The Best LGBTQ Things to Do This Month in NYC

Written by | Things to Do

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Looking for gay events in NYC? Whether you’re looking for drag shows, parties talks & lectures, film screenings, theater, or art exhibits, Metrosource is your guide to the NYC queer scene. Our complete calendar of LGBT things to do is just a click away, but here are a few handpicked favorite queer events this December.

The League of Queens | A World AIDS Day Drag Show

December 2

On Monday, December 2nd, The HIV League is celebrating the thriving HIV community the day after World AIDS Day! There’s no better way to celebrate than with two of the most fabulous queens in Brooklyn, Ragamuffin and Lady Quesa’Dilla! The doors will open at 7PM at 3 Dollar Bill, Brooklyn’s premium queer bar, and the hosts will begin this extravaganza at 8PM with some performances by more fabulous Brooklyn queens like Junior Mint, Qhrist with a Q, and Miss Bushwig herself, Serena Tea! The smokin’ hot DJ P_A_T will be spinning the entire night and some magical, witchy queer babes will be doing tarot card readings and other rituals while you decompress after the long post-Thanksgiving Monday work day.
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Left Breast Comedy Hour!

December 2

This matriarchal extravaganza is Williamsburg’s favorite comedy and drag show, featuring New York’s most hilarious female and non binary comedians. And this month we have a truly exciting lineup of absolute QUEENS:

Shalewa Sharpe (HBO’s 2 Dope Queens)
Remy Kassimir (Netflix, How Cum?)
Calise Hawkins (Jimmy Fallon)
Jeena Bloom (UCB)
Hannah Boone (Adult Swim)
Music from Sami Schwaeber (iHeart Radio)
Drag Queen Jacklynn Hyde (The Duplex)
And as always, your hosts Sally Ann Hall (gorgeous) and Kimberly Dinaro (sexy but cute) have ask Sarah Silverman (famous) to join us, but she has “yet” to “do so”

It’s free, feminist, and fem. So come, come and come!
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Just Come! Free Williamsburg Comedy

December 3

Every Tuesday 8:30pm at The Graham in East Williamsburg, hosted by Pamela Ross & Kendall Farrell with Dylan Adler on keys.

Dina Hashem (Comedy Central, Conan)
Martin Urbano (Comedy Central, Kimmel)
Daniel Simonsen (Late Night w/ Seth Meyers, Colbert)
Brendan Eyre (Late Night w/ Seth Meyers, Comedy Central)

Right off the Montrose L/Broadway G stop. It’s not complicated. Just come!
This ish is free! Can you believe?? $5 suggested donation if you’re feeling wealthy.
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Sibyl McCormac Groff’s Christmas Tours

December 4 – December 28

Hohoho! Light up the Christmas spirit by joining the legendary Lady in Red. Carrying a candy cane and dressed like a Christmas tree, The New York Times reports that this “elf’s tours are whimsical and informative, part personality, part history.”

Topics include the history and the multi-faceted importance of of the Rockefeller Center Christmas trees, decorations, festivities together with learning about the importance of Rockefeller Center, the most important urban complex of the 20th century made for commerce but created with art. Be dazzled about the role of New York’s commercial stores, the printed word, the family, charity and transportation in making Christmas the most popular holiday by the end of the 19th Century. You will be electrified by the lights not only at Rock Center but also the vibrant sound and light show across the street at Saks Fifth Avenue and on Fifth Avenue.

Your Guide to Everything Christmas in New York
Sibyl McCormac Groff — a.k.a. Queen Santa, The Lady in Red and The Spirited New Yorker — legendary cultural historian and tour guide of Rockefeller Center for NBC.

She is an experienced and highly acclaimed licensed New York City tour guide whose expertise includes the architecture, artwork and history of Rockefeller Center, midtown Manhattan and New York City.

Sibyl coined the expression, Gothamtide, to describe the secular and universal holiday traditions that have historically been associated with New York City. She leads Christmas holiday walking tours from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
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The Christmas Carol: A Queer Fantasia

December 4 – December 22

From the award-winning team behind the sell-out successes, Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII and meg jo beth amy & louisa, comes their latest production: The Christmas Carol: A Queer Fantasia, a new fab take on Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic! This will be its world premiere at the Access Theater this holiday season! As we know, Ebenezer Scrooge is the literal worst. And it’s going to take some serious fabulosity to turn this ChristMESS into a ChristYAS. Can three otherworldly specters show this humbug the true meaning of Christmas?

The iconic Dickens Ghost Story of Christmas gets turned on its head in this inclusive, timely adaptation of the classic that explores what it means to walk among your fellow humans regardless of how they look and who they love. In an ever-growing social narrative of how people of privilege and wealth need to do more than privately say they support the downtrodden, Tier5 highlights the lesson that you need to put your actions, and your money, where your mouth is. It isn’t just enough to say you support someone, you need to walk amongst them instead of passively watching the world change around you.
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Queer Film Theory 101-December!

December 4

Queer Film Theory 101 is a monthly comedy show where LGBTQ performers “out” the films that influenced their identity. It’s free and fabulous!

This month’s performers are:

  • Caitlin Reese
  • Foxy Afriq
  • Alex Kim

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Retro Factory Presents: Le Freak

December 5

Throw it back to another time and place at Le Freak and escape to the land of disco balls, glitter, and free-wheeling abandon – a night at Studio 54. Get your bell bottoms, gold lamé, and see-through everything on as you enter our venue that will be reinvented to look and feel like the famous and sensuous STUDIO 54, as reimagined by our designers Rodrigo Martinez (OKLAHOMA!), Attilio Rigotti and Andrew Garvis (FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME). Experience flashmob-style recreations of dance numbers from arguably one of the sexiest eras, choreographed by Omar Nieves Delgado (The Guthrie’s WEST SIDE STORY). The visuals and performances harken thoughts of THE DONKEY SHOW and HERE LIES LOVE.

Dance to music spanning the eras spun by Queer DJ Bright Light Bright Light from Club Cumming. Partygoers can partake in intimate one-on-one experiences guided by the band of iconic Studio 54 patrons, led by opera director Raymond Zilberberg (Tosca at Loft Opera). Hosts for this party will include some of New York’s Queer Voices/Influencers Glow Job, Disgrace, Shay Au Lait, Domenic Mykel, Thee Suburbia, Glen North, and Egyptian Trans Artist & Performer, Iman Le Care.
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Werk Out

December 5 – December 19

Werk Out is a new fitness experience led by a Drag Queen and a fabulous fitness guru. However, it’s much more than just a fitness class, it is a hilarious event that is designed to be a destination for the night. A Drag Queen will serve as the host for the experience curating a light, comedic atmosphere while working with a fitness guru to create an outrageous routine that that embrace queer identity and body positivity.

Leading with inclusivity, Werk Out opens the fitness world up to every identity along the rainbow spectrum and does so with a healthy dose of humor. Each month, we will curate a new musical themes of high-energy, high-octane pump-up songs. Think of it as Jazzercise, but with drag queens! Our Drag Queen is Brita Filter and Queer Fitness Instructor AJ Blankenship. We’re working with comedians Hilton Dresden and Marty Miller.
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HUNG with Care: A Queer Holiday Burlesque Spectacular

December 6 – December 7

Kick off the holiday season with Big Gay Hudson Valley’s beloved yuletide tradition – HUNG With Care – It’s our first time in Brooklyn, and after seven years of producing the show Upstate, we’re excited to share our queer burlesque spectacular with you!

On the first day of Xmas my true love gave to me, a brand new glittered pasty.

This and eleven other gifts will be loaded up for a scintillating sleigh ride of twisted holiday tunes and yuletide performances featuring burlesque, circus and more!

Gather your nearest & dearest for a festive & feisty Season’s Greeting at 3 Dollar Bill on Friday, December 6th or Saturday, December 7th!.

HUNG With Care contains adult themes and attendees must be 21+.
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12-Hour Dance-A-Thon

December 8

Performance Space New York presents their second 12-Hour Dance-A-Thon (December 8, 12pm-12am), a fundraising event supporting another year of boundary-pushing art—and pushing the very boundaries of what an organization can do with a “fundraising event.” Organized this season by Performance Space New York Deputy Director Pati Hertling, the Dance-A-Thon features a group of DJs, hosts, and dancers who’ve become a part of its vital community. Together, they’ll create a durational, inclusive end-of-the-year celebration—dancing, sweating, having fun—to pave the way for the organization’s immediate future.

The full day of dancing features live DJ sets from Taeer, BeBe, Justin Strauss, Helen with the Gold Teeth, and Riobamba. Confirmed hosts include Angela Dimayuga (GUSH), DeSe Escobar (Club Glam), Devonn Francis (Yardy), gage of the boone (Spectrum), Oscar Nñ (Papi Juice), Jerry Saltz, Julie Tolentino (Clit Club), Precious Okoyomon, and the Board of Performance Space New York; confirmed dancers include Tyler Ashley, Lizzi Bougatsos, Kerstin Brätsch, Enrico Ciotti, Jen DeNike, Suzanne Geiss, Liam Gillick, Meaghan Gragg, Ishmael Houston-Jones, Pati Hertling, Marie Karlberg, Jacob King, Humberto Leon, Chrystoph Marten, Ivan Martínez, Jessica Mitrani, Slava Mogutin, Evan Moffitt, Isabel Parkes, Andrea Rosen, Thor Shannon, Jenny Schlenzka, Alex Sloane, and Frank Spelman.
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Queer Tiger Beat

December 11

Nikki Palumbo (UCB, Reductress) and Taylor Ortega (JFL, Disney) host this magazine-turned-comedy show of their queer teen dreams! This month’s issue features the very funny and heart-throbby Ana Fabrega (Los Espookys), Julia Shiplett (Clusterfest), Glo Butler (Glo in the City), Caitlin Reese (Women In Comedy Festival), and Chris Shurr (YasFest).

10% of ticket sales will be donated to The Audre Lorde Project
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All I Want for Christmas is Attention Tour – BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon

December 11

Seattle sisters and drag superstars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon have joined forces once again to present a new holiday extravaganza, All I Want for Christmas is Attention, to audiences across the US and the UK. After last year’s wildly successful To Jesus, Thanks for Everything, Jinkx and DeLa return to the stage this holiday season in a high-spirited scramble to maintain your interest! DeLa is all sugar and Jinkx is all spice – but how do these two very different gals deal with the stress of the holidays? A little song, a lot of eggnog, and theaters full of people looking at them… Yup – all they want for Christmas is attention!
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Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis: Billy Porter

December 11

From his Tony-winning portrayal of the big-hearted drag queen Miss Lola in Kinky Boots to his groundbreaking Emmy nominated role on FX’s Pose to his joy-sparking cover of “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” Billy Porter brings truly iconic, activist style to everything he touches.

And now he’s caught the attention of fashion gurus with bold and stylish moments on the red carpet. Fern Mallis sits down with the Grammy-winning recording artist/activist/Broadway star/style maven/composer/director/playwright for a career conversation about the people and the events that brought him to where he is today. Join them for an evening of activism, inspiration and liberation—an event that’s not to be missed!
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Annual Holiday Extravaganza

December 13 – December 14

The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus (NYCGMC) celebrates this festive time of year, presenting its annual Holiday Extravaganza. Under the leadership of new Artistic Director Gavin Thrasher, the chorus of nearly 300 voices will perform holiday classics and unique seasonal offerings with a special twist, some of which have been part of the NYCGMC’s annual holiday concert tradition since the chorus’ founding 40 years ago. Selections include: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),“ “Joy to the World,” “Hanukkah in Santa Monica,” “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart,” Barbra Streisand’s “Jingle Bells,” Sara Bareilles’ “Love is Christmas,” plus more.
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Dom We Now Our Gay Apparel 2019!

December 14, 2019

Dominick Pupa returns to The Duplex with his annual, all-new holiday show skewering the best and worst of 2019. It’s a pop culture roasting along with holiday song parodies that will ruin the Christmas classics for you forever. This year featuring ten times the shade, as we close out not just a year, but an entire decade of regret.
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Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus – Make The Yuletide Gay!

December 14

Celebrate the season with the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus at “Make The Yuletide Gay!” on Saturday, Dec. 14, an annual holiday concert featuring swinging seasonal favorites and satirical parodies that will have you hanging on every word and laughing all the way.
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A Cocktail Party Social Experiment

December 16

Is it possible to have a meaningful conversation with a perfect stranger in our fast-paced, increasingly lonely world? This question has inspired the cocktail guru, theatre artist and storyteller Wil Petry to create A Cocktail Party Social Experiment – an unconventional hybrid of immersive theater, story slam, and an evening of boozy voyeurism. The guests are asked to turn off their cell phones for the duration of the event; some can just watch and listen – while eight volunteers skip the small talk, and get into the good stuff. Ticket price includes one free cocktail; a bar on the premises opens an hour before the show and serves drinks throughout the performance.
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The 2019 Doris Dear Christmas Special

December 19 – December 21

Acclaimed drag queen and 2 time MAC Award winner singer, Doris Dear, announces the all new “Doris Dear 2019 Christmas Special”! The Doris Dear Christmas Special has quickly become a holiday tradition in NYC. Each year Doris Dear fills her “Rumpus Room” with friends and shares stories, traditions and songs of the season. From new takes on holiday classic songs to exciting original compositions, this show always brings smiles, laughter and cheers! Celebrating her fourth year of holiday magic, Doris Dear, known as “America’s Perfect Housewife”, will once again be bring her rumpus room on December 19, 20 and 21st at 7pm off-Broadway at The Triad Theater on 72nd street in NYC! This year a brand new holiday song, soon to be a holiday favorite, is being presented by award winning composer and singer Patrick DeGennaro! Doris has also invited back the award-winning girl group “Those Girls”, director and award winning singer Lina Koutrakos, award winning recording artist and world renown guitarist Sean Harkness, along with new additions, bass player Steve Count, and the bongo man himself Ari Axelrod! Doris Dear is known for her comedy and storytelling along with her amazing vocal stylings. The show is a holiday extravaganza, so grab a whiskey sour, light the yule log, and pull up a seat for this yearly jolly celebration and we guarantee you will leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Once again Doris Dear will be raising funds through “The Longest Day” initiative with The Alzheimer’s Association. The character of Doris Dear was created 4 years ago, inspired by her mother, Taffy, who passed away from Alzheimer’s. Ray will be selling his newly designed enamel pins at the show ($10) with all proceeds going to The Alzheimer’s Association.

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Naked Christmas / FCGN by GO NAKED

December 20

This holiday season, whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa come get naked with friends and share your holiday traditions with us. Wear a santa hat, sing Ma’oz Tzur, or sport the Pan-Africa colors. It’s all about the holidays and the authenticity of our naked community.
Who: 21+ men; trans, cis, intersex, nonbinary – ALL BODIES WELCOME – young folx, gay folx, bi folx, straight folx, folx of color, folx of all body types, all languages, all abilities – there is no room for discrimination here.
Guests: Please invite guests willing to get naked, contribute a social environment, party responsibly, respect boundaries, and celebrate all bodies.
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Sandra Bernhard: Sandy’s Holiday Extravaganza

December 26 – December 31

The world keeps spinning, sputtering, evolving, revolving… but you can always count on Sandy to welcome you home for the holidays at Joe’s Pub.

She’s back for the 10th year in a row, where she’ll weave her year-end tapestry, kick out the old, ring in the new and prepare you for 2020. Along with the Sandyland Squad Band, she’ll lift you up and soothe your frazzled holiday nerves. Eggnog, re-gifting, frantic office parties, family drama got you down?

Then show up for Sandy, and you will be richly rewarded. Some things never change but they always stay the same—take a look back over your shoulder and glimpse the future. We’re going to make it, kids, I promise… So, let’s gather together in this crazy season. Can’t wait to see you at Joe’s!
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Bateaux New York New Year’s Eve Fireworks Dinner Cruise

December 31

Count down to 2020 in style with a spectacular fireworks display at the Statue of Liberty, co-sponsored by Bateaux New York! Make this New Year’s celebration one you’ll never forget, and enjoy full-circle views of the iconic skyline as it dazzles across New York Harbor. Make the very first moments unforgettable with a champagne toast, platinum open bar, a delectable dinner prepared freshly onboard by our Executive Chef, live band entertainment, and signature cocktails!
https://metrosource.com/event/
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Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall

Through December 8

Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising — a six-day clash between police and civilians ignited by a routine raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City—and explores its profound legacy within contemporary art and visual culture today. The exhibition draws its title from the rallying words of transgender artist and activist Marsha P. Johnson, underscoring both the precariousness and the vitality of LGBTQ+ communities.

The exhibition presents twenty-two LGBTQ+ artists born after 1969 whose works grapple with the unique conditions of our political time, and question how moments become monuments. Through painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and video, these artists engage interconnected themes of revolt, commemoration, care, and desire.
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The Donna Summer Musical

Through December 31

Told through the dramatic lens of her final concert, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical presents the complexities and conflicts the famed songwriter and singer faced in her meteoric rise and descent. The show features a score with more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You, Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff.”
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Last modified: December 12, 2019