Arts & Entertainment
Calendar for May 7

Friday, May 7
The international hit, “Naked Boys Singing!” will heat up the beginning of summer. The D.C. production will premiere a song by the original writers created especially for local audiences. The show will run from May 7-June 13 at 1409 Playbill Cafe, 1409 14th St., N.W. Visit ganymedearts.org/NBS.htm for tickets.
RAW will return to the Green Lantern, located at 1335 Green Court, N.W., from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Raw is an electro-disco party on the first Friday of each month inspired by gay parties of the early 80s. Join your host, Karl Marks and resident DJs Shea and Bil for some dirty retro fun. Fill your night with fog, lasers, strobe lights and throbbing music. Free entry before 11 p.m., cover is just $3 after that.
Shawn Colvin performs at the Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45; call 703-549-7500 for information.
Saturday, May 8
It’s a family-friendly celebration of marriage equality at “My Big Fat Gay Wedding Reception,” 7-10 p.m., All Souls Church, Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St., N.W. Tickets are $50/individual or $100/family available at all-souls.org. Magician and child care for the kids; dancing and door prizes for the adults.
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s 53rd annual Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour. Hours for the tour are Saturday, 4–8 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The Sunday refreshments break at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church is from 2–4:30 p.m. Tour tickets are $25 in advance ($20 for CHRS members) and $30 the weekend of the tour. They may be purchased at www.chrs.org and at select venues around the Hill (locations available at the CHRS web site).
History will be made tonight when Betty White hosts Saturday Night Live for the first time. In honor of this momentous occasion, Shaaron Van Riggins is throwing a special party at Duplex Diner, 2004 18th St., N.W. Watch the live SNL telecast (which starts at 11:30 p.m.) plus “hijacked” commercial breaks, drink specials, including Betty White-themed cocktails, music by DJs Shea Van Horn + Aaron Riggins, and prizes for best WHITE and BETTY WHITE inspired costumes.
Fuego’s Got Talent contest, 1818 New York Ave, N.E., from 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. Hosted by the Queen of the House “Miss Gigi Paris Couture” and featuring music from DJ Flaco. To enter the contest contact Philip at www.facebook.com/marquesadoyle
Mousetrap, billed as D.C.’s “biggest Britpop dance night” is held at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St., N.W., on the main stage at 9:30 p.m. Tickets $10. Visit blackcatdc.com for information.
Madonnarama at Town, 2009 8th St., N.W. (corner of 8th & U) features performances by the Ladies of Town and the Town dancers. Doors open at 10 p.m., drag show at 10:30 p.m.; music and videos downstairs by Wess. $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 thereafter.
The Whitman-Walker Clinic HIV Mobile Testing will be at Apex, 1415 22nd St., N.W., 10 p.m.–1:30 a.m.
Sunday, May 9
Meditation and Prayers for World Peace at the Vajroyogini Buddhist Center, 1803 Connecticut Ave., N.W., 2nd floor. Without first developing inner peace, world peace will remain impossible to achieve. These classes include a short teaching, guided meditations and prayers for world peace. For more information visit www.meditation-dc.org or contact 202-986-2257 or [email protected]
Monday, May 10
The Imperial Court of Washington, D.C. will hold a “Town Hall Meet and Greet” at 7 p.m. at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W. The Imperial Court’s sole mission is to raise funds for the community, give back more than it receives, and to help raise awareness for important causes.
Country Western Dance Lessons at Remingtons, 639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., 8:30-9:30 p.m., $5 per person, per lesson. (Dance class participants should wear boots or shoes with leather soles.)
Tuesday, May 11
MAsT (Masters and Slaves Together) monthly meeting from 7:30–9 p.m. at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W. For more information about this group visit: http://mastwashington.org.
Volunteers will be assembling safer sex kits and enjoying drink specials at Motley, 7-10:30 p.m. Motley is the upstairs bar at EFN Lounge, located at 1318 9th St N.W.
Drag Bingo at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W., hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee, every Tuesday starting at 8 p.m. Free to play.
Wednesday, May 12
Rainbow Response monthly meeting at the DC Center, 1810 14th Street N.W., from 7-8 p.m. Regular meeting of individuals and agencies collaborating to address intimate partner violence among LGBTQ people in the greater DC area. This meeting normally occurs on the second Wednesday of each month. Check www.rainbowresponse.org for additional information.
Each Wednesday at the Green Lantern is POZ Wednesday. Starting at 8 p.m., POZ mixers provide a supportive atmosphere for those who are HIV positive and those who want to help eradicate the stigma surrounding HIV. The Green Lantern is located at 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Thursday, May 13
Active Duty Thursday at Motley Bar above EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St., N.W., $3. First drink is free with a military ID.
Photos
PHOTOS: Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza
LGBTQ celebration held in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza was held on Sunday, June 29 at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, Md.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)























The fifth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held on Saturday, June 28. A march through the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, Va. was followed by a festival at Riverfront Park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)



















India
Anaya Bangar challenges ban on trans women in female cricket teams
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar’s daughter has received support

Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has partnered with the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport in the U.K. to assess her physiological profile following her gender-affirming surgery and undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
From January to March 2025, the 23-year-old underwent an eight-week research project that measured her glucose levels, oxygen uptake, muscle mass, strength, and endurance after extensive training.
The results, shared via Instagram, revealed her metrics align with those of cisgender female athletes, positioning her as eligible for women’s cricket under current scientific standards. Bangar’s findings challenge the International Cricket Council’s 2023 ban on transgender athletes in women’s cricket, prompting her to call for a science-based dialogue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the ICC to reform policies for trans inclusion.
“I am talking with scientific evidence in my hand,” Bangar said in an interview posted to her Instagram page. “So, I hope, this makes an impact and I will be hoping to BCCI and ICC talking with me and discussing this further.”
On Nov. 21, 2023, the ICC enacted a controversial policy barring trans women from international women’s cricket. Finalized after a board meeting in Ahmedabad, India, the regulation prohibits any trans player who has experienced male puberty from competing, irrespective of gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy. Developed through a 9-month consultation led by the ICC’s Medical Advisory Committee, the rule aims to safeguard the “integrity, safety, and fairness” of women’s cricket but has drawn criticism for excluding athletes like Canada’s Danielle McGahey, the first trans woman to play internationally. The policy, which allows domestic boards to set their own rules, is slated for review by November 2025.
Bangar shared a document on social media verifying her participation in a physiological study at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, conducted from Jan. 20 to March 3, 2025, focused on cricket performance. The report confirmed that her vital metrics — including hemoglobin, blood glucose, peak power, and mean power — aligned with those of cisgender female athletes. Initially, her fasting blood glucose measured 6.1 mmol/L, slightly above the typical non-diabetic range of 4.0–5.9 mmol/L, but subsequent tests showed it normalized, reinforcing the study’s findings that her physical profile meets female athletic standards.
“I am submitting this to the BCCI and ICC, with full transparency and hope,” said Bangar. “My only intention is to start a conversation based on facts not fear. To build space, not divide it.”
In a letter to the BCCI and the ICC, Bangar emphasized her test results from the Manchester Metropolitan University study. She explained that the research aimed to assess how hormone therapy had influenced her strength, stamina, hemoglobin, glucose levels, and overall performance, benchmarked directly against cisgender female athletic standards.
Bangar’s letter to the BCCI and the ICC clarified the Manchester study was not intended as a political statement but as a catalyst for a science-driven dialogue on fairness and inclusion in cricket. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing empirical data over assumptions to shape equitable policies for trans athletes in the sport.
Bangar urged the BCCI, the world’s most influential cricket authority, to initiate a formal dialogue on trans women’s inclusion in women’s cricket, rooted in medical science, performance metrics, and ethical fairness. She called for the exploration of eligibility pathways based on sport-specific criteria, such as hemoglobin thresholds, testosterone suppression timelines, and standardized performance testing. Additionally, she advocated for collaboration with experts, athletes, and legal advisors to develop policies that balance inclusivity with competitive integrity.
“I am releasing my report and story publicly not for sympathy, but for truth. Because inclusion does not mean ignoring fairness, it means measuring it, transparently and responsibly,” said Bangar in a letter to the BCCI. “I would deeply appreciate the opportunity to meet with you or a representative of the BCCI or ICC to present my findings, discuss possible policy pathways, and work towards a future where every athlete is evaluated based on real data, not outdated perceptions.”
Before her transition, Bangar competed for Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai and Hinckley Cricket Club in the U.K., showcasing her talent in domestic cricket circuits. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, was a dependable all-rounder for the Indian national cricket team from 2001 to 2004, playing 12 test matches and 15 One Day Internationals. He later served as a batting coach for the Indian team from 2014 to 2019, contributing to its strategic development.
Cricket in India is a cultural phenomenon, commanding a fanbase of more than 1 billion, with more than 80 percent of global cricket viewership originating from the country.
The International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, oversees 12 full member nations and more than 90 associate members, with the U.S. recently gaining associate member status in 2019 and co-hosting the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The BCCI generated approximately $2.25 billion in revenue in the 2023–24 financial year, primarily from the Indian Premier League, bilateral series, and ICC revenue sharing. The ICC earns over $3 billion from media rights in India alone for the 2024–27 cycle, contributing nearly 90 percent of its global media rights revenue, with the BCCI receiving 38.5 percent of the ICC’s annual earnings, approximately $231 million per year.
Women’s cricket in India enjoys a growing fanbase, with over 300 million viewers for the Women’s Premier League in 2024, making it a significant driver of the sport’s global popularity. The International Cricket Council oversees women’s cricket in 12 full member nations and over 90 associate members, with the U.S. fielding a women’s team since gaining associate status in 2019 and competing in ICC events like the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. The BCCI invests heavily in women’s cricket, allocating approximately $60 million annually to the WPL and domestic programs in 2024–25, while contributing to the ICC’s $20 million budget for women’s cricket development globally. India’s media market for women’s cricket, including WPL broadcasting rights, generated $120 million in 2024, accounting for over 50 percent of the ICC’s women’s cricket media revenue.
“As a woman, I feel when someone says that they are women, then they are, be trans or cis. A trans woman is definitely the same as a cis woman emotionally and in vitals, and specially, when someone is on hormone replacement therapy. Stopping Anaya Bangar from playing is discrimination and violation of her rights. It is really sad and painful that every trans woman need to fight and prove their identity everywhere,” said Indrani Chakraborty, an LGBTQ rights activist and a mother of a trans woman. “If ICC and BCCI is stopping her from playing for being transgender, then I will say this to be their lack of awareness and of course the social mindsets which deny acceptance.”
Chakraborty told the Blade that Bangar is an asset, no matter what. She said that the women’s cricket team will only benefit by participation, but the discriminating policies are the hindrance.
“Actually the transgender community face such discrimination in every sphere. In spite of being potent, they face rejection. This is highly inhuman. These attitudes is regressive and will never let to prosper. Are we really in 2025?,” said Chakraborty. “We, our mindset and the society are the issues. We, as a whole, need to get aware and have to come together for getting justice for Anaya. If today, we remain silent, the entire community will be oppressed. Proper knowledge of gender issues need to be understood.”
The BCCI and the International Cricket Council have not responded to the Blade’s repeated requests for comment.