Out & About

D.C. Black Pride is Memorial Day weekend

Seminars, parties, concerts, picnics and more on packed schedule

Published

8 years ago

May 18, 2017

Mariah Cooper

D.C. Black Pride, gay news, Washington Blade

Us Helping Us Picnic in the Park at Fort Dupont Park (Washington Blade photo by Hugh Clarke)

The 27th annual D.C. Black Pride is at various locations in town May 25-29.

Black Pride’s 2017 theme is “The Ties That Bind: Twenty Seven Years of Black Pride,” in celebration of the strong bonds within the LGBT community. On Thursday, May 25 there will be an HIV/AIDS Town Hall, a sexual health seminar, at the Grand Hyatt Washington from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free. Lunch is included.

Unleashed D.C. hosts “Welcome 2 D.C.,”a ladies happy hour, at Dirty Martini (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) with music by DJ L Stackz and DJ Jai Syncere. Admission is free before 8 p.m. and $7 after. “The Jump Off: Wet Dreamz Reloaded,” a men’s dance party, is at Stone Fish Lounge (1708 L St., N.W.) from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Admission is $10 before 11 p.m. DJ Sedrick spins.

On Friday, May 26, there will be an opening reception at the Grand Hyatt (1000 H St., N.W.) from 6:30-8:30 p.m.LGBTQ Speed dating and networking will follow from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Omega Entertainment hosts “The Annual 5,000 Men Pride Mega Party” at Bliss Nightclub (2122 24th Pl., N.E.) from 9:30 p.m.-4 a.m. R&B singer K. Michelle will perform.

On Saturday, May 27 there will be the Grown Folks Speak Out 2017, a discussion about growing older in the black LGBT community, at the Grand Hyatt from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Admission is free. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. There will also be workshops throughout the day including resume writing and interview prep, overcoming hurt in the black church, understanding the trans-attracted man and more. A film festival, screening films such as “Moonlight” and “Check It,” runs from 2-7:15 p.m. Omega Entertainment hosts “The Grandiose Fantasy Mega Pride Party” at the Washington Marriott (2660 Woodley Rd., N.W.) from 9 p.m.-3:30 a.m. featuring a live performance by Lil Kim.

There will be an interfaith worship service with guest speaker Pastor Mitchell Jones on Sunday from 9-11 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt. D.C. Black Pride Brunch is at Dirty Martini (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from noon-6 p.m. with unlimited food and mimosas. Admission is $40.

On Monday, the annual Us Helping Us Picnic in the Park will be at Fort Dupont Park (3600 Minnesota Ave., S.E.) from noon-7 p.m. There will be food and live performances. Admission is free.

For a complete list of events and prices, visit dcblackpride.org.

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Out & About

DJs to hold panel discussion on music, identity

Featured artists include DJ Chord, Tezrah and Jake Maxwell

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

DJ Chord joins a panel discussion on music, identity, and community on May 29. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Promethean Fundraising will host “Circuit Music: A LGBTQ+ Cultural Identifier,” an exclusive panel featuring influential LGBTQ DJs in the music industry, on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBTQ Community (1828 Wiltberher St., N.W.).

The event will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with these groundbreaking artists as they share their journeys, discuss the cultural significance of circuit music, and explore how music can serve as a platform for advocacy and empowerment within the LGBTQ+ community. The featured artists are DJ Chord, Tezrah and Jake Maxwell.

This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Calendar

Calendar: May 9-15

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, May 9

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. on Zoom. For more details, email [email protected].

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington D.C. area. For more details, visit the group’s closed Facebook group.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Puro Gusto. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, May 10

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

“Sapphic Social: Zodiac Mixer” will be at 8 p.m. at Spark Social House. Spark connections with fellow sapphics based on your zodiac sign and gain personal insights with a birth chart reading. Tickets cost $10 and are available on Eventbrite.

Sunday, May 11

“The Ultimate Mother’s Day Drag Brunch” will be at 11 a.m. at Throw Social. This event will be hosted by Cake Pop. For more details visit Eventbrite.

Monday, May 12

“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know you’re not 100% cis — this is your group. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.

Tuesday, May 13

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is an emotionally and physically safe space for trans individuals and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more information, email [email protected].

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This support group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook page.

Wednesday, May 14

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, May 15

Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

Poly Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a virtual safe space to talk about all things polyamorous. For more details, email [email protected].

Lit Lovers: Book Club for Seniors will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This month’s selection is “A Boy’s Own Story” by Edmund White. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website.

Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

1 week ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.