Arts & Entertainment
Imagine Dragons lead singer blasts conversion therapy at Billboard Music Awards
Dan Reynolds has been an avid LGBTQ advocate
Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds slammed conversion therapy while accepting the band’s award for Top Rock Artist at the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday.
“I just want to take this moment to say that there are still 34 states that don’t have laws banning conversion therapy,ā Reynolds addressed the crowd. āOn top of that, 58 percent of our LGBTQ population live in those states. This can change, but itās going to take all of us talking to our state legislature, pushing forward laws to protect our LGBTQ youth.āAnd lastly, we have seen with conversion therapy that our LGBTQ youth have double the rate of depression, triple the rate of suicide after conversion therapy. Itās not working and needs to change.ā
Reynolds, 31, grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He now uses his platform to advocate for the LGBTQ community.
In 2017 he co-organized LOVELOUD, a charity music festival to help fight teen suicide in LGBTQ youth. The proceeds were donated to The Trevor Project, GLAAD, among others. The second annual LOVELOUD festival was held in 2018.
His 2018 HBO documentary “Believer” chronicled the āintersection between LGBT people and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.ā
He told the Los Angeles Times in 2018, āI donāt feel a need to denounce Mormonism. I do feel a need as a Mormon to speak out against things that are hurting people. If the leaders of the church arenāt going to change the doctrine, then the culture needs to change. Thatās the goal.ā
Watch below.
Out & About
Blade Summer Kickoff Party returns to Rehoboth
Politicians slated to speak at annual Blue Moon party
The Washington Bladeās 17th annual Summer Kickoff Party returns Friday, May 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Itās an exciting election year in Delaware, which is poised to elect its first Black woman senator (Lisa Blunt Rochester) and the nationās first transgender member of Congress (Sarah McBride).
McBride is scheduled to speak at the party along with several politicos from the area. With the retirement of longtime state Rep. Peter C. Schwartzkopf, a staunch LGBTQ ally, three strong contenders are running to replace him. All three ā Marty Rendon, Kathy McGuiness, and Claire Snyder-Hall ā are slated to speak at the party. A representative from Blunt Rochesterās campaign is scheduled to speak, along with Kim Leisey, the new executive director of CAMP Rehoboth.
Tax-deductible tickets are $20 and available on Eventbrite or via the Bladeās Facebook page. The party is sponsored by Justin Noble of Sothebyās, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Blue Moon.
Andy Cohen, executive producer of āThe Real Housewivesā franchise and host of āWatch What Happens Live,ā will return to Sixth & I on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
This event will be his fifth appearance at the venue to celebrate the paperback release of his New York Times bestselling memoir, āThe Daddy Diaries,ā talk about the latest Housewives happenings, and answer audience questions about everyone’s favorite Bravolebrities.
Cohen will be in conversation with Rep. Robert Garcia, who represents California and is the first LGBTQ immigrant to win a congressional seat. Rep. Garcia has also been known to quote from āThe Real Housewivesā in congressional hearings.
Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
āHerses- Purse Frist Extravaganzaā will be on Friday, May 3 at 9 p.m. at 1835 14th St. N.W. This will be an evening of dancing and performances, hosted by HAUS of Bambi Award-winning Performance Artist, BUMPER. Refreshments are also available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.