Out & About
Starker, sparer Pride season — guide to 2020 Pride weekend parties, events
No Justice protest one of few non-virtual events planned
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Not quite as many of the dozens of parties and events that always heavily pepper Pride weekend in Washington with near-24/7 options are happening virtually as you might expect. It’s a starker, sparer Pride season this year with Black Lives Matter issues occupying more head space than the usual floats, drag queens, thongs and glitter.
There are a few, however:
Capital Pride #StillWe launches a virtual series of streamed events June and beyond through a partnership with The D.C. Center.
Programs include monthly online town halls, expanded resources available through its websites and a shared community calendar. Pride 2020 Reimagined includes new Pride month programming as well as ongoing virtual versions of the D.C. Center’s Reel Affirmations film series, Outwrite Literary Festival and more.
For more information and a listing of events, visit the Capital Pride and D.C. Center websites.
A series of groups led by No Justice No Pride plans its own counter-Pride programming this year with the D.C. Pride2020 March+Caravan on Saturday, June 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the Takoma Metro (327 Cedar St., N.W.) station for a black- and trans-centered march.
“In response to the continued terror that Black People face in D.C. and the lack of integrity displayed by Capital Pride — three years after hundreds of No Justice No Pride activists shut down the 2017 Capital Pride parade demanding a Police free Pride — NJNP among a coalition of community groups rooted in abolition is rejecting Capital Pride Alliances failed leadership and returning Pride to its roots — a protest against police violence,” organizers wrote on Facebook.
Its demands are: defunding D.C.-MPD, police-free schools, decriminalization of sex work, charges against protestors dropped, an end to cash bail in Maryland, no new jails in Washington and abolish prisons, a ban on stop-and-frisk, community investment, ICE-free Washington. Groups joining No Justice are HIPS, DeCrim Now D.C., Showing Up for Racial Justice, D.C. Dyke March, Plantita Power and Black Lives Matter D.C.
The march will start at 3 p.m. A ball will be held at 4:30 at a TBD location.
Look for the event on Facebook for details via dccapitalpride.org.
National Pride Shabbat is tonight at 7 p.m. online hosted by Sixth & I. In solidarity with Pride 2020 “reimagined,” Rabbi Aaron, Rabbi Avi Strausberg of Hadar and Sixth & I members will “lend their voices to an inclusive service celebrating the diversity of D.C. Jewish life.” Details on Facebook.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has its “LGBTQ+ Charla” event online today at 4 p.m. to discuss Latinx LGBTQ experiences, perspectives and ideas. More at hhf.page.link/trza.
The Future is Queer is Saturday, June 13 at 5 p.m. hosted by Joie De Vivre. It’s a queer dance party showcase with DJs, dancers, spoken word, with multiple performers, rooms and more. Tickets are $20 through eventbrite.
Celebrate Pride: Berry Pride Shrub and Flick Night is Saturday at 7:15 online hosted by Yoga District. Tickets at clients.mindbodyonline.com.
Also, the Blade’s Pride content continues throughout the month. In the June 19 edition, the topic will be “reflections of Pride.” A related webchat will be on Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. EST. In the June 26 edition, we’ll examine “global virtual Pride.” A webchat will happen on Thursday, June 25 at 4 p.m. EST with officials from Capital Pride, L.A. Pride and others TBD.
Links to the webchats will be published each week on the Blade’s Facebook page.
Out & About
Celebrate July 4 with area fireworks displays
Festivities planned for National Mall, Baltimore, Rehoboth Beach
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The National Mall is the most popular place to watch the D.C. fireworks display; spread a blanket near the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, or the Lincoln Memorial. The 17-minute display starts at 9:09 p.m. and will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
In Baltimore, the Inner Harbor Fourth of July festivities will begin at 6 p.m. and the fireworks and drone show will begin at 9:30 p.m. downtown at the harbor.
The fireworks in Rehoboth Beach, Del., will be held on Saturday, July 6.
Out & About
Smithsonian Folklife Festival underway
‘Indigenous Voices of the Americas’ program held on the Mall
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The 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival takes place on the National Mall June 26–July 1, with the program “Indigenous Voices of the Americas: Celebrating the National Museum of the American Indian.”
Since 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has been held on the National Mall; events are free. Festival hours are 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with evening concerts Friday through Sunday from 5:30-7 p.m. For details on specific events, visit festival.si.edu/visit.
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The 2024 Arlington Pride Festival will be held Saturday, June 29 at 12 p.m. at Long Bridge Park.
This event will be a gathering of the community showcasing local talent, food, and vibrant entertainment. The event will be a celebration of diversity and love.
Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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