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Calendar: Sept. 21

Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through Sept. 27

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John O of Diamond Ring
John O of Diamond Ring

Diamond Ring, gay singer John O’s performance alter ego, is at the 9:30 Club Sunday night. (Photo courtesy the Karpel Group)

TODAY (Friday) 

“Clean House” star Mark Brunetz is featured in The Capital House Show at the Dulles Expo Center (4320 Chantilly Center Chantilly, Va.) today from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the box office adult admission, $7 adult online admission and $3 children (6-12 years old) admission and free for children 5 years and under. For more information about the show and tickets, visit capitalhomeshow.com.

The Nitecamp Dancers will perform at Town (2009 8th St. NW) tonight at 10:30 p.m. Doors open at 10. There is a $5 cover from 10-11p.m. for the 21-and-up crowd and $10 cover after 11 p.m. Those 18-20, have a $10 cover all night. $3 drinks last from 10-11 p.m. For more information, visit towndc.com.

Saturday, Sept. 22

Team D.C. Dodgeball holds its first ever tournament at the Columbia Heights Recreation Center (1480 Girard Street) today at 10 a.m. Team D.C. was created to educate the LGBT community on the benefits of sports participation, while dismissing discrimination of those partaking in sports. The group also gives the opportunity for the community to participate in various local, regional, national and international competitions. For more information, visit teamdc.org/Dodgeball.htm.

Brother Help Thyself has its rain date for Gay and Lesbian Night at Kings Dominion for tonight from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. As the group’s biggest fundraiser, all benefits go to Brother Help Thyself. Although the event was changed because of bad weather, all Sept. 8 tickets will be accepted. Tickets costs $34 online and $36 at the gate. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

The third annual 17th Street Festival is today from noon-6 p.m. The community will celebrate the 17th Street Corridor from Riggs Place to P St. N.W. Including many different musical performances, artist vendors, a pet and kid zone and appearances from various city officials, everyone is coming together to commemorate business and the community itself. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct.) hosts The Tainted Love, an International ‘80s Dance Party tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The party features all worldwide hits provided by DJ Tom from Prague. Dress code is enforced, meaning high tops, big hair and bright makeup. The cost is $5 all night. For more information, visit greenlanterndc.com.

The 12th annual National Book Festival is back at the National Mall today at 10 a.m. This free event, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as honorary chairs, will celebrate many different books while honoring authors such as, Michael Connelly and R.L. Stine. Singer Jewel will make presentations, along with a variety of other illustrators, poets and writers. For more information, visit loc.gov/bookfest/.

Grubb’s NW Specialty Pharmacy (1517 17th St. NW) hosts a free seminar today at noon, for those interested in learning how to accomplishment parenthood in the LGBT community. Discussions will include psychological issues related to in vitro fertilization in the LGBT community and legal implications of the process. Space is limited and RSVP is required. To RSVP, contact Emily or Daphne at 202-503-2644.

Sunday, Sept. 23

Diamond Rings performs at the 9:30 club (815 V St. NW), for the Stars Concert with the California Wives tonight at 7 p.m. The Canadian gay singer is known for his glittery makeup, animal print and leotards. For more information, visit 930.com.

Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St. NW) hosts its weekly Drag Brunch today at 11. The cost is $24 for the brunch buffet, while your first mimosa is free. Also, Zing Zang Bloody Marys are $4 and Absolut Peppar Bloody Marys are $6. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.

LGBT Families Day at National Park (1500 South Capitol Street SE) happens today at 1:30. The Nationals will play the Milwaukee Brewers today at 1:35 p.m. For more information, visit washington.nationals.mlb.com.

Monday, Sept. 24

Cobalt (1639 R St. NW) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St. NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. The group is a confidential support system for those recently diagnosed with HIV and all are welcome. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

The 2012 Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Reception will be tonight at 7 p.m. at The D.C. Center (1318 U St NW). The center will be thanking bars, clubs and other local businesses that have helped fight HIV in D.C. by distributing the safer sex kit, FUK!Ts, around town.

The Marylander’s for Marriage Equality is holding a fundraiser at Joe’s Movement Emporium (3309 Bunker Hill Road Mount Rainier, Md) tonight at 6. Entertainment, wine and light fare will be included. For details, visit marylandersformarriageequality.org.

Tuesday, Sept. 25

The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct.) hosts the D.C. Center’s FUK!T Packing Party tonight at 7 p.m. The goal is to circulate these packets around the city and the clubs to spread HIV awareness. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 26

The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 at the DignityCenter (721 8th St., SE) for duplicate bridge.  No reservations are needed and newcomers welcome. For details and/or a partner, visit lambdabridge.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St. NW) holds its Gay Men Over 50 group meeting tonight at 6:30. This support group is confidential for gay men over 50 (or soon to be 50) seeking to continue their quality of life and sense of purpose while beginning a new chapter. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Thursday, Sept. 27

The Lambda Sci-Fi Book Group meets tonight at 7 to discuss this month’s book, “Beyond Binary,” edited by Brit Mandelo. Bring a snack and/or a non-alcoholic drink to share.  The meeting will be held at Peter and Rob’s Place (1425 S St. NW). For more information, visit lambdascifi.org.

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Celebrity News

HRC releases ‘Queer Renaissance Syllabus’

Beyoncé’s hit album inspired curriculum

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Beyoncé performs at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Aug. 6, 2023. The Human Rights Campaign has released a curriculum that her "Renaissance" album inspired. (Washington Blade photo by Isabelle Kravis)

In a move aimed at celebrating the beauty, brilliance and resilience of the LGBTQ community, the Human Rights Campaign unveiled the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” that Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” album inspired. 

Curated by Justin Calhoun, Leslie Hall and Chauna Lawson of the HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, the syllabus includes a variety of academic articles, essays, films and other media rooted in Black queer and feminist studies. Each piece is directly inspired by the tracks on Beyoncé’s Billboard 200-topping dance album, “Renaissance.”

Beyoncé’s album “Renaissance” stands as a cultural milestone, celebrating the Black queer roots of dance music while shedding light on overlooked Black queer artists. Inspired by her late-Uncle Johnny, the album not only garnered critical acclaim but also shed light on the often marginalized contributions of Black queer artists. Winning four Grammys and yielding chart-topping hits like “Break My Soul” and “Cuff It,” the album sparked discussions about economic impact and cultural representation.

Amid its success, legislative challenges arose, with Florida and Texas enacting bans on DEI initiatives in public colleges. Recognizing the album’s transformative potential, HRC developed the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” to leverage its impact for education and activism.

Tailored for educators, youth-serving professionals, DEI practitioners, higher education leaders and admirers of Beyoncé’s artistry, the syllabus aims to encourage meaningful discussions, enrich lesson plans, and explore innovative ways to honor the vibrancy and significance of LGBTQ individuals and their culture.

With six themes anchoring the syllabus, ranging from “intersectionality and inclusivity” to “social justice and activism,” it provides a comprehensive exploration of various facets of LGBTQ experiences and expressions. Fan-favorite tracks from the album are paired with scholarly readings, offering insights into empowerment, self-acceptance and the transformative power of artistic expression. The syllabus also reinforces HRC’s efforts to highlight, amplify and re-center Black and queer voices.

By providing links to articles, books, podcasts and interviews, each associated with a song from the album, it celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Black queer community.

The concluding section of the syllabus includes Beyoncé’s tribute to O’Shea Sibley, a young Black queer person who was murdered in Brooklyn, N.Y., last July while voguing to “Renaissance” songs at a gas station. HRC also includes a statement that condemns hate crimes.

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Movies

Neo-noir ‘Femme’ offers sexy, intense revenge fantasy

A work of real and thrilling cinematic vision

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George MacKay and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett star in ‘Femme.’ (Photo courtesy of Utopia)

They say “revenge is sweet,” and it must be true. Why else would so many of our popular stories, dating all the way back to “Medea” and beyond, be focused on the idea of getting “even” with the people who have done us wrong?

It’s a concept with obvious appeal for anyone who has felt unjustly used by the world – or, more accurately, by the people in it – but that has particular resonance, perhaps, for modern queer audiences, long used to being relegated to the status of “victim” in the narratives we see on our screens. In “Femme” — the new UK indie thriller helmed by first-time feature directors Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping, now in limited theatrical release and expanding wider over the next two weeks — it provides the irresistible hook for a gripping tale of calculated vengeance in the face of anti-queer violence. Like the best of such stories, however, it’s as much a cautionary tale as it is a wish-fulfillment fantasy.

Set in London, it centers on Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), aka Aphrodite Banks, a popular drag performer in the city’s queer club scene who, after a performance one night, steps out in full costume to buy a pack of cigarettes and becomes the victim of a traumatic “gay bashing” incident at the hands of a young man goaded to violence by a thuggish gang of friends. Months later, though he’s recovered from his physical injuries, he is still deeply affected by the inner scars that linger. Robbed of the confidence that allowed him to perform, he’s withdrawn into a reclusive life, until concern from his friends and housemates prompts him to finally venture out into the world for a night of cruising at a gay sauna – where he encounters his bully doing the same thing. 

Unrecognizable and anonymously masculine out of his drag persona, Jules finds himself beginning a dangerous and duplicitous game in which he plans to “out” his former attacker – whose name, as he learns, is Preston (George MacKay) – in the most humiliating way possible. As his scheme begins to play out, however, he encounters an obstacle: in getting to know the closeted Preston, he is surprised to discover not only empathy for someone living their life in terrified camouflage, but a mutual attraction that develops despite the horrific history between them.

Framed as a self-described “neo-noir” story, a designation that implies a certain flavor of moral ambiguity as much as it does a tense and shadowy tale of intrigue or a psychologically complex tone, it’s a movie that relies heavily on style in order to sell its conceptual premise. Realistically, we might question the boldness that permits our protagonist to enact such a potentially hazardous scheme, but in the context of its genre trappings we are lulled into accepting it. And while most of us are likely “jaded” enough to question the possibility of tenderness between its two leading characters, the accepted conceits of the film noir form are enough to sell it to us – or at least allow us to grapple with it alongside Jules, whose righteously Machiavellian master plan is threatened by the feelings he “catches” in spite of himself.

That, of course, is part of the whole point. “Femme,” though it establishes itself by virtue of its very title as a testament to the struggle to “pass” for straight in a world that places a value judgment on perceived adherence to a strict norm for gender and sexuality, hinges on the idea that such things aren’t quite as clear-cut as we want to make them. Despite the black-and-white certainty we cling to when it comes to the subject of abusive or toxic relationships, there’s an emotional component that can only be ignored or dismissed at our peril, and even our most resolute intentions can be undermined by the shades of gray we discover in our hearts. 

Freeman and Ng – who also wrote the screenplay, adapting their own BAFTA-nominated short film from 2021 (starring Harris Dickinson and Paapa Essiedu) into a feature-length expansion – seem bent on challenging our snap judgments, on forcing us to sympathize with our oppressors by showing us the ways in which they, too, are prevented from living a fully authentic life by the expectations of their cultural environment. Even more challenging for many modern audiences, perhaps, may be the unavoidable observation that, in enacting his plan of revenge, Jules crosses the line between being a victim and being a victimizer – a fine point that may trigger uncomfortable implications in a social environment that has become marked by divisive moral constructs and hardline ethical posturing.

Before we scare you off with discussion of high-concept themes and “culture war” rhetoric, however, it’s crucial to bring up the elements that lift “Femme” above and beyond the level of so many such narrative films and makes it a somewhat unexpectedly potent piece of cinematic storytelling – and all of them have to do with the skill and intention behind it.

As to the former, the movie’s first-time directors manage a remarkable debut, steeping their film in moody, genre-appropriate visuals and murky morality. They pave a path beyond the easy assessments proscribed for us by conventional thinking, and force us to follow our sympathies into a disquieting confrontation between what we “know” as right and what we feel as true; at the same time, they push back against any natural sentimentality we might have about the situation, stressing the toxicity of the relationship in the middle of their film, the ironically-reversed insincerity of its dynamic – and, perhaps most importantly, the reality of the defining circumstances around it. While we might find ourselves longing for a happier resolution than the one we expect, the film makes no pretense that these two men might overcome the deep denial and traumatic associations – not to mention the calculated lack of honesty on the side of its de facto protagonist, to achieve some kind of “happy ending” between themselves. Nevertheless, we hope for it, in spite of ourselves.

That delicate dynamic works largely because of the movie’s lead actors. Both Stewart-Jarrett (“Candyman”) and MacKay (“Pride”, “1917”) deliver fully invested, utterly relatable performances, finding the emotional truth behind their interactions with as much palpable authenticity as they bring to the chemistry between them. They force us to abandon our preconceived ideas about each character by finding the human presence behind them, and it makes the story’s final outcome feel as heartbreaking as it does inevitable.

As for intention, “Femme” – which premiered at last year’s Berlin International Film Festival and went on to gather acclaim across the international film fest circuit – might be a little hard to take for the easily triggered, we won’t deny it. Still, it’s a work of real and thrilling cinematic vision that goes beyond easy morality to highlight the tragedy that comes from being forced to live behind a mask for the sake of societal acceptance. It’s also exciting, smart, and unexpectedly sexy – all of which make it a highly- recommended addition to your watchlist.

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Out & About

Trans Day of Visibility is here and here’s how to celebrate

Howard County LGBTQIA Commission to host Columbia event

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Howard County LGBTQIA Commission will host its inaugural event celebrating Trans Day of Visibility on Sunday, March 31 at 4 p.m. at Busboys and Poets in Columbia, Md.

The purpose of this inaugural event is to create a welcoming and inclusive space that celebrates and amplifies the voices of the trans community and its allies, highlights the joy and resilience of trans and non-binary individuals everywhere, and elevates their voices and shares their diverse experiences. 

This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

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