Barack Obama’s Big Gay Inaugural Balls

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

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?

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