Arts & Entertainment

Back to the circle

Youth Pride returns to its original locale; suicides, bullying give event renewed urgency

Published

15 years ago

April 28, 2011

Teens gather at Youth Pride in 2007. (Blade file photo by Henry Linser)

Youth Pride is Saturday in Washington but there’s one big change this year — after several years at P Street Beach, the event is moving back to Dupont Circle where it started 15 years ago.

Nikisha Carpenter, president of the board of Youth Pride Alliance, says the board made the change so the event would have greater visibility.

“It’s just a visibility issue really truly,” the 32-year-old lesbian and D.C. resident says.

The event is open to any local LGBT youth 25 and younger. There is no minimum age to attend. Carpenter, who’s worked with the Alliance five years and has been board president of the all-volunteer agency for the last three, says tweens as young as 12 have come with their parents in past years. In a good year, about 500 youth attend, she says. Last year attendance was down because it rained on the planned day so it was postponed to the next Saturday.

That’s the group’s contingency plan if it rains this weekend but the weather forecast is calling for clear skies.

The non-profit Alliance produces the event with help from the D.C. Office of Human Rights. That government involvement led to a public awareness ad campaign in which Youth Pride promos were seen in Metro buses and stations.

Carpenter says last year’s spate of teen suicides has brought increased awareness to the need for LGBT youth resources, hence the ads.

“It’s really two different things but I do think there’s an increased sense of urgency about getting resources to the kids who need them,” she says. “We’ve even seen a lot more organizations singing up for booths this year who are really eager to service the youth.”

Usually there are about 50 booths, a concert stage, games and snacks. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. in the circle. An “Infatuation Dance” for ages 21 and younger is from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at the U Street Music Hall (1115-A U Street, N.W.) with DJ Keenan who’ll spin house, electro, hip-hop, R&B and more. Admission is $5.

SMYAL, Whitman-Walker, the Trevor Project and others will be represented. Carpenter says it’s important to have a one-stop spot for resources.

“There are a lot of resources in D.C. but they don’t always know where to find them,” she says. “It’s important for them to have a fun, safe space to come to.”

The event typically draws a racially diverse group. Latino gay activist Jose Guttierez is spreading the word in the Latino community, Carpenter says, so black, white and Latino youth will likely be well represented.

And some teens are involved in the planning — a group of youth involved with the Office of State Superintendents volunteered their time to help with planning and will be on hand Saturday.

The Alliance welcomes donations, upon which it relies for its operating expenses. Visit youthpridealliance.org for more information.

“We hear some dramatic story at least every year,” Carpenter says. “There are kids who come and are really scared but are so excited and have a whole new group of friends by the end of the day. It’s really great to see.”

Up Next

Sentinels celebrate wins

Don't Miss

Md. Film Fest features 3 gay-themed picks

FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Bars & Parties

‘Queer Eye’ watch party set for Friday

DC Center to host event

Published

8 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Members of the cast of 'Queer Eye' speak at an event at Crush Dance Bar in August. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

The DC Center is hosting a watch party for an episode of the 10th and final season of “Queer Eye,” which was filmed in D.C. The screening will be held on Friday, Jan. 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Center.

The screening will last 45-55 minutes, with community time both before and after the episode. Drinks and snacks will be provided and organizers promise a “surprise or two.” For information on tickets, visit the DC Center’s website.

Calendar

Calendar: January 23-29

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

11 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, January 23

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at noon at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].

Saturday, January 24

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black lesbian. You do not need to be a member of the Beta Kappa Chapter or the Beta Phi Omega Sorority in order to join, but they do ask that you either identify as a lesbian or are questioning that aspect of your identity. For more details, email [email protected].

Monday, January 26

“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]).

Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This month’s books are “The Nightmare Before Kissmas” by Sara Raasch and “Transgender History” by Susan Stryker. For more details, email [email protected].

Tuesday, January 27

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. 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 details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.

Wednesday, January 28

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.

Asexual and Aromantic Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. Currently, this group is a meeting place for both identities, but we realize that as time passes, the groups may choose to host individual meetings.For more details, email [email protected].

Thursday, January 29

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Movies

Few openly queer nominees land Oscar nominations

‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ lead the pack

Published

18 hours ago

January 22, 2026

Matt Minton

This year’s Oscar nominees feature very few openly queer actors or creatives, with “KPop Demon Hunters,” “Come See Me in the Good Light,” and “Elio” bringing some much-needed representation to the field.

“KPop Demon Hunters,” which quickly became a worldwide sensation after releasing on Netflix last June, was nominated for best animated feature film and best original song for “Golden,” the chart-topping hit co-written by openly queer songwriter Mark Sonnenblick. “Come See Me in the Good Light,” a film following the late Andrea Gibson and their wife, Megan Falley, was nominated in the best documentary feature category. Finally, Pixar’s “Elio” (co-directed by openly queer filmmaker Adrian Molina) was nominated for best animated feature film alongside “Zootopia 2,” “Arco,” and “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain.”

Ethan Hawke did manage to land a best actor nomination for his work in Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon,” a biopic that follows a fatal night in Lorenz Hart’s life as he reckons with losing his creative partner, Richard Rodgers. Robert Kaplow was also nominated for best original screenplay for penning the script. Amy Madigan, as expected, was recognized in the best supporting actress category for her work in “Weapons,” bringing celebrated gay icon Aunt Gladys to the Oscar stage.

While “Wicked: For Good” was significantly underperforming throughout the season, with Cynthia Erivo missing key nominations and the film falling squarely out of the best picture race early on, most pundits expected the film to still receive some recognition in craft categories. But in perhaps the biggest shock of Oscar nomination morning, “For Good” received zero nominations — not even for costume design or production design, the two categories in which the first film won just last year. Clearly, there was “Wicked” fatigue across the board.

There was also reasonable hope that Eva Victor’s acclaimed directorial debut, “Sorry, Baby,” would land a best original screenplay nod, especially after Julia Roberts shouted out Victor during the recent Golden Globes (which aired the day before Oscar voting started). A24, the studio that distributed “Sorry, Baby” in the U.S., clearly prioritized campaigns for “Marty Supreme” (to much success) and Rose Byrne in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” leaving “Sorry, Baby” the indie darling that couldn’t quite crack the Oscar race.

However, with the Film Independent Spirit Awards taking place on Feb. 15, queer films like “Sorry, Baby,” “Peter Hujar’s Day,” and “Twinless” will finally get their time to shine. Maybe these films were just underseen, or not given a big enough PR push, but regardless, it’s unfortunate that the Academy couldn’t make room for just one of these when “Emilia Pérez” managed 13 nominations last year.