Arts & Entertainment
Dustin Lance Black defends lack of bisexual characters in ‘When We Rise’
the screenwriter and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ actress debated on Twitter over show
Dustin Lance Black took to Twitter to defend his ABC miniseries “When We Rise” for what has been criticizedĀ as a lack of bisexual representation.
“Grey’s Anatomy” actress Sara Ramirez, who also identifies as bisexual, tweeted her issues with the show saying the show didn’t include “#BiHistory.”
.@WhenWeRiseABC didn’t include #BiHistory & our story needs to be told. #MustRead https://t.co/xaRVHOKrIZ @babn #LaniKaahumanu #bierasure pic.twitter.com/ALOFoywupE
ā Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) March 13, 2017
Black tweeted that the claim was “not true” and there were bisexual characters on the show.
I admire you greatly @SaraRamirez, but this statement is not true. Real bisexual people & bi activists are portrayed in WhenWeRise. https://t.co/fUxlEkRxoM
ā Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) March 14, 2017
His defense stirred more criticism from the bisexual community that the show was not inclusive.
@DLanceBlack respectfully sir ALL Reputable Out & Active #Bisexual+ Elders & Groups completely disagree @SaraRamirez @BABN @FeinMentsch
ā BiNet USA (@BiNetUSA) March 14, 2017
Black responded by saying the issue was with the actual labels not with a lack of bisexual characters. Many disagreed with his views and disputed that bisexual was a term used during the setting of his show.
@DLanceBlack @BiNetUSA Bisexual was a word in 1970. I wouldn’t argue that there aren’t bi characters, they’re simply invisible (as always).
ā Joni Andrea Weiss (@joniw) March 15, 2017
Modern words?!? The term bisexual has been around since the 1890s. ?????? #SayBisexual https://t.co/lY98NuWVcz
ā bisexual.org (@BiDotOrg) March 15, 2017
Black suggests that the solution could be in telling another story but more criticism was raised on why it couldn’t have been included in the first place.
@DLanceBlack See but that’s the frustration I’m seeing. Why do we need our own when we’re supposed to already be part of the LGBT community?
ā RJ Aguiar (@rj4gui4r) March 15, 2017
The screenwriter eventually explained that he was open to learning more about the issue and how bisexuality could become more of a priority in media.
Thank you @DLanceBlack I respect ur thoughts on this. I also respect our LGTQ Bi+ elders. I admire ur reaching out abt this in this manner.
ā Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) March 14, 2017
Perhaps we can set up a time to share our thoughts directly? I’m open to it. DM me if you are. Wishing you well @DLanceBlack
ā Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) March 14, 2017
@rj4gui4r @SaraRamirez Happy to help work on that solution.
ā Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) March 15, 2017
Nightlife
Ed Bailey brings Secret Garden to Project GLOW festival
An LGBTQ-inclusive dance space at RFK this weekend
When does a garden GLOW? When itās run by famed local gay DJ Ed Bailey.
This weekend, music festival Project GLOW at RFK Festival Grounds will feature Baileyās brainchild the Secret Garden, a unique space just for the LGBTQ community that he launched in 2023.
While Project GLOW, running April 27-28, is a stage for massive electronic DJ sets in a large outdoor space, Secret Garden is more intimate, though no less adrenaline-forward. Heās bringing the nightclub to the festival. The garden is a dance area that complements the larger stages, but also stands on its own as a draw for festival-goers. Its focus is on DJs that have a presence and following in the LGBTQ audience world.
āThe Secret Garden is a showcase for what LGBTQ nightlife, and nightclubs in general, are all about,ā he says. āTrue club DJs playing club music for people that want to dance in a fun environment that is high energy and low stress. Itās the cool party inside the bigger party.ā
Project GLOW launched in 2022. Bailey connected with the operators after the first event, and they discussed Bailey curating his own space for 2023. āThey were very clear that they wanted me to lean into the vibrant LGBTQ nightlife of D.C. and allow that community to be very visibly a part of this area.ā
Last year, club icon Kevin Aviance headlined the Secret Garden. The GLOW festival organizers loved the its energy from last year, and so asked Bailey to bring it back again, with an entire year to plan.
This year, Bailey says, he is ābringing in more D.C. nightlife legends.ā Among those are DJ Sedrick, āa DJ and entertainer legend. He was a pivotal part of Tracks nightclub and is such a dynamic force of entertainment,ā says Bailey. āI am excited for a whole new audience to be able to experience his very special brand of DJing!ā
Also, this year brings in Illustrious Blacks, a worldwide DJ duo with roots in D.C.; and āhouse music legendsā DJs Derrick Carter and DJ Spen.
Bailey is focusing on D.C.ās local talent, with a lineup including Diyanna Monet, Strikestone!, Dvonne, Baronhawk Poitier, THABLACKGOD, Get Face, Franxx, Baby Weight, and Flower Factory DJs KS, Joann Fabrixx, and PWRPUFF.
Secret Garden also brings in performers who meld music with dance, theater, and audience interactions for a multi-sensory experience.
Bailey is an owner of Trade and Number Nine, and was previously an owner of Town Danceboutique. Over the last 35 years, Bailey owned and operated more than 10 bars and clubs in D.C. He has an impressive resume, too. Since starting in 1987, heās DJād across the world for parties and nightclubs large and intimate. He says that he opened āin concert for Kylie Minogue, DJed with Junior Vasquez, played giant 10,000-person events, and small underground parties.ā Heās also held residencies at clubs in Atlanta, Miami, and here in D.C. at Tracks, Nation, and Town.Ā
With Secret Garden, Bailey and GLOW aim to bring queer performers into the space not just for LGBTQ audiences, but for the entire music community to meet, learn about, and enjoy. While they might enjoy fandom among queer nightlife, this Garden is a platform for them to meet the entirety of GLOW festival goers.
Weekend-long Project GLOW brings in headliners and artists from EDM and electronic music, with big names like ILLENIUM, Zedd, and Rezz. In all, more than 50 artists will take the three stages at the third edition of Project GLOW, presented by Insomniac (Electric Daisy Carnival) and Club Glow (Echostage, Soundcheck).
Out & About
Washington Improv Theatre hosts āThe Queeriesā
Event to celebrate queer DMV talent and pop culture camp
The Washington Improv Theatre, along with the Mayorās Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Gay Menās Chorus of Washington DC, will team up to host āThe Queeries!ā on Friday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre.
The event will celebrate Queer DMV talent and pop culture camp. With a mixture of audience-submitted nominations and blatantly undemocratically declared winners, āThe Queeries!ā mimics LGBTQ life itself: unfair, but far more fun than the alternative.
The event will be co-hosted by Birdie and Butchie, who have invited some of their favorite bent winos, D.C. “D-listers,” former Senate staffers, and other stars to sashay down the lavender carpet for the selfie-strewn party of the year.
Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased on WITVās website.Ā
Out & About
Drag Underground returns
Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee, Cake Pop! to perform
Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade have teamed up to host āDrag Undergroundā on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Dupont Underground.
Performers include Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee and Cake Pop.
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
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