Throw horns for history and rush the stage* for statistics riffs at the bar show where the nerds are the rock stars and smart is punk af.

Cue it up: Three experts. Dozens of cheeky slides. A bar full of former gifted kids gone feral who love special interest deep dives. This is Nerd Nite DC.

*okay maybe just do this in spirit. Nerds are wild creatures who can be easily spooked by sudden movements.

Nerd Nite DC has been DC’s favorite irreverent lecture series since 2009.

Your host this month is the fabulous Diva Darling, joined by our three wildly entertaining and wickedly smart speakers with three must-see talks that are all on-theme for Pride weekend:

– de la rez, “Why True Crime Media is So Femme!”

You’re not wrong if you’ve ever wondered why fems are so obsessed with true crime, from legions of Murderinos to late author Michelle McNamara’s obsession with the Golden State Killer that led to his arrest. Let’s explore true crime media’s femme-ness, from the genre’s highly disproportionate women-identifying audiences to the queer/transfeminine nature of its history/narratives/presentation styles.

de la rez (they/them) is a sociology professor at American University and a Medusa-worshipping monster femme.

– Ren Eissance, “Lilies, Lesbians, and Longing: Yuri Through the Years and How Even an Empty Bench Can be Queer”

Dive through the history of Japanese lesbian media and how we’ve evolved from a 1920s literary genre to the wide swath of manga, light novels, and anime we have today. Along the way, we’ll discuss exactly what makes something yuri, whether it be the soundtrack of Sicario, a landscape painting, or an empty bench on a seaside cliff.

Ren is a trans lesbian who’s been reading and researching yuri for years. She’s a software engineer, DIY music enjoyer, aspirational banjo player, and semi-competitive mahjong player.

– Sante, “Be Gay, Do Crime, Become Emperor: How A Hot Stable Boy Saltburned the Roman Empire”

Have you ever thought to yourself: I’m too hot and too gay for this increasingly theocratic and authoritarian society? Well, Basil, a fetching 9th Century stable boy sure did and he decided if you can’t beat them, RULE THEM – and no boyfriends, girlfriends, nor illiteracy would stand in his way!

Sante is a humble civic educator by the light of day, but by night he’s one hell of lover. Professionally he teaches people how not to mess up democracy and isn’t sure how well that’s going – so for now he’s just here to have a good time.

DOORS 6PM | 21+

Nerd Nite DC
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Doors open at 6, show at 6:30. Talks are 15 minutes with a 5 minute Q&A, and during the breaks, you can play along in our “alternate talk titles” competition to try to win a free drink on us. It’s rowdy, interactive, and the most fun you’ll have learning something all month.

The show is on the second floor of DC9 and is mostly standing room with limited seating available on a first-come, first served basis.

Nerd Nite DC is produced by Rae Pendergrass, navi, and Diva Darling.