Kameny, Vincenz to appear at screening

An early demonstration of the Mattachine Society. In front is the late Barbara Gittings, a colleague of Kameny and Vincenz. (Washington Blade archive photo)

Kameny, Vincenz to appear at screening

Capitol LGBT Workplace Groups and Equality Forum are launching Pride month with a screening on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the LBJ Auditorium at the Department of Education (400 Maryland Ave., S.W.) of “Gay Pioneers,” a film featuring the first organized annual “homosexual” civil rights demonstrations held in Philadelphia, New York and D.C. from 1965 to 1969.

Two pioneers in the film, Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz, will be at the screening for a question-and-answer session along with the executive producer Malcolm Lazin. The Washington Blade’s Lou Chibbaro Jr. will moderate the discussion.

Out on Assignment

The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association is holding the panel discussion “Out on Assignment: How LGBT Journalists Influence the Media Landscape” on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the National Press Club (529 14th St., N.W.) to kick off Pride month.

The panelists are the Washington Blade’s political reporter Chris Johnson; Bil Browning from the Bilerico Project; Sean Bugg of Metro Weekly and Kerry Eleveld of Equality Matters, formerly a reporter for the Advocate. The AP’s Matt Friedman will moderate.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the event is expected to go until 9. A networking reception hosted by the Club will follow the discussion. Registration for this event is free and available online at press.org/events/capital-pride-kick-out-assignment.

A conversation with Mayor Gray

The Washington Blade is holding a town hall event with D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray on Thursday, June 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.).

“Everyone at the Blade is excited about the chance to sit down with the mayor to discuss LGBT issues as we all prepare to celebrate Pride,” said Blade editor Kevin Naff. “The mayor deserves our thanks for being accessible and speaking directly to us about our priorities.”

Questions can be submitted to the Blade by going to its Facebook page, Twitter, commenting on the story about the event or by e-mailing social@washblade.com.

The opening of SMYAL’s youth advocacy project photography exhibit and a reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Naff will interview the mayor from 6:30 to 7 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer session involving the audience. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. If you require accommodations to attend the event, please call 202-724-5055.