Check out these great queer arts events coming up this weekend:

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[sws_yellow_box box_size=”100″] Book release and signing: Unnatural: Spiritual Resiliency in Queer Christian Women by Rachel Murr [/sws_yellow_box]

The author reads from and discusses Unnatural: Spiritual Resiliency in Queer Christian Women.
As a freshman in college, Rachel Murr found herself trying to decide which campus social group to join: the gay and lesbian advocacy group or the campus Christian fellowship. She knew it couldn’t be both. For the next fifteen years she held onto the belief that she couldn’t be both gay and Christian. When the pain involved in trying not to be lesbian called for a change in theology, she came out to her
evangelical church. Conflict ensued.Unnatural is a collection of stories—not only of the harm religiously-inspired negative messages about homosexuality inflict, but also of redemption. Rachel uses her own story as well as personal interviews with ten other queer women and one female-to-male transgender man to tell how they were judged, lectured, kicked out of homes and families, subjected to
reparative therapies, and even assaulted. Some faced homelessness, depression, suicide
attempts, and pervasive shame. Still, they fought to keep their faith alive. Each demonstrated an Unnatural ability to forgive, love, believe, advocate, and heal. Rachel Murr published “‘I Became Proud of Being Gay and Proud of Being Christian’: Faith Experiences of Queer Christian Women,” as part of her MSW degree at St. Thomas University and the University of St. Catherine. She is a therapist at the Working Well Mental Health Clinic and a mental health practitioner at a trauma-informed treatment center for women with mental illnesses. She lives in St. Paul, MN.
Join the author for a presentation and reading. There will be a book signing, sales, and light refreshments.

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″] Details
Date: Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7pm
Location: Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN
Admission: Free
For more information, visit Open Book [/sws_blue_box]

[sws_yellow_box box_size=”100″] BOOM! Theater presents: NEXT FALL by Geoffrey Nauffts [/sws_yellow_box]

As a dedicated advocate for the LGBT community, Boom! Theater proudly presents NEXT FALL.
A witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love. Featuring an exceptionally talented cast: Josef Buchel, Daniel Flohr, Amy Schweickhardt, Julie Ann Nevill, Hugh Bill Kirsch and Patrick Kozicky.

Get your tickets now! Online purchases, through Labor Day are only $10 dollars! What a deal!

To learn more about our production and to purchase tickets, visit: http://www.boomtheatermn.org/up-next/

To make a donation to BOOM! Theater, please go to: http://www.boomtheatermn.org/donate/

Thanks everyone! See you at the theater!

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″] Details
Date: Sept. 26 – Oct. 11 at 7:30pm
Location: The People’s Center Theater: 425 20th Ave South. Mpls, MN 55454
Admission: $12 advance, $15 door
For more information, visit Boom! Theater [/sws_blue_box]

[sws_yellow_box box_size=”100″] Dan Savage’s Hump! Film Tour, hosted by Dan Savage [/sws_yellow_box]

Since 2005 the HUMP! Film Festival has challenged ordinary people from all over the Pacific Northwest to become temporary, weekend porn stars-by making their very own five-minute dirty movies for a chance to win big cash prizes! And they did not disappoint! The resulting short films run the gamut of sexual styles: straight, gay, lesbian, transgender… every color in the sexual rainbow… and some we never knew existed. HUMP! films are funny, thought-provoking, sad, artistic, outrageous, and almost overwhelmingly sexy-because they’re real. And they’re real because they were created and performed by sex-positive people, just like YOU. That’s why we’re bringing the very best of HUMP! to your town! See 20 of the hottest HUMP films in action… they’ll make you laugh, squeal, and marvel at the broad (and creative) range of human sexuality. It’s the HUMP! Tour 2014! And you’re going to have a blast.
Event

[sws_blue_box box_size=”100″] Details
Date: Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6:45, 8:45, and 10:45pm
Location: 115 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Admission: $20
For more information, visit Hump! Tour [/sws_blue_box]