s not trying to create a boring Top 40 hit. He delivers a superb falsetto and a blistering guitar solo. On the strongest track from his last album, Prince could still bring it at the highest quality.

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a&e features

A rainbow shield

Parasol Patrol protects children from protesters at LGBTQ, BIPOC events

Published

7 days ago

March 15, 2023

Kaela Roeder

Parasol Patrol volunteers in action at a recent protest. (Photo by Jon Farina)

In the wake of LGBTQ events like drag queen story hours being the target of far-right protesters across the country, a national nonprofit is aiming to protect children from hate.

Founded in March 2019 by Pasha Ripley and Eli Bazan in Denver, Parasol Patrol now has grown to 14 official chapters, including in the D.C. area, Idaho, Illinois, and Rhode Island. The goal of the nonprofit is to protect children and young people from protesters at LGBTQ and BIPOC-centered events.

Volunteers with the nonprofit use umbrellas, rainbow or otherwise, as shields to block kids and families from hateful signs and pass out noise-canceling headphones to protect attendees from abhorrent language. Sometimes volunteers will also escort families into the venue to keep them safe.

“We just started this way of creating a turtle shell around families,” Ripley said. “We envelop that family as best we can and get them through, or past, protesters.”

The mission of Parasol Patrol is twofold, Ripley said. One part of it is to keep kids safe, and the other is to show that there is community support.

“Showing them that we love them. We support them. Not in spite of who they are, but because of who they are,” Ripley said. “We’ve helped the venue create a safer space for them to be themselves.”

Originally raised in rural Oklahoma, Ripley, who is queer, said Parasol Patrol provides a security that she and many others didn’t necessarily have coming of age.

“We want to be those adults that we wish we had had growing up,” she said. “And we’re not trying to turn kids gay. We’re trying to keep the gay kids alive.”

Ripley stressed volunteers with Parasol Patrol are not counter-protesters or security. The mission is nonviolent, and volunteers are encouraged to not engage with protesters.

John Zittrauer, a local volunteer with Parasol Patrol since the early summer of 2022, said volunteers serve as a “welcoming committee” for families attending these events.

“That’s where the umbrellas come in. To create not only a beautiful hallway of people but also to shield little kids from things that might get thrown their way,” Zittrauer said. “We are this wall of positivity, just welcoming families and making sure that everybody comes in and leaves with a smile on their face.”

But sometimes, these events can get hectic.

For example, in late February, the far-right group Proud Boys targeted a drag queen story hour in Silver Spring, Md., the Washington Blade previously reported. About 40 volunteers with Parasol Patrol came out to protect the event, including Zittrauer.

While shielding families from the protesters, Zittrauer was hit in the face on the bridge of his nose. In the melee, he doesn’t know if it was an elbow or a signpost that hit him. He didn’t realize he was bleeding until he turned around to check in with other volunteers, and the look on their faces signaled to him that something was wrong.

Zittrauer still carried on protecting the event from protesters. But he still says volunteering at that event was a positive experience because the families watching the drag story hour did not know too much of what was going on.

This is exactly what Ripley hopes for — that at the end of the day, the events are fun and inspiring for everyone involved, she said.

“For the most part, we stayed happy and upbeat, and unfazed,” Zittrauer said. “It was, all in all, a good day,” he said.

*Parasol Patrol members gather in front of Crazy Aunt Hellen’s restaurant in Barracks Row on Feb. 25, 2023, during a Drag Story Hour event. (Washington Blade photo by Lou Chibbaro, Jr.)*

a&e features

Golden Girls return to D.C.

‘The Laughs Continue’ to run at Warner Theatre from Feb. 23-26

Published

1 month ago

February 16, 2023

Michael K. Lavers

‘Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue’ cast (Photo by MP Present)

Miami’s sassiest seniors will take D.C. by storm when they take the stage at the Warner Theatre from Feb. 23-26.

Robert Leleux — whose previous work includes “The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy” and “The Living End” — wrote “Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue.” It documents the lives of the four cheesecake-loving older women in “The Golden Girls.”

Sophia (Christopher Kamm) is out on bail after the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested her for running a drug ring for older adults. Blanche (Vince Kelley) and Rose (Adam Graber) created CreakN, a “sex app for seniors.” And the relationship-challenged Dorothy is with a much younger man (Jason Bowen) on the aforementioned app.

Bowen also plays Dorothy’s ex-husband Stanley.

Eric Swanson, co-founder of the Detroit Actors’ Theatre Company, directs “Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue” and Murray and Peter Present produced the play. A version of it showed at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in July 2022.

“You will feel like you have watched sort of this hour and a half sort of special on a TV and it should feel just like you’re hitting play or whatever it is on your streaming service and here it is,” Swanson told the Washington Blade during a recent Zoom interview from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “The set looks like the set and we utilize the cheesecake — there’s so much cheesecake in this play. You can’t do Golden Girls without cheesecake.”

Swanson said he and Leloux binge watched “every episode” of the original show in four days.

“We wanted to create new content, that was our number one goal,” Swanson told the Blade. “We didn’t want to parody anything. We wanted to completely attack new material and new ways of thinking for women and aging adults in this generation.”

Blanche ‘weaponizes what God has given her’

Kelley told the Blade from Michigan during a telephone interview that Blanche is “very free and my brand of sassy.”

“I love the sensuality of Blanche and that she weaponizes what God has given her to her advantage.”

The scene in season two’s “The Actor” episode in which Blanche’s inflatable breasts deflate when she is hugging an actor during an audition to be his love interest is among Kelley’s favorite from the original show. Kelley also noted CreakN is difficult for Blanche to use because “she doesn’t identify as a senior.”

Blanche in season seven’s “The Case of the Libertine Bell” episode that takes place during a murder mystery weekend points out “flirting is part of my heritage” because she is “from the South.” Rose asked Blanche what she meant, and Dorothy told her that Blanche’s mother was “a slut too.”

“There’s a few of those zingers in this one too,” Swanson told the Blade. “Sometimes they just lay it down.”

‘Ahead of their time’ on LGBTQ issues

“The Golden Girls” premiered on NBC on Sept. 14, 1985.

The series ran for seven seasons until it ended on May 9, 1992. “The Golden Palace” in which Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty starred after Bea Arthur left “The Golden Girls” ran for one season.

“The Golden Girls” is one of the first primetime shows that discussed AIDS, marriage equality, and other LGBTQ issues.

Blanche’s brother Clayton, for example, comes out to his sister as gay in season four’s “Scared Straight” after he claimed he slept with Rose. Clayton and his boyfriend Doug during season six’s “Sister of the Bride” episode tell Blanche, Dorothy, and Sofia that they want to get married.

Dorothy’s brother Phil was a crossdresser, and her friend Jean is a lesbian who falls in love with Rose during season two’s “Isn’t It Romantic?” episode. Rose in season five’s “72 Hours” episode tests HIV-negative after she fears a blood transfusion she had exposed her to the virus.

“They were so ahead of their time in the things that they were tackling: AIDS and all that kind of stuff, and LGBTQ rights and discrimination against Jewish people. All things we’re still dealing with today, which is unfortunate, but it’s nice to turn to them and see how your good friends Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia are dealing with the same problems that you’re dealing with today,” said Kelley.

“I love the progressiveness that they had, especially when you look at the time and the era and what was going on, not just politically, but regarding feminism and sexuality and all of that. it was just incredibly brave,” Swanson told the Blade.

He further noted “The Golden Girls” also addressed interracial marriage and aging.

“They were addressing these things about what it’s like to age,” he said. “Whether you are a conservative, you’re a liberal, you are gay, you are straight, the one thing we all have is age. We can all relate to age and they led that narrative on what is it like to age and feel left out and have to fight again.”

Swanson and Kelley both teased bits of the play.

Kelley notes it is Dorothy’s “day in the sun” when she mets her younger man on CreakN. He also told the Blade that Sophia “had to do another small stint in Shady Pines due to another slip and fall.”

“While there she decided, how can I make a quick buck,” said Kelley. “I’m going to turn into Walter White and monetize that.”

Kelly noted the play is “all new material.”

“You’ll get a whole new fun story that even if you seen every episode twice, you’re gonna get something new. But we definitely have all your favorite lines, all the catchphrases, all the tropes and scenarios that you would expect,” he said. “We’re not trying to reinvent the Golden Girls, we’re just trying to add on to them.”

“We wanted to create something in their honor,” Swanson told the Blade.

“Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue” will be at the Warner Theatre (1299 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) from Feb. 23-26. Tickets start at $30. A VIP experience that includes a meet and greet with the cast after the show is $99. Tickets are available at warnerthreatredc.com.

a&e features

D.C.’s most eligible LGBTQ singles

Meet your match in our annual survey just in time for Valentine’s Day

Published

1 month ago

February 8, 2023

Staff reports

Each year, the Blade seeks our readers’ help in identifying the most eligible local LGBTQ singles. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we present this year’s list.

Matthew Koerber

*(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)*

Age: 33

Occupation: Realtor

How do you identify?: Gay

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone accomplished, compassionate, and with a compatible sense of humor and set of values.

Biggest turn off: Green text messages

Biggest turn on: Someone who knows their way around the kitchen

Hobbies: Entertaining friends, singing in the car, and playing my guitar.

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Finally take my mom on that trip to Paris.

Pets, kids, or neither?: I plead the fifth

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: Within reason

Celebrity crush: Chris Hemsworth

Name one obscure fact about yourself: Will moonwalk after a few drinks.

Kelsey Watson

Age: 28

Occupation: Nonprofit professional

How do you identify?: As a Black queer cis-woman

What are you looking for in a mate? I enjoy being around people who are funny and curious. I connect best with folks who have a shared sense of humour and can hold a conversation with just about anyone. I also prefer those who have some level of experience with nonmonogamy.

Biggest turn off: Fatphobia and hot breath

Biggest turn on: Kindness, banter, eye contact, and being fine

Hobbies: I spend my non-work time doing beer education, making elaborate meals for myself, gardening, and spending time with friends.

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: To start running my own beer education experiences, and to fold my laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer.

Pets, kids, or neither?: Neither

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: Absolutely the fuck not.

Celebrity crush: Raven Saunders, the very fine track and field Olympian. Somebody set me up.

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I like to hunt. I’m new to the sport and would love to find folks in the area to go out with.

Barbi Lopez

Age: 30

Occupation: Bar manager/bartender

How do you identify?: She/her

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is emotionally intelligent, adventurous, ambitious, spiritual, and wants to grow together (in every aspect).

Biggest turn off: Immaturity

Biggest turn on: A submissive dom

Hobbies: Pilates, traveling, reading, writing poetry, and anything in nature!

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Travel back home to Argentina to see my family

Pets, kids, or neither?: A cat my son names Bruno

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: Depends

Celebrity crush: Kehlani

Philip Pannell

Age: 72

Occupation: Non-profit executive director

How do you identify?: Gay

What are you looking for in a mate? An active advocate for social, political and economic progress.

Biggest turn off: Lack of engagement with community issues

Biggest turn on: Commitment to community progress

Hobbies: Community volunteerism and playing bridge

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Helping to end violence and statehood for DC

Pets, kids, or neither?: Neither

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: Highly improbable but not impossible

Celebrity crush: I cannot have a crush on someone I have not personally met

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I watch Fox News

Michael Wolfe

Age: 43

Occupation: Recruiter

How do you identify?: Gay

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is independent, spontaneous, low drama and an open and honest communicator with a sense of humor.

Biggest turn off: Selfishness, pretentious, disrespectful of others, takes things they shouldn’t too seriously

Biggest turn on: Collaborative, inclusive, cares about others as much as they care about themselves, solid communication skills, not required but bonus points if you appreciate Coke Zero over Diet Coke and love Chipotle as well!

Hobbies: I love to travel and have a long list of places in the world I want to go, and would want someone willing to come on that adventure with me, even if that means hopping on a plane spontaneously tomorrow at the last minute. Enjoy exploring DC (theater, concerts, special events etc.), weekend brunching with friends, and playing social LGBTQIA+ kickball.

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Continue to live life to the fullest both personally and professionally while surrounding myself with good, positive people.

Pets, kids, or neither?: I love dogs (had a dog for 13 years who passed a few years ago), open to considering another one (or two!) someday.

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: Yes, up to a point

Celebrity crush: Jay Hernandez, Chris Evans, Patrick Mahomes

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I’ve lived in 18 different apartments/homes in my ~21 years living in the DC metro area – as you can tell, I’m definitely not afraid of moving.

Mel May

Age: 42

Occupation: Recruiting leader

How do you identify?: Queer

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is creative, has a dark sense of humor, is grounded, leads with an authentic heart, and appreciates the little moments in life.

Biggest turn off: Lack of empathy, curiosity, adventurous spirit

Biggest turn on: Someone who lives their life out loud and takes risks with their dreams. Is confident and passionate in a relationship. Can hang with witty and weird jokes. Oh, and if they can cook!

Hobbies: I’m a writer at heart. Obsessed with resell, thrift, and consignment objects. Have always loved trying new, creative projects to include crocheting, DIY miniature kits, painting, publishing my own memoir. Always up for exploring and can walk around a city or trail for hours absorbing the experience.

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Honestly, to be super present with the people I care about and love. It’s been a rough few years and it’s made me truly appreciate how precious our time is together.

Pets, kids, or neither?: No kids. No pets right now — but you’ll hear me talk about my pup who was so sassy & funny (miss my lil guy). Right now, I live vicariously through my friends’ pets.

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: No, that’s just too loaded these days. Could be friends and have respectful conversations, but I don’t have the space for debate in my deeper relationships.

Celebrity crush: Winona Ryder was my first, and still is my biggest crush.

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I was a finalist for the “Tila Tequila” show. Don’t judge me — just knew I was auditioning for a queer reality dating show. *smacks forehead*

Elizabeth Falcon

Age: 40

Occupation: Non-profit executive director

How do you identify?: Queer

What are you looking for in a mate? I like to laugh, process the world from the big to the tiny, and collaborate. I want someone who wants to join me in that.

Biggest turn off: Being rude to service workers

Biggest turn on: Direct communication, expression of desires, confidence, playfulness. Know your value and tell me about mine.

Hobbies: Biking around town, illegally swimming in the Potomac, listening to too many podcasts, the Libby app, planting perennials, starting a garden then forgetting to water it, baking when I have the patience to clean the kitchen after, coordinating my friends to plan meals together

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Living with patience (see next question)

Pets, kids, or neither?: I have a one-and-a-half year-old kiddo I’m raising on my own. I also live with a cat, but the cat is my roommate’s.

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: There’s a wide spectrum of what this means, but I wouldn’t date someone who I fundamentally didn’t share agreement about the problems with white supremacy, capitalism, and the impacts of gentrification in DC. TL;DR probably no.

Celebrity crush: Janelle Monae, Mae Martin, E.R Fightmaster, Sara Ramirez

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I grew up on a dairy farm

Chloe Thompson

Age: 25

Occupation: Community Manager at TPSS Co-op

How do you identify?: Bisexual/queer woman

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is intensely smart, non-secular, building/involved in community, confident, and humble, very sexy, good dancer, curious about the world, a futurist, tall, a defined sense of personal style, and very funny.

Biggest turn off: Using Siri or Alexa (ever), drinking alcohol (I’m Muslim), being cynical or pessimistic, not talkative, being stingy, lacking imagination and refusing to dance!

Biggest turn on: A person who is totally in love with the world, for the good and the bad. Also, beautiful hands.

Hobbies: Reading critical theory and science fiction, yoga, watching and learning about film, writing, reading tarot, praying, learning rock climbing, going to museums, cooking excellent food

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Create intentional Black and Brown community. Be amazed by the goodness of life, daily.

Pets, kids, or neither?: I have neither, but I want 3 daughters and 2 dogs. Ready to get started creating my semi-big family whenever

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: Yeah! As long as you have an inherent distrust of the state, we’re good to go.

Celebrity crush: Kehlani. Real ones know.

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I’m secretly very bashful.

Maria Miller

Age: 31

Occupation: Bartender, produce slinger, sandwich artisan

How do you identify?: Dyke

What are you looking for in a mate? A genuinely nice and kind person. That answer seems simple, but you’d be surprised.

Biggest turn off: Bad tippers, rude customers, people who eat dry sandwiches.

Biggest turn on: Kind eyes, a nice smile, thoughtfulness, direct communication.

Hobbies: Thrifting, going to shows, making art, organizing in the community, getting tattoos

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: I have some big plans and that’s all I can really say!

Pets, kids, or neither?: A dog named Gravy

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: That doesn’t seem smart

Celebrity crush: Alive: Charli XCX and Yseult Onguenet, Not Alive: Selena and Aaliyah

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I have two baby teeth!

Al Castillo

Age: 22

Occupation: Research specialist

How do you identify?: Queer trans man

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is emotionally mature, willing to be spontaneous and willing to venture into the world together, but also able to enjoy a quiet day inside watching our favorite cartoon with our pets cuddled next to us on the couch.

Biggest turn off: Being out of touch with the local community and disrespecting physical and emotional boundaries.

Biggest turn on: Taking initiative and being comfortable acting silly and goofy!

Hobbies: Dancing like I am lip-syncing for my life, playing Nintendo and classic arcade games, cocktail making, and spending time with my loved ones.

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: I am beginning my fitness journey by going to the gym more often and becoming more active. I also started learning Spanish this year, so I am hoping to improve my Spanish speaking and listening skills throughout the year.

Pets, kids, or neither?: I have a dog named Dana Scully and my roommate Siena has a kitten named Fox Mulder, just like the characters from the X-Files.

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: No

Celebrity crush: Patrick Dempsey and Rina Sawayama

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I am double-jointed and I can do a jump split (give me some time to stretch though, it’s been a while)

Aurora Lloyd

Age: 30

Occupation: Entertainer/Entrepreneur/Activist

How do you identify?: Transsexual woman

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who wants commitment and understands what it means to build a foundation and grow. Has emotional intelligence and is in therapy. Wants the most out of life. And it doesn’t hurt if you are a cutie too!

Biggest turn off: Willful ignorance, blatant disrespect, and judgmental people

Biggest turn on: Intelligence emotional and mental! I love nerds being one myself. Knows how to love and treat Black women.

Hobbies: Video games, anime, reading books, making music, watching movies/shows, traveling, hanging with friends and family, napping, going out to eat, and museums

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: To release my new music and perform, travel, and increase my income.

Pets, kids, or neither?: I have one cat, no biological kids but open to having some but I do have five “queer” kids, lol.

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: I would be open to it, but it just depends on what particular views because politics are not just one vacuum from normal having history with working on the Hill, there are layers.

Celebrity crush: Michael B. Jordan and Tyler James Williams

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I really have a thing for archery

Andrew Bunting

Age: 34

Occupation: Higher education administration/bartending

How do you identify?: Gay

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is authentic, witty, driven, empathetic, intelligent, and adventurous. I’m looking for someone who understands the importance of self-care, and also knows how to both work and play hard.

Biggest turn off: My biggest turn off is unwanted pressure. The quickest way to make me no longer interested is to try to constantly pressure me to do something. The moment that I feel that type of pressure I start to feel smothered and I lose all interest.

Biggest turn on: Confidence, decisiveness, and a drive to enjoy life. A great smile and being a good kisser doesn’t hurt either!

Hobbies: My interests are really varied, and range from enjoying a day visiting local wineries to catching a movie with friends. Bartending (formerly at Cobalt and now at JR.’s) also takes up a lot of my weekend time, and is, for me, less of a job and more of a hobby.

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: My biggest goal for 2023 is to strive for balance and be intentional about how I use my time. I want to make sure that I am focusing on the right things for the right reasons. For me, that means making sure that I’m connecting with my family and friends (and potential love interests), focusing on my career, and making sure I still have enough time for self-care.

Pets, kids, or neither?: I don’t have a pet now, but I’m open both dogs and cats (I grew up with cats and have lived with dogs). Kids are not in my future.

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: An interesting question, and I really think it is more about one’s fundamental values than political affiliation. Would I date someone who disagrees with me about specific policies? Sure! But would I date someone who denies things like climate science, vaccines, or the fundamental rights of others? Definitely not.

Celebrity crush: Zac Efron (back off, he’s mine!)

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I’ve never, in my life, eaten Taco Bell (and I don’t plan to)

Javen Marquise Kostrzewa

Age: 30

Occupation: JD/MBA student at Georgetown

How do you identify?: Bisexual

What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is emotionally intelligent, career driven and wants to have a family and get married. If you can make me laugh that is the key to my heart.

Biggest turn off: Being rude to service staff; surface-level interactions, and fear of commitment.

Biggest turn on: Ambition, sense of humor and dedication to pursuit of life balance (mental, physical, and emotional health)

Hobbies: I love to work out and am that weird person who enjoys cardio. Outside of work and the gym I like playing video games, watching anime, and binging TV series (financial crime docs are my favorite).

What is your biggest goal for 2023?: Finish law school strong, but make more time for social activities.

Pets, kids, or neither?: Both! I absolutely love dogs (allergic to cats) especially big dogs (Great Dane is my dream dog). I love kids — my nieces and nephews are bright lights in my life. I want to eventually adopt (I grew up in foster care and was adopted.)

Could you date someone whose political views differ from your own?: It depends on where they differ. If we differ on civil rights and equality, that’s non-negotiable.

Celebrity crush: Michael B. Jordan

Name one obscure fact about yourself: I sang a tribute for Bill Withers as part of the Songwriters Hall of Fame project. (Bill was hilarious!)