Every day, QUEERGURU’s inbox is full of invites for yet more events that are part of the 50th Anniversary of World Pride that is being held in Washington, DC right under the nose of The Orange Man in The White House.  Spoilt for choice, this latest one is a sure bet, and one we could not miss.

We Are Gathered is a terrific new play from Tarell Alvin McCraney, the Academy Award-winning writer of MOONLIGHT.  He’s billed it as a queerlove story as it dives deeply and fearlessly into the many facets of a same-sex connection and all that goes with it. It’s a tale of two gay men’s romance that unfolds entertainingly over two acts. Wallace Tre (Kyle Beltran), a tense architect, and his younger partner Free (Nic Ashe), a campy and fun-loving musician with a deep sense of quiet and peace are contemplating marriage after five years together, but one of the two isn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of imminent matrimony

Wallace Tre (nicknamed Dubs)  discovers a nearby park that becomes a thrilling constant in his life. It remains a source of excitement, fun, danger, and fulfillment. The local cruising zone is also a constant in McCraney’s play.

One memorable evening, Dubs experienced a special night in the woods, a shadowy hour filled with exhilaration and surprise. That’s when Dubs unpredictably learned something he’d never felt before. That night in the park, he met and fell madly in love with Free.  And we immediately know that whatever develops from here on, life will never ever be the same. for any of them.

There is, however, a lot more to “We Are Gathered” than just: cruising. McCraney has created a set of very interesting characters that we can easily relate to  Dubs and Free are ardently liked by friends and family. Both are attractive and smart. Yet, they’re different. Free is quite easy going, while Dubs is, at times, pricklier.

McCraney says he wrote “We Are Gathered” as a contemplation of queer marriage and the right for same-sex couples, like opposite-sex couples, to marry anywhere in the United States A subject that the present Government is determined to make us fight for again BUT McCraney is also using each performance to increase  our numbers. Each performance of the play will culminate with what Arena Stage is calling “Love Takes Center Stage,” an immersive experience in which one or more couples will join the actors for a real marriage ceremony or vow renewal. One of the stars, Craig Wallace, has been ordained. Over the course of the show’s 30 scheduled performances, several dozen couples will participate. After each show, Arena Stage will hold a reception with cake, champagne and dancing