Arts & Entertainment

Trans woman posts photo with her ‘bathroom buddy’ Texas Gov. Abbott

the picture has gone viral on social media

Published

8 years ago

July 19, 2017

Ashley Smith, a transgender woman and LGBT activist, took a dig at Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s support for SB6, Texas’ “bathroom bill,” with a photo that has gone viral.

Smith posted the photo of herself and Abbott on Facebook and Instagram captioned, “How will the Potty Police know I’m transgender if the Governor doesn’t?” Across the top of the photo, Smith typed “#BATHROOMBUDDY.”

SB6 would force Texans to use public restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender assigned at birth and not their gender identity. The photo takes a jab at Abbott by pointing out that Smith would be forced to use the same bathroom as Abbott, despite not having the same gender identity.

Smith told the San Antonio Express-News that the photo was the most effective way for her to get her message across.

“I did not think [shouting] would work, or that I would be heard and was more interested in the getting the photograph and not getting thrown out,” Smith told the San Antonio Express-News.

“Some of us are not immediately obvious as trans. And the idea that you are going to be able to enforce a bathroom bill, I mean the enforceability is just not there,” she continued.

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Out & About

Justice-centered theater production comes to D.C.

Mexican Cultural Institute to host ‘La Golondrina’

Published

6 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Poster via Mexican Cultural Institute)

The Mexican Cultural Institute will host “La Golondrina” on Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at its location on 2829 16th St. NW.

“La Golondrina” is a theater production that aims to elevate the conversation around hate crimes and the urgent need for dialogue and healing. It is also a powerful and deeply moving story that brings to the stage the emotional legacy of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The play explores that tragedy through an intimate encounter between two characters, Amelia (Luz Nicolás) and Ramón (Victor), whose connection unveils grief, love, and the enduring shadow of homophobia.

Tickets for this event are available on the Cultural Institute’s website.

Out & About

Celebrate Pride with a thoughtful book club

Second edition of ‘Books and Wine’ held at Urban Grape DC

Published

37 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Photo by gOrlica/Bigstock)

Meet the World Image Solutions will host the second edition of “Books and Wine” on Thursday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Urban Grape DC, a Black- and woman-owned winery in Washington, D.C.

The featured authors are: Beautiful Lawson, Chanele Ramos, and Pamela Coleman. All will read from works that reflect love, resilience, and queer identity across genres. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

Arts & Entertainment

Shakira cancels WorldPride concert

Welcome event was set for Saturday at Nats Park

Published

19 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Staff reports

Shakira’s Saturday WorldPride concert has been canceled.

Internationally renowned singer Shakira’s WorldPride concert set for Saturday has been canceled, according to two knowledgeable sources who spoke to the Washington Blade.

LiveNation and the Washington Nationals made a formal announcement Friday afternoon.

Shakira’s concert at Boston’s Fenway Park was abruptly canceled on Thursday reportedly due to issues with the safety of the stage.

“Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am sad and heartbroken that I will not be able to be in Washington, D.C., with you tomorrow,” said Shakira in a statement posted on social media. “I hope that I can come back to D.C. as soon as I am able. Meanwhile, please know that I am eternally thankful for your unconditional support.”

“Like Shakira’s fans and our friends and family who have traveled from around the world to join us in D.C. this weekend, we are deeply disappointed that unforeseen circumstances have forced the cancellation of both this week’s concert in Boston and tomorrow’s concert at Nationals Park,” said the Capital Pride Alliance in a statement.

It’s unclear whether the WorldPride Welcome Concert that she was headlining will continue.