OUTLOOKjune2014.pg86.qxp_OUTLOOK OHIO TEMPLATE 5/23/14 6:36 PM Page 1
i ♥ the nightlife: big gay dance party 4
Bigger&Gayer than Ever Outlook’s Big Gay Dance Party Opens Pride Weekend in Columbus
by Andrew Hypes For some, Pride is the platform to have their calls for equality heard. For others, Pride is all about the camaraderie one is afforded as a member of the LGBT and ally community. But Pride is also a celebration of all things gay, fun and all-around exciting. If the last description is your idea of a perfect Pride weekend, look no further than Outlook’s Big Gay Dance Party, scheduled for June 20. Celebrating its fourth year as a cornerstone Pride event in Columbus, the Big Gay Dance Party promises to live up to its name and more. This year, the stars will be out in full force - literally and figuratively. Nationally renowned DJ/drag queen Chi Chi LaRue will assume the hosting duties for a party under the night sky at Park Street Patio in Columbus’s Arena District. Bonus: It’s right across the street from the Pride festival’s home in Goodale Park. “What could be bigger, gayer and more fabulous than a big gay drag monster DJ actually DJing in full character?” said LaRue, a seasoned veteran of the party scene. As exciting as LaRue’s performance is set to be, her presence is just the 86
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Chi Chi LaRue
beginning of the night’s entertainment. Columbus drag powerhouse Helena Troy and the Glamazons will provide their unique brand of entertainment during a special performance. In addition, Porn-a-Go-Go stars Brock Avery and David Christiano will perform throughout the evening, as will Columbus LGBT favorite DJ Moxy. This event, like many others during the Pride weekend, will serve as a big gay melting pot of unity and diversity. As the main attraction for the night, LaRue hopes to personify that ideal in her set. “I’ll be playing everything from Britney to Beyoncé. I’m really into music so I always make sure to get everything involved. You never know, maybe even a high-steppin’ country song could show up somewhere.” Doors open at 8p at Park Street Patio, located at 533 Park St in Columbus. Advance tickets are $10 at outlookohio.com and $15 at the door. (You get $5 off at the door, though, if you show your Stonewall Columbus 2014 Pride dog tags.) VIP tickets, which get you fast-track entry, a spot in the Sky Lounge, select cocktails, and a private bar and restrooms, are $50.
Brock & David
What’s under that towel, Chi Chi?
Glamazons
DJ Moxy outlookohio.com