The Queer Space Collective calls on you to participate in fostering the creation, telling, re-telling, archiving and accessibility of queer books and stories by donating used or brand new queer literature to the Queer Library for use by members of the University of Pretoria community.
Download the Call for Donations
The QSC primarily seeks to advance awareness, protection, fulfilment and inclusivity of queer persons and groups at the University of Pretoria.
History
The QSC started in early 2017 at a meeting between members of the English Department and the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) to think about how LGBTIQA+ writing could be supported and encouraged at UP. Out of this grew the idea of an initiative, loosely organised around the idea of “queerness”, drawing in other persons, spaces, departments and organisations on and off the UP Hatfield Campus, including the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender (CSA&G). At this point, the QSC’s modest aim was to make UP safer and more inclusive of queer persons, identities and expressions, primarily through the use of creative writing and expression.
Building on ideas from Nadia Cho, the QSC defines queer as, among others: questioning what’s considered “normal” and why that norm gets privileged; confronting all forms of oppression; understanding the intersectionality between race, nationality, gender, sexuality and class; searching for alternative ways of being and living; bringing unheard, minority experiences and stories to light; learning to appreciate and celebrate difference; and striving for constructive, fair and happy ways to coexist with each other.
During 2017, the QSC developed a mailing list, held the Pretoria launch of Queer Africa 2 with GALA, produced a short video on queer identities for UP’s Anti-Discrimination Week, achieved social and mass media visibility, and opened a small queer
library in the CSA&G.
Since the beginning of 2018 the QSC is looking to formalise its operations and expand its activities. One immediate need is to build the Queer Library.
About the Queer Library
The Queer Library is a modest and still developing reading space in the CSA&G offices. So far it has been nourished by freewill donations of furniture and queer books by queer inclusive staff, students and organisations
Why?
The QSC is important because the creation, telling, re-telling, archiving and accessibility of stories matter, especially in a world where the law has failed at changing negative attitudes towards queer persons but stories stand a chance. We believe that prejudice and homophobia are built by ignorance but curbed by contact and relationships between queer and non-queer persons. We believe that books and stories can simulate, assist, encourage and promote contact and relationships between queer and non-queer persons. The Queer Library aims to facilitate creation, telling, re-telling, archiving and accessibility of queer books and stories.
Call for donation of queer literature
The QSC calls on YOU to participate in fostering the creation, telling, re-telling, archiving and accessibility of queer books and stories by donating used or brand new queer literature to the Queer Library for use by members of the University of Pretoria community.
To donate materials to the Queer Library, please contact:
David Ikpo - david.ikpo@up.ac.za
Pierre Brouard - pierre.brouard@up.ac.za
Ayo Sogunro - ayosogunro@gmail.com
