June might be far away, but that does not mean LGBTQ+ students have nothing to look forward to. From energetic drag shows to quiet open mic nights, there are upcoming events to suit everyone's style in the Ypsilanti area, both on and off Eastern Michigan University's campus. Interested students looking for fun and friendship should be on the lookout for the following events.
WERK Haus: Drag Shows at The Deep End
Just across Cross Street from campus, behind the Jimmy John’s restaurant, sits a coffee shop where local artists display their work on the walls and patrons enjoy lava coffee sourced from "Volcan de Fuego," an active volcano mountain in Guatemala.
Located at 310 Perrin St., the Deep End Gallery & Cafe is a safe space for LGBT students and Washtenaw County residents. Its events include amateur drag shows and queer open mics.
More upcoming WERK Haus events will be coming soon to the cafe, where drag stars both upcoming and experienced can test new material in front of a smaller audience. Events are free for students to watch or perform.
“The bravest thing you can do is choose to be vulnerable,” said Finn Dameron, an associate of The Deep End and organizer of the cafe’s drag shows. “We’ll be starting a podcast in the future, along with artist features, community leader conversations, etc.”
For more information on upcoming events, contact owner Oceania Cavazos through The Deep End’s official website or by phone at 734-301-8376.
Pride Bar
At Ann Arbor’s LIVE Nightclub, DJ’s Medusa and other special guests host bi-weekly pride events. Every second and fourth Thursday of the month, queer individuals who enjoy a more energetic scene can find a safe space to dance at the Pride Bar, an alternate name for the LGBTQ-focused event.
Hosted from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., the Pride Bar at LIVE Nightclub is located downtown at 102 S. First St. in Ann Arbor. The event is 18 and older exclusive. For more information, contact LIVE Nightclub through its website.
'Femme Feedback' - Queer Open Mic
For those interested in a less music-heavy scene but still want an openly queer safe space, Blom Meadworks' upcoming comedy show might be worth a try.
“This is a space for female and trans comics to work on material that may not resonate at a typical majority-male open mic. Comics will come from all levels of experience, but a veteran comic will be presiding over the show to give feedback,” organizers said on the venue's website.
While most comedy spaces are male-dominated, Blom Meadworks aims to create a safe space for those who are feminine-presenting and/or transgender to perform in front of a more open audience. Located in Ann Arbor at 100 S. 4th Ave., Suite 110, the event begins at 8 p.m. on Dec. 13. Admission is free and open to all.
For more information, contact Blom Meadworks through its Instagram account @drinkblom. To stay up to date on upcoming events at Blom, visit its website at DrinkBlom.com/events.
Lavender Graduations and Clothing Swaps
EMU’s LGBT Resource Center hosts a number of events to get involved, including a Lavendar Graduation in the spring and the recent gender-inclusive thrift store pop-up for Transgender Compassion Week. The clothes provided for the swap included gender-affirming and androgynous options and were free for students to browse through. The center also accepted donations of gently used clothing from students.
Other programs include the BBQueer in the fall, OUTober, Trans* Compassion Week in November and the Pride Prom.
For more information on any of the centers events, visit the LGBT Resource Center webpage on EMU's website. Stay up to date on events and options by signing up for the center's newsletter. Just look for the newsletter link in the middle of the page. The center operates from Room 354 in the Student Center on campus.
The office logo for the LGBT Resource Center.
