BAS Pride 2016: Friday Highlights – Trans March, Vivvy’s Drag, and Pound Puppy

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!!!

Screaming queens.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Pride weekend has arrived queeridos! Time to start popping that B-12, hydrate, remember to eat and take advantage of every little disco nap you get. In addition, keep a look out for yourself and your pals. This writer has already seen reports of assholes pop up on social media, so be careful. Security is going to be nuts, but that will likely mean unsolicited attention from the SFPD, so make sure your aware of them too and read up on what to expect on their end if you’re hitting Castro or the festival on Civic Center over the next few days.

UPDATE: Several Grand Marshalls withdraw over increased policing. Conflicting reports over how many agencies may be involved, including Department of Homeland Security. 

Speaking of the bulls, their relationship with the community has been a shit show from day one. From beating the crap out of our trans pioneers at the Stonewall in or Compton’s Cafeteria, to doing the same after the White Night and ACT UP protests, to blowing away pocs, to their refusal to acknowledge the rights of trans incarcerated persons like Athena Cadence as this is written, it’s hardly any surprise that their support this weekend feels dubious at best.

Trans March 2015 Photo by Joshua Abeyta

Which is all the more reason that standing in solidarity with the people in our community that incur the most violence and loss of life matters tonight at Trans March 2016.

LYRIC will be hosting their annual Youth & Elder Brunch at 11 a.m. at the march staging grounds in Mission Dolores Park. Following will be performances and speaking and the march itself at around 6 p.m. The march will culminate at the site of the old Compton’s Cafeteria to mark the 50^th anniversary of said riots.

From there it morphs into Bustin’ Out 11: Party Against the Prison Industrial Complex. THREE BARS are hosting this megaparty. El Río, Virgil’s and The Knockout are all hosting drinks, djs and dancing.

Across town, the yelps and panting can only mean that Pound Puppy is burying some bones in the Pride patch once again. To boot, the frisky furballs will be lapping each other up in their home bar, The Eagle, for the first time on a holiday weekend.

After you’ve picked out your new best friend, they’ll need a walk so paw over to The Stud for a little play dating. As she is want to do around this time of year, Miss Vivvyanne Forevermore is extending her weekly Some Thing until dawn. From 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., We’re Here, We’re Queer, We’re SOME THING will be a feast for the senses. You’ll be getting it in all five with drag splendor, discophonic sets, slick and sweaty go-gos, and pizza. It’s the sleepover you always wished for.

Go get ‘em, kittens!

Trans March 2016
Embracing Our Legacy: We Are Still Here
Friday, June 24, 2016 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Mission Dolores Park (ends Vicki Mar Lane [Turk] & Taylor)
18^th Street (btw Dolores & Church)
[Mission Dolores]
SF
FREE

TJIP Presents: Bustin’ Out 11: Party Against the Prison Industrial Complex
Friday, June 24, 2016 @ 6:30 p.m.
El Río…your dive!
3158 Mission Street (@ Precita)
[Outer Mission/ Bernal Heights]
SF

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

The Knockout
3223 Mission Street (@ Fair)
[Outer Mission/ Bernal Heights]
SF
Sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)

Pound Puppy Pride
Friday, June 24, 2016 @ 8:00 p.m.
SF Eagle
398 12^th Street (@ Harrison)
[South of Market]
SF
$20

We’re Here, We’re Queer, We’re SOME THING
Friday, June 24, 2016 @ 10:00 p.m.
The Stud
399 9^th Street (@ Harrison)
[South of Market]
SF

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