Arts & Entertainment
LGBT-affirming Christmas services
Many D.C.-area churches welcome gays
Metropolitan Community Church of D.C. (Washington Blade file photo by Callie Marie)
Many houses of worship in the Washington region are LGBT-affirming. Here are a few that are having holiday services.
Christmas Eve
Foundry United Methodist Church (16th and P streets, N.W.) holds a kid-friendly Christmas Eve service from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with interactive storytelling and glowsticks. At 8 p.m., the church will also hold a Christmas Eve service with scripture readings, music and a homily. For more information, visit foundryumc.org.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve worship service tonight at 8 p.m. Visit mccdc.com for details.
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) has carols by candlelight with Rev. Mariann Budde. At 10 p.m., there’s Festival Holy Eucharist with Budde and Rev. Gary Hall. For more information, visit nationalcathedral.org.
Dumbarton United Methodist Church (3133 Dumbarton St., N.W.) offers two Christmas Eve services today at 5 and 9 p.m. The first service is geared toward children while the later service is more formal and will feature Advent worship themes. Visit dumbartonumc.org for details.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) has a service tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a musical prelude starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit nationalcitycc.org.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) holds a festival service at 10:30 p.m. with a choral prelude starting at 10. For details, visit washingtonparish.org.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) presents its Christmas Pageant today at 4 p.m. Later in the evening, there’s a Holy Eucharist service with choral prelude beginning at 8:30 p.m. Visit stjohnsgeorgetown.org for more information.
Seekers Church (276 Carroll St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve dinner and service beginning at 6 p.m. For more information, visit seekerschurch.org.
Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service with performances by a choir, soloists and instrumentalists. Visit churchofthepilgrims.org for details.
Christmas Day
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) holds Festival Holy Eucharist this morning at 11 a.m. There is a Christmas Day service of lessons and carols today at 4 p.m. followed by an organ recital featuring organists Christopher Betts and Benjamin Straley at 5:15 p.m.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) has its Christmas Day breakfast and service this morning from 7:30-8:30 a.m. For more information, visit washingtonparish.org.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) has a Christmas Day and Eucharist service at 5:30 p.m. For details, visit stjohnsgeorgetown.org.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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