LGBTQ+ Parties Are Moving Online
Dance parties, album releases, and more have moved to web during the COVID-19 pandemic
While we try to protect ourselves and those around us from COVID-19, it is essential that we comply with social distancing. Some folks thrive in isolation and are using this time to better themselves, learn something new, or take a lot of baths — but others who are more socially needy are going bananas without being able to adventure in the outside world.
Thankfully, we live in a digital age. We are basically living on the space cruise in Wall-E right now (sitting down all day staring at a screen) but less sad. If you want to make the best of this situation, there are some community events that you can join from the comfort of your home.
For example, on March 27, Vice Versa Productions and LSD Night based in Montreal hosted Queerantine: A Queer Online Dance Party. Ticket holders were sent a link and password to join a Zoom call. There were numerous DJ sets from 8:00 pm onward, including the musical stylings of Janette King, DJ Trinidaddy, Heidy P, LYKX, and DJ Sac Banane. Go-go performances were also live streamed from Phoenix Inana, Carmen Mayhem, Little Nicky, Bunny Benz, and Sera Phim. Attendees and performers alike had the freedom to party in their bedrooms in a safe space away from other people.
Even though most people involved were isolated, this event felt collaborative because everyone shared the same physical space on the screen. They could send messages to everyone at once or specific individuals, and the hosts and guests sought only to empower one another while dancing. Tickets were $10 each as a suggested donation, $5 for QTBIPOC, and all proceeds went to supporting queer artists in precarious financial positions.
Sleepy Queers Productions will be throwing Off Tune Quarantine Edition Part 2 on April 9 from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm on YouTube and Facebook Live. Hosted by Vancouver locals Channing Titanium and Dust, the “professional karaoke drag experience” as described on the event page, will include both performers sharing the screen from different locations. There is no suggested donation for this event, but they will be accepting e-tips.
Because of the ban on large gatherings in B.C., musicians are unable to promote new content the way they usually would, either in person or on stage.
Strange Breed, “a four-piece, all queer, all female alternative garage-rock band based out of Vancouver,” as stated in thier bio on Facebook, has come up with a creative solution. On April 10 at 8:00 pm, Strange Breed and Section 4 films will host an online release party for their new music video, “25.”
“We can chat during the viewing, answer your questions and celebrate together while all wearing our comfy pants,” says the event description. “Awesome, right?”
For more information on this check out the event page. Keep in mind that the band has published a trigger warning for the event as the song “25” covers topics that may be sensitive to some viewers, so give that a read before tuning in.
These are just a few resources to remind you that, although the streets may be empty, inside our homes we are dancing, stretching, and exploring through the web.
