Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive and LGBT Health and Wellbeing come together once again to celebrate the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2024 alongside Black History Month for another showcase of poetry and spoken word spotlighting LGBTQ+ black and writers of colour. This year hosted by queer poet and writer JJ Fadaka, you can expect feature performances alongside emerging writers as we create a warm and affirming space for creativity, compassion and connection.

Guest poets performing and in conversation include:

Hosted by Queer writer, Lover, Radical – JJ Fadaka and featuring emerging writers and a guest poet – details to be confirmed.

This event is for anyone wishing to celebrate the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival alongside Black History Month with our special guests, with a special welcome to queer, trans, intersex black, people of colour (QTIBPOC).

This event is hosted by LGBT Health and Wellbeing in partnership with Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive.

With thanks to SMHAF and Mental Health Foundation for your support to include us in the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2024 programme!

We will ask about BSL requirements at booking.

Who we welcome

We welcome the entire diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community living in or visiting Edinburgh, including Non-binary, Queer, Intersex, Asexual people and all identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. This also includes those who are questioning or exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Registration

Advanced registration is required to access the event. The capacity is around 40 people seated.

As this is a seated event, bookings are for 1 person. Even if you and a friend or partner share an email address you must make one booking per person.

If something changes and you can no longer attend the event, please let us know as soon as you can so your booking becomes available for someone else.

We are happy to complete the booking on your behalf, please feel welcome to email Jules at jules@lgbthealth.org.uk or leave a message on our admin phone 0131 564 3970 and someone will call you back.

Last minute tickets

Please note that we will release a small number of tickets a few days before the event, to make it easier for neurodivergent people and those who struggle to book in advance, to access the event. Please visit this eventbrite link from 9am on Monday 21st October for additional tickets on a first come first serve basis.

COVID-19

We know that not everyone feels totally comfortable at in-person events yet and that COVID-19 precautions still feel relevant to many in our community. At this event, we will have:

• masks available and support anyone wishing to use them
• hand sanitiser available at all times
• windows open for ventilation

The venue

We will meet at LGBT Health and Wellbeing’s Edinburgh base at Duncan Place Community Hub.

More information about venue access after registration.

Access

The venue at Duncan Place and our event features the following:

♿️ Wheelchair access 🅿️ Disabled parking spaces x 2

⚧ Accessible and gender neutral toilets 🤫 Quiet space

If there is anything more you need to talk to us in advance to help you access the event, please contact Jules at jules@lgbthealth.org.uk or leave a message for Jules on the admin phone at 0131 564 3970.