4 Gay Things to Do This Week in Philly: Gayborhood Bartenders Compete in Key West Cocktail Classic

By Josh Middleton· 5/13/2014, 2:48 p.m.

We round up the best gay t-dos happening this week in Philadelphia.

LGBT Summit Plans a Rally

What better time than springtime to start planning a summer of rallies for equality? Philly's LGBT Summit — a grassroots organization that meets once a month to discuss ways to fight for and promote legislation supporting Pennsylvania LGBTers — is meeting this week to plan an upcoming protest rally. This month's meeting will be lead by Whosoever Metropolitan Community Church's Reverend Jeffrey Jordan, LGBT Summit co-founder Wendy Forbes, and Summit Secretary Colleen Ott. Come fired up, and with ideas about how to make your voice heard. Tuesday, May 13th, 7 p.m., free, William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street.

The Stoli Original Key West Cocktail Classic Comes to Philadelphia

Stoli's national competition, the Key West Cocktail Classic, is coming to Philadelphia on its search to find a bartender who can pour up the "most originally authentic Stolichnaya cocktail." Local Stoli rep Billy Cavallo (pictured) tells me that seven Philly bartenders are competing, including Tony Lantz from U Bar, Johnny Catalina from Venture Inn, and Stephen Brady from Woody's. Whoever wins here will go on to compete in the finale competition in Key West May 29-31. Head around the corner to Venture Inn when the competition's over for Cavallo's weekly #VentureVariety series, starring TriXie Lee De'Flair, Dr. Fame, and Sakura Bee Love. Wednesday, May 14th, 7 p.m., free, Icandy, 254 South 12th Street.

Lambda Literary Award Finalist Readings

Six Lambda Literary Awards finalists will come together for a reading at Giovanni's Room. Among those taking part is Phil Tiemeyer, author of Plane Queer: Labor, Sexuality, and AIDS in the History of Male Flight Attendants, How Poetry Saved My Life: A Hustler's Memoir's Amber Dawn, and Michael Klein, author of The Talking Day. We're most excited however, for Philly's own Larry Benjamin, who will be reading from his gay romance novel Unbroken, which, as we reported yesterday, just took home a gold prize in the LGBT fiction category at the 2014 Independent Publisher Book awards. For a list of other Philly Lambda Literary Award nominees, go here. Thursday, May 15th, 5:30 p.m., free, Giovanni's Room, 345 South 12th Street.

OurNightOut at Stratus Lounge

Gay business cards will be flying at this week's OurNightOut, the monthly networking event hosted by the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund. This time, William Way will take on co-hosting duties in preparation for its 2014 Homecoming on Saturday, June 7th. Thursday, May 15th, 6 p.m., free, Stratus Lounge, 433 Chestnut Street.

4 Gay Things to Do This Week in Philly: Gayborhood Bartenders Compete in Key West Cocktail Classic

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