Arts & Entertainment
MOST ELIGIBLE SINGLES: Soph Bonde
Meet D.C.’s top 20 LGBT bachelors and bachelorettes
Soph Bonde (Photo courtesy of Bonde)
Name: Soph Bonde
Age: 25
Occupation: CEO and publisher of Argot Magazine
Identify as: queer/lesbian
What are you looking for in a mate? I’m not totally sure what I’m looking for; sometimes the chemistry is there and sometimes it’s not. There are qualities I think it’s important for a person to have or embody and I try my hardest to reflect those too. I believe in consideration and care, empathy and kindness. I like people who are ambitious in their own lives and driven to succeed not just in their careers but in bettering themselves. Someone with boundaries and who knows themselves, where they end and you begin. Let’s just say I’m looking for someone to competitively brunch with.
Biggest turn-off: Bad tipping habits, treating people callously.
Biggest turn-on: Good communication.
Hobbies: Hanging out with my dog, eating macaroni and cheese, watching nature documentaries on Netflix.
Describe your ideal first date: Food and a museum, can’t go wrong with that.
Pets, kids or neither? Well I have a dog and he and I are pretty much a package deal. It’s really hard to want children, the cost and responsibility just feels like too much to me at this point in time. I also think climate change is just too much of a burden to put on the next generation and if we’re talking about biological children, it’d feel irresponsible to bring further people into world.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from yours? I don’t think I would date someone more conservative than I, but I would date someone more liberal than I am (if they would deign to have more conservative me).
Celebrity crush: SZA is a fantastic artist and has a really gorgeous smile.
One obscure fact about yourself: I went to sailing camp in the summer for a few years and used to competitively sail.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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.
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