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Homo A Go Go moves to San Francisco

San Francisco has done it again. The city that I find myself talking adoringly about so often has yet another amazing queer festival coming up, filled with some very talented musicians, artists and more.

Homo a Go Go, now in its fourth year, was started in Olympia, Wash. by trans activist, writer and Queercore aficionado Ed Varga. The whole thing went so well in Olympia, that Ed decided to take the homo show on the road — to gay paradise, of course.

If you’re unfamiliar with the festival, watch this brief behind-the-scenes look of the 2006 festival:

The whole shebang, dubbed the “ultimate Gaycation,” kicks off at San Fran’s Lexington Club (otherwise known as the best lesbian bar ever — from the crowd to the cheap booze to the amazing jukebox) on August 13, but before then you can catch photos and more from previous Homo A Go Go’s on display at the Lex. Photographer Erica Beckman — who many of us know from her “I Heart Brooklyn Girls” calendar series — is coordinating the event and supplying the photos, which go on display August 11.

With 42 acts, the music portion of the festival is the focus and rightfully so. Here is just a sample of the lineup: Mirah, Erase Errata, Girl in a Coma, Team Gina, Hunx and His Punx (former Gravy Train!!!), Brooklyn-based queer duo Mkng Frndz, Glass Candy, Tender Forever, Tara Jane O’Neil, Partyline (featuring Bratmobile singer Allison Wolfe), Katastrophe, Jenna Riot, Philly-based MC Benni E, Lovers, Sgt. Sass and many, many more.

Aside from a fantastic lineup of both big-name and local musicians, the festival features more than 60 films, workshops, a three-day craft fair and an exhibit titled Homegrown, featuring 27 artists from across the globe.

The festival is cheap too, so if you live nearby there is no excuse not to attend. “Homo for a Day” passes are $10 for those 21 and under and $20 for the rest of us. The “Big Homo Pass,” which includes admission to all events, is $35 for the youngins and $70 for 21 and over. In South by Southwest fashion, event organizers also offer pricier passes that can get you out of line and right in the door, and if you fork out even more cash, you can get a personal tour from Mr. Varga himself, along with backstage access.

Beyond the obvious festival perks, the ideology behind Homo a Go Go is pretty admirable as well. When the festival started in Olympia, Vargas and other organizers donated nearly $12,000 of proceeds to the now-defunct Gender Variant Healthcare Project (GVHP), offering support to trans and gender-queer Olympia residents. The money helped the organization stay open longer, and aside from the festival’s mission: “Positively impacting queer lives and building community through art.” They will also be donating money to a to-be-determined San Francisco organization this year.

For a full lineup and more info on Homo a Go Go, visit their website.

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