Gay Events in Atlanta This Weekend: May 1-3, 2026

It's the first weekend of May, and Atlanta has 32 LGBTQ+ events stacked across six venues — Eagle's leather-and-uniform First Friday rituals, Lore's queer techno underground, drag brunches at Lips, and a sapphic burlesque finale at MSR. Pack accordingly.

Find every event for the weekend on our Atlanta events page — updated weekly.

This week's edition is brought to you by DOLLAR FLIGHT CLUB — Travel deals so good you'll catch yourself attending three, four, maybe more Prides this summer.

This Week in Gay Atlanta

• HUD targets trans shelter access: The Trump administration's HUD unveiled a proposal to roll back Obama-era equal-access protections, redefining "gender" as "sex" and letting federally funded shelters demand sex verification — a move advocates say could deny housing to trans people in crisis. Comments open through June 29. (Advocate)
• All Stars 11 lands May 8: Paramount+ unveiled the 18-queen tournament cast — A'keria, Crystal Methyd, Salina EsTitties, Sam Star, Jasmine Kennedie and more — battling in three groups for a $200K Lip Sync Smackdown finale. Set your reminder. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Nationwide "Don't Say Gay" hits the House: Rep. Tim Walberg's PROTECT Kids Act (HB 2616) would force any federally funded elementary or middle school to require parental consent before recognizing a child's gender expression — the most aggressive federal anti-LGBTQ+ education bill yet. (Washington Blade)
• Atlanta wins DEI funding fight: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's effort to tie Atlanta's federal grants to DEI rollbacks, handing the city a temporary win in the broader battle over race- and identity-based programming. (Rough Draft Atlanta)
• Lady Gaga and Doechii drop the gayest video of the year: "Runway" — directed by Parris Goebel for The Devil Wears Prada 2 — landed Tuesday with high-fashion choreography that already sent the song to No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Digital chart. (The Source)

Friday, May 1 — 6 Events

Out x Out Pick: SIR, MAY I? at Atlanta Eagle

The Eagle's monthly leather/uniform party draws the city's biggest cruise crowd. Expect a packed back patio, kink-friendly dress, and a DJ set that doesn't quit until last call.

Also on Friday

• Glitz & Glam — 7:30 PM at Lips Drag Queen Show Palace, Restaurant & Bar
• The Other Show - Friday Drag Cabaret — 9:00 PM at Lore
• Femme Friday — 9:00 PM at MSR My Sisters Room
• House of Goonz presents Nightshift — 10:00 PM at The Heretic Atlanta
• reblog - the tumblr dance party — 11:00 PM at Lore

Saturday, May 2 — 6 Events

Out x Out Pick: Techno SLVT Party w/ Griffin Maxwell Brooks at Lore

Lore's most-buzzed-about night this season — a high-energy techno set from Griffin Maxwell Brooks (NYC's queer rave circuit favorite). Cash bar, dance floor, no pretense.

Also on Saturday

• Day Play Patio Party — 3:00 PM at Atlanta Eagle
• yes, also - A Live Podcast Recording — 7:00 PM at Lore
• KING ME! The Latinx Show — Papi Edition — 8:00 PM at MSR My Sisters Room
• GOONZ — 9:00 PM at Atlanta Eagle
• Gear Night w/ DJ Mike Pope — 10:00 PM at The Heretic Atlanta

Sunday, May 3 — 6 Events

Out x Out Pick: Dirty Yankee at MSR My Sisters Room

Sunday at MSR belongs to the queer women — Dirty Yankee is a ridiculous, raucous play on the candy bar with go-go sets, drag, and the city's friendliest sapphic crowd.

Also on Sunday

• Dragalicious Brunch — 11:00 AM at Lips Drag Queen Show Palace, Restaurant & Bar
• Hijole Frijole - A Latine Drag Brunch — 12:00 PM at Lore
• Sunday Puptea — 2:00 PM at Atlanta Eagle
• The UnWrapped Burlesque Show — Star Wars Edition — 9:00 PM at MSR My Sisters Room
• Sinful Sundays — 9:00 PM at X Midtown (TEN)

This Week's Featured Read

A Friday-to-Sunday gay Vegas itinerary — where to stay, the Fruit Loop bar crawl, RuPaul's Drag Race Live, Temptation Sundays pool party, and everything in between.

Read the full guide: 3-Day Gay Weekend in Las Vegas: The Perfect LGBTQ+ Itinerary

From the Departures Board

Six current flight deals out of Atlanta — from a $41 weekend hop to Fort Lauderdale to a $304 round-trip to Puerto Vallarta. Tap any deal to book.

• New Orleans, LA — $68 roundtrip on Delta (2026-05-21 → 2026-05-27) | Book on Expedia
• Cancún, MX — $240 roundtrip on Frontier (2026-05-14 → 2026-05-17) | Book on Expedia
• Puerto Vallarta, MX — $304 roundtrip on Aeromexico (2026-05-14 → 2026-05-21) | Book on Expedia
• San Juan, PR — $154 roundtrip on JetBlue (2026-05-07 → 2026-05-13) | Book on Expedia
• Fort Lauderdale, FL — $41 one-way on Spirit (2026-05-14) | Book on Expedia
• New York, NY (LGA) — $46 one-way on Frontier (2026-05-06) | Book on Expedia