Thirsty?
Deviant Event’s original conception was as a social experiment: What would a world of liberated black and brown queer people look like? How would we convince folks who have been historically oppressed to untie those intricate knots around their minds, bodies, spirituality and sexuality? How could we make them believe in their own godliness, holiness and worthiness? The answer was the Deviant Events circuit party, and the results continue to scream amazing success. Queer people of color come together in an intentionally sex positive and body positive environment and party! Naturally our social experiment took its own evolution as we are now moving beyond the physical safety and mental wellness of our patrons and now prioritizing everyone’s health at our Hydration Stations.
Hydration Stations are booths, where folks can retrieve free water from licensed medical professionals. At these booths they may also ask and receive advice about sexual health, mental wellness and resources for substance harm reduction. Our licensed medical staff care about the community we collectively serve, and may also instruct folks to lay off drinking alcohol, drink more water, or help them safely order an Uber home.
The phenomenon of these booths is that it mitigates so many potential dangers of partying. As a graduate of Sociology I often think about how we might change our social world for the better. Stories of date rape, drunk driving, unwanted touch in clubs, overdosing on club drugs, and waking up next to perfect strangers are all terrifying realties in the current social world of nightlife. Licensed allied health professionals are folks who are informed, aware, licensed and empowered to make sure party-goers are cared for, when they fail to care for themselves. These booths become of a hot-spot for those who pre-gamed too much, partied too hard or lost their friends in the crowd. I imagine a check-in counter at the department store that lets vulnerable youth sit with personnel as they page your parents to come pick you up. It is this kind of comfortable, convenient and confident care that the Hydration Stations and its staff provide for adults, who just came to dance with y’all… that’s it. (a very black reference)
Circuit parties are fun environments where gay, trans and bisexual men dress in the ways they’ve always been told were undignified for men. We wear thongs and jockstraps and harnesses, and we dance the night away. The attire makes us feel free, but first it dares each of us to embrace our bodies. At Deviant Events our dress code is “Body Positivity”. Everyone is required to strip away the labels and classism that we often wear with our Sunday’s best attire to the clubs. There’s no hiding here. We get uncomfortable together.
Digital messaging on screens around the club reminds our party-goers of required “consent” that’s championed in our value of Sex Positivity. We curate an environment where flirtation and boundaries of body autonomy coexist. In this environment where everyone’s feeling good, confident and empowered in their sexy, they are also encouraged to stay safe, aware and respectful. Our Hydration Stations are where we double-down on that expectation of health and safety. These stations within our parties are invaluable, and lets Deviants trust their wellbeing here with us, even when they can’t trust themselves.
Honestly, the Hydration Stations have me so hype! I hope to see them applied beyond our Deviant Events brand and all throughout our social world. I love the idea of licensed nurses on standby at every bar, to assist when someone gets too drunk. Bouncers are cool, but we need more than grit and strength that tosses people out into the cold. I love the idea of a confident and trustworthy eye being in every bar and club. It makes me feel safer as I engage in fun and euphoria. It offers me more confidence that those I love can navigate nightlife more safely also. Watchful eyes of care-givers may ward away the nightlife creeps and very real predators, who seek to date rape or take advantage of someone who’s overly intoxicated. These same watchful eyes can warn against drunk driving and make our streets safer overall.
Special “Thanks to Emory University”
Hydration Stations, where party-goers go to get free water from staffed medical professionals is a brilliant idea that could forever change the culture of American nightlife. If you’d like to be a part of this change and you are a licensed professional, please contact us at DeviantEventsDC@gmail.com . Emory University’s “Community Engagement and Recruitment Team” were the first to answer the call in Atlanta. They partnered with us to provide licensed staff and sexual health materials. Their friendly staff were a welcome help in our party, which saw 300 queer black and brown men. They provided condoms, lube, educational pamphlets and even offered free rapid HIV testing as well as other STI screenings. It is this kind of continued partnership that we look forward to as we work to effect change in the social world.
Our “Deviant” brand has grown so rapidly and now our events are opening up all across the East Coast. Atlanta, DC and New York are all flagship cities for Deviant Events and its Hydration Stations. We hope to continue changing culture in such a way that the world becomes safer, healthier and happier for all people, and especially our beloved community of queer people of color.