Bars & Parties
Dustin Lance Black returns to D.C.
A gay rights activist and one of the more politically outspoken members of the film industry is bringing his message to Washington that the time for federal action on gay civil rights is here and now.
Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning gay screenwriter for “Milk,” the 2008 biopic about the life and death of San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk, will speak Monday at the Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St., N.W.
Black will speak with the center’s audience at 8 p.m. General admission is $20; a $50 ticket includes a 7:30 p.m. private reception with Black. The event is sponsored by the JCC’s Gay & Lesbian Outreach & Engagement program.
Black shot to sudden celebrity last year at the Academy Awards when he won for best original screenplay. He wore a white knot to the ceremony as a symbol of solidarity with same-sex marriage supporters and declared in his acceptance of the award that, “I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope … to live my life openly as to who I am, and that one day I could even fall in love and maybe even get married.”
Noting that he first heard of Milk “when I was 13 years old [and] my beautiful mother moved me and my family from a conservative Mormon home in Texas to California,” Black told the audience that “most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.”
Black grew up in a Mormon household in San Antonio, and later moved to Salinas, Calif., when his mother remarried. His father was a former Mormon missionary who had baptized Black’s mother earlier, and he grew up surrounded by Mormon culture. He has said that “my father vanished, literally just took off one day” and that they were “welfare kids” until his mother remarried for the second time. Black was then reared in a military culture as his stepfather was in the Army.
He struggled with his sexual orientation, telling himself he would surely go to hell when he felt attracted to a neighborhood boy at the age of six or seven and that his sexual anguish made him dark, shy and even suicidal until he finally came out in his senior year at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television where he graduated with honors in 1996.
After seeing Rob Epstern’s documentary “The Times of Harvey Milk,” Black has said he decided to do something with the material, wondering why no one had done so yet. In fact, gay filmmaker Gus Van Sant had been working on script ideas for several years. Black devoted three years to researching Milk’s life, then wrote a film on spec and showed it to Milk’s protege, Cleve Jones, who took it to Van Sant, a friend, who decided to make the film based on Black’s script after Sean Penn signed on to the starring role. The rest is Oscar history.
Black also wrote “Pedro,” a documentary profile of AIDS activist and MTV “Real World” personality Pedro Zamora, a film for which Black was just nominated for a Writers Guild of America screenwriting award to be decided at the WGA ceremony in Hollywood and New York in mid February. And he is now moving ahead on the script for Van Sant’s next film, an adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s “The Electric Koolaid Acid Test,” about Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters of the LSD-saturated biker culture in the San Francisco Bay Area of the 1960s.
Black is also preparing to direct his first full-length feature, “What’s Wrong with Virginia?” which he wrote five years ago. He has called it “a very personal story,” one loosely based on his childhood. The drama is about a boy taking care of his impoverished, schizophrenic mother — although the idea is based on another of Black’s family members, not his mother.
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Your guide to D.C.’s queer New Year’s Eve parties
Ring in 2026 with drag, leather, Champagne, and more
With Christmas in the rear view mirror, we can turn our attention to ringing in a much-anticipated New Year with a slew of local LGBTQ parties. Here’s what’s on tap.
Pitchers
This spacious Adams Morgan bar is hosting the “Pitchers’ Perfect New Year’s Eve.” There will be a midnight Champagne toast, the ball drop on the big screens, and no cover, all night long. The bar doesn’t close until 4 a.m., and the kitchen will be open late (though not until close). All five floors will be open for the party, and party favors are promised.
Trade
D.C.’s hottest bar/club combo is leaning into the Shark motif with its NYE party, “Feeding Frenzy.” The party is a “glitterati-infused Naughty-cal New Year’s Even in the Shark Tank, where the boats are churning and the sharks are circling.” Trade also boasts no cover charge, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the aforementioned Shark Tank opening at 9 p.m.. Four DJs will be spread across the two spaces; midnight hostess is played by Vagenesis and the two sea sirens sensuously calling are Anathema and Justin Williams.
Number Nine
While Trade will have two DJs as part of one party, Number Nine will host two separate parties, one on each floor. The first floor is classic Number Nine, a more casual-style event with the countdown on TVs and a Champagne midnight toast. There will be no cover and doors open at 5 p.m. Upstairs will be hosted by Capital Sapphics for its second annual NYE gathering. Tickets (about $50) include a midnight Champagne toast, curated drink menu, sapphic DJ set by Rijak, and tarot readings by Yooji.
Crush
Crush will kick off NYE with a free drag bingo at 8 p.m. for the early birds. Post-bingo, there will be a cover for the rest of the evening, featuring two DJs. The cover ($20 limited pre-sale that includes line skip until 11 p.m.; $25 at the door after 9 p.m.) includes one free N/A or Crush, a Champagne toast, and party favors (“the legal kind”). More details on Eventbrite.
Bunker
This subterranean lair is hosting a NYE party entitled “Frosted & Fur: Aspen After Dark New Year’s Eve Celebration.” Arriety from Rupaul Season 15 is set to host, with International DJ Alex Lo. Doors open at 9 p.m. and close at 3 p.m.; there is a midnight Champagne toast. Cover is $25, plus an optional $99 all-you-can-drink package.
District Eagle
This leather-focused bar is hosting “Bulge” for its NYE party. Each District Eagle floor will have its own music and vibe. Doors run from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. and cover is $15. There will be a Champagne toast at midnight, as well as drink specials during the event.
Kiki, Shakiki
Kiki and its new sister bar program Shakiki (in the old Shakers space) will have the same type of party on New Year’s Eve. Both bars open their doors at 5 p.m. and stay open until closing time. Both will offer a Champagne toast at midnight. At Kiki, DJ Vodkatrina will play; at Shakiki, it’ll be DJ Alex Love. Kiki keeps the party going on New Year’s Day, opening at 2 p.m., to celebrate Kiki’s fourth anniversary. There will be a drag show at 6 p.m. and an early 2000s dance party 4-8 p.m.
Spark
This bar and its new menu of alcoholic and twin N/A drinks will host a NYE party with music by DJ Emerald Fox. Given this menu, there will be a complimentary toast at midnight, guests can choose either sparkling wine with or without alcohol. No cover, but Spark is also offering optional wristbands at the door for $35 open bar 11 p.m.-1 a.m. (mid-shelf liquor & all NA drinks).
Bars & Parties
Mixtape Sapphics hosts holiday party on Dec. 13
‘Sugar & Spice’ night planned for Saturday
Mixtape Sapphics will host “Sapphic Sugar & Spice: A Naughty-Nice Mixtape Holiday Party” on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. at Amsterdam Lounge.
This is a festive, grown holiday party for queer women and sapphics 35 and older at Revolt’s Christmas pop-up. There will be music, joy, and an optional White Elephant.
This is Mixtape Sapphics’ first-ever holiday party — a cozy, flirty, intentionally grounded night created just for queer women and sapphics 35+ who want real connection, festive joy, and a warm place to land at the end of the year.
Tickets start at $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Bars & Parties
Impulse Group DC to host fundraiser
Giving Tuesday and Happy Hour held at Thurst Lounge
Impulse Group DC, a local advocacy organization, will host “Giving Tuesday and Happy Hour” on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at Thurst Lounge.
This event is a special happy hour fundraiser filled with good vibes, great food, and community connection. DJ Obie will be on deck keeping the energy high while you enjoy tacos, cocktails, and the kind of atmosphere only Thurst can deliver.
A portion of every signature cocktail sold goes directly toward supporting Impulse Group D.C.’s work in sexual health, mental health, harm reduction, and social justice for the D.C. community.
Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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