Photo by Joshua Stitt on Unsplash
Drag shows are a Pride Month must, but the fun doesn’t stop there. On top of celebrating with your favorite Bay Area queens, there are tons of events not to miss out on in the month of June.
The well known Frameline42 Film Festival runs from June 14-24 and features a treasure-trove of LGBTQ films. And with over 120 screenings and events, there is certainly something for everyone. If you aren’t able to attend a screening of a film, no worries – there are multiple showtimes for many films throughout the ten days. Other independent LGBT film screening-galore includes ART Heart: Children of Riot Grrrl and Queercore.
Commissioned by the Queer Cultural Center for the twenty-first National Queer Art Festival, Fresh Meat Productions is putting on their Fresh Meat Festival 2018 on June 14-16. There you are invited to explore trans and queer performances, from comedy to ballroom dancing to dance-theater and more.
Theater isn’t excluded from the celebrations in June. The fifth annual San Francisco Neo-Futurists’ PRIDE SHOW takes place on June 20, 22, and 23, and squeezes 30 plays into one hour with a mini-drag show beforehand. Fifty percent of the performance’s proceeds go toward Queens of the Castro, an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ youth through mentorship, empowerment, and support. Also commissioned by the Queer Cultural Center, Queer Fuckery and Bindlestiff Studio have put together a three week theatrical engagement, “Queer as Fuck,” featuring work written, directed, and acted by by QTPoC (Queer Transgender People of Color). Showings take place on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the given time span, with discounted tickets on Thursdays.
Nationally esteemed poets @speakdeadly and @PorshaOlayiwola will join us for the two performances this year as both queer youth and their allies come together for #Queeriosity2018.
Oakland is SOLD OUT. Limited tickets remaining for SF: https://t.co/NYJiehUAB1 pic.twitter.com/5w7rba8NiC
— Youth Speaks (@youthspeaks) June 14, 2018
If theater isn’t your thing, consider looking into Fancypants: V is for Velocity. Described as part-party and part-performance, organizer Sean Owens leads audience through a multi-faceted experience of “drag, burlesque, poetry, and song.” Tickets come in at ten dollars, constituting the lower-end of ticket prices for Pride-themed events.
Historical local groups have a big presence around the Bay Area, and this month is no different. San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has put together “Unbreakable,” a Pride-themed musical filled with emotional and meaningful LGBT stories. This world premiere performance features an encompassing 250-men choir, orchestra, and special guest artists.
Geared to teens and young adult performers, Youth Speaks handles the poetry side of things in San Francisco and Oakland. Watch one of their longest running programs, “Queeriosity” in both cities for free and celebrate queer youth pride with guests of all ages.