Arts & Entertainment
Baltimore arts briefs: April 27
Queer films at Towson U., Christine Ebersole in town and more
Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor in ‘Beginners,’ which will be screened this weekend at Towson University. Plummer played gay and won an Oscar. (Photo courtesy Focus Features)
Queer films screened at Towson
Towson University (800 York Rd., Towson) is having its third annual Queer Film Festival starting Monday and running through Thursday.
Monday’s films are the 2012 French film “Polariod Song” and the 2011 film “Pariah.” The films will be screened from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in VB204.
Tuesday will include a screening of the 2011 film “Beginners” starring Oscar winner Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor at 8:15 p.m. Before the screening, there will also be a couple exhibits open for viewing.
The festival ends with screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “The Buffy Musical: Once More, with Feeling” starting at 7 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation to LGBT Alternative Spring Break and prop kits will be available.
All events will be in room 204 of Van Bokkelen Hall. For more information, visittowson.edu/qff.
Ebersole in Baltimore for Saturday performance
Tony Award-winning singer and actress Christine Ebersole plays the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (7401 Park Heights Ave.) for Night of the Stars Satuday at 8 p.m.
The event will be honoring Martha and Stan Weiman and will benefit Religious School Scholarships and Youth Programs.
Tickets are $75 for general seating.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bhcong.org.
Gay volleyball tourney this weekend
Charm City Volleyball, a LGBT volleyball organization, is having its annual Charm City Invitational starting today at the Volleyball House (3635 Furnace Ave., Elkridge).
Registration is tonight at Club Hippo (1 W. Eager St.) from 7 to 11 p.m.
Saturday starts at 7 a.m. with an hour-long warm-up for pool play. There will also be late sign-in registration at 7:30 a.m. The day ends with a banquet and seeding party at Club Hippo.
Sunday also starts at 7 a.m. at the House with another warm-up. Double elimination play begins at 8 a.m. There will be a post-tournament happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m. at a to be determined location. A post tournament party will be at Grand Central (1001/1003 N. Charles St.) starting at 8 p.m.
For more information, visit volleybaltimore.org.
Coming out, trans and poz groups to meet at Center
The GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (241 West Chase St.) has a large variety of groups meeting this week.
On Saturday, Sufficient As I Am, a group for youth 24 and younger dealing with issues of sexuality, coming out, relationships, family and more, meets in room 201 at 12:30 p.m. The Baltimore Trans-Masculine Alliance, a FTM support group, is also meeting at 6 p.m. in room 202. Tran*quility, a MTF support group meets at 8 p.m. in room 202.
POZ Men, an LGBT-affirming peer support group for all HIV-positive men, meets on Wednesday in room 202 at 6 p.m.
For more information on these groups and others, visit glccb.org.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
BREAKING NEWS: Barney Frank dies at 86
Intersex lives, constitutional freedom, and the dangerous future of Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
Doc on Blade reporter Chibbaro scores Emmy nomination
Don’t let Rehoboth rain deter you, there’s lots to do for Memorial Day
‘The Inheritance’ is most-nominated at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day set for May 18
Calendar: May 15-21
United Night Out set for Saturday
