Arts & Entertainment
Out & About: July 6
AIDS documentary on PBS, Youth Pride Alliance celebrates anniversary and more
McCain, Black to appear at D.C. JCC
The D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) is hosting Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black on Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m. McCain, a Republican, and Black, a Democrat, traveled across America to see if two people with radically opposing views could find common ground. They chronicled their discoveries in their new book, “America, You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter to Freedom.”
Michael Ian Black is a stand-up comedian who has starred in numerous television series and movies. Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, is the author of “Dirty Sexy Politics” and writes for the “Daily Beast.”
Their book disproves the notion of an irreconcilably polarized American political climate. “America, You Sexy Bitch” can be purchased in advance for $17 at the door and McCain and Black will be available for autographs after the discussion.
Tickets can be purchased at dcjcc.org for $20. VIP access tickets can also be purchased for $50 to attend a reception with the authors at 6 p.m.
‘ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America’ premieres on PBS
“ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America” is a Frontline documentary that premieres on PBS from 9-11 p.m. on Tuesday. WETA is the D.C.-area PBS affiliate.
The documentary reveals why HIV/AIDS is more widespread among African Americans. Racism, silence and stigma are uncovered as essential factors that have allowed the virus to spread rampantly within the black community.
“AIDS in Black America” features personal stories from people living with HIV and compelling interviews with basketball legend Magic Johnson, Civil Rights leader Julian Bond, black pastors from all over the U.S., activists and health workers.
For more information on the documentary, visit pbs.org or weta.org.
Youth Pride Alliance members show their pride. (Blade file photo by Pete Exis)
Youth Pride Alliance celebrates anniversary
The Queer Youth Project’s one-year anniversary will be celebrated at the Out For Equality party tonight from 6-10 p.m. at MOVA Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.)
The event benefits the Youth Pride Alliance and celebrates the first anniversary of the Queer Youth Project, which supports youth serving organizations in fostering inclusive and safe spaces for LGBT youth through technical assistance, training, program development and evaluation.
Out For Equality will feature specialty cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a guest DJ. Donations can be made to the Youth Pride Alliance online at out4equality2012.eventbrite.com or through checks made payable to the Youth Pride Alliance.
Team Up to Fight AIDS with the Nationals
The Washington Nationals are having a “Team Up to Fight AIDS” benefit for their Saturday game against the Colorado Rockies at 4:05 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington (1500 South Capitol Street, S.E.).
For each ticket purchased, the team will make a donation to the AIDS Memorial Quilt/the NAMES Project Foundation and Whitman-Walker Health.
Tickets range from $15-$35 for the game. Buy tickets at Washington-nationals.mlb.com.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Demonstrators disrupt OMB director hearing over PEPFAR
HIV/AIDS group NMAC is ‘destabilized’ and in financial crisis: sources
Madonna announces release date for new album
Senegalese court issues first conviction under new anti-LGBTQ law
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Trump budget targets ‘gender extremism’
Comings & Goings
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
