It’s June and time is ticking away on the Pride countdown, so if you haven’t sent me your Pride listings or Pride pictures, don’t wait another day longer. If you have anything associated with Pride — a party, AGM, march, dance, group, get-together, anything at all — send it along to me at oitc.vancouver@dailyxtra.com. Don’t be one of those people who remembers the day after your event!
Thursday, June 22
StandOUT! Awards
Formerly known as the Legacy Awards, the StandOUT! Awards is a night to acknowledge those who have contributed to the LGBTQ2+ community in Vancouver over the years. Presented by the Pride Society, there are six award categories this year to recognize those making changes within the community.
6–10pm. Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews. Tickets $25 and info at facebook.com/events/1421512974538582/
Mpowerment And Chill
Pretty well the same as Netflix and chill, but things stop at the cuddling. This is a social event where young gay, bi and queer guys come together to watch and discuss queer-themed media. Tonight kick back and watch Paris Is Burning, a 1990 documentary about the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. Mpowerment events are planned by and for young men who are gay, bi, or queer, and their friends.
6:30–9pm. Mpowerment Headquarters, 205-568 Seymour St. No charge. facebook.com/MpowermentYVR/
The Glitterbox
Hell must have frozen over. No, Conni Smudge has not gotten laid, there is actually a new show in town. Kitty Nights’ new venture Glitterbox is an outrageous night of burlesque, boylesque, drag and cabaret acts featuring drag by Catfish, circus and gender-fluid burlesque by Vixen Von Flex, boylesque by Bruce Wang, burlesque by the dynamic Monday Blues, dancers from The School Of Tease, pre-show go-go dancers, wacky craziness, and a fabulous finale ritual.
8–10:30pm. The Odyssey, 686 W Hastings St. Tickets $6–$10 at kittynights.com and facebook.com/TheOdysseyBar/
Dust and Amy Sing the Hits
Can you tell which drag queens are of the old regime and which are the new? One generation seems to increasingly have a beard, and I don’t mean a female cover-up for a date. Maybe it’s so that they don’t have to spend so much on makeup. Tonight check it out for yourself as Dust and Amy sing the hits of Ariana Grande, Poison, Drake, Queen, Lady Gaga, Enrique and everyone’s favourite, Counting Crows.
8:30pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. Cover $5. facebook.com/xyvancouver/
Sidekicks
We all have sidekicks but call them different things: wingman, BFF, ball and chain, co-dependant, you get the idea. Tonight one of our dearest funny men, Ryan Steele, steps out on his main squeeze, Amy Goodmurphy, and teams up with someone new, Lauren McGibbon. Now we will see who carries the weight in that comedy duo. I’m guessing it’s the feminine one (sorry Amy). Tonight’s show is duos-only, where our favourite comedy heroes buddy up to write, rehearse and perform hilarious sketch comedy.
9pm. The China Cloud, 524 Main St. Cover $10. facebook.com/events/1422402507805411.
Friday, June 23
Queer Prom
I missed my prom, and if I went to one now I’m sure it would have to be as a chaperone. Come out for a magical night of dancing, friendship, food, unicorns and love as the Youth Space of South Surrey/White Rock takes you out of this world. You can be casual, fancy, just you or even an alien. For all LGBTQ+ youth ages 13–24. Allies welcome.
5:30–9:30pm. The Youth Space, Bakerview Park, 1845-154th St, Surrey. No cover. facebook.com/sswryouthspace/
Beefcake Art Show & Pop-Up
Really, I can’t make this stuff up. Pork Pie brand is holding a beefcake art show and pop up, and after looking at the list of talented artists I’m sure you will be the one popping up. I only made it as far as Luc Latulippe and Sean Sikorski, but there is still Mark Pilon, Hobo Divine and Chadd Andre to gaze at as you peruse their paintings, T-shirts, tanks, limited edition prints, vinyl records and whiskey toothpaste.
Friday 6–10pm, Saturday 12–9pm. Pop-Up Space, 434 Columbia St, Chinatown, Vancouver. No cover. facebook.com/porkpiebrand/
Brown Body Stories: Searching For Healing/Longing for Home
Tonight is the launch of Jotika Chaudhary’s one-person show and zine-album — a handmade book that includes writing and art plus a CD of recorded song-poems. Brown Body Stories explores themes of home, heartbreak and healing, and a 20-something queer woman’s journey.
Doors 6pm. Show 7–8:15pm. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 8771 Lansdowne Rd, Richmond. Tickets by donation 0–$20, pay what you can at eventbrite.ca. More info at facebook.com/events/734236733417726/
Hot Bitch Bingo
Don’t let the hot Surrey bitches scare you. I’ve been told these bitches are hot, crazy and a blast as they bring you a free night of wild bingo. With prizes and a 50/50 draw for Surrey Pride, you can’t win if you don’t show up, so give it a shot.
7:45–10:45pm. Dell Lanes & Lounge, 10576 King George Blvd, Surrey. Free event. facebook.com/events/124996534749531
Sissy Boy
Friday night fever was never like this. Carlotta Gurl in bell bottoms: finally those ankles can fit in pants! Get ready to feel the fever as Carlotta Gurl and Mina Mercury become our favourite Disco Divas and put the funk back into Funky Town. It’s a night of bumping mixes from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with some sassy and sultry performances by the queens we know and love.
9pm–3am. The Odyssey, 686 W Hastings St. Cover $5. facebook.com/events/1904631379813919
Downtown Lesbian/Queer Party
Things are looking up this summer. A new unique dance experience for Vancouver’s lesbian and queer scene comes to the heart of the Village. Featuring DJs Body Party, Bellaella with ManyBothans, and @djkristam, playing all your ’90s hits and more as well as a performance by Karmella Barr. Get all your best moves out on that dance floor and shake it out to some Spice Girls, Aqua, TLC, Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Tupac, Biggie and more.
10pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. $10 at door. facebook.com/godownvancity/
Saturday, June 24
East Side Pride
Always the best way to get your Pride tune-up before the onslaught of crowds of Vancouver Pride. This will be an inclusive, engaging and family-friendly event featuring loads of local talent and friends from the community. Plus you can kick off the Pride season at the site of the historic Stonewall Festival. Live acts on the stage including Dia Nos, RedSoulBluez, Michelle Joly, Carousel Scene, Scizzor Fairy, drag performances and more.
12–6pm. Grandview Park. 1657 Charles St. No entrance fee. facebook.com/VancouverPrideSociety/
Listen to the Music
Out In Harmony, Vancouver’s gay, bi, trans, lesbian and queer choir, presents Listen To the Music as the first of the city’s summer concerts. Tap your toes to “Singin’ in the Rain,” laugh at Monty Python’s “The Song that Goes Like This,” and groove along to Pentatonix’s “Sing.”
7:30–9:30pm. Unitarian Church, 949 W 49th Ave. Tickets $20 at the door. whatsonqueerbc.com/#event|listen-to-the-music-with-out-in-harmony|69774
Divine: Drag Disco Party
Remember when WESA’s Art Gullet did Divine? No amount of vodka can remove that picture from my mind. This Divine, however, will transform the Saturday late night experience into a time warp of opulence, hedonism, and whimsy from the Studio 54 era of the ’70s and ’80s. Shanda Leer hosts alongside Jef Leppard and Trevor Risk, plus majestic drag hostesses Cinnamon Winters and Poison Apple. Get your furs and your skin tight pants ready because this is a truly transformative party.
10:30pm–2am. The Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St. $12 at the door. facebook.com/events/260920947647711.
Sunday, June 25
Surrey Pride
After a few bumps in the proverbial road, Surrey Pride is on and the ingenious hardworking people there are putting it all on without their usual funding. Due to construction issues, the route has changed a little; the march will take place on the sidewalk so that cars are not a problem. Mz Adrien on a Vespa, though, may be a different issue. Groups and organizations, bring your banners, bring Pride flags and dress festively.
10–11am. City Hall Plaza, 10694 City Parkway, Surrey. No fee. facebook.com/events/677967309040628.
Rainbow Afternoon Beer Bash
Whoever said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks was wrong. This old dog found that when he went out to New Westminster to a beer garden and met plenty of new tricks. The best part of it is that the bathhouse is right around the corner, and it’s in a different city so you don’t see the same old-same old faces. Ready to sneak away? Head two blocks to the SkyTrain and Bob’s your uncle, you’re home.
2–7pm. Judge Begbie’s Tavern, 609 Columbia St, New Westminster. facebook.com/events/1709495996013058
The March On Pride
Join Black Lives Matter Vancouver and other queer, trans, two-spirit and intersex people of colour to march through the centre of Vancouver’s gaybourhood in a show of Pride that is re-politicized, inclusive, celebratory and divested from parades they say are unsafe and exclusive. This event will re-centre LGBTQ/2S Pride as political and reclaim it as a protest, organizers say. “This event is open to everyone except institutions that criminalize, brutalize and kill Black people and other marginalized groups. Transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, sexism, misogyny, racism, anti-blackness, Islamophobia, anti-Indigeneity or any other form of hate or discrimination will not be tolerated.”
1–4pm. Starts at Emery Barnes Park, 1199 Richards St. No fee. https://www.facebook.com/events/290828344715509/
Boys Gone Wild
After many decades of birthdays, there have been many fun ones, many thoughtful ones and a few surprise ones, but never wet underwear ones until now. The Rhinestone Phoenix Foundation presents a wet underwear contest with $100 for the winner. Ms Gay Vancouver Casha Only and Mr Gay Vancouver Sir John A Taylor and special guests will be sure to entertain the crowd along with DJ Drew to set the mood. Now if we can only convince these boys to jump in the shower at PJ afterwards I will die a happy man.
10pm. The Junction, 1138 Davie St. $5 cover. junctionpub.com/
Monday, June 26
Friends Of Dorothy
This is a new group I’ve just heard about. It’s not an event but a place youth need to know about. An inclusive and safe space for LGBTQ2+ youth ages 12–24 in Langley every Monday night.
5–7:30pm. Text 604-723-5173 or private message for address and entry. facebook.com/pg/friendsofdorothylangley/about/
Tuesday, June 27
Karaoke
Ever wanted to be a big star? Here’s your chance. Don’t worry if you can’t sing, just turn up the bass. Euphonic Entertainment takes over XY every Tuesday and makes your dreams a reality. Bring a group for moral support or really loud backup singers and get your ABBA on.
9:30pm–2am. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. No cover. facebook.com/euphonicentmnt/
Wednesday, June 28
Bingo 4 Life
It just won’t be the same without James Steck running around the bar like a bingo granny, but we still have Del Stamp as the DJ entertainment and rotating drag hostesses — makes them sound like those bobble heads on your dashboard that love throwing shade as much as possible. They also seem to fondle the balls a little too long (the ones in the spinner, not mine). Come down and try your luck; you may even win a nice beach ensemble to wear for Pride.
8–10pm. Celebrities, 1022 Davie St. $10 donation gets you in and bingo cards. celebritiesnightclub.com
Think there’s an upcoming event I should attend? Click here to list your event on dailyxtra.com or send me a note at oitc.vancouver@dailyxtra.com.
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