Local queer organizers prepare for Trump

Hi everyone,

We hope you've defrosted, dug out, and — for the parents — decompressed from this week's snowstorm and subsequent cancellations. I bought myself a tiny tabletop space heater to stay warm in my drafty apartment, and this gently oscillating machine has been the highlight of my week. As it hums next to my keyboard, cooking the right side of my body while I write this, I feel pretty lucky to be warm.

Winter can be beautiful, but it's also brutal. With another dusting of snow scheduled for Friday night and a spate of below-freezing days ahead, now could be a good time to return to our Ask A D.C. Native column on how to be a good neighbor, revisit this DCist guide on warming shelters around the D.C. region, or check-in with your local mutual aid group (we've rounded them up here) to see what your neighbors need in this cold season.

For this chilly week, we've got a story about how local queer organizers are preparing for a second Trump administration, a quick catch-up on the latest Wilson Building happenings, and some events that (might) seem fun enough to get you out of the house this frigid weekend. Make sure you scroll to the bottom for an opportunity to submit story ideas and a list of upcoming ways to plug in.

And by the way, we've also got this nifty new page answering a few frequently asked questions about The 51st. Show this to your friend who's like, "where'd you learn that?" when you're regaling them on the latest local news.

Okay, that's enough of me. Scroll on.

-Colleen Grablick

Amid uncertainty, queer organizers plan for Trump administration

When compared to U.S. states, D.C. has the largest percentage of residents who identify as LGBTQ+ in the country. In light of a second Donald Trump presidency and a Republican majority in Congress, queer organizers across the District are planning for what’s next — despite uncertainty. The 51st contributor Dana Brozost-Kelleher spoke with queer residents and advocates about what they're focused on, and how they'll continue pushing for mental health support, legal aid, and gender-affirming care under a hostile administration.

Wilson Building Bulletin: A predictable start to 2025

The councilmembers returned to the dais for their first legislative meeting of the new session this week. It was in with the new (Ward 7's Wendell Felder) but not out with the old (squabbling with the mayor). The legislators breezed through a rather slim agenda, approving the Washington Teacher's Union contract, extending some rent-stabilization protections, and – true to form — making some temporary concessions on a climate bill to resolve a dispute with the executive.

11 things to do around D.C. this weekend

We get it, it's January: the lows are in the teens, and the sun sets in what seems like the middle of the afternoon. Few things may be attractive enough to lure you out of your house — but what if we told you you could listen to jazz, make fun of your job, and cook your own empanadas all in the span of one weekend? That's sure to warm both body and spirit.

Help us explain D.C.

At The 51st, we want to make living in the District easier for the residents who call it home. That's why we've published a series of explainers since launching this scrappy operation; these stories have covered a breadth of issues, from eviction protections, to immigration resources, to Home Rule.

So as we stare down the unpredictable and daunting year that lies ahead, we want to know: what do you want to know? What convoluted government services or opaque civic processes can we break down? What thorny piece of D.C. lore can we go down a rabbit hole explaining? What's something that – if you understood it better – could improve your quality of life in this city and make you a more empowered resident? Let us know here. No question is too basic, nor topic too vague (although, the more specific, the better!)

Here's some news that may have been buried under this week's snow:

• A company asks: can paying $1,600 a month to live in a glorified dorm for grown-ups cure the urban loneliness crisis? [Post]
• This doesn't seem good! [Washingtonian]
• Ok, guess how much the mayor's heated platform to watch the inauguration costs. The actual answer may shock you. [Axios]
• Bad news: A top lawyer for Trump's cronies is being considered for the U.S. Attorney for D.C. [Bloomberg Law]
• Good news? The new leader of the Washington Archdiocese has a record of defending queer and immigrant populations. [Post]
• Your guide to Dry January around D.C. [CityCast]
• D.C. is a city that sleeps ... but what if some neighborhoods stayed up a little later? [GGWash]
• Bowser's balancing act: can she bring the Commanders to RFK while making good on affordable housing demands? [Informer]
• These two D.C. sisters are some of the top-ranked boxers in the country, and they've got their sights set on the Olympics. [WTOP]
• A WaPo cartoonist left the publication after her cartoon criticizing billionaires (including the paper's owner, Jeff Bezos) was killed. [Open Windows]
• Developers for the new D.C. Jail want the campus to exude a therapeutic and healing image — but critics say preliminary designs resemble more of a giant cage. [Post]
• You've probably had enough of the snow, but if not: here are some pets having a good time in it. [Popville]

Your Civics Download

You’ll find this handy guide to public meetings at the bottom of every edition of The 51st. We’ll refine and improve along the way, so if you think we’re missing resources, please let us know!

• Today, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. WMATA is hosting a public, in-person hearing about proposed changes to the vent shaft at the Gallery Place Metro stop. As a part of the major Capital One Arena reno plans, WMATA has proposed moving the vent shaft to allow for construction activity over the existing sidewalk grate. The hearing will take place at the Henry Benson DC Gallery, or you can watch and testify online. You can also leave feedback in a survey.
• On Saturday, Jan. 11 at 12 p.m., Black Lives Matter DC, Stop Police Terror Project DC, and Malcolm X Grassroots Movement DMV will host a virtual event exploring the past, present, and future of policing in D.C. The virtual discussion will trace the history of policing – from the creation of MPD to the 2020 uprisings – and look toward collective solutions to liberation and community defense for 2025 and beyond. You can register for the event here.
• On Friday, Jan. 24, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Diáspora Pa’lante Collective DMV will be hosting a panel discussion on tenant organizing with organizers from the Woodner Tenants Union. The event will take place at the ONE DC Black Workers & Wellness Center. Childcare and food will be provided. You can RSVP here.
• On Thursday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m., the Mount Pleasant Library will hold a training for Narcan (naloxone), the opioid overdose reversal drug. Guests will learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. Free Narcan and fentanyl test strips will be provided.
• In with the old out with the new: It's time to turn your holiday cheer into mulch! DPW will be collecting Christmas trees from the curb until Friday, Feb. 28. Here's everything you need to know.

Alright, that's all. I'm going to continue cooking unevenly next to my space heater. We hope you stay warm. See you next week.

– Colleen Grablick