The other day somebody asked me what former Ward 1 councilman Jim Graham was up to, and I wasn’t sure. And now the Blade tells us: he’s working with the owner of the House, the strip club on Georgia Avenue, to organize and promote two weekly events: a Sunday gay male stripper night and a Thursday male stripper night aimed at straight women.
The gay night, called Rock Hard Sunday, has its premiere this Sunday the 19th, which will also serve as a fundraiser for the Whitman-Walker Clinic, which focuses on LGBT health issues. Graham was formerly the director of the clinic before running for Council.
Graham says he wanted to try something different and enjoyable, and points out that there aren’t any strip clubs aimed at gay men in Ward 1. The Blade says the only one is Secrets in Southwest. He also says that Park View and the surrounding neighborhoods have a lot of gay residents, and he expects many people to walk.
On Sundays, there will be only gay bartenders and waiters. “It’s a gay night,” said Graham. “It’s not going to be a straight club pretending to be gay. It’s going to be gay, and I’m going to make sure of it.”
The House has been working to upgrade over the past few years, which interior and exterior renovations. It was pretty dingy before (I mean, so I hear.)
And as an amusing reference to his trademark bowtie, the Rock Hard Sunday strippers will wear ties from his collection.
“They are going to put them on and at some point they will dispose of the bow ties in the audience,” said Graham. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Sounds like it. More power to you, Mr. Graham.
Photo by Adam Fagen
