Living
Regional affirming houses of worship plan seders, services
Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday form Paschal Triduum for Christians


Editorās note: Many churches in the D.C. area are LGBT affirming. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. To have services listed in a future edition, contact Blade Features Editor Joey DiGuglielmo at [email protected].
Friday, April 19 (Good Friday and first day of Passover)
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) holds a morning prayer in the presence of the reserved sacrament at 10 a.m. At noon, there will be the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday with scripture, music, prayer and communion. There will be a live webcast. Good Friday evening service is at 7 p.m. with a live webcast. The service will reflect on the death and burial of Christ through readings and music. Passes are not required for any of these services. For more information, visit cathedral.org.
St. Georgeās Episcopal Church (160 U St., N.W.) has a Good Friday service at 6:30 p.m. For more details, visit stgeorgesdc.org.
Dignity/Nova celebrates Good Friday at St. Margaretās Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit dignitywashington.org.
Calvary Baptist Church (755 8th St., N.W.) will have a Good Friday service with the sermon āThe Seven Last Words of Jesus: An Account from Women of the Global Southā at 11 a.m. For more details, visit calvarydc.org.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) holds its Good Friday service today. For a service time, visit mccdc.com for updates.
Western Presbyterian Church (2401 Virginia Ave., N.W.) has a Good Friday service at noon. For more information, visit westernpresbyterian.net.
Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) has a Good Friday service with the Adoration of the Cross at noon and 7 p.m. Visit foundryumc.com for details.
Waterfront Church D.C. (1000 New Jersey Ave., S.E.) holds a Good Friday service at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will be a childrenās program during each service. For more information, visit waterfrontchurchdc.com.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) has a Good Friday worship service at 7 p.m. For details, visit nationalcitycc.org.
Sixth & IĀ (600 I St., N.W.) holds a community seder led by Chazzan Larry Paul and musician Robyn Helzner tonight at 7 p.m. Menu will include Matzah ball chicken soup, a dinner buffet of roasted chicken, Moroccan dandelions and potato pie, seasonal fruit and berry salad, rainbow layered cake and more. For more details, visitĀ sixthani.org.
Saturday, April 20 (Holy Saturday and second day of Passover)
Edlavitch D.C.-JCC hosts its Second Night Community Seder at Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School – North Campus (6045 16th St., N.W.) from 6-9 p.m. The seder will be led by Sonya Weisburd, director of social justice and volunteer programs at the EDCJCC, and song leader Ari Jacobson. A traditional, kosher Passover meal will be served. Registration is required. Visit edcjcc.org for more information.
Dignity/Nova holds Easter Vigil mass at Immanuel Church on the Hill (3606 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, Va.) at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit dignitynova.org.
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) hosts the Great Vigil and first Eucharist of Easter at 8 p.m. Incense will be used at the service. All are welcome to bring bells. Visit cathedral.org for details.
St. Georgeās Episcopal Church (160 U St., N.W.) holds an Easter Vigil at 7 p.m. For more information, visit stgeorgesdc.org.
Sunday, April 21 (Easter)
The United Church (1920 G St., N.W.) holds an Easter Sunday service in German at 9:30 a.m. followed by an Easter Sunday service in English at 11 a.m. For more information, visit theunitedchurch.org.
Western Presbyterian Church (2401 Virginia Ave., N.W.) has its Easter Sunday service at 11 a.m. For details, visit northernpresbyterian.net.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) hosts Resurrection Worship Services at 9 and 11 a.m. For more details, visit mccdc.com.
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) celebrates the Festival Holy Eucharist with a service at 8 a.m. and another service at 11:15 a.m. There will be scripture, prayers and music. Both services are full but can be watched on the live webcast.
At 2 p.m., the Cathedral holds an Easter Sunday Organ Recital with organist George Fergus. Passes are not required but there is a $10 recommended donation. At 4 p.m., the cathedral closes out its Easter festivities with Festival Choral Evensong. The traditional Anglican service will include readings from Holy Scripture, choir-led psalms, hymns, anthems and a short sermon. Passes arenāt required. Visit cathedral.org for more details.
St. Georgeās Episcopal Church (160 U St., N.W.) holds an early Easter service at 7:30 a.m. followed by an Easter Day Festival Eucharist service at 10 a.m. For more details, visit stgeorgesdc.org.
Dignity/Nova holds its Easter service at St. Margaretās Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) at 6 p.m. For more information, visit dignitywashington.org.
Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) has Easter Sunday services at 9 and 11:15 a.m. Foundry choirs, organ, piano and brass musicians will perform. For details, visit foundryumc.com.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) presents a gospel worship service at 8:30 a.m. At 11 a.m. there will be another worship service followed by a brunch hosted by Nick Bullock at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit nationalcitycc.org.
Waterfront Church D.C. hosts a massive Easter service at Nationals Park (1500 South Capitol St., S.E.) at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m. Parking is free in Garage B. For more information, visit waterfrontchurchdc.com.
Real Estate
Finding your footing in fall housing market
Act quickly before winter arrives when selling

Though it may not feel quite like fall weather quite yet in some parts of the country, as students return to school, we know that it means fall is right around the corner. Without question, fall is usually a wonderful season – it is the perfect time to enjoy beautiful weather, and plenty of festivals and fun. The return to school also means, for many, a return to routine ā to getting organized and beginning again to check things off the to-do list after the lazy days of summer are over.
You may have heard that housing inventory and activity is often lower in the fall than in the popular spring and summer seasons ā and this is true. On the other side of the coin, however, fall buyers are often more serious about buying. They may be eager to buy quickly to get children enrolled in school, because of a job relocation, or due to a change in their family situation. Often, fall buyers are eager to find a home they love quickly, and to take action once they find it.
The good news is that if you plan to list your home for sale in the fall, there are a few tips and things you can add to your to-do list that will help you market your home in the best way possible and maximize your chances of a quick and successful sale. These include:
Act quickly: Depending upon the area of the country that you live in, beautiful, crisp, colorful fall weather might quickly give way to less desirable winter weather. Itās often far easier to sell a home in the fall than it is to sell in December, January, or February when bad weather might make traveling difficult, and potential buyers less likely to want to leave their homes. Once youāve decided youāre ready to sell, itās best to make every effort to list your home quickly to take advantage of good weather and buyers on the market.
Photograph the property as soon as possible: In many parts of the country, fall is a truly beautiful season of the year. Fall typically also offers plenty of beautiful, natural light. Take advantage of those ideal conditions by taking pictures of your property early. Donāt wait until the leaves begin to fall and the skies turn gray. Get your pictures early and use them to attract potential buyers to the unique beauty, both indoors and out, that can be enjoyed in your home.
Feature some fall curb appeal: You may not have spring flowers in the fall, but thereās abundant natural beauty to enjoy nevertheless. If you have falling leaves, make sure to regularly rake and bag them. Mow the lawn, perhaps add some new mulch, or consider adding some fall flowers. These steps donāt take long or cost much money, but they can go a long way toward catching the eye of potential buyers.
Leave the lights on: In fall, the sun begins to set early. As a result, it’s important to keep your home as bright and inviting as possible. Clean your windows, open the curtains or blinds, and encourage as much natural light to come in as possible. If you have very dark paint colors, consider having a few rooms repainted to lighter shades. This will maximize light, and make your home appear more open and airy. Finally, if the showing is later in the day, be sure to leave plenty of lights on within the home. This will not only increase your curb appeal as potential buyers approach the home by making it look warm and inviting ā it will also help buyers feel more comfortable inside your home as they envision themselves in that space.
While these tips are intended to be helpful, itās important to remember that one of the best steps you can take to truly increase your chances of a successful home sale is to hire a real estate agent who knows and loves the community and can help you truly tailor the marketing and pricing of your home to potential buyers in your area. Finding and connecting with an agent that can help you do exactly that is essential. At GayRealEstate.com, weāre here to help.Ā
At GayRealEstate.com, we arenāt just passionate about real estate. Weāre passionate about real estate with a purpose. Our mission is to connect LGBTQ home buyers and sellers all over the country with knowledgeable, talented, and experienced LGBTQ-friendly realtors who know their communities well and are dedicated to helping clients every step of the way. Wherever you are in the real estate process, and whatever your goals, weāre here for you, and weāre ready to help. If youāre ready to get started, connect with us today.Ā
Jeff Hammerberg is founding CEO of Hammerberg & Associates, Inc. Reach him at 303-378-5526 orĀ [email protected].
Living
Late summer must-haves for gay beach lovers
Sunglasses, beach chairs, and more to keep you stylish in the sand

Finish the dog days of summer in style with these beach-ready requisites to enhance your fun in the sun.
Helinox Beach Chair

Standard camp chairs donāt hold a candle to Helinoxās high-back, splayed-leg beach seats that offer more than just stability in the sand: Sturdy aluminum construction allows for up to 320 pounds of weight while mesh ventilation panels, side pockets for small essentials, and an adjustable headrest for pillow placement provide comfort while you cruise the coastline.Ā $170
Welly Bottle

Triple-walled vacuum insulation, a comfortable loop cap and slip-proof base contribute to the practical aspects of Welly Bottle, but it’s the sexy minimalist design that’ll turn more heads than your teeny-weeny polka-dot bikini.Ā $40
Nomadix Original Towel

Super-absorbent, quick-drying MicroTerry fabric keep Nomadixās lightweight Original Towels resistant to sand and lingering odor, slip-resistant when activated by moisture, and uber-stylish since the post-consumer recycled material lends itself to more than 30 dye-less prints that wonāt fade like your farmer’s tan.Ā $40
Feisedy Sunglasses

Even though “Zack Morris Is Trash” ā according to Dashiell Driscoll and Jason Flowerās 50-ep strong āFunny or Dieā series ā heās still the quintessential ā90s himbo, and you can channel his too-cool-for-school energy in Feisedyās oversized mirror-shield sport sunglasses with lightning bolt temples that keep pointed gazes concealed on the beach and beyond.Ā $26
PureBreeze Personal Fan

Martha and the Vandellas waxed melodic about a heat wave in the early 1960s, but it probably didnāt compare to todayās record-smashing scorchers that require reinforcements, like PureBreeze’s rechargeable personal fan featuring three speeds and an optional aromatherapy diffuser for enhanced R&R.Ā $25
JBL Clip 3

Juryās still out on 2022ās song of the summer (and with heavy hitters like Beyonce, Harry Styles and Lizzo vying for the title, deliberation aināt easy), but you can cast your vote by pumping up the volume through the waterproof, so-light JBL Clip 3, which makes transporting superior sound quality from the parking lot to your sunning spot a real breeze.Ā $40
Body Glove Water Shoes

Body Gloveās 3T Cinch water shoes protect your pads from jagged rocks, slimy seaweed, and the occasional crab picking at your piggies so you can sing wee-wee-wee all the way home.Ā $38
Quicksilver Straw Hat

Leave it to venerated beach brand Quiksilver to design an outdoor hat thatās not only functional but fashionable: the straw-constructed Outsider Waterman provides UV protection on your head and face while its McConaughey vibe will keep you feelinā alright, alight, alright.Ā Ā $28-$34
The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels
Business
Fla. āPride Leadershipā firm survives pandemic to face anti-LGBTQ legislation
āAre gay leaders better? Of course we are!ā

(Editorās note: This is the sixth in a multi-part summer series of stories taking a closer look at how a group of diverse LGBTQ entrepreneurs survived and thrived during the pandemic. The series is sponsored by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. All installments in the series are available on our website.)
Dr. Steven Yacovelli has spent more than 25 years delivering diversity training and developing LGBTQ leaders, but after surviving a nearly half-million-dollar loss during the pandemic, the āPride Leadershipā author and Top Dog Learning Group co-founder now fears legal repercussions from Floridaās āStop W.O.K.E. Act.ā
āI can go to a Florida-based client and potentially both the company and an employee could now sue me as the deliverer of the diversity training,ā Yacovelli told the Blade. āThat training is now potentially illegal because of the Act.ā
Top Dog Learning Group is a diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando and has been delivering training, to include leadership development for the LGBTQ community since 2002, initially as Yacovelliās āside hustleā while a corporate executive.
At the height of the pandemicās economic crisis in 2020, Yacovelli said he lost nearly half of his business earnings in two weeks. They were able to survive and recover mostly due to his previous experience with Zoom and other virtual platforms.
But while they could increase their instructional capacity by going virtual, and grow through the crisis, the current impact of Floridaās anti-LGBTQ legislation now threatens his small business.
In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), whom conservative voters in a 2024 presidential election straw poll chose over former President Donald Trump for the second year in a row, signed the new law he dubbed the āStop Wrongs Against our Kids and Employees Act.ā It took effect July 1, despite First Amendment legal challenges.
The Florida law, though targeting the alleged teaching of critical race theory in public schools, also prohibits instruction that ācompelsā employees or students to believe privilege or oppression āis necessarily determined by his or her race, color, sex, or national origin.ā
This legislation, and the popularly known āDonāt Say Gayā bill passed earlier, have served to decrease Floridaās score on Out Leadershipās 2022 State Level Business Climate Index, published amid a cascade of anti-LGBTQ measures pursued across state legislatures.
New Yorkās LGBTQ business climate ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row, earning 93.67 out of 100 points, while South Carolina scored last with 33.63 points.
Florida, ranked 31, and Oklahoma, ranked 49, lost points for their āDonāt Say Gayā bills among other anti-LGBTQ legislation.
āLGBTQ-friendly environments are business-friendly environments,ā Todd Sears, Out Leadership founder, told Axios in June.
Floridaās āStop W.O.K.E. Actā also vaguely states that an individual shouldnāt feel ādiscomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distressā as a result of the training experience due to their ārace, color, sex, or national origin.ā
This ādiscomfortā ban worries Yacovelli as he facilitates difficult conversations in a currently accepting community.
āI look at this as a taxpayer and as a human who lives here,ā he said. āBut the good news is I live in a very inclusive community because of the Pulse [shooting] and for other reasons. Weāve got each othersā back.ā
Yacovelli said his local government and representatives have been very supportive, ābut itās hard.ā
The problem of capital
When he was between jobs in 2008, after having been terminated from an executive position without explanation (Florida is an āat-willā state meaning an employer can fire an employee without cause), he followed his friend and co-founder, Ruth Bond, to Paris where he had an epiphany.
In a Paris cafe, he saw a simple yet elegant logo for a French telecommunications company and decided it was time to design a similar, simple logo for his side-hustle and move it into full-time reality.
Years later, he now sees the comforting spirit of his āfur-daughterā Ella, a mini-Labradoodle who died from cancer last summer, in the friendly dog visitors encounter on the companyās website.
ā2008 wasnāt a good time to start a business,ā Yacovelli said. āBut thereās never going to be a good time. Youāll always find an excuse not to do this, but put that aside. Whether itās the economy, or your own limited finances ā just put that all aside and just do it.ā
Access to startup capital has been a historic problem for minority business owners. The Federal Reserve Banks reported in 2018 that limited access to credit was a ācompounding factor that hurts the underlying health of minority-owned small businesses.ā
Many, like Yacovelli, turn to personal funds to get their dream off the ground.
āI was self-funded,ā Yacovelli said. āBut on the advice of a friend, I took out one small business loan. And thank goodness I did, because I had an established relationship with a bank when COVID hit.ā
During the height of the pandemic, the Paycheck Protection Program was administered through banks, limiting access to the survival funding, according to a Brookings Institute report in 2020.
Brookings also pointed out that closing the financial and other disparities could add millions more new small businesses to the U.S. economy and with them more jobs.
The National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce states LGBTQ-owned businesses contribute more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy, and in 2015 more than 900 certified LGBTQ-owned businesses created more than 33,000 jobs across the country.
But pandemic challenges continue.
āIn the years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ+ businesses have faced severe financial challenges and many are at risk of permanently closing,ā Zack Hasychak, Director of Membership Outreach at the Human Rights Campaign, told the Blade.
To help LGBTQ businesses, HRC teamed up with Showtime to start their āQueer to Stayā initiative. For two years the partnership awarded funds to 30 LGBTQ-owned businesses across the country and has committed to supporting at least 25 businesses this round.
Applications are accepted via their website until Aug. 31.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is also shining a spotlight on LGBTQ-owned small businesses.
SBA Deputy Press Director Cecelia Taylor told the Blade about the Elevating Small Business webinar series in June that celebrated LGBTQ small businesses across the country while focusing on financial wellness and the importance of equity and opportunity.
āEquity is a top priority for me and for the Biden-Harris administration, and we believe all of Americaās entrepreneurs deserve a level playing field, regardless of zip code, race, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientationā said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman in a Pride month statement.
āDuring COVID, weāve learned how critical equitable access is to surviving and thriving, and at the SBA we are working to build better connections to and for the 1.4 million LGBTQ+ owned businesses in communities across this country,ā Guzman said.
Still, Yacovelli emphasized the need for the federal government to step up and make the process of procuring contracts easier.
āThe federal government is the largest opportunity for contracts,ā he said. āYet, the process to get them is insanely hard. Thatās a missed opportunity.ā
Yacovelli said it took a week away from his business to complete a ādissertation-type applicationā only to have it āgo into a black holeā without any feedback.
āIt was for diversity training for 911 operators,ā he said, stunned by why he didnāt hear back about his application. āCoach me so I can make the application better. It took us a week to get this packet done, and thatās a week I didnāt work on any client proposals.ā
But despite challenges, Top Dog grew to exceed its pre-pandemic levels, making 2021 its best year to date.
āAre gay leaders better?ā asked Yacovelli who literally wrote the book on āPride Leadership,ā which has been widely praised as influential by multiple business and political leaders. āOf course we are! Weāre fabulous. I looked at my queer siblings in leadership roles and moving our community forward in areas of equality and justice. They exercise competencies all leaders could use.ā
āYou play with a lot of leaders in my business,ā Yacovelli, a.k.a āThe Gay Leadership Dude,ā told the Blade. āYou start to see patterns of behaviors for leaders that are crushing it and those that are crashing and burning.ā
In his book āPride Leadership,ā Yacovelli combines academic insights gained though his doctorate in education and his years as a corporate leader to identify six leadership traits: being authentic, leading with courage, having empathy, effective communication, building relationships, and influencing organizational culture.
Yacovelli pointed out that the LGBTQ coming out process also involves using these leadership skills to navigate that tough line between being authentic and respecting the feelings and experiences of others.
āYou have those difficult conversations. Youāre having empathy for yourself and for the person receiving the news for the first time,ā he said. āThat one experience can be translated into leadership courage, and those traits are the foundation for a really effective leader.ā
He stated that for trans siblings to live their lives authentically is powerful, and to channel that energy into a leadership role is using their ārainbow superpowers.ā
āAnd we freakinā need it now more than ever,ā he added.
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