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SPRING ARTS PREVIEW TELEVISION: ‘One Big Happy’ lineup

Lily and Jane team up, ‘Looking’ and ‘Orange’ return while ‘Mad Men’ signs off

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television, gay news, Washington Blade
television, gay news, Washington Blade

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright in ‘House of Cards’ (Photo by David Giesbrecht; courtesy Netflix)

Produced by Ellen DeGeneres, “One Big Happy” stars Elisha Cuthbert as a lesbian who carries her best friend’s (Nick Zano) baby. The show premieres March 17 on NBC at 9:30 p.m.

Empire,” created by Danny Strong and Lee Daniels, who is openly gay, airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox. Taraji P. Henson steals the show as Cookie, the ex-wife of Terrance Howard’s character, a music mogul pitting his three sons, one of whom is gay, against each other for control of the company. The show, which is based partly on Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” is enjoying extremely high ratings and has been renewed for a second season.

The third season of Netflix hit “House of Cards” was released Feb. 27 (all 13 episodes) and continues Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey’s) shady dealings.

Ellie Kemper and Jane Krakowski star in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” available on Netflix today (March 6). The show, created by Tina Fey, also stars Titus Burgess (D’Fwan, “30 Rock”) as a gay singer working as a Times Square robot.

television, gay news, Washington Blade

A scene from ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.’ (Photo by Eric Liebowitz; courtesy Netflix)

Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda star in “Grace and Frankie,” a new Netflix show about two long-time rivals who come together when their husbands announce they plan to marry each other.

Season four of “Girls” continues on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. and has been picked up for a fifth season. The season finale will air on March 22.

Looking” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO. Daniel Franzese (Damien, “Mean Girls”) joined the cast for season two. The show focuses on a group of gay friends living in San Francisco.

Winter is coming in the middle of spring when season five of “Game of Thrones” premieres April 12 at 9 p.m. on HBO. Catch all of the drama, dragons and unexpected deaths of your favorite characters (probably).

“Orange is the New Black” returns to Netflix on June 12. The website’s juggernaut show has been praised for its groundbreaking representation of LBT women of color.

Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block and his boyfriend Harley Rodriguez are contestants on Season 26 of “The Amazing Race.” All teams this season are couples, including five teams meeting for the first time on the show as blind dates. One such team is composed of two young men named Bergen and Kurt. The show airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Season 20 of “Dancing with the Stars” premieres March 16 at 8 p.m. Contestants include out athlete Michael Sam, actress Suzanne Somers and soul legend Patti LaBelle, who recently appeared in “American Horror Story: Freak Show.”

Zachary Quinto and Uma Thurman star in “The Slap,” narrated by Victor Garber. Quinto plays a man dealing with the aftermath of slapping someone else’s misbehaved child. The miniseries currently airs Thursdays on NBC at 8 p.m.

Reign” airs on the CW at 9 p.m. on Thursdays. The historical fiction focuses on the early years of Mary, Queen of Scots. It features several intimate scenes between female characters. Caitlin Stasey, a star of the show, describes herself as “mostly gay.”

The Last Man On Earth” premiered last weekend on Fox. The show stars Will Forte searching the country for signs of other living humans after earth’s entire population is wiped out. The cast includes Kristen Schaal and Mary Steenburgen. It airs Sunday nights at 9:30 p.m.

The Walking Dead” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC. A recent episode of the show featured its first gay male character, Aaron, kissing his boyfriend Eric. The 90-minute season finale will air March 29.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as President Selina Meyer, following her character’s political ascension at the end of the previous season of “Veep.” Season four premieres on HBO April 12 at 10:30 p.m.

Penny Dreadful” returns to Showtime for season two on May 3 at 10 p.m. Season one of the show featured a kiss between star Reeve Carney’s character Dorian Gray (yes, that Dorian Gray) and Josh Hartnett’s character.

Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” continue to dominate Twitter on Thursday nights on ABC at 8 and 9 p.m., respectively. Both shows feature racially diverse casts and several queer characters, as does “How To Get Away With Murder,” the third Thursday night Shondaland show, which recently ended its first season.

The second half of the final season of “Mad Men” premieres April 5 at 10 p.m. on AMC. Throughout its run, the show has featured several gay characters. The series finale will air May 17.

The sixth season of “Community,” a consistently doomed show with a cult following, will premiere April 17 on Yahoo! Screen, which will fulfill half of fans’ rallying cry of “six seasons and a movie.” Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren (“Clue” co-stars) will reunite when they appear as the parents of Gillian Jacobs’s character Britta.

A Netflix Show, “Marvel’s Daredevil,” premieres April 10. The show stars Charlie Cox as the titular blind superhero as well as “True Blood’s” Deborah Ann Woll and PFLAG supporter Rosario Dawson.

television, gay news, Washington Blade

A scene from ‘Marvel’s Daredevil.’ (Photo by Barry Wetcher; courtesy Netflix)

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PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards

Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

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Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)

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PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride

Schuyler Bailar gives keynote address

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D.C. Trans Pride 2025 was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on May 17. (Washington Blade photo 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)

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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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