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Devilish delights

Spooky Halloween fun lasts al weekend and beyond

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Halloween, gay news, Washington Blade
Halloween costume, gay news, Washington Blade

Halloween is right around the corner. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

With Halloween ushering in the weekend this year and no school nights to worry about, the D.C. area has more parties, costume contests, ghost tours and more than any one person could possibly get to. Our fun guide will help give your holiday a macabre gay twist.

5 great ghost tours

Halloween, gay news, Washington Blade

(Photo courtesy Crime Museum)

1. The Crime Museum (575 7th St., N.W.) has its sixth annual Fright at the Museum — Dead Men Walking event which continues through Saturday for those brave enough to be led through a dim-lit maze of empty jail cells, electric chairs, dark alleys and gruesome crime scenes.  Tickets are $30. Details at crimemuseum.org.

2. Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Dickerson, Md., also continues through Saturday with horrifying scenes of limbo, absolution, greed, gluttony and other circles of hell. E-mail [email protected] to reserve a remaining slot.

3. Space is filling up fast but a few slots remain for the 90-minute Capitol Hill Ghost Tour, which continues through Nov. 8. For $25, you can meet up at the Starbucks at 237 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. and be regaled with tales of hauntings in the Capitol building, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court and more. Details at scarydc.com.

4. For hundreds of years, the homes of Lafayette Square are said to be among the most haunted of all in Washington. Ghost Story Tours meet at 16th and H streets, N.W. for private ghost tours through Saturday, though they can also be booked year around as well. Contact Natalie at [email protected] or call 301-346-5303. More information is at historicstrolls.com.

5. Sometimes it’s creepier out in the country. Actors, elaborate sets and original scary stories abound at Darkwood Manor (104 N. Hawksbill St., in Luray, Va.) where tours continue through Saturday night. Tickets are $12. Visit darkwoodmanor.net for details.

5 great neighborhoods for trick or treating

Where’s the best place to go trick or treating in the District? Depends whom you ask. CBS D.C.’s Jamie Hardin, who prides herself on finding D.C.’s “off-the-beaten-path treasures” recommends Capitol Hill, Embassy Row, Georgetown, the Smithsonian National Zoo and Old Town Alexandria as the best spots. Curbed (dc.curbed.com) recommends Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase, American University Park and Tacoma as the best spots. The only shared neighborhood on the lists is Georgetown, which Curbed ranked as the best spot for its easy walkability and affluence.

If you want to “gay it up” a bit, Ellen Kahn of Rainbow Families says her neighborhood in East Silver Spring that borders Takoma Park is rife with a cluster of nearly 20 same-sex, mostly lesbian couples with kids in the area of Richmond Avenue, Gist Avenue, Takoma Avenue, and Chicago Avenue.

“It’s always a pretty active Halloween scene there,” she says. “Capitol Hill is also a good place to find some diversity, maybe more dads too.”

On Sunday, take your gay family out to Centreville, Va., for the group’s “Fall Day at Cox Farms,” where Rainbow Families D.C. will meet up for kid-friendly slides, animals, mazes, hayrides, live music, great food and a pumpkin smashing event. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Visit rainbowfamiliesdc.org for details.

5 big-screen thrills

Halloween, gay news, Washington Blade

The ‘Exorcist stairs’ in Georgetown (Photo by Dmitry K.; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Viewers at Today (today.com/popculture) just voted 1973’s (No. 1) “The Exorcist” their favorite scary movie. Sixteen horror classics were whittled down to two where the final showdown was held between “The Exorcist” and (No. 2) “The Shining,” the classic 1980 Stanley Kubrick creeper.

Celebrate the film’s win — if you dare — with a visit to the famous steps in Georgetown where the movie’s climactic scene was filmed.

If you’re up for a communal experience, the AFI Silver in Silver Spring (8633 Colesville Rd.) has an eclectic lineup today with “Sleepy Hollow” at 3 p.m., “Frankenweenie” at 5:10, “Shaun of the Dead” at 9 and for a genuinely creepy experience, check out the 11 p.m. screening of (No. 3) “Rosemary’s Baby” at 11 p.m. The fun continues Saturday with a string of classic early creepers with live accompaniment including (No. 4) “Dracula” (1931), “Nosferatu” and “The Lodger,” the classic Hitchcock tale of Jack the Ripper, the Master’s third film. Details at afi.com/silver.

And if you want to gay it up, check out newnownext.com’s list of “The 13 most homoerotic horror movies of all time” which includes slasher flick (No. 5) “Hostel,” “American Psycho” and (of course!) “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”

5 great costumes

Gene’s Costumes (10636 Connecticut Ave., Kensington, Md.)  has Halloween costumes for every fantasy a person wants to live out for the night. Here are some of their trendiest get-ups this season if you need some last-minute inspiration!

1. The Joker — one of the most famous villains in pop culture so it’s no surprise it’s one of the most popular costumes. It’s a quick costume to throw together because the main component is all about re-creating the tell-tale Joker makeup.

2. Pirate — Pirates can be sexy or scary depending on how you put together the costume. “Robin Hood’s” Captain Hook, another famous villain, has shown his popularity selling many at Gene’s Costumes. “Pirates of the Caribbean’s” character Jack Sparrow, made a pop culture icon by Johnny Depp, has also been a huge pirate favorite.

3. “Frozen” — The kids will love to dress up as characters from the top-grossing animated film of all time, “Frozen.” The most popular costume for girls has been Elsa and her sister Anna. While boys have been eager to dress up as iceman Kristoff and Prince Hans.

4. Flapper — One of the women’s favorite costumes has been a 1920s flapper. This costume is easy to pull together at the last minute. A loose fitting dress, cigarette holder and bob haircut wig create a look that’s both sexy and glamorous.

5. Military General — Another sexy choice is a military general. A popular men’s choice at Gene’s Costumes, this look is distinguished but fun. The authoritative costume will have people turning heads for a man in uniform.

Halloween, gay news, Washington Blade

Do you have your Halloween costume yet? (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Halloween gay party roundup

All parties are Halloween night (Oct. 31) except where noted.

D.C. Bear Crue hosts a Monster Bear Party at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight from 6-11 p.m. There will be a Halloween costume contest with several prizes. For more details, visit dcbearcrue.com.

Mixtape holds its third annual Halloween bash at the Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.) from midnight-4 a.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit thehowardtheatre.com.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts “Not Another Drag Show: the 10th Edition” at 10 p.m. Performances will be by Sofonda Coxxx, Gladys Kravitz, Surley Bossy and many more. There will be a live auction, Halloween costume contest and drink specials. There is a suggested $5 donation at the door to benefit the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s GenOUT youth outreach program. For details, visit greenlanterndc.com.

Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts a Halloween party “Thrillher” at 7:30 p.m. There will be a costume contest at midnight with a $300 cash prize. DJ Lez Rage will play tracks and there will be drink specials. For more details, visit phase1dc.com.

Girl Code hosts “#GirlCodeFridaze Halloween Edition,” a costume party, at Vita Lounge (1318 9th St., N.W.) from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Admission is $10 before midnight and $15 after. Come in costume and admission is $10 all night. For more information, visit girlcodefridaze.eventbee.com.

Treats or Freaks,” an LGBT ladies Halloween party, is at Mad Momos (3605 14th St., N.W.) from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Jai Syncere, Dj India and DJ DeeDub will provide music. Come in costume and tickets are $10 before 11:30 and $15 after, without a costume tickets are $20 all night. There will be four costume contests with cash prizes. For more information, visit dcpridebarhop.com.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts “Madscience Presents: Freak Show” at 10 p.m. DJ Madscience will host the party. Sasha Adams will host the costume contest with a grand prize of $1,000. Belevedere drinks are $6 all night and there will also be an open vodka bar from 11 p.m.-midnight. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) boasts “D.C.’s largest Halloween party and costume contest” with a $1,000 prize tonight. Details at towndc.com. A “Night of the Living Dead” party is scheduled for Saturday night.

Destiny B. Childs hosts a $500 costume contest at Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) tonight. Details at secretsdc.com.

JR.’s (1519 17th St., N.W.) has a $250 prize for its costume contest starting at 11 p.m. Details at jrsbar-dc.com.

Number Nine (1435 P St., N.W.) holds a Halloween party at 10 p.m. hosted by Peaches. There will be a costume contest starting at 11 p.m. with a prize of $250 in cash and a $250 Number Nine gift card. For more details, visit numberninedc.com.

The Mansion on O Street (2020 O St., N.W.) hosts a Halloween costume party from 8 p.m.-midnight There will be a DJ, prizes, a chocolate fountain, pumpkin decorating contest and a treasure hunt. During the party guests will have the opportunity to explore the 100 rooms in the mansion. There is also a cash bar. Costume contest categories include best couples costume, most creative, scariest costume and more. Tickets are $50. For more information, visit omansion.com.

United Solders and Sailors of America host Trick or Treat, a Halloween costume fundraiser, at the Ugly Mug (728 8th St., S.E.) tonight from 8 p.m.-midnight. There will be raffle items and a costume contest. Wristbands are $10 for food and drink specials. Proceeds from the event will go toward care and comfort items for Walter Reed Military Medical Hospital. For more details, visit facebook.com/usaoa.

Onyx presents The Blackout Ball at MOVA Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) Saturday from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Guests should bring a mask. There will be strippers, raffle prizes and a cash bar. Cover is $10. For details, visit facebook.com/onyx.midatlantic.

The Yards Park (355 Water Street) hosts “Graveyards at the Yards Park,”a Day of the Dead festival, Saturday from 6-10 p.m. The park will be transformed into a graveyard with magicians, escape artists, contortionists, fire artists and much more. There will also be a mariachi band and performance by rock-folk band Kingsley Flood. Admission is free. For more information, visit theyardsdc.com.

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Visit Cambridge, a ‘beautiful secret’ on Maryland’s Eastern Shore

New organization promotes town’s welcoming vibe, LGBTQ inclusion

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Cambridge, Md., is home to quaint shops, restaurants, and Victorian homes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (Photo courtesy James Lumalcuri)

CAMBRIDGE, Md. — Driving through this scenic, historic town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, you’ll be charmed by streets lined with unique shops, restaurants, and beautifully restored Victorian homes. You’ll also be struck by the number of LGBTQ Pride flags flying throughout the town.

The flags are a reassuring signal that everyone is welcome here, despite the town’s location in ruby red Dorchester County, which voted for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris by a lopsided margin. But don’t let that deter you from visiting. A new organization, Proudly Cambridge, is holding its debut Pride event this weekend, touting the town’s welcoming, inclusive culture.

“We stumbled on a beautiful secret and we wanted to help get the word out,” said James Lumalcuri of the effort to create Proudly Cambridge.

The organization celebrates diversity, enhances public spaces, and seeks to uplift all that Cambridge has to share, according to its mission statement, under the tagline “You Belong Here.”

The group has so far held informal movie nights and a picnic and garden party; the launch party is June 28 at the Cambridge Yacht Club, which will feature a Pride celebration and tea dance. The event’s 75 tickets sold out quickly and proceeds benefit DoCo Pride.

“Tickets went faster than we imagined and we’re bummed we can’t welcome everyone who wanted to come,” Lumalcuri said, adding that organizers plan to make “Cheers on the Choptank” an annual event with added capacity next year.

One of the group’s first projects was to distribute free Pride flags to anyone who requested one and the result is a visually striking display of a large number of flags flying all over town. Up next: Proudly Cambridge plans to roll out a program offering affirming businesses rainbow crab stickers to show their inclusiveness and LGBTQ support. The group also wants to engage with potential visitors and homebuyers.

“We want to spread the word outside of Cambridge — in D.C. and Baltimore — who don’t know about Cambridge,” Lumalcuri said. “We want them to come and know we are a safe haven. You can exist here and feel comfortable and supported by neighbors in a way that we didn’t anticipate when we moved here.”

James Lumalcuri and Lou Cardenas sailing in Cambridge, Md. The couple bought a second home there and are spreading the word about the town’s pro-LGBTQ culture. (Photo courtesy the couple)

Lumalcuri, 53, a federal government employee, and his husband, Lou Cardenas, 62, a Realtor, purchased a Victorian house in Cambridge in 2021 and embarked on an extensive renovation. The couple also owns a home in Adams Morgan in D.C.

“We saw the opportunity here and wanted to share it with others,” Cardenas said. “There’s lots of housing inventory in the $300-400,000 range … we’re not here to gentrify people out of town because a lot of these homes are just empty and need to be fixed up and we’re happy to be a part of that.”

Lumalcuri was talking with friends one Sunday last year at the gazebo (affectionately known as the “gayzebo” by locals) at the Yacht Club and the idea for Proudly Cambridge was born. The founding board members are Lumalcuri, Corey van Vlymen, Brian Orjuela, Lauren Mross, and Caleb Holland. The group is currently working toward forming a 501(c)3.

“We need visibility and support for those who need it,” Mross said. “We started making lists of what we wanted to do and the five of us ran with it. We started meeting weekly and solidified what we wanted to do.”

Mross, 50, a brand strategist and web designer, moved to Cambridge from Atlanta with her wife three years ago. They knew they wanted to be near the water and farther north and began researching their options when they discovered Cambridge.

“I had not heard of Cambridge but the location seemed perfect,” she said. “I pointed on a map and said this is where we’re going to move.”

The couple packed up, bought a camper trailer and parked it in different campsites but kept coming back to Cambridge. 

“I didn’t know how right it was until we moved here,” she said. “It’s the most welcoming place … there’s an energy vortex here – how did so many cool, progressive people end up in one place?” 

Corey van Vlymen and his husband live in D.C. and were looking for a second home. They considered Lost River, W.Va., but decided they preferred to be on the water.

“We looked at a map on both sides of the bay and came to Cambridge on a Saturday and bought a house that day,” said van Vlymen, 39, a senior scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton. They’ve owned in Cambridge for two years.

They were drawn to Cambridge due to its location on the water, the affordable housing inventory, and its proximity to D.C.; it’s about an hour and 20 minutes away.

Now, through the work of Proudly Cambridge, they hope to highlight the town’s many attributes to residents and visitors alike.

“Something we all agree on is there’s a perception problem for Cambridge and a lack of awareness,” van Vlymen said. “If you tell someone you’re going to Cambridge, chances are they think, ‘England or Massachusetts?’”

He cited the affordability and the opportunity to save older, historic homes as a big draw for buyers.

“It’s all about celebrating all the things that make Cambridge great,” Mross added. “Our monthly social events are joyful and celebratory.” A recent game night drew about 70 people.

She noted that the goal is not to gentrify the town and push longtime residents out, but to uplift all the people who are already there while welcoming new visitors and future residents. 

They also noted that Proudly Cambridge does not seek to supplant existing Pride-focused organizations. Dorchester County Pride organizes countywide Pride events and Delmarva Pride was held in nearby Easton two weeks ago.

“We celebrate all diversity but are gay powered and gay led,” Mross noted.  

To learn more about Proudly Cambridge, visit the group on Facebook and Instagram.

What to see and do

Cambridge, located 13 miles up the Choptank River from the Chesapeake Bay, has a population of roughly 15,000. It was settled in 1684 and named for the English university town in 1686. It is home to the Harriet Tubman Museum, mural, and monument. Its proximity to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge makes it a popular stop for birders, drawn to more than 27,000 acres of marshland dubbed “the Everglades of the north.”

The refuge is walkable, bikeable, and driveable, making it an accessible attraction for all. There are kayaking and biking tours through Blackwater Adventures (blackwateradventuresmd.com).

Back in town, take a stroll along the water and through historic downtown and admire the architecture. Take in the striking Harriet Tubman mural (424 Race St.). Shop in the many local boutiques, and don’t miss the gay-owned Shorelife Home and Gifts (421 Race St.), filled with stylish coastal décor items. 

Stop for breakfast or lunch at Black Water Bakery (429 Race St.), which offers a full compliment of coffee drinks along with a build-your-own mimosa bar and a full menu of creative cocktails.

The Cambridge Yacht Club (1 Mill St.) is always bustling but you need to be a member to get in. Snapper’s on the water is temporarily closed for renovations. RaR Brewing (rarbrewing.com) is popular for craft beers served in an 80-year-old former pool hall and bowling alley. The menu offers burgers, wings, and other bar fare.

For dinner or wine, don’t miss the fantastic Vintage 414 (414 Race St.), which offers lunch, dinner, wine tasting events, specialty foods, and a large selection of wines. The homemade cheddar crackers, inventive flatbreads, and creative desserts (citrus olive oil cake, carrot cake trifle) were a hit on a recent visit.

Also nearby is Ava’s (305 High St.), a regional chain offering outstanding Italian dishes, pizzas, and more.  

For something off the beaten path, visit Emily’s Produce (22143 Church Creek Rd.) for its nursery, produce, and prepared meals.

“Ten minutes into the sticks there’s a place called Emily’s Produce, where you can pay $5 and walk through a field and pick sunflowers, blueberries, you can feed the goats … and they have great food,” van Vlymen said.

As for accommodations, there’s the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay (100 Heron Blvd. at Route 50), a resort complex with golf course, spa, and marina. Otherwise, check out Airbnb and VRBO for short-term rentals closer to downtown.

Its proximity to D.C. and Baltimore makes Cambridge an ideal weekend getaway. The large LGBTQ population is welcoming and they are happy to talk up their town and show you around. 

“There’s a closeness among the neighbors that I wasn’t feeling in D.C.,” Lumalcuri said. “We look after each other.”

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James Baldwin bio shows how much of his life is revealed in his work

‘A Love Story’ is first major book on acclaimed author’s life in 30 years

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(Book cover image courtesy of FSG)

‘Baldwin: A Love Story’
By Nicholas Boggs
c.2025, FSG
$35/704 pages

“Baldwin: A Love Story” is a sympathetic biography, the first major one in 30 years, of acclaimed Black gay writer James Baldwin. Drawing on Baldwin’s fiction, essays, and letters, Nicolas Boggs, a white writer who rediscovered and co-edited a new edition of a long-lost Baldwin book, explores Baldwin’s life and work through focusing on his lovers, mentors, and inspirations.

The book begins with a quick look at Baldwin’s childhood in Harlem, and his difficult relationship with his religious, angry stepfather. Baldwin’s experience with Orilla Miller, a white teacher who encouraged the boy’s writing and took him to plays and movies, even against his father’s wishes, helped shape his life and tempered his feelings toward white people. When Baldwin later joined a church and became a child preacher, though, he felt conflicted between academic success and religious demands, even denouncing Miller at one point. In a fascinating late essay, Baldwin also described his teenage sexual relationship with a mobster, who showed him off in public.

Baldwin’s romantic life was complicated, as he preferred men who were not outwardly gay. Indeed, many would marry women and have children while also involved with Baldwin. Still, they would often remain friends and enabled Baldwin’s work. Lucien Happersberger, who met Baldwin while both were living in Paris, sent him to a Swiss village, where he wrote his first novel, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” as well as an essay, “Stranger in the Village,” about the oddness of being the first Black person many villagers had ever seen. Baldwin met Turkish actor Engin Cezzar in New York at the Actors’ Studio; Baldwin later spent time in Istanbul with Cezzar and his wife, finishing “Another Country” and directing a controversial play about Turkish prisoners that depicted sexuality and gender. 

Baldwin collaborated with French artist Yoran Cazac on a children’s book, which later vanished. Boggs writes of his excitement about coming across this book while a student at Yale and how he later interviewed Cazac and his wife while also republishing the book. Baldwin also had many tumultuous sexual relationships with young men whom he tried to mentor and shape, most of which led to drama and despair.

The book carefully examines Baldwin’s development as a writer. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” draws heavily on his early life, giving subtle signs of the main character John’s sexuality, while “Giovanni’s Room” bravely and openly shows a homosexual relationship, highly controversial at the time. “If Beale Street Could Talk” features a woman as its main character and narrator, the first time Baldwin wrote fully through a woman’s perspective. His essays feel deeply personal, even if they do not reveal everything; Lucian is the unnamed visiting friend in one who the police briefly detained along with Baldwin. He found New York too distracting to write, spending his time there with friends and family or on business. He was close friends with modernist painter Beauford Delaney, also gay, who helped Baldwin see that a Black man could thrive as an artist. Delaney would later move to France, staying near Baldwin’s home.

An epilogue has Boggs writing about encountering Baldwin’s work as one of the few white students in a majority-Black school. It helpfully reminds us that Baldwin connects to all who feel different, no matter their race, sexuality, gender, or class. A well-written, easy-flowing biography, with many excerpts from Baldwin’s writing, it shows how much of his life is revealed in his work. Let’s hope it encourages reading the work, either again or for the first time.

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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C

Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement

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Gay Pride Day 1976 (Washington Blade archive photo)

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.

D.C.’s Different Drummers march in the 2006 Capital Pride Parade. (Washington Blade archive photo by Adam Cuthbert)

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 1995 Lesbian and Gay Freedom Festival was held on Freedom Plaza on June 18. (Washington Blade archive photo by Clint Steib)

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.

The D.C. Black Gay Men & Women’s Community Conference table at Gay Pride Day in 1978. (Washington Blade archive photo by Jim Marks)
A scene from 1985 Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
A scene from the 1988 Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
A scene from the Capital Pride Block Party in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)
Keke Palmer performs at the 2024 Capital Pride Festival. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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