Arts & Entertainment
Bounty of books
Gay adoption, ‘My Two Moms’ and a Cher comic among offerings
There are lots of great new books out this spring that will make waiting for summer easier. Lots of books to make you laugh, cry, make you fan yourself and make you want to page through the pictures again and again.
Cher
And speaking of pictures, there are lots of them in “Female Force: Cher” by Marc Shapiro, illustrated by Zach Bassett, cover by Joe Phillips. That’s because this 32-page book is actually a comic book all about Cher’s life, her career, her fashions and her legacy. And because comic books aren’t just for kids anymore, you’ll also find similar comic book-bios on Madonna, Ellen DeGeneres and others.
If the patter of teeny-tiny feet is in your future, then you’ll want to find “Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight? Confessions of a Gay Dad” by Dan Bucatinsky. Seven years ago, Bucatinsky and his partner adopted a baby girl. Shortly after that, they adopted their daughter’s brother. Laugh-out-loud funny, sweet and a little heartbreaking, this book is perfect for anyone who wants or has a young family.
Remember that young man who addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee a few months ago when they were discussing civil unions? Well, he has a new book out: “My Two Moms” by Zach Wahls. This is a great book for any (older) kid growing up in a household with same-sex parents because Wahls knows what it’s like to be teased and to feel different. Bonus: this book is also perfect for same-sex parents.
Riding Fury Home
And while we’re on the parenting theme, “Riding Fury Home” by Chana Wilson is the story of Wilson’s mother who, in the 1950s, was given psychiatric treatment and electroshocks in order to “cure” her lesbianism. But Wilson doesn’t stop there; she also writes about 40 years of American attitudes toward sexuality and tolerance. In this contentious political year, this is ultimately a book you can’t miss.
Does it sometimes feel as though you’ll never find someone to love forever? AuthorClyde Phillip Wachsberger felt that way, too, so upon approaching a certain age, he bought a house and set about creating a fabulous garden. But in his book “In the Garden with Charles,” you’ll read about a happily ever after. The beautiful bonus to this book is the author’s artwork that goes along with the garden and the love story.
If you’re a novel lover, then get booked with “Come Back” by Sky Gilbert. This is the story of a Judy Garland who really didn’t die, a Frances Gumm with a PhD, and a gay Canadian playwright who leads Dr. Gumm on an examination of her addictions and her life. This is a quirky book, but if quirk is your style, how can you go wrong?
Quick — think of a gay artist who specializes in erotica. My guess is that Tom of Finland was at the top of your guesses and if you’re a fan, you’ll want to find “Tom of Finland — Life and Work of a Gay Hero” by F. Valentine Hooven III. This big hardcover brings readers an overview of Tom’s art and his life from the beginning to his last years, and it includes not just drawings and the bio, but lots of photos, too.
And finally, if you’re short on time but heavy on heat, look for “Cruising: Gay Erotic Stories,” edited by Shane Allison. This anthology is filled with hot locations, hot scenes, hot activities, and of course hot men. This is the kind of book you’ll want to read with oven mitts, so beware.
It’s also worth a visit every few months to the Bruno Gmunder website (oddly the IUP is spelled slightly different — brunogmuender.com) for the latest in gay travel guides, coffee table erotica books, comics, calendars and more. This is the kind of stuff you used to just happen on at Lambda Rising — there were always unsealed sample copies to leaf through — but now you have to go online to find them. Sadly no D.C. shops keep these books in stock.
Sports
Jason Collins dies at 47
First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer
Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.
The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.
Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.
Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.
Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.
The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”
“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”
The Washington Blade will update this article with additional reaction when it becomes available.
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP
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