D.C. nightlife has changed for the better, and at a warp pace in recent years, says Shea Van Horn. “I love the speed with which the city is evolving and adding [in terms of] the number and diversity of performers,” says Van Horn, who performs under the drag alter-ego Summer Camp. “I see many more drag kings sharing stages with drag queens. I see trans performers onstage. There is a totally different dynamic [than] 20 years ago, when just saying you’re a drag queen made people take pause.”
These days, drag and drag performers are the chief attraction at nearly every LGBTQ-geared event in town. So it is with Bent, the 9:30 Club’s immensely popular, quarterly LGBTQ party. This weekend, Bent will lean into its second year with a headline performance from Summer Camp. “It will certainly be the biggest thing I’ve done in years,” Van Horn says. “I want to deliver something great. I want to fill the stage with energy.” He’s done that on other occasions, of course, albeit as a DJ with Matt Bailer for Mixtape, the party that was a precursor to Bent.
“I’m so happy [Summer Camp is] back,” says Steve Lemmerman, the party’s lead producer and head DJ under the alias Lemz. “And to bridge the gap with Mixtape, it just feels like a natural progression to have Summer. She’s so outrageous and wonderful.” Also reporting for Bent duty is drag queen Baby and drag king Majic Dyke, both from Baltimore. The show will be hosted by local drag sensation Pussy Noir.
Each Bent in 2020 will be guided by a particular theme — and a different decade. First up is “Ringing in the Raging ’20s,” which Lemmerman describes as “a celebration of both going into a new decade, and a throwback to the last ’20s [a century ago], so we’re going to have some fun with retro-futurism.” There will also be nods to The Great Gatsby in terms of decor and music. The party’s DJs — Sean Morris, Lemz Vs. Tezrah, Baronhawk Poitier, and DJ L Stackz — will likely spin a few new “future” dance tracks mixed in with older “pop favorites.” Even more enticing, Lemz says to expect “bouts of electro-swing,” referring to a modern jazzy electronic genre with vintage flair that he calls “perfect for the party.”
The new year also ushers in other, largely cosmetic, changes, from removing the stage curtains to installing 32 new lighting devices to give “a bit more of a wilder light show.”
What hasn’t changed? “It’s still the same people putting it together that put together the first season.” Lemz praises his “amazing team of collaborators…a talented group that all give great input and help push this party into something new.” Of course, he’s still awed by the party’s success last year, when all four editions sold out. “I truly am floored by the love that D.C. has shown for this party. It’s such a dream to do it.”
Bent: Ringing in the Raging ’20s is Saturday, Jan. 4, at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Doors at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 or visit www.930.com.
The fall looks primed to be a strong season of concerts by -- and appealing to -- the LGBTQ community. Among the highlights in the category of the well-known, consider Andy Bell (Lincoln), Jane Lynch (Strathmore), Renee Rapp (Merriweather), DOECHII (Anthem), and of course All Things Go (Merriweather). In the category of merely appealing, not gay per se, consider The Queens (Capital One Arena), Deborah Cox (Bethesda Theater), and Judith Hill (The Hamilton).
That barely scratches the surface. There's a lot of new -- or perhaps new to you -- queer artists out there, just waiting for you get into them including Katie Pruitt (Union Station, Rams Head), Rio Romeo (Songbyrd), Aaron Lee Tasjan (Jammin Java), Dixon Dallas (Union Stage).
The owners of Pink Pony, a new gay nightclub in Sydney, have apologized and vowed to change the club's name following backlash from the local LGBTQ community.
Kevin Du-Val and Michael Lewis — the owner and manager of the popular gay club Palms — had planned to open their new multi-level venue on Oxford Street, the main drag in Darlinghurst known for its vibrant LGBTQ nightlife, in early December.
But the club's name — which the owners said in a since-deleted social media post was "unashamedly inspired by its namesake song that resonates so profoundly within our community," referring to lesbian singer Chappell Roan's hit "Pink Pony Club" — sparked controversy after they described the type of patrons they hoped to attract, seemingly at the expense of others, according to 9News.
If you need relief from these stressful and angst-ridden times, you're sure to find something to salve your soul in this section. If you crave a good laugh attack, for starters, look to the "Because They're Funny Comedy Festival," or seek out specific comedians and eccentrics known to get the job done, be it John Waters or Paula Poundstone (both coming to the Birchmere), or Jessica Kirson or Margaret Cho (coming to the Warner), or Leslie Jones, who will be at The Clarice later this winter. To name only five.
Of course, if you'd prefer to get serious and really contemplate and converse about our woeful state of affairs, you'll find plenty of ways to do that, as well. Start by consulting the lineup of noted authors coming to local bookstores and even a certain historic synagogue.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
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