Arts & Entertainment
Baltimore arts briefs: June 22
Baltimore Theatre Project and Dance Baltimore presents ‘Ageless Grace,’ Throwback and more at Grand Central, Frederick Pride, and more
Maria Broom will perform in ‘Ageless Grace’ this weekend in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy Baltimore Theatre Project)
‘Ageless’ show explores dance in several genres
Baltimore Theatre Project (45 West Preston St.) hosts “Ageless Grace,” an annual concert presented by Dance Baltimore that features performances by dancers 40 and older, on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Dancers in this year’s production are both former professional dancers as well as “community” dancers who perform for fun in more recreational forms.
The show will feature dances from all genres include tap, modern, jazz and more. The companies participating include Tapischore, Itinerant Dance Theater, Dance Alchemy, Nyame Nti and New Era Dance Company. There will also be solo performances by Torens Johnson and Maria Broom.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door and $10 for seniors, students and Dance Baltimore members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit theatreproject.org.
Throwback and more at Grand Central
Grand Central (1001/1003 N. Charles St.) has several events this week.
Tonight is the club’s weekly dance party with $2.50 drinks until 11 p.m. Sappho’s is having its own happy hour from 8 to 10 p.m.
Saturday has two-for-one drinks until 8 p.m. and Throwback, featuring all ‘90s music with DJ Arturo. Admission to Throwback is $5.
Monday and Tuesday, Grand Central has karaoke with host Nikki Cox from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Wednesday is “Hump Wednesdays,” an electropop, alternative, indie dance night with DJ Arturo.
The week ends Thursday with ladies night featuring DJ Lems and $2.50 drinks until 11 p.m. and happy hour from 4-8 p.m.
Weekend Pride event in Frederick, Md., Saturday
Frederick’s LGBT Community Center is hosting a “Picnic in the Park” on Saturday at Ballenger Creek Park (5420 Ballenger Creek Pike) at noon.
The day will include kid-friendly music provided by a DJ, games, speakers and community resources, including at least six non-profits on hand to provide information.
Participants are expected to bring their own food and beverages. Leashed social dogs are permitted.
The picnic will be held rain or shine as there is covered seating for more than 100 people. The group will be meeting in shelter No. 1 and has also reserved the adjacent ball field.
New Fells Point show opens tonight
Fells Point Corner Theatre (251 South Ann St.) has a new show “Shana Unsettled,” opening tonight at 8 p.m.
The show follows Shana Uzali, who lives in a state of constant turmoil and instability. She is stuck in a fantastical world she created and is visited by various character trying to help her get out of a place of indecision and fear.
Directed by Jim Knipple and Janel Miley, “Shana” stars Alisa Brock, Kelly Cavanaugh, Jamie Driskill, James Giza and Judy Pojda.
Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and June 29 and July 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12. The show will run through July 15.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit fpct.org.
Friday, March 27
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Saturday, March 28
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community 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.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].
Monday, March 30
“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]).
“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, March 31
Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, March 1
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, April 2
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. 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 Center’s website.
Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.
Tickets can be secured via Resy.
Sports
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.
“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.
The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”
“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”
The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”
The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”
“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
(Video courtesy of the IOC)
Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.
Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.
President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.
“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.
An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.
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