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Most Eligible LGBTQ Singles 2022
Our annual roundup just in time for Valentine’s Day
D.C. is home to tens of thousands of busy professionals working hard by day and searching for love by night. Each year, we look to highlight some of our city’s most interesting singles just in time for a Valentine’s Day date.
Come celebrate on Friday, February 11th at our LGBTQ Skating Night at the Wharf Ice Rink. All the details can be found HERE.
Kristen Beckman, 29, occupational therapist
How do you identify? Lesbian
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who challenges me, holds me accountable, a good communicator, kind and adventurous.
Biggest turn off? Superficial, rudeness, doesn’t try to see things from other perspectives.
Biggest turn on? Open-mindedness, spontaneous, cares about their health.
Hobbies: I play ice hockey for the Chesapeake Bay Lightning — come watch a game! I love hiking, camping, and just getting back into mountain biking.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? it’s definitely interesting out here. At times it seems harder to connect due to more online dating. It seems harder to meet people in person due to people staying in more.
Pets/kids/neither? I have two cats and a dog and definitely open to more!
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Hmm, I want to say yes, but depending on the differences, it could be tough to look past.
Celebrity crush: Missy Peregrym
One obscure fact about yourself: I used to play football in the LFL, it was an interesting time.
Jarrod Brodsky, 31, Healthcare Lawyer
How do you identify? Gay man
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who is grounded, outgoing, authentic, comfortable expressing emotions, and who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Biggest turn off? Apathy.
Biggest turn on? Silliness and spontaneity.
Hobbies: Swimming, karaoke, reading, meditation, and working out.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? I prefer making in-person connections, and COVID has definitely made that more difficult. At the same time, it has pushed me to be more outgoing when I do have opportunities for live interactions.
Pets/kids/neither? Dad to a dog and two cats.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Yes, I like being around people who challenge my way of thinking.
Celebrity crush: Jake Gyllenhaal
One obscure fact about yourself: I was a springboard diver through college.
Katie Harrington, 35, Business Owner/Hairstylist
How do you identify? Queer
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who will rap in the car with me while on our way to have crabs and beer. Someone who is also down to stay in and cook a meal together while watching our favorite show. My ride or die.
Biggest turn off? Bad tippers and not putting your shopping cart back.
Biggest turn on? Confidence! Someone who loves themselves and treats others with kindness and compassion. Butch/top energy!
Hobbies: Spending time with my niece Edith, hanging out with my friends, Peloton, watching thrillers and documentaries, dancing to ‘90s/2000s rap and R&B.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? COVID has made dating pretty non-existent but that’s OK. I have spent the past two years opening my own business and really working on myself. I have been able to focus on becoming the best version of me so that when the world does slowly open up, I’ll be ready!
Pets/kids/neither? My dog Hari is my best friend. He is a senior Pekingese that I rescued right before the pandemic. He has been with me through quarantine, breakups, and is the sweetest guy. I honestly feel like we were meant to find each other.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? No.
Celebrity crush: Lily Rose (country singer), Sarah Paulson, Lena Waithe
One obscure fact about yourself: I have a B.A. in Dance from Point Park University.
Kareem ‘Mr.Bake’ Queeman, 35, Entrepreneur and TV Personality
How do you identify? Gay
What are you looking for in a mate? I appreciate a person with a sense of humor, with an understanding heart and mind and a drive to be a better version of themselves.
Biggest turn off? Someone who is unappreciative and lacks commitment and drive.
Hobbies: You can find me baking/cooking, reading, traveling — anything dealing with the arts.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? I actually haven’t really been dating in COVID. Chatting with people but no real connections. During COVID I’ve been working on myself.
Pets/kids/neither? I don’t have any, but open to the conversation of them.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? It depends — I’ll say this: I’m open to the conversation.
Celebrity crush: Jeremy Pope, Anthony Mackie, Adam Levine
One obscure fact about yourself: I love getting cards. And been collecting everyone I’ve received since 1994.
Bryan Frank, 46, Scientist
How do you identify? Gay
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who likes to be active and likes to be challenged. Triathlete? Hiker? Awesome! Kickball? Flag Football? Yoga? That’s cool too! A guy who: needs to laugh, sometimes even at themselves; is kind to themselves and others; can be equally happy staying in and binge watching the “Mandalorian” with a bottle of tempranillo or grabbing tacos from a food truck before catching “Rent” at the Signature Theatre; and will hold my hand as we do these things.
Biggest turn off? Taking yourself too seriously. Disrespecting others. A bad kisser.
Biggest turn on? Someone who has the confidence and desire to push their limits. A guy comfortable belting out show tunes in the car at the top of their lungs. And to be honest: great abs will always catch my eye.
Hobbies: I enjoy swimming, biking, and running (some might call that person a triathlete, I might be one). In addition, I really enjoy hiking (like to the top of Old Rag to watch the sunrise), anything that combines my love of cycling, vineyards/breweries, and traveling (think biking through the Provence region of France with stops for wine tasting), or watching a good movie (has anyone seen the new “Dune”?) or a good TV show (have you watched “Young Royals”?).
How has COVID impacted your dating life? As someone who works in the biotech field with COVID daily, in the beginning of the pandemic, thinking about doing anything outside of my “quaran-family,” like dating, was seriously stressful. Now that vaccines and therapeutics are available, I am excited to return to in-person dating.
Pets/kids/neither? All the things. I have two cats (Stitch and Kona). I love dogs. I would love to have kids, if that’s in the cards for me.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Yes, but someone who is anti-vax or anti-science should probably not hit me up.
Celebrity crush: Orlando Bloom for a night in/Paul Rudd for a night out.
One obscure fact about yourself: I am starting to play the piano again. And weirdly, I can still play Beethoven’s Fur Elise from memory 30+ years later.
Cara Eser, 32, DJ/Producer
How do you identify? Trans girl who likes girls
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone who can handle my quirks and keep up with my motormouth, likes spontaneity but doesn’t get mad when I need security. Someone who communicates, likes to laugh, and is willing to put air in my tires because I’m just simply bad at it.
Biggest turn off? TERFs, fatphobia, being rude to people in the service industry.
Biggest turn on? Good teeth that aren’t perfect, wit, and people who can read the room.
Hobbies: Avid cinephile — especially genre film — and coming up with the perfect things to say even if I’m 10 minutes too late.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? What dating life?
Pets/kids/neither? Allergic to dogs and cats, but I love them both and suffer happily. I don’t have kids, but would like to be a mom one day.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? *Sips tea in silence*
Celebrity crush: Recently it’s been Melanie Lynskey from “Yellowjackets,” but ‘90s-era Drew Barrymore will always have my heart.
One obscure fact about yourself: I sat across the aisle from Dennis Rodman once.
Bryan Van Den Oever, 41, Director of Marketing & Events
How do you identify? Gay
What are you looking for in a mate? May I write “A big <@<&”? No. Okay. Seriously, he’s got to be ready to sling around his sense of humor because I love to laugh. Laughing together is bonding and very important to me. The rest of what I’m looking for is a gay cliché. You know, long walks in dark alleys or tall, dark, and with a traumatic back story.
Biggest turn off? Pretentious folx who care only about themselves or their place in the world. I’m a cis white guy. Trust me, we are the worst at being this type of person.
Biggest turn on? A man who has mastered the art of flirting. Bonus points if he directs the flirts toward me.
Hobbies: Typical geek stuff, board games, video games, reading, and anything Marvel. Once upon a time, I did a lot of physical hobbies, and maybe this is the year I go back to some of them.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? Profoundly. Red Bear Brewing Co. opened in March 2019, we had a smashing first year, but COVID-19 hit us and everyone in the service industry HARD! The brewery is my dream, so it’s taken all my attention and focus. As the ongoing pandemic has its ups and downs, I’ve realized it’s time to focus on me and my personal life. So, I dumped anxiety. He just wasn’t doing it for me anymore.
Pets/kids/neither? Bring them on! I love people and animals, so I would like either or both in my life. Preferably with a hubby by my side.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Did you watch the news on Jan. 6, 2021? Republicans are a menace to everyone. No thank you.
Celebrity crush: Date: Michael B. Jordan. Dinner: Rebecca Sugar. Friends: Elmo.
One obscure fact about yourself: Before Red Bear Brewing, I was a certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist, performing diagnostic imaging using radioactive isotopes. Science is fascinating, and it works! Get vaccinated.
Adam Clark, 38, NGO Content Manager
How do you identify? Queer
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone that aspires to greatness and exudes peace.
Biggest turn off? Ethnocentrism, sarcasm, apathy.
Biggest turn on? Emotional intelligence, versatility, faith
Hobbies: Volunteering, meditation, horseback riding
How has COVID impacted your dating life? The pandemic has offered me the space to focus more energy on what I can provide my future mate.
Pets/kids/neither? I feel called to be a father, literally or figuratively.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Of course. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth.
Celebrity crush: Bilal Baig
One obscure fact about yourself: I jumped out of a plane to break my fear of falling.
Consuella Lopez, 48, Hairstylist/Activist
How do you identify? Trans woman
What are you looking for in a mate? Masculinity
Biggest turn off? Cheap
Biggest turn on? Height and weight
Hobbies: Exercising
Pets/kids/neither? Neither
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Yes
Celebrity crush: Too many
One obscure fact about yourself: I did 19 miles of cardio in one week.
LeAndrea Gilliam, 40, Grants Management & Housing Specialist
How do you identify? Intersex
What are you looking for in a mate? Someone special, honest, stable, secure, caring, and craves adventure and new experiences just as much as I do.
Biggest turn off? Bad breath, a liar, overall poor hygiene and lack of respect for boundaries.
Biggest turn on? A nice smile, smells good and is a good kisser.
Hobbies: I like dancing to music I can vibe to, traveling, horror movies. I like to improve my life by reading and learning something new every day. I’m spontaneous and love doing whatever makes me happy.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? OMG! COVID has made dating much harder for me and far more laborious than ever before. I’m from the old school, I’m accustomed to meeting potential mates in person to explore my possibilities. For me in person offers more opportunities to find a romantic partner but unfortunately in person socializing is now considered a health risk. This virtual world of dating is truly for the birds.
Pets/kids/neither? No human kids but I have my doggie boo thang son Hermarry! He’s 4 a hybrid Pekechon
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? I’ll say this: If I’m dating someone and our political views differ so widely regarding human values and human rights, probably not. I would want to date someone whose values and views on human rights align.
Celebrity crush: LL Cool J
One obscure fact about yourself: I love tropical weather and the long, hot summers. I don’t function well when I’m cold. Matter of fact, my face will literally break out in hives if it’s exposed to cold temps for 15 minutes or more. However, I won’t break out until I get in a warm space. It’s been that way since I can remember.
Heidi Niskanen, 28, Engineer
How do you identify? Lesbian
What are you looking for in a mate? I am drawn to trustworthy people; individuals with a strong sense of self, authentic approach to life, that offer an empathetic ear to anyone in need of one, have always had my admiration and respect. I hope to find a person that believes in the importance of “tell me about your day” and being truthful even when it is inconvenient. Our scrapbook hopefully has lots of pictures and stories of bizarre everyday moments, many wonders of the world, and memories to look back to on all the anniversaries.
Biggest turn off? Pretentiousness
Biggest turn on? Wittiness
Hobbies: I spend a lot of my free time playing various sports or being outdoors. I volunteer as a crisis counselor and coach. I try really hard to be a good dancer, will never turn down an opportunity to learn a new recipe way above my skill level, and am often hungry for another Jennifer Rubin opinion piece. I dream of visiting a diner in every state, reaching the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, taking a selfie with a wild polar bear and teaching my children how to skate. I hope to visit museums and do more mountain biking this year.
How has COVID impacted your dating life? Raised the bar of when to meet in person. That said, COVID helped me become a better solo date.
Pets/kids/neither? Can’t wait to be a dog mom. Want children in the future.
Would you date someone whose political views differ from your own? Absolutely. Zero time for conspiracy theories or alternative facts, however.
Celebrity crush: Michelle and Barack Obama
One obscure fact about yourself: I have never tried a peanut butter & jelly sandwich.
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Award-winning D.C. chef reaching new culinary heights
Anthony Jones of Marcus DC competing on ‘Top Chef’
In Anthony Jones’s kitchen, all sorts of flags fly, including his own. Executive chef at award-winning restaurant Marcus DC, Jones has reached culinary heights (James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef, anyone?), yet he’s just getting started.
Briefly stepping away from his award-winning station, Jones took a moment under a different set of lights. Recently, he temporarily gave up his post at the restaurant for a starring small-screen slot on the latest season of “Top Chef,” which debuted in March. (The show airs weekly on Bravo and Peacock).
Before his strategic slice-and-dice competition, however, Jones, who identifies as gay, draws from his deep DMV roots. In the years before “Top Chef” and the top chef spot at Marcus, he was born and raised in Sunderland, Md., in southern Maryland, near the Chesapeake.
Early memories were steeped in afternoons on boats with his dad bonding over fishing, and wandering the garden of his great-grandparents spread with fresh vegetables and a few hogs. “It was Southern, old-school ethics and upbringing,” he said. “Family and food went hand in hand.” Weekends meant grabbing bushels of crabs, dad and grandma would cook and crack them. Family members would host fish fries for extra cash. In this seafood-heavy youth, Jones managed time to sneak in episodes of the “OG” Japanese “Iron Chef” show, which helped inspire him to pursue a career in the kitchen.
Jones moved to D.C. after graduating from college, ending up at lauded Restaurant Eve, and met famed chef Marcus Samuelson, who brought him to Miami to be part of the opening team for Red Rooster Overtown. After three years, Jones moved back to D.C., where he ran Dirty Habit, reinventing and reimagining the menu, integrating West African flavors and ingredients.
Samuelson, however, wouldn’t let a talent like Jones stay away for too long. Pulling Jones back into his orbit, Samuelson elevated Jones to help him open his namesake restaurant Marcus DC, which has been named a top-five restaurant by the Washington Post. Since then, Jones has been nominated as a semifinalist for the RAMMYs Rising Culinary Star in 2026 and won the Eater DC’s Rising Chef award in 2025.
Samuelson’s Marcus is a tour de force interpreting the Black Diaspora on the plate, from the American South to West Africa, along with his signature “Swedopian” touches. Yet it’s Jones who has deeply informed the plate, elevating his own story to date. Marcus DC is primarily a seafood restaurant, which serves Jones well.
“Where I’m from is seafood heavy, and as I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve moved away from meat.” Veggies and fish are hero dishes. His own dish, Mel’s Crab Rice, was not only lauded by the Washington Post, but is framed by his youth carrying home the crustaceans from Mel’s crab truck. It’s a bowl of Carolina rice, layered with pickled okra, uni béarnaise, and crab. Jones also points to a dish on the opening menu, rockfish and brassica, paying respect to a landmark D.C. institution, Ben’s Chili Bowl. Jones reverse engineered a favorite bowl of chili that’s seafood instead of meat forward, leveraging octopus and rockfish along with different riffs of cauliflower: showing his intellectual, creative, and cultural sides.
While “Top Chef” is showing Jones’s spotlight side, he also lets his identity show at work. “In the kitchen, I make sure we’re inclusive. We don’t tolerate discrimination. Everyone that’s here should feel confident to express themselves. There are so many different flags in the kitchen.”
Jones says that he didn’t fully express his gay identity until fairly recently. He felt reluctant coming out to certain family members, “you’re scared to tell them about being different,” he says, and while that anxiety ate at him, “I’m lucky and fortunate to have unconditional love and that weight off my shoulders.”
Today, “I’m me all the time, Monday to Sunday. I’m honest with people, and my staff is honest with me.”
“Being a chef is hard,” he says, “and being a chef of color is even more difficult.”
Yet his LGBTQ identity is a juggling act, he says. “I need to keep that balance, because once someone finds out something about you, their opinion can change, whether you want it or not.”
Being on a whole season of TV cooking competition, however, might mean millions more might have an opinion of him (Jones has appeared on TV already, on an episode of “Chopped”). To prepare, he says, “I’ve just kept a level head. It’s just an honor to be on top chef with amazing people happy to be there.”
Plus, this season is set in the Carolinas, and Jones attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, N.C. “It’s a full story of my life, now a monumental moment for me.”
Jones also recently was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. “JBF has been a north star, a dream for so long. I always had this goal on my wall.”
Being at the top spot at Marcus DC, making waves through his accolades, and cooking on Bravo means that Jones is highly visible. “I think that if someone has a similar background to me, and can see our story, trajectory, and success, they can have more ability to be themselves. This is my goal.”
Back at Marcus, Jones has plenty up his chef’s white’s sleeves. A new spring menu is in the works. He’ll be launching a new tasting menu “dining experience,” he says, and has plans to work on more events and collaborations with chefs and friends to bring in new talent and share the culinary wealth.
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Introducing the Torchbearers Awards honoring queer, trans women and nonbinary people
Meet the Legends and Illuminators lighting new paths
The Torchbearers Awards are more than recognition—they are a continuation of legacy. They honor the quiet architects of progress in our community: those who organize, advocate, build, and protect, often without fanfare but always with purpose. Rooted in a belief in intentional recognition, this honor names those who carry our movements forward—those who make room for others, who remind us that change is both generational and generative. In a time marked by uncertainty and challenge, these leaders push forward with courage, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity and equity.
This year’s honorees reflect the full breadth of our community, spanning generations, backgrounds, identities, and industries. From Legends, with decades of leadership and having created pathways for others, to Illuminators, who are lighting new paths with creativity and innovation, each Torchbearer represents the power of intergenerational leadership and the strength found in our diversity. They are organizers, advocates, artists, policy leaders, healers, and changemakers whose lived experiences shape a shared vision for equity and liberation.
This award is our love letter to queer and trans women and nonbinary people who carry the flame when it would be easier to let it dim. To those who consistently show up, who use their voice and visibility and stand firm, often without recognition, so that others may live more freely and fully. The Torchbearers Awards celebrates not just what has been done, but the enduring spirit, responsibility, and collective care that ensure the work continues, and that the flame is always passed forward.
Co-Creators of the Torchbearers Awards: Shannon Alston, June Crenshaw, Heidi Ellis
Torchbearers Awards Advisory Board: Aditi Hardikar, Lesley Bryant, Jasmine Wilson-Bryant, Stephen Rutgers
ILLUMINATOR AWARDEES
- Representative Sharice Davids (she/her), (D, KS-03)
— U.S. House of Representatives - Greisa Martinez Rosas (she/her/ella)
— Executive Director, United We Dream - Paola Ramos (she/her)
— Journalist & Correspondent - Meagan A. Fitzgerald (she/her)
— Journalist & Correspondent - Jessica L. Lewis (she/her)
— Founder / Producer, Play Play DC - Savannah Wade (she/her)
— Founder, OAR Agency - Suhad Babaa (she/her)
— Filmmaker/ Former Executive Director of Just Vision - Ashlee Davis (she/her)
— Global Head of Inclusive Outcomes, Ancestry - Jazmine Hughes (she/her)
— Journalist and Former Editor at New York Times Magazine - Queen Adesuyi (they/she)
— Policy Advisor & Organizer, ReFrame Health & Justice - Michele Rayner, Esq. (she/her)
— Civil Rights Attorney, State Representative (Florida House of Representatives) - Gaby Vincent (she/her)
— Sports/Cultural Commentator and Community Leader - Jenny Nguyen (she/her)
— Founder & Owner, The Sports Bra - Denice Frohman (she/her)
— Independent Artist, Poet / Performer - Vida Rangel (she/her)
— Founder, Our Trans Capital - Roxanne Anderson (they/them)
— Executive Director, Our Space - Ann Marie Gothard (she/her)
— Co-Founder & President, Pride Live (Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center) - Diana Rodriquez (she/her)
— Co-Founder & CEO, Pride Live (Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center) - Wendi Cooper (she/her)
— Founder / Executive Director, Transcending Women - Toya Matthews (she/her)
— City of San Antonio, Texas - Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones (she/her)
— Sports/Cultural Commentator and Community Leader - Charity Blackwell (she/her)
— Poet, LGBTQ Advocate & Community Leader - Wilhelmina Indermaur (she/her)
— Director of Communications, Tyler Clementi Foundation - Em Chadwick (she/her)
— CMO, For Them & Autostraddle - Kylo Freeman (they/he)
— CEO, For Them & Autostraddle
LEGEND AWARDEES
- Sheila Alexander-Reid (she/her)
— Executive Director, PHL Diversity, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau - Cassandra Cantave Burton (she/her)
— Interim Director of Thought Leadership & Senior Research Advisor, AARP - leigh h. mosley (she/her)
— Photographer / Educator, PhotoFlo Photography - Jenn M. Jackson, PhD (they/them)
— Assistant Professor of Political Science; Author & Columnist, Syracuse University - Jordyn White (she/her)
— COO, Washington Prodigy / VP of Leadership Development & Research, HRC Foundation - AJ Hikes (they/them)
— Deputy Executive Director, ACLU - RaeShanda Lias (she/her)
— Digital Creator, RL Lockhart - Donna Payne-Hardy (she/her)
— Educator, EEO Specialist, Founder of NBJC, Former Leader at the Human Rights Campaign - Courtney R. Snowden (she/her)
— Principal, Blueprint Strategy Group - Gaye Adegbalola (she/her)
— Musician & Activist, Musician / Inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame - Cheryl A. Head (she/her)
— Independent Author, Novelist (Crime Fiction) - Letitia Gomez (she/her)
— The American LGBTQ+ Museum, Board Chair - Lynne Brown (she/her)
— Publisher, Washington Blade - Shay Franco-Clausen (She/Her/Ella/Queen)
— Political Strategist and Organizer - Melissa L. Bradley (she/her)
— Founder & Managing Partner, New Majority Ventures - Meghann Burke (she/her)
— Executive Director, NWSL Players Association - Victoria Kirby York, MPA (she/they)
— Director of Public Policy & Programs, National Black Justice Collective - Joli Angel Robinson (she/her)
— CEO, Center on Halsted - Jeannine Frisby LaRue (she/her)
— CEO, Moxie Strategies - Alice Wu (she/her)
— Film Director (Saving Face, The Half of It) / Screenwriter - Storme Webber (she/her)
— Interdisciplinary Artist / Educator, University of Washington - Kim Stone
— CEO of the Washington Spirit, Washington Spirit - Mickalene Thomas
— American Visual Artist, Mickalene Thomas Studio - Erika Lorshbough (any/they/she)
— Executive Director, interACT - J. Gia Loving (she/ella)
— Co-Executive Director, GSA Network
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D.C. springs back to life with new, returning events
Cherry blossoms, Rehoboth season kickoff, and more on tap
Longer and warmer days are back meaning: It’s time to get out of the house and enjoy Washington D.C.’s many events. Below are a few to check out this spring.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts will host “Making their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection” until Sunday, July 26. This exhibition illustrates women artists’ vital role in abstraction, considers historical contributions, formal and material breakthroughs and intergenerational relationships among women artists over the last eight decades. For more details, visit. NMWA’s website.
Art in the Attic will host a pop-up on Saturday, March 14 at 6 p.m. at 1012 Madison St., Alexandria, Va. There will be a variety of vendors selling products across different modes of art. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Play Play will host “Indoor Recess – The art of play” on Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m. This event will embody classic recess energy, including opportunities to build and experience community and connections through games, movement, art stations, and creative freedom. Tickets are $12.51 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Spark Social will host “Gay Bar Crawl on U Street” on Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. This will be a fun night out in gay D.C. with other gay people, whether you’re visiting D.C., new to the area, or just looking to expand your social circle. Many crawlers have formed lasting friendships and even romantic relationships after just one night out. Tickets are $35.88 and are available on Eventbrite.
Creative Suitland Arts Center will host “EFFERVESCENT: House of Swann” on Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m. This will be a gay, good time where we will celebrate love, joy, wellness, and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community. Tickets start at $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
SWAG Works DC will host “Unapologetically Her” on Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at 701 E St., S.E. This event is a powerful celebration of womanhood, resilience, creativity, and self-expression in honor of Women’s History Month. This all-women exhibition highlights the diverse voices, stories, and artistic perspectives of women who create boldly, live authentically, and stand confidently in their truth. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
9:30 Club will host “Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA” on Saturday, March 14 at 6 p.m. There will also be a “Donna Summer Power Hour – The Queen of Disco” segment during this event. It’ll be one hour of music with no skips. Tickets are available on 9:30 Club’s website.
Harder Better Faster Stronger will host “Heated Rivalry Rave” on Friday, March 20 at 9 p.m. at Howard Theatre. This event is open to all ages. Tickets are available on the theater’s website.
CAMP Rehoboth hosts its 25th annual Women’s+ FEST, April 9-12 in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Entertainers include headliner Mina Hartong, a comedian, storyteller, and founder of Lez Out Loud; and singer Yoli Mayor. There are dances, dinners, pickleball, and much more. Details and tickets at camprehoboth.org.
Also in Rehoboth Beach, the Washington Blade’s 19th annual Summer Kickoff Party is set for Friday, May 15 featuring Ashley Biden, who will accept an award on behalf of her brother Beau. State Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall will also speak. More speakers and the venue to be announced soon.
The annual D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off March 21 at DAR Constitution Hall and culminates with Petalpalooza on April 4, the day-long, outdoor street party with music and art, stretching across Navy Yard, and ending with fireworks over the Anacostia River.
Pam Bondi ousted as attorney general
VIDEO: Gay journalist detained for booing Trumps at ‘Chicago’ opening night
Idaho Gov. signs harshest anti-trans bathroom bill in the country
Award-winning D.C. chef reaching new culinary heights
Trans-driven ‘Serpent’s Skin’ delivers campy sapphic horror
‘Out for McDuffie’ event held at D.C. gay bar
‘Jonah’ an undeniably compelling but unusual memory play
The Oscar-losing performance that’s too good to miss
Thousands attend ‘No Kings’ protests in D.C.
