On Oct. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m., the ETSU Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program along with the Department of Literature and Language will host their event Speaking Queerly: An LGBTQ+ Poetry Night in the Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room 272. Partnering with the ETSU Creative Writing Society, The Mockingbird student literature magazine, the Pride Center, SAGA ETSU and other supporting programs, the night will consist of an open mic stage with first come, first serve sign-ups of all experience levels and presentations from writers included in the Mockingbird magazine. As participants share their pieces, they are encouraged to showcase the resilience of the queer community through their poetry and to inspire others.

Executive Aide for the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Department (WGSS) Devorah Daught, Director of WGSS Dr. Stacey Williams and Professor and The Mockingbird Advisor Dr. Jesse Graves took motivation from the magazine’s latest volume, which sought to amplify stifled voices through the height of social climate and adverse legislation, to create a showcasing of the student-led accomplishment.

“Given the activity in state politics and activity around certain issues, we would like to do something special with the Mockingbird,” Graves said. “And make welcome voices that may not be feeling welcomed.”

(Contributed/teachforamerica.org)

Together with supporting programs, the three planned an event where students could present their pieces, listen to others and create a safe and supportive environment for discovery and creative output. Emily Wilson, co-editor of The Mockingbird alongside Jake Lawson, stated in the editor’s note that the “edition aims to bring marginalized voices to the center by elevating and championing ETSU’s diverse and richly woven tapestry of creatives.” Speaking Queerly aims to extend the message and reach a larger audience outside the poetry world.

“It was organic, how it developed, which was beautiful to see everyone coming together around this issue and wanting to bring this to campus,” Williams said on preparation for the poetry night, which began during the past summer with a team of around 30 people.

The event will be marked as 18+ due to potentially sensitive content being discussed and will be free admission for all attendees interested. For more information on Speaking Queerly, supporter programs and how to get involved, visit https://www.etsu.edu/cas/women-gender-sexuality/speakignqueerly.php.

 

 

 

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