The Hudson Valley is a great place to be gay—the annual LGBTQ pride parades draws crowds in the thousands every year. But the queer community needs more than one day per year to celebrate their pride and sometimes you want to go where everybody knows you’re gay.
So if you’re on the hunt for cool, inclusive, and safe spaces to live your best gay life, try this curated list of queer spaces and events to enjoy some good gay company all year long.
Geish
After a full weekend of being queer, if you have some pride left over and feel like getting dressed up and dancing it out, Geish is the place to do it.
“Geish is a word that means clothing. Getting into geish is getting into your drag,” explains Victoria Precise of the Haus of Peculiar, a local group of drag performers who host the event. “Drag uses the artistry of fashion to express yourself and that is what we do on Monday nights at Snugs Harbor. We started Geish two years ago as a dance party.”
Current DJ and Geish producer, Fantasea, says there is no set end time: “It ends whenever people stop dancing.” For more information follow @hausofpeculiar on Instagram.
Where? Snug Harbor, 38 Main Street New Paltz, NY
When? Every Monday starting at 10:30 pm
Queer Young Adult Meetup
If you’re a young queer person and the bar isn’t your scene, the LGBTQ center has a full calendar of queer-focused events worth checking out, and this monthly gathering is no exception.
Open to anyone age 18-24 who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community and would like to just hang out, mingle, talk, and explore being queer in a safe space. Pizza and coffee are provided at this low-key mid-week meetup.We love bringing people together! The Hudson Valley LGBTQ community is expansive and beautiful 🌈🌈🌈 https://t.co/AKJvY7qVHk
— Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center (@lgbtqcenter) August 28, 2019
The next ones are September 11 and October 9, 2019.
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Where? The Poughkeepsie Grind, 107 Main Street Poughkeepsie, 12601
When? 2nd Wednesday of Each Month, 7pm-8pm
Pansy Club
For something a little different, Pansy Club offers the perfect (gay) marriage of consistency and variety. Bartender and host Cara Stewart says the purpose of Pansy Club “is to provide a space one night a week for queer folks in the Hudson Valley to come meet up in a casual environment to have fun and create community.”
The spirit of Pansy Club has remained the same for its 4+ year run, though the theme changes every week. Some examples include Queer Open Mic Night every 2nd Thursday and Drink & Draw figure drawing every 4th Thursday. Every 3rd Thursday is Solidarity themed, co-hosted by the LGBTQ Center, with a different grassroots political activism focus each month.
Where? The Beverly Lounge, 224 Foxhall Ave Kingston 12401
When? Thursdays, 7pm-9pm
Freaky First Friday Cabaret
If it's the first week of the month, you can head to Mystic in Poughkeepsie for Freaky First Friday, a queer cabaret featuring an all-local cast of drag and burlesque performers putting on a midnight show followed by an all-night dance party. Hosted by Isis Vermouth, self-proclaimed party princess of the Hudson Valley (instagram @isisvermouth).
Find out more via their Instagram @freakyfurstfridays.
Where? Mystic Cafe, 189 Church St Poughkeepsie 12601
When? 1st Friday of Every Month
Burlesque Royale
Crown is a social club opened just over a year ago by interior designers John Krenek and Jamie Niblock. Burleque Royale is the monthly show hosted there by local performer Mistress Elura, who identifies as queer. Crown warns that these events can be “a bit naughty and tawdry and sometimes make you blush. The shows sell out early so [we] encourage you to] purchase your tickets in advance.”
Next show: Saturday, September 7.
Where? Crown, 10 Crown St Kingston 12401
When? Once monthly on Saturdays
There are hundreds of ways to celebrate being queer every day of the year. Luckily the Hudson Valley hosts a vast community of likeminded and proud people who can’t wait to celebrate with you. Whenever you’d like to paint the town rainbow, they’ll be there for you.