Gay Place

Let's make this the greatest, gayest, most glittery Pride yet

By Sarah Marloff, Fri., Aug. 19, 2016

Lance Bass Werking it

You better werrrkkk. Though next weekend is the peak of Pride, the official celebrations kick off Saturday with Austin Pride's fourth annual queer fashion show, Werk, featuring special guest – and only out boy-band member – Lance Bass tearing up our hearts. You'll also notice below that there's a perfect plethora of additional Pride-themed queertasticness happening right here, right now, like Pride's Big Gay Brunch, and Cinema East's screening of a lady love coming-of-age story. So, you better get ready to werk with Olympian-style dedication and drag queen fabulousness toward making this the greatest, gayest, most glittery Pride yet.

GAYDAR

Gay Softball World Series This year the 40th anniversary of the NAGAAA World Series comes to Austin! It's five days of sporty fun, built boi/ys, and LHB. See website for full lineup of events. Through Aug. 20. Various locations; price varies per event. www.austingsws2016.org.

Future Blondes, Troller, the Spiritual Bat, Texacala Jones Bats on bats on bats. And they're dancing. Fri., Aug. 19, 9pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133.

Cuddle Up: Guided Group Cuddling (Women's Edition) Some days ya just need some cuddles, and not in a kinky way. Join Faye Fearless for a women's and nonbinary cuddle puddle. This is a safe space to enjoy "the power of human touch." This event happens sans alcohol, for the 18 and up crowd. Sat., Aug. 20, 11am-1pm. Rose Movement Studio, 2015 E. Riverside, 406/696-8063. $10.

WERK Fashion Show In its fourth year, Werk kicks off Pride week with a fashionable bang (is there a better kind?). Turn out cuz Lance Bass (yes THAT Lance Bass), Viktoria Modesta, Chad Michaels, Coco Peru, and more take the stage. Sat., Aug. 20, 7pm. ACL Live at the Moody Theater, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., 512/225-7999. $27-200. www.austinpride.org.

C-Rail's Beargasm: the Dugout Grab those bats, get those balls. Beargasm celebrates NAGAAA's 40th in a big bear way. Atlanta's DJ Neon the Glowgobear is ready to get lit. Sat., Aug. 20, 9pm. The Iron Bear, 121 W. Eighth, 512/482-8993. www.fb.com/austinseries2016.

KVRX 91.7 Back to School Jam It's like back to school night, but better. Sat., Aug. 20, 9pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. www.cheerupcharlies.com.

Austin Pride Big Gay Brunch It wouldn't be Pride week in Austin without a Big Gay Brunch after Werk. Raffle tix available for purchase. Sun., Aug. 21, 11am-3pm. Ray Benson's Rattle Inn, 610 Nueces, 512/373-8306. www.austinpride.org.

CineNoche Presents: Amores Urbanos Presented by Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, this award-winning Portuguese film follows the lives of three besties with queer love drama. Sun., Aug. 21, 11am. Violet Crown Cinema, 434 W. Second, 512/495-9600. $11. www.cinelasamericas.org.

Plezzure Island Sunday Funday Sunday up your funday with the Plezzzzzure Island crew. Games and gams galore. Sun., Aug. 21, 4-7pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. www.plezzureislandtexas.com.

Orange Margarita Social/Pool Party Everyone loves a dirty pool party in a clean pool and this "end of summer" swimsuit party brings ya free drinks, free HIV testing (from ASA) and lots of rad gay orgs! Plus DJ Screaming Color. Sun., Aug. 21, 5:30-9:30pm. Package Menswear, 1114 W. Fifth, 512/472-0844. www.packagemenswear.com.

Cinema East: First Girl I Loved Cinema East is always a li'l kweer – even when the movie's not. But Sunday's screening brings a much-needed coming-of-age queer (grrrl) story to their outdoor film series. Get yer squad and get there, BYOB style. Sun., Aug. 21, 7pm. Sekrit Theater, 1145 Perry. $5-7. www.fb.com/cinemaeast.

OUT at the Movie Austin Pridesters present everyone's fave fictional Vogue story – The Devil Wears Prada. Bring a lawn chair and cash for concessions. Mon., Aug. 22, 7pm. Zach Theatre. Free. www.austinpride.org.

Cocks Not Glocks: Campus (DILDO) Carry Did you know you could get a citation for bringing a dildo to a UT class, but not for bringing a gun? Obvi. If you're on the #CocksNotGlocks side, strap on a strap-on and protest. All welcome. Wed., Aug. 24, 8am. University of Texas at Austin, 727 E. Dean Keeton, 512/471-3434.

Kick Off Before You Walk Off Psyched for this year's AIDS Walk? ASA sure is and they're hosting a happy hour to prove it. Haven't decided if you're lacing those sneaks up yet? This is the place to do it. Wed., Aug. 24, 6pm. Easy Tiger, 709 E. Sixth, 512/614-4972.

Lesbians Who Tech (and friends) August Meetup Get your lez mingle mind on and network 'til your heart's content. Do it with a kale margarita. Wed., Aug. 24, 7-9pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. Free. www.lesbianswhotech.org.

Them//They Wednesdays Shake up yer week with GirlFriend's newest party primed to make ya sweat. All queer, all the time. Wed., Aug. 24, 10pm. Volstead Lounge, 1500 E. Sixth, 512/680-0532. Free. www.girlfriendatx.co.

Guerrilla Queer Bar: Where the Gays Go Throw some glitter, make it rain. GQB is back just in time for Pride and they're putting the glitter back into the glitz. Channel yer Ke$ha and sparkle with the Guerrilla Queers queering up Rain. Thu., Aug. 25, 6-10pm. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth, 512/494-1150. Free. www.fb.com/wherethegirlsgoatx.

Drag Race Watch Party Tea, Fish, and a whole buncha queens as the Q hosts a Drag Race watch party. Thu., Aug. 25, 7-10pm. The Q Austin, 3408 West Ave.

Pride Interfaith Celebration: Together in Love Pride Interfaith once again hosts their annual Pride celebration with speakers from the Latinx and Muslim communities, performances by the Celebration choir, and a shindig to follow. All are welcome here. Thu., Aug. 25, 7pm. First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca, 512/478-5684. Free. www.fumcaustin.org/2016-pride-interfaith-celebration.