Culture
Bad Moves. Photo courtesy of subject.
The Pride Guide: Highlighting the Best + Brightest of D.C.’s Queer Community
June 1, 2022 @ 12:00pm
Check out our most up-to-date Pride guide here.
Pride 2022 has arrived. We’re highlighting some of the best and brightest in the queer community by rounding up LGBTQ+ locals from all different fields and industries that make an impact in our city. Here are some of the featured names to know and for the 20 other profiles, check out our print issue or look throughout our site for all the interviews.
Katie Park (they/them), Emma Cleveland (she/her) + David Combs (they/them), Band members of Bad Moves
What Pride means to you
While none of us have a strong emotional attachment to the Pride Parade or the corporate events, we do find meaning in Pride where it’s bringing visibility to the trans and queer activists who have come before and fought for queer rights. And it can be an opportunity to get together with our queer friends and wear our coolest outfits.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community
Stay focused and active in response to the growing, regressive right wing movements to enact laws taking rights away from trans people. Don’t be transphobic. Donate to the Trans Lifeline.
Your identity-affirming song
We wrote several songs on our first LP, “Tell No One,” that are about exploring queer identity as a youth: “Spirit FM,” “Crushed Out,” “One Thing” and “Cool Generator,” to name a few. Our 2020 record, “Untenable,” has a song called “Cape Henlopen” about gender identity and learning to feel comfortable in your own skin.
@badmovesdc // badmoves.bandcamp.com
Billy Dixon. Photo by Jay Lee.
Billy Dixon (any + all), Professional Wrestler
What Pride means to you
A moment to reflect on the legacy of queerness’ fight to stay alive throughout the centuries and the role of the trans angels who led the way. I’m not so much into corporate America’s attempt to both whitewash and profit off of a literal days’ long riot that ignited a revolution. But I do love a good ki, so it’s complicated.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community
Understand we are more than just LGBTQ and we deserve allyship beyond and before June. Give a crap on July 1.
Your identity-affirming song
I love the song “Feel Special” by the K-pop girl group TWICE. It’s about the power of friendship getting you through the hardest times and it reminds me so much of the chosen family over created within the queer community in professional wrestling and in my personal life. It’s a serious bop and that’s on period.
Crystal Edge. Photo courtesy of subject.
Crystal Edge (any + all), Drag Queen
What Pride means to you
Being unabashedly yourself. Society has come a long way but there are still people in this world who want to erase us from history. Look at the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida. We need to let these people know we aren’t going anywhere. More importantly, we need to do it for the young people. As a young, closeted kid, I remember how powerful it was to see an out and proud person on the street. I want to be that for someone else.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community
Support queer spaces. There are so many amazing queer spaces in the DMV that need your support all year in order to stay open. There are so many queer individuals who make their living in these spaces and when a queer bar closes, it can be really devastating. Also please consider donating to a queer charity. Homelessness is a huge problem in the trans community, especially for trans youth and there are a ton of organizations that work toward helping trans women. You can also donate clothes and makeup for trans individuals who need it.
Your identity-affirming song
”People Like Us” by Kelly Clarkson
Lisa Friday. Photo by Ethan Hill.
Lisa Stephen Friday (she/her), Frontwoman of Lisa Jackson & Girl Friday
What Pride means to you
I always associate Pride with community. When I see queer people gathering together, it informs me we are never alone. We should be proud of ourselves and of each other for surviving and thriving in a world that isn’t inclusive to us.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community
I think it is very simple. It’s about non-queer people creating a society that does not tolerate any kind of queer phobia. If non-queer people support religions, politicians or God forbid, Chick-fil-A, then they are upholding systems and beliefs that are harmful and oppressive to queer people. Stop doing that and you will be supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Your identity-affirming song
“Man Enough to be a Woman” by Jayne County
OnRaé Lateal Watkins. Photo courtesy of subject.
OnRaé Lateal Watkins (she/her), Programming and Community Engagement Lead at the Arts and Industries Building
What Pride means to you
The queer and queer-affirming community I immerse myself in every day. It is the joy I get when someone affirms my androgynous outfit of the day. Pride is the fluttering butterflies that visit my stomach when a mentee seeks my guidance on how to share their gender pronoun evolution with their parents. It is the excitement I feel when I receive a kiss from a beautiful queer and Black partner. It is the awkwardness I combat when I shop in the men’s section at my favorite clothing store. It is the smile that overwhelms my entire face when a young queer person stops to tell me they hope to be as fly as me one day. Pride is what I hope to always offer myself and others as I evolve as a super-talented Black and queer woman.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community
Encourage people to mind their business. If someone decides to use pronouns she/her on a Tuesday and they/them on a Saturday, that’s their business. If your cisgender friend decides to wear a pink frilly jacket with gaudy jewelry and bright lipstick to Sunday brunch, then rock hyper-masculine attire to work on Monday, that’s their business. If you decided to go on a date with a trans nonbinary person three months ago, then find interest in dating a cisgender woman tomorrow, that’s your business.
Your identity-affirming song
“Lost in London” by Asiahn. I love compositions that emote a trap soul vibe, especially songs about queer love and sensuality. This is the first time I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing a popular Black femme presenting singer-songwriter who identifies as a lesbian openly reflect on an intimate experience with the same sex so gently and so vividly. I hope to continue to hear artists expand their lyricism beyond the gender binary. This song helps me feel seen and represented in a world that often feels very restrictive toward queer culture and the LGBTQ+ community. As a Black queer artist and public programmer, I do my best to remain authentic in how I express my gender. Songs like “Lost in London” only help to affirm my evolving Black queer journey.
@onraelateal // onraelateal.com; @smithsonianaib // aib.si.edu
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