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World AIDS Day events to extend through next week

Smithsonian discussion, HIV testing, concert, photo exhibit on tap

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D.C. activists unfurl a giant condom over the house of notorious anti-gay lawmaker Sen. Jesse Helms in the ā€˜80s. (Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)

D.C. and Baltimore area events associated with the 2019 annual World AIDS Day, which takes place each year on Dec. 1, will be held this year over a seven-day period from Dec. 1-8, according to organizers of the events.

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, known as UNAIDS, has announced that the theme for the 2019 World AIDS Day is ā€œCommunities Make a Difference.ā€

ā€œThe commemoration of World AIDS Day, which will take place on Dec. 1, 2019, is an important opportunity to recognize the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the international, national and local levels,ā€ a UNAIDS statement says.

Among the D.C. World AIDS Day events will be the opening ceremony for the 2019 OUR HEROES photo exhibit in which 50 photos and biographies of ā€œHeroes in the fight to end HIV/AIDSā€ will be exhibited on Monday, Dec. 2, at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington at 474 Ridge St., N.W. The ceremony is scheduled to take place from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. (For more, see special insert in this week’s Blade.)

Also scheduled to take place Dec. 2 beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in D.C. is a panel presentation by ā€œHIV survivors and those who have cared for and loved ones with HIV/AIDS.ā€

The event, called ā€œNever Silent, Living with HIV,ā€ will include presentations by Bruce Richman, founding executive director of the Prevention Access Campaign; Patricia Nalls, founder and executive director of the Women’s Collective; and Derrick ā€˜Strawberry’ Cox, board member of Whitman-Walker Health.

Another World AIDS Day related panel discussion, organized by NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ Journalists and led by Whitman-Walker Health’s Health Educator, Miguel Mejia, is scheduled to be held Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 6-9 p.m. at the Red Bear Brewery, 209 M St., N.E. The event is entitled, ā€œEnding the HIV & AIDS Epidemic: Community by Community.ā€

The D.C.-based National Minority AIDS Council is co-hosting a Dec. 5 World AIDS Day Congressional Briefing on the highlights of NMAC’s 2019 U.S. Conference on AIDS. The event, set to begin 11 a.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, will feature Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, as the lead speaker. The briefing is co-hosted by the Congressional Caucus on HIV/AIDS, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional LGBT Caucus.

Also set to take place on Thursday, Dec. 5, is a Washington Blade World AIDS Day related photo exhibit and discussion to be held at the University of Maryland’s College Park campus Student Center Atrium beginning at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit, entitled ā€œA Photographic History of HIV/AIDS in D.C.,ā€ includes photos from the Blade’s archives going back to the start of the epidemic in the early 1980s. A Blade news reporter will engage in a conversation with longtime HIV survivor Ron Swanda, who will answer questions from students. The event is sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s D.C. and suburban Maryland offices are hosting a free World AIDS Day concert on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 5-9 p.m. at the Saint Yves nightclub, 1220 Connecticut Ave., N.W. near Dupont Circle. The event, which will feature local singer Steve Washington and his band, will honor ā€œour champions, local community members who have made an impact in the movement,ā€ a statement released by AHF says.Ā Ā 

AHA official Barbara Chin said AHA will offer free HIV testing in conjunction with World AIDS Day at its D.C. and suburban Maryland offices during the day on Monday, Dec. 2. The offices are located at 2141 K St., N.W., Suite 707; 1647 Benning Rd., N.E., Suite 300; and 4302 Saint Barnabas Rd., Suite D, Temple Hills, Md.

In Baltimore, Chase Brexton Health Care and its community partners are hosting a ā€œCelebration of Perseveranceā€ memorial march through the Mt. Vernon neighborhood and prayer breakfast on World AIDS Day on Sunday, Dec. 1. The two events will ā€œhonor those lost to the HIV and AIDS epidemic and rejoice with long-term survivors,ā€ organizers of the events said in a statement.

It says the march begins at 10:30 a.m. at Chase Brexton’s Mt. Vernon Center at 1111 North Charles St. and travels to 830 Guilford Ave., ā€˜where a reading of names of our loved ones memorialized on the Chase Brexton Wall of Courage will take place, followed by a non-denominational program and a celebratory brunch,ā€ which is free of charge.

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District of Columbia

Point Foundation offers growing range of scholarships, support

ā€˜Resources to succeed and thrive rather than just make it through’

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Celina Gerbic, a member of the Point Foundation’s board of directors, speaks at last year’s event. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Many in D.C. know the Point Foundation for its longstanding scholarship program and its popular Taste of Point fundraiser each spring. But the nonprofit is offering a growing range of services to its young scholars, including mental health resources and social media support.

This year’s Taste of Point brought mixologists, restaurateurs, and donors together on May 3 at Room and Board for the annual celebration. With a number of local businesses and organizations donating to the silent auction, the event both raised money for Point Foundation’s scholarships while recognizing scholarship recipients and program alumni.

Among the lineup of featured speakers was one of the foundation’s flagship scholarship recipients, Rio Dennis, a dual master’s and law candidate at Georgetown University.

ā€œI applied for the Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship because I believed in its mission of helping LGBTQ+ students achieve their academic goals while also providing training and resources so we can become better leaders within the LGBTQ community during school and long term,ā€ Dennis said in her speech. 

The Taste of Point celebration began in 2013, born from another event called the Cornerstone Reception. Originally planned as a normal fundraiser with hor d’oeuvres, the foundation transformed it into the current Taste of Point celebration that facilitates partnerships with new, local restaurants.

Some restaurants, like Compass Rose and Hank’s Oyster Bar, partnered with Point Foundation for their first celebration. They have been catering at the fundraiser ever since.

ā€œIt really gives you the sense of the amount of love and the amount of community that we have around the Point Foundation and mission,ā€ said Celina Gerbic, a member on the foundation’s board of directors. ā€œThey really see, with hearing from the scholars, what the effects can be if we’re raising money for those scholarships and mentoring opportunities.ā€

The event also allows the foundation to showcase new offerings, such as the Community College Scholarship that was rolled out just before the pandemic in collaboration with Wells Fargo. The community college program gives scholars a financial scholarship each year of their community college experience as well as coaching and admissions counseling for students planning to transfer to a university. 

Meanwhile, the foundation is also expanding its new BIPOC scholarship, which announced its next round of recipients on May 22. The scholarship is currently supporting between 500 and 555 scholars across the country.

Omari Foote, one of the current BIPOC scholarship recipients, appreciates how the scholarship recognizes her as a Black queer student. She is even encouraging other queer students and friends to apply to receive similar assistance.

However, Point is even more than that, Dennis notes. 

Before the school year started, the Point Foundation sent Dennis and all of the new flagship scholars to Los Angeles for a leadership development conference. Scholars discussed how to become active leaders on campus, how to ask for certain resources, what is offered by their campuses, and what tutoring programs are available.

This year, Point also did a joint partnership with an online therapy program to offer discounted prices for all scholars. 

ā€œI have anxiety and depression and I struggled a lot in undergrad with trying to balance that with my having to support myself financially,ā€ Dennis said. ā€œSo I was definitely grateful that Georgetown did have a program that is specifically for people of color to get free therapy and Point definitely helped with… asking those questions because it is one of those programs that isn’t as well publicized.ā€

Point even provided Dennis with a mentor who was also a Point Scholar in law school. Meeting monthly on Zoom and texting all throughout the month, Dennis’s mentor provides academic support that helps her use the right resources and make decisions about her career.

Foote finds the scholarship unique in other ways as well. As a recipient of a handful of other scholarships outside of Point, Foote’s interactions with her scholarship programs mostly stop after they send instructions for writing donor thank you notes. But Point keeps reaching out to maintain a relationship with scholars long after that.

ā€œThey’ve reached out to me to spotlight me on Instagram,ā€ Foote said. ā€œThey reached out to me even for this dinner, paying for my transportation to and from the dinner … It’s like they’re not just there to give you the money. They’re there to really help you navigate the college world and to be that caring supportive system that a lot of us just don’t have anymore now that we are living by ourselves.ā€

Last November, the foundation also held an Out in Higher Ed Week, wherein they teach scholars how to be LGBTQ+ advocates on campus. These resources help students navigate the ins and outs of discussing LGBTQ+ issues in university settings.

After graduation, Dennis has even thought about returning to the Point Foundation as a mentor to help future Black queer students, especially first generation law students, balance their mental health and financial situations.

ā€œPoint has connected me with fellow scholars who have become my friends. Point has provided me with resources and support to succeed and thrive rather than just make it through,ā€ Dennis said. ā€œI definitely plan on continuing to be involved with Point.ā€

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District of Columbia

D.C.’s Pride celebrations include parade, festival, fireworks, and more

More than 100 events for all ages planned for June

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The Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 10 with the region’s only Pride fireworks display at 9 p.m.

More than 100 different events for all ages and interests will take place in D.C. for Pride month.

The Capital Pride Alliance will officially kick off Pride month on Thursday with a show from ā€œRuPaul’s Drag Raceā€ winner Sasha Velour, the 17th Official D.C. Latinx Pride Party and more at Bunker (2001 14th St., N.W.)

Capital Pride on Friday will hold Capital Pride Honors at Penn Social (801 E St., N.W.). Capital Pride every Pride month honors individuals and organizations that have made a lasting impact on D.C.’s LGBTQ community. Among the honorees this year is the National LGBTQ Task Force, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Washington Nationals will host the 17th annual Pride Night Out on June 6. With the purchase of a Pride ticket, attendees will receive a Pride T-shirt and $5 from their ticket will go to support Team DC, which helps to support the LGBTQ community in sports.

D.C.’s largest Pride event, the Capital Pride Parade, will take place on June 10. The parade will follow a 1.5-mile route, which will step off on 14th Street at T Street, N.W., and finish on P Street at 21st Street N.W. A map of the expected parade route can be found on the Capital Pride website

During the parade, the Capital Block Party will take place at the intersection of Q and 17th Streets. The party will feature local vendors, food trucks and a 21+ beverage garden. The party will also have a designated viewing area for families with children to watch the parade, along with other children’s activities. 

The Wharf will be home to the fourth annual Pride on the Pier during the parade, hosted by the Washington Blade, LURe DC and the Wharf. The event, held from 2-9 p.m., will feature a fireworks show at 9 p.m., a DJ, drag performances, and more.Ā VIP tickets are available in two shifts, offering catered food, open bar, and more. The fireworks display is sponsored by the Leonard-Litz LGBTQ Foundation. For more information and to buy VIP tickets, visit prideonthepierdc.com. General admission to the festivities on the pier is free.

The parade will be followed by the Capital Pride Festival on June 11. Taking place on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., the festival will feature more than 300 booths with local vendors, businesses and organizations. From 12-8 p.m., the Capital Pride Concert will host acts such as Broadway actress Idina Menzel and ā€œRuPaul’s Drag Raceā€ winner MonĆ©t X Change.

From June 5-Aug. 11, ARTECHOUSE will be exhibiting its newest exhibit ā€œPIXELBLOOM: Timeless Butterflies.ā€ Visitors can use the promo code ā€œPRIDE20ā€ to get 20 percent off their ticket during Pride month.

Throughout the summer, Capital Pride will also host a variety of online events. In partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Capital Pride will host Youth in Action: Wearing Our PRIDE, which will feature young indigenous activists working toward social justice. Capital Pride will also host Zoom affinity support groups and social hours.

Further details and a full calendar of events can be found on the Capital Pride website.

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Arts & Entertainment

Must-attend D.C. Pride events for 2023

Don’t miss out on these fun events during D.C. Pride

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Pride Month has arrived, bringing along a vibrant array of events to explore throughout the month of June. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in our favorite events over the upcoming weeks!

PRIDE ON THE PIER & FIREWORKS | JUNE 10TH


The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, is excited to announce the 4th annual Pride on the Pier and Fireworks show during DC Pride weekend on Saturday, June 10, 2023, from 2-9 p.m.

The event will include the annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation at 9 p.m.

3PM: Drag Show

4PM: Capital Pride Parade Viewing on the Big Screen

9PM: Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation


PRIDE PILS LAUNCH PARTY | JUNE 1ST


Once again we’re celebrating Pride in DC with the release of Pride Pils!

The 2023 design has been created and donated by the talented Chord Bezerra of District CO/OP.

Attendance is “FREE” but please RSVP via this Eventbrite or donating at the event to further support our non-profit partners SMYAL and The Blade Foundation. 100% will be donated. As always, DC Brau and Red Bear Brewing Co. will be donating all profit from the sale of this year’s Pride Pils to our non-profit partners.


‘THE GROUND WE STAND ON’ OPENING RECEPTION | JUNE 2ND

Dupont Underground, in partnership with the Washington Blade presents The Ground We Stand On: Past and Present DC LGBTQ Changemakers. DC’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community stands as a testament to the unwavering spirit of countless individuals throughout the years. In recognition of their indomitable courage and resilience, an inspiring exhibition titled “The Ground We Stand On: Past and Present DC LGBTQ Changemakers” will showcase the remarkable journeys of both past and present changemakers who have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of Washington, DC. The exhibit underscores the enduring legacy of these remarkable individuals, serving as an inspiration for present and future generations. By shining a light on their remarkable contributions, this exhibition aims to empower and encourage the continuous evolution of the DC LGBTQ+ community and its influence that transcends boundaries.


DRAG UNDERGROUND | JUNE 2ND


Join Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade every Friday for Drag Underground. Featuring some of the best Drag Queens in DC!

Performers include Destiny B Childs, Elecktra Gee, Jane Saw, and Shi-Queeta Lee


SPIRTS & BEER SHOWCASE  | JUNE 3RD

metrobar prides itself on serving locally-produced beer, wine and spirits. As part of this mission, we are hosting a curated tasting event featuring Civic Vodka & Assembly Gin from local, woman-owned and operated distillery, Republic Restoratives. We will also have a selection of beers from DC Brau, including their annual Pride Pils for tasting.


DRAG UNDERGROUND  | JUNE 9TH

Join Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade every Friday for Drag Underground. Featuring some of the best Drag Queens in DC!

Performers include Cake Pop, GiGI Paris Couture, Kabuki Bukkake, Delila B. Lee

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