Arts & Entertainment

Busy week on the gay social scene

Gunn pours, Goss sings, Triangles kick and Pelosi speaks

Published

15 years ago

September 23, 2010

Fall isn’t just for pumpkins and Halloween, it’s also the busiest time of year on the social scene. The coming week brings an array of fundraisers, sporting events, book signings and more — all with a gay twist.

Saturday brings the first day of Out for Work‘s sixth annual National LGBT College Student Career Conference with keynote speakers Jonathan Capeheart, Elizabeth Birch, Amanda Simpson and Tim Gunn.

The conference won’t be Gunn’s only appearance in D.C. The fashion consultant will also be at MOVA, 1435 P St., N.W., from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday for a celebrity bartending, book signing, reception and fundraiser. Gunn will only be bartending from 9 to 10 p.m., but a reception will be held before his stint behind the bar during which he will sign books.

Tickets are $40 for VIP admission, which gets attendees into the club at 7 p.m. for a VIP reception and book signing, a complementary glass of wine, hors d’oeuvres and admission to the general reception. Tickets are $20 for general admission and allows attendees into the club at 8 p.m. Both tickets include admission to the club during Gunn’s bartending. Dress attire is fashionable. More info is here.

Another event happening on Saturday is United Night OUT, the first ever LGBT fan night in the history of Major League Soccer, hosted by the Federal Triangles Soccer Club, as D.C. United takes on the Houston Dynamo. The event starts with a tailgate pot luck in Lot 8 at RFK Stadium, along the fence near FanFest from 4 to 6:30 p.m., just look for the FTSC flag. Parking opens at 3:30.

The stadium gates open at 6 p.m. The first 5,000 fans will receive a mini flag and all Night OUT attendees will be offered pregame hors d’oeuvres in the Champions Club until 7:30. D.C. Different Drummers will be playing outside the main gate from 6:30 to 7:10 p.m. Rainbow Families D.C. will be participating in Team Tunnel at 7 p.m.

The ceremonial coin flip will be at 7:20 p.m. featuring Servicemembers United and then local recording artist Peter Fox will sing the National Anthem. Kick-off is at 7:30. At halftime, there will be a Night OUT relay race. More info is here.

Individual tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the Night OUT coordinator, at Nellie’s Sport’s Bar, 900 U St., N.W., the HRC D.C. Shop, 1633 Connecticut Ave., N.W., and online through DC United using the offer code UNITED. DC United (5-17) and Houston Dynamo (6-13) were last in their respective conferences as of Tuesday. More info is here.

Also on Saturday, the Rooftop, 155 Gibbs St., will be hosting Pride in the Sky. The event goes from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and will feature DJ Rosie spinning top 40 and hip-hop. Specials include $3 beer, wine, sangria and rail drinks, plus free appetizers from 8 to 9 p.m.

There will be a $5 cover from 8 to 10 p.m. and $7 afterward. Doors open at 8. Attendees must be 21 or older and have a valid ID. The Rooftop is a new venue located at the Arts & Innovation Center in the Rockville Town Center and is the only open-air terrace in the county. More info is here.

Saturday night may be filled with events that are hard to choose between, but don’t forget the afternoon. The 17th Street Festival is also on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. with a free movie at 8 in Stead Park. The festival will include a “Kids Zone” on the ground of Ross Elementary School, 1730 R St., N.W. There will be games, arts and crafts, food and other activities, including a tour of the school. Many local artists and galleries will have artwork on display. There will be live music as well, including the band Double Life, which will perform at 3 p.m.

The festival will also include a raffle and live auction at 5:10 p.m. followed by a performance by Tom Goss. The festival is a way to mark the near completion of the 17th Street streetscape project, which was started in December. More info is here.

On Sunday, SMYAL will be holding its 13th annual fall brunch at the Mandarin Oriental, 1330 Maryland Ave., S.W. There will be a reception and silent auction starting at 11 a.m. followed by the brunch program. Eun Yang, anchor and reporter for NBC News4 will be emceeing the event and Capehart will be the keynote speaker. The brunch is a major fundraiser for the organization, which provides programs for LGBT youth in the D.C. metro area. Tickets are $125 each. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

Wednesday begins the onslaught of awards dinners here in the District. Up first is the Victory Fund’s 10th annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Awards. This year, the awards celebration will be held at the W Hotel, to honor House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her work on advancing LGBT equality. Actor Leslie Jordan will be master of ceremonies. There will be a VIP reception from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the POV Lounge Bar. The program will take place in the Grand Ballroom from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $250 and VIP tickets are $1,200. More info is here.

Photos

PHOTOS: Whitman-Walker Gala

LGBTQ community health organization holds annual event at Ritz-Carlton

Published

11 minutes ago

November 14, 2025

Michael Key

Whitman-Walker Health CEO Naseema Shafi speaks at the Whitman-Walker 2025 Gala on Wednesday, Nov. 14. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Whitman-Walker 2025 Gala was held at the Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Out & About

Trans Day of Resilience set for Nov. 22

Leadership brunch, ‘Chat & Chew,’ fashion show and live performances planned

Published

4 hours ago

November 14, 2025

Staff reports

(Photo by nito/Bigstock)

Capital Pride will host the Trans Day of Resilience Leadership Brunch on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center (1827 Wiltberger Street, N.W.). For more information and to RSVP, visit this link.

There will be a Trans Day of Resilience “Community Chat & Chew” at 5 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. fashion show and live performances at 9 p.m. at TransMission (1353 H Street, N.E.). The event is 21+. More information about the event is available on Facebook.

Calendar

Calendar: November 14-20

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

5 hours ago

November 14, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, November 14

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., NW. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email [email protected].

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Trade. 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.

Women in their Twenties and Thirties will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for women living in the D.C. area. For more information join the group’s closed Facebook group.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Daytime Docs and Dramas Screening of ‘Summer Qamp’” at 12:30 p.m. This free event will celebrate queer youth, resilience and the power of living authentically. To RSVP, visit this link.

Saturday, November 15

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.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.

LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is an outlet for people of color to come together and talk about anything that affects them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, November 16

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Salon” at 5 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy stimulating conversation and dining. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

Monday, November 17

“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]).

“Soulfully Queer: LGBTQ+ Emotional Health and Spirituality Drop-In” will be at 3:00p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This group will meet weekly for eight weeks, providing a series of drop-in sessions designed to offer a safe, welcoming space for open and respectful conversation. Each session invites participants to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and belonging at their own pace, whether they attend regularly or drop in occasionally. For more details visit the DC Center’s website.

Tuesday, November 18

Center Bi+ Roundtable Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is a is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. For more details, visit Facebook or Meetup.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Tae Kwon Do class” at 12:30. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the Center’s website.

Wednesday, November 19

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.

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Activism at Woman’s National Democratic Club” at 6 p.m. at The Whittemore House. Guests can join other activists at the WNDC for letter and postcard writing to get out the vote this fall in Virginia and other critical state races. Postcards will be written to women in rural VA and to members of Congress on Home Rule 101 in partnership with the D.C. Democrats Statehood Committee. There will be free pizza, cash bar, a fun raffle and camaraderie. More details are available on Eventbrite.

Thursday, November 20

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 is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.