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‘A day to be yourself’

Capital TransPride plans day-long event Saturday

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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

Trans Day of Resilience set for Nov. 22

Leadership brunch, ‘Chat & Chew,’ fashion show and live performances planned

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(Photo by nito/Bigstock)

Capital Pride will host the Trans Day of Resilience Leadership Brunch on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center (1827 Wiltberger Street, N.W.). For more information and to RSVP, visit this link.

There will be a Trans Day of Resilience “Community Chat & Chew” at 5 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. fashion show and live performances at 9 p.m. at TransMission (1353 H Street, N.E.). The event is 21+. More information about the event is available on Facebook.

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Calendar

Calendar: November 14-20

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, November 14

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., NW. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email [email protected]

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Trade. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Women in their Twenties and Thirties will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for women living in the D.C. area. For more information join the group’s closed Facebook group

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Daytime Docs and Dramas Screening of ‘Summer Qamp’” at 12:30 p.m. This free event will celebrate queer youth, resilience and the power of living authentically. To RSVP, visit this link

Saturday, November 15

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.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.

LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is an outlet for people of color to come together and talk about anything that affects them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, November 16

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Salon” at 5 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy stimulating conversation and dining. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

Monday, November 17

“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]).

“Soulfully Queer: LGBTQ+ Emotional Health and Spirituality Drop-In” will be at 3:00p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This group will meet weekly for eight weeks, providing a series of drop-in sessions designed to offer a safe, welcoming space for open and respectful conversation. Each session invites participants to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and belonging at their own pace, whether they attend regularly or drop in occasionally. For more details visit the DC Center’s website.

Tuesday, November 18

Center Bi+ Roundtable Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is a is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. For more details, visit Facebook or Meetup

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Tae Kwon Do class” at 12:30. 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 Center’s website

Wednesday, November 19

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

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Activism at Woman’s National Democratic Club” at 6 p.m. at The Whittemore House. Guests can join other activists at the WNDC for letter and postcard writing to get out the vote this fall in Virginia and other critical state races. Postcards will be written to women in rural VA and to members of Congress on Home Rule 101 in partnership with the D.C. Democrats Statehood Committee. There will be free pizza, cash bar, a fun raffle and camaraderie. More details are available on Eventbrite

Thursday, November 20

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 is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

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Gala Hispanic Theatre’s Flamenco Festival returns

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Rafael Ramírez (Photo by Juan Carlos Toledo)

Gala Hispanic Theater will host the 21st Annual “Fuego Flamenco Festival” from Thursday, Nov. 6 to Saturday, Nov. 22. 

The festival will feature American and international artists who will gather in the nation’s capital to celebrate the art of Flamenco. Guests can save 20% on tickets with a festival pass. 

The festival kicks off now through Nov. 10 with the D.C. premiere of Crónica de un suceso, created, choreographed and performed by Rafael Ramírez from Spain, accompanied by renowned flamenco singers and musicians. In this new show, Ramírez pays homage to the iconic Spanish Flamenco artist Antonio Gades who paved the way for what Flamenco is today. GALA’s engagement is part of an eight-city tour of the U.S. by Ramírez and company.

The magic continues Nov. 14-16 with the re-staging of the masterpiece Enredo by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company, a reflection of the dual nature of the human experience, individual and social, which premiered at GALA in 2023.

For more information, visit the theatre’s website

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