Welcome to the November edition of The Queer Agenda, The Queer Review’s curated monthly guide to LGBTQ+ cultural happenings in New York City and beyond.
Continues through March 8, 2026, The Gay Harlem Renaissance, The New York Historical
The Gay Harlem Renaissance examines the Black LGBTQ+ artists, writers, and performers central to the Harlem Renaissance and everyday Black gay life in the early 20th century. Marking the centennial of The New Negro—the landmark 1925 anthology edited by Alain Locke—the exhibition traces the queer creativity, friendship circles, and mentorships that flourished in Harlem’s salons, social clubs, and thriving nightlife and that helped power the Harlem Renaissance.
As Harlem grew into the nation’s largest Black metropolis after the First World War, Black Southern and Caribbean migrants, activists, and creatives transformed the neighborhood into a nexus of political activism, creative expression, and community life. Many of Harlem’s most celebrated poets, novelists, and artists were gay or bisexual (some discreetly and others openly); and many of the preeminent blues singers performing in nightclubs and basement speakeasies were lesbian, bisexual, or transmasculine.
Whether on Harlem’s biggest stages or in its nightclubs or hidden speakeasies, LGBTQ+ performers took center stage. Together they helped shape the cultural innovation that defined the era. Amid this cultural convergence, queer and straight artists formed close-knit circles—living together, mentoring one another, and exchanging ideas that shaped the future of Black art and culture. Their creative tensions—whether over how openly to depict same-sex desire or the so-called “unrespectable” venues of Harlem’s nightlife—helped shape the bold, expansive spirit of the Harlem Renaissance.
Featuring more than 200 objects, The Gay Harlem Renaissance unites painting, sculpture, artifacts, documents, photographs, books, and music from collections across the country and celebrates the creativity, innovation, and resilience of Black LGBTQ+ Harlemites. For visitor information and to purchase tickets head to nyhistory.org/visit.
Continues through November 30, Theater of Delight by Sal Salandra with Fabio Zambernardi, Camera Doppia, Milan
Theater of Delight is the first solo exhibition in Italy by Sal Salandra, a self-taught artist based in East Hampton, New York, internationally known for his thread paintings depicting joyful, erotic scenes between queer men. For Salandra’s exhibition, Milan-based fashion and costume designer Fabio Zambernardi creates a site-specific display inspired by biographical elements from the artist’s life, particularly the period when Salandra was running a hair salon in New York City. At the center of this theatrical stage, Zambernardi constructs an environment in which the artist’s sexual imagery mingles with the vernacular and the trivialities of everyday life. Yet this setting is far from literal: suggestive rather than indexical, it resists banality and leaves space for the imagination. The scenography is evocative, composed of fragments that hint at different “stations” in a life or fantasy, without ever fully resolving into a fixed narrative.
The exhibition features ten paintings spanning from 1995 to 2025, including four drawings that often serve as starting points for the artist’s thread paintings. For this occasion, Salandra has created a new work inspired by The Baptism of Christ. Salandra’s tribute to this canonical religious motif is deliberately irreverent: he transforms the scene into a queer, pagan ritual—provocative yet humorous—reframing sacred iconography through the lens of erotic pleasure. CC is located at Via Francesco Ingegnoli 13, Milan, Italy. Visits are by appointment only by emailing info@cameradoppia.cc or calling +39 340 8590776. Find more details at cameradoppia.cc. Read our exclusive interview with artist Sal Salandra.
October 30, 2025 – February 22, 2026, Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies, Somerset House, London
This landmark exhibition explores how McGregor’s investigations into the body, movement and cutting-edge digital technologies have radically redefined our perception of physical intelligence. A series of multi-sensory choreographic installations, performances and experiments will take over Somerset House’s Embankment Galleries, including spectacular new commissions. A major off-site installation will also be presented at Stone Nest in London’s West End, forming part of a city-wide celebration of Infinite Bodies.
The exhibition features collaborations with world-leading artists, designers, musicians, and technologists, such as Industrial Light & Magic, artist group Random International, Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker, renowned music producer LEXX, and artists Ravi Deepres, Ben Cullen Williams, Jeffrey Shaw, OpenEndedGroup and Nick Rothwell. McGregor also continues his creative exchanges with visionary collaborators such as fashion designer Gareth Pugh, visual artist Theresa Baumgartner, photographer Indigo Lewin, and filmmaker Ruth Hogben.
At select moments during the run, Company Wayne McGregor, the world-class dancers in residence, will bring the artworks to life, offering audiences a rare glimpse into their creative process. These special appearances will take place on unannounced dates. The exhibition will feature a programme of talks, music, workshops, events, and relaxed sessions. For more details and to purchase tickets head to somersethouse.org.uk.
October 31 – November 14, JJ McGlone’s Burn Book, 122 Community Center, New York
A new play by JJ McGlone directed by Obie Award-winning Rory Pelsue (Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse, Circle Jerk), Burn Book describes itself as “a darkly funny, witchy fanfiction about queer adolescence, power, and obsession”. Colliding elements from three classics—The Crucible, Mean Girls, and The Craft—Burn Book is “a spell being cast, an invocation”, describes JJ. “It’s an attempt to get to the bottom of gay guys’ (or just my own) fascination with women who behave badly, while giving queer characters the chance to exorcise those demons.”
Originally a sold-out hit at Yale Cabaret, the play blends camp, pop culture critique and a little chaos. JJ stars alongside Leland Fowler, Daniel Liu, and Julian Sanchez. The show’s stellar design team includes Emmy-winner Erin Sullivan (video), Lily Guerin (set), Bailey Trierweiler, Tim White (sound), and David Mitsch (costumes). Tickets and more details: eventbrite.com.
November 4 & 5, Bright Light Bright Light + Cameron Hawthorn, Pie Shop, Washington DC & World Cafe Live, Philadelphia
Join Bright Light Bright Light and Cameron Hawthorn for a super fun gay night of hi energy dramatic pop (Bright Light Bright Light) and dark, gorgeous electronics (Cameron) at DC’s Pie Shop on November 4th and at Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live on November 5th. “DC and Philly, get ready to dance!” Declares Bright Light Bright Light. “These are going to be two very special shows with my friend and collaborator Cameron Hawthorn. Come on a rollercoaster ride through my catalogue with a full dance-pop one-man show, and experience songs from Cameron’s incredible debut album.” For more details and tickets head to: brightlightx2.com.
November 5, Boy Radio Live, Groove, New York
Catch indie dance pop king Boy Radio with his band at West Village’s happening Groove club, performing songs from his latest genre-blurring album Himboism that fuses tech house, liquid drum & bass, and R&B vibes to create an electrifyingly seductive soundscape, as well as tracks from his delectably innovative debut record Pop That. Doors 6pm, show 7pm. For more details and to purchase tickets head to Eventbrite.com. Read our interview with Boy Radio and check out our exclusive Himbo Sumer Coney Island photo series shot for The Queer Review by Steven Menendez.
November 5-8, Good Sex, Brooklyn’s Powerhouse Arts, New York
How do you have sex on stage? How do you even have sex? To try and find an answer, each night, two brand new performers tell a story of desire, betrayal and loneliness. They have never rehearsed together or read the script. They are strangers. But they are not alone—to help and guide them they are joined on stage by an intimacy director, trained in the art of teaching people how to touch. So you can rest assured that the sex will be safe. It will be consensual. And it will be good.
Award-winning Irish theater company Dead Centre returns to New York after performances at the Abrons Arts Center (Lippy, Obie Award winner), BAM (Hamnet), and the Irish Arts Center (Chekhov’s First Play) with a collaboration with award-winning novelist and essayist Emilie Pine. Born out of the pandemic, when touching was a transgressive act and our bodies were sites of sickness, Good Sex is a love story for a loveless age.
Good Sex will feature a rotating lineup of stars including Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House) and Tony and Emmy-nominee Arian Moayed (Succession) on Wednesday, November 5th; Tony-winner John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and Oscar-nominee Elliot Page (Close To You) on Thursday, November 6th; Morgan Spector (The Gilded Age) and Golden Globe-nominee Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians) on Friday, November 7th; and Brandon Flynn (13 Reasons Why) and SAG Award-winner Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) on Saturday, November 8th. The November 7th performance will be followed by a conversation with renowned psychotherapist and bestselling author Esther Perel who will bring her distinctive expertise on intimacy, desire, and human connection to explore the questions raised by the production. Tickets and more details: festival.powerhousearts.org.
November 6-9, OutfestNEXT, Los Angeles
The much-missed Outfest returns this month with OutfestNEXT, a four-day event in Los Angeles with screenings and receptions at the LA LGBT Center’s historic Renberg Theatre and the tech-forward LOOK Cinema in Glendale. The lineup includes 20 films, spanning features, shorts, and archival selections that spotlight both established and emerging voices. The program reflects the most impactful queer filmmaking from the past two years, celebrating stories that challenge convention and expand the boundaries of representation.
The screening series opens with All That We Love directed by Yen Tan, who is known for his films 1985 (2018 Outfest winner for Outstanding Screenwriting), Pit Stop, and Happy Birthday. All That We Love follows Emma (Margaret Cho) as she navigates the loss of her dog and renewed feelings for her estranged ex-husband. The film also stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kenneth Choi, Alice Lee, Missi Pyle, Atsuko Okatsuka, and Devin Bostick.
The first night also features Dust Bunny, the directorial debut of Bryan Fuller, 2017 Outfest Achievement Award honoree and the writer and creator behind Pushing Daisies and Hannibal. The film stars Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian and centers on a 10-year-old girl who asks her hitman neighbor for help in killing the monster under her bed that she believes has eaten her family. Fuller will be in attendance to introduce the film.
Greg Berlanti’s first feature, The Broken Hearts Club, which centres on the turbulent lives and loves of a group of gay friends in Los Angeles will celebrate its 25th anniversary at this year’s event. Additional confirmed narrative films include CAMP by Avalon Fast, Dreams in Nightmares by Shatara Michelle Ford, and Perro Perro by Marco Berger. Documentaries include Niñxs by Kani Lapuerta, State of Firsts by Chase Joynt, and Rowan Haber’s We Are Pat which examines the Saturday Night Live skit “It’s Pat” through the lens of 2025, trans visibility, and their own conflicted recollection of the controversial character played by Julia Sweeney. For the full OutfestNEXT lineup and to purchase tickets head to outfest.org/next.
November 6-23, Blue Seal Blue Sea (or, gay boy grieves death of gay-hating dad), The Makers’ Space, New York
The world premiere of Dante Fuoco’s bold solo work Blue Seal Blue Sea (or, gay boy grieves death of gay-hating dad) directed by Clara Wiest blends queer grief, family reckoning, and retro multimedia spectacle in a 15-performance run at Brooklyn’s The Makers’ Space.
Jolted by the sudden death of his estranged father, a gay man ventures back into the closet, where his childhood camcorder, TV, and family home videos are gathering dust. A fateful huff of “VCR cleaner” transports him through a g00ning galaxy, all the way to a watery world governed by Y2K technology. His name is now F@gg’aught Flamé, and if he ever wants to get back home he has to play—and play with—VHS tapes from a forgotten past. Full details and tickets: seal.show.
November 20-22, MIX NYC, Quad Cinema, New York
MIX NYC returns with three nights of bold, boundary-pushing queer cinema and moving image art from around the world. This year’s festival unlocks new worlds of expression: films that breathe, stories that defy convention, and visions that expand the possibilities of queer film. Over three nights of queer experimental films, audiences can join post-screening Q&As and afterparties just steps from the cinema. Together, we gather to witness the collision of art, identity, and community in their raw, luminous forms. Individual program tickets and full festival passes are on sale now. Closing night party tickets not included with individual screening tickets. For full lineup and to purchase tickets head to MixNYC.org.
Compiled by James Kleinmann
Leave a Reply