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BLACK QUEER BOOK CLUB

The Black Queer Book Club is a community-led collective and safe space based in Ireland created by Black queer people for Black queer people to read, discuss and grow in a friendly and supportive community.

It was started last autumn, at the height of the Covid pandemic to provide a much needed solace for the Black queer community and POC allies. To this end, we created a space where our narratives are given due consideration.

To do this, we aim to promote and source works by Black queer people as much as possible or if not, works by Black people. Since last autumn, we have met monthly, reading a great range of works from fiction to analytical reads. Some of these reads include Fresh Water by Akwaeke Emezi, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Demarginalising the Intersection of Race and Sex an essay by Kimberle Crenshaw, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House an essay by Audre Lorde, Lote by Shola Von Reinhold, Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola, and we are currently reading Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez.

In the future, we hope to have the resources to curate a community library which will stock exclusively Black content. This is in recognition of the fact that libraries are communal spaces. They also serve an educative function, not only because of the books that are housed in them, but because of the capacity for the community who frequents them to learn from each other, which has always been a priority at our book club meetings. We also aim to have our ear to the ground, which means listening to what our community needs from us and showing up, starting with Black History Month, which lies in October in the UK and Ireland.

For Black History Month, we have organised an Intimate Night event on October 23 which will take place in Connolly Books. This get-together will showcase and celebrate Black people that have contributed to the landscape of Black art and culture in Ireland. Our intention is that this event will highlight local Black queer talent and give our community the opportunity to have fun and meet other Black queer people. Our lineup that evening will range from musicians to storytellers including;

Feli Speaks: A Nigerian-Irish poet, performer and playwright from Co Longford, based in Maynooth town.

www.felispeaks.com, Instagram: @felispeaks

Cami: A Dublin based rapper with an EP titled Neon being released on spotify in October.

Instagram: @cvmumusica, Soundcloud: cami, Spotify: camiii.

Diana Bamimeke: A writer and independent curator from Dublin whose practice encompasses writing, activism and programming.

Instagram: @dianazepam

Fay Antar: A visual artist, animator and filmmaker.

Instagram: @punkleos

Sebai: A photographer and visual artist from Mayo and currently based in Dublin.

Instagram: @dubhmedia 

And many more...

Tickets are still available so please do register for a free ticket, if you are queer and Black, for what will be an exciting night! We also welcome any additional support. Allies can either share this event and book club information, support a QPOC to attend the event by donating to our Paypal, or donating to Trans Safe House for Imo State in Nigeria.

You can follow Black Queer Book Club on Twitter @ BlackQueeBC Instagram @black.queerbookclub or email blackqueerbookclub@gmail.com

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FROM THE TEAM
Welcome dear reader, to the October issue of GCN.
BODY IMAGE
“Recently I realised that I have been on a diet for the past 23 years”, explains James O’Hagan.
Essay by a Girl from Somewhere Else
Based in the US, Sarah Wright shares how applying for dual Irish/American citizenship felt almost like coming out all over again in terms of identity.
DANCE WITH YOUR MA
After what felt like a lifetime, Mother Club proved that yes, we would dance again, as the Mother Summer Block Party brought the community to its (dancing) feet.
NEW LAND NEW LIFE
In recent years, the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland has become more diverse but is it becoming inclusive simultaneously?
The struggle
Decade of Centenaries - Criminalisation - Harmful Legacies.
A state of collapse
Trans Healthcare in Ireland is a National Emergency.
NOT WELCOME AT HOME
Tomás Henegan asks why he is forced to go abroad to give blood when the country is crying out for donations.
Proud as
Holly Shortall speaks to the people depicted in the Proud AF campaign and explains why it is needed now more than ever.
SHADES OF EILEEN GRAY
Han Tiernan visits the new exhibition by artist Emma Wolf-Haugh and finds its depiction of queer women through the prism of Eileen Gray both whimsical and intricate.
HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY, TRANS WRITERS UNION
On September 22, 2020, James Hudson sent a DM to Anna Walsh, an Irish writer living in Glasgow, opening with: “Hey Anna, I have been, how you say, plagued (in a good way) by your Tweets.”
BLACK QUEER BOOK CLUB
Book Club – Black Queer Writers – Black Queer Readers.
INNER SPACE/OUTER SPACE
The new project by photographer Niamh Barry -Within and Outside These Spaces -explores the overlap between queer people and the spaces they move in.
The Outing Festival Returns!
A new twist on an old tradition, the world famous queer music, matchmaking and arts festival is coming back to Co Clare on Valentine’s Weekend, 11 -13 February, 2022.
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
A vibrant new play spanning 40 years of queer life and the journeys of those involved is about to take the theatre scene by storm. Chris Rooke speaks to the creators.
Looking for back issues?
Browse the Archive >

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