Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Feb. 8-14
Shows, meetings and events in the week to come
Friday, Feb. 8
Tony-Award winner John Cameron Mitchell, co-creator of the hit musical “Hedwig & the Angry Inch,” presents “The Origin of Love: The Songs and Stories of Hedwig” at the National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Mitchell will perform songs from the musical and preview songs from his new musical “Anthem.” Tickets range from $54-79. For more details, visit thenationaldc.org.
Gamma D.C., a support group for men in mixed-orientation relationships, meets at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Ave., N.W.) tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The group is for men who are attracted to men but are currently, or were at one point, in relationships with women. For more information about the group, visit gammaindc.org.
Qrew: Werq, a queer women’s dance party, is at Union Stage (740 Water St., S.W.) tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Late night happy hour is from 9-10:30 p.m. The first 65 21-and-over guests will receive a free drink ticket. DJ Tezrah will play music and Pretty Boi Drag will perform. There will also be giveaways. Tickets are $10. Attendees must be 18 or over. For more information, visit facebook.com/qrewdc.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) presents Birds of Prey Drag Show, an 18-and-over event, tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Ba’Naka hosts the show. Brooklyn Heights, Iyana Deschanel, Sasha Adams Sanchez, Crystal Edge, Alicia Love and Bambi Nicole Ferrah will perform. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the show starts at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Sashay, a weekly college dance party, tonight from midnight-3 a.m. DJ C Dubz will spin tracks. Sir and gay porn star Adam Ramzi will go-go dance all night. Attendees must be 18 to enter. Cover is $5 after the drag show. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
Saturday, Feb. 9
Scarlet’s Bake Sale is at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) today from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. The bake sale will benefit Brother Help Thyself. Cocktails start at 3 p.m. and the live auction is at 4 p.m. Cake drop-off is from 1:30-3 p.m. For more details, visit facebook.com/scarlets.foundation.
D.C. Rawhides takes over Ziegfelds/Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. There will be a beginner two-step lesson on one floor and line dancing on another floor. Deejay Mein will play music. The lesson is from 7-8 p.m. and open dancing is from 8-10:50 p.m. Cover is $5 until 9 p.m. and then $10 after 9 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/dcrawhides.
Freddie’s Beach Bar (555 23rd St., S Arlington, Va.) hosts Freddie’s Follies Drag Show tonight at 8 p.m. A rotating cast of queens will perform. Showtime is 8 p.m. Karaoke starts at 10 p.m. Cover is $5. Reservations are highly recommended. For more details, visit freddiesbeachbar.com.
Mim Entertainment and Jaywalking Productions hosts Vamp, a ladies dance party, at XX+ (1926 9th St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. DJ Mim and special guest DJs will spin tracks. Craft cocktails and small bites will be served. Tickets are $10. Reserved tables are $50. For more information, visit facebook.com/mimentdc.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts SirCuit: Vanity tonight from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. DJ Ryan DoubleYou will spin tracks all night. Gay porn star Adam Ramzi will dance all night. Online tickets are $10. Tickets at the door are $20. For more information, visit dceagle.com.
Distrkt C celebrates its third anniversary at Karma D.C. (2221 Adams Pl., N.E.) tonight from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. DJ X Gonzalez and DJ Nacho Chapado will spin tracks. Tickets are $30. For more details, visit distrktc.com.
Sunday, Feb. 10
SMYAL for the New Year is at Franklin Hall (1348 Florida Ave., N.W.) today from 3-5 p.m. Ring in the new year with SMYAL’s Young Donors Committee, the SMYAL allies and members of the board and staff. The event will celebrate SMYAL’s successes of the past year and look forward at upcoming plans for 2019. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. There is a suggested donation starting at $10. For more details, visit smyal.org.
Nacho Mama’s (2 West Pennsylvania Ave., Towson, Md.) presents a new drag brunch today from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sabrina Sommers, Nubia Love-Jackson, Venus Starlight and KC Florence will perform. Tickets are $34 and include an all-you-cat-eat buffet. For more information, visit facebook.com/nachomamastowson.
Hotel Indigo (24 West Franklin St., Baltimore) hosts a Sunday Drag Brunch today from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Sue Nami and other drag performers will appear. Tickets are $35 and include a buffet, entertainment and bottomless Bloody Marys or mimosas. For more details, visit baltimoreindigohotel.com/sunday-drag-brunch.
Monday, Feb. 11
Brother Help Thyself will screen “Tongues Untied,” in celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary at the Shaw Library (1630 7th St., N.W.) at 6 p.m. “Tongues Untied” was created by filmmaker Marlon Riggs and celebrates black men loving black men. Essex Hemphill, Wayson Jones, Ron Simmons and Christopher Prince are all featured in the film. For more details, visit brotherhelpthyself.net.
Tuesday, Feb. 12
Logan’s Hardware (1723 14th St., N.W.) hosts Ladies’ Night tonight from 6-9 p.m. There will be hands-on-tool demonstrations, DIY activities, free food, beverages and giveaways. The first 50 people will receive gift bags and other prizes and gift bags will be given away throughout the night. There will be DIY demos on basic caulking, best painting practices, best toilet repair, how to patch drywall and more. Guests can also shop 20 percent off the entire store. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/loganhardware.
Wednesday, Feb. 13
Big Gay Book Group meets at 1155 F St., N.W. tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss “No One Can Pronounce My Name” by Rakesh Satyal. Newcomers welcome. For more details, visit biggaybookgroup.com or email [email protected].
The Lambda Bridge Club meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. No reservations required and new comers welcome. If you need a partner, call 703-407-6540.
Thursday, Feb. 14
Pretty Boi Drag hosts Open King Night at the Bier Baron Tavern and Comedy Loft (1523 22nd St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Both amateur and seasoned kings are invited to perform. Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more details, visit facebook.com/prettyboidrag.
Sports
Jason Collins dies at 47
First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer
Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.
The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.
Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.
Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.
Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.
The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”
“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”
The Washington Blade will update this article with additional reaction when it becomes available.
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf 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.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP
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