Get Tickets for Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls, Go to TranscenDANCE, Celebrate 'The Golden Girls'
After all the ups and downs of 2024, you deserve to start off 2025 right. So, it’s a good thing that the darkest weeks of winter are loaded with LGBTQ+ events to bring light and joy to the new year. Experience the teaming of queer music legends Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls, find encouragement in your community with Corktown Health’s post-election support groups and have a ball at NYE parties hosted by Detroit LGBTQ+ institutions. You can even see a fresh take on the Golden Girls in a live stage performance with all the laughs and sass of the original show!
1. Be Inspired by Queer Music Royalty
Going into a year already marked by the return of Donald Trump to office rightfully has many LGBTQ+ Michiganders reeling — it can feel difficult to start fresh when faced with the consequences of the previous year. But if anybody knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity, it’d be queer rock and folk greats Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls.
Thirty-two years after her influential album "Yes I Am" marked a significant moment in Etheridge's personal and professional journey of self-revelation, she, along with Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls, will embark on the “Yes We Are” tour in 2025. Snag tickets now for their Michigan performance, so you can find inspiration in the expert lyricism and continued defiance of these legends.
Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre (14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights). Get your tickets early at bit.ly/4flgdcI.
2. Be a Part of TranscenDANCE
Detroit organization and Motorball host Geared for Life (GFL) is starting the next chapter in its expansive history of Detroit LGBTQ+ service, and you can be a part of it. On New Year’s Eve, GFL will ring in the new year properly with a never-before-done celebration entitled “TranscenDANCE." Boasting an all-queer event line-up, the organization hopes to build up the next generation through a night of “music, dance, love, art and rebellion.”
With music by local talents such as Michigan Drag Awards DJ of the year nominee ANTI and self-proclaimed Y2K hot bimbo Garrison XR, GFL is laying the groundwork — all you need to do is show up. And of course, all money made goes back into Detroit-area LGBTQ+ projects and needs.
Dec. 31, 10 p.m., The Olympus Theater (928 W. McNichols Road, Detroit). More details are available at bit.ly/3ZLOTii.
3. Enjoy The Hilarity of The Golden Girls
Blanche is more than a role for Detroit native Vince Kelley — she’s a kindred spirit. “Blanche doesn’t take herself too seriously and I don't either, so I feel like there's a pretty good marriage in that,” Kelley told Pride Source. “She's the first one to laugh at herself, which I think is a good quality, especially now.”
Kelley is a part of “Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue," a stage parody of the classic sitcom. And while the production may have all the sass and heart of the original show, it makes modern changes that only enhance the entertainment value — from actors performing in drag to a wild plot surrounding CreakN’, a dating app for seniors.
Exclusive to the Detroit show is a showcase of actual Golden Girls costumes — artifacts Kelley describes as items that “actually touched [the Golden Girls’] bodies”.
Jan. 16-19, showtimes vary, Fisher Theatre (3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit). Secure your spot at bit.ly/49Iq8Yz.
4. Start The Year Off Right at Five15
How does spending your New Year's Eve at a “sophisticated, all-inclusive supper club experience” sound? According to Five15 owner Gary Baglio, the venue’s first-ever NYE VIP Disco Ball is a realization of that vision — with the added flair you’d expect from Five15 and Pronto.
“Our goal is not just to meet expectations but to exceed them, creating an unforgettable experience that ushers in a new trend,” Baglio said.
To home in on that idea of glamour and excellence, the celebration will offer a three-course meal and a live music performance by the first-ever featured LGBTQ+ couple on "The Voice," collectively known as Bell Bastien — or as they’re known around these parts, “the Detroit Disco Daddies.” And with mixes by DJ Adamusic playing till sun up, you can let loose and dance your way into the new year!
Dec. 31, 8 p.m., 600 Washington Ave., Royal Oak. Reserve your place to ring in the new year in style at bit.ly/3BjT7FG.
5. Build Community with These Post-Election Support Groups
Oftentimes the best way to move forward is to address the past, and LGBTQ+ wellness organization Corktown Health provides space for just that. Following the election, they’ve been hosting weekly support groups to share and connect with others. And because building community is a necessity, Corktown provides both in-person and virtual options to accommodate everyone. Find the hope and support you need in one another, so we can all move forward together.
Mondays, 10-11:30 a.m. (in-person at Corktown Health Center — 1726 Howard St., Detroit), Fridays, 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual). Fill out an interest form at bit.ly/4gnei96.
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