a&e features
Best of LGBTQ D.C. 2024
The Blade’s annual review of your favorites in food, nightlife, and more
Once again the Blade is proud to celebrate the best in our local community, from activists to pizza.
With nearly 5,000 nominations and 35,000 votes, this was the biggest year yet for our annual friendly competition, our 23rd year organizing this contest. Stephen Rutgers coordinated the voting; Michael Key coordinated the photos. This year’s contributing writers are: Lou Chibbaro Jr., Chris Kane, Kevin Naff, Joe Reberkenny, Tinashe Chingarande, Clinton Engelberger, Erkki Forster, Joey DiGuglielmo, Evan Caplan, and Patrick Folliard.
This year’s Local Hero Award, which is the only award voted on by Blade staff, goes to the tireless June Crenshaw, a ubiquitous presence in our local community who does life-saving work.
Local Hero: June Crenshaw
Those who know June Crenshaw describe her as a fierce advocate for the safety and empowerment of LGBTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness.
Since 2016, Crenshaw has served as executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, a D.C.-based nonprofit organization providing support and services for homeless LGBTQ youth in the D.C. metro area.
The Alston Foundation says in a statement that under Crenshaw’s leadership, the organization provides two to six years of shelter, case management, connection to medical and mental health care, development of life skills, and employment and school support for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 and 24.
“Since joining the Wanda Alston Foundation, June has significantly increased awareness of the prevalence of homelessness among LGBTQ youth and the trauma they experience,” the statement says. “She tirelessly fights for resources to be allocated to programs that create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness,” it says.
“She educates, trains, and motivates her staff and volunteers to ensure a consistent vision and optimal organizational performance,” the statement continues. “She has tripled the organization’s budget and, after 13 years of operations, opened the second location and a Counseling Center that focuses on supporting queer folks impacted by Intimate Partner Violence,” it says.
Crenshaw took on additional responsibilities in 2022 when a D.C. Superior Court judge appointed the Alston Foundation to serve as the city’s receiver for the LGBTQ community services center Casa Ruby, placing the Alston Foundation in full control of the operations and finances of the then faltering Casa Ruby, which has since ceased operating.
Meanwhile, in addition to her role as executive director of the Alston Foundation, Crenshaw also serves as co-chair of the organizing committee for World Pride 2025, the international LGBTQ Pride celebration that D.C. will host, and which will take place May 23 to June 7, 2025.
“Those two things keep me very busy,” Crenshaw told the Blade. “But I continue to be engaged with the community advocating around resources for queer organizations to be able to serve and support our community members. So, real strong advocacy around the D.C. budget and making sure resources come to organizations like the Wanda Alston Foundation, but other organizations as well.”
A native of Oklahoma, Crenshaw earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa in 1984, the year she moved to D.C. where she became involved in a wide range of endeavors in both nonprofit organizations and the business world.
She worked from 1989 to 1994 as a supervisor for research for the D.C.-based firm Washington Service Bureau, Inc., before working from 1994 to 2012 as a supervisor and later as project manager for Coventry Healthcare, Inc., a Bethesda-based national health insurance company that became part of the Aetna health insurance corporation.
Among her many involvements with nonprofit organizations, Crenshaw has served since 2007 as chair of the board of directors of the Rainbow Response Coalition, a D.C.-based coalition of local LGBTQ groups that provides training and education to address the issue of intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ community.
She served as chair of the board and board member of Whitman-Walker Health, the D.C. LGBTQ supportive healthcare provider from 2006 to 2016, and as a board member of the Whitman-Walker Foundation from 2017 to 2022.
From 2013 to 2020 she served on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization. And from 2007 to 2015, she served on the Advisory Board for the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
“Although I’m no longer on board of the Human Rights Campaign, I’ve stayed very involved in a lot of the work that’s done there,” she said regarding her current endeavors. “I’m hoping to participate in the get-out-the-vote initiative and to make sure that Kamala Harris becomes our next president and threats against our community are minimized,” Crenshaw said. (Lou Chibbaro Jr.)
FOOD & DRINK
Best Coffee Shop: Tatte Bakery & Café
Multiple locations
After snagging the Editor’s Choice award two years running, Tatte now claims the Best Coffee Shop spot. Boston-based Tatte blanketed D.C. with its Mediterranean-inspired breakfasts, pastries, and coffees beginning in 2020. There are now more than a dozen around the DMV, serving seasonal brunches, craft drinks, and a welcome spot for people watching and catching up on emails.
Editor’s Choice: Three Fifty Bakery and Coffee Bar
Best Outdoor Dining: Le Diplomate
1601 14th St., N.W.
Snagging several Best Brunch awards and winning the Editor’s Choice for Best Outdoor Dining last year, “Le Dip” has myriad fans for all meals. Its American take on a Parisian Bistro has proven popular over the past decade, now a cornerstone of the 14th Street corridor. Beloved for its bread basket, meaty cheeseburger, mussels, and more, its outdoor sheds took over an entire half-block of 14th Street, now a permanent fixture from which to view passersby while sipping aperitifs.
Editor’s Choice: Hank’s Oyster Bar
Best Restaurant: Tabard Inn
1739 N St., N.W.
One of the oldest hotels in Washington, D.C., the Tabard Inn opened in 1922 in the style of an English manor and has been oozing charm ever since. While not gay-owned, it’s become a welcoming gathering space for LGBTQ locals and visitors, owing to its geography in Dupont Circle, eccentric nature, somewhat hidden locale, and diverse staff and clientele. The restaurant, started as a tea room, is full of art and warmth, and places a focus on Mid-Atlantic cuisine.
Editor’s Choice: Pineapple & Pearls
Best Brunch: Perry’s Drag Brunch
1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.
Celebrated for its long-running brunch (and winning the title in 2021), Perry’s Drag Brunch is raucous and fabulous. Hosted only on Sundays (two seatings), this event treats guests to eclectic food like eggs, yakisoba, tater tots, and tiramisu. Perry’s recently picked up a new chef, Masako Morishita, who won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Emerging Chef. The restaurant also just debuted a Japanese breakfast.
Editor’s Choice: City Tap Dupont Drag Brunch
Best Local Brewery: Red Bear Brewing Company
209 M St., N.E.
Having taken home Best Brunch, Best Neighborhood Bar and Best Local Brewery awards in the past, this year, it’s back to win the Local Brewery award. This gay-owned venue in the District hosts drag shows, trivia, and stand-up performances, among other events. It pours beers with suggestive titles like “Hefe Don’t Preach,” “OktoBEARfest,” or “Tall, Dark and Nutty,” to name a few. Its festive drag brunch, running monthly, pulls out all the stops with its themes, like Broadway, Chromatica Ball, and goth. Desiree Dik serves as host.
Editor’s Choice: DC Brau
Best Local Distillery: Republic Restoratives Distillery
1369 New York Ave., N.E.
Winning this title in 2021 and 2019, Republic Restoratives is women-owned, community-led, and made in the District. Republic’s vodka, Civic Pride, was created out of frustration with popular brands co-opting the rainbow flag while also supporting organizations or efforts that directly harm LGBTQ people. It recently created and then quickly sold out bottles of “Madam” a bourbon-rye whiskey on whose label VPOTUS Kamala Harris’s smiling visage is featured.
Editor’s Choice: Cotton & Reed
Best Burger: Duke’s Grocery
Multiple locations
The 2021 and 2023 winner, Duke’s Grocery serves burgers with a British accent. With locations in Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, Navy Yard, and Foggy Bottom, this restaurant serves guests hearty portions of bar food. The burger has landed it on a whole bunch of lists, from Zagat to the Washington Post. Besides its famed Proper Burger, it also has a salmon, Impossible, and Wagyu burger. The Dupont location was closed for a year, undergoing a renovation, and recently reopened to royal fanfare.
Editor’s Choice: Lucky Buns
Best Ice Cream/Gelato: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Multiple locations
August or December, Jeni’s is known to cause pedestrian traffic backups on the busy 14th Street thoroughfare because of lines out the door. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has a “uniquely smooth texture and buttercream body” in fanciful flavors like birthday cake and fruit crumble. It scooped up the award last year and the year before, as well. There are locations in Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Navy Yard, Yards Park, and McLean.
Editor’s Choice: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Best Pizza: Andy’s Pizza
Multiple locations
Slicing and saucing in the New York tradition, Andy’s Pizza serves up pizza from stone ovens crafted from long-fermented dough, Wisconsin mozzarella, and California tomatoes. Andy’s boasts seven spots across the area, including one in Shaw near popular gay bars. Options include flavors like pepperoni and white sauce, but the whole pies come in a range of options, including a Buffalo crispy chicken and a vegan pie with plant-based cheese.
Editor’s Choice: We the Pizza
Best LGBTQ-Owned Business: KNEAD Hospitality
Multiple locations
Gay couple and business partners Michael Reginbogin and Jason Berry co-founded KNEAD Hospitality & Design in 2014. The restaurant group has birthed eateries like Mi Vida, Gatsby, Succotash, and several others. “We want people to eat with their eyes,” said Berry in a 2021 interview with the Blade.
Editor’s Choice: A Tour of Her Own
Best Local Winery: Chester Gap Cellars
4615 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630
Located in Virginia, a small estate winery located outside Front Royal, Chester Gap is gay-owned and welcomes LGBTQ visitors for valley vistas and vintages. The owners — Jeff Seese and Travis Patton — also have an AirBnb so you can stay the evening, enjoy the fully stocked kitchen and outdoor fire pit, and wine at all hours.
Editor’s Choice: District Winery
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Drag Queen: Destiny B. Childs
Destiny B. Childs came onto the local drag scene in 2003 performing at a variety show. In 2003, as manager of Freddie’s Beach Bar, she was drafted into drag duty as hostess and show director for Freddie’s Follies and soon after started performing at Ziegfeld’s.
She holds many pageant titles including Miss Zodiac 2005, Miss Freddie’s 2006-2007, Miss International Gay Rodeo 2007, Miss Gaye USA 2008, Miss Gaye America D.C. 2008, Miss Gaye Universe 2011 and Miss Ziegfields 2016.
She’s also been a longtime mainstay as hostess of the Capital Pride concert and has been in the Imperial Court since 2011, holding the title “first empress.”
Childs (Ric Benavides outside drag) says she “works hard to ensure all members of the Imperial Court feel welcomed, safe, and loved.”
Runner-up: Bombalicious Eklaver
Best Drag King: King Molasses
In a Vox explainer video, King Molasses described themselves as “the sweetest, stickiest drag king you’ll ever meet.” Molasses fuses different elements of traditional Nigerian fashion with a southern cowboy aesthetic to deliver electric performances that leave guests salivating for more. Follow him on Instagram for more.
Runner-up: King Flirty Xperience
Best Transgender Performer: Indiana Bones
Indiana Bones describes her drag persona as “very femme, very pop star-esque” and “an extension of my femininity.”
Known outside drag as Adriana Emilia, she says, “I love looking and feeling beautiful while lip syncing to the main pop girls.”
Bones, a trans woman, performs all over the D.C. area including Wednesdays at Kiki, weekends at either Nellie’s drag brunch or City Tap House Dupont. She’ll also be at a new venue HER Diner. She has been in the hospitality industry for about a decade but is “taking a break” from it now and performing full time.
“Thank you D.C. for loving me,” she says.
Follow her on @theonlyindiana on Instagram for show times and dates.
Runner-up: Brooke N Hymen
Best Drag Show: Freddie’s Follies
Freddie’s Beach Bar
555 S. 23rd St.
Arlington, Va.
Freddie’s Beach Bar is the place to be for the gays who love happy hour. Along with amazing food and drinks, the restaurant also offers vibrant karaoke nights, piano nights, and thrilling games like beach blanket bingo. Anyone who’s been there can attest to Freddie’s being the place to be after work, blazer off, tie untied, heels exchanged for flats.
Freddie’s hosts various drag shows each month. The main event is Freddie’s Follies every Saturday night at 8 p.m. The current cast is Destiny B. Childs, Sasha Adams Sanchez, and Monet Dupree.
Editor’s Choice: SHOOK at Shaker’s
Best Local Artist presented by Wild Side Media: Keyonna Jones
Washington native Keyonna Jones is passionate about art, community advocacy, and entrepreneurship. With a background in journalism and a master’s degree in science management, she brings a distinct lens to her work.
As the founder of Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, Jones has been instrumental in bringing new and necessary artistic experiences to the East of the River community in D.C. She also serves as board chair of The Creative School, showcasing her commitment to youth, education and creativity.
Jones, a lesbian, is also a skilled tattoo artist, published fashion stylist, talented photographer, graphic designer, and gardener.
Runner-up: Haus of Bambi
Best Live Music in D.C. presented by Wild Side Media: The Anthem
901 Wharf St., S.W.
Since opening its doors in October of 2017, The Anthem has earned its place among the DMV’s best music venues.
Located on the Wharf, the cavernous 57,000-square-foot venue, which cost $60 million to build and has a movable stage and backdrop that allows capacity to vary from 2,500 to 6,000, is not intimate. Far from it. It’s big with shows ranging from seated to general admission. Entrance lines can move swiftly or slowly. But once in, the space offers good acoustics and decent sightlines, and there are lots of clean bathrooms and multiple bars for drinks and food.
The Anthem adds a vibrancy to the Waterfront. It’s Metro accessible and has lots of nearby, but pricey, parking. Upcoming acts include Latto, Zayn, and the B-52s who are slated to perform on Halloween night.
Editor’s Choice: 9:30 Club
Best Theater presented by Wild Side Media: Kennedy Center
2700 F St., N.W.
For many DMV residents, the historic Kennedy Center serves as a portal to the performing arts. The Center presents diverse artists, including numerous LGBTQ voices, across all of its programming, whether it be theater, opera, dance, the symphony, comedy, hip hop, or jazz.
And the Social Impact division recently had SMYAL as one of its Culture Caucus members. And lately the Center has even been hosting drag brunches at its Roof Terrace Restaurant. The Kennedy Center made its public debut on Sept. 8, 1971, with a gala opening performance featuring the world premiere of a Requiem mass honoring President Kennedy, a work commissioned from the legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Its vast interior spaces include the Eisenhower Theatre, Opera House, Concert Hall, and assorted smaller venues.
Its Broadway Center Stage series brings some incredible Broadway talent, including fabulous queer stars, which currently includes Beanie Feldstein, Noah Galvin, Kevin McHale, and Nina White in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Editor’s Choice: Arena Stage
Best Live Music Outside of D.C.: Wolf Trap
1551 Trap Rd.
Vienna, Va.
Set on 117 acres of rolling hills and forest in Vienna, Va., Wolf Trap ranks high for outdoor entertainment.
Arvind Manocha, the out president and CEO of Northern Virginia’s Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts for more than a decade, understands his platform and what comes with it. For him that means promoting diversity and queer inclusion.
Over the past two years, Wolf Trap has presented “Out & About,” an annual two-day outdoor music festival spotlighting LGBTQ artists and vocal allies. With the new musical event, Manocha and his programming team are coalescing entertainment and visibility.
Featuring big queer names like Brandi Carlisle, Rufus Wainwright, and Be Steadwell, etc. Comfortably out for some time, Manocha regularly attends Wolf Trap performances and donor events with his husband Gideon Malone. And for some pre-Valentine’s Day fun, Titus Burgess, the queer comedian, singer, and actor who is best known for his role as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” is booked for Feb. 12.
Editor’s Choice: Merriweather Post Pavilion
Best Theater Production: ‘Macbeth,’ Shakespeare Theatre Company
610 F St., N.W.
If there was a hot ticket in D.C. last season, Shakespeare Theatre Company’s (STC) “Macbeth” was it.
Among the Bard’s shortest and most popular tragedies, “Macbeth” typically comes with a built-in audience. But in directing the classic, STC’s artistic director Simon Godwin didn’t take any chances. He packed the production with talented star power including stage and screen star Ralph Fiennes (“The English Patient”) as the eponymous Scottish general and Olivier Award-winner Indira Varma (“Game of Thrones”) who played the monumentally ruthless Lady Macbeth.
Prior to coming to Washington in April of 2024, the greatly anticipated production enjoyed successful runs in Liverpool, Edinburgh, and London. Here, STC took its contemporary and satisfying take on “Macbeth” to a former BET soundstage in Brentwood, transforming the massive empty space into a war-scorched set perfect for scenes both large and intimate.
Editor’s Choice: “Fat Ham,” Studio Theatre
Best LGBTQ Bar: Crush Dance Bar
2007 14th St., N.W.
Although Crush is one of the newest LGBTQ bars in the district, the weekly line around the block shows weekend after weekend that the 14th Street dance bar is the place to let loose, enjoy a cocktail, and live out your dancing queen fantasy. Its walls covered with nostalgic posters of pop divas and vinyl records of the latest playlist mainstays show that Crush is a sanctuary of dance.
The two floors boast three bars, a large rooftop patio, and a room that tributes dancing’s greatest invention since surround sound: disco balls. Its list of signature cocktails includes the Kamala Kolada, Miora Rosé, and ever-popular orange and grapefruit crushes.
Its owners Stephen Rutgers and Mark Rutstein, who formerly operated the Cobalt Dance Bar, have come together to “create a new entertainment space that bridges the gap of labels” in the nation’s capital.
Editor’s Choice: Little Gay Pub
Best Bartender: Ben Oursler, Annie’s
1609 17th St., N.W.
It makes sense that a restaurant like Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse with such an vaunted history in Washington’s LGBTQ scene would have the most voted for bartender, and this year’s honor goes to Ben Oursler.
Oursler has helped Annie’s stay the special LGBTQ institution D.C. queers have loved for decades by slinging drinks and smiles to everyone who comes in. His infectious attitude and spirit help make Annie’s a place of year-round celebration.
Runner-up: Jared Keith Lee, Crush
Best Local DJ: DJ Matt Bailer
If you have visited any gay bars over the past few years, there’s zero chance you haven’t seen, heard, and danced to the musical stylings of DJ Matt Bailer on the dance floor. Bailer effortlessly mixes the trendiest artists, like Chappell Roan, with classic hits like “YMCA” to create a sound that is uniquely Bailer.
It is hard to stand on the sidelines of the dance floor as his funky beats interlock with tried-and-true staples that get not only the dance floor jumping but the whole bar. His non-stop schedule is a testament to not only his dedication to the craft, but also to the D.C. LGBTQ community’s desire to dance to his mixes. You can find DJ Matt Bailer at a range of spaces including the 2024 voted best LGBTQ bar Crush, Kiki, Pitchers, and the wildly popular ‘90s dance party Peach Pit at DC9.
Runner-up: DJ Heat
Best Neighborhood Bar: Number Nine
1435 P St., N.W.
With two floors of comfy seating, handsome bartenders who remember your order, and polished vibe, it makes sense that Number Nine was voted best neighborhood bar. The bar being a hot spot for Stonewall sports events, their collection of non-stop iconic music videos, and daily two-for-one drink deals keep the crowds coming. Don’t forget to grab a mint Lifesaver (and copy of the Blade) from the giant bowl out front before you sit down, sip, and relax with your friends for the night.
Editor’s Choice: Larry’s Lounge
Best Happy Hour presented by ABSOLUT: Crush Dance Bar
2007 14th St., N.W.
Newcomer Crush made the Blade’s Best Of list twice this year. The bar’s fun nostalgic dance theme gets people in the door, but the happy hour is what keeps them there. Each weekday from 5-8 p.m. Crush offers $7 premium drinks, $9 craft cocktails (including their namesake Orange Crush), and half-priced draft beers.
Editor’s Choice: JR.’s Bar & Grill
Best Outdoor Drinking: Little Gay Pub
1100 P St., N.W.
D.C. may not be known for our year-round perfect weather, but the queer community in the city has always fancied outdoor spaces that offer comfortably cute places to sip and share with friends. Logan Circle’s Little Gay Pub was voted this year’s best outdoor drinking spot as it has an enclosed awning, picnic tables with rainbow parasols, and iconic red telephone box mural that makes the bar impossible to miss.
Editor’s Choice: Kiki
Best LGBTQ-Friendly Bar: Dacha Beer Garden
1600 7th St., N.W. and 79 Potomac Ave., S.E.
Although not owned by a member of the LGBTQ community nor officially a gay bar, you will consistently see groups of D.C.’s LGBTQ community hanging out at Dacha Beer Garden drinking boots of beer and enjoying a selection off the beer garden’s extensive menu. With its giant murals of gay icons Elizabeth Taylor at the Shaw location and Jackie Onassis in the Navy Yard spot, it’s easy to see why gay, straight, and everyone in between can find something they like at Dacha.
Editor’s Choice: Stoney’s
Best LGBTQ Bar Outside the District: Freddie’s Beach Bar
555 23rd St. S
Arlington, Va.
It is difficult to talk about the LGBTQ bar scene in the DMV without mentioning Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington. Freddie’s has been a staple LGBTQ bar in the area since it opened more than 20 years ago. Serving classic cocktails and a full menu, its famous Sunday Buffet Brunch, and daily events including drag shows, bingo, and karaoke, it makes sense that Washington Blade readers voted Freddie’s the best “LGBTQ+ but straight friendly restaurant and bar” outside of the District.
Editor’s Choice: Baltimore Eagle
Best Museum: National Gallery of Art
6th St. and Constitution Ave., N.W.
The National Gallery of Art earned the title of Best Museum this year, taking the title from the National Air & Space Museum. Home to more than 150,000 paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings, the gallery showcases masterpieces by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt, as well as the only Leonardo da Vinci painting outside of Europe, alongside contemporary art. Moreover, the gallery features an impressive collection of works by queer artists, including Ellsworth Kelly, Zanele Muholi, and Andy Warhol, which you can explore with a 45-minute self-guided tour. The gallery’s stunning architecture –– with one building in neoclassical and the other in modern style –– is worth the visit alone. Admission is free, and unlike the Air & Space Museum, advance ticket reservations are not required.
Editor’s Choice: National Museum of African American History & Culture
COMMUNITY
Best Local TV/Radio Personality: Kidd O’Shea
At 16 years old, Good Morning Washington (GMW) co-host Kidd O’Shea would make fake radio shows in his bedroom he would later play for his friend on a cassette tape during their drive to school.
Now, he’s the winner of the Washington Blade’s Best of LGBTQ DC Local Radio/TV Personality award.
“I am so lucky to be able to do what I get to do, and to be able to do it in this city,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea has been a co-host and travel correspondent for GMW on ABC7 for nearly 10 years. His bright energy and passion for visiting new places have made him a television and radio staple for the D.C. community.
Britt Waters, a GMW co-host and the recipient of this award last year, has known O’Shea for 10 years and has worked with him for three.
She said the recognition was long overdue given how much the community adores O’Shea.
“I may have won last year, but I think my mom voted for Kidd last year,” Waters said. “That just shows you how lovable he is.”
Before O’Shea came to D.C., he worked in radio in his hometown of Milwaukee.
He initially dreamed of being on broadcast news as a teenager, and would record segments with his friends who owned camcorders. After meeting a neighbor who was a local TV news anchor, O’Shea was advised to get his start in radio –– and that’s exactly what he did.
“I literally picked up a phone book and looked up small radio stations, and there was one about 45 minutes from my parents’ house,” he said. “It was a polka country music station that played gospel music Sunday morning at 7 a.m.”
He worked a 1-7 a.m. shift at that station for three months, but ultimately decided he was “ready for the big city.” O’Shea called a Milwaukee radio station and got his start pushing buttons and answering phones but eventually worked his way up.
O’Shea said he’s grateful to be pursuing a career where sharing your personal life is encouraged. He joked that he talks about his partner of five years “every other sentence” to his GMW co-hosts, but said he’s excited to work in a space where he can be open.
“Coming up through radio, that’s really how you make that connection is being honest and open,” he said. “If I met you at a bar on a Friday night, I would tell you the same story that I tell you the next morning on the radio or TV.”
O’Shea has been a visible presence for the LGBTQ community since he first opened up about his identity on air on a Milwaukee radio show he co-hosted called the Kidd and Elizabeth Show.
After former President Barack Obama endorsed gay marriage in 2012, O’Shea casually offered his thoughts on the endorsement “as a gay man” with his co-host Elizabeth Kay.
“Listeners were like, ‘I think Kidd just said he’s gay,’” he said. “That was a really important moment in my career, because while I wasn’t hiding it, I was still not revealing completely who I was. And once I did, people understood my relationship better with my co-host.”
Shortly after that segment, a 17-year-old boy called into the show to get advice about coming out to his parents.
The next day, the boy called back to tell them he did it and everything went great.
“[It’s worth it] if just one person feels more comfortable by waking up and seeing me on television and being like, ‘Oh, I’m not alone, I’m not different,’” O’Shea said. “I think that visibility is just so important.”
Waters said O’Shea and the GMW team’s appeal to the community that people see on screen is what they see in real life.
Waters said she was nervous to meet O’Shea for the first time 10 years ago, as she assumed he would be a “buttoned-up entertainment reporter.” But when she got to know him, she realized he was authentic and attracted to the simple things in life.
“You give him vodka soda, the same meal every week at Annie’s and a good conversation,” Waters said. “It’s crazy, because he travels the world and gets to do all of these different excursions and experiences for the show. But I think he values being with us most and in our community in D.C., having a good time.”
It’s the vibrant and supportive D.C. community that O’Shea said keeps him grounded in the area.
“After moving here and finding great friends, a great community, a great job and supportive coworkers –– I’m going to keep riding this one as long as I possibly can,” O’Shea said. (Clinton Engelberger)
Runner-Up: Chuck Bell, NBC4
Best LGBTQ Event: Capital Pride
2000 14th St., N.W.
What’s D.C. without Capital Pride — the crown jewel of all Pride events in the nation’s capital? Not only does this yearly event attract tens of thousands of attendees from all over the world, it is a celebration of the color and vibrancy the D.C. LGBTQ scene has to offer. And 2025 promises to be the biggest year yet for Capital Pride as the city prepares to host World Pride, which is expected to bring 2 million visitors to D.C. in May and June.
Editor’s Choice: Pride Run 5K
Best Pride Outside of D.C: Baltimore Pride
One of the buzziest events of the summer, Baltimore Pride is a showcase for the beauty of Baltimore’s LGBTQ scene. It features a parade and festival with plenty of diverse vendors and a less corporate vibe than many other urban Pride celebrations.
Editor’s Choice: Annapolis Pride
Best Clergy: Bishop. Thomas Wieczorek
Thomas Wieczorek’s popularity as a longstanding clergy member and priest with the D.C.-based affiliate parish of St. Mary’s National Catholic Church of North America prompted his fellow priests and bishops in 2022 to elect him as an auxiliary bishop.
Rather than a breakaway version of the Roman Catholic Church, Wieczorek describes the National Catholic Church of North America as an independent Catholic Church that ordains married, LGBTQ clergy and “welcomes and affirms ALL to the table.” He holds a weekly virtual church service via Facebook Live to meet the needs of what he calls an active community that offers sacraments including baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, and marriage.
He also notes that his wide-ranging “chapters in life” include being a newspaper reporter, police officer, fire chief, public safety director, and city manager. As if that were not enough, he is an owner and partner in a consulting firm that assists local governments with public safety issues throughout the U.S. and Canada and is the father of two and grandfather of seven.
Runner-up: Rev. Ashley Goff
Best House of Worship: Sixth & I
600 I St., N.W.
This historic synagogue is a non-denominational, non-membership, non-traditional Jewish congregation. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the city and is well-known for hosting many lectures, concerts, and art exhibitions for the general public.
Editor’s Choice: Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.
Most Committed Activist: Rayceen Pendarvis
Rayceen Pendarvis has once again been selected as Most Committed Activist in the role of longtime event moderator, emcee, entertainer, and LGBTQ rights advocate. Pendarvis became a well-known and admired figure in the local LGBTQ community as host of the “Ask Rayceen Show,” a live monthly variety program that had a 10-year run from 2012 to 2021.
Pendarvis has also served as an elected D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and has hosted multiple fundraisers, Pride celebrations, arts festivals, talent shows, fashion shows, and other events. In June of 2021, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Pendarvis’s accomplishments that it said made D.C. a better city. And that same year, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a mayoral proclamation recognizing the contributions of Pendarvis and the “Ask Rayceen Show.”
Since 2014, with the help of associate Zar, Pendarvis has been the lead public figure in the organization Team Rayceen Productions, which organizes a wide range of LGBTQ community events, many of which are broadcast live on its YouTube channel.
Runner-up: Ashley Smith
Best D.C. Public Official: Christina Henderson
D.C. Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large) has been an outspoken longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community since first winning election to the Council in 2020 as well as in her prior work as a D.C. government official and as Deputy Chief of Staff for former D.C. Council member David Grosso, who was also an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights.
In her role as chair of the Council’s Committee on Health and as a member of the Committee on The Judiciary and Public Safety, Henderson has backed legislation and policies supportive of LGBTQ issues. She received a +10-candidate rating, the highest possible rating, from the Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance in her 2020 election campaign, and a +8.5 GLAA rating in her re-election race this year, a rating that GLAA has described as very good.
As she has in past years, Henderson marched in this year’s Capital Pride Parade and participated in a Capital Pride “Kick Off” ceremony.
Runner-up: Japer Bowles
Best Daytrip: Annapolis
Next time you need a quick getaway, check out the endless activities in Maryland’s charming capital city on the Chesapeake.
Check out the famous historical landmarks like the Maryland State House and St. Anne’s Church. Explore the plethora of antique shops like Blue Crab Antiques and West Annapolis Antiques.
And you can’t visit without indulging in seafood dining spots like Cantler’s and O’Learys Seafood. There are also several gardens and parks, like Broadneck Park (613 College Pkwy.) or the Chase Home Garden (22 Maryland Ave.) where you can unplug and enjoy a stroll.
Editor’s Choice: Harpers Ferry
Best Local Professional Sports Team: Washington Spirit
D.C. is a sports city, home to many teams that play hard to earn their touchdowns, homeruns, and goals. This year Blade readers voted the Washington Spirit, our premier professional women’s soccer team, as the best local professional sports team. The incredible team is currently ranked second in the NWSL and has consistently supported local LGBTQ groups, like SMYAL. The Spirit understands the importance of playing hard and LGBTQ representation in sports.
Editor’s Choice: DC United
Best Amateur Sports League: Stonewall Bocce
Logan Circle., N.W.
A first-time winner in this category, Stonewall Bocce has grown from 80 members in its 2011 debut season to more than 780 players today. The league combines friendly competition with a strong commitment to the local community: As part of the nonprofit Stonewall Sports, Inc., the league’s mission is to donate 80 percent of its profits to local organizations that support those in need. Each of the 58 teams –– sporting witty names such as My Bocce My Choice, Son of a Bocce, and Ball Me Maybe –– gets to pick its own charity to support. Games are held every Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at Logan Circle and happy hour socials are regularly hosted at local spots.
Editor’s Choice: DC Gay Flag Football
Best LGBTQ Social Group: Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
1517 18th St., N.W.
More than 250 voices strong, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington delivers electrifying performances that blend song, dance, and storytelling. Featuring three vocal ensembles, a youth chorus, and a dance troupe, the group has become a staple of the music scene in D.C. and beyond. As part of the “Equality Tour,” the chorus has spread the message of “equality, dignity, and justice” in cities across the country. In 2025, the GMCW will host a two-week International Choral Festival for World Pride, in which choruses from across the U.S. will join GMCW for “pop-up” concerts at various venues near the National Mall. Don’t miss their upcoming fall cabaret at the Keegan Theater on Oct. 19, or catch the always popular Holiday Show returning on Dec. 7.
Editor’s Choice: DC Gay Girls Plus
Best Non-Profit: SMYAL
SMYAL remains a cornerstone for LGBTQ youth in the D.C. area. Through its after-school programs, counseling services, and development opportunities, SMYAL provides queer and trans youth with safe spaces to express themselves, find support, and build community. In addition, the organization awards $35,000 in scholarships to students each year and also provides vital education and training for adults working with LGBTQ youth in schools, housing programs, local government agencies, and hospitals. SMYAL has pioneered innovative initiatives, including its Youth Housing Program, which is the largest LGBTQ youth housing provider in the DMV. This program offers more than 55 residents LGBTQ-affirming care and personalized services designed to help them achieve sustainable independence. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, SMYAL continues to empower LGBTQ youth, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to thrive.
Editor’s Choice: Capital Pride Alliance
Best LGBTQ Community Center Outside of D.C.: CAMP Rehoboth
37 Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
CAMP Rehoboth is an invaluable LGBTQ+ community center serving southern Delaware and beyond that is committed to fostering inclusivity for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Founded in the 1990s as a response to backlash against growing queer visibility in Rehoboth Beach, the organization has since become an essential force in building a safer, more accepting community. Describing itself as “an oasis and a voice for members of the LGBTQ+ community,” CAMP Rehoboth continues to look ahead with its strategic plan, “Pride in Progress,” which focuses on expanding its programs and services beyond Rehoboth Beach to maximize its impact. The center has also published Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, a free monthly newsletter chronicling LGBTQ+ life in the area, since its founding.
Editor’s Choice: Pride Center of Maryland
Best Local Website/Social Media Account: Washingtonian Problems
From challenges on the Metro to crime in the DMV, local elections, and cool things to do when you’re entertaining out-of-town guests, Washingtonian Problems spotlights the best — and, often, the worst — that our Nation’s Capital has to offer.
Editor’s Choice: Queer Talk DC
BUSINESS
Best Local Businessperson: Freddie Lutz, Freddie’s Beach Bar
Freddie Lutz, the owner of Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant in the Crystal City section of Arlington, Va., since 2001, has been recognized as a leading figure in support of the LGBTQ community and community business development in the section of Arlington where Freddie’s is located known as National Landing.
In 2018, Lutz opened his second business in Crystal City, Federico’s Ristorante Italiano, which is located on the same block on 23rd Street as Freddie’s Beach Bar and in the same building in which the iconic Café Italia was located and where Lutz began his career in the restaurant business in the 1970s as the Maitre’d. In October of 2021, Lutz opened a Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Lutz has referred to Freddie’s in Arlington and Rehoboth as “straight friendly” gay bars, where he has said everyone supportive of the LGBTQ community, especially those considered allies, are welcome. The entertainment offered at Freddie’s, including karaoke, drag bingo, and highly popular drag shows, have drawn large crowds. Also drawing crowds have been the LGBTQ community events such as fundraisers that Freddie’s has hosted.
Among the many honors and awards received by Lutz and Freddie’s Beach Bar was the 2017 Arlington County Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Award honoring Freddie’s for its “outstanding accomplishments” in advancing human rights.
“I’m extremely proud of what I’ve done at Freddie’s, with all the diversity and the accolades,” Lutz told the Blade. “But I’ve always felt like I left my heart at Cafe Italia and now Federico’s.”
Runner-up: Russwin Francisco, Bite the Fruit
Best Medical Provider: Whitman-Walker Health
Multiple locations
Whitman-Walker Health has been serving D.C. since 1973.
Named after Walt Whitman, who once lived in Washington, and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a physician who worked in D.C. during the Civil War before she became a women’s rights activist, Whitman-Walker was one of the first organizations to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the city.
Whitman-Walker’s mission has expanded to include legal services and general medical and dental care for LGBTQ Washingtonians and the city’s residents as a whole.
Editor’s Choice: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
The Blade also acknowledges AIDS Healthcare Foundation for its continued work in D.C. and around the world.
Best Lawyer: A.J. Singletary
A.J. Singletary works on clean air and climate law, policy and transactions as a lawyer with Van Ness Feldman.
He represents renewable energy developers, power plant operators, vehicle and engine manufacturers, policy institutes and related clients on matters including strategic direction related to environmental law and policy, air quality permits under the Clean Air Act, regulation of vehicle emissions, new and existing climate change laws and regulations and offshore wind development.
Singletary, who’s gay, is also a mental health advocate and shares his experiences being bipolar and sober to reduce stigma around mental health.
Runner-up: Amy Nelson
Best Dentist: Dr. Gregory Martin, DDS
5454 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Dr. Gregory Martin and his team are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, heard and valued. They deliver dental care comprehensively, scientifically, and cosmetically to focus on the mouth/body connection at every step.
Dr. Martin’s comprehensive approach offers a full complement of modern, digital and precise dentistry adjacent to a complete suite of pioneering state-of-the-art medical grade aesthetics ensuring that oral health and confidence always goes far beyond the smile. He’s openly gay.
Dr. Martin’s office offers free tattoo removal for all patients, one of many extras available. Dr. Martin is a native to the D.C. area and a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Runner-up: Dr. Rob McKernan, Big Gay Smiles & Whitman-Walker Health
Best Private School: Barrie School
13500 Layhill Rd.
Silver Spring, Md.
Barrie School bills itself as a “progressive independent school that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation and responsibility through innovation in learning.”
With students starting at 3 months of age through grade 12, the Silver Spring, Md.-based school features a 45-acre campus that boasts an “extraordinary learning environment integrating local, national and global educational opportunities.”
Editor’s Choice: Burgundy Farm Country Day School
Best Real Estate Agent: Stacey Williams-Zeiger, Zeiger Realty
10300 Sweetbriar Pkwy
Silver Spring, Md.
Zeiger Realty real estate offers brokerage services in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. This award-winning company doesn’t only buy and sell houses, it’s committed to building a welcoming community.
Runner-up: Taylor Carney, Compass
Best Real Estate Group: Bediz Group, Keller Williams
1918 18th St., N.W.
Bediz Group is a team of nine real estate agents with Keller Williams, one of the largest realty firms in the DMV. This firm is no stranger to five-star reviews and awards for its exceptional work. It offers a comprehensive suite of real estate services and is here to assist sellers, buyers, investors, tenants, and landlords.
Runner-up: Jenn Smira Team, Compass
Best Med Spa: ProMD Health
1003 K St., N.W.
This spot provides anti-aging treatments, Botox and hormone therapy for patients in the D.C. area. This place is a state-of-the-art medical facility specializing in non-surgical aesthetic treatments and procedures to help patients look younger and feel younger. Whether your goals are prevention, treating a skin concern, looking like you did 10 years ago, or feeling like you did 10 years ago, ProMD Health has something for everyone.
Editor’s Choice: Honey Skincare Studio
Best Hotel: Conrad
950 New York Ave., N.W.
A self-described “unexpected urban oasis,” this hotel is where you go to experience modern luxury in D.C. With an art-forward approach to contemporary luxury, Conrad invites guests to experience D.C. through the lens of a local resident of the District and enjoy the culture and color that makes our nation’s capital one of the most incredible cities in the world.
Editor’s Choice: Eaton DC
Best Tattoo Parlor: Tattoo Paradise
2444 18th St., N.W.
This popular tattoo spot has been serving the D.C. area since 2003. The artists here pride themselves on providing exceptional tattooing and body piercing services. The team consists of skilled in-house tattoo artists combined with a roster of talented guest tattooers from all over.
Editor’s Choice: Fatty’s Tattoos
Best Adult Store: Bite the Fruit
1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
The age of pleasure never ends and where else to grab the best tools than here? Bite the Fruit is a peerless adult boutique shop of provocative apparel and sexual furnishings. As the store itself says, “Play like nobody’s watching!”
Editor’s Choice: What’s Your Pleasure D.C.
Best Car Dealership: BMW of Fairfax
8427 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA
Looking for a sleek, classy car that’ll get you all the compliments? BMW of Fairfax has got you covered. Not only do the car dealers here provide great customer service and help you find the car of your dreams, they have access to Sonic’s nationwide inventory of new and pre-owned BMWs so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
Editor’s Choice: DARCARS
Best Fitness or Workout Spot: VIDA Fitness
Multiple locations
With amenities like private personal training sessions, classes taught by nationally accredited coaches, state-of-the-art equipment, and the exclusive Penthouse Pool, Vida Fitness is understandably one of the DMV’s most known gyms. Vida Fitness is more than just a gym; it’s a community hub for LGBTQ individuals looking to stay active. Its inclusive environment and regular LGBTQ-friendly events make it a standout spot for fitness and social connections alike.
Editor’s Choice: [solidcore]
Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace: Whitman-Walker Health
1525 14th St., N.W.
Whitman-Walker Health, the 2023 winner of the “Medical Provider” category, is not only dedicated to patient care but also to the well-being of its employees. Located at Logan Circle, the organization is a pillar in D.C.’s LGBTQ community, known for offering stigma-free healthcare and legal services. As one of the first organizations to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the city, Whitman-Walker continues to lead through the Whitman-Walker Institute, which emphasizes education and advocacy, while housing a research center pursuing breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention. Employees receive a generous benefit package that includes tuition reimbursement, continuing education funds, and domestic partnership benefits.
Editor’s Choice: Stratus Firm
Best Home Furnishings: Miss Pixie’s
1830 Columbia Rd., N.W.
Whether you’ve just moved to D.C. and need to furnish your apartment or you’re searching for that perfect addition to your “whatnots,” Miss Pixie’s is the go-to spot. The home furnishing store is packed with chairs, tables, couches, bookshelves, paintings, vases, photos, magazines, offering anything “Victorian to yesterday with a bit of midcentury and shabby chic thrown in” that might fancy up your living quarters. This year, Miss Pixie’s relocated from 14th Street back to Adams Morgan, a return to the neighborhood where it first opened shop in the late 1990s. Miss Pixie’s keeps its 34,000 followers on its Instagram page happy with a steady feed of unique finds –– whether it’s a framed map of Rehoboth Beach or a charming table-and-chair set for your balcony. Items are affordably priced and new treasures arrive every Thursday and Friday.
Editor’s Choice: GoodWood
Best Pet Business or Veterinarian: City Dogs
1832 18th St., N.W.
Whether your furry friend needs a quick haircut, a fun day at daycare, or an overnight stay while you’re away, City Dogs has it all covered. Locally owned and operated, City Dogs offers a loving, cage-free environment with experienced staff. Their services include grooming, daycare, and boarding, with convenient drop-off and pick-up options. Daycare is especially helpful for new puppies and recently adopted rescue dogs, with City Dogs providing attention and socialization while you’re at work. Dogs are grouped by size and play style, with smaller, gentle pups and seniors in one room, and larger, more energetic dogs in another, ensuring a safe and playful experience for every pet.
Editor’s Choice: District Dogs
Best Alternative Transportation: Metro
Thanks to its exceptional Metro system, D.C. is one of the few cities in the U.S. where you are able to live comfortably without a car. The Metro is fast and reliable –– you usually don’t wait longer than 10 minutes for the next train –– and it’s incredibly user-friendly. Stations are not only clean but also feature the iconic concrete arch, with warm, calming lighting enhancing your commuting experience. It’s easy to travel across the greater D.C. area: You can get from Nationals Park to U Street, or from Arlington to Dupont Circle, in under 20 minutes. And for areas not directly served by the MetroRail, the extensive MetroBus network provides excellent connectivity. This combination gives D.C. one of the best public transportation systems in the country.
Editor’s Choice: Capital Bikeshare
Best Salon/Spa: Logan 14
1314 14th St., N.W.
After eight consecutive wins in this category, Logan 14 was voted Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace in 2023, but it reclaimed the Best Salon/Spa title this year. Logan 14 offers a wide range of beauty and wellness services, describing itself as “a sanctuary in the middle of busy Washington, D.C.” About 75 percent of its clientele identifies as LGBTQ, and it is staffed by passionate beauty professionals skilled in haircuts, coloring, bridal services, rejuvenating massages and skincare treatments. The medspa features other options such as Botox, fillers, and laser hair removal. Logan 14 exclusively uses Aveda products, due to its environmentally conscious manufacturing. With a focus on inclusivity and exceptional service, Logan 14 continues to be a beloved destination for beauty and wellness in the heart of the city.
Editor’s Choice: Salon Quency
REHOBOTH BEACH
Best Rehoboth-Area Bartender: Doug Moore, Starboard
2009 DE-1
Dewey Beach, Del.
Anyone who’s been to the Starboard in Dewey Beach knows Doug Moore, the ever-smiling, energetic bartender and first-time winner in this category.
Moore, who’s gay, has worked at the ‘board for 17 years, starting in 2007 in the gift shop, then moving to serving, then to bartending. He helped to open the Shark Tank, the Starboard’s year-round bar located at the front of the sprawling complex, in 2008 and says that since then, “crushes have taken over.”
He has seen a lot of change in 17 years as the area has become “a lot more year round down here, which we love. People are moving here and retiring here so it’s amazing. More people are discovering what a great destination the Delaware shore is.”
The other big change Moore has seen came in his personal life. He’s now nearly five years sober and serves on the board of Attack Addiction, a non-profit that works to de-stigmatize substance abuse.
Moore, who recently turned 40, is single, lives in Rehoboth, and enjoys beach volleyball. He grew up in Bear, Del., and graduated from the University of Delaware. He says he enjoys seeing Rehoboth gay guys migrating to Dewey Beach; he works five days a week, so stop by and say hello.
“We are come one come all at the Starboard,” he enthuses. “You’ll see everyone from six-month-old babies to a group of gay guys for Sunday brunch to bikers next to nuns next to senior week partiers. We put on a good time and everyone is there to have fun.”
Runner-Up: Zack West, Nalu
Best Rehoboth Drag Queen: Magnolia Applebottom
Magnolia has quickly become an iconic figure on the Rehoboth nightlife scene, winning this category multiple times, including last year. She is a tireless performer, taking the stage at venues across Rehoboth Beach and even across Delaware. At Diego’s she presides over the popular Splash party, which took this year’s award for Best Rehoboth Drag Show. In addition to her inventive costumes and witty banter, Magnolia sings live, which has endeared her to audiences all year long. In addition to her regular duties at Diego’s and Blue Moon, she’s headlined Salisbury Pride for three years and co-headlined a terrific show with pianist Nate Buccieri in Milton, Del., this summer.
Runner-up: Roxy Overbrooke
Best Rehoboth Drag Show: Splash Party with Magnolia Applebottom at Diego’s
37298 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Magnolia extends her winning streak to this category, edging out the competition, which is stiff in Rehoboth. Whether she’s celebrating Pride or covering Whitney Houston and getting the customers dancing, Mags gives it her all and Rehoboth readers have responded with two resounding wins this year.
Editor’s Choice: Drag Brunch at the Pines
Best Rehoboth-Area Live Show: Pamala Stanley at Diego’s
37298 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
What can we say about Pamala Stanley that we haven’t said before? The Blade crowned her “Queen of Rehoboth” years ago for a reason. She’s played multiple venues in town over the years but her latest residency at Diego’s feels like a return to the good old days of the Blue Moon, with its indoor-outdoor stage, room for dancing, shirtless shot boys, and over-the-top party vibe. She packed Diego’s all summer with her longstanding Sunday night dance party and added a Broadway piano show on Monday nights, both of which will continue through the holidays. Pamala is true talent, wowing crowds with her voice and somehow managing to remember the lyrics to everything from Janet Jackson to Johnny Mathis. We simply can’t imagine the town without her.
Editor’s Choice: Games with Magnolia at Blue Moon
Best Rehoboth Outdoor Dining: Purple Parrot
134 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
The gay-owned Purple Parrot celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and it remains a local institution. The bar and restaurant, which serve American cuisine with a beach flair, have always focused on being a welcoming space for all. Co-owner Hugh Fuller told the Blade earlier this year that this is one of the reasons why the restaurant has had such a lasting impact.
“Back in the ‘90s when we first opened up, the amount of straight crossdressers that would come were like, ‘Oh, are we allowed to come in? Are we welcomed into a place like that?’ And we were like ‘Everybody that walks on this planet is welcome here!’” Fuller said. “Those are the kinds of things, you know, where people just felt comfortable. They would get stared at out on the street, but inside they would walk around and feel like they were in their own skin. It was just really cool to see.”
The menu includes crab cakes, burgers, quesadillas, and more, along with special prime rib and German cuisine nights. The vibe is decidedly beachy in the Biergarten with sand, an outdoor bar with a roof covered in flowers, and umbrellas.
Editor’s Choice: Aqua
Best Rehoboth Coffee Shop: Crystal Restaurant
37300 Rehoboth Ave., Ext. 1
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Crystal is a new winner in this category, beloved for its diner vibe and affordable, delicious breakfasts, the perfect hangover cure after a long night next door at Diego’s. You can certainly pay more for a satisfying plate of eggs, bacon, and hash browns, but why would you? Locals and tourists alike have been flocking here for years for the food, service, and coffee and the Blade’s readers have finally taken notice.
Editor’s Choice: Rise Up
Best Rehoboth Restaurant: Blue Moon
35 Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
This category has grown more competitive in recent years with the arrival of The Pines, Drift, and Bodhi Kitchen, all within a stone’s throw of the iconic Moon. The proprietors of Second Block Hospitality Group, which owns those three popular spots, even won Restaurateurs of the Year from the Delaware Restaurant Association earlier this month. But the Blue Moon is standing strong and is beloved by Blade readers for its longevity, year-round entertainment, and, of course, its food. The popular Tasting Tuesday returned last month and runs through the off-season, offering discounted three-course dinners with wine pairings. Sunday brunch remains among the best in town. A visit to Rehoboth simply isn’t complete without a stop at the Moon.
Editor’s Choice: Henlopen City Oyster House
Best Rehoboth Real Estate Agent: Lee Ann Wilkinson
16698 Kings Highway A
Lewes, Del.
This category was closer than in recent years, but Lee Ann Wilkinson stays on top for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year. Maybe we should name this award after her?
Wilkinson, of Berkshire Hathaway, earlier this year celebrated a major industry award after being named No. 1 in total sales volume for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Network. She’s an LGBTQ ally and the Blade profiled her in May. She told us then, “I grew up coming down for the summer until my family moved here full-time from Norristown, outside of Philly. We had businesses and family in Rehoboth. I think Rehoboth has always been gay-friendly. We never thought about it. My grandfather had a house in Rehoboth before I was born. The gay population was always welcome.”
Three of Wilkinson’s four daughters work for her and she told the Blade she has no plans to retire anytime soon. So we could see the family in this category again.
Runner-up: Andy Staton
Best Rehoboth Business: Diego’s
37298 Rehoboth Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Diego’s pivoted during COVID and added an expansive outdoor bar area that has proven exceedingly popular with LGBTQ crowds. Owners Darryl and Joe Ciarlante-Zuber opened in 2018 and have done an exceptional job of programming the non-stop entertainment, including drag shows, world-renowned DJs, and the aforementioned Pamala Stanley. The bartenders are always welcoming and efficient, keeping the large crowds satisfied. Diego’s has become the go-to place for late-night dancing and remains popular at happy hour and, of course, on Sundays.
Editor’s Choice: Aqua Bar & Grill
a&e features
Margaret Cho returns to music with ‘Lucky Gift’
Collection of pop tunes includes tribute to non-binary people
LOS ANGELES — It has been eight years since Margaret Cho released her Grammy-nominated “American Myth” album. She’s back to the music scene with her new album, “Lucky Gift,” an 11-track collection of anthems and pop tunes, a tribute to Robin Williams, and a shout-out to non-binary and gender non-conforming people.
The album captures the whirlwind that is Margaret and all of the different facets of her talents that have made her a powerhouse in entertainment and a leader in activism. In “Lucky Gift,” she’s getting her point across while having fun and getting glam.
We caught up with the activist and artist to chat about her music, our political climate, and the power of pop divas.
Known for her comedy, acting, and activism, she felt it was long overdue to get her music back out there too.
“I make music often. It’s a part of my daily life, it’s a big part of my social life, and it’s just something that I just love to do for my own relaxation and fun. I had enough for an album and I wanted to finally put them out. I was just really proud of how it all sounded together,” shares Cho.
“It’s a power pop record. For me, the songs are really meaningful. They’re all in their own way love songs. I’m a big fan of my own music (laughs), I really like the way that I sound and it’s really special to do. People know me as a comedian, and I have also made music for a long time, but it’s sort of a side project, and so it was time to put more out again.”
Her album also includes a touching tribute to Robin Williams. The entertainment community is finally more comfortable talking about mental health more openly. When relating mental health to her own life, Margaret, in true Margaret form, quickly turned the conversation to reflect today’s political climate.
“I have to maintain a level of peace and quiet and sometimes maybe get away from the news, although that’s tough because I am obsessed. I want to know what is happening. I’m really worried for our community, especially the trans community. I’m worried that this administration is trying to separate T and the Q from the LGBTQIA, and it’s really frightening.”
As an elder, Cho says she has to also remember that we’ve been through this before and it’s actually been much worse. As a community, we’ve been through a similar situation, and we were facing down a pandemic, which was killing us by the millions. So at least now we don’t have to fight AIDS as well as this onslaught of homophobia.
“We have fought for our rights, and we still have them, but we may not have them for long. So our mental health is very important to preserve now because we have to fight. The one thing to remember is they can’t do everything at once. They can’t take away trans rights, queer rights, gay rights, gay marriage, anti-depressants —ha — at the same time. So what we can do is just try to remain as calm as possible and fight as strongly as we can. But yeah, mental health is really vitally important right now.”
Margaret’s long history of queer activism stands for itself. She does not shy away from current issues, she uses her platforms to incite, educate, and question. For Margaret, there is no time off from being an activist. She was born into it, so to speak, being raised in San Francisco in the 1970s, her parents — the owners of a gay bookstore — and their employees followers of Harvey Milk.
“My activism is that I don’t have a choice. I’m going to be an activist no matter what. We’re doing this together, we’re going through this together. I will always be political. It’s just disheartening to see the ignorance of people and the lies that are being told that are believed.”
Margaret’s “Lucky Gift” comes at a perfect time when the queer community can come together over music. Cho looks at her album as a tool to empower an underdog community through the power of music.
“It’s the triumph of pop above all. We need to look to our pop divas above all. So now I’m more than ever, leaning on Madonna. [Thank God for Lady Gaga’s] “Abracadabra” because I think that things like that boost our community so much. When you can just get together and have a “brat summer,” that boosts our community so much in this togetherness, this explosion of excitement. I think Chappell Roan really ignited the pop capacity for healing. I love ‘Lucky Gift’ because it is my stepping into a pop diva moment. Pop divas should not be discounted for how important they are to our society and how much they lift us up.”
In addition to releasing her new album, Cho will continue to hit the road this year with her “Live and LIVID! Tour,” celebrating more than four decades of live stand-up shows. On this tour, she promises to rage about homophobia, sexism, racism, and the fight to stay alive. The five-time Grammy and Emmy-nominated performer is not holding back. According to her, the nation is not divided, just a little lost.
“We’re not divided. Everybody hates this. We all hate this. The fact is, the majority of the country does not want this. Unfortunately, a lot of people just didn’t vote because they just didn’t want to participate. That’s why we’re in the situation that we’re in. So to be on the road is a pleasure. And I rarely come against opposition. Every once in a while there’s something, but it’s something that we all handle. I think we all need a voice, a strong voice of reason to combat all of the hysteria.”
And her message to her fans?
“We’ll get through this. We’ll get through this with pop divas. ‘Abracadabra,’ learn the choreography, you do it sitting down. At least we have pop music, I have my hat in the ring here. But at least we have each other and we’re going to be OK. It’s going to be a ride, it’s going to be intense, but we can do this. We’ve been through this before and we are going to be fine.”
“Lucky Gift”is now available on all major streaming platforms.
a&e features
Meet the people giving a voice to LGBTQ truck drivers
‘Like therapy,’ finding solace in each other and the road
Before embarking on his weekly 2,000-mile trip as a truck driver, Derric Schmid sets up his smart TV and preps meals in bulk like ham and potatoes.
To some, long hours on the road away from family and friends sounds grueling. But for Schmid, it’s his way of life.
“I love the freedom,” Schmid said. “I get paid to go see the country. I’ve spent New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, I’ve spent it in St. Louis and this year I spent Christmas out in California exploring.”
Schmid is the vice president and senior diversity officer of LGBTQ+ Truck Driver Network (TDN), a nonprofit he runs with founder Bobby Coffey-Loy. TDN aims to foster inclusivity and safety in the truck driving industry by building a supportive network of allies and queer truckers.
The organization vets companies (Schmid says he calls 50-100 per week) to understand which are committed to creating safe spaces for drivers of all backgrounds. Schmid and Coffey-Loy also host the Big Gay Trucker Podcast, where they interview people who need advice or want to discuss taboo topics.
Coffey-Loy said meeting people from different walks of life, including trans people recovering from surgeries while on the road, inspired him to create TDN.
“It just opened me up to a whole group of people that just needed representation,” Coffey-Loy said. “There are groups out there on [social media] pages, but nobody actually took it as far as a nonprofit organization.”
Coffey-Loy drives with his partner of 17 years, Ricky, for a company called Luna Lines. Together they drive about 6,000 miles a week, taking turns sleeping or keeping one another company. On Monday, they typically start a load in Jacksonville and then drive to New Mexico, Chicago, Baltimore, Tennessee and end up back home in Palm Coast, Fla., by Friday. They even pay for all their gas and food while on the road.
Doing a weekly cross-country road trip in tight quarters with your partner can be trying, and Coffey-Loy will be the first to admit that: “Your partner is someone that knows how to push your buttons faster than anybody else,” he laughed.
But he also said starting truck driving together eight years ago is what made him and his husband closer. Before driving, he said it felt like life and jobs sometimes got in the way of their relationship. Going to trucking school together and being able to support each other on the road over the years has sparked a different kind of connection in their lives.
“We didn’t want to be apart from each other, so that’s what made trucking work for us,” he said.
For both Schmid and Coffey-Loy, truck driving runs in the family. Schmid, who’s been driving trucks for almost 24 years and with TDN for more than two, calls Jonestown, Pa., home –– a borough with a 2023 population of 1,645. He had three uncles and a grandfather who were truck drivers.
Coffey-Loy, born and raised in West Virginia, said his father and grandfather were truck drivers.
Continuing family tradition is respectable enough, but Coffey-Loy’s mission of creating a safe and supportive space for those in the industry was unique; it was difficult for his parents to accept his identity when he first came out.
Coffey-Loy’s parents passed away 11 months apart last year. He said they learned to grow to love him for who he was. When TDN started up, they became “mom and dad to everyone,” and even invited people with no familial structure to move in with them.
At get-togethers, his dad called everyone “sweetie” or “honey” to be respectful since he didn’t know how everyone identified.
“What they’ve taught me is, if they can change their mind and they can accept everybody, anybody can,” Coffey-Loy said. “I will cherish it forever. I miss them every day.”
And the impact of this lesson has been tried and true. TDN attended the Mid-America Trucking Show despite receiving death threats and facing extra security measures –– yet they ran through dozens of handouts before their station even opened. Another year, they handed out condoms to promote safe sex on the road and were met with backlash –– yet they went through a whole box on the first day.
The team behind TDN may be small –– about eight people –– but Schmid said their reach is wide. Thousands of people visit their social media pages from around the world and connect with each other, including a vocal German bus driver and a man from Africa trying to create more queer visibility in his area.
Coffey-Loy said many people contact him directly for support. There was a straight man who called who had trouble balancing his home life and truck driving hours and expressed suicidal thoughts. The man said he saw Coffey-Loy’s number and needed someone to talk to.
Moments like those are why Coffey-Loy emphasizes that the organization is there to support everyone, not solely the LGBTQ community. He recalled a bonfire gathering where people of different backgrounds and identities laughed and talked as friends.
“It’s why you do what you do,” Coffey-Loy said.
Although TDN has given many people a family away from home, it doesn’t make losing time with family and friends any easier. Coffey-Loy missed a family member’s funeral in West Virginia because he was in New Mexico and couldn’t abandon his load.
“He had already been buried before I could get back,” he said.
It’s a different way of life, but it’s not an impossible one. Schmid calls his mom and stepfather every morning and his mom again in the evenings. He gets on group calls with friends and TDN members. On weekends, Schmid sees some friends in person for dinners, and is able to visit with his family.
Truck driving may mean frequently saying goodbye to close people in his life, but it also opens the door to new connections around the country: “I got friends in every state,” Schmid said.
Although he’s constantly traveling, Coffey-Loy always feels at home. It’s those nights driving, with nothing but the roaring hum of the road filling the silence while his husband sleeps behind him, that fulfill him.
“Even though you miss so much of your everyday life, there’s something about trucking that is so freeing,” Coffey-Loy said. “The road can be so loud in your life, and it has a way to really sort out things. It’s like therapy for me.”
a&e features
Saldaña triumphs amid ‘Emilia Pérez’ collapse at Oscars
Karla Sofía Gascón loses top award to Mikey Madison after scandal
It’s no wonder the camera caught actress Michele Yeoh crying after watching queer singer Cynthia Erivo (nominated for best actress) and Ariana Grande (nominated for best supporting actress) perform one of the much-loved songs from “Wicked,” as they were simply magnificent.
Grande opened with Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and Erivo sang “Home” from “The Wiz.” That was one of the many bright spots in the 97th annual Academy Awards, which took place Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
While the duo sadly didn’t take away any awards, the magical film did — gay costume designer Paul Tazewell won the Oscar for Best Costume Design.
“This is absolutely astounding,” Tazewell enthused onstage, in his acceptance speech. “Thank you Academy for this very significant honor. I’m the first Black man to receive a costume design award for my work on ‘Wicked.’ I’m so proud of this.”
In the pressroom, Tazewell elaborated on his well deserved win.
“This is the pinnacle of my career. I’ve been designing costumes for over 35 years,” he said. “Much has been on Broadway and now into film, and the whole way through there was never a Black male designer that I saw that I could follow, that I could see as inspiration. And to realize that that’s actually me, it becomes a ‘Wizard of Oz’ moment, you know, it’s like no place like home. So to come back to the inspiration being inside of me was — is really remarkable.”
Tazewell said he achieved the award with the help of a lot of really amazing and talented costume artisans of all types and an amazing staff and assistants and crew.
“Because, you know, there’s no way for me to do it alone! And that also is my greatest joy — to be collaborating with other very talented artists, so I respect what that artistry is, and I share this with them because I value what their input is.”
The veteran costume designer knew the movie was going to be pretty spectacular, but he was “absolutely blown away,” because of their approach.
“We were working on two films at the same time. It wasn’t until I actually saw a pretty complete cut that I actually experienced the journey that we have created for audiences. And so, to experience that –I was beside myself. And it defined why I do costume design, why I am a costume designer.”
“Wicked” also won the Oscar for Best Production Design.
“Emilia Pérez,” Netflix’s mesmerizing Spanish language, trans crime musical, had a whopping 13 nominations, with first-time nominee Karla Sofia Gascón making history as the first trans woman to be nominated for best actress. This would have been the most nominated foreign film in the history of the Academy Awards.
Unfortunately, after the controversy surrounding her past tweets, the film only won two awards: for best supporting actress (Zoe Saldana) and best original song (“El Mal”).
While the U.S. is in an era of anti-trans political maneuvering, Sunday night’s broadcast included no mention of trans people.
In the pressroom, during an interview with “Emilia” composers Clément Ducol, Camille, and director Jacques Audiard, a journalist asked if anyone wanted to address what was happening.
Speaking in French via a translator, Audiard said, “Since I didn’t win Best Film or Best Director, I didn’t have the opportunity to speak, but had I had that opportunity, I would have spoken up.”
Saldaña, who starred as Rita, a lawyer who gets enmeshed with the trans cartel leader’s transition, was thrilled to win.
“I am floored by this honor. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita. And talking about powerful women, my fellow nominees, the love and community that you have offered me is a true gift, and I will pay it forward. Thank you so much Jacques Audiard, you are forever a beloved character in my life. Thank you for taking the interest, thank you for being so curious about these women to tell this story to my cast and my crew of ‘Emilia Pérez.’”
Saldaña’s nephew is trans; a few weeks ago, while winning the best supporting actress at the BAFTAs, she told journalists that she was dedicating the award to him.
“I’m dedicating all of these awards and the film ‘Emilia Pérez’ to my nephew, Eli. He is the reason — they are the reason — I signed up to do this film in the first place,” she said. “So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.”
PHOTOS: Freddie’s Follies
No, ‘Mid-Century Modern’ is not a ‘Golden Girls’ remake
Trans people must be allowed to live full, safe lives
HHS cuts millions in grants to Hopkins and University of Maryland, Baltimore
‘Hurt Capital’ chronicles young life of bipolar, trans writer
Finding the courage to flee U.S. to save my trans daughter
D.C. queer bar owners sound alarm on WorldPride security concerns
I want to leave my perfect boyfriend
First D.C. LGBTQ seniors home ready to open
Virginia governor vetoes bill barring discrimination against PrEP users
-
Opinions2 days agoFinding the courage to flee U.S. to save my trans daughter
-
District of Columbia3 days agoD.C. queer bar owners sound alarm on WorldPride security concerns
-
Advice5 days agoI want to leave my perfect boyfriend
-
District of Columbia2 days agoFirst D.C. LGBTQ seniors home ready to open