I am so excited to serve as the new OutWrite Co-Chair, along with the incredible Malik Thompson! We’re both local poets with a passion for and experience with literary festivals, open mics, workshops, and publishing.
For the last three years, I’ve worked with the OutWrite planning committee to bring this annual festival to life. It’s been inspiring and fun to help coordinate LGBTQ literary programming, support local writers, and get to know the local, national, and even international LGBTQ writing community. It’s been quite a journey to discover my sexuality, often first through my writing. I can’t wait to give back to this community that has given me so much!
A huge shout out and thank you to former Chair Dave Ring. After five years of service, culminating in the 2020 festival being nominated for a 35th Annual Mayor’s Arts Award, he is stepping down as Chair of the festival.
Malik and I are looking forward to continuing OutWrite’s mission of cultivating and uplifting inclusive LGBTQ literary programming. For 2021, we intend to center queer BIPOC writers, Indigenous writers, and disabled writers.
Mark your calendars for next year’s festival, which will be August 6-8, 2021. Due to this uncertain time, we will be planning OutWrite 2021 with the assumption that it will be virtual. We will release updates as the situation develops. Please visit outwritedc.org for more information.
We’re currently accepting panels and readings to build out the schedule for OutWrite 2021, so submit your ideas. We’ll also be announcing events leading up to the summer festival. Stay tuned — and keep writing and reading!