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‘A day to be yourself’

Capital TransPride plans day-long event Saturday

Published

12 years ago

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Trans Pride, gay news, Washington Blade
Trans Pride, gay news, Washington Blade

A previous year’s Trans Pride (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

It may still be May but Pride season is in full swing. This weekend Capital TransPride is in the spotlight with its eighth annual event, which runs most of the day Saturday at National City Christian Church in Thomas Circle, which also hosted last year.

Organizer Holly Goldmann, back for a fourth year of planning the event, says several informational presentations are planned throughout the day.

She says one of the main things Washington’s transgender community is asking about is details about the bulletin Mayor Vincent Gray issued for the District in February requiring health insurance companies that do business in D.C. to provide full coverage for their employees who want gender reassignment surgery, hormones and other treatments deemed “medically necessary.”

“We’re getting a lot of questions because most of the surgeries are plastic surgery related but places that do that kind of work don’t take insurance because it’s considered cosmetic. It’s like that all over the country,” Goldmann says. “We we have a big panel on that in the afternoon.”

Panelists scheduled to appear include psychotherapist Thomas Coughlin and Amy Nelson from Whitman-Walker Health, Sterling Washington from the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs, and Philip Barlow from the D.C. Office of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

“That will be a big focus this year,” Goldmann says. “People are eager to learn more about this insurance stuff. We have trans men who’ve waited years to get chest surgeries because no one is quite sure if it’s deemed medically necessary and I don’t even know if the insurance people know. I believe they’re working with doctors right now. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of Q&A on that.”

A morning panel is devoted to issues of transitioning from legal name changes, first steps in treatment and more.

The keynote speaker will be author Justin Schleifer, whose book “Fractured,” tells of his own journey through addiction and transitioning. He’s slated to speak starting at about 2:45 p.m.

The Capital Pride Engendered Spirit awards will be given to Amy Nelson, a supervising attorney at Whitman-Walker Health’s Legal Services Program where she leads a transgender legal practice, and Alexa Rodriguez, a promoter for Miss Maryland Latina and a board member of the Latino GLBT History Project.

Lunch from Chipotle Mexican Grill will be served. A $10 donation is requested and pre-event registration is strongly suggested so organizers know how much lunch to order. Go to capitalpride.org/transpride to register.

Attendance was slightly down last with about 85 attending, Goldmann says. She expects somewhere between 100-150 this year. TransPride is an official Capital Pride-sponsored event and Goldmann says organizers there have “been wonderful to us.”

For now, this is the only official event Capital TransPride organizers do though Goldmann says there’s been talk of possibly doing more events, though nothing official is set beyond Saturday’s event.

Local transgender activist SaVanna Wanzer founded Capital TransPride in 2007. Goldmann says in the wake of Transgender Health Empowerment’s demise, local trans resources are especially needed in Washington.

“It’s a really good day to be with other trans and trans-friendly people,” she says. “Nobody has to worry about the pretenses of trying to pass or feel normal. It’s just a day to be yourself and be around other people like yourself.”

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Out & About

Love board games and looking for love?

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2 days ago

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January 16, 2026

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(Image by VLADGRIN/Bigstock)

Quirk Events will host “Board Game Speed Dating for Gay Men” on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at KBird DC. 

Searching for a partner can be challenging. But board games are always fun. So what if you combined board games and finding a partner?

Picture this: You sit down for a night of games. A gaming concierge walks you through several games over the course of the night. You play classics you love and discover brand new games you’ve never heard of, playing each with a different group of fun singles. All while in a great establishment. 

At the end of the night, you give your gaming concierge a list of the folks you met that you’d like to date and a list of those you met that you’d like to just hang out with as friends. If any two people put down the same name as each other in either column, then your gaming concierge will make sure you get each other’s e-mail address and you can coordinate a time to hang out.

Tickets cost $31.80 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

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Calendar

Calendar: January 16-22

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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2 days ago

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January 16, 2026

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Friday, January 16

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website. 

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new connections and community building or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 17

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.

The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center and SMYAL will host a free film screening of “Mama Bears” celebrating queer youth, resilience, and the power of living authentically. Whether you’re a movie lover, looking to make new friends, or simply want a safe, affirming space to relax, this event is for you. Click this link to RSVP. 

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, January 18

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, January 19

“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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, January 20

Center Bi+ Roundtable 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.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Tae Kwon Do Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Wednesday, January 21

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

Thursday, January 22

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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Calendar: January 9-15

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

1 week ago

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January 9, 2026

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Friday, January 9

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area. For more details, visit Facebook. 

“Backbone Comedy” will be at 8 p.m. at As You Are. Backbone Comedy is a queer-run fundraiser comedy show at As You Are Bar DC, where comics stand up for a cause. Each show, a percentage of proceeds go to a local organization – Free Minds DC, a reentry organization for individuals impacted by incarceration. Tickets cost $19.98 and are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 10

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.

Monday, January 12

“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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. 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 details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.

Tuesday, January 13

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook. 

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected]. 

Wednesday, January 14

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

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will partner with House of Ruth to host “Art & Conversation” at 3 p.m. at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This free workshop will involve two hours of art making, conversation, and community. Guests will explore elements of healthy relationships with a community-centered art activity.  This workshop involves paint, so please dress accordingly. All materials will be provided. For more details, email [email protected]. 

Thursday, January 15

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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