It’s fall again. Time to bid adieu to rooftop parties and outdoor barbeques, and say hello to heavy jackets and chilly temps. But let’s not forget the good things that come with the season, such as SAGE’s Women’s Dance on Oct 20. It’s a night to meet some new friends or perhaps even a girlfriend, if the stars are so aligned. But regardless of whether romance is in the air, you can still feel good knowing you’re contributing to one of our community’s most important organizations. The fun happens at Midtown’s Club LQ. And on Oct 21 it’s time for SAGE’s Awards Gala, taking place at Gotham Hall. At this annual gathering, SAGE celebrates the people, organizations and companies who are devoted to improving the lives of LGBT seniors. This year, the honorees include Roberta Kaplan, the lawyer for Edie Windsor’s landmark DOMA case; Jay Lesiger; Chris Kann; and Jewish Home Life Care. Your host will be MSNBC contributor Jonathan Capeheart.
Get ready for plenty of naughty fun at the 11th Annual New York Burlesque Festival, running from Sep 26-29 at a variety of venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn. With over 120 performances, this is the largest festival of its type in the world, drawing more than 2,500 audience members each year. Events include the Teaser Party at Le Poisson Rouge and the Premiere Party at Brooklyn Bowl. There will also be a special Burlesque Boutique at the Slipper Room where you can purchase everything from hair ornaments to custom corsets.
Looking for a job is always challenging, but when you’re gay it can be even more anxiety-provoking. To make it easier, and to help us increase our economic know-how, the Center has developed an Economic Empowerment Week and Career Fair presented by Citi. The event offers strategies for increasing their wealth while also giving them the chance to network with employers who are committed to diversity. Participants include AT&T, Avon, Bloomberg, Johnson & Johnson and HBO. The fair happens Sep 30 at Citi’s Executive Conference Center, while the Economic Empowerment Week runs from the Sep 30-Oct 4.
More than a thousand equal rights supporters are expected at Empire State Pride Agenda’s Annual Fall Dinner at Sheraton New York’s Times Square Hotel on Oct 17. Roberta Kaplan will be honored along with Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry. The entertainment will be provided by Billy Porter, who just won a Tony for his performance in the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots.
The Anti-Violence Project has always been important for our community, but we have a renewed appreciation for them this year, in the wake of a rash of recent anti-gay hate crimes. Show your support at the annual Courage Awards on Sep 26. The gala, taking place at Midtown’s Studio 450, honors the work of Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Citi and others.
Twenty years ago, adult toy store Babeland opened its first location in Seattle, sparking a monumental sexual revolution. On Sep 26, owners Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah invite you to celebrate two decades of lusty fun at Babeland’s 20th Anniversary Bash, happening at their Mercer Street location in NYC. The night will feature entertainment, drinks, prizes, sex tips, and the chance to pose with official store mascot The Babeland Vulva. Who could resist that?
Visit more than 100 exhibitors, enter exciting raffles and giveaways, participate in workshops and enjoy live entertainment at the 5th Annual Long Island GLBT Expo, an annual trade show promoting gay and gay-friendly businesses. The free event is happening Sep 29 at Huntington’s Hilton Long Island.
Top athletes and major supporters of women’s equality will be gathering at The 34th Annual Salute to Women in Sports, honoring female achievement in sports on Oct 16. The ticket admission goes toward continuing the work of the Women’s Sports Foundation, established by out tennis legend Billie Jean King. The Foundation’s goal is to encourage women of all ages to participate in what is often a male-dominated activity.
It’s the seventh edition of The French Institute Alliance Francaise’s popular fall festival Crossing the Line, featuring dance, art, theater and film. True to its title, this series focuses on artists who push boundaries, with performances taking place throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Highlights include Fanny de Chaille’s “The Library,” a show in which random people relate their real-life stories inside—you guessed it—a library. The series runs Sep 19 through Oct 13.
What Do You Think?