Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: April 27
Parties, support groups, concerts and more through May 3
Sunday is the last chance to see ‘Spirit and Engima’ featuring ceramic sculptures by Bill Mould including ‘Morning’ and ‘String theory’ featuring works by Elena Tchernomazova at Touchstone Gallery. (Photo courtesy Touchstone Gallery)
TODAY (Friday)
D.C. Women4Women presents “Tryst,” a monthly professional lesbian happy hour, tonight at Topaz Bar (1733 N St., N.W.) from 7 to 10 p.m. with exclusive food and drink specials from 7 to 9 p.m.
Positive Force D.C. presents Trophy Wife, War on Women, Fell Types and Fires in a benefit concert for D.C. Trans Coalition tonight at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church (1525 Newton St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation. For more information, visit dctranscoalition.wordpress.com
Beat City, a queer lounge night, is tonight at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Town’s (2009 8th St., N.W.) Bear Happy Hour presents “Bearaoke” tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. on the first floor, with mistress of ceremonies Tre. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists play Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) tonight at 9 p.m. with Mary Christ and The Tender Thrill. Tickets are $15 and available online atblackcatdc.com.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents “Come Fly Away,” Twyla Tharp’s Broadway musical featuring Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits. Tickets range from $69 to $125 and are available online at kennedy-center.org.
Tonight is LGBT Night at ArtSpring (7014B Westmoreland Ave., Takoma Park) from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit artspringsilverspring.com.
Saturday, April 28
Girlyman with Edie Carey plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available online at birchmere.com.
Bill Cosby performs at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $54.50 to $79.50 and are available online kennedy-center.org.
The D.C. Center Women present an evening at CulinAerie (1131 14th St., N.W.) tonight 6:30 p.m. Attendees will make warm asparagus salad, seared salmon with black pepper crust and a chocolate tart with espresso anglaise. Tickets are $85 each and $10 from each ticket goes to the D.C. Center. For more information, visit thedccenter.org orculinaerie.com.
Tom From Prague brings “Tainted Love: An International ‘80s Dance Party” at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There is a $5 cover.
The stars of collegedudes.com, AJ Monroe and Devin Adams, perform live tonight as well as sign autographs and pose for photos at Town, (2009 8th St., N.W.). DJ Drew G will be spinning. Cover is $8 before 11 and $12 afterward. All attendees must be 21 or older. Doors open at 10 p.m.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “Living Conditions.” Doors open at 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 29
Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik play the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 and available online at birchmere.com.
Classically trained musicians Black Violin play the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) today at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $18 and available online at kennedy-center.org.
Today’s the last day to see Touchstone Gallery’s (901 New York Ave., N.W.) exhibits “Spirit and Enigma” featuring ceramic sculptures by Bill Mould and “String theory” featuring works by Elena Tchernomazova. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
Monday, April 30
Nickelback plays Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) tonight with Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $75 to $89.50 and are available online atticketmaster.com. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Whitman-Walker Health is having a series of Community Conversations this year and the next Conversation is “Improving Health of LGBT Elders” tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. For more information and a complete list of the series conversations, visit whitman-walker.org.
Tuesday, May 1
The Chesapeake Squares, a gay square dancing group, is having a mainstream-through-advanced club night tonight at the Waxter Center (1000 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore from 8 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit chesapeakesquares.org.
Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s packing location, Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Wednesday, May 2
Riot Act Comedy Theater’s (801 E St., N.W.) monthly gay and gay-friendly comedy show “Gay-larious” returns tonight at 8 p.m. with Lori Sommer, Emma Willmann, Sampson McCormick and co-founders Chris Doucette and Zach Toczynski. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at riotactcomedy.com.
Professionals in the City and the D.C. Center are hosting a speed dating event for lesbian and bisexual women at Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight. Attendees will date for about an hour and then be able to mingle with everyone. After the event, matches can be made online. Tickets are $30. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Thursday, May 3
Log Cabin Republicans holds its monthly happy hour at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the roof deck featuring a new drink, The Pink Elephant.
Phase 1 of Dupont (1415 22nd St., N.W.) presents “Jock U” a men’s college night hosted by Secrets. Doors open at 9 p.m. No cover before 11 p.m. with college ID.
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.”
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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