Out & About

D.C. Black Pride programming

Memorial Day weekend jam-packed with official programming

Published

7 years ago

May 21, 2018

Mariah Cooper

The Outdoor Festival in the Park is at Fort Dupont Park (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

D.C. Black Pride — as always — is Memorial Day weekend in Washington.

On Friday, May 25 the Pride Hospitality and Vendors area is open from noon-9 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt (1000 H St., N.W.). The Sexual Health Symposium: Sex, Lies and Videotapes runs from 4-6 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt. Free HIV/AIDS and STI testing also runs from 6-9 p.m.

The D.C. Black Pride opening reception kicks off from 6:30-8:30 p.m at the Grand Hyatt. The Intergenerationally Queer Project Workshop/Panel Discussion is from 9-11 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt featuring black lesbian and queer women advocates. Admission is free but registration is requested.

Saturday, May 27 is the D.C. Black Pride Poetry Slam at the Grand Hyatt from 7-9 p.m. Mary Bowman hosts the show. Sign-up is first come, first served. Admission is free.

On Sunday, May 26, there will be an interfaith worship service at the Grand Hyatt from 9-11 a.m. Honey Coated Nightlyfe hosts Communities Building Communities Pride Brunch at Cheers at the Big Chair (2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E.) from noon-4 p.m. There will be a buffet-style brunch, mimosas and drink specials. Tickets range from $40-50.

The Outdoor Festival in the Park is at Fort Dupont Park (3600 Minnesota Ave., S.E.) on Monday, May 27 from noon-7 p.m. There will be a stage show, food and vendors. The Cultural Arts and Wellness Festival will also be showcased at the festival. Free admission.

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

D.C. Black Pride party time

D.C. Black Pride is at various locations throughout the District over Memorial Day weekend with headliners including Jussie Smollet, Keyshia Cole, Jazmine Sullivan and more.

Genesis Chapter X kicks off at Barcode (1101 17th St., N.W.) on Thursday, May 24 at 9:30 p.m. There will be DJs and 10 dancers.

On Friday, May 25 there will be a pre-game happy hour at the Grand Hyatt (1000 H St., N.W.) at 5 p.m. The Big Bang Mega Party follows at Karma (2221 Adams Pl., N.E.) from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. featuring R&B singer Keyshia Cole.

Daryl Wilson Promotion presents Rock the Block All Male Super Party featuring “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Shangela at Ziegfield’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) on Friday, May 25 from 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. Rapper Dreamdoll will perform. DJ Sedrick, DJ Maestro and MC Brandon Anthony will spin tracks. Admission is $20 before midnight.

Saturday, May 26 is the D.C. Black Pride Men in White Super Party at Sax Restaurant and Lounge (734 11th St., N.W.) from 3:30-9:30 p.m. R&B diva Keke Wyatt will perform.

“Empire” star Jussie Smollett will host the 5,000 Men Supreme Fantasy Mega Party at Bliss (2221 24th Pl., N.E.) from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Special guests June’s Diary and Jazmine Sullivan will make appearances. The Red Eye Everything Mega After-Hours party kicks off at 3 a.m. at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Being Rd., N.E.).

Sunday, May 27 is the annual Manhunt Day Party at Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) from 4-9:30 p.m. followed by the National Traffic Light Hookup Party at Decades (1219 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 10 p.m.-4 a.m.

On Monday, May 28 Eden (1716 I St., N.W.) hosts a rooftop party from 4-9 p.m.

The weekend closes out with the Apocalypse Chapter X at Stadium (2127 Queens Chapel Rd., N.E.) from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Passes range from $60-200. For a complete list of events and to purchase tickets, visit omegapartydc.com.

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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.