This Saturday being National Coming Out Day, I thought I had my column subject in the bag. Just talk about my personal coming out story, right? Wrong! I forgot that like most queer people, I have a million “coming-out” stories, because having any identity on the LGBTQ tree means you’ve sat down almost every person in your life at least once to tell ‘em you’re, like, a friend of Dorothy.
(Obviously, that’s just for being gay, and if you’re coming out as a lesbian, you’re a friend of Elphaba. Bi is the Scarecrow, trans is Glinda or the Tin Man, and if you’re just generally queer, you’re a citizen of Oz.)
There’s definitely moments that stand out more than others: my first-ever coming out to my mom, where she told me I wasn’t bisexual, I was just really interested in gay people. (Not wrong! Just not exactly right either…) There’s also my second coming-out to my mom, which isn’t for print but don’t worry, my therapist has heard about it. Then I’ve got the myriad trans coming outs, which for some reason seem to invite cis people to comment on the name I chose. It’s not a group decision, Tiffany! I chose James because I like it, and I’m not going by the name “Randy” because it’d be an easier transition for people who know my dead name.
(That’s a real thing a family member suggested I do. These are all so unfortunately real.)
It’s hard to land on one definitive coming-out, because this is an ongoing process that’ll happen all my stupid gay life. As long as society keeps treating queerness like it isn’t a normal fact of the world (which it is!) then I’ll keep having to sit my relatives and friends down to tell ‘em I’m a friend of the Tin Man. If you’re the person receiving the coming out, don’t scream or shout. Someone is handing you a very important detail about themselves. Treat their trust in you as the honor it is, and let them know you’ll be there for them. God. It’s the only thing we can promise each other in this crazy world: To be there when times are tough.
National Coming Out Day w/ HRC Austin
Thursday 9, Ground Floor Theatre
Yeah, the actual date’s on Saturday, but the Human Rights Campaign’s celebrating early to beat the ACL crowds. Expect an art show, a screening of Bottoms, a self defense lesson, high-school-style superlatives, and plenty to munch and sip on. 6:30pm.
Bebecita
Friday 10, Cheer Up Charlies
Benito ain’t in Austin, but the Bad Bunny spirit stays strong at this tribute show hosted by BeeBee Blvnt, DJ’d by Scam Likely, and featuring performances by Adasha K, Cali Gente, Sir Dree, Moxie, Felesia Lucia, Tiny Taurus, Venus Rising, and Jack the Stripper. 9pm.
The Masquerave
Friday 10, Neon Grotto
Babe ATX invites partygoers in the mood for “neon nostalgia + dark futurism” to find themselves on Fourth and Colorado for an all-night DJ lineup of Devil Woman, Hip Stir, Shelz, Lindzeetron, and Gothmoth. 9pm.
Shock Therapy Presents: Pastel Halloween
Friday 10, Elysium
October’s not just about orange and black, as you’ll find at this tribute to the pale pinks, blues, and greens featuring the Shock Therapy cast as well as special guests Betty Boof, Jello Viagra, Sissa Muerta, and Jack Rabid. Plus, a costume contest, flash tats, vendors, and DJ bbcrux.
Flamy Grant & Julie Nolen
Friday 10, Regal Rooms
No. 1 on the Apple Christian music charts, Americana-singing drag artist Flamy Grant makes her way to Austin for a show produced by fellow lineup member Julie Nolen’s OUTlaw Pride.
Perreo Club
Friday 10, Coconut Club
DJs Suxxy Puxxy, Lodri, Dragonnqueen, and Soularreal go offline for a one-night-only recorded experience where “the crowd becomes part of the energy, the cameras capture every detail, and the music lives forever online.” 8pm.
Georgetown Pride 2025
Saturday 11, Wellspring United
Pride continues spreading all over Central Texas with Georgetown’s inclusive festival, where you’ll find a vendor market, live music and drag, and family-friendly fun all celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. 2pm.
Woke Cowboy
Saturday 11, Coldtowne Theatre
Diversify your comedic diet with this varied lineup of Austin voices, including Pallas Hester, Kalista Torres, Ajit Krishnamoorthy, Clayton Maderia, Kat Ellison Williams, Chris Bryant, Evan Rabalais, and host Sarah Spear. 8:30pm.
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Saturday 11, Tiny Minotaur Tavern
Cross the veil into this fantastical realm, where Venus Rising, Sir Beau Elliot, Ruby Knight, Hurricane Short King, and host the Trans Era deliver an angelic show featuring drag, tarot readings, and mutual aid resources. 9pm.
Frisky Business Presents: BOOty Bash
Saturday 11, Captain Quack’s
Ghouls, ghosts, and glamorous dancers invite and excite you at this Frisky Business burlesque show. Come in costume, and you might win the Scream Queen crown. 8pm.
Second Saturday Market
Saturday 11, the Austin Eagle
Shop local queer vendors at the Eagle, this week in celebration of National Coming Out Day. 2pm.
Queer Menopause Workshop
Sunday 12, OutWellness
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas experts and OutWellness team up to talk y’all through the mid-life transformations a body can go through (meno-and andropause). Learn in a gender-inclusive way about these hormonal changes as well as what treatment options are available. 11:45am.
Where the Girls Are
Sunday 12, 1972 Pub
Join acoustic folk singer-songwriter Heather Miller for a special song-swap show with Americana, folk, and country artist Allison Tucker. 6pm.
Austin Fou Fou Ha! Auditions
Sunday 12, Secret Location
Think you’ve got what it takes to join this clown collective? Austin’s branch of Fou Fou Ha! is looking for new performers, so if you’ve got the jesterly goods, email austinfoufouha@gmail.com to get the audition location details. 4pm.
Trunk or Treat
Sunday 12, Over Yonder
TribRelations goes family-friendly for the Halloween season with this all-ages tailgate. Decorate your car trunks in cute and creepy style and take part in fun contests and giveaways. 5pm.
Slay-C-L
Sunday 12, Meanwhile Brewing Co.
Family-friendly and – unlike another weekend fest – free, this gathering from nonprofit I Slay offers inclusive activities for everyone including a plus-size clothing swap (w/ menswear options), a live DJ, drag queen storytime, local vendors, wellness resources, and much more. 12pm.
Love and War Season 2
Monday 13, Oilcan’s
Lawrie Bird’s drag competition returns for another nine-week duke-out between drag performers that’ll earn the winner a paid booking in L.A. as well as other grand prizes. 9:30pm.
Hello Darlings
Monday 13, the Iron Bear
Hilda Dixon’s showtune-centric show goes Halloween this week with spooky selections performed by Vicious LaMour, Haunted, and Gemma Nye. 9:30pm.
Bronco 1
Monday 13, Sagebrush
Beginners to the front for this line dance lesson, with Country Fried Dance leading the way to boot-scootin’ perfection while DJ Ed West spins the yee-haw tunes. 7pm.
WTF: Women, Trans, Femmes
Monday 13, West China Tea
Enjoy traditional tea services in an environment filled by fellow femmes, themes, and other gender-queer friends. 6pm.
The Try Hard Mic
Tuesday 14, Double Trouble
Show off your tight five every second Tuesday at this open-mic, hosted by those fun and funky folks at DEI Comedy. 7:30pm.
High-lloween: Halloween Trivia
Tuesday 14, Oilcan’s
Get ready for ghoul school, because host Alexander the Great will be testing your haunting holiday know-how at this trivia night. Win treasures, drink THC tipples, and have chillingly fun time. 9pm.
Transtile
Tuesday 14, Cheer Up Charlies
Keep the party going post Turnstile concert with this all-trans and nonbinary drag show featuring Kino Kino, Bat Widow, Gator Gorr, Damiana Divine, Greta Grip, and spins by DJ Deadlao5. 10pm.
Strutter
Wednesday 15, Chess Club
Burlesque can be used for good, such as Nocturna Cabaret’s benefit show done in collaboration with Queer & Trans for Liberation, where ticket sales to this burly-q bash hosted by BNasty will help out local immigration defense and mutual aid. 9pm.
Design Minded: Design Talk & Q+A With Joey Zeledón
Wednesday 15, the rooftop at the Contemporary – Jones Center
The Design Is Trans author delivers a talk about “the transformative nature of design through the lens of their personal experience as a trans designer.” AIA Austin’s LGBTQIA Alliance facilitates a post-talk Q&A. 6pm.
Rocky Horror: A Live Drag Musical
Thursday 16 – Friday 31, Oilcan’s
Directed and produced by Cupcake and Riotgirl, this drag rendition of the iconic camp classic returns filled with familiar Austin faces and runs through to Halloween. 7pm.
Steven Universe Drag Tribute
Thursday 16, Cheer Up Charlies
With Rebecca Sugar releasing a new album this year as well as spinoff series Lars of the Stars on the horizon, now’s a great time to return to Beach City for a Crystal Gems-centric drag show hosted by Damiana Divine as problematic icon Rose Quartz. 9pm.
Slay the Pumpkin
Thursday 16, Mueller Park
Latine social group Somos Sapphics hosts this pumpkin-carving hangout that’s BYOPAPCK (bring your own pumpkin and pumpkin-carving kit). 6pm.
Queering the Kitchen: Fire Cider Making
Thursday 16, DAWA HQ
Learn how to make this aromatic drink with allgo at their last Queering the Kitchen workshop of 2025. Register soon so the organizers can prepare all the resources attendees’ll need. 6:30pm.
From the Calendar
Pet Sematary & House
Saturday 11, Paramount Theatre
Austin drag icon Louisianna Purchase sets the stage for two of the wildest horrors about hearth and home. First, Mary Lambert proves that sometimes dead is better in the superior 1989 adaptation of Stephen King’s violent creepfest about a parent’s love taken too far. Then Nobuhiko Obayashi gets completely unhinged with House, one of the most bizarre horror films ever made and a psychedelic gorefest filmed like a perfume commercial. Here’s a cinematic double bill to remind you to never trust a strange cat, especially if they’re a zombie or maybe the spirit of a witch. – Richard Whittaker
Little Gay Shop of Horrors: Halloween Festival
Sunday 12, Distribution Hall
Find all the freaky items and objects your gay heart desires at this Halloween market. The Little Gay Shop opens the crypt doors to over 90 local vendors and artists all offering y’all shoppers their most frighteningly fun creations like ceramics, stickers, embroidery, and more. But that’s not all these happy haunters provide: Expect drag photo ops, gratis graveyard drinkables, and the annual doggy costume contest. All in all, it’s the most fun a ghoul can have with their clothes on. – James Scott
This article appears in October 10 • 2025.