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 this year.
One is Reel Affirmations 17, D.C.’s GLBT film festival. The festival kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a screening of Naked Boys Singing at the Lincoln Theatre on U Street. Tickets for the opening night film are $20; $40 gets you admission to both the film and the opening night party at nearby Nellie’s Sports Bar. Other films in the 10-day event include Circle of Friends, a concert video by BLOWOFF host Bob Mould filmed at the 9:30 Club; For the Bible Tells Me So, a documentary on the impact of the Bible on the GLBT community; and a package of local short films including a profile on the MPD’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, which won the Harvard Innovations in American Government Award in 2006.
Tickets for individual films are $10 and available at various venues and shops. Festival passes are also available and range from $150 to $1,000. For the cheapskates among us, a few free screenings — mostly short film programs — are scheduled next week.
Perhaps movies aren’t your thing, but athletes are. If so, you’re in luck as the DC Strokes, one of only two GLBT rowing clubs in the world, introduce their 2008-2009 Men of Strokes calendar. The calendar launch starts tonight at the Longview Gallery at 7 p.m., then moves next door to Be Bar at 9. DC Strokes members who posed in the calendar will be on hand to autograph copies, and proceeds will benefit the team. Additional calendar events will take place throughout the weekend.
