a&e features
Adam Rippon on new life, loves, memoir and skating naked
Rippon says Ashley Wagner abuse allegations, Coughlin suicide rocked skating world
Adam Rippon
In conversation with Liz Dolan
Wednesday, Oct. 16
7 p.m.
Sixth & I Synagogue
600 I St., N.W.
Tickets: $20
ticket+book: $32
two tickets+book: $45
(books will be pre-signed but photos with Rippon will be taken)
We blitzed through a torrent of questions with Adam Rippon by phone last week. The bronze medal-winning gay breakout star (and self-proclaimed “America’s sweetheart”) releases his memoir “Beautiful on the Outside” Oct. 15. He and skier pal Gus Kenworthy each came out in 2015 and last year became the first openly gay male U.S. athletes to compete at the Winter Olympics. Rippon is in Washington (at Sixth and I Synagogue) Wednesday, Oct. 16 as the second stop on a 13-city book tour. His comments have been slightly edited for syntax and length.
WASHINGTON BLADE: How did the book come about?
ADAM RIPPON: Well, right after the Olympics, my team was saying that it might be a fun idea to write a book and I thought that this, like, really felt like a full chapter of my life sort of coming to an end and a new one was starting so I felt like it would be a really therapeutic almost experience. And I thought it would be a good thing for me to do, to kind of debrief and sort of be my moment to soak in everything that was like going on. So it was my team’s idea but then ultimately it was something that I did truly want to pursue.
BLADE: How long did it take to write?
RIPPON: About six-seven months. It wasn’t too long but it was a substantial amount of time.
BLADE: A lot of your appeal is the way you come across on camera. Were you concerned that that might not translate to the written page?
RIPPON: Totally. One thing that I really focused on was (making sure) the writing felt very in person, so that whatever you were reading felt like I could have been sitting right next to you like on a couch telling you this story and you were hearing my voice. So that was really important to me because I feel less like a writer and more like a storyteller. So I wanted to make sure, especially when I would be doing the audiobook, that it really felt like I wasn’t adding any words or saying any words that I wouldn’t say in a conversation.
BLADE: You share a lot of hard-won wisdom in the book. Were those convictions about life already in your head and bones or did the process of writing the book kind of help you distill and articulate some of that?
RIPPON: I think when I wrote the book, that was such an important thing for me to add into it because those are lessons and scenarios and things that I had learned and they were just so important to me, that was something really I wanted to add into the story. … Sometimes I just laugh at myself and move along through life through different struggles and things of that nature, but I really did learn a lot about myself, it really prepared me for the bigger moments.
BLADE: A lot of the book is about how what was going on in your head affected your skating. Did you ever work with a sports psychologist when you were competing?
RIPPON: I did but … it’s funny now, post skating career, I see a therapist but when I was skating, I felt like, no that’s weak, I’m not going to go to a sports psychologist, I’m going to just suck it up. I wish I had, but it’s harder because when you’re a competitive athlete. One you don’t have a lot of means to go out and find someone on your own and they do offer someone but it’s like someone that everybody uses, like all of your competitors are going to use the same sports psychologist, so in a way I was like, “Am I really going to tell my deepest fears with somebody’s who’s then gonna work with all of my competitors too?” I was like, no, I’m gonna tell this bitch that yeah, everything’s fine and I’ve never felt better. So it’s hard but now as an adult, I can go out and find someone on my own who’s personally mine and that was just something I did not have access to when I was competing because it was really expensive.
BLADE: How often are you on the ice these days?
RIPPON: Maybe once or twice a month now. Just skating for myself. Sometimes if I have a day off, I’ll go work with one of the skaters I used to train with, Mariah Bell. Working with her some makes me feel connected to skating, but I don’t skate very much on my own anymore.
BLADE: Would you like to do more skating exhibition tours?
RIPPON: I would, but they take so much time and energy to prepare for and I would not ever want to do one and not feel like I was giving my best. … Right now I really do want to focus on pursuing these other endeavors that are available to me now and I do want to pursue them because I do think the time to do that is right now and if there is something comes up in skating, it’ll make sense. Right now, I think I’m really focused on writing this book and that kind of hustle.
BLADE: It looks like you’ve stayed in great shape. Do you feel pressure to have perfect abs? I mean the shape you were in for Olympics has to be impossible to maintain I imagine.
RIPPON: Well, you know what? I’m gonna be super honest. After the Olympics, I went to the gym and I was like, “I can’t do this anymore. I’ve gone here every day of my life for 20 years and I just don’t have the motivation,” and that was OK. But I didn’t go to the gym for maybe a year.
BLADE: Oh wow.
RIPPON: Yeah, I know. It was a lot.
BLADE: But you didn’t gain 300 pounds or anything. I haven’t seen you lately but you look like you were in great shape on “Dancing With the Stars.”
RIPPON: I’m not 300 pounds yet, but no. … I realized I just needed to find new goals at the gym because it’s something I really enjoy. So I’ve been going for like the past month and have been working out pretty regularly with my old trainer again and, of course, the workouts are totally different, because it’s no longer about trying to be as good a skater as possible. But I really love the rush you get from finishing a workout.
BLADE: You make a joke in the book about your hook-ups not believing you had an office job because nobody with a desk job would have an ass like yours. What kind of currency has having that kind of butt given you in your personal life? Is it something your boyfriends have gone on and on about or it something that maybe seems more exaggerated from afar? Tell me about your ass, Adam.
RIPPON: Well, here we go. How much time do you have? (laughs) No, I’m kidding. Um, the one thing I’ve noticed, now surrounding myself with people who are not athletes by profession is that everybody who works out and goes to the gym, the hardest thing for them is legs. I’ve noticed going back to the gym, that’s always been my upper hand because I’ve done only legs for so long. With my boyfriend, he’s mostly envious that I have these bigger legs and, like, a butt that really fills out my pants. Mostly he’s jealous but he does like it, which is good because I can’t really get rid of it.
BLADE: At one point in the book you say you were having trouble with quad toe so you had to switch to quad lutz. Why not quad sal?
RIPPON: It’s a little different with the quads. That’s why you see these Russian junior girls and some of them won’t do triple axels but their only two quads are toe and lutz. The lutz may be the hardest because that entrance is so hard but when you have the torque just right, it really snaps the quickest into rotation. I think when you’re learning triples, the skill of how you should learn them is correct, but with quads, it’s more like which do you feel and I think difficulty sort of comes in second.
BLADE: Did you ever play around with quad loops or flips?
RIPPON: Yeah. I think in my life, I’ve landed a (quad) flip, a salchow. It was just one day and it’s going really well, then the next day I’m just doing like cheated triples and I’m like, “Oh, OK, here we go.”
BLADE: Have we hit the ceiling on quads? Is it realistic to think somebody might land a quad axel someday?
RIPPON: I think so. I never thought I’d see a day where somebody has a program like Nathan Chen’s planned programs and it’s something he actually does and it’s not, like, a joke. And it’s the way he does it really effortlessly and you don’t really actually notice he’s doing all these quads ‘cause they’re so well done, which is the scariest part of his skating.
BLADE: Have you stayed in touch with him?
RIPPON: I’ve stayed in touch with pretty much everyone I competed with and with Nathan, we had the same coach for a while. I have such a soft spot for him and the things that he does. I’m always cheering for him. He’s just a really, really good kid and, you know, works super hard and is so well rounded. I love catching up and seeing how he’s doing.
BLADE: I know it’s probably hard to put into words, but how much harder is the triple loop than the triple toe as the second jump in a combination?
RIPPON: Adding the triple loop onto something is much harder because the room for error and correction on landing the first jump is so small. When you’re doing a triple loop in a combination, the biggest thing is you cannot readjust or fix the landing position of that first jump because it happens so quickly and it immediately needs to come together. With the toe loop, you can readjust the tap into the ice, you can tap a little further, tap quicker, you can jump a little more from the assistance of the free leg, so it’s still incredibly difficult but a triple loop combination is by far much harder than a triple toe loop combination.
BLADE: Were you more team Zagitova or Medvedeva in the ladies’ event last Olympics?
RIPPON: You know, I think that I was really impressed with Zagitova, I thought she skated very well, but I do have to say the way that Medvedeva handled herself as like a two-time world champion, and then to go out and skate two clean programs, I just felt she had a lot of substance to her skating maybe her style wasn’t the I don’t know, wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea. She performed, she had everything that an Olympic champion should have and I really felt that she kind of earned it. Zagitova skated a little bit like a really excellent junior lady in her first year senior. It wasn’t as refined and Medvedeva was a two-time world champion heading into that event, she was very refined and in that moment and was incredibly young, but yet had some womanly flair to her, which I really admired. I completely see why Medvedeva was the silver medalist and Zagitova was the gold medalist, I understand, but if I were judging I would have had Medvedeva first.
BLADE: Did it bother you that Zagitova back-stacked all her jumps? (Jumps completed in the second half of the long program are weighted in scoring.)
RIPPON: No. I mean, of course I want to be like, yes, it doesn’t make for a nice program, but then at the end of the day, we have rules and we have points and you know I think if Eteri’s goal, their coach, is that she has a student who wins, and that they compete and there’s no pecking order of who should win and who shouldn’t win, you’re gonna go and you’re gonna do the most that you can do. So, I mean she played the game within the rules and she knew that Medvedeva had better style, so the way to make Zagitova more competitive against Medvedeva would be to just technically you know, put everything at the end. So is it annoying, like a little bit, but is she cheating? No. Everybody had that option and everybody knew that, so it doesn’t bother me. I kind of look at it like I don’t like it, but you’re smart.
BLADE: Why are they wrapping everybody up in those goddamn jackets now the second you step off the ice? They never used to do that.
RIPPON: It’s a sponsor thing. While you’re just sitting there in kiss and cry, they want the sponsor logo to be visible on TV. Obviously you couldn’t skate with a logo, but when you’re just sitting there waiting for scores, you can see what it says on the label.
BLADE: I wasn’t a big fan when they changed the rules to allow vocal music. You took advantage of it. What was your opinion?
RIPPON: I didn’t like it at first, but then I really enjoyed it as a skater. I just thought it opened the door for a lot of really cool ideas.
BLADE: How was Tonya Harding on “Dancing With the Stars?” Did you develop any camaraderie with her?
RIPPON: I wouldn’t say camaraderie, but she was super nice and she’s fun. She’s super funny, really personable. You know, I doubt Nancy (Kerrigan) would think that, but she’s super personable. I had no problem with her. She was nice.
BLADE: Did you admire her skating back in the day?
RIPPON: The first competition I ever watched was ’98, so I never grew up with her, but once I went back and started watching things, I’ll always remember that opening at 1991 nationals with the “Batman” theme and that mint green dress.
BLADE: Did you like the movie “I, Tonya”?
RIPPON: I mean Margot Robbie when she does press for the movie, she says it’s Tonya’s side of the story and I think she did a really good job of that. But I think even Margot would tell you that the truth probably lies in the middle.
BLADE: So many skaters — Brian Boitano, Jeffrey Buttle, Johnny Weir — came out after they stopped competing. I’m not asking for names, but are there still closeted skaters that you know of or is that era finally over?
RIPPON: I think we’re becoming past it and I really feel that like I hope that I had something to do with it, where people felt like it didn’t really matter and you could still be successful. But I do think that the pressures of someone like me and someone like Brian Boitano or Jeffrey Buttle are so different. I was never a favorite for a world title, there was no pressure like that. I was just trying to kind of make my world team and see if I, if someone’s having a bad day, could swoop in for a world medal. Or like at the Olympics, know that I could be a really good asset to the team event. So I knew that like the pressures for me were totally different, they were not the same as somebody trying to win a world title, I wasn’t going to be as scrutinized. I mean especially compared to somebody like Brian Boitano in the ‘80s. So it’s a totally different time but I do think that because a lot of the attention, I did get at the Olympics, I think it broke down a lot of stigma. Because yes, there was a gay athlete but everything else wasn’t about that, which I think was great. I think it was a really good thing.
BLADE: Why are there so many more medal opportunities in the summer games? Can you imagine if figure skaters had the number of medal opportunities as Michael Phelps?
RIPPON: I think when you get into subjective sports where it’s all based on human judging, it’s really hard to break those into different categories. And it’s part of the drama of skating that there aren’t all these opportunities. That’s one reason I love the idea of a team event, not only because I’m a medalist from it, but I love that it’s brought different stars from the Olympics forward. I mean look at Yulia Lipnitskaya from Sochi. In the team event, she was the star of the whole competition and when we think about the individual, I even forget that she competed in it. So it gives other people the chance to be Olympic stars in a different capacity. The whole point of the Olympics is to inspire people to get into sports. That really is truly what it is. And I think the team event really does that.
BLADE: You obviously came up long after compulsories were eliminated. When you go back and watch old performances, do you think skaters in the ‘70s and ‘80s had better form, better edges, because of having to learn the school figures or not so much?
RIPPON: I think the quality of skating is going up because the demands of what you have to do now technically are so high. You have to do so many transitions into jumps and so many turns and steps into all of your elements so you get a nice transition score and I think that’s pushing people to learn these turns and steps in the proper way and faster than if they’d started with figures. This way you jump right into it and the learning curve is a lot quicker. You know you have to do it this way because that’s how it’s judged so it’s the only way to be competitive.
BLADE: Were you really fully nude except for your boots for the ESPN shoot or did you have some kind of little loincloth on or something?
RIPPON: I was 100 percent naked and it was actually at the rink I trained at. There are three rinks and one is all the way at the end in the corner and they blocked it off and had security and everything but yeah, it was fully nude, and for the first two minutes it was like, “Isn’t it weird that I can see my dick and I’m skating,” but then you get going and you’re like it doesn’t really become a thing anymore and nobody’s really fazed by it because they’ve shot like a million naked athletes before so it’s a very cool experience.
BLADE: Isn’t it hard to skate with your dick flopping around?
RIPPON: No, because at that point, everything gets so small it’s like, “OK, this is what we’re dealing with.” It’s nothing to write home about. (laughs)
BLADE: What did you think of Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski’s commentary of your Olympic performances?
RIPPON: They bring such excitement to skating. People tune in to watch the skating, but also to hear their opinions. They’re like Dick Button and Peggy Fleming for this generation, where you wanted to hear if Dick Button thought you were a good skater or not. They aren’t mean, they’re honest and now, being able to be more subjective, I see that. I remember there was one performance where Johnny said he thought I wasn’t interpreting the music well and I was like, “What? He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” But as I watch it back now, I’m like, “No, he’s totally right.” He was just giving an honest opinion and it’s his job do to that. … They add flair to the whole competition.
BLADE: Did you ever hear from Mike Pence after the Olympics or was that just a big dog-and-pony show?
RIPPON: Well I knew that I never would, so I haven’t.
BLADE: Do you keep the Mirror Ball Trophy (from “Dancing With the Stars”) with all your skating medals? Or they displayed?
RIPPON: All my skating medals are in a container from the Container Store. The Mirror Ball Trophy is in a guest bedroom on the night stand. I have it out if somebody wants to see it, but it’s not something I’m looking at all the time. I want to focus on getting more things and — I know this is just in my own head — but not feel complicit in what I’ve achieved so far.
BLADE: You don’t even keep your Olympic medal out?
RIPPON: They came in beautiful boxes so I have it in the box on a side table with the medal inside. So it’s there if somebody wants to see it but it’s not like, “Oh wow, it’s hanging on the wall.”
BLADE: Any hint of sexual tension between you and (out Olympic skier) Gus Kenworthy or is that just totally a gay bromance?
RIPPON: It’s very much a brotherly sort of relationship. I adore him. We don’t talk all the time, but he’s just somebody I think I’ll always be kind of close to.
BLADE: You say in the book you and (figure skater) Ashley Wagner were close friends. Do you have any comment on her decision in August to say she was sexually assaulted (11 years prior by pairs skater John Coughlin, who committed suicide in January under similar allegations)?
RIPPON: I think it was brave. I’m sure it was really hard for her to do it. I think it’s going to hopefully create some good conversations with people within the sport.
BLADE: You say in the book you two were super close. Did she tell you about this shortly after it happened? Did you know John Coughlin?
RIPPON: I did know John, I thought, pretty well. But I had no idea any of this was going on and it’s been pretty tough ‘cause I wish I could have said something to someone or said something to him, but I didn’t have that opportunity. It’s something I think a lot of skaters are struggling with because we don’t agree with it. It’s not good. So many athletes aren’t equipped to deal with the suicide of someone that they knew. So it was really something challenging for a lot of people to get through and it was just something that was still, you know, pretty raw I think for a lot of people.
BLADE: What did you think of Yuzuru Hanyu’s (gold-winning) performances in PyeongChang?
RIPPON: I thought he was amazing. He’s incredible. Such a legend.
BLADE: Is he approachable or kind of in his own world? What’s it like being around such a great skater?
RIPPON: There’s a level of respect for everybody like that that all the competitors have regardless of who they are or what they’ve achieved. He’s always been super nice and I would say that I enjoyed competing with him as both gold older. One thing that helped is since he moved to Canada, his English got better so we could actually chat. As an adult, I enjoyed seeing him and getting to cheer for him and watch him compete.
BLADE: How do you feel about turning 30 (in November)?
RIPPON: I can’t wait. I’m really excited.
BLADE: Why?
RIPPON: I just feel like it’s perfect timing. I’m retiring from skating and starting this new phase of my life and career so the time feels really good. And I don’t know, I felt like I was 30 for a few years already anyway, so it’s all good timing.
BLADE: Does (boyfriend) JP (Jussi-Pekka Kajaala) live with you now in L.A.? How are things there?
RIPPON: JP goes back and forth between L.A. and Finland. I’m actually going there Friday.
BLADE: How often do you get to see each other on average?
RIPPON: We probably spend about five months out of the year together.
BLADE: Are you and (“Dancing With the Stars” dancing partner) Jenna (Johnson) still BFFs?
RIPPON: Um, yeah. I love her. We talk, like, very often.
BLADE: Are you a morning person by nature or did you kind of just force yourself to be one all those years getting up to train?
RIPPON: I’m not, but if I don’t force myself to be a morning person, I could stay in bed for like years.
BLADE: What do you have coming up? What do the next six months look like for you?
RIPPON: I’m on the book tour for two weeks, then right after that I have a few stops and I’m working on a few other things that will be announced soon, which is cool. I also just filmed another series of Breaking the Ice, the little videos on YouTube. Yeah, just stuff like that. It’s all good, nothing super busy.
BLADE: What would you like to be doing in 10 years?
RIPPON: I would love to still be working in entertainment, in comedy, and be successful. Let’s see, I don’t know, I just would like to be really successful, have more awards, right? I’m an athlete, I love a good trophy. So I think I really enjoy the kind of stuff I’m doing now and just continue to be a performer but like in a different way. I’d love to still be doing all this in 10 years.
a&e features
Your guide to the many Pride celebrations in D.C. region
Scores of events scheduled across DMV amid WorldPride excitement
June is just around the corner, but Pride events have already begun in the region. There are many events scheduled in D.C. for WorldPride 2025, as well as for D.C. Black Pride, Trans Pride, Silver Pride, Latinx Pride, API Pride and Youth Pride. Cities and towns in the region also offer their own LGBTQ Pride festivals and parades.
D.C. API Pride has events scheduled from May 17-June 8 with meetings, shows, concerts, workshops and socials. Highlights include the API Pride Welcome Reception on Wednesday, June 4 at the National Union Building (918 F Street, N.W.); a screening of Saving Face with Director Alice Wu on Sunday June 1 from 2-4 p.m. at the Smithsonian Asian Art Museum (1050 Independence Avenue, S.W.); the Desi & South Asian Drag Show on Thursday, June 5 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sinners & Saints (639 Florida Avenue, N.W.); and the QTAPI Nightlife Extravaganza on Friday, June 6 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Koi Lounge (1413 K Street, N.W.) Visit qtapidc.org/apipride for more information and to register for events.
D.C. Silver Pride is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 from 4-7 p.m. at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K Street, N.W.). The resource fair and tea dance is hosted by Rayceen Pendarvis.
D.C. Latinx Pride has events scheduled from May 16-June 19. Highlights include a kickoff reception on Thursday, May 22 from 8-10 p.m. at Shakers DC (2014 9th Street, N.W.); La Fe, a celebration of faith and resilience, at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge Street, N.W.) on Sunday, May 25 from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.; La Fiesta: the Official Latinx Pride Party at Bunker (2001 14th Street, N.W.) on Thursday, May 29 at from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m.; as well as parties, a history walking tour, a film festival, panel discussions and more. Tickets are available for the Official Latinx Pride Party at latinxhistoryproject.org and run from $15 to $76.
Trans Pride Washington, D.C. is scheduled for May 17 beginning with registration at 9:30 a.m., a resource fair from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., panel discussions and workshops throughout the day, the Engendered Spirit Awards at 4 and a keynote speech by Schuyler Bailar with an afterparty scheduled for 6-9:30 p.m. RSVP at transpridewashingtondc.org. Location is shared after RSVP.
D.C. Youth Pride has events scheduled from May 30-June 7 in various locations throughout the city. Registration is free but required. Youth Pride Day is scheduled for May 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woolly Mammoth Theater Company (641 D Street, N.W.). The event is for LGBTQ+ youth ages 6-18 years old and their parents/caregivers/family (those over 18 must be accompanying an attendee 18 years of age or younger). Register on Eventbrite. Other events include the “Pride Rising” event on Friday, May 30 for LGBTQ+ young adults, a Teen Pride Night, a book launch and a “Proud to Teach” mixer for LGBTQ+ educations at Crush Dance Bar (2007 14th Street, N.W.) on Thursday, June 5 from 6-8:30 p.m.
D.C. Black Pride
The 34th annual D.C. Black Pride has events scheduled from Wednesday, May 21 through Monday, May 26 at the Capital Hilton (1101 16th Street, N.W.) and other venues throughout the city.
Thurst Lounge (2204 14th Street, N.W.) is holding a Thurstnik Reloaded extended hours nightlife event from May 21-26. The event is free; no tickets or wristbands are required.
Xavier Entertainment presents 5 days with 8 events for Black Pride with Supreme Fantasy 2025 from May 22-26. Passes are available at xavierpartydc.com. Events include the DC Black World Pride Kickoff party at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U Street, N.W.) on Thursday, May 22; the 3000 Men Block party at Karma (2221 Adams Place, N.E.) on Friday, May 23; Official DC Black Pride After Hours parties at Power Nightclub (2335 Bladensburg Road, N.E.) are scheduled for Saturday, May 24, Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26 from 4-8 a.m.; the Cook Out Party is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 from 5-9 p.m. at Aqua Nightclub (1818 New York Avenue, N.E.); the 5000 Men Meatloaf Saturday Rooftop Party featuring headliner Yung Miami at Public Nightclub (1214 18th Street, N.W.) on Saturday, May 24 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.; the DC Black World Pride Main Event at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U Street, N.W.) is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 starting at 4 p.m.; the Meatloaf After Dark party at Power Nightclub (2335 Bladensburg Road, N.E.) is scheduled for Monday, May 26 from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
The Welcome to D.C. Happy Hour is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 from 5-10 p.m. at Metrobar (640 Rhode Island Avenue, N.E.).
The Welcome to D.C. Happy Hour is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 from 5-10 p.m. at Decades Rooftop (1219 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.). Purchase tickets at blisspride.com.
The 9th annual D.C. Black Pride Unity Free Ball is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. at the Capital Hilton Hotel (1001 16th Street, N.W.). RSVP at Eventbrite for the free event.
Daryl Wilson Promotions presents The Pregame Act 1 party scheduled for Thursday, May 22 from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. at The Ugly Mug (723 8th Street, S.E.).
The Welcome Reception is scheduled for Friday, May 23 at 3 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Capital Hilton Hotel (1001 16th Street, N.W.).
The 34th annual D.C. Black Pride Opening Reception is scheduled for Friday, May 23 from 5-10 p.m. at the Capital Hilton Hotel (1001 16th Street, N.W.). Special guests include Kerri Colby, TS Madison and Monroe Alise.
The Bliss Pastel Party, a women’s event, is scheduled for Friday, May 23 from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. at Strand (1400 Eye Street, N.W.). $20 advance tickets are available at Blisspride.com.
The Capital House Music Festival salutes Sam the Man Burns at a free music festival featuring artists and DJs on May 24 from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. at Alethia Tanner Park (227 Harry Thomas Way, N.E.).
The “For the Culture” Brunch Cruise is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 aboard The Spirit of Washington. Boarding time is 11:15 a.m. at the dock at 580 Water Street, S.W. The boat returns to the dock at 3 p.m.
The Writers Forum, a panel of Black, LGBTQ+ writers, is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 from 1-3 p.m. at the Capital Hilton Hotel (1001 16th Street, N.W.).
Daryl Wilson Promotions presents the “Infamous” Saturday Day Party on May 24 from 5-11 p.m. at The Park (1201 Half Street, S.E.).
The Mary Bowman Poetry Slam Open Mic is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the Capital Hilton Hotel (1001 16th Street, N.W.). Twelve of performance poets from around the country compete for over $1,500 in prizes in a night of poetry hosted by Kenneth Something.
The Pure Bliss Party, a women’s event, is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. at Strand (1400 Eye Street, N.W.). Tickets are $25 in advance and available at Blisspride.com.
The Capitol Ballroom Council presents Brunch & Babes: DC Black Pride WorldPride Edition at Hook Hall (3400 Georgia Avenue, N.W.) on Sunday, May 25 from noon until 4 p.m. The drag event, hosted by Sophia McIntosh, features a brunch buffet and giveaways. Tickets are $20-$80.
The Clubhouse 50th anniversary “Children’s Hour Party” with special guest Rochelle Fleming is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 from 3-9 p.m. at Bravo Bravo (1001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.).
Daryl Wilson Promotions presents The Wet Dreams Mega Day Party scheduled for Sunday, May 25 from 5-11 p.m. at The Bullpen (1201 Half Street, N.E.).
D.C. Black Pride 2025 Closeout – The Finale is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 from 6-10 p.m. at Twelve After Twelve (1212 18h Street, N.W.). $15 advance tickets are available at Blisspride.com.
Daryl Wilson Events is hosting the Sunday Night Super Party on Sunday, May 25 from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. on Monday at The Park (920 14th Street, N.W.).
Pride in the Park is scheduled for Monday, May 26 from 12-7 p.m. at Fort Dupont Park (Minnesota Avenue, S.E.).
The World Pride Black Queer Film Festival is scheduled for May 27-29 from 6-9 p.m. at Howard University’s Blackburn Digital Auditorium (2397 6th Street, N.W.). The event is free, but RSVP and see descriptions of films and showtimes on Eventbrite.
D.C. WorldPride 2025
The international event WorldPride 2025 is to be held in Washington, D.C. from May 18-June 8. Events include a Choral Festival from May 23-June 8; a WorldPride Film Festival from May 27-29; the Capital Cup Sports Festival from May 30-June 4; a Human Rights Conference on June 4-6, as well as marches, concerts, parties, a street festival and more. Visit worldpridedc.org for more information on affiliated events.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington is presenting the International Choral Festival for WorldPride 2025 with daily hour-long pop-up performances from singers from around the world on Friday, May 23 through Sunday, June 8 in venues throughout the city. The festival is free and open to the public, however, premium passes with reserved seating is available at GMCW.org.
The WorldPride Film Festival is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29 and includes LGBTQ-themed films from across the globe. Screenings are to be held at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Cojeaux Cinemas (630 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. and 1660 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va.) and Atlas Performing Arts Center – Sprenger Theater (1333 H Street, N.E.). Movie descriptions and showtimes are listed at worldpridedc.org.
Team D.C. is hosting the Capital Cup Sports Festival on Friday, May 30 through Wednesday, June 4 in multiple venues. Athletes from around the world compete in basketball, bocce, cornhole, climbing, swimming, darts, dodgeball, flag football, kickball, golf, pickleball, regatta, roller derby, rugby, soccer, tennis, volleyball and wrestling. The D.C. Front Runners annual Pride Run 5K at Congressional Cemetery on June 1 is included. Find a tentative schedule and registration information at worldpridedc.org.
The Welcome Ceremony + Concert is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 at National’s Park (1500 South Capitol Street, S.E.). Shakira is performing in her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. Tickets run from $108 to $730 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The WorldPride Human Rights Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4 through Friday June 6 at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.). Featured speakers include the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Dr. Lady Phyll and Paula Gerber. Early bird registration is available through capitalpride.org for $350, with virtual registration available for $200.
The National Trans Visibility March is holding a Policy and Safety Summit at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport (2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Va.) on Thursday, June 5 through Friday, June 6. Find more information on panels and topics at ntvmarch.org.
The Capital Pride Honors are scheduled for Thursday, June 5 from 7-11 p.m. at the National Building Museum (401 F Street, N.W.). The red carpet gala includes live music, food and a formal awards ceremony for trailblazers in the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets are $105.25 and are available through capitalpride.org.
The Pride Celebration Concert with the International Pride Orchestra is scheduled for Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 at Strathmore Music Center (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.). The International Pride Orchestra joins the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for an evening of music. Tickets run from $35-$100 and can be purchased through strathmore.org.
The World Pride Music Festival: Global Dance Party is scheduled for Friday, June 6 through Saturday, June 7 at RFK Festival Grounds (2500 Independence Avenue, S.E.). The two day festival spans three stages. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Performers on Friday include Jennifer Lopez, Gallants, Marina, Paris Hilton, Rita Ora, Tinashe, Betty Who, LP Giobbi, Patrick Mason and Trisha Paytas among others, with a closing set by Zedd. Saturday performers include Troye Sivan, Grimes, Kim Petras, Purple Disco Machine, Ray, Sofi Tukker, Anabel Englund, Coco & Breezy, Crush Club, Aluna, Sasha Colby and a DJ set by RuPaul.
The WorldPride 17th Street Block Party is scheduled for Friday, June 6 from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday, June 7 from noon until 10 p.m. along 17th Street, N.W. in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. There will be a beverage garden and LGBTQ+ entertainment.
The Washington Blade is hosting the sixth annual Pride on the Pier Boat Parade & Fireworks Show at The Wharf (101 District Square, S.W.) on Friday, June 6 from 3-10 p.m. and Saturday, June 7 from noon until 10 p.m. The event is free, though VIP tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite for $30. The boat parade is schedule for 7 p.m. on June 6, and the fireworks show is scheduled for 9 p.m. on June 7. More information is available at prideonthepierdc.com.
The Full Bloom: Friday Main Event is scheduled for Friday, June 6 at 9 p.m. at 1235 W Street, N.E. Tickets are $100 and available at capitalpride.org.
LUSH: The DC Lesbian Nightclub Experience is scheduled for June 6 at 10 p.m. at 618 DC (618 H Street, N.W.). Advance tickets are $15 at ra.co. The event is 21+ and features an “all-dyke DJ lineup” with Lady Lavender, Flotussin and Jacq Jill.
The WorldPride Parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 7 with the step off at 2 p.m. at 14th Street and T Street, N.W. The parade is slated to move down 14th street to Freedom Plaza and then Pennsylvania Avenue.
The WorldPride Street Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 7 and Sunday June 8 for noon until 10 p.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. between 9th and 3rd Streets. There will be food courts, beverage gardens, a Camp Pride Family Area / kids’ zone, community vendors, activities, entertainment and more.
The Post-Parade + Closing Concerts is scheduled for Saturday, June 7 through Sunday, June 8 at the Street Festival and Concert Grounds at 3rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. The event is free to the public, though Tier 2 VIP tickets are available (and quickly selling out) at capitalpride.org for $335.01 for the Saturday concert or $575.20 for Saturday and Sunday. Cynthia Erivo, David Archuleta, CeCe Peniston and Kristine W take the stage on Saturday for the post-parade. Doechii, Khalid, Brooke Eden, 2AM Ricky, Parker Matthews and MkX are scheduled to perform in the Sunday Closing Concert.
The Fabric of Freedom Main Saturday Event is scheduled for June 7 at 10 p.m. at 1235 W Street, N.E. KINETIC Presents and the Capital Pride Alliance host the party featuring three stages, over 100,000 square feet of dance floor, and a performance by Pabllo Vittar. Tickets are available for purchase at capitalpride.org and run from $120.92 to $188.80.
Unwraveled: The Official Women’s Party for WorldPride 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, June 7 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at The Park at 14th (920 14th Street, N.W.). Tickets run from $63.48 to $105.25 and are available for purchase at capitalpride.org.
The International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 with the rally beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the march kicking off from the Lincoln Memorial (2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, N.W.) at noon. The march will end near the U.S. Capitol Building for the WorldPride DC Street Festival and Closing Concert.
Visit worldpridedc.org/events to see a full list of partner and affiliate events for WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Regional Prides
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride is to be held on Saturday, May 17 at the Harris Pavilion (9201 Center Street, Manassas, Va.) from noon until 4 p.m. The family-friendly event is held in the historic center of Old Town Manassas.
The second annual Herndon Pride is being held at Arts Herndon (750 Center Street, Herndon, Va.) on Saturday, May 24 from noon until 5 p.m.
Annapolis Pride, one of the larger Pride celebrations in the region, includes both a parade and festival on Saturday, May 31. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Calvert and Bladen Streets and end at Amos Garrett Boulevard off of West Street. The festival is to be held at Maryland Hall (801 Chase Street, Annapolis, Md.) from noon until 5 p.m.
The 2025 Arlington Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Va.). The indoor event is free. A number of other ticketed events ($30-$250) are scheduled for Arlington Pride as well, including a pageant hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee, a drag brunch, speed dating and an afterparty.
The fourth annual Loudoun Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 from noon until 6 p.m. at Ida Lee Park (60 Ida Lee Drive N.W., Leesburg, Va.). The ticketed event ($5) includes musical performances, a magic show, face painting, bounce houses, food vendors, an alcohol pavilion and the return of “Dragstravaganza.”
Page County / Luray Pride is set for Saturday, May 31 from noon until 5 p.m. at River’s Bend Ranch (397 Riverbend Rd., Stanley, Va.). The family-friendly event is free, but horseback riding is available for those who sign up in advance for $60 + tip to trail guide.
The Charles County Department of Health is holding the third annual PrEP for Pride at 4545 Crain Highway in White Plains, Md. from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. The free festival includes a spirited Pride Walk, entertainment and vendors.
Reston Pride is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 from 6-9 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza (1609 Washington Plaza N., Reston, Va.). The free events planned for the weekend include the Rising Voices! Community Concert on Saturday and the Pride Festival on Sunday.
The third annual Culpeper Pride Festival is scheduled for Sunday, June 1 from noon until 5 p.m. at the Mountain Run Winery (10753 Mountain Run Lake Road, Culpeper, Va.). The free event includes music, vendors, a 2 p.m. runway contest. An after hours drag show is scheduled for 6-8 p.m., with tickets available for $10.
The City of Rockville Human Rights Commission is hosting the ninth annual Rockville Pride Festival on Sunday, June 1 from 2-5 p.m. at Rockville Town Square (131 Gibbs Street, Rockville, Md.).
The fourth annual Portsmouth Pride Fest is scheduled for Sunday, June 1 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Portsmouth Festival Park (16 Crawford Circle, Portsmouth, Va.). The family-friendly free event includes entertainment, vendors, community information and a dog park.
Fairfax Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 7 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Stacy C. Sherwood Center (3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, Va.). The Fairfax Pride Launch Event hosted by Fairfax City and George Mason University is set to include children’s activities, crafts, and more.
The 4th annual Mosaic Pride is coming to the Mosaic District (District Avenue, Fairfax, Va.) with drag shows, live music and more on Saturday, June 14 from 3-9 p.m. The day’s events include a 3 p.m. parade, drag story time with Tara Hoot and an aerialist performance.
The 50th annual Baltimore Pride is to be held June 8-15. The full list of scheduled events has not yet been released, but generally includes the Baltimore Pride Parade and the Baltimore Pride Festival. Check back with the Washington Blade for more specific event times as they become available.
The fourth annual Delmarva Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at S. Harrison and E. Dover Streets in Easton, Md. The free event includes vendors and entertainment. Other Delmarva Pride events scheduled over the weekend include “A Night in New Orleans” concert and dance on Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Garfield Center for the Arts (210 High Street, Chestertown, Md.), as well as a drag show and art event on Friday, a dance (18+) on Saturday and a Pride Brunch on Sunday.
Hampton Roads Pride Weekend is scheduled for June 20-22. Weekend events include a unique boat parade, a Pridefest, a block party and more.
The fifth annual Catonsville Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 21 from 2-5 p.m. at Catonsville Presbyterian Church (1400 Frederick Road, Catonsville, Md.). The ticketed event ($4-$5) is a charity fundraiser with all net proceeds slated to go to the Journeys Cottage at The Children’s Home (a safe space for trans youth).
The 13th annual Hagerstown Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 21 from noon until 6 p.m. at Doubs Woods Park (1307 Maryland Avenue, Hagerstown, Md.).
The 12th annual Frederick Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Carroll Creek Linear Park (50 Carroll Creek Way, Frederick, Md.). The free event includes a full food truck court, a beverage garden, hundreds of vendors, a car show, musical guests, drag performances, a children’s area and more.
The eighth annual Alexandria Pride Fair is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 from 3-6 p.m. at Alexandria City Hall and Market Square (301 King Street, Alexandria, Va.). The free event includes exhibitors and vendors, a drag story hour, food trucks, live music, health services a mobile art lab, dancing are more.
FXBG PRIDE (Fredericksburg, Va.) is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 with a march set to begin with speeches at 10 a.m. at Riverfront Park (701 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, Va.) and move through downtown Fredericksburg. Following the march, the FXBG Pride Festival is scheduled from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Riverfront Park. An afterparty at Market Square (214 William Street, Fredericksburg, Va.) is scheduled for 6-11 p.m., with 18+ after 9 p.m. All events are free.
The 2025 Salisbury Pride Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 28. The parade is planned to begin at 3 p.m. and move along Main Street in downtown Salisbury, Md. The festival is to run from 2-6:30 p.m.
The Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza is scheduled for Sunday, June 29 from noon until 8 p.m. at Veterans Plaza (1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, Md.).
Cumberland Pride is scheduled for Sunday, June 29 from noon until 4 p.m. at Canal Place (13 Canal Street, Cumberland, Md.). The free event includes entertainment, vendors and more.
Some cities have opted for Pride celebrations later in the year. Pride festivals in Front Royal, Va. and Westminster, Md. are slated for July 26. C’ville Pride Festival (Charlottesville, Va.), Shenandoah Valley Pride (Harrisonburg, Va.) and Virginia Pridefest (Richmond, Va.) are scheduled for September. Staunton Pride (Staunton, Va.), Southwest Virginia Pride (Salem, Va.), Winchester Pride (Winchester, Va.) and HoCo Pride (Columbia, Md.) are scheduled for October.
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Gideon Glick steals the show in Amazon Prime’s ‘Étoile’
Talented actor delivers brilliant turn as quirky ballet choreographer
If you haven’t seen the scene stealing Gideon Glick in Amazon Prime’s “Étoile,” run do not walk to your preferred streaming platform.
The talented actor — known for his work on the Broadway show, “Spring Awakening” and movies like, “Maestro”— is fantastic as Tobias, the quirky ballet choreographer.
“Tobias is a brilliant, complicated man who lives in his own world and sees the world very clearly in his head, but I don’t think other people see it as clearly as he does,” Glick told the Blade. “I don’t know if he’s as good as communicating within his head to others … he doesn’t read people very well, and I think he’s quite blunt, and he has a very hard time if something doesn’t align with what he sees.”
Glick is also one of the writers on the series.
After working with him on their previous hit show, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” co-creators/executive producers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino hired Glick as a scribe, after he expressed a strong interest in writing.
“The funny thing about Gideon was we started to create this character, this weird, semi on the spectrum, sort of strange choreographer, and we would find ourselves talking about him and then just looking at Gideon,” said Amy Sherman-Palladino at a recent press event.
“And after a while, Gideon’s like ‘why are you looking at me like every five seconds!?’ And we realized we were creating this character, and it was Gideon! In the writer’s room, about halfway through it, we said to him, ‘is it something you might wanna do?’”
Glick had that sense this was going to happen.
“We have a similar sense of humor. And we just got along really well….We were about a month into the writers’ room, and every time they talked about the character, they kept pointing to me,” he noted.
“But I didn’t know it was me. And everybody kept looking around and thought, ‘How strange is this?’ But then when they offered it to me, you know, it was a beautiful synthesis. So we kind of came up with it together, which I feel really, really lucky about.”
Added Daniel Palladino: “Gideon has his own odd, peculiar way, and it’s unmatched with anybody else.”
Glick is thrilled and deeply touched by his relationship with the Palladinos. “It’s been a very remarkable thing for me. I think when you have reverence for people, and when they respect you back and believe in you, you start to believe in yourself. And so, that started to happen to me when I started working with them, and it helped me cultivate my own career and expand on it.”
To have that level of confidence means everything to Glick.
“I think especially being in a gay community, finding people that believe in you and bolster you — you don’t let them go. Ever, ever, ever.”
As an actor who has a disability in his own life, Glick resonates with Tobias’s uniqueness.
“I was born with one ear. My right ear is completely fake. It’s made out of my rib. And hearing impaired on my left side too … I’ve had to embrace the fact that I’m different from a very, very, very early age. I also came out when I was 12. So at that point, it was kind of on the vanguard. I mean people come out all the time now. But back then, that was unique.”
He continued: “I think I’ve learned very early on that what makes you unique is your special power. And I think with Tobias, he thinks very differently than everybody else. And he’s very strident and kind of blunt about it. But he’s a brilliant man. And when it actually gets actualized, you can see the tangible beauty that he’s creating.”
Having come from a musical theater background, Glick was fascinated by the plethora of dance scenes being filmed.
“I grew up doing plays and musicals, and I got to do ‘Maestro’ and learn a little bit about classical music because of that. But this felt like the final great piece of art that I didn’t know about, and I came away knowing a lot. Especially because of the writing component.”
If you have binged all the episodes, you know that Tobias’s relationship with French ballet dancer Gabin (Ivan du Pontavice) slowly deepens into a tender, romantic connection.
“Ivan is an extraordinary actor. He’s very alive. He’s very thoughtful. I think of us as an odd couple. We’re very different characters. Gabin is a very self interested, braggadocio type. Tobias is an introvert, lives in his own world, very blunt. Two people that don’t necessarily consider the other and are not necessarily accountable to other people. And within the relationship, they learn about that, and they learn about empathy, and it’s a really beautiful, beautiful relationship, and the way that it blossoms, and then both characters blossom. It’s been a thrill to be able to perform.”
When Glick is not working, he is hard at work on his new nonprofit, the Blue Roses project.
“It’s a queer play development lab that is based in New Orleans. I co-founded it with one of my dearest friends, James McBride. Our mission is to find unproduced queer playwrights, match them with established directors, and integrate artists from outside of New Orleans with artists inside of New Orleans and tell queer stories in the South. So that’s where I’ve been directing my energy toward and we’re actually just about to launch.”
Especially with this administration, queer people are not being supported in the arts, Glick acknowledged.
“We are hoping to fill that gap in some way and offer help. I think also within the theater community, new play development, people don’t have money anymore, so we would like to create a space right now.”
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Peppermint thrives in the spotlight
In exclusive interview, she talks Netflix show — and the need to resist Trump’s attacks
As an entertainer, there’s not much that Peppermint hasn’t done. She’s a singer, actor, songwriter, reality TV personality, drag queen, podcaster and the list goes on. Most importantly, as an activist she has been an invaluable role model for the trans, queer, and Black communities.
She’s a trailblazer who boasts an impressive list of ‘firsts.’ She is the first out trans contestant to be cast on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (Season 9). She is the first trans woman to originate a principal musical role for Broadway’s “Head Over Heels.” She was also the first trans woman to compete in the runaway hit series “Traitors,” on Peacock, and she is the ACLU’s first-ever Artist Ambassador for Trans Justice. Her accolades are a true testament of the courage it took for Peppermint to live her authentic self.
We caught up with Peppermint to chat about her activism, taking on bigger roles on screen, our current political and social climate and life beyond the lens. For Peppermint, coming out as trans was not just a moment of strength—it was a necessity.
“It unfolded exactly as I had imagined it in terms of just feeling good and secure about who I am. I was in so much pain and sort of misery and anguish because I wasn’t able to live as free as I wanted to and that I knew that other people do when they just wake up. They get dressed, they walk out the door and they live their lives. Being able to live as your authentic self without fear of being persecuted by other people or by the government is essential to being healthy,” Peppermint tells the Blade in an exclusive interview.
“I was not able to imagine any other life. I remember saying to myself, ‘If I can’t imagine a life where I’m out and free and feeling secure and confident and left alone, then I don’t even want to imagine any kind of a life in the future,’” says Peppermint.
Recently, Peppermint returned for season 2 of Netflix’s comedy “Survival of the Thickest.” She added some spice and kick to the first season in her role as a drag bar owner. This time around, her character moves center stage, as her engagement and wedding become a major plot line in the show. Her expanded role and high-profile trans representation come at just the right time.
“It’s the largest acting role I’ve ever had in a television show, which my acting degree thanks me. It feels right on time, in a day where they’re rolling back trans rights and wanting to reduce DEI and make sure that we are limited from encouraging companies, corporations, industries, and institutions from not only featuring us, but supporting us, or even talking about us, or even referencing us.
“It feels great to have something that we can offer up as resistance. You can try to moralize, but it’s tougher to legislate art. So it feels like this is right on time and I’m just really grateful that they gave me a chance and that they gave my character a chance to tell a greater story.
Peppermint’s expanded role also accompanies a boom in queer representation in Black-powered media. Networks like BET and Starz and producers like Tyler Perry, are now regularly showcasing queer Black folks in main story lines. What does Peppermint think is fueling this increased inclusion?
“Queer folks are not new and queer Black folks are not new and Black folks know that. Every Black person knows at least one person who is queer. We are everywhere. We have not always been at the forefront in a lot of storytelling, that’s true, and that’s the part that’s new. It’s Hollywood taking us from the place where they usually have held us Black, queer folks in the makeup room, or as the prostitute, as an extra—not that there’s anything wrong with sex work or playing a background performer. I’ve played the best of the hookers! But those [roles] are very limiting.
“Hollywood has not historically done and still does not do a very good job of, including the voices of the stories that they make money [on]. And I think they’re realizing [the need] to be inclusive of our stories and our experiences, because for a long time it was just our stories without our actual experiences. It’s also exciting. It’s dramatic. It makes money. And they’re seeing that. So I think they’re just dipping their toes in. I think that they’re going to realize that balance means having us there in the room.”
Peppermint’s activism is tireless. She has raised more than six figures for prominent LGBTQ rights groups, she continues to speak around the nation, appears regularly on major media outlets addressing trans and LGBTQ issues and has been honored by GLAAD, World of Wonder, Out magazine, Variety, Condé Nast and more—all while appearing on screen and onstage in a long list of credits.
Now, under the Trump administration, she doesn’t have time to take a breath.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it if it weren’t second nature for me. Of course, there are ups and downs with being involved with any social issue or conversation and politics. But I am, for now, energized by it. It’s not like I’m energized by like, ‘Ooh, I just love this subject!’ right? It’s like, ‘Oh, we’re still being discriminated against, we gotta go and fight.’
“That’s just what it is. I get energy because I feel like we are quite literally fighting for our lives. I know that is hyperbole in some regards, but they are limiting access to things like housing, healthcare, job security and not having identification. Passport regulations are being put in a blender.”
Peppermint also mentions her thoughts on the unfair mandates to remove trans service members and revoke the rights and resources from the veterans who worked their whole lives to fight for this country.
“When you strip all these things away, it makes it really difficult for people to have a life and I know that that is what they’re doing. When I look around and see that that is what is at stake, I certainly feel like I’m fighting for my life. And that’s energizing.
“The only thing that would be the most rewarding besides waking up in a utopia and suddenly we’re all equal and we’re not discriminating against each other—which probably is not happening this year—is to be able to be involved in a project like this, where we can create that world. It’s also being built by people who are a part of that story in real life and care about it in real life.”
Peppermint is clear on her point that now is the time for all of the letters of the LGBTQ community to come together. Everyone who is trans and queer should be joining the fight against the issues that affect us all.
“Just trust us and understand that our experiences are tied together. That is how and why we are discriminated against in the way[s] that we are. The people who discriminate—just like how they can’t really distinguish between somebody who’s Dominican and somebody who’s African American — you’re Black when you’re getting pulled over. We are discriminated against in much the same way. It’s the same with being trans or queer or gender non-conforming or bi, we all have our own experiences and they should be honored.
“When laws are being created to harm us, we need to band together, because none of y’all asses is gonna be able to stop them from getting rid of marriage equality—which is next. If you roll the tape back to three years ago when somebody was trying to ask me about drag queen bans on readings in school, I was saying they’re coming for trans rights, which comes for bodily autonomy and abortion rights, which comes for gay marriage rights. Those three things will be wiped out.
Peppermint doesn’t take a pause to get fired up and call gay folk out in their obligation to return the favor to the Black trans community.
She shares with us her final thoughts.
“You cis-gender homosexuals need to stand the fuck up and understand that we are standing in front of you. It’s very difficult to understand this and know this, but so many of the rights that we have were hard fought and won by protest and by people fighting very hard for them. And many of those people in every single instance from the suffrage movement, obviously Civil Rights, queer rights, the AIDS and HIV movement—Black queer people have been there the entire time. Trans people have always been a part of that story, including Stonewall. Yes, we are using different terminology. Yes, we have different lenses to view things through, but let me tell you, if you allow us to be sacrificed before you see us go off the side, you will realize that your foot is shackled to our left foot. So, you better stand the fuck up!”
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