Local
D.C. to bid on 2022 Gay Games
16 other cities vie to host sporting event


Team D.C.’s Brent Minor (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
D.C. is among 17 cities on three continents that have expressed an interest in bidding to become the host city for the 2022 Gay Games, the quadrennial international LGBT sports competition.
According to a statement released on April 19 by the Federation of Gay Games, organizations in D.C. and the other cities must embark on a rigorous and costly process of putting together and submitting a formal bid by Nov. 30, 2016.
Brent Minor, executive director of Team D.C., an association of 31 LGBT sports groups in the D.C. metropolitan area, said the association will be the bidding organization for hosting the 2022 Gay Games.
He said Team D.C. officials are confident that the knowledge and experience they gained in bidding on the 2014 Gay Games will enable them to put together a top-notch bid for the 2022 games.
D.C. lost the bidding competition to Cleveland for the 2014 Gay Games. But according to Minor, D.C. came in second place and its 300-plus page bid was considered by FGA officials to be highly professional and sufficient to make D.C. a successful host for the games.
At the time they selected Cleveland, FGA officials said D.C. and Boston, which along with Cleveland were finalists in the competition, could have successfully hosted the games. The officials said Cleveland was selected because the FGA believed holding the games there would better advance LGBT equality in a region of the U.S. that was less advanced in LGBT rights than the Boston and D.C. regions.
The other cities that expressed interest along with D.C. in bidding to host the 2022 games are Anaheim, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; Austin, Texas; Cape Town, South Africa; Denver, Colo.; Des Moines, Iowa; Guadalajara, Mexico; Hong Kong; Los Angeles; Madison, Wis.; Minneapolis; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco; and Tel Aviv.
The next Gay Games is scheduled to take place in Paris in 2018.
The FGG’s announcement of the start of the bidding process for the 2022 games came just over a month after it announced it had withdrawn from longstanding negotiations with the Gay & Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) about a possible merger of the Gay Games and the GLISA sponsored Out Games.
FGG said in its announcement that it concluded a merged venture would be “high risk” and the “valuable financial and human resources” needed for such a venture couldn’t be justified at this time.
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.
In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.
Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.
According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.
The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.
Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.
At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.
It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.
Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.
Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)
A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.
The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.
Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.
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