FEW (Forum for the Empowerment of Women) is holding a Queer Book Fair on Saturday 14 May at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. “Most people who come out seek information about their realities,” said FEW in a statement. “There is not enough information or narratives about queer lives.
There have not been enough platforms where the queer community can engage and share literature. Stories create connections and tie us together wherever we are.” FEW saw this as a gap and realised that there should be an annual event like a Queer Book Fair.
The Fair will provide a platform for queer publishers, authors, readers and the queer community in general. “Queer book fairs empower queer authors to find the stories that speak to them,” commented FEW’s Jade Mandingwane. “They create community as we safely join each other in a shared love of reading and help provide support in queer literature,” added Fundi Ndaba, FEW’s Acting Executive Director.
The Queer Book Fair is a jam-packed one-day event starting at 09h00 and closing at 16h00. It will include book launches, conversations with writers, literature exhibitions, a networking space for small publishers, and a discussion forum.