Phase1 is teaming up with the National Equality March for a dance party and march fundraiser on Friday, October 9th. Doors open at 9pm with a $10 cover, and DJ Boom Boom Laroo spinning. Half the cover will be contributed to the March.

On Saturday, head to Lace for the women’s kickoff party. On the agenda are DJs, giveaways and presentations from community members. Back over at Phase1 on Saturday, you’ll find the 14th Amendment Party (celebrating the equal protection clause). DJ LS will play the “pop favorites & gay anthems,” according to bar manager Angela Lombardi. Doors open at 7pm with a $5 cover.

If you’re looking for a way to keep the party going after the Sunday march, head back to Phase1 for a drag king show by the DC Kings on Sunday night. Doors open 7pm and the show starts at 10pm.

Post by GayCities contributor Laura Hautala

Full GayCities Equality March guide

If that’s not enough, he also happens to be DJing the GayCities/Homo Hotel Party on Friday night. GayCities caught up with Zack as he was preparing for the big weekend to learn how to have the most fun in the nation’s capitol while creating change at the same time. 

The old joke is that DC is hollywood for ugly people, which of course is unfair because it actually has a great gay scene. Isn’t proximity to power the ultimate aphrodisiac?

Before anything else, people should be aware that DC is actually two cities. In Capitol Hill, and below M street, it is largely a provence of type-A, career-driven types who will try to impress you with their government job. The rest of the city though is filled to the brim with cute, smart, creative gay people that buck any stereotype that people propagate about the district. So if you like unctous men in three piece suits then yes, their power can be an aphrodisiac. But the key to enjoying DC is stop trying to be a superstar and just go enjoy yourself. Thats how to stay away from the “Hollywood for ugly people” world.

You do a great job covering events on your site. What’s the key to throwing a great party?

Thank you! The key to throwing a great DC party is to figure out what everyone is doing and then do somethign different. You have to fill the voids. For instance-there were no parties for gay people to dance to music from the 60s, 70s and 80s so I threw one called Transformer. There aren’t a lot of spaces for queer ladies and trans folk, so a party called Backdoor at the 930 Club fills that void, and it is one of the best parties in DC right now. If everyone in the world is throwing an electro party, do the opposite and you’ll probably see some new faces.

When there is not a special party, where do you like to hang out?

Again, this speaks back to avoiding the well-known areas of the city like the mall and the downtown and just sticking with the neighborhoods that people actually live in. The best bars in my opinion are the ones where you can just sit around and have a beer. So that would be Solly’s Tavern on U street, Fox and Hound on 17th, Wonderland in Columbia Heights, and The Raven and Tonic in Mt. Pleasant. And for dancing there’s always the Black Cat, which is where we’re throwing our Homo/Sonic dance party on Sunday!

Let’s say your ran into a closeted aid to an anti-gay member of Congress at a gay bar–or into a staffer for one of those dastardly types. What’s the appropriate response? Drink in the face? Something more subtle?

Seduce him and take pictures… subtly.

You are heading to dinner after HH on a Friday night? Where in the Dupont ‘hood would recommend?

I’d say get off 17th Street. Its good for drinking, but not so good for noshing. Bua Thai on P street, just off 17th, is the best. Thai Tanic on 14h is great too, and still in the hood. You can go up to 18th Street for Ethiopian at Meskerem or Falafel at Amsterdam Falafel. All this stuff is good bar fortification, though the Ethiopain can leave you too full and drowsy to do much partying after.

After a night on the town, where to head for brunch the next morning?

The hands down best brunch in the city is at Asylum. It’s a biker bar with a vegan and non-vegan brunch menu. I cure my hangover there every sunday with the vegan chili cheese waffle fries. Its always full of cute, ambigous boys and girls as well.

It seems DC now has more than one gay hub–with 14th and P streets in Logan Circle looking increasingly gay. What’s the difference between Dupont and Logan?

Dupont would probably be the Chelsea to Logan/Shaws Hell’s Kitchen or East Village. The farther east you go in DC, like 14th or 9th street, the younger the crowd gets. The parties can get slightly edgier as well, depending on the bar and the night. Generally, though, in DC some of the best parties are held at non-gay bars. Homo/Sonic at the Black Cat, Mixtape at Rock & Roll Hotel are examples of this. DC is such a gay friendly city that there are alot of queer folk to be found outside the queer spaces.

Even young people in DC come across as pretty conservative, at least when it comes to fashion. What’s a trendy guy or gal to do? Where would one shop?

I wait till I go home to Chicago and visit the thrift stores. DC is hardly a place for shopping. It’s great for everything else, but I buy my clothing elsewhere.

More Washington, DC, on GayCities

GayCities guide to the National Equality March weekend

Pam has lived most of her life in Durham, her hometown, where she and her wife, Kate, will kick back during NC Pride – held Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 at Duke University– by marching with Pam’s former neighbors, the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association, and — this is surely a busman’s holiday — chuckling at the anti-gay protesters. GayCities contributor Barbara Wilcox got Pam’s lowdown on where to hang in Durham this pride weekend and the National Equality March, Oct. 11, in Washington, D.C.

What was your first Pride like?

Hmmm. That was a long time ago. I recall that it was earlier in the year (it was probably June, it was moved because it is too damn hot in NC at that time and so it’s in September). I was disappointed because there were so few vendors and displays — mostly local organizations and a few local LGBT businesses had tables. That’s incredibly different from these days. Last year, there were national companies represented — Southwest Airlines, several banks, HGTV, many more than I ever imagined you’d see down here in Durham. Ironically, there were no Bible-beaters protesting; we have more now these days — they provide excellent entertainment value!

Where do you hang in Durham?

During Pride, the best place to hang out is Ninth Street, which has a good number of local eateries — Blue Corn Cafe, Elmo’s Diner, Parizade, and many others. Also nearby is the Brightleaf Square area, which also fills up with LGBTs who are there for the day — Nikos, Alivia’s, The Federal, James Joyce (bar), Piazza Italia. Kate and I are big fans of Mount Fuji.

What don’t out-of-towners know about NC that they should?

That when you come to Pride, you’ll see more people than you’d imagine, that the atmosphere is laid back, and folks don’t feel they have to be closeted in Durham. Now drive 30 miles in any direction…LOL. But honestly, Kate and I have never encountered overt anti-gay bias in any part of the state. I think the idea that if you travel to the South you’ll have the same negative reception in all parts of the region is a mistaken one. The other side of the coin is that while there are plenty of LGBTs down here, we don’t have a real organized community outside of the club scene, as in an LGBT center. But as far as the state goes, it’s more culturally diverse than many imagine, because so many people move here from other parts of the country and their cultures with them. That is one of the biggest changes I’ve seen since I was a child.

Is Pride getting too commercial?

Not down here. While we have drawn the attention of more corporate sponsors and vendors, people at NC Pride are thankful for the opportunity to party as a community since still too many of us are socially out, but professionally closeted — we don’t have a state anti-discrimination law on the books, so that’s where the reluctance comes in. For those of us working at private companies with protections, it gives us an opportunity to present the face of LGBT North Carolina, not just activists, but regular folk — families, young people, allies–who represent the future, not the past.

Critics of the National Equality March contend that this is not the right time, with health care and global warming on the docket. You are one of the most respected political bloggers around. What’s your take?

Before plans were finalized I opposed the march because resources could be better spent where needed (Maine, Washington State) in actual battles over civil rights. Once it was clear the march was going to happen, I put my name on the list of supporters because I want it to succeed; no one wants to see an event of this nature be poorly attended.

What do you like and dislike about Washington, DC, itself. What do you think of the Dupont/Logan circle scene? Where do you hang out there?

Ha. I like that it’s convenient to get around in DC. Cabbing or the metro/buses make it easy. I also like the fact that many of my blogger buddies are based there, so when I am there–it’s fun to hang out with them in actual, not virtual space. What I dislike: the metro isn’t 24 hours like NY’s subway system. I also dislike, well, that’s probably the wrong word — am perplexed by the overuse of Crackberries and cell phones. People are so into politics that there are data junkies everywhere. Since DC is a company town where the widget being made is political power, there appears to be an inordinate amount of sucking up and conflict of interest that I find fascinating but disturbing. I always have to decompress when I leave there, and return to the sanity and pace of NC.

I don’t usually hang out a ton while there, since it’s often for a conference or event. One place I’ve been to several times is Busboys and Poets, which is a cool, low-key place to relax and grab a bite and have great conversation.

More Durham on GayCities

GayCities is proud to announce a major new partnership with the National Equality March, Washington, D.C., October 10-11. We’ve worked together to create the official guide to the march, with events ranging from activist training sessions to the massive rally on the Washington Mall. But of course, as LGBT-ers coming together in one of the nation’s great gay cities, there will be plenty of opportunities to  mix and mingle and have fun while we are creating change–so we put together an unofficial guide filled with hot parties, cool fundraisers and special club nights.

UPDATED: If you asked Tom Goss, ten years ago, What do you want to be when you grow up? he likely would have answered in one of three ways: gymnast, wrestler or Catholic priest. Any of the three would have made sense: he was born into a home of gymnast parents and siblings in Wisconsin, switched to wrestling in junior high to release some self-described teen angst, and, after seeing the “light,” ditched college in Missouri to enter a Catholic seminary in Washington, D.C.

No, this is not the making of a LOGO made-for-TV movie (although Goss ought to consider any reasonable offer – at 28, he could likely get away with playing himself). Taken in sum, though, all the experiences have forged a formidable singer/songwriter who, in just the past four years, has released three albums and developed a fan base that rivals any of the other Indie acts playing coffee houses and festivals across the country.

Of his music, Goss says, Don’t expect hymns. In fact he offers up what’s been described as dynamic acoustic rock featuring muscular guitar, hooky melodies and a uniquely powerful voice: among his patron saints he counts Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, Ben Folds and Joss Stone.

Goss is running a contest on Facebook: through his page Create Love Sing – Tom Goss. The singer is asking fans to tell him what his recent release “Back to Love” means to them. The winner receives five signed copies of his latest album, a private concert and “all his love.” If the wrestler-gymnast thing didn’t pique your interest, the love thing just might. But don’t get any ideas: Goss is happily “engaged” and extremely busy. But he can be seen on stage, at the very least: Next up is the September 20 Roanoke Pride in Virginia before turning further south for gigs in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. Oh, and yes, be can be seen on LOGO all the time in his collection of videos.

Tony G: Tom, you’ve really shot to the top in a short period of time in contrast to your contemporaries. What has given you the edge?

Tom G: I guess some people would say that my first album (Naked Without , 2006) was the beginning of my career, period. I needed an album before performing live, that may or may not be the wisest way for an artist to start out. But I had been in the Seminary, had no attachment to anything and I didn’t really want to take a shitty job at Starbucks. I put out the album, started doing shows in D.C., and soon I was playing two to four times a week.

Tony G: Are you enjoying the newfound stardom?

Tom G: For me it’s really not about being famous, in fact the thought of it makes me uncomfortable. What’s important is that my music resonates with people. I hear a lot from fans who tell me that my songs touched them. That’s when I feel like what I’m doing is really substantive and worthwhile. Besides, most of my day is very unglamorous, researching venues, dealing with licensing companies, making phone calls …

Tony G: Back to Love is pretty powerful

 Tom G: I think it’s bad ass, far and away the best recording I’ve put out. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you can’t be a producer and engineer on top of everything else, so I took that to heart, got a great team, and came up with some big, edgy, gorgeous sounds.

 Tony G: And the Facebook contest. Will you really go anywhere for the private show?

Tom G: Anywhere! Yeah, I will. One of the things I’ve learned is that people really want to share their experiences with me, so I wanted to create a platform for that.

Tony G: I’m sure a lot of people are wondering if you’d also wear a singlet for the private performance… But you don’t need to answer that here. What are your favorite cities to perform in?

Tom G: Believe it or not, Pittsburgh. I love it there. I judge cities by performance spaces and food. But, I really enjoy so many places: Portland, Seattle, Missoula, I had a great time in Jacksonville. What draws me is a laid-back, friendly attitude and good food. I love the Midwest and New England because people are less refined, in a good way.

Tony G: So, you’re not a city boy?

Tom G: Oh, I love places like New York and DC, but I really have to have my game on. Smaller cities allow you to kick back and let go.

Tony G: Will this be your first time in Maine? It sounds like the state was made for you.

Tom G: Never been there. And my partner and I are making a vacation out of the whole thing, enjoying the mountains and camping and all that. Most people love the beach, but we like to get out in the wilderness.

Tony G: Well, Maine is the best of both worlds. You and your partner might even decide to get married here when and if marriage stays legal in November. I hear you’ll be heading to Rehoboth Beach for Pride. You must do a lot of festivals.

Tom G: I do and I love them. And, I tend to have the most fun at the small ones. There always seems to be a much greater sense of community, and they’re not about banks and airlines selling you stuff. That said, Rehoboth should be good. I don’t think I’ve ever been there. As a DC gay, is that a sin?

Tony G: Not one of the deadlier ones, but I’m sure there are a lot of guys who would be willing to entertain your confessions.

When DJ Scotty Thomson burst onto the scene about five years ago, not only was he a breath of fresh air, but a double dose of eye candy. He got his start in NYC, where he became known as the jock who would strip down to his skivvies as the afternoon or night wore on. Today, he has carved out a niche playing mostly international clubs and parties with an eclectric sound that even he can’t entirely explain. No matter, crowds love him. GayCities New England editor Tony Giampetruzzi (winenothate) chatted via IM with Scotty on the verge of an international tour that will take him from Leon, Mexico to Beunos Aires with stops in Fire Island and Toronto, among other hot spots. (See full schedule after the jump.)

winenothate: So, Scotty, what’s up with the most recent publicity pics? You had this shtick of spinning in Speedos, but now it looks like you’re practically naked!

cherub69: well, the Speedo thing was always kinda a “shtick” as you say. I really only did it during pool parties or “beach” themed nights. Having been a sponsored model for an underwear co. only energized that impression.

winenothate: You are good at self-promotion! The camera doesn’t seem to bother you, and you’re certainly not intimidating it.

cherub69: In my photo shoots, I just do what comes to mind. The last one with Bruno Rand was supposed to be all fancy, fashion with an edge. It started out that way, but somehow the shirt came off, then the pants. I guess it also had to do with the fact that I was also DJing the BASKIT Underwear launch party.

winenothate: I recall you landed on the cover of unzipped a couple years back.

cherub69: I mean most people would die for the opportunity to be on a nationally distributed magazine. right??? haha

winenothate: So, you’re doing well, globetrotting–being a DJ is a bit like being a hedge fund manager these days–what’s giving you the edge?

cherub69: I’m not playing the same stuff as everyone else. People start to hear me more and more and they realize that I play a ton of fun shit, but in a different way. Tons of energy…ups, downs and kinda crazy.

winenothate: And your audience gets it?

cherub69: I love watching people kinda look at me and say “WTF???” then what I had planned comes together and they cheer. It’s kind of like tricking people to listen. Then they become intrigued …

winenothate: Such a Svengali. Do you think the willingness of the a crowd to give more leeway is a symptom of a new generation bubbling up or the circuit, after hours scene dying away?

cherub69: Well, I think that my style, selection and vibe cross into both sides seamlessly. I can appeal to everyone without the night seeming choppy … in this way this “evolution” has been working in my favor. I cater to the commercial people, but then serve the older crew/circuit boys some sick beats in between. But yeah, I do find myself trying to lightly educate the young pop crowd … cuz I’m versatile

winenothate: You’re versatile. What are your top 5 favorite gigs ever, and if you don’t list una in Portland, Maine for the famous 2005 Scotty Tea, you’re dead to me!

cherub69: una what? Haha … that was a blast. BUT, I’d say my residency at Limelight NYC, Levi’s Party in Moscow, Queen Paris, Velvet Nation, Washington D.C. and LoverBoy Party in Buenos Aires.

winenothate: So, cherub, God touches you on the shoulder and says, “Blondie, the world will end in 48 hours – I want you to drink and dance.” What are the three clubs or bars you make a priority?

cherub69: Still open or ever?

winenothate: God is not re-opening clubs for you, merely offering a glimpse into the near cataclysmic future.

cherub69: Damn

winenothate: This time you can’t have it all.

cherub69: The Week, Rio de Janeiro, Parking, Montreal and Eleven, Los Angeles, cuz I spin there and the boys are HOT.

winenothate: Will we see some studio work from you soon?

cherub69: VERY soon. I’ve been playing my own shit for a bit now, just nothing that’s been released. Also, look for a mix CD within the year.

winenothate: In terms of gaycities (dot com), what’s the one city you haven’t visited that’s on your short list?

cherub69: Dallas or Houston…it’s a toss-up.

winenothate: Hmmmm – Texas seems to be the hotbed of online amateur porn. I think something’s up …

cherub69: you wish

winenothate: I’m sure anyone reading does! Anything else do you want to mention?

cherub69: I still spin vinyl and I’ll never give it up.

winenothate: You’re the Ovaltine of mixology.

cherub69: Too much sugar…how bout tea with Splenda?

winenothate: Whatever it takes to maintain the abs.

Scotty T’s summer tour schedule:

• July 18 Club Heaven – Leon, Mexico
• July 25 Fire Island Pines – Private Event (Pines Party Weekend)
• August 1 Atlanta – Info TBA
• August 8 Buenos Aires, Argentina – Manhunt.net “BLOWOUT Party”
• August 15 Mendoza, Argentina
• August 16 Cordoba, Argentina
• August 28 Club Eleven – Los Angeles, CA (Monthly Residency with Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nichols)
• August 30 RAGE Nightclub – Los Angeles, CA (Monthly Residency with Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nichols)
• Sept 6 Beach Ball – Toronto, Canada
• Sept 11 Club Eleven – Los Angeles, CA (Monthly Residency with Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nichols)
• Sept 13 RAGE Nightclub – Los Angeles, CA (Monthly Residency with Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nichols)

In the end, it took a fabulous, defiant image–out of more than 400 submissions–to claim the grand prize in the GayCities My Pride photo challenge: RuPaul at the mic with the U.S. capitol looming large in the background, submitted by member Billy Khuong of Virginia.

Postcard!, declared Moxy Hart, one of our judges.

I heard somewhere that we had a black president, joked David Hauslaib, another panelist.

A very simple, nicely framed photo of the world’s most famous drag queen in a fighter’s pose in front of the capitol that sums up and includes all three of the ideas of this month’s MY PRIDE theme: passion, pleasure and protest.–Jorg Fockele

As grand prize winner, Billy receives a round trip ticket on Delta Airlines and two nights at any Kimpton Hotel. Congrats, Billy! 

With hundreds of great pics, many deserving entries went unrewarded. Fortunately, you can view the slideshow of the entire pride photo challenge–or enter this month’s summer vacation photo challenge. What follows are the prize picks of the runner ups, in descending vote order, followed by a sampling of the judges’ adoring comments.

Runner Up: “Bubble Bath I” by Canio of Minneapolis (Prize: Three Water Bearer Film DVDs)

Zaftig and hirsute and hot and bubbly. Challenges exhausted notions of waxed and starved Gay beauty. I want to be at the party. As the bear fraternity boys say, WOOF.–Joel B. Tan

Bears are my queer brothers. I love seeing other queer guys who don’t fit the norms, and I especially love seeing them have a childlike good time. Letting loose, and not letting dominant culture (queer or otherwise) dictate what kind of body and life you should have-this is what liberation could actually be about if we let it.–Jed Bell

I’m pretty sure getting soapy with your fellow man is the reason God invented Pride.–David Hauslaib

Honorable mention #1: “Angel” by  San Francisco’s Michael Seaman (Prize: 5 photo book coupons, compliments of Shapfish)

Who doesn’t love young boys who are so…angelic, but as we all know are so not!–Wickie Stamps

It is a beautiful image that simply captures a moment between the subject and the viewer. It says what you want it to say. In fact I want to just keep looking at this image and wonder what the subject was thinking.–Robert Dodge

The Pride Movement is symbolized by the boy in this photo. Both are young, creative, unafraid, daring, sexy, and yet, both are still vulnerable.–Mark Kliem

A true diva. Bonus points for the boots.–David Hauslaib

Honorable mention #2: “Kiss” by Jim Hamann of Washington, D.C. (Prize: Prize: 5 photo book coupons, compliments of Shapfish)

With Gay Marriage being #1 topic of discussion this month, this photo captures the pride of the community. Plus this photo looks beautiful between the layers of light on top of dark on top of light and the great composition of red, white and blue.–Rich Dominiak

A single most powerful and timely kiss in front of the Capitol Bldg. to show a sign of the times… I like the silhouetted bodies and arms reaching out behind the kissing couple, symbolizing the fight, hope and the numbers that we are in fighting for equality in gay marriage today throughout america. I specially like the way the couple kissing is bathed in a radiance of light, as they both kiss and hold up yellow roses of hope.–Candi Guterres

I found this photo to be funny, sexy and sort of what Pride is about.. after the rainbow flags and drag queens and leather and sex, it’s the love between two people of the same gender.–Will Clark

Honorable mention #3: “It starts with a child” by Phillip Blackmon of Washington, D.C. (Prize: Prize: 5 photo book coupons, compliments of Shapfish)

This captures the hopefullness of a generation. Although it features a truly artistic composition, and is quite memorable and evocative, I feel that because the theme is PRIDE, it doesn’t feel like a proud moment captured in time. It feels more somber, reflective, and wistful. A terrific photograph nonetheless, but the same child in my pick for the winning photo drew me in more.–Glenn Gaylord

The title really says it all. The photo manages to be at once hopeful and elegiac, promising a better future while somehow paying respect to those who’ve paved the way, perhaps those we’ve lost.–Adam Drucker

Honorable mention #4: “Montclair State University – NYC Pride” by Bryan Correira of Kew Gardens, NY (Prize: 5 photo book coupons, compliments of Shapfish)

My first gay pride experience was while I was in college, and it also happened to be NYC pride, and this picture reminds me so much of the young, beautiful and carefree spirit I felt at my first Pride event.–Jeff Sheng

This one snuck up on me. I didn’t consider it much, but I kept coming back to it because I love how the bright colors of the subjects contrast so nicely against the almost-sepia colors of the buildings in the background.–Kevin Goebel

To me, this is what MY PRIDE is all about, what the pioneers fought for and what we’re celebrating: uncomplicated faces of youth proud of who they are and who they love. It’s a simple snapshot that manages to reassure that the kids are indeed alright.–Adam Drucker

Check out the full GayCities My Pride photo challenge slideshow

Enter the GayCities summer vacation photo challenge… and win cool prizes

The city of London was creative enough to make its version of the gay beach–Hampstead Heath Ponds (which allows nude sunbathing)–a centerpiece of its marketing to gay tourists with a funny video.

                                                   photo by epaul-07

New York’s Central Park has plenty of gay cruising in the brambles. But if you are looking for a beach, check out sheep’s meadow, near the center of the vast urban park. Our friends at Popnography captured this group of frisky, camera-friendly guys there on a summer day:

San Francisco’s Dolores Park, just a short walk down the hill from the Castro, is famous for the gay beach in the southwest quadrant, which of course boasts the best view and is also home to the annual “hunky jesus” contest:

Then there is Chicago’s Hollywood Beach, which is actually on the lake. So there’s a real beach, not to mention plenty of gay boys sunning, socializing and just plain showing off on the southside near Andersonville, which they long ago colonized as their own. Sundays tend to be the best days to hang out there, but any warm summer day will do.

                                                                                  photo by albany_tim

Washington, D.C.’s P Street Beach in at the start of the vast Rock Creek Park is a lush green oasis that abuts the end of the heavily gay block of P Street, lined with gay bars, cafes and eateries. The park has a long tradition of cruising (be wary of the park rangers) but in the daytime it’s a great place to sun, meet guys, and watch the nearby volleyballers before heading back to P Street proper (or 17 Street) for a night out on the town.

Chicago

What’s your take? Should women be allowed to celebrate their coming nuptials in an environment where those around them do not enjoy the same legal rights? or is Cocktail’s stance a step backwards in the fight for equality? We’d love to hear what you think!

Photo by carolyn_in_oregon

Robert Burden, 22, has lived in Washington, D.C. just shy of a year. But like an ambitious politician in the nation’s capital, youth and inexperience hasn’t stopped him from grabbing a key post, in this case as chairman of volunteers and member recruitment for Capital Pride, held June 5-14, 2009–with the Pride Parade June 13. Robert graduated in May 2008 from James Madison University; he works as a research microbiology lab technician. Oh, and he’s single.

Robert took time out to give GayCities the inside scoop of D.C. pride.

What was your first Pride like?

Last year was actually my first Pride. I had just moved into the city that week, and the first event I went to was the parade, with some friends from college. It was pouring rain, but I still had one of the most fun times I have ever had! It was great to see all the people coming together and celebrating being who they are–as loud and as over-the-top as possible. In the middle of the parade is when I knew I had to become part of it.

What is special about D.C. Pride?

Where else can you stand, surrounded by thousands of other people, watching a drag queen perform on a stage with the Capitol Building as the backdrop? D.C. is such a great city. It’s also where most of the change for the LGBT community needs to start. By celebrating Pride here, we are showing every lawmaker, lobbyist, consultant and intern that the LGBT community is here, loud and serious about demanding fair and equal treatment.

What’s the sexiest Pride float?

I didn’t even have to think about this one! Hands-down winner is the Results Gym float. It got me to sign up for a membership. Those boys are gorgeous!

How do you celebrate?

I personally get really, really drunk, dance on top of bars and throw glitter at everyone who walks past me — nothing too crazy. Obviously, I’m kidding. Really, I just like to spend Pride with my friends. We go to all the events and squeeze in some really fun brunches throughout the week.

List 4-5 bars, restaurants, or nightspots that appeal to you.

One of my favorite bars is Nellie’s. It just has a great laid-back and relaxed feel to it. They also have an amazing rooftop bar, which is great in the summer. Town and Cobalt are both fun places to go if you want to dance and be crazy. If you want to eat and drink, you can’t go wrong with Duplex Diner. They have a great menu and a really fun regular crowd. Larry’s Lounge is a bar with an awesome staff and relaxing neighborhood feel. Recently, I have become a really big fan of the Commissary. Their sangria is incredible! The Commissary is right next-door to Halo, somewhere that’s great to go for more legit drinks and 2-for-1 happy hours.

What about D.C. don’t out-of-towners know that they should?

To start, District people don’t really talk about politics all the time. Given, everyone here has an opinion about every issue, and if you bring it up we will defend our beliefs, but we can make it through a night without talking about the Republican Party. It’s also good to know that the Metro is not open 24 hours; Chinatown is a misnomer — it’s more like Chinastreet; there is no J Street, and Crew Club is not a gym.

Some people your age have said that Pride is really for an older generation. Obviously, you don’t feel that way.

Pride is for everyone. It’s meant to be a celebration of where the community has been, where it is and where it is going. Everyone is part of that. There is so much happening in the world right now regarding the LGBT community, and Pride is a way to get people bonded together and ready to face the obstacles ahead, while celebrating the victories and achievements we have had! Still, I can understand why people associate an older generation with Pride; usually the younger generation doesn’t take part in the planning and execution of Pride celebrations. At Capital Pride, we’re always reaching out to the younger generation and seeing what they want for Pride.

Check out our Capital Pride Guide and Washington, D.C., on GayCities

Photo by Noo