Metro Weekly - 03-24-16 - Noah Galvin

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRandy Shulman

ART DIRECTORTodd Franson

MANAGING EDITOR

Rhuaridh Marr

SENIOR EDITORJohn Riley

CONTRIBUTING EDITORDoug Rule

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CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORSScott G. Brooks, Christopher Cunetto

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSGordon Ashenhurst, Sean Bugg, Connor J. Hogan,

Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield

WEBMASTERDavid Uy

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SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHERRandy Shulman

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212-242-6863

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PATRON SAINTIan Gallagher

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MARCH 24, 2016Volume 22 / Issue 46

NEWS 6 TWISTED JURISPRUDENCE

by John Riley

9 GEORGIA FLIRTS WITH

POTENTIAL BACKLASH

by John Riley

10 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FEATURES 16 NOAH GALVIN

Interview by Randy Shulman

21 DAVID WINDSOR

Interview by Randy Shulman

22 THE R EAL DEAL

by Rhuaridh Marr

OUT ON THE TOWN 24 LIGHT CITY BALTIMORE

by Doug Rule

32 HOME AND GARDEN ART

by Connor J. Hogan

STAGE 29 1984

by Kate Wingfield

STAGE 31 AMERICAN I DIOT / 110 I N T HE S HADE

by Doug Rule

TECH 33 IPHONE SE & IPAD PRO

by Rhuaridh Marr

MUSIC 35 GWEN STEFANI

by Sean Maunier

NIGHTLIFE 39 NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR

photography by Ward Morrison

46 LAST WORD


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Twisted JurisprudenceOverly broad interpretations of religious freedom could have negative

ramifications for the nation’s LGBT community

U.S. Supreme Court

WHAT IF A COURT’S DECISION ON FEMALE

birth control led to an HIV-positive individualbeing denied access to lifesaving drugs? Or a

gay man being denied PrEP? Or a rape victimprevented from accessing emergency contraception or PEP? Far

from hypothetical, these are just some of the potential outcomes

of a case being argued before the Supreme Court this week.The case, Zubik v. Burwell, challenges a part of the fed-

T O D D

F R A N S O N

eral health care law requiring that preventative care, includ-

ing contraception, be covered by insurance. But the potentialfallout from a ruling against the Obama administration has the

Coalition for Liberty & Justice, an alliance of 60 civil rights andsocial justice advocates, sounding the alarm. They argue that

the court’s ruling “could spell the end of religious liberty as we

know it in the United States.”“Religious liberty is a right too precious to allow it to be

L G B TNews Now online at MetroWeekly.comNorth Carolina moves to block Charlotte LGBT ordinanceTennessee anti-trans “bathroom bill” will not move forward

by John Riley


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LGBTNews

8

warped into the means to discriminate against others,” says

Sara Hutchinson Ratcliffe, the domestic program director

for Catholics for Choice, an organization which supportswomen’s access to reproductive health services. “We come

together because we care about real religious freedom.”Originally, houses of worship were exempted from hav-

ing to provide insurance coverage for contraceptive care, asmandated by the Affordable Care Act. Then, at the behest of

religious groups, including the U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops, the Obama administration allowed religiously-affil-iated organizations to “opt-out” of the mandate by filling out

a form declaring their objection to providing the coverage.The coverage would then be provided directly to an indi-

vidual through a third-party administrator.

The Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby in June 2014 later extended that same “opt-

out” right to “closely held” for-profit corporations, basedon an employer’s personal religious beliefs. But even that

special accommodation wasn’t enough for opponents of the

health care law, who filed nine separate challenges to theopt-out provision. According to them, even filling out the

opt-out form constitutes a violation of their religious l iberty.

Of the nine challenges, eight appeals courts have found infavor of the government, with only the 8th U.S. Circuit Courtof Appeals, based in St. Louis, finding in favor of opponents

of the mandate. Seven of the cases where the courts sided

with the government were later consolidated and appealedto the Supreme Court.

Bishop David Zubik, the lead plaintiff in the consolidatedcases, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the opt-out notice

makes the religiously-affiliated employers “complicit in a

grave moral wrong,” by allowing their employees to accesscoverage for birth control through an alternative route.

“We still have to sign off,” Zubik said. “In reality, we’regiving the green light that says we’re agreeing that you can

provide these services, and that raises the issue that we’re

being asked to do something that goes against our faith.”But members of the Coalition for Liberty & Justice argue

that the interpretation of religious freedom as advanced byZubik and his allies gives priority to the employer’s personal

beliefs and short-shrift to the personal beliefs and privatemedical decisions of their employees. And, they warn, it sets

a dangerous precedent for how courts interpret the concept

of religious freedom.“The cases [before the court] are not just about the

Affordable Care Act, nor about objections to providing birthcontrol coverage,” Ratcliffe said in a Monday afternoon

conference call. “These cases represent a profoundly harm-

ful interpretation of religious freedom. The voices that werepresent are deeply concerned about what could happen if

the court rules in favor of the outrageous idea that employ-ers should be allowed to trample on the consciences and

personal lives of employees.”

Rea Carey, director of the National LGBTQ Task Force,another member of the coalition, says her organization is

especially concerned about the ramifications of a rulingagainst the government in the Zubik case, because of the

impact it would have on the LGBT community.“Many of us can get pregnant, including cisgender women,

transgender men, those who are intersex, gender-noncon-

forming people,” Carey noted in Monday’s conference call.“Many LGBTQ people can get pregnant, and need affordable

access to birth control and other reproductive health optionsto make the best decisions for ourselves.”

But Carey says that the contraceptive mandate benefitseven those in the community who can’t get pregnant, such as

gay cisgender men. For example, under the Affordable Care

Act, children can stay on their parents’ health insuranceuntil age 26. Therefore, if the court were to decide in favor

of the employers in Zubik , a gay male couple’s college-age

daughter could be denied coverage for birth control if eitherman’s employer declared a religious objection.

“If employers can actually use religion to deny theirworkers birth control coverage in this case, it would set

an incredibly dangerous precedent. The slippery-slopeimplications are concerning,” Carey continued. “Employers

could also refuse to cover drugs like PrEP, because it’s beensuccessfully used to reduce HIV transmission rates among

gay and bisexual men, if that goes against the employer’s

religious beliefs. Combined with other so-called ‘religiousfreedom’ laws that are creeping up across the country, it’s

not hard to imagine a case where a doctor refuses to treata transgender woman with breast cancer by making a reli-

gious exemption.”

Other advocates have also warned against the ramifica-tions of using religious freedom as a justification for passing

anti-lGBT statutes. In a separate conference call on Mondayafternoon, The Leadership Conference Education Fund

released an update to a previous report outlining the ways in

which religious objections have been used to justify discrim-ination. The report notes that religious arguments have been

used to argue against the abolition of slavery, racial integra-tion, immigration, same-sex marriage, the Americans with

Disabilities Act, and even the right to collectively bargain.Sarah Warbelow, the legal director of the Human Rights

Campaign, noted on the call that states that initially passed

their own versions of Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, orRFRAs, based on the 1993 federal law of the same name, did

so largely with the intention of protecting religious minori-ties. However, she said, the latest crop of RFRA-style bills

— more than 100 of which have been introduced in various

states this year — clearly target the LGBT community fordiscrimination under the guise of religious freedom.

“These bills are not motivated by a true desire to protectreligious minorities, but instead to allow an individual to

claim their religious beliefs as a reason to poke holes in leg-

islation designed to protect us all,” Warbelow said.The animus motivating many of these bills has become

so apparent that some are calling for Congress to reexaminethe overreach of RFRA. U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the

ranking member of the House Committee on Education andthe Workforce, has filed an amicus brief in Zubik v. Burwell

outlining his concerns about this overly broad interpretationof the RFRA statute. Scott worries that, under the interpre-tation being sought by the plaintiffs in Zubik , an individual’s

claim of religious liberty could be used to flout existing laws,such as civil rights laws.

“These arguments are not new. But they are dangerous,”

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The LeadershipConference on Civil and Human Rights, says of the tactics

being used by social conservatives. “There can be no reli-gious exemption from basic human dignity. And to wrap

this bigotry in a false flag of religious liberty is the true

abomination.”l

MARCH 24, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM


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LGBTNews

9

G

OV. NATHAN DEAL HAS PROBABLY THE MOST

thankless job in Georgia this month. The second-term Republican is under immense pressure from all

sides after the Georgia legislature passed a bill that

prioritizes the religious freedom of those who oppose homo-sexuality or same-sex marriage.

On one hand, Deal, a former Congressman, must weigh thepolitical pressure from his base, which includes many members of

the Republican-dominated legislature who voted for the bill. Andon the other hand, the local business community, national LGBT

groups, the NFL, and possibly even the film industry are warning

that the state could face negative consequences if it approves ameasure that discriminates against the LGBT community.

As originally introduced, the Pastor Protection Act waslargely uncontroversial, reiterating and placing into Georgia

law existing religious protections guaranteed to ministers andclergy under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The measure would have allowed clergy to refuse to perform

marriages violating their religious beliefs, such as same-sex orinterfaith marriages, and allow individual business owners to

keep their shops closed on the day they acknowledge as theirSabbath Day.

But the Georgia Senate took the bill and combined it with

language from another, known as the First Amendment DefenseAct (FADA). FADA allowed an individual or business owner

to cite a “sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction”for refusing to provide goods or services to same-sex couples,

LGBT people, or others, including single mothers, who engage

in extramarital relations or do not prescribe to the vendor’s pre-ferred sexual mores. The bill also protects other groups — even

those that receive taxpayer money such as child placement orfoster care agencies — from being compelled by the government

to offer services, if doing so would violate their religious beliefs. Yet lawmakers seriously underestimated the public response

if they thought they could pass the bill without much ado.

Georgia’s business community has come out in opposition, withthe Metro Atlanta Chamber enlisting more than 300 companies

to sign a letter addressed to Deal, warning of potential economicconsequences that the state could face should the bill become

law (Deal has until May 3 to veto or sign the bill).

As an example, business leaders point to an economicbacklash that Indiana experienced in the wake of passing the

anti-LGBT Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in 2015.According to the tourism group Visit Indy, the Hoosier state is

estimated to have lost as much at $60 million in hotel profits,

tax revenue and other economic benefits after several groupsdecided against holding conventions in the state following pas-

sage of the RFRA law.

Other businesses have floated the idea of relocating outsideof Georgia or significantly reducing investments in the state

should the anti-LGBT bill pass. As he did after the passage ofIndiana’s RFRA last year, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff issued a

statement promising to reduce investments and move one of the

company’s tech conferences away from Atlanta and to anothercity with less discriminatory laws. Kelvin Williams, CEO of the

Savannah-based 373K Telecom, is already considering movingall operations out of state due to the threat the bill would pose

to his ability to attract and retain talent.

In addition, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffinhas asked TV and film studios and production companies to

consider abandoning the state as a filming location if the “reli-gious freedom” bill becomes law. Under current tax incentives,

which Deal has championed as a way to attract such productioncompanies to the state, at least 248 film and TV productions

were shot in Georgia from July 2014 to June 2015. This resulted

in more than $1.7 billion in direct spending and the creation ofmore than 100 new businesses to support production compa-

nies’ relocation to or expansion in the state. If the studios aban-don Georgia for another state with less discriminatory laws, that

source of revenue would quickly dry up.

Even the National Football League (NFL) has weighed in,threatening that the passage could imperil the city of Atlanta’s

bid to host the Super Bowl in 2019 or 2020. Competing withAtlanta for the role of host city for the Super Bowl — which

will be announced in May — are Tampa, Miami, New Orleans

and Los Angeles, all of which have LGBT-inclusive local non-

discrimination ordinances on the books. Losing the Super Bowlwould be a tremendous blow to the both the city of Atlanta andthe state of Georgia, which invested millions in the construction

of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, slated to open in 2017 andcosting more than $1.4 billion to build.

“NFL policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and

prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sex-ual orientation, or any other improper standard,” NFL spokes-

man Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Whether the lawsand regulations of a state and local community are consistent

with these policies would be one of many factors NFL owners

may use to evaluate potential Super Bowl host sites.” l

METROWEEKLY.COM MARCH 24, 2016

Georgia Flirts with

Potential BacklashThe business community, the NFL and LGBT advocates warn of economicconsequences if a “religious freedom” bill becomes law

By John Riley


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in Northern Virginia and Maryland.7:30-9:30 p.m. St. Thomas’ ParishEpiscopal Church, 1772 Church St.NW. For more information, visitGAMMAinDC.org.

LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP foradults in Montgomery County offersa safe space to explore coming out

and issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512,Gaithersburg, Md. For more informa-tion, visit thedccenter.org.

The DC Center holds its CENTERAGING MONTHLY LUNCH socialfor members of D.C.’s senior com-munity. 12-2 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,Suite 105. For more information, visitthedccenter.org or call 202-682-2245.

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, asocial discussion and activity groupfor LBT women, meets at The DCCenter on the second and fourthFridays of each month. Group socialactivity to follow the meeting. 8-9:30

p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Formore information, visitthedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-ment). 202-291-4707, andromeda-transculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 927 OhioDr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointmentcall 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offersfree, rapid HIV testing. Appointmentneeded. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.202-638-0750.


IDENTITY offers free and confiden-tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,414 East Diamond Ave., and inTakoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire

Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.For appointments other hours, callGaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or

Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.


SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for

youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group isindependent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIPINSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,13-21, interested in leadership devel-opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL YouthCenter, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,[email protected].

FRIDAY, MARCH 25Family Equality Council, Rainbow

Families DC and The DC Centerinvite you to a FAMILY DANCEPARTY for LGBT families. 7-9 p.m.2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. ToRSVP and for more information, visitfamilyequality.org.

GAMMA, a confidential supportgroup for men who are gay, bisexual,questioning and who are married orinvolved with a woman, meets onthe second and fourth Fridays of themonth. GAMMA also offers addition-al meeting times and places for men

THURSDAY, MARCH 24RAINBOW HISTORY PROJECT will

be holding its 2016 annual meetingto discuss upcoming initiatives tocollect and preserve LGBT history inWashington, D.C. 6:30-7:30 p.m. 200014th St. NW, Suite 105. For more

information, visit rainbowhistory.org.

The DC ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT (DC AVP), the group dedicated tocombating anti-LGBT hate crimes,holds its monthly meeting at The DCCenter. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,Suite 105. For more information, visitthedccenter.org.

The LATINO LGBT TASK FORCE holds its monthly meeting at The DCCenter. 6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,Suite 105. For more information, con-tact Brant Miller, [email protected] or 202-682-2245.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-ment). Call 202-291-4707, or visitandromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)practice session at Takoma AquaticCenter, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and les- bian square-dancing group featuresmainstream through advanced squaredancing at the National City ChristianChurch, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30

p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,dclambdasquares.org.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social group meets for happyhour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor

bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestri-angles.com.

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the D.C.-area

LGBT community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.

Event information should be sent by email to [email protected].

Deadline for inclusion is noon of the Friday before Thursday’s publication.

Questions about the calendar may be directed to the

Metro Weekly office at 202-638-6830 or

the calendar email address.

LGBTCommunityCalendarPROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming social group for ages 11-24.4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422,layc-dc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides asocial atmosphere for GLBT and ques-tioning youth, featuring dance parties,

vogue nights, movies and games. Moreinfo, [email protected].


youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

SATURDAY, MARCH 26ADVENTURING outdoors group andCHRYSALIS arts & culture groupco-sponsor easy walking tour of BallsBluff, a Civil War battlefield nearLeesburg, Va., during spring wild-

flower season. Bring beverages, lunch,mud-worthy footwear, and a few dol-lars for fees. Carpool at 10 a.m. fromEast Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ridelot. Craig, 202-462-0535.adventuring.org.

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol-unteer organization, volunteers todayfor Food & Friends. To participate,

visit burgundycrescent.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-

ment). 202-291-4707 or andromeda-transculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded bymembers of the LGBT community,holds Saturday morning Shabbat ser-

vices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddushluncheon. Services in DCJCCCommunity Room, 1529 16th St. NW.

betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includingothers interested in Brazilian culture,meets. For location/time, email

[email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk-ing/social club welcomes all levels forexercise in a fun and supportive envi-ronment, socializing afterward. Meet9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for awalk; or 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfront-runners.org.


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DC SENTINELS basketball teammeets at Turkey Thicket RecreationCenter, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4p.m. For players of all levels, gay orstraight. teamdcbasketball.org.

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass forLGBT community, family andfriends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road,

Alexandria. All welcome. For moreinfo, visit dignitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discussescritical languages and foreign lan-guages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. NW.RVSP preferred. [email protected].

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-tial HIV testing in Takoma Park,7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointmentsother hours, call 301-422-2398.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

WEEKLY EVENTS

LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULSMEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30 a.m.,High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral

Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,allsoulsdc.org.

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressiveand radically inclusive church holdsservices at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota

Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.


Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman CatholicMass for the LGBT community. 6p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 1820Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.Sign interpreted. For more info, visitdignitynova.org.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITEDCHURCH OF CHRIST welcomes allto 10:30 a.m. service, 945 G St. NW.firstuccdc.org or 202-628-4317.

FRIENDS MEETING OFWASHINGTON meets for worship,10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,Quaker House Living Room (next toMeeting House on Decatur Place),2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbi-ans and gays. Handicapped accessiblefrom Phelps Place gate. Hearingassistance. quakersdc.org.

HOPE UNITED CHURCH OFCHRIST welcomes GLBT commu-nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.hopeucc.org.

HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORTGROUP for gay men living in the DCmetro area. This group will be meet-ing once a month. For information onlocation and time, visit H2gether.com.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALDEVELOPMENT, God-centered newage church & learning center. SundayServices and Workshops event. 5419Sherier Place NW. isd-dc.org.

Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONALTEMPLE – UNITED CHURCH OFCHRIST for an inclusive, loving andprogressive faith community everySunday. 11 a.m. 1701 11th Street NW,near R in Shaw/Logan neighborhood.lincolntemple.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OFREFORMATION invites all to Sundayworship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare isavailable at both services. WelcomingLGBT people for 25 years. 212 EastCapitol St. NE. reformationdc.org.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITYCHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. OnettaBrooks. Children’s Sunday School, 11a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.703-691-0930, mccnova.com.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITYCHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C. services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted)and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday Schoolat 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638-7373, mccdc.com.

NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIANCHURCH, inclusive church withGLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor-

ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional wor-ship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,a Christ-centered, interracial, wel-coming-and-affirming church, offersservice at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. 202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.

ST. STEPHEN AND THEINCARNATION, an “interracial,multi-ethnic Christian Community”offers services in English, 8 a.m. and10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at 5:15 p.m.1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900,saintstephensdc.org.

UNITARIAN CHURCH OFARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcoming-and-affirming congregation, offersservices at 10 a.m. Virginia RainbowUU Ministry. 4444 Arlington Blvd.uucava.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTCHURCH OF SILVER SPRING invites LGBTQ families and individu-als of all creeds and cultures to jointhe church. Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org.


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UNIVERSALIST NATIONALMEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-ing and inclusive church. GLBTInterweave social/service groupmeets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.

MONDAY, MARCH 28WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 927 OhioDr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holdspractice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. GarrisonElementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. atQuaker House, 2111 Florida Ave. [email protected].

HIV Testing at WHITMAN-WALKERHEALTH. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointmentcall 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY(K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St.,

Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIVtesting and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

703-823-4401.

METROHEALTH CENTER offersfree, rapid HIV testing. No appoint-

ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14thSt. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,

Arlington. Appointments:

703-789-4467.


youth 21 and younger. Youth Center,410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test-

[email protected].

THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop-In for the Senior LGBT Community.10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202-

682-2245, thedccenter.org.

US HELPING US hosts a black gaymen’s evening affinity group. 3636

Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATERPOLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 VanBuren St. NW. Newcomers with atleast basic swimming ability alwayswelcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, [email protected], wetskins.org.

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTHHIV/AIDS Support Group for newlydiagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.Registration required. 202-939-7671,[email protected].

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

WEEKLY EVENTS


ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly din-ner in Dupont/Logan Circle area,6:30 p.m. [email protected],afwashington.net.


DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk-ing/social club serving greater D.C.’sLGBT community and allies hosts anevening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

THE GAY MEN’S HEALTHCOLLABORATIVE offers free HIVtesting and STI screening and treat-ment every Tuesday. 5-6:30 p.m.Rainbow Tuesday LGBT Clinic,

Alexandria Health Department, 4480King St. 703-746-4986 or text 571-214-9617. [email protected].

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,

9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THEDC CENTER hosts “Packing Party,”where volunteers assemble safe-sexkits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW.thedccenter.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidentialHIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414 EastDiamond Ave., and in Takoma Park,7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments

other hours, call Gaithersburg at301-300-9978 or Takoma Park at 301-

422-2398.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,

Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIVtesting and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.703-823-4401.


OralFixation

you can listen

o any sory aMetroWeekly.com

jus look for he

“speak” buton


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OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—LGBT focused meeting everyTuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’sEpiscopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave.,

Arlington, just steps from VirginiaSquare Metro. For more info. callDick, 703-521-1999. Handicappedaccessible. Newcomers [email protected].



SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. CathyChu, 202-567-3163, [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a supportgroup for black gay men 40 andolder. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.NW. 202-446-1100.

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAYMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 170114th St. NW. Patients are seen onwalk-in basis. No-cost screening forHIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chla-mydia. Hepatitis and herpes testingavailable for fee. whitman-walker.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m.Dignity Center, 721 8th St SE (acrossfrom Marine Barracks). No reserva-

tions needed. All welcome. 202-841-0279 if you need a partner.

WEEKLY EVENTS

AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.For more information, call FaustoFernandez, 703-732-5174.


DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 927 OhioDr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holdspractice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. GarrisonElementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com.

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.For appointments other hours, callGaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-gram for job entrants and seekers,meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m.2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more

info, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offersfree, rapid HIV testing. No appoint-ment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14thSt. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, socialclub for mature gay men, hostsweekly happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,Windows Bar above Dupont ItalianKitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL

HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-ment). Call 202-291-4707, or visitandromedatransculturalhealth.org.


DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay andlesbian square-dancing group featuresmainstream through advanced squaredancing at the National City ChristianChurch, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,dclambdasquares.org.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social group meets for happyhour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor

bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome.dullestriangles.com.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-WalkerHealth. At the Elizabeth TaylorMedical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max RobinsonCenter, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.


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IDENTITY offers free and confiden-tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,414 East Diamond Ave., and inTakoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire

Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.For appointments other hours, callGaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or

Takoma Park, 301-422-2398.



youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group isindependent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIPINSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,13-21, interested in leadership devel-

opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL YouthCenter, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,[email protected].

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

WEEKLY EVENTS



Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.



PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming social group for ages 11-24.4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422,layc-dc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT providesa social atmosphere for GLBT andquestioning youth, featuring danceparties, vogue nights, movies andgames. More info, [email protected].



SATURDAY, APRIL 2

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURALHEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5p.m., and HIV services (by appoint-ment). 202-291-4707 or andromeda-transculturalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded bymembers of the LGBT community,holds Saturday morning Shabbat ser-

vices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddushluncheon. Services in DCJCCCommunity Room, 1529 16th St. NW.

betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including

others interested in Brazilian culture,meets. For location/time, email [email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-tice session at Hains Point, 972 OhioDr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walk-ing/social club welcomes all levels forexercise in a fun and supportive envi-ronment, socializing afterward. Meet9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for awalk; or 10 a.m. for fun run. dcfront-runners.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball team

meets at Turkey Thicket RecreationCenter, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4p.m. For players of all levels, gay orstraight. teamdcbasketball.org.

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass forLGBT community, family and friends.6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria.

All welcome. For more info, visit dig-nitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discussescritical languages and foreign lan-guages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St. NW.RVSP preferred. [email protected].

IDENTITY offers free and confidentialHIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments otherhours, call 301-422-2398.l


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HE SHOW LOOKS LIKE AN ABC SITCOM. ITsounds like an ABC sitcom. But it has this one little differ-

ence, you know?”Noah Galvin is talking about The Real O’Neals, ABC’s

newest sitcom. The 21-year-old actor, well known for his

work on the New York stage, plays Kenny O’Neal, a devoutCatholic teenager who, in the very first episode, creates

a familial firestorm by coming out. Loosely ( very loosely)based on the experiences of gay columnist Dan Savage,

Kenny embarks on a sea of firsts: First day of school as an

out student, first crush, first date, with everything related ina funny, laugh-out-loud manner.

“I’d had my first date, and my first rejection. I justneeded a classy exit line,” Kenny says in the voice-over that

propels the sitcom’s narrative.“I’ve got to pee so bad, I can taste it,” he blurts, before

bolting.

“The fact that we’re telling this story specifically througha comedic lens is very important,” says Galvin, himself an

out gay man. “We’re telling a story about a topic that mightbe difficult to talk about. Telling it through a comedic lens

gives families the opportunity to laugh about it. It opens the

door for conversation. And it makes those conversations alittle bit easier when it’s a comedy and everybody is laugh-

ing. It’s not a drama. It’s not heavy. It doesn’t scare kids outof having these conversations with their parents, because

the family can laugh at it and enjoy it.”

David Windsor, the show’s executive producer andcreator, agrees. Yet he attributes much of the success to the

sitcom’s cast, which includes Martha Plimpton as Kenny’srigidly Catholic mother and Jay R. Ferguson as his some-

what more relaxed, congenial father.“You can only go so far when you write something,” says

the 43-year-old Windsor, himself was raised by two gay

dads. “Luckily we put this in the hands of actors that tookit so much further. It’s always your dream as a writer to

have an actor make something better than you ever imag-ined, and every time Noah was in front of the camera, it

was magic. He brought his own experience to it. For him to

show up and just be so natural and real and funny all at thesame time was just such a gift. We wouldn’t be anywhere

we are today without him and the rest of the cast.”We spoke with Galvin and Windsor about the new

show, its impact on the cultural landscape, and why they’re

both hopeful for a second season.

T

Real GeniusNoah Galvin and David Windsor get real about their new — and vey funny — gay-focused

sitcom, The Real O’Neals .Inteviews by Randy ShulmanNoah Galvin photogaphed by Emma Mead

The Real Noah Galvin

METRO WEEKLY: You’re well-known for your stage work in NewYork. What made you want to switch to television?

NOAH GALVIN: As an actor, you have no control over that. It’s

something that I didn’t decide on. I would have taken what-ever I could get. Around the time I was 16, I stepped away from

musical theater and started doing a lot of straight plays. I alsoswitched agencies and started auditioning for film and TV.

Every pilot season I would be flown to L.A. to test for a show.


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Todd Holland, and the L.A. casting director. I did it once forthem and they laughed a lot and Todd was like, “All right, I

know you have what it takes. Let’s work.” We did this auditiontape maybe twelve times until we had it perfect. And then, once

they felt we had the perfect test, they said “Thank you so much,”

and showed it to the studio. Once the studio approved it, theyshowed it to the network. Once the network approved it, they

gave me the part.MW: That’s a hell of a process to get a part.

GALVIN: It is absolutely grueling and terrible.MW: Did you want this part more than the Fox show?

For three years in a row. It took me a while to find a comfort-ability in front of the camera.MW: What’s the story behind you getting the part?

GALVIN: I flew to LA to test for two shows — one Fox pilot and

one ABC pilot, this being the ABC pilot. I went to the Fox test

first. It was a live test, so you stand in front of a room full ofpeople. You have one shot to nail it and that’s it. I felt sort of iffy

about it. Then I rushed over to ABC for my test for this show,which was then called “The Untitled Dan Savage Project.” It

was an on camera test, so I went into a room with some of the

producers and our in-house director and executive producer,


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GALVIN: It’s funny that you ask that. I didn’t, initially. The night

before the audition, I read through the Fox script and at the timeI wanted that more, solely because I would be playing this weird

kid who is on the autism spectrum. It was a real character I wasplaying — somebody truly outside of myself. At the time, that felt

more interesting to me. When I read through the Dan Savage

stuff, I didn’t really have to do much — I just pretty much playeda younger version of myself, so it wasn’t much of a stretch. It

didn’t excite me at the time.

Then I went into that Fox test and it was so quick and dirty.The people were perfectly nice enough, but I didn’t feel a realconnection with them. I rushed over to ABC kind of downtrod-

den and a little bit beat up. And I got to ABC and was looking

around at all these 15-year-old Aryan-looking boys waiting toaudition. When I went into the test, I immediately got the idea

that these people were good. They were good humans whowanted to make good work. And I wanted to do good work. I left

that room re-invigorated with a completely new outlook on the

day and on my preference between the two projects.MW: The show is not your cut and dry, straight-forward sitcom

because it allows itself flights of fancy into Kenny’s mind. Breakfastconversations with Jesus or Jimmy Kimmel. An elaborate fantasy

musical number on his first date. It allows for for a more non-

traditional narrative scheme. What’s your take on that approach?GALVIN: I think it’s a cool thing. The story is truly being told

through Kenny’s eyes, so you get to know his internal life and thethings that excite him. You get to see his fears and his fantasies

played out and that’s exciting.MW: I’m a little surprised at how casually the family is taking the

fact that he is gay. By the third episode, the mother may not be a

hundred percent fine with it, but she seems far more accepting.There’s no massive angst, there’s no hand-wringing, there’s no

drama. It’s a very matter-of-fact approach to dealing with a gaycharacter.

GALVIN: Initially, at the end of our pilot, the tag was me sitting

on a bed with Hannah Marks, who plays Mimi, my girlfriend,coming out to her. She’s crying, and then she says, “Why is your

family here though?” And the camera pans and my entire familyis there in rainbow sweaters.

But throughout the process of filming the pilot our creators

realized that that couldn’t be how it ended, or else there wasnowhere to go from there. We needed to keep the conflict alive.

We needed to keep the antagonistic relationship between Eileenand Kenny alive for longer so there was a place for Eileen to

grow in terms of acceptance.MW: The siblings accept it without so much as blinking.

GALVIN: It’s a generational thing. This generation really doesn’t

give a shit to be honest, and I think it’s a beautiful thing that it’stotally normal.MW: There are a lot of first moments for Kenny so far.

GALVIN: Yeah. That’s the beautiful thing about our show. It’s

a coming-of-age story. It’s about him growing up and goingthrough adolescence. And asking people out on dates and askingpeople to the prom and first kisses and these conversations he

has with his brother. I love, I love, I love Kenny and [his olderbrother] Jimmy’s relationship. Sexuality is talked about, of

course, but it’s a complete non-issue. Jimmy just wants to give

his brother dating advice, as any older brother would like to giveto the younger brother.

The only way that we could really get away with this, to behonest, is to tell this story in a fairly normal way. It looks like

an ABC sitcom. It sounds like an ABC sitcom. It just happens tohave this twist. It doesn’t other Kenny, it doesn’t other the gay

boy, which TV so often does. It others the rest of the family andother people who have an issue with it, like the vice-principal

who doesn’t know how to talk about it. That’s where the hilaritycomes from.

MW: How many episodes have you shot?

GALVIN: We’re done. We filmed 13 episodes. We finished inNovember.MW: Have they said whether or not they’re going to renew it?

GALVIN: They have not yet. We’re still hoping for a season two.

Everybody’s gotta watch!MW: Is that a bit of a pins and needles thing for you?

GALVIN: Oh, yeah, absolutely. I’m dying. But you sort of take it

“You can’t replicatethe gay experience ofcoming out to your

family, going to schooland having to come outto all your friends — it’ssomething that straightpeople will neverunderstand.”


19/48


day by day. The response to the show has been good so far. I’mhoping we get a season two, and if we don’t, it’s given me the

exposure that I needed in order to keep working. If nothing else,it’s given me an awesome Instagram following. [ Laughs. ]

MW: Are you ready in your career for this level of fame?

GALVIN: [ Laughs.] Fame! I don’t like that word. This level of fame.I don’t know. What does that mean? Am I ready for this level of

fame? Yeah. Yeah, why not?MW: It means you’re going to be recognized wherever you go.

Nationally, you’re an unknown. But your performance is a “wow”

moment for audiences.

GALVIN: It’s a very cool thing. I’m being given the most amazing

opportunity, and as a gay man I couldn’t be happier to be playingthe character I’m playing.MW: Now let’s talk about that. So often, we talk to straight actorswho are playing gay characters. Nothing wrong with that. That’s

what an actor does. But you are a gay actor playing a leading gay

role. That’s unusual.

GALVIN: With a show like this it was very, very, very important to

Todd Holland, our director, and to some of the producers, thatan out gay man play this character because, like you said, so often

straight people play gay people on TV and so often it becomes a

stereotype. And that’s fine for some shows. But for this, tellinga story through the eyes of a young gay man coming out of the


20/48


closet to his family, it was important that somebody really under-

stand the gay experience. You can’t replicate the gay experienceof coming out to your family, going to school and having to come

out to all your friends — it’s something that straight people willnever understand. And it’s fine in some shows for straight people

to play gay, absolutely. There are wonderful actors in this worldwho can absolutely do it. But it was important that somebodywho really understand play this part.MW: Are you worried that this will typecast you?

GALVIN: Absolutely, yeah. That’s definitely a fear. And I’m being

very wary with the jobs I take next. I’m being very selective inthe things I audition for. But you know, I think I’m a good actor,

and I’ve played straight before. I can do it again. I’m trying to

navigate a balance between being an advocate, doing advocacywork and not being like a spokesperson for anything. It’s a fine

line.MW: Does that mean if the Human Rights Campaign calls and says

“We want you to speak at our National Dinner,” you would or

would not do it?

GALVIN: I don’t know. It would be something to think about.MW: How does your own coming out story correlate to Kenny’s?

GALVIN: It’s drastically different, that’s for sure. When I was

13, I did this play downtown at the Public. It was called Esther

Demsack. I was playing a young gay boy who was comfortablewith the fact that he was gay. At one point my mother asked

me, “Do you see any similarities between you and the characteryou’re playing?” And of course, I knew exactly what she was

talking about because I knew I was gay at that point, but wasn’tready to share it with anybody. I was freaking out when she

asked me this, of course, so I was like, “Nope, not at all.”

And after that, like once a month for the next year, she wouldask, “Do you think you’re gay?” very gently. Finally, when I was

14, she asked and I said, “Yes.” And she rejoiced and was very

happy that I was willing to share. A couple of weeks later, myentire family knew.MW: Did your father take it with the same level of joy as yourmother?

GALVIN: No. My dad grew up very, very strict Irish Catholic.Went to a Catholic elementary school, high school, college. He’s

a very liberal man, but he still has this belief system in his core. I

never really came out to him. My mom told him that I had comeout and he took me out to dinner one night and asked if it was a

phase. I didn’t really know how to respond, and the rest of themeal was spent in silence. That was when I was like fourteen.

Since then we’ve had conversations about it, and to be honest,

it’s not a problem.MW: The show deals with the Catholic side of things, obviously.You were raised half Catholic, half Jewish. Do you see a difference

in the way Catholicism deals with homosexuality as opposed to Judaism?

GALVIN: Completely. I was just talking about this last night with

my siblings. On a basic level, aside from the way they viewsexuality, going to church when I was younger, meant putting

on a collared shirt, slicking my hair and sitting in a church pew

reciting things. It was never fun for me. It was never joyous. AndHebrew school for me was families coming together and singingsongs and lighting candles and making foods and crafts and read-

ing the Torah and all of these things. That was more appealing

when I was little. And I think that mirrors the way they both dealwith a lot of things, you know? Not just sexuality.

Take how the church deals with sin in general — the fact thathomosexuality is called a sin. I’ve never been in Temple and

heard a Rabbi even mention sexuality. And if they do it’s in a way

that lets you know that we’re all equal, that we’re all on the same journey despite all of these small differences. And these differ-

ences that the church likes to point out.MW: Well, there are Orthodox Jews who are anti-gay and some-

times shockingly violent towards homosexuals.

GALVIN: I was very, very Reform. Very, very Reform Judaism.MW: Sex on the show has actually been addressed in a heterosexual

manner, but not quite in a homosexual manner. Sure, there was adate, but unlike the girlfriend, who produced a box of condoms....

GALVIN: I think I know what you’re asking. So this guy at a talkback for the show brought up the idea of how in Will and Grace

neither Will nor Jack have like love interests or didn’t kiss a guy

until very, very late in the series. And how on Modern Family,the two gay dads, they almost feel — they’re wonderful, wonder-

ful actors — but you know, they like peck and you watch theseother straight couples be lovey/dovey all over each other. The

gay couple almost don’t feel like a couple. They feel like buds.

And without giving too much away, you will see Kenny have hisfirst kiss. I think that is a really special thing that we got to do.

David Windsor, one of our show runners and creators, hastwo gay dads, and he came up to me after the first take of the kiss

and was almost in tears. He was just like, “That was so power-

ful. I never saw myself getting the opportunity to make this andto shoot a scene like that.” And it’s so special that we get to do

that. And you know, who knows if it’s a good kiss or a bad kiss.But Kenny is on this journey of adolescence — as is any teenager,

gay or straight.MW: Do you remember the first time you kissed a guy?

GALVIN: Yes. I was in 8th grade, and it happened in the bathroom

at school. [ Laughs. ] I remember it being very messy. Lots ofteeth, lots of banging, lots of banging teeth. It was very awkward.MW: And the emotions that it brought up at the time?

GALVIN: It just sort of validated everything. I had kissed girls

before but this was the first time that everything sort of fell intoplace and felt right, even though he was not the right guy. Theidea was there.MW: Do you currently have a boyfriend?

GALVIN: No, no, I don’t. My life is in an intense transitional period

right now. It’s hard for me to be in a relationship.MW: Because of all the work?

GALVIN: The work, yeah. I’m back and forth between New York

and L.A. I’m not in one place where I can just easily date some-body. But I am single and looking! l

The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

“My dad grew up vey strictIrish Catholic. He took meout to dinner one night andasked if it was a phase. I didn’t

really know how to respond,and the rest of the meal wasspent in silence.”


21/48


The Real David Windsor

METRO WEEKLY: So many sitcom ideas are pitched to Hollywoodeach year. How did you settle on this one?

DAVID WINDSOR: I have a writing partner, Casey Johnson. Wewere working on Galavant. We’d written a pilot about five years

ago that was based on my life growing up with two gay dads

who lived across the street from my mom and my stepdad. Andwe shot that, but I think it was a year or two before its time

— Modern Family hadn’t quite broken the mold as much andmade everyone as comfortable with just a normal family that

happens to be gay. But we always sort of gravitated toward this

idea of having a gay component to a show. SoABC came to us with this idea and we initially

sparked immediately to the idea of a coming-of-age story for a teenage gay kid. It just seemed

so interesting. We really wanted to make it as

real and authentic as possible. It seemed reallyappealing to us.MW: You got your inspiration from Dan Savage?

WINDSOR: Yeah, the studio had tried to develop

his story a couple of years ago and it didn’t makeit past the pilot script stage. They still really liked

the idea of his life, which we very loosely basedthe show on. He was one of the middle childrenin a very Catholic conservative Chicago family

and when he came out — I think he was aboutthe same age, 15 or 16 — it really sort of rocked

the family and, as we do in the show, prompted

them to reveal all of their deepest secrets. Wemet with Dan in the early stages, sort of picked

his brain about that personal stuff from his lifethat we thought could work, and integrated it

into the show that we then went on to create.MW: Does he have any real involvement in it?

WINDSOR: He came into the writer’s room for a

day and shared some stories with us, but he’s

so busy up in Seattle where he lives with hiscolumn and podcasts. He does his thing up thereand we do the show down here. It’s pretty sepa-

rate at this point. We love having his name be a

part of it. He’s done a lot of great stuff.MW: So the core idea is Savage, but the rest comes

from your experiences?

WINDSOR: We all have something. There’s something in all of our

families that’s interesting and messed up and we’d love to exploit

for comedy. So when we were putting together our writer’sroom, it was probably five gay people, some Catholic people, and

just a lot of really messed up people, just so that we could drawfrom their lives. And it’s all going into the show.MW: Sitcoms have been evolving pretty much for the past several

decades, often in very interesting ways. Sometimes they ventureinto very extreme, surreal forms, sometimes they stay with a stan-

dardized form. This one seems to straddle the two. Did that happenorganically or was that your plan from the outset?

WINDSOR: Pretty much from the outset. The last two shows thatCasey and I had written on were Galavant and Don’t Trust the B——

in Apartment 23, which were not your standard network sitcoms.

And we really enjoyed doing those. I thought they did really inter-esting, innovative things. Galavant, certainly. There’s never been

a musical comedy sitcom on television before and in Apartment 23, none of the rules applied. Casey and I are very grounded writ-

ers that really liked to make sure everything feels real. Those two

shows got us out of that comfort zone. We thought they really

incorporated all that fantastical stuff really well.

So we thought, how do you tell a story when your main char-acter is trying to come out? You can’t have a conversation with

anyone about the thing that he’s internally struggling with. Thatwas kind of the genesis. Well, what if he talks to Jesus? What if

he talks to Jimmy Kimmel? What if there’s a hot cologne modelin his mirror that he could have conversations with that are in his

mind? So it sort of sprung out of that. We’re pretty cognizant not

to overdo it, because that would really have set a different tone,but hopefully we do it sparingly enough that it’s interesting.MW: Sitcoms can either simply go for the gags or also incorpo-

rate social commentary. ABC seems to gravitate toward sitcoms

with at least some margin of social bent — your show, Black-ish,Modern Family, Fresh Off the Boat, even to some extent The

Middle. Do you think it’s important for entertainment to move

social dialogue forward in our society?

WINDSOR: Anytime you can do that, why wouldn’t you take the

opportunity? We knew from the onset that we really had a

chance to have a conversation. I think our show is very balancedfor conservative Catholics, for young gay kids, and for everyone

in-between. We didn’t want to cram a message down anyone’sthroat. We really just wanted to be able to start a dialogue, and

if there was a kid at home somewhere in the Midwest who wasgay and having a hard time coming out to his family, we were

like, maybe this show, they can watch it together and then theycan have a conversation about it. If something good comes out of

that, then that’s great.

We definitely felt the responsibility of what we were doing.There haven’t been a lot — if any — lead gay kids on broadcast

network television and so, that was never lost of us. And we

V A N E S S A M C C A R T H Y

“When we wereputting together ourwriter’s room, it was

probably five gaypeople, some Catholicpeople, and just a lotof really messed uppeople, just so thatwe could daw fromtheir lives.”


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BEING GAY IS NO LONGER A PROB-

lem on TV. With Empire , Modern

Family and The Walking Dead all

showcasing gay characters, among many

others, the days of Will & Grace being the

only gay content on our screens are long

since over. What isn’t over, however, is the

problem being gay can cause in reality —

coming out may now seem passe to many,

but for most it’s still an incredible pressure.

Enter, then, The Real O’Neals (HHHHH), a new sitcom from ABC that

puts coming out and being gay front and

center. Loosely based on the younger

years of sex columnist (and conserva-

tive antagonizer) Dan Savage, it tells the

story of Kenny, a teenager in a seemingly

perfect, devoutly religious Irish Catholic

family. The entire first episode is dedicated

to Kenny’s coming out to his family, who,

it transpires, are all hiding secrets of their

own — divorce, anorexia, kleptomania. Not

so perfect, after all.

didn’t want to shy away from that. But at the same time, we

didn’t want to scare anybody away, we wanted it to be a dialoguefor people to have. Even though ratings may be falling, there’s

still no better platform [than network television] to get to mil-lions and millions of people to hear something you want to say.

It blows my mind every week when Wednesday morning comes

and I look at the ratings and 6 million people or 5 million peoplehave watched something I’ve written. There’s no other way I

could do that. I have this chance to say something and I don’t

want to blow it. At the same time, funny is funny and that’s whypeople come home and watch comedies. Because they’ve had ahard day at work and they just kind of want to tune that out. So

we really try to do both.MW: It’s interesting that by the third episode, Martha Plimpton’scharacter, Eileen, has softened toward Kenny’s homosexuality.

She’s not thrilled with him being gay, but she clearly warms up tothe idea of accepting him for who he is. Why didn’t you mine the

comic tension between them for a bit longer?

WINDSOR: You’re not wrong in feeling that. And we wanted toavoid exactly what you’re saying, but ABC is airing them a little

bit out of order from the way we shot them. So, in later episodes,we’ll sort of get back into it. From day one, we were like, this is

not a woman who’s going to wake up the next morning after her

son has come out of the closet and suddenly be hunky dory witheverything. We really wanted to take our time with that and have

her sort of tiptoe in. But at the end of the day, for her, despite herbeliefs, the love for her son wins out. And the struggle between

those two things for us is what we really found to be most inter-esting. She loves this boy but she doesn’t agree with what he’s

telling her, and that’s a really interesting conflict for us.MW: They’re running them out of order from the way you shotthem. Why? Doesn’t that screw up the story arcs?

WINDSOR: That stuff is all up to the network, it’s out of our hands.I think sometimes they just feel like perhaps there are more poi-

gnant episodes they want to do earlier. Or a stronger episode. I

love them all. I think they’re all great. It’s always a conversation

we have, as you finish this stuff, but story-wise nothing changesthat much.MW: I mentioned this to Noah as well, but I was happy to see that,

from the start, Kenny’s siblings were cool with him being gay, and

his brother is hilariously protective.

WINDSOR: That was intentional on our part. I’m glad you pickedup on that. We really wanted it to be that they had no problem

with it. I feel like that’s the way a lot of kids of that generation

are. I grew up with two gay dads in the ’80s. I didn’t know anyother kids with gay parents then. I never really talked aboutit with my friends. My best friend, his mom was really close

friends with my parents, so they all knew obviously, but it was

such a different time. I didn’t really have the tools or the wordsto describe what was happening so Alan was always, you know,

my dad’s roommate. I guess there were moments where it wasmaybe uncomfortable, because I didn’t know how to explain my

very unique situation, but now talking to all of my friends in high

school, whom I’m very close with, and saying, “Did you know?”“Yeah, of course we knew. We’re not stupid. We’d come over

and there’d be your dad and Alan, and you guys were all very lov-ing and it didn’t matter to us at all.” At that age, you’re so in you

head about everything, and I happened to have this extra thing

that made me even more unique and I think I was so afraid, asall teenagers are, of standing out that I just kind of didn’t deal

with it in public.Now there are lots of kids with gay parents. There are gay

kids that have come out. It’s just such a different world now andI think generationally a lot of those kids feel there are bigger

problems in the world than people being gay. They realize that

it doesn’t matter — if it’s what makes you happy, who cares? Butit’s also was what I think makes Martha Plimpton’s character

so interesting: she is of a different generation where that didmatter.

Gay marriage is legal now, and the Pope is tiptoeing into say-

The Real DealThe Real O’Neals is a gay-centric sitcom that doesn’t

stay far from ABC’s tried-and-tested formula

By Rhuaridh Marr

L-R Bebe Wood, Matt Shively, Noah Galvin, Jay R. Ferguson and Martha Plimpton C O U R T E S Y A B C P R E S S


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If viewers are expecting the same raunchy, edgy, witty comedySavage is known for, they’ll be disappointed — it’s here, certainly,

but severely watered down for broadcast television. While The Real

O’Neals opens with a number of potential plotlines for its characters,

several are gone by the second or third episode. Kenny’s dimwitted

brother professes an eating disorder, but it’s swept aside by Jesus-

shaped pancakes. Kenny’s controlling, religious mother initially rejects

his sexuality (to hilarious effect), but by the third episode she’s a

reluctant ally.

That’s not to disparage it, but what we’re getting is a show that

clearly underwent retooling after the pilot to more closely adhere to

the reliable comedy mold established by Modern Family and contin-

ued by pretty much every other ABC family-led sitcom since. And you

know what? It works — here, especially so.

As Kenny, Noah Galvin steals the show. His reactions — whether

to his soon-to-be-ditched girlfriend asking him to try her “papaya,” or

his mother asking him to go back in the closet for Lent — are wonder-ful. Expressive, hilarious, perfectly timed. Galvin also narrates each

episode, handling the rapid, witty dialogue with ease. What’s more,

he’s gay in real life, and while there are some excellent straight actors

who can play gay with aplomb, there’s a tangible nature to watching

an openly gay actor reenact a coming out scene, or dealing with a first

day being out at school, that makes it all the more believable.

The rest of the cast ably sells the material, too. As Eileen, Kenny’s

devout, controlling, perfection-obsessed mother, Martha Plimpton

balances neurotic tendencies with obvious love for her children.

When she finally accepts her son in the show’s third episode, there’s

bound to be more than a few viewers who can empathize with the

emotions on display. Jay R. Ferguson brings warmth and heart to

ing that it’s okay, so it’s all changing. And young people don’tknow all of the difficulties that have gone on and struggles that

gay people have had to endure for years and years.MW: Noah mentioned that there would be a first kiss in a future

episode. How do you balance introducing gay sex into the showwithout crossing a line the network might not fully approve of?

WINDSOR: Casey and I have been writing on ABC for a long time.

We know what their brand is. We never wanted to go too far butat the same time, we have an episode coming up where Jimmy,

his older brother, is like, “I’m gonna do for you what I’d do forany straight guy when it comes to learning about sex. I am going

to show you Internet porn.” And they go look at gay porn, but it

gets out of control. So we get into it, but we go as far as we canknowing that we’re on ABC.MW: One thing that does come to mind is the girlfriend producing abox of condoms in the first episode. Obviously, the idea of straight

sex has been broached, so it will be interesting to see in subsequent

seasons if you get to the point where he’s with a guy and condomscome out and whether or not the network will even allow that.

WINDSOR: I agree. We had it in the pilot. There’s no reason whywe shouldn’t be able to do it. It shouldn’t matter what your sexu-

ality is to be telling that story.

I do want to say, to ABC’s credit, they have been so support-ive and behind us at every single turn throughout this entire

process. We felt like we were pushing things in a way and a lot

of times expected to get blowback and I can count on one handthe amount of times that they said, “No, that’s too far” — and itdidn’t even have to do with sexuality. They were so encouraging

of us to just push the boundaries and keep going further. And

we all agreed that that’s the stuff that makes it real. If somethingdoesn’t feel honest and sincere, I’m not as interested in it, so I

was glad to see ABC get behind us in that way.MW: TV networks are often quick to dispense with shows if they’re

not pulling in viewers. Yet many great sitcoms had slow starts, but

were nurtured by the networks and given the chance to grow —

Mary Tyler Moore, Seinfeld , for instance. Do you think ABC will

nurture The Real O’Neals and grant you a second season?

WINDSOR: ABC is really behind the show. They like us, they feel

the societal impact of it and the importance of it. We’ve always

all talked about that together. We premiered on a Wednesdaybefore and after Modern Family, which got a lot of eyeballs to us.

We’ve actually held on to a lot of the Fresh Off the Boat numbersthis week, which I think everyone is really encouraged about. So

I think everyone’s feeling good that people are sticking with theshow, which is really, really important.

It’s an important show in the way that Black-ish is a very

important show. Black-ish a very funny show that’s gettingpeople to talk about things. Hopefully our show is doing that,

too. I’m feeling confident that, as the network considers a secondseason, that will definitely play a factor in their decision making.

At least I hope so. l

Kenny’s father, Pat, a Chicago Police Officer who has spent twodecades letting his wife make every decision, and now has to

relearn how to function as his own man. Bebe Wood steals every

scene she’s in — just like in NBC’s gay (and canceled) sitcom The

New Normal — as Shannon, the youngest child who’s also the

family’s dark horse. “Who are you?” Kenny asks, when he learns

she keeps a bag of lice on hand to provide a valid reason for cutting

school and heading home. Matthew Shively offers a reliable perfor-

mance as dense, dimwitted oldest child Jimmy, who comes into

his own during the show’s fourth episode, after watching Game of

Thrones and vowing to protect Kenny from homophobic bullying.

In the four episodes released at the time of writing, The Real

O’Neals has established itself as a charming, laugh-out-loud addi-

tion to the ABC sitcom stable. Each episode contains at least a

couple of standout moments: Pat trying to cope with Shannon’s

first period, the family coming up with new nicknames after Pat

reveals he was bullied for being fat (“Patrick O’Besity!”), Kenny’sfirst date and subsequent fantasy dance sequence. Actually, pretty

much every fantasy sequence Kenny has, be it talking to a male

model, Jesus, or Jimmy Kimmel.

Whether The Real O’Neals will make it to a second season is

anyone’s guess — sitcoms have had a rather brutal time of late —

but it certainly deserves to at least have a fleshed out first season.

By its fourth outing, “The Real F Word,” it has gained its footing

and proven that it can deliver reliable laughs alongside ABC’s other

sitcoms. Being gay on TV may no longer be revolutionary, but it can

still be pretty damn funny. l

The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

“We have an episode comingup where Kenny’s olderbrother, is like, ‘I’m gonna dofor you what I’d do for any

staight guy when it comes tolearning about sex.. I amgoing to show youInternet porn.’”


24/48

MARCH 24 - 31, 2016SPOTLIGHT

AUGUSTEN BURROUGHSWhile the idea of producing one auto-

biography is an exhausting, climacticprospect to many, it was just the start— and hardly scratched the surface— for Augusten Burroughs, who hasmade his career mining the details ofhis life for memoir after memoir. Sincehis 2002 debut Running with Scissors — a childhood review that became aRyan Murphy-helmed movie starringBrad Pitt, Annette Benning and AlecBaldwin — the gay author has offered

subsequent books grouped around various themes, from tales of his alco-holism, to those about his relationshipwith his father, to family Christmasstories. But his latest may be his mostpersonal yet: Lust & Wonder exam-ines Burrough’s love life, which hasn’t

been nearly as successful as his career.Politics & Prose presents the localreading and discussion of the book aday after release. Wednesday, March30, at 5:30 p.m. Busboys & Poets, 202114th St. NW. Call 202-387-POET or

visit busboysandpoets.com

HAELOSOne listen to Full Circle, the debutalbum from Haelos, and you can’t help

but think back to some of your favorite,if perhaps forgotten, trip-hop songs of

yore. The seductive trio’s ominous,entrancing electronic music — a sub-genre it calls “dark euphoria” — willremind you of its forebears, most nota-

bly Massive Attack and Portishead, aswell as more-recent contemporaries,from London Grammar to the xx. The9:30 Club presents an intimate concertat U Street Music Hall as part of a tour

by Arthur Delaney, Dom Goldsmithand Lotti Benardout that includes astop at Coachella next month. Thetrio is the epitome of up-and-coming.Monday, March 28, at 7 p.m. U StreetMusic Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Ticketsare $15. Call 202-588-1880 or visitustreetmusichall.com.

LUMINOUS LANDSCAPES:PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAN WARDThe National Building Museum offersan exhibition focused on large-for-mat photographs, mostly in black andwhite, by Alan Ward, a renownedpractitioner of both landscape archi-tecture and photography. Ward hascombined his dual interests in theseworks, visually deconstructing thefundamental elements of the land-scape in stunning ways. The museumalso displays some of his photographyequipment and large-format cameras.

24

Compiled by Doug Rule

D E N I S E L E O N G

MARCH 24, 2016 METROWEEKLY.COM

Got a Light?Light City Baltimore, an illumination and innovation festival, launches next week

BALTIMORE WAS THE FIRST U.S. CITY TO LIGHT UP ITS STREETS WITH GAS LAMPS. TWOhundred years later, Charm City will become the first U.S. city to host a large-scale illuminationfestival: Light City Baltimore.

“We felt a light art festival, with an innovation conference component, was well-timed for what’s hap-pening here in Baltimore,” says Kathy Horning of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts. “[There’s]a renaissance, if you will, in our arts community and in the technology and innovation sector.”

Light City Baltimore was modeled primarily after a similar event in Sydney’s Darling Harbour — theredevelopment of which, incidentally, was modeled after Baltimore’s own waterfront renovation in the ’80s.A one-and-a-half mile BGE Light Art Walk winds through the Inner Harbor and the Harbor East neighbor-hood, with 50 stops along the way, featuring 28 original works of light art and projections, a few stages formusic concerts and other performances, a kids zone, and food and beverage vendors. “It will feel very muchlike a big, outdoor, free festival,” Horning says. “It’s completely at nighttime, and the main artistic focus islight as a medium.”

Light City Baltimore will feature specially created light sculptures, such as a 20-foot-tall animatronic steelcreation called “Peacock,” created by Baltimore artists Tim Scofield and Kyle Miller. “When the peacock’splume opens, the bird is 40-feet across and the plume becomes illuminated with this pulsing series of rain-bow-colored lights,” says Horning. Other installations by both national and international artists are evocative,thought-provoking works, exploring topics ranging from the slave trade in Baltimore to rising sea levels.

Complementing the displays each night are free performances on concert stages by electronic-basedmusicians, from Thomas Dolby (“She Blinded Me with Science”) and DJ Jazzy Jeff to Rob Garza ofThievery Corporation. The festival runs a week, kicking off on Monday, March 28, with a Light City LanternParade — though Horning notes people can get a sneak peek on Easter Sunday, when organizers will do adress rehearsal at 7 p.m. Horning says Light City Baltimore is planned as an annual event.

It’s taken more than a year and a half to plan and a full two weeks to set up. “It’s so much work,” saysHorning. “It’s definitely not a one-and-done.” —Doug Rule

Light City Baltimore opens at 7 p.m. nightly from Monday, March 28, through Sunday, April 3, and closes at 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2. Call 410-752-8632 or visit

lightcity.org for a map and details on all events, including “Light City U” conferences.

The Pool by Jen Lewin


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Tatianna, as well as Wendy Ho and Vicky Vox. Wednesday, March 30, at9 p.m. Fillmore Silver Spring, 8656Colesville Road, Silver Spring. General

Admission is $30. Call 301.960.9999or visit fillmoresilverspring.com. Theofficial after-party will be hosted byCobalt at 1639 R St. NW.

THE OUTWIN 2016: AMERICANPORTRAITURE TODAY

Every three years the Smithsonian’sNational Portrait Gallery presentsfinalists of the Outwin BoocheverPortrait Competition, named for alate volunteer and benefactor. Theportraits are works drawn from allover America, often featuring unher-alded, everyday citizens and generallypresented in innovative ways through

various media, from standard photog-raphy to three-dimensional installa-tion. This year’s winner is a stunning,slightly surreal painting of a young

African-American girl by Amy Sheraldof Baltimore. Cynthia Henebry ofRichmond, Va., won second prize forher intriguing, dramatically lit pho-tograph of a young girl, while Joel

Daniel Phillips of San Francisco gar-nered third for his meticulous draw-ing of a local indigent man. Among the43 finalists, more than a half-dozenare LGBT-themed, including: Jess T.Dugan of St. Louis and her masculineself-portrait; a print of two transgen-der teenagers in love by Evan Badenof Oregon; an oil painting focused ona recently married, older gay couple

by Paul Oxborough of Minnesota; anda flamboyant, patriotic painting byD.C.’s Tim Doud featuring his spouse,cultural theorist Edward Ingebretsen,in full plume. Now to Jan. 8, 2017.National Portrait Gallery, 8th and FStreets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or

visit npg.si.edu.

FILM

BATMAN V SUPERMAN:DAWN OF JUSTICEWe all know that Superman wouldwin — and not just because it’s HenryCavill versus Ben Affleck — so thisfilm’s central premise is entirely moot.Really, what Warner Bros. and DCComics are hoping to spawn withthis big-budget action film directed

by Zack Snyder is a series of JusticeLeague films, offering a cinematic uni-

verse to compete with Marvel’s usingWonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flashand others. And based on the trailers

alone, we’re totally on board. OpensFriday, March 25. Area theaters. Visitfandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)

LABYRINTH As part of a special David BowieTribute, the American Film Institute’sSilver Theatre presents a few of themovies featuring the Thin WhiteDuke. The Man Who Fell To Earthhas already been screened, while laterin April comes Ziggy Stardust andthe Spiders from Mars. But next isa 30th anniversary screening of JimHenson’s visionary fairy tale, the last

Now to Sept. 5. National BuildingMuseum, 401 F St. NW. Call 202-272-2448 or visit nbm.org.

LYNDA CARTER:LONG-LEGGED WOMAN

Another year, another presentation atthe Kennedy Center of the latest showfrom the original Wonder Woman.

A smorgasbord of blues, rock, coun-try and pop, featuring both standards

and original tunes, “Long-LeggedWoman” gets its name from one ofCarter’s own compositions. She isonce again accompanied by a bandincluding Paul Leim and Blue LouMarini. Saturday, April 2, at 7 p.m.Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.Tickets are $25 to $75. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOMFESTIVALPeak bloom of the cherry trees aroundthe Tidal Basin was earlier thisweek, but the annual festival runs foranother three weeks. It doesn’t evenofficially kick off until this Saturday,March 26, with an Opening Ceremony

event at 5 p.m. at the Warner Theatre,featuring performances by jazz singerBrenna Whitaker, opera singer AsakoTamura, stage act Gamarjobat andchamber ensemble the 6821 Quintet,among others. Other notable eventsto come: Family Day, with hands-onactivities and youth performances,at the National Building

Metro Weekly - 03-24-16 - Noah Galvin

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