Arts & Entertainment
After Irene, Rehoboth ready to party
The popular Blue Moon bar and restaurant was boarded up last weekend in preparation for Hurricane Irene, which triggered an evacuation of Rehoboth Beach. The Moon, along with the rest of town, is reopened and ready for the busy Labor Day weekend. (Photo by John Bator)
Rehoboth Beach’s summer season unofficially ends around Labor Day and it goes out with a memorable bang this weekend with drag volleyball and the Sundance party.
Begun as a fun game among friends in 1988, this year’s drag volleyball match is expected to attract more than 1,000 beach goers to the 23rd annual contest on Sunday at 1 p.m. The event, almost from the beginning, has been held on Poodle Beach at the south end of the boardwalk.
The event attracted national attention this year when Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford joined several of the players on the beach in a segment shown on NBC’s “Today” show, but as early as 1996 this event was featured in the USA Today as one of the fun things to see at the beach during Labor Day weekend.
Even though the teams play the game in drag, they treat the game seriously. Stan Cole, a Rehoboth Beach resident, notes that the first time he observed the event, “I thought I would see drag queens playing volleyball, but I saw good volleyball players in drag.”
The two teams keep their outfits secret from the public, but do share with each other what they will wear ever since there was a year in which both teams had the same theme. In the past, they have dressed as Hawaiian princesses, a wedding party, flight attendants and Lady Gaga’s multiple personalities, to name a few. In the early years, the players wore women’s bathing suits, but in subsequent years the costumes became more elaborate. During the first 10 years of competition, the costumers were designed by one of the players, Forrest Park, known affectionately as Flo.
They have never had inclement weather hold them back, playing in cold and damp weather, even during a downpour. They canceled the match in 1990 when anti-gay sentiment, including anti-gay beatings at Poodle Beach and signs around town promoting the city as “A family town” forced the organizers to worry about how such an event might fuel further anti-gay sentiment.
Over the years, organizers have been asked to turn the event into a fundraiser, but longtime participant Brent Minor says, “this event is purely fun, and we do not want to get involved in making it too complicated and giving us too many obligations.”
The same year in which drag volleyball began, the Camp Rehoboth community center organized an event called Sundance to honor the 10th anniversary of Camp founders Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald. The first event was a benefit for Whitman-Walker Clinic and Hero, an AIDS care provider in Baltimore, and raised $6,400. Over the years other groups, such as the Sussex County AIDS Committee, have benefitted from funds raised at this event but in recent years, the programs sponsored by Camp have been the primary beneficiary.
Each year since then, Camp has held the two-day event, the first day being an auction with items donated by up to 400 individuals and businesses, and the second a dance. Originally held at the Strand Restaurant on Rehoboth Avenue, it moved to the Convention Center in 1994. “The people at the Convention Center have been incredibly supportive all these years,” Elkins says. Elkins also points out how proud Camp is that this was the first gay-oriented event ever held at the Convention Center.
This year the auction will be held on Saturday from 7-10 p.m., and the dance, with music by Mark Thomas will be held the next day from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Numerous sponsors will be donating food and beverages. Also this weekend, the second annual 5K race to benefit Camp Rehoboth will be held. It was postponed from last weekend due to Hurricane Irene. Registration for the 5K begins at 6 a.m. at Camp Rehoboth on Baltimore Avenue and the race kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Go here for more information.
Other Labor Day weekend events:
Saturday, Sept. 3
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions is having its third annual Labor Day Sunset Sail on the American Spirit at the Gangplank Marina (600 Water St., S.W.). The group will gather at the nearby Cantina Marina at 6 p.m. before setting sail at 6:30. The trip is three hours long on the Potomac and includes drinks, food and music. Tickets for the sail cost $55 and can be purchased at phatgirlchic.com/zoom.
The biggest event in Rehoboth is Sundance, a two-night annual benefit for Camp Rehoboth Community Center. Tonight, the doors of the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center open at 7 p.m. with a silent auction and live auction. There will also be a dance Sunday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $45 either event or $80 for both and can be purchased online at camprehoboth.com.
Sunday, Sept. 4
Ladies 2000 and City Girl Productions present its Women’s Labor Day Weekend party at the Atlantic Sands Hotel (101 N. Boardwalk) in Rehoboth Beach, Del., tonight at 5 p.m. featuring DJ Steve Singer. Admission is $10.
The Ladies of Lure are celebrating Labor Day tonight with Spin at Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.) in Baltimore from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. with DJ Rosie and the DystRuXion Dancers. A game of flip-cup will run from 7 to 8 p.m. when the club doors open. General admission is $4, $8 to play flip-cup as well.
Monday, Sept. 5
The National Symphony Orchestra celebrates the Legends of Washington Music: John Philip Sousa, “Duke” Ellington, and Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go,” tonight as part of its Labor Day Capitol Concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building at 8 p.m. This is a free event.
Olde Towne Gaithersburg has its 73rd annual Labor Day Parade today at 1 p.m. with WTOP traffic reporter Julie Wright as mistress of ceremonies. For more information, visit gaithersburgmd.gov.
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.
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.
Sports
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles
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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