Out in Toronto: Dec 8–14, 2016

Choice events in the city this week


Thursday, Dec 8

Black Boys

The latest production at the ol’ queer theatre is billed as “an exploration of queer male blackness.” The play depicts the efforts of three black men to understand themselves, each other and their place in the world. It is performed by Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Thomas Olajide and Tawiah Ben M’Carthy.

Runs until Sunday, Dec 11, 2016, various showtimes. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Black Boys runs until Dec 11, 2016, at Buddies. Credit: Courtesy Dahlia Katz

Friday, Dec 9

The Yes Men: These are a Few of My Favourite Kings

“Rainbows on Pride flags and pretty stage kittens/Bright flashy costumes and scripts being written/Woolen sock packages stuffed in g-strings/ On Dec 9, you’ll get all of these things!” says billing for the drag king troupe The Yes Men’s sexy, silly, holiday-themed evening of drag and burlesque performances.

10pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

On Dec 9, 2016, The Yes Men host a holiday-themed evening of drag and burlesque performances at Buddies. Credit: Courtesy Dave Jackson

Ho Ho Pony

Nothing says Christmas like a ginger DJ who is for some reason obsessed with Ginuwine’s song “Pony” (so obsessed he created a recurring party around it). DJ Orange Pekoe is joined by Amy Wood for a hip hop and R&B-focused dance party, with “Pony” playing every hour on the hour.

10pm–2:30am. Parts and Labour, 1566 Queen St W. For more info, visit Facebook.

 

DJ Orange Pekoe spins at the hip hop and R&B-focused dance party dedicated to Ginuwine’s song “Pony” on Dec 8, 2016, at Parts and Labour. Credit: Courtesy Ian Lawrence

Saturday, Dec 10

Queer Kampala International Film Festival, Toronto Screening

The film Outed is based on the true story of what happened when a man was outed in Uganda by a tabloid. The Toronto screening of Outed is part of the Queer Kampala International Film Festival, Uganda’s first-ever queer film festival. It will raise money for those organizing the festival.

1:30pm. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St. For more info, visit Facebook.

December Board Games Night

It is (perhaps) the last chance to game before the holidays. This year, instead of its annual Festivus event, The Toronto Gaymers host a regular ol’ evening of board and card games. It may be your last chance to have a calm evening among like-minded people before diving back into family for the holidays.

3–9pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 499 Church St. facebook.com/torontogaymers

Forte’s Christmas Vacation

Darling, are those carollers at the door all homosexual? Why yes, yes they are. Toronto’s gay men’s choir puts on its annual holiday concert. It features music from Conrad Susa’s Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest, an album of music that combines Central and South American folk music with Christmas themes.

7:30pm. Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St W. forte-chorus.com

Skilled Trade

People are shopping for gifts. Songs are playing in stores. Coffee is getting more complicated. Lights are beginning to twinkle down every side street. And sweaty men are pawing each other in the village. ’Tis the season! This edition of Scooter McCreight’s dance party for burly manly-men is all about rough-and-tumble blue collar guys. DJ Aeryn Pfaff spins.

10pm–3am. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. facebook.com/getsometrade

Tuesday, Dec 13

Cruise Control: Queers Respond to Project Marie

Recently the police conducted a sting in Etobicoke’s Marie Curtis Park, arresting many men allegedly engaged in public sex. What do we know? What should we, as a community, do about this? This meeting, open to all concerned community members, is intended to cover the facts and help decide the way forward.

7:30–10pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 499 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Queer Songbook Orchestra: Roasted Chestnuts, Holiday Fundraiser

Virtually a guaranteed good night out, the Queer Songbook Orchestra puts on its second annual holiday fundraiser concert. Dedicated to exploring queer music and musicians, the 11-piece chamber ensemble’s holiday event is all about good songs and stories. Proceeds go to the Rainbow Railroad.

7:30–1130pm. Burdock, 1184 Bloor St W. facebook.com/ toqso

Queer Songbook Orchestra puts on its second annual holiday fundraiser concert on Dec 13, 2016, at Burdock. Credit: Courtesy Guntar Kravis

For more event listings, visit dailyxtra.com/lgbt-events.

Jeremy Willard is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. He's written for Fab Magazine, Daily Xtra and the Torontoist. He generally writes about the arts, local news and queer history (in History Boys, the Daily Xtra column that he shares with Michael Lyons).

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