Arts & Entertainment
Let me pencil you in
Fall packed with tours, parties, fundraiser and more
Brother Help Thyself has its Pride Day at Kings Dominion on Sept. 20. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Some events don’t fit in our other fall arts categories. Here are a few to note.
Saturday is the fifth annual 17th Street Festival from noon-6 p.m. It runs on 17th N.W. from Riggs Place to P Street. Details at 17thstreetfestival.org or on Facebook.
Sunday is the 13th annual Gay Day at Hillwood Estate (4155 Linnean Ave., N.W.) from 1-5 p.m. Tickets are $5-15. Visit hillwoodmuseum.org for details.
Rainbow History Project has its “Queering Capitol Hill” tour on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. and Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. Meet outside Mr. Henry’s at 601 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. The tours are free but reservations are requested. Visit rainbowhistory.org for details.
On Sept. 18, the D.C. Center has its fall reception at 6 p.m. at City Market at O (880 P Street, N.W.). Tickets are $60 in advance or $75 at the door. Visit thedccenter.org for details.
On Sept. 20, Brother Help Thyself has its Pride Day at Kings Dominion. Advance tickets are $35; day of tickets are $37. The party is from 4-11 p.m. with a party following from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Visit brotherhelpthyself.net for details.
On Sept. 23, the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club has its 38th anniversary Leadership Awards Reception at Dirty Martini (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). Tickets are available atsteindemocrats.org or at the door.
Sept. 27 is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Details are at cdc.gov or aids.gov/awareness-days.
Sept. 27 is also United Night OUT at 3 p.m. at RFK Stadium with D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union. Tickets are $25. Visit teamdc.org for details.
Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day. There’s a Facebook page devoted to it.
Oct. 15 is National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Details are at aids.gov/awareness-days.
Oct. 23 is the Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. party/awards reception. Details pending.
Oct. 25 is AIDS Walk Washington. Visit aidswalkwashington.org for details or to register.
Also Oct. 25, Human Rights Campaign has its national dinner at the Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon P., N.W.). It’s sold out but a waiting list is available at hrcnationaldinner.org.
Oct. 28 is the High Heel Race on 17th Street, N.W. A Facebook page has details.
Nov. 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance. Details pending on the Washington event.
On Dec. 6, Us Helping Us has its 26th anniversary awards event “A Passion for Living” at Long View Gallery (1234 Ninth Street, N.W.). Visit uhupil.org for details.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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.
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PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride
Men convicted of murdering two men in NYC gay bar drugging scheme sentenced
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
WorldPride events round-up
Pope Leo XIV: Family based on ‘stable union between a man and a woman’
Wes Moore signs HIV decriminalization bill
