Marvel At Queer Musicians, Create Crafty Cocktails, Delight at David Sedaris, Celebrate Small Sparkly Things
Yup, it's technically a few weeks into spring, and the Michigan queer calendar is blooming with opportunity! From intimate music nights to hilariously sardonic readings or academic celebrations of resilience, here are some chances to find warmth and inspiration — or just a reason to leave your house that isn’t just “I ran out of oat milk again."
1. Marvel At Queer Musicians
Neighborhood Gays4Good creator Anna Parks tells BTL that she was inspired to start the new organization as a response to the challenging era in which we find ourselves. "Given all the recent hatred towards the LGBTQIA community, many of us are feeling restless and even hopeless... many want desperately to help but aren't sure where to start," she explains.
The group's debut event, Spotlight Sessions, will support Ozone House's Pride Zone for queer youth. Attendees can enjoy four LGBTQ+ musicians in a cozy venue while bidding on silent auction items including a gift card from trans tattoo artist Jake Munro, hand-crocheted goods from Girl Germs, and "politically charged" cross-stitch art from a local creative.
April 5, 6-10 p.m., Dreamland Theater (26 North Washington St., Ypsilanti). Buy tickets at bit.ly/spotlightsessionsapril.
2. Create Crafty Cocktails
You could just order a drink — or you could learn to make one while supporting Ferndale Pride and flexing your queer trivia knowledge. Syndicate Ferndale is hosting a Pride Cocktail Class, and it's serving more than just libations. Ticket-holders will craft three signature cocktails, get a barware set and even unlock the mysteries of “electric dust” (which we promise is legal and undoubtedly fabulous).
“We’re shaking things up for a great cause!” Syndicate owner Dana Taucher tells Pride Source. “Our Pride Cocktail Class isn’t just about crafting delicious drinks — it’s about celebrating love, inclusivity and community.” With 10% of proceeds benefiting Ferndale Pride, this night is a toast to flavor, chosen family and dangerously attractive rim techniques. Yeah we said said rim, y'all.
April 14, 7-10 p.m., Syndicate Ferndale (140 Vester St., Ferndale). Reserve tickets at bit.ly/pridecocktailclass.
3. Delight at David Sedaris
Writer and gay humorist David Sedaris was creating cringe-joyment (hilarity with a hefty side of vicarious embarrassment) long before Tiktok made it–as the kids say–a thing. Master of deadpan absurdity and the rare art of making family dysfunction sound charming, David Sedaris returns to Detroit with his sharp wit and even sharper pen.
Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the author of "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and "Calypso" Sedaris delivers the kind of storytelling that makes you laugh, wince, and question your own holiday traditions — often all in the same breath.
April 8, 7:30 p.m., Fisher Theatre (3011 W Grand Blvd, Detroit). Reserve tickets at bit.ly/davidsedaristickets.
4. Attend a Gender and Sexuality Conference
If you're a community college student, staff, faculty or just an LGBT person in desperate need of a full Saturday to bask in queer community, the annual Michigan Community College Gender & Sexuality Conference should absolutely be on your radar. Your gaydar, even.
This year’s theme is Resilience, and the day features art-making workshops, a queer artist gallery and sessions led by students, staff and faculty statewide on topics like trans narratives in video games, queers in comics and LGBT campus leadership in tough times.
Conference Committee Member Josiah Jackson tells Pride Source, "[We hope that] Students and community members alike can see they are not alone, that they have a thriving community and that resilience, while it may look different for everyone, is a needed component for any community to survive and thrive! "
The whole thing kicks off with a 10.15 a.m. panel keynote entitled "Beyond the Spotlight: Drag, Resilience, and Joy," so select your sequins and set your alarm!
April 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Washtenaw Community College (4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor). Learn more at bit.ly/WCCconference.
5. Celebrate Small Sparkly Things
Nurturing queer joy has always been a radical act, but these days we're continually reminded it's a lifesaving necessity. Whether you're officially observing a birthday, marking a transition milestone (“It’s the second anniversary of my first top surgery consult”), or just overjoyed that you remembered to water your plants — find a reason to celebrate.
Looking for inspiration? Start right now with International Asexuality Day (April 6) or National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (April 10).
Want to double the impact of your joy-seeking efforts? Pull that well-washed peanut butter jar out of your recycling, dig up some colorful paper, and write down a few lines about each happy memory or interaction as it happens. When you're having a bad day (or week, or month or year), recollecting tiny victories like “didn’t apologize for existing this morning" can bring back some glow to your tired rainbow heart.
Ongoing. More queer observance ideas can be found at bit.ly/queercelebrate.
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