Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: June 22
Parties, events, concerts and more through June 28
The New Wave Singers, a choir of gay and straight members, performs Saturday afternoon in Westminster, Md. (Photo courtesy New Wave)
Today, Friday, June 22
D.C. Center is doing outreach at Town’s Bear Happy Hour (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 6:30. There is no cover charge. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its weekly Boy’s Life party tonight at 11. There is no cover charge and the party includes a open bar until midnight. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Whitman-Walker Health clinic is having HIV testing at Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) tonight at 10:30. Admission is $3 after 11. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Special Agent Galactica is playing Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 6-9. Music includes pieces by Pat Benatar, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Sinatra and Ray Stevens. Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.
Phase 1 ( 525 8th St., S.E.) is holding its Vixen Variety Games of Thrones show tonight at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. For details, visit phase1dc.com.
Millennium Stage Performances presents, “Just Tap,” a performance by a D.C.-based tap dance company, tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) starting at 6 p.m. The event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Saturday, June 23
The New Wave Singers, a chorus of LGBT and straight singers, perform today at Diversity Awareness Weekend hosted by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (17 Bond St., Westminster) at 3. For more information, visit newwavesingers.org.
Burgundy Crescent is volunteering to set up for the Equality Garden Party: Celebrating Family and Friends today at the Samet Chateau (1000 Parrs Ridge Dr., Spencerville). The party is a fundraiser event by Equality Maryland. Volunteers are needed to set up from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and to work the actual event from 4-10 p.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.com.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) celebrates DJ Randy Bettis’ newest GayDays CD tonight at 10. Cover is $8 before 11 pm and $12 after. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Club Hippo (1 West Eager St., Baltimore) hosts a dance party with DJ Jayson Royce tonight at 10. Cover charge is $6. For more information, visit clubhippo.com.
Sunday, June 24
PrimeTimers of D.C. are hosting an evening on the rooftop of the residences at Thomas Circle (1330 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) from 4-7 p.m. There is complimentary valet parking and the evening will include drinks and hors d’oeuvres. This event requires attendees to RSVP. For more information, visit thedccenter.org
Busboys and Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) is hosting a free screening of the film “Pariah” tonight at 8. The movie is focused on a adolescent African-American girl who is accepting her identity as a lesbian. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.
Monday, June 25
Author Ezra Nepon appears for a reading and discussion of the people’s history of progressive Jewish activism in the 1980s tonight at 7. The discussion will be at the DCJCC Library (1529 16th St., N.W.). The event is free but RSVP is requested. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Whitman-Walker Health clinic (1104 8th St., S.E.) is holding its HIV Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Tuesday, June 26
A community conversation about how to promote pride in health is being hosted by the Whitman-Walker Health clinic tonight at the Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge Street, NW) starting at 7. The event is free. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Millennium Stage presents Serenade! Washington, D.C. Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The performance showcases the best talent from around the world including Countermeasure and Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
The FUK!T packing party is tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends and see how many FUK!T or TOOLK!TS they can pack in two hours. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its weekly Flashback party with DJ Jason Royce tonight. There is no cover; 21 and older. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wednesday, June 27
Whitman-Walker Health clinic is holding HIV testing at Walgreens (3524 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) in honor of National HIV Testing Day today from 3-7 p.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Hillyer International Arts and Artists (9 Hillyer Court, N.W.) is hosting a panel discussion of distinguished artists and curators about the Richard Prince legal case tonight at 7, a photo-related case about copyright issues. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit [email protected].
An HIV Prevention Working Group meeting tonight at 7 at the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community (1318 U St., N.W). This event is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Chi Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) is hosting speed dating for gay men in their 20s and 30s tonight at 7. You must be at least 21 to attend. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Lambda Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th Street, S.E., across from the Marine Barracks). No reservations needed and newcomers are welcome. Those needing a partner should visit lambdabridge.com.
Thursday, June 28
Millennium Stage presents “Quetzal” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The L.A. group blends Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, R&B and rock. This event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) meets tonight at 7 at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.). The goal of this group is to reduce violence against members of the LGBT community. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
The Lambda Sci-Fi book group meets tonight to discuss “God’s War” by Kammeron Hurley. Bring a snack and/or non-alcoholic drink to share. The group meets at 1425 S Street N.W. at 7 p.m. For details, visit lambdascifi.org.
The play “Cut/Uncut” by Steve Langley is being presented tonight at 7 p.m. at the Blackburn Center on the campus of Howard University (2397 Sixth Street, N.W.). It explores how the HIV/AIDS crisis brought disparate people together in the early ‘90s. It’s part of the D.C. Black Theater Festival which continues through July 1 and features several LGBT-themed productions. Ticket information and festival details are at dcbtf.org.
Celebrity News
My evening with Madonna
Gay icon headlined the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam
Editor’s note: International News Editor Michael K. Lavers and Photo Editor Michael Key will be on assignment in the Netherlands through Aug. 10. They will be covering World Pride in Amsterdam.
AMSTERDAM — Madonna and 6,000 of her closest friends celebrated World Pride at Amsterdam’s AFAS Live concert hall early Sunday morning. I was fortunate enough to be one of them.
Madonna last Wednesday nearly broke the internet when she said on social media in Dutch that “I got somethin’ I wanna talk about,” referring to an opening line in “Danceteria,” one of the tracks on her “Confessions II” album that has received rave reviews since its July 2 release. The track has been on near constant replay on my playlist since I first heard it.
— Madonna (@Madonna) July 28, 2026
MISTR — a telehealth platform that offers free access to PrEP, Doxy PEP, STI testing, and long-term care that has organized Madonna’s Club Confessions shows in the U.S. and the U.K. — later confirmed the rampant speculation. I woke up on July 30 to an email in my inbox from MISTR and the World Pride Music Festival PR team that said I was on the press list.
Madonna was indeed going to headline the World Pride Music Festival that Jake Resnicow and Insomniac produced, and I was going to be there. OMFG!!!!
The gay icon had one more surprise in store.
The Dutch internet on Saturday once again broke over speculation that Kylie Minogue was going to appear alongside Madonna. I was getting ready to leave our hotel in Amsterdam on Saturday night when I saw a video of the two of them together.
“Madonna is now teasing Kylie Minogue on her social media … she may be one of her ‘special guests’ tonight,” I wrote in a text to Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff at 8:46 p.m.
“Have fun! This is turning into the gayest concert ever,” he responded.
I arrived at AFAS Live shortly before 11 p.m. My press contact walked me and two other Dutch journalists into the venue’s cavernous main room known as the Black Box. We made small talk for a few minutes before I started to walk around and listen to Josh Harrison who was on the decks.
Madonna was scheduled to take the stage at 1:30 a.m., but she is known for being late — she is Madonna and she does what she wants. Hayla, a British singer, and Bebe Rexha are among those who performed ahead of Madonna. Thousands of sweaty men — including a group of Australians next to me who were eagerly awaiting Kylie’s anticipated appearance — packed the Black Box and were dancing, anticipating what was to come.
MISTR CEO Tristan Schukraft at one point came on stage and declared Madonna was indeed in the building. The moment for which we were all eagerly waiting finally came shortly before 2:30 a.m.
“Mother is here and this is gay heaven,” said Madonna when she took the stage.
Stuart Price, who produced her “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album in 2005, manned the decks during Madonna’s set.
She opened it with “I Feel So Free” from “Confessions II.” Madonna then sang “Bring Your Love” and “Danceteria” to which this reporter — and everyone else — sang along.
Madonna then teased a surprise before she began to perform “Love Sensation.” Kylie soon appeared on stage. It was nearly too much for my fellow partygoers from Australia. It was indeed the gayest concert ever!
Madonna and Kylie performed “Love Sensation” together. They then sang “Hung Up” and “Sorry” from “Confessions on a Dance Floor” to round out the set that ended shortly after 3 a.m.
Madonna and I share the same birthday — Aug. 16 — and I would like to think she and Kylie gave me an early birthday present. In all seriousness though, it was an amazing night for me and for everyone else who was fortunate enough to be there.
“On the dance floor I feel so free,” says Madonna in the opening of “I Feel So Free.”
For those few precious hours at AFAS Live I did not think about the Trump-Vance administration and the myriad ways it is destroying the U.S. I did not think about the National Guard troops deployed to D.C. I did not think about the pointless wars that continue to ravage Ukraine and other countries around the world. I simply lost myself on the dance floor and celebrated an icon who has always stood with my community.
Thank you, Madonna.
The Petal Release Party and Drag Show was held at Spark Social on Friday, July 31. Performers included Tiara-Missou, Labianna and Darcy de la Cuadra.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Celebrity News
Madonna headlines World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam
Kylie Minogue made surprise appearance alongside gay icon
AMSTERDAM — Madonna on Sunday headlined the final night of the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam.
The gay icon took the stage shortly before 2:30 a.m. local time (8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday) during Club Confessions, a set that MISTR, a telehealth platform that offers free access to PrEP, Doxy PEP, STI testing, and long-term HIV care, organized.
“Mother is here and this is gay heaven,” said Madonna when she took the stage inside Amsterdam’s AFAS Live concert hall that can hold up to 6,000 people.
Stuart Price, who produced Madonna’s 2005 “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album and “Confessions II,” which debuted on July 2, DJed the set.
Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance. She and Madonna performed a new remix of “Love Sensation” from “Confessions II.”
(Washington Blade video by Michael K. Lavers)
“Throughout my career, I’ve always supported efforts to fight HIV and AIDS, and that fight begins with education and access,” said Madonna in a MISTR press release. “With MISTR, (CEO) Tristan (Schukraft) is expanding access to HIV prevention and sexual healthcare for everyone. Through this work, he’s helping preserve and strengthen LGBTQ+ spaces while investing in the communities and culture that have long sustained us.”
Minogue in an Instagram post thanked Madonna, Price, Schukraft, and MISTR.
Madonna appeared at The Abbey in West Hollywood, Calif., in April. Madonna in June celebrated Pride month with a pop-up performance in New York’s Times Square.
Jake Resnicow and Insomniac produced the World Pride Music Festival that also featured Bebe Rexha and Paris Hilton, among others.
“Pride has always been about bringing our community together,” said Resnicow. “At a moment when too many people are being told to hide or make themselves smaller, gathering openly, joyfully, and without apology matters more than ever. I couldn’t be prouder of what this festival brought to life in Amsterdam — one dance floor, completely free.”
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