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Pride in the fall

The LGBTQ community and allies celebrate in towns across the region

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Several cities and towns in the region are hosting Pride celebrations in September and October this year. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Did you miss out on Capital Pride this year or want another chance to gather with the LGBTQ community and allies? Several area Pride celebrations are taking place in towns and cities in the area over the next few weeks.


Winchester Pride

Winchester Pride Festival (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Sept. 16-18
Winchester, Va.
Facebook | Website

Three days of events, including drag shows, a party and a festival are planned for the picturesque city in the Shenandoah Valley.

  • The Golden Games – A Golden Girls Musical Game Show | Friday, Sept. 16 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Bright Box Theater | 15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | $25-$35 | Facebook | Eventbrite
  • 50/50 TapHouse Presents: Drag Bingo | Friday, Sept. 16 | 9:30 p.m.-midnight | 50/50 Taphouse 29 West Cork Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | Free to play | Facebook
  • Winchester Pride Festival | Saturday, Sept. 17 | 12-4 p.m. | Taylor Pavilion | 119 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | Free | Facebook
  • The Golden Games – A Golden Girls Musical Game Show (Show 2) | Saturday, Sept. 17 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Bright Box Theater | 15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | $25-$35 | Facebook | Eventbrite
  • Winchester Pride After Party | Saturday, Sept. 17 | 10 p.m. | Bright Box Theater | 15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Va. 22601 | $10 | 18+ | Facebook
  • Paladin Drag Brunch | Sunday, Sept. 18 | 11 a.m. | 181-A Warrior Drive, Stephens City, Va. 22655 Website

Cville Pride Street Fair & Fun Day

Cville Pride (Photo via Facebook)

Sunday, Sept. 18
11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
IX Art Park
522 2nd Street, S.E. C
Charlottesville, Va. 22902
Free
Facebook

Join Cville Pride at IX Art Park for a mini festival with booths for local nonprofits, food trucks, drag performances, live music, crafts for kids, sweets and crafts from local artisans and more.


Virginia Pride

Virginia Pridefest (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Sept. 23-25
Richmond, Va.
Facebook | Website

The Virginia Pridefest on Brown’s Island in Richmond is not to be missed: with headlining acts The Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia, Leikeli 47 and Rosé from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Also, check out the parties before and afterwards.

  • Pride After Dark—Animal: The Official Pre-Pride Party | Friday, Sept. 23 | 8 p.m. | River City Roll | 939 Myers Street, Richmond, Va. 23230 | 21+ | $15 | Facebook | Tickets
  • Pridefest 2022 | Saturday, Sept. 24 | 12-8 p.m. | Brown’s Island | Richmond, Va. 23219 | Facebook
  • Rainbow Celebration: The Official Closing Party of VA Pride Weekend | Sunday, Sept. 25 | 5:30 p.m. | Bingo Beer Company | 2900 West Broad Street, Richmond, Va. 23230 | $5 | Website

Laurel Pride

Saturday, Oct. 8
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Granville Gude Park
8300 Mulberry Street (Pavilion A)
Laurel, Md.
Facebook

The City of Laurel, Md. hosts its first Pride celebration at Granville Gude Park on October 8 with entertainment, food and educational resources.


Shenandoah Valley Pride

Saturday, Oct. 8
1-5 p.m.
Court Square
Harrisonburg, Va.
Facebook

Harrisonburg is host once more to Shenandoah Valley Pride on October 8. There will be food trucks, vendors and entertainment for the whole family as well as a (21+) beer garden area.


Howard County Pride

Sunday, Oct. 9
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
10431 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, Md.
Facebook | Eventbrite

The Howard County LGBTQ+ community and allies celebrate with vendors, exhibitions, history, food trucks, and performances at Merriweather Park in Columbia, Md.


Pride Franklin County

Sunday, Oct. 9
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wilson College
Chambersburg, Pa.
Facebook | Website

Pride Franklin County returns with a fun, family-friendly, and welcoming atmosphere. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Entertainment will include live music, a DJ, dance performances, drag shows, and more throughout the day. Food truck vendors and beverage stands will be set up. There will be kids’ activities, art projects, fitness/wellness classes, yard games, vendors, swag, and more.


Staunton Pride

Sunday, Oct. 23
12-5 p.m.
Gypsy Hill Park
600 Churchville Avenue (Route 250)
Staunton, Va.
Facebook

Staunton Pride festival will be held in the bandstand area of Gypsy Hill Park. There will be performers, a beer garden, a vendor area, a health and wellness hub, and youth activities area.

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Calendar

Calendar: March 27-April 2

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, March 27

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.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. 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

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website

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

Saturday, March 28

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 “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected]

Monday, March 30

“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]).

“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Tuesday, March 31

Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite

Wednesday, March 1

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, April 2

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. 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, 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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Out & About

Celebrate cherry blossoms the drag way

Unconventional Diner hosts bingo party

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The cherry blossoms are here. Celebrate at a unique event hosted by Unconventional Diner. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.

Tickets can be secured via Resy.

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Sports

New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics

New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles

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(Photo by Greg Martin; courtesy IOC)

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.

“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.

The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”

“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”

The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”

The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”

“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

(Video courtesy of the IOC)

Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.

Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.

“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.

An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.

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