Arts & Entertainment
Presidential sweet
Teddy a tasty follow-up to Lincoln
Teddy and the Bully Bar (1200 19th Street, N.W.). (Photo courtesy Teddy and the Bully Bar)
The same visionary who brought us Lincoln Restaurant (1110 Vermont Ave., N.W.) is back with another. Teddy and the Bully Bar (1200 19th Street, N.W.) doesn’t quite scream Roosevelt to the degree that its predecessor conjures Honest Abe, but it’s still a fun concept with rich offerings served in the oh-so-D.C.-style of small — and I do mean small — plates.
Owner Alan Popovsky, a political science major in college, unveiled Teddy last month in the former site of Sam and Harry’s Steakhouse, which boasts 230 seats, an in-house bakery and quirky contributions from about 50 local artists. Designer Maggie O’Neill makes clever use of the theme with the “rock wall,” created from small Mount Rushmore replicas.
Roosevelt was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, so it’s no surprise that Executive Chef Michael Hartzer has incorporated wild game into the menu. Mixologist John Hogan has developed a distinctive cocktail program to complement the cuisine through the use of homemade tonics, syrups and bitters. And there’s even a gay member of the management staff, Justin Gulledge, assistant general manager.
His favorite thing about his new position is making sure every guest is content, as well as seeing his regulars who come in multiple times per week and enjoy a great meal. Gulledge was a server at Lincoln before taking this promotion. He says his experience on the floor helped prepare him for management, but the need to multitask and help out all his servers at the same time is his biggest challenge.
He adjusted with help from General Manager Romeo Santos III. Gulledge is a huge fan of the rich food served at Teddy and the Bully Bar; his favorites include the fried fish sandwich with spicy mayo and peppers on the lunch menu and the mac and cheese with three cheeses. He says everyone needs to try the peaches-and-goat cheese salad. With this in mind, I gathered a group to give it a try.
Safari Sangria. (Photo courtesy Teddy and the Bully Bar)
It turned out to be my usual dining gaggle plus one of my groomsman who happened to be visiting. We entered Teddy and the Bully Bar after a long day in the sun. We needed something to cool us down and the waiter recommended The Safari Sangria with Veev Acai (a spirit), Vinho Verde (a Portuguese wine), sage, apple, grapefruit and sweet lime foam. From the moment we took a sip of this glorious concoction we trusted our waiter wholeheartedly and not once did he steer us wrong.
Oyster Bay Fritters. (Photo courtesy Teddy and the Bully Bar)
We enjoyed the spectacular basket of fresh made breads accompanied by butters and jams, the delectable Havana croquettes with a green pepper sauce that I was tempted to lick off the plate, and the wonderful oyster bay fritters that were beer battered and had the perfect amount of heat from the chili peppers. The grilled romaine salad and the peaches and goat cheese were also favorites at the table; Gulledge was definitely correct with his recommendation of this dish.
The golden potato puree and the Teddy Macaroni and Cheese were also enjoyable, although the portion was so small we needed to order seconds so the entire table could have a spoonful of each. The small plates here — as with Lincoln — are quite small, so plan accordingly. Even if your waiter tells you they’re suitable to share, you may want to order a couple extras to satiate your hunger. Nothing spoils a tasty meal like the urge to order a pizza when you get home.
The fried chicken, which Chef Hartzer says was Roosevelt’s favorite dish, had a crispy coating and the chicken was tender and juicy.
One standout dish rose above the rest — the crab and avocado with charred corn. The layered dish with fresh cool avocado and rich sweet crab was perfectly balanced, flavorful and refreshing, an excellent summer dish. Be sure to try it if you go.
Popovsky has brought another great concept restaurant to the District and with the help of Hartzer and Hogan, there’s a food and beverage menu full of tantalizing treats. The waitstaff, led by Santos and Gulledge, is customer focused and doesn’t disappoint.
Sports
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.
“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.
The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”
“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”
The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”
The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”
“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
(Video courtesy of the IOC)
President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.
“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.
An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.
The Blade will update this article with additional reaction when it becomes available.
a&e features
Introducing the Torchbearers Awards honoring queer, trans women and nonbinary people
Meet the Legends and Illuminators lighting new paths
The Torchbearers Awards are more than recognition—they are a continuation of legacy. They honor the quiet architects of progress in our community: those who organize, advocate, build, and protect, often without fanfare but always with purpose. Rooted in a belief in intentional recognition, this honor names those who carry our movements forward—those who make room for others, who remind us that change is both generational and generative. In a time marked by uncertainty and challenge, these leaders push forward with courage, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity and equity.
This year’s honorees reflect the full breadth of our community, spanning generations, backgrounds, identities, and industries. From Legends, with decades of leadership and having created pathways for others, to Illuminators, who are lighting new paths with creativity and innovation, each Torchbearer represents the power of intergenerational leadership and the strength found in our diversity. They are organizers, advocates, artists, policy leaders, healers, and changemakers whose lived experiences shape a shared vision for equity and liberation.
This award is our love letter to queer and trans women and nonbinary people who carry the flame when it would be easier to let it dim. To those who consistently show up, who use their voice and visibility and stand firm, often without recognition, so that others may live more freely and fully. The Torchbearers Awards celebrates not just what has been done, but the enduring spirit, responsibility, and collective care that ensure the work continues, and that the flame is always passed forward.
Co-Creators of the Torchbearers Awards: Shannon Alston, June Crenshaw, Heidi Ellis
Torchbearers Awards Advisory Board: Aditi Hardikar, Lesley Bryant, Jasmine Wilson-Bryant, Stephen Rutgers
ILLUMINATOR AWARDEES
- Representative Sharice Davids (she/her), (D, KS-03)
— U.S. House of Representatives - Greisa Martinez Rosas (she/her/ella)
— Executive Director, United We Dream - Paola Ramos (she/her)
— Journalist & Correspondent - Meagan A. Fitzgerald (she/her)
— Journalist & Correspondent - Jessica L. Lewis (she/her)
— Founder / Producer, Play Play DC - Savannah Wade (she/her)
— Founder, OAR Agency - Suhad Babaa (she/her)
— Filmmaker/ Former Executive Director of Just Vision - Ashlee Davis (she/her)
— Global Head of Inclusive Outcomes, Ancestry - Jazmine Hughes (she/her)
— Journalist and Former Editor at New York Times Magazine - Queen Adesuyi (she/they)
— Policy Advisor & Organizer, ReFrame Health & Justice - Michele Rayner, Esq. (she/her)
— Civil Rights Attorney, State Representative (Florida House of Representatives) - Gaby Vincent (she/her)
— Sports/Cultural Commentator and Community Leader - Jenny Nguyen (she/her)
— Founder & Owner, The Sports Bra - Denice Frohman (she/her)
— Independent Artist, Poet / Performer - Vida Rangel (she/her)
— Founder, Our Trans Capital - Roxanne Anderson (they/them)
— Executive Director, Our Space - Ann Marie Gothard (she/her)
— Director of Programs, Pride Live (Stonewall Visitor Center) - Diana Rodriques (she/her)
— Program Leader, Pride Live (Stonewall Visitor Center) - Wendi Cooper (she/her)
— Founder / Executive Director, Transcending Women - Toya Matthews (she/her)
— City of San Antonio, Texas - Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones (she/her)
— Sports/Cultural Commentator and Community Leader - Charity Blackwell (she/her)
— Poet, LGBTQ Advocate & Community Leader - Wilhelmina Indermaur (she/her)
— Director of Communications, Tyler Clementi Foundation - Em Chadwick (she/her)
— CMO, For Them & Autostraddle - Kylo Freeman (they/he)
— CEO, For Them & Autostraddle
LEGEND AWARDEES
- Sheila Alexander-Reid (she/her)
— Executive Director, PHL Diversity, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau - Cassandra Cantave Burton (she/her)
— Interim Director of Thought Leadership & Senior Research Advisor, AARP - leigh h. mosley (she/her)
— Photographer / Educator, PhotoFlo Photography - Jenn M. Jackson, PhD (they/them)
— Assistant Professor of Political Science; Author & Columnist, Syracuse University - Jordyn White (she/her)
— COO, Washington Prodigy / VP of Leadership Development & Research, HRC Foundation - AJ Hikes (they/them)
— Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer, ACLU - RaeShanda Lias (she/her)
— Digital Creator, RL Lockhart - Donna Payne-Hardy (she/her)
— Educator, EEO Specialist, Former Leader at the Human Rights Campaign - Courtney R. Snowden (she/her)
— Principal, Blueprint Strategy Group - Gaye Adegbalola (she/her)
— Musician & Activist, Musician / Inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame - Cheryl A. Head (she/her)
— Independent Author, Novelist (Crime Fiction) - Letitia Gomez (she/her)
— The American LGBTQ+ Museum, Formerly of Voto Latino - Lynne Brown (she/her)
— Publisher, Washington Blade - Shay Franco-Clausen (She/Her/Ella/Queen)
— Political Strategist and Organizer - Melissa L. Bradley (she/her)
— Founder & Managing Partner, New Majority Ventures - Meghann Burke (she/her)
— Executive Director, NWSL Players Association - Victoria Kirby York, MPA (she/they)
— Director of Public Policy & Programs, National Black Justice Coalition - Joli Angel Robinson (she/her)
— CEO, Center on Halsted - Jeannine Frisby LaRue (she/her)
— CEO, Moxie Strategies - Alice Wu (she/her)
— Film Director (Saving Face, The Half of It) / Screenwriter - Storme Webber (she/her)
— Interdisciplinary Artist / Educator, University of Washington - Kim Stone
— CEO of the Washington Spirit, Washington Spirit - Mickalene Thomas
— American Visual Artist, Mickalene Thomas Studio - Erika Lorshbough (any/they/she)
— Executive Director, interACT - J. Gia Loving (she/ella)
— Co-Executive Director, GSA Network
Celebrity News
D.C. goes gaga for Gaga
Bisexual icon brought ‘The Mayhem Ball’ tour to Washington this week
Lady Gaga this week took D.C. by storm.
The bisexual icon and LGBTQ rights champion brought “The Mayhem Ball” tour to Capital One Arena on Monday and Tuesday.
“Abracadabra,” “Paparazzi,” “Applause,” and “Bad Romance” are among the songs Lady Gaga performed during the 2 1/2-hour long concert. Lady Gaga also celebrated her many queer fans.
“You are precious to us,” she said on Tuesday night before she performed “Born This Way.”
Border to border: modern slavery and human trafficking in refugee movements across East Africa
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
Introducing the Torchbearers Awards honoring queer, trans women and nonbinary people
Pa. House passes bill to codify marriage equality in state law
A surtax would end this war quickly
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