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Calendar: Jan. 13

Parties, concerts, support groups and more through Jan. 19

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Blowoff DJs Bob Mould, left, and Richard Morel. (Photo by Jeff Smith)

Friday, Jan. 13

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) is hosting a “Mega Bear Happy Hour” tonight in honor of Leather Weekend. Doors open for happy hour at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. for the general public. Attendees must be 21 or older from 6 to 10 p.m.

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents its production of “Billy Elliot: The Musical” directed by Stephen Daldry and featuring music by Elton John, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $150 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org. The show closes on Sunday.

Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is hosting an opening reception for its newest exhibit, “Into the Wild,” featuring paintings by Paula Lantz, tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Women in Their Twenties, a social discussion and dinner group, meets tonight from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents Beat the Clock happy hour tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. Prices for all bottles, Miller Light and house vodka drinks start at $2 and go up a $1 every hour.

Code D.C. is hosting a special party for Mid-Atlantic Leather tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). General admission is $15 and MAL package holders get in for $10. Doors open at 10 p.m. For more information, visit codedc.com.

Saturday, Jan. 14

Blowoff, a dance party featuring gay DJs Bob Mould and Richard Morel, will be at 9:30 club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at 930.com.

Busboys & Poets presents “The Intersection of Art and Activism” featuring Ethelbert Miller and John Feffer in the Cullen Room of its 5th and K location (1025 5th St., N.W.) at 5 p.m. Miller is the Board Chair of the Institute for Policy Studies and Feffer is a playwright and political analyst. This is a free event.

Zoom: Urban Lesbian Excursions presents “The Smoker’s Room,” at Shelly’s Back Room (1331 F St., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. The event is free to RSVP, but there is a $12 minimum purchase at the venue. For more information, visit phatgirlchic.com/zoom.

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “The Wish,” featuring the first appearance of “a little gay” Willow.

Emmy Award-winning actress Holland Taylor comes to the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) with her one-woman play “Ann” today at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. The show tells the story of Ann Richards, the second female governor of Texas. Tickets range from $54 to $95 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org. The show closes on Sunday.

The International Deaf Leather Meeting is being held at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Sunday, Jan. 15

D.C.’s Got Talent presents a Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration at Busboys & Poets Hyattsville location (5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104) tonight at 8 p.m.. The event will feature artists performing spoken work, songs and poems in tribute to King. Tickets are available by calling 202-705-5048 or 240-381-5553 and at the door.

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents Drag Brunch hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee today at 11 a.m. with a $20 brunch buffet, then stick around and watch the Baltimore Ravens take on the Houston Texans in the NFL Playoffs at 1 p.m.

As part of Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, 495 Bears is hosting a special Bears Can Dance tonight from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). This is no cover for this event.

Monday, Jan. 16

Stephanie Mills plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $69.50. Mills will also be performing on Tuesday night.

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) and Georgetown University are hosting a musical celebration tonight at 6 p.m. featuring Grammy award-winning vocalist Bobby McFerrin and the “Let Freedom Ring!” Choir. Free tickets will be given away two per person in line in the Hall of Nations starting at 5 p.m.

The D.C. Coalition, the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club and the D.C. Center will be marching as a single contingent in the Martin Luther King Junior Holiday Parade today at 11 a.m. The parade starts at Friendship Public Charter School and ends at Leckie Elementary School. For more information, visit mlkholidayparadedc.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E St., N.W.) presents its weekly trivia night, hosted by Ashley Linder and Lauren Zoltick tonight at 8 p.m. in the upstairs bar. There is also a bonus question worth three extra points online at riotactcomedy.com.

Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s packing location, Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) is hosting a dance party fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) tonight with Mixtape DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer. Doors open at 8 p.m. and there is a $25 cover for this 21 and older event. For more information, visitindependentaction.org.

The D.C. Ice Breakers will be having its monthly skate and social tonight. The group will be skating at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Rd.) in Arlington from 8 to 9 p.m. then they’ll hit a local bar for a social hour. Skating is $8 and skate rentals are $3.

The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club, for gay bridge players, meets tonight for social bridge at the Dignity Center (721 8th Street, S.E.). No partner is needed. Visit lambdabridge.com for details and click on “social bridge in Washington.”

Thursday, Jan. 19

Christine Lavin plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available online at wolftrap.org.

D.C. Lambda Squares, a local gay square dancing group, is having its plus with as-needed mainstream club night tonight from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.). For more information, visit dclambdasquares.org.

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PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards

Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

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Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.

A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.

The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride

Schuyler Bailar gives keynote address

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D.C. Trans Pride 2025 was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on May 17. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C

Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement

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Gay Pride Day 1976 (Washington Blade archive photo)

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.

D.C.’s Different Drummers march in the 2006 Capital Pride Parade. (Washington Blade archive photo by Adam Cuthbert)

The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies. 

Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays. 

The 1995 Lesbian and Gay Freedom Festival was held on Freedom Plaza on June 18. (Washington Blade archive photo by Clint Steib)

The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.

We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.

I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.

The D.C. Black Gay Men & Women’s Community Conference table at Gay Pride Day in 1978. (Washington Blade archive photo by Jim Marks)
A scene from 1985 Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
A scene from the 1988 Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)
A scene from the Capital Pride Block Party in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)
Keke Palmer performs at the 2024 Capital Pride Festival. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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