District of Columbia
BENT party bids farewell with Halloween bash
DJ Lemz reflects on hosting quarterly event at 9:30 Club
When Town Danceboutique closed its doors more than six years ago, D.C.’s LGBTQ community lost its largest dance venue. In response, DJ and event organizer Steve Lemmerman launched BENT, a quarterly queer dance party at the 9:30 Club. Its immediate success underscored the need for LGBTQ events like it, following the closures of Town and other establishments.
Now, more than a dozen BENTs later, Lemmerman is gearing up for the party’s final edition this Saturday. BENT is ending –– but it’s a joyful conclusion, as new venues such as Crush Bar and Kiki have emerged to expand the landscape of queer spaces in D.C. in recent years.
“The city has done its job,” Lemmerman, who also goes by his stage name, DJ Lemz, explained. “The city has filled the need for somewhere to commune as a whole. There are all these different gay bars and queer spaces now, and we don’t need to fill that void anymore.”
BENT’s last hurrah will be a spirited send-off. Its annual Halloween extravaganza, “HellBENT,” will feature a handpicked lineup of acts that have graced the party’s stage over the years.
“This is like a perfect ending. HellBENT is the one that we always look forward to the most every year, and we can just go out on a high note being our spooky, weird selves.”
Among those returning for the grand finale is Ana Latour, a drag performer who left a memorable mark at last year’s HellBENT by having blood dumped on her in a recreation of the “Carrie” character. Latour is coming out of retirement just to perform again on Saturday.
The art group Haus of Bambi, drag artist Pussy Noir, and go-go dancer Samson are also making a comeback, and party goers can expect a hefty dose of spooky tracks in Lemmerman’s DJ set, including songs from Kim Petras’s “Turn Off the Light” album.
“It is just a love letter to everything we’ve done. It’s going to be a really fun night of just showing off our favorite parts of this party,” Lemmerman said.
From its inception in 2019, BENT was created to bridge different facets of D.C.’s queer nightlife scene. Lemmerman wanted to “put people together that normally wouldn’t interact, both in the crowd and on stage.” The party has always featured a diverse lineup, with go-go dancers, drag performers, pole dancers, burlesque performers, and DJs all sharing the spotlight.
Rather than catering the event to a particular group, Lemmerman’s vision was to make BENT a “special melting pot” for the entire queer community. It seemed to strike a chord with people, as the first edition in January 2019 sold out.
“I think it was something fresh and new,” Lemmerman reflected. “It was a lot of reaching across the different facets of nightlife and putting everyone together. I think that just really resonated with people that they get to see like a highlight reel of what’s going on in the city.”
The iconic 9:30 Club, home to many LGBTQ staff members, proved to be the ideal venue for an event dedicated to celebrating inclusivity and self-expression.
“There’s just so much that they do that really just shows how much they actually care about our community and our safety,” Lemmerman said. “It’s a place where I’ve always felt safe to just be myself.”
Audrey Fix Schaefer, communications director for 9:30 Club, said part of the fun of BENT is seeing the excitement before the event even begins.
“I’m really happy just standing in the lobby and watching people come in. It’s just so much fun when nobody’s got to worry about what they’re wearing, but they’re really there to show off,” she said.
Organizing BENT hasn’t been without its challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the party had to transition online. Lemmerman would prerecord performers at an empty 9:30 Club and splice the footage together with his DJ sets, which he would then live stream on Twitch.
But his fondest memories are from the moments he shared with performers on stage, like the time he surprised his friend, go-go dancer Ricky Rosé, by sneaking their favorite song into the set.
“I watched him just turn around, jaw dropped, like, ‘No, you did not.’ And it was just like, such a happy moment that we still look back on every once in a while, this nudge of ‘I got you,’” he said.
Schaefer praised Lemmerman’s work, reflecting on how he grew BENT into a must-attend event and how proud the 9:30 Club staff was to be part of something so special.
“It’s been thrilling to watch Steve grow with this and the sense of pride that our employees have about being a place that welcomes everybody and has fun while doing it,” she said.
District of Columbia
Mary’s House founder, CEO retires
Dr. Imani Woody played leading role in opening DC’s first home for LGBTQ seniors
The board of directors for Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC’s first official home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, announced on July 7 that its founding president and CEO, Dr. Imani Woody, has retired.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing a leading role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort Dupont neighborhood.
The house, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025, includes 15 single-occupancy residential units and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
“It is with profound gratitude and hearts full of celebration that the board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC (MHFOA) announces the retirement of our visionary founder, Dr. Imani Woody, from her role as president and CEO,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Dr. Woody’s journey with Mary’s House began with her vision and a kitchen table gathering of women with a bold, urgent, and loving vision: to create safe, affirming, affordable housing for LGBTQ/SGL older adults in Washington, DC,” the statement says.
It adds, “What started as a dream has grown into DC’s first affordable LGBTQ+/SGL affirming communal living space for adults 60 and over, a 15-room community residence at 401 Anacostia Road in Southeast Washington.”
The statement says Woody will continue to serve on Mary’s House board.
“The board will be sharing information about the leadership transition process in the coming weeks,” the statement continues. “We are committed to honoring Dr. Woody’s legacy by ensuring Mary’s House continues to thrive and grow in faithful service to LGBTQ/SGL elders experiencing housing insecurity and isolation.”
District of Columbia
SMYAL receives $25,000 award for ‘courageous acts’
D.C. group provides support services for LGBTQ youth
The D.C.-based organization SMYAL, which provides services for LGBTQ youth in the D.C. metro area, including housing for homeless LGBTQ youth, announced on June 30 that it received a $25,000 award for its “courageous acts” in support of the community it serves.
The award was a monetary grant from The Courage Project, which describes itself as a “national initiative investing in acts of courage and compassion that strengthens our communities and democracy.”
A statement on its website says it was launched in May 2025 and is funded and backed by leading national foundations in the U.S.
“At SMYAL, we are deeply grateful to receive support from The Courage Project and are inspired by their bold investment in LGBTQ+ youth at such a critical moment,” SMYAL CEO Erin Whelan said in a statement. “For queer and trans young people, simply showing up as themselves each day requires immense courage, and that courage is strengthened when organizations like The Courage Project stand behind them loudly, proudly, and without hesitation,” Whelan said.
In its statement announcing the award SMYAL says The Courage Project will recognize SMYAL and other awardees and their work on July 3 at the Washington National Cathedral as part of a special interfaith service marking the U.S. 250th anniversary.
“The Courage Project is a bold initiative honoring everyday acts of bravery – the quiet, often unseen acts of heroism that reflect the best of the American spirit and strengthen democracy at the community level,” the project states on its website.
District of Columbia
Longtime Blade staffer Stephen Rutgers steps down after 14 years
Plans to focus on running Crush Dance Bar, other ventures
Longtime Washington Blade employee Stephen Rutgers announced he is stepping down after 14 years to focus on other ventures, including his part ownership of the popular Crush Dance Bar.
Rutgers was hired by the Blade in 2012 to help plan Pride festivities and over the years was promoted to director of sales and marketing. In addition to his broad set of responsibilities, Rutgers planned the annual Pride on the Pier celebration at the Wharf, which has exploded in popularity over the seven years since its launch.
“Watching Pride on the Pier grow from a new community event into one of D.C.’s signature Pride celebrations has been incredibly rewarding,” Rutgers said. “Expanding Pride on the Pier into a two-day festival for WorldPride in 2025 was definitely a career highlight. Seeing thousands of people come together to celebrate our community while supporting the Blade’s mission is something I’ll always be proud of.”
Rutgers described his biggest challenge as navigating the changing media landscape.
“More than ever, we’ve had to remind our community that local journalism matters and that it needs their support,” he said.
He added that he’s most proud of helping to ensure the Washington Blade is positioned to thrive for the next 50 years.
“I was fortunate to be part of the Blade during its 50th anniversary — a milestone that reflects its incredible history and impact,” Rutgers said. “The Blade has been an important voice for the LGBTQ community for more than five decades, and knowing I played a small part in helping its future is most important to me.”
Blade Publisher Brian Pitts praised Rutgers for juggling multiple responsibilities.
“We wish Stephen all the best,” Pitts said. “For the past 14 years, Stephen has been a vital part of the Blade, handling many things — marketing and advertising, sponsorships, and Blade signature events. We will all miss him.”
Blade Editor Kevin Naff thanked Rutgers for his years of service to the community.
“After 14 years, it’s hard to imagine the Blade without Stephen and his boundless energy and creativity,” Naff said. “He’s one of the hardest working and most dedicated people I’ve ever known and he will be missed. But change is the only constant and I know Stephen will move on successfully to new challenges and the Blade will expand on Stephen’s important work.”
As for what’s next for Rutgers, he said he plans to focus on Crush as well as his real estate business.
“I’ve always been someone who likes to stay busy,” Rutgers said. “For the past 12 years, I’ve balanced my work at the Blade and in real estate. Two years ago when I opened Crush, I never realized just how much time and energy it would take. The passing of my father earlier this year also gave me a new perspective. It reminded me that life is short and that it’s important to make time for the people and experiences that matter most. Stepping away from the Blade will allow me to focus on those ventures while also creating more balance in my life. After 14 incredible years, it feels like the right time for a new chapter.”
Naff said that for now Rutgers’s responsibilities will be divided between existing staff along with several new freelance contractors.
“The Washington Blade plays a unique role in our community’s fight for equality,” Rutgers said. “It’s the only LGBTQ news organization with White House credentials, giving it direct access to the people and institutions shaping policies that affect our community. The Blade continues to hold elected officials accountable, report on the issues that matter most to LGBTQ people, and tell the stories that often go uncovered by mainstream media.
“The Blade has been my family for most of my adult life. For 14 years, it has been part of my daily routine, so it’s going to feel very strange waking up and not logging on each morning.”
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