The Candela Literary Pride Festival is co-produced by Reading Queer & Capfire Spoken Word Arts. The festival is a series of virtual readings, performances and workshops celebrating Queer Resilience and Protest during the 2020 Pandemic. Our mission is to give queer writers in Miami, Washington, DC and from around the world access to artistic mentorship–a space to nurture their talents and create virtual connections of solidarity and allyship. — The Candela Literary Pride Festival is co-produced by Reading Queer & Capturing Fire Spoken Word Arts. The festival is a series of virtual readings, performances and workshops celebrating Queer Resilience and Protest during the 2020 Pandemic. Our mission is to give queer writers in Miami, Washington, DC and from around the world access to artistic mentorship–a space to nurture their talents and create virtual connections of solidarity and allyship.

Sponsors & Funders: Poets & Writers, Cap Fire Spoken Word Arts, Wild & Precious Life Series, Alternate Roots & The Knight Foundation.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Capturing Fire: A Biographical Writing Workshop with Regie Cabico

Saturday June 20th @ 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT | RSVP HERE.

Capturing Fire: A Biographical Poetry Writing Workshop led by Regie Cabicowill look at Shuntaro Tanikawa’s poem, “Growth”, as a way to jump start the flow of our chronological life moments of fear and courage. We will share our personal stories and create a timeline of our up against the wall moments and victories. We will use improvisation and connect with each other through mirrored movements and exploring secrets in a safe and nurturing environment, we will share our memories in “story nuggets” or “story-haiku” and empower ourselves through the spoken word. All levels welcome. Open to the LGBTQ community and allies.

All events are virtual. You will receive login and password 24 hours before the event. Sign up here for login information.

Paris Is Still Burning: Kickoff Event Featuring Queer Poets

Friday June 26th @ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM EDT | RSVP HERE

Paris Is Still Burning: Kick Off Event Featuring Queer Poets opens on the hot and sultry virtual red carpet with a reading featuring queer poets voicing work born out of protest and the queer experience. Virtual doors open at 7:30 for pre-performance cocktail experience. Confirmed performers include Regie Cabico, Mia S. Willis, Liv Mammone, Legna Rodriguez Iglesias, Rogelio Orizondo , SoFla Protest Poets Rosen T. Gordon, Amelia Maria Leon & Titi, Farah Yamini, Rachel Kommich and more.

All events are virtual. You will receive login and password 24 hours before the event. Sign up here for login information.

Fire Pit Open Mic

Saturday June 27th @ 7:30 – 9:30 PM EDT | RSVP HERE.

Fire Pit Open Mic, emceed by Regie Cabico, invites all hot and sultry queer poets from around the country and the world to voice their work born out of protest and the queer experience. This event is free and open to the public. All performers at all levels welcome. This event is for the LGBTQ community and allies. Sign up here!

All events are virtual. You will receive login and password 24 hours before the event. Sign up here for login information.

Tiny Rainbows And Unicorn Families: A Performance for LGBTQ Youth & Their Families

Sunday June 28th @ 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT | RSVP HERE.

Tiny Rainbows & Unicorn Families is a gender fluid fairy performance hour for parents and children of all ages featuring Fluid Dude & Miss Mia.

PERFORMER BIOS: Jack “Mia” Shamblin as Miss Mia creates a mix of art, music, dance, and old-fashion narrative to inspire resilience for young spectators and their families. Taking myths, legends, fables, and fairytales; Miss Mia does a retelling that weaves past, present, and the future into one joyful love blanket. Jack “Mia” Shamblin is a non-conformist, writer, actor, and media artist who has been featured in the New York Times, Time Out NY, Time Out Lisbon, and Publico. They have worked and performed with Theodora Skipitares, Caryl Churchill, and Anne Bogart. New York venues include La MaMa Etc., The Public Theater, Dixon Place, P.S. 122 and Here. As a dancer and creator, they worked with Paulo Henrique and became part of Portugal’s artistic community. Notably, they performed with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daphne Rubin Vega, Basil Twist, Nicole Zaray, and Kate Bornstein.