Connect with us

Arts & Entertainment

Nightlife Guide

LGBT-friendly bars, clubs and restaurants in the D.C. area

Published

on

PUGB, gay news, Washington Blade

PUGB, nightlife guide, gay news, Washington BladeWASHINGTON, DC

30 Degrees

[map]
1639 R St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-462-6569

In Dupont Circle area; popular with men but check schedule for other events.

Annie’s

[map]
1609 17th St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-232-0395

In Dupont Circle area; popular longtime restaurant and steakhouse with recently renovated Upstairs Lounge.

Bachelor’s Mill

[map]
1104 8th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-544-1931

Longtime bar popular with African-American men in Capitol Hill area.

Banana Café

[map]
500 8th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-543-5906
bananacafedc.com

Popular Capitol Hill area restaurant and bar (Eastern Market Metro) for both men and women. Features Cuban, Mexican and Puerto Rican cuisine.

Cobalt

[map]
1639 R St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-462-6569
cobaltdc.com

In Dupont Circle area; part of complex of LGBT businesses at this address, including Level One restaurant on street level and 30 Degrees bar.

Crew Club

[map]
1321 14th St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-319-1333
crewclub.net

Men’s 24-hour gym in Logan Circle area, featuring steam rooms, lounges, private dressing rooms and more.

DC Eagle

3701 Benning Road NE
Washington, DC 20019
202-347-6025
dceagle.com

The popular Levi/leather bar’s origins date to the 1960s. Features billiards, regular tournaments and other special events.

DIK Bar

[map]
1637 17th St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-328-0100
dupontitaliankitchen.com

In Dupont Circle area, above Dupont Italian Kitchen.

Duplex Diner

[map]
2004 18th St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-265-9599
duplexdiner.com

Popular restaurant and bar in the Adams Morgan area; happy hour specials and many other special events. See web site for updated schedule.

Fireplace

[map]
2161 P St., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-293-1293

In Dupont Circle area; neighborhood bar popular with men.

Green Lantern

[map]
1335 Green Court, NW
Washington, DC 20005
greenlanterndc.com
twitter.com/greenlanterndc

Friendly bar for men hosts regular happy hours and special events, including karaoke and shirtless drink special nights. Check web site for details. McPherson Square Metro.

 JR.’s

[map]
1519 17th St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-328-0090
jrswdc.com

Longtime friendly Dupont Circle area bar popular with men; videos, regular special events.

 Larry’s Lounge

[map]
1836 18th St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-483-1483

Dupont Circle area bar and restaurant popular with both men and women.

Nellie’s Sports Bar

[map]
900 U St., NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-332-6355
nelliessportsbar.com

Sports bar featuring poker events, drag bingo, trivia contests and other specials. Popular bar with massive outdoor deck and plenty of TVs for watching sports.

Town Danceboutique

[map]
2009 8th St., NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-234-TOWN
towndc.com

Dance club and bar popular with men and women, features regular drag performances. U Street Metro.

Ultra bar

[map]
911 F St., NW
Washington, DC 20004
ultrabardc.com
twitter.com/UltraBar

Large dance club with gay-friendly events and vibe located downtown near Metro Center.

Ziegfeld’s/Secrets

[map]
1824 Half St., SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-863-0670
secretsdc.com

Featuring all-nude male dancers Wednesdays-Sundays, drag performances, large dance floor and many regular special events, contests and more. Large parking lot available; located in Buzzard’s Point warehouse district.

BALTIMORE

1722

[map]
1722 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201

club1722.com

Multi-level after-hours dance club attracts a mixed crowd but remains gay-friendly.

Drinkery

[map]
205 W. Read St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-225-3100

Facebook.com

Another of Baltimore’s friendly neighborhood bars in Mount Vernon featuring billiards, jukebox and welcoming service.

Gallery

[map]
1735 Maryland Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-539-6965

Longtime bar and restaurant popular with African-American clientele.

Grand Central

[map]
1001 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-752-7133
centralstationpub.com

Large entertainment complex featuring friendly pub, lesbian bar Sappho’s upstairs and a dance club on the first floor.

Sapphos

[map]
1001 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-752-7133
centralstationpub.com

Part of the Grand Central complex, Sappho’s attracts a lesbian crowd and offers comfy couches, outdoor patio and more in its second floor location.

ARLINGTON, VA

Freddie’s Beach Bar

[map]
555 23rd St. South
Arlington, VA 22202
703-685-0555

Freddie Lutz’s Virginia establishment includes a restaurant and friendly bar, regular specials and is popular with men and women. Crystal City Metro.

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Calendar

Calendar: March 27-April 2

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

on

Friday, March 27

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected]

Saturday, March 28

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.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected]

Monday, March 30

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” 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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Tuesday, March 31

Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite

Wednesday, March 1

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.

Thursday, April 2

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 Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

Continue Reading

Out & About

Celebrate cherry blossoms the drag way

Unconventional Diner hosts bingo party

Published

on

The cherry blossoms are here. Celebrate at a unique event hosted by Unconventional Diner. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.

Tickets can be secured via Resy.

Continue Reading

Sports

New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics

New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles

Published

on

(Photo by Greg Martin; courtesy IOC)

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.

“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.

The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”

“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”

The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”

The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”

“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

(Video courtesy of the IOC)

Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.

Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.

“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.

An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.

Continue Reading

Popular