Out & About
Calendar: Sept. 27-Oct. 3
Parties, shows and events in the week to come
Friday, Sept. 27
The Fall LGBTQ Community Happy Hour Rooftop Social is tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Embassy Row Hotel (2015 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). Guests gather on the Embassy’s rooftop lounge to enjoy the view, network and socialize. Registration is free but required for admission. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.
Saturday, Sept. 28
The National Trans Visibility March is today from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. beginning in Freedom Plaza (1455 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). March organizers seek to raise awareness of anti-trans policies as well as engage both local and national elected officials in an ongoing dialogue. The event is free and all are invited to participate. Visit transmarchondc.org for more information.
The Human Rights Campaign’s National Dinner is tonight from 5-11 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon Pl., N.W.). HRC is a leading national advocacy organization working for the equal rights of the LGBTQ community through education, research and political activities. The national dinner features a cocktail reception, silent and live auction, elegant dinner, live entertainment, speakers and guests. For tickets and information, visit capitalpride.org.
Blisspop Disco Fest featuring Chromeo is tonight at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.). Doors open at 10 p.m. and tickets start at $40. Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo was featured in DJ Mehdi’s song “I Am Somebody” and has supported indie rock groups. Also performing are Dam-Funk, RAC and Robotaki. Tickets and information at 930.com and ustreetmusichall.com.
The D.C. Queer Theater Festival Reading Series is tonight from 7-10 p.m. at Center Arts in the D.C. Center (2000 14th St. N.W., Suite 105). The festival showcases new and unpublished work from local playwrights performed as a developmental table reading. After each reading is a playwright talkback session and a reception with light fare, wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. Tickets for each reading is $10 and $25 for the series. For tickets and information, visit thedccenter.org.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Bishop Gene Robinson preaches today at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Parish’s new location (1517 18th St.,N.W.) followed by a reception on the rooftop balcony. St. Thomas will join with St. Luke’s church for the occasion. Robinson was consecrated in 2003 as the first openly gay bishop in a mainline Christian denomination. He moved to Washington upon retiring in 2013. Details at stthomasdc.org.
The D.C. Front Runners Distance Run meets today at 9 a.m.-noon for their weekly Sunday run beginning from the Taras Shevchenko Monument (22nd and P St., N.W.). D.C. Front Runners is an LGBTQ group welcoming runners for exercise in a fun and supportive environment. Running route distance is 8-12 miles and participants can run at their own pace. For more information, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
Gayborhood Night Piano Bar is tonight from 5-8 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant (555 23rd St., S, Arlington, Va.). Gayborhood Night fosters greater community for LGBTQ and allies and an opportunity to enjoy happy hour specials with neighbors. Everyone is welcome. Free door prize raffle around 7 p.m. for more information, visit freddiesbeachbar.com.
Monday, Sept. 30
Walking With Anthony’s seventh annual charity celebrity golf tournament and dinner is today at the Country Club of Fairfax (5110 Ox Rd., Fairfax, Va.). Player registration starts at 9:30 a.m., lunch is at 12:30 p.m., cocktails and the silent auction is at 4:30 and dinner starts at 5:30. Proceeds benefit the Walking with Anthony Foundation which promotes spinal cord injury education, research and grants to individuals with SCI. Visit walkingwithanthony.org for more information.
JR.’s Bar (1519 17th St., N.W.) presents Showtunes Monday with Vagenesis tonight starting at 8:30 p.m. The event opens with a happy hour showtune singalong and continues with $4 draft pints, special performances and giveaways. For more information, visit jrsbar-dc.com or Facebook events.
Tuesday, Oct. 1
“Sheer Madness” runs tonight starting at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center theater lab (2700 F St., N.W.). This show is an interactive comedy whodunit that lets audiences solve the crime. With more than 13,200 performances at the Kennedy Center, Sheer Madness is the second longest-running play in the history of American theater (its sister production in Boston is number one). For tickets and information, visit kennedy-center.org.
August Wilson’s “Fences” continues its run at Ford’s Theatre (511 10th St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, this play depicts the life of a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker. He takes responsibility for his wife and son’s well-being, but betrays them in ways that will alter their lives forever. “Fences” explores the walls we build around ourselves and our loved ones as well as what walls say about divisions in our society. Visit fords.org for tickets and information.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
The Center Careers Discussion Group is tonight from 6-7 p.m. at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W., suite 105). The Center Careers Job Club meets weekly at the D.C. Center on Wednesday as a weekly job support group. Details at thecenterdc.org.
Thursday, Oct. 3
The Asian Pacific Islander Queer Support Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W., suite 105). The group has been renewed for 2019 and runs every first Thursday of the month. The event is a closed space and only for individuals who identify as queer and Asian and/or Pacific Islander. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Out & About
A roundup of fall events not to be missed
Laverne Cox, Oktoberfest, arts celebrations, and more
Colder temperatures don’t mean you have to stay indoors — here’s a roundup of what to do this fall.
Laverne Cox will discuss her memoir, “Transcendent,” with Dr. Melanie Bryant on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Baltimore Book Fest. Cox will share her journey as a transgender woman in Hollywood, confronting childhood trauma, shame, gender identity, her transition, body image issues, her search for romantic love, deep-seated feelings of unworthiness, and ultimately, healing.
Dacha Beer Garden will launch its longest and loudest Oktoberfest yet on Friday, Sept. 18. This will be 17 consecutive days of Bavarian festivities across both locations — the original Shaw beer garden and the 800-person Navy Yard garden — running through Sunday, Oct. 4. On opening night, DC Brau will tap the ceremonial first keg and then Manuela Horn, the six-foot-two Austrian yodel queen, will trade sets with Johnny Koenig and his four-piece band in a live back-and-forth of yodeling, polka, and crowd games that can only be described as Oktoberfest ping pong.
Fay Jacobs will host “Aging Gracefully: 2nd Annual Farewell Tour” on Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10 at CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. This show will feature a new script with lots of new stories, and only a couple of “signature” tales.
Capital One Center will host its “Celebration of the Arts” starting on Saturday, Sept. 19 at its location in Tysons, Va. There will be art, music, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly outdoor entertainment. This curated experience invites you to engage with hands-on workshops, immersive art activations, and live performances. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Spark Social will host “open Mic Night” on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. Get ready to share your talent or just kick back and enjoy some great performances at Spark Social. Sign Ups are first-come-first-serve,, but you can also message the venue on Instagram to reserve a performance spot. Whether you’re a singer, poet, or comedian, this is your chance to get on stage and share your art. Tickets are $13.26 and are available on Eventbrite.
Howard University’s School of Social Work will host “Intergenerational Trauma in the BIPOC Community and the Use of Art” on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. This in-person, interactive workshop explores the role of art as a creative and supportive tool for understanding and addressing intergenerational trauma. Participants will examine the meaning and impact of intergenerational trauma, with particular attention to its historical roots and ongoing effects within Black and other BIPOC communities. More details are available on Eventbrite.
9:30 Club will host “BERTHA: Grateful Drag” on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. The group has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold goes to SMYAL and their work supporting and empowering LGBTQ+ youth. Tickets are available on 9:30 Club’s website.
Steve Lacy’s “Oh Yeah?” tour is coming to The Anthem on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available on The Anthem’s website.
Rapper Cupcakke will perform at Howard Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. More details are available on the theater’s website.
Team DC will host “Open Play: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Athletes and Sports Fans” on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. at Trade. Join Athlete Ally, Team DC and District Wrestling for a casual, in-person mixer as they celebrate LGBTQ+ sports fans and athletes at all levels of the game. Whether you’re part of an LGBTQ+ recreational league or just love watching sports, this is the place to connect, celebrate, and share the love of the game with other queer athletes, fans, business leaders, policymakers and more. Reserve a spot on Eventbrite.
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host “2026 LGBT Intergenerational Extravaganza” on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m.This is an event to connect, build relationships, and have fun with LGBTQ folks from other generations, and it will include lunch, an intergenerational dialogue and breakout sessions. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Out & About
LGBTQ Military Happy Hour set for Sept. 15
In-person gathering to be held at Tom’s Watch Bar
Modern Military Association of America will host “Pride in Service: An LGBTQ+ Military Happy Hour” on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. at Tom’s Watch Bar.
This in-person gathering is the perfect chance to connect, share stories, and celebrate the diversity within the military community. Come relax, meet fellow LGBTQ+ service members and allies, and enjoy a fun, supportive atmosphere. Don’t miss out on an evening full of pride, camaraderie, and good vibes. Visit Eventbrite for more details.
Friday, September 11
Go Gay DC will host “Out in DC LGBTQ+ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena.This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Women in their Twenties and Thirties will meet at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area. For more details, visit Facebook.
Saturday, September 12
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.
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host screenings of “Princess Sparkles” and “Kiloran Bay” at 1:30 p.m. “Kiloran Bay” is a 13-minute musical short set amid the wild beauty of the Scottish Hebrides and the fierce joy of a wedding cèilidh. “Princess Sparkles” is about a girl who accidentally signs up to pet-sit a princess only to discover she’s actually a nippy, Fox News-watching pig. More details are available on the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website.
Sunday, September 13
“Nellie’s DC Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar. Come get served like a queen by a queen. Join Sapphire Blue, Deja Diamond and their team of amazing drag performers for the most fun you’ll have all weekend. Tickets are $58.51 and are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, September 14
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10:00a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Tuesday, September 15
Center Bi Pan+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, September 16
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host “Movement for Healing” at 3 p.m. This trauma- and yoga therapy–informed class is designed to help guests gently reconnect with their body and their breath. Through mindful movement, somatic awareness, and grounding practices, guests will explore how to release tension, increase mobility, and cultivate a deeper sense of safety and ease within. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, September 17
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website.
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