Yes, lying Christian jihadist Rick Warren is officiating Barack Obama‘s apotheosis into Grand Messiah of the apocalypse, but that doesn’t mean that the Inauguration shouldn’t be a reason to party. Even if you’re not a fan of Changey McHoperstein, you can celebrate the fact that you’ve survived the last eight years and hope for a better one, and there’s plenty of things to fill up your gay dance card—not just in D.C., but across the nation.
You’ll also be able to follow the Inauguration through live updates on Queerty’s twitter account beginning on Tuesday, January 20th. Follow it now and join in the fun online.
Sunday, January 18,
The Invocation
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church in the diocese of New Hampshire and one of the U.S.’s major openly gay religious leaders will kick-off the Obamanation with an invocation on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (see related story). The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by a concert featuring Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder.
HBO will also broadcast the event at 7pm EST and you don’t even need to be a subscriber to access it, though you will need a cable provider.
L Word Season 6 Premiere in Washington, D.C.
The Human Rights Campaign and Showtime present the season 6 premiere of The L Word at Town Danceboutique at 7pm. You can RSVP here.
Tuesday, January 20
Out for Equality at the Mayflower Hotel
Got a ton of money and feel like partying it up with the A-list gays? You’re HRC’s kind of guy, and for $375 a head you’ll get Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, Thelma Houston, Dave Koz, Catie Curtis, Ross Mathews, Potomac Fever from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. and a hosted bar and cocktail buffet. Tickets available here.
The Gay Inaugural Ball
GLBT in D.C. for Barack Obama is throwing an Inaugural Ball at the “Blair Mansion” (no, not the one near the White House, but what looks to be an apartment building near Jessup Blair Park at 7711 Eastern Ave. Starts at 6pm. $30 in advance. E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] for more info.
Honolulu Rainbow Obama Inauguration Ball
Kicking off at 5pm local time at the Wueen Kapiolani Hotel’s Peacock Room, the event features live video feeds from D.C., live enteratinment and a black tie dress code. $40. Tickets here.
Dance for Equality at Town DanceBoutique
It’s just like every other dance party you’ve ever been too, only it’s to celebrate Obama. DJ Manny Lehman spins and Cyndi Lauper and Ross Matthews perform. Also an HRC event, but this one’s only $50. Tickets here.
January 25th & 28th
Postcards to the President
Though the celebration might be over, LGBT activists in New York (Jan. 28th) and West Hollywood (Jan. 25th) are holding two parties (at Therapy and Here Lounge, respectively) to kick-off a postcard drive urging people to mail the new President and ask him to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. 4000 postcards have been printed up for the events. More info here.
What are your inauguration plans? What events did we miss?
Nick
Who cares? Have to say I’ve lost my mojo on this after all the Warren stuff. Yeah it will hopefully be an improvement, but from what I can see it looks like McCain lite, which to me isn’t really anything to celebrate.
audiored
“Yes, lying Christian jihadist Rick Warren is officiating Barack Obama’s apotheosis into Grand Messiah of the apocalypse, but that doesn’t mean that the Inauguration shouldn’t be a reason to party.”
What a delightful sentence! =)
BrianZ
Bleh. Call me in 4 years.
Tom
Be sure to drop your check in the box next to the door. Obammy needs the cash.
trishj
Why are you people partying? Don’t you Obama is using you. You should be protesting. Rick Warren’s phony AIDS program burns condoms and gays have had to go into hiding. Now he’s trying to help dissident anti-gay African Anglicans with church property.
This Obama is not your friend. He is your enemy. Surely you can skip a party to show Obama you won’t stand for it.
Lucille Serwa
Is the movie Doubt about being gay in Boston, in the Church in the 50s?
Was the Meryl Streep character on to something, sensing something no one else was picking up on.
Has your magazine done a review of this film, and if so, how can I access it.
Also, you will probably be reporting on the Gay inaugural where Rufus Wainwright is performing. NO?
Thanks.
seitan-on-a-stick
A guide to ignoring Barack Obama’s Inauguration by Reverend Warrant-from-God whilst in Washington DC:
Cruise P Street Beach (Clue: It’s not a Beach)
Go to Arlington Cemetary and cruise in your Miata until you see another Hillary 4 President sticker
Go to McDonald’s drive-through and order from the Burger King menu
Watch Gay Porn in your hotel room.
Go to Union Temple Baptist Church and release termites.
Better yet, go the Washington Cathedral and do the Martin Sheen West Wing speech when his secretary was killed in an automobile accident.
Go to the Leather Rack, buy an outfit and go to the most conservative ball (probably the Illinois ball)
Turn up in the same dress as First Lady Michelle Obama and a fan!
If you have a cold, cough into your hand and insist on shaking everyone’s hand wearing “Yes We Did” T-shirts. Even the children who technically can’t vote so they’d be lying!
Wear Sarah Palin 2012 shirt from SNL around town.
Get arrested wearing a Barack Obama Tshirt:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1217081mugyear20.html (take out spaces)
Longbridge
Pumping beats featuring Obama!?
http://www.myspace.com/whitehouseproject
Delores Mouton
where can I get f***ed like a clueless cashier by a long dee-hock A-rob?
JesusofAudacity
Obama and Michele have not even took the Oath of the Oval Office. Sheesh, give them a brake. Hoo is Warren anyways? Some wite dude to keep the republiccans happy. He’s not my paster, jus sum wite guy. wots that got to do wit how barrack plans to fix W Bushs war in irak? giv him a chanse, you racialists!
Stephen May
I plan on being at the Inaugural Event at Nokia Plaza in Downtown L.A. starting at 8:00 AM with a sign that reads “BOOO!!! HOMOPHOBE Rick Warren”. If anyone wants to join me, call me on my cell 213-804-3800. Stephen May
Gregg
It’s sad that there are gays who happily lap up the crumbs thrown to them by Obama, Biden, and the Democratic Party. Your self esteem must be terrible. HBO conveniently censored any gay presence at the Lincoln Memorial (Obama’s idea). Obama happily took our money then threw us under the bus.
You fools are celebrating your own demise. Judge Obama by his actions, not his words. He has no intention of protecting the LGBT community in this country.