A Big Gay Recap: 2023
Big Gay Dance Party Vol. 11: Hate is a Drag was held at Beale Street’s New Daisy Theatre on June 2, 2023 complete with entertainment from local drag performers, music from DJ A.D., and dancers and performers from local group QCG Productions. View below for more information, a thank you to our sponsors, and a full gallery of photos.
Big Gay Dance Party 2023 attendees posing in front of the New Daisy Theatre.
BGDP Vol. 11: Hate is a Drag
We returned back to our roots at The New Daisy Theater where the very first Friends For Life Big Gay Dance Party was held for the 2023 bash. Developed in partnership with Mid-South Pride, this event officially kicked off the pride celebrations for Memphis Pride Fest 2023, connecting our community and supporting the mission of Friends for All: to prevent the spread of HIV and help those affected by HIV/AIDS live well. The annual Mid-South pride bash is a chance for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to come together in celebration of their pride.
Attendees enjoyed an action-packed night of music, dancing, drinks, and a safe, inclusive environment to be their true selves. Friends For All also provided free HIV testing at the party through its free testing and community center, The Haven. The fun and lively DJ A.D. kept the venue hyped all night as she supplied irresistible beats as the talented performers from QCG Productions provided entertainment with dancers and aerialists.
This year’s theme was “Hate is a Drag” as we honored local drag performers who are at the forefront of progress and protests in the midst of political turmoil. This year, we highlighted our local drag performers with full-size posters and life-size cutouts of the queens and kings all around the New Daisy Theatre. Performers Allysun Wunderland, Aubrey Ombre, Alex Carpenter, and Zoey Adams took the stage throughout the night to an excited audience full of pride. Friends For All also honored Friends of George’s for their work toward fighting for drag Freedom.
Our Sponsors
The night could not have happened without the help of our generous sponsors Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jeremy and Matthew Thacker Rhodes, Cotton Row Uniques, HOIST, and Smith + Nephew. Tito’s has been a longtime sponsor for Friends For All, providing their fantastic vodka and financial support for many of our signature events. Thank you, Tito’s Handmade Vodka!
Jeremy and Matthew Thacker-Rhodes have been supporters of Friends For All in many ways, serving on our board, hosting fundraisers, and partnering with us through their local temp agency Pridestaff. They’re also a Big Gay Dance Party “before and after party” partner through their fabulous new bar/restaurant IBIS on Main St.
Cotton Row Uniques features a unique style of blending vintage and reclaimed reproductions with a French, farmhouse feel. They carry a variety of lines including industrial, shabby chic, vintage and one-of-a-kind antique and collectible items. Smith + Nephew is a leading portfolio medical technology company that designs and makes technology that takes the limits of living. Operating in more than 100 countries, Memphis is home to our orthopedic product manufacturing. Smith + Nephew Pride is the LGBTQ+ employee inclusion group and is for members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
Hoist is a men’s leather and fetish fraternal organization founded in Memphis, TN in 2015. HOIST is a non-profit, 501 C3 corporation and donations are tax deductible. Thank you to HOIST for always being our volunteer lead for all of our Friends For All events!
Thank you to all of our attendees! By attending a Big Gay Dance Party, you are supporting the mission of Friends for All: to prevent the spread of HIV and help those affected by HIV/AIDS live well. View the full album of photos below and on our Facebook page. You can scroll by clicking one of the arrows.
