13 Gay Things to Do in Philly This Week
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Terry Mutchler Reading
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room hosts author Terry Mutchler on Tuesday. She will read from her new memoir, Under This Beautiful Dome, which delves into her secret relationship with Illinois Senator Penny Severns. Tuesday, April 21st, 6:30 pm, free, Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room, 345 South 12th Street.
Out in the Night Film Screening
LGBT-supportive nonprofits Leeway Foundation and Bread & Roses Community Fund present a screening of Out in the Night, a documentary about four African American women who are charged and convicted for assaulting a man who attacked them on the street in New York City. The film also documents the disturbing way the media vilified the women during trial. Stick around after the screening for a discussion with Director Blair Doroshwalther. Register for tickets here. Tuesday, April 21st, 5:30 pm, free, URBN Center, 3501 Market Street.
The #A1PHA Monologues
This Philly Black Pride/Mazzoni Center event features performers aged 14 to 24 years old, who will do everything from present poetry, spoken word, dance and theater to emphasize the importance of health, wellness, and community building in the young gay-, bi-, trans-identified people of color community. Wednesday, April 22nd, 5 pm, free, Ethical Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.
ActionAIDS Memorial Reading of Names
Join ActionAIDS in Love Park as they commemorate the Philadelphians who have lost their battles with AIDS. The names of 5,000 victims will be read aloud by HIV/AIDS activists, politicians, family members, friends and Dining Out For Life volunteers and participants. Participants can also take part in a memorial that will be installed permanently at the ActionAIDS main office. Thursday, April 23rd, 5 pm, free, LOVE Park, 1599 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Mac & Beer is Here!
Come out for a fun night celebrating three of our favorite things: mac & cheese, beer and LGBT youth. A dozen restaurants from all over New Jersey will bring out their tried-and-true mac & cheese recipes showcasing twists on the American comfort food from all around the globe. Proceeds benefit homeless youth shelter Crossroads' work to fund a new program for LGBT youth. Good cause. Good food. There's absolutely no downside here. Call 856-858-1000, ext 210, to order tickets. Thursday, April 23rd, 5 pm, $35, Collingswood Grand Ballroom, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood.
Spruce Gala 2015
The four organizations receiving Spruce Foundation grants this year get hat-tipped at this sure-to-be-rollicking gala featuring live bands, a DJ, open bar and silent auction. The Spruce Foundation is "a nonprofit organization that provides funding and consultation to charitable groups working with underserved youth in Philadelphia." This year, their grantees include a range of local innovators working in the fields of education, arts, LGBTQ, and health and wellness. Show your support and buy your tickets here. Friday, April 24th, 8 pm, $75, Arts Ballroom, 1324 Locust Street.
Martha Graham Cracker at Art After 5
Martha Graham Cracker returns to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for Art After 5. Need we say more? Friday, April 24th, 5 pm, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
6th Annual DARLA Celebration
Philly queer Latin@ social justice nonprofit GALAEI hosts its 6th annual DARLA (David Acosta Revolutionary Leadership Award) celebration. This year the theme is “Transitioning and Coming Out.” Organizers will be honoring a handful of go-getters making a mark in the queer Latin@ community, including Cuban civil rights activist Ada Bello (pictured), youth leader and immigration champion Erika Guadalupe Nuñez, and Latino immigrant rights organization JUNTOS. Buy your tickets here. Friday, April 24th, 6 pm, $75, Crane White Space, 1427 North 2nd Street.
Ham With a Side of Meth
Haus of Ham is welcoming Drag Queens of London superstar Meth to Philly for a night of laughs irreverent comedy only they can muster. Buy your tickets here. Friday, April 24th, 7 pm, $6-$8, L'Etage, 624 South 6th Street.
Devil Drag at BrainSpunk Theater
BrainSpunk hosts a whole weekend of not-your-daddy's-drag, featuring Pretty Girl (pictured, Friday and Saturday), Cara Kouture (Friday), Champagne Showers (Saturday), Lady Poison (Saturday), Sapphira Cristàl (Saturday), Freddie Meggury (Friday and Saturday), Lavinia Loveless (Friday) and more. Buy your tickets here. Friday and Saturday, April 24th - 25th, 10 pm, $10, BrainSpunk Theater at the Papermill, 2825 Ormes Street.
Crystal Queer: Tinted Justice
Crystal Queer's monthly fundraising dance party is benefitting Tinted Justice, a grassroots organization of queer women of color working on commemorating black lives that were lost due to violent structured racism. The group is working on an art project that focuses on women, trans folk and Philly natives, and brings awareness to racial injustice. Another reminder that #BlackAndTransLivesMatter. Saturday, April 25th, 10 pm, $5, The Barn on Baltimore, 4901 Catharine Street.
Bev's Birthday Bitchfest
One of the Gayborhood's funniest—and hands down most-Christian—drag queens is throwing herself a birthday party. Bev's Bitchfest will celebrate her high-holy birth all kinds of drag performers, singers and performers, including Alexis Michelle, Sutton Fearce, Songbird winner Larisa N Dupuis, Maria Top Catt, singer Ryan Wyrofsky, Mo Shocka Locka and more. Happy birthday, Bev. Saturday, April 25th, 10:00 pm, $10, Tabu, 200 South 12th Street.
Benefit Concert Featuring Brotherly Love
A select group from the Philadelphia Gay Mens Chorus will be putting their mellifluous sound to good use to raise money for their Gay/Straight Alliance Scholarship Fund, which, for the past two years, has been able to help seniors at Norristown Area High School pay for college. Sunday, April 26th, 3:30 pm, $10-$20, Reformed Church of the Ascension, United Church of Christ, 1700 West Main Street, Jeffersonville.
