Let Loose at All-Women's Weekend in Saugatuck, Dance at the Garden of Gaga, Attend Trans Health Event
Who are we kidding? The days of packing Pride into four tiny weeks is vanishing faster than corduroy in climate change. That's all to say our mid-May calendar is bulging bigger than a baby queer who used their winter socks to fill out their 501s. Whether you’re laughing at trans comedy with a ghostly twist, Going Girl with Mimi Gonzalez and 5,000 of Mimi’s closest friends, or simply giving your neighborhood some queer zine love, here are just a few ways you can soak in all that delicious Michigan queer joy.
1. Get Ready for Go Girl! Saugatuck
Mimi Gonzalez may be funny AF, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that Mimi is also organized AF — and knows how to throw a party. Case in point: Go Girl! Saugatuck, a three-day, all-women’s weekend just two miles from Lake Michigan, jam-packed with comedy, burlesque, drag kings, DJs, workshops, poolside antics and more queer girl energy than you can shake a beach towel at.
“In our eighth year of being the most inclusive of ALL women in or out of the female/ femme/feminine, formerly female, newly female spectrum, we believe in radical inclusion,” Gonzalez told Pride Source. “And you’ll see it in our guests, our shows, our DJs and our dance floor. The pool’s the place to party during the day, and The Dunes Resort’s the place to play gay all weekend with the wonderful women of Go Girl! Saugatuck. The weekend closes out on Sunday with a Gospel of YOU Brunch and open mic, followed by that most classic of all Michigan activities — rock hunting at the beach.”
Oh. So this will be hilarious and wholesome? Count me in.
May 30–June 1, The Dunes Resort (333 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas). Visit gogirlsaugatuck.com for ticket and accommodation info.
2. Dance in The Garden of Gaga
Ferndale Pride weekend launches with maximum glitter and minimum chill at "Mayhem: Lady Gaga Dance Night." Think sequins, synths and sinners in a Garden of Eden-themed paradise, where Adam and Eve were clearly both named Stefani.
Show up before 11 p.m. and your cover charge disappears like your inhibitions after “Bad Romance” kicks in. Wear your meat dress, bring your Little Monster friends, and prepare to sweat out every one of Gaga’s eras on the dance floor.
May 30, doors at 9 p.m., Orchid Theatre (141 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale). Free entry before 11 p.m. with RSVP: bit.ly/orchid530.
3. Roar at Roz Hernandez
Anyone who says “this is no time for making comedy” is welcome to sit quietly in the corner while the rest of us laugh to survive. Transgender comedian/celebrity ghost encounter negotiation expert Roz Hernadez is coming to Detroit for one night only to give us the opportunity to do just that.
You’ve probably encountered Roz on your tiny screen because she starred in Hulu’s 2023 series “Living for the Dead,” plus her ear-delight “Ghosted! by Roz Hernandez” was recently a top pick for Apple’s Podcast of the Month. But there’s nothing like comedy IRL and if you want to hear the person Margaret Cho calls “essential, hilarious, profane and profound!!!” (yes, with every single one of those exclamation points), head to Gigi’s on May 16.
Special bonus: Gigi’s is historically a drag club, so Roz is honoring the environment by generously agreeing to accept cash tips during her performance. Bring your twenties, tens, fives — even your singles. But not your quarters. Sure, you need them for laundry, but the audience will be seeking comedy, not Coinstar.
May 16, 7:30 p.m., Gigi’s Cabaret (16920 West Warren Ave., Detroit). Find tickets at bit.ly/RozHernandezDetroit.
4. Treasure Trans Health and Wellness
Affirmations, Ferndale’s LGBTQ+ community center, is hosting another installment of their Trans Health and Wellness Series, this one centered on gender nonconforming and nonbinary folks. Got questions about sex, mental health or that weird twinge in your shoulder? Experts from all over the health disciplines will be ready with answers. Oakland County Health will be on site for needle exchange support, and the whole thing is powered by community care and donuts (shoutout to Apple Fritter and Red Hook).
Can’t make it? Follow Affirmations on socials @goaffirmations for updates, resources and more sugar-fueled support.
May 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Affirmations LGBTQ+ community center (290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale). No registration required. More info at instagram.com/p/DI3tUhFtOJW.
5. Adopt a Queer Zine Habit
One of the most devastating things about the current attacks on LGBTQ+ voices is how quickly our stories are vanishing from mainstream culture. But guess what? We’ve always told our own stories — loudly, queerly and usually with an almost inexplicable quantity of glitter glue.
Support that legacy by diving into the Detroit-based Allied Media Projects, packed with queer, trans and BIPOC brilliance expressed in various creative forms: zines, blogs, movies, live events and more. You can read many of Allied members’ zines for free online or order physical copies to start your own DIY queer archive. Host a zine night or stash one in your local laundromat like the beautiful gay fairy you are.
Explore: alliedmedia.org and @alliedmediaprojects.
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