October 7, 2011
Coming Out in Houston
Robert Doyle READ TIME: 2 MIN.
HOUSTON, TX - People from across Texas and beyond will converge in Houston this October to celebrate National Coming Out Day with several key events.
The weekend of October 8 and 9 will be packed with celebrations geared toward every taste. And it's a great time of year to visit the nation's fourth-largest city.
The Houston Coming Out Party, now in its fifth year, promises to be bigger than ever, with an all new venue and a guest performance by Raja from RuPaul's Drag Race. Local performer Tye Blue will produce a special drag show and acclaimed DJ Joy de la O is providing the tunes.
The open bar party will include a special art auction featuring Houston's own John Palmer. The evening wraps up with an after party at the city's newest gay nightlife spot, F Bar. Proceeds will benefit homeless LGBT youth in the region.
On Sunday, things go really wild when the Bayou City Boys Club Inc. hosts Jungle 19, an outdoor tea dance party in the center of Downtown Houston. DJ Joe Gautreaux will spin for this unique event, which will also feature performances from musical artist Jacinta and the Houston Fly Boys. Participants will be able to dance all afternoon under the skyscrapers of Houston. F Bar will also be the site of the Jungle after party, with Raja as the host.
For those looking for something more family oriented, Victory Fund Houston is hosting an Old Time Family Picnic for LGBT families on October 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Traditional picnic foods, entertainment, games and much more are planned for this inaugural event.
Other events and performances happening that weekend:
Guys and Dolls at Theatre Under the Stars
A Texas Romance
Bayou City Arts Festival in Downtown Houston
Dividing the Estate at Alley Theatre
Texas Renaissance Festival
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
