Arts & Entertainment
Watch: Pastor’s gay son and Marylander stuns ‘American Idol’ judges
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon is a church custodian in Catonsville, Md.
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon blew away Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan with his “American Idol” audition by performing an original song.
Harmon, who works as a custodian at his father’s church in Catonsville, Md., immediately bonded with Perry when he first walked in as “PKs” or pastor’s kids. Perry is also the child of pastor parents.
In a packaged story before the performance, cameras followed Harmon to his father’s church as he sweeps the floors and sings to empty rooms. Harmon explains that he first knew he was gay when he was nine years old and developed a crush on another boy at
Harmon performs an original song titled “After Heaven,” about whether he will be allowed into heaven for being gay, for the judges. Afterwards, Perry exclaims “Do you know how good you are?” and Richie compares Harmon to Billy Joel.
He receives the golden ticket to Hollywood and Perry begs him “Please don’t go back to being a janitor.”
Watch below.
The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
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