Connect with us

Arts & Entertainment

D.C. arts briefs: Aug. 31

Gay play at Page-to-Stage, ‘Rainbow Lounge’ doc gets screening and more

Published

on

The cast of ‘11×81/2 Inches.’ (Photo by Omar Miguel)

Gay-themed play in Page-to-Stage Festival

Local playwright Alan Sharpe and his African-American Collective Theater return to the Kennedy Center’s annual Page-to-Stage Festival this weekend for a reading of his new work “11×81/2 Inches,” which he describes as “darkly dramatic, explicitly erotic, candidly comic and raunchily romantic.” It explores the lives of “same-gender-loving men in the black community.”

The Festival runs Saturday through Monday and the readings will occur at various spots throughout the Kennedy Center. The readings are free and no tickets are required but seating is limited and available first come, first served. Sharpe’s play will be performed Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the South Atrium Lobby.

More information is at kennedy-center.org.

— from staff reports

‘Rainbow Lounge’ doc depicts ’09 Texas raid

The new documentary “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge” from Dallas-based filmmaker Robert Camina will be screened Wednesday in Washington at 7 p.m. at the Marvin Center Amphitheatre at George Washington University (800 21st Street, NW) with a Q&A to follow.

The 103-minute documentary depicts a 2009 police raid on a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar that resulted in multiple arrests and serious injuries. Lesbian actress Meredith Baxter narrates. A meet and greet will be held at 6:30. The screening is co-sponsored by the Latino GLBT History Project, George Washington University and One in Ten. More information is at raidoftherainbowlounge.com.

—   from staff reports

Holiday weekend beach fun

Rehoboth Beach, Del., is always bustling with LGBT activities throughout the Labor Day weekend. Here are a few in case you’re heading to the beach this weekend.

The 25th anniversary Sundance Celebration occurs Saturday and Sunday at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center (229 Rehoboth Ave.) in benefit of CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. On Saturday, there’s a Sundance Auction, cocktail buffet and an open bar starting at 7 p.m. The party starts the next night at 8 with dancing and an open bar. Tickets are $45 for one event and $80 for both events. For more information or to buy tickets, visit camprehoboth.com.

The annual Drag Volleyball Tournament takes place Sunday at Poodle Beach, or the end of the boardwalk. The tournament begins at 1 p.m., however it is suggested that attendees arrive early to put out chairs, as it always gets crowded. The themes of the tournament will not be announced until the teams begin playing. In previous years, themes like “The Sound of Music” and Lady Gaga have turned up. The event is free and open to everyone.

The gay bars in Rehoboth also have their usual fun going on. Definitely check out Aqua Grill (57 Baltimore Ave.), the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.). The latter, especially, always has something fun in the works. On Labor Day weekend, check out the Celebrity Tribute Show on Saturday, Psychic Sunday with Cashetta on Sunday and resident diva Pamala Stanley on Sunday and Monday (bluemoonrehoboth.com).

 

— ERIN DURKIN

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Books

Celebrate Pride month by reading these books

History, pop culture, and more

Published

on

(Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer)

You’ve done your share of marching.

You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.

You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.

Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.

You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.

Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.

If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.

Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.

Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.

Continue Reading

Music & Concerts

Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall

Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Published

on

The Indigo Girls are back in the area next week. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records)

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall. 

The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts. 

Continue Reading

Calendar

Calendar: June 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

on

Friday, June 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, June 14

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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.

Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

Monday, June 16

“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 details, email [email protected]

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook

Tuesday, June 17

Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, June 18

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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.

“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website

Thursday, June 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite

Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Continue Reading

Popular