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Sentinels celebrate wins

Other local queer sports groups in full swing

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The D.C. Sentinels are on a winning streak with two major titles under their belt this year. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Majoros)

There are lots of great things happening with the D.C. sports groups in the coming month.

Congratulations to the D.C. Sentinels basketball team who have been on a tear this year winning two national tournaments. In January, the team won the A division of the Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas. Two weeks ago the Sentinels won the A division of the Coady Roundball Classic in Chicago. They will be celebrating with a happy hour party today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Black Fox Lounge. You can check out the Sentinels at www.teamdcbasketball.org.

The D.C. Strokes Rowing Club is offering Learn To Row sessions for men and women in the month of May.  All skill levels are welcome and you will be introduced to the basics of technique, equipment and language in a small class of 10-12 people. From April 30 to May 22, sessions will be offered on Saturdays in the mornings and afternoons. From May 2-25, sessions will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. From May 3-26, sessions are available from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More information is available at www.dcstrokes.org.

Last year, about 3,500 members of the LGBT community attended Team D.C.’s Night OUT at the Nationals. Join them again this year on June 21 as the Nats take on the Seattle Mariners. Tickets start at $16 and are available at Nellie’s Sports Bar. In the coming weeks they will be available online at www.teamdc.org.

The D.C. Front Runners Spring Fling is scheduled for May 13-15 which includes socializing, walk/runs in Rock Creek Park and the Capitol Hill Classic 10K on Sunday. More info is available about Spring Fling and their weekly run/walks at www.dcfrontrunners.org.

The first practice for the Jolly Boozers Ultimate Frisbee Team was a few weeks ago and you can still get in on the action. Men and women of all skill levels are welcome and cleats are recommended. Contact Ben at [email protected] to learn more.

After a brief break, D.C. Cheer is getting back in the game with their cheer squad. They are looking for coaches and places to practice. If you are interested or can offer an opportunity, contact Greg at [email protected].

The Lambda Links Golf Club has kicked off its season. The first tournament is a Scramble to be held at Glenn Dale on April 30. Weekly outings will continue until the next tournament which will be held on June 11. Stay current with the Links at www.lambdalinks.org.

The Rainbow Spinnakers Sailing Club has begun its weekly sails. You can ride along as a passenger or train to become a skipper. Get on its mailing list and receive weekly e-mails about openings on the sailboats. You can find them at www.rainbowspinnakers.org

Interested in scuba diving? Join members of the Lambda Divers Scuba Club on May 15 (and every third Sunday of the month) at Nellie’s Sports Bar between 5-7 p.m. for happy hour. Information on future diving trips will be on hand. More about them is available at www.lambdadivers.org.

The Adventuring Outdoors Group is sponsoring the Arboretum Azaleas Hike on Saturday. Last November, the National Arboretum announced that it was destroying most of its world-famous azalea collection due to budget constraints.

Ultimately, The Friends of the Arboretum secured a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to “save the azaleas.” The group will take an easy 5-mile hike around the Arboretum, a 446 acre hidden gem in the middle of Northeast D.C. Established 65 years ago, the azaleas now blanket the hillside of Mount Hamilton, the third highest natural point in D.C.

The group will also visit a selection of other seasonal displays as well as some of the meadows, the forested areas and the famous original National Capitol Columns. Look for the trip leader’s orange cap at 9 a.m. at the top of the Q Street escalator at Dupont Circle Metro. They will carpool from there and return by 1:30 p.m. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen and $5 for trip fees. Drivers are needed. Contact Damon at [email protected]et for more information.

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Calendar

Calendar: March 27-April 2

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, March 27

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected]

Saturday, March 28

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation.  Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected]

Monday, March 30

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Tuesday, March 31

Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite

Wednesday, March 1

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, April 2

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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Out & About

Celebrate cherry blossoms the drag way

Unconventional Diner hosts bingo party

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The cherry blossoms are here. Celebrate at a unique event hosted by Unconventional Diner. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.

Tickets can be secured via Resy.

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Sports

New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics

New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles

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(Photo by Greg Martin; courtesy IOC)

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.

“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.

The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”

“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”

The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”

The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”

“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

(Video courtesy of the IOC)

Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.

Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.

“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.

An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.

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