A historical archive of events for which the incomparable Rayceen Pendarvis - "Goddess of DC" - has either hosted or participated in some other capacity.
IN A HURRY.....ENTER A NAME, EVENT, ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER SEARCH QUERY INTO THE BOX BELOW AND CLICK "SEARCH."
Rayceen Pendarvis accepted an invitation to host several segments of the 24th Annual Reel Affirmations International LGBTQ Film Festival. The event featured 40 short & feature films from 5 continents, as well as several documentaries. Organizers also presented panel discussions, filmmaker Q&A's, complimentary cocktails, catered food, popcorn, movie treats, swag bags full of goodies, in addition to various celebrations with music provided by DJ Mim.
The four-day event (Oct. 19-22), ultimately intended to be a place of comfort and affirmation for all in attendance, especially those who never see themselves properly represented within society. Kimberley Bush (pictured above - left, with Pendarvis) is the DC Center Director of Arts and Cultural Programs, and emphasized that “I see firsthand individuals enter our film screenings questioning themselves and their place in this world and exit substantially impacted and with an uplifted and positive shift in their energy and outlook in their lives.”
The opening night film was “Signature Move,” which was followed by several other award & audience winning films. The closing night film was “Freakshow,” which focused on the young life of former club kid James St. James and stared newcomer Alex Lawther, along with Abigail Breslin, Laverne Cox,and the legendary Bette Midler.
The complete schedule of screenings is listed below. Thursday at 7:00pm Signature Move Thursday at 9:00pm God’s Own Country Friday at 7:00pm The Feels Friday at 9:00pm I Dream in Another Language Saturday at 5:00pm Saturday Church Saturday at 7:00pm Fun In Girls Shorts (a collection of short films specifically geared toward Gay Females) Saturday at 9:00pm Fun In Boys Shorts (a collection of short films specifically geared toward Gay Males) Sunday at 1:00pm Fun In Trans/Genderqueer Shorts (a collection of short films specifically geared toward the Transgender Community) Sunday at 3:00pm Apricot Groves Sunday at 5:00pm Freakshow
Click below to view Metro Weekly's collection of reviews for each of the films.
Reel Affirmations - Washington DC’s International LGBT Film Festival - is one of the largest LGBT film festivals (in terms of attendance) in the United States. Each month the organization consistently offers new and exciting international, documentary, short, and feature films, as well as panel discussions, filmmaker Q&As, and various celebrations.
Team Rayceen had the honor of serving as one of the festival's community partners. All of the theatrical screenings were co-sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and held at the Gala Hispanic Theatre at Tivoli in Washington, DC.
Click below to view a collection of images.
Click below to view the official2017 Reel Affirmations Film Festival Trailer.
Rayceen Pendarvis served as host for Rayceen, Fix Me Up! Single Men's Mixer. Inspired by The Ask Rayceen Show segment “Rayceen, Fix Me Up!”, the event was designed to provide a series of interactive games that allowed participants to “break the ice” in a safe environment designated for single SGL (Same Gender Loving) men only.
Guests were invited to interact, socialize, network, chat, flirt, and hopefully meet someone special! Local authors Joseph Braxton and James Simmons were on hand to chat with attendees. Artwork by Rashad Ali Muhammad was also on display.
The social mixer was one of several kick-off events for Makers Lab presents Cuffing Season, a series of events to get guests “booed up” for the Winter.
The event was presented by Team Rayceen and Project Healthy Living’s The ManDate and held at The Studio Theatre in Washington, DC.
Click below to view a collection of images.
For more information visit: Makers Lab DC You may also search for the hashtag #OperationBae
Rayceen Pendarvis was invited to host The Ruins & The Rise – 7th Annual Alston-Gillard Awards. Bestowed annually by the OASIS Dance Company, the awards ceremony aims to honor individuals who provide distinguished and exceptional service to the LGBTQ Youth of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
The event also served as a showcase for the premiere of the OASIS Dance Company's new ballet The Ruins & The Rise, which was inspired by the opening of TheNational Museum of African American History and Culture.
Proceeds from the charitable benefit were donated to the Wanda Alston House Foundation. The reception was held at The Meyer Performance Theater, Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, Maryland.
Click below to view a collection of images.
Click below to view a collection of Facebook Live Videos.
Rayceen Pendarvis was invited to be a panelist for The Ropeburn Panel: A Discussion on Kink and Ball History, Culture, and Identity. The veteran emcee was also on hand to host other segments of the show.
Organizers describe the event as a “celebration of queer culture and resistance.” The show was presented by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC and billed as their Fall Fundraiser.
The festivities were held at the Dupont Underground in Washington, DC.
Click below to view the Ropeburn Promotional Video.
Click below to view a collection of images.
Click below to view a special Facebook Live video:
Rayceen Pendarvis made a special appearance at the 2017Youth Pride Day. The outdoor celebration was originally established on April 19, 1997 with over 900 young people coming out to celebrate.
Since then, organizers have continued to use this annual event to promote awareness, visibility and pride among LGBT youth.
The festival was hosted by Youth Pride Alliance and held at Dupont Circle Park in Washington, DC.
Rayceen Pendarvis was invited to host Glamour Story Time. The party was billed as a special event for young readers ages 3-8 with attendees invited to dress up and wear their "snazziest".
Guests were encouraged to create nameplate necklaces, dance with friends, enjoy picture books celebrating gender diversity, and have their makeup done. Pendarvis delighted the crowd by reading a children's book titled Dogs Don't Do Ballet by Anna Kemp (Author) and Sara Ogilvie (Illustrator).
The event was held at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library in Washington, DC. Click below to view a special Facebook Live video:
Rayceen Pendarvis was invited to participant in the Studio Theatre after-show discussion for the matinée of the play Skeleton Crew. Pendarvis sat down to conduct an engaging chat with Shellée Haynesworth, the executive producer and creator of Black Broadway on U, a groundbreaking public history initiative.
Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew was the first production of the 2017-2018 season of the Studio Theatre. An abbreviated write-up for this poignant play reads as follows: “As rumors spread through one of the last auto-stamping plants in Detroit, a tight-knit family of workers face what they’re willing to sacrifice to survive.”
The Washington Post described Skeleton Crew as "ethics-driven meat-and-potatoes drama, in the Arthur Miller vein," and DC Metro Theater Arts referred to the play as a “truly must-see production.”
The event was hosted by and held at the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC.
Click below to view a collection of Facebook Live videos.
Click below to view the Studio Theatre Skeleton Crew trailer.
