Night of Expression
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Door: 6:30 pm
Showtime: 7:00 pm
Busboys and Poets (14th & V)
2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Photo Credit: Emily Alff
Step into a night of bold voices, powerful stories, and unapologetic self-expression at Night of Expression with Capital Pride and Busboys and Poets.
This annual Pride event brings together dynamic performers, spoken word artists, and open mic voices for an evening rooted in community and creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or grabbing the mic for the very first time, this space is for YOU.
We proudly welcome all identities and especially uplift our Trans and Cis women community to share their stories, art, and truth on stage.
*ASL provided
Produced in partnership with
Tickets
$20 – Early Pricing
This ticket is a single entry and is available for all ages.
*All proceeds will go to the Capital Pride Alliance and the Pride365 Fund to help us continue programming all year.
Performers
Charity Blackwell
About Charity Blackwell
Charity Blackwell is an award-winning spoken word artist, poet, educator, and cultural curator based in Washington, DC. Known for her commanding stage presence and magnetic storytelling, her work has been featured by BBC News, TEDxTysons, the NBA, WNBA, MLS Network, The Kennedy Center, and The Hirshhorn Museum. She has collaborated with artists and changemakers including Magic Johnson, Wale, Big Freedia, and Jessica Betts. As Chief of Culture and Arts at DC SCORES and Director of Poetry Events at Busboys and Poets, Charity uses storytelling and community engagement to uplift voices, celebrate authenticity, and inspire change through the arts.
Be Steadwell
About Be Steadwell
Be is a queer pop composer and author from Washington DC. Be’s goal as an artist is to write love stories centering Black girlies, introverts and weirdos.
Be earned a BA in Black Studies from Oberlin College and an MFA in film from Howard University. Be’s short films Vow of Silence and Black Tea (2025) screened in film festivals around the world, including Black Star, HBO OutFest, The Schomburg Center, Inside Out Toronto and The Bush Films.
In 2019, Be wrote and directed Dear Ex, the musical. Dear Ex imagines a queer black woman’s experience of healing after a breakup. In 2021 Be released their pop and R&B album- Succulent. In 2023, Be joined the cast of Parable of the Sower the Opera by Toshi Reagon and Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon.
Be released their debut romance novel Chocolate Chip City in 2025. Be currently lives in Baltimore. They tour their music and work as an adjunct lecturer at Howard University.
INK
About INK
Ink is a PG born Spoken Word Artist, clothing designer and entrepreneur. A 4 Time Poetry Slam winner, she has been featured at SpitDat DC, Trap Poetry, First Fridays Poetry Club in Philly, and 9 Busboys open mic events. She created her brand The Ink Pad HQ to serve artists of all trades by encouraging them to fall in love with their work and platform their art.
Beyond Your Definition
About Beyond Your Definition
Mariah “ Beyond Your Definition” Barber ( they /she ) is a multidisciplinary/storyteller spoken word artist, international host and activist that has been creating social justice oriented art for the last 15 years. Barber.holds a masters in public health , DEAI certification from Cornell and a B A in international studies. With certifications in cultural anthropology and global understanding.
Their motto is “ Some people do , some people never do, some people over do , how do you do ?” She has preformed at 2020 George Floyd uprisings , climate justice rally’s and is passionate about being a teaching artist helping the youth to craft their opinions about the worlds most pressing issues. Barber was the 2014 national haiku wold champion for college union poetry slam international and a four time DC commission on arts and humanities fellow granted funds to be a culture worker within the city of DC. In 2022 BYD ranked 20th in the women of the world poetry slam and 19th in the stonewall international queer poetry slam. They have participated in World Pride as a feature at the Pride night at busboys and poets and host a monthly black queer open mic , the White House as a world aids day keynote speaker and for the LGBT museum
Currently ranked as the 17th womxn in the world poet and the 2014 international haiku slam champion they leave audiences feeling seen and thinking about how they too can fight for human rights!They performed in the Biden White House and for the national LBGT museum
Ricky Rosé
About Ricky Rosé
Ricky Rosé (they/he) is an internationally known award-winning multidisciplinary artist. He was crowned DC’s very first Mx. DC Latinx Pride in 2018, voted DC’s Best Drag King 2019 and most recently crowned Mr. Trans Puerto Rico 2023 DC Drag Awards 2023 Community Change Maker. This Genderful Genderfucker is out to bring a whole new meaning to Mr. Worldwide, adding a little sazón and grit to the charming glitz of the world’s oldest, finest wine. Ricky Rosé is more than just a performer, they’re a way of life and beyond their trancestor’s wildest dreams. It is his honor and pleasure to represent for the Puerto Rican Two-Spirit community every time they step on stage whether the act involves comedic relief, political conversation, or sultry eye contact and reveals.
DJ Diyanna Monet
About DJ Diyanna Monet
Diyanna Monet is a multidisciplinary artist hailing from Washington DC, currently working as a DJ, photographer and dancer. With several years of experience in rocking parties and dance floors through DJing and dance, she has proven to ignite and attract the attention of audiences ranging from private events to massive festivals. Her style of DJing, weaving a plethora of sounds, including New Jack Swing, has gained recognition from national and international audiences, landing DJ sets in notable venues such as The Kennedy Center, Museum of Science in Boston, MA, The Smithsonian Institution, The Guggenheim, and in places such as Europe and Asia. Driven with the inspiration of spreading Black culture through timeless music, Diyanna has and continues to deliver memorable dance floor moments as a means to solidify herself as a champion of excellence, innovation and unity through music
The Capital Pride Alliance, through its stewardship of diverse programming and events, specifically year-round LGBTQ+ Pride festivities centered in Washington, DC and the National Capital Region, serves to celebrate, educate, support, and inspire our multi-faceted communities in order to grow and preserve our history and protect our rights for current and future generations. Learn More