Queer Social x Reading Queer Poetry Circle

Queer Socials at the Rising Sun - a place for queer people to hang and have a drink! These 18+ and free events are the perfect nights to be part of the LGBTQ+ Reading community. They are happening each first Friday of the month and our group of volunteers organise original activities for each event.

For September, join us for a collaborative and laid-back evening of queer poetry reading—co-hosted with Reading Queer Poetry Circle.

What to expect:

If you haven’t been to one of Reading Queer Poetry Circle’s fortnightly circles, here is what you need to know:

• Everyone is welcome to read a poem (or more!) that they have written or that they have read and wish to share. No one is expected to read. It is okay just to come and listen and to contribute to the circle in any way you can. Queer poetry often touches on challenging topics (queer life and experiences being what they are), so we ask that you consider your audience and check in with everyone before reading or sharing something that is explicit or has the potential to affect others who have experienced trauma or abuse. 
• No experience is needed! If you are new to poetry (reading or writing), this is a safe space to explore and talk about poetry and poetry-adjacent topics. If you haven’t read poetry aloud before (or for a long time), that’s okay. This is not a performance environment and no one is expected to have practiced or memorised their poems. Reading poetry aloud should be joyous (and sometimes awkward), so we will encourage everyone to be patient with one another.
• No poetry to share? No problem! We will have a selection of poems and poetry collections available for you to look through and read from if you wish. 
• The poetry circle format goes a bit like this: we welcome everyone and do introductions; we read poems for a while (going around in a circle); we break to socialise / refresh ourselves and/or our drinks; we read more poems (same circle, different direction); we socialise some more if folks are happy to stick around.

Register now via Outsavvy - free, but it gives us an idea of numbers!

To note:

As this is a Reading Queer Social event at the Rising Sun Arts Centre, the bar will be open. Low-alcohol and non-alcoholic options are available. Some snacks will be provided!

This Queer Social x Reading Queer Poetry Circle event is free to attend but please book your ticket in advance to help our volunteer organisers run the event! 

If you have any questions, you can email us at rsacqueersocial@gmail.com 

This is an 18+ event. Please bring ID as everyone will be checked on the door and bar.

Covid Regulations

• Please as always respect people’s personal space, and allow room for people to social distance should they wish to.
• Please do a lateral flow test before attending the event, if you are able
• Please DO NOT ATTEND if you are displaying any Covid symptoms or test positive for Covid-19.

Zero Tolerance Policy

All genders, expressions, sexualities are welcome 

Please don’t assume people’s pronouns or gender.

Respect everyone’s personal space - this includes volunteers, staff, audience members and performers!

Zero tolerance for harassment/discrimination. No transphobia, homophobia, racism, islamophobia, body shaming, slut shaming, fatphobia, sexism, ableism. 

Access

The downstairs of the Rising Sun Arts Centre where this event is held is wheelchair accessible. There is a disabled access toilet on the ground floor, and the bar area is also wheelchair accessible. 

Travel

Bus fares available for those on low income, message us for more details.