LGBT Atlanta Best Bets for Sept. 9 – 15

Friday, Sept. 9 – 11
Family Weekend in Atlanta is an event for parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, their children, extended families, prospective families and friends in the South. The weekend is full of family activities, programming and community building. Friday sees a family dance at the Phillip Rush Center with DJ Sed from 7 – 9 p.m., on Saturday, events will be held at the Children’s Museum and at The World of Coca-Cola; and on Sunday is a Listening Party at the Atlanta History Museum with StoryCorps,
www.familyequality.org/get_involved/events/southern_events/family_weekend_in_atlanta

Friday, Sept. 9
Get ready to drool! It’s Jocks in Jerseys night at Woofs Atlanta, www.woofsatlanta.com

Drawing inspiration from German Expressionist cinema of the 1920s along with contemporary struggles for social and economic equality, 7 Stages Theatre opens its 38th season with Bertolt Brecht’s“The Threepenny Opera.” Live musicians and Atlanta’s best actors perform powerful songs of revolution like “How to Survive” along with classic numbers “Mack the Knife” and “Pirate Jenny” in this raw musical about power, sex, and the evil things one must do to stay alive in a corrupt world. 8 p.m., through Sept. 25, www.7stages.org

Saturday, Sept. 10
Tonight is the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade. Make your masterpiece lantern at home or take a workshop. The parade line-up will begin at 7:15 p.m. on Irwin Avenue at the start of the Eastside Trail and will step off at 8:15 p.m. and finish in Piedmont Park at Park Tavern. The Lantern Parade kicks off the season of Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, the largest public art exhibit in the southeast, www.facebook.com/events/731986073606741

DJ Eric spins for Code Voodoo, tonight at 10 p.m. at the Atlanta Eagle, www.atlantaeagle.com

Sunday, Sept. 11
Pagano, the turntable legend from the UK, comes back to Xion for a morning of magic beginning at 3 a.m., www.facebook.com/events/1023442057737108

Monday, Sept. 12
Play Texas Hold ‘Em for free tonight at 8:30 p.m., Friends On Ponce, www.friendsonponce-atl.com

Tuesday, Sept. 13
Enjoy Happy Hunk Hour tonight from 4 – 6 p.m. featuring half-priced appetizers, www.joesonjuniper.com

Join Charis in celebrating the release of Atlanta writer Makeda Lewis’ “Avie’s Dreams.” Part activity book, part surrealist poem, “Avie’s Dream” takes an interactive and wildly introspective approach to afro-feminist self-discovery and girlhood. A young dreamer wanders through a personal mythology of women warriors, tropical flowers, and sea creatures. A radically introspective and interpersonal take on the usual coming-of-age tale, Avie firmly establishes her authorial roles – and infuses Greek lore, Renaissance scripts and Hollywood blockbusters with images of afro-centricity and queer identity. 7:30 – 9 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

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, Sept. 14
Get your ABBA on for Disco Bingo tonight, presented by PALS Atlanta. The emcees are Bubba D. Licious, Edie Cheezburger, and Jaye Lish, with special guest Erica Lee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m., Jungle Club, www.palsatlanta.org

B-12! The Hideaway Atlanta hosts Ruby Redd’s Birdcage Bingo tonight with drag performances also in the mix, 8:30 p.m. www.atlantahideaway.com

Thursday, Sept. 15
Sampson McCormick, an African-American comedian, author, and GLBTQ activist, screens his film “Not By Sight” tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Regal Atlantic Station Stadium 16. It’s a comedy-documentary that features McCormick as he explores the state of black culture, black socioeconomics, and most importantly, the role and wrath of the black church. From Washington, D.C. to California, the cast is comprised of artists, academic scholars, ministers, and community activists who share diverse views from within multidisciplinary fields, www.tugg.com/events/not-by-sight-kgek

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

Phoenix of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” leads the Dancefloor Divas event at 11:30 p.m., www.burkharts.com

UPCOMING
Friday, Sept. 16
Out artist Hannah Thomas visits Eddie’s Attic to launch her new CD, “Fault Line,” with a band that includes several members of Roxie Watson & Sugarland, at 8:30 p.m., www.eddiesattic.com

Expect hard, manual labor, tonight at The Heretic for The ManShaft: Blue Collar Edition. The event is a celebration of the hardest working men in our society – the blue collar worker – who is made ManShaft tough.Gear up in your uniform, hard hat, tool belt, overalls, or just a tight ribbed tank top, a ball cap, and blue jeans. 9 p.m. – 3 a.m., www.hereticatlanta.com

Saturday, Sept. 17
Join Atlanta Pride for a special Stride Into Pride with the Sips n Strokes Toco Hills family. Book an appointment to come and paint and bring some friends and some bubbly. A portion of each registration is donated to keep Pride free. You must register in advance to attend or call Jo at (678) 516-7084 or (404) 901-1099 to sign up directly. The cost is $45, 6:30 p.m., 3019 North Druid Hills Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

The Atlanta LGBTQ Family Expo is a free one-day conference that brings together many professionals involved in LGBTQ Family Building (adding kids to your family). Event location TBA. Registration is currently open and required for all attendees, atlantalgbtexpo.wixsite.com/event.

Monday, Sept. 19
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