19 Gay Things to Do in Philly This Week

Drag queens take over the Penn Museum, NSFW turns 3, Milk performs with Haus of Ham and more gay things to do in Philly this week.

By Mel Stevens· 4/14/2015, 1:08 p.m.

IBA WiBs April Networking Social

Come out, get your social network on, and connect to LGBT-friendly businesses and the women who run them—all with drinks, of course. Register and buy your ticket here. Tuesday, April 14th, 5:30 pm, $15, Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor Street.

"Promtrash Zsa Zsa"

The Dumpsta Players are looking for the trashiest prom queen in Philly. Zsa Zsa Gabor and Joan Rivers are there for the title and Anna Nicole Smith is clawing for the crown, as well. A portion of the proceeds is going to Books Through Bars, a nonprofit that distributes free books to incarcerated people. Wednesday, April 15th, 10 pm, $1.99 and up, Bob and Barbara's, 1509 South Street.

P.M. @ Penn Museum: Gold Diggers

Penn Museum has invited a trio of drag queens to help them celebrate this month's P.M. @ Penn Museum—and they're even bring one back-in-the-day favorite back from the dead: Ms Tammy Faymous (pictured). She'll be hosting the evening and giving a few performances alongside Pissi Myles and pianist Lili St. Queer. Besides the entertaining queens, this is a great chance to check out Penn Museum's latest exhibit "Beneath the Surface: Life, Death, and Gold in Ancient Panama," which showcases gilded Precolumbian artifacts that would make any drag queen squeal. Wednesday, April 15th, 6pm, $20, Penn Museum, 3260 South Street.

Trans Archive Workshop #1

Stop into William Way where you will find a display focused on Philly trans histories and activism: "Defiant Archives: Trans Histories of Existence, Resistance, and Brilliance." You can even bring along something to contribute to the exhibit. Thursday, April 16th, 6:30 pm, free, William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Plays and Players

This is your last week to see Edward Albee's classic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, presented at Plays and Players Theatre by Theatre Exile. This ruthless examination of family, power, and psychology continues performances this week, and might we suggest that you show up to the theater sober, unlike the protagonists of this romp. Through May 17th, various times, $35, Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street.

The Submission

The second week of Quince Production's first show of 2015: The Submission concerns a white playwright who pens a play about growing up as a poor African-American. When a theater festival decides to produce the work, he panics, because, well, he's white and afraid no one will take the work seriously. In an attempt to save face, he hires a black actress to play his part. Despite objections from his boyfriend, the play goes ahead as planned. For more information and tickets, go here. Thursday, April 16th-26th, 7 pm, $25, Walnut Street Theatre's Studio 5, 825 Walnut Street.

CAKE 3: An NSFW Anniversary Dance Party

Celebrate NFSW's third anniversary at their latest, CAKE-themed dance bonanza. You can even wear your favorite CAKE wear if you'd like—as long as you don't mind being licked and tasted. Friday, April 17th, 10 pm, free, Medusa Lounge, 27 South 21st Street.

Transforming Law: Legal Issues in the Transgender Community

Temple NLG Gender Justice Committee is hosting a open symposium with speakers from local LGBTQ centers such as Mazzoni Center and The Attic Youth Center. They will discuss issues affecting the transgender community, including the working industry and how to promote protective laws that need to be enacted yesterday. Friday, April 17th, noon, free, Temple University Beasley School of Law, 1719 North Broad Street.

Burlesque for No One

Margot Go, Luna Levay, Pretty Girl, Oliver Fist, Keveline Squish, and Dena Colada are bringing you some "uglyhot' realness to their performance in this avant-garde event. Buy your tickets here. Friday, April 17th, 8 pm, $10-$12, The First Banana, 2152 East Dauphin Street.

Heroes Versus Villains

Brittany Lynn is helping raise money for Stonewall Sports through this bash that asks you to come dressed as your favorite hero or villain. Lynn and her Drag Mafia will be there to perform while you whisk around trying to find some lady or fella in distress who needs saving—or, better yet, corrupting. Saturday, April 18th, 9 pm, $8-$10, Tabu Lounge, 200 South 12th Street.

Ham and Milk: An Unbalanced Meal

Haus of Ham and The Dairy Queens are coming together for a mustachioed event. Milk from RuPaul's Drag Race will be there, too. Buy your tickets here. Saturday, April 18th, 10 pm, Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 Saint James Street.

Icandy Nightclub's 4th Anniversary Party!

Celebrate Icandy's 4th anniversary with the premiere of their new dancefloor are, The Arena. Marco from Marco Marco, Rhea Litre, and Raja, winner of Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race will be there to kick-off the party. Click here to enter the Icandy VIP Contest. Saturday, April 18th, 10 pm, call for price, Icandy, 254 South 12th Street.

Cabaret Vérité II: Land and See

The next installment for Cabaret Vérité is Land and See, a musical about the big questions in life: Where are we going? Where do we come from? And other rhetorical but fun-to-ask questions. The performance benefits William Way LGBT Community Center. Click here to buy your tickets. Saturday, April 18th, 8 pm, $18-$25, The William Way Center Ballroom, 1315 Spruce Street.

QOTA at Metro Men's Clothing

Join QOTA for a social outing with drinks, snacks, and a 15-percent discount on beachwear and a chance to win a pair of general admission tickets to Flavors of the Avenue, on April 26th, with every purchase. Sunday, April 19th, 1 pm, free, Metro Mens Clothing, 1600 East Passyunk Avenue.

Longwood Gardens Private Tour

Qventures and Karl Gercen, the Conservatory horticulturist for the past 17 years, will be providing a tour through this garden with insight on the Orangery, Exhibition Hall, East Conservatory, Green Wall, Mediterranean Garden, the Silver Garden and Acacia Passage and more. Tickets can be bought here. Sunday, April 19th, 12pm, $20, Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road.

Recurring Events Worth Checking Out

This week Brittany Lynn welcomes Billy Cavallo, Carol Ann Carol Ann, Joey Martini and more to That Tuesday Show!, our newest pick for one of the Gayborhood's most fun night's out during the week. (Tuesday)
It's TV Week at Mr. Everything, the competition to find Philly's best male-identified performer. (Wednesday)
Billy Cavallo welcomes a slew of performers to Venture Inn for his April edition of #VentureVariety. (Wednesday)