Arts & Entertainment
Washington Caps’ Braden Holtby will walk in Capital Pride Parade
The LGBTQ ally will participate for the third year
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby will walk in the 2019 Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 8, according to NHL.com.
Holtby can be spotted on the Monumental Sports and Entertainment float where he and MSE staff members will be distributing giveaways. His wife Brandi Holtby also may appear in the parade as she asked her Twitter followers who would be coming by for the parade. The post included a photo of herself and Holtby standing in front of the rainbow Caps mural (2412 18th St. N.W.) painted by artist and LGBTQ activist Lisa Marie. Marie will also march with the contingency.
It’s finally #PrideMonth y’all! ?️? who’s coming to the parade next weekend?? pic.twitter.com/xweFfCmHA2
— Brandi Holtby (@bbholtby) June 1, 2019
This is Holtby’s third time marching in the Capital Pride Parade. He was joined by his wife Brandi in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, Brandi walked alone in the parade due to Holtby’s participation in the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup win festivities.
He has also served as Capitals’ Hockey is for Everyone ambassador for three years. He spoke at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in 2018 and spearheaded a movement of Caps players using sticks wrapped in rainbow-colored “Pride Tape.” The sticks were auctioned off for $18,300 which were donated to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Holtby also declined to visit the White House with the Capitals in March.
The 2019 Capital Pride Parade is on Saturday, June 8 starting at 4:30 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue between Third and Seventh Streets N.W.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
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)
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)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
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.
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 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.
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