Your biweekly LGBTQ event guide for the next two weeks (February 15th – the last day in February 2024!)
Bi the Way is our biweekly event list where we share all the best local LGBTQ+ and queer-inclusive happenings in Memphis and the Midsouth in the next two weeks.
This round, we’ve got 20+ awesome LGBTQ Memphis happenings from gallery shows featuring trans artists, gay cook outs, fun festivals and more.
Ongoing
Breaking the Rules: Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown | Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Through March 31st | All ages | Free | These two artists, based in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1940s and early 1950s, met and became a couple in 1952. Paul Wonner (1920 – 2008) and William “Theophilus” Brown (1919 – 2012) both began as practitioners of a style that came to be known as Bay Area Figuration.
DEFY | Arrow Creative | Through March 2nd | All ages | Free | This Black History Month gallery celebrates Black joy in all its forms. DEFY features work from 17 local artists, including queer visionaries like photographer Anthony Lorenzo, seamstress Cari’s Closet and multidisciplinary artist Tangela Mathis.
Drag Race Watch Party at DRUS Bar | Fridays, 7PM | 21+ | Free | Join iconic host India Taco as you cheer on your fave drag performers every Friday, til’ RuPaul crowns season 16’s winner!
Drag Mondays at Lamplighter Lounge | Mondays, 8PM | 21+ | Free (bring cash for tips!) | Lamplighter’s coming in hot with an all new season of entertainment in their weekly Assassin’s Wildfire Series, running through March 4th.
Shantay You Play Drag Queen Bingo | Moxy | 7PM – 9PM | 21+ | Free | Every Thursday, join phenomenal drag hosts Imogene Azengraber (15th) Moth Moth Moth (22nd) and Brenda Newport (29th) for a fabulous night of bingo at the Moxy. Come for the singing, dancing and fun, and you might even win a prize!
School of Ool | Clough-Hanson Gallery (Rhodes College) | Through March 22nd | All ages | Free | Multimedia artist Coe Lapossy revisits artifacts of queerness wedged within a seemingly straight world in this poignant gallery show at Rhodes College.
Transcending Narratives | Medicine Factory | Through February 17 | All ages | Free | Transcending Narratives Art Show, made possible by the Institute for Arts & Health Grant at the University of Memphis, celebrates the 13 self-identified transgender (inclusive of gender expansive identities) and disabled artists with the aim to highlight the intersection of transgender and disability identities.
Friday, February 16th
5th Annual Valentine’s Day Soirée | Black Lodge | 8 PM | 18+ | $15 | Food and drink available | Come celebrate Valentine’s Day with beloved local artist Louise Page as she performs her signature blend of “chamber punk & symphonic funk” at the 5th annual Soirée. Marcella Simien and Alicja N Friends open the show, and there will be late-night karaoke following the performance!
Laser Beyoncé | MOSH/Pink Palace | 7PM – 8PM |All Ages | $18 | Be dazzled at the MOSH Planetarium with an hour of some of Beyoncé’s greatest hits animated in a fun and beautifully designed laser light show. Note: If you miss this Friday, Bey will be back around on the 23rd!
Paris is Burning | OUT Memphis, YEC | 5PM | ages 18-24 | Free | Queer folks 18-24 gather for a fun movie night at the Youth Emergency Center.
Saturday, February 17th
OUT Memphis Photoshoot | OUT Memphis | 5PM | ages 18-24 | Free | Volunteer your beautiful face for OUT Memphis’ photoshoot, where the local org will stage community and service photographs to be used in upcoming year-round projects and fundraisers.
Mardi Growl at Overton Park | Overton Bark Dog Park at Overton Park | 11AM – 1PM | All ages | Free | Dog lovers, this one’s for you! Bark on over to Overton Park for a dog costume contest with prizes, Hollywood Feed giveaways, dog caricatures, a dog parade, and live music from the Mighty Souls Brass Band.
Lamplighter Bazaar | Lamplighter Lounge | 2PM – 6PM | | Free | Head to Lamplighter Lounge for a market full of local goods by local artists and artisans.
Sunday, February 18th
CookOUT with Pride | The Pumping Station | 5PM – 7PM | | Plates, $7 | Commune with local queers and the Pump team for a fun, gay cookout. Get your plate before they sell out!
Queer Memphis Hikes | Meeman Shelby Forest Park | RSVP for details | Join other awesome queers on a five mile hike down Pioneer Spring Trail.
Let’s Play A Love Game | Cameo | 5PM | 21+ | | Brenda Newport hosts this fun game night combo of Match Game + The Newlywed Game + Speed Dating. This night is for all you ~eligible singles~ out there looking for love, a new friend, a (consensual) situationship, or just a good time!
Thursday, February 22nd
Black History Month Wellness Fair | 2851 Lamb Place | 3:30-7:30PM | | All Ages | Free | This Black History Month, local LGBTQ center OUT Memphis hosts a day dedicated to Black queer wellness, highlighting Black-owned businesses and organizations and offering free testing, vaccinations, cosmetic services, raffles, prizes, and a ton of delicious food from Black-owned caterers.
Burlesque Karaoke Night | Lamplighter Lounge | 10PM | No Cover, bring tips! | Who doesn’t love a night of karaoke served with a side of hot cakes? “Sweetest Cakes of Burlesque,” Onyx Davenport hosts this sexy, fun affair full of good music and moves.
Friday, February 23rd
The Color Purple | OUT Memphis, YEC | 5PM | ages 18-24 | Free | Queer folks 18-24 gather for a fun movie night at the Youth Emergency Center.
Saturday, February 24th
Big Top Tease: The Musical | DRUS Bar | 10PM | 21+ | Tickets starting at $12.51 | Big Top Tease is a queer variety show that takes place the last Saturday of every month at Drus Place! The cast of QCG Productions, takes on a new theme each month, bringing aerial acrobatics, fire performance, drag artists, LED Light shows and more to the Drus Stage!
Women in the Arts | Dixon Gallery and Gardens and Theatre Memphis | 10AM – 2PM | All ages | Free + shuttle available between locations | For one day only, this annual arts phenom highlights brilliant women and femme artists of all kinds with performances, demonstrations, classes, and dialogues, and of course all sorts of art! Plus, an artist market and food trucks to keep you full and hydrated in between.
Sankofa African Diaspora Festival | Cossitt Library | 11AM- 5PM | All ages | Free | Honor the diversity of African-descended cultures at this Black History Month celebration, featuring live dance performances, artwork, readings, and a wide range of vendors.
Sunday, February 25th
Lunar New Year Banquet 2024 | Dim Sum King | 6PM | All Ages | Tickets from $76 | The Chinese Historical Society of Memphis and Midsouth is hosting their annual fundraising banquet featuring traditional Dragon dance, contemporary and traditional Chinese music, hometown legend and now Los Angeles-based DJ Neenaneen, live auction of local Asian-American art and traditional liquors, and open dance floor!
Seniors OUT for Coffee | The Haven 901 | 1PM- 3PM | Seniors | Please RSVP! | Commune with local LGBT seniors at this Sunday Funday of bingo and trivia, including a great meal, and swag. You’re welcome to bring friends! Please RSVP at seniors@outmemphis.org by Wednesday February 21st.
Wednesday, February 28th
Gooetones + Suroor | B-Side Bar | 7PM | $10 | Women in Memphis Music presents a night of good vibes from indie band Gooetones and Pakistani hyperpop artist Suroor.
Want your event included, too? Tell us about it, and we’ll track it for next time! Follow us at @focusmidsouth for more.
