Qmmunity: Double Scorpio Goes Offline

Guys, girls, and gender nonconformists: They are coming for our poppers. By “they” I mean the permanently red U.S. secretary of health and human services piloted by a brainworm he got from eating raw wild bear, and by “coming for” I mean last Thursday’s FDA search-and-seizure of beloved VHS cleaner brand Double Scorpio. A horrible turn of events, even if tides have been turning pretty poorly for the LGBTQs lately – especially since ol’ DS has now stopped operations completely.

By the time y’all read this, a new evil will have broken from containment: a shitty bill from our Texas Lege; another reactionary opinion from our Humpty Dumpty-ass attorney general; or a weird, inarticulate rant from the president of the country. Apparently the T means Tesla now since those ugly cars get more state protection than the transgender community. Do you think they’ll get their own pride parade, or is the possibility of them exploding mid-march a hindrance?

What on Earth do we do? I don’t have the answer, and neither does anyone who isn’t trying to sell you something. What we have is each other – our friends, our chosen families, our actual IRL communities. Developing connections is how we keep each other alive through the next hellish four years.

Sarah Cypher and Jonny Garza Villa In Conversation

Thursday 20, Birdhouse Books & Gifts

Stonewall Book Award winning authors of Canto Contigo (Garza Villa) and The Skin and Its Girl (Cypher) chat at this Burnet bookshop about the queer intersectional identity from their perspective.

Queer Trivia: Lady Gaga

Thursday 20, Wanderlust Wine Shady

Host Aira Juliet and the Little Gay Shop invite Little Monsters to take a trip through Stefani’s many eras in honor of new album Mayhem’s recent release. The Q Austin pops up to provide safe-sex resources – because someone has to!

Bingo Baddies

Thursday 20, Showdown San Marcos

Just outside Austin, drag stars Solangel Vergara and Jinx the Minx host a free bingo bonanza featuring performances, prizes, and a Lucky Showdown raffle promising $50 to the winner.

Killer V. King, Mira Lazuli, and Miriam Hacksaw

Friday 21, RSVP for address

Hit up this house show to hear visiting queer pop artist Mira Lazuli (NOLA) play alongside local indie psych group Killer V King and folk fiddler Miriam Hacksaw. Hit up the Insta DMs for location deets.

Psychedelic Sapphic Dance Party

Friday 21 - Saturday 22, the Rosette

From your fierce friends at ErotiQueer BurlesQue comes a totally transcendent time featuring mind-bending music, dance, and more. Expect a “flower child fantasy meets mod-era madness” for this burlesque trip.

Pard’ner Dance Workshop

Saturday 22, Sagebrush

Neon Rainbows and Country Fried Dance do-si-do down South for this duo-based dance workshop. Learn how to spin your partner round-and-round for a $10 cover.

Gay Club Music

Saturday 22, Neon Grotto

BabiBoi reinvents the Fourth and Colorado corner club into a real gay get-down featuring pop, femme, hip-hop, dance, and club edits to shake ya queer ass to.

Moto-Queers Meet Up

Saturday 22, Texas Coffee Traders

You love going vroom-vroom on two wheels? Join fellow LGBTQIA+ bike buffs at this Local Queer ATX social to rev your collective engines about the joys of motorcycle life.

All-Ages Drag Story Time

Saturday 22, Birdhouse Books & Gifts

Drag king Stellar Manx kicks off a new reading series with controversial children’s book Unicorns Are the Worst by Alex Willan, which received criticism and was eventually banned by a Florida school district for its portrayal of bare goblin butt. RSVP for free, and bring the kiddos: Birdhouse promises coloring pages.

March Partner Hike

Saturday 22, Commons Ford Ranch

Body Liberation Hiking Club’s Austin branch teams up with ATX Sapphic Hiking Crew for a spring-y saunter through Commons Ford Ranch’s waterfall trail. Register via BLHC ATX’s Insta soon, as there’s only 20 spots available.

Papier Mâché With Kassidy Curry

Saturday 22 & 29, All the Sudden

Artist Kassidy Curry takes over this East Austin DIY art space to learn ya on mixed media and papier mâché for a mere $70. Over the two-part workshop, attendees will create two sculptures: one based on her model and the other from their own imaginations. Interested parties encouraged to RSVP via [email protected].

Bruncheria

Sunday 23, Bodhi’s Hideaway

Take a seat in South Austin for drag loteria hosted by the one and only Basura. No cover, delicious drinks, and eats from Achiote: What more could you want every first and third Sunday?

Say That!

Sunday 23, the Rosette

Check into this convo moderated by ASHwell’s Jeremy A. Teel where artists Theo Love, Vertarias, Tia Boyd, and Mirakol Jade chat about the role of queer art in activism and storytelling. Plus: a pre-panel showcase and performance.

Boot Scootin’ Brunch

Sunday 23, Central Machine Works

A freesies function where Country Fried Dance gives you the low-down on line-dancin’ at this Eastside brewhouse. DJ Rhinestone Ruckus spins, and CMW’s food trucks offer tasty bites.

The Vixens of Volstead

Sunday 23, Hotel Vegas

Plant yourself on the Vegas patio to enjoy the drag stylings of May Magdalene, Mars, and Veronica Valentine alongside special guest Riotgirl and DJ Ed West, né Boyfriend.

Queer Sewing Workshop

Sunday 23, OutWellness

Learn a new skill that’ll also boost your waredrobe at this workshop taught by Diana Green. Multiple macines will be available, and Green asks you to bring a t-shirt “you’d love to cut up.” Masks required but RSVPs are free!

Love & War

Monday 24, Oilcan Harry’s

Whee-o, whee-o: That’s the alarm I sound when a new drag competition hits Oilcan’s. Lawrie Bird hosts this new head-to-head where every week up-and-coming Austin talent strut their stuff for judges Ritzy Bitz and Celia Light – and you, their loving audience! All’s fair in ... well, you know.

Post-Advocacy Day Cool Down

Monday 24, Oilcan Harry’s

After sweatin’ and fightin’ the good fight at the Texas Lege, hosts Brigitte Bandit and Alexander the Great invite y’all to chill out with ya community. Lonestar Queer, Gorg! Wellness & Aesthetics, Age of Aqueerius, and Kind Clinic pop up, too.

Basura’s Boudoir

Tuesday 25, Rain on 4th

Part that curtain and see what talents lay beyond at this open-stage drag show hosted by Basura. Sign-up starts at 9pm and cutoff at 10, so bring your USB of “Abracadabra” promptly!

Lambda Legal Workshop

Wednesday 26, Georgetown Public Library

PFLAG Georgetown invites queers from the Austin-area to get a crash course in the current fight for LGBTQIA+ rights from a special guest hailing from civil rights org Lambda Legal.

Open Gym Queer Comedy

Wednesday 26, OutWellness

No charge queer comedy? What a concept. And it’s also at a gym? How intriguing. Hosted by Kristina Puerto, this open mic features up-and-comers as well as established folks working out their new material. Plus: It’s a sober event!

Local Queer Book Club

Wednesday 26, Howson Branch Library

Discuss Emily Austin’s morbid but merry lesbian novel Everyone in This Room Will Someday be Dead with fellow lit lovers at this Local Queer ATX meetup. RSVP ahead of time via, you guessed it, their Instagram bio.

Herlights Live Recording

Thursday 27, the 1972 Pub

Comic and sports podcaster Erin Foley brings her show’s national tour to Austin’s newest sports bar started specifically to highlight women in sports. Perfect for any jocks or aspiring sportos capping off Women’s History Month.

The Boyz of Austin: Night of a Thousand Nicolas Cages

Thursday 27, Elysium

Explore the Cage-verse with your fav drag king troupe as they perform all his cinematic hits from Ghost Rider to Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Cover’s nine bucks cash, so hit the ATM before you arrive.