Stonewall Commemoration and Trans Pride Week events

PRIDE, NOT PREJUDICE: Members of the local LGBT community protest the passing of HB2. Celebrate the gay rights movement and support local LGBT organizations during Trans Pride Week. Photo courtesy of Tranzmission

The 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of demonstrations by the LGBT community against a police raid, are considered the launch of the modern gay rights movement. That historic marker — its importance especially apt following the adoption of House Bill 2 and the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay club in Orlando, Fla. — is celebrated with a week of events that give voice to and create community around local LGBT citizens and causes.

Asheville-based organizations Tranzmission, QORDS and COLAGE, in association with the Asheville Jewish Community Center, have collaborated to present the 15th annual local commemoration of Stonewall. All events are open to the public:

Stonewall Spaghetti & Storytellers — Queer- and trans-identified speakers share stories during a spaghetti dinner (vegan options available). Held at the JCC, 236 Charlotte St., on Saturday, June 25, at 4 p.m. $15 suggested donation. avl.mx/2og

Transformers & COLAGE support group and workshop — Held at Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Road, on Sunday, June 26, at 7 p.m. avl.mx/2oi

Stonewall Week book club — Melanie McNair hosts a discussion of Ann Bausum’s book, Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights. Held at Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., on Monday, June 27, at 7 p.m. malaprops.com

Transformers present Art Up! — A gathering of queer- and trans-identified artists in Western North Carolina, at Kairos West Community Center, on Tuesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. kairoswest.wordpress.com

Screening of Queer Moxie — The Grail Movie House, 45 S. French Broad Ave., hosts this “behind-the-scenes look into queer performance art from the fringe to the mainstream.” 
Wednesday, June 29, at 7 p.m. avl.mx/2oj

Singer-songwriters night — Local queer- and trans-identified singer-songwriters, including Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, Aerin Blue and Brynn Estelle, perform at The BLOCK Off Biltmore, 39 S. Market St., on Thursday, June 30, at 5 p.m. $5 recommended donation. theblockoffbiltmore.com

All-ages punk show and fundraiser — Support Tranzmission, Girls Rock Asheville, QORDS and COLAGE. Brynn Estelle & Her Band, CLOUDGAYZER and others perform at Firestorm Coffee & Books, 610 Haywood Road, on Friday, July 1, at 7 p.m. $5 recommended donation. avl.mx/2ok

Stonewall Commemoration Day party — A night of drag, burlesque and music with performances by wWAYLON, Royal Skyyy, Tomorrow Mayhem, Princess Perfect, Iggy Ingler and Erma God, followed by a dance party with DJ Abu Disarray. Held at O. Henry’s, 237 Haywood St., on Saturday, July 2, at 9 p.m. $7 recommended donation. avl.mx/2ol

Pool party and ice cream social — Pride Week concludes with this trans-, nonbinary- and queer-friendly event at the JCC on Sunday, July 3, at 4 p.m. jcc-asheville.org

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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