Gay Town in the A-Town

By Kate X Messer, Sarah Marloff, and Neha Aziz, Fri., Sept. 5, 2014

It was a big deal, almost 10 years ago, when Austin Pride Parade numbers solidly settled in a five-figure mark. Last year, we cracked over 100,000 spectators to the parade alone, not counting participants and fest-goers. Now, Austin Pride serves as a wild bookend to a crazy month that has exploded with multiple, fully formed LGBTQ-interest festivals – not just events, but festivals.

Proud much, Austin? You should be.

aGLIFF/Polari

Thursday-Sunday, September 9-14 www.agliff.org

Sit in the dark with kin, at our beloved Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Austin's longest-running film festival, gay or no.

Unless otherwise noted, films screen at the Alamo Drafthouse S. Lamar, 1120 S. Lamar.

VIP Opening Reception With the parents of Matthew Shepard. Tue., Sept. 9, 7:30pm. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside.

Opening Night Film Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine with director Michele Josue, and Judy & Dennis Shepard. Wed., Sept. 10, 7pm.

FILM HIGHLIGHTS:

Thursday, SEPT. 11 Queers in the Kingdom: Let Your Light Shine, 11:30am; Floating Skyscrapers, 6pm; BFFS, 6:45pm; The Rugby Player, 9:45pm, and more. Friday, SEPT. 12 Boys, 10:30am; Kumu Hina, 12:45pm; Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger, 5:15pm; Secret Screening, 7:15pm; The Dark Place (and Bronies afterparty at the Iron Bear), and more. Saturday, SEPT. 13 Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo, 2:35pm; Regarding Susan Sontag, 7:30pm; Tom at the Farm, 10pm; Peter de Rome: Godfather of Gay Porn, 9:30pm, and more. Sunday, SEPT. 14 The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, 10am; Ed Wood, 10:15am; Parents & a Little Egg, 1:15pm; Cupcakes, 5:55pm; Folsom Forever, 8:15, and more.

Filmmaker Awards & Closing Night Party Some glitter, more glam, all Austin. aGLIFF wraps their 27th year. Stateside Theatre, 719 Congress.

Austin Pride

Saturday-Sunday, September 13-21 www.austinpride.org, www.fb.com/austinpride

The gay. The day. It's all here: The booths, the heat, the nonprofits, the heat, the flirting, the heat ... Find you some shade near the stage; but dont throw any ... This year's lineup kills.

BIG GAY PRIDE BRUNCH Eat your cereal, honey. Sat., Sept. 13, 11am-3pm. 219 West, 612 W. Sixth.

Flannel & Glitter Art SHOW Celeb artists Phyllis Diller (yesss), Lydia Lunch, Bruce LaBruce, JD Samson, and more. Sat., Sept. 13, 6pm. Romani Gallery, 1900 E. 12th. Free.

Sharon Needles The gothy mistress with the season 4 crown of RuPaul's Drag Race. Sun., Sept. 14. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth.

Executive Director Aaron Yeats (l) and Program Director Jim Brunzell (Photo by John Anderson)

Queer Queens of Qomedy Poppy Champlin and these lez queens will dub you their subjects. Mon., Sept. 15, 8pm. Spider House Ballroom, 2906 Fruth.

MARIA'S Big boobIE BINGO Bring your big ... BINGO daubers. Tue., Sept. 16, 7-10pm. Maria's Taco Xpress, 2529 S. Lamar. Free.

Pride Interfaith Celebration Randy Roberts Potts speaks (Oral Roberts' gay grandson). Tue., Sept. 16, 7pm. University Baptist, 2130 Guadalupe. Free.

Way Gay Quote-A-Long You know you know every line in Clueless. Wed., Sept. 17, 7pm. Alamo South Lamar.

WERK! RuPaul's season 6 winner, Bianca Del Rio hosts this runway romp of the fashion gayward. Thu., Sept. 18, 7pm. Austin Music Hall, 208 Nueces.

PURR Ladies Party Serafia, and DJ Mary Coronado. Fri., Sept. 19, 9pm-2am. V Nightclub, 409 Colorado.

GLOW Party Don some white clothes and get glowy. Fri., Sept. 19, 10pm. Castro's Warehouse, 213 W. Fourth.

Austin Pride Festival 2014 Taylor Dayne, Jujubee, Le1f, Big Dipper, Butch County, Nadine Hughes, Simone Rivera, Althea Trix, Arcie Cola, CupCake, and many more. Sat., Sept. 20, 11am-6pm. Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St.

Pre-Parade Dance Party Emcee Raven, and oh, just about 100,000 of your closest friends. Sat., Sept. 20, 7:30pm. Stephen F. Austin Hotel, 701 Congress. Free.

"Finally!" Cece Peniston shall rock Austin Pride with dance hits old and new.

Austin Pride Parade 2014 Line up east of the Capitol on San Jacinto, roll along 11th, turn onto Congress, and head towards Gaybarville. Are you rollin' or are you strollin'? Sat., Sept. 20, 8pm. Texas State Capitol to Bettie Naylor/Fouth Street. Free.

Austin Pride Drag Brunch A fancy feast for the "All Access" crowd (individual tix available). Sun., Sept. 21, 11am-2pm. Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St.

Photo by Devaki Knowles

SMTX San Marcos Pride

Friday-Sunday, September 5-7 www.fb.com/rainbownight, www.fb.com/smtx.pride

Our little sister college town to the south hosts her first-ever Pride. What began as a one-day event now covers an entire weekend. See SMTX's online page for info on businesses offering discounts to customers with SMTX Pride wristbands. All Pride events FREE and ALL AGES unless noted.

Rainbow Night Friday night Pride edition of SM's only regular LGBTQ event. Happy first Pride, San Marcos! (21+) Fri., Sept. 5, 9pm. Fullmoon Saloon, 16480 Hwy 123 S.; afterparty at Bum's, 650 E. Hopkins, San Marcos.

Parade & Festival/Drag Show & Dance Parade rolls bright and early to the Fest. That night, the VFW hosts the drag show and dance. Sat., Sept. 6, 8am. Dunbar Rec Center, 801 W. MLK; Courthouse Square; VFW, 1701 Hunter, San Marcos.

Splash Day/See You Next Year Drag Show Splish, splash, and cool off in the river with your chosen family (all ages), then say ciao! (evening show 21+). Sun., Sept. 7. Rio Vista Park, 555 Cheatham; The Marc, 120 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos.

HUMP! Film Festival Tour

Friday-Saturday, September 5-6 www.fb.com/humptour

Dan Savage curated this amateur hipster porny porn fest for peeps who hate porn. All films screen at the Marchesa Theatre, 6406 N. I-35.

HUMP! Fest The adorable Nor'westerners bringing Hump to town will soon learn how little it takes to get an Austinite on their back. Or up against the wall. Or on all fours. On a cracker. Highlights:

Lauren Likes Candy, D&D Orgy, Go Ahead, Pee!, Hot 'n Saucy Pizza Boy, Magic Love, Pie Sluts, Rumpy Pumpy, Tuff Titties, E.T. 2: Dark Territory, Go Fuck Yourself, and Fun with Fire. Fri.-Sat., Sept. 5-6, 7pm, 9pm, and Sat. 11pm show.

StarGayzer Festival

Friday-Sunday, September 12-14 www.stargayzerfest.com

In a city where music reigns supreme, Stargayzer Fest is the first multi-day music event to put the accent on gay.

Three stages and theatre at Pine Street Station, 1101 E. Fifth. Late-night stage at the North Door, 502 Brushy.

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, Sept. 12 BLXPLTN, Trust, Yo! Majesty, Bearracuda, Christeene, Blow Pony, Poo Poo Platter, Kingdom, and more. Saturday. Sept. 13 Daniel Rugg Webb, Big Freedia, Mykki Blanco, Bitter Heart Society, Feral Future, Dren Pasht, Cakes Da Killa, Peaches Christ, Fea, and more. Sunday, Sept. 14 Russell Reed, Double Duchess, Xiu Xiu, JD Samson, Hi Fashion, Cazwell, and more.