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Dear Africa

On 25, 27 February and 1 March 2019, the Queer Space Collective, University of Pretoria, will be hosting the Pride and Letters Queer Literary Festival. Pride and Letters forms part of the Advanced Human Rights Course on Sexual Minority Rights organised by the Centre for Human Rights. Pride and Letters will specifically address three themes Queer Exploration, Resistance and Celebration. The Queer Space Collective is a project run collaboratively by the Centre for Human Rights and Centre for Sexualities AIDS and Gender, both at University of Pretoria with the vision to make the University of Pretoria more inclusive of queer expression and identities through the use of creative writing and expression.

pdfDownload this Invitation 
pdfDownload Programme

Please click here to RSVP

Spaces are limited. RSVP deadline is 20 February 2019.

Queer exploration

Date: Monday 25 February 2019
Time: 08:00 - 17:30
Venue: Function Hall, SRC Chambers, University of Pretoria

This will address sub-themes such as coming out stories; stories about labels adopted and rejected; stories about playing with borders, binaries and boxes; first times and later times (queerness and ageing); journeys of self-discovery; queerness in schools and places of learning; journeys of transition and journeys of staying; queerness and social media; queerness and porn. 

Queer resistance

Date: Wednesday 27 February 2019
Time: 08:00 - 16:45
Venue: Function Hall, SRC Chambers, University of Pretoria

This will address sub-themes such as the Africanness of queerness; underground queer cultures; archival findings; histories of African queernesses; queer marriages of convenience under a blanket of compulsory heterosexuality; indigenous queer expressions; Pride as protest; staying at home in spite of repression; leaving home because of repression; staying single; faith and sexuality; faith and gender; staying married in spite of queerness; gender non-conforming lives and spaces; poly amorous relationships; speaking truth to power. 

Queer celebration

Date: Friday 1 March 2019
Time: 17:00 - 22:00
Venue: Function Hall, SRC Chambers, University of Pretoria
Dress code: Mask + traditional attire 

This evening the masks you are presented with on arrival, are a symbol of unknown and unnamed sexualities and genders on the African continent. These masks are also a metaphor for the anonymity of persons and stories repressed on account of non-heteronormativity. These stories surround us and are deeply connected to us. We will share in them on Friday. The traditional attire serves as an anchor that steeps diversity in our indigenous identities. This evening will also address finding love; finding community; finding good sex; finding happiness; love under repression; finding meaning and legitimacy in family, culture, belief, purpose, children; Pride as celebration; queer art(s); queer humanity and grace. 


Guest Speakers

  • Dr Anastacia Tompson
    Medical doctor and author
  • Mmeyi Mosehla
    Actor
  • Jessica Lynn
    Kinsey Institute Global Ambassador
  • Ditshego Ditshego
    Head of News/Drive-Time Host, GAY SA radio
  • Justice Edwin Cameron
    Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
  • Batana Vundla
    Co-producer of Inxeba
  • Marc Epprecht
    Professor, Department of Global Development, Queen’s University
  • Keval Harie
    Director of the Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action
  • Siya Khumalo
    Author
  • Teboho Klaas
    Religion Programme Officer 

RSVP

Pride and Letters is a three-day event aimed at promoting queer expression through storytelling and creative expression. 

Please click here to RSVP

Spaces are limited. RSVP deadline is 20 February 2019.


Contact Information

Enquiries: david.ikpo@up.ac.za | pierre.brouard@up.ac.za