You’ll know Atlanta Pride is a week away when the Queer Agenda calendar of LGBTQ events starts bursting at the seems. Check out overflowing political, personal, performance and party options that keep your downtime queer.
Friday, Oct. 5
Gentlemen’s Ball Weekend (top photo). The annual weekend of empowerment and celebration for men of color kicks off with a free welcome reception and scholarship ceremony with the organizing Gentlemen’s Foundation @ Marriott Marquis Pulse Loft, 7 p.m.
Pride Spin Class. Indoor cycling raises fun and funds for Lost N Found Youth @ Cyclebar in Dunwoody, 7 p.m.
Out on Film: Note Venue Changes. Atlanta’s 31stannual LGBTQ film festival continues with What Keeps You Alive 7 p.m., and Devil’s Path 9 p.m., both @ Out Front Theatre Company. Read our Out on Film preview in Q magazine.
The Other Show. Edie Cheezburger and her kooky queens work Atlanta’s newest gay bar @ Midtown Tavern, 9:30 p.m.
Heat Stroke. Party with the cool kids in East Atlanta @ Mary’s, 9 p.m.
DILF: Fukr: 'Strapped.' All the words plus DJ Drew G @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
Onyx: Kilt kicks Saturday into high gear @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m.
Deep South. Ash Lauryn guides the sounds for Vicki Powell’s sisterhood of the traveling party @ MidCity Café, 10 p.m.
Celestial Friday with Celeste Holmes puts the grrls on display for your entertainment and your dollars. Don’t forget Second Level beats upstairs @ Blake’s, 11 p.m.
Glitz & Glam Dinner Theater. Charlie Brown, the undisputed Bitch of the South and her gurlz entertain with dinner and a show amid the fancy theater experience of Atlanta’s premiere drag restaurant and bar. Make Reservations @ Lips Atlanta, 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and the Taboo Show at 11:30 p.m.
Fresh Fish Friday & Moonlight Cabaret. Early drag to wrap your week, 8 p.m. and drag eleganza fabulosity with Shavonna B. Brooks and Raquel Lord to kick off the weekend, 11 p.m. There's also a movie on the patio bar @ Midtown Moon, 7 p.m.
Drrty Divas. Boys, booze, beats and Atlanta's hottest queens hosted by Destiny Brooks @ Ten, 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Out on Film: Note Venue Changes. Atlanta’s 31stannual LGBTQ film festival continues with Larger Than Life: the Kevin Aucoin Story 1 p.m., Trans Military 3 p.m., The Queens 5 p.m., Wild Nights with Emily 7 p.m., all at Out Front Theater. Head to Poncey Highlands for Ideal Home 7 p.m., and Q Spotlight Screening: Mapplethorpe (middle photo) 9 p.m. with Q magazine and Project Q – both at Plaza Theatre. Read our Mapplethorpe preview and invitation.
LGBTQ Weekend of Action. HRC Atlanta invites you to canvass for Jen Slipakoff House District 36. Starts @ 4055 Old Stilesboro Road NW, Kennesaw, 11 a.m. Canvassing continues Sunday for governor.
SSL Fall Ball. Southern Softpaw League continues its 10th softball season @ Nickajack Park, 10 a.m. Every Saturday except Pride Weekend through Nov. 10. Check out our pics from Opening Day.
Gentlemen’s Ball. The annual weekend of empowerment and celebration for men of color with Gentlemen’s Foundation continues with a discussion panel, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and its star-studded black-tie main event with this year’s theme “Unapologetically Black” @ Marriott Marquis Pulse Loft, 7 p.m. Headliner hint: He’s a huge TV star and Q Cover Boy. It’s always a blast. Check out pics from 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Yours in Sisterhood. Modern people read aloud and respond to letters from the 1970s sent to the editor of Ms. Magazine to create an intimate, provocative, and sometimes heartbreaking conversation @ Out Front Theatre, 11 a.m.
Kicking for a Cause. GO Kickball, Joining Hearts and Piedmont Park Conservancy raising money against HIV @ Piedmont Park, 1 p.m.
#Daydrunk. Drink specials put you to bed early or make you the life of the party as the sun drops @ Mary’s, 2:30 p.m. Do it, and you may not remember what you did during the regularly scheduled shenanigans, 9 p.m.
Atlanta United Tailgate. The gay pro soccer fans of All Stripes do pre-gaming festivities before the match @ Lot 1 “The Gulch” outside Mercedes Benz Stadium, 11:30 a.m. You can also watch the game on TV as well as all the college football Saturday games @ Woofs, 2 p.m.
Armorettes. The legendary camp queens lip sync for charity @ Heretic, 8 p.m.
Glitz & Glam with Charlie Brown. The self-titled Bitch of the South and her girlsentertain with dinner and a show in the theater experience of Atlanta’s drag restaurant and bar. Make reservations @ Lips Atlanta, 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and the Taboo Show at 11:30 p.m.
Art for Impact. Photographic works by Mike Shaefer, open bar and special surprises form a backdrop for this popular annual fundraising party @ Positive Impact Health Centers, 5:30 p.m.
Pop Karaoke with Princess Charles. Sing your heart out with your host plus DJ Suzanne @ Midtown Tavern, 9 p.m.
Fantasy Girls. The queens you love doing what you love cabaret style @ Ten, 9 p.m.
Pop! Popup drag and Popup men werqs Saturday night into a frenzy @ Blake’s, 10 p.m.
Pride Launch Party. DJ Eric James uses the weekend to start Pride Week with no cover charge @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
Hotlanta Rubber & Gear Night kicks Saturday into high gear @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m.
Heyday. Nonsense ATL’s 1980s dance party that’s inclusive for every f-in body @ The Basement, 10 p.m.
After Hours. Soulful house music by resident DJs presented by Culmination Productions keeps you partying as late as you want @ Tokyo Valentino, 2 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 7
AIDS Walk Margarita Bust (bottom photo). The upcoming walk benefits from your bottomless margs @ Zocalo, 2 p.m.
Out on Film: Note Venue Changes. Atlanta’s 31stannual LGBTQ film festival closes with For Izzy 1 p.m., and Sisac, 5 p.m., plus the Tucked Free Screening and OOF Wrap Party 7 p.m., all @ Out Front Theater. You can also check out The Ice King 11 a.m. and The Dare Project free screening 8 p.m. Both @ Midtown Art Cinema. Read our Out on Film preview in Q magazine.
LGBTQ Weekend of Action. HRC Atlanta invites you to campaign for Stacey Abrams for Governor. Starts @ 2605 Ben Hill Road, 12 noon.
Gospel Brunch. Lip syncing queens while you eat from the smorgasbord of serving stations @ Midtown Moon, 11 a.m.
Gentlemen’s Ball Weekend. The annual weekend of empowerment and celebration for men of color with Gentlemen’s Foundation closes with the Boogie Down Brunch & Day Party @ 433 Bishop, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Heifer Review: Pride Kickoff. The queens their thing while eat @ Cowtippers, 1 p.m.
NFL Sunday Funday. All the games and matches on the screens, and all the guys to watch it with @ Woofs, 12 noon.
Drag Brunch with the Sisters of Sequins @ Lips, 12:30 p.m. Walk-ins welcome. Or sleep in and do Dinner with the Divas, 6:30 p.m.
Midtown Rouge. First it’s High Energy and DJ Bill Berdeaux, 1 p.m., then the legendary Sunday drag show kicks off with an all-star cast including Raquell Lorde @ Blake's, 8:30 p.m.
Madams, Marys & Mimosas serves drag, brunch and drink specials @ Ten Atlanta, 1 p.m. Sit. Stay. The Sunday Funday weekly tradition of outdoor dudes, DJs and drinks, 4 p.m.
Sunday Sabbath. Celeste Holmes stages the queens for your weekend wrap party @ Midtown Tavern, 6 p.m.
Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy. This book as well as the History vs. Women tome, sponsored by the lesbian-feminist book store and Agnes Scott College @ Presser Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Armorettes. The camp drag crazies with the hearts of gold against AIDS are in their 40th year of weekly shows @ Midtown Moon, 9 p.m.
Tossed Salad.The magic and madness masterminded by Brigitte Bidet and her left-of-center queens goes all in @ My Sister’s Room, 9:30 p.m.
After Hours. Urban Hip Hop all night by resident DJs, plus 15 dancers and three levels to party presented by Culmination Productions keeps you partying as late as you want @ Tokyo Valentino, 11 p.m.
A version of this feature originally ran in Q magazine. Read the latest issue below for even more, check back here every Thursday for the full weekend roundup, or jump ahead to a packed fall in queer Atlanta.
