Out & About
1455 Literary Arts Summer Festival celebrates queer work
Features Douglas Stuart, Lisa Ling, Sunny Hostin and more

The third annual 1455 Literary Arts Summer Festival will be held from Thursday, July 15 to Saturday, July 17. This free virtual event features 200 literary leaders, from top book award winners to journalists and poets including Douglas Stuart, Lisa Ling, Sunny Hostin and more.
This year’s festival will focus on the power of storytelling and the crucial role it plays not only in creative and academic fields, but far beyond. The gathering will be a rare opportunity for participants to learn from some of today’s most celebrated, diverse, and up-and-coming storytellers, who bring their unique perspectives to timely issues such as politics, race relations, and sexual equality.
As part of the festival, 1455 will also host a Teen Poetry Contest centered around the theme of “Finding Community During Crisis.” The competitors will submit work that is a reflection on or reaction to the contemporary sociopolitical and cultural environment. The winner will receive recognition and an award of $5,000.
For more information about the festival, visit: https://1455litarts.org.
Out & About
Justice-centered theater production comes to D.C.
Mexican Cultural Institute to host ‘La Golondrina’

The Mexican Cultural Institute will host “La Golondrina” on Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at its location on 2829 16th St. NW.
“La Golondrina” is a theater production that aims to elevate the conversation around hate crimes and the urgent need for dialogue and healing. It is also a powerful and deeply moving story that brings to the stage the emotional legacy of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The play explores that tragedy through an intimate encounter between two characters, Amelia (Luz Nicolás) and Ramón (Victor), whose connection unveils grief, love, and the enduring shadow of homophobia.
Tickets for this event are available on the Cultural Institute’s website.
Out & About
Celebrate Pride with a thoughtful book club
Second edition of ‘Books and Wine’ held at Urban Grape DC

Meet the World Image Solutions will host the second edition of “Books and Wine” on Thursday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Urban Grape DC, a Black- and woman-owned winery in Washington, D.C.
The featured authors are: Beautiful Lawson, Chanele Ramos, and Pamela Coleman. All will read from works that reflect love, resilience, and queer identity across genres. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Calendar
Calendar: May 30-June 5

Friday, May 30
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Crush Dance Bar. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 31
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.
Center Aging Pride Theater Outing will be at 2 p.m. at Constellation Theater Company. Guests will get to attend a showing of “Head Over Heels.” This joyous and jaunty jukebox musical features the music of ‘80s rock band The Go-Go’s. Inspired by the epic story of Arcadia, Head Over Heels is a celebration of self-discovery and queer identity, weaving together Renaissance romance and Greek comedy with fantasy and gender-bending in a laugh-out-loud love story. RSVP on the DC Center’s website.
Sunday, June 1
“Prism at Anthem Row” will be at 8 p.m. at 800 K St., N.W. This is a celebration of fashion, art, and fierce self-expression. Whether you’re remixing your wardrobe, voguing your heart out, or just basking in the rainbow glow, this is your space to live out loud, shop sustainably, and show off your true colors. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
“Reston Pride 2025: RISE UP!” will be at 11 a.m. at Lake Anne Plaza. This event will feature local vendors, food, crafts, and a packed entertainment set. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 2
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” 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 details, email [email protected].
Center Aging Advocacy Meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom. The purpose of these meetings is two-fold. First, participants are welcome to provide guidance and feedback on programs and services for LGBT older adults here at The DC Center. Second, this group will focus on advocating for LGBT older adults in the District of Columbia. For more details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, June 3
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected] or the group’s facilitator [email protected].
Wednesday, June 4
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. For more details, email [email protected].
“Live Reading and Author talk with Princes Manvendra and DeAndre” will be at 6:30 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be an inspiring evening featuring a live reading of “A Royal Commitment: Ten Years of Marriage and Activism,” an intimate Q&A, personal reflections, and a book signing with India’s first openly gay royal couple, Prince Manvendra and Prince DeAndre. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 5
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 with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
-
District of Columbia2 days ago
U.S. Park Service orders Dupont Circle park closed during WorldPride weekend
-
District of Columbia3 days ago
Mayor Bowser hosts WorldPride welcome event after Shakira cancels
-
District of Columbia2 days ago
Here comes the Pride: Freddie Lutz, Johnny Cervantes to wed during WorldPride Parade
-
Opinions3 days ago
Has the LGBTQ rights movement embraced disabled queers?