Arts & Entertainment
Pride calendar
Celebration season kicks into high gear this week with bounty of LGBT D.C.-based events
A women's event at last year's Pride. At left is Ebone Bell, one of this year's Pride Heroes, with Karen Diehl. (Blade file photo)
TONIGHT
Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., N.W.) is hosting the annual men’s party tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Admission is $10 at the door. For details go to capitalpride.org.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is hosting the annual women’s party tonight from 10 p.m. -2 a.m. Cover charge is $10 and will go to benefit Pride. For more information visit phase1dc.com.
Washington Blade is celebrating the launch of the 2012 Capital Pride Guide tonight from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Town Danceboutique (2009 8th St., N.W.). Admission for guests 21 and over is $5 before 11 p.m. and $10 for the rest of the night. Guests 18-20 pay a cover of $10 all night. There are also $3 drinks 10-11 p.m. For details visit capitalpride.org.
Saturday June 2
A screening of “Ready? Ok! Don’t break the rules, change them” is taking place at the Screen on the Green & Picnic in the Park this evening from 6-10 p.m at Stead Park (17th & Church St., N.W.). Team D.C. will host pre-show antics and games. Admission is free but a $5 donation is suggested. For more information visit capitalpride.org.
D.C. Center and HIV Prevention Working Group volunteers are packing safer sex kits at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit capitalpride.org or thedccenter.org.
Sunday June 3
The second annual drag kickball game is today at Stead Park (17th & Church St., N.W.) at 3 p.m. The Stonewall kickball players will be playing in drag and D.C.’s loveliest Queens in kickball uniforms. A $5 donation is suggested. For more information, call 703-525-4261 or capitalpride.org.
The Latino LGBT History Project is hosting a bilingual Catholic-Episcopal service with the Rev. Joseph Palacios tonight at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Parish (1772 Church St., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. For details, visit capitalpride.org.
Sinergy is hosting Sinful Sunday at Current Sushi & Lounge (1215 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. This event includes entertainment from hottest drag shows in D.C. Cover 18-20 year olds is $10 before 11 p.m. and $20 after; 21 and over has free admission before 11 p.m. and $20 after. For details, visit capitalpride.org.
Monday June 4
D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) is hosting tonight a screening of “Melting Away,” an Israeli film that chronicles the story of parental reaction to a transgender child. The movie starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
Joshua Morgan is hosting “Musical Madness!” at Town Danceboutique (2009 8t St., N.W.) tonight from 8-9:30 p.m. Admission is $20 and benefits Capital Pride. For details, visit capitalpride.org.
Tuesday June 5
Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge St., N.W.) has a Bible study tonight at 7 p.m. The discussion will focus on what the Bible says about homosexuality. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
The Celebration of the Spirit Coalition is holding an interfaith service for LGBT people of differing faiths tonight at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Ave., N.W.) from 7:30-8:30 p.m. For details, visit capitalpride.org.
The Human Rights Campaign Equality Forum (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) is hosting Women’s Spoken Word, an event that invites women to express themselves through poems, monologues and songs. This event is free. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is hosting the annual ladies Jell-O wrestling competition tonight from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Admission is $10. For details, visit capitalpride.org or phase1dc.com.
Wednesday June 6
Gaylarious! is opening at the Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E St., N.W.) tonight at 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit riotactcomedy.com or capitalpride.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting the underwear fashion show and auction party tonight where attendees can by Universal Gear swimwear and underwear straight off the models. The show starts at 10. Admission is $5. For details, visit capitalpride.org.
Thursday June 7
A town hall on LGBT politics is held this evening with Mayor Vincent Gray at Charles Summer School Museum & Archives (1201 17th St., N.W.) starting at 6. There will be a talk with the mayor, then a panel discussion with LGBT individuals involved in politics followed by a dessert reception. Seats are limited. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
Lace on the Avenue (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) is hosting the Women’s Networking Happy Hour tonight from 6-8. Admission is $15. For details, visit capitalpride.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) is hosting the D.C. Latino Pride dance party tonight starting at 8. Cover is $5 and will be donated to D.C. Latino Pride. For more information, email LatinoPride [email protected] or visit capitalpride.org.
The 13th annual Frederick Pride Festival was held at Carroll Creek Park in Frederick, Md. on Saturday, June 27.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Photos
PHOTOS: Fredericksburg Pride March and Festival
LGBTQ celebration held in historic Virginia town
The sixth annual Fredericksburg Pride March was held in downtown Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 27. Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Deuntay Diggs led the march alongside Fredericksburg City Council Member Jannan W. Holmes. The Fredericksburg Pride Festival took place at Riverfront Park after the march. Bree Fram was the featured speaker.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Iran and Egypt on Friday faced off during the World Cup’s “Pride Match” in Seattle.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death. Discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity is commonplace in Egypt.
Friday’s match coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. The Egyptian Football Association and the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran both objected to playing in the “Pride Match.”
Egypt and Iran tied 1-1.
FIFA, for its part, allowed Pride flags inside the stadium during the match.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” a FIFA spokesperson told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events. General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code.”
Human Rights Watch welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Pride flags inside the stadium. Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights group, distributed Pride flags in Seattle on Friday, which was Pride Match Day.
“Visibility matters,” said Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin. “Pride is now being celebrated in more than 100 countries, including this weekend in Seattle. For many LGBTIQ people, seeing a Pride flag in public is a reminder that they are not alone, and that their rights and dignity are recognized.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this year told Die Weltwoche, a Swiss magazine, that “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup.”
“There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organized by external organizations will be taking place in the city,” said Infantino. “But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
Peter Tatchell, a long-time LGBTQ activist from the U.K. who is director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was among those who traveled to Seattle for Friday’s match. Tatchell accused FIFA of not vetting World Cup teams — specifically Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Algeria — over whether they would allow gay players.
“FIFA is protecting LGBT+ visibility in the stands while failing to protect LGBT+ players on the pitch,” said Tatchell.
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