GAYLETTER

I’m so fucking sick of white people. They’re just everywhere. Even in New York, the original melting pot, I can’t seem to get away from them; they’re on TV, in Wholefoods, don’t even get me started on the bagel shop around the corner from me...I’m white myself, so you can understand my problem. Every time I look in a mirror I’m like agh another one! But seriously I just think it’s good to change things up — be around different people for once. Which is why we’re excited for the Lenox Coffee Christmas Party this Friday benefiting the amazing organization Harlem United. They help low income people with HIV/AIDS get better care and manage their conditions. That’s something we all should support. If you live in BK or downtown Manhattan, this party should be a nice change of scene. It’s up in Harlem and is sure to be full of plenty of hotties from the neighborhood. We don’t have too much information on how the night will play out, but we’re promised music and drinks. What the hell else could you need?  —tom

I love the name for this event because honestly every Friday night out with my friends feels like a “night of queer performance.” Half my friends act like they’re on reality TV. One of my friends actually pretends there’s imaginary cameras following him and when asked what he did last night will say he was “filming.” This Friday the drama will be legit as the Stonewall Coalition and the Lavender Ladies present a night of performance “dedicated to creating a platform and visibility for all things queer.” The legendary (we don’t throw that word around lightly) Kenny Kenny is hosting the night and there will be performances by a whole host of homos including Ammo, Celso LaBeija, Young Psycho and many more. Music by our favorite “papi champú” Santana Williams. Also going down is a fashion show by Domonique Echeverria, no idea what that is all about but the models include Amanda Lepore, Leo Gugu and ManiCure Versace...so that’s the icing on the cake. Dress up, you never know who’ll be “filming.”  —tom

We love trans men. We love trans women. We love transitions of all kinds. And we love Murray Hill (pictured), who’s the producer and is hosting the 3rd annual Mr. Transman Competition this Thursday at the Knitting Factory. Murray is like a trans Bob Hope, but quicker on his feet, and not dead. I should of course mention that Amos Mac (the founder of Original Plumbing) is also involved in planning this event. Amos sent us some info about what’s happening this year. Apparently they have an “unbelievably diverse line-up.” Not sure what that means? Well let me give you a couple of categories: “Queer jock gym teacher, Cat obsessed social worker, Trans taxidermist, YouTube sensation.” Transmans’ are so creative and just have the best time...Here’s your chance to join in on it. Click here for tickets.  —tom

The sweet and talented artist Ian Sklarsky is known for his “blind contour” drawings which he refers to as “a method of drawing in which the artist draws a line and never looks at the paper. It takes what one sees with one’s eye and with study allows the hand to trace the image from one’s brain.” I’ve witnessed him at work and it’s the coolest thing to see his process, his drawings are very free and as he puts it “filled with mistakes, but 100% truth.” He’s hosting a fun event this Saturday at the sex shop: The Pleasure Chest New York where he will be drawing people. Money raised from the event will help fund his next project “The Line,” a “400 person portrait book.” The drawings at the store are free, so buy a $55 long sleeve thermal shirt to help him out. It’s a great excuse to go to the shop and stock up on some condoms and new sex toys — it’s the winter, you know you’ll be spending more time at home. I’ll let Ian have the final word: “Come grab a drink...think about sex and sit for a portrait...”  —Abi

Wow, wow, wow, now this is what I call a proper Halloween party. MoMA PS1 and the magazine that “celebrates transsexuality, cross dressing, drag, androgyny, and everything in between,” Candy bring us a drag ball. Encouraging all guests to dress up in drag for “a glamorous old school ball made contemporary, with live drag and musical performances, DJs, dancing, and a pageant.” The event is hosted by some of our favorite people in NYC: Justin Vivian Bond, Melissa Burns, Cody Critcheloe (SSION), Humberto Leon, Carol Lim, Kembra Pfahler, Chloë Sevigny, Casey Spooner, Wu Tsang, and Lypsinka. With the fabulous Ladyfag as the Emcee, a live Performance by La’Fem Ladosha and DJ Sets by JD Samson and Pyramid (Michael Magnan, Will Automagic, and Nita Aviance). Candy magazine has inspired us more than the last six seasons of Rupaul's Drag Race to put on a dress and pull the wig down off the shelf...  —Abi