Cupcakes, Cowgirls, and the Post-Modernization of Pride
(Yes, this is a show announcement, but I’m also gonna muse. Bear with my musings, or, if you’re in a rush, scroll til you see pictures.)
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why it feels weird to celebrate pride in 2026. Gone are the days of a libbed-out social media landscape, rainbow corporate logos, and sassy captions written by gay interns. Now, there’s an compressing feeling of danger that dominates the internet. Even for people who aren’t directly at risk–of war, genocide, internment, loss of rights–it can feel inappropriate to be joyful or loud.
I’m not nearly as online as I used to be, or as online as most of my peers are, so I know I’m only feeling a fraction of this compressive force. And I believe in joy as an act of resistance, and fun as an act of preservation. I hold fast to these teachings, and I preach them in turn to the burnt-out doomscrollers in my life. But I hesitate to present myself as, like, the ~face~ of Prideful Resilience In The Time Of Oppression.
To get a bit personal in the ‘zletter, I’ve often felt tangential to the queer community. As a bisexual who has mostly dated men (and not for lack of tryin’, for what it’s worth), I’ve struggled to feel like I’m “enough” or that I “belong.” But especially now that I’m in a long-term relationship with a man (lol hi sweetie), sometimes it feels like it’s not my place at all. Like I “pass” as straight and therefore get in the way of those who pride is “actually” supposed to be for. I don’t want to give in to biphobia from the community, but I also don’t want to pull focus or cause harm. I’m learning to find the sweet spot, which I call my “costar role.”
I’m not the series regular, I’m not a guest star, I’m a third tier that the TV biz calls a costar. I’m on the payroll, just not the posters. I’m the strength in numbers, the shoulders to stand on, the scout to send into the unknown. I feel that my life’s calling is to acquaint the world’s loveliest people with one another, and I do that partly through Times New Rita shows. So if my place is to bring fun and community to tough times, I’ll park-and-bark right here. This spot feels pretty sweet. 🥰🧁
[I may or may not have written a little song about it, and I may or may not whip it out at the show. But shhhhhh– I haven’t even told the band yet. It’s fine; I’ll tell them at rehearsal.]
So yes, we have arrived at the show announcement part! Thanks for reading as always, dear reader. 🫶 I give you: CUPCAKES AND COWGIRLS! 🧁🤠💋🌈
We loved hosting Clay’s 30th birthday show at Club Cumming, and what better time to return than pride? To celebrate both pride and Juneteenth, we’re partnering with pastry chef, Floor contestant, Bubble Wrap photographer, and all-around superstar Lisa Paradise.
You’ll get one of her iconic coochie cupcakes upon entry (if for any reason you would like someone else to eat your cupcake, just ask them nicely 😚💋), and additional toppers can be purchased to take home. Put them on your pancake or burger or forehead at your pride brunch Saturday morning. 😜
There is also a country theme, which technicallyyyyy is optional, but … is any theme optional during pride? 😈 As usual, we’re going all out, from outfits to covers to countrified originals. If you want to dance and sing on a Friday night without pride-stomping your bedtime, boy do we have the boot scootin’ good time for you! 🪕🎻🕺
Get tickets: https://timesnewrita.eventbrite.com/
Add us to your partiful calendar: https://partiful.com/e/iQetzuWDchWlcUQdnmeS
We’ll see y’all very soon!! 🤠 Yee haw etc!! Okloveyoubyeeeeeeee 🧡
