Local
Soccer fans, meet the drag queens
World Cup festival in Dupont Circle set for same day as Pride parade
Leaders of the annual Capital Pride parade and a first-of-its-kind U.S. festival for the 2010 World Cup international soccer tournament say they are confident the two events won’t interfere with one another, despite some geographic overlap.
The World Cup event, called Soccer in the Circle, will take place inside Dupont Circle on June 12, the same day that the Capital Pride parade will travel along the circle’s perimeter as 10,000 people walk in the LGBT parade or watch from the sidewalks.
Michael Lipin, a Soccer in the Circle co-organizer, said he expects several thousand soccer fans, including many from nearby foreign embassies, to flock to Dupont Circle to watch one or more of the World Cup games on two giant video screens positioned there.
But he said the soccer event is scheduled to end about 4:30 p.m. — two hours before the Capital Pride parade is scheduled to begin.
“We don’t see any problem because our final broadcast ends about 4:20,” he said. “Some of our people may stay for the Pride parade.”
Dyana Mason, executive director of the group that organizes the Capital Pride parade, said she agreed with Lipin’s assessment that the two events would coincide with each other smoothly and amicably.
“They said this was planned with our parade in mind,” said Mason, who has spoken with Soccer in the Circle organizers. “I think everything is fine. I’m looking forward to the soccer fans staying to see the parade.”
Similar to past years, the Capital Pride parade is scheduled to kick off at 23rd and P streets, N.W., where it will travel along P Street to Dupont Circle. The parade route travels nearly halfway around the circle to New Hampshire Avenue, where it proceeds to R and 17th streets. From 17th Street, it heads to P Street again, where it turns south on 14th Street and ends at 14th and N streets near Thomas Circle.
The largest crowds viewing the parade traditionally stand next to and inside Dupont Circle. Parade and Soccer in the Circle organizers acknowledged that if the two events took place concurrently, one could interfere with the other.
But Lipin said he was certain that most of the people gathered in the circle to watch the soccer games live on the video screens will have dispersed by the time the parade approaches Dupont Circle. The USA-England game, which is expected to draw the largest crowds, is scheduled to begin at around 10 a.m.
With South Africa hosting this year’s World Cup games, the South African Embassy in Washington has endorsed the Soccer in the Circle event. An embassy spokesperson said the embassy would have a presence at the festival.
Eddie Pope, a highly acclaimed soccer player and member of the U.S. team in three World Cup tournaments, is scheduled to speak at the Soccer in the Circle event and is expected to attract a sizable crowd of followers.
D.C. gay activist Barrett Brick, a longtime soccer fan and supporter of the D.C. United professional soccer team, said that although a “handful” of soccer fans at the Dupont Circle festival might be uncomfortable with an LGBT parade, “many more would be happy to watch and perhaps even join in.”
He noted that the Screaming Eagles, D.C. United’s oldest fan club, of which he’s a member and which is “quite gay-friendly,” also is backing the Soccer in the Circle festival.
The Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission voted to support the Soccer in the Circle festival, according to gay ANC Commissioner Mike Silverstein.
“There was never any question that these events would conflict,” he said.
The Capital Pride parade takes place one day before the annual Capital Pride festival, which is to be held along Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., near the U.S. Capitol. More information about the parade and festival is online at capitalpride.org.
District of Columbia
Campaign launched to elect more LGBTQ candidates to ANC seats
Capital Stonewall Democrats behind Queering ANCs effort
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, announced on July 7 it has launched a campaign to help elect large numbers of LGBTQ candidates to the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
The D.C. local government is believed to be unique among U.S. cities in currently having 46 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions consisting of 345 single-member districts in neighborhoods throughout the city in which unpaid Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are elected for two-year terms.
The commissions are charged with considering a wide range of policies and programs impacting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and D.C.’s annual budget, according to the ANC website.
Although the ANCs do not have authority to set or reject policies or proposals, such as applications for liquor licenses, city agencies are required to give “great weight” to ANC recommendations, according to the law creating the ANCs.
Kent Boese, a gay former ANC commissioner, currently serves as executive director of the D.C. Office of ANCs.
“We are launching the most ambitious hyperlocal LGBTQ+ candidate pipeline initiative in the country,” said Stevie McCarty, the Capital Stonewall Democrats president, in a July 7 statement that announced the Queering ANCs campaign.
“As an ANC member, I know firsthand how these seats shape our neighborhoods, from housing and public safety to sanitation,” McCarty says in the statement. “I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure more LGBTQ+ Washingtonians see themselves as leaders in their communities,” he said.
The ANC Rainbow Caucus, which was created by LGBTQ ANC members, shows on its website that there are currently 38 caucus members consisting of elected LGBTQ ANC commissioners serving in the current 2025-2026 two-year term.
The website shows there are LGBTQ commissioners who are caucus members in each of the city’s eight wards, with six in Ward 1, eight in Ward 2, one in Ward 3, six in Ward 4, five in Ward 5, three in Ward 6, eight in Ward 7, and one in Ward 8.
The Washington Blade couldn’t immediately determine how many of them will be running for re-election in D.C.’s general election in November. But McCarty said Capital Stonewall Democrats hopes to recruit many more LGBTQ candidates to run for ANC seats.
The D.C. Board of Elections website shows the deadline for filing 25 required petition signatures to be placed on the ballot is Aug. 5.
A Queering ANCs website launched this week by Capital Stonewall Democrats provides details on how to run for an ANC seat and offers help for those interested in running.
“Think of someone in your building, neighborhood, friend group, community organization, or professional network who cares deeply about D.C. and would make a strong leader,” McCarty says in his statement. “Send them QueeringANCs.org and personally ask them to consider running,” he said.
The website can be accessed at QueeringANCs.org.
Baltimore
Ron Singer, owner of popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s, dies
66-year-old’s funeral to take place Friday
By CAYLA HARRIS | Ron Singer, the owner of Baltimore’s popular gay bar Leon’s Backroom, died Tuesday, the venue announced in a social media post. He was 66.
“For more than 20 years, Ron made Leon’s a place so many people were proud to call home,” the post reads. “He will be deeply missed.”
The Mount Vernon bar, typically open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, is still open Thursday, but doors will close at midnight so staff can attend his funeral Friday morning. Services are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
Mary’s House founder, CEO retires
Dr. Imani Woody played leading role in opening DC’s first home for LGBTQ seniors
The board of directors for Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC’s first official home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, announced on July 7 that its founding president and CEO, Dr. Imani Woody, has retired.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing a leading role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort Dupont neighborhood.
The house, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025, includes 15 single-occupancy residential units and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
“It is with profound gratitude and hearts full of celebration that the board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC (MHFOA) announces the retirement of our visionary founder, Dr. Imani Woody, from her role as president and CEO,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Dr. Woody’s journey with Mary’s House began with her vision and a kitchen table gathering of women with a bold, urgent, and loving vision: to create safe, affirming, affordable housing for LGBTQ/SGL older adults in Washington, DC,” the statement says.
It adds, “What started as a dream has grown into DC’s first affordable LGBTQ+/SGL affirming communal living space for adults 60 and over, a 15-room community residence at 401 Anacostia Road in Southeast Washington.”
The statement says Woody will continue to serve on Mary’s House board.
“The board will be sharing information about the leadership transition process in the coming weeks,” the statement continues. “We are committed to honoring Dr. Woody’s legacy by ensuring Mary’s House continues to thrive and grow in faithful service to LGBTQ/SGL elders experiencing housing insecurity and isolation.”
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