From a pandemic to protests, 2020 is one for the history books.Monet Dupree performs at Freddie’s Follies at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Gill on Jan. 13 at a time before the concept of ‘social distancing.’David Spivey is named ‘Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2020’ on Jan. 17.Members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington perform at the Brother, Help Thyself Foundation Grant Awards ceremony in the now-shuttered DC Eagle.Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam attends an Equality Virginia event on Feb. 4 in Richmond celebrating the impending passage of the Virginia Values Act in the Virginia General Assembly.The Washington Blade holds its annual Most Eligible LGBT Singles party at Duplex Diner on Feb. 14.Mayor Pete Buttigieg makes a presidential campaign stop in Northern Virginia on Feb. 23.Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) speaks at a congressional hearing on LGBT rights on Feb. 27.Gay Trump supporter Brandon Straka speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 28.As life with COVID-19 became a new reality, someone erected a “HOPE” sign in Winchester, Va.The streets and restaurants of the gayborhood were empty by March 17 as new COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.Ruby Corado has her temperature checked before entering the Casa Ruby community center on May 8.Riots broke out in the streets of D.C. on May 31 following the murder of George Floyd.A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest was held at Black Lives Matter Plaza on June 6.The activist group No Justice No Pride organized a ‘Defund MPD’ march and protest on June 13.The No Justice No Pride ‘Defund MPD’ march ended in a protest in front of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s home.A makeshift memorial was created in front of the United States Supreme Court following the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.Signs mourning the loss of trans women of color were among those on the White House fence on election day, Nov. 3.A ‘Make America Great Again’ pro-Trump mega rally was held on the streets of D.C. Protesters included Gays for Trump.A series of new coronavirus restrictions threaten the future of LGBT businesses.
Michael Key has worked as a photojournalist for the Washington Blade since 2009 and is currently serving as the photo editor. He has worked on Capitol Hill, in the White House, on the campaign trail and in cities along the East Coast taking iconic photos documenting the extension of marriage benefits to same-sex couples, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and other events of interest to the LGBT community.
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