Arts & Entertainment
Preview of coming attractions
D.C.’s major LGBT events and festivals for March, April and May
Cherry Main Event (Washington Blade file photo by Pete Exis)
The “Turnabout Show” — where the guys become girls and the girls become guys — is at 11 p.m. Monday night at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). The event has a Facebook page.
The Miss Gaye Universe D.C. Pageant is at Town on March 15. Admission is $15 for Academy members and $20 for guests. Doors open at 3 p.m.; pageant starts at 4. Details at thewashingtonacademy.com.
The Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs have an awards event in honor of Women’s History Month on March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Fannie Mae (3900 Wisconsin, Ave., N.W.). RSVPs and photo IDs are required to attend. RSVP by e-mailing your full name to [email protected].
The “Split This Rock Poetry Festival: Poems of Provocation & Witness” is March 27-30 and will feature workshops, panels and readings held at various spots in the Farragut Square neighborhood. Several LGBT participants are on the slate. Visit splitthisrock.org for details.
The fifth annual Charm City Fetish Fair, billed as Baltimore’s “premiere fetish event,” is April 4-6. Visit charmcityfetishfair.com for details.
Cherry is the same weekend in Washington at various gay clubs in the city. Visit cherryfund.org for details.
The Rehoboth Women’s Fest 2014 is April 10-13 in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Visit camprehoboth.com for details.
Miss Gay Maryland America is April 25-27 at the Hippo (One W. Eager St., Baltimore). Visit missgaymaryland.com for details.
Capital Queer Prom is doing things a bit different this year. A “TAGGfest & Masquerade Gala” is scheduled for April 26 at Almas Shriners (1315 K St. N.W.) as a benefit for the Wanda Alston House. Find the group on Facebook or visit taggfest.com for details.
The Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has its LGBT Business Excellence Awards dinner and gala April 25 at the Mayflower Renaissance Washington (1127 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). Visit caglcc.org for information, tickets and details on other Chamber events.
Youth Pride is April 27 from noon-5 p.m. in Dupont Circle. Visit youthpridedc.org for details.
Gay Day at the Zoo is May 3. Visit the group’s Facebook page for more information.
The American Military Partner Association has its inaugural national gala on May 17 (Armed Forces Day) at the Liaison Hotel on Capitol Hill. Visit militarypartners.org/gala for tickets and details.
The Academy of Washington has its 52nd annual Golden Boy Awards at Town on May 17 at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3). Admission is $15 for Academy members and $20 for guests. Visit thewashingtonacademy.com for details.
Lesbian Angie Harvey is in D.C. the same day for a “retreat tour” called Work2Work that will cover issues such as self esteem, letting go, relationships and purposeful living. It’s free. E-mail [email protected] for details.
D.C. Black Pride Weekend is May 23-25 at various locations. Visit dcblackpride.org for details.
Omega Entertainment and Daryl Wilson Promotions have their “Wet Dream Weekend 2014” May 22-26 and promise five days, 10 events and “one hell of a party.” Details at omegapartydc.com.
June, of course, brings Pride season. Get a sneak peek at this year’s events at capitalpride.org.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
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Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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