Arts & Entertainment
Nightlife Guide
LGBT-friendly bars, clubs and restaurants in the D.C. area
WASHINGTON, DC
WASHINGTON, DC30 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
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
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.
The 13th annual Frederick Pride Festival was held at Carroll Creek Park in Frederick, Md. on Saturday, June 27.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Photos
PHOTOS: Fredericksburg Pride March and Festival
LGBTQ celebration held in historic Virginia town
The sixth annual Fredericksburg Pride March was held in downtown Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 27. Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Deuntay Diggs led the march alongside Fredericksburg City Council Member Jannan W. Holmes. The Fredericksburg Pride Festival took place at Riverfront Park after the march. Bree Fram was the featured speaker.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Iran and Egypt on Friday faced off during the World Cup’s “Pride Match” in Seattle.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death. Discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity is commonplace in Egypt.
Friday’s match coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. The Egyptian Football Association and the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran both objected to playing in the “Pride Match.”
Egypt and Iran tied 1-1.
FIFA, for its part, allowed Pride flags inside the stadium during the match.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” a FIFA spokesperson told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events. General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code.”
Human Rights Watch welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Pride flags inside the stadium. Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights group, distributed Pride flags in Seattle on Friday, which was Pride Match Day.
“Visibility matters,” said Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin. “Pride is now being celebrated in more than 100 countries, including this weekend in Seattle. For many LGBTIQ people, seeing a Pride flag in public is a reminder that they are not alone, and that their rights and dignity are recognized.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this year told Die Weltwoche, a Swiss magazine, that “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup.”
“There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organized by external organizations will be taking place in the city,” said Infantino. “But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
Peter Tatchell, a long-time LGBTQ activist from the U.K. who is director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was among those who traveled to Seattle for Friday’s match. Tatchell accused FIFA of not vetting World Cup teams — specifically Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Algeria — over whether they would allow gay players.
“FIFA is protecting LGBT+ visibility in the stands while failing to protect LGBT+ players on the pitch,” said Tatchell.
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