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‘Unique’-ly Alex
Out singer on ‘Glee,’ Pride, Beyonce and more
Alex Newell of ‘Glee’ fame says Pride is important because it gives the LGBT community a place to celebrate its accomplishments. (Photo by Brian Ziff)
Singer/actor Alex Newell, best known for playing Unique on “Glee,” is one of this year’s headliners on the Capitol Concert Stage at Capital Pride this weekend.
Look for him in the 2 p.m. slot where he’ll showcase his soaring, buttery vocals. We caught up with the soft-spoken, yet outspoken, 23-year-old performer by phone from Los Angeles.
BLADE: You have a new song out?
NEWELL: Well right now I’m kind of doing the Pride circuit. It’s Pride month, Pride season. I also have a new song out today called “Need Somebody.” It just came out. This first week, we’re donating a portion of the sales to the Trevor Project.
BLADE: Who produced it?
NEWELL: Cutfather. He’s amazing.
BLADE: You had an EP (“Power”) out earlier this year. Do you plan more?
NEWELL: It depends. We’re just trying to see. There’s no set plan. I think we’re going to do another, but this is just its own thing. We’re focusing on making new music and making good songs. The EP was so good and everyone enjoyed it and it was successful so now we’re just trying to match that or go above and beyond it.
BLADE: How many Prides are you doing?
NEWELL: I don’t know. Maybe four, five or six. I don’t like to count them because then it starts to feel overwhelming.
BLADE: Why is Pride important?
NEWELL: It’s a time to celebrate each other and the accomplishments in our community. Because that’s where it starts. It always starts at home. If we don’t celebrate each other and where we are, it just gets kind of superfluous after a while.
BLADE: You toured with Adam Lambert earlier this year and played Washington in March. How was it?
NEWELL: It was amazing. I went on tour with one of my good friends. I had fun. I couldn’t have asked for a better time. We played D.C. right after New York. The audience was warm and responsive and welcoming. It was a good time.
BLADE: What was it like on the “Glee” set? Fun and hanging out or nerve-wracking and hard? All of the above?
NEWELL: It was very friendly like a giant family. It’s basically like a household. It’s dysfunctional, it’s functional. And at the same time you’re working 16-hour days a lot of the time and you’re with each other five days out of the week and sometimes more than that because we’re friends at the end of the day. And you’re trying to make the best product you can whether you’re singing, dancing, acting or having dance rehearsals and makeup tests and filming scenes or filming a music number or having a fitting or going to pre-record the song. There’s so many variables to it so it was just as crazy as anyone would think it was. But at the end of the day, we were all there together and we were just working at a well-oiled machine.
BLADE: Which “Glee” episode was your favorite?
NEWELL: I don’t know. They started to blur together after a while. Like sometimes I’ll forget what I did in each episode. I think one of my favorites would have to be my second-to-last one where I sang “I Know Where I’ve Been” with the trans chorus. It was just a good moment to have everyone rally. I also really liked the “Grease” episode. I felt that one has so much heart.
BLADE: Was (creator/executive producer) Ryan Murphy around a lot?
NEWELL: Yeah, we saw him all the time. He was there as much as someone who has three shows on TV is there. It’s not like he’d be there everyday all the time because he had “Glee” and “American Horror Story,” and then one year he had “Glee,” “American Horror Story” and “The New Normal” on TV at the same time. Then “The New Normal” got canceled and he had “American Horror Story,” “Glee” and he was developing “Scream Queens” and “American Crime Story.” So I feel like the show runner doesn’t always have to be there but his ear was to the ground. He knew what was going on the entire time.
BLADE: Was he approachable?
NEWELL: Oh yeah. He was amazing. He’s so sweet and kind. He’s very intelligent. He’s smart and every time he greeted me, he gave me a warm hug. He’s known me since I was like 17, 18. He’s watched me grow, not just as an actor but as a performer. He’s always very welcoming and warm.
BLADE: Were you and Chris Colfer (Kurt) especially friendly?
NEWELL: I love him dearly. I don’t want to judge it based on other friendships I may have, but we were very friendly.
BLADE: You got really famous really fast at something really specific. How hard has it been trying to funnel that momentum into other things you want to do?
NEWELL: Well, it’s always hard and difficult when you’re coming off playing a specific thing and a role on such a large scale because after a while, that’s all people can see you for. You kind of have to prove yourself on another scale. A lot of people say, “Well, they pre-recorded on ‘Glee,’ none of them are really singers,” but in actuality, the majority of us were actual wingers and we’ve honed our craft and all. But there’s always that thing of trying to prove myself even more than just being a TV actor or a TV personality. That I’m actually talented and that I can do other things than play that specific role. But this is not exactly news to anyone. It happened to lots of child stars. When they grew up, it was always hard for them to be seen as anything other than the role they’d been playing.
BLADE: I know you can’t quantify this exactly, but how much of what you’ve achieved has been talent vs. perspiration?
NEWELL: I feel like it’s an even balance. I work extremely hard for everything that I have and everything that I’ve gotten. Where I’ve been, I’ve fought tooth and nail and just as much as anyone else if not harder. You have to know that you’re amazing and not get complacent. You have to remind yourself that you’re the best at what you do and it’s always good to know that no one else can do exactly what you do. They can do it like you, but they can never do it exactly like you do it. You bring something special to the table.
BLADE: You’ve said you’re a big Beyonce fan. How do you like “Lemonade”?
NEWELL: Oh, it’s amazing. It’s honest, it’s truthful and something we haven’t seen. I hear some people wishing the old Beyonce was back but after a while, you have to evolve. You have to go places and I mean, old Beyonce, new Beyonce, Beyonce is Beyonce. I live for her.
BLADE: How do you feel she stands up to classic divas like Donna Summer or Diana Ross? Like when Miss Ross was at her commercial peak with “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out” and all that, is Beyonce’s stuff in that league?
NEWELL: I think it’s like a whole other thing. It’s completely different. It’s apples and oranges or like comparing the Civil War to the Cold War. They happened in completely different times. I think too often people want to compare people to the past when they did it on their own and made something their own out of nothing. So I’m not a huge person about comparing things. And with all the changes that have happened in the industry since then, I feel sometimes we have to fight more now because there’s so much that goes on with pirating and not selling, so you end up working even harder. It was easier back in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s because the only way you got it back then was if you went to the store and physically picked it up. The game has changed so much, it’s hard to even start to compare.
BLADE: Name someone who you’d just be beside yourself if she put out a new record.
NEWELL: Chaka Khan. She hasn’t done anything in so long. I feel like everyone’s kind of reinventing themselves. Barbra’s going back on tour. Cher went back. It’s like everyone’s kind of reinventing themselves saying, “I’m still here, I can still kick your ass.” I’d be shocked if one of them came out with something new, honestly.
BLADE: What do you have planned for your Pride set?
NEWELL: I’m going to do some new things, I’m going to do some old things, I’m going to do some “Glee” things. I think it’s going to be like 30-40 minutes. It’s just gonna be fun. When I do a show I like to reflect. I feel like reflection’s always really nice and just to the obvious of what people expect you to do.
BLADE: I know they’re totally different from your role on “Glee,” but do you feel any connection with shows like “Transparent” or “I Am Cait” or keep up with them?
NEWELL: I do. I’m always for representation because for the longest of time, there weren’t many people on TV who looked like me. Obviously I’m African American, and for the longest time after the ‘90s, after shows like “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Family Matters” and “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” went off the air, it felt like everything got very whitewashed. So not only was my race not represented, my sexual orientation wasn’t either. I imagine millions of other people felt the same way. So I will always stand up for the trans community because I know what it feels like to be that person who has no representation. Laverne (Cox) is one of my good friends. We have lunch and talk and text. We’re good. I’m always there for it.
BLADE: How do you feel about this North Carolina stuff with House Bill 2?
NEWELL: It’s just people trying to control others. It’s basically a dumbed-down version of segregation like having a blacks-only entrance and a whites-only entrance. People are trying to get rid of something they don’t like just because they don’t understand it. I feel like it’s just too much. Like when Stacey Dash said they should just go pee in the bushes. I’m like, “I’m pretty sure your ancestors were being hung from trees just like the rest of us, so why would you say something as inhumane as that?”
BLADE: Is this the tipping point for the transgender movement?
NEWELL: I can’t really speak to that. I think it’s a catapulting movement where this could really put the limelight on things, but is this the start of the avalanche going down? I just don’t know. I don’t know if this is the last straw, but it’s poking at that bear.
BLADE: You identify as gay but you’re so heavily identified with a transgender role. Does that ever get weird or are you OK with it?
NEWELL: I get mistaken as trans all the time and it’s something I’m fine with and welcome it only because it means my role was so important in helping or it means I did a good job with it at the end of the day. It’s something I stand for and something I represent and I want to be a voice with, so it’s fine. I mean, I’ll correct someone, but ti’s OK. When I’m back in Boston with my mom and we go out to dinner, they’ll often say, “And how are you ladies doing?” My mom’s like, “I don’t see a lady,” and I’m like, “I don’t either,” but most people do. I have a very effeminate face and I have long hair and I’m extremely gay, so it happens. I haven’t really heard anything negative, like somebody saying I’m pretending to be something I’m not. I haven’t experienced that.
BLADE: Is there any song you remember from growing up singing in church that has stayed with you?
NEWELL: I used to sing a song called “Give Me a Clean Heart.” Sometimes I hum it and when I go back to church, it’s always the song they want to hear. So that’s kind of followed me my entire career.
Out actor Alex Newell says he doesn’t mind getting mistaken for being transgender. (Photo by Brian Ziff)
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Rainbows in Revolt on a mission to make LGBTQ artists’ voices heard
Rainbows in Revolt on a mission to make LGBTQ artists’ voices heard
Last month’s Pride celebration in D.C. was so fun. Walking around my first Capital Pride with a $15 lemonade I was loving the madness and the color. Artists and small businesses battling banks you’ve never heard of collecting your personal information so you can spin a wheel to snag free merch. Great music blaring, people actually smiling and enjoying themselves, the “Great” American State Fair could never!
The Monument Stage was on Pennsylvania Avenue, directly in front of the National Gallery of Art and I can’t think of a better venue to see live music. How does someone get on the lineup for Pride? How do we accelerate the visibility of the most talented voices in our community to perform in places like this?
There is certainly not a talent gap, but there is a visibility gap. Chappell Roan went from playing for two people in a parking lot to owning the main stage at Coachella in one year. Whether it is shadowbanning or bias in AI, algorithms have been shown to suppress queer artists. In a digital age, how can queer people break through and show the world how talented they are?
Allison and Matt of Rainbows in Revolt are on a mission to make openly LGBTQ+ artists’ voices heard. Their goal is to find “musicians whose queerness is central to their identity as an artist,” and accelerate them to a place where they can actually reach fans.
The only time queer events seem to be in the spotlight is June, but this should be year round, according to Allison and Matt. Rainbows in Revolt wants to act as a “nucleus” for different sub-communities, finding common ground in the universal language of music.
Matt and Allison founded Rainbows as a way to make cheaper, higher quality merchandise for queer artists. While Rainbows has already pledged 20% of their profits to the LGBTQ+ community, with 10% to Whitman-Walker Health and 10% to LGBTQ+ organizations in need, this is just the beginning of the work that they do.
Rainbows “does the dirty work” that artists normally struggle to do on their own with limited resources. Interviews, artist profiles, social promotion, playlist discovery, radio outreach, and merch-funded support. This work is normally expensive, time consuming, and requires lots of different skills. Musicians don’t want to be editing clips to post online. Standup comedians don’t want to make graphics for their tour dates. They want to write more. They want to focus on their craft.
In addition to helping artists find their audience, Rainbows has built other digital tools to help queer people connect, including an interactive Safe Space Map for most major cities. It is hard to know which places are truly safe and supportive just from a simple Google search. Attitudes and actions change, and there should be a simple way for queer people to find other places that align with them. The Safe Spaces Maps are all up to date, and are tagged and filterable. Instead of relying on forums and word of mouth, Rainbows has created a centralized way to find authentic community quickly.
I had a chance to talk with Allison and Matt at Pride where Lily Erin, one of their signature artists, was performing on the Monument stage. Lily Erin is a folk singer who is familiar and forging her own path. Her bittersweet sound echoes through Acadia, and her garb mirrors the New England athletes I grew up with. Gorp Core meets streetwear. A graphic tee, hiking shorts, and creamsicle Jordans.
Her debut single, “Bus Stop,” tells a sad story about unconditional love, and the conditions that still seem to come with it. Graduating into lockdown, Erin needed a new way to connect with herself and others. Lily made “Bus Stop” without an intention to share it, but doing so was a liberation. People have been responding to her honesty around queer-ness, family, and the “ghosts which haunt us” even in the daytime.
Rainbows in Revolt has helped Lily Erin go from bars and backyards to The Monument Stage at Pride. This is a meteoric rise, and a testament to both Erin’s talent and the work of Rainbows to promote her. “A little encouragement goes a long way with early artists,” and by “planting a seed” Rainbows is already seeing their artist garden grow. Community is power, and Erin is a perfect example of how effective simple modern techniques of promotion can be.
A next step for Rainbows is putting on shows themselves. On Oct. 3, Rainbows in Revolt will host an Evening with Ray Boltz at the National City Christian Church. Boltz grew up in the Catholic Church and for many years was the soundtrack to many services, youth camps, and church groups. He was celebrated by millions until he came out in 2008. Allison remembers her community “never playing his music again.”
Rainbows in Revolt is helping him to return to the church, and proving that identity does not need to be exclusive. We live in a complicated world with complicated lines being drawn. Boltz proves that these lines don’t exist, and will be breaking down barriers to bring together communities. To Allison, “a trans woman standing next to a straight white man in church is a powerful teacher.”
The Safe Space maps bridge all types of spaces, and one of the unlikely ones is, perhaps, churches. Matt said that “BYU has only nine safe spaces around their campus and seven of them are churches.” Not all churches are anti-gay, and many times they are the only place for people to find community.
Rainbows in Revolt is just getting started bridging gaps and building community.
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Summer in the City: Free exhibits, movies, more fill D.C.’s calendar
America 250 celebrations continue
From late-night museum visits and outdoor jazz concerts to free movie screenings and America250 exhibitions, Washington’s summer calendar is packed with events that don’t charge admission. Here’s a look at some of the free activities happening across the District through September and beyond.
Museum exhibitions
The Renwick Gallery is presenting State Fairs: Growing American Craft, an exhibition that looks at unique and unconventional crafts from the 19th century to the present. It will run until Sept. 7, and admission is free.
The Arts and Industries Building, located next to the Smithsonian Castle, is presenting the exhibition Voices and Votes: Exploring Democracy Across America. The exhibition features the development of American independence and what that has meant over time, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Admission to the museum is free, and the exhibition runs until Sept. 7.
The National Gallery of Art presents Dear America, an exhibit featuring more than 100 pieces of work, including letters, photographs, and drawings that depict American landscapes and depictions of freedom. The exhibition will run until Sept. 20.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts is exhibiting Burnished: Pueblo Pottery until Sept. 27. The exhibit features pottery from the Southwest, and while most of the pottery belongs to women artists, a few also reflect those who have advocated for women.
Extending past this summer, the exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa will be at the National Museum of the American Latino until July 2028. The exhibition shows how Afro-Cuban music has become a staple in the U.S. Admission is free.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will feature the exhibition District Vibes / American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture, which will highlight all of the ways D.C. has impacted American life. The exhibit will run until Sept. 27.
At the Folger Shakespeare Library, the exhibit Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era will be on view through Aug. 2. All the portraits on display come from the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London.
The United States Botanic Garden will be open until 8 p.m. on Aug. 20 and Sept. 17, as part of America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration. The evenings will include live music, mocktails, ice cream, and snacks.
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden will have extended hours, staying open until 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday until Sept. 3.
Live performances
On Aug. 7, the postgame Nationals concert series will continue with Jordan Davis performing. To see the concert, guests just need to buy tickets to the Nationals game.
Jazz in the Garden will run each Friday until Aug. 14. The event has free admission, but those interested have to enter a lottery due to the high demand for the event.
From May to October, Capital Harvest Market occurs every Wednesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The market features fresh foods, crafts, and recipes for unique dishes. A full list of vendors is available on Capital Harvest’s website.
Live! Concert Series on the Plaza will feature live performances at Woodrow Wilson Plaza until Sept. 25. The performances run Monday to Friday from 12-1 p.m. Admission is free to the performances.
DowntownDC Live! at Anthem Row is running until July 30, with free performances every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The final performance will feature HUE and a vintage flea market hosted by Get Flee Marketplace.
Located in Adams Morgan, AdMo Vibe will present live performances every Thursday at 6 p.m. in Kalorama Park. Guests are encouraged to check out Adams Morgan before and after shows, and it is an event for all ages.
Other events
Union Market is hosting drive-in movies on Aug. 8, featuring “Monsters, Inc.”, and Sept. 12, featuring “Wicked.” On Aug. 8, the parking lot will open at 7:30 p.m., with the movie starting at 8:25 p.m. On Sept. 12, the parking lot will open at 6:35 p.m., and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m.
Sunset Cinema at the Wharf will also be available one day a month. On Aug. 12, “10 Things I Hate About You” will premiere, and on Aug. 26, “Project Hail Mary.” No tickets are necessary.
The Library of Congress will also show movies. On Aug. 6, guests are invited to watch “Apollo 13.” The movie will be shown at 8 p.m., with additional live performances beginning at 7 p.m.
For fans of Asian media, the Okaton convention will be at Walter E. Washington Convention Center from July 31-Aug. 2. Festivities will include cosplay contests, skits, live music, and panel discussions.
Washington Spirit’s season also begins in August. The Spirit is Washington’s National Women’s League, with matchups occurring between the San Diego Wave, the North Carolina Courage, the Orlando Pride, and the Bay FC.
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Summer in D.C. brings sports, Restaurant Week, festivals, and more
Summer in D.C. just hits different. Congress is out, school is out, the sun is out, thighs are out. With the skies clearing from Canadian smoke, here are a few ways to stay entertained.
Dining
Summer restaurant week: The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is once again hosting Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-24. This weeklong dining experience showcases the dynamic dining scene of the DMV, including 2026 RAMMY Award-winning favorites (the annual D.C. food awards show that took place June 29). Participating restaurants will offer three-course brunch and lunch selections for $25 or $35 per person, and three-course dinners for $40, $55 and $65 per person.
New Restaurants: A handful of new spots have opened, so the summer is a great time to check them out:
- Oribu: A new Mediterranean-Japanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel, which just underwent a remodeling effort. The sleek restaurant brings upscale charm, with dishes like Wagyu beef tartare with potato pavé and caviar.
- The Oak Room: A snazzy old-school American grill has just opened in Georgetown, alongside its sister upstairs supper club (Bernadette’s) restaurant, in the old El Centro space.
- Uchi: This showy Japanese sushi-forward chain has landed in Dupont with a chef’s tasting menu of favorites like fatty tuna.
- Kathmandu: Recalling the capital of Nepal, this warm, buzzy subterranean restaurant right in the heart of U Street brings spice, flair, and rare ingredients to its dishes (see: buffalo burgers) and drinks.
Sports
- Washington Spirit Pride Night OUT: On Sunday, Aug. 23, head to Audi Field for a massive, high-energy game following the exciting month of World Cup. The designated Pride Night OUT game promises boisterous crowds plus pre- and post-game community engagements.
- Washington Tennis Open – Now called the Mubadala DC Open, this annual tournament is only combined mens’ and womens’ 500-level tennis tournament in the world. The open is one of D.C.’s longest-standing sports traditions, and will take place at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 25-Aug. 2. Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and others are expected to play.
Festivals
- Afro Plus Fest: This huge, three-day Afro-Caribbean Hip-Hop Festival brings together headliners Davido, Alkaline, and Wizkid, plus Tems and Ayra Starr. The event moves from RFK to the Northwest Stadium Complex for three days, Sept. 4-6.
- Capital Fringe Festival: Running from July 11-21, this massive celebration features dozens of live theater, comedy, dance, and boundary-pushing nighttime performances across multiple DC neighborhoods.
- The National Book Festival returns, with headliners like Cynthia Erivo, and Martin Scorsese. The one-day festival, Saturday, Aug. 22, brings together bookworms and word nerds under the theme “America 250: It’s Your Story.” There are talks, workshops, musical sessions and more.
- All Things Go: A three-day festival Sept. 25-27 at Merriweather Post Pavilion featuring Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Zara Larsson, Ethel Cain, and many, many more artists. There are single-day and three-day tickets. Featuring and highlighting female artists, the festival has turned into a must-see for many LGBTQ audience members.
- Fuchsia Fest: The inaugural Fuchsia Fest is a new multi-day celebration created to celebrate LGBTQ community and expression, bringing together a mix of community gatherings, entertainment, and nightlife. The event takes place Sept. 18-20 and is hosted by Capital Pride.
Art and Music
- United We Dance: A high-energy rave with house, techno, bass, and festival music, on Aug. 1 at the 9:30 Club.
- The Fray. On Aug. 14, this American rock band famous for How To Save A Life is at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
- Kesha: Kesha’s high-energy The Freedom Tour comes to the D.C. area on Aug. 14 at Jiffy Lube Live.
- ALOK: On Sept. 3 at Lincoln Theater, ALOK (they/them) performs. The poet, comedian, and actor is putting on a new comedy show.
- 2charm, the emerging Australian electronic club-pop duo popular with the queer community, which blends hyperpop and dance music, comes to the Atlantis.
- Sapphic Dance Party: a vibrant, inclusive nightlife and social event designed specifically for queer women, lesbians, bisexuals, trans individuals, and nonbinary folks, at Atlantis on Aug. 21.
- Jazz in the Garden: The most quintessential of D.C. activities returns Friday evenings through Aug. 14. This season’s theme, “American Sounds,” is a nod to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Tunes themes range from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more. Tickets are available through a lottery system a week before each event.
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