Looking for fun LGBTQ events this summer in D.C.? Comedy, drag, history—it’s all here.

Friday, July 18, 7 P.M. Lesbian Happy Hour @ Ven at Embassy Row (2015 Mass Ave NW). Are you a Lesbian looking for a group of sapphic friends or love? Look no further than the three-hour happy hour at the Ven Hotel. Enjoy specials on beer, canned cocktails, and select wine with karaoke in the gallery of the hotel. Take in the “Let’s Stand for Love” LGBTQ art exhibit while meeting other female-identifying women who love women and enjoy a drink. The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at Meetup.com.

Saturday, July 19, 11 A.M. LGBTQ+ Community Brunch @ Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant (555 23rd St. S, Arlington, Virginia 22202).
Join TJ Flavel and the Go Gay DC team as they support one of the longest running LGBTQ+ establishments in the DMV while meeting new LGBTQ community members and allies for brunch. Cost is free to attend, but food is pay for yourself. Tickets are required for a head count. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.

Sunday, July 20, 8 P.M. 2025 DC Drag Awards @ Trade (1410 14th St NW).
Join some of D.C.’s most revered drag performers as they put on the third annual D.C. Drag Awards. Watch as Evry Pleasure, Crystal Edge, and Cake Pop! Host a night dedicated to honoring all things LGBTQ nightlife. From the best DJs, Drag Queens (and Kings!), and much more. The event is 21+ with tickets $10 available online at sickening.events or at the door day of.

Wednesday, July 23, 7 P.M. LGBTQ+ Women’s History Walking Tour @ Logan Circle. Take a one-hour guided tour focusing on the accomplishments and history of LGBTQ women in the Logan Circle neighborhood, including the queer women poets and scholars of D.C.’s Black Renaissance, the historic Sisterspace bookstore, and much more. The tour will be given by a Rainbow History Project researcher and will cover the west side of Logan Circle to 14th Street. Tickets are pay-what-you-can at eventbrite.com.

Thursday, July 24, 6:30 P.M. LGBTQ+ Museum After Hours @ Capital Jewish Museum (575 3rd St., N.W.). Looking for a fabulous way to celebrate queer Jewish history in D.C.? Head to the Capital Jewish Museum for LGBT Jews in the Federal City After Hours—a night of storytelling, cocktails, and glittering drag, Explore the museum’s powerful exhibition with curator spotlight talks, lavender gin and tonics from the cash bar, make your own Pride button, and catch electrifying drag performances by ANDi EROGENOUS, Druex Sidora, and many more. Catalyst Hot Dogs Food Truck will be on site (with veggie and vegan options). Tickets include access to all exhibitions and cost $10 for members and $15 for general admission. Must be 21+ with valid ID. Tickets available at capitaljewishmuseum.org.

Friday, July 25, 10 P.M. Broke Gay Boys @ BUNKER (2001 14th St NW)
Summer’s been hot—but your bank account? Not so much. Enter Broke Gay Boys, BUNKER’s monthly recession-friendly rager for the fabulous and financially unstable. There’s no cover all night with $6 drinks until midnight and a whole lot of sweaty, stress-free dancing. This month features the return of NYC DJ Autogyro, spinning high-energy house and techno to help you forget about that Fire Island impulse trip or your mounting brunch debt. Come party like your rent’s not due. 21+ only.

Saturday, July 26, 9 P.M. JOX: Underwear Party @ The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct NW). Strip down and gear up for JOX, the original Green Lantern underwear party. This monthly bash invites you to show off your best jocks, briefs, or boxers on a packed dance floor fueled by beats from DJ Jake Maxwell. All genders are welcome with a $5 cover at the door- that includes complimentary clothes check. The party starts at 9PM and goes late. 21+ only.

Sunday, July 27, 1:30 P.M. Gaymer’s Tabletop Sunday @ MLK Jr. Library (901 G St NW) room 401-G. Join DC’s LGBTQ board game group DC Gaymers as they play classic and new board games with fellow LGBTQ board game enthusiasts. For more information, visit the DC Gaymers’ instagram at dc.gaymers.

Monday, July 28, 8 P.M. CLOCKED Comedy x SqueakyFest ’25 @ As You Are (500 8th St SE). In honor of Disability Pride Month, CLOCKED Comedy is teaming up with nonprofit The Squeaky Wheel SqueakyFest ’25—the first-ever national disability comedy festival. Catch hysterical sets from disabled DMV superstars including Brian Beddoe, Lee Swanson, host Ryan Schaefer, and headliner Jenny Cavallero. Expect wit, unapologetic humor, and a lineup that proves laughter is the best medicine—especially when healthcare isn’t accessible. Tickets benefit Squeaky Wheel Media. Tickets are $15 and available at As You Are’s linktree (linktr.ee/ayadc).

Wednesday, July 30, 7 P.M. LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour @ Dupont Circle.
Take a one-hour guided tour of the west side of Dupont and the P Street corridor. The tour will be given by a Rainbow History Project researcher and will a multitude of topics and events including the Gay Liberation Front of the 1970s, Queer spaces like Badlands and Apex, how Lesbians swallowed fire at the First Dyke March, and how P Street beach became one of the cruising spots in the city. Tickets are pay-what-you-can at eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, July 30, 8 P.M. LGBTQ+ Self-Defense Seminar @ VIDA Fitness – U Street (1612 U St NW). Looking to feel safer, stronger, and more supported? Join the DC LGBTQ Community Center and the Wanda Alston Foundation for a free Jiu-Jitsu self-defense seminar designed specifically for LGBTQ+ survivors of partner violence. Held at VIDA Fitness on U Street, this empowering evening will cover practical techniques to boost confidence, foster safety, and connect you with affirming resources. The seminar is free, but space is limited — and a signed waiver is required to participate. Must be 21+ with valid photo ID. RSVP is available at wandaalstonfoundation.org.

Thursday, July 31, 9 P.M. Deep Cvnt: CVNTRY Mini Ball Deluxe @ Crush (2007 14th St NW). Giddy up, glam fam! Deep Cvnt is back for another wild ride with a CVNTRY Mini Ball Deluxe—a queer rodeo hoedown like no other. Throw on your cowboy hat, dust off your chaps, and head to Crush for a night of high-energy ballroom, fashion, and fierce competition. Join the stacked panel of judges including Bombshell Monroe, Tonka Garcon, Aphrodite, Bang 500, and Girliepop! Expect a rodeo chitlin circuit with a whole lot of cvnt. 21+ only.

Thursday, July 31, 2025 5 P.M. Live at the Library @ The Library of Congress (101 Independence Ave SE). Step into the Library of Congress for one of the coolest happy hours in the city. Immersing yourself in the library’s exhibits, collections and programs with drinks and food (available for purchase) in some of the most stunning spaces in the District. Tickets are free but required. They are available at loc.gov.

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 P.M. – Movie in the Park: “The Greatest Showman” @ Stead Park (1625 P St NW). Join the community for an enchanting outdoor screening of “The Greatest Showman” under the stars at Stead Park. Celebrate individuality, inclusion, and the magic of being unapologetically yourself with the help of Zendaya, Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Michelle Williams. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and your chosen family—no tickets required.

Sure, we know everybody’s talking about the Emmy nominations right now, but they aren’t the only TV awards in town.

On July 8, GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced the winners of its 17th Dorian TV Awards.

With more than 560 critics, journalists, and media icons making up its membership, GALECA is the second largest entertainment journalists’ group in the world, and they present their Dorian Awards – named in honor of Oscar Wilde, the celebrated queer writer who penned “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and who serves as something like the group’s patron saint – to honor the best in film, television, and theater at separate times during each year. Frequently, many Dorian nominees and winners presage similar honors from the more mainstream awards bodies, reminding the world that the informed LGBTQ perspective on all things entertainment definitely matters; at the same time, however, the Dorians also include several queer-centric categories that are unique to them, providing an opportunity to amplify the reach of more unsung and off-the-radar material which might otherwise be overlooked.

For this year’s TV awards – which, as always, honor both mainstream and queer-focused content across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms – streaming giant Max scored big. Their new, genre-expanding hit “The Pitt” was awarded Best TV Drama, with veteran star Noah Wyle earning Best Leading TV Performance (Drama) for his role on the show. A parallel double victory was bestowed in the comedy categories, where Max triumphed once more with “Hacks” winning both Best TV Comedy and Best Lead Performance (Comedy) for star Jean Smart (both winning for the third year in a row), and her co-star, Hannah Einbinder, took the Best Supporting TV Performance (Comedy) win for a second time. “Hacks” also scored wins as Best LGBTQ TV Show and Best-Written TV Show (Comedy).

Smart also added an additional accolade to her ever-growing tally, winning GALECA’s TV Icon Award, an annual career achievement honor previously bestowed on the likes of Jennifer Coolidge, Christine Baranski and Carol Burnett. Other special accolades: nonbinary multi-hyphenate Cole Escola (creator-star of the outlandish Broadway smash “Oh, Mary!”) earned GALECA’s “Wilde Wit” Award, following in the footsteps of such past winners as Julio Torres, Wanda Sykes, Bowen Yang and John Oliver; and Ncuti Gatwa – the Rwandan-born Scottish actor who is the first Black and out queer performer to portray the title character in BBC’s long-running sci-fi hit “Doctor Who” – was named as LGBTQIA+ TV Trailblazer.

Other noteworthy wins: “Andor,” the boldly queer-inclusive (and anti-fascist) Disney Plus “Star Wars” spin-off about the rise of the galactic resistance against an authoritarian empire, was named as Best Genre TV Show; “Overcompensating,” the sexy-but-sweet collegiate comedy from viral internet star Benito Skinner and Amazon Prime Video, took the prize for Best Unsung TV Show; Peacock’s Alan Cumming-hosted “The Traitors” won double honors as both Best Reality Show and “Campiest” TV Show (the Dorians’ cheekiest prize); the HBO two-parter “Pee-wee as Himself” defeated all competitors to win as both Best TV Documentary and Best LGBTQ TV Documentary; and “Wicked” fans will be glad to hear that the movie’s stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (the group’s LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer honoree earlier this year) came in on top of the TV Musical Performance category, beating out a highly competitive field that included Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, to win with a medley of tunes from “The Wizard of Oz” and its various descendents on ABC’s broadcast of the 97th Academy Awards.

“This year’s Dorian TV winners prove once again that queer folks have an especially keen eye for stellar TV, using our culture’s lens to elevate the bold, brilliant, and blissfully bonkers,” said Diane Anderson-Minshall, GALECA’s Executive Director. “From Hacks’ dazzling domination to Ncuti Gatwa’s historic trailblazing, we’re proud to celebrate a wildly entertaining spectrum of talent and storytelling.”

Added GALECA’s President, Walt Hickey, “The Dorian Awards this year illustrate more than anything the depth and quality of TV right now, especially when it comes to shows by and for LGBTQ+ people. This year’s crop of winners made us laugh, inspired us, and delivered some of the most intense and rewarding performances many of our members have ever seen.”

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and its Dorian Awards honor the best in film, television, and theater at separate times of the year. With over 560 members, GALECA. A nonprofit organization, GALECA also advocates for better pay, access, and respect for entertainment journalists (especially those most underrepresented), providing scholarships for LGBTQ journalism students and more.

2025 DORIAN TV AWARD WINNERS, FULL LIST

BEST TV DRAMA
Andor (Disney+)
The Last of Us (HBO)
The Pitt (Max)
Severance (Apple TV+)
The White Lotus (HBO)

BEST TV COMEDY
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Hacks (Max)
The Rehearsal (HBO)
Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
The Studio (Apple TV+)

BEST LGBTQ TV SHOW
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Hacks (Max)
Heartstopper (Netflix)
Overcompensating (Amazon Prime Video)
Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
Rebel Ridge (Netflix)

BEST WRITTEN TV SHOW
Andor (Disney+)
Hacks (Max)
The Pitt (Max)
Severance (Apple TV+)
The White Lotus (HBO)

BEST UNSUNG TV SHOW
English Teacher (FX on Hulu)
Evil (Paramount+)
Fantasmas (HBO)
Mid-Century Modern (Hulu)
Overcompensating (Amazon Prime Video)

BEST NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE TV SHOW
Elite (Netflix)
My Brilliant Friend (HBO)
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Netflix)
Pachinko (Apple TV+)
Squid Game (Netflix)
Threesome (ViaPlay)

BEST LGBTQ NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE TV SHOW
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld (Hulu)
The Boyfriend (Netflix)
Elite (Netflix)
The Secret of the River (Netflix)
Threesome (Viaplay)
When No One Sees Us (Max)

BEST TV PERFORMANCE – DRAMA
Colin Farrell, The Penguin (HBO)
Stephen Graham, Adolescence (Netflix)
Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
Diego Luna, Andor (Disney+)
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin (HBO)
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us (HBO)
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us (HBO)
Adam Scott, Severance (Apple TV+)
Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Noah Wyle, The Pitt (Max)

BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE—DRAMA
Carrie Coon, The White Lotus (HBO)
Owen Cooper, Adolescence (Netflix)
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt (Max)
Erin Doherty, Adolescence (Netflix)
Walton Goggins, The White Lotus (HBO)
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt (Max)
Genevieve O’Reilly, Andor (Disney+)
Parker Posey, The White Lotus (HBO)
Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Tramell Tillman, Severance (Apple TV+)

BEST TV PERFORMANCE—COMEDY
Uzo Aduba, The Residence (Netflix)
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
Nathan Fielder, The Rehearsal (HBO)
Kathryn Hahn, Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face (Peacock)
Seth Rogen, The Studio (Apple TV+)
Benito Skinner, Overcompensating (Amazon Prime Video)
Jean Smart, Hacks (Max)

BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE—COMEDY
Ike Barinholtz, The Studio (Apple TV+)
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons (Netflix)
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks (Max)
Kathryn Hahn, The Studio (Apple TV+)
Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
Holmes, Overcompensating (Amazon Prime Video)
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Linda Lavin, Mid-Century Modern (Hulu)
Catherine O’Hara, The Studio (Apple TV+)
Meg Stalter, Hacks (Max)

BEST TV MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Beyoncé, “Cowboy Carter” medley, Beyoncé Bowl (Ravens vs. Texans Halftime Show) (Netflix)
Doechii, “Catfish” / “Denial Is a River,” 67th Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, “Oz Medley” (“The Wizard of Oz,” “The Wiz,” “Wicked”), 97th Academy Awards (ABC)
Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Ali Ahn, Sasheer Zamata, “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road,” Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Kendrick Lamar, “Squabble Up,” “Humble,” etc., Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show (Fox)

BEST TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Deaf President Now! (Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (Max)
Pee-wee as Himself (HBO)
The Rehearsal (HBO)
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (Peacock)

BEST LGBTQ TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution (PBS)
Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara (Hulu)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (Netflix)
Pee-wee as Himself (HBO)
Queer Planet (Peacock)

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney (Netflix)
Hot Ones (YouTube)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

BEST GENRE TV SHOW
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Andor (Disney+)
Black Mirror (Netflix)
The Last of Us (HBO)
Severance (Apple TV+)

BEST ANIMATED SHOW
Big Mouth (Netflix)
Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
Harley Quinn (Max)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)

MOST VISUALLY STRIKING TV SHOW
Adolescence (Netflix)
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Andor (Disney+)
Severance (Apple TV+)
The White Lotus (HBO)

BEST REALITY SHOW
The Amazing Race (CBS)
The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)

CAMPIEST TV SHOW
Doctor Odyssey (ABC)
Mid-Century Modern (Hulu)
Overcompensating (Amazon Prime)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
The Traitors (Peacock)

WILDE WIT AWARD
Quinta Brunson
Alan Cumming
Hannah Einbinder
Cole Escola
Nathan Fielder

GALECA TV ICON AWARD
Gillian Anderson
Angela Bassett
Alan Cumming
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Jean Smart

GALECA LGBTQIA+ TV TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Jonathan Bailey
Greg Berlanti
Ncuti Gatwa
Bella Ramsey
Mike White

The 2025 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced, and a few of this year’s key frontrunners have particularly resonated with the LGBTQ+ community during a politically turbulent year.

Coming off Season 3’s win for outstanding comedy series, Hacks Season 4 was nominated for 14 awards, with Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Julianne Nicholson, and Robby Hoffman being recognized for their performances. Since the show premiered in 2021, each season has explored the comedy and entertainment industry through the lens of generational differences between queer writer Ava (Einbinder) and the old-school Deborah (Smart).

While Smart has won outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for all three seasons, this year could be the chance for Einbinder, who identifies as bisexual, to finally take home a prize of her own in supporting actress. And if Season 4 nabs the outstanding comedy series crown yet again, it’ll be another huge moment for bisexual representation. But it will have to fend off the industry satire The Studio, which received a staggering 23 nominations for its breakout first season.

Another one of this year’s most high-profile contenders, The Last of Us, received 16 nominations for its second season, including non-binary actor Bella Ramsey, lead actor Pedro Pascal, and supporting/guest actors Kaitlyn Dever, Jeffrey Wright, Joe Pantoliano, and Catherine O’Hara.

Notably, though, Season 2 has been hit by much more backlash, much of which has been fueled by homophobic anger at the love story between Ellie (Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced). Merced, who identifies as queer, was widely praised for her turn as Dina, but was not nominated for supporting actress. And while Season 1 received 24 nominations, Season 2 lost out on a few, bringing The Last of Us down a notch in its overall standing.

There were other snubs as well. Mid-Century Modern, the gay sitcom starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham, and Linda Lavin, did not see any of its actors nominated. It also missed out on the Best Comedy Series category, for which it was considered a contender, although it did still receive four below-the-line nominations.

However, other openly queer actors were nominated, even for roles or shows not explicitly exploring queer issues or characters. Those include Colman Domingo for The Four Seasons, Cynthia Erivo for Poker Face, Michael Urie for Shrinking, Cooper Koch for Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story, and Bowen Yang for Saturday Night Live.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the Emmys without RuPaul, who became the most-nominated reality host in Emmys history after landing his 10th nomination for RuPaul’s Drag Race. He’s also nominated alongside Alan Cumming of The Traitors fame. And in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction special category, the critically acclaimed Will & Harper and Pee-wee as Himself were nominated, and are both considered strong contenders to win.

TV fans can find out which of their favorite queer actors or shows take home top prizes on Sunday, Sept. 14, with Nate Bargatze hosting the 77th annual awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.