2012: A Look Ahead

Being that so much of the future is uncertain, it’s wise to pin down what you can. Will Nibiru materialize out of nowhere and give a boost to doomsday cred? Will Rick Santorum blaze a trail to the White House (giving another boost to doomsday cred)? Who can say?

In a universe of so much chaos, at least some variables are more or less fixed. Certainly, it will be a political year.

”We know it’s going to be a very, very busy year for us,” confirms Lateefah Williams, president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, looking at the months ahead that include April 3 primaries and the Nov. 6 general election. ”Locally, we’re going to be very active. In addition to efforts in D.C., we’ll be in nearby swing states.”

Williams says election years also tend to bring more members into the fold. The same goes for her GOP counterpart, Robert Turner, president of the D.C. chapter of Log Cabin Republicans. ”I wasn’t around four years ago, but people tell me there’s an uptick during presidential elections,” he says. ”We have 50 or so members; we’re going to try to boost that to 100.”

LGBT Virginians will likely be busy keeping an eye on Ken Cuccinelli’s run for governor – in that the Republican attorney general has a grim reputation with the LGBT community – while Marylanders will be gunning for marriage equality and antidiscrimination protections for transgender people.

”This is going to be the year for all hands on deck,” says Carrie Evans, Equality Maryland’s new executive director. ”We’ve said that before, but 2012 is a window we have to get through.”

Among the new groups joining the effort for 2012 is the recently formed Gender Rights Maryland. With the tenacious Dr. Dana Beyer serving as executive director, there may be fireworks in Annapolis long before July.

Just days after the Maryland General Assembly begins its 2012 session, locals will come together to march in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., with a Jan. 16 parade. The LGBT contingent includes the Stein Democrats, the DC Coalition and The Center, D.C.’s LGBT community center.

The Center will be on the move in another regard in 2012.

”It’s possible we might have to move in July,” says David Mariner, The Center’s executive director, explaining that the organization’s U Street lease expires in June. ”We’re exploring our options. The Reeves Center has tons of empty storefront space. That would be an amazing opportunity for us.”

As The Center works through its 10th anniversary year, time will tell.

On the arts front, 2012 is also the year that will see the last hurrah of the DC Cowboys dance troupe, who have announced their farewell tour. One In Ten, on the other hand, says it’s full-steam ahead in 2012, though that may mean some tweaks to what’s on offer.

”We’re definitely talking about revitalizing the ‘Walk the Red Carpet‘ spring fundraiser,” says Lisa King, president of the LGBT arts and culture group that marked its 20th annual Reel Affirmations LGBT film festival in 2011. She adds that there are seats at the table for a few arts enthusiasts who might like to join the board and help the organization plot its path through 2012 and beyond.

It may not be where arts and politics collide, but plenty else does among sporting sort, also on the move in 2012. Team DC will bring back its dodgeball tourney, expand its ”Night Out” offerings and generally keep the ball moving.

”We want to do more events this year. We want to try to reach out to more women,” says Brent Minor, Team DC program director. That might mean adding a Night Out at the D.C. Divas women’s football in 2012, for example. Certainly, Team DC will be heading back to Night Out at the Mystics, begun in 2011, for women’s basketball. Minor also advises to keep an ear out for a possible big announcement from the sports coalition in July.

All in all, Nibiru or not, 2012 is shaping up to be a year to remember. It will have its highs and its lows, and even the mundane. To help you plan your own stellar 2012, what follows is a substantial list of just some of what’s heading our way in the new year.

JANUARY

TBA

DC Log Cabin Republicans hold a presidential forum
Date TBA
The Camden/Roosevelt, 2101 16th St. NW
7 p.m.
dclogcabin.org

THURSDAY, JAN. 5

Equality Maryland presents Montgomery County Welcomes Carrie Evans
McMillan Metro, Attorneys at Law, 1901 Research Blvd., Suite 500, Rockville
6-8 p.m.
410-685-6567
equalitymaryland.org

SUNDAY, JAN. 8

Equality Maryland Annual Meeting
Chevy Chase Town Hall
4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, Md.
12:30 p.m.
(Members only)
410-685-6567
equalitymaryland.org

FRIDAY-MONDAY, JAN. 13-16

Centaur MC presents Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW
Registration $180
(Many ancillary events)
leatherweekend.com

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Team DC presents Night Out at the Wizards
Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW
7 p.m.
Tickets $20
(Available at Nellie’s Sports Bar or online)
teamdc.org

MONDAY, JAN. 16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
mlkday.gov

MONDAY-FRIDAY, JAN. 23-27

No-Name Calling Week
nonamecallingweek.org

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

Equality Virginia Lobby Day 2012
Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad St., Richmond
(Concurrent online lobbying event)
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
804-643-4816
lobbyday@equalityvirginia.org
equalityvirginia.org

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

Mautner Project offers ”On the Bus,” mammogram/clinical breast exam/cervical exams
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 710
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Free transportation.
To register: Riana at 202-332-5536 or rbuford@mautnerproject.org
mautnerproject.org

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, JAN. 25-29

Creating Change: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s National Conference on LGBT Equality
Hilton Baltimore, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore
Regular registration $325
creatingchange.org

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

Brother, Help Thyself Grants Awards Ceremony
Remingtons, 639 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
2 p.m.
202-347-2246
brotherhelpthyself.org
(Snow date: Feb. 4)

FEBRUARY

Black History Month

TBA

Gertrude Stein Democratic Club holds two candidate-endorsement forums
Dates, venues and times TBA
steindemocrats.org

TBA

Marylander Faith for Equality and Equality Maryland hold Prayer Breakfast and Lobby Day
Annapolis
410-685-6567
equalitymaryland.org

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
blackaidsday.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

Rainbow Families Mid-Winter Family Dance
Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th St. NW
6:30-9 p.m.
rainbowfamiliesdc.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

D.C. Radical Faeries present Feast of the Red Dragon
Venue TBA
Feast, 2-5 p.m.
Drum circle, 7-10 p.m.
dcradfaes.org

SUNDAY, FEB. 12

Scarlet’s Bake Sale
DC Eagle, 639 New York Ave. NW
Cake drop-off begins at noon, auction 3 p.m.
Beneficiaries TBA
202-347-6025
dceagle.com

MONDAY, FEB. 13

Equality Maryland Lobby Day
Annapolis
Time TBA
410-685-6567
equalitymaryland.org

TUESDAY, FEB. 14

Valentine’s Day

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., is joined by Pittsburgh-based Dreams of Hope for The Kids Are All Right, featuring songs and stories from LGBT youth and allies
Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW
8 p.m.
Tickets $20-$50
202-293-1548
gmcw.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Team DC presents fundraising Casino Night
Buffalo Billiards, Adirondack Room, 1330 19th St. NW
Time TBA
teamdc.org

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance holds special meeting to rate primary candidates
Venue and time TBA
glaa.org

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

The Center presents Glamour, Glitter & Gold, Academy Awards viewing party
Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. NW
7:30 p.m.
General admission $20, VIP $50
202-682-2245
thedccenter.org

WEDNESDAY-MONDAY, FEB. 29-MARCH 5

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Winter Party
Miami Beach, Fla.
winterparty.com

MARCH

Women’s History Month

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network 20th Annual National Dinner
National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
Reception, 6:30 p.m.
Dinner, 7:45 p.m.
Tickets $250 and higher
202-328-3244
sldn.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

Team DC Fashion Show and Model Search, a fundraiser for the Team DC College Scholarship Fund
Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. NW
Time TBA
teamdc.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce presents the Mega-Networking Event
Venue and time TBA
caglcc.org

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 16-18

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., presents an all-male cast of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday
Tickets $20-$50
202-293-1548
gmcw.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Mautner Project gala and dance, ”Over the Rainbow”
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW
Times TBA
Tickets $225
202-332-5536
gala.mautnerproject.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

6th annual Capital Queer Prom, celebrating ”Carnival Extravaganza”
Almas Shriners Ballroom, 1315 K St. NW
7:30-11:30 p.m.
$85
(After-party at Cobalt, 1639 R St. NW)
capitalqueerprom.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

Miss Gay DC America Pageant honoring Miss Gay America 2012 Kirby Kolby
Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. NW
6:30 p.m.
Tickets $10
missgaydcamerica.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

Capital Queer Prom brunch
Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St. NW
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
$105 (includes admission to March 24 prom)
capitalqueerprom.com

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 29-APRIL 1

Cherry Fund presents 15th annual Cherry Weekend
Multiple venues
Weekend pass $125
cherryfund.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 31

D.C.’S Different Drummers spring concert
Venue, times and tickets TBA
202-403-3669
dcdd.org

APRIL

TUESDAY, APRIL 3

D.C. Primary Election

THURSDAY, APRIL 12

Team DC presents Spring SportsFest
Venue and time TBA
teamdc.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 14

Equality Virginia’s 9th Annual Commonwealth Dinner
Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 North 3rd St., Richmond
804-643-4816
equalityvirginia.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 15

Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch, featuring Rep. Tammy Baldwin
Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tickets $150
202-842-8679
victoryfund.org

THURSDAY, APRIL 19

Whitman-Walker Health Spring Gala
Carnegie Institution, 1530 P St. NW
6:30 p.m.
Tickets TBA
202-745-7000
whitman-walker.org

FRIDAY, APRIL 20

Day of Silence
dayofsilence.org

FRIDAY, APRIL 20

Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner
The Liaison Capitol Hill, 415 New Jersey Ave. NW
Tickets and time TBA
caglcc.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

Team DC Embassy Wine Tasting
Venue and time TBA
teamdc.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

Potomac Fever and Rock Creek Singers of GMCW join to present Together Again
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave. NW
5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets $35
202-293-1548
gmcw.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 22

D.C.’s Different Drummers hold an open house for the marching band’s 2012 season
Venue, time TBA
202-403-3669
dcdd.org

THURSDAY, APRIL 26

Metro Weekly Next Generation Awards
Venue and time TBA
202-638-6830
MetroWeekly.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 26

Dining Out for Life to benefit Food & Friends
diningoutforlife.com/washingtondc

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Youth Pride Day
(Rain date: May 5)
Dupont Circle
Noon-5 p.m.
youthpridedc.org

MAY

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Metro Weekly turns 18!

FRIDAY, MAY 18

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
bethegeneration.nih.gov

SATURDAY, MAY 19

Team DC presents fundraising Casino Night
Buffalo Billiards, Adirondack Room, 1330 19th St. NW
Time TBA
teamdc.org

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 23-27

DC Black Pride, ”It’s a Family Affair”
Host hotel TBA
dcblackpride.org

FRIDAY, MAY 24

Whitman-Walker Health presents the ”Going the Extra Mile” benefit for its Legal Services office
House of Sweden, 2900 K St. NW
6:30 p.m.

Tickets TBA
202-745-7000
whitman-walker.org

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 30-JUNE 3

Gay Days Orlando, featuring the Walt Disney World Resort
gaydays.com

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 30-JUNE 10

Capital Pride
capitalpride.org

JUNE

TBA
DC Leather Pride
Dates, venue and time TBA
dcleatherpride.com

TBA

Capital Trans Pride
Date, venue and time TBA
202-719-5304, ext. 730
capitalpride.org/transpride

TBA

Pride of Pets
Dupont Circle
Date and time TBA
202-234-PETS
petsdc.org

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE 2-3

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., presents Heart Throbs
Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW
Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.
Tickets $20-$50
202-293-1548
gmcw.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 8

DC Latino Pride
Venue and time TBA
latinoglbthistory.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 9

Capital Pride Parade
capitalpride.org

SUNDAY, JUNE 10

Capital Pride Festival
capitalpride.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 19

Team DC Night Out at the Nationals
Nationals Park
Time and tickets TBA
teamdc.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 26

Food & Friends presents 22nd annual Chef’s Best
Venue, time and tickets TBA
202-269-2277
foodandfriends.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27

National HIV Testing Day
napwa.org

JULY

TBA

Baltimore Pride
Dates and venues TBA
410-837-5445
baltimorepride.org

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 20-21

National Gay Men’s Health Summit
George Washington University
gmhs2012.org

SUNDAY-FRIDAY, JULY 22-27

XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012)
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW
aids2012.org

AUGUST

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUG. 3-4

The Center presents the OutWrite LGBT Book Fair
1318 U St. NW
202-682-2245
outwritedc.org

SATURDAY, AUG. 4

Chesapeake Pride Festival
Mayo Beach Park, 4150 Honeysuckle Drive, Edgewater, Md.
Noon-6 p.m.
410-353-5534
chesapeakepridefestival.org

WEDNESDAY-MONDAY, AUG. 29-SEPT. 3

Southern Decadence
New Orleans
southerndecadence.net

SEPTEMBER

TBA

Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) Annual Fall Brunch
202-546-5940
smyal.org

TBA

National Black Justice Coalition’s Out on the Hill annual lobby event
Dates and venue TBA
202-319-1552
nbjc.org

TBA

Brother, Help Thyself’s Gay and Lesbian Night at Kings Dominion
Date, time and tickets TBA
202-347-2246
brotherhelpthyself.org

SEPT. 15-OCT. 15

National Hispanic Heritage Month

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22

Team DC’s 2nd annual Dodgeball Tournament
Venue and time TBA
teamdc.org

THURSDAY, SEPT. 27

National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
napwa.org

SATURDAY, SEPT. 29

Team DC Champions Awards Reception
Venue, Times and tickets TBA
teamdc.org

OCTOBER

TBA

One In Ten presents Reel Affirmations 21
Dates, venues, etc. TBA
oneinten.org

SATURDAY, OCT. 6

Human Rights Campaign National Dinner
Venue, time and tickets TBA
hrcnationaldinner.org

THURSDAY, OCT. 11

National Coming Out Day

MONDAY, OCT. 15

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
latinoaids.org

SATURDAY, OCT. 27

26th Annual AIDS Walk Washington, benefiting Whitman-Walker Health and community partners
Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Avenue & 13th Street NW
Times, donation rates TBA
202-332-WALK
aidswalkwashington.org

TUESDAY, OCT. 30

26th Annual High Heel Race
17th Street NW, between P and S Streets
6 p.m., race at 9 p.m.
highheelracedc.com

NOVEMBER

TUESDAY, NOV. 6

Election Day

SATURDAY, NOV. 17

Team DC presents fundraising Casino Night
Buffalo Billiards, Adirondack Room, 1330 19th St. NW
Time TBA
teamdc.org

TUESDAY, NOV. 20

Transgender Day of Remembrance
transgenderdor.org

DECEMBER

SATURDAY, DEC. 1

World AIDS Day

FRIDAY, DEC. 14

Team DC Holiday Party
Venue and time TBA
teamdc.org

FRIDAY, DEC. 21

Date with Nibiru
Actuality TBA