Out & About
Calendar: Sept. 27-Oct. 3
Parties, shows and events in the week to come
Friday, Sept. 27
The Fall LGBTQ Community Happy Hour Rooftop Social is tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Embassy Row Hotel (2015 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). Guests gather on the Embassy’s rooftop lounge to enjoy the view, network and socialize. Registration is free but required for admission. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.
Saturday, Sept. 28
The National Trans Visibility March is today from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. beginning in Freedom Plaza (1455 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). March organizers seek to raise awareness of anti-trans policies as well as engage both local and national elected officials in an ongoing dialogue. The event is free and all are invited to participate. Visit transmarchondc.org for more information.
The Human Rights Campaign’s National Dinner is tonight from 5-11 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon Pl., N.W.). HRC is a leading national advocacy organization working for the equal rights of the LGBTQ community through education, research and political activities. The national dinner features a cocktail reception, silent and live auction, elegant dinner, live entertainment, speakers and guests. For tickets and information, visit capitalpride.org.
Blisspop Disco Fest featuring Chromeo is tonight at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.). Doors open at 10 p.m. and tickets start at $40. Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo was featured in DJ Mehdi’s song “I Am Somebody” and has supported indie rock groups. Also performing are Dam-Funk, RAC and Robotaki. Tickets and information at 930.com and ustreetmusichall.com.
The D.C. Queer Theater Festival Reading Series is tonight from 7-10 p.m. at Center Arts in the D.C. Center (2000 14th St. N.W., Suite 105). The festival showcases new and unpublished work from local playwrights performed as a developmental table reading. After each reading is a playwright talkback session and a reception with light fare, wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. Tickets for each reading is $10 and $25 for the series. For tickets and information, visit thedccenter.org.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Bishop Gene Robinson preaches today at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Parish’s new location (1517 18th St.,N.W.) followed by a reception on the rooftop balcony. St. Thomas will join with St. Luke’s church for the occasion. Robinson was consecrated in 2003 as the first openly gay bishop in a mainline Christian denomination. He moved to Washington upon retiring in 2013. Details at stthomasdc.org.
The D.C. Front Runners Distance Run meets today at 9 a.m.-noon for their weekly Sunday run beginning from the Taras Shevchenko Monument (22nd and P St., N.W.). D.C. Front Runners is an LGBTQ group welcoming runners for exercise in a fun and supportive environment. Running route distance is 8-12 miles and participants can run at their own pace. For more information, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
Gayborhood Night Piano Bar is tonight from 5-8 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant (555 23rd St., S, Arlington, Va.). Gayborhood Night fosters greater community for LGBTQ and allies and an opportunity to enjoy happy hour specials with neighbors. Everyone is welcome. Free door prize raffle around 7 p.m. for more information, visit freddiesbeachbar.com.
Monday, Sept. 30
Walking With Anthony’s seventh annual charity celebrity golf tournament and dinner is today at the Country Club of Fairfax (5110 Ox Rd., Fairfax, Va.). Player registration starts at 9:30 a.m., lunch is at 12:30 p.m., cocktails and the silent auction is at 4:30 and dinner starts at 5:30. Proceeds benefit the Walking with Anthony Foundation which promotes spinal cord injury education, research and grants to individuals with SCI. Visit walkingwithanthony.org for more information.
JR.’s Bar (1519 17th St., N.W.) presents Showtunes Monday with Vagenesis tonight starting at 8:30 p.m. The event opens with a happy hour showtune singalong and continues with $4 draft pints, special performances and giveaways. For more information, visit jrsbar-dc.com or Facebook events.
Tuesday, Oct. 1
“Sheer Madness” runs tonight starting at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center theater lab (2700 F St., N.W.). This show is an interactive comedy whodunit that lets audiences solve the crime. With more than 13,200 performances at the Kennedy Center, Sheer Madness is the second longest-running play in the history of American theater (its sister production in Boston is number one). For tickets and information, visit kennedy-center.org.
August Wilson’s “Fences” continues its run at Ford’s Theatre (511 10th St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, this play depicts the life of a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker. He takes responsibility for his wife and son’s well-being, but betrays them in ways that will alter their lives forever. “Fences” explores the walls we build around ourselves and our loved ones as well as what walls say about divisions in our society. Visit fords.org for tickets and information.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
The Center Careers Discussion Group is tonight from 6-7 p.m. at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W., suite 105). The Center Careers Job Club meets weekly at the D.C. Center on Wednesday as a weekly job support group. Details at thecenterdc.org.
Thursday, Oct. 3
The Asian Pacific Islander Queer Support Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W., suite 105). The group has been renewed for 2019 and runs every first Thursday of the month. The event is a closed space and only for individuals who identify as queer and Asian and/or Pacific Islander. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The Rainbow History Project will host “Pickets, Protests and Parade Exhibit Tour” at 7 p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This event honors the courage, resilience and resistance of D.C.’s gay community. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Hyatt Centric Arlington (1325 Wilson Blvd.). This fun event is ideal for meeting new people and community building. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Xavier Entertainment DC will host “Cowboy Carter Afterparty” at 10 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar. There will be fireworks, parades, and patriotic fun. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Mezcal Amaras will host “Sha Boing Boing Showdown” at 6 p.m. at Snappy’s Small Bar (3917 Georgia Ave., N.W.). Get ready to test your hotdog eating abilities. Tickets start at $12.51 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Illusions Drag Queen Show will host “Drag Queen Dinner Show” at 7 p.m. at 2323 18th St. N.W. Guests will be treated to the very best celebrity drag impersonations in entertainment. Tickets start at $12.97 and are available on Eventbrite.
Thurst Lounge will host “A Thirsty Cowboy Afterparty” at 5 p.m. DJ Apollo will be performing. For more details, visit Thurst’s website.
9:30 Club will host “Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA” at 9 p.m. The DJ will play plenty of disco hits from the 70s and 80s. Tickets cost $45.30 and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Music & Concerts
Berkshire Choral to commemorate Matthew Shepard’s life
Concert held at Washington National Cathedral
Berkshire Choral International will present a concert performance of composer Craig Hella Johnson’s fusion oratorio “Considering Matthew Shepard” on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral.
The program will be guest conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Benson, a native of the DMV who currently serves as Director of Choral Activities at San José State University. The concert is a partial benefit for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Notably, Matthew’s remains are interred at the National Cathedral and his parents, Dennis and Judy, will give opening remarks at the performance.
Tickets are $20 – $65, and 50% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Tickets are only available online at berkshirechoral.org.
Friday, June 26
“Center Aging Monthly Luncheon and Bingo” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 27
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. 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.
Art Roving will host “Where Color Meets Spectrum: Blackness, Queerness & Tomorrow” at 200 I St., S.E. This is a panel discussion with Queer Art salon artists Nikki Brooks, Maps Glover & Chrys Seawood, moderated by artist and curator Brittany Mona’. The Queer Art Salon exhibition is on view from June 13 – August 1, 2025 and funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Art Exhibition Grant program. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Baby Shank Rooftop Bar and Lounge will host “DC Drag brunch on Rooftop – Penthouse” at 12 p.m. Guests can enjoy delicious French cuisine. The event will be hosted by Miss Capital Pride. Tickets cost $30.65 and are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, June 28
Jonathan Van Ness will host a masterclass at 10 a.m. at Dupont Circle Hotel. Enjoy refreshments and community as Jonathan showcases styling techniques for a range of hair types—helping you create a gallery-worthy look that’s truly, beautifully yours. A portion of ticket sales will benefit SMYAL, a local nonprofit that has been supporting LGBTQ+ youth in D.C. for more than 40 years. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 29
“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” 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 choice. For more details, email [email protected].
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 information, email [email protected].
Tuesday, June 30
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Wednesday, July 1
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 — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, July 2
The DC Center’s 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.
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
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