On Saturday, Freddie Lutz, the owner of Arlington’s Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant will tie the knot with Johnny Cervantes, his partner of 28 years, on top of a wedding chapel float during the WorldPride Parade in D.C.

It was 50 years ago when Lutz skipped D.C.’s first Pride out of fear of losing his job.

“I was maître d’ downtown at a fancy schmancy restaurant called Ponte Vecchio. We had a lot of high-profile Republican customers at the restaurant, and I was afraid my picture would be in the paper,” Lutz said. “Now I’m getting married to my partner on a wedding chapel float. So we’ve come a long way.”

For 24 years, Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant has welcomed members of the LGBTQ+ community, their allies and straight people.

Lutz said he believes karaoke really helped bond all

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