Arts & Entertainment
Greg Louganis will be featured on Wheaties box
Olympic diver gets overdue honor
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis will be featured on a box of Wheaties starting in May and going through the summer months, according to the New York Times.
Welcome four-time gold medalist and hall of famer @greglouganis to the Orange Box Club. #WheatiesLegends pic.twitter.com/44qA7Oybd7
— Wheaties (@wheaties) April 5, 2016
Louganis’s life and career, including coming out in 1994 and revealing his HIV positive status, was chronicled in the HBO documentary “Greg Louganis: Back on Board.” Despite all of his many accomplishments, the 56-year-old diver was never put on a box of Wheaties.
The New York Times reports that following the release of the documentary, a Change.org petition was started to get General Mills to put Louganis on the box. More than 43,000 signatures later, the cereal company gave Louganis the honor.
Louganis, who married Johnny Chaillot in 2013, told the New York Times he believes he wasn’t asked to star on the boxes in the past due to homophobia.
“The times have changed so drastically and so fast,” Louganis told the New York Times. “When I came out to my mom, she feared I’d always be a second-class citizen and never have a chance to be married. But Johnny and I are married, and we’re making a life together.”
Louganis’s Wheaties cover will be one in a series featuring fellow Olympians, swimmer Janet Evans and hurdler Edwin Moses. Louganis says he is still grateful to be featured even though he’s included in a series.
“Edwin and I were in the 1976 Olympics together,” Louganis continued. “He was my hero. God, he was my inspiration to get trust funds put in place for the athletes coming behind me. I watched Janet grow up at Mission Viejo.”
Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.
There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.

