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.
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.
The second annual Frederick Pride Parade was held in the streets of downtown Frederick, Md. on Friday, June 26.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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