Arts & Entertainment
Baltimore arts briefs: March 23
AIDS Action hosts weekend brunch, new exhibit explores gender and more
Support groups span LGBT spectrum
The GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (241 West Chase St.) has several groups meeting this week.
On Saturday, Sufficient As I Am, a group for youth 24 and younger dealing with issues of sexuality, coming out, relationships, family and more, is meeting in room 201 at 12:30 p.m. The Baltimore Trans-Masculine Alliance, a support group for FTMs, meets in room 202 at 6 p.m. followed by Tran*quilility, a support group for MTFs at 8 p.m.
Men Like Me, a support group for adult males to discuss coming out, homophobia and more meets Monday in room 202 at 6 p.m.
POZ Men, an LGBT-affirming peer support group, meets Wednesday in room 202 at 6 p.m.
For more information on this groups, visit glccb.org.
New exhibit explores gender
The Maryland Institute College of Art is hosting an opening reception for one of its newest exhibits “The Outliers: Occupying the Spaces Between Genders,” which features photographs by alumni Elle Perez. It’s Monday in the main building’s main gallery (1300 W. Mount Royal Ave.) from 5 to 7 p.m.
Perez, recipient of the 2011 Meyer Photography Traveling Fellowship, explores the margins of gender expression and seeks to question the notion of gender.
The exhibit will be on display through April 4. For more information, visit MICA.edu.
A still from 'Jitters.' (Photo courtesy the filmmaker)
More Hippo fun this weekend
Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.) is hosting a variety of events as usual.
Tonight, the Ladies of LURe present “Lust” with DJ ROsie and the DystRuXion Dancers. There is a $5 cover before midnight which goes up to $7 afterward. Doors open at 10 p.m. All attendees must be 21 or older.
Saturday is the 2012 Mid-Atlantic LeatherSIR, Leatherboy, Community Bootblack and Leather Woman contests for Chesapeake Leather Awareness Pride with DJ Brian Mongeon. Doors open at 1 p.m. and admission is $20. Also that night is Kuhmeleon’s Hit Parade at 10 p.m. featuring dance remixes of the hottest hits.
Wednesday is the weekly bingo game benefitting the GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland. Attendees could win a copy of the new film, “Jitters.”
For more information, visit clubhippo.com.
AIDS Action has Sunday brunch planned
AIDS Action Baltimore is having its 25th anniversary awards brunch Sunday at the Four Seasons Baltimore (200 International Drive) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year, special awards will be given to John G. Bartlett, M.D., Rev. Debra Hickman and Charlie Reid.
Tickets are $100 and available online at aidsactionbaltimore.org.
AIDS Action Baltimore raises money to support its own patient services programs and to advocate for more efficient and more effective treatment services and research programs for people with HIV as well as fair pricing for newly approved drugs and reasonable price increases for all HIV drugs.
It has also recently begun advocating for research, treatment and support services for people with hepatitis C.
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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