Spring events preview

An Oscar-winning actress is one of the highlights of a spring full of special events for local LGBT organizations. Grab your calendars, folks — “spring event season” is officially up and running.

The 24th annual Human Rights Campaign dinner, set for May 14, will feature an Oscar winner and an Oscar nominee. Mo’Nique, who won an Oscar for the film “Precious,” and Lee Daniels, the first African-American gay man nominated for a Best Director Oscar for the same movie, will both be on hand for one the spring season’s biggest gay events.

Mo’Nique will receive the Ally for Equality Award, while locals Jeff Cleghorn, an attorney and activist against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” will be given the Humanitarian Award and Paul Plate, executive director and CEO of Positive Impact, will receive the Community Service Award.

MondoHomo, established in 2007, promises to be a queer mecca over Memorial Day Weekend with its usual assortment of artists, music, movies, burlesque and more. An April 17 fundraiser for the five-day event — WigOut — will bring out wigs aplenty. This all-day outdoor event will feature drag and burlesque with performers such as Ruby Redd, Dax, Little Foot Jones and Devin Liquor. DJ Vicki Powell will be on hand, while the Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Atlanta Radical Fairies will provide carnival games and a makeup table.

Also on the festival schedule, LGBT sci-fi and fantasy fans will gather May 13-15 for the national Gaylaxicon 2011 hosted by OutlantaCon. The guest of honor for this year’s event is Amber Benson from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Helping fight HIV

Several signature spring events benefit HIV research, prevention and treatment.

Benefitting the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta, the 21st Annual Uncork a Cure event on April 28 will feature wine tastings, dishes from 25 Atlanta restaurants and a silent auction.

Two days later, another important local HIV organization, Positive Impact, holds its spring fundraiser. According to Michael Baker, director of advancement for the group, Party With Impact for Positive Impact will be a catered event at a private home celebrating the organization’s 18th year of service.

“It should be a great event at a beautiful home,” he says of the April 30 party.

Another hot ticket will be YouthPride’s Night on the Boulevard, which will feature a night of classic movies — “Sunset Boulevard” and “Mildred Pierce” — as well as local celebs and a red carpet. Proceeds from the May 20 event go toward YouthPride’s HIV prevention program.

More for your gay agenda

If you see folks running in purple attire later this month, don’t be alarmed. The Purple Dress Run on April 30 will benefit the Atlanta Bucks Rugby team. From May 19-21, the Bucks host the “Acceptance Tour” by professional rugby player Ben Cohen, an outspoken gay rights supporter.

PFLAG Atlanta’s Out in the Garden fundraiser May 14 will raise money and amplify the group’s local presence, according to co-president Conal Charles. This is PFLAG Atlanta’s first event of such a large scale. A DJ will be on hand, as will hors d’oeuvres and mixed drinks.

Other notable events this spring include the Joining Hearts’ Change of Seasons Tea Dance (April 17), benefiting AID Atlanta and Jerusalem House, with DJ Mike Pope and DJ David Knapp; and PALS Pet Cotillion (May 1), hosted by radio personality Vikki Locke, where a new spokespet will be crowned.  Bowlers of all skill sets will be participating in (and watching) the Dixie Invitational Bowling Tournament (April 21-24) as well.

Finally, it’s not an official lesbian event, but the Atlanta Dream women’s basketball team kicks off its season in early June. The Dream got to the WNBA championships in 2010 before losing to the Seattle Storm. The Dream has developed a local following and will kick off the season with a June 5 home game against the New York Liberty.

Spring events

APRIL

Uncork a Cure for ARCA
April 28, 6-9 p.m. at The Foundry at Puritan Mill
916 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30318
www.uncorkacure.org

Party With Impact for Positive Impact
April 30, 7 p.m.
Home of Randy New, Esq. & Dr. Russell Tippins
4 Polo Drive, Atlanta, GA 30309
www.positiveimpact-atl.org

Purple Dress Run for Atlanta Bucks
April 30, 1 p.m., Route begins at Mixx
1492 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309
www.purpledressrun.org

MAY

PALS Pet Cotillion
May 1, 3-6 p.m. at Piedmont Bark
501 Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306
www.palsatlanta.org

OutlantaCon 2011-Gaylaxicon 2011
May 13-15 at Holiday Inn Select-Perimeter
4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
www.outlantacon.org

Out in the Garden fundraiser for PFLAG Atlanta
May 14, 7 p.m. at Private residence in Grant Park
www.pflagatl.org

Atlanta HRC Dinner
May 14, 5 p.m. at Marriott Marquis
265 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30303
www.atlantahrcdinner.org

Rugby superstar Ben Cohen’s ‘Acceptance Tour’
May 19-May 21
www.atlantabucksrugby.org

Night on the Boulevard for YouthPride
May 20, 8 p.m. at Ansley Park Playhouse
1545 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308
www.youthpride.org

MondoHomo
May 26 – 30 at Various area locations
www.mondohomo.com

JUNE

Atlanta Dream season opener
June 5, 3 p.m.
Philips Arena
225 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30303
www.atlantadream.net

 

Top photo: Mo’Nique, who won an Oscar for the film ‘Precious,’ will receive the Ally for Equality award at the Atlanta HRC Dinner on May 14. The gala is one of the largest LGBT events of the spring season. (courtesy HRC)