Covering the LGBT community since 1969
January 1, 2016 at 8:12 pm EST | by Washington Blade photography department
PHOTOS: 2015 Year in Review
The White House is bathed in rainbow colors on June 26, 2015 — the day the Obergefell v. Hodges United States Supreme Court decision expanding marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide is announced. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
It was a banner year for the LGBT community. Here are some of the top Washington Blade photos of 2015. 
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- Activists place flowers and a photo of Leelah Alcorn in front of the anti-LGBT Family Research Council building in the middle of a march for transgender rights on Jan. 10, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- The 30th annual Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather contest is held at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Jan. 18, 2015. David Gerard, Mr. Connecticut Leather 2015 from Norwalk, Connecticut, wins the 2015 title. (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
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- Wig Night Out, an annual fundraiser for the Point Foundation, is held at Town Danceboutique on Jan. 31, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
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- LGBT activists organized by Casa Ruby demonstrate against workplace discrimination in front of the Willard InterContinental Hotel on Jan. 19, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Contestants in ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season seven perform at Town Danceboutique on Feb. 25, 2015. ‘RuPaul’ alum Shangela serves as emcee and music is provided by DJ Lady Bunny. (Washington Blade photos by Damien Salas)
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- (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- Mayor Muriel Bowser officially opens the LGBTQ Affairs office at the Reeves Center on April 21, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Freedom to Marry President Evan Wolfson and Campaign Director Marc Solomon walk to the U.S. Supreme Court before oral arguments for Obergefell v. Hodges on April 28, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Marriage equality advocates rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments for Obergefell v. Hodges on April 28, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Youth Pride 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Casa Ruby Executive Director Ruby Corado stands in the garden at the back of a newly-opened LGBT youth homeless transitional housing facility. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Maiya Sykes from NBC’S ‘The Voice’ joins the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for ‘Born This Way’ at the Lincoln Theatre on May 14, 2015. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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- Participants in events to commemorate the annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Las Tunas, Cuba, on May 16, 2015, carry a large rainbow flag through the streets of the provincial capital. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)
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- Stonewall Kickball holds its championship game at Stead Park on May 17, 2015. You Can’t Kick With Us shuts out I’d Kick That 22-0 for the trophy. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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- Trans rights activists march from Dupont Circle to McPherson Square chanting, ‘Can you hear us? Loud and Queer!’ (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Last year’s Black Pride Cultural Arts and Wellness Festival. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Advocates gather in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Southwest Washington headquarters on May 27, 2015, to protest the detention of transgender asylum seekers. The National LGBTQ Task Force has cancelled a panel at its upcoming Creating Change Conference that was to have featured three ICE officials. (Washington Blade photo by Antwan J. Thompson)
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- The Latino GLBT History Project hosts a kickoff event for D.C. Latino Pride, ‘La Coronación Dance Party,’ at Cobalt on May 30, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
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- Last year’s Awesome Con drew enthusiasts of many realms of pop culture and sci-fi. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- U.S. Department of Justice Pride Secretary Robert A. Koch presents the Gerald B. Roemer Community Service Award to Solicitor General of the United States Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. at a U.S. Department of Justice Pride event on June 3, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Whitman-Walker Health holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony, opening a new health center, on June 4, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- The Boy Scouts of America will now admit transgender youth. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- Out actor Wilson Cruz serves as one of the grand marshals of the 2015 Capital Pride Parade on June 14, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Carly Rae Jepsen is one of the headliners at the 2015 Capital Pride Festival on June 14. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Wilson Phillips performs at the 2015 Capital Pride Festival on June 14. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Pro-marriage equality advocates gather at the Supreme Court on June 24 — two days before the Obergefell v. Hodges decision is handed down. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Oppponants of marriage equality gather at the U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 — the day before the Obergefell v. Hodges decision is handed down. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- LGBT rights supporters celebrate on the steps of the Supreme Court on June 26, 2015 — just as the decision by the court to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples becomes public. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- Perry v. Schwarzenegger (the Supreme Court case which struck down California’s Proposition 8) plaintiffs Sandy Stier, on left, and Kris Perry celebrate with Obergefell v. Hodges plaintiff James Obergefell near the Supreme court as the decision to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide is handed down on June 26, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- AIDS Healthcare Foundation Director Dr. Matty Mathivannan cuts a ribbon, officially opening a new healthcare center at 1647 Benning Rd., N.E., on June 27. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Advocates stage a “die-in” at the intersection of 16th and H Streets, N.W., near the White House on June 30, 2015 to protest detention of LGBT asylum seekers. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Stonewall Sports hold its national tournament in kickball, dodgeball and more with teams from around the nation on July 17, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- The Hippo, a long-standing LGBT nightlife staple slated to close, goes all out with its float at the 40th annual Baltimore Pride Parade on July 25. (Washington Blade photo by Antwan J. Thompson)
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- Out rapper Cazwell performs at the 2015 Baltimore Pride Festival on July 25. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Photo of Boy George performing at Wolf Trap with Culture Club on August 10, 2015. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- A Black Trans Lives Matter rally is held in Franklin Square on Aug. 25, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- 17th Street Festival (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin joins actors Ellen Page and Allison Janney at the HRC National Dinner on Oct. 3, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Great Big World performs at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner on Oct. 3, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Apple CEO Tim Cook may be gay, but that hasn’t translated into advertising support for LGBT media outlets. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- Frankie & Betty perform at the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. Party at Town Danceboutique on Oct. 22, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- The 29th annual High Heel Race brings costumed competitors, including a ‘Kim Davis‘ and thousands of spectators to 17th Street on Oct. 27, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
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- Whitman-Walker Health holds an observance of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2015. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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- The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington holds its holiday show, ‘ReWrapped,’ at Lincoln Theatre over two weekends in December. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
