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QUEERY: Lourdes Ashley Hunter
The new Center board member answers 20 gay questions

Trans activist Lourdes Ashley Hunter knows how to put her convictions into action.
Upon moving to Washington three months ago and being introduced to many in the LGBT world here through her friend and colleague Ruby Corado, Hunter asked David Mariner, director of the D.C. Center (thedccenter.org), about trans representation on the Center board. Last week she became the first trans woman of color to sit on the board.
Although sheās excited to be involved there, she puts most of her energy into her work launching a national headquarters of the volunteer-led Trans Women of Color Collective (twocc.us), a group she and other activists in New York started in 2013.
The Detroit native is a speaker, educator and consultant on transgender issues. She lives in Adams Morgan and enjoys walking her dog, Cashmere, in the park and cooking for friends in her free time.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?Ā
I never came out. I have always lived my life in my authentic truth. Coming out is a socially constructed narrative that really doesnāt apply to trans people. Not being out can be seen as an act of survival for trans folk. The average income of a trans person is less than 10k, 12 trans women of color were brutally murdered last year in this country. Being out can get you fired, denied housing, health care and many other opportunities in this country. Trans folk are usually āouted.ā I prefer to use the framing of āinviting inā (I learned from Wade Davis). That way, I control my narrative.
Who’s your LGBT hero? Ā
My LGBT heroes are every trans woman of color who has lost her life due to violence, hate and transphobia and every trans person who lives in their authentic truth in a society that says we donāt deserve breath. My sisters are brutally murdered for living in their truths. I honor their sacrifices.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?Ā
Iām not sure yet. I donāt hang out much. But I do love that there are so many restaurants and hookah bars in my neighborhood.Ā Even though I have lived here three months, I travel most of the time and so I am still exploring.
Describe your dream wedding.Ā
I donāt dream of getting married. I dream of days where there is no expectation to be married.
What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?Ā
I live through an intersectional lens. All issues are LGBT issues. I am most passionate about dismantling structural oppression and violence as it manifests in every aspect of our lives.
What historical outcome would you change?Ā
The creation of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade along with the invasion of my native lands by colonists.
What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime? Ā
The emergence of the Black Lives Matter Movement that has revolutionized the expansion of global social justice networks has been the most memorable moment for me.
On what do you insist?Ā
Aside from honesty, loyalty and accountability, I insist on telling my own narrative.
What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?Ā
My last Tweet was, āThere’s no other feeling like when mom call you just to say how she’s so proud not bc she’s mom but bc she’s invested in me and my works!ā
If your life were a book, what would the title be?Ā
āDragon Slayerā
If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?Ā
Critique the hell out of it.
What do you believe in beyond the physical world?Ā
Life in abundance.
What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?Ā
I would encourage all of us to intentionally make time for self care. To LGB movement leaders, if your organization doesnāt center its work around the most disproportionately marginalized groups (black trans women, youth, seniors, undocumented folk and those who are disabled) then you are actively engaging in erasure, which is an act of violence.
What would you walk across hot coals for?Ā
If it was part of some healing ritual I would be down.
What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?Ā
All stereotypes annoy me equally. If I had to chose the one I hear the most, when asking LGBT organizations why they donāt have trans women of color in leadership roles and on their boards, I usually hear that trans women of color cannot be found, that we do not show up, that we not qualified and cannot lead our movements. When in fact, we are more than qualified and have been leading our own movements for quite some time.
What’s your favorite LGBT movie? Ā
All movies are LGBT. I donāt have a favorite movie but my favorite genre is science fiction.
What’s the most overrated social custom?Ā
The performance of gender. Can we just divorce gender roles already?
Ā
What trophy or prize do you most covet?Ā
Freedom
What do you wish you’d known at 18?Ā
I wish that I knew that all my dreams and ambitions would come true.
Why Washington? Ā
It is critical that the narratives, lived experiences and leadership of trans women of color are visible in our nationās capital. For far too long, decisions have been made for our lives without any regard to our leadership or our needs. We have been told that we cannot lead. We have been told that trans women of color never show up and speak for themselves. We have been told that there is no funding or that we are not qualified to lead our movements. I moved to the District not only because it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived, but to also dispel these myths.

Lourdes Ashley Hunter spoke at the Justice for Leelah Alcorn Rally last Saturday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
a&e features
Drag legend Ella Fitzgerald returns to the stage for Capital Pride festival
Donnell Robinson on 40 years as a performer and the current political backlash against drag

Donnell Robinson, who has dazzled audiences in the nationās capital as the drag personality of Ella Fitzgerald for at least 40 years, has the date of Saturday, March 21, 2020, embedded in his mind.
That was the last time he performed in drag. It was at the popular Southeast D.C. nightclub Ziegfeldās-Secrets, where Robinson performed as Ella Fitzgerald for nearly 40 years, before it, along with all city nightclubs, bars, and other ānonessentialā businesses were ordered temporarily closed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in response to the COVID pandemic.
āThat was the last show I did,ā Robinson told the Blade in an interview at his apartment in Arlington, Va.
A short time later, around May of 2020, Robinson and all the Ziegfeldās-Secrets employees and performers learned that the owner of the clubās building at 1824 Half Street, S.W., announced plans to demolish it to build an upscale condo building several years sooner than expected. That meant the club would not reopen when the COVID restrictions were lifted.
āSo, what I recall is in May, it was the first week in May, Steven [Delurba, the Ziegfeldās-Secrets general manager and part owner] called me and said, āHoney, do you have anything in the dressing room? Come and get it. The landlord called and said we must be out by the 15th.āā
Robinson said he has fond memories of meeting up with other drag performers, one of the longtime bartenders and other employees who came to retrieve their belongings in the dressing room and other storage spaces in the converted warehouse building that had served as home to Ziegfeldās-Secrets since 2009.
And it meant at least the temporary end to a 40-year run in which Robinson (aka Ella Fitzgerald) served as emcee and lead drag performer at the Ziegfeldās-Secrets nightclub, which began in the clubās previous location a few blocks away.
Robinson began performing as Ella Fitzgerald at The Other Side nightclub in 1980, which later changed its name to Ziegfeldās-Secrets, at its previous location on the unit block of O Street, S.E., before it was displaced in 2006 by construction of the Washington Nationals baseball stadium.

The club did not reopen until 2009, when its owners Allen Carroll and Chris Jensen, were able to obtain a lease for the 1824 Half Street building, which Carroll and Jensen renovated before reopening the club there.
All of that has become the backdrop to Robinsonās excitement over returning to the stage as Ella Fitzgerald at D.C.ās Capital Pride festival on June 11, which will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue with the U.S. Capitol as a dramatic backdrop two blocks behind the stage.
While heās hopeful that all will go well with his upcoming performance at the Pride festival, Robinson says he is aware of the recent far-right political backlash against drag shows in states across the country.
In addition to proposed laws placing restrictions on drag shows, protests targeting drag shows, including some attempting to disrupt the shows, have also occurred in cities and states, including earlier this year in nearby Silver Spring, Md., and at a drag brunch hosted by a restaurant near the U.S. Marine Barracks on Capitol Hill in D.C.
āI have read about some of that,ā Robinson told the Blade. āI havenāt been in the drag scene in three years. But I see and know whatās going on,ā he said. āAnd my fellow drag performers who are older in my generation, I know they may be at risk. And I know I am to a degree,ā he continued.
āAnd itās a shame that we have to fear that we canāt present our art, our art form of drag and hope that nothing is going to happen to me today,ā he said. āWhy should we have to even have that thought going through our mind while weāre going through our makeup and getting ready?ā
Speaking with the Blade at his apartment, Robinson added, āIām planning to walk out of here in full drag to go to Pride. And thereās going to be part of me in the back of my mind that Iāve got to watch my back because there may be some idiot out there that doesnāt want to see an old man dress up in sequins and beads.ā
āI just donāt understand why people think that drag is going to go away,ā Robinson said. āItās not. Itās more popular now than it ever was because of RuPaul and the drag brunches and the shows that are continuing to go on.ā

Robinson, 68, says he was born in Warrenton, Va., and grew up on a farm just outside Warrenton and raised by his grandparents. His first attempt at drag took place while in the 8th grade when he entered a school talent show portraying TV personality Flip Wilsonās drag character Geraldine Jones.
āAll of my girlfriends, they helped get it together,ā Robinson recalls. āI borrowed the wig from the school librarian,ā he said, adding he bought a red dress and borrowed a pocketbook from someone. āAnd I won the contest.ā
He didnāt do drag again until his senior year in high school, Robinson said, when he āpulled out Geraldine againā in a dramatic arts class. āI got an āAā in dramatic arts,ā he told the Blade, before graduating from Fauquier High School in June of 1974.
āThen I waited a year or so, and then I came out to do drag in 1975 in the fall,ā he said. That began when a friend introduced him to the then gay nightclub Pier 9, located in the building that later became Ziegfeldās-Secrets, where drag shows were held.
Robinson said he was impressed by the beauty of the drag performers while attending Pier 9 drag shows. āIām like, oh, so I can do that too,ā he said. And thatās exactly what he did. In October of that year, he entered a Halloween costume contest at the Pier, once again as the Geraldine Jones drag character, and won the contest in the comedy category.
From there, Robinson says, through people he met at the Pier he learned of the then D.C. gay bar Plus One on Capitol Hill, which also hosted drag shows. After auditioning and being approved as a drag performer at Plus One, the owner of the club, Bill Oats, assigned him the drag name Fanny Brice.
It was at the Plus One about a year later when Robinson met Mother Mame Dennis, the drag performer and lead organizer of the Academy of Washington, a local drag social club that organized drag events, including the Gay Miss Universe drag competition. The next day, an Academy of Washington member who performed at Plus One brought Robinson to an academy event.
It was there that Mame Dennis approached him and raised the issue of Robinsonās drag name. āShe said, āOh my dear, if you want to be in this group you need to change your name immediately,āā Robinson quoted Dennis as saying. āAnd I was like, yes maāam. She said you need to be either Nell Carter or Ella Fitzgerald,ā Robinson recounted.
āI was being a smart ass. I said, āIāll take Ella Fitzgerald for $2.ā She said, āOh, youāre funny.ā And she named me Ella Fitzgerald,ā Robinson remembers. āAnd I was her first African-American daughter in the group.ā
Through the Academy of Washington and others he met through the drag scene at Plus One and other D.C. gay bars, Robinson quickly learned what he calls the art form of drag and developed a following among those patronizing drag shows in D.C. It was through the academy that Robinson also met the owners of the then Other Side nightclub, Chris Jensen and Allen Carroll, who invited Robinson to begin performing at their club.

āThere were five of us and we did the show on a Sunday night for 500 women,ā Robinson says. āBecause, remember, between Washington Square, the earlier name, and the Other Side, it was all women. There were no men allowed until around 1986,ā he told the Blade. āSo, every Sunday night we were doing drag shows for 500 women, from ā80 until ā85 or ā86.ā
Around the time he began performing as Ella Fitzgerald, Robinson also began his other career as a hairstylist, which he says he continues at this time and will celebrate his 40th anniversary as a hairstylist in November of this year.
For much of that time, Robinson has been one of the sought-after stylists at the VSL Hair Salon at 1607 Connecticut Ave., N.W., in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. The salon recently came under new ownership and now operates under the name of Color Lab Salon at the same address.
As Robinsonās reputation as a drag performer became widely known, many of his salon clients referred to him as Ella and were regular patrons of the Ziegfeldās-Secrets drag show.
By the time Jensen and Carroll renamed the Other Side as Ziegfeldās-Secrets and through the time it relocated in the building on Half Street, S.W. and until its closing in 2020, Robinson took on the role as the emcee of the clubās Ladies of Illusion drag shows as well as that of one of the cityās most sought after drag performers, according to people who attended his shows.
In an Aug. 2, 2001, lengthy feature article, the Washington Post referred to Robinson and his Ella Fitzgerald character as the ādoyenne of Washington drag queens.ā The Post article recounted what those who have attended Robinsonās shows already knew ā that he also took on the role of a stand-up comedian engaging audience members in on-the-spot banter, often inviting audience members to come on stage to chat with Ella.
āIs that your husband?ā the Post article quoted Robinson asking a female audience member at one of the Ziegfeldās-Secrets drag shows. When the woman replied that the person was her boyfriend, Ella said with an incredulous facial expression, āThat little queen?ā according to the Post article. The audience roared in laughter.
Robinson says among the highlights of his career as a drag performer have been the recognition he has received from his peers in the drag community, including from the Academy of Washington and its leader Mame Dennis.
āOnce I changed my name to Ella Fitzgerald, Mame said, āMy dear, one day you will be Miss Universe.ā And 10 years later, Mame crowned me Miss Gay Universe. I was the first African-American Miss Universe in 1986,ā Robinson recounted.
He said the prospect of resuming his drag performances to the degree he did before Ziegfeld’s-Secrets closed was uncertain, in part, because he is dealing with a bout of sciatica that makes it difficult for him to walk and move about quickly.
“You might see me come out with a cane at the Pride show,” he said with a laugh.Ā Ā

a&e features
Another busy summer season arrives in Rehoboth Beach
Fine dining, drag shows, theater, and more on tap for 2023

The summer of 2023 will be an exciting time in Rehoboth Beach, with lots to see and do as always. Great people, and of course the sand, sea, and boardwalk. Everyone in town has been working hard over the winter to make this the best season ever at the beach. New businesses, old ones moving to new locations, milestone anniversaries, and just loads of fun all around.
While I am often just a burger and friesā guy, Rehoboth has become a real foodie paradise for those who enjoy, and appreciate, really fine dining. (For more on the dining scene, see separate story in the Blade.)
The City of Rehoboth has fewer than 1,500 full-time residents. Many who have a Rehoboth address like me, live outside the city boundary. But at any time during the summer season, the population swells to more than 25,000. Among them are many members of the LGBTQ community. If you are one of them, stop by CAMP Rehoboth, the LGBTQ community center, founded by Murray Archibald and Steve Elkins in 1991.
Today, many of the businesses in town are owned by members of the community and even those that arenāt are supportive of the community. The most famous residents of the area are President Biden and first lady Jill Biden, who try to spend some weekends at their home there. Not sure how much time they will have this summer between the duties of being president and running for reelection. I do know when there, they love the famous chicken salad sandwiches, among other great things, from Lori Kleinās Loriās Oy Veh CafĆ© in the CAMP courtyard. Loriās is celebrating its 27th season. If you stop in the courtyard, you will be pleased to see new tables and chairs where you can sit and enjoy your meal.
My favorite hangout on Baltimore Avenue, the gayest block in Rehoboth, is Aqua Grill. The perfect place to spend happy hour any day of the week. Chris, one of the hot and charming waiters, is back serving drinks on the deck. Then there is The Pines restaurant across the street with a great showroom upstairs and always fun entertainment. The guys who own it have expanded their operations with Drift on Baltimore and now taken over the old Philip Morton Gallery and turned it into their offices. They are also preparing to open Bodhi on 1st street. One of the great old standbys at the beach is The Purple Parrot Grill and Biergarten on Rehoboth Avenue. Owners Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts make everyone feel welcome. The old girl has a bright new paint job this year and sheās better than ever with some great entertainment.Ā
Make sure you read the Bladeās column on food at the beach but here are just some of the places I passed on my walk around town on sidewalk sale weekend. There are Eden Restaurant, Azafran, and La Fable on the beach block of Baltimore Avenue. Then the always reliable standby the Blue Moon. In addition to some of the best food in town, the Moon has an extensive calendar of special events planned for summer, including the much anticipated return of talented NYC pianist Nate Buccieri beginning June 25. He plays Sunday-Thursday for most of the summer; check bluemoonrehoboth.com for specifics.
There is also Avaās and Theoās and Frank and Louieās on the second block.The venerable Back Porch on Rehoboth Avenue has been serving some of Rehobothās finest food for decades, and, of course, Houston White further up the street if youāre craving a steak.Then there is Gooleeās Grill on 1st street and the new location of JAM on 2nd. Gooleeās is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a cocktail party on June 1, 5-9 p.m.; tickets are $15 and available online.
My favorite morning place, it has become my afternoon place as well, is the totally refurbished Coffee Mill in the mews between Rehoboth Avenue and Baltimore Avenue, just next to the wonderful Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue. Dewey Beach residents will soon have their own Coffee Mill in a beachfront location, 1700 Coastal Highway. It will have a great view of the beach and ocean from its rooftop deck. Mel and Bob are going to be busy this year with all their places including Brashhh on 1st street, now celebrating its 11th year, and The Mill Creamery serving Hopkins ice cream. Longtime Rehoboth business owner Steve Fallon, one of the best promoters of the beach I know, has the fun Gidgetās Gadgets on Rehoboth Avenue and his second place selling vinyl records, Extendedplay. Then there is Cohoās Market and Grill on Rehoboth Avenue.
Back on the gayest block in Rehoboth, Baltimore Avenue, donāt forget to stop in and purchase some incredible one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, and now original art, at Elegant Slumming and then get your hair cut in The Grateful Head Salon.
For more afternoon and evening entertainment there is the popular Diegoās Bar and Nightclub (37298 Rehoboth Avenue Ext.), a perfect spot for outdoor happy hours and late night dancing. Local legend Magnolia Applebottom holds court all summer with performances slated for the Thursday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Sundayās show runs 6-9 p.m. followed by DJ Mags āwith her boysā from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. In addition to Magnolia, Diegoās brings internationally known DJs to town during the summer. And the free parking is a nice bonus in a town with a chronic shortage of parking spaces. Diegoās has an exciting summer of special events planned, so follow them online for updates. Among the acts coming to Diegoās this summer are āJaws the Musicalā (June 18), Ada Vox (July 5), and Edmund Bagnell (July 17).
Donāt miss the always fun Freddieās Beach Bar on 1st street, where the amazing Freddie Lutz has brought his wonderful concept from Virginia to the beach. The beloved Pamala Stanley performs periodically at Freddieās; follow her on social media for updated dates.
Remember Rehoboth still has some great culture even if the town commissioners have been trying to force it out of town. The amazing Clear Space Theatre is stillon Baltimore Avenue. This seasonās productions include Lucy in the Sea with Darvon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kinky Boots, and The Spongebob Musical.Ā
This will be a summer not to miss at the beach. Better make your plans to visit soon, if you havenāt already, because hotels and rentals are booking fast.

Pride season has already begun. Last monthās Roanoke Pride filled the Virginia city’s Elmwood Park with rainbow flags. Pride events begin in D.C. this month and continue through June. Regionally, some cities have opted to hold their Pride events as late as the fall.
May
Organizers of Trans Pride D.C. (transpridewashingtondc.org) plan a full day of workshops and events on Saturday, May 20 at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street, N.W.). These events are currently listed on Facebook and Eventbrite as running from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The HIV/PrEP Programs at the Charles County Department of Health are hosting PrEP for Pride 2023 at 4545 Crain Highway in White Plains, Md. on Saturday May 20 from 12-7 p.m.
The festival is free, though those who RSVP will be entered into a door prize drawing. PrEP for Pride’s Eventbrite page advertises a pride walk, a PrEP Mini Ball, music, art, health & wellness information, food options and other vendors.
Equality Prince WilliamĀ PrideĀ (equalitypincewilliam.org) will be held on Sunday, May 21 at the Harris PavillionĀ (9201 Center Street, Manassas, Va.) from 12-4 p.m., according to itsĀ Facebook events page.
The event is billed as a family-friendly event with music, vendors and kids activities. Performers include musician John Levengood, BRUU Band & Choir and the drag artists Coco Bottoms, Muffy Blake Stephyns and Ophelia Bottoms.
D.C. Black Pride (dcblackpride.org) events are held throughout the city May 26-29 primarily at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel (999 9th Street, N.W.).
Official events include a Unity Ball, a vendor expo, a talent showcase, forums, parties and the annual Pride Festival in the Park at Fort Dupont Park on May 29 from 12-7 p.m.

The third Caroline County Pride Festival (carolinepride.com) “A Carnival Adventure” will be held in downtown Denton, Md. (301 Market Street) on Saturday, May 27 from 3-8 p.m. according to the group’s Facebook event page.
June

Baltimore Trans Pride (baltimoresafehaven.org/transpride) kicks off the month at 2117 North Charles Street in Baltimore, Md. on Saturday, June 3, according to Baltimore Safe Haven’s Facebook event page.
The Baltimore Trans Pride 2023 Grand March is to be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday along North Charles Street between 22nd and 23rd. The Block Party continues at 3 p.m. with performances beginning at 4 p.m.
Afterparties are scheduled at The Crown (1901 North Charles Street) and Ottobar (2549 North Howard Street). Baltimore Safe Haven also hosts a kickoff ball on Friday, June 2 at 2640 Saint Paul Street at 6 p.m.
Annapolis Pride (annapolispride.org) holds its annual parade and festival on Saturday, June 3 from 12-5 p.m. on Inner West Street in Annapolis, Md. according to the Facebook event page.

Reston Pride (restonpiride.org) holds its annual festival at Lake Anne Plaza (1609 Washington Place) in Reston, Va. on Saturday, June 3 from 12-6 p.m., according to the Facebook event page.

Ellicott City, Md. holdsĀ OECĀ PrideĀ (visitoldellicottcity.com/events/oec-pride) on June 3-4 in Old Ellicott City. Events include a mascara run up and down Main Street and a movie presentation ofĀ “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.Ā
Suffolk, Va. holds its third annual Suffolk Pride Festival (facebook.com/SuffolkPrideVA) on Saturday, June 3 from 5-8 p.m. at Bennetts Creek Park (3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road, Suffolk, Va.), according to the Facebook event page.
Portsmouth Pride Fest ’23 (portsmouthprideva.com) is the second annual LGBTQ community celebration in Portsmouth, Va. The festival is to be held on Saturday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Portsmouth Festival Field next to Atlantic Union Pavilion, according to the Facebook event page.
The Alexandria LGBTQ Task Force presents the sixth annual AlexandriaĀ PrideĀ (alexandriava.gov/LGBTQ) at Alexandria City Hall in Market Square of Old Town Alexandria, Va. (301 King Street) on Saturday, June 3 from 1-5 p.m.
Newport News, Va. has its first I Am What I Am (IAWIA) Pride Festival on Sunday, June 4 from 12-7 p.m. at Tradition Brewing Company (700 Thimble Shoals Boulevard, Newport News, Va.), according to the Facebook event page.
The 2023 Cumberland Pride Festival (cumberlandpride.org) will be held at Canal Place (13 Canal Street, Columbia, Md.) Sunday, June 4 from 12-4 p.m., according to the Facebook event page.

Culpepper County in rural Virginia will be getting its very first pride celebration with Culpepper Pride Festival (culpeperpride.com) on Sunday, June 4 from 12-5 p.m. at Mountain Run (10753 Mountain Run Lake Road, Culpepper, Va.). An after-hours 21+ drag show will be held.
Equality Loudoun’s “Across the Decades” 2023 Loudoun Pride Festival (eqloco.com) will be held on Sunday, June 4 from 1-7 p.m. at Claude Moore Park (21668 Heritage Farm Ln, Sterling, Va.). This is a ticketed event with a $5 general admission.

Delaware Pride (delawarepride.org) is being celebrated as a festival on Saturday, June 10 at Legislative Hall (411 Legislative Avenue, Dover, Del.) from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. according to the Facebook page.
D.C.’s massive Capital Pride (capitalpride.org) includes the 2023 Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 10 and the 2023 Capital Pride Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue on Sunday, June 11. On top of the many official events, there are a great number of parties in venues throughout the city over the week, including the not-to-be-missed Pride on the Pier and Fireworks Show, held 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 at the Wharf. There are two timed VIP sessions that include catered food and open bar. The regionās only Pride fireworks display, sponsored by the Leonard-Litz Foundation, takes place at 9 p.m. Visit prideonthepierdc.com for tickets and information.

The Third annual Pride in the ViBe, will be held at ViBe Park (1810 Cyprus Avenue, Virginia Beach, Va.) on Sunday, June 11 from 1-6 p.m., according to the Facebook event page.
Scenic Chesapeake, Va. is the backdrop for Pride in the ‘Peake 2023 at City Park Section B next to the basketball courts on Sunday, July 11, according to an allevents.in posting.
Eastern Panhanlde Pride is to be held on Saturday, June 17 from 12-5 p.m. in downtown Martinsburg, W.Va., according to EPP’s Facebook page.
The Delmarva Pride Center presents DELAMRVA Pride (delmarvapridecenter.com) with events from June 16-18. The DELMARVA Pride Festival is to be held on Saturday, June 17 along South Harrison Street in downtown Easton, Md. Other events include a drag show and a Sunday brunch, according to the Pride Center’s Facebook page.
The Ghent Business Association presents Ghent Pride “Party at the Palace Shops” on Tuesday, June 20 from 6-10 p.m. at The Palace Shops and Staton (301 West 21st Street, Norfolk, Va.), according to the Facebook event page. This is a ticketed event with general admission $13.
The Human Rights Commission of the City of Rockville holds the seventh annual Rockville Pride (rockvillemd.gov/2276/Rockville-Pride) on Saturday, June 24 from 1-4 p.m. at Rockville Town Square (131 Gibbs Street, Rockville, Md.).
Arlington Pride (arlvapride.com) holds events from June 23-25 that include a pageant, a brunch, a festival and an afterparty. The Arlington Pride Festival returns for its second year on June 24 from 12-7 p.m. at the Rosslyn Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va.), according to the Eventbrite listing.
Fredericksburg Pride (fxbgpride.org) holds events throughout the month, but everything culminates in the Pride March and then Festival on Saturday, June 24. The Pride March is held at Riverfront Park (705 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, Va.) at 10 followed by the Festival at 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Old Mill Park (2201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Va.).
The 10th anniversary Frederick Pride (frederickpride.org) is to be held at Carroll Creek Linear Park on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. with food, music, drag, vendors and more, according to the Facebook event page.

The Salisbury Pride (salisburyprideparade.com) Parade and Festival is on Saturday, June 24. The Parade begins at 2 p.m. at West Main Street and Camden Street. The parade moves along Main with the festival following the parade at 2:30. Magnolia Applebottom is the headliner and grand marshall, according to Salisbury Pride’s Facebook page.
The “Break Free 23” Hampton Roads Pride (hamptonroadspride.org) is set for Saturday, June 24 at Town Point Park (113 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Va.) and includes the famous boat parade.
The Pride Center of Maryland hosts a number of Baltimore Pride (baltimorepride.org) events June 19-25. The big events include the annual parade and block party on Charles Street on Saturday, June 24 and the festival at Druid Hill Park on Sunday.

July and beyond
You can look forward to LGBTQ pride celebrations in Harrisburg, Pa. and the Maryland towns of Hagerstown and Westminster as well as Black Pride RVA in Richmond, Va. in July. Other municipalities have decided to hold their pride celebrations a little later in the year. These pride events include Winchester Pride in Winchester, Va. (Sept. 9), Shenandoah Valley Pride in Harrisonburg, Va. (Sept. 16), SWVA Pridefest in Vinton, Va. (Sept. 16), Virginia Pridefest in Richmond, Va. (Sept. 23), TriPride in Johnson City, Tenn. (Sept. 23), Staunton Pride in Staunton, Va. (Oct. 7), Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride in Harve de Grace, Md. (Oct. 7), Pride Franklin County in Chambersburg, Pa. (Oct. 8) and Laurel Pride in Laurel, Md. (Oct. 14).
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