Community Focused in Chicago

Venus brings mediumship and spell work to Dorothy's underground space for an evening of tarot readings. From 6-10pm, step into the intimate speakeasy vibe and get a reading that blends divination with something deeper. A monthly ritual for anyone curious...

A focused two-hour training for mental health professionals, therapists, and counselors looking to deepen their practice with LGBTQ+ clients. Learn foundational concepts around gender identity, sexual orientation, and affirming clinical approaches that actually meet people where they are. Whether you're...

Historian Whitmire pulls back the curtain on years of research into Reed Peggram's life—a Black queer soldier whose story was nearly lost to history. Through letters, archives, and meticulous detective work, she reveals what his wartime experience in Europe tells...

Sidetrack's turning 44 and throwing a proper party — $3 cocktails, beers, and frozen drinks all night, live performances from Boy J and Veronica Pop with special guest Brooke Lynn Hytes, and a dance floor packed with people who've made...

A practical two-hour training for therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals looking to deepen their competence with LGBTQ+ clients. Learn foundational frameworks for affirming care, common clinical considerations, and how to create a genuinely welcoming practice. Whether you're new to...

Author Whitmire reveals how she reconstructed a hidden history from letters and archives—the urgent story of a Black queer man whose life in wartime Europe was erased from the historical record. This is a conversation about what his world tells...

Four years running, this panel brings queer elders into the room to share their lived experiences and the histories that shaped our community. It's the kind of evening that reminds you why remembering matters — stories that don't get told...

Thursday night open mic at 2Bears where the regulars show up to share whatever's on their mind—comedy bits, stories, songs, or just whatever. Low-pressure, high-community vibe in a neighborhood bar that actually gets it. Bring something or just come to...

Catch All Stars every Friday night at Sidetrack — the kind of viewing party where the crowd knows every lip sync, every elimination, and exactly when to lose it. Settle in from 7-9pm with people who actually care about the...

Every Friday at 7pm, Sidetrack transforms into the ultimate viewing experience for RuPaul's Drag Race — massive screens across seven rooms, no cover charge, and a crowd that actually knows how to react. Stick around after the episode for a...

Dorothy's weekly karaoke night for sapphic folks and friends — hosted by E and always free. Grab the mic, pick your song, and sing your heart out in a room that gets it. Low-pressure, high-fun, the kind of Saturday night...

A Sunday afternoon tea dance at Jackhammer where the leather and alternative community gathers to dance, socialize, and celebrate together. Good music, good people, and the kind of relaxed vibe that makes a weekend afternoon actually worth getting out for.

A Pride furry party that's all about community and music — live DJ sets, local vendors, and a dance floor packed with people ready to celebrate. Fursuits and furry gear are encouraged but not required. Whether you're deep in the...

A monthly gathering for readers who want to actually read — no pressure to finish anything, no obligation to chat, just quiet camaraderie in a subterranean lesbian bar. Dorothy dims the lights and plays instrumental music while you settle in...

A celebration of lesbian voices and stories at Dorothy, the city's most welcoming underground lesbian bar. The evening kicks off with a book launch, then opens the floor for community members to share their own stories — the kind of...

Bartender Lou brings the community together for an evening celebrating trans and non-binary folks at Dorothy. Browse a pop-up marketplace from local makers while you settle in with a drink — it's the kind of intentional space that feels rare...

The Reading is Resistance book club digs into Owen Keehnen's "A Place for Us" — a novel that speaks directly to queer life and belonging. Gather with other readers at Unabridged Bookstore for discussion, community, and the kind of conversations...

Drag meets classic Mexican bingo at this Tuesday night mashup — players bring their own beans, the performers bring the chaos, and someone's definitely going to win. It's the kind of gloriously weird event that only happens in a neighborhood...

Chicago's queer comedy night is back with a stacked lineup of the city's sharpest comics. Bi, not bi, partnered, single, wife-shaped or otherwise — if you laugh at good comedy and want to be in a room full of people...

Unabridged's Horror Book Club digs into Michael McDowell's atmospheric Southern gothic novel—a tale of a family haunted by something ancient and unknowable in their new home. If you love horror that builds dread through character and setting rather than jump...

Grab a brush, pour a drink, and spend the evening creating something you'll actually want to hang on your wall. Kimberly Summer guides you through a painting while the vibe stays loose, the cocktails flow, and you're surrounded by people...

QPOC Night at the sellout show that's become a Pride institution — musical theatre, queer joy, and a room full of people who came to celebrate together. This is the night the community shows up for.

Unabridged's Horror Book Club digs into Michael McDowell's "The Elementals," a Southern Gothic masterpiece about a family haunted by something far older and stranger than a typical ghost story. If you love horror that builds dread through atmosphere and character,...

Alterotics brings an evening of boundary-pushing performance and community to Jackhammer. This is the kind of event that celebrates self-expression and alternative culture in all its forms — expect live performances, a crowd ready to engage, and the freedom to...

Thursday nights at Meeting House belong to the singers — whether you're belting out your go-to anthem or discovering a new favorite. Bradley K8 Olsen hosts this weekly cabaret where the crowd is supportive, the song list is deep, and...

Trivia night meets drag entertainment at 2Bears Tavern Uptown—test your knowledge while a rotating cast of local queens keeps the energy high and the banter sharper than your answers. Free to play, cheap drinks, and the kind of crowd that...

Cut Cuz takes over Dorothy for a cover-free night celebrating Juneteenth—four hours of uninterrupted DJ sets from 9pm to 1am. Free entry, no cover charge, just good music and community marking the occasion.

A body-positive Pride celebration for chubs, bears, and the people who love them. Jackhammer's afternoon event runs from 3pm to 10pm, giving you a full seven hours to kick back, connect, and soak in the community vibe. Early bird tickets...

No cover, no pretense, just a room full of queer singles actually looking to connect. Dorothy's basement vibe is the perfect low-pressure spot to shoot your shot on a Sunday evening — show up, grab a drink, see who you...

Monday nights at Dorothy belong to the cult classic that made a generation of queer kids feel seen. She's the Man—that gloriously fun 2006 Twelfth Night adaptation—screens at 7pm in the intimate underground space where it belongs. Grab a drink,...

Twinka Masala's newest queer open mic night launches at Dorothy for Pride Month. Grab the rhinestone mic and share what's on your mind — poetry, comedy, stories, songs, whatever moves you. The kind of intimate underground space where people actually...

The Queer Book Club digs into Owen Keehnen's "A Place for Us" — a novel about queer life, community, and finding where you belong. Gather with fellow readers who actually want to talk about the books that matter to them....

Billie Eilish's concert film comes to Dorothy's underground speakeasy for a one-night screening. It's the kind of event that turns a Wednesday night into something special — a room full of people who get it, watching one of pop's biggest...

The Queer Book Club digs into Owen Keehnen's "A Place for Us" — a story about finding home and community in unexpected places. Expect thoughtful conversation, a room full of readers who actually show up ready to talk, and the...

Late-night open mic at 2Bears where regulars and newcomers alike grab the mic and see what happens. It's the kind of unpretentious, anything-goes vibe that only works when everyone in the room is rooting for each other — expect comedy,...

Three days of nonstop DJ sets and dancing — 33 DJs from Chicago and beyond spinning house, nu-disco, dark melodic, and soulful vibes across 57 hours of continuous music. Whether you're dancing at Meeting House Tavern or tuning in on...

Saturday afternoons at Meeting House Tavern belong to the people who show up to decompress, connect, and be themselves without judgment. It's part social mixer, part chosen family gathering — the kind of space where you can actually talk and...

The last Saturday of every month belongs to the women and sapphic community at Sidetrack. Five to nine pm is your window to dance, connect, and celebrate with folks who get it — a recurring gathering that's become a reliable...

Gyrate is a Black, Latine, and Queer-run party that celebrates Caribbean culture and the Black Diaspora. Their Dorothy debut lands right in Pride season—expect a dance floor that knows how to move, music that hits different, and a room full...

All-vinyl queer disco sleaze on Pride weekend — FunkStick brings the heat to Jackhammer after the Chicago Pride Parade with resident DJ Connie Kway-Lewd spinning rare disco all night, plus a rotating lineup of guest DJs (Tony Breed, Buyers Club,...

Dorothy's closing its doors Sunday evening so the whole crew can hit the streets for Chicago's Pride Parade—because some things are bigger than the bar. Come find us in the march, then stick around for the celebration that follows. It's...

Sunday nights at SoFo Tap belong to the bears who come to grab the mic and let loose. Hosted by Rhett Butlah, Bearaoke is a no-judgment zone where country favorites, power ballads, and everything in between get the big vocal...

The queer karaoke night that actually gets it — a room full of sapphic energy, hosted by E., closing out Pride season at Dorothy. Expect singalongs, cheers, and the kind of crowd that knows every word to every song that...

Bingo night with a glamorous twist at Meeting House Tavern. Dress up, grab your dauber, and join the crowd for an evening of games, laughs, and community. It's the kind of midweek event that reminds you why this neighborhood bar...

Get an early peek at Madonnarama Confessions II, the drag spectacle that's been building buzz in Chicago's queer scene. This first look event gives you a front-row seat to what's coming — expect high-energy performances, iconic Madonna moments, and the...

Thursday nights at 2Bears belong to anyone with something to say—a low-key open mic where regulars and newcomers take turns at the mic in front of a genuinely supportive crowd. It's the kind of intimate, unpretentious space where you can...

Sidetrack's monthly Dog Day brings the pups and their people together for an afternoon of community and fun. First Saturday of every month from 1-5pm, it's a dog-friendly gathering where you can hang out with fellow dog lovers, enjoy the...

Jackhammer's Pride party for chubs, bears, and their admirers — a body-positive celebration that runs all night from 9pm to 5am. Leather and fetish gear encouraged; the vibe is inclusive, judgment-free, and built for people who know how to have...

Real stories from real people — the kind that stick with you. OUTspoken brings the community together on the first Tuesday of every month for intimate, unfiltered storytelling. Whether it's a coming-out tale, a love story, or something that changed...

Bingo night with a glamorous twist at Meeting House Tavern. Dress up, play for prizes, and enjoy the company of your queer community in Andersonville. It's the midweek social you didn't know you needed.

Weekly trivia night built for bears and their people — think geeky questions, competitive teams, and the kind of crowd that actually knows their stuff. First, second, and third place prizes keep things fun, plus new raffles every week. Wednesdays...

Thursday night open mic at 2Bears where regulars and newcomers take the stage to do their thing — comedy, songs, stories, whatever. It's the kind of low-pressure, supportive room where people actually listen, and the crowd gets genuinely invested in...

Chicago's weekly bear night where the big, the hairy, and the ones who love them come together. No cover, no attitude—just a room full of bears and their admirers ready for a good time. Fridays 9pm to 2am at SoFo...

A witchy afternoon of cocktails and tarot at Meeting House Tavern. Sip craft drinks while getting readings, connecting with fellow spell-casters, and soaking up the magical vibes. Perfect for anyone who loves a good potion and a little divination on...

Every Friday night, the superfans and the nightlife crowd converge at Meeting House Tavern for a high-energy watch party of All Stars Season 11. Hosted by Jairo Reyna, it's wigs, shade, cocktails, and fierce reactions—commentary, laughs, lip syncs, and all...