Arts & Entertainment
ClexaCon brings focus to queer women in entertainment
Annual convention kicks off March 3 in Las Vegas
Editorās note: The Blade is a sponsor of ClexaCon and will have a reporter in Las Vegas covering the convention March 3-5.Ā
Conventions are a popular way to bring die-hard, like-minded fans together ā from the star-studded Comic Con in San Diego to the D.C. Awesome Con, which has featured cast members from fantasy/sci-fi shows like āDoctor Whoā and āThe Walking Dead.ā
ClexaCon, the first con created by queer women for queer women, will unite a more specific part of fandom culture that has been demanding attention for a long time.
ClexaCon is a three-day convention for queer women in entertainment from March 3-5 at Ballyās and Paris in Las Vegas. The name āClexaā comes from the fan favorite couple Clarke and Lexa from the CWās āThe 100.ā Lexaās death on the show sparked outrage among LGBT fans who felt Lexa was the casualty of yet another āBury Your Gays Trope.ā A petition was started to spread awareness of the treatment of queer female characters in media and to raise money for The Trevor Project.
The con strives to rectify the āBury Your Gaysā trope and to celebrate LGBT characters in media as well as to encourage queer women to create their own content that does justice to the representation they want to see of themselves on screen.
āWe want ClexaCon to be a place where fans from around the world connect and form friendships. If we can impact just one person’s life positively, then we have accomplished our goal,ā ClexaCon organizers said in a statement to the Washington Blade.
Organizers say they are expecting thousands of attendees during the three-day event. The lineup includes a bevy of celebrities, panelists, journalists, artists and other fandom contributors. Top names expected to attend include Amy Acker (āPerson of Interest, āAngelā), show runner Emily Andras (āWynonna Earp,ā āLost Girl), Lynn Chen (āSaving Faceā), Gabrielle Christian (āSouth of Nowhereā), Ali Liebert (āBomb Girls,ā āLost Girlā), Mandy Musgrave (āSouth of Nowhereā) and many more.
These actresses will bring together some of the most beloved lesbian couples in fandom. Spashley (Spencer and Ashley on āSouth of Nowhereā), Shoot (Root and Shaw on āPerson of Interestā), Wayhaught (Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught from āWyonna Earpā), Hollstein (Laura Hollis and Carmilla Karnstein on āCamillaā), Bam (Bianca and Maggie from āAll My Childrenā) and a reunion of the cast from romantic-comedy āSaving Face.ā
Panels will include Bring Your Own Bulletproof Vest: How to Write Damn Good T.V. for Women, Creating an Original Web Series, Diversity in Comics, Fanfiction and the Art of a Good Love Scene, How to Raise Investment for your LGBTQ Business: from Crowdfundraising to Venture Backing, and Transgender Representation in the Media, among others.
The ClexaCon Film Festival will screen films, web series and documentaries from queer filmmakers. Other special events during the weekend will include Cocktails for Change, a one-hour event that gives attendees the chance to mingle with celebrities at the con while raising money for the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and Speed-Pitching, the chance to pitch a television series to professional TV writers and creators on the panel.
āThis event is for the LGBT+ person sitting in their small town feeling completely alone and alienated,ā ClexaCon organizers say. āClexaCon is for those of us who have placed our hope in a fictional character just to have been let down. We are powerful and we are important. Itās time our community felt that. Itās time we are the change we want to see in the world.ā
Single-day passes are $50-$55 and three-day passes are $135. Tickets for autographs and photographs are sold separately. For more information, visit clexacon.com.
Celebrity News
John Waters released from hospital after car accident
Crash took place in Baltimore County
BY TAJI BURRIS | Baltimore filmmaker John Waters was released from the hospital Tuesday morning following a car accident.
The 78-year-old released a statement saying that although he was hurt in the Baltimore County crash, he did not sustain major injuries.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Bladeās Pride on the Pier and fireworks show returning June 8
The annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation will take place on Saturday, June 8 at 9 p.m.
The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, is excited to announce the 5th annual Pride on the Pier and fireworks show during D.C. Pride weekend on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 2-10 p.m.
The event will include the annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation at 9 p.m.
Pride on the Pier extends the cityās annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. Local DJās Heat, Eletrox and Honey will perform throughout the event.
3 p.m. – Capital Pride Parade on the Big Screen
3:30 p.m. – Drag Show hosted by Cake Pop!
9 p.m. – Fireworks Show Presented by Leonard-Litz Foundation
The event is free and open to the public. The Dockmasters Building will be home to a VIP experience. To learn more and to purchase tickets go to www.prideonthepier.com/vip. VIP tickets are limited.
Event sponsors include Absolut, Buying Time, Capital Pride, DC Brau, DC Fray, Burney Wealth Management,Ā Infinate Legacy, Leonard-Litz Foundation,Ā Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, MISTR, NBC4, The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePier.com
a&e features
āRuPaulās Drag Race: All Starsā cast visits D.C.
8 queens vie for $200,000 prize for charity in new season, premiering May 17
Donning sparkling and star-studded red, white, and blue attire on a gloomy, humid D.C. Monday, the cast of the latest āRuPaulās Drag Race All Starsā season sashayed on the National Mall to promote the reality show’s ninth season.
This upcoming season is different than those in the past ā eight queens are competing for a donation of $200,000 for the charity of their choosing, rather than a personal cash prize.
Several cast members noted how it felt important to visit the nationās capital, being authentically themselves and wearing drag. Nina West, who competed in season 11, likened drag to armor.
āWeāre here during a really specific time in history, that’s, I would say, markedly dark,ā she told the Blade at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. āAnd there’s an opportunity, as drag has always done, which is for our community as specifically LGBTQI+ people, to stand in our truth and be wonderful ā like guardians and fighters for our community.ā
Sheās competing for the Trevor Project, which is focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for young LGBTQ people. This seasonās pivot to compete for charity made Nina West want to come back on the show for the All Stars season. Sheās been offered the spot two times before this, she said, and this twist aligned with what she wanted to do.
Several of the other queens mentioned that itās an honor to be featured in this season, including season 5ās Roxxxy Andrews. She also competed in two subsequent All-Stars seasons.
She chose the organization Miracle of Love, which provides HIV/AIDS prevention programming and assistance in central Florida. Itās a smaller, more local organization, which is why Roxxxy Andrews chose it. She wants to make its work more nationally known. Also, vying to win during a charity season makes the competition feel more rewarding, she said.
Plastique Tiara of season 11 also noted itās different competing for charity. Sheās competing for the Asian American Foundation, which launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and aims to curb discrimination and violence through education and investments in nonprofits.
āIt’s more competitive because then you’re fighting not just only for yourself, but your ideas and the things that you love,ā she said.
Vanessa Vanjie of seasons 10 and 11 agreed that competing for charity adds a bit more pressure ā she chose the ASPCA. And as onlookers near the Lincoln Memorial took pictures of and with the queens, she said she was relieved.Ā
āI was a little bit worried somebody would yell some slurs at us,ā Vanessa Vanjie said. āNothing happened. Everybody came to take pictures like Santa Claus in the middle of the mall.ā
Thereās a range of contestants from different seasons for this round of All Stars. Some queens hail from recent seasons, but Shannel competed on the showās first season. To be a part of this new season is surreal, she said.
Sheās competing for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, which she has a close tie to. Sheās dealt with anxiety her entire life. The association is focused on increasing awareness and improving diagnosis and treatment.
āI always felt like I just wasn’t normal, sadly,ā she said. āAnd so now being able to be able to do this season and to get back to that organization is like amazing to me.ā
Gottmik, from season 13, is competing for Trans Lifeline ā a nonprofit providing advocacy, a hotline and grants created by trans people, for trans people. Being able to do drag and give back is the āperfect scenario,ā Gottmik said.
Gottmik was the first openly trans man on Drag Race, which was overwhelming when first on the show. Gottmik felt pressure to be the āperfect example,ā but later realized that they didnāt have to worry so much.
āI just want to show people that trans people are real people. We can express ourselves however we want to express ourselves, through drag, through whatever it may be,ā Gottmik said.
The new season will be available to stream on Paramount+ on May 17.Ā