GAYLETTER

When I first read about ‘Gayzer Tag’ I thought it was a sex party or a celebration for an adult film. Then I continued reading and figured out that it’s actually a gay laser tag event, happening at Chelsea Piers and put it all together. I’d say get off Grindr for one night and go check it out, it should be an interesting way to meet men. I am so curious to know what men are playing lazer tag in NYC. I know, it sounds a bit silly, but I find that sometimes the best way to have fun is to act silly. We act silly all the time, even if you never see us smiling in photos. This is a monthly event and apparently besides the lazer tag, it also features: “unlimited pool, unlimited bowling (if spots are available), vodka cocktails, $14 PBR pitchers, full dinner and snack menu.” The event is curated by Guy Social which is an organization that “curates unique weekly, monthly, and seasonal events all over NYC.” I’d recommend you to be friendly, you never know who you’ll end up tagging.  —Abi

It took a while for me to figure out what was going on at this event. It’s connected to the Black Party, but also Saint At Large, and also Lee Soulja and also the Love Ball and also All Black Lives Matter...We’re used to writing about parties with a thousand people involved so I eventually got my head around it. Basically it’s a real deal, old school, legit Ball honoring some of the legends of the Harlem Ball scene. You can expect exquisite costumes, amazing energy, and Soulja and his team of runway dancers, along with all the other competitors turning it out for the crowd. There’s 12 categories including Transman VS Butch Realness, Legendary BQ Face, Team Sex Siren and Legendary Realness. There’s over $4000 in grand prize money to be won. A ball like this is sooo welcome at the moment. The main reason they’re doing it is to celebrate and pay homage to the incredible people that made the Harlem Ball scene so influential throughout the U.S. and also around the world.  —tom

We were unsure whether to include this in the letter as it’s really only useful to those in Fire Island, or those heading to Fire Island this weekend, but honestly it sounds really fun so if you can get there, even just for a day, do it. BOFFO is an arts organization that puts on performance art events throughout the year. Every year in Fire Island, during the warmer months, they put on events around the island. This year they are taking things to the next level with its inaugural Performance Festival — it’s curated by Andrew Kachel and Clara López Menéndez and features 6 events. Some standouts are the guided walk led via audio programming by the talented artist Colin Self, and a “Beach Music Explosion” programmed in collaboration with Frankie Sharp that includes performances by Tyler Matthew Oyer (TMO), Lauren Devine, Jessica 6, La’fem Ladosha feat. Juliana Huxtable, Mykki Blanco, and Frankie Sharp. We love when smart events like this take place on Fire Island, that place can get a little overwhelming after about, hmmm, the first 30 minutes. It’s nice to bring some culture there, god knows those queens need it!  —tom

Greg Araki is one of my favorite directors. Smiley Face starring Anna Faris is one of the most singular and fucking hilarious films I have ever seen. It’s a stoner film that captures the experience of being super, super high, in all its absurdity, so fucking well. Araki’s filmography is long and impressive and this Thursday, July 23 Dirty Looks On Location has teamed up with Opening Ceremony (he recently made a short film for Kenzo, who’s designers also run OC) to screen one of Araki’s best films, the 1995 road movie starring Rose McGowan: ‘The Doom Generation.’ “Blending his early Godardian formal approaches with an MTV flair for blood, guts, and stunt casting (including Margaret Cho, Porno For Pyro’s Perry Farrell, Heidi Fleiss, and former cast members of the Love Boat, The Brady Bunch and Herbie, the Love Bug) Araki’s Doom Generation is the penultimate midnight movie of the 90s, a total cult sensation and the central installment in Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy.” Rose Mcgowan will appear in person at the screening and I’m sure give some fascinating insight into the film and Araki as a director. I’m sure it’ll be a night filled with 90’s teen angst. You’ll love it!  —tom

A long-time GAYLETTER fanboy (that’s how he referred himself and that definitely got our attention) Albert Beniada sent us an email about this event. We were so excited to learn about this non-profit film collective of about 75 filmmakers called FilmShop. “Our main program is our workshop, where filmmakers come together weekly to workshop their passion projects. At the end of the workshop season we throw a big screening party to celebrate, and it’s usually based on a theme that we vote on.” This Saturday, July 18th, you’ll have an opportunity to attend this event. The filmmakers will focus on “the theme of strange bedfellows through a series of short films varied in genre and style. The night’s festivities will also include live performances by electro-pop bands Strange Cat and Loving You and a special collaborative dance performance co-curated with the Creators Collective. An all-vinyl dance party with NYC staple DJ Babyblu will take us into the wee hours.” Check out their promo video here. You’re welcome!  —Abi

We’ve probably mentioned a million times that we loooove an outdoor event, we even go to the park to play badminton sometimes, yeah we got that thirst for the sun! I’m From Driftwood is throwing their 5th annual Summer BBQ fundraiser. We’ve been going to their past BBQs and we always have a blast — an outdoor space, an open bar of rum, corn, beer and vodka, boys to talk to and flirt with, delicious gourmet food prepared by our friend, and the food editor at Tasting Table, Andy Baraghani — what’s not to love? The last time I saw Andy he wasn’t very friendly to me, but I assure you he’s gonna be all smiley and cooking tasty stuff, that homo can cook — I also love that I can call him out in this newsletter. This event is for a great cause, for those of you that don’t know what I’m From Driftwood is, please google it, they are a great site that has been creating a very important archive of coming out stories and spreading the love around America. They recently got this comment from a sweet boy: “As a 15 year old homosexual boy I am often told that I will never live a normal life, these stories help me stay positive and strong. Thank you so much.” Not to mention for GAYLETTER readers, they’re offering a steeeep discount. See you by the grill!  —Abi

It wouldn’t be a GAYLETTER Pride without a Paris is Burning screening. It’s also a great opportunity for those of you that haven’t seen this film. I mean if you haven’t I am not sure what you are doing on this earth, but here’s what it’s about: Paris Is Burning “is an intimate and moving portrait of the Harlem drag balls of the 1980s, which were, and are still held between rival “houses” that served at once as intentional families, social groups and performance teams. The film illuminates a world of sustenance and joy that one group of New Yorkers created in the face of racism, poverty, transphobia and homophobia, and won wide acclaim beyond Sundance.” The feature will be introduced by director Jennie Livingston and by Junior LaBeija and Dr. Sol Williams Pendavis, both of them are featured in the film. After you watch this film you’ll be ready for our PRIDE Ball at the Wythe Hotel (see Saturday). Amongst other things you’ll get to see an amazing presentation by the House of LaBeija and the House of Mugler. We are gonna have a Ball! #shedonealreadydonehadherses  —Abi

Do you want a Jewish boyfriend? I do, and we’re both in luck because the fantastic, cutting edge Jewish Museum on 92nd St. and 5th Ave is hosting a Hebro Pride Party this Thursday, June 24th, from 6:00-10:00PM and included in the experience is exclusive access to all the current exhibitions which I had the pleasure of seeing already and they are quite intriguing. "Hebro was established in 2008 by Jayson Littman with the mission of creating a community of gay Jews to celebrate their unique culture and identity.” I say Mazeltov! There’s djs and an open bar for the entire evening. Last year 250 hot men came uptown for a Hebrew kiki. On the ground floor the exhibition is titled "Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television," the first show of it’s kind to "explore how avant-garde art influenced the look and content of network tv in its formative years.” Upstairs Laurie Simmons (Lena Dunham’s mom) has six new portraits in “How We See” based on the “doll girl” community — you know those crazy people that alter themselves to look like Barbie, baby dolls and Japanese anime characters. I say you can’t plan a better evening out and who knows, you may just end up with a ripped Israeli hunk from Tel Aviv. Go get it!  —Gayletter