The Book Of Mormon
Back by popular demand!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

December 4, 2024

THE BOOK OF MORMON returns to Minneapolis by popular demand for a limited engagement as part of the Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin season Tuesday, Dec. 10 to Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at the historic Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave.).

THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. The Broadway production is directed by Parker and  two-time Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, and choreographed by Nicholaw. The tour is directed and choreographed by Jennifer Werner based on the original Broadway direction and choreography. Set design is by three-time Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costume design is by Tony Award winner Ann Roth, lighting design is by five-time Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt, sound design is by two-time Tony Award winner Brian Ronan, and hair design is by Josh Marquette. Orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Larry Hochman and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus. Music supervision and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus. Casting is by Carrie Gardner.

Since opening on March 24, 2011, THE BOOK OF MORMON has become one of the most successful shows in Broadway history, breaking the Eugene O’Neill Theatre house record more than 50 times. In addition to nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, THE BOOK OF MORMON won five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama League Award for Best Musical and four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical.

The West End production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. The first-ever UK and European tour launched in Manchester in June 2019, winning ‘Best Theatre Show’ at the Manchester Evening News City Life Awards before touring throughout the UK and Europe.

THE BOOK OF MORMON has been performed on three continents and has won over 30 international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and in cities across the U.S. and the world.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

For more information, visit thebookofmormontour.com

5th Annual Red Undie Run
A vibrant, fun-filled event from the Aliveness Project!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

November 20, 2024

We are back for the 5th Annual Red Undie Run – a vibrant, fun-filled event aimed at raising awareness about World AIDS Day! Mark your calendars for December 7th, as we prepare to run in our red undies in downtown Minneapolis! Get ready to join hundreds of HIV advocates stripping down to shed stigma.

This is more than just a run; it's a movement. We invite you to join us by wearing your red undies with pride and taking a stand for those living with HIV/AIDS. Whether you're a seasoned runner or prefer a leisurely jog, this event is for everyone!

Registration is absolutely free, but we encourage participants to embrace the spirit of community by setting a fundraising goal of $200. Every dollar raised brings us closer to ending HIV in Minnesota. Participants who fundraise are eligible to receive a variety of prizes and perks!

To secure your spot and start your fundraising journey, visit our registration page www.redundierun.org. Share your progress with friends and family, and together, let's make a difference.

Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this memorable event. Register now, and let's run for a cause that unites us all.

See you at the starting line!

Event Details:

📅 Date: December 7, 2024

📍 Starting Location: TOM's Watch Bar

⏰ Check-In: 10:30 AM

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Event: Red Undie Run

Have you registered yet? Just a couple of months until community unites to End HIV in Minnesota. Join us for all the festive fun on Saturday, December 7!

Big Christmas Energy
Nog yourself with holiday cheer at the Brave New Workshop!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

November 20, 2024

It’s the Twin Cities’ funniest holiday tradition filled with new sketches and perennial favorites, including The Twelve Days of Christmas

Hennepin Arts has announced that Brave New Workshop is rolling into the holidays with Big Christmas Energy, their hilarious annual holiday celebration full of sketches and songs to make your spirits bright. Big Christmas Energy runs through Saturday, Jan. 31, 2025 at the Dudley Riggs Theatre (824 Hennepin Ave.) in downtown Minneapolis.

It’s time to put the rest of the year behind you, nog yourself into oblivion, and deck the halls with reckless abandon. There are stockings that need to be stuffed, blessings that need to be counted, and family members that need to be alienated through awkward conversation over the carcass of a once majestic turkey.  Big Christmas Energy will get you through all of that with a smile on your face—even if there’s humbug in your heart.  Enjoy the Twin Cities’ funniest holiday tradition filled with new sketches and perennial favorites, including Brave New Workshop’s unforgettable version of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Main Cinema:
Celebrating and exploring the diverse stories and journeys within the LGBTQ+ communities

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

November 6, 2024

The Main Cinema is celebrating and explorering the diverse stories and journeys within LGBTQ+ communities: Anora and Emilia Perez. Both films offer authentic, compelling narratives that resonate with themes of identity, resilience, and empowerment.

Anora tells the story of a sex worker navigating the challenges and triumphs of her life, presented with compassion and authenticity. This film breaks down stereotypes and sheds light on the strength, agency, and self-worth within the sex work community. With Anora, we hope to foster a greater understanding and destigmatization of sex work, while amplifying the voices of those who courageously embrace their paths.

Directed by renowned French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez follows its titular character on a journey of gender transition, courageously challenging societal expectations and exploring what it means to live authentically. Through a distinctly French cinematic lens, this film tackles universal themes of self-discovery and acceptance, making it a beautiful and vital addition to global LGBTQ+ narratives.

We are delighted to share these impactful stories with you. To make it accessible, we’re offering a discount CODE TCGAYSCENE. 

Witch Reads and Dark Deeds:
Bare Book Club is a Halloween Event Like No Other!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

October 23, 2024

It's exactly what it sounds like - Bare Book Club - but it's so much more. While some Minnesotans might be clutching their pearls, this experience is empowering, poignant, funny, enticing and smart. 

It revives the art of of live literary salons while celebrating nudity as something beautiful and not necessarily sexual. Bare Book Club's readings are insightful, creative, thought-provoking, and often hilarious. There's no hidden agenda, no pretentiousness, and nothing seedy. The beauty lies in the simplicity. Curious? Join us and discover what makes Bare Book Club unforgettable.

Known as the Rubenesque Royale of Burlesque, national burlesque star Queenie von Curves is the producer and head librarian. The cast also includes local luminaries Luma Notti, Dahlia Moonstruck, Hazel Noire and Valentine Van Dyke.

This special edition of Bare Book Club is a collaboration with Llewellyn Worldwide, the oldest and largest witchcraft publisher in the world. Featuring some of their new and old texts, the readers will be diving deep into the enchanting words of witches from around the world to celebrate the spooky season.

Bare Book Club: Coven is hosted at The Artery, an anti-authoritarian, consent-based collective of artists and community members committed to racial, economic, gender and disability justice. They strive to create a radically inclusive space rooted in liberation practices and politics, in Minneapolis Minnesota.

The cast will be reading selections from their favorite witchy titles in the buff, as the attendees have the option to shop local goods and crafts, and even enjoy a divine dance party afterwards by DJ Darling Nicque.

For more information on the event or for tickets to attend, you can visit the Bare Book Club Eventbrite or check out Bare Book Club on Instagram for more information on this one of a kind event.

Children's Theatre Co.
Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

October 23, 2024

Children’s Theatre Company Announces Complete Cast and Creative Team for Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Back by popular demand, the smash-hit holiday favorite returns to CTC November 5, 2024-January 5, 2025

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is thrilled to announce the complete cast and creative team for the highly-anticipated return engagement of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! which will run from November 5, 2024-January 5, 2025 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Opening night is Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 7pm. Featuring a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin, the production will be directed for the first time by CTC Company member Dean Holt, with choreography by Kelli Foster Warder. The production is adapted from How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. 

This is the 12th  time CTC has produced this show, which they originally commissioned and premiered in 1994. It also marks the seventh time CTC Company Member see above Reed Sigmund will portray The Grinch.

“This story carries so many wonderful memories for CTC and its audience,” said Director Dean Holt. “Mostly, it reminds us that the true meaning of our holiday gatherings and traditions lie not in the ‘stuff’ of the season, but rather in the people and community we are surrounded by.”

A miserly and miserable, ever-so-cantankerous Grinch has observed the despicable Christmas joy of the Whos with disdain, from a distance, for decades. ENOUGH! In this beloved holiday favorite, filled with music and Seussian rhymes, he plots the greatest heist imaginable—stealing the very thing they love the most! Until, that is, the smallest of the Whos, tiny Cindy Lou, extends a hand. Through the combination of kindness and community, we witness not only a change in the course of Who-History, but the size and capacity of the old green guy’s heart.

“This will be my 7th time stealing Christmas, and I’m still as nervous and excited as I was the first year I donned the green,” said Reed Sigmund. “This character and story are so rich I can’t stop exploring and playing in their gorgeous world. And this year I’m exploring it with my best friend, Dean Holt, sitting in the Director’s chair. His understanding and commitment to this story is absolutely inspiring and full of countless new ideas and surprises that I can’t wait to share with our audience.”

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! runs November 7, 2023, through January 7, 2024, in the UnitedHealth Group Stage. This show is best for all ages. Tickets can be purchased at childrenstheatre.org/grinch or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15.  

Sound Unseen + Music Festival
25th Anniversary edition

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

October 23, 2024

Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival announces films for 25th Anniversary edition! Minneapolis kicks things off with Chris Smith’s DEVO, Don Hardy’s Linda Perry: Let It Die Here is the Closing Night Selection, and Don McGlynn’s Spider John Koerner: Been Here...Done That gets a special Tribute Screening

The Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival (November 13-17 in Minneapolis, December 5-8 in Rochester, and December 12-14 in Austin) announced the film lineup for this year’s 25th Anniversary edition, presented by Pryes Brewing Company, of the groundbreaking film festival. The rare three-city presentation this year will not simply be a celebration of Sound Unseen’s impact on the world of music documentary filmmaking but will also mark the festival’s last in the current format, as Sound Unseen will take a festival hiatus beyond its monthly screening series and special one-off presentations for the next calendar year.

In Minneapolis, Chris Smith’s DEVO (Opening Night), Don Hardy’s Linda Perry: Let It Die Here (Closing Night), and Don McGlynn’s Spider John Koerner: Been Here…Done That (Tribute Screening), will be lead the impressive Sound Unseen lineup screening in three cities over two months in November and December.

Rochester will also feature Dana Flor’s 1-800-On-Her-Own, the second screening ever of Twin/Tone Records’ 7 Nights In The Entry (2007) and a special presentation of Robert Wiene’s classic German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) accompanied by a live music performance of the film’s score. Austin will highlight Paul Levantino’s Bastards of Soul, and J. Budro Partida’s Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story Of The Back Room among its screenings.

For their 25th year Sound Unseen is also making live music a much bigger priority than it has in the past. Grammy nominated Linda Perry anchors the music lineup with solo acoustic performances in both Minneapolis and Austin alongside screenings of her documentary, and a live performance by REVO will accompany the Opening Night presentation of DEVO. Highlights for Minneapolis include folk mainstay Charlie Parr playing before Spider John Koerner: Been Here…Done That, two nights with Bloodshot Records artist Lydia Loveless, a post Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted performance by Soul/R&B legend Swamp Dogg, and a closing night live show by Minneapolis glam trailblazer Venus Demars. The Rochester festival will feature an opening night party with punk heavyweights Rad Owl and Scrunchies along with a closing night party featuring surf rock trio Black Widows and country artist James Eugene Russell.

Sound Unseen’s Festival Director, Jim Brunzell, said, “Being that this is both Sound Unseen’s 25th Anniversary along with a planned break from organizing an annual festival, our entire programming team wanted to offer an eclectic mix of the best rock documentaries on the festival circuit and something completely different in our programming with a few special sidebars including Sounds Like WTF? (music films with Genre elements) and Land of 10,000 Sounds (featuring Minnesota based artists and films). This year’s lineup includes films from across the globe from top tier festivals including Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, Tribeca, Venice, TIFF and Edinburgh festivals and our short programs really capture this year’s overall vibe of artists and filmmakers taking risks in their storytelling. The bands we have scheduled to perform at our partnered music venue Cloudland, the panels we have planned, and all of the events that we have made a name for ourselves with film and music festivals in each of these three cities. It is an exciting and diverse program with documentaries, narrative films, shorts, music videos, returning alumni, and new discoveries - all designed to have a much beloved celebration and intermission.”

Headlining the screenings in Minneapolis are the Opening Night presentation of Chris Smith’s DEVO, an exploration of the band’s 50-year career and odyssey looking at the growth of their "de-evolution" from a cult following to near-rock star status featuring their groundbreaking 1980 hit "Whip It", all while preaching an urgent social commentary. Don Hardy’s Linda Perry: Let It Die Here focuses on Perry’s extensive influence far beyond “What’s Up” and her band 4 Non Blondes offering an intimate look at a vulnerable and courageous woman who dreams big but still struggles with the past and present, with fear, shame, identity, and the burdens of family. Hardy and Perry will both be on hand for a post -screening Q&A. A Special Tribute screening of Don McGlynn’s Spider John Koerner: Been Here...Done That will make for a prime-Minneapolis moment celebrating a stalwart in the local music scene, who also touched many familiar music icons along the way like The Kinks and David Bowie and Ian Anderson, The Doors, Bonnie Raitt, and more. McGlynn will attend the screening as well.

Highlighted films in Sound Unseen’s Rochester screenings include Dana Flor’s 1-800-On-Her-Own, about the brutally honest, famously foul-mouthed and totally hilarious musical force Ani DiFranco and how she became a worldwide phenomenon when she beat the male-dominated music industry at its own game by founding Righteous Babe Records, the first “woman-run non-corporate queer-happy” label, still going strong after nearly 35 years. Twin/Tone Records’ 7 Nights In The Entry (2007) is a film that was shown once before, at Sound Unseen in 2007, and likely won’t be seen for another 20 years. It captures bands like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü in their beginnings and offers a rare chance to relive being in the room when it was dirty and dangerous. Sound Unseen will also present a special screening of Robert Wiene’s classic German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) accompanied by a live music performance of the film’s score.

Additional films getting the spotlight in Austin will be Paul Levatino’s Bastards Of Soul offers a deep dive into the heart of an electrifying Texas band on the cusp of international recognition, providing an intimate behind-the-scenes look at frontman Chadwick Murray and the band's final recording sessions, their lives, and the electric energy they command on stage. J. Budro Partida’s Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story Of The Back Room chronicles one of the most notoriously known (and often disregarded) music venues in Austin, Texas telling the story of the club through nearly 70 interviews with various musicians, former staff, journalists, and fans, and incorporates thousands of pieces of archive videos, photos, ticket stubs, flyers, and even highly stylized reenactments. Both Levatino and Partida will be in attendance to participate in post-screening Q&As.

Additional highlights in Minneapolis include Sander Maran’s Chainsaws Were Singing, an absolutely bonkers action-horror-musical-comedy B-movie epic from Estonia which was a fan favorite at the most recent Fantasia and Fantastic Fests. Director Kurt St. Thomas remake of the film noir D.O.A. starring legendary musician and actor John Doe (X) as a detective who, dying from a slow-acting poison, must bring his own killer to justice. The film is shot in black and white with a cast that includes Matt Pinfield and John Byner and John Doe will be in attendance to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A afterwards. Al X Gav’s M-80 is another rarely screened concert gem from Minneapolis (circa 1979) featuring performances by The Fleshtones, The Suicide Commanders, The Monochrome Set, Tuxedomoon, The Suburbs, Dark Day, James Chance and the Contortions, Judy Nylon, and a host of others – including rare footage of DEVO performing under the name ‘Dove’. Sound Unseen will also present a 100th Anniversary screening of Robert Wiene’s The Hands Of Orlac (1924) featuring a live performance of the score by Katie Condon.

Ryan Cassata! 
Rally to Protect our Trans Refuge State

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

October 9, 2024 - Interview By Derek Please!

Join us for a special rally with artist Ryan Cassata! Ryan Cassata has built an impressive career with a remarkable track record of hundreds of national and international performances. He has released seven original and critically acclaimed musical albums of original music. Notably, Ryan made history as the first openly trans performer at the Vans Warped Tour and has graced renowned stages such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Global Pride, and SXSW. The Advocate Magazine hailed him as a "Transgender singing sensation," while Paper Magazine included him on their list of "50 LGBTQ Musicians You Should Prioritize."

Minnesota is a Trans Refuge State. For those who are unaware, what is a Trans Refuge State? 

Minnesota has become a "Trans Refuge" state following a recent law that protects gender-affirming health care from interference by out-of-state laws. I hope more states follow soon. The trans community really needs it as more and more rights are being stripped away. 
Gender-affirming care is life-saving. I got my top surgery at age 18, I'm 30 now. Getting my top surgery saved my life. 

What does living in a Trans Refuge State mean to you, personally? 

Living in a trans refuge state means that there may be more government protections, but it doesn't mean that the surrounding society will be accepting. It doesn't necessarily guarantee safety. 

What can people do to help support Protect Our Trans Refuge State? 

Show up to the event. Show up to other trans events. Stand in solidarity with the trans community. Speak up when you see bigotry. Donate to LGBTQ organizations. VOTE VOTE VOTE. 

You are a prolific musician, with an impressive amount of albums and touring gigs. What is your opinion of the current queer music scene? 

Thank you! I love being part of the queer music scene and the music scene in general (queer or not.) The current queer music scene is growing rapidly. Lots of amazing new artists are popping up. I'm excited that queer artists are becoming more mainstream. 

You’re working on a film project with David Anderson of AnderSCENE, can you tell us more? 

I'll be coming back to MN in 2025 to film this short film with Writer/Director David Anderson. I'm really excited for it. After seeing the script, I know that it will be very empowering. It feels very close to heart for me. I will be playing Peter. It's a horror short film that was inspired by an actual hate crime that happened in 2022 in Wisconsin. 

What has been your favorite part of your creative process with David Anderson?

It's been fun to collaborate on ideas. I'm excited to dive deeper into it throughout the rest of the year and early 2025 before we start shooting. 

www.ryancassata.com

RENT 
A Groundbreaking Musical Experience, Closes Out Artistry’s 2024 Theater Season!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

September 25, 2024

Artistry is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of the iconic musical, RENT, running from October 3 to 27, 2024. Directed by Kelli Foster Warder, with Music Direction by Jason Hansen and Associate Direction and Choreography by Joey Miller, this dynamic production promises to bring new energy and depth to a classic that forever changed the musical theater landscape. 

Exuberant, passionate and joyous, Jonathan Larson’s iconic Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical is a pop cultural phenomenon that forever changed the landscape of musical theater. With songs that rock and a story that resonates, RENT follows the lives of seven artists struggling to survive while navigating their dreams, loves and conflicts in the East Village of New York City at the end of the millennium. Featuring groundbreaking songs Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me, and Out Tonight, RENT shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our lives in love!

RENT features an amazing cast of performers including Wesley Mouri* as Mark, Caleb Michael* as Roger, Michelle de Joya as Mimi, Mitchell Douglas* as Angel, Matthew Hall* as Collins, Sara Masterson* as Maureen, Quinn Lorez as Joanne and Ninchai Nok-Chiclana as Benny with Po Cushman, Julia Diaz, Javari Horne, Amanda Mai, Jason Nyabuto, Marley Ritchie, Em Rosenberg and Ben Siglin. *Denotes Member of Actor’s Equity Association. 

The Design team features the creative talents of Karin Olson (Lighting Designer), Richard Graham (Sound Designer), Jacourtney Mountain-Bluhm (Costume Designer), Eli Sherlock (Scenic Consultant), Will Rafferty (Technical Director), and Katie Phillips (Production & Properties Manager). 

SPECIAL EVENTS
Preview Performances: Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4 at 7:30pm
Opening Night Performance: Saturday, October 5 at 7:30pm
AD Performance: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2:00pm 
ASL Performance: Saturday, October 12 at 7:30pm 
Pay-What-You-Can: Monday, Oct. 21 at 7:30pm

TICKETS, ACCESS, & INFORMATION
RENT will perform in Artistry’s Schneider Theater, located in the Bloomington Center for the Arts at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431. 

Single tickets range from $18–$48 and can be purchased online at artistrymn.org and by visiting or calling the Box Office 952-563-8575. Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday from 12-5pm. For more information, email info@artistrymn.org. Group Discounts (10+) available. Ticket fees apply.

Flip The Script 
5th Annual Queer Film Festival

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

September 25, 2024

Tickets are on sale now for the 5th annual Flip the Script Queer Film Festival! Join us for in-person screenings at Emagine Willow Creek Theater, Oct 11th–13th, 0r watch from home in our Virtual Cinema, Oct 11th–19th.

This year's program is bursting with amazing films from around the world with a focus on Palenstine as our 2024 spotlight country.

All ticket sales for our Palestinian focused features, Foragers and Photo Booth, will be donated to The Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund, which is dedicated to providing medical attention to the children of Gaza by transporting critically injured children, with their caretakers, from Palestine to Lebanon, where they can receive the best possible medical, psychological, and social care.

All tickets to FSF screenings are Pay-What-You-Can! All you have to do is clear your schedule!

NEW THIS YEAR!

Purchase an ALL ACCESS PASS and receive a complimentary 1-Year Membership to Queer Gaze ONLINE, where we showcase a different Queer film each month!

New Traditions 
Celebrating Non-Traditional Skaters. A Group Art Exhibition.

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

September 25, 2024

The trailblazing team behind Esprit de Corps, in partnership with Familia Skateboard Shop, is excited to announce New Traditions. This vibrant event is designed to celebrate the forging of new community traditions through art, music and skateboarding.

New Traditions will feature an art exhibition showcasing 40+ artists from across different mediums. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to purchase artwork directly from the artists, who will retain 100% of their sales. This is your chance to support local talent and acquire some amazing pieces.

The event will also feature an electrifying music showcase with performances by special guests DJ Girl Blunt and the all-girl rock group Crush Scene, ensuring a memorable experience for all.

Additionally, the event will include an open skate session. Participants should bring their own wheels, helmets, and pads, and complete a waiver to join in the fun.

In conjunction with New Traditions, Familia Skateboard Shop will also make a special announcement honoring the significant contributions of women in the Twin Cities skateboarding scene with a new skate deck release from the True Heads series.

New Traditions opening reception will take place at Familia Skateshop, located at 835 East Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414, on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. New Traditions will be on display October 5-31, 2024. 

This event is generously sponsored by ASICS, Volcom, Elysian Construction and Two Betty’s Cleaning Service, and will be free for all to attend. 

For more information: Emily.M.Landberg@gmail.com

Jonelle Walker

Jonelle Walker is a trans woman and an incredible skater - truly artistry in motion. I first met Jonelle back in May when she joined our previous exhibition (Esprit de Corps) after someone was unable to participate. It was a very last minute invitation and Jonelle was there with enthusiasm and brought so much joy to the event. Her art work is titled PIG and was painted with acrylics and nail polish. 

Ash Brama

Ash Brama is a non-binary and bisexual artist. "I draw on established artistic techniques and themes, paying homage to the past, but I also challenge traditional boundaries and norms. By infusing my work with contemporary perspectives and personal experiences, I aim to create something that respects historical roots while pushing the conversation forward." Their submission is an acrylic on canvas painting called Bipolar, Baby. 

Caitlin Larson

Caitlin Larson is a bisexual painter, and her painting is called Sector. "Sector is a heavily layered painting inspired by graffiti which honors the subculture that skateboarding is associated with. Both mediums: skateboarding and graffiti, are forms of self-expression, however they are reciprocal in the sense that they inherently give each other platforms to do so. The layers represent the intrinsic nature of connectivity, like a web that is infinitely woven. Similar to skateboarding and graffiti."

Cindle Poff

Additionally, we have lesbian painter Cindle Poff and her submission "Shark Week." Our curatorial team especially loved this artwork because it was 1 of only a few submissions that was done on an actual skateboard - plus we love the bloodied chomp mark. This piece is super fun and we are proud to show Cindle's work. 

Roy Stube

Roy Stube is a ceramics artist, and one of very few sculptural pieces in this exhibition. "Ceramics are inherently part of lots of traditions all throughout history. Taking ceramics and making new forms that emulate figures in your own terms. Breaking traditions of what people look to and making it your own. Your own figure to relate with." 

Kayla Reynolds

Another artist we are so proud to feature in this exhibition is Kayla Reynolds, who is bisexual. Kayla understood the assignment and our team of curators and jurors were left breathless with Kayla's submission. 

 "Growing up I did not know tradition. Coming from a neglectful and broken home, I used art as a way to escape. Throughout my life the only constant has been creating. In January of this year I found myself fleeing a domestic violence situation and thought I lost my creativity, instead of turning to all the unhealthy coping mechanisms I saw growing up, i.e, drugs, and alcohol abuse, I dove back into my art 10 fold. I also turned to skating even harder than I was before. This piece represents who I thought I was. A girl who loved too hard, believed the delusional thoughts put into my head, and the mask i had put on throughout my healing process. There are many layers to this piece, literally, I put a handwritten note to myself underneath myself as a goodbye to my former self. A note to anyone struggling- it gets better, even if it gets bad again and again, it will always get better."

The Reunion 
A hilarious new murder mystery at The Gremlin Theater

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

September 11, 2024

A group of old high school friends gathers for a murder mystery game night. The evening starts out with costumes, drinks, and a thrilling story featuring dead wives, missing sons, and secret societies. But once the game gets going, the host is mysteriously murdered. Like, actually murdered…

Is it all part of some elaborate, nefarious crime? Or is it some bizarre accident? Did someone spike the punch? Is the gun even real? Why does the blood taste like chocolate?! Most importantly: who’s out to get who? As old relationships fray and secrets are revealed, the group must keep playing to figure out the mystery behind the mystery. 

Featuring: Sasha Andreev, Michael Terrell Brown, Chris Hayhurst, Katy Kessler, MJ Matheson, Janely Rodriguez, Emma Schuld, and understudies Marguerite Arbogast and Davis Brinker.

Twin Cities Pride 
You Belong Fall Festival and Drag Competition!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

August 28, 2024

Join us for the You Belong Fall Fest and Drag Competition, an all ages day of drag performances, queer vendors, food, drinks, and community

Watch as the top 25 drag performers in the state compete to take first place! Vote on your favorite performances to help select who will be the top 5 performers battling for the title of best drag performer in Minnesota.

Enjoy a fall day filled with incredible drag performances, yard games, activities, delicious food, drinks, and a queer maker’s market.

Early bird tickets are available starting August 5th for $15, with general admission tickets priced at $20 starting September 1st.

Date/Time: Saturday September 21st | doors open at 3pm, Drag Competition Starts at 4pm. 

Location: Summit Brewing Company 910 | Montreal Cir, St Paul, MN 55102

Hennepin Arts
Back to the Future the Musical

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

August 28, 2024

Synchronize your watches! The 2022 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical sets its destination for Minneapolis

Lead producer Colin Ingram together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back to the Future film trilogy, and Hennepin Theatre Trust are thrilled to announce the 2022 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical, BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical will come to City as part of the 2024-25 Broadway Season. The Broadway and West End hit show based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film will play the historic Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave.) from Tuesday, Sept. 10 to Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 as the kick off to the 2024-2025 Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin season.

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical has a book by Bob Gale, new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Bob Gale is the co-creator and co-writer of the Back to the Future film trilogy and Alan Silvestri composed the iconic film score for the series.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical is directed by Tony Award® winner John Rando and features a multi-Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team that includes Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone (lighting), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow, illusions by Chris Fisher, orchestrations by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by David Chase, and casting by Tara Rubin. Bespoke Theatricals serves as General Manager.

Follow BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICIAL at @bttfbway on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

For more information visit www.BackToTheFutureMusical.com.

Linda Simpson
The Drag Explosion

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

August 14, 2024

Since the 1980s, Linda Simpson has been a fixture of NYC nightlife as a pioneering drag artist, publisher of the revisionary queer magazine My Comrade, and photographer documenting the influential downtown queer artist community whose legacy continues to reverberate today.

Originally from the Twin Cities, Simpson returns to present her behind-the-scenes photography in the one-woman live slideshow The Drag Explosion at the Walker. Tracing the history of the wild nightlife, queer activism, and colorful artists such as Keith Haring, RuPaul, and Willi Ninja, Simpson’s The Drag Explosion captures a golden era of queer NYC artists that paved the way for today’s drag renaissance.

Following The Drag Explosion, join Linda Simpson for a party featuring performances by local queer artists and drag performances.

Flame Con!
The World’s Largest Queer Comic Convention, Announces New Guests

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

August 14, 2024

Flame Con, the World’s Largest Queer Comic Convention, Announces New Guests for Tenth Annual Expo. ND Stevenson and Sara Myer will join previously announced guest Molly Knox Ostertag; RuPaul’s Drag Race star Megami to host Fireball: The Official Flame Con After Party.

Tenth Anniversary Expo to Take Place in New York City at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel on August 17-18, 2024 with the addition of a third floor featuring an expanded Gaymer Lounge.

Flame Con, created and produced by the LGBTQ+ non-profit Geeks OUT, continues to celebrate its tenth anniversary this year with the announcement of new special guests and expanded programming on a new third floor! The tenth annual Flame Con expo will take place on August 17 - 18 at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in New York City. Featuring a comics, arts and entertainment expo that showcases creators and special guests from all corners of the LGBTQ+ community of fans, the two-day venture will include thoughtful discussions, exclusive performances, cosplay and more.

Flame Con is also adding a third floor to this year’s convention space as they expand their Gaymer Lounge, a gaming-focused area to kick back and get immersed in a multitude of board games, card games, video games and TTRPGs. The Gaymer Lounge is operated by NYC Gaymers, a community-led LGBTQIA+ non-profit whose mission is to uplift the voices of marginalized gamers and sustain a diverse and passionate space that reflects both New York City and gaming culture. Through the Lounge, Flame Con and NYC Gaymers hope to continue to encourage members to learn new games, meet new people, take part in tournaments, and participate in the official Flame Con game!

Flame Con is excited to announce two new special guests for the 2024 expo: ND Stevenson and Sara Myer. ND Stevenson is an Emmy- and GLAAD Media Award-winning cartoonist and animation producer. The cartoonist is perhaps most well-known for creating and producing the Netflix series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and for writing the science fantasy graphic novel Nimona. The novel was adapted into an animated feature film by Netflix in 2023 and went on to be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards. Sara Myer is a comic artist, writer and colorist whose graphic memoir Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Storywas a finalist for the 2023 L.A. Times Book Prize. The graphic memoir also appeared on several Best of 2023 lists including the New York Public Library’s Top 10 Books for Teens and the Boston Globe Best of 2023. Myer is currently the illustrator and cover artist of several comic issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures.

Earlier, Flame Con announced Molly Knox Ostertag as the first of this year’s special guests. Molly Knox Ostertag is the acclaimed ABA Indies and New York Timesbestselling graphic novel author-illustrator of The Deep Dark, The Girl from the Sea, and the Witch Boy trilogy: The Witch Boy, The Hidden Witch, and The Midwinter Witch, as well as a writer for animation. An animated musical adaptation of The Witch Boy has been announced on Netflix.

Other previously-announced guests for this year’s expo include JP Karliak and KrisAnka. JP Karliak has voiced iconic animated characters including Wile E. Coyote, the Boss Baby, Willy Wonka, and a slew of Marvel heroes and villains including Morph in X-Men ’97 and Green Goblin in Spidey and His Amazing Friends. In 2025, he’ll star opposite Rihanna in a new animated Smurf movie. Karliak is the founder and president of Queer Vox, a non-profit training academy that advocates for authentic and equitable casting opportunities for LGBTQ+ voice talent. Kris Anka is a designer and artist best known as a lead character designer on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. He has also worked as a designer on My Adventures With Superman and as a comic artist on titles like The White Trees at Image Comics, and on Marvel Comics titles such as Runaways, Uncanny X-men, Star-Lord, and Captain Marvel.

To celebrate the expo and its special anniversary, Fireball: The Official Flame Con After Party will be held on Saturday, August 17 at Hell’s Kitchen’s Industry bar. Fireball is a 21+ celebration of queer geek culture featuring drag, burlesque, dancing and all the queer joy you can handle. This year’s party will be hosted by Megami, cast member in the recent season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Of the convention, Nic Gitau, President of Geeks OUT, says: “For years, the constant refrain we’d hear attending other conventions was ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if..? Wouldn’t it be cool if… there was a safe space for LGBTQ+ fans to connect?’ or, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if… there was a show that proved audiences were hungry for unapologetically queer storytelling?’ Over the last ten years Flame Con has become a home for queer fans, championed queer stories, and celebrated queer creators as their careers have sparked and exploded. We're grateful for a community that's grown exponentially each year and we're excited to gather the best of LGBTQ+ comics and pop culture once more, in what will be a standout 10th anniversary show."

Learn more about The Gaymer Lounge HERE.

Get tickets for the tenth annual Flame Con and the Fireball After Party HERE.

Tickets for the con are now available HERE.

For more information on Flame Con, please visit www.flamecon.org and for more information on Geeks OUT, please visit www.geeksout.org.

MNPOC Pride 2024!
Empowering LGBTQ+ people of color in Minnesota through celebration, advocacy, and community building.

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

July 31, 2024

We are excited to announce that all are welcome at our upcoming Black Pride Festival! We embrace diversity and inclusivity, and we invite everyone to join us in celebrating the beauty and strength of the Black LGBTQ+ community. Together, let's stand in solidarity, honor our differences, and unite in love and acceptance. Come as you are and be a part of this empowering and joyful event!

Since 2004, The Minnesota People of Color LGBTQ Pride, a 501 (c)3 has been identifying and connecting with those we serve, LGBTQ+ persons of color and diverse Minnesotans from across our entire state. Through direct person-to-person advocacy, and developing our especially important work, in civic engagement, HIV health advocacy, equity & equality for LGBTQ+ people of color and produce the Twin Cities Black Pride Festival weekend. Our organization works to enhance the quality of life for LGBTQ+ people of color & families living in Minnesota by cultivating the belief in equality for all and understanding & educating about both the individual commonalities and differences in the people of the LGBTQ+ community.

We would like to explain why Minnesota People of Color came into existence almost 25 years ago and why we are still needed more than ever. I also would like to express that we work closely with Twin Cities Pride to try to overcome some of the barriers that still exist.

1. Representation: Mainstream Pride events often focus on the broader LGBTQ+ community, which can sometimes result in the experiences and struggles of people of color, especially Black individuals, being overlooked or marginalized. By having separate events like Minnesota People of Color Pride, there is an opportunity to center the experiences and voices of individuals from these communities, ensuring that their specific needs and concerns are addressed.

2. Inclusion: Historically, people of color, including those in the Black gay community, have faced discrimination and exclusion within both the LGBTQ+ community and society at large. Separate events provide a space where these individuals can feel included, celebrate their identities, and connect with others who share similar experiences. This can help foster a sense of belonging and solidarity among marginalized groups.

3. Empowerment: By organizing events specifically for people of color, particularly within the Black gay community, there is a chance to empower individuals, build community resilience, and promote self-acceptance and pride in one's identity. These events can serve as platforms for education, advocacy, and activism, helping to address issues such as racism, homophobia, and discrimination that affect these communities.

In summary, the separation of events like Minnesota People of Color Pride from mainstream Pride celebrations is important because it allows for a more focused and inclusive space where the experiences of marginalized communities can be highlighted and celebrated. Within the Black gay community, events like these are essential for promoting representation, inclusion, and empowerment, ultimately contributing to a more diverse, equitable, and supportive LGBTQ+ community as a whole.

July 31, 2024

B and M Entertainment's 4th Annual Minnesota Black Pride Kickoff Party: P Valley Edition** 

Join us for the much-anticipated 4th Annual Minnesota Black Pride Kickoff Party, hosted by B and M Entertainment at the fabulous Lush Lounge and Theatre on August 15, 2024. This year’s theme, “P Valley Edition,” promises to bring the vibrant energy and culture of the popular series to life in an unforgettable evening filled with entertainment, celebration, and community spirit. 

The event will kick off with a spectacular drag show featuring some of the most talented and charismatic performers from the region. Attendees can expect dazzling costumes, breathtaking performances, and an atmosphere bursting with pride and love. The drag show will pay homage to the dynamic and diverse voices within the LGBTQ+ community, encouraging self-expression and celebration of identity. 

Following the drag show, the night will continue with an exciting after-party featuring DJ DIME. Known for her incredible mixing skills and ability to get the crowd moving, DJ DIME will spin a mix of the hottest tracks, ensuring that everyone can dance the night away in celebration of Black pride. This after-party is an opportunity to connect with friends, make new ones, and revel in the community spirit that makes Minnesota Black Pride so special. 

This annual kickoff party is not just a celebration; it’s a statement of resilience, unity, and empowerment within the Black LGBTQ+ community. Attendees can expect a welcoming atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to express themselves and share in the joy of pride. 

Mark your calendar for August 15, 2024, and get ready to show your colors at the 4th Annual Minnesota Black Pride Kickoff Party. With the P Valley theme, a fabulous drag show, and a lively after-party with DJ DIME, this event is poised to be one of the highlights of the summer. Come out, support local artistry, and celebrate the powerful intersections of Black identity and LGBTQ+ pride. Let’s make this a night to remember!

The Revolution Is Love!
All are welcome, Saturday August 10!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

July 31, 2024

TranSpace Pride Festival Minnesota’s Inaugural Pride Festival for Transgender, Intersex, Gender-Expansive, and Disabled Community 

The TranSpace Pride Festival, a hybrid festival(Zoom/in-person), is the first annual Minnesota transgender, intersex, gender-expansive, and disability Pride Festival. The inaugural event will take place August 10, 2-10pm 2024 at The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge in south Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doors open at 1pm. Entertainment starts at 2pm. 

Presented by Atlas Oggun Phoenix, TranSpace is proud to feature: Transcendence Cabaret, TIMISAROCKER, ZORA, Early Girl, DJ Drew Untethered, Taikollaborative, the Minneapolis Fire Collective, and a small number of vendors. 

TranSpace Pride is collaborating with trans, intersex, gender-expansive, and disabled artists to create an all-day event featuring cabaret, concerts, and vendor showcases. The festival aims to foster an (outer)space of love and praise, celebrating our magnificent and luminous individuality. These artists reflect and represent these communities. 

In 2024, the event was awarded a $35,000 Arts Experience Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Recently, Atlas renamed Trans-LATE! to the TranSpace Pride Festival to convey more inclusivity, branding it as a universal, out-of-this-world experience for our thriving community and supportive allies. 

After participating in the 2022 Trans Day of Remembrance as a reader for the month of March, grief-stricken, Atlas recognized the importance of healing through community service. In 2023, this led to the creation of "Trans-LATE!" which was dedicated to uplifting and highlighting the experiences of trans, intersex, gender-expansive, and disabled communities. 

The universal mission of the TranSpace Pride Festival includes an acknowledgment service for community members and their families who have been lost to murder, medical neglect, and suicide or who have suffered traumatic emotional, and physical abuse by those who do not accept our existence. Our partners include The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge in Minneapolis, CRWN Media, Twin Cities Gay Scene, and the fabulous Transcendence Cabaret. TranSpace’s fiscal sponsor is Family Tree Clinic until March 2025. 

The festival aims to celebrate the culture, diversity, and love that transcends boundaries, bringing souls together in harmony to appreciate individual beauty, uplift spirits, and unite hearts. This magical experience embraces the power of difference, celebrates connections, and highlights the importance of acceptance. It strives to be an unforgettable and truly extraordinary event where community members and allies can let their souls dance in the light of diversity through equity, sustainability, and representation. 

ALL KIND HUMANS ARE WELCOME

Outsports Unveils 
Team LGBTQ!
Over 144 Out Athletes Headed to the Paris Summer Games

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

July 31, 2024

Outsports, part of the LGBTQ-owned and operated media company Q.Digital, and the leading voice in LGBTQ sports, is proud to announce the launch of "Outsports' Team LGBTQ," the most extensive database and in-depth coverage of out LGBTQ athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Summer Games.   The number of athletes on "Outsports' Team LGBTQ” for Summer 2024 is 144 and counting.  Some of the higher-profile athletes include American track and field athletes Sha’Carri Richardson, Raven Saunders, Nikkie Hiltz and Nico Young; American basketball players Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner; and American BMX Freestyle riders Hannah Roberts and Perris Benegas. British diver Tom Daley will compete in his fifth Games, and Brazil’s legendary soccer player Marta will compete in her sixth. Canada’s soccer player Quinn returns as the rare trans and nonbinary athlete (along with Hiltz), competing in soccer.

“As the world’s attention turns to Paris, Outsports celebrates the participation and achievements of the out-LGBTQ athletes who will be competing,” says Cyd Zeigler, co-founder of Outsports.  “We are excited to shine a spotlight on these incredible individuals and share their stories with the world.”

This year, at least 24 countries, including the Refugee Team, are represented by at least one publicly out athlete in 32 sports. Once again, The United States has the most out athletes at the Olympics, with 28, about a fifth of all the attendees on the list. Team USA is followed in the number of publicly out LGBTQ athletes by Brazil (22), Australia (17), Great Britain (10), and Germany (9).

Women on the list outnumber men by about a 7 to 1 margin, with women’s soccer having the most out athletes of any sports, with more than 30 out players.

"These athletes are a testament to the tremendous progress the LGBTQ community has made, in sports and society at large, in many parts of the world,” says Outsports co-founder Jim Buzinski.

He acknowledges, however, that the battle is not yet won. In many countries participating in the Games, just walking down the street, or holding a Pride parade, as an LGBTQ person is illegal. "We hope our list of athletes on Team LGBTQ inspires people across the world, including in countries where being out is extremely difficult, to keep going," Buzinski adds.

In addition to hosting the largest and most detailed database of out Olympians and Paralympians – with bios, achievements, and personal stories that highlight their athletic prowess and unique journeys – Outsports will continue to publish exclusive interviews with the athletes and in-depth features on their contributions to sports and the LGBTQ community.

Outsports will also provide real-time coverage and updates throughout the Games, ensuring fans stay informed about the latest achievements and milestones.  Coverage will span a wide range of content, including feature stories, video interviews, and social media highlights.

Founded in 1999, Outsports is the internet’s first community covering LGBTQ+ issues and personalities in amateur and professional sports. Earlier this year, Q.Digital, announced the acquisition of Outsports from Vox Media’s SB Nation.

"’Outsports' Team LGBTQ’ is the go-to resource for fans, athletes and allies seeking to follow the journeys of LGBTQ competitors at the Games,” Zeigler said.   “As part of its unparalleled coverage and a commitment to inclusivity, Outsports' Team LGBTQ promises to inspire and engage audiences around the globe.”

For more information and to follow the coverage, visit Outsports' website and connect on social media using the hashtag #TeamLGBTQ.

The Flannel Bear Launches the Pride 365 Candle!
Proceeds benefit Q+ Equality Foundation

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

July 31, 2024

The Flannel Bear is thrilled to announce the launch of the Pride 365 candle, with proceeds benefiting Q+ Equality Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. This unique collaboration aims to celebrate and support the Q+ community every day of the year, not just during Pride Month.

The Pride 365 candle is a symbol of continuous pride, resilience, and love. Scented with a blend of exotic woods and citrus, this candle is designed to remind every member of the Q+ community to embrace their identity and shine brightly 365 days a year. The Flannel Bear, renowned for its handcrafted and high-quality products, has created a candle that not only smells wonderful but also carries a powerful message of inclusivity and acceptance.

“We are thrilled The Flannel Bear has chosen our organization to be a benefactor of the Pride 365 candle,” said Thomas Ryan-Lawrence, Executive Director of Q+ Equality Foundation. “Our Q+ identities are a part of us every single day, not just thirty days a year. We constantly show up as Q+ employees, Q+ consumers, Q+ family members, and Q+ friends. The Pride 365 candle embodies this spirit, serving as a daily reminder to live authentically and proudly, wherever we are.”

The launch of the Pride 365 candle comes at a crucial time when Q+ people continue to face challenges and adversity. “Even today, less than half of Q+ employees are fully out in the workplace, and those entering the workforce have a difficult time finding Q+ mentors”, said Ryan-Lawrence. With this launch, The Flannel Bear aims to foster a sense of belonging and community, while also working to advance Q+ equality in the workplace.

“We believe in the power of small acts to create significant impact,” said Frederick Gransee, Founder of The Flannel Bear. “We’re not just another candle company. We’re a candle company that is committed to giving back to organizations that enrich communities and make the world a better place. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with Q+ Equality Foundation!” Gransee concluded with, “We have a goal of selling 1,000 units of the Pride 365 candle between now and August 31st, thereby allowing us to make a significant and lasting financial impact to Q+ Equality Foundation”.

The Pride 365 candle is now available for purchase online at theflannelbear.com. Each 22-ounce candle is hand crafted to provide a delightful fragrance experience with a burn time of over 120 hours. This amazing candle is perfect for your office, home, or any special space; it also makes a thoughtful gift for allies and supporters of the Q+ community. Join us in spreading the light of pride every day. Support Q+ Equality Foundation with a candle purchase today!

The Hook & Ladder Theater is proud to present ‘Concert for Cobalt’
With NUR-D, Doll Chaser, Zora, Wet Denim, & Ghosting Merit

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

July 17, 2024

The Hook & Ladder Theater is proud to present ‘Concert for Cobalt’ with an exceptional fundraiser packed with talented artists in support of one of our own. Come out on July 21 to support Cobalt, the child of The Hook’s own bar manager, Mark Walztoni and catch an amazing lineup that includes NUR-D, Doll Chaser, ZORA, Wet Denim, and Ghosting Merit! Sliding scale tickets available now. 

Cobalt Sovereign, a trans high-school Junior at Hopkins high-school, was viciously attacked on school property on Thursday, May 30th resulting in serious injuries requiring several surgeries and extensive dental work. Please join us as we gather to support and celebrate Cobalt in their healing journey.

Sunday July 21, 2024
The Hook and Ladder Theater 
Doors: 3pm :: Music: 3:30pm
All Ages 
**Give What You Can Ticket Pricing **

The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show Returns!
December 11 - Pantages Theatre

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

July 17, 2024

Directed & produced by BenDeLaCreme, the award-winning musical comedy returns for its 7th year with a brand new show touring 33 North American cities this November - December

The greatest holiday show on Earth returns with another all-new production! Award-winning comedy icons, writers, actors and RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni BenDeLaCreme (she/her) and Jinkx Monsoon (she/her) are coming back to town with their wildly successful, internationally acclaimed, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show (BenDeLaCreme Presents). Directed and produced by BenDeLaCreme, the 33-city tour will play 38 shows across the U.S. and Canada from November 7 - December 29 in major theaters. This follows last year’s historic 30-city run where the reigning “queens of Christmas” (Entertainment Weekly) sold out LA's Dolby Theatre, NYC’s Kings Theatre and the London Palladium. 

December 11 - Minneapolis, MN (Pantages Theatre)

2024 DisabiliTease
Dance Festival for Disabled Performers

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

June 19, 2024

The 2024 Hybrid DisabiliTease Festival will take place July 19-21!

The DisabiliTease Festival is a multi-day festival that showcases performers with disabilities in the areas of burlesque, cirque, cabaret, and drag. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the DisabiliTease Festival highlights performers not only from the Twin Cities, but across the United States and around the globe.

Launched in 2019, with the first virtual show in 2020, the festival offers validation and recognition to performers who are often overlooked, underestimated, or deemed too difficult to book due to necessary accommodations. In addition to virtual shows, in-person events will be live-streamed to continue to connect with performers and audiences worldwide. This provides an inclusive experience for performers and audience members who may otherwise encounter barriers to such events.

This festival challenges and overturns the notion that having a disability decreases or interferes with a person’s desirability, allure, or competence as a performer. We strive to provide a safe space for artistic expression, performance, and training opportunities.

The DisabiliTease Festival highlights marginalized and underrepresented populations, providing not only a performance platform but also community connection around the world. Our goal is to include a wide variety of performers at the intersection of disability with a variety of genders, ages, sizes, abilities, races and ethnicities, locations, beliefs, and sexual orientations, whenever possible. 

Who are the producers of  the festival?

The producers are Minda Mae from Minneapolis, Lakota Shekhar from Cleveland, Ohio, and Scarlett Tart from Denver, Colorado, who joined our team this year.

What can people expect at the show? 

These shows are a celebration of disabled bodies and the art they create. You’ll see burlesque, drag, cirque, and cabaret performances. The Festival strives to provide a safe and inclusive environment for disabled performers to express themselves and receive the recognition and validation they deserve.

The Friday, July 19 show will be at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis. The Saturday, July 20th show is virtual and includes performers from around the world. There will be three workshops on Sunday, July 21. All events will also be available online and will have live captioning. The Friday and Saturday shows will also have an ASL interpreter.

The Festival has also taken steps to make this a COVID-safe weekend. We want this to be a fun celebration while keeping accessibility in mind for our performers and audience members. 

Who is your inspiration?

I have quite a few, but my biggest is Jacqueline Boxx. She was the first performer I had heard of who dances in a wheelchair. This gave me hope that just because I started using a wheelchair early in my career, I could still dance. A wheelchair wasn’t going to stop me—it was something that supported me and helped me create moves and shapes that folks who are able-bodied can’t! She is also a fantastic educator and advocate for disabled bodies on stage. 

How long has this show been going on? 

My dream started in 2019, with the plan to host our first show in July 2020. I realized that the reason you didn’t see many disabled bodies on stage was that some of us literally couldn’t get on them! Also, many performers felt the need to hide their disabilities in order to be booked. I wanted to create an accessible event for other disabled performers so they didn’t have to worry about accessibility. They could just have the opportunity to shine.

Due to COVID-19, we put together a virtual show with performers from around the world. This show gave us the opportunity to include not only local performers but also performers from around the world. In addition to that show, we had virtual shows in 2021 and 2022. We’re excited that this is the first year that we have an in-person portion of our festival! It’s my dream come true. It just took 5 years to get here. 

Is there a VIP experience? 

There is a row of VIP seats in the front row of the theater. Those audience members are able to choose from one of our stickers or buttons to show their support!

Are there beverages available? 

Concessions will be open. However, it is an alcohol-free event.

How do folks get tickets? 

Our Friday show will be in person at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The show will be live-streamed on Zoom so that folks can watch from around the world. Our Saturday show will be completely virtual, with pre-recorded acts and a live emcee. Sunday will have in-person, live-streamed classes through the DisabiliTease Academy. Shows and workshops will also be available to rent/purchase a few weeks after the event. Precautions will be taken to ensure a COVID-safe and accessible weekend.  Learn more on our 2024 information page.

Ain't no party like a Maggie Faris party!
Cuz a Maggie Faris party don't stop!

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

June 19, 2024

If you like to laugh and you like amazing prizes and the most adorable, funny lesbian in all of the land, you will love PRIDE COMEDY! Hosted by veteran queer comedian Maggie Faris! Also on the show, Shyloh Blake, Alicia Kismet Eler, Sam Schedler and Sarah McPeck! 

Join us for a fantastic night of Pride comedy. Laughing together is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. Maggie Faris is a fun doula! Come and let her birth you into a happier, queerer version of yourself. 

This show sells out! Get your tickets now! Friday and Saturday! June 28th-29th! This makes for a great date night, so grab your Pride cutie and come join us at Sisyphus Brewing! Tickets are available at: 2024 Pride Comedy Show Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

We asked these funny folks some questions to get to know them better! 

Maggie Faris

What can folks expect at a Maggie Faris Pride Comedy Show? 

Fun fun and more fun! We are all about celebrating pride and having a good time. Also. Booby prizes.  And some comedy. I forgot. It’s mostly about stand up comedy. Let’s celebrate!

If you had to pick any color of the rainbow to be, which color would you pick and why?

Indigo. Because what really is indigo. Also. Indigo girls. Enough said. 

What does PRIDE mean to you?

It’s a celebration of all of the struggles we’ve been through as a community and the growth and changes we’ve made. We’ve come a long way but we still have so far to go especially in this adverse  political climate. I like to just take a step back and just enjoy who I am as a human in a supportive community. 

What makes you excited about the future of queerness?

More more more. More rights. More acceptance. More equality. More diversity. 

What are you talking about right now in your comedy?

A lot about work. Jobs. Retirement. Relationships. Queerness. And silly crap. Always silly crap.

What is your astrological sign

Aries. 

Favorite gas station snack?

I really love a shitty cheeseburger from quick trip. I mean I’ll have a code brown like ten minutes later but it just reminds me of grade school. I loved the shitty cafeteria cheeseburgers. 

What are you reading or listening to right now?

I watch and listen to a lot of true crime. I turn it on and for some reason it puts me right to sleep. So I turn it on right before I go to bed. I find it fascinating.  

 

Sarah McPeck

What can folks expect at a Maggie Faris Pride Comedy Show? 

So much rowdy lesbian antics. And prizes. Lots of prizes.

If you had to pick any color of the rainbow to be, which color would you pick and why? 

Blue. Because it matches my eyes and I love to match.

What does PRIDE mean to you?

It means I am proud to love my authentic self.

What makes you excited about the future of queerness? 

These young people who really don't give a f*ck. They just kind of called it: Yeah we're done caring what you think or what tradition says or blah, blah, blah. We are just doing it and that's that. I can't wait to see what art blossoms.

What are you talking about right now in your comedy? 

Honestly I'm working on a joke that discusses the latin root of cunning, cunt, and cunnilingus. Let me know if you have a tag for it.

What is your astrological sign?

Nicey, Pisces. 

Favorite gas station snack? 

Johnsonville Cheddar Brat.

What are you reading or listening to right now? 

The Valley of the Dolls on Audible.

 

Alicia Kısmet

Have you performed on Maggie's PRIDE show before? 

I haven’t performed on one of her shows before! Knowing Maggie’s comedy, I am sure folks can expect unhinged hilarious queer comedy!  

If you had to pick any color of the rainbow to be, which color would you pick and why?

I think I would pick green because it feels moody.

What does PRIDE mean to you?

For me, Pride means that I can be my authentic self and be proud of it. 

What makes you excited about the future of queerness?

I’m really excited about people feeling safe to come out as nonbinary and gender fluid. It gives me hope that eventually the patriarchy will die and the future will be truly queer.

What are you talking about right now in your comedy?

These days in my comedy, I am talking about queer parents having kids, me being confused about my age, sexuality and how weird labels are, dating, sex, relationships, my family, my cats, healthy and not-so-healthy boundaries, intimacy. 

What is your astrological sign? 

Aquarius ♒️ 

Favorite gas station snack?

Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake 🍰 Ice Cream Bar.

What are you reading or listening to right now?

“With Teeth” by Kristen Arnett

www.aliciaeler.com

 

Sam Schedler

Have you performed on Maggie's PRIDE show before? 

I haven't!  Super stoked.

If you had to pick any color of the rainbow to be, which color would you pick and why?  

Blue because it seems like a very relaxed and levelheaded color which is what I strive to be most of the time (it doesn't work).

What does PRIDE mean to you? 

Being the out and proud grown up that little childhood Sam can look up to.

What makes you excited about the future of queerness? 

It's fun seeing more acceptance of queer folks in the workplace in employee resource groups and stuff like that.  Those can sometimes be so corny but I'm glad they exist!

What are you talking about right now in your comedy? 

Right now I'm sort of trying to polish/punch up my favorite bits!  And then I find myself talking a lot about cars for some reason.

What is your astrological sign? 

Sagittarius. 

Favorite gas station snack?  

Combos 100000%

What are you reading or listening to right now? 

Reading How High We Go In The Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu and listening to Chappel Roan/Sabrina Carpenter non stop.

What can folks expect at a Maggie Faris Pride Comedy Show?  

Girl I don't know this is my first one!  But I've heard they're the perfect pride weekend event after hanging out at Loring Park or for before you go out and hit the bars.

 

Shyloh Blake

Have you performed on Maggie's PRIDE show before? What can folks expect at a Maggie Faris Pride Comedy Show?

I have not performed on Maggie's show before, but I know the audience can expect a very good time! Maggie is a top shelf performer. 

If you had to pick any color of the rainbow to be, which color would you pick and why?

Green cuz it's fresh.

What does PRIDE mean to you?

It means celebrating queer joy with community.

What makes you excited about the future of queerness?

Orville Peck (gay country music yee haw).

What are you talking about right now in your comedy?

How to navigate life's challenges with a sense of humor.

What is your astrological sign?

Taurus Sun Taurus Moon Scorpio Rising.  

Favorite gas station snack?

Depends on the gas station. But it comes down to hot dog or pistachio muffins or Speedway chocolate dipped donuts.

What are you reading or listening to right now?

Thich Nhat Hanh (gotta have that inner peace baaaaybeee).

What can folks expect at a Maggie Faris Pride Comedy Show?

A damn good time!

The Twin Cities Film Fest Announces MNMicro Film Festival
A Celebration of Local Culture & Heritage Through Free Film Screenings

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

June 19, 2024

The Twin Cities Film Fest announces the MNmicro Cultural Film Festival designed to showcase four of Minnesota’s local culture heritages. Each single day festival will feature five free film screenings.  

The first MNmicro Film Festival will be held on June 23, 2024 to spotlight the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month. Future cultural focuses take place during their respective months of national celebrations: Indigenous (November 2024), Black History (February 2025), and Asian American Pacific Islander (May 2025).

TCFF was one of 86 recipients from a pool of over 350 applicants to receive a grant for the MNmicro Film Festival celebrating Minnesota’s cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage awards support a wide range of activities throughout the entire State of Minnesota to preserve and honor the state’s cultural heritage by providing education and student outreach on cultural diversity, supporting the development of culturally diverse humanities programming, and empowering communities in building identity and culture. This work is funded in part by the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Tickets for the upcoming PRIDE micro film festival are FREE. Reserve your tickets while supplies last at twincitiesfilmfest.org/mnmicro-film-fest-pride.

Not in My Lifetime (12 p.m.)

Directed by: Pam Colby

Synopsis: Not in My Lifetime is a 75-minute documentary that explores the effects of gay marriage equality legislation on artists, activists and politicians. The film’s narrative unfolds through the life story of Pam Colby, a storyteller and lesbian baby boomer from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/253313053
Reserve free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/922642126437?aff=oddtdtcreator

FREE CeCe! (1 p.m.)

Directed by: Jacqueline Gares

Synopsis: On her way to the store with a group of friends, Chrishaun Reed “CeCe” McDonald was attacked. In fighting for her own life, a man was killed. After a coercive interrogation, CeCe was incarcerated in a men’s prison in Minnesota. An international campaign to free CeCe garnered significant support from media and activists, including actress and executive producer Laverne Cox. Laverne uses her platform to explore the roles race, class, and gender played in CeCe’s case. CeCe emerges not only as a survivor, but as a leader. Documentarian Jac Gares pushes past everyday narratives of victimhood that surround the lives of trans people, to foreground the way CeCe and other trans people are leading a growing movement to critically interrogate and disassemble the prison industrial complex.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjzvlI0VxM
Reserve free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/922667341857?aff=oddtdtcreator

This Obedience (2 p.m.)

Directed by: Dawn Mikkelson & Jamie A. Lee

Synopsis: Out Lesbian minister the Rev. Anita C. Hill fights the toughest battle of her life as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America grapples with her ordination, an act of “ecclesiastical disobedience” against the church policy that GLBT clergy vow celibacy. THIS Obedience is an emotional journey through the conflict between faith and love.

Reserve free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/922668254587?aff=oddtdtcreator

Witch (3:15 p.m.)

Directed by: Vanessa M. H. Powers

Synopsis: Aima tells her babysitter that the "Witch," created in a game of make-believe, will never stop chasing them. Imagination rules as they march toward their showdown with the evil Witch. The unreal becomes reality, and the consequences remain.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0AfvempU90
Reserve free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/921219932617?aff=oddtdtcreator

Summer Solstice (4:15 p.m.)

Directed by: Noah Schamus

Synopsis: Trans man Leo’s life is a jumble of auditions, acting classes, barista jobs, and situationships, all of which he hopes will amount to more. Unexpectedly, Leo’s college best friend, cisgender and straight Eleanor, calls Leo announcing that she’ll be driving through NYC, and offers to pick him up for an impromptu trip upstate. They embark on the weekend getaway, marking their first time spent together since Leo began transitioning. Reunited with new gender dynamics between them, and uncovering problems lurking behind Eleanor’s “well-meaning” façade, Leo and Eleanor navigate how their old feelings towards one another exist within this new context, forcing them both to confront buried secrets and emotions. A modern twist on the buddy comedy from a queer and trans perspective, this film is a celebration of friendship, resilience, and coming of age again.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/NXJFIGxKyT4
Reserve free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/922671233497?aff=oddtdtcreator

"Pride Party At The Hook" 
"Under The Canopy" with Venus DeMars & ATPH, Big Salt, Spit Takes, & Transcendence Cabaret 

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

June 5, 2024

Kick off Pride weekend in the Twin Cities at 'Pride Party at The Hook.' 2 full stages of bands, djs, and drag with Venus DeMars & All the Pretty Horses, Big Salt, Spit Takes, Dj Demonica, Dj Lydie-Boy, and Transcendence Cabaret brings you 2 full sets of multiple acts inside the theater between bands. Transcendence Cabaret Producer/ Director Eun Bee Yes emcees the show. Presented by Hook and Ladder Theater and Twin Cities Gay Scene.

Thursday June 27

"Pride Party at The Hook" with Venus DeMars & ATPH, Big Salt, Spit Takes, & Transcendence Cabaret

Under The Canopy at The Hook and Ladder Theater

Doors: 6pm :: Music: 7pm

ADV: $15 / DOS: $20

June Pride Programming At The Main Cinema 
Minneapolis St Paul Internation Film Festival Celebrates Pride

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

June 5, 2024

Kick off Pride with MSP Film Pride Month Programming at The Main Cinema!

Use Promo Code MAINPRIDE24 for 20% Off Tickets To All Pride Screenings!

The Practice of Queer Nightlife in the Twin Cities Today 
Celebrating queer nightlife at the Walker Art Center

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

June 5, 2024

Throughout the 20th century and continuing today, queer nightlife has gathered artists, cultural producers, and weirdos to create temporary spaces that support and celebrate expansive and inclusive expression of gender, sexuality, and identity. Though the impact of nightlife on personal and collective culture cannot be understated, it is only over the last decade that major cultural institutions have begun to recognize nightlife as an art form. Gathering Twin Cities artists working in Twin Cities nightlife, the panel discussion collectively considers the struggles, urgencies, and joys this art form faces locally today.

Panelists include Nadirah McGill (Gully Boys and Queer Mud Wrestling), Marcela Michelle (Mama San), and Mari Navarro (Gothess).

Mari Navarro is a non-binary artist and creator of Gothess. They create spaces focusing on inclusion for their BIPOC queer siblings. They grace the DJ Altar under the alias DJ Q and have been a DJ for over a decade. Originally from Chicago, where they first found their love of the goth subculture, Navarro saw the freedom the subculture brought by challenging all the binaries. That influence made a huge impact and shaped the perspective and playlist of DJ Q as an artist.

After starting their DJ career in Portland, Oregon, they played in The Star Theater for HIVE (one of the longest-standing goth nights) and were a resident DJ at The Coffin Club (Portland’s horror theme bar). They have created a beautiful home base in Minneapolis that allows them to unleash all the darkwaves in a wonderfully receptive dance community.

Thu, Jun 6, 2024  • 7 pm • Free

Threshold Theater
Performing at the Black Hart of Saint Paul, June 3 at 7pm

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

May 22, 2024

Threshold Theater in celebration of Pride Month and the last production of our 2023-24 season, announces full casting and production details for the next reading  in our New Play Reading Series in partnership with The Black Hart of Saint Paul. “Monster Girls At Sunshine Doughnuts:" written by  Dani Herd, taking place on Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7pm.

The reading of “Monster Girls At Sunshine Doughnuts” is directed by David Schlosser.  The cast features: 

Charlotte Craig, Caiti Fallon, Heather Higinbotham, Ellie Palashewski, Austyn Stone, Rae Winegardner, and Matthew A. Everett - Reading stage directions

A vampire, a werewolf, and a Frankenstein's monster walk into a doughnut shop... Meet Louise, Tally, and Elsie: the crew behind Sunshine Doughnuts! The ghouls have fallen into a pretty pleasant spooky routine for themselves; pouring coffee, baking doughnuts, arguing over Scooby-Doo cartoons, having crushes on their regulars. Along comes an unexpected late night visitor to throw everything into question. Sometimes it really sucks how much your past can come back to bite you!

It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Stupidity: 2 Hot, 2 Stupid 
Brave New Workshop heats up May 31 to Aug. 3 at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

May 22, 2024

Hennepin Theatre Trust has announced that Brave New Workshop has endured winter and is ready to return to the hot plate of improvisation with It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Stupidity: 2 Hot, 2 Stupid running Friday, May 31 through Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 at the Dudley Riggs Theatre (824 Hennepin Ave.) in downtown Minneapolis. Summer in Minnesota is a sacred time — even when we haven’t really had much of a winter. That extra daylight is a precious and fleeting opportunity to have as much fun as possible even if we have to make ourselves and everyone around us completely miserable. Brave New Workshop recognizes the need to shove 10 pounds of fun into a five-pound bag, so for the second year in a row they will be performing a different show every weekend throughout the summer! 

Join the Brave New Workshop for an evening of all-improvised comedy with a rotating cast of comedy all-stars. Each performance is a one-of-a-kind original that has never been rehearsed before and will never be performed again because it is entirely created from audience suggestions. But don’t miss out, because just like summer, it’s only here for a brief time. 

It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Stupidity: 2 Hot, 2 Stupid is directed by Caleb McEwen, Music Director, Jon Pumper and Technical Director Matthew Vichlach.

 

Theatre In The Round:
Men On Boats
A rollicking adventure that challenges traditional gender and cultural assumptions.

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

May 8, 2024

With a gender-bent cast portraying the male explorers of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition down the Colorado River, the play offers a fresh perspective on the American West and the nature of adventure itself. 

With humor, heart, and a thrilling narrative, “Men on Boats” uses unconventional storytelling to create a thrilling theatrical experience.

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues their 72nd Season with Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus, the true(ish) story of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition down the Colorado River, running weekends May 10 to June 2 with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on May 20.

This rollicking adventure offers a fresh perspective on the American West and the nature of adventure itself, telling the story of the all-male explorers with a cast women and gender-expansive performers.

With humor, heart, and a thrilling narrative, Men on Boats uses unconventional storytelling to create a thrilling theatrical experience.

Sophie Peyton directs the ten-member cast with movement direction by Kelly Nelson, sets designed by MJ Leffler, costumes by Claire Looker, lighting by Bill Larsen, props by Vicky Erikson, and sound design by Christy Johnson.

Men on Boats runs May 10 to June 2. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm.

The Aliveness Project Is Expanding!
The expansion and renovation will begin March 2024.

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Queer Media & Pop Culture

March 13, 2024

Thanks to you, 2023 was an incredible year of growth and accomplishment at the Aliveness Project. Still, new cases of HIV in Minnesota continue to rise, and too many people living with HIV are struggling with homelessness, addiction, and food insecurity. 

Aliveness exists to prevent and end HIV. Thanks to you, we continue to meet this challenge.

The demand for our services continues to increase. In 2023 we:

  • Served 25% more meals and distributed 12% more food
  • Provided housing and rental subsidies to 30 unhoused members
  • Distributed 800 harm reduction kits per month in our mobile syringe exchange
  • Served 60 PrEP patients per month
  • Provided over 3,000 HIV tests and identified and linked 16 newly diagnosed individuals
  • Organized community advocates to pass historic state funding of $20 million for HIV Care and Prevention!

Our staff and volunteers accomplished incredible work last year, but 2024 will be even bigger. We continue to grow our basic needs services, harm reduction, housing, and HIV prevention to meet community demand.

We are launching a transformative capitol project to build-out our basement to house a new HIV Prevention/PrEP clinic and pharmacy to ensure everyone in the community has access to the tools to prevent and end HIV. 

This expansion and renovation will begin in March. These projects require massive effort, so have put many measures in place to ensure minimal disruption to the services. Look out for more information. 

The Movement Continues! 
STP Pride Festival & Parade 2024 is here! 

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

February 14, 2024

St. PL Pride Week 
June 10th - 14th (M-F) 2024 
Daily art exhibiting, live music/entertainment and standup comedy in Lowertown with participating hotel, business, restaurant and brewery partners during St. PL Pride Week. More information available upon request. 

STP Pride Parade Open Street Launch Party Mears Park/The Bulldog Lowertown 
June 15th 9am-12pm 
Open Street Style block party on 6th street in the front of The Bulldog Lowertown. STREET STAGE, entertainment, vendors, street food, HEADLINER (TBD). Gathering point for 6th street Mears to Rice Park Parade Walk. We will be attempting to set a Guinness Book World Record and will need YOUR HELP. More information available upon request. 

STP Pride Festival Rice Park 
June 15th 11am-10pm 
Live Music ALL DAY, Street Food Vendors, Beer Garden Experience, Taste of Downtown Foodie Experience, Art Exhibitors, Unity Speakers, Food Vendors. 

Curveballs in 2024
    •    We stand committed to youth workforce development and will be partnering with homeless youth artists in Downtown St. PL who will be hired to design and art for the FRONT of the 2024 PRIDE FEATURE T-SHIRT. 
    •    A New Hip Hop Festival (SOTASOUND) will be announced at the Pride Festival at Rice Park. There we see some feature performances from LIL CRUSH & other feature artists on the Pride MAIN STAGE at Rice Park (6:30pm). SotaSound is dedicated to uplifting ART, MUSIC & CULTURE in Minnesota. 

Interact with the STP Pride Team in 2024
If you would like to have an interaction with the STP Pride PERFORMING ARTISTS, INFLUENCERS or ORGANIZERS, please let us know. We would love to send a member over to promote & educate your audience about STP PRIDE and what’s in store for 2024! 

Minneapolis-based podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life   
Nominated for GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Podcast

Scene Story!
Queer Media & Pop Culture

January 31, 2024

The Minneapolis-based podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life was nominated Wednesday January 17 for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Podcast by GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization.

“Our reactions ping-ponged between disbelief and joy,” said host and founder J.P. Der Boghossian. “We are an indie podcast. To be nominated with shows we listen to and love, and from companies like iHeart, NPR, and Wondery, is tremendous.”

The GLAAD Media Awards are the most recognized annual LGBTQ awards ceremonies in the world. They honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.

“Our guests on the podcast come from across the rainbow, sharing books that helped them come out, begin their gender transition, process an abusive relationship, and navigate homophobia in their family,” said Der Boghossian. “And in these episodes we’ve had conversations with some of the top LGBTQ authors writing today.”

These authors include: National Book Award Finalist Carmen Maria Machado, New York Time Bestseller Alison Bechdel, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis, and the founder of Drag Queen Story Hour Michelle Tea.

This Queer Book Saved My Life premiered in June 2022. Since then it has been listened to in over one-hundred countries and over 2,000 cities worldwide. It has been in the top 40 charts of Apple Podcasts Books Category in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Armenia. It ranks in the top 25% of all podcasts on its hosting service Buzzsprout. which is one of the largest hosting services in the world.

“I hope with this nomination we can further raise up these voices and books to more people,” said Executive Producer Jim Pounds. “At a time when LGBTQ book bans are at historic and record highs, we’re showing the personal impacts these books have and why people of all ages need to be reading them.”

Der Boghossian’s company This Queer Book Productions, LLC focuses on developing and producing LGBTQ podcasts. In addition to This Queer Book Saved My Life, they produce The Gaily Show and 7 Minutes in Book Heaven.

The Gaily Show celebrates LGBTQ culture and entertainment in Minnesota and beyond. It is a video and audio podcast that airs every Saturday at 2pm on AM950 as well as on AM950’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. It runs alongside episodes of This Queer Book Saved My Life. Both are available on all streaming platforms.

“Our partnership with AM950 extends beyond airing our own shows on their network,” said Pounds. “We are co-creating with AM950 a block of LGBTQ-led podcasts that runs from 2pm – 5pm every Saturday.”

These include AM950’s long running show Ellie 2.0 hosted by transgender speaker, author, and legal advocate Ellie Krug and now Twin Cities Pride AMPLIFIED which is a new show produced by Twin Cities Pride.

“We want to be a leader in creating impactful and high-quality LGBTQ podcasts that uplift LGBTQ culture and queer creators,” said Der Boghossian. “This nomination from GLAAD validates that we’re on that path to achieving our goal.”

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held this year in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, March 14, 2024 and in New York City, at the Hilton Midtown, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. For more information: Click Here!

This Queer Book Saved My Life is the podcast where LGBTQ guests share the queer books that saved their lives with the authors who wrote them. Featuring Carmen Maria Machado, Alison Bechdel, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Greg Louganis, Becky Albertalli, and so many more, guests from across the rainbow tell these authors how their books helped them overcome alienation, gender dysphoria, familial homophobia, and being outed.

J.P. Der Boghossian is a podcaster, essayist, and educator. In 2022, he was named a LAMBDA Literary fellow. He is the founder of the Queer Armenian Library, the world’s first library devoted to books, film, and television by, about, and for Queer Armenians. He serves on the Board of the International Armenian Literary Alliance. After a decade working in broadcast journalism, he worked in higher education and LGBTQ health equity. He now runs This Queer Book Productions, LLC.

Jim Pounds’ career included 27-years in advertising agencies (both in LA and the Twin Cities), which was followed by a 12-year career in marketing for higher education. He taught for 15-years a capstone marketing class at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Jim served on the Board of the Advertising Federation of MN for four years and was part of the team that won a Grand Effie Award from the American Marketing Association for the first campaign to elect Paul Wellstone to the US Senate in 1990. Jim is also an actor and has performed professionally since 2004.