Arts & Entertainment
LGBT duo makes historic debut in U.S. Figure Skating Championship
Karina Manta and Joseph Johnson both came out in October
Ice dancers Karina Manta and Joseph Johnson made history as the first LGBT duo to compete in the U.S. Figure Skating Championship which took place in Detroit over the weekend.
The duo skated to “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” earning 104.81 points and finishing in seventh place overall.
NBC Sports commentator Terry Gannon noted that Manta and Johnson are part of the LGBT community right before they launched into their routine.
“This team is a part of the LGBTQ community and has talked a lot about that, embraced talking about it this week,” Gannon said.
Manta, 22, came out as bisexual in October in a Youtube video featuring her girlfriend. In October, Johnson also confirmed he is gay in an interview with Outsports.
In an Instagram post with rainbow flag and American flag emojis, Manta celebrated the monumental moment.
“I can’t express how much it meant for everyone to get behind us this weekend. Aside from the fact that it felt incredible to put out a skate like that, it felt powerful to have a stadium of people at their feet—applauding us as we are. That moment fills me with hope. That moment makes me excited for the future of our sport. That moment will probably be one of my favorite moments, forever,” she writes.
Watch their routine below.
The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
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