Sexy Pride
June 19-29. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555. www.artsexy.ca.
Billing itself as the “cultural hub of Toronto’s Pride festivities,” Buddies in Bad Times Theatre has a slew of Pride events scheduled, including Shane MacKinnon’s Madonna Saved Me (Mainspace, June 20, 8pm, $15), which pays homage to queer icons that helped save the day for rural gay boys; the budget-friendly Cheap Queers cabaret (June 25-27, 8pm, $6.49); comedy face-off Homo Night in Canada, hosted by The B-Girlz (June 28, 8pm, $25-$75); naughty art party Tallulah’s Sleazy Cabaret (June 28, 10:30pm, $15); and more.

ARTWHERK!
Opening party June 23, 6pm-1am. June 24-30, 11am-7pm. Hot Shot Gallery, 181 Augusta. www.artwherk.ca.
The ARTWHERK! Collective offers space for young LGBTQ artists to mingle, perform and show their work at Pride. Hit up the opening-­night party for all-male burlesque from Boylesque, tunes from DJ Craig Dominic and art from Luis Cisneros, Kevin Charlie and Heather Quinsey.

Video Art Is Queer Launch Party
June 25, 7-9pm. Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar, 1214 Queen W. Free. 416-531-4635. www.pridetoronto.com.
Videophiles rejoice! We’ve been promised a wild launch party to kick-start the second edition of the Video Art Is Queer project, which features the work of Steve Reinke, Allyson Mitchell, Nina Levitt and other artists. Works from participating artists will also be shown at the Drake (1150 Queen W.), on large screens at Pride and online at www.pridetoronto.com.

Proud Voices
June 28-29, 3-9pm. James Canning Gardens Stage, 15 Gloucester. Free.
This two-day literary series, presented in partnership with The Word on the Street, includes readings by Mariko Tamaki (June 28, 3:30pm), RM Vaughan (June 28, 4:30pm; see interview page 48) and Nalo Hopkinson (June 28, 7:30pm).

Email us at: LETTERS@EYEWEEKLY.COM or send your questions to EYEWEEKLY.COM
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1