BAS Pride 2016: Awesome Parties at Cal Academy & Virgil’s Tonight!

Pride 2016 may be one of the most important in recent memory. Out of the tragedy of Orlando, a wave of solidarity has spread across the world and it has galvanized our community to respond with love, to speak out against our culture of violence, stand with our Latinx, Muslim, and poc brothers and sisters, and be as fucking queer as possible.

Every year there is hardly a dearth of things to do during the high holy days of Pride Week, but it’s all the more so this year! Be sure to check in here at BAS for events, exhibitions and actions every day this week and we’ll do our best to keep you in the big gay loop! Also be sure to look for our annual Pride retrospective photo spread next week to catch all the looks and lovin’. Happy Holigays, jotos!!!

Thursday, June 23, 2016

As far as Pride Week goes, Thursday is when things get tough in choosing when and where you’ll be painting the town lavender. Indeed our picks for today will require some bouncing about town if you want to hit them all, but when it comes to bouncing, who doesn’t like a challenge?

In this great big world, there’s nowt so queer as folk or nature it would seem. In their annual tradish, the California Academy of Sciences is gaying things up at their Nightlife series. And it’s hard to get any gayer than hosting a party dj’d by nightlife dowager Juanita More!, Leah Perloff (House of Babes), pyramids by Cheer SF, vogue’ing with Joquese Whitfield, a DIY drag station, and gem stone and purple sea creature exhibit. Shine bright like a sea cucumber!

For 25 years, Miss & Mr. Safe Latino has been battling stigma and increasing awareness around HIV/ AIDS since its inception at the late, great Esta Noche. And really what is a better way to sweep into Pride weekend, than by bearing witnessing a pageant glammed to the tits?

Closing the night out on Thursday holds many options. Bus Station John will be holding court at Aunt Charlie’s, the Eagle has its Thursday Night Live featuring the inimitable Club Meds, and many more parties sprouting across the city like so many multicoloured mushrooms.

The jewel in Thursday night’s crown is the Lexington’s Pride Kick-off. Like, Esta Noche, the Lexington Club, in its physical form, is no longer with us, but whereas Esta Noche imploded due to shady business dealings, the Lexington has survived its eviction and become something larger than its previous form. Now a patron for queer community, it has resurrected the last of SF’s dyke bars and plopped it right in the middle of Virgil’s Sea Room. All your favourite bartenders will be there along with spin masters Jenna Riot (House of Babes), Chelsea Starr (Portland) and Lady Ryan (Soulovely). Long live the Lex!

Pride Nightlife at the Academy
Thursday, June 23, 2016 @ 6:00 p.m.

California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive
[Golden Gate Park]
SF
$15

Miss & Mister Safe Latino
Thursday, June 23, 2016 @ 7:00 p.m.

Marines Memorial Theatre
609 Sutter Street (@ Mason)
[Union Square]
SF
$10

Lexington Presents: Pride Kick-Off at Virgil’s
Thursday, June 23, 2016 @ 9:00 p.m.

Virgil’s Sea Room
3152 Mission Street (@ Precita)
[Bernal Heights/ Outer Mission]
SF
$5