JOY DROP: Welcome to the Slay
It’s 2026. The world is still a mess, but the girls, gays, theys, and yinzers? We’re still here. We’re still queer. And we’re still slaying.
Welcome to the first-ever edition of Slay Weekly, your new Monday ritual of queer joy, good news, and local magic powered by the community and for the community. Every week, we’ll drop affirmations, celebrations, silliness, and softness right into your inbox. No doom, no gloom, no bad vibes.
This newsletter was born from a very simple idea that queer joy is real. It’s radical. And it deserves the spotlight.
So whether you’re thriving, surviving, or somewhere between a hungover glitter goblin and a tender gender icon, we’re glad you’re here. Let’s start 2026 with softness, sparkle, and a little local slay.
SLAY OF THE WEEK: Mils “M.J.” James
Actor. Dancer. Singer. Director. Costume designer. Mentor. ICON.
Mils “M.J.” James has spent his career shining in the spotlight and even more impressively, turning that spotlight toward others. A native Pittsburgher with global credits, Mils returned home in 2024 and 2025 for two back-to-back artistic slays: playing Cordero in Monteze Freeland’s all-Black, all-queer sitcom-style play Fishy Woo Woo, and then taking on both the role of Lyons and costume design for Fences at the August Wilson House.
That’s not just performance, that’s legacy work.
Mils’ return wasn’t just a homecoming. It was a love letter to Black queer artistry in Pittsburgh. From the Hill District to the global stage, he’s shown up unapologetically Black, queer, and brilliant even when it wasn’t easy, especially when it wasn’t easy.
Now back in New York, Mils continues to slay as the founding artistic director of Reflections Theatre CO-OP, but his imprint on Pittsburgh is permanent.
For his joy, his art, and his radical commitment to lifting others Mils “M.J.” James is our first-ever Slay of the Week.
Read the full QBurgh feature →
SHARE YOUR JOY
Did something gay and glorious happen this week?
✨ You wore your first binder out in public
✨ You finally asked them out (and they said yes)
✨ You slayed at karaoke
✨ You felt cute at Giant Eagle
✨ You just felt seen
We wanna hear it! Send us your queer joy, big or small, and we might feature it in next week’s issue. Because your joy? That’s newsworthy too.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: B-I-N-GAY
Picture it, 1998… a group of queers, drag queens, and allies gathered for what would become the very first OUTrageous Bingo game in Pittsburgh. There were balls, bad prizes, themed rounds, and a commitment to raising funds for the LGBTQ+ community with pure, chaotic camp.
What started as a one-off fundraiser turned into a nearly 30-year tradition, bringing thousands together for bingo, live entertainment, and the kind of irreverent joy that turns a synagogue into a drag runway.
Now, in 2026, they’re still going strong, and this Saturday, January 10, there are more balls to pull.
Drag? Yes. Bingo? Obviously. Unhinged screaming when you win a crockpot? Absolutely.
If you’ve never been, this is your sign to grab a table and get weird with your queer fam.
Get tickets + info for this week’s OUTrageous Bingo →
This week’s sponsor:
THE QUEER AGENDA: Events This Week
Mon, Jan 5 @ 7:00 PM
Virtual Town Hall for PA LGBTQ Youth
Online
Join the Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs for a virtual listening session centering LGBTQ youth. Show up, speak up, be heard.
More info →
Tue, Jan 6 @ 5:00–7:00 PM
Stitch & Witch Harpy Hour
Harold’s Haunt, Millvale
Bring your craft and your chaos. Knitting, sketching, beading, whatever, just show up weird and wonderful. $1 off drafts.
More info →
Thu, Jan 8 @ 6:00–7:00 PM
Legends in the Making: Winter Vogue Sessions
True T Studios – Uptown
Learn to vogue with Pittsburgh Prince Kiss Ebony, a legend in the making with 13 years in the ballroom scene. No experience needed, just bring your fiercest self. Youth and young adults welcome.
More info →
THAT’S YOUR MONDAY SLAY, BABE
Okay. Deep breath. You made it through the first-ever Slay Weekly. We did it. Look at us. So cute. So powerful. This whole thing? It’s about starting the week with some queer joy. Just a little reminder that we’re still here, still loving each other, still doing wild shit and calling it community care.
Here’s what we need from you:
- Got a joyful moment? A tiny slay? Something gay and glorious?
Send it to us so we can scream about it in next week’s issue. - Forward this to your chosen fam or your crush. Or your ex. You’re chaotic, we respect it.
- Tag us on Instagram @QBurgh and tell us what made you slay this week.
(Bonus points for memes. Double bonus for glitter.)
This is just the start. We’ll be back next Monday with more love, more chaos, and more good gay news.
Alright go be hot and hydrated and emotionally available. Talk soon.
