Sports
D.C. All Stars profile: D.C. Strokes Rowing Club
Members appreciate low-impact, all-body workout sport offers
Paul Heaton, left, and Austin Blakeslee are passionate about D.C. Strokes. (Photos courtesy the subjects)
The spring rowing season is in full swing for the LGBT-based D.C. Strokes Rowing Club with its competitive and club programs already practicing on the Anacostia River. Its learn to row program will start on April 28 followed by their novice program in June. On June 3, members will host the 25th annual Stonewall Regatta.
This week in the Washington Blade All Star series, we meet two gay rowers who found their way back to the sport and are thriving.
After moving to D.C. in 2011, Paul Heaton noticed dragon boats on the Anacostia River. While he was researching them online, he discovered the local LGBT rowing club. Many years earlier, he had completed a learn to row program in Ithaca, N.Y. and decided to join the D.C. Strokes novice program.
“I fell in love with the team and the sport and bonded with other people who were also just coming into the club,” Heaton says. “My closest friends today are those same people who were in that novice class with me.”
Growing up in Elkhart, Ind., Heaton was a self-described geeky nerd type who was involved in theater and orchestra. While completing his journalism degree at Indiana University, he spent most of his time in the office of the school’s newspaper.
After completing the Strokes’ novice program, Heaton advanced to the club program and began competing for the first time in his life. Heaton rows 4s and 8s and there were certain aspects of the new experience that left him wanting more.
“Everyone on the team is always supportive and trying to help each other get better. When I walked down the dock carrying the boat with my teammates for my first race, there were other teammates cheering us on. I got a little verklempt,” Heaton says. “In 4s and 8s rowing, you are always looking to match your teammates for that perfect stroke — the swing of the boat. Once you get a hint of it, you want it again.”
Heaton, who works in educational fundraising and marketing for a nonprofit, went on to win gold, silver and bronze at the 2014 Cleveland Gay Games. This summer he’ll join his team at the 2018 Paris Gay Games. He has also competed with the Strokes throughout the Mid-Atlantic region in both sprint and head races.
Fully immersed in the club, Heaton is in his second year as race director for the Stonewall Regatta and volunteers as a coxswain for beginner classes. He remains on the club team instead of the competitive team because he enjoys their nighttime practices.
“I love being involved with the new people who join the club every year. Their enthusiasm is infectious,” Heaton says. “Rowing at night is so beautiful and peaceful and melts away any stress from the workday. It’s the perfect way to end the day.”
Austin Blakeslee started rowing the summer after seventh grade and continued through his years at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria in its fall, winter and spring programs. Even though he didn’t consider himself to have an innate athletic ability, he felt comfortable in the sport and did well.
He joined the club rowing program at Tulane University, but his experience was interrupted when he studied abroad and when Hurricane Katrina hit the area. He stayed at Tulane through law school and moved to D.C. proper in 2016.
He had sculled periodically in years prior to coming to D.C. and was ready to return to the sport.
“I knew about D.C. Strokes and I sought them out specifically because they are LGBT-based. There is a level of comfort when there is no elephant in the room,” Blakeslee says. “The people have been friendly and accepting and I like having the structure of a planned workout.”
Blakeslee, who works as an intellectual property attorney, joined the morning competitive team and rows 4s and 8s. At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, his height is considered an advantage in the sport.
“My first race with the Strokes was the 2016 Stonewall Regatta,” Blakeslee says. “It was exciting to remember and embrace the feelings that come along with racing.”
He has since competed throughout the region with his teammates including at the prestigious Head of the Charles in Boston.
He is also serving as the program director for the Strokes which includes running the aforementioned programs along with the youth program and the adaptive rowing program, Athletes Without Limits. He had some tips tucked under his belt which have helped him in the position.
“My mom was the crew boosters president at T.C. Williams, so I had knowledge on the mechanics of running a boathouse, trailering for regattas and other aspects,” Blakeslee says. “Listening to her all those years gave me perspective on how much goes on behind the scenes.”
Blakeslee points to the great core group that rows with the Strokes and adds that everyone has the opportunity to make it into a competitive boat. He says the goal is to have fun and win some medals along the way.
“This is a low-impact sport that offers a great overall body workout,” Blakeslee says. “For anyone that is coming back from an injury, rowing is an opportunity to find a new sport.”
Photos
Washington Spirit host largest halftime drag performance in NWSL history
The Washington Spirit celebrated the LGBTQ+ community with the team’s annual Pride Night at Audi Field this past Saturday. Highlighting that evening’s Pride-themed festivities was a
halftime drag performance, featuring over a dozen drag performers from around the
DMV. It was the largest halftime drag performance in NWSL history.
Performers included: Shiqueeta Lee, KCByonce, Citrine the Queen, Elektra Gee, Kabuki Bukkake, Delila B. Lee, Capri Bloomingdale, Tara Ashleigh Austin, Gigi Couture, Dorsell Phinn, Tula, Twix the Drag Queen, Bootsy Omega, Princeza.
Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers apologize, reverse decision on disinviting drag group
Pride Night to take place June 16
In a tweet Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball franchise reversed last Wednesday’s decision to disinvite the LA Chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from a scheduled “Community Hero Award” presentation for the team’s annual Pride Night on June 16.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2023
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath announced on Twitter Monday afternoon after the Dodgers apology, and its accompanying public acceptance by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, that she had been pleased to have assisted in facilitating a meeting between the team, the Sisters and stakeholders in the LGBTQ community’s leadership both non-profit and political to come to an understanding.
Thanks to the @LADragnuns for your work to serve & uplift the LGBTQ+ community. You model the best of my faith.
— Lindsey P. Horvath (@LindseyPHorvath) May 23, 2023
@Dodgers, it is rare for an organization like yours to publicly recognize mistakes & commit to doing better – thank you 🙏🏼
In a Monday afternoon phone call with the Los Angeles Blade, Horvath explained that important dialogue between the Dodgers and other parties had commenced. She said that earlier on Monday, in a meeting at Dodger Stadium, the stakeholders met to work out a solution.
“I was honestly moved and grateful by the commitment in the room by all the parties, especially Dodgers president and part-owner Stan Kasten,” Horvath said.
In addition to the representatives from the Sisters drag group, the meeting was also attended by Los Angeles LGBT Center Chief Executive Officer Joe Hollendoner, LA Pride President Gerald GarthBoard, West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne, state Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, and state Sen. Caroline Menjivar. Zbur and Menjivar attending on behalf of the California Legislative LGBTQ caucus.
Horvath indicated that she felt it was a critically important meeting with all stakeholders as they worked through the anger, sense of betrayal, and misgivings over the Dodgers actions. She pointed out that she was convinced that the Dodgers president was genuinely remorseful and apologetic.
In an email Monday night, Zbur told the Blade: “It was clear that today’s meeting followed meaningful internal dialogue among Dodgers management, with whom I had numerous frank conversations during the week and weekend. I’m pleased that the Dodgers came to understand the genuine hurt and injury caused by the decision to exclude the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — one that did not reflect our Los Angeles or California values.
As the only LGBTQ members of the Legislature representing Los Angeles, Senator Menjivar and I participated in the meeting at the request of the California LGBTQ Legislative Caucus to express the serious and uniform concern of Democratic members of the California Legislature.
After hearing the perspectives of the Sisters, L.A. Pride and the LGBTQ+ leaders in the room, the Dodger management apologized unequivocally for their mistake, re-invited the Sisters to participate in the event, and engaged in a discussion about the steps that they could take to reconcile with LGBTQ+ community.
I was proud of the Sisters, who demonstrated resilience, strength and a commitment to the LGBTQ+ community during the discussion, and I was impressed with the sincerity of the apology by the Dodger management.”
The Los Angeles LGBT Center had called on the team to cancel Pride Night altogether. After the Dodgers had made their public apology, Hollendoner issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision by the Dodgers to publicly apologize to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and roll back their exclusion from next month’s Pride Night is a step in the right direction, and we support the Sisters’ vote to accept their much-deserved Community Hero Award.
Last week’s debacle underscores the dangerous impact of political tactics by those who seek to stoke the flames of anti-LGBTQ bias at a time when our rights are under attack. We must continue to stand together as a community in defense of the rights and recognition of LGBTQ+ people in Los Angeles and beyond.
The Center is filled with gratitude to our Los Angeles community, who mobilized to support the Sisters, all of which compelled the Dodgers to ultimately do right by LGBTQ+ people everywhere. We are proud to stand with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and will join them at Pride Night to honor their many important contributions to our movement.
The Dodgers’ course correction and the conversations we have had with the organization’s leadership since last week demonstrates the version of allyship we have come to expect from the team over the years. The Center will always strive to hold our corporate partners accountable — which means so much more than waving a rainbow flag.”
The team announced last week it would drop the drag group from its celebration of LGBTQ+
fans, the day after a letter-writing campaign was launched by the anti-LGBTQ Catholic League. Catholic League President Bill Donohue accused the team of “rewarding anti-Catholicism” by honoring the group.
“The Catholic League has been the leading critic of this bigoted organization for many decades,” Donohue wrote on the organization’s website. “… These homosexual bigots are known for simulating sodomy while dressed as nuns.”
He added, “Just last month, they held an event mocking our Blessed Mother and Jesus on Easter Sunday.”
One of those writing, was U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) who also sent a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, stating that he was questioning whether the League is “inclusive and welcoming” to Christians.
At the time, the Dodgers said they removed the group from their Pride Night celebration “given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the Sisters’ inclusion in our evening, and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits … of Pride Night.”
On Saturday, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken invited the drag group to Angels Pride Night in a tweet, as reported by the Blade: “I’m inviting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to join me for @Angels Pride Night at Anaheim Stadium on June 7. Pride should be inclusive and like many, I was disappointed in the Dodgers’ decision,” tweeted the Mayor .
Neither the Angels nor the mayor’s office confirmed that invitation as of press time, and also did not comment on the Dodgers’ reversal.
However, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange took aim at Aitken for extending the invitation to the drag group:
“The decision to openly embrace a group whose demeaning behavior is anti-Catholic and anti-Christian is misguided and disrespectful to the sisters of the Catholic Church who minister in Orange County and selflessly dedicate their lives to God’s underserved people,” said Jarryd Gonzales, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange on Monday.
“We cannot condone any actions that have historically shown such high levels of disregard for the sincerely held beliefs of the faithful,” he added.
“Our June 7th Pride Night is part of Major League Baseball’s league-wide effort to raise awareness and promote acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. As in the past, OC Pride has assisted our Organization in the planning of this event as well as outreach to all fans throughout Southern California,” an Angels spokesperson said on the mayor’s invitation.
The Sisters have not indicated publicly if they plan to attend the Angels Pride Night as of yet.
Sources tell the Blade out gay Dodgers Vice President Erik Braverman was being advised on this crisis by Outsports co-founder Cyd Zeigler. When contacted by the Blade, Zeigler declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the Dodgers did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Sports
Vice president meets Brittney Griner before first game back
Russia released WNBA star from penal colony late last year
Vice President Kamala Harris accompanied by her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, greeted WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury star center Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle Friday night before Griner’s first professional basketball game back since being released from a Russian penal camp last December.
According to the White House Press Pool reporter traveling with Harris, she and Emhoff arrived at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles and met with the Griners prior to the game between the LA Sparks and Phoenix Mercury.
After conversations between the four, the vice president met with the rest of the Mercury in their dressing rooms before meeting with host team the LA Sparks in theirs.
According to the Advocate’s reporter Christopher Wiggins, in her meeting with the Mercury, the vice president said:
“I came here to talk to the team to congratulate you on exhibiting excellence in every way. You are some of the finest athletes in the world, and to do what you do every day shows that it is right to have ambition,” she said.
“It is right to have aspirations. It is right to work hard. It is right to compete when you know you have put everything into it; when you have trained, when you have discipline, when you have intelligence and when you have brilliance.”
She added, “It makes me so proud as vice president of the United States to go around the world talking to folks about a variety of issues, and one of the subjects that does come up is the WNBA. [The world] is watching what you guys are doing, lifting up the excellence of the finest athletes in the world.”
After meeting both teams Harris then showed up at center court to cheers from about 10,000 people and received an honorary jersey from the Sparks.
Great time at the game tonight cheering on the @LASparks and @PhoenixMercury as we celebrated @BrittneyGriner‘s return to the court.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 20, 2023
Her grace, courage, and determination are an inspiration to all. pic.twitter.com/0fTx952IWj
The Sparks beat the Mercury 94-71, although the Advocate pointed out: “Griner’s return to the floor and doing what she loves was more important than the result. Six rebounds, four blocks, and 18 points rounded out her performance.”
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