This is going to be a sexy weekend in Ottawa. What with queer readings at Transgress, titillating vaudeville acts by the Sexual Overtones, a masquerade fantasy with the Ottawa Wolves and lesbian comedienne Elvira Kurt headlining a comedy event, queers are going to have a hard time keeping their cool on.

On Friday, Oct 22, the Mayfair Theatre on Bank St will open its doors to the queer side of the International Writers Festival with Transgress. The evening, hosted by Xtra’s Marcus McCann, will feature Canadian authors Amber Dawn, Peter Dubé, Lisa Foad and S Bear Bergman sharing their works. It is guaranteed to be hot.

The sex-positive theme continues on Saturday, Oct 23 with the Sexual Overtones performing at St Brigid's Cultural Centre for Arts and Humanities and the Ottawa Wolves hosting a masquerade party at Babylon.

The Sexual Overtones is a vaudeville performance troupe that rides the edge of burlesque, sexual satire and vaudeville entertainment. On Saturday evening, the troupe will transform St Brigid's into a sexy big-top(less) circus tent and entertain the audience with an act that's guaranteed to tease and tantalize even the most timid.

On the other side of the city, the Ottawa Wolves — our very own gay rugby team — will host a masquerade party at Babylon Nightclub on Bank St. The evening will feature guest appearances by Sahara Starr of the Rockalily Burlesque and the Wolves’ very own Social Lubricant KY.

The weekend ends on a comic note for Elvira Kurt fans. Kurt headlines the Chickles a GALa Comedy event at the Centrepoint Theatre. Comedienne Martha Chaves will host this evening that also features the talents of Heidi Foss and Jennifer Grant.