June 26 - 28, 2009: An Explosion Of Pride

We might feel twinges of shame — like, for instance, upon seeing sights like this one — but you know, like any fucked up family, you’re still ours. So it’ll be swell once again to get drunk and high right alongside you all, and cry a collective fuck off to the Mutchnicks of the world who would rather see us buttoned up and married.

Without further ado… We cover the simultaneous Pride Explosion in San Francisco, New York and Chicago below, but it is also the BIG GAY PRIDE WEEKEND in the following U.S. cities: Houston, Denver, Minneapolis/St.Paul, Oklahoma City, Santa Fe, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, and Toronto (oh wait, that’s Canada).

Across the pond, pride will be paraded also in Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid (where porn couple Damien & Francesco shall be the toast of the town), Paris and it’s Black Pride in London.

Below, some highlights in SF, NY and — since LA already had they’re pride and there’s nothing much to report down there — a quicky CHICAGO pride guide instead!

MR. @ Triple Crown
1760 Market Street
Friday, 9PM

It’s bound to be a tightly packed and drunken good time at this 2nd annual pre-Pride party, featuring mustached go-go boys and tunes from DJs David Harness and Kidd Sysko. If you have no mustache, there may be some fake ones provided.

Trannyshack Vs. Big Top @ Cat Club
1190 Folsom Street
Sunday, 9PM – 3AM

Heklina’s dusting off her wigs and re-emerging for this post-pride shindig in SOMA, doing battle in back with her queens and DJ Kidd Sysko, while Sister Roma, Joshua J, Hot House exclusive Ethan Wolfe, and the Big Top set all work it out in the front room.

FRIDAY: City Model Search @ The Lookout; Find Your Fetish @ Folsom Friday; Wendy Ho & Charlie Horse @ The Cinch; Underworld @ 550 Barneveld; Boy Bar Sneak Peak @ The Cafe; Hot Boxxx Girls @ Aunt Charlie’s; dot429 @ LeftSpace Studios; Jeffery Self’s “My Life on the Craigslist” @ New Conservatory Theatre; MANnequin @ the BOChurch

SATURDAY: Pink Saturday in The Castro; Butt Pirate @ DNA; Konig- King of Burlesque @ SOMArts; The Disco @ Mezzanine; Colossus @ 1015 Folsom; Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hynodrome; Tattoo @ The Stud; Go Bang! @ Deco Lounge; Hyp Saturdays @ Club Eight

SUNDAY: Gay Pride Shitshow @ Civic Center; Juanita More’s Pool Party @ Bambuddha Lounge; Hot Fudge Sunday @ The Cinch; Unity @ DNA Lounge; Sanctuary @ 1015 Folsom

Blowoff @ Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th Street
Friday, 10PM – 4AM

DJs Bob Mould and Richard Morel bring you this “musical smackdown of a party” featuring “a meaty signature mix of indie rock, electro and house.” The crowd should skew a little older and wiser, so this would be a good antidote to the Pride Kick-off blitz for the bois at Rush.

Love Ball @ Nokia Theater
515 Broadway
Saturday, 10PM – dawn, $60 adv

It’s an epic battle of circuit queens and Drag Ball divas, and we have a feeling it’s going to be mostly circuit queens with lots of disposable income… but anyway, the trailer’s cute.

FRIDAY: Tug @ The Hose; Patricia Field Boat Party @ Pier 40; Adam Joseph @ XES; DJ Sveta @ Mr. Black; Bois’ Pride Kickoff @ Rush; Bloc Party @ EasternBloc; HK Fridays @ HK

SATURDAY: Tubway @ Mr. Black; F-Word @ Santos Party House; Bears Sea Tea @ Pier 40; Homo Harlem Walking Tour @ Maysles Cinema

SUNDAY: Pier Dance @ Pier 54; Love Hangover @ Eastern Bloc; Beer Blast @ The Eagle; Pride Luau @ G Lounge; Garden of Ono @ Hotel Gansevoort; Vandam @ Greenhouse; Dirty Pop @ Stonewall; Alegria Pride @ M2; Pier Afterparty @ Cielo

More shit at Homo Musts on HX.com

Bears, The Baths & Beyond @ Steamworks
3246 North Halsted Street
Saturday, 1 – 6PM

Just thought we’d give a shout-out to the bears of Chi-town, and note this especially sleazy way to ring in Pride ’09. What are our freedoms for, after all, if not to have a few anonymous screws in a tiny rented room while DJ Greg Ellsworth spins just outside the door.

FRIDAY: Return of Real Chicago House @ Ontourage; Steamworks Kickoff Pride Celebration W/DJ Scotty Dick; Underwear Fashion Show @ Hydrate; Pride Weekend @ Roscoe’s
SATURDAY: Blackout Party @ Hydrate; Leather Pride Party @ Touché; Dragzilla @ Spin; PetCo’s Pet Pride Parade @ Pride Fest
SUNDAY: Pride Beer Bust @ Touché; Pride Parade, Etc; Watch The Parade @ The North End; Beach Party @ Hydrate