ATTRACTIVE The Magnetic Fields documentary Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields is back for its for-real theatrical release in Austin, beginning this Friday at the Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, and in this issue, we even review it. Check out Kimberley Jones’ take.

QUEER FOR THE HOLIDAYS What is home for the holidays to you? Is it a safe place, a warm place, a welcome-home place? Or is it fraught with the tension of leading double, triple lives, whether they be expressed by the out-and-out closet (“in the closet,” that is) or by a subtle tamping down of spirit and identity to not disturb the herd of home? Or is it none of the above, because you’ve been ground and steeped and trained to avoid the birth fam altogether and gather with true kindred in sensitive times? This past summer (for those who are joining us late in the program), a movement emerged in Austin hellbent on increasing the visibility and viability of the Q segment of the quickly becoming neutered and commercialized Austin LGBT community. The movement was QueerBomb. Well, QB is back, this time with a similar mission to create safe and fabulous space for those marginalized within the margins. This time, it’s personal. This time, it’s the holidays. Yup, there will be a big ol’ QueerBomb party this Friday night. And if the motivation to create this space is not clear, don’t rely on my words. Let’s hear instead from folks sneezing glitter and shining the disco balls, like QueerBomb organizer Tamicka Phillips: “It’s an inclusive space, and I don’t have to be ‘safe’ for straight people. I’m queer, and as long as I am queer, I want a space-inclusive community to be a part of ….” Or Beth Schindler: “Besides my gayness, what’s my motivation? There’s this ever-thriving queer community in Austin, and we [QB] are filling a major hole. And we’re gonna spackle some QueerBomb all up in it.” Or Paul Soileau: “I am QueerBomb, because it makes the pony prance inside my belly. It makes me feel like I’m home.” Home is where the heart is, y’all. We’ll see you at Red 7 this Friday? (See Friday.)

This article appears in December 3 • 2010.

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