Arts & Entertainment
D.C. arts briefs: April 6
‘Alice in Wonderland’ ballet, Rehoboth Women’s FEST and more
The Washington Ballet’s world premiere of Septime Webre’s ‘Alice (in Wonderland)’ starring Jonathan Jordan as the White Rabbit and Maki Onuki as Alice opens Thursday, with a preview on Wednesday. (Photo by Steve Vaccariello; courtesy Washington Ballet)
‘Alice’ ballet debuts at Kennedy Center
The Washington Ballet presents the world premiere of openly gay director Septime Webre’s “Alice (in Wonderland)” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with a preview on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
“Alice” starts with the real Alice (Alice Liddell) at home with her family and friend, Lewis Carroll. Webre brings in real people from Liddell’s life, masked as the characters in Carroll’s story. Her mother becomes the Queen of Hearts and her sisters become Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
The show runs through April 15.
Tickets range from $50 to $155 and can be purchased online at washingtonballet.org orkennedy-center.org.
LGBT content among Filmfest D.C. offerings
Filmfest D.C., the Washington International Film Festival, opens Thursday and runs through April 22. The festival will include two films with LGBT themes, “Leave It On the Dance Floor” and “Facing Mirrors.”
“Leave It On the Dance Floor” takes place in Los Angeles and tells the story of Brad, kicked out by his homophobic mother, as he enters of the world of “houses” like those from “Paris is Burning.” It will be shown on April 13 at 6:30 p.m. and April 14 at 9 p.m.
“Facing Mirrors” takes place in contemporary Tehran and tells the story of Rana, a woman driving her jailed husband’s taxi. She picks up a rich, pre-op transgender man on the run from an arranged marriage. It will be shown on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. and April 15 at 2:15 p.m.
Both films will be screened at the Naval Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.).
Individual tickets are $11 for general admission. The Director’s Package, which includes 10 tickets, is $80 and the Weekday Package, which includes four tickets, is $33.
For more information, including a complete list of films and ticket information, visitfilmfestdc.org.
Team D.C. to hold sports mingling event
Team D.C. is having its annual Sportsfest at Room and Board Furniture (1840 14th St., NW.) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
This open house event will give attendees the opportunity to meet and talk to players representing nearly every LGBT sports group in the D.C. area, including D.C. Gay Flag Football League, Capital Area Rainbowlers Association, Washington Renegades, Washington Wetskins and more.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but $10 gets three drink tickets for the beer and vodka bar sponsored by Nellie’s.
Rehoboth Women’s FEST next weekend
CAMP Rehoboth has its Women’s FEST kicks off Thursday and runs through April 15.
The festival started as a one-day event for lesbians. Organizer and Rehoboth Beach lesbian Fay Jacobs says it’s the largest mid-Atlantic lesbian event drawing about 2,000 women each year. This year’s focus is entertainment.
Events will be held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and other nearby sites. There will be a golf tournament, photo exhibit, workshops on sexuality and women’s health and receptions for several of the resort town’s restaurants and bars.
Among those featured this year are Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, whose coming out story in the military inspired a book and movie, comedians Suzanne Westenhoefer and Poppy Champlin, as well as singer Tret Fure.
Several authors, among them Sally Bellerose, one of this year’s Lambda Literary Award nominees, will be signing books at Proud Books on April 13 and doing additional readings from their books at the Convention Center on April 14.
Ticket prices vary, depending on level of participation but a Women’s FEST pass is available from CAMP Rehoboth for $60. This pass will allow access to most of the events. To purchase tickets or to obtain more information, visit camprehoboth.com.
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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