Arts & Entertainment

Night out for the cause

Region’s advocacy groups have spring galas planned

Published

12 years ago

March 7, 2013

Erin Durkin

2012 Mautner Project Gala (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Several local LGBT groups have their biggest events of the year in the coming weeks. Some of the galas planned include:

Mautner Project’s Gala and Dance takes place on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert St., NW). The Gala is to celebrate 23 years of support and community. The evening will include both a live and silent auction, a reception and a dinner by the Electric Rainbow Dance Party. Lesbian comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer will emcee. Tickets are $225. Attendees can sponsor the event by donating $600-$20,000. Attendees who would like to start the party early can purchase VIP reception tickets for $50. The reception begins at 5 p.m. For more information, visit gala.mautnerproject.org. Maryland Del. Maggie McIntosh is slated to receive an award. Look for an appearance from Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley as well.

McIntosh told the Blade’s Michael Lavers in an interview last week that she’s optimistic about Senate Bill 449, a transgender rights bill before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. “The House has passed it before, I think it’s a fairly easy pass in the House,” she said. “Wherever Equality Maryland and Sen. [Rich] Madaleno point us, we go.”

Outserve-SLDN hosts its 2013 national dinner to honor the nation’s LGBT service members, veterans and their families also on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the National Building Museum (401 F St., NW). The evening starts with a cocktail reception with the dinner beginning at 7:30 p.m. This is a black tie, military or semi-formal event and valet parking will be available. Tickets are $100-$2,500. For more information, visit sldn.org.

Equality Virginia has its 10^th annual Commonwealth Dinner at the Greater Richmond Convention Center (403 North Third St., Richmond) on April 6 at 6 p.m. The dinner is the largest black-tie gala gathering for Virginia’s LGBT community. The evening will be full of live entertainment from noted invitees, a silent auction and a chance to win prizes while bidding on weekend getaways, dinners out and other prizes. The evening’s special guest is Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a rising political star who is known for his longtime support of LGBT equality. Tickets are $125 and VIP tickets are $250. For more information, visit equlityvirginia.org.

Team D.C. hosts SportsFest on April 11 at Room & Board (1840 14^th St., N.W.). The evening provides attendees with the opportunity to learn about all the opportunities the Washington region has to offer in terms of LGBT sports and recreational activities. A $10 donation gets three drink tickets plus other great surprises. One of the new clubs that will be featured at the event is the D.C. Triathlon Club, a new club from the area. The event is free. For more information, visit teamdcsports.com.

Whitman-Walker Health holds its fundraising event “Be the Care” cocktail reception and awards presentation to benefit the organization on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave., NW). The dinner helps Whitman-Walker provide heath services to the community. Attendees are expected to dress in business attire. Individual tickets are $150 and emerging leader event tickets are $75. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce holds its 2013 annual awards dinner on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the historic Mayflower Renaissance (1127 Connecticut Ave., NW). The dinner will honor exceptional business leaders and showcase the achievement and impact of LGBT business in the Washington region. Attendees are asked to buy their tickets before March 22. Tickets are $175- $465. For more information, visit caglcc.org.

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington hosts its 42nd anniversary reception at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle, NW) on April 25 from 6:30-9 p.m. The evening will feature a presentation of the 2013 Distinguished Service Awards to Diana Bruce, Clarence Fluker, Brent Minor, Peter Rosenstein and Jason Terry. Tickets are $55 and a range of donor levels are available. For more information, visit glaa.org. Go here to order tickets online. A flyer is here.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents its “Disco Inferno: Spring Affair Gala Fundraiser,” on April 27 at the Grand Hyatt (1000 H St., NW). The night will be filled with cocktails, huge live and silent auctions, dinner, Chorus entertainment and an after party. Tickets are $175-$300. For more information, visit gmcw.org.

Staff writer Michael K. Lavers contributed to this article.

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Books

A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat

New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story

Published

11 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Random House)

‘When the Harvest Comes’
By Denne Michele Norris
c.2025, Random House
$28/304 pages

Happy is the bride the sun shines on.

Of all the clichés that exist about weddings, that’s the one that seems to make you smile the most. Just invoking good weather and bright sunshine feels like a cosmic blessing on the newlyweds and their future. It’s a happy omen for bride and groom or, as in the new book “When the Harvest Comes” by Denne Michele Norris, for groom and groom.

Davis Freeman never thought he could love or be loved like this.

He was wildly, wholeheartedly, mind-and-soul smitten with Everett Caldwell, and life was everything that Davis ever wanted. He was a successful symphony musician in New York. They had an apartment they enjoyed and friends they cherished. Now it was their wedding day, a day Davis had planned with the man he adored, the details almost down to the stitches in their attire. He’d even purchased a gorgeous wedding gown that he’d never risk wearing.

He knew that Everett’s family loved him a lot, but Davis didn’t dare tickle the fates with a white dress on their big day. Everett’s dad, just like Davis’s own father, had considerable reservations about his son marrying another man – although Everett’s father seemed to have come to terms with his son’s bisexuality. Davis’s father, whom Davis called the Reverend, never would. Years ago, father and son had a falling-out that destroyed any chance of peace between Davis and his dad; in fact, the door slammed shut to any reconciliation.

But Davis tried not to think about that. Not on his wedding day. Not, unbeknownst to him, as the Reverend was rushing toward the wedding venue, uninvited but not unrepentant. Not when there was an accident and the Reverend was killed, miles away and during the nuptials.

Davis didn’t know that, of course, as he was marrying the love of his life. Neither did Everett, who had familial problems of his own, including homophobic family members who tried (but failed) to pretend otherwise.

Happy is the groom the sun shines on. But when the storm comes, it can be impossible to remain sunny.

What can be said about “When the Harvest Comes?” It’s a romance with a bit of ghost-pepper-like heat that’s not there for the mere sake of titillation. It’s filled with drama, intrigue, hate, characters you want to just slap, and some in bad need of a hug.

In short, this book is quite stunning.

Author Denne Michele Norris offers a love story that’s everything you want in this genre, including partners you genuinely want to get to know, in situations that are real. This is done by putting readers inside the characters’ minds, letting Davis and Everett themselves explain why they acted as they did, mistakes and all. Don’t be surprised if you have to read the last few pages twice to best enjoy how things end. You won’t be sorry.

If you want a complicated, boy-meets-boy, family-mess kind of book with occasional heat, “When the Harvest Comes” is your book. Truly, this novel shines.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2025

Michael Key

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

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

Published

3 days 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.