Strider’s Journal

Every Thursday, we give you this week’s LGBTQ to-do list.

— Underground folk legend Alix Dobkin will be at Giovanni’s Room (345 S. 12th St., 215-923-2960) on Fri., Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dobkin will be reading from her recently release memoir, My Red Blood: A Memoir of Growing Up Communist, Coming Onto the Greenwich Village Folk Scene, and Coming Out in the Feminist Movement (Alyson, $16.95). That’s one of the most daunting book titles I’ve ever seen, but I’m positive this event will be anything but. Dobkin has a lot to share: She recorded the first openly lesbian album (Lavender Jane Loves Women) in 1973; she was hailed in the Greenwich Village music scene in the fabulous ’60s; and she joined the Communist Party smack in the middle of the Red Scare. This lady has balls — OK, probably not, but she sounds super cool. The $10 admission is donation-based, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

— I’m all about the books and protests this week, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take some time out to boogie. On Fri., Nov. 12 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Marathon Grill (929 Walnut St., 215-733-0311) will open its loft for a dance party called BoyFuzion. From what I hear, the last gay party at Marathon Grill was an affair that shouldn’t have been missed. DJ Glitz will bring the tunes, so all you have to arrive with is the shimmies and the shakes. Oh, and $5.

— On Sat. Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 2nd Annual Queer Literary Festival is taking place for free at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore (551 Carpenter Lane, 215-844-1870). Event Coordinator Maleka Fruean created the festival because she saw a lack of gay book fairs in Philly and an influx of LGBTQ families in Mt. Airy. Check out my piece on it in this week’s Agenda section for more information.  

— If you’re feeling especially outspoken this weekend, head out to show support for our gay brothers and sisters in Lancaster, who will be holding an LGBTQ Equality Protest on Sat., Nov. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. at Lancaster Market Square (King and Queen streets, Lancaster). The unfortunate turn of events regarding the defeat of Proposition 1 in Maine has spurred LGBTQ supportive citizens in Lancaster to speak out in a demonstration calling for equality and justice for all. They’re angry about what happened up north but “an even worse defeat,” they say, “would be to let the intolerant among us continue perverting our democratic process to protect their bigotry.” This may not turn out to be the largest protest you’ve seen, but every little bit counts. Preach it, Lancaster!

Itching for more gay events? Check out our LGBTQ listings.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Art Phag, Music, Reading. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.