Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 18
Concerts, parties, galleries, meetings and more through March 24


Feeling nasty? JR.'s and the Blade are sponsoring a post-concert party in honor of Janet Jackson. Join us Tuesday beginning at 9:30 p.m. at JR.'s for Janet music and videos and drink specials for those with ticket stubs from her concert that night. JR.'s is at 1519 17th St., N.W. (Photo courtesy of Live Nation)
Today
The Committee on the Judiciary will have its annual oversight hearing on the Metropolitan Police Department today at 10 a.m. Persons wishing to testify should contract Brian Moore at 202.724.7808 or [email protected].
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is hosting its first open interest meeting for the 2012 Gay Men’s Heath Summit at 6 p.m. today. Different issues will be discussed from locational logistics to what the event will look like.
Ziegfeld’s (1824 Half St., S.W.) presents Miss Gay D.C. American review tonight with Coti Collins, Coco Montrese, Victoria DePaula, Catia Lee Love, Jessica Jade, Victoria Parker, Ashley Bannks, Gigi Couture and Monet Dupree. Doors open at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover until 10:30 and a $10 afterward.
Gay District presents St. Patty’s Gay Happy Hour tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Larry’s Lounge (1836 18th St., N.W.) Stay for an extended happy hour with a $4 donation to Gay District.
D.C. Women in Their Thirties will meet tonight at 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
The New Gay presents Homo/Sonic at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. with DJs Zack and Michael. This is an all ages party and there is a $10 cover.
Caliente Grande is tonight at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) starting at 9 p.m. DJ Michael Brandon will be spinning the Latin dance party in the main hall. There is a $10 cover charge. Attendees must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Saturday, March 19
The 12th annual Youth Law Fair, a joint effort of the D.C. Superior Court and the D.C. Bar, will focus on cyberbullying with a mock trial, youth speak out sessions and raffle giveways at the Moultrie Courthouse (500 Indiana Ave., N.W.) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit dcbar.org/youthlawfair. This is a free event.
La Clinica Del Pueble/Mpoderate! Youth Center will be working in partnership with HAHSTA to makeover the S.E. STD Clinic waiting room (1900 Massachusetts Ave., S.E., Bldg. 8) and will be holding a planning meeting today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Capital Queer Prom is tonight from 7 to 11:30 p.m. aboard the Spirit of Mount Vernon.
Mixtape D.C. is tonight the Rock & Roll Hotel (1353 H St., N.E.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Mixtape is a dance party for queer music lovers and their pals that features DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer playing an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and anything else danceable. There is a $5 cover for this 21 and older event.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s 19th annual national dinner “Making History, Moving Forward” is tonight at the National Building Museum (401 F St., N.W.) The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and dinner is at 7:30. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews is the master of ceremonies and Democratic Minority Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer is the keynote speaker. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sldn.org.
The Ladies of Lure present “Bare: Military Style” at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m. with DJs Rosie and Keenan to benefit SLDN. Cover is $5 before midnight. Attendees with a SLDN national dinner ticket will get in free.
Sunday, March 20
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) will be showing the film “Fire,” the first Indian film to portray homosexual relations, today at 1:30 p.m. There will be an introduction and a post-screening question and answer with actresses Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. This screening is part of maximum India. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Victory Fund is celebrating 20 years of success in growing the number of openly LGBT leaders in elected offices across the country with its National Champagne Brunch today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave.). Congressman David Cicilline, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and University of Michigan Student Assembly President Chris Armstrong will be present. This event will feature a silent auction. Individual tickets are $150. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit victoryfund.org.
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a happy hour at Pinzimini Lounge at the Westin Arlington Gateway (801 N. Glebe Rd.) from 5 to 7 p.m.
Pocket Gays present “Shamerock Sunday School” tonight at Local 16 (1602 U St., N.W.) from 3 to 9 p.m. There is no cover.
More Light Presbyterians will host a special screening and discussion of the film “Bullied” today from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) with special guests Diane Bruce, director of Health and Wellness and Andrew Barnett, the executive director of Sexual Minority Youth Action League (SMYAL).
Monday, March 21
WEAVE is holding a support group for survivors of intimate partner violence from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the WEAVE Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.).
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, March 22
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance will be holding a membership meeting tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archive (1201 17th St., N.W.).
Janet Jackson’s Number Ones, Up Close and Personal World Tour comes to DAR Constitution Hall (1776 D St., N.W.) for the first of two concerts tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $98 to $149 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com. The second concert is Thursday, also at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, March 23
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) will be holding volunteer training today at 6:30 p.m. Training is require for all new front desk volunteers and encourage for all current front desk volunteers. Other volunteers are also welcome to attend.
Rock & Roll Hotel’s (1353 H St., N.E.) WTF Wednesdays presents “Freaks and Geeks” tonight. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30. Three 50-minute episodes will be shown on the big screen. There’s limited seating and attendees are welcome to bring their own seats. This is a free, 21-and-older event.
Thursday, March 24
Dance Gavin Dance will be performing at Rams Head Live (20 Market Place) in Baltimore with Iwrestledabearonce, In Fear and Faith, Close to Home, Just like Vinyl and DJ Big Chocolate tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at ramsheadlive.com. This is an all-ages show.
E-mail calendar items to [email protected] two weeks prior to your event. Space is limited so priority is given to LGBT-specific events or general events with LGBT participants. D.C.-area only.
Photos
PHOTOS: Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza
LGBTQ celebration held in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza was held on Sunday, June 29 at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, Md.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)























The fifth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held on Saturday, June 28. A march through the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, Va. was followed by a festival at Riverfront Park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)



















India
Anaya Bangar challenges ban on trans women in female cricket teams
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar’s daughter has received support

Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has partnered with the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport in the U.K. to assess her physiological profile following her gender-affirming surgery and undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
From January to March 2025, the 23-year-old underwent an eight-week research project that measured her glucose levels, oxygen uptake, muscle mass, strength, and endurance after extensive training.
The results, shared via Instagram, revealed her metrics align with those of cisgender female athletes, positioning her as eligible for women’s cricket under current scientific standards. Bangar’s findings challenge the International Cricket Council’s 2023 ban on transgender athletes in women’s cricket, prompting her to call for a science-based dialogue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the ICC to reform policies for transgender inclusion.
“I am talking with scientific evidence in my hand,” Bangar said in an interview posted to her Instagram page. “So, I hope, this makes an impact and I will be hoping to BCCI and ICC talking with me and discussing this further.”
On Nov. 21, 2023, the ICC enacted a controversial policy barring trans women from international women’s cricket. Finalized after a board meeting in Ahmedabad, India, the regulation prohibits any trans player who has experienced male puberty from competing, irrespective of gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy. Developed through a 9-month consultation led by the ICC’s Medical Advisory Committee, the rule aims to safeguard the “integrity, safety, and fairness” of women’s cricket but has drawn criticism for excluding athletes like Canada’s Danielle McGahey, the first trans woman to play internationally. The policy, which allows domestic boards to set their own rules, is slated for review by November 2025.
Bangar shared a document on social media verifying her participation in a physiological study at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, conducted from Jan. 20 to March 3, 2025, focused on cricket performance. The report confirmed that her vital metrics — including haemoglobin, blood glucose, peak power, and mean power — aligned with those of cisgender female athletes. Initially, her fasting blood glucose measured 6.1 mmol/L, slightly above the typical non-diabetic range of 4.0–5.9 mmol/L, but subsequent tests showed it normalized, reinforcing the study’s findings that her physical profile meets female athletic standards.
“I am submitting this to the BCCI and ICC, with full transparency and hope,” said Bangar. “My only intention is to start a conversation based on facts not fear. To build space, not divide it.”
In a letter to the BCCI and the ICC, Bangar emphasized her test results from the Manchester Metropolitan University study. She explained that the research aimed to assess how hormone therapy had influenced her strength, stamina, haemoglobin, glucose levels, and overall performance, benchmarked directly against cisgender female athletic standards.
Bangar’s letter to the BCCI and the ICC clarified the Manchester study was not intended as a political statement but as a catalyst for a science-driven dialogue on fairness and inclusion in cricket. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing empirical data over assumptions to shape equitable policies for trans athletes in the sport.
Bangar urged the BCCI, the world’s most influential cricket authority, to initiate a formal dialogue on trans women’s inclusion in women’s cricket, rooted in medical science, performance metrics, and ethical fairness. She called for the exploration of eligibility pathways based on sport-specific criteria, such as haemoglobin thresholds, testosterone suppression timelines, and standardized performance testing. Additionally, she advocated for collaboration with experts, athletes, and legal advisors to develop policies that balance inclusivity with competitive integrity.
“I am releasing my report and story publicly not for sympathy, but for truth. Because inclusion does not mean ignoring fairness, it means measuring it, transparently and responsibly,” said Bangar in a letter to the BCCI. “I would deeply appreciate the opportunity to meet with you or a representative of the BCCI or ICC to present my findings, discuss possible policy pathways, and work towards a future where every athlete is evaluated based on real data, not outdated perceptions.”
Before her transition, Bangar competed for Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai and Hinckley Cricket Club in the U.K., showcasing her talent in domestic cricket circuits. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, was a dependable all-rounder for the Indian national cricket team from 2001 to 2004, playing 12 test matches and 15 One Day Internationals. He later served as a batting coach for the Indian team from 2014 to 2019, contributing to its strategic development.
Cricket in India is a cultural phenomenon, commanding a fanbase of more than 1 billion, with more than 80 percent of global cricket viewership originating from the country.
The International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, oversees 12 full member nations and more than 90 associate members, with the U.S. recently gaining associate member status in 2019 and co-hosting the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The BCCI generated approximately $2.25 billion in revenue in the 2023–24 financial year, primarily from the Indian Premier League, bilateral series, and ICC revenue sharing. The ICC earns over $3 billion from media rights in India alone for the 2024–27 cycle, contributing nearly 90 percent of its global media rights revenue, with the BCCI receiving 38.5 percent of the ICC’s annual earnings, approximately $231 million per year.
Women’s cricket in India enjoys a growing fanbase, with over 300 million viewers for the Women’s Premier League in 2024, making it a significant driver of the sport’s global popularity. The International Cricket Council oversees women’s cricket in 12 full member nations and over 90 associate members, with the U.S. fielding a women’s team since gaining associate status in 2019 and competing in ICC events like the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. The BCCI invests heavily in women’s cricket, allocating approximately $60 million annually to the WPL and domestic programs in 2024–25, while contributing to the ICC’s $20 million budget for women’s cricket development globally. India’s media market for women’s cricket, including WPL broadcasting rights, generated $120 million in 2024, accounting for over 50 percent of the ICC’s women’s cricket media revenue.
“As a woman, I feel when someone says that they are women, then they are, be trans or cis. A trans woman is definitely the same as a cis woman emotionally and in vitals, and specially, when someone is on hormone replacement therapy. Stopping Anaya Bangar from playing is discrimination and violation of her rights. It is really sad and painful that every transwoman need to fight and prove their identity everywhere,” said Indrani Chakraborty, an LGBTQ rights activist and a mother of a trans woman. “If ICC and BCCI is stopping her from playing for being transgender, then I will say this to be their lack of awareness and of course the social mindsets which deny acceptance.”
Chakraborty told the Blade that Bangar is an asset, no matter what. She said that the women’s cricket team will only benefit by participation, but the discriminating policies are the hindrance.
“Actually the transgender community face such discrimination in every sphere. In spite of being potent, they face rejection. This is highly inhuman. These attitudes is regressive and will never let to prosper. Are we really in 2025?,” said Chakraborty. “We, our mindset and the society are the issues. We, as a whole, need to get aware and have to come together for getting justice for Anaya. If today, we remain silent, the entire community will be oppressed. Proper knowledge of gender issues need to be understood.”
The BCCI and the International Cricket Council have not responded to the Blade’s repeated requests for comment.
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