We’re picking up right where we left off last historical episode, with John Eddy searching for a space for the Metropolitan Capitolites’ first bar. This episode will journey from the 70s to the 80s, where Queer visibility is increasing across the city. Featuring gays lining up in public to dance, lesbian bars with sticky floors, exclusive sound systems and large dance floors, Drag performances, and more, join us to learn about some of the District’s most iconic bars.

You can find a transcript for the episode on our website or a pdf version here.

You can also find works cited and in text citations for the episode here.

If you want to learn more and stay up to date on all things Queering the District Podcast, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Have a story to share? Think we missed something? Give us a call, and bare it all after the beep at 202-753-6570.

Special thanks to the Rainbow History Project, the DC Public Library, and the countless other academics and historians, whether featured in these episodes or not, who helped inspire and guide us through this process.

Audio editing by Madalyn Reagan

This podcast episode was video recorded and will be most enjoyable in that format! You can watch the video on our YouTube channel, here.

After Hours is a fun, historical debrief and game show, where we ask some of the most prominent Queer D.C. icons for their hottest gossip and wise advice. This episode we are joined with the legendary Mother of the D.C. Community, Rayceen Pendarvis. Learn about Rayceen’s childhood growing up in Ward 5, what a typical night out looked like for Rayceen, Rayceen’s favorite bars, and more. You don’t want to miss Rayceen’s advice on fashion, life, and more in this episode!

You can find a transcript for the episode on our website or in pdf format here.

If you want to learn more and stay up to date on all things Queering the District Podcast, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Find Rayceen Pendarvis on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, or follow this link.

Have a story to share? Think we missed something? Give us a call, and bare it all after the beep at 202-753-6570.

Special thanks to the Rainbow History Project, the DC Public Library, and the countless other academics and historians, whether featured in these episodes or not, who helped inspire and guide us through this process.

Audio editing by Madalyn Reagan

Videography by Sam Joachim

Video editing by Madalyn Reagan and Sam Joachim

Journey with us from prohibition to the late ‘60s, as we explore how Queer bars have shaped and influenced Queer community in D.C. Featuring Odessa Madre (aka the Lady Al Capone), Black Broadway, the Lavender Scare, the longest-running Black Queer bar in the district, journal entries from Ladd Forrester, and much more, as we explore some noteworthy spots in history and investigate how and why the Queer bar community has changed so much.

You can find a transcript for the episode on our website.

You can also find works cited and in-text citations for the episode here.

If you want to learn more and stay up to date on all things Queering the District Podcast, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube .

Have a story to share? Think we missed something? Give us a call, and bare it all after the beep at 202-753-6570.

Special thanks to the Rainbow History Project, the DC Public Library, and the countless other academics and historians, whether featured in these episodes or not, who helped inspire and guide us through this process.

Audio editing by Madalyn Reagan