25 Queer Parties You Should Go To If You Have A Time Machine

Riese —
Mar 18, 2013
COMMENT

If you were reading this website in 2010 but didn’t live in New York, you’re probably still really devastated that you missed our epic Rodeo Disco Pride Party, especially if you enjoy riding mechanical bulls. But actually it’s likely that you’ve missed a lot more parties than just that party. Luckily, we’ve assembled so many of them here so you can really think about what you’re doing with your life.

You Should’ve Gone*: 30 Vintage Queer Event Fliers

* we don’t really mean that you should’ve gone to these parties, most of them probably sucked

1. 1914 – Cora Anderson The Man-Woman

1914-chicago
I have a feeling that the real star of this act is Her Husband Dorothy

2. 1932 – Restaurant For Ladies In Berlin

via lost womyn's space
I appreciate the fashion-forward suit-dress happening here (via lost womyn’s space)

3. 1941 – Gladys Bentley & Miss Jimmy Reynard

1942-bentley
what’s with the scare quotes, mona

4. 1970 – Gay Liberation Dance

1970-gay-liberation-dance
in which an alternative lifestyle haircut clouds my view of the catfish

5. 1970 – Celebration of Love and Life

1970-candlelight-march
alternately, you can attend the ceremony of hate and death which will take place at the southern baptist church down the street

6. 1972 – Female Liberation Meeting

female-liberation-meeting-via-ls
real talk: february 13th

7. 1973 – Club 41

club-41

8. 1974 – Los Angeles Gay-In

1968-gay-in
really excited about punching some crackers

9. 1974 – Midwest Lesbian Conference

1974-midwest-lesbian-conference
see also: pony play

10. 1976 – Sugar Shack

sugar-shack-1976
not to be confused with “sugar walls,” a euphemism for vaginas

11. 1978 – A Lesbian Show!

1978-a-lesbian-show

12. 1980 – Women’s Music and Cultural Festival

1980-music-festival
rituals inspired by the yet-to-be-released seminal film “the craft”

13. 1980 – Women Writes

1980-via-lesbianpoetryarchive

14. 1981 – Pride Week Milwaukee

1981-milwaukee-pride

15. 1981 – Welcoming Party For Sandy

1981
beer before liquor, never been sicker, special blended drinks before beer, you’re in the clear

16. 1981 – 2-for-1 Rollerskating

1982-rollerskating

17. Old Lesbian Halloween Dance

GLOEHalloween
feel free to dress like abstract art

18. 1988 – Dos Lesbos

1988-via-queermusicheritageblog
kelley edwards is getting some serious air in this picture (via queer music heritage)

19. 1990 – Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

1990-gay-lesbian-mardi-gras
ALL THE FONTS!!!!

20. 1992 – Lesbain Avengers Back-to-School Party

1992-back-to-school-party
(via lesbian avengers dot com)

22. 1992 – DCTV Lesbian & Gay Video Festival

1992-video-festival

23. 1993 – Hand-to-Hand Combat

1993-hand-to-hand
followed by fist-to-vagina contact

24. 1993 – Party Down at OOB

1993-oob-via-ls
what i wouldn’t give to get my hands on that t-shirt

25. 1995 – Herland

1995-herlands-via-ls
womyn and shadow puppets only

Obviously if you attended any of these events, you’ll have to tell us about it in the comments, and for more information about the Lesbian Avengers events you could’ve attended with a time machine, check out Vikki’s first-hand account of lesbian avenging in the ’90s.

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Riese

Riese is the co-founder of Autostraddle.com as well as an award-winning writer, video-maker and LGBTQ+ Marketing consultant. Her work has appeared in nine books, magazines including Marie Claire and Curve, and all over the web including Nylon, Queerty, Nerve, Bitch, Emily Books and Jezebel. She had a very popular personal blog once upon a time, and then she recapped The L Word, and then she had the idea to make this place, and now here we all are! In 2016, she was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism. She grew up in Michigan, lost her mind in New York, and now lives in Los Angeles. Follow her on twitter and instagram.

Riese has written 3303 articles for us.

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