Welcome Emily Sawitskas to the DC Center! Emily (she/er//hers) is looking forward to organizing and planning events for the center as well as running their social media platforms! You can meet Emily at the DC Center on weekdays and some evenings. She is looking forward to meeting everyone from the LGBTQ+ community and bringing awareness to the DC Center!

Birthdate, Astro Sign

March 29, I am a proud Aries! (plus a Virgo moon and Taurus rising for my astrology people!)

Where are you originally from? 

Glendale, CA

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I started working at the DC Center to hopefully make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community!

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

I love how relaxed the work environment is and the people I’ve met so far are kind and attentive.

What is your music anthem? 

I love Beyonce and anything R&B

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

I love how everyone is unapologetically themself and everyone is passionate, kind and unique in their own ways.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

I have only lived in DC for about a week but so far I love all the little unique coffee shops I’ve visited, a great option is For Five Coffee Roasters on L Street! (They play great music!)

What is your favorite queer movie?  

Brokeback Mountain and The Color Purple!

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?  

Sunflower Yellow! (My Favorite)

Who do you look up to in the queer community?

There are too many people to list but I think my favorite would be the U.S. National Women’s Soccer team players Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach because I grew up playing soccer and have continued into my early adulthood.

Gay Day At The Zoo is this coming Sunday, May 1st at the Smithsonian National Zoo! Have fun with the DC Center for the LGBT with interactive music, games, dance, and merchandise!

The annual Gay Day at the Zoo is a DC favorite for the LGBTQ community! For one day, hundreds of LGBTQ folks, families, and allies come together to show their pride and enjoy the animals and sights at the National Zoological Park. Fittingly the event takes place every year on International Family Equality Day and is a staple on the calendar for many LGBTQ families.

Support the work of the DC Center which educates, empowers, celebrates, and connects the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities this weekend!

Make sure to reserve free tickets beforehand here!

Click here to view the full schedule!

A special thanks to our sponsors: Number Nine, Trade, Metro Weekly, Jennifer Fairfax Law Firm, and Rainbow Families. 

The DC Center is temporarily closed due to a potential COVID-19 exposure in our offices. We are contacting those who were in the space during or after the possible exposure to allow them to make informed choices about seeking testing or other steps to help prevent spreading COVID-19.

Per our exposure plan, the DC Center will be closed until we can complete a deep cleaning of our space. Any in-person hybrid meetings will shift to virtual, and we’ll contact those who have RSVP’d for in-person meetings to update them.

If you have any concerns, please contact the DC Center at [email protected].

Welcome Sarah to the DC Center! She’s our new Development Intern. Sarah [she/her] looks forward to learning all about DC and engaging with the LGBTQ community. You can meet Sarah at the DC Center on weekdays and some evenings. Sarah [she/her] is looking forward to connecting with donors and participating in events with the DC Center.

Birthdate, Astro Sign

12/16/99, Sagittarius 

Where are you originally from? 

San Diego born and raised! Though I’ve lived in Davis for college for the last 4 years.

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I was inspired by the DC Center’s focus on community support and artistic expression.

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

I’ve only just started, but I can say that it has been wonderful to have been greeted with nothing but friendly faces.

What is your music anthem? 

For the last couple of weeks it has been Absentee by Jack Campbell.

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

The desire for authenticity, the subsequent unbounded creativity, and the unconditional support of each other.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

I’ve only just arrived, but I love the Korean War Memorial. I find the statues to be haunting and disconcerting in a very intriguing way. 

What is your favorite queer movie?  

I don’t watch a lot of movies, but my favorite queer show is called Within the Wires. It’s a chilling and poetic take on an alternate history’s dystopia. 

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance? 

I’m a fan of the classic white, but I would not say no to a holographic effect that displays diverse imagery of the country depending on what angle you looked at the white house from.

Who do you look up to in the queer community?

Yasmin Benoit and David Jay! Both are such influential and integral voices in the aromantic and asexual communities. 

Welcome, Brenda to the DC Center! I am a social media intern. Brenda She/Her looks forward to helping celebrate the community. You can meet Brenda at the DC Center on weekdays and some evenings. Brenda, she/her is looking forward to creating a more open and honest form of communication through social media to help people in the community.

Birthdate, Astro Sign

09/30/1999, Libra

Where are you originally from? 

Moreno Valley, CA

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I thought the organization was cool and they did a lot for the community so I wanted to be part of an organization like it.

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

I haven’t started yet but the staff seems very welcoming.

What is your music anthem? 

Achilles come down by Gangs of Youth and Mikrokosmos by BTS

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

There is a sense of comradery you can get with people.

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

I haven’t been here for long but I have enjoyed goingKramers to hang out with people and the farmers market.

What is your favorite queer movie?  

Book smart

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?  

Periwinkle or a sage green

Who do you look up to in the queer community?

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard 

Come visit our Free Community Closet. We have racks of shirts, pants, dresses, bras, skirts, suits, sneakers, socks shoes…all kinds of apparel…you name it we probably got it.  We also accept donations please email [email protected] if you are interested in donating.  

Dear All,

We recognize that many of us in the LGBTQ+ community struggle during the holidays. We hope that during this time, you can connect with loved ones for support and community. Here are some helpful suggestions from PFLAG for LGBTQ+ folks, and our families and allies, for getting through family gatherings.

If you are having an emergency, please see these options for assistance: