Qmmunity: Reckless Amusement

Hope y’all had a fun, safe, and interesting Valentine’s Day. I caught classic controversy-stirrer Cruising over at Hyperreal Film Club, where only ONE stray giggler in the audience made for an overall pleasant viewing. Context: Most queer flavored repertory screenings have a horde of he-he hooligans in the crowd who find every little action guffaw worthy. As a certified killjoy/wet blanket, I’m not a fan of reckless amusement in my cineplex. Shut UP while Al Pacino flicks a cigarette into the wet New York City street! He’s going through a crisis about being into gay leather while also being a cop in the Seventies! This is no laughing matter!

In other news, here’s queer events that you CAN engage in reckless amusement at. Just use your best judgment, okay? That’s all I can ask of you, my sweet Reader.

Queer Film Theory: Rom-Coms

Thursday 20, the Highball

QFT 101 hosts several queer “professors” who’ll present their takes on romantic comedies that moved them in gay ways – whether the movie makers meant to or not. Stick around after the show for ...

Mochi Mochi

Thursday 20, the Highball

Tatiana Cholula, Louisianna Purchase, and Leia Sakura Dior salute one of the greatest media forms, anime, through one of the greatest performance forms, drag. Time to fujo out, girlies!

Queer Trivia: Black Divas

Thursday 20, Wanderlust Wine Co.

Aira Juliet and the Little Gay Shop test your know-how on Black queer icons, since “the world DOES NOT MOVE WITHOUT BLACK CREATIVITY,” as Juliet writes. Plus: a Q Austin pop-up with the *good* free condoms.

Puro Pinche 956

Friday 21, Cheer Up Charlies

Maybe you’ve got hoes in different area codes, but tonight there’s only one that matters. Venus Rising returns with this celebration of the Rio Grande Valley’s best, with drag, music, drinks, vendors, and more.

Austin Rubber Roundup

Friday 21 - Sunday 23, multiple locations

Find your new and old friends among these enjoyers of all things rubber, with many events planned over the whole weekend like markets & swaps, demos, educational workshops, and parties.

Drag Me to the Tavern

Saturday 22, Tiny Minotaur Tavern

Enjoy a drag fantasy fit for fae royalty with the Sirs Travis Randy Travis and Beau Elliot as well as their star-studded cast.

Who Killed Cupid? Sapphic Singles Murder Mystery

Saturday 22, Birdhouse Books and Gifts

Who needs the usual mix and mingle to find a soulmate when you could solve a murder instead? Sapphic Singles sets up this crime-solving social where you’ll puzzle out who killed Cupid by finding clues and getting to know your fellow queer cuties. Complimentary drinks from Industrious Co-Working helpt to lubricate your deductive reasoning.

Total DOMination: Burlesque

Saturday 22, Come and Take It Live

Get a ringside seat for the sixth smackdown hosted by Lucy Lonestar, blending wrestling and drag as the two art forms were always meant to be. With all that dance, drag, and live music, will you be able to smell what these performers have cookin’?

Trans Protection Magic

Sunday 23, Double Trouble

Cast a spell to keep you and yours protected during these strange times via Austin’s Queer Coven crafternoon sesh. Make a protection spell satchel filled with resonant items, such as crystals, a small charm/jewelry piece, herbs, or physical miscellania – you know, teeth, hair, fingie-nails. Workshop fee is $5, but all other supplies are provided.

Broken Hearts Club Rainbow Skate

Monday 24, Pins & Wheels at Playland Skate

Austin Pride hosts this wheeled wonderland where you can spin around the rink while DJ Chorizo Funk spins hot tunes. All ages welcome, but remember to bring your $14 for Playland admission.

Local Queer Book Club

Wednesday 26, Twin Oaks Branch Library

ATX-based queer event org Local Queer discusses their February book club pick, Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde. The Museum of African Diaspora Literary Award-winning novel utilizes a spirit guide narrator who takes the reader through various scenes of LGBTQ life in Nigeria.

The Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue: Reveries

Thursday 27, 29th Street Ballroom

What a dream! The Jigglewatts invite y’all to enter a world of enchantment for their dreamy burlesque variety show, featuring the cast as well as special guest performers. Dress code is night-night chic: nightgowns, sleeping caps, perhaps a stub of candle to light your way.

Pets & Furs Best in Show

Thursday 20, Elysium

Presented by Primal Complex and in association/sponsored by Austin Puppy Culture, Package Austin, Texas Puppy Club, Alamo City Furry Invasion, Mr. Texas, and DJ Scruffy, this talent show will have all the most skilled pet and furry community members strutting their stuff. Plus: a raffle raising funds for this year’s Fuzzballs: The Fur Con.

Tate McRae Album Listening Party

Friday 21, Highland Lounge

Enjoy So Close to What? stereo-style with a front-to-back play, then stick around for DJ BabiBoi’s McRae-vy set.

Salvation

Friday 21, the Busy Signal

Culture collective Shea Butter Babies present their latest show featuring burlesque, live music and more – all in service of celebrating Black love’s transformative power. “When there is so much uncertainty,” says the SBB event copy, “it can be hard to lose focus on the fact that Love may be the only thing that will save us all.”

Disco Swallows

Sunday 23, Sahara Lounge

Austin’s Yayborhood throws a party featuring tunes spun by DJs Shadowsweat, Dumpster.Chic, and Daddie Dearest to fundraise for local LGBTQIA org OutYouth.