LGBT Atlanta Best Bets for April 1 – 14

Friday, April 1

SCAD FASH, the Savannah College of Art and Design’s museum celebrating fashion and film, presents “Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken” — the first U.S. exhibition featuring the work of artist, stylist and designer Daniel Lismore — through today, www.scadfash.org

The Atlanta Film Festival, the city’s second largest film festival, opens today and runs through April 10 at multiple area venues, with several LGBT films as part of their Pink Peach series, www.atlantafilmfestival.com

Come party with the Fort Troff grunts as BeefyBoys presents Barracks, with appearances by sexy studs Bennett Anthony and Jonah Fontana and music by DJ Seth Breezy, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., Heretic Atlanta, www.hereticatlanta.com

Saturday, April 2 – 3

150 local and regional artists are part of the Spring Festival on Ponce, as well as live music, a kids area, a food truck and beer and wine, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., http://festivalonponce.com

Saturday, April 2

Bring a covered dish and plenty to talk about to the Lesbian 50+ Potluck and Social, 6 – 8 p.m., Rush Center Annex, www.rushcenteratl.org

The Variety Playhouse welcomes comedian Paula Poundstone, 6 p.m., www.variety-playhouse.com

Belinda Carlisle will sing “Mad About You” and more as she headlines Center Stage at 9 p.m., www.centerstage-atlanta.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

Looking for a hot daddy? Then come to the first Saturday DILF at Woof’s Atlanta, 9:30 p.m., www.woofsatlanta.com

DJ Alex Acosta spins at Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Sunday, April 3

The Tony Award-winning musical “Kinky Boots” has finally come to the ATL, running through today at the Fox Theatre with 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. shows, www.foxtheatre.org

Blake’s debuts its new Midtown Rouge show tonight, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

Monday, April 4

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 tonight from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, www.uuca.org

Tuesday, April 5

Join the rally to celebrate Governor Deal’s veto of HB 757, Georgia’s License to Discriminate bill. 12 – 1 p.m., Liberty Plaza, Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. RSVP here: http://GAUnites.org/HB757Rally

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). Join MAAP at Egg Harbor Café (1820 Peachtree Street, Atlanta., GA 30309) on the first Tuesday of every month from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a networking lunch. 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

Wednesday, April 6

Join “Girl Sex 101” author Allison Moon as she guides you down the twists and turns of queer female sexuality. Enjoy a reading from the award-winning and best-selling book plus a few sexy stories from Moon’s collection “Bad Dyke,” followed by a Q&A and book signing. The suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com

Thursday, April 7

The Stars Party is a Jerusalem House benefit raising money to support HIV/AIDS housing in Atlanta. The event features an auction including getaways, entertainment, dining out packages, gifts and furnishings, 6 – 9 p.m., The Georgian Ballroom of the Biltmore, 817 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308

The 29th Annual Atlanta HRC Gala Dinner and Auction is fast-approaching. Join the HRC Atlanta Gala Dinner and Auction Committee at Steel tonight for the final pre-dinner reception of the year where the organization will announce local awards recipients. 7 – 9 p.m., Steel Restaurant & Lounge Atlanta, 950 W Peachtree St NW, Ste. 255, Atlanta, Georgia 30309

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

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, April 8 – Sunday, April 10

Atlanta Leather Pride 2016 will be this weekend at the Atlanta Eagle, featuring Hotlanta Rubber and Gear Club barnight and demos on Friday, a $5 BBQ and Beer Bust, Mr. and Ms. Atlanta Eagle and Mr. Southeast Rubber contest and a SWEAT Victory party with DJ Neon the GloGoBear on Saturday, and a Victory Brunch at Roxx at 11:30 AM on Sunday, www.atlantaeagle.com

Friday, April 8

The gay-themed film “Take Me to the River” opens at the Midtown Art Cinema today, www.landmarktheatres.com

Atlanta Lyric Theatre opens a version of “Dreamgirls,” directed by gay man Ricardo Aponte, running through April 24 with an 8 p.m. curtain tonight, www.atlantalyrictheatre.com

Saturday, April 9

Connecting to other gay men, nature and ourselves can help us feel more balanced and enhance our feelings of well-being. Connections, a workshop for gay men, is today from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Panola Mountain State Park, http://atlantapride.org/event/connections-workshop-gay-men-2/

Join Jungle and HRC for Her HRC battle of the DJs, a very special night of dancing, and 80s and 90s nostalgia featuring some of Atlanta’s hottest DJs. Relive two iconic decades for music as the DJs blend the best of the two decades. The DJ with the most cash tips at the end of the night wins! Butch, femme, trans, lesbian, gay, drag, straight, bisexual, ally — come as you are! Her HRC events are open to all, regardless of gender identity or history. 7 – 9:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Aurora Theatre has opened Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” with a performance tonight at 8 p.m., running through April 17, www.auroratheatre.com

It’s karaoke night at the newly re-opened Cockpit, 465 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

The infamous Charlie Brown hosts the adults-only Taboo Show at midnight, Lips Atlanta, www.atldragshow.com

Sunday, April 10

DJs Travis and Eric spin the early morning hours away at 3 a.m. Xion, www.facebook.com/events/1126267100747150/

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.

Joining Hearts presents its Change of Seasons retro themed ’90s tea dance, 4 – 8 p.m., The Georgian Terrace Hotel, 659 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Monday, April 11

Come play Blackjack with Miss Lauren at 7 p.m. at the new non-smoking Woofs, www.woofsatlanta.com

Tuesday, April 12

Tapped Tuesdays at My Sister’s Room features 14 beers on draft, free darts, $2 tacos and lots o’ women, 7 p.m., www.mysistersroom.com

Broadway “Dreamgirls” cast member Terry Burrell stars in “Ethel,” a one woman show about the legendary Ethel Waters, tonight at 7:30 p.m., running through April 17 at the Alliance Theatre, www.alliancetheatre.org

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

Wednesday, April 13

Ruby Redd hosts her infamous Birdcage Bingo complete with drag performances, 8 p.m., http://atlantahideaway.com/

Angelica and Malibu host the new A.M. competition show at 10:30 p.m. at Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com

Thursday, April 14

Charis is excited to welcome Kristen Hogan with her new book, “The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Lesbian Antiracism and Feminist Accountability.” If you are curious about how Charis fits into a larger feminist bookstore movement history, or if you would like to know more about the history of intersectional feminist action, join Charis to celebrate this important book. In the book, Kristen Hogan traces the feminist bookstore movement’s rise and eventual fall, restoring its radical work to public feminist memory. The book women at the heart of this story–mostly lesbians and including women of color–measured their success not by profit, but by developing theories and practices of lesbian antiracism and feminist accountability. 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

DJ Caprice spins at Bulldogs, 893 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30308

Regina hosts Ladies Night at Friends on Ponce at 10 p.m., www.friendsonponce-atl.com

UPCOMING

Saturday, April 16

The Atlanta Rollergirls stage a double feature game today, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Yaarab Shrine Center, 400 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Friday, April 22 – Sunday, April 24

Join the second annual Atlanta Bear Pride for a big weekend of events and entertainment, featuring bears, cubs, otters, chubs, chasers and friends from around the globe. The host hotel is the La Quinta Inn Atlanta. More details and schedule of events coming soon to www.AtlantaBearPride.com