Washington Blade, Volume 55, Issue 37, September 13, 2024

Fall Arts Preview

Our annual look at the best in theater, film, music, books, and more, PAGES 22-51

$20K in

Costs* *with use of preferred Lender and Title **not valid on previous contracts and must se le on or before 09/30/24.

ADDRESS PO Box 53352

Washington DC 20009

PHONE

202-747-2077

E-MAIL

news@washblade.com

INTERNET washingtonblade.com

PUBLISHED BY Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, Inc.

PUBLISHER

LYNNE J. BROWN

lbrown@washblade.com ext. 8075

EDITORIAL

EDITOR

KEVIN NAFF

knaff@washblade.com ext. 8088

SR. NEWS REPORTER

LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com ext. 8079

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT

CHRIS KANE

ckane@washblade.com extg 8083

INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITOR

MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com ext. 8093

POP CULTURE REPORTER

JOHN PAUL KING

PHOTO EDITOR

MICHAEL KEY mkey@washblade.com ext 8084

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

DANIEL ITAI, EDICIÓN CIENTONCE, QUORUM, WDG, STEPHANIE MONDRAGÓN, ISAAC AMEND , TINASHE CHINGARANDE, DUNIA ORELLANA, REPORTAR SIN MIEDO, PETER ROSENSTEIN, MARK LEE, LATEEFAH WILLIAMS, KATE CLINTON, KATHI WOLFE, ERNESTO VALLE, YARIEL VALDÉS GONZÁLEZ, PHILIP VAN SLOOTEN, KATLEGO K. KOLANYANEKESUPILE, KAELA ROEDER, TREMENDA NOTA, ALBERTO J. VALENTÍN, MAYKEL GONZÁLEZ VIVERO, ORGULLO LGBT. CO, ESTEBAN GUZMAN, ANDRÉS I. JOVÉ RODRÍGUEZ

CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION

AZERCREATIVE.COM

SALES & ADMINISTRATION

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

STEPHEN RUTGERS srutgers@washblade.com ext. 8077

SR. ACCT. EXECUTIVE

BRIAN PITTS

bpitts@washblade.com ext. 8089

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION

PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH prockstroh@washblade.com ext. 8092

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

RIVENDELL MEDIA

212-242-6863; sales@rivendellmedia.com

For distribution, contact

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

The Washington Commanders football team this week fired one o i s e ecu i es, o made remarks a ere recorded i ou is kno led e b an underco er ne s re or er claimin e eam s lack la ers ere omoobic and a some a ional oo ball ea ue la ers ere dumb as ell

ul i le ne s media ou le s, includin e as inon os and e s or s ublica ion u or s, iden ified e e ecu i e as ael n een, o eld e i le o ice residen o on en or e ommanders or ani a ion

e ublica ion e le ic re or s a n een as secre l recorded i a idden ideo camera b a emale re or er or e ee e edia rou durin o da es in ic e re or er did no disclose s e as i e media

mon is recorded commen s, e le ic and o er

media ou le s a e re or ed, is e old e re or er a some a ional oo ball ea ue la ers, includin lack la ers, ere dumb and omo obic

bi c unk o e ommanders ros er is er lo -income rican merican a comes rom a communi

ernie elia es a e auc ion se or e emorial or belo ed a i al ride or ani er lanned or e

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

local auc ioneer com an as announced a lar e collec ion o ar ork and o er eclec ic ro er rom e es a e o ri s ad oca e ernie elia ill be a ailable or urc ase in an auc ion sc eduled or e in e ase, d elia, o as a oundin member o e a i al ride lliance, e rou a or ani es mos o s ride e en s, and o ser ed as co-c air o orld ride , ic ill be os in in , died une ecedl o na ural causes on une loans en on uc ioneers and raisers sa s in i s announcemen a e i ems o be o ered rou e auc ion include a lar e and eclec ic assor men o fine ar and scul ure, sil er, n lis and on inen al orcelain and o er decora i e ar s, oli ical memorabilia and

en er ainmen e emera, and arious o er an i ue and in a e i ems e announcemen sa s e i ems or sale in e e s a e a alo ue uc ion ill be on dis la a e loans en on aller rom a urda , e rou ednesda , e e aller ere e i ems ill be a ailable or ie in and ere e auc ion ill be eld on e is loca ed a riends i l d , ui e , in e ase, d

e e ember auc ion includes o er lo s rom ernie s as collec ion and is e firs o se eral auc ions o ro er rom is es a e, e announcemen sa s bsen ee, ele one and in erne bids ill be acce ed or e e ember as a e a alo ue uc ion, i sa s i ni as in on, e a olic or ani a ion

omin s oin s a named c air o mi sonian d isor ouncil or olkli e ul ural eri a e

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

e omin s oin s column is abou sharing the professional successes o our communi e an o reco ni e those landing new obs, ne clien s or eir business, oining boards of organizations and other ac ie emen s lease s are our successes i us a cominsandgoings@washblade com on ra ula ions to Joe Kapp named air o e d isor ouncil o e mi sonian ener or olkli e and ul ural eri a e e en er is a researc and educa ional uni o e mi sonian a

romo es rea er unders andin and sus ainabili o cul ural eri a e across e ni ed a es and around e orld rou researc , educa ion, and communi ena emen roduces e mi sonian olkli e es i al, mi sonian olk a s ecordin s, e ibi ions, s m osia, ublica ions, and educa ional ma erials also main ains e al in ler olkli e rc i es and ollec ions and mana es cul ural eri a e ini ia i es around e orld en er irec or ris ur said, oe ill be a rea leader or e en er as e ro our resources and eand our en a emen i cul ural eri a e communiies and e ublic is e er ise as alread been aluable o e direc ion o e council in recen ears kno e ill do an e ce ional ob on bein named o e osi ion, a said, am so ra e ul or is uni ue o or uni o con inue os erin e reser a ion and celebra ion o di erse cul ural e ressions, ensurin a e ric radi ions, ibran ar s and oices o all communi ies around e orld are reco ni ed and c eris ed or enera ions o come look or ard o orkin i e incredible eam a e en er

a is in eren l er omo obic, e ail ail reor s n een as sa in in e recordin lo e i - o , i - o is er omo obic, e re or edl s a ed in e ideo s a cul ural in a o e e s be er n een also called ans i sc ool-educa ed alco olics and mou brea ers, e ssocia ed ress re or s e also re or s a n een s a es in e ideo recordin a err ones, e o ner o e allas obo s oo ball eam, a es a eo le and lack eo le e sa s e o bo s eam did no res ond o a reues or commen

ccordin o e , a as in on ommanders s okes erson said in res onse o bein asked abou e decision o fire n een, e lan ua e used in e ideo runs coun er o our alues a e ommanders or ania ion

or ic elia ser ed as residen , is oldin a memorial ser ice or elia on a urda , e , a m a ar are s isco al urc near u on ircle, accordin o i ni member a id amdin

o am li e cul ural i ali a defines our s ared uman e erience a is residen and co ounder o e a ional ener or esource e elo men , a na ional non rofi a el s ounda ions, non rofi s, i er educa ion, and oer ins i u ions ac ie e rea er im ac b de elo in resources o e ecu e eir missions more e ec i el e as resen ed o communi ies around e orld, includin a e ni ed a ions eneral ssembl cience ummi e as also au en re reneurs i rinci les o orani a ions and ins i u ions loball , i e erience in uro e, rmenia, olombia, urkmenis an, bekis an, kraine, and be ond e is a co- ounder o ec , a non rofi a de elo s ro rams and resources a su or communi ies and educa es or ani a ions and olic makers on e uni ue needs indi iduals ace en i comes o ec nolo e con ribu ed a c a er o e ederal eser e ank s book called n es in in ural ros eri

BERNIE DELIA died June 21. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

JOE KAPP

o ou break in Africa for possible local impact

e , more o en iall a al s rain declared lobal eal emer enc

By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | lchibbaro@washblade.com

The D.C. Department of Health and Whitman-Walker Health are closely monitoring an outbreak of a new, more virulent strain of Mpox in several African nations that prompted the World Health Organization on Aug. 15 to declare the outbreak a global health emergency.

LGBTQ health advocates in Los Angles have been orkin i a ci s ublic eal o ficials o ensure the LGBTQ community, especially gay and bisexual men, become vaccinated with the existing Mpox vaccine, which is deemed effective in preventing or lessening the severity of an Mpox infection.

In the 2022 Mpox outbreak in the U.S., men who have sex with men accounted for the largest number of Mpox cases, with more than 90 percent of the cases occurring in men who were gay, bi, or straight.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which closely monitored and took action to curtail the 2022 Mpox outbreak in the U.S., has said no cases so far of the more virulent strain in Africa, referred to as the clade 1 strain, have been documented in the U.S. u o ficials, alon i o ficials i e Department of Health, referred to as D.C. Health, and Whitman-Walker Health, say they are taking steps to ensure they are prepared if the new strain surfaces in the U.S. and in the D.C. area.

n erna ional eal o ficials e ressed concern ater at least one case of a person infected with the new more virulent strain was diagnosed in Sweden, markin e firs case ou side e rican con inen n ormation surfacing from Africa in August showed that at least 500 people had died from Mpox in the current outbreak.

“D.C. Health is monitoring the situation very closely and taking the necessary steps to ensure preparedness,” according to a statement released by D.C. Health to the Washington Blade

“We have treated over 300 patients with Mpox, with most of the cases occurring in 2022,” a statement released on Sept. 9 by Whitman-Walker Health says. “We continue to see sporadic cases, with 11 cases in the last year,” the statement says. It says the most recent Mpox

case it has treated occurred this July.

Dr. Kyle Benda, who serves as manager of Whitman-Walker’s Sexual Medicine and Acute Rapid Treatment Clinic, said all of the Mpox patients Whitman-Walker has seen have had the less virulent strain of Mpox that surfaced in the 2022 outbreak in the U.S. and orld ide re erred o as clade o

“We have not seen any cases recently or cases we believe to be due to the clade 1 outbreak occurring in Africa,” Benda told the Blade. “We have been able to treat patients with Mpox through use of tecovirimat obtained from the CDC through their expanded access program.”

He was referring to the medication approved in 2022 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an effective treatment for Mpox.

Similar to nationwide U.S. data, statistics released by D.C. Health about the demographic breakdown of the 2022-2023 Mpox outbreak in D.C. shows that men, especially African-American men, along with gay and bisexual men, made up the largest number of Mpox cases.

The D.C. data show that men made up 96.3 percent of the D.C. cases, with women making up 1.8 percent of the cases. The data show that gay men accounted for 54.8 percent of the cases, bisexuals accounted for 6.7 percent of the cases, and those whose sexual orientation was unknown accounted for 31.4 percent of the cases.

The CDC and other health experts have pointed out that Mpox is transmitted from skin-to-skin contact, including contact with someone who may have body sores and rou bodil uids, as ell as rom s ared bedding or clothing. Sexual contact is one of the leading modes of transmission, the experts have said.

e mos common s m oms, eal o ficials a e said, include pimples or blisters on the face, body, and genitals. Other symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, or swelling of the lymph nodes.

Benda said Mpox transmission from sexual relations, especially for gay and bisexual men, often occurs when

the typical outbreak of sores or blisters on the skin occurs internally such as in the anal canal and is not immediately detectable in the early stage of the infection.

ike o er eal o ficials, eal ad oca es say the most important steps to take for those at risk for Mpox, especially gay and bi men, is to get vaccinated. The vaccination requires one injection followed by a second dose injection 28 days later.

Benda said Whitman-Walker has the vaccination shots to give to anyone who feels they may be at risk for Mpox, including people who are not currently enrolled as a Whitman-Walker patient. The statement released by D.C. Health says the vaccinations are widely available throughout the city at most pharmacies and eal and medical o fices

It says for those who may not have insurance coverage for the cost of the vaccination and who may be economically challenged, they can get vaccinated at e eal and ellness cen er a ,

“We encourage all of our patients who may have an increased risk of Mpox to get vaccinated, particularly patients who may have had only one does of the twodose series or who have not been vaccinated at all,” Whitman-Walker’s Benda told the Blade.

eal e er s, includin o ficials i eal , have said the mostly widespread access to the Mpox vaccine is what resulted in the dramatic decline in the number of cases in the U.S. and the D.C. area in later 2023 and 2024.

Data released by D.C. Health shows that out of the total number of vaccinations given in D.C. as of earlier this year, 83.4 percent of those vaccinated were men and 74.5 percent of those vaccinated were gay men. The data show 12.2 percent were bisexual, and 0.9 percent were lesbian. Women consisted of 6.5 percent of residen s recei in e o accine

Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival returns to Havre de Grace

Concord Point Park in Havre de Grace, Md., will transform into the site of the 6th annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5. The free, family-friendly festival will run from 2-6 p.m. and feature live music, drag performances, and vendors.

About 3,500 people are expected to attend the festival, which is organized by the Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Foundation and will be held at the Chesapeake waterfront. More than 120 artists, vendors, and community organizations will have booths, and a kids’ area will offer activities such as face painting, magician performances, and storytelling.

Along with drag performances, musical acts will perform throughout the day, spanning genres such as R&B, punk, and queer country. The foundation’s president, Kurt

Doan, highlighted Ryan Cassata as a key headliner.

“Ryan is a trans activist but also makes really vibrant music, so I’m excited to bring that kind of music to Harford County,” Doan said.

Festival goers will be able to choose from a variety of food options, including empanadas, Thai food, burgers, French-style desserts and ice cream. This year, the foundation is extending activities beyond the festival hours, including an after party and happy hour at one of the local breweries, and Sunday yoga session.

“We’ve got lots of really super supportive queer-friendly businesses in Havre De Grace that are going to be offering different things,” Doan said.

The inaugural Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival was held in 2019 to celebrate the local LGBTQ communi-

ty in the rural Harford and Cecil counties. Since then, the foundation has grown in its scope: In addition to hosting the annual festival, it provides scholarships to local colleges and hosts monthly social activities.

“I think people can very easily forget that queer people also live in rural areas, and when we talk about being queer in Maryland, it’s often about what’s going on in the outskirts of D.C. or in Baltimore or in Annapolis. But there are thriving queer communities in rural areas, we just don’t often have brick and mortar spots where we can gather,” he said.

To support the festival or learn how to become an exhibitor, volunteer, or performer, visit https://ucbpride. com/2024-pride-festival/

ERKKI FORSTER

(Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Harris puts Trump on defensive in high-stakes debate

In the presidential debate hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris put Donald Trump on the defensive over issues from foreign policy and the ongoing criminal prosecutions against him to his record and moral character.

The 90-minute exchange featured no discussion of LGBTQ issues, apart from a baseless accusation by Trump that his opponent

“wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison.”

The remark echoed statements Trump has made recently on the campaign trail, for example in Wisconsin on Monday where he said that children are, however implausibly, returning home from school having underwent sex change operations.

Similarly, during the debate the former president asserted without evidence that Democrats favor abortions up to and following delivery, which would amount to infanticide.

“There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born,” interjected ABC News anchor Linsey Davis, a moderator, who then allowed Harris to respond.

“Well, as I said, you’re gonna hear a bunch of lies, and that’s not actually a surprising fact,” the vice president replied before addressing the question at hand, which concerned abortion.

While Harris did not address the matter of “transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison,” viewers on X were quick to mock the comment.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

McBride wins primary, poised to make history

Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride is poised to become e firs o enl rans ender erson elec ed o Congress after she won her primary on Tuesday. McBride defeated Earl Cooper by a 79.9-16.2 percent margin in the Democratic primary for the state’s congressional seat. McBride will face Republican John Whalen in November.

The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund in a press release notes McBride is “favored to win in the heavily Democratic state.”

“Voters across the country are sick and tired of the divisive politics of the past — that’s why we’re seeing an increase in diverse, young candidates like Sarah McBride clearing their primaries,” said Victory Fund President Annise Parker. “ obod is more ualified an ara o reresent the values of Delaware in Congress. I look forward to celebrating Sarah’s election victory in November and

seeing her get to work for her constituents in Washington.”

McBride is poised to succeed U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), who is running for retiring U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.)’s seat.

“Of course, there’s going to be discussion about the potential of this campaign to break this barrier and to increase diversity in Congress and to ensure that a voice that has been totally absent from the halls of Congress is finall ere in an elec ed ca aci , c ride old e Washington Blade during a 2023 interview after she declared her candidacy. “While it’s not what this campaign is focused on, while it’s not what voters are focused on, it is certainly relevant to the young people who are feeling alone and scared right now.”

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Thousands expected to participate in Gender Liberation March

Thousands of people are expected to protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Heritage Foundation headquarters on Saturday as part of the first Gender Liberation March.

The march will unite abortion rights, transgender, LGBTQ, and feminist advocates to demand bodily autonomy and self-determination.

The Gender Liberation March follows the National Trans Liberation March that took place in D.C. in late August, and is organized by a collective of gender justice based groups that includes the organizers behind the Women’s Marches and the Brooklyn Liberation Marches. One of the core organizers, writer and activist Raquel Willis, explained the march will highlight assaults on abortion access and gender-affirming care by the Republican Party and right-wing groups as broader attacks on freedoms.

“The aim for us was really to bring together the energies of the fight for abortion access, IVF access, and reproductive justice with the fight for gender-affirming care, and this larger kind of queer and trans liberation,” Willis said. “All of our liberation is bound up in each other’s. And so if you think that the attacks on trans people’s access to health care don’t include you, you are grossly mistaken. We all deserve to make decisions about our bodies and our destinies.”

The march targets the Heritage Foundation, the far-right think tank behind Project 2025, a blueprint to overhaul the federal government and attack trans and abortion rights under a potential second Trump administration. Protesters will also march on the Supreme Court, which is set to hear U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case with wide-reaching implications for medical treatment of trans youth, in October.

“This Supreme Court case could set precedent to further erode the rights around accessing this life-saving medical care. And we know that there are ramifications of this case that could also go beyond young people, and that’s exactly what the

right wing apparatus that are pushing these bans want,” Eliel Cruz, another core organizer, said.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 70 anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted this year so far, of which 15 ban gender-affirming care for trans youth.

The march will kick off at noon with an opening ceremony at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. Trans rights icon Miss Major, and the actor and activist Elliot Page are among the scheduled speakers of the event. People from across the country are expected to turn out; buses are scheduled to bring participants to D.C. from at least nine cities, including as far away as Chattanooga, Tenn.

At 1 p.m. marchers will begin moving toward the Heritage Foundation and the Supreme Court, before returning to Columbus Circle at 3 p.m. for a rally and festival featuring a variety of activities, as well as performances by artists.

Banned books will be distributed for free, and a youth area will host a drag queen story hour along with arts and crafts. The LGBTQ health organization FOLX will have a table to connect attendees to its HRT fund, and a voter engagement area will offer information on registering and participating in the upcoming election. A memorial space will honor those lost to anti-trans and gender-based violence.

Cruz noted that the relentless ongoing attacks on the LGBTQ community and on fundamental rights can take a toll, and emphasized that the march offers a chance for people to come together.

“I’m really excited about putting our spin on this rally and making it a place that is both political, but also has levity and there’s fun and joy involved, because we can’t, you know, we can’t just only think about all the kind of massive amount of work and attacks that we’re facing, but also remember that together, we can get through it,” Cruz said.

ERKKI FORSTER

DONALD TRUMP and KAMALA HARRIS (Screen capture via CNN/YouTube)

Delaware state Sen. SARAH MCBRIDE (Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

al celebra es e ard amil durin s eec

In a speech last Saturday night at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner, Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz discussed how he came to know the Shepard family when working in Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. en e final o e as comin u in e ouse, i as oin o be close, e said alked rou e ouse oor, rou e unnels, rom e on or ouse fice uildin o er o e a i ol, and made a alk i a e s mom, ud e ard, and e s eri o ound a e s bod ied o a ence os in omin , and remember alkin i a mo er o los er son and earin e s eri ell me e onl lace e asn blood as ere e ears ran do n a e s e es

a c ed a mo er and e unbelie able ain a couldn e en a om, o lose a child this way, walk with her head held high to make sure that none of the rest of us e er a e o e a call rom someone, al said The governor invited the crowd to applaud for Judy and Dennis Shepard, who were in a endance, addin a e room as ull o eroes like em o ad, in a s bo bi and small, endea ored o make eo le s li es a li le bi easier al be an is s eec b i li in e man a s in ic ice residen amala arris as ou e er sin le da on e side o e merican eo le, relen lessl orkin o e and ri s and ro ec ions or e communi rou ou er career and romisin o build on is le ac i s e is elec ed residen in o ember s e o an rancisco, ice residen arris ook one o e ou es s ances in e na ion a ains a e crimes, e said e led e fi a ains e a e ul a and rans ender anic de ense al con inued, s e en on o become e a orne eneral o e lar es s a e in the country, and the moment it arrived, to defend marriage equality. And she threw er ole sel in o a fi ou kno amala arris e doesn us ick ese fi s en s e alks abou i , and is is e in o kee in mind ll s e does is in ll s e does is in

s a sena or, s e ou ard or e uali c , in roduced a bill o make sure you had access to PrEP, and as vice president, and I say this, it is not a stretch, and e ac s are ere, is is e mos ro -adminis ra ion in merican is or , the governor said.

“She helped President Biden pass the landmark Respect for Marriage Act requiring e er s a e and erri or o ull onor same se and in erracial marria e, al said e el ed s o e i noran and an ine rac ice o bannin a and bise ual men rom dona in blood arris as orked o im ro e men al eal care or ou , e added, and s e made uman ri s or indi iduals around e orld a o riori in is na ion s orei n olic ile orkin i e residen on is oric e ecu i e orders ro ec in olks rom discrimina ion al en urned o is o n record, be innin i is career as a sc ool eac er and oo ball coac be ore is elec ion o on ress e said, some o m s uden s, and is is in e la e s, e re concerned abou an u ick in bull in amon s e a lesbian communi in our sc ool

When one of those students, who was in the audience Saturday, had asked him to ser e as acul ad iser or e a s rai alliance club, al recalled, said absolu el unders ood a i mean o be a older, s ran e, i e u s andin u or e sc ool s s uden s in suc a ublic manner

In 2006, when running for Congress as a Democrat in a deep-red district, “I was in a s a e a ad anced same se marria e or a decade, al said u kne as ri , and ran on a la orm a su or ed e uali e no ion a e on des i e akin ro- and ro-c oice osi ions is misleadin , e o ernor said e on because o ose reasons al en de ailed o e ou or e re eal o on sk, on ell as e o emocra on e e erans airs ommi ee, o era in under e ma im a ou don e elec ed o o fice o bank oli ical ca i al so ou can e elec ed a ain bu ra er ou e elec ed o fice o burn oli ical ca i al o im ro e eo le s li es s o ernor, e said, e firs in e did is e banned con ersion era , and rou ou is firs and second erms in o fice, e ro ec ed e rans ender communi e banned bannin books, e said, us in back a ains e or s o ar e and remo e con en i c arac ers and emes, a reoccu a ion o e ublicans includin e residen ial and ice residen ial nominees onald rum and en ance - io is is a ese olks are ocusin on, s endin all eir ime, like readin abou o male en uins o lo e eac o er is some o oin o urn our c ildren a , al said, se in u a con ras be een e emocra ic and e ublican icke s e o er side belie es e o ernmen s ould be ree o in ade e er corner o our li es, our bedrooms, our kids sc ools, e en our doc or s o fice, al said, and e a e laid ou a la book o make a a en i ro ec , e eri a e ounda ion s o ernin blue rin or a second rum adminis ra ion is ro ec a s ou ere o res ric reedoms, demoni e is communi , bull ulnerable c ildren, e messa e is sim le rom all o us, and ere in abou da s, ou re oin o e a c ance o send a messa e lea e our kids e ell alone al en i o ed o rum s ban on rans ender mili ar ser ice members e e ad ousands o bra e rans ender roo s, decora ed arriors, o ser ed is counr en onald rum as commander-in-c ie , e beli led em and e banned them from service. Thankfully, President Biden and vice president Harris rescinded a s u id, bi o ed olic

ircui blocks an i- rans ri ona la

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upeld a lo er cour s decision a blocked en orcemen o an ri ona la bannin rans ender irls rom lain on ublic sc ools s or s eam a corres ond i their gender identity.

en- o ou uce , a e ublican, in si ned the law.

The Associated Press reported the parents of two rans irls c allen ed e la in a la sui e filed in

U.S. District Court in Tucson, Ariz., in April 2023. U.S. Disric ud e enni er i s on ul , , blocked e law.

ri ona u erin enden o ublic ns ruc ion om Horne, who was named as a defendant in the lawsuit, appealed the ruling to the 9th Circuit. Democratic Attorne eneral ris a es is no de endin e la ree- ud e anel on e ircui unanimousl u eld i s s rulin

e are leased i e ircui s rulin oda , which held that the Arizona law likely violates the Equal ro ec ion lause and reco ni es a a s uden s ransender s a us is no an accura e ro or a le ic abili and com e i i e ad an a e, said ac el er , a s a a orne or e a ional en er or esbian i s, in a press release. re resen s e o lain i s in e case

FROM STAFF REPORTS

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Minnesota Gov. TIM WALZ speaks at the 2024 Human Rights Campaign National Dinner on Sept. 7. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Lesbian couple murdered in South Africa

South African LGBTQ organizations have condemned the tragic murder of a lesbian couple in Dambuza near Pietermaritzburg on Aug. 27.

Reports indicate the couple — Nombulelo Thandathina Bixa, 28, and Minenhle Ngcobo, 22, — were shot dead by Ngcobo’s ex-boyfriend who was reportedly not happy with her recent relationship with Bixa.

Bixa was laid to rest on Sept. 5. Ngcobo was buried on Sunday.

ILORA, an LGBTQ rights organization, says the couple’s murder has left their families, friends, and the broader community in profound grief.

“We stand in solidarity with all those who are mourning and call for justice for our fallen siblings,” said ILORA. o e er, e mus con inue o fi a ains e iolence and hatred that threaten our lives and communities.”

Uthingo Network, another LGBTQ rights organization, said e cou le s dea as a orrific inciden a could have been averted, noting Ngcobo’s ex-boyfriend had been harassing them and ignored a protection order.

“This brutal act highlights the deep-seated homophobia and violence that persists in South Africa, especially in rural areas where LGBTI+ individuals are often marginalized and under protected,” said the group in a statement.

“The systemic lack of awareness and understanding in these communities contributes to an environment where such hate crimes can occur frequently and with little consequence.”

“The fear of further victimization often silences those

who seek justice, perpetuating a dangerous cycle of violence and impunity,” added the Uthingo Network.

(Photo

The Uthingo Network also said it is calling for urgent and comprehensive action at all levels — including more vigorous enforcement of hate crime laws, training for police o ficers on issues, and communi -based education programs to challenge harmful prejudices.

“Uthingo Network urges the government, civil society, and individuals to stand together against all forms of hatred and violence, working towards a future where no one is targeted for who they are or who they love,” said the group.

Xolani Xaka, a 32-year-old gay man from Gqeberha, was murdered outside his home on Aug. 18.

A family representative said Xaka heard noises at the gate of the home he shared with his uncle. He went to investigate, and three men confronted him, repeatedly stabbing him until he was dead.

e ree men ed

“LGBTIQ+ people should not have to live in fear of discrimination and deadly violence simply because of who they love or their gender identity,” said OUT Civil Society n a emen ficer ibonelo canana e call on e authorities to act with urgency to arrest and prosecute the men alleged to have callously taken another queer life.”

Ncanana said no arrests have been made, even though authorities continue to investigate Xaka’s murder. A motive remains unclear.

Crimes against LGBTQ South Africans remain prevalent, even though the country is the only one in Africa that constitutionally recognizes rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and President Cyril Ramaphosa in May signed the Preventing and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act. Activists say homophobic and transphobic religious and cultural beliefs contribute to continued attacks against LGBTQ South Africans.

Steve Letsike, a lesbian who won a seat in the South African National Assembly earlier this year, on June 30 became the country’s deputy minister of women, youth and people with disabilities. Activists are hopeful she will work to raise awareness for the need to protect LGBTQ South Africans.

DANIEL ITAI

LGBTQ Venezuelans face persecution after disputed election

Venezuela’s LGBTQ community is in an extremely vulnerable situation due to the increasing repression and systematic human rights violations that President Nicolás Maduro’s regime has perpetrated after July 28’s disputed election.

Local activists and international organizations have widely documented the situation, and the queer community is one of the groups most affected by this wave of repression.

A prominent Venezuelan LGBTQ activist, who has requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, has described the situation as desperate.

“In Venezuela, unlike most Latin American countries, no meaningful recognition has been achieved for the LGBTIQ+ population,” she said in an interview with Washington Blade from Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. “There is no equal marriage, no identity recognition for trans people, and existing anti-discrimination laws are never enforced in practice. This has led the community to seek new forms of resistance, such as supporting opposing candidates.”

The activist highlighted the lack of recognition and protection of rights has led to a consolidation around presidential candidate Edmundo González and other oposi ion fi ures

American Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other lobal fi ures sa on le de ea ed aduro in e ul 28 election. González on Sept. 8 arrived in Spain where he received asylum.

The Maduro regime since the disputed election has launc ed a fierce crackdo n on uman ri s

Hate speech from Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who has called transgender people “human aber-

ra ions, and o ers as in ensified e clima e o os ili

Diosdado Cabello, the political head of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, has launched systematic attacks a ains ac i is s o are fi in or ci il and democratic rights. Repression has increased in the wake of the election, with more than 1,500 arbitrary arrests and summary convictions.

The situation is even more critical for LGBTQ activists, who have been targeted for illegal searches and arbitrary arrests.

Among the prominent cases is that of Yendri Velasquez, an activist who authorities detained at Caracas’s Simón Bolívar International Airport after they arbitrarily revoked his passport. Although he was released, his case highlights the dangerousness of the situation.

“Other cases, such as that of Nelson Merino and the recent raids on the homes of Koddy Campos and Leandro Viloria, underscore the imminent risk faced by LGBTIQ+ rights defenders,” said the activist who spoke anonymously with the Blade

In a context of increasing repression, the Venezuelan National Assembly recently passed a law that severely limits the operations of NGOs, endangering many organizations working to defend human rights.

“This law follows the model of repression observed in Nicaragua, where civil society organizations have been dissolved en masse,” said the activist from Caracas. “The cancellation of more than 23,000 passports without legal us ifica ion as been re or ed, a measure a a ec s numerous citizens, including the LGBTIQ+ community seeking asylum abroad.”

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has denounced the situation in Venezuela as a case of “State

Terrorism.”

“The LGBTIQ+ community in Venezuela, already one of the most vulnerable, now faces exacerbated risk due to systematic repression and human rights violations,” said the activist, who urged the international community to intervene. “The situation is critical and international pressure is our only hope to stem this wave of repression and protect those on the front lines of defending our rights.”

“In this context of oppression and violence, Venezuela’s LGBTIQ+ community continues to face monumental challenges in its struggle for equality and justice, while the government appears increasingly authoritarian and repressive,” she added.

ESTEBAN RIOSECO

by Rarraroro via Bigstock)

(Image by Tindo/Bigstock)

VINCENT SLATT

volunteers as director of archiving at the Rainbow History Project. Walker Dalton is a member of RHP. See www.rainbowhistory.org to get involved.

Dawn of a new era of Pride politics

Remembering a time when High Heel Race was banned

In conjunction with World Pride 2025, the Rainbow History Project is creating an exhibit on the evolution of Pride. In “Dawn of a New Era of Pride Politics,” we discuss how fewer than a dozen picketers in the 1960s grew the political power to celebrate openness, address police brutality, and rally hundreds of thousands to demand federal action.

e mid- s, e communi s oli ical demands and in uence ad grown. The AIDS crisis took center stage across the nation and locally. Pride events morphed from the entertainment of the 1970s into speeches, rallies, and protests. Groups like ACT UP, Inner City Aids Network, and GLAA made protests and public pressure ear-round e en s, no us a ride a lackli , ic as e firs na ional lack gay periodical, ran an in-depth cover story on AIDS and its impact on the community in 1983:

“The gay community has to think in terms of what it can do to reduce the incidence of AIDS,” a writer noted in the Q&A section of the article. He added, “If your partner has AIDS that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t show care and concern, and just throw him out… There should be support groups that would help gay people who have AIDS and not just shun them.”

Just about 10 years later, however, support extended to activism, the onus not just on gay people to reduce the incidence of AIDS. On Oct. 11, 1992, ACT UP protesters threw the ashes of their loved ones onto the White House lawn to protest government inaction and negligence.

“If you won’t come to the funeral, we’ll bring the funeral to you,” one protester said about President Bush, according to the National Park Service.

The Ashes Action and many other protests brought awareness to the issues of the day – the epidemic, government ignorance, and police brutality, among others. en e firs i eel ace be an on allo een a s ar and rill, a oular 17th Street gay bar, about 25 drag queens ran up 17th Street, N.W., in their high heels from JR.’s to the upstairs bar at Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse, where they then took a shot and ran back to JR.’s. It was joyous and grew in popularity yearly despite impacting the locals’ “peace, order, and quiet,” according to the Washington Blade in 1991.

In 1990, though, pushback from the neighborhood community against the High Heel ace mean i s o ficial cancella ion in no coordina ors, no ueens, and no lanning. However, despite statements that it wouldn’t occur, people still came. Roughly olice o ficers arri ed o break u e cro d or causin a ublic dis urbance e injured people with nightsticks and arrested four gay men. D.C. residents Drew Banks and an eic ard lanned o file bru ali c ar es, and lesbian ac i is a o rassi ad her video camera, recording the scene.

“This will set back a lot of the good will between the Gay community and the police,” said Tracy Conaty, former co-chair of the Gay Men and Lesbian Women Against Violence, in a 1991 interview with the Blade. “What people will see and remember now is that police used excessive force on a group of peaceful crowd because of their homophobia.”

er ro es s ad oca ed or e ual re resen a ion s sodom la as firs repealed by the City Council in 1981 – but Congress overturned the repeal. Still, gay activists urged the D.C. Council to consider action.

“Here in the district, we have been thwarted by a bunch of nutty fundamentalists from other places, and so the whole population of Washington remain habitual, recidivist, repetitive, villains, held hostage by a small group of noisy fascists,” Frank Kameny said at a 1992 rally. A successful repeal of the law passed subsequently in 1993, and this time, Congress did not interfere.

Our WorldPride 2025 exhibit, “Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington,” centers the voices of the event organizers and includes the critics of Pride and the intersection of Pride and other movements for equal rights and liberation. But we need your help to do that: we are looking for images and input, so take a look around your attic and get involved.

PETER ROSENSTEIN

is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

Media screwing up politics coverage is a disservice to the public

Trump is not a normal candidate and opinions are not news

More evident than ever is how newspapers, and other media, are desperately competing for business. In doing so, they are too often confusing opinion with reporting. While reporters are inserting more opinion in their columns, editorial boards are shying away from their role of endorsing candidates.

The New York Times recently announced it would no longer endorse in any political race except for president. The Times announcement seems a little schizophrenic. They took a strong stand helping to push Joe Biden to step down as a candidate, and stated forcefully they don’t support Trump. Then the publisher, A.G. Sulzberger, writes a lengthy op-ed published in the Washington Post where he “warned of a ‘quiet war’ against the freedom of the press as former President Trump pursues a second White House term with negative rhetoric about the media.”

He laments what Trump could do to free journalism, but seemingly disregards what a MAGA Congress could do to aid him, by having the Times in essence say it wouldn’t endorse against a MAGA congressional, or Senate candidate. He compares Trump to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and says, “Trump and is allies a e in ed a eir lans o increase atacks on the media, pointing to the former president’s commen s las ear in ic e said, en in e presidency of the United States, they [Comcast] and others of the LameStream Media, will be thoroughly scrutinized for their knowingly dishonest and corrupt coverage of people, things and events.’” So, it’s really ard o fi ure e imes ou

Earlier this month, newspapers controlled by Alden lobal a i al said e ould no lon er endorse candidates for president, governor and the U.S. Senate. The newspapers in the hedge fund’s portfolio include dozens of dailies like the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, Boston Herald, Orlando Sentinel and San Jose Mercury News.” Then the Baltimore Sun said it would no longer make endorsements. Seems like an effort to offend fewer people, and sell more papers. Mainstream media today are doing a disservice to the American people in how they deal with politics, the 2024 presidential election being a prime example. I want to be open: I write about politics, and the presidential election. I am a lifelong Democrat. But I am a columnist, not a reporter, and there is a huge difference. Columnists like myself share opinions. I try to base my opinions on facts, but some columnists actually use what Kellyanne Conway called, ‘alternative facts.’ Either way, what we columnists write, or say, is opinion.

On the other hand, reporters should always be writing about facts. They can write about what they have seen, or heard from others. They can freely quote

someone else’s opinion in their columns, but they should leave their own opinion out. Today, that is often not happening. Too often we see reporters’ personal opinions subtly enter their columns. Then newspaper reporters go on TV, or comment on social media platforms. They share their personal opinions, which calls into question their reporting. Today, editors can take a good column, put a clickbait headline on it to attract attention, and that can often color how people perceive the column. Some of these headlines are not even what the column is actually about. Newspapers actually change a headline from the print edition to their online edition, simply to get more clicks.

The media will have a huge impact on how this election turns out. While they claim to only cover the news, and don’t make it, the reality is the media do much more. They seem to have adopted the role of in uencer more an e er be ore, ou e a e always done this by determining how much attention they give any one issue, and of course by what they choose to report on. Yet today there is so much competition every outlet, print and TV, seems to feel the need to have a point of view to attract audiences. Seems in some ways contradictory to newspaper editorial boards saying they won’t endorse.

The mainstream media are generally covering this election as if Trump is a candidate like any other who has ever run for president. That is not the case. Many reporters appear to have a hard time dealing with Trump, and seem afraid to be honest when writing about, or talking about, or with him. That is one way to in uence e elec ion en iden as s ill in e race there was massive coverage of his age, and missteps, even before his disastrous debate performance. There was rarely a report on him that didn’t append his age and stumbles to his name. After the debate, the media pounced, and it was not just editorial comment. It was a really unusual situation, and covering it was

important. But Trump’s lies had often been accepted, as were his stumbles in speeches. Then in the debate, in which Trump lied in every other utterance, that was seemingly forgotten.

Now Biden is out, and Kamala Harris is the nominee. This got wide coverage including, and up to, her choosing Gov. Walz as her running mate. Trump was out of the headlines and that seemed to drive him crazier than normal. But the media seemed to lay off of him for a bit. Now the media are criticizing Harris for a lack of policy papers, or doing interviews with them. I am OK with that, as long as they report Trump also has no real policy papers, except for Project 2025, which he claims isn’t his. The GOP platform is only 16 pages but has gotten little attention. Also, where is the discussion of Trump’s age, he is now the oldest person to ever run for president, and his speeches though loud, are often as embarrassing as was Biden’s debate performance. He can’t focus for more than two sentences at a time and often forgets where he is. Then where is the focus on Trump being a candidate for the highes o fice o e land, commander in c ie , o as been found liable for sexual assault, and is a convicted felon. Aren’t those appellations that should fairly be appended to Trump’s name every time he is written about? These are indisputable facts, as was Biden’s age, always appended to stories about him.

I am not naïve enough to think the right-wing media like Fox News will do this. But I would expect those like the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC, NBC, and CBS, to do better. I would expect them to do to both Harris and Trump the same thing. Call them out when they are lying. When media report on either one s s eec , i is fine i e call ou lies, or miss a ements, in each. In the debate, if the media questioners refused to call out Trump on his lies, as happened in the Biden/Trump debate, Harris needs to be ready to do so. But it is really the media that has a responsibility to the American voter to do so.

I don’t expect much to change between now and Nov. 5 but can always hope. We will know by Tuesday night if ABC challenged Trump at the debate with tough questions. Did they ask him about being the oldest candidate ever to run for president? Did they ask him if he thinks a convicted felon should be commander in chief? Did they challenge his lies during the debate? I am not holding out much hope for any of this.

But I urge readers of, and listeners to, the mainstream media, to at least call them out when they pretend opinion is news, and when they continue to treat Trump as if he is the same as any other candidate to have ever run for president. He is not, and opinion is not news.

DOCFCU offers flexible options, including HOME EQUITY LINES OF CREDIT with zero closing costs*, to help you achieve your goals and fund your dreams. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving to a new home, or tapping into your equity, our expert team will work with you to find the perfect mortgage {nationwide} or home equity option to fit your needs and budget.

a s e firs in a comes o mind en ou ink o a sin er son ri er urned as ion desi ner e e rand ome olks ill undoub edl ans er is breakou i sin le, ll merican o , and e accom an in ideo o ere si nifican in a e son as an unabas edl ueer counr une i isuals o ma c course, i didn ur a rand as model- andsome and ad a a less bod on dis la o ar, e a e is sin in oice, son ri in c o s, and im ressi e looks and si ue s a m bod , and is o n ersonal in eres in e kinds o armen s a s o em o , a as led im o crea e is rand is s o rand is com clo in line, ea urin men s under ear and s im ear e e as kind enou o make ime or an in erie , and a er ou finis readin i , ou ll an o ollo im on is socials rand is ns a ram , rand is ik ok , and rand is i er ou on be disa oin ed

BLADE: ince e release o our debu sin le in , e coun r -orien ed ll merican o , se eral o er male coun r ar is s, includin erndon, ill ilman, r ille eck, and sborne a e come ou as a o ou eel a our bein an ou musician ad an in o do i a STEVE GRAND ink, more an anin , i ad o do i e ma or cul ural s i a as a enin across is coun r ccordin o e allu olls, ublic su or or a marria e en rom a ro al in a , o a ro al in a a marria e as a bi o ic o discussion in e earl s or a lo o reasons ou ad ar is s like ad a a re uen l alkin abou er a ans, ou ad a c arac ers comin ou in s o s ou ad e reeal o on sk on ell in , and en ber e ell in ink e in erne , and e rise o social media ad more o do i i an an in e ore social media, corora e ress and bi mo ie and s udios dro e e narrai e on ese sor s o in s nd because e are be olden o ad er isers, ic are more conser a i e and risk-a erse, e ould o en a oid e en ackno led in eole or ear i ould u se lar e sec ions o e coun r u ink social media a e re ular eo le an o or uni o be eir au en ic sel es nd i a e ar is s con en crea ors like me e abili o make music and ideos a could be seen b millions i ou needin e backin o a bi record label

By GREGG SHAPIRO

rom music o as ion, ca c in u i e e rand ll merican o no ocused on is clo in brand

e road en e ere ired, un o er, and s ressin abou ere e needed o be, ra elin rom one enue o e ne , a remember mos ondl

BLADE: a kind o music are ou lis enin o or en omen ese da s

GRAND am lo in e ne illie ilis record nd e coun r record os alone us made con inue o a recia e im more and more ene er see im in in er ie s am us so im ressed i o cen ered and enuine e is o e seems o kno e ac l o e is ere is a real de and a oodness in im, and ink a reall comes rou in is oice

BLADE: m rememberin correc l a or a ile, ou le ica o or a s correc , a as a e erience like or ou

GRAND s en some ime in ile as makin m firs record s a ed i a riend o a riend unn enou , ad neer me em be ore e da s o ed u a eir door i m ba s as on m bir da e a e and a e o me and ne er e ec ed an in in re urn don ink e er en ou and did an ni li e ere e riends s a ed i ad a lar e rou o riends and re a lo o ar ies and e en s, so reall benefi ed rom a in eir sor o buil -in rou o u s o an ou i en s a ed ou ere

BLADE: o lon a e ou been back in ica o

GRAND er an e se eral mon s e s en in , m summers in o n, and in ers in uer o allar a, e been in e ica o area e ole ime

and liked a i ad e le er in i , ic us looks cool and s ron

BLADE: as desi nin is kind o clo in a li elon assion o ours, or as i some in ou s umbled u on and decided o run i i

GRAND ike a lo o a men, ad m se ual a akenin in e men s under ear aisle a our local de ar men s ore lau s nd ersonall , e al a s ound an a rac i e u in a eedo, brie s, or ocks ra e en more se an seein im naked en en as a colle e s uden orkin a an our ob and didn e en a e man re ular clo es, as bu in more o is a ire or m sel an an in else s ared o e er fi a ed on e desi n and fi didn kno o o se , bu learned enou o make basic al era ions o desi n and fi en ound some si es a made cus om ieces be an dra in m o n a erns and a in em se n u en os ed em on ns a ram, d e lo s o u s askin ere e could bu em nd a a oin decided s ould us roduce em en masse ou i ould be a side i ad no idea all a as in ol ed ink i kne o ard i ould be ma no a e s ar ed i lau s o, m i norance kind o orked ou o m benefi , because no am dee in i and m a made i all ork o ar a leas

BLADE: a s e mos re ardin ar o rand is GRAND oin o e beac and seein u s don e en kno earin m brand is so re ardin o see u s en oin and lookin rea in some in s en undreds o ours obsessin o er e er de ail a makes i all so or i

BLADE: lmos ears a o, in , ou released our ull-len debu album ll merican o en ou look back on a ime, o ould ou describe i GRAND as a irl ind remember bein co ni an o e ac a i as all mo in as and a needed o make a conscious e or o s o and ake in all e cool, s ecial, uni ue e eriences as a in ookin back, don ink lis ened o a oice inside me enou al a s el like m bes da s ere a ead a m momen ad e o come, and a us needed o unker do n and kee orkin nd, un or una el , a o en ke me rom embracin e resen momen s unn , m bes memories o a ime end u bein all e imes in be een, like e road ri s i m our manaer and a e er members o e band as ra elin i as al a s inkin abou a needed o be doin beer or ocused on e s o , bu i is ose con ersa ions on

BLADE: a do ou like bes abou bein in ica o GRAND e lake ron in e summer e ac a e crumb in ers are some in e all endure o e er, ic means e also e erience e beau and ali eness o e s rin and summer o e er e in ers are so cold and dead, bu i makes ou a recia e e beau i ul ea er in e summer, and all e lan li e a comes back o li e e ole ci comes ali e en i s ar s e in nice er one s mood is li ed and ere is a real sense a e need o make e mos o e summer because i s ee in also lo e e eo le ica o is no as ransien as ci ies like and e ork ere mos eo le are no rom ere os ica oans a e roo s ere nd eo le are enuinel nice and kind

BLADE: n , ou launc ed rand is, a clo in line desi ned b ou a includes under ear, s im ear, s or s, socks, -s ir s, and a s o did ou come u i e name rand is

GRAND as abou o eeks rom oin in o roducion i e name rand s u idl assumed could use i because i as m name, bu decided s ould ire a rademark a orne us o be sure as old ere ere abou o er com anies a could a e a co ri in rin emen claim, so needed o come u i a name er uickl used ord enera ors and all sor s o o er me ods o comin u i names en i is because us like o i sounded o e er ou e ord is as er s ron ,

BLADE: a s e mos c allen in ar GRAND e in s ele a in ealin i ac ories o e em o make e ieces e ac l o an l a s a in o make decisions abou e er as ec o e roduc s and e business e s ress o irin ens o ousands o dollars o m o n mone be ore see an roduc e end o e da , i e ac or oes under, ou reall don a e an recourse e eard orror s ories rom o er brands

BLADE: ou s ared our recen ec ear orkou in ur , as ell as our reco er , on social media re ou ull back o or s ill akin i eas

GRAND am er ra e ul o be able o sa reco er as been eas and ainless ad an e cellen sur eon e firs sur eon sa said i could no be re aired so am er lad o a second o inion e ors ar as been no bein able o mo e muc ei i i ere are so man e ercises can do, m a raid o sa a e onl ad a and ul o orkou s in e las eeks ill be ealed a eeks, bu i ill s ill be a e mon s be ore can li ea u in e sc eme o in s, am us ra e ul ad a roblem a could be fi ed

BLADE: our second album, o e nd o e as released in ecause mos eo le came o kno ou as a sin er son ri er firs , d be remiss i didn ask i ere as more music rom ou in e orks

GRAND s ill ill ri e music, bu mos son s are incomle e is could sa ad ano er record read o o, bu en e andemic a ened and asn able o er orm and los o m income a ear, ad o make rand-is m ull- ime ob o a e bills nd no a i as, s rule o find e ime and crea i e ener o make a a en u am s ill o e ul ill e back o i one o ese da s

STEVE GRAND’s latest passion project is fashion design.

(Photo by Antony Kozz)

Comfort Food in Conversation

WED., OCT. 16 AT 7:30 P.M.

TERRACE THEATER

In partnership with Bold Fork Books, join a special panel conversation with Joan Nathan, Priya Krishna, and Erika Council about food’s power to comfort our bodies and minds.

Harvest Day

SAT., OCT. 19 AT 10 A.M.

REACH PLAZA

Join local nonprofit FRESHFARM for a fun and tasty journey through the local food system. Dive into hands-on activities to learn how food is grown and made. Plus, enjoy music, local vendors, and a day of fun for the whole family.

The Big Sing

WED., OCT. 23 AT 7 P.M.

THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Join a community sing in the National Cathedral. No singing experience is required—just BYOV (bring your own voice)! Experience the social and psychological benefits of singing together in one of the most beautiful spaces in D.C.

The RESET

MON., OCT. 28 AT 7 P.M.

CONCERT HALL

You’ve never experienced the Concert Hall like this before! Spread out on the stage or into the empty hall for this immersive and transformative meditation. Singer and sound healing artist Davin Youngs brings his unique take on a “sound bath.”

“Her voice with its pure, incisive and delicate timbre radiates tenderness in the middle register, while she floats her golden high register to the limits of audibility.”

—LE MONDE

FLEMING VOICES

NOV. 10 AT 7 : 30 P.M.

CALENDAR |

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Friday, September 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. or more de ails, email adam edccen er or GoGayDC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Moxy. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Women in their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area. For more de ails, isi i s closed acebook rou

Saturday, September 14

GoGay 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.

Sunday, September 15

GoGay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Dinner” at 6 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy an evening of Italian-style dining and conversation with other LGBTQ folk. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purc ased on en bri e

Monday, September 16

Center Aging: Monday Coffee & Conversation will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of their choice. For more details, email justin@ edccen er or

Tuesday, September 17

Pride on the Patio Events will host “LGBTQ Social Mixer” at 5:30 p.m. at Showroom. Dress is casual, fancy, or comfortable. Guests are encouraged to bring their most authentic self to chat, laugh, and get a little crazy. Admission is free and more details are on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, September 18

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve sel -confidence, mo i a ion, resilience and roductivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email centercareers@thedccenter.org or visit www.thedccenter.org/careers.

Lit Lovers: Book Club for Seniors will be at 2 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. The book selection for September is “Death Comes for the Archbishop” by Willa Cather. For more details, visit the DC en er s ebsi e

Book

Thursday, September 19

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org or call 202-

Virtual Yoga with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

OUT & ABOUT

Free house expo set for Oct. 26

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society will host a free House Expo on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. in the North all o as ern arke

If you have questions about your home, you can get answers at the Expo. There will be more than 30 home contractors, service experts and city agencies with historic house experience. There will also be free guided ours o as ern arke

For more information, visit chrs.org.

Come see a drag show with a purpose

GoGayDC will host “Drag Show for Charity” on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and es auran

i s o e dra er ormers ill benefi or c arities that have been vetted by the Imperial Court of Washington, D.C. The mission of the Imperial Court is to raise funds for organizations, including but not limited to those supporting LGBTQ community, HIV/AIDS services organizations, social service organizations and youth enrichment programs. It seeks to provide a safe, social environment for people with the same interests as those of the membership and to create and promote positive community awareness.

This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Club for Seniors will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. The book selection for September is ‘Death Comes for the Archbishop’ by Willa Cather.

A busy season underway in local theater scene

Something for everyone indeed

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

“Something for everyone.” It’s a tired tagline, but in the case of this fall’s DMV theater season, it happens to be pretty much true. And a lot of the work is queer, directly or tangentially. Here’s a sliver of what’s already opened and what’s in store.

Theater J jumps into the new season with “How to Be a Korean Woman” (through Sept. 22), Sun Mee Chomet’s comic and heartfelt telling of searching for her birth family in Seoul, South Korea. www.edcjcc.org

Woolly Mammoth Theatre opens with “The Comeuppance (through Oct. 6), the latest work from Tony-winning out playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

“On the night of their 20th high school reunion, the self-proclaimed “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group” reconnects while they pregame in Prince George’s County, Md. But amid e o o reminiscin , an oerworldly presence forces these former classmates to face the past head-on and reckon with an unknowable future.” Woollymammoth.net

Signature Theatre kicks off with the D.C. premiere of Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer-winning play rimar rus rou c oo s con em orar umor-filled ender ale o self-discovery and connection is followed by Signature’s big musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Oct. 29-Jan. 12), Stephen Sondheim’s classic Roman-set musical comedy staged by Signature’s out artistic director Matthew Gardner. Sigtheatre.org

GALA Hispanic Theatre’s season opener, Gustavo Ott’s “The 22+ Weddings of Hugo” (through Sept. 29), is based on a true story. Performed in Spanish with easyto-follow English surtitles, Ott’s raucous tale seeks to cover the various scenarios immigrants experience through many weddings. The cast features out actors Carlos Castillo as Hugo, a quiet postal clerk, and Victor Salinas who plays Elmar, a gay writer seeking refuge. José Zayas directs. Galatheatre.org.

Mosaic Theater Company at Atlas Performing Arts Center presents “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” (through Oct. 6), a play with music about jazz legend/queer icon Billie Holiday starring Roz White. Mosaic’s out artistic director Reginald L. Douglas directs. Mosaictheater.org

Ford’s Theatre presents “Mister Lincoln” (Sept. 20-Oct. 13), a “witty and revelatory” one-man show starring Scott Bakula (stage and screen actor famous for TV’s “Quantum Leap”). Fords.org

ExPats Theatre (also housed at Atlas) opens with “Marlene” (Sept. 28 through Oct. 20) featuring Karin Rosnizeck as the legendary Dietrich, a great star who famously defied social and ender con en ions ile da lin e orld i er lamorous career. Expatstheate.com

There’s a lot on offer at George Mason University’s Center for Arts this autumn, not least of all “An Evening with Lea Salonga” (Saturday, Sept. 28).

Tony-winning singer and actress Lea Salonga headlines the 2024 ARTS by George! benefi concer , er ormin son s rom a our-decade career on road a and in animated movie hits. Born in the Philippines, Salonga originated the lead role of Kim in iss ai on, and s e as e firs sian cas member o er orm e role o onine

in Les Misérables on Broadway. Other promising one-day-only GMU entertainments include Ballet Hispánico (Oct. 5) and Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble (Oct. 19). cfa. gmu.edu

Creative Cauldron in Falls Church presents “Sondheim Tribute Revue” (Oct. 3-27) a celebratory salute to musical giant Stephen Sondheim with eight performers singing 20 titles from the gay composer’s brilliant songbook including “Company,” “Follies,” “Into the Woods,” “A Little Night Music,” “Sweeney Todd,” and the recent Tony Award Winner, “Merrily We Roll Along,” and more. Creativecauldron.org

Olney Theatre explores what makes a president great with “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” Sept. 27-Oct. 20. And for Disney fans, don’t miss “Frozen,” Oct. 24-Jan. 5. Olneytheatre.org

The Kennedy Center offers laughs and nostalgia with “Clue” (Sept.17 through Oct. 6), a whodunit based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. Next up is “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (Oct. 11 – 20).

Other Kennedy Center treats include “An Evening with David Sedaris” (Oct. 15). The gay humorist is slated to share his inimitable brand of satire and hilarious observations, and then it’s out sound healing artist Davin Youngs with “The Reset” (Oct. 28), his take on a “sound bath” including improvisational singing, looping devices, and healing instruments. Kennedy-center.org

Fall is the best time at the beach, so plan a weekend in Rehoboth and visit the phenomenal Clear Space Theatre. “Venus in Fur” runs Sept. 19-29 followed by “Sweeney Todd” Oct. 11-27; and “Shrek” runs Nov. 8-10. Clearspacetheatre.org

Fall cabaret will be in full swing at the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., as soloists share heart-warming stories and songs about their travel adventures (Oct. 19 at 2, 5, and 8 p.m.). And, of course, no holiday season is complete without the Chorus’s annual holiday celebration set for Dec. 7, 14, and 15. Gmcw.org

Folger Theatre presents Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” (Oct. 1-Nov. 10) staged by inspiring out director Raymond O. Caldwell. A large, versatile cast features Cole Taylor and Caro Rayes Rivera as the star-crossed lovers, and a host of familiar local faces including Luz Nicolas, Deirdra LaWan Starnes, and out actor Fran Tapia as Lady Capulet. folger.edu

Studio Theatre serves up “Summer, 1976,” (opening Nov. 13), a memory play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn (“Proof”). Directed by Vivienne Benesch, the two-hander features longtime D.C. favorites Kate Eastwood Norris and out actor Holly Twyford playing disparate women whose unlikely friendship and ensuing connection changes the course of their lives. Studiotheatre.org

And on Wednesday, Dec. 4, Strathmore in North Bethesda presents “A Swingin’ Little Christmas,” a fun takeoff on kitschy, classic ‘50s and ‘60s holiday specials, featuring out TV star Jane Lynch (“Glee,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) alongside Kate lanner e fice , im a is lee s ocal arran er , and e on uerrero Quintet. Strathmore.org

CARLOS CASTILLO as Hugo and VICTOR SALINAS as Elmar in ‘The 22+ Weddings of Hugo.’ (Photo by Stan Weinstein)

Fall brings diverse array of new restaurants to D.C. ro-

aribbean, rinidadian, a anese, and more in uences on a

By EVAN CAPLAN

Move over, Brat Summer. The fall dining scene in D.C. is Hot to Go. From a powerful, historically inspired Afro-Caribbean restaurant in a luxe hotel to a funky music record-inspired bar, below is a non-comprehensive list of restaurants and bars that have opened or are planning to open over the next several months.

Dōgon

Famed chef Kwame Onwauche makes his celebrated return to Washington, D.C. with the o enin o on near e ou es a er ron n , n auc e, us in is mid- s, ran a i ou and en la er i and in on e ar o , on is an ambi ious roect inside the equally ambitious Salamander Hotel, linking the storied history of freed Black man en amin anneker o sur e ed e a ion s a i al, i n auc e s ro- uban back round and connec ion o e es rican on eo le r and s mbolism imbue e ro al- ur le s ace ser in dis es like an ree icken i ollo rice on ill be n uac i s second res auran o enin in a ear, ollo in e acclaimed a iana in e ork on o ficiall o ened on e , o onor e da e in is or en as ormall named in

Press Club

n u on ircle, e enre-bendin ress lub bar is or e musicall inclined e bar takes inspiration from the A&B sides of a record, offering two complementary experiences e rack is menu an ei o cock ail menu a ro a es biannuall ea urin e eam s a ori e s iri s and ec ni ues and e s ee er and more e erien ial la is menu a bi-mon l ro a in our cock ail i s i li in more seasonal in redien s, presented tableside with the supplemental bites. The space comes courtesy of celebrated bar e ill a on and -based e in enned

a.kitchen+bar

ames eard ounda ion ard- innin res aura eur llen in s i ree os i alirou brin s i s iladel ia res auran o o o om is all rounded in esapeake fare, the menu is based on Americana-seasonal small plates, alongside a focus on natural and organic wine.

Minetta Tavern

nion arke elcomes e ano er bi -name s las in e orm o ine a a ern e ork-based ei c all , o alread runs nearb as is i e en arr no s ran er o D.C. himself), is behind the program. This D.C. version will have a similar menu to the Mana an s a le, kno n or i s e ensi e classic cock ail lis and arisian s eak ouse ins ira ion

Rosedale

es aura eur s ok a a o ni sbrid e es auran rou ill o en osedale in e ores ills nei bor ood o or es , named or an es a e in le eland ark is classic mericana s o ill a e a ro a in seasonal menu and dail s ecials rom e ki c en s rotisserie oven.

Bar Betsie

e ree a o ners al rab am, re or erfield, and aba ier o o an ircle cocktail favorite Jane Jane, known for its throwback vibe and sassy needlepoints, will open ar e sie in nion arke is in er amed in onor o aba ier s mo er, i ill a e a more relaxed atmosphere than Jane Jane, with more beer and wine options, as well as a

lar er menu o fin er- ood snacks

Trini Vybez

n olumbia ei s, a alia alloo o ens aribbean res auran rini be alloo oriinally began selling spices native to Trinidad and Tobago in local markets and online, and en re e business in o a ood ruck ser in rinidadian s ree ood e ne brick and mortar concept will offer more expansive cuisine native to Trinidad and Tobago on the u er oor, and ro ide or a more modern conce , oca a e and ine ar, on i s lo er le el ill ocus on delicacies like o ail sliders i rinidad s radi ional o s bread, lus e er ro i or ose o like o en o a bi o s ice

Modan

odan, meanin modern in a anese, is a sleek , -s uare- oo res auran i a bar, sus i coun er, ri a e makase coun er, and ou door a io in c ean ecu i e e ic eole ico a or comin s rai rom is role as ecu i e us i e a obu dis in uis es is conce i i s ro rie ar in- ouse dr a in or bee and fis , alonside broader Southeast Asian elements.

lso comin is all is e s or uali , one o e lar es and mos si nifican ood benefi e en s o e season e s or uali ad ances e fi or e ualirou e ork o e ounda ion, e educa ional arm o e na ion s lar es ci il ri s or ani a ion n c , i brin s o e er o e re ion s o chefs, pastry chefs, and mixologists for an evening of food, cocktails, and music. The event ea ures as in s a ions and cock ail s a ions eaded b reno ned c e s and mi olo is s rom e rea er area, as ell as ersonal c e ables i e and silen auc ions are also held.

Chefs for Equality returns Oct. 21. (Blade file photo)

Sublime Light: Tapestry Art of DY Begay

Opening September 20 National Mall

Don’t miss the rst major retrospective of innovative Diné ber artist DY Begay highlighting 48 of her most remarkable tapestries.

Hear from Begay and fellow ber artists Velma Kee Craig (Diné) and Helena Hernmarck

Saturday, September 21, 1 p.m. | Free

Major support provided by Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by The Coby Foundation, Ltd., and Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund. This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.

DY Begay (Diné [Navajo], b. 1953), Transformation 2012, 2012. Wool, plant and insect dye. Collection of Caroline and Roger Ford.

Fall concerts feature Sivan, Eilish, Lauper, more Ndegeocello

pays tribute to Baldwin at Strathmore next

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO

Sigur Ros will be joined by the Wordless Music Orchestra at the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Wednesday, Sept. 25th. They’re continuing their 2023 tour in support of “Atta,” their first LP of original music in a decade. Frontman Jonsi is gay. Tickets are $60.50-173.50 for this seated show.

Troye Sivan brings the “Sweat Tour” with Charli XCX (co-headlining) to Baltimore at the CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Thursday, Sept. 26th at 7:30 p.m. It’s sold out. The latter is touring behind her 2024 album “Brat.” The former is touring behind his 2023 album “Something to Give Each Other.” Sivan is gay and has performed at Capital Pride.

Cyndi Lauper brings her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29179. It’s her first solo arena stateside tour since her ’86-’87 “True Colors World Tour.” Lauper is a longtime and avid LGBTQ ally.

St. Vincent brings her “All Born Screaming Tour” to the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Friday, Sept. 13th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55-95. A Variety review called it “minimalist” and said “with no video screens, backup singers or sketches, and a lot of electric guitar, it’s the purest distillation of St. Vincent we’ve had on stage in quite a few years.” Anne Erin Clark (aka St. Vincent) doesn’t identify as anything sexually but has mostly dated women in recent years.

Kristin Chenoweth (ally) and Alan Cumming (gay) play Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. Individual sets are planned, but there will likely be a duet or two. Tickets are $29.

Out singer/songwriter Perfume Genius brings his “Too Bright 10th Anniversary Tour” to The Atlantis (2047 9th St., N.W.) on Monday, Sept. 16. This highly limited run will only play six dates in five cities. Mike Hadreas (aka Perfume Genius) will perform his 2014 album in its entirety. It’s sold out.

Meghan Trainor brings “The Timeless Tour” to Jiffy Lube Live (7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristol, Va.) on Tuesday, Sept. 17th at 6:30 p.m. She’s touring behind her album of the same name released earlier this year. Tickets are $33-155. No lawn seats available for this show.

Queer-affirming gospel singer Amy Grant (who also had a decent pop chart run

month

in the ’90s) brings her fall tour to The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. As she’s done on tour with previous re-releases, Grant could include more songs than usual from her 1994 “House of Love” album, which was just released in an expanded edition and on LP for the first time. Tickets are $95.

Sara Bareilles , a self-described LGBTQ ally, joins the NSO Pops for a three-night stint at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Sept. 24-26 at 8 p.m. each night. It’s sold out.

Billie Eilish brings her “Hit Me Hard and Soft: the Tour” to CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) in Baltimore on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Her album of the same name dropped in March. Although she’s mostly dated guys publicly, Eilish identifies as bi. It’s sold out.

Queer artist Meshell Ndegeocello plays the Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.) on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. Her show is dubbed “No More Water: the Gospel of James Baldwin” and is billed as a tribute event to the legendary Black gay writer. A pre-concert event, “The Gospel of Meshell Ndegeocello” is free but advanced registration is required. Tickets for the concert are $28-74.

Former Capital Pride headliner Betty Who (“queer/bi” herself) brings her “An Acoustic Evening in Celebration of 10 years of TMWYG” to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $55. It’s a nod to her 2014 debut album “Take Me When You Go.”

Justin Timberlake brings his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour” to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 13. This seventh headlining concert tour (and first in five years) supports his 2024 sixth album “Everything I Thought it Was.” Reviews for the tour have been strong; the setlist looks career-spanning and generous. It’s sold out.

Gay-helmed Pink Martini with China Forbes and Ari Shapiro plays the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Monday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40-80.

’80s pop sensation Debbie Gibson brings her “Acoustic Youth: Songs & Stories from Electric Youth Era” to the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets are $59.50. Gibson is celebrating her 1989 album “Electric Youth,” her second. She’ll accompany herself on piano playing the songs “the way I first wrote them.”

DJ/producer Diplo , who says he’s “not not gay,” plays Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Road, N.E.) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. Walker and Royce join. Tickets are $60.

Motown diva Diana Ross brings her “Beautiful Love Performances Legacy Tour” to MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) on Oct. 24-25 at 8 p.m. Except for adding a couple cuts from her abysmal 2021 album “Thank You” (her latest), her setlist has not changed much in 15 years. She’s a little better about performing Supremes songs than she was earlier in her career (for ages, they were crammed into one medley), but she still heavily favors her solo material. Tickets start at $102.

“ The Life and Music of George Michael ” comes to the National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. Hard to tell from promo material if this is a typical jukebox musical-type show or more like a tribute band concert for the late gay singer. Tickets are $55.

“ Sapphic Factory: Queer Joy Party ” is at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. It’s slated to feature music by artists such as Mana, Chappell Roan, Fletcher, Phoebe Bridges, Kehlani, Rina Sawayama, boygenius, Kim Petras, Tegan and Sara and more. Tickets are $23.

Kacey Musgraves brings her “Deeper Well World Tour” to CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. It supports her sixth studio album, released in March. The setlist morphed slightly over a spring run in Europe. It’s sold out.

Soul diva Gladys Knight plays the Hall at Live! (7002 Arundel Mills Circle) in Hanover, Md., on Sunday, Nov. 17th at 7:30 p.m. Knight, who hasn’t had a new album out in a decade, tends to be fairly generous with her classic Motown- and Buddha-era hits with the Pips in approximately 75-minute sets. Tickets start at $95. (Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Blade’s news and features editor from 2006-2020.)

Sigur Ros plays the Anthem this month. Frontman JONSI (center) is gay. (Photo by Chloe Kritharas; courtesy motormouthmedia.)

Bye-bye Brat summer, hello fall nightlife

D.C.’s queer bars keeping us busy this season

By JOE REBERKENNY

Pumpkin spice is back on the menu, the mercury in the thermometer is dropping, and Washington’s trees are starting to (slowly) fade into lighter hues of yellow and orange. This, along with a slew of new LGBTQ events across e is ric indica es a all as un-o ficiall be un JR.’s is transforming into East High from Disney Channel’s “High School Musical” for a special live drag show: HIGHBALL MUSICAL! Local drag queens, including Citrine, Baphomette, NuNu Paris, and more will take over the legendary bar from Sept. 8-14. Showtimes are at 9 p.m. on Sept. 13, with two performances on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $10. The show is for adults 21 and up. For more information isi s ins a ram a rs bar dc

Local Drag star Cake Pop! is opening a pop-up bar of er o n e ueen ill ake o er e o oor o sports bar Pitchers, creating her own POP! BAR. The opening party on Sept. 12 will include drink specials, music, and live performances from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queen Denali, local drag queens Venetian, Aquarius Moon, You’neek Nu’york, and many more. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances start at 10 p.m. For tickets and more details on the pop-up experience visit popbardc. com

Do you think you have the hairiest chest in D.C.? Or are you a fan of a man with some fur? Then head to Uproar Lounge on Sept. 13 to compete in their Hairiest Chest Competition. The competition starts at 8 p.m. and goes until 1 a.m. with drinks and music pumping. For more inorma ion, isi u roarloun edc on ns a ram

On Sept. 15, Kiki is holding a Glitter and Grades: Drag, Dance, and Donate fundraiser. The LGBTQ bar will collect funds to purchase supplies for local LGBTQ teachers as drag queens, strong drinks, and dancing will be had. The fundraiser is from 4-8 p.m. with a suggested entry dona ion o

Brat summer may be ending, but that doesn’t mean the brat attitude (and parties) must end. Bunker is hosting a cya brat party on Sept. 20 from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. The night will have Charli XCX-themed performances by drag artists trevHER and Venetian with DJ Miscalculated playing all your favorite Charli tracks. There is a $10 cover after 11 m i drink s ecials all ni o olka music and beer s eins fill ou i lee en put on your lederhosen and get ready for some traditional Oktoberfest festivities. Red Bear Brewery is hosting OktoBEARfest on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m.-12 a.m. The festivities include a stein holding competition, live polka music, and a Lederhosen & Dirndl contest. For more information, visit ed ear re er s ebsi e a redbear beer

On Saturday, Sept. 21 Shakers is hosting Drag Queen Tara Hoot’s Family Fun Story Time for kids of all ages. Tara Hoot will bring “tales, twirls, and fun.” Doors open at 12 p.m. and will last until 2 p.m. Free snacks and drinks for children will be given out. For more information visit akers s ns a ram a e a s akersdc

DC Rawhides, a local organization dedicated to creating inclusive dance spaces for same-sex couples and the LGBTQ community, is hosting its bi-monthly country-western dance event. All are welcome to attend, learn to dosi-do and line dance—no experience necessary. A valid ID and a $10 donation will get you in the door. The last dance o e ember is on a urda , e s , and e firs c o-

ber event is on the 5th, from 7-11 p.m. at the North Hall in as ern arke or more de ails, isi dcra ides com

On Sept. 24, Crush dance bar will hold a local politics Meet and Greet night, offering a chance to talk to candidates and nominees for the DC Council, DC State Board of Education, and other positions on the ballot. The event s ar s a m and is s onsored b e lade and eam Rayceen.

Do you want to learn how to dance? Do you like ballet but have never felt like you belong in a dance class? Robert “Bambi” Woofter is calling all to come to their monthly Party & Prance dance class at Trade bar on Sept. 24. Come learn how to dance from an inaugural member of The Kennedy Center’s Dance Council, and teacher of dance at American University, George Washington University, and Dance Place for free. The class starts at 6:30 and goes until 7:30 p.m. For more information visit hauso bambi com

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 25, Shakers will host its second annual MX Shakers Competition Drag Show. Eleven new drag queens will compete for the crown of MX Shakers with host Tatianna (from season 2 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and season 2 of “Drag Race All Stars.”) Every Wednesday for eight weeks, queens will perform to stay on the stage with the ultimate prize of hosting a gig of eir o n

The D.C. Drag Awards 2024 winner for best party DEEP is os in i s firs collabora ion i un o u on DEEP XUNT! Xunt, a trans DJ collective in the District is working with party host GirliePop to host a trans celebratory mini-ball. The party starts at 9 p.m. at Trade on Sept. 26 with trans DJs, trans-inspired categories, and trans-centered vibe. All are encouraged to dress up and walk in the ball. For more information visit deepcvntparty

on ns a ram

Clocked, a new trans-centered comedy show, is coming to As You Are bar on Friday, Sept. 27. Headliners include New York City comic Charlie Girard, founder of Queers Can’t Take a Joke (an LGBTQ stand-up comedy class local comic i b , a radua e o e firs ueers Can’t Take a Joke cohort; and Grace Wynter, a writer’s assistant for FX’s English Teacher. Other queer comics will also take the stage at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available a e door

Thomas Circle’s Green Lantern will host its monthly District Underwear Party on Oct. 4 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dance in a jock, thong, or whatever you feel hot and comfortable in as DJ Zyon plays music to get you moving. ere is a co er a includes a clo es c eck

Join Flashy for a celebration of Indigenous People’s Day and the 11th anniversary of Flashy, Flash’s iconic holiday party on Oct. 13. Dance the night away with music rom i and ean orris on e firs oor, ile a soon to be announced Grammy-nominated DJ/Producer spins on the rooftop. The party kicks off at 10 p.m. and goes until 4 a.m. Tickets are $40 online ahead of time and $50 at the door. This is a 21 and up event. Tickets can be purc ased on en bri e

The Washington Blade’s annual Best Of LGBTQ DC party returns on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at Crush. Come out to celebrate our Local Hero and winners in 70 categories. Some winners will perform at the party.

Have you picked your Halloween costume yet? If not, start thinking now. Crush is hosting a special exorcism-themed Altar Call party on Oct. 31. The dance bar will host a night of spooky queer fun, culminating with a costume contest where one lucky (and best dressed) patron will win $1,000.

Crush hosts a Halloween party on Oct. 31 where one lucky costumed customer will win $1,000. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

a o a

c is all orror, romance, ad a a, and more

By JOHN PAUL KING

It might be too soon to get excited about the movies we know are coming later in e ear like e firs ins allmen o e bi -screen ada a ion o icked or edro lmod ar s firs n lis lan ua e mo ie e oom e oor bu a doesn mean ere s s ill no len o look or ard o as eir ime dra s nearer s al a s, e e com iled a re ie o e mos in eres in and rela ed con en comin o mo ie and screens o er e eeks a ead, so e read o lan ou our o n a c lis as ou kee readin belo

“The English Teacher” ulu, no s reamin n i s ublici blurb, e re old a educa ors bein orced o na i a e a lo o bulls i as a resul o e on oin culure ars is a eme a runs sub l rou is ne ork lace comed crea ed b and s arrin rian ordan l are , ic is u in i mildl o sa e leas enerin on an us in i sc ool eac er o comes under fire a er a s uden sees im makin ou i is bo riend a sc ool, i s a iddil u - ron social sa ire a ske ers no onl e ersensi i i o our curren era bu e coun er- roduc i e absurdi o an educa ion s s em more concerned i laca in oli ical ressures an assin on kno led e i s alread emer ed as a cri ical darlin amon e ne s o s o e all eason ic is rea ne s or l are , a alen ed er ormer bes kno n as ack s usband- o-be in e reboo ed ill and race and is iral ideo con en on ns a ram and ik ok o erdue or e mains ream s o li

“Lover Of Men: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln” ea ers, no la in s reamin , is all arnes , assiona e, e deli ered i a li ouc , is sure- o-be-con ro ersial ne doc addresses e muc -s ecula ed ues ion o our iconic residen s se uali i a ro e o ell-documen ed e idence, resen ed b a os o res ec ed is orians and bols ered b amusin l modernis ic re-enac men s o e rea manci a or s su osed in ima e liaisons i arious men durin ke ar s o is li e ore an a , i ies i s narra i e o e a merica s a i udes and acce ance o eo le as e ol ed in o con em orar imes ile also discredi in man modern assum ions abou e a s e communi as been rea ed in e as ma no con ince e die- ard doub ers, bu is olis ed and oli icall o e ul e or rom filmmaker aun e erson is as ard o dismiss as i is en er ainin , and i defini el belon s on our a c lis

“Seeking Mavis Beacon” ea ers, e er a limi ed release on e , is documen ar e ands na ion ide is eek i a de ec i e s or abou e searc or e unkno n and un-credi ed real-li e model ose ima e as used as e ace o a is eacon eac es in a idel used ins ruc ional com u er in ro ram launc ed in a ser es as a launc ad o e lore a ole s ec rum o sociolo ical and iloso ical nuances rela ed o race, e ical markein , and e im ac o ec nolo on cul ure and communica ion i o ueer omen o color direc or a min ones and associa e roducer li ia c a la oss leadin e onscreen in es i a ion, i s an unusual and ou - ro okin ink iece a is as en er ainin as i is enli enin

“The Critic” ea ers, e enera ed ueer elder and ac in le end an c ellen re urns o e screen in is deliciousl dark ale o eriod in ri ue rom direc or nand ucker and ri er a rick arber, in ic a no oriousl oison- enned ea er cri ic c ellen in ondon a em s o reser e is career b mani ula in an ambi ious oun ac ress emma r er on in o a sinis er sc eme o in uence is a er s ne edi or ark ron us cos umes and eriod se in s, no o men ion an assor men o o -no c es ians a also includes l red noc , en arnes, and e al a s-e uisi e esle an ille, all make is riml macabre morali ale abou e dan ers o an unbridled e o an unmis akable roduc o e and i s likel ans o ri s le cos ume dramas ill be mos a recia i e o i s some a old- as ioned c arms en so, ano er de l o er- e- o er ormance rom c ellen and an underl in e lora ion o a ards o leadin an o enl ueer li e i in a com or abl omo obic s a us uo are enou o make i in eres in or o er audiences, oo

“Unfightable” ea ers, e in e ork and e in use , cober no er ne doc ells e s or o rans ender fi er lana cau lin, rom er di ficul u brin in and ser ice in e ecial orces, rou er ransi ion and searc or communi in or land, o er decision o seek roessional s a us in an arena no orious or i s bias a ains rans ender a le es real-li e narra i e i li in e bra er i can ake o asser one s rue iden i , is mus -see o erin rom direc or arc ere onl screens in e ork and is mon , bu debu s on use in c ober

“Will and Harper” ea ers, e e i , e e ano er doc or is i a non-fic ion road ri budd mo ie is se a ar rom e res b e s ar o er on e screen namel ill arrell, o oes on a cross-coun r dri e i close riend ar er eele, a ri er e me on is firs da orkin on a urda i i e in e is eele, om arrell ad onl kno n as a man, ad come ou o im as a rans oman, and e ri is eir a o or in a ne a or ard in eir riends i rou lau er, ears, and man cans o rin les unn , in ima e, ones , and ear el , is is one o ose mo ies a as oll ood abu , and i ood reason i s une ui ocal and i l isible e lora ion o rans iden i comes i considerable indus r clou in e orm o i s s ar o is oined b ello alums like e e ers, ina e , ris en ii , olin os , ill or e, oll annon, im eado s, and aula ell and romo es uncondi ional lo e and acce ance o ard rans eo le on e cus o an elec ion in ic eir ri s and ro ec ions are er muc a s ake eedless o sa , is one s ould be near e o o our a c lis

“My Old Ass” ea ers, limi ed e , ide e us in ime or e ne s c edelic re olu ion comes is comical comin -o -a e s or in ic ree-s iri ed llio ais ella akes an bir da mus room ri and finds ersel ace- o- ace i er o n - ear-old sel ubre la a er old ass as some re s ron o inions abou a er oun er sel s ould and s ouldn be doin , and doesn esi a e o deli er em in be een isecracks causin llio o second- uess e er in s e ou s e kne abou amil , lo e and a increasinl a ears o be a rans orma i e summer a ead ri en and direc ed b e an ark, and also ea urin erc nes i e, addie ie ler, and errice rooks, is one is no able or ea urin a bise ual cen ral c arac er, ic is more an enou or us o u i on our lis

“How to Die Alone” ulu, e n is comed series co-crea ed b and s arrin a as a o ell, el is a broke, a , lack air or em lo ee o s ne er been in lo e and or o en o o dream un il an acciden leads o a neardea e erience arred in o a ne ou look on li e, s e ro s ersel in o a ues o o ou and s ar li in b an means necessar o ell s s ron alen s are enou o brin us o e able, bu ou a co-s ar onrad icamora o o e a i urder, ire sland , as el s bes riend, defini el u s our in eres le el or is romisin ne en r

CONTINUES ON PAGE 40

LADY GAGA and JOAQUIN PHOENIX in ‘Joker: Folies a Deux.’

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Saturday, Sept. 28 at 8:30 p.m.

Tony Award-winning singer and actress headlines annual ARTS by George! benefit concert ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE BALLET HISPÁNICO

Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.

Vibrant dance from one of America’s cultural treasures MARK

Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2 and 8 p.m.

A program from “the most successful and influential choreographer alive” (New York Times) ARTURO SANDOVAL

Sunday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Don’t miss this 10-time GRAMMY Award-winning jazz virtuoso

LEA SALONGA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

e season s bes in ueer and film

“Agatha All Along” (Disney +, Sept. 18): We all know Marvel has been struggling to please its fans with its ambitious slate of TV content, but one hands-down winner for the titanic franchise was certainly the imaginative and ultimately powerful “WandaVision” – and this new miniseries, which stems directly from that critically lauded entry into the MCU canon, is breathlessly anticipated as a consequence. It follows the further misadventures of villainous Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), o accordin o e o ficial s no sis finds ersel do n and ou o o er a er a suspicious goth teen [Joe Locke, ‘Heartstopper’] helps break her free” from the spell that trapped her at the conclusion of the former series. When he asks her to take him down the legendary “Witches’ Road,” a series of dangerous magical trials that might help her restore her powers, her interest is piqued, so the pair gathers a “desperate coven” and sets off on the treacherous journey together. Hahn’s reprisal of her fabulously campy supervillain role is likely to be the main attraction, but including the adorable Locke as her gay new teen familiar is a brilliantly irresistible touch.

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” e i , Sept.19): Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true-crime anthology series “Monster” follows up its award-winning “Dahmer” saga b e lorin e s or o e real-life titular brothers, convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez – successfully prosecuted on the argument that they were motivated by greed for the family fortune despite the brothers’ claims of lifelong physical, emotional, and se ual abuse as a s ockin , ea il ublici ed case, launc in a sur e in audience fascination with true crime, and let’s face it – nobody has quite the same golden touch in getting to the humanity behind these kinds of lurid tabloid tales as e rolific ur s a mus - a c , ou can coun on i ou i i s an ere near as disturbing as the show’s inaugural season, it probably won’t be a bingewatch. Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny play the parents, with relative newcomers oo er oc and ic olas le ander a e as e bo s “Brilliant Minds” , e u a ac or ac ar uin o s ars in is ne medical rocedural, loosel based on e li e and ork o r li er acks, e amed la e doc or ose ork el ed reconfi ure e a e unders and and rea neurological disorders – but while the real Sacks, though gay, didn’t come out until la e in li e, e series re-ima ines is s or in o modern e ork, i in uin o s ersion o e doc e c ance o no onl be o en abou is se uali , bu o use some unor odo rac ices o el is a ien s mi sound a bi orced, bu uin o is al a s an in eres in ac or o a c , and an c ance o e ueer alen playing queer characters in queer stories is good enough to warrant a chance from us, too.

“Grotesquerie” (Sept. 25, FX): The season’s second Ryan Murphy show is this miniseries about a small community unsettled by a wave of heinous crimes – which feel to the town’s lead investigator (Niecy Nash) to be eerily personal. Struggling with issues at home (and her own inner demons), she enlists the aid of a journalist nun icaela iamond i a di ficul as o er o n o e er, is misma c ed eam s rin s o e er clues as e find emsel es snared in a sinis er eb a only seems to raise more questions than answers. Yes, that all sounds pretty vague and evokes “American Horror Story” vibes without revealing anything – but with Nash as its star and supporting players like Lesley Manville, Courtney B. Vance, and even Travis Kelce (yes, him) on the roster, it’s bound to be a good time.

“Joker: Folies a Deux” (thea ers, c is se uel o 2019’s acclaimed “Joker” brings back both director Todd Phillips and s ar oa uin oeni as failed comedian Arthur Fleck, continuing his re-imagined origin story into the iconic “Batman” villain as it introduces him to the “love of his life” – soono-be ello illain arle uinn (Lady Gaga) – while incarcerated in Arkham Asylum. The mad mischief-makers naturally embark upon what’s described as “a doomed romantic misadventure,” and frankly, we don’t know much more than that. But the trailers look amazing, and ere s no ues ion o oeni s brilliance in a role he’s already made his own. Even without those encouragements, though, there’s nothing that’s going to stop fans of queer diva Gaga rom ockin o e ea er o see her take on a character she seems already to have been destined to play – and you can bet we’ll be among them.

“Smile 2” ea ers, c or orror ans, allo een brin s is se uel o e o ular dea curse c iller rom filmmaker arker inn, is ime ollo in a global pop sensation (Naomi Scott) as she starts out on a new world tour, only to be in e eriencin increasin l erri in and ine licable e en s o, e remise doesn sound erribl ori inal and us as i didn in e firs ins allmen , bu i inn keeps the same level of visual and storytelling skills as the last time around, it’s sure to be a delightfully terrifying thrill ride for those who dare.

“ anat al he atfi h ng egan an a a” ulu, c ur lis closes i one final documen ar , ic c ronicles e lab rin ine ale o o e in uential queer indie rock band of the title fell victim to an insidious hacking scheme rom a lone s alker, leadin o an iden i - e and ca fis in cam ai n a con inued to terrorize both the two musicians and their global legion of fans for more than a decade e an and ara oin documen ar filmmaker and in es i a or rin ee Carr to unfold this real-world mystery is into “a thriller, a caper, a whodunnit, and an intimate personal journey rolled into one.” Sounds good to us!

ALFRED ENOCH and IAN MCKELLEN in ‘The Critic.’

Fall highlights coming to the Music Center

ROSANNE CASH Sun, Sept 22

MARIZA Thu, Oct 3

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO: NO MORE WATER/ THE GOSPEL OF JAMES BALDWIN Sat, Oct 5

NEKO CASE WITH SPECIAL GUEST IMAAD WASIF

Wed, Oct 9

RICHARD THOMPSON SHIP TO SHORE ELECTRIC FULL BAND TOUR WITH KACY & CLAYTON Sun, Oct 20

JUDY COLLINS AND MADELEINE PEYROUX

Fri, Nov 1

THE WOOD BROTHERS WITH LINDSAY LOU

Sat, Nov 16

A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS! STARRING JANE LYNCH

FEATURING KATE FLANNERY & TIM DAVIS WITH THE TONY GUERRERO QUINTET

Wed, Dec 4

INDIGO GIRLS

Thu, Dec 12

L–R: The Wood Brothers, A Swingin’ Little Christmas! Starring Jane Lynch, Neko Case, Mariza, Richard Thompson, Indigo Girls by Jeremy Cowart, Meshell Ndegeocello by Andre Wagner, Madeleine Peyroux by Ebru Yildiz

Local LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day

October 8th!

Celebrating 100 years of local media for and by our community.

The first gay publication in America was 100 years ago this year—1924’s Friendship & Freedom, produced by Henry Gerber. It was shut down by police after just two issues. Through the years, LGBTQ+ media faced similar censorship and hardships. But 100 years later, there is a chance to revitalize this journalism and make it stronger to face the anti-LGBTQ+ backlash, providing critical coverage of this vital part of the U.S. media landscape.

This project is a program of News Is Out, a collaboration of six of the top local LGBTQ+ media across the country, supported by Local Media Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization. Tax-deducible donations can be made anytime from now until Oct 8th.

Learn more here: givebutter.com/LGBTQequityfund Give today!

This first year, with one donation, you can support six of the top LGBTQ+ outlets serving our community: n Bay Area Reporter n Dallas Voice n Philadelphia Gay News n Washington Blade n Windy City Times n Tagg Magazine

now'stheperfecttimetosecureagreatdealonyourhome!

all books o er some in or e er as e ollin urs s la es lus a look a ueer arlem enaissance

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

elcome o e all book season, ere ou ll find i s or our riends, amil and mos im or an l e bes reads or oursel is is en ou ll find e blockbus er no els ou e been ai in or, e sur rise memoirs and nonfic ion a ou e an ed, and or eous i books our co ee able is all, kee our e es o en or all kinds o li erar oodness

NOVELS

o ers o a ood no el ill an o curl u i a u e ile omance no els ill fill e s el es is all, and i lo e is a ou an or e olida s, ou re in luck ook or e ules o o al b ale ie ric ednesda ooks, ecember , a modern ale o a rince and a commoner or eas ile ou an b ikealla lemen s and n uli a a rand en ral ublis in , a scar -romance-ero ica no el o small- o n li e and mons ers eac or ur enin s o el b lan ollin urs andom ouse, c ober , a no el o a oun man o a il acce s a sc olars i o a boardin sc ool filled i classma es o are muc , muc eal ier an e is e ildes o el in i e c s b ouis a ard l on uin ooks, e ember is a is orical no el abou scar ilde s amil or lo ers o o ic ales, look or e esurrec ionis b ae unla ensin on, ecember , a ale o bod sna c in lassics loers ill an o read ri a e i es o el b ulia rmfield la iron ooks, ecember , a ueer reima inin o in ear r find omen s o el b aniel a er ar er ia, c ober , a book abou a second-ra e omen-onl o el in e ork i our as e runs more o rom-coms, ere are do ens o ose a ailable is all, oo, as ell

as ris mas no els i a , lesbian, and rans c arac ers inside NONFICTION

en nonfic ion readers ill a e reason o read is all and in er ook or lambo an s e ueer arlem enaissance is d no n b eor e o nson and arl almer arrar, raus and irou , e ember , a book abou s arlem and e in uen ial ueer olks o le eir marks on en er ainmen ome in , o o in b ara ea i rsenal ul ress, eember c ronicles, in comic orm, e dea o ea i s ar ner and e a s rie akes o ealin earn more abou is or i e ook o esome ueer eroes o e ommuni an ed e orld or e e er b ric oss ood and a leen rc ambeau an o, ecember c eck ou ar rum s earbreakin memoir, o ould er o e ou ar in s ress, e ember or c eck ou a collec ion o essa s in on s n ndless e ea ssa s and u akes b n on easna o cco, ecember ook or an e ual an asies b non mous, an an olo o secre con essions rom omen around e coun r , b illian nderson brams ress, e ember , or find ueer isabili rou is or e ueer and isabled o emen s rou eir ersonali ies b ais older en and ord is or , o ember lso er as a ne bio ra ou is all, e emoir, ar ne e ree ooks, o ember

o ui e a ou re lookin or eck i our a ori e bookseller or librarian or more ideas because, is all, e ll a e lo s o em r i e a i cer ifica e and old on or s rin eason s readin s

ana el e , a err lan all releases

lee

ood ac li e album, more oni arc i es amon in a e o ions

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO

Paris Hilton released er nfini e con album on e s us e second e or ollo in a massi e ia us er debu album aris as released a back in ia roduces is summer s m ree as e firs sin le our is lanned il on romised a ea il a -leanin release Miranda Lambert’s os cards rom e as is sla ed o dro oda amber s s udio album as receded b e a release o sin le ran lers, ic s alled in e lo er s on coun r radio amber calls e album a musical ode o er ome s a e e co- roduces i on andall and ei er ro e or co- ro e o e ro ec s cu s

Katy Perry’s is se or a e release ill be er se en s udio album s i le re ers o a s e sa s is er s mbolic an el number err is aimin or a dance ar eel orkin i roducers a ar in, r uke, ar a e, au n li er and occo id ain e roceedin s are no o o a s ron s ar irs sin le oman s orld s alled a o on e illboard o ollo -u i e imes ailed o crack e o a all Fleetwood Mac releases ira e our on e includes si racks reiousl unreleased includin on o , reams, e er oin ack ain, ara and more ailable on double , ri le in l and di i all

olume our o Joni Mitchell’s rc i es series dubbed e s lum ears - releases c s bein o ered in si - or our- i li s confi ura ions ill ea ure unreleased s udio sessions, al erna e ersions, li e recordin s, rari ies and a - a e book i ne o os and an e ensi e con ersa ion be een i c ell and filmmaker uber an ameron ro e

Joe Jonas’s usic or eo le o elie e in o e and Shawn Mendes’s a n are bo se or c releases onas s album is firs solo e or since s asli e ill ea ure son ri in e sa s is o a more ersonal na ure illboard called i un arnis ed bu i a s immer o sound a lo i ara e rock and alo in uences irs sin le ork u as released o er e summer and ailed o c ar a n ill be endes s firs album since s onder, e our o ic e cancelled ci in men al eal o sin les and sn a nou a e been released e ormer s alled a no on e o e as called e album is mos musicall in ima e and l ricall ones ork o da e

Lana Del Rey’s asso is e ec ed or a ossible all release, al ou some sources sa i s been bum ed o earl o da e ad been announced as o e e s a aren l oin e e once rou e and releasin a s rai -u coun r album

Sophie B. Hawkins releases er aler e- mer in album a re-recordin o er landmark album on c rder rou er si e and e firs co ies ill be si ned a kins o iden ifies as omnise ual sa s i sur asses e ori inal

Dolly Parton lans a o release or mok oun ain amil , ai ables ar on recrui ed amil o el er on e - rack collec ion, ic ill also encom ass a our- ar docuseries racin ar on s amilial roo s ne son ose on i is an ou ake rom e e eris ri in sessions a led o er solid bu underra ed album un r ain n e remel limi ed-ediion ri le in l release is also lanned elease da es s i and man more releases ill be announced la er i c ork kee s a rea runnin ab a i c ork com ne s ne -album-releases lso c eck our local record s ore or lack rida s ecial edi ions a ailable on rida , o elease in o as scan as o is ri in

(Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Blade’s news and features editor from 20062020.)

DOLLY PARTON’s ‘Smoky Mountain DNA’ is slated for a Nov. 15 release. (Image courtesy Owepar Entertainment)

COMING SOON TO

One of a kind. Now two.

Ultra-equipped, finely appointed, meticulously kept apartment homes available now in Lanham, Maryland’s new Harkins District.

+ Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, featuring open floor plans

+ Gourmet kitchens, including quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances

+ Hardwood-inspired flooring and spa-inspired baths

+ Washer and dryer in each apartment

+ TWO Resort-style saltwater pools with cabanas

+ TWO Rooftop bars with lounge seating

+ TWO Clubrooms with billiards

+ TWO Conference and co-working spaces

+ TWO Fitness centers

+ Pet-friendly and pet-free living options

+ Garage parking available for all residents

+ 1.5 blocks to New Carrollton Metro and Amtrak

+ Monthly social resident events

Art, music, and fashion — fall events for every taste

SMYAL to mark 40th anniversary on Sept. 21

By TINASHE CHINGARANDE

Just because the temperatures are cooling down doesn’t mean your social life has to — D.C. is rife with fun events and below is a list of a few you should absolutely check out.

Club XCX will be on Friday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m. at the Howard Theatre. Tickets start at and can be urc ased on o ard ea re s ebsi e

“Head Above the Water” - Art, Awareness & Music Festival will be on Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at National Landing Water Park. Guests can dive into a vibrant celebration at Head Above the Water, an enchanting interactive art and music festival honoring National Preparedness Month. The event is hosted by Artbae LLC and sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, and The Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and aims to raise awareness abou a er conser a ion, ood risk mi i a ion, and en ironmen al us ice dmission is ree and more de ails are a ailable on en bri e

SMYAL will host its 40th Anniversary Fall Brunch on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Marriott Marquis. This event includes a cocktail reception featuring a silent auction, a threecourse brunch, and a chance to hear from some of our community’s most inspiring leaders. Each year, the Fall Brunch brings together LGBTQ and allied community members, friends, and families in support of the inspirational youth SMYAL works with each da icke s are a ailable on s ebsi e

Art on the Rocks will be on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at Hotel Heron. This event challenges local mixologists and chefs to each create the most artistic cocktail and ape i er airin , ins ired b ar icke s s ar a and can be urc ased on en bri e

Art in the Garden will be on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m at 3rd St. NE. At this event, guests can immerse themselves in a vibrant world of creativity and beauty where art and na ure collide in e mos ma ical a icke s are a ailable on en bri e

DC Art All Night will begin on Friday Sept. 27 in eight wards. It will bring visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, li erar ar s, dance, ea er, film, and oe r , o indoor and ou door ublic and ri a e spaces, including local businesses and restaurants. This event is free and more details are available on the event website.

Law Roach: How to Build a Fashion Icon will be on Monday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. at the o ard ea re icke s s ar a and can be urc ased on e o ard ebsi e

Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA will be on Saturday, Nov. 2 a m a lub icke s are are a ailable on lub s ebsi e

Marc Rebillet - We Outside will be on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased on 9:30 Club’s website.

(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Dave Quinn people

Wednesday, Sep 18 & Oct 2

Admission Tours

Lower School: 9 - 10:15a

Middle & Upper School: 11a - 12:15p

Saturday, Oct 19

Fall Admission Program

Lower School: 9 - 10:15a

Middle & Upper School: 11a - 12:15p Following

D.C.’s canvases of artistic expression

Murals offer a unique way to experience the city through art

By VALERIE M. BLAKE

If you are looking for art for your home or to just explore your creative side, Art All Night is a wonderful event to explore. It is one of D.C.’s most vibrant and inclusive cultural celebrations of the city’s rich artistic community. Held annually in multiple neighborhoods, this free, overnight festival transforms the city into a massive gallery of visual art, live performances, and interactive experiences.

From photography to dance and music to murals, Art All Night highlights the diverse talents of D.C.’s artists, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to engage with art in unconventional spaces. This year, it takes place from dusk until dawn on Sept. 27-28, allowing participants to explore the city’s creative energy in a festive atmosphere.

r ll i la s a si nifican role in os erin community connections and revitalizing public spaces. The festival often takes place in unexpected locations, such as vacant lots, alleyways, and storefronts, transforming these areas into lively cultural hubs. It is well worth driving into the city for this event.

Among the many forms of artistic expression found in the nation’s capital, wall murals on buildings stand out as a dynamic and powerful medium. While you can’t hang them on the wall in your living room, these large-scale artworks transform public spaces into open-air galleries, eac mural ellin a s or a re ec s e ci s di erse population and its history.

The city’s mural scene gained prominence in the late 20th century. Murals became a way for artists to express political messages, celebrate cultural identities, and address social issues. This tradition continues today, with murals ser in as bo a re ec ion o e ci s as and a commentary on its present.

One of the most famous murals in the city is the “Duke Ellington” mural, located in the U Street Corridor. Painted by G. Byron Peck in 1997, this mural pays homage to the legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington, who was born and raised in D.C. The mural is not just a tribute to Ellington’s musical genius; it also serves as a reminder of the U Street Corridor’s history as a cultural hub for African Americans during the early 20th century, often referred to as “Black Broadway.”

Within different neighborhoods, you can see murals that celebrate the city’s African American, Latino, and immigrant communities. For example, in Columbia Heights, the “Un Pueblo Sin Murales Es Un Pueblo Desmuralizado” (A People Without Murals is a Demuralized People), a play on words between demoralized and demuralized, stands as a vibrant celebration of Latino culture. Created by a group of artists led by Carlos Salazar and Alfredo Ratinoff, this mural is a colorful depiction of Latin American history, culture, and struggles. It is not just a piece of art, but a statement of identity for the Latino community in D.C.

Similarly, the “Ben’s Chili Bowl” mural on U Street celebrates African-American culture and history. This iconic mural ea ures or rai s o no able rican- merican fiures, including Barack and Michelle Obama, Prince, and Harriet Tubman.

You may enjoy a 2.5-hour walking tour of 25 local murals. Book online and check times at www.dcmuraltour. com. Your guide will meet you in front of the CitizenM NoMa Hotel Thursdays through Saturdays. You can also sc edule a ri a e our i a fi e- erson minimum

The “Black Lives Matter” mural on 16th Street, N.W., near the White House, became a symbol of the global movement for racial justice. Painted in bold yellow letters, this mural was commissioned by D.C.’s mayor in 2020 amid protests against police brutality and systemic racism. The creation of this mural is both a declaration and a demand for justice, making a powerful statement in a city that is at the center of national politics.

The “LOVE” mural in the H Street Corridor is a collaborative effort involving local artists and residents. The mural, which spells out the word “LOVE” in large, colorful letters, is a symbol of unity and inclusivity. It serves as a

reminder of the power of love and community in a rapidly changing city.

Murals on buildings in D.C. are more than just decorative art; they are powerful expressions of culture, history, and social consciousness. Each mural tells a story that is deeply connected to the community it represents, making the city’s streets vibrant canvases of expression.

So, as you walk through D.C., let these murals invite you to explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, learn about its history, and engage in conversations about its future. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, the murals of D.C. offer a unique, creative, and enriching way to experience the nation’s capital through art.

VALERIE M. BLAKE

is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with RLAH Real Estate / @properties. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email her via DCHomeQuest.com, or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.

The Black Lives Matter mural on 16th Street, N.W., became a symbol of the global movement for racial justice. (Blade file photo)

Zeiger Realty is THE brokerage for equality and diversity.

Stacey is the host of the popular vidCast and podcast, Real Estate and Leisure. Available on youtube and Apple, Spotify and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

Owner/Principal Broker

We are honored to have been named the Best Real Estate Group in the Best of LGBTQ DC in 2022. We are incredibly proud to be acknowledged for our efforts to create inclusive, welcoming spaces and provide top-notch real estate services to everyone in our community. We hope to receive that same recognition again this year!

With over 50 years of collective real estate experience, our team provides it all: marketing and PR prowess, stellar staging and listing guidance, negotiation skills, and a commitment to get the best results for our clients.

At the Jenn Smira Team, we are proud to have several team members who are part of the LGBTQ community and to serve many clients within this community as well. Our mission is to ensure that every client feels valued and celebrated.

design

MASSAGE

MASSAGE FOR MEN

Private studio near Rosslyn/Courthouse, weekends (Fri-Mon), 12-9. Text Gary @301-704-1158 or visit www.mymassagebygary.com

BULLETIN BOARD

ACADEMY OF HOPE

ADULT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School in Washington, DC is requesting proposals for Project Management Services, including facilities repair and maintenance, space utilization, lease assistance, etc. See full RFP for details and submission information at https://aohdc.org/get-involved/jobs/ Proposals are due 9/30/2024.

CLEANING

FERNANDO’S CLEANING

Residential & Commercial Cleaning, Reasonable Rates, Free Estimates, Routine, 1-Time, Move-In/Move-Out 202-234-7050 or 202-486-6183

EMPLOYMENT

NEED HELP AT HOME?

I could be your capable, kindly parttime professional care-giver. If you’re an older guy near Dupont or Logan. m ft carin and e perienced. jim@newmorningfarm.net. Call 814 599 2777

HANDYMAN

BRITISH REMODELING

Local licensed company with over 2 ears of e perience. peciali in in bathrooms, kitchens & all interior/ e terior repairs. r wall paint elec trical wallpaper roofn sidin . Trevor 703-303-8699

LEGAL SERVICES

ADOPTION, DONOR, SURROGACY

legal services. Catelyn represents LGBTQ clients in DC, MD & VA interested in adoption or ART matters.  MODERN FAMILY FORMATION Law Offces, Slattery Law, LLC. 240-245-7765

Catelyn@ModernFamilyFormation.com

MOVERS

AROUND TOWN

MOVERS & STORAGE Local | Long Distance Residential | Commercial Licensed & Insured Packing | Moving | Unpacking Ask about the Blade discount! Call oday . . www.AroundTownMovers.com

DUPONT CIRCLE

Live one quiet block from 17th and nnie s irst oor 2 in classic Victorian near NH Ave. Patio, parking, W/D. Avail Oct. jim@newmorningfarm.net

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA P 2 24 24

John Christian Weber aka J. Christian Weber, Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ames . illis whose address is ilson oulevard uite rlin ton, Virginia 22201, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of John Christian Weber, aka J. Christian Weber who died on January 1, 2022, with a Will and will serve without court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s ill shall be fled with the e ister of ills . . th treet . . uild ing A, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before March 6, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills Or to the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before March 6, 2025, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of. This notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

ate of frst lication

ame of newspaper and or periodical ashin ton lade s ames . illis ilson lvd uite rlin ton 222 4 /s/Nicole Stevens, Register of Wills, Clerk of the Probate Division. Joy Allen, Clerk

SALE / PARIS

GORGEOUS PARIS APT. 2br ba s . ft. pied a terre apart ment centrally located in Paris’ historic and vibrant Marais district. Have your own slice of paradise just steps from the Seine, Hotel de Ville, and the Louvre. This beautiful unit with parquet oors in a prewar buildin can be our new cozy European escape. Move-in ready. Email Mike: mike.tartaglia@hotmail.com for more info, pics, or to schedule a virtual tour.

A HOT BI-RACIALl handsome, tall, hung, dude to bottom for me. You won’t be disappointed. Sincere replies only. answer call or te t after pm. 240-457-1292

BODYWORK

THE MAGIC TOUCH Swedish, Massage or Deep Tissue. Appts. Low Rates, 24/7, In-Calls. 202-486-6183