LGBT Atlanta Best Bets for April 29 – May 12

Friday, April 29

The seventh annual Thriving Children Gala Fashion Show benefits Lost-n-Found Youth. The gala includes performances by a live orchestra, a live auction, silent auctions, food, and drinks. Entertainers this year include Chad Michaels, Cher impersonator of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame, and the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus Panache Ensemble, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, www.foxtheatre.org

The Trans Housing Atlanta Program Reverse Role Variety Show is tonight, 7 p.m., Mammal Gallery, 91 Broad St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

Come join Ladies Night Out with DJ Rapko and a drag show at 11:30 p.m., My Sister’s Room, www.mysistersroom.com

Saturday, April 30

The 29th Atlanta HRC Gala Dinner and Auction is tonight. This year’s Gala theme is “Beyond Marriage, All Rights for All People” and celebrates the recent success of marriage equality and acknowledges HRC’s next big fight, comprehensive LGBT civil rights and non-discrimination bills. 5 – 9:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Atlanta, www.facebook.com/events/198998630464987/

The Nashville-based band Old Crow Medicine Show — consisting of members Kevin Hayes, Chance McCoy, Cory Younts, Ketch Secor, Morgan Jahnig, and Critter Fuqua —will return to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre with Brandi Carlile at 7 p.m. at Fox Theatre. www.foxtheatre.org

“Dreamgirls” cast member Terry Burrell stars in “Ethel,” a one-woman show about legendary Ethel Waters, tonight at 7:30 p.m., running through May 1 at the Alliance Theatre, www.alliancetheatre.org

Caroline Aiken performs at Eddie’s Attic with special guests Shadow Cab and the Pussywillows, 9:30 p.m., Eddie’s Attic, www.eddiesattic.com

Legendary Children presents “ROSEBUD” with Bob the Drag Queen from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” celebrating the one-year anniversary of Wussy magazine. The event is hosted by Brigitte Bidet with appearances by other local queens. DJ Male and a best butt contest will also be on tap, Heretic Atlanta, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

World class DJ powerhouse Cindel returns to Atlanta for the One Magical Weekend DJ Tour, Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Sunday, May 1

DJ Lydia Prim spins beginning at 3 a.m. at Xion Atlanta, www.facebook.com/events/1523865064574968/

Lesbian singer/songwriter Maia Sharp will be performing at Eddie’s Attic this evening. Maia’s latest album, “The Dash Between The Dates,” features notable contributions from Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, who co-wrote and plays guitar on “Maybe Tonight”; acclaimed solo artist Lizz Wright, singer-songwriter Gabe Dixon, and legendary vocalist Arnold McCuller. 6 p.m., Eddie’s Attic, www.eddiesattic.com

Monday, May 2

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender, and aspiring allies. Charis provides a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues. Whether silently or aloud, please come ready to consider your own gender in a transient world. This is a project of the Feminist Outlawz and is co-sponsored by Charis Circle’s Strong Families, Whole Children, 7 – 8:30 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

The PFLAG support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their parents and family meets from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (Room 209/210), www.uuca.org

Tuesday, May 3

Make your lunch break a networking opportunity and connect with business professionals, small business owners, job seekers and community supporters to expand your circle of influence and grow your business at Connecting Atlanta, a networking lunch by MAAP (Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals). The lunch is held at Egg Harbor Café the first Tuesday of every month from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no set price, just pay on your way out for your meal. The event is limited to 20 participants. Please preregister by emailing Todd Cosper at tcosper@maapatl.org.

Art It Out Therapy Center is now offering an Expressive Art Therapy Group for LGBTQ Teens on Tuesdays. Through art, the group will explore self-identity, coping with stress, intimate and parental relationships, and coming out. 7 p.m., 255 Village Parkway (in Paper Mill Village), Suite 580, Marietta, GA 30067

Atlanta author Amber Brock reads from her book “A Fine Imitation” tonight. In the books, set in 1923 at a penthouse in Park Avenue’s most prominent building, Vera Bellington sits atop New York’s elite society. But for the romantically inclined Vera, the night of charity balls and endless cocktail parties have lost their allure as she reflects upon her loveless marriage and empty apartment, brightened by her beloved paintings, 7:15 – 9 p.m., Georgia Center for the Book, 215 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA 30030

Enjoy Tuesday Trivia with Jason Walker, and drink specials, tonight at 8:30 p.m. at The Hideaway Atlanta, www.atlantahideaway.com/

Wednesday, May 4

Play bingo and be entertained by some of the ATL’s best drag performers at Bitchy Bingo at Lips Atlanta, www.atldragshow.com

Come enjoy hump day specials and karaoke at the newly re-opened Cockpit, 465 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Thursday, May 5

SAGE Atlanta hosts a social hour at 10 a.m., followed by a program/meeting at 11 a.m., Phillip Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.org

The new Cirque du Soleil show “Kurios” has opened at Atlantic Station, with several openly gay performers, with an 8 p.m. curtain tonight, running through May 8, www.cirquedusoleil.com

Viva la Fiesta! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Friends on Ponce, www.friendsonponce-atl.com

The Pretty Girl Hideout Thursdays is tonight, hosted by Mook Dahost, Soul Bar at Pal’s Lounge, 254 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, www.traxxgirls.com

Friday, May 6

Join Charis in celebrating Atlanta author Brandon Wick’s debut novel, “American Fallout.” In the book, Avery Cullins, a library archivist, former teenage runaway, and a gay man from a small Southern town with a live-in boyfriend and a surly turtle, has to deal with the aftermath of his father’s suicide. That means dealing with the decades-long estrangement he has had with his mother. Wick will read from the book and sign copies. The suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

Atlanta’s best queer comedians come together on one stage to make you laugh and raise money for “Queer Moxie,” the documentary celebrating queer artists. Come out, toast the creator of the film, Heather Provoncha, for her birthday, support local art and laugh your ass off! Featuring Ian Aber, Brent Star, Bob Killough, Caroline Schmitt and hosted by Julie Osborne. 8 p.m., My Sister’s Room, www.mysistersroom.com

Googie Uterhardt plays Hollywood queen Bette Davis in “Me and Jezebel,” tonight at 8 p.m. and running through May 15 at ART Station, www.artstation.org

Atlanta Eagle presents the ONYX Southeast “Come Baring All” night at 10 p.m., www.atlantaeagle.com

Saturday, May 7

Topher Payne, DeWayne Morgan and Cathe Hall Payne star in Charles Busch’s comedic “The Tribute Artist,” presented by The Process Theatre and staged at OnStage Atlanta, at 8 p.m. tonight with performances through May 15, www.onstageatlanta.com

Come with The Atlanta Opera as they venture to Verona, and meet Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers “Romeo and Juliet,” whose deaths ultimately reconcile feuding families. Not seen on the Atlanta Opera stage since 2007, Charles Gounod’s opera in five acts, sung in French, reexamines the story through a decidedly French romantic lens. 8 p.m., with various performances through May 15, www.cobbenergycentre.com

If it’s 9 p.m. at BJ Roosters, hot boys will be on the bar, bartenders will be pouring strong drinks, and DJ Tommy will be spinning fun tunes, 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324

Sunday, May 8

Politics, sex, religion, loss, and beauty – all of the topics that you can’t talk about over dinner but can at a museum – are open for discussion in “Art AIDS America,” an exhibition that reveals for the first time how the AIDS crisis forever changed American art. Its stop at Kennesaw State University’s Zuckerman Museum of Art is the only Southern stop on its national tour, through May 22, zuckerman.kennesaw.edu.

DJ Rob Reum spins inside and DJ Robert Ansley spins on the patio at TEN Atlanta tonight, www.tenatlanta.com

Monday, May 9

Come hang out with the Pride kickball players tonight at Blake’s and watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

Tuesday, May 10

J’s Lounge is the home for Rainbow Tuesdays, with Dymond Onasis and Nicole Paige Brooks leading the fun and DJ Destin providing house music, 1995 Windy Hill Road #1, Smyrna, GA 30080

Get those Cyndi Lauper tunes down! Angelica D’Paige hosts Drageoke tonight at 10:30 at Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com

Wednesday, May 11

DJ Kaye G spins at Bulldogs, 893 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30308

Every Wednesday is Bear Hump Hour, 6 – 9 p.m. Woofs Atlanta, www.woofsatlanta.com

Thursday, May 12

3 Legged Cowboy night at Heretic Atlanta features free line dancing lessons at 8 p.m. and then an open dance from 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

UPCOMING

Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15

Florence + the Machine, Jane’s Addiction, Huey Lewis and the News and many more musical acts comprise the Shaky Knees Festival, Centennial Olympic Park and International Plaza, www.shakykneesfestival.com

OutlantaCon is an Atlanta-based event for the Queer Geek audience! You’ll find all the usual convention fare here—discussion panels, gaming, costuming, special events—but the difference is that it all has a queer ‘bent’ to it. Here you can enjoy all the convention trappings in an atmosphere where you’re free to be yourself! Marriott Century Center, www.outlantacon.org

Sunday, May 15

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of The Seasons “Extravaganza” world tour, featuring a night of show-stopping performances by the world’s most talented drag performers, including winners and fan favorites from Logo TV’s hit series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Hosted by series judge Michelle Visage. 9 p.m., The Buckhead Theatre, www.thebuckheadtheatre.com

Wednesday, May 20

The acclaimed, gay-themed “Viva” – shortlisted for the Best Foreign Language film at this year’s Academy Awards – opens at the Midtown Art Cinema today, with various showtimes, www.landmarktheatres.com