Connect with us

Out & About

Starker, sparer Pride season — guide to 2020 Pride weekend parties, events

No Justice protest one of few non-virtual events planned

Published

on

Pride events, gay news, Washington Blade
The first Blade Pride Webchat was held last week featuring reflections on panelist’s first Pride experiences. (Screencapture courtesy Blade)

Not quite as many of the dozens of parties and events that always heavily pepper Pride weekend in Washington with near-24/7 options are happening virtually as you might expect. It’s a starker, sparer Pride season this year with Black Lives Matter issues occupying more head space than the usual floats, drag queens, thongs and glitter.

There are a few, however:

Capital Pride #StillWe launches a virtual series of streamed events June and beyond through a partnership with The D.C. Center.

Programs include monthly online town halls, expanded resources available through its websites and a shared community calendar. Pride 2020 Reimagined includes new Pride month programming as well as ongoing virtual versions of the D.C. Center’s Reel Affirmations film series, Outwrite Literary Festival and more.

For more information and a listing of events, visit the Capital Pride and D.C. Center websites.

A series of groups led by No Justice No Pride plans its own counter-Pride programming this year with the D.C. Pride2020 March+Caravan on Saturday, June 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the Takoma Metro (327 Cedar St., N.W.) station for a black- and trans-centered march.

“In response to the continued terror that Black People face in D.C. and the lack of integrity displayed by Capital Pride — three years after hundreds of No Justice No Pride activists shut down the 2017 Capital Pride parade demanding a Police free Pride — NJNP among a coalition of community groups rooted in abolition is rejecting Capital Pride Alliances failed leadership and returning Pride to its roots — a protest against police violence,” organizers wrote on Facebook.

Its demands are: defunding D.C.-MPD, police-free schools, decriminalization of sex work, charges against protestors dropped, an end to cash bail in Maryland, no new jails in Washington and abolish prisons, a ban on stop-and-frisk, community investment, ICE-free Washington. Groups joining No Justice are HIPS, DeCrim Now D.C., Showing Up for Racial Justice, D.C. Dyke March, Plantita Power and Black Lives Matter D.C.

The march will start at 3 p.m. A ball will be held at 4:30 at a TBD location.

Look for the event on Facebook for details via dccapitalpride.org.

National Pride Shabbat is tonight at 7 p.m. online hosted by Sixth & I. In solidarity with Pride 2020 “reimagined,” Rabbi Aaron, Rabbi Avi Strausberg of Hadar and Sixth & I members will “lend their voices to an inclusive service celebrating the diversity of D.C. Jewish life.” Details on Facebook.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has its “LGBTQ+ Charla” event online today at 4 p.m. to discuss Latinx LGBTQ experiences, perspectives and ideas. More at hhf.page.link/trza.

The Future is Queer is Saturday, June 13 at 5 p.m. hosted by Joie De Vivre. It’s a queer dance party showcase with DJs, dancers, spoken word, with multiple performers, rooms and more. Tickets are $20 through eventbrite.

Celebrate Pride: Berry Pride Shrub and Flick Night is Saturday at 7:15 online hosted by Yoga District. Tickets at clients.mindbodyonline.com.

Also, the Blade’s Pride content continues throughout the month. In the June 19 edition, the topic will be “reflections of Pride.” A related webchat will be on Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. EST. In the June 26 edition, we’ll examine “global virtual Pride.” A webchat will happen on Thursday, June 25 at 4 p.m. EST with officials from Capital Pride, L.A. Pride and others TBD.

Links to the webchats will be published each week on the Blade’s Facebook page.

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Out & About

Washington Improv Theatre hosts ‘The Queeries’

Event to celebrate queer DMV talent and pop culture camp

Published

on

The Washington Improv Theatre, along with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, will team up to host “The Queeries!” on Friday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre.

The event will celebrate Queer DMV talent and pop culture camp. With a mixture of audience-submitted nominations and blatantly undemocratically declared winners, “The Queeries!” mimics LGBTQ life itself: unfair, but far more fun than the alternative.

The event will be co-hosted by Birdie and Butchie, who have invited some of their favorite bent winos, D.C. “D-listers,” former Senate staffers, and other stars to sashay down the lavender carpet for the selfie-strewn party of the year. 

Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased on WITV’s website

Continue Reading

Out & About

Drag Underground returns

Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee, Cake Pop! to perform

Published

on

Shi-Queeta Lee performs at Drag Underground. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade have teamed up to host “Drag Underground” on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Dupont Underground. 

Performers include Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee and Cake Pop.

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Continue Reading

Out & About

White House Correspondents’ Dinner set for Saturday

Colin Jost serving as emcee

Published

on

(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is set for Saturday, April 27 at the Washington Hilton with Colin Jost serving as emcee. 

President Biden is scheduled to speak and numerous celebrities are expected around D.C. all weekend for related parties and events. 

The Washington Blade is the only LGBTQ outlet that is a member of the Association and is hosting a table of VIPs, including actor Billy Porter and Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). 

“We look forward to the Dinner each year to celebrate our press freedoms and to thank a range of allies and supporters for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ movement,” said Blade Editor Kevin Naff. 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Sign Up for Weekly E-Blast

Follow Us @washblade

Advertisement

Popular