Qmmunity: Reading the Rainbow, Again

Reader, today I come to you with advice handed down by this year’s indie bookstore day ambassador LeVar Burton’s classic children’s show: Take a look; it’s in a book! Yes, this Saturday, April 25, is Independent Bookstore Day across the nation. We’re blessed in ye olde Bat City to have several queer indie book spots – Reverie Books (Menchaca), TOMO Mags (Brazos), Finney’s Books (Airport Boulevard), Resistencia Books (Thrasher), the Little Gay Shop (12th and Chicon), BookWoman (North Lamar), Monkeywrench Books (North Loop), Birdhouse Books and Gifts (Burnet), and the Book Burrow (Pflugerville) – so give ‘em a visit during your weekend whatnot.

Our neighbors over at Georgetown Pride posted last Thursday about their upcoming Pride festival, namely that there might not be one. The October event requires “a significant amount of time, energy, and resources from our team,” they write. “As a small yet deeply dedicated group of volunteers, putting on a festival of that scale often stretches us thin and leads to burnout.” With assurances that the actual org isn’t dissolving, Georgetown Pride asks its community to fill out an interest form linked on their Instagram to “inform our decision on whether we are able to move forward with hosting a Pride Festival this year.” They’re also seeking applications for currently open board member positions. 

Last Wednesday, ASHwell – aka Austin Sexual Health and Wellness – held an emergency fundraising livestream. For 24 hours, staff members, drag performers, and others talked about the importance of the nonprofit queer health clinic, which is currently facing financial woes revealed after major leadership changes. Sandra Chavez and Clarena Tobon currently hold interim executive co-director roles, and there is hope from staff that this shift will keep the org from losing more than 50 employees. In an interview with Kit O’Connell for Austin Free Press – thank you for your reporting, Kit! – marketing and outreach specialist Abraham Resendez stated none of the clinic’s services are in danger, while intake specialist Aracely Flores added, “It’s not just caring about ourselves, it’s the communities we provide for. We’re the biggest advocates for them here, and we understand what they go through and I think it’s important that we stay here.” The clinic continues to take donations through their website, ashwellatx.org/stream.

This year’s been a real deluge of tough decisions and heartbreak. What little we’re all able to do, though, must be done, and if that means coughing up five bucks to community orgs, sharing a fundraiser on socials, or reaching out a hand to help someone on their feet, then that’s what ya gotta do. Have a safe and hopefully less wet week out there, queers!

CARY It Forward Thursday 23, Central Library

Local performer and previous Chronicle cover star Blakchyl headlines this event benefiting CARY (Council on At-Risk Youth) alongside the Akins High School Mariachi Band. Speaker Bavu Blakes emcees. 6pm.

ACT UP: A Queer History Lesson Friday 24 – Saturday 25, Dougherty Arts Center

LGBTQ-centric recovery group Austin Roundup holds what their flyer claims is the “Biggest Drag Show In Texas” themed around the long journey of queer history. 

Vinyl Swap Friday 24, the Little Gay Shop 

A “low-waste, high-vibes” hangout, Queer Vinyl Collective and Redeemer Small Batch run this record swap for platter-havers to bring their gently used vinyl to exchange for some new-to-you tunes. Plus spins by DJ Beaujolais. 6pm.

BabiDoll XXXtended Play Tour Friday 24, Coconut Club

Up on the rooftop, BabiDoll brings her beats for a Bat City stop on her spring-break tour. 

I Scream Social Friday 24, Alienated Majesty Books

Here’s the scoop on the only feminist reading series where ice cream’s served – as far as I know. This month’s Host Publication’s event features authors Ray Foster, Jasmine Games, and Sabrine Petusky. 7pm.

Drag Me to the Tavern Saturday 25, Tiny Minotaur Tavern

Shiver your timbers with the crew of this fantasy drag show, led by Sir Beau Elliot and merry bards Hot Load and the Glam Cocks (Hot Lunch, Atlas Mars, Neura Toxin, and Jack the Stripper). 9:30pm.

Requiem Release Party Saturday 25, Cheer Up Charlies

Spark mag celebrates issue No. 26 with an effervescent affair featuring flash tattoos, tarot, Savan behind the DJ decks, and drag/fashion contest hosting from Embry Officially and Venus Rising. 10pm.

Queer Picnic Saturday 25, Rosewood Neighborhood Park

Linq Up ATX hosts a community picnic with food, games, face-painting, and continued fundraising efforts for community member Otofu, currently detained in a Houston ICE facility. 1pm.

Uncanny Attractions: What Happens at Highland… Saturday 25, Highland Lounge

Inclusive wrestling promotion Uncanny brings the bright lights and body-slams of Vegas to Fourth. Expect drag, wrestling, and plenty of sparkles. 6pm.

Trans Guys Gather: Coffee and Chat Saturday 25, Lazydaze South

Have a sip and socialize with fellow trans-mascs at this now-bimonthly meet-up, located within this THC-infused coffeehouse. 1pm.

Controlled Chaos: Flannelgeddon Saturday 25, the Vortex

Owen Alimony hosts this wild open stage themed to the comfiest of cloths where all performers are welcome, from drag to comedy to those who wish to “stand there smoking cigarettes out of your nose.” 8pm.

Your Favorite Cuzins Saturday 25, Coldtowne Theatre

Jose Da’Hype hosts this showcase of comedy “for da’culture” with Dwayne Dash, Kellz Barksdale, JJ Curry, Irelle Wesley, and DJ Perry. Plus, early ticket buyers get a free plate of home-cooked food pre-show! 8pm.

Daygaze Sunday 26, Riviere

Presented by Lez in the Capital and YellaStud, this birthday bash for Jos tha DJ features host Woo Baby as well as spins by DJ Cee Watts and Nneka. Afterparty beats supplied by Bellz the DJ. Sections and bottle service options also available. 2pm.

Drag Boat Brunch Sunday 26, Lady Bird Lake

What’s better than drag on a boat? Perhaps a Bat City Beats brunch tour hosted by Eileen Dover, promising two hours of beautiful Austin views, an open bar, breakfast tacos, and spins by DJ Neema. 11am. 

Bingo Madness Sunday 26, Lazydaze

Venus Rising and the Trans Era smoke y’all out in South Austin with this bingo drag show featuring prizes from the venue’s THC wares. 4:20pm.

Queer Two-Step Night Monday 27, Sagebrush

Neon Rainbows’ week-starter two-step night gets a live music jolt with a performance by the Rebecca Patek Band. Oh, and obviously Country Fried Dance provides y’all boot scoot lessons. 7pm.

Sound + Slay: A Multimedia Drag Tribute to Cocteau Twins Tuesday 28, 29th Street Ballroom

Why ask Heaven or Las Vegas when you can find divine energy right on Fruth? Louisianna Purchase hosts with performances by Justice, Ryan, and Banshee Rose accented by custom projection visuals. 8pm.

Queer MeetCute Stoplight Party Wednesday 29, Oilcan’s

At mega meet-up from collaborators Curated by Coy, Pride in Black ATX, and Where Y’all at Though, grab the color that best suits your relationship mood – I checked; situationship seeking is NOT on there – and get down to beats spun by DJs Kuntress and Xoy. Plus, $100 twerk and best-dressed contests hosted by TribRelations. Stevin, aka Eddie Wayne, co-hosts. 9pm.

And They Were Roommates Wednesday 29, Rain on 4th

New monthly drag show centers the chaos of friendship, living situations, and just bein’ gosh-darn sapphic and trans with hosts Tiny Taurus and Miss Steelya Girl. 10:30pm.

Glamp Glamp: Golden Girls Gone Wild Thursday 30, Lynny’s

Whether you’ve got gray hairs or are simply dyin’ ’em that way, this theme at Austin’s queer experimental performance open mic is sure to have you saying, “Thank you for being a friend!” 6pm.

Jules Wernersbach: Work to Do Thursday 30, Alienated Majesty Books

Founder of NYC bookseller Hive Mind and a former figure at Texas Book Festival, Jules Wernersbach celebrates the upcoming release of their novel based on a specific Austin grocery store with a reading, booksigning, and conversations with booksellers who’ve successfully unionized their stores. Also, it’s their birthday! 7pm.

Dive After Dark Thursday 30, Swan Dive

Catch pole and aerial acts on Red River – this time with a country twist! 9pm.

Drag Bingo  Thursday 30, the ABGB

Grab your daubers for free-to-play bingo hosted by Tara Cotta with guest performer Jacq Itch. Plus, all-night happy hour, prizes, and plenty of campy fun. 7pm.

In the Calendar Rock & Read: BookWoman’s 50th + Girls in the Nose 40th Anniversary Saturday 25, Cheer Up Charlies

Nothing can put the brakes on BookWoman’s fierce feminist mission to provide inclusive, progressive literature to the people of Austin – even a January freeze. Though the weather may have postponed some of the bookstore’s 50th anniversary celebration this winter, the pillars of queer, feminist resistance return triumphant to Cheer Up Charlies this Saturday with a performance from proto-riot grrrl punk group Girls in the Nose, honoring the band’s own four-decade milestone. Prepare to rock, read, and relish in Austin’s longstanding legacy of creative radicals at this all-ages bash supporting the future of feminist literature. – Caroline Drew

Queer Book Fair Sunday 26, Cheer Up Charlies

Have your adult life, career goals, hobbies, friend groups, etc. all been just a series of attempts to regain the glory you felt as a child at the Scholastic Book Fair? Its bounty, its inspiration, its community? Well your dreams are about to become reality at this queer book fair “hang-out style event,” where you can browse hundreds of new and old titles while communing with fellow bookworms. Hosted by Bushwick’s Hive Mind Books founder Jules Wernersbach along with local indie bookstores BookWoman, Birdhouse Books, and Book Burrow, the event will feature a program of readings by trans and queer authors including Jay Byrd, Sarah Cypher, K.A. Holt, Ramona Reeves, and Wernersbach herself. Can’t make the event but looking for a queer reading rec NOW? Check out Wernersbach’s Austin-set novel ​​Work to Do, about the staff of an independent grocery store preparing to unionize. – Lina Fisher

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