Arts & Entertainment

Let me pencil you in

Fall packed with tours, parties, fundraiser and more

Published

12 years ago

September 11, 2014

Joey DiGuglielmo

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 38^th 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 17^th 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 26^th anniversary awards event “A Passion for Living” at Long View Gallery (1234 Ninth Street, N.W.). Visit uhupil.org for details.

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Sports

Jason Collins dies at 47

First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Jason Collins (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.

The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.

Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.

Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.

Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.

The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”

“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”

“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”

Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Michael Key

'Studio 69' was held at Bunker on Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week

Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.

Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026

⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP