Out & About
Youth Pride, Silver Pride, Trans Pride and more coming soon
Region bustling with events as well as Philly, Pittsburgh and more
Pride season is only a few weeks away with plenty of events planned both in D.C. and surrounding areas.
Youth Pride Day is Saturday, May 4 from noon-5 p.m. in Dupont Circle. Rayceen Pendarvis and Private Tails will host. There will be free stuff, performances, games, speakers and more. LGBTQ youth under 24 and allies are welcome to attend. Infatuation Dance, a Youth Pride Day afterparty, is at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar (2121 P St., N.W.) from 6-10 p.m. There will be face painting and mask making. For details, visit youthpridealliance.org.
Silver Pride, an LGBTQ event for people over 60, is on May 10 at Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). The day will offer workshops, resources and social activities aimed at LGBTQ people over 60. Rayceen Pendarvis hosts the event. For more information, visit silverpridedc.org.
Asian Pacific Islander Pride holds its first ever Pride celebration on May 17. Visit capitalpride.org/api-pride-2019 for updates.
Capital Trans Pride is on May 18-19. Attendees can expect a celebration of the transgender and non-binary community with workshops, a resource fair, happy hour, entertainment, an outdoor movie and more. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
D.C. Black Pride is May 24-27 with events at the Renaissance Hotel (999 9th St., N.W.) and various other locations in D.C. The Pride Exhibit Hall will be open at the Renaissance Hotel on May 24-25. Women In The Life Pop-Up Archive Gallery and Open Mic Reunion, featuring a performance by Boomscat, is at the Renaissance Hotel on May 24 from 8 p.m.-midnight. Early bird tickets are $25 and general admission tickets are $40. There will also be a happy hour meet and greet on May 24 from 3-9 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel and a CommUNITY Opening Reception from 7-9 p.m. Complimentary speed dating follows from 9-11 p.m. Other weekend events include a poetry slam, workshops such as Substance Use in the LGBTQ Community and Ask the Doc Understanding Health and Wellness and a LGBTQ elders session. There will also be a Transgender Town Hall. Numerous official D.C. Black Pride parties will also take place throughout the weekend. For a complete list of events, visit dcblackpride.org.
Capital Pride is May 31-June 9. This yearās theme is āShhhout Past, Present and Proud.ā The Capital Pride Block Party is on June 8 from 4-10 p.m. at 15th Street and P Street N.W. There will be entertainment, food and more. Capital Pride Parade is on June 8 from 4:30-8 p.m. in Dupont Circle and Logan Circle. More than 200 organizations will walk 1.5 miles on floats, vehicles or by foot holding sings, banners and offering entertainment. The Capital Pride Festival is June 9 from noon-10 p.m. at Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street N.W. About 300 exhibitors including local community groups and businesses, organizations and food vendors will be on display. There will be live entertainment, music and more. Admission is free but donations are encouraged. Capital Pride Concert is June 9 from 1-8 p.m on Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street N.W. The concert is free but VIP passes with a private bar, complimentary beer, wine and spirits, complimentary light fare and a view of backstage will be offered. Concert Pit Zone passes will also be offered for entry to the Pit Zone in front of the north side of the Capitol Concert Stage. Proceeds for both passes will benefit the Capital Pride Alliance and LGBTQ partner organizations. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
D.C. Latinx Pride is June 1-2 and June 5-6 at multiple venues in D.C. The official dance party is on June 6 from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.). Other events will include a parade and a LGBTQ history tour. For updates, visit latinoglbthistory.org/latinx-pride.
Delaware Pride Festival takes place in Dover, Del., on June 1 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. There will be food trucks and live music. Free entry. Delawareās first ever Pride Parade is from 9-10 a.m.
Pittsburgh Pride is June 1-9. Pride Rocks PGH is June 7-8 at Fort Duquesne Boulevard at 7th Street. On June 7, pop/rock band Walk the Moon will perform. R&B singer Toni Braxton and singer/songwriter Rina Sawayama will perform on June 8. PrideFest is on June 8-9 at Fort Duquesne Boulevard between 7th Street and 9th Street and the Andy Warhol Bridge. There will be 175 vendors, food booths, entertainment on three stages, free STI and HIV testing and more. The Equality March kicks off June 9 at 12:30 p.m. The march starts at the Blvd. of the Allies, turns left onto Grant Street, left onto Fifth Avenue and ends at Liberty Avenue.For more event information, visit pittsburghpride.org.
Philly Pride Parade and Festival is June 9. Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at 13th and Locust Streets and festival gates open at noon at the Great Plaza at Pennās Landing. There is a $15 cover charge. For details, visit phillygaypride.org.
Hampton Roads Pride is June 21-22. The Pride Block Party is June 21 from 7 p.m.-midnight at Scope Arena (201 E Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va.). Pridefest is June 22 from noon-8 p.m. at Town Point Park (113 Waterside Dr., Norfolk, Va.). Pride at the Beach is on June 23 from 2-7 p.m. at 31st Street Park (Virginia Beach, Va.). Singer JoJo is the headliner. For more information, visit hamptonroadspride.org.
Prides listed below havenāt released 2019 event details but save the date:
Frederick Pride is at the Carroll Creek Amphitheater (Carroll Creek Linear Park, Frederick, Md.) on June 22 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For more details, visit frederickpride.org.
Hagerstown Pride is July 13 from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Central Lot and Elizabeth Hager Center Lot (14 N Potomac St., Hagerstown, Md.). For details, visit hagerstownhopesmd.org.
Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival is on Sept. 21 at 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, Va. For more information and updates, visit shenandoahvalleypride.org.
VA Pridefest is Sept. 28 on Brownās Island (Richmond, Va.). Visit vapride.org.
Out & About
Blade Summer Kickoff Party returns to Rehoboth
Politicians slated to speak at annual Blue Moon party
The Washington Bladeās 17th annual Summer Kickoff Party returns Friday, May 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Itās an exciting election year in Delaware, which is poised to elect its first Black woman senator (Lisa Blunt Rochester) and the nationās first transgender member of Congress (Sarah McBride).
McBride is scheduled to speak at the party along with several politicos from the area. With the retirement of longtime state Rep. Peter C. Schwartzkopf, a staunch LGBTQ ally, three strong contenders are running to replace him. All three ā Marty Rendon, Kathy McGuiness, and Claire Snyder-Hall ā are slated to speak at the party. A representative from Blunt Rochesterās campaign is scheduled to speak, along with Kim Leisey, the new executive director of CAMP Rehoboth.
Tax-deductible tickets are $20 and available on Eventbrite or via the Bladeās Facebook page. The party is sponsored by Justin Noble of Sothebyās, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Blue Moon.
Andy Cohen, executive producer of āThe Real Housewivesā franchise and host of āWatch What Happens Live,ā will return to Sixth & I on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
This event will be his fifth appearance at the venue to celebrate the paperback release of his New York Times bestselling memoir, āThe Daddy Diaries,ā talk about the latest Housewives happenings, and answer audience questions about everyone’s favorite Bravolebrities.
Cohen will be in conversation with Rep. Robert Garcia, who represents California and is the first LGBTQ immigrant to win a congressional seat. Rep. Garcia has also been known to quote from āThe Real Housewivesā in congressional hearings.
Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Friday, May 3
Center Aging Friday Tea Time will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, email [email protected].Ā
Go Gay DC will host āLGBTQ+ Socialā at 7 p.m. at The Commentary. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 4
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. For more details, āāvisit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Go Gay DC will host āLGBTQ+ Brunchā at 11 a.m. at Freddieās Beach Bar & Restaurant. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, May 5
Go Gay DC will host āLGBTQ+ Dinnerā at 7 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā
Monday, May 6
Center Aging: Monday Coffee & Conversation will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice. For more details, email [email protected].Ā
The Pride Center of Maryland will host āTransend: transgender & Nonbinary Support Groupā at 4 p.m. at its offices. This is a safe place for hot topics, food, resources, information, image consulting and community. This event is free to attend and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā
Tuesday, May 7
Pride on the Patio Events will host āLGBTQ Social Mixerā at 5:30 p.m. at Showroom. Dress is casual, fancy, or comfortable. Guests are encouraged to bring their most authentic self to chat, laugh, and get a little crazy. Admission is free and more details are on Eventbrite.
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].Ā
Wednesday, May 8
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking ā allowing participants to move away from being merely āapplicantsā toward being ācandidates.ā For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, May 9
The DC Centerās Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.Ā
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Communityās website.