Reading Queer (RQ) organizes South Florida’s first and only queer-centric festival of the literary arts. Since its inaugural iteration in the fall of 2014, the festival has tripled in size, bringing more queer writers and artists to South Florida than ever before.
This year we are thrilled to partner with the Miami Book Fair. This partnership advances RQ’s mission to foster and promote queer literary culture in South Florida by bringing a diverse cross-section of locally and internationally recognized queer writers, poets and artists to the largest book fair in the United States.
Featuring a wide array of readings, panels, workshops, and performances, the 2015 Reading Queer Festival is the largest to date. The list of participating writers and artists includes Rigoberto González, Achy Obejas, Danez Smith, Dawn Lundy Martin, David Tomas Martinez, Justin Phillip Reed, Juleisy & Karla, Maureen Seaton, Denise Duhamel, Stephen Mills, Valerie Wetlaufer, Julie R. Enszer, Raymond Luczak, Rick Barot, and more. (Learn about individual writers here.)
Paris is Still Burning serves as the festival’s opening event. Inspired by the legendary documentary film “Paris is Burning” and the queer counterculture it documents, Paris is Still Burning showcases some of the most prominent contemporary queer poets of color whose work fiercely explores the various forms of social, racial, and economic injustice faced by queer communities today. Join us on Wednesday, November 18th at 8:00 pm at the Olympia Gusman Center for a reading and performance by LAMBDA Literary Award Winner Danez Smith, Justin Phillip Reed, David Tomas Martinez & Dawn Lundy Martin. The reading will be followed by a mini “ball”—a mix between a drag pageant and a queer performance competition—featuring members of South Florida’s own bourgeoning ballroom scene.
For the past 27 years, the LAMBDA Literary Awards—also known affectionately as “the Lammys”—have identified and honored the best LGBTQ books of the year. Celebrating the Lammys brings together four past Lammy winners and/or finalists. Four poets—Rick Barot, Dawn Lundy Martin, Stephen S. Mills and Valerie Wetlaufer—will read from their latest work followed by a short Q & A. This panel will take place on Sunday, Nov. 22nd, 11:00 a.m. / at the Miami Book Fair, Rm. 8303 (Bldg. 8, 3rd Floor)
Intersectional Poetics: Multiple Identities, One Readership brings together four contemporary LGBTQ writers for a conversation on intersecting identities. Rigoberto González, Achy Obejas, Julie R. Enszer and Raymond Luczak will read from their latest work, exploring how race, religion, sexuality, class, nation and/or disability has shaped their writing and their poetics. This panel will take place on Sunday, Nov. 22nd, 12:00 p.m. / at the Miami Book Fair Rm. 8303 (Bldg. 8, 3rd Floor)
Cruising the boundary between poetry and performance art, Queer Quinceañera is a celebration of Miami’s literary coming of age. On Sunday, November 22nd at 5:00 pm graduates of the Reading Queer Writing Workshop Series will read from their work followed by a performance featuring local drag legends Juleisy y Karla. Come to The Swamp at the Miami Book Fair for complimentary drinks, cake, and refreshments. There will be glitter by the pounds, and dancing as the event leads into the Rhythm Foundation’s Dance Band Night, the official closing event of The Swamp.
Meet the authors here.
What: Paris is Still Burning
Where: Olympia Theater
When: Wednesday, November 18th at 8:00 pm
What: Intersectional Poetics: Multiple identities, one readership
Where: Miami Book Fair, Rm. 8303 (Bldg. 8, 3rd Floor)
When: Sunday, Nov. 22nd, 12:00 p.m.
What: Celebrating the Lammys: Winners & Finalists of the LAMBDA Literary Awards
Where: Miami Book Fair, Rm. 8303 (Bldg. 8, 3rd Floor)
When: Sunday, Nov. 22nd, 11:00 a.m.
What: Queer Quinceañera
Where: Miami Book Fair, The Swamp
When: Sunday, November 22nd at 5:00 pm