Best Bets: Our Guide to the Best LGBTQ Events in Atlanta for September 13-26

Friday, Sept. 13

The LGBTQ-themed film “This Is Not Berlin” opens today. Seventeen-year-old Carlos doesn’t fit in anywhere, not in his family nor with the friends he has chosen in school. But everything changes when he is invited to a mythical nightclub where he discovers the underground nightlife scene: punk, sexual liberty, and drugs.

Midtown Art Cinema

Various showtimes

 

7 Stages presents Sean Dorsey Dance’s “Boys in Trouble,” a timely and urgent commentary on contemporary masculinity, in which powerful dances place a trans and queer lens onto intersectional questions of embodiment, violence, black queer love, whiteness, shame, and posturing. This one-week residency includes three more performances and an artist workshop with trailblazing transgender choreographer Sean Dorsey.

8pm, through Saturday and 5pm Sunday

 

Swinging Richards & Boy Next Door present the 10th Annual Underwear Auction, hosted by Wild Cherry Sucret. All auction proceeds benefit Atlanta Pride, Inc.

9pm – Midnight

Swinging Richards

 

Every second Friday at the Atlanta Eagle is Latin Dance Party with DJ Moose.

10pm

 

Jump on your broomstick and head over to RITUAL’s Hocus Pocus: Witches & Warlocks party! It’s the first of a three-month season of spooky themes to celebrate Halloween! DJ System Fail and DJ Aesthetic will be spinning the beats all night long! Don’t miss tarot card readings and spooky art for sale as well! $10 Cover at the door!

10pm – 3am

Heretic Atlanta

 

Saturday, Sept. 14

Sonia Leigh maintains an individuality that is so liberating it extends beyond genre. From her mainstream country catapult with Zac Brown’s in 2011 to her 2018 dark, pop-rock full-length release “Mad Hatter” to her latest release “Sonia Leigh and Friends,” recorded live at Abbey Road Studio in London, England, she continues to rock. The out musician performs tonight.

9pm

Eddie’s Attic

 

Saturnalia Productions presents the first anniversary of the Rome party. Come dressed in your best Roman empire gear and be ready to dance and party the night away with an unbelievable set from

DJ J Warren.

10pm – 3am

Heretic Atlanta

 

Amsterdam Atlanta hosts the city’s only ‘80s new wave music video dance party hosted by DJ Anthony.

10pm – 3am

 

Come get LIT on the dance floor with

DJ Neon the Glowgobear at the Atlanta Eagle! This is the Southern Bears bar night as well so come out and take a visit to the back bar! A night of fun, friskiness, and frivolity with the best bear-tenders in town!

10pm – 3am

 

Sunday, Sept. 15

Atlanta’s very own DJ Seth Breezy heads to Xion after hours for an early morning of sweaty dancing with your closest friends!

3am – 7am

BJ Roosters

 

The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children opens its doors today.

2:30 – 4pm

The Spiritual Learning Center

 

Monday, Sept. 16 

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues.

6:30 – 8pm

Charis Books and More

 

More than 40 years before “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the groundbreaking documentary “The Queen” – about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant – introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. Organized by LGBTQ icon and activist Flawless Sabrina, the competition boasted a star-studded panel of judges including Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, and Terry Southern. But perhaps most memorable is an epic diatribe calling out the pageant’s bias delivered by Crystal LaBeija. The film screens tonight.

7:30pm

Plaza Atlanta

 

Charis and the Agnes Scott College Center for Digital Visual Literacy welcome Miriam Suzanne to discuss her novel, “Riding SideSaddle*. The novel was written  on 250 shuffled notecards. It is also sometimes a website, an album, a play, art installation, or collaborative performance. In any format, it’s a fragmented memory of queer identity and friendship – with characters that navigate fluid genders, relationships, and bodies that resist order, category, or completion. Come see the art, participate in (or listen to) the group reading, and join for a conversation on queer/trans and cross-media art

1 – 2pm

Charis Books and More

 

Tuesday, Sept. 17

Show your support for Pets Are Loving Support and Planned Parenthood Southeast tonight as both charities will split the proceeds of this special Drag Queen Bingo event. The theme is Pretty in Pink, so dress like P!nk, wear your best ‘80s clothes as a nod to the film “Pretty in Pink,” or just wear pink if you want to get into the spirit of the evening.

6:30pm

Lips Atlanta

 

Charis welcomes local professor, activist and author Anneliese Singh as she presents tools from “The Racial Healing Handbook,” a powerful and practical guide to help you navigate racism, challenge privilege, manage stress and trauma, and begin to heal.

7:30 – 9pm

Charis Books and More

 

Wednesday, Sept. 18

The Writers and Scholars Series presents out Atlanta author and poet Jericho Brown tonight, reading from his book, “The Tradition,” now in paperback.

6 – 8pm

Charis Books and More 

 

Qalm meets tonight. What is Qalm? Qalm is part sober gathering, part meditation, part space to slow down. Designed for queer introverts, Qalm is meant to be a space where meaningful conversation can happen, with no loud music to talk over. A place where the senses are calmed, instead of overloaded, Qalm is a space for queer people to simply be together.

7 – 9pm

Fulton County Library System – Metropolitan Branch

 

Thursday, Sept. 19

Think summer, rooftop venues, networking, and films. What do you get? Join MAAP tonight to network and celebrate this year’s Out on Film.

6 – 9pm

High Note Rooftop Bar at the Atlanta Marriott Suites Midtown

 

It’s bound to be one of the biggest productions of the fall. The Alliance Theatre presents the world premiere of “Becoming Nancy,” based on the young adult novel by Terry Ronald about a teenage boy who tries out for a musical and is cast in a female part. It’s directed by the legendary (and out) Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell

7:30pm, through Oct. 6

 

Friday, Sept. 20

The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC) hosts its annual Community Awards Dinner tonight, handing out awards for Guardian Angel, Corporate Ally, Member of the Year, Business Man, Business Woman, Business Person of the Year and more. The evening is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ and allied community of businesses, nonprofits, corporations, and individuals who are defining true excellence, service, authenticity, compassion, and pride.

6:30 – 11pm

Four Seasons Hotel

 

Grab your swimming suits and get ready for some sexy fun at the Under The Sea Foam Party, hosted by BJ Roosters & Twee.

9pm – 3am

BJ Roosters

 

Saturday, Sept. 21

Cheers to 10 years of lantern parading. The Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade, a creative collaboration based on community participation.

7pm

Irwin Ave. at the Eastside Trail

 

Theatrical Outfit’s version of the LGBTQ-themed “The Laramie Project,” running in rep with the classic “Our Town,” starts previews tonight.

7:30pm, officially opening Friday, Sept. 10 through Sept. 29

 

A dazzling night on the French Rivera awaits you at the Rainbow Ball 2019. Roll the dice and join Out Front Theatre Company for an evening featuring a delectable dinner, endless cocktails, the hottest gaming tables, unforgettable entertainment, and live and silent auctions to leave you speechless.

8 – 11pm

 

Do you love books, sci-fi, and fantasy? Then join the Atlanta OutWorlders Book Club. The book for September is “The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. Le Guin. Participants will mix and mingle, eat snacks, and talk about the book’s themes, characters, plot, and ending – and vote on upcoming books to read.

1 – 2:30pm

Northwest Atlanta Library at 

Scott’s Crossing

 

Get Ready to Rumble. House of ALXNDR presents Suckapunch, with drag wrestling featuring special guests Dorian Electra + Mood Killer. Break out that spandex and come out for the showdown throwdown of the year. The event features guests Alex Suarez, Aries Alxndr, Avana Alxndr, Brigitte Biget, DKnighten Day, Ivana Fischer, JayBella Banks, Miss He (Trevor Blake), Molly Rimswell, Mr. Elle Aye (Lawrence), Rrruby Fiasco, Saliva Godiva, Summer Solstice (Tk) and TJ Maxxx (Em Arwood).

9pm – Midnight

The Bakery Atlanta

DJ Mohammad, makes his much anticipated Atlanta debut at Heretic as Atlanta’s newest resident DJ! Join your friends for high-intensity music and non-stop dancing all night long!

10pm – 3am

Heretic Atlanta

 

Sunday, Sept. 22

DJ Martin Fry is back at Xion after hours to keep the party going into the early morning!

3am – 7am

BJ Roosters

 

To kick off the 90th anniversary season, Atlanta Ballet has assembled a program of emotionally-charged and intoxicatingly beautiful works. Inspired by the poignant personal life of French singer Édith Piaf and her music, Brazilian choreographer Ricardo Amarante’s “Love Fear Loss” follows the love story of the late songstress through her classic works.

2pm

Cobb Energy Centre

 

Monday, Sept. 23

Jam to All Music Monday with DJ Bill Berdeaux tonight at Blake’s on the Park.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 24

And the tiara goes to … ! Hosted by Celeste Holms, the Miss and Mr. Atlanta Pride Pageant is tonight.

8pm

Heretic Atlanta

 

Enjoy SoulStar Karaoke every Tuesday at Midtown Moon.

10pm

 

Wednesday, Sept. 25

When Jodi Isaac flies across the country to visit her famous fashion mogul father for his 70th birthday, she finds that his posh downtown New York townhouse has a new resident: dad’s new boyfriend who is 20-years-old, and a porn star. “Skintight” is a blistering new comedy by Joshua Harmon (“Bad Jews,” “Significant Other”) hilariously excoriates America’s obsession with youth, sex, and physical beauty.

8pm, through Oct. 5

Actor’s Express

 

Thursday, Sept. 26

The Feminist Women’s Health Center – Atlanta hosts Unruly Night of Political Misbehavin’, a night to raise money for the fight for reproductive freedom.

6:30 – 9:30pm

Highland Inn & Ballroom Lounge

 

Out On Film opens its 32nd annual LGBTQ Film Festival with Daniel Karslake’s film “For They Know Not What They Do,” following the LGBTQ children of four religious families – including Pulse NightClub shooting survivor Vico Baez Febo – as they reconcile with their families. Karslake and Febo are expected in attendance.

7pm

Midtown Art Cinema

 

UPCOMING

Saturday, Sept. 28

DILF Atlanta “Leather Me Up Daddy” Party returns to the Heretic Atlanta. Grab your leather harnesses, jockstraps, and boots for a night of hot and sweaty fun.

10pm – 3am

 

Sunday, Sept. 29 

Phil Romano returns to Xion for the last after hours of September! Don’t miss it!

3am – 7am

BJ Roosters

 

Saturday, Oct. 5

Get ready for Atlanta Pride 2019 with this incredible warm-up party! DJ Jackinsky from Canada spins the beats all night long!

10pm – 3am

Heretic Atlanta