Arts & Entertainment
SPRING ARTS 2018 EVENTS: D.C. jamboree LGBT potpourri
Standup acts, D.C.-based LGBT group events, benefits, ‘Ask Rayceen’ and more
Many upcoming events don’t fit in our regular spring arts categories. Here’s the catch all arranged chronologically.
“Haters Roast: the Shady Tour 2019” with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alums is Friday, March 8 at Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.). It’s sold out.
MIM Entertainment presents VAMP: an Exclusive Event for Her on Saturday, March 9 at 10 p.m. at XX+ Crostino (1926 9th St., N.W.). Tickets are $10 at eventbee.com.
Ladies of LURe’s BARE Military Appreciation Night is Saturday, March 9 at 10 p.m. at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). Admission is $7 before midnight or $10 after. Details on Facebook.
The Imperial Court of Washington presents Royal Mardi Gras Monte Carlo Casino Night on Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. at The Sphinx on K (1315 K St., N.W.). Its Imperial Crown Prince and Princess Ball is Saturday, March 23. A Little Bit Country Easter Show is Sunday, April 21 at 8 p.m. at Freddie’s (555 23rd St., Arlington, Va.). Awwooo Fest is Saturday, May 11 at 4 p.m. at the Eagle (3701 Benning Rd. N.E.). Event prices vary. Details at imperialcourtdc.org.
Family Pride Weekend celebrates the opening of “Rise Up” is March 9-10 at The Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Night OUT at the Wizards is Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.). Tickets are $45. Details at teamdc.org.
Michelle Wolf plays The D.C. Improv Comedy Club (1140 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) March 14-17. Tickets are almost sold out for the entire run. Details at dcimprov-com.
Dappho presents Sunday Sessions: an (LGBT) Open Mic Night at XX+ Crostino (1926 9th St., N.W.) on Sunday, March 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 at eventbrite.com.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs with many events March 21-April 14. Details at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
GLOE (GLBT Outreach & Engagement at the Edlavitch D.C.-JCC) will host Pride of Purim: GLOE Masquerade Party Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at Mission Dupont (1606 20th St., N.W.). Its 12th annual National Rainbow Seder is Sunday, April 14 at 5:45 p.m. at HRC Headquarters (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). Details at thejdc.convio.net.
The fifth annual Code Red V: Stigma Can’t Stop, an HIV benefit “with a fetishistic twist,” is Saturday, March 30 at 9 p.m. at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.). Tickets are $15-20. Link is at the event’s Facebook page.
DCATS’ Trans Visibility Community Festival is Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. at Spaces (1140 3rd St., N.E.) with open mic, raffle, film screenings and art. Details at transvisibilityfestival.com.
“The Ask Rayceen Show” continues throughout spring with installments March 6 (season premiere), April 3 (mini ball) and May 1 (community forum) at 7 p.m. at HRC Equality Center (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). They’re free. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Queer-helmed Church Night has its fifth anniversary event on Friday, April 5 at 9 p.m. at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.). Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce usually holds its annual LGBT Mega Networking mixer in early April but members say they’re “on a delayed schedule” this year in search of a new venue since Town closed. An announcement is expected soon.
“BENT,” a new LGBT dance party is Saturday, April 6 at 11:30 p.m. at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.). Tickets are $15 at ticketfly.com.
Distrkt C Golden with DJ Paulo is Saturday, April 6 at 10 p.m. at Karma D.C. (2221 Adams Place N.E.). Tickets are $40 at distrktc.com.
The Victory Fund’s National Champagne Brunch is Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m. at J.W. Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). No ticket prices available at victoryfund.org as of this writing.
The National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals has its LGBT Housing Policy Summit April 10-11 at HRC Headquarters (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). Details at naglrep.com.
Pretty Boi Drag presents #OpenKingNight on Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m. at Bier Baron Tavern (1523 22nd St., N.W.). Tickets are $10. Details on Facebook.
Equality Virginia’s 15th annual Commonwealth Dinner is Saturday, April 13 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Details at equalityvirginia.org.
CAMP Rehoboth Women’s Fest is April 11-14 in Delaware. Details at camprehoboth.com.
The Cherry Fund presents Cherrypop Weekend April 11-15 at various locations. Tickets are $20-289 at eventbrite.com.
GLSEN’s National Day of Silence is Friday, April 12. Details at dayofsilence.org.
The Team D.C. Night of Champions Awards Dinner is Saturday, April 13 at Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert St., N.W.) at 6 p.m. Tickets are $125 at eventbrite.com.
Food & Friends’ Dining Out for Life is Thursday, April 14. Find participating restaurants at diningoutforlife.com.
GLAA usually has its Distinguished Service Awards and 48th anniversary the third week in April but no details have been announced yet.
“Trans Issues are not Trans Issues” with Ava Pipitone, a discussion event, is Tuesday, April 16 at noon at Impact Hub Baltimore (10 E. North Ave., Baltimore). It’s free and open to the public. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Awesome Con is April 26-28 at 801 Mt. Vernon Pl., N.W. Pride Alley returns. Tickets are available in many packages at showclix.com.
Bill and Hill join up for “An Evening With the Clintons” on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall (1776 D St., N.W.). Tickets are $99-250 at Ticketmaster.
We the People and Us Helping Us are joining forces for a month-long series of events in the region devoted to “May Is? All About Trans: 31 Days Celebrating, Being, Living & Loving Transgender People” including a trans summit, trans awards dinner, mini ball for youth and more. Look for the group on Facebook for details.
Randy Rainbow plays Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) on Friday, May 3. Tickets are $35.50-45 through eventticketscenter.com.
Rainbow Families has its 2018 Family Conference & Gathering on Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. at Georgetown Day High School (4200 Davenport St., N.W.). Details at rainbowfamilies.org.
Gay Day at the Zoo is Sunday, May 5 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Smithsonian National Zoo (3001 Conncticut Ave., N.W.). Details at thedccenter.org.
“AC2: an Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” is Saturday, May 11 at the Hippodrome (12 N. Eutaw St.). Tickets are $93.50-137.50 at Ticketmaster.
CopCaks for a Cause 9 is Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. at UPROAR Lounge (639 Florida Ave., N.W.) for COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) and the LGBT Fallen Heroes Fund. Tickets are $25 (wine/soda) or $40 (dessert, wine, soda and T-shirt). Details at Facebook.
The 35th annual Helen Hayes Awards for Washington theater is Monday, May 13 at The Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.). Details at theatrewashington.org.
Whitman-Walker Health’s Going the Extra Mile benefit is Wednesday, May 15 at City Winery (1350 Okie St., N.E.). Details at whitman-walker.org.
Capital Trans Pride is May 17-19. Details at capitalpride.org.
API Pride (Asian/Pacific Islanders) is also May 17-19. No further details available. Check later at capitalpride.org for more.
D.C. Black Pride is, as always, Memorial Day Weekend and runs May 24-27. This year’s theme is Our Truths in Harmony. Details at dcblackpride.org. Omega Entertainment runs events concurrently with Black Pride. Details at omegapartydc.com.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church consecrates its new building on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m.1517 18th St., N.W. with Bishop Mariann Budde, and Bishop Gene Robinson. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Women’s Spoken Word FULL-STORE is Monday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Busboys and Poets (location not specified). Check later at capitalpride.org for details.
The AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore is Sunday, June 9 (a month later this year) at 7 a.m. Details at chasebrexton.org.
Whitman-Walker Health held the 38th annual Walk and 5K to End HIV at Anacostia Park on Saturday, Dec. 7. Hundreds participated in the charity fundraiser, despite temperatures below freezing. According to organizers, nearly $450,000 was raised for HIV/AIDS treatment and research.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed “The Holiday Show” at Lincoln Theatre on Saturday. Future performances of the show are scheduled for Dec. 14-15. For tickets and showtimes, visit gmcw.org.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Books
Mother wages fight for trans daughter in new book
‘Beautiful Woman’ seethes with resentment, rattles bars of injustice
‘One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman’
By Abi Maxwell
c.2024, Knopf
$28/307 pages
“How many times have I told you that…?”
How many times have you heard that? Probably so often that, well, you stopped listening. From your mother, when you were very small. From your teachers in school. From your supervisor, significant other, or best friend. As in the new memoir “One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman” by Abi Maxwell, it came from a daughter.
When she was pregnant, Abi Maxwell took long walks in the New Hampshire woods near her home, rubbing her belly and talking to her unborn baby. She was sure she was going to have a girl but when the sonogram technician said otherwise, that was OK. Maxwell and her husband would have a son.
But almost from birth, their child was angry, fierce, and unhappy. Just getting dressed each morning was a trial. Going outside was often impossible. Autism was a possible diagnosis but more importantly, Maxwell wasn’t listening, and she admits it with some shame.
Her child had been saying, in so many ways, that she was a girl.
Once Maxwell realized it and acted accordingly, her daughter changed almost overnight, from an angry child to a calm one – though she still, understandably, had outbursts from the bullying behavior of her peers and some adults at school. Nearly every day, Greta (her new name) said she was teased, called by her former name, and told that she was a boy.
Maxwell had fought for special education for Greta, once autism was confirmed. Now she fought for Greta’s rights at school, and sometimes within her own family. The ACLU got involved. State laws were broken. Maxwell reminded anyone who’d listen that the suicide rate for trans kids was frighteningly high. Few in her town seemed to care.
Throughout her life, Maxwell had been in many other states and lived in other cities. New Hampshire used to feel as comforting as a warm blanket but suddenly, she knew they had to get away from it. Her “town that would not protect us.”
When you hold “One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman,” you’ve got more than a memoir in your hands. You’ve also got a white-hot story that seethes with anger and rightful resentment, that wails for a hurt child, and rattles the bars of injustice. And yet, it coos over love of place, but in a confused manner, as if these things don’t belong together.
Author Abi Maxwell is honest with readers, taking full responsibility for not listening to what her preschooler was saying-not-saying, and she lets you see her emotions and her worst points. In the midst of her community-wide fight, she reveals how the discrimination Greta endured affected Maxwell’s marriage and her health – all of which give a reader the sense that they’re not being sold a tall tale. Read this book, and outrage becomes familiar enough that it’s yours, too. Read “One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman,” and share it. This is a book you’ll tell others about.
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