Arts & Entertainment
Array of queer events on tap for D.C. this spring
Art, music, and Rehoboth’s Women’s+ Fest among options
After such a blisteringly cold winter, spring is almost here, which means it’s time to hit the streets for unmitigated fun. Below is a list of some of the events you should absolutely check out.
Flower Factory Party will host a colorful, queer dance party on Sunday, March 16 at Zebbie’s Garden. Sweet Spot (aka Chris & Andre), a Baltimore-based DJ, will perform. If you love all things pop music, pop culture, and queer icons — you’ll love their sets. They produce a queer dance party in Baltimore, also called Sweet Spot, and have a monthly residency at Trade in D.C. Tickets are $10 and more details are available on Flower Factory’s Instagram.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C. will perform on Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre as part of its international tour, “Passports.” The group is travelling the globe in song, celebrating diversity in culture and identity in the name of Pride. The show will feature GMCW, along with the smaller ensembles Potomac Fever, Rock Creek Singers, and Seasons of Love, plus GenOUT Youth Chorus, and 17th Street Dance. From African folk songs and South American dance rhythms to American jazz, you’ll be dancing in your seats. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Chorus’s website.
Art with Tosca will host “Queer Icons & Trailblazers: An Art Tour for WorldPride DC 2025” on Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m. at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Art historian and licensed tour guide Tosca Ruggieri will lead an unforgettable exploration of LGBTQ history, identity, and artistic expression at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. Expect to celebrate the vibrant history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community through compelling portraits and groundbreaking works that highlight the power of queer artistry. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Allumé Entertainment Group Xclusive will host “For Men Only Weekend” starting on Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m. at an undisclosed location. There will be “Guys & Gaymes” on Friday, which will include a spades tournament, Uno, and more. On Saturday, there will be “Deep Strokes Sip ‘N’ Paint.” For this event, presale tickets are priority over door tickets. By purchasing at the door you run the risk of not being able to attend as there are a limited number of seats based on the number of art supplies. This is an indoor event, ticket sales are final (refunds only if event is cancelled). Tips encouraged, and this event is for those 21 and over with valid ID. The weekend will end with “Men & Mimosas” on Sunday. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Skye Marinda will host “Femme Art Market” on Saturday, March 22 at The Coupe. One dozen local makers will come together to celebrate the Spring Equinox, Women’s History Month, and have fun. Come check out local arts and crafts, tarot readings, and more. Plus, you can enter a raffle for a chance to win goods from our artists. All proceeds to benefit the D.C. Abortion Fund. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Caged Bird Productions will host “GAY Soul Food” during the weekend beginning on Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at Anacostia Arts Center. Guests are encouraged to come celebrate a special dedication to the mothers, grandmothers and aunts who love their LGBTQ+ family members unconditionally. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
The Howard Theatre will host “Electric Feels: Indie Rock + Indie Dance Party” on Saturday, March 29 at 10:30 p.m. This is an experiential dance party that features all your favorite Indie Rock + Indie Dance songs all night with amazing DJs, stage production and more. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased on the Howard Theatre’s website.
9:30 club will host “Gimme Gimme Disco – A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA” on Friday, April 11 at 9 p.m. This is a DJ dance party playing all your favorite ABBA tracks, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s & 80s like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Cher, and so much more. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on 9:30 club’s website.
UpCycle Creative Reuse Center will host “Art Therapy: Neurographic Drawing” on Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. Starting with a short meditation, they will use markers and up-cycled inks to follow intuitions and work through emotions. This workshop is open to anyone ages 8 and up. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
The Pancakes & Booze Art Show is coming to Washington D.C. on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Hook Hall. This is one of the largest pop-up art movements to hit North America over the past decade. Guests are encouraged to come celebrate the group’s 10th year serving free pancakes and introducing you to some of the nation’s leading emerging artists. There will be local artists exhibiting over 750+ pieces of work, free “All-U-Can Eat Pancakes,” live audio performances from local DJs and music producers, and live body painting and art. This event is for those 21+. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Women’s+ Fest returns to Rehoboth Beach April 10-13 with a weekend packed full of events, including a golf tournament, art reception, pickleball tournament, a literary pop-up bookstore, and more. The Friday night headliner is Be Steadwell with Gwen LaRoka at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer speaks on Saturday morning at 9:30 in the Sands Hotel ballroom. Saturday’s dance party features GirlsRoom and DJ Peggy Castle. There’s a range of ticket options available at camprehoboth.org.
Online Culture
Clavicular charged in alleged rape of teenage influencer
Online personality’s real name is Braden Peters
Online personality Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Peters, has been accused of rape.
According to NBC, Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza, an 18-year-old influencer known online as Alorah or Alorah Ziva, accused Peters of sexual assault, and the case is making its way through the court system.
The alleged incident occurred on May 23, 2025, when Mendoza was 17.
According to a criminal complaint from the Chatham (Mass.) Police Department, Peters called her an Uber to his family’s home. Once there, he allegedly got her drunk on vodka while they livestreamed on Twitch and then raped her. His mother and grandmother were allegedly in the house.
The documents allege Clavicular committed rape, drugging a person for sexual intercourse, and procuring and providing liquor to a person under 21.
According to court documents acquired by NPR, Mendoza began communicating with Peters on Instagram, where he paid her to appear on his livestreams to help her “make her name known on social media.”
According to those documents, Peters arranged for the minor to come to Cape Cod home to participate in a videostream for his 437,000 followers on Kick, 1.2 million followers on TikTok, and more than 1 million followers on Instagram.
At his home, Peters allegedly instructed Mendoza to say she was 18 on his videostream and to claim the alcohol on camera was water instead of vodka. Mendoza said she felt peer-pressured to drink the spirit and that she became noticeably intoxicated after a couple of drinks.
The allegations go on to state that after stopping the stream, Peters and Mendoza kissed on a couch and then had sex in his bed without her consent. Mendoza said she did not receive a sexual assault forensic exam after the incident. NPR does not name alleged victims of sexual assault.
The charges come months after Mendoza sued Peters in Miami, accusing him of sexual battery in connection with the events of May 2025. The civil lawsuit also separately alleges that he injected her face with a non-FDA-approved fat-dissolving substance during a November livestream in Florida.
Peters is known for his “looksmaxxing” concept of vanity, which is at the core of his online presence. The “looksmaxxing” culture he has helped cultivate combines elements of incel culture and heterosexuality, with the stated goal of attracting the opposite sex. He has gone as far as to say he has undergone “bonesmashing,” or hitting his own face with a hammer; taken anabolic steroids to more rapidly grow muscle; and used crystal meth as an appetite suppressant.
At the same time, looksmaxxing has been described as having elements of homoeroticism, with “looksmaxxers” appearing more concerned with impressing other men than women. Peters has multiple times pointed to openly gay actor Matt Bomer as the gold standard for male facial aesthetics.
Peters’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Photos
PHOTOS: Shenandoah Valley Pride
LGBTQ celebration held at Turner Pavilion in Harrisonburg, Va.
The 2026 Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival was held at Turner Pavilion in Harrisonburg, Va. on Sunday, Sept. 20.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
















Whitman-Walker Health held the 40th annual Walk and 5K to End HIV at Anacostia Park on Saturday, Sept. 19.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)



















