The Deviant Dispatch: Pride 2020
Actual parties abound with Bushwig bike march and the re-opening of Happyfun Hideaway.
Hello Deviants,
Welcome to The Deviant Dispatch, your guide to culture that defies the norm! or at the v least gives you something to look forward to this week. Something that makes you feel like a cool urban 20 something in a glitzy bohemian movie.
ANYway, I’ve gone back to work and Pride has (somewhat) gone back to being about partying as opposed to protesting for black lives. Disappointing! Still as your guide I’m duty bound to repot the non-political happenings planned, mixed in with some action items for the noble section of my readers. Complacency is the biggest norm of all! Don’t be a sucker: get in the streets!
Right now it’ll all about occupying City Hall as they decide over the police budget. There were reportedly 100 people camped out overnight demanding that we defund the police, and they could use reinforcements! So head over to City Hall rn (chambers and centre) !!1 We stan a protest with a specific goal.
As always, check out @justiceforgeorge on Instagram for additional protests every day.
And now on with the parties!!!!!
DON’T TOUCH MY MASK
When: Wednesday, 8pm EST
Where: donttouchmymask.eventbrite.com
What: Thee Suburbia is throwing a birthday party for Solange. All tips and proceeds will be going to the Black Trans Protestors Emergency Fund. The cast includes Suburbia herself, Neon Calypso, Zenobia, Magenta, Glow Job and many more. The singer Merlot will even be performing.
How Much: $5
PAPI JUICE VOL 55: 7 Year Anniversary
When: Friday, the evening
Where: Online somewhere, check @papijuice for details
What: After Papi Juice’s artist in residence @brohammaed made the flyer for the historically massive trans march in Brooklyn, the party collective for POCs has never been more relevant. This Friday is their 7th anniversary bash, so people are gonna show out. Details are currently scarce, but Papi Juice never disappoints
How Much: ???
Another World is Possible: Bluestockings and Survived & Punished Party
When: Friday, 7pm EST
Where: Zoom, buy a ticket for the link
What: To celebrate Bluestockings' 21st birthday, the activist bookstore partnered with the New York formation of the national grassroots prison abolitionist organization Survived and Punished for a lineup full of speakers over Zoom. Their goal is to raise money to help continue funding survivor-informed, abolitionist feminist-led organizing and to help keep Bluestockings' doors open to serve queer and trans communities .Speakers include Roxanne Gay, Janet Mock, and Gabby Rivera.
How Much: $5-50
Planet Bushwig
When: Friday + Saturday
Where: Maria Hernandez Park, McCarren Park, the internet
What: Bushwig, oh Bushwig. It’s the drag festival that is arguably better than pride, def less corporate, with more creative looks and wilder stunts. One year a queen performed Cher’s “If I Can Turn Back Time” starting as a grandmother and ending it as a giant baby. Obviously the normal festival is off this year. Instead, they’re having a two day fest that spans the irl and url.
It all starts with a bike ride in solidarity with #BLACKLIVESMATTER. Bring a wig, bike, and noisemakers to Maria Hernandez park at 5:30 pm. You can be a little late, Bushwig never starts on time. Then we’ll ride to Macarren park, ending around 7pm for a BLM dance party!
There’s also a lineup of performers ready to take the party to the internet, including Meatball, Hungry, Miss Toto and live MCs like Lucy Stoole and Junior Mintt. Check their instagram for the time or RSVP
How Much: as free as the wind that’s blowing out on this beach! (if you don’t get it watch this video)
They will be collecting money for G.L.I.T.S. [Gays & Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society] who provide housing for homeless transgender women
Happyfun Hideaway Reopening
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 5-9pm
Where: Happyfun Hideaway, 1211 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, New York
What: THEY’RE BACK! My fave queer bar in the city, Happyfun Hideaway is a ramshackle tiki-ish bar with plenty of kitsch. The cuties with edgy haircuts gulping drinks might not be gay but they’re certainly cool. The vibe is very “its the end of summer camp so we threw a party in one of the cabins!” They’ve been closed since Covid happened, but they’re back this weekend for pride with DJs and socially distanced drag shows. Keep checking their instagram for more info, but I’ll be there regardless.
How Much: free, drinks are normally $3-12 dollars
Defund the NYPD Night March
When: Saturday, 8pm EST
Where: Columbus Circle, headed towards Washington Sqaure Park
What: There will be a light show projected on the Washington Sq arch as people arrive “projecting the ugly truth of police brutality for all of lower Manhattan to see.” This tatic is a trademark @projectioninprotest, one of the organizers. They’ve been throwing projections across NYC for the past 2 weeks. The other organizer is Sophie, the founder of the NYC Youth Collective and micro-influencer.
How Much: Free
Club Quarantine: 24 Hour World Wide Pride
When: Saturday, all day
Where: Zoom, check @clubquarentine day of for the code
What: Club Quarantine is one of the many queer parties signed (supposedly) signed on to help celebrate with the fashion brand Diesel, because what says #pride like selling out to a global cooperation? The lineup is TBA, but I am expecting big things from the party that got Caroline Polachek to re-enact her “So Hot Your Hurting My Feelings” video on Zoom. A percentage of the Diesel x Pride capsule collection will be going to @tgeuorg and @transemploymentprogram supporting field of work integration for the trans community.
How Much: Freeeeeeeeeee
Queer Liberation March
When: Sunday, 1pm EST
Where: Foley Square
What: Last year the Queer Liberation March was my fave part of pride. Thousands of people marching. No floats or corporations. No music just chanting. It was a taste of what this Pride month has largely become: a time of urgent political action that is closer to the true spirit of pride. This march is for Black lives and against police brutality.
How Much: Free
Pride With Pabllo & Friends
When: Sunday 4pm EST
Where: Youtube
What: Pabllo Vittar is probably the most famous drag queen world wide right now. The Brazilian music superstar gets millions of views on each of her music videos. That’s without having a reality show to back it up (or a fracking empire). She’s hosting a big Pride party this Sunday. Rina Sawayama, Diplo, Princess Nokia, Pussy Riot, Big Freedia, and more will also be performing. How very.
How Much: Free!
That’s it for this dispatch. If you found this valuable consider forwarding this email to a pal! If you’re the pal please subscribe. I write twice a week: once about upcoming worthy events (for free subscribers) and once about worthy subjects of my choosing (for paying members). If you care about Drag Queens, illegal concerts, Charli XCX, revolution, and John Waters, you’ll definitely want to read The Deviant Dispatch.