Gay Place

The OUTsider Crew (see Saturday)

Let's talk about (gay) sex. Nine months after marriage equality, OUTsider Film & Arts Festival is taking a look – and paying homage – to the birds and bees. "Sex has been key to our identities, pleasures, politics, and survival," says co-founder Curran Nault. "We're honoring this with a theme that looks at all the euphoric highs and mysterious dark corners of our erotic pasts and presents." A voyeuristic breeding ground of intimate creativity, this festival of outsiders reminds us what is so magical about queer spacemaking.

GAYDAR

OUTsider 2016: Sex in Public Last February, OUTsider stepped into the world of Austin's robust festival culture and (inter)national LGBTQ gatherings, and this year they're back with more public sex, more queer arts, more more. The 2016 legacy goes to Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens. See schedule for full listing of events. Wed.-Sun., Feb. 17-21. www.outsiderfest.org.

OUTsider Conferences on the Couch Always wanted to attend the Stein Salon? Here's your chance. Check the OUTsider schedule for the daily Q&A topic and kewl kweer lineup. Listen to art makers, sip some coffee, say hello, be inspired. Thu.-Sat., Feb. 18-20. Badges $40-100, individual tickets sold prior to show. www.outsiderfest.org.

Accelerate.lgbt Google, Automattic/WordPress, and the AGLCC have joined forces to help local queer biz and nonprofits grow their online presence. Check out the 1-1 sessions and a happy hour to follow! Thu., Feb. 18, 12:30-6:30pm. Google AUS MOP, 9606 N. MoPac #100. Free. www.accelerate.lgbt.

The Best Kink Advice Nobody Gave You Renowned sex educator/writer/artist/goddess Midori teaches and tantalizes on how to do kink better. Thu., Feb. 18, 6:30pm. Q Toys, 6800 Burnet Rd., 512/772-1614. $41.08. www.qtoysaustin.com.

OUTsider 2016 Legacy Awardees Beth Stephens & Annie Sprinkle This ain't your typical award show and these ain't your typical honorees. Annie Sprinkle is a "post-porn modernist" and erotic icon, while artist Beth Stephens promotes "eco-sex." The honors will surely titillate and tantalize. Fri., Feb. 19, 8:30pm. Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd., 512/474-7886. www.outsiderfest.org.

Deep Inside x Pleasure Escape Get lost with DJs Deep Creep, Malika, Cap'n Tits, Mouthfeel, Dylan Reece, Puppybutt, and Bitter Teen. This goes all night long so stay hydrated, kiddos. Fri., Feb. 19, 10pm. ATM Gallery/Studio. $5 before midnight. www.fb.com/mouthfeelatx.

Poo Poo Platter Presents GAG: Beauty Within The Beast It's a gag-worthy good time when PooPoo Platter invites a new lineup of contestants to show off their "spirit animals, inner demons, and creature features" for a chance to perform with the Platter at Southern Decadence in New Orleans. 18 and up. Fri., Feb. 19, 10pm. Elysium, 705 Red River, 512/478-2979. $5. www.fb.com/poopooatx.

Homo Photo Club Presents Ménage à Process Check out the works of the Homo Photo Club – aka Deb Norris, Gretchen Phillips, and Beth Schindler. New prints actually processed in a dark room. Saturdays, 10am-2pm. Prizer Gallery, 2023 E. Cesar Chavez. prizeraustin@gmail.com, www.fb.com/prizergallery.

Gigi Fernandez at USTA Texas/USPTA Texas conference Olympic gold medalist (and infamous lez tennis player) Gigi Fernandez on court for the USPTA Texas conference. Catch her earlier in the day at Onion Creek Club for a Masters Clinic. Players wanted. Sat., Feb. 20, 3:30-5pm. Horseshoe Bay Resort, 830/598-2511. www.texas.usta.com.

Austin MixHer Need a friend (or friend)? Lez-date app, HER, is hosting a get-together at our little queer bar with living art (cute grrrls?!), improv, and a photographer. Find yerself a squad or a date. Whichever. Sat., Feb. 20, 6-10pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. Free. www.weareher.com.

Cheer Up's six-Year Anniversary Party Happy Birthday, boo! Celebrate six years of queerz with the Cheer Up's birthday blowout that'll make you werk werk werk (on the dancefloor). DJs Cap'n Tits, Mouthfeel, Boyfriends, GirlFriend, Dylan Reese, and Portland's princezz Chelsea Starr make ya want that cake, cake, cake. Sat., Feb. 20, 10pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River. www.cheerupcharlies.com.

GayTripper: Driftwood Wine & BBQ Tour Wine, BBQ, and Boyz. There's a party bus leavin' at noon to get you wined and then dined in Driftwood before returning to Fourth Street for more shenanigans. Sun., Feb. 21, noon. Bus departs from the JW Marriott. $115-125. www.therepubliq.com.

OUTsider Closing Night Party They brought it in with a boom, now send them off with a Kegel ... for Hegel obviously. Celesbian JD Samson of MEN DJs, with bands GAYmous, L E S B I A N S, Kegels for Hegel, Theo Love, Ah-Mer-Ah-Su, and our very own Stanley Roy Williamson. Au revoir OUTsider, 'til 2017. Sun., Feb. 21, 8pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, Badges $40-100, Individual tickets sold prior to show.

BILF Nights presents Margarita Mixer Celebrate National Margarita Day with the sexy and scantily clad boyz at Tapelenders. Showing up gets you a complimentary cocktail; who knows what staying will getcha. Mon., Feb. 22, 8-10pm. Tapelenders Video, 1114 W. Fifth #201. www.tapelenders.com.

SHESHESHESHE Does "Loverboy" Those funny shes of SheSheSheShe-eesh are back and inducing audience belly laughs. Wed., Feb. 24, 8:30pm. ColdTowne Theater, 4803-B Airport. www.fb.com/shesheshesheatx.

Greetings, From Queer Mountain Ep. 34: What I Know Greetings, queers! It's storytelling time again, with this month's theme: What I Know. Carina Magyar, John Padgett, Dana Sayre, Austin Smartt, Jami Shofner, and Doug Bigham talk that talk. Wed., Feb. 24, 9pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. www.fb.com/greetingsfromqm.

GAYLY AHEAD

Hunter Valentine with Emily Wolfe Say it ain't so. The grrrls of lez-pop-punk band (and of Real L Word fame) Hunter Valentine are disbanding. Catch 'em before they're gone with local dream girl dream rocker, Emily Wolfe. Let's just say goodnight not goodbye. Mon., Feb. 29. Stubb's, 801 Red River, 512/480-8341. $12-14. www.huntervalentine.com.

The Pink Elephant Hip-Hop Festival Pink elephants rejoice! The largest LGBTQ hip-hop music festival is happening right here in ATX! 25 performers, two days, one fabtastic event. Wed.-Thu., March 9-10. Victory Grill, 1104 E. 11th, 512/291-6211. www.fb.com/victorygrill.