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DC Black Pride to wrap up this weekend

May proclaimed International Black Pride Month in nation’s capital

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Black Pride in D.C. this year is more special than previous years. 

Given the backdrop of the events that happened in 2020 including the COVID pandemic and the amplification of the Black Lives Matter movement, there is every reason for D.C.’s Black LGBTQ community to show up and show out for this year’s Pride. It has become an imperative that the community takes time to look back on and celebrate its strength, resilience, and unshaken tenacity. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser this year declared May 2021 as International Black Pride Month. Hence, the Center for Black Equity has curated a lineup of entertainment-filled events to commemorate this monumental recognition. 

To round out the last week of May, the Center for Black Equity will be hosting DC Black Pride which includes events:

Unity Ball hosted by the Legendary Twiggy Pucci Garcon, Legendary Domo Khan, Legendary Duante Balenciaga and Icon Charles West in partnership with the Center for Black Equity Black Pride and the Capitol Ballroom Council on Thursday at 7 p.m. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube, will be MC’d by Icon Jack Mizrahi Gucci of FX’s “Pose” with DJ Tony Play providing the music. Sponsors include Damien Ministries, Xfinity, and the Center for Black Equity.

Contestants will be able to compete in eight different categories that include Vogue Fem, Female Figure Face and Sex Siren and can win up to $1,000. The event will seek to highlight awareness and liberation of LGBTQ, Black and Brown communities.

Adult Trans Folk Townhall in collaboration with May is All About Trans will take place on Saturday, May 29, from 4-5:30 p.m. 

The LGBTQ+ Theater Virtual Showcase Festival will be hosted in collaboration with African-American Collective Theater on Sunday, May 30. More details about the event to follow soon.

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Arts & Entertainment

2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Readers’ Choice Award Finalist Voting

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It is time to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ DC! You nominated and now we have our finalists. Vote for your favorites in our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC categories through September 23rd. Our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC will be announced at the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards Party on October 17th and our special issue will come out on Friday, October 18th.

Thank you to our sponsors: ABSOLUT, Crush, Infinite Legacy & Wild Side Media.

VOTE BELOW OR BY CLICKING HERE!

ARE YOU A BEST OF FINALIST? DOWNLOAD ASSETS HERE!

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Maryland

Defying the odds: First transgender Miss Maryland USA on changing the world

Bailey Anne is state’s first trans woman pageant winner

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Miss Maryland USA Bailey Anne. (Grant Foto)

BY JOHN-JOHN WILLIAMS IV | Bailey Anne’s mom was apprehensive when she told her she was going to compete for the Miss Maryland USA pageant.

Her mom thought her transgender daughter might be harassed and ridiculed, and worried about her safety.

“I told her that the world is changing,” recalled Bailey Anne, who doesn’t use her last name because her identity has unfortunately also come with threats from people who don’t agree with it.

And so she competed this year and became the state’s first trans woman titleholder. She was also Maryland’s first Asian American winner and the oldest contestant to represent the state in the Miss USA pageant.

The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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Local

Bernie Delia estate auction set for Sept. 12

Memorial for beloved Capital Pride organizer planned for Sept. 28

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Bernie Delia died June 21. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

A  local auctioneer company has announced a large collection of artwork and other eclectic property from the estate of D.C. LGBTQ rights advocate Bernie Delia will be available for purchase in an auction scheduled for Sept. 12 in Chevy Chase, Md.

Delia, who was a founding member of the Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes most of D.C.’s LGBTQ Pride events, and who served as co-chair of World Pride 2025, which D.C. will be hosting in 2025, died unexpectedly of natural causes on June 21.

Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers says in its announcement that the items to be offered through the auction include “a large and eclectic assortment of fine art and sculpture, silver, English and Continental porcelain and other decorative arts, political memorabilia and entertainment ephemera, and various other antique and vintage items.”

The announcement says the items for sale in the Sept. 12 Estate Catalogue Auction will be on display at the Sloans & Kenyon gallery from Saturday, Sept. 7 through Wednesday, Sept. 11. The gallery where the items will be available for viewing and where the auction will be held on Sept. 12 is located at 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite T60, in Chevy Chase, Md.

“The September auction includes over 200 lots from Bernie’s vast collection and is the first of several auctions of property from his estate,” the announcement says. “Absentee, telephone and internet bids will be accepted for the September 12 Eastgate Catalogue Auction,” it says.

Dignity Washington, the LGBTQ Catholic organization for which Delia served as president, is holding a memorial service for Delia on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church near Dupont Circle, according to Dignity member David Lamdin.

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