a&e features
Best of Gay D.C. 2020
Celebrating our resilience in a year like no other

The 19th annual Washington Blade Best Of awards arrive amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered so many of our perennial winners in this competition. Theater productions, cinemas, popular fundraising events remain shuttered; bars and restaurants operate at reduced capacity and struggle to remain afloat. COVID has upended our world in unprecedented ways. Just a year ago, the Blade was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala party. Now such events are just a distant memory in the age of social distancing.
But amid the loss and heartbreak, there emerge stories of hope, heroism, and resilience. First responders, doctors, nurses and even grocery store clerks have stepped up and become heroes in 2020. Business owners got creative, moving to virtual operations, creating new products (face masks, hand sanitizer), and taking their business outside (restaurants, bars). Drag queens performed on Zoom and fitness instructors did the same. We adapted. The LGBTQ community has been through a pandemic before.
So here we celebrate the best of our LGBTQ community in Washington. We reduced our usual 100 categories to 40 given all the COVID closures and restrictions on nightlife and arts & entertainment events. About 4,000 nominations and 25,000 votes were cast in 40 categories for the 19th annual Best of awards. The Bladeβs Stephen Rutgers coordinated the process. The photographers are credited throughout. This yearβs contributing writers are Philip Van Slooten, Joey DiGuglielmo, and Kevin Naff. There will be no Best Of party this year, of course, but we will celebrate all the winners and nominees virtually in an online presentation at our website. We look forward to a raucous in-person celebration in 2021.
LOCAL HERO: RYAN MADDOCK
RUNNER UP: RUBY CORADO

In his first clinical role at Childrenβs National Hospital, Ryan Maddock worked with kids with chronic kidney disease. In his current role in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, heβs discussed organ donation with parents whose children are at deathβs door.
So when Maddock saw his friend Paul Johnson, whom he met in 2011 through Stonewall Kickball, struggling with kidney disease, he wanted to help.
Johnson, whom Maddock says often looked βawful and sick,β initially didnβt think Maddock was serious, but Maddock persisted.
He says giving the βgift of lifeβ was not a hard decision.
βI understood the process,β Maddock, a 39-year-old gay Eckington resident, says. βI believe in it with all my being and heart.β
Johnson doesnβt have Maddockβs kidney but his willingness to donate enabled Johnson to find a donor whom doctors thought would be a better match. A positive cross match between Maddock and Johnson meant Johnsonβs body was more likely to reject Maddockβs kidney, so a pairing program was entered at Medstar Georgetown and transplant coordinators worked to find the best donor/recipient for each pair. Maddock doesnβt know who ended up with his kidney but he hopes to someday.
Without Maddockβs willingness do donate, it could have been years before Johnson would have been able to find a match, Maddock says.
βAt first he thought I was crazy and not serious. After we were both through the evaluation process we understood each other and have a trust and love for each other,β Maddock says. βHe tells me all the time how thankful he is, but I am truly grateful to be able to give him this life off of dialysis.β
The surgeries happened July 14 at Medstar Georgetown. Maddock has five laparoscopic scars and one longer scar (two-and-a-half inches) on his abdomen. He says it was not traumatic and he has no after effects. His only limitation because of the donation is he cannot take certain types of anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofin.
Although they donβt hang out as before because of the pandemic, Maddock says he and Johnson talk regularly and are both doing well. Maddock is back to work.
βI donβt have anyone else in my family with kidney disease and I knew that Paulβs life on dialysis was awful and he deserved a second chance at life off of dialysis,β Maddock says. JD

BEST DRAG QUEEN: DESIREE DIK
RUNNER UP: BOMBALICIOUS EKLAVER

Desire Dik says when the pandemic first hit she was βfreaking out like every other drag performerβ about the loss of performance and income opportunity.
βBut after I shook it off, Red Bear still wanted to do virtual drag bingo and Extravaganza so we kept doing those β safely, of course,β Dik says.
With her βday jobβ in teaching on hold, Dik was inspired by seeing drag performers around the country take their art online so she did the same. For now, Desiree Dikβs Oddbalel and Slash Run are virtual. She got in touch with Oddball vets and have kept it going.
For her tenacity, Dik has been named this yearβs Best of Gay D.C. Best Drag Queen, a title previously held by legends such as BaβNaka, Bombalicious Eklaver and Destiny B. Childs.
Sheβs working now on a Halloween show. Extravaganza is on hiatus for now but in its place is βDrag-liveryβ where drag queens pack takeout food for delivery. They go to homes and put on mini-drag shows while patrons eat their takeout.
George Marius was born in Falls Church, Va., but sent to Peru at 6 months old to be raised by his sister. He lived there until age 10, went back to live with parents in Falls Church and was kicked out at age 16 for being gay.
He got into drag on his 17th birthday at Freddieβs Beach Bar and said it just βmade sense because I was a gay theater kid.β He tried it again a year later at a Town competition and was hooked.
βItβs been very crazy but at the end of the day, drag is what I love to do and see in others,β Dik says. βIt just brings me joy.β JD
BEST DRAG KING: MAJIC DYKE
RUNNER UP: JACKSON B NITE

Majic Dyke, a Nairobi native who came to the U.S. with their family at age 10, says a lifetime of confusion about their gender identity clicked into focus in 2017 when they started performing as a drag king and got βfully integratedβ with the LGBT scene in Washington.
βThis is when things truly fell into place in my life,β Majic wrote in a blog post on uniteuk1.com. βI finally had the vocabulary that affirmed what I had always felt, and I finally had people around me that loved and accepted me in all my forms.β
Majic identifies as non-binary and pansexual and says all pronouns are OK.
Other monikers they favor are βgenderqueer,β βdrag king,β βgo-go dancer,β βyour friendly neighborhood gay boiβ and β#beardsandtitties.β
In a Facebook post during the nomination process, Majic campaigned openly for the award and said they were βhappy as fuck to be nominated alongside my sibs.β
Look for Majic on social media to find out more about performances. JD
BEST TRANSGENDER PERFORMER: INDIA LARELLE HOUSTON
RUNNER UP: DYLAN DICKHERSON

India Larelle Houston has been performing since 2005, which is her full-time work.
βI got into the art form because I had a love for the performing arts and I found a way to express myself through drag,β Houston says.
Sheβs a cast member at Chanellieβs Drag Brunch on Saturdays and a cast member at Perryβs on Sundays. She also performs at Red Bear Brewing Company and other venues in Washington and beyond.
Like everyone, sheβs been βgreatly affectedβ by COVID-19 as both her drag brunches are on hiatus until Washington moves into phase three reopening. Several other venues have either closed or are not offering live entertainment. By now, her Sunday brunch is happening virtually. She had savings, which has helped stay afloat.
Houston did not campaign for this award but says, βIt feels absolutely wonderful to be loved and appreciated for what I do.β
βIt is a great honor to be chosen Best of Gay D.C.,β she says. βThe gods must have had a plan for me.β JD
BEST VIRTUAL A&E EVENT: PRIDE IN THE CITY, CAPITAL PRIDE
EDITOR’S CHOICE: TIE: Shaw’s Tavern Virtual Drag Bingo! & Desiree Dikβs: Oddball Virus

Pride in the City is a new web series that will introduce online viewers to some of Capital Pride staffβs βfavorite people and placesβ in Washington.
βFrom bars and restaurants to cultural treasures and small businesses to local heroes who make our community proud,β Ryan Bos, Capital Pride executive director, said in an e-mail. βAlong the way weβll offer insider perspectives and the opportunity for viewers to participate in a variety of ways.β
Two have been held so far: #stillweentertain on June 28 and #stillwelaugh on Aug. 9 and are available for viewing on YouTube. A third installment will be announced after the Out Brigade (a Pride motorcade through the District) on Oct. 10. One is planned before yearβs end.
Find out more at capitalpride.org/pride-in-the-city. JD
BEST OUTDOOR DRINKING: TRADE
EDITORS’ CHOICE: DACHA BEER GARDEN

Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) opened in 2015 and quickly established itself as one of the cityβs most popular newer gay bars.
Like everyone else, the Trade team has had a long, slow haul back to some semblance of normalcy after moving to takeout only on March 15 (digital content was created by local performance artists), opening for limited outdoor service on May 29 and limited indoor service on June 22. Although some job descriptions βevolvedβ due to COVID, no staff was laid off, says Aaron Riggins, marketing and programming manager (he also bartends and manages shifts).
Because of capacity restrictions, business is not what it was pre-pandemic but its outdoor space has been in high demand. Reservations are recommended but walk-up tables are sometimes available.
Titoβs and Soda is the most popular drink. On tap, Bud Light and Stella are the most popular. Town is owned by John Guggenmos, Ed Bailey and Chachi Boyle, the team behind the now-closed Town Danceboutique.
In 2018, Trade won Best ABSOLUT Happy Hour and Best Neighborhood Bar in 2017.
Trade is popular, Riggins says, because itβs βall about family.β
βIt’s humbling how supportive and loyal our patrons, staff and performance artists have been,β he says. βThe health and well-being of our family is very important to us and we are taking the social distancing measures very seriously. We are also incredibly lucky to have an immensely talented creative family that has been helping us produce digital content while we can’t have onsite entertainment. Look out for more of the efforts as we get closer to Halloween.β JD
Trade
1410 14th St. N.W.
BEST CARRYOUT: DUPLEX DINER
EDITORS’ CHOICE: LE DIPLOMATE

Early on in the pandemic when dining inside was unheard of, Duplex Diner (2004 18th St., N.W.) got creative with takeout and curbside service.
Resident drag queen Goldie Grigio worked the window and customers paid online in advance.
The diner is known for its no-nonsense menu that features everything from broccolIni salad, meatloaf, reuben and chicken tenders to tasty cocktails like the Famous Lemon Squeeze.
Owners Mark Hunker and Jeff McCracken had been regulars there since the late β90s and took over the Adams Morgan favorite in 2015.
Manager Kelly Laczko, whoβs been at the diner for eight years, keeps things running smoothly.
βThings have been surprisingly good,β Laczko said in a Blade interview earlier this year. βWeβve had so much love from the community and people have been amazing. Weβve gotten a lot of support so far. We are very lucky.β JD
Duplex Diner
2004 18th St., N.W.
BEST COFFEESHOP: THREEFIFTY BAKERY AND COFFEE BAR
EDITORS’ CHOICE: COFFY CAFE

Business is almost back to pre-COVID levels at gay-owned ThreeFifty Bakery but owner Jimmy Hopper and his partner Michael Graham are concerned about the coming winter months.
βThings have been challenging during COVID,β Graham says. βHowever, we worked early to develop the safest possible customer experience by utilizing the patio space for single customer ordering. We have also been extremely fortunate to have the full support of the neighborhood. β¦ We are concerned about the fall and winter months with indoor spacing limitations.β
Three Fifty, which opened in 2014, has 14 employees and says its customer base is about 30 percent LGBTQ. The most popular drink is a caramel latte and the most popular pastry is a tie between the quiche and apple zucchini bread.
βIt feels really great to win this honor and we are so proud to be an LGBT-owned business and to have the continued support from the neighborhood, LGBT community and the District,β Graham says.
Three Fifty also won Best LGBT-owned Business in the Blade poll in 2017. This win is monumental β Three Fifty dethrones Compass Coffee, which had four consecutive wins in this category through 2019.
ThreeFifty Bakery and Coffee Bar
1926 17th St. N.W.
BEST COVID QUARANTINE PROMOTION OR EVENT: GAY MENβS CHORUS OF WASHINGTON, DC βSUMMER SOIREEβ WITH LESLIE JORDAN
EDITOR’S CHOICE: TAGGβS QUEERANTINECON

The Gay Menβs Chorus of Washington wasnβt able to have its annual Spring Affair this year because of COVID, so instead, organizers held a Summer Soiree Aug. 15, which went off without any glitches or technical issues, had 679 registered attendees and raised about $125,000 for the organization and now wins this Blade readersβ poll award. Not bad!
The Chorus performed virtually and performed bits; Leslie Jordan was the celebrity guest.
The Chorusβs next event is βLosing My Mind: a Celebration of Sondheim,β a virtual cabaret on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. This yearβs holiday show is also online.
The Chorus and its ensembles are rehearsing entirely via Zoom. JD
BEST RESTAURANT: LOGAN TAVERN
EDITORS’ CHOICE: INN AT LITTLE WASHINGTON

Perhaps in these uncertain times, we donβt want something fancy and boundary pushing. Logan Tavernβs win here and its unpretentious charm β upscale but never snooty β seems to suit our 2020 sensibilities.
Logan Tavern is owned and operated by EatWell DC and combines friendly prices with a hip, laid-back atmosphere. Logan is a great go-to place for delicious, un-fussy food. Itβs a place where you recognize the ingredients, the flavors and the dishes you are being served. The drinks are affordable and the service is excellent with friendly and accommodating staff.
Itβs mostly hearty American fare. Dinner entrees like boneless southern fried chicken, crispy skin-on rockfish, crab-stuffed chile relleno and lemon ricotta gnocchi are popular staples.
Logan won Best Bloody Mary in these awards in 2018 and Best Date Restaurant in 2012. (JD)
Logan Tavern
1423 P St., N.W.
BEST LOCAL WEBSITE/BLOG: BRIGHTEST YOUNG THINGS
EDITORS’ CHOICE: FEED THE MALIK

Brightest Young Things was hit βincredibly hardβ by COVID-19, says co-founder Svetlana Legetic, a straight ally. It required βa complete re-do of how we do things and earn our living,β she says.
βThere was absolutely no plan B such as relying on investors or fairy godparents,β she says.
BYT bills itself as an editorial and event platform for Washington, New York and Chicago. As the world has shifted to virtual events, at least for large gatherings, BYT has pivoted offering content such as βTips for Sober October,β βLet Our Very Own Prya Konings Be Your World Vegetarian Day Sage,β βItβs OK You Are Not OKβ and more at brightestyoungthings.com.
βObviously there are no physical events or festivals, but we have seen our online engagement rise exponentially and the virtual projects we have worked on whether independently or with partners like Smithsonian β¦ confirmed to us that the community needs that positive, quality content because it makes them feel connected to each other, even when apart, and we can’t underestimate the value of that,β Legetic says.
Pre-COVID there were 12 full-time staffers; there are now four and a team of freelance contributors. While not exclusively queer, BYT was conceived as being LGBT-inclusive from its inception. JD
BEST SALON/SPA: LOGAN 14
EDITORS’ CHOICE: VSL HAIR DESIGN

Temperatures are taken for anyone who comes in the building, payments are totally cashless, work stations have been spread out and sanitation continues at a high level. These are just some of the changes that have allowed Logan 14 Aveda Salon & Spa to stay open amid the pandemic.
βWhat hasnβt changed is what we do,β says Katie Rose, general manager, who has been at the salon, which has 41 staffers, for five years. βWe service our guests and make people look and feel better about themselves.β
The salon was closed from March 16-June 10 and upon reopening offered free services to health care workers nominated by customers and staff.
Rose says business is not up to pre-pandemic levels and a few staff members were laid off but she says slowly things are getting busier. She says their customers, about 75 percent of whom are LGBT she guesses, have βbeen amazing.β
βItβs been heartwarming to see the outpouring of love from our guests and how glad they are to come back in,β Rose says.
This is Logan 14βs fifth consecutive win in this category, which Rose says βmeans the world to us.β JD
Logan 14 Aveda Salon & Spa
1314 14th St., N.W.
BEST LOCAL TV/RADIO PERSONALITY: CHUCK BELL & WENDY RIEGER, NBC 4 (TIE)
RUNNER-UP: LARRY MILLER, WUSA9

Good oleβ Chuck Bell, meteorologist at NBC4 since October 2004. He was runner-up last year (and also in 2015, 2016 and 2018). He also won this award in 2014 and 2012.
βItβs very flattering,β he said of a previous win. βIβm pleasantly surprised that people are taking note.β
Heβs joined this year by his NBC4 colleague Wendy Rieger, the 2015 winner.
Rieger stumbled upon broadcast journalism when she was a college drop-out looking to make money as an actress. She found a job reading the news on camera in Norfolk, Va., and fell in love with the business.
Bell is gay; Rieger is an ally. JD
BEST ABSOLUT TO-GO COCKTAILS: NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
EDITORS’ CHOICE: Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse

Nellieβs huge outdoor rooftop space has poised it well to survive COVID and this D.C. institution soldiers on.
βThings are good,β says owner Doug Schantz. βWeβre missing the old normal like everybody else but things are better than expected.β
Nellieβs is following all the D.C. restrictions under phase 2 reopening and is following all the usual guidelines but has moved its βstreeteryβ seating to its rooftop. A bus stop on U Street and limited space on 9th meant the rooftop was its best option. The two open areas and eight huge windows that allow ample air circulation have allowed the popular gay sports bar to stay busy and follow guidelines.
But itβs still a struggle. Schantz says 50 percent capacity figures were estimated by standing patrons so with seating, itβs more like 20 percent to remain compliant, but that, of course, is the new normal. There are currently 15 on staff, down from 40 pre-COVID.
To-go cocktails β illegal pre-COVID β have proven enormously popular. Pouches are decorated with two labels β one says, βDrink your juice, Shelbyβ and features flavors; the other is a parody of the Campbellβs soup can but says Nellieβs Soup instead. Other cocktails, wine or beer can be purchased in 14 oz. recyclable cups with lids. One food item (a cookie, tater tots, whatever) must be purchased with each to go alcoholic beverage. All the cups, lids and straws are recyclable.
Schantz says his clientele has stayed faithful and many come weekly. Weekend drag brunches are on hiatus. The huge site, which opened in 2007, has 37 TVs so itβs a great place to watch the debates, Schantz says.
Nellieβs is a perennial favorite in the Best of Gay D.C. Awards. It usually wins something every year. Last year it won Best Drag Show for its brunch, in 2018 it won Best Margarita and in 2016 it won Hottest Bar Staff. JD
Nellie’s Sports Bar
900 U St., N.W.
BEST OUTDOOR DINING: ANNIEβS PARAMOUNT STEAKHOUSE
EDITORS’ CHOICE: RED BEAR BREWING CO.

Annieβs Paramount Steakhouse, a Washington institution since 1948, is now open for both dine-in and carry out and thanks to its outdoor patio, it has won Best Outdoor Dining, a new category for this yearβs Best of Gay D.C. Awards.
In early 2019, Annieβs received the James Beard Foundationβs Americaβs Classic Award, which honors restaurants with βtimeless appealβ and that serve βquality food that reflects the character of their communities.β Annieβs was only the third D.C. restaurant to earn that distinction.
George Katinas and his family opened Paramount Steakhouse in 1948. Katinas hired his sister Anne βAnnieβ Katinas Kaylor, to work the bar. Her popularity led to the restaurant changing its name to Annieβs Paramount Steakhouse. She died in 2013.
In the early years of these awards, Anneβs was a perennial favorite winning Best Overall Restaurant (2001, 2002), Tried & True (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), Best Late Night (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012), Best Brunch (2005) and Best Steakhouse (2007, 2008). Kaylor was named Local Hero Female in 2001.
The menu is hearty American food with an array of burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads available for lunch. House specials like βBull in the Panβ (sirloin tips), basil-pine nut pesto pasta and pot roast are staples of the dinner menu. JD
Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse
1609 17th St., N.W.
BEST STRAIGHT ALLY: PAMALA STANLEY
RUNNER-UP: REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ
It was a busy year for singer Pamala Stanley, the β80s disco star who has enjoyed a long and wildly popular residency in Rehoboth Beach, Del. In January, she announced plans to move her show from the Blue Moon to The Pines. Then the pandemic hit. Immediately, Stanley pivoted, staging virtual shows from home. Then she took the show to The Pines stage with a virtual audience of hundreds watching from the safety of home while Stanley danced and sang her heart out, taking requests online. She used the shows as fundraisers for Beebe Medical Foundation. Owners of The Pines announced Stanleyβs first concert on April 26 was so successful that she would perform a virtual tea dance to benefit Beebe every Saturday until The Pines was allowed to reopen.
At that first benefit, Stanley dedicated one of her biggest hits, βComing Out of Hiding,β to all her fans who were getting restless after weeks in quarantine: βThis is for everybody,β she said, βbecause we have been in hiding for way too long, donβt you agree?β
The four-week virtual fundraisers with Stanley, Mona Lotts, and Michael Solonski brought in $19,000 for Beebe Medical Foundation to help cover expenses incurred because of the pandemic.
Stanley has since resumed regular shows at The Pines, Thursday-Sunday nights while observing social distancing protocols in the large Pines venue. JD

BEST PRO ATHLETE: NATASHA CLOUD, WASHINGTON MYSTICS
RUNNER-UP: SEAN DOOLITTLE, WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Last year, Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud helped her team win its first WNBA championship. Sheβs also a vocal and public supporter for causes she believes in like ending gun violence and supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement.
βJuneteenth is a day of celebration,β Cloud said during a Wizards and Mystics peaceful protest against racial injustice and police brutality. βItβs a day of liberation. Itβs a day that we were finally freed from our bondage. We couldnβt think of a better day than today to come out here and come together, collectively and unified in solidarity with one another for a greater cause.β
Though Cloud announced in June that she would sit out the 2020 season due to her concerns about systemic racism and the ongoing pandemic, voters recognized her excellence both on and off the court with a βBest Pro Athleteβ award. PVS
In 2014, Bishop Allyson Abrams resigned as pastor of a small Detroit church after announcing that she had married her wife in Iowa. One year later, a Supreme Court ruling would legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S., but at the time she may have felt like she was risking everything to be with the woman she loved. She set up her ministry in the D.C. area and has remained a symbol of strength and courage ever since.
βPeople say itβs amazing to hear a pastor say that God loves us the way we are,β Abrams told the Blade back in 2014. βIβm always going to make sure God knows them.β
This year Allysonβs community supported her with a βBest Clergyβ award. PVS
BEST D.C. PUBLIC OFFICIAL: MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER
RUNNER-UP: U.S. REP. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON (D-D.C.)

In 2017, Mayor Bowser wore a bright yellow dress and a big smile while accepting her award for βBest D.C. Public Officialβ at the Bladeβs Best of Gay D.C. awards. Times have changed, particularly this year, marking her fifth in office.
Bowser assumed office as mayor in 2015 after previously representing Ward 4 on the D.C. City Council since 2007. A native of the region, she is the Districtβs second female mayor.
This year, Bowser helmed the District through a deadly pandemic, its devastating economic fall out and desperate calls for racial justice. A long-time supporter of D.C.βs LGBTQ community, Bowser tweeted on June 15 in response to the Supreme Courtβs landmark ruling protecting LGBTQ employees against workplace discrimination, βThereβs more work to be done, but today we celebrate equality. Happy pride & keep fighting.β
Today her smile represents the Districtβs resilience and her bright yellow paint sent a message of solidarity seen around the world. PVS
BEST NON-PROFIT: SMYAL
EDITORSβ CHOICE: CENTER FOR BLACK EQUITY

SMYAL has been working with LGBTQ youth for more than 35 years and its empowered leaders have been staffing tables and community organizing at events across the city.
This non-profit, now known for its after-school programs, youth counseling services, and educational and training programs for youth service providers working in schools, shelters, government agencies and hospitals, began in 1984 by local professionals and activists.
According to its website, SMYAL started with a conference organized to address urgent youth issues after an LGBTQ-identifying youth was hospitalized. Today SMYAL is a leader in providing support services and advocacy to youth in need of affirming care.
During an especially hard year for LGBTQ youth who often look to Pride as a means to connect with others and themselves, the community recognized SMYAL as the yearβs βBest Non-profitβ for its efforts to maintain a sense of connection for our youth. PVS
MOST COMMITTED ACTIVIST: SULTAN SHAKIR
RUNNER-UP: RAYCEEN PENDARVIS

Since taking the helm of SMYAL in 2014, Executive Director Sultan Shakir has been a tireless staple on social and traditional media outlets advocating for LGBTQ youth. However, during this summer of social unrest, Shakir used his platform to call for systemic change.
βSMYAL condemns the excessive use of force employed by the police towards peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C. and across the country, and we stand with the Black Lives Matter movement,β he wrote in a statement tweeted June 9 by SMYAL. βOur hope is that by doubling down on our mission to empower young people, we will help create a society where Black people donβt have to ask for solidarity just to stay alive, a society in which our lives matter.β
Shakirβs dedication was celebrated by the community this year with Gay D.C.βs βMost Committed Activistβ recognition for 2020. PVS
BEST CLERGY: BISHOP ALLYSON ABRAMS
RUNNER-UP: REV. DWAYNE JOHNSON

BEST LGBTQ SOCIAL GROUP: IMPERIAL COURT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
EDITORSβ CHOICE: IMPULSE DC

In June, βQueen of the Capital,β an independent documentary film about D.C. drag artist Daniel Haysβ quest as Muffy Blake Stephyns to be voted Empress of the Imperial Court of Washington in 2014, premiered at the Newseum and began the festival circuit.
Today the Imperial Court of Washington D.C., is one of many LGBTQ-affirming social groups across the country and in 2011 it joined the International Imperial Court System, which began in San Francisco in 1965.
This year, the community honored the Imperial Court of Washington D.C. with a βBest LGBTQ Social Groupβ award. PVS
Imperial Court of Washington D.C.
P.O. Box 2616
Washington, DC 20013
BEST LOCAL TV/RADIO STATION: HOT 99.5
EDITORSβ CHOICE: WTOP 103.5

This top D.C. radio station not only keeps the District current on the latest hits, its Facebook page covers the gamut from celebrity break ups, weddings and pregnancies to strangely interesting stories of Instagram influencers caught using fake private jets as sets for photo shoots.
During a time when everyone needed to just shut out the world and go 2015 again, Hot 99.5 earned another top spot from voters as the βBest Local TV/Radio Station.β PVS
BEST BUSINESSPERSON: BRYAN VAN DEN OEVER, RED BEAR BREWING
RUNNER-UP: EBONE BELL, TAGG MAGAZINE

Back in April, when pandemic lockdowns and unemployment levels were at their worst, Red Bear Brewingβs Bryan Van Den Oever told the Blade, βWeβll see what happens when the dust settles. Weβll fight like hell until then.β
Throughout the crisis, Red Bear and other popular local LGBTQ businesses like Pitchers, A League of Her Own, JR.βs, Green Lantern and others continued to fight to be a vital connection to their staff and the community, both virtually and now on a limited in-person basis.
This year the community showed its appreciation for a continued dedication to beer, music and drag with a βBest Businesspersonβ award to Van Den Oever and the rest of Red Bearβs feisty, tenacious team for not just surviving the pandemic, but innovating and thriving, inspiring the rest of the small business community in the process. PVS
Red Bear Brewing Company
209 M St., N.E.
BEST LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESS: TRADE & NUMBER NINE
EDITORSβ CHOICE: BITE THE FRUIT

D.C.βs popular LGBTQ-friendly night spots are an important part of the community, so TRADE tweeted on Sept. 24, βWinter is comingβ¦and weβll be readyβ followed by a promise to provide heaters and socially distanced comfort amid an ongoing pandemic crisis.
TRADE opened for business in 2015 and at the time co-owner John Guggenmos, also co-owner of Number Nine, planned for a new bar that included a dance floor and live DJs. Five years later TRADE, like other small businesses devastated by the pandemic, relies heavily on the community to keep its doors open.
Similarly, Number Nine updated its website to thank the community for its support during the pandemic. βWe wouldnβt be able to get through this without the support of our amazing patrons and staff. So, thank you.β PVS
TRADE
1410 14th St., N.W.
NUMBER NINE
1435 P. St., N.W.
BEST VIRTUAL FITNESS CLASSES: VIDA
EDITORSβ CHOICE: JASON LONG FITNESS

Vida is no stranger to winning this category, and staying afloat while innovating during the pandemic brought unforeseen challenges to this popular, perennial winner. They rose to that challenge, taking their award-winning fitness classes online and continuing to deliver results for clients. JD
Multiple D.C. locations
BEST MEDICAL PROVIDER: DR. ROBYN ZEIGER
EDITORSβ CHOICE: WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH

Dr. Robyn Zeiger has won this award several times for her work as a licensed clinical professional counselor.
βYou walk into a therapistβs office and you know they are also LGBT so you donβt have to explain anything,β she told the Blade upon winning this award in 2017. You donβt have to teach them. You can just be yourself and you donβt have to justify anything.β
In addition to counseling, Zeiger has worked as an adjunct senior lecturer at University of Maryland. JD
Dr. Robyn Zeiger
BEST VETERINARIAN: FRIENDSHIP HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS
EDITORSβ CHOICE: DISTRICT VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Friendship Animal Hospital
4105 Brandywine St., N.W.
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT: MICHAEL MOORE, COMPASS
RUNNER-UP: STACEY WILLIAMS-ZEIGER, ZEIGER REALTY

Michael Moore won this category last year. Moore credits his success to consistent customer service, telling the Blade last year: βMy career began with first-time homebuyers. In time, first-time buyers become sellers and they buy another house and they tell their friends. Now my business is almost entirely referrals and repeats.
βIβm a huge proponent of staging and doing what it takes to project the property in its best light,β he says. βI try to create a situation that when a prospective buyer walks in the door, they love it, and think to themselves βwonβt my friends be jealous when they see me living here.ββ JD
Michael Moore
Compass
1313 14th St., N.W.
BEST REAL ESTATE GROUP: JENN SMIRA TEAM, COMPASS
RUNNER-UP: MARIN HAGEN & SYLVIA BERGSTROM, COLDWELL BANKER

As one of the top five agent groups in all of D.C., The Jenn Smira Team brings more than 50 years of combined real estate experience to each transaction. Smira and her team have cultivated a loyal network of previous clients and referrals as they empower buyers and sellers to achieve their goals. A one-stop shop for all your real estate needs, Smiraβs team offers an impressive range of in-house expertise β from marketing and PR, to staging and listing guidance. Smira is a previous board member of the District of Columbia Association of Realtors (DCAR), DCAR Public Policy Committee, and currently on the board of DC WISE. JD
Jenn Smira Team
Compass
1313 14th St., N.W.
BEST LAWYER: AVA BENACH
RUNNER-UP: AMY NELSON

Ava Benach works as an immigration lawyer and is the founder and coach of DC Girls Baseball. She has written op-eds for the Blade, including a piece on the need to overcome baseballβs sexist and homophobic traditions. Sheβs not just a skilled professional, but an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality. JD
Benach Collopy LLP
4530 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Rehoboth Beach
BEST REHOBOTH DRAG QUEEN: ROXY OVERBROOKE
RUNNER-UP: MONA LOTTS

It has been a triumphant year for Roxy Overbrooke (aka Charles Bounds). Bounds had a particularly nasty time with COVID-19, contracting the disease in March. He was sick for about a month and was hospitalized in the Rehoboth area for 15 days, an experience he calls βintense, scary and life changing.β
βWith that said, though, everyone at Beebe Healthcare was amazing,β he told the Blade earlier this year. βIβm feeling much better now.β Bounds grew up going to Rehoboth with family and loved it for its beaches and moved there full time about 10 years ago.
Bounds entered a competition 12 years ago and βcaught the bug,β for drag. Now itβs his full-time work. Bounds performs as Roxy Overbrooke at the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.), hosting bingo, karaoke, a drag show and celebrity impersonation shows. (Check bluemoonrehoboth.com for updated event schedules.) Fully recovered from COVID, Bounds continued to wow socially distanced crowds all summer with his booming voice and, of course, glittering gowns. A beautiful person inside and out, Bounds is a fighter and Roxy is a star performer.
BEST REHOBOTH OUTDOOR DINING: PURPLE PARROT
EDITORSβ CHOICE: AQUA

The gay-owned Purple Parrot is a Rehoboth institution and when the pandemic hit, the bar/restaurant was well positioned for outdoor service with its popular Biergarten out back and sidewalk seating in front. It hasnβt been easy, but the indefatigable staff β especially Chandler and Jamie β maintained socially distant protocols all summer, keeping locals and tourists alike safe, fed, and happy.
Purple Parrot
134 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
BEST REHOBOTH BARTENDER: HOLLY LANE
RUNNER-UP: JAMIE ROMANO

This is Holly Laneβs third win as Best Rehoboth Bartender, taking the prize in 2014 and 2017. Normally behind the bar at Cafe Azafran with her trademark headset belting out tunes while making drinks, Lane went on hiatus for much of the year due to COVID closures. But Azafran β and Lane β are back, though not to full capacity, of course. Things are different, but Laneβs infectious kindness and bartending and singing skills keep her loyal customers coming back, no matter what.
BEST REHOBOTH LIVE SHOW: CLIMAX WITH MAGNOLIA APPLEBOTTOM AT BLUE MOON
EDITORSβ CHOICE: PAMALA STANLEY AT THE PINES

The multi-talented Magnolia Applebottom brings her sharp wit and singing skills to the Blue Moon stage for the popular Climax show. Last yearβs Best Rehoboth Drag Queen winner, Magnolia wins this new category this year amid a town full of live entertainment competition.
BEST REHOBOTH COFFEESHOP: RISE UP
EDITORSβ CHOICE: COFFEE MILL
Rise Up in Rehoboth is the 10th location in this regional chain, which operates in Annapolis, Cambridge, and Edgewater, among others. The cafe is located at the roundabout just as you enter town. You canβt miss the black-and-white building. Rise Up offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thereβs even a full bar, a gorgeous live edge wood bar sits to the right of the coffee station. The 502 Bar and Rise Up offer outdoor seating and are pet friendly, a perfect option in these socially distanced times.
BEST REHOBOTH RESTAURANT: BLUE MOON
EDITORSβ CHOICE: AZZURRO ITALIAN OVEN & BAR

The Blue Moon has won this award so many times that itβs hard to count. The iconic Moon persevered through COVID, offering its flawless, high-end menu for takeout during the spring and reopening this summer with socially distanced tables inside. A COVID silver lining this summer: You could order the full menu on the bar side while being entertained by talented NYC pianist Nate Buccieri.
BEST REHOBOTH REAL ESTATE AGENT: LEE ANN WILKINSON
RUNNER-UP: JASON ABELA

This is Lee Ann Wilkinsonβs third consecutive win in this category. The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group has ranked #1 in real estate sales in Sussex County, Del., for more than 20 years and ranks #3 nationally for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate network. In addition, she is a regular contributor to the Blade. Our readers know her through her informed articles on real estate trends at the Delaware beaches.
16698 Kings Hwy A.
Lewes, Del.
BEST REHOBOTH BUSINESS: DIEGOβS
EDITORSβ CHOICE: BLUE MOON

It was a rough year for Joe Ciarlante-Zuber (right) and his husband and business partner Darryl Ciarlante-Zuber. Darryl contracted COVID-19 and spent 54 days in the hospital, 34 of those in the ICU. The two own the popular Diegoβs, which has a large outdoor patio space. They converted it into a beach-themed bar, complete with truckloads of sand. Joe worked hard all season, ensuring customers stayed six feet apart and taking everyoneβs temperature at the door. The dedication paid off, as Diegoβs resumed as a busy fixture on the summer scene. Darrylβs recovery and Joeβs perseverance proved an inspiration to the entire community.
BEST REHOBOTH FITNESS INSTRUCTOR: ELI LYNN
RUNNER UP: TANNER HOLT

Eli Lynn is owner and head trainer at Elite Lifestyle Initiatives and trains clients in the comfort of their homes. Lynn, whoβs straight, specializes in functioning training, strength and conditioning training and balance training.
As for his approach to new clients, he says, βFirst, I ask them what their goals are and if they have any previous injuries or surgeries. After one session you can tell what they need to work on and what needs to improve.β
Lynn says COVID has forced him to train some clients through FaceTime, but the pandemic has also helped his business grow, βbecause no one wants to work out at a gym so me coming to their house and training them in their own home, everyone feels safer to work out that way.β
As for his advice for those who have gained weight during COVID: βI tell them that everyone is in the same spot as them and what matters the most is youβre here and starting to work out. Everyone has different ways of dealing with COVID and you already took a huge step forward by hiring me and helping you get back in shape.β
Eli Lynn
a&e features
Daisy Edgar-Jones knows why βthe Crawdads singβ
Actress on process, perfecting a southern accent, and her queer following

Daisy Edgar-Jones is an actor whose career is blossoming like her namesake. In recent years, she seems to be everywhere. LGBTQ viewers may recognize Edgar-Jones from her role as Delia Rawson in the recently canceled queer HBO series βGentleman Jack.β She also played memorable parts in a pair of popular Hulu series, βNormal Peopleβ and βUnder the Banner of Heaven.β Earlier this year, Edgar-Jones was seen as Noa in the black comedy/horror flick βFreshβ alongside Sebastian Stan.
With her new movie, βWhere the Crawdads Singβ (Sony/Columbia), she officially becomes a lead actress. Based on Delia Owensβ popular book club title of the same name, the movie spans a considerable period of time, part murder mystery, part courtroom drama. She was kind enough to answer a few questions for the Blade.
BLADE: Daisy, had you read Delia Owensβs novel βWhere the Crawdads Singβ before signing on to play Kya?
DAISY EDGAR-JONES: I read it during my audition process, as I was auditioning for the part. So, the two went hand in hand.
BLADE: What was it about the character of Kya that appealed to you as an actress?
EDGAR-JONES: There was so much about her that appealed to me. I think the fact that she is a very complicated woman. She’s a mixture of things. She’s gentle and she’s curious. She’s strong and she’s resilient. She felt like a real person. I love real character studies and it felt like a character I haven’t had a chance to delve into. It felt different from anyone I’ve played before. Her resilience was one that I really admired. So, I really wanted to spend some time with her.
BLADE: While Kya is in jail, accused of killing the character Chase, she is visited by a cat in her cell. Are you a cat person or do you prefer dogs?
EDGAR-JONES: I like both! I think I like the fact that dogs unconditionally love you. While a catβs love can feel a bit conditional. I do think both are very cute. Probably, if I had to choose, it would be dogs.
BLADE: Iβm a dog person, so Iβm glad you said that.
EDGAR-JONES: [Laughs]
BLADE: Kya lives on the marsh and spends a lot of time on and in the water. Are you a swimmer or do you prefer to be on dry land?
EDGAR-JONES: I like swimming, I do. I grew up swimming a lot. If I’m ever on holidays, I like it to be by the sea or by a nice pool.
BLADE: Kya is also a gifted artist, and it is the thing that brings her great joy. Do you draw or paint?
EDGAR-JONES: I always doodle. Iβm an avid doodler. I do love to draw and paint. I loved it at school. I wouldn’t say I was anywhere near as skilled as Kya. But I do love drawing if I get the chance to do it.
BLADE: Kya was born and raised in North Carolina. What can you tell me about your process when it comes to doing a southern accent or an American accent in general?
EDGAR-JONES: Itβs obviously quite different from mine. I’ve been lucky that I’ve spent a lot of time working on various accents for different parts for a few years now, so I feel like I’m developed an ear for, I guess, the difference in tone and vowel sounds [laughs]. When it came to this, it was really important to get it right, of course. Kya has a very lyrical, gentle voice, which I think that North Carolina kind of sound really helped me to access. I worked with a brilliant accent coach who helped me out and I just listened and listened.
BLADE: While I was watching βWhere the Crawdads Singβ I thought about how Kya could easily be a character from the LGBTQ community because she is considered an outsider, is shunned and ridiculed, and experiences physical and emotional harm. Do you also see the parallels?
EDGAR-JONES: I certainly do. I think that aspect of being an outsider is there, and this film does a really good job of showing how important it is to be kind to everyone. I think this film celebrates the goodness you can give to each other if you choose to be kind. Yes, I definitely see the parallels.
BLADE: Do you have an awareness of an LGBTQ following for your acting career?
EDGAR-JONES: I tend to stay off social media and am honestly not really aware of who follows me, but I do really hope the projects Iβve worked on resonate with everyone.
BLADE: Are there any upcoming acting projects that youβd like to mention?
EDGAR-JONES: None that I can talk of quite yet. But there are a few things that are coming up next year, so I’m really excited.
a&e features
CAMP Rehobothβs president talks pandemic, planning, and the future
Wesley Combs marks six months in new role

June marks half a year since Wesley Combs stepped into his role as president of CAMP Rehoboth. In a conversation with the Blade, Combs recounted his first six months in the position β a time he said was characterized by transition and learning.
Since 1991, CAMP Rehoboth has worked to develop programming βinclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identitiesβ in the Rehoboth Beach, Del. area, according to the nonprofitβs website. As president, Combs oversees the organizationβs board of directors and executive director, helping determine areas of focus and ensure programming meets community needs.
For Combs, his more than three decades of involvement with CAMP Rehoboth have shaped the course of his life. In the summer of 1989 β just before the organizationβs creation β he met his now-husband, who was then living in a beach house with Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald, CAMP Rehobothβs founders.
Since then, he has served as a financial supporter of the organization, noting that it has been crucial to fostering understanding that works against an βundercurrent of anti-LGBTQ sentimentβ in Rehoboth Beachβs history that has, at times, propagated violence against LGBTQ community members.
In 2019, after Elkins passed away, Combs was called upon by CAMP Rehobothβs Board of Directors to serve on a search committee for the organizationβs next executive director. Later that year, he was invited to become a board member and, this past November, was elected president.
Combs noted that CAMP Rehoboth is also still recovering from the pandemic, and is working to restart programming paused in the switch to remote operations. In his first six months, he has sought to ensure that people feel βcomfortableβ visiting and engaging with CAMP Rehoboth again, and wants to ensure all community members can access its programming, including those from rural parts of Delaware and those without a means of getting downtown.
Still, Combsβs first six months were not without unexpected turns: On May 31, David Mariner stepped down from his role as CAMP Rehoboth executive director, necessitating a search for his replacement. Combs noted that he would help facilitate the search for an interim director to serve for the remainder of the year and ensure that there is βa stable transition of power.β CAMP Rehoboth last week announced it has named Lisa Evans to the interim director role.
Chris Beagle, whose term as president of CAMP Rehoboth preceded Combsβs own, noted that the experience of participating in a search committee with the organization will βbetter enable him to lead the process this time.β
Before completing his term, Beagle helped prepare Combs for the new role, noting that the βcombination of his professional background, his executive leadership (and) his passion for the organizationβ make Combs a strong president. Regarding the results of the election, βI was extremely confident, and I remain extremely confident,β Beagle said.
Bob Witeck, a pioneer in LGBTQ marketing and communications, has known Combs for nearly four decades. The two founded a public relations firm together in 1993 and went on to work together for 20 years, with clients ranging from major businesses like Ford Motor Company to celebrities including Chaz Bono and Christopher Reeve. According to Witeck, Combsβs work in the firm is a testament to his commitment to LGBTQ advocacy.
βOur firm was the first founded primarily to work on issues specific to LGBTQ identities, because we wanted to counsel corporations about their marketing and media strategies and working in the LGBTQ market,β he explained. By helping develop communications strategies inclusive of those with LGBTQ identities, Combs established a background of LGBTQ advocacy that truly βmade a mark,β Witeck said.
Witeck emphasized that, in his new position, Combs brings both business experience and a renewed focus on historically underrepresented in LGBTQ advocacy β including people with disabilities, trans people and people of color.
Looking to the rest of the year, CAMP Rehoboth hopes to host a larger-scale event during Labor Day weekend. In addition, the organization will revisit its strategic plan β first developed in 2019 but delayed due to the pandemic β and ensure it still meets the needs of the local community, Combs said. He added that he intends to reexamine the plan and other programming to ensure inclusivity for trans community members.
βCAMP Rehoboth continues to be a vital resource in the community,β he said. βThe focus for the next two years is to make sure we’re doing and delivering services that meet the needs of everyone in our community.β

a&e features
Melissa Etheridge shares Q&A in advance of April 26 Tysons tour stop
Rock pioneer finds inspiration in the past β from revisiting old demos to reconnecting with celeb pals like Ellen

Melissa Etheridge
βOne Way Out Tourβ
Tuesday, April 26
Capital One Hall
7750 Capital One Tower Rd.
Tysons, VA
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $55
ticketmaster.com
capitalonehall.com
melissaetheridge.com
We caught up with rock legend Melissa Etheridge on April 8 by phone from Snoqualmie, Wash. β itβs about 26 miles east of Seattle βwhere she was playing the Snoqualmie Casino on her βOne Way Out Tour,β which plays our region on Tuesday, April 26.
Itβs named after her latest album, released last fall, which found Etheridge, whoβs been out since β93, revisiting demos from early in her career.
Her comments have been slightly edited for length.
WASHINGTON BLADE: βOne Way Outβ sounds like such a cool project. Was it all re-recorded stuff of old songs or were some of those vintage takes on the record as well?
MELISSA ETHERIDGE: The last two songs, the live songs, were from where? From 2002? OK, but the other songs were newly recorded.
BLADE: And how many of them did you remember?
ETHERIDGE: You know, when I found them again, they all came back very clearly. And I was like, βOh, this is β why did I throw that away? That’s weird.β And I really enjoyed, you know, hearing them, they were just old demos. I’d never done full-blown recordings. So I thought, βThis is great, I want to do these songs.β
BLADE: We have a relatively new venue you’re going to be playing, Capital One Hall. I’ve only been there once. You excited?
ETHERIDGE: Yeah, it’s always fun. I love the D.C.-area crowd. It’s just really, really nice.
BLADE: And how do you decide where youβll be? Or do you have any say in it?
ETHERIDGE: Well, it’s not necessarily me. I do have a say in it, in what I want the whole tour to look like. But it is really up to William Morris, my agent, to find the right venue that understands what we need and the kind of atmosphere we’re looking for that and the amount of people and, you know, that sort of thing.
BLADE: Tell me about Etheridge TV. I just wonder, when we were in that acute phase of the pandemic, wasn’t it even remotely tempting to you to just take a break?
ETHERIDGE: No, because since I was 12 years old, I sang all the time for people, like five days a week and itβs just been what I do. And so when it was like, I was looking at a massive, cavernous amount of time that I was going to be home, I still needed a way to pay the bills, so we put our heads together β Iβve got one of the greatest television minds with me, you know, my wife (TV producer Linda Wallem), so I had the space and I had the equipment, and I was like, βLet’s do it.β And it was really fun to learn new things. It was fun to learn about computers and sound and streaming and lights and cameras and all these things that I didn’t know. β¦ I feel a little smarter.
BLADE: When did you start back on the road?
ETHERIDGE: We went out last fall. We went out September, October, right around there. And you know, it was a little different, Now things are things are loosening up β¦ but some places still require masks. But people are starting to get back out and it feels good. It’s not the overwhelming thing that it was a few months ago.
BLADE: And what was it like being on βEllenβ again for her final season?
ETHERIDGE: Oh, I love her. She’s such an old friend. You know, I say that about myself, too. (chuckles) But, you know, she’s just a relationship in my life that I have treasured. We’ve watched each other grow and the changes we’ve made and the successes and what we’ve gone through and I love that she had me on and just it was just a really β she’s a dear friend. And she showed an old photo there, and we both said, βOh, that was before we were so busy.β
BLADE: Do you talk to her often?
ETHERIDGE: I would say we see each other socially once or twice a year. It just seemed like once we started having children, all my friends from my 20s and 30s when we were not as busy β it just gets harder to stay in touch and life got crazy.
BLADE: So when you were hanging out back in the day with Ellen and Rosie and everybody, how was it that Brad Pitt was in that group too?
ETHERIDGE: Well, my girlfriend (Julie Cypher) had been married to Lou Diamond Phillips and we were all very good friends with Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener and Catherine Keener did a movie with Brad, like a movie nobody saw, like Johnny Dangerously or something (1991βs βJohnny Suedeβ), some really weird movie. So I met Brad before he was terribly famous. He was a part of that group. There was a whole group of all of us that just hung out, and we were all totally different. We were just like young, hungry Hollywood and weβd talk about, βOh, I had this audition,β or βI went and did this,β and we were just all trying to make it in that town. So weβd get together and have fun.
BLADE: I was so terribly sorry to hear about Beckett (Etheridgeβs son, who died in 2020 at age 21 after struggling with opioid addiction). How are you and the rest of the family, especially (Beckettβs twin) Bailey, dealing with it now?
ETHERIDGE: There are many, many families like us that deal with a loss like that. It just blows a family sideways. But we have a deep love and connection, all of us. We all knew he had a problem and itβs a problem that starts way before he actually passes, so it was not a surprise. So now weβre just living with the missing aspect. You try not to think about what could have been and you try to think about him in a happier place and that heβs out of pain, so that helps us.
BLADE: Had he and Bailey been as close in recent years?
ETHERIDGE: They were very close, but in the last couple of years as he made worse and worse choices, we couldnβt support that, so they were less close, but of course in her heart, it was her brother, he was very dear to her.
BLADE: Did you watch the Grammys? Was there anybody you were particularly rooting for?
ETHERIDGE: I watched bits and pieces of it. I had a show that night, so I didn’t get to see the main thing, but I have seen pieces and I just love the crazy diversity and you know, the TikTok people winning stuff, it’s like, βWow, this is so not the Grammys I remember from the β80s,β but that was what, 30 years ago? So itβs all good.
BLADE: You were such a perennial favorite back in the day in the best rock female category. Were you pissed when they eliminated it?
ETHERIDGE: Itβs sad because I felt like the criteria they were using to judge what is female rock, they just really dropped the ball. I still think there are some amazing musicians that could be considered, you know, rock, but it feels like weβre having a hard time even defining what rock and roll is now anyway. Thereβs a whole bunch of strong women out there playing, rocking, you know, playing guitar, being excellent musicians and songwriters. If you canβt call it best rock female, OK, call it something else.
BLADE: I remember so vividly when you were on the Grammys in 2005, in the midst of chemo, when you sang βPiece of My Heart.β I remember you saying you were wondering how people would react to seeing you bald. Having been through that, any thoughts on the Will/Jada Oscars situation since her baldness, too, was due to a medical condition?
ETHERIDGE: You know, it’s funny, I did feel a little remembrance of (thinking), βI just hope people don’t make fun of me.β That was kind of the first thing because to go out there bald, that was so different for me as an artist whose hair had kind of defined her. I was thinking, βHow am I gonna rock without my hair?β I thought people might make fun of me, but I got over that. I just thought, βWell, if somebody makes fun of me, that just makes them look bad.β So I just walked through it. And you know, it’s hard to draw the line between what’s funny and what’s painful and how to look at something. I feel for all parties involved.
BLADE: When you go on these cruises, do fans give you some space or do they swarm around the minute you walk out? Is it even enjoyable for you?
ETHERIDGE: Yeah, it is. You know, we did our last one, now we’re doing Etheridge Island, we now have a destination in Mexico, outside of Cancun, it’s just this island that we’re going to that is really fantastic. But I do I make myself available, I donβt run away. When I have to be somewhere, I have a great company we work with called Sixthman that knows how to get me from point A to point B without being bogged down. But I do my make myself available. Everyone gets a picture with me. Itβs my work, but I love it. I try to make myself available but also have some time just for myself too.

BLADE: You Tweeted a few nights ago about having a tight curfew of just 90 minutes at a casino but then it worked out and you got to do a full set. Why are the curfews so tight at casinos?
ETHERIDGE: Why do you think? They want people at the tables. Like for tonight, we we settled on 100 minutes. Theyβre giving me 10 extra minutes. I donβt like it, but in some areas, the only really good venue is a casino, so if you want to reach your folks there, you kind of have to meet them half way.
BLADE: Yeah, but it seems like in concert halls, the curfews can sometimes be really tight too. Even Madonna got her lights shut off a couple years ago. Of course, sheβs notoriously late, but why are they so strict with these things nowadays?
ETHERIDGE: There are all different situations β concert halls often have union crews that will absolutely shut you down if you go one second over. There are also sound curfews, noise curfews, mostly with outdoor venues, but sometimes indoor as well. They have an agreement with the neighborhood. So you have people in the neighborhood standing by with their phones ready to pounce the minute it goes over one minute, theyβre gonna call the police. As a performer, you just realize, βOK, itβs not just about me.β When I donβt have a curfew, I usually land at about two hours and some change. That seems comfortable to everyone. Any longer and I think Iβm wearing my audience out. When Iβm at a place with a shorter show, I just do my best.
BLADE: I know you’re a big Chiefs fan. Did you watch that game back in January all the way to the end?
ETHERIDGE: Well, at the end of it, I was on the floor. My wife was like, βHoney, honey, there’s still 13 seconds,β and I was moaning and sort of getting my feet on the floor and, you know, laying down and throwing a fit. And she’s like, βNo, there’s still 13 seconds.β I dragged myself back to the television. And I couldn’t believe it. I was like, βWait a minute. Did we just win?β You know, just really crazy, really crazy stuff. β¦ When you’re a fan like that, itβs a ride you canβt fully explain.
BLADE: Are you in a cordial or good place with your exes? Does it get easier when the kids are starting to grow up?
ETHERIDGE: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And you realize that it’s best for the kids if you can really get along and that any sort of conflict that can’t get resolved, that gets emotional, does no good for anyone. And absolutely, I have, I’ve gotten better at that as the years have gone by.
BLADE: Do you have the slightest inkling yet what the next studio album might be like?
ETHERIDGE: Well, I’ve got some interesting projects that I’m not ready to talk about just yet. But they have to do with my life story. There’s a lot of digging up of my past and really telling the story. So I imagine the next series of music you’ll get from me is going to be very focused on my journey.Β

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