This Saturday, March 2nd, spring is in the air, the moon is in Scorpio, and a bunch of charitably-minded, dance-ily-spirited, Boston-area folks will be in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, at the infamous Midway, for the Fancy Pants Dance Party & Fundraiser. You’re one of them, I bet! You’re texting your queer phone tree. You’re daydreaming about ironing your fanciest pants. You may also want to iron your money, because your cover ($7 before 10 PM; $9 after) will benefit the Transgender Law Center. Which means that instead of getting scrunched into a tip jar, your Saturday night party dollars will go to a group that:
“works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression”
and
“envisions a future where gender self-determination and authentic expression are seen as basic rights and matters of common human dignity.”
Seriously, the Transgender Law Center is important. They connect transgender people and their families with legal professionals and resources, hold public workshops to educate communities about trans* issues, and win legislative victories. Many good things have happened because of them: for example, trans* people in California can now amend their birth certificates no matter where they live, and TSA managers at Los Angeles International Airport have to undergo sensitivity training. Basically, dollars that go there are heroes.
Plus, it’s at the MIDWAY. As anyone who’s ever braved Queeraoke knows, a Midway event guarantees the following:
– pickleback shots
– really close dancing
– someone holding the bathroom door shut for you and becoming your Instant Best Friend
– taking a break from all the dancing to try out your historical gaydar on the wall of black-and-white photos
– “cheap, strong drinks and cheap, strong ladies”
– memories*
But that’s just for weeknights, and this is a Saturday; fittingly, they’ve kicked it up a notch. There’ll be a raffle for toys (the sexy kind), courtesy of Good Vibrations; a photo booth, to commemorate your dazzling smile. “Motown, 90’s, Top 40, Dance, 80’s, One Hit Wonders,” and whatever else you want to hear, especially if you pre-request it on the Facebook page. And surprise guests! So come on down. JP’s not THAT far away.
*memories actually not guaranteed.
