Local
Leather scene active despite Eagle limbo
Local bar had been an active participant in the annual MAL event
(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Leather enthusiasts from the LGBT community in the D.C.-Baltimore area are expected to turn out in force for the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend events this weekend.
Due to delays in its reopening, the D.C. Eagle, the popular gay leather bar that has been in business more than 30 years and has been an active participant in the annual MAL event, is not listed as a venue in any of the official events this year.
But according to postings on the D.C. Eagle’s Twitter page, the club expects to reopen soon at its new location at 3701 Benning Rd., N.E. The Eagle closed last year after being displaced from its home of many years at 639 New York Ave., N.W., due to the planned construction of a new office building.
According to leather scene observers, the Eagle’s Twitter page description of itself most likely defines many of those who participate in that scene: “Bar for D.C.’s rough, gruff, tough, hairy, pierced, tattooed, cigar-smoking, leather-clad, bear-ish, colored handkerchief-wearing men.”
Mark Clark, an official with the Chesapeake Bay Bears, whose members live in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, said the leather scene is often used as an umbrella term to include organizations and individuals associated with the gay male “bear” scene for hairy, heavy-set men and those who like them; as well as the bondage, S&M, kink-fetish scene.
Brother Help Thyself, a D.C.-based charitable organization founded in 1978 by four gay motorcycle clubs associated with the D.C. Eagle, includes representatives of some of the area’s most popular leather scene organizations on its board of directors. Among them are the Atlantic States Rodeo Association; the Centaurs, Defenders and Spartans gay motorcycle clubs; the Chesapeake Bay and D.C. Bear clubs; and SigmaDC, which describes itself as an all-male private membership organization for bondage-S&M-kink enthusiasts.
SigmaDC, which was founded in 1984, recently moved into a second-floor space at 1636 R St., N.W., across the street from the 17th Street gay bar Cobalt. It is hosting at least three events associated with Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, including a demo event at the Hyatt Regency on Saturday afternoon.
Another local organization founded by gay event organizer Jacob Pring called CODE holds monthly parties and events for what the group says are “gear, rubber, skin, uniform and leather” enthusiasts. CODE holds monthly events at the Glorious Health Club and Art Gallery at 2120 West Virginia Ave., N.E.
The group was scheduled to hold events associated with Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend at Glorious Health Club on tonight (Friday) and Saturday.
“All of these different groups started out as leather groups but sort of morphed into a broader thing,” said Clark, who noted that many of them work with Brother Help Thyself to raise money to support LGBT and AIDS organizations.
District of Columbia
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade
WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.
The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.
Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.
Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.
Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”
“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”
“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.
The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.
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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