Arts & Entertainment
Queery: Esther Hidalgo
The organizer of Friday’s event for Latina lesbians answers 20 gay questions
Esther Hidalgo (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Esther Hidalgo is sometimes surprised when she meets other Latina lesbians in Washington and as she was discussing with a colleague this week, she sometimes wonders why their paths don’t cross more often.
“Unless it’s a Latin venue, we really don’t see each other,” says the D.C.-area native, whose parents are Cuban and Puerto Rican. “And we can’t always easily identify each other when we do see each other. Sometimes you don’t realize there may be other Latinas in a room.”
So Hidalgo is starting “Mujeres en el Movimiento,” a networking event for Latina lesbians that launches tonight (Friday) from 6:30 to 8:30 at the new MOVA (2204 14th St., N.W.). It’s an official event of the Latino GLBT History Project. Based on attendance, organizers will decide whether to make it a regular event.
“I’m sure we’ll do it annually at least, but maybe more often,” she says.
The name means “women in the movement” and has a dual meaning — movement as in coming together socially, but also as an extension of the larger LGBT rights movement. It’s a happy hour event with Latin music and a digital exhibition of black and white photos by Kevin Kenner of Latina activists from the area titled “Heroes Latinas.” A suggested donation of $5 includes a vodka drink (for more information, contact Hidalgo at [email protected] or 202-670-5547).
Hidalgo, a graduate student studying for a master’s in library and information science part time at Catholic University, met History Project founder Jose Guttierez years ago when they both worked at the Leather Rack. She joined the group two years ago working on its archives and Pride festivities. She juggles three jobs when she’s not in school — she prints black and white photos in a studio, works for a collections archive in Northeast D.C. and works as a student tech at the National Archives in College Park sorting and preserving government documents.
Hidalgo, who grew up in Langley Park, Md., but mostly attended school in D.C., lives now in Columbia Heights with her girlfriend of two years. (Blade photos by Michael Key)
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
Since around 18. Coming out to my dad was scary because I am close to my parents and an only child. Without missing a beat, he said that he could relate because “women are softer and they smell better.”
Who’s your LGBT hero?
Just one? I’m looking forward to meeting a few of them as they are featured in Friday’s exhibition. Most recently, my heroes are the Mujeres en el Movimiento Committee Members. In addition to working for political and humanistic causes, they saw the importance of this idea and worked hard to help bring it to fruition.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Wednesday Ladies Night at Chaos.
Describe your dream wedding.
There will be a lot of dancing and a lot of hip-hop.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?
This is difficult to answer because most social issues from immigration to domestic violence to education can and do affect members of the LGBT community. We are an intrinsic component of everyday society.
What historical outcome would you change?
That first moment in history where a woman took crap from a man and high-waisted jeans.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
Michael Jackson Moonwalking.
On what do you insist?
Compassion
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?
Mujeres en el Movimiento networking reception hosted by the Latino GLBT History Project on Friday, March 23rd from 6:30-8:30pm at MOVA. I am the event chair and super excited about it and promoting it all the time! :-)
If your life were a book, what would the title be?
I don’t know but it should definitely be a graphic novel.
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Sit them down and have a real serious discussion about ethics (or just blow up the lab).
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
In Buddhism, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is, among other things, the name of the mystic law that governs life eternally throughout the universe. I chant this every day as a form of prayer.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?
I think they should continue to build bridges of communication and cooperation between their respective causes.
What would you walk across hot coals for?
Are you really asking me to choose between my girlfriend and my cat?
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?
That gay men have all the style and lesbians have all the guitars.
What’s your favorite LGBT movie?
“Dog Day Afternoon”
What’s the most overrated social custom?
Starting a conversation by asking. “So, what do you do?”
What trophy or prize do you most covet?
To positively affect the lives of others through action.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
The heart will mend.
Why Washington?
D.C. holds a lot of hidden histories, like those of LGBT Latino organizations and activists, that shape the consciousness of its residents whether they realize it or not. Plus, it is the home of go-go.
Friday, June 19
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, June 20
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride 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.
LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Sunday, June 21
Kinetic Presents will host “DiscoVERS: Pride with Alexis Tucci & Clinton Foster” at 10 p.m. at Sax Restaurant and Lounge. Alexis Tucci and Clinton Foster trade off behind the decks all night, weaving uplifting disco and driving house into one continuous set. Throughout the evening, surprise performances unfold across the room, woven into the music rather than stacked on top of it. Tickets cost $41.76 and are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 22
“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]).
Center Faith will host “Pride Interfaith Service” at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. This is the 43rd annual LGBTQ+ community celebration of religious pluralism and interfaith collaboration. Founded during the era of the Names Project AIDS memorial quilts, we continue to connect and weave many LGBTQ+ faith communities. For more details, email [email protected].
Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The Queer Book Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month to discuss queer books by queer authors. This month’s reading is “The Skin and it’s Girl” by Sarah Cypher. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Tuesday, June 23
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.
“Self-Defense Class with Avi Rome” will be at 12:30 p.m. Rome is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and a full time Martial Arts instructor with 25 years of teaching experience. He holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do and is the director of the studio’s Adaptive Tae Kwon Do program for students with special needs. He has also run numerous self-defense workshops for various groups and situations. For more details, visit the center’s website.
Wednesday, June 24
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.
Thursday, June 25
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the center. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm 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 free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website.
Sports
Minor league team in York, Pa., forfeits Pride Night game after some players refuse to wear special jersey
City is roughly 20 miles north of Md. border
An independent minor league baseball team says it is forfeiting a game because some of its players refused to wear a special Pride Night jersey.
The Atlantic League Pro Baseball’s York Revolution were planning to hold their 11th annual Pride Night event Thursday for a game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
But the Revolution announced the day of the game that it wouldn’t be played. York is about 20 miles north of the Maryland line. The Blue Crabs play in Waldorf.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Blog #1: I was excited about my trip even though Gate 1 Travel notified me there was a change in the itinerary. France decided to close the Burgundy canal for long overdue repairs, so we would be traveling on the C. du Rhone au Rhin. I boarded my Air France flight arriving in Paris on time. Contrary to what I was told to expect, customs went really smoothly.
Day 1: Because customs went quickly, I waited 45 minutes for my pre-arranged driver, to take me to the Gare de Lyon, where I boarded my fast-train to Lyon. A two-hour trip. In Lyon it was a long walk to the hotel, The Radisson Blu, but only because I exited the station on the wrong side. Finally got there, checked into a room on the 36th floor with a spectacular view of Lyon. Then took a stroll around the area, a short nap, and finally it was time for dinner and to meet the rest of the traveling party. There would only be 13 of us in the group. Five of us from D.C./Rehoboth, and eight others. I met our guide Patricia, who is from Portugal, and spoke fluent French and English. She is charming, and clearly very knowledgeable. She worked with Gate 1 for many years. We stayed at the hotel for our welcome dinner. It was a great meal, and over drinks, each of us was asked to introduce ourselves to the group. Aside from the five of us, there were three women traveling alone, one gentleman alone, and two couples. They were from New Jersey, New York, Florida, Houston, and Nebraska. I was sitting across from the woman from Nebraska. Conversation at dinner was pleasant but I quickly realized one person was apparently a MAGA. Wonder if you can guess where she was from, lol. But we also found if we didn’t talk politics, which we agreed not to do, things were fine. After dinner we all headed to our rooms for a good night’s sleep.
DAY 2: We woke to beautiful weather. I headed to the included breakfast at the hotel, which was really very good. After breakfast we boarded a bus for a tour of Lyon. We had a full-size bus for just the 13 of us. Our guide for the half day tour, was Vincent, and he is charming and young, and told us his fiancé lives in Lyon. He was incredibly knowledgeable. We began at the Basilica, which is being repaired on the outside, but the inside is, wow! Incredible stained glass, and there was a service going on in one of the smaller side chapels which I l listened to for a bit. The Basilica is high on the hill and the views of Lyon are spectacular from there. Then we headed to the old city and walked around for an hour, ending up at the smaller cathedral. Directly in front of it they had set up a great market, mostly food, which would be there for a week. Lyon is a foodie paradise, with, we were told, a restaurant, or at least coffee shop, for every 250 people. We then had a choice of staying in town, or going back to the hotel on the bus, which I did. The afternoon and evening were free time to do as we pleased. I headed to the Les Halles du Lyon Paul Bocuse, named after the famous chef, to take a look around. It is a large market with small restaurants connected to most of the stalls. It was charming. I then headed to the huge three-story mall across from our hotel and walked around for an hour. Then caught up on some emails, and writing, and met my friends, Paul and Martin, John and Dan, for dinner at 6. We went to a really nice Bistro, which John had found, two tram stops away from the hotel, and enjoyed some drinks and a relaxed dinner. The owner of the place found us a waitress who spoke great English, which made ordering really easy. After a two-hour great meal, we headed back to the hotel. Riding a tram in Lyon is easy, you just need to use your credit card. It is an honor system. Back at the hotel I headed to my room and packed, our luggage had to be outside the door by 8:00 am the next morning. I set my alarm for 6:30 so I had time to eat at the buffet breakfast. Then it was on the bus to head to our barge.
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