The Coast is Queer, an LGBTQ+ literature festival, will be held in Brighton from October 12 to 15.
The Coast is Queer is a festival of talks, books, spoken word and ideas from an LGBTQ perspective.
It brings together a line-up of nationally and internationally acclaimed queer writers, poets, performers and activists in a three-day festival of accessible, lively in-conversation events, workshops, films and discussions celebrating LGBTQ lives and writing.
Drawing from past events, organisers say 'it’s stimulating, surprising, frequently very funny and often provocative, inviting audiences to dive into fresh perspectives on subjects from lived experience of mental health, LGBTQ lives in Ukraine to bisexuality and hidden queer identities'.
There’s also spoken word, cabaret and dancing.
Students from the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton are selecting the contributors for the opening day, including YouTuber/ influencer Jamie Raines with a panel celebrating often unspoken gender identities, sexualities and attraction styles.
Jamie Raines
Additionally, a programme of short queer films curated by the BFI will run throughout the weekend.
Highlights include:
- Best-selling novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and columnist Juno Dawson brings 'inspiring, joyful conversation' with some of our best trans writers. This year Juno will be joined by writer and campaigner, Harry Nicholas.
- Open mic event for anybody who feels inspired by the theme ‘rewriting queerness’. The event will be hosted by Fuschia Von Steele, and poets Reanna Valentine and AFLO. Priss Nash will share their work alongside participants from the audience.
Priss Nash
- Panel discussion will ask what it means to be a queer writer in a time of war, when being visibly queer in your own country is an act of rebellion in itself? How are queer Ukrainian writers telling their stories against all odds, creating new work beyond all constraint, from inside and outside their war-torn country
Co-ordinator Lesley Wood says:
“The Coast is Queer is a unique opportunity for audiences to meet some of the boldest and brightest LGBTQ+ writers, thinkers and activists around today. This event always stimulates lively discussion and is for anyone who wants to experience some fresh ideas rarely heard in the mainstream. The Coast is Queer has grown to represent a significant and exuberant contribution to the UK’s spoken word festival landscape.”
It runs at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts in Brighton from October 12th-15th 2023.
Tickets are available for the full Festival, one day or for individual events.
The full lineup and ticket information are available at coastisqueer.com
The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, has an induction loop, and selected events will be BSL interpreted.
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