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Clear your calendar for these spring events

Exhibits, cherry blossoms, comedy, and the return of Black Pride

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4 years ago

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The Blade’s 15th annual Summer Kickoff Party features Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester on May 20 in Rehoboth Beach, Del. (Blade file photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The National Gallery of Art hosts a curated tour with art historian Tosca Ruggieri on Saturday, March 12 at 10 a.m. This tour will lead guests into an in-depth visit of the museum’s history and its masterpieces made by some of the world’s most acclaimed artists. Ruggieri will discuss works by Raphael, Da Vinci, Titian, Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh and why these artists are geniuses. For more event details, visit Eventbrite.

Wasted Lounge will host “Art Buzz” on Saturday, March 12 at 5 p.m. Art Buzz is a weekly showcase geared toward creating a space for artists to network, mingle, display their art and have fun while also bridging the gap between the art community and people who just love to be around art. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Artjar will host GraFFiTi Art Workshop on Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m. at 101 H St., S.E. This event encourages guests to explore their creative side as they learn basic drawing techniques, graffiti art letter formations and spray paint techniques. Tickets cost $127.97 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Paint Amore will host “Art After Dark” on Friday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Ascension Art Atelier. At this event, guests will enjoy a night of flavor, fun, and artistic excitement as they take a ride to a painter’s paradise. Photo and video recording is allowed, and outside food and drink are welcome. Tickets start at $35 and include paint supplies and seating. More details are available on Eventbrite. 

Historic America Tours hosts “Blossoms on the Basin” on Saturday, March 19 at 10 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Bookstore. A multi-sensory experience, guests will hear the words of FDR, hold a piece of American mythology and taste a flavor that uplifted downtrodden Americans during the Great Depression. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

The National Museum of Asian Art is opening a new works of paper gallery featuring recently acquired Japanese prints. The inaugural exhibition is “Underdogs and Antiheroes: Japanese Prints from the Moskowitz Collection,” and it runs from March 19-Jan. 29, 2023. 

The National Cherry Blossom Festival returns from March 20 – April 17, with four weeks of events featuring traditional and contemporary arts and culture. Visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org for information. 

APRIL

SPAIN Arts & Culture will host “Spanish Cinema Now + 2022: A miracle in the form of cinema” on Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the former residence of the ambassadors of Spain at 2801 16th St., N.W. This event will features a screening of “Longa noite (Endless Night)” directed by Eloy Enciso. The film is a striking mise en abyme, looking at the emptiness, after the Spanish Civil War. This event is free and details are available on Eventbrite. 

The Washington D.C. Pancakes & Booze Art Show will be on Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Hook Hall. Guests are encouraged to come experience one of the largest pop-up art movements to hit North America over the past decade, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event serving free pancakes and be introduced to some of the nation’s leading emerging artists. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

Team DC hosts its annual Night of Champions awards dinner on April 9, honoring its 2022 college scholarship recipients. Tickets are $125 and available at teamdc.org.

Buttonwood Films and Boundary Companies will host an advance screening of “TRASHY: a zero waste film” on Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m. A discussion will follow the screening. “TRASHY: a zero waste film” is a feature documentary that tries to answer that question by following its director over the course of a year, as she tries not to throw anything away. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. 

MAY

The National Hip-Hop Museum will host “Hip-Hop’s Freshest Fashions” on Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m. at The House of Hip-Hop. The event will exclusively feature visual artists that specialize in hip-hop such as painters, photographers, digital artists, sculptors and more. The gallery will also feature select pieces of memorabilia from The Hip-Hop Museum’s Collection, which is the largest in the world. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

DSE ENT will host “Ozio Fridays: Rooftop Experience” on Friday, May 6 at 10 p.m. at Ozio Rooftop. There will be hookah, food and music by DJ Schemes, DJ Trevo and Que the Q spinning the best hip-hop, R&B, reggae, Afrobeats and top 100 songs.This event is free and tickets are available on Eventbrite. 

The Washington Blade presents a cocktail party and panel discussion commemorating the 50th anniversary of John Fryer’s iconic speech to the APA urging removal of homosexuality as a mental illness. The event will be held on Thursday, May 12 with a distinguished panel of experts. Details and tickets to be announced soon.

Improbable Comedy will host “Comedy as a Second Language” on Thursday, May 19 at 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets Takoma. “Comedy as a Second Language” is a live, interactive comedy show that features immigrants and first generation comedians. Lots of fun with our comics as they share stories and jokes about their lives, families, multiple cultures and their relationship with their new home. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

The 15th annual Washington Blade Summer Kickoff Party returns after a two-year COVID hiatus to Rehoboth Beach on Friday, May 20, 5-7 p.m. at The Pines. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $20 on sale in April and proceeds benefit the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship. Visit bladefoundation.org for more information.

Black Pride 2022 is back and promises to be “bigger and bolder than ever,” May 27-30. Details and schedule of events at dcblackpride.org.

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Calendar

Calendar: February 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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4 days ago

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February 13, 2026

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Friday, February 13

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at noon at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour Meetup” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. 

Women in their Twenties and Thirties will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the D.C. area. For more details, visit the group on Facebook. 

Saturday, February 14

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.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host a screening of “Love and Pride” at 1:30 p.m. This event is a joy-filled global streaming celebration honoring queer courage, Pride, and the power of love. It’s a bold celebration of courage and community — a fearless reminder of what we’ve overcome, how love is what makes us unstoppable, and how we have always turned fear into fierce. For more details, visit the Center’s website. 

Sunday, February 15

LGBTQ+ Community Coffee and Conversation will be at 12 p.m. at As You Are. This event is for people looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ community. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. 

Monday, February 16

Queer Book Club will be at 7:00p.m. on Zoom. This month’s read is “Faebound” by Saara El-Arifi. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website. 

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, February 17

Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, February 18

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, February 19

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. 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 Center’s website.  

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Out & About

Celebrate Black History Month

LGBTQ+ Community Center to host series of events

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2 weeks ago

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February 6, 2026

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‘Paris is Burning’ is screening as part of Black History Month commemorations at the DC Center. (File photo courtesy of Reel Affirmations)

In honor of Black History Month, the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host a series of events uplifting the histories, artistry, and resilience of Black LGBTQ+ communities through dialogue, film, and intentional gathering.

The series begins with “Ballroom Culture: Rhythms of Resilience,” a panel discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at 7 p.m. Artists, activists, and leaders from the ballroom community will explore ballroom’s historical, cultural, and political significance as a site of resistance, kinship, creative expression, and social justice within Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities. 

On Friday, Feb. 13 at 12:30 p.m., the Center will host a screening of the groundbreaking documentary “Paris is Burning,” which chronicles New York City’s ballroom scene and house culture while examining themes of race, class, identity, and survival through the voices of legendary performers including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, and Dorian Corey.

The month will conclude with “Soul Centered: A Black LGBTQ+ Gathering” on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. This free, RSVP-required event invites Black LGBTQ+ community members into a space of rest, connection, and reflection centered on love in all its forms. The gathering will feature a panel conversation with Black LGBTQ+ creatives, healers, and community members, followed by intentional speed connections and a closing social mixer. 

For more details and to RSVP, visit the Center’s website.

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Calendar

Calendar: February 6-12

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

2 weeks ago

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February 6, 2026

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Friday, February 6

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Spark Social will host “RuPaul’s Drag Race Watch Party S18 Watch Party” at 8 p.m. Drag Entertainers TrevHER and Grey provide hilarious commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. The watch party takes place on our heated outdoor patio and cozy indoor space. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. 

Go Gay DC will host “First Friday LGBTQ+ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Silver Diner Ballston. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. 

Saturday, February 7

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.

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, February 8

DMV Gay Dog Moms will host “Puppy Love” at 1 p.m. at Wunder Garten. This a Valentine’s pawty and market for dog lovers. Get gifts for your loved ones – both human & canine at this event. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. 

Monday, February 9

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

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. 

Tuesday, February 10

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook. 

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity or expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected]. 

Wednesday, February 11

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, February 12

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be more fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm 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, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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