4 Gay Things To Do in Philly This Week: OutBeat, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, More

Dena Underwood will be playing at OutBeat, the nation’s first ever queer jazz festival.

Everybody’s working for the weekend, as the song does, but there’s some awesome events happening Monday through Thursday this week that will keep you engaged and excited: here are our best picks of what to do in gay Philly this week.

Coming Out: Storytelling on Being Queer and/or Undocumented

It can be hard "coming out" as gay to begin with, but what if you're also an undocumented immigrant? That's the focus of Juntos and GALAEI's "Coming Out: Storytelling on Being Queer and/or Undocumented" that takes place at PhillyCAM Studios this Monday evening. Expect some interesting conversation how to we can build better communities and empower each other with the "coming out" process. (Monday, September 15, 6PM. PhillyCAM Studios, 699 Ranstead St., Philadelphia)

Temple University LGBTQ Alumni Society Happy Hour

If you're a LGBTQ Temple University alumni, join in the fun at Pennsylvania 6 this Tuesday evening to meet and greet your fellow LGBTQ colleagues. You'll get to meet the Temple LGBTQ University Alumni Society Executive Board members and learn about upcoming projects, along with sipping some fabulous cocktails and nippling on some tasty bites. Guests must register here. (Tuesday, September 16, 5PM. Pennsylvania 6, 114 S. 12th St., Philadelphia)

Brian Sanders JUNK, "Suspended"

Any Fringe Fest performance that has a "locker room pre-show" is clearly worth checking out, as is always the case when Brian Sanders' JUNK is playing. The Fringe production, Suspended, takes a raw, erotic look at human consciousness. It's a great hump-day show that will set your mind free before the rest of the week! Tickets are available here. (Wednesday, September 17, pre-show at 8:30PM, show at 9PM. JUNK, 2040 Christian St., Philadelphia)

OutBeat Kickoff Reception featuring Dena Underwood

The nation's first ever queer jazz festival comes to Philadelphia this week, thanks to the William Way Center, and the opening night reception is not to be missed. Featuring the music of Dena Underwood, this kick-off night of mingling with jazz lovers is just the start of the four-day fest. Tickets and more information can be found here. (Thursday, September 18, 6PM. William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia)