D U P O N T C I R C

Home , Dupont Circle, P Street, Washington Circle

counseling group. In 1987, when the Catholic arch- Catholic the when 1987, In group. counseling S on house Front Liberation Gay the NW, Street R

Gay Men’s Counseling Collective, an early peer early an Collective, Counseling Men’s Gay on Center Women’s the With gays. for center club

30 years. In the early 70s, it provided space for the for space provided it 70s, early the In years. 30 the increasingly was Dupont 80s, early the By Maccubbin’s Lambda Rising sponsored the event (and event the sponsored Rising Lambda Maccubbin’s

nity for over for nity town. in be to place gay newest in front of the Community Building. Deacon Building. Community the of front in

bian commu- bian the became quickly Circle Dupont customers, DC celebrated the first official Gay Pride celebration Pride Gay official first the celebrated DC

gay and les- and gay gay for competing Fireplace the and Badlands), — On June 22, 1975, 22, June On — 20th St.between R and S and R St.between 20th [2]

supported the supported become to (soon Hurrah Last the rear), St. P

Church has Church (2122 House Fraternity the With hangout. popular gay bulletin board of activities. of board bulletin gay

Episcopal a became quickly and Circle, Dupont and block’ community centers, 1724 was a community center, the center, community a was 1724 centers, community

Margaret’s ‘the between traffic foot the along located was bookstore, Lambda Rising. Before and after official after and Before Rising. Lambda bookstore,

— St. — club, Dotson’s P’s Mr. NW. St. P 2147 at Cahill’s ve. A and grew in three years into the independent gay independent the into years three in grew and

George Dotson took over an Irish pub called pub Irish an over took Dotson George Connecticut more. A corner of Earthworks carried gay publications gay carried Earthworks of corner A more.

none in the Dupont area until March 1976 when 1976 March until area Dupont the in none 1820 [4] backs, the Gay Switchboard, gay youth groups, and groups, youth gay Switchboard, Gay the backs,

and gay-friendly clubs in Georgetown, there were there Georgetown, in clubs gay-friendly and northwest DC, housing at times the Blade, off our off Blade, the times at housing DC, northwest

Dumbarton Street NW. Though there were gay were there Though NW. Street Dumbarton 1625 Connecticut Ave. Connecticut 1625 to moved and [5] o oto h 0,tebidn a gycnrl for central’ ‘gay was building the 70s, the of most For

cruising area in Georgetown centered at 31st and 31st at centered Georgetown in area cruising Lambda Rising had outgrown its premises again premises its outgrown had Rising Lambda Committee, and more. and Committee,

between Dupont Circle and ‘the block’, a major a block’, ‘the and Circle Dupont between for author readings and book signings. By 1984, By signings. book and readings author for Panthers Defense Panthers

Street saw a constant flow of gay men gay of flow constant a saw Street P groups. The S Street location also provided room provided also location Street S The groups. Hotline, the Black the Hotline,

ing place for nascent community organizations. organizations. community nascent for place ing opportunity to offer meeting space to community to space meeting offer to opportunity University, the DC the University,

and lesbian periodicals, a gay hotline, and a meet- a and hotline, gay a periodicals, lesbian and provided much more space, two floors, and the and floors, two space, more much provided ashington Area Free Area ashington W

building became home to gay youth groups, gay groups, youth gay to home became building ner to a new location on S Street. The new location new The Street. S on location new a to ner became home to the to home became

munity business. Under his management, the management, his Under business. munity around the cor- the around Community Building Community

Lambda Rising, the first and most enduring com- enduring most and first the Rising, Lambda 20th Street 20th a ‘headshop’. The ‘headshop’. a

Maccubbin created first Earthworks and then and Earthworks first created Maccubbin Building on Building turned it into Earthworks, into it turned

building became ‘gay central’ as Deacon as central’ ‘gay became building Community ture crafts store, and store, crafts ture

home to counterculture groups and craft shops, the shops, craft and groups counterculture to home from the from Alternative, a countercul- a Alternative,

an official Gay Community Center. Originally Center. Community Gay official an Rising moved Rising Maccubbin took over The over took Maccubbin

became a gay ‘community center’ before there was there before center’ ‘community gay a became 1977, Lambda 1977, activity. In 1971, Deacon 1971, In activity.

The Community Building, at 1724 20th St. 20th 1724 at Building, Community The — In May In — counterculture anti-war counterculture

papers, were located near Dupont Circle. Dupont near located were papers, 2012 S St. S 2012 [3] 70s was at the heart of heart the at was 70s

Free Press, local underground and movement news- movement and underground local Press, Free ing’ of the 60s and early and 60s the of ing’

the day. The Quicksilver Times and the Washington the and Times Quicksilver The day. the . grounds School [17] the ‘Community Build- ‘Community the

Clubs in the area showcased the emerging music of music emerging the showcased area the in Clubs 1977). In 1980, the fest moved to the Frances the to moved fest the 1980, In 1977). — 1724 20th Street 20th 1724 [1]

ate fie,adohr‘oeet institutions. ‘movement’ other and offices, Panther spread around the corner onto S Street beginning in beginning Street S onto corner the around spread

ashington Area Free University, free clinics, Black clinics, free University, Free Area ashington W Pride festivals centered on this block (though they (though block this on centered festivals Pride hog u history. our through

gay publications, Dupont was home to the to home was Dupont publications, gay dinated by Bob Carpenter. For the next four years, four next the For Carpenter. Bob by dinated ake a walk a ake T

Before gay rap groups, gay youth groups, and groups, youth gay groups, rap gay Before by the 1972 Pride Fest. The 1975 event was coor- was event 1975 The Fest. Pride 1972 the by

vided anchors for counterculture activities. activities. counterculture for anchors vided in a tradition set tradition a in space in Dupont Circle and areas to the east. the to areas and Circle Dupont in space

and the ‘Community Building’ on 20th Street pro- Street 20th on Building’ ‘Community the and Prides, following Prides, preneurs and club owners increasingly looked for looked increasingly owners club and preneurs

NW (relocating from the Washington Circle area) Circle Washington the from (relocating NW of annual Gay annual of Franklin Square and New York Avenue areas, entre- areas, Avenue York New and Square Franklin

fpoet h omnt okhpo Street P on Bookshop Community The protest. of began DC’s series DC’s began velopment closed down older clubs in the 9th Street, 9th the in clubs older down closed velopment

lesbian activists of the Seventies learned the tactics the learned Seventies the of activists lesbian of the event, and event, the of numbers of gay men and women in the area. As rede- As area. the in women and men gay of numbers

environment in which many of the young gay and gay young the of many which in environment DC recognition DC began offering ‘gay’ nights to draw business from the from business draw to nights ‘gay’ offering began

ter of antiwar activism and the counterculture, an counterculture, the and activism antiwar of ter 1980), got official got 1980), to o hc ti tl nw.Lcl‘tagt clubs ‘straight’ Local known. still is it which for ethos

In the 1960s, the Dupont Circle area was a cen- a was area Circle Dupont the 1960s, the In did so until so did many in the community and began taking on the gay the on taking began and community the in many

areas to the east, Dupont Circle became the center for center the became Circle Dupont east, the to areas Street and newer businesses in the (less expensive) (less the in businesses newer and Street

club was renamed Dupont Circle area. Owner George Dotson opened Omega. The fire that the restaurant and club following the closure of closed the Cobalt club D Grand Central. The club has been an important on 17th St. NW in venue for drag shows for many years. Erica Kane December 1998 led and Xavier Bloomingdale have been two of the Cobalt’s drag show best known drag hostesses at the club. troupe to relocate U here as the Diva Las [14] 2161 P St. — Vegas show. The location has P been a restaurant and [17] Frances School grounds s bar for decades. s r & P Street Beach — At 23rd r Originally a straight and P Street, the grassy field restaurant known as running down to the banks of O the Fireplace, it Rock Creek has long been a became a gay bar night time cruising area for gay known as P Street men. In 1972, P Street Beach Station until the early N was one of the sites used for the 90s when it reverted city’s first (and unofficial) Pride to the Fireplace celebration. After 1980 and the name. The club is the latest employer of popular move of annual Pride celebra- T bartender Judy Stevens. Following the closure of tions to the Frances School THE AREA AROUND DUPONT the Circle bar, the Fireplace attracted much of the grounds, P Street Beach became CIRCLE became one of the places to Circle’s African-American clientele. an adjunct of those events. Since 2000, it has also become be and to be seen for Washington, the site of the annual Youth Pride festival. DC’s gay, bisexual, transgendered and [15] 1415 22nd lesbian communities in the 1970s. St. NW — Site of Until the early Seventies, the major Badlands, the C social areas for gays and lesbians Annex and the were Capitol Hill (primarily 8th Street Apex (Glenn SE and areas along South Capitol Thompson’s club), DC Walking Tou Walking DC DC Walking Tou Walking DC Steet), the Franklin Square and Badlands followed I Lafayette Square areas, the bus station the dance club Last THE RAINBOW HISTORY PROJECT area on New York Avenue, and 9th Hurrah, at this loca- collects, preserves and promotes Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue tion. The site is one of Washington, DC’s most the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered R to New York Avenue NW. enduring gay and lesbian dance clubs. For many history of metropolitan Washington, DC. Gay Gay The Circle itself and Connecticut years it was managed by ‘Sophie Tucker’, a Avenue have been cruising areas for female impersonator and member of the Academy Rainbow History Project Sponsored by generations of gay men. “Jeb Alexan- (DC’s oldest social organization). It has also P.O. Box 11013 C der” and others have memories of become the site of many Miss Capitol Pride pag- Washington, DC 20008 eants, annual Christmas parties hosted by the 202.907.9007 cruising Connecticut and the Circle Mayor and hosts a weekly Liquid Ladies event on [email protected] for most of the 20th century. Another Saturday nights. www.rainbowhistory.org L cruising spot was a small triangular park along Massachusetts Avenue and All photographs © Patsy Lynch 21st St. NW just a block or two west [16] 2122 P St. rear — Formerly a stable (and a Design by Gina M. Farthing restaurant of that name). Glenn Thompson opened ©Rainbow History Project 2003 E of the Circle. the Fraternity House here in 1976, several months after George Dotson opened Mr. P’s. In 1997, the Street and newer businesses in the (less expensive) areas to the east, Dupont Circle became the center for In the 1960s, the Dupont Circle area was a cen- many in the community and began taking on the gay did so until ter of antiwar activism and the counterculture, an ethos for which it is still known. Local ‘straight’ clubs 1980), got official environment in which many of the young gay and began offering ‘gay’ nights to draw business from the DC recognition lesbian activists of the Seventies learned the tactics numbers of gay men and women in the area. As rede- of the event, and of protest. The Community Bookshop on P Street velopment closed down older clubs in the 9th Street, began DC’s series NW (relocating from the Washington Circle area) Franklin Square and New York Avenue areas, entre- of annual Gay and the ‘Community Building’ on 20th Street pro- preneurs and club owners increasingly looked for Prides, following vided anchors for counterculture activities. space in Dupont Circle and areas to the east. in a tradition set Before gay rap groups, gay youth groups, and by the 1972 Pride Fest. The 1975 event was coor- gay publications, Dupont was home to the Take a walk dinated by Bob Carpenter. For the next four years, Washington Area Free University, free clinics, Black through our history. Pride festivals centered on this block (though they Panther offices, and other ‘movement’ institutions. spread around the corner onto S Street beginning in Clubs in the area showcased the emerging music of [1] 1724 20th Street — 1977). In 1980, the fest moved to the Frances the day. The Quicksilver Times and the Washington the ‘Community Build- School grounds [17]. Free Press, local underground and movement news- ing’ of the 60s and early papers, were located near Dupont Circle. 70s was at the heart of [3] 2012 S St. The Community Building, at 1724 20th St. counterculture anti-war — In May became a gay ‘community center’ before there was activity. In 1971, Deacon 1977, Lambda an official Gay Community Center. Originally Maccubbin took over The Rising moved home to counterculture groups and craft shops, the Alternative, a countercul- from the building became ‘gay central’ as Deacon ture crafts store, and Community Maccubbin created first Earthworks and then turned it into Earthworks, Building on Lambda Rising, the first and most enduring com- a ‘headshop’. The 20th Street munity business. Under his management, the Community Building around the cor- building became home to gay youth groups, gay became home to the ner to a new location on S Street. The new location and lesbian periodicals, a gay hotline, and a meet- Washington Area Free provided much more space, two floors, and the ing place for nascent community organizations. University, the DC opportunity to offer meeting space to community PStreet saw a constant flow of gay men Hotline, the Black groups. The S Street location also provided room between Dupont Circle and ‘the block’, a major Panthers Defense for author readings and book signings. By 1984, cruising area in Georgetown centered at 31st and Committee, and more. Lambda Rising had outgrown its premises again Dumbarton Street NW. Though there were gay For most of the 70s, the building was ‘gay central’ for and moved to [5] 1625 Connecticut Ave. and gay-friendly clubs in Georgetown, there were northwest DC, housing at times the Blade, off our none in the Dupont area until March 1976 when backs, the Gay Switchboard, gay youth groups, and [4] 1820 George Dotson took over an Irish pub called more. A corner of Earthworks carried gay publications Connecticut Cahill’s at 2147 P St. NW. Mr. P’s Dotson’s club, and grew in three years into the independent gay Ave. — St. was located along the foot traffic between ‘the bookstore, Lambda Rising. Before and after official Margaret’s block’ and Dupont Circle, and quickly became a community centers, 1724 was a community center, the Episcopal popular hangout. With the Fraternity House (2122 gay bulletin board of activities. Church has PSt. rear), the Last Hurrah (soon to become supported the Badlands), and the Fireplace competing for gay [2] 20th St.between R and S — On June 22, 1975, gay and les- customers, Dupont Circle quickly became the DC celebrated the first official Gay Pride celebration bian commu- newest gay place to be in town. in front of the Community Building. Deacon nity for over By the early 80s, Dupont was increasingly the Maccubbin’s Lambda Rising sponsored the event (and 30 years. In the early 70s, it provided space for the club center for gays. With the Women’s Center on Gay Men’s Counseling Collective, an early peer R Street NW, the Gay Liberation Front house on S counseling group. In 1987, when the Catholic arch- Street and newer businesses in the (less expensive) areas to the east, Dupont Circle became the center for In the 1960s, the Dupont Circle area was a cen- many in the community and began taking on the gay did so until ter of antiwar activism and the counterculture, an ethos for which it is still known. Local ‘straight’ clubs 1980), got official environment in which many of the young gay and began offering ‘gay’ nights to draw business from the DC recognition lesbian activists of the Seventies learned the tactics numbers of gay men and women in the area. As rede- of the event, and of protest. The Community Bookshop on P Street velopment closed down older clubs in the 9th Street, began DC’s series NW (relocating from the Washington Circle area) Franklin Square and New York Avenue areas, entre- of annual Gay and the ‘Community Building’ on 20th Street pro- preneurs and club owners increasingly looked for Prides, following vided anchors for counterculture activities. space in Dupont Circle and areas to the east. in a tradition set Before gay rap groups, gay youth groups, and by the 1972 Pride Fest. The 1975 event was coor- gay publications, Dupont was home to the Take a walk dinated by Bob Carpenter. For the next four years, Washington Area Free University, free clinics, Black through our history. Pride festivals centered on this block (though they Panther offices, and other ‘movement’ institutions. spread around the corner onto S Street beginning in Clubs in the area showcased the emerging music of [1] 1724 20th Street — 1977). In 1980, the fest moved to the Frances the day. The Quicksilver Times and the Washington the ‘Community Build- School grounds [17]. Free Press, local underground and movement news- ing’ of the 60s and early papers, were located near Dupont Circle. 70s was at the heart of [3] 2012 S St. The Community Building, at 1724 20th St. counterculture anti-war — In May became a gay ‘community center’ before there was activity. In 1971, Deacon 1977, Lambda an official Gay Community Center. Originally Maccubbin took over The Rising moved home to counterculture groups and craft shops, the Alternative, a countercul- from the building became ‘gay central’ as Deacon ture crafts store, and Community Maccubbin created first Earthworks and then turned it into Earthworks, Building on Lambda Rising, the first and most enduring com- a ‘headshop’. The 20th Street munity business. Under his management, the Community Building around the cor- building became home to gay youth groups, gay became home to the ner to a new location on S Street. The new location and lesbian periodicals, a gay hotline, and a meet- Washington Area Free provided much more space, two floors, and the ing place for nascent community organizations. University, the DC opportunity to offer meeting space to community PStreet saw a constant flow of gay men Hotline, the Black groups. The S Street location also provided room between Dupont Circle and ‘the block’, a major Panthers Defense for author readings and book signings. By 1984, cruising area in Georgetown centered at 31st and Committee, and more. Lambda Rising had outgrown its premises again Dumbarton Street NW. Though there were gay For most of the 70s, the building was ‘gay central’ for and moved to [5] 1625 Connecticut Ave. and gay-friendly clubs in Georgetown, there were northwest DC, housing at times the Blade, off our none in the Dupont area until March 1976 when backs, the Gay Switchboard, gay youth groups, and [4] 1820 George Dotson took over an Irish pub called more. A corner of Earthworks carried gay publications Connecticut Cahill’s at 2147 P St. NW. Mr. P’s Dotson’s club, and grew in three years into the independent gay Ave. — St. was located along the foot traffic between ‘the bookstore, Lambda Rising. Before and after official Margaret’s block’ and Dupont Circle, and quickly became a community centers, 1724 was a community center, the Episcopal popular hangout. With the Fraternity House (2122 gay bulletin board of activities. Church has PSt. rear), the Last Hurrah (soon to become supported the Badlands), and the Fireplace competing for gay [2] 20th St.between R and S — On June 22, 1975, gay and les- customers, Dupont Circle quickly became the DC celebrated the first official Gay Pride celebration bian commu- newest gay place to be in town. in front of the Community Building. Deacon nity for over By the early 80s, Dupont was increasingly the Maccubbin’s Lambda Rising sponsored the event (and 30 years. In the early 70s, it provided space for the club center for gays. With the Women’s Center on Gay Men’s Counseling Collective, an early peer R Street NW, the Gay Liberation Front house on S counseling group. In 1987, when the Catholic arch- Street and newer businesses in the (less expensive) areas to the east, Dupont Circle became the center for In the 1960s, the Dupont Circle area was a cen- many in the community and began taking on the gay did so until ter of antiwar activism and the counterculture, an ethos for which it is still known. Local ‘straight’ clubs 1980), got official environment in which many of the young gay and began offering ‘gay’ nights to draw business from the DC recognition lesbian activists of the Seventies learned the tactics numbers of gay men and women in the area. As rede- of the event, and of protest. The Community Bookshop on P Street velopment closed down older clubs in the 9th Street, began DC’s series NW (relocating from the Washington Circle area) Franklin Square and New York Avenue areas, entre- of annual Gay and the ‘Community Building’ on 20th Street pro- preneurs and club owners increasingly looked for Prides, following vided anchors for counterculture activities. space in Dupont Circle and areas to the east. in a tradition set Before gay rap groups, gay youth groups, and by the 1972 Pride Fest. The 1975 event was coor- gay publications, Dupont was home to the Take a walk dinated by Bob Carpenter. For the next four years, Washington Area Free University, free clinics, Black through our history. Pride festivals centered on this block (though they Panther offices, and other ‘movement’ institutions. spread around the corner onto S Street beginning in Clubs in the area showcased the emerging music of [1] 1724 20th Street — 1977). In 1980, the fest moved to the Frances the day. The Quicksilver Times and the Washington the ‘Community Build- School grounds [17]. Free Press, local underground and movement news- ing’ of the 60s and early papers, were located near Dupont Circle. 70s was at the heart of [3] 2012 S St. The Community Building, at 1724 20th St. counterculture anti-war — In May became a gay ‘community center’ before there was activity. In 1971, Deacon 1977, Lambda an official Gay Community Center. Originally Maccubbin took over The Rising moved home to counterculture groups and craft shops, the Alternative, a countercul- from the building became ‘gay central’ as Deacon ture crafts store, and Community Maccubbin created first Earthworks and then turned it into Earthworks, Building on Lambda Rising, the first and most enduring com- a ‘headshop’. The 20th Street munity business. Under his management, the Community Building around the cor- building became home to gay youth groups, gay became home to the ner to a new location on S Street. The new location and lesbian periodicals, a gay hotline, and a meet- Washington Area Free provided much more space, two floors, and the ing place for nascent community organizations. University, the DC opportunity to offer meeting space to community PStreet saw a constant flow of gay men Hotline, the Black groups. The S Street location also provided room between Dupont Circle and ‘the block’, a major Panthers Defense for author readings and book signings. By 1984, cruising area in Georgetown centered at 31st and Committee, and more. Lambda Rising had outgrown its premises again Dumbarton Street NW. Though there were gay For most of the 70s, the building was ‘gay central’ for and moved to [5] 1625 Connecticut Ave. and gay-friendly clubs in Georgetown, there were northwest DC, housing at times the Blade, off our none in the Dupont area until March 1976 when backs, the Gay Switchboard, gay youth groups, and [4] 1820 George Dotson took over an Irish pub called more. A corner of Earthworks carried gay publications Connecticut Cahill’s at 2147 P St. NW. Mr. P’s Dotson’s club, and grew in three years into the independent gay Ave. — St. was located along the foot traffic between ‘the bookstore, Lambda Rising. Before and after official Margaret’s block’ and Dupont Circle, and quickly became a community centers, 1724 was a community center, the Episcopal popular hangout. With the Fraternity House (2122 gay bulletin board of activities. Church has PSt. rear), the Last Hurrah (soon to become supported the Badlands), and the Fireplace competing for gay [2] 20th St.between R and S — On June 22, 1975, gay and les- customers, Dupont Circle quickly became the DC celebrated the first official Gay Pride celebration bian commu- newest gay place to be in town. in front of the Community Building. Deacon nity for over By the early 80s, Dupont was increasingly the Maccubbin’s Lambda Rising sponsored the event (and 30 years. In the early 70s, it provided space for the club center for gays. With the Women’s Center on Gay Men’s Counseling Collective, an early peer R Street NW, the Gay Liberation Front house on S counseling group. In 1987, when the Catholic arch- diocese and Georgetown University expelled the gay 1986, Catholic group Dignity, St. Margaret’s offered Lammas, Dignity a haven. Dupont’s main gay show and dance clubs. Sparkle the Maharis, one of the city’s leading female imperson- women’s [5] 1629 Connecticut Ave. — The Circle ators, hosted many of the shows here. Her talent con- bookstore opened, finally, in 1994 after more than a year of tests and shows gave training and show openings to a and de negotiations and obstruction as the owners of generation of female impersonators. A third floor strip facto Rascals [7] moved their club across the Avenue. bar, Shooters, had a separate Riggs Court entrance women’s The Circle was racially mixed, with pool tables, a behind the building. communi- restaurant, and a dance floor. Sunday nights drew a ty center largely African-American crowd which spilled out [8] Dupont Circle — Since early in the 20th centu- opened its second branch here. Three years later, it of the building and down the sidewalk. ry, Dupont Circle has been a meeting place and a became the only branch of Lammas when the cruising area. Jeb Alexander, whose memoir Jeb and original Capitol Hill shop closed. Like Lambda Dash is a window on the gay world of the first half of Rising, Lammas hosted receptions, readings and the 20th century, records cruising the Circle. Since the book signings of interest to lesbians. 1970s, the Circle has held reviewing stands for the annual gay Pride parades, hosted the first Youth [12] Prides, been the starting point for Dyke Marches, and 2122 P St. a showground. Gay and lesbian marches and protests — For 12 start off from the Circle. years beginning [9] 1234 Connecticut Ave. — From the 1940s until in 1982, the 1960s, a series of restaurants beginning with the [6] 1625 Connecticut Ave. — Lambda Rising’s this was California Brick Kitchen occupied the site. Their late third location put the rainbow colors and gay visi- the site of hours accommodated gay men who sought an after- bility on one of northwest DC’s principal thorough- Friends, a hours gathering place when clubs in the Lafayette fares, Connecticut Avenue. Since 1984, the shop popular Square area closed for the night. Until the mid-70s, has been the spot for books, meeting people, book piano bar in the tradition of Johnnie’s on Capitol all clubs closed at midnight on weekends. Ironically, readings and signings, fundraisings at sidewalk Hill and other sing-along clubs. Pianist Carl the spot is currently occupied by yet another restau- tables, and community notices. Lambda Rising is Barnwell played here for many years. In the 90s, rant with “California” in its name, the California where out-of-towners go for information about gay the location was home to two popular Latino gay DC and where residents go to find out what’s hap- Pizza Kitchen. clubs: Escandalo (1994-1997) and Deco Cabana pening. The bookstore has been a de facto commu- (1998-2000). Both clubs hosted popular drag nity center for three decades. [10] 1913 N St. — (At this site, the house was shows and gave Latino gays and lesbians their demolished and replaced by a hotel). In 1885, own gathering place. [7] 1520 Mathilde Coxe Stevenson, a DC socialite and an Connecticut anthropologist studying southwestern Native [13] Ave. — This Americans, hosted the Zuni berdache, We’wha in her 2147 P St. was the en- home here during We’wha’s stay in Washington. The — Mr. P’s trance to ‘Zuni princess’ was the toast of Washington society opened in Rascals, and concluded a treaty between the Zuni and the US. March which for In 1908, it was revealed that We’wha was biologically 1976, the more than a male and followed a Native American tradition of liv- first gay decade, was ing as another gender. bar to sur- one of vive in the [11] 1426 21st St. — The building was very briefly home to a club called Dupont Station in 1970. In diocese and Georgetown University expelled the gay 1986, Catholic group Dignity, St. Margaret’s offered Lammas, Dignity a haven. Dupont’s main gay show and dance clubs. Sparkle the Maharis, one of the city’s leading female imperson- women’s [5] 1629 Connecticut Ave. — The Circle ators, hosted many of the shows here. Her talent con- bookstore opened, finally, in 1994 after more than a year of tests and shows gave training and show openings to a and de negotiations and obstruction as the owners of generation of female impersonators. A third floor strip facto Rascals [7] moved their club across the Avenue. bar, Shooters, had a separate Riggs Court entrance women’s The Circle was racially mixed, with pool tables, a behind the building. communi- restaurant, and a dance floor. Sunday nights drew a ty center largely African-American crowd which spilled out [8] Dupont Circle — Since early in the 20th centu- opened its second branch here. Three years later, it of the building and down the sidewalk. ry, Dupont Circle has been a meeting place and a became the only branch of Lammas when the cruising area. Jeb Alexander, whose memoir Jeb and original Capitol Hill shop closed. Like Lambda Dash is a window on the gay world of the first half of Rising, Lammas hosted receptions, readings and the 20th century, records cruising the Circle. Since the book signings of interest to lesbians. 1970s, the Circle has held reviewing stands for the annual gay Pride parades, hosted the first Youth [12] Prides, been the starting point for Dyke Marches, and 2122 P St. a showground. Gay and lesbian marches and protests — For 12 start off from the Circle. years beginning [9] 1234 Connecticut Ave. — From the 1940s until in 1982, the 1960s, a series of restaurants beginning with the [6] 1625 Connecticut Ave. — Lambda Rising’s this was California Brick Kitchen occupied the site. Their late third location put the rainbow colors and gay visi- the site of hours accommodated gay men who sought an after- bility on one of northwest DC’s principal thorough- Friends, a hours gathering place when clubs in the Lafayette fares, Connecticut Avenue. Since 1984, the shop popular Square area closed for the night. Until the mid-70s, has been the spot for books, meeting people, book piano bar in the tradition of Johnnie’s on Capitol all clubs closed at midnight on weekends. Ironically, readings and signings, fundraisings at sidewalk Hill and other sing-along clubs. Pianist Carl the spot is currently occupied by yet another restau- tables, and community notices. Lambda Rising is Barnwell played here for many years. In the 90s, rant with “California” in its name, the California where out-of-towners go for information about gay the location was home to two popular Latino gay DC and where residents go to find out what’s hap- Pizza Kitchen. clubs: Escandalo (1994-1997) and Deco Cabana pening. The bookstore has been a de facto commu- (1998-2000). Both clubs hosted popular drag nity center for three decades. [10] 1913 N St. — (At this site, the house was shows and gave Latino gays and lesbians their demolished and replaced by a hotel). In 1885, own gathering place. [7] 1520 Mathilde Coxe Stevenson, a DC socialite and an Connecticut anthropologist studying southwestern Native [13] Ave. — This Americans, hosted the Zuni berdache, We’wha in her 2147 P St. was the en- home here during We’wha’s stay in Washington. The — Mr. P’s trance to ‘Zuni princess’ was the toast of Washington society opened in Rascals, and concluded a treaty between the Zuni and the US. March which for In 1908, it was revealed that We’wha was biologically 1976, the more than a male and followed a Native American tradition of liv- first gay decade, was ing as another gender. bar to sur- one of vive in the [11] 1426 21st St. — The building was very briefly home to a club called Dupont Station in 1970. In diocese and Georgetown University expelled the gay 1986, Catholic group Dignity, St. Margaret’s offered Lammas, Dignity a haven. Dupont’s main gay show and dance clubs. Sparkle the Maharis, one of the city’s leading female imperson- women’s [5] 1629 Connecticut Ave. — The Circle ators, hosted many of the shows here. Her talent con- bookstore opened, finally, in 1994 after more than a year of tests and shows gave training and show openings to a and de negotiations and obstruction as the owners of generation of female impersonators. A third floor strip facto Rascals [7] moved their club across the Avenue. bar, Shooters, had a separate Riggs Court entrance women’s The Circle was racially mixed, with pool tables, a behind the building. communi- restaurant, and a dance floor. Sunday nights drew a ty center largely African-American crowd which spilled out [8] Dupont Circle — Since early in the 20th centu- opened its second branch here. Three years later, it of the building and down the sidewalk. ry, Dupont Circle has been a meeting place and a became the only branch of Lammas when the cruising area. Jeb Alexander, whose memoir Jeb and original Capitol Hill shop closed. Like Lambda Dash is a window on the gay world of the first half of Rising, Lammas hosted receptions, readings and the 20th century, records cruising the Circle. Since the book signings of interest to lesbians. 1970s, the Circle has held reviewing stands for the annual gay Pride parades, hosted the first Youth [12] Prides, been the starting point for Dyke Marches, and 2122 P St. a showground. Gay and lesbian marches and protests — For 12 start off from the Circle. years beginning [9] 1234 Connecticut Ave. — From the 1940s until in 1982, the 1960s, a series of restaurants beginning with the [6] 1625 Connecticut Ave. — Lambda Rising’s this was California Brick Kitchen occupied the site. Their late third location put the rainbow colors and gay visi- the site of hours accommodated gay men who sought an after- bility on one of northwest DC’s principal thorough- Friends, a hours gathering place when clubs in the Lafayette fares, Connecticut Avenue. Since 1984, the shop popular Square area closed for the night. Until the mid-70s, has been the spot for books, meeting people, book piano bar in the tradition of Johnnie’s on Capitol all clubs closed at midnight on weekends. Ironically, readings and signings, fundraisings at sidewalk Hill and other sing-along clubs. Pianist Carl the spot is currently occupied by yet another restau- tables, and community notices. Lambda Rising is Barnwell played here for many years. In the 90s, rant with “California” in its name, the California where out-of-towners go for information about gay the location was home to two popular Latino gay DC and where residents go to find out what’s hap- Pizza Kitchen. clubs: Escandalo (1994-1997) and Deco Cabana pening. The bookstore has been a de facto commu- (1998-2000). Both clubs hosted popular drag nity center for three decades. [10] 1913 N St. — (At this site, the house was shows and gave Latino gays and lesbians their demolished and replaced by a hotel). In 1885, own gathering place. [7] 1520 Mathilde Coxe Stevenson, a DC socialite and an Connecticut anthropologist studying southwestern Native [13] Ave. — This Americans, hosted the Zuni berdache, We’wha in her 2147 P St. was the en- home here during We’wha’s stay in Washington. The — Mr. P’s trance to ‘Zuni princess’ was the toast of Washington society opened in Rascals, and concluded a treaty between the Zuni and the US. March which for In 1908, it was revealed that We’wha was biologically 1976, the more than a male and followed a Native American tradition of liv- first gay decade, was ing as another gender. bar to sur- one of vive in the [11] 1426 21st St. — The building was very briefly home to a club called Dupont Station in 1970. In