If you like your parties queer, gender-fucking and bi-coastal, arrive early and get cupcaked with the sexiest go-gos and partygoers at Original Plumbing Magazine's 3rd Birthday Celebration, Friday August 31 at the Elbo Room.
Original Plumbing (OP) Magazine is the first trans men magazine - a quarterly - founded and published by Bay Area native Rocco Katastrophe and vanguard photographer Amos Mac. Both trans men, Katastrophe is best known as a rapper, singer and producer who's frequently worked with another Bay Area icon Margaret Cho. Mac's photographic work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Italian Vogue, Candy, Butt and Out Magazine, among others.
In 2009, the two combined forces to spawn OP Magazine. "We didn't see a space in the media for trans men to exist," Mac says. A mag junkie since childhood, Mac waited for trans men culture to materialize in print, but it never did. In 2009, he began shooting trans men portraits with accompanying interviews and, when he got Katastrophe in-studio, the idea lit a spark which lit a flame. Mac and Katastrophe partnered up and OP was beget.
The first OP printing of 1,000 magazines was aided by grassroots community fundraising and quickly sold out. Today, OP's circulation is 2,000 strong with international distribution, including Israel, Iceland and Australia. Each edition is theme-based with content submitted by trans people all over the world. The most popular printing to date: "The Bedroom Issue". Katastrophe and Mac's personal favorite: "The Family Issue" for its emotional gravity and depth.
Katastrophe and Mac have since relocated to Brooklyn, but host OP parties bi-coastally in San Francisco and New York City, sometimes in connection with a magazine launch, other times just to celebrate community.
"We made the magazine, in part, because there is no reflection of our existence as trans men in media. The parties are thrown in a similar spirit; to create a space for trans men and their allies," says Katastrophe.
Who comes to OP parties? "Everyone!" exclaims Katastrophe. "No matter what city we throw the parties in, it's a great mix of people: dudes, ladies, gender non-conforming people, queer, gay and straight. The parties are fun!" As a sometimes OP go-go dancer, I unequivocally concur.
OP Mag's Birthday Celebration is Friday, August 31 at the Elbo Room, 647 Valencia Street; hosted by Original Plumbing founders and editors Amos Mac and Rocco Katastrophe. Katastrophe performs with special guests Jenna Riot, Billie Elisabeth and Nicky Click. DJ Rapidfire (Stay Gold) spins and Amos Mac shoots photos all night. Free birthday cupcakes while supplies last! www.originalplumbing.com
Other Trans-Friendly & Queertastic Bay Area Parties:
Faded: every third Thursday at Skylark Bar, 3089 16th St. DeeJay Andre and Peaches Lady DJ Party host a dance party featuring premiere female DJs spinning Hip Hop, Reggaeton and Electro at The City's Mission District Hip Hop Hub. Sexy, sweaty and two years strong. www.DJAndreSF.com
Daytime Realness, San Jose Edition: Sunday August 5 at Splash, 65 Post Street, San Jose. San Francisco's infamous daytime party brings drag, dancing & debauchery to the South Bay. Hosted by Heklina (Trannyshack), DJ Carnita (Hard French), and Stanley Frank (Viennetta Discotheque), with performances by Gillette, Raya Light, Becky Motorlodge, and Dulce De Leche. Guest DJ Jenna Riot (Fix Yr Hair, 13 Licks). www.trannyshack.com
Stay Gold: Diverse event now in its sixth year, hosted by DJs Pink Lightning and Rapid Fire; for gaywads, homos, queers, lezzies, butches, twinks, queens, dandies, daddies, fatties, femmes and anyone in between for a night of white hot cruising and solid gold dancing. $3-$5. Last Wednesdays at Public Works, 161 Erie St. www.facebook.com/staygoldsf
Sissy Strut: Oldies, Motown, Doo Wop, and Soul Jams...with eye-candy bartenders, ear-candy music, and cutie qweers a-dancin! Fourth Fridays at Underground SF, 424 Haight Street. www.facebook.com/thehandsome.youngmen