just off Georgia Avenue, were Cecelia’s, a Cecelia’s, were Avenue, Georgia off just

early 1980s. early

New York City). Near the Howard Theatre, Howard the Near City). York New

moter Marc King managed The Mill in the in Mill The managed King Marc moter

later founded the drag House of Pend’avis in Pend’avis of House drag the founded later

The DC Coalition convened the first communi- first the convened Coalition DC The

address at 1104 8th St SE. Local drag pro- drag Local SE. St 8th 1104 at address

Avis Pend’avis (a graduate of Dunbar HS who HS Dunbar of graduate (a Pend’avis Avis music and literature. literature. and music

ues. In 1984, the club moved to its current its to moved club the 1984, In ues.

hosted by female impersonators Peaches and Peaches impersonators female by hosted ated new styles, media, and themes in GLBT in themes and media, styles, new ated

African-American dance clubs and drag ven- drag and clubs dance African-American

Tivoli on upper 14th St NW, featured shows featured NW, St 14th upper on Tivoli Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others cre- others and Jones Wayson Ferebee, Gideon

years, the club has been one of the main the of one been has club the years,

upper Northwest. Bob-Inn, across from the from across Bob-Inn, Northwest. upper Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Garth Parkerson, Michelle Hemphill,

called The Bachelor’s Mill. For more than 25 than more For Mill. Bachelor’s The called A number of gay-friendly clubs emerged in emerged clubs gay-friendly of number A Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex space, dc at later and Coffeehouse,

Club Madame, became a male-oriented club male-oriented a became Madame, Club black gay clubs, opened to the public in 1957. in public the to opened clubs, gay black Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the At Nighters. Saturday Johnson’s Douglas

In December 1978, BB Gatch’s women’s club, women’s Gatch’s BB 1978, December In one of the nation’s oldest and most enduring most and oldest nation’s the of one aissance in the city, sixty years after Georgia after years sixty city, the in aissance

, 500 & 1104 8th St SE — SE St 8th 1104 & 500 , Mill Bachelor’s ] [1] the city’s oldest longest running gay club and club gay running longest oldest city’s the generated a second African-American gay ren- gay African-American second a generated

ized Nob Hill. Originally a straight restaurant, straight a Originally Hill. Nob ized and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that musicians and writers, poets, lesbian and

Clubhouse. A private group of men organ- men of group private A Clubhouse. association of Black Prides. Black of association Coffeehouse was a crucial performance for gay for performance crucial a was Coffeehouse

metamorphosed into the nationally known nationally the into metamorphosed brations in other cities and led to a national a to led and cities other in brations ENIKAlley Coffeehouse at 816 I St NE. The NE. St I 816 at Coffeehouse ENIKAlley

Capitolites (MCs) club at 221 Riggs Rd NE Rd Riggs 221 at club (MCs) Capitolites Black Gay Pride soon spawned similar cele- similar spawned soon Pride Gay Black (established in 1978) helped create the create helped 1978) in (established

Caverns on U St NW. The Metropolitan The NW. St U on Caverns to raise funds for people with AIDS. DC’s AIDS. with people for funds raise to cal organization, the DC Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition DC the organization, cal

Gardens and the Crystal (later ‘Bohemian’) (later Crystal the and Gardens celebration, also on Memorial Day weekend, Day Memorial on also celebration, DC’s first enduring African-American gay politi- gay African-American enduring first DC’s

to the 1920s and 1930s, are the Republic the are 1930s, and 1920s the to lowed a year later by creation of a Black Pride Black a of creation by later year a lowed gendered from around the country. the around from gendered

Two of the best known early clubs, dating clubs, early known best the of Two of the Children’s Hour celebrations) was fol- was celebrations) Hour Children’s the of American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans- and bisexuals lesbians, gays, American

1980s. The demise of the Clubhouse in 1990 (and 1990 in Clubhouse the of demise The end in DC. The annual event drew African- drew event annual The DC. in end

and for reacting to the AIDS crisis of the of crisis AIDS the to reacting for and holistic approach to HIV, was founded. founded. was HIV, to approach holistic Memorial Day weekend as black gay party week- party gay black as weekend Day Memorial

later social and political organization in DC, in organization political and social later an important an Children’s Hour celebration helped establish helped celebration Hour Children’s

decades. Social clubs provided a basis for basis a provided clubs Social decades. Us Helping Us, Helping Us ing on the weekend. The ClubHouse’s The weekend. the on ing

bians, and mixed groups over the next two next the over groups mixed and bians, base on which on base location for danc- for location the as reigned ClubHouse the

spawned dozens of social clubs for gays, les- gays, for clubs social of dozens spawned became the became Upshur Street NW. From 1975 to 1990 years, 1990 to 1975 From NW. Street Upshur

Club, and the Metropolitan Capitolites, Metropolitan the and Club, AIDS in 1983. It 1983. in AIDS

Group, the Pinochle the Group, munity forum on forum munity

local social clubs, The clubs, social local American com- American

ized level. The first The level. ized first African- first

party to a more organ- more a to party sponsored the sponsored

that took the house the took that the Clubhouse the

the 1960s, social clubs social 1960s, the in the Eighties, the in

spots around town. In town. around spots Washington, DC Washington, the ClubHouse, the MCs’ third club, at 1296 at club, third MCs’ the ClubHouse, the

Ballroom and other and Ballroom ground in ground But for many years, the top club in town was town in club top the years, many for But

held events at the Palm the at events held epidemic gained epidemic dance and show spot after 1978. after spot show and dance

Group (1968) which (1968) Group As the AIDS the As Capitol Hill, the Bachelor’s Mill became a major a became Mill Bachelor’s the Hill, Capitol

social clubs like The like clubs social themselves within the larger GLBT community. community. GLBT larger the within themselves Brass Rail clubs in the Franklin Square area. On area. Square Franklin the in clubs Rail Brass

Those who couldn’t party at home started home at party couldn’t who Those riences, tactics, and goals for representing for goals and tactics, riences, have spurred the popularity of LaZambra and the and LaZambra of popularity the spurred have

Weld Grimke, Alain Locke and others. and Locke Alain Grimke, Weld for gays and lesbians of color to discuss expe- discuss to color of lesbians and gays for The loss of uptown clubs in 1968 seems to seems 1968 in clubs uptown of loss The

Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, Angelina Nugent, Bruce Richard Hughes, conference was an important first opportunity first important an was conference venue for black gay men. men. gay black for venue

at 1461 S St. NW drew Langston drew NW St. S 1461 at Nighters site of Howard University bookstore). The bookstore). University Howard of site opened in the Brookland section of NE as a as NE of section Brookland the in opened

Saturday decade. the in later aissance 1979 at the Harambee House Hotel (now the (now Hotel House Harambee the at 1979 Dupont’s first real gay club, the Delta Elite Delta the club, gay real first Dupont’s

lesbian, or bisexual, who fueled Harlem’s ren- Harlem’s fueled who bisexual, or lesbian, staged the Third World Conference in October in Conference World Third the staged time that George Dotson opened Mr. P’s, Mr. opened Dotson George that time

circle of writers and artists, many of them gay, them of many artists, and writers of circle and the National Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition National the and African American GLBT community. At the same the At community. GLBT American African

for a for Nighters Saturday for home Street S her candidates for local offices. The DC Coalition DC The offices. local for candidates opening of clubs and social spaces for the for spaces social and clubs of opening

inspired Georgia Douglas Johnson to open to Johnson Douglas Georgia inspired pressed for an end to carding, and screened and carding, to end an for pressed The Seventies saw an acceleration in the in acceleration an saw Seventies The

Even earlier, in the mid-20s, Jean Toomer Jean mid-20s, the in earlier, Even yfrmo aimi h LTcommunity, GLBT the in racism on forum ty Howard University’s gay male students. students. male gay University’s Howard

and the Cozy Corner, a favorite hangout of hangout favorite a Corner, Cozy the and great place to see and meet theater performers, theater meet and see to place great

used by Us Helping Us to reach out to the commu- nity. African-American gay bars in the country. It A [26] Zodiac/Third World/Sugar Kane Palace, 221 reportedly operated as a private club from Riggs Rd NE — (demolished 2003) Started by the 1953 until 1957, when it opened to the public. Metropolitan Capitolites African-American social F The owners have included James E. Jones, group, the Zodiac Den became one of the few Leonard Kelly, Wayne Hill, Riley Campbell, remaining club options following the loss of many and Robert Jones. The club was known for clubs in the fires of April 1968. The original owners R its African-American drag shows, the ‘stump were Aundrea Scott, John Reddy, and Morrell bunch’ of veteran customers, and Sunday Chasten. What started as a house party at 4011 night gospel. The club has been a major sup- 14th St NW, moved to the basement at 221 Riggs I porter of the annual Black Gay Pride celebra- Road under Ben’s Hideaway (a straight biker bar) tions. Aundrea Scott recalled, “We needed more space so Washington’s social scene still s we found this little, honky-tonk, country and western Cs shows the effects of decades of r [23] The Palm Ballroom, 4211 Georgia Ave club at Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave. We r segregation (official and commer- NW — In the 1960s and 1970s, the Palm moved into the basement apartment and operated cially-inspired). In many ways, Ballroom was an important site for events off the owner’s liquor license.” When the MCs A Washington, DC is still separate in sponsored by African-American social clubs, took over the whole building a year later, they its racial and ethnic social circles. among them The Group and the Best of renamed it The Third World. Segregation, both legal and Washington. It was also one of the few ven- N informal, made Washington, DC a ues in the 1960s that would rent space for city of house parties and social drag pageants and shows. clubs, especially for African- Americans. These traditional [24] Republic Gardens & Cafeteria, 1355 U social outlets have in turn St NW — The club was at 1350 U St from spawned community organiza- 1929 to 1932. It was gay-friendly and interra- A tions, political groupings, and com- cial in the 20s and 30s. “The Republic mercial clubs. Even after official Gardens was a large restaurant-bar with a segregation had ended, informal completely gay backroom, which you reached collects, preserves and promotes M the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered segregation was enforced by pri- by walking up some steps... If a policeman history of metropolitan Washington, DC. vate clubs’ carding policies: walked in the door, the vocalist would let us demanding multiple picture IDs know by Singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ from the E SPONSORS: from the African-Americans, Gay DC Tou DC Gay Broadway musical Irene.”—Ladd Forrester. Best of Washington, DC Coalition, Tou DC Gay women, Latinos, and drag queens Darren Buckner, Darrin Glymph, R they didn’t want to admit. [25] Us Helping Us, 819 L St Faith Temple, Donald Burch, Washington has long been SE — Incorporated in 1988 Lilli Vincenz & Nancy Davis, known for its house parties. In the as a response to growing A Billy S Jones & Chris Henning days when races socialized sepa- numbers of HIV + and AIDS I SUPPORT Rainbow History — donate: rately and public same-sex danc- cases among African- ing wasn’t allowed, house parties Americans, Us Helping Us 1225 I St NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 C answere the community’s need to focused on holistic treatments socialize. Stories still circulate of and education in the commu- 202.907.9007 weekend-long and week-long par- [email protected] nity. Owners and managers ties. House parties at 4011 14th www.rainbowhistory.org A of the Clubhouse noticed in St. outgrew the Metropolitan 1985 that many members All photographs © Patsy Lynch Capitolites’ space, so they opened were dying or disappearing Design by Gina M. Farthing Text & layout by Mark Meinke N the Zodiac at 221 Riggs Rd. NE. from events as they became ill and decided a © Rainbow History Project 2004 community response was necessary. This address at 819 L St SE was the first location

just off Georgia Avenue, were Cecelia’s, a Cecelia’s, were Avenue, Georgia off just

early 1980s. early

New York City). Near the Howard Theatre, Howard the Near City). York New

moter Marc King managed The Mill in the in Mill The managed King Marc moter

later founded the drag House of Pend’avis in Pend’avis of House drag the founded later

The DC Coalition convened the first communi- first the convened Coalition DC The

address at 1104 8th St SE. Local drag pro- drag Local SE. St 8th 1104 at address

Avis Pend’avis (a graduate of Dunbar HS who HS Dunbar of graduate (a Pend’avis Avis music and literature. literature. and music

ues. In 1984, the club moved to its current its to moved club the 1984, In ues.

hosted by female impersonators Peaches and Peaches impersonators female by hosted ated new styles, media, and themes in GLBT in themes and media, styles, new ated

African-American dance clubs and drag ven- drag and clubs dance African-American

Tivoli on upper 14th St NW, featured shows featured NW, St 14th upper on Tivoli Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others cre- others and Jones Wayson Ferebee, Gideon

years, the club has been one of the main the of one been has club the years,

upper Northwest. Bob-Inn, across from the from across Bob-Inn, Northwest. upper Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Garth Parkerson, Michelle Hemphill,

called The Bachelor’s Mill. For more than 25 than more For Mill. Bachelor’s The called A number of gay-friendly clubs emerged in emerged clubs gay-friendly of number A Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex space, dc at later and Coffeehouse,

Club Madame, became a male-oriented club male-oriented a became Madame, Club black gay clubs, opened to the public in 1957. in public the to opened clubs, gay black Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the At Nighters. Saturday Johnson’s Douglas

In December 1978, BB Gatch’s women’s club, women’s Gatch’s BB 1978, December In one of the nation’s oldest and most enduring most and oldest nation’s the of one aissance in the city, sixty years after Georgia after years sixty city, the in aissance

, 500 & 1104 8th St SE — SE St 8th 1104 & 500 , Mill Bachelor’s ] [1] the city’s oldest longest running gay club and club gay running longest oldest city’s the generated a second African-American gay ren- gay African-American second a generated

ized Nob Hill. Originally a straight restaurant, straight a Originally Hill. Nob ized and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that musicians and writers, poets, lesbian and

Clubhouse. A private group of men organ- men of group private A Clubhouse. association of Black Prides. Black of association Coffeehouse was a crucial performance for gay for performance crucial a was Coffeehouse

metamorphosed into the nationally known nationally the into metamorphosed brations in other cities and led to a national a to led and cities other in brations ENIKAlley Coffeehouse at 816 I St NE. The NE. St I 816 at Coffeehouse ENIKAlley

Capitolites (MCs) club at 221 Riggs Rd NE Rd Riggs 221 at club (MCs) Capitolites Black Gay Pride soon spawned similar cele- similar spawned soon Pride Gay Black (established in 1978) helped create the create helped 1978) in (established

Caverns on U St NW. The Metropolitan The NW. St U on Caverns to raise funds for people with AIDS. DC’s AIDS. with people for funds raise to cal organization, the DC Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition DC the organization, cal

Gardens and the Crystal (later ‘Bohemian’) (later Crystal the and Gardens celebration, also on Memorial Day weekend, Day Memorial on also celebration, DC’s first enduring African-American gay politi- gay African-American enduring first DC’s

to the 1920s and 1930s, are the Republic the are 1930s, and 1920s the to lowed a year later by creation of a Black Pride Black a of creation by later year a lowed gendered from around the country. the around from gendered

Two of the best known early clubs, dating clubs, early known best the of Two of the Children’s Hour celebrations) was fol- was celebrations) Hour Children’s the of American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans- and bisexuals lesbians, gays, American

1980s. The demise of the Clubhouse in 1990 (and 1990 in Clubhouse the of demise The end in DC. The annual event drew African- drew event annual The DC. in end

and for reacting to the AIDS crisis of the of crisis AIDS the to reacting for and holistic approach to HIV, was founded. founded. was HIV, to approach holistic Memorial Day weekend as black gay party week- party gay black as weekend Day Memorial

later social and political organization in DC, in organization political and social later an important an Children’s Hour celebration helped establish helped celebration Hour Children’s

decades. Social clubs provided a basis for basis a provided clubs Social decades. Us Helping Us, Helping Us ing on the weekend. The ClubHouse’s The weekend. the on ing

bians, and mixed groups over the next two next the over groups mixed and bians, base on which on base location for danc- for location the as reigned ClubHouse the

spawned dozens of social clubs for gays, les- gays, for clubs social of dozens spawned became the became Upshur Street NW. From 1975 to 1990 years, 1990 to 1975 From NW. Street Upshur

Club, and the Metropolitan Capitolites, Metropolitan the and Club, AIDS in 1983. It 1983. in AIDS

Group, the Pinochle the Group, munity forum on forum munity

local social clubs, The clubs, social local American com- American

ized level. The first The level. ized first African- first

party to a more organ- more a to party sponsored the sponsored

that took the house the took that the Clubhouse the

the 1960s, social clubs social 1960s, the in the Eighties, the in

spots around town. In town. around spots Washington, DC Washington, the ClubHouse, the MCs’ third club, at 1296 at club, third MCs’ the ClubHouse, the

Ballroom and other and Ballroom ground in ground But for many years, the top club in town was town in club top the years, many for But

held events at the Palm the at events held epidemic gained epidemic dance and show spot after 1978. after spot show and dance

Group (1968) which (1968) Group As the AIDS the As Capitol Hill, the Bachelor’s Mill became a major a became Mill Bachelor’s the Hill, Capitol

social clubs like The like clubs social themselves within the larger GLBT community. community. GLBT larger the within themselves Brass Rail clubs in the Franklin Square area. On area. Square Franklin the in clubs Rail Brass

Those who couldn’t party at home started home at party couldn’t who Those riences, tactics, and goals for representing for goals and tactics, riences, have spurred the popularity of LaZambra and the and LaZambra of popularity the spurred have

Weld Grimke, Alain Locke and others. and Locke Alain Grimke, Weld for gays and lesbians of color to discuss expe- discuss to color of lesbians and gays for The loss of uptown clubs in 1968 seems to seems 1968 in clubs uptown of loss The

Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, Angelina Nugent, Bruce Richard Hughes, conference was an important first opportunity first important an was conference venue for black gay men. men. gay black for venue

at 1461 S St. NW drew Langston drew NW St. S 1461 at Nighters site of Howard University bookstore). The bookstore). University Howard of site opened in the Brookland section of NE as a as NE of section Brookland the in opened

aissance later in the decade. decade. the in later aissance Saturday 1979 at the Harambee House Hotel (now the (now Hotel House Harambee the at 1979 Dupont’s first real gay club, the Delta Elite Delta the club, gay real first Dupont’s

lesbian, or bisexual, who fueled Harlem’s ren- Harlem’s fueled who bisexual, or lesbian, staged the Third World Conference in October in Conference World Third the staged time that George Dotson opened Mr. P’s, Mr. opened Dotson George that time

circle of writers and artists, many of them gay, them of many artists, and writers of circle and the National Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition National the and African American GLBT community. At the same the At community. GLBT American African

her S Street home for for home Street S her Saturday Nighters Saturday for a for candidates for local offices. The DC Coalition DC The offices. local for candidates opening of clubs and social spaces for the for spaces social and clubs of opening

inspired Georgia Douglas Johnson to open to Johnson Douglas Georgia inspired pressed for an end to carding, and screened and carding, to end an for pressed The Seventies saw an acceleration in the in acceleration an saw Seventies The

Even earlier, in the mid-20s, Jean Toomer Jean mid-20s, the in earlier, Even yfrmo aimi h LTcommunity, GLBT the in racism on forum ty Howard University’s gay male students. students. male gay University’s Howard

and the Cozy Corner, a favorite hangout of hangout favorite a Corner, Cozy the and great place to see and meet theater performers, theater meet and see to place great

used by Us Helping Us to reach out to the commu- nity. African-American gay bars in the country. It A [26] Zodiac/Third World/Sugar Kane Palace, 221 reportedly operated as a private club from Riggs Rd NE — (demolished 2003) Started by the 1953 until 1957, when it opened to the public. Metropolitan Capitolites African-American social F The owners have included James E. Jones, group, the Zodiac Den became one of the few Leonard Kelly, Wayne Hill, Riley Campbell, remaining club options following the loss of many and Robert Jones. The club was known for clubs in the fires of April 1968. The original owners R its African-American drag shows, the ‘stump were Aundrea Scott, John Reddy, and Morrell bunch’ of veteran customers, and Sunday Chasten. What started as a house party at 4011 night gospel. The club has been a major sup- 14th St NW, moved to the basement at 221 Riggs I porter of the annual Black Gay Pride celebra- Road under Ben’s Hideaway (a straight biker bar) tions. Aundrea Scott recalled, “We needed more space so Washington’s social scene still s we found this little, honky-tonk, country and western Cs shows the effects of decades of r [23] The Palm Ballroom, 4211 Georgia Ave club at Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave. We r segregation (official and commer- NW — In the 1960s and 1970s, the Palm moved into the basement apartment and operated cially-inspired). In many ways, Ballroom was an important site for events off the owner’s liquor license.” When the MCs A Washington, DC is still separate in sponsored by African-American social clubs, took over the whole building a year later, they its racial and ethnic social circles. among them The Group and the Best of renamed it The Third World. Segregation, both legal and Washington. It was also one of the few ven- N informal, made Washington, DC a ues in the 1960s that would rent space for city of house parties and social drag pageants and shows. clubs, especially for African- Americans. These traditional [24] Republic Gardens & Cafeteria, 1355 U social outlets have in turn St NW — The club was at 1350 U St from spawned community organiza- 1929 to 1932. It was gay-friendly and interra- A tions, political groupings, and com- cial in the 20s and 30s. “The Republic mercial clubs. Even after official Gardens was a large restaurant-bar with a segregation had ended, informal completely gay backroom, which you reached collects, preserves and promotes M the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered segregation was enforced by pri- by walking up some steps... If a policeman history of metropolitan Washington, DC. vate clubs’ carding policies: walked in the door, the vocalist would let us demanding multiple picture IDs know by Singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ from the E SPONSORS: from the African-Americans, Gay DC Tou DC Gay Broadway musical Irene.”—Ladd Forrester. Best of Washington, DC Coalition, Tou DC Gay women, Latinos, and drag queens Darren Buckner, Darrin Glymph, R they didn’t want to admit. [25] Us Helping Us, 819 L St Faith Temple, Donald Burch, Washington has long been SE — Incorporated in 1988 Lilli Vincenz & Nancy Davis, known for its house parties. In the as a response to growing A Billy S Jones & Chris Henning days when races socialized sepa- numbers of HIV + and AIDS I SUPPORT Rainbow History — donate: rately and public same-sex danc- cases among African- ing wasn’t allowed, house parties Americans, Us Helping Us 1225 I St NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 C answere the community’s need to focused on holistic treatments socialize. Stories still circulate of and education in the commu- 202.907.9007 weekend-long and week-long par- [email protected] nity. Owners and managers ties. House parties at 4011 14th www.rainbowhistory.org A of the Clubhouse noticed in St. outgrew the Metropolitan 1985 that many members All photographs © Patsy Lynch Capitolites’ space, so they opened were dying or disappearing Design by Gina M. Farthing Text & layout by Mark Meinke N the Zodiac at 221 Riggs Rd. NE. from events as they became ill and decided a © Rainbow History Project 2004 community response was necessary. This address at 819 L St SE was the first location

just off Georgia Avenue, were Cecelia’s, a Cecelia’s, were Avenue, Georgia off just

early 1980s. early

New York City). Near the Howard Theatre, Howard the Near City). York New

moter Marc King managed The Mill in the in Mill The managed King Marc moter

later founded the drag House of Pend’avis in Pend’avis of House drag the founded later

The DC Coalition convened the first communi- first the convened Coalition DC The

address at 1104 8th St SE. Local drag pro- drag Local SE. St 8th 1104 at address

Avis Pend’avis (a graduate of Dunbar HS who HS Dunbar of graduate (a Pend’avis Avis music and literature. literature. and music

ues. In 1984, the club moved to its current its to moved club the 1984, In ues.

hosted by female impersonators Peaches and Peaches impersonators female by hosted ated new styles, media, and themes in GLBT in themes and media, styles, new ated

African-American dance clubs and drag ven- drag and clubs dance African-American

Tivoli on upper 14th St NW, featured shows featured NW, St 14th upper on Tivoli Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others cre- others and Jones Wayson Ferebee, Gideon

years, the club has been one of the main the of one been has club the years,

upper Northwest. Bob-Inn, across from the from across Bob-Inn, Northwest. upper Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Garth Parkerson, Michelle Hemphill,

called The Bachelor’s Mill. For more than 25 than more For Mill. Bachelor’s The called A number of gay-friendly clubs emerged in emerged clubs gay-friendly of number A Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex space, dc at later and Coffeehouse,

Club Madame, became a male-oriented club male-oriented a became Madame, Club black gay clubs, opened to the public in 1957. in public the to opened clubs, gay black Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the At Nighters. Saturday Johnson’s Douglas

In December 1978, BB Gatch’s women’s club, women’s Gatch’s BB 1978, December In one of the nation’s oldest and most enduring most and oldest nation’s the of one aissance in the city, sixty years after Georgia after years sixty city, the in aissance

, 500 & 1104 8th St SE — SE St 8th 1104 & 500 , Mill Bachelor’s ] [1] the city’s oldest longest running gay club and club gay running longest oldest city’s the generated a second African-American gay ren- gay African-American second a generated

ized Nob Hill. Originally a straight restaurant, straight a Originally Hill. Nob ized and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that musicians and writers, poets, lesbian and

Clubhouse. A private group of men organ- men of group private A Clubhouse. association of Black Prides. Black of association Coffeehouse was a crucial performance for gay for performance crucial a was Coffeehouse

metamorphosed into the nationally known nationally the into metamorphosed brations in other cities and led to a national a to led and cities other in brations ENIKAlley Coffeehouse at 816 I St NE. The NE. St I 816 at Coffeehouse ENIKAlley

Capitolites (MCs) club at 221 Riggs Rd NE Rd Riggs 221 at club (MCs) Capitolites Black Gay Pride soon spawned similar cele- similar spawned soon Pride Gay Black (established in 1978) helped create the create helped 1978) in (established

Caverns on U St NW. The Metropolitan The NW. St U on Caverns to raise funds for people with AIDS. DC’s AIDS. with people for funds raise to cal organization, the DC Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition DC the organization, cal

Gardens and the Crystal (later ‘Bohemian’) (later Crystal the and Gardens celebration, also on Memorial Day weekend, Day Memorial on also celebration, DC’s first enduring African-American gay politi- gay African-American enduring first DC’s

to the 1920s and 1930s, are the Republic the are 1930s, and 1920s the to lowed a year later by creation of a Black Pride Black a of creation by later year a lowed gendered from around the country. the around from gendered

Two of the best known early clubs, dating clubs, early known best the of Two of the Children’s Hour celebrations) was fol- was celebrations) Hour Children’s the of American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans- and bisexuals lesbians, gays, American

1980s. The demise of the Clubhouse in 1990 (and 1990 in Clubhouse the of demise The end in DC. The annual event drew African- drew event annual The DC. in end

and for reacting to the AIDS crisis of the of crisis AIDS the to reacting for and holistic approach to HIV, was founded. founded. was HIV, to approach holistic Memorial Day weekend as black gay party week- party gay black as weekend Day Memorial

later social and political organization in DC, in organization political and social later an important an Children’s Hour celebration helped establish helped celebration Hour Children’s

decades. Social clubs provided a basis for basis a provided clubs Social decades. Us Helping Us, Helping Us ing on the weekend. The ClubHouse’s The weekend. the on ing

bians, and mixed groups over the next two next the over groups mixed and bians, base on which on base location for danc- for location the as reigned ClubHouse the

spawned dozens of social clubs for gays, les- gays, for clubs social of dozens spawned became the became Upshur Street NW. From 1975 to 1990 years, 1990 to 1975 From NW. Street Upshur

Club, and the Metropolitan Capitolites, Metropolitan the and Club, AIDS in 1983. It 1983. in AIDS

Group, the Pinochle the Group, munity forum on forum munity

local social clubs, The clubs, social local American com- American

ized level. The first The level. ized first African- first

party to a more organ- more a to party sponsored the sponsored

that took the house the took that the Clubhouse the

the 1960s, social clubs social 1960s, the in the Eighties, the in

spots around town. In town. around spots Washington, DC Washington, the ClubHouse, the MCs’ third club, at 1296 at club, third MCs’ the ClubHouse, the

Ballroom and other and Ballroom ground in ground But for many years, the top club in town was town in club top the years, many for But

held events at the Palm the at events held epidemic gained epidemic dance and show spot after 1978. after spot show and dance

Group (1968) which (1968) Group As the AIDS the As Capitol Hill, the Bachelor’s Mill became a major a became Mill Bachelor’s the Hill, Capitol

social clubs like The like clubs social themselves within the larger GLBT community. community. GLBT larger the within themselves Brass Rail clubs in the Franklin Square area. On area. Square Franklin the in clubs Rail Brass

Those who couldn’t party at home started home at party couldn’t who Those riences, tactics, and goals for representing for goals and tactics, riences, have spurred the popularity of LaZambra and the and LaZambra of popularity the spurred have

Weld Grimke, Alain Locke and others. and Locke Alain Grimke, Weld for gays and lesbians of color to discuss expe- discuss to color of lesbians and gays for The loss of uptown clubs in 1968 seems to seems 1968 in clubs uptown of loss The

Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, Angelina Nugent, Bruce Richard Hughes, conference was an important first opportunity first important an was conference venue for black gay men. men. gay black for venue

at 1461 S St. NW drew Langston drew NW St. S 1461 at Nighters site of Howard University bookstore). The bookstore). University Howard of site opened in the Brookland section of NE as a as NE of section Brookland the in opened

aissance later in the decade. decade. the in later aissance Saturday 1979 at the Harambee House Hotel (now the (now Hotel House Harambee the at 1979 Dupont’s first real gay club, the Delta Elite Delta the club, gay real first Dupont’s

lesbian, or bisexual, who fueled Harlem’s ren- Harlem’s fueled who bisexual, or lesbian, staged the Third World Conference in October in Conference World Third the staged time that George Dotson opened Mr. P’s, Mr. opened Dotson George that time

circle of writers and artists, many of them gay, them of many artists, and writers of circle and the National Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition National the and African American GLBT community. At the same the At community. GLBT American African

her S Street home for for home Street S her Saturday Nighters Saturday for a for candidates for local offices. The DC Coalition DC The offices. local for candidates opening of clubs and social spaces for the for spaces social and clubs of opening

inspired Georgia Douglas Johnson to open to Johnson Douglas Georgia inspired pressed for an end to carding, and screened and carding, to end an for pressed The Seventies saw an acceleration in the in acceleration an saw Seventies The

Even earlier, in the mid-20s, Jean Toomer Jean mid-20s, the in earlier, Even yfrmo aimi h LTcommunity, GLBT the in racism on forum ty Howard University’s gay male students. students. male gay University’s Howard

and the Cozy Corner, a favorite hangout of hangout favorite a Corner, Cozy the and great place to see and meet theater performers, theater meet and see to place great

used by Us Helping Us to reach out to the commu- nity. African-American gay bars in the country. It A [26] Zodiac/Third World/Sugar Kane Palace, 221 reportedly operated as a private club from Riggs Rd NE — (demolished 2003) Started by the 1953 until 1957, when it opened to the public. Metropolitan Capitolites African-American social F The owners have included James E. Jones, group, the Zodiac Den became one of the few Leonard Kelly, Wayne Hill, Riley Campbell, remaining club options following the loss of many and Robert Jones. The club was known for clubs in the fires of April 1968. The original owners R its African-American drag shows, the ‘stump were Aundrea Scott, John Reddy, and Morrell bunch’ of veteran customers, and Sunday Chasten. What started as a house party at 4011 night gospel. The club has been a major sup- 14th St NW, moved to the basement at 221 Riggs I porter of the annual Black Gay Pride celebra- Road under Ben’s Hideaway (a straight biker bar) tions. Aundrea Scott recalled, “We needed more space so Washington’s social scene still s we found this little, honky-tonk, country and western Cs shows the effects of decades of r [23] The Palm Ballroom, 4211 Georgia Ave club at Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave. We r segregation (official and commer- NW — In the 1960s and 1970s, the Palm moved into the basement apartment and operated cially-inspired). In many ways, Ballroom was an important site for events off the owner’s liquor license.” When the MCs A Washington, DC is still separate in sponsored by African-American social clubs, took over the whole building a year later, they its racial and ethnic social circles. among them The Group and the Best of renamed it The Third World. Segregation, both legal and Washington. It was also one of the few ven- N informal, made Washington, DC a ues in the 1960s that would rent space for city of house parties and social drag pageants and shows. clubs, especially for African- Americans. These traditional [24] Republic Gardens & Cafeteria, 1355 U social outlets have in turn St NW — The club was at 1350 U St from spawned community organiza- 1929 to 1932. It was gay-friendly and interra- A tions, political groupings, and com- cial in the 20s and 30s. “The Republic mercial clubs. Even after official Gardens was a large restaurant-bar with a segregation had ended, informal completely gay backroom, which you reached collects, preserves and promotes M the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered segregation was enforced by pri- by walking up some steps... If a policeman history of metropolitan Washington, DC. vate clubs’ carding policies: walked in the door, the vocalist would let us demanding multiple picture IDs know by Singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ from the E SPONSORS: from the African-Americans, Gay DC Tou Gay Broadway musical Irene.”—Ladd Forrester. Best of Washington, DC Coalition, DC Tou Gay women, Latinos, and drag queens Darren Buckner, Darrin Glymph, R they didn’t want to admit. [25] Us Helping Us, 819 L St Faith Temple, Donald Burch, Washington has long been SE — Incorporated in 1988 Lilli Vincenz & Nancy Davis, known for its house parties. In the as a response to growing A Billy S Jones & Chris Henning days when races socialized sepa- numbers of HIV + and AIDS I SUPPORT Rainbow History — donate: rately and public same-sex danc- cases among African- ing wasn’t allowed, house parties Americans, Us Helping Us 1225 I St NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 C answere the community’s need to focused on holistic treatments socialize. Stories still circulate of and education in the commu- 202.907.9007 weekend-long and week-long par- [email protected] nity. Owners and managers ties. House parties at 4011 14th www.rainbowhistory.org A of the Clubhouse noticed in St. outgrew the Metropolitan 1985 that many members All photographs © Patsy Lynch Capitolites’ space, so they opened were dying or disappearing Design by Gina M. Farthing Text & layout by Mark Meinke N the Zodiac at 221 Riggs Rd. NE. from events as they became ill and decided a © Rainbow History Project 2004 community response was necessary. This address at 819 L St SE was the first location

just off Georgia Avenue, were Cecelia’s, a Cecelia’s, were Avenue, Georgia off just

early 1980s. early

New York City). Near the Howard Theatre, Howard the Near City). York New

moter Marc King managed The Mill in the in Mill The managed King Marc moter

later founded the drag House of Pend’avis in Pend’avis of House drag the founded later

The DC Coalition convened the first communi- first the convened Coalition DC The

address at 1104 8th St SE. Local drag pro- drag Local SE. St 8th 1104 at address

Avis Pend’avis (a graduate of Dunbar HS who HS Dunbar of graduate (a Pend’avis Avis music and literature. literature. and music

ues. In 1984, the club moved to its current its to moved club the 1984, In ues.

hosted by female impersonators Peaches and Peaches impersonators female by hosted ated new styles, media, and themes in GLBT in themes and media, styles, new ated

African-American dance clubs and drag ven- drag and clubs dance African-American

Tivoli on upper 14th St NW, featured shows featured NW, St 14th upper on Tivoli Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others cre- others and Jones Wayson Ferebee, Gideon

years, the club has been one of the main the of one been has club the years,

upper Northwest. Bob-Inn, across from the from across Bob-Inn, Northwest. upper Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Garth Parkerson, Michelle Hemphill,

called The Bachelor’s Mill. For more than 25 than more For Mill. Bachelor’s The called A number of gay-friendly clubs emerged in emerged clubs gay-friendly of number A Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex space, dc at later and Coffeehouse,

Club Madame, became a male-oriented club male-oriented a became Madame, Club black gay clubs, opened to the public in 1957. in public the to opened clubs, gay black Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the At Nighters. Saturday Johnson’s Douglas

In December 1978, BB Gatch’s women’s club, women’s Gatch’s BB 1978, December In one of the nation’s oldest and most enduring most and oldest nation’s the of one aissance in the city, sixty years after Georgia after years sixty city, the in aissance

, 500 & 1104 8th St SE — SE St 8th 1104 & 500 , Mill Bachelor’s ] [1] the city’s oldest longest running gay club and club gay running longest oldest city’s the generated a second African-American gay ren- gay African-American second a generated

ized Nob Hill. Originally a straight restaurant, straight a Originally Hill. Nob ized and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that musicians and writers, poets, lesbian and

Clubhouse. A private group of men organ- men of group private A Clubhouse. association of Black Prides. Black of association Coffeehouse was a crucial performance for gay for performance crucial a was Coffeehouse

metamorphosed into the nationally known nationally the into metamorphosed brations in other cities and led to a national a to led and cities other in brations ENIKAlley Coffeehouse at 816 I St NE. The NE. St I 816 at Coffeehouse ENIKAlley

Capitolites (MCs) club at 221 Riggs Rd NE Rd Riggs 221 at club (MCs) Capitolites Black Gay Pride soon spawned similar cele- similar spawned soon Pride Gay Black (established in 1978) helped create the create helped 1978) in (established

Caverns on U St NW. The Metropolitan The NW. St U on Caverns to raise funds for people with AIDS. DC’s AIDS. with people for funds raise to cal organization, the DC Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition DC the organization, cal

Gardens and the Crystal (later ‘Bohemian’) (later Crystal the and Gardens celebration, also on Memorial Day weekend, Day Memorial on also celebration, DC’s first enduring African-American gay politi- gay African-American enduring first DC’s

to the 1920s and 1930s, are the Republic the are 1930s, and 1920s the to lowed a year later by creation of a Black Pride Black a of creation by later year a lowed gendered from around the country. the around from gendered

Two of the best known early clubs, dating clubs, early known best the of Two of the Children’s Hour celebrations) was fol- was celebrations) Hour Children’s the of American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans- and bisexuals lesbians, gays, American

1980s. The demise of the Clubhouse in 1990 (and 1990 in Clubhouse the of demise The end in DC. The annual event drew African- drew event annual The DC. in end

and for reacting to the AIDS crisis of the of crisis AIDS the to reacting for and holistic approach to HIV, was founded. founded. was HIV, to approach holistic Memorial Day weekend as black gay party week- party gay black as weekend Day Memorial

later social and political organization in DC, in organization political and social later an important an Children’s Hour celebration helped establish helped celebration Hour Children’s

decades. Social clubs provided a basis for basis a provided clubs Social decades. Us Helping Us, Helping Us ing on the weekend. The ClubHouse’s The weekend. the on ing

bians, and mixed groups over the next two next the over groups mixed and bians, base on which on base location for danc- for location the as reigned ClubHouse the

spawned dozens of social clubs for gays, les- gays, for clubs social of dozens spawned became the became Upshur Street NW. From 1975 to 1990 years, 1990 to 1975 From NW. Street Upshur

Club, and the Metropolitan Capitolites, Metropolitan the and Club, AIDS in 1983. It 1983. in AIDS

Group, the Pinochle the Group, munity forum on forum munity

local social clubs, The clubs, social local American com- American

ized level. The first The level. ized first African- first

party to a more organ- more a to party sponsored the sponsored

that took the house the took that the Clubhouse the

the 1960s, social clubs social 1960s, the in the Eighties, the in

spots around town. In town. around spots Washington, DC Washington, the ClubHouse, the MCs’ third club, at 1296 at club, third MCs’ the ClubHouse, the

Ballroom and other and Ballroom ground in ground But for many years, the top club in town was town in club top the years, many for But

held events at the Palm the at events held epidemic gained epidemic dance and show spot after 1978. after spot show and dance

Group (1968) which (1968) Group As the AIDS the As Capitol Hill, the Bachelor’s Mill became a major a became Mill Bachelor’s the Hill, Capitol

social clubs like The like clubs social themselves within the larger GLBT community. community. GLBT larger the within themselves Brass Rail clubs in the Franklin Square area. On area. Square Franklin the in clubs Rail Brass

Those who couldn’t party at home started home at party couldn’t who Those riences, tactics, and goals for representing for goals and tactics, riences, have spurred the popularity of LaZambra and the and LaZambra of popularity the spurred have

Weld Grimke, Alain Locke and others. and Locke Alain Grimke, Weld for gays and lesbians of color to discuss expe- discuss to color of lesbians and gays for The loss of uptown clubs in 1968 seems to seems 1968 in clubs uptown of loss The

Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, Angelina Nugent, Bruce Richard Hughes, conference was an important first opportunity first important an was conference venue for black gay men. men. gay black for venue

at 1461 S St. NW drew Langston drew NW St. S 1461 at Nighters site of Howard University bookstore). The bookstore). University Howard of site opened in the Brookland section of NE as a as NE of section Brookland the in opened

aissance later in the decade. decade. the in later aissance Saturday 1979 at the Harambee House Hotel (now the (now Hotel House Harambee the at 1979 Dupont’s first real gay club, the Delta Elite Delta the club, gay real first Dupont’s

lesbian, or bisexual, who fueled Harlem’s ren- Harlem’s fueled who bisexual, or lesbian, staged the Third World Conference in October in Conference World Third the staged time that George Dotson opened Mr. P’s, Mr. opened Dotson George that time

circle of writers and artists, many of them gay, them of many artists, and writers of circle and the National Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition National the and African American GLBT community. At the same the At community. GLBT American African

her S Street home for for home Street S her Saturday Nighters Saturday for a for candidates for local offices. The DC Coalition DC The offices. local for candidates opening of clubs and social spaces for the for spaces social and clubs of opening

inspired Georgia Douglas Johnson to open to Johnson Douglas Georgia inspired pressed for an end to carding, and screened and carding, to end an for pressed The Seventies saw an acceleration in the in acceleration an saw Seventies The

Even earlier, in the mid-20s, Jean Toomer Jean mid-20s, the in earlier, Even yfrmo aimi h LTcommunity, GLBT the in racism on forum ty Howard University’s gay male students. students. male gay University’s Howard

and the Cozy Corner, a favorite hangout of hangout favorite a Corner, Cozy the and great place to see and meet theater performers, theater meet and see to place great

used by Us Helping Us to reach out to the commu- nity. African-American gay bars in the country. It A [26] Zodiac/Third World/Sugar Kane Palace, 221 reportedly operated as a private club from Riggs Rd NE — (demolished 2003) Started by the 1953 until 1957, when it opened to the public. Metropolitan Capitolites African-American social F The owners have included James E. Jones, group, the Zodiac Den became one of the few Leonard Kelly, Wayne Hill, Riley Campbell, remaining club options following the loss of many and Robert Jones. The club was known for clubs in the fires of April 1968. The original owners R its African-American drag shows, the ‘stump were Aundrea Scott, John Reddy, and Morrell bunch’ of veteran customers, and Sunday Chasten. What started as a house party at 4011 night gospel. The club has been a major sup- 14th St NW, moved to the basement at 221 Riggs I porter of the annual Black Gay Pride celebra- Road under Ben’s Hideaway (a straight biker bar) tions. Aundrea Scott recalled, “We needed more space so Washington’s social scene still s we found this little, honky-tonk, country and western Cs shows the effects of decades of r [23] The Palm Ballroom, 4211 Georgia Ave club at Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave. We r segregation (official and commer- NW — In the 1960s and 1970s, the Palm moved into the basement apartment and operated cially-inspired). In many ways, Ballroom was an important site for events off the owner’s liquor license.” When the MCs A Washington, DC is still separate in sponsored by African-American social clubs, took over the whole building a year later, they its racial and ethnic social circles. among them The Group and the Best of renamed it The Third World. Segregation, both legal and Washington. It was also one of the few ven- N informal, made Washington, DC a ues in the 1960s that would rent space for city of house parties and social drag pageants and shows. clubs, especially for African- Americans. These traditional [24] Republic Gardens & Cafeteria, 1355 U social outlets have in turn St NW — The club was at 1350 U St from spawned community organiza- 1929 to 1932. It was gay-friendly and interra- A tions, political groupings, and com- cial in the 20s and 30s. “The Republic mercial clubs. Even after official Gardens was a large restaurant-bar with a segregation had ended, informal completely gay backroom, which you reached collects, preserves and promotes M the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered segregation was enforced by pri- by walking up some steps... If a policeman history of metropolitan Washington, DC. vate clubs’ carding policies: walked in the door, the vocalist would let us demanding multiple picture IDs know by Singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ from the E SPONSORS: from the African-Americans, Gay DC Tou Gay Broadway musical Irene.”—Ladd Forrester. Best of Washington, DC Coalition, DC Tou Gay women, Latinos, and drag queens Darren Buckner, Darrin Glymph, R they didn’t want to admit. [25] Us Helping Us, 819 L St Faith Temple, Donald Burch, Washington has long been SE — Incorporated in 1988 Lilli Vincenz & Nancy Davis, known for its house parties. In the as a response to growing A Billy S Jones & Chris Henning days when races socialized sepa- numbers of HIV + and AIDS I SUPPORT Rainbow History — donate: rately and public same-sex danc- cases among African- ing wasn’t allowed, house parties Americans, Us Helping Us 1225 I St NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 C answere the community’s need to focused on holistic treatments socialize. Stories still circulate of and education in the commu- 202.907.9007 weekend-long and week-long par- [email protected] nity. Owners and managers ties. House parties at 4011 14th www.rainbowhistory.org A of the Clubhouse noticed in St. outgrew the Metropolitan 1985 that many members All photographs © Patsy Lynch Capitolites’ space, so they opened were dying or disappearing Design by Gina M. Farthing Text & layout by Mark Meinke N the Zodiac at 221 Riggs Rd. NE. from events as they became ill and decided a © Rainbow History Project 2004 community response was necessary. This address at 819 L St SE was the first location Alain Locke, gay ‘godfather’ to the Harlem and Washington Black Renaissances, professor [2] Backdoor Pub, at Howard University, lived at 1326 R St NW [9] The Brass Rail, 813 13th St. NW — 500 and 1104 8th St from 1918 until his death in 1954. As editor of (demolished SE — An African The New Negro he played an influential role in 1985) The American bar, note- identifying, supporting and publishing the works Brass Rail’s first address was 809 13th St., a worthy for its huge win- of young black artists, Richard Bruce Nugent basement entrance, but it moved upstairs to dows overlooking the an ‘out’’ writer, published the first black same- 811 13th St NW in 1973. It was one of the intersection of 8th St and E St SE. It had a pool sex story “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” in the main African-American drag bars. The table and continual bid whist games going on. ground-breaking journal Fire!! in 1926. As a Railettes were a popular in-house drag enter- African-American and white patrons entered from young adult, Nugent lived with his aunt and his tainment group at the club. Local female a door on the E St. side. The club moved to 1104 grandmother at 1231 T St. NW until moving to impersonator Barbra MacNair performed her 8th St. SE, to the second floor above the New York City with Langston Hughes in 1926. popular Moms Mabley routines here. In the Bachelor's Mill. Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S St NW and mid-1980s the club moved to 476 K St NW. at the 12th St YMCA (1816 12th St) between [3] Banneker Field, 1924 and 1926. Angelina Weld Grimke, [10] Cairo Hotel, 1615 Q St NW —An after- Georgia Avenue — This noted poet and contemporary of the Harlem hours nightspot for both white and black gays field, across from Howard Renaissance group, wrote some of her most and lesbians, the Cairo was known in the 60s University Hospital, is a memorable poetry for both male and female for late night parties and dances organized by field of memories and lovers at 1415 Corcoran NW in the 1920s. female impersonator Black Pearl (Ken White). dreams for DC’s African- Grimke taught Nugent at Dunbar HS. In the 60s and 70s, it was a popular drag American GLBT communi- venue. ty. It was here in 1991 [6] Blacklight and Lambda Student Alliance, that Welmore Cooke, 640 Lamont St NW — This was was both the [11] The Ernest Hopkins, and production site for its first year of Blacklight, the Club- Theodore Kirkland created nation’s first magazine for African-American House, DC Black Gay Pride as a gays and lesbians, and the first meeting place 1296 fundraising project for AIDS education and support of Howard University’s Lambda Student Upshur work. Within a few years, the nation’s first black Alliance. NW — gay pride in Washington, DC inspired the creation The of similar events around the nation. [7] Bloomingdale area — bounded by Florida, third Rhode Island, North Capitol, and 3rd St NW, venture [4] Black Nugget, 2504 14th St NW (& Chapin the Bloomingdale area was home to gays and of the Metropolitan Capitolites, this club NW) — (destroyed 1968) Officially known as bisexuals and literati of Howard University. became one of the central foci of gay African- Rosetta’s Golden Nugget, the street name of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home was just west of American clubbers in the 1970s and 1980s. club was the ‘Black Nugget’. It was reputedly Bloomingdale on U St. NW. The ClubHouse grew out of the Zodiac Den sometimes a rough place, but was one of the few and Third World clubs. A disco without a reg- places not only to welcome gays but to welcome [8] Bob’s Inn, 3316 14th St NW (& Park Rd. ular liquor license, the ClubHouse was known female impersonators and the transgendered. It NW) — (burnt down, 1968) Bob’s Inn, a popu- for its ‘acid punch’. As a membership club it was lost in the fires of April 1968. lar nightspot from 1954 to 1968, just across avoided some of the restrictions on public 14th St from the Tivoli, featured “rock and roll bars and restaurants. Fundraisers and com- [5] Black Renaissance in DC — Many of the later nightly” and was the first performance home for munity support helped keep it going in late celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance lived in noted drag mother and impresario, Avis 80s, including support by the Best of Washington, DC in the 1920s before moving to Pendavis. Drag shows here were hosted by Washington and the Associates social clubs. New York City and many of them were bisexual, Avis and Peaches. The ClubHouse was known nationwide gay, or lesbian. Most of them lived south of U St among African-American gays and lesbians NW. for its Children’s Hour celebration on

Memorial Day Weekend. In September 1983, murdered in Thomas’ car. the club hosted the first AIDS forum for the African-American community. Owners includ- 1930s and early 1940s. Around 2000, the club [19] Georgia Douglas Johnson’s home, ed Aundrea Scott, John Eddy, and Chasten hosted Sunday night tea dances and later a drag 1461 S St. NW — A poet and playwright in Morrell. The club was managed by Rainey show hosted by Sophia Yamaguchi Karrington. her own right, Johnson convened the Cheeks. A drop in members in 1985 spurred Saturday Nighters, a remarkable literary and creation of Us Helping Us, one of the first [15] dc artistic salon in the 1920s and 1930s, which African-American responses to AIDS in the space, 700 E brought together many of the artists and per- community. St. NW — formers who would later achieve fame in the Ray Melrose, Harlem Renaissance. [12] The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse/Essie’s, founder of the 816 I St NE — The Coffeehouse was an arts Coffeehouse [20] Gil Gerald Home, 601 Q and literature meeting and performance space in NE DC, St NW — In the 1970s, in a two story carriage house behind the moved here in Gerald’s home was at the epi- home of Gary Walker and Ray Melrose at 816 the mid-80s center of local gay African- I St NE. The DC Coalition of Black Gays & and brought American organizing and pol- Ray Melrose founded the Coffeehouse. The many of the itics. Gerald was one of the name ENIKAlley refers to its location in the performers from the Coffeehouse with him. dc early and longest serving alley between Eighth and Ninth and I and K space became first a companion and then a leaders of the National streets. With an open loft overlooking the successor performance space for the artists of Coalition of Black Gays main floor, a fireplace and a warm atmos- DC’s second black gay renaissance. (NCBG), a national political phere, the place was unique among gay and organization. Between 1977 and 1985, the lesbian spaces in DC. The coffeehouse was [16] Delta Elite, 3734 10th St NE — home functioned as a meeting center for the a crucible for African-American artists, writers, Contemporaneous with Dupont’s first club, Mr. DC Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, musicians, and performance artists. When P’s, the Delta Elite has been a weekend dance NCBG, and related organizations. Meetings Melrose became manager of dc space, many and club space for young African-American gays and social events drew most of the leaders of of the performers at the Coffeehouse joined since 1976. the African-American gay and lesbian com- him there. The Coffeehouse provided meet- munity. ing space for the Sapphire Sapphos, one of [17] Faith the first black lesbian organizations in the Temple, 1313 [21] La Zambra Club, 1406 14th St NW — community. The Sapphire Sapphos, a lesbian New York (demolished) From 1970 until the mid-1980s, group, took over the Coffeehouse in Novem- Avenue NW — LaZambra was known as one of the great ber 1984 and briefly operated a coffeehouse Dr James S weekend dance spots. The club was known called Essie’s. Tinney found- informally as “Lucy’s”, after the manager, who ed Faith reputedly would walk the bar to the delight of [13] Cozy Corner, 708 Florida Ave NW — Temple in 1982 after being driven from his her customers. La Zambra provided meeting (demolished). In the 60s, the second floor Pentecostal church because of his sexual orien- space to the Sapphire Sapphos in their early lounge at the Cozy Corner was a hangout for tation. Faith Temple is an evangelical church years. gay Howard University students. The ground welcoming all worshipers. Faith Temple first met floor reputedly was straight. After 1968, at Calvary Methodist on Columbia Rd. [22] Nob Hill, 1101 Howard students met more often at the Nob Kenyon NW — From Hill. [18] Fiftieth and C Streets SE — This intersec- 1957 to 2004, the Nob tion has an unfortunate history as the site where Hill was the oldest [14] Crystal Caverns, 2001 11th St NW — transgendered Tyra Hunter was denied medical continuously operating Now the Bohemian Caverns, the site was attention by EMS after a car accident in August gay bar in the city, and originally a gay friendly show space in the late 1995 and where in August 2002 transgendered one of the oldest youths Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis were Alain Locke, gay ‘godfather’ to the Harlem and Washington Black Renaissances, professor [2] Backdoor Pub, at Howard University, lived at 1326 R St NW [9] The Brass Rail, 813 13th St. NW — 500 and 1104 8th St from 1918 until his death in 1954. As editor of (demolished SE — An African The New Negro he played an influential role in 1985) The American bar, note- identifying, supporting and publishing the works Brass Rail’s first address was 809 13th St., a worthy for its huge win- of young black artists, Richard Bruce Nugent basement entrance, but it moved upstairs to dows overlooking the an ‘out’’ writer, published the first black same- 811 13th St NW in 1973. It was one of the intersection of 8th St and E St SE. It had a pool sex story “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” in the main African-American drag bars. The table and continual bid whist games going on. ground-breaking journal Fire!! in 1926. As a Railettes were a popular in-house drag enter- African-American and white patrons entered from young adult, Nugent lived with his aunt and his tainment group at the club. Local female a door on the E St. side. The club moved to 1104 grandmother at 1231 T St. NW until moving to impersonator Barbra MacNair performed her 8th St. SE, to the second floor above the New York City with Langston Hughes in 1926. popular Moms Mabley routines here. In the Bachelor's Mill. Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S St NW and mid-1980s the club moved to 476 K St NW. at the 12th St YMCA (1816 12th St) between [3] Banneker Field, 1924 and 1926. Angelina Weld Grimke, [10] Cairo Hotel, 1615 Q St NW —An after- Georgia Avenue — This noted poet and contemporary of the Harlem hours nightspot for both white and black gays field, across from Howard Renaissance group, wrote some of her most and lesbians, the Cairo was known in the 60s University Hospital, is a memorable poetry for both male and female for late night parties and dances organized by field of memories and lovers at 1415 Corcoran NW in the 1920s. female impersonator Black Pearl (Ken White). dreams for DC’s African- Grimke taught Nugent at Dunbar HS. In the 60s and 70s, it was a popular drag American GLBT communi- venue. ty. It was here in 1991 [6] Blacklight and Lambda Student Alliance, that Welmore Cooke, 640 Lamont St NW — This was was both the [11] The Ernest Hopkins, and production site for its first year of Blacklight, the Club- Theodore Kirkland created nation’s first magazine for African-American House, DC Black Gay Pride as a gays and lesbians, and the first meeting place 1296 fundraising project for AIDS education and support of Howard University’s Lambda Student Upshur work. Within a few years, the nation’s first black Alliance. NW — gay pride in Washington, DC inspired the creation The of similar events around the nation. [7] Bloomingdale area — bounded by Florida, third Rhode Island, North Capitol, and 3rd St NW, venture [4] Black Nugget, 2504 14th St NW (& Chapin the Bloomingdale area was home to gays and of the Metropolitan Capitolites, this club NW) — (destroyed 1968) Officially known as bisexuals and literati of Howard University. became one of the central foci of gay African- Rosetta’s Golden Nugget, the street name of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home was just west of American clubbers in the 1970s and 1980s. club was the ‘Black Nugget’. It was reputedly Bloomingdale on U St. NW. The ClubHouse grew out of the Zodiac Den sometimes a rough place, but was one of the few and Third World clubs. A disco without a reg- places not only to welcome gays but to welcome [8] Bob’s Inn, 3316 14th St NW (& Park Rd. ular liquor license, the ClubHouse was known female impersonators and the transgendered. It NW) — (burnt down, 1968) Bob’s Inn, a popu- for its ‘acid punch’. As a membership club it was lost in the fires of April 1968. lar nightspot from 1954 to 1968, just across avoided some of the restrictions on public 14th St from the Tivoli, featured “rock and roll bars and restaurants. Fundraisers and com- [5] Black Renaissance in DC — Many of the later nightly” and was the first performance home for munity support helped keep it going in late celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance lived in noted drag mother and impresario, Avis 80s, including support by the Best of Washington, DC in the 1920s before moving to Pendavis. Drag shows here were hosted by Washington and the Associates social clubs. New York City and many of them were bisexual, Avis and Peaches. The ClubHouse was known nationwide gay, or lesbian. Most of them lived south of U St among African-American gays and lesbians NW. for its Children’s Hour celebration on

Memorial Day Weekend. In September 1983, murdered in Thomas’ car. the club hosted the first AIDS forum for the African-American community. Owners includ- 1930s and early 1940s. Around 2000, the club [19] Georgia Douglas Johnson’s home, ed Aundrea Scott, John Eddy, and Chasten hosted Sunday night tea dances and later a drag 1461 S St. NW — A poet and playwright in Morrell. The club was managed by Rainey show hosted by Sophia Yamaguchi Karrington. her own right, Johnson convened the Cheeks. A drop in members in 1985 spurred Saturday Nighters, a remarkable literary and creation of Us Helping Us, one of the first [15] dc artistic salon in the 1920s and 1930s, which African-American responses to AIDS in the space, 700 E brought together many of the artists and per- community. St. NW — formers who would later achieve fame in the Ray Melrose, Harlem Renaissance. [12] The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse/Essie’s, founder of the 816 I St NE — The Coffeehouse was an arts Coffeehouse [20] Gil Gerald Home, 601 Q and literature meeting and performance space in NE DC, St NW — In the 1970s, in a two story carriage house behind the moved here in Gerald’s home was at the epi- home of Gary Walker and Ray Melrose at 816 the mid-80s center of local gay African- I St NE. The DC Coalition of Black Gays & and brought American organizing and pol- Ray Melrose founded the Coffeehouse. The many of the itics. Gerald was one of the name ENIKAlley refers to its location in the performers from the Coffeehouse with him. dc early and longest serving alley between Eighth and Ninth and I and K space became first a companion and then a leaders of the National streets. With an open loft overlooking the successor performance space for the artists of Coalition of Black Gays main floor, a fireplace and a warm atmos- DC’s second black gay renaissance. (NCBG), a national political phere, the place was unique among gay and organization. Between 1977 and 1985, the lesbian spaces in DC. The coffeehouse was [16] Delta Elite, 3734 10th St NE — home functioned as a meeting center for the a crucible for African-American artists, writers, Contemporaneous with Dupont’s first club, Mr. DC Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, musicians, and performance artists. When P’s, the Delta Elite has been a weekend dance NCBG, and related organizations. Meetings Melrose became manager of dc space, many and club space for young African-American gays and social events drew most of the leaders of of the performers at the Coffeehouse joined since 1976. the African-American gay and lesbian com- him there. The Coffeehouse provided meet- munity. ing space for the Sapphire Sapphos, one of [17] Faith the first black lesbian organizations in the Temple, 1313 [21] La Zambra Club, 1406 14th St NW — community. The Sapphire Sapphos, a lesbian New York (demolished) From 1970 until the mid-1980s, group, took over the Coffeehouse in Novem- Avenue NW — LaZambra was known as one of the great ber 1984 and briefly operated a coffeehouse Dr James S weekend dance spots. The club was known called Essie’s. Tinney found- informally as “Lucy’s”, after the manager, who ed Faith reputedly would walk the bar to the delight of [13] Cozy Corner, 708 Florida Ave NW — Temple in 1982 after being driven from his her customers. La Zambra provided meeting (demolished). In the 60s, the second floor Pentecostal church because of his sexual orien- space to the Sapphire Sapphos in their early lounge at the Cozy Corner was a hangout for tation. Faith Temple is an evangelical church years. gay Howard University students. The ground welcoming all worshipers. Faith Temple first met floor reputedly was straight. After 1968, at Calvary Methodist on Columbia Rd. [22] Nob Hill, 1101 Howard students met more often at the Nob Kenyon NW — From Hill. [18] Fiftieth and C Streets SE — This intersec- 1957 to 2004, the Nob tion has an unfortunate history as the site where Hill was the oldest [14] Crystal Caverns, 2001 11th St NW — transgendered Tyra Hunter was denied medical continuously operating Now the Bohemian Caverns, the site was attention by EMS after a car accident in August gay bar in the city, and originally a gay friendly show space in the late 1995 and where in August 2002 transgendered one of the oldest youths Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis were Alain Locke, gay ‘godfather’ to the Harlem and Washington Black Renaissances, professor [2] Backdoor Pub, at Howard University, lived at 1326 R St NW [9] The Brass Rail, 813 13th St. NW — 500 and 1104 8th St from 1918 until his death in 1954. As editor of (demolished SE — An African The New Negro he played an influential role in 1985) The American bar, note- identifying, supporting and publishing the works Brass Rail’s first address was 809 13th St., a worthy for its huge win- of young black artists, Richard Bruce Nugent basement entrance, but it moved upstairs to dows overlooking the an ‘out’’ writer, published the first black same- 811 13th St NW in 1973. It was one of the intersection of 8th St and E St SE. It had a pool sex story “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” in the main African-American drag bars. The table and continual bid whist games going on. ground-breaking journal Fire!! in 1926. As a Railettes were a popular in-house drag enter- African-American and white patrons entered from young adult, Nugent lived with his aunt and his tainment group at the club. Local female a door on the E St. side. The club moved to 1104 grandmother at 1231 T St. NW until moving to impersonator Barbra MacNair performed her 8th St. SE, to the second floor above the New York City with Langston Hughes in 1926. popular Moms Mabley routines here. In the Bachelor's Mill. Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S St NW and mid-1980s the club moved to 476 K St NW. at the 12th St YMCA (1816 12th St) between [3] Banneker Field, 1924 and 1926. Angelina Weld Grimke, [10] Cairo Hotel, 1615 Q St NW —An after- Georgia Avenue — This noted poet and contemporary of the Harlem hours nightspot for both white and black gays field, across from Howard Renaissance group, wrote some of her most and lesbians, the Cairo was known in the 60s University Hospital, is a memorable poetry for both male and female for late night parties and dances organized by field of memories and lovers at 1415 Corcoran NW in the 1920s. female impersonator Black Pearl (Ken White). dreams for DC’s African- Grimke taught Nugent at Dunbar HS. In the 60s and 70s, it was a popular drag American GLBT communi- venue. ty. It was here in 1991 [6] Blacklight and Lambda Student Alliance, that Welmore Cooke, 640 Lamont St NW — This was was both the [11] The Ernest Hopkins, and production site for its first year of Blacklight, the Club- Theodore Kirkland created nation’s first magazine for African-American House, DC Black Gay Pride as a gays and lesbians, and the first meeting place 1296 fundraising project for AIDS education and support of Howard University’s Lambda Student Upshur work. Within a few years, the nation’s first black Alliance. NW — gay pride in Washington, DC inspired the creation The of similar events around the nation. [7] Bloomingdale area — bounded by Florida, third Rhode Island, North Capitol, and 3rd St NW, venture [4] Black Nugget, 2504 14th St NW (& Chapin the Bloomingdale area was home to gays and of the Metropolitan Capitolites, this club NW) — (destroyed 1968) Officially known as bisexuals and literati of Howard University. became one of the central foci of gay African- Rosetta’s Golden Nugget, the street name of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home was just west of American clubbers in the 1970s and 1980s. club was the ‘Black Nugget’. It was reputedly Bloomingdale on U St. NW. The ClubHouse grew out of the Zodiac Den sometimes a rough place, but was one of the few and Third World clubs. A disco without a reg- places not only to welcome gays but to welcome [8] Bob’s Inn, 3316 14th St NW (& Park Rd. ular liquor license, the ClubHouse was known female impersonators and the transgendered. It NW) — (burnt down, 1968) Bob’s Inn, a popu- for its ‘acid punch’. As a membership club it was lost in the fires of April 1968. lar nightspot from 1954 to 1968, just across avoided some of the restrictions on public 14th St from the Tivoli, featured “rock and roll bars and restaurants. Fundraisers and com- [5] Black Renaissance in DC — Many of the later nightly” and was the first performance home for munity support helped keep it going in late celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance lived in noted drag mother and impresario, Avis 80s, including support by the Best of Washington, DC in the 1920s before moving to Pendavis. Drag shows here were hosted by Washington and the Associates social clubs. New York City and many of them were bisexual, Avis and Peaches. The ClubHouse was known nationwide gay, or lesbian. Most of them lived south of U St among African-American gays and lesbians NW. for its Children’s Hour celebration on

Memorial Day Weekend. In September 1983, murdered in Thomas’ car. the club hosted the first AIDS forum for the African-American community. Owners includ- 1930s and early 1940s. Around 2000, the club [19] Georgia Douglas Johnson’s home, ed Aundrea Scott, John Eddy, and Chasten hosted Sunday night tea dances and later a drag 1461 S St. NW — A poet and playwright in Morrell. The club was managed by Rainey show hosted by Sophia Yamaguchi Karrington. her own right, Johnson convened the Cheeks. A drop in members in 1985 spurred Saturday Nighters, a remarkable literary and creation of Us Helping Us, one of the first [15] dc artistic salon in the 1920s and 1930s, which African-American responses to AIDS in the space, 700 E brought together many of the artists and per- community. St. NW — formers who would later achieve fame in the Ray Melrose, Harlem Renaissance. [12] The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse/Essie’s, founder of the 816 I St NE — The Coffeehouse was an arts Coffeehouse [20] Gil Gerald Home, 601 Q and literature meeting and performance space in NE DC, St NW — In the 1970s, in a two story carriage house behind the moved here in Gerald’s home was at the epi- home of Gary Walker and Ray Melrose at 816 the mid-80s center of local gay African- I St NE. The DC Coalition of Black Gays & and brought American organizing and pol- Ray Melrose founded the Coffeehouse. The many of the itics. Gerald was one of the name ENIKAlley refers to its location in the performers from the Coffeehouse with him. dc early and longest serving alley between Eighth and Ninth and I and K space became first a companion and then a leaders of the National streets. With an open loft overlooking the successor performance space for the artists of Coalition of Black Gays main floor, a fireplace and a warm atmos- DC’s second black gay renaissance. (NCBG), a national political phere, the place was unique among gay and organization. Between 1977 and 1985, the lesbian spaces in DC. The coffeehouse was [16] Delta Elite, 3734 10th St NE — home functioned as a meeting center for the a crucible for African-American artists, writers, Contemporaneous with Dupont’s first club, Mr. DC Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, musicians, and performance artists. When P’s, the Delta Elite has been a weekend dance NCBG, and related organizations. Meetings Melrose became manager of dc space, many and club space for young African-American gays and social events drew most of the leaders of of the performers at the Coffeehouse joined since 1976. the African-American gay and lesbian com- him there. The Coffeehouse provided meet- munity. ing space for the Sapphire Sapphos, one of [17] Faith the first black lesbian organizations in the Temple, 1313 [21] La Zambra Club, 1406 14th St NW — community. The Sapphire Sapphos, a lesbian New York (demolished) From 1970 until the mid-1980s, group, took over the Coffeehouse in Novem- Avenue NW — LaZambra was known as one of the great ber 1984 and briefly operated a coffeehouse Dr James S weekend dance spots. The club was known called Essie’s. Tinney found- informally as “Lucy’s”, after the manager, who ed Faith reputedly would walk the bar to the delight of [13] Cozy Corner, 708 Florida Ave NW — Temple in 1982 after being driven from his her customers. La Zambra provided meeting (demolished). In the 60s, the second floor Pentecostal church because of his sexual orien- space to the Sapphire Sapphos in their early lounge at the Cozy Corner was a hangout for tation. Faith Temple is an evangelical church years. gay Howard University students. The ground welcoming all worshipers. Faith Temple first met floor reputedly was straight. After 1968, at Calvary Methodist on Columbia Rd. [22] Nob Hill, 1101 Howard students met more often at the Nob Kenyon NW — From Hill. [18] Fiftieth and C Streets SE — This intersec- 1957 to 2004, the Nob tion has an unfortunate history as the site where Hill was the oldest [14] Crystal Caverns, 2001 11th St NW — transgendered Tyra Hunter was denied medical continuously operating Now the Bohemian Caverns, the site was attention by EMS after a car accident in August gay bar in the city, and originally a gay friendly show space in the late 1995 and where in August 2002 transgendered one of the oldest youths Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis were Alain Locke, gay ‘godfather’ to the Harlem and Washington Black Renaissances, professor [2] Backdoor Pub, at Howard University, lived at 1326 R St NW [9] The Brass Rail, 813 13th St. NW — 500 and 1104 8th St from 1918 until his death in 1954. As editor of (demolished SE — An African The New Negro he played an influential role in 1985) The American bar, note- identifying, supporting and publishing the works Brass Rail’s first address was 809 13th St., a worthy for its huge win- of young black artists, Richard Bruce Nugent basement entrance, but it moved upstairs to dows overlooking the an ‘out’’ writer, published the first black same- 811 13th St NW in 1973. It was one of the intersection of 8th St and E St SE. It had a pool sex story “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” in the main African-American drag bars. The table and continual bid whist games going on. ground-breaking journal Fire!! in 1926. As a Railettes were a popular in-house drag enter- African-American and white patrons entered from young adult, Nugent lived with his aunt and his tainment group at the club. Local female a door on the E St. side. The club moved to 1104 grandmother at 1231 T St. NW until moving to impersonator Barbra MacNair performed her 8th St. SE, to the second floor above the New York City with Langston Hughes in 1926. popular Moms Mabley routines here. In the Bachelor's Mill. Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S St NW and mid-1980s the club moved to 476 K St NW. at the 12th St YMCA (1816 12th St) between [3] Banneker Field, 1924 and 1926. Angelina Weld Grimke, [10] Cairo Hotel, 1615 Q St NW —An after- Georgia Avenue — This noted poet and contemporary of the Harlem hours nightspot for both white and black gays field, across from Howard Renaissance group, wrote some of her most and lesbians, the Cairo was known in the 60s University Hospital, is a memorable poetry for both male and female for late night parties and dances organized by field of memories and lovers at 1415 Corcoran NW in the 1920s. female impersonator Black Pearl (Ken White). dreams for DC’s African- Grimke taught Nugent at Dunbar HS. In the 60s and 70s, it was a popular drag American GLBT communi- venue. ty. It was here in 1991 [6] Blacklight and Lambda Student Alliance, that Welmore Cooke, 640 Lamont St NW — This was was both the [11] The Ernest Hopkins, and production site for its first year of Blacklight, the Club- Theodore Kirkland created nation’s first magazine for African-American House, DC Black Gay Pride as a gays and lesbians, and the first meeting place 1296 fundraising project for AIDS education and support of Howard University’s Lambda Student Upshur work. Within a few years, the nation’s first black Alliance. NW — gay pride in Washington, DC inspired the creation The of similar events around the nation. [7] Bloomingdale area — bounded by Florida, third Rhode Island, North Capitol, and 3rd St NW, venture [4] Black Nugget, 2504 14th St NW (& Chapin the Bloomingdale area was home to gays and of the Metropolitan Capitolites, this club NW) — (destroyed 1968) Officially known as bisexuals and literati of Howard University. became one of the central foci of gay African- Rosetta’s Golden Nugget, the street name of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home was just west of American clubbers in the 1970s and 1980s. club was the ‘Black Nugget’. It was reputedly Bloomingdale on U St. NW. The ClubHouse grew out of the Zodiac Den sometimes a rough place, but was one of the few and Third World clubs. A disco without a reg- places not only to welcome gays but to welcome [8] Bob’s Inn, 3316 14th St NW (& Park Rd. ular liquor license, the ClubHouse was known female impersonators and the transgendered. It NW) — (burnt down, 1968) Bob’s Inn, a popu- for its ‘acid punch’. As a membership club it was lost in the fires of April 1968. lar nightspot from 1954 to 1968, just across avoided some of the restrictions on public 14th St from the Tivoli, featured “rock and roll bars and restaurants. Fundraisers and com- [5] Black Renaissance in DC — Many of the later nightly” and was the first performance home for munity support helped keep it going in late celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance lived in noted drag mother and impresario, Avis 80s, including support by the Best of Washington, DC in the 1920s before moving to Pendavis. Drag shows here were hosted by Washington and the Associates social clubs. New York City and many of them were bisexual, Avis and Peaches. The ClubHouse was known nationwide gay, or lesbian. Most of them lived south of U St among African-American gays and lesbians NW.. for its Children’s Hour celebration on

Memorial Day Weekend. In September 1983, murdered in Thomas’ car. the club hosted the first AIDS forum for the African-American community. Owners includ- 1930s and early 1940s. Around 2000, the club [19] Georgia Douglas Johnson’s home, ed Aundrea Scott, John Eddy, and Chasten hosted Sunday night tea dances and later a drag 1461 S St. NW — A poet and playwright in Morrell. The club was managed by Rainey show hosted by Sophia Yamaguchi Karrington. her own right, Johnson convened the Cheeks. A drop in members in 1985 spurred Saturday Nighters, a remarkable literary and creation of Us Helping Us, one of the first [15] dc artistic salon in the 1920s and 1930s, which African-American responses to AIDS in the space, 700 E brought together many of the artists and per- community. St. NW — formers who would later achieve fame in the Ray Melrose, Harlem Renaissance. [12] The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse/Essie’s, founder of the 816 I St NE — The Coffeehouse was an arts Coffeehouse [20] Gil Gerald Home, 601 Q and literature meeting and performance space in NE DC, St NW — In the 1970s, in a two story carriage house behind the moved here in Gerald’s home was at the epi- home of Gary Walker and Ray Melrose at 816 the mid-80s center of local gay African- I St NE. The DC Coalition of Black Gays & and brought American organizing and pol- Ray Melrose founded the Coffeehouse. The many of the itics. Gerald was one of the name ENIKAlley refers to its location in the performers from the Coffeehouse with him. dc early and longest serving alley between Eighth and Ninth and I and K space became first a companion and then a leaders of the National streets. With an open loft overlooking the successor performance space for the artists of Coalition of Black Gays main floor, a fireplace and a warm atmos- DC’s second black gay renaissance. (NCBG), a national political phere, the place was unique among gay and organization. Between 1977 and 1985, the lesbian spaces in DC. The coffeehouse was [16] Delta Elite, 3734 10th St NE — home functioned as a meeting center for the a crucible for African-American artists, writers, Contemporaneous with Dupont’s first club, Mr. DC Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, musicians, and performance artists. When P’s, the Delta Elite has been a weekend dance NCBG, and related organizations. Meetings Melrose became manager of dc space, many and club space for young African-American gays and social events drew most of the leaders of of the performers at the Coffeehouse joined since 1976. the African-American gay and lesbian com- him there. The Coffeehouse provided meet- munity. ing space for the Sapphire Sapphos, one of [17] Faith the first black lesbian organizations in the Temple, 1313 [21] La Zambra Club, 1406 14th St NW — community. The Sapphire Sapphos, a lesbian New York (demolished) From 1970 until the mid-1980s, group, took over the Coffeehouse in Novem- Avenue NW — LaZambra was known as one of the great ber 1984 and briefly operated a coffeehouse Dr James S weekend dance spots. The club was known called Essie’s. Tinney found- informally as “Lucy’s”, after the manager, who ed Faith reputedly would walk the bar to the delight of [13] Cozy Corner, 708 Florida Ave NW — Temple in 1982 after being driven from his her customers. La Zambra provided meeting (demolished). In the 60s, the second floor Pentecostal church because of his sexual orien- space to the Sapphire Sapphos in their early lounge at the Cozy Corner was a hangout for tation. Faith Temple is an evangelical church years. gay Howard University students. The ground welcoming all worshipers. Faith Temple first met floor reputedly was straight. After 1968, at Calvary Methodist on Columbia Rd. [22] Nob Hill, 1101 Howard students met more often at the Nob Kenyon NW — From Hill. [18] Fiftieth and C Streets SE — This intersec- 1957 to 2004, the Nob tion has an unfortunate history as the site where Hill was the oldest [14] Crystal Caverns, 2001 11th St NW — transgendered Tyra Hunter was denied medical continuously operating Now the Bohemian Caverns, the site was attention by EMS after a car accident in August gay bar in the city, and originally a gay friendly show space in the late 1995 and where in August 2002 transgendered one of the oldest youths Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis were Alain Locke, gay ‘godfather’ to the Harlem and Washington Black Renaissances, professor [2] Backdoor Pub, at Howard University, lived at 1326 R St NW [9] The Brass Rail, 813 13th St. NW — 500 and 1104 8th St from 1918 until his death in 1954. As editor of (demolished SE — An African The New Negro he played an influential role in 1985) The American bar, note- identifying, supporting and publishing the works Brass Rail’s first address was 809 13th St., a worthy for its huge win- of young black artists, Richard Bruce Nugent basement entrance, but it moved upstairs to dows overlooking the an ‘out’’ writer, published the first black same- 811 13th St NW in 1973. It was one of the intersection of 8th St and E St SE. It had a pool sex story “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” in the main African-American drag bars. The table and continual bid whist games going on. ground-breaking journal Fire!! in 1926. As a Railettes were a popular in-house drag enter- African-American and white patrons entered from young adult, Nugent lived with his aunt and his tainment group at the club. Local female a door on the E St. side. The club moved to 1104 grandmother at 1231 T St. NW until moving to impersonator Barbra MacNair performed her 8th St. SE, to the second floor above the New York City with Langston Hughes in 1926. popular Moms Mabley routines here. In the Bachelor's Mill. Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S St NW and mid-1980s the club moved to 476 K St NW. at the 12th St YMCA (1816 12th St) between [3] Banneker Field, 1924 and 1926. Angelina Weld Grimke, [10] Cairo Hotel, 1615 Q St NW —An after- Georgia Avenue — This noted poet and contemporary of the Harlem hours nightspot for both white and black gays field, across from Howard Renaissance group, wrote some of her most and lesbians, the Cairo was known in the 60s University Hospital, is a memorable poetry for both male and female for late night parties and dances organized by field of memories and lovers at 1415 Corcoran NW in the 1920s. female impersonator Black Pearl (Ken White). dreams for DC’s African- Grimke taught Nugent at Dunbar HS. In the 60s and 70s, it was a popular drag American GLBT communi- venue. ty. It was here in 1991 [6] Blacklight and Lambda Student Alliance, that Welmore Cooke, 640 Lamont St NW — This was was both the [11] The Ernest Hopkins, and production site for its first year of Blacklight, the Club- Theodore Kirkland created nation’s first magazine for African-American House, DC Black Gay Pride as a gays and lesbians, and the first meeting place 1296 fundraising project for AIDS education and support of Howard University’s Lambda Student Upshur work. Within a few years, the nation’s first black Alliance. NW — gay pride in Washington, DC inspired the creation The of similar events around the nation. [7] Bloomingdale area — bounded by Florida, third Rhode Island, North Capitol, and 3rd St NW, venture [4] Black Nugget, 2504 14th St NW (& Chapin the Bloomingdale area was home to gays and of the Metropolitan Capitolites, this club NW) — (destroyed 1968) Officially known as bisexuals and literati of Howard University. became one of the central foci of gay African- Rosetta’s Golden Nugget, the street name of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home was just west of American clubbers in the 1970s and 1980s. club was the ‘Black Nugget’. It was reputedly Bloomingdale on U St. NW. The ClubHouse grew out of the Zodiac Den sometimes a rough place, but was one of the few and Third World clubs. A disco without a reg- places not only to welcome gays but to welcome [8] Bob’s Inn, 3316 14th St NW (& Park Rd. ular liquor license, the ClubHouse was known female impersonators and the transgendered. It NW) — (burnt down, 1968) Bob’s Inn, a popu- for its ‘acid punch’. As a membership club it was lost in the fires of April 1968. lar nightspot from 1954 to 1968, just across avoided some of the restrictions on public 14th St from the Tivoli, featured “rock and roll bars and restaurants. Fundraisers and com- [5] Black Renaissance in DC — Many of the later nightly” and was the first performance home for munity support helped keep it going in late celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance lived in noted drag mother and impresario, Avis 80s, including support by the Best of Washington, DC in the 1920s before moving to Pendavis. Drag shows here were hosted by Washington and the Associates social clubs. New York City and many of them were bisexual, Avis and Peaches. The ClubHouse was known nationwide gay, or lesbian. Most of them lived south of U St among African-American gays and lesbians NW.. for its Children’s Hour celebration on

Memorial Day Weekend. In September 1983, murdered in Thomas’ car. the club hosted the first AIDS forum for the African-American community. Owners includ- 1930s and early 1940s. Around 2000, the club [19] Georgia Douglas Johnson’s home, ed Aundrea Scott, John Eddy, and Chasten hosted Sunday night tea dances and later a drag 1461 S St. NW — A poet and playwright in Morrell. The club was managed by Rainey show hosted by Sophia Yamaguchi Karrington. her own right, Johnson convened the Cheeks. A drop in members in 1985 spurred Saturday Nighters, a remarkable literary and creation of Us Helping Us, one of the first [15] dc artistic salon in the 1920s and 1930s, which African-American responses to AIDS in the space, 700 E brought together many of the artists and per- community. St. NW — formers who would later achieve fame in the Ray Melrose, Harlem Renaissance. [12] The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse/Essie’s, founder of the 816 I St NE — The Coffeehouse was an arts Coffeehouse [20] Gil Gerald Home, 601 Q and literature meeting and performance space in NE DC, St NW — In the 1970s, in a two story carriage house behind the moved here in Gerald’s home was at the epi- home of Gary Walker and Ray Melrose at 816 the mid-80s center of local gay African- I St NE. The DC Coalition of Black Gays & and brought American organizing and pol- Ray Melrose founded the Coffeehouse. The many of the itics. Gerald was one of the name ENIKAlley refers to its location in the performers from the Coffeehouse with him. dc early and longest serving alley between Eighth and Ninth and I and K space became first a companion and then a leaders of the National streets. With an open loft overlooking the successor performance space for the artists of Coalition of Black Gays main floor, a fireplace and a warm atmos- DC’s second black gay renaissance. (NCBG), a national political phere, the place was unique among gay and organization. Between 1977 and 1985, the lesbian spaces in DC. The coffeehouse was [16] Delta Elite, 3734 10th St NE — home functioned as a meeting center for the a crucible for African-American artists, writers, Contemporaneous with Dupont’s first club, Mr. DC Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, musicians, and performance artists. When P’s, the Delta Elite has been a weekend dance NCBG, and related organizations. Meetings Melrose became manager of dc space, many and club space for young African-American gays and social events drew most of the leaders of of the performers at the Coffeehouse joined since 1976. the African-American gay and lesbian com- him there. The Coffeehouse provided meet- munity. ing space for the Sapphire Sapphos, one of [17] Faith the first black lesbian organizations in the Temple, 1313 [21] La Zambra Club, 1406 14th St NW — community. The Sapphire Sapphos, a lesbian New York (demolished) From 1970 until the mid-1980s, group, took over the Coffeehouse in Novem- Avenue NW — LaZambra was known as one of the great ber 1984 and briefly operated a coffeehouse Dr James S weekend dance spots. The club was known called Essie’s. Tinney found- informally as “Lucy’s”, after the manager, who ed Faith reputedly would walk the bar to the delight of [13] Cozy Corner, 708 Florida Ave NW — Temple in 1982 after being driven from his her customers. La Zambra provided meeting (demolished). In the 60s, the second floor Pentecostal church because of his sexual orien- space to the Sapphire Sapphos in their early lounge at the Cozy Corner was a hangout for tation. Faith Temple is an evangelical church years. gay Howard University students. The ground welcoming all worshipers. Faith Temple first met floor reputedly was straight. After 1968, at Calvary Methodist on Columbia Rd. [22] Nob Hill, 1101 Howard students met more often at the Nob Kenyon NW — From Hill. [18] Fiftieth and C Streets SE — This intersec- 1957 to 2004, the Nob tion has an unfortunate history as the site where Hill was the oldest [14] Crystal Caverns, 2001 11th St NW — transgendered Tyra Hunter was denied medical continuously operating Now the Bohemian Caverns, the site was attention by EMS after a car accident in August gay bar in the city, and originally a gay friendly show space in the late 1995 and where in August 2002 transgendered one of the oldest youths Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis were Alain Locke, gay ‘godfather’ to the Harlem and Washington Black Renaissances, professor [2] Backdoor Pub, at Howard University, lived at 1326 R St NW [9] The Brass Rail, 813 13th St. NW — 500 and 1104 8th St from 1918 until his death in 1954. As editor of (demolished SE — An African The New Negro he played an influential role in 1985) The American bar, note- identifying, supporting and publishing the works Brass Rail’s first address was 809 13th St., a worthy for its huge win- of young black artists, Richard Bruce Nugent basement entrance, but it moved upstairs to dows overlooking the an ‘out’’ writer, published the first black same- 811 13th St NW in 1973. It was one of the intersection of 8th St and E St SE. It had a pool sex story “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” in the main African-American drag bars. The table and continual bid whist games going on. ground-breaking journal Fire!! in 1926. As a Railettes were a popular in-house drag enter- African-American and white patrons entered from young adult, Nugent lived with his aunt and his tainment group at the club. Local female a door on the E St. side. The club moved to 1104 grandmother at 1231 T St. NW until moving to impersonator Barbra MacNair performed her 8th St. SE, to the second floor above the New York City with Langston Hughes in 1926. popular Moms Mabley routines here. In the Bachelor's Mill. Langston Hughes lived at 1749 S St NW and mid-1980s the club moved to 476 K St NW. at the 12th St YMCA (1816 12th St) between [3] Banneker Field, 1924 and 1926. Angelina Weld Grimke, [10] Cairo Hotel, 1615 Q St NW —An after- Georgia Avenue — This noted poet and contemporary of the Harlem hours nightspot for both white and black gays field, across from Howard Renaissance group, wrote some of her most and lesbians, the Cairo was known in the 60s University Hospital, is a memorable poetry for both male and female for late night parties and dances organized by field of memories and lovers at 1415 Corcoran NW in the 1920s. female impersonator Black Pearl (Ken White). dreams for DC’s African- Grimke taught Nugent at Dunbar HS. In the 60s and 70s, it was a popular drag American GLBT communi- venue. ty. It was here in 1991 [6] Blacklight and Lambda Student Alliance, that Welmore Cooke, 640 Lamont St NW — This was was both the [11] The Ernest Hopkins, and production site for its first year of Blacklight, the Club- Theodore Kirkland created nation’s first magazine for African-American House, DC Black Gay Pride as a gays and lesbians, and the first meeting place 1296 fundraising project for AIDS education and support of Howard University’s Lambda Student Upshur work. Within a few years, the nation’s first black Alliance. NW — gay pride in Washington, DC inspired the creation The of similar events around the nation. [7] Bloomingdale area — bounded by Florida, third Rhode Island, North Capitol, and 3rd St NW, venture [4] Black Nugget, 2504 14th St NW (& Chapin the Bloomingdale area was home to gays and of the Metropolitan Capitolites, this club NW) — (destroyed 1968) Officially known as bisexuals and literati of Howard University. became one of the central foci of gay African- Rosetta’s Golden Nugget, the street name of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s home was just west of American clubbers in the 1970s and 1980s. club was the ‘Black Nugget’. It was reputedly Bloomingdale on U St. NW. The ClubHouse grew out of the Zodiac Den sometimes a rough place, but was one of the few and Third World clubs. A disco without a reg- places not only to welcome gays but to welcome [8] Bob’s Inn, 3316 14th St NW (& Park Rd. ular liquor license, the ClubHouse was known female impersonators and the transgendered. It NW) — (burnt down, 1968) Bob’s Inn, a popu- for its ‘acid punch’. As a membership club it was lost in the fires of April 1968. lar nightspot from 1954 to 1968, just across avoided some of the restrictions on public 14th St from the Tivoli, featured “rock and roll bars and restaurants. Fundraisers and com- [5] Black Renaissance in DC — Many of the later nightly” and was the first performance home for munity support helped keep it going in late celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance lived in noted drag mother and impresario, Avis 80s, including support by the Best of Washington, DC in the 1920s before moving to Pendavis. Drag shows here were hosted by Washington and the Associates social clubs. New York City and many of them were bisexual, Avis and Peaches. The ClubHouse was known nationwide gay, or lesbian. Most of them lived south of U St among African-American gays and lesbians NW.. for its Children’s Hour celebration on

Memorial Day Weekend. In September 1983, murdered in Thomas’ car. the club hosted the first AIDS forum for the African-American community. Owners includ- 1930s and early 1940s. Around 2000, the club [19] Georgia Douglas Johnson’s home, ed Aundrea Scott, John Eddy, and Chasten hosted Sunday night tea dances and later a drag 1461 S St. NW — A poet and playwright in Morrell. The club was managed by Rainey show hosted by Sophia Yamaguchi Karrington. her own right, Johnson convened the Cheeks. A drop in members in 1985 spurred Saturday Nighters, a remarkable literary and creation of Us Helping Us, one of the first [15] dc artistic salon in the 1920s and 1930s, which African-American responses to AIDS in the space, 700 E brought together many of the artists and per- community. St. NW — formers who would later achieve fame in the Ray Melrose, Harlem Renaissance. [12] The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse/Essie’s, founder of the 816 I St NE — The Coffeehouse was an arts Coffeehouse [20] Gil Gerald Home, 601 Q and literature meeting and performance space in NE DC, St NW — In the 1970s, in a two story carriage house behind the moved here in Gerald’s home was at the epi- home of Gary Walker and Ray Melrose at 816 the mid-80s center of local gay African- I St NE. The DC Coalition of Black Gays & and brought American organizing and pol- Ray Melrose founded the Coffeehouse. The many of the itics. Gerald was one of the name ENIKAlley refers to its location in the performers from the Coffeehouse with him. dc early and longest serving alley between Eighth and Ninth and I and K space became first a companion and then a leaders of the National streets. With an open loft overlooking the successor performance space for the artists of Coalition of Black Gays main floor, a fireplace and a warm atmos- DC’s second black gay renaissance. (NCBG), a national political phere, the place was unique among gay and organization. Between 1977 and 1985, the lesbian spaces in DC. The coffeehouse was [16] Delta Elite, 3734 10th St NE — home functioned as a meeting center for the a crucible for African-American artists, writers, Contemporaneous with Dupont’s first club, Mr. DC Coalition of Black Gays and Lesbians, musicians, and performance artists. When P’s, the Delta Elite has been a weekend dance NCBG, and related organizations. Meetings Melrose became manager of dc space, many and club space for young African-American gays and social events drew most of the leaders of of the performers at the Coffeehouse joined since 1976. the African-American gay and lesbian com- him there. The Coffeehouse provided meet- munity. ing space for the Sapphire Sapphos, one of [17] Faith the first black lesbian organizations in the Temple, 1313 [21] La Zambra Club, 1406 14th St NW — community. The Sapphire Sapphos, a lesbian New York (demolished) From 1970 until the mid-1980s, group, took over the Coffeehouse in Novem- Avenue NW — LaZambra was known as one of the great ber 1984 and briefly operated a coffeehouse Dr James S weekend dance spots. The club was known called Essie’s. Tinney found- informally as “Lucy’s”, after the manager, who ed Faith reputedly would walk the bar to the delight of [13] Cozy Corner, 708 Florida Ave NW — Temple in 1982 after being driven from his her customers. La Zambra provided meeting (demolished). In the 60s, the second floor Pentecostal church because of his sexual orien- space to the Sapphire Sapphos in their early lounge at the Cozy Corner was a hangout for tation. Faith Temple is an evangelical church years. gay Howard University students. The ground welcoming all worshipers. Faith Temple first met floor reputedly was straight. After 1968, at Calvary Methodist on Columbia Rd. [22] Nob Hill, 1101 Howard students met more often at the Nob Kenyon NW — From Hill. [18] Fiftieth and C Streets SE — This intersec- 1957 to 2004, the Nob tion has an unfortunate history as the site where Hill was the oldest [14] Crystal Caverns, 2001 11th St NW — transgendered Tyra Hunter was denied medical continuously operating Now the Bohemian Caverns, the site was attention by EMS after a car accident in August gay bar in the city, and originally a gay friendly show space in the late 1995 and where in August 2002 transgendered one of the oldest youths Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis were

just off Georgia Avenue, were Cecelia’s, a Cecelia’s, were Avenue, Georgia off just

early 1980s. early

New York City). Near the Howard Theatre, Howard the Near City). York New

moter Marc King managed The Mill in the in Mill The managed King Marc moter

later founded the drag House of Pend’avis in Pend’avis of House drag the founded later

The DC Coalition convened the first communi- first the convened Coalition DC The

address at 1104 8th St SE. Local drag pro- drag Local SE. St 8th 1104 at address

Avis Pend’avis (a graduate of Dunbar HS who HS Dunbar of graduate (a Pend’avis Avis music and literature. literature. and music

ues. In 1984, the club moved to its current its to moved club the 1984, In ues.

hosted by female impersonators Peaches and Peaches impersonators female by hosted ated new styles, media, and themes in GLBT in themes and media, styles, new ated

African-American dance clubs and drag ven- drag and clubs dance African-American

Tivoli on upper 14th St NW, featured shows featured NW, St 14th upper on Tivoli Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others cre- others and Jones Wayson Ferebee, Gideon

years, the club has been one of the main the of one been has club the years,

upper Northwest. Bob-Inn, across from the from across Bob-Inn, Northwest. upper Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Garth Parkerson, Michelle Hemphill,

called The Bachelor’s Mill. For more than 25 than more For Mill. Bachelor’s The called A number of gay-friendly clubs emerged in emerged clubs gay-friendly of number A Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex space, dc at later and Coffeehouse,

Club Madame, became a male-oriented club male-oriented a became Madame, Club black gay clubs, opened to the public in 1957. in public the to opened clubs, gay black Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the At Nighters. Saturday Johnson’s Douglas

In December 1978, BB Gatch’s women’s club, women’s Gatch’s BB 1978, December In one of the nation’s oldest and most enduring most and oldest nation’s the of one aissance in the city, sixty years after Georgia after years sixty city, the in aissance

, 500 & 1104 8th St SE — SE St 8th 1104 & 500 , Mill Bachelor’s ] [1] the city’s oldest longest running gay club and club gay running longest oldest city’s the generated a second African-American gay ren- gay African-American second a generated

ized Nob Hill. Originally a straight restaurant, straight a Originally Hill. Nob ized and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that musicians and writers, poets, lesbian and

Clubhouse. A private group of men organ- men of group private A Clubhouse. association of Black Prides. Black of association Coffeehouse was a crucial performance for gay for performance crucial a was Coffeehouse

metamorphosed into the nationally known nationally the into metamorphosed brations in other cities and led to a national a to led and cities other in brations ENIKAlley Coffeehouse at 816 I St NE. The NE. St I 816 at Coffeehouse ENIKAlley

Capitolites (MCs) club at 221 Riggs Rd NE Rd Riggs 221 at club (MCs) Capitolites Black Gay Pride soon spawned similar cele- similar spawned soon Pride Gay Black (established in 1978) helped create the create helped 1978) in (established

Caverns on U St NW. The Metropolitan The NW. St U on Caverns to raise funds for people with AIDS. DC’s AIDS. with people for funds raise to cal organization, the DC Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition DC the organization, cal

Gardens and the Crystal (later ‘Bohemian’) (later Crystal the and Gardens celebration, also on Memorial Day weekend, Day Memorial on also celebration, DC’s first enduring African-American gay politi- gay African-American enduring first DC’s

to the 1920s and 1930s, are the Republic the are 1930s, and 1920s the to lowed a year later by creation of a Black Pride Black a of creation by later year a lowed gendered from around the country. the around from gendered

Two of the best known early clubs, dating clubs, early known best the of Two of the Children’s Hour celebrations) was fol- was celebrations) Hour Children’s the of American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans- and bisexuals lesbians, gays, American

1980s. The demise of the Clubhouse in 1990 (and 1990 in Clubhouse the of demise The end in DC. The annual event drew African- drew event annual The DC. in end

and for reacting to the AIDS crisis of the of crisis AIDS the to reacting for and holistic approach to HIV, was founded. founded. was HIV, to approach holistic Memorial Day weekend as black gay party week- party gay black as weekend Day Memorial

later social and political organization in DC, in organization political and social later an important an Children’s Hour celebration helped establish helped celebration Hour Children’s

decades. Social clubs provided a basis for basis a provided clubs Social decades. Us Helping Us, Helping Us ing on the weekend. The ClubHouse’s The weekend. the on ing

bians, and mixed groups over the next two next the over groups mixed and bians, base on which on base location for danc- for location the as reigned ClubHouse the

spawned dozens of social clubs for gays, les- gays, for clubs social of dozens spawned became the became Upshur Street NW. From 1975 to 1990 years, 1990 to 1975 From NW. Street Upshur

Club, and the Metropolitan Capitolites, Metropolitan the and Club, AIDS in 1983. It 1983. in AIDS

Group, the Pinochle the Group, munity forum on forum munity

local social clubs, The clubs, social local American com- American

ized level. The first The level. ized first African- first

party to a more organ- more a to party sponsored the sponsored

that took the house the took that the Clubhouse the

the 1960s, social clubs social 1960s, the in the Eighties, the in

spots around town. In town. around spots Washington, DC Washington, the ClubHouse, the MCs’ third club, at 1296 at club, third MCs’ the ClubHouse, the

Ballroom and other and Ballroom ground in ground But for many years, the top club in town was town in club top the years, many for But

held events at the Palm the at events held epidemic gained epidemic dance and show spot after 1978. after spot show and dance

Group (1968) which (1968) Group As the AIDS the As Capitol Hill, the Bachelor’s Mill became a major a became Mill Bachelor’s the Hill, Capitol

social clubs like The like clubs social themselves within the larger GLBT community. community. GLBT larger the within themselves Brass Rail clubs in the Franklin Square area. On area. Square Franklin the in clubs Rail Brass

Those who couldn’t party at home started home at party couldn’t who Those riences, tactics, and goals for representing for goals and tactics, riences, have spurred the popularity of LaZambra and the and LaZambra of popularity the spurred have

Weld Grimke, Alain Locke and others. and Locke Alain Grimke, Weld for gays and lesbians of color to discuss expe- discuss to color of lesbians and gays for The loss of uptown clubs in 1968 seems to seems 1968 in clubs uptown of loss The

Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, Angelina Nugent, Bruce Richard Hughes, conference was an important first opportunity first important an was conference venue for black gay men. men. gay black for venue

at 1461 S St. NW drew Langston drew NW St. S 1461 at Nighters site of Howard University bookstore). The bookstore). University Howard of site opened in the Brookland section of NE as a as NE of section Brookland the in opened

Saturday decade. the in later aissance 1979 at the Harambee House Hotel (now the (now Hotel House Harambee the at 1979 Dupont’s first real gay club, the Delta Elite Delta the club, gay real first Dupont’s

lesbian, or bisexual, who fueled Harlem’s ren- Harlem’s fueled who bisexual, or lesbian, staged the Third World Conference in October in Conference World Third the staged time that George Dotson opened Mr. P’s, Mr. opened Dotson George that time

circle of writers and artists, many of them gay, them of many artists, and writers of circle and the National Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition National the and African American GLBT community. At the same the At community. GLBT American African

for a for Nighters Saturday for home Street S her candidates for local offices. The DC Coalition DC The offices. local for candidates opening of clubs and social spaces for the for spaces social and clubs of opening

inspired Georgia Douglas Johnson to open to Johnson Douglas Georgia inspired pressed for an end to carding, and screened and carding, to end an for pressed The Seventies saw an acceleration in the in acceleration an saw Seventies The

Even earlier, in the mid-20s, Jean Toomer Jean mid-20s, the in earlier, Even yfrmo aimi h LTcommunity, GLBT the in racism on forum ty Howard University’s gay male students. students. male gay University’s Howard

and the Cozy Corner, a favorite hangout of hangout favorite a Corner, Cozy the and great place to see and meet theater performers, theater meet and see to place great

used by Us Helping Us to reach out to the commu- nity. African-American gay bars in the country. It A [26] Zodiac/Third World/Sugar Kane Palace, 221 reportedly operated as a private club from Riggs Rd NE — (demolished 2003) Started by the 1953 until 1957, when it opened to the public. Metropolitan Capitolites African-American social F The owners have included James E. Jones, group, the Zodiac Den became one of the few Leonard Kelly, Wayne Hill, Riley Campbell, remaining club options following the loss of many and Robert Jones. The club was known for clubs in the fires of April 1968. The original owners R its African-American drag shows, the ‘stump were Aundrea Scott, John Reddy, and Morrell bunch’ of veteran customers, and Sunday Chasten. What started as a house party at 4011 night gospel. The club has been a major sup- 14th St NW, moved to the basement at 221 Riggs I porter of the annual Black Gay Pride celebra- Road under Ben’s Hideaway (a straight biker bar) tions. Aundrea Scott recalled, “We needed more space so Washington’s social scene still s we found this little, honky-tonk, country and western Cs shows the effects of decades of r [23] The Palm Ballroom, 4211 Georgia Ave club at Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave. We r segregation (official and commer- NW — In the 1960s and 1970s, the Palm moved into the basement apartment and operated cially-inspired). In many ways, Ballroom was an important site for events off the owner’s liquor license.” When the MCs A Washington, DC is still separate in sponsored by African-American social clubs, took over the whole building a year later, they its racial and ethnic social circles. among them The Group and the Best of renamed it The Third World. Segregation, both legal and Washington. It was also one of the few ven- N informal, made Washington, DC a ues in the 1960s that would rent space for city of house parties and social drag pageants and shows. clubs, especially for African- Americans. These traditional [24] Republic Gardens & Cafeteria, 1355 U social outlets have in turn St NW — The club was at 1350 U St from spawned community organiza- 1929 to 1932. It was gay-friendly and interra- A tions, political groupings, and com- cial in the 20s and 30s. “The Republic mercial clubs. Even after official Gardens was a large restaurant-bar with a segregation had ended, informal completely gay backroom, which you reached collects, preserves and promotes M the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered segregation was enforced by pri- by walking up some steps... If a policeman history of metropolitan Washington, DC. vate clubs’ carding policies: walked in the door, the vocalist would let us demanding multiple picture IDs know by Singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ from the E SPONSORS: from the African-Americans, Gay DC Tou Gay Broadway musical Irene.”—Ladd Forrester. Best of Washington, DC Coalition, DC Tou Gay women, Latinos, and drag queens Darren Buckner, Darrin Glymph, R they didn’t want to admit. [25] Us Helping Us, 819 L St Faith Temple, Donald Burch, Washington has long been SE — Incorporated in 1988 Lilli Vincenz & Nancy Davis, known for its house parties. In the as a response to growing A Billy S Jones & Chris Henning days when races socialized sepa- numbers of HIV + and AIDS I SUPPORT Rainbow History — donate: rately and public same-sex danc- cases among African- ing wasn’t allowed, house parties Americans, Us Helping Us 1225 I St NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 C answere the community’s need to focused on holistic treatments socialize. Stories still circulate of and education in the commu- 202.907.9007 weekend-long and week-long par- [email protected] nity. Owners and managers ties. House parties at 4011 14th www.rainbowhistory.org A of the Clubhouse noticed in St. outgrew the Metropolitan 1985 that many members All photographs © Patsy Lynch Capitolites’ space, so they opened were dying or disappearing Design by Gina M. Farthing Text & layout by Mark Meinke N the Zodiac at 221 Riggs Rd. NE. from events as they became ill and decided a © Rainbow History Project 2004 community response was necessary. This address at 819 L St SE was the first location

just off Georgia Avenue, were Cecelia’s, a Cecelia’s, were Avenue, Georgia off just

early 1980s. early

New York City). Near the Howard Theatre, Howard the Near City). York New

moter Marc King managed The Mill in the in Mill The managed King Marc moter

later founded the drag House of Pend’avis in Pend’avis of House drag the founded later

The DC Coalition convened the first communi- first the convened Coalition DC The

address at 1104 8th St SE. Local drag pro- drag Local SE. St 8th 1104 at address

Avis Pend’avis (a graduate of Dunbar HS who HS Dunbar of graduate (a Pend’avis Avis music and literature. literature. and music

ues. In 1984, the club moved to its current its to moved club the 1984, In ues.

hosted by female impersonators Peaches and Peaches impersonators female by hosted ated new styles, media, and themes in GLBT in themes and media, styles, new ated

African-American dance clubs and drag ven- drag and clubs dance African-American

Tivoli on upper 14th St NW, featured shows featured NW, St 14th upper on Tivoli Gideon Ferebee, Wayson Jones and others cre- others and Jones Wayson Ferebee, Gideon

years, the club has been one of the main the of one been has club the years,

upper Northwest. Bob-Inn, across from the from across Bob-Inn, Northwest. upper Hemphill, Michelle Parkerson, Garth Tate, Garth Parkerson, Michelle Hemphill,

called The Bachelor’s Mill. For more than 25 than more For Mill. Bachelor’s The called A number of gay-friendly clubs emerged in emerged clubs gay-friendly of number A Coffeehouse, and later at dc space, Essex space, dc at later and Coffeehouse,

Club Madame, became a male-oriented club male-oriented a became Madame, Club black gay clubs, opened to the public in 1957. in public the to opened clubs, gay black Douglas Johnson’s Saturday Nighters. At the At Nighters. Saturday Johnson’s Douglas

In December 1978, BB Gatch’s women’s club, women’s Gatch’s BB 1978, December In one of the nation’s oldest and most enduring most and oldest nation’s the of one aissance in the city, sixty years after Georgia after years sixty city, the in aissance

, 500 & 1104 8th St SE — SE St 8th 1104 & 500 , Mill Bachelor’s ] [1] the city’s oldest longest running gay club and club gay running longest oldest city’s the generated a second African-American gay ren- gay African-American second a generated

ized Nob Hill. Originally a straight restaurant, straight a Originally Hill. Nob ized and lesbian poets, writers, and musicians that musicians and writers, poets, lesbian and

Clubhouse. A private group of men organ- men of group private A Clubhouse. association of Black Prides. Black of association Coffeehouse was a crucial performance for gay for performance crucial a was Coffeehouse

metamorphosed into the nationally known nationally the into metamorphosed brations in other cities and led to a national a to led and cities other in brations ENIKAlley Coffeehouse at 816 I St NE. The NE. St I 816 at Coffeehouse ENIKAlley

Capitolites (MCs) club at 221 Riggs Rd NE Rd Riggs 221 at club (MCs) Capitolites Black Gay Pride soon spawned similar cele- similar spawned soon Pride Gay Black (established in 1978) helped create the create helped 1978) in (established

Caverns on U St NW. The Metropolitan The NW. St U on Caverns to raise funds for people with AIDS. DC’s AIDS. with people for funds raise to cal organization, the DC Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition DC the organization, cal

Gardens and the Crystal (later ‘Bohemian’) (later Crystal the and Gardens celebration, also on Memorial Day weekend, Day Memorial on also celebration, DC’s first enduring African-American gay politi- gay African-American enduring first DC’s

to the 1920s and 1930s, are the Republic the are 1930s, and 1920s the to lowed a year later by creation of a Black Pride Black a of creation by later year a lowed gendered from around the country. the around from gendered

Two of the best known early clubs, dating clubs, early known best the of Two of the Children’s Hour celebrations) was fol- was celebrations) Hour Children’s the of American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans- and bisexuals lesbians, gays, American

1980s. The demise of the Clubhouse in 1990 (and 1990 in Clubhouse the of demise The end in DC. The annual event drew African- drew event annual The DC. in end

and for reacting to the AIDS crisis of the of crisis AIDS the to reacting for and holistic approach to HIV, was founded. founded. was HIV, to approach holistic Memorial Day weekend as black gay party week- party gay black as weekend Day Memorial

later social and political organization in DC, in organization political and social later an important an Children’s Hour celebration helped establish helped celebration Hour Children’s

decades. Social clubs provided a basis for basis a provided clubs Social decades. Us Helping Us, Helping Us ing on the weekend. The ClubHouse’s The weekend. the on ing

bians, and mixed groups over the next two next the over groups mixed and bians, base on which on base location for danc- for location the as reigned ClubHouse the

spawned dozens of social clubs for gays, les- gays, for clubs social of dozens spawned became the became Upshur Street NW. From 1975 to 1990 years, 1990 to 1975 From NW. Street Upshur

Club, and the Metropolitan Capitolites, Metropolitan the and Club, AIDS in 1983. It 1983. in AIDS

Group, the Pinochle the Group, munity forum on forum munity

local social clubs, The clubs, social local American com- American

ized level. The first The level. ized first African- first

party to a more organ- more a to party sponsored the sponsored

that took the house the took that the Clubhouse the

the 1960s, social clubs social 1960s, the in the Eighties, the in

spots around town. In town. around spots Washington, DC Washington, the ClubHouse, the MCs’ third club, at 1296 at club, third MCs’ the ClubHouse, the

Ballroom and other and Ballroom ground in ground But for many years, the top club in town was town in club top the years, many for But

held events at the Palm the at events held epidemic gained epidemic dance and show spot after 1978. after spot show and dance

Group (1968) which (1968) Group As the AIDS the As Capitol Hill, the Bachelor’s Mill became a major a became Mill Bachelor’s the Hill, Capitol

social clubs like The like clubs social themselves within the larger GLBT community. community. GLBT larger the within themselves Brass Rail clubs in the Franklin Square area. On area. Square Franklin the in clubs Rail Brass

Those who couldn’t party at home started home at party couldn’t who Those riences, tactics, and goals for representing for goals and tactics, riences, have spurred the popularity of LaZambra and the and LaZambra of popularity the spurred have

Weld Grimke, Alain Locke and others. and Locke Alain Grimke, Weld for gays and lesbians of color to discuss expe- discuss to color of lesbians and gays for The loss of uptown clubs in 1968 seems to seems 1968 in clubs uptown of loss The

Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, Angelina Nugent, Bruce Richard Hughes, conference was an important first opportunity first important an was conference venue for black gay men. men. gay black for venue

at 1461 S St. NW drew Langston drew NW St. S 1461 at Nighters site of Howard University bookstore). The bookstore). University Howard of site opened in the Brookland section of NE as a as NE of section Brookland the in opened

Saturday decade. the in later aissance 1979 at the Harambee House Hotel (now the (now Hotel House Harambee the at 1979 Dupont’s first real gay club, the Delta Elite Delta the club, gay real first Dupont’s

lesbian, or bisexual, who fueled Harlem’s ren- Harlem’s fueled who bisexual, or lesbian, staged the Third World Conference in October in Conference World Third the staged time that George Dotson opened Mr. P’s, Mr. opened Dotson George that time

circle of writers and artists, many of them gay, them of many artists, and writers of circle and the National Coalition of Black Gays Black of Coalition National the and African American GLBT community. At the same the At community. GLBT American African

for a for Nighters Saturday for home Street S her candidates for local offices. The DC Coalition DC The offices. local for candidates opening of clubs and social spaces for the for spaces social and clubs of opening

inspired Georgia Douglas Johnson to open to Johnson Douglas Georgia inspired pressed for an end to carding, and screened and carding, to end an for pressed The Seventies saw an acceleration in the in acceleration an saw Seventies The

Even earlier, in the mid-20s, Jean Toomer Jean mid-20s, the in earlier, Even yfrmo aimi h LTcommunity, GLBT the in racism on forum ty Howard University’s gay male students. students. male gay University’s Howard

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used by Us Helping Us to reach out to the commu- nity. African-American gay bars in the country. It A [26] Zodiac/Third World/Sugar Kane Palace, 221 reportedly operated as a private club from Riggs Rd NE — (demolished 2003) Started by the 1953 until 1957, when it opened to the public. Metropolitan Capitolites African-American social F The owners have included James E. Jones, group, the Zodiac Den became one of the few Leonard Kelly, Wayne Hill, Riley Campbell, remaining club options following the loss of many and Robert Jones. The club was known for clubs in the fires of April 1968. The original owners R its African-American drag shows, the ‘stump were Aundrea Scott, John Reddy, and Morrell bunch’ of veteran customers, and Sunday Chasten. What started as a house party at 4011 night gospel. The club has been a major sup- 14th St NW, moved to the basement at 221 Riggs I porter of the annual Black Gay Pride celebra- Road under Ben’s Hideaway (a straight biker bar) tions. Aundrea Scott recalled, “We needed more space so Washington’s social scene still s we found this little, honky-tonk, country and western Cs shows the effects of decades of r [23] The Palm Ballroom, 4211 Georgia Ave club at Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave. We r segregation (official and commer- NW — In the 1960s and 1970s, the Palm moved into the basement apartment and operated cially-inspired). In many ways, Ballroom was an important site for events off the owner’s liquor license.” When the MCs A Washington, DC is still separate in sponsored by African-American social clubs, took over the whole building a year later, they its racial and ethnic social circles. among them The Group and the Best of renamed it The Third World. Segregation, both legal and Washington. It was also one of the few ven- N informal, made Washington, DC a ues in the 1960s that would rent space for city of house parties and social drag pageants and shows. clubs, especially for African- Americans. These traditional [24] Republic Gardens & Cafeteria, 1355 U social outlets have in turn St NW — The club was at 1350 U St from spawned community organiza- 1929 to 1932. It was gay-friendly and interra- A tions, political groupings, and com- cial in the 20s and 30s. “The Republic mercial clubs. Even after official Gardens was a large restaurant-bar with a segregation had ended, informal completely gay backroom, which you reached collects, preserves and promotes M the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered segregation was enforced by pri- by walking up some steps... If a policeman history of metropolitan Washington, DC. vate clubs’ carding policies: walked in the door, the vocalist would let us demanding multiple picture IDs know by Singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ from the E SPONSORS: from the African-Americans, Gay DC Tou Gay Broadway musical Irene.”—Ladd Forrester. Best of Washington, DC Coalition, DC Tou Gay women, Latinos, and drag queens Darren Buckner, Darrin Glymph, R they didn’t want to admit. [25] Us Helping Us, 819 L St Faith Temple, Donald Burch, Washington has long been SE — Incorporated in 1988 Lilli Vincenz & Nancy Davis, known for its house parties. In the as a response to growing A Billy S Jones & Chris Henning days when races socialized sepa- numbers of HIV + and AIDS I SUPPORT Rainbow History — donate: rately and public same-sex danc- cases among African- ing wasn’t allowed, house parties Americans, Us Helping Us 1225 I St NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 C answere the community’s need to focused on holistic treatments socialize. Stories still circulate of and education in the commu- 202.907.9007 weekend-long and week-long par- [email protected] nity. Owners and managers ties. House parties at 4011 14th www.rainbowhistory.org A of the Clubhouse noticed in St. outgrew the Metropolitan 1985 that many members All photographs © Patsy Lynch Capitolites’ space, so they opened were dying or disappearing Design by Gina M. Farthing Text & layout by Mark Meinke N the Zodiac at 221 Riggs Rd. NE. from events as they became ill and decided a © Rainbow History Project 2004 community response was necessary. This address at 819 L St SE was the first location