THURSDAY 5/24
MEDICALIZING "CIRCUMCISION"--The University of Washington's Program on Africa presents a roundtable discussion about issues of circumcision in Africa and African communities in the U.S. For other genital-oriented activities, some less political, see below. Mary Gates Hall, Room 251, UW Campus, 616-0998, 7 pm, free.
FRIDAY 5/25
2001: A GENDER ODYSSEY--A conference for those born with confusing parts, extra parts, missing parts, etc. Open to all people interested in gender issues, especially female-to-male transsexuals. Keynote speakers include trans-activist Phyllis Randolph Frye, and author Patrick Califia-Rice. There will also be workshops, town meetings, an art exhibit, a variety show, and parties. Doubletree Hotel, SeaTac, 18740 Pacific Hwy S, register at www.ftm2001.org, $75.
SATURDAY 5/26
PLUS SIZE SINGLES BASH--There are "not many places," says host Don McKay, "a 300 pound woman (or man!) can go to dance." Here's one of them. The Seattle BBW Trust sponsors this "size-friendly" mixer with a fiesta theme. Admission includes unlimited hot nacho bar, party games, and prizes. Call 350-1212 or visit www.seattlebbw.com for more information, 7 pm-midnight, $15 advance, $18 at door.
SUNDAY 5/27
PIKE PLACE MARKET FESTIVAL--A significant percentage of the Market's nine million annual visitors will likely be on hand for the 30th Market Street Fair this year, which means a lot of jostling, unwanted intimacy with fanny packs, and the occasional dropped milkshake and corresponding screaming child underfoot, alongside the fresh food, live jazz, and sheepish clowns. Pike Place Market, 10 am-7 pm, 587-0351, free. Also Mon May 28, 10 am-7 pm.
MONDAY 5/28
SOCIALISM FOR SKEPTICS--Socialism, that crazy uncle of politics, finds a powerful voice in socialist feminist Clara Fraser, whose writings are the centerpiece of this weekly discussion group. Can a society really be based on human need, and not on profit? Sponsored by the Freedom Socialist Party. Seattle Central Community College, Room 2115, Broadway and Pine, 7 pm, 725-2104, free.
WEDNESDAY 5/30
BETTY DODSON'S ART--Like the hippie grandma you always wanted, kind, smart, 70-year-old sex therapist Betty Dodson encourages you to not just look at your twat, but to photograph and celebrate it. Join her for a free workshop tonight. Pre-registration is required. Seattle Institute for Sex Therapy, Education, and Research, www.sextx.com, 522-8588, 8 pm, free.
COLUMBIA CITY FARMER'S MARKET--Although some fruits and vegetables, not to mention flowers, look like genitalia, this author will not push the correlation. Suffice it to say that the season of morel mushrooms has begun. Columbia Plaza, outdoors at Rainier Ave S between S Alaska and S Edmonds, 3-7 pm every Wednesday through Oct 17.
