Labor Day in LGBT Atlanta cranks up the gay. See what our people are up to, not just in a long weekend of gay events, but super gay inclusion in annual fests like Black Gay Pride, Dragon*Con, Decatur Book Fest and more.
Friday, Aug. 30
Black Gay Pride Atlanta (top photo) brings thousands of LGBT people of color to town for a slew of opportunities to do reverence and revelry. Day vendors and night parties through Monday. Friday events include but aren’t limited to Mr & Miss Atlanta Black Gay Pride and “Boy Pull Your Pants Up: The Play” with official event organizers In The Life Atlanta, Derek J J-Setting competition with Project TurnAround, The Coming Out Experience Luncheon with AARP, “Love & Hip Hop's” Joseline Hernandez (second photo) with Rock Stars Production, multiple Pure Heat for Women events with TraxxGirls including Grown Folks @ My Sister’s Room. Then there's the Mimi Faust Man Hunt Party with Wassup N ATL and Brent Star stripper competition @ Jungle, and more.
Fab Five with Special Guest “RuPaul’s” Coco Montrese (third photo) brings the controversial Season 5 “Drag Race” beauty to Atlanta for a performance with her fellow show alums Phoenix and Mariah plus Angelica D’Paige, Regina Ryan and Alicia Kelly @ Burkhart’s, 10 p.m. Read our Coco interview.
Dragon*Con is the nationally revered, four-day annual sci-fi/fantasy geek fest with cosplayers galore @ Hyatt Regency Downtown, all weekend.
Decatur Book Festival is the always LGBT-inclusive celebration of literature that descends on locals each year. Look for the Human Rights track that includes tons of gay and LGBT authors and subjects @ multiple locations in Decatur, through Monday.
Swank (fourth photo) is the new monthly women’s fandango at the hotspot on the corner of Gay and Lesbian. Ladies get ready for the Anna Ragghianti-approved throwdown @ 10th & Piedmont, 10 p.m. Check out our amazing photos from last time.
Occupational Realness Labor Day Party. Dress as your favorite workman – think Village People, then go further as a hot exec, butch coach, private eye, or whatever else turns you on. Then get ready for DJ Headmaster @ Mary’s, 9 p.m.
Dinner & A Movie: “Dragon*Con Viewers Choice” kicks off Jungle’s Friday with dragster Jaye Lishe, a different movie each week, and some great food and drink specials in the Jungle Room @ Jungle, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sit. Stay. It’s time for The Other Show and Then Some. The cast of crazies add more guests than usual, including Dax ExclamationPoint, Roxy C. Moorecox and Marcella Grrleen Redd and Mo'Dest Volgare, 9:30 p.m.
Bear Invasion Atlanta with DJ Jonny Mack (fifth photo) drops a special on your ass for Labor Day Weekend. Pump up the volume on the hot weekly man-on-man dance party with the talents of the NYC hunk and local favorite DJ Sean Mac @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
Got Leche? celebrates the weekend each and every Friday with Atlanta’s weekly gay Latin night @ Club Rush, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Black Gay Pride brings thousands of LGBT people of color to town for a slew of opportunities for reverence and revelry. Day vendors and night parties through Monday. Saturday events at multiple locations include “Boy Pull Your Pants Up: The Play” with ITLA, Soaking Wet Men’s Pool Party and Kelly Rowland (sixth photo) , Brunch to Masquerade All Day with Project TurnAround, Ciara (seventh photo) with Traxx @ XS Ultra Lounge, Ciara and Kelly Rowland with TraxxGirls, and more.
Early Country & Late Night Dance offers line dancing and two stepping after the sun goes down, then DJ Mike Pope picks up the pace until close @ Heretic, 8 p.m. and 12 midnight.
Dragon*Con is the nationally revered, four-day annual sci-fi/fantasy geek fest with cosplayers galore @ Hyatt Regency Downtown, all weekend, today including the Dragon*Con Parade (10th photo), 10 a.m. Here’s the new route.
Fabulous Show Studs: Vegas Edition rocks the lesbians with an amazing cast of local and visiting drag kings and other entertainers led by host Shaun Daniels @ My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m.
Le Sexoflex: Happy Ending Show puts the gay-inclusive, overtly sex-positive band to rest for the time being. Don't be looking for any new material in the foreseeable future, and don't be looking for any live shows after this one @ Drunken Unicorn, 9 p.m.
Extravaganza Show is the weekly fabulosity with blonde and beautiful Shavonna B. Brooks and cast @ Burkhart’s, 11 p.m.
Ana Paula, Deejay Woman brings her Brazilian renown and international circuit legend to the weekly best gay dance party in Atlanta @ Jungle, 10 p.m.
Decatur Book Festival is the always LGBT-inclusive celebration of literature that descends on locals each year. Look for the Human Rights track that includes tons of gay and LGBT authors and subjects @ multiple locations in Decatur, through Monday. Saturday events include Richard Blanco (eighth photo), the first openly gay presidential inaugural poet, and Linda Hirshman with “Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution.”
Keep partying well past curfew with the DJ Lydia Prim All-Night After Hours that will have you twerking until sun-up @ Xion, 3 a.m. – 7 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 1
Black Gay Pride: Pure Heat Community Park Festival takes over the outdoors with a marketplace, hair show, performers, food, and awareness intitiatives @ Piedmont Park, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. It’s just one of the Black Gay Pride Sunday events, including but not limited to Pride in the Black LGBTQ Community films and literature with Auburn Avenue Reaserach Library, K Michelle @ Opera with Rockstar, and “Boy Pull Your Pants Up: The Play” with ITLA, Manual Labor Mega Party with Brandy (ninth photo) performing live with Wassup, and so much more welcoming and celebrating the largest Black Gay Pride in the country.
Dragon*Con is the nationally revered, four-day annual sci-fi/fantasy geek fest with cosplayers galore @ Hyatt Regency Downtown.
Decatur Book Festival is the always LGBT-inclusive celebration of literature that descends on locals each year. Look for the Human Rights track that includes tons of gay and LGBT authors and subjects @ multiple locations in Decatur, through Monday. Sunday’s big gay events feature Java Monkey Speaks poets Kodac Harrison, Collin Kelley and Theresa Davis @ Eddie’s Attic, 12 noon, Tracee McDaniel’s “Transitions” debut, and Elliott Mackle signing “Welcome Home, Captain Harding” in the Emory tent, East Ponce @ Clairmont, 12 noon.
DJ Alex Acosta (bottom photo) tears up a Labor Day Sunday because everyone knows you don’t have to work tomorrow. Stay up and dance with this legendary beat master @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
Harness: Camo Edition lays down a “No Shirt, No Cover” party to shake up your Sunday. Strap in and strap up because it’s that kind of a night, this week with DJ Stan Jackson and your sexiest military gear, in the new bckspce @ Jungle, 6 p.m. – midnight (or later).
Armorettes serves up weekly camp drag crazy against HIV/AIDS. All of the fun is on them. All of your tips go to HIV causes in Atlanta @ Burkhart’s, 8 p.m.
Flashback Showgirls is the drag show that takes you back, all the way back to a new decade each time. Lady Shabazz leads the cast @ 10th & Piedmont, 8 p.m.
