Arts & Entertainment
Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell will guest star in gay miniseries ‘When We Rise’
the pair will play prominent LGBT activists
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell will be joining the cast of ABC’s gay miniseries “When We Rise.”
Deadline reports Goldberg will play Pat Norman, the first openly gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department. O’Donnell will appear as Del Martin, co-founder of the first lesbian organization in the country.
Along with Goldberg and O’Donnell, Denis O’Hare and David Hyde Pierce are slated to make guest appearances in the eight-hour miniseries chronicling the gay rights movement. O’Hare will portray Jim Foster, an openly gay Democratic party organizer, and Pierce is Dr. Jones, Cleve Jones’ father.
Michael K. Williams and Ivory Aquino have also been added to the main cast. Williams will play African American community organizer Ken Jones and Aquino will play transgender activist Cecilia Chung.
Rachel Griffiths, Mary-Louise Parker and Guy Pearce are also set to star. The show is currently filming in Vancouver and San Francisco.
Dustin Lance Black wrote and executive produced the miniseries with Laurence Mark, Gus Van Sant and Bruce Cohen also on board as executive producers.
A premiere date for the two-hour season premiere, directed by Van Sant, has yet to be announced.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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