Arts & Entertainment
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ features first same-sex pairing
“Strictly Come Dancing” – the UK reality dance competition show that was forerunner to “Dancing With The Stars” in the US and other countries – this weekend featured the first same-sex dance routine in its 17-season history.
The hit BBC show has been a frequent target of criticism from LGBTQ advocates for its refusal to pair any of its celebrity contestants with professional dancers of the same sex, despite the frequent participation of openly gay contestants.
Though last season included two professionals dancing together as part of a group routine, this weekend’s installment of the Sunday results show was the first to include a solo spot between two male dancers – Johannes Radebe, who is gay, and Graziano di Prima, who is heterosexual.
Radebe is a professional dancer and choreographer who spent two seasons on South Africa’s version of the program before joining the UK cast in 2018. He had been teamed this season with celebrity partner Catherine Tyldesley before the pair was eliminated from the show last week.
Radebe, who has spoken out about being bullied when younger and the difficulties of growing up gay in South Africa, spoke to UK’s Hello magazine about what being asked to take part in the historic same sex routine meant to him.
“I’ve never felt so liberated. For the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am. That says so much about the people of this country,” he said. “To be able to dance with a friend I respect and adore is joyous. There’s bromance galore between us, but there were no male and female roles, just free movement. It was beautiful, classy and elegant.”
Graziano is a Sicilian dancer who also joined the show in 2018. He is an Italian Latin Champion who has also represented Belgium at the World Championships and made the top 24 at the under 21s Latin World Championships.
Both men took to social media to comment on the dance.
Radebe posted photos of him and di Prima, commenting, “Love knows no boundaries.”
Di Prima posted a clip to his Twitter with the message: “REPRESENTATION always matters!?️?unforgettable moment, loved to dance with you @johannesradebe.”
Di Prima’s tweet has drawn over 24,000 likes and thousands of comments. Some were negative – with fans of the show expressing disappointment and saying they would not watch the show in the future if it featured more same-sex couplings – but the majority were supportive of the routine.
On his Instagram, Radebe thanked people for their support.
“I see all those messages coming in and I feel the love. I’m going to take time to respond to each and every message. There’s a lot! I’m really grateful and I’m really thankful.”
Last year, “Ballando con le Stelle,” Italy’s version of “Dancing With The Stars,” featured a gay celebrity partnered with a male professional dancer. The same-sex pairing made the competition’s grand final and took third place.
The Israeli version of the show has included a female same-sex couple in its competition and the Austrian version has featured a male couple. Australian drag star Courtney Act danced with a male partner in that country’s version of the show.
In the US, Dancing With The Stars” has yet to feature a same-sex competing – though in 2016, Nyle DiMarco participated in a brief same-sex routine before going on to win the series with his female dance partner, Peta Murgatroyd.
Radebe and di Prima danced to singer Emeli Sande, performing her track, “Shine.” You can watch their full routine below.
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.”
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
Jason Collins dies at 47
Polish government to recognize same-sex marriages from EU countries
America’s broken pipeline of mental healthcare for trans youth
GLAA releases ratings for 18 candidates running for D.C. mayor, Council, AG
Blade finalist for D.C. Society of Professional Journalists awards
Maren Morris to headline Capital Pride Concert
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Celebrate Pride in Lost River, a slice of rural heaven
Learn more about queer love
