Out & About
Joshua Johnson named SMYAL Fall Brunch featured speaker
Virtual event to take place on Oct. 11

SMYAL announced that MSNBC journalist Joshua Johnson will be a featured speaker at this year’s Fall Brunch on Oct. 11. As a Black, gay journalist, Johnson has covered diversity in the media, the intersections of being Black and queer, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Johnson at the brunch will discuss the importance of gay representation in the media. This year’s fall brunch will be the first brunch to take place virtually.
Johnson has been at MSNBC since 2019 after leaving his previous job hosting WAMU’s “1A”. Tickets for the brunch can be purchased at smyal.org.
Washington DC History and Culture is hosting a free, live streamed event Sunday from 7-8:30 p.m. titled “The Motown Sound of the 1960’s”. This program will examine over a dozen songs from the 1960’s and provide the historical context for them. Songs include “Where Did Our Love Go” by the Supremes, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye and “Fingertips” by Little Stevie Wonder. The session will be hosted by Robert Kelleman, the founder and director of Washington DC History and Culture. For more information, go to the organization’s Facebook page.
Playbill and The Broadway League joined forces this year to hold “¡Viva Broadway! Hear Our Voices” a digital concert to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. The event will premiere on Playbill.com, Playbill’s YouTube Channel, and on the Broadway League’s website on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. It will remain there for viewing until Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.
The concert will seek to celebrate Latinx artists and their contributions to Broadway by showcasing their talent. The show will be directed and choreographed by Olivier and Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Sergio Trujillo. It will feature performances from famous Latinx artists from Broadway including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Antonio Banderas, Anthony Ramos and Karen Olivo.
The show will also showcase new and upcoming talent by featuring performances from Broadway-bound musicals and new works including Arrabal, Passing Through and John Leguizamo’s Kiss My Aztec!
Friday, Sept. 25
Friday Tea Time is a virtual social gathering at 2 p.m. for older LGBTQ adults via Zoom. Participants are encouraged to bring their beverage of choice while socializing with friends. For more information, visit thedccenter.org/events.
The D.C. Center is hosting a virtual Trans Support Group session today at 7 p.m. The support group is designed as a safe space for transgender people and those who may be questioning their gender identity or expression. For more details, visit the dccenter.org/events.
Women in their Twenties and Thirties is a social discussion group for queer women in the D.C. area. They are meeting at 8 p.m. via Zoom. For the link to the meeting, email [email protected].
Bet Mishpachah is hosting Shabbat Shuva at 8 p.m. led by Rabbi Jake Singer-Beilin. For more details, visit betmish.org.
The Library of Congress is holding its 2020 National Book Festival online starting at 11 a.m. The event will feature 120 of the nation’s most-renowned writers, poets and artists during the showcase. Virtual stages will offer on-demand videos, live author chats and discussions, and options to personalize your own journey through the festival with particular themes. For more information, visit loc.gov/bookfest.
Saturday, Sept. 26
The LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will meet at 1 p.m. to provide an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to talk about anything affecting them. For the Zoom link to the meeting, email [email protected].
The DC Center and the Rainbow History Project are holding a Queer Womxn Creating Spaces virtual panel at 1 p.m. The panel is designed to bring together organizers from different generations of Black and Latinx LGBTQ women in the DC area. For more information, visit thedccenter.org/events.
The D.C. Center is encouraging members of the LGBTQ community to join them in volunteering at Food and Friends at 9 a.m. Food and Friends is located 219 Riggs Road, N.E. If any volunteers need a ride from the Fort Totten Metro, call the Food and Friends shuttle at (202) 669-6437.
Bet Mishpachah is hosting Shabbat Shuva Morning Service at 10 a.m. led by Paula Morris and Elke Martin. For more details, visit betmish.org.
Online Yoga at the Garden is being hosted by the U.S. Botanical Gardens today at 10:30 a.m. An instructor from WithLoveDC will guide participants through a one-hour meditation and yoga practice via Zoom. There will only be enough room in the Zoom for 100 participants. The sessions are free but registration is required. More information can be found on The U.S. Botanic Garden’s Facebook page.
Sunday, Sept. 27
Bet Mishpachah is hosting Kol Nidrei at 7 p.m. led by Scott Reiter and Rachel Hamberger. For more details go to betmish.org.
Monday, Sept. 28
LGBTQ older adults and friends are invited to join the D.C. Center at 10 a.m. for a Center Aging Coffee Drop-In. For more information visit thedccenter.org and Center Aging on social media.
Bet Mishpachah is hosting several services today. A Yom Kippur Morning Service will take place at 10 a.m. led by Rabbi Jake Singer-Beilin and Alex Carter. Bet Mishpachah is hosting a Yizkor Service at 2 p.m. led by Allan Armus and Elke Martin. A Rabbi’s Study Session led by Rabbi Jake Singer-Beilin will take place at 3 p.m. Bet Mishpachah is hosting Havdalah at 6 p.m. led by Larry Neff and Ruth Potts. This service will be sign language interpreted. For more details go to betmish.org.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
The DC Center is hosting its monthly support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary over Zoom at 7 p.m. Meetings are on the fourth Tuesday and third Mondays of each month. More information can be found at thedccenter.org/events.
Wednesday, Sept. 30
The D.C. Center’s Virtual Job Club meets today at 6 p.m. via Zoom. This weekly support program helps jobseekers improve their self-confidence, resilience and motivation needed for effective job searching and networking. Discussions include strategies, techniques and goal plans needed to find meaningful and satisfying employment. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Thursday, Oct. 1
Asian Pacific Islander Queer Society DC is holding a support group meeting for the Asian and Pacific Islander Queer Community at 7 p.m. The meeting is co-hosted by the D.C. Center and Asian Queers United for Action. Visit thedccenter/org/events for more details.
Out & About
‘How to Survive a Plague’ screens June 5
Commemorating 45th anniversary of first report of AIDS
June 5 marks the 45th anniversary of the first report of AIDS. To commemorate the occasion, Whitman-Walker Health is sponsoring a screening of the film “How to Survive a Plague” on June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at GWU Lisner Auditorium (730 21st St., N.W.).
The screening is free and you can register on Eventbrite. Other partners involved in the screening are the Center for Black Equity, Food & Friends, HIPS, and Us Helping Us.
After the film, attendees will head to Dupont Circle for a candlelight vigil at sunset.
The film reflects on lessons from the community-led response to the plague while honoring those lost to HIV and AIDS. It tells the story of activism and innovation about AIDS survival. Culled from a trove of archival footage, the film is epic and intimate, tracking a small group of people, most of them HIV-positive, in their nine-year-long battle to save their own lives, according to a statement from Whitman-Walker.
Katrina Campbell-Frazier will host “Black Queer Joy: Brunch and Day Party” on Saturday, May 23 at 12 p.m. at Mixxed Food and Drinks.
This event will bring together beautiful energy, music, games, and unforgettable moments — because joy like this deserves to be shared.
Guests can expect unlimited rainbow mimosa flights, a “Build Your Pride” cocktail bar, full food menu and music by DJ Kei-Note K69, among other things.
This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Friday, May 22
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Saturday, May 23
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].
Sunday, May 24
Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative will host “Sundae Tea: Legendary Community Talk-Back” at 6 p.m. at the Howard Theatre. This is a laid-back gathering where community vibes meet lively conversations. This legendary talk-back is your chance to share thoughts, hear stories, and connect with awesome people. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, May 25
Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The Queer Book Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month to discuss books by queer authors. This month’s reading is “To Shape a Dragon’s Breath” by Moniquill Blackgoose For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Tuesday, May 26
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Wednesday, May 27
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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 thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, May 28
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. 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 Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website.
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