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Calendar for March 19

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Friday, March 19

Gay District meets at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W., from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Gay District is a weekly, non-church affiliated discussion and social group for GBTQ men between 18 and 35. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Friday night Erev Shabbat Services are held 8:30-10 p.m. at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. Services are followed by a social event. Please use the Q Street entrance.

St. Patrick’s Hangover bear party at Motley Bar above EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St., N.W., 6 p.m.-3 a.m. with host Tim Woody and DJ Jim Gade. There will be prizes, green beer and more.

Excursion at Fly Lounge: The Cherry Fund marks National Women’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with a happy hour to benefit the Women’s Collective and their work. From 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1802 Jefferson Place, N.W. Tickets are $10 with comp admission for Fresh members and Cherry pass holders.

Brodeo: A DC Cowboys event, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at Remingtons, 639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. Proceeds benefit the DC Cowboys on their mission to provide free entertainment for HIV/AIDS charity organizations.

“Grease,” the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents a fully staged, all-male production of the Broadway musical at Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., N.W. (See full story on page 28)

Saturday, March 20

Volunteer opportunity, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Capital Area Food Bank, 645 Taylor St., N.E. Volunteers will go through orientation, watch a short film then work will most likely involve sorting and packaging donated food.

Team DC Fashion Show at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St., N.W., 8 p.m.-3 a.m. $10 cover benefits Team DC college scholoarship. Models will have four clothing changes representing club wear, swimsuit, underwear and leather/sports/fetish. The model with the highest score wins $500, a professional photo shoot with Robert Mercer photography and becomes an automatic finalist to be considered for the 2011 Ripped Genes calendar.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network holds its annual national dinner featuring Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) at the National Building Museum, 401 F St., N.W. Tickets start at $250; reception at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:45 p.m. Visit sldn.org for information.

BARE-Military Style, presented by the Ladies of LURe at Cobalt, 1639 R St., N.W. Fundraising event benefiting Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Come dressed in camo, war paint or just come out to show support. Doors at 10 p.m. (free admission with ticket from the SLDN National Dinner); 21 and up with ID. For more information visit sldn.org.

Misstallica, an all-girl tribute to Metallica, plays the 9:30 club, 815 V St., N.W. Doors at 8 p.m. For tickets, call 877-435-9849 or visit 930.com.

Oscar winning actress Mo’nique performs standup at DAR Constitution Hall, 18th & C streets, N.W., 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39.50; visit ticketmaster.com.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley shows off his biceps and his singing voice as O’Malley’s March plays the Recher Theatre, 512 York Rd., Towson, MD. Show is at 8 p.m.; tickets $20. For information, call 410-337-7178 or visit rechertheatre.com.

Sunday, March 21

Gay favorite “Hairspray” is performed at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Route 29 & Little Patuxent Parkway, 10:30 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $46; call 301-596-6161.

Nurse Jackie season two premiere party at Public Bar, 1214 B 18th St., N.W. Join HRC and Showtime for a screening of the Nurse Jackie season one finale and the season two premiere, followed by an after party. Buy tickets at hrc.org/nursejackiedc. General admission, $10 suggested donation; VIP tickets, $75 (includes two drink tickets and private VIP viewing area)

Monday, March 22

Whitman-Walker Clinic substance abuse support group at the Max Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Ave., SE, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Marc Maron, well-known comedic performer who has appeared on HBO, David Letterman and Comedy Central, hits the main stage at Black Cat, 1811 14th St., N.W., 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, call 202-667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.

Tuesday, March 23

Packing party at EFN Lounge/Motley Bar, 1318 9th St., N.W., from 7-8 p.m. Volunteers will assemble safer sex kits and enjoy drink specials.

Wednesday, March 24

Hollaback Transgender Support Group meets from 6:30-8 p.m. in the DC Center activity room. Hollaback is a program of the DC Community AIDS Network and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The DC Center is located at 1810 14th St., N.W., convenient to the U Street/Cardozo Metro stop.

Secrets monthly amateur dancer contest night at the Ziegfeld’s/Secrets entertainment complex, 1824 Half Street, S.W., from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Participant sign-up starts at 10 p.m., contest begins at 11 p.m. First prize is $300 cash; hosted by Destiny B. Childs with music by DJ tim-e.

Thursday, March 25

Career development at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., 4:30–6:30 p.m., brings trained volunteer human resource professionals to offer support with job searches, interviews skills, resume writing and individual career goal counseling. For more information, contact the Center at 202-682-2245 or careerdevelopmentthedccenter.org.

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Sports

Jason Collins dies at 47

First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer

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Jason Collins (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.

The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.

Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.

Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.

Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.

The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar.  We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”  

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”

“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”

“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”

The Washington Blade will update this article with additional reaction when it becomes available.

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Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

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'Studio 69' was held at Bunker on Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week

Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.

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The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.

Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip

Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026 

⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP

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