Suzanne Westenhoefer performs Friday night at the Sheraton Fort Worth as part of a full weekend of Tarrant County Pride events
You can catch our Friday issue for a complete story on Tarrant County Pride events coming up this weekend, but the fun actually starts on Thursday, before the Friday issue hits the newsstands. So here’s a list of events on tap to let you start getting your Pride on early.
The Sheraton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth is the host hotel for Tarrant County Gay Pride Week Association’s Weekend Pride Stay package, and there are lots of events planned there on Thursday, beginning at noon. There’s the Fort Worth Trading Post in the Piney Woods Room on the second floor, from noon to 10 p.m., plus an art exhibit and the “Big As Texas Auction,” both in the second floor foyer from noon to 10 p.m.
A number of different community nonprofits are participating in the Community School House educational sessions on Thursday at the Sheraton: From noon to 1 p.m., AIDS Outreach Center presents “Stress Reduction;” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Healing Wings presents “Safer Sex is Sexy: Take Responsibility for your Sexual Health;” Outreach Addiction Services presents “Sex: Safety the Gay Way” from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Stonewall Democrats present “Make Your Voice Heard” from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Fairness Fort Worth presents “Grassroots Organizing: The Creation of Fairness Fort Worth” from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Trinity Metropolitan Community Church presents “Overcoming Spiritual Abuse and the Ex-Gay Ministries” from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Pride Kick-off Reception begins at 4 p.m. in the Fort Worth Water Gardens, followed at 6 p.m. (or dusk, whichever comes first) by Q Cinema‘s outdoor screening of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, showing on a big screen set up on the back side of The Mountain in the Water Gardens. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket and settle in for the fun.
And at 9 p.m., five different Tarrant County LGBT nightclubs will be hosting Pride weekend parties: The “Rainbow Red” party at Rainbow Lounge; the “Texas Orange” party at Club Reflections, the “Yellow Rose” party at Club Changes; the “Green With Envy” party at Best Friends Club and the “Texas Blue Bonnet” party at 1851 Club in Arlington.
Whew! And that’s just Thursday!
The silent auction starts at 10 a.m. and the Trading Post and art exhibit begin at noon on Friday at the Sheraton, followed by another full line-up of Community School House presentations. Q Cinema screens local filmmaker Laura McFerrin’s documentary March On! from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sheraton’s Taste of Texas Ballroom. The Imperial Court de Fort Worth/Arlington presents the “Strut Your Pride” show at 7:30 p.m. at Rainbow Lounge. And from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., hilarious lesbian comedian Suzanne Westenhofer performs in the Sheraton’s Taste of Texas Ballroom. Then, of course, the night winds up with parties and special events at Rainbow Lounge, Percussions, Club Reflections and Best Friends.
That’s quite a line-up, and it’s only the beginning of a weekend full of fun. Check out the full schedule in Friday’s paper and online at the TCGPWA website.
She is still one of the best comedians out there.
Wow! I feel like I’ve been living under a rock… I live two hours north of DFW and before middle school I had no idea there were other gay people out there and four years post-high school I am shocked that there Pride Festivals in Ft Worth. I wish I’d known sooner… I think I might have an anxiety attack prior, since I’ve never even been to a gay bar before, but I think after a chill pill and a drink I’ll be good to go! 🙂 I hope this is a yearly (or often) thing!!! I am shocked and awed!!!