Queer Events to Come

Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog with a knack for predicting spring’s arrival, has doomed us to another six weeks of winter. But these chilly, gray days aren’t getting us down. Instead, we’ve pulled out our planners to pencil – or Sharpie – in some fabulous queer events looming on 2018’s horizon.

To make sure we didn’t miss a queer dance party or epic art show, "Gay Place" sourced some of Austin’s most notorious movers, shakers, and magic makers to put together a comprehensive list of not-to-miss events between now and fall. Of course, others will surely pop up between now and then, but we’re off to a good start. So, are you ready for the ride?

February

Outsider Festival (Feb. 14-18, The Vortex – mostly). Austin’s queer transmedia fest is reviving up for its fourth year. This year’s theme is OUT of Time and features all sorts of art looking to queer time.

Lez Prom (Feb. 17, Sterling Event Center, 7pm). Love is in the air. Fancy attire and frills with none of the self-hate of high school. (We hear it's sold out tho – be warned.)

Tea Time With T Boys (Feb. 23, Sellers Underground, 9pm). YouTube stars Rico and Samuel (of Tea Time With T Boys) are headed to Austin to raise money for the Kind Clinic. Catch a live taping, Q&A, and drag show featuring an all-transwomen cast.

Queer Dance Freakout (Feb. 24, Texas State Capitol, 5-8pm). What goes around comes around. One year ago we took to the street in front of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mansion to protest bathroom bills and other anti-LGBTQ legislation. This year, the queer wranglers are takin’ the dance party protest to the Capitol to encourage a blue wave in state politics.

March

Christeene’s Back (March 2, Volstead, 9pm). Find our fave dirty drag queen spewing expletives and singin’ ’bout smut with Sexy Finger Champs, Militant Babies, and the Stabbies.

Butch Queen (March 3, Cheer Up Charlies, 9pm). Peep some first-time queens flaunting what their (drag) mamas gave ’em. Louisianna Purchase confirms, they’re bringing it “back home” to where it all began.

Lesbian Wedding: SXSW Edition (March 18, Sahara Lounge, 2-10pm). Beth Schindler, the co-creator of Lez Wedding, isn't spilling any tea over what to expect from this go-to queer South By event, but ever since it popped up to fill GayBiGayGay’s space in our hearts, it's Austin's ultimate queer SXSW send-off.

Community Healing QPOC Health Fair (March 24, Ground Floor Theatre, 12:30-4:30pm). An afternoon event brought to you by allgo. Meet with healers and learn about food justice, discuss PrEP to battle HIV infections, and more.

Lovebomb (March 31, Cheer Up Charlies, 9pm). Queerbomb’s biggest fundraiser returns. Find ’em slinging glitter and raising cash for QB18.

April

Leather Pride (April 6-8, Wingate by Wyndham Round Rock Hotel). All right, so this one’s a bit north of town, but it’s a full speed ahead leather weekend, so we figured you’d wanna know about it – right? For all your leather-loving needs.

Raw Sugar (Exact date TBA, Sahara Lounge). A new queer-tinged party with Double Trouble (DJ wife duo Lynn and Erin from Chulita Vinyl Club). Slow jams on vinyl make for the perfect spring fling.

May

Rebecca Havemeyer's One Woman Show, a Work in Progress. (Exact date TBA, Museum of Human Achievement). Catch a sneak peek of “Winkie,” Havemeyer’s long-awaited one-woman act written by Paul Soileau and Kerri Atwood.

June

Queerbomb 2018 (June 2, Fair Market, 4pm-2am). The queer invasion returns. You know the drill – meet at the market for the pre-procession rally then take your marching boots down Dirty Sixth and back to celebrate all this beautiful queerness.

Austin Black Pride (June 7-10, around town). Three years and thriving. And we hear the Pink Elephant Hip Hop Festival will once again coincide for a smokin'-hot weekend.

July

The Mahogany Project Volume 6: Joy (Exact date and location TBA). Coming summer 2018, the Project’s latest theatre production will celebrate blackness, queerness, and “serve as a reminder that mainstream culture owes so much to the black, queer community,” says founder Joe Anderson Jr.

August

WERK Fashion Show (Aug. 23, ACL Live). Austin Pride's jewel of a night. High fashion modeled by yer fave queens. Ready those red carpet looks, please and thank you.

Austin Pride 2018: Revolution (Aug. 25, Feista Gardens and Congress Ave., 11am-11pm). This year’s date for the Pride fest and parade has been confirmed, so start planning for your queer revolution now.

September

2018 aGLIFF Festival (Sept. 6-9, Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar). Austin’s oldest queer film festival has been rebranded for 2018 with diversity in mind! aGLIFF, now short for All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival, returns with more than 100 LGBTQ-focused films from across the globe. President Ashley Marshall also promises an exciting mix of events, panels, and mingling opportunities for filmmakers and cinema lovers.

Gender Unbound Art Festival (Exact date and location TBA). The one-day fest created by Gender Portraits artist Drew Riley will return for year three with “old favorites and new talents” from trans and intersex artmakers. Keep on eye on the website for the official date announcement.

Plezzure Island (Sept. 27-30, South Padre Island). Texas’ largest queer women’s resort takeover is headed to South Padre for year three. Co-founder Gabby Ayala promises great DJs and entertainment plus more activities – think yoga on the beach and surf lessons. Tickets go on sale soon – follow @plezzureisland on the ’gram for updates.

There's always more to come, so make sure to check out the "Gay Place" daily listings and the weekly column highlighting the sh*t we're most stoked about!