Arts & Entertainment
Calendar for July 2
Friday, July 2, to Thursday, July 8

Friday, July 2
Gloss presents Ladies’ Night tonight at Apex, 1415 22nd St., N.W., introducing the Stop Light Party. Wear the glow bracelet that determines your status, red for taken, yellow for maybe, and green for single. Also featuring DC Kings’ Independence Day show and DC Gurly Show. DJ Rosie will be in the main hall. Must be 18 to enter and 21 to drink.
Panorama Productions presents The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Official Premiere Party tonight at UltraBar, 911 F St., N.W. There will be Twilight themed giveaways including posters, movie tickets, and T-shirts. Doors open at 9 p.m. Visit popnightlife.com for more information.
Queer Pulp For the Girls and Bois at Black Squirrel, 2427 18th St., N.W., is tonight at 9. No cover charge, 21 and over to enter.
Saturday, July 3
“So, You Think You’re a Drag Queen,” a competition among aspiring drag queens, at Town, 2009 8th St., N.W. Those wishing to enter the contest should arrive at 10 p.m and be ready to perform. Contest starts at 10:30 p.m. There will be music and videos downstairs by Wess. $8 cover before 11 p.m. and $12 after. Must be 21 or older.
Superhero Ball at Club Hippo, 1 W. Eager St., Baltimore, featuring costume contest, text raffle, Lady Gaga ticket giveaway and more. The event starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 advanced VIP or $12 day-of or at the door and can be bought at superheroball.eventbrite.com. Visit clubhibbo.com for more information.
Sunday, July 4
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers have been asked to provide wranglers for the Independence Day Parade starting at 9 a.m. The balloons that will be carried are the large helium balloons that take 34 people to carry. Each rope needs a person so it is critical that you can be there. Balloon volunteers must be able to walk 10+ blocks in the sun/heat while holding the balloon ropes. The parade will take place on July 4th and will run from 7th Street to 17th Street, N.W. along Constitution Avenue. The parade begins at 11:45 a.m., and volunteers will be released once their equipment has been properly put away at the end of the parade route on 17th Street.
Independence Day fireworks on the National Mall, 9:10-9:27 p.m. Best viewing areas include the U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Arrive early and expect the usual massive crowds. Visit nps.gov for more information.
Drag Brunch at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W., hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Brunch buffet is $20 and your first mimosa is free.
Women of Color Productions presents Grown and Sexy Independence Explosion Adult Affair featuring Shaashawn “Voycedial,” Sheri D, and more at Remington’s, 639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. Doors open at 8 p.m. $15 cover charge; 25 and older to enter. For tickets visit wocgrownsexy.eventbrite.com.
A special Ladies of Illusion show at Ziegfeld’s, 1824 Half St., S.W. Doors open at 9 p.m. Retro trivia is back upstairs at Secrets. 70s, 80s, & 90s music and trivia questions. Correct answers win free drinks. Dance to the “Sounds of Pier 9” with DJ Darryl Strickland.
Monday, July 5
The GLB Youth Support Group will meet at the GW Center Clinic, 1922 F St., N.W., Suite 103, at 4:30 p.m.
Free Salsa lessons at Cobalt, 17th and R Sts., N.W., from 10 to 11 p.m. There will be dancing from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. 21 and older to enter. No cover.
Tuesday, July 6
Shear Madness, a comedy whodunit, will be performed at The Kennedy Center Theater Lab, 2700 F St., N.W., at 8 p.m. Shear Madness takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, July 7
The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will be meeting at 7:30 p.m., at the Dignity Center, 721 8th St., S.E. No partner needed. Visit lambdabridge.com; click “Social Bridge in Washington, DC” for more information.
La Coterie will be at Wonderland Ballroom, 1101 Kenyon St., N.W., with Sweet Interference at 9 p.m. La Coterie is a five-piece rock band that incorporates trumpet, violin and keyboard in with traditional rock instruments. The band is comprised of Trumpet Grrrl, Anton, and Katey.
Thursday, July 8
The Reduced Shakespeare Company presents Completely Hollywood (abridged) at The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, 2700 F St., N.W., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be bought at kennedy-center.org. Completely Hollywood takes on 197 movies in 100 minutes with hilarious results.
DCBiWomen, the area’s social group for bisexual and bi-curious women, will meet at Cafe Luna, 1633 P St., N.W., at 7 p.m. The group’s goal is to create an accepting, encouraging environment for bisexual women regardless of the gender of their partner or what they are looking for, meet other cool bi women, and affirm the existence of the bi-identity.

You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“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 details, email [email protected].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
-
World Pride 20254 days ago
WorldPride recap: Festival, parade, fireworks, and Doechii
-
U.S. Federal Courts4 days ago
Judge temporarily blocks executive orders targeting LGBTQ, HIV groups
-
Photos4 days ago
PHOTOS: WorldPride Parade
-
Photos4 days ago
PHOTOS: WorldPride Street Festival and Closing Concert