Arts & Entertainment
Imperial Court goes glam for Gala
Emperor and Empress IV to be crowned at Sept. 12 event


The Imperial Court (Washington Blade file photo by Vladyslav Rekhovskyy)
The Imperial Court of Washington
Coronation IV: Gala of the Americas
A Reel to Real Celebration
Saturday, Sept. 12
Marriott Metro Center
775 12th St., N.W.
7 p.m.
Tickets: $150
The Imperial Court of Washington is gearing up for its biggest event of the year next weekend.
On Saturday, Sept. 12, the court, part of the International Imperial Court System that was founded in San Francisco in 1965 by the late Jose Sarria, will hold its Coronation IV: Gala of the Americas, which celebrates the current reign of the Emperor and Empress III, Manuel Diego Dennis Alicia and Natasha Jewel Dennis Carrington respectively, and crowns their successors — Emperor DP Diego-Dennis Carrington and Empress Muffy Jaymes Jewel Blake Stephyns. Nicole Murray Ramirez, Queen Mother I of the Americas, is the honored guest and will welcome Imperial Court members and supporters from all over the U.S., Canada and perhaps Mexico.
Several other events are planned while the dignitaries are in town. On Thursday, Sept. 10, an “In Town Show” will be held; on Friday, Sept. 11, the “Crowns on the Town” bar tour will occur; a victory brunch and show will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13. Full details at imperialcourtdc.org. Also on Sept. 11, members will hold a Pentagon memorial tribute from 6-8 p.m. in which flowers will be laid on memorials of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Court exists to raise funds for LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations, social service groups and youth enrichment programs. The Court provides a safe, social environment for people with the same interests. The D.C. chapter is one of 71 courts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. About 250 attend the D.C. gala each year and it’s open to both court members and non-members. There are about 80 members in the D.C. court, which started in 2011. Members say more than half participate in court events in drag, but not all. Drag queens, drag kings, and non-drag men and women perform in various types of royal attire. The gala is a black-tie event.
The emperor and empress win by running elections. They were announced in late June. Stephyns, this year’s empress, has been involved with the court since 2012 and says it was a natural fit for her.
“I’ve always enjoyed working in the community and using drag as a way to give back, so for me it was a natural fit, Stephyns (aka Daniel Hays) says.
Destiny B. Childs (aka Ric Legg Benavides) was Empress II two years ago and says it’s a demanding job she took very seriously.
“It was humbling and scary and exciting all at the same time,” Childs says. “It’s not a glamorous title, it’s a working title. People hold you in very high esteem and you do nothing but work to raise money all year for your charity organization as you travel all over the country.”
Childs visited Canada, Texas, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Kentucky, New York and more during her reign. Only money raised during the Sunday victory show each year can be used — if the emperor or empress wish — toward travel expenses. Childs got $700 from that event the year she won and says that barely covered one excursion.
“Most of the time we just donate it back to the court,” she says. “I did it because I love and adore the D.C. metro area and I’ve been involved here for over 15 years now. People call me the yes queen because they know if they call and ask me to do something, I’ll say yes.”
This year’s beneficiaries are Rosmy, a Richmond, Va.,-based organization for LGBT youth; the Mautner Project, a lesbian health organization; and the Inova Juniper Program, an HIV/AIDS and primary care provider in Northern Virginia.
Stephyns has already traveled extensively through her work in the court and says she loves it.
“We all have the same central goal of giving back, but when you travel throughout the system, those friendships we make, these are people we never would have known otherwise who become lifelong friends,” she says. “It’s another way to build community.”
Music & Concerts
Cyndi Lauper ready to have fun in Virginia
Superstar to bring final leg of farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live

Superstar Cyndi Lauper will bring the final leg of her farewell tour “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” to Bristow, Va., on Thursday, July 24 at Jiffy Lube Live.
Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many more, and surprise guests have included Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, and will head to Australia and Japan in April.
Tickets are available on Live Nation’s website.

Rehoboth Beach Pride is back for a day of summer celebration on Saturday.
The Delaware beach town will host its Pride festival at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on July 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., followed by an after-party at Freddie’s Beach Bar and a ticketed event in the evening with a film screening, comedian, and musician.
“It will be a day of community engagement, fun, celebration and learning, all sorts of things rolled into one,” David Mariner, executive director of Sussex Pride, told the Blade. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be together, to support each other.”
Pride is organized by Sussex Pride and Gay Women of Rehoboth. The festival will include a free, family-friendly event with vendors offering information and resources, health screenings, and other activities. For more information visit sussexpride.org.

Friday, July 18
“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].
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 6 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. 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, July 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.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.
LGBT People of Color Support Group will be at 1 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 that strives to be safe and judgement 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.
Miss Capital Pride will host “DC Drag brunch on Rooftop – Penthouse” at 12 p.m. at MXDC Cocina Mexicana. Guests will experience a Mexican brunch infused with Baby Shank’s signature dishes, complemented by margaritas and mimosas. There will also be performances by drag queens and celebrity impersonators, featuring Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, Cher, and many more. Tickets are $30.65 and available on Eventbrite.
Monday, July 21
“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 details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Tuesday, July 22
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-facilitated discussion group and 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 page.
Wednesday, July 23
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.
Asexual and Aromantic Group will meet at 7 p.m. virtually and in-person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, July 24
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.
Lit Lovers: Book Club for Seniors will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. The book selection for July is “Rubyfruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Poly Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an inclusive, welcoming, virtual safer space to talk about all things polyamorous — the rapturous, the confused, the pure YIKES, we want to hear them all. For more details, email [email protected].
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