Arts & Entertainment

‘Christian’ haunted house depicting Pulse massacre banned

‘The Room’ also planned to depict Charleston church shooting

Published

10 years ago

October 31, 2016

Mariah Cooper

Pulse, Orlando, gay news, Washington Blade

The Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A Chicago elementary school canceled plans to host a “Christian” haunted house for its advertised depiction of the Pulse Nightclub massacre this weekend.

The event, called The Room: A Journey to Hell, was scheduled to run at Fernwood Elementary School on Oct. 29 and 30.

“You will walk in 10 Rooms and encounter individuals who will make choices. The choice is life or death; sin or salvation; heaven or hell. The scenes will be action-packed, real and jaw-dropping,” the Eventbrite page advertises.

The haunted house also planned to recreate the 2015 Charleston church shooting and a botched abortion.

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According to the Huffington Post, Tyrone Tappler Productions sought out volunteers on Facebook calling for “Club Pulse, Dancers, Victims, caged people/screamers, extras needed trying to escape a cage! Sounds interesting? Come out this Saturday!”

The post has since been deleted.

Chicago Public School officials say the event was canceled due to organizers’ misrepresentation of the event.

“The event organizers mischaracterized the true content of the event, and we did not approve any association with the activities the organizers have now advertised,” CPS spokesman Michael Passman told the Windy City Times. “The event will not be held on CPS property.”

Tappler tweeted on Saturday that the event had been canceled.

GM THE ROOM IS OFFICIALLY BANNED! As of Friday, 7:17pm. There will be no show TODAY OR Tomorrow! . Sorry for the inconvenience.

— Playwright Tyrone (@TyroneTappler) October 29, 2016

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Bars & Parties

Queer Magic dance party planned

Tarot, dancing, drag and more at Black Cat event

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Michael Key

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.

Out & About

NLGJA-DC Pride happy hour at Trade

Local queer journalists celebrate Pride

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

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

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

The 14th annual DC Front Runners' Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

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.