Out & About
Pride, Pride and more Pride
Weekend packed with dance parties, parade, festival, concerts and more


Capital Pride Festival (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Friday, June 12
Congregation Bet Mishpachah hosts a National Pride Shabbat at 6th and I Historic Synagogue (600 I St., N.W.) from 6:30-10 p.m. today. After the service there will be a dinner served.
The third annual D.C. Front Runners Pride Run 5K begins at Congressional Cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) at 7 p.m. tonight. Admission to the race is sold out. After the race there will be a finish line party with beer for race participants, a DJ, entertainment and an awards ceremony for the top runners.
Capital Pride and Brightest Young Things present Flashback Opening Dance Party, Pride’s official opening party, at Arena Stage (1101 6th St., S.W.) tonight at 8:30 p.m. Adore Delano from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Frenchie Davis from “American Idol” and “The Voice” will perform. Birdie LaCage, Pussy Noir and more will also make appearances. DJ Shea Van Horn, DJ Matt Bailer and many more will play music for the night. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the party. There is no dress code but staying on theme with ‘80s workout clothing is encouraged.
Saturday, June 13
Rainbow History Project hosts a historic gay D.C. walking tour beginning at the Dupont Circle Fountain today from 10-11:30 a.m. Brock Thompson will guide the tour to visit bars, homes and protest sports that held significance to LGBT activism in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Dupont Circle Hotel (1500 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.) hosts Crack of Noon: Parade Day Pride Brunch today from noon-3 p.m. There will be a gourmet buffet, complimentary mimosa and cash bar featuring Stoli cocktails. There will also be a meet and greet with special guests. Tickets are $65 and must be purchased in advance.
There will be a Family Fun Zone during the Capital Pride Parade at Stead Park (1625 P St., N.W.) today from 3-8 p.m. There will be crafts, water inflatables, yard games, balloon art, snacks, face painting and much more.
The Capital Pride Parade starts at 22nd and P Streets and moves through the Dupont and Logan Circle neighborhoods today from 4:30-7:30 p.m. There will be floats, entertainment, drag queens, local businesses, politicians and much more.
SMYAL hosts Queer and Now, a youth dance party, at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Cir., N.W.) tonight from 6-10 p.m. There will be food, dancing and HIV testing. Admission is free.
The Ladies of Lure, TAGG Magazine and Capital Pride present F.U.S.E., a women’s dance party, at Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Tickets are $15.
Scorpio Entertainment and Troyal Events host #Undergroundthrowdown at Dance Loft (4618 14th N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Music will be focused on the past four decades of gay culture in celebration of Pride’s 40th anniversary. Admission is 18 to enter and 21 to drink.
Mixtape ,a gay dance party, is at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight at 11 p.m. DJ Matt Bailer and DJ Shea Van Horn will play music for the night. Tickets are $15.
Sunday, June 14
Scandal D.C. hosts Ladies Tea, a ladies dance party, at Penn Social (801 E St., N.W.) from 4 p.m.-midnight.
The Capital Pride Festival is today from noon-7 p.m. along Pennsylvania Ave. between 3rd and 7th streets. There will be vendors, food, music, entertainment and much more.
The Pride Concert presented by Hot 99.5 is at the Capitol Concert Stage in front of the U.S. Capitol Building today from 1-9 p.m. Performers include Wilson Phillips, En Vogue, Katy Tiz and Carly Rae Jepson.
The Cherry Fund and Capital Pride host an after hours charity dance event at Tropicalia (2001 14th St., N.W.) from 3:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. DJ X Gonzalez and Sean Morris will play techno and house music. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.
Flower Party, Pride’s official closing party, is at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets are $5.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Out & About
Trans Unity Coalition celebrates Pride with march, workshops
Organization to host rally at U.S. Capitol

Trans Unity Coalition, a transgender non-profit registered in multiple states, will host a series of Pride events to celebrate the resilience, beauty, and fierceness of D.C.’s queer community.
On, Sunday, June 15, the organization will host “U.S. Capitol Rally & White House March for Transgender Unity” at 9:30 p.m. starting at the U.S. Capitol. There will be speakers to discuss hope, strength, joy, collective pride, and what America’s transgender community needs to do going forward.
From Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20, there will be an advocacy workshop hosted virtually. This virtual workshop will teach members lessons in advocacy, and how to independently engage with their elected officials. This is free to all who wish to gain these skills.
On Monday, June 23, there will be an all-day “Congress Lobby Day” at the U.S. Capitol. This is not a demonstration, but rather pre-scheduled meetings with members of Congress. The goal is to discuss the ongoing and emerging needs of America’s transgender community, build more networks with lawmakers, and empower attendees to learn engagement tools they can take with them going forward.
For more details about all the events, visit Trans Unity Coalition’s website.

Friday, June 6
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. For more details, email [email protected].
Pizza Diversity will host “Sip & Pizza Night – A Class For the Culture” at 6 p.m. at Penn Randall Place. This event is no gimmicks, just great pizza, real connection, and community. Tickets cost $92.55 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 7
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
“World Pride Women, Sapphics, LGBTQ Rooftop Party” will be at 9 p.m. at Baby Shank Rooftop Bar and Lounge. This will be an exciting women’s party at World Pride! Celebrate love, dance to amazing beats by some of the nation’s hottest LGBTQ DJs. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Dance With Pride will host “WorldPride Weekend: Ultimate Pregame” at 7 p.m. at Ultrabar. This will be the ultimate LGBTQ+ pre-game destination. Get ready to ignite your evening with infectious energy, dynamic beats, unforgettable performances, and an atmosphere that gets you ready for an unstoppable night of celebration and fun. Tickets start at $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space the strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, June 8
Brandan Robertson will host a WorldPride book launch event for his book “Queer and Christian” at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. This is a groundbreaking book exploring the intersection of queer identity and Christian faith. The event kicks off with Brandan Robertson preaching at the 10:30 a.m. service, followed by a dynamic discussion with Brandan, moderated by Rev. Thomas Bowen, former Senior Advisor for Public Engagement at the Biden White House, at 12 p.m. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 9
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, June 10
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This support group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.
Thirst and Paint will host “Free Gay Sip and Paint” at 6:30 p.m. at Green Lantern. This is catered to the LGBTQ community. Allies are also welcome. Outlines and paint instructions will be provided as will the paint, canvas and brushes. Drinks are available from the private bar. With three hours of expressive painting, your night will be filled with creativity, sexiness and fun. Tickets cost $23.18 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, June 11
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, June 12
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
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