2 minute read
Celebrating LGBTQ+ voices featuring Sussex writers of colour
As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, Brighton & Hove Libraries in partnership with New Writing South and Writing Our Legacy is presenting two opportunities to get involved and celebrate new writing by Sussex-based LGBTQ+ writers of colour.
The Discover Your Inner Poet workshop and Celebrating New LGBTQ+ Voices reading will both be led by poet and activist AFLO, who was heavily involved with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and believes poetry provides an opportunity to get people to engage with a topic on a deeper level.
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Speaking of the events AFLO said: “As much as celebrating our history is important it’s also important to celebrate the present and what the past brings to that.
“History is what influences us as creatives so it seems naturally intertwined at times. I was really involved with the BLM movement and shared some of my poetry to discuss topics such as decolonising education. We are so used to hearing people talk, but when you hear people talk and it rhymes sometimes I find it much easier to listen to.
“I am hoping people will leave the workshop with either a poem or the start of a poem, as well as more confidence. I’m going to be sharing my own writing process and there will be a Q&A section. I’m hoping it will be a space where people feel confident to share what they have written.
“That’s been the biggest part of poetry to me. Performing spoken word has been a life-changing experience in terms of confidence and self-esteem.”
The reading evening puts the focus squarely on QTIPoC intersectionality. “There are several amazing charities and organisations that are focused on that but in general we feel quite missed,” said AFLO. “Of course everyone is welcome to attend but the focus is to put a spotlight on that intersectionality. In the UK it’s LGBTQ+ History Month and in the US it’s Black History Month, so it’s important to hold those spaces. There’s definitely a lack of visibility in that arena. Its changing and the ripples of 202 are going to continue that change but it still needs to be an active effort before it feels like the norm and we don’t need to differentiate between those spaces.”
Tickets to both events are free, but you need to register on Eventbrite for security reasons as the events are online using Zoom. To register will need your Brighton & Hove Libraries card number. If you’re not a member you can sign up for free!
WORKSHOP: DISCOVER YOUR INNER POET: Sunday, February 21, 3-4.30pm
A one-off fun and inspirational introduction to poetry the workshop is open to people of all backgrounds, aged 16+. It is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced writers.
CELEBRATING NEW LGBTQ+ VOICES: Thursday, February 25, 7-8pm
An evening of new writing from LGBTQ+ writers of colour, including Joyoti Grech Cato, Lisa Climie-Somers, Suchi Chatterjee and Ameet Vaghela, followed by a DJ set.
