February in Southeast Michigan is doing what February does best: confusing our skin, testing our patience and daring us to leave the house. Luckily, there are reasons to bundle up, lace up, zip up and perhaps strap on something fabulous.
This week’s lineup includes leather, learning, dancing, singing and at least one invitation to build community from the comfort of your home, possibly in sweatpants. As always, there’s something for the bold, the bashful and the “I’ll decide at the last minute” among us.
1. Embrace Intergenerational Glamour
Aging isn’t always easy, but it is in many ways a privilege; not everyone gets to grow older, and far too many in our community never had the chance. MiGen’s Rainbow Resilience: An Ageless Fashion Affair celebrates the beauty of LGBTQ+ elderhood and reminds us that visibility (and being ridiculously fabulous) is timeless.
The afternoon begins with live entertainment, food and drinks, and plenty of time to mingle before the main event: LGBTQ+ older adults taking the runway not just as models, but as storytellers, sharing an ongoing narrative of authenticity, pride and joy in community.
Get your tickets now: this intergenerational celebration is sure to sell out.
March 1, 2 p.m., Detroit Yacht Club (1 Riverbank Drive, Detroit). bit.ly/Agelessfashion1.
2. Dance It Out, ‘Heated Rivalry’ Style
Can’t get enough of the Canadian hockey romance where the heat between the sheets outscores the rivalry on the ice? This “Heated Rivalry”-themed dance party celebrates Shane and Ilya’s secret love story with all the energy of HBO Max’s record-breaking hit. DJs Samuel K.O. and Gaby Hemolock are spinning queer anthems, pop bangers and disco favorites, with drag personality Aphrodite and go-gos André Mason and Presley St. Clair keeping the vibes sky-high. There’s a $100 best-look contest (hockey jerseys encouraged) and happy hour runs 9–10 p.m. Hydrate. Stretch. Text your friends.
Feb. 28, 9 p.m.–2 a.m., Orchid Theatre (141 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale). parasolpride.com.
3. Explore Black BDSM at Cold As Hell 6
After five years away from in-person heat, Cold As Hell 6 returns — and it is not here to whisper. Hosted by Master Sango, Sir Apocalypse Onyx and Mr. Dominus, this three-day weekend centers Black BDSM culture with structure, mentorship and intentional education. Expect hands-on demos, a Kinky Mixer, a festish-focused fashion show and dance party, and a grounding aftercare brunch. Whether you’re kink-curious or seasoned, the focus here is consent, communication and community. Bonus: share a story about educating someone around kink with respect and you could win a full weekend pass. Education and sensation? Detroit said yes.
Feb. 20–22, LGBT Detroit (20021 Greenfield Road, Detroit). coldashell.org.
4. Cheer On Community at Soho Leather Weekend
Leather folks, allies and the leather-adjacent, this one’s for you. The third annual Soho Leather Weekend takes over 215 West in Ferndale for a Friday fundraiser benefiting Ferndale Pride, a Saturday night competition open to all genders (only six contestant spots — no pressure), and a Sunday social to keep the conversations going. It’s part contest, part community reunion, part “how did I end up staying until closing?” Tickets are refreshingly affordable, and yes, there’s a hotel partnership if you plan to make a weekend of it. Come for the leather, stay for the cheering section energy guaranteed to liven up a winter’s night.
Feb. 27–March 1, 9–11:30 p.m., 215 West (215 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale). ferndalepride.com/soholeather2026.
5. Read Black Queer History Into the Room
One way to celebrate Black History Month without reducing it to a quote graphic or a corporate logo swap is to invest in learning context. The recently released “A Black Queer History of the United States” by C. Riley Snorton and Darius Bost is the first book-length Black history to center queer voices, tracing Black queer, trans and gender-nonconforming lives from slavery to today. It makes clear that gender and sexual expression have always been part of the Black freedom struggle. Buy it. Read it. Talk about it. Let it complicate a conversation about intersectionality in all the best ways.
Available now at local bookstores and online.