Arts & Entertainment
10 LGBTQ events this week
Sports, concerts, drag, dancing and more May 2-8
Below are our picks for some of the most fun and creative things to do this week in D.C. that are of special interest to the LGBTQ community.
John Waters at Politics & Prose
Monday, May 2
7 p.m.
Politics & Prose
5015 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Free / masks required
Website | Facebook
Multi-hyphenate king of trash John Waters joins author and professor Marion Winik in a discussion over his new book, “Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance” at Politics & Prose on Monday.
Detox at Pitchers
Wednesday, May 4
Meet-and-greet 9 p.m./Show 10 p.m.
Pitchers / A League of Her Own
2317 18th Street, N.W.
Free / 21+ / vaccination required
Facebook | Twitter
Detox of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame makes an appearance at Pitchers on Wednesday. There will be a free meet and greet hosted by BaNaka that starts at 9 p.m. with wristbands given to the first 100 people to purchase food or a beverage, so it is suggested by organizers to arrive by 8 p.m. to secure your spot in the meet and greet to get a photo with Detox.
A drag show hosted by Cake and Venus Valhalla follows with performances by Dr. Torcher, Echinacea, Mia Vanderbilt, Rico Pico and Tiara Missou.
Revenge of the Fifth
Thursday, May 5
Doors 5 p.m. / Show 6 p.m.
Dragon Distillery
1341 Hughes Ford Road
Frederick, Md.
$20 / 21+
Facebook | Eventbrite
A drag show will pay tribute to favorite Star Wars characters. Axe throwing and drink packages are available upon arrival. The event is hosted by Chasity Vain.
Cinco de Mayo
Thursday, May 5
6-10 p.m. TDG Rooftop / 10 p.m. Kiki
The Dirty Goose and Kiki
913 U Street, N.W.
21+
Website
Gay bars Kiki and The Dirty Goose are teaming up for a Cinco de Mayo party. DJ Alex Love entertains on the Dirty Goose rooftop from 6 to 10, followed by an underwear contest at Kiki featuring Crystal Edge and djDJ.
Sleaze
Thursday, May 5
Doors 9 p.m.
DC9
913 U Street, N.W.
$10 / 21+ / vaccination required
Facebook | Instagram
Sleaze is a monthly LGBTQ+ party at DC9 with drag, DJs and dancing. Performers include Jane Saw and Blaq Dinamyte with DJs Keenan Orr and Lemz joined by special guest DJ SPRKLBB.
Flag Football Recreation League Playoffs and Afterparty
Friday, May 6
Game 6:30-9 p.m.
The Fields at RFK
Afterparty 9 p.m.
Wunder Garten at NoMa
1101 First Street, N.E.
Website
Semifinals for the D.C. Gay Flag Football League (DCGFFL) Recreation League start at 6:30pm at The Fields at RFK. Winners will play in a championship at 8 p.m.
Following the games, players and spectators celebrate at Wunder Garten.
Legends: Celebrity Impersonations Show
Friday, May 6
Doors 7 p.m. / Show 7:45 p.m.
ACT Black Box Studio
43 S Potomac Street
Hagerstown, Md.
$15 General Admission/$30 Dinner at the Dog House
Facebook | Tickets
Go to ACT Black Box Studio in Hagerstown, Md. on Friday for a night of celebrity impersonations and fun. Performers include Ashley Bannks, Onyx D. Pearl, Ivanna Rights, Chasity Vain, Nicole James and Madison St. Lawrence. If you can’t make it on Friday, there is another show on Saturday, May 7 (see details in links above).
First Friday LGBTQ+ Social
Friday, May 6
7-9 p.m.
The Commentary
801 North Glebe Road
Arlington, Va.
Free / RSVP at Eventbrite
Eventbrite | Meetup | Facebook
This free social event hosted by Go Gay DC is an opportunity to meet new friends and hang out with fellow members of the area LGBTQ+ community in a relaxed setting.
Queen ‘n Drag Brunch Revue
Saturday, May 7
Seating 11 a.m. / Show 12 p.m.
Fairouz Lounge
3815 South George Mason Drive
Falls Church, Va.
$25-$45 +tax
allevents | Eventbrite
Tori Love and Dee Dee Amor Dior host a drag brunch revue at Fairouz Lounge in Falls Church, Va. on Saturday.
Tori Amos at MGM
Sunday, May 8
8 p.m.
MGM National Harbor
101 MGM National Avenue
Oxon Hill, Md.
$49.50 – $202.50
Tickets | Website
Tori Amos brings her Ocean to Ocean Tour to MGM National Harbor on Sunday.
If you would like to let us know about an upcoming event, email [email protected] with details.
Impulse Group DC held “10’s Across the Board: A Celebration of 10 Years” at Bravo Bravo (1001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) on Sunday, Dec. 14. Impulse Group DC is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) and affinity group of AIDS Healthcare Foundation dedicated “to engaging, supporting, and connecting gay men” through culturally relevant health and advocacy work.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Rob Reiner, most known for directing untouchable classics like “The Princess Bride,” “Misery,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” and “Stand by Me,” died Dec. 14 alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles residence. While investigations are actively underway, sources have told PEOPLE Magazine that the pair’s son, Nick Reiner, killed his parents and has been taken into custody.
Reiner was a master of every genre, from the romantic comedy to the psychological thriller to the coming-of-age buddy movie. But in addition to his renowned work that made him a household name, Reiner is also remembered as a true advocate for the LGBTQ community. In 2009, Reiner and his wife co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, helping fight against California’s Prop 8 same-sex marriage ban. They were honored at the 2015 Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas Gala.
In a statement, HRC President Kelley Robinson said: “The entire HRC family is devastated by the loss of Rob and Michele Reiner. Rob is nothing short of a legend — his television shows and films are a part of our American history and will continue to bring joy to millions of people across the world. Yet for all his accomplishments in Hollywood, Rob and Michele will most be remembered for their gigantic hearts, and their fierce support for the causes they believed in — including LGBTQ+ equality. So many in our movement remember how Rob and Michele organized their peers, brought strategists and lawyers together, and helped power landmark Supreme Court decisions that made marriage equality the law of the land — and they remained committed to the cause until their final days. The world is a darker place this morning without Rob and Michele — may they rest in power.”
Reiner’s frequent collaborators have also spoken out as the industry is in mourning, including figures like Ron Howard and John Cusack.
A joint statement from Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest (who starred in Reiner’s “This is Spinal Tap”) reads: “Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner and our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families and we will offer all support possible to help them. There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared and the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage, and their global care for a world in crisis. We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”
While attending the 2019 HRC Los Angeles Dinner, Reiner spoke out about the need for equality: “We have to move past singling out transgender, LGBTQ, black, white, Jewish, Muslim, Latino. We have to get way past that and start accepting the idea that we’re all human beings. We’re all human beings, we all share the same planet, and we should all have the same rights, period. It’s no more complicated than that.”
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington perform “The Holiday Show” at Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.). Visit gmcw.org for tickets and showtimes.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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