If you're down on the National Mall this weekend and see, oh, 12,000 flags stuck in the ground, don't be alarmed. The Federal Government hasn't started an experimental flag farm, nor is the display an effort of the area's squirrels to show their patriotism. The flags have been planted to represent the 12,000 members of the United States military who have been discharged under the practice of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The policy, which governs......

Today is National Coming Out Day, a day when gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are encouraged to be open about who they are. The annual observance began on October 11, 1988, exactly one year after the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. (The first one was held October 14, 1979.) While there aren't usually major events to commemorate the day, there are a couple of local events that coincide with......

It's back to school time, and that means we're once again recruiting new writers to become part of our growing team of city bloggers. As you know, we aren't able to pay our contributors -- so please don't apply unless you're ready to do it for the love of exploring D.C., engaging in important debates about the direction of the city, or are just the kind of person who's happy enough to see your name......

In their coverage of the Capital Pride Festival, which kicked off yesterday and will culminate in a parade and street festival this weekend, the Post gives an account of a town hall meeting on GLBT issues last night at Studio Theatre where Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said he plans to introduce a bill legalizing gay marriage in the District within the next two years. Graham appeared on the panel with several other openly......

If you didn’t muster the courage to apply for the D.C. Comedy Fest back in January, then at the very least, watch the people who did. Starting tonight, the fest will feature three night’s worth of shows, including an ode to what Bush did right, finalists in a short comedy film fest and auditions for Leno and Lettermen where big-deal bookers like Bob Read of Last Comic Standing will hover in the audience, sniffing out......

Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher In anticipation of the September 12 District primaries, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) of D.C. released its ratings for mayoral candidates last week. The ratings, which score candidates from +10 to -10 based on their support for the GLBT community and its issues, ranked D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp the top candidate with a +9.5 rating, while Councilmember Vincent Orange found himself at the bottom of the......

Pictured above is a flyer spotted and collected near Logan Circle by Charles over at A Single Syllable. And, to be honest, we're not quite sure what to make of it. On the one hand, we're inclined to applaud Cropp for reaching out to the city's GLBT community, particularly in a race where other candidates have stooped to playing to the reactionary prejudices of the city's social conservatives. On the other hand, the flyer......

The 30th Anniversary Capital Pride is this weekend with a parade kicking off at 6 p.m. tonight at Dupont Circle and a street festival tomorrow. Coinciding with the large celebration this weekend was the 12th annual D.C. Dyke March, which was this afternoon at 1 p.m. This week's Metroweekly magazine has lots more information about Capital Pride, including a profile of "D.C.'s own West Hollywood Porn Star" Tag Adams, who is participating in the parade......

We start this week's Arts Agenda with some news from the Hirshhorn. Tyler Green of Modern Art Notes tells us that the Hirshhorn has a new director, noting that: The Hirshhorn held no press conference introducing their new director. The Corcoran, however, just held a presser to announce that they don't have a director! Anyhow, back to the latest listings ... Kick off summer by visiting some of the new exhibits around D.C. this week.......

Having had the opportunity to work with Wanda Alston several years ago, this DCist was among those who turned out for Saturday's memorial at Luther Place Memorial Church, both to honor her life and mourn her violent and untimely death. Friends and members of the D.C.'s GLBT community were still entering the church when the service began with a drumming invocation, and eventually filled it so that only standing room was still available. It was......

City officials are reeling after a member of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' cabinet was found dead in her home. Wanda Alston had served as advisor to the mayor as director of the D.C. Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. She is pictured to the right in a photo from the Washington Blade printed in a story from last July about the selection of a new head for the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration. The AP......

Film enthusiasts depressed over the end of the APA film festival last week can take heart, as one busy week remains in another festival. Washington D.C.'s Fourteenth International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Reel Affirmations 14 ends this Saturday, and dozens of of screenings of GLBT films are scheduled this week at the Jewish Community Center Theater and the Lincoln Theater. DCist thinks Brother to Brother, a film scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday sounds particularly......