Why We Bring Queer Events to Other Cities
At Now That’s What I Call Queer, we’re proud to be based in New Orleans, but our reach doesn’t stop at city limits. Over the past year, we’ve been fortunate to partner with venues and communities across the country to bring our queer dance party to new places — sometimes big cities, sometimes small towns, and often in regions where LGBTQ+ events are fewer and farther between.
Occasionally, our presence in another city raises questions, usually by anonymous Facebook profiles littered with American flags and red hat propabanda.
A member of the Memphis LGBTQ+ community voices his concerns via Facebook messenger.
But, just over a week ago — on the first day of Pride month, no less — a member of the LGBTQ+ community in Memphis took issue with our event during Pride, claiming we were trying to “hijack” the celebration.
While we don’t usually respond to individual comments, this moment brought up a broader conversation we think is worth having:
why do we throw events outside of New Orleans?
The short answer is: we’re invited.
Many of the venues we work with reach out directly because they want to offer something inclusive, fun, and affirming. Often, these are venues in red states or cities where queer nightlife is limited or under threat. Our events are an opportunity for people to come together safely, visibly, and proudly. We don’t take that lightly.
We also believe deeply in the kind of party we’re creating. Our events are intentionally inclusive — not designed for one subsection of the queer community, but built to be welcoming to all.
Our motto is simple: “You don’t have to be queer to be here, but you can’t be an asshole.”
That openness extends to the dance floor, too: our DJs don’t arrive with rigid setlists. We invite song requests throughout the night so that each party reflects the people who are there.
In every city we visit, we aim to complement and support the existing queer programming, not compete with it. When LGBTQ+ people have more choices, that’s a good thing.
One dance party will never be everything to everyone, and it shouldn’t be. We want to be part of a thriving ecosystem of queer events, not the only one holding space.
It’s also important to acknowledge the bigger picture: We’re in a moment when LGBTQ+ rights are actively under attack across the United States.
State legislatures are introducing record numbers of anti-trans bills, drag bans, and laws aimed at censoring queer expression. (The ACLU is tracking more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the country.) In this environment, supporting each other is not optional.
We all benefit when queer communities stand together, not apart. Infighting and division only weaken our ability to create meaningful change, and safe spaces. Community is resistance, and visibility saves lives. That’s why we do what we do.
